MR. BABCOCK'S COMMENTS 237 



greater and more seriously affect the question of 

 supply. The unwillingness of the States to join 

 hands with the Canadians has led to further serious 

 consequences. Chafing at the greater privileges of 

 their neighbours, the Canadian canners petitioned 

 the Dominion Government to grant the use of 

 salmon traps on Juan de Fuca Strait, so as to place 

 them on an equality with the fishermen of Puget 

 Sound. The Provincial Government backed the 

 appeal, and it was granted. 



Mr Babcock justifies the concession in his 1903 

 report on the ground of fairness to Canada. He 

 frankly admits that the question is not whether 

 trap-fishing is or is not a destructive method, but 

 whether the United States should have a monopoly 

 of it. He shows that during the previous season 

 the United States issued 305 trap, 84 purse-net, 

 and 92 drag-net licences for salmon, whilst the 

 Dominion fishermen were limited to gill-nets. He 

 contends that the fish trapped by the United States 

 fishermen passed through Canadian territory first, 

 and that they should be bagged before they reach 

 Puget Sound. He leaves out of account that the 

 Canadian traps will in all likelihood capture quantities 

 of fish which do not pass into their rivals' water, 

 and therefore the work of destruction will be 

 increased rather than diverted. The 7'aison d'etre of 

 the recommendation is admitted in Mr. Babcock's 

 closing words — 



