Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1893-08-17
THE BEHRING SBA DECISION
Handed Down by the Arbitra-
ton Court. .#
AMERlCANARBlTRATORSPLEASED
This Country Losses the De-
cision on Article vi.
A Close Season Established From May list
to July 21st--Also, IA Protected Zone for
sixty Miles Around the Isiands--Sum-
mary of the Decision.

PARIS, Aug. 15.-The decision of the
Behring Sea Tribunal of Arbitration
was handed down at 11.07 o'clock this
morning.
The first five points of Article VI. are
decided against the United States.
A close season is established, to begin
May 1st and to continue until July 21st.
This close season shall be observed
both in the North Pacific ocean and in
Behring Sea.
| A protected zone is established, ex-
tending for go miles around the islands
Pelagic sealing is allowed outside the
zone in Behring Sea from August LIST.
The use OF firearms in sealing is pro-
hibiied.
The American arbitrators have ex-
pressed their satisfaction with the text
of the decision.
POINTS INVOLVED IN ARTICLE VI.
The questions actually submitted to
the arhitraturs under the sixth article of
the treaty are these:
/. What exclusive jurisdiction in the sea
now known as the Behriig Sea, and what
exclusive rights in theseal fisheries therein,
did Russia assert and exercise prior and up
| to the time OF the ceSSon oil Alaska 10 tne
United Slatas?
. How far were these claims of juris..
dicton ss to the seal fisheries recognized
and conceded by Great Britain?
8. Mas the body OF water now known
as the Eehring Sea included in the phrase
Pacific Ocean, as used in the treaty of
1875 between Great Britain and Russia;
ADD what rights, 4 any, in the Behring
Sea were held ana exclusively exercised
by Russia after said treaty?
4. DID no. ali The rights of Russia as to
jurisdiction and as to the seal fisheries In
Behring Sea east Of the water boundary,
in the treaty between the United States
aud Russia of the 30th of March, 1867,
pass llnimpairHd to the United States
J under that treaty.
: S, Has the United States any right, and,
if so, what right ol protection or property
in the fur seals frequenting the islands OF
the United States in Behring Sea when
, such seals are found outside the ordinary
three-mile limit?
WASHINGTON, Aug 15.-The Secre-
tary of State has received cable adyices
2 from Paris which, in general terms,
4 confirm the United Press bulletin, that
! the decision of the arbitration tribunal
! on ali points involving exclusive juris-
: dieti0n over Behring Sea has been rem
: derad against the United States. That
i is to say, the tribunal has decided:
: 1. That Russia did assert and exercise
o exclusive jurisdiction on the Behring
: Sea and on the seal fisheries therein,
4 pricr to the cession of Alaska TO the
n United States
4 9. That consequently Great Britain
never conceded any such rights to
e Russia.
a 8. That Behring Sea was not included
d in the phrase Pacific ocean, as used in
q the treaty of 1926 between Great Britain
and Russia.
Il 4. That consequently no exclusive
/ right of jurisdiction over Behring Sea
!. and over the seal fisheries therein passed
Is to the United States with Alaska, under
d the treaty of 1867.
" The inference is that it is under the
+ last of the five points submitted to arbi-
it tration by Article vi. of the treaty that
,e the concession as to close season, a 60
IT mile protected zone and the prohibition
IS Of the use of the firearms apply.
l. This fifth point was the one on which
greatest stress was laid in argument by
the United States counsel. 1t raised
the question whether the United States
| 1au uHy I1Snl w pLOtVIb PAOfStNJ 40 ehN
% fur seals frequehting the islands oi
Behring Sea outside the three-mile limit
re The preliminary abstract of the deci-
o. sion received is regarded here as imply
o. ing that the tribunal, to certain ex'
e. tent, has conceded this right, Only IL
IS future seal life will be protected BY
OF virtue of an international agreement en-
tered into under the award of arbitra
IS ton, and not solely by authority of
as United States statute.
The full text of the award is anx
rd iously awaited.
y BETTER FOR THIS COUNTRY.
:, PARIS, Aug. 14.-Baron DE Cousiet
no after the decision OF the Behring Sci
NJ Tribunal of Arbitration was rendered
y, ie thanked the arbitrators for the close AMI
y, intelligent attention they had brough
80 to bear upon the case.
- Lord Hannen and Senator Morgan
~ in replying to the president of the tri
N bunal, acknowledged his courtesy ant
~ hospitality.
i. The American arbitrators believe tha
~ the regulations decided upon by the tri
30 bunal mean practically the end 0
~ pelagic sealing, and that they are bette
~ terms than were heretofore offered b
40 the United States by Great Britain as
i, settlement of he business involved.
nd POINT IN FAVOR OF GREAT BRITAIN
tn. LoNpoN, Aug. 15.--The Pail Ma
Gazette this afternoon publishes a dis
lg- patch from Paris, saying that on ques
lions of fact regarding the seizure Q
hi sealing vessels, the decision of the tri
70, buual is in favor of Great Britain. Th
I'd; paper adds that as a natural result @
this decision the United States will Civ
M the Canadian sealers due compensate
Id; for seizures Illegally made.
The regulations providing for clos
season are very stringent. The pre-
scription of firearms may be found I
~ he serious disadvantage by Canada
an. sealers.
orc Chieatiello Held,
he Angelo Chicatiello, the Italian arreste
nd Monday afternoon by U. S. Marsh;