Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 27.djvu/976

 CONVENTION-GREAT BRITAIN. APRIL 18, 1892. 953 between the United States and Russia, and will promptly use its best efforts to ensure the observance of this prohibition by British subjects and vessels. Ancrrcrn H The  States Government will prohibit seal-killing for the same Sm. kming pw period in the same part of Behring’s Sea, and on the shores and islands gmf,°d ‘}*Y.U¤*°°j thereof, the property of the United States (in excess of seven thousand ency in axdizit? ` five hundred to be taken on the islands for the subsistence of the natives),and will promptly use its best efforts to ensure the observance of this prohibition by United States citizens and vessels. Anrrcrn III Every vessel or person offending against this prohibition in the said S¤i¤¤r¤ ¤f<>ff¤¤•i¤r¤- waters of Behring Sea outside of the ordinary territorial limits of the United States, may be seized and detained by the naval or other duly commissioned officers of either of the High Contracting Parties, but they shall be handed over as soon as practicable to the authorities of the Nation to which they respectively belong, who alone shall have jurisdiction to try the offence and impose the penalties for the same. The witmesses and proof necessary to establish the offence shall also be sent with them. A.n·r1c1.1·: IV. In order to facilitate such proper inquiries as Her Majesty’s Govern- Iuguries by British ment may desire to make with a view to the presentation of the case °g°° ‘ and arguments of that Government before the Arbitrators, it is agreed that suitable persons designated by Great Britain will be permitted at any time, upon application, to visit or remain upon the Seal Islands during the sealing season for that purpose. Anrroma V. If the result of the Arbitration be to affirm the right of British sealers m'f‘lQ‘gj_';*ggm *`°' to take seals in Behring Sea within the bounds claimed by the United ` States, under its purchase from Russia, then compensation shall be made by the United States to Great Britain (for the use of her subjects) for abstaining from the exercise of that right during the pendency of the Arbitration upon the basis of such a regulated and limited catch or catches as in the opinion of the Arbitrators might have been taken without an undue diminution of the sealherds ; and, on the other hand, if the result of the Arbitration shall be to deny the right of British seal ers to take seals within the said waters, then compensation shall be made by Great Britain to the United States (for itself, its citizens and lessees) for this agreement to limit the island catch to seven thousand five hundred a season, upon the basis of the difference between this number and such larger catch as in the opinion of the Arbitrators might have been taken without an undue diminution of the seal-herds. The amount awarded, if any, in either case shall be such as under all the circumstances is just and equitable, and shall be promptly paid. Anrrorn VI. This Convention may be denounced by either of the High Contract. D“’°*‘°“· ing Parties at any time after the thirty-first day of October, one thousand eight hundred and ninety-three, on giving to the other Party two months notice of its termination; and at the expiration of such notice the Convention shall cease to be in force.