The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1894-04-12
SEALING LIMITS SET
Draft of a New Bill Submitted by
Secretary Gresham.
GREAT BRITAIN DELAYING
Killing of the Animals within n xo,,. os
Sixty Miles Around PrIbylon Is
land Prohibited.

WASHINGTON, April 0.-Secretarv
Gresham has submitted to the senate
committee on foreign relations the
draft of bill intendended to carry ont
the regulation of the arbitrators as to
the conduct of the seal fisheries In the
north Pacific Bering sea. 1t shows
substantial changes 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 bill prohibits sealing within
zone of sixty miles around Pr.bylofy
islands, and prohibits sealing this side
OF that zone and including Bering sea
north of 35 north latitude and east of
1870 longitude, between MAY | and
July 3D. The use of steam vessel. in
sealing Is forbidden and masters of
vessels are required to render an of,cial
statement OF seals taken, with penalties
Tor false statements. Nets, firearms.
alrguns or explosives shall not be u,ed
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 5000, or imprison-
ment not less than six months, or both
and the confiscation 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. It
is made the duty of the president to pro-
vioe Tor the enforcement of the act by
sufficient 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 and detained by
the naval or other officers of her
majesty the Queen of Great Britain,
but when so seized and detained thew
shall be handed over as soon as practi-
cable, with any witnesses and proofs
on board, to any naval or revenue on
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
5 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
S Tending against any statutes or regula
e lions of Great Britain enacted or made
n to enforce the award of the treat,
s mentioned in the title of this act.
d Although the submission OF the above
. bill would seem to indicate an under
: standing that the British authorities
d are ready to make their own measur,
t conform to our plan 1t appears tina
e there are yet stumbling blocks in tn,
il way. These are probably due to thu
t. urgent remonstrances of the Canadian
& and they have had the effect to caus,
n the British government to doubt 1t
e ability to secure the passage of thei
e bill in time to be of service this season
Sir Julian Pauncefote has again cam
forward with proposition to renev
the modus vivendi for this year, prom
D. ising that in case this is done the Bril-
s. ish act will be passed in time to 60 Int
:. operation next year. He also request
in permission to station a British agen
n at the seal islands to see that our cate
ir does not exceed the maximum of 7, sc
y skins. If this be accepted it is believe
ut that the closed limit will extend dow
30 to the forty-second parallel, at tn
he northern boundary of California.
es far as can be learned no cause is a
p signed tor the failure to pass the bi
y. this season and the fate of Sir Julian
80 last proposition is extremely doubtful.
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