Ii8 FISHERIES ARBITRATION AT THE HAGUE 



There is a very good illustration, which I will ask permission 

 to hand to the Court, and copies will be given to the counsel for 

 Great Britain, of the way to make a real common exercise of the 

 right of fishing, in the Russo-Japanese Convention concerning 

 fisheries, of the 15th July, 1907. I submit it to the Tribunal as 

 an illustration of the view which I am now presenting.. In that 

 treaty it is provided: 



"Article J. The Imperial Government of Russia grants to Japanese 

 subjects, in accordance with the provisions of the present convention, the 

 right to fish, catch, and prepare all kinds of fish and aquatic products, except 

 fur seals and sea otters, along the Russian coasts of the seas of Japan, Okhotsk, 

 and Behring, with the exception of the rivers and inlets. . . . 



"Article II. Japanese subjects are authorized to engage in fishing and 

 in the preparation of fish and aquatic products in the fishing tracts specially 

 designated for this purpose, situated both at sea and on the coasts, and which 

 shall be leased at public auction without any discrimination between Japanese 

 and Russian subjects, either for a long term or for a short term. Japanese 

 subjects shall enjoy in this respect the same rights as Russian subjects who 

 have acquired fishing tracts in the regions specified in Article I of the present 

 convention. 



"The dates and places appointed for these auctions, as well as the neces- 

 sary details relative to the leases of the various fishing tracts shall be ofiicially 

 notified to the Japanese consul at Vladivostok at least two months before 

 the auctions. ... 



"Article III. Japanese subjects who shall have acquired fishing 

 tracts by lease in accordance with the provisions of Article II of the 

 present convention shall have, within the limits of these tracts, the right 

 to make free use of the coasts which have been granted to them for the 

 purpose of carrying on their fishing industry. They may make on these 

 coasts the necessary repairs to their boats and nets, haul the latter on land 

 and land their fish and aquatic products, and salt, dry, prepare, and store 

 their fish and other hauls there. For these purposes they shall be at liberty 

 to construct thereon buildings, stores, cabins, and drying houses, or to remove 

 them. 



"Article IV. Japanese subjects and Russian subjects who have acquired 

 fishing tracts in the regions specified in Article I of the present convention 

 shall be treated on an equal footing in everything regarding imposts or taxes, 

 which are or shall be levied on the right to fish and to prepare fishing products, 

 or on the movable or immovable property necessary in this industry. 



"Article V. The Imperial Russian ■ Government shall not collect any 

 duty on fish and aquatic products, cut or taken in the provinces of the coast 

 and of the Amour. . . . 



