The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-11-25
CANADA'S NOOK PIRATES.
a Canadian Says the American Publishers
Complaints are Unreasonable.


To THE EDITOR OF The SUN-Sir: The
ownership Of the OK that is gorcd by the bull
makes great deal OF difference In this selfish
world. in our views OF Justice. American bulls
OF every breed have been feeding unmolcsted
for the last hundred years in Canadian clover
fields but lately stray Canadian bull has got
into an American pasture. and the whole coun-
try is hastily summoned to drive out the in
truder.
Under the heading Of "Canadas Book Pi-
rates find In THE Sun OF the 22d inst. n long
account Of tho damage inflicted on American
publishers by their Canadian brethren who are
reprinung and supplying American books " at
one-tenth Of the price asked by American
publishers. Prominent publishers in Now Yo.k
declare that this Is a subject upon which
American publishers naturally feel much ex-
ctement" The Canadian publishers are re-
forred 10 as these Canada devils. this Cana
dian fellow" this beegar in Canada" this
bold Canadian pirate and other terms more
lor,iblc than polite.
Please t. look NJ this question for moment
through Canadian Spcctacles.
The greatest grievances OF which American
publishers have to complain. II seems. consists
IN the fact that books sold FOR $50 in the
United States are supplied hy the Canadian
publi-hcr, by mail. for Is cents. out Of which he
ran afford Co my 3 cents postage and make
handsome profit 40 that To Illustrate tho
hardship. sun rod by American publishers. we
are told thatu 81 80 book Is supplied 10 retailers
Tor go renis-th" rc'nilcr making 90 cents for
his labor in handing a book from his shelf 20
his customrr-lust four times the amount the
Canadian publisher asks as the entire cost ~
manufacture. hostage. and handsome profit "
Included! And TINS without the Investment Of
% single cont hy the retailer. II looks TO a Cana
dian a. though the American reader needed
some projection from the rapacty OF the Amer
irnu publisher.
When We reject TINT the reprinting Of Eng
lish book. in this country TX enormously IN rN-
~ e.
can authors. and that fortunes have been made
from this source. ~ Will bee seen that the Am"ri-
can publisher has not much 20 complain ~. OF
late years We are told. whore publisher
mikes handsome profit ont of foreign book
uc recognizes the authors rights SO FAR ms 90
uay MIN something Su'h cnses nre extremely
rnrc. Tho only instance | can cnll to mind Is
hat u the house of Osgood 4 Co. Of Boston
Ihat FIRM pald Dickens and TennYson very
literally. and those authors formally stated Tint
O,good x Co were their only authorized pub
fishers ia America. and requested that other
publishers would not Interfere with their
rights. DIG these facts prevent other enter
prising publishers FROM ,reprinting also Not
"a biz OF IT. The works OF Dickens are reprinted
in this country In n hundred different forms.
american publishers have also sometimes paid
for advance copies OF English books in order to
put such works IN me market ahead OF rival
houses. Bat this does not prevent other pub
lshers issuing iihe books as soon rs they can
heconi" American publishers To decaim about
Canadian pirates.
American publishers Of every kind have hero
toiore enjoyed an absolute monopoly Of the
Canadian market Owing to the relations of
Canada with England, a Canadian publisher
cannot reprint an English book: but an Amrri-
can publisher can do so. and sell IL in Canada
without let or hindraure. The practical effect
II this IL that the English author md publisher
got No benefit from the safe OF their books in
Canada, aud the Canadian bookseller is merely
an agent lor the American publisher.
Before the union of the several provinces In
| the Dominion ~ Canada. some of the provinces
| IN the interest of general education and en-
! ightnnmrnt. had laws wholly eXempting news
| papers and periodicals from postage. there
| being no discrimination against publications
| from the United states. The mail service
| grouned under the weight Of American perodi-
| Gals thus carried free all over the country.
| whilc the few Canadian publications sent 10
! Canadians resident IN the United States were
| subject 10 a postal charge oi two cents each nj
| the office Of delivery. At the formation OF the
! Dominion OF Canada, 10 meet the deficiency in
! the mull service. "A uniform rate Of postage was
| imposed upon all publications. whether Cam
dian or American. ant q postal treaty made
! With the United States by which all mail matter
prepaid in either country, WAS 10 I've TRANSPORTED
| free through the mails OF the other. There Is a
! hundred times moro mail matter sent from the
! United States to Canada than is sent from
! Canada To the United states, but us soon rs a
| few insignificant books are republished In
| Canada, behold what an cutlery IN made
This question reminds US OF the Frenchman'
| experience in tiger hunting. Said he. Ven
~ Frcnchman hunt ~ tigarc, the sport Is grande
! --magniique! But ven rs tlgare hunt ~
! Ercnrhmnn, Oh, zen Znrc Is 2e very diuhlc to
! pay! So long as American manufacturer
! IND a good market in Canada for their pruduc-
! tous. il Is all right; hut rs soon MS anything If
! sent from Canada TO tho United States, the cry
! is raised 10y the trndo affected that IL will bt
| ruined by the competition.
! In this particular instance Canadian publish
ers have beaten American publishers Mt thciI
own game. Let us score one Tor Chnndn. Wei
! done, canada A CANADIAN.
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