The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1906-08-16
ACTIVE WAR ON SEAL POACnERS.
The Japanese Caught PiIfering To Be
Prosecuted.

| Washington (SpeciaD Vigorous ac-
ton will be taken by the United States
government against the japanese poach
ers whose arrest in the Aleutan 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
fishing. Mr. Sims report of the killing
OF the five Japanese poachers and the
| arrest OF 12 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
lnent against the continuation of the
poaching raids in Alaskan waters by
Japanese fishermen. The Treasury De-
partment will order the revenue cutter
McCulloch 10 return at once TO the seal
islandg 10 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 Cen
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 cablegram to
the United States ambassador at Toxic
detailing the circumstances of the kill
ing of the Japanese fishermen. 1t is
stated at the department that there will
q ~ ,.N.,a1,co,.e,,-
Japan over the incident. The United
States government considers that the
Japanese were entirely in the wrong and
that agents of the United States were
entirely in the right in what they do.
SOLICITOR SIMS REPORT.
Following is the text of Acting Sec
retary of State Bacon's cablcgram to
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 II. About 200 seals
were killed, but raiders were eventually
repulsed as a result courageous action
Chief Agent Lembkey and Assistant
Agent Judge, at head of native guard.
Five raiders were killed and IL 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 10 and were close
to shore, easily within three-mile limit
On this day boats crew of six men,
which has landed at Northeast Point. were
surprised and captured by Agent Lenb
key and native guards without casualty
on either side. On the morning of July
u 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, shot seals in water
close to shore most of day. During this
time shotgun firing. which could be
easily heard from shore, was frequent
Unknown how many seals were killed
in this manner, but number must have
been considerable.
RAIDS WERE pREARRANGED.
"On the evening OF the same day crews
of at least three schooners made con-
certed raids on widely separated rook-
cries. raid on Seapandi rookeries was
repulsed by native guard after consider
able firing. Raid on 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 Lembkey, Judge and native force
only and three of raiders were killed and
five captured
Some OF the raiders taken state they
are from the schooner Toyai Maru No.
2. and one of the captured boats bore
that name. One prisoner states he is
from schooner Mel Maru. During the
time Solicitor Sims, OF the Department
of Commerce and Labor, was on the
island schooners were frequently sighted
less than three miles from shore.