Mr. Adee to Lord Gough.
Washington, July 19, 1895.
My Lord: I have the honor to advise you of the following facts:
On the 8th instant the Secretary of the Treasury informed the Attorney-General that in a communication dated the 27th ultimo the collector of customs at San Francisco stated that he had reported to the United States attorney at that port the action of the master of the sealing schooner Sophia Sutherland in taking seals within the limits of the area of the award of the tribunal of Paris. In transmitting this information the Secretary of the Treasury requested of the Attorney-General such instructions to the district attorney as might be necessary to secure prompt action in the case.
On May 11 last the collector of customs at Port Townsend, Wash., telegraphed the Treasury Department that” the small schooners Perkins and Puritan, duly licensed, report with 10 and 12 skins, respectively, caught off Cape Flattery, a distance not exceeding 15 miles, both schooners owned and manned entirely by Indians. Kept no log book. Recommend they be allowed to enter skins.”
The Treasury Department, further states that the expression “not exceeding 15 miles” is taken to mean 15 miles from the shore.
In reply the collector was instructed by telegraph on the 15th of the same month as follows:
If cases of schooners Perkins and Puritan are not within article 8 of Paris award and section 6, act of Congress; April 6, 1894, report matter to district attorney for proper proceedings under sections 8 and 9 of said act.
This information is communicated to you in order that if you deem such proceeding advisable, measures may be taken by you to secure the attendance at the trials of these vessels of British legal representatives, provided a like courtesy is extended by Her Majesty’s Government, as requested in this Department’s note of June 14 last, in the case of the British schooner Shelby, should proceedings be instituted in the courts of the Dominion of Canada against vessels charged with violations of the regulations made under the award of the Tribunal of Paris.
I have, etc.,
Acting Secretary.