The sun., 1897-11-16
sra w1EEn1D nAUn1En,s Mrssror.
ssnas Considerations Anectinr Apy Asreensnt
with Canada

To THE EDITOR OF THE suN-Sir. In rcv,evv.
ing Sir wilfrid Lauricr's modest proposal TO
stop pelaRio piracy on the part Of Canadians.
provided tho United States agree In admit
Canadian fish and coal duty free to our mnr.
kcts, IL is we'll to remember:
1. That tho laws Of the United States relative
TO the control Of Behring Sea and tho killing Of
seals therein were not regarded "as a cause of
difference between Great Britain and the United
States" by the British negotiators of the treaty
OF Washington in 1871.
Q. That during the continuance Of that treaty
Canadian fish and fish oils were admitted duty
free into the United States, greatly to the adj.
vantage Of tho Canadian fishing feet and to tho
injury of the American fishing and shipbuild-
ing industries.
8. That during the same period, from 1871
until 1885, Canadian pelaRic piracy in Behring
Sea was unknown.
a. That upon tho refusal of tho United States
Government In 1885 to renew tho fishery and
transportation clauses of tho treaty, Canadian
pirates began their depredations upon the seal
herds in Bchring Sea.
8. Tint tho Canadian and British Govern.
ments, in encouraging pelagic scaling after tho
year 1885, were animated by the hope that the
certain diminution in the number of seals would
compel the United States to readniit Canadian
fish duty free, and also to acquiesce In the
Canadian claim Of exclusive rights to the fish
cries In the Bay Of Chaleur, the bend Of Prince
Edward Island, and other North Atlantic
waters, in return for Canadian prohibition of
pelagic sealing. They were encouraged in this
hope by remarkable statement made by Mr..
Bayard in 1886. to the effect that We must not
make any claims in the North Atlantic which
will imperil our valuable possessions on tho Pa
cific coast"
6. That from March. 1886. until tho present
time offensive and barbarous laws, directed
solely against American fishermen. have been
passed and enforced by Canada under tho mis-
taken idea that the United States would ulti
matcly purchase relief from persecution for its
citizens by opening our markets duty free to
Canadian products.
z. That Canadian fishermen have received in
bounties over $2,5OO.OOO since 1892 and con.
tinue to receive yearly bounty Of $16O. 900.
They are also favored with remission of duty
on almost all materials used by them in their
calling. American fishermen receive no bounty,
and enjoy drawback on salt only.
g. The removal or lowering OF the duty on flsh
would therefore mean tho certain destruction
OF the American deep-sea fishing industry and
the disappearance of the American flag from
tho North Atlantic.
| o. 1t would also be humiliatinR acknowledg-
ment that the United States is alike powerless
to protect its property rights In Behring Sea
and its citizens rights in the North Atlantic,
and that Canada's policy of piracy in tho Pa
ciic and coercion in the Atlantic ports has
been successful in obtaining an alteration of
our tariff for the exclusive benefit of English
| subjects, to the prejudice of our own citizens,
| the guardians of our coasts
10. In view of the recent disturbances in the
bituminous coal regions. the proposal to admit
"coal " duty free can be regarded only as hav-
ing been put forward to be withdrawn. The
destruction of tho American fishing feet,
which has suffered SO much from the treaties
negotiated by Lord ElEin in 1854 and Earl Grey
In 1871, and which was to have been tho sole
victim of tho Chamberlain.Ba Bayard treaty in
1888. would moro than compensate Sir wilfrid
Laurier for his journey to Washington.
| P. MoCAHEY,
| Secretary Monroe Doctrine Club
| PHILADELPHIA, Nov. Is.