Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-12-23
Award of the British-American Com
mission.
THE AMOUNT FIXED At SAGA, 900
Cost Of Selling the SeaIers in
Bering Sea.
RESULT OF PARIS FINDINGS

Reports of the findings of the British
American commission chosen to assess the
damages for seizures of British ships in
Bering sea have been received at the State
Department and at the British embassy
The strictest reticence is maintained az
both places in regard to the matter. Never
theless, 1t is known that the total award
against the United States is $464. 600. not
ir Guiding the case Of the Black Diamond
for 5000 and that Of the Ada for 81 600,
which are reserved for further consdera-
ton.
The arbitratorS were Judge King Of the
supreme court of Canada, for Great Brit
ain, and Judge Putnam of Maine, for the
United States.
Result Of Paris Tribunal.
The fact of the finding against this
government is not a matter of surprise,
that being certainty in advance under
| the judgment of the Paris court of arbitra-
ton that the United States had no Jursdic-
ton over Bering sea, and consequently had
no right to c.ose it against foreign ships.
1t being determined in advance that the
decision was to be against the United
States, 1t remained only for the .ntcrna-
uonal commission to assess the amount of
| the damages. This has been DONE nd the
amount allowed appears to give general
SatlsldClCll 10 some extent IL Is COnSlQ6f-
ed Vln.ication of the previous action of
the State Department, which had souSh.
TO settle the question without commits
sion for s425,000 The award now made
ceeds this sum considerably, and besides
this there will be the expenses of the COM
mission and also the payment of eminen;
counsel and also the possible establishment;
Of some unfortunate precedents to The
obligation of the United States to pay esti-
mated or prospective damages.
PreS16anf
ton.
In his message to Congress recommend
ing an appropriation Of $l25,O00 In satisfac-
ticn of these claims President Cleveland
said: Il convinced that a settlement
upon the terms mentioned would be an
equitable and advantageous one and l rec
ommend that provision be made for the
prompt payment of the stated sum-
The correspondence on the subject shows
that the agreement to pay lump sum of
5000 in full settlement of all demands
under the Paris award was proposed by
this government.
Long Controversy.
The controversy now closed has occu-
pied the attention Of the authorities here
and in London for the last eleven years.
At the outset the tone of controversy was
very belligerent, suggesting a possible re-
sort to arms. This was Immediately fol-
lowing the seizure by the United States
steamer Corwin of the British sealers
Carolena and Thornton, August l. 1856.
The facts Of the seizure were not known
until some time later, and in the meantime
the Corwin had also seized the Onward
and Favourite. The same policy of seiz-
ure and confiscation was followed during
the next sealing seasons, despite the pro-
tests of Great Britain, the United States
ship Richard Rush taking the Sayward,
Grace, Anna Beck, Dolphin, Alfred Adams,
Triumph, Juniata, Pathfinder Black Da-
mond. Lily. Ariel, Kate and Minnie, while
the United States cutter Bear took the
Ada.
The claims for these seizures took wide
range, beginning with the value of the YES
sells and outfits. and including not only the
value OF sealskins contiscated but also the
value Of the skins which might have been
taken II the ships had not been seized.
This last feature of prospective damage
caused the main contention. In the case
OF each British ship the largest item of the
claim was for estimated future catch For
instance. in the case of the Carolena the
claim for the ship was only $1,000, while
that for skins which might have been TAX
en- that year If she had not been seized was
$l6.667. Each ship estimated prospective
catch of from 3. 500 to 1000 skins, the value
being from $3.50 per skin in 1887 to s1225
il 1889. The total of the claims reached
$7S6, 1865
The arbitration just closed has resulted
IN the allowance of interest, the total of
principal and interest being trifle short of
$4,000.