New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-12-25
THE CANADIAN FISHERIES.

| TIE FISHERIES OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES OF THE Xxx
PoRTArIoS or FISH FROM cANADA-PRoDUcr OF
TIE FISHERIES OF THE UNITED sTATEs-sMALL
AMOUNT or THE EXPORTS.
fYRoN REGULAR CORRESPONDENT or TIE TRIBUNE |
WASHINGTON Dec. 22.-The Commission
created by the odd Article Of the Treaty of Washington
TO determine what compensation. II ought to DO paid
by the United States to the Great Britain
for tho fishing privileges confirmed to citizens by
that treaty viii probably meet in Halifax early next
Summer The President has yet announced the name
the American Commissioner but II Ia understood ne
has already selected suitable person, who has accepted
position and Is preparing himself for the proper
discharge OF his duties The long delay in making this
appointment caused by the desire OF the Cana
dau Government for the ratification of general reel
procy treaty and not by any fear the part OF the
President that the Commissions award against as would
be large one. All reports that any Misunderstanding
between the governments OF the United States and
Great Britain has arisen this delay therefore,
without foundation Had the Senate ratified the reel
prOcy treaty which the President submitted to IL during
the last Congress- the Canadian Government would never
have cared whether the Fishery Commission met ut all OF
not.
nsno new thing FOR the press and the people Of Can
ada 70 estimate prepOsterous figures, IA they re-
Gently have done. the value OF fishery privileges In
Canadian waters enjoyed claimed by citizens OF the
United States. TO exaggerate the loss which compe-
tticn with American fishermen Is said to entail upon
4 this industry the Dominion. Inc atesI Nl4ch
have seen put forth bv the Dominion press IA that the
United States ought 10 pay S1O.OOOOOO year for the
privileges granted our citizens by the Treaty OF 1871
! How absurd snch claim is will be apparent when
show that the product OF all fisheries exclusive OF
whale both home and in Canadian waters IN the Gun
OF Mexico and on the Pacific Coast. did not sell 1or
$40 900 single year since the Treaty OF Wash
ington was signed until last year and tina. then 1t ex-
ceeded that amount only few hundred thousand dol
lars And yet this claim is more unreasonable than
another repeatedly set up by Canada within the last
hundred vearsthat American fishermen have no rights
al all In Canadian waters except such "a are granted 10
them by the British Government Our original right 10
these fisheries was not result OF act OF grace on the
part OF Great Britain IL rested the solid basis
as our independence itself and fully recognized IN
the Treaty 1888 II 10 had not been Mr. Adams never
would have put his 10 that instrument ~ al any
time since 17s3 the ights OF our fishermen In Canadian
waters have limited It has been because for the
sake OF peace have submitted TO such limitations OF
because they have been unusy and Illegally imposed
by the Canadian Government own NJ the same Time
protesting.
see no ground on which the Fishery Commission can
any compensation TO be paid by tho United states
for privileges accorded to its citizens by the Treaty
OF 1871 The only possible basis OF such award can
be the proof that American fisheries have been snu-
lated NJ the expense Of those OF the Dominion and In
order 10 ASCERTAIN IL This has occurred shall quote some
figures compiled by Prot Elliott Of the Bureau Of Stats
tics from official sources ana kindly Iurshe me oi u'o
in this letter The first tabls shows the product OF all
American fisheries exclusive of whale, received IN the
customs districts Of the United states during the ak
years, 1870 and 1875 inclusive
.,a 1aISi sII. 81 .o.l ls5si
sss4siss s9,j22,553 siO.475.252
Az these were fiscal years ending June 80 the first two
had expired before the Treaty OF Washington went into
operation and during Of these years tie product OF
our fisheries was greater than has beon any year since
During the last years there has been small Increase
but az this WAS preceded by years IN which, under
tho Treaty the product OF fisheries decreased the
table gives rs ground for concluding what the effect OF
the Treaty has BEEN certainly does not show that the
business of fishing in the United states has Increased
since 1871 or even that the tendency has been In That
direction.
The following table shows the value Of Canadian
fisheries during years named reported by the Do
minion Department OF Marine and Fsheries
1870 1871 1872 1874 1874
ss57 So2 so455,529 So o7ss2 s1o7549os sli.6sl,ss6
Two Of these years it will DO observed, were prior to
the ratification treaty and three since; and the
table shows a marked and steady increase in the latter
ease a. well as in the former. Surely the Canadian hsh-
ermen have not ruined by allowing Americans to
ash in the Provinces with three miles OF shore
The next table the value Of fish of all kinds i'm
ported into the United states from the British Provinces
during the years $50 and 1875 inclusive:
sl. 1872 .l' }s3,i sl islo
1873. l9l4: 49,,
fl,Gl3A2i SlbSs3O3 s-'io''oAo
From this It appears that the treaty has not injured the
American market of Canadian fishermen; on the other
hand Their sales OF fish citizens have steadily in
creased ever since its ratification Again, while the
American market for Canadian fab has been steadily i'm
proving under the operation Of the Treaty our Usher
men have not uttered competition with those OF the
Dominion in their home market the following table
exhibiting the value OF ash Of all kinds exported from
the United States into the British Provinces shows;
1870 1871 1872.
s3q -64 SO OOG $4,000
%IS-3 IsT4 1873.
x6G ns1 s5g4O2 s25.l2S
The following tables lead to the same conclusions "A
those already given which that while purchases
OF fish from foreign countries have constantly Increased
since the negotiation OF the Treaty of Washington our
sales of fish TO foreign countries have not been stlmu
lated and are now very Insignificant In amount The
frat table shows the total value Of sh imported into the
United States during the past six years and the second
tbe total value OF exported from the United states
| during the same period
IMPORTS PIsH
| 1870 1871. ls72
s13l6453 81 5O392i fcl6Oll7