PERIOD FROM 1871 TO 1905. 649 



short distance. The natives then went to Captain Dago, of the 

 schooner New England, and demanded that he should trip his seine 

 and let out the herring; this he firmly refused to do. The fishermen 

 then let the herring out and hauled the seine ashore and run it up the 

 beach, tearing and breaking it in pieces. 



From what I can learn, the statement that the schooners were 

 obliged to leave the bay on account of the antagonism of the natives, 

 is inexact, as they still continued to try during the week-days with the 

 same seines (except Captain Dago's, which was destroyed) for a fort- 

 night or more after the before-related occurrences without any hin- 

 derance whatever on the part of the natives, and it is asserted that it 

 was owing to the exceedingly mild season and consequent impossi- 

 bility to freeze herring, for which purpose the schooners alluded to 

 were fitted out, that they left without their cargoes, and that consid- 

 erable herring had been taken from time to time, but after having 

 tried to freeze them, they were repeatedly obliged to sell them to the 

 vessels loading salt-herring. This reason appears to be very likely 

 the correct one, as I can hear no account whatever of any vessels 

 having had their cables cut, or of any other serious difficulty having 

 occurred other than the one alluded to 13th January. 



In the winter of 1876-'77 a similar case occurred, one of the Ameri- 

 can seines being put out on Sunday by the crew, in charge of a New- 

 foundlander as seine-master, Jeremiah Petites. The people of the 

 bay demanded that the seine should not be hauled, and it was accord- 

 ingly tripped and taken up by the owners, no further difficulty 

 occurring. 



I make these observations in order to show as fully as possible the 

 probably real state of the matter, and under the impression from 

 all I can hear that the reports made to the department, and as related 

 in your dispatch, are more or less incorrect. I think there exists a 

 very decided feeling of hostility on the part of the Newfoundlanders 

 to the use of the large seines by American fishermen in their waters, 

 but have no reason to believe that any action has ever been taken to 

 prevent their hauling or to injure them in any way, except when haul- 

 ing on Sunday ; at the same time it is quite probable that they have 

 seized on the occasion thus offered to show their dislike to seines being 

 used by Americans in competition with their own. 



I have the honor to be, sir, very respectfully, etc., 



W. F. McLAUOHLTN, 



Vice Commercial Agent, United /States of America. 



Lord Salisbury to Mr. Hoppin. 



FOREIGN OFFICE, May 3, 1878. 



SIR: T referred to Her Mnjesty's secretary of state for the colonies 

 Mr. Welsh's letter of the 19th of March, upon the subject of the dis- 

 putes which had taken place between British and United States fish- 

 ermen on the coast of Newfoundland, and I have the honor to acquaint 

 you that I am informed that inquiries are being instituted into the 

 matter both by the authorities of Newfoundland and by the senior 



