The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-07-17
APPEAL BY SEALERS.
The Victoria Poachers Beseech
the British Experts.
THEY WANT THEIR RIGHTS"
warship Marion Ordered to Boring Sea
The AIbatross Bearing the Ameri-
can Commissioners 60 Alaska.

vIcToRIA, July 16. - lspecial.l-sir George
Bsden-Powen and Dr.. Dawson, British commits
sioners received the sealerz Of British Columbia
ct an interview this morning before sailing ior
Boring sea In the course OF the meeting the
following, as explaining their position, was iuE-
nishsd By the sealers:
Our whole fate seems to rest on the question
whether seals are diminishing in numoers on
tee PTfbilof Islands not. On this question
We 90 not offer any positive opinion beeaase We
have no evidence 70 Judge from, but We nstnI.
ally suppose they are decreasing, as the effect
oil disturbing seals in their homes IN other parts
OF the world has been TO drive them to seek new
breeding places. We cannot but fatnk that tne
sarne effect IL following the annual breakup OF
bands of seals IN these islands, but what we
state positively la the fact that seals are not d.
minishing in nunb beers in theopen sea. Now, our
comparison seems 10 Us sufficient 70 prove this
thoroughly. The Americans claim that seals are
becoming 50 scarce on the islands that they
could not take more than = 600 skins last year,
vet, on the other hand, schooners from Victoria,
during the toughest seas ever experienced on
Bering sea, were successful In securing greater
number of skins than ia any previous season.
This being the ease, we think il great hardship
that the sealing industry should be lest 20 us,
and our people punished, because Americans
have pursued the unwige course of breaking up
the breeGidg homes of the Eeais and driving
them 10 seek other places where they can rest
undisturbed while rearing their young.
There have been no steps taken by either gov
eminent to ascertain correctly whether or not
seals were getting scarce in the open sea, which,
to US, appears TO be the most important matter
which needs inquiry. We think the only man
nsr IN which this can be settled in by leaving
sealing sehooners unGisturbed in persecution
OF their voyages and sum up the result at the
end of the season.
Further ne believe our commissioners are
now too late going north to enable than to see
for themselves the true state OF affairs on the
islands, as seals commence landing on the islands
in the latter part OF May and finish about the
26th OF June, while the killing season begins
from the 10Th to the 18th of July, and by the
time our commissioners arrive the seals, as IN
each previous year will have been disturbed bv
clubbing and killing, and great numbers VIII
have left. So seen. il no unfair are used,
the islands viii present to our commissioners a.
deserted appearance. and they viii be compelled
70 come away without having arrived az any
definite knowledge OF the true state OF affairs,
even so far as the islands are concerned. Under
present arrangements we cannot see that a cor
rect estimate of the seas on the islands can be
made; and, further than that, we will contend
thu the number OF seals on the islands, he they
more or less, does not in any way prove that
seals as whole are either increasing or de-
cTeasing.
We have still many more arguments that we
could bring forward in support OF our conteD-
ffon that we are an unjust3y treated people.
The men engaged in this industry have never
been asked to give evidence in their own behalf
They are denied this right and judged on
the evidence of the very people who
wish to suppress the industry. Even Canadian
officials, who are in position 10 make reliable
mention our respected collector of customs
Mr. A. X Mine. This gentiemans opinion has
never been asked, beyond the regular reports
made in his official capacity to the government
and yet he is better informed than any other on
this Bering question. He has spared no
pains to get together facts in connection with
sealing industry, and therefore his testimony
would be invaluable to those seeking reliable
information on which to form Judgment.
Still another inconsistency in this misman-
aged business strikes us. While we hear from
many sources, chiefly American, that q com
bined feet OF British and American men-ot-war
has gone TO Boring sea to prey upon our COM
1891, clear vessel from Victoria to go on legiti
mate voyage hunting seals in Bering sea.
Now, q ship clearing from Victoria for
s,gn, hsst leaving cay Briush waters. becomes
violates, but we cannot see by what law either
human or divine, vessel following legiti-
mate industry on the high seas and having
distinct sanction from her government for the
same, and the sanction of international law as
well, can ever violate the laws of any nation
and make herself liable TO arrest ana confsca-
ton.
A most unfounded statement which, we pre.
sumo, comes from the United States, has been
published, and according TO this, few British
subjects are engaged In seal hunting. which is
carried on by Americans under British protec-
ton. Now, We defy the United States govern
ment TO show single American citizen owning
shares IN any vessel engaged in the sealing busi-
ness. Every person owning a vessel, or shares
In vessel, must be British subject and has to
make affidavit 20 that effect, and no one but a
British subject is allowed to have an interest
directly or indirectly, according TO law CALMLY
reviewing the whole of the Boring sea business
We can fnd no parallel ia modern history. We
are not accused of breaking any laws. but are
acknowledged to be peaceable, law-abidinp
citizens Yet we are called pirates,
and condemned as such without trial
A law Is passed against us in such
haste as only national emergency
would justify, aud war vessels are sent TO hunt
us down as though were "piratas of Bering
sea, as the American government unjnstly calls
us. No injured people has awaited more pa
uentiy than the British Columbia sealers-
eountry-to see our rights protected: and
just as we suppose the necessary stems
were about 70 be taken by the imperial govern
ment Tor our protection, the British warshinS
instead OF protecting, are also sent TO seize Us
thus completing the work Of destruction hegnn
by the American government, our prosecutors.
number of sealers from the East are in
really destitute circumstances, and will fare
badly unless they receive early relief
PoRr TOWNSEND, July l6.--Iieutenant Com
mGneer bartlett, commanding the United States
shtp Marion, this afternoon received orders TO
join the Bering sea patrol at Unalaska. where
he viii report TO the senior officer for duty
and after the performance of such dutv he is
10 Join the Asiatic squadron. The Marion
leaves here Saturday for Nanamo for coal. On
Monday she starts for the north. The United
States Boring sea arbitration commissioners
have taken passage on the fish commissioner
steamer Alhatross, at san Francisco
SAN FRANCISCO, July I6-Professors Manaen.
hall and Merriam, the United States Rering see
United states steamer Albatroxs