The Wilmington daily Republican., 1891-06-16
TOPROTECTTHE SEAL
The Agreement Between England
and the United States
TO LIMIT THE BEHRINa SEA CATCH.


But a Limited Number OF tho Fur
Bearing Animals to Be Taken Un.
til May 1 Next--offenders to Be
Turned Over to Their Respective
Government.
WASHINGTON, June 16.-The agree
ment for close season In Behring sea
was signed yesterday. The presidents
proclamation reads as follows;
Whereas, An agreement for a modus
vivendi 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 the fifteenth day of June,
in the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and ninety-nine, as fol-
lows:
For the purpose Of avoiding irritating
differences and with view to promote
the friendly settlement of the questions
pending between the two governments
touching their respective rights in Behr-
ing sea, and for the preservation Of the
seal SPECIES, the following agreement is
made Without prejudice to the rights or
claims Of either party;
1. Her majesty's government will
prohibit until May next seal killing in
that part Of Behring sea lying eastward
Of the line of demarcation described in
Article No. of the treaty of 1867 be-
tween the United States and Russia,
and will promptly use its best efforts to
insure the observance of this prohibition
by British subjects and vessels.
Q. The United States government will
prohibit seal killing for the same period
In the part of Behring sea and on the
shores and islands thereof, the property
of the United States lin excess of 1900
to be taken on the island for the sus-
tenance and care of the natives), and
will probably use its best efforts to in
sure the observance Of this prohibition
by United States and vessels.
g. Every vessel or person offending
against this prohibition in the said
waters of Behring sea, outside of the
ordinary territorial limits Of the United
States, may be seized and detained by
the naval or other duly commissioned
parties, but they shall be handed over
as soon rs practicable to the authorities
Of the nation to which. they respectively
belong, who shall alone have jurisdiction
to try the offense and impose the penal
ties for the same. The witnesses and
proofs necessary to establish the offense
shall also be sent with them.
a. In order to facilitate such proper
inquiries as her majesty's government
may desire to make with a view to the
presentation of the case of that govern
ment before arbitratofs, and in expecta-
ton that an agreement for arbitration
may be elarrived at, it is agreed that suit
able persons designated by Great Brit
ain will bo permitted at any time, upon
application, to visit or to remain upon
the seaIislands during the present seal
ing season for that purpose.
Signed and sealed in duplicate at
Washington this 10th day of June, 1891,
on behalf of their respective govern
ments, by William P. Wharton, acting
secretary of state of the United States,
and Sir Julian Pauncefort, G. @. M. O.,
X. G. B., II. b. M, envoy extraordinary
and minister plenipotentiary.
Now therefore be it known that |,
Benjamin Harrison, president of the
United States of America, have caused
the said agreement to be made public to
the end that the same and every part
thereof may be observed and fulfilled
with good faith by the United States Of
America and the citizens thereof.
In witness whereof have hereunto
set my hand and caused the seal of the
United States to be affixed.
Done at the city Of Washington this
18th day of June, in the year of our Lord
one thousand eight hundred and ninety
one and, of the independence of the
United States the one hundred and fif-
teenth. BENJAMIN HARRISON.
By the president,
WILLIAM f. WHARTON,
Acting secretary of state.
Secretary Foster has telegraphed Capt.
Hooper, commanding the revenue
steamer Corwin at San Francisco to pro
coed with all possible dispatch to the
Pribiloy Islands, with copies Of the
presidents proclamation for distribution
to interested parties, commanders of all
United States and British war or yeye
nue. vessels, and then proceed to enforce
the provisions of the proclamation.
Assistant Secretary Of the Navy Soley
said last night that the United States
hen.ess-war Thetis, Alert and Mohican
would sail Immediately for the sealing
waters to prevent the f.irtber catching 9f
seals tsia season. as agreed hpon By the