The Republican journal., 1871-05-18
The New Treaty.

The new treaty between the Unltcu
States and Great Britain, now completed
so tar rs the labors of the joint com
mission is concerned, amounts in sub
stance to the synopsis which we have
heretofore published. The reciprocal
settlement of claims is provided for, in
GLIDING specially those growing out Of the
depredations of Confederate cruisers fitted
out in England. Also the navigation of
the st. Lawrence and other rivers and
canals in the territory of the Dominion,
desirable to citizens of the United States,
is provided for
The portion of the treaty which is of
most interest to the State of Maine relates
TO the regulation Of the fisheries. The
following synopsis gives the provision of
the treaty in relation to the new rights that
will be acquired under it when it shall 90
into operation
The same great idea Of international arbilra-
ton through the intervention of friendly
powers, and the same spirit of cordial bu; self
respectful amlty, pervade the stipulatiors of the
treaty in regard to differences which by their
seat or subject are more purely American.
Foremost among them is the question of the
sea fisheries on the coasts of the British Posses
sions, as to which it is agreed that, in addition
to the liberty secured to them by the Treaty of
1918, the fishermen of the United States shall
have the liberty to take sea fish on the Sea-coast
and shores, and in the bays, harbOrs and creeks
of the Provinces of Quebec, Nova Scotia and
New Brunswick, and the Colony of Prince
al lI9
without being restricted to any distance from
the shore, with permission to land upon such
coasts, shores and islands, and also upon the
Magdaen Islands, for the purpose of driving
their nets and curing their fish, subject, of
course, in this respect, to the local rights Of
private property; and the same liberty is grant
ed to British subjects on the eastern sea-coasts
and shores of the United States, north Of the
39th parallel Of latitude; this liberty not to in
clude, on either side, shell-ish or the salmon
and the mouths of rivers. 1t is further agreed
that fish oil and fish of all kinds, except fish of
the inland lakes and their rivers, and except
fish preserved i'll Oil, the produce of the fisheries
of the United States or of the Dominion of
Canada or of Prince Edwards Island shall be
admitted into each country respectively, free of
duty. The privileges thus conceded to the
United States are obviously most important
ones. It's asserted by the British Government,
but not admitted by the United states, that the
States are of greater value than those aceordedto
the subjects of Great Britain, and to prevent or
avoid controversy on this point, it is agreed
that a mixed Commission with an umpire to
be appointed by Il designated friendly Power,
shall determine whether any compensation for
such alleged excess of privileges, and. if so.
how much ought to be paid by the United
States.
Those provisions, it will be seen, 90
back to the treaty at the close of the rev
dictionary war, which gave to the citizen,
of the United States the most liberal
rights of fishing and the use of the British
colonial shores for the purposes connected
with the fisheries. The subsequent treaty,
following the war of 1912, with its re-
strictiOn to three miles distance from the
shore, is swept away. The mutual i'm
portation and expectation of fish free OF
duty, rc-enacts to that extent the old rec
iprocity treaty, but will not be likely to
do much harm to the interests of this
country, provided Congress shall have the
wisdom to remove taxation from vessels
outfits ana all materials for pursuing the
business Neither will the rights acquired
by provincial fishermen of pursuing their
calling on the shores of the United States.
American enterprise and skill will con-
tinue to give our fishermen largely the
advantage.
When the provisions of the new treaty
shall have gone into operation, we shall
look for new impetus to the fishing bus
mess, especially in Maine. The hard
ships and annoyances Of colonial regula-
tons, added to the natural hazards and
uncertainties of the mackcrcl and coo.
fisheries, have operated to depress that
industry greatly of late years. Maine is
favorably situated to pursue the fisheries,
with an extended coast, facilities for
building vessels, and hardy soa-going
people. If the provisions of this treaty,
as now understood are to be interpreted
fairly and justly, the capital of the State
will be attracted to the business, and we
shall see the fishing towns of Maine once
more prosperous, with the power TO add
largely to the wealth of the State.