The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1889-03-12
THE FISHERIES QUESTION.
VIII Harrisen's Admlniatrztion
Deal with Ia

WssHisGrox. March 4.-The vague
rumars that an effort viii he made al
once to resume the fishery negosia.
tons that resulted in the rejected
treaty. lend ad III tional interest 10 the
official summary Of last seasons fish
ing, which has just been issued az
Ottawa. There is one fact which at
the start takes away any immediate
urgency in this matter, even although
the new fishing season Is about 10
open. This fact IL that the saosims
efssaii which went into operation
without dependence on the rejected
treaty of Washington, lasts two years
uy lis terms, unless Canada should
eksonse 10 withdraw IL sooner. As the
Dominion b rs not the slightest in.
tsrest in putting q premature end 20
lis operations, the presumption is that
il IL will continue in force during the
present year. To Withdraw il would
precipitate q crisis which the Do
manion mast be anxious 10 avoid.
Turning To the statistics, il appears
thst only IS licenses were taken out
by American vessels last year froua
the Dominion under the modns vi
vendi. To these, doubtless, must be
added those issued BY Newfoundland
ard a very large share of the fishing.
and especially al that which requires
the purchase of bait or OF other sup
plies, and makes desirable the trans
shipment Of the catch. occurs In or
near Newfoundland waters. Tbss
would make a very considerable addi-
ton Ia the aggregate number Of IL
censes, but even then il would be very
small compared with the number
taken cut during the FIRST year after
the expiration OF the reciprocity treaty
of is4. VIXEN = similar system was
enforced To what this difference Is
due IL may not be wholly easy 20 say
tine obvious cause j. that under the
nodus yihendi OF Mr.. Cleveiand's asi-
ministFataou the license costs three
tises as Euch as during the hrss
year OF the previous experiment
with this system, aad even
81 that gives no privilege of
fishing in lnshore waters. The price
now fixed is SIS per ten, whereas
under the old system il began with 80
cents and in the second year WAS
raised to 81 per ton on the vessel : ton
mage. A grasping increase "a s. dur
ing the third year drove of al has :
few al the American vessels. although
for that sum inshore fishing could he
obtained, Daring the season OF isss
eniy very small proportion If eur
American fishermen awaited them
selves oT the rszsfsss aincsa: privileges.
partly, no aoaht, because they did not
think tAe license would be worth what
il cost. and parity. perhaps. because
some Of them had publicly declared
that they would never submit 90 sys.
TEN which they believed 80 he uniass
Mr.. Hayari himself about three wears
ago informed q leading krnE of Port
land vessel owners that be expected Ia
attain sach an understanding wsfh
Great Britain ~ would freely secure
the commercial privileges now bought
under license. aud 10 which he con
sidere<i our citizens - be- entitled free
OF naoleSsatioa.
Ii farther appears from The Canadi-
an statistics that s'the number Of Uni
ted states fishing vessels in the Calf
was less than was ever knewn there
during any previous season. = and THAI
their aggregate catch fell OF about ~
per cent. FROM tho previous year. Ne,
there were few seizures and fitfse mo
k&~AA4skt4s az kAsE &A&tH&k<&&A At-NtT ~
comparison with the wears iSsriss7.
W neither the new administration viii
Ne long eonssnt wisA a state OF things
50 little satisfactory to our fishermen
rsnSins 81 be seen. One ot the bills
watch failed Of enactment in the con
gress iaSt closed. was the measure
which Mr.. Cleveland called for, con-
terrsng anon him 3 larger decree ~
authority n carrying out 3 non-lnteF-
coarse Yssllcy After this bill had
made something of sensation like the
nessy Eas4llsse ander which retreat j.
sccam pzisbeG. Is was suffered 20
aron. and has handy heca heard Of
anrizg the present winter. On the
contrary, the house few DAYS ago
passed losnf resolution ID promote
commercial union wsih Canada Still
u must he remembered that the Re.
raaslcans have alxavs taken the
GRAND that M. Cleveland needed 90
new powers fa- vindsc4tins the right
OF car fishermen authority for thzs
rsartNsse having been cnavevea hv twc
previous acts, which are stiii in opera
tor.