New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-02-07
THE BEHRING SEA SEAL FISHERIES.
MR. DINGLEY's RESOLUTION OF INQUIRY
WHAT WERE CAPTAIN SHEPARD
CONFIDENTIAL" oRDERs1


Washington. Feb CSpeclaD-The House to-day
adopted Mr.. Dlngley's resolution requesting the
Secretary OF the Treasury to inform the House what
orders were given 10 the commander OF the revenue
cutter Richard Rush respecting the protection OF
the seal fisheries In Behring Sea last year, whether
said instructions differed from those given to him IN
1887, and II So what reasons existed tor any material
change I'm said Instructions. Tho resolution also rc-
quests the Secretary to transmit copies OF all In
structions on that subject issued in the last three
years
If the resolution be complied with the country will
he furnished with some important and interesting ny
formation which the House Committee mas fouhd IL
extremely difficult and thus far lmpossoie 10 oo'a''
When he was examined by the committee seVelal
weeks ago. Captain Shepard, who COMMANDED tho
Richard Rush in Behrlng sea In 1857 ana $780,
testified that he made fifteen seizures 10 1857, that
on the vessels seized 1900 sealskns were found,
that he estimated the number OF seals unlawiuily
taken that year at 10000, and that, in his opinion,
10000 more would have been thus taken If the vessels
engaged in the unlawful operations had not been
seized When asked as TO the amount of unlawful
scaling IN 1858, Captain Shepard replied that he
thought 1t was about the same as in 1887.
Glow many seizures did you make in 1882 Dir.
Dingley asked.
"None.7 replied Captain Shepard.
Mr. Dlngley then sought by series OF questions
violations of the law were frequent and extensive
as in 1857 especially as Captain Shepard had teSti-
fed that he had observed number OF vessels IN
Dehring Sea I'm 1888 apparently" for the purpose
of killing seals The fact was at last brought out
that Captain shepards instructions last year differed
from those of tho preceding year, and that he found
no vessels violating the laws according to the In
stuctions OF the Treasury Department
az. what respect did the instructions differ from
those you received in 1887 ?" asked Mr.. Dngley To
this and other questions of like nature Captain
Shepard replied that no received CONFIDENTIAL IN
stctons7 last year. which have been since returned
TO the Secretary Of the Treasury by his ORDER and
that "if It was all the same to the committee he
would prefer that they apply to the Treasury Depart
mcnt for copy of them rather than require him to
divulge them.
Tho committee then applied to the Treasury Depart
ment for a copy of the confdential7 Instructions,
but the application unsuccessful Some informa-
ton of semi official nature, however has leaked out
The " confdendar instructions are not recorded In
the Official book OF the Bureau Of Revenue Marine,
and they were sent to Captain Shepard under sea-,
with an order that the seal should not be broken
until after the Rush had sailed on her cruise very
soon after the Rush sailed, thirty sealers were
fitted out and dispatched to Benring sea from British
Columbia ports by Canadians, and not one OF them
was mOestcd Moreover 1t Is asserted on gOod
authority, that the " confidential Instructions were
issued at the solicitation of secretary Bayard, and
that information Of the scope and nature OF SAID In
stluctons promptly communicated IN confluence
TO the British Minister and by him impaired in Ike
confidential manner TO Dominion officials, through
whom It soon reached the Canadian sealers who
promptly acted upon II. OF course American sealers
not permitted to enjoy any Of the benefits 10
be derived from the confidential Instructions which
or controversy on account Of the depredatOns COM
mltted by the British or Canadian sealeis.