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Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la m^thode. irrata to pelure, n A m 32X 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 SEi: ItiM RUSSIA. No. 2 (1893). CORRESPONDENCE KESFJSCTIMO THE SEIZURES OP BRITISH SEALING VESSELS BY RUSSIAN CRUIZERS IN THE NOllTH PACIFIC OCEAN. ■Presented to both Houses of Parliament by Command cf Her Majesty. June 1893. 1c- is? LONDON: PlUNTEl) FOK IlEIl MAJESTY'S STATIONI'.UY OFFICK BY HAURiaON AND 80NS, ST. MARTIN'S LANK, r>INTmill IN OSDINAaT TO RIK HAillTT. And to bo purcliued. allhcr dirccllj or through »nj Dookirllor, from BVRI AMC SPOTTISWOOnE, Ea»t HAHniNc. Strkbt, Fi.mt Strhit, E.C., an* M, AllNODON SfRKT, WeSTMIMTCR, S.W, | OH JOHN MBNZIICH It Co., U, llANaviu Stiiiit, Edinideqii, and 00, Whit Nil> Stihf, Olaioow; oh HO00B8, FIOOIS, * Co., Umihi, lOi, UiArroK Btuit Duslin, TABLE OF CONTENTS. No. Name. Date. Subject. I'ag. I Admiralty ., ,. Sept. 1, I8'J2 Seizure of " Ariel," " W. Mcfiowan," and " Rosie Olseii." Telcoram from Admiral reporting 1 2 To Colonial Office 2, Snpgesis tt'lcprapliiiig tn Canada for information 1 3 Colonial Office , , 5, I'arliculors telegrapiied 1 ir fiom Canada . I 4 fi »• • • • • 13, Further telegram from ("anida. Suggests that inquiry should li.- made whether crews are in prison, and, if so, that their release should he asked for 2 i II II •• ■> N, Further telegrams. Suggests that Russian Govern- ment should he a^ked to send instructions to prevent further seizures . . . . . . .J To Mr. Howard . . (Telegraphic) !.'■', Tn request Uussian Ciovernmcnt to release crewt and offer compensation, and to prevent further seizures . . . . • . 4 7 Colonial Office .. IS, Telegram from Canada stating that further seizures have heen made, t.nd tirging Her Majesty's Go- vernment to lake immediate steps 5 8 M' Howard 16, M. Chichkine will ask for Report from ''le Russian (lelegraphic) officers concerned . . 5 9 To Sir R. Moricr . . 20, Conversation with Rus»i:in Chargi; d' Affaire", who lielleres vessels must have been fishing close lo shore 5 10 To Admiralty . . . . 20. Suggests that a ship should be sent to IVtropavlnvsk C 11 ToSir R. Moriir .. (Telegraphic) 21i Has he received any answer to his representations ) (i 13 Sir R. Morier (Telegraphic) 23, Convertation with M. Chichkine, who promised u strict inqnirv, and gave the assurance that the captured crews would suffer no ill-lieatmeul 6 13 Mr. Herbert 16, .Article from " New York Times " 7 14 To Sir R. Morier .. 2(i| "Ixandcr" will be sent to l'"tropnvlo\sk. To (Telegrapliic) inform Russian (iovernmeul S 15 Mr. Howard 17, Interview with Count Kapnist, who ,.tri('t inquiry, and gave an assurance that alleged ill- Ireatminl of rrews slinuld not be repeati-d .. 9 17 It 11 • • ■ • 27, lias informed M. Chidikine of proposed visit of " I.eander " to IVtiop;?vloV8k 13 18 11 .» y • • (Telrgraphic) Oct. 3, Crews of seised vessels sent to Nagasaki 13 19 II 1* •• .. Sept 27, Seizure of '' Cape Horn I'igeon." .\raerican Minister has made no representation .. 13 20 1. i» Oct. 1, N'isit of Her Mujeslv's ship *• Lcander" to IVtro- pavlov^k. Telegraphic orders sent for her reception 14 21 To S.f n. Moricr ., .. 5i Approves Mr. Howard's language to Count Kapnist (see No. Ifi) Jo 98 II 11 ■• «t Approves his language to M. Chichkine (see No. 16).. 15 S3 It II • • • • 10, Approves bin note to M. Chichkine as to visit of " Leander" lo I'elropavjovsk (see No. 17) 13 24 Admiiulty •• 10, Telejiraiu from ller .M»je»ly's ship " I.eander," reporting seizure of six llritish and one American selmoiu'r . .. .. . . .. l.") 29 Colonial Office .. rj, Despatch from Canada containing affidavits in cases of "Willie .MiGowan," ".Ariel," and " Hosie Olsen." Complaints of ill-treatment fully borne out. Claim for compensation should be pressed 16 28 Admiralty .. 17, Telegram from Her Majeslj's ship "I.eander." Two last crews arrivid at Nagasaki .. 47 87 To Sir R. Moricr .. IS, Protests and depositions from " Ariel," " W'illio McGowan," and "Rosie Olsm." Transmits Inclosurei in No. 25, for presentation to Russian (iovcrninent, with instructions ,, 4-^ 88 Sir l{. Morier .. i< ic, Note from M. Chichkine, slating that crews were kindly treated. Has asked fur inl'ormaliuu at tn loralities of seizures 48 2U Admiralty .. .. IS, Telegram from Her .Majesty's ship " I.eander." Remaining crew arrived at Yokohama and left t'ur Vancouver .. ,, ,. ,, SI [6011 TABLE OP CONTENTS. Ill No. Name. Date. SlBJECT. Plg» 3C 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 3S 39 40 41 4-2 44 45 4G 47 4« 49 50 61 r)2 S3 54 65 6U Colonial Office ., ., II II • • • • To Sir R. Moricr .. . . Ailniiralty .. Sir |{. Moricr ,. .. II It t • • » Colonial Office . . To Sir It. Mcrier .. Admiralty ,. . Colonial Office Sir U. Morier Tu Sir R. Murier .. .. Admiralty .. Sir U. .Morier I, .> •• •■ To Sir R. Morl.-r .. Sir It. Murier (Telegrophir) To Sir It. Moricr., II II « ■ • • To Admiralty .. .. Sir R. Morier .. Colonial Office Oct. 19, 1893 20, 22, 19. 21| 25, Nov I, 4. 22, 30, 20, Dec 12i To Sir U. Moricr . Sir K, Moricr , To Sir R. Moricr , Colonial Uffico . 17, 16, 21, 27, 28, 29, 2',l, ?(>, ,Ian. 4, 1803 C, 24, Tub. 8, Mar. 2, fl, 10, L)csp,itclK'9 from Cnnnila, inclosin||r correapondcDce will) British Columbia .Scalers' Association and Minister of C»n.idinn I'rivy Council ,, .. Seizure of boats of " W. 1'. SaywarJ." Transmits affidavit . .. .. .. .. Loralily of seijure?. Approves note to M. Chich- klnc inquiring as to (see No. 2H) .. .. Cruize of llcr .Mnjesty's ship " .Melpomene." Report from Captain I'arr. Cordial relations between Utitisli and American mval officers. News of seizures by Russian cruizers ,, .. Article from Offici.il Gazette respcctinff seizures, It denies allefrod ill-treatment, but admits seizures took place outsid:? 3-niile limit ., .. Distance of seizures from shore. M. Chichkine has forwarded to Sir l(. Morier t French translation of article in Official Gazette . .. .Seizure of boats of " W. I'. Sayward " and " E. B. Marvin." Transmits affidavits ,, •• " W. 1'. .Sayword." Transmits affidavit! (Inclosure in No. 31) Seizure of " Maria" and "Carmolile." Letter from Commander of Her .Majesty's ship " Leander," transmitting statements of captains .. .. Hoarding of " C. H. Tupper." Transmits despatch from Canada with particulars. Vessel was 59 miles from nearest Russian territory .. Note to M. Chichkine, dated 29lh November, pre- senting allidavitM, and staling case for considera- tion of Uiissian Government . •• " C H. Tupper." Transmits Colonial Office letter of 30th Noven-.br (seeNo. Sfi). To point out to Russian (iovernm''nt that vessel was boarded 59 miles from nearest Russian territory I'roceeilinds of Her Majesty's ship "Leander." Report liv Captain Casilc of facts ascertained at relropftvliivsk respecting seizures .. .. Cases of " \V. I'. Sayward" and " E. D. Morvin." Note to M. Chichkine inclosing affidavits Cases of ".Maria," " Carmolite," and " C. M. Tupper." Notes to M. Chichkine inclosing afliilavits Interview with Russian .Ambassador. Have expressed hii| e for an early reply to British representations Has urged that matte, may be pushed forward. It \i to I e referred to a Special Commission . . Approves notes presenting affidavits from " Maiia," " Carmolile," and " C. II. Tupper " (see No. 44) .. Approves note to Russian Government respecting "\V. I'. Savward" and " !i. 15. Marvin" (see \c. 43) . ■ Visit of Iler Majesty's ship "Leander" to Pelro- pavlovsk. Suggests approving Captain Castle's proceciiiugs .• .. .. .. Extract from " Official Messenger," giving details as to seizures, taken from a Vladivostock news- paper . . . . . . M. Chlehkiiie's reply to Sir B. Morier's notes of 291 h November ond iCtb and 21st December, lurormalion asked for, and answer will be sent as soon as it is received •• .. •■ Despatch from (iovernor-General of Canada, in- closing sworn slotenients .vid claims to compensa- tion on behalf of owners of vessels " Cnrmolitc," "Maria," " Uosie Olscn," " W. P. Hall," "Ariel," "Willie McGowan," and "Vancouver Belle" .. Transmits abovemer.tinned affidavits and tlate- ments, for presentation to Russian Government.. Note .i.ldresseil to Russian Government in com- piianie with insirnetions contained in No. 33 .. Approves terms of above-mentioned note . ., Seizure i.f " Vancouver Belle." Additional papers forwarded from Canada, including Russian docu- ment, which appears tu be copy of an order for conflication of vessel ,, .» •• 61 SS 57 57 60 63 62 69 69 72 75 78 79 84 85 66 86 86 87 87 87 88 S8 no 111 113 iia IV.. TABLE OF CONTENTS. Jo. «7 68 M N>me, Date. To Sir R. Moricr .. Sir R. Morier Mr. Howard .. Mar. 13, 1893 May 28, 3. Subject. Tran.inil. above. Inclosurcs to be communiralea to Kusiian GoTernmcnt in addition to those already tent Inc)o»ur.'8 in No. SG transmiltcd"to Kunian Govern- ment as instructed . . Conversation «iih M. Cl.ichkine, who Vlaled that Commission had completed Iheir examination, and that reply of Kussian Government would be icot very shortly Pag* 115 lia 116 D ; ; I n !5 ,. ft I Pag* I^BlcU those ., 115 vern- .. 115 tint , and ICDt •• 116 Correspondence respecting the Seizures of Britislj Sealing Vessels by Russian Cruizers in the Norlh Paciflc Ocean. No. I. Admiralty to Foreign Office, — {Received September l.) Sir, Admiralty, September 1, 1892. r AM comm.nnded by my Lords Commissioners of tiic Admiralty to transmit, for tiic information of the Secretary of State for Foreign AfPtiirs, copy of a telegram, dated the 1st instant, from the Commander-in-ciiief, I'acitic Station. I am, &c. (Signed) EVAN MACGRECJOH. Inclosurc in No. 1. Rear-Admiral Ilotluim to Admiralty. (Tclepraphic.) Victoria, B.C., September 1, 1892. liRlTISlI schooners "Ariel," "Willie McGowan," " Rosic Olsen," seized by Russian cruizers " Zabiaka " and " Kotik," 26th to 2bth July. Crews brought here by American barque from Petropavlovsk. An American schooner was also seized. i;ro. 2. Foreign Office to Colonial Office. Sir, Foreign Office, September 2, 1802. WITH reference to the telegram received by the Admiralty, and forwarded in my letter of yesterday, I am directed by the Karl of Rosebery to inquire whether any other information has reached the Colonial Office in regard to the reported seizure of five British soaling-vessels by Russian cruizers oft' the Copper Islands ; and 1 am to suggest, for Lord Ripon's consideration, whether it might not be desirable to request the Canadian Govern- inent to telegraph any news which they may have received. I am, &c. (Signed) T. H. SANDERSON. No. 3. Colonial Office to Foreign Office, — {Received September 6.) Sir, _ Downing Street, September 5, 1892. I AM directed by the Marquis of Ripon to acknowledge the receipt of your letters of the 1st* and 2nd instant relative to the seizure of Canadian sealing-schooners by Russian cruizers. I am to request that you will inform the Earl of Rosebery that Lord Ripon has telegraphed to the Governor-General of Canada for particulars respecting these seizures, on receipt of which it will be necessary to consider what steps should be taken by Her Majesty's Government, I am to point out that if the facts are correctly stated in the public press they have a bearing on Mie arbitration now pending with the Government of the United States. I am, &c. (Signed) EDWARD FAIRFIELD. [604] Inclosing No, I, No. 4. Colonial Oljicr In Fnrrl(jii ()//!ci'. — (Rrcrlvcd •'^I'plriiihi'r 14.) Sir, IhiuiiiiKj Slrrrl, Scplemher 1.1, ]802. M ITII roffrciicc to tlic Idler from X\\\^ DP|>artiiii'iit ot' tlie fitli iiKtiiiit, f am dircfti':! Iiy tlic .Mai(|iii^ of llipon to tnuisnit lo you, to lie laid hclbrc tin' IC.iil of nosclicrv, u cojiy of a tc'lcj^raiii from the Ciovornor-fJciicral of Canada rcspcftini; tlio Hritisli Coliiiiii)iaii sealing-vcsscl-i sci/cil by the Kussiaii>. Lord Kipon disircs inc to sug^ast, for Lord Rosohery's coii-iideratioii, that iiuiiiiry should be madi' of tlic {Russian (low I'liuient as to wiictlu'r tli'; (mcus of tiic scalers are detained in prison, and, if so, tlial (heir iinnicdiato release >liould be askeil for. I am, &c. (Signed) JOHN liHAMSTON. Inclosuru in No. •!. Lord Slankji of Pre.' ln'iwc'-ii u^ on the sulijct't nf a Notit'i' tmtiliBlioil tiv our ('omul Jit ^'oknlnlIla ivliitivf lo tUhiiiLr. to tiinit'ii;;. ami to triilf in tlu' Kussian watrrs ut' tlm I'ocilic, anil in ri'ply lo tin' noti' wliicli you aililiunscil to uii-, iliitci! lilli (i tli) Murcli. I am now in a posiiimi In give j'ou till' I'ullnwiinr iiit'unualioii : — A Notice of tlie teiioiir of that annexeil to \onr note of tlie I.'itli Mar. li wa», in fart, piiljlislieil iiv our f'onsul at Yokoliaiua, and onr Consul-tii'iieral at .Sin I'l-aiiciM-u U also au'lim-iZi''! lo imMi^li it, 'rhi« measure referii only to pioliiliile'l in'liistiie< ati.l t') the liaile in conlralianil ; the rentrietiuns nlileii it cstahlislies exteiul siriiily to the It'irilorial wateri* of Uin'.ia only. It vv.m re(|uir''ii hy the nuuieroii^ nhniie« proveil in lal" year:', ami which fill wiili all their wei;lii on the |'0|inliili(iii of our seaihoie ,iiul of mir i-UmU, wlioiie only means of siippoft is l.y iKiiinur uml iinniin?. 'I'liese alinSi's iuflielel uImi a niarkeil injury mi the interesl8 of the Coni|iaiiy to nliieli liie 1 njierial (i'lvern iii hail eoiiie.le.l the monopoly nf lishint', liiintlii"' {" exporlatioii"), in i'limU ealhil the " Coiiimo'lore " nnil llic ".Sealf." Ileyou'l this new ll"jnlation. of wlneli tjic us.etiii.il poait is ihc oliliuation iniposeil upon eaptnina fif vessels who ilesire to fi-h anil to liiiut in the Itnssian .MUer- of ilie I'.ieilie to pr .Mile tliinisel.es »l Vlailivn.toik «ilh llio permission or licenee of the (lovi'nior-G''nerol of Oriental Siiieria, the r..;lit of lishin^r, hinitinK, niul oi' iraile liv foreigners in our territorial water's is leKulateil by .Xrlitle SCO, anil those fnllowin;;, of vol. xii, I'art ?. of llie C'oile of Laws. Informini,' you of the prece'lin.'-, I have, Stc. 'Sigticilj (illJis. Iiirllicr information coiitirius IIk; statement that tlioe spi/m-cs were made outside the ttiritoniil waters of Russia, Her Majesty's (Joveriiinent iiavc no douht lliat tlu- Ooverii- niinl of Russia will at onee release the vessels, and coniiiciisnte tlie owners and crews for the loss and injin'v sustained. I am also to suggest, for Lord Rosei)ery's consideration, tliat the Russian (Jovern- nient should be asked to telei!;rai)h such instructions as will prevent their olllcers inalxing further similar seizures. I am, &c. (Signed) JOHN HRAMSTON. Inclosure 1 in No. .'j. Lord Stanlei/ of Preston to the .' ''(/v/h/.s of Rijion. (Tclee;ra|ihic.) Seplemlier 5, lSf)2. MINISTER of Marine. Ottawa, has ree( ived telegrams from Collector of Cu-toms, Victoria, to efTeet that Hus4aii enii/iis seized sehooners " Ariel," " Willie MeCJowan," and '■ Rosie Olsen " about -40 miles (loni ('ii|)])(r Islaml, Ku-siaii side; aUo one Ameiican; ail laKen (li>tressed. Crews, ei-ihly-four men, ari'ved N'ietoria tlie .31>t Auu:ust hv sailing- vessel from IVlropavlovsU. lirilish ('(ilmuhia Sealers' .Association fear more seizures by l{us>ians ; express anxiety tor dislrersiii crews; lew vei-sels lieiiiientin.u Russian ports; fear loiif; detention and liarsii tiialment unless relieved. 1 have telegrajjlied tor statutory (leclanitiou oi' allidavits in sii[)p()i( of a'lovc. Inclosure 2 in No. 5. Lord Slanlttj of I'rtntaii la Ihf Moriiuin of liipon. (■l'(!e[;ra|ihie.) Srplrinl,i-r fJ, 1S92. lilCl'MHUlN'tJ to my telegram of the r>tli September, Minister of Marine informs me that he expects aflidavits daily. Inclosure 3 in No. .5. Lord Stanley of Preston to the Marquis of Itipoii. (Tele-rnphic.) {Received September 9, 1892.) QUEBh'C : Following telcf^rarn received from Minister of Marine : — " Have just received from Collector, Victoria, following telegraphic synopsis affidavits, Russia seizmes, Behring Sea : "'"Willie McGowan," of Shelburne, Nova Seotia, Daby, master, twenty-three crew, seized by Russian cruizcr " Zabiaka," the 18tli .Inly last, latitude .'52° 50* north, longitude 1(J7 oO' east, south from Copprcr Island, vessel and outfit, and >eventy-six skins, taken to I'etropavlovsk by i)rize crew, there contiseated. Seliooner " Rosiu Olsen," of Victoria, Keef, master, crew, six whites, sixteen Indians, seized by Uussian Fur Coini)any's steamer "Kotik," eon\n»inded by {Jovernor of Reining Island, on the L'fith .Inly, latitude ,54° 21 north, longitude 105" 40' west of ]?ebring Island, .'i77 skins landed at Rehriiig island, vessel and outfit taken to I'ctropaulovski, there confiscated. Schooner "Ariel," of Victoria, McLcod, master, twenty-four crew, seized by Russian cruizcr " Zabiaka," on the2Sih .luly last, latitude 54 10' north, longitude Hi?" 40' east, south of Copper Island, 207 skins, vessel and outfit taken to I'etropavlovsk, there contiseated. Distressed crews of schooners returned to this port by barque " Majestic," from i'etropavlovsk.' "Alhdavits will follow ; am preparing official Report to your ivxcellcncy ; meantime, send present information.' Inclosure 4 in No. f). Lord Slanlvi/ of I'rcston to the ^far(lllls of liipon. {Received September 10. 1892.) ('rdegrapliic.) i'OLLOWlNt! telegram received from Prime Minister tlii letter which bad been delayed for a week in transmission : — [504] Soc note on Inclosure 0. mornim:', inclosed in B 2 " American bnrque ' Majestic ' arrived licre yesterday from Petropavlovsk, bringing 8ixty>nine whites and Indians, crews of three Victoria scalers seized in open sea 30 miles from land off Copper Island ; two schooners seized by Russian cruizer, the other by Conmiercial Contpany's steamer ' Kotik.' Schooners towed to Fetropavlovsk ; crews state that they were landed and left on beacii without shelter, being allowed 7 cents per day for food, and half-clothed, crews' clothing having been looted by Russian cruizer. Russian Captain informed them that he would sci/e all schooners, whether sealing within 1 or 1,000 miles from Copper Island, and started out again with intention of so doing; affidavits written in Russian, but verbally tianslutcd into Knglish, stating that they were scaling in Russian waters, were signed by sealing captains under protest, when threatened with banishment to Siberian nuncs. Board strongly protest against seizures, and request that immediate steps be taken for relief of crews of other schooners now scaling in Asiatic waters, and liable to similar treatment ; winter approaching, and men, if not rescued, will probably perish. (Signed) " TuoMAS B. Hall, President, " British Columbia Board of Trade." Affidavits for which I asked have not yet arrived . Inclosure 5 in No. 5. Lord Stanley ,ij Frcdo'i to the Marquis of Ripon. (Telegraphic.) {Received September 12, 1892.) FOLLOWING telegram received from Minister of Marine to-day:— " Collector of Customs, Victoria, telegraplu- me affidavits re seizure of three schooners by Russians forwarded yesterday. Since arrived schooner ' Annie C. Moore,' reporting seizure of the iiopt 'Marvin,' one ' Say ward,' three sealing boats seized; crews taken prisoners by Russians." Inclosure 6 in No. 5. Memorandum. "WILLIE McQOWAN."— Latitude 52° 50'« north, longitude 167° 60' ea8t = 103 miles from nearest Russian territory, viz., .Mcdni, or Copper Island. "Rosie Olsen." — Latitude 54" 24' north, longitude 166° 40' east =33 miles from nean!8t Russian territory, viz., Behring Island. "Ariel."— Latitude 54° 10' north, longitude 167° 40' east = 25 miles from nearest Russian territory, viz., Medni, or Copper Island. (Signed) T. W. TIZARD, Assistant Hydrographer, Admiralty, September 13, 1892. No. 6. The Earl of Rosebery to Mr. Howard. (Telegraphic.) Foreign Office, September 16, 1892. FROM intelligence received from Victoria, British Columbia, it appears that the " Willie McGowan," " Rosie Olsen," and " Ariel," British schooners, have been seized at distances of 103, 33, and 25 miles respectively from nearest Russian coast by Russian vessels " Zabiaka " and " Kotik." The captured vessels were towed lo IVtropavlovsk, and the crews, who have reached Victoria bj sailing-vessel in a distressed condition, assert that they were put on shore and left on the beach with insudicient (bod and clothing, and without shelter, and that the captains, under threats of deportation to mines ot Siberia, were induced to sign, under protest, affidavits stating that they were scaling in Russian waters. Further captures of sealing-vcsscls are now announced, and apprehensions are entertained that the crews arc imprisoned, or exposed to hardships, on the coast of Siberia. You should at once call the attention of the Russian Government to these reports. If the circumstances are as stated, Her Majesty's Government do not doubt that they will at once set the vessels and crews at liberty, and that compensation will be oflforcd. * Corrected in tffidavit (in Volouial Office of October 13, Mo. 36 in (bi> collection) to 53° SO . Her Majesty's Government trust that, in any case, ioi>truction4 to prevent any similar acts will be sent by telci^riipli. If it seems unlikoly that vessels will be iinincdiatt-ly relea'tcd, a«:ertain, as few vessels fR(liicnt the Russian |ioils, what ste|)s eaii i)e taken x<) iattirc the humane treatment of (lie erews and their ex|ie(litlous cotiveyanee to V'ietoria. In a note which M. de (Jiers addressed to the United fjtatet' Minister in 1882, and which is published iiy the United States' (iovernim-nt, he •-xjiressly stated that tiio notice of prohibition of fisliini; and hunliii',' in (JMiot-k and lielirin:; .Sc%« applud strictly to the "territorial waters of Kus>ia only."' In M. do (;iers' note of the 14th June last year rc<>p(x-tio§ the modim ciccmli in the licliriiig Seu, the same principle was admitted by him.* No. 7. Colonial Office to Foreiijn Office. — {Receired Heptnnoer 16.) Sir, Dotcniny Htn,!, fiephmher 16, 1892. WITH reference to the letter from this Department of the i4ih instant respecting the seizure of British sealing-vessels by the Russians in Behrinf; Sea, 1 am directed by the Mnnjuis of Ripon to transmit to you, to he laid licfore the '^atl of Rosehery, a paruphrasc of a further telegram from the Governor-General of Cans ' ■ liripng lier Majesty's Govern- ment to take i-nmediate stejis to relieve those British subjects vlio Ki.e been illegally taken 'V vi; their ships, and such other necessary measures as they rnu/ think advisable, I am, &c (Signed) EDWARD FAIRFIELD. Inclosure in No. 7. Lord Stanley of Preston to the Mar'juis of Ripon. (Telegraphic.) September 15, 1892. WITH reference to my telegram of the 10th instant, respecting the seizure of sealing- vessels by Russian cruizers, you will see that further arrests of British subjects and seizures of British property have occurred. These proteciings may Ln expected to be repeated, as there probably are a large number of the British staling fleet in that portion of the Pacific where these acts of molestation have l>ecn committed. My Government earnestly request that Her Majesty's Government will take immediate steps to relievo those British subjects who have been illegally taken from their ahips, and that they will adopt such other necessary measures as they may think advisable. No. 8. Mr. Howard to the Earl of Rosehery. — {Recelred Heptemher 16.) (Tcleftraphu .) >7. PetTuburfjh, .•^''ptemher 10, 1892. AS I was unable to see M. Chiehkine, I conimunit^ted to ('omit Kajinist the substance of your Lordship's telegram of yesterday's date rcs|>ecting the seizure of Canadian sealers by a Russian man-of-war. His Kxcellency replied that the Russian (jovernment had received no report of any kind on the subject, but promised tiiat the proper authorities should be communicated with by telegraph to furnish full details. It was impossible, he said, to know what had taken place or what would (jccur until the details of the in)ea by Russian • bee " United Stati'u No. » (lb92>," So. 97, p. 48. ci'uizerf. .iltliout,'li lie believed tlicre was telegraphic cutiunuuieation between J^t. Pitcrs- burgli niid IVfidp.iulovski. lie had, houcvei', ronsiiltcd the Naval Attaelie to the Einlius>y, who stated lliat, it beinc; the bieediiiic season, the liouU must have taken the seals close to the shore ; that great deprethitions had been niadi; on the ycnuig seals dniing the last season ; and that he surmised the captured had oceuiied in consequence of thia reckless coast tishing. I am, &c. (Signed) ROSEBERY. No. 10. Foreign Office to Admiralhj. Sir, Foreign Office, Septemher 20, 1 892. I AM directed bv flic Karl of Rosebcry to transmit, for the information of the Fiords Commissioners of the Admiralty, oo|)ies ol' lelenranis which have been received fioin the Governor-Cieneral of Canada I'cspettinu' the seizm'c of Rritish sealing-schooners by Russian vessels in Hrbrinit Sea.* It will he seen that these seizures are alleged to have been eft'ceted outside the .'i-inile territorial limit, and that the erews of the vessels are said to have been subjcrted to severe treatment. Apprehensions arc expressed us to what may befall those of other vessels which are reported to have been snbsripicniiy captured. 1 also transmit paraphasi-s of Irleuraphic correspondence with Iler Majesty's Chargd d'Aflaires at St. Pclersburirh.t from which it apjiears that the Russian (jovernmcnt have no inlbrmalion on the snhjt'ct, but have jironiised to make incpiiry l)y telej^iaph. I am to recjuest that you \\ill stall' to the l^ords Commissioners that Lord Roseberv thinks it would he of advantage if one of Her Majesty's ships, witii a Russian interpreter on board (if one can be obtained), euuld visit I'etropavlovsk in order to make intpiiry into the lacls with rerard to the seizures, to ascertain the condition of any Hritish seamen who may still be detained there, and to provide, if neecssai'v, for their relief and conveyance to a British port. I am, &c. (Signed) T. II. SANDERSON. No. 11. Tlic Earl of Rosrhery In Sir R. ^forirr. ('J'elegrapiiic.) Forrign Ojlirv, Sejilciiih'r 21, 1S',)2. M\ telej.'rani of |:'ith Septemiier : Hritish sealers seized by Russians. Have vou reeiived anv answer to vour representations H No. 12. Sir R. Moricr to the Earl of Roschfri/. — {Received Scplendicr 2'^.) ('relegraphic.) St. Pdcrshurgh, Svptcinlirr 2.'!, 1S!)2. 'rili'j nrrivnl nt Vladivostock of the Canadian ships which had been ea|)tured by the Ku-->ianr, for seal-lumtin;? is annonneed in to-day'.s newspapers,. I have therelbre re(|ucsted M. Cliichkiiii', in a private note, to fmni^h mo as soon as possible with answiis to the uiipnries wliieh Mr. ilowai'd made of' Count I^apnist on I'Viday last, and have also a-^ked him to let ini' know whether the local autiiorilies havt' been instructed to abstain from such treatment as has been complained of hytlu^ crews ol the sealers in the event ol anv lurther captures beinu: made. On the reeei|it of this note M. Chiehkine iinuiediuteiy culled on me, ,iiid the result of our conversation was as follows ; — \\c agreed not to discuss the intcriiationn! (jueBtion until an exact account of what * Iiiclosurca in Nob. -I, 5, and 7. f Nu9. ij iiiid tl, lind tiiken place had been laid licfore us, Willi respect to tlic ili-trpatmont which, accordinji to tiioir statfinents, tlic crows of tho captured vessels liad sutlcred, and to the issue (jf inslruetions for ])rcventin,;; the [■eeurrcnee of sueh treatment in tlie event of further seizures, liis I'Aceilency renii\rlved tiiat tlie Minister ol' Marine liad indignantly re|iudiated tiie idea that oliieers of tlie Kussian navy could have acted in tlie inannei- descrilied by the crews, that he would instiuite a seareliinii iiKjuiry to arrive at the trutli as rei,'ards the conduct of the oliieers, hut that it would lie an insult to the local authorities to send tlicni instructions to abstain from such olfenees. Upon this 1 observed that what my (!o\ernm( nt desired was to feel assured that the subordinate local oliieers would in no case commit such acts licit after i.s thuse which they were accused by the crews. Could his lOxcellency give me an assurance in the name ot the Imperial Govern- nunt that, in case other vessels were seized, such acts would not take place. M. Chich- litation. During my conversation the language used by M. ('liichkine was of the most conciliatory nature, and there can be no doubt tiiat he wished the question settled in a friendly spirit. No. 1.3. Mr. Herhcil to llir Earl nf R(i>:chi'n/.— []?fC(iir(I Srptemher 20.) My herd, Xririwrl, Khodf fshind, Soptenihor l(i, 1802. I II.WB the honour to inclose an nriiele from the " New York 'limes " (Democratic) in regard to the recent seizures near Copper Island by the Hu-sian crnizer " Zabiaka." The Government ncwspajiers have been altogether silent upon this ([uestion, and She lew Democrntie papers which have mentioned the subject appear to be at a loss to know what line to take in regard to it. I liave, &e. (Signed) MICHAEL H. HERBERT. Inclosure in No, 1.1. K.rlrnrI from the "New York Times." Tun " Zaihaka's" Si:i/,uiu:s. — The all-important feature in the recent captures of Ihe X'ieloria sealing-ves-cls " Ho>ie OUcm," " Arifl," anil "Willie .McGowan," and the .'^au Viaiicisd) schooner "C. (1. White,'' is the ))laec .it which those captures were made. The Russian cruizi'r " Zabiaka " is said to have seized them al a distance of 10 or ,50 miles lioMi the Commander islands; and allowing for any e.\Hua;eration by tho angry masters and crews who have rcturnnl to \'ictoria from l^'lr()pavl(lv^k, whither their vessels were taken for confiscation, it can hardly he tioned that the captures occurred far beyond the distanee <»f a marine league lium Russian Icrritorv. 'I'he (Jovernor of ISehring Island took p;n't with the T'or Compaiiv's steamci' "Kodiak''in the " Zahiaka's" cruize, while the Ca|ilain ol the latter vessel is --aid to have asserted the jinisdiction of Russia up to the waur ho\uulary ot the Treaty oi Isfi" made with the rnife'■'<(» had heen warned hy the " Ru>-h," hut hail siiccessfnlly conci iiled the ^kiiis she had on hoard at the time. On another oecasion she was chased and hoanled hv the Russian steamer " .Mexander," while hovering near Coiipcr Islaml, hut a^aiu escaped •-. iziirc. Last vcar, in company with the "."^an l)ie'j,n " and the "(ieneva," she again heuan o|ieratioiis anumd Copin'r l-laiid, Accerdiiig to the account hroni;h' by the "S, in Die^o," a great nuinher ol hoals landed ither vessels, and on two successive days raided tlu' lookeiies on mndreds of seals. On the ■-eeond day the Russian miards fired liM'i these nnil o the island, killin on them while thus engaged, and Hlterwards, when they hail escaped to their schooners, Ihe Huv>ian eruizer •Aleut " chased lliein and enptureil Ihe " Lewis.'' which vvas sent to Vladivostock for conrisciition. The American scliooner had been seized beyond the marine league, yet in view of the facts just referred to lliis did not seem a clear assump- tion of jurisdiction beyond that distance, but rather the pursuit and capture of a lawless vessel guilty of an extremely grave offence. In the j)rcscnt instance, however, if it is correctly reported, the captures were made so far from Uehrinp; and Copper Islands, which constitute the Commander group, as to raise a difl'crent cpiestion. There is still a possibility that the ca|)tin'C(l craft had been actually raiding the Russian islands and had been immediately pursued and captured at a distance not so great therefrom as they assert. In former years Russia's practical claim to jurisdiction, as defended by seizures, has been extended to f), or even, according to one report, J) miles from her coast-line, The " C. FI. Wiiitc " is, we presume, the American schooner of that name whose boats were fired ujjon during a |)rcvious season while attempting to land at Copper Island. As they then entered what arc untiuestionably Russian waters, it is easy to su|)pose that they may have attempted the same thing this year. The captured crews of this and the other schooners would probably admit nothin.; that might divert public sympathy from them, whatever offences they may have been guilty of. The facts in the case will probably only come out when the formal liritish protest and claim for damages are sent to Kussin, and the latter country replies. Kor the present, however, the statements seem to show an intent on the part of Russia to assert jurisdiction over all the waters west of tlie Treaty boundary of 18fi7, which runs midway between the Island of Attou and Copper Island. Whether this is a claim to absolute sovereignty over the waters, on the " closed sea " tiieory, or only to that modified jurisdiction for the purpose of protecting seal life which Mr. Blaine has tried to establish in the eastern halt of liehring Sea, caimot yet he doternjined. Hut the "Zahiaka" incident appears to mark a new stage in the controversy. For, whereas hitherto this controversy has actively concerned only Great Britain and the United States, Russia, suggestively refraining from any seizures which could be objected to by the former, row seems to be entering the lists on the side of the United State':. It is perhaps fortunate for the peace of the region that the news of the seizures rer.ched Victoria only near the end of the sealing season. Of course, the Washington authorities would have nothing to say against Russia's doing precisely what they have loi:(< been doing and still claim the right to do. But the British Government n)ight feel bound, in the absence of an agreement with Russia, to send a cruizer to the western portion of Bl bring Sea to prevent other seizures, were it not that the present season is substantially ovjr, or would be over before Behring Sea could be reached. Between now and the opening of the next season there will be a chance for official correspondence, and perhaps the outcome may be a modus with Russia similar to that which was effected with our country, pending the submission of the whole subject to arbitration. No. 14, The Earl of Rosebery to Sir R. Morier. (Telegraphic.) Foreign Office, Septemhcr ?d, 1802. INFORM Russian Government that in consequence of sireat anxiety felt by families of Mritish Columbian sailors who are embarked on scalinfi-schnoners, we are orck'iiiiij; Her Majesty's ship " Leander " to proceed from Hakodate to I'ctropavlovsk, in order to maki- nrrangeinents for the return of any seamen of captured sealers who may be awaiting shipnient. This is the more necessary as we understand that the port is but little frequented. Ask that the Commander may receive all necessary facilities from the Russian nutliorilics. No. 15. ^fr. Howard to the Earl of Rosebery. — {Received September 30.) My Lord, ^ St. Petcrsburgli, September 17, 1^1)2. M. C^IIICIIKINl'; was en;;aged yesterday afternoon, so Count Ivapnist received me, and I handed to him a |)araphra8e of your Lordship's telegram respecting the sri/ure of d Islands, Britisli sealers by Russian cruizers.* His Excellency said that, although he had seen the case mentioned in the press, no reports of any kind had been received on the subject from the Imperial authorities concerned. He was sure that the facts, whatever tlicy inic;ht be, must be exaggerated, especially as lejinrds the threat respcc ting the Siberian mines; he would, however, telegraph to the jjrop^r authorities for full details, and let me know the result. I said that surely scalers could not be seized at the distance named from the coast, as M. de (jiers liad informed the United States' Minister in May and .June 1882 that the prohibition to hunt and fish only applied to the territorial waters of Russia, and that his Kxcellency had virtually repeated the same statements in his conimunieation to Sir Robert Morier of the 14tl) June last year. Count Kapnist repli-jd that he was no lawyer, and could not therefore offer a legal oi)inion on the subject, although he thought that I was probably correct in this |)articular ; and that, although there was but little use to discuss matters the details of which were wanting, he would j)oint out to me that the telegram (inly mentioned that the seizures took place at certain distances from the coast, and it was (|uite possible that the sealers in question had been sighted poaching within territorial waters, and after being chased had eventually been seized at the distances named, although he doubted the statement as to the 103 miles. He then spoke at some length on the subject of the poaching pro]iensities of the sealers, and cited the case of two vessels cauirh' in the act of poaching last year, of which one had, after capture and while being towed Iv' the lUissian eruizer, escaped during a storm to Yokohama, where the case had been made the subject of a judicial intjuiry by the Uritish Assistant Judge; and he added that the papers in this case had been sent to j\I. de Staal. I said that, if the sealers had been guilty of poaching, it did not seem to nic to be usual to imprison them, and I trusteil that they would be released, properly cared for, and conveyed speedily to Victoria, as there were hut tew vessels trading with the Russian ports ill that region. Count Kajinist answered that it was impossible to know what the sealers had done, and that he could not say how lluy could he sent home. I replied that thev coulil certainly not be turned out on tlie shore, as it was alleged hud i)ecn done in the ease of the crews of the sealers who had arrived at \ ittoria, and he told to swim to Uritish Columbia or get there as best they could; surely they might be conveyed by one of the Russian cruizers. His Excellency, after stating that he doubted the cruizers being available for such a purpose, remarked that I seemed to consider the case in a very serious light ; and on my replying that 1 certainly thought it a serious one, and that he could see I)y the teligram I had handed him that your Lordship was evidently of the same opinion, he said that it ,vas ini))ossiblc for him to inform me of what could or would he done until the Re|)orts of the Russian authorities had been received; and that all he could now state officially was that a complaint having been preferred, the Imperial (jovernment would inquire into the same, and would communicate the result of such inquiry to me at the earliest possible date. I have, &c. (Signed) HKNRY HOWARD. No. iO. S!r R, Morier tn the Earl of linsrlicnj, — {Rcreired September 30.) My I^)rd, St. Pi-tershunjli, Hvplemltn- 2:?, 1R92. ON receipt of your Lordf.hi|rs telegram of the 21st instant, incpiiring whether any answer had yet been received to the re|)resintations made by Mr. Howard in rei'erenee lo the seizure of British sealers and the tr(atm"nt of their crews at l'etropavlov^k, 1 thought it right to ascei'tain beyond a doubt how lai' telegra])liie eotnnuniication extended, and whether it was physically |)ossil)le for an answer lo have h( en received. As i had expected, the telegraphic wire does not extend to I'elropavlovsk, but only to Saghalien, and it was dear that it would take many d;-ys before a re|ily could be obtained from the former place. 'J'his morning, however, the Russian newnpaiicrs amunniced the arrival of the lour siiips — -three Rritish and one American— at \ liidivostock lioni I'elropavlovsk. I accord- ingly addressed to M. Chiehkine, wliom I had not yet seen, the private letter of "liiih 1 have the honour to transmit a copy herewith. His j'lxcelleney called upon me immediately on the receipt of this letter. He said ho hud just received my note, and was glad of the opportunity of at once having .i talk I No. 0. 10 with rac on this incident. He said that, supposing tlie senlers iiiul l>cen captui'cd in the open sea, would not tiie Russian cruizers iiave l>een justified if they imd cauglit tlicni in flagrante delicto in territorial waters, and pursued tiiiMu thence into tlie open sea until tliey overtook and captured them? ll you detected a burglar in your house, said Wis Excellency, and he rushed out by the window, coidd not you (oUow hiui into ilie street and lay hands on him there? 1 said this bclonj^'eil to the side of the (|uestion which had to deal exclusively with the rules of international law whicii •governed the subject, and that I thought it would be perfectly useless to enter upon this side of the que&tion until we had all the facts of the several cases in an ollicial and authentic form before us. The point of innnediate importance was the alleged treatment of the crews of the ships by the otHcers in coinniand of the capturinu; vessels. L was perfectly ready to admit the possibility of exajrseration. It was in the nature of thin>;s there should be such, and from previous cases of sealing; troubles in those waters, 1 was aware what very hard swearing there could be on bolii sides. In the jjrcsent case, however, the number of witnesses was so great — eighty-four in number — and composed not of British subjects only, but of Americans also, that I could not resist the conviction that they must have been treated with excejjtioual hardship, and what appeared inhumniiity. M. Chicbkine then said, "M. I'Anibassadeur, you wiio have been amoiii^st us for so many years, can you honestly accuse the Russian people of iidu)S|iitality and cruelty?" I said most assuredly not, I regarded the Russians as the most lender-luarted and hospitable race in existence. I had had exceptional oi)portunities of judgiiiu; of tliese admirable (jualitics, and the dark record of my countrynien's sud'erings at Petrupavlovsk was lighted up by an episode which bore ai\ elo(|uent testimony to these very qualities. Some of them would have starved but for the kind-heaitedness of sonn^ poor mnjiks, who shared with them their black bread and sidt tish. 'I'liis was the universal churaeter of the Russian nuijik, but it was not necessarily that of Russian otiicials trusted with unlimited power in out-of-the-way places beyond reach of supervision. Whatever may have been the amo n'; of hardship which the sliips' crews may have sull'ered, the point of immediate intirest was to make sure t!iuc the crews of the ships which had been announced as having been captured and ahont to he broi'.t;lit into Russian ports should not be subjeeteci to similar tieatment. I had e()nse(|Uently received urgent telegraphic instructions from your l^ordship to learn whether the wisli expressed by Mr. l4oward to Count Kapnist, that instructions should be sent to the local antlurities which would absolutely preclude the repetition of such treatment (assumini; the account given by the crews to be true), had btien comidied with. Ills Kxcelleney said he had not yet got an answer from the Minister of Marine, but that he know that Admiral Tchikhatchofl' had declared himself profoundly hurt (" lesii ") at the idea of sending instructions to ofticcrs of the lm|ierial navy to abstain tiom acts <.if harharism and inhumanity, lie declared tln-m incapable of such eouduel, and to assmne that they were ca|)able would be to insult them. I observed to this that I (piite unileistood his Excellency's feelings, whicli did hin> honour, but tiiat tiiese feelings could hardly be expected to satisfy Her Majesty's Govei'ument, who complained on what seemed satis- factory evidence of particular acts of inhumanity connnitli'd by certain commissioned otliccrs of the Imperial navy. JM. Chieiddne said that .Vdmiral 'rchikhatchoff would institute a searciiing and severe incpiiiy into the eiinduet of tiie C'onimunders of the " Zabiaka" and " Kotik," but that this was a very different thing from assuming their guilt, and basing a general instruction upon it. I said I was (piite ready to admit this, and that as long as Her Majesty's tjovernment obtained the certi.inty that Hritish subjects would run no risk of being again similarly treated, it woidd be iudilferent to tiiem how this certitude was obtained. I said, " Would your I'^xcellency, for instance, sjieaking in the name of the Russian fiovernmeut, give me the positive assurance that, always supposing that harsh and inhuman treatment had been exerc'sed, there would be no repetition of it .'" M. Chicbkine unhesitatingly gavi; me this assuiance. To prevent the possibility nl any misunderstanding, I said 1 wouM send him the exact terms of the telegram 1 shoidd send to your L-irdship on the subject, and I have llie honour to inclose herewith cojiy of the private letter which I have addressed to ids Excellency this evening. 