New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-09-21
THE FISHERIES QUESTION.

b ~ AOs1s
THE FISHERIES QUESTION.
PUBLIC OPINION IN THE LOWER PRovIxCEs-rHE
OPPOSITION TO TUE WASHINGTON TREATY
IPR0M OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE
ST. JOHN, N. B., Sept. 18.-The opposition to
the tho Washington Treaty in this Province and
Novascotis II rapidly eliminating. calmer and more
careful consideration Of the subject having convinced
many people that they have not 90 bad bargain -
they ct first believed Hero in NewBrunswiok. where
the treaty has been sssaed most trenousy account
Of tho clauses relating to the fisheries the hostility
eynceA looks quito absurd In view Of the really small
interest the Province has In the fishing compared with
that of Newfoundland and NovaScOtia. The quantity
Of Goldfish taken IN Brunswick waters in 1870 was
only 1900 quintals, while NOvaScota reports $4,000
and Newfoundland over 100000; and Of mackerel,
v-Brunswick fishermen took but s.e42 barrels In
that year. while the Eova-scotans took $4,000. II
Ia often the case that people make the most
ado about things Of which they know little,
and which concern them the least This IL
notably true about this asieSy buiness. All through
the Dominion is the people who have no direct concern
in the fisheries who donounce tho Treaty as unsaaao-
tory and unfair. Those who actually engaged In
catching fish, or who fishing vessels. are cOnented
with the Treaty and think the advantage they will gain
by having the markets Of the United States open 10 them
for the sale of their FISH ample compensation Tor the
concession to the Americans OF the right TO nsh along
their shores One would suppose that II tho men who
rot their living by catching, curing Transporting OF
Ealing sh ara entirely satisfied with the Treaty and
think Il will work for their advantage. the question
would be settled once and public opinion would unan
mousy favor Its ratification. The reason why nos
M IN tho exaggerated value set upon tho nsneres "
people having no direct interest In the VINO LOOK upon
them az the one valuable thing possessed by the PROV
A,xxh plfoda fafq
to be made the most of In bargaining with the
American Government for privileges and concessions In
the way of special reductions Of tariff duties in favor
provincial products The people OF every part OF o
Dominion wanted an arrangement made Dy INC 1roay
which would special trade privileges Tor tho a
oles they produce a. oet for the fshing privilege
Thus the Ontario people wanted to admit their gram
duty free and would have been satisfied II thas nad
been provided for; tho New-Brunswick people cared
not ing for gran which they can't raise but nssted on
the freedom Of the humber trade. tho nee fegsry VI
shps built by them and tho opening OF our coasting
trade to their vessels IN western Novacota ana cape
Breton they wanted the duty taken on eoa and In INST
ern Novascota where they build and own more ships
in proportion to the population than anywhere else In
the world they cared for nothing but the privilege OF
selling US their ships and doing our carrying trade for
u.s. Each section Indifferent to the others inSeree
and each looked upon the fisheries as something shst
ought to bring about advantageous terms win inc
therefore
be Indignant find that they had gained nothing by the
Treaty and that the right TO catch fish along the coasts
of the provinces was be compensated for not by free
grain free COAL FREQ lumter or free ships bus by the
freedom of American markets for The sale OF hsn caught
BY the provincial fishermen It seems never to nave &C.
Cured to them that the privilege or selling nsh wouu
be considered fair remuneration for the privilege OF
catching fish, they appear to have considered tat
It was the interests Of the fshermen themselves that
were properly be considered, and not the wishes OF
those who had coal, grain, or ships 10 SELL
A far as can learn ALL the great houses In the mari
time provinces that own large numbers OF vessels EN-
ploycd In the fisheries and extensive Tor
curing and packing sh are satisfied with the Treaty as
II s 30 are the fishermen, with few except'ons' Az
st. Andrews in this province where they catch herrngs
in the Winter freeze them and CELL them IN the spring
they were at first afraid that the Yankees would come up
and catch all the fish, but am told that, on thinking the
matter over moro carefully, they have concluded that
thev can catch the behring's cheaper than the Amer
cans and that the latter will in the Spring and buy
their Winters catch from them, thus making new de-
mand They therefore no longer oppose the treaty as
they did at first Another class whose interests Will be
advanced by the Treaty the merchants IN the towns
along the seac0st who expect to reap prOnt In the
trade they will have with American vessels which will buy
many of their supplies here where they are cheaper
than in the States
find nobody who pretends that the people of the
Provinces or any part Of them will actually BIO injured
the Treaty There plenty OF men VINO st strongly
oppose It, have met them In New Brunswick, in Prince
Edwards Island, and In NOyaScOta but their opposition
will always be found arise from the fact that their
especial local interests not to be benefited by the re-
suits Of negotiations at Washington as they expected
would be the They have obtained full equivalent
for all they have given u.s. But those provincials
fully as sharp at trade their Yankee cousins. They
hoped to drive hard bargain with u.s. and get for their
fisheries at least four five times what they are worth
They have not done this and are OF disappointed
and angry at those who madehe Treaty ,There is feel
ing of wounded PRIDE too that the British Government
should mix matters Of exclusively colonial concern with
the Alabama claims barter away the interests OF the
Provinces without much regard for their opinions Be-
aides there are not few who think that Canada should
part with none of her fishing rights but retain them In
tact until what admit be her ultimate destiny,
annexation, takes place, when she would have some
thing valuable to offer the United States to secure IA
vorable terms Of union.
In spite Of the opposition which still exists to the
Washington Treaty, there is after all not much doubt
that the Dominion Parliament will promptly carry out
it, part Of the arrangement next Winter, and pass the
necessary legislation to open the nshore fisheries 70
American vessels This might be looked forward to as
certainty were 1t not for the fact that some Of the
Dominion politicians think possible that If Parliament
refuses to do 90, delays action, Congress may 60
further than the Commissioners contemplated and take
the tariff of Some one Of the ARTICLES which the
provincias want export to the United for
examplin order to induce the Dominion to carry out
Its part Of the Treaty their views prevail isprobaole
that the final determination Of the question will be put
OF ut Ottawa until 1t Is what to come Of the agita-
ten In Congress for reduction Of the tariff which will
be sure to revive next Winter We in the United States
ia Ahn kAakth kr kn ha