The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-04-13

without he aid Of the arbitration treaty
the United States and England viii settle
the sealing question The British govern
Inent has been deceived A. 10 the actuai
condition Of affairs Ia Bering sea. as the
American government was for several
years. until n became 70 the interest o.
American seaiers to tell the truth. The
deception was not altogether Intentional.
but the government relied upon the seal
ers who got much of their information
from others whose interest il was TO take
the view most likely to be satisfactory to
the sealers.
The British government Is selfish In Its
poliey. but II Is not stupid, and there is
no reason to suppose that II would con-
nlve at the shameful and most wasteful
destruction OF seal life had ii known the
truth. Sucn destruction benefits nobody
except a very few who, when the sealing
feet is withdrawn on account OF scarcity.
will reap harvest through the high
prices which viii be inevitable. The state
ment made by ex-Secretary Oiney that
2 8oa seal pups died on the islands OF
starvation, caused by the destruction OF
the mothers. seems incredible, yet IL Is
borne out BY the stories of those who have
had opportunities OF observation on a
more limited scale. and who. without be-
ing able to put the number into specific
figures. have testified IN what was con-
sidered extravagant language to the NOR
tally among the young seals.
The sealers must not be judged too
harshly. shameful though the consequence
Is. They are men who depend for their
pay entirely upon the number OF skins
taken: the work is full OF hardship and
the catch always precarious. a seal rep
resents nothing to the sealer but a skin
worth so many dollars. He takes the seal
within view. and sees nothing of the starv-
ing pups. Whether firearms are used or
not scarcely affects the question. The
number of skins taken altogether governs
the price: but so far as the pup is con-
cerned Il Is immaterial whether the
mother sinks and is lost or is captured
and killed
The only remedy which seems at all
ttHHfbis 10 nave an hu$othIa Stoss
son 20 last a year or two IL necessary. II
is Impossible Ia have an annual eiose sea-
son. as for animals whose period cf sesia-
ton Is short The time within which IL
Is necessary TO protect the mother and the
pup covers almost year. but until w.thta
few years the bachelor seals afforded
al the skins needed. The natives always
avoided killing the pup or tho female. but
rapaclty stepped In and killed for the sea-
son with no care for the next Honor
caaI.ct &c trusted 20 observe regulations.
so that Il win be necessary 10 put q watch
upon the rookeries. One plan suggested
last year was to protect some OF these
rookeries only. so as to afford safe
breeding place and cot attempt 10 watch
them all on account OF the expense.
II the two governments. cooperating
with Russia. act IN earnest the problem
will be solved. The convictions last year
were very saiutary. but the punishment Is
not rightly administered. Instead OF for
fciting the skins and depriving the sea
men NJ their seamens earnings. the skins
should DO sold and tho seamen paid but
the offending owner should be punished
by = fine. The forfeiture of the seaTnen's
share always arouses sympathy and
makes conviction difficult.