03 



" Wliprevcv 1 went, I found tlic penplu most nnximia whether tlie Americnns were still goinj» to be 

 nllnwcil to cnnu! nnrl imvchiisc the frozen heiTinf;s; if tlicy wcio not, tlioy had no otlier market for 

 thoni, iiiul tlic duty was (o Iicavy tlicy could not iill'ord to ta]<i^ th(>ni into Anievicnn ]iorta tlieniHelves. 

 At tlic same time, they wislicd lo liavc thi; Anieiiciius prevented from liwhiiig on their coasts." 



The Comniancier of Her Majesty's ship " Plover," in his report from Prince 

 Kdward's Island, in the same year, says : — 



" Every facility is given in tlic ]iorts of tliis island to foreigners for o1)taining and replenishing 

 their stock of stores nnd necessaries for tishing. This, if the Treaty is intended to be strictly enforced, 

 should not he allowed ; as, if it is wished to drive the United States' lishermen from these waters, they 

 will then In; ohliged to return home for supplies." 



H. E. Uctts, Commander Government schooner " Ella G. McLean," says : — 



"I anchored off I'oit ]\lulgrave, and procureil wood and water. Here the feeling is very much 

 against the law that prevents the American fishermen procuring supplies, such as hait, baiTcls, 

 provisions, lic. One house, whoso iix'eipts in 1804 and ISIifp were about 80,00U dollars each year, this 

 year was reduced to 10,000 dollars, the principal part of wliich was ' stolen.' I'hey advocate the 

 return to the licence system, doiui; away with tlie twenty-four liours' notice there n.sed to be, and 

 having these schooners to rigidly enforce tlie law, and to instantly seize any vessel fishing inside the 

 limits without a licence. They suggest that the proceeds of the licences might be u.sed as n set-off 

 against the American duty of 2 dollars a barrel, by dividing it at so much per barrel amongst our 

 fishermen as a bounty, thus putting our fishermen on neiu'ly equal tenns with the Americans as regards 

 a market for their fisli." 



The anticipations that the Treaty of Washington would so operate as to 

 remove the distress existing- in the mj'"'''mc provinces at the date of its negotiation 

 have been fully realized, as will appear by the testimony to be laid before the Com- 

 mission. It also appears that several thousands of British fishermen find lucrative 

 employment on hoard American fishing vessels. 



The benefits thus far alluded to are only indirectly and remotely within the 

 scope and cognizance of this Commission. They are brought to its attention chiefly to 

 refute the claim, that it is an advantage to the United States to be able to enter the 

 harbours of the provinces and traffic with the inhabitants. No doubt, all such 

 advantages are mutual and reciprocal. Tiiey only show that, in this instance, as 

 in so many others, a system of freedom rather tlian one of repression, proves the 

 best for all mankind. 



It is necessary now to consider the specific benefits which the Treaty directs 

 the Commission to regard in its comparison and adjustment of equivalents. 



1. What do British subjects gain by admission to the fishing grounds of the 

 United States down to the 39th parallel of north latitude ? 



All descriptions of fish found in British waters also abound along this portion 

 of the coast of the United States. They are nearly as extensive territorially, and 

 equally valuable. If the provincial fishermen invested the same amount of capital 

 in the business, and exerted equal enterprise, industry, and skill, they would find 

 the American waters fully as valuable to them as theirs now are to the fishermen of 

 the United States. 



Ofi' the American coast is found exclusively the menhaden or porgies, by 

 far the best bait for mackerel. This is well stated by Sir John Macdonald, who 

 says : — 



" It is also true that, in American waters, the favourite bait to catch the mackerel is found, and it 

 ia so much the favourite bait, that one fishing-vessel having this bait on Iward would draw a whole 

 school of mackerel in the very face of vessels lia\ing an inferior bait. Now, the value of the privilege 

 of entering Anunican waters fVtr catching that liait is very great. If Canadian fishermen weix> excluded 

 from American waters by any combination among American fishermen, or by any act of Congress, they 

 wiudd b(! deiuived of getting a single ounce of the bait. American fishennen might cond)ine for that 

 object, or a law mi'^lit lie jia.sscd by Congress forbidding the exportation of menhaden; but, by the 

 imivision made in the Treaty, Canadian fishermen are allowed to enter into American waters to procure 

 the bait, anil the consequence of that is, that no such combination can exist, and Canadians can 

 purchase the liait, and be able t(j fish on equal terms with the iVmericaus." — Speech of Sii' John A 

 Macdonald, Slay 3, 1872. 



These statements were based upon the Canadian Official Reports previously 

 published, which say :— 



