The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1892-03-16
PROTECT THE SEALS
Preparing an Increased Naval
Force for Behring Sea.
LORD SALISBURY STILL sILEgT.

AS No Answer to the Presidents
Latest Communication Has Been
Received, Our Government Is Pro
ccedinS Quietly In Pcrfccting Ar
Poachers.
WASHINGTON, March 18.-The cabi-
net yesterday had another discussion of
the Behring sea question, but as Salis-
bury has not replied there is no change
IN the situation. However, large num-
Der of senators were among the presi-
dents callers during the morning, and
by the time the cabinet assembled the
president had pretty fair view Of the
opinion Of the senate on the question.
The senatorial visitors were Senators
Allison, Chandler, Wilson, Casey and
Sanders.
The navy department, acting in con-
junction with the treasury department,
Is preparing the revenue marine cutters
for Behring sea service. II has always
been the custom to send three Of the
service 10 Behring sea, and they were
there last year, and this spring they are
being put in preparation for the cruise.
Getting a Fleet In Readiness.
The cutters are the Bear, the Rush
and the Corwin. The Wolcott is at Pu-
get Sound and will remain there, but
the others will go as soon as possible to
Behring sea. The navy department is
taking steps to charter more vessels to
aid as receiving ships for prisoners cap
tured should the United States have to
protect the sea.
Last year one vessel was so chartered,
but this year more will be needed and
preparations are being made to this eff
feet. Thus good sized fleet will be in
service to protect the seas should the
modus vivendi not be renewed. The
president sent to the senate this week
a message in response to resolution
passed at q previous executive session,
asking for information as to the effect of
pelagic or open sea sealing,
Are the Seals Diminishing?
1t was the agreement signed by the
four Behring sea commissioners, Messrs.
Mendenhall and Merriam on the part of
the United States and Sir George Daw-
son and Mr.. Baden-Powell, to the effect
that since Russia had transferred Alaska
TO the United States there has been a
diminution in the number Of seals by
the hand of man.
This statement, so directly opposite to
the position SO tenaciously upheld by
Lord Salisbury, naturally created con.
siderable discussion in the senate Before
the communication was referred to the
committee on foreign relations it was
read.
The debate was nearly all of con-
versational nature, although Senator
White, of Louisiana, INDUCED in an
argument to prove that the English
commissioners, when they conceded the
diminqtion of the seals since Russias
transfer Of the Behling sea, had done it
for the purpose of entrapping the United
States into the position that it was the
Americans who We're responsible for the
decrease.
The probabilities are now that if an
answer is not received before night the
president will remind Lord Salisbury of
The Importance of the matter and re-
guest an answer to his communication.
LONDON, March l6.-The st. James
Gazette publishes letter signed "A
Member of the House of Commons" in
which the writer express the hope that
England will not insist upon her claims
IN the Behring sea matter, legitimate as
he believes them to be, as such insstance
will mean the annihilation OF valuable
Industry