Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1889-08-09
THE BEHRlNG SEA QUESTION.

!
years ago, seized a number of Canadian
sealers for plying their vocation in Beh-
ring sea, the position of both parties to
the controversy was clearly stated, says
a correspondent of the New York Sun.
In its broad aspects the question is not
intricate, and the important features of
the case can be briefly described.
The position of our government is
practically that our purchase of Alaska
from Russia carried with it the exclusive
jurisdiction over Behring sea. We have
taken the view that this body of water
comes under the head of inner or land
/ locked seas, that it was ceded to us by
Russia, and that international law gives
the United States dominion over this
''landlocked" sea, Just as Canada has the
right to exercise the right of exclusive
control over Hudson Bay. Our statute
passed by congress, and the Presidents
proclamation. both forbidding the kill
ing of fur-bearing animals within the
Territory of Alaska or its waters, except
under such authority as has been vested
ii 'iiN -hi"9hh company, dlt Ddstu upon
our alleged right to exercise the same
control over the waters of Behring sea
that we do over the adjoining mainland
of Alaska.
The Canadians assert, on the other
hand, that Behring sea is not an inland
or landlocked sea, but that it is the
northern part of the Pacific ocean, and
belongs to the high seas, over which in
ternational law gives no exclusive juris-
diction or privilege to any nation. They
say this body of water does not fulfil the
definition given by Vattel of an inland or
landlocked sea, which mus be entirely
surrounded by the territory of the
nation claiming jurisdiction, and must
have no other communication with
the ocean than by channel of which
that nation may take possession"
They say that our territory does not
surround the sea, for Russia is in ex-
elusive possession of its western borders:
and, further, they assert that the sea is
connected with the Pacific by wide chan
nels, through which all the naves of the
world might pass abreast. They con-
tend, therefore, that we can no more ex-
clusively control the waters of Behring
sea outside the prescribed three-mile limit
from our coasts, than we can forbid the
capture of whale in the Northern At
antic.
Without considering the minor argu-
ments by which the American claim has
been supported, we must concede that if
Behring sea is part of the high seas the
right to exclusive jurisdiction OF course
falls to the ground. The question: it is
easy to see, is largely geographical, and
it is worth while to weigh the views of
the leading geographical authorities.
1t may as well be said first as last that
the men who are eminent in the science
of geography do not share the view of
our government that Behring sea is dis
tinct from the high seas. They regard
it as pant of the Pacific ocean. Author
itative maps and geographical writings
can be cited by the score in support of
this statement. The pre-emnence of the
Germans in geographical science is adj
mtted, and it is believed that without
exception they regard Behring sea as a
part of the Pacific. The same NAV be
said of the best cyclop1dias. Brock
haus's Conversations LeXkon, of which
new edition has recently been pub
lished, says the Pacific is connected with
the Arctic ocean by Behring strait Our
oh of ,x-n1An.,l;o Il, t.
of Behring sea- says it is THAT part of the
Pacific ocean which lies immediately
south of Behring strait \ recent news
paper communication by Prof Dali, an
American writer, upon Alaska, shows
conclusively that he regards Behrng sea
as the northern extension of the Pacific
Mr.. Robert Rayner, who has recently
written notable article on the Behring
sea question, addressed letter to DR.. H.
Supan, who is widely regarded as the
most eminent of living geographers, ask
ing his opinion. The editor of Peter
mann's Mtteilungen replied that ''all
geOgraphers consider Behring sea as a
part of the Pacific
1t remains to be seen whether our gov
eminent will succeed in iustifying its
claim to exclusive jurisdiction in Behring
sea under international law. Whatever
the result may be, it is certain that the
people of this country desire nothing
more than the maintenance of their legit-
innate rights, and that they will not APP
prove of any course that will impair
their reputation for fair dealing.
THE 1904 DOLLARS.