The New York herald., 1879-09-09
THE FISHERIES QUESTION.

RETURN OF MR.. EvARTs' INVESTIGATING COM
MIssIoN-soME OF THE RESULTS ATTAINED
SMALL ADVANTAGES AcoEUING TO AMERICANS
UNDER THE TREATY AND HOW THEY ARE IN
TERFERED WITH.
GLOUCESTER. Mass. Sept. 6. 1879.
Fitz j. Babson, who. with Mr.. Dwight Foster,
went down to the provinces by instructions of Sec
retary Evarts to investigate the methods of fishing
adopted by native and other fishermen, and to col
lect whatever other evidence they could relating to
the vexed questions arising from the Treaty OF Wash
ington reached home last night. Mr.. Babson has
given the fishery question good deal of earnest
thought and attention. He is the Collector of this
the largest shing port the coast. and besides is
citizen OF public spirit and in full sympathy with
all efforts looking to the full development Of the
material interests Of his native town. Before the
Halifax Commission convened he devoted a largo
portion of his time to collecting evidence and
ranging it for the American counsel. Mr. Foster
the American agent.
MR. BABsoN's STATEMENT.
The HERALD correspondent called on the Collector
and asked him to allow brief review of his work
to be printed. He said he would be very willing to
do So but reluctant to anticipate the official
port which he should be obliged to file with the
for the of that department. and he could not,
with propriety give it to any other person to the
country through any other channel. He said that
he enjoyed the trip very much the United States
steamer Kearsarge, commanded by Captain Pickering.
He had gathered considerable statistical informa-
ton, which only confirms his previous Impressions
of the actual condition of the fishery regulations
and the treatment Of our fishermen by the natives.
"All our people demand" he said "are the same
rights granted to Canadian fishermen in ports.
This have not got, and only modification Of the
treaty or its abrogation can give it to us in my
judgment"
It was also learned that call was made on tho
Governor of Newfoundland. who received the Com
missioners cordially and granted them all the faci
tiles needed for the prosecution of their inquiry.
They went to Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island.
and made inquiries Of fishermen along the coast and
at the various harbors. The United States Consul
here and the consuls at all points touched were
questioned as to the feeling Of the people toward the
United States fishermen, the quantity Of fish caught
within the three e-mile limit the means employed by
provincial and American fishermen. &C.. and i'm
mense mass of testimony has been accumulated,
which will be put in shape as soon as Mr.. Foster
gets home. He was to leave Halifax to-day or to-
morrow. The report will not be ready for some
weeks 1t will be very forcible document and will
make some recommendations and reach some con-
clusions that are liable to change the whole aspect
of relations with the Dominion government so
Tar as this branch Of industry is concerned.
BASIS EXISTING DIFFICULTIES
gentleman who had been with the Commission
ers good deal during their cruise and knew some
thing Of their work and its direction said in con-
versation day or two ago that the difficulty
not really with the British government. but with
the Canadian fishermen, who become greatly in
censed at the manner in which the Americans fish.
They have all the new and improved machines for
catching fish, such as traps aud soincs They can
thereby catch more fish in an hour than the others
can in week. The Canadians will not even allow
their fellow countrymen to use these American in
ventions
MONEY THROWN AWAY.
The American government paid $500, 900 for the
privilege OF fishing inside the hreemile line. Now,
fishermen do not ask to fish inside this line and.
therefore, the money thrown away. In the first
place. the principal fish caught by the Americans is
the cod. Now, inside the threemile line OFT the Ca
madam shore the Goldfish Is scarcely worth the
catching 1t is very small andcould not find market
here at all The fishing is all done thirty miles outside
Of this line. The Canadians, however, go out in
their little punts and catch fifteen or twenty of
these small fish and then call it a good days work.
The Americans, however. want to come inside
the three emile line to catch bait, and this bait can
not be caught every day in the same place In fact.
some days it cannot be caught ut ALL for the fish
used for batting the traps and seines is migratory,
and must be caught when it is to be found. Now.
the Americans go inside the line, throw out their
seines for bait, and before they begin work in
earnest the infuriated Canadian hshermen egged on
by wealthy capitalists, who own them body and
soul. form a mob and drive the men away. This is
done in order to compel them buy their bait from
the Canadians. The Americans willing to buy it
ut reasonable price, but when such exor bant rates
asked they to prefer to catch it themselves
rather than be subjected to their vile treatment.
CANADIAN IGNORANCE.
The Canadians have no knowledge of what treaty
is. They think the waters are their own personal
property. and that they exclude whomsoever
they please and prevent them from getting bait.
Every one has read of the disturbances that have
been caused by the mob objecting to
fishermen obtaining bait otherwise than by pur-
chase. AS an example of the prejudice existing
against the Americans. will relate one little Incl
dent. fisherman being questioned by Mr..
Babson about the size of the fish near the shore,
when he replied that before the Americans came
there to catch bait the Goldfish large inside
the line as those caught twenty miles of. He then
went to say that the of the small
now was that since the Americans came
there to catch bait and then went outside
to spread their seines all the large
fish attracted outside by the bait. and thus left
the Shore An old gentleman, hearing this said that
he had been in that harbor for forty and had
never Goldfish larger than those caught at the
present time. So that actually all the Americans
have their share Of the treaty is permission to go
into the harbor at any time.
With respect to the mackerel it must be stated
that the finest of mackere caught in large guam
titles Off own coast.
The gentleman who furnishes the above is also Of
the opinion that the last treaty should be abrogated
He also thinks that treaty will have much effect
t1o, nj A.er