BRITISH, COLONIAL AND OTHER CORRESPONDENCE, ETC. 539 



embarrassment as regards the disposition of fish offals, by curing 

 on shore the fish which otherwise would have been dressed on board 

 their vessels, and the refuse thrown overboard. 



All the advantages above detailed have been secured for a period 

 of twelve years to United States fishermen. Without them, fishing 

 operations on many parts of the coast would be not only unremunera- 

 tive but impossible; and they may therefore be fairly claimed as an 

 important item in the valuation 01 the liberties granted to the United 

 States under Article XVIII of the Treaty of Washington. 



3. Transshipping cargoes and obtaining supplies, &c. 



Freedom to transfer cargoes, to outfit vessels, buy supplies, obtain 

 ice, engage sailors, procure bait, and traffic generally in British ports 

 and harbors, or to transact other business ashore, not necessarily con- 

 nected with fishing pursuits, are secondary privileges which materi- 

 ally enhance the principal concessions to United States citizens. 

 These advantages are indispensable to the success of foreign fishing 

 on Canadian coasts. Without such facilities, fishing operations, both 

 inside and outside of the inshores, cannot be conducted on an exten- 

 sive and remunerative scale. Under the Reciprocity Treaty, these 

 conveniences proved very important, more particularly as respects 

 obtaining bait and transferring cargoes. The American fishermen 

 then came inshore everywhere along the coast, and caught bait for 

 themselves, instead of requiring, as previously, to buy, and preserve 

 it in ice, saving thereby much time and expense. They also trans- 

 shipped their fish and returned with their vessels to the fishing- 

 ground; thus securing two or three fares in one season. Both of 

 these, therefore^ are distinct benefits. There are other indirect ad- 

 vantages attending these privileges, such as carrying on fishing opera- 

 tions nearer the coasts, and thereby avoiding risks to life and prop- 

 erty, as well while fishing as in voyaging homeward and back; also 

 having always at command a convenient and commodious base of 

 operations. They procure cheap and regular supplies without loss 

 of time, enabling them always to send off their cargoes of fish 

 promptly by rail and steamers to meet the current market demand 

 for domestic consumption or foreign export, instead of being com- 

 pelled to " beat up " to Gloucester or Boston with each cargo, seldom 

 returning for a second ; and it may be remarked that all their freight- 

 business in fish from provincial ports is carried on in American bot- 

 toms, thus creating a profitable business for United States citizens. 



The advantages above described of being able to make second and 

 third full fares, undoubtedly, in most instances, double the catch 

 which can be made in British Canadian waters by a vessel during one 

 season, and it therefore may be reasonably estimated that it enables 

 United States fishermen to double their profits. 



4. Formation of -fishing establishments. 



The privilege of establishing permanent fishing stations on the 

 shores of Canadian bays, creeks, and harbors, akin to that of landing 

 to dry and cure fish, is of material advantage to United States 

 citizens. Before the Treaty the common practice with American 

 vessels was to take away their cargoes of codfish in a green state and 



