The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-04-26
FLEET IN TROUBLE.
Victoria Sealers Threaten to
Sail Under Foreign Flags.
OBJECT TO THE Moous vIvENpI.
Claim That IL the British Government
Maintains the Plan They VIII
All BE Ruined.

Victoria, B. c., April 25.-fSpecial. +
Captain Cox, the president, and twenty
four members Of the British Columbia
Sealers' Association, representing more
than three-fourths of the entire fleet. met
tonight and sat till midnight discussing
the latest developments in the situation.
The action of Major Williams, representa-
tive of the United States treasury depart
ment, who has been here for
several days, in examining wit
nesses incompetent to give practi-
cal information on sealing subjects,
was freely commented upon by the sealers,
none of whom, with the exception of An
drew Lang, had the honor of appearing
before the American searcher for informa-
ton. In fact, the sealefs were not back
ward in asserting that Lang enjoyed the
honor of being the only one COM
petent and practical man heard by
Williams in British Columbia. As the out
come to the discussion of Major Williams
and his mission, a telegram was forwarded
to Hon. {. II. upper, minister of marine,
strongly protesting against the recognition
of airy of the unreliable evidence taken by
the major, who was for many years q
treasury agent or adjuster of skins at
Pribilof islands.
The taking of similar unreliable evidence
by some officials on board the American
survey steamer Macarthur was also made
the subject OF debate, but no action was
taken, as the actions of the Macarthur, as
the papers express it, have been 'shrouded
in mystery" The impracticability of ex-
aiming Indian witnesses now, when
every hunter competent to handle spear or
uo tsr Cd DO
Having disposed of the mission of Major
Williams and the steamer Macarthur the
association took up the matter of claims
for compensation, arranging for pre-
sentation of details so as to expedite
the work of the British commissioners,
Gladowe and Rose, now in this city. The
most important feature of the sealing
question that has yet developed was
very lightly touched upon. 1t has its
origin in communications which Captain
]. Il. Cox. OF the association has recently
received from representatives of two syndi-
cates-the one German, the other Italian,
representing practically unlimited capital,
who have made an offer looking to acquisi-
ton of the entire sealing feet of British
Columbia and the schooners flying the
stars and stripes and sailing out of
Puget sound. The representatives of
these syndicates are now on their way to
this province, and there is very strong
possibility that If the modus vivendi is con-
tinued. rs it is announced, until the end
of October, 1898, that the spring of next
year will see every sealing schooner on
the North Pacific flying the German,
Italian or some other foreign flag. not per-
haps as well loved as the Union Jack, or
the Stars and Stripes, but protecting the
vessel flying it from seizure or detention
by British war ships or the cutters of
Uncle Sam.
Captain Cox said that If the modus
vivendi is enforced for two years, the
only way for m any sealers will be to sell
to the representatives Of other nations.
Representatives from Germany and Italy
would probably be here shortly to take
schooners over and send them to Bering
sea under other flags.
w. b. Hall says what the sealers want is
to get other nations interested so II Eng
land will not protect the sealers, the other
nations will, II the sealers fly their flags.
Last year one of the sealing captains asked
the commander of an American cutter if
he would seize the schooner flying the Ger
man flag. No." said the commander.
my orders are only to warn or to seize
British or American schooners."
The owners OF the schooners are, there
fore, of the opinion that If the vessels fiy for
eign flags they will not be prevented from
sealing. and then all the principal nations
of the world will be interested in the
question. II this cannot be completed
schooners will have to do the
best they can in Bering sea and then go
out for halt season next year. All the
seaiers with the exception of two or three
are lifted out for Boring sea, and many are
about ready TO enter. so that if the warn
ing reaches them before they get catch
1t will come hard on many owners,
some of whom have every cent
they possess in their vessels. The
schooners here and those which receive
warning early will probably go right over
20 the Russian coast. II the government
does not change the modus before next
spring II is almost an assured fact that
sixty British schooners hailing from Vic
toria will sail under foreign flags and look
TO foreign governments for protection.
LONDON, April 25-The house of COM
mons resumed its session today upon ex-
,iration of the adjournment for the Easter
holidays. In reply to question by James
Bryce, J. W. Lowther, parliamentary sec
rotary for the foreign ofiice, stated that
complete accord had been arrived at with
the United States in regard to the Boring
sea modus vivendi. The convention.
he said, had been signed at
Washington City. but the terms
had not yet reached England.
Lowther said the government is taking
steps to consult Canada regarding the
persons by whom Canada wishes to be rep
resented in arbitration. The names of the
British arbitrators have not yet been de-
cided upon.
VICTORIA. B. c., April 25.-The United
States survey steamer Patterson. accom-
panied by the steamer Macarthur, is ex-
peeted in the morning from Port Town
send, II Is supposed for Bering sea-
WARRINGTON CRY, April 25.-Secretary
Blaine estimates the cost 10 United States
of carrying ont the Boring sea sealers' ar
bitration treaty between the United States
and Great Britain TO be $50 GO. and he
through the secretary of the treasury. to-
day sent TO the house of representatives
request for an appropriation of this
amount of money.