The Springfield herald., 1897-12-24
NO MORE SEAL SKINS.
RADICAL MEASURE IN THE NEW
BILL.
Il VIII Strike Blow at Great Britain
and Canada by Preventing Them From
Selling the Skins In the United States.

J Washington, Dec. 19.-It has been
developed that the bill relating to pc
lagic sealing, which has just passed
both branches of Congress, and Is be
fore the President, contains prOvis-
lon of far-reaching importance, which
has thus far escaped attention. This
places an absolute prohibition on the
further bringing of sealskins into the
United States from any source what
ever. As the United States is the larg
est market in the world for sealskins,
this complete stoppage of the trade In
this country will be II severe measure
against the British and Canadian in
dustries, which take and cure the kinds
and then dispose of them largely in the
United States.
When the bill was proposed 1t was
generally supposed that its only pur-
pose was to prohibit American citizens
from carrying on pelagic sealing. This
feature was the only one to attract
attention during the discussion.
At the close of the bin, however. is
section which is not restricted to
Americans. but applies to sealskins in
general, Taken in the waters men
toned in this act" which includes the
whole Pacific ocean. The provision is
as follows:
Section 9-That the Importation into
the United States by any person what
soeyer of fur sealskins taken in the
waters mentioned in this act. whether
raw. dressed. dyed or manufactured,
is hereby prohibited. and all such arti-
cles imported after this act shall take
effect shall not be permitted to be ex-
ported. but shall be seized and de-
stroyed by the proper officers of ths
United States"
Those who nra tbnrnnDhIy- fa
with the bill say this provision is of far
more Importance in its effect than the
prohibition against pelagic sealing by
Americans.
The correspondence which has pass
ed between Sir Wilfrid Laurier, the
Canadian premier. and General Eos
ter. the American negotiator. touching
the seal negotiations. since the Wash
ington conference last month. has just
been made public. 1t consists of two
letters.
In the first. dated Ottawa. November
24th. Sir Wilfrid Laurier passes upon
the proposition of our government
which was taken back to Canada by
him at the conclusion of the confer
ence. He says he is willing to enter at
once upon review of the whole seal
question, though the Paris award was
made revisable only at the end of five
years. provided the other questions of
Importance to the two countries-immi-
grafton, reciprocity. fish protection,
etc.-shall be considered Mt the same
time. He declines. however. to suspend
sealing meantime. rs the fleet would
be dissipated entirely: that the owners
of vessels would be entitled to compen-
sation beyond the disposition of Par
lament to vote, and. finally. that as
~ IaN-f f1.n .4as
now tendency toward equilibrium in
the maintenance of the seal herd. He
suggests that If joint commission to
consider all questions at issue. includ-
ing this. be at once appointed. 1t would
be possible to secure the necessary leg
islation from Parliament at the Feb
ruary session. and from Congress dur
ing the present session. to insure the
execution of any recommendation with
regard to Bering sea next season.
The second letter is from General
| Foster to Sir Wilfrid. dated Washing
ton, December I'd. General Foster says
that Sir Wilfrids answer amounts to a
| declination of his proposition and n
| renewal of the Canadian proposition
made at the conference. and that the
President declines to reverse his posi-
ton on that point. Should the herd
reach the equilibrium pointed out by
Sir Wilfrid. it will have passed the pc.
riod when negotiations will be of any
avail besides, as the United States
VIII be put to the expense of $3.50. 900
to maintain the patrol next year. pc.
lagic sealing ought to be voluntarily
given up. because it is unneighborly
and inhuman.
General Foster expresses regret that
Sir Wilfrid's visit to Washington gives
so little of promise to satisfactory re-
suits. but entertains the hope that it
may vet bear good fruits.