The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-04-22
SEALING QUESTION AGAIN.
There is Opposition to the Commission
Appointed.
BELIEVED TO BEON A FRUITLESS TRIP
The BIZ Allowing the American Sealers to
KIN All the Seals the Only One That
VIII Bring the British Au-
thorities to Terms.
WASHINGTON. d. c.. April 2i.-spe

WASHINGTON. ID. c.. April l.-Spe'
cial- The appointment OF commissioners
70 deal with The sealing question In
Behrns Sea, and the preparation the
commissioners are now making 10 begin
their investigation OF the subject. b
causing much adverse criticism. Those
gentlemen who have given most attention
10 the matter ara satisfied that nothing
VIII pe accomplished By the commission
ers. either IN the way Of anordins pro-
teotion 10 the seals or preventing illegal
scaling
Tho diinculty TO the present time has
been, that the Canadian seaIers' pront
by delay In the negotiations between this
country and Great Britain, and II has
therefore been 10 the interest OF the
English commissioners to defer an agree
ment as long as possible.
MIR. DINGLEY'S PLAN.
This has been 50 well understood that
in the last Congress Mr. D!ngley intro
duced and secured tho passage OF bill
In the House. providing that In the event
OF further disagreement between the TWO
nations. regarding the seals In Behring
Sea, American sealers be authorized 10
on the Islands. and in the waters, ex-
clusNely within the jurisdiction OF tho
United States.
This would exterminate the species al
once. but II was argued would allow
Americans 10 make use OF the seals. and
would merely eject now the e1termina-
ti0n. that IS certain 10 come within a
few years. II the present system OF seal
ing prevails.
WOULD FORCE AN AGREEMENr.
Ii was not contemplated. however. 10
use the provisions or the law unless ne
cessary. but It's existence would have en-
abled this Government ~ force an agree
ment from the English.
The bin would probably have passed the
Senate. and would certainly have been
pushed In that body 10y Senator Frye. had
not Secretary Olney intervened and asked
that the bill be not passed.
The Sccretarys object in this Is not
known but II was understood at the
time he believed an agreement for the
protection and preservation OF the seals
could be effected.
PROF. ELLIOTT'S OPINION.
Professor Henry Elliott. the author OF
the most comprehensive work on the seal
In existence. and probably the best au-
thority on the subject, said 10 a repre-
sentative or Inc Times tndt the tUOIlo
OF John ". Foster and eN-Secretary Ham
lin will result in failure. and that nothing
but law containing the provisions OF the
original Dingiey bill. will bring the Cana
! dians and English 10 terms.
The determination OF the seals at the
rate Of destruction, he says, Is only a
| question Of a few years. and unless some
effective measures can be adopted for
their preservation. Il Is better that Ameri-
can sealers should capture them all at
once.
THE COMMISSION START.
Ex-Secretary Hamlin is now at Hot
Springs, Virginia. but will leave in few
d8ys for san Francisco. and Will proceed
from there 10 Alaska, accompanied by
Professor Jordon. the seal expert. OF
leland Stanford University. Orders have
been issued by the Secretary OF the Treas
ury 10 the Behring Sea patrol feet 10 sail
lot later than May 5th.
The feet will consist Of only four ves-
sells. and will accomplish no more. II is
rredcted. than II has done In recent
years. The result will be an indlscrimi-
nate slaughter OF male and female seals.
and the abandonment OF the cubs 10 GER
tain starvation. IL Is this practice that
promises 10 make the seals as scarce ~
the American buffalo