The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1886-06-04
FROM WASHINGTON.
The Fishery Dispute Subject of
Debate In the Senate.
Mr. Hale Calls Attention to the
Trouble at Eastport.
The Largest Cloud that has yet
Appeared on the Horizon"
New England Men on Hand to Get
Protection for the Mackerel.
rSpecial TO the Press !

Especial TO the freSS.l
WASHINGTON, June 3.-The fishing trou-
bles between the United States and Canada
came up in the Senate this afternoon, and
were briefly discussed by Senators Dawes,
Edmunds and Hale. Mr.. Edmunds said that
the committee on foreign affairs was en-
gagged in making an investigation of the seiz-
ure of American vessels, but it was yet too
early for any satisfactory, result to have been
reached.
Senator Hale spoke briefly but pointedly of
the need for immediate action by the admin
istration. Here is Mr.. Hale's speech:
Yesterday dispatch was received by Mr..
Boutelle, of the House of Representatives
from Eastport, in my State, stating that it
was reported there, on apparently good au-
thority, that orders had been issued by the
Ottawa government to prevent the purchase
of small sardines that are taken on New
Brunswick waters, and prepared and put up
at Eastport on this side of the line. This
industry employs large number upon this
side of the line, in the town of Eastport in
putting up these sardines. 1t also employs
on the other side of the line a large number
of Canadian or New Brunswick fishermen or
boatmen, who catch the fish and sell them to
our Eastport sardine packers under the rul-
ings of the treasury department. that these
fresh fish brought into our markets for i'm
mediate use or consumption are not subject
to duty. They come in free, and the New
Brunswick fisherman gets the benefit of our
market, duty free. He sells his fish to our
citizens, who put up the herring or sardines.
1t makes profitable industry on both sides.
1t is an industry in which Canadian labor
has as much interest as ours, and as such no
duty is exacted. And yet, it is gravely pro-
posed, if;the rumor be correct, by the Ottawa
government to put rude hands an that indus
try and to send armed ships there to prevent
the purchase of Canadian fish by our citizens
1t is to me, Sir, the largest cloud that has
yet appeared on the horizon in this unhappy
affair. If the rumOr is correct, and the Can
adian authorities give that direction to their
ships to break up this industry of their peo-
pie in order to prevent our citizens from pur
chasing these fish it indicates a more pro-
found spirit of mischief than has heretofore
been shown. Whatever can be done by the
State department that will at once give in.
formation, not only to the fishermen OF
Maine and Massachusetts,, but to the coun-.
try, of just what the fundamental purpose OF
the Ottawa government is, Will be Deneht TO
us. am bound to say that the communlca-
tion was laid before the Secretary OF State;
and he disclosed a disposition to at once, un-
der every method in his power and at his
command, learn the Interior purposes OF the
Canadian authorities; and | hope and trust
that there will be no delay in that direction.
Ii anything can be done by our government,
by any branch of the government, that shall
indicate the earnest purpose of the govern
ment and of the administration to protect
our fishing interests, and to see to it that cit
liens engaged in a lawful enterprise fare not
broken up and driven away, the sooner tits
done the better. 1t is grave question now
whether our Maine fishing enterprise of the
season has not been so rudely broken in upon
and assailed and hindered that it will be of
little account for the rest of the year. There
has been nothing so important and so de-
manding prompt and vigorous action con-
fronting the State department, and the adj
ministration as this. Congress has already
acted, and has put into the hands of the
President the power of fitting and proper
retaliation, the occasion and measure of
which retaliation must be exercised as an
administrative and not as a legislative pow
er / am bound to say that the people whom
| represent, and believe the public gener-
ally, are looking with anxiety to see to it that
the administration comes up to what has
been the evident spirit and wish of Con-
greSs.
Messrs. o. B. Whitten of Portland, and
Thomas A. Rich of Boston, arrived today.
They will appear tomorrow before the Sem
ate committee on fisheries in behalf of Con-
gressman Reeds bill for the protection of
mackerel during spawning season.