,.^„.. IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) .V- A ^0 1.0 I.I no ■^ 1^ |2.2 140 111112.0 1.8 1.25 11.4 111.6 % % 7 ^ .J>' /A '^ %' V HiOiOgraphic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 872-4S03 , tlio Heply <>f the Russian Govornmoiit in rigard Id tI;o Soi/iircs of i British Scaling VossL'ls 1)V llussiiiii C'lnizers iii the North l*iUMfif Ocean. Sir R. Morier to tho Earl of Roselicri/. — {Received June Ifi.) My Lord, SI. Pet.ei\sbimjh, June 12, 1893. I HAVE received from M. Chiclikiue ii reply to my notes of tlio 1 7th (29th) Noveinl)er, 4th (16th) and I'll) (21st) December, resi)ecting the ciiptiire of Cariixlian scalors in the Jkliring Sea. This note transmits two inclosures, ijivini; the substance of the Rejiorts of the Special Commission appointed to examine and pronounce upon the question. The first has reference to the complaints and iiccusjtions h'.'oui^ht by the crews of some ot the sealers for hardships declared to have been suffered at the hands of the officers by whom they were captured. .As these were mainly directed airainst Captain dc Livron, Com- uwnder of the " Zabiaka," and have been refuted by the declarations of that officer, who was cited before the Commission and cross-examiiicd by them, I think it right to observe that I have asceitaincd beyoi.d a doubt that Captain de Livron is a .straightforward sailor and an honourable ffcntlcnian, quite incapable of tlie brutalities imputed to him by the captains of the " Willie McGowan " and tlie " Ariel." It is also worth remarking that the evidence of some of the other captains, especially that of the master of the " Vancouver Belle," stand in the strongest contrast '.xitli that of the above-named masters. Lastly, the infor- mation now furnished to us entirely confirnis my view of the case as suggested in my not-.' of the 17th (2flth) November, that the persons really responsible for the hardships suffered were the civil authorities of PetropavlovsU, and not the naval. As regards these, M, Chiclikine states that the iiggrieved parties can, in the ordinary course of law, seek redress either from the .superi;u' naval authorities or through the competent Tribunals. The second M; niorandum is of far greater importance, because it lays down the general ])rinciple, in virtue of which the schooners were captured. It is as follows: — That the canoes and their crews are part and i)arcel of the schooners ; they arc the instruments with which the latter carry on their li^ilinl; operations, and in the present cases they were furnished with the special appliances, viz., clubs for t!ie destruction of seals on shore, and wholly useless for the purposes of |)elagic hunting. A schooner, therefore, whose canoes can be proved to have hunted seals within territorial waters, though herself ca[)tured outside those water?, is as criminally responsible for the acts as the canoes thentselvps, and even if captured in the ojjen seas becomes good prize : " Dans son appre'ciation de la legalitd des captures ett'ectu^cs .... la Commission s'est inspiree d'un principe dont on ne saurait contester Ic i)on droit et I'dquite. EUe a reconnu de bonne prise tous les batiments dont les chaloupes avaient ete apcr9ues ou arrtitees dans nos eniix tcrritoriales. Jl est indeniable en etlet (juo les chaloupes constituent, juridiqucnient pnrlant, une dependancc du schooner auquel elles appartiemient. F^eur saisie dans des eaux tcrritoriales rend par consequent parfaitement legal rnrrcst.ition du bAtiment dont elles font en ()uelque sortc parlic. S'il en 6tait antrcment, nn schooner pourrait impune- nicnt faire la chasse nux otaries sur les cotes en y envoynnt scs chaloupes, et enfreiiidre oinsi rinviolnbilite des eaux terriliirinles, tout en se tenant lui-uu'me hors des dites eaux." Applying this principle to the case of the six captured school. <, M. Chie'ddne informs me that four of thi;m, the " Marie," " Uosie Olsen," " (."annolite," and " Vancouver Belle," have been adjudged good prizes, as the evidence that their respective canoes cai)tured seals either actually in the rookeries or within the .'J-miie limit was conclusive; whereas, though the moral evidence was equally conclusive in regaril to the "Willie McGowau " and " Ariel," the canoes themselves had not been actually seen within the territorial waters. Acco.^>ngly, as regards the two latter, the llussiiin Government k rciuly to entertnin the question of indemnifying the ownerH iind the crews. A I'iict elicited in tiic course of these in(|niric8, viz., the enormous proportion of femnles — as mucli as 90 y)er cent. — found on board the sealers, nnd caught cither while with young or nursin;;, at a time when it is impossible for them to leave the rookeriis, iiHords a very conclusive proof of the skill and knowledt;e with which these poaehiiiL; e.K|ie(lition8 are conducted and of iheir deadly destructiveness. V . , (Signed) ' H. IJ. I). MOHIKK. Inclosure 1. M. Chirhkine to Sir R, Morier. W. I'Ambassadeur, Sainl-Pelersbourg, le 29 Mai (10 ,/uin), 1893. J'AI cu rhonneur dc recevoir Ifs notes que votre Kxcellence a bien vouin adresser an Ministere Imperial en date du 17(2!)) Novembre, du 4 (10) et du it (21) Ddccmbre, 1892, rcliitivement ix I'arrestation dans In iMer de Hchring de schooners ft de chaloupes de peche C'aiiadiennes par des croiseurs Russcs. Une Commission Speeiale ayant ete insiituee par Decret Imperial pour Tcxanicn des cniidilions dans lesquelies ces arrestations avaient (5te faite.s, le Ministere Lnperial n'a pas iimn(|ue de soumcttrc les depositions (" alhdavits") des eapitaines et des e(iuipai,'cs des schooners en que.stion annexees aux notes susineiiticnn^cs. En repnnse h ces communications je me fais un devoir, .M. I'Ambassadeur, dc vous traasmettre aujourd'hui les den.\ notices ci-jointes. Votre Excellence voudra bien relever de la lecture dc la premiere de ces pieces (pi'elle fait justice des assertions des e(|uipages Canadiens quant aux privations (pi'on Icur anrait iiirii;;ees a Pttropavlovsk. Dc I'avis du Gouvcrnemenl Imperial la Commission a pleinc- uient eiucide celfe inati^re. 