The Portland daily press., 1886-07-07
cANApA,s LATEST MOVE.

The exact disposition of the Canadian au-
thorities towards our fishermen is difficult to
understand. The last circular sent out by
the Canadian minister of marine was inter
preted in this country as concession to
American fishermen of the right to buy bait
and enjoy all the other commercial priyil-
eyes in Canadian ports. For a time the
treatment received by our vessels confirmed
this Interpretation. But the latest advices
from Nova Scotia disclose an evident inten-
ton on the part of the Canadian government
to adhere to its original construction of the
treaty Of 1918; and to harass American mas
tiers in every possible way. The seizures OF
the Portland schooners City Point Cushing
aad Harrington for neglect of the captains TO
enter at the custom house before transactlng
business ashore, have merely shown the ex-
istence of an unfriendly disposition towards
our fishermen; on the dispute concerning
the rights of our fishermen under the treaty
of 1918 these seizures have little bearing.
| But Halifax papers bring news of three 9TH
| er incidents which show plainly that Canada
has not yet abandoned the literal construc-
| ton of the treaty, which allows American
| fishermen to enter Canadian ports for wood,
water and shelter, and for no other pur-
poses On Thursday evening, July 1st, the
seining steamer Novelty, of this port, called
| at Pictou, Nova Scotia, for coal and ice.
| The collector of customs served on the cap
tain notice to leave port at the end of twen-
| ty-four hours, and a copy Of the treaty which
| forbids the purchase of other stores than
wood and water. So the Novelty was forced
to leave without coal or ice. The Hall
| fax Herald says that the collector in
| refusing to let the Novelty get coal,
1 acted under instructions from Ottawa. On
| July I'd, the schooner, Henry Willard, also
| of Portland, put into Clark's Harbor, Cape
Island, to ship four men. The captain un-
| derstood before sailing that he would be al
| lowed to do 80. Instead he was forbidden to
| ship man, and warned to leave port II
twenty-four hours If our fishermen are de-
| MED coal, ice, and the right of shipping men,
| there can be no reason why bait also shodid
| not be refused them. 1t has been the I'M
| preston in New England since the last cir
cular was sent out by the Canadian minis
ter of marine, that Canada has giyenup the
| intention of preventing the purchase OF bait.
| That this is not the impression in Nova SEQ
tian ports is shown by this despatSh, sent to
the Halifax Chronicle from the port OF Arr
chat:
l. Two American fishermen, who's names coula
| rot be learned, came into port la!t hlght, Dougnt
bait and skedaddled before morning American
seners are obtaining fish daily IN ChedaDncto
| Bay getting all the bait they want mere unmolest-
| ed, No cruisers visit our harbor. The Houlett
came once. but did notanchor strong ag 1eenngs
| teetng the fishermephore effectually. These dar-
ing fishermen from the States do not dread the
ary. The existing means of protection are notice
| ably Ineffective
These actpns show that Canada intends,
NOT only to harass our fishermen in every
yossibleway, but to adhere to the harshest
/ Interpretation of the treaty. If coal, ice and
men nave been denied to our schooners, and
if bait can be purchased only by stealth, the
6heries dispute is in no more promising
stage than it was at the beginning of the
season.