Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-05-24
THE FIsHRRIRs.

The next international and dlplo-
matte row will be about Goldfish,
aud it will be participated in by
England, Canada, France and the
United States. The Louisville
Courier journal states that next
month there will assemble at Hall
fax the fisheries commission, ap-
pointed by the United States and
England, to inquire into the validi'
ty of the claim of the Canadian
government for 100000, the
amount alleged to be due from the
United States for the fishing privi-
leges enjoyed by the Americans in
Canadian waters, which are claimed
to be much more valuable than
those accruing to Canadian fisher
men in American waters. The
treaty Of Washington gives recipro-
cal privileges to each nation, and
the citizens of one country are al
lowed to fish in the waters of the
other along the coasts, but not in
fine rivers and at the mouths of.
rivers. 1t is very likely that the
exorbitant claim Of the Canadians
will not be recognized by the com
mission, as, the statistics show
that Canadian fishing interests
have been greatly benefited by the
agreement while American interests
have not. The Canadian fishermen
have also another fight on their
hands with France, who claims the
exclusive right Of fishing between
certain points on the coast of New
Eoundland, as defined in the treaty
of Utrecht, and confirmed in 1878.
This claim is denied by the Cana
dians. The claim to the possession
of Newfoundland on the ground Of
first discovery and settlement was
for centuries a dispute between
England and France, and it was
not until the the treaty Of Utrecht
(17l3) that the matter was finally
settled. Great Britain always pre-
tended that the country was oe-
cupled in the name of Henry VII.
Toward the close of the sixteenth
century Lord Falkland, with a
colony'of Irish Catholics, founded
a settlement on the island; but
long previous the French were
established on various parts Of the
coast, and at this period many con-
tests occurred between them and
the English as to the exclusive right
of fishing in the locality. In the
time Of Charles I a joint agreement
was reached, which enabled both par
ties to operate quietly in different
quarters; but after the accession of
William III, in 1892, the question
was taken up warmly and a force
sent ont to protect the English
fisheries. An act of parliament
was passed at the same time assert
ing the right Of laying open the
trade thither to all the subjects Of
Great Britain, with a positive and
constant exclusion of all aliens and
foreigners. The wars that followed
were ended by the treaty of Utrecht.
Newfoundland was finally surren-
dcred to the English, and by the
thirteenth article of the treaty the
French retained the right of fishing,
as they insist, exclusively on the
banks and using the shores of the
islands between particular points,
viz: Point Richie, on the western
coast, round the northern extremity
Of the island to Cape Bonavista on
the eastern side. 1t was in relation
to this claim that notes were ex-
changed the other day between the
French and English governments
The United States is interested in
this dispute, inasmuch as if the
French claim is sustained the value
of the fishing grounds used by
American fishermen will be great,
curtailed.
The more Mr. Redfeld examine