The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1897-05-11
TO PROTECT THE SEALS
Another Commission About to Visit
the Pribilof Islands.
BRITISH COMMISSIONS REPORT.

1t Does Not Admit That the Seal Herds
Are In Danger of Anmthllation, but
Declares That the situation Demands
Prudent Management.
Washington, May E.-Mr. c. S. Ham
lin. former assistant secretary of the
treasury and now employed by the
government as assistant counsel in the
pending negotiations with Great Brit
ain relative to the seal fisheries, has
returned from California, where he
went to confer with President Jordan,
of the Leland Stanford university.
President Jordan spent a part of last
season on the seal islands, as COM
missioner in charge of the seal inves-
legations, and Mr.. Hamlin's mission
was to secure, IL possible, the accept
ance by President Jordan Of similar
commission for the coming season.
Mr.. Jordan has agreed to undertake
the work. and in company with Pro-
fessors Ste1neger and Lucas, Of the
United States national museum, the
other members of the commission, Mr..
Joseph Murray of Colorado and Mr..
Morton of Indiana, special agents Of
the treasury department, will sail for
the Pribiloff Islands about June /. The
now in preparation, and will be com
pleted in a few days. 1t is said that
they win not differ in any important
particular from those furnished the
commission one year ago. The prac-
tice of branding the female pups, be-
gun last year, will be continued.
The report of the British commission,
which prosecuted it's investigation on
the islands in conjunction with the
United States commission, has reached
the department of state and although
our officials decline to discuss it, there
is no doubt they were somewhat sur
prised at the conclusions reached. 1t
had been confidently assured that the
commission could not avoid the frank
statement that under existing condi-
tions the seal herds We're in imminent
danger of annihilation, but 1t does not
do so. The report, however, is not en-
tirely disappointing as MIR. Thompson
admits that the situation demands pru-
dent management to prevent a deple-
tion of the herds.
Mr.. Thompson. in concluding his re-
port to the British authorities, says:
1.-THE charming statements to which
utterance has been given in recent
years the accounts of the herds i'm
mense decrease and the prophecies OF
/ its approaching extinction are over
/ drawn and untenable. But 1t is my
| duty to state that there is still abun
dant need for care and for pruden
! measures of conservation in the in
terests Of all A birthrate which W,
estimate at 200 per annum is no
| great in comparison with the draiI
upon the stock. From one cause OF
another a loss of over 10000 is ex
perienced among the pups ere they
emigrate to sea, and though the dan
| gers they there encounter are un-
known to us we may take it for certain
that the risks they run are great and
the loss they endure considerable.
when to the measured loss in in
fancy and to the unmeasured loss In
youth and age we add the toll taker
on the islands and the toll taken il
the sea it is not difficult to believe
that the margin of safety is a narrow
one, if it be not already in some meas
ure overstepped. We hope for a per-
petuation of the present numbers; We
cannot count upon an increase. And #
is my earnest hope that a recognition
Of mutual interests and a regard fol
the common advantage may sugges
measures of prudence which shall keeI
the pursuit and slaughter Of the anima
within due and definite bounds"