The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1891-05-08
SEAL FISHERIES.
Secretary Blaine on the Oontro-
Versy with England.
OUR RIGHTS In THE BEHRrNG SEA.


WASHINGTON, May 8. - Secretary
Blaine last evening made public his lat
est communication on the Behring sea
matter. 1t is addressed to Sir Julian
Pauncefcte, u the British minister, and
reads as follows:
SIR: The modification which Lord Sails
bury suggests in tho questions for arbitration
DO not wholly meet tho views of the president,
but the president changes the text of the third
and fifth In such manner, 1t is hoped, as will
result In an agreement between tho two gov
ernments. While Lord Salisbury suggests q
diuerent mode of prefecture from that herein
embodied, the president does not understand
him actually to object to the question, and he
therefore assumes that il is agreed to.
The six questions as now proposed by the
president are follows
Six Pertinent Questions.
First-What exclusive jurisdiction In the sea
now known the Behring sea and what ex-
elusive rights in the seal fisheries therein did
Russia assert and exercise prior and up to the
slime OF the session Of Alaska to the United
6tGtcs?
Second How far were these claims Of juris-
diction as to the seal fisheries recognized and
conceded by Great Britain?
Third-The body of water now known az the
lSchring sea included in tho phrase "PaciHc
Dceahn as used In the treaty Of 1871 between
NSreat britain and Russia, and what rights, II
any, in the Behring sea were held exclusively
by Russia after said treaty.
Fourth-Dd not all the rights of Russia as
No jurisdiction and as to the seal fisheries In
fbehring sea cast of the water boundary dc.
HcriDed In the treaty between the United Stated
and Russia of March 20, 1867, pass unimpaired
70 tho United States under thnt treaty.
t11th--Has the United States any right and
Hf SO, what right of protection of property in
Eho iur seals freauentiSS tho islands OF the
iUnhed States in Bekr.Ws sea, or such seal
found outside tho three mile limit?
slxth-n tho determination of the fore
going questions shall leave the subject In such
n position that the concurrence of Great BRIT.
fkin Is necessary In prescribing regulations for
Hhe killing OF fur seal in any part of tho
waters Of Behring sea, then it shall be further
fdetermined; l. How far, IL at all outside tho
torhinary territorial limits, is it necessary that
fxho United States should exercise an exclusive
pariBoiction in order TO protect the seal for the
ftiine living upon tle islands of the United
Staics and feeding therefrom2 Q. Whether a
closed season (duxing which the killing of seal
Nm tho waters of Behrlng sea outside the ordi.
lnnry territorial limits shall be prohibited) is
Aeeessary 10 gave the seal fishing industry, so
valuable and important to mankind, from de-
strnotion. 0. What months, or parts of
Hnonths. should be included in such season,
and oyer what waters shonld it oxtend7
The Question OF Damages.
4 IL
tionpl question respecting ali damages to En-
Eii1h Bhfns propofcd by Lord Salisbury IL one
tconeiEion can be added. namely: That after the
ISSUES of tho arbitration are joined IL the
tJnitod States uhan prevail, all tho seals taken
0y Canadian vcsEcls during the period shall be
paid for Of the ordinary price for which skins
nro sold. This soerls TO the president to be tho
oompscment OF Lord 5alishury's proposition,
sntl he doubts not that it will secure his lord
KAip'a nsseat
Hs11n---a
20 tho ttntelaonta made in Lord Sails
1ury's dispatch OF Feb. 81, in which the
British premier complains that Mr..
Biaino did not dcal with certain pro-
tssts mado By Lord Londonderry and
&he Duko OF Wellington in 1922. Mr..
tbialpo pointo out that the points urged
10y these representatives at that time
lhayo notEinB TO do with the points now
As issue. He ihon proceeds:
Great Britain's Claims.
Two or three instances Of the power which
Great Britain exercises beyond the three mile
Mno have already been quoted, hut have failed
Shug far to secure comment or EXPLANATION
Efrom Lord Salisbury Another case can be
added, which perhaps is still more to the point.
IN lS1-two years ago-the British pnrin-
Enent enacted law, the effect Of which IL
Hnily shown by a map inclosed herewith. Far
@utdde tho three mile line the parliament OF
Great Britain has attempted the control of
zsatcrs beyond the northeastern section OF
Scotland, 200 square miles in .ent; to direct
fhat certain methods of fishing shall not be
Sused within that great body of water under a
papscrihed penalty. 1t will be observed that
zlc inhibition is not alone against British sub.
iccts, but against amy person"
Great Britain may thus control an area OF
1s900 square miles of ocean on The coast Of Scot
land why may not tho United Statcs prescribe
n space around The Pribyton islands in which
Eamilar prohibitions may be enforced? The
following would be the needed legislation for
such purpose by congress-, aud 1t is but
0arfphruse of the act of parliament: "rhe fur
neal board may, by law or bylaws, direct that
Eho methods of sealing known as spearlng or
harpooning, or with firearms, shall not be used
wit hin a line drawn from the shores of Priby-
foff Islands sixty miles in tho Brhrng sen, and
said board may from time to time make and
revoke bylaws for the purpose of this section,
eut no such bylaws shall be of any validity
anti 1t has been confirmed by tho secretary of
the treasury. 2 Any persons who use such
me nod of scaling in cOntravcntion of such
byfys shall be liable TO a fine not exceeding
SlDN for the first o1fense and not exceeding
S5O0 for tho second OF any subsequent offense,
and every spoar, harpoon or frearm attempted
to be used In oontravention of such bylaw may
be seized and destroyed or otherwise disposed
Of as said seal board may direct"
A Question OF Geography.
Undoubtedly the Pacific ocean includes
tio ocann includes the Cult of Mexico. and yet
ilt would be regarded as very inaccurate
statement TO say that tho Mississippi river
lows into tho Atlantic ocean. | think Lord
Salisbury fails to recognize the common dis
tinetion between the Atlantic ocean" and
sthe waters of the Atlantic" While the
Mexican gulf is not part of the Atlantic
9nanns IL would. l am sure, compnrt with gem
efgl usage TO say that 1t belonged 60 the waters
of the Atlantic, and while Behrns sea is not
technically part of the Pacific ocean 1t un-
asubtcdly belongs to the waters of the Pacific
pgjeas,.
Tho English channel would not ordinarily be
understood to belong to the AtinnllG Ono
would not say that Dover or Calais Is on The
ceas4 Of tho Atlantic ocean, and yet clearly the
4fnCllsh channel belongs to the waters OF the
lAdlantic. In point OF fact therefore, accord.
HnE 10 tho usage oftie world, there is no dls-
TrAe of any consequence between the two gov.
ixr1znents on the geographical point undsr
'Upnsidoraiion Tie historical point is the ono
: 90 5ssus-