Show A CONCLU ION l REACHED TJe Behring Sea Court Render Their Decision SPECIAL FINDINGS I MADE Tho Decision Appears to Bo Against the United States A Number of Suggestions Made RegardIng Regard-Ing an Uuilorutaudins to Prohibit the Killing of Seals on Land or Sea for Three Tears PARIS Aug 15The Behring sea arbitrators ar-bitrators met this morning and President Baron De Coureel delivered copies of the decision Afterward he addressed the arbitrators saying he recognized the I great value of arbitration as a cause of I peace between nations Heexpressed the i opinion that every international arbitration I arbitra-tion rendered war less probable and said I he looked forward to the time in the near j future when it would be the rule and not I tho exception to settle international differences excepton ferences in this way I Senator Morgan one of the American arbitrators and Lord Hannen one of the I British responded reciprocating tho Barons sentiment and recognizing the hospitality rendered by France The session then terminated amid mutual congratulations and expressions of good feeling The award decides that by the ukase of 1821 Russia claimed jurisdiction in tho Behring spa to tho extent of 100 Italian miles from the coasts and islands belonging to her but in the course of negotiations which led to the conclusion of the treaty of 182i with the United States and 1825 with Great Britain Russia admitted her jurisdiction juris-diction should be restricted to reach a I cannon shot from shore From that time up to the cession of Alaska to the United I States Russia never asserted in fact or exercised any exclusive jurisdiction the Behring sea or any exclusive rights to seal fisheries beyond the ordinary limit of territorial waters i On the second point it is decided that the body of water now known as Behring I sea was included in the phrase Pacific I ocean in the treaty of 1S26 between Great Britain and Russia I On the fourth point it is decided that all rights ofRussia to jurisdiction and to seal fisheries passed to thc United States limited by the cession Concerning the fifth point on which I special stress has been placed by the United States commissioners the tribunal tribu-nal decided that the United States had no rid ttb the protection of or property in seals frequenting tbe islands of the United States in the Behring sea when found outside the ordinary three mile limit The following regulations were adopted by a majority of the arbitrators Mr Harlan and Sir John Thompson dissenting dissent-ing Article one provides that the United States and Great Britain shall forbid their citizens and subjects hunting fur seals within a zone of sixty geographical miles around Pribyloff Islands Article two provides that there shall be acloseseason from ilay to July 31 in that part of the Pacific ocean inclusiv of the Behring sea north to the 35th degree north latitude or eastward of 80 degree longitude until the water boundary described de-scribed in article 1 of the treaty of 1857 between the United States and Russia is reached along that line to the Behring straits Article three provides that during the opbn season only sailing vessels shall be permitted to carry on fur sealing operations opera-tions Article four provides that such vessels shall be required to be provided with a special license issued by its government and to carry a distinguishing flag Article five requires the master of sailing sail-ing vessels to keep a log book of their operations Article 6The use oi nets firearms or explosives is forbidden an fur sealing This restriction does not apply to shotguns shot-guns whsn such are used in fishing outside out-side of the sea during the season when such may lawfully be carried on Article 7The two governments shall take measures to control the fitness of the men authorized to engage in sealing These men shall have been proved fit to handle with sufficient skill the weapons with which seal fishing is carried on Article 8The proceeding regulations I shall not apply Indians dwelling on the coast of the territories ot the United States or great Britaiq carrying on fur sealing I in canoes or undecked boats not transported trans-ported by or used in connection with other vessels and propelled wholly by paddles oars or sails and manned by no more than five persons in the manner hitherto practiced by Indians provided euch InSianp are not employed by other persons and provided I when so hunting in canoes of un decked boats the Indians shall not hunt for seals outside of territorial waters under contract to deliver skins to anybody any-body This exemption not to be construed con-strued to effect the municipal law of either country nor shall it eztentito the waters of the Behring sea or waters around the Aleutian islands Nothing herein contained is intended to interfere with the employment of Indians as hunters hun-ters or otherwise in connection with sealing seal-ing vessels as heretofore Article 9 Concurrent regulations hereby determined with a view to tho protection and preservation of fur seals shall remain In force until wholly or in part abolished by common agreement between the United States and Great Britain Said concurrent regulations to be submitted every five years to new examination ex-amination in order to enable both governments gov-ernments to consider whether in the light of past experience there Is occasion to make a special finding or to make any modification therein The arbitrators make special finding on the facts agreed upon by agents of both governments with reference to thA seizure of British vessels in the Behring sea in 1887 and 1889 In addition the arbitrators arbitra-tors make certain suggestions to the two governments the most Important being that they should come to an understanding understand-ing 63 prohibit the killing seals on land or sea for a period of j from one to three years and should enact regulations to I carry out the findings of thearbitrators |