The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-06-20
Salisbury Appoints British
Bering Sea Arbitrators.
RooKERY LEssEEs PROTEST.
Stopping of Slaughter on the Islands
Means Big Loss to Them.
steamer Aiki Being Transformed Into
Prison for Poachcrs--victoria ves-
sells win Hunt as Long as Possible
Some May Go to the Antarctic.

nominated the two British representatives
on the Bering sea arbitration commission,
subject to the queens approval.
WASHINGTON CRY, June 19.-The North
American Commercial Company, through
its attorney, Judge Jefferies, has filed
protest with the treasury department. 1t
states that It was assured quota of 60,000
sealskins during 1s90. and upon this assur-
anee made alarge outlay. 1t was compelled
to cease taking seals July 10, last, when the
season had not expired and only one-third
OF the net quota of skins had been oh
tanned. On this account the company sus-
tanned loss Of 100000. 1t again
submits formal protest against the
action of the United States in
once more preventing the taking
OF the full quota of seals. 1t gives notice
to the secretary of the treasury that IL
will claim to be reimbursed by the United
states TO the full amount of the loss il
may sustain by reason Of its being pro-
hibited from taking the full quota this
year. The company further represents
that in providing for the maintenance and
education of the inhabitants Of the islands
of St. Paul and ST. George it has expended
$4,000, for which il has not been rcim-
bursed.
The company invites the attention of the
secretary of the treasury to the fact that
the islands of st. Paul and st. George are
in the undisputed possession OF the United
States, and that the right Of this govern
ment TO dispose of fur seals born on the
said islands has never been questioned.
This being so, the company assumes that
the right of the United States or its lessee
10 take fur seals on the said islands within
unquestioned jurisdiction is beyond dis
pute and not subject to interference by any
foreign state. The right of this govern
ment TO take fur seals on its own territory
is not one of the questions to be admitted
to arbitration. In that dispute Great
Britain afiirms and the United States de-
nies the right of English and Canadian
poachers TO slaughter fur seals in "our
part" of Bering sea, and the company
insists that its agreement as set forth in
the presidents proclamation, in so far as
il prohibits the company from taking
its lawful quota, is in contravention
of the vested rights of the company and
subjects it to a great loss. If it be assumed
that the eastern portion of Bering sea is
not marine territory Of the United States,
bnt is thigh seas" the company submits
that it is not competent for Great Britain
and the United States or ony other two
governments to determine who shall be
permitted to navigate these waters, or to
prohibit fishing or taking seals on the high
seas. and the company points out that its
rights have been overlooked by the agree
ment, thereby inficting severe loss upon
the company, in order to obtain the con-
sent of England to arbitrate the question
as to the right of Canadian poachers 10 de-
stroy the fur seal industry by pelagic fish,
ing.
SAN FRANcfsco, June 19.--The steamer
Al-ki, which has been chartered by the
United States government for service in
Alaska, will soon be ready for sea. Her
coal bunkers have been enlarged and 400
tons of coal put on board. Ii is stated
that she will be used as prison ship and
will be stationed at Unalaska, TO which
place all crews of sealers caught violating
the law will be taken. A force of marines
will be sent north on the Al-Ki TO act as
a guard for the prisoners, should any be
captured So soon as the steamer is ready
for sea she will report TO Rear Admiral
Irwin at Mare island, where she will re-
ceive her crew and supplies.
VICTORIA, June 19.-(special. lit is un-
derstood that the present policy of the
Victoria sealers will be TO see how long
they can dodge the government ships sent
to notify them. OF course, till they have
been ordered to return by officers of the
British navy they will continue to seal.
The schooner Otto, purchased in Halifax
for the sealing business, arrived today
after a long and rough trip, but with
out an accident. She brings news
of meeting the Chilean torpedo
cruisers Lynch and Condell at Sand point.
Chile, where the lieutenants and crew
changed their allegiance. going over to the
insurgents and landing the two command
ers at a little vegetable ranch, where they
we're working for their board when the
otto sailed. In the Straits of Magellan
tao Canadian sailing schooners floating
the Chilean flag were spoken. They had
lust returned from the Southern seas and
lad big catches Of seals and sea otters Of
an unusually good quality. The report
they make may induce Victorians to send
few sealing schooners 10 the Antarctic,
now that Bering sea is forbidden.