The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1906-12-05

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 indefensi-
Bile from the economic standpoint and
from the standpoint of humanity.
In 1896 over 10000 young seals were
found dead from starvation on the
Pribilof Islands. In 1897 it was esti-
mated that since tie pelagic sealing
began upward of 100000 adult female
seals had been killed at sea and over
100000 young seals had died Of starya-
tlon as the result. The revolving bar
barity of such practise, as we'll as
the Wasteful destruction which 1t in
wolves, needs no demonstration and is
it's own condemnation. The Bering Sea
Tribunal which sat in Paris in 1898,
/ and which decided against the claims
| of the United States to exclusive iur-
isdiction in the waters of Boring Sea,
ana To property right in the fur seals
when outside of the three mile limit, de
termlned also upon certain regulations
| which the Tribunal considered suffic-
| lent for the proper protection and pres
ervation of the fur seal in. or habit
| ually resorting to, the Boring Sea. The
| Tribunal by its regulations established
a close season, from the 1st of May to
the 31st of July, and excluded all kill
! ing in the waters within 50 miles
around the Pribil1f Islands. They also
provided that the regulations which
they had determined upon, with view
to the preservation and protection of the
seals, should be submitted every five
years to new examination, so as to en-
able both interested Governments to
| consider whether, in the light of past
experience, there was occasion for 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 Governc
metn 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.
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 prescrib-
ed by the Tribunal of Paris, they have
paid no attention either to the close
season or to the sixty-mile limit inn
posed upon the Canadians, and
have prosecuted their work up to the
very islands themselves. On July 16
and II, the crews from several Japa-
nese vessels made raids upon the is
land Of st. Paul, and before they were
beaten off by the meager and INSULT
GENTLY armed guard, they succeeded
in killing several hundred seals and
carrying off the skins of most of them.
Nearly all the seals killed were females
| and the work was done with frightfuI
barbarity. Many of the seals appear
to have been skinned alive and many
were found half skinned and still alive
The raids We're repealed only by the
use,of firearms, and five Of the raiders
| were killed, two were wounded, and
! twelve captured, including the two
wounded Those captured have since
been tried and sentenced to imprlEon-
ment. An attack Of this kind had been
wholly unlookt for, but such provision
of vessels, arms, and ammunition will
now be made that its repetition will
not be found profitable.
Suitable representations regarding
| 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-
vent any recurrence of the outrage. On
our part, the guard on the island will
| be increased, and better equipped and
| organized and a better revenue cutter
patrol service about the islands will
| be established; next season United
States war vessel will also be sent
there
We have not relaxed our efforts to
secure an agreement with Great Bri-
tain 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
amendment Only the island 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 prohibited under adequate penal
ties The approach of vessels for the
excepted purposes should be regulated.
The authority of the government
agents on the islands should be
enlarged, and the chief agent should
have the powers Of a committing ma
gistrate. The entrance of vessel in
to the territorial. waters surrounding
the islands with intent to take seals
should be made criminal offense
and cause of forfeiture. Authority for
seizures in such cases should be given
and the presence of any vessel of
seals or sealskins, or the parapher-
MALTA for taking them, sh5uld be
made prima facie evidence of such
intent | recommend what legislation
is needed to accomplish these ends;
and 1 recommend to your attention
the report of Mr.. Sims. of the Depart
ment of Commerce and Labor, on this
suhiect