The Portland daily press., 1889-05-25
a Question of Seal Skin sacaues.

The announcement made yesterday that
the United States revenue steamer Rush
goes to Alaskan waters with strict orders to
enforce strictly the laws Of the United States
relating to the catching Of seals, brings up
the important question Of the jurisdiction of
the United States in those waters. Ordina-
rily it is held that all of the ocean more than
three miles from the shore is the high seas.
and the common highway and property of
all nations. But in Behring sea the United
States claims sovereignty over waters three
bundled miles from the coast in an immense
gulf that is practically thousand miles
from headland to headand. Russia former
ly owned tAlaska, and when she sold that
territory 10 the United States she sold also
the jurisdiction to Behring Sea, which she
always claimed. The English declare that
the United States objected to these claims of
Russia to dominion over Behring Sea years
before the purchase of Alaska was thought
of at Washington; but this has not been
proven; and the United States not only as
serts the claim acquired from Russia, but en-
forces it, Three years ago the English
schooner Thornton was captured two or
three hundred miles out in Bebfing Sea for
catching seals, and the Rush now goes north
with instructions to capture other vessels.
American or British, that may be found tax.
Ing seals in Alaskan waters. To those in
the East familiar with the ''three mile limit
as the boundary of Canada's Jurisdiction. it
seems that the United States is assuming
considerable in attempting to enforce its
sovereignty over so wide an area in the
Northwest. Whether Russia had a good
title to the broad jurisdiction that she con-
yeyed to us in Behring's Sea; and whether
the United States ever disputed that title in
the past, are questions for the diplomatists
to settle. But there is a practical question
which has more important bearing on the
case than the diplomatic questions In
Behring's Sea are the two islands of
st. Paul and st. George. called together
the Pribelov Islands. Here is the last
haunt of the fur seal. From his
other old resorts he has been almost exter-
minated. Ruthless slaughter has driven him
from the Kerquelen group and other seal
Islands of the South Pacific and South At
lantlc. He Is gone from the Falkland
Islands, and were it not for few thousand
preserved by the Argentine Republic near
Cape Corrientes there would not be single
breeding ground for the fur seal south of the
Equator. To the Pribelov Island, and to
these islands almost alone. the danes and
damsels of every continent must look for the
seal skins for their sacques. The annual
supply is about hundred thousand skins,
which make about forty thousand saques.
The fur seal is very timid animal, and il
disturbed in his breeding grounds or in the
seas where he cruises for the immense sup
plies of fresh fish required for his consump-
ton. he is liable to depart never to return,
dying often in his flight IN waters where
there is little food or where seal-eating
whales are common, or neglecting t, breed
for want of suitable islands. SO if the seal
is TO be protected it is necessary for
someone to control the waters where be
breeds The United States assumes to do
this; and is the only power that can assume
TO so do. The whole world is interested
that the supply of seals skins shall
not fail The United States Government
has also an interest of its own in this matter.
The monopoly of the seal fisheries is leased
TO the Alaska Commercial Company, whom
tne United States protects in their monopoly.
FROM this lease the government receives
ABOUT S35O,oo0 year, or about Al per
cent on the cost of Alaska. The Company