New-York tribune., 1898-12-11

necessarily connected with tho reftting Of the
ship, such as purchasing new water-casks. ma
terai for mending nets or sails. were declared IL
legal For these reasons and often upon the
slightest pretext. American vessels We're de-
tained. 10 the great discontinue and annoyance
OF our fishermen.
The Canadians charged that the Americans
sought contrary 10 law 10 use their ports as a
rase for fishing operations and thus 70 eXer-
else and enjoy in common privileges which they
knew had not been conceded 70 them. The one
cornpeneation for which the Canadians steadily
and persistenty pressed free American
market for their FISH and ish products The
New-Eneland fishermen. with equal pertlnacity
insisted that free fish ~ our markets would IN
evifaniy destroy the home industry. The value
= Canadian inshore fisheries has been steadily
diminishing because herring can now be taken
in deep waters bv the improved process OF Ash
iLg with the purse seine and cod can be equally
taken on the Grand Banks outside ot territorial
Jurisdiction. The necessity OF landing for bait
was not deemed 10y American fishermen so I'M
rortant had been supposed by those negotiat-
ing he treaties And they are still persuaded
that the privilege of importing fish free of duty
into the United States would totally destroy
their business uIder any circumstances. and
they regard as totally inaduissible the propo-
siuon Of free fish" as a quid pro quo for free
privileges"
4 treaty with England was signed in Wash
ington on February l.. 1855. providing for
commission 10 designate and describe the Brit
sh waters in which the United States should
enjoy the right o. fish. ard in the same manner
TO enumerate and state specifically the harbors,
bays and othe- waters IN which such ri-hts
would be henceforth denied BY Article XIV 1t
proposed 10 grant In substance all privileges 70
the American fishermen Consistent with the
right of natives whenever the United states
shall remove the duty from fish OIL seal oil and
FISH OF all kinds"
A MODUS VIVENDI ADOPTED
The draft Of the treaty went TO the Senate
strongly recommended by President Cleveland.
but failed 70 become law. Pending action by
Congress modus vivenGi was entered into by
the neeotators granting to American fishing
vessels.
F!rst-Right TO enter bays and harbors Of the
Canadian coast Gncluiing Newfoundland. for
the purpose Of obtaining bait, ice, seines. lines
ana al supplies and outfits: transshipment Of
catch and shipping of crews-hy annual license
% - 30 tou.
second-'If. during the continuance Of this
arrangement. the United states should remove
the duties on tsh the said licenses shan
be issued free 4 charge"
By tacit consent this rnodus vivendi has re-
Inained in force W - t.e present tIne r. ana ma
treaty Of ISIS 10 furnishes the only rules and
REGULATIONS governing what Is known ar the
Northeast Fisheries"
This ARRANGEMENT IS not entirely satisfactory
either 20 Americans or Canadians The con-
t.nued successful operation - This plan depends
largely upon ihe good Will and forDearance OF
both parties II obligos the Canadians 70 incur
the expense % a police patrol and 10 bear the
burdens = constant vigilance while II may be
asserted that nothing short of freedom equal
ing that OF British subjects themselves in Cana
dan waters VII satisfy the New England fish
erinen This desired freedom has long been
pr0ffered by Canada In return for the untaXed
Importation of their fish products. but the de-
termiued opposition of New-England 70 this
measure makes It somewhat difficult Of adop-
tiOn.
The uncertain ha bits Of the fish that appear
and disappear IN the Dominion waters. some
times FOR several successive seasons, cause the
yearly catch in such stations to b. an exceed
ingly variable quantity. With no means ~ pre-
dieting future operations. the real value OF shore
privileges ID Canada IS difficult of determina-
ton. The risk Of paying too much however. Is
no greater than the chance cf paying too little,
and il is safe 70 say when the nation goes fish
inC II must trust somev hat 70 luck
The payment OF a lump sum 10 Canada or the
granting Of free list 10 certain Canadian prod
ucts are the only considerations the United
states can offer for the privileges our fishermen
desire II has been suggested that free lumber
be conceded. The Canadians are desirous of
this change in the United states tariff, and the
forests Of this country are being denuded. This
might possibly be- considered unjust TO the lum-
bermen Of Wisconsin and Michigan. Equity
AMI justice seem - demand that the fishermen
q New England. who alone seek the benefits,
should bear the burdens of free Canadian fish,