Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1886-05-12
THE FISHERY WAR.
Seizure Of an American Vessel
by a Dominion Steamer.
A Blow That May Lead to Serious Com.
plicatiOus.

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 tinted States. Like
Il hungry vUlture the fishery flagship
bore down upon her unsuSpoctinE
prey, and, as quickly as the dignity
Of The situation would permit, Commander
Scott pronounced the word that the tres
plSser 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, Ni'ts, collector Of Gus
toms, received information that an American
fishing vessel had arrived in Digby (Nova
Scotia basin He Immediately Photographed
Capt. Scott, who was at st. John, n. b., with
the steamer l.anSdOwnc, and stated that
her presence in the basin was be-
licvod to be for the purpose of pro-
curing supply of bait Capt. Scott re-
piled, stating that he had telegraphcd to the
minister Of marine for instructions, aud no
doubt he received them, for about midnight
the Lnns.OWnc arrived at Dgby, and at day
light her second Ollie n boarded the David D.
Adams The circumstances of the case,
as given by those who charge that the
schooner has rendered herself liable to Sois-
IRE, are as follows The David j. Adams
entered Digby basin about noon and was at
Onccrccognael from her build and rig as a
United States vessel That part Of the schoOn-
cr's sides on which her name appeared is
sail to have lccn covered with canvas,
and thus her identity remained UNI
discovered She came through st. Georges
channel, crossed toward the south shore of the
basin, and anchored under the Annapolis
shore, four miles from Dighy After passing
through the channel, fishing boats came
Il 1
purchased bait from them. A man
on board the vessel, asserted to be the captain
asked those in the boats if they knew
where the lansdowEe 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 az
once, but flood tide and calm pre-
vented her from getting out of the basin.
In the mean timo the Lansdowne put
outside but several hours afterwarl 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 AncXaminatiOn 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 Batslord Vets
officer of customs. ThcSchooner 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 n decision
that the schooner should be seized for in
fringement of the fishery regulations i'll pur-
chasing supplies within the forbidden lin
| its.
The Lansdowne will take the conllscated
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 a 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
Halifa" says he has received no positive in
formation regarding tue seizure from the con.
sular agent at Digby