New-York tribune., 1871-01-12
THE YTCHEPJES.

The seizure of the American schooner Gran
ada by fishery officers of the Dominion, re-
ported in THE TRIBUNE yesterday, was such
gross outrage against the comfy which
ought to prevail between two neighboring
friendly nations, that many Of our readers
were perhaps inclined to believe the
story exaggerated. In truth, however, Tho
seizure seems to have been in strict accordance
with the declared policy of the Canadian au-
thorities, and we may expect many occurrences
of the same kind, unless we can find somo
way of bringing the semi-independent but
irresponsible" Government across our northern
frontier 10 reason. The purpose OF the new
regulations is not to protect the Canadian fish
ermen, OF prevent ipfractODs Of local laws !;
but simply to harass and destroy one OF our
important industries, and so force us to tho
adoption OF q revenue policy which wo have
found inconsistent with Our national interests
Of course, when the deliberate purpose Of the
Canadians is to annoy us, no opportunity of
making the law as hateful a. pos
sble will be neglected. When the new
regulations were put in force there was
not, and for long time had not been, any
controversy about fishing limits, or the rights
of American fishermen In British waters. Tho
old dispute whether the British had exclusive
jurisdiction over the waters Of their bays and
gulfs was in allegiance, and the treaty OF 1918
was supposed to be perfectly well understood
by both parties. Under that treaty Americans
could not fish within marine league Of the
British shore, except at certain part Of the
Newfoundland Banks, or except under q
license from the Dominion authorities. Ameri-
can fishing-vessels entering British ports were
subjected to certain restrictions, designed to
prevent their taking or curing fish within tho
prohibited limits but they might always ell
ter for the purpose Of obtaining shelter, re-
pairing damages, purchasing wood, or obtain
ing water. These privileges were guaranteed
by the treaty; others wcro sanctioned by GUS
tom, by local enactments, and by commercial
regulations not founded upon any specific law.
For instance. American fishermen were allowed
to land fish in bond, to be transported by
rail TO market. They were allowed 10
purchase bait, food, and ice. The col
Onists as well as the fishermen derived
great advantage from this Interpretation
Of the treaty, and an active trade was cre-
atcd at the principal ports to which the Amer
leans used to resort for supplies Four acts
were passed from tine to time by the Imperial
and Dominion Parlaments for the purpose of
giving effect to the trcajy of 1918 and defining
its provisions, and in none of them was there
any prohibition of the furnishing of supplies to
American fishermen.
When the Dominion Government deter
mined this year to break up the American fish
cries in order to compel US to renew the treaty.
Of Reciprocity, their first measure was to refuse
the customary licenses for foreign vessels to
fish in certain Of the British waters. This they
had an .undoubted right to DO; although the
suddenness OF their action. involving serious
loss 10 fishermen who had made their contracts
without suspicion OF tho impending change.
was ungraciOus-not to say malicious-in tho
last degree. The next step vas to enforce an
entirely new construction OF tho treaty OF 1913.