Daily new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1897-1906, 1897-11-17

sea meeting, in which representatives
of Great Britain, Canada and the
United States have participated, has
come to a close, the seal experts max
ing unanimous report concerning the
condition of the seal herds and the dip
lomatic representatives of the respect
i've governments reaching an under
standing by which they hope, at a
later day, to effect final adjustment.
not only of the Bering sea question,
but Of other pending border controver-
sizes.
For the present. however, no final
action was taken as to the suspension
of pelagic sealing. The Canadians
urged that other questions be embraced
in any plan of settlement and sug-
gested an international commission to
accomplish this end. This proposition
was fully discussed and an agreement
reached that the Canadian officials
would put their views in writing after
returning to Ottawa and submit them
to the authorities here. All parties
concerne say that the outlook is favor
able to satisfactory adjustment.
The unanimous agreement of the ex-
perts brings the governments together
for the first time on all the facts re-
lating to the seals. This agreement
was reached after painstakng COM
parison of notes and the results were
announced in an official statement by
General Foster, as follows:
1.-THE delegates to the fur seal confer
ence have agreed unanimously ON GER
tain propositions touching the fur seal
tains Is propositions, which are briefly
epitomiZed as follows:
That the Pribyloff herd has declined in
numbers from 1884 to 1887; that the num-
Der was formerly three to five times that
which now exists; that the death rate
among pups is great, not more than one.
half to one-third surviving to the age of
three years; that the number of breeding
females in 1896 and 1897 was between 1907
600 to 100000 that the decrease from 1896
to 1897 was notable, though its extent
could not be definitely determined that
land killing of males as now practiced
does no harm to the herd that the
pelagie sealers respect the limitation
of the law; that pelagic sealing involves
indiscriminate killing; that the catch at
sea contains marked excess of females;
that the killing of males on land is the
cause of this; that among the females
killed are net only those both nursing
and pregnant, but also many who are i'm
mature, or who have already lost their
a large number of males may be killed
with impunlty; that females cannot be
killed in similar numbers without check
ing the increase of the herd, or bring
ing about an actual decline; that a
small number of females less than
the annual increment of breeders,
might be taken without producing
actual decrease; that excessive pelagio
sealing has led to reduction in the herd ;
that pelagic scaling has of late fallen off
in greater ratio than the herd has, this
producing u tendency toward equilibrium
in numbers; that in estimating the future
conditions of the herd must be taken into
consideration, reductions in the number
of surviving pups caused by the pelagio
catches of 1S941S95; that the herd is not
in danger of actual determination so long
as its haunts on land are protected and
the protectel zone is maintained: that
both land and sea killing now yield an
inconsiderable profit either to the lessees
or to the pelagic sealcrs themselves.
The agreement is signed by the ex-
perts.
Following the agreement of the ex-
perts, the diplomatic officials assembled
at General Fosters house to discuss the
larger question of putting an end to
pelagic sealing and of settling other
border controversies. Owing to the
continued illness of Sir Julian Paunce.
fote. who Is confined to his room. the
British government was represented by
the first secretary of the British en-
bassy, Mr.. Adam. Sir Wilfrid Laurier
and Sir Louis Davies were present in
behalf of Canada. General Fosters
powers had been materially enlarged
since the coming of the Canadian
officials, for as a result of the long and
friendly talk between Sir Wilfrid ana
SnprptaTV sherman lot hol
written to the Canadian premier stat
ing that the president had empowered
General Foster to treat ON the various
border questions which Sir Wilfrid
had called to the attention of Mr. Sher-
man. and, with the cooperation of the
British government, to conclude treaties
covering these subjects. This gave the
meeting broad significance
During the t1ree hours it lasted the
entire range of border affairs was dis.
cussed. Primarily the purpose of the
meeting was to secure an agreement on
Bering sea. The Canadians made it
clear, however, that they wished any
plan of settlement to take a broader
scope than the one sub ject of rering
sea, and to embrace the many sources
of friction along the border.
| In this connection the plan Of an in.
ternational commission was discussed
at great length. The Canadians felt
| that the commission afforded the best
means of rec0nciiing all differences and
of opening the way to reciprocity.
The dlscr ssltn was of the nosT
/ friendly mai re throughout and no
sharp differences were allowed to crop
out. 1t was felt, however, that the
plan of commission was too large
question for immediate determination