New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-08-16
AMERICA PRACTICALLY WINS.
TECHNICAL POINTS DECIDED IN FAVOR OF
GREAT BRITAIN.
A CLOSE SEASON and A PROTECTED ZONE


EXPLOSIVES FORBID
DEN AMERICAN
ARBrTRAToRs
SATISFIED.
Paris, Aug. 1.-THE decision Of the Behrfne
Sea Tribunal of Arbitration was given out -
IL o7 O'Clock this morning. The five points Of
Article vi. Of the American claims are decided
against the United States
The tribunal adopted regulations establishing
close season in Bclring Sea and the North
Pacific Ocean, TO begin on May 81, and to end
on July 81. A protected zone, extending for
sixty miles around the islands, is also established.
Pelagic sealing is to be allowed outside this
zone in Behring Sea after August 1. The use Of
firearms nets, explosives and steam vessels in
sealing is forbidden.
The consensus Of opinion among the American
agents and counsel is that though technical sue
cess rests with Great Britain on legal points, on
practical grounds the victory is to the United
States, as the arbitration was entered upon to
preserve the SEALS and the decision achieves that
result.
The aw,rd, after specifying the nine regu-
lations, quotes the British statement Of facts re-
gardng searches and seizures in Behring Sea, al
indored by American counsel and pronounced by
the arbitrators to he true II closes with these
words:
I'VE. Paron de Courcel. Lord Hannen. John
NJ. Harlan. Sir John S. D. Thompson. John T.
Morgan, Marnuis Emilio Visconti-venosta and
Gregers W. w. Gram the respective minoritics
not withdrawing their votes, do declare this 70
be the final decision and award in writing OF
this Tribunal in accordance with the treaty
made in duplicate at Paris and signed by US on
the 18th Of August, 1898"
In bidding the members OF the Tribunal good
by Baron de Courcel expressed great satisfac-
tion with the proceedings OF the Tribunal, and
remarked the exceptional harmony and good
feeling which prevailed throughout their
deliberations.
Sir Charles RUSSELL British counsel and Charles
II. Tuppcr. British agent, have gone to London.
All the Engshmen connected with the tribunal
are exceedingly reticent in their opinions OF tho
decision, and apparently are disappointed because
it was not more unfavorabe TO the United States.
JUSTICE HARLAN GRATIrIED.
Justice Harlan expressed the opinion this even.
| ing that the regulations established by the tri'
bunai would check pelayic scaling, and thus go
| far toward accomplishing one Of the chief aims
| of the United States. The general result OF tho
arbitration, he thought was far in advance OF
| anything that tho United States had demanocd
The members of the tribunal reserved the righs
TO prepare and file individual opinions in the case
at any time before January |.
John w. Foster, American agent before the
tribunal. said that under the decision OF the
tribunal no pelagic sealing can now he carried
on between May and July 81. After that time
such sealing may be prosecuted i'll I,ehring Sea
with spears at a distance of sixty miles from the
islands This decision limits pelagic sealing to
narrow bounds Mr. Foster said he thought that
| the restrictions would render pelagc sealing un-
proGtable The provision for close season VIII
| not only prevent pelagic hunting during three
ont Of the four months when il can be SAID 70
be very profitable but will break the sealing sea-
SON. The two forces of sealers suspend operations
during the best part of the summer Inc de-
csion leaves the right to hunt seals In the North
Pacific from January to May. The wea'her
| during three fourths Of that period Is very un'
favorable. and the catches then made are always
small II also leaves the right TO hunt seals In
narts of Behrng Sea after July. which means los
| a pcriod Of about twenty-five days, after the exc
| piration of which rough weather compeis 'he
| hunters TO leave the sea. During these twenty
| five days the hunters can neither come wio""
sixty miles of the Pribylof Islands nor use any
weapon except spears. Though the Indians are
permitted to hunt seals along the coast 1rom
| canoes, the eaten always Hlauc NY "'o" 10 '
AN ADVANTAGEOUS SETTLEMENT.
Mfr. Foster added: "True, the United state
| have not obtained al they contended for, shc
they demanded the total prohibition OF pelagi
sealing. but the regulations now made are m"c'
better than those Mr.. Blaine vany offered
Lord Salisbury in 1890 as settlement '''
Blaine then proposed as the sole restrction
pelacc sealing to prohibit il within sixty n'''''
of the Priby lof Islands. The present set'isn'e"
is also more advantageous than the one proP'.e.
hy Mr. Bayard in 1888, as he asked no pro'eo.'o- :.
for the seals during May and June ~ nd' 81. ~
been found that the operations OF 'ne pe'.e,
hunters were most destructive to presha"'
during these two months. ....hos'
Major Williams. one of the American H''"o
said that the result Of the regulations Wo"
ably be the abandonment Of the oana"''a .II.,,e,.
hunting "a IL will not pay under '"e
imposed. =, once 70 Switzcr.
Justice Harlan will proceed az o"' =, s: u,,.h
land to prepare his opinion ,'' W" can.,mher
his family for America prooaon =" rrt,u,..
~ Conotor Morgan will leave far'S On
day and will sail on the s""r
frou, southampton on SATURDAY
,,,,,r,xc OF THE ARBTTRAToRs
o,,,ock this morning the seven aroltra'or'
hold a private session in room "s'a "s "s
ms;,Is of the Department OF Foreign Aia'rs az
the Quai dOrsa At II o'clock ra .ne aros.a, @,,oo :,
."assembled in the room in the Foreign omce IN
which the public sessions OF the tribunal "aa
been held. A.. r-,,,
Baron de Courcel, the president OF the ifiOunaI
.,,n delivercd to the agents of the United Statea
.md Great Britain original copies Of the decision
s;aned bv all the arbitrators. Baron de Cource|
ofterward addressed the arbitrators, saying that
hc recognized the great value of arbitration rs
cause of peace between nations lie expressed tn
opinion that every International arbitration rem
ders war less probable and said he looked f0rwart