The Portland daily press., 1886-05-10
INDIGNANT FISHERMEN.

| uCG dllllQ otUlil " "HI~'N-oS'
INDIGNANT FISHERMEN.
A Gloucester Vessel Seized al
Digby, IS.
Matters Likely to Brought to Head
at Once.
| GLOUCESTER, Mass, May S.-Much excite
ment prevailed in business circles in this
| city this morning, when the seizure of the
David j. Adams at Digby, N. S., by the
Landsdowne, was reported. The American
Fishery Union called a meeting to take i'm
mediate action regarding such seizure A
protest will be forwarded to Washington,
demonstrating against the action of the Do
minion authorities.
HALIFAX, N. S., May S.-Fishery protee-
ton steamer Lansdowne, with the confis-
Gated Gloucester schooner David j. Adams
in tow, steamed out of Digby basin between
and o'clock this morning, and arrived at
st. John, N. B., early in the afternoon. The
seizure has created considerable excitement
among the fishing and shipping merchants
of the province, and the manner in which it
was effected-has produced much comment.
The action of Commodore Scott in first COM
manding the vessel to proceed outside the
limits, and then, before Captain Kinney was
able to obey orders, to put crew OF men
from the Lansdowne on board, and COM
mence an official investigation, is regarded
as at least somewhat extraordinary. Why
the admiral of the fishery fleet did not take
possession of the offending vessel without
hesitation has not been explained. There is
feeling of partial relief in commercial and
official circles now that the first seizure has
been made, because it is thought that things
will be hastened to a more decisive point
than has been reached since the campaign
opened There is universal dissatisfaction
in Nova Scotia with the present relations
with the United States as regards fishery
regulations, and everybody would hail with
sincere favor the renewal of those privileges
that would prove advantageous to so many
people in both countries.
A telegram from Dlgby referring TO the
fact that number of American fishermen
came ashore there from their vessels last
night, says they all agreed that the present
condition of the fishery laws was one they
could not be satisfied with, and that they, as
well as the Provincial fishermen, would feel
glad of the seizure in hopes some beneficial
change would result: The special from
Digby says At twilight last night six
American fishermen entered Digby basin
ostensibly for bait. Their captains and
crews were on shore during the evening, and
they say that the bay of Fundy is crowded
with United States fishermen. They state
that they are after bait, and can do nothing
unless they can get bait there. They have
done nothing at all so far this season, and
they intend to run all risks. They are not
the owners Of the vessels They expressed
a wish to be seized as well as the Adams, as
they only care to bring about an issue, so
that the governments will do something.
They admit that, unless they have the priv
lege of procuring bait, they must give up
Commodore Scott, before leaving in the
Lansdowne, ordered the other fishermen in
the basin to put to sea.
breeze from 5ieb gaSe fs aEfmeIeans an
opportunity to get out, and they nave all
departed.
Captain Kinney who is now at Digby,
makes the following statement:
We made ST. Georges Channel between the
hours Of 10 and i for the purpose of getting bait
in the basin, and did not get any. Spoke the fish-
ing schooner Lizzie Magee, and inquired II any
bait was to be had in the basin. The answer was
that there had been fifteen barrels caught, but
that the Magee and another schooner mad pur-
chased it. continued my course up ! the ,lia' Diasn'
where we lay till morning. When in the act OF
weighing anchor noticed steamer coming In,
from st. John. just as we had our anchor hauled
short, and main sail andsforesail set, boat was
lowered from the steamer and came toward US.
then knew what was up. My home is two miles
of Campobello where everybody is starving sim
ply because they cannot sell their fish, which they
used to sell to American fishermen. | was driven
out Of there on that account myself, and, unless
there is a change, everybody over there Will die
of starvation or else be compelled to eat herring
all their lives. If owned the vessel myself, or
was part owner, / would not mind it so much, but
she belongs to ]. Lewis, very poor man, owning
his H Iiyinc' He is cripple having shot his knee
cap off while fooling with revolver.
The crew express the same feeling for the
owner as they say he is a very poor man.
The captain said that if he had had a good
breeze he never would nave let tup IKE the
all told 13 men, Captain Kinney says she has
done well all the spring, and he now expects
he will lose all. The captain and crew have
been tranferred to the steamer Lansdowne.
ST. JOHN, N. B., May s.-The Dominion
cruising steamer Lansdowne arrived In the
harbor this morning, having in tow. the
Gloucester schooner David j. Adams,
which was captured at Digby yesterday
afternoon for violating the treaty of 1918 in
going into a Canadian harbor after bait.
The prize was placed in the hands of the
customs aubhorities pending the action of
the admiralty court The crew, thirteen in
number, reported at the American consuPs
office and were provided with lodgings until
it can be seen what action will be taken by
the Canadian government with regard to the
capture.
This seizure will serve as test case, and
will no doubt settle the question whether
Canada has any right to prevent. Amerl-
can vessels going into Canadian harbors for
bait, ice or men.
WASHINGTON, May S.-The reported seiz-
ure Of the Gloucester fishing vessel ID. D..
Adams by the Canadian authorities, for
ho 40 ha IT. in the town of DIOhV. N. s..
caused considerable comment among the
New England Senators and Representatives.
Mr.. Dingley of Maine said that Secretary
Bayard had said to him only the day before
the seizure that he Secretary Bayard) was
confident the Canadian authorities had re-
ceived such advices that they would not
seize any American fishing vessel for enter
ing port for commercial purposes. Il his
seizure of a Gloucester vessel, said Mr.
Dingley, twill be likely to bring matters to
head sooner than they would otherwise
have BEEN"
ssIt is understood" added Mr.. Dingley
'that Secretary Bayard is in communication
with the British minister on the subject OF
the commercial rights of American fishing
vessels in Canadian ports, and that the min
lister has requested the Canadian authorities
to move carefully. 1t is possible that the
American schooner seized on Friday may be
released, but if she is not and the Canadian
authorities proceed to condemn her under
their laws, steps will be taken looking to
the application of the same restrictions to
Canadian vessels in our port that the Cana
dian authorities are seeking to apply to
American vessels in Canadian ports. The
act of 1928 authorizes the President by proc
lamation to suspend the privileges granted
in our ports to the vessels Of any foreign
country which discriminates against our yes
sells. This act may need some slight modI-
fcation. [ have not seen the Secretary since
the news Of the seizure was se received, but,
that he is much surprised, and that he will
be more surprised if the vessel is not at ono e
released by the Canadian authorities on re-
ceiving advices from the British minister at
Washington. presume the Secretary has
called the attention of the British minister
to the seizure and asked the vessel be re-
leased. The British home authorities will
be obliged to interpose at once, or else un-
pleasant consequences may result.
WASHINGTON, May 9.-The Post, tomor-
row, will publish an interview with Hon.
L. Sackville West, the British minister, in
regard to the seizure of the United States
fishing vessel Adams by the Canadian au-
thorities, in which he says: