The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-02-12

foa am no, MOI IN possession Of any further IN
Jects embodied In such resolutions.
L It. vii gill;. be seen FROM letter of
Ing the papers and documents sent from
this department that 1t Is impossible to
OF some of the naval vessels referred TO in
the resolution. but I venture TO express the
OF such vessels. herewith submitted. viii
De found to contain. in substance, so mucn
OF the matters recorded in sad log books as
are important in answering the inquiries
addressed BY me to the Senate.
Inc message is accompanied by letter
puts the number OF seals killed by pelagic.
hunters in the North Pacific ard Rering sell
during the season OF 1891 at $4,000 and
says that of this number about 60.00e We're
Killed In Boring and on the American
side of the North Pacific. He also states
islands by the North American Commercial
Company: The unofficial figures place the
at 27.2S5. The Secretary also transmits the
logs of the Rush. Bear and Corwin in re-
iatlon TO the enforcement of the Paris sri-s
bunal regulations and Closes with the state.
ment that the papers forwarded constitute
all the rerorts and documents in the de-
partment which il f. deemed compatible
with the public interests to transmit to
Congress at this time
THE CORRESPONDENCE.
The correspondence includes 12s letters and
kilograms. In letter of Jan. g. TO Sir
Julian Pauncefote, after referring TO the
seal killing of the year. which was, he says,
unprecedented in the history of pelagic
sealing. Secretary Gresham says. 1T would
appear that the vessels engaged in Boring
sea, although only one-third of the total
number employed in the North Pacific, in
four or five weeks killed a1.5S5 seals. not
only 5000 more than were killed in Berfng
sea in 1891 (the last year the sea was OPEN,
put even more than the total number killed
uurins the four months on the American
side of the North Pacific this season." He
continues: This startling increase in the
pelagic slaughter of both the American and
Aslatic herds has convinced the President,
and cannot fail to convince her Malesty's
government, that the regulations enacted
by the Paris tribunal have not operated TO
protect the seal herd from that destruction
which they were designed to prevent and
mat unless speedy change in the regua-
tons be brought about determination or the
nerd must follow Such a deplorable result
must, II possible, be averted."
MT Gresham suggests that in order TO
add to our scientific knowledge a commits
sion be appointed, consisting of one more
men from eaea country. He would have the
North Pacific and report, among other
Things, upon the proper measures needed
herd from destruction and permit 1t to in
crease in such numbers to permanently
furnish an annual supply of skins. He adds
that he is directed by the President to pro-
pose such commission and he also SUBJ
miIs terms OF nodus vivendi to be OBJ
tons, as follows: That the regulations
now in force be extended along the line OF
the thirty-ifth degree of north latitude
from the American to the Asiatic shore,
and be enforced during the coming season !
in the whole of the Pacific ocean and waters
north of that line. Furthermore. that seal
ing in Boring be absolutely prohibited
pending the report of such commission" He
suggests the necessity of speedy action.
A list of the countries which were invited
to cooperate in the observance of the Paris
regulations Is given. These include Japan
and Russia. The Japanese minister merely
makes formal acknowledgment of the re-
ceipt of the document, promising to bring
it to the attention Of his government. while
Prince Cantacuzene, Russian representative.
said: Il think / can at once inform you
that Russia, having to the same degree "a
the United States an interest and an impera-
tive duty to equally assure In her waters
perial government could not give its adj
hesion to the Paris regulations and to the
legislative measures adopted in consequences
thereof at Washington and London, unless
likewise to all the waters Of the Pacific
situated to the north OF the thirty-ffth de-
gree of north latitude
Secretary Carlisle sent to the House to-
day a reply to the resolution introduced
by Mr. McMillin, calling for information
on the Bering sea claims and the ex-
penses for the government of Samoa.
Much of the information has been con-
Secretary safes that the Alaska Com
mercial Company pays $4,000 per annum.
in addition to the regular tax on its
catches. for the privilege of sealing and
has made claim for 100000 against the
government on account of its loss be-
cause of the restrictions placed upon seal
ing. The United Staes has paid out. accord
ing to the statement of the Secretary of
State 81 ,346 under the agreement for the
government of Samoa.