Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-07-31

suit Of six other vessels at the time Of the
steamers sailing.
The Black Diamond was overhauled by the
Rush on July IL When ordered to heave to the
captain of the sealer refused to do so, but
quickly complied when the ports Of the Rush
were lowered and the guns run out Capt.
Shepherd and Lieut. Tuttle went aboard the
sealer and found 103 seal skins. She was then
taken in charge by the Rush and sent to Sitka.
The captain of the Black Diamond said that
when he left Victoria he had been ordered not
to pay any attention to the demands Of the
American cutter if ifoverhauled. It is reported
that the Canadian sealer Triumph, which was
released after being overhauled, had 800 seal
skins on board, but they were buried in salt
and escaped the search Of the revenue cutters
officers. The Canadian authorities are reported
to be very much worked up over the capture.
AUTHORITY FOR THE SEIZURE.
These seizures are made under the proclama-
ton of President Harrison issued on the 23d OF
March, declaring all persons caught violating
the United States statutes by fishing for seals in
Alaskan waters subject to seizure, forfeiture
and other punishment provided by the law.
THE QUESTION OF JURISDICTION.
This brings up the question again of the
jurisdiction Of the United States over the
waters of Behring sea, which was raised under
the former dministration-with the exception
that now the State department is prepared to
maintain our right to those waters.
AS is well known, when Mr.. Bayard was al
the head of the department he was not satisfied
as to the validity of our claim to this jurisdic-
ton and the administration was not prepared
to sustain the Treasury department in its effort
to enforce the law.
Now there is nothing in the policy of the
State department that antag gonizes the Treasury
in the execution of the law.
1t has been said that an agreement had been
entered into between the United States and
Great Britain for the protection of these seal
fisheries. in common cause. There is nothing
to that. The United States maintains its juris-
diction over those waters as of right. If Eng
land persists in disputing it, that is q matter
yet to be settled.
WHY THERE WILL BE NO SERIOUS CONFLICT.
1t is not likely, however, that serious conflict
will occur, for the reason that it is to the
interesfnot only of the United States, but to
Great Britain and all other great commercial
countries, that these seals should be preserved
from the slaughter of piratical sealing crafts.
The United States protects them against our
own and foreign poachers alike.
1t Is not thought at all probable that Great
Britain would make any dispute of our jursdic-
tion over Behring sea if it were not for the
effect upon the fisheries question on the east
coast. They merely want a grievance to hold
up as an off-ses to ours SO that they can say:
"We'll settle both questions at once"
Even II the United States made no claim to
jurisdiction over Behring sea it is thought that
all nations would unite in suppressing the seal
ing that is done by poachers and no nation
but ours would undertake to capture seals
THE SITUATION Is THIS.
The only time that the seals can be taken
without devastation to the breed is when they
are beyond all question within the Jurisdiction
of this country; that is, within three miles of
the shore. The only time foreigners
would have opportunity to capture
them would be. when it were a
crime to do so-when they were with young.
To prevent their free taking at such time would
be to soon destroy the breed, thing no coun-
try wants done.
The American vessels are the only ones that
could do legitimate sealing even il Behr'1g sea
were regarded as high seas. So ndsbther nation
can claim to have an interest in these fisheries
Our jurisdiction over Behring sea does not
extend our seal fisheries. 1t merely enables u:
to protect the seal against destruction by
poachers of our own and foreign nations.
The State department will not admit of any
question as to our jurisdiction. They hold thai
made with the full warrant of the administra-
ton, in compliance with our law.
1t may be that Great Britain will send wal
vessels to protect these piratical sealers, and
that they will commit some overt act. II SO
there would probably be trouble, for it appear
to be set policy to maintain our rights in
Behring sea as in any undisputed jurisdiction
THE STAND OF THE TREASURY DEPARTMENT..
Assistant Secretary Batcheller, talking with
STAR reporter to-day, said that the Treasury
department had no part in the political o,
diplomatic side of the question. They found
the law on the statute books he said, and il
was their duty to enforce it. Moreover they
had the proclamation of the President which
announced that it was the purpose Of the ad.
ministration that it should be enforced.
Il don't see how there can be much trouble
about it," he said, 'for no nation can fight tc
throw these fisheries open to destruction The
commercial interests of the world are too seri
ously involved. great commercial nation like
England could not afford to have this destruction
60 on. The protection We give is for the
good of the whole world. The habits Of the
to these islands. On the last visit. when they
are not breeding or with young, they are
taken. We limit the number that may be
taken in any one year and provide that
the female shall be preserved. only per cent
of the catch being allowed to be Of that sex.
At certain times of the year they disappear
No one knows where they go-perbaps out in
| the deep water. Again, they are seen in the
sea, far from shore. That is where they are
| killed by these poachers, and the mothers with
young are the ones that suffer, because they
| are the only ones to be got in at any numbers
| BY killing the females when with young this
way the whole breed would soon be DESTROYED
England can't afford to have this DONE"
THE SEARCHING OF THE TRIUMPH.
| Another prominent official intimated that the
case of the seizure and search of the Triumph
which was afterward released because no sea
skins were found on board, might be o NOR,
serious matter than the detention and seizure O
the Black Diamond, for. it involved the right o
| the United States to seize and search sus
pected vessels outside of what is conceded tt
| be the limits of the jurisdiction Of the Unite(
| States. This government. he said. claims tha
right within q limit not yet acknowledged b,
/ England, and the settlement of the question
after all, IL to be one Of jurisdiction.
/ The New York supreme court has issued tw,
attachments against the Manville company o
| Providence in connection with thA failure o
| Lewis Bros. 4 Co.
The National bureau Of engraving, one o
the largest ithographic companies In the coun
| try, with headquarters in Burlington, N. J., l
advertised for sale by the sheri4.