34 



this excitement is made by people who are interested parties. I 

 really hope, Mr. President, that this may be the case, and from this 

 hope will gather all the strength and courage and energ}^ possible. 

 But, sir, we have been so treated, so neglected, in the past, that we 

 almost tremble for the future, having knowledge of the views which 

 are entertained and the meetings which are being and have been held 

 in the British provinces, knowing the sentiments of the people of that 

 section and their great anxiety and desire for a treaty of reciprocity. 

 I feel, sir, that we should be recreant to our duty, and unjust to our- 

 selves, if at this time we rested contented and satisfied, hugging the 

 phantom of hope to our bosoms. We know not what direction their 

 petitions and efforts may take. Therefore it becomes us, as inter- 

 ested parties, it becomes us to keep up the enthusiasm and interest 

 as far as possible, to keep before the American people the great in- 

 justice of the fisheries treaty, and enter our protest and remonstrance 

 against a renewal of its provisions, which would be a death blow to 

 the fishing industry of New England. 



It becomes us to review the histoiy of the past, to consider the 

 present, and prepare for the future. And, Mr. President, reviewing 

 the history of the fishing business for the last twelve years, it is any- 

 thing but flattering or encouraging. It seems to me that year after 

 year it has lost ground. I can remember when nearly every town on 

 the coast of Maine, from Kittery Point to Quoddy Head, was en- 

 gaged in the fishing business to a greater or less extent. They have 

 gradually dropped out of the business, one after another, until in 

 most of the towns there is hardly a sign of the fishing business left. 

 Coming to Massachusetts, cannot }'ou remember when nearly every 

 town on the northern and southern sides of Cape Cod were fishing 

 towns? What is the fact to-day? Go look at Cohasset, Hingham, 

 Salem, Beverly, Marblehead, Newburyport, all once large and flour- 

 ishing towns engaged in this industr}^, and in all of them the fishing 

 business is mostly a thing of the past. I well remember when in my 

 own native town of old Plymouth one could count fifty or seventy sail 

 of fishing vessels sent out upon their mission upon old ocean to return 

 in the fall or summer laden with the products of the deep, giving em- 

 ployment to twelve or fifteen hundred people. Now two or three sail 

 ma^' be emploj'ed, employing twenty to twent}'-five people. What 

 are the signs of activity upon the wharves and streets? Stand on 



