The sun., 1891-11-28
The New Phase Of tho Bait Question.

The New Phase Of tho Bait Question.
The action taken by the British Govern
ment on the dispute between the Dominion
OF Canada and Newfoundland over the Bait
act Of the latter colony revives bitter and
perhaps momentous controversy. Accord
ing to the Ottawa Interpretation. the i'm
perial Government has already determined
that this act violates the constitutional
rights OF the Dominion; at all events 1t
has proposed that test case be put by
tho Governments OF st. Johns and Ottawa
before the imperial Privy Council.
The controversy, in fact. touches the
great questions OF home rule in the British
provinces and the degree Of their mutual
dependence upon the imperial authority.
To the United States an additional point Of
tion Of the Dominion to the reciprocity
treaty arranged by Mr.. BOND. the Colo
NAL Secretary OF Newfoundland. with Mr..
BLAINE. was at the bottom Of the discrim-
ination in the Bait act now complained Of
by the Canadian fishermen.
The BoND-BLAINE treaty was ready for
signature and ratification last spring. when
Great Britain forbade further negotiations
in consequence Of the protests OF the Do
minion. 1t would probably have failed Of
ratification any way. because it turned out
to be by no means what the colony wanted.
Nevertheless. the summary way in which
Great Britain squelched the action OF the
Newfoundland Executive Council in favor
OF separate negotiations with Washington
upon fishery and commercial questions.
produced much resentment 1t seemed to
the st. Johns Government to make their
province mere tag to the Domin-
ion system. OF which they formed
no part. This resentment was felt the
more keenly since Lord KNUTsFoRD had
first assented. as they understood the mat
ter. to the direct negotiations. and then on
q protest from the Dominion had caused
them to be broken off. Governor Sir JOHN
O'BRIEN urged in vain that Newfoundland
ought not to be involved in Canada's dis
putes with the United States or subjected
to disabilities on that account. Lord
KNUTsFoRD remained firm. and the New
foundland Government then instructed it's
officials to refuse licenses for bait to all
Canadian vessels and to give them to Amer
leans free.
It is easy to understand why Nova Scotia.
grievance before the Ottawa Government.
and why the latter transmitted 1t to Eng
land. The provisions Of the Newfound-
land Bait act included these prohibitions:
No expectation sale purcb asng taking Of bait
fishes OF any sort is to be permitted without license
and licenses OF three sorts will be granted-one free OF
charge. to American vessels to purchase bait.
No license shall be granted except to Newfoundland
and United States fishing vessels. and before granting
such license the customs officer magistrate sh ha
Qure to have produced to him the ships register In tho
Of Newfoundland vessels and in the OF United
States vessels the clearance papers from the American
customs.
The equality with Newfoundland vessels
thus accorded to American fishermen made
the contrast In the discrimination against
Canada still more marked. The latter. we
believe. thinks that the original Bait act
was only consented to by the imperial Gov
ernment under assurances from st. Johns
that British and Canadian fishermen would
be exempted from its provisions. But
whatever the facts about that point of
the dispute. Canadian fishermen object,
especially in view OF the American
privileges. to paying tonnage dues
on entering Newfoundland ports for
bait. besides being limited In the
amount OF purchase. and at some times for
hidden to buy any bait at all. It has been
suggested that one object OF ofNewfoundlands
discrimination Is to secure for herself the
whole, bait and supply trade Of the Amen-
can fishing feet. and to keep up the hope
OF special trade relations with the United
States. Nova Scotias action. it must be
acknowledged, has been. under the trying
circumstances, very moderate. Her Legls-
lature. In passing resolutions regretting the
annoyances and losses occasioned to her
fishermen by Newfoundland, expressed SYM
pathy with the latter colony in its troubles
over the French shore question. and even In
its desire to secure better trade relations
with the United States. These very friendly
remonstrances and overtures. however. did
not produce the desired effect The reply
OF the Newfoundland Legislature held out
no hope OF any relaxing OF its regulations
against Nova Scotia fishermen. 1t thanked
Nova Scotia for 1.-THE cordial good will Of
sister colony SO opportunely expressed"
and declared that 1.-THE interests OF all the
colonies are ut stake in the present question
whether obsolete imperial statutes Of CO.
ercve nature shall be revived to the preiu-
dice of dependency of the Crown" 1t also
expressed satisfaction ut the assurance that
"tle negotiations now pending between
this colony and the United States will not
prejudice tho trade and commerce. ef Nova