PERIOD FROM 1871 TO 1905. 799 



Mr. Bayard to Sir L. West. 



DEPARTMENT or STATE, 



Washington, July 10, 1886. 



SIR: On the 2d of June last I had the honor to inform you that 

 dispatches from Eastport in Maine had been received, reporting 

 threats by the customs officials of the Dominion to seize American 

 boats coming into those waters to purchase herring from the Ca- 

 nadian weirs for the purpose of canning the same as sardines, which 

 would be a manifest infraction of the right of purchase and sale of 

 herring caught and sold by Canadians in their own waters in the 

 pursuance of legitimate trade. 



To this note I have not had the honor of a reply. 



To-day Mr. C. A. Boutelle, M. C. from Maine, informs me that 

 American boats visiting St. Andrews, New Brunswick, for the pur- 

 pose of there purchasing herring from the Canadian weirs, for can- 

 ning, had been driven away by the Dominion cruiser Middleton. 



Such inhibition of usual and legitimate commercial contracts and 

 intercourse is assuredly without warrant of law, and I draw your 

 attention to it in order that the commercial rights of citizens of the 

 United States may not be thus invaded and subjected to unfriendly 

 discrimination. 



I have, &c., T. F. BAYARD. 



Mr. Boutelle to Mr. Bayard. 



HOUSE or REPRESENTATIVES, 

 Washington-, July 14, 1886. (Received. July 5.) 

 SIR : Acknowledging receipt of your letter of 13th instant, stating 

 that the view presented by me will receive due consideration, I beg to 

 inclose herewith the affidavit of Stephen R. Balkam, of Eastport, set- 

 ting forth the facts of the refusal of the commander of the cruiser 

 Middleton to permit him to purchase herring at St. Andrews, New 

 Brunswick, on Friday, July 9, 1886, as referred to in the telegram 

 forwarded by me to the Department on the 10th instant. 

 I am, &c., 



C. A. BOUTELLE. 



tlnclosure.] 



I, Stephen R. Balkam, of Eastport, in the county of Washington, 

 State of Maine, on oath declare that on Friday morning, July 9, 

 1886, I was at St. Andrews, N. B. My business was to procure her- 

 ring for canning. I am employed by Hiram Blanchard & Son. The 

 Dominion cruiser Middleton was at anchor near the beacon at St. 

 Andrews. A boat from the Middleton, commanded by Capt. William 

 Kent, came alongside of my boat and asked if my boat was American, 

 and where my boat was owned. I replied that the boat was owned 

 at Eastport, Me. He then said I could not take any herring, and if 

 I took any would be liable to be seized. He told me if I wished to get 

 herring I must get an English boat ; that I could not get herring with 

 an American boat. It had been my practice to buy the herring of 

 men who caught them in seines, they delivering the herring in the 