1 should add that on my askiu^; '"iw soon it would he likely that the ini|niry would commence in regard to the proceedings of the cruizers, M. Chicbkine answered that this was extremely uncertain, as the " Zabiaka " and " Kotik " had, imnuidiately alter bringing llie caiitured sealers to \'ladivostock, put to sea again. llis Excellency in the course of conveisation siigne^-led that he thought it would he a useful and friendly act on behalf o( the Ihitisii (ioverninent to publish a severe warning to S M. fi British scalers iisiiinst tisliing in Russian tciritoiial waters. I said I iiatl every rcMson to i)flievo tiint tiiis was done in u most conscientious and thorough manner, no sealer heing allowed to leave a British port without bcint; waiiicd to strictly abstain from takini; seals within the distance of '.^ miles from any Itussian island or coast. I have, &c. (Signed) R. 15. U. MORIER. Inclosure 1 in No. Hi. .Sir R, Morifr to M. Chichltiiu: M. le Conseillcr I'rive, 1 -I APPRKN.WT (pic les vaisseaux Anglais captures sc ciiasse des otaries dans des eaux reganlees |)ar la Ri Sf'inl-Pe'teisboiinj, li: II (23) Septemlirc, 1892. : |iretexte de s'Otre livre's a comme territoriules, sout ives dc Pelropavlovsk a Vladivostocii, j'ai riioinieur de vous informer que i'»i recu (i le Mion (jouvernenicnt un tele^raninie urgent me niandant de m'enquerir quand le Gouverne- iiu nt Inipeiial sera a niciuc do donner les explications deinandccs par le Comto de Rosebcry duns le telejjraniine dont Mr. Howard a laisse copie avec le Comte Kapnist \'endrcdi, le 4 (Id) dernier. Vladivostock etant en comnuinication telejiraphi'fje avec Saint-Petershouru:, il nie paraitrait qu'il n'y auruit pas de diflicultes a obtcnir des rcnseij^ncments dans un bref delai. .le suis egalemeut charge de pricr votre Excellence de hieii vouloir me dire si, d'apres le vttui exprinir par Al. le Comte de Rosebery, les instructions neccssaires ont etc' cnvoyees pour einpecher la repetition de proce'des pareils a ccux dont, scion les donnees fournies [)ar les Equipages des vaisseaux captures, ils auraient etc victimes. .Ic veux hien cspercr (jue votre ExccllcL'cc me mettra il in6nie de telegraphier a mon Gouvcrnement une r(5ponse rassurante il ccs deux questions. L'affaire, telle qu'elle se prt'sentc actuellcmcnt, a un aspect grave et sd'rieux, mais jc ne puis douter que le Gouvcrnement Imperial ne partage Tespoir de celui de Sa Majeste, que cat incident, apr^s examen impartial, se trouvera exagere dans ces details, et que, (|uant aux principes inta'- nationaux qui paraitraient s'y Ctre miSlds, il n'y aura pas de difterence entre la maai6re de voir des deux Gouvernemcnts. Venillez, &c. (Signe) R. H. D. MORIER. l',S. — .Fe jiricrai votre Excellence dc bien vouloir fixer I'lieiu'c a la((Uclle je ponrrais nie rendrc au Ministi^'re Lundi. J'attends des instructions iniportantes de mon Gouverne* riieut par le courrier qui arrive Dinianclie, et il m'importe d'avoir le teiu[)s neccssaire de preparer nies reponsos pour mon courrier qui retournc Jeudi. R. li. D. M. (Translation.) M. le ('onseillor Prive, ,S7. Pdcrsburgh, l^cplvmber 11 (23), 18i)2. IIAVIN(i heard that the English vessel? which were seized on suspicion of having been e;, gaged in sealing in waters reu'ardcd by Kussia as being territorial have arrived at N'ladivostoch from Pi tropavlovsk, I have the honour to inform you that I have received an urgent telegram from my (lovornineni directing me to ascertain how soon the Imperial Government will he in a [josition to give the explanations which were asked for by the Earl of Roschery in the telegram of which Mr. Howard left n copy with Count Kapnist on I'riday, the Ith (Kith) of this month. As Vladivostoc'k is in telegraphic communication with St. Petersburgh, it seems to P'e that there would be no ditiiculty in obtaining iiil'iirmation within a short space of tin..'. 1 iini likewise iiislructed to a-k your ICxcelleney to he good enough to tell nie whether the necessary instructions have been sent, in pursuance of the wish expressed by Lord liosebery, to prevent the re|i('lilion of such acts as those of wbieh the crews of the captured vessels ore slated, in tlu' c^v iilence supplied by Iheni, to have been liie victims. I liust thai your Excellency will eiia'ile me to send a reassuring telegram to my Govcrmiiciil in reply (o these two i|ui'stioiis. The affair as it now stands Ikis a grave iiiid serious a-peel, but 1 Ciiiinot doulil that the Imperial (iovernmcnt shares the hope of that of Her Majcslv. thai the details of this ineiilent will prove, alter ini|)artial examina- tion, to he cMiggerated, and that there will be no divergence of view between the two [OO-IJ ' C 2 18 Governments as to the principles of international law which would seem to be involved in it. I have, &c. (Signed) R. JJ. D. MORIER. P.S. — I should he f^iad if your Excellency would kindly fix an hour for nie to come to the .Ministry on Monday. 1 expect important instructions from my (lovcrimient by the mc-icngcr who arrives on Sunday, and it is desirable that I should have sufficient time to prepare my answers for the messenger who goes back on Thursilay. R. B. D. M. Inclosure 2 in No. 16. Sir R. Morier to M. dilchkine. M. le Conseiller Prive', Snint'Pe'terslmunj, le 1 1 (23) Scptemhre, 1892. VOICI, commc jc vnus I'ai promis, le texte du tclcicramnie (pie j'ai eiivoye ii men Gouvernement pour lui rendrc coinpte de notre conversation d'aujourd'hui : — "Nous nous sommes mis d' accord pour ne pas discuter hi i[uestion internationale avant d'avoir cntre les mains un relevo exact dcs faits ijui ont eu lieu. Quant au niauvais traitcment qu'auraient, d'apr^s leur recit, subi ks i'(|ui|)nu;cs dcs vaisscaux captur(!;8 et I'cnvoi d'instuictions pour prevcnir, le cas dclicant, les rci oavillo ; cuts de pareilles niesures, son Excellence remarqua (pie le Ministre de la Marine avail repinisse avee indignation I'idce que des otiiciers de la Alurine Russe aient pu agir de l;i niani6re decritc par les equipages, mais qu'il ouvrira une enciuCtc si'vere p.iur aiiiver a savoir le vrai sur la conduite de ces otiiciers, mais que ceia serait une insulte aux autoriles lo; ales (pie de leur envoyer des instructions de s'abstenir de parcils mel'aits. Sur cpioi j'observai que ce que iiion Gouvernement demandait c'etait li'obienir la certitude (pie les otiiciers suhordonm''s locaux ne pourraient dans aucun cr.s se livrcr dans I'avenir a des procijdt's seniblables i\ ecux (pie les (5quipages leur reprochaient. Son I'.xcellcnce pourrait-clle me domur, au iioin du Gouvernement Imperial, rassuraiue que, dans Ic cas oil d'autres vaisseaux seraient captures, de pareils procedes n'auraicnt pas lieu ? M. Chiehkine, sans hesitation, donna cette assurance." Agrt^ez, &o. (Signd) R. B. D. MORIER. (Translation.) M. Ic Conseiller Prive, St. Pe.iersburgh, September 11 (2;5), 1892. IN accordance with my promise, I send you herewith the tuxt of the telegram which I dispatched to my Government reporting our conversation of to-day : — " We agreed not to discuss the international (piestion until an exact account of what had taken place had been laid before us. With resptct to the ill-treatment which, according to their statements, the crews of the captured vi'ssels had sudered, and to the issue of instructions for iireventing the recurrence of such treatment in tlie event of further seizures, bis Excellency remarked tiiat the Minister of Marine had indignantly repudiated the idea that officers of the Russian navy coiiid have acted in the manner described by the crews, that he would institute a seavdiiiig inquiry to arrive at the truth as regards the conduct of the officers, but that it would be an insult to tiic local authorities to send them instructions to abstain from sucli offences. Upon this I observed that what my Government desired was to feel assured th;U the subordinate local officers would in no case eoniniit sueii nets hereafter as those of which they were accused by the crews. Could bis Excellency give me an assurance in the name of the Imperial Govern- ment that, in case other vessels were seized, such acts would not take place? M. Chieh- kine gave this assurance without hesitation." 1 have, &c. (Signed) R. B. D. MORIER. 18 No. 17. iS'i'r R, Morier to the liarl of Rosebery. — (Received September ■■lO.) My Lord, St. PeteiKbunjh, Hcplcmlior 27, ]S()2. WITH icference to your t(k';;ram of tlie 2GtIi instant, 1 have the honour to iiich)st licrcwitli to your Lordship fi copy of a note which I liave tliis day addressed to the Russian (>overn''.:''nt, in obedience !o your Lordshi|)'s instruetions, I have, &c. (Signed) R. D. IX JvIORIEK. Inclosure in No. 17. Sir R. Morivr to M. Chichkine. M, k- Conseiller Prive, St. Petersbunjh. September 15 (27), 1802. I IIAVK hren instructed hy Her Majesty's novernment to inform your Excellency tliHt, in conscipience of the uirat anxiety felt hy families of Hritisii Columbian sailors embarked on sealing-scliooners, Her .Mnjestv's (iovcrnment ii.ive ordered Her jMajesty's ship "Lennder" to proceed from Hakoihite to I'etropavlovsk in order to make arrange- ments for the return of any seamen of captured scalers who may be awaiting shipment. This course is the more necessary ns it is understood that the port of Petropavlovsk is but littk' fre(iuented. Her Majesty's Government ask that the Commander of Her Majesty's ship " Leander" may receive all necessary facilities from the Russian autiiorities. As it would seem dilficult for tiie Commander 'o give tiic notice ot his arrival iv(|nested by tiie Im|)erial (Sovcrnment in M. Houteniett's note of the lOtii (22nd) February, 1887. I have to ex|)ress the hope tiiat the present notification may be regarded ns that agreed ujjon ns necessary between the two Governments with reference to siiips of war visiting tiieir respective ports. I avail, &c. (Signed) R. B. D. MORIER. No. 18. Sir R. Morier to (he Earl of Rosebery. — (Received October 3.) (Telegraphic.) St. Pctersbunjh, October 3, 1892. I AM informed in a note from the Russian Government that such of the crews of I lie sealers wiiich were captured last August who had not been already repatriated, and for whoso conveyance home Her Majcsiy's ship "Leander" has been dispateiicd, have been sent to Nagasaki by the local authorities, No. 19. Sir R. Mnrier to the Earl of Ro.sehcry, — (Received October 3.) My Lord, St. I'etersburgh, September 27, 1892. WITH rcfcrcnre to correspi, ndcncc respecting' tiie recent seizure of I'rilish sealers by Russian cruizers in the Helning Sea, I Invc not failed to endeavour to ascertain what ste|)s have been taken by the Anuricnn (iovernnicnt respecting the capture of tlie "Cape Horn I'igcon," which was seized some distance from Ishurup Island, at the mouth of the Sea of Okhotsk. The American Chargd d'Affaircs (old Mr, Howard that he received a telegram from the captain of 'lie schooner relating the circumstances of the capture, and stating that he had been landed on the shore near Vladivostock without food or shelter. Mr. Wurts irnmedinteiy repeated this telegram to Washington, and has had no answer but a simple acknowledgment of the receipt. He hud conse(|ucntly made no representation respecting the legality of the seizure, but had addressed a note to the Imperial Government on his own responsibility resiiecting the treatment accorded to the crew. He avoided using any 1* sucli phiii.sc iis cTiiilly or iiiliuin;iiiity, l)ut asked tlial ilic crow niiglit icccive sitltHiuate food and slieltor. It was evident that Air. \\urts did uU wish to piO'S I lie incident, doubtless for fear oi' raising some eonttntion wliicli might he inconsistent with American claims against (ireat Hritain in the Hehring Sea. lie l^aid he consideicd the Sea of Okhotsk a 7(i«rc rlaitmnii, because, tlion,nli ])ait o( tiie Kuiilo islands weie occupied by Japan, that Power had signed a Convention wilii Russia af;icein,!; to close tlie sea. lie also said he did not much believe in the captain's complaints of ill-treatment, for if he was really destitute he would not Iiave had money enough to send so long a tclegraTn. I have, &c. (Signed) R. B. D. MORIER. No. 20. Sir R. Morier to the Earl of liosrhri-h- — {Rccriviul Orfober 4.) My Lord, St. Pctershuryh, Oclolwr ], lb!)2. I INCLOSE herewith M. Chichkine's reply to my note, addressed to him in compliance with your Lordship's telegram of the 'iGth ultimo, respecting the visit of the "Leandcr" to Petropavlovsk, and my ackiiowlcdLrmenl. Your Lordship will perceive it is of a very courteous kind. I have, kc. (Signed) R. B. D. MORIER. Inclosure in No. 20. M. Chichkinc to Sir H, Morier, M. I'Ainbassadour, U 18 (.'50) Soptemhre, 1892. A LA suite de voire note du l.*) (27) de ec mois, je n'ai ])as manque d'informcr le Ministere Imperial de la Marine que Ic croiscur Anglais le "Leandcr" avait reeu du Gouvcrnemcnt Royal Britanniiiuc I'ordre de se rendrc a I'etropavlovsk. Nos autorites out etc invitees a prendre toutcs les inesnres nccessaircs pour faeiliter a cc l)atiment I'entree dii port en (picstion et des ordres out etc (■X|)<''dic's telegra|)hi(pienuiit au Commandant dc notre escadre du I'acifique a Vladivostoek. Toutelois, ju eroi:; devoir prevenir votre Excellence (|ue vu Tahsencc d'une ligne telegrai)hi<]ne allant ju,s(|n'a I'etropavlovsk et la difficulte des communications, surtout dans eette saison de I'annir, un nudentcndu scrnit j)ossil)le dans le cas ou le " Leandcr " sc presenterait devant eette phice avant que son Commandant cut re(;u Ics ordres qui lui ont ete expcdies. C(!tle eventualite n'aurait dtd entiiirement evitee ([ue par raccoinplissemcp.t des formalites coinmnni(|U('es au (iouvernc- n)cnt de Sa Majeste 15ritanni(pie jiar la note de I'Ambassade Imperiale a Londres du 10 (22) Fevricr,'l887. ■le saisis, &e. (Signe) CHICMKINE. (Translation.) M. I'Ainbassadeur, «f/)li'd to take all the necessary measures to faciltate the entry of this vessel into that port, and orders have been sent by telegraph to the ofHcer in command of our Pacific sijuadron at Vladivostoek. I think it right, howcvei , to warn your I'^xcelUiuy that, owing to the absence of a telegraph line to Petropavlovsk, and to tiie diditiilly of communicating with that place, especially at this season of the year, it is possihlu that a niismidcrstandiug n ay arise in ease the "Leandcr" should arrive off the town before the Comuiandant has received the orders which have been sent to him. This contingency could oidy have been entire!}' oi)viated by carrying out the formalities which were notified to Her Britannic adequate Majesty's Government in the note of the lOth (22n(l) Rbiuarv, 18h7, fiorn tlie Imperial Kiubassy in London. I avail, S:c. (Signed) ([ilCllKINI':. No. V 1 . 'I he Earl of Rnsehrrji to Sir R, Morinr. Sir, Forchjii OJflrr, Ortnbcr '>, lb!»2. 1 HAVE received Mr. Howard's des|iatcli of tlie 17th ultimo, rccoichiii,' a coiiversation with Count Kapnist respeeting the seizure of British scalers hv Hus-iian cruizers in Beliring: Sea. The hmguage held hy -Mr. Howard to the Russian .Minister on tliat oecasion is approved. i am, &c. (Si!,'nc(l) ROSKHKRY. No. -.'J. Till' Hurt of Rnsi'hrnj In Sir R. Morirr. Sir, Fnrfl(jii ()J/lr,-, Orlalipr ." , 1 892. [ HAVE received your i'^xceilency's despatch of tlie 2')r(l ultimo, reporting' a conver- sation which you iiave held with .M. Chiohkine rcspectini:; tlie seizure ol Ihitish s< alers by Russian cruizers in JJehriiig .'^ea,and the treatment of their crews at I'etropavlovsk. The languaiie held hy your Excellency on that oecasion to M. Chichkinc is approved hy Her Majesty's Government. 1 am, &c. (Signed) llOSEBERY. No. 23. The Earl of Rosehery to Sir R. Morier, Sir, Foreiij)! Office, October 10, 1802. I HAVE received your despatch of the 27th ultimo, inclo.Mug copy of the note which you addressed to the Russian Goveiiunent notifying tiiat Her iNhijesty's sliip " T.eander " had been ordered to proceed to Petn)pavluv.-~k. The terms of your note are approved hy Her .Majesty's Government. I am, &c. (;Signed) ROSHHERY. No. 2-^. Admlralti/ to Forelijn Office, — [Received October 11.) Sir, Admirnltij, October 10, 18!)2. I AM commanded hy my Lords Couniiissioncrs of the Admiralty to transmit, for the information of the Seerelary of Slate for Foreign Aflairs, the decypher of a telogiam, dated tiiis d.iy, from the Captain of Her Majesty's ship " Leander." A similar communication has heeii made to the Colonial Office. I am, &c. (Signed) EVAN ^LVCGREGOR. 16 Inclosure in No. 24. Cuptnin Custlf to Adrnirall'i. (Telet;rapliic.) " Lennder," at Hakodate, October 10, 18i)2. SEVEN schooners, six Hritisli, one American, seized liiice July in Rohring 8ca, neiglibourhood Komandorski Island. Four crews sent I'tisict Sound in tiic American bar(|ae " Majestic;" one left in the schooner " I'riz," late " liosie Olscn ;" reinaininfj two crews taken by Russian Admiral to X'ladivostock ; no portion of crew detained I'etro- pavlovsk. Schooners' guns, pajjcrs, and skins all confiscated. Six schooners left for Vladivostock with Russian prize crew. No seizures made in Okhotsk Sea. Russian Sealinj? Company's steamer " Kotik," with Governor of Komandorski aboard, seized one schooner ; others seized by cruizcr " Zabiaka," reported cruizing off 15ehring Sea. No. 25. Colonial Office to Foreign Office, — (Received October 13.) Sir, Downiny Street, October 1.1, 1S02. WITH reference to pr-'vious corrcspondcricc respecting!; the seizure of Britisii sealing- vessels in the North Pacii'c by the Russian authorities, 1 am directed by the Manpiis of Ripon to transmit to you, to be laid before the i'^arl of Rosebery, a despalcii, and its inclosures, forwarding afiidavits respecting: the circumstances connected with tlie seizures, and other documents. 1 am also to inclose a copy of a Meinorandum received from the Admiralty as to the position of the " Ariel " and " Willie MeCiowan " at the time when they were sighted and seized according to the Protocol drawn up and signed by tiie seizing officer and tho masters ot the vessels seized. It appears from these papers that neither of these vessels was within Russian terri- torial waters when sighted, and therefore, even if they had at some previous time engaged in sealing within such waters, their pursuit and capture could not be justified according to the acknowledged principles of international law, as it is not alleged that the pursuit was begun whilst the vessels were still within the 3-mile limit. The Regulations of 1883, under which the vessels are said to have been seized, are not amongst the papers forwarded, but they arc presumably the same as those of 1881, which were republished in 1882, and will be found at p|). 21^ and 24 of the correspondence presented to Parliament in 1890 respecting tiie case of the " Araunah." The prohibition against sealing in these Regulations is confined to the Russian coasts or islands, or within their sea boundary-line, and as already pointed out in the letter from this Department of tho 14th September, that sea boundary-line has been officially declared by the Russian Foreign Minister to be the ordinary territorial limit of 3 miles. In view of these circumstances, the fact that the masters of the seized vessels were induced by threats to sign a declaration that they were sealing within Russian waters could not in any way justify the seizure of the vessels on the high seas, and as the masters did not understand the terms of the documents, they were compelled to sign, and protested on the face of it against any admission that they had infringed the Russian Regulations, it is obvious that no weight whatever can be attached to these declarations. It is to be noted also that though these declarations were accompanied by the protests of the masters, no investigation as to the truth of the statements of the masters appears to have been made by tlie Russian authorities before carrying out the confiscation of the vessels which was decreed by the officer of the seizing vessel; though it would appear from M. de Giers' note of the 3rd (15th) March, 1890, respecting the case of the " Araunah," that the confirmation of the Governor-General of the Amoor is necessary to the Decree of Confiscation, and as the documents showed on the face of them that the statements of the captor were not admitted. Lord Ripon can scarcely believe that such confirmation can have been given without that careful inquiry and examination which justice demanded. The statements as to the ill-treatment of the crews of the vessels, to which the attention of the Russian Government was called in Lord Rosebery's telegram of the 15th uliimo, are fully borne out by the affidavits now forwarded, and Lord Ripon cannot doubt that when the facts are brought to the notice of the Russian Government, they will \T nill not fail to mark their sense of tlie cruelty perpetrated by their officers, a.ul to compensate fully those who sud'ered by it. The claims for compensation which accompany these papers do not contain any claim on this account, nor for the loss of the ])ers'onal effects of the crew, but Lord Ripon presumes that Lord Rosehcry will agree with him that the facts disclosed as to the trcut- iniiit of the crews at the tiuu; of seizure, when on shore at Petropavlovsk, and in the manner of their sliipment on board tiie "Majestic," justify such a claim, and his Lordshii> would sug^^i'st that tile Russian Uovcrninent should be intbrmed that such a clain\ will be made in due course. I am to rccjucst that Lord Stanley's despatch, and its inclosurcs, which are sent in original, nmy be eventually returned to this Department. I am, &c. (Signed) JOHN BRAMSTON. Inclosurc 1 in No. 25. Lord Stanley of Preston to the Marquis of Ri[.on. My Lord, Ciladel, Quebec, September 23, 1892. WITH reference to previous correspondence relative to the recent seizures by Russian cruizcrs of Canadian scaling-vessels, I have now the honour to inclose a ccrtiiied cojiy of a Report of Council, dated the 2.'Jrd instant, to which arc attached the afTidavits referred to in my telegrams of the 5th and 10th Septeu'.ber, as well as certain other Annexes in which the facts regnrdinc; the seizures in (juestion arc detailed. Your Lordship will observe from the statements set forth in these documents that the crews of the seized vessels appear to have been treated with unusual harshness and severity. I have, &c. (Signed) STANLEY OF PRESTON. Inclosurc 2 in No. 25. Report of a Commiltee of the Honourable the Privy Council, approved by his Excellency the Governor-General in Council on the '23rd September, 1892. ON a Re|)ort dated the 17th September, 1H92, from the Minister of ^larinc and Fisheries, subnuttiiifr, on the subject of the seizure of Hritish ships in the waters of the North Pacific Oeeaii, that the circumstances attending the seizures were most fully set out, and the question of jm-isdietion referred to at eon>iderable length in the following .Minutes of Council, dated resjiectively l^'Uii Scjitember, 1892, 18th September, lh'J2, 23rd September, 1«!)2, and 2;5rd Septeinbcr, 18!»2. The Minister observes that tiie Minute of Council dated the 23rd September, 1S92, advised that formal adidavits on the subject had been obtained from the interested jiarties, and were in course of transmission through the mails, and it was stated that, immediately iipor. their receipt, they would be conununicated for the information of Her ^L^jcsty's (jovcrnmt nt. The Ministiv sulimit; the follouing documents now to hand, as follows: — 1. Letter from Collector A. R. Milne, of Victoria, Uritish Columbia, forwarding — 2. Note of protest, schooner "Ariel," swori-. to before A. R. Milne, t'tli September, 1892, by John McLcod, muster. ;>. Deposition of Jos. Campbell Stratford, mate of the schooner "Ariel," sworn to before A. R. Milne, 8th September, 1892. 4. Certificate of measurement of position of vessels when seized by Jas. Gaudin and .1. C. Cox. (Chart retained.) .5. Claim on behalf of the "Ariel," amounting to 18,746 dol. .'JO c. 6. Certificate of seizure of schooner " Ariel" by Russian olliccr. 7. Order for deposition of vessel, cargo, and crew by Russian olliccr. 8. Protest at time of seizure by master of the " Ariel." 9. Report "outwards," schooner " Ariel." 10. Extract from log-book of " Ariel," being certificate of Lieutenant Williams, of [604] D Her Majesty's ship " Daphne," tliat he had warned the vessel against proceeding to Tlchring Sea for the purpose of talcing seals under pain of seizure. 11. Declaration of John McLcod, master of schooner "Ariel," before Arthur G. Smith, 5th September, 1892. 12. Declaration of James Campbell Stratford, mate of the schooner " Ariel," before Arthur G. Smith, 7th September, 1892. 13. Declaration of Melville Collinson, "boss hunter" of the "Ariel," before Arthur C. Smith, 5th September, 1892. 14. AITldavit of .John Daley, master of schooner "Willie McGowan," sworn to before A. IJ. .Milne, Oth September, 1892. 15. Affidavit of Thoinus V. li. Mooi'e, mate of the "Willie McGowan," sworn to before A. K. Milne, 8th September, 1892. 10. Certificate of measurement of position of vessels when seized, by James Gaudin and ,1. C. Cox. 17. Claim in behalf of the "Willie McGowan," amountinp: to 18,510 dol. 26 c. 18. Report "outwards" of the "Willie MctJowan." 19. Declaration of John Daley, master of the " Willie McGowan," sworn to before Artber G. Smith, 5th September, 1892. 20. Certificate of seizure of " Willie McGowan." 21. Order for deposition of vessel, cargo, and crew. 22. Agix'cment with master of United States' barque " Majestic " for the transport of the men of the three vessels from Pctropavlovsk. 23. Protest of John Daley, master of the " Willie McGowan," at Pctropavlovsk. 24. Declaration of Charles H. White, seal-hunter of " Willie Met: :m." 25. Declaration of Thomas Frederic Bernard Moore, mate of the ' illie McGowan," before Arthur G. Smith, 8th September, 1892. 20. Affidavit of Michael Keefe, master of the " Rosie Olsen,' sworn to before A. R. Milne, Gth September, 1892. 27. Protest of Michael Keefe at Pctropavlovsk. 28. Re|)ort "outwards" of schooner " Rosie Olsen." 29. Claim on behalf of schooner " Kosic Olsen," amounting to 18,910 dollars. 30. Declaration of jMichael Keefe, master of the schooner " Rosie Olsen," before Arthur G. Smith, Cth September, 1892. 31. Declaration of John James Campbell, mate of the "Rosie Olsen," sworn to before Arthur G. Smith, 5th September, 1892. .'2. Declaration of William Twomcy, hunter on board " Rosie Olsen." The Minister desires to invite attention to the claims included in these papers on behalf of the owners of the respective vessels as follows : — Dol. c. "Aiiil" .. .. ., .. .. .. .. 18,716 50 "Willie McGowan" .. .. .. .. .. ,. 18,.')4(! 26 "Hosio Olsen* .. ., .. .. .. .. 18,'J16 00 The details of the seizures, the treatment of the crews, the hardships endured, and the iippropriation by the crew of the Russian crnizcrs of the property of the sealers, as set forth in these declarations, do not difl'or from those already reported upon, and which furnished the subject of the Minute of Council of the 13th September instant. The .Minister observes that in each case the declarations state that the masters of the seized vessels were informed by both British and .American cruizers that while they woilJ be seized if found in the Behrlng Sea east of the line of demarcation, they were not likely to incur danger to the west of that line in the territorial jurisdiction of Russia. The Committee, on the recommendation of the Minister of Marine and Fisheries, advise that your Excellency be moved to forward a copy hereof, together with its Appendices, to the Right Honourable the Principal Secretary of State for the Colonies, with the rccjucst that speedy steps may be taken in the direction of previous recjuesta in tliis matter, and that representations may be made to the Russian Government with a view to obtain prompt recompense for all loss and damages sustained, and un early settle* ment of the claims herein advanced. All of which is respectfully submitted for your Excellency's approval. (Signed) JOHN J. MoGEE, Clerk of the Privy Council. 19 Sir, Customs, Canada. Virtoria, B.C., Seplemher '.), 1S02. I liavc the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your tekiram of the 5tii instant, also a letter from Deputy Minister of .Marine and Fi-herie«, rwjut-stiii,'; a<"davits witii lull facts of tiic seizures ol the British schooners "Ariel," " Willie McGowan," and "Kosie Olscn," by the Russian crui/.cr " Zahiaka." I hep to state, in compliance with your instruction*, that I have herewith foiwardcd aflidavits taken hcforc me, and other pa|)er.s in connnection thcrcAith, also f'h:irt., which I have had examined hy two nautical men, and who have ccrtillcd to the distance tliat each schooner would be from land when seized, according to the partition civcn. The llonoumblc the Attorney-Oeneral of the p.'ovincf, Mr. iJavie, a few days ago. also took some declarations from the same parties, nhicli I l»avc also herewith trans- mitted. To-day another schooner 1ms arrived and entered, from the Asiatic side, the vessel's name heing the " W. P. Sayward," reporting three boat-> Ijclon^in.' to her seized hy a Russian crui/.er, while the boats were out sealing at a distance from her; this vessel reports n catch of 90U skins, another vessel is reported outride with over 2,000 skins, also from the Asiatic side. I shall endeavour to place before you as promptly as [>os$ihlc all information avail;il)le in regard to the sealing industry. At jiresent it is an anxious lime with our people intcreitcd, here heinu' a hu'^e number of our vessels on the Russian side ol' the >rea. and it i-> fea-cd there are more seizures not yet reported, I hare, &c. lion. Charles II. Tupper, (Signed) A. 11. S]ll.}iE, Collector. Minister of Marine and Fisheries, Ottawa, In the matter of the seizure of the schooner "Ariel." Note of Prolett. 5 On th3 6th day of September, in tlic year of our lyird 1892, personally appeared and presented himself at the office of Alexander Roland Milne, C'(jllcctor of Customs at the port of Victoria, British Columbia, John Mclx-od, master of the British schooner " Ariel," official No. 8s)612, and registered at the said port of Victoria, British Columbia, in the Dominion of Canada. By the instrument of jjrotcst hereinafter contained : He it know 11 and made manifest that John McIx-cyJ, master of the schooner " Ariel," belonging to the port of Victoria, British Columbia, doth duly and solemnly swear and state as follows, that is to say : — That the said liritish schooner "Ariel," a vessel of74'40 tons rejiistercd tonnage, schooner rigged, and having a crew of twenty-four ] the information conveyed to him by Lieutenant Williams, after cruizing along the coast, sailed away to the westward with the intention of eotering Behring Sea to the westward ol the line of demarcation. [5041 »2 That the said schooner" Ariel," on the morning of the 28th day of July last, at 4'30 a.m., while lying-to in latitude 64° 10' nortii, and longitude i 07° 40' cast, between 30 and 40 miles off the south-east end of Copper Island, Komandorski group, was boarded by officers and armed boats' crews sent from the Imperial Russian cruizer "Zabiaka." The officer in cb.arge of the armed boat's crew ordered t' f master and crew of tiie said schooner "Ariel" to go on board the cruizer " Zabiaka," and the master 13 take the ship's papers with him. All the crew were turned out of their berths by armed marines with fixed bayonets, and ordered into the boat of the cruizer " Zabiaka," with the exception of the mate and one man, who were ordered to remain on board. That in coming on hoard the cruizer " Zabiaka," tiie chief officer in command. Captain dc Levroii, informed the master of tlie said schooner "Ariel" that be bad seized his vessel, and, in rejily to the protest of John MeLeod, master of the said schooner " Ariel," that lie was on the high seas, and outside any limits over which the Kussiau Government had or could have any jurisdiction. Captain de Levron said that be would seize any vessel with a scaling outfit, or even salt on board, if found within 1 or 1,000 miles from the Russian ])ossessiop.s. That the said schooner "Ariel" was taken in tow by the said Russian cruizer " Zabiaka," and on the early morning of the 21}th July the towing-line of the said -schooner "Ariel" parted daring a dense fog, and the said cruizer "Zabiaka '' steamed away for Petropavlovsl: with the master and crew of the said schooner " Ariel,'' with the exception of the mate and one man, as already mentiened, who had been left on board the schooner " Ariel," which, with a |)rize crew of nine men and two officers, the said schooner " Ariel " started under sail for Petropavlovsk on the 29th July, arriving at that port on the 6th day of August last. That when the officers of the boat's crew of the cruizer "Zabiaka" boarded the schooner " Ariel," their first act was to h.iul down the flag and trample it on the deck. That shortly afler coming on board the cruizer "Zabiaka," the master of the said schooner "Ariel," John McLeod, was ordered to sign a pa])er written in Russian and translated into Knglish by Captain de Levron, the substance of which paper as translated by him being an acknowledgment that the said John McLcod, master of the said schooner "Ariel," with his vessel and crew, were hunting seals in Russian waters. That John McLeod, master of the said schooner "Ariel," protested against signing a paper written in a language which be did not understand. Then Captain de Levron informed him that, unless he signed the document, he would be sent to Vladivostock and there court-niartialied, and from thence probably to the mines. Under this tlireat and menace of punishment John Mcl^eod, for himself and in behalf of bis crew, signed the document under protest. Tiiat at the early hour of 4'30 A.M. the crew of the said schooner "Ariel" were hunted out of their berths in scanty clothing by the marines and officers of the cruizer " Zabiaka " without being allowed to clotiif themselves against the weather. On arrival at Petropavlovsk they were turned on shore, and marched under the charge of an otllcer along the beach through the mud and wet grass to an old building, and told that tliey could remain there with the crew of the " llosie Olsen," which had likewise been seized. That the crew of the said schooner " Ariel," as well as the crews of the other schooners seized, were in a deplorable condition for want of food and clothing, until relieved by the charity of Messrs. Malvansky and Liiiquest, resident foreign merchants. That John Mcl^cod, master of tiie said sciiooner " Ariel," on behalf of himself and crew, reiiuested to know what would become [.s-''-] on arrival at Petropavlovsk. Captain de Levron inlornied bini that an Ameiieaii barcjue was there, and that vessel might take them to some part of Anurica for 10 or 1.5 dollars each. 'i'liat at Petropavlovsk the master of the American barque " Majestic " found he could not get ready money, drew up a |iaper, which was signed by the officers and crew of each of the cajitured schooners, by which the master of the American barcjuc '• Majestic " agreed to take them to Puget Sound, and land them at some British or Americiin ])ort. That the stores which were to j.rovision tbn crew on board the barque " Majestic " were given from the stores of the seized schooners by the captain of the cruizer " Zabiakji," IIS well IIS water, cooking utensils, two stoves, boats ant! cars ; the number of boats being taken from the seized schooLcrs were eight and two hulian canoes. That alter being in Petropavlovsk eleven days, during which time the master of the schooner "Ariel" and his crew, in conipaiy with the crews of the British schooner " Hosie Olsen " and the " M'iilie McCowan," suffered every privation for want of food, 2t clothing, and shelter, and, in a deplorahle condition, were ordered on board the American barque "Majestic" by Russian marines with rifles and fixed bayonets, and in this condition sailed away for Puget Sound. That, deprived of their clothing, and having no blankets or otlier coveriii;:, wore compelled to sleep in the hold and other places on the ship as would afford them shelter. That the treatment on board the American barque " Majestic " was not such as would be given to distressed mariners returning to their homes helpless and destitute. That on the arrival of the barque "Majestic" in Royal Roads, Victorin, British Columbia, the master of the said barque " Majestic " claimed the eight boats, two canoes, two stoves, and all (he extra provisions remaining unconsumed as his propcity, which he compelled the distressed crews to sign over to him to become his property. That the said master of the American barque "Majestic'' intends to claim Poino compensation from the British Government, to which the master of the said Biitish schooner declares he is not in justice entitled under the circumstances. That John McLeod docs solemnly and sincerely declare that the foregoinp; st:itcineiit is correct and contains a true account of the facts and circumstances attending the seizure of the said British schooner "Ariel," of Victoria, British Columbia. Wherefore, the said appearer, John McLeod, master of the said British schooner "Ariel," on behalf of the owners of the said vessel, and on behalf of himself and crew, doth protest against the illegal interruption ot his voyage and seizure and confi-^cation of the said British schooner" Ariel," her boats, guns, a> munition, small-arms, appurtenances, provisions, and seal-skins then on board. That the Schedule hereunto annexed, iu;d marked (A), is a true inventory and valuation of the actual loss sustained by the .'orcible seizure and confiscation, and on behalf of (he owners and all concerned, the said John McLeod, master of the said British schooner "Ariel," appeals for restitution and damages to full amount of the loss sustained. (Sij;ned) JOHN JSIcLEOD. Sworn to before me, at Victoria, British Columbia, i;his Gth day of September, 1892. (Signed) A. II. Milne, Collector. L, the matter of the seizure of the British schooner " Ariel," of Victoria, British Columbia, by the Russian cruizcr " Zabiaka." Port of Victoria, British Columbia, James Campbell Stratford, of the city of Victoria, Province of Urliish Columbia, personally appeared, and doth depose and say : — That he was mate of the British sealing-schooncr " Ariel," belonging to the port of Victoria, British Columbia, of which John McLeod was the master, and w liich cleared at the port of Victoria, British Columbia, on a voyage to the North Pacific Ocean and Okhotsk Sea. That, after voyaging to and fro on the waters of the North Pacific Ocean pursuing the legiiimatc calling of hunting on the open ocean, beyond any limitation to luuiliiig or fishing on the high seas [sic]. That on the SSth day of July last, at 4'30 a.m., whilst the vessel was .south-east from Copper Island, Comnumdorski group, the morning being dear, and could see a very long distance, Copper and Bchring Islands being in sight, and he would judge that the vcsse was about ;15 miles from south-east end of Copper Island, it being well known in that locality that the distances of observation is very great. That in that position the vessel, headed south-east, it being dead calm, was boarded by an armed boat's crew from the Russian cruizcr " Zabiaka." That the master and crew, with the exception of the deponent, were ordered on board the cruizcr " Zabiaka." That the ofTicer in charge of the prize crew went to the haulyards and pulled down the flag from the mainmast head and stamjicd with his feet upon it. That the said schooner "Ariel" was taken in tow by the Russian cruizcr "Zabiaka," and continued towing the said schooner "Arid" about twenty-five hours; the hawser parted at about !') A.M., during a (hick fog and heavy breeze. That there were nine men and two odiccrs comprising the prize crow. 22 That, after the tow-line pp.rted, the schooner was navigated under sail, and arrived at Peti'opavlovsk, arriving at that port on the 6th day of August, 1892. Tiiat the same day that the said schooner "Ariel" arrived at Petropavlovsk the deponent was ])ut on shore to take his chances with the other crews of vessels that had been likewise seized. 'i'iiat tlic deponent, having read the statements of John JtlcLeod, the master of the said schooner " Ariel," indorses the same as being trv'c in every particular in regard to the treatment of the distressed trews at I'etropiivlovsk as well as the treatment which was givun to them on board the ban|ue " Miijestic," which was not such as might be iriven to distressed seamen returning to their lionies helpless and destitute. (Signed) J. C. STRATFORD. Swoin before me this 8tii day of Septenihcr, 1892. (Signed) A. R. Mil.ne, Collector of Customs. Sir, Victor-'.n, B.C., September 8, l'=i'J2. As rc(|uested by you, wc have measured the distance on the Chart of Bchring Sea, as given by you, sho-ving tlie exact [ ? ] where the three British schooners were seized by the Russian cruizer "Zabiaka." S:'iu)i)ncr " Willie .McGowan," latitude TiS 50' norti), longitude 167" 50' cast, a (iistaiice of 'I'J,', miles from Copper Island, the nearest land. ^^chooner '• Rosie Olsen," latitude ol 24' nortli, longitude 165^ 40' east, a distance i.f 3S miles tVom Boiiring Island, the nearest land. Schooner " Ariel," latitude 54 10' north, longitude 167° 40' east, a distance of .'SO miles from Copper Island, the nearest land. Yours respectfully, (Signed) JAS. GAUDIN. I'o tiie C'ollector of Customs, J. C. COX, Victoria, B.C. [Chart inclosed.] (A.) P.VKTICVLARS of Claim, Schooner '• Ariel," 74 tons register, of Victoria, British Columbia, seized by (he Russian Imperial cruizer " Zabiaka," on the 28th July, 1892, in latitude seized l)y flie Kussian Impel 5t 10' north, and longitude 167 40 cast, Schooner— Viiluo (if Bcliooner ., ,. ., ., lla;il»— 7 bcmt», ill 110 (tollnrs each .. ,. Uutfitd to ditto, 7 at 20 dollars Outfit (if sclioiincr— PlMvi^innfl , , , , . . ,, Siilt, 10 tuns, ;it 11 dollars per tun .. .. Atunuiuition , . . , , . . , Iii^iuriiiirc, 10,000 dollars, at 1 per cent. ,, Coal, 10 Ions at 7 did, 'J5 c. per ton . , Slop cliot Miip-cliaiidli ry Guns— II rillcs, at 'J5 dollars each , . . . . . S I'arkiT shot um", at (id dollars eaeli 1 cannoti , . , . , , J'aid master, Imiitcrs, and eiew . , , , Seal-skill^— Dn buird when 8eif.ud, 1107, at II ilullar^ lacli ., lo'.nl claim .. . . .. Del. C. D;)l. c. 10,000 (10 770 00 110 00 1,000 00 HO 00 2.10 00 100 00 72 50 KiO 00 :I0() 00 75 00 •ISO 00 00 00 910 00 (Signed) 2,:i31 60 — (ilo 0(1 1,002 00 2,80H 00 18,71(1 50 JOHN Mr I.KOD, (B.) Protocol drawn up on the Cruizer of the 2nd Class " Zabiaha," on the \C)th July, lHr»2. (Translation.) \Vc, the Undersigned, witness that this iGth day of July, 1802, at 3 o'clock a.m., tvlion we found ourselves in north latitude 54 20', longitude 10" .Tj^' east, near Copper Island, in a dead calm, we noticed in the direction of south 2.') from the cruizer, in tiie distance of G miles, an English canvas schooner "Ariel," which had all iier canvas on. 'J'he sloop that was sent from the cruizer with Lieutenant Staal and .Midsiiipinan Zelcnelsky to search the schooner reported tiiat there were seal-skins on hoard. The ca|)tain of the schooner, .McLeod, explained fliat he had taken 200 seals, and also that he cunsidncd he had a rif,'ht to take seals in the place where tlie cruizer found him. 'I'he ship's papers and log-hook were taken away, and the captain and ids crew nl twenty-three men were taken on hoard the cruizer, and the captain was told that they were all under arrest, and that tliC schooner was confiscated. After tlr.c a crew, under the aforesaid ollicers, was put on the schooner, and she was taken in tow to Petropavlovsk. No resistance was oHered to the seizure of the schooner. It aiipcars from the ship's papers that the schooner " Ariel " was huilt in 1884, at Ihidgwater, and that her tonnage is 74'49, her length is "0 ft. 5 in,, lier widtii 22 It. .'") in,, and her depth 8 ft. 4 in. She left Victoria on the 15th (27th) May, to take seals and ti-h in the northern part of the Pacific Ocean and in the Sea of Okhotsk. (Signed) N.