The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-07-03
A BIG SEIZURE OF sEALERs.
Twenty-Five British echooners and a
Steamer Taken In Charge.

Twenty-Five British schooners and a
Steamer Taken In Charge.
VICTORIA, B. c., July 2.-The excursion
steamer Queen arrived at Nanimo from
Alaska yesterday, confirming a previous
report that twenty-five sohooners flying the
British flag, together with the British
steamer Coquillon, chartered to act as a
tender to the sealing feet, had all been
gathered In by Capt Hooper of the United
States revenue marine service. A
Cotonist special says: "The British
steamer Coquillon Of Vancouver,
rived at Sitka on June 26 in charge Of
Lieut.. Quinn and Assistant Engineer
Bretherton and was turned over to the
United States collector Of customs for yio-
l9tion Of the revenue laws. The Coquillon
was seized by Capt. Hooper at Port Etohss.
Prince William Sound, on June %, for hav-
ing blank manifests on board showing
neither cargo nor passengers aud for enter
ing and towing vessels out Of the ports OF
Alaska and bringing stores and receiving
sealskins from the British sealing fleet with
in the jurisdiction of the United States
without entry or permit Her operations
were observed by Lieut.. j. b. Quinn OF the
Corwin, who. disguised in citizens cloth
ing, had been out to Port Etches
for the purpose of watching the move
ments of the schooners and steamers. The
Coquillon is a single screw propeller OF 100
tons, carrying twelve men and five passen-
gers and had on board nearly 6,OO0 seal
skins, valued at $4,000. besides all the
stores for the feet. She is cleared by the
Union Steamship Company of Vancouver,
aud Was chartered by the British Columbia
Sealers' Association OF Victoria.
THE sCHooNERs.
"The twenty-five British schooners were
boarded In Port Etches, and after being
given reasonable time for weather and
repairs, they were ordered out Of the har~
Dor. The seizure of the Coquillon leaves all
the British sealing feet In northern waters
without supplies. The Coquillon 10 dis
charging all of the sealskins which she re-
ceived from the English sealers and also
discharging all the stocks which she was
going TO put on board the sealers when
she was taken In charge The twenty-five
schooners and the British steamer were In
the port Of Etches when the Corwin came
into the harbor and gathered them. Many
sailors in Alaskan waters have been boarded
by the Corwin or other United States war;
ships forming the patrol. The Mohican,
Ranger, Pinta, Hasler and Cor win are all In
Sitka. The news was O great surprise here.
1t is thought that Capt. Hooper's action
was intended to cut off the schooners from
Lnelr source Oh supplies, LnuS Surviving buen
home. This will not work with many Of
them, as they are outfitted for the whole
season, but tie feet may be compelled to
run.
1.-THE seizure itself does not appear to be as
serious as it first might be supposed. J. B.
Cox, president of the sAalerS' association,
says the question at issue Is not affected at
all. The wronR-doing charged against
the steamer is for going too
close TO Alaskan soil to trans
fer supplies consigned to the sealers.
OF course she had no manifest not expect
ing to go into any port, nor did she enter
Port Etches, as there are no officials OF any
government located there. she left the
port with q complete list, however, and
complied strictly with the other forms. As
there could be no charge against her OF at
tempting to defraud the revenue laws by
smuggling goods into Alaska for snle. the
boat would not be liable to confiscation or
more serious penalty upon the combined
charges than fines of perhaps 81, 400. The
sealskins and other cargo could NOT be
touched, she not being responsible for the
misdoings of the sohooners. As for the
schooners, 1t was evident that they had
transferred only part of their catch, as ii
would be more like 10000 than 5000. A
meeting of tho assooiation may possibly be
held during the day to give attention to the
latest developments in the situation"