The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1893-05-18
PeIae-ic Sealing.

| Although q great deal has been said in
the press dispatches in referance TO the
Behring sea controversy between the
United State and Great Britain, the main
subject of dispute seems not to be under
stood by many people.
| The United States in purchasing Alaska
acquired rights as to the seals that in
habited the waters and islands contigu-
Gus to that land. And in order to pre-
serve the seals from destruction, regula-
lions were made as to the places where
seal fishing' should be permitted and
what kind of seals might be killed for
their furs.
One company has been given the
exclusive right to take seals within
the region claimed by this coun-
try, and it's operations must be
confined to that region and
subject to inspection by an agent of the
United States. Only ''baehelor'' seals
are allowed to be killed; that is young
male seals, the cows and old bulls being
protected by law from destruction. The
sealing season seldom begins before June
and is continued until fall. A patrol
feet is on the look out for poachers, and
when one is captured the vessel is run
down by the swift sailing revenue cutters
seized and captured.
The legitimate seal fishing is rather
are driven from herd, knocked on the
head and their skins taken of, which are
counted by the company's agent and an
agent OF the government and tally reports
are forwarded to San Francisco.
Along about the last of June the
seals swarm upon the Pribylous.
the Aleutians and other islands and
breeding has begun. Poaehers
do not wait for that time nor care for the
kind of seals they. kill and thus these
animals would soon become extinct but
for the regulations adopted.
The United States not only forbid
poaching in the region where the seal
'srookeries" are, but in the open Ben
ring sea, and out in the Pacific ocean
within certain distance ofAmerican pos
sessions. This. government further
claims property rights in these seals as
tame animals under protection of the
owners. They are fur-bearing animals
that have become domesticated, and
therefore the monopoly said to be de-
sired by this country is admitted az any
power may claim a monopoly OF its own
possessions.
Vessels have been seized for poaching
which belonged to the British possessions.
They were sealing in the Behring sea
or so near in the Pacific ocean TO the
Alaskan shores as to come within the for
hidden limits. 4 dispute arising as to
the rights OF this government to prevent
pelagic sealing, that is capturing seals in
the open sea, the matter according to a
treaty between the two governments has
been submitted to arbitration. The court
is now sitting at Paris.
1t is contended on behalf OF the British
government that whatever regulation the
United States may make to restrict its
own citizens as to pelagic sealing, they
cannot be made to apply to subjects of
Great Britain. International law must
rule and that only gives territorial juris-
diction to q limit OF a league in the open
sea. Any seizure, therefore, outside of
the three mile limit was unlawful, be-
cause made ON the high seas which are
open alike to British and American
vessels.
Another point of dispute is as to the
right OF the court to settle the amount of
damages to be collected by Great Britain,
in case it is adjudged that vessels have
been illegally seized by the United States.
1t was on that point that so sharp con-
tention arose between counsel for the re-
spective governments few days ago.
Itappears that when the treaty was first
prepared such a provision was made the
seventh clause. But on objection inter-
posed by Lord SALISBURY, a compromise
clause was adopted which provided that
questions Of fact might be submitted to
the arbitrators, and the question of the
sol Of ~ I
then be made the subject OF further me-
gotiations. That indicates that counsel
for the United States were right and Sir
CHARLES RUssELL's irritation was i'll
founded.
a new order, said to have been issued
by Russia and Great Britain, will have
the present effect, if carried out, of pre-
venting further difficulties this season.
1t is that the two governments have
agreed to prohibit seal fishing within ten
miles OF the Russian coast and within
thirty miles of Robin and Commander
Islands during the present year and COM
manding obedience to Che rule.
This shows dispositiod to protect
American interests and will doubtless
have some effect on the arbitration as well
as on the slaughter OF seals near Ameri-
can possessions. Arbitration is the
proper method OF settling this dispute,
and the decision will doubtless define the
rights of the United States on the one
hand and the extent to which general
pelagic sealing may be carried on the