, 1891-08-08
SEALERS SEIZED.
Two ScboOners Captured in
Behring Sea
For DisobeyiDg the Presidents
Proclamation.
Open Sealing Suspended for
the Season.

WASHINGTON, Aug. Capt. Coulson,
commanding the revenue cutter Rush, re-
ports to the treasury department, under
date Of Ounalaska, July 9, hat on the
7th instant, while cruising north of
Unlmak pass with his command for the
purpose of warning vessels in pursuit of
seals not to enter Behring sea, he fell in
with the British schooner f b. Marvin,
having on board lwenty-three men and all
the implements-raft, etc. necessary for
sealing. Upon beng hailed, Capt. Nc
Dougal said he was scaling. Capt. Coul-
son therefore Lowered a boat and sent
Lieuts. Fewcomb and Cantwell on board
to thoroughly examine her. 1t was her
a~scertained that the Marvin had teen
boarded on July | by the United States
steamer Thetis neal the island of inca
and furnished with a copy Of the presi-
dents proclamation, and the necessary
warning had been given to the master not
to enter Behring sea for the pur-
pose of sealing. On that occasion
the master reported that he had no seal
skins on board" He refused to allow
the boarding officer of the Thetis to en-
dOrse on his register that be had been
notified, and is reported as being other
wise ''uDcivil." On examination by the
officers Of the Rush, two fresh sealskins
we're found on board. The circumstance
of the case and the evident intent of the
master to continue sealing, Dotwithstand-
ing the warning, were considered suffc-
lent by Coulson to Justify the seizure of
the vessel. Lieut.. Quinan was placed on
I--- II Al, ,.-..l -.., .w. -
skins, papers, etc, delivered into the Gus
tody OF Lieutenant Commander Mead of
the United States navy, commanding the
steamer Alki, and subsequently turned
over to Cap. Turner of the British ship
Nymph. which arrived at Ounalaska on
the 18th inst.
Capt. Hoopor, commanding the revenue
steamer Corwin, reports to the treasury
department, under date OF Ounalaska,
July Is, the seizure of the American
schooner La Ninfa of San Francisco, near
st. Paul's island on the 18th inst, for vio-
lation of the presidents proclamation.
This vessel was boarded in Behring
sea and warned by the Thetis on
the It'll inst, and a certificate to that
effect endorsed on her manifest. She had
then on board nineteen sealskins. Instead
of needing the warning to leave, La Ninfa
remained there until seven DAYS later.
Third Lieut.. Johnston was placed in
charge OF the prize with a detail of four
armed men, with orders to proceed to
Ounalaska. @9.The Corwin arrived there on
the 10th INST, and will await the arrival
of La Ninfa.
On July is the United States steamers
Mohicau. Alert and Thetis and the
British ships Nymph and Pheasant were
cruising in Behrine sea. The Mohican
and Rush were at St. Paul island on the
18th inst. Eighty sealing vessels were
known to be in the sea or on the way there.
Capt. Hopper says there has been a great
deal offog, which makes it difficult to find
the %sealers, but of the boats boarded, the
catch has been small on account of the
rough and windy weather.
The treasury department Is Informed
that the eveuue steamer Bear, Capt.
Healy. commanding. sailed from Ouna.
laska June 80 for Point Barrow, Alaska,
and touched at the seal islands tor the
purpose Of leaving instructions to the
treasury agents to limit the catch Of the
Alaska Commercial company this season
10 1900 seal skins. 1t is learned from
other sources that this company has al
ready secured this number of skins and
open sealing has been entirely suspended
for the season.