, 1892-03-05
THE SEAL INDUSTRY.
Grave Apprehensions Over the Re
suit Of Recent Developments.

SaIisbury's Refusal to Renew the
modus vtvendi Causes Consider
able Comment and no Little
Anxiety in Washington.
New YORK, March 5.-The Herald
Washington man saw and asked Professor
Elliott, who is recognized as authority on
the life and habits of the seal. and who
has been many seasons in the Behring sea
as the government agent, investigating the
whole matter, to give a statement as to the
effect Of the English ultimatum, and if it
IS true that the ruin and determination of
the fur seal is at hand. Professor Elliott
said that ''unIess the modus yivendi was re-
newed, that the apoachers will kill prac-
tlcally all the seals left on the island. Shut
ting the Pelagic fleet out thirty miles
would not prevent sealers from getting as
good chance to kill nursing seals and the
mothers as though poac hers were allowed
TO hunt within three miles of shore. One
hundred and twenty vessels manned by
two thousand men this summer will de-
stroy the herd without going within fifty
miles OF the islands Pups will starve
and there will not be enough
seals left to develop herd
Tor twenty years. Congress-" Elliot said
should ascertain at once whether this
proposition of Salisbury is final or not, If
1t IS, a bill should be passed Immediately
repeating the law preventing killing of fe-
male seals on the islands. IfCanadian and
American poachers are allowed to kill fe-
male seals within thirty miles of the
Islands the law-abiding Americans on the
islands ought to be allowed chance to
get their share. Poachers will not pay the
government anything, but for every seal
killed on the islands, the government gets
a tax OF $40, This money should form a
1und for maintaining unfortunate natives
who reside on the islands and who are
wholly dependant upon this industry"
WASHINGTON, March, 5.-The Behring
sea matter has assumed most serious
phase and public officials make no attempt
TO disguise their grave concern at the out
come. 1t was developed today that Lord
Sallsbury's proposition with regard to the
present season, not only to open Behring
sea outside of thirty miles from Pribyloff
islands to 1ndlScrlminaJe sealing but to
limit the catch within that belt, Including,
OF course, the shores of islands to 30000
seals. In the language Of promi-
nent official, "this proposition is wholly
unfair, arrogant, and even insulting to
TINS country" 1t is Contended by experts
that the opening of Behring sea for one
season In this manner suggested would
result in the speedy determination of the
seals and there would then be nothing left
to arbitrate upon.
News from British Columbia is to the
effect that the sealing fleet Is making pre-
paratlons for unusually extensive opera
tlons this season and is confirmed at the
state departments. Inquiry 6ieVelopestf tlfis-
notwithstanding that the Behring sea was
patrolled BY naval officers, Great Britian's
and the United States ucatch within its
fWaters, aggregated nearly 10000 seals.
act that the number so engaged last wear,
II Salsbury's ideas are carried out, there
Will be so many more poachers at work
which would inevitably result in total
destruction ofthe industry before next fall,
possibly before the question at issl1e could
even be submitted to arbitration. 1t may
be stated as a fact that this government is
not at all disposed to allow this to be done
without making a vigorous and determined
effort to prevent it. Unless Salisbury re-
cedes from his present position
and consents to a renewal of last year,s
modus Yivendi restricting the catching
OF seals to such as are regarded as necessary
for natives, it will be necessary for this gov
ernment to undertake alone the pr0tec-
ton OF seals by enforcement of laws bear
ing on the subject.
Probably a special meeting of the cabinet
will be held Monday for the purpose of con-
sidering the subject and deciding upon
action in case of Lord Salisburv's insist
ence of his last proposition.
LONDON, March 5.-Inquiry being made
at the the foreign office today by a repre-
sentative Of the Associated Press, regard
ing the Behring sea negotiations, an Of
fcial said that although he did not wish to
make statement at this Juncture, yet he
could say no information had been re-
ceiyed. The Behring sea commissioners
had failed to arrive at satisfactory entente
regarding the methods to be employed in
the seal fisheries. He deprecated what he
called the animus which permeated the in
formation ece,Yed here from the
United States concerning the matter.