herein. On said day I as master, as aforesaid, did in and with said schooner set sail and depart from the said port of San Francisco, bound for the North Pacific Ocean, said vessel being at that time, and at all the times hereinafter mentioned, seaworthy and in all respects fit for the voyage which it took as herein mentioned; I proceeded with said vessel and crew on my voyage without disaster of any kind until the 15th day of July, A. D. 1892, and prior to said day and in the open Pacific Ocean, more than 30 miles south of the Aleutian Islands, and not in Russian waters, had caught eight barrels of mackerel and one ton of codfish, and had killed twenty seals, all of which were caught and killed on the voyage from San Francisco and more than 30 miles south of the Aleutian Islands, and not in Russian waters; I, with said vessel and crew, on or about the 12th day of July, A. D. 1892, being then fishing about 40 miles south of Agattou Island, one of the Aleutian Islands, set sail for the Kuril Islands off the coast of Japan, intending to fish there, and knowing that my chronometer was out, wanted to sight land to correct the chronometer, and accordingly deviated toward the Copper and Bering islands for the purpose of sighting them, or one of them, and correcting my chronometer, as aforesaid, and on the 15th day of July, arrived at latitude 54° 18' north, longitude 167° 19' east, by correct observation, and had not fished or sealed in said place, nor at any place within 50 miles thereof, or in Russian waters at all, and the wind being light, but the vessel sailing on its course, as aforesaid, and no boats being out from said vessel, either for hunting or fishing, and no one from said vessel being either hunting or fishing. Said latitude 54° 18′ north, longitude 167° 19' east is, by correct observation measured by me, on the United States Coast Seizure of schooner. Survey Chart, No. 900, more than 80 miles from Copper or Bering islands on the high seas, and not in Russian waters; when at said time, and in the latitude and longitude above mentioned, on the 15th day of July, A. D. 1892, as aforesaid, and not being at the time -hunting or fishing, and not having at any time fished or hunted seals in Russian waters, but being at said time on my course for the Kuril Islands, as aforesaid, the said schooner was boarded by an officer from the Russian war cruiser Zabiaca, which said war cruiser Zabiaca was at all times herein mentioned, a regularly commissioned war cruiser belonging to the Russian Government, armed for offensive and defensive warfare, and acting under the authority and by the directions of the said Russian Government; and I was by said Russian officer ordered to come on board of said cruiser with all the schooner's papers; I accordingly went on board, and the captain of said cruiser, after examining the schooner's papers, arrested me, and then had all the crew of said schooner, except the mate, brought on board of said cruiser, and I and the crew of the schooner were kept on said cruiser as prisoners. The said Russian cruiser then and there seized said schooner C. H. White, and towed it to Nichelovsly Bay, Bering Island, and then placed said schooner under a prize crew and sent it to Petropaulovsky, and the cruiser, with me and the crew of said schooner as prisoners, sailed to Petropaulovsky and arrived there on the 20th day of July, A. D. 1892; and while on board of said cruiser, I was by the captain of said cruiser forced to sign a paper in Russian, which I did not understand, the said captain threatening to send me to Siberia unless I signed said paper, and I only signed said paper under protest in consequence of said threat and the duress exercised by said captain of said cruiser. Occurrences following seizure. The Russian Government seized said schooner C. H. White, as herein before set forth, but I do not know what disposition was made of said schooner, but I am advised and believe and therefore allege, that said schooner was repainted and refitted and used by said Russian Government, and is now in its possession, and by it used. Protest. I, as master of said schooner C. H. White, duly protested at the time to the captain of the said war cruiser against the seizure of said vessel, and against all his other acts herein testified in regard to, and on the 5th day of August, A. D. 1892, I, as master, duly noted a protest against said seizure and said acts with the governor of Petropaulovsky, and I, as said master, on the 31st day of August, A. D. 1892, duly made a regular marine protest against said seizure to James G. Swan, a notary public in and for Port Townsend, State of Washington, United States of America, immediately upon my arrival at said city, and said city being the first place in the United States at which I arrived. LAWRENCE M. FURMAN. Subscribed and sworn to by the said Lawrence M. Furman, known by me to be a credible witness, before me this 3rd day of November, A. D. 1892. HARRY J. LASK. Notary Public in and for the City and County of San Francisco, State of California. OFFICIAL REPORTS. REPORTS OF CAPTAIN HOOPER. Orders