The New York herald., 1879-03-12
THE DOMINION PARLIAMENT.
NEW CAUSE OF COMPLAINT AGAINST YANKEE
FISHERMEN.

NEW CAUSE OF COMPLAINT AGAINST YANKEE
FISHERMEN.
OTTAWA. March IL. 1879.
In the House OF Commons Mr. Mcdonald. of Kings
county, Prince Edward Island. moved for all cor
respondence relating to the practice OF mackerel
seining in the Gulf of ST. Lawrence. On the debate
on this motion. which participated in by almost
every representative of maritime constituency, 1t
was shown that the practice of purse senng by
American fishermen in the Gulf OF st. Lawrence
threatened to destroy the valuable fisheries of the
Cult waters. Not only was this seine used outside
the three mile limit. but also inside The objection
to the seine appeared to be that captured young
well IS developed fish, and that the smAler fish
killed by it ard afterward thrown into the water.
sank to the bottom. and. decomposng. poisoned the
waters and drove the Goldfish from its usual hsunts.
THE EVIL. ADMITTED.
Sir Albert Smith. ex- Minister OF Marine and Fish
eries said there doubt about the existence of
the evil Owing to the approach Of the sitting
of the Fishery Commission the lato administrator
were not able to deal with the matter. but the
award had been made, he thought that representa-
tons to the American governments would meet With
success. There doubt that the Parliament Of
Canada could eYisate to prevent the OF the seine
within the three mile limit but the Late government
had abstained from enforcing such regulation be-
cause 1t would be unjust to prevent Canadian fisher
men from using the purse seno when the Americans
were using 1t outside the three mile limit Most OF
the injury done was without the three mile limit.
and that was beyond the jurisdiction OF the Do
minion.
Mr.. Anglin expressed views similar to those Of the
The debate was closed by the Minister of Marine.
who said there was objection to the passage Of the
motion. although he knew OF no such correspond
encc as that referred to. The motion was carried
DIVISION AWARD.
motion by MIR. Ieo, OF Prince Edward Island, for
all the correspondence relative to the appropriation
and distribution of the fishery award, renewed the
discussion on the inshore fisheries. which took place
in the afternoon. The mover advocated the right OF
the island. as an independent party to the Washing
ton Treaty. to its share Of the award.
The Minister of Marine explained that there
no correspondence to be brought down. After
number OF members had taken part i'll tho discus
sion the motion was withdrawn.
DOMINION STATESMEN ANXIOUS TO ESTABLISH
WATER COURSES.
OTTAWA, Ont. March H. 1879.
In the House of Commons to-day Mr. Decosmos
moved that address be presented to the Governor
General praying that there may be laid before this
House copy of the memorandum Of the circum-
stances that led to the conclusion OF the convention
between Great Britain and Russia OF February 1925;
also copy of the convention. If any, between Great
Britain and the United States Of February, 1926,
mentioned in the Esessional papers Of 1878; also
copy Of the most reliable maps and charts Of the
territory Of Alaska that existed in 1925 and that
been made since. including Russian, British and
American maps ard charts; also for any reports
made to the eyovernment respecting the Alaska boun-
Diary that have not yet been published He said that
he understood that the United States govern
ment intended at the long session of Con.
gross next winter to make some provision
for the government Of Alaska. and it might
be asked OF the Canadian government to join them
in running some portions OF the boundary between
Alaska and British Columbia. Unfortunately for the
had
to take of the interests Of the western portions
of this country when the Treaty Of Washington was
under consideration in 1871. BY some accident or
other only two three rivers included in that
treaty, giving us the right of free navigation on
them with the United States-the Yucon,
Porcupine and Stckeen. In the convention of 1896
we had the right of navigating all the rivers in
Alaska which right lost by the oct of Russia, in
1867 in transferring the territory of Alaska to the
United States He thought that when the High Joint
Commission ut Washington they might have in
cluded all the rivors under the convention
Alaska has nov become of some Importance from her
fur. mineral and other resources. and they wanted
all the information they could got respecting this
boundary question: also all maps. as those which
published with relation to Alaska were exceed
ingy imperfect. He had seen map IN the depart
ment on which the River Yucon was made to run
into the Arctic Ocean. whereas it into Behring
Strait. He made the motion in order that they
might have the information placed before them in
advance of negotiations thai might taxa place re-
specting Alaska with the United States government
ALASKA RIVERS OPEN BRIyocss.
Hon. Mr.. Mills said the honorable gentleman. he
supposed asked for the correspondence well ss
the memorandum Of Sir Charles Napier Concerning
the treaty Of 1SG made between Great Britain and
Russia There was no treaty. he believed concluded
between the United States and. Great Britain in
this regard. However, correspondence passed be-
tween the American and Russian governments on this
subject because the territory the Pacific coast
was claimed by the three Powers-Amerlca, Great
Britain and Russia. If the honorable gentleman OBJ
tanned the correspondence he would that negotia
tions took place between the OF st Peters
burg and Great Britain which IN tho first instance
failed in arriving 1t settlement OF the matter in dis
pute, and that ultimately the points Of the
dispute between the two governments we're dis
posed Of under the treaty OF 1S26. which gave
to Russia ia y narrow T. s;i strip % Of territory on
south Portland Channel. the express condition
that all the rivers flowing through this Russian terri
tory should be open to navigation the part Of the
subjects of Great Britain for all purposes whatever
The honorable gentleman would sec by looking at tho
correspondence that took place between the two
that both claimed the sovereignty of the
soil: that Great Britain conceded to Russia the
territory she claimed. and. at the same tiIna
tanned equal right or equal sovereignty in the
rivers flowing from one country int, the other. SC
that these rivers were not only open to the SUBJ
iccts of Great Britain to DO used for the purpose OF
ordinary commercial navigation. but they were open
to the people Of Great Britain or any persons who
might settle in that country and were subjects Of
Her Majesty for any purpose whatever.
NO RIGHTS RESERVED.
Mr.. De Cosmos said that the Russian government
in 1867 by selling the Territory err OF ALASKA to & the
The Law Officer OF the Crown in the opinion quoted,
declared that even IL the right of navigation
ferrcd by the convention Of ISIS still existed IL would
be a matter OF doubt whether persons could
be conveyed through the Stckecn waters under the
terms of the convention. He regretted that Great
Britain had not paid more attention to Canadian
boundaries and rights, but he could not safely say
the negotiatos of the Treaty of Washington in 1871
neglected their duties The rights in question were
really affected by the act Of Russia in 1867.
OPINIONS BRITISH DIPLOMATS.
Sir John A. Macdonald said there two opin-
ions on this point. MIR. Montague Bernard, menl-
Der of the commission. who was. perhaps the best
international lawyer in England. and Lord
Tcnterden Under Secretary Of Foreign
Affairs who. perhaps, knows moro about all
the treaties that England entered into than
any other man earth united in tho opinion that
by the transfer of Alaska to the United States these
rights destroyed This was the opinion Of the
Gladstone government, and the British Ambassador
at Washington instructed. He did not
know whether the papers and maps In question could
be conveniently brought down within reasonable
time and with reasonable expense. but he would
look into the matter. The motion carried.
rU1pSNEG DR ARRESTEn