Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-02-16
MR.. DiNGLEY PERSISTS
The Objections Against His Seal Killing
Resolution Not Valid.
The Arbitration Il Failure as to Pro-
tectfEE the Seals-HGv the Herds
Have Been Decreased.

Representative Dingley of Maine does
not consider valid the objections which
were brought forward in the ways and
means committee against his resolution
for killing the Bering sea seals, that 1T was
prevented by the Paris arbitration and
the contract With the Alaskan Commercial
Company. So far as concerns this con-
tract. Mr.. Dingley says, the adoption of
the resolution would be but question Of
damages to be paid to the company at
most. Or this obstacle could be overcome,
he suggests. by inserting in the resolu-
ton the word female and proceeding to
kill the female seals, since the company
Is only permitted to kill the males by the
terms of the contract.
The Arbitration a Failure.
The Paris arbitration, Mr.. Dingley says.
is generally conceded to have been fail
ure in It's results. The government enter
cd into the arbitration for the purpose of
enacting regulations for the better protec-
ton of seals, and as the regulations have
failed to accomplish their object he sees
no reason why the government should rot
give notice to the other parties that un-
less they unite with the United States to
protect the seals effectively this govern
ment will proceed TO kill them. The Paris
tribunal erred. Mr. Dingley says, in sup
posing that the esta blishrient of a sixty
mile zone and the prohibition of killing
by firearms would accomplish the preser-
walton of seal life.
II has been found that the seals can be
killed quite as easily with spears as with
guns, as the Indians are most expert in
spearing them when they go into the water
to feed, they must every day. When
firearms are used the herd is frightened
and fewer seals are killed. They are fast
swimmers and easily go beyond the sixty
mile limit in swimming to their feeding
grounds.
How the Herds Have Deem Decimated.
Mr.. D!ngley says it is conceded that the
herds have been decreased from several
millions to about 100000 seals, and that at
the present rate Of destruction they will
he eXterminated in four or five years at
most, possibly within three years. Persons
who We're in the sealing waters last sum-
mer told him that the pups whose mothers
had been killed were TO be seen floating
around dead. as they starve to death when
they lose their mothers. Every considera-
ton of humanity, he contends. dictates
that the fur industry should be SO regu-
lated that these cruelties will be done
away with, while financial considerations
suggest that If the killing cannot be pre-
vented Canada should not reap all the
benefits thereof.
For Joint Protection.
Important action taken today by the
House committee on ways ana means. IL
was agreed to authorize the President to
invite the governments of Great Britain.
Russia and Japan to unite with the United
States in sending a joint commission to in
vestigate tho seal fisheries of the North
Pacific and Be,ing sea. The President will
be authorized to arrange a modus vivendi
with these powers for the protection Of the
seals Until the report of the commission
has been made and acted upon, the Secre-
tary of the Treasury will be empowered to
take steps to kill the seals under the
terms of the Dingley bill. in case these
nations refuse to join with the United
States in an Investigation.