Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-02-27
BAYARU'S CALCULATION
OF THE POINTS COVERED BY THE
FISHERIES CONVENTION.

He Insists That Americans Get All They
Wanted and should He satisaed-Re-
turn to the Capital OF the President
Sheridan and the Romany Maid-BIand
Blocks Public Building appropriations.
WASHINGTON CITY, Feb 27.-The dis.
cusion about the fishery treaty. and opposi
ton which has been developed here, makes
the following explanation of its terms by
Secretary Bayard OF general interest What
the secretary says below explains his under.
standing of some Of the provisions which
have become subjects of discussion:
an the treaty just concluded and sub
mitted to the senate, said Secretary Bayard,
"the United States have secured practically
everything we have contendsd for. | don't
hesitate to say that il Canada had conceded
| to American fishermen in 1855 one-fourth Of
| the rights that are secured for them by this
treaty there would have been no trouble at
all Every difficulty that the American iilh-
erman has had to contend with has been
re moved by this treaty
"Ths terms of the treaty explain them
selves and il any further explanation be
needed it is provided in the accompanying
MESA sc, which the president communicated
TO the senate. In that message the changes
which will be brought about from the con-
dition of affairs with which we have had to
contend in the past are very plainly pointed
out
Generally it can be stated that no fishing
ground Of any value whatever to American
fishermen has been conceded to Canada by
this treaty. There has been some adverse
comment upon the deimitations partic
ularly specified in regard to some Canadian
bays, but in these nothing bas bean lost
Eynnnnt Inv in nharla nd atrait ia
perhaps the largest bay for which the lines
of delimitation are specially stipulated in
the treaty. But there is no fishing whatever
in that bay Experienced navigators say
chat during the past twenty-one years no
fishing vessel has been in that bay except in
transit for some place else.
"Of all the bays and creeks thus concedad
to Canada the only one which contains any
bait or fishing is Chaleur bay. Americans do
not want it, and could never use it for fish
ing PURPOSES and under the treaty it will be
at their disposal for all the use they will want
to make Of it They can enter it at any time,
as they can enter all other Canadian ports
and bays for water, wood, shelter, or repairs
Chaleur bay is possibly about twelve miles
wide at the entrance, so that we give them a
concession over and above the ten mile rule
established for other bays"
The correspondent called the secretary's at
tention to article 3 of the treaty, which says:
"The three marine miles shall he measured
from low-water mark, but at every bay,
creek, or harbor not otherwise specially pro-
vided for in the treaty, such three marine
miles shall be measured seaward from
straight line drawn across the bay, creek, |
or harbor, in the part nearest the en-
trance at the first point where the width does |
not exceed ton marine miles,, and inquired |
if the drawing of the straight line at the ten |
mile width was not retention Of the head |
land theory of the Canadians.
The secretary said it was not. The heat |
land theory of the Canadians, for iustance, |
would draw a straight line from one end OF |
Prince Edwards island to the other, enclos-
ing semi circular piece of water forty or
fifty miles in width and many hundreds in
length, and many hundred square miles in
extent, or from one fork of Cape Breton to |
the other which would have a similar
effect
The ten-mie width was simply a conven-
lent extension of the six-mile width for, meas
uring three marine miles from each shore,
no United States vessel could enter a bay
six miles wide at the entrance. One of the
reasons for drawing the line at ten miles
is that the American fishermen lose nothing
thereby, while the terms of the treaty are
reciprocal Thu Canadians are to have the
same privileges in our bays that we have in
theirs and we have perhaps fifty large
bays for their one, the ten-mile width suits
us better.
As to article Is of the treaty, which stipu-
lates for larger privileges in Canadian waters
on condition that the United States remove
the duty from Canadian fish and fish oils
Secretary Bayard says the treaty is complete
without it. The British and Canadian pleni-
were eager to have the duty re-
al md To fNnil nv Mt fha |
American negotiators firmly declined all
along to stIpulate for any change in the tariff,
or even for any recommendation to congress
to make any change in the tariff. Ana while
this hypothetical provision is inserted in the
treaty where it can do no harm, but where it
insures a quid pro quo should congress make
the change referred to, no communication,
no recommendation will be made to congress
on the subj ect.
1t is for congress to do just what it pleases
about the matter without any suggestion
from the executive, for the modus vivendi,
which is to endure for two years. Secretary
Bayard takes no responsibility. 1t was
freely given by the other side and nothing is
asked in return. 1t calls for no legislation
On our part, AMI no executive action on our
part. 1t is entirely for the benefit of our
people and to be executed entirely by the
other side
The secretary, howaEer, believes that
many of the United States fishermen might
find it very profitable to pay 81. 30 per ton
FOR the advantages offered them. The priv
eges of transhipment, he thinks, might be
very valuable and the average tonnage of
he vessels, he says, is not over seventy tons.
All the waters secured exclusively to Can
ada by the treaty, the secretary says, do not
contain AS much as one per cent of the fish 5
ing open to the United States fishermen, and
le refers to the testimony of the late Pro- ,
lessor Spencer +. Baird that these same ex- :
elusive waters of Canada have no value
whatever for the fishermen Of the United
States For fishermen with the purse seine i
lsed by the United States fishermen it would /
% profitless and positively dangerous to fish ,
n the shallow waters, and among the rocks q
II the Canadian harbors ,
Secretary Bayard will transmit to congress q
n few days some additional correspond -,
nee which will shed more light upon the ,
diplomacy of the whole affair In the mean Z
lime the secretary is very we'll satisfied with ]
he treaty !
HOME FROM THE FLORIDA TRIP. il
rhe President and Party Much Pleased
with THAR |