[2] The operations against seal poachers had their origin in the 1880s after Canada claimed the fishing rights around many of the Aleutian Islands, in violation of United States law.

The new force, led by the American Commander Charles S. Cotton, composed of small warships intended to police the disputed fishing zone and inform all merchant ships of the ban.

[4] All of the American ships had marine detachments aboard, with the exception of the Thetis, totaling five officers and 113 enlisted men.

The operations officially began on June 22, 1891 when the Al-Ki hauled off from Mare Island Naval Shipyard for the Bering Sea and she was soon followed by the other vessels.

In late September, as the storm season approached, the remaining whaling and sealing ships in the Bering Sea left the region for coastal waters.