Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, With the Annual Message of the President Transmitted to Congress December 3, 1906, (In two parts), Part I
Ambassador Reid to the Secretary of State.
London, February 15, 1906.
Sir: With reference to my No. 134 of the 31st ultimo with respect to the complaint that American fishing nets and fishing tackle had been maliciously damaged and interfered with by Newfoundland fishermen, I have now the honor to inclose herewith a copy of a note which I have received from the foreign office, dated the 13th instant, covering copies of six declarations made before Inspector O’Reilly by masters or agents of United States vessels representing some 18 fishing schooners, from which it would appear that a large number of the masters were well satisfied with the conduct of the local fishermen and that they did not believe any willful damage, if such had occurred, was due to their action.
I beg further to inclose four additional declarations by Newfoundland fishermen, which would seem to show the complaints of loss of gear were not confined to American fishermen only, but were made by British subjects also.
I have, etc.,
Sir Edward Grey to Ambassador Reid.
Your Excellency: On the 27th of December and the 18th ultimo, I had the honor to communicate to Mr. Carter the result of our inquiries from the governor of Newfoundland with respect to the complaint that American fishing nets and fishing tackle had been maliciously damaged or interfered with by Newfoundland fishermen.
I have now the honor to inclose, for the information of your Government, copies of six declarations made before Inspector O’Reilly by masters or agents of United States vessels, and representing, it appears, some 18 fishing schooners. These declarations show that a large number of the masters were well satisfied with the conduct of the local fishermen, and that they did not believe that any willful damage, if such had occurred, was due to their action.
[Page 678]I beg also to Inclose copies of four further declarations of Newfoundland fishermen which make it clear that the complaints of loss of gear were not confined to United States fishermen only, but were made by British subjects also.
I have, etc.,
newfoundland.
Southern district, Penguin arm, to wit:
The examination of Joseph V. Bonia, agent for David B. Smith & Co., of Gloucester, who saith:
Our firm has 9 vessels here fishing herring. Several of them have gone with herring cargoes, and others are here now. We have a large number of nets in the water all the time. Our nets or gear have not been malicously or willfully interfered with in any way. We have been treated courteously and fairly by the people that we came in competition with. It is quite true that we have lost some nets and gear, but that we expected this. I have a large experience in this herring fishery, as I have been at it for years. I was always aware that the natives on many occasions lost gear other years, and have to go home and give up the fishery. I think the great loss of gear this year is caused by the lack of knowledge in fitting out. I know that some of the vessels that came and commenced setting their nets found that they were short of rope. I attribute the great loss of gear to short moorings and light anchors, and the fact that many of our fishermen do not understand the local conditions, and have very little knowledge of the work. I am sure that there was no malicious injury done to any of the nets or gear of American vessels by Newfoundland fishermen. If any cutting or damage was done, I would say that it was done by the crews of our own vessels, and not by any of the natives. During some of the storms we have had this fall, there was a great number of nets lost. The nets would drag the mooring and get all tangled up together, and would, of necessity, be lost to their owners. I know that several times when nets get bunched together like this, the buoys get broken off, and the nets sink to the bottom in perhaps one hundred and twenty fathoms of water, and would not be recovered afterwards. I know that there is no disposition on the part of the Newfoundlanders to interfere with our fishermen, and I am sure it was not done. The feeling has always been, and is yet, most friendly toward us.
Joseph O’Reilly,
J. P. for Newfoundland.
newfoundland.
