APPENDIX TO CASE OF GREAT BRITAIN. 453 
stood to be based upon a persuasion that the Government of the United States will 
take a similar course with regard to its own seal islands, and that the control of the 
seal-fur industry may thus be vested in a single management. 
INCORPORATION OF AN ALASKA COMMERCIAL COMPANY IN NEW YORK. 
ALBANY, NEW York, February 18, 1890. 
The New York Commercial Company of Alaska (Limited), formed with a capital 
of 1,000,000 dollars, for carrying on mining, fishing, building, and commercial enter- 
prises generally in the Territory of Alaska, filed a certificate of incorporation with 
the Secretary of State to-day. The incorporators of the Company are William Bb. 
Pope, Thaddeus D. Bradford, William T. Davis, and John H. Droge, of New York; 
and Heury 8. Tibbey, of Unga Island, Alaska. 
No. 302. 
The Marquis of Salisbury to Sir J. Pauncefote. 
FOREIGN OFFICE, March 8, 1890. 
Str: I have received your despatch of the 7th ultimo, reporting a 
conversation which you had held with Mr. Blaine on the subject of 
damages for the seizure of Canadian vessels by the United States Rev- 
enue cutters in Behring’s Sea. 
Your language on the occasion is approved. 
Ian, Xe. 
(Signed) SALISBURY. 
415 No. 303. 
Colonial Office to Foreign Office.—( Received March 15.) 
DOWNING STREET, March 14, 1890. 
Str: Lam directed by Lord Knutsford to acknowledge the receipt 
of copies of despatches from Her Majesty’s Minister at Washington 
respecting communications which have passed with the United States 
Secretary of State as to the compensation for the seizure of British 
vessels in Behring’s Sea.* 
I am to observe that the terms on which Mr. Blaine would propose 
to submit the question of compensation to arbitration, as stated in his 
Memorandum, taken together with his further statement that no estab- 
lished principles of international law would be brought into dispute, 
appear to indicate that he would abandon, before the arbitrator, not 
only the mare clausum doctrine, but also the claim of an exclusive right 
of fishery in Behring’s Sea, and would rely on the contention that the 
United States are charged with the duty of repressing acts done in 
that sea, contra bonos mores, to the injury of a fishery open to all nations. 
Lord Knutsford cannot doubt that an impartial arbitrator, whether all 
the three issues or only one of them be placed before him, would con- 
firm the opinion that the owners are entitled to compensation for the 
ill-treatment to which they have been subjected. 
Lord Knutsford, however, desires me to observe that the question 
whether recourse should be had to arbitration on this subject, and the 
precise issues to be submitted to an arbitrator, are matters on which 
it is important to ascertain the views of the Government of Canada. 
lam, &e. 
(Signed) JOHN BRAMSTON. 
* Nos. 280 and 300. 
