The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-02-27
Mr.. BAYARD ON THE TREATY
The Secretary of State Explains and De-
tends the New Fishery Agreement,
Claiming that Under Its Provisions the Amer
leans Have Practically Secured Every
thing for Which They Contended.
MIR. BAYARD.s DEFENSE.

| Deen developed TO IL mere, makes the lolloWlus
explanation of its terms by Secretary Bayard OF
| general interest. What the Secretary says be-
| low explains his understanding of some of the
| provisions which have become the subjects OF
| discussion:
| to the Senate" said Secretary Bayard, "the
| United States have secured practically every
| thing we have been contendng for. don't hes
| itate to say that ii Canada had conceded to
| American fishermen, in 1886. one fourth of the
rights that are secured for them by this treaty,
| there would have been no trouble at all. We
no grievances would have been ielt
Every difficulty that the American fishermen
have had to contend with has been
removed by this treaty. The terms of the
treaty explain themselves. and if any further
explanation be needed it is provided In the ac-
companying message. which the President CON-
changes which will be brought about from the
condition of affairs with which have had to
contend in the past are very plainly pointed ONT
Generally, it DO claimed that no fishing
ground of any value whatever to American fish,
men has been conceded to Canada by this treaty.
There has been some adverse comment upon the
delmitafions particularly specified in regard to
some Canadian bays. but in these nothing has
been lost. Egmont bay, in Northumberland
strait, is, perhaps, the largest bay Cor which the
lines for deimitation are specially stipulated In
the treaty, but there is fishing whatever in
that bay. Experienced navigators say that dur
ing the past twenty ono years no fishing vessel
has been in that bay except in transit for some
place else.
"Of all the bays and creeks thus conceded to
Canada. the only one which contains any bait
or fishing is Charles bay. Americans do not
want it and could never use 1t for fishing pur-
poses, and under the treaty it will be at their
disposal for all the they will want to make
Of Il They can enter it at any time, as they
can enter ali other Canadian ports and bays,
for water, wood, shelter, repairs Charles
bay is possibly about twelve miles within the
entrance, so that we give them concession over
h,u0 h. liz bad fopn a
bays"
The correspondent called the Secretarys at
tention to Article Of the treaty which says:
''The three marine miles shall be meas
ured from low-water mark, but st
every bay, creek. or harbor not other
wise specially provided for in this
treaty, such three marine miles shall be meas
ured seward from straight line drawn across
the bay. creek or harbor, in the part nearest the
entrances at the first point where the width does
not exceed ten marine miles" and inquired it
the drawing of the straight line at the ten-mile
width was NOT aretention of the headland theory
of the Canadians. The Secretary said It was
not. The headand theory of the Canad ians.
for instance. would draw a straight line from
one end of Prince Edward island to the other,
inclosing ssmi-circuar piece OF water forty or
fifty miles in width and many hundreds in
length aud many hundred square miles in
tent, from fork of Cane Breton to the
other, which would have similar effect. The
ten-mils width simply convenient extern
sion of the sikh mile width for measuring three
marine miles from each shore. No United States
vessel could enter bay six miles wide at the
entrance Ono of the reasons for drawing the
line at ten miles is that the American fishermen
lose nothing thereby. y
tho Canadians are to have the same privileges
in our bays that we have in theirs, and as we
have, perhaps. fifty large bays for their one. the
tenmile width suits us better
AS to Article 10 of the treaty, which stipulates
for larger privileges in Canadian waters
condition that the United States remove the
the duty on Canadian fish and fish oils, Secre-
tary Bayard says the treaty is complete without
it. The British and Canadian plenipotentaries
were eager to have the duty removed. and to
tors firmly declined all along to
stipu'ate for any change in the tariff, even
or any recommendation to Congress to make
any change in the tariff. And while this hypo-
thetical provision is inserted in the treaty where
it can do no harm, but where it insures quid
pro quo, should Congress make the change
ferred to, no communication, no recomnenda-
ton will be made to Congress on the subject
1t is for Congress to do just what it pleases
about the matter, without any suggestion from
to endure for two years. Secretary Bayard takes
no responsibility. 1t was freely given by the
other side, and nothing is asked in return. It
calls for legislation and no executive
tirely foT the benefit of people,
and to be executed entirely by the other side
The Secretary, however, believes that many of
the United States fishermen might find il profit
able to pay $3.50 per ton for the advantages
offered them. The privilege of transhipment. +.
he thinks, might be very valuable, and the aver
age tonnage of the vessels no says, is not over
seventy tons. All the waters secured exclu-
sively to Canada by the treaty. the Secretary
says, do not contain as much as per cent of
the fishing open to the United States fishermen,
aud he refers to the testimony of tho late Prof.
Spencer F. Baird, that these same waters of
Canada have no value whatever for the fisher
men of the United States. For fishermen with
the purse seine used by the United States fish
ermen, it would be prohtless and positively
dangerous to fish in the shallow waters and
among the rocks of the Canadian harbors.
Secretary Bayard will transmit te Congress in
. few days, some additional correspondence
which will shed more light upon the diplomacy
Of the whole affair. In the meantime the Secre-
tary is very we'll satisfied with tho treaty.
Cost of the Treaty.
Washington Special.
Since the signing of the recently concluded
fisheries treaty considerable speculation has