New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-07-26
OFFIcIAL.
LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES.
IPUBLIC-NO.. 1901

AN ACT to prevent the determination
fur-bearing animals in Alaska.
Be it enacted nv the Senate and Horso
> Representatives Of the United States
America in Congress assembled That
shall he unlawful 10 Kill anv fIIr.seai uno, II
islands Of Saint Paul and Saint George. or
| the waters adjacent thereto excant d,,rin
the months June. July. Sentemher and q
tober in each year. and it shall be unlawfi
| to kill such seals at any time nv the use I
| firearms. or use other means tending 1
, drive the seals away from said islands Pr
, vided, That the natives of said islands sha]
: have the privilege of killing such youn
seals as may be necessary for their owl
food and clothing during other months
and also such old seals as NAV b,
required for their own clothing an.
| for the manufacture of boats for their owl
use, which killing shall be limited and con
| trolled bv sucb regulations as shall he Dre
scribed by the Secretary Of the Treasury.
SEC 3. And be it further enacted That i
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, ON 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 otfense 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 he
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 10 seventy-tive thousand
per annuln; and the number of fur-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-
lportionate reduction Of the rents reserved
to the government as shall be right and
proper: and if anv 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 a 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
send vessel CT vessels to said
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 q 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
subject-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-fur trade OF said islands, and the |
maintenance and education of the |
natives thereof The said lessees shall fur
nish to the several masters of |
vessels employed by them certified copies
u the Lease held by them, respectively,
'evenne officer for the time being who may
De III charge at the said islands as the au-
'horfy OF the party for landing and taking
SKINS.
r., SEC. ,. And be 1t further enacted,
mat az the expiration Of said
efm OF twenty years or on sur
ender OF FORFEITURE OF any lease, other
eases may be made In manner as aforesaid,
OF other terms OF twenty years:
; ;.! no persons other than American
ltlZens snail be permitted, by lease,
Z otherwlse, to occupy said islands, or either
I .hem, Tor the purpose OF taking the skins
= IuI-Seals there1rom, nor shall any foreign
essei De engaged In taking such skins and
ne secretary OF the Treasury shall vacate
nd declare any lease forfeited if the same
e heid or operated for the use, benefit or
nValtage, directly or indirectly, OF any
erson or persons other than American citi-
ems. Every Lease shall contain covenant |
the part OF the lessee that he will not
eep, sell, furnish, give, or dispose of any
istllied spirits or spirituous liquors on
lther OF SAID islands to any of the natives
hereof, such person not being physician
no furnishing the same for use as medi-
inc and any person who shall kill any
waters adjacent thereto. without autIloritv
f. the . lessees thereof and any per-
lterfere with said lessees, or either
them or their agents or EMPLOYEES.
1 the lawful prosecution of their business.
nder the provisions of this act. shall be-
eemed guilty of misdemeanor, and shall
IL each offense, on conviction thereof be