The sun., 1888-02-25
THE NEW FISHERIES TREATY.
ITS PR0TIsI0Ns ATTACKED IN THE
DOMINION PARLIAMENT.
One speaker Says t Is n Surrender or Cana
dian Rights. and Another that Canada
Receives Nethiurs but Comedies Much.

OTTAWA, Feb. 24.-The first shot at the
new treaty was fired in both the House of Com
mons and the Senate tonight in the debate on
the address In reply to the Governor Generals
message. In the Senate the Hon. II. W. Scott,
formerly Secretary OF State. In referring to tho
now treaty, said that 1t was complete surren-
der OF Canadian rights. 1t would have been
better for Canada to have at once. of their own
free will. made the concessions demanded than
to sign them away by treaty. Commissioner
Chamberlain. he said. had come out
here rs the representative of British
manufacturers whose trade relations with
the United States were to be protected at any
sacrifice Of Canada's interests. 1t was. in fact.
case Of sacrificing Canada that British inter-
ests with the United States might be main
tanned. Tho three-mile limit clause, he con-
tended, will lead to nover-ending complications.
The treaty was open to great ambiguity from
legal standpoint. and its Interpretation be.
fore twelve months will give rise to most un-
pleasant complications between the two coun-
tries. II ratified 1t cannot long remain so. II
the Government had been independent enough
in spirit they would have dealt with the ques-
ton Of commercial relations "a well. The true
solution Of the fisheries question was only to
be found In unrestricted commercial relations
between the two countries.
Senator Power. who comes from ono of the
principal fishing centres. Halifax. was more
that it was treaty not to be regarded by Can.
adams with much satisfaction He believed
that the British Commissioner was anxious
not to return to England without having ac-
complished something. and signed the treaty
as laid before him. The Uni,e1, States conten-
Canadian and British Commissioners. who
while giving IN on nearly all points regarding
the AsntG had secured not
and Pacific waters adjacent to the United
sSt,atcs State would pc treated with similar regard
The treaty did not amount to much II one
said that q Canada receives nothing and comedies
ea With by be be hGnEh
while the definition Of the three-mile limit and
the enumeration Of bays is likely to remove ono
strongly objected to the right Of transshipment
OF cargoes being conceded to American fishing
ment. he thought, to protect the interests, Of
the Canadian fishermen: but, in yielding this
privilege. the Government was helping the
with the fishermen OF this country, who caught
their ilsh IN the same wators and sold IN the
making the concessions. Canada is /: lowing a
strong lever to pass out of her hands which
would have proved great advantage in
ed COMMERCIAL relations between tie Two
countries. Tho modus c,endi, or temporary
| as 1t surrendered even more than the treaty
Itself, enabling the American fishermen to pur-
cRass Dali ana transship cargo on the payment
| reciprocal benefits to Canada had been granted
| for a term OF two years. The license system
| which had been In force In 1870 had been
abandoned at that time as impracticabie rs it
| was found that with few exceptions masters Of
vessels eyaded the payment of tho fee al
| gave them. On the subject Of the treaty he
would have more to say when it came up for
| ratification.
| In the Commons all the representatives who
made reference to the treaty referred to 1t
| briefly, delaying any expression OF opinion un-
| for discussion.
1t is believed by Conservatives here that in
9hs 9rder to induce NHva scotia to accept the new
money In that province will be provided for in
| the estimates. Some say the iron duties Will be
| increased and u heavy duty put on steel raj
Mr.. McDouGau. Conservative member Of Par
lament for Cape Breton. says that the fishery
mon In his section no says. will bo perfectly
| satiSiei