Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-12-09
The Presidents Letter and the
Communications
or Secretary BaYard and Ministers
Phelps and West Submitted
to Congress.
The Correspondence Consists of One
Hundred and Four Communications,
WASHINGrON Dec {

WASHINGTON, Dec. s.
Following is the Presidents letter trans
mitting 10 Congress the communication of
the Secretary of State and the correspond
ence relating to the fisheries.
ITO the Senate and House of Representa-
tves:
transmit herewith the letter from the Sec
Of STATE which is accompanied by correspon
dence in relation to the rights of American
fishermen in the British North American
waters and commend to your favorable con-
sheraton the suggestion that the commission
be authorized by law to take perpetuatiug
proofs of the losses sustained during the past
year by American fishermen owing to their
untriendly and unwarrarted treatment by
the local authorities of the MARITIME Provinces
of the Dominion of Canada | may have
occasion hereafter to make further recon-
mendations during the present session for
such remedial legislation as may become
necessary for the protection of the rights IF
our citizens engaged in open sea fisheries in
the North Atlantic waters.
GROVER CLEVELAND"
The following is the text of the letter Of
the secretary of State to the President Oh the
fisheries question:
DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
WASHINGTON, ID. c., Dec. s.
To the President:
The secretary of State has the honor to
submit to the President, with view to its
communication to oDgress, the correspond
ence relative te fisheries in waters adjacent
to British North America, which has taken
place during the present year. 1t will dts
close the action of this department and of our
minister to Great Britain in relation to the
disputed construction of the convention of
1918, and what has been done to procure
such Interpretation of its provisions rs will
be acceptable to both parties to that instru
ment and consistent with their mutual inter
est and honor. From time to time since the
conclusion of the treaty of 1918, differences
have arisen between the two governments as
to the extent of the remuneration by the
United States of their former fishery rights,
in common, in the literal waters of British
North America, and the true definition of the
rights and privileges retained by and express
ly guaranteed to the United States, in the
first article of that convention. The history
of this question, during the period from 1918
to the present time, has been one of unsuc
cessful attempts to adjust the respective
claims, and occasionally difficulties have
been bridged over by temporary arrange
ments, notably BY the treaty of Washington
of June 8, 1854, and of the treaty of Wash
ington of May 8, 1871, the fishery articles of
the latter having been abrogated by the
United States on July 80, 1885. 1t is deeply
to be regretted that the efforts Of this DEPART
Dent, as shown bv the correspondence now
submitted, to arrive at such an agreement as
would permit the instructions of a like tenor
to be issued by the governments of Great
Britain and the United States, to guide the
citizens of their respective nationalites in an
unmoested exercise of their rights of fishing
in the waters in question, defining the limits
of lawful action, therein, have not as vet
reached final and satisfactory result. AL
though propositions are now pending for con-
sideratjon. which it is hoped may prove the
basis of just and permanent settlement yet,
as supplementary to the published history of
this long standing subject, as illustrating the
obvious necessity in the Interest of amity and
good neighborhood, of having a clear and
well defined understanding of the relative
rights IF the two governments and their
respective citizens, it is C onsidered
expedient that Congress should have full
knowledge Of the action of the executive in
the premises to assist them on their delibera-
tions upon this important subject. 1t will
be observed in the course of this correspond
ence that notification has not failed to be
duly given to the government of Great Brit
ain that compensation is expected for the
loss and damage caused to American fisher
men by the unwarraBtable action of the local
authorities of the Dominion of Canada, not
merely by the summary seizure of their ves-
sells and exaction of heavy fines in advance
of hearing and judgment, but for the cur
taiment of privileges to which they are Justly
entitled under commercial regulations as well
as treaty stipulations and consequent inter
ference with their legitimate VOYAGES whereby
the natural profits of their industry were Sc
riously diminished and in many cases wholly
destroyed. 1t would seem proper that steps
in perpetuam rel memoram should be taken
by Congress to allow proofs to be made and
placed upon record of these losses and in
juries to our citizens to enable them to be
properly presented to her majestv's govern
meut for settlement and that for this purpose
a commission should be authorized by Con-
gress to take necessary proofs of respective
claimants.
Respectfully submitted,
t. F. BArARD.
But one copy of the correspondence was
sent to Congress and that has not yet been
opened. 1t consists of 104 communication
from Secretary Bayard. Minister West and
hinlster fnelps. IL VIII prooaoly De lald
before the House of Representatives to-
morrow.
The correspondence opens with a dispatch
dated March 10, 1886. from Sir Lionell Sack
vile, West British minister, to Secretary
Bayard transmitting a request of Earl Rose
bury to be informed, whether il is the in
tention of the United States government to
give notice to the United States fishermen
that they are precluded from fishing in Brit
ish North American territorial waters as her
msjestys government are now considering
the expedency of issuing reciprocal notice
with regard to British fishermen in American
waters" To this communication Secretary
Bayard replied, under date of March %, that
''the fishing question is now understood to
rest on the existing treaty precisely as though
no fishery articles had eversbeen incorporat-
ed in the treatJ of Washington" He adds,
I'm view of the enduring nature and import
ant extent of rights secured to American
fishermen in British North American territo-
rial waters, under the provisions of the treaty
of 1918, to take fish within mile limit in
certain definite parts of the British North
American coast and to dry and cure the fish
there under certain conditions, this govern