The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1886-01-01
cooPERAcE AND THE FISHERIES.
What Congressman Reed Had to
Say About Them.
What Mr.. Whltten Says of Secretary
Bayard's Statement.

Congressman Reed was interviewed by
reporter in regard to the fishery question and
the protection asked for by the cooperage in
terests He said:
81 have had an interview with the gentle
men representing the eooperage trade
and have read their circular. They are reaS-
enable in their demands. This IS serious
matter especially to people OF this section.
If the tariff could only once be approached
in proper way, if it could be kept out OF
politics, the relief they ask for might be at
once given to them. As it is, there are so
many to be consulted, as | told them, that
cannot venture to say what may be done for
them. | can't tell any better than any one
else. Something must be done about the fish
cries at once. The fishing interest is in
different position from the coOperage trade.
The fishing interest is threatened with loss
if not destruction while the cOoperage trade
has already been destroyed. 1t is easier to
keep alive an interest than to restore 1t after
it is dead This question in regard to the
fisheries is an immediate one. Something
must be done ON our side. The proposed
commission rests with the administration.
Secretary Bayard blundered through not un-
derstanding the question. | am surprised
that he did not at the time when the treaty
expired send for some of our people who are
acquainted with the subject and get the BEN
eft of their views"
0. B. Whitten, of the firm of Lewis, Chase
CS w lillbOli3 odlu w tuuiGHud1 VI llC 1OilOMlllb
statement, made by Secretary Bayard:
When l came into Office last spring, the fisher
men were Just getting ready for the seasons fish
ing. AT the end Of June the treaty, which pro-
tected them in their rights would, expire by lin
itatl0n, and nothing except the treaty OF 1918
would be left to fall back upon. That was not
favorable to Americans. sent for various peo-
pie who, l supposed were well posted, and talked
with them fully on the matter. L had in
formation that swift armed cruisers were being
prepared in Canadian waters to follow up and
American fishing bOafS that ghOud b0
found in the Canadian waters at the expiration OF
the treaty 1t seemed best to extend the treaty,
if possible, to the end OF the year, IN order that
no complications and trouble should arise during
the fishing season. The Canadians were very an
CRY that the time of the treaty had been extend
ed. They desired to have an arrangement made
for the refunding Of duties and, as this was not
done, much Indignation was expressed against
their officials. There was nothing to do but TO ex-
tend the treaty.
"If knew whom the Secretary of State
had talked with, should know better what
to say of his explanation. One thing is very
certain, he did not see and talk. with any one
from Portland who is in the fishing business,
and | speak only for Portland. In May we
sent a memorial to the President congratu-
lating him that the treaty was to end in
June. Very few of the Portland fleet were
sent to the Canadian waters last spring. We
did not regard it as of Importance enough.
We were willing to submit to the Canadian
laws. If any of our vessels were caught
within the three-mile limit we expected to
have them captured and eonfscated. We
did object to having it done outside Of the
three-mile limit. Out of $4,000 barrels Of
mackerel packed here last year only 700 bar
rels could have been taken within the three
mile limit.
| dc not believe that the Secretary was
correctly informed in regard to the feeling
of objection on the part Of the people Of
Canada at the extension OF the treaty. There
are places in Canada that depend upon the
American fishermen and their trade for their
| NcrA No foo hat fha Inr 1nf
must stand by ITSELF and be considered and
settled by itself. 1t looks TO us just this way.
| The English government is doing its best to
help the fishermen of the colonies while our
government has left the American fishermen
to do the best they could for themselves, and
are without the protection of this govern
ment."
"Mr. Whitten, what effect has this course
had on the business of the villages along the
| coast of Maine?"
81 can remember when nearly every town
| ON this coast was a flourishing fishing town,
| but this treaty has driven the business away
| from all but two or three towns"
Mr.. Bayard says he learned that swift
sailing armed cruisers had been fitted out by
| the Canadians"
'Yes, but they must have kept within
| their own limits. They could only have cap
| tured such American vessels as might have
| been found within their own limits. As a
matter of fact, not an American vessel would
| have been found within the thIQe-InII6 d1lf
| the day when the treaty expired, Every
| captain had been instructed TO be outside the
three-mile limit and they would have obeyed
| those Instructions