New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-07-14
Colgate's
Cashmere Bouquet
Toilet Soap.

whole possible state of equiiiprum IoI Wy re,
two wears although he concedes a dlfninution as
compared with 1892 If all the professor claims
is admitted 1t does not iAilitate against 'ne
tention that since pelagic seanns oeca ,no6 ond
the decline Of the hero mas peeh s'e"u' ""N
rapid ,, ,,or, &c |
well explained by DR.. Jordan, when ne SAYS
page 49,: There is evidence that the moS gus
vivendi OF 1929 by which the Behring pea
was closed to the sealing fleet. has produced lor
1895 end 1896 slight check Of the dimnution.
The reason for this is that. in addition TO tne
saving Of mothers, no pups were starved 10
death in 1892 and 1893, and those which might
have been starved have returned as preeuers vi
as klable seals in 1893 and 1896.
Since the receipt of Lord Salisburys dispa,cn
explicit inquiry has been made OF Dr Joi 1Ian
as to the relative condition of the herd IN lS.'o
and 1896 and In previous years. ana ne mas
furnished the chapter on the Decline or 'ne !
Herd" from the forthcoming maj a., r tlmnv,ng
extract Is taken: while the amount OF the oe- |
cline cannot be given with mathematical ex,
actness it is possible from the data at mana
to make approximate estimate from d
careful study Of all the conditions. IN our
opnion the fur-seal herd Of the Pripyiol ISL
ands has decreased TO about one-hfth It's sAe !
in IS72-'14: to somewhat less than one-half It's
size in 1890. and that between the seasons OF
1895 and 1896 there has been decrease VI
about 10 per cent
NOTE OF ALARM SOUNDED.
Although Professor Thompson has been very
careful throughout the report to say nothing
likely to emDarrasS MS GoNerHiieh' III ~
conclusions" the voice Of the true scientific
investigator speaks in firm and certain tones
While he regards "the alarming statements
of the herds immense decrease as over,
drawn he SAYS: There is still abundant need
for care and for prudent measures OF con.
servatioa in the interest of all. 1t Is not
difficult to believe that the margin OF saie..
is narrow one. If it he not already III SOM
measure overstepped. We may hope Tor per
petuation of the present numbers; VIC cahho!
count upon an increase. And It Is my eatness
hope that q recognition OF mutual interests anu
a regard for the common advantage ma! sus
gest measures Of prudence which shall Keep ,he
pursuit and slaughter OF the ANIMALS "l'h'i "ue
and definite bounds" . -.
In view az such explicit language 1t Is not
easy to understand how Lord Salisbury can
reconcile his refusal to entertain the proposais
of the President with the interests or ms own
countrymen. to say nothing OF the 1rehu!
relations which he desires to maintain win 'he
United States Russia and Japan. oo.
The experience had with the sciertihc COM
| missions Of 1899, as well as the reports OF i"'o
| Just under review shows that 1t is di1nCui.
through them to reach harmony OF vlsWs ta,
we have at hand certain statistics of undlsputeu
| authority pointing Enthusiastically to conclusions
| which should be controlling.
THE DECREASE IN THE CATCH
The operations OF the peagic feet in Behring
| Sea since the Paris regulations have been IN
| force as follows:
1s9i-Thirty seven vessels. 31,5S5 seals taken.
| or an average Of SJ3 per vessel.
| 1S9J-Fiftynine vessels. "A, lG9 seals TAKEN UT
| an average Of 14S per vessel.
S96-SiXty-seven vessels. 29JUU seais tdheH'
| or an average Of 40 per vessel
| II thus appears that nearly double the number
of vessels in 1896 were not able to take as many
| seals as were taken in 1894. and the eaten per
vessel fell off nearly one-half. -ord SanspuI!
| attributes this large falling off in Behring sea
| ito the stormy weather prevailing put does
| not cite his authority. am not aWare r " any
| published report to that effect captain trooper
| who commanded the American cruising Meet IN
Behring Sea in 1895 and 1896. reports; "Ih is
weather in Behring Sea was not ma,eriail! VI,
| ferent in the last two years. Conditions ADMIT
| ted of boarding operations by the Meet twemty
| Ave DAYS in 1895 and twenty -four days IN 1870.
An examination and comparison OF the logs OF
| scaling vessels for 1890 and 1896 confirms can
| tain Hooper's report. The above nsures WI" at
the statistics contained in my note on t,'e or,,
| nit TO the British Ambassador make IL yer!
| clear that the seal herd Is becoming rapidI! ue
pleted and that the margin OF safety' as lIr.
| fessor Thompson expresses IT. mas Deen ateau!
| overs,enped 1t Is to be inferred that the mar
DIN of safety Is intended to signify the point az
which pelagic sealing ceases 70 be proItaplee'
| He cannot have had in mind Biological exterInI-
| nation for that point could not nave peen
reached so long as single Dull ana haie'' g"
| listed.
SEALING NO LONGER PROFITABLE.
The point when sealing ceased TO be prohtaole
| seems to have been reached during last year
4 table appended to his report SHOVE that the
| total product Of the pelagic catch or $50 IN 'he
London market was about half the amount OF
| that Of 1895 and Lord Salisbury informs us that
this result has brought many owners OF the
| scaling vessels to the verge Of bankruptcy. IL
thus appears that the condition of things pre-
| dicted nv the Government of the United States.
| as quoted below. has already come to pass-the
| commercial determination OF the seals III Pc
| lagic sealing continues to be tolerated Imited
number of vessels VIII carry on the ihoscr aho
| nate slaughter, in the hope, by 1aVoraple
! cruise of recoupng the losses OF the previous
| wears and the rookeries on the island VIII pc
| stiu further spleted But the biological exist
ence of the fur seal nay still be continued, ana
Her Maiesty's Ambassador may repeat the dec
Iarntion 20 often made during the last two years
that there Is mo 10 fear that the seal nero
| Is threatened with early determination
| (Here follows a long and exhaustive review OF
the efforts made by Secretaries Gresham ana
| Olney TO secure a settlement OF the dispute)
1NADEoUACY OF THE BRITISH PATROL.
The manner in which the British Govern
mont has discharged its police duties under the
award is in marked contrast with its appeal for
a strict observance Of the five years period OF
the regulations An equal obligation rests upon
each Government to patrol the waters embraced
in the award area in order to that the
regulations are not violated by the sealing YES
sells In 1894 the Government OF the United
States furnished twelve vessels for the patrol!-
ing fleet at great expense, and only one Vcssei
| was furnished by the British Government. In
1885 five United States vessels patrolled the
award area and only two British vessels. one
for a short time only in Behrng Sea- and the
other took no part whatever in the patrol. as It's
presence almost constantly required III
I-nalaska Harbor TO take the British seal
| ing vessels seized In Behring Sea. Owing to the
repeated complaints Of the Government OF the
| United States as TO the inadequacy Of the Brit
ish patrol an additional cruiser was ordered
into Behring Sea during the season Of 1876, AL
| though 1t was stated by the British Govern
ment that go far they have been able to
| Judge, the force employed up to the present
time has been sufficient As IL IL shown that
practically patrol service had been rendered
| in nv the British cruisers during
the previous year the inference from this Ian
guage would seem TO be that Her Majestys
| Government understood that the American
cruisers only were TO perform the patrol duty
and the British cruisers to take over and act