New-York tribune., 1898-12-11

Hscussed by the Anglo-American Joint High
commission now sitting in Washington the
eshe-v question IS probably the most important;
Z. e certainly the most perplcxing Since the
nae,nning of our National existence Il has
brought constant care and vexation TO both
American and English statesmen: so far it has
deAed an attempts at permanent and satisfac-
.o-v adjustment Brief respites have been
found in the awards Of tribunals and resorts to
new treaty stipulations have sufficed Temporal
rnv 10 aNay irritation; but the quarrel CON
s.an,ly recurs in some form no less aggravat-
,ns and threatening than formerly II is hoped
,hst the present Commission will arrive at some
conclusion Of this question that will remain
mutually acceptable to the United states and
Canada. and which will DO away forever with
the annoying diplomatic problem.
The great value OF the cod fisheries the
Newfoundland banks and along the shore
ters from Cape Cod to Labrador was appre
eated early IN the sixteenth century Adven-
,u-ous toilers of the sea from England and
France prosecuted these fisheries with vigor.
and generally with much profit. throughout the
sxteerth seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.
Many - the coast cities Of New England owe
Their origin 10 this industry. The business.
however. was relatively Of greater importance
,r Colonial times than to-day. but even yet the
rrosperity Of Gloucester. Marblehead and nu-
-,s-.us smaller ports from Eastport TO Prov
,rce,oUn with their large fleets Of fishermen.
dspera IS 10 some extent upon the annual catch
- esh on the shores named. Fishing operations
az now principally carried on about the Grand
Ranks. south of Newfoundland. and in Canadian
s5ore waters. the fshing on the Maine and Mas
sschu>etts coasts having long since become un-
profitable.
pef.re the Revolutionary War New England
fishermen contributed their full share OF energy
and blood IN the struggle against the French
>or the maintenance Of British supremacy IN
Canada largely 10 the END of securing 10 Eng
land and 10 themselves as British subjects. the
control u the valuable fisheries Of Nova Scotia
and Newfoundland. At that time the New-Eng-
land colonists naturally enjoyed all fishing
rights IN common with the citizens Of the mother
country After the Revolution. when the United
States became a separate Nation the British
Government naturally enough denied t. Amer
can fishermen the equa privileges TO Wmcn
,,.v mad been accustomed The change Of r.
latlous effected by the independence or the
American states did not. Of course operate 70
eeha- their citizens from the right Of hShihs
m the high seas or at any place outside Of the
.,-eA-rru4 line from the Canadian or Newfound-
land coasts But by the law Of nations they
uars debarrcd the privilege OF landing on the
chores 20 procure bait and 70 dry their hsh'
privileges without which the right 70 eaten theih
was wslrigh worthless In the treaty or peace
with ENGLAND q 1888 owing 70 John Adams
persistent demands. England granted American
fishermen the right TO take fish anywhere IN her
Canadian territorial waters, including all the
bays creeks. etc. but granted the Hpe''S -
drying and curing fish only in the uMse''Ieu
bavs harbors and creeks Of Nova Scoua '"e
Nardalen Islands and Labrador, so long as 'He
came shall remain unsettled"; but what was
more important. the privilege of lanoihs III
Newfoundland was not included in this treaty
Gradually. however. the citizens ot eacA nation
were permitted without serious objection TO
,,-s,a their business within the territorial
limits OF the other until the War Of lHl-' lhls
onerat4d ot course. 70 abrogate all rights Sc
cured bv treaties between the TWO Powers
PRIVILEGES NOT RENEWED.
II discussing the terms Of the treaty of Ghen'
IN 1914 the British Commissioners announce
..,ba, ne British Government did not intend 10
u-, - tho United States gratuitously the priv
leges formerly granted by treaty TO them oil
fishing within the limits Of British jurisdiction
e,d - ei-e the shores Of the British territories
f,r rur-,oses connected with British hsheries-
The American Commissioners. being unaD'e w.
offer an acceptable quid pro QUO for 'hT "S'''''-
urivYeges previously enjoyed. a1teHp'7' ~
satisfy the English Commissioners that Joy 'oiS
and uninterrupted usage. they had ireS'''p-
tive right - all the privileges n Ca'idU'0i wa
,a-s ari,vea hv British subjects themselves
clearly an urtcnable position y" '0l'' '
was reached by the Commissioners ana '"''
fore no mention Of the fisheries IS maze ''' ''
treaty ot Client. so.,e-
Thus the matter was left in most unsa''s-
sch an
&c he4ore the War Of 1912 they had been ae-
custorned 10 do TO FISH anywhere anu eFe''
where IN Canadian waters. and their neQue"l
Encounters with Canadian fishermen pr
high degree OF irritation dangerous 10 tne
public peace British men-of-war pa'roi''"e ''''
Newfoundland coast seized some "iooc's''.
so,oo,a-e u-bfch were Immediately condemned
r. The Admiralty courts az Halifax. The resuI'ln
strain ,,ror arrcable relations became 50 Ni'elSV
tha, prasiden. Madison felt calico upon 10 ash
fcr e,r.her reeoriations on the subject VIII. '
hsine g~an,e6 hv the English Government ie-
suited IN The Convention Of 1S1s BY the agree
rnent reached IN this convention all prior rls"'9
aud claims 70 the inshore fisheries or 'aHa'@
were expressly surrendered by the UniteH 9'a'''
IN the following words: And the United 9'a'eS
hereby renounce forever any liberty here'oio'
enioved or claimed by the inhabitants thei'''
% take drv or cure fish on or within t.I7e ii'"
rine miles of anv Of the coasts, bays creeks "'
harbors y His Britannia Majesty o'"l''''''''
In America except where granted 10y uea''
The rights secured 70 the American hS"e,
b. this convention included the taxing u ''9''
on the south west ana north coasts oi
toundland between certain defined ""''9' a.
or the coast Of Labrador from Mount ''''
ror,hward On parts Of coasts lef' ope" To- ''
Shore fishing the privilege was also gwen
land for the purpose % curing and CRYING ~"
a. such locations as were free from h4Dl'' '''
settlement AL other harbors. "he'Ho' "
hab.ted OF not. were open to America" ''Si'@'
men "for the purpose Of shelter and OF repaliiNe