The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-04-29
UNDER FOREIGN FLAGS.
The Latest Move of the Bering
Sea Seal Poachers.
Opinion Freely Expressed That the Vessels
Are Liable to Seizure Whatever
Flag They Carry.

"A representative of The CALI. detailed
to Investigate the probable outcome of the
proposition to fit out the BefiDg Sea seal
poaching fleets under other than British
fags, found opinion practically unanimous
that responsibility cannot be evaded In this
manner.
gentleman who has spent many years
In Alaska aud among the seal islands ex-
pressed his views freely and frankly on the
subject. He said: 'The points at issue
are how before court of arbitration, and
In the meanwhile the powers at issue-Great
Britain and the United States-have agreed
10 modus yiyendi as one condition of
which both parties are pledged to protec
seal life in the eastern portion of Bering Sea.
Russia has all along shown herself willing
and able to care for her own portion of the
Northwest Pacific. If now vessels enter the
disputed waters for sealing purposes,
whether they fly the British, the German,
Tue french, the Italian or any other flag
ihey are liable TO seizure, for 1t Is not a
question of nationality but of principle that
is being decided. The case is not parallel,
LOT instance, 20 that OF sending goods in yes
sels transferred to foreign flags to escape
service III time Of war.
NO WAR.
I'm the present Instance no:war exists; it
is merely an agreement between England
and the United States to practically close
the sea Till the question between them
has been determined. 1t is not aud has not
been hitherto pretended that French or
Italian or German vessels have visited
BeTlnG Sea for the purpose of catching seals.
therefore the flag in this case cannot be
SAID TO project or nationaiiZe the ship. The
legal principle is, / believe, expressed thus:
Every merchant vessel on the seas Is
rightfully considered as part OF the territory
OF the country to which it belongs. Tho
entry, therefore, into such vessel, being
neutral. is an act OF force and is prIma facie
a wrong, trespass. which can be justified
only when done for some uTpOse allowed
to form sufficient justification by the law
of nations
ION the face of this law it would not be
permissible for either an American or Brit
Ism cruiser TO capture seaier flying Ger
man flag. for example, but as a matter uf
faet It can easily be seen that it is the law
OF nations that is now being invoked in the
interests OF peaceful solution of a great
principle, and TO this end England and the
United States have been tacitly clothed with
Just such powers as they are bow exercising.
IL Is not against the vessels of either of the
litigants alone that the action of exclusion
and prohibition is directed; 1t Is against
The vessels OF all nations engaged in the
capture OF seals within the disputed area.
A DIVERSITY OF OPINION.
"Of course there will be a diversity of
opinion even IN this couBtry as to whether
we can uphold our claim TO stop pelagic
sealing, that IS 10 say the killing and taking
OF seals III tue epen waters II Bering Sea.
Much has been said about the depOpuatioh-
OF the rookeries, but fancy the advocates
OF closed sea have oversli01 the mark in
this respect. Surprising 1lfat 100000 seals
are killed yearly, l do not see how
you can talk of the animal becoming extinct
IN three or four years, seeing that there. are
probably QO0. coo Of seals on The Pribyloff
Islands alone The natural rate of Increase
would seem to leave a margin of zoe, 100 ut
least Besides tile seals are ike everything
else. when hunted and shot at constantly.
they get shy and are harder OF approach so
that In pelagic sealing The catches will tend
10 become fewer year by year. The ques-.
ton now being disputed between Great
Britain and the United States relates solely
to pelagic sealing. / don't think our claim
In this particular is as strong as we would
like il to be, but whatever be the issue, 1
cannot doubt for a moment that there is
plenty Of International law to justify the
seizure and condemnation of any sealing
vessel entering the forbidden region, under
any flag whatever"