Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-05-13
Daily 8fnnfbff gournd
AU q U TIA.
SATURDAY MORNING. May 10, 1871.
THE FISHERIES.

If the fishery question can be settled by
the new treaty, SO that the settlement will
be firmly established more will be accom-
plished than has ever yet been done. The
history of the fisheries is one of constant
difficulty, doubt, change, annoyance, and
latterly of vindictiveness towards this gov
eminent and persecution to the fishermen
by the Dominion authorities At the close
of the war with Great Britain by the Amer
lean Colonies, it was stipulated in the treaty
that the people of the United States should
have the most liberal rights to take fish on
the Grand Bank and all the other banks of
Newfoundland, in the Gulf of St. Lawrence
and at all other places in the sea where
the people of both countries were accus-
toned to fish, with the privilege of drying
and curing. This gave US all the rights
and privileges that our fishermen needed
to carry on their business successfully.
They We're not long allowed however to
enjoy their advantages. The first blow
was the cutting off of their trade wi tn the
British West Indies, from which they were
prohibited by an order in council forbidding
the importation of American fish. Then
came the war of 1912, after which new
treaty, that has been subject of contro.
versy to the present time. This treaty
contained the famous provision by which
our government renowned the right be-
fore enjoyed of fishing within three
miles of the shore. For few years there
was no special difficulty under this treaty,
but at last the British began to complain
of infringements under the three mile pro-
vision, and as early as 1882 interfered
with our fishermen and destroyed the
business of several vessels. While we
construed it TO mean that our fishermen
could take fish anywhere within three
miles of the coast, following its indenta-
tons, they contended that the line must
be drawn from headland to headland, thus
excluding our vessels from the bays and
the most valuable fishing grounds. I'm
der this construction our crafts were
boarded and seized, and bad feelings were
engendered between the two countries.
In lS4l and AZ there was an important
correspondence between the governments
in relation to the matter, and in 1s45 the
British authorities consented to allow opr
fishermen the use of the Bay of Fundy.
In 1852 the Provincials renewed their un-
friendly and proscriptive course, especially
hampering the fishermen about sending
home their fares of fish. In 1854 the Rec
iprocity treaty was adopted, and as long
as that lasted the Canadians were civil
about the fisheries, because they did no,
care to destroy the very profitable ar.
rangement which they had made fol
themselves in the treaty. Then came the
rebellion with its consequent heavy taxa,
ton Of the American people, increasing
the advantages to the Canadians of thu
treaty. and developing strong sympathy
on the part of the rebels. This occasionet
the abrogation of the treaty, which wa.
always one-sided affair, and grew worse
as taxation increased upon this side of the
boundary. Since its abrogation the Ca,
nadians have returned to their old ways
of harrassing the fishermen. manifesting
by their unusual methods of annoyance