The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-07-17
TIE SURRENDER OF THE sEALERs.
The British Columbian Vessels Pronptiy
Adopt u Discreet Policy.


WASHINGTON. July lc.-Whatever may have
boon the original PURPOSE OF tho Victoria SEAL
ing schooners, it Ia plain that thoy / ave al
ready concluded TO submit o the mod,s rippndi
without efforts to e,ade 1t. Several OF these
vessels have returned to their home port rom
sand Point and its nrighborhood. having
quietly accepted tho warning OF tho Thetis not
10 enter Behrng Sea. without waiting for
British war vessels 10 order them away.
Among those that have como bal arc lie
Maggie Mac and the Triump li both OF which
were noted for defying tho Presidents procla-
nation In former years bv hunting in B~hrng
Sea- Capt. Dodds of tho Maggie Mac is said to
have made threat that he would fire On any
American officers that attempted to board his
vessel. The Trlumrh was one OF the two yes-
sells that went up to RehrirR Sea last year after
the regular season was over, or tho supposed
purpose OF making n raid On tho pribylov
Islands: and thoy certainly returned with
about eighty seals oach. although It did not
clearly appear whore they had been taken,
But 1t is probable that II vessels like these two
have now given up In Bshring Sea. the others
will follow their example.
The ThetiS Is ono Of the slowest craft In the
navy. and 1t may have seemed rather farcical
TO PICK her out for overhauling AMI notifying
tho Victoria vessels. But these are nearly all
s"'hN VI uils uui CNlliS nOt UNUSUAL IN
those waters. so that even the six or seven
knots Of tho Thets served her purpose She
was aided. too. by the custom OF the Victoria
vessels 10 assemble IN the neighborhoo! OF
Sand Point and the Shnmagin Islands during
the latter part OF June for the purpose of turn
Ing over to steamer annually sent out their
catch outside OF the Aeutian islands This
year tho Danube had been sent north to bring
back the catch. and the Thetis was able to fol.
low her track and get In among the sealing
schooners. The Captain OF the Maggie Mao
mentions ten other vessels that were III her
company. and implies thu. the Thetis visited
each, serving on them copy OF the Presidents
proclamation containing tho moaus rirendi
agreement. But beside the Thetis there are
other navy vessels aud revenue cutters on
gagged In the same duty OF notification. so that
the chances are good for turning homeward
the entire Wet ,ria fleet before It has done any
hunting in Behrng Sen. II so. tho total catch
OF the season by tho Victoria vessels Is not
likely to much exceed 10000.
Tho elaborate Preparations made by tho
British Government and ours to enforce the
nodns rireadi will therefore not long be
needed. force OF something like ton ships IL
said to have been assigned BY the two coun.
tries for this purpose and it was even stated
that our Government had chartered vessel to
be used as q PRISON ship and stationed at
orders: and the ratrollins OF Behring Sea will
un'ier cover OF the return Of n portion OF the
vessels to Victoria others should remain and
@ a' to law s,m. h 81 "ss
taking TO Behring Sea the Commissioners Of
~; =, two CO WHO are 70 collect evidence
The early close OF the season will perhaps
be hardest on the Ind ian hunters who get en-
each vessel. Thos. that live Mt the Prebyiov