The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1906-12-07
The Algeciras Convention.
THE FUR SEAL QUESTION.
A Revision of the Present Regulation
La Needed.


| --4--
A Revision of the Present Regulations
In Needed.
The destruction of the Pribilof islands
fur seals by pelagic sealing still con-
tinues. The herd which, according to the
surveys made in 1874 by direction of the
congress, numbered 100000, and which
according to. the survey Of both American
amounted to 100000, has now been re-
duced to about 100000 This result has
been brought about by Canadian and
some other sealing vessels killing the
female seals while in the water during
their annual pilgrimage to and from the
| south, or in search of food. AS a rule the
female seal when killed is pregnant, and
also has an unweaned pup on land, SO
| ing, as rule three lives are destroyed
| the mother, the unborn offspring, and the
nursing pup. which is left to starve to
death. No damage whatever is done to
| the herd by the carefully regulated killing
on land the custom of pelagic sealing Is
| solely responsible for all of the present
! evil, and is alike indefensible from the
| economic standpoint and from the stand
I'm In 1896 over $1,000 young seals were
found dead from starvation on the Prib-
ilof islands In 1897 it was estimated
that since pelagic sealing began upward
killed at sea. and over 100000 young
seals had died of starvation as the result
| The revolving barbarity of such a prac-
| tise, as well as the wasteful destruction
| which 1t involves, needs no demonstration
and is its own condemnation. The
| Boring sea tribunal, which sat in Paris
| in 1898, and which decided against the
| claims Of the United States to exclusive
| and to property right in the fur seals
when outside of the three mile limit
| determined also upon certain regulations
which the tribunal considered sufficient
fNr hn nDtfO nrHI
ton of the fur seal in, or habitually re-
sorting to, the Boring sea. The tribunal
by it's regulations established close sea-
son, from the LIST of May to the 31st of
tiers within 60 miles around the Priblof
islands. They also provided that the
regulations which they had determined
upon, with view to the protection and
preservation of the seals, should be sub
mitted every five years to new exam
nation, so as to enable both interested
governments to consider whether in the
light Of past experience, there was occa-
The regulations have proved plainly
inadequate to accomplish the object of
protection and preservation of the fur
seals, and for long time this govern
from Great Britain such revision and
modification of the regulations as were
contemplated and provided for by the
award of the tribunal of Paris.
Raids by japanese.
The process of destruction has been ac-
CELEBRATED during recent years by the ap-
pearance of a number of Japanese YES
sells engaged in pelagic sealing. As these
vessels have not been bound even by
the inadequate limitations prescribed by
the tribunal Of Paris, they have paid
or to the 60-mile limit imposed upon the
Canadians, and have prosecuted their
work upon the. very islands themselves.
On July 16 and H. the crews from sew
eral Japanese vessels made raids upon
the island of St. Paul, and before they
were beaten off by the very meager and
insuff1ciently armed guard, they succeed
ed in killing several hundred seals and
carrying off the skins of most Of them.
Nearly all the seals killed were fe-
males and the work was done with
frightful barbarity, Many of the seals
appear to have been skinned alive, and
many were found half skinned and still
alive. The raids were repealed only
by the use of firearms. and five of the
raiders were killed, two were wounded,
and y captured, including, the two
wounded. Those captured have since
been tried and sentenced to imprison-
ment. An attack of this kind had been
wholly unlookt for, but such provision of
vessels arms and ammunition will now
be made that it's repetition will not be
found profitable.
Suitable representations regarding the
incident have been made to the govern
menC OF Japan, ana we are assured tndt
all practical measures will be taken by
that country to prevent any recurrence
of the outrage. On our part. the guard
on the island will be increased. and bet
revenue cutter patrol service about the
islands will be established: next season
a United States war vessel will also be
sent there.
cure an agreement with Great Britain
for adequate protection of the seal herd
and negotiations with Japan for the same
purpose are in progress.
Laws Need Revision.
The laws for the protection of the
seals within the jurisdiction of the United
S States the need ae es9 on 81 snd aa5
George are now, in terms, included in
the government reservation, and the
other islands are also to be included.
The landing of aliens as well as citizens
the department of commerce and labor,
for any purpose except in case of stress
of weather or for water, should be pro-
hibited under adequate penalties. The
approach of vessels for the excepted
purposes should be regulated. The au-
thority of the government agents on the
islands should be enlarged. and the
Committing magistrate The entrance Of
a vessel into the territorial waters sur
rounding the islands with intent to. take
seals should be made a criminal Of
tense and cause Of forfeiture. Author
ity for seizures in such cases should be
given and the presence on any such ves-
sci of seals or sealskins. or the para
phernalia for taking them, should be made
prima facie evidence of such intent. !
recommend what legislation Is needed to
accomplish these ends; and commend
to your attention the report Of Mr.. Sims,
of the department of commerce and Ia
bor on this subject
In case we are compelled to abandon
the hope of making arrangements with
other governments to put an end to the
thideous cruelty now incident to pelagic
sealing, 1t will be question for your Sc
continue to protect and maintain the seal
herd on land with the result Of continu-
ing such a practise. and whether 1t is
not better to end the practise by exter-
.minating the herd ourselves in the most
humane way possible.
second Hague Conference.
In INV last message ! advised you that
the emperor of Russia had taken the mi
'tiatiye In bringing about second peace
conference at The Hague. Under the
guidance of Russia the arrangement OF
the preliminares for such a conference
has been progressing during the past
wear Progress has necessarily been
slow, owing to the great number of coun-
tries to be consulted upon every question
that has arisen. 1t Is matter of sat-
isfaction that all Of the American. re-
publics have now, for the first time, been
invited to join In the proposed confer
ence. fJ5
iects to be taken up by the Red Cross