The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-08-16
ing They say the terms are better than
were heretofore offered to the United States
by Great Britain as settlements or tho
questions involved.

ing. They say the terms are better than
were heretofore offered to the United States
by Great Britain as q settlements or tho
questions involved.
VIEWS OF GENERAL FOSTER.
In an interview to-day the Hon. John W.
Foster, American agent to the Behring sea
tribunal of arbitration. said that. under
the decision of the tribunal. no pelagic
sealing can now be carried on between May
1 and July 81. After that time such sealing
may be prosecuted In Behring sea with
spears at a distance of sixty miles from the
islands. This decision limits pelaRlc seal
ing TO narrow bounds. Mr. Foster said he
thought that may be the restrictions would
render the pelagio industry unprohtaDle.
The provision for close season will
not only prevent pelagic hunting during
three out OF the four months when lt
can be said to DO very profitable but will
break the sealing season. The two forces
Of sealers suspend operations during the
best part of the summer. 1t leaves the
right to hunt seals in the northern Pacific
from January to May. The weather dur
ing three-tourths of that period Is very un-
favorable. and the catches then made are
always small: 1t also leaves the right TO
hunt seals In part of Behring sea after July.
which means for q period OF about twenty
hve days, after the expiration OF which
rough weather comDels the hunters TO leave.
During these twenty-five days the hunters
can neither come within sixty miles OF the
Priby loft islands nor use any weapon ex-
cept spears. Though the Indians are per-
mitted to hunt seals along the coast
them is always very small. Mir. Foster
added: True. the United States have not
obtained all they contended for. since they
demanded the total prohibition OF pelagic
sealing. but the regulations now made are
much better than those Mr.. Blaine valnly
offered TO Lord Salisbury In 1890 as q set.
Element. MIR. Blaine then proposed as the
sole restriction of pelagio sealing to pro.
hibit IL within sixty mlles of the Prby loft
islands. The present settlement is also
more advantageous than the one proposed
by MIR. Bayard in 1888. as he asked no pro-
lection for the seals during the months of
May and June. 1t has since been found
that the operations of pelagic hunters were
most destructive to pregnant scals during
these two mODths.
Major Williams, one Of the American at
taches. was also interviewed. he SAID that
the result of the regulations would pro0a-
bly, be the abandonment Of the Canadian
pelagic hunting. as it will not pay under
the restrictions imposed.
The consensus of opinion among the
American agents and counsel Is that. though
technical success rests with Great Britain
on legal points, on practical grounds the
victory is to tho Uuited States. as the ar
bitration was entered upon to preserve
the seals. and the decision achieves that
result.
In an interview given this evening JUS
tico Harlan expressed the oplnIon, in agree
ment with John w. Foster. that the regu-
lations specified by the tribunal would
check pelagIc sealing. and thus 60 far to
accomplishing one. of the chief aims OF the
United STATES. The general result OF the
arbitration. he thought, was far In advance
of any thing that had been demanded. The
members of the tribunal reserved tho right
to prepare and file individual opinions an
the case at any time before next Jan. 1.
Justice Harlan will proceed to Switzer.
land to prepare there his opinion. He will
sail with his family for America, probably
Sept q. Senator Morgan will leave Paris
Thursday, and will sail on the steamer New
York from southampton on Saturday.
Sir Charles Russell. British counsel. and
Charles H. Tupper. British agent, have
left for London. All the Englishmen con-
nected with the tribunal are exceedingly
retIcent and apparently are disappointed
beca Sc il was not moro unfavorable to
the United Statea
In bidding the members Of the tribunal
goodbye. Baron De COursel expressed great
satisfaction with the proceedings of the
tribunal, and spoke of the exceptional har-
moDy and good feeling which prevailed
throughout their deliberations.