No. 156.
Mr. Holt to Mr. Hale.
Gaspé Basin, June 20, 1872. (Received June 27.)
Sir: I have the honor to report to you, in a hurried manner, the mail-steamer leaving in a few minutes, that the schooner James Bliss, of Gloucester, Massachusetts, was brought into this port about midday, under seizure for alleged violation of the fishery laws, by Commander Lachance, of the Dominion marine-police cutter Stella Maris. The vessel is owned by Parsons, Second & Co., Gloucester. The captain’s name is Allan Maclsaac; says he lives at Gloucester. Born at Cape Breton, Nova Scotia.
The captain appears to be very little interested in the fate of his vessel. Says consuls can’t help him, and evidently lacks American spirit. 1 found that after the seized vessel had been about three or four hours in port, that the commanding officer ordered the Dominion flag to be hoisted over the American at the mast-head of the James Bliss, probably for the gratification of some of the folks here.
Colonel MacNiel, the aid-de-camp of Lord Lisgar, pointed it out to me in the most friendly way, and expressed his regrets that the Canadians should act in such an unbecoming manner and evince such bad taste. I immediately sought an interview with Commander Lachance, but first met Captain Allan Maclsaacs, and asked him if he had not offered objections to the spectacle of his flag. He had not before noticed it, he [Page 201] said, and we proceeded to the rendezvous of Captain Lachance’s friends, where he was to be found, and there notified him that, as a representative of the United States, I begged to assure him that he had placed the flags in a most unbecoming and insulting position, perfectly unjustifiable, and that it became my duty to report it to my Government. He replied that the Queen’s regulations ordered it, to which I expressed a doubt. He disclaimed meaning any insult, and I believe him, but attribute the unfortunate error to his ignorance and the encouragement of his friends.
I have just telegraphed to the Department the substance of the foregoing. It is now about sundown, and the flags remain as for the exhibition of many surprised people.
Your very, &c,