Southern district, Penguin Arm, to wit:
The examination of Joseph V. Cusick, agent for Gardener & Parsons, of Gloucester, Mass., who saith:
I am agent for Gardener & Parsons. We have four vessels from our firm here, and we fish from those vessels about 160 nets. Our men are fishing alongside of the Canadian and Newfoundland fishermen. The most cordial and friendly relations exist between us, and none of our nets or gear have at any time this season been interfered with or maliciously injured or damaged. It is true that there is considerable loss of nets and gear, but not as great as is rumored. We know that there is always considerable loss of gear in this fishery, and we expect it. I say positively that our nets and gear have not been maliciously injured in any way by Newfoundland fishermen. I know that the feeling of the native fishermen toward us has always been friendly, and it is so still. I attribute the loss of nets and gear to the lack of knowledge in some of our own people in fitting out for the fishery, as well as a lack of knowledge of the local conditions and the methods of carrying on the fishery by many of the fishermen on board the American vessels. In storms, when the nets drag and get tangled together, [Page 679] there is great difficulty in clearing them. Sometimes the mooring has to be cut, but if cut it would be secured as best you could. After one storm we had as many as seven fleets of nets lost, two of which we saved. We had to go out in the vessel and drop a ketch anchor into the bunch of nets, and heave them up to the bow by purchase. I would say that if there was any cutting done to the nets or gear it was done by the crews of our American vessels; and then it was not done maliciously, but through lack of experience on their part. I have never heard any threats used by the fishermen that they would destroy our nets or gear, and I do not believe that the natives made any such threats.
Joseph O’Reilly,
J. P. for Newfoundland.
newfoundland.
Southern district, Penguin Arm, to wit:
The examination of John McInnis, agent for Cunningham & Thompson, of Gloucester, who saith:
I am agent for two of Cunningham & Thompson’s vessels—Aloha and Norma. We fish from those two schooners about 80 nets. We have fished amongst the fleet all the time. None of our nets have been maliciously injured or interfered with by the Newfoundland fishermen. The most friendly relations have always existed between us, and I do not believe that they would knowingly and willfully destroy or injure our nets or gear, and I know it was not done by them. It is true that there is a considerable loss of nets and gear. This I attribute to the want of knowledge in some of our people in fitting out for the fishery, as well as a lack of knowledge on the part of the crews of our vessels of the local conditions and methods of setting the nets and hauling them, and of the difficulties to be met with in strong tides in the arms of Bay of Islands. I have no knowledge of any nets or gear belonging to any of our fishing vessels being maliciously injured or damaged by the Newfoundland fishermen. I do not believe that there was any such thing done. If any nets or gear was cut or damaged, I believe that it was done by the crews of the American vessels engaged in the fishery; and then I do not believe it was done maliciously by them, but was done while clearing their nets from other men’s gear. We always expect to lose gear, more or less.
Joseph O’Reilly,
J. P. for Newfoundland.
newfoundland.
Southern district, Middle Arm, to wit:
The examination of William Cluett, master of the schooner A. M. Nicholson, of Gloucester, who saith:
I am master of the Gloucester fishing schooner A. M. Nicholson, Jacobs, owner. We arrived at Bay of Islands the second week in October for a cargo of herring. We shipped our crew in Sydney, and brought them over with us. We are all Newfoundlanders on board, except three. We fished in the Humber Arm Woods Island, and North Arm, and now we are at Middle Arm. Numbers of American, Canadian, and Newfoundland fishermen were fishing alongside of us. We have been treated courteously and kindly by all classes of Newfoundlanders, and we have not been interfered with in any way, nor have our nets or gear been maliciously injured or damaged. We have lost seven fleets of nets through storms and tides. We do not blame any persons for that. It was what we expected. We know that these risks are always taken, and we expect to lose gear, more or less. I have an experience of forty years in this business, and have always known that there was great loss of nets and gear, especially [Page 680] in this bay, where the water is deep and tides running so strong. This is the first time in the history of the fishery that the loss of nets and gear comes personally to us, as it was the natives’ nets and gear that was lost other years. I know that the loss of nets and gear caused by storms will this season be great. To my own knowledge, I do not know of any case where the nets or gear belonging to American fishing vessels has been maliciously interfered with or injured by the Newfoundland fishermen. In storms, and sometimes in strong currents, the nets will drag the anchors and will get in a bunch, and when clearing them it is impossible to avoid cutting the moorings. When the mooring is cut it would afterwards be secured and tied, so as to avoid loss to the owner. I would say, and I know, that if there was any cutting of nets or gear, it was done by the crews of American vessels against one another, and not by the Newfoundland fishermen. I know that in the early season Captain Mallock, of the Gloucester schooner Edna Wallace Hopper, made a complaint on board His Majesty’s ship Latona, about some nets being, as he said, lost or stolen. I have since heard Captain Mallock say he recovered those nets, and that they were picked up by Captain Young’s vessel.
