The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-03-26

our Pacific sesbosrd began much earliei
than May I. and Great Britain was asked u
accept April I. In framing the Joint reRula
tions. rs the date for closing the hunting
The British Government however. was
already beset with protests from the
Dominion that the restrictions OF the
Paris decision were too harsh. II
lie certain that our Government can
not force Great Britain to anticipate by q
month or even a day the time fixed for the
closed season by the Paris arbitrators; and
| perhaps It could not purchase such con-
cession except by yielding some other point.
| However. while the negotiations were going
/ on some weeks ago, IL became evident that,
| with the calls made on our little navy in
other quarters, an adequate protective fleet
| could hardly DO got together before May I,
and the attempt to substitute April l as
| the date OF restriction has been dropped so
far as this year Is concerned.
Meanwhile, another difficulty has come
| up. II lie said that the negotiations between
| Sir JULIAN PAUNCEFoTE and Mr.. GRESHAM
have shown the desirabillty OF agreeing
| on another modus rirendi, to last for the
present season only. Apparently the
ground is that the difficulties experienced
In settling upon Joint regulations and the
likelihood Of delays In the action OF Parlia-
ment and Congress upon them make new
modus advisable. But In that case, what
should be its terms2 1t would seem, at
first glance. that 1t ought. as far as posi-
ble to be founded on the Paris decision
rather than on the old modus, for that de-
cision should henceforth be the law for both
ri 70 toE
contrary to It. In a temporary substitute
for 1t. would DO strange.
But why should not our Government do
It's own part In the completion Of the new
mutual regulations? The Paris decision
must not DO nulliiled by neglectlng to en-
force 1t. and tho most honorable course Is
to mako the required regulations as
soon as practicable. The MCCREARY bill, in
troduced into the House OF Representa-
tives full month ago. contains the regu-
lations prepared by our Government.
and defines the limits Of the zones within
which seals cannot lawfully be taken. 1t Is
true that this measure applies only to
American vessels; but when, after any
needed amendments. 1t has become a law. a
statute on the same subject may fairly be ex-
pected Of the British Parliament. One fear
Is that Great Britain will not provide ade-
quate penalties for breaking the law: and
certain provisions believed to be contem-
plated increase this fear.
That 1t Is for our interest to substitute
the Paris rules for the modus rirendi agree
ment is indicated not only by the invalu-
able new protection to seal life now secured
throughout May and June. but by the fact
that we are limited In that agreement to
taking 1900 seals year at the islands. and
thereby lose hundreds OF thousands OF dol
lars annually on the bonus otherwise de-
rivable from the skins. apart from any
question OF the reduction OF rental It is
true that. under the Paris decision. pelagic
sealing becomes lawful for o certain period
In Behring Sea except within q circle OF
sixty miles radius around the Pribylov
Islands. and that under the modus piuendi 1t
was not SO lawful: but as an Offset to this
increased danger to seal life. there Is the
new prohibition OF the use OF firearms in
taking the animals
At all events. since our Government Is
ready to enforce the Paris decision. the
course to pursue would seem to be to enact
promptly our own proposed laws on the
subject. and to secure an understanding
with Great Britain for the adequate punish
ment OF offenders. A new modus however
may be necessary for the timely warning
OF poachers. II delay In the enactment OF
HERBERT. in aiming to get together the
protection fleet by May /. intends to have
his part OF the preliminaries ready.