Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1888-03-01
THE FISHERIES TREATY.
President Cleveland Indorses the
Convention in His Letter
of Transmittal.
Abandonment of Canada's Con-
struction of the Meaning Of
Three-Mile Limit.
Ifthe States Will Remove Certain Du-
ties Her Fishermen May
Buy Bait
Washington special ]

Tue Senate has made public the fisheries
trenty, with the Presidents letter of transmit
tai. The President in his letter transmitting
the document to the Senate says;
-Tspecially satisfactory do believe the pro-
posed arrangement will be found by those OF
fisheries adjacent to the Canadian coast, and
resorting to those ports and harbors under
treaty provisions and the rule OF international
law.
"'Ehe proposed delimitation Of the lines Of
the exclusive fisheries from the common inh-
cries will give certainty and security as TO the
area OF their legitimate field; the headlsnd
theory of imaginary lines is abandoned by
Great Britain, and the specification in the treaty
OF certain named bays especially provided for
shores without subtracting materially from the
value or convenience OF the fishery right3 OF
Americans. The uninterrupted navigation OF
FIRST time affirmed, and the four purposes for
which our fishermen under the treaty OF 1918
were allowed to enter the bays and harbors OF
Canada and Newfoundland within the belt OF
three miles are placed under a fair and liberal
construction, and their enjoyment secured
without such conditions and restrictions as in
them so seriously.
"The enforcement Of penalties for unlawfully
fishing or preparing to fish within the inshore
and exclusive waters of Canada and Newfound-
land is to be accomplished under safeguards
against oppressive or arbitrary action, thus
protecting the defendant fishermen from pun
venience and unnecessary expense.
yeafse SSHSpf 81 b fber % h t&e G
ministration was moro harassing and injuri-
ous than the compulsion upon our fishing ves-
every occasion Of temporarily seeking shelter
in Canadian ports and harbors. Such incUn-
venience is provided against in the proposed
treaty, ami the most frequent and just cause Of
"The articles permitting our fishermen to OBJ
tain provisions and the ordinary supplies OF
trading vessels ON their homeward voyages, and
under which they are accorded the further and
even more important privilege on all occasions
of purchasing such casual or needful provisions
and supplies as are ordinarily granted to trad
ing vessels, are Of great Importance and value.
The licenses, which are to be granted without
charge and on application, in order to enable
our hshermen to enjoy these privileges, are
reasonable and proper checks in the hands of
the local authorities to identify the recipients
and prevent abuse, and can form no impedi-
ment to those who intend to use them fairly.
The hospitality secured for our vessels In all
cases OF actual distress. with liberty to unload
and sell and tranship their cargoes is full and
liberal.
-These provisions will secure the substantial
enjoyment Of the treaty rights for our fisher
men under the treaty of l81e for which conten-
tion has been steadily made in the correspond
ence Of the Department Of State and our Min
ister at London, and by the American negotia-
fishermen under the treaty OF lslo uid not ex-
tend to the procurement of distinctive fishery
supplies in Canadian ports and harbors, and
was plainly denied them by the explicit and
definite words Of that treaty OF 1873 empha-
sized by the course OF the negotiation and ex-
press decisions which preceded the conclusion
OF that treaty
"The treaty now submitted to you has been
framed in a spirit of liberal equity and recipro-
cal BENEFITS in the con viction that mutual ad-
vantage and convenience are the only perman-
ent foundation OF peace and friendship between
states, and that with the adoption Of the agree
mont now placed before the Senate a beneficial
and satisfactory intercourse between the two
countries will be established 80 as to secure
perpetual peace and harmony.
I'm connection with the treaty herewith sub
mitted deem IL also my duty to transmit to
the Senate q written offer or agreement in the
nature OF a modus vivendi, rendered after the
conclusion OF the treaty on the part OF the Brit
ish plenipotentiaries, to secure kindly and
peaceful relations during the period that may
be required for the consideration Of the treaty
by the respective governments, and for the en-
actment OF the necessary legislation to carry
its provisions into effect il approved. This
paper, freely and on their motion, signed by
the British conferrees not only extends advant,
ages to our fishermen pending the ratification
of the treaty but appears to have been die
tated by friendly and amicable spirit.
Il am given to understand that the other
Governments concerned in this treaty will
within few days, in accordance with their
methods Of conducting public business. submit
said treaty 70 their respective legislatures,
when 10 will be at once published to the world
In view OF such action IL appears to be advis-
able that. by publication here, early and fun
knowledge OF all that has been done in the
premises should be afforded to our people
1T would also seem to be useful to inform the
popular mind concerning the history OF the
long-continued disputes growing out OF the
subject embodied in the treaty and to satisfy
the public interests touching the same as we'll
as to acquaint our people with the present
status OF the quest ons involved, and to give
them the exact terms of the proposed adjust
ment in place Of the exaggerated and imagine
tive statements which will otherwise reach
them.
Il therefore beg leave respectfully TO suggest
that said treaty and all such correspondence
messages and documents relating to the same
as may be deemed important to accomplish
these purposes be at once made public by the
order Of your honorable body
aGnnur,ul w r.rrr A ,