J2 ALASKA. 



States, although it had laws made against them. But in 1886, 

 this practice of" taking seals at sea became so largely extended that 

 it excited apprehensions for the safety of the herd, and it was per- 

 haps thought at that time that there was already observable in the 

 condition of the herd some damaging, destructive consequence of 

 that pursuit of" them by sea. 



The attention of the United States having been called to the 

 practice, that Government determined to prevent it, and the first 

 method to which it resorted was an enforcement of the laws upon 

 her statute book which prohibited the practice, and subjected all 

 vessels engaged in it to seizure and confiscation. Instructions 

 were accordingly given to the cruisers of the United States to sup- 

 press the practice and to enforce those laws. The result was that 

 in the year 1886, three British vessels and some American vessels 

 were taken while engaged in the pursuit illegally under the laws 

 of the United States. They were carried in and condemned." 

 [See Fur Seal Arbitration Proceedings, Vol. XII, pp. 6-11.] 



These seizures, after much diplomatic correspondence, led to 

 the final adoption of a treaty between the United States and 

 Great Britain, which was signed at Washington, February 29, 

 1892, the text of which is as follows: 



The United States of America and Her Majesty the Queen of the United 

 Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, being desirous to provide for an amica- 

 ble settlement of the questions which have arisen between their respective 

 governments concerning the jurisdictional rights of the United States in the 

 waters of Bering Sea, and concerning also the preservation of the fur seal in, 

 or habitually resorting to, the said sea, and the rights of the citizens and sub- 

 jects of either country as regards the taking of fur seal in, or habitually resort- 

 ing to, the said waters, have resolved to submit to arbitration the questions 

 involved, and to the end of concluding a convention for that purpose have 

 appointed as their respective plenipotentiaries : 



The President of the United States of America, James G. Blaine, Secretary 

 of State of the United States ; and 



Her Majesty the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ire- 



