Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-06
THE FISH INDUSTRY.
LAWS.
By Frederic ]. Haskin.

at custom houses or subjecting them to
an enforced payment for light. harbor
or other dues when they enter a port for
repair. shelter. water or wood. according
to the rights given in the treaty. was
covered in questions three and four.
While supporting the American rights. the
tribunal held that these privileges should
not be abused by American fishermen,
whose vessels should not remain in such
pays or harhors for longer period than
forty-efght hours without reporting. either
In person or by telegraph. at a custom
house or to a custom official
The fact that the Newfoundland gov
eminent had in contemplation the presen-
tation OF heavy claim for the value Of
the cod halibut and herring. which the
american fishermen during the past
ninety years have taken from the coasts
OF that island as we'll as the Magdaleu
Islands. in the event OF the British con-
tention being sustained regarding ques-
tlonS SIX and seven. rendered the award
In favor of the United States particularly
important to American fishermen, espe-
cialiy In New England. Excepting as re-
CARDS the first questions the awards were
al unanimously in favor OF the United
states. and since this Hague court there
have been a number Of treaties or agree
ments, last of which has just gone into
erect. by which 1T is believed that the
dinculties regarding question one will be
overcome ana that any regulations made
Tor the welfare Of the involved territory
Will be concurred in and supported nv
the United States.
The only question upon which there
was dissenting vote was the fifth one,
which dealt with
VuIy question the pOsitio n
Causing Dissent. pm ~ n
should be taken in keeping the three
mile limit prescribed as the distance
from which American vessels were re-
stricted from British shore. The ques-
ton was involved because of the irreg-
ular character Of the coast and the num-
Der Of bays and other indentations The
award upon this subject fixed the limit
at which the foreign fishermen might
reasonably believe himself upon the high
seas and for the other localities placed
the limit of exclusion at three oniles
drawn seaward from a straight line
across the bay in a part nearest the en-
trance at the first point where the width
does not exceed ten miles,"
The international treaties regarding
fishing privileges in the north Atlantic
waters involve France as we'll as the
United States and England. All that is
left or the once great French territory
In North America are two small islands
called st. Pierre and Miquelon. situated
about ten miles south of Newfoundland.
The treaty Of Paris, signed i'm 1863 ceded
these islands to the King Of France as
shelter for French fishermen upon the
condition that he did not fortify them or
erect buildings. except such as might be
needed for the fishing industry, and that
he keep no larger guard than fifty po-
llcemen upon the islands. The French
lost possession of these islands and re-
gained 1t several times and there have
been numerous disputes as to whether
that nation was entitled to exclusive fish,
ing rights upon these coasts and also re-
garding her fishing privileges in adjoin-
ing Newfoundland waters. Although the
matter of French fishing in Newfound-
land waters was provided in almost the
Identical language as that in which It.
was secured to the United States, the
French fishermen as a class have not
been subjected to the local restrictions
which were forced upon Americans. This
fact was brought out in the deliberations
of The Hague tribunal. whose awards il
is hoped have now secured equal fish
ing rights for all upon these waters.
*