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Tation of them by these means makes them dutiable as not answering 

 the demands of the tariff clause making fish fresh for immediate con- 

 sumption free. These decisions apply to the Atlantic fisheries the 

 moment the tariff goes into effect. And if salting and smoking make 

 the distinction sufficient to impose duties, then preserving in ice also 

 determines the character of the fish, and every iced trip of English 

 fish must paj- duties. 



In this connection I desire to speak of a matter which must inevi- 

 tably come up for decision, and which will affect immediately and di- 

 rectly the herring fishery, and may upon the same principle affect the 

 mackerel fishery. There has been at the different ports of the United 

 States, and also of the department, quite a variation of opinions as 

 to what constitutes the product of the American fisheries. The im- 

 portance of an intelligent decision of this question becomes apparent 

 when we realize that it is the distinction by which the tariff desig- 

 nates free fish, viz : all fish that are the product of the American fish- 

 eries. Now we all know that our winter herring fishery as pursued 

 by our fishing vessels, is a fishery that they are obliged to pursue ac- 

 cording to the methods peculiar to that fishery. That is, to avail 

 themselves of the services of the shoresmen with their boats and 

 nets ; otherwise thej- could not pursue the business. True, we have 

 a treaty that gives us free and unrestricted right to seine our herring 

 in Fortune Bay. And there are men sitting in this audience who 

 have been there and can tell you just what that right is worth. True 

 we have also the right to take squid for bait or for any other purpose 

 with seines or any other methods. They can also tell you what that 

 is worth. We have also the right to set our nets in the waters of 

 New Brunswick. Our friends from Portland can tell you how much 

 of the Quivet's $1200 worth of nets they have left from their trip. 

 Our trap owners can show receipts for money paid for licenses where 

 the treaty guaranteed them free fishing. It has been demonstrated, 

 as I have said over and over again, that this class of bait fisheries 

 cannot be controlled by Legislation, Treaties, Resolutions, Boards of 

 Trade or Chambers of Commerce. They must be used, if used at 

 all, in accordance with natural rights and natural laws. This class 

 of fisheries is the principal support of a large portion of the shore 

 population where these fish are taken. They cannot, they ought 

 not, they will not allow participation in these fisheries. Any talk 



