The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1897-12-18
SEALSKINS BARRED.
None Will Be Allowed to Enter
United States Territory,
BBBIEa SEA CORRESPONDENCE.
Points OF the Letters Passed Between
Premier Laurler and Commissioner
Foster Which Led to the Sweeping
Provision In the Pelagic Sealing BIZ.

Premier Laurier and COMMISSIONS
Foster Which LED to the sweepin,
) Provision In the Pelagic Sealing Bill
Washington, Dec. 1s--It has devel
oped that the bill relating to pelagi
sealing, which has just passed boil
branches of congress and is before tn
president, contains a provision of IA
reaching Importance which has thu
far ESCAPED attention. This places al
absolute prohibition on the further
bringing Of sealsl1ins into the United
States from any source or I'm any form
whatever As the United States is tn,
largest market in the world for seal
skins, this complete stoppage of tho
trade in this country win be a severe
measure against the British and Can.
adam industries which take and cure
the skins and then dispose of then
largely in the United States. When the
bill was proposed it was generally sup
posed that its only purpose was to pro
hibit American citizens from carrying
on pelagic sealing. This feature was
the only one to attract attention dur
! ing the discussion. At the close Of the
| bill, however, is a section which abso-
lutely prohibits the importation of seal
]
! ticles imported after this act shall take
/ effect shall not be permitted to be ex-
| ported, but shall be seized and destroy
ed by the proper officers Of the United
States" Those who are thoroughly
familiar with the bill say this pro-
vision is Of far more Importance in its
effect than the prohibition against
pelagic sealing by Americans.
After the return of the Canadian pre-
mier and the minister OF fisheries from
Washington last month an authorized
statement was given out from Ottawa
Of the contents of Sir Wilfred Laurier's
reply to the proposition of ex-Secretary
Foster the American negotiator in the
seal conference. This was confirmed
by Sir Louis Davies i'm a public address
at Toronto, in which it was added that
in return for a settlement of the fur
seal question satisfactory to the United
States Canada would expect, among
other concessions, a reciprocity ar
rangemeut which would admit into the
United States free of duty lumber. Goa.
hsh, barley, eggs, potatoes and other
farm products. The communications
exchanged between Sir Wilfrid Laurfer
and Mr.. Foster were made public last
night. The correspondence is volumin-
Gus, and opens with a letter from Pre-
mier Laurier. In which he says in part:
Il requested my colleague, Sir Louis
Davies, to obtain information as to
the number Of sealers who are fitting out
Tor the coming years operations and
as to the approximate compensation
which would be expected to be paid to
them in case pelagic sealing was pro-
hibited for year. The information
furnished me is to the effect that the
fleet is preparing as usual; that the
prohibition Of pelagic sealing for a
year would practically destroy the busi-
ness for several years, because the
m Nsters, the mates and the white
crews, for the larger part belonging to
other parts Of Canada, would leave
British Columbia. The sum which |
would likely be demanded as compen- |
sation is far beyond what it would be |
possible for us to induce parliament to |
vote, even If we could recommend 1t.
Under these circumstances, in view |
OF tho finding of the experts at the |
late conference that in the greater re-
duotion of the pelagic catch of late |
years compared with the gradual de-
crease 'of the herd, there is a tendency
toward equilibrium, or a stage at which
the numbers OF the breeding herd
would neither increase nor decrease
and further that the diminution of the
herd is yet far from stage which in
wolves or threatens the actual extermf- /
nation Of the species so long as 1t is
projected in its haunts on land 1 am
In raopes that yoU will agree to the
proposition submitted at our verbal
conference by Sir Louis Davies and |
myself and not press for the immedi- l
ate suspension of pelagic sealing.
The coast catch during the months
Of January, February, March and April, II
as gauged by the catches Of the past
FEW years, is very small. Last year l
the catch of the Canadian sealing fleet
amounted only to 6,1OO and in the year
before to $3.50. If the fleet, therefore
are permitted to prosecute peIagic seal
Ing for these four months but little
comparative harm would be done to the
herd. Following these months is the
close season, embracing May, June and
July, during which. of course, no pelaglc
lealing can be carried on except on the
Asiatic coast. II appears to me, there
'ore,-as highly probable that the Joint
suggested could finally con-
,lude its labors long before the time
when under the Paris regulations
oelagic sealing could begin in Bering
yea. If that commission reached a sat
sfactory conclusion and the congress
u the United States approved it there
would be no difficulty in obtaining the
necessary imperial legislation to carry
'ut whatever recommendations might
De agreed to with respect to the sus-
pension or cessation Of pelagic sealing
n time to prevent the prosecution OF
he business in Bering sea next year.
Under all these circumstances we
10 not see how 1t is possible to agree
o the suggested suspension, but we
zee no reason to doubt, if the appoint
nent OF joint commission results in
he submission of a treaty which con-
,ress would ratify, the necessary inn
'erial legislation could be procured In
ime to carry out its recommendations
With regard to Bering sea sealing be-
ore the close season ends and peagic I
ealing begins"
In the course Of his reply to Premier
4auHer's letter Mr.. Foster said:
'You intimate that if pelagic sealing
s continued during the earlier months
4 the year the catch would not exceed [
900, which you think would do little
larm to the herd. This might be the Z
ase If It was in its normal condition.
'ut such a catch now would be ap-
equal to 10000 in normal Il
lines, and In its present depleted con- (
ittQp would create a serious inroad ON Z
he herd. The state of equilibrium. L
contemplated by the experts to which 4
'ou refer, was at a still more depleted 4
taHe than even uoNV asr4etu Gh,y,l4 . 4