The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1897-05-14
10 PROTECT THE SEALS.
Another Commission About to Visit
the Pribiloff Islands.
BRITISH COMMISSIONS REPORT.
1t Does Not Admit That the Seal Herds
Are In Danger of AnnihiIation. but
Declares That the situation Demands
Prudent Manaremenr

1t Does Not Admit That the Seal Herds
Are In Danger of AnnihiIatIon. but
Declares That the Situation Demands
Prudent Management.
Washington. May 11.-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 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, if possible, the accept
ance by President Jordan of a similar
commission for the coming season
Mr.. Jordan has agreed to undertake
the work, and in company with Pro-
fessOrs Stejneger 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 l. The
instructions to the commissioners are
now in preparation. and Will be COM
pieted IN a tew days II Is SStlu lIidl
they Will 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 its investigation on
the islands in conjunction with the
United States commission. has reached
the department of state. and although
our officials decline To discuss il, 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 annihlatiOn. but il does not
do so. The report. however. is not en-
tirely disappointing, as Mr.. Thompson
admits that the situation demands pru-
dent management to prevent a deple-
ton of the herds.
Mr.. Thompson, in concluding his re-
port to the British authorities. says:
The alarming statements to which
utterance has been given in recent
years, the accounts of the herds i'm
mense decrease and the prophecies of
it's approaching extinction are over
drawn and untenabIe. But it is my
duty to state that there is still abun-
dant need for care and for prudent
measures of conservation in the in
terests of all. \ birthrate which we
estimate at l43. 900 per annum is not
great in comparison with the drain
upon the stock. From one cause or
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 ii 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 taken
on the islands and the toll taken in
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 per
petuation of the present numbers; we
cannot count upon an increase. And il
is my earnest hope that a recognition
of mutual interests and a regard for
the common advantage may suggest
measures of prudence which shall keep
the pursuit and slaughter of the animal
within due and definite bounds"