St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-05-22
SEIZURE OF THE ADAMS.

The Canadian Law Under Whic Ii
She Was Taken Faulty.
Special to the Globe.
OTTAWA. Ont, May 21.-The depart
ment has received tbs official report from
Capt. Scott of the Landsdoune of the
seizure of the Adams. 1t confirms In every
respect previous advices received by
telegraph. The fact appears to be
that the vessel, even If ii be
proved that she was buying bait,
cannot under existing laws be held answer
able for such contravention of International
agreement. The law providing for the
seizure of foreign vessels for certain
otfenses is so worded that buying bait is not
an offense under it. Hon. Peter MITCHELL
ex-minister Of marine and fisheries,
who prepared the legislation under
which the seizure : was presumably
made, purposely omitted the buying of bait
from the list of offenses, believing that the
bait should be regarded as an article of
commerce, and the buying of bait as a
commercial transaction. The seizure of
the Adams has opened the eyes Of the gov
eminent to the weak points in the law
under which it was made. and a bill
amending that law has been hurried through
the house, having passed its
THIRD READING TODAY.
1t will probably pass the senate and be-
come law within week. The old bill
provides for the seizure Of any foreign
vessel, ship or boat, which has been found
fishing or preparing to fish within the
limits; the amendment adds the following
words referring to punishable offenSes:
nor which has entered such waters for any
purpose not permitted by the law of nations
by treaty or convention, or by any law of the
United Kingdom, or of Canada, for the time
being in force or having entered such waters,
has failed to comply with any such law of the
United Kingdom or of Canada.
This wording has the effect of making
the buying of bait an offense, since it is in
contravention of the terms of the treaty,
The Adams may, of course, be held to an
Swer for a breach of Canadian revenue
laws, out the prosecution will hardly make
much out Of the charge of buying bait.
PORTLAND, Me-, May 21.-Gov. Robbie
said to-day.
To my mind the seizure of the David J.
Adams and the Ellen M. Doughty was
blunder on the part of the Canadian govern
ment, an outrage on our flag, and gross in
justice to the fishermen and the owners. 1
am very confident that there is in the main
but one sentiment-we desire peace.
we E0STCG tudI SlaQOW Oh WAR
should have been for moment cast upon u 8,
but at the same time we desire to have the
rights of our fishermen respected, and we ask
of the national government the same protec-
ton to our property when in Canadian waters
as when at home. Wise craftsmanship is de-
manded to carry US through the present
trouble without loss of dignity or sacrifice of
right. We look to Washington for that
craftsmanship. The administration has yet
to declare its policy. l have no criticism to
make in advance Of that declaration
ANOTHER CASE RUMoRED.
There is a rumor that the Ella Maud, one
of the vessels owned by Lewis Chase &
Whittnen, has been seized for shipping two
men in one of the colonial ports. The firm
have heard nothing from the captain. They
say that if he shipped the men he went be-
yond his instructions.