San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1897-07-14


illusions, was communicated to me.
This conduct recalls the incident which
preceded the arbitration at Paris and
which came near rendering that arbi-
tration abortive, when similar report
of a British commission was withheld
until after the case of each government
was exchanged and the report of the
american. commission was made pub
lie.
Lord Salisbury asserts that DIR. Jor-
dams report did not contain any facts
warranting the statement that there is
a 'deplete condition and prospective
early extinction of the herd The note
of your embassy of the tenth ult., does
not attribute such a statement to DR..
Jordan, but it is difficult TO under
stand how anyone can read his report
without reaching the conclusion that
such is the real condition of the herd"
Here Secretary Sherman quotes free
ly from the report for the purpose of
sustaining this contention. Continu-
ling. he says:
Prof Thompson's report is plainly
written with a view to minimizing as
far as possible the deplete condition of
the herd on the Pribyloff islands and
requires a critical examination not
possible within the limits of the present
instruction, but its> general purpose
may be briefly stated. 1t is to be re-
GREETED that he should have contracted
his study far within the purview of his
instructions. He confined his inquiry
and the report to the subordinate sub
ject of the number of seals resorting
to the islands and particularly to the
relative number in 1895 and 1896. The
result of his observations and inquiry
seemed to be that on some rookeries
there was an increase and on others a
decrease, but on the whole a possible
state of equilibrium for the last two
years, although he conceded a dimuni-
ton as compared with 1892. If all the
professors claims are admitted, it does
not mitigate against that since Pelagic
sealing became general the decrease of
the herd has been steady and rapid.
Since the receipt OF. lord Salisburys
dispatch explicit inquiry has been made
of DR.. Jordan as to the. relative condi-
ton OF the herd in 1895 and 1896 and in
previous years, and he has furnished
the chapter on the decline of the herd
from the forthcoming final report OF
himself and associates.
although Prof. Thompson has been
very careful throughout the report to
say nothing likely to embarrass his
government in the conclusions the
voice of the true scientific investigator
speaks in firm and Certain tones.
While he regards the alarming state
ments of the herds immense decrease
as overdrawn, he says:
There is still abundant need for
care and for prudent measures of
conservatism in the interest of all.
1T is necessary to understand how
Lord Salisbury can reconcile his refus-
al to entertain the proposals of the
president with the interests of his own
countrymen to say nothing of the
friendly relations which he desires to
maintain with the United States, Rus
STA and Japan.
The experience had with the scien-
tlfic commission of 1899, as well as the !
reports of 1896, just under review, |
shows that it is difficult through them |
to reach a harmony of views but we |
have at hand certain statistics of I'M
authority pointing unmistak- |
ably to conclusions which should be |
Here Secretary Sherman quotes well
known statistics showing the decrease
IN the catch. He says:
Lord Salisbury attributes this large |
falling off in the Behring sea, to the
stormy weather there prevailing, but
does not cite his authority. / am not
aware Of any published report to that
effect. Capt. Hooper who commanded
he American cruising fleet in Behring
sea in 1895 and 1896, reports:
The weather in Behring sea was
not materially different in the last
Two years
The point when sealing ceased to be
profitable seems to have been reached
Turing the last year. Lord Salisbury
Informs us that the result has brought
many owners of the sealing vessels to
he verge of Bankruptcy 1t thus APP
,ears that the condition of things pre-
licted by the government of the Unit
d States has already come TO pass
he commercial determination of the
eal"
Here follows long and exhaustive
eview written by the secretary show
gn the efforts made by Secretaries
Gresham and Olney to secure a settle (
nent of the dispute. Continuing Sec
etary Sherman says:
"The manner in which the British
las discharged it's policies under the
ward is in marked contrast with its /
ppeal for a strict observance of the
We years provision Of the regulations.
m equal obligation rests upon each !
overnment to patrol the waters en-
raced in the award, in order to see
hat the regulations are not violated
Y the sealing vessels. a