Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, With the Annual Message of the President Transmitted to Congress December 7, 1896, and the Annual Report of the Secretary of State

Mr. Olney to Sir Julian Pauncefote.

Department of State,
Washington, February 6, 1896.

No. 317.]

Excellency: I have the honor to request, in view of a letter from the Secretary of the Treasury of the 2d instant, that Her Majesty’s Government will notify the British Columbian sealing vessels to keep a record of all nursing female seals killed during the coming season in Bering Sea. Such a record will greatly assist the Treasury Department in certain investigations it is now making, showing the distance from Pribilof Islands female seals go for food, leaving their young on the islands.

It seems needless to add that the cooperation of the British Government will be of material assistance to the Treasury Department in prosecuting its investigation.

I have, etc.,

Richard Olney.