PERIOD FROM 1871 TO 1905. 847 



Mr. Bayard to Sir L. West. 



DEPARTMENT OF STATE, 

 Washington, October 27, 1886. 



SIR: I inclose copies of two letters received at this Department 

 from George Steele, president of the American Fishery Union at 

 Gloucester, Mass. 



The object of these letters is to obtain authentic information of the 

 administration of Canadian laws regulating the sale and exportation 

 of fresh herring from Grand Manan Island and its vicinity, a trade 

 which, the writer avers, has been carried on almost exclusively in 

 American vessels for many years. 



By the statements of the letter of Mr. Steele dated October 25, it 

 appears that although the vessels employed in this trade are duly reg- 

 istered in their home port as fishing vessels, yet that so far as the pro- 

 posed trade is concerned, they are not manned nor equipped, nor in 

 any way prepared for taking fish, but their use is confined to the 

 carriage of fish as merchandise to ports in the United States, a com- 

 mercial transaction pur et simple. 



May I ask the favor of an early response to the inquiries pro- 

 pounded by Mr. Steele? 



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



[Inclosure No. 1.] 



Mr. Steele to Mr. Bayard. 



GLOUCESTER, MASS., October 18, 1886. 



(Eeceived October 20.) 



SIR: The season is approaching when American vessels have been 

 accustomed to buy herring at the Grand Manan Island and vicinity, 

 and bring them to Boston, Gloucester, New York, and Philadelphia. 

 The present position of the Dominion Government as to that trade 

 concerns our interests greatly, and the fish trade desire to be informed 

 whether that Government now considers the purchase of herring as 

 open to American vessels, either when registered or licensed, with 

 permit to trade. 



We do not wish to explore their power of seizing or detaining these 

 vessels, or of inflicting fines. If they object to our vessels continuing 

 in that business, we prefer to keep away from those shores until the 

 Dominion Government is better advised. 



I apply to you for this information, which pur merchants need, 

 because I know of no other mode of obtaining it in a reliable shape. 

 I am, &c., 



GEO. STEELE, 

 President American Fishery Union. 



P. S. This trade in winter herring has been carried on in our ves- 

 sels almost exclusively for many years, and fifty or a hundred cargos 

 come in usually during the fall, winter, and spring. 



They are largely consumed as food, and to some extent used as 

 bait in our winter 'fishing to Georges and the Banks. 



It is very rare for a British vessel to bring herring to our ports, 



