The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1893-08-25
THU
Londonderry Sitter.
So. Londonderry, Vermont.
Seal Fishing History.

Canada seems to take satisfaction In
the fact that the committee Of arbitra-
ton on seal catching decided that Beh-
ring sea was not mare clausum. We
present the Canadian newspapers assur-
ances of our distinguished consideration
and solemnly declare that Americans
are no less satisfied. For four years now
we have lain awake nights wrestling
with that mare clausum question. Was
Behring sea mare clausum or wasn't it?
Now, 1t is settled that it is not. The
American people can put the two words
quite out of their heads, and sealers need
not go cunning for their prey with a
Latin dictionary in their lockers any
more.
The United States claimed four years
ago: 1. That Russia asserted complete
Jurisdiction over Behring sea as inland
waters. 2. That England conceded this
claim of Russia. 8. That Behring sea
was not regarded as part of the Pacific
ocean in the treaty ratified between Rus
sia and Great Britain in 1925 and was
therefore Russia's own private sea. A.
That these especial Russian rights passed
to the United States when we bought
Alaska in 1867. 8. The United States
had therefore the right to protect all the
seals in the waters of Behring sea. To
every one of these claims the arbitration
commission has answered no.
Then the commissioners laid down a
working plan for seal catching in the
future which will bring about in anoth-
er way the main point the United States
was contending for-protection of the
animals. They decided that henceforth
neither Americans nor Canadians nor
British subjects of any class shall catch
seals within go miles of Pribylov islands,
where the animals resort for breeding.
Furthermore, during the months of May,
June and July each year neither Yam
kee nor Britisher shall take any fur seals
at all. Finally, no ships shall go sealing
except regular licensed sailing vessels in
the proper season, and the animals must
not be hunted with nets, guns or dyna-
mite. So that hereafter Yankee and
Canadian must learn to spear seals like
a native Alaska Indian. This will be
interesting.
The point Of an argument lies in its
application, however. The point of spe-
cial interest, the one which pleases the
Canadian newspapers, is that the Unit
ed States will be obliged to indemnify
Canadian sealing schooner owners for
all losses suffered through the seizure Of
their vessels when they were fishing out
side the three mile shore limit. We
shall also have to pay damages to those
schooners that were lying idle, abstain.
ing from seal catching pending the deci-
sion of the Behring sea question, so as
make up to them the lost time.
However, the agreement reached by
the arbitration commission must be rati.
fed by the United States and Great
Britain and must be agreed to besides by
the worlds maritime nations before il
can become binding. The Toronto Globe
remarks, moreover:
One thing is very apparent-the regulations
ought not to be severely disappointing to oul
neighbors. None of their privileges in thi,
very profitable calling is abridged in the
slightest degree The lessees of the island will
likely remove the slaughter of 10000 animal,
yearly, and the American treasury will be en-
riched to the extent of $3O 900 or $4,000 9
year as rental and the royalty on franchise
The close seasons will affect them but yer,
little, whereas 1t cuts off three best months Of
the year from outside hunters.