Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1886-07-11
THE FISHERS RIGHTS.
Cansda's Action Suggests Some Problems Fol-
PrOteCtOnistS.
A KIND OF ONE-SIDED THEORY.
Full Text of Secretary Bayarls Letter to
Captain Lewis

Full Text OF 0screIary bayaTls L9Uer 70
Captain Lewis
\ WASHINGTON, July 1O.-"These Cana
dians are queer fellows, y said gentleman
here to-day, discussing the fishery troubles
"The treaty gives our people the right to
buy wood and water; but coal is only pet
rifed wood and ice is only frozen water;
yet they refuse to let us buy coal and ice. 1"
! 'Yes, was the reply, ''but our fisher
men, who cry out for protection against
Canadian fish, are still more absurd. If
they are protectionists why do they not
buy their coal and ice in this country and
thus encourage two important branches of
I home industry. Instead Of that they go
t. Pictou to buy cheap coal for their vOy-
age, thus evading the payment Of seventy
five cents ton duty on foreign coal, laid
to protect our American miners, and while
they might buy ice anywhere in Maine
they prefer to get it in Nova Scotia, where
it is cheaper As protectionists and de-
manding the exclusion of Canadian fish
from our markets to protect them
selves, they ought to buy Amen-
! can coal and American ice, so as to pro-
| tect and encourage American producers of
these things. They do not play fair in
these matters. But that is not all. AS
protectionists why do not the American
owners of fishing vessels employ American
crews? From half to two-thirds of the
crews they put into their vessels are for
eigners-Nova ScOtians. Is that not q
wrong to American labor? OF course, they
buy Canadian coal and ice, and employ
Nova Scotia crews because they are cheap
er, But when they so positively demand
protection for themselves, though it makes
fish dearer to American workingmen, they
ought to be willing to protect equally the
American coal and ice producers; that Is to
say, American workingmen in other trades
besides their own. The men who mine
American coal and the others who cut and
store American ice have certainly a just
cause of complaint, if the highly protected
American fishermen insist on buying for
eign coal and ice produced by cheap for
eign labor.
There seems to be something in this
worth the consideration of the American
Fisherman's Union, and perhaps also of
the American coal miners and ice cutters.
SECRETARY BAYARD's LETTER.
Below is the full text of the letter of
Secretary Bayard to Captain Lewis, owner
of the Adams, of which was published an
extract on Tuesday:
DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
WASHINGTON, June 80, 1886.
Cdptdia Jesse Lelris Ocner of the schooner
Darid j. adams, Gloucester, Mass:
SIR-I have your letter dated the 26th
inst, stating the severe loss to you Occa-
stoned by the summary seizure, by the
Canadian authorities, in Annapolis basin,
Nova Scotia, of your fishing schooner, the
David j. Adams, which, as you say, is all
the property you possess and constituted
your "only support"
1t is proper that | should inform you
that demand was made upon the govern
ment of Great Britain for the release OF
the vessel, coupled with notification that
that government would be held answer
able for all loss and damage caused by
her seizure and detention. Your case
commands my sincere sympathy, and ever
since it was brought to my knowledge has
had the constant consideration of this de-
partment and of the consular officers of the
United States aud the Dominion of Canada.
Mr.. William l.. Putnam, of Portland,
Me. in conjunction with Mr.. George w.
Biddle, of Philadelphia, has been engaged
ny this government as its legal counsel IN
respect of its rights and duties which may
be brought in question by reason of the
seizure of your vessel. Ifyou will cOmmu-
nicate with Mr.. Putnam he will no doubt
give YOU all information in his power in
relation to the laws under which your
property was so seized, and suggest what
steps should be taken to protect your prl-
vate interest in the premises: Il
Moreover, | suggest that you should
carefully secure evidence of all facts con-
nected with the presence of your vessel i'll
Annapolis Basin, and of the absence OF any
unlawful act or intention on the part OF her
master. crew or owner as well as proof OF
the actual loss and injury sustained by
Won by reason of this harsh, and, rs ! De-
lieve, wholly unwarranted action by the
Canadian offic 'als-Such evidence to be OBJ
tanned and preserved as the basis OF claims
for your remuneration.
More than one year ago | sought to pro-
tect our citizens engaged III fishing from
the results which might attend any posi-
BILE misunderstanding between the govern
ments of Great Britain and the United
States as 10 the measure of their mutual
rights and privileges in the territorial
waters of British North America, after the
Termination of the fishery articles of the
treaty of Washington in June last. 1t
seemed to me then, and seems TO me now,
very hard that differences Of opinion be-
tween the two governments should cause
loss to the honest citizens whose line Of
obedience might be thus rendered vague
and uncertain and theirproperty be brought
into jeopardy. Influenced by this feeling
! | procured temporary arrangement which
secured our fishermen full enjoyment ofall
the Canadian fisheries, free from molesta-
ton during period which would permit
discussion of q Just international settlement
of the whole fishery question. But other
/ counsels prevailed, and nv efforts further
! to protect the fishermen from such trouble
/ as YOU now suffer were unavailing.
To secure for them full protection in the
endowment of all their just rights and priv
/ ileges is still my earnest intent aud object,
/ and for all losses to which they may be un-
! lawfully subjected at the hands of the au-
thOrities of foreign governments shall
seek and expect to obtain full redress. |
regret exceedingly the disturbance in the
long customary pursuits and the serious
loss and inconvenience attendant upon q
disputed construction Of laws and treaties
BY two separate governments, and trust
that I shall soon be enabled to secure such
a clear and comprehensive declaration Of
agreement between those charged with the
administrations of the two governments as
will define the line of their rights and Sc
cure from moleStation those American fish-
ermen who, obeying the iniunctions Of
their government respecting subordination
to the laws of foreign governments, keep