St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-02-15
TWO NATIONS DISPLEASED.
BEHRiNG SEA AGREEMENT PROVES TO
BE UNSATISFACTORY.
Ut is THE CAUSE OF TROUBLE.

Secretary Gresham Discovers the
Failure to Provide Penalties
for lnfraction of the Provisions
of the Treaty-Canadians Also
Commercial Company Interest.
WASHINGTON, Feb. IA. - The sober
second judgment of both parties to the
Behrlng sea arbitration discloses the
fact that the agreement reached by the
arbitrators is not entirely satisfactory
to either the United States or Great
Britain. 1t appears, however. that the
dissatisfaction is based rather upon
matters of detail than upon any objec-
ton to the broad principles upon which
the arbitration was based. These mat
tiers are now the cause of some concern
to the two nations, and for months past
there has been much correspondence and
many personal interviews between Sec
rotary Gresham, Sir Julian Pauncefote
and Minister Bayard with a view to their
adjustment. Senator Morgan, who was
one OF the arblrators in behalf of the
United States, has also been frequently
consulted by the state department Off
Gals in the effort to clear up certain
cloudy points in the agreement. One of
the flaws which Secretary Gresham is
said to have found in the agreement is
failure to provide penalties for infrac-
ton of its provisions, and as it would be
OF little avail to capture pelagic sealing
vessels, only to have them turned loose
again upon the seal herds as soou as the
cases could be brought before the
courts. the secretary is trying to have
this defect cured.
The United States is able to punish
sealers brought before its court, but the
Canadian law is defective, and thus an
international agreement is desirable.
THE CANADIANS
also have a cause of complaint. They
appear to have discovered at this late
date that rigid enforcement of the
articles of agreement would destroy
their seal fishing industry. They have
brought great pressure to bear upon the
British foreign Office, with the result
that Sir Julian Pauncefote is now la
boring strenuously to mitigate the mis-
tulIC VI GuC SdlldulduS ny SECuIlllS a
considerable restriction of the limits OF
the closed zone around the seal islands,
within which seals may not be taken by
vessels, and shortening of the closed
season, which now extends from the
first of May until the last of August.
In this effort the British minister is
using figures and facts produced by the
Canadians to show that an abatement
of the rigor of the articles of agreement
OH the lines indicated is unlikely to
result in depletion of the seal herds on
the islands.
Necessarily some time Is required to
complete the negotiations and, pending
their conclusion, the British govern
ment is making an effort to secure re-
call of the m0duS viyendi under which
operations in the seal waters were gov
erned last year. but this suggestion has
further complicated the subject, as it
touches the rights under their lease of
the North American Commercial CONF
pany. Under the modus this company
was permitted to take only 1850 seal
skins last year, and was thereby
deprived OF the large income that might
have been realized nnder the terms of
their lease, besides being put to heavy
CApCnoS W lCOo lilC HALVES Vi IUt SGdl
Islands, who SubSiSt OH the rookerieS.
So the company has entered an ener-
getlc contest against the renewal Of the
mOdus, and in this they are not without
sympathy at the state department, as
the renewal would subject our govern
ment 10
THE LOSS OF REVENUE.
derived from the taking of skins; to an
obligation to assist Ill the maintenance
of the natives, and also because of dis
agreeable clause in the modus permit
ting the residence Oh the seal islands of
two British inspectors. This last feat
ure is found Objectionable, not so much
from any fear of irregularities that
might be discovered, but because of it's
unpleasant suggestion of lack of conf
dence in the integrity of our own treas
ury agents. In addition to these obiec-
tlOnS. the leSsees of the islands have
declared that under the modus the
pelagic Sealers managed to take 100000
skins Last season, while they were linn
tied to 1880. Meanwhile, there is need
for speedy agreement of some kind,
as is evidenced by the frequency of
Sir Julian Pauncefote'S visit to the
state department. and the fact that al
ready number of sealing vessels are
reported to have cleared for the seal
Ing waters and are consequently almost
beyond the reach of proper notice in
the change of regulations.
Levy w. Myers, consul at Victoria,
B. O., in report 10 the state depart
ment. says that the fleet of sealing
schooners hailing from that port is now
ready for the work of the coming season
and all expected to be out by Feb. 1.
They took provisions for pine months.
They cleared Tor the North Pacific. He
says: II am assured that all expect to
go direct to the Russian side, the re-
strictions Of that government terminal
ing by their own terms on Jan. l. 1894.
Thirty-four vessels of the fleet have
sailed from Victoria for Japan and ten
for the North Pacific, making forty-four
in all The fleet of 1892 consisted of
siXty-flve vessels; that of last year fifty
two. The number for this year will not