The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1894-04-14
Draft of a New Bill Submitted by
Secretary Gresham.
GREAT BRITAIN DELAYING
killing of the Animals Within Zone of
Sixty Miles Around Pribyloff Is
land Prohibited.

WAsHINGToN, April Secretary
Gresham has submitted TO the senate
committee on foreign relations the
draft of bill intendended TO carry out
the regulation of the arbitrators as to
the conduct of the seal fisheries in the
north Pacific Boring sea. 1t shows
substantial charges from the McCreary
bill, introduced in the house about two
weeks ago, and these changes have
been made necessary by the advance
ment of the negotiations which have
been in progress almost daily since
that time.
The bin prohibits sealing within a
zone of sixty miles around Pribyloff
islands, and prohibits sealing this side
of that zone and including Boring sea
north of 35 north latitude and east of
$50 longitude, between May l spd
July 81. The use of steam vessels in
sealing is forbidden and masters of
vessels are required to render an official
statement of seals taken, with penalties
for false statements. Nets, firearms,
airguns or explosives shall not be used i,
but shotguns are allowed. United
States Indians not employed by other
persons and who do not contract with
other persons TO deliver skins are ex-
empt from the provisions of this act
Fines of not less than $500, or imprison-
ment not less than six months, or both,
and the confscation of vessels, tackle.
cargo, etc, are prescribed as the pen
alties for violation Of the act and pros
ecutions may be instituted in any
United States district court of Alaska.
California, Oregon or Washington. 1t
is made the duty of the president to pro-
vide for the enforcement of the act by
a sufic' ent naval force in the sealing
waters.
Any vessel or citizen Of the United
states offending against the prohibitions
of this act or the regulations there
under may be seized ard detained by
the naval or other officers of her
majesty the Queen of Great Britain,
but when so seized and detained they
shall be handed over as soon as practi-
cable, with any witnesses and proofs
on board, to any naval or revenue off.
Ger or other authorities of the United
States, whose courts alone shall have
jurisdiction to try the offense and i'm
pose the penalties for the same; pro-
vided, however, that British officers
shall arrest and detain vessels and per
sons, as in this section specified, only
after, by appropriate legislation, Great
Britain shall have authorized officers
of the United States duly commissioned
and instructed by the president to that
end to arrest, detain and hand over to
the authorities of Great Britain vessels
and subjects of that government of
Tending against any statutes or regula-
tions of Great Britain enacted or made
to enforce the award of the treaty
mentioned in the title of this act.
Although the submission OF the above
bin would seem to indicate an under
standing that the British authorities
are ready to make their own measure
conform to our plan it appears that
there are yet stumbling blocks in the
way. These are probably due to the
urgent remonstrances of the Canadians
and they have had the effect to cause
the British government to doubt its
ability to secure the passage of their
bill in time TO be Of service this season
Sir Julian Pauncefote has again came
forward with a proposition to renew
the modus vivendi for this year, prom
Using that in case this is done the Brit
ish act will be passed in time to go into
operation next year. He also requests
permission to station a British agent
at the seal islands to see that our catch
does not exceed the maximum of $500
skins. If this be accepted it is believed
that the closed limit will extend down
to the forty-second parallel, at the
northern boundary of California. So
far as can be learned no cause is as
signed tor the failure to pass the bill
this season and the fate of Sir Jullan's
last proposition is extremely doubtful.