The New York Herald Newspaper, January 3, 1871, Page 6

6 Vv THE FISHERY CONUNDRUM. Our Speck of War With the Dominion. Special Herald Commissioners on the Situation. They Interview Canadian States- men, Gloucester Fishermen and Jack Tars, FULL AND INTERESTING REPORTS. The British Provincial Authorities Im- peach President Grant. Whey Are Astounded by His Message and | Hint Tnat Ie Is Buncombizing. They Know Their Rights and| Must Maintain Them. The Yavkee Men of Bait and Hook for War. “Every Canadian City Ought to be Blown to | Hingdom Come by Nitro-Glycerine.” Indignation and Threats of the Gloucester Boys. How They Talk of the Seizures of| Their Vessels and Ill-Treatment of Their Crews. What Will Come of the Whole | Thing. oe | THE KANUCKIAN SIDE OF THE QUESTION, OrTawa, Dec. 30, 1870, Itis with great pleasure that I am able to com- Municate my report of the results ef the very inte- | Testing mission confided to me of repairing to the seat of government of the Dominion at Ottawa and eonferring with the statesmen ef that government | upon the subject of the complaints made against them of unfriendly and injurious treatment of | American interests in the matter of the fisheries and | the navigation of the St. Lawrence. I have to | acknowledge on behaif of the HERALD and myself a | reception most courteous and friendiy on the part of , the gentlemen ef the administration, They expressed the greatest satisfaction that the leading jour- Ral of America should have specially commissioned | @gentieman to hear their statements and views upon the very important subjects mm question, and ‘thus offered them such a medium of reacming the | American padiic with a full statement of all the facts of their case as could not be obtained tn any | other way. I have been favored with long and pro- tracted interviews in these matters vy the very dis- | tinguished and cultivated Dominion Premier, Sir | John Macdonald, as well as by Sir Francis Hincks, the Finance Minister; the Hon. 8. L. Tilley, the Minister of Customs; the Hon. S. F, Howe, Secretary of State for the Provinces, and especially the Hon. | Peter Mitchel!, the Minister of Marine and Fisheries, | whose department is more particularly concerned | with these matters. J have had the priviieze of full | and ample di fon with all these gentiemen— | and especially with the last—of the diMculty that | has arisen, and I th it impossible to speak too highly of the energy and luctdit7 and fulness with | which the whele subject was stated by them on behalf of their government, Your space | Would not allow that I should particularize the conversations I held with each of these Statesmen upon the fisheries and St, Law- | Was naturally gone over again with all of them, It will, therefore, be conveulent that I should throw My report into the form of a dtalogue between your commissioner and the abstract individual whom I Will call “the Dominion statesman.’? And your readeis may be sure that what is here attributed to that individnal is tue accurate representation of the | Collective views and statements of the gentlemen | whom I have specified, whose studies of these ques- tions seemed to be equally comprehensive. The Minister of Marine and Fisheries, alunough in depart- menial charge of tnem, aid not excel his colleagues in the fulness of his knowledge and studies of these important topics. And whatever view the American | public may take of the matters which I have the honor te report I can at least testify that the action of the Dominion government has been taken by a | group of oMcial gentlemen whom, after long per- sonal experience of statesmen and governments, I an pronounce equal to any in the thoroughness and | care with which they do their business of governing | @ great community. Indeed, I have never conversed | ‘with any statesmen who seemed so thoroughly mas- ters and authorities in their work. Your reporter opened his conference with an tn- { famation that the HERALD, true to its system of | tracking subjects to their very source, had de- | spatched me to hear what Canadian statesmen had | to say upon the subject of fisheries and the St. Law- rence, and expecially of the charges of unfriendli- ness against American fishermen. To this question Ihad the following reply from my Canadian states- man:— DOMINION STATESMAN—Sir, we are glad, indeed, Mat you have come. We are disposed to go into the | whole subject with you comprehensively and ex- haustively. And at the outset we desire to say that | we are simply overwhelmed with astonishment at | the language used by the President of the United States conceruing us and the charges made against ms. We are absolutely free irom all offe! against the United States in every particular. We have been assailed absolutely without cause, fact or reason. We have neither done nor said anything which rence questions. Much ef the ground, moreover, | } purpose whatever, ” ject of this last prohibition was to prevent fishing | vessels acting as trading vessels, which was quite | | The Amer NEW YORK HERALD, TUESDAY, JANUARY 3, 1871. them even after severance from the British connec. tion. Such @ contention was hardly serious. it amounted to a claim to keep the privileges of Bri- Ush subjects after fighting to get rid of the liubilues Of British subjects. An arrangement was made in 1788, by treaty, by which @ certain limited nght was iven in Briti-b Waters to American fishermen, It hot necessary to go farther into that, because the War of 1812 destroyed that arrangement, according to the usmal legal result of war, which annus treaites. This question of the fisheries was not settied at the time of the peace which followed that war, but lmgered on into the year 1518, when, as I have said, the treaty was m: question how stands, ‘The brief effect of that treaty Was this:—The American fishermen were placed, a3 to the right of taking fish, upon precisely the same footing as British subjects upon a portion of the Newfoundiand coast, on the 8 of the Magdalen islands, and along puny nearly the whole of the Labrador coast. They were given, also, the right to Gry and eure fish on ali the un: settled parts of the Newfoundiand and Labrador cousts a§ to which they were given the fishing rights. When and where these coasts should be settled they were to use them only after agreement With the settlers, Such were the rights given to in- shore fishing and shore curing to Americans by that treaty, rights to certain specified parts of British coasts. And by that treaty, to quote its words, the “United States hereby renounce forever any liberty heretofore enjoyed or claimed by the inhabitants thereof to take, ‘dry or eure fish in or within three marine miles of any of the coasts, 8, creeks or harbors of his Britannic Majesty's America not within the above mentioned limits,’? ‘nis renuuctaion was followed by a proviso that ‘the American fishermen shall be admitted te enter such bays or harbors for the purpose of shelter and of repairing damages therein an of obtainu waier, and ior no ether You will see, sir, that the ob inadmissible, for two reasons—that such confusion 0 ft sracter would prevent the due eniorcement alike ¢ the proper exclusion of American tishermen from the use of British waters to Which they had no rights or, to pat it more clearly, would enable American vessels, under color of fishing, to fisn where they had no right and to smuggle besides, Well, sit, to enforce the provisions of this treaty, various acis were passed by the imperial and local legislatures, the terms of Which are Iminaterial, And during the whoie period from 1817 to 1454 it was the practice to seize and condemn American vessels for trespass- ing beyend their proper legal limits, or doing acts beyoud the legal right of fishing vessels. All this Jegistation and all this action under it were directed to the Singie end of maintaining our fishery pro- perty and Keeping up the rule of the treaty of 1518, that Americau (ishing vessels should be fishing ves- sels, So to speak, pure and simpie, without any general trading character whaiever, and I have polnted out to you, Bir, how abselutely necessary it was to our fishing and revenue property and rigbts that this point should be adhered to with the utmost strict- ness. This practice and mede of enforcing the treaty was carried on without any complaint of right all the time from 1815 to 1354, the date of the Re- ciprocity treaty. I say complaint of right, sir, because it would happen now and then tbat the American government would raise as to particular vessels seized the question whether they were as & tact doing wrong; but our riguts were never disputed by the United States. And I wish, sir, to state wita peculiar emphasis that Cas all this period up vo the Reciprocity treaty of 1 our seizures were myartably made without any notice whatever to offending vessels. And I say this, sir, because the President 1n his message insinuates that we seize now without notice, coutrary to ancient practice. ‘This 18 not the case, sir, HERALD COMMISSIONER—Touching the qnestion of the headlands, sir, in this stage of the affair, before the Reciprocity treaty. DOMINION STATEsMAN—That question was only raised a short time befere the Reciprocity treaty by the United States. You will observe, sir, that by the language of the treaty of 1818 une United States re- nounced all rights of fishing access, not merely W:thtn three marine miles of the British coasts alone, but also of the British bays, creeks or harbors, We concetved and still conce.ve that under that renun- ciation our exclusive line was determined by a line drawa from headiand to headland of ail bays of British coasts, and that American fishermen were not at liberty to approach for fish within three miies | of sucha line, We bave the decisive authority of Daniel Webster himseif that this construction 1s the | right one. Under daie of 6th July, 1852,the gre it Amer- ican statesman complains tnat this large concession | Was made tn isis to England of drawing line from headiand to headland; but he does not venture to question that it was made—complains, on the con- trary, that 1t was made. However, shortly before the Reciprocity treaty of 1854 the American gevernment began to complain ef this large meas- | ure of exciusion a3 regards such bodies of water as the Bays of Fundy aud Chaleurs. and other large indentations ef the British America coast. Now, sir, I wish at this stage of our statements to draw your especial atiention to this point, because it bears With such force on the question of our friendliness, Smee the abrogation of t.e Reciprocity treaty in 1866, although as to this point of the headlands we | eonceive onr rights to pe indisputable, we have re- nounced their enforcement in pract: We now in practice tims the exclusion of American fishermen to three miles from the actual coast ine only, al.ow- ing thei free fishing within ail bays und harbors ap to the three mile iimit. portance to American fishermen in which we have qnietly, for the sake of good neighdortiood and kind | feeling, practically given up our rights under the | ‘Treaty of 118. HERA the hist of the quest on. DOMLSION STATESMAN—Well, Bir, the next stage In | this eventiul history was the period of the Recipro- | city treaty, During the twelve years that the Amert- can government allowed tuat treaty to be in force these questions were in abeyance, {or by its pro- A an Ashermen were pi America. atesmanship, why tat treaty was ever denounced and repealed by the American govern- ment. Canada got nothing under it at all equiva. lent to the unlimited fisitng right of the citizens of the United States. Indeed, that may be satd to hi been tae very plum of epee) treaty, and if the Americans had kept it in their own hands all the questions now raised woula have slept for ever. HERALD COMMISSIONER—Then the stage of the ish Noriti ground AN—Yes, sir; and we contend that our conduct as regards the fisheries since that date, 80 Jarfrom being chargeable with unfriendil- ness, has been conspicuously indulgent, neighborly and friendiy to the United Staies. Indeed, we go the length of saytug that we have done everything except give up the property im our coast line fisne- Ties altogether to American people, Nay, sir, we have even gone wittin an ace of even doing that altogether; for we have been willing and have at tem) ted io give them the right of the inshore Ashing on the payiment of an almost nominal Leense fee. can fishermen paid it at first, but after- | wards declined, and leit as no recourse but the en- forcement of our rights. course of these transactions since the repeal of the Reciprocity treaty. DOMINION STATESMAN— With pleasure, You will observe that from the moment when that treaty knocked in the head we were remitted to the exact ponies we held under the Treaty of 181% Tue ritish government desired that we should treat the matter, however, in a spirit of concilial and we have more than responded to that desire; we have, indeed, acted in the spirit of self-sacrifice. In the | first place, as Ihave already intimated, we have practosly given up the headiand point altogether, | in spite of a case which we consider unassailable in point of law, and which we used before 1854 to en- | ferce by repeated seizures aad condemnations of American vessels, We now allow them to fish any- where up to the three mile limit of the actual shore line. But even as to these limits we were anxious on every ground to avoid complications and have the best relations with the Americans, and to wns with them. All that we asked was that Americau fishing vessels should pay a nominal tonnage license for the privilege of fishing anv- Where, and we nixed this at so low a rate that it realiy amounted te no more than a sort of pepper corn rental acknowledgment ef right. Here is Un statement of the operations of the system:—! 1566 there were 354 licenses; in 1867 there were 281 licenses; in 1868 there were Afty-six licenses; in 1860 there were twenty-five licenses. Now, sir, you will readily see on @ simple view of this tapie how | humerous were the cases of trespass without license during this perlod, But during the wbole of these four seasons not a single American vessel was éetaine During this period also we induiged American fishermen with repeated warnings, aud it ‘Was probably this which spoiled our license system; for it practically rendered trespassing upon our fishing grounds @ thing without danger. But it completely shows the spirit in which we acted throughout this time, But you can see at a glance that it Was impossibie for us te allow such a stat? of things to go on. Might just ag well have sur- rendered we fish 4 altogether. They are our smounts to more than the defence of our property fn just, kindly and legal ways. We have stretched | po point in our favor or against the people of the | Btates. On the contrary, we have stretched points | against ourselves. If you hear our case fully you | Will be able, willl your experience as a jawyer and | politician, to test Serutuize it to the utmost, 6 r, and with as adverse aa eye as you please, but pray | study it fully. | HERALD COMMISSIONER—Sir, I have come here for | the very purpose, and shall listen with the closest at- | tention and, | assure you, In the most judicial temper to all you have to say. DoMINiON Starrsmax—WeN, I think tt would be | convenient to say in the first instance that itis not | the case, as the President intimates in his Message, that are applying auy new measures of severity to American Gshermen io our waters. On the con- trary. we baye practically surrendered, though wé theoretically maintain, a Very important point, the headiand point, upon which we censider our rights indubitabie, and we nuw matntain and enforce oniy our exclusive fishery property—tuat 1s to say, three Miles ‘rom shore, whica is of course a8 much an ex- clusive property as & spa mine