The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1892-10-05
THE HATTIE MAUD.
The Latest Outrage Results in a Decided
Back Down.


The fishing schooner Hattie
Maud of Portland, which was seized at
ST. John, a few weeks ago by the Cana
dian government cruiser CuIlew, has
been released by the authorities as pre-
viously reported. The conditions under
which she was given over to her owners
were that they should pay all expenses
connected with her seizure and pay to
the attorneys of the Canadian govern
ment good round sum for their trouble
in the case. The seizure in the first
place was an outrage, and was not coun-
tenanced by the majority of the Canadi-
an people.
About year ago the Hattie Maud put
into Shelburne. N. S., for a harbor, and
while there two residents of that place
who had formerly sailed in the vessel
put off to her and asked to be taken ON
board The captain of the Hattie Maud
knew that it was contrary to Canadian
regulations according to the fishery
treaty of 1879 to ship men in Canadian
port, and he explained that to the men
who desired berths with him. They,
however. were anxious to go in the YES
sci, and when she had got outside of
Sheiburne harbor they went on board
and remained in her. Nothing was
thought of their proceeding by the cap
tain of the Hattie Maud, but the Gus
toms authorities of Shelburne saw vio-
lation of the fishery treaty in the fact
that the men remained in the vessel, al
though they were not shipped. A few
DAYS ago when the Hattie Maud slipped
anchor in Flagg's Cove Harbor. Grand
Menan, she was boarded by crew from
the fishery cruiser Curlew and placed
under arrest.
In the meantime new captain had
taken charge of the Hattie Maud, and he
was ignorant of any violation of Cana
dian laws and endeavored to ascertain
why his schooner was placed under
seizure. To all his inquiries he got no
answers more than that "the vessel had
violated treaty.
The Hattie Maud was brought to St.
John, handed over to Collector of Gus
toms Ruel, and in a week was hauled up
and stripped. Her owner, Mr.. O. B.
Written of Portland, gotin st. John the
dav the vessel was towed in as prize,
and Immediately opened up GORE
spondence with the Canadian govern
ment regarding her release, offering to
settle the matter at once by paying $500
or $500, although he knew no reason why
the vessel should have been seized. The
maclxerel fishing was good about the Bay
of Fundv, and Mr.. Written was anxious
to have his vessel at work. For several
dayssshe received no reply from the gov
eminent, and then he was informed that
the case would have to be fought out in
the Admiralty Courts, and that in the
meantime the vessel would be placed un-
der the surveillance of an Admiralty
Court officer. -
After losing the best of the maekerel
season the vessel has now been released.
The people of St. John are very indig-
naJlt over the procedure of the Canadian
authorities in the matter, and say that
the vessel should never have been seized.
The offence with which she was charged
was not a serious one, and when it is
plain that the captain of the Hattie
Maud was not responsible for the pres
ence of the men on board his vessel the
move of the authorities in the matter
appears the more ridiculous and outra-
geous in the eyes of the people. The
fact, too, that the Canadian government
has taken ''back water on this point, as
it has so often done before, leads officials
here to believe that it is about time this
harassing policy was stopped, as it
causes needless irritation and accom-
plishes no good.