Joseph O’Reilly,
J. P. for Newfoundland.
newfoundland.
Southern district, Bay of Islands, to wit:
The examination of Albert E. Jacobs, managing owner of the Gloucester schooner A. M. Nicholson, William Cluett, master, who saith:
We arrived at Bay of Islands in the second week of October, with our fishing crew of 23, altogether. Ten of these were Newfoundlanders, shipped at Sydney. We fished over a month at Woods Island. There were a large number of Canadian, American, and Newfoundland vessels fishing there. We fished in North Arm for three weeks, and we are now at Middle Arm, where we have been for the past ten or twelve days. We enjoyed the greatest freedom. We were not interfered with in any way. We were treated courteously by the Newfoundland officials and fishermen. We have lost some seven fleets of nets since we came, and those we lost by storm and bad weather. The occasions on which we lost our gear there was heavy gales of wind. I know of many other vessels losing gear in those storms. To my knowledge, I do not know of any case where nets or gear belonging to American fishing vessels have been maliciously interfered with by the Newfoundland fishermen. In those storms that we have had this season, the nets drag their anchors and get together in bunches, and to clear them it is almost impossible to avoid cutting the mooring. When a mooring is cut it would afterwards be tied and secured in a manner so as to avoid loss to the owner. If there was any cutting of nets or gear, I would say that it was done by the crews of one American vessel against the other, and not by the Newfoundland fishermen.
Managing owner, A. M. Nicholson.
Joseph O’Reilly,
J. P. for Newfoundland.
newfoundland.
Southern district, Bay of Islands, to wit:
The examination of Charles E. Seeley, master of the Gloucester fishing vessel Arabia, who saith:
I arrived at Bay of Islands about the middle of November last for a cargo of herring. We shipped the most of our crew of fishermen in Gloucester. We [Page 681] commenced fishing at Woods Island. We were at North Arm, and now we are at Middle Arm. We have been with the herring fishing fleet all the time. There were Americans, Canadians, and Newfoundlanders alongside of us. We have been treated courteously and kindly by all classes of Newfoundlanders, and our nets and gear have not been maliciously interfered with by them. We have, like most others of the American vessels, lost considerable nets and gear. I have been eight years at this winter herring business, and I know that there were occasions when nets and gear were lost by the natives. In fitting out for the herring fishery none of us American captains knew exactly what we wanted, and especially as to the number of fathoms of rope required. In many cases we did not have near enough of rope to make moorings for our nets. I attribute the great loss of gear to the fact that in most cases our moorings were too short, and with light anchors the nets would go adrift, and, in some cases, would sink in deep water, and could not be recovered. I know of an instance where Captain Cusick, of the Independence, went out in North Arm and hooked a bunch of nets, about 40, that were all tangled up together. He had to let them go. He could not get them in; they were a complete loss. On another occasion Captain Vanburg, of the Lewis H. Giles, took his seine skiff and ten men and hooked a bunch of nets as big as his cabin; they could do nothing with them, and had to let them go. They were also lost. Only yesterday I had an experience of this myself, when I hauled up 13 anchors in one lump. I am sure that the great loss of nets and gear was caused principally by the short moorings and light anchors. One fleet of nets set amongst the others with a short mooring and light anchors will destroy lots of other nets that might be set with the right sort of moorings and anchors. I have no knowledge of any nets or gear belonging to any of our fishing vessels being maliciously injured or damaged by the Newfoundlanders. I am sure it did not happen, and if any nets or gear were cut I would say that it was done by the crew of American vessels against one another, and not by the Newfoundlanders.
