Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-11-17
CONFERENCE CLOSED
An Official Statement in Regard to the Seals
Agreed Upon.
No Definite Action Takcn-Cnnadfans
Wanted Other Questions to
BE Considered.

The Boring sea meeting, In which repre-
sentatiyes of Great Britain, Canada and
the. United States have participated, came
to a close last night the seal experts max
ing unanimous report cor corning the con-
dition of the seal herds, and the d:plo-
matte representatives of the respective
governments reaching an understanding
by which they hope at a later day to eff
feet final adjustment not only of the Ber-
ing sea question. but of ether pending
controversies. No final action was taken,
however, as to the suspension of pelagic
sealing. The Canadians urged that the
other questions be embraced in any plan
of settlement. and suggested an interna-
tional commission to accomplish this end.
This proposition was fully discussed ard
an agreement reached that the Canada:
officials would put their views in writing
after returning to Ottawa and submit;
them to the authorities here. All parties
concerned say that the outlook is favcr-
able to satisfactory adjustment.
The Official Statement
perts brings the governments together for
the first time on all the facts relating
to the seals. The results were announced
in an official statement as follows:
'"rhe delegates to the fur seal confer
ence have agreed unanimously certain
propositions touching the fur seal herds
of Berins sea. The report contains six
teen propositions which are briefly epito-
mixed as follows:
THAT the Prihilof nerd has declined in
numbers from 1881 to 1877; that the num-
her was formerly 3 to 8 times that which
row exists that the death rate amor &
pups is great. not more than ore-half 10
one-third surviving to the age of three
years; that the number of breeding females
in 1896 and 1877 was between 1tD,:sW to 1:O.-
wv; that the decrease from 1896 to 1851
notable. though its extent could not be
definitely determi ed; that land killing
of males now practiced does 20 harm
to the herd; that the peiagc sealers IL
volve indscriniinate killing; that the eaten
at sea contains q marked excess of fe-
males; that the killing of males on lard
is the cause of this; that among the fe-
Tales killed are not only those both nurs-
ing ard pregnant, but also many who
are immature who have already lost
their pups: that the fur seal being polyg-
amous a large number of males may be
killed with .mpunity: that females can
not be killed in similar numbers without
checking the increase of The nerd or bring
about an actual decline; that small num-
Der of females, less than the annual in
crement of breeders, might be taken with
out producing actual decrease; that excess
sive pelagic sealing has led to a reduction
in the herd; that pelaSic sealing has of
late fallen off in greater ratio than the
herd has, this producing a tendency toward
equilibrium in numbers; that in estimat-
ing the future conditions of the herd must
be taken into consideration, reductions in
the number OF surviving pups caused by
the pelagic catches of 1S4-1Sl5; that the
herd is not in danger of actual extermira-
ton SO long its haunts on land arc pro-
tected and the protected zone is maintained;
that both land and sea killing now yield
an inconsderable profit either to the Iessees
or to the pelagic sealers themselves"