Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1897-10-15
RUSSIAN SEALING REGULATIONR
They Mako Pelagic Sealing Good Way
Throw Away Money.

They Make Pelagic Sealing q Good Way to
Throw Away Money.
Washington, Oct. 15.-Although formal
conferences on the Behring sea question
will not open until afterthe arrival of the
japanese delegates yet the presence
here OF two OF the Russian delegates has
permitted the authorities to inform them
selves quite thoroughly as to the atti-
tude Of Russia on the protection Of the
seals. 1t has brought out the fact that
Russia takes an advanced position iE
preserving her seal herds, and has more
stringent laws and regulations in that
direction than any Of the countries in
terested. Under the Russian system q
Zone thirty miles wide Is established
around the seal islands belonging to the
empire. The seals found within this
zone are regarded as exclusively Rus
sian, and no one other than the inhabi.
tents OF the islands can take q seal with
In these limits. This gives the Russian
citizens exclusive rights over the seals.
not only on the islands but extending
thirty miles seward. A British or Jap
anese sealer cannot operate within the
zone except to buy ekins Of the Russian
Inhabitants OF the islands
The Russians themselves are only per-
mittede to kill bachelor seals. It being
against strict regulations 10 kill q female
or a pup seal. Ths females are guarded
with special care, as the killing OF ore
female Is regarded as the equivalent Of
the killing OF three seals, namely-the
| female herself. her pup on land and her
| unborn pup. Furthermore the Russians
are allowed to kill bachelor seals only
when the animal is on land. II being for
hidden to kill any manner Of seal IN the
water. The Russian authorities see that
these regulations are enforced. A feet
| Of government ships patrols the thirty
mile zone. ana any foreign sealer who
| attempts to operate within these limits
Is seized As q rule the eeized eealers are
taken vlaidivostock, their catch con-
fscated and severe punishments in
fiicted. This has led to mary protests
but Russia has maintained thus far her
| rigid regulations against foreigners
| within the thirty-mile zone.
In one notable case the chip Dahlia,
cleared bya United Statesc consular officer
but manned with a Japanese crew. at.
tempted to take seals on the Russian ISL
ands. They were met with armed re-
sistaEce and several OF the japanese
were killed. Claims for indemnity were
made against Russia. but never paid. az
the imperial authorities maintained their
right to protect their property against
invasion. 1t is understood TO be the
wish Of Russia In the forthcoming con-
ference not 10 stop at the protective reg
uiations already made. but to carry them
further by increasing the width OF the
gore considerably beyond thirty miles.
The Russian authorities have found by
experience that many Of the female seals
go more than thirty miles to sea IN
search Of food. The wish Is therefore,
to make the zone so wide that IL will ex-
tend to the farthest point to which the
females go for food.
Casson Gets an Important Post.
Washington. Oct. 15.-John A. Casson.
formerly member Of the house OF repre-
seEtatives from Iowa and ex-ministel
to Australia, has been appointed q spe-
cial agent Of the department Of state fol-
the negotiation of reciprocity arrange
ments under the Dingley tariff law.
Il Indiana Man Appointed.
4 Washington, Oct 15-The secretary
OF the interior has appointed f. B. Hey-
nolde. OF Hagerstown. Ind, special In.
dian agent.
Morton r. Ericsson, an inventor. hanged
himself at Chicago because he could MOI