THE CANADIAN-AMERICAN FISHERIES. 



Difficulties have arisen from time to time ever since the 

 bc}^innin<j; of this century, rehitive to the fisheries about 

 Britisli North America. The Government of the United 

 States has at all times appreciated the great value of those 

 fisheries and has endeavored from time to time to en- 

 large the rights and privileges of American fishermen in 

 the waters adjoining that country. The course pursued by 

 the United States in this matter furnishes another instance 

 of their efforts to secure new and valuable concessions from 

 other governments to the welfare and prosperity of the 

 American people. 



The enormous value of a right to participate in tishiag 

 in the waters adjoining tho; Britisli Colonies has justifier. the 

 American Government in making every honorable effort to 

 secure that right. During the time when the population of 

 the United States was comparatively small, notably before 

 the revohition, the waters otf the Atlantic coast of that 

 country were amply sufficient to supply the demand; but, 

 with the great growth of the population and the decrease in 

 the supply, the American fishermen were compelled to seek 

 new fishing grounds, which they found in the waters adjoin- 

 ing what is now the Dominion of Canada. These grounds, 

 so long as they are att'ected, as they now are, by the currents 

 from the north, replete as at present with food suitable for 

 fish, must remain most prolific. Al)out six hundred Ameri- 

 can vessels aiDiually engage in the nuickerel fishing in 

 Canadian waters, and the nuniber of the vessels is rapidly 

 increasing. Each of those vessels takes on an average not 

 less than two hundred barrels of mackerel of the value of 

 about ten dollars per barrel. The importation of fish to the 

 New England States has assumed very large proportions and 

 is of immense value to New England tishermen who see loss 

 of occu])ati()n and livelihood in case Canada cannot be in- 

 duced to allow them, to ccHitinue hb they have hitherto done 

 under treaties, now exi)ired. 



