New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-07-08
From The Tribune Bureau. !

SKINS pfeOEep 10 the countries as STATS
are killed. The other is that II at some
future time the seals establish rookeries
in British territory that country shall
give 10 the United States 80 per cent of
its catch each YEAR. The provision that
Japan shall divide equally 80 per cent II
the skins taken on her rookeries each
year is regarded as important only be-
cause Of the fact that. with peagic seal
ing abolished. the Japanese herd may
materially increase. although AT the pres
ent time II is irmaterial As already
told in these dispatches. Russia and the
United States each contribute 80 per cen.
Of the net skins-that is, after deducting
the cost Of adminstration-taken on
their rookeries. This contribution Is 10
be equally divided between Japan and
Great Britain. which. of course. means
Canada.
Joint Action for Conservation.
The importance Of the successful out
come of these negotiations can hardly
be overestimated. II means that four
great powers have come together and as
the result Of amlcable negotiations have
agreed TO protect seals and sea offers on
the high seas. The next logical step will
he a similar agreement for the protection
OF whales. others looking TO the protec-
ton Of valuable birds. etc. For this rea-
son II is regarded as the most important
step in the direction Of conservation ever
achieved by the joint action Of great
powers. and one which must command
the admiration and gratitude Of all logi-
cal Conservationists, as well as Of all sin
cere protectors of game and natural spe-
cies.
While the payment Of an aggregate
sum Of 100000 to he divided equally
between Canada and Japan will require
an appropriation by Congress, II Is not
believed that any difficulty will he en-
eountered in inducing the legislative
body to make the necessary provision In
view Of the Importance Of the results
achieved and of the further fact that the
returns from the seal herd last year
amounted, in round numbers, 10 S425,
which will mean the saving Of the lives
Of an incalculable number OF females, IL
is impossible TO estimate how greatly or
how rapidly the seal herd Will increase.
crease will be of such proportions as to
make this sum insignificant by compari-
son with the returns. Nor Is the con-
tribution on the part Of Russia and the
United States of ST. per cent of their
catch regarded as at all excessive In
view Of the great benefits to be derived
from the abolition Of pelagic sealing.
Great Difficulties Overcome.
While all the parties to the conference
have exhibited a sincere desire to arrive
at satisfactory settlement Of the prob
lens involved, only those who nave kept
close watch Of the negotiations have ap-
preciated the difficulties which had TO be
overcome and il is only through an APP
probation Of those difficulties that any
adequate idea can he formed OF the fair
ness of all involved. AS will he recalled
the first step toward the end finally
treaty with Great Britain providing for
the abolition of pelagic sealing by the
Canadian shippers.
For fifteen years pressure had been ex-
erted on Canada 10 agree to such aboli-
ton, but without avail, and even the
good Offices Of Great Britain were power
less In dealing with her colony. A spe-
cial commission Of United states Sena-
tors which visited the islands some time
ago in order to ascertain the actual con-
d.ticns had reported that the United
States could well afford to contribute p
per cent of her gross catch To Canada 10
induce that country To abandon pelagiC
scaling This report had found its way
into the hands OF the authorities at OF
tawa. and they naturally urged con-
cession equal to that percentage. The
negotiations conducted at that time
under the supervision OF Secretary Knox
Anderson. counsellor OF the Department
Of state. resulted in inducing Canada IL
accept 20 instead Of - per cent of the
catch. and the treaty drawn in accord
auce with this understanding was rati-
fed by the Senate at the last session.
The Contention Of Japan.
When the confcrrees ne: in Washing
ton the Japanese Ambassador, who was
the chief delegate for his country. sug-
eested that Japan could hardly he ex-
pected 70 accept less compensation than
Canada. He urged the fact that pri-
marty Japan had RETAINED from pelaeic
sealing and had sought to conserve her
own seal herd. that this would he made
impossible by the course of other ma
tions which persisted in killing the seals
from the japanese rookeries on the high
seas. and that finally, discouraged over
the prospect Of stopping this practice,
Japan had abandoned all hope and had
actually offered a bounty 10 those Of her
skippers who would engage in the traf-
hc. Furthermore, he. submitted. Japan
now had ffty-one VESSELS engaged In
pelagic sealing, as against three Cana
dian vessels.
TO this the British Ambassador re-
sponded that Canada had had a much