Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-03-26
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Tuesday Morning, March &c, 1878.
The Award.

of International affairs, and leel an inter
est and pleasure in noting whatever OF
Importance transpires in the country. who
understand. or care to understand a sub
iect of so seemingly little Importance as
that which is engrossing much attention
among the leading men OF two great ma
tons, aud which calls for the payment OF
S. 800, 900 from the Treasury of the Unit
ed States.
Yet this dispute between England and
the United States relating to the North
American fisheries is, by no means. an al
fair of few years. but is a question be-
tween two nations of now nearly centu-
rvs growth; and the not inconsiderable
sum which the Halifax commission has
deemed proper should be received by the
European power from this nation, in pay
ment of injuries sustained, amply testihes
that much importance is attached to the
question.
The fisheries on the Atlantic coast of
North America have been noted for their
richness since the first days of the discov-
cry of this great continent. and they
formed the chief employment and sup
port of a great number of seafaring men,
who pursued their occupation through the
waters extending from the coast of Lab
radore to Chesapeake and Delaware Bays.
When the United States formed nation
of its own, the privilege was lost to our
seamen of fishing the waters of that coast
which England still retained. Rights OF
a certain nature were given to our citi-
zens, however, concerning this matter,
but they were by no means so great as
those they had formerly possessed. In
1917 the question of the fisheries was
again fully discussed, but the views of
the parties could not be reconcled, and
the Treaty of Client was signed without
any allusion being made to this dispute.
This caused unhappy results; United
States vessels were captured by British
cruisers for trespassing upon the waters
of the latter-much bitterness of feeling
ensued. and in 1918 there was another ne
gotistion entered into to settle the difficult
ties. The convention of 1918 was willing
to grant the citizens of the United States,
with certain reservations, permission to
take fish from their waters; but before
the conclusion OF the convention, there
sprang up new and exceedingly profita-
BILE branch of the fishing business-the
mackerel fishery-and our seamen would
not endure the limitations imposed upon
them, in pursuing this branch of their &C.
cupation. Entertainments by Americans
upon British waters took place; seizures
were made until in lS47 it became plain
that some serious difficulty would ensue if
the question was not finally settled. Then
came the Reciprocity Treaty. Though
previous 10 this there was much bitter
feeling, and collisions between fishermen
of common occurrence, yet by this trea
ty the difficulties were suppressed for
period of ten years. But, before long,
other difficulties arose, old anmosities
returned. and seizures of vessels again
took place. Something must be done.
Proposals were made, and there followed
an agreement between The two countries
to refer this subject of dispute to the
commission known as the Joint High
Commission. But a long delay ensued
before the Halifax Commission was ap-
pointed, and not until the 10Th of June
last. after sitting of nearly six months,
did the commission. thus selected, arrive
at a Judgment; that 50, 100000 should
be paid by the United States to England,
in the shape OF an equivalent.
Such is an outline of the que slien
Just settled. The United States is
surprised that so large sum should
have been decided upon as due il
to pay; England is fully as surprised in
receiving the unlocked for addition to her
treasury. Without doubt, delay has been
injurious to the best interest of our ma
ton, and Yankee shrewdness has been
obliged to succumb, for once, TO British
ingenuity. For very plain it is that Eng
land must have been willing that the mat
ter should have been delayed, as it
brought the appointment of the third
commissioner upon the Austrian minister,
he representing a nation greatly under
the influence of the British crown. The
Austrian minister appointed the Belgian
minister, Deliosse, and the Belgian min
lister, as it would be naturally supposed
he would do. favored England.
But laying aside the question of right
and wrong in this settlement, moral les
son is taught that ought to be received by
other nations and taken home to be as
guide TO them in the future. The whole
world is sbuddering at the thought of the
suffering thattwo great countries have lust
been enduring-of the misery and death
of thousands of human beings,-and all
needless. Indeed the cloud in the East
has hardly yet passed over. and there is
threatenings of still more of nhuman strife.
What beneficial lesson these nations
might learn from the late action of E,o-