884 COBRESPONDENCE, ETC. 



them courteously, they, on their side, have reciprocated in like terms. 

 There is, undoubtedly, a great deal of bitterness felt on both sides, 

 and probably this bitterness has led both parties to be ungracious in 

 their own conduct, and to exaggerate the wrongs they have endured, 

 hardships frequently due to an unwillingness to observe the require- 

 ments of the law as these are now laid down. If all American fish- 

 ing captains exhibited the same courtesy and moderation that Captain 

 Blake has shown, we imagine that there would be very little trouble 

 in arriving at an equitable and pleasing understanding with Canada. 



[Inclosure No. 3.] 



Captain Quigley to Major Silton. 



SHELBURNE, September 30, 1886. 



SIR: I beg to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 27th 

 instant, requesting the circumstances connected with the boarding of 

 the vessels Rattler, Julia and Ellen, and Shiloh. 



In the case of the Rattler, she came into Shelburne Harbor on the 

 evening of the 4th August at 6 o'clock. She being at some distance 

 from where I was anchored, and it being too rough to send my boat 

 so far, I fired a musket signal for her to round-to, which she did, and 

 came to an anchor alongside of my vessel. 



I then sent the chief officer to board her; he reported she put in for 

 shelter. The captain was then told by the chief officer to report his 

 vessel before he sailed, and that he must not let his men on shore, 

 and that he would leave two men, who are always armed, on board 

 to see that he did not otherwise break the law. 



About midnight the captain hoisted his sails to leave port, thereby 

 evading the customs law requiring him to report (for which I refer 

 you to section 25 of the customs act), and disregarding my instruc- 

 tions. 



The watchman fired a signal, calling my attention to his act, when 

 I sent the chief officer to tell him he must lower his sails and report 

 his vessel in the morning, otherwise he would likely have his vessel 

 detained. He did so and sailed up in company with the chief officer 

 at 4 o'clock a. m. On the way it fell calm, and the vessel anchored. 

 The chief officer with my boat's crew rowed him up to the custom- 

 house, where he reported at 6 a. m. ; and returned, passing out to sea 

 at 8 a. m. The captain was only asked to report his vessel as all others 

 do, but was not disposed to do so. 



In the case of the Julia and Ellen, she came into the harbor of 

 Liverpool on the 9th of August, about 5 p. m. Being some distance 

 from me, I fired a blank musket shot to round her to. When she 

 anchored I boarded her, and the captain reported that he came in for 

 water. I told him to report his vessel in the morning, as it was then 

 after customs hours, and that he must not let his men ashore, and that 

 I would leave two men on his vessel to see that my instructions were 

 carried out, and to see that he did not otherwise break the law. 



In the morning, at 8 o'clock, I called for the captain to go to the 

 custom-house and told him his men could go on and take water while 

 he was reporting, so that he would be all ready to sail when he 

 returned, which they did, and he sailed at noon. 



