The Indianapolis journal., 1894-04-01
SEALING REGULATIONS.
New Measure Submitted to the Senate
by Secretary Gresham.

by Secretary Gresham.
WASHINGTON, March S1-Secretary
Gresham has submitted to the Senate COM
mittee foreign relations the draft of a
bill intended TO carry out the regulations
of the arbitrators as to the conduct of the
seal fisheries in the Northern Pacific and
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
advancement of the negotiations which
have been in progress almost daily since
that time. The bill prohibits sealing with
in a zone of sixty miles around the Priby-
loft islands, and prohibits sealing outside
OF that zone and including Bering sea
north of the thirty-fifth degree of north
latitude and east of the 1S0th degree of
longitude, between May l and July 81. The
use of steam vessels in sealing is forbid
den, 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, but ShotgunS are allowed. United
States Indians not employed by other per-
sons and who do not contract with other
persons to deliver skins are exempted from
the provisions of the act. Fines of not less
than $500 or Imprisonment not less than six
months, or both, and the confiscation of
vessels, cargo, tackle, etc, are prescribed
as the penalties for violation of this act,
and prosecutions may be instituted III any
United States District Court of Alaska, Cal
ifornia, Oregon or Washington 1t is made
the duty of the President to provide for 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 hereunder may be
seized and detained by the naval or other
Of bo1. Ia or
the Queen of Great Britain, but when so
seized and detained they shall be handed
over as soon as practicable, with any wit
nesses and proofs on board, to any naval
or revenue officer or other authorities of
the United States, whose courts alone shall
have jurisdiction 10 try the offense and i'm
pose the penalties for the same; provided.
however, that British officers shall arrest
and detain vessels and any persons as in
this section specified only after. by appro-
pirate 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 gov
ernment offending against any statutes or
regulations 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 bill
would seem to indicate understanding
that the British authorities are ready to
make their own measures conform to our
pan, II appears that there are yet STUN
bling blocks in the way. These are prOba-
Dly que 10 urgent rem0nStranceS or the
Canadians, and they have had the effect
to cause the British government to doubt
its ability to secure the passage Of its bill
in time to be of service this season. Sir
Julian Pauncefote has again come forward
with a proposition 10 renew the mOdus
vivendi for this year, promising that in
case this is done the British act will be
passed in time 10 go in operation next year.
He also requests permission TO station a
British agent on the seal islands to see
that our catch does not exceed the max
imum of 1900 skins. If this is accepted
it is believed that the closed zone will ex-
tend down to the forty-second parallel at
the northern boundary Of California So
far be learned cause is assigned
for the failure to pass the bill this season,
and the fate Of Sir Julian's last proposition
is extremely doubtful.