-5FK« 



91 



these fisli fovnicily frequented. Several nf tlio finest nnd swiftest sailers of that fleet were employed 

 during the wjiole year, nnd fitted so as to he alile to carry these fisli, fresh or salted. The above will 

 explain the cause of the disappearance of American schooners from our waters." 



It is also to be observed, that the American mackerel uniformly command a 

 higher price than the Colonial catch, — the difference varying from 4 to 6 dollars per 

 barrel ; the average excess in price in favour of the catch off the coasts of tlie 

 United States is at least 5 dollars per barrel. 



The evidence to be laid before the Commission will fully establish the position 

 taken by the American Commissioners who framed the Treaty of Washington, that 

 the value of the inshore fisheries has been greatly exaggerated ; and that the United 

 States have desired to secure the privilege of using tliem, not for their commercial 

 or intrinsic value, but for the purpose of removing a source of irritation. 



The simple truth is, that all American fishermen would, at the date of the 

 Treaty, and ever since, have gladly abandoned all fishing in the territorial waters 

 of Canada, rather than have been subjected to competition on equal terms with the 

 Canadian fishermen. 



(5.) As for the herring fishery by Americans in British waters, it amounts to 

 nothing. Hardly any trace of its existence can be found. Herring are purchased, 

 but not fished for, by United States' fishermen in British territorial waters. 



The United States call upon the British Agent to produce, and upon the Com- 

 missioners to require at his hands, tangible evidence of the actual practical value 

 of the privilege of fishing, by Americans, in British territorial waters, as it has 

 existed under the Treaty for four years past; as it exists to-day; and as, judging 

 of the future by the past, it may reasonably be expected to continue during the 

 ensuing eight years embraced in the Treaty. It is insisted that the Commissioners 

 have no right to proceed upon vague and general claims and assertions, as unsub- 

 stantial as the fog banks along the coast, and, therefore, as difficult to refute as it 

 would be to dissipate a fog. Kspecially are they bound not to suffer themselves to 

 be misled by the untenable and exploded theory that the portion of the high seas 

 which is adjacent to the British Provinces constitutes a part of their dominions. 



IV. 



It is next proposed to consider the advantages derived by British subjects from 

 the provisions of the Treaty of Washington. 



In the first place, the admission of American lishermen into British waters is no 

 detriment, but a positive advantage, to Colonial lishermen: they catch more fish, 

 make more money, and are improved in all their material circumstances, by the 

 presence of foreign fishermen. The large quantities of the best bait thrown over 

 from American vessels attract myriads of fish, so that Canadians prefer to fish 

 side by side with them ; and, when doing so, make a larger catch than they other- 

 wise could. Tiic returns of the product of the British fisheries conclusively show 

 that the presence of foreign fishermen cannot possibly have done them any injury. 



Secondly, the incidental benefits arising from traflic with American fishermen 

 are of vital importance to the inhabitants of the British maritime provinces. 

 When, after the abrogation of the Reciprocity Treaty, the Canadian authorities 

 saw lit to prohibit such commercial intercourse, the disastrous consequences which 

 ensued are thus depicted by the Hon. Stewart Campbell, M.P., in his letter to the 

 Department of Marine and Fisheries, in 1869 : — 



"Tlic princiiial source of inconveniciRv and grievance on tlie ])nrt of the British traders and .sub- 

 jects generally in the Maritime Provinces, whd are connected with tlie tislicrics, is to be found in the 

 jjreai chanjj;c of circumstances lirouglit al)out by thi^ aliro^ation of tlie Reciprocity Treaty. J)uring th(! 

 existence of tliat Treaty, tlie eutire freedom with wjiich that brancli of iudustry represented by the 

 lisbcrieH was ])ursiuMl, (in tlie part of the subjects dC the I'liitcd SStates of America, on the coasts (if the 

 Jhiti.sh I'roviiiccs, iiaturally biouglit these fiirei;j;iicis iiiin must inlimat(^ business relations Miih mi'i- 

 cliaiils, traders, and ithers, iu many localities (if the uiaiitiiiie jiortion of the l)oiniiiion, and especially 

 at and in liie vicinity of the Straits of Caiiso. The u'real budy of the larp' lleet of Anieriean iisheiiueit, 

 nunibcriuj.' se\ei;d hiiiulred vessels, whieli annually |i.;ssi>d lliinu;,'li that ;-tiait to the (iiilf of St. r,av>- 

 rencc, in the jiresiMMition nf the lisheries, and especially the uiaekerel lishevy, \\i\s iiiva''iably in the 

 habit (if |>i'(i(Mriii;,' iiiiieh (if the rei|nisile sii|i]ilies fur the voyage at the several |iiirls in tliat Strait. The 

 business thus (•reiite(l ]ar;;ely lienelitted laU (Hily iho.si^ directly eii,i;a!j:ed in eoiiimercial pursuits, but 

 wiis alsii (if ininjeiise advamai,'e lo ether classes nf the iiihabitanls (if several of tlie adjacent eouuties (if 

 Is'ova Scotia. T'hu constant dinnand fni', and reiuly disposal at remiiiieialive jirice.s to the Aiucrican 

 tishiiiy vessels of, a large q^uantity of farm produce, antl other products of industry, iu tliO sluipe of 



