Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1895-11-25

N aoI.uS ION, NONemDef Lf.-IQIOrnd-
ton reaches here that the revenue cut
ter Bear the last government vessel to
leave Bering Sea. has just brought down
some startling evidence Of the effect of
pelagic sealing upon the Alaskan seal
herd which freQuents the Pribliof or
Seal Island.
In accordance with the findings of the
Paris arbitration, schooners are now
permitted to hunt seals in Bering Sea
with spears in a zone sixty miles around
the islands from the frs Of August 1t
was thought that confn;ng sealing
scl00uers 20 spears. and reducing the
season 20 practically five or six weeks
would
STOP THE SLAUGHTER
In Bering Sea and allow the herd to
cooperate. This year not less than
sixty sch01nerS began hunting In Ber-
ing Sea August first, and captured near
ly 10000 peits, about so per cent Of
which were females. This does not
show the full extent Of the injury done
The seal pups are dependent on their
mothers milk for the first four or five
months OF their existence, and without
&c must suffer starvation.
Actiug under instructions of their re-
spectiye sJpeuorS both resident treas
ury officers and agents OF the North
American Commercial Company made
count of the dead pups found at the
close of the season when the sealing
schoOuers had left the sea. The CEN
sus was just completed when the Bear
left and reached 270)0. and does not
include these in the last stages Of star
walton. The same conditions prevail
cd last yeer but the count was made
Vi-h less eEGc,Iess on account Of snow.
1t is said that the
ACTUAL PECUNIARY LOSS
TO the United States and the CONNER
cial world by this needless waste of an
imals viii reach hundreds of thousands
OF dollars.
The United States, which has never
allowed the molesta-ion of breeding
grounds or killing of females on land,
made an effort last year 10 stay the
slaughter going on. by limiting the
land killing 10 1900 immature males.
10 fs questionable if I'm the face Of exist
ing conditions. and the reports of treas
ury officials, fur-her restraint Will be
exercised. especially as a request made
/ last January by the United States 20
I Great Britain for greater protection TO
/ the seals has been practically ignored.
IT. was the attempt made by the United
I States 90
c-00D ~TrTU7 u TQ.p ApT7yV
/ practiced on the seals by seizing the
/ schoouers that subjected the govern
/ men- Jo claim for damages on the part
+ of Canada
These claims, which were re-enacted
/ claims which were rejected last year
/ by Congress. are again receiving atten-
/ tion from the State Department and the
/ articles Of a convention providing for
/ a commission to sit at Victoria are be-
/ ing considered.
Tic is believed in Congressional cir
/ cles that unless a treaty, which must
/ De ratified by q twO-thirds vote of the
T Senate. confirms the assessment Of
damages strictly TO vessels passed
upon by the Paris tribunal and pro-
vi6as for fenalty for injury on part
| of all witnesses called by either gov
eruuert. it win suffer the same fate as
/ did Secretary Cresham's proposition to
uqv to- Canada Sl25.00) out OF hand, de-
sDite the fact that q number of the
schOOners belonged TO American sub
/ iacrs and nearly three-fOurths of the
claims are for prospective catches OF
seals.