The Fishery Qtiestzoji. 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 

 riorhts to American fishermen in Canadian 



o 



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 



