Huntsville gazette., 1894-04-07

BEHRING SEA BILL.

The Measure Now Before tho British
House OF Commons to Protect Seals In
Behring Sea-If Enacted and Enforced
in Good Faith 1t Will Make Poaching .
Proftless and Dangerous Calling for
Those Concerned.
LONDON, April 3.-The Behring sea
bill, which was recently introduced in
the house of commons by Sir Charles
Russell, contains eight clauses and two
schedules. The first clause provides
that the arbitration award, as set forth
in the first schedule shall have effect
as enacted by this act.
Anyone contravening this act shall
be guilty of misdemeanor within the
meaning of the merchant shipping act
of 1854. Any ship employed in contra
vention of this act, togo aher with her
equipment and everythil on board, is
liable to be forfeited. The court, with
out prejudice to any other power, may
release such ship and her equipment
upon payment of fine not to exceed
E5OO.
The provision of the shipping act of
1854 respecting official logs shall ap-
ply to every vessel engaged in fur
sealing, and anyone forging fraud
ulent license. or altering license is.
sued under articles and in the first
schedule, shall be guilty of misde-
meanor under the act of 1854, the pro-
visions of said act enabling British Of
fcers, naval, customs or consular, to
seize and detain any ship and bring
her before any court having ad.
miralty jurisdiction within her majes-
tvs dominions, and apply for the
imposition of the penalties, in
Guiding forfeiture. And any COM
miSsioned naval officer in the queens
service may seize a ships certificate of
registry. In any case where an officer
seizes a certificate of registry, he may
retain the certificate, giving a pro-
visional certificate in lieu thereof, or
return the certificate with an indorse-
ment stating the grounds for the seiz.
ure, and in either case he may direct
the ship to proceed forthwith to any
specified port where there is British
court authorized to adiudicate. If this
direction is not complied with the
ownet or master of such vessel
shall without prejudice to other
iabiI ty, be liable to fine not to ex.
ceed e100, and any British customs or
consular officer may detain such ship
until satisfactory security shall be
given for her appearance in legal pro.
ceedings in pursuance of this act.
The queen in council may make, re-
woke or alter orders carrying into eff
feet the scheduled provisions of this
act, and anyone contravening the regu-
latirns of such orders shall be
Liable to penalty of el00. The
order of the queen in council may pro-
vide that such officers of the United
States as are specified in the order may
exercise powers under this act similar
those exercised by a British naval Off.
GER, ir relation to British ship, her
equipment and certificate of registry.
British officers specified in the order
may exercise powers under the act with
the necessary notifications specified in
the order in rela ation of ship of the
United States
ANY offense committed under the act
by the master, Or anyone belonging to
snip ISuuCIS Ullc NcSSCl 1ldotO u
forfeiture, unless it be shown the mas
ter used due diligence to enforce the
regulations, did not connive at the Of.
fense committed, and took proper
means to prosecute the offender.
Equipment Is defined as including
boats, tackle, fishing and shooting in.
struments, and all other things belong
ing to the ship.
The act becomes effective on May I,
and is to remain in force as long as
provided for in the scheduled pro.
visions. In case proceedings shall be
taken against any ship sailing before
the provisions of the act shall have
been published such ship shall be freed
from forfeiture.
The first schedule consists of nins
articles of the award of the arbitra ton
tribunal, and the second schedule con-
tains the clauses of the shipping act of
1854, referred to in the bill, with the
application of legal procedure under
the same act.