42 



uent speedy extermination. The laws of the United States in this 

 behalf are contained in the Revised Statutes relating to Alaska, in sec- 

 tions 1956-1971, and have been in force for upwards of seventeen years ; 

 and prior to the seizures of last summer but a single infraction is known 

 to have occurred, and that was promptly punished. The question of 

 instructions to Government vessels in regard to preventing the indis- 

 criminate killing of fur seals is now being considered, and I will inform 

 you at the earliest day possible what has been decided, so that British 

 and other vessels visiting the waters in question can govern themselves 

 accordingly." U. S. Case, Vol. i, App., 160. Subsequently, August 

 19, 1887, Mr. Bayard addressed communications to the United States 

 mi nisters in France, Germany, Great Britain, Japan, Enssia, and Sweden 

 and Norway, in which he said: "Recent occurrences have drawn the 

 attention of this Department to the necessity of taking steps for the 

 better protection of the fur seal fisheries in Bering Sea. Without 

 raising any question as to the exceptional measures which the peculiar 

 character of the property in question might justify this Government 

 in taking, and without reference to any exceptional marine jurisdiction 

 that might properly be claimed for that end, it is deemed advisable, 

 and I am instructed by the President to so inform you, to attain the 

 desired ends by international cooperation. It is well known that the 

 unregulated and indiscriminate killing of seals in many parts of the 

 ■world has driven them from place to place, and, by breaking up their 

 habitual resorts, has greatly reduced their number. Under these cir- 

 cumstances, and in view of the common interest of all nations in pre- 

 venting the indiscriminate destruction and consequent extermination 

 of an animal which contributes so importantly to the commercial wealth 

 and general use of mankind, you are hereby instructed to drav/ the 

 attention of the Government to which yon are accredited to the sub- 

 ject, and to invite it to enter into such an arrangement with the Gov- 

 ernment of the United States as will prevent the citizens of either 

 country from killing seal in Bering Sea at such times and places, and 

 by such methods as at present are pursued, and which threaten the 

 speedy extermination of those animals and consequent serious loss to 

 mankind. The ministers of the United States to Germany, Sweden 

 and Norway, Russia, Japan, and Great Britain have been each simi- 

 larly addressed on the subject referred to in this instruction." TJ. 8. 

 Case, Vol. 1, Ajyp., 168. 

 A copy of this connuunlcation having been received by Mr. Phelps, 



