The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1870-05-03
The Frolic among the Fisheries.

L. all the persons who are in the habit OF cross
ing the Wall street ferry-must frequently
have noticed long, low, rakish. built war
steamer anchored near the Brooklyn shore
during tho past few months. She flew the
American flag, and at her forcmast some
times bore a signal of a nondescript charac-
ter, supposed by some to be the new Admi.
rails ensign lately adopted by PORTER, the
real Secretary of the Navy. This steamer,
which has now left that familiar anchorage,
was the United States gunboat Frolc. She
has just been ordered away to the Canadian
fishing grounds, in anticipation of trouble
there.
The immediate difficulty arises out of the
repeal of the reciprocity treaty between the
United States and Canada, although the
question as to the respective rights and priv
ilcgcs of the British and Canadians and of
our ow countrymen in the fisheries ON The
banks of Newfoundland and Labrador is one
of many years standing. BY the treaty Of
Paris in 1852, which recognized our indie
pendence, IL was stipulated that the citizens
of this country should continue to enjoy the
same rights of fishing in British North
American waters as they had possessed be
fore the Revolutionary war. Neither the
English nor the Canadian fishermen were
pleased at this and between that time and
the end of the war of 1912 several attempts
were made on the part Of the British Govern.
ment TO procure an abandonment Of our
rights on the fishing grounds. All, how
ever, proved Intellectual.
In 1918, after the war, the English sue
ceeded in obtaining new agreement. The
United States formally renowned any right
of fishing within three sea miles Of the
British North American possessions except
on the southern coast of Newfoundland and
the southern coast of Labrador, and thence
northward indefinitely. In these regions,
and in certain other specified places the citi
zcns of this country were to have full rights
of fishery.
Co.. .,,-over, this treaty gave rise to
difficulty. There was ci7v,'". US 10 "heie
the line Of dcinarcat on of the three miles
was to lie drawn. The Canadians said from
headlaud to hcadlanl, thus shutting us out
of the most valuable fishing localities, which
are in some of the vast bays Our Govern
ment said that the line should follow the in
dentations of the coast. The quarrel grew
warmer and warmer till, in 1862, British and
American war vessels were sent 70 the fish
ing grounds TO protect the rights of the
respective parties. Hostilities were averted
by the reciprocity treaty which was made
soon aftcrward. In this it was provided that
citizens of the United States should be per
mitted to fish freely in British.Amercan
waters, without any reservation as to dis
lance; and so they were allowed to do until
the treaty was terminated by notice from the
Government at Washington.
Now the old controversy as to where th'
thrcemlc line should be drawn has been &c
newcd. The Canadians have insisted upor
the correctness of their view ever since tn,
rcTcal Of the reciprocity treaty; but it i
only lately that they have threatened to On
force what they conceive to be the law, tn
Dominion Government has recently gen
light armed boats to the fishing banks 70
this purpose, 1t is on this account that I'll
Is said that the authorities at Wsshingto
think there is little probability of trouble
the tone of recent English papers on I'll
subject docs not indicate a similar conildenC
in London.
In c5ffnectioS Win rrrrs * 49,
Frolic, statement mas appeared in III
World viii indicates that Secretary FIs
has decided TO abandon the position whic
tho United States Government has mai
tanned in this question of the fisheries for E
many years. That paper says that the il
struCtions of tho commander were, in fec
to see thnt the enforcement of the law
the Canadian authorities was not done IN o
oppressive ma ucr. But it seems hard
possible that the Administration can hG'
resolved upon a course SO d.sgracelul as IL
1t is like determination to submit TO We
shameful treatment, with u proviso that
shall not be made rude at the same tin
Let our rights and those of Great Britain
the premises be once for all decided bl
convention between the two countries.
such determination we would scrupuloui
adhere; but until it is made, the Admir-
trstion cannot retire without disgrace fr'
the position which the people have so 10
believed to he founded in right.
The Terrible Lesson OF Richmond.
The great ctla4iity which beFell the PEG
of Richmond the other day ought to COM
u lesson to us in New York For want Of
cQuatc public suucryisiOn n llunderinD I'm