Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-11-18
TWO PROBLEMS
Presented for Solution by
United States and Canada.
The Fisheries Are Bothersome--Ear
Adjustment Is Not Expected.
Favorable Outlook for adoption Of Satisfactory
Ire ally Of Reciprocity.


American commission, now in session
here, to adjust differences between the
United States and Canada, today, held
a lengthy session upon the two subjects
which are regarded as the most import
ant, namely, the North American fish,
cries and the reciprocity.
The fisheries question was practically
taken up for the first time and it was
quite definitely understood that the po-
sition of the Canadian government was
made clear as favorable to granting
enlarged rights to American fishermen
in Canadian waters of the North At
lantic, if in return Canadian fish are
admitted free of duty to American
markets. 1t is expected that this will
open up wide range OF discussion and
an immediate adjustment is not looked
for.
Concerning reciprocity, it has now
developed that while some progress is
being made in considering certain ar
ticles which will be the basis of reci-
orocity, yet the American commission
crs are likely to insist as a prelimin-
airy to any reciprocity that Canada
shall wipe out that feature Of her tariff
Law which gives Great Britain a pre-
ference of % per cent. on all tariff du-
ties.
II this concession is made by Canada
and conceded by Lord Hehschell, who
IS looking after the interests Of Great
Britain, then 1t is said a reciprocity
list probably will be agreed upon.
Without the abolition of preferential
is positively expressed that reeiproc-
ity agreement cannot be reached.
The reason for this. il 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 1t into British chan
nels. The effect has been to reduce
materially the scales of American cot
ton goods, hardware and other lines
in Canada and to increase the sales of
British goods.
One of the American experts said, to-
day. that the shipment of cotton cloth
to Canada had fallen off from $l.775. 600
| in 1897, to $685. in 1898. due to the fact
that British cotton cloths received a
preference of 25 per cent. in the duties
The American commissioners feel
that if this British preferential can be
sttHpSd, IL W III UttttT imam any re-
ciprocity agreement. The debate thus
far has encouraged the American COM
missioners to believe that they will sue
coed in having this preferential wiped
out.
The fisheries question is of long
standing, and, aside from it's import
ance to the commerce of the New Eng
land and Canadian coast, it is said to
give the basis for possible serious
conflict between this country and Great
Britain.
Canada of late has intimated that in
! case the question remained open re-
course might be taken to the seizure of
American fishing vessels IN Canadian
waters. This doubtless would lead to
serious International complications
/ The members of the commission are
therefore, exceedingly anxious to Sc
cure settlement of this question.
1t is understood that there is some
likelihood Of a commission of American,
! Canadian and English lawyers appoint
ed to determine the meaning of the
treaty of 1918, which governs these
fishery rights. The suggestion of this
! international body has come, it is un-
-Ns StcoA, lApiti iIpiu I1CI SCiiell.
A high Canadian official, today, stat
ed the Canadian view of this fishery
question as follows:
The position of the Canadian gov
eminent. is not, I think, very well un-
derstood in the United States. The
treaty if 1918 provides that the United
States fishermen shall not have access
to the inhabited coasts of the Canadian
seaboard. On those coasts American
fishermen are not entitled to land save
for four purposes. namely, for wood
water, shelter and repairs. The object
of the treaty was obviously to give
Canadians exclusive control of their
own coasts as a base of operations for
carrying on the fishery.
In 1854, the United States purchased
the right to land on the Canadian
coasts for other 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 back to
the banks. The United States pur-
chased these privileges in 1854, by abol-
ishng the duties on Canadian fish. 1t
purchased tHeIn again Dy giving Tree
fish in return under the Washington
treaty of 1871.
80, also in 1888 the Bayard- Cham
berlain project virtually granted free
fish in exchange for these privileges
That project was defeated in the Uni
ted States Senate, but the modus vi
vendi which formed part of it provides
that American fishing vessels which
desire to have the benefit of the priv
ileges shall pay an annual tonnage tax
to the Dominion treasury therefor.
1T will thus be seen that the United
States has all along accepted the Cana
dian Interpretation of Article l of the
treaty of 1918, as the true interpreta-
ton. This being the case, the United
States is, 1 think, debarred from now
claiming the bonding privilege in Cana
dian ports for American fishermen as
part and parcel of the general bonding
system in existence between the two
countries.
THE fact is, that under the treaty
of 1918, American fishermen have no
right to land their fish in Canadian
ports. Nor is it a good tn quoque to
say that the United States permits
Canadian fishermen to bond Canadian
fish in American ports. That is true,