Joseph O’Reilly,
J. P. for Newfoundland.
newfoundland.
Southern district, Bay of Islands, to wit:
The information and complaint of Richard Hulin, master of the schooner Sea Nymph, of Bay St. George, who saith:
That on Wednesday last, 22d November, I had set at Goose Arm some five fleets of nets. I picked the herring from all my nets, with the exception of two fleets that we were unable to take the herring from on Wednesday. I had the nets up, and saw they were well filled with herring. We were after having good fishing for three or four days then. When we went to our nets on Thursday morning I found that the nets had been hauled during the night, and the herring that were in them were stolen. When underrunning my nets, I found a part of a dory thole pin, with a piece of line attached. It was tangled in the twine, and had evidently been broken from the dory that hauled my nets. This thole pin was made of oak, and was turned out by a lathe; it certainly belonged to an American dory.
There were only two American vessels in Goose Arm at the time my nets were hauled. I am positive that it was some of the crew, either of the Ralph T. Hodgden or of the Edna Wallace Hopper, that hauled my nets and took away about 50 barrels of herring belonging to me.
Joseph O’Reilly,
J. P. for Newfoundland.
newfoundland.
Southern district, Middle Arm, to wit:
The information and complaint of F. J. Bishop, master of the schooner Ernestine, of Burin, who saith:
That early in November I had a fleet of nets set in the western passage of Wood’s Island Harbor. I had them securely moored with a warp and ketch anchor belonging to the schooner. The nets and moorings, valued at $60, were stolen by some person or persons at present unknown. There was a large number of American and Nova Scotian vessels at Wood’s Island. I have no suspicion of any person in particular.
Joseph O’Reilly,
J. P. for Newfoundland.
newfoundland.
Southern district, Bay of Islands, to wit:
The examination of Reuben Moors, master of the schooner Mayflower, of Bonne Bay, who saith:
That on Saturday fortnight I left my nets in good condition.
On Sunday there were several boats and dories fishing about where my nets were, and when I went to them on Monday morning, I found them wrecked and one of my moorings gone.
I believed that the nets were hauled on Sunday, and the moorings carried away.
Some few days before this, I had an anchor and mooring cut off and taken away.
On Saturday last, the 23d December, I left my nets; they were all right, and when I went back to them this morning I found them all tangled up, and thought I would have to cut them clear off another man’s.
This was caused by the other people hauling their nets on Sunday.
Unless something is done to stop this Sunday fishing serious trouble will result.
Joseph O’Reilly,
J. P. for Newfoundland.
newfoundland.
Southern district, Penguin Arm, to wit:
The complaint of Thomas Wheeler, master of the schooner Conqueror, of Bonne Bay, who saith:
That on Sunday last, the 23d of December, I had my nets set in the mouth of Goose Arm, and had left them all right at 2 o’clock that evening.
When I went to them on Monday morning one fleet of my nets was adrift; the mooring was cut about 2 fathoms from the net. There were about two tubs of herring in it.
I believe that my nets were hauled on Sunday, and the mooring cut by some of the dories or boats that were out on Sunday hauling their nets and fishing herring.
It is a great injury and a great loss to many of us fishermen to have this Sunday fishing going on, and unless it is stopped serious results will follow.
Night fishing should not be allowed also, as it is as bad or worse than Sunday fishing.
[Page 683]This is the third Monday morning that I have met with great loss on account of Sunday fishing, and if some means are not adopted to stop it, serious trouble will be the result.
I had 12 nets when I came here, and I have since got 9 more.
I have lost 12 nets altogether.
Joseph O’Reilly,
J. P. for Newfoundland.