184 DIPLOMATIC CORRESPONDENCE. 



inoiit for the protection of the seal-fur fisheries in Behringc Sea as will 

 safely guard that large marine interest against the lawless and indis- 

 crinunate slaughter of this animal, contributing so much to the wealth 

 and general welfare of mankind. Due report will be made to the De- 

 partment of State as the negotiations progress, which I hope and expect 

 will be concluded favorably to all concerned. 

 I have, etc., 



lilCIIAED B. HUBBAIiD. 



Mr. ITuhhard to Mr. Bayard, 



[TelograTu.] 

 LEaATION OF THE UNITED STATES, 



ToMo, ^September 29, 1887. (Iteceived September 20.) 

 Mr. TTubbard acknowledges the receipt of Mr. Bayard's instruction 

 No. 153, of August 19, 1887, and requests, at the instance of the Japan- 

 ese Government, copies of the Treasury regulations and contracts con- 

 cerning the .seal fisheries, and also a juore defi^nite statement as to the 

 nature of the protection which it is desired to extend to those fisheries 



Mr. Hiihhard to Mr. Bayard. 



[Extract..] 



No. 388.] United States Leoation, 



Toly-io, Japan, Srptrmhcr 2!), 1887. (Keceived October 24.) 



Sir: Beferring to your instruction No. 153 I have alieady had the 

 honor to inform the Department of State that I would seek a perscmal 

 official conference with the minister for foreign affairs on the subject of 

 the international protection of the fur-seal fisheries in Behring Sea. 



The Japanese Government is anxious to enter into an arrangement 

 or convention with the United States Government, invoking similar 

 arrangement or convention with our G<n ernment for the protection of 

 the iur-seal fisheries in the waters of their northern islands. 



I expressly called attention to the waiver for this purpose, as ex- 

 pressed in your instruction No. 153, and in my dispatch No. 387, of any 

 legal rights under former conventions, that my Government now de- 

 sired to invite tliis cooperative protection of friendly powers of their 

 fur-seal fisheries from wanton destruction without reference to said 

 former conventions. Nevertheless, the Japanese Government reciuested 

 as an especial favor that I would cable the Department of State, in 

 order to save time, for certain documents mentioned in the subjoined 

 cablegram, and ibr such sj^ecifications of said desired arrangement or 

 convention as Avill be satisfactory and meet the wishes of my Govern- 

 ment in that regard, and which might be reciprocally invoked for the 

 protection of their own fur-seal fisheries. 

 I have, etc., 



KiCHARD B. Hubbard. 



