The Portland daily press., 1886-10-06
THEFIshERY QUESTION.
Tho Senatorial Committee Meet at
Gloucester.
The Testimony of the Captain of the
Schooner Moro Castle.
The Senators to Arrive in Portland
Today.

GLOUCESTER, Mass, Oct 5.-The Senator
ial committee of foreign affairs, consisting
of Senators Edmunds, Frye and Salisbury,
with A. Johns, stenographer, Wilson Vance,
clerk, and John T. Merrill, sergeant-at-arms
held session at Pavilion Hotel, yesterday
afternoon from to 6. The meeting was one
of secrecy. There were some thirty owners
and shippers present during the afternoon
to give their testimony on the fisheries.
Judge Woodruff, George Steele, president
of the American Fishery Union, and ex-Col-
lector Fitz j. Babson, were present. Among
the prominent fish dealers present were Will
liam Jordan, Sylvanus Smith, Sylvester
Cunningham. Among the skippers present
who gave their testimony were Captain
JGyese Of the steamer Novelty Captains ans
others. The investigation consisted of a
rigid questioning regarding everything of
matetial interest to American fisheries. The
committee was much pleased with the skip
pers who appeared before them, remarklng
about their intelligence. They are practical
and fully qua lifted TO impart information.
The committee will continue the invest!ga-
ton for day or two, and will have material
to present to the next Congress of tangl BILE
value to the American fisheries. The nature
of the inquiry embraces everything relating
to business done, the nature and value of the
Canadian fisheries, and the manner of treat
ment of American shippers in Canadian
ports.
InlS morning Lle c0mmlCL66 Inspected Nd-
rious packing and other establishments con-
nected with fishing interests in the city after
which the work of examining witnesses was
resumed in secret session. A number of
shippers appeared before the committee.
Captain John |. McQuin testified how his
vessel the schooner Druid, was detained at
Malpecque, Prince Edward Island, by Cana
dian officials. He said he cleared from
Gloucester for the Magdalene Island with
salt barrels and provisions to assist Ameri-
E1t.0 rAN OF nlv
was detained two days, when word came
from Ottawa to let the vessel go. At Mag
dalene Island he was told that he could not
put anything on board the fishermen or take
cargoes from them.
Captains Russell, Terry, Greenleaf and
others testified how they were treated In the
bay this season.
The Senate committee on the fisheries con-
tinued its investigation this afternoon, Sena-
tor Edmunds in the chair. Among those
who gave evidence were ex-collector Babson,
W. A. Wilcox and Prof. Earle of the Smith
sonian Institute, Capt. Joyce of the schooner
Moro Castle, which vesselis at Port Hawkes.
bury, having been recently seized. He said
he sailed from Gl0uces for North Bay on the
second trip and while in the bay procured
40 barrels of mackerel. Did not fish inside
the limit or violate custom laws Left the
bay intending to come home stopping at
Port Mulgrave, when Collector Bourinot OF
Port HaWkeSbury, came on board accompan-
led by the crew of the cruiser Roulette, and
seized the vessel I protested against the
seizure as had not transgressed any law,
but was told it was for smuggling in various
harbors along the western shore in 1888, of
which was Ignorant as the vessel was
then in command of another captain. The
department at Ottawa was notified of the
seizure, when orders were given to impose
$1,000 fine. The owners in Gloucester re-
fused to pay the fine when the vessel was
taken to Port Hawkesbury. and an armed
was of no avail. The vessel was stripped
by Canadian officials and the crew left for
home. Captains Willard, Poole and Coombs
gave their experience in North Bay this
season which was immaterial The hearing
then closed. The Senators will leave for
Portland in the morning.