Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-11-25

1
/ modus vivendi In regard to
Agreement the Newfoundland fisheries.
| Reached. a subject which has been the
cause OF much irritation be-
| tween American and Newfoundland
| fishermen since the establishment OF
the industry. A practical solution Of
the homely but popular diction Fish
| or cut bait has been reached dipio-
maticaily by the agreement just signed.
The Newfoundland foreign hshing vessels
| acts OF 1905 and 1905 prohibited American
| fishing vessels from using purse seines.
| employing Newfoundland fishermen and
purchasing bait. all In violation Of the
spirit and letter Of the existing treaty of
| 1918.
| Ambassador Reds communication to the
| British foreign Office dated October 6 Is
| interesting and brief and may be cited in
| full:
Il am authorized by my government to
ratffy modus vivendi in regard to the
Newfoundland fishery question on the basis
| OF the foreign Office memorandum dated
| the 25th of September, 1905, in which you
accept the arrangement set out in my
memorandum of the 18th of September and
consent accordingly to the use OF purse
| seines by American fishermen during the
ensuing season, subject, of course, to due
regard being paid In the use of such Inn
| plements to other modes Of fishery, which,
| as you state. is only intended to secure
| that there shall be the same spirit of give
| and take and of respect for common rights
between the users of purse seines and the
users of stationary nets as would be ex-
pected to exist II both sets Of fishermen
employed the same gear
My government understands by this that
the use Of purse seines by American fisher
men Is not to be interfered with. and that
! the shipment Of Newfoundlanders by Ameri-
can fishermen outside the three-mfle limit
Il, vSNf 20 A. Inex ,f tyaf0 nrn0
or to be penalized: at the same time they
are glad to assure his ma5estys govern
ment. should such shipments be found
| necessary. that they will be made far
enough from the exact three-mile limit to
avoid any reasonable doubt.
"On the other hand. 1t is also under
stood that our fishermen are to be advised
by my government and to agree not to
1T is further understood that his ma
jestys government will not bring into force
the Newfoundland foreign fishing vessels
act Of 1905. which imposes on American
fishing vessels certain restrictions in addi-
ton to those imposed by the. act OF 1908
and also that the provisions Of the first part
of section / of the act of 1905. as to board
whole Of section Of the same act will not
be regarded as applying to American hsh-
Ing vessels.
1T also being understood that our fisher
men will gladly pay light dues they are
| not deprived Of their rights to Ash and that
our fishermen are not unwilling to comply
with the provisions Of the colonial Gus
| house when physically possible to do so.
II need not add that my government Is
most anxious that the provisions OF the
| modus vivendf should be made effective
to be assured by you that this note will
be considered sufficient ratification OF
the modus vivenH on the part OF my gov
eminent.
| The Newfoundland government is con-
trolled chiefly by class known as plant
ers," merchant fishermen
Island of the island, who buy
"Planters," cure and sell the fishing
products. They oppose any
and all American fishing rights, including
those guaranteed by the treaty of 1S1S
and are dissatisfied with any arrangement
that the British government makes to
carry out that treaty. The real fishermen
Of the island are opposed to the action of
the Newfoundland government, and on the
contrary, favor permitting Newfoundland
can fishing vessels; the merchant fisher
men are opposed. This class, indeed, are
deemed even by some Of the residents as
both cantankerous and curioussin tempera-
meht.
The treaty of 1888. article 3, conferred
upon citizens Of the United States the right
to take fish Of every kind on the Banks
of Newfoundland. Gulf of st. Lawrence,
but not to dry the seine on the island,
or bars. coasts harbors Of Nova Scotia
or Magdaien Island, Labrador. The con-
vention Of 1918 terminated the treaty OF
1888. Americans were permitted to take
fish of every kind on that part of the south
ern coast of Newfoundland which extends
from Cape Ray, to the Ramean Islands. and
from Cape Ray to the Quirpon Islands,
also on the coasts. bays. harbors and
oolr, tha ~ To1r ,oh
the straits Of Belle Isle northward, etc. The
| treaty OF 1854 conferred reciprocal rights
applicable only to sea fishery. The treaty
OF Washington, in 1871. dealt with the
fish, except shellfish. on the seacoasts and
shores, bays, harbors and creeks of the
| provinces of Quebec. Nova Scotia. New
Brunswick and the colony Of Prince Ed
wards and Magdalen Islands. applicable
| only to sea fishery, and the treaty termi-
mated In 1888.
By the Anglo-French convention OF 1904
France renowned her exclusive fishing
right under the treaty of Utrecht, but re-
| tanned the right to fish in territorial wa
tiers from st. Johns cape northward to
bait and crustacea. In August. 1905, COM
pensation was awarded to AS French ship
owners fishermen and others to the
| amount of 1.375,0O0 francs.
The island of Newfoundland was discov-
cred by the ,Scandinavians In the elev-
enth century during their
Early voyage to ''vinland'' In 1897
History. 1t was rediscovered- by John
and Sebastian Cabot, who
called It Terra la Baccaloas, or country
| Of the cod, and Sebastian later. sailing
westward and south, was the first to dis
cover North America, landing-on the east
| ern shore Of Maryland in Sinepuxent bay.
Henry VII, King Of England, did not mani
| fest great munificence over this great
| event, for he deemed it sufficient to COM
| pensate the navigators with a gift of E1O.
! Newfoundland was visited in turn by
Breton, Basque and Norman fishermen as
early as 1904. In 1924 Giovanni Verrazzano,
| in the service Of Francis I. took possession
In the name of France. Verrazzo was
captured in 1880 by the Spaniards, who
charged him with piracy and hung him as
| corsair on the high seas. jacques Car
tier followed in 1884 and discovered Canada,
which France held during 225 years. in the
interval Of which her name was glorifed
by Champlain. De Monts, de Ia Sale and
Ma rnuette