The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-08-20
GOT THE END OF THE STICK.

support for the restoration of silver"
GOT THE END OF TIE STICK
Capt Evans Says the Bering Sea Decision
Robbed the United States
WASHINGTON. Aug. 19.-"We got the end
of the stick" remarked Capt. Robley ID.
Evans. naval secretary of the lighthouse
board, to-day. concerning the recent de-
cision of the Bering sea arbitration. Capt.
Evans spent several years IN the Arctic
ocean dodging icebergs and catching
poachers and Is familiar with the by
ways of that sea as an ordinary husband
man is with the paths in his garden. "On
every contention" continued Capt.
Evans, 'the United States was
beaten, with the single exception
of the use OF firearms In capturing
seals. and on this point the regulations
prescribed are impractlcable of enforce
ment. The sixty-miie zone limit is entirely
valueless in practical point of view. The
region around the Pribyloff islands is con-
stantly overhung with dense fog, making
accurate observations almost impossible.
We will be continually in dispute as to
whether in case seizure is made for vio-
latiDg the regulations. the distance ls
sixty. seventy or forty miles from the
islands. The entire navy of the United
States, with the English navy thrown
in. could not establish an effective
patrol about these islands. Poachers.
which are usually lighs craft. could easily
slip through the marine patrol, attack the
seals on the islands. and. in the dense fogs,
escape without detection. Even II seen
raiding the seal rookeries war ships could
not pursue them close TO the reef-infested
islands, as the waters are unsurveyed. the
currents unknown. and the risks. there
fore. would be entirely too great TO De
taken. The most effective means. perhaps.
of protecting the seals. would be large
land force, sufficiently strong to repel an
ordinary attack.
Viewed in any light, we can get little
comfort ont of the decision. The permis.
sion to kill seals after the frstof August
amounts to nothing. as seals In that season
are IN what Is called STACEY condition
and unfit for commercial use- No one ever
kills them then unless in pure malice. The
is of little value. A vessel clears.
say. for hunting purposes TO tte
North Arctic. Her equipment consists OF
implements used In W hale and seal fishing,
including limited number OF guns for
shooting wild fowl in the extreme north.
She is boarded by q United States man-of-
war. firearms are found. and then comes
the contention whether the vessel intended
to use the arms for capturing seals or for
killing fowl for food. Thus we Will be In
hot water all the time. Then. again, the
decision of the Bering sea commission af-
fects only British and American vessels.
Having declared Bering sea to be an open
sea, the vessels of ali nations are. of course.
entitled to piOw the waters and eaten nsn
and seals at Will. The Berlng sea decision
cannot, OF course, bind the governments
of France Germany, Japan and other ma
tiOns engaged in whale and seal fisheries.
So that, looking at il from q practical
standpoint. it seems to me that the regula-
tions are Impractieable. and cannot be en-
forced at a less expense than $1,000 for
every seal life preserved"
An Indian Prince Visits the Capitol.
WAsHINGTON. Aug. 10.-Among the visi-
tors to the House of Representatives to-
day was the party accompanying his high
ness. the Rsiah of Kapurthela state. India.
-on his tour through the United States.
There were in the party. beside the Maha-
rsia. Miam Aziz Bskhs. revenue minister
of Kapurthala state. and Capt. Sun
day Singh. They were in charge
of COL c. +. Massey, of the Eng
Iish army. Seats were given them
in the diplomatic gallery. and they seemed
plying the page who had been Getailed to
point out the celebrities Of the House with
innumerable questions.
Tbs party were attired in English Dress
save the East Indian men. who wore large
turbans made of materia al that looked like
mosquito netting. One was lilac. one yell
low with small stripe of red, and one
white. They remained In the gal
Iery about ten minutes. and
for that time more than divided the
attention of those on the floor with Mr.
Catcbings who was then speaking. SUBJ
sequently the party went to the Senate.
where they we're shown through the cham
ber, marble room and private rooms of the
President and Vice President. They ex-
pressed the hvelIest interest In all they
saw. admired tbs beauty and symmetry OF
the structure. and praised the people whose
capital building they were examining.