The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-01-24
SEALS OF THE BERINC SEA.
The Paris Regulations for Their Pro-
lection a Failure.


The Government Lessees Secured Only
10000 LAST Year Against 1oo,-
oCo Easily Obtained Few Years
Ago -PelaFaic ssalsrs Secure Nearly
10000 Wh1re Previously They Had
Not Been Able to Obtain Ealf This
Number.
Washington. Jan. 2s.-Amoug the exec
utiye communications laid before the
House to-day was a letter from the Sec
retary of the Treasury i'm answer TO the
resolution of inquiry introduced some
days ago by Mr.. Dingley. rep TO Maine,
relating to the condition and prospects
of the Berinr sea seal herd.
2lr. Dnelcy called attention TO the i'm
portance OF this letter, which showed
that the Paris regulations for the pro
lection OF the Alaskan seal fisheries have
proved a nat failure, as shown by these
facts cited:
1. The Iessees OF the government not
withstanding there had been three years
cessation OK killing seals in the Alaskan
seal islands. were able to secure less than
10000 male seals tho past season. whereas
100000 were easily obtained few years
ago.
:. The Palaraic sealers. largely Cana
dian. secured nearly go 900 seals mainly
females. the past season, of which fo,oD
were killed iu Beriug sea, whereas pre-
viously they had not been able to OBTAIN
hale OF this number. And as 20 sealing
vessels are now preparing to sall win
Alaskan spearsmen on board. there as
luue doubt they win XIII 10000 seals IN
rartng sea the next season unless M
terfered with by new legislation or resu-
lations.
2 IL is the opinion Of the Secretary Of
the Treasury and the seal experts that
under the Paris regulations within three
or four or at the most five years, the
/ entire Alaskan seal herds will be eXtei-
I minated. and property worth Sl0go 100
TO this country. and source OF comfort
/ Of iHostlmable value TO the world, VIII be
+ eXterminated.
wen ass aclf-interest. demand that this
farce should bc at once ended. 1t costs
/ the country more than 100000 per annum
/ 10 execute the Paris regulations, and all
for the benefit Of the Pelagaic sealers'
mainly Canadian.
1--WE should at once notify Great Brit
ain OF the situation, and l understand
this has been done, and inform her that
unless She will join us in regulations that
. will protect the Alaskan seal herds from
/ determination. we shall be obliged to at
/ onco KIN and secure the whole herd and
save to chat extent the property which
belongs 20 me- Aud I believe that should
be done This is the only alternative.
Mr.. McCreary of Kentucky, asked II
| the United States was not now paying
I more than il ever did before TO pro
tect the seals, and if the arbitration at
/ Paris was not a total failure as far as
the United states was concerned.
Mr. Dingley answered that he had al
ready expressed his belief to that effect.
Mr. Recd-We are paving out larger
I sum than ever to enable the Canadian
/ sealers to do their work more perfectly
Mr.. Hopkins. rep, OF Illinois, asked
T whether or not the administration was
doing anything to acquaint Great Brit
ain with the facts.
Mr. Dinelcv replied that it was, and he
believed Intellectually. Great Britain"
said Mr. Dngley, has nearly as much
/ financial interest in the preservation of
/ the Alaska seal herds as this country,
/ because the seal skins are nearly all pre-
pared and dyed in London, giving en-
rloyment probably to $1,000 persons in
the English capital
Mr. Dingley then introduced a bill au-
thorizng the Secretary Of the Treasury
10 forthwith Kill ana secure the skins Of
the whole Alaskan herd Of the seal is
lands. sell the same from time to time and
cover the proceeds into the treasury The
second section authorizes the President
to SUSPEND the execution Of the act when
ever Great Britain shall unite with this
country i'm regulations that will, in his
Judgment, protect the Alas skan seal herds.
The bin and Secretary Carlsles letter
were referred to the committee on ways
and means.
Mr.. Mcmillan, from the committee on
a..
referred TO it on Jan u, which was agreed
to, calling upon the Secretary Of the
Treasury for additional information on
the subject and all the facts on file in the
department relating to the seal business
since Jan I, 1859, the contracts made, suits
or claims against the United States aris-
ing hereunder, loss Of revenue to tho
government by the dmunitiOn Of the
catch and an itemized statement Of the
eXpcuses connected with the Paris arbi-
tration, also what expenses the govern
I ment is now under for carrying out the
treaty with the government Of Samoa
The sundry civil appropriation bill was
then taken uD I'm committee OF the whole
Mr. Savers briefly explained the pro
visions Of the bill, and Mr.. Cannon, q
member Of the committee on apprpopria-
tious, expressed his regret at the fact thai
the committee had not seen best to make
more generous appropriations for certain
public works. especially for the light
house establishment. With this. the gen
eraI debate closed, and the bill was con
sidered under the hve-minute rule foi
. amendment.
At the earliest possible moment Mr.
Picker, rep. of South Dakota, got the
floor and delivered an eloquent tribute Ic
the memory Of Charles L. Carter. late
annexationfst commissioner to the United
states, who was killed in the recent re-
beIious uprising in Hawaii which was
received with applause.
After the consideration Of s. of the 10
nages of the bill. the committee rose and
The House adjourned
SESSION OF THE SENATE.