The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-05-13
THE FISHERY WAR.
Seizure Of an American Vessel
by a Dominion Steamer.
A Blow That May Lead to Serious Com.
plicatiOIs.

The first seizure of the fishery war has
been made the first serious blow struck, that
may result in grave complications between
Great Britain and the United States. Like
a hungry vulture the fishery flagship
bore down. upon her unsuspecting
prey, and as quickly as the dignity
of the situation would permit, Commander
Scott pronounced the word that the tres
passer should be taken The victim is the
Gloucester schooner David j. Adams, Capt.
Allen Kinney, and her crime, or alleged
crime, is that of purchasing bait. About Fri
day afternoon, Viets, collector of Gus
toms, received information that an American
fishing vessel had arrived in Digby Nova
SCOTIA BASIN He Immediately telegraphed
Capt. Scott, who was at St John, n. B., with
the steamer Lansdownc, and stated that
her presence in the basin was be-
lieved to be for the purpose of pro-
curing a supply of bait. Capt. Scott re-
piled, stating that he had telegraphed to the
minister of marine for instructions, and no
doubt he received them, for about midnight
the Lansdowne arrived at Digby and at day
light her second officer boarded the David j.
Adams. The circumstances of the case,
as given by those who charge that the
schooner has rendered herself liable to seis-
ure, are as follows: The David j. Adams
entered Digby basin about noon and was at
once recognized from her build and rig as
United States vessel. That part of the schoon-
er's sides on which her name appeared is
said TO have been covered with canvas,
and thus her identity remained I'M
discovered. She came through ST. Georges
channel, crossed toward the south shore of the
basin, and anchored under the Annapolis
shore, four miles from Dgby. After passing
through the channel, fishing boats came
alongside and those on board the schooner
purchased bait from them. man
on board the vessel asserted to be the captain
asked those in the boats if they knew
where the Lansdowne was. When daylight
broke the second officer of the Lansdowne,
which had put In an appearance, went on
board the Adams, told Capt Kinney to re-
move the canvas from over the vessels name,
and commanded him to put to sea-
The Adams was got under way as
once, but flood tide and calm pre-
vented her from getting out of the BASIN
In the mean time the Lansdowne put
| outside but several hours afterward she re-
turned. An officer was again sent on board
| the schooner, which had reached st. Georges
channel, and then tie two came back to Dig
by and dropped anchor. An examination into
| the case was Immediately commenced on
board the steamer before the officers of the
ship by William Hawley, commissioner of
| fisheries for Digby county, and Batsford Viets,
| officer of customs. The schooner was searched
to ascertain if there existed sufficient evidence
of breach of the fishery laws to justify in
| slant seizure without formal investigation.
| Such did not appear, and consequently the
| court proceeded to call several witnesses, the
| testimony of whom resulted in decision
| that the schooner should be seized for in
| fringement of the fishery regulations in pur-
chasing supplies within tho forbidden linn
| it's
The Lansdowne will take the coniscated
vessel to st. John, the steamers first officer
being placed in charge of the schooner. 1t is
reported that another American fishing YES
sci was in the Digby basin to obtain supply
of bait, and succeeded in getting to sea before
darkness came on.
Later reports state that the presence of the
| Adams in the Digby basin in quest of bait is
| explainable, in one respect, by the fact that
large schools of herring, which had been
hanging around the coast of New Brunswick
and Maine, struck across to the other side of
the bay of Fundy, and the vessel followed.
United States Consul-General Phelan, at
Halifaz says he has received no positive in
formation regarding the seizure from the con.
| sular agent at Digby