on the tand itself, Perhaps it would be well to go a little more into de- tall. The whole question now rests upon the ar- frangemcnuts made by the treaty ef 1818 Previous to that date and to the war of 1812, indeed at the mo- ment oO! the concession of independence to the United Siates, that government had advanced a olaim not tenable and not eventtaliy ad- bered tw of this kind. They said that the Mshing grounds of the British were con- quered from tue French by the common militar, Hons of the English aud the colonists, ani re they bad # eort of natural right to use Property, and property which we are willing to share With americans on just terms, which we have very nearly sacniiced altogether, We are now fully purposed not to do this without | ajast equivalent. While we carried on unis licensing system we virtually put up with boundiess tres- assing, While at the same time pray observe that ritish caught fish are ali the time subject to a vir- tually problbitory duty in American porta. It 1s too | much. Tuey seem to want the right to take our fish and exciude our fishermen from their markets, But we are satisfied the just and generous Amert- can public do not undersiand this question, And that is why we rejoice at this opportumty of laying it before them. sider eur position, not only on the grounds men- tioned, but because during the period since 1366 the American fishermen cemmitted other infractions of the Treaty of 1815, such as frequenting our har- bors to transfer cargoes aud take suppiles, creating riots and disturbances aud defying the laws. In 1869 our shores swarined with American fishing Vessels which would not pay the license fee, and we had the undoubted evidence before us that, owing to the prolubitory duties of Brilisn caught fish, and our practical surrender of our rights to American fishing vessels, the Dominion fishermen were begin- Ding to man the American vessels, and our whole flabing trade and property.were threatened with ex- tinction. It became absointely necessary for us to retrace our steps. And thereiore we have practi- cally thig season resumed our position under the ‘Treaty of 1818, except only that we have, as 1 have pelere pointed out, put in abeyance the headland question. We now only mainiain the two pointe— one, exclusive inshore fishing line, and the abso- lute necessary distinction of character between a fishing apd @ fyading vessel—p distinction abso le on which the whole | jominions 1a | of the British coastal revenue system, and of | Here is a point of great im- | CoMMISSTONER—Oblige me by continuing | on precisely | ; they could | fish wherever they Mked, all over the shores of Brit- | We are at @ loss to conceive, on | in the Rectprocity | © 1 of the Reciprocity treaty 1s a | HERALD COMMISSIONER—Oblige me and state the | end we were willing virtually to share the fisheries | Well, sir, we were obilged to recon- | | lately necessary to the fishing property and the Tevenue in. We maintain, therefore, sir, that | our conduct has been in the hixbest degree friendly @nd gencrous, and we have great | of its bemg represented under a | so high an oificial as tne chief of the ublic him- sel! If he proposes to bind together all sections of American people tn one common American senti- Ment by such a course tt seems to us, to say tho , least of it, that he will not succeed. HERALD CommissiONeR—The President in his | Message intimates that your legislation of late has | been both unfriendly and novel in enforcement of your fishing rigats. | _ DOMINION STATESMAN—The President is misin- formed, and it 1s greatly to be wished that he would study these points for himself, or be sure of those Whese studies he depends upon, Our legislation has been no more than @ transcript of that older legislation on the subject, which, as I have said, was never complatued of on the ground of right during the whole period between 1818 aud 1854 Nor have ‘We ever attempted to enforce our municipal legisia- tion, exeept in the undoubted three-mile limit from the shore. But allow me to state what has hap- pened. At the beginning of the year 1570 we notl- ed to the American government that we felt our- selves obliged mow strictly to enforce the rule of exclusion from the shore line of three miles; not, be it observed, from headlands, During th-e eur 1870 we have enforced that exclusion. There juve been # few. semures within the three mile limit, pray observe, for illegal fishing. There has Not as yet been one ‘seizure for trading. Now, ar, Dray notice this part of the transaction. Aiter our notice to the American government that we now meant to take this line at became the duty of the American Executive to warn, these le. And they cid ther me Secretary Boutweil, issued two circulars, dated May 16, 1870, aud June 9, 1370, In | these clrealars he hotifies to the preper American | Oftictals that the Canadian government are now about to enforce their rights ander the treaties, No complaint was made to us, Indeed no complaint could be; for we were about to stand on our rights after a long course of indulgence, and even then not on our strict rights according to old treaty con- struction, as { have more than once said. President no netice, notified to the Americans that no notice was hereaiter to be given, notice? American fishermen know the law it with their eyes very wide open indeed. Our notice and our warnings were all part of @ system of indul- our and of self-sacrifice, which we find wiil not do atail. our generosity would lead the American to meet us in the like spirit. Practically admittiny them to a share in our priceiess fisheries we hoped that the spirit we showed would lead them to recon- sider our exciusion from their coasting trade and from the benefits of the American register of ship- ping. Recily, sir, We gave up everything tor a sea- gon in the hope of our getting something tn return, We fot nothing, and now we are abused by the President for simply re-entering into posseasion of our own. HERALD CoMMISSIONER—Do I understand you that there 1s positiveiy no foundation for the sugges- tion that your late iegisiation 1s novel DOMINION STATESMAN—Distinctly, We have done nothing but adopt the provisions of the imperial act | of 1819 and the old law of Nova Scotia, There is | nothing new at ail. Our late act, like the imperial act of 1819, has no clause giving twenty-four hours’ | notice to the trespassing fishermen. It was found | that such a clause defeated the purpose of the Jaw, so we have adopted the oid act of 1819. But always remember that our legisiauion applies and our seizures are exclusively effected wituin the three mule limit which belongs to us. What the President means by suguesidng that our legisiation is novel we cannot at ail understand, HERALD COMMISSIONER—The President also suz- gests that you are enforcing new prohibitions with Tegard to the trading of fishing Vessela, DOMINION SPaTESMaN—There is absolutely no | foundation for this msinuation, I have clearly ex- | plamed to you that the treaties limit most carefully | Amertean fishing vessels to Ushing purposes, and aiso the reasons for such limitation, e cannot | Dave vessels fishing under the pretence of tradiag, | for that would be to give up the fisheries; we can- | not have them trading under pretence of fishing, for that means smuggling. Fishing vessels may come 10 for shelter, for repairs, for wood and for water, Why, sir, in the whole history of the discussion of | these questions between the two countries no Ame- Tican slaiesman has ever ventured before President Grant to claim any right for fishing vessels to enter our ports for trade purposes, or any except those named in the treaty. So just are the grounds on wiich we maintain the distinction between the fisting and the trading vessel-, so clear the provi- sions of the treaty by the heip of which we maintain it President Grant takes quite new ground on this subject, and one which no lawyer, no statesinan