Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1878-02-12

Turned IT. Against American Opera.
tors. e
F,om The Cape Ann tMass.l Advertiser.
The arrival Of the schooner Moses Adams.
Capt. Solomon Jacobs, from Fortune bay.
brings intelligence Of the failure of that
fishery SO far as the Gloucester fleet is con-
cerned, not from any lack Of fish or oppor-
tunity to catch and freeze them, but from
the determined hostility of the Newfound-
land fishermen. For many months there
has bstn a growing feeling of antagoni.m
against American fishermen seeking bait in
the harbor Of Newfoundland, which has at
length developed into open warfare, and
produced a condition of things demanding
the interference Of the government.
The remembering business has grown
into one Of large proportions. The old
practice was to purchase the herring of the
native fishermen and freeze them in bulk. but
the primitive apparatus employed for their
capture induced our fleet in later years to
take down nets and employ the fishermen
to catch the fish. Under the provisions Of
the Washington treaty our fishermen have
the right to catch their own herring, this
being one of the privileges for which we
are expected to pay $500 ,0GO, and have
done so to q limited extent, though in order
to secure quick dispatch they have bought
what herring they could and employed
Newfoundland Fishermen in helping to Sc
cure fares.
This season the fleet were fitted with eeines
and prepared to catch or buy fish as circum-
stances might warrant. The Gloucester
fleet at Fortune bay, awaiting the arrival Of
the herring school, comprised the schooners
New England, Ontario, Moses Adams, Fred
P. Frye, William E. Mcdonald, Wildfre,
Maud and Efie, Herbert NJ. Rogers, Here.
ward, Moro Castle, f. A. Smith, G. C. War
rem, John w. Bray, and the Lizzie and
Namari, all tirst-class vessels, and fitted at a
large expense for this fishery. The pres
ence of so large a fleet, indicating an active
competition for cargoes, aroused the cupid
ity of the local fishermen, who placed a
higher value upon the fish than they would
sell for in the American market. Under
this state of affairs the fleet was compelled
to rely upon their own facilities for taking
a fare, with such help as they could procure
from unemployed Newfoundland fisher.
men.
The herring struck:.in immense euanti-
ties about the 10th Of January, and the fleet
began operations with every prospect of
filling up at once. But this was not in &C.
cordauce with the programme Of the New
foundland fisherman, and with the arrival
Of the fish they began to gather in their
boats at Long Harbor, until there we're a
hundred men or more gathered on the
beach and afioat, some sixty of whom were
active in their determination to prevent our
vessels securing cargoes, while the others
aided them by their countenance and coun-
sells.
The schooner Ontario and New England
had their scenes Joined. making a sweep be-
tween the two vessels, the ends being secured
on shore, and soon filled with herring, esti-
mated at three thousand barrels in all. The
maddened crowd of fishermen seized the
ends of the seines and pulled for the shore.'
parting the seines and letting out the whole
shoal Of fish, which would have filled both
vessels. The seines were completely des-
troyed and the remnants parcelled out
among the captors. The other vessels were
warned that their seines would be treated in
the same manner if they persisted in setting
out Of the harbor if they did not desist from
fishing,
ThelMoses Adams had her eeines down on
Sunday, the 18th, and the crew were engag.
ed in scooping the herring into boats and
I lAclA W lie NcSetI, NllSu lIc
maddened crowd came off in boats to capt.
ure the seine and put an end to fishing oper-
atoms. Capt. Jacobs fortunately had a
stock of revolvers, with which he armed his
crew, and taking a position commanding
the seine, with cooked revolver inlhis hand,
assured them that he was determined to pro.
tect his property and his rights at any ha.
card, and would shoot the first man who
dared to lay a hand upon the seine. In
this manner he succeeded in keeping them
at bay until he had secured a cargo, and in
frustrating three different attempts which
were made to reach his vessel and seize the
seine from the boat.
The next day the herring struck off. and
there was no further opportunity to com
plete the object Of the voyage. The only
vessels securing cargoes were the Moses
Adams and John w. Bray, and the rest Of
the fleet will be compelled to seek fares else
where or come home light.
This outrage upon the rights of Ameri.
can fishermen will result in a large pecuni.
airy loss to Gloucester, and unless some
measures are taken to secure redress will
lead to the abandonment of the fishery,
since NO one will pursue an occupation
which must be followed at the mouth of the
revolver. Capt. Jacobs affidavit has been
taken by the collector of customs, and, with
those of other eye-witnesses of tie affair
will be forwarded TO our member of con.
gress for the proper presentation of the mat.
ter before the government.
NEIGHB0RH00D NEWS.