85 



On April 10, ISSS, Lord Salisbury, with a view to meeting tlie wishes 

 of the Russian Government respecting the waters surrounding Eobben 

 Island, suggested to Mr. White "that besides the whole of Bering 

 Sea those portions of the Sea of Okhotsk and of the Pacific Ocean 

 north of latitude 47 degrees should be included in the proposed arrange- 

 ment." (See Appendix, Vol. i. to Case of the United States, p. 179.) 

 This fixed the area of the " close time" 200 miles south of the northern 

 border of Washington State. He also suggested that the close time 

 extend from April 15 to October 1. 



Mr. Bayard, through the plenipotentiaries of the CTnited States, pre- 

 sented the proposal made to Great Britain and the assent of Lord 

 Salisbury to the same, to the Governments of Japan, Russia, Germany, 

 and Sweden-Norway, and asked their concurrence in an international 

 convention to settle the question of pelagic fur-seal hunting, on the 

 general basis of the informal agreement reached by the two Govern- 

 ments. Both Japan and Russia cordially assented to such a negotia- 

 tion, and Sweden and Norway said: 



The Royal Government having no interest in the seal fisheries. His 

 Majesty tliinks there is no need to take part in any treaty in reference 

 tliereto on the part of tlie United Kingdoms. He, however, expresses 

 tlie desire that a mutually beiieiicial accord maybe arrived at between 

 tlie interested powers, and that the same may be maintained, with a 

 reservation that the powers not at present interested may join in such 

 an arrangement in future, if they desire. 



Japan replied to the note of the United States October 8, 1887, and 



said: 



The unregulated and indiscriminate slaughter of the sea otter as 

 well as the fur seal on the coasts of Japan and in their coterminous 

 waters is a subject which has for many years engaged the attention of 

 the Imperial Government. The experience of His Majesty's Govern- 

 ment justifies the belief that the end sought to be obtained can be 

 best secured by means of a cooperaUre interyiational action^ and they 

 therefore cordially approve of the suggestions of the honorable the 

 Secretary of State. 



The Russian Government on November 25, 1887, said: 



Mr. Wurts, under date of August 22 (September 2), was good 

 enough to communicate to me the views of the Government of the 

 United States of America ui)on the subject of the desirableness of an 

 understanding, among the Governments concerned, for the regulation 

 of the taking (la cliasse) of the fur seal (loutres) in the Bering Sea, in 

 order that an end might be put to those inconsiderate practices of 

 extermination which threaten to dry x\\), at their source, an important 

 branch of international commerce. 



We concur entirely in the views of the Government of the United 

 States. Like it, we also have been for a long time considering what 

 means could be taken to remedy a state of things which is prejudicial 