\Z()NO\', Licutcnnnl. LICIITEKN, Lieutenant. BEZKROVNY, Lhutonant. AllNOUTOV, Lieutenant. DH LEVERON, Captain, '2n(l Class. JOHN McLEOD, Master, tSvhooncr "Ariel." A true copy : Auditor of the 2nd Class Cruizer " Zabiaka," (Signed) Bezkuovnv, Lieutenant. (C.) Protocol drawn up on the 2nd Class Cruizer " Zabiaha," in the It>adstead of Petropavlovsk. ( I'ranslation.) WluM'cas a Protocol was drawn up on the 16th July last by a Commission ajipointed by my order on the 2Sth June (No. 00), in regard to the search of the schooner " Ariel ;" and whereas a Nofice was published by the lin])erial Russian Government in 18S1 ; and whereas J{cgulati()ns were issued by the Governor-General of Eastern Siberia on the 1st Noveniher, 188.'l (No. 1171); and whereas instructions were given to the cruizer by the ("onnnandant of the port of Vladivostock on the 22nd April, 1892 (No. 1125) : I, Hois Karlovitch de Levron 3rd, a Captain of the 2nd Class, and Conunander of the aforesaid cruizer, have ordered a- follows, on this 18th day of July, 1892 : — 1, Tiie schooner " Ariel" is lo be confiscated and sent to \'ladivostock under the command of Lieutenant Staal. 2. The master and the crew arc to be sent into the (own of Petro[)avlovsk, and allowed to return to their native country, ;{, A complete inventory of the schooner is to he drawn up on her arrival at i'etro- pavlovsk [.«('■]. i. Everything on board that would spoil by keeping, as well as the spare boats and tackle, shall lie sold by auction at I'etropavlovsk for the benelit of the (iovermnent. .'■). The seal-skins shall be handed over to the Head of the District of the Coinnrnmler Islands, against his receipt. {). This Order shall be communicated to the jirojier autliorities. 7. Cajitain .McLeod shall be given copies of the I'rotocol and of the present Order. (Signed)^ DE Ll'lVRON ;!n/, Caiitain of the 2nd C/((,w, in Command nf tlic Cruizer of the '2nd Class " Zabiaka." A true copy ; (Signed) IJezkIIOVNY, Lieutenant, Auditor, S4 (D.) Protest. ^^e it rcnicnibcrecl tliat I, Jolin McLcoil, niastci' of the British seiioonnr "Ariel," registered at Victoria, liritisii Coluiuhin, Dominion ot Cuiiiicln, of the registed tonnage of 74 tons, which «as seized and captured by tiic Irn])crial lUissian cruizer "Zabiaka"on the 'J8tli day of July, a.d. 1892, in latitude 54° 10' north, and longitude 167" 40' east, or thereabouts, do hereby most earnestly and solemnly protest : — 1. Against the seizure of the said schooner upon the high seas. 2. Against the retention by the said cruizer, or her Commander or officers, of the said schooner " Ariel," her outfit, furniture, or cargo. ■]. I also specially and i)articularly jjrotest against the seizure and retention by the said "Zabiaka," or her officers, of any of the personal effects of myself, my officers, or crew. Dated at Petropavlovsk, this uth (21th) August, 1892. (Signed) JOHN McLEOD, Master of schooner "Ariel," I have this day, 25th July, 1892, received a co])y of this protest at Petropavlovsk. (For the Head Officer of the District), (Signed) AVDOTKNKO, Assistant. (E.) Report Outwards. No. 92'J. — 2'ort of Victoria, British Columbia. Contents in the schooiH'r " Ariel," registered tonnage 74. lii'gistcred in port of Victoria, Hritish Columbia, witii twenty-four men, John Mc Lcod niai^tcr, for this present voyage for North Pacific Oecan and Okhotsk Sea. Cargo , tons weight , tons measurement , Agent. Marks mid NuinbtTH. Shipperp. (luuiitity and 1 lescrlption of (Joods. liftllast niid itori'S niid litintiiig iiiitfit. Value. Consignee. T, John McLeod, master of the vessel above named, do declare that the contents above written, now tendered and subscribed by me, is a just and true account of all Ihc goods laden on board my vessel for the present voyage, and of the names ol the respective shippers and consignees of the said goods, and of the marks and numbers of the packages eontuiniu'' the same. (Signed) JOHN McLKOi), Masl'T or Purser. Sisncd, sealed, and delivered before me at the Custom-house, port of Victoria, Uritish Columbia, the 2 llh day of May, 1892. (Signed) J. Abmstuono, Collector. 25 onor "Ariel," led tonnage of " Zabiaka" on T 40' east, or ;rs, of tlie said retention by my officers, or Copy of the Notice which is written in the Official Loybook of the British schooner "Ariel." " Daphne," at Sea, .June 24, 1892. I certify that I have this day warned this vessel iigaiiist procccdini; to Behring Sea fur the purpose of taking seals, under pain of seizure. (Signed) AYLMEK C. GA.MMEI^ WILLIAMS, Lieutenant. L the Undersigned, certify that the above written copy is correct, the 21st July (2ivJ Augubt), 18<)2. (Signed) 15. de Levkon, Captain of His [mperial liussian Majesty's Cruizer " Zabialiu." ler "Ariel." opavlovsk. >, Assistant. ohn Mc Lcod , Agent. the contents lilt of all the lie respective the packages )1), or Purser. toria, IJritish In the matter of the seizure of the schooner " Ariel " on the 2Pth July, 1892, by the Russian cruizer " Zubiakii." I, John McLcod, of the city of Victoria, ship captain, do solemnly declare as follows : — I am master of the sealing-schooner " Ariel," of 74 tons register, owned in Victorij, Dritish Columbia, by II. F. Bishop and others. The "Ariel" was fitted out in Victoria in !May 1802 for a sealin;; cruize, and cleared on the 14th May, 1892, for a cruize in the North Pacific Ocean and Okhotsk Sea. She had on board captain, mate, seven white hunters, thirteen sailors, a cook, and a boy, being twenty-four all told. We sealed alonj; the coast of British Columbia and of Alaska, and on the 2J.th June, being then somewhere off Cherikod' Island, were spoken by Her Miijcsty's ship " Daphne," and boarded by an officer who pointed out to nic the line of demarcation on my Chart, and handed me the Proclamation and warning' again-it sc iling in Behring Sea. Were also spoken by United States' cutter "Rusii"on the same day. After this we continued our cruize untd the 28tii July, at 4 o'clock .\.M. At that time the schooner was in latitude 51" 10' north, and longitude Ki?' 10' east. This ])osition is ('stimatcd from an accurate observation which I obtained at noon on the jireceding day. At tliis time I was nearer to Russian shores than I had been at any time during the cruize, except on one occasion about five days i)revii)us when I had lost a boat in a thick fog, and in .searching for it came witiiiii about 11 miles of the shore. After finding the boat I |)ut on sail and went to sea about 80 miVs. The above calculated ])osition is between 35 and 4.0 miles from shore, the nea'. st point being the soutii-east end of Copper Island. We had on board at this tune 207 seal-skins. At 1 o'clock on the morning of the said 28lli July, lying-to in the aliove position witii tiie Hritisli flag hoisted, I being on (k'ck sighted the Russian steam cruizer " Zabiaka" of sixteen guns. We were alone with no vessels in siglit. The cruizer came alongside and the (Captain hailed me, asked me, " \\'liat arc you doing there 'r" 1 told him, " Vou e;in see (or yourself what we are (luiiig." He then said, " Hoist your sails down." I asked him, " VVhat for 'P" He then said that he was a man-of-war and he wanted to see my papers. I then told bin; I was in the Ncrth Pacific Ocean. He said, "No, you are in Russian waters." During the conversation a boat had been lowered from the opposite side of the steamer and came around her stern, being tilled with sailors and marines with fixed bayonets, and with two or tlucc otficers in charge. The whole boat boarded us, and the senior ollicer in ehai'ge told me his Caj)tain wanted to sec my papers. This conversation was carried on by him in broken ]']nulisli. The Captain spoke Kngiisli well. I went below and cot all the |)a])ers, and just as I was going down the cabin I saw one of (I think) the ollieers pulling down my Hag, and when it was down he placed it on the poop and jumped on it. He then hoisted tiie Russian (lag. The otHeer on my return said, " Take your crew with you likewise, the Captain wants to see them." While I was talking to him the marines and sailors went down below and were driving my crew on deck with tixed bayonets. I asked the officer what he intended to do, was he going to seize me? He said, " I don't know, I don't think so, Cai)(ain wants to see the papers and the crew, by-and-bye it will be all right." Tlien all of us but the mate, J. C. Stratford, and one of the crew, Jos. .Martin, went on bouid the " Zabiaka." When wo got on board the cruizer, the Captain (De Leveron) c.^' ed me on to the bridge, saying tliut he wanted to seo my papers, I handed them to h..n, and as he read [604,} S Ihem lie saw where 1 liad cleared for, ' nd said, "Ah ! Okhotsk Sea ; I wisli I catch you in Okhotsk Sea." I asked him then, Arc you seizin;;; my vessel ?" lie said "Yes." I asked iiini wiiat he was seizing licr for. lie said, " Vo'.i are in IJussian waters, and also in these straits," jjointing to the straits lictuecn Ikdiring and C()|)i)er Islands, the former of whicli was scarcely visible. I asked him, "What do you call flic straits ?" saying that there were no straits marked upon my charts. lie liien said, " I don't care about your charts; it is my Russian charts."' lie tiun said, " No matter; Americans claim one side of the line of demarcation ; we claim tlie otlier." During tiiis conversation the " Zaiiiaka" had taken the "Ariel" in tow, and the Cajifain told me tiie schooner was confiscated, and he was going to take it to IVtrojiavlovsk, to which iiiaee we were steaming. After twenty-four hours the hawser jjartcd, and we steamed to I'etropavlovsk, and leaving the "Ariel" to follow by sail, I and the crew were landed on the beach, wit!) notiiing but what we had on us, and there left to shift for ourselves. Ca|)tain de Levron told me to go on board the American barque " Majestic," then taking in ballast, and see if I could make any arrangements. 'J'he ca|)tain of the ".Majestic" required me to guarantee him 10 dollars a man, which I could not do. In the afternoon Captain de Levron sent my crew ashore to an old decayed hospital. When we arrived at Petropavlovsk there were already in port the schooners "Willie McCiowan," of Victoria, and " C. II. White,'' cf San Francisco. The " Rosie Olsen," of Victoria, arrived before the " Ariel." All three had been seized, the two fornicr by flic " Z diiaka," and the latter by the " Kodiak," belonging to the Russian Commercial Fur Company, Aly crew had a little nioiic\, with which tliey jirovided themselves with food, and, afterwards, the agent for the Fur ('om|)any (an old resident of Victoria, M. .Molavaiisky) interested himself, and obtained for us some provisions, and through him the Russian official in charge of the post was |)ersuaded to make to cf .■ of my crew the usual prison allowance for maintenance of 14 kojiecks (etjual to 71 cents) a-day, which was collected by the captains of the ships and entirely cxhausled in provisions, prices for the same at that distance being very high. When the " Ariel" arrived in jiort we were granted per- mission to go on board her and get our iiersonal ed'ecls. On availing ourselves of this permission, I found that all my clothes which were of any value had been taken ; all that was left were my dirty clothes. Among what was taken were lialf-a-dozeii suits of under- clothes, which had cost me 4 dol. 50c. a suit; a jiairof gum boots, value about fl dollars, and a number of other articles of clothing. About 100 dollars in gold and silver, which had been left in a drawer, was gone, I was not allowed to take my nautical instruments, which were in my cabin, a.s also were all my books. The Kbi|)'s lag, articles, and all papers were retained, and I was only allowed to take a copy of the " l)apline's " warning from the official log. The effects of the crew were in the same condition as mine, and they had also lost money. Noncof the])rovisions of the '• Ariel" were handed over to U9, An arrangement had been made between Captain de Levron and Captain Lorentzen, of the barque " Majestic," by which we were to be brought on the " Majestic " to any port on Pugct Sound, either British or American. The Russian captain then supplied the " Majestic " with stores and boats from the ca|)tured sehooncri;, the amount of sup[)lies being regulated according to the Russian schedule. On the 8th day of August, about 8 o'clock at night, the "^Iiijestic" was ready for sea, and hoisted her flag. This was tlie signal for us to go on board, and a party of marines from the " Zabiaka " came on shore under arms and visited the cabins and places where the crews were lodged. Then then hurried the men on board at the point of tlio bayonet, scarcely giving them tunc to collect the articles which they had, and being particularly rough with the last few to come on board. After we were all on board, we four captains protested against the snllieiency of the provisions to Captain l^orentzen, who told us to take our boats and pro/isions, and we could go ashore if we did not like it. He said this at the very time when the boat was surrounded by the armed marines. .At last it was arranged that 40 dollars, which sonic of the crew had earned by loading ballast, sliould be spent on provisions, and this we w(!re allowed to do. The marines followed us while we went on shore and until we returned on board again. In the barque the captain drew up an agreement (being Exhibit (C) to the declaration of John Daley made this day), under which all stores left over were to belong to the " Majestic," and the crews were stowed away between decks, where the captains were also told to sfow themselves. We, however, found accommodation in the car|)enters' shops and a hatch house. The accommodation between decks was wretched and dangerous to the men, one result of which was that J. C. Stratford, mate ot the " Ariel," broke two ribs by falling down an open ballast hatch, 'i'bere were, exclusive of the captains, eighty men lietweeii decks. Wc arrived at Victoria on the .'SOtli August, and were put on shore. Captain Lurcutzcn retaining the balance of the provisions and the boats. At no time during my ■■■■-87- cruize up to the time of seizure were any of my boats engaged in sealing within 12 miles of any Russian territory. I revolted all ahove facts to the Collector of Customs. The above account of tlic seizure is correct in every jiarticular, ami there are many details which could be added, all of wliich \,ould aggravate the injuries and ill-treatment which we received at, and as a result of, our seizure as above stated. And I make this solemn declaration, conscientiously believing the same to be true, and by virtue of tlie " Act respecting lixtra-.Judicial Oatlis." (Signe ) JOHN McLKOD. Declared beforo me, at the city of Victoria, in the Province of British Columbia, this .0th day of September, 1892. (Signed) Autuur G. Smith, Notary Public, lirilish Columbia, (Seal.) In the matter of the seizure of the schooner " Ariel " by the Russian cruizer " Zabiaka " on the 28th July, 1892. I, James Campbell Stratford, of the city of Victoria, British Columbia, do solemnly declare as follows : — I was mate on hoard the sealing-schooncr "Ariel " on her recent cruize. I have read over the statement of John McLeod, ca|)t;uii of the "Ariel," declared on the 5th September instant, and from personal knowledge conlirm the same up to the time I was left with Jos. Martin on board the " Ariel " while the captain and the rest of the crew went on board the " Zabiaka." After that I saw tiiat preparations had been made to tow- ns, and a line was taken on board. During tlie day tlie prize crew on board used our piovisions, I beiii'^ forced to show where tlicy were to be found. I was not allowed to communicate witli Martin at all. At evening the prize crew tried to signal to the " Zabiaka " to slacken speed, but with no success. About 5 o'clock in the morning I was called and told that the hawser I'.ad parted, and had to show them bow to make sail. For the ne.xt ten days we made for I'etropavlovsk, I havinj; been told by the olhcers that it was doubtful whether the schooner would be seized, did my best to keep the schooner from harm. During our trip the prize crew threw thirty-si.\ seals, which wc intended skinning, overboard. On the trip I saw both officers and men helping themselves to gum boots, gum coats, and other articles of clothing. They took possession of the captain's state-room and all other (juarters of the ship. The only thing 1 saved for the captain was his pocket-book containing his master's certificate and a little money. In regard to our treatment and events after our arrival at Petropavlovsk, my experience was the same as the captain's, whose account I entirely conlirm. Iles|)ecting my injuries received on board the " Majestic," 1 can only add that I am at |)resent siiliVring from them, and am still under medical treatment, and will be so for some time to come. And I make this solenm declaration, conscientiously believing the same to be true, and by virtue of the " Act respecting lixtra-Judicial Oaths." (Signed) J. C. STRATFORD. Declared before me, at the city of Viclt)ria, in the Province of British Columbia, this 7tb day of September, 1 bUi'. (Signed) AiiTiiLii CJ. SMriii, Notiiri/ I'liblic, Jlriti.sk Columbia, (Seal.) In the matter of the seizure of the British schooner ''Ariel" by tlie Russian crnizer "Zabiaka," I, Melville CoUinson, of lMum[iei's Pass, Mayno Inland, British Columbia, do hereby solemnly declare : — I sliijipcd as boss hunter on above.Mientioncd schooner " Ariel.'' I have read the declaration of John McLeod, master of said schooner, dated the 5th day of September, (504] E 2 18!'2, and so far as the facts as therein declared are witliln my personal knowledge, the said declaration is true and accuriite in every respect. I further say that at no time durinj; the cruize of the said schooner up to the time of the seizure hy the "Ziibiaka" was 1 myself, or any of the hunters on boird the said schooner, engaji;ed in scalin'j; within 12 miles of any Russian territory. And I n;akc tiiis solemn declaration, conscientiously believing the same to be true, and by virtue of the "Act respecting Kxtra-Judicial Oaths." (Signed) MELVILLE COLLINSON. Declared before me, at the city of Victoria, in the Province of British Columbia, this 5th day of September, a.d. 1892. (Sicncd) AuTiiuR G. Smith, Notary Public, British Columbia. (Seal.) In the matter of the seizure of the schooner " Willie McGowan." Affidavit. On the Cth day of September, in the year of our Lord 1892, personally appeared and presented himself at the office of Alexander Koland Milne, Collector of Customs at the port of Victoria, British Columbia, John Daley, master of the British schooner " Willie McGowan," official No. 85487, of the port of Shelburne, Nova Scotia. By the instrument of affidavit hereinafter contained : Be it known and made manifest that John Daley, master of the schooner " Willie McGowan," belonging to the port of Shelburne, Nova Scotia, doth duly and solemnly swear and state as follows, that is to say : — That the said British schooner " NN'illie McGowan," a vessel of 116 tons, registered tonnage, schooner rigged, and having a crew of twenty-three persons all told, the vessel being tight, staunch and strong, well manned, victualled, and sound, and in every respect fit to perform the intended voyage. That the said British schooner " Willie McGowan " was regularly cleared in due form at the jiort of Victoria, British Columbia, in accordance with the laws of the Dominion of Canada, on the 14th day of May, 1892, for a voyage to the North Pacific Ocean and Okhotsk Sea, and having on board ballast and stores and hunting outfit. That the said schooner " Willie McGowan " sailed away under every prospect of a successful voyage ; that she proceeded to cruize on the waters of the North Pacific Ocean, pursuing her legitimate hunting on the open ocean, far beyond all limitation to hunting or fishing on the open high seas. That on the voyage northwards the said schooner " Willie McGowan " was boarded hy Lieutenant Williams, of Her Majesty's ship " Daphne," who warned the master of the said schooner " Willie McGowan " not to enter Behring Sea eastward of the line of demarcation, as set forth in the Order in Council," Behring Sea Act, 1891 ;" that the said Lieutenant Williams, of Her Majesty's ship "Daphne," informed the master of the said schooner "Willie McGowan " that there would be no interruption to his voyage to the westward of the line of demarcation, providing the master of the said schooner " Willie McGowan " kept sufficient distance from the land, which was understood to be 3 leagues. That the master of the said schooner '' Willie .McGowan," being desirous of obeying the law, and on tiie information conveyein(piest, resident foreign merchants. That the master of the said schooner " Willie McGowan," on behalf of himself and crew, re(iuested to know what would become of tlicin on their arrival at Petropavlovsk. Ca])tain de Levron informed him that an American barque was there, and that probably that vessel might take them to some part of America for 10 or 15 dollars each, providing a guarantee was made for payment. That at Petropavlovsk the master of the American barque " Majestic," finding that he could not get ready money, drew up a ])aper, which was signed by the officers and trews of each of the captured schooners, by which the master of the American barque "Majestic" agreed to take them to Puget Sound, and land them at some British or American port. That the stores which were to provision the crew on board the barque " Majestic " were given from the stores of the seized schooners by the captain of the cruizer " Zahiaka," as well as four boats were given belonging to the said schooner " Willie McGowan." There were four other boats and two canoes from the other seized schooners. That after being in Petropavlovsk nineteen days, during which time the master and crew of the said schooner " Willie McGowan," as well as the crews of the other seized schooners, which arrived later on, suffered every privation for want of food, clothing, and shelter, and in a deplorable condition were ordered on board the American barque " Majestic " by Russian marines with ritles and fixed bayonets, and in this condition sailed away for Puget Sound. That deprived of their clothing and other i)roper covering, were compelled to sleep in the hold and other uncomfortable jjlaees on board the American hartpie " ALnjestie." That the treatment on board the American banjuc "Majestic" was not such as should be given to distressed mariners returning to their homes helpless and destitute. That on the arrival of the barque " Majestic " in Royal Roads, liritish Columbia, the master of the said barque "Majestic" claimed the four boats of the said schooner "Willie McGowan," as well as the other boats and all extra provisions remaining unconsunied, which he had compelled the masters and the distressed crews to sign over to him, to become his property. That the said master of the American barque "Majestic" intends to claim some compensation from the British Government, to which the master of the said schooner " Willie McGowan " declares he is not in justice entitled to under the circumstances. 80 That the master, John Daley, docs solemnly and sincerely declare that the foregoing statement is correct, and contains a true account of the facts and circumstances attcndiii!; the seizure of the said British schooner " Willie McGowan," of .Sliclburne, Nova Scotia. Wherefore the said appearer, John Daley, master c f the said liritish sciiooner "Willie McGowan," on behalf of the owners of the said vessel, and on behalf of himself and crew, doth protest against the illegal interruption of his voyage, and seizure and confiscation of the said British schooner "Willie Mc(Jo\vau," her boats, guns, amniunitiun, sraall-arms, appurtenances, provisions, and seal-skins then on board. That the schedule hereunto annexed, and marked (.-\), is a true inventory and valuation of the actual loss sustained by the forcible seizure and confiscation of the said schooner; and on behalf of the owners and ail concerned, the said Jolni Daley, master of the said British schooner " Willie McGowan," appeals for restitution and damages to the full amount of the loss sustained. (Signed) JOHN DALEY, Master, schooner " iVillie McGowan." Sworn before me at Victoria, British Columbia, this (ith day of September, 18'J2. (Signed) A. 11. Milne, Collector cf < 'nsloms, Port of Victoria, B.C. In the matter of the seizure of the schooner " Willie McGowan." Port of Victoria, British Columbia. Affidavit. Thomas F. F. Mooro, a native of Nortii Sydney, Nova Scotia, and whose present residence is Victoria, British Columbia, ])ersonally apjjeared, and doth depose anrl say as follows : — That he joined the British schooner " Willie McGowan " at Cape Tonki to serve in the capacity of mate. That the schooner " ^^'illie McGowan" is a British schooner, registered at Sliclburne, Nova Scotia, and the master being John Daley, a native of Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, but whose present domicile is Victoria, British Columbia. That the said schooner "Willie McGowan" was manned with a crew of twenty-three persons all told, and staunch, strong, and well jirovisioned. That the voyage was without interruption until the said schooner " Willie McGowan " was to the westward of the line of demarcation as laid down under the Order in Council, "Behring Sea Act, 1891." That on the eveninj» of the 18th July last, whilst the said schooner "Willie McGowan" was under full sail and steering a course of south-east by south, no land being in sight, the weather being sufficiently clear to see at least 10 miles, saw a vessel at first supposed to be a schooner, but which, on approaching nearer, proved to be a steamer. That the steamer was the imperial Russian cruizer " Zabiaka " which fired a gun, the cruizer being then aslern'of the said schooner "Willie Mc(i()wan," the schooner's head sail was hauled down, the cruizer coniiug alongside within .'jO \ar(ls, and hailed the said schooner " Willie McGowan," demanding the schooner to lower her sails. That an armed boat's crew was sent from the llus>ian cruizer " Zabiaka," which, on boarding the schooner, searched the vessel tbroughovt, and ordered the master and the rest of the crew to hurry (juiekly into the boat of the cruizer " Zabiaka," and those of the crew who were slow were shoved and ])nshed over the vessel's rail in a rough manner by the marines, who were armed with rifles, bayonets, and revolvers. ^hat the crew of the said schooner "Willie McGowan" were taken on board of the Russian cruizer "Zabiaka," and the deponent, being mate, compelled to remain by the prize crew sent on board the said schooner "Willie AlcGowan" from the Russian cruizer "Zabiaka." That the said schooner "AVillie McGowan" was taken ir: tow by the cruizer "Zabiaka," which towed the said schooner "Willie McGowan" for about ten hours; the tow-line parting, the cruizer "Zabiaka" steamed away. The said schooner " Willie McGowan " with the prize crew on board and the deponent who was compelled to help navigate the said schooner, arrived at I'etropavlovsk on the 27th July last. That the next morning the deponent was ordered on shore by the officer in command of the prize crew on board the said schooner " Willie McGowan," and on landing hunted 4 m u]) tlie mnstcr of the schooner, John Daley, who informed the deponent that things were very rouf;h, for they h.id notliin^ to eat, nnd that the men were on llie ])oint of starvation, and thing's wi're hard with tiie deponent until he pot temporary emi)loytncnt lillitif; water tanks and l)arrils for tiie Anuriean Imrquc " Majestic," gettinj; nothing as wa2;es, hut niilv rutcivcd cnoiiuli to cat and a place to slec)i. 'i'liat the rest of the crew of the sciiooner " Willie Mcrjowau" found some temporary employment in dini^in^ hallast from the hill for the American l)ar(pic " Majestic," getting aliDut 80 cents |)er day, which was to go to huy piovisions to feed the crews, which were fuH'crintc for want of food. I'iiat the prize crew on the said schooner "Willie McCiowan" a])propriatcd tiie luisonal clothing of the crew and the deponent, such clothing heing worn hy the prize erew. That the condition and treatment of the distressed crews at Petropavlovsk was as bad as it could be. (Signed) THOMAS F. B. MOORE. Sworn before me, this 8th day of September, 1802. (Signed) A. K. Mir.Ni:, Collcrlor of Custnms. Sir, Victoria, B.C., September 8, 18^)2. As requested by yon, we have measured the distance on the Chart of IJehring Sea, as given hv yon, showing the exact [.s/r] where the three JJritish schooners were seized hy the Russian crui/.cr " Zal)iaka." Schooner " Willie MeOowan," latitude 5T .''jO' north, longitude 107° .W east, a distance of 42,', miles from ('opjier Island, the nearest land. Schooner "Rosie Olsen," latitude 54° 24' north, longitude 1G5" 40' east, a distance of .38 miles from Behring Island, the nearest land. Schooner "Ariel," latitude .04° 10' north, longitude lG7M0'east, a distance of 30 miles from C'op|)er Island, the nearest land. Yours respectfully, (Signed) JAS. GAUDIN. To the Collector of Customs, J. C. COX. Victoria, B.C. (A.) rAKTicrLAiis of Claim made by the owners of the Schooner "Willie McGowan," of Slielburne, Nova Scotia, 11.5 tons register, which vessel was seized on the 18th July, 18!)2, in latitude .OS 50' north, longitude 1G7 .'iO' cast, by the Imperial Russian ('ruizer " Zabiaka." Value of the Fcliooiicr . . , . . , 7 i)ciiits, v.ilue 120 (Icillars cnnli .. .. Oullits for l)onts, oars, tails, SiC, 7 oiitfii* at 20 dollars Outfit of Rclioonor— Salt, 10 tons, at 14 dollars per ton . . , . Coal, 10 tons, at 7 dol. 2.5 e. per Ion ., Ammunition . . Plop elicst . . Chronomitcrs, 1 at 100 dollars, 1 at 12,') dollnrs. . Insurnnec on 12,000 dollar^ at 4 per rent. l'rovi>ions .. .. Pliip-tliiindlery nnd ship's stores ., films — 2 rifles, at 25 dollars eaeli .. , , l;! Parker sliol-j;uns, at (iO dollnrs caeli 1 brass eannon . . . . . . > , Wages — I'aid mnster, hunters, and crow , . Senl-sliins — 73 on hoard when sehooner seized, at M dollnrs each Total claim Dol. e. 840 00 140 00 140 CO 72 50 182 ■M 145 00 225 00 480 00 2,000 00 410 89 50 00 780 00 100 00 Dol. e. 10,000 00 980 00 (Signed) .1,061 09 930 00 1,952 67 1,022 00 18,546 26 JOHN DALEY, Master. 81 Report Outwards, No. 927. — Port of Virtoria. Contents in tlic schooner "Willie McGowan," registered tonnage 11.1. Registered in port of Sliclliiirno, Nova Scotia, with twenty-three men, J. Daley, master, lor this present voyage for North I'acitic Ocean and Okhotsk Sea. Cargo Ions weight, tons nieasureiiicnt. (Signed) ]{. P. RiTiiKT and Co. (Limited), Aijent.t. tfarka and Numbers. Slil])pcre (iuiiMtity mill r)('icri|itinn of (iodds. liiilhiit and stores ;iMd hunting outfit. Value. ConsiKnces. I, John Daley, n-aster of the vessel ahove named, do declare that the contents above written, now tendered and snhscrihed by me, is a just and true account of all the goods laden on board my vessel (or the present voyage, and of the names of the respective shippers and consignees of the said goods, and of the marks and numbers of the jjackages containing the same. (Signed) JOHN DALEY, Master or Purser. Signed, scaled, and delivered before me, at llic Custom-house, port of Victoria, the 13lhday of May, 1892. (Signed) J. Ahmstuoxo, Collector. In the matter of the seizure of the British schooner " Willie McGowan " by the Russian cruizer "Zabiaka." I, John Daley, of the city of \'ictoria, in the Province of British Columbia, master of the above-named schooner " Willie ilcGowan," do hereby solemnly declare: — My vessel is a liritish vessel, rci;isfcred at Shelburne, Nova Scotia, at 115 tons; cannot tell date. It is owned by W. 11 Moore and Co., of North Sydney, Ca|)c Hreton. Uave been in command of said .'ichoon -r i'lce leaving North Sydney, from which pi^rt I cleared on the 2nd l)ecc:i;b r, I'^'Jl, liouii i for Xictoiia, British Columbia. Arrived at said port about the 2nd May, 181)2. Cl>;i'vd at the Customs at said port on the Kit'i May for a voyage of hunting an'! ■tu'.ng in tiie North Pacific Ocean, with a crew of twenty-three, all told. I sealed alony ihe Vancouver l.-land coast, sjjoko several vessels along this coast while so doing, and about the 2!st June was hailed by llcr .Majesty's slii|) "Daphne," was boarded by oiKcer Williams (Lieutenant) of that ship, who showed me the line marked on the chart as to the dis|)Uled limits of the jurisdiction of the American Government in Beluing Sea. He also warned me in writing in my official Itjg-book not to enter said sea under penalty of seiziiic. 1 asked him what about that part of the sea west- ward of the seas in dispute between the English and the Americans. He said, " Provided you keep the projjcr limits I don't know of any danger." 1 understood by that, and by what the Customs authorities at Victoria told me, thai if 1 ke])t outside the .'5-league limit of the Russian territory I would be sale in scaling from molestation by the Russian Government. I then sailed touaids the Connnander Islands, which are Copper and Behring Islands, in the North Pacific Ocean. On the 18th day of July, 1S92, about .'J^O p.m., latitude ."53' 50' north, and longitude lf)7° 50' east, or near thereabouts, a Russian cruizer (man-of-war), called the '• Zabiaka," tired a shot alongside, she being in the rear, and overtaking us, and brought us to, catne alongside (about 50 yards off), and an oflicer ou board other spoke to me and told me to lower all my sails, iuul I then lowcicd my sails (at the time that the order was given I saw that it was a Kussian vessel by her flag) without resistance or delay. The ollicer then had a boat lowered, which being tilled with officers and marines (having fixed bayonets and revolvers) came alongside us, and all boarded my vessel so w I i armed. I usked tlie first man wlio boarded, who was an ofTiccr, in Enqlisli, if he wanted to see the ship's papers, and wiiat husiness lie iiad with rne. In answer, he said, iii Kn-.-'ia'], lliat I would have to take n»y sliip's i)apers and the crew on l>oar(l the "/..ihiaka." I nsla-d him if he intended to seize my vessel. He wid be didn't think -.), but I would li:ive to ^o aboard and see the Ca[)tfiin. In the meantime tiie odicers and marines wire putting my crew down by force into the boat without u;i\in;,' tiiem time to j,'i.'t tlicir clothes or anything eNe heloniiintj to them. 1 Hint to my eahin and ;;ot the ship's papers ane Captain of the " Zabiaka" sciit for me as heim,' the master. I >vas conducted along the deck by armed oliicers and MiaiiMes to ins odice, my eiew being sent alon^ fbrwartains, nii'I the crews ol' (he seized vessels. It is, I believe, ii; the handwriting of Cajitain Lorenizen's daugliter. We were obliged to sign this agreement in order to get passage bark, being t.ild liy Captain Lorentzeii that if we did not sign he would not taki' us back. Shortly after the signing, which was done on shore, De Levron surrounded ourselves and crews with armed olficers, marines, and Cossacks, and iliDve us on hoard ol bis own boats and thence on boro'd the '' Majestic.'' We (the four captains) thinking that we had not e'Hiugh ml ions to bring our men back safely, went ashore to buy 'iome more provisions with some money we had amongst us, as well as to get some clotlies. The Cossiicks and nuirines at first prevented us fiom landinu:, hut aftcr.vards were persuaded to allow us to land and get our clothes and some provisions, wliieh we did. (.)n the next day, the Dtli August, the banjuo "Majestic" set sail for some I'ugct i^iound port, according to the agreement. When we got to within ti miles of Victorio three of us captains (myself being one) and Cttptaia Lorcntzen, with four men, came nshore in a boat, when we there got n tug. 3S :iiul towinji Lorcntzcn's boat back, ictuiiicd witb ourselves and erews ashore, wliicli was on the evchiiif,' of the .'KJtli August, 1892, On arrival, 1 and tiic otiicr masters reported to the L Hector of Customs at Victoria, .Mr. .Mihie, the seizure and contiscatioii of oiu' vessels, skins, and tackle liy the " Znbiaka," (lur detention at Petropavlov.sk, add the manner of onr return to Victoria, all as herein contained. At no time dnrinn- the whole voyajvc was my vessel nearer to lliissiau territory than '■W miles, nor at any time (on the day of seizure or otherwise) did I myself or my men or any of them engage in sealing; or attem|)t to do so within 20 miles of any R-issian territory. Now shown to me, and marked l'>hibit (IVi, is a paper wliicii was given to me by the t'a])tain of the "Zahiaka," at the same lime that he gave me Exhibit (.\), saying that it was a copy of a statement diawn up hy him as to the seizure. Now shown to me, and marked ICxhihit (D), is a document written by a hunter on hoard of the "Ariel," under my instructions, and is a protest duly signed hy me at I'etropavlovsk against the seizure and eoiiliscation of the schooner '" Willie .McCiowaii," hir tackle and skin^, as therein ap]ieais. a copy of which I gave to the (Jovernor. .^t the end ( f ICxhilat (D) is an acknowledgment, written in ]{ussian, of the receipt of a copy of said prote>t, signed by a eleik or deputy of the Ciovernor of l'etro|)avlovsk. And I make this solemn doelaralion, conscientiously believing the same to be true, and In virtue of the "Act lespeeting Kxtra-Judicial Oaths." (Signed) JOHN DALEY. Diclared before me, at the city of Victoria, in the Province ol British Columbia, this "illi day of September, \.\\ ]s'.)2. (J-igncd) Airniuii G. S.mitii, Notuii/ Public, Baitish Columbia. (A.) 'I hi.- is Mxhihit (A) to the declaration of John Daley, taken helore nie at the city of \ ietoria, IJiitish Columbia, this yth day of Se|il(.mber, a.o. 1^'J2. (Signed) Aimii i: (i. S.Mim, Noldry I'ulilir, llrilish Cohiiiiliiii, I'lolocul ill (tun tip (III llic Ijtlt .lull/, I'SDJ, Oil board the Cruizcr " Zitbittlm," ^'IVaii>lation.) On the (itli July, 1 '.n', at ;'j\')U I'.M., in latitude .') I -T* luirlh, and loiigi:udr Ki? 27 east, there was seen on ihe hori/on, two points to the ri;;ht of the course of the eruizer •• /.ibiakr,," which was going in the diiietion of |ioint 7J south-east, and at a ilist.ince of from to (1 iiiiU's from the ernizer, a sailing-vc-el niuler easy sail, and the Counnaiuler of the eruizer. Captain ol' l!ie 2nd Class lions Kariovitcli de Levron, gave orcK'rs to make for her, In a short tm:e it was noticed by the ernizer that tlu' vessel was setting imnv sail and was making away from her with little wind. The cruizcr increased her s|ieed to 11 knots, and a blank shot was fi'.vd from a D-poundcr; but the jvessel continued her course. At ' I'.M., when within half-a-miU: ol" tlie vessel, a second blank shot was tired, after which the vessel's topsail and storm shiysail were lowered and she turned to the wind, rumiinu' up the English inerehant llag. FiiU'en minute- later the ernizer wa.s within a cable's length of the vessel. ;\ boat with Lieiitenaiu I'aujeroK, Mid.shipmen ICuziii and /elenetskv, and an armed ciew was sent to the vessel, on whicii liientenant i'anjerotr, .Midshipman Knzin, one (piarlermaster, and ten men were left to (alu' her to Ihe port of I'elii.pavlovsk, whil" the ma-^ter and Ihe greater part (twenty-nne) of the crew were taken into the boat and brought to the cruizcr by Mul>hipman /.elciutsky, who reported that, the vessel had been sealing iill the shores of Copper Isla.'ul, and that a certain number of skins had been lound in the hohl. 'i'he Commander cliiilil from the master that there were on hoard his vessel re.il-skins which had been obtained oil' the shores ol the Commander Isk.iids, but the master said that be had never been told by any one tbul >ealiiig was not allo'>''d ill Russian waters. In rejily to the Cai.nmander's cpicslion as tn why he tried to eseapi' i.')m the ernizer hy [mtting on more !.ail, llic nu.stei said, *• 1 thought an Ameriean cruizcr was after mc." [COl] 1-2 36 Tlie Commander informed tlic master tliat lie was under arrest and lliat liis vessel was seized. Tiic vessel was taken in tow, and the ci'uizer made tor I'etropavlovsl;. The ship's papers were taken from the master. Tiie following particulars are taken from them : — The two-masted schooner " Willie McGowan," IIT) tons, under the British flag, and commanded by John Daley, left A'ictoria, British C'olunihia, on the 3rd .lunc, to fish in Behring Sea and the Sea of Okhotsk. The crew consisted of twenty-two men he>i(les the captain. Seven of these received no regular ])uy, but were to be paid according to the number of seal-skins obtained. The captain and crew offered no oi)position. (Signed) Lieutenant NASONOFF. LAKirrrN. JJKZKKOVNY. AHNANTOFF. Captain (2nd Class) DF ],KVKON. .JOHN ;)\LEV. Declaration of the Master, John Daley. (Translation.) Not having been aware that I was doing injury [or "had done injury''] to any Government, and being at the time of my arrest in latitude .l-'i SO' north and h)ni,itude 1G7° r)0', and not understanding this paper, I record my protest. (Signed) JOHN DALKY, ^[ust!!r nf the ciijiturcd Hchnoner " ]\UHe MiGinnin." July 20, 1892. A true copy : (Signed) Lieutenant Bezkuovnv, AiuMtor of the 2)1(1 C/«,v.s Cruizer ' Zahialai." (B.) This is Exhibit "B' to the declaration of .John Daley, taken before me at tlie eily of Victoria, British ("olunibia, this .''ith day of September, a.d. 1n9"_'. (Signed) Airrui'ii G. Smith, Notary Pidilir, British Coliimliia, Order drawn up on lionrd the 2nd ChiKH Cruizer " Zaiiiuha," in the linadstead nf i'elrnp.irlor.sli, (Translation.) Whereas a Protocol was drawn uji on the Gth .Julv last by a C'oMunis.^ion appointed by my order on the 28th ,)une (No. (JO), in leiiiird to (he seared of the schooner " Willie McCjowan;" and whereas a Notice was published by the luipirial Kussian (iovcrnmciit in 1881, and whereas Regulations were issued bv the (iovcrnor-tu'iuial of Fa^t^rn Siberia on the 1st November, ISS.') (No. 1 171 ), and whereas JnstructiDUs were given Id tlu cniizer by the Commandant of the port ol X'ladivostock on the '-'L'nd April, ls'.)2 (No. 1 rj5), I, Boris Karloviteh de Jjevioii .''.rd, a Captain ol' I Ik 2nd class, and the ConinuuuUr of the aforesaid erui/er, have ordered as follows, on this IStli day of .July, iNili : — 1. The schooner " Willie iMc(iowi'.n" is to be confiscated and sent to N'ladivosloek under the command of J^iieulenant I'.iujerod. 2. The master and crew are to be sent into the town of IVtropavlovsk, imd allo.icd to return to their native country. 3. A complete inventory of the schooner is to be diawn up o<\ hjf arrival at I'etropavlovsk. -I. Such part of the carRo as would sp(jil by keeping, .(.- W'll us ,!' ire boats and tackle, shall be sold by auction iit the port oi' Pelro[)a>'.ov.-',;, f;r ilie i/cnelit of the Government. 6. 'Ihc seul-skiuH shall he handed over to the Mead of the District of the Connnander Islands against his receipt. i .-37 and (luit his vessel lor l'i'tro])iivl()vsl\. ai'S ave I a ken (Voiii lie IJrilisli flaj;, and (1 J'.iiic, to fish ill ivo men i)e>i(le.s the id accordiiiir to the C>. The present Order is to he coninnmicated to the proiicr authorities. 7. Captain Daley .sliall receive copies otllie i'rotoeol and liie present Order. (Signed) DE LI':\']{()N :h>l, (.JaiiUmi of llin '2iul CVfls.s', CniiniKindor (if ilir 2;irf Class Cruizer " Zuhlnku." A trnc co|)y : (Signed) Lieutenant Bkzkuovnv, Auditor. I A SO NO IT. AKllTIN. IKZKROVNY. ■ RXANTOFK. (H l.KVRON. OIIN ;!