The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-05-23
THE FUSS ABOUT FISH-BAIT.
Vessels Offering Resistance to Canadian
Ships May Be Treated as Pirates.
The Seizure of the Schooner Adams Found to
Have Been Illegal-The State Department
at Washington Moving in the Matter.

TORONTO, May 22-Referring to the report
that the American fishing schooner Augusta Her
rick had sailed from Boston for the fishing
grounds, armed with cannon and determined to
resist should any Canadian vessel attempt to
seize her, the Globe says: s.This may prove a
very serious matter The United States govern
ment neglected its duty when it allowed this
vessel to arm in one of its ports and to proceed,
when armed, to waters in which no vessel hon
estly pursuing a legitimate business required
such an armament If permission was obtained
from the government. its responsibility is all the
greater Should this vessel attempt a forcible
resistance when British Canadian cruiser
duly commissioned. attempts to seize it in Cana
dian waters, charge of having acted lille
gally, 1t may be treated as pirate To allow its
vessels to 60 forth armed to trespass upon a
neighbours territory is unworthy of great
country. and especially of free people. Canada
will not be deferred by any danger of possible
collision and its possible Consequences from
asserting its rights and enforcing Its laws
OTTAWA, May 22-The government has re-
ceived the official report, from Captain Scott, of
the Lansdowne, OF the seizure OF the Adams
1t confirms in every respect previous advices re-
ceived by telegraph The fact appears to be
that the vessel even if it be proved that she was
buying bait cannot, under existing laws, be held
answerable for such contravention of interna-
tional agreement. The law providing for the
seizure OF foreign vessels for certain offenses is
80 worded that buying bait is not an offense un-
der it. Hon. Peter Mitchell, ex-Minister of Ma
rlne and Fisheries, who prepared the legislation
under which the seizure presumably made
purposely omitted the buying of bait from the
list of ofenses believing that bait should be
regarded as an article of commerce. and the buy
ing of bait a commercial transaction. The
SEIZURE OF the Adams seems to have caused the
government to realize the weak points of the
law Under which it was made and a bill amend
ing that law has been hurried through the
House OF Commons having passed the third
reading yesterday It will probably pass the
Senate and become a law in a week
BAD DECK, c. B., May 22-On his return
here, ul-gcneral Fhelen said that the law
under which permits are granted dates prior to
1880, but that in 1880 President Andrew Jack
son issued a proclamation granting certain com
meIcial rights to English vessels, and similar
proclamation was issued by the Minister in
power at that time in Great Britain This Brit
lsh proclamation was in the same spirit as that
issued by President jackson, and it is claimed
that the joint action of the two governments
cured to all vessels sailing under the United
States flag the same rights asthose enjoyed by
English vessels in the ports of the colonies, sub
Ject, or course,sto the customs laws. 1t is IN
derstood that this will be the argument used by
Consul Phelan throughout the progress of the
two cases of seizure. 1t is thought that he will
De able to prove the right OF American vessels
to procure bait in British waters 1t is not yet
decided whether the seized vessels will be
brought to Bad Deck.
PORTLAND, Me-, Nav 22-The excitement
here in regard to the fishery trouble is una
bated Board of Trade and city government
meetings have not yet been called, but if they
are much longer delayed there will be a mass
meeting at the City Hall. To the fishermen the
settlement OF the questions in dispute is a mat
ter of bread and butter, but not man has ex
pressed a desire to see q commission appointed
or to have the treaty renewed. There is bitter
talk i'll regard to the Canadian schooner Alert.
now loading with bait 1t is believed that other
schooners of the same character and on the
same errand will not be very warmly received
here.