ALASKAN HERD. 237 



vioiis that tlie OTeater portion of this outside belt Mexican legisia- 



... *'""• 



lies beyond tlie three-mile liniit.^ 



Maps Avill be found in the Appendix, as cited, other cases of ex- 

 tra territorial ju- 



showing the extent of marine territory over which lisiUctiou. 

 jurisdiction is exercised by the different Govern- 

 ments named. Reference may also be made to 

 the British Hovering Acts,^ the St. Helena Act of 

 ISIS,'' and the Quarantine Act of 1825,^ as well 

 as various international conventions for the pro- 

 tection and regulation of fisheries on the high 

 seas. 



ALASKAN HERD. 



This hasty review of the legislation of near a 

 score of nations clearly establishes the principle 

 announced that any nation, having a peculiar 

 interest in the continued existence of animal life 

 in the high seas adjacent to its coasts or territo- 

 rial waters, may adopt such measures as are 

 essential to its preservation, without limit as to 

 the distance from land at which such measures 

 may be enforced. It is a remarkable fact, how- unprotectea 

 ever, in view of the legislation just cited, that 

 the Alaskan seal herd, so valuable to the human 



1 statutes of Mexico, and map, Vol. I, p. 486. 



29 Geo. II, c. 35, Sec. 23, statute repealed in 1825, but partially 

 reenacted as to tlie limit of four leagues as recently as 1845, 8 

 and 9 Vict., c. 86, Sec. 2. 



3 56 Geo. Ill, c. 23, Sec. 4, Vol. I, p. 495. 



*6 Geo. IV, c. 78, Sees. 8, 9, Vol. I, p. 496. 