\LEV. (C.) Tiiis is Exhihit " C " to the declaration of John Daley, taken before nie at the city of Victoria, British Columbia, this ijtb day of Sei)ten(bcr, a.d. 1892. (Signed) AiiTiiuii G. S>riiir, Notiiry Public, British Cnluinhia. ; injury "] to any )rth and loiii^itude \LKY, mil' McGnwiiii." (' at tli(; eitv of Rniiil.it I'ud of nisNion np|)ointcd sciiodiier " Willie I ( lovcniiiient in ')ii-ti III Siheria on II ti) tliv,' criii/er ML' (No. 1 t ■-'■)), 'oiiiiiiaiuli'r ol' the to Nhidivo^locU jvsli, iind all'r.ved 'I I'^r arrival at »^i ire boats and e oenelit of the the Coinniander Vint of Pctropiirlur.^k, Kamschntkn, Russia. "" 'i'his agr cnient is hereby made and entered into by and between N. C. Lorentzen, of the /\iiieiiean barcpn- " M'liestie," of San Francisco, party of the hrst part, ond officers and news of the ('i.nadian sehoi 'lers " Willie MeGowan," of Shelburiie, " Kosic Olsen " and "Ariel," of Victoria, now cnptured by a Russian cruizer and detained in this port, parties of the second part : — 1. 'J'iie said master of the barque "Majestie" ai^rees to receive on board the said li;u(|iie, as jiasseniijcis, the said parties of Mie secor.d part, and convey them to some I'liuet Sound p) t (American or Canadian), at the option of the muster of the barque '' .Majestic." 2. 'J'he said master of the baitpie ".Majestic" does not agree to furnish said pii'iseiiirers witii any other accommodation than as may be fijiind in the hold of said liiir(pie, nor with any provisions, water, or other stores, except such as have been or shall yet be put on board by said passeiifiers, or for their benefit and behoof by the Commander iif the ernizer " /abiaka," their captor. .'). If throuijb any stress of weathir or other accident incidental to the danger 'i I ;»vir;ation, the master of said imnpie should deem it necessary to ])ut in and land said t.:i. s( iigcrs at any other port, the said barcjiie or her owner shall not be held res|)onsiblc to ■^ .'(I passeiiyers for anytliiiiLr. 4. As the said oliiceis and crew of said schooners " Willie McOowan," "Ariel,'' and iu)>ie Olsen " are left in this port destitute and disti'Cssed, and as there is no Reprc- n'lU.ihvc of the (iovernment here, or witliin the reach ef commimieution, they do hereby ii' earnestly recjuest and petition the Government of the Dominion of Canada to p:i\ the owner of said banpic " .Majestic," or his order, such sum as may be rij^ht Cor their passaij'c home. T). 'I"he said ])asseni;ers hereby liind themselves to the said master of the barque "Majestic," or to whoever shall f;o a- master, to submit re>|)eettully to be governed by such orders and eiiminaiids as he may give lor the peace, safely, and good order of all on liiiai'd, and at all limcM to give their aid in pr( serving onier, or doing anything he (the master) may deem necessary for the eominon good. Also to abide by his directions for the serving out of |lrovi^il;lls and water, and never to take any provi>ions or water except as served out to them. Also to regard all provisions put on board for the bcnciit of captured crews as li'liiiiging alike to each and all. (i. In ea^e of any crimes or distill hauces oecuriing on board by any of said passengers. Ilie matter sb.ill In; decided by a Hoard of three, eoin|iosed of the master of jind bar(|uu ami two of the ollicers of the captured sehooiieis, Ij he appointed by him; and any decision given by such Board we do hereby promise and agree to abiile by without any appeal or recourse to any Court, and without holding said barque or her owngr rcspoilsiblu llierefor hereafter. 7. 'I'be water-casks, stovos, eookiiig-vessels, boats, and oars ttow on board said barcjUO " Majestic," and I'uruished by said crui/.er " Zabiakii " out of the captured scalers, are the property of said baniue " Majestic," as also imy stores that may remain over wliei; the trip is ended. 38 Here tlieii follo.v tl>c sii^nuturcs of master, odicCiS, ami crew of" Willie .McGowmi," " Ariel;' ami " llosio Olscn."^ Dated ot Pelropavbvsk, 8tii August, 189'J. (Signed) N. C. LORKNTZKX, Alii.ster uf the Barque " Miiji'slic." (D.) This is lv\liibit (D) to tlie dcelanition of .lolin Daley, taken l)cf(jre nie at the city oi Vicloiin, i'lritisli Columbia, tiiis olli clay of i^cptcmbcr, a.d, ISyi. (Signed) AuriiiFR G. Smith, Xolari/ Piililic, nriti-th Colmnlilii. Be i; •.•."-■' pred that I, John Dak'j', master of the Uritish schooner "Willie McGowan, i , "d at Shelburne, Nova .Scotia, Dominion of Canada, of the rcgi>teriil tonnage of II . i-i or thereabouts, which was seized and captured by the lnipciiil Russian cruizcr " /«d)iaka" on the 18tli day of July, a.d. 18'J2, iu latitude .O > .')t)' noitli, and longitude 1(>T 50' cast, or tiicrcabouts, do hereby most earnestly and solemnly l)rotest :— 1. Against the seizure of said schooner upon the high seas. 2. Against the retention by the said cruizcr, or her Commander or olliccrs, of the said schooner "Willie MeGowan," her outtit, furniture, or cargo. 3. I also specially and particularly protest against the seizure and retention by the said " Zabiaka," or her oiKcers, of any of the personal cll'eets of myself, my olliccrs, or crew. Dated at I'ctropavlovsk, Kamtchatka, this 5tli day of August (2ttii July). (Signed) ■ JOHN DALKY, Mash.;; Jhlllsli Schooner " Willie McGoirau." (Translation.) I have received a copy of this )>rotest this day, 'iMi July, Petropavlovsk. (l"or the Head Ulhcer of the District), (Signed) AvuoiENKO, Assistant, In the matter of the seizure of the schooner " Willie McGowan "Zabiaka." '' by the lliissi.ui crui/.^T ■i I, C liarles II. White, of the city of \''ictorlii, in the Province of Hritisli (.!olunibi.i, seal-hunter, do soleumly declare as follows : — I was engaged as a scal-hmilcr on board the said schooner. On the I'^lli day ol July, IS!) J, about .'"> v.M., I sighted a steamer following us. Wo put on all sail, hut the steamer lu'pt overtaking us and (ired a blank shot, but in what direction 1 do imt know. 'I'he Captain (Daley) then came up and told us to go below, so as not to make ^i big crowd on deck. We went below, and about ten minut(!S afterwards I hearil a sIku'|) si'.ot, then I heard the captain giving orders to heave-to. Then I came on deck and tlu' vessel was hove up head to the wind, and the st''amer came up on our weather bow, closi.' enough to hail us, probably about .OO yards or so away. An ollicer on the bridge of the steamer, which was Russian by her flag, sung out to us to lower all sails, which was done immediately. Then a boat came over from the steamer with three olIicer.s ami about fiftc'.n nunines on board, ;dl armed with rilles and bayonets, \ipon our lee side, boardeil Us, and two of the otlieers went down into the cabin and the marines scattered along the deck. The oflicers came up and told Daley to come down and show them the hold, and when they came U|), which was about live or ten minutes afterwards, one of the ollieer.i spoke in Kussian to the oflieer left on the boat. 'J'hcii the ollicer on the boat, beckoning to Daley, said, " Cai)taiii, 30m' papers;" to which Daley answered, "You waur my papers r" To which the ollicer ri plied, " Yes, and yoiU'self also." Then we were all driven oft' the deck by tiic marines with fixed bayonets iiito th-j boat and lakcMi over to the steamer without being allowed to take anything but what we had on. W'c were then ull formed in line on deck and counted, uud the marines, ordered by the ollieers, as 1 believe, searched ull of us and took uwuy our knives and matches, which were never rs, oi' the said ft9 ului'iicd to nie or some of the others. We were then nil niavchoil forward, except the (uptiiiii, wl;erc we stayed on deck about one houi', not hciiv^ allowed to go hciow. Then one of the petty officers beckoned to us to follow down IkIow between decks, which we (lid, and there found the crew of the " C. IJ. \\ hile." from whom we -ot soinethiiif^ to (at, which was all we got the.t night. We slept on the lockers, some of us on conts loaned us by the crew of the steamer, and .some (.n hoaids. The nc.\t day wo got only hard rye bread and weak coffee for breakfast ; for dinner, soup, witii grease stewed in it, .salt beef, and h.ird tack ; for supjicr a sort of porridge was given us, which none of us could tat. The above was the dailv fare until we got to I'etropavlovsk, and until we got ashore. All my jiroperty that 1 had on board, to the value of about GO dollars, outside of some clothes that I managed to get together, it having been taken oul of my berth and -faltered around by the Russians, was, I believe, stolen or appropriated by the " Zabiaka'.s " oilicers or marines. The account of the tieatnu'ut that we received at I\ trojiavlovsk and on board the " Majestic," as apjiears by the statement, made the 5th day of Se|itembcr, of John Daley, oar master, which I have read, is correct and accurate in all jiarticnlais. At no time during the whole voyage up to the lime of seizme did I mvself or any of the other members of t!ic crew engage in sealing, or attempt to do so, within at least I.') miles of Russian territory. And I make this «oleinn declaration eonscicntion.sly believing the same to be true, and I'v virtue of the "Act respecting K.xtra-.Tudicial Oaths." (Signed) CHARLES II. WHITE, Declared before nie at the city of Victoria, in the Province of British ColumbiD, this ijth (lay of September, 18it2. (Signed) Artiiuu G. Smith, Nolcny Public, BritLih Cohmhi'i. (Seal.) issiau crui/.or In the matter of the seizure of the British schooner " Willie McGowan " bv tlie Russian cruizer " Zabiaka." I, TlioniHS Frederick Bernard Moore, of North Sydney, Cape Breton, do solemnly declare as follows ; — 1 shipped as mate on the above-named schooner. I have read tiie declaration of .lohn Daley), master of the above-named schooner, made the 5th day of Septcmlwr, 1892, .i;'.;! hereby cimlirni the first two pages thereof as being true and accurate in all respects, and the remainder thereof, as fur as the facts therein stated, are within my personal knowledge. 1 was tlie only member of the crew of the " Willie .Mctiowan '' that was left on the schooner witii the Russian prize ercw. l)n the way to I'etropavlovsk, after the hawser parted (as stated in the said (Icclaratinn of John Daley), 1 had a conversation with tin; otliccr who was ..ec(md in com- niaiui of tfie prize crew, and who was the only onr of the said ci'cw who could speak I'jiglish so as to be understood by each other. 1 asked him by what right the schooner had been seized, and he replied that be didn't know. 1 asked what the limits of the Hiissiun watcis were, and he said, " All the Kamtchafka Sea." .\t this time we had lielon! us a Russian Chart of the North I'acilic Ocean, and he ponded out on the ('hart as the Kanitchatka Sea what on our Ciiarts is marked as part of the North I'acitic Ocean. .As lie pointed them out on the Chart, the limits of this Kamtclmtka .Sea embraced the whters hctwecn the line inclosing the disputed waters known as the Bchring .Sc.i and the Russian mainland, and as far south as the Kurile Straits. He said that these waters were all Russian, and he further said that the Russians would seize all schooners found within those limits. And I make this solemn declaration conscientiously believing the same to be Irue, and by virtue of tho "Act respecting E.xtra-.Iudicial (Jaths." (Signed) 'J'HOMAS V. B. MOORK. Declared before me at the city of Victoria, in the Province of British Columbia, this 8tli day of September, a.b. 18'J2. (Signed) Aktiiuh G. Smith, Nolanj Public, liriliuli Volumhut. (Seal.) 4.a In the matter of the seizure of the schooner " Rosie Olscn." AffidavU. On the 6th day of September, in tlic year of our Lortered at the port of Victoria, British Columbia. J3y tlie instrument of atfidavit iieieinafter contaiiicd — Be it known and nade manifest that Miciiael Kcefe, master of the schooner "Rosie Olsen," belouijing to llie port of Victoria, Bii'isb Coluiniiia, doth duly and solemnly swear and state as follows, tiiat is to say : that the said I'ritisli schooner " Rosie Olsen," a vessel of iW tons registered tonnage, scliooiicr rii;s5e(l, and havin,:; a crew of six white men and sixteen Indians, the vessel beiiii; tii;ht, stauncli, ar.d strong, well maimed, viclufllled, and sound, and in every res|ect fit to perform the intended voyage. That the said British sciionncr " Hosic Olsen" was regularly cleared in due form at the port of Victoria, Biitisli Columbia, in accordance with the laws of the Oominion of Canada, on the 4th day of Tebruary, lHtl2, for a voyage to the Korlli Pacific Ocean, and having on board ballast and stores, and hunting outfit. That the said schooner " Hosie Olsen" sailed away under every prospect of a success- ful voyage, and that she jiroceeded to cruize on the waters of the North Pacific Ocean, pursuing her legitimate hunting on the open ocean, far beyond any limitation to hunting or fishing on the open high seas. That on the Ptii day of June the said schooner " Kosie Olsen " was boarded by a Lieutenant from the United States' cruizer " Adams," who warned the master of tiie said schooner " Rosie Olsen " not to enter Behriiig Sea, and showed the snaster of the said schooner "Rosie Olsen " a Chart of the Behring Sea, with the line of demarcation marked in red, and if caught sealing to the east of said line his vessel would be seized ; and when the master of the said schooner " Rosie ( Jlsen " int'ormed the Lieutenant of the said United States' cruizer "Adams" that he was going over to the west of the lino towards the Commander Islantii- and was then informed by the Lieutenant of the said United States' cruizer "Adams" that he thought there was no danger of seizure by the Russians providing the master of the said schooner " Rosie Olsen " did not get ton near the shore, and when usked what the limit «-as, the said Lieutenant replied, " (io where you like as long as you keep clear of the cast of that line, or outside the S-miU; hunt of the Aleutian Islands." On the 9tli day of June last the master of the said schooner " Rosie Olsen " was hailed by the United States' steamer " Mohican," and \\arMe other for the Indians. That the ^kin^ of the said schooner " llosie Olsen ' were landed at licbiini; Island, , jmbci'iii^' :>77. and the master of the said schooner " Kosic Olsen "' was informed by the 'Governor ol I'dirinu Island, who was in cbar|j;o of the Russian Fur Company's steamer, •|i;it the skins would be sent to l/)udon, and sold lor the benefit of the Russian Govcrn- 'HMIt. That the Governor of Belnin;; Island did not e.\hibit or show any document or paper liupovtin.; to be anv autlu rity Ironi the Russian (Jovcrnment, and the vessel appeared to •lie said niaslei'. Michael Keefe, to he only a tradin;; vessel, but with a crew suflicicntly 'iMue to overpower the crew of the said schooner " Rosi(! Olscn," no resistance being -liown by the said schooner, as the master was informed by the olHcer in command of the -.iiil Russian l"ur Comijanv's steamer " Kolik '' that if resistance was shown I is \ esse! ". ould be run down. That sufficient ])rovisions were taken out of the schooner at Belnini; Island to supply '!,e crew of the schooner until they icaclicd i'etropavlovsk, at me earnest recjucst and ■olicitation of M, Malvanonsky, a resident foreign merchant, and who formerly resided • \ ictoria, British Columbia. That the Russian Fur Company's traning steamer " Kotik," with the master and iiwof the said schooner " Rosie Olsen " arrived at I'etropavlovsk, on board of which \,is .M. Malvanonsky, who, on arrival there, went on sliore to see the Governor, leaving !he master and crew ol' the said s( hooner "Rosie Olscn" on board. On icturning M. Malvononskv repotted that the (Tovernor did iiot seem to know or care wliat became 'l' them on goiiii; on shore. That the master, Michael Keefe, of the suid schooner "Rosie Olsen,'' was tlucatencd with personal violence by otlicials of the Russian (iovernment at Petropavlovsk \ he did not deliver u|i his chronometer, nautical itistrum nts, charts, and other |)eisonal property and effects for the use and bcnotit of Captain dc Levion, the commanding illiccr of the Imperial Russian eruizcr " Zubiaka," on threats of being' flo.'ged (declined 'o deliver them up). That the crew of the said schootier " Rosie Olsen," while in Petro|)avlovsk, were in i dejilorable condition for watit of food and clotbltig, and got no sup|)lics from the Russian 'i»licials, sid)sisting otily on tlie food tliey brought with them on leaving their schootier. That on arrival ot the master and crew at I'etropavlovsk, on the information and intercession of the bcfore-nientioned M. Malvanonsky, ii foreign resident merchant, who vaitcd on the Governor of I'etropavlovsk, who, for some rciison best known to him, licelined to take cognizance of the seizure, and would have nothing to do with the seized ' hooiier, her iiinster, crew, and uutfit. On further representation being made by the iiiMinander of the Russian Fur Company's trading steanior "Kolik" to the Commander, De I.evron, of the Russian crnizer •' Zabiaka," who also declined to have anything to do villi the seized schooner, l.cr nuisler, ciew, or outtit, bill placed a man-ol-war's man on 'iiiard, and | iH-veiUrd the master and iiiiy of the crew going on board the said seized -' hooiier " Rosi<' Dlseii." 'I'hat at l*ctro|)avlovsk, after einiuriiig hardship, and being desirous ol' ie;iching ■iiiine, the cicw biing poorly clad, wiliiont shelter and little food, ihe master of tln^ said " Kosic Olsen, " conjointly with the masters of the other seized sehooneis, made an •irrangemeiit with the master of the American barcpie "Majestic" to grant passage to "■iinie I'uLiet Sound or Bi'itish port. Tliut as bey bad iio ri'ady mimiy, luid the uiasler of the .\tneriean bar([Uv.: " .Maji'slic " ''eiuu' veiy exacting, drew up a paper, which was signed by the ollicers and crew ol each iif the eaplured scliooners, wliieh in fad they were ready to give away an\ thing, and almost evrrythiiiir, to enable them to return to their homes. 'I'hal alter biing at i'etro|)avlovsk twelve days, were ]H'rcini)torily ordcK ^1 on board llie .Aiiurican baripie " Majestic" by Russian tnariies, with rillcs and bayonets. That the stores wliieh were uiven to provision the crews on board the banpic [Mi] G 42 " Majestic " were given in from the stores of the seized schooners by the order of the C!i|itaiii of the cruizer "Zabiuka," and did not cost the muster of the American barque, "Majestic" one cent, and the seized crews oven tilling iiis water tanks and barrels suflicifnt tor a voyage of forty-five days, and tiiat also one boat and two canoes were taken for the seized sciiooncr " Rosic Olsen," also one stove and otlier articles. That tlic crews deprived of portions of tiicir clothing were compelled to sleep in the hold and other nneonifortable places on board the barque " Majestic," and the treatment uiiilst on board that vessel was not sueli as might be uiven to distressed mariners returning to their homes helpless and destitute. That on tho arrival of the banjue " Ahijestic " in Royal Roads, Victoria, I'iritish Colundiia, the master df the said barcpic "Ahijestic" claimed all the boats, stoves, and all extra provisions remaining unconsunied after a siiort passage of twenty-one days (he lu'ing i)rovisioncd for foity-live), having stipulated in writing with the crew that those articles would become his jiroperty, and winch agreement was arranged as the distressed crews bad no other course to pursue. That tiie master, Michael Keele, does solemnly and sincerely swear that that tlie foregoing statement is correct, and contains a true account of the facts and circumstances attending the seizure of the said British schooner "Rosic Olscn," of Victoria, British Columbia. Wherefore the said appearcr, Michael Keefe, master of the said Ihitish schooner •' Rosie Olsen," on behalf of the owners of the said vessel and on behalf of himself and crew, doth protest against the illegal interruption of his voyage, and seizure and confisca- tion of the said British schooner " Rosie Olsen," her boats, guns, annimnition, small-arms, appurtenances, provisions, and seal-skins then on board. That the sciiedule hereunto annexed and marked (A) is a true inventory and valuation of the actual loss sustained by the forcible seizure and confiscation of the said schooner ; and on belialf of tiie owners and all concerned, t!ie said Michael Keele, master of the !-.iid British schooner " Rosie Olsen," appeals for restitution and damages to the full amount of the loss sustained. (Signed) MICHAEL KEFA-hl, Masln, Schooner " liosic Olseii." Sworn to before me, at Victoria, this Gth day of September, 1892. (Signed) A. R. Milne, Collector of Customs, Port of Victoria, British Columbia. Be it remembered that I, Michael Keefe, master of the British schooner " Rosie Olsen," registered at Victoria, lirilish Columbia, Dominion of Canada, of the registered tonnage of 10 tons or thereabouts, which was seized and captured by the Russian Fur Company's steamer " Kotik," in charge of the Governor of Bebring Island, on the 2Ctli day of July, a.u. 1892, in latitude 54' 24' north, and longitude 105' 40' east, or thereabouts, do hereby most earnestly and solemnly protest : — 1. Against the seizure of said schooner upon the high seas. 2. Against the retention by the said steamer, or the said Covernor of Bebring Island, or the Commander or officer of said steamer, of the said schooner " Rosic Olsen," her outfit, furniture, and cargo. 3. I also specially and jjarticularly protest against the seizuic and retention by the said steamer " Kotik," or the snid (jovernor of Bebring Island, or the Conmiander or officers of the said steamer, of any of the personal effects of myself, my ofHcers or crew. Dated at Petropavlovsk, Kamtchatka, this 5th August (2-lth day of July). (Signed) MICHAEL liKEFK, Master, Schooner " liosic Olsen," (Translation.) I have received a copy of this protest, the 25tli July, 1 892, Petropavlovsk. (For the Head Officer of the District), (Signed) Avdotenko, Assistant. 48 Report Outwards. No. 650. — Port of Victoria, British Columliia. Contents in the schooner " Rosic Olson," registered tonnage 39. llegistcrcd in port of Victoria, British Columbia, with six nitii, M. Kede, n:a?ter, tor tills present voyage for Kortii I'acitie Ocean. Cargo tons weiglit, tons measurement. , Aijoit. Murks 1111(1 Nuiulifrs. Shippers. Uu«ntity nml Dcspiiplion y,,,,,^. 1 (•,„.,i.,Ke-. ot (jootis. 1 1 1 I, Mieliacl Kcefe, master of the vessel al)ove named, do declare that the contents iibovc written, now tendered and subscribed by mo, is a just and true account of all t,he j,'oods laden on board my vessel for the present voyage, and of names of the respective sliippers and consignees of the said goods, and of the marks and numbers of the piicUages containing the same. (Signed) MICHAEL KF.EPi:, Ma.ln: Signed and delivered before me at the Custom-house, port of Victoria, the 1st niy of Tebruary, 18')2. (Signed) J. AuMSTRONO, Collector. rAiiricuL.viiS of Claim by the Owners of the Schooner " Rosie Olsen," of Viftnri.i, British Columbia, 40 tons register, seized on the 20th July, 1802, by the Russian im-uriid Cruizer " Zabiaka," in latitude 54 24' north, longitude IG5 40' east. Schooner — Value of schooner . . Boats— 2 boatg at 110 dollars each . . Outfits to iliUo, at 2U dollars. . Canoes — eanoes at 'i't dollars each . . Outfits to ditto, i) at 17 di.l. .Ill i Dol. e. •j-.'it nil HI 01) '2-.'."i Oil 1.57 .^il I),ll. c. 8,000 O'l Outfit of schooner — IVovisioiis 1,000 on Ainmuiiition . . !/,0 Oil Insuiaiice prenii uii^ paid . . '.'00 on Salt, H tons at 11 dollars per ton , . .. 112 00 Slop-chest and (.'ooils foi trading .. . * 1,200 00 (.'oal, tiiiH at 7 ihil. '25 e. .. . . ^:i .■|0 Ship ehiindlery .. •J20 on 2,'iJ"i ."lO Guns— 10 sliot-guns, at H.'i dollars each ;!:>ii 00 1 ditto . . .. . . .I.J I'll 1 ditto .. .. In on — l.-,n ll'l Wa^es— I'aid to captain, hunters, and crew . . 1 ,1)20 on Seal-skins — 377 skins on hoard when seized, at M d.dlnrs each . , •• .).-J'l« nn Total claim .. 18,0 10 un (Signed) MICHAKI. KKKKK Ml(.'iiiiui " Kotik." I, .MicluK'l KcL'I'e, niastrr of the iibovc vessel, do soli'iiiiily ilccliiru iis loiloivh : — My vessel is ;i Hiitisli vessel, registered at V'ictoriii, British Coliiiiiliiii, iit idioii' 40 tons, in Jiiiuuiiy iSDl, owned hy Andrew Gray, of .Spratt and (iray, iiiacliiiii>l- Victoria. Have been master of said vessel since January ]^!)'_'. On IIk; Stjj rel)iiiar\ 1892, I set sail with said .-eiiooiicr, liaviiiu: cleared from Victoria on tlie Itli Keliriiary, o a scaling voyajje, witli a erew of six white men. Went to I''s]ieran/,a Inlet, on the we»' coast of Vancouver Ishiiul, and there tool< on sixteen Indian seal-liiiiilers. Left the iiile' on the ;,th May. after having' sealed on the coast, for the North Paeilic Ocuin.Jor which I had my cieaiaiice from llie rollcctor of C'listoins at X'ictoria. Afttr sealing; aloii;; the Ihitish Columbian and Alaskan coasts, on tlie (ith June I u.r- hailet o' the line towards the Commander Islands, and I asked him if he thouglit there wa- an;. danger of seizure hv the Russians. He said he thought i.ot, provided I kept clear of !l shore. I understood by that if I did not land at the rookeries I would he all right. 1 asked him what "the limit was, and he replied that he didn't know whether tiicrcw,.- any, and if any, what limit. In conclusion, lie said, " Cio where yon like as long as y(' keep clear of the cast of that line, ov without the 3-niile limit of the Aleutian Islands." On the full .liinc, afterwards, I was hailed by the United States' crui/.cr '•' .Mohieai,. and warned in the same way. I also understood before setting out from Victoria, from several persons, including tin President of the Sealing Association, that I was safe in sealing outside the disputed watci ■ and outside 9 miles from any Russian territory. When hailed by the ".Mohican" 1 was near Kadiak Island. 'I'licn I went in; harbour, and having taken on water, left on the "JOth .lunc, on a course to'vards the Com- niander Islands. 1 sailed aiound them, at no time being nearer than "JO miles, generally ■ greater distance, and on the lidth .Inly I was lying-to in latitude ;V1 24' north, and longi- tude 10.') -10' east, about 'M) miles off tlic west coast of Bcliring Island, when I was hailei by the Russian steamer "Kotik," which had on board the (loverno' of Meliring Island. whose name was (Jriniiniski. He asked me in I'!ng!isb to come on board and show hii- iiiv pajiers. I did so, not thinking that there was any objeetion to doing so, and thi;' perhajis, he was going to warn me not to come too close to the islands. lie cNamineil my papers. I asked him if they were all right, and he said '■ Ves," 1 then asked if he was done with me. and if I could return to my schooner. He siii,' that he was done with me, hut that he would u'C) with me on hoard my sclioontr to sec i; [ had any fresh skins on board. Then, changing his mind, he said lie would leave me o- the •• Kotik" while he went aboard my schooner to examine. Ihis was done, and hi ( amc hack, and upon my asking him what he war going to do, he said he was going to tov the schooner into liehring Island. 1 asked him what tor, and if he was going to seize hei. and he n'plicd '' No," but that he was going to stop inc from sealing. [ then a^ked hii, whv be was taking the vessel to Hehiing' Isfmd.and he said he was going to l.iiid and eoi • tiseate the skins as having been taken in Russian waters, but that hi- would not eonlisea' the vessel. lie lluii had the vessel taken in tow, and after steaming around to pick up my crew, which were out in the boats, proceeded to H( bring Island. On the way he drew out :• ])aper, written in Russian, wliieli he translated to me, stating the time of seizure, but nothing as to the place (except the number of hours the steamer was coming to me af'tei sighting me), ami the number of skins 1 had on board, which was .'(77. 'I'here was also ii it some extract or other from a Law, issued by the (Jovernor-Cieneral of Hastcrn SilierN', prohibiting sealing and trading in Russian waters without a licence. There was mor' in it that I do not reccjilecf. He then asked me to sign it, which I refused to do, protesting against the seizure, lie said that if I didn't sign it he would have to send mc to N'lhdivostoik to stand my tiial for sealing illegally in Russian waters, and, further, that I could protest if 1 liked, but that if I made any lengthy protest 1 would have to stae ! my trial, and the less I said the better it would be for inc. 1 signed the document after having written on it a protest to the ellect that 1 udmitteil the number of seal-skins that weie on board, but nothing as to sealing in Russian water- •15 1)1- as to till' Govci'iioi-dciicriil's I'locliuimfi ( )c'('aii lit the time «!' the sci/iiiv. -t:it(.'(l tliat I was in llic N'dili '.Kill, CiiiiiiiiiisKi read what I iiad written nt'ter 1 had signer!, and leinarked that lher«' IK) North I'acitie Ocean there, that it wi dl R ussian wateis, to whieli I iiolhiii^'. No further talk took place l)etween us until we i;ot to Helirin^ Islaiul, wliicl. was ahout 11 r.Ji. Ife then ordered nivscit and niy crew (except two ol iiiv iiieii, wIk, I'll' left on the to 'SO to I'etropavlovs schooner) to uo on lioard the schooner that the schooner won Id ah Kotik ■ I) uo llicie witli our uc'loiiL'iii;;- II to tako provisions out o! the schooner to last nic mid my crew aliout ten day-. d that the halanoe would, hy ivipicst from him to the (jov crnor i if lMi( 111' returned to us on the arrival of the schooner, lie also said that he '.xoiild pay th ■ Indians for their eii^lit canoes, and that all our persnial property would lie irivcii to ns. These pioniiscs ho made throii;;li the intervention of a M. Alalvonosky, a foriiur iv~lt]i. of Victoria. Ill, arrived on tb'. 28th .July, and the captain and ,Malvonosky went ashore to see the (Jovenior, leaving' ii- The " Kotik" then set out at 12 i>.m. for Pttiopavlnvsk, where we hoard. When thev <'>l hack I asked Malvoiioskv what we were to di aiK I h .aifi Ihat we had to !,'o ashore, and that tliL ' vMiiild liccomeof ns alter we got ashore. We undcistood, and Malvonoskv toh cinor did not seem to know or carcwlia' that we would have to iro to the rooi the hack of the araol where the ercAS of the othei' vessel.s that had heen seized were icre weie tliirtv-ei'dit men in these two crew I went to said room with m v men (to numher of twenty) with all onr 1,'aggage, and looked at the place and saw at once that nd told him that there wa.- l! the lliei'e was no room for us. 1 then vent to Malvonosky no accommodation, and he went to the .Mayor (as he told us) and brought him to me, and explained to him in Russian, and alter a i:ood deal of talk we were allowed by tlie Mayor to go to an old disused hospital where the Indians went and stayed, while M. .Malvo- nosky allowed the Whites among us to use a store owned by him. We then returned to Victoria hy the "Majestic," and having read .Mr. .John Daley's declaration dated tiic .'')tl: (lay of September, 1S!)2, of how we came to get on hoard of her, and the treatiueiit that was accorded to us by Captain Lorcntzen, I corroborated the same in all respects. Th • paper marked (C) was given me by Captain LDrentzeii. Hcfore leaving 15ehring Island on board the " Kotik," (Jriininiski iiroiiiised that i -liniild have, :m the arrival of the scliooner at Pctropavlovsk, my chronometer (wortL 'JOO dollars) and other nautical instruments and charts and other personal etit'cts. '"li ihe arrival of the schooner at said port I went aboard and took all these effects, with all mv white crew, who also took their belongings, the otiieei' in command who was put in charge al IJchring Island being present, and making no (ibjiction, as he knew about (jriminiski',- piornise. 'I'lie day alter this olticer caine to me and >tate(l that he was sent by the Capi.ain o*' the ''Kotik" to get my chrononictcr. as the Ca|)taiu of the " Zabiaka " (De Levron), ;• Kii'.sian criiizcr in pint, wanted it. I declined to give it up until 1 saw further about it. Shiirtly after the Captain of the "Kotik" came to me himself and demaniled the ihronoiiieter, through an inter|)ieter, saying that I)c I.evron wanted it. I refused to gi\' ' it, saying that Criniiniski had allowed me to take it, and that I was going to kee' '» unless it was taken li'om me by force, 'I'lie Captain then said he had no doubt thai ■ '> would he used, and perhajis flogging. I said, " I won't give it u|)." Then an otHci;. in charge '•.I' the schooner came to iiie two or three times afterwards, and asked nic for tlv chronometer fiir De I.evro'.i. 1 refused. I also beard that De Ijcvron had threatenci! lo have me and my etlects searched for it, and that I would be flogged. No attempt, Irnvever, was made to take it from me by force. At no time during the voyage was my vessel within 1 .'j miles of Russian territory, nor when my boats were out engaged in sealing was my vessel within i-'O miles of liussiai'. territory, nor did I or any of my men engage in .sealing at any time up to the said time of seizure within 20 miles of Russian territory, it having always ha|)pened that my schooi'f was nearer to land than mv boats when out sealina:. "(Signed) MUUA1':L KliHFE. Declared before mc, at the citv of Victoria, in the Province of British Columbia, thi> '1th day of September, 18'.)2. (Signed) ARTinnt G. SjriTii. Notnni Pulilir, Ihillsli Cohtnibin. (Seal.) 48 In the iimttcr of tlic ell, mate of the said vi>si;l. nindf tiie fith (lay of Se|ilember, A. I). \h'.)2, and the same is to my (lervmal Unowled^e correct. The only variation in my exiierienee was respeetin'/ tije i>.-alin:: uuris, two ot' which li('l()n;;ini; lo nie were lastened to;;cther l)y tlie (jovernor's order* and dven m ciiari^'e of till' second mate ot' the " Kotik " who had eharze of the '• Oben," with the promise to luc thai 1 should receive them at I'etropavlovsk, which proini-*; wa^ kept. And 1 make this solenm dcclarution conseiintiously believing the same to be true anil l)v virtue ot " An Act respectint; Kxtra-Judieial Oathi?." (Nfjnedj WILLIAM T\\ (.».\I1:Y. Declared before me at the city of Victoria, in the Province of ISriti-ih ('olumbia, tins Udi (lay ot Sejjtember, A.J). 18<)'2. (Signed) A. R. Milni:, Collector of (Ju^tnmy. Inclosure :$ in No. 25. Captain Tlziird to CoUinial (tffif-. (Kxtract.) I Ii/ilioijrajildc Department, Admiralii/, October 10, 1892. («.) "When we found ourselves in north latitude .04 26 , longitude Ifj" .So i' east, near Copper Island in a dead calm, we noticed in the direction of south 2.5 degrees from tlic eruizer at the distance of (5 miles an Knglish canru *chf)Oner ' Ariel.' " By this .KXdunt the " Ariel" would be then in latitude JA 21 north, longitude I'i" 31' east, or '20 miles off Copper Island. When in hititude 54" 10' north, longitude Ui7 40 ea^t, she would be 27 miles otf Copper Island. (h.) The " Mcfjowan " when first seen would be by the Kiissian account in latitudi' .51 2(J' north, longitude 1(J7 33,y east, and 15 miles off Copjier I-land. When in latitude 53° 50' north, longitude Hi7 50' east, she would be i'i miles otl' Copper Island. No. 26. Admiralty to Foreign Office. — {lieceited October 18.) Si ir, Admirnlty, October 17, Ksf)2. WITH reference to my communication of the 10th instant, I am comnianded by my 1. ids Commissioners of the .Admiralty to transmit, for the infornation of the Secretary ot Siiite for Foreign Atfairs, the jiaraphrase of a telegram, datcl the 17th instant, from the Captain of Her Majesty's shi|) " Lcander." .\ similar communication has been addressed to the Colontal Office. I am, &c. (Signed) EVAN MACGRH(iOR. Inclosure in No. 20. Captain Castle to Admiralty. (Telegraphic.) " Leander," at Yokoh4inui, (jctoher 17, 1892, 215 p.m. Tlll'i two remaining British schooners' crews arrived at Nazaaal i from Vladivostock. Thirty-nine men shipjied "Empress of Japan," Vancouver. Five men sent to llong Kong. Three joined American man-of-war " Palos." No. -J-, Thr Eiirl of Rtisclii'iii Ic sir R. Mnr'tor. Sir, Fon'Ujn O/firc. (hluher 18, 1892. W ITH iTlt'i'enci.' (o previous corrc'.spoiuk'iu'e icspcctiny' tliu sci/ine of Bi'itisli scaliiij;- vtssels in the Nortlu'rii Paeitic !)y ilic Hussinn iiutliorities, I now triinsniit to yonr Excel- lency 11 copy of a letter Croin tlic ('olonial Oflice,* i.ielosinf; protests and depositiuns from tile masters, mates, and otliers on board of tlie Hritisli vesscl.s " .Ariel," " Williu McGowan." and " Uosie Olsen," respecting tlieir cajiture and sul)se ,iikI erews, and that they have too much confidence in the e(|nit.y and bmnanity of the -Russian Governuient not to suppose that the (ioverniueni will oll'er iMnnediate and .idequate reparation if the ))roceedings of the Russian ofHcers should prove to be coricclly described in these papers. I am, &c. (Signed) R0SF.HI!:RV No. 28. Sir R. Morirr In llir Hurl of Rnschvrij.—iRrrrirrd Orliilifr IH.) My Lord. SI. Pftcrsbimjh, Octohrr I (J, 18!)^. I Rl'XiUN Fl) last ni^iit a note Irom M. ('hichkine, of which 1 have the lionour to iiansmit the inclosed copy herewith, on the subject of the Canadian sealers cai)tured in ■the IJehrinij Sea, from wlii(li it would appear that nothinsi could have e.weevled the iiindness and eouitesy shown to the ofliccrs and erews of the captured ships, who had '•I'lpiited this exceptional treatuient by u'ts of drnnkeimess and insubnrc' ^atioii. ( )n the all-imponant point of tlu' loealitie- wlu^re the ships were captured, beyond 'iiutiMLT generally thai it was proved that they iiad pnaehed in Russian xateis, noihinf; IS said, and 1 have aceordiuitlv addressed this day a noti^ to ,\l. ('hichkine, of which I liavi' 'I'.e honour to iiielose a copy, in wliieh ' a-k (or inlorinalion on this point. I have. \e. (Signed) 1{. 15. I). MORIKR, Inclosuie 1 in No. liN. M. Cliiilihiiii- lo Sir R. Marirr. M. I'Ambassadeur, }[iitish're (Irs Aljiiires /■itriiiit/rrrs, Stiiiil-I^i'lrrsliiiini/. i'r 3 (1.1) Orlohrr. 18'fJ. I,'.\M1RAL KRFMICU, gerant temporairemcnt Ic .Minislire Imperial de la Marine, vicnt de me faire parvenir un Rapport (pie le (Jommanilant de iintre escadre du I'lieilicpn lui a adressi' pur le teleiiraiihe, ( t oil sc trouvent exposecs toutes Ics eireoiistiinees avani accompagne la capture d[' cpiehpies baiiments de peche C'aiiadieris (jui se jivraieni an braconnaL'e dans les eaux de li .Sibiirie Oiientide. .le m'empresse de conimuni(|uer a voire Hxeelleiice ces doiinees, (pji contrcdisent absolumcnt les recits nieiisongers laits par le> eiiuipagus des sehooners captures. Ces eiid)arc»tions etaieut a\i iiombre de six: le '' Willie Metiowan. ' " IWriel," le " Wuicouvei' Belle,'' la " Rosic Olsuii," la " Mary," cl le " ( ariuolitc." II iiy eut di 40 cnptur^s que les schooners convaineiis, api't>s inspection do lours livres di' bord, d'avoir [it'clid dnns nos eau\ territorialcs. I'.ncorc trois d'cntrc oiix en ont-ils I'te (niitte-: pour un iivc'itisscniciit. Tons ces iiavires avaient cesso dc tcnir Iciiis journaux de (juart depuis nil la])S de temps ^■ariant ih un a quatre jouis. Dans les eales de plusieurs u'entru eux on (If'couvrit dc peaux Iraiches, dans d'autros des otaries ipii n'avaicut i)as encore ute ccorciiees. Snr les cartes marines se trouvaient niarcpit's divers points des cotes de nos ilcs et des eaux cnvironnantes. Une circonstaiice digno de reiuarque c'csl: que les documents de tons ces pciiooners, sans exception, portaient en note riiijonction. sitrnee par des otficiers de croiscurs Aiuericains et Anglais, de quitter les eaux situecs du cote Amtiricain dc la lie;ne (le (leniareation ^tablie par la Convention de IHtiT, ct de lie plus repasser cette litrne 'ious peine lie prise. Leurs habitudes de braconnasie elaient done oonnues des autorites liritaniii(|ues. I'eiulant les perquisitions, les ))rncddes de nos ofticicrs ont ete des plus corrects. Transporles sur nos iraviies, les eapitaines et leurs seconds out d'te loges ^ part ct traites ;\ I'egal de nos oiricicrs, tandis <]ue les efjuipiujes rccevaient la jiortion de inafelot, y c'onipris I'eau-de-vie, le tin', ct li' cafe rci^lenientaire. lis n'ont clcve aueuiie pretention duvant Icur sejour a liord ct n'ont eu, au contraire, que (it's expressions d(! f!;ratitude. Les eapitaines de la " Mary " et du " Carniolite " n'liiil pas voulu quitter Ic croistmr dc la flotte Inqieriale, " Vitias," siuis y avoir laisse (l( s leuiereiinents ecrits |i()ur la In^on dont ils avaieni ele tiailes a iiord de ee iiatiinent, et plus tard, le Capitaiue de I'Vegate de l.ivron, t'oniniaiidant du " Zahiaka, reeiit une lettrc dans le nit'ine sens du i;apitaiiie du ''Vancouver liciie." A|)res leur delian]uenicnt jI Petropavlovsk, la conduite des (''(piipaKcs de " I'Ariel," (|;i " Mc(i()wan," et de la " Rosie Olsen," c'est-A-dire, des trois schooners mentionnes dans le teleerainnic de Lord Kosebciy ;i Mr. Howard en date du 4 (10) .Septeinbre, auneeconrantc, a ete scandaleuse. Ces homines, a. ()ui nos autorites avaient assigne, pour leur eutietie!i, une allocation jourmali^re egaie a cclle ((ue reeoivent nos mariiis, se livraient :i des actes (rivriigncrie, accompagnes de voies de fait, d'insultes aux habitants, et ineine a des ofliciers. On ne put en venir a bout qu'en re(]uerant I'aide du Coininandant du " Zabiaka." 11 fit retablir I'ordre sans autre acte de riLrueiir (|ue de (aire eloigner par la I'orce le capitaine de la " Rosic Olsen," qui dtait venu I'insulter dans sa cabine. Ainsi, non seuleraent les imputations injurieuses dirijjf^es contre nos officiers se frouvent tausses, cc qui ne pouvait, d'ailleurs, souflrir aucun donte, niais encore les teiiioignages les moms suspects attestent qu'ils ont use envers des equipages pris en fraude une courtoisie Jont la valeur est assur^ment doublee par cctte circonstance. Quant nu droit indisc able dc iios autoritds de reprimer des diisordres ct des violences, elles n en lint fait usage qu avcc une extreme moddration. Enfin, sans entrer dans des considerations de principes, je me permettrni de faire (il)scrver a votre l^xcellenee que nos croiscurs ont le devoir il'autaiit plus strict d'exercer la |iri!lection qu leur est contiei", par tons les nioyens etHcaeeiiieiu employes eontre les ia|iiiies sur n •T. que les liraeonmers Canadieus, uenes du cotd dc PAmeriipie, sc soiit visililement i\:battus sui nos eaux, l^urs met'aits ont deja porte de graves prejudices aux jieelieries Russes dc la Mer de Hehring. dont le rendement a considerablement diminue pendant. I'annee courantc. £u portant ce fiui jirccikle ii voire connaissance, Je saisii, &c. (-igne) CHICHKINK. (Translation.) M. rAinhnssameur, Foreitjn Office, St. Prirrshiinjii, Ortoher :i (15), 1S02. ADMIILVL KRE.MER. temiwrardy in charge of the luipcrial .Ministry of Marine, lias just communicated to nie a telegrapliie Report addressed to him by the otiicer in roimnand of niir I'aeitic Squadron, which contnins a statement of all the circumstances wliieh attended the seizure of certain t'anadian tishinu: vessels engaged in poaching in the waters of Laslcrn Siberia. I liasten to place your I'iXeellency in possession of these facts, wliieh entirely contradict the niitruthful accounts given by the crews of the captured ^eliiioners. These vessels were six in number: the "Willie MeCiowaii," the "Ariel," the "\anconver lielle. the "Rosie Olsen," the " Marie." and the " Carniolite." The only Mliiioiiers sfi/.ed mrre thosi; which, after an inspection of their Ions, were convicted of having tislied in onv tprritorial waters ; and three of these were let ofl with a warning. All these ships had eonsed to malte any entries in their iog-hooUs for a period varying from one to four days In the liidds of several of the ships i'resli skins were discovered, and on board other'- seals which hiul not vet hceii skinned. X'arious points on the [Ml] • . J I .'0 ooasts of otii" isliuKls and in tlie surroiindiii';' wnters wore marked on tlic charts, It is a circDMistance wortliy of notice that m tlio papers i,l' all tlicse i^chooncr-;. without exppption, was nn ortlcr, si.;iicd hy tlic oliicois ol the Aii.cuican and Briti>li cruizer', rctpiiiini; them to leave the wattrs siuiitcd on the .