The morning call., 1891-05-29
The Close Season in The BehTinS
Sea.
Seals Cannot Be Taken by British
POaCh0TS.
agreement Reached Between Lord Salisbury
and the United States French Inter-
ference in The COdfsheTies.
Special to THE MoRNISs CALI.

LONDON. May 2S.-Goschen, Chancellor
of the Exchequer, in the Commons this
afternoon, gavo notice that the Government
would introduce bill Monday next which
would prohibit British subject from catch
ing seals In Behriug Sea for a period, the
extent of which will be stated later.
WASHINGTON, May 28-The President
this afternoon received a dispatch from
Minister Lincoln at London, saying that
official notice had been given in the Com
mons that a bill win be introduced ON Mon
day to authorize the Queen to prohibit
British subjects from taking seals in the
Behring Sea. The question has engaged the
Presidents principal attention to-day, and
he had a conference with the Cabinet One
point considered was the adyisabfity of
sending war vessels to the Behring Sea to
reinforce the revenue cutters in preventing
the taking Of seals IN case a close season is
decided upon. This fleet would, Of course,
cooperate with the English war-shipS now
in those waters in enforcement Of the agree
ment as concluded.
1t is understood that the Secretary of the
Navy has reported that there are three naval
vessels that could be prepared for this ser
vice without much delay The news of
GOsChen's action was received with salts
faction at the State Department generally.
Il is taken as an Indication that tie British
Government Is preparing to accept the con-
ditilns imposed by the President as prelm-
mary to arbitration and to cause all British
vessels to refrain from sealing meantime.
The fixed period for the cessation OF sealing
referred to by GOschen probably means the
remainder Of this season. During this time
the arbitrstOrs-fOr it is 10 be presumed the
British Governments action carries with it
the acceptance Of the terms OF arbitration
held out by The President duriag the CORE
gpOndence-WIl have an opportunity to
reach an agreement. In the event the point
OF arbitration IS not reached 1t may be that
some time will be consumed in sending an
expert commission TO Alaska to investigate
the actual condition Of the seal rOOgerieS
and to settle the question which is still at
issue between the Governments Of Great
Britain and the United States as to whether
what is known as "pelagc sealing" or the
killing of seal in the open sea on their way
TO and from the shore T0okeries is fully As
destructive of seal life as has been reported
by the United States Treasury agents. The
revenue cutter Bear will sail from Seattle
Saturday on her annual cruise in Alaskan
waters.
NEW YORK, May 28.-The Post has a
special dispatch from Cleveland containing
an interview with Professor Elliott, the
Smithsonian Institution expert GU seal life,
who was sent by Blaine to Alaska. He
says: The Washington dispatches en- the
Cabinet discussion of the Behring Sea dis
pute show clearly the Government is not
properly informed OF the real needs. There
is no vital necessity for a single fur seal
being killed this year for the natives food.
If the English are willing to suspend the
killing entirely why must the Government
pettifog about the natives starving?'