The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-08-08
THE COQUITLAM CASE
Correct Account of the Seizure
of the British Vessel.
CAUGHT BY A CLEVER RUsE.
Missing Bear Hunters of st. Matthew
Two Men Cannot Be FOund-Alasks
Codfishing Industry.

Codfshing Industry.
UNALAsKA, July 26.-[Special. THE
most important event in sealing circles
since my last letter is the seizure of the
British steamer Coquitlam. of Vancouver.
B. G., by the revenue cutter Corwin at
Port Etches, Prince William Sound, on
June %, for illegal transfer of cargo within
the jurisdiction of the United States. The
steamer had on board at the time of sez-
ure between 5000 and 1000 skins taken
from several of the Canadian sealers, and
these were, of course also seized. together
with quantity of supplies intended for
the Victoria sealing fleet. The Corwin
conveyed the Coquitlam to Sitka, where
she was turned over to the custody of the
United States marshal. The district attor-
ney is reported as saying that there are
six complaints lodged against the vessel,
any one of which, if proven, will be suffi-
cient to condemn her. The facts in the
case, as learned from the officers of the
COrwin' are as follows:
After finding that the presence of
United States government cruisers at Port
Etches would prevent the transfer of skins,
vous, and on or about June 90 left port
and put to sea. The revenue cutter Rush
was sent to the westward to watch the
harbors from Alitak bay along the Aleu-
tian chain, the Mohican came on down to
Sitka to pick up her men sent down as
prize masters in the sea otter
hunting vessels previously seized in
Cooks inlet, and the Corwin, under the
command of Captain C. L. Hooper, took
rowing commission and, while being her
self unseen. managed to keep pretty we'll
informed as to the movements of the
seaiers. Captain Hooper felt certain that
some place not very far from Port Etches
would be selected for the new rendezvous,
and his familiarity with the region here
abOuts now stood him in good stead On
the eastern end Of Afogonak island there
is deep bay or inlet known as Tonki bay.
People acquainted with the locality know
that inside this bay there IS a snug little
harbor, although the fact is not shown on
the charts simply for the reason that the
surveys are imperfect and no one hardly
ever goes in there. Here Captain Hooper
judged the sealers would most likely fetch
up, and so he lay low and watched. the
place from a distance. His Judgment
proved correct, and his patience was not
long tried before he saw a strange steamer
enter this port and shortly afterwards
schoOners began to follow. Before he
could get there himself, however, some
thing must nave warned the poachers of
danger, for the steamer suddenly left Tonki
bav and headed for Port Etches again.
Perhaps the master of the vessel thought
that now that all of Uncle Sans cruisers
had left that place he would have an
opportunity of 'doing business" with the
portion of the fleet due at Port Etches and
which had not heard Of the disarrange-
Inent of the first plan. In any case, back
to Port Etches he went and the Corwin
followed him, keeping modestly out of
sight. Just at this time the mail steamer
Elsie happened along bound south. One
of her stopping places is Port Etches, and
Captain Hooper conceived a shrewd plan
by which he could get evidence against
the COquitlam in case she was engaged in
any illegal acts. The harbor of Port
Etches is SO situated that vessel ap-
preaching from sea can be seen by anyone
inside long before her arrival in port, and
Captain Hooper knew that if he boldly
steamed in with the Corwin, the sealers, ii
any there were inside, would have ample
time to conceal all evidences of illegal
work, and ne would simply have his
trouble for nothing. He therefore detailed
one of his officers to go on board of the
Elsie in citizens clothes and visit the har-
Dor to see what was going on. The officer
went in on the Elsie as a harmless passen-
ger, saw the steamer Coquitlam in the act
of transferring cargo from several sealers
inside the harbor. came out on the Elsie
and made his report to Captain Hooper,
who intercepted the Elsie out Of sight Of
Port Etches. Then Captain Hooper
entered port with the Corwin
and found the Coquitlam just as ex-
pected, quietly anchored and the sealers
busy watering ship" The Coquitlam
was boarded and searched and over 5000
sealskins found in her hold. When
charged with having transferred these
skins in port, the captain strenuously de-
MED it and said his word was as good as
that OF tie Corwln's officer, who saw him
in the act. This was poser for Captain
Hooper, but ne asked:
"Where did you get these skins?"
Il got them from sealing vessels over
three miles from land" the skipper an
swered, land my log will show it.
The log was produced and sure enough
down on it in black and white was an
entry showing that the sealsklns had |
been transferred from different vessels
after towing them "three miles from |
shore"
This is all | want" said Hooper, "as l |
will have your own written acknowledge |
ment. besides the evidence of my officer |
that you have violated the law, The limit |
of jurisdiction of the United States for |
purposes of protection of the revenue and |
the enforcement of the customs regula- |
tions is three marine leagues, instead of |
three miles, and you may therefore con- |
slider your vessel as seized"
1t is not hard to imagine the feelings of |
the Coquitlam's captain when he thus |
heard the law laid down. There was no |