The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1889-04-27
FISHERY FUSS.
The Canadians Stirred Up Over the
Seizure Of British Vessels
in Behring Sea.
Prior DESTROYS OF Taking the Matter
Out OF the Hands OF the
Imperial Government
A Charge That n British GunboAt Would
soon settle the Matter-Niews Of
Sir John Mcdonald.

OTTAWA, April 26-lnthe house OF com
mons to-day Prior brought up the question
Of the alleged Illegal seizure OF British YES
sells in Behring sea, He said the United
States, England and Russia signed treaty
in 1921 In which Russia abandoned her
claims 10 exclusive jurisdiction in Behring's
sea. lie referred 10 the seizure OF three
ships from Victoria in Behrlng sea in 1886
by American cruisers The greater por.
ton OF the catch conhscated at the same
time was caught long before the alleged
American waters were reached. No settle
ment had been arrived at for those seiz.
ures, nor had any compensation been Of
fered 10 the owners. who have been ruined.
The amount Of the original claims reached
Sl5SO00. Eight other vessels were seized
in the following year. lie referred 10 the
hArdshps experienced by British seamen
on these vessels who, after being landed at
Alaska, were Obliged 10 return home in n
penniless condition. Three OF the vessels
to-day lay rotting on the beach OF Alaska.
He knew the Dominion government had
asked England 10 secure settlement and
he wanted information as 10 the delay In
bringing the international negotiations 10 a
close II any blame existed he wanted 10
know where il rested. He contrasted the
delay In settling the Behring Sea affair
with the haste shown by the United States
In the Samoan affair. lie con.
tended that the majority OF Amer
leans on the Pacific coast were
opposed TO the monopoly enjoyed by the
Commercial company In Alaska. Nothing.
he continued, could justify the seizure Of
British vessels In several instances many
hundreds miles from land. He referred 10
the issue OF the proclamation Of President
Harrison, and said IL was violation of In
ternatiOnal right Blame he regarded as
the author OF the proclanls stlon, which sim
ply proposed 10 enrich the Alaska Com
mercial company. This monopoly, he said,
had It's agents and lobbyists nj Washington.
He urged the government 10 ask the i'm.
perial authorities to send British war yes.
sci b. Behring sea He felt certain even II
Aleutian Islands we would hear OF no
further seizures.
Davies, liberal, agreed with Prior as to
the Importance of the matter. The delay,
he said, simply showed Canada could
never secure summary justice until she
had an agent at Washington. II English
and American relations were unfrlendly,
no reason existed why Canada should suf-
fer. The present unsatisfactory state OF
affairs would continue until Canada had
the right 10 make her own treaties. Davies
then turned attention To the alleged indig-
nifty committed by an American cruiser In
Behring sea 10 show that Americans had
no jurisdiction outside their mile limit
Sir John Mcdonald replied. he said he
would not deal with the question OF estab'
fishing commercial agency at Washing
ton. Parliament had already decided that
question. The United STATES. he contin-
ued, claimed exclusive Jurisdiction In Beh-
ring sea. In American seas Canadian yes
sells had suffered equally from an aggres-
sive monopoly. The question was not a
local one. IL was one that affected all
maritime nations, which he felt certain
would resist these iniqultous attempts OF
the United States to claim Behripg sea.
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