The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1906-08-17
ACTIVE WAR On SEAL POACdERS.
The Japanese Caught PiIfering To Be
Prosecuted.

ton will be taken by the United States
government against the japanese poach-
ers whose arrest in the Aleutian Islands
has been reported to the Department of
Commerce and Labor by Solicitor Sims,
who was sent to Alaska sometime ago
to investigate the general subject OF seal
hshing. Mr.. Sims report of the killing
OF the five Japanese poachers and the
arrest of II others while they were
making raid on seals, has been turned
over to the State Department, the Treas
ury Department and the Department OF
Justice. The State Department will for
mally protest to the Japanese govern
ment against the continuation of the
poaching raids in Alaskan waters by
Japanese fishermen The Treasury De-
partment will order the revenue cutter
McCulloch to return at once to the seal
Islands to make every effort to run down
any remaining raiders in the vicinity.
The Department of Justice will take up
the matter of prosecuting the prisoners
now held 1t is desired also BY the
Department of Commerce and Labor TO
get an opinion from the Attorney Gen
eral as to whether raiding schooners
within the three-mile limit can be seized
for piracy.
This morning Acting Secretary of
State Bacon sent long cablcgrlm to
the United States ambassador at Toxic
detailing the circumstances of the kill
ing of the Japanese fishermen, /, is
stated at the department that there viii
be no international complications with
Japan over the incident The United
States government considers that the
japanese were entirely in the wrong ard
that agents OF the United States were
entirely in the right iii what they do.
SOLICITOR SIMS REPORT.
Following is the text of Acting Sec
rotary of State Bacons cabcgr2m 70
Ambassador Wright at Toxic contain
ing the facts as reported by Solicitor
Sims, of the Department of Commerce
and Labor:
Fur seal rookeries St. Paul Island
were raided by crews Of japanese schoon-
ers July 10 and u. About 200 seals
were killed, but raiders were eventually
repulsed as a result courageous action
Chief Agent Lenbkey and Assistant
Agent Judge. at head of native guard.
Five raiders were killed and I2 captured,
two of latter being badly wounded
Three boats and some small arms also
captured, force protecting rookeries suf-
fered no casualties. The schooners were
first observed on July I6 and were close
to shore, easily within three-milc limit.
On this day boats crew of six men,
which has landed at Northeast Point. were
surprised and captured by Agent Lemb-
key and native guards without casualty
on either side On the morning of July
II two native watchmen shot and killed
two and wounded one OF an armed land
ing party. Crews of schooner under pro-
lection of dense fog. sho. seals i'll water
close to shore most OF day. During ;his
time shotgun firing, which could he
easily heard from shore, was frequent.
Unknown how many seals were killed
in this manner. but number must have
been considerable
RAIDS WERE PREARR,NGED
'On the evening OF the same day crews
of at least three Schooners made con-
certed raids on widely separated rooll
cries; raid on Seapandi rookcries was
repulsed by rative guard after consider
able firing. Raid Or Northeast Point
was partially successful Owing 10
dense fog raiders there were not dis
covered until nearly 200 seals had been
killed This raid which was apparent
ly participated in by an entire ships
crew in five boats, was repulscd by
Agents Len?bkey, Judge and native force
only and three of raiders were killed and
five captured.
"somc of the raiders taken state they
are from the schooner Toyai Maru No.
2. and one of the captured boats bore
that name Orc prisoner states he is
from schooner Mel Maru. During The
time Solicitor Sims, of the Department
of Commerce and Labor, was on the
island schooaers were frequently sighted
less than three miles from shore