APPENDIX TO CASE OF GREAT BRITAIN. 805 
No. 65. 
Sir J. Pauncefote to the Marquis of Salisbury.—(Received June 25.) 
WASHINGTON, June 16, 1891. 
My Lorp: With reference to my telegram of yesterday’s date, I have 
the honour to transmit herewith to your Lordship copy of the Procla- 
mation which has been issued by the President giving effect to the 
Agreement for a modus vivendi in Behring’s Sea for the present season. 
I have, &c. 
(Signed) JULIAN PAUNCEFOTE. 
{Inclosure in No. 65.] 
Modus Vivendi respecting the Fur-seal Fisheries in Behring’s Sea. 
By THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 
A Proclamation. 
Whereas an Agreement for a modus vivendi between the Government of the United 
States and the Government of Her Britannic Majesty, in relation to the fur-seal 
fisheries in Behring’s Sea, was concluded on the 15th day of June, in the year of our 
Lord 1891, word jor word as follows: 
“Aqreement between the Government of the United States and the Government of Her 
Britannic Majesty for a Modus Vivendi in relation to the Fur-seal Fisheries in Beh- 
ring’s Sea. 
“For the purpose of avoiding irritating differences, and with a view to promote 
the friendly settlement of the questions pending between the two Governments 
touching their respective rights in Behring’s Sea, and for the preservation of the seal 
species, the following Agreement is made without prejudice to the rights or claims 
of either party. 
“1, Her Majesty’s Government will prohibit, until May next, seal-killing in that 
part of Behring’s Sea lying eastward of the line of demarcation described in Article 
I of the Treaty of 1867 between the United States and Russia, and will promptly use 
its best efforts to insure the observance of this prohibition by British subjects and 
vessels. 
“2. The United States Government will prohibit seal-killing for the same period 
in the same part of Behring’s Sea, and on the shores and islands thereof the property 
of the United States (in excess of 7,500 to be taken on the islands for the subsistence 
and care of the natives), and will promptly use its best efforts to insure the observ- 
ance of this prohibition by United States citizens and vessels. 
“3. Every vessel or person offending against this prohibition in the said waters of 
Behring’s Sea outside of the ordinary territorial limits of the United States may be 
seized and detained by the naval or other duly commissioned officers of either of the 
High Contracting Parties, but they shall be handed over as soon as practicable to 
the authorities of the nation to which they respectively belong, who shall alone have 
jurisdiction to try the offence and impose the penalties for the same. The witnesses 
and proofs necessary to establish the offence shall also be sent with them. 
“4. In order to facilitate such proper inquires as her Majesty’s Government may 
desire to make, with a view to the presentation of the Case of that Government before 
Arbitrators, and in expectation that an Agreement for arbitration may be arrived at, 
it is agreed that suitable persons designated by Great Britain will be permitted at 
any time, upon application, to visit or to remain upon the seal islands during the 
present sealing season for that purpose. 
41 “Signed and sealed in duplicate at Washington, this 15th day of June, 1891, 
on behalf of their respective Governments, by William F. Wharton, Acting 
Secretary of State of the United States, and Sir Julian Paunecefote, G. C. M. G., 
kK. C. B., Her Britannic Majesty’s Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary. 
[SEAL. ] “WILLIAM IF, WHARTON. 
[SEAL. | “JULIAN PAUNCEFOTE.” 
Now, therefore, be it known that I, Benjamin Harrison, President of the United 
States of America, have caused the said Agreement to be made public, to the end 
