The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-03-05
SEALS OF THE PACIFIC.
Final session of the Joint Commits
sion.

Final eession of the Joint Commits
sion.
WASHINGTON, March 4-The joint con-
mission on the Boring sea seal fisheries, con-
sisting of Sir Baden Powell and DR.. Daw-
son. representing Great Britain, and Profs.
Mendenhall and Merriam, representing th o
United States, with J. Stanley Brown Of
the treasury department as secretary, held
its final session at the state department this
afternoon. After signing the joint report
embed ying statement Of the facts as to all
the points connected with the sealing in
dustry on which there is no dispute, the
commission adjourned sine die.
HE CLOSED SEASON.
II is understood that no agreement was
reached on the main question at issue as to
whether or not closed season OF prohibition
of pelagic sealing is essential for the pres
ervation OF the seal species Ii is said that
the representatives Of the United States ad-
vocated policy OF this kind for limited
period and that the Representatives of Great
Britain opposed it. There will, therefore.
be two separate reports on this point.
These, together with the joint report on
matters OF minor Importance, will be sub
mitted to the board of arbitration when
that body shall have been organized.
READY FOR THE PoACHERs.
In the meantime the treasury Depart
ment is making the usual ARRANGEMENT for
the enforcement of the laws i'll regard to the
| seal fisheries, and the revenue cutters Rush.
Corwin and Bear are being fitted out at San
Francisco for their annual cruise In Bering
sea- The sealing feet has already begun
| operations in the vicinity of the Columbia
river, and the treasury department is cons
siderIng the advisability Of dispatching a
| revenue cutter TO see that no sealing is done
within fhraa rniIa9 n tho T1nifaI
ritory.
| SALISBURY AND THE MoDUs vIvENDI.
or course these negotiations have been
closely watched by the members Of the
committees of the Senate and House having
to do with foreign relations. The report
| from London published this morning TO the
| effect that Lord Salisbury has refused to
renew the modus Sivendi under which the
two governments last year undertook 10
prevent illicit sealing in Bering
| sea was received WITH dissatlsfac-
! ton. 1t is realized that the
| arbitration provided for in the treaty about
| to be submitted to the Seaats cannot be
| completed in time to avail for the protec>
ton OF the seal waters and a ounter promo
sition made by Lord Salisbury looking to
! the establishment of protected belt ex-
tending only thirty miles from the shores of
| the Pribylov Islands is looked upon as being
entirely INADEQUATE 70 meet the case.
MUST PROTECT THE SEALS.
In the tendency Of the negotiations the
members Of the congressional committee do
not care to embarrass the executive by any
comments upon the subject, but privately
they do not disguise their belief that unless
the British government shows disposition
TO join in the work of protecting the waters
OF Boring sea from the poachers during the
progress OF the arbitration, the
United States government itself
must undertake the task and
execute the law. which has not been
repealed, requiring it to protect the seal fish.
cries. IL this course is followed. the situa-
ton will assume phase very similar TO that
preceding the adoption OF the modus vi
vendi last year, and the government will re.
sumo the policy OF Selling the offending
vessels, which may lead to energetic pro-
tosts aud perhaps retaliatory action by Great
| Britain