278 THE GROWTH OF CANADA 



the articles. Accordingly, they ceased to be 

 operative on July i, 1885, and the way was 

 open for renewal of the ancient friction. A 

 provisional arrangement by which the Amer 

 icans were not to be molested in their custom 

 ary pursuits for the season of 1885 secured 

 peace for that year; but with the next fishing- 

 season troubles promptly developed that se 

 verely strained the resources of diplomacy. 

 The authorities of the Dominion, in whose 

 jurisdiction the police of the shores and the 

 enforcement of the customs laws now lay, pro 

 ceeded to a merciless enforcement of the rules 

 that operated to hamper the enterprise of the 

 American fishermen. Under these rules fishing- 

 vessels were forbidden to enter Canadian ter 

 ritorial waters except for shelter, repairs, wood 

 or water. Many a captain took the chances of 

 trouble by seeking under cover of these excep 

 tions to renew the supply of bait on which the 

 success of his deep-sea fishing depended. The 

 zeal of the Canadian guard-boats was as active 

 as that of the American fishermen, and frequent 

 seizures were made of the alleged offenders. 

 Complaints and recriminations in the press and 

 in the legislatures of the two countries assumed 

 great scope and bitterness. It was charged in 



