Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-12-06
lad been killed at sea and over 100000

laQs Deen Killed at sea and over SOO, goo
soung seals had died of starvation as
The result. The revolving barbarity of
such a practice, as well as the waste
Jul destruction which it involves,
aeeds no demonstration and is it's own
condemnation. The Boring sea tribu-
lal, which sat in Paris in 1898 and
which decided against the claims of
Il fhe United States to exclusive juris-
z i1ctlon in the waters of Bering sea
| Ind to property right in the fur seals
When outside of the three mile limit
determined also upon certain regula-
ions which the tribunal considered
sufficient for the proper protection and
Il preservation of the fur seal in or
2abitually resorting to the Boring sea-
The tribunal by it's regulations estab-
lshed close season, from the list of
May to the 31st Of July, and excluded
all killing in the waters within sixty
miles around the Pribilof islands
Ihey also provided that the regula-
. lions which they had determined upon,
with view to the protection and pres
ervatlon of the seals, should be sub
nitted every five years to new exami-
nation, so as to enable both interested
3 governments to. consider whether in
me light of past experience there was
occasion for any modification thereof
Inc regulations have proved plainly
inadequate to accomplish the object Of
protection and preservation of the fur
seals, and for a long time this govern
ment has been trying in vain to secure
from Great Britain such revision and
modification of the regulations as were
saontemplated and provided for by the
RWard of the tribunal of Paris.
The process of destruction has been
/ accelerated during recent years by the
appearance of a number of Japanese
vessels engaged in pelagic sealing. AS
these vessels have not been bound
even by the inadequate limitations pre-
u scribed by the tribunal of Paris, they
gahave paid no attention either to the
5selose season or to the sixty mile limit
upon Canadians and have
prosecuted their work up to the very
4 islands themselves. On July 16 and II
the crews from several Japanese YES
sells made raids upon the island of ST.
Paul, and before they were beaten off
by the very meager and insufficently
armed guard they succeeded in killing
several hundred seals and carrying off
the skins of most of them. Nearly all
the seals killed were'sfemales, and the
work was done with ffightful barbar-
lty. 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 twelve
, captured, including the two wounded.
4 Those captured have since been tried
& and sentenced to Imprisonment. An
B attack of this kind had been wholly
unlocked for, but such provision of
g vessels, arms and ammunition will
how be made that its repetition will
not be found profitable.
Promise by Japan.
Suitable representations regarding
4 the incident have been made to the
government of Japan, and we are as
sured that all practicable measures
will be taken by that country to pre-
Avent any recurrence of the outrage
BON our part, the guard on the island
will be increased and better equipped
and organized, and better revenue
cutter patrol service about the islands
will be established. Next season a
Omitted States war vessel will also be
sent there.
We have not relaxed our efforts to
secure an agreement with Great Brit
ain for adequate protection Of the seal
herd, and negotiations with Japan for
the same purpose are in progress.
The laws for the protection of the
seals within the jurisdiction of the
United States need revision and amend
ment. Only the islands of ST. Paul
and st. George are now in terms in
!, cluded in the government reservation,
Aand the other islands are also to be
included. The landing OF, aliens as well
as citizens upon the islands without a
permit from the department of COM
merce and labor for any purpose ex-
cept in case of stress of weather or for
water should be prohibited under ade-
Mate penalties. The approach Of YES
sells for the excepted purposes should
lbe regulated. The authority of the gov
7 eminent agents on the islands should
be enlarged, and the chief agent should
sashaye powers of a committing magis-
trate. The entrance of vessel into
ethe territorial waters surrounding the
islands with intent to take seals should
be made a criminal offense and cause
! of forfeiture. Authority for seizures in
Asuch cases should be given, and the
Ypresence on any such vessel of seals or
sealskins or the paraphernalia for talk
ing them should be made prima facie
evidence of such intent. / recommend
what legislation is needed to accom-
plish these ends. and 1 commend to
your attention the report of Mr.. Sims
of the department of commerce and
labor on this subject.