The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1886-06-05
cANADA's FISH.
Exciting Races Off the Nova Scotia
Coast.
Yankee Fishermen Taking haIIbut
Wherever They Please.

| HALIFAX, June 4-The cutter L. Houlett
| is busily employed in chasing American fish
ermen in Eastern Nova Scotia waters While
sailing along the Strait of Canso. Wednes-
| day, she sighted two Gloucester schoOners
| lying off Judique, a noted batting place be-
| tween Port Hastings and Port Hood, on the
| gulf side of the strait. They were evidently
waiting for bait and also keeping an eye for
the cutter When they got the first glimpse
of her they crowded on all sail and put to
sea. The Houlett is fast sailer, but the
Yankees were too much for her, and after an
exciting chase of several hours, the Yankees
continuing to widen the gap between them
and the cutter, the Houlett gave up the
chase and returned to Port Hood to obtain
telegraphic information of the whereabouts
of other Americans along the Cape Breton
coast, and to drop down ON them. She has
probably paid a flying visit to Arichat ere
this, where the Gloucester fisherman, Thos
L. Iarr, IS lying IN port, with several other
Americans in the bay.
The cruiser Conrad, which has been fitted
ont at this port for several weeks past, is
nearly ready for sea, and will sail early Sat
qrday morning. Her destination is un-
doubtedly along the coasts of LunenDurg,
Shelburne and Yarmouth, where mackerel
and American seiners are reported in num-
bers. The Terror, fitted out at st. John, is
also ready for sea. The Gen. Middleton has re-
turned to that port, after cruising in and out
of all the harbors between that port and
Campobell0. Capt. Mclean saw number
of Americans, but made no attempts at seiz-
ures, merely contenting himself with order
ing them outside the three-mile limit.
Very little news is received from Prince
Edward Island. The latest report says the
herring catch has fallen OFF considerably ON
the north side this week, and unless school
strikes in, the fishermen will be hard pressed
for bait On the south side the fishing is
better. The cod fishing is expected to strike
in at the end of the week at the farthest
The Dominion government steamer New
field visited st. Paups Island, in the Gulf of
st. Lawrence, last week; and found two
American fishermen anchored near East
light. On the approach of the cutter they
weighed anchor and put to sea, but heavy
weather coming on they returned near to the
shore, and anchored within half mile of
the Newfield. The largest of the two, two
topmast schooner, had her travis set within
a mile and half of the land, with her do
ries attending them when the Newheld hove
in sight. The superintendent of the island
reports that dozen Americans have been
fishing in the vicinity of the island for the
last five weeks. They are all fitted for the
halibut fishery. Halibut have been scarce,
but large number of fine Goldfish have been
caught in their travis. These are valueless
W Iil6 AmtIlCdllS, dS tH6y nave no salt 10
cure them. They are thrown again into the
sea, and as many as 40 quintals day have
thus been destroyed. This greatly Injuries
these valuable fishing grounds.
A despatch from Canso says that the
Gloucester schooners Orient and Eleazer
Boynton anchored there Wednesday night
The former had 125 barrels of mackerel and
the latter 20 barrels. They report large
body of mackerel passing down the coast 10
to IA miles off. They propose trying their
luck in Ohedabucto Bay, outside of the three
mile limit and inside the headlands, accord
ing to the American Interpretation.
A despatch from Lockport says the mack
erelling schooner Festina Lente has just ar
rived there. Capt. Hammond reports that
he was in company with 10 American mack
erel seiners, all with more or less fish of large
and good quality. He thinks the bulk of the
fish have gone east. His opinion is endorsed
by the kilograms received from Canso, and
various parts of the Cape Breton coast, re-
porting large schools of fish there. The
Americans which were seining off Lockport
have put into that port for shelter.
The noteworthy feature in connection with
the fitting out of the cruiser Conrad is the
fact that her gunner was obtained from the
crew of the imperial ironclad Bellerophon,
the flagship of the North American squadron,
which arrived from Bermuda a few days ago.
This looks as though the imperial govern
ment not only approved of Canada'S fishery
protection police, but is also actively assist |
ing