Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-05-31
BElIAIN,s RsRlNa-ssA gill.
Substance Of the Measure Introduced In
the House of Commons.

tBy Anglo-Amcrican cable 70 tne Dispntcn.I
IoSDoy. Eve., May 3O.--The text OF the
Bering-Se bill introduced in the House
of Commons yesterday by Mr. William
Henry Smith, the First Lord OF the irea-
sury, 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 to DO limited
by the order In Council. While the order
In Council under this act is IN force no per-
son belonging TO q British ship shall kill,
take, or hunt, or attempt to kill, take, or
hunt, any seal within;the Boring Sea du-
ring the period stated in the order IN
Council No British ship Or any equip
ment or crew thereof shall be employed in
such killing. taking, or hunting, or at
tempt at killing, taking, or hunting.
IHE cRIGE AND ITS PENALTY.
II there be any contravention of this act.
any person committinP. procuring aiding,
or abetting such conformation shall be
guilty Of misdemeanor within the mean-
ing OF the merchant shipping act, and the
ship or equipment and everything on
board shall be forfeited to her Majesty, as
if the offence had been committed under
section 1903 Of said act. and sections l03 and
104 shall apply as II they were herein
re-enscted and in terms applicable to an
offence 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 in the Bering
Sea. and TO detain her or any portion Of
her equipment, OF any of her crew II IN
his Judgment the ship is being or prepar-
ing TO be used or employed in contraven-
ton of this section.
TIE BURDEN OF PROOF.
If British ship is found within the Be
ring Sea having on board fishing or shoot
ing 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.
APPLICATION OF THE ACT.
This act shall apply to the animal known
az the fur-seal and to any marine animal
specified in that behalf by the order in
council under this act, and the expression
seal in this act shall be construed ac--
cordingly. The expression "Bering Sea"
in this act means the seas known as Be-
ring 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 in
struments, or other things belonging TO
ship.
PROCEDURE IN CASE OF VIOLATION.
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 eeiZe and detaln any
ship which has wholly or as TO any share
therein become subject TO forfeiture az
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
dominions and such court may thereupon
make such order as 1t may think tit and
award the officer bringing in the same for
adjudication such portion of the proceeds
| of the sale Of any forfeited ship or share as
| il may think ht.
NoN-REsPoNsIBILITY oP OFFICER MAKING
sKIZURB.
No such officer is to be responsible
either civilly or criminally, to any person
| whomsoever, respecting the seizure or de
! tention of any ship seized or detained by
! him in pursuance Of the provisions herein
contained-despite the fact that such shiy
| is not brought for adjudication, or II
brought in is declared not to be- liable tc
| forfeiture il it is shown to the satisfaction
| of the Judge or court before whom any
| trial relating to such ship or seizure or de
| tentlon is held that there were reasonable
| grounds for such seizure or detention
| But if no such grounds are shown such
Judge or court may award payment Of
costs or damages to any party aggrievec
and may make such other order IN the
premises as the judge or court may thinl
THE PUNISHMENT PRESCRIBED.
Every offence by this act declared to b.
n misdemeauor will be punishable by fn'
or by imprisonment with or without hare
labor.
The bill quotes various sections of tn
merchant shipping act as TO be applied b.
the new order. II is expected that the bill
will be passed next week and that after
wards the Council will fix the period owe
| ,yb;oh ~ Ia IN extand