The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-08-16
Findings Of the Bering Sea Court
at Last Given to the
Public.
Technically In Favor of the Brit.
ish, Really a Victory for
America.
Regulations to Prevent Peinrio senlins
aud Protect Seal fe-Satisfactory
to Our Representatives.

tors met this mo ming and President Baron
de Courcsl delivered copiss of the decision.
Aftsrward he addressed the arbitrators.
saying he recognized this great value of ar.
bitration a. the cause Of peace between ma
tions. He expressed the opinion that svery
international arbitration rendered war less
probable, and said he looked forward TO the
time In the near future when II would be the
rule and not the exception to settle intern a.
tiensl differences in this way. Senator
Morgan. one OF the American a1bitrntors,
and Lord Hannsn, one OF the British. rs-
sponded, reciprocating tho baron's senti-
monts. and recognizing the hospitality rem
dsred by France. The session then 10 min
atsd amid mutual congratulations and ex-
prsssions Of good feeling.
The award decides that by the ukass of
1921 Russia claimed Jurisdiction In Bsring
sea TO the extent OF 100 Italian miles from
the coasts and islands belonging 10 her, but
in the course Of negotiations which led to
the oonolus!on of the treaty of 1924 with the
United States and 1926 with G eat Britain,
Russia admitted that hs4 ju isdiction
should be restricted to roach a cannon shot
from shore. From that time up to the oss-
sion Of Alaska TO the United States Russia
never asserted in fact or exercised any ex-
elusive iurisdiotioD In BeTino sea. or any
exclusive rights to seal hshsriss beyond tho
ordinary limit Of territorial wate.s.
On the second point II 10 decided that the
body Of water now known as BsrinQ sea WAS
included in the phrase ''Paoihc ocean, In
the treaty Of 1926 between Great Britain
and Russia. Or the fourth point II IL de-
fhnk koI1 tha oh ~ As 3rs
dietien and 10 the seal fisheries paesed to
the United States. limited by the cssaion.
The fifth point was one in which special
stress has been placed by the Unised States
com mtssisners. The tribunal decided that
the United States had no right to protec.
tion Of or pr operty in seals frequentina the
islands of the United States in Berinr sea-
whom found outside the ordinary three
mile limit. The following regulations
were adopted by majority of the arbitra-
tors. Mr. Harlan and Sir John Thompson
dissenting.
Article one provides that the United
Stats and Great Britain shall forbid their
citizens AMI SUBJECTS hunting for seals
within the zone OF ffty miles around Priby-
there shall be CLOSE season from May
! to July 81 in that part of the
Pacific ocean inclusive Of Rerina
sea north OF the thirty-6fth degree
| of north latitude. or eastward OF 180 de-
grees longitude. until the water boundary
1867 between the United States and Russia
is reached along that line to Bering straits.
Article three provides that during the open
season only sailing vessels shall be per-
mittsd to carry on fur scaling oper rations.
Article four provides that such vessels shall
license issued by it's government and to
carry distinguishing flag. Article Ave re-
quires the masters of sailing vessels to
keep log book of their operations.
Bv article six the use Of nets. a 9 arms or
explosives is forbidden in fur sealing. This
whom such are used in fishing outside of
R,riRg sea during the season when suoh
may be lawfully carried on. Attic seven
provides that the two governments shall
take measures to control the fitness of men
authorized to engage IN sealing. These
with sufficient skill the weapons by which
seal fishing 10 carried on.
Article eight provides that the preceding
regulations shall not apply to Indians
dwelling on coast territory OF the United
Stntes or Great Britain carrying on fur
transported by or used in connection with
other vessels. and propelled wholly
by paddles. oars sails. and
manned by no more than five
persons, in the manner hitherto praoticsd
by Indians; provided that such Indians are
not employed by other persons, and pro-
vided that when 30 hunting in canoes or
unlocked boats tho Indians shall not hunt
fuc senls outside of the tsrritor al waters
under contract to deliver skins to anybody.
] his exemption Is not TO DO construed to
affect the municipal law Of either county,
nor shall it extend to the waters of the
Bering sea or the waters around the Aleu-
tian islands. Nothing Q elm ontaned is
intended to interfere with the employ ment
of Indians as hunters or otherwise in con.
neotien with sealing vessels as heretofore.
Article nine. Concurrent regulations
hereby determined with a view to the pro.
teotion and prese, vation OF fur seals shall
remain in force until wholly or in part
abolished or mcdilod by common az ee-
ment between the United States and
Great Britain; Id concurrent regula-
tions to be submitted every five years
to new examination in OF der to enable both
governments to considor whether. in the
light of past experience. there is occasion
to mako special finding or to make any
modification therein.
The al bitrRtors make a special finding on
facts agreed upon by the agents of both
governments with reference to the seizure
OF British vessels in BerinR sea In 1887 and
1889. In addition the arbitrators mako GER
tain suggestions to the two governments,
the most important being that they should
come to an understanding to prohibit the
killing of seals on land or sea for period
of from one to tn GO years. and should enact
regulations to carry out the kndings of the
arbitrators.