Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-02-15
DOUBT ABOUT SEALS
A Delay in Agreeing Upon the
Regulations.
BRITISH INTERESTS INVOLVED
No Public Announcement Yet Made
by Either Government.
AS S EMBLING A FLEET

Notwithstanding Official reticence on the
subject 1t Is known that the negotiations
between the governments of the United
States and Great Britain looking to the
practical enforcement Of the decision of the
Paris court Of arbitration are not progress
lng as smoothly as the circumstances woulc
seem to warrant. Broadly stated, the Brit
ish government is dissatisfied with the
regulations adopted by the court of arbItra-
tion for the Protection. Of the sealing indus
try and is using all the arguments and arts
recognized by diplomatic usage to secure
important notifications in the interest OF
Its own subjects. 1t is contended In their
behalf that the regulations are unneces-
sarily severe in the length of the closed
season. from May to the end of August
and IN the extent Of the prohibited zone in
Bering sea According to the British view
the prohibited zone can be contracted and
the open sealing season extended without
interfering with the main purpose Of the
Paris regulation. which was simply to pre-
serve the seal species by preventing their
indiscriminate killing during the breeding
season.
The British Interests.
To state 1t briefly, the Canadian sealers
believe that a strict enforcement Of the
regulations adopted by the Paris arbitra-
tion tribunal will destroy their business.
An enforced reduction Of the seal catch will
also have depressing effect on an i'm
portant industry of England. namely. the
preparation Of the seal skins for the mar
ket Nearly all the skins are sent to Eng
land for treatment and the business of pre-
pairing them for sale is large and profita-
ble one.
These two interests, with their many
dependencies. are clamorous for q radical
modification of the plan Of protection
adopted in Paris. and Sir Julian Pauncefote.
"a SSahnr q using
endeavors to crafty their wishes. The
negotiations now in progress bear directly
on these points. The United States govern
ment, however. is not disposed to make
the desired notifications. for the reason
that the regulations for the preservation
OF the seal fisheries are about all II secured
at the hands of the arbitrators. The de-
cision was against this country on the
right of jurisdiction over Bering sea and
the regulations were a balm to its defeat
on this point. They were made In response
to the argument that the interests Of the
world at large required that steps be taken
to prevent the wholesale slaughter of the
seal herd that would inevitably follow the
opening of the sea to unrestricted pelagfc
sealing.
Opposed to Any Modification.
1t is therefore natural to suppose that
Secretary Gresham will strenuously oppose
any modification Of the regulations that
would tend to nullify the great principle
out the entire controversy with Great
Britain on this question. So far as known.
the only criticism that Secretary Gresham
has made against the regulations Is that
they prescribe no penalty for their VIOLA
tion. To his mind that Is most serious
defect. and the negotiations on his part
are directed to supplying the deficiency.
This in itself would indicate pretty con-
clusively that he believes in the strict en-
forcement of the Paris agreement by provid-
ing legal measures for the punishment of
those who violate it. The United States is
able to punish sealers brought before its
courts. but the Canadian law Is defective.
and thus an International agreement Ii de-
sirable.
The Modus vivendi.
Still more time is required to complete the
negotiations. and pending their conclusion,
the British government Is making an effort
to secure a renewal of the modus vivsndi
under which operations In the seal waters
were governed last year.
But this suggestion has further compli-
Gated the subject, as II touches the rights
under their lease Of the North American
this company was permitted to take only
1,oOO sealskins last year; and was thereby
deprived of the large income that might
have been realized under the terms Of tneir
lease. besides being put to heavy expense
TO feed the natives Of the seal islands, who
eubsist upon the rookeries. So the company
mas entered an enerBeuc protest against the
renewal OF the modus and in this they are
not without sympathy at the State Depart
ment, as the renewal would subject our
government to the loss Of revenue derived
from the taking Of skins; to an obligation
TO assist In the maintenance of the natives
and also because of a disagreeable clause In
the modus permitting the residence on The
seal Islands Of two British inspectors. This
last feature Is found Objectionable not so
much from any fear Of irregularities that
might be discovered. but because of its un-
pleasant suggestion Of lack Of confidence In
Shs integrity Of our own treasury agsnts
The Hitch In the Negotiations.
That there Is q serious hitch in the ne
EQUATIONS II absolutely certain, but the
exact cause Of 1t Is somewhat speculative.
over six months have elapsed since the
regulations were adopted and as yet neither
party to the arbitration has officially pro-
mulgated its purposes In the matter. despite
the fact that the sealing season Is near at
hand. As both countries agreed to abide by
tne decision OF the tribunal Of arbitration,
and as that body decided that they were
both morally bound to protect the seals II
was naturally supposed that some definite
action In that direction would have been
taken by either or both of them before this.
As q matter OF fact, however neither gov
ernment has announced its policy in the
matter and the public Is in ignorance as to
the exact state Of the case. So far as known
Great Britain has taken no action looking
to the use Of its navy in patroll;ng BerinE
sea for the proper enforcement Of the regu-
lations. and 1t Is said that a large fleet of
eealers Is being fitted out in British Colum-
pia Tor extensive sealing operations during
shs coming season.
The American Fleet.
The United States will have an unusually
large fleet Of vessels at San Francisco In the
early spring for service in Bering sea, but
IL Is not now altogether certain that they
VIII be sent there. Existing orders for the
concentration at San Francisco of vessels
on foreign stations are in anticipation that
the decision of the Paris tribunal Is to be
Suictiy enforced during the present season
py the joint efforts of the navies of both
countries Secretary Herbert has made am
PIE provision for ships and II they not
Guiized In the work 1t will not be his fault.
ms ms meet available for duty in Bering sea
viii include the Boston. Yorktown, Benning-
ton, Marion. Alert. Mohican and Thetis, and
RossioIy the Charleston and Detroit, now at
lslo- Inc Marion is now on her way to San
FRANCISCO from China the Bennington is to
make the long voyage from Gibraltar
tnroush the straits of Magellan, to the
1oioen Gate. and the Yorktown was dis
patched from Callao. Peru. They will all
Ieacn their destination in good season to
JON the fleet in opera tions against poachers
Oh the sealing grounds.
Revenue Vessels Going