'I'outefois, si les interesses le jugeaien^ necessaire, ils ont la fatulle de se servir du recouis regulier instil ue par hi loi, |)our presenter leiu's rddamations suit a l'autorit6 superieure de la Marine, soil au Tribunal competent. Quant aux declarations des eapitaines des biktiments Canadicns, d'apr^s Icsquelles ils auraicnt et(5 menaces d'6tre traduits duvant une cour martiale ou deportds en Siherie, la Commission ne les a pas eru de natuic a (5trc prise* au serieux. Formellement niecs par le Ca|)itBine de Livron, ces menaces n'auraient eu aucune raison d'etre deji» par ce liiit (|uc la sia;nature du protocole d'arrestation par le capitaine c!u schooner n'dtait nullement indispensable pour la validite de cet acte. La Commission a releve en niOme temps connne cntierement mal Ibndde une ddcla- ration du capitaine de " TAriei " se rapportant u une prdtendne insulte que nos inarins aiiraient faite au pavilion Britannitjue. Une telle assertion aurait constitue une oHense a noire propre flotte, si son auteur s'dtait rendu conipte de sa porlee, et avail bien pesd scs ptuules au lieu de viser uniquement a exciter des siisceptibiiitds nationales. Ni la dis- cipline n.ilitaire, ni le respect de lout pavilion etranj^er comme tel, (jui caracterise nos aiarins, ne permettenl de supposer un seul instant que des hommes d'un i'(|uipase de guerre Russe aient pu se permeltre une ofiense vis-a-vis du pavilion d'une nation amie. Le Cu|jitaine de Livron a affirme ft la Commission dc la fa(;on la plus formelle qu'au moindre fait de ce genre, il se serait livre sur ces lieux memes h la plus sdvt^re enquCtc. La seconde notico ci-pr^s contient un examen ddt.iille des eirconstances cpii ont acconipagn^ I'arrestation des schooners et delcurs chaloupes. Dans son apprdciatinn dc la icf^itimild des captures effectuees par les Commandants des croiseurs Russes ct par le (Jhef d'Arrondissement des lies du Commandeur, la Commission s'cst inspirde d'un ])rineij)e, dont on ne saurait contester le bon droit et l'6quite. Elle a recoimu de bonne prise tons les batimenls dont les chaloupes avait ele aper9ues ou arrdtees dans nos eaux territoriales. 11 est indeniabie, en cHet, (|uu les chaloujics constituent juridiquement parlant une dependence du schooner auquel elks appartiennent. Leur eaisic dans des eaux territo- riales rend par consetjuent paHaitement legale I'arrestation du bi\timent dont dies font en quelque sorte partie. S'il en diait autrement, un schooner pourrait impundmenl fairc la thasse aux otaries sui- les c6tes, en y er.voyanf ses chaloupes et enfreindre ainsi I'inviola- bilile des eaux teivitoriales, tout en se tenant lui-m^nic hors des dites eaux. C'cst r* ce point dc vue que la Cunnnission a con.''tate la reuularite de la capture des sehooncrs "Marie," " Rosie Oisen," " Caimolite," et "Vancouver Belle," et I'elle n'a pas cru pouvoir le faire dans les cas de la saisie des schooners " Willie Mac' wan" et " Ariel." [fil2j li 2 On lie sauruil cependunt iiit'fonimltre lu gravitc des indices, <|ui out m\wn6 les Coinmandmits (ic nos croiscuis h ertuctncr dcs peniiiisitions » hold do ccb dcrniers. I^e " Willie MucGowiuj " a piis lu luite aiissilAt apr^s avoir iipcr<;u Ic croispm- Ktissc; il ij'ii pas mis en panne siir I'injoiictiun du " Zabiaka." Si IcConnnanilanl du noi-ciir Itiisvc n'a p:i - vn les rlmlnnpes du " Willie MattCJowan " cliasauiit ille{;alement ToLiric dans hoa chin tenitoriales, il en avail ete avise par leg habitants dc lu cAtc. I^ penjuisition revelu la pn'-scnce i\ l)ord des cngins servant t> la chasse aux otarics sur la iftte ainsi quo soixanlc-seize peaux, dont ^oixantc-neuf 6ti'e8 d'aniniaux fenielles, tu^s par consequent yrtt de lu cote. Les 90 pour cent des peaiix trouves sur " I'Ariel," avuient 6t6 probablement nussi 6t<5e8 de fcmelles-m^res, el prove- naicnt d'otaries prises dans It-s eaux territoriales Russes. L'iinporlance de ces donndes ne fut pas mise en doute par la Commission ; elle ne les considdru pourtant pas comme des preuves formelles, justifiant I'arrestation dej schooners, faute d'une condition essentielle : leurs chaloupes n'avaient pas 6t6 aperyues chassant I'otarie dans les eanx Russes. En portant ce qui precede i> votre connaissance, M. I'Ambassadenr, jc me fais un devoir de vous informer, (|u'en presence des conclusions ci-dessua cxpos^es de la Commis- sion, le Gotivcrnement Impdrial ne se rcfuserait pas i\ proc^der d une estimation de I'indemnite in verser aux armateurs des schooners, " Willie McGowan " et " Ariel." Veuillez, &c. (Signd) CHICHKINE. (Translation.) M. TAmbassiideur, St. Petershurgh, May 29 (June 10), 1893. I HAVE had the honour to receive the notes which your Excellency was 'so good as to address to the Imperial Ministrj', dated the I7th (29th) November, and the 4th (I6th)and 9th (2l8t) December, 1&92, relative to the seizure in Hehring Sea of Canadian schooners and fishing boats by Russian cruizers. A Special Commission having been appointed by Imperial Decree to examine into the circumstances under which tliese seizures were made, the Imperial Ministry did not fail to lay before it the depositions (affidavits) of the captains and crews of the schooners con- cerned which accompanied the above-mentioned notes. In reply to these communications 1 make it my duty, M. I'Amba&sadeur, to transmit now to you the two Reports inclosed. Your Excellency will observe from the perusal of the first of these documents that it deals with the assertions of the Canadian crews as to the privations alleged to have been inflicted on them at Petropavlovsk. In the opinion of the Imperial Government the Commission has fully elucidated this matter. Nevertheless, if the interested parties consider it necessary, they have the ])ower to avail themselves cf the regular course provided by law in order to present their claims either to the superior naval authorities or to the proper Tribunal. As regards the declarations of the captains of the Canadian vessels, according to which they would appear to have been threatened with being brought before a court- martial or deported to Siberia, the Commission has not considered them of a nature to be taken seriously. These threats, which Captain de Livron has formally denied, would have been wholly superfluous from the fact tiiat the signature of the protocol of seizure by the captain of the schooner was not at all necessary to make that document valid. The Commission has also noted, as entirely without foundation, a declaration of the captain of the " Ariel " with reference to an alleged insult by our sailors to the British flag. Such ar. n«..Mne respects form part, perfeetlj lci;id. If it were otherwise, n selionner eould with impunity pursue seals on liie ponsts i)y sendin;; her hoats