The New York herald., 1871-12-07
THE TREATY OF WASHINGTON.
Lively Opposition Of the New England Fish
ermen to The Arrangement.
Mass Meeting Of the 'Toilers Of the Sea'-Com-
ments on President Grants Message
Reasons and Resolutions Against
the New Line Of Policy.


The Treaty OF washington, with all its restrictions
and boundary lines, has long been known to he OBJ
noxious to the hardy fishermen on the coast OF New
England. Its provisions, they claim, Will If car
ried into practical effect SO hamper their exer-
tlOns and render their toll 30 unremunerave as 10
necessitate q change Of business, and MAJ thus
throw scores and hundreds OF them entirely out OF
employment.
Therefore 1t mas been that the NEST strenuous
opposition to the ratification Of the treaty has been
found In Gloucester and on Cape Cod, In Essex
and Barnstaole counties, where the tollers OF the
sea have seen at to choose their habtattons. The
cause Of their complaining has been made known
far and wide through the nstrumentallttes OF their
members OF Congress and the press. II has been, IN
acI almost the sole reason why the treaty has been
met with SO much opposition in New England, and has
assumed degree OF importance perhaps scarcely
warranted by the facts In the case. But, however
this may be, and whether the opinions OF this class
OF men are worthy Of notice not, there is ques
toning the TACT that their future course III relation
to the treaty has been looked forward 10 with In
ierest not altogether unminglcd with anxiety, by
the people Of the country for they are really taking
active steps forward IN the matter.
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
The recent Message Of the President enectually
squelcned their hopes Of obtaining defeat OF the
proposition for the ratification Of the treaty by Con-
gress, there being very few among their number
who care 10 array themselves boldly and IN an out
spoken manner against the administration and
they are now setting tnemsel yes about the work OF
answering the question. "Wnat nexty"
with this view about nfty Of the representative
change in THIS town TO-DAY. They were soner.
sensible, thoughtful individuals, too many of whom
the catching OF fsh was the CHIEF end OF mans
WORK on EARTH and that upon the selling thereof at
fair profit depend the sum and substance OF
Mr. j. L. Baker, an earnest ana wealthy fsh
dealer Of Dennis. presided over their deliberations.
which were at times quite animated In appearance.
Al nrst he said. 1t had been intended hold
meeting OF those interested IN the sublect but the
matter had since been shown up Ia such grave
looked i r on as premature. II mad Therefore been
viii be anected by the Ratification OF the treaty,
appOfDtIng therolrOm number OF sub committees,
whose duty It snail be to unite IN the form Of gen
eral executive board and take entire charge OF the
matter Of presenting the true condition 0 AFFAIRS to
Congress. This executive committee 1t was stated,
would be empowered to draft a memorial and urge
It's careful consideration at Washington.
Judge J. M. DAY, OF Barnstable, said he thought
that the case was clear enough In It's way. Three
either 70 ask conSress to refuse to raiiy the Treaty.
to ask for re-enactment Of the Bounty law, whicn
enSs@s in ss q & V Gs waee
Ing it's scope, SO as to include mackerel
s6sss s w s ,Sst cnsapen as
can 1--we as comfortably now as he could in years
before the rebellion. The second proposition he,
ike the majority Of the speakers who followed him
Major 8. b. Phlnney, OF Barnslaole; @. +. Swift. Col
lectOr OF Customs at Yarmouth; Noah Sweet or
Welneet and Others-believed to be the best during
the existence OF the law. For the payment or
b0unties to fishing vessels the Inhabitants OF
the counties OF Barnstabe aud Essex re-
celved about one hundred ana nifty Thousand
dollars o year from the general government,
and IN return therefor they furnished hundreds OF
able bodied seamen 10 the navy or the United States
whenever they were called upon for help. Eng
land and France, It was asserted project their own
fishermen by the payment Of gratuty OF this sort.
and we must either cope with them In o similar
way or impose O duty upon the very wares brought
into our waters. As matters stand now u vessel
costing $4,000 would not pay for herself In ife-
time.
APPROVAL.
The sentiments were applauded to the echo
The feeling OF the meeilng was then put in the
form OF resolution reading as f0lOws:-
Resolved That in the inevitable OF the treaty
of Washington the fishing nterests Of Cape Coi
would urge upon Congress liberal protection for that
branch industry being confident that unless such
adopted the competition OF the foreign shees
under the provisions OF the said treaty between ENGLAND and
the United States, will ultimately destroy occupation
which has long been OF value to the commerce and
marine OF the country.
committee was appointed to carry ont the
objects Of the meeting and the assembly was ad-
1OurQe0.