St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-06-01
BEHRING SEA BILL.
Full Text of the Measure Intro
duced in the Commons.

Full Text Of the Measure Intro
duced in the Commons.
LONDON, May 3O.-The text of the
Behring sea bill, introduced in the
house of commons yesterday by William
Henry Smith, the first lord of the treas
ury, is, in substance, as follows:
Her majesty the queen may by an order in
council prohibit the catching of seals by
British ships during period 20 be limited by
the order in council While the order in
council under this act is in force, no person
belonging to a British ship snail kill take, or
hunt, or attempt to kill, take or hunt any
seal within the Behring sea during the period
stated i'll the order in council. No British
ship, or any equipment or crew thereof, shall
be employed III such killing, taking or hunt
Ing. II there be any contravention of this
act, any person committing, procuring, aid
ing or abetting such cOntravention shall be
guilty OF a miSdemeanor. within the meaning
of the merchant shipping act, aud the ship
equipment and everything Oh board shall he
forfeited TO her majesty, as il the offense had
been &C mmitted under section 103 of said act
and sections 103 and 1C4 shall apply as if they
were herein enacted, and III terms made APP
plicable to an offense 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 III the Behring
sea. and to detain her 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 contravention Of
this section. If a British ship is found with
in the Behring sea- having on board fishing
or shooting implements, or sealskins or
bodies of seals. it shall lie with the owner
or master OF such ship to prove
that the ship was not used or employed in
contravention of this act. This act shall APP
ply to the animal known as the fur seal, and
to any marine animal specified in that behalf
by the order in council under this act, and
Ax -lN.
strued accordingly. The expression 'B chr
ing sea- in this act means the seas known as
Behring sea within the limits described in
the order in council under this act. The ex-
preston equipment in this act includes
any boat, tackle, fishing or shooting instru-
ments or other things belonging 10 a 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 detaiu
any ship which has wholly, or as to any
share therein, become subject to forfeiture
as aforesaid, and bring her for adjudication
before the high court of admiralty in Eng
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 nit, and
award the officer bringing in the same for adj
judication such portion of the proceeds of
the sale of any forfeited ship or ships as it
sponsible either civilly or criminally to any
person whomsoever, respecting the Seizure or
detention of any ship seized or detained by
him in pursuance OF the provisions herein
contained-despitet the fact that such ship is
not brought in 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 relating to such
ship or seizure or detention is held that there
were reasonable grounds for such seizure or
detention. But if such grounds are shown.
such judge or court may award payment of
may make such other order in the premises
as the judge or the court thinks it Every
offense by this act declared to be a INSIDE
meanor viii be punishable by fine, or by
imprisonment with or without hard labor
The bill then quotes various sections of the
merchant shipping act, as to be applied by
the new order. 1t is expected that the bill
will be passed next week, and that after
wards the council will fix the period over
which it is TO extend.