Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-05-26
TILT OF THE FISHERMEN.
THE SEIZURE OF THE SISTERS
NOT SIGNIFICANT

similar Occurrences Almost EVerY-DRS
Mstters-Doubts 80 TO the state De-
psrtment Having , urisdiction over the
Case-Canadisns Alleging That All tho
Excitement i on This Side of the Line.
WAsHINGrON, May 25.-The seizures
of tue Sisters at Portland, Me-, yesterday
was not known at either the State De-
partment or tho Treasury Department up
to O'Clock this afternoon, except from
the newspaper accounts. Secretary Bay
ard being in New York attending MRS.
Pendlct0n's funeral, no one at the State
Department wanted to be quoted as say
Ing anything about the affair. Privately,
officers Of the department said that they
a1led TO see how the matter could in any
way be brought under the jurisdiction Of
the State Department. The secretary OF
State has no authority over the customs
service Of the Treasury Department.
HIS POWERS.
He could only bring to the attention Of
the President tor his Information and
consequent action any complaint that
might be made by the Canadian authors
ties through the English Foreign office
He could not officially take cognizancs
OF communication about the mattar
coming in any other way. L. was feared
that the seizure Of the Sisters might en-
barrass the Secretary Of State in his
pending negotiations with Great Britain
about the commercial rights of vessels Of
the two countries in their respective
waters, unless II should appear that the
action OF the Collector at Portland was
usual and regular.
THE ONLY SIGNIFICANT FACT.
Assistant Secretary Fairchild said ia
the News correspondent this evening that
seizures like that Of the Sisters (assum-
ing the new spaper accounts to be correct
were constantly occurring at the different
ports of the United States. lie said that
he had to pass almost every day upon
some case Of the sort. lt would have at
tracted no attention bad IL occurred in
any port outside Of New England. The
only unusual fact he had noted IN the
dispatches about it was the statement
that the customs authorities at Portland
had not been carrying out the law
in this regard so zealOusly in
the past as they now seemed ready to do.
II WAS To be supposed that all customs
officers had faithfully executed all the
laws peculiarly entrusted to them at all
times.
THE NEW ENGLAND DELEGATION.
Tue Maine delegation and the otheI
England expressed pleasure at the news
that the customs authorities in New Eng
land were beginning 20 execute our laws
as zealOusly as the Canadian customs
officials execute their laws. They
| thought the seizure Of the Sisters a good
thing as conducting to the speedier settle
mont Of the controversy. They had no,
doubt that it viii ultimately result in the
concession by Great Britain of all we de-
IA nffr la in = ftsnst for
but they depl ecate the delay. Yet this de-
lay is sinevitable on account OF the round
about way in which the correspondence
has 10 be carried on.
no IMPORTANCE ATTACHED TO TT.
HALIFAX. n. S.. May 25.-As the
schooner Sisters was seized at Portland
merely for violation Of the American cus-
toms law, 10 is not probable that the peO-
pie Of Nova Scotia will attach any i'm
portance thereto or show The 81 ghtest de.
gree OF excitement. In ordinary times
such an event would have no interest
except to those Immediately concerned.
The affair occasions no excitement here.
GLOUCESTER ELATED.
GLOUCESTER, MASS, May 25.--Tha
fishermen here were much elated when
the news came that a Nova Scotia vessel
had been seized at Portland Dispatches
from Nova Scotia indicated that extra
exertiOns are being made there to be IN
readiness to seize some Of the American \
mackerel catcbers when they arrive DUR
ing the first part Of June.
IN THE WRONG.
ST. JOHN, n. b., May 25.-There 10
nothing new in the fisheries discussion. !
Taere appears to ne growing feeling,
not only among fieharmen having bait to-
sell, but among other CLASSES OF the COM
munity, that Canada is doing wrong in
not allowing American fishermen 10 pur-
chase bait. There is not one out Of a hun.
dred Of our fishermen VINO would not sell
bait to the Yankees If they got a chance.