The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-12-22
THE FISHERY DISPUTE
A Lively Correspondence With
Great Britain.
Damages Demanded for Losses Of
American Fishermen.

The President has transmitted to Congress
the correspondence in regard to the fisheries
dispute, with the following letter:
To Senate and House Of Representatives.:
transmit herewith letter from the Sec
retary of State, which is accompanied by the
correspondence in relation to the rights OF
American fishermen in the British
North American waters. and com.
mend to your favorable considera-
ton the suggestion that comrlis-
sion be authorized by law to take perpetu-
the past year by American fishermen, owing
to their unfriendly and unwarrantel treat
ment by the local authorities of the mari
time provinces of the Dominion OF Cana
da. I may have occasion hereafter to
make further, recommendations during
the present session for such remedial legiSla-
tion as may become necessary for the pro-
lection of the rights of our citizens engaged
in the open sea fisherie in the north Atlantic
waters. GROVER CLEVELAND.
Secretary Bayard, in his letter to the
President, after referring to the unsuccessful
attempts made in the past to permanently
settle this long standing dispute, says:
"1t will be observed in the course of the
correspondence that notification has not
failed to be duly given to 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 by the sum-
mary seizure Of their vessels and the exaction
of heavy fines in advance of hearing and
Judgment, but for the curtailment of privi-
legeS to which they were justly entitled un-
der commercial re e3ulatio1s as well as treaty
stipulations; and the consequent interference
with their legitimate voyages, whereby the
~ hai- IND, cfrHy
ously diminished and in many cases wholly
destroyed.
1T would seem proper that steps in per-
petuan rel memoriam should be taken by
Congress to allow proofs to be made and
placed upon record OF these losses and injuries
to our citizens, to enable them to be properly
presented to her Majesty's Government for
settle nent, and that for this purpose COM
mission should be authorized by Congress to
claimants" "
The correspondence opens with dispatch
of date March ID, 1856, from Sir Lionel Sack
vile West, the British Minister, to Secre-
tary Bayard, transmitting request of Earl
Rosebery to be informed "whether it is the
intention of the United States Govern
ment to give notice to the United States
fishermen that they are now precluded from
fishing in British North American territorial
now considering the expediency of issuing a
reciprocal notice with regard to British fish
ermen in American waters"
To this communication Secretary Bayard
replied under date Of March %, that ''the
fishery question is now understood to rest on
existing treaties, precisely as though no fish
cry articles had been incorporated in the
treaty of Washington"
He adds: Sin view Of the enduring nature
nd to pt of tho riphtS Sacured to
Ameri; an fishermen in British North
American territorial waters uudsr the pro-
visions of the treaty of 1918, to take fish with
in the three-mie limit in certain definite parts
of the British North American coast and to
dry and cure fish under certain conditions,
this Government has not found it necessary
to notify fishermen that they are now pre-
cluded from fishing in British North Ameri-
can territorial waters"
On June 2 Minister Phelps wrote to Earl
Roseberry concerning the seizure of the
David J. Adams After arguing the legal
questions involved at great length, he says:
II am instructed by my Government ear
nestly to protest against these proceedings as
wholly unwarranted by the treaty of 1918,
and altogether inconsistent with the friendly
relations hitherto existing between the United
States and her Ma;esty's Government; tore
quest that the David j. Adams and the other
ALueTlCau uSuluS Vessels IOW uuueI Solf futc III
Canadian ports be Immediately released,
and that proper orders may be issued
to prevent similar proceedings in the future.
And am also instructed to inform you that
the United States will hold her Ma;esty's
Government responsible for all losses which
may be sustained by American citizens in
the dispossession of their property growing
out of the search, seizure, detention or sale
of their vessels lawfully within the territori-
al waters of British North America"
The correspondence includes letters of pro-
test and argument from Mr.. Bayard to Min
lister West, from the Earl Of Rosebery and
the Marquis Of Lansdowne to Mr.. Bayard
and United States Minister Phelps, discussing
the disputed points at great length. Mr.. Bay
ard is determine and unhiuching in his re-
Elections on the conduct of Canadian officials,
and serves notice on the British Government
that settlement in full for all damages will
be demanded. The construction of the treaty
of 1918 is the bone Of contention. and on both
sides the argument is ably maintained. Each
different seizure appears to have called forth
q volley Of correspondence.