\nuii< an side of tlie line ol demar ntion fixed i)y the Convention o( ISti/, and not to ieeri)>-- tl.at line on pain of seizu e ; their iuihit of poachini; was tiierelore known to the Hrilish aulinnilies. Notliini;- eonid l)e nioi'e regular tiiari the action of our ollicers while engaged upon the search, 'i'lie masteis and their seconds in command, who were hioiighl on hoard oin' shi|)s, were iriven separate ipiarters and treatn! on e(pial terms witii ()\u' ollicers, whilst the crews received sailors' lations, incluJint; the re.inlation allowance of l)run eourlisy which eeilaiiily lias a douhle value owin^ to this eircumslanec. As ref;ards their uiideiiiahle right to repii'ss disdider and violence, our autiiorities only exeicised it with extreme moderation. In conclusion, \\itlioiit cnteriiiii' into questions of principle, 1 venture to draw voiir Excellences attention to the laet that our eruizers are hound to carry out tlie duty ot j'roteetion with whieli they are charged all the more strictiv, and hy all the n-ieaii> which are employed afiaiusi depiedali(nis hy sea, because the Canadian po.icliers, being inierferetl wit!) on the .Auierii an side, have eh ally i'alleii hack u|ion our walcis. Their inisderds have already had a most pieiudieial ellc/t o;i if.e liu^siaii seal iisheries in Ikhriut; ."?ttu, the vield of which has considerably dccrea'-ed (luriny tlie present vear. In bringing the above to vour iiiiowledge, 1 avail, Sic. (Signed) CIIlCilKII«I£, liiclosuro 'J in No. '28, Sir n. Mj In M. Vhklikiui: I must observe, however, that tin uote slates that in the report of the ( 'omiuander wit, for tlu jierusal <.f the Secretary of State for l''(jreip;n Affair?, copy of a tcle^^iain u the Coinniundinj^ O.liccr of Her iMajcsly'^^ siiip " Leander," dated this day, from 1 am, ice trau froi Yokohama (Signed) FA'AN mac(;ri:gor. Inclosure in Xo. 29, V"'(iiiii (.'ii.-ilr io Adiirnilhi. Ill l<'i;r;iphii'.') KI-;\l.Al.vl)K!< sehoo'i. I ha'.f iumu'diati iv f'lr \iini mver. '• f.ni.ifin-.'' Ill Yolwliiiiiiii, Oii'ilfi- !'.», lrt|)2, 'f.i:, a.m. crew fi I'M Viadivostock arrived in •■ Iviipress Jap.in ;" Xo. :\0. ('i>lnii':d Ofjicr In I'm^ii/ii O/fin (Rtceiml Ovloher 2U.) Sir, i>n: iiiiiij Hireel, Ortnber 19, 1892. Wrril reference to the letter Iroiii this Dc(iarlincnt nf the I'ltit instant, I am directed liy the .\lar(|ui.s of |{ipon to transmit tf) you. tnr (he iiiforination of the Earl of Rcscljcry, copi.'s o| two I'uither despatelies iVom the (iovt'ii i-Goneral of t'auidu re^pecting the s'.'izure of British sealers by the Ru->iaiis in the .Nuidi I'acitic. I nm, &e, (Signed) ,1011 \ MRAMSTON. Inclosure I in Xo. .10. Lord SliinU'i/ of Preslini to Ike Mnniiiis of Ripon. .My Lord, The Ciliiilel, Qiteliir, ^ieplember 28, 189'2. NVl'J'li reference to previo'ts coirespondencc on the suhjeet of the recent seizures of Canadian sealin^-vessel.s liy Russian cruizers in the North I'acidc, 1 have the hoiiiiur to forwaril co|)y of an approved .Minute of the Privy Council, suhinitting a commnnieatioii lr(nj\ ilie liritish (ulumhia Sealers' Association, represcLiting the hardship and distress indicted upon (he owners and ereu.s of the vessels in eoiisc(|nence of these seizures, toj^itlier with copy ol the reply addressed to the Association liy the Minister of .Mariiiu and Fisheries. (Signed) " ' ' S'J'ANLEY OV PRESTON. [504] SB Inclosure '2 in No. 30. Report of (I Committee of the Hoiioiir.ihle the Privij Council, approved by his Excellency the Gmernor-Generul 'ii Cotincil on the 23/«/ September, 1892. ON a Report, dated the lOtli Seijtcmher, 18!)'2, from the Minister of Marine and Fisiieries, invitinji attention to tlie connnunication (c.'oi)y iicreto annexed) from tlie British Columbia Scalers' Association ol \'ici()ria, I?iitisli Coloniljia, rc'ative to tiic recent seizures of Canadian sealing-vtssels by Russian crui/crs and matters connected therewiti), and to the reply addressed by the ^linisler of Maiiiie ami l'"isbcries to the above communication, a copy of the reply is also hereto annexed. The Committee, on the recommendation of the Minister of .Marine and Fisheries, advise tiiat your Excellency be moved to forward a copy hereof to the Right Honourable the Principal Secretary of Slate for the Colonics, for the information of ller Majesty's Government. All of which is respectfully submitted. (Signed) .lOIlN J. McGEK, Clerk of the Privy Council. Annex (A). Sir, 100, Government Street, Victoria, B.C., September 8, 1892. \VK have the honour to lespcctfully brin;;- under your consideration the following facts:— 'l"he British Colmnbiu Sealers' .Association re|)resents sixty-three schooners, owned i)y about 2f>0 shareholders, lepresentini; an invested capital of about 750,000 dollars, and an annual expendituic in waires, |)ro\isions, insurance, &c., of approximately 400, 000 dollars, and employing- fully 1,3(U) ukii afloat, principally British subjects, mainly AVliites, with about 2;') | er cent. l!i'iti>li Columbia Indiana, and !i very few Americans and Scandinavians. It may be tairly estimated tliat, including the families of the above, fully .0,000 persons aie directly d('|)endent upon the business, to say nothing of the very large number of trade.-nien alleeled by it. It is scarcely necessary to aian Governmenl is endea- Vduring to su|)port the claim now put forward on the part ol the United States to the iii,'lit of pi'opcrty in seals beini; vested in the nation u|)on whose territory the seals may hii|i|irn to breed. I am not aware, as I hav already stated, what aelion Her .Majesty's Govenmient |irop(ise to take in the case ot the " Coi|uitlan," or in the case of the recent seizures near the iiussian coast. Nevertiieless, from what has ha])pened, you will oliserve that unlil these serious i|ueslions are linally si-llled between the (iovernments eoneerncd, namely, Russia, the Uuilid States, and (ircil IMtain, the pni.^uit of the industry whieli so deeply toneerns yiiiir A^soei.ition and its memir rs is attended 'villi grave ri>k and peril. ^'nii e.sprcss tlie desire thai the Iiiiicii.d Government should assume the respou.si. i ihtv (i| defining your iii;lits, and \on mcI; aimed protection or compensation fur the ~ jH iision of llu-e riiihts, and you n^k me to bring the whole facts of your case under tlic eoiisideratioM of tlie i-ieeietary of Si.ite for the Cidonies, together with such recom- luiiidatiaus on the part of the Doniiniuii Goveriinu'iit as it iimy be phased to eonsiiler •iilvisahle, 1 feel ut libeity to say to you, in reply, that from the beginning of the disliessing eii'eumstances to wliieli vou have referreil, the Caiuidiaii (»ovcrnment has not ceased to press upon the attention of llcr Majesty's Govunmiunl the wrongs tliat liavo l)ULn perpetrated and tlie damage that lias hetu done, and I an^ sure that your ])reseiit request will receive the earnest consideration and prompt attention of tiie Canadian Government, I liave not received the communication from the British Co. uinbia Board of Trade upon this subject to which you refer, hut the rc((ncst for assist;, lue in the rescuing of crews who may at this time be Russian prisoners has been for some '.ime in the hands of Her Majesty's Government. I have, &c. (Signed) John G. Cox, PrcsidenI, and Richard Hall, Secretary, British Columbia Scalers' Association, Victoria, B.C. CllARLCS II. TUPPEK. Inclosure 3 in No. 30. Lord Stanli'i/ of Prvntoti to the Marquis l'()N. Inclosuic 4 in No. .'!0. Report of n Coiiiinltlee of the Honouridile the Prinj Couiiril. iipiirovi'il Itij his ExceUeneij the Goiernor-Generiil In Council on the '2'\rd l^epteudier, 18II2. ON a Report, dated the t7th September, 1^!»2, Iroin the .Minister of Marine and Fisheries, submitting with reference to a .Minute of (Council, oeiation ol IJritisli Columbia on the subject of the recent seizures by Uussian eruizcrs off tlie Asiatic coast ol Canadian sealing-vcsscls, and the reply of the .Minister of Marine and Fisheries to tlic conmiunication mentioned, a further letter received from .Mr. .lolm (r. Cox, the President of the said Association, urgently re(piesting that the Imperial (Jovernincnt should be again moved to take action for the relief of the Canadians who may be on the Russian shore ll^ |)risoners. The Minister also submits the annexed copy of tlic rcjily addressed by him to the communication in (juestion. The Committee, on the rccomnien:lation of the Minister of .Marine and F'ishirics, advise that your Ivxccllcncy be moved t>) forward a copy hereof, together with copies ol'tlit' Annexes hereto, to the Right Honourable the Principal Secri'tary of Slate for the Coloiiiis, for submission t(j Her Majesty's Govermnent, iiiui that Her Majesty's (ioveriiinenl l)'^ moved to take such early action thereon as to them may seem proper. All of which is respectfully submitted, for vour IJxccllencv's approval. (Signed) .lOH'N .1. McCiEIv, Clerh of the Privij Couiiril. Inclosure T) in No. 30. lirilish Cohiudiiu Scalers' Association to Mr, Tapper. .Sir, Victoria, llC, September 10, ISHJ. ON tiic 1st instant v.c Knpealc>l to you through the British ('ohmibia Board «l Trade for assistance to rescue the crcw;^ ,)f any of our vessels that might be seized In Russian vessels. Alv I (.1 W and PHI 53 the hands of Tlic fenvs which wc then cxi)ress('(l luive proved to ho only too well founded. 15y the -laliiii,' sciiooncr " E. ]?. .Miirvin," which nnJAcd here yesterday, we learn that the schooner •' VnMCoiiver Ik'lle," of \'aiieoiiver, IJrilisii rolunihia, and four other British schooners, iiiii'K s unknown, have hecn seized, and as tiie crni/.ers have heen chasing otiier schooners, ii i- all hut ceitain that si.ine, perhaps many, of the fleet of forty schooners known to be iu llmse waters will also fall victims to iJnssia. When eii]iture(l these vessels are idl taken to l'etropavlovsl<, a remote part entirely niioveii from ( rdinary routes ol nurcantile vessels, and so far north as to have a cliuiat(! ol' Arctic severity. It is most iui])rohalile that so many men as arc likely to he made prisoners will he liki ly to find any es(a|)c before winter sets in, and, robbed of nearly all their clothinL', a< those who have already arrived have heen, miserably fed and wretchedly lodged, it is almost ceitain that unless prompt relief is '^cnt many must perish o( cold and hunger. Under these cirenmstanecs, we Iki;- respectt'ully but urgently th;;t you will again reipirst tie Imperial (iovcrnmcnt to immediately send a man-of-war to the relief of the worse ihiiu .-hipwiccked crews, and, if not too late, [)ut a stop to the lurtber confiscation of our |ii'()p( rtv. 1 have, kc. (Smncdj JOHN G COX, Pirsidvnl (if thf Ihilixh Coliimbin Sealrni' Assnciulioii. Inclosure (> in No. 30. Mr. Tiij)/)i'r to Ih'ilish C/ihiiiiliid Sfinlers' As'incUition. Sir, Ottawa, September 17, 1892. I IIAVI'^ the honour to acknowledge the receijjt of a comnumication from you, dated llu- lOth September. i have nceived no appe;d from you through the British Columbia Board of Trade, though you icier to one forwarded on the 1st instant. The facts referred to in your eounnuiiieatiou, however, relative to tlii crew of the '• 1'.. H. Marvin," have alri 'dy been brought to my attention, and are now in '..e possession of I lei' Majesty's (jovernment. I have also re(pioste(l the High Commissioner in London to press upon the Imperial (Invernineiit your desire that a gun-boat should Ih; sent to the relief of the Canadians, who 11, av lie on the Kiissiau coast. 1 have, &c. (Signed) CHARLES H. TUPPER. IV him to the No -U. Colonial Office In I'lireiijn Offirr. — (Rrn.-lvi'd Oilnhrr 21.) ^ir. noinilnij Ulrcct, Octolwr 20, 1892. WITH reierenee to the letter from this Department of the I'Mh instant respecting tlir seizure of I5iitish sealeis by the Russian authorities in the North Pacific, I am lireeti'd by the .Marquis of Hipon to transmit to you. to he laid before the I'nrl of ~ina(la, inclosing an Koschery, a copy of a further despatch irom the ( iovernor-General of C; i'x2. SUBMITTI'.D for tlic iiil'oiiii.itioii of their liordsliips, olKi.'rvini? tiiiit I hiivu ;,'rcnt plt'asuve ill iniii^inii to tlic^ir notice the luaniu'r in which ('oiiiiiiiuulur Kvans, of the Uhiied Stiiii.-;' ship " Yoiktown,' Senior Aiiicriciin Xi'wtl ( )lliii r, iiiid ('ii|it;nn I'arr, co-o|ic'iiitc(l ill curryiii^r out tiuir diitic.-. in tonncetlon with the iiim/tis lir'iidi, ;ni(i the eoriiiiii leiatioiis and good tei'linps wiiieh existed between tli<; oHiceis and men of iiolii nations retleets gitut credit on ail i'onceined. I also i)ei;' to call their Loidsliips' attention to paragraphs 5 and (i oi Captii'i; I'arr's letter of the 17tli instant. Captain I'arr inis carried out tlie duties of Senior Officer in Hehring Sea very much to my satisfaction. (Signed) CHARLKS F. HOTHA.M. Inclosuro li in No. .'!'■!. Ciiplaiii Pun- In /li'iir-Admiinl llothnm. " ^fclpomi'iir," III Siiiilinriii' I Inrlinur, Sliiiiiini/lii Isltiiuh:. Sir, ^rjiiniilji-r 17. \'<'.i'2. I HAV'M the honour to report that 1 Ict't Ounalaslta on the 'J/lh .\n;;usl, ha\iiiLr hctii detained one dav liy iiail weather, and shaped couis" for tlie Coininander Nhuid- \\ith Mr. .Mac'oun, the Hiitish Coinniissioner in the liehiii ^ Sea, on hoard. 2. I Ij wi-lied lo make some iiKpiiries at Jit hrini; Island, as well i.s ohtaiii somr ohsei vi'.liiiiis of seals on the Siberian coast further north, and i wanted to .■i^eei'laiii wlial the Kns-ian authorities had done with respect to the sealing: schoonei>, and al-o wain any th;it 1 iniidit come across auainst j;oinu; to the Settlement at .Attn for wond and water, as it was within the |)rohil)ited area. '•). Altera soulheily trale and stron'j; head winds, we reached the iiiiulihonrhood o; Cop])er Island, on the afternoon of the .'iist ,\nu;ust, where we |)assi(l the Hu^^ian erui/ii " Zabiaka/' hut it was then thick, and a sonth-wcstcrly liale was eonniii; on. --o I lay-to, steamin»? as slow as ])o.ssihle to the southward. 4. The 1st Se|)teniber was thick, with strong wind and heavy sea, hnl on the 2nd ii cleared a little, so 1 nni under the lee of Uehrin;; Island and steamed slowly round it, but when we f^ot round tlu' north-west |)oint the ship knocked about considerably though on the morniiif;; of the ■Md tlu' weather was clear enoni;h to make the anchoraLC, and tijc sea had iLono down sutheienlly to enable a landing to he efi'eel((l. 5. '1 he (jovernor had le!t, and the onlv |hm>oii in charge was (juc oI the oIlieiaN of the Company, but (roni him 1 li'arned that six >chooiiers in all (live liiili.sh ami one United States) had been seized for sealing within tlie ii-inile limit, and also I'onr boats belonging to a schooner that had escaped. The vessids had been condemned, 'lieii' skins ordered to be sold for the benefit of the Russian (jlovernment, and some of the crews had been sent over to San Francisco in a baicpie, while the others were waitini; at Fctropavlovbk to be forwarded to the same |ilaee, G. 'J"he " Zabiaka " and " Yahout " had been eruizing round Ihc islands, thouuli they did not bef;in till late in the season, and the Company's ■.earner also makc- scizurcs provided there is a (jovernment othcial on board. The idea seems to be tlial next year the number of crni/.crs will be increased, and that much i^reater activity will li' dis])layed. 7. I left the anchorage on the moriiiiig of the ^th Sei)tember, and steered tor Karai;inski Isl mil, where we arrived next day, and where Mr. .Mac(uin wanted to ohtaiii a specimen of a seal if possible, but a thick fo;j,' came on at midday so that nothiiiii; conld be done in the afternoon, and the next day bad to be devoted to this object, though witli no s;iti sea was so heavy that 1 lay-io for somi' hours, biing then about "J.'tO miles from St. I'.iul Island. !(. About |l» I'.M. on the loth Septend)cr, having got into 1 2 fathoms of water, «i; iinchoicd, it h iviiiir been thick nearlv idl dav, and, aectnding to our reckoning, wc ougiit t with a ft ■ pjieiirs '1. Iiavc sei c\|iei'ii'n "llulu it •' lli">\ti-, r.ii to liiivc hccn on tlio soutli sick' of St. I'aul Island, I)iit iit daylight we found that we were oti' till' nortli side instead. Wd tiien wciuiied and anciiored otl' the viihine, wiicre the laiiiliii^' was safe. 10. In the ('venii,;:' tlie swell heu^an to set in nioi'o heavily, so that before dark I had ivcrythiiif^ that uiis ne(i--ary settled with the shore, and on the niornini^ of the I'Jth, ar, dare was no landinij |)o-sil)le, I left for Oiniala^ka. 11. We arrived at 8-3() a.m. on the l.'ith September, and went along>id(! the \mv in tlio inner iiarbour at onec, and. eomnieneed eoalinj;'. which w;is completed next afternoon, anil on the niornina: of the loth 1 left for this harhour, liavinu' the schooner " Oscai' and Ilattie " in tow. 12. The barometer was fallina; rapidly, and there was every appearance of had wiiither, hut the master of the sehixincr wanted to ;;et out, so wc came through the riiiiL-a Pass, and on (,'ettiny' ele.ir of the land wc found that a southerly .i^ale was liiowinv'. At noon, although I had eased down to about •'!.' knots, the .'5.j-iueh stei I wire hawser that I was towini; with parted, and the schooner made sail, having then plenty of sea-room. I.'S. .\s this siiip was rolling heavily I lay-to lor four hours, and then continued our course, tliouifli shipping a good deal of water, and arrived iierc at G I'.M. on the evening of the 16lh. 11. We are now overhauling- the machinirv prcparatorv *o a lull-power run and passage trial to I'>(piinialt, and by tl'.e time wc are ready 1 hope that the bad weather will iiivi linisheil, thongh it has hcui very persistent ot file. 1 have, \c. (Si-n d) A. A. ('. I'ARR. Inclosme .T in Xo. 33. Cdptuiii Pair to ('oinnKtiuli'r ErdDs. I'.S.X, Sir, '' MeJpoiiienp," al Ouinilaskd, Srptenilirr 14, 1892. 1 II.W'K the honour to infnrtn you that I have just returned from a cruize during wliicli a visit was paid to Hebring Island. '-. All the otlicials in the service of the Company had left, with the exee|)tion of one, .iiiil Irom him 1 learned tiiat six schooners had been sci/ed by the Knssian cruizers, live lieinir 15riti.sli, and one belonging to the United States, viz., the " C. H. \N tiite." ('riiese initials do not seem to be correct.) • '. The sealing season being practienlly at an end, I propose to leave IJehring Sea tii-iiiorruw morning on my return to British C'olmnbia. Should, however, any further t-iijilures of liritisb schooners be made, I have to reijucsl that yon will take Irom them 'Itir papers ,'inil ^uch part el' their seahiu' e(pii|)mcnt as will make it impossible lor them 'i take any more seals, and order the vessel to proceed at once to N'ietoria, Hrilish '' ihnnhia, there to report to the Collector of Customs. -). 'I'lie papers should be forwarded to the Senior IJritish Naval Ollicer at Esijuimalt, ml till' outfit to the care of the Collector of ("ustoms at Victoria, British Columbia. ^>. I also liave the honour to inclose a track of the " Daphnes'' crui/cs within the Inhring .Sen, and al^o that portion of .iurs in the neigbbomhood of the I'riiiylotf Islands, «i!li a few additional soundings which were obtained, and intormation as to a bank which ■ hpiai's to exist olf tlie >outh end wi' Karagiii^ki Island. •i. 1 take this opportunity to thank you, on lnhalf of myself and the olheers who liivij .-erved uiiilci' my orders, lor the extreme kindness anil courtesy which we have 1 \|iiiiiiieed from all the United State^' ollieials, wliether naval otiiccrs or civilians, with "tiuni it has been our good fortune to have any dealings, and to express ;ny pleasure at 'lie extremely coiilial ulations which have existed between us. I have, &c. (Signed) A. A, C. I'AKU. [504j 1 2 60 Inclosure 4 in No. 33. Commander Kvnns, V.H.N., to Captain Parr. U.H.t<. " Yorkloini," Srd Jinlr, Ouniihislm, Alaska, Sir, Srplenibrr 14, \8\)-Jt. I H AVK tlie honour to af;knowlcdge the receipt of your coninuinication of this tliite, with tiirce inclosurcs. Peiniit nie to thank you for flic valuable inforniiition !"in'iii«hr(l me relative to liie seizure of Hritish and American sealing-schooners by the llussiun licet, the hyilrograiiliic information about the shoal in tlie neighbourhood of Karai^inski Island, and the track charls ol tlie " Alclpoinene " and " Dapiine." Should any lurtiicr seizures of Kritish sealinijj-seliiMiners he made by any of the vessels under my eomniand, I will take pleasure in enmplvini! with your reiiuest that tliu pa])er.s be forwarded to the Senior liiiti.'sh Nav.il Othccr at Ksipiimalt, tlie sealing outfit to the care of the Collector of Customs at Victoria, British Columbia, and the vessclri themselves ordered to report to the latter ollieial. It has always been a source of gratification to nie, as 1 know it has been to all tlio otlieiTS of the American scjuadron, to do all in our power to eiillivate the f'ricndlicBt relations with the British officers. All our endeavours in this direction have been sn cordially received that, in spite of all our efforts, we still remain delitors for your invariable courtesy and kindness. With reference to my own duties, your cordial e i-opcratinii with ii.e in efI'oil> to prevent sealing has made my work much easier and pleasanter. \'ery rcspeclfidiv, (Signed) 11. "D. ICVANS. No. 34. Sir R. Morier to the Earl of Roisebery.—(lie(yircU October '.'Xu) My Lord, SI. I',ln-ybiir(jh, Or.'oic/- til, 1892. 'I'lIK oHicial Gazette of to-day contains an article of > mic length on the late seizures of British sealers in the Behring Sea. It refutes the allcg.ilions ol the masters and crews of those slii|)S as to the ill-treatment these re|)iescnt the ;is_'lv'.'s as having snifered at tlie hands ol the Russian olHccrs, but it admits that the captures were eltected at distances varying from 20 to 8 miles from the shore. 1 have the honour to transmit herewith a full translation of tiiis article by Mr. Wardrop, my Prifate Secretary. 1 iiave, &c. (Signed) 11. I). U. MORIER. Inclosure in No. 34. Extract from the " Pravitelstvenny Vestnik" {Official Gazcltr) of October 9 (21), 1892. (Translation.) ON the 19th September (s'.s.) the "Times" iiublished an ai tide from a correspon- dent in Ottawa, in which, on the authority of the skinners anil seamen of the seiiooners captured by our gun-boats near the Commander Isluiuls, and afterwards sent back, with our assistance, to British Columbia, attention was drawn to a flagrant violation ol inter- national law supposed to have been committed by us, and various revolting details were given concerning the action of our officers and crews, with an account of the peiscentions to which these unjustly captured men had been subjected. Not satisfied witii i)rintii l; this article, the "Times,'' on the following; div, supple- mented it by a leading article, in whicli these char:;es weri! not only conliruK;., out set forth in language still less decent than that in which the halicd of the coarse pirates who had been disappointed in their lio|)e of gain found vent. I'nforlnnatelv, a rerlain section of the luiropean press repeated the aceusations made bv the "Tunes." The first to defend the honour of Russian sailors were English naval olliceis, whose paper, the "Army and Navy Gazette " (of the 1st October), while sharing the general dissatisfaction of 61 n'l tlie track 1 the vessels ill oir()it> to I Knf,'lisliiiiPii at the seizure r.f Knjjhsh ships, ne\ertheles« thought it ri!,'ht to protest in the strongest terms against " the unjust niid insuitin^ attack " of the "Times," declaring; that it was siiameful that the leadiiii; Kn;;lish p per bhoul'i |.r«^irime in such an uinvortliy uiaiiucr to iiiah!,'!! oflicers with whom the oflieers of tb»- British fleet maint.iiii "comtcous" rchitioiis, and in wiiom thcv have ,i1\vm\~ met hraM- a;j J uAAe toes in time of war. 'I'lie " Army and Navy (ja/.ette" expressed it- ' ynviction that the "limes '' wouhl rccMnnize the necessity of apologizing' for its unju-t ad impolitic accii-; itions, which, (Iciubtless, it was not in a position to siil)stantiate. In r-ondij>ion, tho "(J.izette" draws alteiition to the fact tiiat the nun upon whoI^t• efidence the atoresai I al)fMniiiai)le calumnies are i)ased lieloiiu; to the lowest elas-es of vof/et;. . Sueli a dcclar.ttion, eipially huiioiiralile to the officers of the British and Ku-«iau fl'-et», furnishes an e\ :i!i[i!e ol true gcutlcnianliness which will not he (uvz'iUi'u liy anvlr dv in K>i>^ia. The substance of the complaints exples^cd i'l the "'nrnes' amount-, to this: that the schooners were captured outside of our territorial water*, and that after thev ii:id been taken to Petropavlovsk tlu' crews were left on the coast nhho'it shelter, food, and elotliinir; tiiat the skip|>ers, under threats of exilv to the .SilKfi-iii mines, were toreed to si^'u a declaration that they had fished in Russian waters, that their clothiii;:, money, and valuables were stolen by Russian othccr-, who draz^fi down the Itritish flai; Irom the schooners nud trampled it under foot. I'or Kur^iar: readers, a denial of these assertions is unnecessary; tlr, ir llairiaut ab='udity is patent. But, for tli-j sake of the iDreiLTii press, it is indisjjensable that the first aulhentie infor.T>i»'.ton receive 1 by telegraph should be communicated. It is manifest that on the fundamental (jue-tion of the violation of international law the reports of the iMiijIish skippers are wholly untru>-t worthy, for their log-books were larelessly kept, and not up to date, while their chrononierers had not been corrected liir some time. Accordirg to the Enj^lisli accounts of the affair, the three schooners " Willie McGowan," "Ariel," and "Rosie Olsen," were captured 41, ,30, and 32 miles nspectively from the nearest Russian coast ; as a matter of fact the distances were 21, 22, and K! miles. Three other schooners, " V'aricouver Belle," "Maria," and " Carmolite," were, in the same way, captured 18, H, and 8 miles from the coast. It is not surprising that almost all the arrests took place outiide of our territorial waters, for as soon as the gun-boat was sighted they ])ut about and howted sail, so that in some cases they had to be chased for more than an hour and a-lialf at the rate ol 13 knots. Those ^(•llooners only were eorfiscated whose log-bo'jks shoiveealers was etiectcd hv the liussian cnii/ers, I ha\c now the hoMdiir to tran>iinit herewith to your Lordship a copy of th ■ n'ply lioni tiie itiissian (iovern- nient, tiic ineiosLi?-e in tlie note henii; a I'reneii transiatinn of the ('omiiniiiiiiuf' in the " Otiieial Musseni^er,'"^ a tniur-lati'm ui which I hail the hijiionr to ir.m.sniil to your l.ord- sliip in my despateh ol tiie 22Md instant. ! liave, iS:e. Iteianed) K. 15. [). MORIKll. [nclosuru in No. '."). M. Vliivlikiiif Id Sir />'. Maiirr. Miiiisleif lit.- Atl'iiiri'y RtrtiiKferrx. M. I'Amhassadeiir, "ic 12 (24) drtni>rr, \Hiy2. 1,1:^ " Messnij;er Olliciel" a puhiie ii hi date (hi !) (21 Oelnbre un article qui relate dc Irt faqon la |)lus eirconstancicie tons les (iiits se rnppoitani .i la c.ipture par nos croiseurs de (juclipies schooners Canadiens cpii se Hvraicnt au hiaeonna^edans nos caux ferritorialos. C'et article specific, cntre autres, i'l ipielle distance de nos cote* la capture a eu lieu. Votrc Kxcelleiicc ayant bien voulu ni'exprimi!:', par son ottice du I (liii eourant. le desir de ])ossedcr cettc indication, je m'enipresse dc lui counnuuii|uer, en traduction Franpaise, cmpruutee au " Journal de Saint-I'cter.sbouiii," les donm-es en (piesiion, qui eompli'tent sous ce ra])i)ort ma note du 3 Octuhre annee courante. Veuillez, &c. iSKue) CHICIIKIXE. (Trnnsiatioii.) .\I. rAmiiassadeur, XFtiii.st.ni far Forcii/ii .llf'iiirs, Oriulwr 12 (21), ^^\)•l. '1111'"- " Messa'ici- Otfieici " pui)hHlied on the f)th (21si) October an article statiiiu; in the most circllnl^lantiai manner all the liicts lelalnm: lo tin sci/.un by our erui/.crs of some Canadian schooncis who were poaciiina; in our territorial watci>. Ainonust other things the arliclc specifics the di-taiiees from our shores al which llie seizure took place. As yo\ir lO.icilliiicy expressed a wisd m vour letter of the 4lli (liilii) instimt to possess this iiiforinatiou, 1 liasten lo eoinnuiaicati' lo you. in I'lvneh traiislaiion, taken from the ".loiiriial de Saint-PeterHbour;,'," siie particulars in (picstion, niiicli eoiiiphtc in this respect my note of the 3rd October of tin- present year. 1 have. iic. (.Siuned) CHICIIKIN'K. \»). 36. Coloiiliil Offivi' III Forviiiii i)ffiri<. — (Ri'ri'irnl Xiirnmhi'r 'J.) Nl', Ddiniiiiii ShrrI, Xitrmilirr 1. I'siVJ. Wri'lf reference to previous eoi'imii|)niidenee res|'ec(inu the seizure ol lliii'sh sealers by the Hiissiaris near Copper Inland. 1 .un uireeted by the \lar(phs dl Uipoii lo transmit to you, lo be laid hel()re tlie I'jarl ol' lAoseb i ,•, a copy ol a despateh and lis inclosurc- Iron the (ii)vernor-Geiieral o( < aiiada respeetiii llie allei^ed seizure ol three lioais bi'loiiitmu; to the " W. I*. Sayward" anti one heloiiiriiif; to the " I'], li. Marvin. " It will be ob.scrvetl that the atiidavit of the master of the " K. li. .Marvin'" i* accompanied by a claim lor the loss (d" the boat belonirmii to his vessil. I ant, On:. (SipKdi .lOHN HRAMSTON Nut |iriuled. mi liiflosuvc 1 in No. rif). Lord Slanli-tj of Pfxtnti lo llip Mariiid.s of Riijoit. Mv Lord, rini'-rmiinil House, Ollmni, Orlnhi-r lL>, 18!)2. WFTH reference to previous eories])()n(lenu« on llie subject of I lie seizure of 15ritii.ii sfiilin^-veswls iiiul property by Hussinn uutbomnes in tlie Nortli I'lii itie f)cean, 1 iia\e tbe liniiDur to tiniisuiit- to xour I ordsliip a copy ol :iu npproved Iteport otii CoMiniitlcc of the j'rivv Conncii, ^ubuiiltiii;; furtlier doeuineiits t(lucilill^' tt.iit (pie-tion, I iiuve, kc. J^iaiied) S'r.\NLi;Y OF I'RKSTOX. liieiosuru 2 in No. od. Ufpnii of n ('oiiiinitlec of Ihc Ilonnurohlr tlif Privi/ Counril, npjirorrd In/ liis Eicpllcnci/ thf (rovi'nioi-(ii'iiriiil ill Counril on the \st ()clohci\ \^'.)'l. ON :i Report, duted tlie Uttii September, IS!»L', frnni ll.c .^Iini^ter of Mnrine ;uui I'isjieiies, snl)ruititnu:, witli rel'ereiiee to certain previous Minufe> of Council, dated tbe I2tli September, 1802. VM\\ Scpteniiier, IS'CJ, i:'.th September. 1 S',)J, on tbe Mdjject of tbe property by Russian antlioi'itie- in tlie North I'acifie i/urc of liritisb sealinsj-vesM'l Ocean, liie tollowini,' docnmeiits since received touci tluit (iiiesiion : 1, Letter fri A. K. Mjlue, C'oUeelor of Customs, ^'ietoria. lOtb Sepiemiier, 1Sl»2 Sworn statement of Clarence X. Cm, master of tbe lirit isli seliooner E. 15. \l irvin," (letailiii'' the lo>s of one of bis scnlin!,'-beats on tbe jth August, |x!ll', eontai I ilDam idle lucid T ( ! iveni'iieiit. id James (inllaner, boat- le boat •md its occupants be believes were forcilily taken by the Hussiaii luMitcr ; Walter Tcnnison, boat-.-tcerer bel announeiii lurthi ;!. Lxtract from tin, "Daily News." lOth .Seplembcr, 18IJJ, -eiziircs by Russian aullioiiiies. 4. Kxlract from " Daily Colonist " newspaper, tbe lOtb September, l'5U2, annouiiciufr capture of tbrei' hoat^ of -eizures. Tiic Minister observes that ( Mient on the case of " K. B. Mat viii N\'. I', Savward," and I'd'errin" lo probable furtlier ollrclor due's letter, tboui,di covcriui; a sworn state- ilv states that the master of tl Annie CM OOIC ii-ported tbe lo mil Loniiri Inelosiirc .'! in No. 30. Mr. .\/i,ii(' lo Mr. 'I'lipjicr. Sir, Cnslonis', Ciniiifld, I'iclorin, li.C, Seiilrmher 111, ISD'J. 1 li.\\ f^ ihe luaioiir to liMii-'inil herewith a statement, sworn to before me, ol' ('liireiice N. Cox, master ot the lliili'-b schooner " \'.. U. Marvin," belonuin;; to this port. The master i f liie schooner " Annie C. Moore " reported on entiMum' Ih ii hi' had lost two h(\ats ami crows, wliicb lie ■-lali's were i.dt evciiintr, reporis baviili? lost three boats and crews, wlmdi were aUo lahen hv the Ku^Maiis in the nt'isldajui hood oi Copper Island. Till' niasti'r ol the Rritish -i honncr " Iv 15, .Marvin. " wbieb arri\cd l.^t iiii;bt and reported to me tliis morning as liasriBj» lostione boat imd boat's crew, also in tlic neiRli- hourliood of Copper Island, by the l^uswtaa cruizers. or servants of the Russian Fur Company. 1 Ijeg to inelosc tiie statemciit ot the nirwter of the schooner '• E. li. Marvin," and will endeavour to s-end you a stadineiit from Uic master m mate of each schooner as they airive, although it is somewhat diflicult to £:ei IkjIcI ot (licai for a day or two after a Ions; cruize. I have, &c. (Skned) A. H. MILNK, CoUeclor. tiiciDsure - ui No. 3G. Affiiimrit nt Ci'irmm' iV. Co.r, Port of Victoria, Rritisli Columbia : ON the 10th liay of Scptctnb»T, in the year of our l-ord T^02, personally appo.ired ami presented him-cli' at the oiHee oi Alexander Roland .Milne, Culleclor of Customs, at the port of Victoria, British I'ohn'.bia, Clai-cnoe N, Cox, master of 'he Britisli scliooncr " K. ii. Marvin," otiieial number '.M><1(), l)elont;iiH' to the port of Victoria, iiritisli Columbia, and being a vessel of 1 17 tons, reiristered tonnace. By the aflidavit hereinafter contained : Be it knowu and made nianii'cst that C!a\Tnee N. Cox, master of tiie said schooner " E. B. .Marvin," doth dids and solemnly swear uud state as follows; that is to say, that tiie said British seliooi.er " E. B. Marvin " was leirularly cleared in due form at the port of Victoria, British Columbitt, in accordance with the laws of the Dominion of Canada, on the I'Jtli ciay (f January Inst, and sailed away on tiic following day for a voyage to the North Pacitic (kcan, and to the westward of the line of (iemarcation, as set forth in tlie Order in Council, " Behring Sea Act, 1891." 'J'hat o!\ the voyage northwards the vessel proceeded to cruize on the waters of the North Pacific Ocenn, pursuing; her legitimate hunting on the open ocean, far beyond any limitatidu to hunting or fishing on the open higii seas. 'I'liat whilst so ennragcii, on the 7th day ot .lune last, was hoarded by the United States' steam-ship " Mohican," and served witii a warinng, and a C'liart was exhibited detininu the limits of the pioiiiliiied waters, in accordance witii "Tlic Bchrin-.; .Sea Act, ih'.n." That the master of the said scimnner " !'.. 15. Marvin," hcini; desirous ot' obcyint; the law, and on Hie int'ormation conviMrd to hiin. saded away to the westward tf) pursue; his legitimate voyage. That tlie suid schooner " E. B. .ilarvin," on the morning of the 5th day of August, while on tlie high seas, and to the wtstwaid of the line of demarcation, us laid down in " 'I'he Behrini; Sea Act, 18!)!.'' white iti(; vessel was under easy sail, and wliih! enveloped in a tliick I'olc, the boats being out H«altng, the master of the said schooner " I'. B, Marvin," by olwervalidii, ibund that the ve>M«»l was driltinir to the westward, by a strong' current sflttiiu; in tl.at direction, and tlie -mmtcr of tin' said schooner " !•'. B. .Marvin " found that fi' had dritted fullv 'JO miles in rwfnty-fdiir hours riiat on the niormnir of thf .'Jtii Autiust last, there heinna den-^e fog, t!ie boats went out a usu.d lor the day's hunt, without any IhoiP.'ht or (ear of iMierru|)ti(ni, and the ciMtornury return was looKed for iH«-imwal. 'liiiat on that day all the ntlmr bwiits i hunter and two boatmen ; the tittili tioat did t'olliiwimr named |)crsons : Williiii^ Shields, huiit'r ; Waller 'I'eiinisoii, hn.it-sleeier ; and , lames (inlliuer. boat-puller. 'Ihiit .sevm-al days were lost m wHiiint; and wiil in No, 30. Eitiactfrom the '•Daily News" of Seiitemher 10, 1592. rOUR moie sealing-vessels, iuchiding three Canadians and one United States' craft, have licen seized by the Russians in tiie vicinity of Copper Island, ands everal missing lioats are su|)posi(l to iiave met with the same misfortune, 'i'his news was brought by the sealers " ['.. M. Marvin" and " \V. 1'. Sayward," which arrived in port yesterday, and imewed the excitement created in \'ictoriu by the Hrst intelligence of the Russian outrages. Till' nami'S of the vessels latest seized have not yet bein ascertained, except that the " Vancouver Belle" from Vancouver is Unown to be one of them; the other Canadians aiT supposed to be the "Maud S.," " Ceneva," or "Dora Sieward " — two of these three —tlu)ii:;h this i^ not |)ositively known. The owners of the ".Marvin" and "Sayward" »(ie amongst the happlicst men in Victoria yi'sterday when they learned that their smart liltle cr.ift were at the enlranee to the harbour. Tlie " Sayward " was sight(;d by the tug " Lornc," becalmed olf Cape Kldttery, on Tlnn'siliiy evening. Andrew I.iuig, her owner, cauglit sight of her from the outer wharf iilioiit noon yesterday, and the " Lome '' was soon dispatched to tow her in, She arrived ulioiit "i o'clock, The lirst intimation from the " E. B. Mni'vin " came in a very welcome telegram sent liyCaptiiin Clarence Cox from Otter Point yesterday morning. The tug "Falcon" was inijawd to low her in, and at 3 o'clock left the outer whavl, carrying C.iplain .1. (i. Cox, Ci|ilaiii William Cox, (i. C. (lerow, and Frank Adam, all interested in the \-essel, together with u '' news " reporter. Tin- tug met ibe '■ .M.u'viu " beyond the liace Kocks Lightb.ouse, iiii'l she arrivi'd in the harbour abmit 8 o'clock. Captain Clarence Cox brought Miy interesting information of the absent vessels, the most important ol' which be had I'leancl from Captain Min(U', of the San Francisco -clidiiiier "Kate and .\ime." Captani Minor reported that the Caplain of the crui/rr " Ua'ib(uiie " bad hoarded the " Kate and Anne," and taken possession of all the skins on liiiard, as well as |)rovisi(ins, and other articles that fell under his ohservulion. .\ftcr laiiinlly examining the schooner, the Hu-sian told Cajitain Minor that she was so old iiiiil weather-beaten that she was not worth the trouble of towing to l'etro|)avlovsk, and till hcsl thing the Captain could l)c ibd not see or hear of any of 'he seizures, and Captain Brown was viding to give all st'.'aniers a wide berth. The " Hall ' "vas spoken the (ith August. On the 3rd August the schi^oners " Maude S.,"' " (Jeneva," and " Dora Sieward " were sealing close to where I was. Thej iidcl iio intention to leave, but after a fog, which lasted but one night, the schooners bad disappeared. There were ]]lcnty of seal al)out, and as the vessels uuist have been doing well, it looked as if they must have been taken prisoners. Sonietiiing unusual hapi)ened to make them get away as they did. Perhaps a Russian man-of-war was only sighted in their neighbourhood. The schooner "Maria"' was spoken on the 11th August. She knew nothing of the seizures, and had bad fairly good luck. The schooner " Victoria " was spoken on tlic! 19tli August, and was making for Atu. She fell in with the " Airnes McDonald," who reported having been chased by one of the men-of-war. A good breeze was blowing at tlic time, and the clip|)er schooner won the day. Captain Cutler stated that tbrci. scaling- scbooners were passed while racing from the cutter. He felt (|uite sale when these three were between him and the Russians, but how they 1'nred is not yet known. One of them be made out to be the " Sea Lion." Ca[)tain Cutler did not lose any time just then, being anxious to have lots of room between the cutter and his craft. The schooner "Victoria" lefl for home the same day as the "1']. H. Marvin," but being short of water she called in at Atu for a sujiply, and perhaps ran in danger by so doing. 'J'be " Penelope " was also on her way home. Captain Miner, of the "Jlenry Dennis," sailed for Sand Point on the lOth August, having landed bis coast catch there before goinof across. He told ('a[)tain Co.>; to wire bis owners at Seattle that he would be home in a few days. No sails were sighted by the "Marvin" on the voyage home, which was .i pleasant one, and made in twenty days. This schooner has for her reason's catch ■2,0,'j(l skins, wliicb is the largest re])()rted u]) to date for any schooner sailing out of port. The men in the boat she lost are W. Shields, hunter; .'\ugus McDonald, boat-pidlcr; and Tcnnison, boat-stecrer. No anxiety is lelt on their account, as they must have made shore or been picked up. The " Siniward." The schooner •' W. 1\ Sayward," Captain George R. I'erry, which iurivcd last evening' from the Russian side, beard nothing of the seizures. 'J'be " Sayward " came bouu' shoit three of her boats with niiic men. The live boats left the schooner on the Stb August, and were bunting, when a fog came up. Only two of the boats came back, and the otluis must have made U;v shore. " 1 sailed around," said Captain Ferry, "lor a nurnlier oi' days in boi)es of picking them U|), but lailcd. I am positive the men are all sale, as no w uul came up. 'J'hcy nmst have been |)iekcd up or landed on Coppi r Island. It was no use {'(U- me to remain there; with only two boats, and I made my way home, leaving the Russian side on tiie litb August. The trip home waj; n pleasant one until reaching Cape Veale, where the wiiid and fog detained me for six days. 1 have for my season's work 1,100 skins, 1 spoke the schooner " Kate and Amu;" on the'2'Jnd August, with 13(lskiiis. She bad been sniling on llu; .lapan eoa>-t, inul had a catch of 1 ,200 skins, which she shippiil from Hakodate to London." "A lucky thing for her," said the ea|)lain, when he was • inhuined that she had been boarded hv the Russians the next day. "'I'he Russians nuist have been close on to my heels. I did sec a large steamer one day, but thought it wns the 67 liisl steamer St. Paul, and paid no attention to her. She could have caui^ht nie ea, liy at liie time, an no wind was blowing. I am glad to he home ; eight months is a long cruize." The crews lost were : — 1. Neil Morrison, iuinter : A 2. Andrew MeCiarva, ii'inter .'!. Charles (/opcland, iiunter l-'ollowing are the sehooncrs spoken by tiie with their eatches on the Knssian eoast, wliic IJrown, steerer; A. McKenzie, ])uiler. .Mauriee O'Connor, steerer; Krnest Walsii, puller. Sam, a .lap, steerer; .John li-osc, puller. " W. 1'. Sayward " and " li. I'. .Marvin,^' 1 are very sm;dl. The eaptair.s coni[)laiu 1)1' tiie terrible weather on that eoast, alternating between gales of wind and fog and rain. The •' W. I'. Savward" got 400 skins on the iUiv,ian side, the " E. I'l. Marvin " 4.'