542 MISCELLANEOUS 



4. Participation in the improvements resulting from the fisheries 

 service maintained by the Government of the Dominion. 



The above privileges may be considered as susceptible of an ap- 

 proximate money valuation, which it is respectfully submitted should 

 be assessed as well with reference to the quantity and value of fish 

 taken, and the fishing-vessels and fishermen employed, as to other 

 collateral advantages enjoyed by United States citizens. 



It has been stated in the preceding portions of this chapter that 

 an average number of at least 1,000 United States vessels annually 

 frequent British Canadian waters. The gross catch of each vessel 

 per trip has been estimated at $5,600, a considerable portion of which 

 is net profit, resulting from the privileges conferred by the treaty. 



These privileges profitably employ men and materials representing 

 in industrial capital several millions of dollars; the industries to the 

 advancement of which they conduce support domestic trade and 

 foreign commerce of great extent and increasing value; they also 

 serve to make a necessary and healthful article of food plentiful and 

 cheap for the American nation. It is not merely the value of " raw 

 material " in fish taken out of British Canadian waters which consti- 

 tutes a fair basis of compensation; the right of this fishery was an 

 exclusive privilege, the sole use of which was highly prized, and 

 for the common enjoyment of which we demand equivalents to be 

 measured by our just estimation of its worth; we enhance the main 

 concession on this point by according kindred liberties and indis- 

 pensable facilities, all of which are direct advantages ; and, in order 

 to illustrate the assessable value of the grant, we adduce certain 

 data relating to the number of United States fishing-vessels more 

 immediately interested, and the gross quantity and value of their 

 catch in British Canadian waters. 



In addition to the advantages above recited, the attention of the 

 Commissioners is respectfully drawn to the great importance attach- 

 ing to the beneficial consequences to the United States of honorably 

 acquiring for their fishermen full freedom to pursue their adventur- 

 ous calling without incurring constant risks, and exposing themselves 

 and their fellow-countrymen to the inevitable reproach of willfully 

 trespassing on the rightful domain of friendly neighbors. Para- 

 mount, however, to this consideration is the avoidance of irritating 

 disputes, calculated to disquiet the public mind of a spirited and 

 enterprising people, and liable always to become a cause of mutual 

 anxiety and embarrassment. 



It was repeatedly stated by the American members of the Joint 

 High Commission at Washington, in discussing proposals regarding 

 the Canadian fisheries, " that the United States desired to secure 

 their enjoyment, not for their commercial or intrinsic value, but for 

 the purpose of removing a source of irritation." This commendable 

 desire evidently was reciprocated by the British Commissioners in 

 assenting to the proposition that the matter of disagreement as re- 

 gards a money equivalent " should be referred to an impartial Com- 

 mission." It should not be lost sight of that an offer for the recipro- 

 cal free admission of coal, salt, fish, and lumber had previously been 

 made by the United States Commissioners, " entirely in the interest 

 of a peaceful settlement," but was declined by the Britisn Commis- 

 sioners as inadequate. It is now shown that the contention of the 

 British Commissioners regarding the " great value " of these fisheries 



