Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-09-18
TIE SEALING QUESTION.
commcnts Of the London "Times" ON shs
American Position

american Position
LosDoS. Sept Accommodating upon two
articles on the Bering sealing question pub
lished in its columns the Times calls the kmeri-
cans claims prepOsterous. IL says: Their 40
ton is arbitrary and high handed. Their argu-
ments, as Tar as they can be put into intolligi-
BILE shape. are worthy Of the most rigid school
OF brltlsh game prese. yers. The seal is a Wild
animal and there will mover be any danger %
its determination by hunting on the high seAa
The danger comes from excessive slaughter
when the animals are perfectly helpless. IL tie
Americans choose by isdiscriminste slaughter
to destroy their own industry we are helpless
but they cannot be allowed 20 monopolize the
seals by claiming property in tie high seas and
their contents IL they will show a reasonable
spirit OF compromise i. will be a good thing to
come TO an arrnuger.ent not for a close season.
which Is inapproVr. ate TO the conditions Of the
case. but FOR c.osure during the breeding
season Of a. ..r,a Of perhaps twenty miles
around the breeding grounds.
The Times correspondent describes the seal-
ing industry throughout and combats the re-
ports OF American experts in regard 20 the ex-
tinction of the seal He saws that ali MASTER. in
the sealing fleet when interviewed testified that
there was no diminution in number hut that
the seals were harder 60 catch being more
wary. After the end of May hardly any COW
seals with young we're taken, proving that the
capture from boats is not calculated 10 retsrd
natural increase. The correspondent suggests
close time for an area OF twenty miles from
the end OF MAY TO the Let Of December, as the
mother seals feed within that radius during
breeding time. The correspondent thinks that
the question Of how many should be killed on
the Islands should be decided by q commission
Of practical men.
Continuing the Times saws that IL Is ''unfor-
tunate that Americans equally ignorant OF
the English facts IN the case. Their Journals
rarely trouble themselves TO do Justice 20 Eng
land and are carefully and systematically mis-
led by interested parties. Accurate informa-
tion Is accessible to any one wishing for it,
since an elaborate report was issued by the GEN.
sus department in 1854. before the matter was
involved in dense clouds Of prejudice. But
most OF the illusions to the question appearing
IN America entirely ignore the officially author
lied conclusion based on careful study aiming
only TO serve the interests Of the Alaska Com
mercial Company
After detailing the manner Of the conpany's
operations the Tunes says:
"All this lucrative business IL entirely in the
companys hands. British sealers never ap-
proaeh the sacred breeding grounds. Ii Is the
open sea gleanings which the Americans en-
doayor to stop by asserting their preposterous
territorial rights
VICTORIA, b. C.. Sept Is.-The schooners
Venture, Wanderer and Pioneer returned from
Bering sea yesterday, all with good catches.
The Venture brought home .659 skins Her
captain says that If lie had had white hunters
Instead Of Indians he would have secured one
OF the largest catches ever brought TO Victoria
On the 9TH of August the Venture was chased
by the Ihetis, but fog springing up she
enabled to elude the ship. lhe schooner
Nanderer was ordered TO leave the sea by tie
Marion. She brought home $50 skins. The
Pioneer was not moicsted by any of the Bering
sea patrol and arrived with 63l skins, making
her total catch for the season 2.35l.