Telegram-herald., 1891-07-20
THE MOOUS vIvENOl.
Victoria Sealing SchoOners Conclude to
Submit to the Situation.

Victoria Sealing Sehooners Conclude to
submit to the Situation.
WASHINGTON, July 19.-Whatever
may have been the original purI ose of
the Victoria sealing schooners, it is
plain that they have already concluded
to submit to the modus vivendi without
efforts to evade it. Several of these
vessels have returned to their home
port from Sand Point and Its neightor-
hood, having quietly accepted the
warning of the Thetis not to enter
Behring sea, withOutwaiting for British
war vessels to order them away.
Among those that have come back are
the Maggie Mac and the Triumph. both
of which were noted for defying the
Presidents proclamation in former
years by hunting ID Behring sea. Capt.
Dodds. of the Maggie Mac, is s1id TO
have made u threat that he would fire
on any American officers that at
tempted to board his vessel. The
Triumph was one of the two vessels
that went up TO Behring Sea last year
after the regular season Was over, for
the supposed purpose of making RAID
on the Prbyiov Islands; and they cer-
tainly returned with about eighty seals
each, although 1t did not clear y appear
where they had been taken. But 1t is
probable that if vesscls like these two
have now gwen up in Bebring Sea, the
others will follow their example.
Besides the Tnetls there are other
navy vessels and revenue cutters en-
gagged in the same duty OF notification,
so that the chances are good for turn
ing hOmeward the entire Victoria
fleet before 1t has done any hunting in
BehrIng Sea. II so, the total eaten of
the season by the Victoria vessels is not
likely to much exceed 10000.
The elaborate preparations made 10y
the British government and ours to en-
force the mOdus vIvendl will not long be
needed. A force of something like ten
ships Is SAID TO have been assigned by
the two countries for this purpose, and
II was even stated that our government
had chartered u vessel to be used rs a
prison ship and stationed 1t OonaIaska.
Three varlous vessels have their orders,
and the patrol!ing of Bchring Sea Will
be kept up at least hy our revenue cut
tiers, lest under cover or the return of n
portion of the vessels to Victoria. others
should remain and attempt to evade
the law. There Is also II specific task as
signed to some of the vessels in taking
to Behring Sea the commissioners of
the two countries who are to collect
evidence TO be used before the tribunal
of arbitration.
The early close of the season will
perhaps be hardest on the Indian hunt
ers who get employment to the number
OF twenty or so 10 each vessel. Those
that live at the Prebylov Islands Will be
taken care OF by our government and
its lessees, but the British Columbian
| authorities may tind come families of
the coast Indians needing aid next
| winter. All other interests seem to
| nave been carefully looked after IN the
modus viveDdi agreement. The VIC
torIa vessels are to be- indemnified for
all losses suffered by them through the
| execution of this agreement and Con-
gress will probably be applied to for
legislation ia view of the great changes
made botn last year and the present IN
the scal-hunting industry of the islands
as contemplated IN the contract with
the present lessees. Nobody can doub,
the wisdom OF checking the killing of
the animals under the joint agreement.
The experts hold that even few years
OF diminished slaughter will grestly
| multiply the ANIMALS, 80 that with the
large royalty paid 10y the Iessees of the
Prebylov Islands IL may b. Tor the
pecuniary interests of the government
| IN the end TO submit TO the present loss
of income. A few years hence IT car
probably restore the annual take &c
| 100, 900, sc during the first twenty
years of its use Of the island.