there, aiul thiw iiifiinxe llii- iiivioluhiiity of terrtoriiii wat'-- , iiltli(ni;;h hers'lf reinainin;^ outsilished the (npture without meeting with any resistance, and having drawn up a protocol, he lost no lime in declaring the freedom of their captains and crews, iinmediately afterwards, in accordance with his instructions, he conveyed them to the nearest Russian port. The small town of Petropavlovsk, numbering in all .100 inhabitants, did not afford i)riv.»te buildings of sufficient size to enable them to be lodged there. C'.inse(|uently, it was proposed to these men, who, he it said once more, were in no way under arrest, and who enjoyed full liberty, that they should occupy the only (iovernment building which was available. Unfortunately, it was not sufficiently sjiacious. The Captain of the "Zabiaka" only took the more pains to expedite as much u. possible the repatriation of ilie schooners* eriws. He applied, for this purpose, to the captain of the American ship " Majestic," and made use of the schooner " Rosie Olsen," which had been declared a lawful seizure, and ttliose name had been changed to that of " Prize." The crews ol the schooners were distributed in the followin'^ manner : The ".Majestic" took on board twenty-three men from the "Willie McGowan," twenty-four Iron, the "Ariel," and twenty-two from the "Rosie Olsen;" the " Prize" took six from the boats of the " Annie Moore," nine from the " Sayward," and twenty-two from the " \ nncouver Belle." The men of the schooners " Marie " and " Carmolite " were sent separately to Vladivostok in the cruizer " Vitiaz," and from thence to Japan. During their stay on board, and from the first day of their landing, 15 kopecks per man [ler day weie allotted to the crews for their maintenance. This appears in the official corre- spondence which passed between Captain de Livron and the District Governor. In addition to this, the Captain of the "Zabiaka" placed at their disposal a net and some boats, in order that they might go out fishing, and gave them assistance by seamen from the cruizer. If the men of the " Rosie Olsen ' only received their subsistence allowances from iht .'( 100 doiihiiti. As soon uh he iuid made n stilt' na-nt (if liis 1()8,-. to Ciiptnin di; l.ivroii, he leeeived luithority to K'> "" l>ourd the itchnnticr, aecoiiipiinied \>\ nil ofllcer, to hiok t'oi' the iiioiiev, whieh wiih louiid l)eliiiid the drawer of a ehest. Tile I'uptain in (juestioii then usked In huvc hui'k the nhip'is eliroiioiueter, which was eertuirily rel'used to hiui. The repatriation of the cnws who were sent in tlie " Majestic" took |)iiiee in pursuance ut an agreement in due fiuriii cunrhuUMl with the captain of that ship, iiic latter received from Captain de IJvron ; (I) full rotions for forty-five days calculated according to (he actual statements of the captains of the captured schoonen, and hased upon the Regulations of the American mercantile marine; (2) u number of boats (eight large and two small), indisptMisahle fur the s ifety of eighty-seven men in caw of shi|iwr('ek ; (3) two exira ovens for cookint; the food ; (4) a sutlicient (|uantity of crockery, as well us a cojiper boiler supplied by the erui/.er. The ciiptain of the "Majestic" bound liimsclt' lo rep.itriatc the crews on the understanding that he should afterwards appropriate, by way of remuneration, all the articles which have just liecn enumerated. The crews of tiic schooners were lodged in (he hold above the ballast. Tin,' floor was covered with dried branches, fastened together by means of ropes, and on the»c the men were able to loy down the mattresses which wen; distriljutcd to them. One was given lo each. The discontent of the captains ol the schooners must be attributed, according lo the depositions of the Cai)tain of the Zabiaka, to the fact that the captain of the " .Vlajcstic " who wp.s accompunied by his ;;rowii up daughter, found it impossible to put them in liiit cabin. He was obli^'rd to arrange beillis for them in the cabins used for the stores. The Commission concluded from the above evidence that the claitn of the captain of the ".Majestic" nf 10 dollars a-head for passage money could not be admitted, being contrary to the terms ■>{ the agreement conclucled and signed by him. With regard to the patrol sent asiiore by C'uptain de [.livron, this step was taken at the request of tiie district Governor of I\tro|iavlovsk. The local police were no doubt insulhcicnt to repres". the disturbances committed by the men of the schooner in the streets of the town. The conduct of these .seamen was must disorderly. Several times the captain of the " Zabiaka " appealed to the captains of the vessels sei/ed, begging them to restore order, but they declared that the crews would not obev them. The captains of the " Willie McGowan " and the " Rosie Olseii " themselves came in u state of intoxication to see Captain de Livron, and used such abusive language to him tliat the sailors of the cruizcr had to turn them out of the captain's cabin Inclosure .1. Second Report of Special Commission. I.'EXAMEN dcH circonstances (pii avaient accompagnt'; I'arrestation et la capture, operde dans la Mer de Behring, par des croiseurs Russes, de schooners et de chaloupes de p6ehe Canadienncs, a et(; contie a une Commission Spcciale institute par Ddcret Imperial. Cette Commission reyut communication des documents suivants, qui lui servirent de base pour dlucider I'affaire en question : — Journuux de bord, notes et cartes trouv^es sur les bStiments captures ; Protocoles de saisie ; R!i|)port concernant la course du croiseur " Zabiaka," ainsi que celui qui fut dresB^ par le Commandant de I'escadre du Pacifiquc ; Affidavits communi(|uds par le Gouvcrnement Britannique et contenant les depositions des capitaines des biltiments captures et dc leurs Equipages. Kn meme temps, la Commission citait devant elle, pour entendre leurs depositions verbales, le Capitaine de Livron, ex-Commandant du "Zabiaka," et le Conseiller de Coll(^ge Grebnitsky, Chef d' Arrondissement des lies Kommandorsky. L'lnstruction ^tablit avec la plus grande certitude cc (|ui suit : 1. Le schooner " Marie " a etd arr6td le 9 (21) Aoftt, 1892, par le Chef d'Ariondisse- mcnt des lies Kommandorsky, M. Grebnitsky montant le vapeur •' Kotik, ' L'arrestation a eu lieu sous le 54° 36' de latitude se]>tentrionale et sous le 168° 24' de longitude orientale, k 7 milles de ITle de