The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-05-02
SEALERs UP IN ARMS
STRONG OPPOSITION FROM THE
CANADIANS TO LONGER CLOSE
SEASON.
SAY THEY ARE NOT PIRATES.
THE ATTITUDE OF THE UNITED
STATES VERY SEVERELY
CRITICISED.
AY THEY ARE NOT PIRATES.
TWO SIDES TO THE STORY ALWAYS
Flaws Picked in the Statement of
the Representatives of the Vic
tOria Seal Industry.

LONDON, May 1.-Proiting by the
temporary presence in England OF
leading member Of one of the Oldest
and largest Victorian sealing houses,
representative of the Associated Press
called upon that gentleman to ascertain
the views held by Canadian or Pelaglac
sealers on the latest phase of the seal
ing question. He said: "To talk OF
extending the close season until the end
of August means absolutely a death
blow to Canadian sealers. Under the
existing arrangements Victorian
schooners starting for the grounds III
time for Aug. 1 can only reckon on SIX
weeks, and only then under the most
favorable conditions. If the time be
extended, as suggested, we could at
the very most, only hope for one week S
sealing, and as the weather is usually
very bad the chances are that sealers
would return without a single skin.
Knowing this, the result would be that
no sealers would go out, and that
therefore, the Canadian industry would
be killed So far as an extension OF
the closed zone to 200 miles is con-
cerned, I am of the opinion that that
would equally prove death blow to
Canadian sealing. AS it is, the fishing
banks are we'll within the sixty mile
limit What can be hoped for, If, for
from sealing.
.'There are at present about sixty
sealing vessels which set out every
season from Victoria alone. It is a
mistake to think that pelagiac sealing
is done entirely by Canadians-every
year a number of Deiagiac schooners
go out from American ports and the
United States Indians from Neah Bay,
Washington also send out vessels to
bring seal No people in the world
have suffered greater hardships than
the Canadian sealers. Many have been
reduced to absolute poverty by the
seizure of their ships, outfit and skins
in 1885, 1886 and 1887, by the United
States government Up to the present
paid. But I am bound to say that the
United States government is not alto
eether to blame for this. Canadian
sealers feel that they have been
shamefully neglected by the British
government. Despite the representa-
tons of the Dominion government to
the imperial authorities the position
today is worse than ever. 1t Is per-
feet farce to send out every year COM
missions to study the seals-every-
thing about them is already known.
What we want is vigorous action on
the part of the British government to
protect their own flag. Canadian seal
ers are not pirates. Our business is
perfectly legitimate Every vessel
leaving for the Bering sea is proper
Iy cleared by the British authorities
and. the customs Il house, and it is
shameful that large and important
industry should be killed by the over
bearing conduct of American monopo-
I lists and the weakness of the British
, government. e 8
but in spite Of all these the Vic
J@fo ra6 70 1nx
their rights. We intend to fit out YES
sells for sealing as long as there is a
seal left OF course lie the close season
be extended to the end Of August the
weather will renderfs sealing impos-
sible but it is ridiculous to suppose
that any British government will agree
to such an arrangement. At least 1000
British subjects on vancouver is
land alone derive their living from
legitimate sealing on the high seas.
The Canadians Loyalty respect the pro-
Visions Of the Paris award, unjust as
they think them. But vessels are
seized by the United States under all
sorts of pretexts."
On the United States side OF the
question Mr. Liebes, one OF the mem
hers of the North American CONNER
ciaI company. made the fellewiRg state
ment to the Associated Press: There
is no idea of making things hot or cold
for ANYBODY; neither is there WISH
to hurt Canada, nor to worry England.
much less is there any intention on the
part of the Alaskan company to avoia
or ignore any of the decisions come to
by the Paris tribunal, which we are
fully aware are binding for period OF
ave wears. What, however, we do con-
tend what we wish the public to clear
ly understand, is the fact that by their
award the Paris tribunal intended to
give all the protection they. possibly
could to the seal herd, consistent, or
course. with fairness to all parties con-
cerned. and the regulations were made
to be binding for the period mentioned,
clause being inserted in the award
specially providing that the terms OF
the same were subject to revision on
the expiration of fiveiyears from the
date OF the same corning into force.
Now It being clear THAT the members
. of the commissiensserB out last year,
are all more or less inoaccord that the
protective measures, SIS made by the
Paris tribunal, are, iuBffectiwe, or let
JUS say insufficient, teltcarry out their
purposes, the auest8ch at once arises
ais to whether the injHry to the seal
Ilherd should be. aIlowedt to continue Tor
1.-THE unexpired term. set forth in the
|lasNArd, or whether it would not DE wiser
ias we'll as more humane for an attempt
to he made by All parties interested,