The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-05-24
NEWS FROM JAPAN.
Seal poachers Cause Some Trouble
War With Portugal Perhaps.

VANCOUVER B. c., May "a, 1893.-The
steamship Empress of India arrived here
last evening from the Orient with a full
cargo. She brings 10 saloon passengers,
2S intermediate passengers and 44S Chi
nese and 127 Japanese.
The Earl Of Jersey, Governor OF New
South Wales, is among the passengers
He is on his way to England and will
visit the Chicago Fair en- route.
The Empress Of India brings adyices TO
Nav IL
The visits of foreign sealing sch ooners
to Japanese waters has OF late attracted
attention in Japan and general BELIEF
prevailed that they carried on their
operations within the territorial waters
of Japau, and the native journals called
upon the government Co Keen the poacu-
ers awav. A man of-war which was
despatched to investigate the move ments
of thess sealers. has recently return ed ana
reports that the stories about The depre-
datious of the foreigners are exaggerated.
The sealers congregatelabout the middle
of March. in a locality 100 or 200 miles
from Kinkasang. In May they begin TO
move northward. following the seals as
they return to cooler regions. This move
ment takes the vessels as far north as
CHS Hima, whence they turn on to Ber-
ing Sea. not coming, as rule, Within ne
territorial waters OF Japan IN pursuit OF
seals. The captain of the ,nan-of-war re-
ports, however, that rougn
and unscrupulous set OF men men
formed the crews OF tnese
vessels, and that there is danger OF their
causing much annoyance to Inhabitants
OH the coast. az they frequently enter oo-
scure harDors fnr fresh water and otner
supplies The Vernacular press declare
that some Japanese men OF high soclai
position are secretly In league with tbe
foreign poachers, and have established
companies both In Yokohama and Toxic.
The authorities are urged to investigate
this matter. The press also urges tne
Japanese nation to compete Win Ior-
eigners on the high seas.
The recent severe frosts are playing
sad havoc with the crops generally. A
violeat snow storm was experienced In
Uzo Province on May 4. In some places
the grouna was covered to depth OF two
feet. Owing TO the severity or the
weather the silk culturists of Yuma Pre-
lecture wilt sustain a loss or 20UU.uoO
yen through fujury to the Cocoons. The
losses in the silk district of Josbu
province are estimated at over 3.000, O00
yen. Much damage was done to tea
plants in the three Tama districts OF
Toxic, aud the loss in the neighborhood
of Sayama is estimated at quarter OF
million yen.
A destructive lire OcCuFIcu 6u hoouinos
province Of Echihen. ou the night OF the
9Th inst Two HUNDRED and thirty-nine
dwellings. thirty godowns. three shrines,
three temples aud one school building
were destroyed. and one person was
burned to death.
The native press is finding it necessary
to rebuke an anti-foreign sentiment
which mas sprung up. and which is In
ducing Japanese purchasers to prefer
costly articles of homa manufacture
when foreign commodities are better In
quality and cheaperin price. The press
points cut that this is sentimental
and unprofitaole, but manufac-
tarers are * doing all in their
power to keep up the sentiment. Foreign
affairs are attracting an abnormal
amount OF journalistic attention. Tne
question Of Portuguese Consular juris-
diction in Japan is being literally dis
cussed. Some papers have gone so far as
to intimate that there is danger OF open
rupture between japan and Portugal.
The war department has been conducting
an experimental mobilization OF the
army and this fact has given plausib1llty
to the warlike rumors.