in a respoasible position has ever dreamed | iu is quite untenable. But what we want | to know 1s why we have dad no complainis ad- | Gressed diplomaticaily to us, We should be loath to | Teward the message of the President as a mere elec. tioneering maniiesto to Catch votes. lt is qatte | certain, however, that an electioneering address can contain Matter ad caplandum vulgus waich can find no piace in diplomacy. You have an eminent Amert+ can person named Buncembe, with great influence among you, Noue of his family have setiled at pre-e sent within British dominions. But lo speak sert- ousiy, we are deeply shocked and pained at these impniations, which a little pains and good faith would have spared us. Nor can we understand their policy. What can be the use of making statements, for example, about tiis point of trading by dsuing | vessels, which will not bear @ momenv’s inves- Fagene complain ot ight by - | Lawreuce canals and rivers, and can go without Grant complains im his Message that now we give | In Secretary Boutwell’s circular it was | Why should we give | well enough, and when they break it they break | We persevered 1a it because we thought that | government | | tugation or reflection? For wity years, | | Omitting the period of the Keciprocity y, the clear rigat of preventing fishing vessels trading bas been enforced without a com- int from Ainerican authorities. Yet now the sident says that “so far as the cl onan alleged construction of the Treaty of 1818 it cannot be acquiesced in by the United States,” and “10 18 hoped it wili NOt be iusisted on by her Majesty's overnment.”’ But, sir, 80 long as We are compelied py this mient to stand upen our rights—and you have already been showa in what a mitigated form we now do this—we must matitain the exclusion of | fishing vessels from trade. We cannoi maintain the fishing property without It And this we will now vertainly not surrender beyond what we have done | without a just equivalent. | _ HERALD ComaissionER—You have certainly stated matter for much serious reflection. DOMINION STATESMAN—No®, sir, here is a point to | Which we shouid lige to draw your atvention ; for it ; Slows im what @ spirit of anxious, considerate Iriendship we have dealt with the fishermen of the ! United States, Under tue first article of the Treaty Of 1818 United States citizens may take fish on tne shores of the Magdaien Islands, but caunot use the land for fishing operations. But we have year after year allowed them to land thetr boacs and haul ther | Selnes and enjoy ail tacilities, like Canadians, This } Causes us no smail damage and trouble, we assure you. They come in great numbers. They are & | Class of peopie who, to put it miidly, nave a great deal of animal spirit. They damage British fisher. | men and threaten the safety of tue peace- ; Abie inhabitants — consideraviy, The Cana- dian government has had much trouble and expense in maintaining customs laws and navigaiion and fishery laws among these people, We might simply excinde them according to treaty law. But we let them come tothe Magdalen Islands, ; and bear the e: expense and daugers. Is that unfriendly ? aguin, by the treaty American fishermen may dry and cure fish on certain of the unsettied parts of the Labrador coast. After the have been settled, so provides the treaty, the Ameri- can fishermen must come to agreement with the settlers. New, whathave we done? We have posi- tively gone beyond the treaty by assuming the guardianship of this temporary and provisional Tight of American fishermen, for we have only per- Mitted settlement of the Labrador coast subject to this right of the American fishermen. We have not left these, as we might have done, to the mercy or option of the inhabitants, proprietors and possessors of the ground, as the treaty provides, but we have not allowed settlement except on cou- dition that the fisherme. of the States snould be allowed to use the ground as before. In fact we have turned a provisional and temporary right into @ permanent one. And yet we are charged in the face of the civilized world by the foremost man in the United States with being unfriendiy. Really, it 1s too bad, We could have done no more than we have done. We have all but surrendered our fish- ing rights altogether, but we must now maintain | Our property. It 13 our only basis for acquiring just | Feciprocal rights of commerce and trading with the } United States. Why was the Reciprocity treaty de- stroyed by the States? Under it they shared our fish- | eries with us equally everywhere. If it was done to H punish Great Britain for the sympatl of some of her sections of society’ with the Southern cause, it was in effect much more injuri- ous to American interests, both in the States aud in Canada, and principally, We are firmly convinced, to. bas detriment of ciuuzens of the Uulied State; them: selves. HERALD CoMMISSIONER—I think that the qnes- tion of the fisheries is pretty well exhausted, What about the St. Lawrence navigation? DomINion STATrSsMAN—Well, sir, I suppose we | Must speak seriously about the utterances ot the Pre- , Sldent of the United States; but in this parucular itis really very dimcuit to do so. ‘Ihe President states that “a like unfriendly disposiiion has been manifested | on the part of Canada in the maintenance of a claim of right te exciude the citizens of the United States from tie vavigation of that river.” We can oniy | Say that we are guite without any knowledge of any facts to which this assertion reiers, or of eny to which it could reter, Tao | citizens of the States nse the river as freely as we do | Ourselves, But somehow or other—in our sicep per- ; 2aps—we have been doing a great injury to the peo- | Pie of the States about this. We should amazingl: ; ike to kaow whattt is, ‘he President says, witl { great solemnity, that “the: e cight States with 17,600,009 people upon these waters discharging into It.” It ts @ great fact, no doubt, sir; but it has noth- ing to do with the navigation of the St. Lawrence, We do not think it possibie for any American states- man to forget the Falls of Niagara, But it would reaily appear that the President of the United Stated has altogeiher overloeked for the moment the fact. | that the natural water way from Lake Superior to the | Ocean 4s considerably impeded by falls and rapids, | Some of these are reckoned among tae physical won- dera of the world. We must reckon it among the political wonders of the world that aun American statesman should leave them out of view. Why, sir, the water way of the St. Lawrence basin, as ali the world knows, 1s only made navigable by canals, Do we practice exciusion? Not the least. We have built the Welland and St. Lawrence Canals on British Grae! At @ cost of $17,000,000, and we say, wituout fear of contradiction, that they are u ed, and always have been used, as freely 4 the tonnage o! the United States as by our own, an the navigaiion of the St. Lawrence would be of no use to the States without them. There 1s absolutely nothing ip tgs. air. whatever, We sre absolntaly im is founded | xclusive policy of the American govern- | | i this complains at a loss to conceive on what fact based; and we would of President Grant 18 rather not say much more ut it, because We desire 10 treat the statements of the | Executive cf the United States wii respect, A8 to friendliness, the less said by Amert- can statesinen on that subjevt the better, Just look atthe contrast, American canal boats, in competl- tion With our own, navigate our Ottawa and St, 3 breaking bulk to Whitenall or New York; but 80 s00n a8 @ British canal boat reaches the American fronuer she 18 stopped, and is not permitted by the restrictive policy of American navigation laws to ge any juriher, We cannot imagine what the Prest- @ent means by talking about the Rhine and the Dauube. The St. Lawrence navigation ts @ navigae tion by canals supplementing the river, and our canals are freely