Regulations governing vessels employed in fur-seal fishing.
Article I.
fitness of crews to use arms.
Before the issuance of a special license the master of any sailing vessel proposing to engage in fur-seal fishing shall produce satisfactory evidence to the collector of customs that the hunters employed by him are competent to use the weapons authorized by law.
[Page 195]Article II.
the use of firearms—when prohibited.
Firearms, nets, or explosives shall not be used for taking or killing fur seals in that portion of Bering Sea described in the act approved April 6, 1894, entitled “An act to give effect to the award rendered by the Tribunal of Arbitration at Paris, under the treaty between the United States and Great Britain, concluded at Washington, February 29, 1892, for the purpose of submitting to arbitration certain questions concerning the preservation of fur seals.”
Article III.
vessels now sealing in the north pacific east of 180° longitude—how to secure safe conduct to home port or to bering sea.
Any vessel having license to hunt fur seals in the North Pacific and Bering Sea east of 180° longitude may, before entering Bering Sea, or at Unalaska, report to a customs officer of the United States, or an officer of the United States Navy, and have all arms and ammunition therefor on board secured under seal; such seal shall not be broken during the time fur-seal fishing is prohibited. In order to protect vessels found within the area of the award between April thirtieth and August first, but which have not violated the law, from improper seizure or detention, the masters thereof may, by applying to the commander of any cruiser or to a customs officer and declaring that she intends to proceed to a home port, have her sealing outfit secured under seal, and the officer placing this seal shall enter the date of the same upon her log book, with the number of seal skins and bodies of seals then on board, and said seal shall not be broken during the time far-seal fishing is prohibited, except at the home port.
Article IV.
vessels now in the north pacific west of 180° longitude—how to secure safe conduct to home port or to bering sea.
Vessels now in Japanese waters or on the Siberian coast west of 180° longitude, wishing to return to a home port, may enter the port of Attou and there have their sealing outfits secured under seal and the fact entered on their log books. Such seal shall not be broken except at her home port, and such seal and entry shall consitute a sufficient protection against seizure whilst within the area of the award on their direct passage to such port.
In case a sealing vessel, as described above, shall before leaving a Japanese port declare her intention of returning to a port of the United States, the United States consular officers of the port may, upon application of her master, secure her sealing outfit as described above.
Any vessel, as described above, may obtain special license to hunt fur seals in Bering Sea upon application to the United States consular office of any port in Japan or from the customs officer of Attou, after furnishing the evidence required in Article I.
[Page 196]Article V.
vessels wishing to hunt fur seals in bering sea on and after august 1—sealing of outfit, etc.
Any vessel in a home or foreign port wishing to engage in fur-seal fishing in Bering Sea shall obtain special license for the same from a customs officer of the United States, if in a home port, and from a consular officer, if in a foreign port. Before sailing the sealing outfit of such vessel may be secured under seal, upon application, as hereinbefore provided, and the fact noted on her license. Such seal shall not be broken during the time fur-seal fishing is prohibited.
Article VI.
vessels at sea without special license and distinctive flag.
Vessels now at sea in the pursuit of fur seals and found not to have violated the law in reference to the taking of fur seals, and which have not cleared from any port on or after May 1, 1894, will not be seized solely on account of not having special license or distinctive flag.
Article VII.
Every vessel employed in fur-seal fishing, as above described, shall have, in addition to the papers now required by law, a special license for fur-seal fishing.
Article VIII.
Every sealing vessel provided with special license shall show under her national colors a flag not less than four feet square, composed of two equal pieces, yellow and black, joined from the right-hand upper corner of the fly to the left-hand lower corner of the luff, the part above and to the left to be black, and the part to the right and below to be yellow.
Article IX.
The authority hereinbefore granted to United States consular officers, customs officers, and officers of the United States Navy may be exercised by like officers in the service of the Government of Great Britain, except in the ports of the United States.
notice.
Officers herein authorized to carry out the provisions of the act approved April 6, 1894, entitled “An act to give effect to the award rendered by the Tribunal of Arbitration at Paris, under the treaty between the United States and Great Britain, concluded at Washington February 29, 1892, for the purpose of submitting to arbitration certain questions concerning the preservation of fur seals,” will observe that the objects of the foregoing articles are to prevent the unlawful destruction of seals and to protect from unnecessary seizure or loss sealing vessels already at sea in ignorance of the provisions of the act or unable to comply strictly with Its requirements. Should cases occur which are not here definitely provided tor, they must be dealt with by the officers with the above-mentioned objects in view and as nearly in accordance with the law and regulations as possible.
[Page 197]These regulations are intended to apply only to the closed season of 1894, and are not to be regarded as a complete execution of the authority conferred upon the Executive by the act of Congress.