‘ 
APPENDIX TO CASE OF GREAT BRITAIN. 37 
detained, and would appear to be still kept at Ounalaska along with 
the schooners by tiie United States authorities. 
According to ‘information given in the “Alaskan,” a newspaper pub- 
lished at Sitka, in the Territory of Alaska, and dated the 4th September, 
1886, it is reported: 
us "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” went to show that the ‘‘ Thornton” was 
seized while in Behring’s Sea, about 60 or 70 miles south-south east of 
St. George Island, for the offence of hunting and killing seals within 
that part of Behring’s Sea which (it was alleged by the “ Alaskan” 
newspaper) was ceded to the United States by Russia 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, 
went 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-bear- 
ing animals must therefore attach against any violation of law within 
the limits heretofore described. If, therefore, the jury believe from 
the evidence that the defendants, by themselves 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 193° 
of west longitude, the jury should find the defendants guilty, and 
assess their punishment separately, at a fine of not less than 200 dol- 
lars 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 
an uy 
That the jury brought in a verdict of guilty against the prisoners, 
in a irattite with which the master of the “ Thornton,” Hans Gut- 
tounsen, was sentenced to imprisonment for thirty days and to pay a 
fine of 500 dollars, and the mate of the “Thornton,” Norman, was sen- 
tenced to imprisonment for thirty days and to pay a fine of 300 dollars, 
which terms of imprisonment are presumably now being carried into 
effect. 
There is also reason to believe that the masters and inates of the 
“Onward” and “Carolina” have since been tried, and sentenced to 
undergo penalties similar to those now being inflicted on the master 
and mate of the * Thornton.” 
You will observe, from the facts given above, that the authorities of the 
United States appear to lay claim to the sole sovereignty of that part of 
Behring’s Sea lying east of the westerly boundary of Alaska, as defined 
in the Ist Article of the Treaty concluded between the United States 
and Russia in 1867, by which Alaska was ceded to the United 
22 States, and which includes a stretch of sea extending in its 
widest part some 600 or 700 miles easterly from the mainland of 
Alaska. 
In support of this claim, those authorities are alleged to have inter- 
fered with the peaceable and lawful occupation of Canadian citizens on 
the high seas, to have taken possession of their ships, to have subjected 
their property to forfeiture, and to have visited upon their persons the 
indignity of imprisonment. 
