The Republican journal., 1884-12-25
The Portland Fish Exchange.

MR. REEDS ATTITUDE IN REGARD TO THE
FISHERY CLAUSE IN THE WASHINGTON
TREATY.
AT meeting of the Portland fish exchange
last week, following delegates to the American
fishery convention, Gloucester, Dee. 27lh, were
chosen; Geo. Trefethen, Oren ?. Whitten. A.
NJ. smith, j. A, Emery, c. A. Dyer f. Ii.
Chase, A NJ. Joyce. They We're instructed to
cooperate in an endeavor to discontinue the
fishery clause in the Washington treaty. Mr.
A. Smith used The draft Of the communication
prepared by the committee. appointed at Il for
mer meeting and forwarded to Mr. Reed at
Washington, IN which they asked Mr.. Reeds
assistance III preventing the renewal of the
treaty. The report was simply rough draft
OF the letter, and was in substance as follows:
The Fish Exchange of Portland object to Il
renewal of the fishery clause in the treaty now
existing between the United States and Canada
for the following reasons:
tlISi-Suon after The present treaty was form
ed, the fisheries i'll New England began to decline
and only the successful venture Of mackerel
catching by means of the purse seine. prevented
1t from going to destruction. Bu now The
prov lnciaI fishermen, being wen equipped
With the modern Appliances a. those Of New
England, and being able TO furnish and fit out
vessels at half the cost. are gradually munopo-
lizing the business.
Second-lt is a popular cry in the West that
Free fish means cheap fish, This is a fallacy.
The surplus catch Of Canada fish will come to
u, duty or 10 duty, ana the price will not be
changed
Third-ln national point Of view the de-
>truclon of our fisheries will BE- disastrous, be
cau>e, TO Il large degree, the fishing fleet has
aIWa. : been the nursery OF our navy. Other
nations, as England and France, have recog-
nized The vast importance Of this fact as bear
Ing on their supp emacy on the seas by offering
i.iTtT hI TIt4- t,,t tl4.iV. ii.b
Fuurth-It is selfish in our western friends
10 insist that fish shall be entered free of dutN
and still keep up the tariff other articles
which but for The tariff, would be much cheap
enc
titth-The provinces have great advantage
because they have other markets which are not
open to u. And last, the people of Canada
recognize The great value Of the treaty 10 them.
| and are making strenuous eXtrlions for lis
renewal.
Mr.. Smith then read the answer which Mr..
Reed had sent TO The committee, which We pro-
duct in luil.
WASHINGTON, Dec r. 1854.
Gentemen,-lo lour favor relating to the tbro "a
tUn of the fishery CLAUSE of the of Washing
ton reached me last mis sht AMI had immediate ;titcn-
uon This morning called upon the Secretary of
state, am! found the condition Of affairs to be as
opWe: We have already given notice OF the desire
ot the United States to terminate toee clauses At
me expiration of the three Years hoot clatoea Will
bc terminated without any other action ON tnc part
ui amy one fsn viii then bc subject to tariff just
is il the Washington treaty hld not existed. No
more legislation Viii be needed. | can adi also
that the administration have no Intention Of doing
any Nthln@ 10 prevent the termination of The present
unjust r"ntit"n Of ailtirs The fact that Canada
on the one hand i by lHIGe meetings urging the re
new III of tine treaty, and that people the
other htnt. with al least equal earnestntes are pro
testing against such action is interesting
menttry upon the decision that owed i've and
Oue-hai millions for privileges don't WANT and
they do. do not anticipate any pressure tu renew
| those fishery clauses from any quarter Thus far
at least pubic opinion ha, been iii this country all
one way. la conclusion beg To assure the com
nitec that II any occasion should arise, eff III
on my part shaH be wanting to protect the just
| rights OF those you represent.
Very truly,
L. b REED.
To Messrs. A. NJ, Smith, T. G. Lewis ana d 5.
Fcrnad.