Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-03-08
FISHERIES DOCUMENTS
The President Transmits Them and
letter from Bayard to Congress.
THE FISHERIES TREATY.

Congress Receives the Last Batch of DOcu-
ments-ResUme Of Bayard's Letter aud Cor
respOndenee.
WASHINGTON, March 5.-The president
has transmitted to congress the remain
ing documents and protocols relating to
the fisheries treaty, together with letter
from Secretary Bayard-
In mis- letter Secretary Baysrd says:
San inspection of this documentary his
tory will serve to demonstrate the prac-
tical and inn ortant results accomplished
by the treaty now pending before the
senate by which the question of the in
depreciation aud administration of
the treaty of 1918 between the
United States and Great Britain
is transferred and elevated from the
obscurity into which it has been suffered
to lapse since the date OF that conyen-
ton and its restoration from the practi
cal control Of minor and local oficials of
the Cadadian aud maratime provinces.
Until the treaty now pending was con-
Guided no available remedy seems to have
been supplied for the inconsistencies, in
congruities and unjustifable construction
of the treaty of 1913, to which our fisher
men have heen subjected, and which by
the progress of gradual encroachments of
Canadian legislation and local port regu-
lations, had almost converted their
privileges expressly reserved by the treaty
into sources of Inconvenience and ex-
pense. The pretexts Or causes alleged
| for the arrests, fines, definitions, and
other embarrassme Of Amert can fish
| ing vessels during the years of 1886 and
| 1887 were based upon alleged infractions
of the treaty of 1918, or of Canadian
laws passed in the professed execution of
! that treaty. All such vexatious action
as is recorded in the list of seiz-
ures, etc, is met and rendered
| impossible of occurrence in the future by
the provisions OF the treaty now before
the senate, and the amplest enjoyment by
| the United States fishermen of the treaty
rights and customary hospitality due IN
der the international law and comfy Is
secured in the ports and harbors of east
ern Canada and Newfoundland. The
correspondence will serve also to estab-
Iish the fact that prior to the treaty of
reciprocity of "a, aud subsequent to
its abrogation, and in the
years 1870 and 1871, the vexatious
and harassing administration by the
Canadian authorities was practiced and
| unchecked. As neither the treaty of
| 1854 nor that of 1871 contained any al
lusion to the wrongs thus inflicted upon
| the United States fishermen and as neither
convention contrived any remedy Or pro-
vision against their renewal and repetition
| it became necessary remedy should no
| longer be uuprovided. Tt is believed such
remedy is practically end fully supplied
by the treaty now pending and that by its
terms now and for the first time since
1913, just ard joint Interpretation is
| agreed TO by both governments and
placed upon the treaty OF 1918, which will
secure Just and hospita5le treatment to
| United States fishermen and secure to
them unmolested full measure of their
rights, and that under the proposed ar
rangement every American fisherman
| pushing his vocation IN the waters ad-
| iacent to British North America, can
| acquire a clear understanding of his
rights and duties, whilst within
the jurisdiction of all the waters OF Can
ada or to such ports and harbors as
casualty, necessity or convenience may
| suggest, without fear of encounterlng
such harsh and unfriendly treatment as
he was heretofore subjected 20 under the
uncertain, unwarranted and variant in
depreciation of his treaty rights"
| THE ACCOMPANYING PAPERS
are made up of extracts from the diplo-
matte correspondence of 1887, Secretary
Bayard's letter to Minister Phelps, OF
July II, 1887, and protocols OF the con-
ferences of the negotiators. There is
also text of the letter of Secretary Bay
ard to Sir Charles Upper, under the date
ia xuhsn h
Bayard briefly reviews the points at
issue, deprecates the circumlocution
necessary in dealing with Canada through
Great Britain, and proposes that in the
! Joint commission which is to be arranged
for, Canada's colonies be represented
He speaks at length of the interest in
action TO avoid disagreeable friction
| between the two countries, at the
same time expressing the most
| earnest desire for amicaple adjustment
of ali tie differences. Sir Chas. Tup-
per's letter in reply to the thanks of
| Secretary Bayard for the suggestion
made, aud says they have been referred
to proper authority, and that he comedies
com pletely with the views of Mr. Bayard
in the earnest hope for an early settle
ment of the vexed question
| letter from Secretary Bayard TO
Minister Phelps refers to telegram from
Lord Salisbury regarding the appoint
ment of a commission. In this Mr..
| Bayard proposes a convention similar IN
some res poets to the new treaty. but whics
was not acceptable in other points to the
British government. The remaining
| correspondence brings the subject to an
| ppreamen for con ference,