The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-11-18
Position Of Our Neighbors on Fishery
Question
POSSIBLE AMICABLE AGREEMENT
MAY BE REACHED.

lshed as Condition TO Reciprocity.
Washington, November 17.-The Anglo
American commission, now in session
here to adjust differences between the
United States and Canada today held
lengthy session upon the two SUBJECTS
which are regarded as most importanD'
namely, the North American fisheries
and recinrocity. The fisheries question
was practically taken up for the hrst Tune
and it was quite definitely understood
that the position of the Canadian govern
nlent was g1nade clear as Favorable TO
granting enlarged rights to American
fishermen in Canadian waters Of the North
Atlantic If in return Canadian lisa are
admitted free of duty to American
markets. 1t is expected that this will
oman ND a wide range of discussion and
an immediate adjustment is not looked
for Concerning reoipr ocity, it has now
developed that while some progress Is be-
ing made in considering certain articles
which will be the basis of reciprocity,
vet the American commissioners are
likely to insist as a preliminary to any
reciprocity that Canada shall wipe out
that feature of her tariff law which gives
Great Britain preference OF % per cent
on all tariff duties. IL this concession Is
made by Canada and conceded by LORD
Aerschell, who is looking after the IN
ferests of Great Britain. then it is said
reciprocity list probably will be agreed
upon. Without the abolition OF preferen-
tiaI rates TO Great BRIAN, the opinion is
positively expressed that a reciprocity
agreement cannot be reached.
The reason for this 1t is pointed out,
Is that the Canadian law giving Great
Britain preference, within the last year
has diverted trade from the United States
and Turned it into British channels. The
effect has peen to reduce materially the
sales of American cotton goods, hard ware
and other lines in Canada and TO increase
the sales of British goods. One OF the
American EXPERTS said today that the
shipment Of cotton cloth to Canada had
fallen off from 81, 775, 600 In 1897 to S7a5,
600 in 1898, due to the fact that British
cotton cloths received preference OF "a
per cent in the duties !he American
commissioners feel that If this British
preferential can be stopped it will be
better than any reciprocity agreement.
The debate thus far has encouraged bne
American commissioners to believe that
they will succeed IN having this prefer
entail wiped out
The fisheries question is OF long stand
ing and, aside from its Importance. TO the
commerce of the New England ana
Canadian coast 1t is said to give the basis
for a possible serious conflict between This
country and Great Britain. Canada OF
late has intimated that in CASE the queS-
ton remained open recourse inlgnt De
taken to the seizure of American hshing
vessels in Canadian waters. This doubt
less would lead to serious lnbernaUional
complications. The members af the COM
mission are therefore exceedingly anxious
-. - .fe
is understood that there is some Hkel1-
hood of q commission of American.
Canadian and English lawyers appointed
to determine the meaning OF the treaty OF
1873 which governs these fishery rights.
The suggestion of this international body
has come, it is understood from Lord
HeTschell. A high Canadian official today
stated the Canadian view OF this fishery
question as follows:
ssIhe position of the Canadian govern.
lnent, is not. think, very we'll under
stood in the United States. Tho treaty
OF 1918 provides that the United states
fishermen shall not have access to the IN
hshited coasts of the Canadian sea board.
On those coasts American fishermen arc
not entitled to land save for four pur-
poses, namely. for wood, water, shelter
and repairs. The object of the treaty was
obviously to give Canadians exclusive
control of their own coasts as base OF
operations for carrying on the fisheries. Ii
1854 the United States purchased the right
to land on the Canadian coasts for othel
than the purposes named American
fishermen wish to buy bait in Canadian
ports, to ship crews to purchase supplies
and TO bond their fish, so that they may
get rid of their cargo quickly and hurry
pack 20 the banks. The United States
purchased these privileges in 1854 by
abolishing the duties on Canadian fish
It purchased them again by giving free
4fe-k. To- Nos h n rFF0
treaty of 1871. So also in 1883 the Bayard,
Chamberlain project virtually granted
free fish in exchange for these privileges.
That project was defeated in the United
States Senate but the Iuodus viyendi whiof
formed part of it provides that American
fishing vessels which desire to have the
benefiB of the privileges shall pay an an
nual tonnage tax TO the Dominion treas
ury therefor.
fsIt will be seen that the United Stats
has all along accepted the Canadian in
depreciation of article one, of the treaty Of
1918, as the true Interpretation. This be.
ing the case, the United States is,
think, debarred from now claiming the
bonding privilege in Canadian ports fol
American fishermen as part and parcel Of
the general bonding system In exlstenct
between the two countries The fact is
that under the treaty of 1918, Ameri car
fishermen have no right to land their fist
IN Canadian ports. Nor is it a gooC
tn quoque to say that the United State;
permits Canadian fishermen TO bono
Canadian fish in American porss. Thai
is true. but there is no treaty specifically
excluding Canadian fishermen from com
ing to American ports Tor that and othel
commercial purposes.
The present Canadian government has
not since 1895 pressed the Canadian in
depreciation TOO hard. This course O.
action is strongly disapproved by
Canadian fishermen. A Canadian fisher.
man and an American fisherman are fish
ing side by side on the banks. The
American fisherman sells his fish free O.
duty in the United States. The Canadian
fisherman has to pay duty on mis- fish
going to the United States; and when il
addition he is asked to give his rival al
the easements and conveniences obtain