Omaha daily bee., 1897-11-17
CLOSE OF THE CONFERENCE
Meeting to Consider the Bering Sea
Controversy Concludes Its Labors.
DELEGATES AGREE UPON MANY DETAILS
Canadian Representatives VIII Sub
nit Their Ideas in writing ana In
ternationnl Commission May
Result from Deliberations.


participated, came to close tonight. The
seal experts made unanimous report con-
cerning the condition of the seal herds and
the diplomatic reserves for the respective
governments each have an understanding
upon which they hope at a later day to effect
final adjustment, not only of the Bering sea
questions, but of other pending border con-
troversies. For the present however, no
of pelagic sealing.
The Canadian delegates urged that other
questions be brought into any plan of settle
ment and suggested an international commits
sion to accomplish this. This was fully dis
cussed and an agreement reached that the
Canadian officials would put their views n
writing after returning to Ottawa and sub
nit them to the authorities here. All par
ties concerned say the outlook is favorable
to satisfactory adjustment.
The unanimous agreement of the experts
brings the governments together for the
first time on all the mcts relating to the
seals This agreement was reached after
panstaking comparscn OF notes and the re-
suits were announced in an official statement
by General Foster as follows:
UNANIMOUS ON SOME POINTS.
"The delegates to the fur seal conference
have agreed unanimously on certain PROPOSE
tions touching the fur seal herds of the Ber-
ing sea. The report contains sixteen prop
! ositons which are briefly eptomized as fol-
| lows:
| THAT the Pribyloff herd has declined in
numbers from 1884 to 1897; that the number
| was formerly three to five times that which
| now exists; that the death rate among pups
| is great, not more than one-half to one-thrd
surviving to the age of 8 years; that the
| number Of breeding females in 1896 and 1897
| WIS between 100000 to 100, 900; that the de-
| crease from 1896 to 1897 was notable, though
! its extent could not be definitely determined; ;
| that land killing of males as now practiced
| does no harm to the herds; that the pelagc
! sealers respect the limitations of the law;
that pelagic sealing involves indiscriminate
killing; that the catch at contains a
marked excess of females; that the killing
of males on land is the cause of this; that
among the females killed are not only those
both nursing and pregnant but also many
who are immature, or who have alreldy lost
| their pups; that the fur seal being polyg-
amous, large number of males may be
| killed with impunity; that females cannot be
killed in similar numbers WITHOUT checking
actual decline; thnt a small number of fe-
males less the annual increment of breeders,
might be taken without producing actual de-
crease; that excessive pelagic sealing has led
to ii reduction in the herds that pelagic
sealing has of late fallen off in greater ratio
than has the herd thus producing a tendency
toward equilibrium in numbers; that in esti-
mating the future conditions of the herd
| NH ha taly into
in the number of surviving pups caused by
| the pelagic catches OF 1S94-5; that the herd
is not in danger of actual determination so
! long rs its haunts on land are protected and
the protected zone is maintained; that both
land and sea killing now yield an inconsider-
able profit either to the lessees or to the
pelagic seslers themselves"
SIGNATURE TO AGREEMENT
The delegates signing the agreement are
as follows: Charles Sumner Hamlin, David
Starr Jordan, Darcy Wentworth Thompson,
James Melville Macoun.
Following the agreement OF the experts
the diplomatic officials assembled at General
Fosters house to discuss the larger increase
OF pelagic sealing and larger border con-
troversies. Owing to the cootinued illness of
Sir Julian Pauncefote, who is confined to his
| ioOHi, lHo IpiIlisH government WAS repre-
sented by the first secretary of the British
embassy, Mr.. Adam. Sir Wilfrid Laurier
and Sir. Louis Davies were present in behalf
| OF Canada.
General Fosters power has been materially
| enlarged since the coming OF the Canadian
officers, for as a result of the long and
| friendly talk between Sir Wilfrid and Sec
retary Sherman the latter has written to
| ba
ident had empowered General Foster to treat
on the various border questions which Sir
Wilfrd had called to the attention of Mr.
| Sherman and with the cooperation of the
British government to conclude treaties COW
ering these subjects.
DIPLOMATS IN SESSION.
The afternoons meeting began at D. M
and lasted until 7 o'clock During these
hours the entire border affairs were dis
oussed. Primarily the purpose of the meet
ing was to secure an agreement in the Ber-
ing sea matter The Canadians made it clear
that they wished any plan of settlement to
take a broader scope than the one subject
OF the Berng sea and to embrace the many
sources of friction along the border. In this
| connection the plan of an international COM
mission was discussed at great length The
Canadians felt that the commission afforded
the best means Of reconcilng all difference
and of opening the way to reciprocity. The
discussion was OF the most friendly nature
throughout and no sharp discussions were al
lowed to crop out 1t was felt that the plan
OF the commission was too large a question
for immediate discussion. A final under
standing was reached, therefore, that the
Canadian matter should be put in writing
This concluded the meeting and the dele
gates made their farewells in the utmost cor
| diality.
Sir Wilifrid and Sir Louis leave at 10
o'clock tomorrow morning for Ottawa.
DEMANDS MADE ny CHAMBERLAIN.
Premier Lnurier Promptly Refuses 10
| Grant Them.
TORONTO, Ont, Nov. 16.-The Globe, the