The Wasp — 1891 — page 528: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This satirical cartoon from *The Wasp* depicts a confrontation between Uncle Sam (left, identifiable by his star-spangled hat) and John Bull (right, the anthropomorphic representation of Britain, shown as a bulldog in top hat). The dispute concerns seal hunting rights, with the caption indicating a monetary demand: "Uncle Sam—I—I daren't; John Bull won't let me!" This references the Bering Sea seal controversy—a late 19th-century dispute over whether the U.S. could monopolize seal hunting in waters it claimed. Britain (represented by John Bull) contested American exclusivity. The cartoon satirizes American hesitation to enforce territorial claims against British commercial interests, suggesting Uncle Sam is intimidated by John Bull's economic power.