The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1911-12-29
OBSTACLE TO The
FISHERIES TREATY
INTERNATIONAL REGULATION
BETWEEN THE U. S. AND CAN
ADA APPEARS DESTINED
FOR DISCARD.

international regulation bL hshtAANs
IN the boundary waters between the
United States and Canada. which a
year ago was thought 10 be all but a
reality, appears 70 be destined for the
discard The chief obstacle 20 the pro-
posed agreement is the objection 10 il
on the part OF saginaw bay fishermen
voiced BY Senator William Alden
smith. who is insisting that the Amer
team fishermen Of Saginaw bay be Civ
en- precisely the same privileges as
those accorded under the treaty to the
Canadian fishermen of Georgian bay.
Senator smith has persistently object
ed TO the consummation Of the treaty
until such an amendment is lncorporat-
ed. Canada, on its part, is disposed 10
stand pat on the regulations as pro-
posed by the ioint fisheries commission,
and sentiment In the Dominion favors
dropping the whole matter rather than
make the changes asked by this cOun-
try A Canadian dispatch reads as
follows:
The Canadian cabinet is said TO
be considering the ACCESSIBILITY Of with
drawing from the agreement reached
with the United States 10 settle all
fisheries between them. The Canadian
ministry's position is due to the failure
Of two governments 10 come to terms
on amendments to the international
fisheries regulations proposed by the
United States.
The prospects Of settlement seemed
so hopeless that some time before the
dissolution Of the last Canadian parlia-
ment Premier I.aurier informed James
Bryce, the British ambassador az
Washington that unless the United
States abandoned its position. Canada
would be compelled reluctantly to with
draw from the agreement
Bearing in mind the attitude Of the
New Canadian government towards
the United States It is regarded here
as highly probable this course will be
followed"
Local Fishermen Disappointed.
Now aCnadian hshermen are some
what disappointed al the apparent fall
ure Of the proposed international agree
ment, believing that the fisheries o.
the Great Lakes can be better regu-
lated by the government than by the
several states In the first place IL is
believed that under federal control
there would be greater stability % tho
laws regulating commercial fishing Il
has been customary In Michigan FOR
some years 10 make changes In the
fishing laws at every session OF the
legislature. and local fishermen are
heartily sick Of having 10 buy differ
ent mesh nets every two years and
not knowing more than a year ahead
what changes are going 20 be made
Upper Peninsula fishermen are not 20
particular what kind Of laws are enact
ed as they are that whatever measures
are passed be left without change for
a period Of years. II they could de-
pend upon any given law having a life
Of five years or more. nets and other
material could be purchased in larger
quantities and at lower cost. As things
are now, however. no fishermen dares
lay In any stock OF materials, as he
does not know what moment a new law
may be passed that VIII make the
equipment on hand Illegal
Another argument for federal regJla-
ton Of fisheries is that the laws Of DIFF
ferent states bordering on the same
cody 81 water are at variance and work
% the advantage Of the fishermen OF
..e state at the expense OF those OF the
Their. L. p. fishermen are not partic-
larry affected On this way but on Lake
Michigan and at the western end Of
Lake Superior condl SONS are different
With different fishing laws in Michl-
gan, Wisconsin and Minnesota, there
Will always be confusion On waters
touching two or more states. which
would be obviated By federal reglla-
ton.