113 



to a fine of not less tliaii $200 nor more tbau $1,000, or to imprison- 

 ment not exceeding six months, or botli to sucli tine and imprisonment 

 at the discretion of the conrt liaving cognizance of the offense; all 

 vessels, their taclile, apparel, and furniture, whose crew were found 

 engaged in violating the provisions of the act, to be forfeited to the 

 United States. 



The same act provided tliat, for tlie period of twenty years, the 

 number of seals Ivilled for tlieir skins should be limited to 75,000 per 

 annum upon the island of St. Paul, and 25,000 upon the island of 

 St. George; subject, however, to the power of the Secretary of the 

 Treasury to limit the right of killing, if that should become neces- 

 sary for the preservation of the seals, with sucli i)roportionate reduc- 

 tion of the rents reserved to the Government, as was riglit and ])ro])er. 

 The Secretary was required to lease for the term of twenty years, to 

 proper and resj^onsible parties, for the best advantage of the Govern- 

 ment, the native inhabitants, their comfort, maintenance, and educa- 

 tion, as well as to the interest of the parties previously engaged in the 

 trade, and the protection of the fur seals, the right to engage in the 

 business ot taking fur seals on the islands of St. Paul and St. George, 

 and to send a vessel or vessels to those islands for the skins of the 

 seals; taking irom the lessee or lessees bond with sufficient sureties 

 in the sum of not less than $500,000, conditioned for the faithful observ- 

 ance of all the laws of Congress and of the regulations of the Secre- 

 tary of the Treasury, touching the subject nuitter of taking fur seals, 

 and disposing of the same, and for the i)aymcnt of all taxes and dues. 

 It was further provided, that at the end of the lease, otlier like leases 

 could be made; but no persons other than American citizens were 

 l)ermitted to 0(;cupy the islands or either of them, for the i)urpose of 

 taking the skins of fur seals, nor any vessel allowed to engage in taking 

 such skins; any lease made by the Secretary of the Treasury being 

 subject to forleiture if it was held or operated, directly or indirectly, 

 for the use, benefit, or advantage of any person other than American 

 citizens. 



These and other provisions having for their object the utilization of 

 these animals for purposes of revenue and commerce, and their pro- 

 tection against indiscriminate slaughter on the islands, or in the 

 adjacent waters, were preserved in the Kevised Statutes of the United 

 States of 1873, §§. 195J: to 197G, inclusive. 

 1U'J2 6 



