Page:Alaskan boundary tribunal (IA alaskanboundaryt01unit).pdf/48

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38
ARGUMENT OF THE UNITED STATES

driwing that chart is not known.” As the chart was put forth as an official doenment by the British Adiniralty the outside world has no right to go bebind its Apeetay in order to inquire into the method of its construction, Suflice it to say that it emphatically upholds the American Case. affirmatively, by viving to the body of water con- tended for therein the names of Porthind Inlet and Porthiid Canal: negatively. by ignoring, as noworthy even of a name or survey, the hody of water contended for in the British Case,

In that respeet it perfectly agrees with the Narrative of Viuicouver who said, after be had tinished his boat exploration of it: ‘that proba- bly the finest part of the season hid been devoted in our late pursuit touvery perplexing object of no great yalue or consideration.” Just as Vancouver, in LT. gave the name of Portland to the entire “arm of the sea” so in 1868 the British Adiniralty gave the name of Port- land to the ouly channel in that “arm” which was really navigable. lf by any possibility the faet could be established that the names

  • Portland Inlet” and ** Portland Canal” were introduced without

authority into the Admiralty Chart of 1868, just referred to. how can the fact be explained away that these names were repeated in sub- stantially the same form on the ~ Tritish Adiniralty Chart No. 2481, Cardova Bay to Cross Sound, 1865, corrections to 1884" (British Atlas No, 33) Certainly the explanation now proted on the fave of that chart does not contest the fact that it was actually issued in its present form.

That the Canadian geovrapbers anderstood the matter in the seme way is manifest from the map (No. 42, Atlus Am. Counter Case) pub- lished in I88L in the ** Geological and Natural History Survey of Can- ada: Report of Progress for isT#-st." On that map the ** presumed houndary” is distinetly drawn so as to include Wales und Pearse Islands in American territory. Another confirmation coming Trom Canadian source, is contained init innp (No. Sl of the Lbeitish Atlas) of © British Colombia compiled and drawn by Edward Mobun, C. E. by direction of the Honorable W. Smithe, Chief Commissioner of Lands and Works, Victoria, B,C. 1884.7 On that map the tine enti- tled “Approximate international boundary by convention between Great Britain and Russia, 1825." boldly and distinetly drawa, includes both Wales and Pearse Islands within American territory. Ona map

  1. ’ Vol Ol, Pp. Hd,