used. Really, sir, there is no more to be said on this head, HERALD OoumissioneR—How do you think all these things bear upon the great question of the unification of the Continent—upon the consumma- | tion of the “Americ. for Americans” doctrine, wuich | We have so much at heart in the States? DOMINION STATESMAN—Why, we do not believe that there is in the Dominion at present any party Whatever that desires any organic or revolutionary change in that direction. And we are quite certiin thal the growth of such a party 18 impeded or in- definitely postponed by a policy towards as which we can only regard as one of punishing us or starving us in annexation, But really this 1s the most mis taken policy in the world, both morally and fiscally. We are not badly off as it 18; on the contrary, | Canada and the Dominion never before were 60 flourishing. Our tonnage increases enormously, though the United States preclude us from Ameri- can registry; our revenue is abundant, our taxa- tion moderate, We know nothing on ‘nis side the border of Erie rings or uuchaste courts of justice, American greatness attracts us, but the practical working of American institutions repels. And we do not like being threatened, and are very sure that neither Great Britain nor our- selves can be dragooned into separation or inde- pendence or anneXativa. ‘This 1s a very great mat- ter, but 1Ldoes not seem to us to be handied by the President in @ great spirit. When the President threatens “to suspend the bonding system aad ex- clude the vessels of the Dowinion from United States waters” he ought to know that, so {ar as tho first of these measures is concerned, he would do much more harm tothe comimerce of the United States than to ours, Our merchants now buy about $16,000,009 worth of foreign goods in bond from the merchants of New York, ton, Portiand and other Atlantic cities, American merchan:s buy from us and carry annually over our canals $15,000,00 worth of lumberalone, which they largely reship ont ot bond tothe West indies, Bravil and other southern mar- kets. I assure you, sir, that American policy is put Ung ali that trade in peril. We did not ship asmgie cargo to South America: your merchants shipped our lumber to that market and took the proilt. This year our own poopie, as the result of your high tariff policy, Nave shipped direct on their own account $3,000,00) worth of it, Before long, If things go on 3 at present, all the trade we do at present through you will be entirely diverted to the St. Lawrence Toute and ourselves. It seems to us that it would bo weil for the whole po:ition to be reconsidered. ‘The experience of the last four years shows us that we can do without the States if they can do withvut us, They seem to wish for us though. But they are taking strange means to get us. We do not know how the policy of excluding British vessels from Anierican rts could becarried our. Weare aware that alead- ing political person on your side has lately advocated complete severance from the British empire unless the Uniled States have their own way in the gucs- tions under discussion between the crown and the republic. And President Grant would peer to | have been taking lessons in that school lately, It is quite suilicient tor us when we think of such threats toremember th t the United States ts peopled dy | forty millions of just and generous men, who know As well as any people on Which side thetr bread 1s buttered. Butwe are nota littie astonished to find your Chief Magistrate using such language tor all that, How couid you turn the great repuoile of the West into a great Japan? “THE YANKEE SIDE OF THE QUESTION, eee GLOUCESTER, Mass., Dec, 31, 1870, “Well, I guess you'll find out if you stay in town long.’? This was the emphatic reply I got when, upon arriving the other evening, I asked a citizen how the fishermen felt about the trouble the Dominion of Canada had been making them. I thus found out | at the very start that I had anticipated rightly when Isurmised that there might be a good deal of ex- citement here over the matter. I remem- bered what I had read of local history in Massachusetts and therefore knew that Gloucester, the great headquarters of American fisheries, was just the place for an industrious cor- respondent to visit in search of information bearing upon the present international diMiculties, THE TROUBLES WITH THB DOMINION OFFICIALS AND WHAT THE GLOUCESTER FISHERMEN THINK ABOUT THEM. There 1s no donbt that the Dominion authorities have brought about these diMcutties simply for the purpose of forcing our government into a renewal of the Reciprocity treaty which ex- pired some years ‘since. Tnis is what the Glou- cester fishermen think, and they assert that the Canadians and Biuenoses themselves do not conceal this fact, They treat our peaceful and unoffending fishermen as if they wero outlaws of the most con- temptible character, and deny them the simple rights and privileges due from one ctvilized nation to another, One old salt with whom I conversed sald that if Congress did not take the matter in hand the fishermen would have to go armed and protect themselves. “We must do it.’ he said; “tf Uncle Sam can't attend to them, why, we can. There are seven thousand fishermen and satlors right here in Gloucester, and I, for one, woulkl be willing to COMMENCE PIRACY upon al their harbors and commerce, and keep it up until they learn how to behave. There are others here who would join me, and I have no doubt but I could get crews for adozen pirate steamers in a dozen days right here in thistown. I tell you, sir, this is what it Is coming to unless something is done and done very quickly too. You will find others besides the fishermen who will back us, and we count old Ben Butler among our best friends, If he don’t fix things at Washington we are going to rig up @ dozen or so Alabamasa and commence bual- ness.”? I talked with another man—not a fisherman. Won't come to any serious trouble,” he happen to know that GRANT AND SCHENCK ARB ALL RIGHT, and when Congress meets proper legislation will follow, and then Schenck will get his instructions, aud there will be a change of conduct very soon on the part of the Dominion government towards our Yankee fishermen. Grant is aroused, and has pro- mised to fix the matter right off, and you can bet old Ben won't let him alone till he does. And I fur- ther know,” he added, with a significant wink, “that Schenck ain’t going over to England to eat dinners, but to x up this Alabama and fish business, Our boys have stood this thing as long as they are going to, and the government knows It.’? THE BEGINNING OF THE TROUBLES. It was early last summer that the troubles began, and the fishermen, without offering resistance, Promptly reported the various outrages to the representatives of the American government. By a change of boundary lines at tuat time the Canad an territory includes Mount Jolly and a portion of the shore to the east thereof, which, in the treaty of 1318, ‘was described as the southern coast of Labrador. “tt said, ‘for I ith al possible | p' The Secretary of the Treasury holds that this change does not affect the rignts of our fishermen under that treaty. The people of Oitawa hold the opposite opinion, and propose to mamtain it with gunboats, as they are now doing and have done ever since last June. Now the grand question is, “What 1s to be done?’ From the feeling manifested in Gloucester it is clear that there must be an ad- Justmeat of the difficulties one way or another before the fishermen start out for the coming Gloucester om November 23, bound for the West- ern Banks, where alone her crew were to fish, Alter touching at Portland for ice, she sailed for Head Harbor, Campo Bello, for the | urpose of eee bait. This bait was delivered ‘on board the White Fawn the next day, November 26, beg brougit of in beats, the veasel then iying | about five miles from Lubeo, ‘The crew of the vessel @id not cavch or attempt to cateh any herring or | other fish while lying there, but only went in to bay | bait, as American vessels had been in the havit of | doing. There is ne Custom House im the place at | which the veasel could epter, } ‘Tne master of the vessel went on shore to put some letters in the post off nd when he returned found @ Briush oMver on bu: represented himself as the second officer of the Ca- | Radian catter Water Lily, Tue captain of the Water Lily ana eight armed men afterwards came on board @nd asked the master what he was doug there, He Teplied'that he had bought some bait, which tho capiain of the cutter said was contrary to law. When asked to show the law he declined doing 80. He said he should nave to take the vessel for buying bait, He then took the vessel, the master proiest- ing, and, taking charge of her, dropped her down alongside the cutter. ‘Ten of the crew were | placed in au open boat and sent to Kastport, beto allowed to take only some clothes with them, aud | the Fawn was towed into St. John, N. AS $00 a8 | the news arrived in Gloucester of the seizure, George Friend, Jr,, the chief partner of the firm, teit at once for St. John, Immediately upou his arrival he | calied upon Mr. Goodwin, the American Consul, and | | in charge of an armed guard | traversers but Moar. nding the action of the courts in the matter. ‘This action was allatory, and Mr, Friend and his crew, having @ keen idea of fwd Lee of the authorities towards them, under- 00) A WAR AGAINST THE DOMINION NAVY on their own hook, or, in other words, set ont to rescue their vessel by force. Mr. Friend and his sixteen men did the business one dark night, and wwe manner in which they accomplished it is best told by one of the vangilshed marines Ww. guarding the vessel, His story, when the case camer up in the Vice Admiralty Court, was as follows:— About half-past eleven. o’clock op Thursday night @ boat with fifteen or sixteen meu came alongside, asked how far they were to teeward of Southport, and said they would come on board for @ driak of water, The witness replied that they could not be. allowed to come on deck. Then they rushed on board, A man came up to Thomas and demanded his ride, Which he dropped on being Coliared. One man, whom he did net know, threatened to blow out his bratns if he re‘used; he gave no alarm; was ordered into (ve cabin, and went, aud had a tatk with Welsh, there, who told the witness not to be afraid—n would be all right; Mr. Friena also’ sald he w treat ths guard well; witness recegnuized all the To cross-examinauon he ad- mitted that he was not very badly used; heard some one in the boat cry out, “gHOOT HIM,” but Mr. Friend satd not to do so; the guard wag not shut dewa in the cavin, but could zo ou deck. whenever the: Ce proper; Cy Grady Goodwin directed him \o consult with Mr. | toid us we. should have to show them things, ‘Tuck, the Queen’s Consul, ‘i asked him,” Mr. | and we did; helped them to get up the Frieud says, “on what charge the schooner was | anchor; the captain sald we would have ta taken, au he replied for buying batt. He claimed | do it; witness won’t say he was sorry that that a vessel buying bait within three miles of the | Mr, Friend was getting his versel—told him it shore was, by that act, preparing to fish, aud it was | Ou this charge the vessel Was tried, A prize crew was then in possession of the vessel, and she 1s now in ther hands. Mr. ‘Tuck. further told ime | that he was walting for instructions, The | Vessel had been detained tweuty days whea | 1 leit St. John without prosecution, Mr. ‘tuck | refused to bond her, and said he would de nothiug Without instructions from Ottawa. I have learned since arriving home that he has. been directed to rosecute her, This vessel was bound for the | estern Banks, and had no intention or idea of fsi- ing in shore,”? | “What do you think will be the result of the pro- secution f? - { “Really, I can’t tell. Ihave, however, through | @eneral Butler, our Represeatative to Congress, asked the President to demand this vessel from tho Dowinlon government, as by interpretation of the law and the treaty on this basis no American vessel is sale Woen they see fit to capture her, Mr. Tack told me positively that no American vessel can buy provisions or supplies, other than wood and water, and that the purchasing of anythiug else 13 & viola- tion of law and the fishing treaty.” AN OUTRAGE AT PIRATE COVE. I have also learned the unpublished particulars of 8n outrage upon an American flext at Pirate Cove, N. 8., waich took place as long agoas July. Having Put into the Cove harbor from necessity, the fleet ‘Was visited by the officer of a Domiaion cruiser, who ordered every vesse. off forthwith. Two of the vessels, Wildfire and Sargeot S. Day, both of this town, were aground and could not move. ‘The ofti- clal was very much exasperated at this, and, with a force of twenty-five men. boarded the Wildiire and inforued her master that he should fue him $800, Upon reflection, however, he concluded that he had no authority to assess and collect a dine, and gave the vessel peraitssion to remain in port ‘unttl two o’clock in the afternoon. He afterwards boarded the other vessel aud proceeded ina sum- | mary manner to unbend her salis. but was led to de- sist by representations from leading citizens of the rer and Goally ook his men oif, muttering curses joud and deep upon American fishermen, and de- claring that hé would “make soine of them sweat.” Neither of these vessels was accused of violating avy law or regulation of the Dominion. 4 COUPLE OF VESSELS DRIVEN #ROM HALIFAX DURING A GALE, The feeling, it would seem, is so bitter against these unoffending fishermen that the Dominion ofl- cials would wiifuily hurry them all to watery graves, Only a few weeks since vie schooners Kuth Groves and Mary E. Daniels, of this town, while comin; home from the Bay of St. Lawrence, encountere heavy weather and were oblized to make a port of wafety. They succeeded in getting into the Haliiax harbor; but at daylight the followimg morn: ing both vessels were boarded by an officer of the port, who inquired what their business was there. When informed that they had put in on account of stress of weatiner he replied that they had no business there, and ordered them to proceed to sea, with which order they were obliged to comply to avoid seizure, to the Bae jeopardy of lie aud property, Desiring to ud shelter from the rouga weather, the master of the Ruth Groves bea chet Sage with the coast, one of the crew of the olher vessel was sent on board of her, and finally both craft succeeded in getting into a small hardor, dificult of ingress and egress, called Catch Harbor, distant about twelve miles from Halifax, and where, with considerable exertion, they rode out the gale tn safety, A GLOUCESTER FLEET DRIVEN FROM PRINCE ED- WARD ISLAND BY AN ARMED CREW OF NAVAL Ma- 3. “They are a damned set of reprobates and ought to be exterminated,” was the aoswer I got fram a fisnerman down on the wharf when I asked btm what he thought of the interference with his busi- ness by the Dommunion officials. “Yer are a corres- Pondent of the New YoRK HERALD, are yerr’ ho continued, taking a fresh chew of pigtail. “Wal, now, er Jest come ‘long with me ani l'li put ver onto a feller who'll tell yer all ‘bout the G.d d—d whelps."” me to an Intelligent young tar, who said he was one of the crew of the Charles , ‘Thompsea, and in answer to Inquiries he proceeded to give me an account of an adventure that vessel had at Prince Edward Island last September. brief, was as tollows:— “Lhe schooner entered the harbor of Charlotte- town, and the Engiish sloop-ol-war Vatoroug, in command of Captain Hardinge, was in port at the same time, The oilicers of the Valorous Doarded tne schooner AS s0on as her anchor was aown and inguired what business she had in there. Edward Cash, the master, replied that he wanted wood, water and provisions, take them and to clear out within tweuty-four hours, but that he could not taxe any bait. The officers then placed an armed barge alongside the schooner and Kept her there all night. One of the crew, who had been ashore, came on board in the schooner’s boat and was hailed. Afterwards the eae crew boarded the schooner and tried to fake the ban out of “og Berea - Ing the vessel wi ordered to ed ti sea, and went below the harbor, but it ahd so heavily that the master did not think it proper to 0 out, An armed boat was then sent down to drive the schooner out, calling her crew smugglers and threatening them with prosecution. Before leaving, however, the captain made a protest to the Ameri- can Consul azainst such treatment, but that ollicer did notuing about 1t.”