The New York herald., 1878-03-11
Memorial of the Citizens of Gloucester
to the President.
THE ADVANTAGES OF THE TREATY
Americans Unable to Compete with the Fish
ermen Of the Provinces.
THE OUTRAGES AT FORTUNE BAY.
EosroS. March 9, 1878.

Congress in a few days by Hon. George b. Loring,
member oi Congress from the district The Interest
in the fishery agitation has not abated one particle,
ana the ciuzens without regard to party or occupa-
ton, determined to resist the inroads that are
making by the Dominion authorities, and more par
ticularIy by the fishermen, on the rights and PRIV
ilcgcs granted to American fishermen under the pro
visions OF the Treaty OF Washington
MEMoniAL.
The following is the memorial:-
To His Exceency RUTHERFORD B. HAYES, President
Of the United otates.-
Tho undersigned, "a committee appointed at gen.
eral meeting OF the citizens ol Gloucester, Mass en-
gagged the 1shng business, would respectfully rep
resent and ask your consideration OF the following
statement herewith submtled:-
The commissioners proviacu for by the twenty.
second article OF the Treaty OF Was hing met at
Halifax Nova Scotia, in the la,I OF 1877 determine
Inc amount, II any, OF Compensation which In tneir
opinion ought 10 oe pald ny the government OF the
United States 10 ING government oi her bfltunhic
Majesty in return for privileges accorded 10 the czns
The United states unuer article is OF said treaty
Alter iu and protracted hearing IN the premises,
the introduction OF large amount OF evidence on
both sides bearing upon the merits OF the case able
and arguments by the counsel Tor the re-
spectve governments, the award OF moJory OF the
that the o So, 5uU 900 sn ould
be paid by the Unitcd states to Her Brnannic
Muesty's government as adaitonal compensation for
the privileges heretofore named.
Under OF the treaty the privileges
granted therein Her Mujesty's subjects, especially
rig h 10 Land Their hs Tree OF duty in The united
states, thereby awaiting themselves oil the ad
vanlag,s OF our market ana directly compet-
ing with own fishermen in the d
posai and sale oil tns nsh thus imported,
the prosperity and extent OF lhe n.heries have Uecn
greatly Increased and the thrift Of people pro-
noted in provinces OF the Dominion government
while. the other hanu, the elect has 10 uJure
and lepress the isnng Interests Of Uned states,
rendering the BUSINESS both precarious and uuproh
able ana, some cases, has led TO It's abandonment ny
peope The people OF Her Majesty's governmentin
the provinces Nova Scotia New Bruins swick, Pr,nce
EDWARD Island, &c., can buIlu their vessels cheapcr
than ana cach their nsn at much less ex-
pcnse, the isn ure near their homes, and these
great ages on their part tue American nsber-
men have barely managed to compete with
III the past by The exercise Of the utmost energy
and perseverance, IN the prosecution OF tue
business. In addition TO the above named
advantages the Provincial fishermen have secured BY
the treaty tue invaluable privilege oi commanding
the best market in the world Ior the sale OF their
fish, duty Tree. Under these circumstances We have
hesitation IN saying tnat to-day the Provincial
fishermen stand, IN point OF position and future out
look, INFINITELY ahead OF the United otates.
The attention OF the government has been also
called to tho recent outrages upon American nshng
vessels Fortune Bay, upon the coast OF Newlound.
Iand while IN peaceaue prosecution OF their herring
voyage. The crews oi our vessels were threatened
with violence by The Inhabitants OF the isand their
seines damaged anu IN somo cases destroyed, they
compelled to let tue herring escape alter thcy
had been secured in The seine and they were finally
compelled to leave tor home without cargo, aud. in
consequence, subjected To great pecuniary loss.
We trust the government WIN be disposed TO take
sucn prompt ana efficient action as Will prevent tho
recurrence OF such Migrant vocation OF tho rights oil
our fishermen ana demand a suitable and adequate
inue,nn indication Tor the damages sustained.
Ihe award OF the commission Is simply cXOrbitant,
ana in our opinion unwarranLed by tho facts in the
case and sustained IN any degree by The evidence
submitted IN the hearing Tue concessions made by
the United states " the Dominion governments uncr
the treaty ot greater vaiue than those granted 10
our government, an the award, II any, should have
been PAID 10 the Unitcd states The uclion OF the
United States Commissioner IN dissenting from the
uecison OF the IN Jority has our hearty and unquai-
fled approval
In concu ION, therefore we submit that, tho lore
gong statements beng true, tho decree OF The Com
mission should not receive your approval
Nevertheless, Whatever may be TIE action oil Con-
gress, we are srous that the moral obligations OF
the government Ue recognized anu the national honor
vnlIcated But our speca. purpose and desire Is not
much 10 protest against the pay ol the award
as u place and positive
lion Lbat neither the treaty nor award arc OF any
bcncht whatever TO the ishug interest OF New Eng
aad but on the contrary hav: resulted and Will con
tinue to result, to Their detrimcnt and injury.
