Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, Transmitted to Congress, With the Annual Message of the President, December 9, 1891

Sir Julian Pauncefote to Mr. Wharton.

British Legation,
Washington, July 7, 1891.

Sir: With reference to the memorandum which I left in your hands on the 23d ultimo respecting the British instructions to naval officers in the Behring Sea, I have the honor to transmit herewith, by direction of the Marquis of Salisbury, a full note of the instructions sent to the senior British naval officer on the North Pacific station with regard to the steps to be taken to prohibit the killing of seals in certain specified portions of the Behring Sea.

I have, etc.,

Julian Pauncefote.

[Inclosure.]

Note.

The instructions to the senior naval officer on the North Pacific station, after reciting the provisions of the seal fishery (Behring’s Sea) act, 1891, and stating that the order in council passed there under applies only to that part of Behring’s Sea which is east of the line of demarcation thereinafter described, proceeds as follows:

“Your instructions are to proceed at once with Nymphe and Pheasant to Behring’s Sea and cruise to eastward of above-named line, as may be necessary, warning every ship under British colors which, in your judgment, is hunting seals or preparing to do so. If you think she is acting in ignorance of the prohibition or believes herself to be outside prohibited waters, you may let her go with warning. If a ship is found deliberately offending, confiscate all her equipment necessary for sealing and record names of ship and master for prosecution afterwards.

“If you find American vessels deliberately offending, you are authorized by convention just signed to arrest her, and you should record name of captain and vessel and proof of offense, informing American authorities: If you can, it will be your duty to coöperate with American cruisers, who will have similar orders.

“Nymphe and Pheasant to proceed at once on this duty. Porpoise will proceed to Iliuliuk Harbor, Unalaska, from China, to be under command of Nymphe, who will give copy instructions for guidance. These vessels to remain on this service until close of fishing season.

“The line of demarcation proceeds in a course nearly southwest through Behring Strait and Behring Sea, so as to pass midway between the northwest point of the island of St. Lawrence and the southeast point of Cape Tchukotoki to the meridian of 170° west longitude; thence from the intersection of that meridian in a southwesterly direction, so as to pass midway between the island of Attou and the Copper Island, of the Kormandorski couplet or group, in the North Pacific, to the meridian of 167° east longitude, so as to include in the territory conveyed the whole of the Aleutian Islands east of that meridian.”