The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-08-08
The LAW DEFIED,
Two Sealing Schooners Seized
for Poaching.
Ihe United States Revenue Vessels Patrol
ling The RehFiDs Sea-
Story Of the Capture Of the British Schooner
Marvin and American Schooner
La Ninfa for POaGhing.
Special to THE MORNING CALI.

WASHINGTON, Aug. 7.-Captain Coulson,
commanding the revenue cutter Rush re-
ports to the Treasury Department under
date OF Oonalaska, July 9th, that on the 9th
Oh July while cruising north of Unlmak
Pass with his command for the purpose of
warning vessels in pursuit of seals not to
enter the Behrng Sea, he fell in with the
British schooner E. B. Marvin, having on
board twenty-three men and all the impe-
ments, raft, etc., necessary for sealing.
Upon being hailed Captain McDoughall said
he was sealing. Captain Coulson therefore
lowered a boat and sent Lieutenants New
comb and Cantwell on board aud thoroughly
examined the vessel.
1t was then ascertained that Marvin had
been boarded on July 1st by the United States
steamer Thetis near the island Of Unga and
furnished with a copy of the Presidents
proclamation, and the necessary warning
was given to the masters not to enter the
Behring Sea for the purpose of sealing. On
that occasion the master reported that he
mad no Sealskins on board. He refused to
allow the boarding officer of the Thetis to
lndorse on his register that he had been
notified and is reported as being otherwise
unclvil. On examination by the officers of
the Rush. two fresh sealskins were found on
board. The circumstances of the case and
the evident intent of the master to continue
sealing Notwithstanding the warning was
considered sufficient by COulson to justify
the seizure Of the vessel. Lieutenant Quinan
was placed on board, and the vessel, crew,
arms. sealskins. papers ,etc. delivered into the
custody OF Commander Mead,
U. 5. N, commanding the steamer AK,
and subsequently turned over to Captain
Turner of the British ship Nymph, which
arrived at Oonalaska on the 7th inst.
SEIZURE OF THE SCHOONER LA NINA.
Captain Hooper, commanding the revenue
steamer Corwin, reports to the Treasury
Department under date of O0Dalaska, July
18th, the seizure of the American schooner
La NInfa OF San francisco, near st. Paul's
Island, on July 1ith, for violation of the
Presidents proclamation. This vessel was
boarded In the Behring Sea and warned by
the Thetis on July 7th, and certificate
TO that effect was indorsed ON her manifest.
She had then on board nineteen sealskns.
Instead of needing the warning to leave,
the La Ninfa remained there until seized
seven days later by the Thetis. No addi-
tional skins were found on board. Third
Lieutenant Johnston was placed in charge
OF the prize with a detail OF four armed men
with orders to proceed to Oonalaska. The
Corwin arrived there on the 10th ult, and
Will await the arrival of the La Nnfa.
The United States steamers Mohican,
Alert and Thetis and the British ships
Nymphe and Pheasant were cruising in
Behring Sea. The Mohican and Rush were
at st. Paul Island on the 10Th inst. Eighty
sealing vessels are known to be in the sea
or on the way there. Captain Hooper says
there has been a great deal OF fog, which
makes it difficult to find the sealers, but of
the boats boarded the catch has been small,
on account Of the rough, windy weather
The Treasury Department is informed that
the revenue steamer Bear, Captain Healy
commanding, sailed from Oonaaska June
30th for Point Barrow, Alaska, and touched
at the seal Islands for the purpose of leav-
ing instructions to the Treasury agents to
limit the catch of the Alaska Commercial
Company this season to 1900 sealskinS 1t
Is learned from other sources that this COM
pany has already secured this number of
skins, and open sealing has been entirely
suspended for the season.