The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-08-17
SEATTLE. rHUssDAT. arc. "a.


The decision Of the Bering sea arbitra-
tors in its practical effect secures larger
protection for the seal than Great Britain
has ever been disposed TO grant. and TO
that extent IL victory for the American
cAse, and IL vfndiestion Of the statesman
ship Of James G. Blaine, who rested the
chief strength Of his argument, not upon
the claim Of exclusive marine jurisdiction
In BerIug sea or upon property rights In
the seal. but upon the broad ground OF In
terEational morality and comfy.
T he zone Of protection, sixty miles
around tho PribiIof islands, IL double the
limit Lord Salisbury was ever willing TO
eonceds In his negotiations with Mf.
Blaine; the close season from May TO
July 81 includes the best OF the sealing
season; In the open season seal hunting
with firearms, nets or explosives 10 pro-
hibited, and can only be prosecuted by
sailing vessels. The arbitrator have de-
cided that the United States derived no
rights of exclusive jurisdiction in Boring
sea from Russia, for Russia never asserted
or exercised any exclusive rights Of iuris-
dictlon in Boring sea or any exclusive
rights TO the seal fisheries beyond the ordi-
nary limit Of territorial waters, and the
arbitrators have decided that the United
States had no right TO the protection Of o
property right In seals frequenting the
islands of the United States In Boring
sea when found outside the ordinary
three-mile limit.
The American arbitrssors believe that
the regulations decided upon by the
tribunal mean practically the end of
peiagic sealing and are better terms than
have hitherto been offered by Great
britain, since they prevent peiagic sealing
during three out of the four months in
which II is profitable. The regulations
are much better than those vainiy offered
TO Lord Salisbury by Mr.. Blaine In 1890 as
q settlement.
The technical success on legal points
rests with Great Britain, but on the broad
question of international morality and
equity urged by Mr.. Blaine and reiterated
by Mr.. Carter and Mr.. Phelps of the
American counsel. the tribunal has given
the Americans the victory. for il has
granted that degree OF protection for the
seat which Lord Salisbury refused and to
obtain which the arbitration was under
taken.
Mr.. Justice Harlan, OF the supreme
court of the United States, holds the
general result of the arbitration far in ad-
vance OF anything the United States had
demanded. The decision that the seizures
of Canadian sealcrs outside of the three
mile limit were. illegal will oblige tho
United States to make compensation TO
the owners of these vessels, and 10 make
compensation to British subjects for alb
staining from the capture of seal in Bering
sea during dependency Of the arbitration.
The object Of the United States was TO
protect the seal: the stringent regulations
In effect do protect the seal, and so We
have won our case in equity. even If de-
feated on technical points OF law. Our
seais are protected in the cloae season
henceforth from all hunters aud at no
time can be hunted with firearms, or pur.
sued save in sailing vessels. The prac-
teal victory Of the American case il
conceded by the Canadian critics Of the
decision In Victoria and Ottawa