The Republican journal., 1886-04-15
rUBLIsHED EVERY THURSDAY MORNING BY THE
Republican Journal Publishing Co.
CHARLES A. PILSBURY............... EDITOR.
The Fisheries.

The Fisheries.
The Canadians and the Democrats in Con-
greSs are alike warning on our fishermen, and
while pursuing different methods are looking
to the same end. Canada by threatening to
seize our vessels if caught within the three mile
limit, or when buying bait or shipping men,
hopes to coerce this country into adopting a
treaty under which Canadian fish will come in
duty free; while the Democratic tariff bill puts
fish on the free list, and thus would give Canada
What she wants without the necessity for a
treaty. As to the Canadian demonstrations,
Capt. f. j. Babson, eX-Collector of the port of
Gloucester. who has made almost life study
of the fisheries, says There never was a
better chance for an American administration
to adopt and enforce an American policy than
now Let the President and his Cabinet take a
decided stand on this question and they will
have the support of the whole people. If
Canada undertakes to police the high seas with
her cruisers and to commit outrages on our
fishermen let Congress pass retaliatory egisla-
tion put high tariff on fish, and ii will not
he long before the Dominion government will
whistle different tune"
Unfortunately the State Department has al
ready demonstrated its ncompetency to deal
with the question intelligently. An American
ship owner applied to it for information re-
specting maritime rights, and on the same day
received two contradictory opinions; and the
recent speech of Senator Frye further shows
that Secretary Bayard has been surrendering
rights which have been acquired by inter-
national legislation and are not dependent upon
the Fisheries clauses of 1918. American vessels
have the same rights in British ports which
British vessels have in American ports and
these rights include the purchase of bait and
ice (both being articles of commerce), the
making of ordinary repairs. and the shipping
of crews. The Canadian authorities have no
national treaties. Mr.. Bayard, instead of ascer-
tanning what rights American fishermen actu-
ally have by statute in British ports, is languid-
y surrendering them in Difference to foreign
advice and agitation in the Maritime Provinces
No wonder that our fishermen are indignant
or that senator Frye who has ably voiced
their Indignation, was unsparing in his denun-
citation of the State Departments incapacity.
senator Frye promises as soon as a single
American vessel is seized in Dominion waters
TO introduce bill closing the ports of the
United States against all British Colonial fish
ing, freightng and passenger vessels. This
says the New York Tribune. ''would be an eX-
nf ,4ta1i iatin 1I1ts ri,.D
Gus action may be required in order to bring
the Canadian Government to its senses. We
trust that the Navy Department will lose nc
time in sending vessel Of war to the Nova
Scotia coast for purposes of observation. We
hope also that the Administration will consult
with native American advisers, if it have need
of information respecting international law. i
it too much to expect that it will protect fish
ermen in their legal right, uphold the National
dignity. and maintain the nviolability of the
American flag in dealing in future with every
phase of the Fishery question:
We do not want a treaty because, as Capt
Babson says, we have always lost under 8
treaty; have always got the worst of it. The
Treaty Of Washington, for the privileges OF
which this country paid S5,500,000, crippled
the American fishing business, and Canada
gained what we lost. Here are the figures:
Value of Canadian products (iishing) in
ISL. 7,532, ,20t
Value of Canadian products (ishng) III
eo4.....-.-...-....- ...-......-... IL, ,SJ2 .32l
Gain in twelve Years covered by treaty l0320, 1921
Value of Canadian imports DISH into the
United States in IS72.................. l,020, ,0Sl
Value of Canadian imports (fsh) into the
United safes i'll Iss4.................. 1888, ,56t
Mel SdiI- -.....-......- --.......S 4,blo,4S,
ain 1873 Canada had engaged in fishing 40:
vessels and 5000 boats: in 1884 she had 80.
vessels and l2,1.2 boats-showing gain in the
former Of 800 and in the latter of 3,1GS. Dur
Ing the same period the American fishing ton
mage was reduced from 109,519 to IS 6.137, a loss
of nearly thirty per cent.
Of course Canada wants treaty that vii
give her the benefit of our free markets, while
dealing death blow to our fishing industry
Our fishermen do not want to fish within the
three mile limit, and if they cannot buy bait in
Canadian ports. as heretofore, they will obtain
it elsewhere. If the Canadian fishermen who
have in part manned our vessels cannot 90 OF
board from their homes in the Provinces they
will come TO this country, as many have al
ready done, and become American citizens
We have everything to gain and nothing tc
lose by standing up for our own, by maintain
ing our rights and protecting our fishermen
Speaking of their value to the country Mr.
Frye cloquently said:
Who will deny that the glories we won ii
1872, on lake and on sea, were their achieve
ment? Who does not know that in our las1
terrible struggle for life there was not decl
of our fleet unmostened with their blood? Ii
we ever have another war, which God forbid
| it will be on the sea. Who shall man our fleet
1t is asserted, and | believe truly, that 50 Del
cent. of the sailors employed in our oceal
forelgn-carrying trade are foreigners, owing
our country no allegiance and inspired bv nc
love for our flag. They surely would be ;
broken reed i'll the hour of national peril. 0,
the 100000 men in our fishing fleet SS per cent
| are American citizens, 50 per cent. of American
BIRTH Injured to every hardship, exposed t.
constant danger. fighting ceaseless battle witt
| wind and wave, loving freedom for freedom.
! sake. and ready on call to defend their rights
| courageous, skilled and patriotic, they are to
day the best and most reliable sailors in the
| world, and to a man would promptly responC
to their country's call.
Why, then, should these men be selected fol
sacrifice, and their rights be surrendered to tn,
tender merces of British diplomacy? OF al
our industries this alone is left unprotected
| and the men employed in it are the most ex
posed, the hardest worked and the poores