The Secretary of State to
Minister Griscom.
Department of State,
Washington, November 11,
1904.
No. 86.]
Sir: Referring to instruction No. 84, of the
4th ultimo, on the subject of the destruction of sea birds on Midway
Island and other islands of the Hawaiian group, by Japanese subjects, I
inclose herewith a copy of a letter from the Acting Secretary of
Agriculture, calling attention to the destruction wrought by Japanese
bird hunters on those islands, especially Lisiansky Island, and
requesting that the matter be laid before the Japanese Government as
fully as possible, and that special attention be called to the
operations of the firm of Kametoki & Mijutane, of Yokohama.
The Acting Secretary of Agriculture adds that it would be gratifying if,
in addition to aiding in suppressing these depredations, the Government
of Japan would cooperate with that of the United States in preventing,
as far as possible, further destruction of sea birds on the islands of
the north Pacific.
You will ascertain if the Japanese Government is disposed or able to
cooperate, within its own jurisdiction; and, if so, how, with the
Government of the United States in preventing the destruction complained
of.
I am, etc.,
[Page 579]
[Inclosure.]
The Acting Secretary of
Agriculture to the Secretary of
State.
Department of Agriculture,
Office of the
Secretary,
Washington, November 8,
1904.
Sir: The Department is in receipt of a
letter from the honorable the Secretary of the Interior, under date
of November 1, transmitting a copy of a letter submitted to you on
the same date from William A. Bryan, of Honolulu, H. I., in regard
to the destruction of sea birds on certain islands in the north
Pacific.
This Department has been in correspondence with Mr. Bryan for some
time with a view to obtaining definite information on this subject.
Under date of August 30 Mr. Bryan wrote that the Lavinia, a small vessel commanded by Captain Weisbarth,
left Honolulu June 28 for Laysan and Lisiansky islands and had
returned with the report that the bird skins collected by the
Japanese on Lisiansky, and left on that island after the wreck of
their vessel and the rescue of the members of the expedition by the
revenue cutter Thetis, had been removed
shortly before the visit of the Lavinia to
the island on July 20. The Honolulu Evening Bulletin of August 29,
in an account of the voyage of the Lavinia,
published the following paragraph in regard to the visit to
Lisiansky:
“Finally, on July 20, the Lavinia arrived at
Lisiansky Island only to meet with bitter disappointment. Not a bird
skin was to be found. The huts built by the bird catchers were still
standing, but they were absolutely empty. The Lavinia people found evident marks to show that they were
only a few days late. The Japanese schooner which was known to have
left Japan for the island at the time Weisbarth left had beaten him
by only a few days. On the sand beach were found many footprints.
Mats had also been laid across the beach to enable the men to carry
the heavy cases without sinking into the sand. The fact that the
footprints had not been obliterated showed that the Japanese had
been on the island only a few days previous to Weisbarth’s arrival.
There was nothing for the small expedition to do but to return to
Honolulu.”
Under date of October 13 Mr. Bryan reported that these plume-hunting
expeditions are sent out by a Japanese firm, Kametoki &
Mijutane, whose address is Fugi me cho yo, Yokohama.
He also reported on the same date that another and larger expedition,
comprising some fifty men under a manager named Yamamota, had
recently been fitted out by this same firm. It is apparent that
these expeditions are likely to continue and that further
depredations may be expected on other outlying islands unless some
means of prevention can be devised.
I have the honor to request that this matter be laid before the
Japanese Government as fully as possible and special attention
called to the operations of the firm at Yokohama. It would be
gratifying if, in addition to aiding in suppressing these
depredations, the Government of Japan would cooperate with the
United States in preventing as far as possible further destruction
of sea birds on the islands of the north Pacific.
A copy of this letter has been forwarded to-day to the honorable the
Secretary of the Interior.
Very respectfully,
