BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 185 
American boats, and sucb of their owners as could be naturalized took 
out the necessary papers and became American citizens, while others 
disposed of their vessels to Americans or employed Americans to navi- 
gate them. Thus the business went on without serious interruption, and 
the canneries were allowed to obtain their supply of fish without the pay- 
ment of duty, which would amount to between $5 and $6 per hogshead. 
Action of Canadian Government. — The disposition of our Gov- 
ernment to deal generously with the industry was in marked contrast 
with the early action of the Canadian government, which, after the 
boats had been made over into American craft, and had paid a duty 
of 35 per cent., raised the question whether these boats, having been 
Americanized, should continue to have the same privileges as were ac- 
corded to English boats; and an effort was made to break up the general 
trade which had for half a century been carried on between Eastport 
and the islands. Eastport being the natural market for the islanders 
they had been in the habit of coming here in their boats to obtain flour, 
sugar, dry goods, and such other things as were needed by themselves 
and families. The government agent worked up several cases against 
the inhabitants of the islands ; in one case where a fisherman had bought 
boots worth $4, demanding $50 in settlement ; in another where one 
had purchased cloth for a sail for his boat, settling for $25 ; and numer- 
ous other cases of a similar character were compromised. Later an 
agent was sent into the locality to inquire into the influence of hos- 
tile legislation upon the New Brunswick weir fishermen, and into 
the practice of allowing the selling of herring to the boats that had 
been entered in the United States and thus become American. It was 
finally decided that should the government interfere in any way with 
this arrangement it would result in serious loss to their own fishermen, 
and they concluded to allow the practice to continue, but required that 
these boats should enter and clear at the custom-house when coming 
for their cargo. The perishable nature of the small herring rendered 
compliance with this regulation impossible, and it was later decided by 
the customs authorities that the boats could get their load of herring 
and then come to the custom-house and enter and clear at the same 
time; but as the fish were often obtained at night, when the customs 
offices were closed, and to wait for morning would cause the entire loss 
of the fish, the customs regulations were finally amended so that the 
boats could come once a week and obtain permits, or in other cases per- 
mits were issued lasting a week or authorizing the conveyance of a 
stated quantity of herring. The English boats were also required to 
carry papers, in order that they could be distinguished from those be- 
longing in the United States. This practice has continued and the 
officials have ceased to be very stringent in insisting upon the regu- 
lation, until now many of the boats go to the custom-house only when 
they find it convenient. An officer from the Canadian cruiser stationed 
in the locality frequently boards the boats and asks for their papers, but 