Cuivre. Deux chaloupes appartenant h ce b&timent 11 the arrivRl 1 of nil tlut I a Btat' ini-nt ic schooner, 1 1 rawer of a r, which was " MftjcRlic" )tnin of that y-fivL" (lays, cl schuonera, It number of men in case lit (juantity itain of the he should vc just lieen illast. The md on theic One was ording lo the " .Vlnjestic " icin in hill ■tores. f the eii|)tuin niitted, being \«us taken at 'ure no doubt in the streets ptuin of the restore order, the " Willie cation to see )f the cruizcr t la capture, de chaloupes 2 par D^cret i servirent de ui fut dresB^ ?s depositions s depositions L'onseillcr de d'Arioiidisie- L'arrestation de longitude ce bfttiment f nviiietit 6t6 nncr(;ucR ot urr^tces ii 1 ! iiiillo de la cAtc. On trouva h Icur boni dix-scpt otarics (lont (lix pas encore ecorchecs. Sans s'attaicK'r h poiirsuivrc Ics nutres chaloupes, i|ui ehassaient un peu plus a IV'cnrt, M. f ircbnitHky nrrt^ta ie Kchooncr liii-ni<^ine et Ic mit a ranci'i' nvnnt Ie couclier dii ^olcil dcvnnt Ic village de (ilinkn. I.c lendcnmiii matin, la licrijuisilion (aitc tant Hiir Ie Kcliooner inic '•iir Ics chahiupes (|ui Tavaicnt rcjnint pendant la miit. rdv^la ii Iciir bord 622 pc.iux d'otaiifs, donl TiS.') TiK^ch d'aiiiiimux fcincllcH et prises, par coiii»c(|Ucnt, pri^s dc la c6tc. I/cxanirn du livrc de bord de la " Marie " permit de ('oii»'tatt'r (|ue ce livre n'avait pus die tciiii dcpiiiit <|uatrc joiirM el iic portait pas Ics indications requiseK sur In course et les relaclies dc cc scliooncr. lA'>i (Ic(;r68 de longitude ct c'c lalilude nVtnicnt morqui's (|ue daiisi Ics aliimnachs, vt cilii avcc beaucou)) dc nt'gli(;cncc. I.c licii dc destinHtion du schooner ctait dcsii^nc par iVxitression va{;uc '* sealinjf ^loiiiids." Lcs pcaux, <'nlcv6cs dc fcniellcs I'tjcondes, iilti'staicnt rjuc Ich oturics nviiiciit cir ludcs pr^s dc la cote. Kii eH'ct, mix ii:ois de Juillct ct (I'Aoi'it, dpoipic dc I'Hilaitciiiciit, Ich fcnicllen iic pcuvent s't'l<)it{iicr dcs cfttcs. Cettc loiiclusion d'tuit encore coiitirnice par la presenci , .' n\ du sclinoncr, reur (' ■ l.'i iiiillcs. JJc I'uveu nii^nin du i'n|iilainc, 499 des otarics saisics avnicnt ('li ,. rises dans Ic^- parages de I'lle de Cuivre et 1-)H sculciiient dans ecu-; dc Vancouvei. II lie iiii |)'i.-. ijuc les tiois chaloupes do la " Marie '' aicnt die nrr^'tes dniu; iios cuiix tcrrit(ritil . Mais il «';mct cii incme temps rnpinion (pie M. (ircbnitsky auriiit ili*t se born . ii leur arientation. li ii'auiait |ins dd y joindrc, coiinnc il I'a fait, cclle d'autres elialdniiis, iippartenaiit au sclinoncr " Annie Moore " qui, lui, n a pas die ariete. Kn ell'et, Ie schooner " Annie .M^./ie," dont les cliaioupcs i'urcnt prises, reussit a ecliappcr anx poursiiilcs. Mais ccia iiidiijue uni(|ucment ({ue les scliouncrs cnvoiciit leurs chaloupes liiiii d'eux cliasser les ^jhiries dan<- Icnrs gllcs, tout en dcmeiirant cnx-uif'ines liors ch's eau\ territoriiilc. C'est aiiisi .•culcineiit que " rAnnic Mooic " a pu ecliappcr A rtirrestation tandis (pie scs chabuipes dtaicnt saisies sur 111 cote par des liabitantH de la coiitree. I.e cupilaiiie de la '■ Marie " a rceonnn que I'aete (I'arrestation uvait t'td rdfjulicrcniciit dresse, tout en refiisant cc|ieiulont de Ie signer. La Coinniission, sc fondant sur les doniiccs ijui vii iineiit d'etre exposccs, conclut que I'arrestation du scluioner " .Marie" avait did opiJrcc d'liiic tii(;on cntiercinciit regulit^rc. II est incontestable (|uc Ics clialoupes constituent juridicpicment une dcpendance du scliooncr. Leur saisii' dans des eaux tcrritoriales rend done legale I'arrestation du hHtiment dont dies (lont pnrtie. S'il en etait aiitrciiicnt. Ic schooner ponrrait impunement faire la chassc aux otarics sur les cOtes, en y envoyant ses chaloupes et cnfreindre ninsi rinviolabilitd des eaiix tcrritoriales tout en se tenant liii-nu-me bors dc leurs limites. •_'. I.c schooner " Kosic Olsen " a 6ti! ej^aleiiient arrfitc par .M. (irebnitsky, Chef d'Airoiulissetjicnt des lies Koinnmndcrskv. La saisie, ojierec par Ie " Kotik," cut lieu Ie 14 (20) .luillct, 1892, sous Ie r>C> 2.'V de latitude septentrionalc, el sous Ie If-O' 27' de longitude oricntalc. I.e schooner nvnit etc aper(,'u dans les caux tcrritoriales, niais ayant vu Ie vnjicur, il avait reussi ii gagncr la iner ouvcrtc, apr^s avoir donnc a .scs chaloupes un signal dc rallienient. Toutcfois, Ic " Kotik " et nnc elialoupe .|u'il detaclia parvinrent a saisir (jiiatic chaloupes de cbnssc dans les eaux tcrritoriales. l/unc d'elles fut arrCtde a I mille des cAtes de I'Ue d'Aria. Trois clinloupcs sur sept piircnt rcjoiiuire Ie schooner. Apr6s avoir saisi Ics quatic chalou|)es, M. Grebnitsky |)ioce(hi a rarrcstatioii du schooner, et en (ircssa protocole. I.e capiluine de la •' Kosie Olscn," cpii sc trouvait dans un dtat de vivc surcxeitation, rclusa dc signer ect n( te, et, arrive a Pe'tropavlovsk, protesta contre la saisie de son schooner en mcr ouvcrte. On trouva ii bord du st'booiier et des chaloupes 379 pcaux d'otarics, dont !)(J |torc cent Atees d'aninmux fcmellcs ; 377 dc ces pcaux ge trouvaicnl a bord du school. .i- lois deux aiilrcs fureiit saisies dans des chaloupes. L'ci|uipage se ((iiii|)()sait de six Europceiis -A de (juatorze Kalochcs. II apjiert du journal (ic bord (jU Ic schooner avait chassc duran' tcizc jours dans Ics I'.aragcs dc I'llc dc Cuivre, il i'aide dc scs chaloupes, (pi'il envoyait dans Ics caux lerritorialcs. IjC 12 (24) Juillet, il y avait eu 101 otarics de tuecs. I.c journal dc bord ii't'tait pas tcnu dcpuis plusieu:* jours; ic cliroiuuniilrc etait ciiticrcmeiit ddrang('. D'apiiis Ie capitainc de la " Rosic OLpn," Ie schooner aurait dte arr6l«i h 38 uiillcs de la cfttc. Pour se convaincre dc I'inexnctitude de sa deposition, il sutbt de eonstatcr, sur la carte, (pic Ic point dintcrscctiou dc hi longitude et dc la latitude indi(|udes par Ic capitainc n'est pas h 38 inillcs mnis i\ M milles du point lo plus rappriK'he de la cAte. II est pcrniis d'cii conclurc (pic ccs indications sunt denuecs (Ie fondement et doniK^es aprds coup, au hasnrd. Aprcs avoir examine toutes les circonstunces ayaut accoinpugnc I'arrestation du scliooner " Hosic Olsen," la Commission a conclu a la rdgulariie de cctte arrestation. En [612] V 10 cffet, Ics clialoupes de ces schooners ont 6l6 surprises chassant I'otarie dans les eaux terri- torialcs. Lc schooner en question ne se trouve pas actueilc.ncnt K Petropavlovsk mais au Canada. II avait servi a rapatrier les e(|iii|Kigc'.s de tous Ics schooners arrfit^s. 11 a re^u un nouvcau nom, celui de " Prize," et est command(5 par ua des capitaincs rapatri(58, nomm6 Kopp. Le Gapitainc de Livron a depose (jue iVf. Kopp lui avait annonc6 dans unc Icttre particulifere I'aniv^e du " Prize " h destination ; la lettre ajoutait que les matelots niena^aient M. Kopp de le traduire en justice en rdcianiant le paiement de leurs f!;age8 pour lc temps de la traversde. Le Capitaine Kopp setant acquittd, en rapatriant lea equipages en question, d'une mission dont il avait (5t6 eiiarge pa.' les autoritds Russes, la Commission consid^rc comnie (Equitable de lui aliandonnor la pro|)ri(5t6 du schooner " Prize " a la charge de prelever sur sa valeur, pouvant dtrcdvalu/jc h GOO dollars, de quoi siitiffairc les pretentions cusmentionndes en tant qu'elles se trouveraicnt justifiees. 