Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-08-23
AN INTERVIEW
win omcers OF the North Atlantic Squad.
ron In Regard to the Results OF the Ga.
lena and Yantic Among the Fishermen
IN the Cult of st. Lawrence.
PORTLAND, Aug. %

PORTLAND, Aug. %.
Omcers of the North Atlantic sauadrou
nave been interviewed 10 regard to the results
Oh the Gaiena and Yantic among the fisher
men In the Gulf of st. Lawrence.
The Yantic boarded several fishermen and
her commander saw Capt Scott of the Lans-
downe. There is no truth in the report that
the fantic warned fishermen to obey the reg
uiations of the treaty of lslS None of the
fishermen had any complaint of i'll TIT atment.
They reported the officers of Canadian cruis-
ers as reasonably courteous. Canadian pa
troll steamers, so far, have been Intellectual to
accomplish the purpose designed.
The Galena cruised around Prince Edward
Island, visiting North Bay first, and retorn-
ing through Northumbr rrland strait to the fisn-
ing fleets in the eastern portion of North Bay.
around North cape and along the east shore
towards Northumberland strait. The Galena
boarded so American vessels and offered them
whatever assistance they might need. Dur
ing the whole the Galena wa. with the fisher
men no one of the officers saw Canadian
cruiser, although subsequently they met Capt
Scott of the LansGowne. The Canadians
seem to be more anxious to enforce strict
observance of the customs laws than to be on
the lookout to make any seizures that would
raise an issue under the treaty of 1918. In
the enforcement of the customs laws the Do
minion officials seem to exercise the greatest
severity towards those American vessels that
are manned bv Canadians. Gloucester or
Portland men stand better show of civil and
consderate treatment than one from Prince
Edward Island, Cape Breton or Nova Scotia
does.
One significant fact was observed by the
Galena's officers that when they asked the
skipper of vessels that they had boarded
whether the treaty of 1918 was giving them
considerable hardships the reply was gen.
eral that while it was unsafe to land for sup
plies, as they were liable to seizure, and
while the enforcement of the customs laws
was irksome, they were still getting along
very we'll. They complained very little, but
the condition, they said, was pitiable and
uutiHk tHe "hoiC thc ooiSuS louuu
more pity for the people down there than
complained at i'll treatment.
The officers of the Galena say that while at
Port Hastings. in Strait Canso, they talked
with an officer Of the port who said the busi-
ness of the place was almost Frustrated. The
official himself had been doing a profitable
trading business, but the prohibition of sell
ing eupplies to the Americans had ruined it.
At Cape Breton there is little money stir
ring and the fourishing trade which was
once enjoyed by the provincial fishermen and
farmers is now gone, except when an Ameri-
can craft comes in for repairs. Produce is
extremely low. The enforcement of the
strict terms of the treaty is making great
hardships and this hardship seems to be
mostly on the side of the Dominion fisher
aen and farmers.
OF the Canadian cruisers both the Yantc
and Galena heard generally good reports.
Their captains were gentlemanly and few
fishermen reported any grievances. An ex-
ception TO this rule was the Terror, COM
manded by Capt. Quigby, but it is under
stood that he has been taken in hand by his
own government.