New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-11-17
SEALING EXPERTS AGREE.
THE OUTLOOK FAVORABLE FOR A
SATISFACTORY SETTLEMENT.


A UNANIMOUS REPORT on THE CONDITION
OF THE HERD MADE-rHE DIPLOMATS
REACH AN UNDERSTANDING BY WHICH
THEY HOPE TO ADJUST ALL CON
TRovERsIEs WITH CANADA
CLOSE OF THE CON-
FERENCE.
Washington Nov 16-The Scaling Conference,
in which representatives OF Great Britain. Can
ada and the United States have taken part
came to an end tonight the experts making
a unanimous report concerning the condition OF
the seal herds and the diplomatic representatives
of the three Governments reaching an under
standing by which they hope at later day 10
effect final adjustment, not only of the Behring
Sea question but OF other pending controver-
sizes. For the present however. no hnal acton
was taken as to the suspension of pelagic sealing
The Canadians urged that other questions be
embraced in any plan Of settlement, ana sug-
gested an International Commission to accom-
psh this purpose. This proposition was fully
discussed and an agreement reached that the
Canadian officials should put their views IN
writing after returning to Ottawa and SUD-
nit them to the authorities here. All concerned
say that the outlook is favorable for satis-
factory adjustment.
THE AGREEMENT OF THE EXPERTS
The unanimous agreement Of the experts
brings the Governments together FOR the first
time on all the facts relating to the seals. This
agreement reached after painstaKlhg
| comparison Of notes, and the results were an
rounced in an official statement by John w.
Foster, as follows:
THE delegates to the fur seal conference have
agreed unanimously on certain propositions
| touching the fur seal herd OF Behring Sea- The
report contains sixteen propositions. which are
briefly epitomized as follows:
THAT the Pribyloff herd has declined In
numbers from 1884 to 1897; that the number was
! formerly three to five times that which now ex-
! lists: that the death rate among pups Is great
not more than one-half to one-thrd surviving
| to the age Of three years; that the number OF
! breeding females in 1896 and 1897 was between
! 10000 and 10000; that the decrease from lNoo
! to 1891 was notable, though It's extent could not
! be definitely determined that land killing or
| males as now practised does no harm TO the
! herd; that the peagic sealers respect the lini-
! tatons OF the law; that pelagic sealing involves
| indiscrmnate killing; that the catch at sea con-
tains n marked excess Of females; that the KILL
| ing Of males on land is the cause OF this; that
among tho 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, a
large number of males may be killed with impu-
nifty: that the females cannot be killed In simi-
! lar numbers without checking the increase Of
the herd or bringing about an actual decline;
that a small number OF females. less than the
annual increment Of breeders might be taken with
out producing actual decrease; that excessive
pelagc sealing has led to reduction in the
! herd that pelagic sealing has OF late fallen off
In greater ratio than the herd has. thus'prOduc-
| Ing tendency toward equilibrium In numbers:
that IN estimating the future conditions OF the
herd must be- taken into consideration reduction
in the number Of surviving pups caused by the
peiagc catches Of 1894 1895: 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 that both land and sea Kill
| ing now yield AN inconsiderable profit either to
| the lessecs or to the peagic seacrs themselves
The delegates signing the agreement are
Charles Sumner fiamlin, David Starr jordan.
| Darcy Wentworth Thompson and James Mel
| Vile Macoun.
MEETING OF TiE DIPLOMATS.
! Following the agreement of the experts. the
| diplomatic officials assembled at General Fos-
ters house to discuss the larger question of put
ting an end to pellgic sealing and OF settling
other controversies Owing to the continued Ill
| ness OF Sir Julian PaunCefote. who Is con-
fined to his room, the British Government was
| represented by the First Secretary Of the En-
bassy. Mr. Adam: Sir Wilfrid Laurier and Sir
Louis Davies were present in behalf Of Canada
General Fosters powers had been materially
enlarged since the coming of the Canadian Off
! ciaIs for as a result OF the long and friendly
talk between Sir Wilfrid and Secretary Sherman
! the latter had written to the Canadian premier
! that the President had empowered General FoS-
! ter To treat on the various border questions
| which Sir WIlfrid had called to the attention oi
Mr.. Sherman, and with the cooperation or the
! British Government to conclude treaties cover
Ing these subjects. ThlS gave lhe Iheeuhs
| broad significance.
II began at 4 D. m and lasted until I. In these
| three hours the entire range or border allalrs
| was discussed. Primarily the purpose or the
! meeting was to secure an agreement on the
| Rehring Sea question. The Canadians made II
! clear however, that they wished any plan oi
settlement to take a broader scope than the one
subject OF sealing. and to embrace the many
! sco,,rces Of friction along the border. The plan
| ~ an international commission was discussed al
| great length The Canadians felt that the com
| mission afforded the best means OF reconcing
all differences and OF opening the way to reel
| procIty The discussion was of the most friendly
| nature throughout, and no sharp differences
were allowed to come to the surface. 1t was
! felt however, that the plan Of a commission
was too large a question for Immediate deter
| mination. A final understanding was reached,
therefore that the Canadian proposition should
be reduced to writing n basis for further ne
| gotiations. This closed the conference and the
officials said their farewells, expressing satis-
faction with the cordial feeling which had char
acterized the meetings.
Sir Wilfrid Laurier and Sir Louis Davies
start tomorrow morning for Ottawa