!0, tin- •'Carmolite" 800, the " Airness McDonald" 240, "Fretis" 400. '• Victoria" 191, '•W. 1". Hall" 1!K), '-.Maria" 280, "C. !i. "White," ol' «an Francisco," 1 fiO, "Henry Dennis " 420, " Kate and Anne" ISO, " IJrenda " 210. The schooner '• Ainsworth," oV Siultle, was spoken, but did not report, having only just come across. The schooners " (jeneva," " Maude S.," and " Dora Sieward " did not report their catches, but claim to be doing well. Mostly, all tnese schooners ivere spoken between the Isl and 10th August. Tlic 'liip had the (iovernor of Komandorski Islands on hoard, 'i'he sealei'^ boats, six in number, were out ti^hini;; also a canoe. The (iovernor steamed aloni^sidc the " Maiia," and hailed the captain to brin^ his papers. He took them on board; the -Governor looked over tluMu, and said Captain lialcam could not return to bis schooner, as he had been taking seals in Russian waters. The ca])tain stated he had been (ishing outside 3 leagues of the coast, and therefore thought himself (|uitc safe. The Governor replied be was in Russian wafers directly be crossed the boundary between America aP'' Russian seas. The Russian Governor also said that the Russian waters extended to the jiaiallel ot' Cape Lopntka. A prize crew was placed on board the " .Maria,"' consisting of the second ollieer ot tin: '• Kotik " and ten men. The ■• Kotik " anchored off the village in Peschanni Hay. also the schooner, 'i'luy were allowed to take their personal clfccts with the exei'ption of slop-chests, clKuts, and instruments. They remained on board the " Kotik " one week, cruizing round the J$ebring group, and finally aneltorcd in IVtropavlovsk on the liOth August. The " Maria " arrived two days infore them. The authorities at l\tropa\ lovsk gave the crews a shed to live in, and they took sufficient ])rovisionslor use from the schoonei', also their bedding. M. Malntiwanski, the agent for the Fur Company, gave the captain a condbrtahir house, which he occupied with bis mate, Mr. Dexter. When Captain Hughes, of the " Carmolite,'' arrived, he also was taken in there. The woman of the house cooked for them ; no charge was made. The crew Wf>rc given a shed so small and nncondortabk' that some of tlu'm prelerred living in the town in native houses. They solil their clothes to pay for lodging: they hail no money; Captain Halcam had about 10 dollars; flic nuthorities did not interfere with them. Mr. liindhuist, of the firm of Kelly, WaUh, and Co., of Yokohama, behaved viry kindly. They K f t clear of debt. The ■ Kotik " also seized three men in the vicinity of Copper Islaiui — the boat's crew of the " Annie iMooie," which ship, however, was not seen by the " Kotik." About the .'iOlh August, Captain Hughes, of the sealer " Carmolite," which was cap- tuied on the 'isth August, arrived in the Russian corvette " Vitiaz." The " Vitiaz" sailed fiom I'ltropavlovsk for \'ladivosfock on the ."jth Septcnd)er, the " Maiia " being infow of her. After steandng through the Amphitrite Straits the '• .Maria' was cast off, and siie suiisecpicntly captured on the west side of Onckaton Island the ■ricQii whaling barque " Cape Horn I'igeon." '(• II ipe iioi oru Pineoii, 1 lie prize crei le crew of the C ape II( 1 igeon placed on huard the board the " Maria," and tlry proceeded to Vladivostoek . Thc"\'itiaz" reached Vladivostock on the 21st Septeinher. i'orty-nine men wiiv landed and placed in n small shed suitable for about twenty-five ; tl allowance ma>le them of hall'.a-rouble lived in cheap l(jdL;ili;:s. tl lose will) could no ley liail a provision t find room in flic sheil fic The two ca|itains and two mutes paid 1 rouble a-day for one room, and slej)! on tl During their slay the captains called on the Russian (iovern or ami as ked fn documents to certify that they were tiie masters of ilic captured vessels. He replied tlia tiie papers would be sent to the Russian Consul at Nagasaki for the iiifonration of tb British Consul, Apparently none were sent. I 71 The crows left Vladivostock on thu liStli Scptcnibc'r, find airivid at Niij^iisaki on tlic .'ircl Octot)cr, hcinc: ordered passages liy the Riissiiin amhoritics in the "Tokio Marii " and the "flciiK-ai Marii." At Na^asiilii the Britisli Consul >>luced tliem in a i)oarding-housc as distressed Britisli Mibjcct-, and tinahy, on the i:')th October, embarked them on l)i).:r(l tlie "Empress of ,/,i|iaii " tor Vaiieoiivcr. None of the schooners were sold before tliev left; t!ic " Carmolite " had not arrived. At the time of their leavinir V'ladivostutU no seamen of captured sealing-sehooners were (Iciianc'l by the authorities on shore. This stuteaieiit is correct. (Signed) SIMIOTT liALCAM, ^f(lstl•r of Scaliiiii-scliooni'i- '' Mm in." Witnessed bv— (Signed) \V. MoC. F. Castlk, Captain and Srnlor Officer, Japan Division. J. WiiiGiir, Vlfik. Yahohonia, Oclnhcr \{), 18^2. , Inclosurc 3 in No. 38. Statement hy Captain William [fn'ilifs, of f^calpi- " Carmolilr.'' THE "Carmolite" was registered at Liverpool, Nova Scotia, official \o. 92322, of 1)1* tons; carried seven boats, six used solely for sealing; crew twenty-three, all told — sixteen Canadians, live Enti;!isli, and two Japanese; previous to saiiin:: from Victoria, received no warnini; of Russian limits in iTfjard to Ik'hrins; Sen ; cleared at Victoria Custom-house on the 1st February with papers for faeilic Ocean; armament on board consisted of fourteen a;nns and ammunition ; started scalini; at Cape i lanco about the .'itli Tcbruary and continued riirht over to Copjier Island ; sent «79 seals to \'ictoria by scliooner called " Ijibbey " ((.'anadiau) from Kodiak Islaiul on Alaskan coast, thence [M'uceedcd to Copper Island, where arrived about the lUth Jidy; continued sealing (iO miles to northward and (!() to 1-0 miles to southward, till the "Jtitb Au!?ust, when seized by Russian corvette "\'itiaz" about 2;") miles east of south end of Copper island as coni|)uted by Russian otKcer ; jirevious to beiui; seized "Carmolite" was about 12 miles east of south end of Cop[)er Island when first sii,'l.ted by Russian man-of-war and then was chased and captured. Russian otHcer asked captain reasons for being so close to Co|iper Island, who stated that he sinbted land to correct chronometer, which was examined by navigiitor ol Russian inaii-of-war, wiio himself stated that it was incorrect ; papers were examined, and Ca])tain llui;hes taken on hoard (with thiui) the " X'itiaz." Ru,s,>,ian .Admiial was on buaid " Vitia/" at time and himself ordered seizure. " Carmolite "" had (lOs seals on board when seized, which had been killed chieHy from GO to 120 miles to north luid south (jf ('o|)|)C!' and lielirin^f Islands, never nearer to land ilian VO miles actually seaiinLC until sighted by "\iliaz;'' all seals, guns, and boats were couiiscated. Captain and crew of " Cm-molite " with all personal effects sent on board " \itiaz ' except the charts, sextant, and chroiio- niuter, w bicli they ( Russians) claimed to belona; to the sliij) ; then |)rize crew was placed on hoard the " Carmolite," which followeil " Vitia?. " to l'etropavlov^k, where " Vitiaz " arrived on the ^Oth August ; there they were put on shore lor live days, and allowed 7.1 cents a-day per head to exist on. On the ")t!i September they were cndiarked in '•\itiaz" and taken to Vladivostock, where arrived about the 21st Septcinber, having called at iutermediato ports of Saghalien ; >ip to time of leaving I'elropavlovsk tiic " Carmolite ' had not arrived there, but on reaching \'ladivostock told on board " Vitiuz " that " Carmolite" had arrived at l'eti'o|)avlovsk. At \'ladivostock they were sent on shore and allowed 'lit cents per liead a-day to live on ; here they remained about a week. Ko guard was placed on the captain or crew whilst either on uoaro uie •• vitiaz' or whilst living ou shore. i hey remained at Vladivostock until the 2Stli Septeuibcr, hoard the slcam-sliip " Tokio Marii," their passages ari'angcd by Russian tiovernment: were taken bv " 'i'okio .Marti " to Fusan, were put on board " Cink.ii .Marii,"' and taken to Nai;asaki, ulicie Uussiun Government handed them over to Uritish Consul by means of Ilussiuii Consul. on board the " Vitiaz when they were placed oi 72 There placed on board steam-ship " Empress of Japan," for Victoria. At time of leaving Petropavlovsk and Vladivostock none of the crew nor any Britisl\ subjects left at either port; no one belonging to " Carniolite" left in debt to anybody. This is a correct statement. (Si-ned) W. V. HUGHES, Master of late Sealinij-snhooner " Carmolite," Witnessed by — (Signed) W. McC. F. Castlk, Captain and Senior Officer, Japan Diiision, ,1. Wright, Clerk. Yokohama, October 19, 1892, Inclosure 4 in No. 38. Tracing. No. 39. Colonial Office to Foreign Office.— ■(Received December 1.) Sir, Downing Street, November 30, 1802. WITH reference to previous correspondence on the subject of seizures of and inter- ference with sealers by the Russian cruizers, I am directed by the Marquis of Ripon to transmit to you, to be laid before the Earl of Rosebery, a copy of a despatch which has been received from the Governor-General of Canada, inclosing a copy of a Minute of the Privy Council containing particulars with regard to the boarding of" the British sealing- Bchooner "C. H. Tupper " by the Cajitain of the Russian cruizer " Zabiaka." Lord Ripon desires to invite Lord Rosebery's especial attention to the fact that the vessel in question, when boarded, was distant 5'.) miles from the nearest Russian territory, and to express the hope that Lord Rosebery will consider the advisability ot bringing this apparently unjustitiable interference witli a British vessel on the high seas before the Russian Governtnent. No formal claim for compensation has yet been made on behalf of the owners of the " C. H. Tupper," but doubtless some communication on this subject \vill be received in due course. 1 am, &c. (Signed) JOHN BRaMSTON. Inclosure 1 in No. 39. Lord Stanley of Preston to the Marquis nf Ripnn, My Lord, Government House, Ottawa, November 11, 1892. IN continuation of previous correspondence on the subject of the seizures ol British sealing-vessels by the Russian authorities in the North Pacific Ocean, I have the honour to forward copy of an approved Minute of the Privy Council, furnishing particulars of the boarding of the schooner " C. H. Tupper " by the Captain of the Russian cruizer " Zabiaka." It will be observed that though when boarded the ship was distant .OO miles from the nearest Russian territory, and was shown by her log to have been at no time during the voyage nearer to such territory, she was ordered to leave Russian waters, which, however, the boarding officer refused to define. I have, &c. (Signed) STANLEY OF PRESTON. Inrlt'xiilf /• ;.'( .V.' TS /..■»'! KOMANDORSKI ISLAN DS ( Tftut'J t't-iiii ii fil/ui I'uhin/f/l, tij (If'iihit llir .Srolc ol Aihu . rluirl W ^5a« ) t^.sujnc(lj AMtujK-s Sii'llcr, L[ N., SicW>V ^, ,->';''-'" A. I'lisUun iirSclidi'inr' Mi'fiii 'whtii ({//iliiffd'. B .. ,, }'".nff('iiriiU'lili-niu-ii ni/iliimJ. Tlh (il)tnr fx'silicn is coffrcf [■•ti)|i|)t(l '111 liu>t ll!. vessels siilc. T<. liclirint: L'l VtiVilfif, the Uu iiii|)ifSh lU tlic Uiii iiiid tlui .\r iKil iinii tluil ln' Would L Ik liuiitin;: Oi replit'd ; Ciltoll. Tl. Til jiiun.al "I lirofliiii: Uliuuls, of Vict( 7a IiicIci'^iilP '1 ill N'iuii aiiliioriiifs, lliiit lie lias received a swoin stateirieiit by W'ciitnoi-lh K. IkLt-r, masttr of liiu liiili>ii ^lalinji-scliooiicr " C. II. 'l"u|)|)L'r.'' Tliis statcintMit, wliicli is luri-to iipjiended, relates a« f<»illo«- : — 'I'lial on the 10th day of Aiifjust, 1^'.I2, while iii la::tu-lf oi .'0' noitli latitiidt-, l(i(i 7 east, the "C. II. ru|)|)er ' was hoaidid Ly aii 'Ahurt ((om the li.i-iiaii cnii/tr "Zahiakii." The master was ordered tj '^o board the Kfnc »ith hi-* vc'srl, hot that 1 is !-kins WDuld he taken : the Russian Comuiander lemaik's;;; to I.im, •' Vour (iovernmiMit jtopjied stalini; on your side ; we >to|)i)ed stalin;^ on thi» fide." The master ol the '' C. II. Tupper'' slates that his. uu^kc^ldndii::; of this remark was liiat as the British CJovernment hud entered into nn atJ<.iiscri ct.t to prevent Ijiiii^h vessels from sealinu; in American waters, bis Governiut-ul »obl'i do tike«isc on the .\sialie side. To this Cajitain linker replied that sealing was prufaibiSed in the American wateis of Ik'Iniii;,' Sea, hut not in the Pacific Ocean. L'pon heinj^ asked where he had been since he left port, he rel.ited an account of viiya[;e, telliiii;; the Russian Connnander that lit' hud v-aled aiuni^ the .\l,i-kan coa=t ; but the Uussian Commarider expressed his (hnibts uf this iin'f.M-v.t, a.s he was uruler the impression that sealing had been stopiied there. He was informed, however, by Captain Haker that he l^d entered and cleared from the United States' jiort of Sand Point, with skins on Ixjard carisht in the Pacific Ocean, and that at the time of speaking; he was still in the Piicilic Octati. .Alter again going over the positi m of the " C. H. Tuj-fjer'' durinar her stay in Russian waters, and having a conversation with his two ofticers in »J.e Uu.-sian hingnaire, wh cli was iKil understood by Captain Baker, the ('(niimandcr (jf the "Zitiaka"' infornuil the captain that he would allow Idm to ]ir(;eced lu me ; but it awiin taught, both vcss^ I and skins Would be seized. lie pi'oduced a Proclamation issued by the Russian Oovcinment prohibiting seal- liiinting in (Okhotsk Sea and Russian w.iters. Oil being asked for a detinition of limits comprised in the term " Ru>>i.in waters,'' he replied : — '' Never mind limits. No seal catch, "^'ou can na»-ir'j.tc these waters, but no seal ciiteh. You came here to steal seals." This was the only reply vouchsafed to the requcii for a definition of the limits of liussian waters. The Connnander of the "Zabiaka" then made the fol'oiting entry in the dailv juuri.al of the " C. II. Tupper " :— " The warning was deliverel fro'ii the Russian man-of-»-ar cruizer 'Zabiaka' which proclaims the iirohibilion of seal-huntinu' in Rus^ian wattl* ariri near the Commander Islands, 1892, the lOtli Aui;ust. (Signed) " B. DE Lkvuon, Captain, " Latitude 53'' 50' north, longitude IGO' 7' east." Captain Baker, upon returning to bis own vessel, ordtTft ^ail to lie made tor \l\j |)Oit of Victoria, and entered in his dailv journal the fclluwin:;. — [50i] " L " Wrdnesdnij, Aiu/unt 10, 1Pfl2. — ^Tliis dav, \\"ttflr*fh(» vpsspI was Ivini liovo-to under a sliort siiil, in liititiulo ">.'! .">(», loniritiiilc I'iCi 7' casl. tlu; Rii>»i;iii iii.-in-ol-wiir ' Z;il)ial<:i ' ran aloiifrside and mdiTcd us to lieavo-ti). sent ii i)uat on hoard and dcniandud tiint t\x schooner's papers ho taUcn to the tuan-ot'-«ar. whicli wiis done, and there examined hy the Captain, tlie jiapers heiiii; found in order. Me then nrdi-red the ve-sel to leave tliose waters under a penalty of s-eiztirc and eoniiscation >l»ould sin- a^ain he founii there, and would not give any satisfaction >.- ;o what thev nhr-meu ,is Ilus^iaii water?." The schooner •' C. M. Tuppi: " had l)eeii iiut eizin days* in the vicinity of Itussiaii waters wiicn ordered off. Theri .vi're on liuard 270 ;«iid-i^ii!is : and the raptain calculate-; that, as the weather was liiir a.Mi -..'als |ih'ntn.ul, such ini iTiiption oceasioiieii tin- loss i t' 7">i* >kins to the owners, himself, and the crcwof the seliuinier. The Minister of .Marine and {•"ishene-i ohscrOTVt that it appears, liierefure, thai Captam de Levron was* under the inipressioii that .di sealinif in North l'aciti(! waters had been interdicted hy the modus vin-iidi .Virree-.nent |jet\wen Mer Mai(".ty's (i()\ irunient ami the United States. It is quite clear, however, fivim tlu; care he fiioic toa-siwrtain ihi; actual position of the schooner, that at no time wa.s j-hcuithin the territor-il 'nia of the Russian fiovern- nient. or liahle to interference hv the crnixers ol that i After the explanation ol Captain Ij:i1\M'. which .ipp^. nlly removed the impressioi; erroneously entertained hy Captain de Levron. his acciun ■. allouinu: the vessel to prt/treer horeie shows that he was not sure of the p'lsition lu; had a— onned. It IS also worthy of notice that the Russian otiicer. !>' 'ns -iw-n action, eatai)listie(i lli lact liat the vessel was, at the lime of the inlcriercnce cu:i..'(iuiiied ')f, hcyonci the jurisdic- UOHi nt tie Eussian Governinciu. THk Minister further stat«s that the >ctoher ultimo. '";!: 'ommittee, on the rci ; n of tiie .Miinisltr- o( Mnriite and fisheries, am -■ • ;it a copy ot this .Minuic. il npprovcd, with its Ajjj—ndi.x, he torwatdcd ti. the K«L- : i:Kiurahle the Principal .■-etTctary ol Stat':- lor the CoImihcs, for the irnitrniation of Her Jta««£y"s (iovernment. JSLarf which is respectlullv suhmittel for vonr l'..\cellenev - anproval. (Signed) jOrHiIPH I'Ol'E,. AssiKtimt ('If'-l! nf ilir Prim 'JonHc'il. AI'J'EN'DIX. Tlnrmniiiii „1 ( 'anatl! ProvilU!!^ Ill lltui^ii < illuiJliiiu. ■I Victoriu. r. WK:" .\\i : ir \:. IIAKKI:. ..t iIh- city ..r Victurln, in till- l'riv.vm.'r uf Mrufsli " ■filumliin, master iiiurlD'r, il ■■ K-nuily iiiid siui-rj^lv .'•late iiud deihn" iis fiiilowM; — '.. 'I.'li;it i am ii:- iiiii.sler ni' ihu iMjrematier iihTilmiieil srlmoiici- " (' II. Tii|ii(if"V," ii lirNiah V(mw>I rejjisteretl ut liu: mn nt Sliulburiii:. m Uu- I'mvuici' ul Xuvii Scolia, lu llw l»t. l.S!l_', wUile in lutiladc ."i.'l .'iH' mii'th, liiii;;iiihlu linti' 7' uiisL uiy said vessel wius injriled hy lui nfliii-r friiiii ihe ;{ii.s-;i;iii cnii/cr " Z:ilii;ik.i " J. I wan iirdciiifl to '.'I't into llu- s;iiil iiltieci's limU, wliii^li 1 ihil, laliiiii; witJi ini' niv l"t;4»«tk- and other papiirs ut the said schooMi-r " ( '. II. Tiijipi-r." ai.d wiis tiikcii uii luririj tln' i;iid llassuin cnii/iT '' Zabiaku. 4. After boariliiii; Il /Ciilpiakn ' a.s arnn-siiiil. tin- ('liplaia n| iln; .-i.iid vessel diilcri'd im- id .sln.w hiiu ihe lo(j-hook unl piipcrs of the .said .srhnonL-r " C. il. Tapper," wloeh I ilid, and ilit- Cipiaiii ami the other ottii-urs 'I the said eruiiier " /aliiak.i. " .spieiul out a clwrl, alul prieked oat my .lady pusiiiun durinj,' the wluiK tiim' I had heea lai llie .\sialii- side of the N'ciitli I'li.ilie < iieiin. ."). Thai .sid.l t 'apt, I in .4' tlii- ■■ Zahiaka ' (ititer"d in tiie liii,'.liiKik iil' the .said HelicKnier ' < . 11. Tapper the (iiwiliou of Uiu Haid filioiaiel ii:i the |il||| ijay of .\il^'U-l. PS'.IJ. as stated ill piiiiii;iitl»li .' uf tins int decluiatidii. Ii. The .sael I 'aptuua of the ■ Zahiaku, ' after tiaiiii^ my daily jinsilimi us iiieiiliu«i'il in |ianij,'iapli I liuiwif, ;i.seerbiined ihul uiy said selin'iiiel had imt lieeii nearer than .dioiit lit! mile- llciii: laihi liel'iile and that I w-.s then .dnait ."!' miles Ikiiii l.iiid. 7. The <- .iptuiii 'if the " Zal'ii'ii.i ' then staleil In me : " Vnii eaii t.ike ymir veswd and '^n Imme, Imt I'll take yowi skins Vncr tinMnnmeiit s(,ip si'idiny on this siile." I!y lids I thoii'iht he meant, " .\s your (iovoi-TiTiient has sLoppeii sdidiiiu.' .Vi-. To this 1 leiilied, " Nh ; tliey have ..iily prulnliileil .sealiiiL; 111 Heliiiiif.; .■Sea, liiiL ui't iii tliii I'neili. i leeaii. " lie .iski'd where 1 had Keen sm. e I Hrsi left \'iei(nii, and I yaie him an ae.eoiuit of my voyage, telliii;.; him I had sun 'I alouj,; tlio .MiiMkaii coa.st ; Im replied tfaul Itlll.s eouUl uut bu, as my Uoverniaeiit luul siupiHid •.. >',:,; I lliuu told liim that I had I 'I ciiti'icii iiiiil cli'ii 'fid rrum Siiinl I'niul,;! I'liilcil Stat' ■' |.oil, v. ilh ^'al-skjns on IhkiiiI, wliiili I lui'l cmiL'iit ill Ihe Tat: lip ( li-i/un ;u;il not in Uilinn',' Si a. aihl that at tlic tiiin' In- was s|ii'akiii.;,' ho irn' I was sl-ill ill till- I'ucilic 'i-'cjin. S. The .said Cajii. ■•■ ol' llii' ' /Cabiaka" agiiiii wmil ovur iiiy daily ])iisitinn.s diirint; tlir time I «'iis .jii till' Asiatii' side ot tiic I'aciilic (Jot-aii, and llii'ii had ii i.'i)iivi'isalioii with his twii iitlieors in llifiir own liiii'.'iuv.'c, whii;li 1 (lid iiiit iiiid(?isUii:il, after which llic <'ii|itaiii said, " Vnii can f;itiule KiO' T' cirst, the llussiiiii man-of-war ' Zahiaka ' ran aloneside, and, iiriierin!; ns to lieavp-tii, sent a lioat on lioard and deimiinled that the schooner's papers he taken to the liiiuuof-war. which was done, and (here examined hy the Ciiiilain. the papers lieiliu fomid in order. He I lien ordwed the vessel to leave those watcis under penalty of seizure and conliseation slunild sjie .■ifraiii lie fotiiid there, atid would not j;i\e any satislaction as to what they elaiined as lUissian walpr.". ' \'l. The lireakiie_' up of my .scnlint; voyiiee hy the " Zahiaka " as aforesaid causeii the owners, myseJf, and crew of the .said schooner "(.'. H. Tupper" ^'reat loss and dania^'c. 1 had sullicient ]iro- \ineins and .stores on hoard, and intended remaining,' in the uaters I was then in nntil ahoiit the middle el .Sqiteniher. as the seals were plcnlifld and the weather was fair. 111. I iind only heeii sealinj; eie)it days in the said waters when ordered away liy the " /ahiaka " ii~ aferpsaiil, and I then had on hoard 'J70 o.lil seal-skins. 14. Hy I'Kii.son nf havina ihe .said waters as afoicsaid I lost not less thun T.'iO scat-skins. Auil 1 luuke this soleinn declaration eonscieiitiously heli'-viiiL,' the same to lie true, and hy virtue "I " Hiv. Act resiwcting. ilxtra-Jitdicial (Jallrs. ' (Sien.'d) W. K. HAKKi;. .''ipned and .leelar#n hy the said Weiitwoith K. I'aker hefore me, the l'iideisi;.'ned, a Xotaiy I'lthlie dnly conmnssioneil Mid residiiiLr and practising' .it the city of Victoria, in the I'rovince of llrilish I oUnnliia, ;his IStli day of (letoiier, A.n. IK'.il.'. (Sn.'nHd) ViiANri.s Ii. Clti'.iioiiy, JL-MoUirfl Jt'^hlie in and fm- llie J'nniner nf linlisli Cvluinhiii. No. U). Hir R. Moricr In I he Karl of Jioneheri/. — (A' reived Deceviber 7.) My I^rtl, SI. Peteri>huryh, November 2!), 1892. I IIAVK the lionour to iiifoiin Miiii' Lonlsl)i|) timt I ha\c' tliis day addressed to M. Chiclikint; llie note ol wliicli I inclose ii copy heicwitli, on tlu subject ot tiie capture liy liussian cruizcrB of Cauadiaii scal-bliips in llie i'licilic. I liavc, Sic. (Signed) 11. B. D. MORIER. Inclosuru in No. 40. Sir Ii, Morirr to M. Chichkine. M. lo Consdller Privc, SI. Prirr.ilnirrjii, Nor',iih,r 17 (2»), 1«0L'. I .\M now in a po.sition to siilnnit lo your Kxccilcncy the various aHiihivits and other documents received Iroin Ottawa in connection witli the recent captures ot' CanadiRn seaiinR-slii|ns by KuMian cruizers. In vour Excellcncvs note ol llie ^rd (l')tl.^ October vou (laTC been eo {jood as to [60*] ■ ' i; '2 76 liiriiish nic willi :i /uinid /:irir ti.l('j;rapliic iP[)ly received hy .Adniiral Kiviner to tlic ■f tlic intli So])teiiil)er. Yoii stati! iiu)uincs niiid'.' iiy ,\li'. llowiud in Iin (iidr-tficuinir • <■! TMc ihth hO])reiiii)er. i on tliiit this teli-maiiiiic intoniiiitin!! ciintiiiiis ;i rnniiilvfr reply to the " lyiii^ statcnicnts " (il tlic Hriiisli crews. W'liiNt liilly iiiiilerstaiuiin';' llic irritation eau-e(i by statenu'iits (leio':alnrv to the R(i»tional delicacy which vcfjuires to be t-eatcd on both sides witii a Iriendly deteiniinntion to ani\'e al a tair and eipiilahlc setllenicnt. ^'our I xcedenev may v:'st tally .issuied that I Icr Majesty's (Jovcrnmciit will ask tiir iiotliiii^: lint whai they are justiried hy international law and international comity iii ('laiminLT, and on tlie otiier hand I'teel a.ssnred that tlic lin|ierial Governnicnt will not on their side reluse wliat i"ilcriiiitional law and inlernational comity decide that tbcy should graut. 'I'lic ciiniplaints ol' the Canadian lishi'nncii fall under two beads; first, the treatment l!;ey declare tiiey experienced a< the i:ands ol' t'leii' captors; and. secondly, tlie illesality (f the captures tbeniselves, in that the;, weie etrecled on the high seas at considerable distances Ironi Russian territ»rial waters In reference to the first there is np|)arcntly a'n irreconcilable contradiction between the s'vorii evidence of the mnsters and cicws of the three ships, the "Ariel," "Willie Mc(jowan." and " I'osie Olsen,'' and the stiitcnients made liy the Commaiub'r of the imperial I'licitic squadron : hu! a careful e\;nninatioii of the aflidavits on one side, and nl your iixcellenc\'s note on tli jther, shows that the discrepancy is not so t,Teat as it at first appears. I he Crmuiaiider of the linperial I'a'itie s(|uadron lavs cxce|)lional stress upon ll'e frood triiitmcnt wliieb the nllicers and ciews nf ihe captuied ships received on board the " Ziihiiika," and he ap|)eals to the lestiiiiony of the otiicers of the " M.iry," the " r'aiiiKjIilc," and the "\anconvcr Helli- " to jirove the kindness and courtesy wbich they had met with. X iw, in. the utiidavits transmitted herewith it will be perceived that no coniNlaints art made with reter(mc(' to the treatment of the ofKcers and crews whilst i;n board the " /aliiak-.i," an miles from Kussian territorial waters. In the convi rsalion I had tin; honour to hold with your I'Acellcncy on the 'J3"(l Septendjer, vou del'enderi tli-.; capture of the sealers by the liiilowini^ arijunient : — .AdniittiuLr, you siiid, that the sealers liad not been actually cautcht within the Russian territorial waters, you argued that if a ship was found poaching' in the tcnilorial waters and pursui'd thenei; into the open sea, it would be a hard case were the lursuinj; erui/.er debarred from the riLrht of caplurinj; her, and you used the illustration of t " — •; , •" ,.... ,.v .. ,..,..,.. ,,,^„ .... ,.|., .. ..V,., .. ......... ., .....,.- ..^.^ ^, lursuinj; erui/.er debarred from the riLrht of capturiuf; her, and you used the illustration he surprise ot a bm'tilar in Jlinjninlr drlicto within your house and the pursuit and captu iif him in the stre."t. 1 believe this to be a correct view, and 1 liave little doubt that it is shared liy Her Majesty's (lovernrueiu. Hut, in order that tiie right of ca|iturc on the liiuh seas under these eircuinstanees should be luaiie perfect, it is necessary that the (itlencc and tliubt siiould be continuous, and pursuit bcirun whilst the otllsndinic vessel is fctill within territorial waters. 'I'iiis would seem to reduce the case of the three sealers to \ery simple ]iro]U)rlions. 'l'lioui;h there is a discrc|)ancv between the dist.nices from the nearest Ku-sian land as (aleulated in the iJrilish and Russian cases, tln'v are in each case far beyond the .'}-i:iile liniil c'lustitutin;; the tei'ritorial waters. The oidy (piestiun to be decided, therelore, is whetlier the three ships were discovered, liy the cruizer "Zabiaka" or the commissioned merchant-ship " Kotik," actually poachni!.; within the 3-n)ile limit, aiul were jHirsued thence respectively 4:'i miles, 40 iinles, or '-'.') n\iles into the open sea, and there capiured. -Now, it comes out (juite clearlv IVom the inclosed altidavits and the Russian Protocols accDnipanyiiiL; them that in not one ol ilK- cases was the capture the tinal act ol a previous pursuit initiateil in the territorial wateis of Russia. 'I'hi' Protocols drawn up by (Japtain (11 Levron, printed on p|). i'> and !!• of the inclosed atlidavits, prove this beyond a doubt, lie cmnes acro-s ihe two schooners easiiallv, knows tlum at once to be sealers, boards till Ml, liiids dead seals and fresh sea'-skiiis, and forthwith eonti-cates tli5 ships aiiit makes their crews prisoners, although the tact appears to be that when he siiihtcd the schooners they were beyotid territoriid waleis at a distance of I.') and '20 miles respectively from the I rarest Russian territory. The case ol the " Rosic Olsen '" is still more conclusive, if this Were po-sihle, for at the time whci) she was eaptmcd she was nctually en^'aned in her liMitiniate occupation of sealin'4 in the open seii, her boats beinu; all out at the lime, and liaviii'.; to be collec'.ed liv the " Kotik " belia-e they coidd prucecd. lloi\ could she tinder Mich eircunistanc'c.s have been escapim; pursuit 'r The plea of pursuit fro;n territorial waters is never even incidentally put in. In every case the izround ol capture allei,'ed is that the ships were taken in Russinu waters with proofs on board that tlie\ had been iiiL'aned in catchin'.,' seals m tciritorial waters oH' the Commander and Co|iper Isl.inds. W hilt these proofs can have bei'U it is dillicult to understand. It cannot be supposed that the skins coidd afford evidence that a particular seal had been caught within .'I miles of tlu; I'M.ist and luit out at sea. All the information in the possession ol Her Majesty's (iovern- iiHiit lends to show that the vessels had carefully avoided tishiiiL', or even appronel;in|.', within .'( niiles of the Russian coast ; indeed, Ihe masters and other deiionents assert that they had kept at a much greater distance. No Icstiiuony has hitberlo been produced which invalidates these staleiiiciils. It seems clear, llii'relbre, that Captain oe I.evi'on ami M. (Iiebiiit/kv mean bv " Riissi.in waters'' .-lomethinir wholly dillercnl from llie ■"•-mile liMiil recogni/ed Kcni'ra I lieu ally b) ly niternaii(Hial law. ai ml specilicallv bv the Russian (iovern I in regard to thcsu very scus, as constituting tenitorial waters. They talk of their 78 right to seize ships which can he proved to be scalers at any and evt ly distance (row tli shore, at ],flOO miles if necessary, so lont» as there is proof, even it it were onlv tli presence of salt, of their being sealers. Tiiis languap:e has been used hy .M. (!rt'i)nitzkv not only now but so far back as 1888 in connection witii the capture of the "' Arauiiali." It is clear, therefore, either that these odiccrs are unactpiaiiited with the rules of international law which govern the case, and the special declarations of the lin|iciial Government in reference to these seas, or that being ac(|uainte(l with ilicin (iiey have deliberately set them at d< liance. That Captain de licvron was worliing upon a deliberate theory on the subject seems cli'ar I'rom tiie affidavit of John Mel eod, inastir of the "Ariel'' (p. !'), who asks Caiitain de I.evron, " Are you seizinir n\y vessel?' He said, " Yes." "I asked !iim uhat he was seizing her for." lie said, " Vou are in Russian wa'ers '' He added, "'riie. Auieiicans cl.'.im one side of ttie line of demarcation, we elaiii> the other." Accordingly, fioiii n review of al! the facts connected with the ])resent cases, no less than tliose that were elicited in the case of the " Araunali," it seems to me to be clear that the local Russian officers in those seas have, despite tlic declarations of the Russian (Joverninent to the contrary, been acting on the theory that the sea to the west of tlie so-calkd lini' ol' ls;Ci7 is a Rii.ssian mnrr rUiiisinn. t!iou!;li this theory is difficult to reconcile with their iLrnor;nice of tlie state of things created hy tliu Order in Council of the 23rd June, 18'.>l. and the modus lirvudi agreed to hctweia ourselves and the United States. Kvcrywherc the greatest stress is laid on, and astonishment (lis[)layed at, the certificates jjrodueed hy the sealers, testifying to tlieir having liecn warned ugainst sealini; in tlie waters to the east of the line of demarcation, as if this were a great ag-iravation of their ofl'ence. Even your Excellency seems to be under a nnsapprehension on the subject, as you observe in yoiu' note ol the Srd (l.')tli) ()etol)er tiiat it is char, from tlie shi|)s hein^ turned out of thcsi.' seas, that their notoiiiuis habits of poachiiiL' must iiave liuen well kn'iwn to our authorities. Tiiis is not so; tliey were warned, not bccau>c tiiey wer,; iiiiown to lie poachers, or had been caught poaching, Init fjccause nl! se;ding to tiie east of the line of demarcitio;), whelher on the open sea or near the coasts, was prohibited by the Ordei- in (ounci! of .June 18!)1. It was as sealers, ami not as poachers, tliat they wer(> warned, in each rase they asked the olheers of the Hritish and .\meriean ships who warned them whelhci-, on crossing to tiie wesi of the line of demarcation, they were a' liberty to lish, and wei'c told, and correctly told, that so long as they kept clear of Russian territorial waters, and roiilined their operations to tli" high seas, they were at liberty to tisli. This had likewise been iX|)laincd to (lieni before liny left Victori.i, wliere they liad Ixmmi specially wariie;l to avoid R.\issian teri'itorial waters, and to keep to the lii:;h seas. Srrcli is the case which 1 have been inslrueted by Her iMiijesty's (lovermiient ti submit to your Kxeelki)cy"s consrderatioii. 'riiey do not doubt that as it is admittiil tliat the seizures took ]ilacc outside the territorial jurisdiction of Russia, the eouliscalioii of the vessels will be ic; versed, and that these will he restored to their owners, with eorii- pcnsation for the loss sustained. With regard to the alleged ill-trTatincnt of the ci'cws, they propose to await the result of the searching iru|nir'y which yotrr Excelleney lia< assured me would be instituted helbi-e advancing any Sir II. Morii'r. Sir, Forf'ujn ()//lrr, Drrrinkr 12, ISO:'. J TRANSMIT to your Kxcelkiicy copy of a letter fiorri the Coloni.al Office lelalm-' to the boarding of the IJritish seaiing-seliooner " C. H. Tupper," by the ( aptain of ilf Russian cruizer " Zabiaka."* I request that your Exi:elleiK'y will point out to the iiussiair (in\ c riimenf tli.i! iIa' " C. H, Tuppcr," when boarded, was 51) miles distant from the nearest Russian t( riilorv. No. ay. 7n and call tlicir attention to this intcrfercncr with a British vessel outside Russian territorial jiiiJMliction. \\n\ sliould adil that no claim for coii)j)cnsatioii has, a^ yet, hfcii rec'civcd from the (iwmrs of the "C. JI. 'rii|i]>ei'", hut that Her Majesty's Govcrmiie.it must ffsci-vc to thfiiist'lves tlie right o( presentin!^ such claim, if it should he made, as no doubt it will. I am, &.C. (Signed) IU)SHI5RRY. No. 42. Aihiiiralti/ to Forciijn Ofl.ce. — [iiectivnil December 19.) j;il-. ■Uhnlnilli/, Dereiiihcr M, 1^92. \ AM commandrd hy my Lords Comniissioners of tiic .Admiralty to transmit hi'rcv.-ith, fill' the iuformatioii of the Secretary of State, papers respecting;' the |)rocecdini;s of Her Miijc-tv's ship " Leander " in connection with the .'^cizure of British sealing-schooners hy Ku-Hau ships of war, I am, &c. (Signed) KV.W .\l.\CGllF/iOR. Inclosure 1 in No. 42. ('(iplditi Ciisllc In Vii'e-Adiiitral Sir E. Inciiiiin/le. Pir. " Leawh-r." at lluknditc, Ovloher 10, IS!)!'. 1 ll.Wi", the honoui' to re[)ort that, alter parting comija'.iy with \'our (hij; on the li'lth Sc|iteml)L'r, I proceeded, in accordance with your orders, at •' niodcrire dispatch," to I'rrti'opavlovsk, reaching that |iort a 4 f.Ai. on the :iflth ultimo. On my arrival I immc- (liitc'iv .-alulrd the Uussiau (lag with twenty-one i,'uns, the lin[)erial eruizer " \'al to \\w south ol Betropavlovslv, and shaped a 'oursc for that port. .'t. During my stay at i>tro[>avlov-:k 1 |iaid oflicial vii^its to the Okrnginoi Nacha- linik (Chief of the Province) of Kamtehatka, and to the Connnand'jrs of the Imperial cruizcrs ' Vakoute " and "Bohr;" the latter vc^m-I arrived on the -'(rd October from Kouiandorski Islands. 4. 1 left l\ ti-opavlovsk at .'! IiO \\y,\. on the olli insi i; r. and proceeded a' '' moderate ili«patcli." On till! "ih October I c.xpi'nded one riiiiilh'. allowance of amnnmition, and lunieil out night liiing with machine and quiek-lirin^ gun^. ."'. In acordanie with your orders, I called otl the Island of Par.miushir on the 'itli Oetoher, hn; there being no signs of wrecks and the .Amphitrite passage appearing Mry foul (near shore), I hauled to the southwanl, and proceeded along the eastward side lit llir' KiiriK -i. Ij. On 'ho Mb in>tanl ! .ailed at Yctorap, or Staten Island. anli sliips, sealers m whalins, bad been at Staten 1-land recently. 7, At ■» P.M. I proceeded, and arrived at Hakodate at a.m. on the lOtb instant. Alter •■'i.iliiig j shall ki^vc (oi \okobama. ">. Tlie health m the ship's cuinpany has been goml. I have, \c, (Signed; W. Al. i'. t'ASTLK. so IiicliiMiix- •_' ill N'li. ^2. ''cill.l I I.I, of Airiviilv :iii(i l)c|]ai-tiil'('' A 11 if. 1. Siul(( rifioc. — ^ - Himark''. Datp. 'J'imc. D.ar. 1 imc. llaliodatP S|.| itrmliiT Jfl 11 •.■iO J.M. I'l'tro] :ivlov-k . . S( ptcmlier i!0 1 r.M. (If ,.l„r ,-) 3-;; II r..M. lvitcikap|)U liav (Stiili'U l>liincl) O.toLcr » J- 111 r.M. Oi' Inlicr K 2-10 r.M. IIak„ante llctoh r 111 11 A.M •• •• (Signed) W. M. F. CA.^TLK, Captain. Jnciosurc 3 in No. 4-. Copi/ nf Insrrlplion nn the Grarr of I wo British Smnirn, iit Pnriimushir Island, rrreived from nil O/firer nf tlir Jiipanrsc Surrciiiiii/ sliip " Iiriilii." HERE lies tlip two l)()(lies of Aiiluir I'iiyr.r. of London, and Janics Clreeii, of London, wiio wei-e ^lii|).\ictkc'd on tlic .'lOtli .\piil, one thousand and eij^lit and nint'lv-uiif (l»3i). S'lliooni'r " lU'iilonsnii." lie tlint (lidh ill tlir Liinl \\'ill M-cLi\L' u ^nul nu.in!. TllOM.VS I'OWEIJ.. Miiluail, Near C'olc'ford, (iloucesttrsliirc, luij-land. Inciosuic 4 in No. 42. Captain CudJc to Vicv-Atlmiral Sir E. Freinanlh'. (Kxtract.) '• Lmmtrr:' at llakmhtt; Orlohfr W, W.Vl. I II.WR llie honour to ip|)ort Umt I ariivcd at lVtio|)aviov?k on the alternoon of Fmky, \\w :U">tii Se|itcnil)C'r, 18!'-.', and conniu iiwd to gatiicr llic I'acis oonncclLHl willi llu.' st'izuie ot' Biiiisli souliiig-scliooiKM's l)v Hu-sian ciui/c'is. 2. I as*vrtaiiK'il that, in the Sta ol' Okhotsk, no .seizures were made, and that no Hiitish subj't■ct^ were detained iit l'elroi)avh)Vsk. .'}. It. appears that, since July, seveuil British s;'aliiiir-scliooners, whose crews nvera^'i il twe«i*y-tliree men eneii, after ende.ivoni inu: to lake seals in the neiulibourhood of ihi' AlrcuJian IsUinds Cpurchasccl hy America (iom Russia the iMh Oelohcr, IslJ"). saik'd liwwn to the Ik'iu'iiiu and Koii;andnr>ki Li'oup, and coiiuncneed their tisiiing opera'ions in Russian waters. This I ascertained from a rehalile Bource. 4. Tiiree Russian cruizers havr been iiupioyed in |)alroilinj;, not oidy ll"' Konianiha-ski fftoup, hut aloi;..' the imith-e:st coast ot Kaintcliatka and about K.ir:it;iiisls Ishind ; Iheir iiann - are the " /ahiaka," "Hoi):-." and "Yakoute;" the Russian Admiral ia the " Mliaz "' b s also Itutiely i)een in thcs:; waters. 'I"he eruizini; season ol these vessels teiiiiinates ihc seciMsd \vut to proceed on another v-niuz-e: the "Yakoute" lelt foi- the Ko'iuindnr.^ki i^roup on the mornini; ol' the 4th instant;. ."). Since .Inly, the " /ahiaka" has seized in the lieiLjIdioiii hood of the Ko'tiandor-ki group the loliowing Hritish sealiins-schooncrs : "Willie Mcti owun, ('a|)tuiii .McLii 81 "Ariel;" name of captain unknown; "Vancouver l5ello," naino of captain unknown; mIso the Anu'i-ican scalin;.';-sclioi)n('r " C. 11. White." The " C. II. White" was tlie first rapture. UiirinL' tlic cruize of tiic " \'itiaz " with the Russian Admiral on hoard, twi) other Ijulish sc'aliii2;-seiiooner.s were sci/cd, viz., the "Maria" and " Carnioiite," about the I'Jtii Sfpleud)er. .Also the Rus.sian Scai-skiu C'oinpanyV steamer" Kotik" ("The Seal") captured the " l{osi(^ {Jlson ;' tlie (ioveriior of thu Koniaudorski Island was on board, and ordered the seizure. (i. In all, sevi-n sclioouer.s were captured. 'I'liev were dis])oscd of as follows : The crews of th(! " C. II. White," " Rosie Olsci;," " Wiliii' McCowan," and " Ariel " left the port in the American harcjue "Majestic," Captain Lorcntzen, for I'ufjet Soinir'. Nothiuf^ was paid hy tlie (Jovernor of l'etro[)av!,)vsk for their passages, hut the ca|)tain took thcni more or less as a speculation ; very little jirovisioiis were sent with them, and the men cninplaincd that there were not enoutjh for tlie ])assaf;e ; about sixty-four men lei't in this \va\. The eap'ain of the "Vancouver Belle " was i>iven the "Rosie Olsen " to take his own crew and some men found in the islands away in. She was renamed the " Priz " before she was handed over. The |)a|)ers, records, f;uns, amimmition, and skins were all confiscated and sold. The six other vessels were repainted and refitted, and sent with prize crews to N'ladivostoek. 7. The (iovcrnor of i'etropavllJV^k assiu'cd nu! he i.ad no papers, records, itc., and that he took no action in the matter, all overt acts bein^ inau ■ hy the Naval Captains. f<. Whilst the crews were livinir at I'drojiavlovsk they wei' housed in an old hos]iitaI cousistiiii; of only one room, and that not a lari;e one; •'3") copecj s •■.-day were iriven to the ciiplains, and 15 to the men, to support themselves (about 'J\il. and -!(/. respectively). The captains and crews left in debt to the storekceiier. it. The captains and otficers of the " Hohr " and " Yakoute," which were at Petro- pavlovsk durinj^ !ny stay, were most friendly. The Governor lunched with me, and -ubse(piently enteitained T»ijysclf and the ofMccrs both at lunch and dinner. 10. On my arii\;i.i ni. the port, I saluted the h'ussian tlaj,' with twenty-one mnis, and ;;iipeclively. I also saUited the (Jovernor on his payi;iLC nie a visit. Cordiality and t;ood (eelin^ were cxhihited and exprc.-sed at both lunch and oioaer. .\ shooting party was also arran^red, in which the (ioveriu)r to()i< part. The captains of boMi the " Hobr " and " Yakoute " meiiticnud ihat the " .Melpomene " had been seen cruizing; in the niif^hbourhood of the Komandorski Islands, with a schooner in tow. Inclosure u in No. -4-. Captain Castle lo Vice-Admiral Sir E. Fi mile and that no (K\traet.) " r.cdiidir," (Molirr -I'l, 1892. ON the 'T^o^lin^' of the Uith instant I reeci\ed your telegram from Tien-tsin, and ifilirccteri at 'Snkodate. 1 itiiincdiattly placed myself in communication with the Hrilish 'hariie d'Attaires, Mr. do Muiismi, at Tokio; aKo with the Consul at Yokohama, Mr. Troup, and !lle>srs. Hall and Quin, Consuls 4k& Hakodate and Nai;asaki resjiec- livcly ; the latter was on leave tiom Ntuiasaki. ( *|)|)ciul a statement relative to the arrival of the sealers' crews, made by lane latter. I also Icleujrap'ied to the Actin;^ Consul at Nagasaki lor lurtlier isu'tiir'idars ;t~. -(i t'uture muvements of tl'io crews, and I learnt that they would .irriM' here by the ' ' ss of .lajian " on Tuesday, the l>^th instant, and on his reply 1 teleirniphed the lat( -.. iimence to you. On the T.)th instant the ■ l',mpress of .hipan '" arrived. I interviewed the captains of the schooners "Maria" and " Cannolile ;" copies of their stalcinents are forwarded with a coverinz Kttcr. On the I'.ttb instant your telegram arrived about three liours before the advertised (lepaitureof the " Kmprcss ol Japan," so I decided to let the two cajitains and thirty- !V in No. 42. ifuli^tancr of Tdec/rnms rrcciird find transniittrd relative to the Capture, S^c, of Si'iiHiK/sclwonrrs in lipliriticj Sen hij Ruffinns. To Commander-in-chief, October 10, 1892. Si'yVRN schooners, six British, one Anicriean, seized since luly in Behrins: Sea, neiglihourhnod Komandorski [sland ; four crews sent hack l'ui;ct Sound in the American barque " .Majestic," one left in the schooner " I'riz," late " Rosie Olsen,'' remaining two crews taken by Russian Admiral to Vladivn-tok in "Vitiaz," no ])ortion of crews detained Petropavlovsk ; " Melpomene " reported cruizing off Behrinf? group ; schooner's guns, papers, and skins alt confiscated. Six schooners left for Vlndivostoek with Russian pi ize crews; no seizures made in Okhotsk Sea. Russian Sealing Company's steamer " Kotik," with Governor of Komandorski on hoard, seized one schooner, others seized by cruizers. From Commander-iii-clii'f, Oclohcr 15, 185)2. (From Tien-tsiU; and redirected at Hakodate to Yokohama.) Failing Admiralty orders proceed to Vladivostoek, relating to crews taken there. Reply Chefoo. To Commandn-iu-rhiif, Chfnn, October 10, 1892, Am proceeding to sea in accordance witli orders Hakodate, calling for interpreter. To finlisli Conxiil, Nnijfisnhi, Ortob.-r 16, ]892. Have all British crews arrived from Vladivostoek? .\re any left at Nagasaki? How were the crews disposed of? From British Consul, Nnijiisalii, October 17, 1892. Crews of "Maria" and " Carmolile " arrived from Vladivostoek wilh three men. "Annie Moore,'' five sent Hong Kong, three joined " I'alos," and Ihiity-nine sent Canada by " impress." To Coi,..nn.ider-ln-dii'f, ('hrfni,, October 17, 1892. Hi.ve later news about the crews from Consul at Nagasaki ; ca])tains and ciews of two schooners sent to V^adivostoeU by Admiral arriverl at Nagasaki " (Jiukai Maru ;" captains and thirty-seven crew expected here " I'liiipress of Japan" Tuesday for Vancouver. l-Jespectfully submit obtaining all the intelligence possible before sailing. Five men sent I long Kong, three joined " I'alos." .\m 1 to i, October 19, 1892. 'I'wo captains and tiiirty-sevcn crew of captured sealers arrived in " Kinpress ;" wm allowing tlieni to proceed Vancouver. Have telegraphed to Adndral and Admiralty. To Admiralli/, London, October 19, 1892. Remainder schooners' crews from Vladivostock arrived in '-Empress of .Japan," leaving- iiiimediatelv for Vancouver. From Commandcr-in-cbief, I'ckimj, October I'J, 1892. Iicmain Yokohama ; use your discretion disposal of crews, asking Admiralty instructions. .„_«.fcj.'. To Admiralty, London, October 19, 1892. Obtained all intelligence possible sealing cajituins. Convinced unless seized after departure of" Leander," Petropavlovsk, ,'jth October, no Jkitish detained Vladivostock. To British Nrivnl Officer, Es-|)osed of'r ' Leander.' " To which I replied at It) a.m. to-day by telefjrani as I'ullows : — "Crews of 'Maria' and 'C'arinolite' arrived iVoni Vladivostuek with tiiree nan 'Annie Mooro.' Five sent Hong Kong, three joined ' I'alos,' and tliiit\-nine sent ('an;ula by ' Knipress.' Consul." 'J'iiese crews were forwarded I'roni \ ladivostock to i\aga>aki hy the Japanese mail arriving here on the fth instant, the J!iis.-i,in (joveinment jiaying their e.