SEIZURES OF 1889. 199 



tlie questions involved between tlie two governments. Her IMajesty's 

 Government much regret to find that this understanding has not been 

 carried forward into tlie present year, and that instructions have been 

 issued to cruisers of tlie United States to seize British vessels fishing 

 for seals in Behring Sea outside the limit of territorial waters. The 

 grounds upon which these violent measures have been taken have not 

 been communicated to Her Majesty's Government, and remain still un- 

 explained. 



But in view of the unexpeeted renewal of the seizures of which Her 

 Majesty's Government have previously comijlaiued, it is my duty to 

 protest against them, and to state that, in the opinion of Her Majesty's 

 Government, they are wholly unjustified by international law. 

 I am, etc., 



Salisbury. 



[Inclosure 4.] 



Captain Shepard to Mr. Hankanson. 



U. S. Rkvenue Stevmkr Rush, Bering Sea, 

 Latitude 56° 22' N., lomjitude 170° 25' TV., July 11, 1SS9. 

 Sir: You are hereby appointed a special officer, autl directed to proceed on board 

 the schooner Black Diamond, of Victoria, British Columbia, this day seized for viola- 

 tion of law (section 1956, Revised Statutes of the United States), and assume charge 

 of the said vessel, her officers, and crew, twenty-five in number, all told, excepting the 

 navigation of the vessel, which is reserved to Capt. Owen Thomas, and which you 

 will not interfere with unless you become convinced that he is proceeding to some 

 other than your port of destination, in which event you are authorized to assume full 

 charge of the vessel. Everything being in readiness, you will direct Capt. Owen 

 Thomas to make the best of his Avay to Sitka, Alaska, and upon arrival at that port 

 you will report, in person to the United States district attorney for the district of 

 Alaska, and deliver to him the letter so addressed, the schooner Black Diamond, of 

 Victoria, British Columbia, her outfit, and tlie persons of Capt. Owen Tliomas and 

 Mate Alexander Gait, and set her crew at liberty. After being relieved of the prop- 

 erty and persons intrusted to your care, you will await at Sitka the arrival of the 

 Buah. 



Very respectfully, etc., 



L. G. Shepard, 

 Captain TJ. S. Revenue Steamer Rush. 



For the other iaclosures see House Ex. Doc. Ko. 450, Fifty-first Con- 

 gress, first session, pij. (5-9. 



Mr. Edioardes to Mr. Blaine. 



British Legation, 

 Washington, October 14, 1889. 

 My Dear Mr. Blaine : When I had the honor to read to you on 

 Saturday, the 12th instant, the two dispatches addressed to me by the 

 Marquis of Salisbury on the subject of the seizures of British sealers 

 in Behring sea, you inquired of me when I reached the passage whi<;h 

 runs as follows, " Mr. Bayard did indeed communicate to us, unoflB- 

 cially, an assurance that no further seizures of this character should 

 take place pending the discussion of the questions involved between 

 the two Governments," if I could tell you in what way this assurance 

 was ofiScially communicated to Her Majesty's Government. I replied 



