The Indianapolis journal., 1893-05-04
COUDERT TALKS FOR SEALS
He Claims They Are the Absolute Prop
erty of the United States,
And that They Are Raised on the Pribyloff
Islands Like Sheep Ara in Australia-Brit-
ish G. T. U. Split-Speech by Csprivi.
UNCLE SAM OWNS THE SEALS.

Mr.. Coudert Begins His Argument Before
the Behring Sea Tribunal.
PARIS. May Sat the meeting of tho
Behring sea tribunal of arbitration to-day
the Hon. John w. Foster, agent for the
United States, informed the tribunal that
an authentic report of the speech delivered
by James Z. Carter of counsel for the
United States, would be presented this
week.
f. r. Coudert. of counsel for the United
States. then spoke. giving an outline of the
arguments which he proposed TO offer in
support of Mr.. Carter. The defense of the
sealing industry in Behring sea by the
United States was. Mr.. Coudert declared.
Imperative. and an attack on the sealing
industry wae an attack on the United
States. The United States raised the seals
at the Prlbyi0f islands In the same sense
that Australia raised sheep aud il was im-
possible that the nature and culture OF the
seal at the Pribylof islands conld exist In
common with pelasio sea ling. The seals at
the PrIbyloff islands, continued MIR. Cou-
dert, were absolute property. Just az cattle
and sheep were absolute property.
Sir Charles Russell. of counsel for Great
Britain, here lnterpOsed with the remark:
Certainly not"
Mr.. Conders admitted that proof as to
ownership was impossible. Some PROPOSE.
tions were self-evident. although they
could be demonstrated by no proof. how
ever. when the seals were at the islands
they could be branded and their ears
clipped. The British commissioners recog-
nized that the seals were American prop
erty when they said that the guard was In
efficient to protect the seals from raiders.
In that statement the right of the United
tain limit was recognized. and 1t was abb
snrd to say that the United States was nm
able to protect the seals outside of
that limit. Seals. Mr. C0udert argued.
were not fer@ nature: The British
term. Mr. Coudert went on to describe
seal life. The seal, he said, was not
marine animal. 1t goes to sea only to seek
food. 1t possessed the enimum reverend
and the title to the seal as absolute prop
did not interfere with the freedom of the
seals, which existed for peaceful purposes,
and it was not wrong dong on the part OF
the United States TO promote. instead of
impede the culture OF those animals.
The attention OF the members of the
court. counsel and spectators was riveted
By Mr.. Couderts remarkable fiuency of
speech.
Mr. Coudert devoted his argument in the
afternoon to proving the necessity of pro-
hlbiting pelsgic sealing in order to preserve
the race of seals. Mr.. Coudert stated MOTH
ing new in the way of facts, but no pre-
sented the case In novel and refinedly
humorous manner, which entranced
and amused the tribunal and the
great thr0ng of visitors. Mr.. Coudert en-
phasized the assertion that the failure of
Great Britain and the United States to
come to an agreement as to Behring sea as
due to the intervention of Canada. He com.
pared pelagIc sealing to the attack of Don
Quixote on q flock of sheep. and dilated at
length upon the methods of pelagic seal
ing. and especially the destruction with
the shotgun. However, continued Mr..
Coudert. the seal often revenged himself
upon the sealer by dropping in the water
and sinking like shot. nature thus pun
ishIng the offender by taking advantage of
the specific gravity of the seal.
Touching the Sealers' Union. which in
sisted upon having O certain number of
seal hunters who were uDskilled, Mr.. Cou-
dert said that such hunters killed or
wounded many seals which we're lost. The
unions motto, Liberty. Equality, Fra.
ternity," was the true one. 1t gave liberty
TO unskllled men to enter the business.
equality in practicing and fraternity in de-
strOylng useful animals
In tho course of Mr. Coudert sSspeech,
Senator Morgan asked whether, In the
event of the courts recognizing the Amer
lean claims. BehrIng sea would be thence
forth closed to foreign vessels. Mr.. C0u-
dert replied that the sea would not be
closed: that it will remain free to people of
all nations. provided they refrsined from
infractIon of the American laws.