1736 AWARD OF THE FISHERY COMMISSION. 



cult task to determine where he can fish with safety. And what can be 

 more tempting, I should say tantalizing, than to follow a school of 

 mackerel which promises a full fare in one day and a speedy return 

 home, with the mirage of a family to embrace and of profits to pocket? 

 Should men be exposed to such temptations when commercial inter- 

 course and money as an ultima rath present so many modes of remov- 

 ing restrictions? "is there any one of these varied modes of settlement 

 which is worth the life of a man ? 



Great Britain and the United States owed it to their noble common 

 ancestry and to their close relationship not to listen to the evil advice 

 of passion, and to show to the world a new battle-field, where cool judg- 

 ment and good -will are the most successful arms. 



With the termination of the Reciprocity Treaty reappeared the cruis- 

 ers and cutters among the fishermen, and irritation seemed to have 

 acquired vigor and intensity during the suspension. Other international 

 differences had grown up, from the beginning of the civil war, and had 

 accumulated during the whole of that war, to such an extent that a 

 spark might start a serious conflict. Fortunately cool heads were pre- 

 dominant in the two governments; the Joint High Commission was ap- 

 pointed, and the Washington Treaty reduced to a money question what, 

 in former times, would have cost the lives of thousands of men, and 

 would have, besides, entailed on both sides an expenditure of money ten 

 times more considerable than the compensatory indemnities resulting 

 from that treaty. Ten articles of that treaty concern the fisheries, from 

 the 18th to the 25th, both inclusive, and the 32d and 33d. In addi- 

 tion to the liberties granted to them by the Convention of 1818, Ameri- 

 cans are admitted, by Article 18, to fish everywhere, in common with 

 British subjects, without being restricted to any distance from the coast, 

 with permission to land for the purpose of drying their nets and curing 

 their lish, provided they do not interfere with the rights of private prop- 

 erty. 



On the other hand British subjects are admitted, by Article 19, to the 

 same liberties on the eastern sea coasts and shores of the United States, 

 north of the 39th parallel of north latitude. 



Article 21 declares that as long as the treaty shall subsist, fish-oil and 

 fish of all kinds (except fish of the inland lakes and of the rivers falling 

 into them, and except fish preserved in oil), being the produce of the 

 fisheries of the United States or of the Dominion of Canada, shall be ad- 

 mitted into each country, respectively, free of duty. 



By article 22 it is agreed that Commissioners shall be appointed to de- 

 termine, having regard to the privileges accorded by the United States 

 to the subjects of Her Majesty, the amount of any compensation which 

 ought to be paid in return for the privileges accorded to the citizens of 

 the Tinted States under Article 18; and that any sum of money which 

 the Commissioners may so award shall be paid, in a gross sum^ within 

 twelve months after the award given. 



Article 33 stipulates that the fisheries articles shall remain in force for 

 d of ten years from the date at which they may come into op- 

 tion, by the passing of the requisite laws, on both sides, and, further, 

 the expiration of two years after notice given by either of the par- 

 tjeH of its wish to terminate the same. 



The treaty came into operation on the 1st July, 1873. Great Britain 

 claims from the United States a sum of $14,830!000 for the concession 

 of the privileges granted to the citizens of the United States for the 

 l>eriod of twelve years. 



On the part of the United States it is contended that the liberty of 



