The San Francisco call., 1897-11-17
No Action Taken Respecting
Proposed Suspension of
Pelsg.C Sealing.
AN INTERNATIONAL COM
MISSION URGED.
Proposition to Bs Submitted for
the Settle ment of Frontier
Differences.
special Dispatch to THE CALL
CALL OFFICE, RIGGS HOUSE /
WASHINGTON, ID. e., Nov. I6.


WASHINGTON, ID. e., Nov. I6.
The Berng Sea NEE ing, in which rep
resentatives of Great Britain, Canada and
the United States have partici pated, came
to a close tonight, tie seal experts max
ing a unanimous report concerning the
condition of the seal herds and the diplo-
matte representatives. cf the respective
Governments reaching an understanding
by which they hope at d later day to effect
q final ad justment not only of the Bering
Sea question, but o: other pending border
controversies. For the present however,
no final action was taken as TO the sus-
pension Of pelagic sealing.
The Canadians urged that other ques-
tions be EN- braced in any plan of settle
tlemcnt and suggested an international
commi> sion to accomplish this end. This
proposition was fully discussed and an
agreement reached that the Canadian Of
tcials would Iut their views in writing
after returning to Ottawa and submit
them to the authorities here. All parties
concerned say that the QUITO k is favor
able to a satisfactory adjustment.
The unanimous agreement OF the ex-
! perts brings the Governments together for
the first time on all the facts relating to
the seals. This agreement was reached
! after painstaklng com mparison OF notes
| and the results were announced in an Of
| ticial statement by General Foster as fol-
| lows: The delegates TO the fur-seal con-
terence have agreed unanimously on GER
tain PROPOSITIONS touching the fur-seal
herds of Bering Sea. The re port contains
six teen propositions which are briefly
epitomized as follows:
That the PribyItff h ard has declined in num-
bers from 1884 10 1897; that the mum ber was
formerly three 10 five times tnat which now
exlst; that the death rate among pups is
great, not more than one-half to one-third
surviving to the age of years; that the num-
Der OF breeding females in 1896 and 1897 was
between 160 600 TO $50, 900; that the decrease
from 1896 10 1897 was notable, though
its extent could not be definitely deter
mined; that land killing of males, as now prac-
ticed, does no harm To the herds; that the
pelagic sealers respect the limitations OF the
law; that pelagic sealing involves iudiscrimi-
ma te killing; that the catch a sea contains
marked excess OF females; that the killing OF
males on land is the cause of this; that among
the females killed not only those both
nursing and pregnant, but also many who are
immature or who have already lost their
pups; that the iur SEAL being poIygsmous, a
large number OF males may be killed wi tn i'm
punIty; that females cannot be killed in SINH
/ lar numbers without checking the increase of
the herd or bringing about an actual
decline; that a small mum Der of females.
less than the annual increase rem
nant of breeders might be taken without
producing actual decrease; that excessive pc
Iagic sealing has led TO a reduction in the
herds; that pelagic sealing has of late fallen
eff In greater ratio than the herd has. thus
producing tendency toward equilibrium III
numbers; that in estimating the future con-
dition of the herds must be taken into consid-
GRAFTON the reductions in the number of
yivng nups caused by the pelagic catches OF
! lS94-lS95; that the herd is not In danger OF
actual determination so long as its haunts on
! land are protected and the protected zone is
maintained; that both land and sea killing
now yield an in nconsideraole profit, either to
the lessees or the pelagic sealers themselves.
The delegates signing the agreement a1e
as follows: Charles Sumner Hamlin,
David Starr Jordan, D'A cy Wentworth
Thompson, James Melville Macoun.
Following the agreement of the experts,
the diplomatic officials a sem bIed at Gen
era! Fosters house TO discuss the larger
question OF putting an end to pelagic seal
ing and OF settling other border controver-
sizes. Owing 10 the con nued illness OF
Sir Julian Pauncefote, who is confined to
his room, the British Government was
represe By the First Secretary OF the
British En- bassy, Mr.. Adam.
Sir Wilfred Laurier and Sir Louis Da-
vles were present in behalf Of Canada.
General Fosters power has been material
ly enlarged since the coming OF the Cana
dian officials, for, as a result of the long
and friendly talk between Sir Wiired and
Secretary Sherman, the latter had written
President had empowered General Foster
TO treat OIL the various border questions
which Sir Wilfred had called TO the atten-
ton of Mr.. Sherman and with the Coop
Grafton of the British Government to con-
clude treaties covering those subjects.
This gave the meeting broad signifi-
canoe. Ii began at o'clock P. NJ and
lasted until 7. During these three hours
the entire range OF border affairs was dis
! cussed. Primarily the purpose of the
meeting was 10 secure an agreement as to
the Bering Sea matter. The Canadians,
made it clear, however, that they wished
any plan of settlement to take a broader
scope than the one subject of the Bering
Sea, and TO embrace the many sources of
friction along the border. In this con.
nechon the plan of an international COM
mission was discussed at great length.
| The Canadians felt that the commission
afforded the best means of reconciling all
diff rences and Of opening the way to
! reciprocity.
nature throughout, and no sharp differ
ences we're allowed 10 creep out. 1t Was
felt, however, that the plan of commits
sion was too large question for i'm medi-
ate determination. A final understand
ing was reached therefore, that the
Can madam proposition should be reduced
TO writing, as a basis for further negotia-
! tions. This closed the conference and
the officials said their farewells, express
ing satisfaction i'll the cordial feeling
which had characterized The meeting OF
the last ten davs.