The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-11-18
.BER|NG SEA CONFERENCE.
STATISTICS OF THE SEAL CATCH
PRESENTED SHOWED A FALL
ING OFF OF ONE-HALF.
AMERICAN CONVENTIONS INDICATED
Figures Show the Seal Herd Is Be-
ing Rapidly observation-disclosures
rotary Sherman and Premier
Laurier Hold Conference.

Washington, Nov. 11.-Presldent Nc
mansion tonight to Sir Wilfred Laurier
the Canadian premier, Lady Laurier
Sir Louis Davies, minister of marine OF
Canada, and Lady Davies and the off
Gals who are taking part in the Bering
sea negotiations. This was the frs
of several notable events in honor OF
the visitors. Tomorrow night Secretary
Sherman will entertain Sir Wilfred and
his associates at dinner, and OH Satur.
day night they will be the guests OF
Gen. Foster.
Before the Boring sea conference
opened today the officials of he party
inspected the new congressional Ii
brary.
Today's conference began at IL o'clock
with full representation of the Brit
ish, Canadian and American officials
For the first time the statistics of the
catch of seals of the year just closing
were available. These were compiled
by the American officials and brought
out prominently two features which
were regarded as most important in sup
porting the American contentious. name
ly: That the catch had fallen off about
one-half during the present season,
showing conclusively, in the opinion of
the American expert, that the seal herd
was being rapidly wiped out; and Sec
ond, that the catch of seals from the
American islands in Boring sea was
about 10 to l as between the Canadian
sealers under the British flag and Amer
lean sealers. The same proportion was
shown to exist throughout the waters
of the north Pacific.
In detail the figures for this seasons
catch, now made available for the first
time are as follows:
Total catch of the seal in the north
Pacific for the present season. SO. 700,
against $4,000 last year.
The total catch this year is divided
as follows:
Taken by British vessels. 10000; by
American vessels, 400; by Japanese
vessels, $500. The catch in Boring sea,
that portion of the north Pacific in
which the United States is interested,
is 1860 for the present season, against
29,5OO last season, reduction of about
one-half. OF the catch in Boring sea,
British vessels took $1,000; American
vessels, 1850. The figures make no dis
tinction between British and Canadian
vessels, as practically all the sealing
is done by Canadian vessels. which,
however, are nominally classed as Brit
ish. The falling off of about one-half
Of the total catch. both in Boring sea
illu lHe dCluC, Is SulI ~ Ut InOSI
significant in view of the circumstances.
The present season is a better one, the
Experts say, for the taking of seals than
asst season. Under these circumstances
t is said that the conclusion to be
lrawn from this years figures is that
he seal herd has been greatly reduced
by the indiscriminate slaughter at the
rate of about one-half in the
asst year.
At today's Boring sea conference the
'eport of Professor Lucas upon the
habits of the seal was read. us were
,lso the reports of Messrs. Jordan.
Thompson and Macoun. The reports of
Professors Jordan and Thompson had
lot been exchanged heretofore. The
papers led to considerable discussion,
which was, generally speaking, of an
character. although some
marked differences of opinion were eX-