The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-04-01
TO REGULATE SEAL FISHING.
Administration Bill to Govern Sealing
in Boring Sea

| WASHINGTON. March 3l-Secre; ary
Gresham has submitted 20 the senate com.
mittee on foreign relations the draft of n
| bill intended to carry ont the regulations
of arbitrators as to the conduct Of the seal
fisheries in the north Pacific and Boring
sea. II shows substantial changes from
the McCreary bill, introduced IN the house
about two weeks ago, and the changes
| have been made necessary Dy the advance
| ment of the negotiations which have been
! in progress almost daily since that time
| Tue bill prohibits sealing within Zone of
sixty miles around the Pribyioff islands
! and prohibits sealing this side of that zone
and including Bering sea north of the 35th
! north latitude and east of $50 longitude,
| between May and July 81.
The use OF steam vessels in sealing is
| forbidden, and masters of vessels are re-
| quired to render an official statement of
seals taken. with penalties for false state
meniS Nets, firearms, air guns or explo-
sives shall not be used. Int shot guns are
allowed. United States Indians, not en-
ployed by other persons aud who do not
contract with other persons to deliver
skins, are exempted from the provisions of
the act. Fine, of not less than 500. or i'm
prisoumeut of not less than six months. or
both, and the confscaiion OF vessels, cargo,
| tackle. etc, are prescribed as the penalties
for viola: ion of this act. Prosecutions may
be Instituted in any United States court O
Alaska, California, Oregon or Washing
inyton. 1t is made tue duty OF the presi-
dent to provide for the enfOrcr ment OF the
act by Il sufficient naval force in the seal
ing waters
Any vesse! or citizen of the United
States offending against the prohibitions
of this act or regulations Hereunder may
be seized and detained by the naval or
Of her duly lSsioneu officers of her
majesty. the queen of Great Britain. but
but when so SEIZED and detained
they shall be handed over as
soon as practicable, Will any witness
and proofs on board, to any naval
or revenue officer or ether authorities of
the United States. whose courts alone
shall possess jurisdiction to try the offense
AMI impose the penalties for the same
provided, however, that British officers
shall arrest and detsln vessels aud Persons
as In this section specified only alter. by
appropriate legislation, Great Britain
snail have authorized officers of the
United States duly commissioned aud in
structed 10y the president TO that end TO
arrest, detain and hand over to the au-
Ihorities of Great Britain vessels and sub
jects of that government offending against
any statutes OF Great Britaia enacted or
m ale TO enforce the award of the treaty
mentioned in the title OF this act.
Although the SUBMISSION VI tue HDOv6
bill would seem TO Indicate An understand
ing that the British authorities are ready
to make their own measure conform to
our plan, IL appears that there are yet
stunt bling blocks in the way. These are
probably due TO the urgent remonstrances
of the Canadians. and they have had the
effect 10 Cause the British govern ment To
doubt its ability 10 secure the passage OF
their bill III time to be OF service this
season.
STA Julian Pauncefote has again come
forward with a proposiiioI TO renew tn e
modus vivendi for tn $ year. promising
that Ia case TINS is done, the British act
will be passed in time to go into OPP ration
next year. lie also requests pc, mission
to station a British agent at the seal
islands TO see that our catch does not eX-
coed the maximum of 100 skins. IL this
Is accepted il Is believed the closed season
will extend dowa TO the forty-second par
allel at the northern boundary of Cali
fornia. 20 far as can be learned no cause
is assigned for the failure 10 pass the bill
this season and the fate Of sir Julian's
last proposition is extremely doubtful