Its Imperial Importance. 



19 



dent Cleveland evidently feels the same way — that the fishery 

 question is intimately connected with the commercial relations 

 oH the two countries, and that it ohould be arranged in the shape 

 of a new Reciprocity Treaty like that of 1854. When their 

 efforts to brino; about such a business arranofemGnt failed in 

 1865, and a^T^ain in 1871 when the Washington Treatv was con- 

 eluded, they felt compelled to assume a dignified attitude and 

 make no more approaches to the United States on th6 subject, 

 though they placed a clause in their Customs Act which permits 

 the Canadian Government at any time to modify or remove the 

 duties on certain American products whenever their neighbours 

 pursue a similar policy towards the Dominion, They have been 

 always ready to meet the people of the United States ** in the 

 interest of good neighbourhood ; " and it is now for Congress to 

 show how far it is prepared to go in the direction indicated in 

 the friendly language of Mr. Cleveland. Canada is curious to 

 see whether there is to be at last a new policy with respect to 

 herself — a policy of liberality and justice worthy of a great 

 people. 



Canadians cannot well exaggerate the importance of their 

 fisheries from a national as well as commercial point of view. 

 Whilst the fisheries of the United States on the New England 

 coasts have become relatively unimportant, those of British 

 North America still give employment to a large number of 

 people, and are the foundations of the wealth and prosperity of 

 the maritime provinces. They are not a declining, but an in- 

 creasing branch of industry and commerce. In 18(37, when the 

 provinces were confederated, the value of the total product of the 

 lake, river, and sea fisheries of Canada amounted to only a little 

 over £2,000,0(H) sterling in round numbers, but in 1884- it reached 



Newfoundland, however, does not stand in the same position 

 as the Dominion with respect to the Americans. Her fisheries 

 are chiefly of cod, pursued in the Grand and other banks on 



