Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1870-12-16
The Presidents Message.

last week. lDat portiou reiallnS 10 the
fisheries attracts perhaps most attention
and interest, particularly in England,
and we give it entire as follows:
THE FISHERIES QUESTION.
The course pursued by the Canadian
authorities toward the fishermen of the
United Stated during the past season
has not been marked by friendly feel
ing. BY the first article of the conven.
ton of 1918 between Great Britain and
the United States, it was agreed the in
habitants Of the United States should
have forever, in common with British
subjects, the right of taking fish in the
waters which are therein defined. In
the waters not included in the limits
named in the within three
miles of parts of the British coast''-it
has been the custom for many years to
give to intruding fishermen. of the Unit
ed Slater reasonable warning of their
violation of the technical right of Great
Britain. The imperial government is
understood to have delegated the whole
or ashare of its jurisdiction or control
of these in-shore fisheries grounds to
the colonial authority known as the Do
minion of Canada and this semi indie
pendent but irresponsible agent has ex-
ercised its delegated powers in an I'M
friendly way. Vessels have been seized
without notice or warning, in violation
of the custom previously prevailing, and
have been taken into the Colonial ports,
their voyages broken up and their YES
sells condemned. There is reason to be-
Geve that this unfrendly and vexatious
treatment was designed to bear harshly
upon the hardy fishermen of the Unit
ed States, with a view to political effect
upon this government.
The statutes of the Dominion of Can.
ada assume still broader and more I'M
tenable jurisdiction over the vessels of
the United State. They authorize Of
ticers or persons to bring vessels hover
ing within three marine miles of any of
the coasts, bays, creeks or harbors of
Canada into port, to search the cargo, to
examine the master under oath, to
change the cargo and voyage, and to in
hict upon him heavy pecuniary penal
ty if the true answers are not given and
If such vessel is found preparing to
fish within three marine miles of any
such coasts, bays, creeks or harbors, with
out license, or after the expiration of
the period named in the last license
granted to it, they provide that the YES
sci, with her tackle &c, d., shall be for
seited. 1t is not known that any condem-
nations have been made under this stat
ute. Should the authorities of Canada
attempt to enforce it, it will become my
duty to take such steps as may be nec-
essary to protect the rights of the cti-
zens of the United States. L. has been
claimed by Her Majesty's officer that
the fishing vessels of the United States
have no right to enter the open ports of
the British possessions in North Ameri.
ca except for the purpose Of shelter aud
repairing damages, of purchasing wood
and obtaining water; that they have no
right to enter 1.-THE British custom house
or to trade there except for the purchase
OF wood and water, and that they must
depart within twenty -four hours after
notice to leave. 1t is not known that
any seizure of fishing vessel carving
the United States flag has been made
under this claim. So far as the claim ia
founded on an alleged construction of
the convention of 1918, it cannot be ac
quiesced in by the United States. It is
hoped that it will not be insisted upon
by Her Majesty's government. During
the conferences which preceded the ne
goti alton of the convention of 1918. the
British commissioners proposed express
ly toexclude thefshermen of the United
States from theprivileges of carrying on
trade with any Of His Britannia Males.
tvs subjects residing within the limits
assigned for their use, and also that il
should not be lawful for the vessel, of
the United States engaged in the said
fishery to have on board any foods, wares
or merchandise whatever, except such MS
might be necessary for the prosecution
of their voyage to and from said fishing
grounds, and any vessel Of the United
States which shall contravene this reeu-
lation may be seized, condemned and
confiscated with her cargo. This pro-
position, which is identical with the
construction now put upon the language
of the convention, was emphati ally re-
jected by the American commissioner.
and thereupon was abandoned by the
British plenipotentiary, and Article 1,
as it stands in the convention, was SUBJ
stituted, II, however, it be said that
this claim is founded on provincial, or
colonial statutes. and not upon the con-
Uonfion fhss oovaxpuaans ,.u,x L.