12 



made between our Government and Great Britain, there was a uni- 

 versal feeling among us all that our interests had been sacrificed. 

 That feeling has constant!} - increased, as we have seen from year to 

 year the Provincial fishing fleet increasing in numbers, until to-day 

 we feel if the fishing interest of this country is an industry worth 

 maintaining, our Government must place us in a position to success- 

 fully compete with our northern neighbors, whose interests are so 

 carefully cared for by their Government. 



While I do not feel myself that we are likely to see the present 

 treaty renewed during the coining season, I am sure we cannot be too 

 prompt in impressing upon the authorities at Washington the disad- 

 vantages under which we have labored, and the necessity that in an}' 

 future action of theirs they shall listen to those who are conversant 

 with the matter, and whose interests are to be so vitally affected. 



The size of this meeting, the hearty response we have received to 

 ©ur call from all the fishing centers, the large delegation we have 

 with us to-day, and our unity of purpose, all lead me to hope that 

 there will be a force to our appeal this time that will not be without 

 effect. 



But I trust, gentlemen, we shall not exhaust our energies in the 

 enthusiasm of this first effort. Eternal vigilance will be the price of 

 our success. We can well judge from the past with what persistence 

 and skill the case of the Dominion Government will be urged, and I 

 trust before the convention has adjourned we shall have perfected a 

 permanent organization, whose members can be called together at 

 any time, that we may be always ready to enter a strong protest 

 against any attempt at such injurious legislation for the future as we 

 have suffered from in the past. 



ORGANIZATION. 



On motion of David S. Presson, Esq., of Gloucester, a committee 

 of five was appointed to report a list of permanent officers for the 

 Convention, namely, Messrs., D. S. Presson of Gloucester; T. G. 

 Libby of Vinalhaven ; George Trefethen of Portland ; Freeman 

 Emery of Boston ; and George Eldridge of Chatham. 



The committee reported as follows, and their report was unani- 

 mously adopted : 



President — Benjamin H. Corliss of Gloucester. 



