Bering Sea Question
Arose out of a dispute as to the seal-fisheries
of Bering Sea. Several Canadian sealers were seized by the United States
in 1886, on the plea that these waters constituted a mare clausum, or
closed sea. Similar seizures were made in 1887 and 1889. Finally the
British and United States governments agreed to submit the question to
arbitration. The Commission met at Paris in 1893. Lord Hannen and Sir
John Thompson represe
ted British interests; the United States was
represented by Judge Harlan and Senator Morgan. The other arbitrators
were Marquis Visconti Venosta of Italy, Gregora W. Gram of Sweden, and
Baron de Courcel of Belgium, who presided. The decision was in favour of
Great Britain, and contrary to the claim of the United States to
jurisdiction over the waters of the Bering Sea and the seals visiting
the coasts and islands of Alaska. Regulations were provided for the
better protection of the fisheries; and the United States was required
to compensate the Canadian sealers for the unlawful seizure of their
vessels. =Index=: (Sir James Douglas era) Influenced by Russian occupation, 38; settled
under Paris award, 1897, 283; history of dispute 340-341.