The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-11-23
NO SEALING on LAND.
Important Feature of the Proposed
New BerIng Sen Agreement.

WASHINGTON, Nov 22-One of the
most important features of the Boring sea
negotiations not heretofore disclosed is
that. in the event Great Britain and Canada
consent to a suspension of peagic sealing
for one year the United States at the same
time will agree to a suspension of all kill
ing of seals for one year on the Pribylof
Islands, constituting the American seal pos
sessions in Boring sea. AS the islands are
a part of United States territory, no ques-
ton has ever arisen as to the right of the
United States to do as it chooses to the
? seals while on land and within three miles
of the shore; the three miles being part
Of the islands according to international
law. During the recent negotiations the
Canadians took the ground that If any sus-
pension was to occur it would be inequita-
bic to ask them to suspend sealing in the
outer waters while at the same time the
United States persisted in sealing in the
inner waters and on land. The contention
OF the United States was primarily for the
the exigency Of the case. 1t was felt that if
a suspension of pelagic sealing could be
secured it would be reasonable to concede
a similar suspension within our own ter
;ritory. 1t was in this form that the final
propositions took shape. The American
proposition includes the Pribylof islands in
the proposed one-year suspension, so that
If Canada agrees to the suspension it will
apply to those islands as well as to the
high seas. The proposition follows the
recommendation of the Paris court of arbi-
tratiOn, which suggested q temporary SuS-
pension of sealing on land and sea-.
This brings up the question of the lease
OF the North American Commercial Com
pany, giving it the exclusive right to take
seals on the Prbylof islands. The lease was
made in 1890 for a term of twenty years.
Under this lease the company has taken
about 1900 seals annually on the Islands.
The lease stipulated that not more than
o. 90 should be taken in 1891. and also pro-
x led that no more seals should be killed
annually than was authorized by the Secre-
tary of the treasury. AS the catch has been
far short of the expected 10000 question
has arisen as to the obligation Of the COM
Attorney General Miller gave an opinion in
favor of the reduction Secretary Olney,
when attorney general, gave an opinion
against ii. BY mutual consent a test case
was made up and is now pending in the
United States Supreme Court. The lease
provides a rental OF $6J,0g0 a year; also;
81 621h for each sealskin taken and shipped
from the islands and certain tax payments
ard accommodations for the natives. In
the event of agreement between Ine
United States, Great Britain and Canada,
the rights of the company to take sealS
necessarily would terminate for year. IT
Is said the right of eminent domain gives
the government authority for vacating the
lease for this period without Difference 70
the wishes of the company. But aside from
this ii is understood that the company
would not stand on any technical rights;
but would regard the concessions granted
by Canada is of such great advantage IN
q suspension on the Pribylof Islands DUR
ing the stimulated one year.