The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-08-23
VIEWS OF SEATTLE sEALERs.
The Regulations Have Loopholes-rhs
Decision Not Well Liked.


Decision Not Well Liked.
The decision of the arbitrators in the
Bering sea case was read with great deal
of interest by those in Seattle who are in
terested in sealing, and some OF whom are
among the originators of the fight against
the idea that the United States govern
ment had the rights it claimed in Boring
sea. That those interested in sealing
should read the new regulations
with q view Of discovering some
method of catching seals without violat-
ing the law is altogether natural. They
read and re-read the regulations. and the
conclusion of at least one man was that
''The man who goes sealing and flies the
American flag Is either a fool or an idiot.
He followed this remark with its coroliary
that Hawaii was pretty good country"
Sutcliffe Baxter, who was the mortgage
of the Seattle schooner Challege seized in
Bering sea, and also has done more or less
sealing of the coast each year with the
schooner Teaser, said yesterday: 1.-THE
United States has got the worst of 1t, as
always claimed they would. They have
no more jurisdiction over Bering sea
than over the Pacific ocean," He thought
that while the new regulations sought
they would not do 30. Only American
and English vessels were prohibited from
sealing, and Mr.. Baxter says: what is
the matter with French or Italian YES
sci going in there and catching all the
seals thay liked If the United States
should seize these vessels there would be
damages to pay for insulting the flag as
we'll as actual damages. Then the regu-
lations do not forbid sealing on the Japan
coast, where the best sealing ground really
is. The islands off Japan where seals
are caught are not far from the
Pribilof islands, and l. think the
two herds of seals mingle. as they
are undoubtedly the same species. Again,
good many seals can be taken in the Pa
cific ocean In the open season from Au-
gust to May I. think the majority OF
seals are caught of the coast in February,
March and April. While rifles are pro-
hibited, sealers can use shotguns The
| regulations do not interfere with the In
| dams sealing from Quillayute or Neah
| bay. as they do each year In their canoes.
think that there is chance for ouib-
! BILE in article 8. where 1t says:
| Nothing herein contained is In
| tended TO interfere with the employment
of Indians as hunters or otherwise IN con-
nection with sealing vessels as heretofore
| Now the United States must pay damages
| 10 all the Canadian vessels which were
seized, and not only damages for their
| skins and delay, but also on account OF
being kept out of Bering sea last year.
| The decision also cancels Capt. Nixon's
bond and all the Others. The American
vessels that were seized may be left unless
there is some way of fling claim and
having it allowed by the government, Tor
they are entitled to damages"
Capt. III. s. Agar. who built and gave his
daughters name to the schooner Allie /.
Agar. said that the decision was corker,
| for IL made the closed season during the
best two months on the coast May and
| June" said he. ARE shut oil. and this will
| bunch the whole feet on the Japan side
and practically break up sealing elsewhere.
The sixty mile limi. will allow some seals
10 be killed in Bering sea- !
have done pretty good work seventy.
and even eighty miles on the
islands. but when the whole feet Is
| punched there won't be much for any one
| OF them. The decision lets US out OF the
bonds that we're put up. The only Seattle
schooners that we're seized were the Allie
/. Agar and the Challenge. The James
| Hamilton Lewis was built in Japan and
Was under the English flag when seized.
She was sold in Port Townsend and given
this name afterwards. The Oscar and
Hattie was formerly owned in San Fran
cisco, bat was sold for debt, and was owned
| in Victoria when seiEed
Capt j. {. Nixon said il was too soon
to talk about the new regulations. The
sixty-mile limit was all right. He could
not tell how II would affect his schooners.
one would be sent 10 Japan anyway. II
hare just been down on the schooner.
! said SIR. Nixon. s'and looked 81
the general chart. The Is0sh meridian
Is about the line between Russian
and American waters. The schooners
seized will ges damages for seszure and for
being kept out of Bering sea last year and
this year. Ii would take million war
| vessels 10 guard the territory that has been
I set asf. and " man can't do honorable
sealing he had better get under another
Tag. The war / understand the decision il
knoeks out all those bonds we are on.
! SHANGHAI. Aug. 21--It is reported here
that an ice breaker has been taken 10
Nisaivostock in order tha. j; may keep ths
haTocF or%n durlag the winter for a Ra.-
san squadron to be stationed on the east
Aslaiic coast The principal duty Of Rus
sian vessels at this station viii be 30 pre-.
serve the seal fisheries in tie Rass.a
waters Of Bc-ing sea