The New York herald., 1878-12-16
THE FISHERIES.
Effect Of the Washington Treaty
on Our Fishermen.
EXORBlTANCY on THE HALIFAX AWARD.
Why New England Cannot Compete
with the Provinces.
SATISFACTION OF BOSTON MERCHANTS.
How Cheap Fish Profits One Glass
and Ruins Another.
SATISFACTION OF BOSTON MERCHANTS.


The award Of $500 900 Just received by the British
government occasions much bitter comment among
the fishermen of the New England coast. Interviews
with gentlemen fully conversant for years with the
details of the fishery business elicit information
which seems to point ont unerringly the future of
this important industry That it has steadily de-
creased for many years is acknowledged all Sides
The palmy days of many noted New England
fishing towns over and ended forever if the
representations of the long headed
q good criterion from which to judge. In
regard to the $5500,000 award to England
the owners Of vessels and the fishermen uphold the
United States in keeping good faith with Her Majes
tvs government, but at the same time they out
spoken in their denuncation of the amount, claiming
than it is exorbtant and imposition Some of the
best informed gentlemen state that the value of the
"catch' within the three-mile limit for more than
ten years would not approximate to anything like
that amount. There seems to be unanimity of
feeling this point However. the award is
sidered secondary matter as compared with new
phase of the trade which is receiving much atten-
For the last six years it is said that the fishing
interest here has diminished onethrd a
means of profit to New England.
OF THE FALLING OFF.
The direct cause of this attributed by vessel own
ers and fishermen to the successful competition
our fishermen 1t is granted that the dull times had
something do with it, but the competition is con-
sidered the main Our claim that because
the fishermen of the Provinces land their ''catch"
here free of duty it lowers the price that Ameri-
cans cannot get living price for their labor. When
the Reciprocity Treaty in forcc, and before that.
one Of fishing merchants, who happened to be
doing business in the Provinces. states that there
no fishing done there except for British
sumption. During the existence of that treaty the
Provincial fishermen commenced building boats and
vessels and entering earnestly into the business. At
that time it plainly apparent that the business
was to be of magnitude but as long 1t did not
affect the American trade it did not matter. When tho
duty was So on nackere and fifty cents Goldfish,
of course they labored under disadvantage. and
could not compete with Americans to any great ex-
tent. After the ending Of the Reciprocity Treaty,
what was known as the Washington Treaty-now in
force-went into effect. Thereupon all the Provin-
cals had to do to take hold where they had left
off in reference to exporting. and send their fish here
free of duty provided in the treaty 1t should
be remembered that the treaty also gives fisher
men leave to send Ash to the Provinces, but of
course they prefer markets. where the business
has always been done.
HOW FISHING COMMUNITIES WERE DECEIVED.
Then comes the query why did not fishermen
here? II is stated reliable authority that Glouces-
ter which is considered the leading fishing town. did
not take any steps to avert IT, expecting that their
port would be the at which the Provincials would
land their supply, and thus give that city monopoly
of the distribution. The Canadians gained a
good trade here and steadily enlarged H. az will
be seen by figures given herewith. Having no other
but fishing large percentage Of the shore
farms being small and not very profitable. they can
engage the trade and also carry the farms The
competition thus so firmly established has naturally
worked well for the Provinces and disastronsly for
our fishermen Fishermen here, and especially men
who have money invested in vessels agree that the
effect has been ruinous upon the markets.
DOES THE COMPETITION PRODUCE FISH?
In the first place 1t il argued that the English
familiar with the curing process. that their fish is
to great extent badly cured and that they in
here aud sell cheaper, which has tendency to lower
the prices for all fish, iniurng the whole trade This
poor quality of fish is distributed all through the
West which the sales to fall off, AZ the con-
sumption is not so large it would be il well cured
supplies sold. Ii s claimed that one great cause
of the fish being poor is that they are caught in
boats. The go fishing after they finish their
mornings work, fish all through the middle
of the day and the 'catch' while in the boats be-
comes soft and partially spoiled. Then when they
land not being accustomed to curing our fisher.
men. poor stock is shipped. which sells because
people buying TO repack, generally get the FISH al
the cheapest price. While our fishermen ..trauli''
for ground fish, such Goldfish and hsIbut, their
competitors many nets and the fish lie and be-
come stale before they are put in salt and cured
from $1,000 to $4,000 aud $1,000 additional
for outfits. In the Provinces it costs much
less, because they catch in boats, which is
another reason why they can supply the markets
cheaper than the Americans. Our men visit the
Banks and the Georges mostly for ground fish, caught
in deep water. What shore fishing is done
coast mainly for the consumption of the shore
towns. Taking into account the cost of the vessels.
outfits. &c many captains say that ii costs more 10
catch the ish than they are worth, because OF the
competition. The conviction seems to have strongly
settled upon many hshing communities that the
business will soon amount to almost moth
ing as compared with what IL once was.
Several vessel owners assert that il will
not be many years before the destructive
competition OF the Provinces will virtually kill the
trade here for Americans. Many who have put their
money into fishing vessels alarmed at the
OF the trade. Parties outside OF New England who
have money thus invested are ignorant Of the collapse
which, IL the stories are to DC believed, seems in
eyitable in this great industry. Some are waking up
TO the fact Since the award o. England all interested
in the subject are beginning To- the trade in all
its hearings. The inruads which the Provincals have
made by virtue OF the treaty considered ire
parable during the existence OF the provision allowing
tree exportation
The above facts are cleaned from shareholders and
fishermen.
THE OTHER STORY
The owners of shares In vessels and captains
naturally dcsrous of obtaining the greatest possible
proh. out of the business. Hence they view with
iinconccaled disgust the prosperity of their Pro-
vincial ncghbors The merchants here. however,
who obtain nsh thus imported do not complain in
enables them 10 sent IL 10 Western markets. These
merchants advocate cheap ish. Dt course IL matters
little 10 them where the hsh Is obtained. This class
say that fishermen can carry hs TO the Provinces
free, but Of course they recognize market the
best 20 land their stock, the same as they have
done for years. Dull times aone IL is urged. is tho
of the decline OF the trade. A house exten-
svely engaged In the business here furnishes the fol-
lowing statistics OF the trade here. which show
clusvey how the irnpor,ations have increased since
the commencement OF the Washington Treaty.
IMPORT or MhcKknEL PROM THE PROVINCES.
Bbs. Bbis
lSDS 23,Dbj D3,3sl