The Fishery Question. 75 



menace only that portion of American and 

 Canadian trade that is carried on in Canadian 

 vessels. The House having shown a disposi- 

 tion to insist upon its own bill, there was a 

 possibility for a while that all action would 

 be suspended. What is virtually the Senate 

 bill was ultimately enacted. Compared with 

 the measure of the previous year, it increases 

 the absolutism of the President over the oc- 

 cupations and fortunes of persons engaged in 

 trade between the United States and Canada- 

 It assumes interpretation of treaty rights and 

 the efficacy of *' touch-and-trade " permits in 

 giving a commercial character to a fishing 

 vessel ; claims for all such vessels the same 

 treatment that is accorded to ''the most 

 favored nation," and makes it the duty of the 

 President — at his discretion, and when he 

 shall be satisfied of the infraction of any of 

 the rights in question — to deny to the vessels 

 of the British Dominions of North America, 

 in whole or in part, any entrance into the 

 waters or ports of the United States, except 

 in cases of distress, and to prohibit the entry 

 of fresh and salt fish or any other product of 

 the said Dominions, or coming from them, 

 into the territory of the United States.'"^ 



