Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-12-19
the FISHERY TREATY.

represents the sentiments OF tne large D0uy
of people interested in fisheries in the eastern
part of the State, speaks of the treaty as fol-
lows:
| Now that several months have elapsed since
the conclusion of the treaty with Great Bri-
tain, there seems to be general acquiescence
in the substantial business of its arrange
ments, excepting those parts in relation to
the fisheries, and singularly enough these are
attacked for opposite reasons from both sides
There has been recent meeting at Hardwlch
on Cape Cod, of men largely interested In the
fishery business, and they renew their protest
against that part OF the treaty as being one
| sided in its operation, and assert that in
throwing open the markets of the United
States to fish caught by the subjects of Great
| Britain, free Of duty, privilege is granted
| for which American citizens do not gain COM
pensating advantages in the provisions of the
treaty. In our opinion tht re is coed deal
of truth in this view; but the general Judg-
ment Of the country is that this source of
| pickering and dispute had better be settled
and got out of the way, and as the terms
emed to be the best within our reach there
is disposition to accept them. 1t should be
remembered that as the matter now stands,
| large quantities of Provincial fish are import
en- into the United States to be re-exported
supplied in this way, and these fish are not
at all affected by the rates Of the tariff.
Some Of the Colonial papers still keep up
fire against these clauses of the treaty, from
the opposite side, and urge the Canadian Par
Lament to reject that portion which is de-
pendent upon their approval, but it is no.
ticed that those papers which represent the
actual fishing constituency are less demon
stra;ive in their way, than some in other parts
of the Dominion, Ontario, for instance. A
St. John paper suggests that Canada ought
to be conclliated, and seems to have expected
something from President Grants message.
But the terms were arranged by the Joint
Commission, and the President has nothing
to adj to them. If Canada chooses to reject
the treaty we shall endeavor to possess our
souls in peace, well convinced that ours will
not be the greater loss. The fact is, that after
enjoying the rich harvest which the Reclproc-
ity Treaty brought them, our neighbors want
to have the same sort Of good time again.
But even if the arrangement were an equita-
> Bile one in every respect, it would be impos-
sible for us to consent to it in the present state
of affairs. With the burdens of our great
: war upon us, and these would have been
much less enormous had Great Britain and
her colonial dependencies pursued more
friendly course toward us in our time Of
ties and internal taxes, and cannot afford to
let the products of the farm and forests of the
Dominion come in scot free. We should on
ly be obliged to assess larger duties on other
articles.
The Canadian authorities have always over
rated the value of the privilege Of fishing
J within three miles of their shores, and when
5 two years ago they fitted out feet to capture
the Yankee fishermen, the men interested in
cutting lumber on the Ottawa River, and rails
ing grain on the shores of Lake Erie, thought
that was the way to get their products into
the American markets free OF duty. But
even with their arbitrary way of making seiz-
ures, the number of vessels disturbed was
very small, and the decision of their own
courts showed how vulnerable were some of
the positions taken by their over jealous Of
ficers. The taking in of wood and water,
and the purchase OF bait might be evidence
that vessel was preparing to fish, but it
would not prove that she was getting ready
to fish inside the limits. The rules establish
ed in such cases should not contravene the
laws of fair dealing among nations.
We trust that the treaty will be ratified in
all its completeness, we wish to have all
causes of difficulty between US and our neigh
bors removed, but if not, we shall then col
lect a good round sum from duties on fish,
towards the reduction of our national debt.
Our fishermen will still continue to gather in
their harvests in sight of the Dominion,
anu if occasionally one is caught collecting
his scaly treasure inside the dead line, and
condemned in Admiralty, there will be no
cause of complaint.
LETTER FROM WEST WATER VILE.
WEST VAUDEVILLE, Dec. Is, 1871.
At the last meeting of the Kennebec County
Lodge, l. Q. of G. T., resolution was adept
ed recommending that each subordinate Lodge
in the county invite some clergyman Of the
place where it is located, to preach Temper
ance sermon soon, and that the Lodge attend
the service in body.
i In accordance with this resolution, Crysta
Fountain Lodge of this place, voted last FRI
day evening to invite Rev. II. F. Wood to
preach the sermon at the Free Baptist church.
He has accepted the invitation and will preach
the sermon soon.
Not long since billiard hall was opened in
this place, and at the same meeting the Lodge
voted to send protest to the selectmen of the
town against granting the proprietor license
W run te nah' IL Is tie ohIy ohe III tiIe
place.
The people of the village are very busy
preparing for Christmas. Most of the reig-
ious societies are to have Christmas trees at
their churches as usual. The Waterville
Quarterly Meeting held its last session with
the Free Baptist church in this place last
Wednesday and Thursday. The attendance
was large and the weather fine. H.
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
James r. Osgood Company have published in
neat volume The Last Tournament" the latest
and just publie he'd poem of Tennyson. The poem
form, one of the Idvls of tho kim ;ta rho