Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-05-31
TO SAVE THE SEALS.
A Full Synopsis of the Bering Sea
Bill introduced Into the
PARLIAMENT OF GREAT BRITAIN.
Provisions Made For Seizure and Condemna-
tion of Offenders.
DEPENDING ON AN ORDER IN COUNCIL.

LONDON, May 30.-The text of the Berine
Sea bill introduced into the House of Com
mons yesterday by William Henry Smith,
First Lord of the Treasury, is in substance
as follows: ''Her Majesty the Queen may,
by an order in council, prohibit the catch.
ing of seals by British ships during period
to be limited by the order in council.
While the order in council under this act is
in force, no person belonging to British
ship shall kill, take or hunt, or attempt to
kill, take or hunt, any. seal within the
Bering Sea during the period stated in the
order in council. No British ship, or any
equipment or crew thereof, shall be en-
ployed in such killing, taking or hunting,
or attempt at killing, taking or hunting.
If there be any contravention of this act,
any person committing, procuring, aiding
or abetting such contravention shall be
guilty of a misdemeanor within the mean
ing of the merchant shipping act, and the
ship, equipment and everything on board
Shall Be Forfeited to Her Majesty
as if the offense had been committed under
section 103 of said act, and sections 1O3 and
1O4 shall apply as if they were enacted and
in terms made applicable to the ofense and
forfeiture under this act.
Any commissioned officer on the naval
list shall have power during the period
limited by the order in council to stop and
examine any British ship in the Bering Sea
and to detain her or any portion of her
equipment or any of her crew if in his
judgment the ship is being or preparing to
be used or employed in contrayention of
this section. If British ship is found
within the Bering Sea, having on board fish
ing or shooting implements or sealskins or
bodies of seals, it shall lie with the owner
or master of such shipto prove that the ship
was not used or employed in contravention
of this act. This act shall apply to the
animal known as the fur-seal, and any
marine animal specified by the order in the
expression "seaP' in this act shall be con-
strued accordingly.
Bering Sea and Equipment Defined.
The expression "Bering Sea" in this act
means the seas known as 'Bering Sea"
within the limits described in the order in
council under this act. The expression
equipment" in this act includes any boat,
tackle, fishing or shooting instruments or
other things belonging to ship.
In order that the above provisions may
be carried into effect, it shall be lawful for
any commissioned officer on full pay in the
military or naval service of Her Majesty,
or any British officer of customs, or British
consular officer, to seize and detain any
ship which has wholly, or as to any share
therein, become subject to forfeiture as
aforesaid, and bring her for adjudication be-
fo kho HirI, afA A drntr troIf in Enn
land or ireland, or before any court having
admiralty Jurisdiction within Her Majesty's
dominions; and such court may thereupon
make such order as it may think fit, and
award the officer bringing in the same for
adjudication such portion of the proceeds
of the sale of any forfeited ship or share as
it may think fit.
Officers Not Responsible for Seizures.
No such officer is to be responsible, either
civilly or criminally, to any person whom
soever respecting the seizure or detention
of any ship seized or detained by him in
pursuance of the provisions herein con-
tained-despite the fact that such ship is
not brought for adjudication, or if brought
in is declared not to be liable to forfeiture,
if it is shown to the satisfaction of the
Judge or court before whom any trial relat-
ing to such ship or seizure or detention is
held that there were reasonable grounds for
such seizure or detention; but if no such
grounds are shown, such Judge or court
may award payment of costs or damages to
any party aggrieved and may make such
other order in the premises as the Judge or
the court thinks fit.
Every offense by this act declared to be a
misdemeanor will be punishable by a fine or
by Imprisonment, with or. without hard
labor. The bill then quotes various sections
of the merchant shipping act as to be ap-
piled by the new order.
1t is expected that the bill will be passed
next week, and that afterward the council
will fix the period over which it is to ex-
tend. The Post, referring to the bill, says
that care must be taken that the Alaskan
demand for food shall not be made pretext
for the continuation of the seal fishery con-
yention.