The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1892-03-29
AT ALL HAZARDS
The United States Will Protect
the Sealing Industry.

We sim Claim JurIsdiction over the
Disputed Waters, notwithstanding the
Claim of Great Britain to the Con-
trary-Poachins Canadians Must Keep
Out or suner.
WASHINGTON, March 25.-The presi-
dents message and the Behring sea
correspondence has been made public.
The message merely submits the CORE
spondence without comment
saiisbury's Reply
Lord Salisbury in his reply to the note
OF the Sth refuses to prohibit British
sealers from taking seals in Behring sea
ON the ground that it would be unjust
to them should the British claim that
Behring sea is not under the jurisdic-
ton of the United States be upheld by
the arbitrators. He believes in allowing
sealers to continue providing they give
security for satisfying any damages
which the arbitrators may adjudge.
Will he Protected.
The reply to the above is to the effect
that the United States still claims juris-
diction over Behring sea and will pro
tect her interests there at all hazards.
1t states that already forty-seven Cana
dian sealers have cleared for the sealing
ground His lordship's attention is
called to the fact that it has already
been agreed that the arbitrators shall
have no jurisdiction to award damages.
The president says our vessels may be
compelled to pursue and capture some
of the Canadian poachers on the high
seas. His lordship is informed that his
governments course would exterminate
the seal industry while the course of
ours is to preserve it.
Would Not BE Fought in Behring.
NEW YoIR, March GA Washing
ton special says:
There was a lull in the excitement at
the navy department Thursday, but the
officials manifested feeling of uncer-
tainty and anxiety pending definite de-
velopments in the diplomatic negotia-
tons concerning the Behring sea matter.
The department authorities hardly
know how far to go in the line of ex-
traordinary preparations until the inter-
national correspondence bears a more
conclusive aspect and they are impa-
N.
Meanwhile, although the navy officials
concede that our relations with Great
Britain are decidedly strained few of
them in reality expect actual hostiltties
to arise.
1t is also pointed out by naval experts
that it will hardly be the policy of the
department to concentrate a heavy
force of vessels in Behring sea, for even
if hostilities should be precipitated by
an exchange of shots in those waters the
war would not be fought there, but
nearer home. Whatever vessels are
sent to Behring sea by either nation will
be intended simply for service in con-
nection with the sealing controversy
and not with the idea of engaging in
any general conflict there.
At present there are seven or eight
British warsiiips ON the Pacific station,
three of which are large cruisers. The
latter would probably not be sent to
retained in British Columbian waters.
and it is altogether likely that our heavy
cruisers now on the Pacific coast will be
simil srly held at San Francisco to await
developments.
The principal Indication of active
preparation at the navy department was
in connection with the matter for coal
supplies for the Behring sea fleet. Navy
officials have been in consultation dur
ing the last two or three days with a
representative of the North American
Commercial company, and received as
surances from him of the ability of the
company to furnish at Dutch harbor
ample supplies of coal for as large
fleet as the government could possibly
send northward at satisfactory low