The record-union., 1897-11-17
Experts Unanimous in Their Report as to
the Condition of the Herds.
No Final Action Taken as to the
Suspension Of Pe1agic Sealing,
Though All Parties Concerned
Believe the Outlook Is Favor
able for a Satisfactory Adjust
ment of All Questions in Dis
pute.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 16. - The
Behring Sea meeting, in which repre-
sentatives of Great Britain, Canada
and the United States have partici-
pated came to a close tonight, the
seal experts making a unanimous re-
port concerning the condition of the
seal herds, and the diplomatic repre-
sentatives of the respective Govern
ments reaching an understanding by
which they hope at a later day to eff
feet final adjustment not only of the
Behring Sea question, but of other
pending border controversies. For the
present. however, no final action was
taken as to the suspension of pelagic
sealing.
The Canadians urged that other ques-
tions be embraced in any plan of set
tlement, and suggested an international
commission to accomplish this end. This
proposition was fully discussed, and
an agreement reached that the Cana
dian officials would put their views in
writing after returning to Ottawa, and
submit them to the authorities here.
All parties concerned say that the
outlook is favorable to a satisfactory
adjustment.
hO ItSIfl6Il VI lIt SA-
perts brings the Governments together
for the first time on all the facts re-
lating to the seals This agreement
was reached after painstaking COM
parison of notes, and the results were
announced in an official statement by
General Foster as follows:
The delegates to the fur seal con-
ference have agreed unanimously on
certain propositions touching the fur
seal herds of Behring Sea- The re-
port contains sixteen propositions.
which are briefly epitomized as fol-
lows:
That the Pribyloff herds have declin-
ed in numbers from 1884 TO 1897; that
the number was formerly three to five
times that which now exists; that the
death rate among pups is great, not
more than one-half to one-third sur
viving to the age of three years: that
the number of breeding females in
1896 and 1897 was between 100 900
to 10000; that the decrease from
1896 to 1897 was notable, though its
extent could not be definitely deter
mined; that land killing of males, as
now practiced, does no harm to the
herds; that the pelagic sealers respect
the limitations of the law; that pelagic
sealing involves indiscriminate killing;
that the catch at sea contains a marked
excess of females; that the killing of
males on land is the cause of this; that
among the 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
impunity; that females cannot be killed
in similar numbers without checking
the increase of the herd, or bringing
about an actual decline: that a small
number of females, less than the an
nual Increase remnants of breeders,
might be taken without producing
actual decrease; that excessive pelagic
sealing has led to a reduction in the
herds; that pelagic sealing has Of late
fallen off in greater ratio than the herd
has, thus producing tendency toward
equilibrium in numbers; that in esti-
mating the future condition of the
herds must be taken in consideration
reduction in the number of surviving
pups caused by the pelagic catches of
1891 1893; that the herd IS not in dan
ger Of actual determination, so long as
Its hauntS on land are protected and
the protected zone is maintained: that
both land and sea killing now yield an
inconsiderable profit either 10 the
lessees or to the pelagic sealers them
selves
The delegates signing the agreement
are as follows: Charles Sumner Ham
lin, David Starr Jordan, Darcy Went
worth Thompson, James Melville Ma
coun.
Following the agreement Of the ex-
perts the diplomatic officials assembled
at General Fosters house to discuss
the larger question of putting an end
TO pelagic sealing and Of settling other
border controversies. Owing to the
continued illness of SIR Julian Paunce-
fote. who is confined to his ROOM the
British Government was represented
by the First Secretary of the British
Embassy, Mr.. Adam.
Sir wilfred Laurier and Sir Louis
Davies were present in behalf of Can
ada
General Fosters power has been ma