3. Lo schooner "Carniohte" a ete arr6te lc 17 ("29) Aoftt, 1892, par le croiscur " Vitiaz," coiutnande par le Capitaine Zariiie, ct battant le pavilion du Chef de I'Kscadre du Pacifiquo. II appert des documents, examines par la Commission, que ce schooner a ^te apcr9U par le croiscur de I'autre c6te de I'isthiue situe a la pointe sud de He dc Cuivre. Le "Carmolite" se trouvait a ce moment k 3 milles environ d'un glte d'otaries. II vit le croiscur et, profitant de la nece-site ou se trouvait celui-ci dc tourner, pour Tatteindre, un long redf situe ii rextreinild sud-est de I'ile, il ddploya les voiles et gagna la mer ouverte. Mais, au bout d'une heure et demic, le eroiseur I'atteignit i\ 8 milles de la c6te sous le 54'" 29' de latitude septenlrionale et lc 168° 2' de longitude oricntalc. Ixs documents dc bord permirent de constater que le schooner se trouvait dcpuis le 29 Juillet dans les eaux des lies Kommandorsky. Ijh capitaine declara que les 608 otaries dont on trouva les ]ieaux i\ bord de son bAtiment avaient etc prises pr^s des lies de Behring et do Cuivre. Cela contredit ses declarations annexecs a la note de I'Ambassadeur Britannique du 9 (21) De'cembre, 1892, d'apies lesquelles la prise des otaries n'aurait eu lieu qii'^ 60 milles de distance des iles. La dcelaiation du capitaine du " Carmolite " concernant la distance de la cote oil le schooner aurait ^te arr^td, et qui serait de 25 milles, ainsi que son assertion de n'etre pas entre dans les eaux territoriales Russes sc trouvent dgalement dementics par des indications prdcises ; pour en deniontrer I'incxactitude, il suffit d'un calcul base sur la ra|)idite de niarclie du eroiseur et sur rdtcndue de I'horizon vfsihle au moment oil le schooner a dte aper9U pour la prcmi6re fois par le " Vitiaz." I^e " log-book " du "Carmolite" n'dtait pas tenu depuis deux jcurs. II a dte dressd deux protocoles d'arrcstation, I'un en Kusse, fautre en Anglais. En raison dc ces donndcs, la Commission a reconnu I'arrestation du "Carmolite" comme entidrcment conf'orme aux principes du droit international. -I. Le schooner '■ Vancouver Belle" Cut arr6te par le croiscur " Zabiaka," le 31 .Juillet 189ii, sous le ii-i" 17' de latitude seiitentrionale et sous le 168° 12' de longitude oricntalc, a 17 milles de I'lIc dc Cuivre. Ayant die iivcrti ])ar des garde-cAtes que ce schooner chassait I'otarie sur la c6te, le Commandant du "Zabiaka" se dirigea vers lui. Mais, en ehemin, il renconlra trois clialoupes du schooner " Seyward " I'aisant la chasse h une distance de moins de 3 milles de la c6te. Leur arrestation et leur mise en remorque prit environ deux heures, dont le "Vancouver Belle" profita pour gagner lc large. II tut constald, aprds I'arrestation dc ce schooner, que son " log-book " n'avait pas dtd tenu depuis vingt-quatre heures, mais les notes qui y avaient etc portdes antdrieuren\ent indiquaient qu'il avait, H deux reprises, chass ' I'otarie le long mdme de la cAte, dans les ddtroits qui sdpareiit les iles. On trouva d bord du biltiment les engins servant ;\ la chasse aux otaries sur les cdtes. 88 pour cent des ri94 peaux saisies avaient dtd otdes de femelles-mcres. II rdsulta des ddelar;itions mdmes du Capitaine Kopp (Affidavits, p. 14) qu'il dtait 2 heures quand il avait apergu le eroiseur. Le schooner ayant dtd atteint par le "Zabiaka" ii 4 heures, il lui e(it dtd impossible dc taire plus de 14 milles vers le large. En raison de tout ce qui prdcdde, I'arrestation du " Vancouver Belle " a dtd reconnue entidrement rdgulidre. .">. La chaloupc du schooner " Marvin " et les trois chaloupes du schooner " Seyward " mentionndes dans la note de I'Ambassadeur Britanniq lu 4 Ddcembre, 1892, h iaquelle se trouvaient joinles les protestations dcrites des capitaines de ces biltiments, ont dtd arfctdcs dans les conditions suivantes : I'arrestation de la premiere a dtd opdree pu.- des habitants do I'lle de Cuivre, qui la saisirent au gite memc des otaries, quo I'dquipage avait eommencd a exterminer ; ccUe des trois autres par le eroiseur '• Zabiaka." Les habitants de rile I'avaient averti (|ue plusicurs clialoupes dtrangdrcs avaient abordd au glte des otaries, et en ayant tud un certain nonibre, avaient regagne le large. Lc eroiseur s'dtant rendu dans la oircction indiquee surprit, le 21 Juillet, h 9 milles de la pointe sud-est de I'ile de Cuivre, trois clialoupes qui se niirent h fuir il toutes voiles et i\ loutcs rnincs. n ^'o}•ant entin riiiiitilitd de ses eft'orls, lY-quipiij^e cessa dc ratner et se mit ii jeter pui- clcssus bord Ics otaries tuecs. Mnis il n'nvait pns encore fini ccltc besognc que le croiscur nviiit arretc Ics ti'oi8 embarcntions, ii bord dcsquelles on trouva encore huit otaries. Lcs It'tes elaicnt fracass^es cc qui proiivait bieri que les aniinaux avaicnt itc tuds ii coups (Ic luarfelets, (inns leur gltc, et non ii coup de i'usil, in nicr. L' equipage dcs ehaloupes ii|i| iirlcnant nu sciiooncr " Seyward " fut transport^ a bord du "Zabiai<:t" a Pctro- paviovsii ft li's liotnmes de la baleini^re, detachik' par le " .Marvin,' arrdtes par le,s iuiliitants du village do (ilinleur " Zabiaka," le 16 Juillet, h 3 heures et demie du matin, sous le 54' 31' de latitude septeutrionale et le 1 07 40' de longitude 'jrientale. Au moment de sun arrestatioii il s'eloi'.;iuiit (\ petites voiles de la cote et [512] ' C 2 n so tiouvait a "21 inilles du I'lle dc Cuivre On decouvrit ^ son bord les engins servant a cliasser I'otarie sur la cote, aiusi que 139 i)eaiix, dont les 90 pour cent avaient etd otees de t'einelles-iiitire.'