160 DIPLOMATIC CORRESPONDENCE. 



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



Department of State, 

 WasJiwgton, April 12, 1S87. 



Sir : I have tlie honor to ackuowledge your note of the 4th instaut 

 relative to the fisheries iu Behriiig Sea, and iuqiiiriug whether the 

 documents referred to in my note of February 3, relating to the cases 

 of seizure iu those waters of vessels charged with violating the laws of 

 he United States regulating the killing of fur seals, had been received. 



The records of the judicial proceedings in tho. cases in the district 

 court in Alaska referred to, were only received at this Department on 

 Saturday last, and are uoay under examination. 



The remoteness of the scene of the fur-seal fisheries and the si)ecial 

 peculiarities of that industry have unavoidably delayed the Treasury 

 officials iu framing appropriate regulations and issuing orders to United 

 States vessels to police the Alaskan waters for the protection of the 

 fur seals from indiscriminate slaughter and consequent speedy extermi- 

 nation. 



The laws of the United States in this behalf are contained in theEe- 

 vised Statutes relating to Alaska, in sections 1956-1971, and have been 

 in force for upwards of seventeen years; and prior to the seizures of 

 last summer but a single infraction is known to have occurred, and 

 tiiat was promptly punished. 



The question of instructions to Government vessels in regard to pre- 

 venting the indiscriminate killing of fur seals is now being considered, 

 and I will inform you at the earliest day possible what has been decided, 

 so that British and other vessels visiting the waters in question can 

 govern themselves accordiugl3^ 

 I have, etc., 



T. F. Bayard. 



(For inclosures, see Senate Ex. Doc. No. 106, 50th Congress, 2nd 

 Sess., pp. 11-16.) 



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



Washington, July 8, 1SS7. (Received July 9.) 

 Sir: With reference to your note of the 12th April, stating that the 

 records of the judicial proceedings in the cases of the British vessels 

 seized in the Behring Sea had been received, I have the honor to inform 

 you that the Marquis of Salisbury has instructed me to request you to 

 be good enough to furnish me with a copy of the same for the iutorma- 

 tion of Her Majesty's Government. 

 I have, etc., 



L. S. Sackville West. 



3Ir. Bayard to Sir L. S. Saclcville West. 



Department of State, 



WasJiiuf/ton, July 11, 1887. 

 Sir: Complying with the request contaiued in your note of the 8th 

 instant, conveyed to me under the instructions of your Government, 1 



