The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-05-26
THE SCHOONER ADAMS.
An American Fishing Vessel Held
by the Canadian Authorities.
Her Captains Statement to the
United States Consul-General

Considerable excitement has been aroused
by the seizure of the American fishing
schooner David J. Adams, of Gloucester,
Mass, by the Canadian authorities, for pur
chasing bait in Canadian waters. The State
Department at Washington ordered Consul
General Fhelan to make an investigation
and report. The Captain of the Lansdowne,
the Canadian vessel which captured the David
J. Adams, made demand upon Captain
Kinney, of the American vessel, for the sur
render of lis ships papers. Captain Kin
ney refu O. to comply. Consul
Phelan. representing the United States Gov
ernment, told Captain Kinney to keep his
papers. The following is Captain Kinney's
official statement of the seizure:
I'VE arrived in Digby basin on Wednes-
day night at & o'clock and laid at place
called Granville till o'clock the next morn
ing, when we got under way and started to
leave the basin. The wind leaving us when
we got outside about one mile, the food tide
brought us back again. After we got into
the basin again we sailed around to
different parts till about o'clock
on Friday morning, when we started
to again leave the basin. Shortly
after getting under way we saw boat com.
ing toward us from steamer lying opposite
Digby, which latter appeared to be the
Lanslownes Loaf. It came alongside of us
after we had proceeded q mile and q half.
The first officer of the Lansdowne
was in the boat, and at once asked
our hailing port, our name, the own
er's name, the name of the Captain,
and what we were there for I answered
his questions and he went away, apparently
satisfied. Then we again proceeded on our
course, but failed to get out of the basin.
The wind leaving us, we drfted on to the
west shore an hour before low water There
we lay for two hours, when we foated again,
and the tide brought us back into the basin,
where we were again hailed by the first
officer of the Lansdowne, who came
aboard, and going below, searched our cargo,
as he said, in accordance with the orders of
the captain When he returned on deck he
said be ha found herring on board and
inquired how old they were. told him they
were ten days old, which / considered
they were by their size. He then re-
turned to the Lansdowne, and returned
shortly after with man whom. I suppose,
was Captain Daken. who also examined the
cargo, and then the beat and officers returned
to the EansdoHne. Then the same officer and
crew that first boarded us came back and said
we would be delayed for some time, and or
dered us to Digby, and to anchor as near the
Lansdowne as possible. We obeyed the
order, and the schooner was placed i'll charge
of the second officer and five men armed with
lower our sails and await the orders of Cap
tain Scott, who was to investigate our case.
About four hours later Captain Scott himself
came aboard and examined our cargo after
which he seized the vessel in the Queens
name for violation Of the fishery laws. do
not remember the exact language used by
him. No resistance was made. He then
read to us his regulations that we would be
allowed to go ashore here or go to st. Johns
came ashore to see the Consular agent here,
but did not find him, after which I re-
Scott that l could not find the Consul. and
preferred to 60 to st. John. He said he
would start the next morning, and that I and
my crew might stay aboard Of the
schooner, which we did, the vessel remaining
under the care Of the armed crew from the
LanSdowne. I again in the evening came
ashore and saw Consular Agent Stewart,
AMI asked for instructions regarding
the course to be pursued: He ad-
vis:d me to. 60 to st: John,
which we did the following day.
ceived instruction to return to Digby and
report to the Consul General. 1deny having
purchased or caught any bait for the purpose
Of fishing in English waters or having con-
cealed the name Of the schooner. Of course
there is possibility that a piece of canvas
NAV have been over the rail covering a
portion of the vessels name, but it was not
place there Intentionally"
Commander Scott, of the Lansdowne, re-
iteratel his conviction of the guilt of Captain
Kinney and said the later simply lied when
question as to whether he had received any
definite instructions regarding the max
ing of further seizures, or whether
it was the intention of the
Canadian authorities to await further de-
velopmentS in the present case before pro.
ceeding to the bringing Of new ones, Captain
Scott said: Tho seizure of the Adams will
make no difference whatever II bad
chance to seize half dozen more vessels to-
night would do so without the least hesita-
tion.n
Consul General Phelan characterized this
latest procedure as nothing short Of trif1ing by
the Canadians with the affairs Of great
nation. For" said he, 'have they not held
this vessel since Friday without offering our
Government any explanation whatever?
sent communication to Captain Scott
yesterday morning, asking him to explain
the latest turn of affairs, but he
gave no satisfactory response. I asked
Collector Viets on what grounds the
customs authorities held the vessel, and he
replied: Violations of the customs laws, en-
powering a penalty of s4O0, and she was held
for that SUNG How can these conflicting
contentious be reconciled? On one side the
assertion is that the Adams is confiscated for
violation Of the fishery laws, and on the
other is the statement that she was seized for
infringement OF customs regulations!'
All the satisfaction Mr.. Phelan could oh
tain from Captain Scott was that the latter
referred the Consul to the Ottawa authori-
ties.
Sheriff Van Blarcom received from Hall
fax, N. S., q writ against the David J.
Adams, bringing the case before
the Vice-Admiralty Court in that
city. The document is one of the
greatest Importance. 1t says that the action
is for the forfeiture of the vessel and her
cargo for violation OF the treaty Of 1878, and
of various acts Of the British Parliament, and
of acts of the Parliament of the Dominion Of
Canada of 1868, 1870 1871 and 1877;
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