\penH>. liesides the five British suhjecls, other tlian Canadian, whom I sent to I long Koiii;, there were two Japanese seamen belonging to the "Carmolite'' who never came on uiy hands at all. 15oth schooners were seized ofl' Cojiper L.land, one by the " Vilia/," and the other hy a stcaiucr owned by one of the furring Companies called the " Koteek " (':), which trans- ferred the prisoners to the " V'itiaz " on the way to Petropavlovsk. '1 iiey weie then conveyed to Vhuiivostoek. whence their i)assages were taken to this ]iort. I'lxcept the three who have joined the United States' shii) " I'alos," and the two Ja[>anese, none are left in Nagasaki. I have, &c. (Signed) A. ^r. CHAL.MKRS. No. IS. Sir if. Moricr to tlii' luiil of Rnschrnj. — {Rccchcd lIcccinhiT 'JtJ.) My Lord, St. Pelersbimjli, December \6, 1892- 1 llAVI'" the honour to transmit t" yi :ui' I.,ordship herewith a copy of a note which I have this dav addressed to M. Chiclikine, liii warding the allidavits of the masters ul the "Sayward '"' and " Marvin." 1 have, &c. (Signed) R. 15. I). MORIEIC Inclosure in No. l.'i. Sir li. Moricr to M. Ohichkinv. W. le Conseillcr I'rive, St. I'l'tvrdmnjli, Drcemher l (10), 1892. Wrill reference to my note of the 17th (2'J(h) ultimo, and to jnevions correspondence on the subject of the capture of Canadian sealing-ships hy Russian eruizci s, I have the honoiii to inclose herewith copies of the allidavits of llic masters of the schooners "Sayward" and "Marvin," and to ex|)ressto your IJxeclleney the b(.po that the c;.Ptrrsbi(nj/i, Drcnilur 21, IV.).', WI'l'II relerence to previous eorrespoiidcnee on the siibjeet ot' the c.ipturc oi Caiiaiiian sealers bv J{ussian erui/crs, I bavi; the honour to tiansmit to your Lordship hiirwith copies of two notes which I have this day addressed to the Russian (jovernmeiit »ilh respect to the cases of the " .Maria," " Carmolite," and "C. II. Tupper." I have, &c. (Signed) K. B. D. MORIER. Inclosurc I in No. 44. Sir R. Mnricr to .A/. Chichkinr. .M. Ie Conseiller Prive, SI. Ihlrrhbunjh, December !) (21), 1S9J. Wri'FI reference to my note of the 2nd (14th) instant, and to previous eorres[)oiidcnce nil Iho subject of the capture of Canadian sealing-ships by Russian cruizers, I have \\a' honour to inclose copies of the ailidavils of the masters of the " Maria '" iind "Carmolite." The two cases which I now lay before your F-xecllcncy aie closely similar in character. In both instances the captures were etl'cctcd in the neighbourhood of Copper Isl.md : the masters had been careful, as their depositions show, to avoid trespassini: rtilhin the limits of Russian territorial waters; the ships were sighted outside of thoji- limits by Russian steamers, and confiscated, together with their boats, guns, and seals, by the Imperial authorities. Vour Hxcellency wiil observe that the distance of the " Maria " lioin the shore at the time of her capture w\is computed by the commander of the " Kotik "' ill person. I subnnt these cases to your Kxceilency in the full conlidence that they will rcceixe ;i')ni the Imperial Government the consideration which tluy call lor. I avail, &c. (Signed) R. I'.. 1). MOHIHU. Inclosure 2 in No. 44. Sir R. Moricr In M, Chichkine. M. Ie Conseiller Prive, >V. Pelersbiin/h, Drrcmbcr '.) (I'l), 1802. Wrril reference to my note of this day's date, and to previous correspondence nil the sidijeet of the capture of Canadian sealing-ships by Russian cruizers, I havi now the honour to bring before your Excellency the complaint which has reached Her Majesty's Covermnent of the boarding of the " C. II. Tuiiper " by an otlictr ut' the "Zabiaka." The deposition of the master of the schooner, ol which I inclose u copy, le.ives 11(1 room for uncertainty as to the facts of the case. On the 10th ,\iigust, 189-', the "C. 1 1. Tupper," being'iu latitude .'33 jO' north, lonuitude IfiO T east, and y.) miles IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) V / O 1.0 I.I li^|28 ||2.5 2.0 1^ 1.8 11-25 nil 1.4 i 1.6 V] <^ //a /y "f "# 7 Photographic Sciences Corporation 33 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, NY. 14580 (716) 873-4503 i Ironi the nearest Russian territory, liaving up till that time not approached witliin (!0 miles o( the Asiatic shore, was boarded by an officer of the Eussian cruizer " Zabiaka," her log-book and papers overhauled, and her master ordered to cease scaling in those waters. For the present, I do no more than draw your Excellency's attention to the potent illegality of such interference with a British vessel outside Russian territorial jurisdiction; but I ;im instructed by Her Majesty's Government to add that they must reserve to thuin- .•■elves the right of presenting subsecpiently to the Imperial Government the claim tor compensation whicli the owners of the vessel will undoubtedly advance. I avail, &c. (Signed) R. B. D. MORIKR. No. 45. The Earl of Jlosebery to Sir H. Morier. Sir, Forcujn Office, Dpceinbrr 27, 1892. DURING a visit paid me to-day by the Russian Ambassador, I alluded to the (luestion of the seizure of Canadian sealers by Russian vessels, pointing out that the Imperial Government should by this time be pre) ared to give me an answer on the subject. Canadian opinion was naturally excited over the high-handed proceedings of Captain (le Lcvron in the " Zabiaka," and as that officer had returned to Russia, 1 considered timl it was not unreasonable on our part to exjiect a speedy reply. I am, &c. (Signed) ROSEBERV. No, 40. Sir It, Morier to the Eurl of lioxehenj. — {Received December 28.) h'elegiaphic.) St. Petemburgh, December 28, 18!)2. 1 HAVE to-day asked M. Chichkine to push forward the matter of the Canadian scaling-sliips. He states that the case was submitted to His Majesty yesterday, and he ordered thai it should be laid before a Special Cummissioii, which sliould pronounce upon the legal and international (|uestions involved. No. 47. The Earl of lio.scben) to Sir R, Morier. H'w, Foreiiju Offirr, December 2S), l.S'.)i>. I ll.WE received your Excellency's dcspntch of tiie '.ilst instant lespceting tin seizures of the Canadian scaling-vessels " Maria," " Carinolile," anil " C. II, 'l'u]iper '' \ \ Kussian eniizers i[i Beliring Sea. The notes which yoin' Kxecliency has addressed to tlie Uus>iiin .Minister respee'iini: these seizures are ai)pn)ved by Her Majesty's Government. 1 am, &e. (Signed) ROSIiBiatV. 87 No. 48. T/ifi Earl of Koseberi/ to Sir R. Morier. Sir, Foreiijn Office, Drcemhcr 2!), 1802. T IIAN'E received your Excellency's despatch of tlie \{\\\\ instant relative to the cn|itiii(' of tlic Canadian scaling-vcssels "S;iyward " and " Marvin " i)y Russian cnii/.'.rs in Hehiin;; Sea. Tiie note wliidi your Kxccilency has addressed to the Russian Minister on this •iiilijwt is approved hy Her Majesty's Govcriiiiient. I am, &c. (Signed) ROSKBERY. No. 49. Foreiijn Office t(i Admlralttj. .Sir, Fnreiijn Office, December 30, 1802. I AM directed by the Earl of Roscbery to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 17tli instant, inclosing correspondence on the subject of the recent visit of Her Majesty's ship " I^cander" to Petropavlovslv. His Lordship would suf^gest that an approval of Captain Castle's proceedings should be conveyed to that oHicer by the Lords Commissioners of the Ad, draity. I am, &c. (Signed) T. H. SANDERSON. ordered that No. .50. Sir It. Morier to the Earl of lloseberi/. — {Received January 9.) My Lord, St. Petcrsburf/h, Januanj 4, 1893. I HAVE the lionour to transmit to your fiOrdship herewith tlie inclosed translation (if an extract from the non-oflicial part of the "Official .Messenger," giving details, taken from a Vladivostock paper, of the captures of the Canadian sealers in the Bchring Sea. I have, &c. (Signed) 11. B. 1). AIORIER. Inclosure in No. 50. Extract from the " Official Gazette" {non-official part), St. Pelersburgh, of December 18 (30), 1892 {copied from the " Vladivostock"). (Translation.) LAST August the crui/.er "Zabiaka," while navigating the Sea of Okhotsk, captured four piratical scliooners, of which one was, American, the remainder being English. Besides the "Zabiaka," the cruizer "Vityaz" and the mercluint-stcamer " Ivotik " also ciiplincd piralical schooners. The schooner taken by the " Kotik," whilst on the way to Vlailivoslock, herself captured a banpie, which arrivcil in Vladivostock with her on llie 7th (llilli) September. The first to arrive was the American schooner "('. H. White," on tlic .•loth August (lull September), under the eonunand of a Lieutenant and u midship- •1 an, with lilteen seamen, ten from the "Zabiaka" and live from the " Vitvaz." This ^cliouiier ("('. H. White ") is two-masted, and is an excellent sailer; she did the journey from IVlropavlovsk to Vladivostock in fourteen and a-half days, though she was three days becalincd. The second of tin- schooners captured by the "Zabiaka"' is called " Willie .M. Howan," (? " Willie .McOowan"). On the 7th (H)tli) September the "Van- comer Helle," the third vessel captured by the "Zabiaka," arrived ; she did the distance from I'etropavlovsk to Vladivostock in twenty-two days. An English schooner - the fourth cnpime of the " Zabiaka"— named the "Ariele" (': "Ariel") arrived on the Kith (2:iiid) September. The total number of seal-skms found on the cai)tured vessels was l,il(il». in addition, there were tlOO skins on the two-masted schooner '• Carmolite," captured by tho " Vityaz." 88 No. 51. Sir R. Morier to the Earl of Rosebery. — {Received January 9.) iMy Liiis to obtain detailed inforniation on the subject. As .soon as this information reaches the imjx'rial Aiiiiistry, an answer will be dejivfred to you withoi.t delay, but this cannot be done very soon, in view of the tinu* which must elapse before the particulars in question can arrive at St l'eter.-*burgli. In bringing the above to vour I'lxcellencv's know leiige, 1 avail, &e. (Si-iR.d) CiriCilKINi;. No. 62. Colonial Office to Foreign Office. — {Received .January 2 1.) Sir, Downing Street, .January 2)', lS!);t. "WTTIT reference to previous correspondeni'e n^speeting the seizure ol' itritisli pcaling-vesscls by Kussiaii cruizers in the North l^aeilie, I am direcited by the Jlaniuis of Itijion to transmit to yoti, to be laid bel'ore tin; Jvirl of Itosebery, (•o])ies of two despatebes from the (ioveriu)r-(icneral of Canada, forwarding iMinules of Council, with ndidavits, respecting the s(;izure of the " Carmolite," " Maria," and " N'ancouver Belle," with further aflldavits as to the seizure of the " Hosie Olsen," and allidavits as to (he interference with the" Walter P. Hall." '{'he circumstances of these seizures are generally similar to those which have already been brought before the Itu^sinn (Jovernment. 'I'he vessels were all at IIm! time of captui-c far outside the limits of Russian territo, lal waters, and none of tbcia linddurin!* any part of their cruizo been within those waters ; and it will be observed that, ncconling to the statements of Captain do Leveron to tiie masters of the " Vaneouver itiHe" and the "Walter P. Ilall," Russia claims jurisdiction over the whole of the Niirtii Taeific west of the line of donnrcrition in the Treaty of 1807, and north of a line drawn from 3 miles south of the southernmost yioint of thf Aleutian Islands td ('ai)C Chnlutka, which appears to he on the coast of Kaiiischatka hetween I'ctro- paulovski and Cape Lopatka, and further ehiims juiisdiction over the S<'a of Okhotsk. The extent of maritim^^ jurisdiction thus apparently claimed hy Russia would entirely exclude ISritish vessels from any share in tiie sealing; inihistry on the western side of th(! Pacific, and the claim is rnitireiy at variance witli the declarations of tho Russian Foreign OfTice in 1842 and 1817, quoti-d inTiknieniefrs "Historical Review of tlic Formation of the Russian- American Crdsliipa copy of an ajiproved Report of a Committee of the Privy Council, submitting formal declarations and claims to enniiiensation on behalf of tlu; owners of the Rritish sealiiiir-vessels seized or inti'rfcred with hy Russian authorities in the North I'aeilic Ocean for hiSs and damagrs incurred hy reason of such interference with their sealiiiu: voyage. I have, &e, (Signed) STANLEY OF PRESTON. Inclosure 2 in No. '>2. lieport of a Committee of the Ilonournh'ie the Privy Cnnnril, approved h\j his ExteUency the (iovemor'General in Coiiitril nn the \i)lh December, 1892. OX a Report, dated the 13th December, 18f)2, from the Min'' 'or of ilarine and Fisheries, submitting the following lormal declarations and claims, i,, compensation on heii;ili' of the owners of the Rritish sealing-vessels seized or interl'ered with hy Russian iiiitliorities in the North Pacific Ocean, for loss and damages incurred by reason of such iuturi'erenco with their sealing voyage : — 1. Sworn statement of Captain William Hughes, of tho British schooner "Carmolite," of Liverpool, Nova Scotia, No. 1232a, \)\) tons, seized by tho Russian cruizer " Vitiez " about 25 miles east of the south end of Copper Island. 2. Solemn declaration of lledloy Hughes, mate of tho British schooner "Carmolite." 3. Solemn declaration of .Toseph Morell and George Wells, corroborating Ilodlcy Hughes' statements as true in every particular. •l. Solemn declaration of Sprott Balcam, master of the British schooner "ilaria," of Jlttitland, Nova Scotia, 05 tons, cleared tit Victoria, British Columbia, on the 27th [601] N !)0 Ajiril, 18!)2, (ni n sciilinfj; voyayc to the Xortli I'licil'ir. M>izc(l on Hic 21st August, lSi)2, bv tlio llussian stcMiiicr " Kotik." 5. Solcmu (Icclai'iilioii of \Villi;im Dexter, niau- "i' tli" sdiootier "Maria." (i. Soleniu (leelaratiiiii ,>\' Uielianl Waldo Cardill', seaman on hoard the " ilaria." 7. Solemn dei'laration of Hieliard Kronnn, cook of tin- selnxincr " ^faria." b. Su|)|>lenu'ntary declaration oj' .Michael Ke<'fe, master oi' llic Uritish schooner " Rosic Olsen," of Vie'toria, l?ritisli Columhia, seized liy tlie Uussian .steamer " Kotik " ou the 2(;tii July, 1M)2. t). iSolcmn dccdaration olM. 15. Mrown, master ot' the British schooner " Walter J'. Hall," of Maitland, Xova Seotia, Xd. '.MKKWi ('.is',)| tons), cleared from Victoria, British Cohimhia, on the llitii May, 1M)2, for sealing in .North I'acilic Ocean, ordered o!T 25 miles s(jnth-wcst of JJchrini;' Island liy Commander of i!nssian inan-of-\v;u' "Zahiaka," under threat ol'sci/.nre. 10. Sni)]ilemcntary declaration of ,lohn .M<'i,e()d, niaster of the J5ritisli schoonci' " .\riel," of \ ictoria, iiritish Colnmhia, No. SS(n2, seized hy the Kiissiau stcani-ship "Zahiaka," lalilndc ."it 10' north, loni;-ilude l(u" K' east, tO or .")it miles olF south-east end of Co|)|)er Jsland. 11. Su|i|)lemcni;iry declaration of .lames t'aniiiliell Stratford, mate of tin; schooner " .\riel." J2. Solemn declaration of .luhn Laikin, sealer mi schooner '• Ai'iel." 1!{. I'orniulateil >.tatement of claiii' liy the owners of the schooner " (.'arniolite,'' an;i!;rci,'atini; 2S,()|".> dollars. 11. I'ormulatcd statement of (daini hy the owners of the soliooner " AVillie Mcdowan." ai,'i,'rei,'atiiii; 2 1,041 dol. o c. lo. i'orninlafed stateiuent of claim hy the owners of the sclioonei' " Maria," nLj'lfreiiatin;;' 20, t.'iO dollars. 10. J''ormulati'd statement of idaim hy the owners of the schooner "Ariel," aggrci^atini^ .■i2,(its dollars. 17. Notice of Imperial linssian (l.iverninem : The Minister stales lliat it will lie oliser\ cd from the declaration of I ledloy Hughes that the ' Carmolitc " had lieen crn'zini,' and hunt im; seals for live weeks out of slight of land, and that when at a dista ice of ."lO or 00 miles the master, thinking I lie chronometer was out, the vessel stood in toward laml for tlie purpose of eetting a cross- hearing, and passed Coppei' Island hearing' west-north-west i-.hout 12 nules distant. jMiout 2 o'clock the thr<'e spars of a \eshel were sighted low down ou the horizon, nnd the "Carmolite" .stood away to the eastward with ahout a 0-knot hreeze. Thi're- U2)on the vessel hcadeil I'oi' the schooner under sail and steam, followed her for ahout one liour and a-lialf, and when within a (|uartcr of a uiile hrought her to hy a gnn. She ])roveil to he the Unssian cruizer " \ iliez." The " (.'avmolite" was seized. The Kussian naviijator e.xamitied the chronometer of the " rarniolile," and found that it was out, and that the schooner should have heea 20 mill's fiu'lhcr to the eastward. That at no time was the schooin'r nearer lan taken to Vladivostock by tlio " Yitiez," allowed 2.') cents ])er day for snhsisleuce for ahout seven days, when they wore taken to Xagas.aki, .lapan, handed over (o tin; Uritish \'ic(st'ousul, and scut to Victoria hy the Hritish sicamer " lanjn'css of .lapan." i'rom the deidarations it wduld .appear that the sehooni'r ".Maria," just prior to her seizure, had been enveloped in a dense fog for forty-eight hours, so dense that the master was unable to obtain any ri'ckoning, and it was im])ossihle to ascertain the position of iIk' scdiooner, and thai the currents the run so stroigly that the vessels are thrown out of I'cckonint:'. When the fog lifted the master thoieght he was ahout 11 or 12 luilcs from the nearest land. The Kussian steamer " Kotik " approached the schooner from the shore, and it took her two hours ta gel alongside. 'Hie "Maria" was lying becalmed with ail her tsuils down, and no attempt was made to make sail. m 'I'lic soeoiul nincor ol' tlio slraun-r "Kotik" iiifm-moil om- nf tlic (lirlai-aiils tliat llir " Maria" was aljoiit 11 miles from sliou; wlipii seized. Ill liis (lecjaration, Iiiciiard Kioiiun. eoi)l< of liie " .Maria," states that lie liad l[i:ii'il from tlie C^iiited States' schooners " Adaiiis "' and ".Moliieau" lliat tlu; Kussians wniilil not interfere witli any vessel unless within '.t miles of (lie sliore ; and upon his a'Kini,' (he second olheer of (he " Kolik ' Ikjw far from laud (lu; '• .Mai'ia " was, he was Idlil ahout 11 miles, but that did not make any diderenee, as she wouM hav(! heeu tiiken if 111 miles, as Itussia claimed jurisdiction over tlie coast within 2'l() miles. The master of the ".Maria" was informed hy the (Imcrnor of the Commander fsland.3 {who was on hoard the "Ivotik"), iiiion his protest that he was outside I'ussian jinisdietion, that ho was in liussian water-: directly he crossed tlu' line of demarcation hetween America atid l!ussi,'i, and that the Russian wal<'rs extende(l to the parallid of Cape Lepatka. Tiie master of tin' " Maria " refn^ecl to si.^u a p.aper to tin- elleel iliat he, with his vessel, had heen takint,' seals in i'usiau wati'rs. I'he cr(!W of the seized ves-.d eventually I'caehed iif-me vii\ steam-ship "Empress olMapan." 'I'hc su])plcmen(ary declaration of ificdiael Kecle, of the schooner " Hosie Olseu," e.\])laiiis that for .some lour hours helbre sii^htiny: tlie st(!amer " Kotik ' the schooner li:ul heen and was l)ccalnicd, and that (he stcjimcr was seen (wo hours at least before I'oniinu: alontjside tin; sirhooncr. .\'o attempt was niade (o csca|ie. It also slates that the dcclaiant in IXII (whilst master of the schooner •• l!e;\(rice "j, when Ik; was ready to leave the locality, went on shore at Hehring Ul.ind to ohtaip wa(er and wood for (he home von.i'^c. The native and liussian "Hieinls asvi>tcd him to Lfet water, Sic, and (>ild him (hat tlnae was no hindrance to his takini,' seals outside of the coast houndary-line. It would appear that in the case of the " \\'al(er 1'. Mall," while the vessel was ■2'> miles south-west of Heliiini,' Island, she was hailed, and lier master ordered hy Captain th; Leveron, of (he Uussian man-of-war " /ahiaka," to take his pa))ers on hoard tlial vessel, wiiich order was obeyed. After an examination of the papei's, the chart was demaiKh'd on which was slioun (he daily positions of the schooner while in the walers cas( of the line of (leiiiarealiou. Till! ('omniandci' of the ilnsi'in sicnnier was ap)iaren(ly salislied, and as the sclioiiiier was at tin- time of interruption at least 25 miles from the nearest land, ho ordered her master to dep;u'l out of l{ussi;iii waters lordiwith. The master of tlu; " W'a'ter 1*. Mall " demanded to be informed as to the limits of asserted Uussian waters, when Captain de liCveivm drew on (he schooner's chart a line Ironi Cape (,'halulka, on the coa'() miles to luirth aiul GO to 120 miles to south, till on 28th August seized by Uusslan ci/rvette " N'itlez," about 2.') miles east of s, sextants, and chronometer, which fhey claimed belonged to shI)) ; then "i'rizo" crew placed on board " (jarmolite," which followed '•\'ltle/, " to I'etropaulovski, where "Vitiez" arrived on the 3(tth August, ■•uiil tiiere were put on shore and were allowed 7i cents |)erday per head to exist on. '{"lien, the ."itb Septem])er, embarked in "Vitiez," and were taken to Vladlvostoek, where arrived about 21st September, calling at inter- mediate ports in Saghallen. At \'ladivostock sent on shore and allowed 25 cents jier day per head to live on. Remained al)out a week. No guard placed on self or crew whilst either on board niau-or-\var or on sliore till th(! 2!ith September, then placed (ju board "Tokio .Marin." I'assai;e arrann'cd by Itusslan fiovernment ; taken to Fusan Island, when! ])ut on hoard " Genkal .Marin "and taken to Nagasaki, where Russian Government handed over to Rrillsh Consul by Russian Consul; there placed on board " Empress of .lapan " for V ietorla. At t ime of leaving I'etropaulovski and Vladlvostoek none of my crew or any Rritlsli subjects were \v.(t at either port. No one belougiug to "Carmolite" was in debt to anybody whatever. The above is a correct statemejit. (Signed) W. O. HUGHES, Late Master, Senling-schooner " Carmolite." 1892 Sworn to before me at Victoria, British Columbia, this 30th day of October, (Signed) A. R. ^Mhak, Collector uf Customs. Declaration of H, Hughes, Port of Victoria, British Columbia. Hedloy Hughes, of Victoria, British Columbia, and late mate of the British schooner "Carmolite," of Liverpool, Nova Scotia, persoually appeared, and doth bolcuuUy declfti'c aud statu as lullows : — 93 Tliitt ho wMs cni,'ai?c(l lo serve on tlio said sclioonor " Cannolite " in tlio capacity iif niiitc for tlic sciilini; season 1802, at N'ictoria, liritisli ("olnniljja. That he was on hoard the said schooner "Carnioiito" I'roin tlie 1st day of I'lliiiiarv last, and was witli tlie said scliooner durini^ the season, linntiuf; aloii;^ thn Noitli raeilic Ocean, and until tlio said scliooner reached that j)art of the North I'acilie Ocean west of tlh- line of demarcation as laid down in th(! Order in Council lichrini,' Sea Act. iw'.Jl. Tliat the declarant states that the said schooner " Carniolitc" continued to cruize anil liiint for seals out of sif^ht of land, and for live weeks had not sighted any land wliairver, sometimes cruizing to the northward and somelimcs to the southward of the ('ciiuinandorski Islands, and that the said schooner was sealing at the distance of ,jii (If (iO miles the neaiest from land, and thinking that the vessel's chronometer was dill wanted to ascertain the fact ; stood in towards the laiul, and passed (.'opper Island lieiiiiiig west-north-west, ahout 12 miles distant. This was done to iMiable the vessel lu Lift a cross licarin;;, to correct her chronometer before hearing away to the huiilliward. 'I'liat about 2 o'clock I'M. sighted the three spars of a ve.s.sel low down on the Imri/oii, and, when seen, the schomier '" Carmolite " stood away to the eastward with ali'iiil a (i-knot brei^ze. 'I'hat when the strange vessel was seen, the declaraut could not see her hull, oidy licr s|i;irs. 'that as soon as the schooner stood eastward, the vessel which proved to he a sUani-sliip was observed heading towards the schooner under sail and .steam. 'I'hat tlie steain-ship followed the said .schooner " Carmolite " for ahout an hour 1111(1 ;i-lialf, and mIicu within a quarter of a-mile olT the .said schooner the steamer fired a i:iiii to heave-to. That th(! said .■schooner " Carmolite " was hove-to on the starboard tack, and the scli(iiiiier"s tlag was run up, and the steam-ship lowered a boat, which came alongside llii'said schooner, which proved to lie an armed boat'.s crew from the; llussian cruizer " \ itiez." That the Russian officer came on board the said schooner, and asked for the master, and went down into the cabin. That the declarant was informed by the master that he was ordered on board the I'lis^ian cruizer " Vitiez,"' and thai the vessel was seized. That the master went on board \\w Kiissian cruizer " Vitiez "' in his own boat, ami when he was on board that vessel tin; liussian officer ordered the crew to get their |i('i'MiiKil elTects ready, to go on board the liiissian cruizer "Vitiez." That the llussian officer hauled the British Hag down, and run up the Russian Hag. That the Ku.ssiaii cruizer took the crew of the slid .schooner "Carmolite" on liuard. That the declarant was preseiil on boai'd the said schooner when the Russian navigator from the cruizer " Viliez" examiiuid tli(! chronometer of the said schooner •■('arniolite" and found tlitit ilie clironometer ^^as out, and that tiie schooner would li.ivi' bei'u 215 miles further to the eastward. That the Russian navigator tested the cliroiioineter of the said schooner " Carmolite " by his own instrument, and stated that the schooner's chronometer was wrung and out, which was in the schooner's favour. That the declarant says that at no time was the said schooner nearer than H) miles, and at no time were any seals taken nearer land than that distance. That in passing Copper Island, and when tlu; Russian cruizer v>as sighted on the ilay of seizure, no attempt was made to take or hunt any seals, and no boats were out. Hie schooner then standing to the southward under full .sail. That the master and crew were taken to Petroiuiulovski on the Russian cruizer ''\iti(,'z" and theri! put on shore, and inlo an old gaol, and were allowed 7 cents per ila\ to liie men, which was ne.\t to starvation, and were relieved by charitable natives giving them llsh. That the crew of the said .schooner with the other distressed crows were taken to Vladivostoek on the cruizer "Vitiez." That the i'.rcw was allowed by tho Russian officials 25 cents per day for subsistence, the crews being there about seven days, and herded together amongst Cliiiiamen in an old dilapidated building. That the crows were taken I'rom \'ladi\i)stock on Jaj)ancso steamers to Nagasaki, 04 J;i])aii, and liniuliMl ovi-r lo tlic IJritisli Vicc-Coiisul, and \w\v. si'iit to Victoria, Urilisii Colinnhia, liv tin- Hritisli stcnni-slii]) " l-lniju'css ol" Japan."' (8ii,Mii'd) lll':i)Fj:V HUGHES. 1802 Ucclared to bet'orc mo at ^'ictolia, Biilisli Coluiubia, this 7tli (Ui,v of Novi'iubcr, (Signed) A. R. Milnk, Collector of Customs. Declurution ofj. Mvrell and G. Wells. Port of Victoria, British Columbia. We, the Undersii^ned, hcini; members of the evew of tlic Uritish scboonor "Carmolite," of Liverpool, Nova Scotia, on ilie sealing,' V()yai,'(' durini; tlie prc-ciit season, and were on board the said seiiooner "Carmolite" at the time of seizure bv Ilii,' Russian eruizer " N'itiez," baviuir lii'ard tlie solemn declaration carefully read over (if Ifedley llui;hes. who was mate of the said schooner durinsj; that timt.', hereby corroborate Jus declaration, ami that we also solenmly declare tliat his statement is true in every particular. (Signed) JOSEIMl MOHKI.Ii. GEORGE WIOLLS, bis x mark. 1802. Dechired lo before me at Victoria, British Cohimbia, this 7tii day of November, (Signed) A. R. Mii.xe, Coileclor of Customs Declaration of l<. lialcum. Port of Victoria, British Columbia. SprotI Baleau, of Halifax, Nova Seotia, and master of tbe British schooner " Maria," registered at the port of Jl ait land, Nova Scotia, personally appeared, and doth declare and state as follows: — That the .said British schooner '• IFaria" is a vessel of 0.") tons register, and with ii crew of twenty-live men, (;omj)osed of l!]nglishmeu and Canadians, was regularly cleared at tbe Cusloin-liouse, Victoria, British Columbia, and sailed iiway on the 27tb (lay of Ajiril last on a scaling voyage for tbe North I'acitie Ocean, and having on hoard ballast and stores, salt, and sealing outlit. That he commenced sealing off Cape Flattery on the 1st 3lay last, and contiiuicd operations up along tbe coast of Vancouver Island and tb(> Alaskan coast to the Aleutian Islands, and then sailed away to enter to tbe westward of tbe line of demarcation, as set down in tbe modus vivendi under "'riio Bebring Sea Act, 1801. '' That after voyaging to and fro bunting for seals, and on tbe 21st day of Aui,'ust last, wbilc! tbe declarant calculated that the schooner " Alaria " was about IH miles eastward of Copper Islaml, Commandorski group, the nearest land, the sidiooncr beiiu; then for the past three days enveloped in a dense fog. That about 1 o'clock on tbe said 21st day of August last, the fog having cleared up somewhat, the declarant saw tbe land, and found that tbe current had l)een scllini? the vessel to the west-north-west ; the decdarant likewise^ found that the currents run strongly in those waters, and throws tbe vessel out of reckoning. That tbe (Undarant found when tbe fog lilted tlu> schooner " .Maria " wa>-', as uiar as he could .judge, about 11 or 12 miles from tbe nearest land. That tbe boats were out huntiie.,' during the fog. and about one hour aiul a-ball after tbe fog lifted saw a steamer n|)proaeliing Irom tbe land; at this tinu" tin' KCbooner ".Alaria'" was laying in a de.ul calm, with no sails set at all, they b(>ing all furled up snug, and bad be<'u so furled for t"oiu' boui's jirevious to the steamer" KoliU,' !i Russian voscl belonging to tbe ]{ussinn ]''ur Company, coming alongside tbe said schooner " .Maria."' That the declarant declares that he did not attempt to make sail or run away on or, till' ii|i|)r(i!if1i of tlif s-iid Russian Htoamcr " Kotik," its tlio vessel was in a deml calra, ami Miiy iitli'iupt, lo i;('t ;i\viiv was ciitin-ly useless. Tliiit till- liiiveriKii' 111' ('onniKiiiilorski Islands was on bnai'd the Russian steamer "Kiilik" al tile time of coniini,' aiontisidc of the si'hooner ".Maria," and hailed llr ili'clarant to brin;; his ship's papers on hoard the I'ussinn steamer " Kotik." That after 'examination hv the (iovernoi' (»!' Comni;indorski Islands of the papers (it llie said sehooiier "Maria," informed the de(daianl that he was a ])ris()ner, and woiilii not he ])ei'Miit!eil to retuiri to the schooner " Maria," on the alleL;ed to the (le(dai'ant that ho was in I'nssiiin «at( s directly he crossed the houndary-line of demarcation hotween Aniericaii and I'ussian wateis. Tliat the Russian (lovernor of the Coniinandorski islands directly informed tlio (ii'chnant that llussian waters extended t) the parallel of Cai)c Lopatka. 'I'lial an ollicer and ten men of the Itussian steamer " l\ntik " were yiut on hoard the M'iiooner " .Ma ia." Tiiat ;ill the , rcw of the said Rritisli scdiooner '' ^iaria " were ordered on hoard the liii-sian steamer " Kotik," and were permitted to take their elothiiil. anil exhil>iteil im authority for seizing the said schooner " .Maria." (Sij,'ned) WILLIAM DEXTER. Declared to before mc at Victoria, British Columbia, this 3rd day of November, 1892. (Sit^ned) A. R Milne, Collector of Citslomx. Dfclarat'wn of R. W. Cardiff. Tort of ^'ictoria, British Columbia. RicLard Waldo Cardiff, of Victoria, British Columbia, and during last sealing season wan a seaman on board the British schooner " M;i: m," of Maitland, .NOva Scotia, pcnonally appeared, and doth declare ami state as follows : — That 1 he British schooner " Maria," of Maitland, Nova Scotia, had a crew of twenty-tire men, and sailed away, on the 27th day of April last, on a sealing voyage to the North Pacific Ocean. That the schooner " Maria " commenced sealing on the Ist day of May last, and continued doing so along the coast, until the said schooner " Maria " reached the Russian or Asiatic side of Behring Sea. That the declarant states that the schooner " Maria " was seized on the 21st day of August last, and the schooner had then been in a dense fog for the past forty-eight hours, so dense that it was impossible to know where the schooner was, the master being unable to obtain any reckoning. That the declarant says that when the fog lifted the master thought that ho was about 12 or 13 miles from the ncivrest land. That then declarant saw the Russian steamer "Kotik" approaching from the land, and that he saw the steamer " Kotik " steaming towards the said schooner " Maria," and that from the time ho first saw the said steamer " Kotik " approaching it was two hours before the said steamer " Kotik " came alongside the said schooner " Maria." That at tho time of seizure of the said schooner " Maria " there was not the slightest wind, the vessel laying becalmed, with all her sails down. That there was no attempt to make sail or run away by the schooner " Maria " on the approach of tho Russian steamer " Kotik." That tho declarant saw no arms used, as there was no necessity for the same, the crew being peacefid. That the second officer of the steamer "Kotik" told the declarant that tiie schooner " Maria " was about 11 miles from shore when seized. That the crew of the "Maria" were put into an old alMindoncd building at Petropaulovski, with only the roof and sides on it, with no floor, no blankets, and the crew consequently suffered. That tbe declarant came from Petropaulovski to Vladivostock, and thence to Nagasaki, Japan, and thence to Victoria, British Columbia, on the Canadian Pacific Railroad steam-sbip " Empress of Japan." (Signed) RICHARD W.,VLDO CARDIFF. Declared to before me at Victoria, British Columbia, this 7th day of November, 1892. (Signed) A. R. Milne, Collector of Customs. i)7 Declaration of Ji, Kromin. tliat he was Into and cook (lotll I'ort of Victoria, liritish Coliimliia. IJidianl Kroinm, of New Vork City, Uiiiti'd .States ot' Americi, ami ol' tlic HC'liooner "Maria," of Maitlaiid, S^ova Scotia, i)ersoiialiy appeared ii('('l;in' and .state as follows : — That lie was cook of tlii! Jkitisli seliooner " Maria," of Maitland, Nova Seotia, iliiriiii; till- \r,\s[ season of ls!t2, and that the said schooner had a crew oi" twenty-iivo nii'ii. and sailed away on the 27th day of April last, on a soaliii!; voyajj;*! to the North Pacille Ocean. 'I'hat the schooner " Maria " commenced sealini; on tin? 1st day of May last, and coiitlMnod doinf? so along the coast until the said schooner "Maria" reached the Uussiaa or Asiatic sid«> of Uehrini? Sea. That the declarant states that the schooner ofAu!,'ust last, and the seho'nr; had then been impossible to know where the s< liooner was, thr reckoning. That the declarant says tliat when the fog lifted, the master thought lie was about 12 or i;{ miles from the n> .rest lan[IC][AEL KliEFE. 1892. Declared to before me at Victoria. Jiritish Columbia, this 7lh day r*" Xovember, (Signed) Collector of CiistomK. Declaration of J. li. lirovn. Port of Victoria, British Columbia. Be it known and made manifest unto all peopb- that on the 1st day of November, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and iiinety-tw. , personally came and a])peared before nn-, Alexander Boland ililne, Collector of Customs at tlie jxirl of Victoria, British Columbia, duly authorized as such, .loiiu Brison Brown, master of the British schooner named "AValter 1'. ITall," registered at the port of Maitland, Nova Scotia, and whose oflieial number is !)ti(i(i.'{. 'i'he said master doth duly and solemnly declare and state as follows : — That the schooner "Walter P. Jiall" is a vessel of !)1 tons register, and that Thomas 8. Lawrence, of Maitland, Nova Scotia, is owner of thirty-two slnres, and tlie above-named John B. Brown is owner of thirty-two shares, ami whose residence is alsii Maitland, Nova Scotia. That on the 1.1th day of .May last the appearer and the rest of tip' erew set sail in her from Victoria, Uritish C(dumbia, havinu- l;een regiilfU'ly cleared at the Cnstoiii- hoiise at the said port of \ ictoria, British Columl)i;i, bound on a voyage to the Norlli Pacilic Ocean in ballast, and having on board stores, salt, and the usual hunting outfit for sealing in the North Pacilic Ocean. That having voyaged to ,Mud fn; on the waters of the North I'Mcilic Ocean, and arrived to the westward of the lincof demarealioM, asset downin [Ucmodus rivrndi uniltT "The BehringSeaAct, lS',tl,"(,n the lilthday of Jidy last, and was cruizing to and Im in search of seals, and which the appciiicr thought he had tlie undoidued right to pursue his legitimate avocation, ai.d at no tiini" whilst in those waters was lie nearer the laud than lit) miles from the i'o.nniinKlorski irnaip '' isl.ands. That about I r.jt. on the 17th day of August last, whilst the .said schooner "Walter ]'. Hall" was 2."i miles south-wcsi of lichring Island, {\w llussian niiin-ol-nar "Zabiidlied, andas the schooner was at the tinuMjf heinn' hoai'deJ at least 25 miles i'rourtho iiciu'cst land, ordered the captain of the said British schooner "Walter P. Hall" Id depart ont of Hnssian waters fortliwilh. That the ajjpearcr, .lohn Urison JJrown, master of IIk; said schooner " Walter V. Mall,"' demanded to know from the said Cajiliiin de Leveron, commanding the; ilnssian criiizer " Zahiaka," the limits of th(! asserted Russian waters, when the said Captain dc l.i'verou took the cluiri of tin.' said ca[)lain, .lohn Urisun Ih'own, and marked the same, wliich the said John JJrison JJrowii has now in his jiossession, and which chart shows a >lraii;ht line drawn from Cape Ciialnlka on the; coast of Kamschatka to the; most sdiitherly point of the Aleutian Islands, the line heiiii: diawn on the chart of the said •.(•liooner " Walter 1'. Hall " by Captain de JiCVcron. ihe Commandini; Ofliccr of the "Zahiaka," himself. 'I'liat the said Ca]it'iin de J.everon wrote in the oflieial log of the said schooner ••Waller I'. Hall" ns lollous : - 17th .Vugust, 1S<,)2, ihitish seluioner " Walter 1'. llall " was within Ilnssian waters fill' sealing. The captain of the schooner, .1. B. Brown, re<:eived warning not to cross Russian watin's any more, and have signed the notiet; of Russian (ioveriunent. (Signed) " ii. l)K Lkmaws, Cuplnin of His Imiierud Miijesti/'.s /i"veinie-cntizer ' Znbiokn.' " That the Commanding (JfTico", H. de Leveron, of the Russian crnizcr "Zahiaka," JKivinir asserted that the Russian autliority cxtendeveroii, the Conunanding Dllieer of the erni/,er " Zahiaka," to relieve his vessel and crew from peril of seizure. That whereas the legitimate voyage of the Rritish schooner " Walter R. llall " was fiireihly intiM'rnpted by the Russian cruizer " Zahiaka," resulting in grievous financial loss to the master, erew, and owners of the said British schooner " Walter P. Hall." (Signed) J. B. BROWN. lH!t2. Declared to before me at Victoria, British Columbia, this 2nd day of November, (Signed) A. R. Milni;, Collector of Customs. Declaration of J, McLeod. I'ort of Victoria, British Columbia, John MeLeod, of \'ietoria, British Columbia, master of the British schooner '■ Ariel," odicial No. S8(!12, registered in I'le ixn't of Victoria, personally appeared, and solemnly dccliucd and stated as follows : — That th(> (leelavanl th day of July last, the date of the seizure of the .said schooner '• .Vriel" by the Russian cruizer " Zabiak;i," being in latitude ."yf 10 north, longiludi" 1(>7' 10' east, ami being then ahonl 10 or ."iO nules fi'om the snulli-easl end of (.'op|)er Island, Coinniandorski group. The said sebnoiua' "Ariel " lay beealiued in a dead calm, and had been so beiiaimed for si.vteen hoiu's ]ire\ ions to her seizure, ami was at the time of seizure drifting slowly to imrth-east by the set of the eiu'rents, there not being a breath of wind. Tliat on the morning of the said 2)3lh day of Julv the declarant, bcin^; below, wa.s called on deck [504] ■ 2 1^ by the mate about 2";?0 A.M.,wbo pointod out smoke very low down on tho north-west horizon, wliifh jjiradually increased in vohiinc to where the said sclioouor "Ariel'' was then layii\!,', whieh on coining? )icarer proved to be a steanuT, and the same was the Kussian cniizer " Zabiaka," whieh had been watched for about three lumi-s before coniinjj alontjside of the said schooner " Ariel," and from the indications of her smoke api)eared to be going at full speed, and, as the oHieers afterwards informed the said declarant, that she was steaming 10 to 18 knots an hour. That the Uritish schooner " Ariel," having lain hours becalmed before her seizure, did not nor could not make any attempt to nm away or proceed to a greater distance from the Russian eruizcr "Zabiaka" from the time that the vessel was first sighted, as it was impossible to do so in such a dead calm. That the declarant from the time of seizure and detention until his release saw no (|uarrelsome conduct amongst the seizcxl crews, nor did he see any insulting conduct towards llussian oflieers, and he is positive that no arms were used to restore order on any occasion. (Signed) JOHN McLEOD, Master. 1892. Declared to bei'ore me at Victoria, British Columbiii, tills .')th day of November, (Signed) A. R. Milne, Collector of Customs. Declaration of J. C. Stratford. I'ort of Victoria. British Columbia. •lames Cam])b(;ll Stratford, of A'ictoria, British Columhia, and mate of the ih'itisji schooner " Ariel," ofllcial No. 88012, and registered at the |)ort of Victoria, British Columbia, personally appeared, and doth solemnly declare and state as follows : — 'J'haf the declarant desires to make the following snjiplementary declaration to the one already made, being cognizant of all the eircumstaiices connected with the seizure of the said British seliooner " Ariel " on the 28th dny of July last. That the said British schooner "Ariel," on tho morning of the day on whieh the ve-sel was seized, while lying in latitude M' 10' north, longitude 107" tO' cast, between 40 and oO mihs otr the south-east of Copper Island, Cinnniaiulorski group, the schooner having been becalmed for sixteen hours prcvioi'j to her seizure by tin' iUi.ssitm cruizer " Zabiak'.i," and was at time of seizure in a dead calm, not a breath of wind, drifting slowly to the north-east. That from 215 a.m. to Tr.'JO A.M. on the said 28th day of July last the declai-ant on coming on (leek at 215 a.m. found thc^ sehooiu-r " Ariel" lying motionless and powerless in the calm, saw smoke very low down on the horizon, in a north-westeily direction, whieh gradually incHNised in volume as it a]t])roiiehed to wher(! tlu; said .schooner "Ariel " lay; theapproaeh of the smoke was eagerly watched by the declarant, whieli in coming nearer ))roved to bo a steamer, and which ijroved to he? tlu^ Bussian cruizer "Zabiaka," aiul which had been watched by the declarant for three hours befin-e coming alongside ; from alla])pearances of tho vessel and th(! smoke was stcainiTig at full speed, and whieh the olhcers of the said cruizer " Zabiaka " informed the declarant that the said cruizer would steam from 15 to 18 knots per bom-. That the British schooner " Ariel," having lain hours becalmed, did not uor could iu)t make any attempt to run away and proceed a greater distance from the llussian cruizer " Zabiaka," and that it «as impossible to do so in such a dead calm at the time. That the declarant clearly ri'members that at the time of seizure he saw a Russian ollieer, a Lieutenant in the llussian stn-vicc, haul down the Hritisb flag, which was then flying at tho maiutopmast bead, and having pulled the, British flag down, trampled on the said flag, and the declarant took the flag from under his feet. That the dcclarjint remained on the schooner "Ariel " as |»risoner, and was forced to assist in the navigation of the vcBscl, as the Russian jirize crew were unable to sail and manage tho schooner without the declarant's as- i.iiiince, he frecjuently having U> be pulled out of his berth during the night to make or shorten sail. That the duclaraut from tho time of seizure until his ruleoiie saw i 'uurrolsome 101 rniiduct amongst tlic seized orows, nor no insulting; conduct towards Russian officers, iiiid saw no arms used to restore order on any occasion. (Signed) J. C. STllATFOllD. Declared to iK'I'ore nic at \'iet ni.i, Uriti.sli Columbia, tliis 5tb day of November, 18'Ji (Siijned) A. H. Mii.nk, Collector of Customs. Derhtrulion of J. Lark'tn. I'dit of Victoria, British Columbia. .lobn Larkin, of Victoria, llritisb Columbiii, scaler, and, durinu; the present season (1892), was boat puller in one of tbe boats of tb(> IJritisb seliooncr "Ariel," dl' Victoria, liritisb Columbia, personally appeared, and doth solemnly declare and state as follows : — Tliat be was eni^agcd and sbip|)ed on board tbe Hritisb schooner " Ariel " as beat puller, and was always out sealiiiL; «itli the boit tliat be was designed duty on, and nil every occasion remend)crs every eireumstanet! connected with seal liunting on tbe Asiatic side in the neighbourhood of the Korniandoi-ski [slaiuls. That at no time was the declarant with tbe boat to which lie belonged nearer to iiuid (that is, to Copper or Hebriiig Island) than 10 miles, and that at no time has he liccii on the Sivid Copper or Uebring Island, or on any other island or land, l)efore the NL'izare of the siiid schooner " Ariel" after leaving for .iie Asiatic side. That be remembers all tbe circumstances of tbe seizure of the Hritisb schooner '• Ariel," wbicdi schooner was becalmed at the time of seizure, and had been becalmed limn the previous day ; the boats were all on board tbe vessel when the seizure took pliice, and the .schooner was then at least 30 miles from the nearest land. Tiiat for sixteen hours tbe Jkitish schooner "Ariel " laid in a dead calm, not a lireatli of wind, drifting slowly to north-east from 3 .v.M. to 5'30 a.m. on tbe 26tb day dl' tluly last, the date of sciziu-e of the .sfiid schooner "Ariel;" the schooner lay iiuiliiinless on the water, powerless, and saw the Kussian eruizer " Zabiaka" a|)pear in Ww. distance, steaming, as the engineer of the said eruizer "Zabiaka" afti'rwards iiifoi'ined tbe declarant, that the eruizer was then steaming 16 miles jier hour, the sea being Ijcrfectly smooth, and it was two and a-half hours from the time first sighted until the cruizt'r came alongside tlie schooner "Ariel." That the British schooner "Ariel " did not sail or run away from the Uussian ciMiizer " Zabiaka," as it was impossible to do so in su'di a dead calm on the day of her seizure. That the crew of the Russian eruizer " Zabiaka " stole tiie underclothing from the members of the crew of the British schooner " Ariel," and tbe treatment that the declarant and the crew of the schooner " Ariel " received at tbe hands of the; Russian (illieers was disgraceful, and unlike any humane treatment in a civilized country. (Signotl) JOHN LARKIN. Declared to before rao at Victoria, this 3rd day of November, iy92. (Signed) A R. Milne, Collector of Cuntoiiis. 