No. 395.
Mr. Fish
to Mr. Bingham.
Washington, September 20, 1875.
Sir: Your dispatch No. 254, dated August 4, upon the subject of the violation by Americans of the regulations of Japan respecting the hunting of sea-otters in the waters of its northern coasts, and communicating information relative to the hazards run by such adventurers, has been received.
In reply to your suggestion that it might be well to issue a proclamation of warning to all registered American vessels, I have to state that, however irregular, or even illegal, the prosecution of this traffic may be, it does not appear that the matter is of sufficient gravity to call for an executive proclamation. A semi-official notice of caution may be prepared and published.
I am, &c.,