Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-01-25

Gus TO the human system. StiIl It
is allowed TO go on. putting the
worthy fishermen Of Maine in COM
petition with the Canadian fisher
men. who have but one thought In
mind, and that being TO control the
market of the United States.
Fishermen of New England arc we
going to wait until Canada has fun
control of our business. or are We
going to unite and demand our rights
as Americans" What has Canada
done? She has abrugated the agree
mont that has been in force Tor
years, i. 9. allowing our Vessels To
enter her ports to ship crews and
purchase bait ice. provisions. etc.
providing we pay her tax OF $3.50
per ton on each vessel, unless in dis
tfesS or on account of storms. She
did, however. open her heart and al
lowed for a short time our vessels 10
enter her ports FOR the purpose above
mentioned. for s1.00 per ton, ! am
told, surely a great privilege, when
she allows our fishermen to spend
their good money in her ports, pro-
viding We will pay her an extra
profit, and stu She demands the
privilege of putting our own Amer
lean lobster fishermen out Of bust
ness. Yet the story isn't half told.
About the year 1871 treaty
known as the Washington Treaty,
really a Fishery Treaty. was started.
and an agreement was reached
which went into effect about 1873. to
continue twelve years as an expert
ment. A the termination Of about
four years a committee met in be-
half of Canada to find out if Canada
As a result of that gathering the
wise men Of Canada succeeded In
getting American representatives. to-
allow an award OF $J.50O.0O0; this
was paid by the American Govern
ment the next year. The assessment
as you can see, was paid before the
time limit of the agreement expired.
A few years later Si,500.000 OF the
So,500.000 was paid to the fishermen
in the form Of bounty to encourage
them TO fish and appropriate our
markets. After paying from Sl00
10 81 80 per ton for the right to
spend American money in Canada
and then giving them $500. 900.
don't you think we have given about
all we can afford 70 for the support
Of Canadian fishermen? 1t would
seem that we have babied Canada so
lJHE tiIdt she mas become SDBlIeb
child and has decided to absorb the
last breath Of life from our fisher
men. She does not intend in the
future. to allow our vessels to enter
her ports. excepting in time Of dis
tress or severe storms. How can We
tolerate such abuse longer? IF we,
DO, no haven't any right 10 expect
anything except poverty in our
coastal towns
Lobster fishermen Of Maine. why
not make New Years Resolution
and start 1924 right and every lobster
fishermen DO his part TO get n duty
on Holsters shipped from Canada into
the United States markets. protect
ing Your rights in a msasure against
unjust foreign competition? The only
way the fishermen Will ever receive
protection is by working themselves.
You do not get any Holsters unless
YOU pull your traps. and you will
not get any duty unless you get
busy and do something yourselves.
II each fisherman viii only do some
thing. / do not think II will be long
before YOU viii see a move towards
protecting your industry. but If You
sit id,e you will have the. privilege
Of seeing Your markets flooded with
Holsters from Canada. at a price so
cheap that YOU cannot make q liv-
Ing wage after operating expenses
are paid. You have had that expert
ence once. DO YOU want it 10 happen
again" II You do not, my advice TO
you is to get busy.
II II CPTF