360 APPENDIX TO CASE OF GREAT BRITAIN. 
{Inclosure 3 in No. 237.] 
Affidavit of Vietor Jacobson. 
I, Victor Jacobson, owner and master of the British schooner ‘ Minnie,” of Vic- 
tovia, British Columbia, make oath and say: 
I cleared my vessel from Victoria in the early part of May for a sealing voyage to 
Behring’s Sea. My crew consisted of five white men and sixteen Indians. I entered 
the sea on the 27th June, and commenced sealing on the 15th July. I was hove-to 
under reefed mainsail and jib, when I perceived a vessel under full steam 
325 bearing down uponus. This was about3 Pp. M. I made sail and tried to get 
away, but was soon overhauled by what turned out to be the United States 
eutter ‘‘Rush.” Some one on board shouted out, ‘‘Heave-to.” I did so, and a boat 
filled with men came alongside. A Lieutenant came on board and asked me for my 
papers, which I gave him. He thenasked me how many sealsI had. I replied about 
450. He then took my papers off to the cutter, and returned and ordered his men 
to take off the hatches, and bring up all the skins they could find. They took off 
421 skins to the eutter. I went on board the cutter and interviewed Captain Shep- 
herd, who told me he must obey his orders, which were to seize every schooner 
found sealing in the Behring’s Sea, and send them to Sitka. I returned to the 
schooner, when the Lieutenant asked me for my guns and spears. He took a breech- 
loading gun and a muzzle-loader, but refused a French musket which I offered him. 
He then left with his men, leaving one man on board. The cutter then steamed 
away. The Lieutenant told me before leaving that I was 65 miles sonth-east by east 
trom Aonimak Pass. After the cutter left the United States sailor told me he was 
in charge, but he never attempted to interfere with the working of the vessel. 
Some time afterwards he showed me his written instructions, which were that the 
vessel should proceed to Sitka, and there be handed over to United States’ Marshal, 
and that the captain and mate should be arrested. I then concluded [ would not go 
to Sitka, but would continue my voyage. That night we made some new spears, and 
next morning commenced hunting as though nothing had happened. We captured 
fifty seals that day and ninety on the next, kept on hunting until the 17th August, 
when, having five hundred seals on board, I left for the south. After passing through 
Aonimak Pass, I told the prize crew I should steer for Victoria. He replied, ‘I 
always thought so.” 
The Indians told me that if the United States sailor attempted to take the vessel 
to Sitka they would throw him overboard. We arrived in Victoria last evening, and 
to-day at noon the prize crew came ashore and reported at the American consulate. 
(Signed) VICTOR JACOBSON. 
Sworn before me, at Victoria, British Columbia, 2nd day of September, A. D. 1889. 
(Signed) ROBERT WARD, 
A Justice of the Peace for the Province of British Columbia. 
{Inclosure 4 in No. 237.] 
Deputy Governor Sir W. Ritchie to Lord Knutsford. 
OTTAWA, September 21, 1889. 
My Lonrp: I have the honour to transmit herewith a copy of an approved Minute 
of the Privy Council, submitting the affidavit of the master and mate of the British 
schooner ‘ Juanita,” which vessel was seized on the 31st July last by the United 
States Revenue-cutter ‘‘ Rush,” together with a copy of the receipt of the captain of 
the ‘‘Rush” for the ship’s papers, and a sealed envelope addressed to the United 
States District Attorney at Sitka. 
Your Lordship will observe that the seizure took place about 80 miles from the 
nearest land. 
Ihave, &c. 
(Signed) W. J. RITCHIE. 
{Inclosure 5 in No. 237.] 
Report of a Committee of the Honourable the Privy Council, approved by his Excellency 
the Governor-General in Council, on the 14th September, 1889. 
On a Report dated the 12th September, 1889, from the Minister of Marine and 
Fisheries, submitting the affidavit of the master and mate of the British schooner 
“ Juanita,” which vessel, with her cargo of 620 sealskins, was seized in the Behring’s 
