58 The Fishery Question. 



denly changed to an attitude of unfriendliness 

 amounting to insult, a disposition to avail 

 themselves of the difficulties of the United 

 States amounting to menace, and the permis- 

 sion of operations by the Confederacy almost 

 amounting to war.^^ Canada was the rendez- 

 vous of British armies and navies. There 

 was talk of making it a strong military power 

 and of annexinor Maine. 



It was the refuge of the most venomous of 

 the enemies of the United States. When 

 the hands of the Federal Government were 

 free, reciprocity with Canada ceased on 

 notice, and Napoleon was requested to aban- 

 don Mexico. Little attention was paid to 

 the complaints of the provinces, that their 

 wishes had not been consulted in the abroga- 

 tion of the treaty and that the Americans 

 continued to fish as before in spite of the 

 proclamation of the President. American 

 fishermen were allowed within the three-mile 

 limit for a time, on the payment of a license 

 fee of fifty cents a ton. This was afterwards 

 raised to two dollars. The fourth year only 

 twenty-five small vessels cared to purchase 

 the privilege, the larger ones being willing 

 to take their chances outside. ^^ All foreign 



