Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1892-10-29
RusslA AND InE Fur SEALS.


version OF the recent seizure OF vessels II
the neighborhood of Copper Island is fur
nished BY the Official Messenger of ST. Pc
tersburg So far from backing up an,
claim of the United States to jurisdiction
either absolute or qualified, over the por-
ton of Behring Sea assigned to il BY the
treaty of 1867, the recent seizures of Rus
sia as now explained, do nothing of the sort
| The question of Behring Sea ownership
is not mentioned in the Russian view of the
affair, and apparently some of the seizures,
and perhaps all. were made outside of what
is commonly regarded as Behriug Sea In
addition. certain expressions used in the ex-
pIanation show how far Russia is from
making the claim of jurisdiction in the
North Pacific which were attributed TO her
abou, 70 years ago.
The first point to be noted in this authori-
tative statement about the Russian seizures
is that il denies the assertion of some of the
vessels that they were boarded 40 or 80
miles from Russian territory. Ii is declared
that the six British vessels captured were
seized at points only Is or 20 miles distant.
The treaty line, running southwesterly from
Behring straits, passes midway between
the northwest point of the island of s.
Choukotski, to the meridian of l73 degrees
west longitude, thence from the intersec-
ticn of that meridian. in southwesterly
direction, 50 as 10 pass midway between the
island of Alton and the Copper islands of
the komanlorski eouplet or group in the
North Pacific ocean to the meridian of 1893
degrees ives, longitude. so as To include in
the territory conveyed the whole of the
Aleutiau islan,s cas-, of that meridian. But
the seizures of Victoria sealing schooners
seem to have been made south of the south
ern termination of this line, and hence in
thu North Pacific.
1t is explained that the reason why the
captures were mostly made outside the
territorial water boundary" was that the
vessels had tried TO escape, when they
caught sight of the Russian cruisers, and
were accordingly oyerhauled only at this
long distance from shore. The question
thus involved as to the right 10 pursue
an intruder and lawbrcaker beyond the
territorial lines is matter by itself. Russia
has always claimed it in Behring Sea,
where raids have been made directly on he
seal islands. But, at all events, il is clear
that the jurisdiction asserted by Russia is
still further diminished by this explana-
ton to considerably less than 10 or 20 miles
aud for anything that appears To the con-
irary NAV be only the ordinary marine
League or perhaps an extension TO five or 10
miles in view of the longer range of artil-
l.ry In these DAYS That 10 doubt may he
left on this point, il is added that in no case
was seizure made except in a case where
the logs and charts of the vessels showed
that they had been sealing in Russian
waters. In three instances the vessels
were simply dismissed with warning.
As if this explanation was not enough,
completely to set aside the idea that Russia
now claims the dominion which up to a
quarter of Il century ago she had never sur
rendered. 1t has since been stated that the
captain of the Zabiaka the Russian cruiser
principally concerned in the seizures was
insane. This Lwould further account for
any alleged excess of zeal in making seiz-
ures or in the harsh treatment of the
poachers. 1t has been suggested that the
plea of insanity has been put forward in
regard to Captain Deleyeron in order
to account for the acts which
the Russian government now finds
itself unable to sustain. But
it would appear from the explanations of
of any snch device. The facts will soon be
known, as the story proceeds to say that the
insane captain, who has been discharged
from the command of the /abiaka, will
soon be in San Francisco. He is said to
have told the master of one captured sealer
that Russia claimed jurisdiction thousand
miles from her main coast line. The au-
thority for the story as to his mental condi-
ton is that of a captured master of seal
ing vessel who had it from the governor of
Behring island.
In the case of the schooner Willie Nc
Gowan, captured by the /abiaka, 40 or 30
miles as she claims, from Copper island,
she was at the time southeast of that is
land. Other vessels are known to have
been captured far south of the same rook-
cries Accordingly it becomes point of
importance to consider what the real limit
of Behring sea is. In all the discussions in
this matter this has hitherto not been a sub
ject of practical moment. because the Prib-
ylov islands are so far within the unques-
toned boundaries of that sea. But it is
otherwise with the Copper islands. They
lie far to the southwest of the Pribylov. 1t
is clear that the Aleutian archipelago, as far
as it extends, forms the southern boundary
of Behring Sea Should that boundary
proceed westerly to Cape Lopatka, in
kamtschatka, the Commander Islands
would be so far within it that the present
attitude of Russia might be an abandon
ment of the claim of jurisdiction over the
western half of the sea. But as the Com
mander couplet must clearly be regarded as
marking the limit of the sea on the Russian
side, the fact that the seizures were made
south instead of north or east of those is
lands AMI hence in the North Pacific
Ocean, leaves again in doubt the attitude of
Russia on Behring Sea jurisdiction.
Some interesting facts nevertheless. may
be developed when the British government
makes It's claim for indemnity upon the
Russian for the six British vessels boarded
or seized. Then Russia will naturally have
to explain what she means by her territorial
waters and the logs of the vessels will
show where they were.