340 NEW ENGLAND FISHERIES 



In his treatment of the fisheries under the Federal Gov- 

 ernment, Mr. Sabine pays particular attention to the diplo- 

 matic questions that arose out of the different constructions 

 of the treaties of 1783 and 1818. This part of the work 

 gives no good comprehensive treatment of the fisheries 

 as an industry. The last third of the work is an historical 

 view of the controversy as to the intent and meaning of 

 the fisheries article of the convention of 1818, which re- 

 mained the best contribution to the Fishery Question litera- 

 ture for about a generation. The historical treatment 

 of the fisheries subsequent to the Revolution is disappoint- 

 ing, especially in view of the fact that the writer must 

 have had material at hand for a more complete treat- 

 ment. The whale fishery is practically ignored ; probably, 

 because that fishery bore no part in the forthcoming ne- 

 gotiations of reciprocity. On the other hand, the cod, 

 mackerel, and herring, that would receive particular atten- 

 tion in the negotiations, receive separate, though imperfect, 

 treatment at his hands. Sabine 's Report is not complete 

 regarding fisheries other than those of New England. 



Viewed as a whole, Mr. Sabine 's work may be regarded 

 as a highly interesting and valuable report. It is to be 

 regretted that footnote references to his sources of in- 

 formation are not more numerous; it would have saved 

 future writers much labor in collecting material had he 

 made such references, or even supplied a bibliography. 

 There is no index, but the arrangement of the work was 

 so logical that the seriousness of this defect is not so ap- 

 parent. As the historian of the fisheries of the United 

 States, Mr. Sabine possessed the means and ability to 

 write a work that would have been a classic for all time. 

 As a result of governmental pressure the contemplated 

 history was hurriedly and incompletely finished. For the 

 occasion, it was excellent; but the country is the loser 

 because circumstances did not permit the completion of 



