The series consists of documents relating to Captain Cereno J. Kelley and Captain Donald Urquhart (later the estate of Donald Urquhart), and their involvement in the sealing industry during the period of the “Modus Vivendi” and later. The series also documents the later involvement of Kelley and the estate of Donald Urquhart in pursuing claims for losses as a result of the “Modus Vivendi” and vessel seizures. Documents include correspondence, notes and drafts, proof of vessel ownership papers, agreements and accounts of crew for Urquhart’s schooners, and an account journal for the Urquhart estate.

Series contains material relating to claims for financial losses as a result of the “Modus Vivendi” and supporting documentation prepared and compiled by Charles Spring. Material relates to claims submitted to the 1896-1897 Bering Sea Claims Commission, the 1913-1915 Pelagic Sealing Commission headed by Louis Arthur Audette, and later efforts at settlement. Material includes instructions for submission of claims, drafts of claims and declarations by Charles Spring, statements from vessel captains, crew, and other involved parties, and accountings of losses and damages. Supporting documentation includes material originally used in the course of business during the 1888-1892 sealing seasons, complied by Spring as evidence. Supporting documentation includes ledgers and journals for sealing business accounts; receipts for expenses, including goods and services, duties and fees, repairs and improvements; vessel registries, licenses, insurance policies, and bills of sale; official vessel log books; transcript of court proceedings against the schooner "Winifred,” and other documents. The series also contains court papers, police charges, and related documents resulting from Charles Spring’s debts, as well as a list of court judgements against him and receipts for payment of monies owed following the receipt of the Bering Sea Claims Commission award in 1898. The series is primarily arranged into files by vessel.

Series consists of correspondence related to Spring's attempts to reengage the Canadian government on the issue of monetary settlement for losses sustained due to the renewal of the “Modus Vivendi.” The series includes incoming letters from various government officials to Charles Spring, as well as copies of incoming letters to other parties acting in collaboration with or on behalf of Spring. Incoming correspondence is frequently annotated by Spring with notes or drafts of replies. In addition, the series contains drafts and fair copies of Spring’s outgoing letters and related petitions, memorials, and other documents. The first file of the series contains an index created by Spring of select letters from 1892 to 1928 entitled, "List of letters, referring to correspondence on Modus Vivendi Claims for Season 1892." The letters included in this index are scattered throughout the series files. The correspondence is arranged in chronological order.

Series consists of drafts, working papers, and support material relating to Charles Spring’s efforts to recoup financial losses as a result of the “Modus Vivendi.” The series includes drafts of letters and documents; notes; newspaper clippings and other ephemera; accountings of losses; declarations, petitions, and memorials; incoming correspondence; a daily log book; a Commissioner of Fisheries Report; and receipts. The series is arranged into subseries based on the creator’s arrangement of material into three separate groupings.

Series consists of personal correspondence and documents, as well as photographs (copies and originals) of Spring and his wife. The series includes correspondence with Spring’s son-in-law and an English language correspondence course, correspondence course booklet, a manual on preparing manuscripts, and other documents and ephemera.