Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-07-26
THE FISHERIES TROUBLES.
A Report from Secretary Bayard to the
United states Senate.
wAsHrNeroN, July "a.

WASHINGTON, July "a.
The President today transmitted u the
Senate report from Secretary Bsyard, made
in compliance with the Senate resolution re-
specting the seizure of Americn fishermen.
INSTANTLY, upon receiving authentic in-
formation" writes the secretary, '.of the
alleged seizure from the owners of the ves-
sells or their age ts, or from the consular of
fcers of the United States in Canada, this
department gave instructions to the consular
officers to make full and complete investiga-
tion of the facts in each case, and wherever
any infrsction of the treaty right OF of COM
mercial rights and privileges of citizens of
the United States appeared to have occurred,
representation was promptly made TO her
Britannia msJestys minister at this capital,
calling for redress, and notification giving of
demand for compensation for all loss and in-
jury to the vessel in question and their own
ers. In order properly to assert and main
tain the rights of our citizens and our inter-
national rights under conve ntions, and bv the
law OF the nations which might be brought in
question by these proceedings aud by the sc-
tion of the Canadian government the pro-
fessional services of the two gentlemen
learned by the law, Mr.. Geo. w. Biddle Of
Philadelphia, and Mr.. Wm. l.. Putnam of
Portland, Me-, were retained by the execu-
tive, and since the 25th of Nav last these
gentlemen have bestowed their careful con-
sideraiion upon the circumstances and the
law IN connection Herewith in each case
Proceedings have been commenced in the
wee e-sdmlralty court at Halifax, N. s.,
in the name of Her Majesty the
Queen Ms plaintiff against the schooner
David j. Adams and the schooner
Ella NJ Doughty. in both OF which cases the
complaint is substantially the same. A COPY
is herewith appended of the complaint signed
by the solicitor for the attorney-general of
the Dominion of Canada. against the Ella NJ.
Doughty, which sets forth at length the alley
ed grounds tor the seizure and detention of
thN vessel. Concurrent with these events
correspondence has begun, and is still pro-
ceeding, between this department aud the
BRUSH minister at the capital, and also be-
tween the minister of the United States in
London and the foreign office of her Britain
ME maJesty's government, to obtain suitable
recognition and enforcement of our rights
under treaty and international law and the
laws and commercial usages of both countries
which are brought in question by the action
of the Canadian authorities in making seiz-
ures and detentions of American fishing ves-
sells herein referred to and described. Upop.
TINS correspondence, which 1t is believed must
5000 terminate in amicable settlement, mu-
tuslly just and honorable, and therefore salts
factory to both countries and their inhabi-
tants, the undersigned is unable TO recon-
mend the President to communicate its con-
tents IN IT'S present incomplete status, beliey-
ing that to do 50 would not be compatible
with the public interests as connected with
the transactions referred to.
(Signed) T. +. BAYARp,
Secretary of State.