BEHRING SEA ARBITRATION. 



ARGUMENT OF HER MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT. 



PREFACE. 



In August 1886, without any previous protest or warn- 

 ing, the Government of the United States seized the British 

 schooners '^Carolena," "Onward," and "Thornton" in 

 Beliring Sea, which were then engaged in pelagic sealing 

 there. 



The "Carolena" was seized in latitude 55° 50' north, 

 longitude 168° 53' west; the " Onward " in latitude 54° 52' 

 north, longitude 167° 55' west, and the "Thornton" in about 

 the same latitude and longitude as the " Carolena." These 

 schooners were, at the time of their respective seizures, at 

 a distance of more than 60 miles from the nearest land, St. 

 George and Unalaska Islands. After capture they were 

 taken by the United States revenue-cutter " Corwin " to 

 Unalaska. They were tried before Judge Dawson, of the 

 United States District Court of Sitka, and the masters and 

 mates of the vessels were fined in a considerable sum, and, 

 in addition, sentenced to a term of imprisonment. The 

 vessels, meanwhile, were detained. 



On receipt of intelligence of these seizures, Sir L. S. 

 Sackville West, British Minister at Washington, at once 

 made inquiries; and by the instructions of Her Majesty's 

 Government, on the 21st October, 1886, he entered a formal 

 protest against these seizures of British vessels. 



Mr. Bayard, the Secretary of State, wrote, on the 3rd 

 February, 1887, to Sir L. S. Sackville West, announcing 

 the discharge of the vessels, and the release of all persons 

 under arrest, adding that this order was issued "without 

 conclusion of any questions which may be found to be 



involved in these cases of seizure." 

 2 The men in custody were released under circum- 



stances of great hardship, being turned adrift, with- 

 out means, in a place many hundreds of miles from their 

 homes. 



On the 12th April, 1887, Mr. Bayard wrote that Regula- 

 tions and Instructions to Government vessels were being 

 framed, and that he would, at the earliest possible date, 

 communicate with Sir L. West; but without any such com- 

 munication being made fresh seizures took jilace in July 

 and August of 1887, and renewed protest was made by 

 Great Britain. 



