The Breckenridge news., 1906-08-22
NO CAUSE FOR DISPUTE
lap POachers viii Be Treated the
Same as Burglars.
THEIR RAID WAS DISASTROUS


felt here of any trouble with Japan
over the shooting of five Japanese
ers in the Alaskan seal fields.
The japanese charge, Mr.. Miyaoka,
called at the state department for in
formation about the killing of the
Japanese. He had received no dis
patches from his government con-
corning the affair, and Acting Secre-
tary Bacon gave him the same infor-
nation sent TO Ambassador Wright.
Seals are recognized as property
by International law, and the Jap
anese killed on st. Paul island stand
in the same position as burglars shot
in the act of stealing, according to
prominent authorities on internation-
al law. No international incident can
result from the shooting of the Jap
anese poachers, II is said at the state
department. This government has no
amends to make to Japan, other than
those that courtesy may prompt and
a mere expression OF regret that such
an incident should take place is all
that is looked for. Japan has no
treaty obligations which in any way
require her to protect seals in the
Bering sea.
After discussing the matter with
Mr.. Bacon, Mr.. Miyaoka agreed that
it was not a case to cause an inter
national incident, and that it was
similar to other clashes that have oc-
CURED between citizens of one coun-
try on the soil of another.
The following contains the main
features of the dispatch of Solicitor
Sims, sent TO the department of COM
merce and labor, and which was ca
bled by Acting Secretary Bacon to
Ambassador Wright at Tokyo: Fur
seal rookeries, St Paul island, were
raided by crews of Japanese schoon-
ers. July 16 and II. About 200 seals
were killed, but raiders We're event
ually repulsed as a result of courage
Gus action of Chief Agent Lembkey
and Assistant Agent Judge as head of
native guard. Five raiders were kill
ed and II captured, two of latter be-
ing badly wounded. Three boats and
some small arms also captured. Force
protecting rookeries suffered no cas-
ualties The schooners were first OBJ
served on July 16 and were close to
shore, easily within 3-mile limit. On
this day a boats crew of six men,
which had landed at northeast point,
were surprised and captured by
Agent Lembkey 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 landing
party. Crews of schooner, under pro-
lection of a dense fog, shot seals in
water close to shore most of day. Dur
ing this time shotgun firing, which
could be easily heard from shore, was
frequent Unknown how many seals
were killed in this manner, but num-
Der must have been considerable"
Acting Attorney General Russell
has given no instructions to the Unit
ed States attorney at Valdez, where
II is presumed the Japanese poachers
will be tried. Whether the depart
ment takes any part in the matter
will depend entirely on developments.
The United States attorney there is
under general instructions to prose
cute all violators of the law, and it
is presumed at the department that
he will proceed under these instruc-
tions. The active agents of the United
States government in the conflict
which resulted in the killing and
wounding of the Japanese pOachers
are Waiter |. Lembky of Philadelphia
and James Judge of Columbus, o.
Lembky is the chief agent at the fur
seal fisheries of Alaska and Judge is
one of his assistant agents. Both are
located on st. Paul island of the Prib-
lion group.
Lembky has been in the service
about 10 years. He is held in high
regard by the officials of the depart
ment, who say that he is able, con-
servative and thoroughly trust
worthy. His business is to guard the
seal rookeries, particularly during the
oNdoOAt 10 oioO AhO
killing season, between May l and
Sept. Is. Judge has been in the SER
vice about IL years and is a very
competent official.
The native guards referred to in
the dispatch of Solicitor Sims are In
dams who reside on the island. Con-
gress makes an appropriation for
their support and they practically are
wards of the government. The In
dams eke out an existence by work
ing for the North American CONNER
cial company, skinning the seals
which the company is permitted to
take under its concessions from the
United States. There are 115 of these
guards on ST. Paul island.
Jsoan Awaits Details.
Tokyo, The Japanese gov