The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-06-13
Tho Seals OF Behring Sea.

The cutlery raised In the Canadian Do
minion and echoed in England over the
sending Of our revenue vessels to protect
the seals In BehrinR Sea, shows much mis-
apprehension. The assertion Of the London
Standard that II our Government resorts to
force, the British Government will do the
same Is absurd. The two countries are try
Ing to negotiate settlement OF the contro-
versy on the subject, but meanwhile the ex-
listing status ID maintained. That status is not
permission for private vessels to go into
Behring Sea and shoot the seals wherever
they may be found. The status is the pro-
lection OF the animals by our officers from
this indiscriminate slaughter. If this
protection were afforded for the first time
during the present season, our Government
would be chargeable with i'm porting a new
element into the situation, and hence would
be an aggressor; for precisely the same
reason should the British Government now
undertake for the first time to forcibly
destroy this system Of protection. while
protesting to continue the negotiations, it
would become the aggressor.
This distinction is undoubtedly perfectly
clear to Lord SALISBURY, and there is not
the slightest ground for supposing that our
revenue cutters and navy vessels will be in
terfered with by British war ships. The
laws under which the cutters are acting
last twenty years. 1t is true that only dur
ing the last few years have serious troubles
arisen. But it Is only since few years ago
that there has been any important en-
croachment upon the jurisdiction claimed by
our Government. The case is analogous to
that Of the fisheries on the Atlantic coast OF
the Dominion. There our fishermen claim
certain rights which the Dominion Govern
ment refuses to concede; and the result is a
diplomatic negotiation between Washington
and London. Meanwhile the Dominion pro-
teots itself by fleet OF cruisers which arrest
and punish American vessels that attempt
to violate its laws; but not for a moment
does our Government consider this to be such
display OF aggressive force as to demand
suppression by the use Of force on its own
side. 1t respects the existing status while ne
gotiating for some change in 1t; and that Is
precisely what the British Government has
done In Behring Sea and will continue to do.
The only difference between the prepare
lions of our Government this year and those
VI yVulo 10 Jlldb Luey arc now more
thorough. 1t will have the services OF at
least two or three vessels In protecting the
seals where during previous seasons 1t
only employed one. In like manner the
Dominion has In some years increased it's
fishery protection service; and 1t Is reported
that for the present season 1t has been
made more efficient than ever.
There Is second misapprehension, name
ly that our Government is using It's power
to maintain an exclusive Jurisdiction over
the eastern half of Behr1ng Sea. What 1t Ia
really protecting is not the ownership OF this
vast marine area, but its rights In the herd
OF seals that frequent couple OF islands in
that sea, which islands are unquestlonably
its property. Had not these islands OF st.
Paul and st. George been for generations
the resort OF these millions OF seals,
they would have practically no value what