The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-01-18
ens status of the Bering sea hsasrie~

ent status OF the Bering sea fshsries
Pending the report OF the commission the
president is to conclude a modus vivendi
with any or all OF the governments named
for regulating seating opera tons TIL Jailu-
airy, is57. These regulations may either be
new or they may Re those approved by the
Paris tribunal. with such amendments as
time has shown 20 be necessary. II the
countries mentioned are unwilling TO enter
into any arrangement for reasonable reg'l-
iations for the earning year. then the sec
rotary OF the treasury. with the approval
o. the president. Is authorized % XIII every
seal found on the PrbIlof islands and sell
the skins 10 the best advantage
When the United states purchased Al
aska from the Russian government X &C
CURED certain rights 20 the seal herd which
makes it's summer home on the Pr.bilof
Islands. These seals In $50 were estimated
10 number 10000. In 1874 1t was reported
by experts sent to examine the islands. that
the herd numbered not over six and ore
half millions and probably fewer. The
latest reports Of experts who furnished the
last congress with information show that
the herd has dwindled 70 not more than
80 900 seals. This is due entirely to peiasic
sealing IN Ber!ng sea and along our coast,
and the killing during the past few years
has been so reckless that within TWO CT
three years this once valuable herd VIII he
lost. not only 10 this country, but 10 man
? kind. II Il is going TO be exterminated Mr..
~ Should
the discriminating and get the profit out
OF it.
The Paris regulations have not protected
the seals. The slaughter has gone right on
and the poachers by killing the females dur
ing the breeding season, thereby practicai-
" exterminate the young pups which are
on shore awaiting the parents return. It
is said that thousands upon thousands OF
the pups have persisted from hunger this
year through the pelagic slaughter or the
mothers II the present regulations cannot
be amended so as 10 stop this outcnery'
then neither the United States nor anybody
else VIII be able TO catch seals in Alaskan
waters five years from now. Air. Dlngiey
believes that, IL some protection cannot De
given to the seals, then the United States
should step in and make as much as they
can out OF them. Otherwise the profits CT
the seal industry viii go to swell the for
tunes Of Canadian poachers. II the United
States should take the seals, the skins
with proper handling should be worth $50
apiece At this figure the herd would bring
In from $4,000 900 TO 100000.
This will strike most people as being a
plain, sensible business proposition. IL
other governments are willing to assist In
preventing seal determination the United
States VIII gladly join in. IL not, then Ii is
only proper that the government should
take what rightfuny belongs TO it before
marine highwaymgn have effected n com
plete spoliation. II is barely possible the
British government may be willing 10 act,
free from the malign influence of Canada,
which country this question especially az
fects and the requests of which the home
government heretofore has followed out
From the attitude of the British delegates
at Paris. however. II Is extremely doubt
full IL any agreement can be reached that
will be at all satisfactory 10 the mercenary
Canadian interests. and therefore the best
possible step for the United States TO take.
not only in its own interest, but in the in
terest of humanity. will be to exterminate
the seals at once.