New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-04-12

,.prNNs OF CRUISERS NOT SOLE JUDGES OF
TUE GUILT OF sEALERs WHO SAILED WITH
.,.- NOTICE OF THE PASSAGE OF THE
.r-ANOTHER MIsAPPREHENsIoN.
-, April 11-Sir Charles Russell. the
49, ~ the Behring Sea bill which has just
suuV ,,a House of Commons and will pass its
pass reading in the House of Lords to-mor-
se"" made an explanation Of the measure
Tos' -oooves any doubt as to the exact mean
V"' clause I. concerning which there has
Is .rs discussion in the United States Senate
Ren rbarles is not only the author Of the bill.
N also the leading British counsel in the
pu' pua.,,,on Tribunal in Paris. there can he no
", English authority than he as to the proper
nnes.r,retation of the act.
n'f,r.rd to Clause I. Sir Charles says the mis-
sss been made Of assuming that 1t consu-
'ae tho commanding officer Of cruiser sole
l'''s ~ the culpabnty Of the captain of seal
yuus., in respect to her having received notice
no .r. nassage Of the act or not, permitting such
~.ndsr ~d t. decide finally whether ship
eA ",s hA seized and ordered to port or not.
snV ,ot tho case Such questions would be
!D' ,.5 hv the court after the seizure of a ship.
O" ,bo assumption that the clause gives
-. .reedon 10 engage in pelagic fishing IN
90 ' corprehended by award of the tribunal
"' - roisanprehension exists. If ship sailed
A ,, having received notice. her detention
WIZ. '",,o- would be sufficient warning that she
..o,sqressing the law. and she would De
"a' >. tic penalties If she continued pelaSic
s'.., after having been detained.
us""9 49,, conviction of the trainers Of the clause
.so number Of vessels that have not re-
"'' II, of he terms Of the award Is very
ceNeu a. ;,aaod there are any. II there should
, s'a a would not be just TO hold them haDIe
pe .hs S nenalties for violation OF the act II thtE
rsalv sailed in ignorance OF me law Anu ihn,. pu
'aa their fishing in the honest belief that they
tu.u liz co legally. But they could nave I'M
W.T.. oniv for thef catching ANY seals taken
I.,,. s..n.a they were notified by seizure or other-
wy. and informed Of the provisions OF the law
snv fnrther pursui; of pelagic fishing would SUD-
a.; a.; tbsno 10 the full penalties OF the act
y. ts the desire Of the Government or Great
pr'.oin n make law which will be effcacious
o. antnrcinr the terms Of the award That there
si, he some friction in the working or the law
=, .ba outset may be expected. and II Is hoped
,hat such Irregularities will be treated win lhe
degree Of forbearance on the part OF 'he oilVlsh
and American authorities that the circumstances
tpstify The British Government nave taken
,yaasnres 10 notify sealers Of the law. The
close season begins on May !, when the acts OF
both countries 60 into effect, and ENDS July 81
The Government have hope that before the eX-
nration of the close season all persons concerned
will have received notice. and that both Govern
ments will have completed their arrangements
for enforcing the law.
Thomas Gibson Bowles. Conservative. has given
notice in the House of Commons that on
THURSDAY he will ask the Government TO state
the actual terms OF agreement Of the Dominion
0. Canada in regard % the Behrng Sea Dill
He will also ask the Government to say whether
Canada attached any condition to her agree
ment regarding compensation TO Canadian sealers.
Victoria b. c.. April ia resolution has been
adopted in the Provincial Parliament which was
introduced by the Finance Minister, expressing
the hope that the bill now before the Imperial
Parliament making the Behring Sea arbitration
effective, would not receive Royal assent unless
the claims Of the British Columbian sealers for
the years 1891 1892 and 1898 be placed in the
curse OF settlement