The age-herald., 1897-11-23
North American Commercial Company
 Has a Twenty Years Contract
TO HUNT ON PRIBYLoFF ISLAND
Which Is in Uncle Sam'S Domain and It Is as 10 the Rights of the Company That the
 Proposition Made Is Questioned

Washington, Nov. 22.-One of the most important features of the Berirg sea negotiations not heretofore disclosed is that in the event that Great Britain and Canada consent to a suspension of pelagic sealing for one year, the United States at the same time agrees to a suspension of killing of all seals for one year on the Pribyloff islands, constitut- ing the American seal possessions in Boring sea. As the islands are a past of United States territory, no question has ever arisen as to the right of the United States to do as it chose to the ssals while on land and within three miles of the shore the three miles being a part of the islands, according to in ternational law.
 During the recent negotiation the Can adians took the ground that if any sus- pension was to occur it would be in- equitable to ask them to suspend seal ing 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 suspension of pelagic sealing, but under the exi- gency of the case 1t was felt that if a suspension of pelagic sealing could be secured it would be reasonable to grant a similar suspension within our terri tory.
 It was on this that the final pTopos,- tions took shape. The American propo- sition includes the Pribyloff islands in the one year suspension, so that if Can ada agrees to the suspension 1t will ap- ply to those islands as well as to the high seas. The proposition follows the recommendation of the Paris court of arbitration, which suggested tempo rary suspension of sealing on land and sea.
 This brings up the question of the lease of the North American Commercial company, giving it the exclusive rigiht- to take seals on the Prbyloff island The lsiasa was nsaldle in 1890 for term of twenty yeans. Under this lease the com pany has taken about 16,000 seals annu- ally on the island. The lease stipulaIteS that not more than e0,000 should be talk n in 1891, and also provided that no more ssals should be killed amauaaly than was authorized by the secretary of the treasury. As the catch has been far short of the expect:d 6O,000 queeJ.icn has arisen as to the obligation of the company to have its rental reduced pro rata
 Attorney-General Miller gave an opin- Ion i'm flavor of the r;Gduction; Secretary OlnIsy, when aihtouney- -gener'ai, gave an opinion against it. By mutual consent a test case was taken up ard is now pending in the United States suprems court. The lease provid,s for rcnltal of $60, 900 a year, and also for $7621s for each sead skin taIksm on the island, and certain payments and accommoda tions Gor the natives. In the event of an agreement between the Undt 'd sltates, G.eat Britain and CanalIa, the rigapt of the company to take seals necessarily will terminate fer a y ar.
 It is said the right of eminent domain gives the government authority for va eating the lease for this period without deferencs to the wishes of the company But aside from this it is not expected the company would not stan1 on any technical rights, but would regard the concessions granted by Canalsa of such great advantage in the preservation of seals as to warrant suspension on tine Pribyloff island during the stipulated one year.