The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1886-12-09
TIE FISHERY DISPUTE.
The Action of the stats Department In Re
..- IN rl to Inn MniInr

The Action of the STATE Department In Re.
s,- gard to the MattsS,
WARRINGTON, D. O., Dec. S.-Followint
is tho letter Of tho Secretary Of statt
to the President on the fishery question
submitted to Congress to.isyi "The Sec
retary OF State has the honor tc
submit To the President with a view
to its communication 10 Congress the
correspondence relative 10 the 6aheiies In
the watcr0 adjacent to BritiRh North
America, which has taken place during
the present year. II will disclose the
action Of this Department aud of our
Minister TO Great Britain In relation Ia
the disputed construction ot the oonven.
ton OF 1918, and what has been done to
procure such an Interpretation cf its pro-
visions as will be acceptable 10 both hRr.
ties 10 that instrument and consistent
with their mutual interests and honor.
Prom time TO time since the conclusion
OF the treaty OF 1878 differences have
arisen between the two governments aI
TO the extent OF the Tenulglatiop by the
United States OF their former hshinG
rights in common, In the waterH OF British
North America and the true definition oi
the rights aud privileges retained by and
expressly guaranteed 70 the United States
In the tifat article Of that convention, The
history Of this question during the period
from 1878 to the present time has been
oao Of unsuCGssSiul attempts to adjust the
respective claims, and occasionally the dif,
hculties have been bridged over by tenn
porary arrangements, notably b. the
treaty Of Washington, Of June 8, 1854,
and al the treaty Il Washington Of May
s, 1871, the sherry articles Of the latter
having Eeen abfogatsd By the United
States on June 80, 1886,
II Is deeply to be regretted that the ell
iorts OF this Department 10 arrive at such
an agreement 40 would permit lnstruc'
tions Of tho like tenor 10 be Issued by the
Government OF Great Britain and the
United States 10 guide the citizens Of the
respe cLiye nationglitiss in the exercise OF
their rights Of fishing in the waters in
question and defining the limits OF lawful
action therein have not as yet reached q
satisfactory result. Although proposi-
tions ere now pending for consider.
alton which Il is hoped may
prove the basis Of q Just and
permanent settlement, yet as sup.
Elementary 10 the published history
Of this lon g.slRnding subject as illustrating
the obvious neOcaaIty In the interest Of
amity and good nsiEhhorhpod, OF having
clear and we'll defined understanding Of
the relative rights OF tho two governments
and their respective CitlSens, 1t is con.
sidered expedient that Congress should
have full knowledge Of the action Of the
executive In the premises and 70 assiut
them In their deliberations upon this Inn
portant subject.
II will be observed in the eouESs OIL this
correspondence that notification has mol
failed 10 be duly given 10 the Government
Of Great Britain that compensation is ex'
pectSd for tho loEa and dRmage caused tc
American fisherman by the unwRrranted
action OF the local authorities oil the Do
minion OF Canada, not merely by the sum.
mary seizure Of their vessels and the ex'
acton Of heavy Ones In advance Of hear
ing and Judgment, but tor the curtail'
ment Of privileged to which they were
luBtly entitled under commercial regpls,
lions, 40 we'll 10 treaty gtpuiatl0ns and
lie consequent interference with their
ieSltiSSts S voyages, whereby the natural
profits Of their Industry wore teriouSly
Diminished. II would ecetp proper that
stems should be takenby Congress to allow
proofs 10 be made and plaoed upon record
81 these Losses and injuries 10 our citizens,
% enable them 10 be- properly presented
10 Her Malesty'g government Tor settle
merl, and that Tor this purpose q commits
sion should be authorised BY Congtee9 "a
take the necessary proofs oi the respective
ClAlmAntB,h