The daily morning journal and courier., 1896-02-03

ment, but in May, 1895, after the season had begun, this government was noti- fled that even the insufficient regula- tions of 1894 would not be renewed. This refusal was based on the ground that the award did not prohibit the pos session of tre-arns by sealers, and therefore the British government de- clined to enter into an arrangement which would make 1t we'll for Canadian vessels to secure the sealing of their arms. This decision by the home gov ernment was received with great joy in the Dominion, for it enormously facili- tated the use of firearms in the killing of seals.
 The result of the Paris award has been disastrous to the seals and to the sealing industry. Before the refusal of the British government to renew the regulations of 1894 the subject had been considered in congress. In answer to a resolution introduced into thesHouse of Representatives by MT. Dingley of Maine, Secretary Carlisle stated that from the statistics of the pelagic catch of 1894 "it becomes evident that during the present season there has been an unprecedented increase over preceding years in the number of seals killed by pelagic sealers, both in American and Asiatic waters This increase has | caused an alarming decrease in the number of seals on the islands, as here matter explained. ... The alarming in- crease in the number of seals killed by pelagic' 'sealers. emphasizes the con clusion expressed in my annual report l to congress that long before the expira- tion of the five years, when the regula- l tions enacted by the Tribunal of Arbi- l tration are to be submitted to the re- | spective governments fon re-examina- 1 ton, the fur-seal will have been practi- cally exterminated."
 I Bills were introduced in both houses of congress contemplating the destruc- | tion of all seals by the government, and l thereby a determination of the question. On one of these bills that introduced by Hon. William l.. Wilson, the ways and means committee made an interest ing report This bill provided that the president should invite the appointment of a joint commission by the United States, Great Britain, Russia and Ja- pan, and an arrangement for a modus l vivendi pending the proposed invests- gation. In the event of refusal by Great Britain to agree to the modus vii vendl, and to make proper regulations l to carry it out, the secretary of the | treasury was to be authorized to ar range for the killing of the seals as I they visited the Pribyloff Islands. The 1 bin was passed Joy the House of Repre- 1 sentatives and if it had been permitted to become law, it might have com | pelled the Dominion to consent that l Great Britain should change her course; for if the section directing the killing of the seals as they visited the islands had been executed, the quarry of the Cana dians would have been destroyed, and l the United States would have reaped the advantage. Rather than that, Can- ada would have preferred the enforce ment of the Paris award. But when the bill reached the senate it's passage was prevented iby the objection of Senator Morgan, who had been one, of the arbi- trators. This conduct on his part was especially strange, because he had de- voted his time and his energies to in sisting that the admintstration was not doing all that 1t might do to enforce the Eaward, although the administration was really doing all that was possible in view of the regulations which had been made by the tribunal.
 So much for the effort of congress to come to the aid of the Executive depart ment of the government. In its report on the Wilson bill the Ways and Means committee presented tables showing the l affanf of ,xa1 e,i5 cno1t,,oy oy, tho .os, fob It appears from these tables that the annual pelagic catch on both sides oi the Pacific Ocean increased since 1890 from 51,S14 to 142, 900 in 1894, and that the Pribyloff Islands catch decreased from 1o4,521 in 1886 to 15,o33 in 1894. Il also appears that the destruction of the Russian seals now exceeds that of the American seals, and that the pelagie catch in Asian waters has increased from 5,S47 in 1891 to 5S,621 in 1894 In the season of 1895 the catch fell off. This was because of perceptible diminutior in the herds It is evident that the 1 seals have already begun to disappear The legitimate catch on the Commander Islands for 1895 was 17700, as agains 27,300 in 1894. The catch on the Priby. loff Islands was about 15,000.
 The pelagic catch was as follows:
 Jlapanese coast. st.................... 35, ,00t American northwest coast, about. 12,00t
 Bering Sea. ............ 50,00'
 Total 97,00
 In 1894 the pelagic catch was 142,0
 The commercial interests are sue
 cumbing to the pelagic sealer, and it is apparent that the seal is doomed unles' Great Britain and Russia can be per- suaded to defend the interests of theil citizens against the determination O
 Canadians to kill off the seals as rapid
 ly as possible. The interests of this country cannot be protected unless tht
 Paris award unless Great Britain no
 only co-operates, but agrees that tht findings shall be extended, and the reg
 ulations made more effective than they can be if the language of the award is
 strictly adhered to. At present. how
 ever. Great Britain is yielding to the
 1nalign influence of the Dominion, and i