Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-11-24
PROTECTION OF SEA ANIMALS
DEPLETION OF FUR SEALS
BROUGHT TO ATTENTION.

The recommendation for an interna-
tional conference with a view to regu-
latine the killing of not only seals, but
whales and all other animals of the
sea. along with other recommended
lions adopted at conference of the
fisheries commission yesterday was laid
before Secretary of Commerce and La
Dor Nagel today by President David
Starr Jordan of Leland Stanford Uni
versity and Commissioner of Fisheries
Bowers. The report that was formu-
lated was not made public.
The whole question SO far as the
pelagic sealing in the Pribilof Islands
of the Boring sea is concerned hinges
on whether the practice of killing the
seals shall continue. The data before
the conference, and which Is in line
with information that the fish commits
sion has had, shows that the grave ele-
ment of danger is the necessity of the
female seals going so far out at Sea In
search for food that they cross the in
ternational boundary line.
Poaching a Menace.
The elimination of the male seals, ex-
them, does not figure There have been
many cases of poaching, with conse-
ouent fines and seizures, but it is pur-
posed now to take up the whole ques-
ton of regulation of the seal industry
there to avoid possible early eAtiuc-
ton of the seals.
most important feature of the plan
contemplates an international conference
between the United States. Great Bri-
tain. Russia and Japan looking to the
SUPPRESSION of pelagic sealing by the Jap
anese. who, with swift schooners, per-
sist i'm killing seals by the thousands at
times within three miles of the Pribylon
Islands although the Paris tribunal pre-
scribed a sixty-mile zone around the
islands within which seals were forbid
den to be taken out Of the sea.
Rendered Migratory by Restrictions.
The latter provision, however, it is said,
has practically been rendered nugatory
through it's restriction to vessels OF the
United States and Great Britain. A rec
ommendation is now made that the mat
ter be taken up through the State De
partment with the object of negotiating
a treaty with Japan to prohibit Japanese
subjects from doing any pelagic sealing.
Unless the seal can be made safe on
the high seas, it is declared, the extinction
Of the herd is simply matter of calcula-
ton as to time.
The seal rookeries extend over a space
of shore line estimated at about ten
miles on st. Paul, the larger of the seal
islands, and about half as great on st.
George Island. The japanese fleet,
which consists of thirty-seven schooners.
carrying about $50 small boats. forms
a Gordon through which the breeding
females when driven to the open sea
IL .carch of food, cannot penetrate with
out the certainty of slaughter OF many
of their number.
The government now leases the islands
to private company with the privilege
of killing seals. The company last year
took about $4,000 skins. Since the gov
eminent bought Alaska it has received
more money from seals alone than was
paid to the Russian government for the
territory. When Alaska was turned over
to the United States there were more
than 4.OOO.OO0 seals on the islands. Now
there are less than 100000 and this num-
Der is diminishing rapidly. The seals
which he lessees kill are selected by
special agents of the department and
their slaughter is a benefit, instead of
an injury. to the herd.