The morning call., 1891-09-19
BEHRING SEA DISPUTE.
England Claims That The Agreement Has
Been Violated.

WASHINGTON, Sept. 1S. - Sir Julian
Pauncefote. the British Minister, has Off
cially called the attention of the United
States to a violation of the terms of the
modus vivendi in effect between the two
countries as to the catch of seal in the Behr-
ing Sea. By the agreement between the
two countries the North American CONNER
cial Company, which leases the seal Islands
from the United States, is restricted to the
catch of seals this year to 1000 skins. 1t is
alleged the Commercial Company has ex-
ceeded this catch, thus violating the modus
vivend and the British Government has
called the United States to account for it.
Special Agent Williams of the Treasury
Department made special report on this
branch of the seal question to the Treasury
Department, and his report to-day was for
warded to the State Department, with re-
quest that its contents be laid before the
British Minister for transmission to the
Foreign Office in London. The report can
not be accurately ascertained, but 1t is un-
derstOOd he makes the admission that the
North American Commercial Company has
exceeded the limit of the catch of 1000 skins
fixed by the modus vivendi. The matter is
regarded as quite important and may lead to
the mOdus vivendi being declared imperative
after this date.
A Government official who is IA
miliar with the Behring Sea ques--
tion. in speaking this afternoon OF
the complaint made by Sir Julian Paunce-
fote that this Government had violated the
''modus vivendi' in regard to the killing OF
seals, said that the question was on the
construction Of treaty of June 10. 1891,
which allowed the North American Com
mercal Company to take 1900 seals. The
treaty went into effect June 18th, to expire
May 2, 1892; and the question is whether
the company was to be allowed to take 1900
seals alter June 18th, or whether the treaty
allowed it to capture this number OF seals
during the entire season, which went into
effect before the treaty was signed. The
official said no trouble need be anticipated
in the settling of the difficulty.
THE "THUNDERER's" OPINION.
LONDON. Sept. 1S.-The Times in leader
on the Behring Sea dispute says: 1t is I'M
ignorant of the facts i'll this case. Their
journals rarely take the trouble to do
justice to this country, and on the seal
fishery question they are carefully and
Systematically miSled by interested parties,
and yet accurate information is accessible
if any one cares TO have it, since an elaborate
report on the subject was issued by the
Census Department IN 1884.
This lucrative business is entirely in the
hands of the Alaska Company. No British
sealer ever approaches the sacred breeding
grounds. But when the breeding season is
over the vast congregation of seals dispersts
itself over an enormous area in search of
food. The Victoria sealing fleet roams over
that area and takes its chances of encoun-
tering single seals. 1t is this catching seals
in the open sea which the Americans en-
deavor to stop by asserting their prep0ster-
ons territorial rights over the Pacific Ocean
and by arbitrary and high-handed action.
III they show reasonable spirit OF COM
promise il would be a good thing TO come to
some arrangement-not for a closed season,
which would be inappropriate to the condi-
tions of the case. but for closure during
the bretd ding period.
says: Late yesterday afternoon Commits
sioners Mendenhali and McLain, who were
sent to Behring Sea to examine and report
concerning the condition of the seals and
fisheries there, had a conference with Presi-
dent Harrison. They declared stop must
be put to killing seals in the open sea for
several years, il it is desired to perpetuate
this species of fur-bearing animal.