to Captain Hooper. U. S. S. YORKTOWN, Third Rate, Captain C. L. HOOPER, U. S. Revenue Marine, SIR: When you have filled up with coal, and the vessel under your command is in all respects ready for sea, you will proceed to the Pribilof Islands, and having communicated with the Treasury agents, and received on board Professor Townsend, you will run on radiating lines from that island in order to obtain the information requested in the inclosed communication, addressed to Captain Tanner, of the U. S. Fish Commission steamer Albatross. You will run the first line directly west from St. Paul and continued on that line until you are satisfied that you have passed the outer limit of the seal herd; you will then steam south until the island bears east by north, when you will head directly for it and continue your course until you reach it. Continue this work until you run out on a south course. You will then reverse this operation and follow the compass around until you reach the north point. Continue cruising in this way until it is necessary for you to return to Unalaska for coal. When recoaled resume this work and continue it until you receive further instructions. You will consider this duty as in addition to your work as a cruising vessel, and you will use your utmost endeavor to obtain the information required. If at any time you have reason to suspect that sealing vessels are about drop all other work and capture them. You will receive from the Fish Commission steamer Albatross such portion of her sealing outfit as you may require. Very respectfully, R. D. EVANS, Commanding U. S. Naval Force in Bering Sea. Report of Captain Hooper, dated August 17, 1892. REVENUE MARINE STEAMER CORWIN, Commander R. D. EVANS, U. S. N., U.S. S. Yorktown, Com'd'g. U. S. Naval Force in Bering Sea: SIR: I have the honor to submit the following account of the movement of this vessel since July 23d, upon which date we entered, in obedience to your orders, dated July 19th, 1892, upon the unfinished duties assigned to the U. S. Revenue steamer Albatross, that vessel having been ordered home on account of a defective boiler. The delay in the Corwin's departure upon this duty was due to a short trip made to the vicinity of False Pass, in obedience to your verbal orders to proceed to and guard False Pass until the arrival of the Yorktown. At 4 p. m., July 23d, having made all preparations for a cruise, we hauled away from the wharf at Dutch Harbor, and taking the American bark General Fairchild in tow, steamed out of the harbor. Gave the bark an offing of about 10 miles; cast off and steered for St. George Island in a thick fog. At daylight on the following morning (24th), fog thinning out a little, made sail and stationed a seal lookout; wind increasing to a strong breeze. At meridian passed American whaling brig Francis A. Barker. Too rough to board her. At 3:15 p. m., fog very thick and sea rough, vessel, by reckoning, 22 miles from St. George, took in flying jib and topsail, and stopped engine; sounded in 50 fathoms water, sounding every half hour, water shoaling gradually to 34 fathoms, when, the fog thinning a little, we caught sight of a small patch of sun and a minute later the land came in sight close aboard and we were able to recognize Sea Lion Point, near the east end of St. George. At 7:30 p. m. came to anchor off the village; too rough to communicate with the shore. The North American Commercial Company's steamer Bertha came in and anchored a few minutes later. She reported seeing a schooner off Sea Lion Rocks, St. Pauls, as she came away from the island. During the day scattering seals were seen increasing in num bers as we approached the island. July 25, at 1 a. m., we got under way from St. George and went over to St. Paul, where we arrived and "came to" off east anchorage at 6 a. m., weather thick, wind moderate from the west; saw scattering seals on the passage between the islands. Sent an officer on shore to communicate with agent. At 7 officer returned and reported the U. S. S. York-· town at anchor 2 miles off South West Bay. Got under way and went around to South West Bay, anchored near the Yorktown, and reported to you in person. The sea being too rough to admit of landing, both vessels changed position to east anchorage, where the landing was very good. In company with you a part of the day was spent on the island. In the evening the U. S. S. Adams came in and anchored for a short time. After communicating with the flagship and sending some mail for the island on board the Corwin she got under way and steamed to the southwest. July 26, wind southwest with fog; sent on shore the mail for the island left by the Adams and landed Mr. Townsend, who wished to continue his observations upon the seals on shore for a few days. At your request I sent the seal-hunter, Hodgson, on board the Yorktown that he might be taken to Unalaska to identify Hanson, the master of the seized schooner Winifred, as the same man who when in charge of the schooners Adele and Borealis had raided the seal islands. At 11 a. m. got under way and steamed over to St. George; arrived |