2952 AWARD OF THE FISHERY COMMISSION. 



the great importance of the consunima f ion of such a treaty at the earliest day prac- 

 ticable. 



Hesolred, That a cnramittee of 7 members of the produce exchange be appointed by 

 the president, who shall take such action a* in their judgment may be deemed neces- 

 sary to carry out the objects of this meeting. 



The president then introduced the Hon. Erastus Brooks, who spoke in substance as 

 follows : 



Mr. Brooks said: The more freedom there is in trade the better for the country, for 

 its producers, for its consumers, for the merchant, and for the carrier; and, therefore, 

 the just conclusion that the fewer restrictions imposed upon trade and commerce by 

 Federal or State laws, the better for the people at large. However much either of 

 these propositions may be disputed, the truth of history will sustain this position. So 

 rare are the exceptions or qualifying circumstances that the main facts will always 

 stand good. 



The subject before us is the proposed restoration of the Reciprocity Treaty with so 

 much freedom of trade as is practical for two governments to agree upon. Between 

 the States the fundamental law of the land wisely compels this freedom. Free and 

 equal States, with equal rights for all citizens and all kinds of trade, whatever the 

 practice, is the natural and legal right of all; and but for unjust combinations of 

 selfish men for selfish purposes there would never be any departure from this sound 

 maxim. 



It is now proposed that, as between the United States and Canada, there shall be 



1. The waiver of money compensation by the United States for fisheries under the 

 "Washington Treaty. 



2. That the Canadian canals, from Lake Erie to Montreal, be enlarged within 3 

 years at the cost of Canada, so as to admit the passage of vessels 260 feet in length 

 and 45 in breadth, and with a depth equal to the capacity of the lake harbors. 



3. That during the treaty all the Canadian canals, and the Erie, Whitehall, and 

 Sault St. Marie, and Lake St. Clair canals shall be open t'o vessels and boats of both 

 countries and on the same terms. 



4. That the free navigation of Lake Michigan be put on the same terms as the free 

 navigation of the St. Lawrence River. 



5. That the navigation of the St. Clair flats be maintained at the expense of both 

 countries in proportion to their commerce thereon. 



6. That the productions of the farm, forest, mines, and water, and also animals, 

 meats, and products of the dairy, be admitted into both countries duty free, as was 

 provided in the Treaty of 1854. 



7. This list may possibly include agricultural implements, manufactures of iron and 

 steel acd of wood, minerals, oils, salt, and a few other articles. 



This is opposed because, as alleged, it will interfere with protection and admit the 

 Canadians to none of the benefits of American citizenship. 



The answer to this assertion is that all the facts are against the objection. From 

 1821 to 1833 the average annual traffic between the United States and Canada was 

 3,500,000, and from 1832 (sic) to 1845, $6,500,000, and from 1846 to 1853, $14,230,000. 

 This traffic rose in twelve years of reciprocity to a purchase by the colonies of United 

 States commodities to the gold value of 8359,607,000, and the purchase by us from the 

 colonies of products to the value of 197,000,000. There was a balance in gold in favor 

 of the United States during ten years of nearly 896,000,000, and in these twelve years 

 the United States exports to Canada equaled in valne all on r exports to China. Bra- 

 zil, Italy, Hayti, Russia, Venezuela, Austria, the Argentine Republic, Denmark, Tur- 

 key, Portugal, the Sandwich Islands, Central America, and Japan; while our trade 

 with these governments showed that we imported from these countries over 192,000,000 

 in excess of our exports other than gold. While thus the balance of trade with Can- 

 ada was nearly 896,000,000 in our favor, of our exports to Canada 8151,000,000 were iu 

 manufactures. 



THE FISHERY RIGHTS, LUMBER, ETC. 



Our public documents show 



1. In 1862 we had over 203,000 tons of shipping in the fisheries off what are now the 

 Canadian coasts, with 28,000 seamen, and the returns considerably exceeded 814,000,000. 



2. Within three years from the abrogation of the treaty, denriving our fishermen of 

 the shore privileges under the treaty, our tonnage iu the trade fell to 62,000 tons, a loss 

 of 70 ver cent. 



3. The recoucession of these shore-privileges, under the Washington treaty, baa 

 already doubled the tonnage of our fishing-fleet from ichat it jcos in 1869. 



4. As to the benefits of reciprocity, our official returns show that from 120 to 1854, 

 in which latter year the treaty went into operation, the provinces bought from us mer- 

 chandise to the valne of 8167,216,709, while we bought from them but $67,794,426; a 

 cash balance iu our favor of nearly 8100,000,000. 



5. In the years from 1854 to 1863, iu which the treaty was in operation, the provinces 



