The Portland daily press., 1886-06-02
THE FISHERY DISPUTE.
Canadians not Allowed to Sell Small
Fish for Sardines.
Rash Threats by lrate American
Fishermen.

EAsrPoRT, May 31.-Up to today Ameri-
can boats have been allowed to buy herrings
for sardines on the English side and bring
them in free. Notice was given today by the
Dominion custom officers that they would be
seized if they buy fish for sardines or any
other purpose. One of the factories put their
largest boat under register today and sent
her down to the Deer Island weirs and went
to the custom house to enter. The officer not
only refused to enter him. but told him he
should seize his boat if he bought any her
rings. The boats carry no fishing gear, but
lie at the wharves and carry on freight. The
weirs owners have been getting about $15
per hogshead for their fish, The result of
this new order will be that they will be
Obliged to bring them up in their own boats,
pay about S. per hogshead duty, which VIII
come out of them, for the fish are not worth
over $15 at the factories.
The Dominion cruiser Gen. Middleton ar
rived in the harbOr yesterday and anchored
in position where she can speak all boats
coming from the weirs.
CHICAGO, June IA Montreal special to
the Daily News, of this morning, says that
the real cause of all the fisheries trouble is
the deep rooted jealousy of Canadians against
Americans. Last night the subject OF war
was discussed at the clubs. prominent
member of Parliament, who is strong sup
porter of the government speaking on the
subject, said: "There will be no halfway
measures about a speedy settlement OF this
question. We shall force it upon the States
to declare whether they will Keep their fish
ing vessels out Of our waters or whether we
shall send them to the BOTTOM
Being asked what course would be pursued
by the Canadian cruisers II they met With
clared that Canada will take the consequen-
ces, and in ease of resistance the officers COM
manding the different cruisers Will have or
ders to shoot the vessel out OF the water.
England is at Canada's back. The Canadian
fisheries employ $1,000 men and 1177 vessels,
worth $2,O21, ,O23, and 2S.472 boats worth
S652, ,257. The industry produces S16,0O0OOO
per year, of which nearly $8,000,000 is in eX-
ports, the United States taking $3,56O, 731.
The total cost to the Canadian government OF
protecting the industry is less than $15,400
per year.
HALIFAX. June 1.-Mackerel are said to
be plentiful in Cape Breton waters. Two
fishermen have lately bought bait OF fisher
men who took them to the south OF Cape
August and Jerseyman's Island and sold bait
on the quiet. These fishing schooners neither
hoist flags nor come into port.
The presence of the British man-of-war
Bellerophon at Halifax at the present juno
ture, is explained at the admiralty office in
London to be neither significant nor import
ant. She is there now in the regular course
sells belonging to the British navy which will
soon reach Halifax under regular orders are
the Dido, Garnet, Emerald and Lily Mallard
The Mallard has been ordered to st. Johns,
NF All of the above except the Emerald
and Bellerophon have been for some time at
tached to the British West indian aud North
American squadron.
NEWPORT, r. l., June IA large feet of
fishing vessels came in today, and the men
are very indignant over the present status of
the fisheries question. The Provincial fish
ermen have glutted the New York and Phil
adelphia markets with fish upon which no
duty is paid, and the business for the Ameri-
can trade is very dull.
A pool of 700 fishing vessels are organizing
protect the fishing industry tEa Ths Leaders d6as
nothing to protect them by July 1st, they
will take the matter in their own hands;
They claim that Provincial vessels come out
and iniure their business when outside the
limit, and declare that they will lay in wait
for Provincial vessels outside and destroy
them. They also claim that the Knights of
Labor have promised to assist them by de-
stroying fish in transit by rail.