Fresh com- 

 plications 



The Days of a Man ^1897 



A way out in either one of two ways : (a) by the cession to 

 Canada of St. George, the smaller of the two Pri- 

 bilofs, or (b) by the assignment to her of a definite 

 percentage of the yearly catch. 



To the first proposition it was objected, and with 

 probable truth, that "America would never consent 

 to haul down the flag before the British Lion any- 

 where." Against the second some argued that 

 sharing of proceeds would be interpreted as "pay- 

 ment of tribute to Britain," which again our people 

 would repudiate. 



Before any final decision had been reached, a new 

 and most alarming element was injected into the 

 controversy. For some years past, Japanese 

 schooners had harassed the Russian herd in its 

 winter migration off the east coast of Japan. Later, 

 and aided by government subsidies, they invaded 

 Bering Sea first attacking the Commander herds 

 in the open ocean, afterward crossing to the Pribilof 

 feeding-grounds. Moreover, as Japan had had no 

 part in the Paris Tribunal or its Award, her sealers 

 now began to disregard the sixty-mile limit and the 

 closed seasons respected by the Canadians. They 

 next ignored even the three-mile limit provided in 

 general international law, hovering close about the 

 islands, and especially around the great Vostochni 

 Rookery. Finally, in utter defiance of decency as 

 well as of law, they landed on Vostochni and be- 

 gan killing right and left within the harems an 

 insolent move which resulted in a sort of desultory 

 fight between them and the Aleuts led by Walter 

 I. Lembkey, the courageous and efficient chief 

 agent. 



Such wanton invasion of American territory was 



invaded 





