Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-12-05

A""u Aui oedio ny pcIdSIc SEA. SedlS
continues. The herd which, &C ing
to the surveys made in 1874 byl evid
ton Of the congress, numbered 4wha
OOO and which, according to the Wish
vey Of both American and Cana(hur
commissioners in 1891, amounted t
100000 has now been reduced I,
about 10000. This result has beer
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 preg-
nant and also has an unweaned pup on
land. so that for each skin taken by
pelaSic sealing. as rule, three lives
are destroycd-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 indefensble from the eco
nomfc standpoint and from the stand
point Of humanity.
In 1896 over 10000 young seals were
found dead from starvation on the
Prlbilof Islands. In 1897 it was csti-
mated that since pelagic sealing began
upward Of 100000 adult female seals
mad been Killed at sea and over 500. 900
young seals had died of starvation as
the result. The revolving barbarty OF
such practice, as well as the waste
ful destruction which it involves.
needs no demonstration and Is its own
condemnation. The Boring sea tribu-
nal. which sat In P:2-is In 1873 and
which decided against the claims Of
the United States to exclusive iuris-
diction in the waters OF Hcfinc seq
and to a property right in tie fur seals
when outside of the three mile limit
determined also upon certain rcgula-
tons which the tribunal considered
sufficient for the proper protection and
preservation Of the fur seal In or
habitually resorting to the Boring sen
The tribunal by its regulations estab- !
lished q close season. from the LIST of
May to the 31st of July. and excluded
NIL killing In the waters within sixty
miles around the Pribilof islands.
They also provided that the regula-
lions which they had determined un0n.
with view TO the protection and prcs-
ervatlon OF the seals. should be sub
mltted every five years to new cyami
nation. SO as to enable both Interested
ROVGrninDntc 70
the light of past experience there vaS
occasion fer any modification thereof
The regulations have proved plainly
inadequate to accomplish the object of
protection and preservation Of the fur
seals. and for long time this govern
nent nas been trying in vain to secure
rom Great Britain such revision and
notification of the regulations rs were
and provided for by the
ward Of the tribunal of Paris.
Tile process Of destruction has been
'cceierated during recent years by the Z,
appearance Of n number of Japanese ,,
'esseB engaged In pelagic sealing. As
nese vessels have not been bound g..
ven by the inadequate limitations pre- .
crfDed by the tribunal Of Paris. thew !.
ave paid no attention either to the ,
lose season or to the sixty mile limit =
imposed upon Canadians and have ;
rosecuted their work up to the very q
SANDS themselves. On July &c and II =
ae crews from several japanese yes !.
ELS made raids upon the island Of st. =
aui. and before they were beaten off !,
y tne very meager and insufficiently a
rmed guard they succeeded in KILN. =;
everai hundred seals and carving off :,
I've ! SKINS OF most Of them. Nearly all y
ue seals killed were females, and the -
sofk was done with frightful harbar. s.
y. many Of the seals appear to have :.
zen zen skinned alive, and mapy w urre d :.
ound half skinned and still olivo The V,
AIDS were repealed only by the nsa n u. u
lrearms. and five of The rai1e-s $50. =. >,
alled, two were wounded ana were were o.
Including the two wonndod =,
nose captured have since beon 1 tn,e, IL
mo sentenced to imprisonment '.u q
,.,acS OF this kind had been who'll =
'A'ooked far: but such provision o. .,