The Portland daily press., 1886-05-25
Shall Our Fishermen's Rights be
Maintained?

10 tHe EuIt0f OF tN6 I-F6SS.
Some six weeks ago, having occasion to
wire the Honorable Secretary of State at
Washington for information in relation to
the privileges of American fishing vessels in
Canadian ports, we received an answer
which at that time was published in your
columns, paragraph of which we now give.
The Secretary says:
81 expect to attain such an understanding
as will relieve our fishermen from all doubt
or risk in the exercise of the ordinary COM
mercal privileges in friendly ports, to which
under existing laws of both countries con-
slider their citizens to be mutually entitled,
free from moleStatlon."
Weeks have elapsed, two American vessels
have been seized, and are still held by the
Dominion government, while others have
been threatened and harassed, and driven
from Dominion harbors and coasts by
Canadian cruisers, and the end is not yet.
In the meantime, Nova Scotia vessels have
entered our ports and purchased thousands
of barrels of bait and have been allowed to
depart unmolested. Throughout the occur
renee of these events the authorities at
Washington have maintained an unaccount-
able silence
At last Secretary Bayard has given the
long looked foI,and welcome assurance that
everything that is possible is being done on
the part of the Department of State to pro-
feet the interests of our fishermen. We are
still left in doubt as to what our privileges
under the treaty of 1918, or the laws OF this
country and England subsequent to that
treaty, are, but on one point our mind is
clear, which is that gross outrage and in
Justice has been perpetrated on American
fishermen by the Dominion authorities, and
an insult offered to the American flag. Is it
assumed by any that these demonstrations
on the part of the Dominion government will
tend to force our government to consent to
the Canadian desire for commission ana
new treaty? Perish the thought. If ever
there were class of men who should receive
the full protection OF our government IN
their arduous and perilous avocations. it IS
that class who 'go down to the sea in ships"
our brave and hardy fishermen. Who, we
ask, manned our ships and did such effective
service in 1872? American fishermen. VINO
in the dark days of 81 were first to spring to
their country's call, and on sea and land lald
down their lives that the Stars and Stripes
might float unsullied? American fishermen.
And if again the eXigency should arise
(Which we trust it will not that 1t become
necessary to equip and man our navy that
the supremacy and dignity of the nation De
maintained, who, we ask, are the best 1tted
and most competent from the nature OF Their
calling to man the ships? The answer Is Is
American fishermen. Then shall It pc sala
that our flag offers no protection 70 lIs own VI.
defenders? We advocate nothing raSh OF
arbitrary. arbitrary, but as American citizens and, un-
| fortunately, owners in American fishing YES
| sells, tits meet that we brand the acts oil the
| Dominion authorities as outrageous anu
| piratcal and demand that poney OF hrlh-
| ness ON the part of our government be main
| tanned. H. H. NJ
| Portland, May 22 1886.