The Feilding Star. TUESDAY, JULY 13, 1886. The Canadian Fisheries

Feilding Star, Volume VIII, Issue 13, 13 July 1886, Page 2

The Feilding Star. TUESDAY, JULY 13, 1886. The Canadian Fisheries

With reference to the seizures made by English men-of-war of American fishing smacks in Canadian waters, wo learn from an exchange that one of them, the schooner Adams was seized at Digby where it had gone to purchase bait. Tho treaty ' under which the Canadian authorities are acting, it is contended, saj r s nothing about bait. The clause runs aa follows : —

And the United States hereby renounces forever any liberty heretofore enjoyed or claimed by the inhabitants thereof to take, dry, or euve fish on or within three marine miles of any of the coasts, bays, creeks or harbours of her Britanic Majesty's dominions in America not included in the above-mentioned limits.

Another clause, however, indirectly prohibits the purchase of bait in the following terms : — American fishermen may enter Canadian ports or harbours " for the purpose of shelter, of repairing damages therein, of purchasing wood and obtaining water, and for no other purpose whatever." It is under this general prohibition that the Imperial and Colonial authorities are now acting. It further appears that the Americans have some cause for complaint because if thoir vessels are precluded from purchasing bait in Canadian ports their northern fisheries are practically closed as, according to professor Hurd ef the Halifax Fishery Commission, " American fishermen cannot fish without bait procured in Canada,'' and therefore the fishing interest at Portland, Maine, is affected. At this distance it is impossible to judge of the amount of local irritation which exists between tho rival parties, but still it appears to us acting the part of the " dog in tho manger" to refuse fishing vessels the right to purchase bait. On the other hand as the right is secured by treaty, and international law gives the control of the sea within three miles of the coast line of Canada, the latter is legally in the right. We hope this little storm in the fish pond will not interfere with the friendly relations which have existed so long between the United States and Great Britain.