The Portland daily press., 1888-08-21
The Fishery Treaty.

A few days ago we printed letter from
the Hon. Charles Levi Woodbury., condemn
ing generally the fishery treaty-the treaty
Mr. Putnam. according to the Argus, so COM
pletely indicated in his speech at Rockland.
We now present another from the same
source criticising the twelfth article of the
treaty. 1t must be borne in mind that Mr..
Woodbury. is not Republican. His con-
demnation of this treaty cannot, therefore be
disposed Of in the way that its friends gener-
ally dispose Of criticism, by saying that it is
made for political effect Mr.. Woodbury. is
Democrat Of the strictest sect, but he is a
Democrat who has not yet been converted to
the policy of surrender which the admins
tration has adopted in regard to the fisher
les. Mr.. Woodbury's letter is dated July 26,
and is addressed to the Philadelphia Even
ing Bulletin. This is its language:
Article 49, Fishing vessels Of Canada and
OF the United States, all the privileges reserved
and secured by this treaty to United States fishing
vessels In the aforesaid waters Of Canada and
The effect Of this article is more extensive than
would appear on cursory reading. What are
reserved and secured by this treaty" when NE
are required TO recprocate on our Atlantic coasts
and what Is the measure of the reciprocity this
In the aforesaid waters" we have the the Glib
erty to FISH for all kinds Of fish near the Shore to
land cure and dry the fish on vast extent of the
coast of Canada and Newfoundland, but on a
limited portion, are excluded from fishing within
three miles of the shores.
This February convention refers and relates 10
both these classes of water-see Article 1l-"the
ports, bays and harbors of the eastern and north
eastern coasts Of Canada. or Of the coasts Of New
fonndland." Article 10; THE bays and harbors
Of the renounced fishery district, Article ~
including certain interior portions, Article
8. Thus the whole waters of the British
North American Sea-coast are included as
the field for finding all the privileges which the
treaty grants to the British vessels on our YES
sels on our s coasts @Al the privileges must be
land, to dry and cure. must be extended to them,
on all our Atlantic coasts. No reservation is
fish, nor Of any part Of the coast, in or outside
of the State lines or of the three-nile limit line
or OF private rights now vested. The treaty will
1t follows, that the Canadians and Newfoundland
ers can participate within three miles of the coast
of the United States In all the local fisheries river
bay and coast; the shad, herring, lobster, crab,
terrapin, bass, baittish, oyster, shrimp, CLANS
turtle, sponge and snapper fisheries of the South,
erI coasts, are all laid open to them, fully as
the cod bake and haddock, lobster, etc., Of the
Eastern States. State laws are annulled and the
entire existing private rights In bays and rivers
now protected by laws are wiped out by this one
article of the treaty.
Delaware and Chesapeake Bays, the Sounds of
North Carolina, Georgia, Florlda ana t4elr rivers
are all made free to the fishing of the Canadians
and New Foundlanders, in season or out of sea
son, in any mode they please to employ Aye,
.nney may claim that the shores OF tne Guli OF
Mexico are part of the Atlantic coasts and Ala
ly invaded.
IT., This is not an idle construction Of article y.
Inc treaty becomes party of article of the
srssda ayy o. dsiS-see its preamble. Itembraces
m MY scope tnan the remuneration clause, and as
tne interpretation OF the treaty of 1918, its
sdaussSs, become grated and Incorporated in
tegray as one substance with the clauses of that
,Ieaty; ihere Is no escape by saying that articles
10 and II and Y are complete within themselves
for the last clause of article 10 SAYS, Sbnt this
enumeration shall not permit other changes in
consistent with the enjoyment of the iibeTties
reserved or secured by the convention of October
20, 1918. "e'
Can Il be denied that this clause PRESERVES and
secures" those liberties" of 1918, and brings
them within the descriptive words Of article IS
as privileges reserved and secured by this
treaty" VIII CHI are to be reciprocaly enjoyed by
the Canadians and Newfounders on the Atlantic