FUR-SEAL FISHERIES OF ALASKA. XI 



prohibition to apply exclusively to tbe waters of Bering Sea, tlie only, 

 other place where far seals are to be found in Alaska. 



SEVENTH. — THE OPERATION OF THESE STATUTES. 



Congress having made provision for the protection of seal life in 

 Alaska, and appropriated money to equip the vessels of the revenue 

 marine for that service, the Secretary of the Treasury dispatched reve- 

 nue-cutters to Alaska, with instructions to seize all vessels found en- 

 gaged in killing fur seals in Alaskan waters. 



Pursuant to these instructions, a number of British and American 

 vessels were seized, their cargoes of contraband seal skins confiscated, 

 and the vessels condemned by decree of the United States District 

 court. 



As early as 1881, it having been reported to the Treasury Department 

 that unauthorized persons were killing seals in Alaskan waters, the 

 Secretary caused a notice to be published in the newspapers printed at 

 all the Pacific ports in this country stating that the law prohibiting 

 seal killing in Alaskan waters would be enforced against all comers, 

 and the penalties inflicted. Since then this notice has been published 

 every year up to and including the present year 1888, 



In 1881, one D. A. D'Ancona, of San Francisco, addressed a letter to 

 the Secretary of the Treasury, making inquiry as to the extent of juris- 

 diction claimed by the United States over Bering Sea. In reply the 

 Secretary informed him under date of March 12, 1881, as follows : 



The law prohibits the killing of any fur-bearing animals, except asotherwise there- 

 in provided, within the limits of Alaska Territory or the waters thereof, and also pro- 

 hibits tlie killing of any fur seals on the islands of St. Paul and St. George, or in the 

 waters adjacent thereto, except during certain mouths. 



You inquire in regard to the interpretation of the terms " waters thereof" and "wa- 

 ters adjacent thereto" as used in the law, and how far the jurisdiction of the Uuited 

 States is to be understood as extending. 



Presuming your inquiry to relate more especially to the waters of western Alaska, 

 you are informed that the treaty with Russia of March 30, ISn/, by which the Terri- 

 tory of Alaska was ceded to the United States, defines the boundary of the territory so 

 ceded. This treaty is found on pages 671 to 673 of the volume of treaties of the Re- 

 vised Statutes. It will be seen, therefore, that the limit of the cession extends from 

 a line starting from the Arctic Ocean and running through Bering's Strait to the 

 north of St. Lawrence Islands. 



The line runs thence in a southwesterly direction, so as to pass midway between the 

 island of Atton and Copper Island of the Kormmaudorski coui-let or group in the 

 North Pacific Ocean, to meridian of 19:P west longitude. All the waters within that 

 boundary to the western end of the Aleutian Archipelago and chain of islands are 

 considered as comprised within the waters of Alaska Territory- 

 All the penalties prescribed by law against the killing of fur-bearing animals 

 would therefore attach against any violation of law within the limits before de- 

 scribed. 



Very respectfully, 



H. F. French, 

 Acting Secretary. 



This decision was repeated by the Department April 4, 1881, and on 

 the 16th ol March, 1886, the late distinguished Secretary of the Treas- 

 ury, Hon. Daniel Manning, sent the following letter to the collector of 

 customs at San Francisco : 



Treasury Department, March 16, 1886, 

 Sir: I transmit herewith for your information a copy of a letter addressed by the 

 Departnienton March 12, 1881, to D. A. D'Aucona, concerning the jurisdiction of the 

 United States in the waters of the Territory of Alaska and the prevention of the kill- 

 ing of fur seals and other fur-bearing animals within such areas, as prescribed by 

 chapter 3, title '23, of the Revised Statutes. The attention of your predecessor in 



