Mr. PIKE. I call the attention of the Gentfrom NewYork to the fact that the language of the treaty of 1783 is, that the high contracting parties “recognize” the rights of our fishermen “to fish where they have here tofore been accustomed to fish.” Thus the whole matter was placed upon the basis of an established practice of very long standing. Even after the great expeditious fitted out in NewEngland to wrest those iishin grounds from the French, our fishermen ha been accustomed to use the grounds now in dispute. I call his attention also to the fact that the reciprocity treaty makes nomention of the condition of affairs after it shall have expired. It is silent upon that important subject. Having introduced the resolution which forms the basis of this preliminary report, I desire to say that I had no belligerent purpose in doing so, although I have been accuse of it in some quarters. I wished simply to set on foot some measures for the protection of a valuable in tercst. The House is aware that these.fishing ggpunds are thronged by perhaps 1,000vessels from our States, manne by very active, ener getic, and quick witted men, and are also sought y astill larger number of vessels from the Provinces, each jealous of their rights. If these parties. having no responsibility upon them except to get what they can are allowed to adjudicate this great question of right, it can be easily seen that trouble will be very likely to arise; particularly if the Provinces take the matter into their hands, as I see by the discussions of the provincial Legislatures, they already show some disposition to do. They propos to have what they call an armed police force, to be under orders to enforce the absurd rules of interpretation which the provincial authorities always adopted in regard to the convention of 1818, and thus the would practically exclude us from some of the most valuable grounds along the provincial coasts. Now, the House is well aware that this branch of business consists mainly of labor. These fishing vessels are manned by 3, 4,and 5 times as many men as are required for vessels, of the same size in the ordinary mercantile service; and so long as there remains any doubt in regard to their rihis, or any doubt whether they can be protecte, this labor cannot sustain itself in a pursuit thus rendered trily uncertain. Itisbutpoorlyremuneratedwhen elttocontend with the rivalries of those engaged in it, and with the inherent difficulties it encounters, both with regard to the catch and the markets. In introducing the resolution I was desirous, in the 1st place, to establish clearly what rights our fishermen have on those grounds, and in the 2nd place to make known as clearly that those rights, bein once established, shall be amply protected. hope the resolution will pass as a preliminary movement.