The sun., 1890-01-12

Tho 11odus Yivendi.
The Dominion Parliament which Assem-
bles this week, viii fnd among the rnatten
presented TO II by the Government the ques
ton whether It VIII authorize the renewal o
the nodus viUeldi in tho fisheries. This ar
rangement expires by it's own Limitation
during the coming spring; and since It wa
not a subject Of stipulation, but voluntary
offer Of tho rulers at Ottawa. who also fixeC
the term OF Its operation, Its extension OF
abandonment is not proper subject Of aug
gestlon on the part OF the United States
The Dominion must do as 1t likes in the
matter, and consult its own interests, OF
what its managers suppose 10 be It's interests
That the decision arrived at will be to pro
long the modus viUendi is most probable
More or less outcry may be heard against
the Yankee fishermen. but the plain truth is
that the same reason which originally
| prompted the Dominion to establish the
temporary arrangement, now prompts It's
continuance. The original object was to
bridge over the interval until the main con-
troversy should be settled 1t was then
thought that two years would be sufficient
for that purpose; but since 1t has not been
sufficient, since, in fact the first steps In the
formal solution Of the fishery problem have
yet to be taken. there is precisely the same
ground for applying the TnodtiS uivendi to the
season Of 1890 that there was for applying 1t
to 1883. There is also precedent for such q
course In Canada's continuing to American
fishermen the privileges conveyed by the
Treaty Of Washington for six months after
the expiration of that treaty.
But the main reason for suppoeing that
the Canadians will prolong the u,od,s ptuendi
is that 1t is advantageous to the Dominion.
The two years of its continuance have been
years Of tranquility all along the coasts.
whereas the years preceding had been full
Of contention which frequently took
perilous form. Canada very well under
stands that the British Government Is O
little impatient at being embroiled in fishery
disputes with the United States on her ac-
count; she also understands that it is hardly
prudent to subject herself to the risk Of
putting In operation the retaliatory legisla-
ton still on our statute books by adopting
an uniriendly attitude toward this country.
Besides, the Hodits Uiveasdi Is direct bene-
at to Canada. 1t is a license system, and
she profits by the licenses. Not only does 1t
give the authorized use of her harbors to the
small proportion Of our fishing vessels that
really need to use them, and might other
wise risk doing 30 unlawfully, but 1t pro-
duces revenue which helps pay the expense
Of the Canadian protective service. 1t Is
true that the income from this source Is not
large, but 1t is said to have been about twice
as great the second season as the first, 30
that the increase may go on; while the
greater the number Of American vessels TAX
ing out licenses, the fewer. presumably. will
be the attempts to break the customs regu-
lations and fishery laws. and hence the less
will be the protective service required.
The license fees under the nodu8 vivendi
are also larger than under the old license
system, which was introduced after the ex-
piration of the treaty Of 1854. Then the
charge was only 80 cents per ton on the
vessels tonnage, and now it is three times
as much. It is true that under the former |
system tho fee was doubled the second year,
but many vessels then refused to renew their
licenses, while raising 1t to 90 a ton drove
of nearly all the rest. Yet In those days the
License carried the right to fish in inshore
waters, while now 1t gives no such rights
but only those Of buying bait, ice. and other
supplies, landing and shipping men, and
the catch. In various ways,
accordingly, the modus uiuendt Is good
hing for Canada, whatever it may be for
,ur fishermen, and that country would be
lnwise not to renew 1t.