*. Ije " loji-liook " n'et-.iit pas tenu dupuis deax jours. A la ineiie date le livre contient (Lnix annotations dirteientes. La premiere portc que lu schooner s'etait Irouve en vue de I'lle di- Ciiivre ; eda indi(|ue. et::nt doniie le hrouillard qui regnait re jour lii, <|ue le Imtiineut ii.iviguait alors dans nos eaux territorialos. Les traces de puintillenient et de calculs faitsnu eravon sur la carte et imparl'iitenient effaces temoijfneiit que le releveinent a la boussolc de la position du hatiinent avait ete opere tout i)rcs de la c6te. Sans contester la gravite de cos indices, etablissant (|ue le schoo)ier "Ariel" avait navigue d ms les eaux territoriales Russes, la niajorite de la Commission ne considera pas son arrestation comnie fundee en droit, faute d'une condition essentielle et gendrulement admise : le.s chaloiipcs de " I'Ariel " n'avdent pas ot(5 aper<;ues ehassant I'otarie dans nos eaux. (Translation.) THI'I examination into the circumstances which liad attended the arrest and capture in Behrins; Sea of Canadian schooners and sealing-boats by Russian cruizers, was intrusted to a Special Coininission appointed by Imperial Decree. To this Commission the following documents were communicated, which served as a basis for elucidating the question at issue : — Log books, notes and maps found in the captured vessels ; Protocols of seizure ; Report on the course of the cruizer "Zal)iaka," together with the Report drawn up by the Officer Commanding the Pacific Scpiadron ; Affidavits communicated by the Britisii Government containing the depositions of the captains and crews of the captured vessels. At tlie same time the (^ommi>sion summoned Captain de Livron, late officer in command of the "Zabiaka,"and the "Conscillerde Coll6:^e" Cirebnitsky, District Governor of the Commander Islands, i.i order to hear Iheir verbil depositions. The examination establishes with the greatest certainty the following facts : — 1. The schooner "Marie" was ca])tured on the 9th (21st) August, 1892, hy \L Grebnitsky, District Governor of the Commander Islands, being on board the steamer " Kotik." The capture was made in latitude 54° 36' north, and longitude 168" 24' cast, at a distance of 7 miles from Co|)per island. Two boats belonging to this vessel had been sighted and captured \\ miles from the shori'. Seventeen seals were found on board, of which ten had not yet, been skinned Without waiting to pursue the other boats, which WL-re hunting at a somewhat greater distance, iVL Grebnitsky seized the schooner himself and brought her to anchor before sunset off the village of Glinka. Next morning search was made both on the schooner and in the boats which had rejoined her during the nigiit, and 022 ical-skins were found, of which ^iSb were those of females, and consequently had been taken close to the shore. An examination of the log-book of the " Marie " proved that this bonk hiid not been posted for four days, and did not contain the necessary infor- mation as to the course taken and the stoppages made by the schooner. The degrees of longitude and latitude tvere only marked in the almanacks, and even that with gicat carelessness. The place of destination of the sciiooner was designated hy the vague expression " sealing grounds." The skins, taken from |)regnant females bear witness to the fact that the seals !iad been killed close to the sliore. In fact, during the period of suckling, in July and August, the females cannot go to any distance from the shore. This inference was confirmed by the presence on board llie schooner of clubs which aie used exclusively in the pursuit of seals on tiie coast. In his written protest, the captain of the " Marie " declares that his vessel was seized at a distance of 9,^ miles from shore. But the ciu-onometcr found on hoard the steamer was in such had order that its indications were found to occasion an error of 1.5 miles. According to tiie captain's own admission, 199 of the seals taken had been captured in the neighbourhood of Copper Uland, and oidy 148 in that of Vanecjiiver. lie does not deny that the three buiils of the "Marie "were seized within our tcrriiorial waters. But at the same time he. expresses the opinion thai M. Grclinifsliv should have contincd liis action to seizing them, and that he ought not in addition to have sii/.ed, as he did, other boats belonging to the schooner "Annie Moore," the latter not having been taken. The s:hooner "Annie Moore," whose boats were taken, did, in fact, succeed in evading pursuit. But that only shows that the schooners send their boats to a distance to pursue the seals in the rookeries while thi'v remain themselves outside territorial waters. It was only thus that ihe "Annie Moore" was able to escape seizure whilst her boms were captured on the const by the inhabitants 18 of tlic country. The captain of the " Marie" admitted tliat the protocol of seizure was correctly drawn up, though he refused to sign it. The Commission, guided hy the facts set forth iibove, concluded that the seizure of the schooner " Marie" had been carried out in a perfectly regular manner. It is undeniable that, juridically, the boats constitute u depeiuleiicy of the schooner. Tlic'r seizure, thciefori', in territorial waters legalizet tliat of the vessel of which they form part. If it were otherwise, the schooner could pursue seals on tlie const with impunity by sending her boats there, and thus infringe the inviolability of territorial waters, though herself remaining outside their limits. •2. The schooner " Rosie Olsen " was also seized by M. Grebnitsky, District Governor of the Commander Islands. The seizure, carried out bv the "Kotik," took place on the mil (26th) July, 181)2, in latitude .55° 23' north, and longitude 185° 27' east. The schooner had been sighted in territorial waters, but having seen the steamer, she had suceeeded in gaining the high sea, after having given her boats the signal to rejoin her. Nevertheless the " Kotik," and a boat which she sent out, succeeded in seizing four scaliiig-boats in territorial waters. One of these was seized 1 mile from the coast of Aria Island. Three boats out of seven were able to get back to the schooner. After having seized the four boats, M. Grebnitsky proceeded to capture the schooner, and drew up a protocol. The captain of the " Rosie Olsen," who was in a state ot great excitement, refused to sign this document, and