§ MR. MITCHELL-THOMSON (Lanarkshire, N.W.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs in what circumstances the Canadian sealing schooner "Carlotta G. Cox" has been seized by the United States revenue cutter "Rush," and taken captive into the nearest port in British Columbia; whether, as stated by the captain of the "Rush," several Japanese schooners were fishing at points closer to the Pribyloff Islands than that at which the "Carlotta G. Cox" was captured; and what are the respective positions of Canada and Japan in regard to fishing rights in these waters.
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Sir EDWARD GREY, Northumberland, Berwick)His 862 Majesty's Ambassador at Washington has reported that he is informed by the United States Government that the sealing schooner "Carlotta G. Cox," of Victoria, British Columbia, has been seized by the United States Revenue cutter "Rush" for illegally taking fur seals on the Fair weather Ground off the coast of Alaska, which is within the prohibited area agreed upon by Great Britain and the United States by the regulations embodied in the Award of the Paris Tribunal of Arbitration of 15th August, 1893. The captain of the "Rush" has been directed to deliver the vessel to the proper authority of Great Britain at the most convenient port in British Columbia. By Article II. of the Behring's Sea Arbitration Award, Great Britain and the United States undertook to forbid their subjects and citizens to kill seals during the period from 1st May to 31st July in that part of the Pacific Ocean, inclusive of the Behring Sea, situated to the north of 35º N. latitude and east of longitude l80º west of Greenwich till that meridian strikes the water boundary between the United States and Russia. Fairweather Ground is situated within those limits, but is nowhere near the Pribyloff Islands to which other regulations apply. Canadians are, of course, bound by this arrangement, but the Japanese Government were not parties to it, and it is believed that at the time of the Award Japanese sealing vessels did not frequent the Behring Sea in any numbers. I may add that Article I. of the Order in Council of 30th April, 1894, for carrying out the provisions of the Award, authorises the commanding officer of any vessel belonging to the naval or revenue service of the United States, and appointed for the time being by the President of the United States for the purpose of carrying into effect the powers conferred by the article in question, to seize and detain any British vessel which has infringed the prohibition mentioned above.
§ MR. R. DUNCANDid the captain make the statement cited in the Question?
§ SIR EDWARD GREYI have no information as to that.
§ MR. R. DUNCANasked the right hon. Gentleman to inquire whether Japan had more right than Canada in these waters.
§ SIR EDWARD GREYAccording to my information there is a misunderstanding in the Question, which asks whether several Japanese schooners were fishing at points closer to the Pribyloff Islands. The "Rush" was nowhere near the Pribyloff Islands, to which other regulations apply.