APPENDIX TO CASE OF GREAT BRITAIN. 183 
[Inclosure 1 in No. 91.] 
The Marquis of Lansdowne to Sir H. Holland, 
GOVERNMENT HowssE, Ottawa, January 19, 1888. 
Sir: In reference to my former despatches upon the subject of the seizure of 
Canadian sealing-vessels during the years 1886-87 by United States cruizers for fish- 
ing in Behring’s Sea, I have the honour to report that my Minister of Marine and 
Fisheries has received from the Customs authorities at Victoria an intimation 
addressed by the United States Marshal at Sitka to Mr. Spring, the owner of the 
“Onward,” one of the three vessels seized in 1886, to the effect that that vessel, as 
well as the “Thornton” and “Carolina,” with their tackle, apparel, and furniture, 
as they now lie in the harbour of Ounalaska, are to be restored to their owners. A 
copy of this intimation is inclosed herewith. 
2. The information received by my Minister is to the effect that the condition of 
these three vessels, owing to the length of time during which they have been lying 
on the shore, is now such as to render it questionable whether they could, under 
present circumstances, be repaired and removed with advantage. The difficulty of 
doing this would be increased, from the fact that the vessels have been released at 
a season of the year in which, owing to the great distance between Victoria and 
Ounalaska, it would be scarcely possible for the owners to fit out steamers for 
the purpose of going up to Ounalaska to repair their vessels and bring them home. 
3. L also inclose herewith copy of an extract from an American newspaper (the 
name and date of publication are not given), from which it would appear that the 
District Judge has made an order for the sale of the arms and ammunition taken 
from the three schooners in question upon the supposed ground that, as the instruc- 
tions sent by the United States Government to Sitka for the liberation of the vessels 
made no mention of the arms and ammunition on board of them, the Court con- 
cluded that these should be confiscated and sold. It would seem from the same 
extract that the remaining vessels held in Alaska are not included in the order sent 
by the United States Government for the release of the ‘‘Thornton,” ‘‘Carolina,” 
and ‘‘Onward,” and are therefore likely to be confiscated and sold with their 
contents and equipment. 
5. I have already dwelt at sufficient length upon the extent of the hardships 
involved to the crews and the owners of these vessels by the action of the United States 
Government, and I will only, upon the present occasion, remind you that another 
fishing season is approaching, and that, as far as my Government is aware, no decla- 
ration has been made by that of the United States in regard to the policy which it 
intends to adopt during the course of the year which has just commenced. 
Ihave, &c., 
(Signed) LANSDOWNE. 
[Inclosure 2 in No. 91.] 
Mr. B. Atkins to Mr. C. Spring. 
OFFICE OF UNITED STATES MARSHAL, 
Sitka, District of Alaska, December 5, 1887. 
Sir: I take pleasure ‘in informing you and other owners of the schooners seized 
in the Behring’s Sea by United States steamer ‘‘ Corwin,” that I am in receipt 
165 of orders from Washington to restore to their owners the schooners ‘‘ Onward,” 
“Thornton,” and ‘ Carolina,” their tackle, apparel, and furniture, as they now 
lie in the harbour of Ounalaska. 
Orders for their release have been forwarded to their custodian at Ounalaska. 
Very respectfully, 
(Signed) BARTON ATKINS, 
United States Marshal, District of Alaska. 
[Inclosure 3 in No. 91.] 
Extract from American Newspaper (name and date unknown). 
ALASKA NEwWs.—Judge Dawson has made an order for the sale, at Juneau, of the 
arms and ammunition taken from the British schooners ‘‘ Thornton,” ‘‘ Carolina,” 
and “ Onward,” captured last year by the ‘ Corwin.” Attorney-General Garland 
sent instructions to Sitka to have the three vessels liberated, but, as he made no 
mention of the arms and ammunition, the Court concluded that they must be sold, 
and gave directions accordingly. 
