The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1909-12-09
TROUBLES OF THE FUR SEAL
United States 30 Protect Them, hat
Russians and "Japs" slaughter.

\ board Of experts" appointed
last Fobrusry by Secretary OF Com
merce and Labor StFaus. to formulate
new plan for preventing the ex-
ltinction of the fur seals OF Alaska
has just met at Washington To sub
NIT the result of is labors to the
present head OF the department. II
proposes an international conference
10 arrange an agreement for the
general protection of marine NAM
mails. including whales. walruses and
sea lions. as well as seals. but the
more immediate purpose IS to secure
treaty with Japan 20 put a stop
10 depreciation upon the seal herd
that resorts to the Prlbylon Islands
Tor breeding. when that domain was
first acquired by the United States
thi herd numbered something like
1000 600. but IT has been reduced
TO not more than about 1000 900
by the slaughter OF seals In the open
sea while they are on the way to and
from the breeding grounds. This
has caused great loss to our govern
ment. but IL has no power TO proven,
the slaughter outside Of its own iu-
risdlction. though q claims prop
erty right in the seals.
The government leasos the Islands
TO a fur company for the exclusivo
but limited right TO kin seals. the
numbor being prescribed each year.
THIS pease was formerly Of sarge
value and Is said to have returned to
the government more than the entire
original cost Of Alaska. but OF late
the number OF seals permitted TO b.
taken has been restricted TO 1900
year The depletion of the herd
has been entirely due 10 the promls-
cuous and wasteful slaughter of pc
lagic sealing. In which the females
are killed In large number while out
In search OF food and prevented
from returning to the Young on the
Islands. which dies OF starvation
Many Of those killed are never recov-
cred by the sealers. and II is a most
barbarous and destructive. though
profitable. kind OF hunting. For
merry this depreciation was chiefly
'due to British vessels mostly from
The Canadian shore. but by the arbi-
tration Of claims made by the United
States some years ago an agreement:
was reached for exclusion from
sixty mile zone around the Pribyloff
Islands.
This did not altogether put an end
to the trouble from British American
seslers. but of late the depredations
have been mainly due to the Japan
lese, who have driven a thriving bust
ness, sometimes venturing within the
American jurisdiction and getting
into trouble, Outside of the line OF
marine jurisdiction they cannot be
prevented from continuing the
slaughter without some form of agree
.ment and the exercise of national au-
thority. The fur seal has been long
threatened with extinction in those
waters. and the value of the Ameri-
can "rookeries" depends upon pro-
lection. not only from British. but
from japanese and ss.an depreda
ton. An international arrangement,
such as is proposed. a kind of game
law of the seas with a close season
and restricted catch, IL desirable. but
the immediate need is an agreement
with Japan which shall put stop ito
the slaughter pursued by its sub
iects. Here Is a practical opportu-
nifty for the display of the mutual
good will of which we hear such fire.
quent professionalism York Journal
of Commerce.