102 Pabticui.AUs oI' chiiin made by l!iu DWiicrs of llio sclidoiicr " Cdrinolitc," of Livor]i(H]I, Nova ^^cotiii, !M) Ions rctjistri', wliicli vessel was seized on the 2^ith Au;;iist, l>i()2, in latitude oi' io' norlli, l()ii!4:itiide 1(!8' i'tO' ea-^t, liv the Iiiinerial IJiissiaii eriiizor "Vitiez." Value of ilie sehcioiiir . . . . . . . , 7 sciiliiijt boiilMiiiil 11 ,lli!. ;,t 1 !'i d .1, i ■ I C'lironnnif'tcr Stock 111' ])ro\i«ioi's, iiicliMiiii; it. ciTics, mIi, ,\c,, .-iinl iniiiinmitinn, I'SliiUiitfd ., ., ,. ., 1.1 I'nrkt'i- j^uii.". nt ■'<■'> <'iilliir-i 1 liflo . . !)80 l.'S 1,(111(1 K2'> 1^1 Dollars. 1U,.ii<1 sflutoiHi' wlitT. si'izod, nt l.'l (ImHms I'lum inroniiaiiiiii IniMi (Mj.laiii ai.d hutiti'i^, l^UlJlatl.'(i iiiiji.l.'ci' ol' .Hfal-sUina wliicli woulil liavi: luca t.iki'ii li;ii\ not M'lioonoi- bet n sci/A'd. (il)ll M'a!- Bkiiis, at I'i dollars ,, .. .. ., .. , •-'.'.Mi 7,111)1 7,H(I() 'I'otal C'kiipt , , (Si!,'iifd) Victoria, British Columbia. Xoranliri- 'l, ]^>!)2, •2S,(ii;) (HAS. IIACKE'LT, MiiniiyiiKj Oiriici', Mnito, — II' a])()ve elaiin not i)aid liel'ore the 1st i'ebniary, IbDIt, tiirthcr claim due owners for loss of next year's earnings. Dol. c. , , iii.ono 00 l)..|. c. Hill (II) I'HI Oil !I80 0(J 2'jr, 110 Amended Claim, I'ARTlCULAns of cliiinv made hy the owners of the schooner " A\illio MiicUownn," of 8hol1)onrne, Nova Scotia, 11. "• tons roijistcr, whieli vessel was seized on the IStli July, 1892, ill latitude oA'' 50' north, longitud' 1(17" 50' east, by the Impeiial Russian cruizer " Zabiaka." ValiuMd' tlic sclioonci" ,. ,, ,, ,, 7 lioats. Milue 1:20 doliar.s oni'li .. .. (lutfit I'or lioals (onr.«, s-ails, &c,), 7 outllts at 20 dollars lacli .. '2 diioiioinctcis, one at 100 dollars and 1 at \'2C> dolhirs Stock of [inivisions, includiofj- groceries, Bait. &e., and aninni- nition, i Hliinatcd . , . , , , , , 2 rifles, at 23 dollars each , , , , la Parker shot guns, at (id dollars each 1 braes cannon . , , . , . , . , , 1 Rextnnt , , . . , , , , , . . , Uinociilars ,. ,. .. ,. , , North I'acific chart and otliers . . . , . . , , I'nrnllel rulers, nautical ninmnacs Barometer , , . . , , . . , , , , 7.') seal-Bkius on hoard Bchooner when seized, at 12 ilollurs Kstinmtcd miinhcr of seal-skins which would liave been taken had not schooners been fci,:cd, 827 at 12 dollars Total ilaini . , , , ,, , For II. P. I! it bet and Co. (Limited), (Signed) K. SEAHllUUK, lu-v-Vrvsidvul, Atjfiil for Owiivry. Victoria, British Columbia, Norcmber 2, 1802. Memo. — IC above claim not ]iaid beioiv the 1st i-'ebrunry, 169.'}, further claim dm' wners for loss of uext year's earnings. 1,000 00 .0(1 0(1 7C0 0(1 KJO (10 00 .50 00 ■'•. 00 an ,'t on 10 00 Kii; 870 .-id 00 • • ',t,',l24 (10 , , 21,011 .".0 103 PAKTifi'r.Aus of c'liilm of sehooiior " .A[avi;i," iiiid owners, ft I tons rci^islcr, of ^NLiitlaud, Nova Scotia, seized l>y IUissi-i;i Fur Company's steamer " Ivotik " on the 21st .\ui,Mist, 1S!)2, wIkmi 0.\ miles cn^t-norlli-e.ist from east end of Copper Island. icr claim due icr claim due Vnluc of si'liooner , , Outfit, tioiito, mills, nmnitiiMtiiin, uiiil instniiiu'ul- Si'nl--kliis on bcianl when Mizuil MstiiiiJited !')f-s ttirou^lt seizure 1,200 BCiil-«kiii>, at 12 dollars cii.'li 1 fo^taiit , , I'dtal claiiii, sua-nn 1S02 j),.lhr>. , , '.I.OIIO r.,0()U S.al-ski l!». .V.t7 am i.-.'iiii 1 1.10(1 . , oO Xrilc. — If tliis claim is not paid or the vesscd returned lid'ore the 1st .lamiary, 1M):1, Mil additional claim for 1M)3 season will occur, as it will tlun lie loo late to procmc another vesM"l. (Si;,'ned) JOll.N (1. VOX. Maiiiuicr. Sl'l!r!i> dol. no e., arc i)aid prior to the 1st .lanuary, 1803, an additional claim for sonsou 1803 will tie inatle, as it will he too lali; to purchase another schooner. (.Siffued; JOHN McLEtJU, .\[(ist'-r. Nnlirp. The ImptM'ial Russian Government here1)y jmljlishes, for !j;eneral knowledije, the fiillowing : - 1. Without a special permit or licence from the ( iovernor-ficner.'il of ivistern Siberia, i'oreii;n vess(;is are not tdlowed to carry on Ir'idinLr, huntiuir, llsiiiiii,', itc., on tin' I'ussian cuiists or islands in Okhotsk and liehiiny Seas, or on the nortli-cast coast iir.\s|;i^ or within their sea lioundary-line. li, J'or such permits or licences foreii^n vessels should .apply at ^'ladivostock exclusively. 3. fn the port of I'etroiianlovski, thoiitrli liein^' the only pnrt of entry in KMintelmtkii, such permits shall not he issued. i \(i jiermits or licences whatever shall he issued for huntiiiij, fishinL,', or tradinf» 111 or Oil till' Commodore and i'ohhen Islands. .I. I'oreii^n vessels found tradiiiir, tishiiiir, hiintinir, itc.. in Hussian ;\aters, without !i lieenee or permit from the (iovernor-< lenenil. and also those jiiissessiiiL:' a lieence or piiiiiit who should infrino-e im tho rxisliiii;- liye-l.iws on huntiiiL;', shall lie c inliscated, liiilli vessels and eai'LCoes, I'or the heiielil ot the (Jovernment. 'liiis en;u'lnient shall be eiilorei'd lieneeforth, commeneinij; with A.n. 18^2. (1. The enl'oreemeni of the ahove will he intriisli'd to liussian men-of-war ani> r -sian merchant-v<'ssels, who, I'or tluit purpose, will carry military (letai'hments, and he provided with ])ro))er iustruetions. 104 Inclosurc 4 in No. 52. Lord Stanley of Preston to the Marquis of Ripon. Jfy Lord, Government lloune, Ottawa, Deremher 30, 1802. WITH ref(!rencc to previous corn'siioiKlonce on tlic subject of the seizure of British sealinu'- vessels in tlie North I'lieifie Ocean by Jtussian authorities, 1 liave tiio Jionour to transmit to your Lordship a eo])y of an apijroveii Hoport of a ('omniittce of tlic I'rivy Council, su'hmittini^ a letter from Messrs. ("orhould, A' i-Call, Wilson, and ("amphell, of ^■aneouvc^, covering a statement of Cajttaiii W. II. Cojip, of the liritisli fialinjj-schooner "Vancouver JJelle," which schooner was seized in the \orth I'aeiiip Ocean, on the lilli August last, by the Russian cruizer " Zabiaka." r liave, &e. (Si-ned) STANLEY OF PRESTON. Inclosurc 5 in No. 52. Report of tt Committee of the Honourable the Prhy Council, approved by his Excellency the Governor- General in Council on the 20th December, 1802. ON a Report dated the 15th December, 1892, from the Minister of Marino and Fisheries, submitting, in connection with his previous Reports on the seizure of Rritish vessels in the North Paeitic Ocean by Russian authorities, tin; ai)pended letter from Messrs. Corl)ould, McCall, AVilson, and Campbell, of N'ancouver, covering a statement of Captain W. IL Cojip, of the Rritish sealing-sehooner " Vancouver Relle," cleaied from Vancouver, British Columbia, on the 13tli February, 1802, on a seal- hunting voyage to the North Pacific Ocean and Okhotsk Sea, and seized in the North PaeiticOeean'on the 12th August, 1802, i)y the {{ussian eruizer " Zahiaka." The Minister observes that the statement contains a full and detailed narrative of the vessel's cruize from her clearance until her seizure, as well as an exhaustive account of the arrangement entered into between the Russian Commander of the " Zabiaka " and Captain Copp, of the " Vancouver Belle," by which the seized schooner " Rosie Olsen" was handed over to the latter, for the purpose of conveyius^ liome the members of the crew of his own vessel, as well as other distres.,cd sealers, thrown upon the Russian shores by reason of the seizure of British vessels. The Minister observes further that the circumstances attending the consummation of the arrangement, the condemnation of the " Jiosie Olsen," and the changing her name to the " Prize," are fully recounted. The Committee, on tlie recommendation of the Minister of ^[arine and Fisheries, advise that your Excellency m) moved to forward a copy of this Minute, together with a copy of the Appcndi-^c hereto attached, to the Right Honourable the Principal Secretary of State for the Colonies, for the information of Her Majesty's Government. All which is respectfully submitted for your Excellency's approval. (Signed) .TOHN J. McGEE, Clerk of the Privy Council. Liclosure 6 in No. 52. Messrit. Corbould, McCall, Wilson, and Campbell to Mr. C. H. Tupper. Sir, Vancouver, British Columbia, November 18, 1802. WE have the honour herewith to forward to you statement by Captain Copp, of the "Vancouver J?elle" sealing-sehooner, and declaration verifying smu-, and certified by such of th<' crew ai. we have lieen able to get liohl of. We .shall feel extremely obliged if you will bring .same to the notici' of the proper Pepartment of the Governmi nt, with a view of obtaining, in due course, compensation for the loss of the " Vancouver Belle." We have, &c. (Signed) CORBOULD, McCALL, WILSON, and CAMPBELL. (Statement under separate cover.) Stnlement by Captain Copp, Poiiiiiiion of Canada, Province of British Columl)ia, to wit : In tlie matter of the seizure of the soalin<;-sehooncr •' N'ancouvm- Ik'Ue" hy the lUissian eriiizcr " Zabiaiva." T, William ITarv(>y Co])]), thi' captain ol' the scalin^^schooner " Yanednver lielie," now ivsidin:; at the city ol' N'lneouvei-, in the rmvinee of Jh'itisli C'olunihia. solemnly Mini sincerely declare as Follows : — 1. The statement herelo annexed niarVed (A) is a correct statement, in snlistanco ,Miii in fact, of the voyai;e ol' the scalinj,'. schooner " Vanconver Belle," conunencinL; on till' llithdayol' Fehriiary, l^^'.t2, and tiie sci/,\ire ol' the said schooner hy the linssian ciiiizer " Zal)iaka." 2. The co|)ies of the li'tters sent ont in the said st.tcment are correct copies of the iiiiLiinal letters taken from the oriirinal letter in my possession, addressed to n;e hy the t',i|ilain of th(^ said Ilussian crnizer " Zahiaka," and my copies (f the letters I adilressed to him as appearini,' in the siid statement. And I make this solemn declaration, conscientlonsly l)eliev■in^' the s'inie to 1 e trne, and hv \ irtiie of the "Act resj)ectini^ Extra-Jndicial Oaths." (si-ned) ^y. H. C(ji'r. Declared at the citv of Vancouver, in the Province of JJritish Colmnhia, this Stli day of Xovemher, 18!)2. (Signed) A. S. G. ]r.\MEnsi,EY, a Solnri/ PuhUr in mid for the District of Nria It'estmiustpr, in the Prorince of liritish Cohiinbiii, (J'eal.) (A.) In the matter of the seizure of the Canadian sealincj-schooner " Vanconver Belle " hy the Hussinn cruizcr " Zahiaka," Sinlrment by Captain Copp, of the "Viinvoun-r Belle," in his oirn words, Fchnian/ 13, The "Vancouver Belle," being fully maimed with a crew of twenlr-thrce men, al' tdld, well found and in every way am'U iittcd to perform the voxagc, cleared from the Cn-t'ims-house at Vancouver for a sealing and hunting cruize to the North I'acilie Ocean and ()!\hot.sk 8ca. At 5 v.A. we to)k a tng and towed from the harl)(nir of Vancouver, and then jiincccded on our way undci' all possible sail toward .sealing-gronnd on the I'acilie coast, arriving in latitude ■17'' ">.")■ and haigitnde I".'."!' S' west on the 17th [''ebiaiary. from this point we cruized, hunted, and sealed towards the coast (d' \'ancon\ci' Island, and when in latitude th° 50' and hnigitnde l'J(>° west, being the 1st .Miuxdi, Henry T'urner, mate, was drowned \»hilst hunting in tlu! stern-boat, and Ilar\ey \). Coj)p, able-bodied .seaina!!, was promoted to act as mate fcM' the rest (d the \()yage. !''rom (he 1st Alarch the said schooner, crnizer, and sealer sailed away to the north- west along the coast of Vancouver Island to tbc> north, along (he coast an 1 in the big bend of the .Alaskan I'eiiinsnla as far as Kadiak Islainl, arriving at that point, in latitude 58'' north and longitude 151 '.W west, on tiie l.'Jtb day of June, 1*502, having then on board ;?.'{.") salted seal-skins in full for the coast catch. The .said schooiu'r "Vancomer Belle" then conlinnetl her voyage to (be west, iidending to go (o Behring Sea vii\ I'luanak I'ass.and (m the l^tb .Inne, when opposite s.iid pass, M|)oke and conversed with the master of an otter bunting scho )ncr, the "Uiga," of L'nga, who told us that the American side of llidn'ing Sea e:>st of tiie lim; (if den\arcation between the United Stales' (iovernment and that of Russia was again ;'l(iscd froni iMay 18!)2 to Jlay 18iW by order of the Uritish and United States' (lovcrnmcnts, and that ho (tiie master of the otter-hunting schooner) had had the J'l'ochuuatiou put on bofird, and had lieen spokini by several cutters on their way to TOO Heliring Son, and that the stiimlations nl' tlic prosont Piixlamation mndc all Aossels witli s(>alinf,' implcinciits on iMiai'tl lialilc Id sci/.uro if tniiiiil inside" tlic said waters of Hclirin;; Sea, wanicd or not wai'iiiMJ. This liciiiL; tin; only leliaMc ini'iirnititicni icccImmI since leaviii;; Hrilish Coiunihia, we now dec'i(le(l lo fi'. ss over lo llie liussian side ol' tlic I'aeilie Ocean, and steered a course aion;^ tlie south side of llic Meiitiui Islands, arriving on tlio L'nd day id' July in latitude «;{' 17' north and I ini^itiule Kis' I'li' ,.;ist. the sonlhernniosl end ol' t'upper Island, then hearini; south-easl. distaul "pn miles. From the 2nd .lidy to tin- 1 llli Au^'ust all went well, and we cruized and scaled in the waters without intciTuption up to that dati-. At 12 noiin ol' the lltli Au'^^iist we were in lal'tude ."i t" 15' and lon£;itudc Kid" :5(i east, hiivini; then on hoard (ils sailed sral-sKins, iuchulini,' wliat had Immmi taken iu the waters ou the cast coast o;' the PaciTc Ocean, and I'rom 12 no in of this day to inidnii;hl a fresh south-west wind was hlowinir, with a (dioppy sea and thick i'oj;. On the 12th Aui;ust at dayli;;hl we were running' to tlie east under easy sail, when the foi; cleared up and we sit;hti'i( land. AVc continued our conrs • to the east, and at s \,m. the south end of Co])per Island horo nnrth-north-casi, dist nit l>.") miles. We then set all sail an I liMuli'd ship close" on, tlie wind staudini,' still on the starhoard tack, the wind then lianiinLr to south-east and ilyini; out. At 12 noon the ohser\ed latitude was .") |. 20', whilst the sontli end of Copper Island hore north, t:(( miles distant. "We then tacked ship and stoed olV from the land toward the south-west on a wiiul, and at 1 v.M. the w ind dyini,' out to a very liifht hroo/.c, we heing in company with another seliooner ])ut over our hoals and seiled to the south-west, the schooner heinj; under all sail. At 2 r.M. sighted a smoke of s|c>;uu-vessel away to the north-nortli-east, and we then ])ut up a siijnal and e;illed our hoats on hoarrl, tiie hoat farthest away hein;; ahout \l miles from tlie ship and over 20 miles from land. At 2'30 P.M. our sealiuLi-hoals tackr Hehriiii,' Sea last year, anel the- Amcriciu e'ruize-rs elrove yeiu e)ut. You wendel have gone the-ri' this year, only was ])reve'nte'd hy the same- icasou, and now you have crosse'el (he American lino anel ce)me into Itussian watea-s; tlieM'el'e)re f will seize' ye)ur vessel" I protiisteel af,'ainsl the' se'izure of my vessid, sayint? that I was 21' mile's away I'rom any lanel, and consielered that my ve'sscl was e)u the eipen liij;h sea, and I was foUowiui^- a legitimate hunting and sealing husiness. (;;i|(l;iiii (l(! Lcvoroii, dI' the llnsNian ciiiizci' " /;iliiaka," (lien said: '•Captain, it (lues nut maltiT to iiic ulial yoti consider to lie' tin- lini' of dcMiarcatiun betwcon the waters of the Hehriiin; Sea and the \\at-cliatka coast, but I us(! my own discretion, and havi' oidy seized lour and you are till' IU'lh ; I could have )iad twenty as am'II as live.' lie then told me to linrry up and [X') in th.e Imat with an armed crew which took nie to the said schooner " \'ancou\cr liejle,'' and llieii hrouLjIit my>cll' and ciirliteen of my ciewon board the said crnizer " /aliiaka," l(a\in;^ on board the mate, 11. U. Copp, ami two hunters to assist the two linssian odiceis and lu'ne seamen, all armed with swnrds, ))istol'',, and guns, to take the said " \'ancou\er Hello" to I'etropaulovski. When 1 came on board the cruizcr " Zabiaka," the Commander took frou\ me a hiiok I liad licen writing; in, which was the only tliini; f had with nic, excejjt my big coat, not beiiii; allowed time to cliani^e my dress. Till! Commander of the s'lid cruizer " Zabiaka " then said to me, AVhat vessel is tiiat in com))any Avith your and 1 answered that it was tno American schoouer "Anaconda." 'I'lie cruizer then idtcred lier course and steamed in the opposite direction towa;'ds tiie east, as Captain d(? Leveron said lie wanteil to catch the schooner " AV. P. Wayward," wlioM' boats he liad jjicked up two bonis before iie cami" to me. At 10 o'clock that iiiu:lit the foi,' shut djwii, and as no signal light from the ■' W. r. 8ayw!ird " could be seen, the ('ruizer st 'amed away to the north-west, and the next mornini; at 10 .\..m., the l.'Uh August, tin; cruizcr came to anchor in a bay to the iiiirlh-wcst end of Behring Island, where the chief \illage is situated half-a-mile from the beach. I saw on boai'd the cruizer " Zabiaka " lifteeii men. besides my crew, that had been captured in tlie boats. On the 1 Ith AngU'.t I wrote a lornial pi'otest and handed it to Captain do lA'Veron, whicli read as follows; — "To the Commander of the ll'issian cruizer ' Zabiaka.' "Sir, -Auyuxt 12, l6»2. "I hereby protest against the seizure of my schooner, the "Vancouver Eelle," of Vancouver, British Columbia, having on board (5 is salted seal-skins, of which 335 were taken in the coast waters of British '.Joluml)ia and Alaska, from 20 to GO miles off shore, and tiie balance taken in the i'aeilic Ocean from 150 to 15 miles from the shores of ('ojilier and Keliring Islands, and at no lime since coming to these waters has my Vessel or boats been nearer to the shores of Cop))er or Behring Island than lu niuitical miles, and at the time of seizure, I2lh August, the southernmost end of (upper Island bore north by east, a distance ot' 21 miles, and 1 hereby solemnly ])rotest ii'^aiiist such seizure, never having any knowlcdi;e of any Proclamation defining the liunndary-line near these islands other than a i'c|)ort of a !)-niile limit around these islands, inside of which was claimed as liussian wati rs ; neither had I any warning to leave tliese waters forthwith. (Signed) "W. 11. Copv, " M(i.-:lci;' rniicoKicr Belle.'" This protest [ kept a copy of, ami, goinu- alt, banded the original protest to the Ciiptain. This protest be accciitcd, and made the following indorsement: — " I hereby certily that this copy, signed by W . II. Copj), is correct from the inotesf duly received from the master of the schooner '" Vancouver Belle," the !:lli (,20th) August. (Signed) " H. iik Lkvi.iiox, Caplnin of His tm/ierinl .Miijrsli/'n Revciiiic-cruizer ' Znbiakn'" Captain dc Leveron then expressed '.^reat sympathy for me, and said he believed what my protest stated to be true, and said that it was a misfortune for me that he had M'cii theboalB and picked them up ; othi'rwise 1 would not have been seized that day.as 111,' was going to the cast for a schooner when he sighted the three boats, and, picking ['604ij ' r 2 108 tlioMi 11]), Av;is inisl(>(l liy tlio crews of the bouts, and so eame to my schooner, Uiu " Vaiiciiuvcr Helle." 1 tlieii asked him to i,'ivc me hack my soliooner. but tliis, bo said, was more than bis commis.sion was worth, but he woidd help me all be could and get me homo as soon as possible, as be considered from what he had read v.\ "iy book of sk(!tches from my owa life tliat, as I had not been a sealim:; ea[)tain loti!^, i was really iijnorant that f was trcspnssiiii^ in lluss'an waters, and that my own (iovornment onjjht to i)e made responsible for the loss of my vessel. JIo tr(>ated me with niiieb kindness. i;ivin^' me a cabin to myself, with the sanic! kind of food as himself and oflicers eat ; whilst the eri'w was treated in like manner !is the sailors of th(! " Zabiaka.'' being allowed their liberty and same food as tlie sailors of tlie said schooner " Zabiaka." Leavins; the Captain's cabin 1 went to my own, and wrote a letter of request to the Commander of the said eruizer " Zabiaka," in the following words: — " Russian crui/.er ' Zabiaka,' Captain de Lcveron commanding: " Dear Sir, "August U, IS'M. " Having with my crew been thrown upon tlie foreign sborcs of Kamscliatka in ronscijueneo of tlu! seizure of my vessel, the schooner ' Vancouver lielle,' by your order, on the 1:2th August, 1802, I hereby beg that you will use your best ondciivoiir to arrange some A\ay that mys(;lf and my crew of twenty-one men, together with iiltccn others, who are entirely destitute, and at your mercy, may as quickly as jiossihle leavn the shorivs of Kamscliatka foi our respective homes in America, and to facilitate such an undertakinu;. si'ciiig that no chance olTers by steanuu' or otherwise. I would earnestly beg to request that you will lit out anil provide me with one of the se;diin,' scbo(iners that you have lately seized, and w ith these thirty-seven men dispatch me in charge of the schooner, w iiieh charge I hereby pnnnisc to faithfully perforin. *■ ^lany of tl'cse nieii are without clothing, ajid tlie longer they remain in the country the greater will be their siilTeriiig when cold weather sets in. And you will be granting a favour by iriving this re(|uest your careful and earliest consideration, and inform me as to your decision, and your bumble servant will ever pray. " Very truly yours, (Signed) W. U. Copp, " Ex-Master, ' J'ancouier Belle' " On tiie following day the Commander of the said eruizer sent for me to come to bis cabin, and conversed with me in connection with the above-said letter of re([iies',, and said that no doubt it was written with a view to getting back my schooner, the " Vancouver Helle." lie then said that I must banish such hopes, but that be •would try and do tiw; next best thing by giviiiir hk; the schooner" llosio Olson," of Victoria, which had been seized for alleged illegal sealing, and was then laying at retrojiaulovski. This sidiooaer he said he would condemn as worthless to bis Oovcrnment, whieli would be done by a coniniission of t he oilicers of the said eruizer " Zabiaka," and w oiilil put provisions on board for the thirty-seven men to last the voyage home, providing I tiioiiLrht the old vessel seaworthy enough to carry us to our homes. 'Ibis I could tell when L got !o Pctrojiaulovski. lie said, " I will give you this old vesiel for your own account, but I will not give you any flag nor port of hail, and will have h'jr cf)ndemned and call her by another name." lie said that he would give me a letter to show to any man-of-war speaking rnc on our way home, which would lie suflicient jirotection until wc arrived at Vancouver. I told liim that I would niiicli prefer to go home in my own schooner, but as I took it for granted that was out of tlu' question would accept bis gift, but was fully aware of the fact that the former owners of the " lUisic Okson " would claim her, and by a British Court of Law would get lior. Yet I would aceejft his gift for the mutual benefit of the distressed seamen under liis charge, in order that wc might get (luiekly home. The Captain of the said eruizer "Zabiaka" then called bis (irst navigatin;,' lieutenant, audit was arranged that the said vessel, formerly called the " llosie Olsen," eliould be condemned and handed over to mo on our arrival at Petropaulovski. The said eruizer " Zabiaka" on the 17tli August started out from our anchor.'igi^ at Behring Island, and proceeded on our way towards Petro])aulovski, and at !) p.m. tbo 18th August the said eruizer "Zabiaka" anchored in the harbour of I'ctro- faulovski. 100 Oil the lOlli Aujrust tlic fliirty-six scalers worn all sent on shore, niul after I Miivi'vcd tlic " Rosio Olson" and slic had been condinnncd hy a coinniission of flic " Z,ilii:ika's" ofllcors, T ('X|)resscd niv \villinu:ness to accept her, and the Captain of tbo s;ii(l criii/.cr " Zahiaka " then yave nw the following letter: — •• Dear Sir, "Aiifjusl 2t), 1892. " In rci,'ard to your ro(|ti(;:st, dated the IMi Aui^iist, I have carefully considered what you say, and in answer may st'itc that I have now taken the responsibility, and, jiccni'ilin^' to lli(! ahovc-said re(|ue>t, I now deliver to you for your own account the scliooiier ' I'rizc,' which will be su|)plied with pnjvisions for forty days for the conii)lc- iiii'iit III' men which you will h.nc on board, viz., thirty-seven, and will put her in jjood (inii'i' liir the voya^'e which you will tindcrtaki'. " I rc(|uire that you shall place the men on board the ' Prize,' and in due course wlicii ready to sail with all vlispatch to a Canadian port, and on your arrival to such |iiirl discharge the men from the schooner 'I'rizc' before a duly authorized liritish iillieial. (Signed) " iJ. ui; Lkvkuon, Caplain, His Imperial Majenty's Rrieniie-cruizer ' Zabinku.' '•Captain AV. U. Copp, • .Master, the seized schooner ' Vancouver Hellc.' " 'I'lien I took charge of the schooner " Prize," and as quickly as possible fitted her out, taking' what Captain de Lcveron would give me for forty days' provisions, got all the <'ivu on board from a miserable hovel without doors or windows, where they had been living four days on three days' al!owanc(;-money of 15 copecks per day per man, and 111! tiie 22nd August went for my pap(Ms, so as to sail early next juorning. Captain dc l.cvcron then called a commission of his ollicers, who had already signed a Protocol i,'iviMg the circumstances of the seizure of the said schooner " Vancouver Hellc," and roailiiig the said Protocol over tome, which document was written in Jlussian, asked rac to siirn tlu> same under the names of iiis ollicers. This I declined to do, for two reasons : liist,lliat the document was written in Ilussian, and I did not understand the writing; aiul, secondly, because he had mentioned a latitude in the last days of July which he states stood in the log-book of the said " Vancouver Belle," which log-book with all other (iiH'iiinents were taken from ine on tl)(> 12th August, and in the possession of Captain (le Lcveron since that time. I then demanded the log-book, and found that 11. 1). Copj), who was acting as substitute for mate, had not entered the figures of ills uc(! of this Governor was abused in the worst kind of a manner when I asked him for the few copecks that Captain de Lcveron informed mi^ that I was to get from the Governor to buy a little fotnl for the distressed sealers, which was barely enough to keep star\ation to death away, and was refused the money that wc had been promised, and threatened to be placed in prison instead. m Wc, the captain, mate, and liuntors and crew dl' the " Vancouver Hello " lincliy certify the foregoing statement to be true, aecording (o our re>|)ecti\e kn()\vlc(l;,'ciii' the facts. (Signed) W. II. ((J I' I', Mnshr. ilAliVEY I). CUJ'I', .)/»/-, Witness : (Signed) Authuh J. .lunoE, Vttni-nmi'r. This is the statement marked (A) referred to in llie iuiiiexed deelaratiou of William Harvey Copp, taken before mo, tiiis 8tli day of JsOm iiiber. 1^1)2. (Signed) A. St. G. Hamkusi-ky, Notary Public for the Province of Britinh Columbia, (Seal.) Inelosurc 7 in No. 52. The Marquis of Ripon to Lord Stanley of Preston. (Telegraphic.) Downiny Street, Jnnutirii ]«, IM):!. SEND home as soon as possible autlientieated copies of I'rotdCdl siLrned In eiiptiiin of "Vancouver Uclle," pnd of chart showing line draAvn upon eliart of " Waller 1'. Hall." luclosurc 8 in No. 52. Lord Stanley of Preston to the Marijuix of Ripon. (Telegraphic.) Junuury 19, ISOlt. YOUR Lordship's telegram of the 18th January. Protocol sent out by mail to-day's post with approved Minute of (oui oil. Chart refeiTed to is at Victoria, British Columbia. i^«.o telegraphed for it, hut it cannot get here for ten or twelve days. Inclosure 9 in No. 62. Lord Stanley of Preston to the Marquis of Ripon. (Telegraphic.) Jimnnry 20, 18!>3. YOUH Tx)rdshij)'s telegram of the 18th January, ami my last telegram of tlic 19tb January. Telegram from Vietoria says .schooner "Walter 1'. Hall,"' Hrown master, sailed for Japan water.s, scaling, live days ago, chart on board. Collector of Customs, Victoria, has written to master, Yokohama, return chart. No. 63. The Earl of Rosebery to Sir It. Morier. (Extract.) Foreiyn Office, February 8, 18i);i. WITH reference to ja'cvious corresj)oiulenco respecting the seizure of British sealing- vessels by Russian cruizers in Rehring Sea, 1 transmit copy of .i furtlier letter from the Colonial Ollice, inclosii\g coj)iesof two despatches from the (J(nemf)r-(ieneriil of Canada, with Minutes of Council and aflidavits, respecting the seizure of tlic " Carmolite," " ilaria," and " Vancouver R(!lle."* I'urlbi-r allidavits as to the seizure of the " llosie Olson " and the interference with the '■ W. 1*. ilall " are also inclosed. I have to instruct your Excellency to present these allidavits and statements of claim to the llussiau Government iu the same manner as the evidcnice previously fonvarded. • No. 5)2. Ill Jcllo '• lll'IcllV kiKnvlcd^'ccif lister. DIM', Mill,; Mv l.ori 1 1 I hlivr I'lilltllllK loclaratii)!! cf aTtiiili No, 54. Sir //. Mnrh'r In the Er rl of Rosebery. — {lierelrfil ^fnrrh G.) I, ,S7. I'rinshimih, Mnrrh 2, IBO.*?. lAVI' till' lioiioiir to traiisiiiil licrowilli to yi)ur r.onlsliiii a coity of a note wliich iiildrt's^cd to IliL' ItiissiMn OoviTiiinunt, in coiniiliuiice witli the instructions (1 ill vonr ljoi'cls|ii|)H (los|iMtcli of tiie Stli ultimo res|i('cliii^f ttiu seizure of ll^iti^ll scuiiiiy-vesscls 1)^' liiis^iau uruizuis in the North I'acific. I have, &c. (SiR.ie.1) U. J5. I). MORIEll. Iiielosure in No. 54. Sir li. Morivr to M. Chirlikiiie. \\. ],• Coiix'iller I'rive, ,S7. Pelershimjii, Fehrunry !) (21), 180;$. WITH reference to previous cnrrospondeiiee, I have the honour to IrnnHinit Lcrouilli to your j^xecdlency copies ot I'liitlier docinnenlary evidence re-jiecting tiie siiziiii' of certiiiii I!riti>h sealiiiif-vessels liy K'lissiiiii cniizers in the Nortii Pacific. Tlic^e documents coiisi:;(. iis your Kxcelleiicy will perceive, of cojiios of ori;,'inal as Mcll ii> iiinended and Mip]ileineiitarv s vorn (•tateinents, deelanttions, and particulars of iliiims liaviiiir reference to the ell^cs (d' the "Ariel," " Willie .\h( !owan,'' '• l{o.sie Olsen," ■ .\l.iri:i," and thi! " Carnioliie,'' which v^re l>rounlit to y(^ur Excellency's notice in my Utile- iif the ITtli C-'itth) November, and Otli f-Isl) Deceinher, 181)2, as also of copies (i! evidence «)f a similar nature c-./iicerninii' the cases of the Hritish vessels the " Walter 1'. Midi " and the " N'ancoiiver rdle," wliich I have now the honour to lay before your l!\icllciicy for the fi;>t time. I'rciin the "leclariilion of .Jcdm Hrison lirown, master of the schooner " Walter P. ihill," of ^h^itIand, .Nova Fcotin, which left Victoria on the 13tli .May, 1802, it would iipiieiir that on the 17th Aiij;iist last, while that vessel was 25 miles south-west of liciriiin' Island, she "as hailed, and her master ortlered by Captain de Levron, of the Inijicrial cruizer "Zabinka," to take his papers on hoard that vessel, which order wiis obeyed. After an examination of the papers the chart was demanded, on which Hire >lio«n the daily positions of the scliooner while in waters east of the line of iK'iuarcation. <'ai)tain do TiCvron was apparently satisfied, but notwithstandinf^- that the schooner was, at the time of the interruption, at least 25 miles from the nearest land, he ordered lier master to ' of the schooner to the iliVct tlial the latter had iicen within Hussian waters for sealing, that her captain had received warning not to cross liussian waters any more, and had signed the notice of the liii'-iau (Joverninent. ■'. H. Brown acknowledges signing this document, but states that be did so under llio threat of seizure and to relieve his vessel and crew from such peril. lie filially ]ioints out tiiat this iorcibia interruption of his legitimate crui e resulted ill urievoiis tinaneial loss to the master, crew, and owners of the " Walter P. Hall." The facts as to the case of the " N'ancouver lielle '' are briefly as follows. That seliooncr, commanded by Captain W. 11. Copp, cleared A^ancouver in February I'-'.i^, to cruize in the North I'aeilic Ocean and the J^ea of Okhotsk, and on learning on till' If'th June from the otter-hunting schooner " Olga " that i\\n moihm vivendi between l'iii;I.iud and .\inerica was again in force, crossed over to the liussian .side of the Pacific Ocean. On the 1-th .\iigusl. when in company with the American schooner " Anaconda" at n iidiiit 2(t luiles distant from the south end of Cojiper Islai:lc;iiiier was sighted to the north-north-east : the boats were recalled and brought on lioard, having taken no seal that day. The steamer, which proved to he the Imperial cruizer " Zabiaka,"' after coining within distance, fired a gun, when the " Vancouver IV'lle " hove-to, and the captain, in obedience to a summons, went on board the "Zabiaka,'' His papers wtTe examined, and Captain de Levron, after asking him wliciher his Govcrninenl did not know that he could not go to the Sea of Okhotsk, and cross-examining liim as to his cruize ul 18'Jl, said . " Captain, you went to the Bchring 112 Sea last year and the American cruizcrs drove you out ; you would ha o gone this year only were prevented by the same reason, ami now you have crossed tlic American line and come into Russian waters ; thcrel'dre I will S'.'ize your vessel." Captain Copp protested aj^ainst tlio seizure on I lie ^roi' " that, hcinn; 24 nii'es away from any land, he eoi -idercd lie was on the open liiuli sea, ana was following a legitiniiile hunting and sealing business. To these rcnuirks Captain de I.evron roplied : " U does not matter to me what you consider to be the line of deniareatio:i of the Jieiniiig Sea and the waters of the Pa'jitii; Ocean ; my instructions from my Admiral are lo se'/e all vessels found sealing noidi o{ n line drawn from 3 miles south of the soutlierum(ili sealiug-vessel which had been ])revi()usly captured, should be condemned as worthless to the Uussian Government, her naiiio changed to the " I'rize," and havii'g been provisioned for thirty-seven men, hamled over to Captain Copp for his own account to convey him, his crew, and lit'teen otliers, who were entirely destitute, to Vancouver. Soon after reacliing IVtropaulovski on the ITtli August, this arningement was completed, and Hhen Captain Copj) had signed, under protest, a Protocol giving the circumstances of the seizure of the " V^aiu'onver Helle," he started in the "Prize" on the L'.^rd August, and arrived at Vancouver on the lllst September, when the latter vessel was ni:ule over to the Ih-itish ollieials. Cajitain Cojjp states that bis treatment by the (jovernor of Petropaulov>ki was very different from that he received at the hands of Captain de Levron, and coni[)laiiis bitterly ot tlu; hardships he had to en-. I. W. IT. C'op]), lieroliy liaml over to ron, as fdllccUir of Customs, tlu; sclioinifr ciillcil tlio '• I'lizc, which was given mo, iis per copy of letter inclosed, in eon'^ideration (if niy iindeitakin;,' to conduct the expedition named in said letter to a )ioit in Hritisli Ccdundiia. My reason tor t,'ivin;4 this vessel "I'lizc' into vour hands is that airivinj,' heie in ))orl without pajiers ol' any kind except the li.'ttc, inentl"iii-il and anolliev letter IVoiu the h'ussian Admiral, to .show to ,shi|is of war on my passa;,'e in case I wns spoken, '.vhieli letter I ■.\\:'<- inclose ; and that, hein^' unalde to use this schooner withcuit other piippis. I Would ask the Canadi;.ii (ioveinment for registratiiui papers, so thai 1 may hi' aide to clear her, cum- plyin;^ with any }!et;nlatinns the (lovernnient may rec|nire. 1 understand this vessel wa.s formerly c)wneil in ^'icto^a, I^ritish (,'olumhia, and called the " llosie Olson," and seized and conliscated l)y the I'ussians nn an allej,'ed (diarj,'e of illejial sealing;. I rilao inclose you ii copy of my protest ajjuinst the seizure of the " Vancouver ISclJe," and also copy of my written request to provide a means for thn transportation of thirty-si.\ seized .sealers to tlieir homes in British Columhia. Yours truly, (Sinned) W. H. COrr. J. M. Bowcll, Escp, Vancouver, British Columbin. Appendix No. 2. Sir, Jiiipiat 12, ]«92. I hereliy (irotest a.cainsl the si'izure of my vessel, the schooner " Vancouver Belle," of Vancouver, British ('olundiia,havin;j; on hoard lilT sidted seal-skins, of which "i;!;") wia-e taken in the coast waters of British Columliia and Alaska from L'li to (jfl miles olV from shore, and the hahince taken in the I'aeilic Ocean from ^i) to 4." miles from the shores of ('op[ier and Behrin^; Jslamls ; and at no time sinro coniinf; to these waters has my vessel or hoals hecn nearer tla,' shores of (.'opper or llehring Isla.'iJs than 15 miles ; and at the lime of .seizro'c (12th August ). the soulhernnost jioiiitof Copper Island, Imn^ north hy east a distance of 2-i miles. And I herel}y .solemnly imitest af^ainst such seizure, never havin;; any knowleilyo of any I'rotla- mation (iclinin^ tin' hoinidary-lini' near these islands other than a report of a 9-niile limil around tlio-sc Islands, inside of which were claimed as Itussian waters ; neither had I any warning to leave these waters forthwith. (Signed AV. II. COPB, ifoitn; " Vancovrer Hellr" To the Commander of the Kussiaii eruizer " Zahiakn." I herchy certify that this copy, sii;ned hy AV. If. Copp, is correct from the protest duly received from the master of the schooner "Vnnconvor Belle." August » (20), 1892, (Senl.) (8igned) li. he Lfvron', (Japtain of His Imperial Majinti/a Eunian cndter " Znhiaka." Appendix Xo, 3. Dear Sir AviinAt IH. 1802. Havinp, with my crew, hecn thrown upon the foreifm shores of Kamschntka, in conseiiuenw! of the seizure of my vessel, the .schooner "Vancouver lielle," hy your order, on the 12lh A\ii;u,st, IHDl', I hereby lie.g that you will ust> your host eiidcMVours to arnin;i uf the 2tul Clans, Cummaihdtr qf the 'J,nil Chms erviier" Ztibkikii" .'V true copy ; (Signed) LlKl'TKNANT Hr.ZKIlOV.NV, Aidlilnr. (Si^alof the "Zabiaka.") No. 57. The Earl of Rosebary to Sir R. Morier, Sir, Foreign Office, March 15, 1893. WITH reference to my despatch of the 8th ultimo, I transmit licrcwith a copy of a letter from the Colonial Ollice,* iiiciosiiin; further piiper.s received from the (iovernmcnt of Canada in coimcetion with the seizure in Heiirinji; Sen, hy the Russian orui/er "Ziihiaka," of the llritish seolin^^-vessel " Vancouver ik'lle." Amoiijt' the documents inclosed in tiiis letter .is Appendices to n Minute of the Canadian I'rivy Council is one (No. 5) which a]ipears to lie a copy of an Order issued iiy Captoin de ficvron, commaiuiini; the " Zahiaka," for flie eonliscntion and disposal of tiie " Vancouver llelle " nnd her cargo. A (ranshilion ot tl' • paper made in this OHice is anne.\ed for your ICxceliency's information, together will, tlie Hussian copy. I rctpiest that you will have the goodness to furnish tlic liu.-;::!i>n Government with copies of the papers appended to the Minute of (he Canadian Privy Council, in nddition to those j)reviously supplied with reference to the case of the " Vancouver Belle." I am, &c. (Signed) ROSEBERY. No. 06. 116 « : ' No. 58. Sir i?, Moriei to the Eurl of Rosuhcnj. — {Received April 4.) My Lord, .S7. Petersburgh, March 28, 189.''.. I HAVE the lionour to report that I h.ive transmitted to tlie Russian Goveiriincnt copies of the papers appended to the Minute of the Canadian Privy Council respeeliiig tlie seizure of the British sciiooner " Vancouver IJcllo " by tiie Imperial cruizer " Zahiaka," which were inclosed in your Lordsiii|)'s despatch of the loth instant. I thought it best to furnish M. Cliithiiine with tiie Kussian text instead of a trans- lation of the order issued bv Captain de Levron for tiic confiscation of the " Vancouvcf Belle." I iiave, &c. (For Sir R. Morier), (Signed) HENRY HOWARD. No. .'jO. Mr, Howard to the Earl of Roseherij. — {Received May Iti.) My Lord, St. Petersburrjh, May .3, 1893. DURING my interview with M. Cliiohkine to-day I informed him that your Lordship had observed that, in iiis note of the Oth (18th) April to Sir Ro])ert Jlorior respectinff the measures proposed to be adopted for the protection, during the oomiii;^' season, of Russian scaling interests in the Kortli Pacific — whici» note, as he already knew, was receiving tiic immediate and careful consideration of Her Majesty's Government — liis Excellency had stated that the e.xamii.ation lias been made by the Russian Commission ad hoc of the several cases of British vessels seized by tiie Russian eruizers last year. With reference to this statement, I added your Lordsliip had requested me to urge his Excellency to furnish me with the answer of the Imperial Government to the reiire- sentations on the subject laid before them by that of Her Majesty at the earliest dalo possible. M. Chichkine replied that the Commission had completed their examination of llie cases in question, and that I should receive the answer 1 had requested very shortly. I asked his E.xcellency when I might really exi)ect this reply, as your Lordship was naturally anxious for information on this point ; to which he aiifiwered that he could not fix the exact date, but that it would not be long before I received it. I have, &c. (Signed) HENRY HOWARD. 't/( 28, 189;^. in Goveiriintnt respecting the El- "Zabiaka," ad of a traiis- ic " Vancouvc'i' HOWARD. l/ny 3, 1803. lim that jour Rolicrt jMuiicr ng the comiiiif I already knew, vernnicnt — liis !in Commission zcrs last year, nie to urge liis to the reiire- 10 earliest dato lination of the ery shortly. I Lordship was it he could not 110 WARD.