St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-12-09
Great Britain Given to Understand That
America Will Brook But Little
More Delay
Regarding a Settlement of the Fisheries
Question, and a Stoppage Of
Canadian Gutrages.
4 Formal Demand Made For Com
pensatfon to Injured Vessel
Owners.
Text of the Diplomatic Correspond
ence Sent to Congress by the
President.

BaYard and correspondence relating to the
fisheries:
To the senate and house Representatives:
I transmit herewith a letter from the secre-
tary of state which is accompanied by the
CORRESPONDENCE in relation to the rights or
the AmercLn dshernan in the British
American waters ami commnde to yor
favorable consideration the suggestion thai
g commission be authorized to take perpetu-
ating proofs of the losses sustained during
the last year by American fishermen, owing 10
their then unfrierdly and unwarranted treat
ment by the local authorities of the maritime
provinces of The Dominion OF Canada. MAJ
have occasion hereafter to make further
Recommendations during the present session
for sucl re nei.ll ieTislat Ire as may become
necessary for the protection of the rights Of
our citizens engaged in the open sea fisheries
in the North Atlantic waters.
GROVER CLEVELAND.
BAYARD's LETTER Is AS F, LLOWS:
Department of STATE. Washington, Dec. g.
To the President: TIE secretary OF state
ha the nonor to submit to the president, with
view to lis communication to congress. the
CORES spOndence relative 10 the fisheries in the
waters adjacent to British North America
which has taken place during the present
year. 1t will disclose the action OF this de
partment, and OF our ministers in Great
Britain, in relation to the disposition and
construction Of the convention OF 1915, and
what has been done to procure such an in ef-
probation of its provisions as will be accept
able to both parties 10 that instrument aud
consistent VITA their mutual interests and
honor. From time 10 time since the conclu-
sion of that treaty. differences have arisen
between the two governments as to the extent
of the remuneration by the United States OF
their fol mer fishing rights in common in the
littOrul waters of British North America. and
the true definition OF the rights and privi-
leges retained by and expressly guaranteed
to the United States in the nrSI article III this
convention. The period from 1878 to the
present time has been one Of unsuccessful
attempts to adjust the respective claims and
occasionally the difficulties have been bridged
over by tempoi ary arrangements, notably by
the treaty of Washington Of June s. 1854.
and of the treaty of Washington of May 8,
1871, the fishery articles of the latter having
been abrogated by the United States on June
SO. 1855. 1t is
DEEPLY TO BE REGRETTED
that the efforts OF this department to arrive
at such agreement as should permit in
EtructiOus OF live tenor to be issued by the
governments OF Great Britain and the United
States to guiue The citizens of the respective
natlonaliues in the unmoested rights OF fish
ing in the water in question. and defining the
limits OF laWfui action therein, have not as
yet reached a final and satisfactory result.
Also propositions are now pending for con-
sideration which il is hoped may prove the
basis CT q just and permanent settlement,
yet, as supple meutary TO the publish u his
tor OF the l0rg standing subject, as Illus
tTajing the obvious necessity IN the interest
OF amty and good Leighborhood of having a
clear and well defined understand
ing of the relative regntS of the two
governments and their respective ciUizens.
1t is considered expedient that congress
should have full knowledge of the action OF
the executive in the premises to assist them
in their deliberations upon thisN important
subject. 1t will be observed in the course of
his correspondence that notihcat on has not
failed to be duly given the government OF
Great Britain; that
COMPENSATION Is EXPECTED
for the loss and damage caused to American
fishermen by the unWarrantable action Of the
local authorities OF the Dominion of Canada,
not merely ly the summary seizure OF their
vesseis and the imposing OF heav fines in ad
vance Of hearing aud judgment, tut for Ohe
curtailment Of private priv e9es 10 which
they were justly entitled under commercial
regulations, as well as treaty stlpulations. and
the consequent Interference with their legiti-
mate voyages. whereby the natural profits of
their industry were seriously diminished and
in many cases wholly destroyed. II would
seem proper that steps should be taken by
congress 10 allow these losses and injuries to
be properly represented to her majesty's
government for settlement and that for this
purpose a commission should be authorized
by cong ress TO take the necessary proofs of
the respective claimants. Respectfully sub
mitted. 7. 4. BAYARD.
THE CORRESPONDENTS OPENS
with a dispatch Of date March 19, 1886, from
Sir Lionel S Sackville West, the British mIn-
iSter, to Secretary BaF ard, transmitting a re-
quest of Earl Roseberry to be informed
whether it is the intention of the UniteI
States government to give notice to
the United States fishermen that they
are now precluded from fishing in British
North American territorial water, as her
majesty's government is now considering the
eXpediency of issuing reciprocal note with
regard to British fishermen in American
waters. To the communication Secretary
Bay ard replied, under date OF March %, that
1.-THE fisheries question is now understood to
rest on existing treaties precisely as though
no fishery articles had been incorporated in
the treaty of Washington. He ADDS:
''In view OF the enduring nature and i'm
portunce of the rights secured to American
fishei men in British North American terrific
rial waters, under the provisions of the treaty
OF ISIS, to take fish within the three-mile
limit, in certain definite parts of the British
North American coasts, and to dry and cure
fish there under certain conditions, this gov
ernment has not found ii necessary to notify
the fishermen that they are now precluded
s~om fishing in British North American terri
u II waters"
~ date of Washington, May 16, 1886,
Seer Bayard
WROTE A LONG LETTER
to Minister West concerning the seizure of
the American schOoners Joseph Story and
David J. Adams. After pointing out the
illegaty of the seizures, he says: The seiz-
ure of the vessels / have mentiond. and cer-
tain published warnings purportIng TO h.Ye
been issued by the colonial authorities, would
appear to have been mu0e under u supposed
delegation of jurisdiction by the imperial
government OF Great Britain, and 10 in
tended to include autorhity to interpret and
enforce the PROVISIONS OF the treaty of 1915
To which the United States and Great
Britain are the contracting parties. and
who can alone deal reSpOnSibly
with the questions arising hereunder
The effect of this colonial legislation and eX-
ecutive Interpretation, if effected according
tothe letter would lie only to eXpouDd the
restrictions and renunciations of the treaty
of 1878 which related solely to inshOre fish
ing within the three-mile limit. so as to affect
the deep-sea fishing, the right to which re-
manned unouestioned and unimpaired for the
eniovment of the citizens of the United
Stsres but further to diminish and practically
to destroy the D. iivileges expressly reserved
-uerican fishing vessels 10 visit those in
sbt waters for the objects OF shelter,
repair of damages and purchasing wood
ond obtaining water. AS
II is admitted that the deep sea
fishing was not under consideration in the
negotiations of the treaty of 1915. nor was 1t
affected thereby, and as the use of bait for
inshore fishing mas passed who'll into oisuse,
the reasons which may have formerly ex-
listed for
REFUSING AMERICAN FISHERMEN
nrocurinS halt within the line Of u marine
league from shore, lesl they should also use
IT in the same inhabited waters for the pur-
nose of catching other fish, no Longer exist.
As therefore there is no longer any induce
mem for American fishermen to dry and cure
fish on the interdicted coasts OF the Cana
dian provinces. and as bait is no longer used.
or needed by them, for the prosecution of
iDshore fishing in order 10 take
fish in the inshore waters to
which the treaty of l8IS above relates, ask