The herald., 1897-11-17
EXPERTS
AGREED
On Questions Concerning
the Seal
A UNANIMOUS REPORT
Made to the Diplomats in
Conference
NO FINAL ACTION WAS TAKEN
TO STOP THE TAKING OF SEALS
at SEA
Strong Hopes Entertained of Salts
factory Settlement of Contro-
versies Pending With
Canada

Associated Press Special Wire.
WASHINGTON. Nov. 16.-The Bering
sea meeting. in which representatives of
Great Britain, Canada and the United
States have participated, came to close
tonight, the seal experts making a unan-
imous report concerning the condition
of the seal herds and the diplomatic rep
ments reaching an understanding by
which they hope at later day to effect
a final adjustment not only of the Ber-
ing sea question, but of other pending
border controversies. For the present
however no final action was taken as to
the suspension of pelagic sealing. The
Canadians urged that other questions
be embraced in any plan Of settlement
and suggested an international commit
tee to accomplish this end. This propo-
sition was fully discussed and an agree
ment reached that the Canadian officials
would put their views in writing after
returning to Ottawa and submit them to
the authorities here. All parties con-
cerned say that the outlook is favorable
to a satisfactory adjustment.
The unanimous agreement of the ex-
perts brings the governments together
for the first time on all the facts relat-
| ing to the seals. This agreement was
reached after painstaking comparison
of notes, and the results were announced
in an official statement by General Fos
ter as follows:
1.-THE delegates to the fur seal confer
ence have agreed unanimously on GER
tain propositions touching the fur seal
herds of Bering sea. The report con-
tains sixtxeen propositions, which are
briefly epitomized as follows:
THAT the Pribyloff herd has declined
in numbers from 1884 to 1897; that the
number was formerly three to five times
that which now exist; that the death
rate among pups is great not more than
one-half to one-third surviving to the
age of three years; that the number of
breeding females in 1886 and 1887 was
between 100000 to 10000; that the de-
crease from 1896 to 1897 was notable
though it's extent could not be definitely
determined; that land killing of males,
as now practiced, does no harm to the
herds: that the pelagic sealers respect
the limitations of the law; that pelagic
sealing involves indiscriminate killing;
that the catch at sea contains marked
excess of females; that the killing of
males on land is the cause of this; that
among the females killed are not only
those both nursing and pregnant but
also many who are immature or who
have already lost their pups; that the
fur seal being polygamous, a large num-
Der of males may be killed with impun-
ity; that females cannot be killed in
similar numbers without checking the
increase of the herd or bringing about
natural decline; that a small number of
females less than the annual increase
remnant of breeders might be taken
without producing actual decrease; that
excessive peagic sealing has led to q re-
duction in the herds; that pelagic seal
ing has of late fallen off in greater ra-
ito than the herd has, thus producing a
tendency toward equilibrium in num-
bers; that in estimating the future con-
dition of the herds must be taken in con-
sideration reductions in the number of
surviving pups caused by the pelagic
catches of 1S941S95; that the herd is not
in danger of actual determination so
long as it's haunts on land are protected
and the protected zone is maintained;
that both land and sea killing now yield
an inconsiderable profit either to the
lessees or to the pelagic sealers them
Selves
The delegates signing the agreement
are as follows: Charles Sumner Ham
lin, David Starr Jordan, Darcy Went
worth Thompson, James Melville Ma
coun.
Following the agreement of the ex-
perts the diplomatic officials assembled
at Gen. Fosters house to discuss the
larger question of putting an end to
pelagic sealing ard of settling other
border controversies. Owing to the con-
tinued illness of Sir Julian Pauncefote.
who is confined to his room, the British
government was represented by the firat
secretary of the British embassy, Mr..
Adam.
Sir Wilfrid Laurier and Sir Louis Da-
vies were present in behalf of Canada.
General listers power has been mate
rally enlarged since the coming of the
Canadian officials, for, as result of the
long and friendly talk between Sir Will
frid and Secretary Sherman, the latter
had written to the Canadian premier
stating that the president had empow-
cred General Foster to treat on the va
rlous border questions which Sir Wilfrid
Had called to the attention Of Mr.. Sher-
man, and with the cooperation Of the
British government to conclude treaties
covering these subjects. This gave the
meeting broad significance. 1t began
at p. m. and lasted until I. During
these three hours tho entire range Of
border affairs was discussed. Primarily,
the purpose OF the meeting was to se-
cure an agreement OF Bering sea. The
Canadians made It clear, however. that
they wished any plan of settlement to
'take = broader scope than the one, sub
~ of AeKing ~ and - embrace tho
II 6< xT111A 16Sk n H. kax.-