The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-01-30


to them but IL they were to prevail
and shape the policy OF the Senate there would be an
endless series of statements and counter statements,
repcations and rejoindcrs. The time Of the whole
session would be taken up with them unless some
early and definite action were had upon the report OF
the committee. He thought that vote, aud a final
vote should be taken so settle the matter this
afternoon.
MIR. Thurman responded that in the usual course
of legal proceedings before judicial tribunal it was
customary to hear the complaint then the rejoinder
substance of the defence and thon the replication
of the plaintiff The last usually closed the hearing
argument. He did not see why similar course
might not prevail in this controversy. 1t would be
manifesly unjust to tho Secretary of the Treasury
not to let him make replication to the rejonder of
Mr.. Arthur
The subject was then, motion. postponed to
Friday next and it is the understanding that Secre-
tary sherman will meantime file response to the
reply of Mr. Arthur.
THE FISHERY OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES FROM
THE FISHERIES CLAUSE OF THE WASHINGTON
TREATY.
Messrs. Charles Il. Pugh. Of the firm OF John Pugh
& Sons; David Tarr. of the firm of James q. Tarr
Brothers. and Sylvester Cunningham. of the firm of
Cunningham & Thompson, the delegates selected by
the Gloucester fishermen to present to the
Secretary of State tho memorial drawn MP
aud adopted by them asking for i'm
mediate abrogation of the fisheries clause of the
Treaty of Washington, arrived hcre this morning
and promptly accorded interview with Sec
rotary Evarts After their presentation of tho docu
ments Mr. Evarts expressed his desire to hear from
these gentlemen their statement of the exact cond
tloh of the home producing fishery interest He said
the mass of evidence taken before the Halifax Com
mission put him in possession Of the argument
ative side of the story, but that which
he was most anxious to learn at this
time wcre tho facts as they bear upon
the fishermen and all interested in their branch of
industry. To this end he examined Messrs. Pngb,
Tarr and Cunningham at great length, occupying
nearly two hours in his thorough questioning. They
gave for asking for the abrogation of tho
treaty that unless it done at once the fishery
trade will be ruined. The Canadians enabled
under the treaty to promptly stock the American
market. while the catch of the Gloucester ves-
soils was delayed several months. and when
they arrived home there comparatively no
market for their labor. Mr. Evarts asked whether
there was not good opening for the export OF fish,
and the delegates replied that probably $4,000 was
the Value of the fish which sent to the West
Indics-a very small amount compared with the
total value Of tho fish imports there. Under the
Reciprocity Treaty fishermen were enabled to
earn from $500 to 5000 season. whereas
under the provisions Of the Washington Treaty the
annual earnings had gradually diminished until S25
and $50 was as much as the men averaged. In fact
the trade had been completely broken up that it
would be useless to attempt to further prosecute it,
and the houses now engaged in the fishery business
would be compelled to withdraw their vessels and
sell their outfits improbable property.
The policy Of the Canadian government
in passing local legislation conflicting with
the generally accepted view Of the provisions
of the treaty was alluded to and complaint
made that the prohibition Of using seine nets which
had been purchased at an expense of thousands of
dollars made these nets now utterly useless. The
delegates cndeavored impress the Secretary with
the view that unless the fishery clause of the treaty
abrogated would certainly result in destroying the
entire fishery business of the New England States in
which over two hundred thousand persons were di
rectly interested. In the Gloucester district alone
there were fully twenty-five thousand people depend
cnt upon the trade without which they would have
neither occupation nor means of support.
The delegates also pressed the point that the claim
OF the British council before the Halifax Commits
sion to the effect that the Canadians not BEN
Gifted by the free trade clause not true and they
produced statistics corroDoraIES their statements.
Mr.. Evarts thanked the gentlemen for their infor-
nation and said he would give the subject his careful
consideration.
Tomorrow the delegation will 60 before the House
Committee on Foreign Affairs and make their state
ment support of their advocacy of the abrogntion
of the fishery clause, and will also have interviews
with Senator's Edmunds, OF Vermont. and Dawes and
Hosr, of Massachusetts,.
CLAIMS GROWING OUT OF THE FORTUNE BAY
OUTRAGE.
Tho case of the American claimants for damages at
Fortune Bay, year ago last winter. when twenty
two of our fishing vessels were driven off by q
Canadian mob and their seines and fishing property
injured or destroyed has been presented in Official
shape TO the Department OF State. The claimants
contend that they stopped the prosecution of
lawful industry. not by legal authority but by mob
violence. They made resistance but withdrew
from the fishing grounds and have not returned to
Newfoundland. They await in confidence the
vindcation by the government OF their rights and
it's determination to them just compensation
for their losses.
The claims. exclusive of cents, in each case are as
follows:--
Vessels. ODacrs. Claims.
Fred. r. Frye....... Brown, Seavcy 4 Co... 81 roo