New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-01-15
now TO PROJECT the FISHERIES.

Congress has an easy method OF rcpudating
the diplomatic agreement into which Secretary
Bayard was enrapped by the British Minister.
The operation of the fishery clauses OF the
Treaty OF Washington was extended six
months from July /, with the understanding
that formal recommendation for the appoint
ment of a Joint commission should be made in
the Presidents Message. This suggestion,
offered by the British Minister a few days after
the Inauguration, was adopted by the Admin
istration as it's fisheries policy. The appoint
ment of joint commission for the settlement
of this question has been recommended by the
Executive in the interest of Canadian fisher
men. Congressional action upon that proposal
should be indefinitely deferred. American
lishe men do not favor either renewal of the
clauses which have been abrogated or the
reference of the questions at issue to joint
commission.
The abrogatOn of the clauses. 1t Is true,
curtas rights and privileges of American fish
ermen in Canadian waters, but 1t also secures
protection in the home market. The fishing
feet of the Provinces no longer has duty free
entrance in American ports for their catch as
well as the right to the inshorc fisheries. This
restores the operation OF the customs laws,
gives American fishermen the advantage In
their own markets, and confers upon them their
rghtful share in the protective policy OF the
country. They are satisfied with this arrange
ment, since the benefits conferred amply COM
Densate them for the privilege OF fishing within
the disputed three mile limit. As matter OF
fact, fish are taking more southerly courses oil
the Banks than formerly, and the inshore fish
cries have lost mnch of their value. Congress
abrogated the clauses in the general interests
of productive American industries. Secre-
tary Bayard, being free trader, was indifferent
TO those interests, and became willing dupe OF
the British Minister.
American fishermen have good reason to be
alarmed by proposals for a new international
commission. Their interests have never been
understood by any of the American representa-
tives acting on this question through diplomatic
agencies. The provincial authorities invariably
succeed in appointing more experienced men
to represent the interests OF their fishermen.
The award of S5,500,000 Is not by any means
the only instance In which Canadian agents
have outman9lvrcd and outwitted American
representatives before international tribunals.
The entire diplomatic correspondence between
the two countries relating to this subject
attests the superior resources Of the British
Foreign Office. Every new treaty has made
inroads upon the unrestricted privileges of fish,
ing on the Grand Banks aud in the Gulf of st.
Lawrence accorded AZ an existing right in the
Convention by which the independence of the
colonies was recognized. Every joint com
mission or international tribunal has involved
an additional sacIfce of the interests of Amer-
can fisheries. Those Yankee sailors consider
diplomacy lottery in which the Canadians in
variably diaw the prizes. They do not desire
the Intervention of a new joint commission.
They are willing to take their chanccs under
the Treaty of 1913 and the customs schedules,
and only ask to have one or two United States
vessels of war sent to the Banks during the
fishing season to protect the rights of the
American fleet All they now ask is protection
in their calling, protection in home markets,
and protection against foreign diplomacy.