The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1885-07-23
The Fisheries,

THE PRESENT AGREEMENT WITH CANADA
AND FUTURE NEGOTIATIONS.
We have before published particulars of the
temporary arrangement-made to meet the eX-
piration, July 1, of the Treaty of Washington
under which our fishermen may take fish and
buy bait in Canadian waters until Congress
meets, the Canadians to enjoy the same priv
leges in our waters. The duties upon Canadian
fish, which were free under the Treaty, Went
into effect however, July LIST. This temporary
arrangement is clearly in favor OF our fishermen
and the concession was undoubtedly made by
Canada with view to future negotiations in
behalf of IA reciprocity treaty. We give below
the comments of several representative news.
papers:
THE MARITIME PROVINCES AND THE FISH
ERIES.
The people of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick
and Prince Edward island are not pleased al
the action of the British Government in eX-
tending the reciprocal clause of the Treaty OF
Na>hington in regard to the fisheries. The
question has been discussed by the opposition
i'll the Dominion Parliament and by business
men in Halifax aud other towns in the mari
time provinces. The drift of this discussion is
TO the effect that the British Government cares
more to be OH good terms with the United
/ States in the interest of its commerce than to
protect the interests of the people of Canada.
There Is every reason why this should be the
case. Commercially, Great Britain and Canada
have no common interests. Any commercial
treaty which could be made between the United
States and Canada which would be in the inter-
e>t of Canada would be hostile to the interest of
Great Britain. Anything like a treaty of reel
prociN between this country and Canada would
involve the free Importation into that country
OF all of our products Otherwise it would not
be reciprocal. We cannot sell fish in Halifax
or lumber in ST. John or potatoes in Prince Ed
ward Island. Consequently, any treaty which
would make free trade in these articles would
be rejected by the Government. The treaty
which would be reciprocal would enable us TO
sell the products of our manufactures in the
Canadian markets free of duty, and TO this
Great Britain. which is the treaty making pow
er for the Dominion, would never consent.
This being the case, there does not seem to be
any good ground TO expect the treaty of reel
proclty which the maritime provinces desire.
1t may well be assumed now as fifty years
hence by the people of Canada that their unfor-
tunate connection with the British Government
stands in the way of their commercial progress.
There is one fact which it would be well for our
neighbors in the maritime provinces to under
stand now. and that is they can never make the
people of New England engaged in the fisheries
industry believe that the privilege of fishing in
iltil waters Is WI III dS IlluCU dS l1tN dNSulUt
to American fishermen. They may honestly
entertain the opinion that the privilege is IA
very great one and has large money value.
but our people are coming to believe that il is a
tradition which has no foundation in fact.
Those in our fishing towns who have made the
subject study believe that the right which
Canada has to fish in our waters is as valuable
TO Canadian fishermen as is the right for Amer
lean fishermen to fish in Canadian waters to
them. We cannot blame our neighbors for at
tempting to continue their policy of making our
treat y-makers believe that their fishing grounds
are invaluable. but we give them notice that
they will fail and predict that the next treaty
viii be constructed upon very different data.
Boston Journal
The concession of the in-shore fisheries estab-
fishes precedent that their value is not
considered of the paramount Importance which
our Dominion neighbors have placed upon
them, and is Il practical admission of the claims
OF the hshlng Interests on this side Of the bor-
der that these fisheries are of no appreciabIe
value TO us, since we are obliged to pay the full
value Of their products to the producing fisher
men. an act the Justice of which is admitted.
and without which the condition of the dwell
err along these shores would be rendered one of
teStitution."..The present concessions. howty-
er. are merely temporary. and the final adjust
ment of the matter will be made by the COM
ton of the executive. Our failures in the past
to secure proper recognition of our rights has
been due TO the appointment of commissioners
on the part of our government entirely lgnor-
ant OF the points at issue. technlcaltleS rather
than practica! facts having precedence in their
negotiations. The question must be discussed
from a national standpoint and not in any par
t>an sense. Our fishery interest should, and we
believe they will, act unitedly in this matter.
and it is evident from the treatment this
question il receiving from the administration,
that the industry will be represented on the
commission by some practical representative.
who has the confidence of the producing ee-
ment in the business and who will not be obIig-
ed to depend upon hearsay evidence for his in
formation. Gloucester Herald.
THE REASON OF THE CANADIANS ANXIETY.
1t is significant fact that it is the Canadian
aud not the American fisherman who is making
most of the talk about the necessity of some
new arrangement concerning the fisheries. II
/ the Canadian who Is doing all of the agi-
tatng on the subject. BY threats of renewal
OF the outrages under the treaty of ISIS, by hit
ting out swift cruisers to capture luckle>S
American vessels with mackerel scales upon
their decks, that accidentally get within the
three mile limit, by the appropriation of money
o>tepsibly to defend Canadian fisheries against
outrages on the part of Americans which it pro-
te>>e> TO believe are threatened the Dominion
government i seeking to coercc the govern
ment of the United States into renewing the
arrangement. The reason of the Canadian,
anxiety is apparent to any body acquainted
with the history of the Canadian fishing indus
try since the Washington treaty went into
operation. Since that time its development has
been exceedingly rapid, and naturally enough
Canadians view the prospect Of the abrogation
Of Il treaty which has done much for them
with alarm. and are resorting to all sorts of de-
vices to avert it. They cannot be blamed. They
have an uncomm0nly good thing and they want