Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1906-12-04
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE
Continued from page 4.

nant and also has an unweaned pup on
land, SO that for each skin taken by
pelagic sealing, as a 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 eyil
and Is alike indefensible from the eco
nomic standpoint and from the stand
point Of humanity
In 1896 over 5000 young seals were
found dead from starvation on the
Pnbilof Islands. In 1897 It was esti-
mated that since pelagic sealing began
upward of 400, 900 adult female seals
had been killed at sea and over 900, 900
young seals had died Of starvation as
the result The revolving barbarity OF
such q practice, as well as the waste
i full destruction which 1t involves.
needs no demonstration and Is Its own
condemnation The Bering sea tribu-s
nal, which sat In Paris Ii 1893 and
which decided against the claims Of
the United States to exclusive juris-
diction In the waters Of Bering sen
and TO q property right in the fur seals
when outside Of the three mile limit,
determined also upon certain regula-}
lions which the tribunal considered
sufficient for the proper protection and
preservation Of the fur seal in or
habltually resorting to the Bering sea-.
The tribunal by Its regulations estab-
lished a 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.
They also provided that the regula-
lions which they had determined upon,
with q view to the protection and pres
ervation Of the seals, should be SUBJ
mitted every five years to new exami-
nation. so as to enable both interested
governments to consider whether In
the light of past experience there was
occasion for any modification thereof.
5 The regulat lions have proved plainly
Inadequate to accomplish the object OF
protection and preservation OF the fur
4 seals. and for long time this govern
nnent has been trying In vain to secure
from Great Britain such revision and
B modification Of the regulations as were
contemplated and provided for by the
award Of the tribunal of Paris,
The process Of destruction has been
accelerated during recent years by the
appearance OF number Of Japanese
vessels engaged In pelagic sealing. AS
these vessels have not been bound
even BY the inadequate Limitations pre-.
scribed BIZ the tribunal Of Paris, they
have paid no attention either to the
close season or to the sixty mile limit
imposed upon Canadians and have
prosecuted their work up to the very
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 of
by the very meager and INSULT ciently
armed guard they succeeded In killing
i several hundred seals and carrying ofl
s the skins Of most OF them. Nearly all
the seals killed were females, and the
work was done with frightful barbar
ity 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
Y killed, two were wounded and twelve
captured, including the two wounded
4 Those captured have since been tried
and sentenced to impris Al
attack Of this kind had been wholly
unlocked for, but such provision O
"a rsssels. arms and ammunition vii
now be made that its repetition vii
not be found profitable. m
Promise by Japan.
Suitable representa- tons regardln,
the incident have been made sto th,
government Of Japan, and we are as
4 sured that all practicable measure
will be taken by that country to pre-
vent any recurrence Of the outrage
On our part, the guard on the islam
will be Increased and better equippe'
and organized, and d better re2enu
VI cutter patrol service about the island
II will be estab lished. Next season 4
y Cnited States war vessel will also b
sent there.
We have not relaxed our efforts i
a secure an agreement with Great Bril-
ain for adequate protection Of the sea
herd, and negotia tions with Japan e
q the same purpose are In progress
The laws for the protection Of th
seals within the jurisdiction Of th
United States need revision and amend
& ment Only the islands of 81. Pas
and st. George are now In terms n
cluded ID the government reservation
and the other islands are also to b
Included The landing Of aliens as we
as citizens upon the islands Withouts
permit from the department Of con
merce and labor for any purpose q,
cept Id case OF stress Of Weather or e
water should be prohibited under adj
quate penalties. I've approach OF We
sells for the excepted purposes sshoul
be regulated. The authority OF the So