Canada, 84.

=Bering, Vitus= (1681-1741). Born at Horsens, Denmark. Joined the
Russian navy in 1704; and in 1725 sent by Peter the Great to explore the
waters east of Kamchatka, and examine the American coast. After a
three-years' journey overland, reached the eastern coast of Siberia,
built vessels there, and in 1728 followed the coast north to the Arctic,
proving that Asia and America were not united. In 1733 set out again on
the long overland journey, hampered with a huge retinue, and it was not
until 1741 that his ships were ready at Petropaulovsk. Sailed to the
east, reached and explored the American coast, and was wrecked on what
was afterwards known as Bering Island, where he died, Dec. 8, 1741.
=Index=: =D= His explorations, 39, 40; his death, 1741, 40. =Bib.=:
Lauridsen, _Vitus Bering_; Muller, _Voyages from Asia to America_; Laut,
_Vikings of the Pacific_.

=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 represented 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=: =D= Influenced by Russian occupation, 38; settled
under Paris award, 1897, 283; history of dispute 340-341.

=Berkeley, George Cranfield= (1753-1818). Entered the navy, 1766;
accompanied Cook in survey of coast of Newfoundland and Gulf of St.
Lawrence, 1766-1769; and was on the _Victory_ at Ushant, 1778. In 1786
surveyor-general of ordnance, 1786; and vice-admiral on the Halifax
station, 1805-1807, during which time occurred the affair between the
_Chesapeake_ and the _Leopard_. =Index=: =Bk= Gave instructio