Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-02-22
THE FISHERIES TREATY,
rhe Presidents Message Approving IL.

The Presidents Message Approving Ii.
HE EXPLAINS IFS PROVISIONS AND RECOMMENDS rrs
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. TO UNITED STATES FISH,
EKNEs.
The Senate has made public the fisheries treaty,
with the Presidents message OF transmirtal The
Presidents message begins:
10 the Senate Of the United STATES.
IN my annual message transmitted to the Con-
gress IN December, 1856. IL was stated that nego-
tlatlonS were then pending for the settlement OF
the questions growing out OF the rights claimed by
american fishermen In British North American
waters. AS result OF such negotiations a treaty
mas been agreed upon between her Britannia ma
lesly and the United States, concluded and signed
Ia THIS capital under my direction and authority,
on the 18th OF February instant, and which now
nave the honor to submit 10 the senate, with the
recommendation that IL shall receive the consent
OF thaC BODY, as provided In the Constitution, In
order that the Publications thereof may be duly
exchanged and the treaty be carried into effect"
EQUATIONS resulting in the appointment OF the
commission which has Just formulated the treaty,
"The treaty meets my approval, because be-
Leve that 1t supplies satisfactory practical, and
nnal adjustment, upon basis honorable and just
70 Dotn parties, OF the difficult and vexed question
70 which II relates A review OF the history Of
TINS question ~Il show that all former attempts
10 arrive at common Interpretation, satisfactory
To both parties. OF the article the treaty OF
OCTOBER 20. 1918, have been unsuccessful and with
the lapse OF time difIiculty and obscurity have
only Increased. The negotiations In 1854 and
again In 1871 ended in both cases In temporary re-
ciprocal arrangements OF the tariffs OF Canada and
newfoundland and OF the United States, and tn.
payment OF a money reward by the United states,
upon which the real questions In difference re-
NAMED unsettled, In allegiance, and ready To pre-
sent themselves anew Just as soon as the conven-
tional arrangements were abrogated.
''Ihe situation, therefore, remained unimproved
by the results OF the treaty OF 1871 and grave
condition OF affairs, presenting almost identicaly
the same features and causes Of complaint by the
United states against Canadian action and
confronted
May, 1856, and has continued until the present
time Especially satisfactory do believe the pro-
posed arrangement will be found by those OF our
citizens who are engaged in the open sea fisheries
adjacent to the Canadian coast, and resorting TO
those ports and harbOr5 under treaty provisions
and rules OF International law. The proposed de-
limitation or the lines OF the exclusive fisheries from
the common fisheries will give certainly and Sc
curty TO area OF their legitimate held; the head
land theory OF imaginary lines is abandoned by
Great Britain, and the specification in the treaty
OF certain named bays especially provided for gives
satisfaction to the inhabitants OF the shores with
out subtracting materially from the value or con-
venience OF the fishery rights OF Americans the
expressly and for the first time Affirmed and the
four purposes for which our fishermen, under the
harbors OF Canada and Newfoundland within the
belt OF three marine miles, placed under a lair
and LIBERAL construction and their enjoyment Sc
cured without such conditions and restrictions as
In the past have embarrassed and INSTRUCTED them
so seriously.
''The enforcement Of penalties for unlawfully
fishing or preparing TO fish within the inshore an
exclusive waters OF Canada and Newfoundland Is
TO be accomplished under safeguards again st OPP
prpssive or arbitrary action thus protecting the
defendant fishermen from punishment In advance
OF trial, delays and Inconvenience and unneces-
sary expense. The history OF events In the last
two years shows that no feature OF Canadian ad-
miniStration was more harassing and injurious
than the compulslon upon our fishing vessels to
make formal entry and clearance on every Occa-
sion OF temporarily seeking shelter In Canadian
ports anu harbors Such Inconvenience is pro-
vided against In the proposed treaty, and this
most frequent and Just cause OF complaint is re-
moved. The articles permitting our fishermen to
obtain provisions and the ordinary supplies OF
trading vessels on their homeward voyages, and
under which they are accorded the further and
even more important privilege on all occasions OF
purchasing such casual or needlui provisions
and supplies as are ordinarily granted TO trading
vtssels are OF great importance and value. The
licenses, which are 10 be granted without charge
and application, In order to enable our fisher
men TO enjoy these privileges, are reasonable and
proper checks In the hands OF the local authorities
can form no impediment to those who intend to
use them fairly. The right OF our fishermen under
the treaty OF 1918 did not extend TO the procure
ment Of distinctive fishery supplies In Canadian
ports and harbors, and one item, supposed TO DC
essential. TO viii, bait, Was plainly denied them by
1918, emphasized by the course OF the negotiation
and express decisions which preceued the conclu-
sion OF that treaty The treaty now submitted con-
tanS no provision affecting tariff duties, and, indie
pendently OF the position assumed upon the part
OF the United states that alteration IN tariff
OF other domestic legislation could be made as the
price or consideration OF obtaining the rights Of
our citizens secured by treaty, 1t was considered
more expedlent TO allow any change In the revenue
laws or the United states TO be made by the
ordinary exercise OF legislative will and in promo
ton OF public interests. Therefore the addition
10 the free list OF FISH, FISH OIL whale and seal OIL
&c, recited In the last article or the treaty is
wholly left to the action OF Congress, and In coz
nection herewith the Canadian and Newfound-
land night TO regulate sales OF bait and other fish,
ing supplies within their own jurisdiction Is rec
Ognzed, and the right OF our fishermen TO freely
purchase these things Is made contingent by this
IL
cation OF our tarin laws
.In connection with the treaty herewith sub
mltted, deem It also my duty 10 transmit to the
Senate written of1er or arrangement, In the
OF mOdus rroendi, rendered after the con-
pienipotentiaries, TO secure kindly and peaceful
relations during the period that may be required
for the consideration OF the treaty by the respec
tive governments, and for the enactment OF the |
necessary legislation to carry Its provisions into
effect II approved.
al am given TO understand that the other gov |
ernments concerned in this treaty win within
few days, In accordance with their methods OF
conducting public business, submit said treaty TO
their respective legislatures, when II will be at
once published 10 the world. In view OF such ac-
ton, IL appears to be advisable that, by publica-
been done In the premises should be Afforded 10 |
our people. II would seem TO be useful TO inform
the popular mind concerning the history OF the
long-continued disputes growing out OF the SUBJ |
Ject embraced In the treaty, and to satisfy the |
public interests touching the same, as well as TO
acquaint our people Will the present status OF the
questions involved, and 10 give them the exact |
terms OF the proposed adjustment, In place OF the
exaggerated and Imaginative statements which |
Will otherwise reach them.
~ therefore beg leave respectfully to suggest |
that said treaty and all such correspondence ines
sages and documents relating to the same as may |
be deemed important TO accomplish these purposes
be at once made public by the order or your honor.
able body. GROVER CIEyELASD.
Executive Mansion, February 20, 1883"
Terms Of the Treaty.
The terms OF the treaty are as follows:
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