REJ^ORT OF BRITISH COMMISSIONERS. 9 



Agreemeut between Her Majesty's Goveriimeut and that of the United 

 States for referring to Arbitrators certaiii qnestions at issne between 

 the two Governments in regard to the jurisdiction claimed by the latter 

 over the waters of Behring Sea in connection with the fur-seal fisheries 

 therein. 



Sir J. Pauncefote has also forwarded the text of an Agreement signed 

 on the same day for the appointment of two Commissioners by Her 

 Majesty's Government and that of the United States respectively, to 

 investigate, conjointly with the Commissioners of the other Govern- 

 ment, all the facts relating to seal life in Behring Sea, and the necessary 

 measures for its proper protection and preservation. 



A copy of Sir J. Pauncefote's despatch, inclosing both these docu- 

 ments, is forwarded herewith for your information. 



I now transmit the Queen's Commission under the Sign Manual 

 appointing you to be Her Majesty's Commissioners in accordance with 

 the provisions of the Joint Commission Agreement, and I request that 

 you will proceed to Washington as soon as you can conveniently do so, 

 in order to draw up the Keport indicated in the second paragraph of 



the agreement. 

 vii The information which has been obtained by your American 



colleagues and yourselves during your recent visit to Behring 

 Sea will supply you with material for the preparation of" your Report. 



There are, however, a few points to which Her Majesty's Government 

 consider it desirable that your special attention should be directed. 



You will observe that it is intended that the Report of the Joint 

 Commissioners shall embrace recommendations as to all measures that 

 should be adopted for the preservation of seal life. For this purpose, 

 it will be necessary to consider what regulations may seem advisable, 

 whether within the jurisdictional limits of the United States and Can- 

 ada, or outside those limits. The Regulations which the Commissioners 

 may recommend for adoption within the respective jurisdictions of the 

 two countries will, of course, be matter for the consideration of the 

 respective Governments, while the regulations affecting waters outside 

 the territorial limits will have to be considered under clause G of the 

 Arbitration Agreement in the event of a decision being given by the 

 Arbitrators against the claim of exclusive jurisdiction put forward on 

 behalf of the United States. 



The Report is to be presented in the first instance to the two Govern- 

 ments for their consideration, and is subsequently to be laid by those 

 Governments before the Arbitrators to assist tliem in determining the 

 more restricted question as to what, if any, Regulations are essential 

 for the protection of the fur-bearing seals outside the territorial juris- 

 diction of th e two countries. 



In the event any points arising ou which the Commissioners are 

 unable to arrive at an understanding, they should report jointly or 

 severally to each Government on such points. 



]u conclusion, I have to state that Her Majesty's Government place 

 every reliance on your tact and discretion in the conduct of your inves- 

 tigations with your American colleagues, who will, no doubt, be equally 

 desirous with yourselves of arriving at a common agreement on the 

 questions to be discussed. 



I am, &c. 



(Signed) Salisbury. 



