862 APPENDIX TO CASE OF GREAT BRITAIN. 
A 
[Inclosure 3 in No. 139.] 
Mr. Tupper to Sealers’ Association. 
Orrawa, September 10, 1891. 
GENTLEMEN: Reverting to my letter to you of the 15th June on the subject of your 
communication of the 5th of that month, on behalf of the Sealers’ Association of 
Victoria, remonstrating against the proposed modus vivendi in Behring’s Sea, I have 
now the honour to inform you that Her Majesty’s Government is of opinion that the 
total cessation of sealing in Behring’s Sea will greatly enhance the value of 
91 the produce of the coast fishery, and does not anticipate that British sealers 
will suffer to any great extent by exclusion from Behring’s Sea. 
Her Majesty’s Government, however, will be prepared to consider any case in which 
it is clearly established that direct loss has been suttered by a British subject through 
the enforcement of the prohibition against sealing in Behring’s Sea. 
With reference to the wish of the Association that it should be heard before the 
Arbitration Commission, the Secretary of State for the Colonies intimates that, as 
the Joint Commission of Experts has been appointed to examine all questions con- 
nected with seal life, and the fur-seal industry, for submission to the Arbitrators, 
you should lay any statements you desire to make before the Commission of Experts 
in the first instance, and that, in the event of its being found necessary to call evi- 
dence before the Arbitrators, in addition to that which may be presented to the Com- 
mission of Experts, Her Majesty’s Government will not fail to bear the wishes of the 
Association in mind. 
I have, &c. 
(Signed) CHARLES H. TUPPER. 
No. 140. 
The Behring’s Sea Commissioners to the Marquis of Salisbury.—( Received 
October 19.) 
‘¢ DANUBE,” AT OUNALASKA, September 17, 1891. 
My Lorp: For the purpose of our inquiry into the conditions of seal 
life in Behring’s Sea and other parts of the North Pacitic Ocean, we 
deemed it advisable to visit the Russian seal islands, and we were 
pleased to receive at Ounalaska on the 21st August a telegram from 
your Lordship informing us of the receipt of a note from the Russian 
Government authorizing us to visit their seal fisheries, and stating that 
the Governor-General at Amoor had been requested to afford us every 
facility. 
2. We accordingly visited the-Commander Islands, arriving off Beh- 
ring’s Island on the Ist September. 
3. The Administrator, M. Grebnitzky, had not heard of us from the 
Amoor, but on learning of our mission, showed us every courtesy and 
hospitality, and from his own ample experience and observations gave 
us most valuable information as to the conditions of seal life in Russian 
waters. On Copper Island, the Government Superintendent, M. Till- 
mann, acting on instructions from M. Grebnitzky, gave us full informa- 
tion, and accompanied us to the rookeries, extending to us the most 
friendly courtesy. 
4. We then proceeded to Petropaulowski, and there from the Com- 
mandant, M. Homyakoff, and Captain Brandt, of the Russian Imperial 
steam-ship “Aleut,” we again received much courtesy and assistance 
in our inquiries. 
5. We venture to hope that the Russian Government will be intormed 
of the extremely satisfactory character of our visit to the Russian 
sealing-grounds, and we would take this occasion of expressing our 
opinion of the great value to the elucidation of the conditions of seal 
