BEHRING SEA COMMISSION. 



INSTRUCTIONS TO BRITISH COMMISSIONERS. 



i^o. 1. 

 The Marquis of SaUshnri/ to Sir G. Baden- PoiveJl and Dr. Dawson. 



Foreign Office, June 24, 1891. 



Gentlemen: Tlie Queeu bavingbeen graciously pleased to appoint 

 you to be her Commissioners for the purpose of inquiring into the con- 

 ditions of seal life in Behring Sea and other parts of the ]S[orth Pacific 

 Ocean, I transmit to you herewith Her Majesty's Commission under the 

 Sign Manuiil to that effect. 



The main object of your inquiry will be to ascertain, "What interna- 

 tional arrangements, if any, are necessary between Great Britain and 

 the United States, and Eussia or any other Power, for the purpose of 

 preserving the fur-seal race in Behring Sea from extermination?" 



Her Majesty's Government have proposed to the United States that 

 the investigation should be conducted by a Commission to cousjst of 

 four experts, of- whom two shall be nominated by each Government, 

 and a Chairman, who shall be nominated by Arbitrators. 



If the Government of the United States agree to this proposal, 

 you will bo the Delegates who will represent Great Britain in the 

 Commission. 



But, in the meanwhile, it is desirable that you should at once com- 

 mence your examination of the question, and that for that purpose you 

 should proceed as soon as you conveniently can to Vancouver, from 

 whence the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty have been requested 

 to provide for your conveyance to the various sealing grounds and 

 other jilaces which it may be expedient for you to visit. 



Application has been made to the United States Government for per- 

 mission for you to visit the seal islands under their jurisdiction, and a 

 similar request will be addressed to the Eussian Government in the 

 event of your finding it necessary to visit the Commander Islands and 

 other Eussian sealing grounds. 



Your attention should be particularly devoted to ascertaining — 



1. The actual facts as regards the alleged serious diminution of seal 

 life on thePribyloff Islands, t\iQ, date at which such diminution began, the 

 rate of its progress, and any previous instance of a similar occurrence. 



2. The causes of such diminution; whether, and to what extent, it is 

 attributable — 



{a.) To a migration of the seals to other rookeries. 

 {h.) To the method of killing pursued on the islands themselves. 



7 



