New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-07-27
% FFI FLA r..
LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES.


Passed Mt the Second Session Of the Ferry.
First Congress.
| [PUBLIC-NO. 1901
| AN ACT to prevent the determination Of
| fur-bearing animals in Alaska.
| Be it enacted by the Senate and House Of
Representatives Of the United States Of
| America in Congress assembled, That il
shall be unlawful to kill any fur-seal upon the
| islands of Saint Paul and Saint George, or in
the waters adjacent thereto, except during
| the months ofJune, July, September and Oc-
! tOber in each year, and it shall be unlawful
| to kill such seals at any time by the use OF
firearms, or use other means tending to
| drive the seals away from said islands: Pro-
vided, That the natives of said islands shall
have the privilege of killing such young
| seals as may be necessary for their own
food and clothing during other months.
and also such old seals as may be
required for their own clothing and
for the manufacture of boats for their own
| use which killing shall be limited and con-
| trOlled by such regulations as shall be pre-
| scribed by the Secretary Of the Treasury.
| SEC. 2 And be it further enacted, That it
| shall be unlawful to kill any female seal,
| or any seal less than one year old, at any
| season of the year, except as above pro-
vided: and it shall also be unlawful to kill
any seal in the waters adjacent to said is
| lands. or on the beaches, cliffs or rocks where
| they haul up from the sea to remain and
any person who shall violate either the pro-
visions of this or the first section of this
act shall be punished, OH conviction thereof,
for each offense by fine of not less than
two hundred dollars nor more than one
thousand dollars, or by imprisonment not
exceeding six months, or by such fine and
imprisonment both, at the discretion Of the
court having jurisdiction and taking cog
nizance of the Offense and all vessels, their
tackle. apparel, and furniture, whose crew
shall be found engaged in the violation Of
any of the provisions Of this act shall be
forfeited to the United States.
SEC. 3. And be it further enacted, That
for the period of twenty years from and
after the passage of this act the number of
fur-seals which may be killed for their skins
upon the island of Saint Paul is hereby linn
tied and restricted to seventv-five thousand
per annum; and the number of ftlr-seals
which may be killed for their skins upon the
island of Saint George, is hereby limited and
restricted to twenty-five thousand per an
mum: Provided, That the Secretary Of the
Treasury may restrict and limit the right Of
killing if it shall become necessary for the
preservation of such seals, with such pro-
portiOnate reduction of the rents reserved
to the government as shall be right and
proper; and it any person shall knowingly
violate either of the provisions of this Sec
ton, he shall, upon due conviction thereof.
be punished in the same way as provided
herein for violation of the provisions of
the first and second sections Of this act.
Sec. 4. And be it further enacted, That
Immediately after the passage of this act
the Secretary of the Treasury shall lease,
for rental mentioned in section six of this
act, to proper and responsible parties, to the
best advantage OF the United States, having
due regard to the interests of the govern
ment, the native Inhabitants, the parties
heretofore engaged in trade, and the protec-
ton Of the seal fisheries, for q term of
twenty years from the first day of
May, eighteen hundred and seventy, the
right to engage the in business
of taking fur-seals on the islands of
Saint Paul and Saint George, and to
islands for the skins of such seals, giving to
the lessee or lessees of said islands lease,
duly executed, in duplicate, not transfer
able, and taking from the lessee or lessees
Of said islands bond, with sufficient
sureties, in sum not less than five hundred
thousand dollars, conditional for the faith
full observance Of all the laws and require
ments of Congress and of the regulations Of
the Secretary of the Treasury, touching the
su6ject-matter of taking fur-seals, and dis
posing of the same, and for the payment of
all taxes and dues accruing to the United
States connected Herewith. And in max
ing said lease, the Secretary of the Treasury
shall have due regard to the preservation Of
the seal-flr trade of said islands, and the
comfort, maintenance and education of the
natives thereof The said lessees shall fur
nish to the several masters of
vessels employed by them certified copies |
OF the lease held by them, respectively,
which shall be presented to the government |
officer for the time being who may
be in charge at the said islands as the ati-
thority Of the party for landing and taking
skins.
SEC. 5. And be it further enacted,
That at the expiration of said |
term of twenty years, or on sur
render or forfeiture of any lease, other |
leases may be made in manner as aforesaid,
for other terms of twenty years;
but no persons other than American |
citizens shall be permitted, by lease.
Or otherwise, to occupy said islands, or either |
Of them, for the purpose of taking the skins |
Or fur-seals therefrom, nor shall any foreign |
vessel he engaged in taking such skins and |
the Secretary of the Treasury shall vacate |
and declare any lease forfeited if the same |
be held or operated for the use, benefit or |
advantage, directlyeor indirectly, of any
person or persons other than American Cit |
zens. Every lease shall contain a covenant |
On the part of the lessee that he will not |
keep, sell, furnish, give, OF dispose of any |
distilled spirits or spirituous liquors on
either OF said islands to any of the natives |
thereof, such person not being a physician
and furnishing the same for use as medi- |
cine; and any person who shall kill any
fur-seal on either OF said islands, or in the |
waters adjacent thereto, without authority |
Of the lessees thereof, and any per |
son who shall modest, disturb, or
interfere with said lessees, or either
II them or their agents or employees, |
N the lawful prosecution of their business, |
under the provisions of this act, shall be |
deemed guilty Of misdemeanor, and shall
Tor each Otfense, on conviction thereof, be
punished in the same way and by like pen
.lties as prescribed in the second section Of |
his act; and all vessels, their tackle. ap-
Darel, appurtenances and cargo, whose
'rews shall be found engaged in any viola
ion of either the provisions of this section,
hall be forfeited to the United States: and |
I any person or company, under any lease
herein authorized, shall knowingly kill. or
permit to be killed, any number of seals ex-
ceeding the number for each island in this
act prescribed, such person or company |
snall, IN addition to the penalties and for
FIXTURES aforesaid, also forfeit the whole
NUMBER OF the skins of seals killed in that
~ e"r; OF, In case the same have been disposed
e. e. :nen SAID person or company shall
y: !oricIt the value of the same And
~ !. sl,.ui pc theNlduty of any revenue
oa;d ILL olchlly acting as such on either of
t;,iad is s,,,;ts 10 seize and destroy any dis