New-York tribune., 1906-12-30
GU4RDI1NS OF SEALS.
American Rights Maintained on the
Remote PribyIoUs.
TNrorn The Tribune Bu-eau-l


Washington. Dec. 29-In grim earnestness the
United States government is preparing TO pro-
trsf by force next season the great American
fur seal herd on the F'ribylov Islands in the
effort TO stop the brutal saughtering Of the seals
before they have been exterminated
BY direction OF the President who in his mes
sage TO Congress this year called attention to
the "hideous cruelty now incident to pelagic
sealing" a United States warshp is TO be sent
TO the Bering Sea next spring to patrol the
lonely waters where the seals abound. The
ships guns are 10 be q menace to poachers not
10 venture within the waters over which the
United States has jurisdiction
OF the two government reservations at St
PAU and st. George islands. where United States
agents are stationed and guards maintained
there is 70 be an increase Of the force and
modern guns and ammunition are 10 be pro
Tlded- Cannon viii be mounted on the cliffs
overlooking the coast where the seal rookeries
are, and rapid fire magazine rifles will be fur
nlshed the agents TO be used for purposes OF
protection In addition to these precautionary
measures. The President has directed that the
revenue cutter service patrol for the islands be
required t. redouhle its vigilance that one rev.
enue cutter he kept cruising constantly close in
SHORE u the ro0keTy Islands, calling at each
island not less than once every two weeks in
lhe summer months 10 keep in touch with the
agents. Il is considered likely also thai in the
season the seal herd is moving on the high
seas, from May to the end Of July. another
revenue cutter VIII be detailed 10 follow the
herd - See that there is no violation OF the
regulations in the sixty-rriIe circle established
10y the Berin- Sea award
The Presidents great intaras, fr, tho ,-a-,-,-o
ton Of the American seal herd and its protection
from brutal methods of destruction is shown Inv
the emphasis he gives TO the subject in his mos
sage TO Congress advocating certain legislation
in the interest OF the government and directing
the attention Of Congress to the incidents Of tho
last summer when Japauese raiders were dis
covered slaughte-ing seals on St Paul Island
The President says that suitable representa-
tons regarding the incident have been made To |
the government Of Japan, and we are assured
that all practicable measures viii be taken by
that country to prevent any recurrence Of the |
outrage" He adds: ION our part the guard on
the island VIII be increased and better equfurad
and organized, and better revenue cutter pa |
troll service VIII be established"
The legislation sought from Congress is to de- |
fine more clearly American Jurisdiction over the
Eve islands of the Pribylov group especially pro-
hibi-iuE aliens from landing on any of the
Islands without permit from the Department
Of Commerce and Labor. As a result Of the ex-
perirnces of last summer il is desired that the
n de--luc with such an emergency as then arose,
and 10 this end the purpose is to give them the
powers Of a committing magistrate and to make
the entrance Of q vessel into the territorial
waters surrounding the Islands with intent to
take seals I criminal offence and cause Of for
feiture.
The presence on any such vessel Of seals or
sealskins OF the paraEhernalia for taking them
is 70 be made Trima facie cyid, nee of such in
tent Il is the hope Of the administration to
effect treaty arrangements with other nations
besides Great Britain for the better protection Of
The seal herd Terms We're made with Great
Britain under the Berins Sea award and out
side Of a three-uile the citizens Of all other
nations may XIII seals Al any time and at any
place The subjects Of Great Britain are pro-
hibited from killing seals At any time within a
Of sixty miles surrounding the Pribylov
Islands. Regarding this condition OF affairs
President Roosevelt says in his message that In
case this government is compelled to abandon
the hope OF making arrangements with other
governments TO put an end 10 the cruelty now
incident 10 pelagic sealing il will then be q |
question OF whether the entire herd should not |
be wiped out
The extraordinary conditions attending the !
whole question Of pelagic sealing and the inter