ALASKA INDUSTRIES. 283 



eries in Bering Sea was concluded on the fifteenth day of June, in the year of our 

 Lord one thousand eight hundred and ninety-one, word for word as follows: 



Agreement between the Government of the United States and the Government 

 of Her Britannic Majesty for modus vwendi in relation to the Fur Seal Fisheries in 

 Bering Sea. 



For the purpose of avoiding irritating differences and with a view to promote the 

 friendly settlement of the questions pending between the two governments touch- 

 ing tlieir respective rights in Bering Sea, and for the preservation of the Seal 

 species, the following agreement is made without prejudice to the rights or claims 

 of either party. 



1. Her Majesty's Government will prohibit until May next, Seal killing in that 

 part of Bering Sea lying eastward of the line of demarcation described in Article 

 No. 1 of the treaty of 1867 between the United States and Russia, and will promptly 

 use its best efforts to ensure the observance of this prohibition by British subjects 

 and vessels. 



2. The United States Government will prohibit Seal killing for the same period iu 

 the same part of Bering Sea and on the shores and islands thereof, the i)roperty of 

 the United States, in excess of seventy-five hundred, to be taken on the islands for 

 the subsistence and care of the natives, and will promptly use its best efforts to 

 ensure the observance of this prohibition by the United States citizens and vessels. 



3. Every vessel or person offending against this prohibition in the said waters of 

 Bering Sea outside of the ordinary territorial limits of the United States, may be 

 seized and detained by the Naval or other duly commissioned officers of either of 

 the high contracting parties, but they shall be handed over as soon as practicable 

 to the authorities of the nation to which they respectively belong, who shall alone 

 have jurisdiction to try the offense and impose the penalties for the same. The 

 witnesses and proofs necessary to establish the offense shall also be sent with them. 



4. In order to facilitate such proper inquiries as Her Majesty's Government may 

 desire to make, with a view to the presentation of the case of the Government before 

 Arbitrators, and in expectation that an agreement for arbitration may be arrived at, 

 it is agreed that suitable persons designated by Great Britain will be permitted at 

 any time, upon application, to visit or to remain upon the Seal Islands during the 

 present Sealing Season for that purpose. 



Signed and sealed in duplicate at Washington, this fifteenth day of June, 1891, on 

 behalf of their respective governments, by AVilliam F. Wharton, acting Secretary of 

 State of the United States, and Sir Julian Pauncefote, G. C. M. G. K. C. B., H. B. M. 

 Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentary. 



William F. Wharton, [seal.] 

 Julian Pauncefote, [seal.] 



Now, therefore, be it known, that I, Benjamin Harrison, President of the United 

 States of America, have caused the said agreement to b(i made public to the end that 

 the same and every part thereof may be observed and fulfilled with good faith by 

 the United States of America and the citizens thereof. 



In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United 

 States to be affixed. 



Done at the City of Washington, this fifteenth day of June, iu the year of our 

 Lord, one thousand eight hundred and ninety-one, and of the Independence of the 

 United States, the one hundred and fifteenth. 



By the President : 



Benjajviin Harrison. 



William F. Wharton, 



Acting Secretary of State. 