? “Now, yer come with me to another feller I know and he'll tell yer about what a time they had with the schooner Lant down in that same damned Ciar- lottetown.” enthusiastic and indigaant friend, I went with mr es Met s00n I heard the following story about the “We put into Charlottetown in Angust and cast I thankea him and foilowed, Be took | dig was told that he could | The next morn- | anchor. An ‘officer of the Valorous boarded tne Schooner and asked what we came in tnere for. The captain replied that he came in to get water, also to take some bait that was shipped down to him from Boston by steamer. The officer replied, ‘You are not allowed to purchase any provisions here, and you shan’t have your bait. I order you to leave this port in twenty-four hours.’ Two of the schooner’s crew were on shore and could not be found readily, and the Valorous sent an armed boat’s crew to drive the vessel to sea, and she was ob! Teave tho two men on shore. Captain Allen made application to the American Consul to ald him in getting hts bait, but he replied that he would do nothing for him. Mr. J. C, Hall, an American merchant at Charlotte- town, took care of the men leit behind when the vessel put out to sea, and forwardea them by steam to Point Kildare, North Point, in four days irom the time they were left, and they rejoined taeir vessel.” é My friend, who had accompanied me, here broke Di “You must remember, mister, that none of these fellers tried to catch or buy a damned bit of bait. What they wanted was to take on board some that had been sent down trom Boston, with freight all paid and no duties. There ain’t no duty on hait down at Charlottetown, anyhow, and so they couldn’t defraud theirrevenue. It was a great dam- aye to the Laut’s Sai 4s well as the Thompson's, and 1 wish they could be licked for it.” AN AMERICAN FLEET HUSTLED OUT OF PORT MUL- GRAVE, STRAIT OF CANSO, A captain of ‘another fishing vessel told me a har- ae. story of an outrage inflicted upon a fleet at Port te ah in the Strait of Canso, in July. The vessels, he sald, had scarcely time to procure Wood and water betore Commander Scott, of the Dominion Navy, was after them, and soue of the ves- sels were not allowed even time to get their supplies on board before they were driven to sea by the armed cutter. The crew of the cutter kept sharp lookout to prevent any of the fishermen from pur- season. As I have already intimated, there is indignation and excitement prevalent everywhere in the vicinity, and it 1s no wonder. If one-half the re- ported outrages of the Canadian authorities upon American fishermen be true, It is ashame and dis- grace to our government that they have passed 50 long unnoticed. Ihave conversed with those best qualified to know about these proceedings and with men of high character, and their reports of the con- duct of the Dominion authorities are ali unanimous to the point that unheard-of outrages have been committed. Most ot the statements which I have gathered have been furnishea under oath, and they may be relied upon as implicitly true. THE SEIZURE OF THE WHITE FAWN—STATEMENT OF CAPTAIN FRIBND, THE OWNER. The seizure upon the schooner White Fawn was probably one of the most unwarranted committed upon the Gloucester fishermen by the Dominion officers. The announcement of her seizure has already been published, but as the circumstances and details have not yet been given, 1 concluded to obtain them from Mr. Friend, her owner. The Fawn is a first class vessel of 64.49 tons burden aud was built at Essex enly a few months since for Mr. Friend & Co. The alleged offence was @ violation of the Treaty of 1818 and t hc British fsn- ing laws founded twereon. ‘the vessel sailed Jrom chasing anything in the ee in the neighborhood, Heretofore, he sald, these shops had suppiled the ee rn ene coon and the like. “Don't the storekeepers object to such proceed. ings" Lasked, a “s “Yes, of course they do, aad so do the people generall, , lor they depend largely upon the trade of Almerican fishermen while in port. Some of these vesseig had men on board belonging in Port Mul- grave, and these men very naturally wished to pur- chase some provisions for their families to use dur- lng their absence; but the vessels were cleared out Without giving them any time to settle their bills or arrange for the comferts of their homes while absent, 1 tell you what it 1s, such things were deuced hard. Darn it, they wouldn't let us buy an inch of rigging or anything else we needed.” «What do you think ought to be done?’ I asked, “What ought to be done? If I could have my way 1 would start @ nitro-giycerine factory in every damned city and town in tae Dominion, and blow it to kingdom come at once. I wish Uncle Sam would consider our rignts, Ifhe knew how things were golng on Vl bet he would send force enough down here to keep the Dorninion navy in its proper place, If this 1s done We shall have an opportunity to got square With some of the bloaters,’’ A VESSEL SEIZED AND AFTERWARDS RECAPTURED BY A PLUCKY GLOUCESTER CREW AND THEN GOB- ED UP AGAIN BY THE DOMINION NAVY. The HERALD’S telegrams have already rurnished the fact that the schooner Clara F, Friend, of this town, was seized by a Dominion cutter; she was recaptured by her own crew, but again overha' va the same cutter which took her originally. » Friend, who bas just arrived in Gloucester from Charlettetown, where the vessel now ts, furnishes an interesting account ot the whole aifair, The vessel was seized for the chronio offence of violating the tshery laws and was placed & was a pity for any poor man to lose his property; can't sWear to seeing any firearms; saw with one o} the men what he (Tomas) thougut was @ pistol or revolver; he held the slack of the throat-halyard when they were fishing the anchor; they wanted the vessel and did not do us any baru. UH CREW INDICTED FOR RESCUING THEIR OWN VESSEL. The trial lasted for two days and resulted in Mr. Friend and the crew being held on the charge of rescue, Mr. Friend’s bail was patat £600 aad that of the others at £100 eqch, and ali obtained sureties among the citizens of Charlottetown, who were geverally in sympathy wih them, The Queen's | Counsel also endeavored to have them severally 1n- dicied for assauls upon the guards, for larceny and for creating a riot; but the Court refused to enter- tain the charges, The vessel wilt soon be sold by Be government, and Mr. Friend will probably bid. her in, ANOTHER OUTRAGE AT PORT MULGRAVE. y “Hello there, cap’n,” Was the salutation I heard towards evening, while walking briskiy up Front street, in the direction of the hotel, Belore turaing Ikuew it was the jolly old tellow I had been in-+ debted to during the aiternoon. “An, how do you do again?” I observed. > “Now, here, Mr. HERALD man, Ll) want yer to ga ‘long with me agin aud see Ned Gorman; he’ll tell yer all bout that schooner A. |. Franklin that was seized by those damned fools down at Canso Strait votner day.”? 1 went aor ae in due time was in the pres- ence of @ genuine salt, who, I was informed, was Ned Gorman, “My friend, Mr. Whatdoyoucalihim, informs me,’ Mr. Gorman, that you know sometilag about the seizure of the schooner Franklin down at Port Mul- graye the other day.’ “Yes; I know all abont it, forI was one of the crew. Ihave already told the parucuiara to Cole lector Babson, and he’s going to send them along H Ben Butler, I tell you old Ben 1s a brick, la Just like to go down there privateering with hia. “Yes; old Ben 1s @ brick,” I said approvingly. “Now, how was it about this affair ai the Franklin ¥'? “Well, I will tell you just the sae as I told Mrv Babson, The schooner was on her passage from png Bay oF ‘St. Lawrence to Gloucester. Ee a4 finish ox our fishing voyage we went ino Pore Muigrav anchored fn the harbor aod then went asbor@ for some wood, We did not fish or attempt to fish inthe harbor, or within three miles of ihe shore. The next morning Captain Torrey, of the Dominion cutter Ida E, boarded our vessel. He had, however, been on board previously and examined her to find evidence for violation of the fishery la) but he found nothing to warrant ber detention, This sec ond time when he came he said ne had been in; formed that I bad been fisming tnstde the limits th@ morning he boarded her beiore. The captain dex nied this, and asked Captain Torrey why he did not take the vessel when he boarded her the other morn« ing. He said that he had no proof then, but he gol some since. He went on shore then and con. sulted with Mr. Wildes, a merchant of the place. He seened to be quite undecided what to do. He was not himself personally »ware ei any violation or law, but acted on hei evidence.” “What did he do finality ?” “Oh, be took the vessel and sent her to Halifax, where she is now bonded for $2,800."” “What became of the crew ?” “The crew were put ashore at Port Mulgrave des- titute, ‘the American Consul said he could not help us because we were fshermen,.” ANOTHER BPLURGE BY CAPTAIN TORREY AT PORT i (00D. Captain Nicholas Murphy, of the schooner Hia- wath, also of Gloucester, furnishes an interesting ace count of a narrow escape he Lad trom seizure by tats same energetic Captain Torrey, put the aifair took place at Port Hood instead of Port BMulgrave. Septum Murphy said that the Grenada had becn seized uw same day he went into port. Aster he had anchore: Captain Torrey came on vourd ana asked to see the apers, Which I saowed him, 1 asked him if I couid ay provisions on shore, and he sad “No; and if I caten you buying any you ure Mable to seizure,” He also told me if I was allowed to buy provisioi to last me home and actempted to fish elther insids or outside the limits 1 would violate tue law and bi His narrative, in | would seize my vessel. He alluced to the seizure of the Fr nklin, and said that he had seized that ves+ sel on evidence eye by a@Nova Scotia fisherman, who complained of her for having meddled wit! him when he was catching mackerel. He also sai: that | was violating the law by veing in the harbot as long as I had wood and water on board. I went in there for shelter and claimed that right, but Captain Torrey denied it and gaid { had no busine: theve if Lhad wood and water on board; that the treaty made no mention of any rizht to stay twenty+ four hours tn port for shelier, adding that I wae violating the law by being there any Way, ‘go HWhat did you doy” hee HA Made "Welk iS 800n as possible and wen! tosea. if 1 had remained, according to his tnter- pretation of the law, be would have seized my ves AN fntiinvitw with tire couuncror or THE ror® OF GLOUCESTER, Among others whom I called upon in the pursuit of intormation was Mr. Babson, the Collector of the port. Aside from the outraged fshermea them+ selves there is provably no other man in town wha manifests so lively au inierest in protecting their ine terests. he has examined personaily into all the outrages committed upon the Gloucester fishermen, nd much of the information which he has gathered 1g already in the hands of General Butier, who, it i¢ Understood Will immediately bring the ‘matter u upon the reassembling of Congress after the holi- days. Mr. Bavson wus very glad, he said, ol tha opportunity to lay before the country, tarough the HERALD, some OF the facts connected with the out~ rages which the Canadian government had puree: trated upon our unoffending and industrious - can fishermen. “1 think, Mr. Babson,” I observed, in the way o} @pproval of is views, ‘‘that when the unparalle| wrongs are made known that the people of this country, from one end to the other, will is. Upon our government taking immediaie action in the pre~ mises, and it is for the purpose of informing tn American people of the unpardonable conduct of thelr Dominion neighbors that I have visited Glou. cester in search of information.” “And I am heartily glad that the HeraLp takes such an interest in the matter,” he again assured me; ‘for the spoliation of our fishermen and. the des-ruction of their business 1s, as you say, @ sub- Ject that will ever awaken a just resentment in the minds of our people. The Canadian interpretation of the Treaty of 1818 is simply an excuse ior piracy, and their acts will be dented, repudiated and avenged. Under the pressure ofthe war debt the United States nas been obliged to tax its industri heavily, aad we cannot afford to give to Canada et free markets to compete with our taxed iabor, and because we do not do this we have war made upon our fishermen.” “1 suppose, then, I am to understand that yon ‘at- tribute this annoyance on the part of the Dominion government to a desire to bring about a reciprocity. treaty similar to the one formerly beeen ted “Yes; that is it exactly. The concessions made by the ‘S'reaty of 1818 were those applying to the fish- ing business as prosecuted at that ime. Not until 1826 dit American vessels go into the Bay of St. Law- rence for mackerel. The cod fishery had been gar- ried on by small vessels on our own coasts or larger vessels on the Bunks. Since 1826 the mack business has increased, until trom 600 to 800 vessela now go annually into the Bay of St. Lawrence durg ing the summer mouths. Mackerel, being a migra- tory fish, must be followed to be caught.” ! iienmae are they found in largest quantities?” £ quired, “Around Prince Edward Island, alot of Nova Scotia and the Magdalen islands, they swarm in the bays in numbers beyond computations. The anpual catch does not seem to diminish their number, and the supply may be said to be ab- solutely inexhaustible, At ‘the time of making the Treaty of 1818 this partot the fishiug business was not considered, as mackerelling was not then prose- cuted as a business, Codfisiing was the only busi- ness recognized as a fishing business, and upen which the United States paid a bounty to fisher- men. Vessels engaged in muckerel fishing were not Tecognized under tie interpretation of laws existing ‘at that time, and therefore the commissioners nevel had mackerel fishery in view when they gave up thé Tight to fish within three miles of tae shere. Marine: papers, styled ‘Mackerel Papers,’ were issued by the United States in contradistinction to dshing’ RS up to the time of the repoal of the fishing unty in July, 1866," between the Dortntodt the shores “When did these troubles authorities and the fisnermen commence “These later toubles commenced during the pre- Sent year, or, at least, they began to be more ag- avata but previous to the Heclpreaiey Treaty of i865 American fishermen, im the Bay of St. Law- rence, were driven from wilhin the three mile limita- ion by British cruisers, In some cases ro were made for catching mackerel inside of the threa mule line from the Canadian shore, bat the cruiser invariably warned the trespassing vessels of the: tei and it was not until having been legally , and afterwards found fshi within the limits, that they were troubled. Upen the termina- tion ef the Reciprocity by linitation, and the ier Yat r nucntn ts Re ene 01 eir attention to ihe rene’ Spotnrociy with . vite ‘0 impress our government with the neces! opening our markets to their products treo of da the United States, Failing, howevs “ot