The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-12-24
AMOUNT OF DAMAGES
AWARDED ron THE SEIZURES or
BRITISH SHTPS ~ BEHRING SEA
said to BE s4Ge, OOO--Tho state Depart
ment in Measure indicated by the
Finding--The Cause of Trouble.

WASHINGTON. Dec 23.-The findings
of the Brtish-American commission.
chosen to assess the damages for seizures
Of British ships in Behring sea. have
been received by the State Department
and the British Embassy. The strictest
reticence Is maintained, however. on the
general character of the finding. though
it is admitted that the total Of the award
against the United States is 500 OO0
which includes principal and interest.
separate statement OF the award divided
into principal and interest Is refused at
this time.
In order to avoid misapprehension II
should be understood that the finding
against this government is no surprise
that being a certainty under the finding
Of the Paris Court Of Arbitration that
the United States had no right TO close
Behring Sea against foreign ships. The
International Commissions only duty was
10 assess the amount Of the damages.
\ VINDICATION.
The amount allowed is considered 10
some extent a vindication Of the state
Department which had sought TO settle
the question without a commission Tor
$4,000 The award now made exceeds
this sum considerably and besides this
there will be the expense Of the arbitra-
ton and also the possible establish
ment Of some precedents as 10 the obliea-
ton Of the United States TO pay estimated
or prospective damages.
The controversy has occupied the At
tention of the authorities here and IN
London for the last eleven years. AT the
outset the tone Of the controversy was
very belieerent, suggesting "A possible re-
sort 20 arms This was following the
seizure by the United States steamer
COrw.n of the British sealers. Carolcna
and Thornton on August /. 1856. The
facts Of the seizure were not known until
some time later and in the meantime the
Corwin had taken the Onward and Fa-
Vorite.
The same policy OF seizure and confs-
cation occurred during the next sealing
season Despite the protests of Great
Britain the United States ship Richard
Rush taking the Sayward. Grace. Anna
Beck Dolphin. Alfred Adams, Triumph,
Juniata. Pathfinder. Black Diamond,
Lily. Ariel. Kate and Minnie. while the
United States Cutter Bear took the Ada.
THE CLAIMS.
The claims for these seizures took a
wide range beginning with the value OF
the vessels and outfits and including not
only the value Of seal skins Cnrf-ca ted.
but also the value of skins which might
have been taken if the ships had not been
seized.
This last feature of prospective dan age
caused the main contention. I'm the case
Of each British ship the largest item OF
the claim was for estimated future catch.
For instance, in the case OF The Caro-
lena the claim for the ship WIS only 81
600 while that for skins which might
have been taken that year n she had not
mated a prospective catch ot noM 3 900
10 1000 skins. the value being from So
per skin I'm 1857 and Sl2.2J y 1850. The
total Of the claims Without Interest
amounted TO Si39, 1Gl. and with interest At
seven per cent. and D,har charges the
total reached S7S6 1866.
OFFICIAL STATEMENT.
The only official statement that could
be secured here of the judgment reached
by the commissioners is contained I'm the
following announcement pirel ut al the
state DEPARTMENT this afternoon:
The award of the Bering Sea Claims
Commission has been fled ~ the depart
ment OF State. The claims as prcgcrtCd
by the British government to IN" comm is-
sion on account of Canadian vessels sciZ-
Cd in Bering Sea aggre- ne. Nth inter
est Sl.JrI0cO. These incl He'd under The
claims treaty several Cas"s not cinl coed
I'm the settlement proposed by = cru,dry
Gresham. The award now mule sn't Liits
10 S2Df 1915 10 which IS 10 5e agd "a liz
terest. which will increase re tot7l about
20 per cent. The award Is final nd dis
poses Of all cases before it
Payment under the tre1-y mast he
made within six months