The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-02-05
In Agreement Between Cana
da and u. S. American
Fisheries Defined.
ARBlTRATE AT HAGUE
Now That Duty Will Be De-
manded Marine Products
Will Be Increased.
eY SIDNEY ESPEY.

Washington. Feb. 4.-The recent
ment and Canada at the Hague Trib-
unal in which Senator Root Of New
York. and a number of other lawyers
and statesmen of international fame
defended the claim of their respective
countries; was echoed by the Treasury
Department recently when new regula-
tons governing importations of fish
caught off the Newfoundland banks
were promulgated.
Through these regulations, the con-
sumner I'm every part of the United
States will be directly affected as to
the prices of fish of all kinds. smoked
sailed and fresh, oil, bone for ferti-
lizer, sponges, turtles and other ma
rine products. In the regulations, the
custom officers of the Treasury have
defined what constitutes an "Ameri-
can fishery" within the purview of the
decision of the Hague Tribunal.
"A product of an American fishery,
which should be allowed free entry in
To the United States, prior TO the de-
cision OF the Hague court, was diff
cult one. For the past several months
until the issuance of the regulations,
collectors of customs at various ports
were unable to definitely interpret the
regulations. and many vessels were al
lowed to clear their cargos free of du-
ty that should have paid assessments.
This consequently not only caused
the Fishing Department much annoy,
ance. but was equally embarrassing to
the ship owners who were engaged in
this coastwide trade. The fishermen
up to this time have been in doubt
as to just what their rights were. so
far as customs regulations in this
country are concerned.
Americans Protected.
After a number of conferences the
Treasury Department decided that an
American fishery is a fishery operated
under the American flag by American
vessels i'm foreign waters. in which
such vessels have the right, by treaty
or otherwise, to take fish and other
marine products. The cargOes of such
a vessel will be allowed free entry in
to this country. Fish taken by citi-
zens of another country, and purchas-
ed by the owner. master or agent OF
another country, and purchased by
the owner. master or agent of an
American vessel whether or not land
ed on shore prior to being taken
aboard such vessel, whether or not
landed on shore prior to being taken
aboard such vessel, are not entitled
to free entry as product of an Ameri-
can fishery. In the latter named class
are number of American fishermen
who annually send hundreds of boat
loads of fish to this country. AS
they will be required to pay. duty, the
price of their products will be mater.
tally higher.
Fish taken by the crew of an Ameri.
can vessel, who may be either Ameri
can citizens or foreigners. or by for
eign fishermen in such vessei and un
der the supervision Of its master or
crew, and in pursuance of an employ
ment for that purpose are held to be
Ientatled TO free entry.
The employment of foreign fisher
men either as members of the crew
or under the supervision OF the master
or crew Of an American, is allowed
} The purchase by the master Or crew
of an American vessel of fish caught
by the citizens of another country in
foreign waters will subject such fish
10 tae customs duty.
| Fish taken by an American vesse
landed on shore in foreign territor!
where IL is sailed. dried or otherwise
preserved preparatory TO shipment to
the United States will be entitled &c
free entry. provided no other than the
officers, master and crew of such q
vessel have been engaged canning the
fish on shore, or that the fish have no,