on arriving at Fetropavlovsk, protested against the seizure of his schooner on the high sea. On board tiie schooner and the boats were found 37'J seal skins, of which 96 per cent, had been tiiken from females ; 377 of these skins were on board the schooner. The other two were seized in the boats. The crew was cuniposed of six Europeans and fourteen Indians. It appeiu's from the log that the schooner had been sealing for thirteen days in the neighbourhood of Copper Island by means of her boats, which she sent into territorial waters. On the 12th (24th) July, 101 seals had been killed. The log had not been posted for several days ; the chronometer was completely out of order. According to the statement of the captain of the " Rosie Olsen," the schooner was seized 38 miles from shore. To convince oneself of the incorrcetness of his deposition, one need only observe on the Map that the point of inter- section of the longitude and latitude indicated hy the captain is not 38 but o4 miles from the nearest point of *'.ie coast. It may be concluded from this, that these statements were unfounded and made at random after the event. After examining all the circumstances which accompanied the seizure of the " Rosie Olsen" the Commission concluded that tiiis .seizure was regular. The boats of these schooners were in fact surprised in the act of sealing in territorial waters. The schooner in question is not at present at Petropavlovsk but in Canada. She was employed to re|)atriate the crews of the captured schooners. She was given a new name, that of " Prize," and is conmianded by one of the repatriated captains, ■>amed Kopp. Captain de Livron deposed that Mr. Kopp had informed bin: in a private letter of the arrival of the " Prize '' at her destination ; the letter added that the sailors threnlened to sue Mr. Kopp for payment of their wages during the passage. Captain Kopp having performed the duty with which he was charged by the Russian authorities of repatriating the crews in question, the Commission considers it just to hand over to him the property of the schooner " Prize," on condition that he deduct from her value, which may be esliniuted at 600 dollars, a sufficient sum to satisfy the above-mentioned claims in so far as they may be found valid. 3. The schooner "Carmolite" was captured on the 17th (29th) August, 1892, by the cruizer " Vitiaz," commanded by Captain Zarine, and flying the flag ol the Officer Com- manding the Pacific Squadron. It appears from the documents examined by the Commis- sicn that this schooner was sighted by the cruizer on the other side of the isthmus, which is at the southern point of Copper Island. 'I'he " Carmolite " was then about .'J miles frcin a seal rookery. She sighted the cruizer, and taking advantage of the fact that the latter, in order to reach her, was obliged to pass round a long reef situated at the soutii- piistern extremity of the island, she set sail and gained the open sea. But after an hour iiml a-lii.lf the cruizer came up wiln her at a distance of 8 miles from shore, in latitude M 2',)' north, and longitude I ()8^ 2' east, 'i'he ship's papers showed that the schooner had been since the 29th July in the waters of the Commander Islands. The captain declared that the 608 seals, the skins of which were (bund on board his vessel, had been taken near lieliriiig and ('opper Islands. This is in contradiction to his declarations annexed to the British Ambassador's note of the 9th (:21st) December, 181*2, according to which the cu|)ture of the seals had only takeki place at a distance of 60 miles from the islands. The declaration of the captain of the " Carmolite " as to the distance from shore where the seizure took place, which is given as 25 miles, as well as his statement thii.. he had not tiitcred Russian territorial waters, are alike refuted by precise information. In order to 14 show tlieir inaccuracy, it is sufficient to make a calculation based upon the cruizer's rale of R|)cc(l iiiul on tlie extent of horizon visible at the moment when the schooner wai sighted for tlie first time by (he " Vitiaz." The " Carmolite's " log-book had not been posted for two days. Two protocols of seizure were drown up, one in Russian, the otiier in English. In conse(|uence of this evidence tlie Commission recognized that the seizure of the '• C'armolite " was altogether in conformity with the principles of international law. 4. The schooner "Vancouver Belle" was captured by the cruizer " Zabiaka" on the 31st July, 1892, in M" IT north latitude and 168" 12' east" longitude, 17 miles from Copper Island. The Commander of the " Zabiaka " having been informed by coastguardsmen that this schooner was sealing on the coast, proceeded towards her. On the way, however, he found three boats belonging to the schooner " Sayward," sealing less than 3 miles from the coast. It took about two hours to seize and take in tow these boats, and the " Vancouver Belle " took advantage of this delay to make for the open sea. When this schooner was seized it was found that no entries had been made in her log-book during the preceding twenty-four hours, but the entries found showed that she bad on two occasions been engaged in sealing close to the shore in the straits between the islands, The necessary equipment for sealing on the coast was found on board the vessel. Of the 694 skins seized, 88 per cent, were those of (euiales with younir. It appeared from Captain Kopp's own statements (affidavits, p. 14) that it was 2 o'clock when he caught sight of the cruizer. As it was 4 o'clock when the " Zabiaka " came up svith thy schooner, the latter could not have proceeded further than 14 miles seawards. In view of all that has been stated above it was decided that the seizure of the "Vancouver Belle" was perfectly regular. [). The boat belonging to tlii' schooner "Marvin," and the three boats belonging to the - liooner " Sayward," mentioned in the British Ambassador's note of the 4th December, 1892, which inclosed the written protests of the masters of those vessels, were seized unc'er the following circumstances. The first-mentioned boat was seized by the inhabitants of Copper I. land at the rookery itself, as the crew were beginning to slaughter the seals. The three others were seized by the cruizer " Zabiaka." The inhabitants of the island had informed the cruizer that several foreign boats had landed at the rookery, and, after