The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-11-17
BERING SEA MEETING.
End of the Conference Between the
English Speaking Nations.
A FINAL AGREEMENT PROBABLE.

The Matter VIII Be Formally Pre-
Eented to the Authorities IIero by
tho Canadian Representatives.
pcrts Reach Unanimous Agreement
Washington, Nov T.--The Bering sea
meeting, In which representatives. of
Great Britain, Canada and the United
States have participated. came to a
close last night, the seal experts MAX
Ing unanimous report concerning the
condition Of the seal herds and the dip
lomatic representatives of the respec-
tive governments having an under
standing by which they hope at a
later date to effect final adjustment,
not only OF the Boring sea question.
but of other pending border controvcr-
sizes. For the present, however. no
final action was taken as to the sus-
pension of pelagic sealing. The Cana
dians urged that other questions be
embraced In any plan of settlement,
and suggested an international COM
mission to accomplish this end. This
proposition was fully discussed, and
an agreement was reached that the
ShIihulun ollNluls "oulu pul NHNil
views in writing after returning to OF
tawa and submit them to the authori-
ties here. All parties concerned say
that the outlook is favorable to sat
isfactory adjustment.
The unanimous agreement of the eX-
perts brings the governments together
for the first time on all the facts rclat-
ing to the seals. This agreement was
reached after pa!nstaking comparison
Of notes. and the results were an
nounccd In an official statement made
public by General Foster.
The experts agreed that the number
of breeding females in 1896 and 1897 was
between 1GO. 900 and lS0, 600; that pelagic
sealing involves inaiscriminate 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 not only
those both nursing and pregnant, but
also many who are immature or who
have already lost their pups: that the
fur seal being polygamous. q large
number Of males may be killed with
imp,snIty; that females cannot be kill
ed in similar numbers without check
ing the increase of the herd or bring
ing about an actual decline: that q
small number of females. less than the
annual increment of breeders. might he
taken without producing actual de-
creases; that the herd is not in danger
Of actual determination SO long as its
haunts on land are protected and the
protected zone is maintained.
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. The conference
brgan at y. IN. and lasted until 7.
During these three hours the entire
range of border affairs was discussed.
Primarily the purpose of the meeting
was to secure an agreement on Bering
sea. The Canadians made it clear. how
ever. that they wished any plan Of set
Element to take a broader scope than
the one subject of Bering sea and to
embrace the many sources of friction
along the border. A final understand
ing was reached. therefore. that the
Canadian proposition should be re-
duced to writing as basis for further
NpEOt lati lions