The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1886-04-02
THE FISHERIES.
Meeting of Delegates to the Ameri-
can Fishery Union.

Boston, April 1.-The delegates to the
American Fishery Union held an important
meeting at the Parker House yesterday
afternoon, to discuss matters in the interests
of the fisheries of the United States. About
thirty delegates were present from all parts
of New England.
President George Steele called the meeting
to order and explained briefly its objects.
Remarks followed from ex-Collector Fitz
J. Babson, Hon. Charles Levi Woodbury.,
Sylvanus Smith and j. ]. Pew.
Mr.. o. b. Whitten of Portland, Me-, called
attention to the correspondence which he has
had with the State Department, and filed the
same with the Fishery Union.
r. S. SpoffOrd submitted the following
resolutions, which were unanimously
adopted:
Whereas, the reclamation of their home mar
kets to the uses OF American fishermen, recently
secured by the abrogation OF the fishery articles
of the treaty,of Washington and by the assured
failure of British diplomacy in its attempt to OBJ
tain a new international commission has engen-
dered on the part of the colonial authorities and
people constituting the British dependencies in
America feeling of intemperate anger and re-
sentiments and
thorites is witnessed not only in their official
utterances, but in the fitting out of armed cruisers
with which to patrol the high seas, avoWedly for
the protection Of their pretended maritime rights
from alleged infractions by American fishermen;
and
Whereas as representing American fishermen,
we are enabled by past experience fully to mea-
sure and appreciate the peril to which our vessels
and seamen, engaged in their lawful calling,
under such arbitrary and hostile surveillance, are
thus inevitably exposed; and
Whereas, under these circumstances, we de-
mand of the government of the United States that
peremptory and decisive action which will be at
once protective of the individual rights of our
fishermen as American citizens and of the ma
tiOnal dignity and honor in maintaining the in
volatility of the American flag; and
Whereas, having in view common peril, 1t is
desirable that all persons connected with the
fisheries of the United States, as well those be-
longing to the lake ports and the Pacific coast as
those of the Atlantic Seab0ard should be united
i'll a single organization, the more promptly to
secure that harmony of counsel and unity of
action which the grave crisis now so imminent
will demand; now, therefore, be it
ResoIUed, That committee of five persons be
appointed by the President of the American
Fishery Union, whose duty it shall be forthwith to
mature and propose such plan for the extension
of this union as will include therein all persons
connected with the fisheries of the United States,
whether in productive or dstributiye capacity,
upon equal terms of membership, and with a view
to permanent organization as a national body; and
be it further
Resolued, That this committee be authorized to
send representatives to the Western cities bor-
dering upon the great lakes, personally to confer
with the representatives of the fishing interests
there and to arrange the details for the further
ance of the general object thus defined.