No. 198.
Mr. Bayard to Sir L.
West.
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 Canadian 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 purpose of there purchasing herring from the Canadian weirs, for canning, 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.,