No. 265.
Mr. Frelinghuysen to Mr. Hoffman.
Department
of State,
Washington, March 7,
1882
No. 120.]
Sir: I inclose copies of letters from the Treasury,
and a copy of a letter from Messrs. Lynde & Hough, of San Francisco, to
the Secretary of the Treasury, touching the Pacific coast fisheries. This
latter communication states that according to late news “foreign vessels
must receive an order from the governor of Siberia, besides paying duties of
$10 per ton on all fish caught in Russian waters,” which they say would [Page 448] be ruinous to their business. In
view of the above, I have to ask that you will make immediate inquiry on
this subject, and report the facts. If a brief telegram will furnish
information of value to our fishermen in this regard, you can send one.
I am, &c.,
[Inclosure 1 in No. 120.]
Mr. Folger to Mr.
Frelinghuysen.
Treasury Department,
February 2, 1882.
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the
receipt of your letter of the 3d ultimo, transmitting a copy of a
dispatch of the 21st of November last from the minister of the United
States at Tokei, Japan, with its inclosure, relative to the notice given
by the Russian consul at Yokohama in reference to the licensing of
foreign vessels trading, hunting, or fishing on the Asiatic coast of
Russia.
I have to inform you that this department has issued circular
instructions to collectors of customs, and others, at every port
throughout the country to which the Russian consul’s notice is
subjoined, dated January 30, 1882, and I inclose herewith six copies of
the circular.
Very respectfully,
[Circular.]
Permit required for hunting, trading, and fishing on
Russian coasts of the Okhotsk and Behring Seas.
Treasury Department, Office of the Secretary,
Washington, D. C., January 30, 1882.
To collectors of customs and
others:
The subjoined notice by the Russian consul at Yokohama, that American
vessels, are not allowed, without a special permit or license from the
governor-general of Eastern Siberia, “to carry on hunting, trading,
fishing, &c., on the Russian coasts, or islands in the Okhotsk or
Behring Seas, or on the northeastern coast of Asia, or within the
sea-boundary line,” is published by the department for the information
of American shipmasters interested.
It will be observed that the Russian order took effect on January 1,
1882.
CHAS. J. FOLGER
,
Secretary.
notice.
At the request of the local authorities of Behring and other islands,
the undersigned hereby notifies that the Russian Imperial Government
publishes, for general knowledge, the following:
- I.
- Without a special permit or license from the
governor-general of Eastern Siberia, foreign vessels are not
allowed to carry on trading, hunting, fishing, &c., on
the Russian coast or islands in the Okhotsk and Behring
Seas, or on the northeastern coast of Asia, or within their
sea-boundary line.
- II.
- For such permits or licenses, foreign vessels should apply
to Vladivostok, exclusively.
- III.
- In the port of Petropaulovsk, though being the only port
of entry in Kamtschatka, such permits or licenses shall not
be issued.
- IV.
- No permits or licenses whatever shall be issued for
hunting, fishing, or trading; at or on the Commodore and
Robben Islands.
- V.
- Foreign vessels found trading, fishing, hunting, &c.,
in Russian waters without a license or permit from the
governor-general, and also those possessing a license or
permit who may infringe the existing by-laws on hunting,
shall be confiscated, both vessels and cargoes, for the
benefit of the government. This enactment shall be enforced
henceforth, commencing with A. D. 1882.
- VI.
- The enforcement of the above will be intrusted to Russian
men-of-war, and also to Russian merchant-vessels, which, for
that purpose, will carry military detachments and be
provided with proper instructions.
A. PELIKAN,
H. I. R. M.
Consul.
Yokohama, November 15,
1881.
[Page 449]
[Inclosure 2 in No. 120.]
Mr. Folger to Mr.
Frelinghuysen.
Treasury Department,
February 24, 1882.
Sir: I have the honor to inclose herewith, for
such action in the case as you may deem proper, a letter from Messrs.
Lynde & Hough, of San Francisco, Cal., stating that they are
extensively engaged in the Pacific coast cod fisheries, and that they
will fit out their vessels, to sail about the 1st of May next, in that
enterprise, in which they have never been molested; but they now learn
that foreign vessels must receive an order from the governor of Siberia,
besides pay a duty of $10 per ton on all fish caught in Russian waters,
which, if sustained, will be ruinous.
Very respectfully,
CHAS. J. FOLGER,
Secretary.
[Inclosure 3 in No. 120.]
Messrs. Lynde &
Hough to Mr. Folger.
San
Francisco, February 15,
1882.
Sir: You will please pardon us for this seeming
intrusion, but the matter we now seek your aid and kind assistance is of
great import to us.
We are now and have been extensively engaged in the Pacific coast cod
fisheries, and, in fact, are among the very few fifteen years ago who
started in a small way, believing with energy and fair dealing we could
work up an enterprise that would be a benefit to the coast. Our ideas
were correct. We have been yearly sending vessels to the coast of
Kamtschatka (sea of Okhotsk) for fish. We never have been molested in
Russian waters from catching codfish or procuring bait, which are small
salmon in the rivers, or filling fresh water for use of ship, but it
appears now there is a law which has never been enforced against
foreigners, the same we have recently noted, and which we have been
apprised of, and the substance is that foreign vessels must receive an
order from the governor of Siberia, besides must pay a duty of $10 per
ton on all fish caught in Russian waters. This decree, if sustained, is
ruinous to one of the best and rising industries of the coast, and as we
fit our vessels to sail about 1st of May, leaves us but little chance to
arrange matters this season save with your kind assistance in the
matter. Our business is fishing entirely. We use no trade with natives,
having nothing to do with the taking or purchasing of furs. At this time
we are placed in a very bad predicament. Trusting that you can relieve
us from this embarrassment, and receive an early reply on the
subject.
We are, &c.,
P. S.—Our vessels fish from ten to twenty miles from shore.