Waterbury evening Democrat., 1893-08-22
Seal Fishing History.


 Canada seems to take satisfaction in the fact that the committee of arbitra- tion 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, it is settled that it is not. The American people can put the two words quite out of their heads, and sealers need not go gunning for their prey with a Latin dictionary in their lockers any more.
 The United States claimed four years ago: l. That Russia asserted complete jurisdiction over Behring sea as inland waters. ?. That England conceded this claim of Russia. 3. That Behring sea was not regarded as part of the Pacific ocean in the treaty ratified between Rus sia and Great Britain in 1895 and was therefore Russia's own private sea. f. That these especial Russian rights passed to the United States when we bought Alaska in 1867. 5. 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- CT 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 60 miles of Pribylov islands, where the animals resort for breeding Furthermore, during the months of May, June and July each year neither Yan- 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 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- fled by the United States and Great Britain and must be agreed to besides by the worlds maritime nations before it can become binding. The Toronto Globe remarks, moreover:
 I One thing is very apparent-the regulations | ought not 10 be severely disappointing to our | neigh borS. None of their privileges in this | very profitable calling is abridged in the slightest degree. The Iessees of the island will | likely remove the slaughter of 10000 animals | yearly, and the American treasury will be en- | riChed to the extent of SS00000 $400,000 a year rental and the royalty franchise. | The close seasons will affect them but very little. whereas ii cuts of three best months of | the year from outside hunters.