Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1892-03-17
THE FISHERIES SITUATION
Bone Senators Regard it as
Very Serious.
THE DEBATE IN THE SENATE
Reply of the President to
Lord Salisbury.
Thc Senate Not Disposed to Act Hastily
--RetalIatory Measures Towards Canada
Suggested, as the Canadian Fishermen II
Are Mainly Responsible for the Trouble.

tne SITUATION growing ONt OF the seal ilSli-
cries dispute rs very serious, and they are
not inclined to act hastily in the matter It
Us very probable, however, that IL no Salts
factory agreement is reached at an early
date the privilege of shipment Of goods in
bond through the United States now en-
joyed by Canada will be revoked as is con,
templacd by the bill introduced by SEN
ator Morgan to-day. It is the understand
ing that it is Canada rather than Great
Britain that has stood in the way Of the
satisfactory settlement of the seal ques-
ton and some retaliutory measure may
have the effect of bringing the Canadians
TO better terms. II may be simply dialec-
tics on the part of Lord Salisbury when he
speaks of striking down the fur seal herd
i, next season in lIehring Sea as he would of
cutting crop of grass in meadow--that
no harm will be done, because 'the grass
will be reproduced next year, and so will
the seals"
, "oh," say the British agents, there are
million seals up there. healthy seals. and
there is no danger Of determination Of the
species. Our people have said that there
was million seals up there in 1880, old,
| young and newly born. That is very true,
but a million seals thus aggregated do not
yield, even il fully protected, more than
| l2,oO TO l5,0OOsurpius young males which
can safely be taken by man on the islands
The large balance Of that surplus young
male life Is devuured by natural enemies,
such as killer whales, sharks &C. from
which man cannot protect the herd. These
natural enemies will prey upon these seals
as long as a seal is left, and Just about So
many must be counted on as cerlan,tu be
destroyed IN spite of all that We can do.
Lord Salisbury's agents affect to over
look this important matter when they
speak of 10 danger from the work of n
pelagic fleet in Behrng Sea next summer
and fall, from July to the end of October.
This fleet will not number less than rs
vessels, and will he manned by at least
$500 Canadians, Americans Japanese and
Indian hunters. This ilotila, even il kept
80 miles, or 100. or l50 miles away from
the Pribyloy rookeries can and will prac-
tieally annihilate the breeding herd II
will take at least 10000 to 10000 skins,
and in doing this indiscriminate killing Of
pregnant and nursing mother seals that
catch of l25O00 skins will represent de-
struction of at least 10000 to 400, OOO ami
mails, % per cent of the number being
females ana their offspring. If this shame
ful killing is to be done, ii it must come TO
that, then, as an act Of mercy, the law
should be so changed as 10 let our people
kill the female seals on the islands. II is
vastly more human and far less wasteful
than to have these creatures shot, speared,
manned and harassed in the water by
such fleet next summer.
DEBATE IN THE SENATE.
The Senate spent nearly three hours this
afternoon i'll the consideration of the
Behring Sea seal fisheries question. The
subject came before il through the prnsen-
tation by the Nice-presidcnt of the Presi-
dents message transmitting the CORE
spondence ON the subject since May 4th,
1881, between this government and the
government of Great Britain. The Presi
dents letter of transmttal was read, and
in answer to 4 general demand a great deal
.lI Han ais
executive CLERK for the information of
senators. This proceeding consumed much
oi the time during which the Senate was
i'll executive session, ON the conclusion
of the reading another debate very similar
III character to that which characterized
yesterdays proceedings was begun. More
over, the same speakers occupied the floor
and gave reasons to strengthen the argil-
nicnl advanced by them yesterday in favor
OF and against the ratification of thetreaty.
The committee on foreign relations
through its chairman, stated, in answer Ia
aqucstton, that il had not vet been able to
tullv consider tile treaty and report II Ii
the Senate. 1t appeared from the discus
sion that large majority of the senators
We're of opinion that The treaty should bt
amended by the addition Of Il clause pro
ylding for the renewal of the mudus
vivcndi, or that the resolution Of ratica-
tion, as already indicated. should be :ic
to withhold exchange Of raiiiicatons unit
Great Britain consented to a renewal
A great deal of discussion consisted ol
questions and answers relative TO tn,
actual condition Of the seal fisheries al
present and the exact effect of the opera.
ions of The poachers. 1t appeared ilat
very few Ol the senators We're informed on
hese essential points. The chairman oi
the committee On foreign affairs, Senator
Sherman, called attention tothc significant
fact that Lord salisbury had in the CORE
spondence rrpudated any responsibility
on the part Of his government for the
action of the poachcrs. The senator
thought the United states had gained il
its contention throughthis admission. IL,
urged strongly that when the treaty was
reported il should be ratified by the Senate
taking the ground that by doing so TIN
United States would give evidence to tho
world of its willingness to arhlratc the
questions involved. The President might
he relied on thereafter To continue his
efforts to secure the consent Qf Great
Britain to a renewal of the modus vivendi
il he failed TO receive this consent, il woult
make plain to the world that Great Brit
am was not prepared to act with iair
ness in the arbitration. Moreover, ther
was, in his opinion, no reason why, II
that event, the Unitc,i States should seel
for England's corporation in the protec
tion of our own property. Ii there was
failure to secnfe u renewal of the agree
ment, the President could be relied upOI
TO execute the laws and seize all offending
vessels.
Senator Allison took similar grounds, a
did Senator Morgan, while other Demo
cratic senators declared their intention &
support the President in any patriotic
movement Of that Kind, senator Teller
however, had grave doubts as to the abilit,
of the United States to protect the seal
without the cooperation OF England liz
pointed to The obstacles in the way of ell
cient police patrol Of the large area o
water, and felt that 1t would be beyond th
ability OF our government to cliceiuall,
exclude ponchcrs unless England joined ii
the proclamation Of exclusion.
AT the conclusion of the debate ii wa
ordered that all of the documents shoult
be printed and then made public. II wa
the common understanding that the treat.
should be Kept DctOre the senate until tn
correspondence had progressed sufficient,
10 enable the senators to form an idea rs t
the attitude which Great Britain intend
finally to assume in respect to the modu
viyendi.
THE REPLY To SALISBURY.
Most of the correspondence sent to tn
Senate to-day has already been published
In the response sent yesterday, Assistan
Secretary Wharton states that the Presi
dent notices with the deepest regret tn
indisposition of her majestys government
to agree upon All effective modus for tn
preservation of the seals in the Behrin!
Sea pending the settlement of the respec
tive rights OF the two governments IN thos
waters and in the fur seal fisheries therein