4] 
APPENDIX TO CASE OF GREAT BRITAIN, 215 
cutters of the United States, at the diction and for the sole benefit of the Alaska 
Commercial Company. These fishermen already here, and the colonies which will 
be here next year with their fleets of schooners, are of vastly more importance to the 
American nation thanthe monopoly of the Alaska Commercial Company. And they 
have requested me to address you, Senator, and other Senators, respectfully asking 
you to kindly look into this question, and have it ordered by the Treasury Department 
that American citizens can take any of the products of the ocean outside of 3 marine 
miles from any island in Behring’s Sea or the coasts of the mainland of Alaska. 
Hitherto the outrageous arrogance and assumption of the Alaska Commercial 
Company has been only met by feeble protests from merchants of San Francisco and 
a few Portland traders. But now a new order of things is about being inaugurated. 
An intelligent and valuable class of New England fishermen are coming here to 
reside among us and become citizens of Oregon, Washington, and Alaska. They 
know their rights as American citizens, and they are determined to have their rights. 
It is time that the farce played by the Alaska Commercial Company was ended, 
and that the sorry sight of American Revenue cutters hunting down our own citizens 
for the benefit of that huge monopoly should for ever cease. 
I have given this subject careful attention for many years, but have had no occa- 
sion to take any particular interest in it until now, and now is the time to speak 
and act. ‘These determined, energetic fishermen of New England are here, and more 
coming. All they ask is their right as American citizens to hunt and fish in Amer- 
ican waters outside 3 miles from land. Strictly enforce the law prohibiting the 
taking of seals on the Pribylov Islands; strictly enforce the law prohibiting the 
introduction of spirits or fire-arms among Indians; but give the fishermen the right 
to develop the wealth in our waters, encourage them to make new discoveries, aid 
them in every legal manner to pursue their avocations, and they will prove a new 
source of wealth to our Pacific States, and add to our population a new and a most 
desirable element. 
I have had the honour, Senator, to address Senator Mitchell and Senator Stanford 
upon this important question, and if there are any points on which you would like 
further information, I shall esteem it an honour if you will address me, and I will 
give yon all the information I possess. I want to see Behring’s Sea and all American 
waters open to American fishermen, and I earnestly and respectfully solicit your kind 
consideration of the question. 
I have, &c. 
(Signed) JAMES G. SWAN. 
The Hon. JosEruH N. Do.pn, 
Senator in Congress from Oregon. 
194 No. 118. 
Sir L. West to the Marquis of Salisbury.—(Received April 16.) 
WASHINGTON, March 31, 1888. 
My Lorp: I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your 
Lordship’s despatch of the 17th instant, and to inclose herewith copy 
of a note which I addressed to the Secretary of State in the sense of 
that despatch, as well as copy of the reply which I have received thereto. 
I have, &c. 
(Signed) L. S. SACKVILLE WEST. 
(Inclosure 1 in No. 118.] 
Sir L. West to Mr. Bayard. 
WASHINGTON, March 26, 1888. 
Str: With reference to the proposed concerted action by Great Britain, the United 
States, and other interested Powers, in order to preserve from extermination the fur 
seals which at certain seasons are found in Behring’s Sea, I am requested by the 
Marquis of Salisbury to inform you that the Russian Ambassador in London has 
been communicated with on the subject, and that he has referred to his Government 
tor instructions. 
