The record-union., 1896-09-29

his words, to refrain from saying that
Bryan's plan would prove beneficial to
the United States? For Bismarck is
honest He will not willfully mislead.
He says just what he intended to con-
vey; no more no less. He might like to
see the silver plan tried. The United
States can try it, he says, and there he
stops.
1t will not be forgotten that 1t was Bis
marck who raised the gold standard for
Germany at the close OF the Franco
| German war in order to compel France
to pay the indemnity in gold. 1t meant
millions to Germany. It was a shreWd,
a wise thing, so far as that went, and 1t
punished the French severely More
than that, after the indemnity was pald'
Bismarck did his best to keep France
upon silver basis, since that would en-
able Germany to dump its silver upon
her. In that, however, France defeated
the old Chancellor.
But to Bismarck's words in the letter,
and recall once more that he is a man
l
who weighs every word and never uses
| a useless one: eff" he says, 1.-The peo-
pie Of the United States should hnd II
compatible with their interests to take
independent action in the direction OF Dl-
metallism." etc. Nowhere in the letter
has he a word for monometallism, not
one word about free coinage at the ratio
of 16 to 1, or free coinage to individual
account, nor Of unlimited free coinage.
| But Bismarck does say, and there IS
no mistaking his meaning, that ne
favors international agreement to Ell
feet true and international bimetalhsm.
The truth is that Bismarck's letter Is dl-
rectly in support Of the declaration OF
the Republican platform on the silver
question.
But If the Bryanites insist upon claim
ing it as approving Of their ism, how IS
| it that all Of a sudden the wind has
changed? Here we have had the changes
rung in our ears that the great Euro
pean nations were opposed to the Bryan
financial revolution; that they are sup
plying the Republican party with tne
sinews Of war, and all that. Here IS one
of the greatest, one who Is our cred
itor" as the Bryanites put 1t, speaking
through the mouth of her greatest man
and declaring directly, we are assured,
against the Republican party. Tne SIT
uation Is not four square. and the
Brvanites are In order to explain.
| Thursday last the "Record-Union"
published Q full synopsis Of the FORTH
coming report Of tho State Board OF
Fish Commissioners. In that report q
chapter Is devoted TO the question OF
the protection Of the seals at Seal Rocks
In San Francisco. It appears from the
report that these seals are under the
protection Of a Federal law which
makes It unlawful to kill them. There
are some 1000 of these seals, and they
consume about sixty pounds Of fish each
per day. thus requiring 10000 pounds
Of fish food daily. The commission holds
that the protection afforded these sea
animals is initiating greatly against
the promtion Of food fish interests in the
State. The seals do not conflne them
selves to eating the fish in the imme-
diate vicinity of the rocks, but pursue
their prey into the harbor Of San Fran
cisco, and even UP into the channels
of the Sacramento. and San Joaquin
Rivers and other streams. emptying
into the inland bays. They have be-
come 80 bold that they destroy the nets
Of fishermen In the rivers and greatly
hamper the cultivation Of the salmon
fisheries, which the State and the
United States have done so much to
promote. Striped bass, shad and other
fish are also taken by the seals. They
do not cease their ravages when their
appetites are satisfied, but with ap-
parent wantonness take fish and toss
them from the waters, destroying them
without devour1ng them. Thus the de-
struction Of food fishes by the seals Is
enormous, and Is very seriously en-
oroaching upon the legitimate fisheries
and driving the salmon, bass and shad
from our waters. The commission Is
moved to advise that steps be taken to
correct this evil, and with that end in
view It has opened up correspondence
with the United States authorities upon
the subject. It Is unnecessary to COM
ment upon this recommendation, since
1t Is its own sufficient commentary.
Here Is an important interest demand
ing protection, and our Congressme en-
should have their attention called to 1t
with view to immediate action on the
reassembling Of Congress In December
The seals should be reduced In number
not extermtnated. They are an attrao-
ton to visitors to the coast unouestion-
ably, and at the Seal Rocks their as
sembly is a curiosity, and to thousands
affords a rational study. But 1t Is not
at all necessary that they should be al
lowed to so increase In number as
TO injure so important q food industry
as that which both the State and the
Federal Governments are expendine
money to promote, the propagation OF
food fishes and the stocking Of our
streams and other inland waters with
the best order of finny tribes.
THE ARCADE BANDITS.