. 
444 APPENDIX TO CASE OF GREAT BRITAIN. 
The Minister desires to point out that the months open to the lessees of the breed- 
ing grounds for killing operations, during the next twenty years, are June, July, 
September, and October, or four of the months in the middle of the close season pro- 
posed by the Honourable Mr. Bayard on behalf of the United States authorities. 
It has already been contended by your Excellency’s advisers that the dates then 
proposed by the Honourable Mr. Bayard were fixed tu practically exclude from fish- 
ing operations all vessels likely to frequent these waters for that purpose. 
The Minister observes that in support of the Honourable Mr. Bayard’s proposal, 
it was contended that the British and other sealers were in the habit of killing aud 
wounding the cow-seals with their young, and that therefore the necessity for the 
close season proposed by him was all the greater in the interest of the fishery; but 
upon this it may be said that the British vessels seized or expelled from the Behring’s 
Sea, almost without exception, entered that sea, in the month of July, or during the 
height of the killing season of the Alaska Commercial Company, and as the female 
seals (according to the United States authorities) repair to the rookeries in June and 
July, where they soon after bring forth their young, the opportunity for sealing- 
vessels to kill females with pup in the open waters of the Behring’s Sea must be 
very rare. 
The Minister is of opinion that the attention of Her Majesty’s Government should 
be called to this state of facts, and that they be informed that your Excellency’s 
advisers are under the apprehension that the said lease may interfere with the pro- 
posed negotiations for a close season for Behring’s Sea. 
The Committee concurring, advise that your Excellency be moved to forward a 
copy of this Minute to the Right Honourable the Secretary of State for the Colonies, 
for the information of Her Majesty’s Government. 
All which is respectfully submitted for your Excellency’s approval. 
(Signed) JOuUN J. McGrr, 
Clerk, Privy Council. 
APPENDIX. 
(See Inclosure in No. 268.) 
407 No. 286, 
Sir J. Pauncefote to the Marquis of Salisbury.—( Received by telegraph, 
February 11.) 
WASHINGTON, February 11, 1890. 
My Lorp: I communicated the substance of your Lordship’s tele- 
gram to Mr. Blaine late yesterday evening, and he consented to your 
Lordship’s proposal to commence the tripartite negotiation and the 
assessment of damages at once. 
He said, at the same time, that he would communicate with the Rus- 
sian Minister here on the subject and inform me of the result, with a 
view to common action by your Lordship and himself in inviting Russia 
to participate in the negotiations. 
I have, We. (Signed) JULIAN PAUNCEFO'TE. 
No. 287. 
Lord Knutsford to Lord Stanley of Preston.—( Received at Foreign Office, 
February 12. 
[Telegraphice. 
DOWNING STREET, February 12, 1890. 
Instructions sent to Minister at Washington to commence negotia- 
tions for establishment of a close season, and provisionally for assess- 
ment of claims for damage; he will also be directed to communicate 
with you as to fixing time for Representative of Dominion Government 
to assist you at Washington. 
