CHAPTER XIX 



THE FISHERIES QUESTION 



By the Fisheries Question is meant the international 

 complications that have arisen between the governments 

 of the United States and Great Britain over the interpre- 

 tations placed upon the intent and meaning of the several 

 treaties that have been made regulating the fishing inter- 

 ests of the two countries. The fisheries question has come 

 up before the American people several times for settlement, 

 on each occasion presenting new issues and meeting with 

 unexpected difficulties in the way of permanent settlement. 

 The question has to deal, largely, with issues that have 

 arisen from the New England fishing interests. In the 

 earlier stages of its history the contentions had to do with 

 the enjoyment of fishing privileges in waters adjacent 

 to British coasts in America ; at the present time, the ques- 

 tion has to deal mostly with the securing of Newfound- 

 land herring for bait in the American fisheries. 



The first grant of fishing privileges was secured in 1783 

 when the treaty of peace was concluded between the United 

 States and Great Britain. The contentions of the Ameri- 

 can commissioners at the time for fishing rights and 

 privileges were so strong that, for a time, there was grave 

 danger that a treaty of peace could not be effected. The 

 conditions of the Treaty of 1783 held until the opening of 

 the war of 1812. "When arrangements were made at the 

 close of hostilities for a new treaty of peace, it was found 

 that Great Britain maintained the proposition that the 

 United States, by going to war with Great Britain, had 



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