Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1891-06-18
SEALING THE SEALS.
Modus Vivendi Sealed By the High
Joints.
TERMS OF THE ARRANGEMENT.
With the Exception of 1900 the Rest 9
the Alaska Seals VIII Be Allowed to
Stay in Their Skins - Gunboats
Under Orders.

WASHINGTON, June 16.-The modus
vivendi between the governments Of
the United States and Great Britain to
prohibit the killing of seals in the
Behring sea was signed at o'clock yes
terday.
The following proclamation was is
sued:
Whereas, An agreement for modus vi
vendi between the government of the United
States and the government of her Britannia
majesty in relation to the fur seal fisheries
in Behring sea was concluded on June 10, in
the year of our Lord 1891, word for word as
follows:
For the purpose of avoiding irritating dlf-
ferences and with a view to promote the
friendly settlement of the questions pend
ing between the two gov ernments touching
their respective right In Behring sea, and
for the preservation of the seal species, the
following article is made without prejudice
to the rights or the claims of either party.
First-Her majesty's government will pro-
hibit until May next all seal killing in that
part of Behring sea lying eastward of the
line of demarcation described in article No.
l of the treaty of 1867 between the United
States and&Russia, and will promptly use its
best efforts to insure the observance of this
prohibition by British subjects and vessels.
Second-The United States government
will prohibit seal killing for the same pc
riod in the same part of Behring sea and on
the shores and islands thereof the property
of the United States lin excess of $500 to be
taken on the islands for the subsistence and
care of the natives) and will promptly use
its best efforts to insure the observance OF
this prohibition by United States citizens
and vessels.
Third-Every vessel or person offending
against this prohibition in the waters of the
Behring sea outside of the ordinary terri
torial limits of the United States may be
seized and detained by the 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
Jurisdiction to try the offense and impose
the penalties for the same. The witnesses
and proofs necessary to establish the offense
shall also be sent with them
In order to facilitate such proper inquiries
as her majesty's government may desire to
make, with view to the presentation OF
the case of that government before arbitra-
tors, and in expectation that an agreement
for arbitration may be arrived at, II is agreed
that suitable persons designated by Great
Britain will be permitted at any time upon
application to visit or to remain upon the
seal islands during the present scaling sea-
son for that purpose
Signed and sealed IN duplicate at Wash
ington, the 18th day of June 1891, on behalf
of their respective governments, by William
F. Wharton, acting secretary of state OF the
United States, and Sir Julian Pauncefote, G.
C. NJ G. n, Q. B. H. B. NJ, envoy extraor-
dinary and minister plenipOtentiary.
TSeaLl WILLIAM F. WHARTON.
ISeaLl JULIAN PAUNCEFOTE.
Now, therefore, be it known that /, Benta
min Harrison, president of the United States
OF America, has caused the stated agree
ment 70 be made public to the end that the
same and every part thereof may be OBJ
served and fulfilled in good faith by the
United States of America and the citizens
thereof In witness whereof 1 have here
unto set my hand and caused the seal of the
United States to be affixed Done at the
city of Washington this the 18th of June, in
the year of our Lord 1891, and of the inde
pendence of the United States lis.
BENJAMIN HARRISON.
The arrangement indicated in the
above proclamation was carried into
effect with degree of speed without
precedent in the history of the state
department and the cable had been re-
lied upon to an unwonted extent. The
agreement was signed yesterday morn
ing by Sir Julian Pauncefote and Mr..
Wharton and the presidential proclaim
alton followed as quickly as it could be
prepared. The navy department was
also kept advised of the progress and
necessities of the case and orders are
now in preparation for the immediate
dispatch of probably two vessels from
San Francisco to Alask a, where they will
assist the three revenue cutters in the
task of driving off the poaching seal
vessels. 1t will be noticed that the
agreement authorizes the United States
vessels to seize offending British YES
sells, which, however, are to be turned
over to the British authorities for trial,
and this feature of the agreement is
expected to prove of great value in the
pressing emergency that is held to exist
of clearing out the law breaking YES
sells before irreparable damage is done
to the seal fisheries.
Secretary Foster telegraphed Capt.
Hooper, commanding the revenue
steamer Corwin at San Francisco, to
proceed with all possible dispatch to
the Pribelof islands with copies of the
presidents proclamation to be distrib-
uted to interested parties, commanders
of all British and United States wal
and revenue vessels and then proceed
to enforce the provisions of the proc.
lamation.
Assistant Secretary of the Navy Soley
said that the United States men-of-wa1
Thetis, Alert and Mohican would sail
Immediately for the sealing waters to
prevent the further catching of seals
this season.