The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-01-03


duty this season patrolling between the
two buoys which divide the Maine waters
from those of New Brunswick have re-
signed and gone out OF the business. de-
claring that no human being can stand
the annoyance 10 which they have been
subjected and come out with whole
body and "A clean conscience.
The trouble started from an error COM
mttcd by the two rival sardine trusts
when they signed contracts with the
boatmen agreeing TO pay 81 hogshead
for all herrings that were less than eight
inches long, but emitting TO exclude such
fishes as were less than three and a half
inches long
There is a Maine law which forbids the
taking OF herrings under three inches. but
with fish at 81 "A hogshead and unlimited
acres of the Atlantic ocean for race
course, the fishermen with fast boats
and thorough knowledge OF the shoals
| and bars and the varying freaks of down
east winds could defy their unskilled pur-
suers. and. escaping in the fog, which al
ways prevails near the Bay OF Fundy,
could come up TO the wharves and dis
charge their cargoes hours before the
waTdens had come in sight OF land.
The fishermen had things all their own
way, and the wardens did no more than
harbor and pretending to be at work. un-
til the trusts, finding that there was no
sale for the small fish. took sides with
the officers. hoping to diminish the sup
ply and increase their own net earnings.
THE FISHERMEN LAUGHED.
The war between the fishermen and the
wardens began in the middle of October
and has been kept up with undated zeal
until the close time came on. December l.
The favorite practice was for the boats
TO drift down the harbor on the ebb ana
anchor with a long cable on line be-
tween the two division buoys.
Here the nets were put overheard to
wait the coming of the fish. In case the
boats drifted across TO the New Rruns-
wick side of the line and a patrol from
the provinces came along, the fishing
boats were warped across 10 United
States waters by few pulls on the ca
bles. which were allowed To pay out 10
fun length in anticipation OF just such an
emergency
When tne opposing boats had exchang-
ed "a sufficient number OF nautical oaths
and other forms of maritime badiuage.
the patrol went on TO new fields, leaving
the =. hers TO restore their nets To Eng
lish waters as soon as the fog set In.
Whenever a patrol with Maine OFFICERS
aboard arrived and found nets set An
few rods and assert immunity from ar
rest under the protection OF the Union
Jack.
Ii tho officers representing the two gov
ernments had been able TO agree and
work together they could have put
stop to the practice inside of week, but
with the national feeling OF one side ar.
rayed against the other. and with the
fishermen laughing at both. more than
1000 tons OF young herrings. all less than
three inches long, were bought at the fac
tories at a great loss and then sold to
Massachusetts parties. who converted
their purchase into commercial fertilizers,
which retail at t35 ton
IL took long time for the officials at
Augusta and ST John to learn the ex-
act situation. and when the rival wariens
had received orders TO work I'm harmony
under penalty OF immediate discharge
from the service. the fishermen were pre-
pared To meet the combined forces with
a new evasion.
As IL was no longer possible 10 escape
when wardens were on both sides, the
boats ceased TO go down the harbor by
daylight. but waited until o'clock In the
afternoon before going to work.
wARDENs ARE DIsGUsTED.
BY the time they had reached the nsh-
ing ground darkness had come on. and
the boatmen lighted great torches of cot
ton waste dipped in Kerosene. which they
tnrew upon the water TO lure tho fish TO
destruction.
AS soon as the small hcrrings saw the
blaze they came in thousands, surround
ing the light IN dense shoals. so two men
with dip nets could al a boat In less than
half an hour.
Two or three fast boats were stationed
at n distance 20 give warning when the
patrols appeared and as soon as the offi-
GERS were within halling distance a war
-of words began and was kept up until un-
usually bitter reproach from the Asher
men drew attention 20 one boat which
was chased and captured after . hard
race.
This diversion allowed the remaining
fishermen time 90 fll their boats and
reach the factories without further trou-
BILE.
When the offending crew appeared I'm
court next day. all OF the fishermen chip
ped I'm 20 help pay the fines. aud the net
ilnR went on az ~ nothing had happened
Jhe praSlics yss kept ~ every calm