The Portland daily press., 1886-05-25
Adams and Ella NJ. Doughty by the Cana

dian authorities.
AN INTERVIEW WITH MIR. REED.
The New York Herald publishes the fol-
lowing interview with Hon. T. B. Reed;
mot that have anything that really re-
qureS to be said," was Mr.. Reeds depre-
catory remark when his views were re-
quested, but the Herald has paid so much
attention to this matter and is dealing with
it so judiciously that if it is possible for me
ers [ can do no less than reply to such ques-
lions as you may ask"
Mr.. Reed then went on to say that he had
no doubt as to the final result in regard to
the matters now at issue between the United
States and the Cadadian governments.
"These annoyances to which our people
are now subject he said, ''haye for their
purpose the compelling of negotiations to
renew the old treaty of 1870. But they will
soon be recognized by the Canadians them
possible, for we are perfectly satisfied with
the rights we already have. Among the
Canadians themselves it must soon be I'M
derstood that the only bait we want to buy
is the very bait they want to sell. Then
again, they have as much need to buy bait
on our shores as we on theirs In fact, at
one place in my district, this last week, there
was $4,000 worth of bait already contracted
for by Nova Scotians."
Speaking of the present state of feeling in
this country, Mr.. Reed said:
"a great deal Of the alarm now manifest
ed on our side arises from the mistake made
by the Department of State at the time when
the abrogatlon of the treaty went into effect
Instead of consulting the wishes of those
most deeply interested, the Department
made an arrangement which was construed
as looking to the renewal of the old treaty,
which gave to the Canadians our valuable
markets for nothing. Our fishermen, after
ot,6 nlnaac .t1ir 10 fbaip
business, had been looking forward to the
possession Of our markets and to brighter
prospects in the future. The action of our
government seemed to them like dashing the
cup from their very lips. This is not said
in criticism of the State Department, for this
is not the time to criticise. 1t is said only in
the way of explanation"
In explanation of his evident idea that a
new treaty is not needed ON this side of the
line, Mr.. Reed said "The right of fishing
within three miles of the provincial coast,
when we had 1t, was always hampered by a
law more effective than treaties. Fishermen
who lived ON the shores, and whose lives
were dependent upon their inshOre catch,
never would permit our people to come in
and take the bread out of their mouths, and
didn't blame them. From this fact, and
from the change in the nature of the fisher
les since 1870 we had every reason to feel
that we lost nothing and gained much when
the treaty dropped out.
"Of course you have read Mr.. Beyard' S
letter to Senator Fryer" the reporter sug-
gested.
"Yes," was Mr.. Reeds reply, 81 read it in
the Herald this morning, and was glad to see
it. Glad, for the reason. that it indicates that
the Secretary of State takes a live interest in
the question before us. If the Department
of State acts firmly and temporarily, as l
trust it will, thoroughly backed as it is by
Congress and public sentiment, the question
will have speedy settlement"
''Do you think, Mr.. Reed, that there is
any danger OF rupture in the relations of
the two countries before the matter is finally
settled?''
''Well, there is always danger you know,
when interests arein such conflict. Yet | do
not anticipate any serious trouble. There is
more Christian comfy among nations now
than there was not very many years ago, and
amicable settlements of difficult internation-
al problems grows continually more posi-
BILE"
''Do you. not think that treaty will be
necessarily
To this question Mr.. Reed replied in the
negative, but said that of course there would
have to be mutual understanding. The
trouble is that the Canadians seem in
blned to fall back upon astrict interpreta-
ton of the treaty of 1918, the spirit of which
has been outgrown by the civilized world.
American fishermen ask only those privileg-
eS in Canadian waters that Canadians have
IN ours, and these Will doubtless be cOnced-
ed to them when it is found that they will
not be purchased again on such disadvanta-
geous terms as those marking the treaty re-
Gently abrogated.
'And now" said Mr.. Reed, while we are
on subject connected with the fsheries-it
is not the subject of the fisheries we have
been discussing, you understand. Our fisher
men do not ask the privilege of fishing inside
the three mile limit, and that matter has
nothing at all to do with the existing diff
culties. While we are on this general sub
ject would like the Herald to permit me to
call attention to the bill which passed the
House on Friday, giving a close time for
mackerel. Though it does not just now
cause as much interest as the border ques-
ton, it is, nevertheless, am assured by our
fishermen, of even more Importance. Some
how, while the opposition to the bill has
been able to get itself before the attention of
the New York public, the arguments in its
favor have not had quite a fair hearing.
This bill is of great Importance in that it
will prevent the catching of mackerel when
they are in their worst condition as food
And in the end it will result in increasing
the food supply. A single fact will illustrate
the effect of the wholesale taking of fish in
the spawning season. In former times the
Larger. part Of the mackerel taken were No
is, thoroughly fit for food. In 1884 the
books of one firm showed that out of over
$4,000 barrels packed only 317 were No. Is
and but 3, 100 reached the grade of No. %