The New York herald., 1871-01-03
THE FISHERY CONuNDRUM.
Our Speck OF War With the
Dominion.
Special Herald Commissioners
on the Situation.
They Interview Canadian States
men, Gloucester Fishermen
and Jack Tars.
FULL AND INTERESTING REPORTS.
The British Provincial Authorities I'm
peach President Grant.
They Are Astounded by His Message and
Hint That lie Is Buncombizing.
They Know Their Rights and
Must Maintain Them.
The Yankee Hen Of Bait and
Hook for War.
"Evry Canadian City Ought to be Blown to
Kingdom Come by Nitro-Glycerine"
Indignation and Threats Of
the Gloucester Boys.
How They Talk of the Seizures Of
Their Vessels and Ill-Treatment
Of Their Crews
What Will Come of the Whole
Thing.
Indignation and Threats OF
the Gloucester Boys.
How They Talk of the Seizures Of
Their Vessels and Ill-Treatment
Of Their Crews.
What Will Come of the Whole
Thing.
THE KhNUCKIAN SIDE OF THE QUESTION.

OTTAWA Dec. 80, 1s70
1t Is with great pleasure that / am able to CON-
municate my report of the results OF the very inte-
resting mission con0ded to me OF repairing to the
seat Of government OF the Dominion at Ottawa and
conferring with the statesmen Of that government
upon the subject OF the complaints made against
them OF unrriendly and injurious treatment OF
American interests IN the matter OF the fisheries and
the navigation OF the 81. Lawrence. l have TO
acknowledge on behalf OF the HERALD and myself
reception most courteous and friendly the part OF
the gentlemen OF the administration. They expressed
the greatest satisfaction that the leading jour-
nal OF America should have specially commissioned
gentleman TO hear their statements and views
upon the very important subjects IN question, and
thus offered them such medium Of reaching the
American public with full statement OF all the
facts OF their case "a could not be obtained In any
other way. l have been favored with long and pro-
traced interviews in these matters by the very
tinguished ana cultivated Dominion Premier, Sir
John Macdonald, as well as by Sir Francis Hlncks,
the Finance Minister; the Hon. s. L. Tllley, the
Minister OF Customs the Hon. S. F. Howe, Secretary
OF State fer the Provinces, and especially the Hon.
Peter Mitchell, the Minister OF Marine and Fisheries
whose department is more particularly concerned
with these matters. have had the privilege OF full
and ample discussion with all these gentlemen
and especially with the last-of the difficulty that
Hhs dTseIl, anu lUllk IL Impossible 10 speak loo
highly Of the energy ana lucidt7 and fulness with
which the whole subject was stated by them
on behalf OF their government Your space
would not allow that l should parlicularize
the conversations / held with each OF these
statesmen upon the fisheries ana st Law
renee questions. Much Of the ground. moreover,
was naturally gone over again with all of them.
1t viii, therefore. be convenient that should throw
my report into the form OF a dialogue between your
commissioner and the abstract individual whom
will call 'the Dominion statesman And your
readers may be sure that what Is here attributed to
that individual Is the accurate representation Of the
collective views and statements OF the gentlemen
whom have specified whose studies OF these ques.
tions seemed to be equally comprehensive. The
Minister or Marine and Fisheries although In depart
mental charge Of tnem did not exec his colleagues
In the ulness of his knowledge and studies OF these
important topics. And whatever view the American
public may take OF the matters which / have the
honor 10 report at least testify that the action
OF The Dominion government has been taken by q
group OF onicial gentlemen whom after long per-
sonal experience Of statesmen and governments,
can pronounce equal to any in the thoroughness and
care with which they do their business OF governing
great community. Indeed, have never conversed
with any statesmen who seemed so thoroughly mas.
tiers and authorities in their work.
Your reporter opened his conference with an In
nmatlon that the HERALD, true to lts system Of
tracking subjects to their very source, had de-
spatched me TO hear what Canadian statesmen had
TO say upon the subject OF fisheries and the St Law
renee, and especially OF the charges OF unfriendl
ness against American fishermen. To this question
had the following reply from my Canadian states
man
DOMINION STATEsMAN-Sir we are glad indeed
that you have come We are disposed to 60 into the
whole subject with you comprehensyeIy and ex-
baustivey. And at the outset desire TO say that
we are simply overwhelmed with astonlshment at
the language used by the President OF the United
States concerning and the charges made against
US. We are absolutely free from all offence against
the United States In every particular We have been
assailed absolutely without cause, fact or reason
We have neither done nor said anything which
amounts to more tnan the defence Of our property
IN just, kindly and legal ways. We have stretched
no point in our favor against the people OF the
States. On the contrary, we have stretched points
against ourselves. II you hear our case fully you
wii be able, win your experience as lawyer and
politician, 10 test 1t. Scrutinze u TO The utmost,
and Win as adverse III eye as you please but pray
study II FULLY.
HERALD ComxIssioNER-Sr have come here for
tie very purpose and shall listen with the closest at
tention and assure you. In the most judicial temper
TO all you nave TO say.
DOMINION SrATTsMAN-Wen, think IL would be
convenient TO say In the first instance that IL not
the case as the President ntmaies in his Message,
20 American fishermen In our waters. On the con-
rary. we have practically surrendered, though we
theoretically malDta attn, very important point the
headand point, upon which we consider our rights
induoitabe, and We now maintain and enforce only
exclusive fishery property-tnat Is to say, three
miles from shore, which Is OF much an ex-
elusive property as gold mine on the land itself.
Perhaps II would be well TO 20 little more into de-
tall. The whole question now rests upon the ar
Eangenents made by the treaty Of 1885, Previous 10
thai date and 10 the Of 1872 indeed at the mo-
ment o. the concession OF independence to the
United States, that government had advanced O
claim not tenabe and not eventually ad-
bered 10 OF this kind. They said that
the nshlpg grounds OF the British were con-
qnered from tue French by the common military
operations OF the English aud the colonists and
therefore thev had a sort OF natural rirht To use