The Iola register., 1891-05-15
The Seal Fisheries Still Agitated.

| WASHINGTON, May ia note Ill ad
dition to the correspondence that has
already passed in relation to the Behr-
ing sea controversy is made public II
is from Mr.. Blaine to Sir Julian Paunce
forte, and is dated April oath Mr.
| Blaine says: ''The notifications which
Lord Salisbury suggested in the ques,
| tions for arbitration did not wholly
meet the views of the president; but the
president changed the text of the third
| and fifth in such manner, it is hoped, as
will result in an agreement between the
two governments. While Lord Sails
bury suggested different mode of pro-
ceedure from that embodied in the
sixth question, the president did not
understand him actually to object to
the question and he therefore assumed
that it is agreed to. The six questions
as now proposed by the president are as
follows:
Zone. What exclusive jurisdiction in
the sea now known as the Behrfng sea,
and what exclusive rights in the seal
fisheries therein did Russia possess
prior and up to the time of the cession
of Alaska to the United States?
Two. How far were these claims
for jurisdiction as to the seal fisheries
recognized and conceded by Great Brit
ain?
''Three. Was the body of water
known as the Behring sea included in
the phrase Pacific ocean as used in the
treaty of 1926 between Great Britain
and Russia; and what rights, if any, in
the Behring sea were held and exclu-
sively exercised by Russia after said
treaty?
Four. Did not all the rights of Rus
sia as to jurisdiction and as to the seal
fisheries in Behring sea. east of the
water boundary described in the treaty
between the United States and Rus.
sia of March 30, 1867, pass unimpaired
to the United States under that
treaty?
"Five. Has the United States any
right, and if so what right of protec.
tion or property in the fur seals fire.
quenting the islands of the United
States in Behring sea when such seals
are found outside the ordinary three
mile limit?
''Six. If the determination of the
foregoing questions shall leave the sub
jcct in such position that the commerce
of Great Britain is necessary in pre-
scribing regulations for the killing OF
the fur seal in any part of the waters OF
Behring sea than it shall be further de-
termined, first, how far, if at all, out.
side the ordinary territorial limits it is
necessary the United States should
exercise an exclusive jurisdiction
in order to protect the seal
for the time living upon the islands of
no Stnt
from; second, whether a closed season
during which the killing of seals in the
waters of Behring sea outside the ordi.
nary territorial limits shall be prohib
ited) is necessary to save the seal fish.
ing industry, so valuable and important
TO mankind, from deterioration or de.
struction, and If so, third, what months
or parts of months should be included
in such season, and over what waters il
should extend.
'The president does uot object to the
additional question respecting alleged
damages to English shiTs proposed by
Lord Salisbury, if one condition can be
added, namely: That after the issues
of the arbitration are joined, if the
United States prevail, all the seals taken
by Canadian vessels during that period
shall be paid for at the ordinary price
for which skins are sold. This seems
to the president to be the complement
of Lord Salisbury's proposition and he
doubted not that it will secure his lord
ships assent"
The rest of The note of Mr.. Blaine to
Sir Julian Pauncefote is in answer to |
the several agreements in Lord Sails !
bury's last note to Mr.. Blaine.