APPENDIX TO CASE OF GREAT BRITAIN. 667 
Lordship’s information, a copy of an approved Minute of the Privy Council, embody- 
ing the comments of the Minister of Marine and Fisheries upon the views expressed 
in Sir Julian’s despatch. 
Ihave, &c. 
(Signed) STANLEY OF PRESTON. 
{Inclosure 2 in No. 24.] 
Report of a Committee of the Honourable the Privy Council, approved by his Excellency 
the Governor-General in Council on the 19th November, 1890. 
The Committee of the Privy Council have had under consideration a Colonial 
Office despatch dated the 4th October, 1890, transmitting a despatch to the Foreign 
Office from the British Minister at Washington, Sir Julian Pauncefote, on the subject 
of the Behring’s Sea fisheries question. 
The Minister of Marine and Fisheries, to whom the despatch and inclosure were 
referred, states that he has read with interest and satisfaction Sir Julian Paunce- 
fote’s clear statement on the course of the Behring’s Sea negotiations, and of the 
present situation of the controversy. 
The Minister, while recommending that these despatches be filed for future 
77 reference, deems it advisable to call your Excellency’s attention to the follow- 
ing remarks in Sir Julian Pauncefote’s despatch, viz. : 
“The result of the careful consideration which I gave to the evidence on both 
sides was to satisfy my own mind that while measures are called for to protect female 
seals with young from slaughter during well-known periods of their migration to 
and from the breeding islands, and also to prohibit the approach of sealing-vessels 
within a certain distance of those islands, the inquiry had failed to establish the 
contention of the United States Government that the absolute prohibition of pelagic 
sealing is necessary for the preservation of the fur-seal species.” 
The Minister further states that if Sir Julian Pauncefote means by this that it is 
necessary to restrict the hunting and killing of seals at all times when found out- 
side of the islands or breeding resorts of the Behring’s Sea, and the territorial 
waters surrounding them, or to prohibit the killing of seals found beyond the ordi- 
nary 3-mile limit in Behring’s Sea, he (the Minister) desires to say that, having given 
considerable attention to the various arguments adduced in support of the conten- 
tions that measures are required to protect female seals, and that the approach of 
sealing-vessels within certain limits of the sealing islands should be prohibited, he 
has failed to observe any satisfactory evidence from which it could be established 
that regulations are necessary to protect the female seals with young within the 
Behring’s Sea before they reach the breeding islands. While there appears to be no 
good reason for doubting that considerable destruction by sealers of different nations 
takes place during the months of January, February, March, and April, along the 
coasts of the United States and British Columbia, before the seals begin what may 
be termed the direct journey to the breeding rookeries, the best authorities known 
to the Minister of Marine and [Fisheries go to show that female seals with young 
proceed with extraordinary rapidity on entering Behring’s Sea direct to the breed- 
ing rookeries, and that during such time it is impossible for the hunters to secure 
them by shot or spear, neither can he accept the opinion that it is necessary to 
restrict pelagic sealing beyond the distance of the 3-mile limit. 
The Minister, however, while holding strong views upon these points, does not 
pretend that a full and thorough investigation on the subject by those especially 
qualified to make such an examination would not support the impression apparently 
entertained by Sir Julian Pauncefote touching these phases of the question. 
The Minister, while differing from Sir Julian Pauncefote on the foregoing points, 
cordially concurs in the concluding paragraph of Sir Julian’s despatch, wherein he 
states: 
“That if the United States Government persist in their endeavour to exclude 
British subjects from any participation in the fur-seal fishery in Behring’s Sea, on 
the plea that such exclusion is necessary for the preservation of the fur-seal species, 
they assume a position which will not bear the test of an impartial inquiry.” 
The Committee, concurring in the above Report, recommend that a copy of this Min- 
ute be forwarded to the Right Honourable Her Majesty’s Principal Secretary of State 
for the Colonies, for submission to Her Majesty’s Government, and also that a copy 
be forwarded to the High Commissioner for Canada in London, for his information. 
All which is respectfully submitted for your Excellency’s approval. 
(Signed) Joun J. McGEF, 
Clerk, Privy Council. 
