Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1886-06-16
The Excited Fishermen.

A correspondent writing from Glou
cester, Mass, says: A Boston news
paper correspondent was told by a
successful and trustworthy fisherman
this morning that the fishermen are
organizing to take the law into their
own hands, and defend their proper
ty and business by force of arms un-
less the Government does something
for their protection. Seventy five
sail are reported to have banded to-
gether at Block Island the other day,
and at Vineyard Haven over one hun
dred sail have organized. They pur-
pose, if the Government dallies too
long, to arm and drive off all Canadi-
an vessels coming TO the United
States with fish, meeting them on the
high seas and destroying their fish
They have detectives in the provin,
ces to notify them when fish are to
be shipped by rail, and means will be
taken to stop their importation. Many
fishermen are Knights of Labor, and
it is reported that the Knights will
have a hand in the matter. Said the
correspondents informant:
They will carry six-pounders, and
some schooners can carry an eighteen
FOUNDER. They will fish on the high
seas, keeping three miles from shore
but they propose to protect their
rights and will get mackerel. We can
blow their cutters out of water. AL
ready the fishermen are said to have
sent in their orders for guns and am
munition."
The dispatches from the provinces
bearing on exclusion of American fish
ing vessels from waters within three
miles of line drawn from headland
to headland causes CONSERVATION here
Fishermen say that this construction
of the treaty will cut off the American
mackerel fishery, and they threaten
to take the law into their own hands
unless the Government does some
thing to help them Said fisherman
this morning:
"Where is the American squadron,
when the whole British North Ameri
can squadron is in and about provin-
cial waters? If the Americans are to
be shut out from headland to headland
in many cases it will cut off the whole
mackerel fishery.
In an interview, this morning, Pres
ident Steele, Of the American Fishery
Union, said: "There appears to be a
better feeling in Washington. As fast
as the shippers of American vessels
who have been ordered out from the
large bays arrive their affidsvits will
be taken before a notary public, and
these statements will be forwarded to
the authorities at Washington. Then
they will have something to work up
on that is substantial. Newspaper re-
ports are not evidence"
President Steele has forwarded the
affidavit of the skipper of the Annie
NJ. Jordan, who had a permit to trade,
and Secretary Bayard has replied to
it. What the answer is is as yet Sc
cret, but it is believed something will
be done regarding the rights of Amer
leans.
DIGBY, \. s., June 9.-Since the
officers of the schooner Terror heard
about American vessels lowering near
and putting out after seeing her, they
have taken down their colors. disrob
ed their crew and toggled them up in
rock maple suits, giving them the ap-
pearance of south shore fishermen.
Last night an old fisherman remark
ed, after seeing the disguised police
craft, that Yankee fishermen knew
too much to be caught with that kind
of bait.