The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-06-16
A SHOW FOR THE SEALS.
THE AGREEMENT FOR A CLOSED
SEASON SIGNED.


Nations Authorized to Seize Poach-
ers Of the Other.
WASHINGTON, June 15.-The agreement
for closed season in Bering sea was signed
this morning by Acting Secretary of State
Wharton and Sir Julian Pauncefote, and
the President issued @ proclamation an
nounoing that fact.
The Presidents proclamation reads as
follows:
WHEREAS, An engagement for a modus
vivendi between the United States and the gov
ernment of her Britannia majesty In relation to
the fur seal fisheries In Bering sea was con-
cluded on the fifteenth day Of June, in the year
Of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and
ninety one, word for word as follows:
Agreement between the government of the
United States and the government of her
Britannia majesty for a modus vivendi in rela-
ton to the fur seal fisheries in Bering sea. For
the purpose of avoiding irritating differences
and with view to promote friendly settlement
or the questions pending between the two gov
ernments touching their respective rights in
Bering sea, and for the preservation of the seal
Species the following agreement is made with
out prejudice to the rights or claims Of either
party:
II. Her majesty's government will prohibit,
until May next, seal killing in that part of
Bering sea lying eastward Of the line OF denmark
alton described in article No. of the treaty
OF 1901 between Ll6 united states ana Russia,
and will promptly use its best efforts to insure
the observance of this prohibition by British
subjects and vessels.
''2. The United States government will pro-
hibit seal killing for the same period in the same
part of Bering sea and on the shores and islands
thereof, property of the United States lin excess
of z 500 to be taken on the islands for the sub.
sistence and care of the natves). and will
observance of this prohibition by United States
citizens and vessels.
20. Every vessel or person offending against
this prohibition in said waters of Bering sea
outside Of the ordinary territorial limits of the
United States may be seized and detained by
naval or other duly commissioned officers Of
either Of the high contracting parties, but they
shall be handed over as soon as practicable to
the authorities Of the nation to which they re-
spectively belong, who shall alone have juris-
diction to try the offense and impose penalties
for the same. Witnesses and proofs necessary
TO establish the offense shall also be sent with
them.
a. "In order tofactate such proper inquiries
as her majestys government may desire to
make, with view to the presentation of the
case Of that government before arbitrators, and
in the expectation that an agreement for arbi.
tration may be arrived at, it is agreed that suit
able persons designated by Great Britain will
be permitted at any time. upon application to
visit or to remain upon the seal islands during
the sealing season for that purpose" (Here
follows the official attestation by Assistant
Secretary Wharton and Minister Pauncefote)
Now therefore be it known that l. Benjamin
Harrison, President Of the United States of
America, have caused said agreement to be
made public to the end that the same may be
observed and fulfilled with good faith by the
United States Of America aud the citizens
thereof.
In witness whereof have hereunto set my
hand and caused the seal OF the United States
Done at the city of Washington this 18th day
of June, eto.
f.. s. BENJAMIN HARRISON.
by the President:
WILLIAM +. WHARTON,
Acting Secretary of State.
PUT THROUGH IN A HURRY.
The arrangement indicated in the above
proclamation has been carried to compile
tion with degree of speed without prece-
dent in the history of the state department
aud the cable has been relied upon to an
unwonted extent The agreement was
signed this morning by Sir Julian
Pauncefote and ac.ing Secretary Wharton,
and the presidential proclamation followed
as quickly as it could be prepared. The
navy department has also been advised of
the progress and necessities of the case
and orders are now in preparation for the
immediate dispatch Of probably two naval
Iessels from San Francisco to Alaska,
where they viii assist the three revenue cut
ters In the task of driving off poaching seal
ing vessels.
AN IMPORTANT POINT.
1t will be noticed that the agreement
authorizes the United States vessels to seize
offending British vessels, which, however,
ties for trial, and this feature of
the agreement is expected to
prove of great value in the pressing emer-
gency that is held to exist of clearing out
the law-breaking vessels before irreparable
damage has been done to the seal fisheries
MORE CORRESPONDENCE GIVEN OUT.
The department. of state to-day mnde pub
lie the correspondence on the subject of the
Bering sea seal fisheries which has taken
place since May 28 lsst. The matter begins
with note dated June 8, submitted by Sir
Julian Pauncefote. in reply TO Secretary
Blaine's letter of May A. In that letter the
secretary says that soon after
the adjournment Of congress he submitted
to the minister proposition for modus
vivendi, pending the result Of the arbitra-
tion. This was in substance that sealing be
totally suspended by both nations, and sub
seQuently the proposition was modified TO
allow $500 seals to be killed TO maintain
the natives. To this proposition
Sir Julian Pauncefote replied with
an amended draft of an agreement which
opens this mass Of correspondence, which is
entirely between Assistant Secretary Whar-
ton, acting as secretary, aud Minister
Paunoefote. The correspondence lasted ten
days and embraces about 5000 words, in
twelve communications, closing Saturday,
June Is, and resulting in the signing to-day
of the modus vivendi promulgated in the
Presidents proclamation. The British min
lister depended entirely upon the cable tele-
graph in communicating with the home
Office pending these negotiations.
CAPT. HooPER's ORDERS.
The Secretary OF the Treasury this after
noon telegraphed to Capt. G. L. Hooper,
commanding the revenue steamer Corwin,
as follows:
Call upon the collector of customs at San
Francisco for instructions to yourself, the COM
mauders of the Rush and Bear, and the agents
on the seal islands, and for two hundred copies
of the proclamation issued by the President
this day in reference TO seal fisheries in Berng
all possible dispatch to the Pribylof
Islands, under orders Of the 10th
instant, and deliver the instructions entrusted
to you to the parties TO whom addressed, and
then procee1 TO enforce the provisions of this
proclamation. Notify all American and Brit
ish persons and vessels you meet of the proc
lamation. and give them copies of the same.
Warn all persons and vessels of either
nationality engaged in sealing in Bering sea
photographic Office chart No. 68 to leave those
waters forthwith Make an entry Of the warn
ing on the register or Log Of the sealer. Seize
any American or British persons or vessels
found to be and TO have been engaged in seal
ing in the prohibited watersafter the notice,
and bring or send them in charge of a sufficient
force to insure their delivery to the