The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-05-23
GLOUCESTER FISHERMEN ON The TREATY
Their Objections and Remonstrances-Fea That
1t Will Drive All the Fishery Business Into
the British Provinoes-A Protest Against
the Ratification Of the Treaty.

GLOUCESTER, May 81, 1871.
The "Treaty OF Washington as 1t Is Called Is not
relshed very well in this locality. Although on
| general principles the document may be Of vast
public Importance, and calculated to effect great
good in the settlement OF our difficulties with Great
Britain yet, SO far as 1t affects the fishery Interests
In dispute, its provisions lamentably inadequate.
SO say tho honest old fishermen or Cape Ann, among
whom HERALD correspondent has been circulating
for several days past. They quaint old fellows
those Gloucester nshermcn; sturdy sons OF
the sea, with their hands embrowncd with
honest toll and their hearts rull OF the
grievances which they claim TO have suffered at
the hands OF the British government. They are
sincere In their expressions OF opinion, at least for
the subject matter OF which they speak affects the
future OF the livelihood In the prosecution OF which
they have spent many OF the best years OF their lives
Cape Ann is emnently the fishing headquarters Of
New England, and Gloucester Is its great centre. Fish
and fishing materials the great staples OF trade
and even the resident inhabitants have ''most
ancient and fshllEc smell" 1t IS hitting, therefore,
that their opinions ana their criticisms should be
listened to with attention, and their recommends
tons needed as becomes their merits. To begin with
then, let me repeat the assertion that
THE FISHERMEN CANNOT STAND THE TREATY.
lfanybody asks them why, they sdy:-"Because It
gives foreign fishermen monopoly OF the
business; throws .,.u US completely out Of The
WIN work to our utter rum and destruction. The
Canadians Will Chamber into fortune on our necks,
United States, viii be compelled at this late day In
the lives OF many OF us TO seek other less congenal
ana remuneraiiye employments. The passage OF
GROSS ACT or Injustice
on the part Of the administration, and we can never
forget i. Tho treaty gives foreign fishermen an OPP
portnnty TO come on this shore and fish where they
o wan nr ins ceap vessels and nc, Quilts
government, what Is to hinder them, II possessed OF
common business energy from controlling the busl-
ness anu successfully competing with the American
ncet, even on this shore. during seasons when
mackerel In the bay and on their own
The case some yeass Now the d pov
cial mackercl catchers depend upon our fisher
caught on our coast. II this new treaty Is ratified
they can catch their own bait, and we shall lose this
branch entirely, which amounts to a considerable
| SUN, each vessel using some fifty barrels year,
| valued al eight dollars per barrel.
/ THE RECIPROCITY TREATY
| worked differently. 1t went into operation at O
tune when the government paid a bounty to the
fishermen, salt was free and none OF the articles
| used In business were so severely taxed as now.
Since Its repeal the import Of colonial fish has di
m,nsaed aud our fisheries are recovering, Thus the
1865. 1865. ss,eos, $40 under the treaty. and ID
lssg sT after the e., treaty expired
| the trade OF Nova Scotia has decliped from
600 In the arst three years cited 20 SAL 600
vinclal fishermen may come upon our coasts freely
take their bait In Lynn Bay, and their mackere
and salt fish the Boston market.
Even with duty OF two dollars per barrel on
mackerel and fifty six cents per quintal on fish the
Provinces can Almost compete With US.
WHAT TO DO.
In the language OF one OF tho Oldest and most eX
pcrienced fish dealers OF Essex county,
The question which now comes home 10 owners OF
follow this calling, is will the Senate I've SO blind
| to ratify treaty which asks so mucn for such a
the fisheries as well as other Impartial business men
is let the question remain as II Is rather than make
& i II the pn9n Of the
country at large that this treaty be accepted
In order to settle the vexed question OF the three.
mile boundary, then let the government do as well
BY It's fishermen as other countries do by theirs
Reduce the duties on the articles they need, and
| chance to compete with others. Let the govern
ment give them this and they amply able TO take
/ care Of themselves. But to burden them as they
now are. and then to add TO 1t, expecting them to
carry the load is altogether too much, and In this
| light We wish our senators to view the case.
i A PROTEST AGAINST THE RATIFICATION OF THE
| TREATY.
Every owner OF vessel and every man in
Gloucester engaged In the fishing business, has
| signed remonstrance against the ratification or
the treaty. which has been presented to the senate
| BY Senator Sumner. The protest IS as follows:-
/ To THE HONORABLE SENATE or the UNITED STATES =
The undersigned. filters of engaged in
he now being
sr snd so y T ss a Of
In pe,ionns the Of the United States for
lection against spoiAon and oncia annoyance from tue
Dominion government the fishermen sought only Tor q
just Interpretation of their rights American ciizcns The
combinations of cheap vessels cheap labor cheap living low
vi, %S S ultimately The aS.opn h.
branch of industry Feeling assured that the
sacrifice OF business will be national loss BY reducing
the marine OF the United States DESTROY the
for which has been the special of
the government, respectfully submit the following facts
| for confederation
/ Fist-The fishing business ia remunerative.
has been largely sustained by bounses and draw
back duties.
Making foreign fish free transfers the boun.es to
foreigners
| For0l-our own coasts our most productive fishing
| grounds.
F0h-The importation OF foreign fish adds nothing the
| productive labor OF tho country.
SfIthThe parties directly injured the who catch
1 the fish, not those who trade IN them.
-ppder the most favorable circumstances less than
opeh Of the mackere caught In east Of Maine
taken inside OF the hreemile line following the ndenssons
is,s5mh. privilege of our fisheries. with tn. profits
OF growing OF American vessels citing Ia Eng
ish ports fair equivalent for all that 10 granted In the
| treaty
| Nith--Canadians can build, and At 6shnr vessels
thirty three than Americans Add TO this the
bounty the abrogaon Of the duty OF the United
States Dominion ishermsn and ind discrimina-
ton against the American fishermen Of saytn duties on
vessels CATCH $500 In hng and running said vessel $685.
| total, $780,
we say 'et have peace" but do not feel u TO be
should projected and the
which obtain support