THE ANGLO-AMERICAN FISHERIES DIFFICULTY. H.M.S. AMPHION FOR BEHRING SEA.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 377, 15 June 1889, Page 5

THE ANGLO-AMERICAN FISHERIES DIFFICULTY. H.M.S. AMPHION FOR BEHRING SEA.

By the Island steamer Richmond lately a report was received from Valparaiso (Chili) via Tahiti that the British war-vessel Amphion had arrived at Che Chilian port of Coquimbo, and left, it was supposed for Samoa. Some doubt was felt at the time as to her destination, and news is now to hand trom San Francisco via Sydney that the Amphion proceeded up the American coast to 'Frisco, wbero she arrived on the 4th ult., having called at Callao, Octavia Bay and Acapulco en route. From San Francisco the man-of-war has sailed for Esquimault, on the northern extremity of the British Columbia coast, near the boundary of Alaska, and it was reported that she was bound thence in order to protect British interests in the vicinity of Behring Sea, in consequence of the present difficulty with regard to the dispute as to fishery rights in the sea. An American revenue steamer has already seized a British Columbian schooner engaged sealintr in the Straits, the American Government claiming the sole right to the fisheries within the boundaries of the sea, and as she is roporfced by cable to be sending out more armed revenue vessels, with orders to seize all British vossels found fishing in those water?;, there are indications of further complication and difficulties. The Amphion is a formidable vessel of 4,300 tons and 5,550 hoise-power, and is a twin screw war - steamer of the second class. She has an armament of 10 6-in breechloaders, 4 31b quick-firing guns, and 13 assorted machine guns, 4 torpedo tubes above water and 2 17-knot torpedo boata. On her way up the American coast, when off Monterey, her senior surgeon, J. A. Veasey, died on the 2nd ult. ot pneumonia. Auckland Star.