BENZ. IL. COKlIss.
JOSEPH .. PROCTOR,
SYLVANUS SMITH, ! Committee.
DAVID W. LOW,
FIlZ j BAB>ON,
GLOUCESTER, March 2, 1915
A memorial similar 10 the above will be presented
to Congress by the Hon. George b. Loring, M. G.
THE OUTRAGE FORTUNE BAY
Tho following representations have been made to
Secretary Evarls by John Pew n Son concerning
the ou,ragcs at Fortune Bay:-
To the Hon. WILLIAM VI. EvARrs Secretary of Staie:-
Respectfully represent John Pew, Charles II. Pew
anu john j. Pew, all Of Gloucester, county Of Essex
and Commonwealth OF Massac u,etts, copartners un.
ii
American cil)zens and engaged in tue nshiDg Dusi-
ness at said Gloucester, and were ana arc
owners ana filters OF lsbiug vessels; that they
the sole owners Of tue American fishing schooners-
Ontario and New England OF said Gloucester, and
wore such owners IN the months OF November, Dec.
embcr and January last past III hat both of said
scuooners were fitted Tor tho herring 1sncrcs In the
month of November, 1871. and for voyages 10 New
founuland and provided with seines or catching her
ring That said schooner Ontario, whereof Peter Me-
Aulay master, sailed tho 1s day OF December,
1877 from said Gloucester; and The sand schooner
New
on the 18th day oil November, l671,-that both
schooners had iul supply OF men aud outfits for
sau voyage. That SAID schooner Ontario when she
sailed from said Gloucester Oh said voyage with her
outfits and some was worth tho sum Of $1,000 And
the said New England with her Quilts anu seine, was
then ana there OF the value OF sS, 500 That said
schooners boln returned TO said Gloucester from
voyage on the 17th day OF February without any her
ring. except that The SAID Ontario had about fifty
barrels purchased by her.
And we further represent that We are informed
by the masters aud crews OF said schooncrs, and bc-
evo tho same 10 be true, That tho reason why they
returned without any herring aud maue disastrous
voyages is That they arrived at Long Harbor Fortune
Bay, Newfoundland, on or about the 10th day OF De
cenber, 1877, and found herring scarce and were
able TO obtain any considerable quantity of herring;
aud that masters and crews OF said schooners
waited at said Long Harbor until the Gan day OF Janu
ary 1878, 10 catch or purchase herring, as tnuy
might DC able TO do; that ON said 9TH day OF said
January, the ''sIgns Tor herring being good," The
masters and crows oil both OF said schooners joined
their purse senes, thereby making double seiuc,
which OF the value of at least 81 400 and making
scine OF about 400 feet long and 100 deep that tho
selne at sad Long HarDor aud caught and secured
therein very large quantity of herring, amounting
NJ least 2, 600 barrels OF hcrrine ana more than
sufficient 10 load both oil said schooners. That AT
about TOUR O'Clock oil SAID 9th day OF said Januay
some 200 men who belonged about Fortune
| Bay, and had gone ashore IRON English
| vessels IN said i.ong Harbor made war
like demonstration against the masters and crews OF
said schooncrs ana seized hold oi said double scine
tore in pieces and carried 1t off, and thereby rood
| all OF said borrlng, and prevented the masters and
crows of SAID scnooncrs from obtaining them, and
| .kv Iull a rTa
Tor cilncr oil SAID Vessels That OF said 200 men
| sixty took hold of said seine and destroyed II,
| and the others were participating in the de-
| slruction OF tho seine by incting and en-
coursgng those VINO were destroying II. That
the masters and crews Of said schooners were par-
suing their business Of catching herring at SAID For
| tune Bay In lawful manner, ana wore not III any
manner or form interfering with the rights Of any
party or parties at said Newfoundland, and that the
acton OF said parties IN destroying said seine a
most wanton destruction OF the properly oil sad hrm,
and without The least Justification IN law or good
| conscience, and was intended to be wark demon
stration against the American vessels. their own