Evening star., 1895-02-19
TO PROTECT THE SEALS
An International Commission to InYesti-
gate the Condition of Things.
Re port of the House Ways and Means
Committee on the Substitute for
the Dingley Bill.

Chairman Wilson of the ways and means
committee has made report to the House
upon the bill framed as substitute for Rep
rcsentative Dingleys bill, and providing
for the organization of an international
commission to investigate the condition OF
the seal herds Of the North Pacific and
Bering sea, and authorizing the President
to arrange a modus vivendi with Great
Britain, Japan and Russia pending tile re-
port. The regulations determined upon by
the Paris tribunal are reviewed, and the
declaration by Baron Courcel, Justice Har-
Ian and Senator Morgan quoted, which
states that in view of the critical condition
to which the race of fur seals has been re-
duced the arbitrators recommend both gov
ernments to come to an understanding to
prohibit the killing of fur seals on land or
sea for period of two or three years. or at
least one year. subject to such exceptions
as the two governments might think proper
to admit of, and that such a measure might
be recurred to at occasional intervals, If
found beneficial.
The report says: 1.-The results Of the first
years season under the new award have
fully demonstrated the wisdom of this dec
laration. During the season of 1884, just
expired, during which the regulations Of the
award were operative there are known to
have been killed on the American side of
the North Pacific ocean and in the Bering
sea o0OSO SealS, a larger numDer-lt WOuiQ
appear from official statistics and estimates
on the files of the Treasury Department
than were ever before taken by pelagic
sealers from the American herd"
The number of seals killed on the Pribiof
Islands under the lease to the North Amer
lean Commercial Company has decreased
from 1O4, ,521 in 1886 to 15.O33 in 1894, when,
although the company was authorized to
kill 10000, the agent reported that only
1900 could be taken on account of the
alarming decrease in the herd.
when it is considered that at least
three-fourths Of the sea catch were female
heavy with young" the report continues,
land that probably at least half as many
more were killed. but lost, while all of the
island catch were carefully selected males,
scme conception may be had of the dis
it is evident from these figures and the
report made to Congress by the Secretary
of the Treasury that the seal herd is
rapidly nearing determination under the
operation Of the articles of the Paris
award, your committee is glad to report
that, regards the North Pacific ocean,
exclusive of Bering sea, the award regula-
tions have done much good in stopping
sealing during May, June and July. The
benefits of the close season in the North
Pacific ocean, however, are practically de-
stroyed by the effects of the award, open--
ing Bering sea except the sixty-mile zone)
after July 81 to pelagic sealers. 1t being
apparent that the extinction Of the seal
herd is a question of a very short time.
unless more effective regulations are
adopted to prevent the slaughter, your
committee has unanimously reported the
bill. 1t will be noted that section of the
bill authorizes the Secretary of the Treas
ury, under certain contingencies, which
1t is profoundly hoped will never arise, to
take and kill all of the seals on the islands
Plain dictates of mercy and humanitarian
ism prescribe that this slaughter Of fe
males with pups unborn, or left to die of
starvation, be forever prohibited, If not by
International Adjustment
by merciful speedy determination. Under
the bill a method is provided for adding to
the facilities of knowledge upon this i'm
mission, and pending its report the estab-
lishment of new regulations which will
give this valuable industry well-earned
respite. Section referred to is practically
the Dingley bill, authorizing the Secretary
of the Treasury to kill the seals in case
the other powers decline to enter into an
agreement for their future protection"