The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-31
sEALsKINs WILL COME HIGH.
Effect of the New Law Prohibiting
Pelagic Hunting.


WASHINGTON, Dec. 30.-The secretary
President, has issued regulations under the
act of Congress signed yesterday prohibit
ing the taking of sealskins by American
citizens except on the Pribylof islands and
inhibiting the importation into this country
of pelagic sealskins. The regulations pro-
vide that no sealSkins, raw, dressed, dyed
or otherwise manufactured shall be admit
ted to entry in the United States except
there be attached to the invoice certifi-
cate signed by the United States consul
at the place of expectation that said skins
were not taken from seals killed within
the waters mentioned in said act, specify
ing in detail the locality of such taking,
whether on land or at sea, and also the
person from whom skins were purchased in
their and dressed state, the date of
such purchase and the lot number Consuls
shall require satisfactory evidence of the
truth of such facts by oath or otherwise
before giving any such certificate. 1t is
further provided that no fur sealskins, raw,
dressed, dyed or otherwise manufactured,
shall be admitted to entry as part of
passengers personal effects unless
accompanied by an invoice certificate by
the United States consul. All fur sealskins,
whether raw, dressed, dyed or otherwise
manufactured, the invoices of which are
not accompanied by the certificate above
prescribed, are directed to be sliced by the
collector of customs and destroyed.
Each article manufactured in whole or
in part, from fur sealskins to be import
ed into the United States is required 10 have
legiby stamped on it the name of the man
ufacturer and the place of manufacture,
and shall be accompanied by a statement in
writing under oath of the manufacturer
that the skins used in said articles were
taken from seals not killed at sea within
the prescribed waters mentioned specifying
the locality in detail and also the person
from whom said skins were purchased in
their raw and dressed state. the date Of said
purchase and the lot number. IT is also
provided that when an application is Nude
to a consul for a certificate under these
presented by the exporter shall be submit
ted to the treasury agent designated for
the purpose of investigation.
All manufactured articles from sealslginS
and imported into the United States shall
have the Innings arranged THAI the pelt
of the skin or skins underneath shall be
or articles, whether imported as niarchan-
disc or as part of a passengers personal
effects, are required to be sent 10 the Pub
Tic stores for careful examination end in
spectiOn to prevent evasion or the law.
All garments of this character TAX m from
this country may be re-entered ON Irresenta-
collector of customs of the port Of depart
ure. which certificate shall have been Oh
tanned by the owner of the garment by CT
fering the same to the collector for inspec-
ton before leaving this country.
In speaking of the scope Of these regula-
tons, assistant Secretary Howell SAID that
neither the law nor the regulations would
be made to apply to skins or garmint
made of skins which were shipped to the
United States and were actually OH the
ocean Wednesday morning, Dec. -. the
time the act was signed by the President.
Evidence of the time of shipment. however,
would be required.
Discussing the effect of the new law. the
correspondent of the Chicago Tribune here
says: Next winter sealskins will be
scarcer than food now in Dawson City, and
the best prophets shudder at the prices
that will be imposed on loving husbands
who wish to present their better halves
with winter wraps. The law carries With
it the absolute prohibition of the importa-
ton of all sealskins taken from animals
in the open seas. IT is not a question of
excessive tariff rates. but an absolute cics-
ing of the market of the United States
against all skins except those captured on
the land under government auspices. The
object of the law was 10 make nclagic seal
ing Improbable to the Canadian 'leet by