Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1893-08-18
OUR SEAL FISHERIES.
AMPLE PROTECTION GUARAN-
TEEO FOR THE SEALS.

ONE Claims of the United states
Are Not Sustained, but the Pind.
ings Are In the Main Satisfactory
10 Our Government.
The decision OF the Bcring Sea tri-
,unal OF arbitration has been made.
Ihc board OF arbitration consisted of
even distinguished jurlstS, under slip .
llations signed 10y James e. Blaine, on
he part OF the United States, and
Julian Paucefort, on the part of Great
Britain. 1t provided that two OF these
arbitrators should be appointed by the
President of the United States, two by
Her Britannia Majesty, and the Presi- !
dent of France, the King OF Italy and
the King of Sweden and Norway one
each. The arbitratorI were commits. !
stoned to proceed impartially and care
fully to consider and decide the ques-
tons that should be submitted to them,
a majority to determine each finding.
The five questions submitted and
decisions upon each point were as fol-
lows:
FIRST POINT.
The exclusive jurisdiction in the sea
known as Boring Sea, and what exclu-
sive rights in the said fisheries therein
Russia asserted and exercised prior and
up to the time of the cession of Alaska
to the United States.
DecisiOn.-As to the first OF said five
points, we, Baron de Courcellus, John
NJ. Harlan, Lord Hammer, Sir John S.
ID. Thompson, Marquis Emile Visconti
Venosta and Gregoro w. w. Gram, be-
ing a majority of said arbitrators, do
decide as follows: By the ukase OF
1921, Russia claimed jurisdiction in
the sea now known as Bering Sea, to
the extent OF 100 Italian miles to the
coast and islands belonging to her, but
in the course Of the negotiations which
led to the conclusion of the treaty OF
1924 with the United States, and the
treaty of 1925 with Great Britain, Rus
STA admitted that her jurisdiction in
said sea could be restricted so as to
reach cannon shot from shore. 1t
appears that from that time up to the
time of the cession of Alaska to the
United States, Russia never asserted in
fact or exercised any exclusive juris-
diction in Boring Sea, or any exclusive
rights to the seal fisheries thereon
beyond the ordinary limits Of terrific.
rial waters.
SECOND POINT.
How far were these claims of juris-
eiction as to the seal fisheries recog-
nized and conceded by Great Britain?
Decision.-As to the second of the
five point, we, Baron de Courcelles, J.
NJ. Harlan, Lord Hammer, Sir John S.
ID. Thompson, Marquis Emile Visconti
Venosta and GregOrO w. w. Gram,
being a majority of said arbitrators,
decide and determine that Great Bril-
tain did not recognize or concede any
claim upon the part of Russia to ex-
elusive Jurisdiction as to the seal fish.
cries in Bering Sea, outside the ordi-
nary territorial waters.
THIRD POINT.
Was the body of water now known as
the Bering Sea included in the phrase
Pacific ocean," as used in the treaty of
1925 between Great Britain and Rus
sin. and what rights, if any, in the Ber-
ing sea were held and exclusively exer-
cised by Russia after said treaty?
Decision.-As to the third point, as
to 80 much thereof as requires us to
decide whether the body OF water now
known as Boring sea was included in
the phrase Pacific ocean," as used in
the treaty OF 1887 between Great Brit
ain and Russia, we unanimously decide
and determine that the body of water
now known rs Boring sea was included
in the phrase "Pacific ocean," as used
in said treaty.
FOURTH POINT.
Did not all the rights of Russia as
to jurisdiction and as to the seal fish.
cries in Boring sea east Of the winter
boundary in the treaty between the
United States and Russia of March
80, 1867, pass unimpaired to the Uni
ted States under that treaty?
Decision.-On the fourth point, we
decide and determine that all the
rights Of Russia to jurisdiction as to
the seal fisheries passed TO the United
States, limited by the cession.
FIFTH POINT.
Has the United States any right,
and If so, what right, to the protection
OF property in the fur seals frequent
ing the islands OF the United States in
the Bering sea when such seals are
found outside the ordinary three-mile
limit?
Decision.-On the fifth point, we de-
eide and determine that the United
States has no right to the protection
of property in the seals frequenting
the islands of the United States in
Bering sea when found outside the
ordinary three-mile limit. This last
decision was made by arbitrators John
T. Morgan, Baron de Courcelles, Mar.
quis Visconti Venosta and Judge
Gram; Lord Hammer, John N. Harlan
and Sir John Thompson dissenting.
THE REGULATIONS ADOPTED.
The following regulations were adop.
ted by a majority of the arbitrators,
Mr.. Harlan and Sir John Thompson
dissenting:
Article l. The United States and
Great Britain shall forbid their citizens
and subjects respectively to kill, cap
ture and pursue, at any time or in any
manner whatever, the animals COM
monty called fur seals within zone
OF 60 miles around the Pribylofl
islands, inclusive of the territorial
water, the miles being geographical
miles, 60 to q degree of latitude.
Art. 2. The two governments shall
forbid their citizens or subjects to kill
capture or pursue, in any manner
whatever, during a season extending
in each year from May to July 81
inclusive, fur seals on the high sea in
that part OF the Pacific ocean inclusive
OF the Boring Sea, situated north o.
the 35th degree of north latitude, OF
eastward of the l80th degree OF longi'
tude from Greenwich, until it strikes
the water boundary described in article
OF the treaty of 1867 between the
United States and Russia, following
that line up to Boring straits.
Article 3. During the period o.
time in tho uo tovc IN u,h;ch f,,r cool