The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-06-23
THE NEWFOUNDLAND BAIT ACT.
How It Affects American Vessels in Mat.
tera of Coat ana Convenience.


tiers of Cost ana Convenience.
WASHINGTON, June 22.-while the Bay St.
George controversy principally concerns the
French fishermen and tho inhabitants OF the
French Shore our New England vessels have
had their share in the resulting troubles, as
also. In fact, have the Canadian.
There Is an extraordinary conflict OF aims
and desires in the dispute as q whole. The
northern and western shores OF Newfoundland
have interests diverse from those Of tho rest OF
the island; those latter in turn, interests DIFF
ferent from those OF the Dominion our Yam
kee fishermen, grievances against oil three;
while across the ocean the British and French
Governments move on lines Of their own, and
arrange such a modus rirendi for this side of
tho Atlantic as seems good to them. The peo-
pie OF the French shore Just now appear to be
as angry with their st. Johns Government as
with the Governments at London and Ottawa, or
perhaps as with those at Paris and Washing
ton. They lose trade through tho restrictions
put upon the sale Of bait under the new act,
and to some OF them the loss is trying.
The new bait act was primarily directed
against the French fishermen as measure OF
retaliation because the latter receive from
France large bouuties which enable them to
undersell the Observation-Disclosures. But In terms
the act had to be directed against all foreign
vessels, and hence included our American
fishermen. The act required that a vessel be-
fore purchasing bait should take out license
fixed at 81 per ton on the amount OF her ton
mage. A seventy-ton schooner, for example.
would have to pay $40 for the privilege OF pur-
chasing the bait. which would cost about 81
per barrel, while the quantity of bait allowed
to be purchased at any one time was also lin
tied, not exceeding one barrel per ton.
nIa, ~ Nf . !, 10 I2Nl
sellers. Is apparent Where formerly many YES.
west coast few have called there during the
present season. as the total cost OF bait Is dou-
the season, SO that il fishing vessel which
has bought supply OF fresh herring for tho
cod fisheries on the banks returns month
later 10 get more. for second catch. che must
take out another license Again. If a l00-ton
fishing schooner only wan ted sixty barrels of
would be entitled under her tonnage. she
had to pay. nevertheless. the 800 for her
nSean Sn in t aa few 5as @
made. according 10 the dispatches it being
tlxed at 81 per barrel With lpis in quantity
tax, and no longer 70 pI ohibiiiye,
These rules, rs has BEEN said, though doubt
less primarily directed against the French APP
ply 10. all foreigners SO That American aud
Canadian vessels viii, have been in the habit
o. treIuentinE certain portions OF the New;
foundland coast Tor the purchase OF bait. and
perhaps ice and other supplies. consult their
convenience by going elsewhere This reduces
the earnings OF the fishing villages at these
Out OF these difficulties have arisen certain
Others. IT was supposed by many at the be-
ginning OF the season that Bay st. GeoIG go was
excepted under the treaty of 1915 rom the
operation Of the bait act SO far as American YES
Gloucester fishing schooner on visiting Bay
St George to buy herring for codfs hing on tho
fee unde: the now bait act. Her skipper ap-
reaied 10 the Government Mt St. Johns plead
Ing exemption rs an American under the treaty
OF ISIS. But the exemption was not allowed;
and he went of without the bait. rs he would
not nay the license. This rule covers both
Canadian and American vessels. One or two in
stances are spoken OF In which. earlier in the
season, the bait license was not eXacted. but
this seems TO have been through the mistake
can procure bait at the Mhgdalen Islands, I'M
der the treaty. without trouble. ana according
The enforcement Of the bait act Is attended
with some expense and no little difficulty;
on selling, TO, the fishermen for bait the her
ring which they capture along their shores
have apparently begun an extensive system of
smuGGling the bait on board foreign ships.
Fortune Bay and Plncenta. where the st.
Johns Government have two revenue cutters
and u coast guard Stationed to prevent It. Pro-
fences are made Of buying bnit Mt those points
for fishing on the banks. when the real purpose
fishermen at st. Pierre. Mlduclon which is less
than a score OF miles distant Many New
10undland vessels nave ueen arrested on the
charge Of smuggling bait to the French
mSa fee and t%o Goucester vesse as
will be remembered. were seized and held
for time on the charge Of violating the same
bait law. The Americana, have been charged
with taking aboard several times the quantity
OF bait allowed under their license and then
selling It to the French. One American vessel
which recently took to the French port a cargo
OF herring from the Magdaien Islands was un-
able to find an adequate market Tor It, as there
had been SO much smuggling Of bait from the
Newfoundland shore.
It will be seen that our fishermen have de.
cided interest in one way and another In the
Newfoundland bait act. and their troubles
are likely to be renewed another year unless a
se:temont is reached. Possibly II France and
England can come to an agreement 1t may bo
followed by q solution Of all our own fishery
troubles on the Atlantic coast