Mr. Adee to Lord Gough.
Washington, September 11, 1895.
My Lord: In connection with the Department’s note of May 18 last to Sir Julian Pauncefote, in regard to the action of the Government of Great Britain in refusing to permit British sealing vessels to have their arms and equipments placed under seal by naval officers, I have the honor to transmit herewith an extract of a report to the Secretary of the Treasury from Capt. C. L. Hooper, commanding the United States [Page 670] patrolling fleet, dated Dutch Harbor, Alaska, August 8, 1895,1 in which he states that at one time during this season there were twenty-eight British sealing vessels in the harbor, and that they formally applied to him to have their arms and equipment placed under seal, but that, acting in accordance with his instructions, he declined to accede to their request.
In view of the fact that the British Government has communicated to that of the United States its refusal longer to permit the sealing up of arms and equipment on sealing vessels, on the ground that such arrangement had not worked satisfactorily in practice, I desire to call to your attention the further statement of Captain Hooper in this report that said British masters are unanimous in their desire to have their equipments placed under seal, stating that the refusal of the British Government above referred to has exposed them to unnecessary risk.
I have, etc.,
Acting Secretary.
- Not printed.↩