Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-09-07
Value of Fishing Rights
Gained by japanese.
GRANTED BY TREATY
WILL EQUAL IN TINE THE BIG
INDEMNITY RELINoUIsHED.
That VIII Probably h
Brought About by the seafaring
Subjects Of the Mikado.

SUBJECTS OK the Mtkaoo.
That there are other ways OF disabling
bear than by hobblins his legs appears to
be borne out by a careful examination or
the peace treaty between Japan and Rus
sia. Japan astonished the world by re-
ceding from her demand for indemnity. and
the work OF the Russian plenipotentiaries
was hailed as a masterpiece OF diplomacy.
At the same time. when NJ. White and
Baron Rosen signed the treaty at Ports
mouth Tuesday 1t contained as article XXI
the following terms:
Russia engages herself to make an
agreement with Japan giving to japanese
subjects the right to Ash in Russian terri
toria1 waters In the sea OF Japan. the sea
OF Okhotsk and Boring sea-"
Will Be Worth Millions.
In the treaty also, az a part OF article TX,
was an agreement on the part of Russia
to give Japan right OF way in the bay Of
Tartary; this. in connection with the ses-
sion Of the southern part OF Sakhalin Is
land. To persons unfamiliar with the re-
sources OF the particular part of the Rus.
sian territorial waters In the far east mem
toned in the treaty there might seem lit
tie connection between fishing rights In
the three seas named and In the gulf OF
Tartary. but. as matter OF fact. they
mean that in less than fifteen years japan
will have been benefited financially from
these rights in an amount that far ex-
ceeds the $600, 900 900 asked for indemnity.
and in addition to this. she win have Sc
cured an outlet for her fishing fleets. that
are now practically confined to strictly
japanese waters, having no other territory
land to mend nets, pack their catch. etc.
Omcials Of the government here who have
looked into the matter OF Japanese fisheries
are reticent in expressing their views In the
premises. 1t was learned. however. from
an examination OF the map Of the coded
fishing territory, and comparing the fisher
les statistics of Japan with those Of Russia
and the western coast of America, that ia
pan will double her revenue from fisheries
by her transaction OF Tuesday. The last
years receipts In japan from the fisheries
amounted In round numbers to $SO.O0O000
4 Glance at the Map.
glance at the map of eastern Asia shows
that Sakhalin Cor Saghalien) Island 10 sep
arated from the mainland by the Gulf Of
Tartary and Amoor gulf. Sakhalin 10 north
Of Eco. the northernmost Of the larger
islands included In the Japanese group
narrow line of small islands of the
japanese empire extends north OF Eco to
the Kamchatkan peninsula. The sheet OF
water between this line of islands and the
Siberian coast 10 called the Sea of Okhotsk.
The GULF Of Amoor IL an arm Of this sea.
The part Of sakhalin Island coded to japan
by Russia includes that part lying south
Of the hftieth parallel This II half OF the
island a. far as length is concerned, but 1t
is little less than half Hs area.
In that part OF the Gulf OF Tartary be.
tween Sakhalin and the Siberian coast 10
said to lie part of the richest fishing
grounds In the world. Japanese fishermen
have been unable to fish these waters sue
cessfully owing to the prohibition against
them landing on Russian territory or conn
ing within Russian territorial limits three
miles from the coast.
The Siberian Coast.
The coast of Siberia north from Vladivo-
stok to the flftieth parallel includes hum
dreds Of miles of open land used for moth
ing and almost unsettled.
1t is of this tract that the Japanese
have received fishing rights BY the per-
mission to flsh within the territorial limits
of Russia is meant the right to land. mend
nets, pack the catch, etc. so that II will
now be possible for Japan to use this vast
her. The part of Sakhalin which Japan
obtains from Russia includes about all of
the island that is good for anything. 1t IL
said, far as fishing bases and mining
are concerned. But In case the Japanese
md it agreeable to fish further along the
islands coast, the terms Of the treaty give
II
Of square miles Of fishing grounds that
may be covered with japanese fleets. It
is said that Russia has done practically
nothing to develop this part OF the re-
sources Of her Asiatic territory, and the
Japanese have been crowded and damned
together in the confined limits Of thsir old
fisheries.
With the throwing open OF the new
waters by the terms Of the peace treaty
the fishing industry all along the north
coast Of Siberia will be developed to its
It is said at the United States fish COM
mission that the fishing rights granted
Japan by the treaty will make her q very
close competitor of the United States in
the cod, salmon. herring, whale and seal
fisheries. and that the waters she has OBJ
tanned are in every way equal to those con-
trolled by the United States.
It Is pointed out that the United States
paid Russia an insignifcant sum for tho
seal fishing rights in the Boring sea, and
that these fisheries are now paying &c.
OOO 900 a year. When Japan asked tor the
whole of Shakhalin Island 1t was estimated
that the increase of territorial waters would
give her an increase of 100000 annually
from her fisheries. and 1t Is believed that
with the addition of the rights secured In
Russian territory this increase will be
doubled.