killing a certain number of seals, had put to sea again. The cruizer proceeded in the direction indicated, and, on the 21st July, at a point 9 miles from the south-eastern extremity of Copper Island, came upon three boats which took to flight with all sail set and rowing as fast as they could. Finding that their efforts "• "<3 useless, the crew stopped rowing and began to throw overboard the seals they had 'billed. But before they were able to complete this operation, the cruizer seized the three boats, on board of which eight seals were found. The fact that the animals' heads were battered in showed that they had been killed with clubs in the rookery, and not shot at sea. The crew of the boats belonging to the schooner " Sayward " were taken to Petropavlovsk on board the " Zabiaka," and the men belonging to the whale-boat sent from the " Marvin," who bud been seized by the people of the village of Glinka, were taken by them to the village, which is situated on the opposite shore of the island. They were takp'> 'hence to Petropavlovsk by the steamer " Kotik." Further, the; inhabitants of the village of Pr^obrajenskoe, which is also on Copper Island, handed over to the cruizer "Zabiaka" six sailors whom they had seized at the rookery. These men stated that they had come to bun*: in two boats belonging to the English schooner " Annie Moore." The schooner herscK was not seen. These facts show that theic is no fuundation for the hypothesis, contained in the British Ambassador's note, that "presumably the distance which divided the 'Sayward' from her boats was not great." As a matter of fact it was impossible to see the schooner from the spot where the boats were seized, even with a glass. The fact is that, according to the depositions of the masters of the " Marvin " and " Sayward," those schooners were 20 miles from Copper Island at the time when their boats were ])lundering the rookeries on the Russian shore. 0. The English schooner "Tuppcr"was seized by the cruizer "Zabiaka" on the 29th July (10th August), 47 miles from Behring island, on suspicion of being one of the vessels the boats of which bad been seized in Russian territorial waters. As, however, the suspicion was not confirmed by positive proofs, although 274 seal-skins were found on board the schooner, the ciuizcr "Zabiaka' eonlincd herself to warning the vessel not to engage in scaling in the Russian wattrs round the Ccnmiandcr Islands. This warning was entered in the log-book of the "Tupper," as appears from the deposition of lie master of that schooner inclosed in the Hiitish Ambassador's note of the 9th Decninber, 1892. As for the assertion of the master of the "Tupper" tiiat the Cotnmander of the 15 "Znhiaka " made use of threats towards him, and forhade him to hunt seals in the open spa, it is not supported by proofs. On the contrary, the seal-skins found on board the schooner were not seized, and the master's statement that the seizure resulted in loss to him is without foundation. 7. The sehooner "Hall" was found on the 5tli August, 1892, in 54" 33' north i;ititii(lc, and 166° 10' east longitude, engaged in sealing at sea, 17 miles from Behriiig Island. Although 325 skins were found on board, there was no direct proof that the fdiooncr had been sealing in Russian territorial waters. The C'ommanc'er of tho "Zaiiiaka" therefore confined himself to -varning the ship to continue i.^ abstain troin scaling on the Russian shore. 8. The schooner " Willie McGowan " was sighted by the cruizer " Zabiaka" on the fitli .hinc, 1892, 15 miles from Copper Island. The schooner was under easy sail, but as soon as she caught sight of the cruizer, she made for the o|)cn sea under full canvas. The cruizer came up with her in 54° 21' north latitude and 167° 43' east longitude, 21 miles from the coast. It was only after the cruizer had fired two shots that the schooner was brought to. A search brought to light equipment for sealing on the coast, and seventy-six skins, of which sixty-nine were those of females. No entries had been made in the log-book for twenty-four hours. On the whole, the log-book contains very meagre data in regard to the vessel's course. All the entries are vague, e.g., " Jogging around sealing-grounds," or simply " .Jogging." According to one entry the schooner was in fight of Copper Island on the 1st (13th) July, and the weather was hazy. On the .■iid(l,')tli) she sighted the " Zabiaka." The weather was again hazy, and there was a slight log. On that day the cruizer " Zabiaka " was close tj the shore, just ofl' the rookery, as appears from her log-book. Traces of dots and calculations made in pencil on the chart and |iartly rubbed out show that the schooner took her bearings by the compass when she was one and a-lialf hours' distance from the rookery. One is justified in concluding from all these data that the seals found on board the schooner had been killed in Russian territorial waters. Nevertheless, the Commission did not feel justified in declaring that the seizure of the schooner " Willie McGowan " was altogether regular. 9. The schooner "Ariel" was seized by the cruizer " Zabiaka" on the IGth July, at .SSOa.m., in 54° 31' north latitude and 167° 40' east longitude. At the time of the seizure she was making away from the coast under easy sail, and was 21 miles from Copper Island. On board of her were found equipment lor sealing on the coast and 139 skins, 90 per cent, of which were those of suckling females. No entries had been made in the log-book for two days. The book contains two different entries on the same date. The first states that the schooner was in sight of Copper Island ; this implies, in view of the log which prevailed on that day, that the vessel was then in our territorial waters. The traces of dots and of calculations made in pencil on the chart and half rubbed out show that the bearings of the ship were taken by the compass when she was (|uite close to the shore. Without denying the importance of these indications, which show that the schooner " .\ricl " had been in Russian territorial waters, the majority of the Commission do not consider that her seizure can be justified from a legal point of view on account of the absence of a condition which is essential and generally admitted, that is to say, the ''Ariel's " boats had not been seen sealing in our waters. ^1 ;;; I if E. •* <-' H a, s= « O s: S. S- }p a, c 3 n 21. O - o 2. 2 5- 3 2-