Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1892-02-04
The Northeast Fishery Question


OH
British minister at Washington, proposed
to Secretary Fish, on behalf OF Lord Gran
vile, that certain unsettled questions as to
the Canadian fisheries and the Northwest
ern boundary be referred to joint COM
mission Mr. Fish promptly replied that
the President approved, on condition
that the same commission act on the
Alabama claims. Granville rejoined that
he agreed provided that sundry claims of
British subjects for losses during the war
should also be considered. This Secre-
tary Fish accepted and in eight days, by
the aid Of the ocean cable, the whole ne
gotistion WAS accomplished.
As members of this memorable Joint
High Commission the President nominated
Secretary Fish, General Schenck-under
appointment as minister to England
Justice Nelson of the Supreme Court, E.
X. Hosr and George H. Williams. The
English commissioners we're Earl de Grey,
Sir Edward Thornton, Sir Stafford North
cote, Sir John A. Mcdonald for the Cana
dsns and Montague Bernard. They met
10 Washington and discussed for two
months the various points in dispute.
The result of their lsbors was the treaty
of Washington. 1t referred different Ques-
tions to different commissions. 1t Is with
the Canadian fishing question only that
we have to do IN this article. In consid-
ering this question while making the treaty
different views Oh Tho ris
ish commissioners desired the restoration
Of the Reciprocity treaty The American
commissioner. replied that such a conces
sion WAS simply Impossible, that the value
Of the Canadian iu~hore fisheries had been
greatly "vrTr>tmated aud that the United
States Government desired to have the
right 10 their use not because such right
Of use would he of much value, but 10 re-
move Il source of discussion. el .00O, 900,
they intlmated. was the largest sum which
they would offer for the full and perms-
nent use If the n>hore fisheries and that,
without the addition of any privilege TO
admit li>a and h>h-oi free. The British
commIs> iners considered the estimate en-
rived from such a concession and found
insupera5- difficulties in the wav Of its
being made
After protracted consideration and dis
cussion the American commissioners final
ly declared that they were willing to con-
oede the admission Of Canadian hsh and
fsh-oiI free u duty as an equivalent for
the use Of the inshore fisheries for a term
OF wears. They were decidedly Of the
opinion thst free fish and free oil to the
Canadian fishermen would be more than
al equivalent for these fisheries; but they
We're also willing-fatsl wilingness-to
determine by reference that question and
the amount of money that should be paid
by the Cnted States as = matter OF what
would be called boot by the average man,
il being understood that the action Of
Congress would be needed before any psy.
ment could be made. This proposition
was referred by the British commissioners
to their Government, was accepted by ca
bic and thereupon embodied 10 the treaty
The commissioners then agreed that the
question OF compensation should be re-
ferred to three commissioners to be pro-
vided for hr article XXII of th'a .-A.,-
might 50 award should be paid by the Uni
ted states IN gross sum, within twelve
months after such award should be given
1t seem. evident that when the American
commissioners allowed such a provision
to be inserted in the treaty. they virtually
gave away their case. From that time
the question was not how much money
If any, shall be paid by either country, but
how much shall be paid by the United
States
OF the three commissioners referred 10
IN the Article providing for an arbitration,
the treaty decided that one should be ap-
pointed by the President OF the United
States, one by Her Britannia Msjesty and
the third by the President and her Britain
mic Majesty conformity, and if they could
not agree upon the third within period
of three months after the Article should
take effect, then the third commissioner
shall be named by the representative at
London of His Majesty, the Emperor Of
Austria and King of Hungary"
The legislation necessary TO give the
treaty full effect having been completed
in 1873 then commenced some conspicuous
maueuvering between the two Govern
ments for the choice of a third commits
sioner The United States would suggest
suitable man for the position aud Great
Drs-os a /. &.
reason, all the time recommending and
very nearly urging thu appointment of the
Belgian Minister at Washington, Mr.. Del
fosse As the third commissioner Secre-
tary Fish was utterly astounded by the
proposition; for Mr.. Delfosse was regard
ed as especially disqualified The Kingdom
of Belgium owed its origin TO the armed
interposition of Great Britain and its con-
tinuance to her friendship and favor Its
first monarch and other members of the
royal family were closely related to the
royal family of England.
During the controversy between the two
countries, the question of the choice Of
third commissioner, like q wounded
until three months had expired-a fact
which threw the choice into the hands of
the Austrian ambassador at London, an act
which Great Britain doubtless foresaw and
intended from the first. The United States
Government bad tied its own hands and it
was now powerless to prevent this great
wrong.
Various delays followed, and it was not
till the winter of 1861 that the third
commissioner was appointed and of course
Mr.. Delfosse was the man.
The Fishery Commission met at Hall
fax, n. S., in the summer of 1877. Sir
Alexander Gait was the British commits
sioner, Hon. Ensign H. Kellogg of Mass
achusetts was the United States commits
sioner and Mr.. Delfosse was the third
The case was represented on either side
by able agents and lawyers. 1t was elab-
orately prepared and was ably argued.
After the respective cases had been stated
and all the arguments heard, it was found
that the differences Of opinion between the
British and United States commissioners
were irreconcilable. The decision was