The morning call., 1895-02-03
RULES FOR SEAL FISHERS.
They Will Be Enforced During the
Coming Season.
Special Licenses Only to Be Issued on
Conditions Outfits Secured
Under Seal.

The regulations governing the vessels
employed in the fur-seal fishing industry
during the year. 1896 have been issued by
the Treasury Department at Washington.
They are in pamphlet form, and besides
the regulations the book contains procla-
nation by the PRECEDENT concerning the
seal fisheries, in which the action of the
Tribunal of Arbitration at Paris is touched
upon at some length.
The regulations proper consist of eight
articles. In the first it is set forth that
every vessel employed in fur-seal fishing
shall have, in addition to the papers now
required by law, special license for fur
seal fishing.
The second article states that before the
issuance OF any special license, the master
of any sailing-vessel proposing to engage
in the fur-seal fishery shall produce salts
factory evidence to the officer to whom ap-
plication is made, that the hunters en-
ployed by him are competent to use with
sufficient skill the weapons by means Of
which this fishing may be carried on.
By the third section every sealing-vessel
provided with special license shall show
under her national ensign flag not less
than four feet square, composed of two
pieces, yellow and black, joined from the
right hand upper corner of the flag to the
above and to the left to be black, and the
part to the right and below to be yellow.
In article ~ it is set forth that in order
to protect from unnecessary interference
sealing vessels within the area of the
award, during the close season, but which
have not violated the law, any sealing
vessel lawfully traversing, or intending to
traverse, the area of the award during the
close season may, on the application of
her master, have her sealing outfit secured
under seal and entry thereof made ON her
clearance and logbook, and such sealing
up and entry shall be protection
to the vessel against interference or deten-
ton, during the close season, by any
cruiser, so long as the seals so affixed shall
remain unbroken, unless there shall be
evidence of any violation OF the fishery
articles of the award.
ANY vessel of the United States may OBJ
tain special license for fur-seal fishing
upon application to the chief officer of Gus
toms in any part of the United States or to
the United States consular office of any
port in Japan.
The two other articles of the regulations
are as follows:
any port or at sea by any naval, consular or
customs officer OF the nation to which the YES
sci belongs.
1t NAV also be effected in the case of British
sealing vessels at the Island of Attou, by any
naval or customs officer of the United States in
the absence of any British naval or consular
officer.
1t may also be effected at sea as regards Brit
ish vessels by the commander of q United
States cruiser, and as regards United States
vessels, by the commander of British cruiser.
If the master shall so desire, the officer effect
ing the sealing up and entry shall deliver to
him q certificate of the number of seals and
sealskins on board at that date, keeping copy
of the same.
And, whereas, by the sixth fishery article Of
the award, the use OF nets firearms and explo
sives is forbidden in the fur-seal fishery, but
that restriction does not apply to shotguns
when such fishing takes place outside of Boring
Sea during the season when it may be lawfully
carried on, any sealing vessel having shotguns
and ammunition on board may before entering
Boring Sea, on the application of the mas
ter, have the same secured under seal, and an
entry thereof made on her clearance or log
book; and such sealing up and entry may be
effected in the same manner and shall afford
the same protection against improper interior
ence or detention in Boring Sea during the sea-
son when the fishery may be lawfully carried
on there, as the securing of sealing outfits IN
der the last preceding regulation.