Chargé Carter to
the Secretary of State.
American Embassy,
London, December 21,
1905.
No. 111.]
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge your
telegram of the 17th instant,a a translation of which I inclose, with
reference to the Newfoundland fisheries question. I also inclose a copy
of Sir Edward Grey’s note of the 19th, and, in the same and cognate
connection, translation of my cipher cables of the 18thb and 20th,
respectively.
I further inclose a letter addressed to the minister of justice from Mr.
Joseph O’Reilly, inspector of Newfoundland customs, dated November 30,
which was handed to me as a memorandum at Sir Edward Grey’s request, and
was the basis of my telegram of the 20th instant, mentioned above.
I may mention that all your suggestions have been received in a spirit of
the friendliest cooperation.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure 1.—Paraphrase of telegram sent from embassy December
20, 1905.]
No. 28. Mr. Carter reports that Sir Edward Grey informs him that
report received through O’Reilly, collector of customs in
Newfoundland, stating that a United States vessel, M. B. Stetson, 98 tons, of Bucksport, Me., Captain Dorr,
owned by T. M. Nicholson, both on board, arrived on 23d November at
Woods Island. On 26th captain and owner engaged 9 fishermen at Woods
Island and towed them in their boat to Lark Harbor, where they
engaged 7 more fishermen to form a part of the crew of said vessel.
On 29th two boats, one from Lark Harbor and one from Woods Island,
with 16 men on board and accompanied by the M. B.
Stetson, sailed outside 3-mile limit and shipped the men
mentioned, and bought the two boats, with some nets and gear, which
they took with them. The agreement made with the men was that they
were to be found on board the vessel in gear, etc., and were to be
paid $1 for each barrel of herring caught by them, and in addition
would be given the nets and dory used by them when the fishery
season was over. Nicholson stated to O’Reilly 27th at custom-house,
Lake Harbor, that he had come to engage some men and take them
outside 3-mile limit and intended purchasing their nets and boats
and ship the men as part of his crew, and bring them back to the
arms of the Bay of Islands to fish herring and were to be paid at
the rate mentioned. He also said was advised of this course by
Alexander of the United States fishery ship Grampus, who told him if he would wait until the Ingomar and Alhoa went
[Page 662]
outside to ship men he
would go out in the Grampus with them. Ingomar and Alhoa did
not go out and have not shipped any fisherman yet, nor did the Grampus go out with the M.
B. Stetson. O’Rielly has the names of the men who went out
and shipped on latter vessel, which has since reported at Lark
Harbor and paid light dues under protest. Sir Edward Grey considers
this a further instance of the proceedings which have given rise to
well-founded complaint on the part of Newfoundland government, to
which attention has been called in a memorandum handed to Mr. Reid
by Lord Lansdowne on 30th ultimo, and embodied in Mr. Reid’s
telegram to the department (No. 15) of the 1st instant.
With reference to Mr. Root’s telegram of the 17th, Sir Edward Grey
states that on the 18th a strongly worded telegram was sent out from
the colonial office to the Newfoundland authorities urgently
instructing them to make fullest inquiries regarding cutting of nets
and to take the utmost precaution to avoid any destruction of
American property.
[Inclosure 2.]
The Foreign Office to
Chargé Carter.
Foreign Office, December 19, 1905.
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the
receipt of your note of the 18th instant, from which I learn with
satisfaction that the American Government concur in the view held by
His Majesty’s Government that the United States fishermen are not
entitled to construct platforms for freezing herrings on the west
coast of Newfoundland.
With regard to paragraph 2 of your note in which you state that
information has reached the Department of State to the effect that
the cutting of American nets in Newfoundland waters had begun, I
lost no time in bringing the matter to the knowledge of the
secretary of state for the colonies, who at once telegraphed to the
governor of Newfoundland on the subject.
I have, etc.,
F. H.
Villiers
(For
Sir E.
Grey
.)
[Inclosure 3.]
Mr. O’Reilly,
Inspector of Customs to the Minister of
Justice.
Newfoundland Customs,
Revenue Preventive Service,
Inspector’s Office,
Steamship
Fiona, November 30,
1905.
Sir: I beg leave to state that the United
States fishing vessel M. B. Stetson, 98 tons,
of Bucksport, Me., Capt, Fred L. Dorr, owned by T. M. Nicholson, who
was on board.
This vessel arrived at Woods Island on Thursday the 23d November. She
remained at anchor until Sunday. The captain did not report at the
customs at Woods Island. The captain and owner engaged 9 fishermen
at Woods Island, and towed them in their boat to Lark Harbor on
Sunday evening. At Lark Harbor they engaged 7 more fishermen to form
a part of the crew of the said vessel.
On Wednesday the two boats, one from Lark Harbor and one from Woods
Island, with 16 men on board and accompanied by the M. B. Stetson, sailed outside the 3-mile
limit and shipped those men, and, as they say, bought the two boats
with some nets and gear that they took with them.
The agreement made with those men at Lark Harbor by the captain and
owner was that the men were to be found on board the vessel in gear,
etc., and were to be paid $1 per barrel for each barrel of herring
caught by them. They were also promised by the captain and owner
that they would, in addition to the $1 per barrel, be given the nets
and dory used by them when the fishery season was over.
[Page 663]
T. M. Nicholson stated to me on Monday the 27th at the customs-house,
Lark Harbor, that he was here to engage some men and take them
outside the 3-mile limit, and that he was going to purchase their
nets and boats, and ship the men as part of the vessel’s crew, and
then bring them back again to the arms of Bay of Islands to fish
herring for the vessel, and were to be paid at the rate of $1 per
barrel.
He also told me that he was advised to this course by Mr. Alexander,
of the United States fishery ship Grampus,
and further that Mr. Alexander told him that if he waited around
until the Ingomar and Alhoa were going outside to ship men, he would go out in
the Grampus with them.
The Ingomar and Alhoa
did not go out, and have not shipped any fishermen yet.
The Grampus did not go out with the M. B. Stetson. We have the names of the men
who went out and shipped on this vessel.
The Stetson has since reported at the customs,
Lark Harbor, and paid light dues under protest.
I have, etc.,
Joseph O’Reilly, Inspector.
