Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-03-26
HE AMERICAN SIDE OF THE
QUESTION.
Correspondence Between Secretary Fish
and Minister Thornton.

OTTAWA, March %. The Newfoundland ov-
ernment has forwarded papers relative to the al
legged outrage on American fishing schemes in
Fortune Bay.
The government contends that local fsht rmen
not only did not perpetrate any such outrage as
charged, but Americans were arrested while vio-
lating the laws of the couatry. to which all YES
sells of whatever nationality, while in the shore
waters, are amenable.
The report contains the following passage:
The local act says that herring shall not be
seined 10 ally OF our harbors or bays between
the 10Th of October and % of April, yet two
of the American schooners had their enormous
selnes leined between them on the 9th of Jan
uaiy in Long Ilsrbcr, filled with herring, as is
admitted, to the extent of over three thousand
barrels. The act also says that there shall be
no inbarriDg in any cove or bar Dor. The Amer
lean fishermen did lnbar or enclose.
The act uither prohibits SEEMING or taking
in any way TT contrIvance herring, squlds or
chaplin, between II o'clock on Saturday night
and y o'clock on Sunday night.
The Amercen fishermen were at their work
on Sunday, when our people lnteifered. One
OF the schooners stopped operating, bein <
warned but the other refused to stop, and the
local police at once compelled them 10 obey tue
law
The Newfoundland Chronicle, organ of the
government, says:
Our authorities have done right. We COM
mend them for their action. The colony by its
legislature, will sustain them.
Americans may fish with our people during
the next six years from Monday morning until
Saturday night.
That they will not be allowed to fish in our
harbors Sundays, and when six years have ex-
pired we hope they viii he driven back to the
hesdland three mile limit
As we have said before, they are an intoler-
able nuisance. They corrupt our young men
and women. and they disturb our quiet Sundays
and make our streets almost impassable by their
la We Inn ri will M he
award. Then We shall get clear OF the treaty
altogether, and the sooner the better.
NEW YORK, March %. The Herald saws two
letters on the fishery commission question are
not published. One was from Thor to Fish,
July 10Th, 1873, urging Fish to accept Delfosse
as commissioner, as Lord Granville had direct
ed him to ascertain whether Delfosse wouldn't
be acceptable to the United States.
Secretary Fish replied rather iaitly, August /,
saving that the note addressed to the British
goveinmen Mt covering the names of several gem
tlemen who could not be Objectionable to either
government had not been answered. and the
hsbitual diplomatic court sy of the British gov
eminent led MIR. Fish to believe with the above
proposition unanswered, ami also With the
know ledge that the American government could
not accept certain person as commissioners, the
name of that person would not be presented by
her Majestys government. lie calls IhoInton's
attention to the fact that he had stated to him in
previous interview that relations existed
between the Belgian government and Great
Britain which might render Delfosse a partial
arbitrator on questions between the United States
and England.
lie states the American government i. very de-
sirous of agreeing upon the commissioner without
recourse to the Austrian amba. sador and hoped
Lord Granville would accept some Que OF the list
proposed by him. If not he (Fish) hoped some
other name might be suggested not known III adj
vance as objectionable 10 one OF the paitles.