The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-11-23
My SUSPEND THE LEASE.
INTERNATIONAL We ATIoys
SHOULD PROHIBIT ALL SEALING.
10 Prfbiiof Islaads Therefore May
De Temporarily vaeated-Auther-
fty Based on Eminent Domain.

WASHINGTON. Nov. e1-One OF the
most important features Of the Berin9 sea
negotiations not heretofore disclosed is
that In the event that Great Britain and
Canada consent 70 a suspension OF pelasic
sealing for one year. the United States for
the same time viii agree 20 . suspension
OF all killing Of seals for one year IN the
Pribilof islands. constituting the American
seat possessions In Boring sea-
As the islands are . part OF United
States territory. no question has ever
arisen as TO the right Of the United States
to do as they chose 20 with the seals while
On lard and within three miles Of the
shore. the three miles being part OF the
islands, according TO international law.
During the recent negotiations the Cana
dams took the ground that when any sus-
pension is about 10 occur. it viii be in
equitable TO ask them to suspend sealing
In the outer waters. while at the same
time the United States persisted In sealing
In the inner waters and on land. The con-
tsnt.on of the United States was primar-
lily for the suspension of peiagic sealing.
but under the exigency OF the case, II was
felt that II q suspension OF peiagic sealing
could be secureds IL would be reasonable
to coreede similar suspension within our
own territory. The proposition follows
the recommendation of the Paris court of
arbitration. which suggested a temporary
suspension of sealing on land and sea.
This brings up the question OF the lease
OF the North American Commercial Com
pany. giving II the exclusive right to the
seais OF the PribIiof islands. The lease
was made In 1880 for term OF twenty
years. Under this lease the company has
taken about G000a seals annually on the
islands. The lease stipulated that rot
more than $1,000 should be taken In lssl,
and also provided that no more seals
should be killed annually than was author
lied by the secretary of the treasury As
the catch has been far short of the ex-
pected en.61. a question has arisen as to
the obligation of the company to have its
rental reduced pro rata. Attorney General
Miller gave decision In favor Of the
question; Secretary Oney gave decision
against it. BY mutual consent test case
was made up and is now pending in the
United States supreme court. The lease
provides rental of $50 900 a year: also
Si.s2ia for each seal skin taken and shipped
from the island, and certain tax payments
and accommodations for the natives.
In the event OF an agreement between
the United States, Great Britain and Can
ada. the rights Of the company to take
seals necessarily would not terminate for
a year. IT Is said the right of eminent
domain gives the government authority
for vacatlng the lease for this period with
out deference to the wishes of the COM
pany. But aside from this Ii is said that
the company will not stand on a technical
right, but would regard the concessions
granted by Canada of such great advan-
tage in the preservation of the seals as to
warrant a suspension on the Prihilof
islands during the stipulated one year.