EXHIBIT I.
Extract from the Report of the Commander of the Second-Class Cruiser Zabiaka dated August 11, 1892, No. 354.
On the 31st of July, being sheltered by the southern extremity of the Medny Island, and off the western coast, I was notified between 12 and 1 o’clock by a signal from shore that from the western coast of the island a schooner had been sighted. I at once circled the extremity of the island, and saw at a distance of 3 miles from shore three sails, which disappeared in the distance. On approaching we discovered that they were three poaching vessels, which fled at the approach of the cruiser.
[Page 316]On reaching these boats, which were found to belong to the schooner Sayward, I gave orders to seize them. The boats, with nine men, guns, and eight seals just killed, were taken aboard the cruiser and confiscated. The boats and guns were sold at auction in the village of Nicolsk for 200 rubles. At the court of inquiry these aliens declared to me the point at which the schooner lay, at southwest 45°, and I made way thither. Shortly thereafter we sighted the schooner, and at 4.30 we hove to in close proximity to the latter. The captain being requested to report aboard the cruiser with his ship’s papers, presented himself; but I discovered that I had made a mistake. The poachers had misdirected me. This vessel proved to be the English schooner Vancouver Belle, commanded by Capt. W. H. Copp, 23 men in crew. There were aboard the schooner nearly 600 seal skins, salt, powder, and arms. I ordered her confiscation, since it developed from her log book that a portion of the seals had been caught in the strait between the islands. I took the captain and crew aboard, and I charged Lieutenant Eoltchak to conduct her to Petropavlovsk. Immediately after the seizure a dense fog gathered, which robbed me of all possibility of discovering the cruiser Sayward. At 6.15 the fog lifted somewhat, and at a short distance I again sighted a schooner in 54° 10’ latitude north and 168° 22’ longitude east. The captain being requested to come aboard, presented his papers and his log book.
I learned from the log book that the American schooner Kate and Anna, detained by me at considerable distance off the islands, had twice been in the strait between the islands of Bering and Medny; that according to the captain’s word he had passed into the strait on account of the bad weather, and had not caught any seals in Russian waters.
There were absolutely no convincing proofs against the schooner; therefore, on account of the irregularities of the log book, I took all the seal skins to the number of 124 and allowed the latter to depart, after giving him warning.
The above extract is in conformity with the original report, which was upon the books of the acting major-general of marine, 1892, No. 194.
Governor in Chancery of the Ministry of Marine.
Deputy of the Jurisconsulate.