The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1897-08-04
The Boring Sea Instructions.

Since the appearance OF the last issue
of the Weekly, Secretary Sherman's let
ter of instructions to Ambassador Hay
on the seal question has been made
public. The paper is naturally vigor-
GUS expression of the views of this
country on the conduct of Great Britain
under the Paris award, for the simple
reason that that conduct amounts at
least to an evasion by the British gov
eminent of the duties imposed by the
tribunal upon both parties to the arbi-
tration. Under the circumstances, as
already explained by the Weekly, the
government of the United States would
be contemplate If it did not resent the
failure of Great Britain to abide by the
decision of the court to which it volun-
tarily submitted its case.
Two experts-Dr. Jordan for the
United States and Professor Thompson
for England-have reported as to the
condition of the seal herds, and as 10
the effect upon them of pelagic sealing.
DIR. Jordan shows that the seal herd is
rapidly diminishing in consequence of
pelagic sealing, which, in his opinion,
is "the sole obstacle to their the seal
herds restoration, and the sole limit to
their indefinite increase" Professor
Thompson doubts if the herds have
been as greatly injured by the sealers
as DIR. Jordan asserts, but he is forced
to admit that damage has been done,
and that there is "abundant need for
care and for prudent measures of con-
servation in the interests of all" 1t
appears, however, from the statistics of
no1- Hoh hot dav 10
doubtless right; for in 1896 the pelagic
sealers, although twice as many vessels
were employed as in 1894, were unable
to catch as many seals as were taken in
the earlier year. AS is admitted on
both sides of the water, pelagic sealing,
during last year at least, was unprof1t.
able on account of the diminution of
the seal herd.
The main point of the contention
between the two countries is as to
Great Britain's refusal of adequate as
sistance for the preservation of seal
life. The Paris award prescribed such
assistance as her duty. Her own
expert, although evidently laboring to
belittle the conclusions reached by DIR.
Jordan, tells Lord Salisbury that there
is abundant need for care and for pru.
dent measures of conservation" He
also intimates that pelagic sealing has
already worked great injury, and thai
the "margin of safety is narrow one
if it be not already in some measure
overstepped." But in the face of this
report Lord Salisbury still declines to
agree to prudent measures of conserv
ation," or to take any steps for making
nHnntnQI Of vi
bunal.
The attitude of Great Britain has left
the seas open to Canadian pelagic seal
ers. Sealers from this country are
searched, and their firearms are sealed
up. Great Britain refuses to permi
the sealing up Of the fire. arms of Cana
dian sealers, and declines to make thei
possession prina fdcie evidence of thei
illegal employment, although, by he
own statute of 1891, now repealed, sh'
admitted that such rule of evidence
was essential. Besides her continued
refusal to make the joint regulation
without which the rules of the Pari
tribunal cannot be carried out, she ha
not effectively or properly patrolled thu
seas. In 1894 the British government
furnished only one patrol vessel, Will,
the United States furnished twelve yes
sells. In 1896 there were five United
States vessels, and two British vessels
One of the latter was in Boring Sea TO
short time only, while the othe
remained almost constantly in the har
Dor of Unalashka. In other words
there is practically no patrol of the sea
by British vessels, and, by reason o
the refusal of Great Britain to agree t.