376 MISCELLANEOUS 



6. The total number of Newfoundlanders shipped outside the three- 

 mile limit was 635; about 250 more were shipped at Sydney and 

 other ports. 



7. The want of hospital accommodation at Bay of Islands was very 

 much felt, one case having had to be sent to Battle, on the Labrador 

 Coast. 



I have, &c., ROBT. H. ANSTRUTHER, 



Senior Naval Officer, Newfoundland Fisheries. ' 



The SECRETARY OF THE ADMIRALTY. 



The Daily News, St. John's, Newfoundland, February 15, 1907. 



BOND versus ANSTRUTHER STATEMENT OF FACT. 



In his speech on Tuesday, Sir Robert Bond commented severely 

 upon the conduct of the senior naval officer on this station, whose 

 duty occasioned Captain Anstruther's presence at Bay of Islands last 

 fall during the herring fishery. The News holds no retainer for the 

 defence of Captain Anstruther, but fair play suggests answer to. the 

 Premier's reference to that official. 



Sir Robert Bond stated that on the day after his arrival at Bay of 

 Islands (October 20th), Captain Anstruther convened a meeting of 

 fishermen on board his ship, and there discussed the fishery trouble. 

 That next day, Captain Anstruther visited Canadian vessels and also 

 the American tug Potomac, on which latter, with Commissioner 

 Alexander, he attempted to make a new arrangement independent 

 altogether of those then in existence, and thereby offered insult to 

 His Excellency the Governor, who as such, was the superior officer. 

 The Premier's statement is quite at variance with the facts. Captain 

 Anstruther did not convene a meeting on his ship as stated, though 

 it is true that he discussed the purse-seine difficulty with Bay of 

 Islands fishermen, who, of their own volition had gone to him for 

 assistance. It will be remembered that some Americans had used 

 purse-seines. It will further be remembered that a number of local 

 fishermen had by petition, humbly asked these Americans to abstain 

 from using purse-seines. The men who waited upon Captain An- 

 struther asked his interference, towards stopping the use of seines, 

 and were promptly told that under the Modus Vivendi he could exer- 

 cise no authority. He did agree at the earnest request of these fisher- 

 men to use his influence to stay the existing evil, and in conjunction 

 with Mr. Alexander was successful in accomplishing much in this 

 behalf. That purse seining was stopped is due largely to these two 

 representatives of Britain and America, respectively, and the other 

 fact that American fishermen evinced commendable anxiety to defer 

 to local wishes so far as it was possible. As a matter or" fact, no 

 agreement of a binding or official nature was ever made, but merely 

 an informal understanding between all parties to abstain from what 

 was claimed to be injurious and offensive. 



As to insulting the Governor this is mere twaddle. H.M.S. 

 Brilliant and her captain were not sent to Bay of Islands to interfere 



