The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1891-05-15
THE BEHRING SEA MATTER.

to Minister Pauncefote, in relation
ito the Behring sea matter and
questions which it is proposed to
arbitrate. has been made public
Much of the contention so far has
been occasioned by the assump-
ton on the part of Lord Salisbury
that the United States claims that
Behring sea is mare cI0Wswna, or
closed sea.
In the opinion Of the president
says Blaine, Lord Salisbury is
wholly and strangely in error
in making the following state
ment: ':Nor do they (the
advisers of the president) rely, as
a justification for the seizure of
British ships in the open sea,
upon the contention that the seal
fisheries, give to the United States
government any right for that pur-
pose, which, according to our in
ternational law, it would not other
wise possess"
The government of the United
States has steadily held just the
reverse of the position which Lord
Salisbury has imputed to it. 1t
holds the ownership to the islands
upon which the seal breed, that
the habits OF the seal in regularly
repairing thither and rearing their
young thereon, that their going
from the islands in search of food
and regularly returning thereto,
and all the facts and incidents of
their relation to the islands, give
to the United States property in
terest therein; that this property
interest was claimed and exercised
by Russia during the whole period
of its sovereignty over the land
and waters of Alaska; that Eng
land recognized this property in
terest, so far as recognition is i'm
piled by abstaining from all inter
ference with it during the whole
period of Russia's ownership of
Alaska, and during the first nine
teen years of the sovereignty of the
! United States. 1t is yet to be de-
termined whether the lawless in
trusion of Canadian vessels in
1886 and subsequent years has
changed the law and equity Of the
case heretofore prevailing.
The questions which will proba-
bly, form the basis of arbitration
are as follows:
First-\Vhat exclusive jurisdiction in the
sea, now known as Behring sea, and what
exclusive rights in the seal fisheries therein,
did Russia assert and exercise prior and up
to the time of the cession of Alaska to the
United States?
Second-How far were these claims of
| jurisdiction as to the seal fisheries recog-
nized and conceded by Great Britain?
Third-Was the body of water known as
Behring included i'll the phrase Pacific
ocean," as used in the treaty of 1925 be-
tween Great Britain and Russia, and what
rights, if any, in the Behring sea were held
and exclusively exercised by Russia alter
said treaty?
Fourth-Did not all the rights of Russia
as to jurisdiction and as to the seal fisheries
i'll the Behring sea, east of the water Eoun-
Diary described in the treaty between the
| United States and Russia Of March 30.
1867, pass unimpaired to the United States
under that treaty?
Fifth-Has the United States any right,
and if SO, what right, of protection of pro
perty in the fur seals frequenting the islands
of the United States in the Behring sea,
when such seals are found outside the ordi-
nary three mile limit?
SiXth--lf the determination of the fore
going questions shall leave the subject in
such Il position that the concurrence of
Great Britain is necessary in prescribing
the regulations for the killing of fur seals in
any part of the waters of the Behring sea,
then it shall be further determ1ned:
First-How far, il at all outside the or
dinary territorial limits, is it necessary that
the United States should exercise an exclu-
sive jurisdiction, in order to protect the
seals for the time living upon the islands OF
the United States and feeding therefrom?
Second-Whether a closed season, dur
ing which the killing of seals in the waters
OF Behring sea, outside the ordinary terri
to-iaI limits, shall be prohibited, is neces.
sary to save the seal fishing industry, SC
valuable and important to mankind, from
destruction. and if 50,
| Third--What months or parts of months,
should be included in such season, and over
what Water should it extend?