is forbidden, but on the breaking up of the ice, seals may be killed from boats. SEC. 580. For killing seals before the appointed time each boat is fined fifty rubles and the whole catch confiscated. SEC. 581. For killing seals on the ice in the winter the offender is fined two rubles for each seal killed and the whole catch is confiscated. SEC. 582. For secretly disposing of seal oil, and evading the payment of duty at Astrakhan, the fine is three times the value of the oil thus illegally sold. URUGUAY. LETTER STATING THE CONTENTS OF CERTAIN STATUTES OF URUGUAY, BY THE CUSTODIAN OF THE ARCHIVES AT MONTEVIDEO. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, DEPARTMENT OF STATE. To all to whom these presents shall come, greeting: I certify that the document hereto annexed is a true copy from the files of this Department. In testimony whereof I, John W. Foster, Secretary of State of the United States, have hereunto subscribed my name and caused [SEAL.] the seal of the Department of State to be affixed. Done at the city of Washington this second day of August, A. D. 1892, and of the Independence of the United States of America the one hundred and seventeenth. JOHN W. FOSTER. Señor OFICIAL MAYOR: En cumplimiento del decreto que antecede, debo informar á SS". que la pesca de lobos en las islas de "Lobos," "Polonio," "Castillos Grandes," y "Coronilla," y las costas del "Rio de la Plata" y océano adyacente á los departamentos de "Maldonado" yRocha," se hace por contratistas que la obtienen por periodos de diez años, pagando anualmente al tesoro público siete mil pesos oro y además el derecho departamental de veinte centésimos por cada piel de anfibio y cuatro centésimos por arroba de aceite, que fué creado, así como su destino, por las leyes de 23 de Julio de 1857, y 28 de Junio de 1858 (Caraira, tomo 1, paginas 446 y 488, coleccion de leyes). El Estado les garante á los contratistas el tranquilo ejercicio de la industria, no permitiendo el arribo á dichas islas de buques de ningun género, ni la construction de obras que pudieran ahuyentarlos. Las faenas empiezan el primero de Junio y terminan el 15 de Octubre. (Decreto de 17 de Mayo de 1876, pagina 1480 de la Legislacion Vigente, por Goyena.) Es cuanto tiene que informar el infrascrito. Dios guarde a SSa, m3. aa. (Firmado) Arturo E. Gonzalez, Encargado del archivo. Montevideo. Abril 2 de 1892. Es copia conforme. OSCAR HORDEÑANA,, Oft. Mayor. [Translation.] Mr. CHIEF CLERK: I have to inform you, in compliance with the foregoing decree, that the taking of seals on the islands called Lobos, Polonio, Castillos Grandes, and Coronilla, on the coasts of the Rio de la Plata and in that part of the ocean adjacent to the Departments of Maldonado and Rocha, is done by contractors who obtain their contract for periods of ten years each, paying annually into the public treasury seven thousand dollars in gold, and also the departmental duty of twenty cents on each seal skin and four cents on each arroba of oil. This duty was established (and provision made for the object to which it was to be applied) by the act of July 23rd, 1857, and that of June 28th, 1858 (Caraira, vol. 1, pages 440 and 488, Digest of Laws). The State guarantees to the contractors that they shall carry on their industry without molestation. It does not permit vessels of any kind to anchor off any of the said islands, and does not allow any works to be constructed that might frighten the seals away. The catch begins June 1st and ends October 15th. (Decree of May 17th, 1876, page 1480 of "Laws now in Force," by Goyena.) This is all that the undersigned has to communicate. Extract from the regulations numbered sixteen of the seventeenth year of Meiji (1885). Promulgated on the 23rd of May, 1885, by the Minister of State for Agriculture and Commerce.] [Translation.] SEC. 14. Hereafter the hunting and killing of seals and sea otter in the Hokkaido (Yesso and the islands to the north belonging to Japan), except as hereinafter provided, is prohibited. Any person who shall be convicted of a violation of this regulation shall be punished in accordance with the terms of Section 372 of the Criminal Code,* and, in addition, the skins or other fruits of such un lawful hunting shall be summarily confiscated. If such skins, etc., shall have been sold, the offender shall be liable to the payment of a fine equal to the total amount received therefor. The Minister of State for Agriculture and Commerce shall be empowered to grant to such persons as he may deem fit, and for such compensation as may be determined upon, the exclusive privilege of Section 372 of the Criminal Code has reference to the theft of standing crops, grain, vegetables, etc. It provides a minimum punishment of one month's and a maximum punishment of one year's imprisonment at hard labor. hunting seals and sea otter in the Hokkaido. And in such case the provisions of the foregoing prohibition shall not apply. A true translation. D. W. STEVENS, Counsellor of Legation. GREAT BRITAIN AND CANADA. A BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE LAWS OF THE UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND AND OF THE DOMINION OF CANADA, RELATING TO THE PROTECTION OF GAME, BIRDS, AND FISHES. Over one hundred statutes have been enacted by the Parliaments of Great Britain and Canada during the last two centuries for the protection of game, wild birds, and fishes. For convenience of treatment these statutes may be divided into four groups, as follows: First, those which are designed to promote the regular breeding of these wild creatures by the establishment of annual close seasons, public breeding grounds and hatcheries, and other methods. Second, those statutes which prohibit their destruction by the use of wasteful or dangerous methods and instruments. Third, those statutes which limit the number of persons authorized to hunt and kill them by the establishment of license systems. Fourth, those statutes which prescribe