New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-08-09
SEALERS IN BEHRING SEA.
WARNED TO LEAVE IT BY AMERICAN AND
BRITISH OFFICERS.
COMMANDER CoTToN's REPORT OF THE WORK
OF THE NAVAL vEssEI4s-MoRE THAN
HALF THE FLEET BOARDED.

HALF THE FLEET BOARDED.
Washington, Aug. S.-The Navy Department has
received. under date Of Ounalaska. Alaska July H.
long letter from Commander c. S. Cotton, of the
MOhcan, commanding the United States Naval force
in Behring sea. The Mohican arrived at Ounaaska on
July from Departure Bay, Vancouver Island tnDm
which port it sailed June 81. The following ex-
tracts from the letter given
"UpOn my arrival here l found II. NJ. S. Nymph,
Commander G. T. Turner, r. N, commanding, from
Victoria p. c.. she having arrived the afternoon Of
the 9TH instant. Commander Turner is the senior
British Naval officer in the Behring Sea. II. ~. S
Pheasant and Porpoise expected to arrive shortly
the former from Victoria and the latter from the
China station. The usual visits Of courtesy have been
exchanged between the Nymph and this vessel. The
former VIII leave for the seal Islands tomorrow
found also the chartered steamer Ala and he
steamer Rush in the inner harbor the former having
arrived from San Francisco on the I'd instant, with
Lieutenant Commander W. v Mead, L. s. N, in chrge,
and the Marine Guard Captain c. H. Cochrane, L. 5.
NJ c. commanding The Alert arrived here from Victoria
on the 0th instant with Lieutenant Richard VAIN
wright T. S. ~, commanding, Commander Hitchcock
having been left at ST. Joseph's Hospital Victoria.
TOO i'll to proceed in his ship
To the present time twentyeight vessels have been
boarded and warned by the Thets, and four by the
Rush The commanding officers of the Nymph, Thets,
Alert Rush and this vessel have conferred freely
10 the best course 10 be pursued to carry into effect
the Presidents proclamation, the British order in
council and the orders that have been issued by the
wy and the Treasury Departments and the British
AAmiralty Office, and also as to the most effective
disposition of the available force present. Commander
Turner Cd the Nymph, has expressed himself being
strongly in favor OF hearty cooperation between the
United States and the British forces assembled in this
sea, and he has been met by similar disposition on
the part Of the commanders Of United States vessels.
u shall leave provisional orders for the commander
Of the Marion, and acknowledgements Mead mas
been instructed TO remain here with the Alah until
my return and receive and take charge of any seized
vessels their arms etc. that may be sent here
by United states vessels during my absence, any
American vessel that may be seized and sent in TO
port 10 him by any Of the British Naval commanders
Tie British Commissioners are expected here about
the 25th or the goth inst. There IS an ample supply
Of coal here The Alaska Commercial Company has
two vessels coal-laden dischargng in the inner
harbor and in the outer harbor, with 1000 tons
on bard We cOaled from the latter.
Besides the four men-of- war and the AlaBt, there
are now in port steam whaler two sailing whalers,
one steam sealer, British bound out Of Behring Sea-
a seized sealing schooner, and large four-masted
steamship tender to the Arctic whaling fleet. l am
informed that the sealing feet this numbered
about seventy vessels, OF which about half have
already been boarded and warned
Commander Cotton incfoses IN his letter several re-
ports made TO him by Commander George c. Better. OF
the Thetis The first Of these Is dated at Humboldt
Harbor. sand Point, Popof Island June 90. In this
report Commander Reiter tells OF his arrival at that
place and states that he met ana warned three 'Ss
sells In the afternoon and evening of June p. He
found but eight vessels IN Humboldt HarbOr. lie
learned he says, that the rendezvous OF the sealing
feet for this year had boon changed to AHaR, KODIAK
Island, whence he proceeded passing out Of Popof
straits and to the sOuhward Of the ohuInaglL Islands,
On juno 80 the commander writes that, os ne had
anticipated he had fallen In with four sealing sChOOners
which had been to Alitak and were then bound for
Behring Sea. The master Of each Of these vessels
stated that when he left Altak there were but
re" remaining, and the master OF the Iast
one boarded the Alexander and stated that he
was the last to leave, two DAYS before,
and that the steamer Danube had the blue peter up
and was about getting under way. COMMANDER
Reter that therefore he concluded not 70 go
10 Alltak but 10 to Sand Point by the northern
passage On July 5 he wrote that In making tiie
passage 10 Sand Point he boarded several more seal
ing schOoneS. After leaving sand Point he pro
ceeded 70 Ounalaska. On the way TO that place.
where he arrived July 3, he boarded several more
schOoners.
In report dated Ounalasl1a Harbor, Alaska July IL,
Commander Reiter says that he sailed from Ounaisa
July 3, and arrive at ST. George Island on July =
After communicating with the shore he GOT under
way at 5 :53 a. n~ and stood 10 the northward ana
was sighted AT 90 a. m. Tho commander says: Il
Immediately stood for her and gained. until three
boats which were out, were picked up, when she
showed me "a clean pair Of heels there being a
fresh breeze from the nOrthwad and eastward. !
fired shot Ia ceward OF her, 10 which 40 attention
was paid During the day Commander Refer says
he boarded and warned three vessels.