The Fisheiy Qiccstion. 71 



and the " British North American Act," but 

 also legislation, having its inception in the 

 Dominion Parliament, of ever - increasing 

 stringency, culminating, during the past year, 

 in an act evidently proposed to cover recent 

 seizures and waiting Royal assent until No- 

 vember last. The effect of all this activity, 

 taken in connection with the latest circulars 

 issued to the Dominion custom-houses, has 

 been a most technical interpretation of the 

 Convention, the denial of any commercial 

 rights to American fishermen in Canadian 

 ports and the assumption by the Dominion 

 Government of competency to decide on the 

 validity of permits to " touch and trade," 

 issued by an official properly qualified under 

 the laws of the United States. This attitude 

 is explained by a statement of the practice 

 of the Dominion Parliament to make enact- 

 ments for the protection of the Fishery, sub- 

 ject to the approval of the home govern- 

 ment, an assertion of the authority of Cana- 

 dian officials, whether their instructions 

 emanate from the Queen, or from her repre- 

 sentative, the Governor General, and a refer- 

 ence to the jurisdiction of the vice-admiralty 

 courts, with an appeal to the Imperial Privy 



