New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-12-07

AS Illustration OF the correctness or TINS V'e"'
II may be stated that during the first four months
OF the fiscal year 1899 the receipts from customs
exclusive OF the duty ,ea provided by the war
revenue law amounted s2.77s0so which Is HeS''-
02s in excess Of tho receipts for similar period IN
any year since 1892.
4 reciprocal commercial agreement has been en-
tered into between the United States and France.
under the provisions OF Section OF the Tarin act
OF 1897. and negotiations with similar object IN
View are IN progress with other countries
PELAGIC SEALING.
Since the passage OF the act OF December y. 1877.
prohibiting the taking o! fur seals by citizens or
subjects O! the United States or the httine OUT
IN the United States OF any vessel for the purpose
OF taking seals IN the waters o. the Pacific ocean
north OF :he thirty degree OF north latitude
there has been no peugic sealing In Tie pronioNeo
area by any vessels sailing under the nag OF inc
United States Since the passage Of the above act
only ore American vesse. mas taken pelagc SKINS
from the so-ca.led Alaska herd ard as the vesse!
had cleared from this country prior to the passage
o. the act. and her log showed all SKINS taken
south OF the thirty fifth degree. her eaten OF one
male and 335 female skins was allowed entry d.
San Francisco
The British sealing feet. however, mas coh'''ue'
ts operations during the last year. ooth on the
northwest coast and IN Behrng Sea FROM inc
copy OF the approved minutes Of the CANADIAN
privy council. transmit ed TO this Government III
accordance with the provisions OF the Paris award
IT appears that thirty British sealing vessels oper
on the northwest coast during the last spring
as compared with thirty-two British vessels during
the spring previous The total catch during the
spring Of 1895 l0.5Sl. including canoe eaten oy
Indians OF 526. against 500 skins taken by the
same fleet during the season Of 1897 which number
included a canoe catch OF LOIS This would give
m average catch per schooner for the spring OF
1928 OF 325 skins against average catch or los
increased catch per vessel OF 100 per cent
The number OF British vessels sealing In Behrins
Sea or their catch there during the last summer
is not known. the reports from the British Govern
rnent upon that subject not having been received
The reason for this greatly Increased spring
catch as compared with last year cannot he found
IN an increase in the numbers Of the Alaska hero
Of seals but in the fact that the former American
fleet longer operating. few er vessels TOOK seals
within n given Indeed, the advance reports
which have been received by the Department from
Special Agent Murray. late in charge OF the seal
islands and from c. II Townsend. assistant
to the Commissioner OF Fish and Fisheries. detailed
&c the seal islands during the past summer to note
the condition Of the rookeries. show most APP
parent decrease in The number Of seals frequenting
the islands From the report OF Mr.. Murray It
appears that owing 70 A scarcity OF seals. only
1901 young male seals could be killed out OF the
quota II $1,000 allowed. and that the number taken
was secured only after every effort had been made
70 obtain the fun quota. In 1891 2lOl3 seals were
Killed the Islands and their skins accepted.
The only hope for the preservation Of the Pribiof
Islands herd OF seals It is believed lies in the COM
plete cessation Of pelagic seallr-. With this &C
complished and the breeding I. les allowed to
bring forth their young without moestatlon from
deep-soa hunting. natural causes Will operate 10
bring about a rehabilitation OF the rookeries and
restore a valuable industry to It's former I'M
pOrtance
INTERNAL REVENUE.
The receipts from the several objects OF taxation
under the internal revenue laws for the fiscal years
ended June 3d. 1897 and 1888 were follows