New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-05-02
THE SEALING QUESTION.
STATEMENTS FROM BOTH SIDES IN
INTEREST.

PROPOSED CLOSE SEASON. SAYS A CANADIAN
sEALER. MEANS DEATH TO THE PELAGIc
,NpusrRY-rHE AMERICAN VIEW,
London May l.-Prohtng by the temporary pres
ence IN England OF leading member OF one OF the
oldest and largest Victorian sealing houses rep
resontat,ve Of the Associated Press called upon
him to ascertain the views held by the Cahaoai
or peagic seaers on the latest phase OF the sealing
question. He said:
ITO talk of extending the close season until inc
end OF August means absolutely death bio"
TO Canadian salers. Under the existing arrange
mcnts Victorian schooners starting for the
grounds in time for August can only reckon on
six weeks and only then under the most iaVoraoie
conditions II the time be extended, as suggested
we could at the very most only hope Tor one week
sealing and as the weather is usually very bad.
tho chances are that sealers would return without
a single skin. Knowing this. the result would DE
that no sealers would go out and that. therefore.
the Canadian industry would be killed 80 lar as
an extension Of the closed zone to 40 miles Is con-
cerned am of the opinion that that woud equuiy
prove a deathblow to Canadian scaling. AS II IS
the fishing banks are well within the siXty-mio
limit What can be hoped for If for an extra l4o
miles we are prohibited from sealing?
"There are at present about sixty seaing VesseS
which set out every season IRON Nlc'oria aioho'
1t is a mistake to think that peiagc seahhs
is done entirely by Canadians; every year num-
CISCO Seattle and Tacoma, and the United states
Indians from Neah Bay, Wash also send out YES
sells to f3ehring Sea.
"No people in the world have suffered greater
ha rdships than the Canadian sealers. Many nave
heon reduced TO absolute poverty BY the seizure OF
their ships outfits and skins In 1885, SO ana 81 ny
the United States Government Up to the presen.
not n penny of compensation has been paid But
/ am bound to say that the United states Govern
ment is not altogether to blame for this cana
dian sealers feel that they have been shamefuiy
neglected by the British Government. Despite 'he
reneated representations Of the Dominion Govern
ment 10 the imperial authorities, the position TO-
dav is worse than ever. II is perfect Iarce W
send ont every year scientific commissions 10 s'uu9
the seas-everythng about them Is already kho"i.
What we want is vigorous action on the part Oh
the British Government TO protect their own nag
Canadian sealers are not pirates. our business 3
perfectly legitimate. Every vessel leaVhg lot 'ie
Bchring Sea is properly cleared by Brltish authoi-
ties AT the custom-house, and 1t Is shameiul that
a large and important industry should be kiiied
bv the overbearng conduct OF American mohopo-
Lists and the weakness of the British Government
"But in spite of all this. the victorian seaers
are determined to have their rights we in'ehu "
fit out vessels for sealing long as there Is sea-
left OF course. II the close season be eN'ehueu "
the end of August the weather will render sealing
irnossible but IL is ridiculous to suppose that any
British Government will agree TO such an arrange
ment. oooo r,,,sh srh,octs on Vancouver
Island alone derive their living from leg ,nii
sealing on the hiSh seas ,ba me Paris aWard unjust
as they think them But vessels are seiaed pS the
presence of a skin with shothoIes on board a
seaer proves nothing. as many sea- IA! ~ 'a ara
ncrmiitedJ and being slightly wounded only may
travel to Behring Sea and be subsequently spearea
AgaP the 'R Rssse f0s 70 oct S Within the
limit without the least intention Of infringing trTm
rights As a fact. every Canadian Seaier. on Iut -
ting to sea does so with the intention Of making
limit and with stringent or iers not TO infringe
me PaT ns nitea States side Of the question H.
Iiehes one of the members OF the North American
Commercial Company. made the following s'"''
There is no idea Of making things hot or cola
for anybody neither is there wish 10 huIt odu'
tention on the part of the Alaska company TO
avoid or ignore any of the decisions reacheo ~ az
Paris Tribunal which we are fully aware are oino-
ing for period Of i've years What ,Sa ceaT rye
do contend ana Wnaf we , M,sh bv their award the
Paris Tribunal intended to give an tne Pt of
course with fairness to all parties concerncd ana
the regulations were made TO be blndns I4I ne ne
period mentioned a clause being inserted IN t he
ppvaTd specialiy providing that the terms OF the
same were subject revision on the expiration ol
five years from the date of the same coming INTO
force Now il being clear that the members OF
the Commission sent out last year are an i,ios
or less in accord that the protective measures as
mad, by the Paris Tribunal are ineffective OF, let
US say. insufficient. to carry out their purposes
Jury 10 the seal herd should be allowed 10 Commune
for the unexpired term set forth IN the aWaru VI
uhetbrr II would not he wiser az well as more hu"
mane for an attempt be made by all parties IN.
terested to come TO a mutual agreement Wlthou'
delay upon the basis Of the alterations 10 'io ~
listing regulations as may be rec9mmended ng tse
commissioners. This is the real ana only queS5,
ZION to be satisfactorily settled and 1t may be wen
to point that the present low value OF me sal
skin not only precludes any hope OF proht 10 Sana
dian seaers but under existing conditions tne re-
suit must be a total failure of their ability 10 con-
Time the Industry, that IL would seem mat me
nresent would be n most convenient ana appropiI-
ale time TO take the matter in hand ana carry OUT
nf
OF the Commissioners. - <,..o.-
I'm conclusion / would ask, IN common ialrh ,
~ American Senators and to the members OF the
%orfh American Commercial Company. II under
Inc circumstances the attacks made on thelr
honor with the suggested reputation by thefn
Of their solemn engagements are 1ustined py
the facts There are only four or fve nrms IN
Victoria British Columbia with any interest IN
the sealing business. They have had nothing pu,
AGITATION against America in the hope or some
dav being compensated BY the English ana Afneri-
ca Governments. and thus get out OF d thoio"sH'
* bad paying investment.