The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-03-06
IMPENDING COMPLICATIONS.
Serious Turn of Affairs in the Bering
Sea Difficulty.
GREAT BRITiIN'S ARROGANT ATTITUDE.
Iigareus Measures to Be Taken BY the United
States Government POaehers
to Be Seized.
Special to THE MORNING CALL

exception Of a few members Of the House
and Senate commit ees on foreign relations
the Senators and Representatives are in a
state of ignorance as regards the present
condition of the negotiations between the
United States and Great Britain respecting
the seal fisheries. 1t is limited by.some of the
members that unless the British Govern
ment evinees disposition to act with fair
pess in the matter of the modus viyend the
treaty may never be sent to the Senate by
the President. While this deplorable con-
tiDgency is not believed to be near at hand
the few Congressman informed as to the
exact situation express privately their grave
concern at the outlook and fear If the treaty
fails and the contentious of the two nations
relative to the right OF their subjects in the
Bering Sea revert TO the status they oc-
eupied at the beginning of the negotiations
several years ago, very serious international
complications may be expected. The dis
cussiOn of the subject has had the effect to
Lttract the attention Of not only the general
pablic. but also enterprsing vessel owners,
and the latter allGred by the prospect Of
large profits, are making preparations for
moving toward the Bering Sea In such
numbers as 10 warrant the belief that IN
less the movement is promptly checked the
seal roOkerieS will be completely depopu-
lated. Such members Of the foreign reia-
tions committees as are conYersant with the
subject are of the opinion that the United
States cannot permit this organized system
OF pOaching to be resumed.
VIII Police the Sea.
They think that in falling in It's
effort TO secure renewal of the
modus viyend the Government will pro-
ceed as the season openss to police the
of f,,1 a,,1
effective fleet, and seize all p0aching YES
seis, regard ess of nationality or the pro-
tssis of interested nations. Il is sjnd by
some members OF the committees that this
will really be in accordance with the eStab-
fshed dpl matte practice, which permits a
nation, while its contentious are the sub
lect Of negotiations. to maintain It's ground
until conclusion Is reached, with the un-
derstanding that if the result Of the nego-
tiations or arbitration is against it the ma
tion will be under obligations 10 make good
any wrong it may have committed upon the
right of the subjects of the party 10 the
controversy.
Serious Compile alton.
Public officials make no attempt to dis
gDse the fact that the Bering Sea matter
has assumed a most serious phase, and eX-
press grave concern at the outcome. 1t was
developed to-day that Lord Salisbury's
proposition with regard to the present sea-
son is not only TO open the Bering Sea out
side the thlrty-mie zone from the Pribyloff
Islands TO ndlScrlmlnate sealing, but TO
limit the catch within that belt, including
of course, the shores of the islands, TO
$4,000 seals. In the language of a prol,i-
nent official, this proposition is wholly un-
lar, arrogant and even insulting TO this
country. Il is contended by experts that
she opening of the Bering Sea for one sea-
son In the manner suggested would result in
the speedy determination OF the seal species,
and there would be nothing lett to arbitrate
upon.
The news from British Columbia that the
sealing feet is making preparations for un-
usually extensive operations this season,
confirmed at the State Department, de-
veloped the TACT that the number of vessels
prepared to engage in sealing this year is
more than double the number so engaged
last year.
Profits of the Poachers.
Notwithstanding the Bering Sea was
closed last year and patroiled by naval ves-
seis of Great Britain and the United States,
the catch of the poachers within its waters
aggregated nearly 10000 seals, and it is
this fact that inspires officials of this Gov
eminent 10 the belief that the opening of
the sea to the extent proposed by Lord
Saisbur ~ means tile utter determination OF
the species.
The acting Secretary of the Treasury to-
day Transmitted tn Congress communica-
tiOn from Special Agent Williams, in charge
of the seal Islands of Alaska, asking an
~
fuel, clothing, ETC., necessary during the
ensuing year to prevent suffering and desti-
tuition among the natives. This suffering,
Agent Williams says, is due TO the failure
Of the supply of klIabIe seals during 1890
and 1891. the people being forced now to get
along with only about 0ne-sixteenth Of their
former supplies.
LONDON, March Enquiry was made at
the Foreign Office to-day by representa-
tive of the Associated Press regarding the
Berng Sea negotiations. A n official who was
interviewed said that, although he did not
wish TO make statement at this juncture.
yet he could say no information had been
received that the BerDg Sea Commissioners
had failed to arrive at a satisfactory entente
regarding the methods to be employed in
the seal fisheries. He deprecated what lie
called the anlmus which permeated inf0r-
nation received here from the United States
concerning the matter.
Exi ierminatIon of the Seals.
New YORK, March a-The Herald's
Washington correspondent to-day asked
Professor Elliott who is a recognized
authority on the life and habits Of the seal,
and who spent many seasons IN Bering Sea
as Government Agent, investigating the
VIZ ole matter. to give statement as to the
Ell eet Of the English ultimatum. The pro-
fessor said: IF the alleged ultmatum is
true the ruin and determination of the fur
seal is at hand. Unless the modus viyendi
Is renewed poachers will kill practically all
the seals left on the Islands. The shutting
of the pelagic feet out for thirty miles
would not prevent sealers getting as good a
chance TO kill nursing seal mothers as
though the poachers were allowed to hunt
within three miles of the shore.
"One hundred and twenty vessels manned
by 20OO men next summer will destroy the
herd without going within fifty miles OF the
Islands. The pups will starve and there
viii not be enough seals left TO develop a
herd OF commercial value for twenty years.
Congress" Professor Elliott continued,
should ascertain at once whether this prop
osition of Salisbury is final or not. If it is
q bill should be passed Immediately repeal-
Ing the law preventing the killing of the
female seals on the islands.
No Chance for Sealers.
'If Canadian and American poachers are
to be allowed to kill female seals within
thirty miles OF the islands the law-abiding
Americans On the islands ought to be al
lowed chance to get their share. The
p0aehers will pay the Government nothing
but for every seal killed on the island the
GoVernmeGt gets tax Of $40. This money
6houd l0rm a fund for the maintenance of
unfortunate natives of the seal islands who
are wholly dependent upon this Industry.
30 many more poachers at work would in
evItably result In the total destruction of
the Industry next fall, possibly before the
question at issue could even be submitted to
arbitration.
1T may be stated as a fact that this Gov
eminent Is not at ell disposed to allow this
70 be done without making a vigorous and
determined effort to prevent it. Unless Sal
isbury recedes from his present position
and consents to a renewal of last years
modus yiyend restricting the catch OF seals
TO such as arc regarded as necessary for the
welfare OF the natives 1t will be necessary
for this Government to undertake alone the
protection OK the seals by the enforcement
OF the laws bearing on the subject"
1t is probable a special meeting OF the
Cabinet viii be held Monday for the pnr-
pose OF considering the subject and decii-