The morning call., 1892-03-11
SEALS AND SEALERS.
How the Fur-Poachers Are Yearly Clean
ing Tn Boring Sea,

ing Up Boring Sea.
1.-THE action Of England in refusing to
renew the modus viyendi," said Mr.. Isaac
Liebes to a representative of The
CALL yesterday, us In perfect keeping
with the commercial ideas which ever
govern all British diplomates. Early in
1891 the governments Of Great Britain
and the United States entered into
an agreement to mutually suppress poach-
ing in Boring Sea until the entire matter
could be arbitrated. Now, pending this
settlement, Great Britain recedes from her
position in the conference aud envltes the
determination Of the seal, the fate Of which
she processes to make such an effort to save.
Unless the two governments combine to
check the wholesale slaughter OF the female
seals 10 few years there wont be a seal left
in Boring Sea. Then Salisbury will forget
that that body OF water ever existed.
81 see it stated that the Marquis will not
object to the prohibition being limited to a
zone of not more than thirty miles around
the Pribyl0f Islands, provided that the
catch on the Islands be limited to 900.
This thiriy-mi prohibition would protect
the breeding Islands as effectually as a circle
of sawGust poured out on the surrounding
sea. The nurslng seal goes so far out in her
food excursions that she is as easily caught
thirty miles away as she would be three
miles of shore. The sealing vessels are in
creasing all the time. and this season large
feet will head for Boring Sea. II they are
not checked they will destroy the whole
herd before it gets inside the thirty
limit.
The Canadian Minister Of Marine Upper
says that the modus vivendi is not neces-
sary for the preservation of seal lie, as
held by the United States, and the only
danger of determination is by the whole
sale slaughter caNed on by the natives
and the Alaska Company at tile breeding
grounds. Last year only the number
agreed upon, 900 males. were killed by the
company at the grounds, while according to
the estimates of Professor Elliott, whose
authority is unq9esuOned, the pelaglc catch
marketed $1,000 skins; ard this means the
actual killing If 10000 adult animals, 80
per cent always being females, most of
them heavy with young. or the destruction
Of at leas; SOC, COO seals-or more likely 400,-
0O0 old and young.
Take off all restrictions, as Great Britain
evidently desires, and the poaching of one
season will finish the seal forever / inn
agine the English diplomates Think this the
better way 10 settle the troublesome ques-
ton"
81 am glad to see Mr.. Blaine take such a
decided stand" said Mr.. Louis Sloss to a
CALL representative yesterday. The
course Of the United States Government
has all along in this question been marked
by the most fair and most humane motives
The Russian possessions in America cost us
S7.200,G00, and about the only return the
Government gets is the rent and revenue
from the seal roOkeries there.
Thus, you see, the Government tries In
every conceivable way to handle our pur-
chased possessions justly and humanely.
In this spirit the seal mother is followed by
a nau-of-war and guarded as she swim
northward to islands where she bears her
young. When she swims out at sea to find
the food that nourishes her sucking young
on shore, that same war vessel must keep
close alongside, that its guns may defend
ner as she searches for her finny food
1.-The very liberal concession of Salisbury
To limit us to within thirty miles of the
island shores and 10000 seals, and LET the
world poach around US is exceedingly good.
In one season they would clean Bering Sea
out as though they had combed it with a fine
tooth comb. Minister Upper says that tho
modus vivendi is not necessary to the pre-
servation If seal lie as held by the United
States. That is an astonishing statement,
as The company's catch is restricted to 1900
seals-young males. and the Ielagic fleets
took about 20, 600 last year OF both sexes and
destroyed about 200 600 more.
- the fact is the English Government Is
better posted than we are and are handling
us automatically. It's q game OF British
buff, and I'm glad to see Blaine call EN-"