PERIOD FROM 1871 TO 1888, 195 



Two or three of the interferences referred to will sufficiently illus- 

 trate the questions discussed, and for that purpose attention is called 

 to the cases of the Rattler, the Julia Ellen, and the SJiiloh. 



The circumstances of the seizure of the Rattler were stated in a 

 note from Mr. Bayard to the British Charge at Washington, under date 

 of August 9, 1886, as follows: 



I regret that it has become my duty to draw the attention of Her 

 Majesty's Government to the unwarrantable and unfriendly treat- 

 ment, reported to me this day by the United States consul-general 

 at Halifax, experienced by the American fishing schooner Rattler, 

 of Gloucester, Mass., on the 3d instant, upon the occasion of her being 

 driven by stress of weather to find shelter in the harbor of Shelburne, 

 Nova Scotia. 



She was deeply laden and was off the harbor of Shelburne when 

 she sought shelter in a storm and cast anchor just inside the harbor's 

 entrance. 



She was at once boarded by an officer of the Canadian cutter 

 Terror, who placed two men on board. 



When the storm ceased the Rattler weighed anchor to proceed on 

 her way home, when the two men placed on board by the Terror dis- 

 charged their pistols as a signal, and an officer from the Terror again 

 boarded the Rattler and threatened to seize the vessel unless the cap- 

 tain reported at the custom-house. 



The vessel was then detained until the captain reported at the cus- 

 tom-house, after which she was permitted to sail. 



The hospitality which all civilized nations prescribe has thus been 

 violated and the stipulations of a treaty grossly infracted. 



A fishing vessel, denied all the usual commercial privileges in a 

 port, has been compelled strictly to perform commercial obligations.'* 



In the cases of the Julia EUen and the Shiloh the circumstances 

 complained of were stated by Mr. Bayard in his note of August 18, 

 1886, to the British Minister at Washington as follows: 



Grave cause of complaint is alleged by the masters of several Amer- 

 ican fishing vessels, among which can be named the schooners Shiloh 

 and Julia Ellen, against the hostile and outrageous misbehavior of 

 Captain Quigley, of the Canadian cruiser Terror, who, upon the en- 

 trance of these vessels into the harbor of Liverpool, Nova Scotia, fired 

 a gun across their bows to hasten their coming to, and placed a 

 guard of two armed men on board each vessel, who remained on 

 board until the vessels left the harbor. 



In my note to your legation of the 9th instant I made earnest 

 remonstrance against another unfriendly act of Captain Quigley, 

 against the schooner Rattler, of Gloucester, Mass., which, being fully 

 laden and on her homeward voyage, sought shelter from stress of 

 weather in Shelburne Harbor, Nova Scotia, and was then compelled 

 to report at the custom-house, and have a guard of armed men kept 

 on board. 



«* Appendix, p. 824. 



