New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-05-13
CANADIAN RECIPROCITY.
NEGOTIATIONS AIT WASHINGTON.

NEGOTIATIONS AT WASHINGTON.
TIE QUESTION OF THE SHORE FISHERIES Or THE
ST. LAWRENCE-A COMMERCIAL TREATY PRO-
POSED BY THE CANADIANs-EXoRBITANT VALUE
WHICH THEY PUT UPON THE FIoHEMES-RE-
SUITS OF THE REPEAL OF THE TREArl OF lSi
GENERAL PRESS DIsPATCH.l
WASHINGTON, May 12.-There seems to be
some prospect that the negotiations now going on with
view TO new treaty of commercial reciprocity with
the Dominion OF Canada may terminate successfully
Under the Washington Treaty the enjoyment OF the
shore fisheries OF the St. Lawrence was leased to the
United States for years. condition that their cash
value during that should be determined By arb
traitors, and the amount paid over to Canada few
months ago Mr. Rothery. an eminent English jurs-
consult, was sent by the British Government to
make the necessary gements for giving effect to
this arbitration, and he was busy collecting facts and
evidence when the Canadian Government sug-
gested much reasonable and profitable
both countries IL would be were the Use OF
their fisheries merged, formerly in treaty OF com
merclal reciprocity. Communications between our
Government and that OF Great Britain on this suggeS-
ton resulted In the present effort to ascertain II tho
substitution be made terms satisfactory 70 both
parties Fish, Secretary OF State conducts the
gotiatons behalf of our Government, and Sir Ed
ward Thornton, X. c. b. British Minister here. and the
Hon. George Brown, Senator Of the Canadian Dominion
act Joint plenIpotentlarics on the part of Great
Britain. The SotatiOns have been going for
months and it is understood that rough outline Of
new treaty is the subject OF discussion Mr..
Rothery the En- ylsh law agent in the Fishery Arbra-
on has gone to the Pacific until the result OF the latter
negotiation is detcrmned but should the treaty fail,
the fishery arbitration Will be at once proceeded with.
The Canadians put what is deemed most exorbItant
value on their fisheries The Canadians assert that the
profit from this large fishing interest depends on our
fisherman having access TO their shore fisheries, and
they quote in support OF this the statement OF special
commissioner OF the United states Treasury that with
out this access deep fisheries in that region will
become yaueess They also assert that within three
years the repeal of the reciprocity treaty, which
deprived our fishermen OF the shore privileges they had
enjoyed under the treaty tonnage in the trade had
fallen from 1900 tons in the year 1862 to $4,000 tons in 1862
They further that the OF these shore
privileges under the Washington Treaty has al
ready doubled the tonnage OF our fishing fleet from
what it was 1869, and that It Will soon exceed the
tonnage OF 1862 They insist that he result of srbra
ton must be an award in their favor equal 10 very
large rental for twelve An enthusiastic gentle
from of the maritime Provinces who has been
hunting up evidence for the arbitration, declares will
be established by Irresistible evidence based the
advantages accrung in past years to the United States
that tho fair rental ought to pay is S. 100000 per
annum.
The Canadians contend that IL is n very generous
thing on their part propose the merging Of this great
interest ia general commercial arrangement the chief
ADVANTAGE from which must necessarily accrue IN the
future always has in the past to the United states
They totally deny the correctness Of the general i'm
preston here that they had the best OF the bargain
under the treaty Of 1884, ands insist that the contrary
was the fact Of the traffic between the coun
tries during years existence OF the treaty show
volume OF trade OF no less than SllOOoOo with cash
balance in favor of over s20,00,00o The Canadian
accounts show gross traffic OF $G2J0OcOOo. and bal
ance I'm our favor Of s9500J0OO The Canadians think
hat this traffic could staud very well Oh it's merits
A that any
consideration to have a share IN such trade, ihey
point to the carrying traffic from Canada to our
ocean ports and which also enjoyed dur
ing ne operaon OF the treaty 10 the Tree use OF their
hore hslieres winch we got for nothing; the
Of their canals on the payment OF tolls that barely paid
cost and repairs and TO the free navsaton OF
an prepOnderance oil advantages IN favor
OF the United states from the Ieaty OF 1854
regard To the repeal OF the treaty, tho Canadians
allie ge that not had the effects that anci
pated either side OF the lines and though II has
changed very much the character OF their foreign
merce, they prosperous than they ever were.
They II compelled them to seek new markets for
their surplus products and that this brought tem
larger carrying trade with foreign countries which was
formerly done by and which they have found very
merce has thus enormously increased since 1856 the
proportion IL done with the United states which I'M
der the treaty gradually TO o2i cent OF their
entire trade since rapidly fallen away In conse-
quence restriction policy, until now IT is not IS
Der cent OF their trade. Tney further aege that from
the moment repeal the balance Of trade for the first
time in their history wen, against the United states.
Tue Canadians think would be wise for two traders
SO situated 10 make friends throw open their markets
each other aud let the merchant who offers have
the stuff and the forwarder who carries quickest and
best have the carrying, aud though they
only 100000 strong ana our commercial policy
il so restrictive, the Canadians pretend To
saw that our tratiic with them l. the largest and
best possess, except that with Great Britain.
The Canadians have not particle OF feeling They
fully recognize the absurdty OF any people complaining
Of tie commercial policy any other nation may think
proper adopt They venture to think, however that
different toward Canada would lead to a very
large increase OF mutually profitable business between
tue countries. Iney say they have no need TO ask IA
body, and do not want any now. but II the
United states think 10 to their interest the
aud all other troublesome questions In
10 comprehensive treaty, they Will cordially agree To any
equitable settlement calculated 10 place the commercial
relations OF the two countries "a friendly unfct
tered and mutually advantageous basis.