h, and was the first to come to its senses. A conference held at
Washington, in 1909, attended by representatives of the United States,
Canada, Newfoundland, and Mexico--notable also as one of the first
instances of Canada's recognition of the fact that she was an American
power--recommended the establishment of a conservation commission in
each country. Canada was the only country that acted upon the advice.
The Conservation Commission was established that very year, with wide
duties of investigation and recommendation. Under Sir Clifford Sifton
as chairman and Mr {235} James White as secretary it has performed
valuable and varied service.

The sea was given thought as well as the land. The fishing bounties
already established were continued. Experts were brought from Europe
to improve the methods of curing fish. Co-operative cold-storage
warehouses for bait were set up, and a fast refrigerator-car service on
both coasts brought fish fresh to the interior. Laboratories for the
study of marine life and fish hatcheries came into being.
Unfortunately, disputes arose as to jurisdiction between Dominion and
provinces and between Canada and the United States, and the fisheries
did not grow at the rate of other industries.

The manufacturer, however, continued to be the chief object of
attention. An increase took place in the service of trade
commissioners for Canada in other countries, whose duties are similar
to those of a foreign consular service. The bounties on iron and steel
production, amounting in all to twenty millions, undoubtedly did much
to stimulate that industry. The protective tariff, as we have seen,
remained in a modified form. After the notable step of 1897 towards a
purely revenue tariff, there came a halt for some years. In fact, it
seemed for a time that the pendulum {236} would swing towards still
higher duties. In 1902 the manufacturers began a strong campaign in
that direction, which was given aggressive support by the minister of
Public Works, J. Israel Tarte, often termed by opponents of the
Government the 'Master of the Administration.' This breach of
ministerial solidarity Sir Wilfrid Laurier met, on his return from the
Colonial Conference, by an instant demand for Mr Tarte's resignation.
It was made clear that the compromise which had been adopted in 1897
would not be rashly abandoned. Yet the movement for a tariff 'high as
Haman's gallows' continued, and produced some effect. It