ARGUMENT OF SAMUEL J. ELDER. 1467 



MR. ELDER: No; not always into the non-treaty coast, but usually 

 on the non-treaty coast. If I may call attention to the map, the Tri- 

 bunal will see the reason for that. The banks are nearer the non- 

 treaty coasts than they are to the treaty coasts; and ordinarily they 

 purchase their bait there. The Magdalen Islands, however, which 

 form part of the treaty coast, are a very common place for them to go 

 for bait, I am not so sure, now, but that I am traveling outside of 

 the record ; but I am stating things which I think are entirely famil- 

 iar. Bait was obtained there in very considerable quantities. 

 886 Now that this matter has been adverted to, I want to call 

 the attention of the Tribunal to the exact situation with ref- 

 erence to this question, and to the importance of the treaty coasts. 

 It will be observed that the west coast and a part of the southern 

 coast of Newfoundland are reserved to the United States, where they 

 may take fish of every kind. We were told and I* shall have oc- 

 casion to advert to the fact again we are told that the American 

 right was a most inconsiderable matter; that it had come down to 

 the question of the herring in the last feto years. The strategv of 

 the situation is this: The American rights on the Grand Banks and 

 on Labrador are ones which can be exercised so long as commercial 

 privileges are extended, by going into the non-treaty coasts for bait. 

 But forced back on to our mere treaty rights the west shore of New- 

 foundland and the absolute right to take our own bait there be- 

 comes of the utmost importance. It is simply vital to the entire fish- 

 ing question. 



Sir Robert Bond was right when ]ie said that they hold the key 

 to the situation of the entire cod fishery. This is no question of the 

 matter of a few herring, if Sir Charles will allow me to revert to 

 his suggestion, but it is a question of the final possibility of Ameri- 

 cans conveniently and profitably carrying on the fishery on the banks. 

 It is not a question of herring merely, but it is a question of the 

 preservation of the rights of the United States on that west coast, on 

 that southern coast, and on the coast of the Magdalen Islands, where 

 there has been no trouble at all, to take bait for themselves, when 

 forced back upon strict treaty rights. 



THE PRESIDENT: That is important on the sixth question, is it not? 



MR. ELDER : It is very important upon the sixth question ; and like- 

 wise on the seventh, Mr. President. 



SIR CHARLES FITZPATRICK : Just as a matter of information, what 

 bait do you get on the Magdalen Islands ? 



MR. ELDER : Caplin, I think, and squid. 



SIR CHARLES FITZPATRICK: And when have the Americans gone 

 there for bait ? 



MR. ELDER: For the second baiting. 



SIR CHARLES FITZPATRICK : Is that in the record ? 



