SEIZURES OF 1886-1887. 153 



CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND GREAT 

 BRITAIN RELATIVE TO THE SEIZURE OF BRITISH SEALING 

 VESSELS IN BERING SEA IN 1886 AND 1887. 



Sir L. 8. Saclcville West to Mr. Bayard. 



Washington, September 27, 18S6. 



(Eeceived September 28.) 



Sir: I have the honor to inform you that Her Majesty's Government 

 have received a telegram from the commander-in-chief of Her Majesty's 

 naval forces on the Pacific station respecting the alleged -seizure of three 

 British Columbian seal schooners by the United States revenue cruiser 

 Coriciu, and I am in consequence instructed to request to be furnished 

 with any particulars which the United States Government may posses 

 relative to this occurrence. 



I have, etc., 



L. S. Sackville West. 



Sir L. S. Sackville West to Mr. Bayard. 



Washington, October 21, 18S6. 



(Received October 22.) 



Sir : With reference to my note of the 27th ultimo, requesting to be 

 furnished with any particulars which the United States Government 

 may possess relative to the seizure in theKorth Pacific waters of three 

 British Columbian seal schooners by the United States revenue cruiser 

 Corwin, and to which I am without reply, 1 have the honor to inform 

 you that I am now instructed by the Earl of Iddesleigh, Her Hajesty's 

 principal secretary of state for foreign affairs, to protest in the name of 

 Her Majesty's Government against such seizure, and to reserve all 

 rights to comj3ensation. 

 I have, etc., 



L. S. Saokville West. 



Uarl of Iddesleigh to Sir L. S. Sachville West.^ 



Foreign Office, October 30, ISSG. 



Sir: Her Majesty's Government are still awaiting a report on the 

 result of the application which you were directed by my dispatch Xo. 

 181, of the 9th ultimo, to make to the Government of the United States 

 for information in regard to the reported seizure by the United States 

 revenue cutter Corwin of three Canadian schooners while engaged in 

 the pursuit of seals in Berhing's Sea. 



In the meanwhile further details in regard to these seizures have 

 been sent to this country, and Her Majesty's Government now consider 

 it incumbent on them to bring to the notice of the United States Gov- 

 ernment the facts of the case as they have reached them from British 

 sources. 



1 Left at the Department of State by Sir L. S. Sackville West November 12, 1886. 

 30 



