34 APPENDIX TO CASE OF GREAT BRITAIN. 
{Inclosure 8 in No. 7.] 
Report of a Committee of the Honourable the Privy Council, approved by his Excellency the 
Administrator of the Government in Council, on the 24th September, 1886. 
The Committee of the Privy Council have had before them the annexed Report 
from the Minister of Marine and Jisheries with reference to the case of the Cana- 
dian schooners ‘‘Thornton,” ‘‘Onward,” and ‘‘ Carolina,” seized on the 1st August 
last by the United States authorities in Behring’s Sea, : 
The Committee concur in the said Report, and they advise that the same be car- 
ried out. 
All which is respectfully submitted for your Excellency’s approval. 
(Signed) JOHN J. McGup, 
Clerk, Privy Council. 
[Inclosure 9 in No. 7.] 
Report. 
In reference to a Report of Council, under date the 23rd September, referring to the 
case of the Canadian schooners ‘‘ Thornton,” ‘‘Onward,” and “Carolina,” seized on 
the Ist August by the United States authorities in Behring’s Sea, the Undersigned 
has the honour to lay before Council the following additional information. 
19 It is stated in effect in ‘‘ The Alaskan,” a newspaper published at Sitka, in 
the Territory of Alaska, and bearing date the 4th September, 1886— 
1. That the master and mate of the schooner ‘ Thornton” were brought for trial 
before Judge Dawson in the United States District Court at Sitka on the 30th 
August last. 
2. That the evidence given by the officers of the United States Revenue cutter 
“Corwin” attempts to show that the ‘‘Thornton” was seized while in Behring’s 
Sea, about 60 or 70 miles south-south-east. of St. George's Island, for the offence of 
hunting and killing seals within that part of Behring’s Sea which was ceded to the 
United States by Kussia in 1867. 
3. That the Judge, in his charge to the jury, after quoting the Ist Article of the 
Treaty of the 30th March, 1867, between Russia and the United States, in which the 
western boundary of Alaska is defined, goes on to say: ‘‘All the waters within the 
boundary set forth in this Treaty to the western end of the Aleutian Archipelago 
and chain of islands are to be considered as comprised within the waters of Alaska, 
and all the penalties prescribed by law against the killing of fur-bearing animals 
must, therefore, attach against any violation of law within the limits heretofore 
described. 
“Tf, therefore, the jury believe from the evidence that the defendants by them- 
selves, or in conjunction with others, did, on or about the time charged in the 
information, kill any otter, mink, marten, sable, or fur-seal, or other fur-bearing 
animal or animals, on the shores of Alaska, or in the Behring’s Sea east of the 193rd 
degree of west longitude, the jury should find the defendanis guilty, and assess 
their punishment separately at a fine of not less than 200 dollars nor more than 1,000 
dollars, or imprisonment not more than six months, or by both such fine, within the 
limits herein set forth, and imprisonment,” 
4, That the jury brought in a verdict of guilty against the prisoners, in accord- 
ance with which the master of the ‘‘Thornton,” Hans Guttounsen, was sentenced 
to imprisonment for thirty days and to pay a fine of 500 dollars, and the mate of the 
“Thornton,” Norman, was sentenced to imprisonment for thirty days and to pay a 
fine of 300 dollars, which terms of imprisonment are presumably now being carried 
into effect. 
It also appears, by telegraphic despatch from Nanaimo, British Columbia, dated 
the 18th September, that the masters and mates of the ‘‘Onward” and ‘ Caro- 
lina” have since been tried and sentenced to undergo similar penalties to those being 
inflicted on the master and mate of the ‘‘ Thornton.” 
It will appear trom the above information, conjoined with the Report of Council 
under date the 23rd September, that the United States have determined to lay claim 
to the solesovereignty of that part of Behring’s Sea lying east of the westerly bound- 
ary of Alaska, as defined in the Ist Article of the Treaty made between the United 
States and Russia in 1867, by which Alaska was ceded to the United States, and which 
neludes a stretch of sea extending in its widest part some 600 or 700 miles easterly 
from the mainland of Alaska. 
In pursuance of this claim, they have interfered with the peaceable and lawful 
occupation of Canadian citizens on the high seas, have taken possession of their 
ships, have subjected their property to forfeiture, and visited upon their persons 
