The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-03-23
THE DISPUTE AMOUR THE SEALS
Possible Grounds OF Co-oPeratios Betweer
the British Covers nent and Ours.

Possible Grounds OF Cooperation Between
the British Govern mont nnd Oars.
WASHINGTON. March 22.-It begins to look
more and more as II tho renewal of tho Behring
Sea moius pirendi might become question of
dollars and cents. That Is to say Great Britain
may consent to revive the compact OF 1901 IL
our Government will agree to indemnify the Do
minon vessels for any losses incurred through
that revival.
Or a practical result might be arrived at
by n stipulation that our cruisers may seize
Dominion poachers without hindrance from
England. II we will agree to pay the resulting
damages. in case tho arbiters find that there
was no right of seizure.
Under either proposition the seals would be
protected to some extent this year. Yet there
are important differences between tho two.
Should tho n,odus rirendi be revived. England
would have to bear her part. as last year. In
the labor OF warning tho sealers: and. what Is
OF still more consequence. her official warning
would prevent her vessels from entering
Behring Sea. and SO increase the protection
afforded to the SEALS The Victoria schooners
are probably willing to risk. rs In previous
years. CAPTURE by our cutters. relying on their
Government to secure indemnity for any pen
alties OF conflscation. fines. detention. or i'm
prisonment OF crews and tho breaking up
OF voyages. On tho other hand. should their
own Government notify them. as last year. not
TO enter Behring Sea. in disoheyng that no.
tice. conveyed to them either by British or
American official agents. they would presume
bly, forfeit all claims to indemnity from any
source. besides subjectine themselves to pros
ecution under British laws
Accordingly. 1t seems clear that for the pro-
lection OF seal life. which our Government
keeps steadily in view. tho revival Of the
sulting damages. would be better than tho
understanding that Great Britain is not to
interfere to prevent the execution Of our laws.
on like agreement 1t is true that this latter
course would allow us to Increase the catch OF
the seal islands from the 1900 limit of the
nodus rire,idi to any amount-even to 10000
II necessary. This might make difference of
half n million prs in the income Of our
Government rs a fset against the possible
indemnity. But against this advantage must
DO set the greater expense to be incurred IL
We have to carry on the policing Of Behring
Sea without aid from the British cruisers
and without the assistance OF n warning to the
Victoria people from thoir own Government.
Above ALL our Government is not anxious to
increase ut present the catch Of tho Pribylov
Islands. being DESTROYS rather to give tho
much larrled seal herd chance to rccuperatc.
years will no rewarded by an increase Of the
animals. which would permit n return even to
the 100000 a year allowed the lessees up to
two years ago.
The view of our Government OF course. Is
that no consideration whatever is duo to tho
Canadian poachers on its part Its assump-
ton is that any responsibility assumed by
Great Britain last year to indemnify the Do
mnion sealing vessels. as suggested by the
notice just issued by Minister Topper for tho
filing Of claims. was purely II matter OF do
nestle expediency with which 1t has nothing
to do. 1t was voluntary act which may not
even have been founded in sense OF justice.
but rather in the view that it was wise to as
sumo tho liability for tho damages claimed.
inasmuch as tine Dominion could not deal d.
rectly with the United States in the neRotia-
TONS 1t seems now unfortunate that this
nodus rirendi was not originally made. like the
one on the Atlantic coast. to run for a two
years term: but it appears from the plo-
matte correspondence that England would
never have consented to that. And after all.
such a provision might have resulted in a
still greater delay to provide for the settle
ment OF the whole business through the ap-
pointment Of arbiters. Be this as it may. our
Government naturally objects to being called
upon to perform for the coming year obli-
purposes entered into with certain OF her sub
jects.
Another difficulty is the amount ofthe dam
ages which may thus be claimed by the seal
ers. 1t appears from the notice OF Minister
Upper that this question is still open. and
that claims can be filed for month to come.
Had tho settlement of these claims been I'M
dertaken Mt the close Of the last season. our
Government might now have some general
idea Of the amount Of money involved in them.
But there is no adequate means of Judging OF
them. and it would seem to be Il good specua-
ton for all the available craft on the Pacific
coast to get clearances from Victoria for
BehrlnG Sea, with view to procuring either
a cargo Of skins or a claim for big indemnity.
If our Government should consent to as
sumo this peculiar responsibility. it must ap-
parently DO from the consideration that the
ravages sure to result from pelagic sealing in
spite OF the policing done by our own cruisers.
are too serious to be weighed against any
chances Of its being held liable for damages
by the arbiters. That. with or without the
cooperation Of Great Britain, our Government
will do its utmost to protect the seals is hardly
matter OF doubt