§ In reply to Mr. HOWARD VINCENT,
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES (Mr. OSBORNE MORGAN) (Denbighshire, E.)said: Upon seeing the statement in the newspapers as to the seizure of the David J. Adams, Earl Granville telegraphed to the Marquess of Lansdowne for full information on the subject; and yesterday morning the following reply was received at the Colonial Office:—
Schooner David Adams was buying bait at Digby; did not report, as required by law, to collector, and concealed her name and port of registry. Is now detained at Digby in charge of collector, and will be tried before Vice Admiralty Court at Halifax for violation of Dominion Fishery Law of 1868, for contravention of Convention of 1818, and for violation of Customs law by not reporting to collector. Question of limit of territorial waters not raised.The Dominion Fishery Law of 1868 means, I believe, an Act of the Dominion Parliament, passed for the protection of Canadian fishermen, and intituled the 31st Vict. c. 60; but I cannot say which of the numerous provisions of that Act are alleged to have been violated by the American schooner.