548 APPENDIX TO CASE OF GREAT BRITAIN. 
{Inclosure 2 in No. 372.] 
Leport of a Committee of the Honourable the Privy Council, approved by his Excellency 
the Governor-General in Council on the 7th Ture, 1890. 
On a Report, dated the 6th June, 1890, from the Minister of Marine and Fisheries, 
expressing regret that it again becomes necessary to call the attention of your Excel- 
lency to the long period which has elapsed since the illegal seizures of British sealing- 
vessels by United States Revenue cutters occurred, and to the annual continuance 
of this molestation. 
The Minister desires to remind your Excellency that the attention of the Imperial 
authorities has frequently been called to all the facts and circumstances connected 
with the different seizures which have occurred since 1885, and to observe that, not- 
withstanding the opinion of the Law Officers of the Crown as to the absence of any 
justification on the part of the United States authorities for the acts complained of, 
and despite the protests of the British Government which were presented to the 
Government of the United States, the great wrongs to British subjects go unre- 
dressed. The Minister would especially point out “that as yet there has been no 
withdrawal on the part of the United States authorities of the assertion of their 
right to prevent subjects of Her Majesty from engaging in hunting seals in the deep 
waters of Bebhring’s Sea. 
The Minister observes that intense embarrassment and financial loss has been 
experienced in connection with the prosecution of this pursuit, due not only to 
actual arrests and molestation, but to intimidation caused by the attitude assumed 
on the part of the United States, ever since the year 1885, as regards the right 
496 of sealing in Behring’s Sea. As evidence of the strong desire on the part of 
your Excellency’ s advisers to cordially co-operate with the Imperial authori- 
ties in reaching, if possible, a friendly settlement, the Minister recalls the fact that 
upon the urgent request of Her Majesty’s Government, the Government of Canada 
agreed to a discussion of the question of a close season for fur-seals in the Beh- 
ring’s Sea, notwithstanding the perpetration of the gross wrongs and injuries com- 
plained of by Canada, and in the absence of any definite assurance or offer of redress. 
The Minister desires to refer to the Minute of Council approved on the 13th day 
of March last, dealing at length with a note from the Honourable Mr. Blaine, Secre- 
tary of State for the United ‘States, communicating the reply of the United States 
Government to a protest by Mr. Edwardes, on the part of the Imperial Government, 
in October last, against the seizure in 1889 ‘of Canadian vessels. After dealing very 
fully with the question, the Minute went on to say: 
““Knowing the desire of both Her Majesty’s Government and the Canadian people 
to maintain as friendly relations as possible with the people of the United States, 
the Minister recommends that Her Majesty’s Government be informed that your 
Excellency’s advisers are prepared to discuss any proposed international arrange- 
ment for the proper protection of the fur-seal, but that before such an inquiry 
is completed they expect that the question raised by the seizures of Canadian ves- 
sels in the Behring’s Sea shall be settled according to the law of nations, and that 
the claims for indemnity now in the hands of Her Majesty’s Government shall be 
fully satisfied.” 
The Minister further observes that while negotiations are in progress touching the 
question of a close season, another sealing season has begun without any intimation 
of a withdrawal on the part of the United States of their extraordinary claim to 
jurisdiction over the waters of the open sea, nor has any indemnification been made 
or assured to the subjects of Her Majesty who have suffered loss from the illegal acts 
on the part of the United States authorities. Indeed, it is currently reported in the 
press of the United States and elsewhere that tne United States Revenue entters will 
this year continue to interfere with and harass British sealers when in Behring’s Sea. 
The Minister is of opinion that it is at least due to Her Majesty’s subjects inter- 
ested in this branch of industry to have authentic knowledge of the actual position to 
be taken in connection with Behring’s Sea during the coming season by the authori- 
ties of the United States, and he, therefore, recommends that Her Majesty’ 8 Govern- 
ment be urged to obtain an immediate assurance that the claim to jurisdiction or 
authority over sealing-vessels when beyond the 3-mile territorial limit in Behring’s 
Sea will be no longer insisted upon. 
The Committee, concurring in the aboye Report of the Minister of Marine and 
Fisheries, recommend that your Excellency be moved to forward a copy of this Min- 
ute to the Right Honourable the Principal Secretary of State for the Colonies. 
The Committee further advise that a copy hereof be also forwarded to the High 
Commissioner for Canada in London, with instruetions to him to personally press 
upon the Secretary of State for the Colonies the urgent necessity for obtaining from 
the Government of the United States satisfactory assurances upon this subje et. 
All which is respectfully submitted for your Excellency’s approval. 
(Signed) JOHN J. MCGEE, 
Clerk, Privy Council. 
