The Penn's Grove record., 1895-12-06

season in those waters.
The need of a more effective enforce
ment of existing regulations. as well as
the adoption of such additional regulations
ms experience has shown to be absolutely
necessary to carry out the intent of the
award, have been earnestly urged upon
the British Government, but thus far with
out effective results. In the meantime the
depletion of the seal herds by means of
pelagic hunting has so nlarmingly pro-
crossed that unless their slaughter is at
once effectively checked their extinction
within a few years seems to be a matter
of absolute certainty.
The understanding by which the United
States was to pay. and Great Britain to
receive, a lump sum of $425.0O0 in full
settlement of all British claims for dam
ages arising from our seizure Of British
sealing vessels unauthorized under the
award of the Paris Tribunal of arbitra-
ton, was not confirmed by the last Con-
gress, which declined to make the neces-
sary appropriation. / am still of the opin-
ion that this arrangement was a judicious
and advantageous one for the government,
and 1 earnestly recommend that 1t be again
considered and sanctioned. II, however,
this does not meet with the favor of Con-
gress, it certainly will hardly dissent from
the proposition that the government 10
bound by every consideration Of honor
and good faith to provide for the speedy
adjustment of these claims by arbitration
as the only other alternative. A treaty of
arbitration has, therefore, been agreed
upon, and will be Immediately laid before
fk4 GA.o, - AL-k t. Al --zlx-
suggested a final settlement may be reach
ed. Notwithstanding that Great Britain
originated the proposal to enforce inter-
national rules for the prevention of collis-
ions at sea, based on the recommendations
of the maritime conference of Washington
and concurred in suggesting March /, 1895,
as the date to be set by proclamation for
carrying these rules into general effect.
Alaska's Boundary.
Her Majesty's' government having en-
countered opposition on the part of British
shipping interests, announced its inability
to accept that date, which was cense-
queDtiy cancelled. The end of the matter
Is still In obeyance without prospect Of a
better condition in the near future. The
commissioners appointed to mark the In
ternationai boundary in P~assamaquoddy
Bay, according to the description of the
treaty of Client, have not yet fully agreed.
The completion of the preliminary survey
of that Alaskan boundary, which follows
the contour of the coast from the south.
ernmost point of Prince of Wales is land
until IT strikes the one hundred and forty
hrst meridian at or near the summit of
Mount st. Elias, awaits further necessary
appropriations, which are urgently recon-
mended. This survey was undertaken under
the provisions of the convention entered
into by this country and Great Britain July
Y, 1872, and the supplementary conyen-
ton of February 8, 1894.
AS to the remaining section of the Alas
kan boundary, which follows the one him.
dred and forty-irst meridian northwa rdIv
from Mount st. Elias to the Frozen Ocean
the settlement of which involves the nbvs,-
cal location OF the meridian mentioned No
conventional agreement has yet been made
Inc aseertainment of a given merid-
a at a particular point is a work "a.
quirihg much time and careful obserya-
n surveys. Such observations and
surveys were undertaken by the Un;toa
States Coast and Geodetic Survey IN
1851 ana 1881, while similar work in the
same quarters under British auspices
is oeieved to give nearly coincident re-
SUITS; out these surveys have been indie
pendently conducted and no international
agreement to mark those or any other
parts OF the one hundred and forty.6rst
meridian by permanent monuments has
yet been made. In the meantime the
Valley of the Yukon is becoming A h,ob-
way through the hitherto u~nexplored wilds
OF Alaska and abundant mineral weaIth
mas been discovered in that region. espe-
ciaily at or near the junction of the bound- !
airy meridian with the Yukon and its
tributaries. In these circumstances II 4.
expedient and. indeed, imperative. that
the jurisdictional limits of the respective
governments In this new region be speed.
lily determined. Her Britannia Maiesty's
Government has proposed a Joint delimita-
non or the one hundred and forty-Arst me-
ridian py an international commission of |
experts, which, If Congress will authorize
It and make due provision therefor. can
be accomplished with no unreasonable
delay. 1t Is impossible to overlook the
vital Importance of continuing the
work already entered upon, and sup-
piemented 1t by further effective meas |
ures looking to the exact location Of this
entire boundary line.
Canadian Fishermen.
l call attention to the unsatisfa oterv |
dehmitation of the respective jurisdictioas
the United States and the Dominion Of |
Canada in the Great Lakes at the an
proaches to the narrow waters that cor.
meet them. The waters In question are
f~reQuented by fishermen of both nationali.
ties and their nets are there used. Owing
o the uncertainty and ignorance a. to the
true boundary, vexatious disputes and In
furious seizures of boats and nets by Cana
nan cruisers often occur, while any posi-
tive settlement thereof by an accepted
standard is SO easily to be reached.
A Joint commission to determine the
line in those quarters, from a practical
by measured courses following
range marks on shore is a necessity for