, 1888-02-23
The Presidents Message TO Con-
greSs,
with Which Is Submitted the
Treaty.
! Fair Field to American Fish.
ermen.

WAsIIIYoIoN Feb. 2t.--The senate to-day
made public the fisheries treaty with the
Presidents letter of transinittal. The pres
idents letter, with historical part omitted,
Is ~ follows:
an my annual message, transmitted tn
Congress, Drcrmber, 1896 it was stated
negotiations we're then pending tor the se,-
tlement of questions growing out oi 'he
rights claimed hy the American fishermen
In British and North American waters. A.
result ui such negotiations treaty las
been agreed upon by Her Britainic Majesty
and the United States, concluded and
signed in tins capitol under my direction
and authority On th. 15th day OF Fehr'iary,
inst, and which now have the honor u
submit To the SENATE, with the recoUiIlien'
datiun that it shall receive the consent oi
this body ms provided In the constitution,
I'm order that the rutitcition thereof may
be duly exchanged aud the treaty carried
into effect
Shortly after Congress had djuurned In
March last, and III continuation "f my
= reports to arrive ct such All agreement
- Del wesn the governments ot Great Britain
pAnd the United States as would secure to
the citizens pi tue respective countries the
uulnolestrd euiuyments ui their Just rig y
under existing treaties and International
comfy IN the terminal waters Ui NowiuIiI,d-
land | ayailed myseli uf the Opporiuniii,s
Indicative oI desire To uake, without de.
lay, att amicable aud tiuai settlement OF
much irritation and misunderstanding
between thetau nations, To send, through
our minsterH in London, PROPOSALS
that Conference should take place
on the stl' jrct at this capitol as
experience If ,hr past two years had DEM
onstra'rd the dalatory and unsatisfactory
consequences Ut cur indirect TRANSACTION
Of business through the iorel IN office in
London IN which the views and wishes ui
the government ul the Dominion uf Cauafa
k,..t
only to tind expression at second hand. To
Obviutc this iucunvcnient obstruction to
prompt and well defined settlement 1t was
considered advisable that negotiations
should he conducted IN this city. aud that
the Interests ut Canada aud Newfoundland
should tie directly represented therein.
:. AThe treaty meets my appruVa! because |
~ l.ve !; supplies asatlsiactOry, practical
'x hnal adjustment upon basis hun"ra-
&s1'apd ips, 90 i,sth.parti,s oi the .diihc'ilt
nnd vexcd question To which IL Related.
The greater part Jf the correspondence
which has taken plpce between tie two
governments has heretofore been Ia com
gress. and at early IA day as possible l
shall transmit the remaining portion To
this date, acc 'nipdnyinS IL with the j'int
protocols III the conferences which resulted
In the conclusion Of the treaty now sub
nited tu tou. You will thus br pussrsSed
OF IA recorti aud history oi The case since the
Termination Vu J une 30, 1885 of the fishery
articles, Oi thI treaty at Washington or
1871, whereby We were relrgate'i H. the pre-
visions Ul the treaty ot October 90 1878.
A. the documents and papers referred u
viii supply Information ot positions taken
nndtr Iny adm,trhtun hy the representa-
Uyes at he Uhitci States ,,s well ~ those
occupied by t'le representatives ot the gov
ernuent pi 'ir-ur Britain, Is not con,idered
Recess try ar eSpe iIent 10 repe them III
this mr-sage. 5ut b-leve the treaty viii
be found - contain II lust, honorable and
i.t lilti
cultie-. which have ciUudcd our relations
with our neigh hVrs on our northern bor-
ders-rsltc,aliy satisfactory do | believe
the proposed arrangement Will be iouiu by
those oi our CIIzrns, who are engaged III
open sea fisheries AL AGENT To the Cana
dian coast, and resurting to those ports and
harhors under treaty provisions and rule ot
international law.
The pr,posed drlimitatlon of lines of ex-
elusive fisheries from common li-heii,s will
give accrtainiy aud security as tV.the area
Of these Legitimate fields aud heauands.
The theory OF imaginary lines are abaii-
doned by Great Britain and specification in
treaty OF certain named bays, especially
provided for. eiyes satisfaction to the ih-
habiants Of the shores without substract-
ing materially from the value or cOnven-
ience vi the fishery rights Ot Americans
Uninterrupted navigation Of the strait nf
Canso is expressly and for the first time af-
hrned and for the purposes Tor which our
We're allowed to enter the bays and harbUrs
OF Canada and Newfoundland within the
belt of three miles are placed under fair
and liberal Construction. and there enjoy
uient secured without such Gundtiors and
restrictions as III The past have arrassed
and INSTRUCTED them 50 seriously. The en-
forcenent of penalties for uplawfully fish
ing or preparing to fish within the shore
AMI exclusive waters of Canada and New
|. fvundland tn bs accomplished under SAFE
guards against oppressive or arbitrary ac-
tiup, thus protecting defendant fishermen
from punishment in advanc. Of trial, de-
lays, and Inconvenience, aud unne cessary
expense
The history oi events in the last two
years shows that 10 feature of Canada adj
niuistration was NOR" harrassing ami in.
jurious than cuinpiiisiOn upon cur fishing
vessels ~ make formal entry aud clearance
on every OCCASION of irmlorsriiy seeking
shelter IN Canadian ports and harburs.
Such Inconvenience Is provided against III
the proposed treaty, and the most frequent
and ust Ca,ise Of complaint Is se,hUve,i.
Articles permitting cur fishermen to obtain
provisions and ordinary supplies of traiin.
vessels I'm their hoineward voyages
1urther and ever n,ure important priv
ileae on all occa>iuus Of proposing
such casual Or needful provisions and sup
plies US are e"r.iinaril y granted radinsvessels
are Of great iniportance and value. Licens-
es which are 10 he granted without charge,
and Oh application, N order to enable our
hsheruien To enjoy those privileges are rea-
sOnabe, aud proper checks in the hands of
local authorities to ideutity recipients and
prevent abuse, and eau form no impede
ilt TO il"'se who iatend to use them