Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1870-12-08
CANADA AND THE FISHERIES

| The course pursued by the Canadian authorj-
| ties towa arc the fishermen of the United States
| during the past season has not been marked by q
friendly cling By the first article of the Conven-
ton of 1918 between Re It Brit ain and the United
States, it agreed that the inhabitants OF the
| United States should have forever, in common
with british subjects, the right OF taking fish in
cer-an wa ers therein defined, in the waters not
| included in the limits named in the Convention
| within three miles OF parts OF the British coast
| it has been custom for any years to give to in
| truding fisherman OF the United States reason
able warning Of their violation of the technical
| rights of Great Britain. The Imperial Govern
| ment is understood to have delegated the VIII lie
or share of its jurisdiction or control of these
inshOre fishery grounds to the Colonial aHtho
rites, known as the Dominion of Canada, and
| this semi-independent but irresponsible agent
has exercised its delegated powers in an IN
| friendly way, vessels have been seized without
notice or warning, in violation of the custom
previously prevailing, and have been taken in
| TO the Colonial ports, their voyages broken up,
| and their vessels condemned. There is reason
| to believe that this unfriendlY and vexatious
| treatment was designed to bear harshly upon
| the hardy fishermen of the United States, with
a view to political effect upon this government.
| The statutes of the Dominion of Canada assume
a still broader and more nntenabe jurisdiction
over the vessels of the United States. They
authorize officers or persons to bring vessels
lowering within three mariue miles of any of
the coasts, bays, creeks or harbors of CanaGa
into ports, to search the cargo, to examine the
master under oath, to change the cargo and
voyage and toiinfict upon him heavy pecuni-
airy penalty If true answers are not given, and
if such a vessel is found proposing to fish
within three marine miles OF any suoh coast,
bay, creek or harbors without license, or after
the expiration ofthe period named in the last
license granted to I, they provide that the yes
sci with her tackle, ETC.. etc. shall be forfeited
t is not known that any COMBINATIONS have
been made under this statute. Should the au-
thorties of Canadatryto enforce It'll will become
my duty to take such steps as may be necessary
to protect the rights of the citizens of the
United States. 1t has been claiIaed by Her
Majestys officers that the fishing vessels of the
United States have no right to enter the open
ports of the British possessions, in North
America, except for the purposes Of shelter and
repairing damages, or purchasing wood and
obtaining water. That they have no right to
enter at the British Custom Houses, or to trade
there, except for the purchase of wood and
water, and that they must depart within "a
hours after notice to leave. 1t is not known
that any seizures of q fishing vessel, carry ing
the United States flag has been made
under this claim so far as the claim is founded
on an alleged construction of the Con-
yention of 1918 cannot be acquiesced in by the
United States. 1t is hoped that it will not be
insisted upon by Her Majesty's Government.
During the conference which proceeded the
negotiation OF the Convention OF 1878, the
British Commissioners proposed to expressly
exclude the fishermen Of the United States
from the privilege of carrying on trade with
any OF His Britanic Majesty's subjects residing