Daily tobacco leaf-chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1890-1895, 1891-06-01
ANTI-SEAL BILL.
Provisions Of That Introduced
Into Parliament.
Canadian Poachers Must Stop
Their Thieving.

/ Violations Punishable by Fines and I'm.
prisonment and the Vessel and outat
! FOrfeited-EXpected That the Bin WIN
/ Pass In Few Days-Period of Prohibit
tion to BE Fixed Later.
| LONDON, June 1.-The Behring sea
bill introduced into the house of com
mons on behalf of the government by
Mr.. w. II. Smith, the first lord of the
treasury, provides that the queen may,
by orders taken in council, prohibit
British ships from hunting seal in the
waters of Behring sea for period as yet
unspecitied, but which is to be limited
by such orders.
1t is further provided that while such
order is in force no person belonging to
any British ship shall kill. take, hunt
or attempt to kill take or hunt seal in
the waters of Behring sea during the in
terdicted period. No British ship, its
equipment or crew or any part of its
equipment or crew, shall be employed in
killing, taking or hunting. or in any at
tempt to kill, take or hunt seals in such
waters during the interdicted period.
The bill also provides that those per
sons contravening the provisions of the
acs. and all persons aiding them IN such
Contraventions shall be held to be guilty
ut mistiemeanOr. and upon conviction
of the offense, the ship or ships owned
by such violators of the law, together
with everything found about the vessel
or vessels shall he declared forfeited.
Any regularly commissioned officer of
her majesty's naval forces is by the bill
clothed with full power to stop and ex-
anime any British vessel found III Beh-
ring sea during the period of interdic-
tiOn. He may, if, in his opinion a Brit
ish ship is attempting to avoid the pro-
visions of the act, detain her or any por-
ton of her crew.
Where British ships are found in Beh-
ring sea with the implements used in
fishing for or shooting seal, with sell
skins, or the bodies of seals, such vessel
shall lie to underguard until such timc
rs her owner OF master shall have proved
that ne was not attempting to con
travene the provisions of the act
The act i'll its enforcement shall apply
to the animal known as the fur seal, and
to any other marine animal which may
by order of council be specified i'll this
connection. The term Behring sea shall
be construed to mean the sea. known as
Behring sea and within limits to be de-
NTlDeu Ill llle pTneG.
Equipment will he held to compromise
everything belonging to the mechanism
and outfit of Il ship.
Any regular commissioned British
naval officer on full pay. any customs Off
Ger or consular officer has under the condi-
tons above set forth, power to seize and
detain subject to forfeiture, bringing
her for the adjudiCtion of her case before
the high court of admiralty i'll England
or Ireland. or before any court in her
maiesty's dominion having jurisdiction.
they see fit. and any award to the Off
GERS bringing in the ships such portions
of the proceeds of the sale of the for
feited vessels as they shall see fit.
No officer taking IA vessel into custody
under the provisions acts shall be held
responsible either by civil or criminal
action for such seizure or detention.
however, should the ship not be brought
in for adjudication, or if brought in is
declared not liable to such seizure. The
officer must, however, show that he had
reasonable grounds for such seizure or
detention. Should such seizure exist the
judge or court may award the payment
of costs or damages to any aggrieved
party, and may make such other order
as may he thought proper.
Oflenscs under the act are punishable
by fine or Imprisonment without hard
labor. 1t is expected that the bill will
pass in few DAYS. after which the
council will fix the period of prohibi-
ton.