The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1886-05-23
THE FISHERIES LAW.
Canada Awakening to the
Fact of its Weakness,
AND is AT WORK AMENDING 1T.
Sirike-Another Bond CalI-The
Pendleton Accident,
The Fisheries Law

turn, Consul-General Phelan said that
the law under which permits are
granted dates prior to 1880. but that IN
1880 President Andrew Jackson issued
a proclamation granting certain COM
mercial rights 70 English vessels, and a
similar proclamation was issued by the
ministers in power at that time in Great
Britain. This British proclamation
was in the same spirit as that issued by
President Jackson, and il is claimed
that the joint action of the two govern
menis secured TO all vessels sailing
under the United States flag the same
rights rs those enjoyed By English
vessels in ports OF the colonies, subject,
OF course, 10 the customs law. II Is
understood that this will be the argu-
ment used by Consul Phelan through
out the progress of the cases OF seizure.
II is thought that he will be able TO
prove the right Of American vessels 10
procure bait in British waters. 1t is
not vet decided whether the seized
vessels Will be brought TO Baddeck.
OTTAWA. Ont, May 22:--The govern
ment hasreceiyed an official report from
Captain Scott, of the ansd0irAs, OF the
seizure OF the adams. II confirms in
every respect previous advices received
by telegraph. The fact appears TO sc
that tn yes, ell, EVENT. il be proved that
she was buying bait, cannot under ex-
istIng laws be held answeraoie for such
conformation of international agree
ment. The law providing for the
seizure OF foreign vessels for certain
offenses is so worded that buying bait
il not an offense under it. Mitchell,
ex- Minister of marine and fisheries,
who prepared the legislation under
which the seizure was presumably
made. purposely omitted the 6uyings
of bait from the list OF offenses.
believing bait should be regarded
as an article OF commerce and
buying bait as commercial transaction.
The seizure of the adams seemed TO
have caused government 10 realize and
recognize the weak points OF the law
under which il was made. and a bill
amending that law has been hurried
through the Commons, having passed
the third reading yesterday. II will
probably pass the Senate and become
law within q week.
PORTLAND, Me-, May 22.-The excite
ment in regard TO the fishery trouble is
unabated. The Board of Trade and
city government meetings have not
been called, but II they are much longer
delayed, there will be a mass meeting at
the city hall. To fishermen the settle
ment Of the question in dispute is a
matter of bread and butter, but not q
man has expressed desire to see
commission appointed or to have the
treaty renewed. There is bitter talk in
regard to the Canadian schooner Alert,
now loading with bait. 1t Is believed
that other schooners of the same
character and on the same GRAND will
not be very warmly received here.
/ TORONTO, May 2A.-Referring 20 the
report that the American fishing
schooner Augusta HeTriek had sailed
from Boston for the fishing grounds
armed with cannon and determined 10
resist should any Canadian vessel
attempt to sieze her, the Globe says:
This may prove a very serious matter.
| The United States government ne
ected its duty when il allowed this ves-
sci to arm Ia one OF its ports and 10
proceed when armed in waters in which
no vessel honestly pursuing legitimate
business required such armament. il
permission was obtained from govern
ment its responsibility is all the greater
should this vessel attempt forcible re-
sistance when a British or Canadian
cruiser duly commissioner attempts TO
sieze il in Canadian waters on the
charge of having acted illegally, 1t may
be treated as q pirate. To allow its
vessels TO go armed TO trespass upon a
neighbours territory is unworthy Of the
great country, especially of the peo-
pie. Canada will not be deferred by any
danger of u possible collision and its
possible consequences from asserting
its rights and enforcing those rights
| CHICAGO. May PA Bar Havbor
| special to the Herald says: James g.
Blaine, last evening. said: THE fish
cries question resolves itself to a matter
OF fact, that fishermen OF the United
| States ought to have the privileges OF
fishing on any portion of the coast and
adjacent islands. The government of
| the United States should demand q re-
turn to the terms of the treaty OF 17S3.
when peace and separation between
1 the mother country and the successful
rebellious colonies were arranged and
legitimatized. The treaty gave the
Unit d States the same rights and priv
iieges as regards the fisheries as resi-
dents OF the colonies enjoyed prior to
the revolutionary war. These rights
enabled citizens OF the United States 20
fish wherever they choose on the coast
i OF the provinces of New Brunswick,
| Nova Scotia and Newfoundland. The
act of war between nations abrogates all
treaties. and the British government
\ made such claim after the war OF 1872.
when the pernicious treaty of 1918 was
formulated. The treaty of 17S3 had
never been legitimately set aside The
treaty of 1888 was NOT between two ac-
knowledged nations, but between two
portions of the same country. The
treaty gave both to the nation and 70
the future States of nation. The
rights thus given 70 nation on the oc-
casion of its creation are not 10 be abb
rogated by subsequent treaties, unless
national existence IS wiped out
entirely. Great Britain raised the
point because she discovered an
increased value in the fisheries.
The question should be settled once for
all. American fishermen should not
be compelled TO submit to any further
arbitrary interference or be left IN a
position to suffer as they have suffered
for many years. think England
would yield the point il it were pressed
with al the moral force Of the United
States" Blaine expressed himself with
his customary energy when deeply