APPENDIX IL. 
DOCUMENTS RELATING TO THE FUR-SEAL QUESTION. 
AGREEMENT BETWEEN tHE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE 
GOVERNMENT OF HER BRITANNIC MAJESTY FOR 4 MODUS VIVENDI IN RELA- 
TION TO THE FUR-SEAL FISHERIES IN BERING SEA. 
For the purpose of avoiding irritating differences, and with a view to promote the 
friendly settlement of the question pending between the two Governments touching 
their respective rights in Bering 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 Bering Sea lying eastward of the line of demarcation described in Article No. 
1 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 Bering 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 observance 
of this prohibition by United States citizens and vessels. 
(3) Every vessel or person offending against this prohibition in the said waters 
of Bering Sea outside of the ordinary tcrritorial 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 offense and impose the penalties for the same. The 
witnesses and proof necessary to establish the offense shall also be sent with them. 
(4) In order to facilitate such proper inquiries 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. 
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 Pauncefote, G. C. M. G., K. C. B., 
H. B. M., Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary. 
[SHAL.] WiLuiAM I, WHARTON. 
[SEAL. | JULIAN PAUNCEFOTE. 
227 
* 
