The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-03-07

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within certain number Of rniles OF the
Pribylov islands" Sir JULIAN. In letter
OF the same date TO his own Government.
adds that Mr.. BLAINE at that timc threw
out a suggestion Of radius OF twenty-five
miles within which the sealing vessels
should be prohibited from approaching tho
islands," Lord SALISBURY is now willing
to allow thirty instead OF twenty-five miles.
and can base HE proposal upon the preced-
ing offer OF our own Government.
While this may be very well as justi-
fication In his own mind for refusing to re-
new the modns vivcndi actually settled upon.
the change proposed lie far from being an
Improvement Our Government originally
suggested too limited zone. and both par
ties were wise in changing the whole basis
OF tho mOdus riUendi. Some OF the authori-
ties insist that the seals. In swimming out
from the rookeries In search OF fish food for
their young. 60 sometimes more than fifty
miles. Indeed. IL is not difficult to UNDER
stand that with hundreds OF thousands OF
the animals gathered on the islands, and In
former years even millions, they may be
forced to go long distances. At all events
the new proposal OF Lord SALISBURY need
senlers an enormous area from which they
were shut out last year.
The conclusion Is inevitable that there Is
no good reason for changing the agreement
OF June 10. 1891. In tho way that Great
Britain now proposes. Had 1t been removed
weeks ago in its original form. Its enforce
ment would have been an easy matter this
year. since most Of the sealers could have
received notice OF It before leaving port.
But 1t is quite another thing to admit more
than hundred sealing vessels to Behrin9
Sea. allowing them to attack the seal herd
all the way north to the Pribylov Islands. at
the time when IL ought to be spared. and
then trusting to such protection for the
rookeries as our cruisers may be able to
give by watching the proposed area OF ex-
clusion around them.
II any departure from the present nodus
rirendi Is to be suggested. 1t should be with
view to securing an improvement upon
that agreement. The British negotiators
us we'll as our own suggested other plans
before the conclusion was reached. For
example, they thought at ono time that 1t
would not be too much to allow the experts
sent to Behring Sea Eat least two years In
which to make a thorough investigation Of
this question" One OF Thorn thought
that. pending Investigations, besides pro-
hibiting sealing vessels from approaching
within radius Of ten miles Of the breeding
place. "pelagic sealing might be prohibited
in the Behring Sea. the sea Of Ochotsk. and
adjoining waters during the months Of
May and June. and during the months Of
October. November. and December. the mi
grafton periods OF the fur seal" But now.
while it is proposed to enlarge the radius Of
prohibition around the islands. nothing is
said. apparently. Us to limiting pelaglc seal
ing in tho remainder Of Behring Sea. and the
waters of the North Pacific or the sea OF
Ochotsk are left out Of consideration.
That last years nodus piUendi was Of
value in the protection OF seal life no one
disputes. Its renewal this year would be
still more valuable. and Great Britain should
withdraw her objections to such renewal