Sacramento daily record-union., 1890-09-13


poachers, justifes the belief that the Aleuts
realize that the seal fishing industry is in
peril. Their fears, taken in connection
with the reported scarcity of the seals by
the British and American fleets, confirm
the theory that the unwarranted claims of
the English have already resulted in very
serious damage to the fisheries. If it
shall turn out that American and
English quarreling over the Behring
sea question results in the loss of the
prize by both nations, it will be reproach
that civilization will feel keenly for ages.
That such an outcome should result will
be lasting, a burning shame. The mac
tion of our revenue boats in Behring Sea
can only be accounted for upon the suppc >
sition that the Washington Governme mt
has resolved to take no steps to el1eck
poaching pending negotiations for basis
of arbitration. If this is so, Englf md and
Canada are getting decidedly the, best of
US, if the assumption is sound that the
seals are fast disappearing. tt Iat England
and the Dominion Govern nent should
pursue the policy of perp fitting British
craft to scour the sea for T ,assing fur-bear-
ers, is not understandable. England has
as great interest in the preservation of the
fisheries as we. Mr. D. 0. Mills, writing
on this subject in tt e North .4meriean Re
Dieac, says:
Great britain ha' an interest in the mainte-
nance OF the Be nring Sea fisheries which is
shared by no otF ler co9ntry. Nearly nine-tenths
OF the IuT-sea skins taken every year go di-
recIly 70 Lon don to be dressed, at least 10000
peoPle peihg engaged in that city in the work
ol pIeparlni the skins for the market. Here is
an fngnsD industry which depends for it's con-
slhueu eT .istence. at its present proportions at
IeAsI, on the success of the policy of preserving
the ben ring Sea fisheries from the fatal irroads
OF poac hers. As a fur-wearing people, the Eng
hsh n ave as deep concern as we have in the
pfese fvation of the fisheries; and indeed, Great
D. nllt ain could protitably afford to pay some one
10 8ake care of the herd which has excited the
Gu .pdity of its unscrupulous enemies. rather
q IAN have the herd destroyed or be instrumental
N aiding those whose operations, if continued,
must end in its destruction. And, looking at
this question from commercial point of view,
it would be difficult for any nation to justify
| itself il by contrivance or connivanee it should
| De AcCessOfy 10 Ile DTScllCEl Ol
a species of animal which is of commercial i'm
| pOrtance, and which with proper care might be
preserved to commerce for all time. Indeed,
the exigencies of the situation might justify
| combined action on the part of all nations in
terested for the protection of the waters of Beh-
ring Sea pending the settlement OF the present
| diplomatic dispute.
In the present condition of affairs il
does not appear that either the United
States or England is doing anything to
prevent the extinction of the seals. There
is good deal of talk about arbitration of
the question, but to this date the two Gov
ernments have not even settled upon the
preliminaries for basis upon which to
correspond with arbitration as an object
i've point.
The San Francisco Bulletin suggests that
even when it is agreed to arbitrate. if ever
that is settled upon, there will be great
difficulty in selecting the Court. The
United States might choose the Gar of
Russia, but he would be understood to be
biased in our favor. If England selected
any monarchial ruler he would have a
direct interest, since all nations, except, as
is suggested, Switzerland, have theoreti-
cal interest in the matter. The President
of the Swiss republic might, therefore, be
the third member of the Court. Still, it
is not understandable why the President
of Brazil might not be acceptable to all
parties, or, for the matter of that, the
President of any of the South American
States, none of which have waters con-
corning which the question of mare claatsum
could arise.
/, All this speculation, however, may be
premature and without cause, though it
now certainly looks as if the whole matter
is drifting into arbitration, which means
the abandonment by the United States to
the verdict Of arbitrators, of its claim of
exclusive marine jurisdiction over Beh-
ring Sea.