The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1889-06-29
BEHRING SEA
AND THE RIGHT OF SOVEREIGNTY
OVER IT.

Is, 1871
Our readers are aware that the
question of the sovereignty of Behr-
ing Sea has arisen during the past
few years, based on the plea that it
belongs to the class called "open
seas" which under the law of nations
are public property, outside of one
marine league from the shore, or
from headland points of bays or
CULTS. On this assumption, cruisers
have, during the past few years, been
fitted out expressly for the purpose
of capturing seals found in the sea
beyond the limits named. Under in
structions from the American Gov
eminent, there have been p number Of
seizures and confscatlon Of these yes
sells engaged in sealing on its waters,
which had no permission to cruise
there for the object named. In the
minds of those who are fully posted
in the different phases of this new
international question, there can be
no doubt that the United States
Government possesses the same
rights in and over the Behring Sea
that Russia formerly possessed and
exercised over it, and now enforces
over the fish breeding portions of
the Ochotsh Sea, for the purpose of
protecting its fisheries.
AS far back as 1920 to 1880, Russia
claimed exclusive authority over the
Ochotsh and Behring Seas and the
Artic Ocean, as being inland seas,
over which she held exclusive right
and when the new Bedford Thalemen
began to extend their cruises into her
waters, the United State sought and
secured treaty granting TO It's citl-
zens the privilege o. cruising there,
and of fishing and trading witt The
natives This trea is dated AprI.,
1924. By seeking the privileges oh
tanned, and making this treaty, the
United States acknowledged the SOW
ereignty of Russia over these inland
seas, and also acknowledged that it
possessed norights there except sBch
as were conceded by the treaty. These
facts are of record, and any interna-
tional convention that undertakes the
adjustment of this question, must rec
ognize the existence and authority of
these established rights, as having a
forcible bearing IN its adjustment.
In March, 1867, the United States,
by formal treaty, purchased the
Russian possessions III America, pay
ing seven millions, two hundred thou
sand dollars for all of Russia's right.
title and interest in them, whatever
they may have been In this conven-
ton, the boundaries of this purchase
are clearly defined. The western
q 'ndary of the Russian possessions,
- oecifed by Article l of this
5y, is stated to be as follows:
The western limit within which the
territories and dominion conveyed are
contained, passes through a point in
Behring's Straits on the parallel of sixty
five degrees, thirty minutes north lati-
tude, at It's intersection with the meri-
dian which passes midway between the
islands of Krusenstern or Ignolode, and
to island of Ratmanoff or Noonarbook,
and proceeds due north without limita-
ton, into the same frozen ocean. The
same western limit, beginning at the
same initial point, proceeds thence in
course nearly southwest, through Beh-
rings Straits, and Behring Sea, SO as to
pass midway between the northwest
point of the island of St. Lawrence and
the southeast point of Cape Choukotski,
to the meridian OF one hundred and
seventy-two west longitude thence from
the intersection of that meridian, in
south westerly direction, SO as to pass
midway between the island of Alton and
the Copper Island of the Kormannorski
couplet or group, in the North Pacific
Ocean, to the meridian of one hundred
and ninety-three degrees west longitude,
so as to include in the territory con-
veyed the whole of the Aleutian Islands
east OF that meridian"
A reference to almost any chart or
map showing Behring Sea, will en-
able the reader to ascertain the main
points referred to In the treaty, as
forming the boundary. These are
Behring's Straits, ST. Lawrence ISL
and, Behring's Island, Alton Island
and Queen Charlotte's Island on the
American coast. Attou, or Copper
Island, is the small island (seldom
named on maps) lying near and
southeast of Behring's Island. Draw
q P0uC14 11AlO OI bIl0 CudIGs COuuoUC-r
ing in the middle of Behring's
Straits, and passing south-westerly
through the middle of the straits be-
tween st. Lawrence Island and Cape
Choukotski on the Asiatic coast,
thence to Attou Island, and thence
to the American main land above
Queen Charlotte's Island, SCI as to
include all of the Aleutian or Fox
Islands. Queen Charlotte's Island
is the most northern point of British
America in the Pacific. On some
American charts this boundary line
is engraved to show the western and
southern boundaries of the Alaskan
purchase and territory.
Ibis large triangular enclosure OF
Behring Sea and the Aleutian Isl