The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-02-11
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the South American Republics he will do we'll to turn his other eye up North ward occasionally, for there's prospect called on to put down e row between New York and Vermont on one side and the Dominion of Canada, and 1t is all about nsh and fishing on Lake Cham plain. wsli-posted readers do not need to be told what Lake Champlain is. It partially separates New York and Yer mont and those who remember history will remember that in 1874 an American fleet knocked the spots off the British fleet in that lake and rather took some of the coneeit out of the latter.
 That is history. however, and has nothing to do with the present im- brog1io, though it is possible that the Vermonters and New Workers are not yet in a good humor with the British. Be that as 1t may, the present misun- derstanding is of later date. Lake Champlain, as before remarked, lies be- tween the two States, and most of 1t occupies American territory, but not all. Missisquoi Bay, a round protrub- rance of the north end of the Lake. butts into Canada some miles. and Richelieu River connects the waters of the Lake with St. Lawrence River, running through a portion of the Prov ince of Quebec.
 This being the situation, enter the fish. There are many and good mem bers of the fnny tribe in the Lake. and the disciples of Isaac Walton find both sport and prodt fishing for them. The two States want the waters of the Lake reserved for those who fish in the good old way. with rod and line, as all true sportsmen do. The Canadians, on the other hand, find they can catch fish faster with net and seine, and they in- sist on fishing in that way. It may not be as sportsmanlike, but is more profitable and they claim that they have an undoubted right to fish in that way. If q fish wants to be hooked, they argue, let him remain in Ameri- can waters, but if he prefers to be scooped up in a net, they will accom- modate him. and they insist on the privilege of doing so. If the ducks which frequent the lake should swim into the Missisquoi end of 1t and the Canadians should catch them in snares or traps. can the hunters on our side object? Have not the Canadians the right to fish in their own waters in any way they see proper? Sure, Mike, or we fail to understand international reciprocity. the comity of nations and various other matters.
 But that claim Is denied by the sportsr1en on our side the line. They insist that no true lover of the gentle art would think of setting nets for fsh. and they point out that, to use the words of contemporary, "the Cana dians have taken many tons of fish from Missisquoi Bay, every year, and the result is that Vermont sportsmen who try to fish in the lake with hook and line, have very little success during the open season for different kinds of fish. Residents of the New York shore have a similar interest in the move. ment. It is announced that some of the authorities are in favor of taking strong measures if the Dominion gov. ernment refuses to act, but the coms missioners deprecate any strong talk of this character"
 We suspect that the loss of many tons of fish" has more to do with New York's and Vermont's opposition than anything else, for our Yankee friends are always tender in the pocket nerve. Be that as it may, it will be noted that strong measures" are already spoken of, and that must mean the resort to force if other means fail. The same paper from which we have quoted, also states that if the Canadians do not mend their ways, "the New York Leg islature will appeal to President Roose- velt."
 That sounds ominous. but if the trouble goes on, what will Roosevelt dor Will he issue a protocol, get out an injunction, or send a warship up to Missisquoi, and blow the offending Canadians across the St. LawrenceP He may get Secretary Hay to fire an ultl- matum at the Canadian Government and if all else fails. he can send troops across the line to arrest and imprison every Kanuck who is caught with net or seine. That would cause more trouble and possibly e little war. but we hope they will settle 1t amicably. Still. it's a nice little row.