330 APPENDIX TO CASE OF GREAT BRITAIN. 
liable to immediate seizure if not already seized? Steamer ‘Sardonyx’ leaves with 
coal for British war-ships now at Port Simpson on Thursday next. Please reply 
immediately what steps Federal Government will now take in the matter. Meeting 
to-day of those interested, who strongly urge this message. Senator Macdonald of 
Toronto heartily endorses action of owners here. In meantime sealing business 
interests completely paralyzed.” : 
[{Inclosure 3 in No. 211.] 
Extract from the “ Ottawa Evening Journal,” of July 31, 1889. 
THE SEALER SEIZURE. 
San Francisco, Cala, July 30.—The steamer *‘ Dora,” from Behring’s Sea, brings the 
first detailed news of the capture of the British sealer ‘‘ Black Diamond,” by the 
United States Revenne-cutter ‘‘Richard Rush,” on the 11th July. The “Rush” 
overtook the ‘ Black Diamond” and ordered her to heave-to. The captain of the 
“Black Diamond” refused. Thereupon the commander of the ‘‘ Rush” ordered 
297 «a lowering of ports and running ont of guns, which caused the steamer to 
heave-to. Captain Shepard and Lieutenant Tuttle boarded the English craft 
and asked for her papers. The officers of the ‘‘ Black Diamond” offered no armed 
resistance, but refused to deliver the papers. Captain Shepard at once broke open 
the cabin, and forced the hinges off the strong box and the captain’s chest, thereby 
securing the papers. A search of the *vessel disclosed 10,000 seal skins, which had 
been taken in Behring’s Sea. Captain Shepard placed a non-commissioned officer 
from the ‘“‘ Rush” in charge of the ‘‘ Black Diamond,” and ordered the vessel to be 
taken to Sitka to await further instructions. The captain of the ‘“‘ Black Diamond” 
stated that when in Victoria he had been ordered to pay no attention in case he was 
overtaken by the “Rush” and requested to heave-to. He said he would not have 
surrendered if the ‘‘ Rush” had had an inferior force to his own. On the 1st July 
the schooner “Triumph” was-also boarded by Captain Shepard, but no arrest was 
made, the skins on board having been captured in the Pacific. A passenger who 
arrived on the “Dora” said: ‘‘On our way down from St. Paul’s Island we saw six 
sealers and the ‘‘Rush” pursuing. Undoubtedly by this time the ‘‘Rush” has 
made additional captures.” 
Captain Shepard's Report. 
Washington, July 80.—A telegram from Captain Shepard, commanding the Revenue- 
steamer ‘‘ Rush,” says he seized the ‘“‘ Black Diamond,” for violation of section 1956 
of the revised statutes. ‘This section was incorporated in the President’s Proclama- 
tion of the 21st March, on the subject of seal fisheries. It forbids the killing, by 
unauthorized persons, of seal and other fur-bearing animals within the limits of 
Alaska or in the waters thereof. The penalty provided is a fine of from 200 dollars 
to 1,000 dollars, or imprisonment for not exceeding six months, or both, and the for- 
feiture of the vessels violating the law. 
[Inclosure 4 in No. 211.] 
Extract from the “ Ottawa Citizen” of August 3, 1889. 
BEHRING’S SEA TROUBLES. 
[By telegraph to the ‘‘Citizen.”] 
Washington, 2nd.—The seizure of the British sealing-vessel “Black Diamond” by 
the Revenue-eutter ‘ Rush” is believed to be the beginning of a series of seizures 
which must lead to some definite understanding between the United States and Great 
Britain on the subject. Great Britain has emphatically expressed the opinion that 
the United States’ Government has no jurisdiction over the Behring’s Sea outside - 
the 3-mile limit. Our Government proceeds on the assumption that it has a right to 
protect the seal in any part of the Behring’s Sea, although the State Department has 
ttt a 
