Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1886-07-06
THE RECENT SEIZURES.

The seizure OF three American fsher-
men by the Canadian cruiser Terror re-
Gently, puts q new dress on the tisherles
trouble, and one that is liable TO be a sad
misfit for our Canadian neighbors. The
Terror is a Canadian cruiser and in no
manner part or parcel OF the British
navy, while her act is such as only can
be performed by an armed ship duly
commissioned by the Home Government
she represents. The cause OF the seiz-
ures is admitted by the Canadian author
tiles to be but a nominal violation OF the
customs laws, which, if strictly enforced,
requires captain to go at once to the
Custom House of a port he enters, and
register his ship and manifest, before al
lowing his crew to hold communication
with the shore There is no charge oil
violating the fishing laws, and as no stat
ute law requires the asking or obtaining
of pratiaue in a friendly port where there
is no quarantine enforced, and OF which,
if in force, the master was not informed,
the act Of the Terror t axes the shape OF
piracy and will undoubt edly lead to grave
complications between the two Govern
ments, or swift and ample acknowledge
ment OF her wrong by Canada, followed
by just damages for the vessels seized.
The first chapter OF this attack of fisher
les trouble was like all its predecessors,
and ended in wind and red tape, but this
second part of it is fragrant violation OF
the rules and customs observed by
friendly powers toward each other, and
is all the more contemplate as it shows
clearly petty spite unbecoming nation
and neighbor. The trouble had its ORR
gin in the vastly self-impudence of the
Canadian Premier and his ragtag advs-
ers, who, being angry at the foolish atti'
tude they are placed in by the sensible
action of their Home Government, sought
this questionable means Of playing even
and to do so, overstepped the bounds o
prudence, and allowed their personal
and local feelings to assume a national
shape. The asking or receiving OF pra
tique by any master is unknown between
friendly powers, except as before stated
in u case of quarantine, and if it wal
strictly adhered to, every Canadian yes
sci now in American waters would be Ii
able to seizure over and over again. Ii
case OF stress OF weather, where any
one of the thousand necessary supplies
for the saving OF life or the vessel was re
quired, it would be gross injustice to fore,
the master to go to the Custom Hous
and report his ship before he procured
what he wanted, and then, too, the Gus
tom House might be closed and he un
able to enter it. The Canadian coast
wise craft have for years entered tn
Eastern harbors OF the United States, an,
in hundreds OF cases, sold and delivere,
their freights without going near thu
Custom House until ready to clear thei
vessels and return, yet they have neve
been molested as these fishermen were
simply because the usages OF commerc
permitted this method OF procedure. TIL
Collector OF Customs has imposed fin
OF $400 upon each OF the three masters
and it is to be hoped that the State De
partment will at once interfere and fol
ever stop this petty action OF a puny pro,
ince, and place our fishing interests upo
firmer basis than the ignorant preju
dices OF a people who are totally wanting
in knowledge OF commercial intercourse
and who place the qualification OF personi
malice, in advance of q true interprets
ton OF the law.