PERIOD SINCE THE CESSION. 85 



sliow : first, tlie understanding whicli existed in Sfmimary. 



the United States, at the time of the purchase and 



cession of Alaska, as to the scope and effect of 



tlie jurisdiction exercised by Russia over the 



waters of Bering Sea, a.nd the enhanced value 



which was thereby placed upon the fur-seal 



herd of the Pribilof Islands; and second, that 



the United States have since the purchase 



continued to exercise the same jurisdiction 



for the purpose of protectins: the herd. But in Tjie United 



^ '- ^ ~ states do not rest 



determining what right of protection or property * gyjgj.^,f ^^^ ^-^l^^l 

 tliis Government has in the fur-seals frequent- f^^^^'^^J^^"^®^' ^''^' 

 ing the islands of the United States in Bering Sea 

 when such seals are found outside of the ordinary 

 three-mile limit, it is not compelled, neither does it 

 intend, to rest its case altogether upon the juris- 

 diction over Bering Sea established or exercised 

 by Russia prior and up to the time of the cession 

 of Alaska. It asserts that, quite independ- 

 ently of this jurisdiction, it has a right of pro- 

 tection and property in the fur-seals frequenting 

 the Pribilof Islands when found outside the ordi- 

 nai'y three-mile limit, and it bases this right upon 

 the established principles of the common and the 

 civil law, upon the practice of nations, upon the 

 laws of natural history, and upon the common 

 interests of mankind 



