Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-01-15
MAINE LEGISLATURE.
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comparison, and wholly inadequate
to compensate the people of the United
States for the practical destruction OF
a great national industry.
And be 1t further resolved, that this
Legislature. in behalf of the people of
this State. tenders it's thanks to its
Senators and Representatives in Con-
gxess for their steadfast and Jealous
-obpositiom the ratification of said
treaty and that a copy of this joint
ffesblution be transmitted to the Honor
able william P. Frye, president pro
4b4A Gore ofNhe Senate of the United.
States for presentation to the Senate
in such manner as he may determine.
On motion by Mr.. Maddocks of Lin
coin. the foregoing resolve had it's
several readings under suspension of
the rules. Mr.. MaddockS said:
Mr. President: The joint resolution
row before the Senate relates to a
matter that comes, home to many peo-
pie in TIE State of Maine, and the sub
iect is of sufficient Importance to en-
gage the earnest attention of this booy.
BY way of introduction, I may say
that the New England fishing industry
comprises 1858 vessels, of five tons
gross and upward, total of 54,1S2
tons, employs nearly $4,000 men, has
an invested capital of $2O,000,O00 and
Yields to the fishermen, annually, more
than $9,000,000.
This State has sos vessels, engaged
in the fishing business, $500 men are
in, nj fol i-
invested. Therefore, any legislation,
or other governmental action, which
threatens to cripple or destroy an in
dustry of this magnitude has vital
personal interest to a large number of
our citizens, and should be matter
of moment to their servants in this
Legislature.
Heretofore, since the establishment
of our government, the home market
has been reserved for our own fisher
men, except for a period of ten years
-. from 1S6S--to 1878, within which time
the industry was practically ruined. A
duty sufficiently high, to afford protec-
ton to our own fishermen has always
been imposed except for that period,
on foreign fish, not merely for protec-
ton, bue because we have always re-
cognized what we may term the indi-
rect, as well as the direct, value of
this fishing fleet. 1t is the great train
ing school for the navy, the merchant
marine and the life saving service.
There is no other school of equal i'm
portance and value for the training of
able seamen. The greatest competi
tor we have 10 contend with in the cod
fishery is Newfoundland. She is near
est to the great cod fishing grounds;
she can build and man her vessels
much cheaper than we can, and she
can lay her fish down in Atlantic ports
at least SO per cent less than we can
do it, The provincial fishermen re-
ceve a direct bounty from the income
of the Halifax award, and Canadian
vessels participating in that bounty
can be temporarily transferred to
Newfoundland ownership and reap all
the benefits which the Newfoundland
fishermen will derive from the Ameri-
can market, if the treaty, against
which this resolution is aimed, should
become law.
The treaty provides in Article that
practically all of the produce of the
New Foundland fisheries, except fresh
cod. shall DE admitted into the United
States free of duty. To offset this
great concession a long list of articles,
but consisting principally of agricul-
tural and mining machinery, is adj
mitted in Newfoundland free of duty
and flour and pork products are ad-
mitted at reduced duties. We are also
given the right to buy bait on the same
terms and conditions as Newfound-
land vessels. and of touching and trad
ing without other charges than those
imposed by the harbor regulations on
their vessels
But the concessions granted us are
more imaginary than real. The popu
lation of Newfoundland does not eX-
ceed 100000 souls and the country is
in no sense an agricultural one, so that
as a market for such of our goods as
are admitted free, it is of no impor-
lance. II is undoubtedly safe to say
that it would not offset the $500, 900
per year duties which foreign fisher
men pay the United States. What
then do we receive under the treaty?
Only this one small thing-the with
drawal of the tax of $1.50 per ton
which Newfoundland imposes on
American vessels that seek the island
ports at certain seasons of the year
for the purpose of buying bait This
year such vessels numbered 80 and
probably paid about $4,000 tax to the
Island government. Bear in mind that
under the treaty of 1918 we have the
right forever, to take fish of every kind
on that part of the southern coast of
Newfoundland between Cape Ray and
the Ramean islands, and also in parts
of the western and northern coasts of
the Island, and, consequently, the right
to buy bait in those waters free of ton
mage tax.
But Newfoundland, in return for
these paltry, tritling concessions gets
the whole United States for a free.
open market for her fish and oil, and
the Newfoundland catch of cod fish
runs as high in some years as 100000
quintals, (112.000,000 pounds). F'urth-
ermore, the Newfoundland fishermen
are on an equal footing with us in the
markets of the West Indies, South
America and Mediterranean ports.
Thew lrpn DIV havo tho vriuiIoOo Of