Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-09-19
THE SEAL QUESTION.
BRITAIN ALLEGES VIOLATION OF THE
MODUS viVeNOl.
What tho London Times Has 10 sny u"
tho subjeot-The Matter Not
Serious.
[Rr tolezr,nh 70 the pispatch.l

WASHINGTON. September is.-Sir JuIian
Pauncefote. the British Minister has called
the attention of the Department OF State
10 alleged violations Of the mod" r'rend'
respecting the maximum number OF seais
10 be taken In Bering scs.
THE MATER NOT SERIOUS.
The officials Of the Department of state
decline positively 70 make any statement
respecling the alleged breach Of agree
ment or even 20 admit that any protest nss
been fled The British Minister and hrs
secretaries ara absent from WASHINGTON,
and no information could be cleaned IN
that quarter. But there ARE the best oi
reasons for the belief that the matter AT
issue is not of serious nature or one tnat
threatens 70 disturb the progress ot the
negotiations looking 70 arbitration, a.
though its intcrpOstiOn az this stage may
result..in further DELAYING the settlement
of a question that the President very much
desires 70 bring speedily to conclusion.
TIE POINT 81 ISSUE.
Undoubtedly Sir Julian Pauncetote's
note was based upon presentatlous made
10 him by sir George Badcn-powell and
Mr. Dawson. the British commissioners
who we're sent % Berlng Sea TO wat h
the seal-f.heries in the interest OF thor
Government. Under the terms ot the
ig0.bts rir,nA signed 10y representatives, ~
the TWO governments he sealing company
was permitted TO catch 300 seals ,hi-
wear. Il actually caught 1900. IL sets
no the claim that It had caught a large
number previous TO June 18TH. the date on
winch the agreement was signed, but not
more than 1909 after that date. Inc
British view appears 20 be that 1,5OO SKINS
o .
while the other view = that 1909 might be
taken after the signature.
THE rHuNDKBFR's" OPINION.
LoNDoS, ESG.. September rl'.-Comment-
Ing upon two articles ou the }eriDg sealing
question published IN ~ columns. the
.nes calls the Americans claims prepos'e-
rous. IL saws: Their action "a arbitrary
and high-hauded. Their arguments. as TAR
as they can be put into intelligent shape.
are worthy of the most rlgid school oi
British game -preservers. IN" sea- - Il
wild animal and there Will never be any
DANCER of It's EXTERN nation by hunting on
the high seas. The danger comes from eN-
cessive slaughter when che animals are per
iect.y helpless. If the Americans choose hv
iudi-crimlnate slaughter t. destroy Their
own industry we are helpless; tut they
cannot bee allowed o. monopellze the sea
by claim NJ property IN the high seas ana
their contents. Ii they wall snow res-
s0nable spirit Of compromise II VIII be a
good thing % come - An arrangement
not for close season, winch Is inappro'
pirate O. the conditions Of tue case, hu'
for "a closura during the breeding season OF
al area e e'hsis twenty miles round the
breeling- grounds
AMERICANS NEED LIGHT ALSO.
The Tau,s says that it IA unfortunate
that Americans are equally ignorant Of th'
English facts "A the case. Thor Journals
rarely trouble Themselves @ 10 justice t'
| England and are carefully and systematl
| caily misied bS interested parties. Aecu
ratio information Il accessible 10 any on'
| wishing for Il. since al elaborate repor
wa. issued by the Census Department II
/ le,l, before the matter was involved II
| dense clouds Of prejudice. But most 81
! the ailaslOiS to the question appearing II
| America entirely ignore the official
authorized conr.usi0n, based on caroiu
Study. aiming only % serve the interests o
the Alaska Commercial Company.
TIE ALASKA courAHr's SNAP"
| After doteilins tue manner Of the com
| pauy's operations the I!p,es SAWS Al
| this lucrative business X entirely IN th'
companys hand. British sea.ers never ap
propch tn. sacred breeding grounds. IL p.
the opcn-ses g..anines which the Ameri
cans rudeAvOr 70 stop by asserting thci
| .TepostaroDs territorial rights
No pANGgH or sElL EXTINCTION.
The Tuues correspondent describes tn
sealing industry throughout and combat
the reports of American experts IN resar
T. the extinction Of the seal. lie SAYS tina
all masters IN the sealing -ieet when inter
/ viewed testified that there was no ilminu
ton ma number. but that the seals wer'
harder . catch. being more wary. Ate
tn. md ol Maq hardly auy cow seas Will
young vera taken. proving that the cap
! tlre irom boats ls lot calculated 20 rctar'
natural n rsa-e. The correspondent sug
c,-tsA clos, time i.r al area IT twent
! miles from tAe eul If Nav 20 he Isl Of DE
cemuer. 4s tho mother-s,as feed with
trAt radius during breeding time. Ih'
cOrrrepoutc-t thinks that tho QuestIol
how many should te killed on the Milan
should go decided by commission q
| practical men.