The record-union., 1897-10-23
Weather Forecast.
THE SEAL DISPUTE.


about the correctness of Professor Jor-
dams charge that for the deplcrable
decline in the seal herds the United
States and the kingdom of Great Brit
ain are solely to blame. His state
ment of the falling off of the Russian
and japanese, as well as American
herds is a reproach to civilization.
It seems that in twelve years we have
reduced our herd from 100000 breed
ing females to 10000. The Russian
herd has fallen off from 100000 to 50,-
000 the Kurlie herd from 10000 to l.
200 while the japanese have only three
families left out of $4,000. This de-
cline Of the herds has been due to the
indiscriminate taking of the female
seals. Yet neither Russia nor Japan
have complained, as they might have
DONE namely, with threat Of force in
which they would have been justified.
When impartial history is written Of
the seal industry and its destruction, it
viii appear that nation great, power
full and civilized, having not a single
foot OF coast territory upon Behring
Sea. asserted and maintained the claim
Of right to enter that sea and destroy
the seal herd, because it was an open
sea, and that other nations than the
United States, each having extensive
coast lines upon the sea, or touching its
waters where the seals cross, had no
right of voice in establishing regula-
tons to prevent the determination of
the seal
The most miserable policy to which
the United States Government ever
committed itself was when It consented
to arbitrate the open sea question with
the British Government. The Record
Union" did all it could to cultivate pub
lie opinion in opposition to that senti-
ment. But all of the American press
who dared to raise its voice in like
manner were stigmatized as ''jingoes. I"
and denounced as seeking to plunge
two nations of one tongue into a war
over a paltry lot of seals.
The result was a conference at Paris
in which we were worsted, and even
compelled to pay smart money to a
lot Of Canadian poachers.
If the contention of England possess
sed any virtue whatever, then the right
Of Spain, France and any other power
is as good in Behring Sea as is that
OF Great Britain. But England would
shot her guns to prevent any others
from entering into the controversy and
even so lately as the present month.
has declined to consult with the United
States concerning the matter if Rus
sia and Japan were invited to the con-
ference.
II we permit the British, in the inter-
ests of heartless Canadian poaching. to
continue 10 bullyrag US in this manner
IN three years more the whole case will
be closed, because the last of the fe-
male seals win have disappeared. 1t
Is true, as Professor Jordan well says.
that the American nation has never
come to any conference upon the sub
Ject with clean hands. We have been
guilty. We have recklessly. wantonly
destroyed one-third of our seal herd.
Our own pirates have been as free
from restraint as have the Canadians.
But we submit that this fact cannot
excuse England. She at least. after
having bested US at Paris had much
at stake in maintaining the place she
had won, but she has, on the contrary.
permitted the slaughter OF the female
seals to go on wherever they ventured
beyond the sixty mile limit
1t is now claimed that the Canadian
experts have discovered other causes
than pelagic sealing for the decadence
of the herds. Probably. When Ka-
muck starts out to fortify his case he
usually finds plenty Of testimony to
that end. It is sufficient response, how
ever, to say that the decline of the
herds goes ON, and that neither England
nor Canada have ever turned a finger
to check it, and that to all appeals
of the United States at the eleventh
hour of SHINING they have refused to
~~7ksN'AA Will b1ldL SQlI1l O1 FAIRNESS
that should distinguish great nations.
First they denied that there was dam
gerous decline of the herds. Next
they declared that if there was decline
the United States was equally guilty
OF causing it. Thirdly, they have in
sisted that they did not take nursing
females passing beyond the sixty mile
limit to secure food for their young.
and now they come forward with the
statement that if there is a falling off
Of the herds it is due, not to piracy on
the seals by them, but to other causes.
In due time we shall probably be
informed just what these causes are
alleged to be. But we are prepared to
aver that when disclosed they will be
found to be excuse for further inquiry
and delay, until the last of the breeding
seals have disappeared.
WHY, WHY, INDEED?