HISTORY OF THE TROUBLE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 162, 9 July 1907, Page 5

HISTORY OF THE TROUBLE.

[In 1905 considerable friction "was caused. by a dispute with the United States as to the right of American fishermen to engage in the winter herring fishery on the Vest coast, of Newfoundland. The root of the colonial' grievance was that American vessels had come , to buy Newfoundland herrings, which were admitted into the States duty free, whereas the same herrings taken to the States in Newfoundland vessels "were charged a duty. The Colonial Government then endeavoured to enforce the Bait Act against the United States fishermen, forbidding colonial fishermen to sell .bait to them or to hire themselves as members of their cr-ews. In the 1906 session- a ForeignFishing Vessels ■ Act, containing the severest regulations against foreign fishing vessels, was passed;-but was reserved for the King's assent; and negotiations between the British and United States Governments were proceeded with. In addition to the points referred to above, the question of the use of purse-seines |. came up, the Americans' claiming the right to use them, and the Colonial Government objecting that they were too destructive •in their effects: Finally a modus viyendi was arranged for the season 1906-7, pending- and without prejudice to the further discussion of the questions at issue. H.M. Government agreed not to bring into force the Foreign Fishing Vessels Act/ 19Q6,; Qr the\ first and tturd sections of the 1905 Act, and consented to the use of purse-seines by American fishermen, subject to due regard to their modes of fishery. The United States Government directed American fishing vessels to report at Custom House on arrival in and departure from colonial waters, to pay light dues, to abstain from Sunday fishing, and to recruit ■Newfoundland fishermen, if necessary, only outside the three-mile limit. Colonial opinion seemed to be stron"against the modus vivendi, and the Gov° ernment announced their intention of enforcing every colonial statute possible against the Americans, and of allowing Newfoundland fishermen also to use purse-seines.]