APPENDIX TO CASE OF GREAT BRITAIN. 257 
[Inclosure 1 in No. 175.} 
Mr. Bayard to Mr. Herbert. 
DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, December 10, 1888. 
Str: I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your note of the 5th instant, 
in which you eall attention to the note of Lord Sackville of the 12th October last, in 
relation to the appraisement of three of the four British schooners seized and con- 
demned for illicitly taking seals in Bebring’s Sea in 1887. 
’ The note referred to was at once communicated to the Department of Justice with 
a request for an opinion on the question of re-appraisement. 
Some time previously, upon the request of the Marquis of Salisbury, the sale of 
the schooners had been stayed by this Government in order that full opportunity 
might be given to their owners to make some arrangements whereby they might 
become repossessed of the vessels. On the 11th October, the day preceding the date 
of the note of Lord Sackville above referred to, the Attorney-General wrote to this 
Department a letter, copy of which is inclosed, in which he intimated an opinion that 
the interests of both the United States and the claimants would be best subserved 
hy aspeedy sale of the vessels. By this letter it appears that, although the schooners 
had long since been condemned, no claims had been filed by their owners and no bonds 
given for costs. Nevertheless, the Department again consulted the Deneueien of 
Justice in regard to the proposition contained in the note under date of the 12th 
October. Under date of the 20th October last a reply from the Attorney-General was 
received, copy of which is inclosed. To this I made answer on the 27th October, 
expressing my concurrence in the view of the Attorney-General, that, under the cir- 
cumstances, the wiser course for all concerned was to let the sale of the vessels take 
place at once, as delay seemed impracticable, and could only be productive of loss. 
On the 14th of last month the Attorney-General informed that he had that day 
directed the United States Marshal in charge of the vessels at Port Townsend, Wash- 
ington Territory, to take the necessary steps to effect a sale of the four vessels as 
speedily as possible. 
Since that time no correspondence on the subject has taken place with the Depart- 
ment of Justice except a request from this Department on the 17th ultimo that it 
might be informed of the proceedings of the Marshal under the order above stated. 
When a response to this request shall have been received you will be duly advised 
of its contents. 
Ihave, &c. 
(Signed) T. F. Bayarb. 
232 [Inclosure 2 in No. 175.] 
Mr. Garland to Mr. Bayard. 
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, Washington, October 20, 1888. 
Sm: By your communication of the 17th October, 1888, you requested an expres- 
sion of my views on the arrangement proposed by the British Government in regard 
to the disposal of the vessels ‘‘ Grace,” “ Dolphin,” and ‘‘ Anna Beck.” The arrange- 
ment referred to is that the United States authorize a re-appraisement of the 
schooners ‘‘ Grace” and “‘ Do] phin,”’ and that instructions be given in the case of the 
‘Anna Beck” that bonds of the owner may be accepted subject to the final settle- 
ment of the question. 
The libels against the vessels were submitted on the stipulation, dated the 10th 
day of September, 1887, by M. W. Drake on behalf of the masters, they were, on or 
about the 3rd day of October, 1887, after hearing condemned, and in pursuance of 
the terms of the stipulation, were ordered to be sold at Port Townsend. 
The time for appeal to the Supreme Court of the United States has long since 
expired. 
On the 25th day of August, 1888, the United States Marshal for Alaska reported 
‘that the owner of the ‘Anna Beck,’ ‘ Grace,’ and ‘ Dolphin,’ Captain J. W. Warren, 
of Victoria, British Columbia, notified me (him) that he prefers that the ‘Grace’ and 
‘Dolphin’ should be sold without further delay, and the ‘Anna Beck’ also, unless he 
can bond that vessel without instituting an appeal to the Supreme Court, or making 
the journey to Sitka for that purpose.” 
The aggregate tonnage of the three vessels, with the ‘“ Ada” (for which no owner 
has been heard from), is but 279 tons. 
The vessels, if not sold, will soon be substantially valueless. If attempt be made 
to keep them over winter a total loss may result. 
BS) Peyv fh 
