The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1906-12-04
TEIn TuR So aUasT.2N.
A Revision of the Present Regulations
Ea Needed.

A-RA+NA
fur seals by pelagic sealing stlh cei-
tinues. The herd which. according to the
surveys made in 1874 by direction Of the
congress- numbered 4,700,ooo, ard which.
according to the survey Of both American
and Canadian commissioners In 1881
amounted TO 100000, has now been re-
been brought about by Canadian ans
some other sealing vessels killing IN
female seals while ia the water aur.N
their annual pilGrwn~e TO and from tEe
south, or IN search 0t food As a rule the
female seal when Killed IS pregnant, ano
also has an unweaned Pip on land, So
that for each skin taken by pelagic seal
ing, as a rule, three Nvts a7e destroyed
the mother tho unhtrn offspring, ana the
nursing PUP which IS left 70 starve to
death No damage whatever Is done 70
the nerd py the cifeiaity regulated t.llnB
on land, The custom of pelagic sealing ~
solely Responsible Tor all Of the present
evil and SIS alike indefenaible from the
economic standpoint and from the stand
In 1895 over ie,000 young seals were
found dead from starvation on the Prib-
ilof islands, In 1897 it was estimated
that since pelaglc sealing began upward
Of 100000 adult female seals had been
killed at sea, and over 100000 young
seals had died of starvation as the result
The revolving barbarity of gueh 2 prac-
use, as well as the wasteful destruction
which It involves, needs no demonstration
and Is It's own condemnation. The
Bering sea tribunal, which sat IN Paris
III 1860, anu WIllCn utClQeu d6dluSl tnc
claims of the United States to exclusive
jurisdiction IN the waters of Bering sea
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
for the proper protection and preserva-
ton of the fur seal in, or habit''ally re-
sorting to, the Bering sea. The tribunal
by its regulations established close sea-
son, from the 1st Of May to the 3lst OF
July, and excluded all killing In the wa
xrrf41 T.. ,,,fIo Irfh ~
islands. They also provided that the
regulations which they had determined
upon, with a view to the protection and
preservation of the seals, should be sub
ination, so as to enable both interested
governments to consider whether, In the
light Of past experience, there was occa-
sion for any modification thereof
The regulations have proved plainly
inadequate to accomplish the object OF
protection and preservation Of the fur
ment has been trying in vain to secure
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 APP
penrance OF a number Of Japanese ves-
sells engaged in pelagic sealing. AS these
vessels have not been bound even by
the jnadeauate Limitations nrescrihed by
the tribunal Of Paris, they have paid
no attention either to the close season
OF to the 60-mile limit imposed upon the
Canadians, and have prosecuted their
work upon the very islands themselves.
On July 16 and II, the crews from sew
eral Japanese vessels made raids upon
the island of ST. Pell, and before they
were beaten off by the very meager and
insufliciently armed guard, they succeed
ed in killing several hundred seals and
carrying off the skins Of most of them.
Nnarlry all fbn seals killed fn-
males and the work was done with
frightful barbarity. Many of the seals
appear to have been skinned alive, and
many We're found half skinned and still
alive. The raids were repeled only
by the use of firearms, and five OF the
raiders were killed, two We're wounded,
and IL 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 viii now
be made that its repetition will not be
found profitable.
Suitable representations regarding the
incident have been made to the govern
ment of Japan, and we are assured that
all practical measures will be taken by
that country to prevent any recurrence
on the island will be increased, and bet
ter equipped and organized and better
revenue cutter patrol service about the
islands win be established; next season
~
We have not relaxed our efforts to Sc
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
States need revision and amendment.
Only the islands of ST. Paul and st.
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
upon the islands, without a permit from
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
chief agent should have the powers Of a
committing magistrate. The entrance of
q vessel into the territorial waters sur 1
rounding the islands with intent TO take
seals should be made a criminal Of /
fense and cause Of forfeiture. Author |
ity for seizures IN such cases should be
given and the presence on any such yes
Sci Of seals or sealslxins. or the para
phernalia for taking them, should be made I
prima facie evidence of such intent. 1 /
recommend what legislation is needed TO /
10 vorr attention the report Of Mr.. Sims /
Of the department Of commerce and la
bor on this subject
Ia case we are compelled to abandon 1
the hone Of making arrangements with /
other governments to put an end TO the \
bideous cruelty now incident to pelagic 4
sealing, 1t will be a question for your Sc
rious consideration how far we should 4
continue to protect and maintain the seal /
herd on land with the result Of contnu-
ing such a practise. and whether it is
moi better to end the practise by exter-
mfnating the herd ourselves in the most
humane way possible.
second Hague Conference.
In nv last message advised you that
the emperor OF Russia had taken the ini-
fiative in bringing about a second peace
at The Hague. Under the
guidance Of Russia the arrangement Of
Inc preliminaries for such conference
has been progressing during the past
YEAR Progress has necessarily been
Glow owing TO the great number Of coun-
frirs to be consulted upon every question
fraf has arisen 1t Is a matter OF sat
izfaction that all Of the American re-
nuhlics have now, for the first time been
Invited TO Join in the proposed confer
rhe close connection between the sub
iects 10 be taken up By the Red Cross