The New York herald., 1879-08-27
A CANADIAN VIEW OF THE FISH
ERIES QUESTION.
From the Toronto Globe. August 25.l

From the toronto GloDe. August 10.
The Washington government does not seem to
realize that the British government has no more to
do than the man in the with the making Of
the regulations under which fishing is to be con-
Quoted in our waters. The utmost the British gov
ernment could do would be to advise the Governors
OF the Dominion and Newfoundland TO ask their
Ministers to repeal such legislation. IL any, was
inconsistent with the Treaty OF Washington. This
advice would only be rendered after PROOF had bcen
made that there actually was such obnoxious
legislation i'll existence. The American gov
crnment seems to proceed upon the
idea that If there be any legislation
which prevents American fishermen IRON taking fish
by any every means. fair or foul therefore such
legislation is contrary to the spirit of the treaty.
The fact s that the Americans have purchased tor
term OF years the right to resort to our fisheries
under and subject to the rules and regulations
are imposed upon our own fishermen That and
nothing more. II there actually be IN existence any
law which operates harshy against the foreign
than against the native fisherman we have desire
to defend 1t without knowing what 1t is But so far
AS know. there has not been the least hint that
any such partial law exists. and II 1t does exist we
that neither the government of the Domin-
ION that of Newfoundland would suffer 1t to
exist after its partiaity had been proved. even
through such an informal medium as the public
press.
contend, IL 1T does contend that have not the
full right to protect our fisheries against reckless
spoliaiou. The United States once had fisheries
supposed to be inexhaustible but tho scnseless
pacity of their fishermen destroyed them. The
same fishermen would. no doubt. ike to serve
an important point to be borno in mind-since the
IN ore completely the fisheries can be despoiled In
the half dozen years the less valuable will they
be when the negotiations come to be held. our
neighbors may well dismiss the thought that thoy
will ever long tho Dominion lasts,
be allowed to acquire sovereignty, even par
tial sovereignty, over our fisheries. The
immense and growing value OF that
possession is only now becoming known. With
careful attention such ii has been the policy OF
Canadian governments to bestow upon them, the
fisheries promise to become vast and permanent
source OF wealth. II the sovereignty over them were
divided the fisheries could not be properly pre-
served; millions OF tons of good food would bo
wasted because II was nobodys business to see after
II. The sovereignty must be retained in our own
hands, and If Americans admitted they must pay
fair sum- not only for the fish they catch, but also
for the cost of preserving the fisheries. The nature
of the regulations to be submitted to should form
part Of the considerations to be taken into account
at the next arbitration. AS for the existing regula-
tions, they made before the award OF the late
commission was rendered. and therefore II the
diet was rendered IN ignorance OF them--which Is
not at all hkely-the Americans have only them.
selves to blame.