Omaha daily bee., 1910-06-05

II Is hoped that two pending questions
with reference to the International fisher
les dispute between the United States and
Canada will be settled during the present
year. one question relates TO the century
long agitation with reference to the rights
Of citizens Of the United states TO fish
in Canadian waters. The other deals en-
tirely with the regulation OF the fishing
Industry In the International waters com.
mon to the United states and Canada.
The controversy with reference to the
fishing rights of the Inhabitants of the
United States in Canadian waters will be
carried to The Hague for arbitration, The
United states has prepared It's case on the
issues involved, and II fills some four OF
five good sized volumes. Congress appro-
priated 100000 last year for expenses Incl
dent TO the preparation and presentation
OF the case, and this year q like amount
has been asked for There are seven prop
ositions which will be taken by the two
countries TO The Hague tribunal. The
first Of these is whether or not Great
Britain and her colonies have any right
to make regulations affecting the right OF
United States fishermen, without the con-
currence of the Washington government II
Is contended by the United States that
the treaty of 1918 between the United
States and England expressly provided that
the Americans should have the fishing
right forever. The Canadians contend, on
the other hand, that these rights are sub
ject to limitations that may be placed
upon them in the exercise of police power
The next ueqstion at issue is whether
the inhabitants of the United States have
a right TO employ other nationalltes in
their fishing operations under these con-
cessions. The Americans claim that they
do possess such right, while England holds
the contrary view The third Issue at
stake concerns the three-mile shore
limit within which the inhabitants of the
United States are denied the right of free
fishing The United States contends that
this three-mile line shall be drawn parallel
with the coast line at all points. England
declares that this line must follow the
general contour of the shore line and
not the various indentations. In other
words, the British claim that all bays,
creeks and other indentations shall be
considered as lying within the three-mile
limit. IL this contention on the part of the
British government is supported by the
conclusions of The Hague tribunal, the
United States will lose the right to fish In
some of the best fishing grounds in all
North Atlantic waters. Under the treaty
of 1918, the Washington government de-
clares that the three-mile line within
which it cannot 20 shall be drawn at low
water mark. following every indentatior
of the coast.
Another question to be submitted has &c
do with the right Of the Canadian govern
ment to tax the boats of the United States
fishermen. The question of whether the
United States has a right to fish freely
along the southern and western coasts Of
Newfoundland also will be considered
About five years ago Newfoundland en-
acted a law denying such right to the
Inhabitants of the United States. In sub
hitting it's case to The Hague the govern
ment at Washington asserts that for more
than three quarters of century thii
right was recognized and exercised. Tit
English case sets forth that Newfoundland
acted clearly within it's rights when 4
enacted this law.
| For some years pending final settle
ment of the questions at issue. the tive
governments have operated under an an
nual agreement. The British have beer
very much opposed TO purse seining anC