New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-06-29
FUR SEAL CONFERENCE
REACHES AGREEMENT
Pe|agic Sealing and Poachlng
Will Be Stopped, 1t Is
Predicted.
TREATY TOBE DRAFTED SOON
Canada and Japan Treated Gen.
erously by United States and
Russia-All Parties Salts
fed with Result.

Russia-All Parties Salts.
fed with Result.
from The Tribune Rureau.]
Washington, June 2S.-The interna-
tlonal fur seal conference has reached
an agreement which will effectively put
an end to peagic scaling. Only the
drafting OF the formal treaty remains
to be accomplished. and, with an agree
ment on the points at issue. 1t is not OK
pected that this will require much time
The United States and Russia, who have
the only important seal rookeries. nave
been remarkably generous in their treat
ment of Canada and Japan. and Canada
through the British Ambassador. has
made certain concessions from the ad-
vantage the Dominion obtained I'm the
earlier negotiations which were neces-
sary TO the successful outcome of the
conference. The conference Will end
with all the parties thereto well satisfied
with the results and the enormous good
! which will result from the abolition Of
pclagic sealing, which makes possible
the practical conservation Of the fur
seals.
Under the terms of the agreement.
which is to last for fifteen years. the
United States. Russia and japan VIII
each contribute I'm skins 80 per cent or
their catch 70 a general fund. although
the japanese herd is so small as 10
Of bof
negligible quantity. This general
fund will then he equally divided be-
tween Canada and Japan 10 indemnify
them for the loss entailed by their alb
stention from pelagic sealing. Further
more. the United States agrees to adj
vance to Canada a cash bonus Of goo
coo. to be used for the reimbursement
of the owners of the vessels engaged In
pelagic sealing. but the equivalent IN
skins of the sum so advanced Will he de-
Quoted from the percentage Of catch
which the United States is to turn over
- Canada in annual instalments until
tho entire amount shall have been repaid
to the United States.
Measures to Stop PoachIng'
To guard against poaching and Illicit
rclagic sealing the parties 10 the agree
rcnt pledge themselves TO admit 10 their
countries no soalskins which do not bear
some mark which shall identify them AS
having been taken under the govern
mental supervision Of one or other OF
the contra citing powers. and 10 treat as
contraband such unidentified skins as
they may find within their borders. II
IL further agreed that steps shall he
| taken Immediately TO prevail on otner
countries. like China, Mexico. Chili ana
/ Norway. to institute and enforce such
regulations as will make i, impossible
| for pelagic sealing TO be conducted under
their flags or the products thereof mar
keted in their territories.
The chief obstacles To an agreement
have been. first. the reluctance OF the
United states and Of Russia TO con
I tribute more than - per cent OF their
respective catches to end peiaSic sealing.
and. second. the extraordinary gen
| orositv OF the United States in the agree
mont entered into with Great Britain. on
| hehalr OF Canada, which was embodied
| IN a treaty ratified late in the last session
Of the Senate. but the terms OF which
| have never been made public. Under
| this treaty the United States agreed to
| give 10 Canada 20 per cent OF her entire
catch.
Japan's Objection Overcome.
When the conference met the Japanese
| Ambassador submitted the fact that
Jspan had I'm commission fifty-one yes
| sells engaged in pelagic sealing, as
against three Canadian vessels. and.
while he did not ask for eighteen times
as great compensation III that awarded
10 Canada. he urged that he could not
be expected to accept on behalf OF the
Japanese sealers actually less than had
been assured to Canada. To this the
British Ambassador replied that while
| IL was fact that there were only three
| Canadian shippers engaged In pelagic
scaling the number had been much
larger. and would be again were this
| conference to fail of successful issue.
Finally. however Ambassador Bryce
generously consented to yield : per cent.
which was one-fourth of the indemnity
the United States had already agreed to
pay to Canada both the United States
and Russia agreeing to increase their
contributions to the general fund 10 80
per cent It then became possible to
agree on an equal division Of the general
fund of skins between Canada and
Japan.
The purpose Of this administration Is
to continue the present policy of killing
only superfiuous males on the seal rock
cries. but an additional concession Is
made to Canada in the form OF a pro-
vision that should It be determined at
! any time in the life of the treaty to dis
continue the taking Of skins on the
American rookeries Canada VIII be COM
pensated in cash for the loss entailed.
The successful outcome Of the con-
ference constitutes another triumph for
the diplomacy Of Secretary Knox and an
additional demonstration OF the ability
OF Chandler +. Anderson, who was an
pointed counsellor OF the Department OF