REPORT OF SPEECH MADE BY ONE OF THE BRITISH BERING SEA COMMISSIONERS.* SIR GEORGE BADEN-POWELL AND THE BEHRING SEA QUESTION. Speaking last night at a meeting of his constituents in the Kirkdale Division of Liverpool, Sir George Baden-Powell gave an account of his mission to the Behring Sea. He said that Lord Salisbury told him it was a very difficult, complex, and delicate question; that, above all things, he wanted to avoid war with the United States, but that at the same time he wanted to be strong, to show no fear in his policy, but to show that he was not going to yield one jot or tittle of British rights. [Loud cheers.] But Lord Salisbury had an additional purpose in sen ling him there. Three or four years ago the Americans seized some British vessels, imprisoned the captains and crews, and fined them for taking fur-seals out of the high seas. This country, of course, promptly denied that these vessels were acting illegally, and last summer and autumn, by their work in the Behring Sea, he thought they had finally brought that awkward dispute, which might have resulted in war, to arbitration, and it was his conviction that this country would win in that arbitration. [Cheers.] He spent three months in the Behring Sea investigating the full facts. When he arrived there he found three British men-of-war and seven American Government ships, the latter with instructions to seize the British sealers if they attempted to seal; but the British Commissioners were able, without any breach of the peace, to make satisfactory arrangements which enabled the British sailors there to take home what seals they had got. [Cheers.] He had some difficulty in getting at the full facts of seal life on the American islands, but he managed to become good friends with the Americans, and parted with them affectionately after finding out all the facts. He discovered that no one knew where the seals went to after leaving these American islands, and he accordingly arranged that the three men-of-war placed at his service and the transport steamer which carried himself should explore all these seas. He thought they acquired, as a result of that exploration, all the facts as to the migration of the seals-facts never before known. To do this they had to go through a great deal of rough work; the weather was cold and there was usually fog, except when there was a gale, but somehow or other he found his body thoroughly suited to these elements, perhaps more so than to the House of Commons. [Laughter.] Lord Salisbury had been good enough to say more than once that what was done in the Behring Sea greatly exceeded his expectations and those of her Majesty's Government. [Cheers.] The investigations they had made were important, but the friendliness they had established with the Americans and the Russians had yet to bear fruit, and Lord Salisbury was now very anxious that he should go back at once to Washington, there to consort with officials of the American Government, and to come to a joint agreement with them in view of the approaching arbitration. He was to leave on Saturday next, but he hoped to go back after two or three weeks' work in Washington, and to be able to report that the negotiations were as successful as the investigations. He was happy to say that both sides had not only Extract from the London Times of January 6, 1892. agreed to leave the question to arbitration, but had agreed on the details of the arbitration, and he was convinced that all right-thinking public men, both in America and this country, were delighted to find that this serious bone of contention was to be put out of sight in such a happy and peaceful manner. DECLARATION OF SEIZURE OF THE BRITISH SCHOONER MOUNTAIN CHIEF. BY THOMAS NELSON, Commander, U. S. Navy. I, Thomas Nelson, commander, U. S. Navy, commanding U. S. S. Adams, 3rd rate, do hereby declare that, on the twenty-ninth day of July, eighteen hundred and ninety-two, in latitude 54-57-09 N., longitude 170-18-30 W., I seized and took possession of the schooner named Mountain Chief, of Victoria, B. C., whereof Julius Mohrhouse is master, and James Newasscunis, the registering managing owner, with all her crew, equipment, stores, and every article of whatsoever nature on board of her; the said schooner and her crew being then and there employed in taking seals in Bering Sea. On the arrival of the boarding officer, Lieutenant D. W. Coffman, U. S. N., on board the schooner, he found seven seals on her deck, which had not yet been skinned, and six of which were females, a number of skins in the schooner's hold, and implements for taking seals, including two Indian boats or canoes; and further, that at the time of boarding the said schooner Mountain Chief one of her boats, with two Indians, was out and did not return to the schooner until after the seizure had been decided. (Signed) THOS. NELSON, Commander, U. S. Navy, Commanding U. S. S. Adams. True copy from the records of the Bureau of Navigation, Navy Department, Dec. 27, 1892. F. M. RAMSAY, Chief of Bureau. FOR UNLAWFUL SEAL FISHING IN THE WATERS OF ALASKA. 1888. Sept. 1889. 7. Transferred to U. S. Marshal T. J. Hamilton by Barton Atkins, U. S. marshal of Alaska, by order Department Justice. Steamer at Port Townsend, W. T. March 26. Sold steam schooner Dolphin, tackle, etc., to William Olsen for $1,225; com. on sale 2 per cent first $500, 1 per cent on balance.... $17.25 March 28. Towage, dockage, and moorage paid, voucher 1, 40.00 April 6. Amount returned clerk court, Sitka, Ala Total proceeds of sale.. April 6. Sent Barton Atkins, U. S. M., Sitka, Alaska, 1 of commission on sale.. 1, 167.75 1,225.00 4.31 I, Thomas R. Brown, United States marshal for the district of Washington, do hereby certify that the foregoing is a true and correct transcript of the record in the above entitled case as the same appears in my office, in the docket of T. J. Hamilton, United States marshal for the Territory of Washington, at page No. 99. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand at Tacoma, Wash., Dec. 29th, 1892. THOS. R. BROWN, Sept. In admiralty. Writ of venditioni exponas of the date Feby. 10, 1888. FOR UNLAWFUL FISHING IN THE WATERS OF ALASKA. 1889. 7. Transferred to U. S. Marshal T. J. Hamilton by Barton Atkins, U. S. marshal of Alaska, by order of Department of Justice. Steamer at Port Townsend, W. T. March 26. Sold steam schooner Grace, her tackle, etc., to March 28. Towage, dockage, and moorage, L. B. Hastings, $20.25 40.00 ..... 20.00 1, 444, 75 March 27. Wharfage from Sept. 7 to 21, 1888, $20.00 for four, voucher 2, J. A. Kuhn. April 6. Amount returned into court, Sitka, Alaska Total proceeds of sale April 6. Sent Barton Atkins, U. S. M., Sitka, Ala., † com. on sale. 1, 525.00 5.06 I, Thos. R. Brown, United States marshal for the district of Washington, do hereby certify that the foregoing is a true and correct transcript of the record in the above-entitled case as the same appears in my office in the docket of T. J. Hamilton, United States marshal for the Territory of Washington, at page No. 100. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand at Tacoma, Wash., Dec. 29, 1892. THOS. R. BROWN, Sept. 7. Transferred to U. S. Marshal T. J. Hamilton by Barton Atkins, U. S. marshal of Alaska, by order of Department of Justice. Steamer at Pt. Townsend, W. T. |