Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-06-16
AN ENGAGEMENT.
UNCLE SAM AND JOHNNIE BULL
AGREE AT LAST.
A Close Season In the Fur-yeal Fisheries
of Bering Sra Adopted-Large
Powers 60 Americans
[py tclerraph . the pI,patch.l


WASHINGTON. June 15.--The President to-
day issued the following proclamation:
Whereas an engagement for mOd,s ei-
rendt between the United States and Her
Britanic Majesty in relation to the fur-seal
fisheries in Behring Sea was concluded on
the fifteenth day of June in the year of
our Lord one thousand eight hundred and
nine, word for word as follows:
AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT or
TIE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT AND THE
GOVERNMENT or HER BRITANNIA MAJRsTY
FOR MoDCs YIyESDI IN RELATION TO THE
fUR-sEAL FIsHRRiEs IN TILE BFHRING SEA.
For the purpose of avoiding irritating
differences and with view TO promote the
friendly settlement Of questions pending
between the two Governments. touching
their respective rights in Behring Sea, and
Tor the preservation of the seal species.
this agreement is made without prejudice
TO the rights or claims OF either party.
J.. Her Maiesty's Government will pro-
hibit until Nav next seal-kllling in that
part of Boring Sea lying eastward OF the
line Of demarcation described in Article
No. / OF the treaty of 1867 between the
United States and Russia, and will proper
ly use Its best efforts to ensure the OBJ
servance of this prohibition by British sub
iects and vessels.
2. The United States Government will
prohibit seal killing for the same period in
the same part of Boring Sea, and on the
shores and islands thereof, the property Of
tne United States, in excess Of $500, TO be
taken on the islands for the subsistence
and care OF the natives, and will promise
TO use its best efforts 10 ensure the OBJ
servance of this prohibition by its citizens
and vessels.
3.-Every vessel or person offending
against this prohibition in the said waters
Of Boring Sea, outside of the ordinary ter
ritoral limits of the United States, may be
seized and detained by the naval or duly
other commissioned officers of either of
the high contracting parties, but they
shall be handed over as soon as practicable
to the authorities of the nation 70 which
they respectively belong, who shall alone
have Jurisdiction to try the offence and
impose the penalties for the same. The
witnesses and proofs necessary TO establish
the Ofense shall also be sent with them.
in order 20 facilitate such proper in
quiries as Her Majesty's Government may
desire to make with q view TO the presen-
tation of the case of that Government be-
fore arbtTatOrs, and in the expectation
that an agreement for arbitration may be
arrived at, it is agreed that suitable per-
permitted at any time upon application 10
visit or to remain upon the seal Islands
during the present sealing season for that
purpose.
Here follows the official attestation by
Assistant Secretary Wharton and Minister
Pauncefote.)
Now therefore, be it known that /, Ben
jamin Harrison, President of the United
States of America, have caused the said
agreement to be made public to the end
that the same may be observed and fulfilled
with good faith by the United States of
America and the citizens thereof.
In witness whereof / have heTeunto set
my hand and caused the seal of the United
States to be affixed.
Done at the city of Washington this, the
18th day of June, &c.
BENJAMIN HARRISON. lSeal.l
BY the President:
WUiCm i. Wharton,
Acting Secretary Of State.
SPEEDILY ACCOMPLISHED.
The arrangement indicated in the above
proclamation has been carried to compile
ton with degree of speed without prece-
dent IN the history of the State Depart
ment, and the cable has been relied upon
to an unwonted extent. The agreement
was signed this morning by Sir Julian
PauncefOte and Acting Secretary Wharton
and the presidential proclamation followed
as quickly as it could be prepared. The
Navy Department has also been advised
of the progress and necessities of the
case. and orders ore now in prepa-
ration for the immediate dispatch OF
possibly two naval vessels from San Fran
cisco to Alaska, where they will assist the
three revenue cutters in the task of driving
of the poaching sealing vessels. 1t will
be noticed that the agreement authorizes
United States vessels TO seize offending
British vessels, which, however, are
to be turned over TO the British authori-
ties for trial, and this feature of the agree
ment is expected TO prove of great value IN
the pressing emergency that IS held 10
sells before irreparable damage has been
done 10 the seal fisheries.