The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-04-20
Tho Fisheries Settlement.

Tho Fisheries Settlement.
1t appears from the HERALD's special WASH
ington dispatches that, as on the Alabama
claims, the Joint High Commission, conceding
the essential point in question to the United
States, have agreed to turn over the settle
ment Of the fisheries to board Of arbitrators.
The British government, first of all, agrees to
allow our fishermen to fish on the coasts Of
Canada, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, New
foundland and Prince Edward Island, with
out regard to distance from the shore, and
that such fishermen shall have the privilege
OF using the shores of the coasts above
named, other than private property, for the
purpose Of curing fish, drying nets and other
necessary matters Of that nature. But this
provision does not apply to shad and salmon,
or to fishing Of any kind in rivers, inlets, &C.,
Of the New Dominion.
Here we have q great concession. Under
the existing treaty stipulations our fishermen
league from the shore line, and under her
Britannia Majesty's provincial construction Of
the treaty their marine league runs straight
across from headland to headland, thus ex-
GLIDING 'sthe Yankees" from many of the CULTS
and bays, In which there is often the best fish
ing. Under this new agreement all these
restrictions arc removed, and in the great
business Of these Northeastern fsheries-the
catching Of Goldfish, mackerel and halibut-
the Yankees arc substantially admitted to the
same privileges as her Majesty's subjects.
In the next place British and New Dominion
fishermen are to have the right to fish on the
coast Of the United States north OF the lati-
tude Of thirty-nine (that is from Delaware Bay
northward), with the same privileges on shore
as those granted on the other side; but this pro-
vision is not to apply 10 the catching Of
salmon, shad, oysters or CLAIMS. So far our
people have the best end of the bargain, for all
Of these fishery troubles have been about those
miraculous shoals Of cod and mackerel in the
Gulf of st. Lawrence and Whereabouts. And
why these swarms Of cod and mackerel in
these waters2 They are due to the immense
volume Of fresh water discharged into that
gulf by the great st. Lawrence river and to
the peculiar marine vegetation and animal
cular life resulting from this partial freshening
Of the waters of the st. Lawrence gulf and its
surroundings.
Now comes the main provision Of this fishery
arrangement. The Joint High Commission
agree that a Board of Arbitrament shall be
appointed, to consist of three members-one
to be appointed by the President ofthe United
States, one by the Queen of Great Britain and
Ireland, and one (if the first two can't agree on
a man) is to be chosen by the Emperor
of Austria and King Of Hungary,
and this Board is to decide upon
the fishing privileges granted by each
country, and the party having the best Of the
bargain is to make 1t even by money COM
pensation. Gould anything be fairer2 But
what does the Emperor Of Austria and King
of Hungary know about Goldfish and mackerel2
ment. 1t Is because he does not know any
thing about Goldfish and mackerel, nor about
these st. Lawrence gulf fisheries, and 1t is
because he has no interest, one way or the
OTHER, in them, that he is named, for the last
resort, as the umpire In this BUSH
ness. But the Grst two of this fish,
cries commission may choose their UNI
pire, and II they want man who knows
all about Goldfish, mackerel and likewise her.
ring, the King Of the Netherlands is their man.
Next after him--yea, before him, az O man
conversant with fishing interests-we would
propose the Micado Of Japan. The nfty mill
lions Of people Of the Japanese islands live
chiefly on fish, aud If any man in the Old
World, therefore, is likely to understand the
Importance Of o just settlement In reference
to these American fisheries, that man Is the
! Micado of japan. What says General Butler
| ~ S vss~f - , y
to this propositionp