New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-04-10
PLANS TO SAVE THE SEALS.
GENERAL FOSTER AND MIR. HAMLlN
OUTLINE THEIR WORK.
ENGLAND TO BE URGED TO RENEW THE MoDrs
vTvENDI OF 1891 AS TEMPORARY En-
PEDIENr-NEED OF MORE sTRlN-

PEDIENT-NEED OF MORE Slhi'-
GENT REGULATIONS
[pY TELEGRAPH TO TRrBUNE)
Washington April 0.-It became known to-day
that request was recently sent to sir Julian
Pauncefote from the State Department that
Great Britain should Immediately enter into ne
gotta with this country looking to the adop-
tlon OF more effective regulation' for the coming
scaling season. and sir Julian replied that ne
unable to act upon the request ohoui,
Great Britain not cooperate with this country 10
prevent the wholesale slaughter OF seals IT Is
the intention of the Administration to send to
Behring Sea an unusually large patrol fleet and
thus attempt 10 cover greater territory ana by
extraordinary vigilance try to reduce poachng
to minimum.
General Foster and Mr. Hamin, the special
agents Of the State Department. had their sec
end formal meeting to-day. They briefly consid-
cred their instructions and reached an informal
decision as 20 what they should do They agreed
that 1t was advisable to endeavor to secure the
immediate consent Of Great Britain to the re-
newal Of the modus vivendl Of 1Sol. 1t is now
only about a month and n half until this years
season opens Because of England's dilatori
ness In agreeing to the regulations OF each sum-
mer It is not to be expected that she will agree
to adopt between now and the end Of May regu-
lations which will prove effective against poach-
ing
The modus vivendi Of 1901 provided that for
the purpose OF preserving the seal species In Beh-
ring Sea England should prohibit seal killing In
that part of the lying eastward OF the line
OF demarkation described IN Article | OF the
treaty between the United States and Russia
and that sha should her best efforts to insure
the observance Of this prohibition by British sub
jects and vessels. This country agreed to pro-
hibit seal killing under the same conditions In
excess of 100 to be taken for the subsistence or
the natives In that region. Persons or vessels
violating the agreement to be seized and
handed over TO the country to which they be-
lCnged and punished.
II Is now proposed to represent to Great Brit
ain that II is important that some such modus as
this should again be entered into. II VIII be
shown that terrible slaughter Of the seals has
taken place This. II is said at the State Depart
ment. is looked upon as a recommendation IN
tended merely to meet the requirements or
next summer. II Is not proposed TO stop
here, however. The President Is satisfied
that II seal poaching is to he effectually
checked this country and Great Britain will have
TO agree 10 much stricter regulations than are
row in force. But for the present the renewal or
the modus Of 1891 a temporary eXpedient Is TO
be urged upon England.
One OF the State Department officials was
asked to-day what this country would do in case
Great Britain refused to renew the modus vi
vendi Of 1891. He promptly said: THAT point ia
settled. We shall order 10 Behrlng Sea as large
a feet practicable and captains OF vessels
will be directed to show unusual vigilance Wig
orous measures like this are demanded to pre-
serve zeal life and the President means 10 act
decisively."