New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-06-30
THE VANISHING SEAL.

The Governments plans for the protection
Of the fur seal seemed to be lax. Ihe poach-
ers have long been at work, putting TO sea III
smcb Numbers and with such formidable ar
engagements for deprelations on the se1l heru
nc arpue the impression in their minds that
they are not likely to encounter much ih'er,
forcnce Certainly they have encountered
LITTLE as vet 1t was only day or two ago that
the information arrived OF the appearance III
Behring Sea of the first American revenue VeS-
sci. Already the seal have for the most Tar'
reached the islands, and many OF the iarges'
bnno,tunities to attack them advantageoisiy
must have been improved. The herd is in no
condition to stand such attacks as the ptacaefS
have prepared to make and probably nave
made. The Treasury Department las done
mich less than its obvious duty in this matter
There is now no question Of its night to prevent
polapic sealing. The authority conferred by
treaty enables it to capture or eXpel all s''S-
r;ciors vessels Its revenue cutters should nave
been ON the ground well in advance of the re-
turning herd and should have given to them
srch ample protection as would insure 'hor
s,fo massage to the islands The most that can
NOW he done is t, guard the female seals dur
ing their movements through the water IN search
of food. This would be valuable service II
well performed, but the laxity with which the
more important one was rendered is very likely
- characterize the patrolling fleet to the end
Of the season.
Fortunately. before another comes around
the Cont Of A,bit. alton at Paris will have de-
fined the question of right involved IN the
ealing con,r,ye:sv, and will clhor have given
to lis the assurance that the scll are our prop
eriy. ard that it is oar privilege t. employ
.yhafeyer measure of fo:cn is necessary Tor 'hcf
protection. or it will have provided Such reg
Nations as will enable us to determine whether
the industry is then worth our having. Inc
closing scenes Of the arbitration are now &C.
curing There is no danger tina; the American
case will not be urd,rs;ood. ], ha' b en- pre-
sented as completely and "a perfectly As IAN
puage allows Even the brief information con-
yevcd by the cable dispatch concerning the
nr,ceedincs is sufficient u show that cach Oh
our attorneys has made thorough pic>ch''-
ton of the facts and the law as the mica
States understand them. Mr.. Phelps, with the
clearness and directnc>S which Distinguish al
he saws. is pressing upon the counts attention
in his closing speech the milc and necessary
claim on which cur case j. founded. Inc seal
are our properly, because they afford Us
valuable Industry, because their habits ana our
ownership of the islands Wherein they breed
enable us t. make property of them, because
Inv our relation t. them we Of all nations are
best entitled to appropriate them, because there
is nothing t. share in them without prejudice
to our superior right, without, indeed the nSk
Of the determination Of the herd.
These are the facts that justify our claim
and in confirming it the count will not be max
ing law. but merely giving new application
10 law that has the sanction OF centuries. The
right of the sovereign of the shore TO extend
his jurisdiction over the contiguous sea Tor
specol purposes relating to his peace and safety
and the safety of his property as far as Is
necessary to accomplish such purposes, has been
admitted and enforced immemorialy. II is an
element of the right of self-defence. and If it
is not he'd to apply to the situation in BehrIng
Sea and to vindicate our claim OF the right 70
protect the seal, it will be strange indeed.