The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-01-26


Tee rrersr.uo,- NEEDED FOE ths New sss-
sou n nehrInE Sen nHs the North Faetac.
WASHINGTON. Jan. 25. Another sealing sea-
son is approaching. and the intern stionnl
regulations for Il have yet to be agreed upon.
The Paris decision le!t the liti9ants under the
necessity OF putting Into practical action the
conclusions then reached. And there are
also other nations concerned 10 the matter.
Russia and japan standing ready. It is prob
aOle. to act In general conformity with tho
principles laid down by the tribunal Of arid-
tration. Great Britain and the United States
viii be looked 10. however. to formulate
basis OF practical action
One OF the points made clear BIZ the exreri-
enee OF the lasttwo years was that the prohibit
tion OF pelaRic sealing In the eastern part OF
Behrins Sea under tho modus rtrsndi caused .
greater rush 81 vessels to the western part.
The situation Is somewhat changed this year.
inasmuch as sealing is lawful at certain time
In PehrlnG Sea and within n certain distance
OF the Pribylov Islands. In the western por.
tion. at the Commander Islands, last years
stipulation. since renewed, prohibits sealing
at all tines throughout a circle Of thirty miles
in rRllus around the islands. and through
zone often miles along the Russian mainland.
Russia was satisfied. apparently. with that
plan; fo- although 1t ts often contende that
oi tonl, anu sixty miles are conceded around
the irihylov Islands. yet thirty is a great
all events. she proposed n renewal of the con-
Vention win Great lirltain for the year 1894.
But when tho British Government received
this proposal Il accepted It. according t. tho
report on condition or else on the understand
Ing that American vessels should be subjected
TO similar restrictions. lerhnps we are not to
infer that Russia stipulated TO procure a
similar agreement, or w.i,s rirrnd. from our
force the thirty. mile and ten mile restrictions
against our vessels. since the contention 81
the United States was practically that ltussia
possessed property .richt in the seals that
annually visited her Islands and shores as
over our own Iri6vov seal herd. The rro.
hibtted zone. also. which We secured at Paris.
L far more extensive, than that which the
Russians enjoy under their arrangement with
arrests Gnd runishments 81 American sealing
been contested, and the seizures made here
after are accordingly not likely t. be. especially
specified. Hence. while 1t seems very singular
that the English G9vernment should have
the a.sp nj mSr rTnt Win
Rnssin Is not likely TO fail on that account.
evcn II no actual treaty on the subject is struck
That new regulations between Great Britain
and the United states are necessary IL shown
continue only during the tendency OF the ar
bitration.' besides being terminsble By either
lsStS And apart from that necessity. the en-
tirely low restrictions by which the re 3 pective
Governments are bound would naturally de-
maud now rules at once The area OF prohibi.
tion OF pelngic sealing now extends far south Of
Behring Sea. Sealing Is forbldd In the North
Pacific proper. on and after Nav ]. through the
vast region north OF the 18th parallel and east
OF tho lsOth meridian and Of the treaty bonn-
Diary limo where that meridian strikes II. Tho
3Ith parallel carries the area about MS far
south as Santa Barbara channel on the Cali
lornta coast. and thence vast distance to the
northward during the spring to the BehrinR
sea rookeries, keeps not,very far distant from
tho coast so that 1t will not be necessary 10
patrol the whole area. But taking together
fact that prohibitions begin to run from May
]. whereas formerly since the North Pacific
was free TO pelngic sealing. seizures were only
mad. from about the first OF July. when the
crease Of patrol work involved is manifest
Again. after the herd enters Behrlng Sea,
the whole area east OF the lSUth meridian ami
Of the treaty boundary line constitutes pro-
urally call for careful patrolling. Finally.
throughout the entire year tho vast circle Of
sixty miles radius around the Pribylov Islands
Is TO be guarded. This particular duty is prac-
months. by the arrival and departure OF the
seal herd at the islands. Yet taking the sea-
son altogether, 1t would seem that the greater
part Of the year must be occupied by at least
part Of the patrolling fleet.
The oNact composition o. this fleet Is not as
yet announced, The Treasury Department.
now that the revenue cutter Grant IL on her
way to the Pacific. will probably be able to
might add as many more provided no urgent
call should be made upon IL In other quarters.
But the immediate point OF interest Ia the
agreement upon the rules and regulations
and the policing OF the waters In which It Is
carried on.