No. 55.
Mr. Bayard to Sir L. S. Sackville
West.
Washington, September 27, 1888.
Sir: Recurring to the subject of the four British vessels condemned for taking seals illicitly in Behring Sea in 1887, I have the honor to inform you that I have received from the Acting Attorney-General a letter dated the 26th instant, inclosing copies of letters from the United States attorney for Alaska and the United States marshal for Washington Territory of the 7th and 10th instants, respectively, in relation to the same matter.
The four vessels, the schooners Grace, Dolphin, Anna Beck, and Ada, have been transferred by the United States marshal for Alaska to the custody of the United States marshal for Washington Territory, and are now at Port Townsend, subject to instructions from the Department of Justice touching their sale or other disposition.
The Department is informed that none of the vessels have been bonded, and that the owners of three of them have refused to take that step, on the ground that their appraisement was too high. As the season advances the probability of realizing a fair price for the vessels will diminish, and the expenses incident to their retention by the marshal are necessarily accruing.
These considerations make it proper that a decision in regard to the disposition of the vessels should speedily be reached, and I have the honor to request that, if it is desired to postpone the sale still further, the Department may be assured at an early day that an arrangement will be made whereby the vessels may be saved from becoming a loss.
I have, etc.,