Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1893-08-24
FOR AND AGAINST Us.
The Behring Sea ArbItrators Render Their
Decision.

PARIS, Aug. 15.-The decision of the
Behring sea tribunal OF arbitration
was handed down at HOY O'Clock
this morning. Five points of article
6 are decided against the United
States. The close season is established
to begin May ] and to continue until
July 81. This close season shall be
observed both in the North Pacific
ocean and Behring sea. A protected
zone is established extending for sixty
miles around the islands. Pelagic
sealing is allowed outside the zone in
Belring sea from August 1. The use
of firearms in sealing is prohibited.
The American arbitrators have en-
pressed their satisfaction with the
text of the decision.
Baron De Courcel, after the decision
was rendered, thanked the arbitrators
for the close and intelligent attention
brought to bear upon tie case Lord
Hammer and Senator Morgan, in reply
ing to the president of the tribunal,
acknowledged his courtesy and his
hospitality.
The American arbitrators believe
that the regulations decided upon by
the tribunal mean practically the end
of pelagic sealing, and that they are
better terms than were heretofore
offered to the United States by Great
Britain as a settlement OF the ques-
tion involved.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 15.-Cable ad-
vices to the secretary OF state, state
that the Behring sea tribunal had de-
cided that Russia did not assert and
exercise exclusive jurisdiction in
Behring sea and the seal fisheries
therein prior to the cession OF Alaska
| to the United States. Consequently
Great Britain never conceded such
rights to the Russians. Also that
Behring sea was not included in the
phrase "Pacific Ocean," as used in
the treaty of 1925 between Great
Britain and Russia. Consequently no
exclusive rights of Jurisdiction over
Behring sea and the seal fisheries
therein passed to the United States
with Alaska under the treaty OF 1867
| PARIS, Aug. 15.-In an interview to-
day Hon. John w. Foster, American
agent to the Behring sea tribunal o
arbitration, said that under the de
cision OF the tribunal no pelagic seal
ing can now be carried on between
May 1 and July 81. After that time
such sealing may be prosecuted II
Behring sea with spears ut a distance
OF sixty miles from the islands. This
decision limits pelagic sealing to mar
row bounds. Mr.. Foster said h;
thought that perhaps the restrictions
would render the plagic industry un
profitable. The provision for CLOSED
season will not only prevent pelagi'
hunting during three out OF the foul
months, when it can be said to b,
very profitable, but will break th'
sealing season. The two forces o
sealers suspend operations during tn
best part of the summer. 1t leaves
the limit to hunt seals in the enortherl
Pacific from January to May. Th
weather during three-fourths of tina
period is very unfavorable and tn
catches then made are always small
1t also leaves right to hunt seals il
parts of Behring sea after July, whicl
means for a period OF about twenty
five days, after the expiration G
which rough weather compels tn
hunters to leave. During these twenty
FIVE days the hunters can neither com
within sixty miles of the Pribylo
islands nor use any weapon excep
spears. Though the Indians are pei
mitted to hunt seals along the coas
from canoes, the catch made by ther
> is always very small. Mr.. Foste
added: "True, the United States hav
: not obtained all they contended fol
since they demanded the total pre-
hibition of pelagic sealing, but the REF
ulations now made are much bette
than those Mr.. Blaine vainly offere
to Lord Salisbury in 1890 as settle
ment Mr.. Blaine then proposed a
the sole restriction of pelagic sealin
to prohibit it within sixty miles of th
Pribyloff islands. The present settl'
ment is also more advantageous tina
Q the one proposed by Mr.. Bayard
1883, as he asked no protection to
the seals during May and June.
has since been found that the operi
/, ton of the pelagic hunters were mos
destructive to pregnant seals durir
these two months"
Major Williams, one of the Amer
can attaches, was also interviewet
Il He said that the result of the regul;
), tlons would probably be the abandon
{ ment of the Canadian pelagic huntin
u as it will not pay under the restriction
imposed.
The consensus of opinion among I'll
| Ac,arioan a auenta and counsel ia this