Asheville daily citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1890-1900, 1892-07-02
CAUGHT SEAL CATCHERS
BRITISH SCHOONERs GATH
Erred IN.
They Have Been Violating United
states Revenue Laws. and
Must Now Pay the Fiddler
Fines of Perhaps $4,000.

VICTORIA. b. c., July 2.-Thcexcursion
steamer Queen. arrived at Nanmo from
Alaska Yesterday, confirming arcccnt re-
port that twenty-five sailing schooncrs,
fying the British ilag, together with the
British steamer Conquilon, chartered
to act as tender to the scaling fleet, have
all been gathered in by Capt. Hooper, of
the United States revenue steamer Cor
win for violation of the United States
revenue laws.
A colonist special says:
The British steamer ConuuilOn of
Vancouver, b. c., Mcclellan, master, ar
lived in Sitka June &c in charge Of Lieu
tenant Quinn and Assistant Engineer
Bretherton, and was turned over to the
| United States collector of customs for
violation of revenue laws.
The Conquillon was seized bv Capt.
Hooper at Port Etchcs, Prince William
so und, on June 20, for having blank
m aniiest on board showing neither cargo
nor passenger, and entering and towing
vessels of the ports of Alaska and bringing
stores and receiving sealskins from Brit.
ish sealing fleet within the jurisdiction of
the United States recently without any
permits. Her operations were observed
by 1t. Quinn, of the Corwin, who dis
guised in citizens clothing had been out
to Port Etches for the purpose of watch
ing the movements of the schooners and
steamers.
The Conquillon is single screw pro-
pellor of l6O tons burden, carrying
twelve men and five passengers, and had
on hand nearly six thousand seal skins
valued at $40, 900, besides all the stores
for the fleet. Tie shore is cleared by the
Union steamship company of Van
couver, and was chartered by the
British Columbia sealcrs association of
Victoria.
The twenty-five British schooncrs were
loaded in port Etches, and after being
given reasonable time Tor weather and
repairs, they were ordered out of the
harbor.
The ceizure Of the Coquillion leaves all
of the British sealing fleet in northern
waters without supplies. The Conquillon
is discharging all seal skins which she
received from English sealers and also
discharging all stock which she was
going to put on board sealers when she
was taken in charge. The twenty-five
schooners and British steamer were in
the Port of Etches when the Corwin
came into harbor and gathered them in.
About all the sealers in Alaskan waters
have been boarded by the Corwin or
other United States war ships forming
the patrol.
The Mohican, Ranger, Pinta, Iaslcr
and Corwin are all in Sitka.
The news is great surprise here. 1t
is thought Capt. Hookcr's action was
to cut OFT the schooners from their source
OF supplies thus starving them home.
This will not work with many of them, as
they are Quilted for the whole season,
but few may be compelled to return.
Iheselzure itself don't appear to be as St
rious as at first might be supposed. Cap
tain S. Cox, president of the sealers'
association, says the question at issue is
not affected at all.
The only wrong doing charged against
the steamer, is for going too close to
Alaskan soil otranler supplies consigned
to sealers. Of course she had no mani
fest, not expecting to get to any port,
nor did she enter Port Etches as there
are no officials ofanv government located
there.
She left port with complete store list,
however, and complied strictly with other
forms. As there could be no charge against
her of attempting to dcfraud the revenue
laws by smuggling goods into Alaska
for sale, the boat would not be liable to
conhscation or more serious penalty
upon combined charges than fines OF
perhaps $4,000 The seal skins and
other cargo could not be touched, she
not being responsible for the misdoings
of the schooners.
AS for the schooners, it was evident
that they had transferred their catch, as
it would be more likely 10000 than
5000.
A meeting of the association may pos
sibly be held during the day to give at
tention to the latest developments in the
situation.