The sun., 1890-05-13
THE RAPID TRANSIT AND THE HOW
Ard HOLBROOH.
How the Newfoundland Bait Act AHects
Ynnkee Fishermen.

| Yankee Flshermeu.
WASHINGTON. May l2.-The assurance.
which Capt White OF the schooner RAPID
Transit has received from tho President anC
| Secretary Blaine indicate not only their inter
| est in his recent treatment at the hands OF the
Newfoundland authorities but a possibility
| that his may be made test case under the
| Bait act
Since the opening OF the present fishing sea
son three Gloucester schoonors have boer
seized and flnod. In the case of the Abbie NJ
Deerlng there was apparently violation both
OF fishery and port regulations since she put
into the harbor Of Canso, and without permit
or entry at the Custom House. traded with the
inhabitants. Although the Deering is owned
by one of tho Babsons Of Gloucester her Cap.
tain is n Nova Scotian, as also are many OF her
crew. and they doubtless thought themselves
safe in this forbidden communication with the
shore; but tho Collector found out what was
going on. The Deering paid her fine and was
released. 1t might, perhaps, he urged in her
favor that the licenses under tho modus
viNendi for 1890 had not then arrived at Nova
Scotia from Ottawa. still. this would not OK
cuse her and probably her owners are glad
that no severcr penalty was cXa:ted.
The cases OF tho Rapid Transit and the How
ard Holbrook also Of Gloucester, are quite diff
ierenL They were seized for violating the
Newfoundland Bait act in Fortune Bay at or
in the neighborhoud of Harbor BritOn. The
Holbrook is employed in codshng on tho
Banks, and her Captain who WAS fined $500.
appealed to the Circuit Court, which sits at st.
Johns in September. The presumption is that
he had not secured his license or was accused
OF violating its provisions But tho Rapid
Transit did not purchase her bait as n fishing
vessel. She had in former months. it Is said.
purchased n cargo Of frozen herring there Tor
her home port, and her Captain had now bought
full cargo of many hundred barrels of fresh
herring in the same way. Before he coulu
leave Fortune Bay he was arrested and
taken before the local Judge who in ormod
him that he had violated the Bait act and gaNo
him tho choice of suffering its penalty. which
would be the conlsca;ion OF tho cargo and u
fine Of $500. or putting himself in tho position
OF one conforming to the law. This latter no
could do by taking eighty barrels OF tho her
ring heng one barrel for each ton. according
10 tho tonnage measurement o! his vessel,
which is the amount allowed to fishing vessels
under tho Bnit act, giving also the bond and
raylng the required tonnage foe Of 81 per ton,
- Capt. White. although not regarding the Earid
transit as fishing vessel. naturally preferred
the smaller payment, and ,pnid the statute
leo OF $50 Tho question then arose how to
dispose OF tho rest Of tho cargo except tho
eighty barrels permitted. Whether any steps
were taken lOr this purpose by capt. Whito
does not July appear however. aitor time an
oilcer with boat s crew proceeded to the YES
Sol. ana on finding alongside Il saino fun OF
freshly taken horrinE promptly con- seated 1t.
Then. going aboard. he directed his crew to
take out all the cargo except eighty barrels.
throwing tho herring overheard.
1t is on substantially this presentation OF tho
case that Capt. White asks redress through the
Department OF state. Exactly how far Il claim
can be maintained for the loss Of the cargo
may not be ciear until tie Newfoundland au-
thoritieS have given their version OF the affair
The excitement which has prevailed for two
months In the, colony on account Of tho trou-
hles with the French may have had somethi
to do with the impatient md summary treat
the authorities suspected him Of intending TO
at st. Pierre. Two years ago this same
charge, WIS brought against the, Glouces-
ter schooner Ambrose H. Knight. which
had bought more bait than was al owed under
the act That former case. coupled with tho
present acute public feeling AGAINST the French
fishermen, will PERHAPS account for the treat
ment of the Rapid Transit. Apart from tho
question VII ether n reasonable time was given
to Capt White to conform to the provisions or
tho Bait act it Is admitted that this act pro-
Nides that during tho present season loreiGn-
ers are to be permitted to purchase ouly one
barrel Of bait per ton OF their register on pay
ment of tonnage dues. The nominal purpose
is to save the herring from being EXHAUSTED;
but moro imnortant purpose is doubtless TO
cripple foreign fishermen, particularly the
French. in their competition with Newfound-
lanuers in foreign markets.