New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-04-09
by W. E. Marble were burned to-day. Loss. $4,000: In
surance 60 300
The FISHERIES TREATY.
AN EARLY CONSIDERATION EXPECTED.
POOR PROSPECTS OF THE DocUMENTf-THE BEHEING
SEA QUESTION.
lBr TxLEGRIPH TO THE TRIBUNE.


WASHINGTON, April S.-The fact that the
question of damages was not considered
by the Fisheries Commissioners indicates
that q new convention will have TO be called
to settle these claims, and also those of Great
Britain arising out of the seizure of British
poacners in Behring Sea- There has been good deal
OF buster lately INDUCED III by the Canadian
press as to the action their Government proposed
, take this coming summer IN regard TO the Kill
ing Of fur seals in Behring Sea. British whalers
it is understood propose to resist capture by force
of arms. 1t is hardly 10 be believed that any
serious intention exists OF carrying such threats
into effect The United States Government has
taken but one position on the subject of killing
seals in Behring Sea since the Territory was
purchased in 1867. That position has been the
assertion of the unqueStloned right to control en-
tirely the killing OF fur seals in those waters.
Year after year the Treasury Department, which
is charged by law with the duty OF regulating this
business has issued its orders that no one should
without its sanction, venture to Kill any fur seals
in the waters Of the Territory Of Alaska and when
that department asked in l 67l to define what
was meant by the torn waters Of the Territory"
II said that the phrase included all the waters
described within the limits mentioned in tho
treaty of cession, which covers practically
Sea. the westerly half being continued
under the dominion OF Russia. Secretary Man
ming supported this construction, and recently
orders were given by Secretary Fairchild to the
on the Pacific coast with special instructions TO
give them wide publicity, so that all parties
concerned might have full knowledge Of what
this Government considered its rights in the prem
ises, and of the action which would be taken to
enforce those rights should parties persist in
their free-boOting enterprises
Neither the British Government NOR any other
government hos at any time entered protest
against the issuance Of such orders nor has the Brit
iSh Government taken a positive position against
that taken by our Government on the question The
most that Government has done was to inquire
the reasons for Selling British vessels in those
waters, and what position our Government In
tended to take in the future on the subject.
To these inquiries il is understood that the United
States has not yet officially responded, hut the
KEY to the situation is found in the nature of the
warnings recently issued by the Treasury against
Illicit scaling. Certainly Great Britain is in no
position at the present time TO Cl'c assurance OF
protection to its citizens found engaged in what
we characterize pIraucal enterprises, and with
out such assurances none are likely t. he so TOOL
hardy as to resort to force of arms against our
revenue cutters, which the police patrol OF
those waters. The law makes it the duty OF the
Secretary of Treasury to enforce the prohibition
against the illicit killing Of fur seals within the
waters of Alaska Territory before defined, and
it is apprehended that neither the Secretary nor
the President will lie deferred from doing their
duty by any bluster Of the kind mentioned