New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-05-10
PRICE FOUR CENTS.
THE FISHERIES.


WHAT WE RELINQUIsHED IN 1S1S-RECI-
PR0CITY AND LICENSES.
lPRoM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT
WASHINGTON, ID. G., May 9.-Second only IN
importance to the Alabama Claims, and similar ones
growing out OF the late war; the adjustment Of the
Fisheries Question, intrusted 10 the Joint High ComS
sion, when viewed either 90 pecunary question
in the light Of its influence future intcrnatchai
law The mode Of adjusting this question Is OF primary
moment IL removes the most dangerous cause OF lrr'
ton and becomes guaranty against war, wm'n'
since 1882 has than been imminent The con
troll OF the rich fishing grounds east OF the mouth OF he
st. Lawrence River night 10 take fish there
at all, have oecasioned frequent international disputes
almost continually since Columbus discovered the West
World. The Biscayans and NorInans there "a
early 1904; and in 1917, than century be-
fore the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth, at lcast
so ships chiefly French, employed in the Nowfound
land shery business In 1877 the French alone had 40 fish
vessels in American waters and the interest became 30
great that 1t placed under the protection Of the Gov
eminent About l645 England with display Of selfish
ness that has than marked her dealings WITH
foreign powers deemed the fishermen Of France "fof
mjdable rivals OF her Own" though the former bad
scores of ships and hundreds OF men in the business a
most century before the English nag was Known ID
those waters. out of this rivalry grew disputes ana
bloodshed and finally long and distressing wars "h'h
at length resulted in the expulsion OF the French I'D"
brnt of all these battles borne by the hardy Ne"
England colonists, and this fact was iound,o t'
right OF American citizens fish in Canadian Wssir
right which, though often disputed, bas hna.y been
recognized in every treaty that has been heso""" on
the subject and the value OF which has ever bc'I spun"
ciated New England gave the Clnadaso Great SldI".
and with them the fisheries which, in the words OF
writer who treated of the subject more than century
ago. were worth more than all Canada"
THE REyoLUTIos-EsGLASD's FIRST BLOW AIMED Al TIE
YANKEE FISHERMEN.
One OF the first blows struck at New-Engand by the
mother country punishment for rebellion VA IT'D
was an attack on the fisheries OF Massachusetts,, New
Hampshire, Rhode Island and Connecticut. The p"iey
was TO starye these colonies into submission and az
the trade arising from the cOdhshery alone lurhnh'u
the New CHAMBERS nearly half OF their remtan''s 10
England in payment for British manufactured aruc"S'
Lord North moved that leave be given Ia BRING III
bin to restrain the trade and commerce Of the Provinces
OF Massachusetts, Bay and New Hampshire the COLONIES
OF Connecticut and Rhode Island and Providence Plah
ton in North America to Greet Britain, Ireland and
the British Islands in the West Indies and 10 promo"
such Prorinces and Colonies from caIryngon any nShy
on the banks OF Newfoundland and other places therein
TO be mentioned" And the patriots sought to return
the blow in kind for previous TO the treaty OF aace"t
177s nlan was submitted 10 the French Court Ia con-
auer Newfoundland, Canada and Nova scotla, WIN INC
design Of dividing these colonies between ffSh" an"
the United States and thus, as the projectors hoPe" "
ruin the British fisheries and, as direct consequence
the British marine The measure was submitted TO
No peace with Great Britain at first seemed possible,
after the Revolution which did not accord to Americans
the right fish the Ba e OF Newfoundahu ana o
records Of Congress betwe February and Angrt l"s
are full of earnest and debates upon inc SUD
iect During one Of the discussions on proposition 10
open negotiations for peace, Mr. Gerry introduced the
| following resOlutions
First: the welfare Of thee Ud state mas
the inhabitants Thereof at ts e1Ta 90 o. ta ~ 1o 70 nm on
enjoy the free and gn,aIosa t S GSp bsnl an a. OH
said States l. J., ,,.,.,ol and .s,, 70 ou, MIN. Y
Ter S Piespo aS az at s b Court y v.
cries explicit, guaranteed the inhabitants Of ibe' states
u5 Thir9 TRs. The treaty Of psee stipulation be
made on their part be inhabitants these Sae ,e
reciprocal engagement. the part Of the United stats
nued With Crest Britain previous such Stipulation.
ish That il the explanatory are should no, be ssd BY b.
Most Christian as'y nor cdo me 'pS' bsp s rive TSs
Congress- and not g any treaty Of peace ul' 'f IA"e
| be known.
Instructions OF this nature to Mr. Adams. but
were afterward withdrawn also those making
the conditions enumerated above the ultlmatun oi
treaty of commerce But Mr. Adams ana ms associate
Commissioners too patriotic 10 resign the rfhs on
their countrymen though Congress lacked the nm
| ness TO demand them. single extract from ahpe'ch
made by Mr. Adams before the Commission viii SHOW ls
feeling in regard 10 the matter A whole day had been
spent in discussing the fishery question, and, IN reply 10
the proposition OF the British Commissioners to leave out
OF the treaty the word rght ana insert III s P"' o
term liberty he spoke follows IN the most vehement
manner
"Gentemen is there or can there be clearer rightf
In former treaties of Utrecht and that OF fan-
France and Engisnd aTe 6& msde The Re nk an" New
foundland at 600 leagues distant from me Peop' or
America and 600 leagues from those of France ana IN
gland did he not give a. good right to the former az
10 the laeri II Heaven in the creation gave rtgh ~
IA ours at least much yours. III Occupation, h~,
and possession give right have IL az clearly ar You
II and blood and treasure give lgIt our y -
Wo IUrC
ada Ca1e Breton and Nora Scotia Jor the deonsc Of ms
FISHERY and haze expended beyond all proportion mGre
should il not be acknowledged and put out ont o. az
pute Why should leave room for llltIate hrh'i-
| men TO wrangle aud ehicane !!
| THE LIBERAL PROVISIONS OF THE FIRST TREATY.
Every attempt to postpone the question omit IT iiom
the treaty was strenuousy opposed by MI Adabs ana
he emphatically declared g. will never put my hahd 10
any articles without satisfaction about The h'y inc
result was the Glowing ample concessions IN the trd
| article OF the treaty:
anmqr',sd The 1s % az 1a n If 81 r. tie g s
rnc, and at al other places Ia The ga "st'r H ,e IN
cOunrt r'ed q any me h ,s Vi 10 az 2 Of s,ery l on
ncb r Of the coast onihd British thean asu as 1n'
not d5 OF ,1 I Of HIS Bdsarnc Majesty. Aea
and tts zoe , I g5 81 bsys hbors Nova Scotia Ma,
n I.ani and Labrador long the m sha rcnan S7s'
10, me aid fishermen dry fish such 'tr, With
oai grssos 1 1 r 1901 saaS WV"
This WAS all that any American could ask, more than
we have ever been allowed 10 enjoy Aud yet II was no
more than our could justly claim, and they con
idered their right good their right "a the soil
n, MASSACHUSETTS, or Virginia Had their descendants
napted themselves ~ irmy"on this extreme ground a.
asa the American Commissioners IN 1888 and ever Insisted
on the original article, England would nave Ten oDged
% con.ede il as she did then. When, therefore, the
Canadians with injured air. speak OF the hsheres ~
ers and look upon YAM trosPssses, reply
uanel a. fhaifS N