The times., 1897-11-12
cONFERR|AG OVER SEALS
Special Report of the Experts to
BE First COnSi( cred.
SOME USEFUL STATISTICS
American Officials Show That the
Cetch Has Fallen OFF About One
Half During the Present season,
Indicating That the Seal Herd Is
Being Rapidly Wiped Out.

The conference between the American.
Canadian, and Pritish experts and officials
on The sealing question was resumed yes
terday morning NJ the State Department.
An Of the representatives heretofore men
lioped were present and also Nj Adams.
OF the British embassy.
Il was stated that the same policy
would be pursued as to giving oat the pro
ceedIngs Is was observed in the formula.
tlon Of tie Russo-Japanese-Am con
veuiion on the salae subject.
Il is the plan OF the conference TO hear
first the special reports Of the experts,
uf whom tnele are four. 1t is said from
the records oi the experts that 1T least
three ot them are o. the opinion that
pelagic sealing is the main cause OF the
disappeararce OF the herds. Canadian
opinion Is that tbs slaughter OF the animals
in the rookenes is d largely contrhItory
cause, ard for this reason it Viii not be
a thing of q moment 10 agree on the proper
remedies.
It's further understood that the findings
OF the commission win be laid before Sir
Juaan Pauncefote with whom and the
STATE Department. viii eventually lie the
agreement or disagreement as 10 Il plan.
some intsiesting statistics Were present
cd at ri,e meeting which adjourned ror the
dag At 1}0 p. n. by the American vr-
ficia!s. They hJId tl.att the catch had fallen
of aIDLt one-nalf during the present
season, shIwiI.g coul!usiVely- III The opin-
icn OF the American ex ptrts, that the seal
here Was b@ipg rapidly wiped out; and,
second tiat the catch OF seals from thu
American islands in 5ehring sea was about
rfteeu - onr qs between the Canadian
stslers rnGer tie Butish Tag and American
seairrs he saI.4e proportion was shown
so exist throughout the waters of the
E5rtn Pacific. Ia detail the figures f1r
THIS seasons catch, ROW made avaIa bic
Tor the IL 81 tine, are as follows
I.H e.ite'i co. --,,i, H ls.r north Pacific
FOR the present season, 3s roo. AGAINST 3.
600 last wear. The total catch this year
Is divided as follows Taken by British YES
sells 30.S0O by American vessels, 400, by
japanese vessels. 3, 500. The catch in Belir-
ing sea. which Is hat portion of the north
Paeiric H which tae United states is IN
rerrsted is I6.G5o Tor the present season.
3gamst -. 500 last season, d reduction of
about oHehaIf. OF The catch in Behriug
sea- British vessels took 3 500: American
Ues>ela. 1.05o The figures make no dis
tiacJipn :,tvacn British and Canadian YES
scl a. practically ali the sealing IS done
( hy Canadian vessels, which. however, are
nominaIll classeG a ) British.
fi,e I9lhu2 of cl ahou5 one-haG in Ike
tot,t, catch. hoth in the Behrhg Sea and the
north Pacific, is said TO be most Signifi-
caii, iu view OF The circumstances The
prcsen: season is a better one, The experts
SAY for the taking OF seals than last sea
sln- The same regulations apply Tins sea
son as last Under these circanista noes it
is SAID ifat ,hc concinsiou TO be ira wn
;ruDi Ehis Years Figures is That the seal
herd Las been GreGily reduced by iudis-
eliminate Slaughter at tie alarming rate
Of about oHe-balg IA the last year