The Washington times., 1906-08-08
Governmental OficialSDe-
ternined to Enforce
the SealingLaW.
QUESTION DELICATE ONE
Revenue Cutters in Seal
Territory Ordered to Run
Offenders Out.

Vigorous action viii be taken by ths
United States government against the
japanese poachers, whose arrest in the
Aleutian Islands has been reported 70
tho Department of Commerce and Labor
by Solicitor Sims who was sent 70
Alaska some time ago TO investigate the
general subject Of seal fishing.
Government viii Protest.
Mr.. Sims report Of the killing Of hve
japanese poachers and the arrest Of
twelve others while they were making
raid Ou the seals has been turned
over 20 the State Department. the
Treasury Department and the Depart
ment Of Justice. Tn State Department
VIII formally protest 10 the Japanese
government against the continuation OF
the pCaching raids in Alaskan waters
by Japanese fishermen. The Treasury
Department viii order the revenue cut
ter McCulloch 10 return at once TO the
seal islands 20 make every effort 10 run
down any remaining raiders in the Vi
-- a.a irtment Of Justice will take
ter of prosecuting the prison
lid. IL is desired also by the
..--t of Commerce and Labor 10
mon from Eilr attorney Cen
whether raidIug schOOners
three-mile limit can be
piracy.
ernatiOnal Complications.
.ruing Acting Secretary Of
sent a long cablegram 10
.. States Ambassador az T0ykO
he circumstance OF the kill
japanese fishermen. IL is
the department that here
International CJmplit q CiCI.s
m over the incident. The
tates Government considers
apauese were entirely in the
that the agents or the Unite
e entirely IN the right in wE1.
they
fishermen and The capture of twelve
japanese prisoners on Attn Island, The
Wtstern-mOst of the Aleutian group. the
prisoners having been taken by the rev
enue cutter McCullOch commanded by
Capt j. G.. CautWel has been made 10
the Department Of Commerce and Labor
today by Edwin ". Sims, solicitor tor
the department. who is in Alaska 20
enforce the new law prohibiting all per
sons not citizens of the United States
from fishing IN Alaskan waters The
japanese killed were shot by Americans
on Attu Island before the McCulloch
arrived.
VIII Notify Japanese Ambassador.
Lawrence o. Murray. acting secretary
Of Commerce and Labor, promptly
turned the cable dispatch over 10 Rob
ert Bacon, Acting Secretary of State.
Mr.. Bacon will Immediately cOmmuni-
cate the information be has received
10 the Japanese ambassador aud viii
express regret that the Japanese pOach-
rTs were so summaTllY dealt with By
the Americans at AttU Island.
There IS no reason 20 expect lnferua-
JiOnal complications as result OF the
! incident. but there is no question that
the situation IN the Aleutian Islands,
especially as x affects the japanese. ls
2 delicate one aud that numerous diIfl-
cultles are almost certain 70 be encount-
cred in enforcing the laws protecting
American citizens and their rights.
Discovered by Lookouts.
Dispatches from Dutch Harbor say
that the raiders We're discovered by
native lookouts Of the North American
Commercial Company, which leases the
seal privileges from the government.
Word was teIephoned 10 the nearest
patrol station toward which the raiders
were heading. and Special Agent Lemb-
key reached the spot as the Japanese
came in shore.
He ordered the boat crew TO surren-
der, which they did. Then from the
top OF a cliff a second schooner was
seen close inshOre, her deck covered
with seals. When called on to sUrren-
der they tried to make on with their
booty in small boats. The agent then
ordered h:s native guards 20 nre, Three
OF the japanese fell dead, a fourth was
seen 30 be thrown overheard and
NTH body dTifted in later. Twelve Jap
aneSe were captured. The japanese had
killed more than 200 seals, most of them
cows. Those who escaped carried OF
120 skins.
At least eight or ten schoOnere. be-
lieNed to be japanese are sailing IN
close proximity 10 the islands Twelve
prisoners We're taken on the cutter Nc
CullOch 10 Kodiak. and after hearing
before the commander We're held for
jury and taken in charge by the mar
shall. The charge will probably be