New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-01-12

demned by The TRIBUNE ara o.her American
Journals as involving remuneration Oh tltle TO
Behring Sea. Canadian poachers swarmed in
those waters when the season openeu' ana con-
idently expected to enjoy immunity rom mo-
Iestation. After protracted deadlock between
Tho state and Treasury departments the orders
signed by Secretary Sherman during MS term
Of office were renewed, and Captains shepard
AID Healy captured during July and August
seven British and nine American vessels Inc
Owners were prosecuted in the United States
courts the vessels were condemned and the
eca,coes oonfscated. The Administration had
started on the right track, then mad swerved
from it and finally bad returned to H.
AZ the opening Of the season col 1858 tho
same orders which had been acted upon in
1887 were publicly issued; but wnen Vne TWO
revenue cutters were on the eve oil SAILING from
San Francisco they received from special
messenger sealed instructions marked con
lidential and not to be opened until nifty miles
a. soan These instructions when opened
proyed to be in direct conflict with the orders
given during the previous season. Inc oiilcers
u,ere directed to exempt British vessels found
outside of the three-mile limit from the con-
seauences of illegal sealing. lt Is toid
that on the very day when those secret In
structons were dispatched from washington
the contents were privately telegrapheu 10 VIC
toria that little steamer started at once Tor
Oonua. where a fleet of thirteen British sailing
craft Law at anchor; and that all these vessels
set sail for the sealing-grounds and pied tneir
trade for several months under the eyes OF
Captains Shepard and Heay. The Canadian
poachers were not only secured against seizure
by the revenue cutters Rush and Bear, but
were also relieved from harassing composition
of American sealers, who had not been in
formed in advance Of the change OF Govern
ment policy. These allegations bear out Sem
ator Hoars complaint Of discrimination against
American vessels.
Now what was the Administrators motive
in reversing its policy last spring. The Presi-
dents reference to the fur-seal agreement prob
ably explains it. Secretary Bayard, who in
January, 1887, had effected the release Of the
three sealers on the ground that the claim of
exclusive jurisdiction in Behring Sea was en-
barrassing him in the North Atlantic fisheries
negotiations, was bent upon making new
treaty in April, 1858. He had taken steps to
propose to the maritime Powers an interna-
tional "close-timer agreement for the protec-
ton Of the fur-seal fisheries. and he wanted
a clear field for his diplomacy. Seizures Of
Canadian vessels would be inconvenient when
he was soliciting the acceptance Of his project
by the Governments of Great Britain Russia
and Germany, and accordingly the revenue
service was secretly instructed not to modest
any vessels. The laws passed by Congress
were not enforced while his maritime agree
ment was in process of negotiation. The right
of exclusive jurisdiction over the waters coded
by Russia was waived for the season. The
country will be highly favored by fortune if
that treaty privilege has not been compromised
or renowned in the convention which was ne
goiated. Secretary Bayard has a ruling passion
for surrendering American rights.