The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-12-24
THE BERlNC SEA SEIZURES.
Result OF the Findings Of the Brit
ISL American Commission.
THE AWARD MADE IS SATISFACTORY.
controversy Grew Ont of seizure of
British Vessels In Boring Sea
by the United states.

| WASHINGTON, JieCclnUtT co. HV hh"i"f9S
of the British American commission chosen
to assess the damages for seizure Of British |
ships in Bering sea have been received
lby the State department and the British |
embassy. The strictcst silence is main-
tanned, however, on the general character |
lof the finding though 1t is admitted that
the total Of the award against the United |
States is si6I,OOO, which includes principal
aud interest.
IN order to avoid misapprehension 1t |
should he understood that the finding |
against this government is no surprise
that being a certainty under the finding
lof the Paris court of arbitration that the
United States had no right to close Bering
sea against ships. The commission only
assessed the amount OF damages. The
;anount allowed is considered by some
yindication of the State department which
had sought to settle the question With
out commission for Si25 600 and the
award now made extends this sum con
slderably and besides there will be The
lexpenEes OF the arbitration.
IRE controversy has occupied the at
tanion OF the authorities mere and in Lon
uln for the last eleven years. AT the out
~ th' tbhf vi lut controversy WAS very
lbelliserent, suggesting a possible resort 10
arms This was following the seizure by
the United Sta.eg ship C0rwin OF the British
k'hooners Caroline and Thornton on Au-
gust !, 1856. The facts of the seizure were
NOT known until some umc later, aud in
the meantime the CorWia had taken the
onward aud Fayorite.
Inc same policy of seizure aud ConhSca-
2 ton occurred during the next sealing sea
sons, despite the protests OF Great Britain.
the United States ship Richard Rush TAX
ing the Saywnrd Grace Ada Peck. Dolphin
5 Alfred Adams. Triumph, JGanta, Path
= finder, Black Diamond Lily. Ariel, Kate
ana Minnie, while the United States cu.ter
Bear took the Adams
INC claims OF these seizures took "A
VIDE range, beginning wlth the seizure OF
p The vessels and outfits and including not
only the value Of sealsltinn canfiscated but
q aiSo the value OF skins which might have
g been taken If the ships had not been eeized
rms last feature OF prospective damage
Il 'caused the main contention. is =. case of
e eacn British ship the largest item of the
4 claim was for estimated future catches
y FOR instance. in the case of the Caroline
= me claim OF the ship was only $1,000 while
- That for skins which might have been taken
o thal year II she had not leen seized was
& SIG 667, Each ship estimated a prospective
Is catch OF from 1900 to 5000. tho value being
q from $3.50 per skin in 1887 to sl225 iu
10 1889. The total OF the claim, without in
81 terest, anounted TO $t3y ll5 and with in
3 terest at per cent and other charges. the
= total reached 1886 i66.
e The only official statement that could be
"a secured here OF the judgment reached by
ie the commissioners Is contained in The FOL.
iowing announcement given at the State
department this afternoon;
The award OF the Bering sea claims COM
mission has been hled in the depsrtnnn,
10 or state The claims MS presented by
the British government to the commission
u lon account OF Canadiun vessels seized in
cd Berlng sea aggregated with Interest 81 800 :
49, uNO. These included under the claims
treaty several classes not embraced in tbs
i scttlcmenJ proposed by Secretary Gresham
lla The award now Is St6i,tSl ~, to which /,
A. to be added Interest which will increase
-, the total about 80 per cent
Wv The award is anal and disposes OF ali
nd Payment under tho treaty must he made
49, within SIX months
~ The deratmcni officials, 1t Is assumed
~ VIII proceed ct once to prepare bin OF
We an amendment TO one Of tho regular APP
~ preparation bills Cor suhrll ssian To congress
lo' the necessary appropriation 10 pay TN
IVY Judgments rendered by the commission
no, Henoral Foster, who is now in genera
Try charge OF the Bering sen affairs, tonigh
n. said he was not surprised az the result
PRESIDENT Cleveland having officially de
X" clared That Si25,O00 was just aud euuit
ST. able sum In settlement, and therefore hav
The ing appointed MS commissioner to adlu
dichte the claims a close aud persona
friend, ii could hardly be expected tina
the latter would strenuously contend &c
an award OF less amount, Mr. Foster wa
absent from tho country when congress
took action on President Cleveland
recommendations, but he regarded tn
commission as the proper method OF reach
ing a settlement and the only one whic
would satisfy the country. notwithstandin
xxh sEh .-s.
award were initiated under a demucratj
administration, President Mckinley wi
doubtless unhesitatiugly recommend con
grcss TO provide for the payment. and h
hoped and felt sure that congress woul
promptly make the necessary approximate
to discharge the treaty obligation, and =
the Canadians receive payment up to date
the result accomplished is very satsfac
tory.
There appears to be little doubt that IN
United States carried Its point on the mai
question involved. viz. As to tho RICH
OF prospective damages for seal skin
which might have been taken IL the YES
sci bud not been seized. The British clair
included the estimated profits which /
the aggregate ran the claim mp to u his
err figure. In view OF the small amount
the actual award, without interest. thes
large prospective damages evidently ar
scaled down to an Insignificant amount O
rejected entirely. While the department
'st officials Will make no definite announce
mont 10 this effect, intimatiops are give
he that the smslness OF the award preclude
Ios the possibility OF any allowance havn
been made on account CT prospective dam
W. ages. The Alahama claims established tn
on precedent that remote damages could no
la be included In claim, and the presen
- award is evidently on the same line.
'oT London, December 2SThe Times In al
Ike editorial this morning expressing satisfac
ton at the Boring sea settlement, which
We II anticipates, takes occasion TO protes
~ against the loose insinuations of baS
ad faith on the part of the United States gov
n ernment, which have been thoughtlessl,
nc aud Enthusiastically made in England" /