the methods by which such protective regulations shall be enforced. I. At the present time in England there are statutes in force prescribing a close season for all kinds of birds and freshwater fish, for nearly all kinds of game, and for many marine fish. The game laws of England are of very ancient origin, but down to 1869 there was no time of year during which it was unlawful to kill birds not included in the Game Acts. In consequence of the great decrease of sea birds by their being killed dur ing the breeding season, "The Sea Birds Preservation Act" was passed in 1869, which established a close time lasting four months (April 1-Aug. 1) for thirty-three distinct species of sea birds. In 1872 and 1876 similar statutes' were passed for the protection of wild land birds. Eighty different species of birds were mentioned in these acts, and a close season of five and a half months prescribed for them. In 1880 "The Wild Birds Protection Act" was passed, which repealed the three acts above mentioned and prescribed one uniform close season lasting from March 1 to August 1, for all birds whatsoever, in every part of the United Kingdom. Under this act, which is in force at the present time, it is unlawful during the close time prescribed "to shoot or attempt to shoot any wild bird; or to use any boat for shooting or causing to be shot any wild bird; or to use any lime, trap, snare, or other instrument for taking any wild bird." It is also illegal under this act, as modified subsequently, to sell or to have in one's possession any wild bird, unlawfully killed during the close time, between March 15 and August 1. Provision is also made in Section 6 for the trial of 132 and 33 Vict., c. 17. 235 and 36 Vict., c. 78; 39 and 40 Vict., c. 29. 343 and 44 Vict., c. 35. 4 Sec. 3. See Supplement to Oke's "Game Laws," 3d Edit., page 7. 544 and 45 Vict., c. 51. offences against the act committed on the High Seas within the jurisdiction of the Admiralty, no mention being made of any limit to this jurisdiction. Under Section 8 power is given to the Home Office to extend or vary the close season for particular localities under certain circum stances. Under the present fishery laws of the United Kingdom and Canada close seasons are prescribed for nearly all kinds of fish. By the Salmon Fishery Acts of 1865, 1873, and 1876' close seasons are designated for salmon, trout, and char, and for all other kinds of freshwater fish (which prior to 1878 might be caught freely at all seasons of the year) by the Freshwater Fisheries Act of 1878. The act of 18733 further protects the salmon in rivers by forbidding all persons from fixing any baskets, nets, traps, or devices for taking eels in a salmon river between Jan. 1 and June 24, and from placing any wheels or leaps for taking lamperns between March 1 and August 1. By the Revised Statutes of Canada (1886) close seasons are prescribed for certain fish, and authority is conferred upon the Governor in Council to prescribe such close seasons for others. By reference to the accompanying table of close seasons the nature and extent of the different close seasons now in force in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and the Dominion of Canada can be readily ascertained. In both countries the laws forbidding the killing of game and fish during the close seasons are further enforced by other laws prohibiting all persons from dealing in the forbidden articles or having them in their possession during such close seasons." Table of Close Seasons for Game and Wild Birds now in force. Mar. 1 to Sept. 1. Dec. 10 to Aug. 20 .do .do Feb. 1 to Oct. 1 ..do 1 and 2 Wm. IV, c. 32, Sec. 3; 27 George III, c. 35, Sec. 4. 10 Wm. III, e. 8, Sec. 6. 1 and 2 Wm. IV, c. 32, Sec. 3. 43 and 44 Vict., c. 47, Sec. 1. 13 George III, c. 54, Sec. 1. 1 and 2 Wm. IV, c. 32, Sec. 3. 128 and 29 Vict., c. 121; 36 and 37 Vict., c. 71; 39 and 40 Vict., c. 19. 241 and 42 Vict. c. 39. 336 and 37 Vict., c. 71, Sec. 15. 4R. S., c. 95, Secs. 8-12, 16. $1 and 2 Wm. IV., c. 32, Sec. 4; 41 and 42 Vict., c. 39, Sec. 11; 43 and 44 Vict.,c. 35, Sec. 3; R. S. of Canada, c. 95, Sec. 12. Do........ (west coast). Statutes. By Governor in Council under 28 and 29 Vict., c. 121, Sec. 64. "The Herring Fisheries (Scot By Governor in Council, under New Brunswick (north Aug. 20 to Apr. 20....... (See Statistical Record of Canada, coast), Nova Scotia 1886, p. 326.) Do. (See Statistical Record of Canada, 1886, p. 326,) and R. S., c. 95, Sec. 11. 44 and 45 Vict., c. 66. 36 and 37 Vict., c. 71, Sec. 19. Revised Statutes of Canada, c. 95, Sec. 8. (See Statistical Record of Canada, 1886, p. 325.) By Governor in Council, under Do. Do. Do. 28 and 29 Vict., c. 121, Sec. 64. R. S., c. 95, Sec. 9. In addition to the general fishery acts which have been passed at diferent times by Parliament, special acts prescribing regulations for particular counties or rivers have been enacted from a very early period. Instances of such acts are the statutes of 4 Anne and 1 George I, for "The Preservation of Salmon and other Fish in the Counties of Southampton and Wilts" (amended by 37 George III, c. 95); and the statute of 18 George III for "the better Preservation of Fish and Regulating the Fisheries in the Rivers Severn and Verniew."1 Under this first section, in the general division of the subject, may be cited the following British and Canadian statutes, which have for their object the prevention of acts prejudicial to the processes of breeding of game, birds, and fish, viz: That which prohibits the taking of the eggs of any game bird, swan, wild duck, teal, or widgeon.' That which prohibits the destruction of either the eggs or nests of any partridge, pheasant, grouse, quail, duck, or other wild fowl.3 That which imposes a penalty upon any one who shall buy, sell, or have in his possession any salmon, trout, or char roe, or who shall use any kind of fish roe as bait." 1 Oke's "Fishery Laws," pp. 31, 32. 424 and 25 Vict., c. 109, Sec. 9. |