94 



CASE OF GREAT BRITAIN. 



1^0 seizure occurred in 1888, though British sealing vessels 

 made large catches in that year in Behring Sea. 



In 1880 live British ships were seized in Behring Sea, 

 and three others were ordered out of the sea. 



In 1890 no seizures were made, though a large number of 

 sealers visited the sea and took seals therein. 



"MODUS VIVENDI." 



■United ^States J^^^ I'^^-^l ^n agreement was come to between the United 

 Ino. 3 (1892),' p, states and Great Britain, resulting in a modus rivendi, for 

 dii VOL m.^^^" t^*^ purpose of temporarily regulating tlie fishery, pending 

 the result of expert investigation into tlie necessities of 

 the case. Vessels were forbidden to take seals in Behring 

 Sea for a limited ])eriod under penalty of seizure and flue, 

 and on the other hand the number allowed to be killed on 

 the islands was largely reduced. The only seizures that 

 have occurred since the establishment of the modus ritendi 



have been made on the ground of its infraction.* 

 123 The legality of the seizures made in 1886, 1887, 



and 1880 became a subject of much discussion and 

 debate in the United States. The uncertainty of the claim 

 of the Government of the United States is exemplified by 

 the fact that United States sealers entered Behring Sea to 



* The following table shows the names of the British sealing vessels 

 seized or warned by the United States reveune cruisers 1886-'90, and 

 the approximate distance from land when seized. The distances 

 assigned in the cases of the ''Carolena,'' "Thornton," and "Onward," 

 are on the anthoritv of V . 8. Naval Commander Abhey (see 50th Cong., 

 2nd Sess., Senate Ex. Doc. No. 106, pp. 20, 40, 30). The distances 

 assigned in the cases of the "Anna Beck," " W. P. Sayward," "Dol- 

 phin," and "Grace," are on the authority of Captain Shepard, U. S. 

 R. M. (Blue Book, "United States No.' 2 (1890)," pp. 80-82. See 

 Ajipeudix, vol. iii) : 



a Neah Bay is in the State of Washington, and the "Pathfinder " was seized there 

 on charges niade against her in Behring Sea in the previous year. She was released 

 two days later. 



