Huntsville gazette., 1886-06-19
A FISH STORY.

They VIII Protect Themselves-NO More
Seizures.
HALIFAX, N. S., June 18.-The Cana
dian Government cruisers are all out on
service in the fishery waters. Reports
received from the captains are to the eff.
feet that the vessels are admirably adapt.
ed to the work in which they are engaged.
They are all fast sailers and act we'll in
rough weather. Contrary to expectation,
however, no seizures have been made by
them. Whether it is that they lacked the
opportunity to do so, or have received
orders simply to issue warning to Amer
ican fishermen, is not known here. Be
that as it may, it is fact that Gloucester
fishermen have been helping themselves
very literally from the waters within the
limit defined by the treaty. A dispatch
from Canso states that feet of seiners
anchored in that port on Wednesday, hav-
ing run in to get clear of a threatened
storm. AS soon as the weather cleared
they were off again. The cruiser Houlette
fell in with eleven of them within the
limit. They were not engaged in fishing,
however, and as soon as they got in
sight of the Canadian cruiser they set all
sail and moved quickly away to sea.
The Houlette is reported as doing ef-
fective work in soaring Yankee fishermen
off the shore. The captains of the latter
did not stop to argue any disputed points
with the officers of the cruiser, but act
ing on the assumption that discretion is
the better part Of valor, put as much water
between her and them in as quick time as
possible.
At Prospect, fishing port few miles
out of Halifax, yesterday, the captain of
Gloucester fisherman, in conversation,
complained bitterly of the loss
and annoyance caused him by
the fishery trouble. Instead of
being loaded and on his way home, he
had an empty vessel and no bright pros
poets of filling her without fish. He,
however, got supply of bait and started
for sea, determined to do or die in his
desperation. He will in all probability
come in contact with one of the Canadian
cruisers, in which case there may be a
seizure to report.
BosToN, Mass, June 13.-The an.
nouncement that the fishing schooner
Augusta E. Herrick has arrived at Glou-
cester fully armed with cannon and Win
chester rifles preparatory to trip to the
mackerel banks, has caused revival of
interest in the fishing question. The
Herrick is fine and sturdy craft, and her
commander and crew are a determined
an d intelligent set of men. They affirm
that they will not Infringe upon the three
mile law, but at the least interference by
any of the Dominion cruisers they will
resist to the bitter end, and will not
hesitate to sink their opponents. The
enthusiasm and determination of this
captain have inspired a similar feeling
among the Gloucester feet owners, and
several of them have made arrangements
for the immediate arming of their vessels.
The fact that the mackerel season has fully
opened, and that but a very few fisher
men from New England have as yet sailed
for the banks adds to the belief that the
feet can secure valuable catches on the
seining ground if they but send their ves-
sells off in the coming week.
A large number of vessels are known to
be in active preparation for the cruise,
and there will be some fifty craft en- routc
armed with batteries OF cannon and brave
crews. There is considerable hustle at
Gloucester among the fisherman, who are
victualling their craft and putting bait on
board. 1t is stated that orders have been
received by several arms dealers in Bos-
ton for supplies of muskets and revolvers,
to be forwarded Immediately to Glouces-
ter, and some other similar orders from
owners or fishing vessels at Portland. 1t
is stated that the Dominion Government
has concentrated some half dozen cruisers
off the coast of Prince Edwards Island
the last three days in anticipation of the
appearance of the American feet, as the
large schools of mackerel have recently
been running in those waters.
Some fifteen American vessels were or.
dered off the coast at North Bay and
Chedebucts yesterday, and they were
forced to put to sea. Several vessels
have been examined by Dominion off"
GERS and catechised as to where they OBJ
tanned the bait, but no seizures have been
made, as no infraction Of the law could
be proven. The excitement pertaining
to the fishery question Is on the increase,
and it is believed that before another
week there will be some events occur
that will necessitate prompt action by
the Governments of Great Britain and the
United States.
GLOUCESTER, Mass, June 13.-Every
thing is excitement here. Masters Of
vessels are hurrying about and prepara.
tiOns are being MADE 10 arm seVerai
schooners with cannon. A mackerel
skipper said:
81 shall have and eight FOUNDER, and II
the vessel will stand a ten-pounder,
NAV take one Of that caliber. / am bound
not to be taken outside the three-mile
limit. Secretary Bayard may say he is
panied to hear that the fishermen are
arming their vessels. We have got to do
this if the Government fails to protect US.
The administration may not be with US,
but we have the people with us wherever
have been, and in every port which l
put in on my trip south after mackerel.
The people are with US also in our views
of arming craft. If the Government Will
not protect US, mean to go into Cana
dian waters and don't propose that the
Lansdowne or any other cruiser shall
seize me-"
HALIFAX, N. S., June l3.-It IS stated
on the best official authority that the Brit
ish government has issued orders to
make no more seizures of American yes
sells, except when the violation OF the
treaty of 1878 is so open and fragrant that
n con not he winked at So far as learned