The Wilmingtonian., 1888-02-11
The Fisheries Dispute.

Britain relative to the "fsheries,"
that | am sure you will be glad to
know what it is all about. OF course
you know already that there are a
great many people at and about
Gloucester, on Cape Ann, who make
their living by fishing. 1t really is
an immense industry. A large num-
Der of vessels are owned there, which
60 out to ''the banks" after cod and
mackerel and halibut.
The "banks" are great tracts Of
shoal water, where the fish chiefly
congregate. The largest of these
banks is the Grand Bank, which lies
off the southern coast Of New Found
land. The Western Bank is off the
Nova Scotian coast, while Jeffrey's
Bank and Georges Bank are off the
coast Of New England.
Fishing on these banks is danger
Gus business and many brave men
lose their lives every winter in this
hazardous occupation. The vessels
are owned on shore, but sometimes
the captain owns share in the yes
sci he commands. Thessailors are
paid proportional part of the profits
of the voyage.
So much, in brief, for the fishing
business itself. Now, about the
troubles. As | have said, the lar
gest fishing territory is off the coast
of the British provinces. Naturally
our fishermen wish to go to those
banks. When peace was declared
between our country and Great Brit
ain, after the War of the Revolution,
treaty was made by which it was
agreed that our fishermen should
continue to enjoy the right to take
fish on the banks of New Foundland
and along the Canadian coast; but
they were not allowed to go ashore
to dry fish, except at places where
no people live, without the permis.
sion of the inhabitants.
In the year 1918 another treaty
was made; by this the American fish
ermen were allowed to take fish on
the southern coast of New Found
land, from Cape Ray to the Ramean
Islands and on the western and
northern coast from Cape Ray to the
Quirpon Islands; also on all the
shores of the Magdalen Islands and
on the coasts and bays from Mount
Jolly, on the southern coast of La
brador, through the straits OF Belle
Isle and northwardly along the coast,
so far as they cared to go. But in
all other parts of the Canadian coast
it was agreed that our vessels should
not fish within three miles of the
shore and that they should not enter
Canadian ports, except for shelter In
bad weather, to repair damages, tc
buy wood or to get water. But oui
fishermen were allowed to go OF
shore to dry fish on the southern
coasts Of New Foundland, or on the
coast of Labrador, where there is nc
settlement.
Again, in 1871, anotacr treaty wa
made; by this our tishern"n obtained
greater privileges, but we had TO pa,
for them. This is known as tn
"Treaty of Washington" BY it ou
fishermen obtained the right to fisl
wherever they chose; and, in return
Canadian fishermen were given th
right to fish in American waters
also, the fish of the Canadians wa
allowed to be sold in our markets
without paying any duty to the gov
ernment. But the British though
this was not enough to pay them fc
the privileges granted to America
fishermen, and SO it was agreed th'
the United States should pay a SUI
of money, to be fixed by a Comm
sion. One of these Commissioner
was chosen by the United States, al
other by Great Britain, and the thin
by Austria. They met in Halifax
1877, and made an award of fly
and a half millions of dollars to Gre
Britain.
This amount our government pal
but with reluctance; and little lat
occurred what is known as 'The &c
tune Bay affair" An American tis
inc vessel went into Fortune Bay,
the southern coast of New Foun
land, to catch herring for bait. i
crew was attacked by New -Four
land men and driven off and tn
nets destroyed. For this outra
Great Britain paid our governmt
$4,000.
Then, in 1855, he "Washingt
Treaty" was broken up, or "ab
gated" by our government, and
treaty of 1918 Of course came i
force again. The British were lo'
to give up the Treaty of Washi
ton," because it gave them liberty
bring salt fish into our ports, free
duty, and they now are trying
force us to make a new treaty VIII