APPENDIX TO CASE OF GREAT BRITAIN. 103 
George R. Ferry, the Captain, A. Laing, the mate and part owner of the British 
schooner ‘‘ W. P. Sayward,” and Michael Keete, mate of the ‘‘Anna Beck,” said: 
‘We have heard read the statement of Captain Olsen, and agree with it in every 
particular.” 
“Michael Keefe: ‘It is certainly a strange thing for the Custom-house at Victoria 
to have issued papers to us permitting fishing in Behring’s Sea. If it was not legal, 
why should the Collector have cleared the ‘vessel? The general idea of sailors is 
that no Custom-house will issue papers to any vessel to go ‘and do an illegal act.’” 
‘Captain H. B. Jones, of the American schooner ‘Ch allenger: ’_<T left Seattle on 
the 15th April last, clearing at Port Townsend at the Custom-house for a hunting 
and walrus trip to the North Pacific and Arctic Oceans. I sealed up the coast 30 or 
40 miles from shore as far north as the Aleutian Islands. I have never fished for 
seals in Behring’s Sea. My schooner was seized in Akutan Harbour, whither I pro- 
ceeded for the purpose of cleaning the bottom of the vessel and taking i in a supply 
of water. The harbour is on Akutan Island, situated nearer the Pac ific Ocean than 
the Behring’s Sea. There are two passages between the North Pacific Ocean and the 
Behring’s Sea at that point, one being through Akum Pass and the other through 
Unimak Pass. ‘The Akum Pass being full of reefs and the Unimak Pass being com- 
paratively safe I chose the latter, intending to clean my vessel and take in a supply 
of water. When anchored there I had not quite decided whether to come back in the 
Pacific Ocean or to keep on north, bound for the Arctic Ocean, my destination. The 
charge against me is of catching seals in Alaskan waters, thatis, within 3 leagues of 
‘shore. Any one who knows anything of sealing is aware that such a char ge is ridicu- 
lous, as we never look for seals within 20 miles of shore. They are caught all the 
way ‘from between 20 and 150 miles of the land. The seals we packed up on our ves- 
sel were shot between Cape Flattery and Saunakh, situated 40 miles south and east 
of Unimak Island. All this territory lies within the North Pacific Ocean.” 
What makes the present seizures more inexplicable is the fact that the British 
schooners seized last year were ordered to be released by Attorney-General Garland, 
as is shown by the following copies of the orders in the possession of Carne and 
Munsie, of this city: 
(Copy of Telegram.] 
“WASHINGTON, D. C., January 26, 1887. 
“To Judge LAFAYETTE DAWSON and 
“Mr. D. BALL, District Attorney, Sitka, Alaska: 
“T am directed by the President to instruct you to discontinue all further proceed- 
ings in the matter of the seizure of the British vessels ‘ Caroline,’ ‘Onward,’ and 
Thornton,’ and discharge all vessels now held under such seizure, and release all 
persons that may be under arrest in connection therewith. 
(Signed) “A, H. GARLAND, Attorney-General.” 
(Copy of Order. ] 
“¢To BARTON ATKINS, 
“¢ United States Marshal for the District of Alaska. 
“Vou are hereby directed to release the vessels ‘Carolina,’ ‘Onward,’ ‘Thorn- 
ton,’ and ‘San Diego,’ which were seized in Bebring’s Sea for violation of 
86 section 1956, United ‘States Statutes, together with their tackle, apparel, skins, 
guns, ammunition, small boats, and everything pertaining to said vessels. 
“This 19th day of February, 1887. 
(Signed) ‘“‘LAFAYETTE DAWSON, 
*¢ District Judge, District of Alaska.” 
Tt would appear from the above-that the United States had given up the foolish 
‘contention of possessing the control over the high seas. The following letter was 
received by Mr. Munsie fromthe Deputy Minister of Fisheries in reply to a letter: 
“OTTAWA, April 2, 1887. 
“Str: Having reference to your inquiry on the subject of claims for indemnity on 
the part of the owners of the Canadian sealing-vessels seized in Behring’s Sea by the 
United States Revenue cutter ‘Corwin,’ who have been arrested and released ; also 
‘that the conclusion of any questions involved is reserved for the present; and to 
‘inform you that the Government has forwarded to the Home Government the details 
‘of your claim to be indemnified for the loss consequent upon the seizure of your 
vessels. 
“Tam, &c. 
(Signed) ‘* JOHN TILTON, 
“Deputy Minister of Fisheries.” 
