Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-01-23
TO PROTECT THE SEALS.
Dingley's Bill and the
Authority 1t Gives the President.

Representative Dingley's Bill and the
Authority 1t Gives the President.
In response to letter from the Secretary
of the Treasury received by Congress, stat
ing that the present rules for the protec-
ton of the fur seals were entirely made
quate, and that the seals would be de-
stroyed within three years If not better pro-
tected, Representative Dingley introduced
bill in the House today providing that II
Great Britain does not consent to rules for
an adequate protection of the seals which
will be acceptable to the President of the
United States, this government shall pro-
coed at once to the capture of all fur-bear-
Ing seals and the preservation of their
skins.
The President Is authorized to suspend
tie execution of the act whenever Great
Britain shall unite with this country In
adopting regulations that will, in his judy
ment, properly protect the Alaskan seal
herds.
fact that the United States is at present
preserving the seal fisheries chiefly for the
benefit of Canadian fishermen, at great
expense to this government, and If the herd
of seals Is destined to speedy destruction
it is better that the hides should be Sc
cured at once by this government than that
time and opportunity should be given TO
the Canadians to take possession of prop
erty which has cost the United States
great deal of money.
Mr.. Dingley stated to the House in ex-
PLANTATION of it that 1T showed, first, mat
the Paris regulations for the protection OF
the Alaskan seal herds were fiat failure
and instead of protecting these herds bet
ter than before they had really opened
them up to determination by pelagic seal
ers.
Notwithstanding the killing of seals On the
islands had been suspended for three sea-
sons. the government lessees during the
past season had been able to obtain scarce
ly 5000 seals. while only a few years ago
10000 were obtained without any apparent
lessening of the herds, and also by the
fact that the pelagic sealers, mainly Cana
dian, had been able during the past season
to secure nearly Go,oOO skins belonging to
the Alaskan herd, more than double the
number they had previously obtained.
What Will Happen.
"Now that they have learned how to use
Indian spearmen, it is certain that the
rinety-ftve sealers now preparing to enter
upon this business for the next season Will
kill more than 100 600 seals, and viii eXter-
mi,ate the entire Alaskan herds within
three, OF at the most, five years. Tnis
farce ought to stop. for we are really eX-
pending more than 100000 each year to
protect the Alaskan seal herds for the
benefit of the Canadian pelagic :ealers, aud
the pe'ty interest IN these seai9 ~ ing
United States which is at least $1o,ooo,o0o
will be wiped out unless something is
promptly done.
Mr.. Dingley said there's but one thing to
do, first inform Great Britain of the facts
for she has a great interest in the preser-
walton of the seal herds, arising from the
fact that nearly all the skins are prepared
and dyed in London, and request her to
unite at once with us in adopting regula-
lions that will effectually protect these
herds Then, if she refuses, authorize the
Secretary of the Treasury to Immediately
kill and secure every seal upon the Alaskan
Islands, and sell the skins from time to
time and cover the proceeds into the treas
ury.
Mr. Dingley said he was glad to learn
that the British government has already
been notified of these facts. and of the
necessity of immediate action. Mr.. Dingley
today introduced bill carrying out his
ideas. The bill was referred to the ways
and means committee.