The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1911-07-08
PELACIC SEALING HALTED
NATIONS TO PROTECT NORTH
PAfIFIC HERDS.

Convention viii Bc Operative for Fif.
teen Years Annual Division Of Skins
Taken on Russian and American
Rookrries Sea Otters Also Protected.
WASHINGTON. July 7.--Pelagio sealing
will be prohibited in the North Pacific
Ocean under an agreement signed TO- day
at the State Department by representa-
tves OF the United States, Great Britain,
Japan and Russia. This agreement is
the outcome OF the International fur seal
conference which has been in session here
for three months. A patrol will be- es-
tablished to prevent illegal sealing in viola
ton Of the agreement
! The convention will be operative for
period of fifteen years. but any of the
contracting Governments will have the
right to reno,ince IL upon one years no.
tice. The recommendations will not 20
into effect until ratified by all four Powers
The treaty will be sent to the Senate
shortly, accompanied by u special message
from President Taft.
| To compensate Japan and Grea, Britain
for relnqushing their right of pelagic
sealing an arrangement has been made by
which these two Governments will receive
third share of tho skins of seals killed
on the Russian and American rookeries
| One-third of the skins from the Japanese
rookeries will be dist ributed b etween the
| United States, Grea' Britain and Russia
One-third Of the skins from any herd
which may resort TO British breeding
grounds will he divided equally among
the United States. Japan and Russia.
| Tho htlptru of ,ft. h.. A.; ;rl
seas is also prohibited Secretary of Com
merce and Labor Nagel who was presi-
dent Of the conference, to-day gave ont
this statement Of its work:
The purpose of the North Pacific Seal
| ing Convention il to secure the adoption
| of ehective measures for the preservation
and protection Of the fur seals frequenting
the North Pacific Ocean, and to that end
It provides that all persons subject to the
laws and treaties Of the parties TO the
convention. and their vessels. shall he
prohibited from engaging in pelagic seal
ing in the waters of the North Pacific
Ocean north Of tho thirtieth parallel of
north latitude. including the seas Of
Bering, Okhotsk. Kamtchatka and
Japan and that every such person and
vessel offending against such prohibition
may be seized and detained by duly
aut thorized officers Of any of the parties
to the convention to be delivered to the
authorities Of the nation of the person
or vessel seized. which authorities alone
shall have authority to try the offence
and impose the penalties. Further pro-
vision is made for supplying the necessary
| evidence to establish the offence.
| 1t also DreysntS he lIse of nv of the
ports or harbors of any Of the parties by
any persons for any purposes whatsoever
connected with the operations Of pela gic
sealing in the waters mentioned. and it
prohibits tho importation into the terri
| tory OF the parties OF the conventio on OF
any ssalskins of the American. Russian
or Japanese herds taken by pelagi seal
ing,
The convention further provides for
the maintenance Of guard or patrol in
the waters fire. iiiantei by the Mort h
| Pacific seal herds and for the ADOPT ion
of appropriate legislation for the enforce
ment of the provision Of the convention
! and for the cooperation of all the parties
! in carrying out its purposes.
The convention also arranges for the
apport ionment among the parties of the
| annual proceeds Of the several seal herds
| in which they are Interested. az follows
Thirty per cent of the skins annually
taken from the American and Russian
herds respectively is 10 bs divided equally
between Great Britain and Japan; so pcr
cent Of the skins annually taken from the
| japanese. herd il To I've divided equally
betwecn the United States Gr-a. Britain
and Russia. and ~ per cent. of the skins
| annually taken from any herd which NAV
hereafter resort 10 the breeding grounds
under British jurisdiction in the North
Pacific Ocean is TO bc divided equally
between the United States. Jaran aud
| Russia
In connection with this apport comment
som. special arrangements hetween the
! United States. Japan and Great Britain
are agreed upon. under which the United
States makes an advance payment of
s2O0.OoO to each of those powers. which
| payments are to be refunded to the United
States ont of the proceeds of the British
and Jar ranese share Of skins from the
| American berd This payment is in effect
merely loan and was necessary only
because the United States reserves the
! right tn discontinue altogethe.' the killing
of the Pribloh Island seals
"The convention also prohibits the cit
! izens or subjects Of the parties or their
vessels from hunting sea offers on the
| high seas.
| The period during which the cunven-
ton is 10 remain in force is fixed for fif-
teen years. and thereafter unit terminated
| by one wears written notice. which NAV
| i,e given bv anv of the parties a. any time
after the expiration of fourteen years
| The convention il signed bv the Hon
Charles Nagcl and tn. Hon Chandler p
Anderson on behalf of the United States,
the Right Hon James Bryce and the Hon.
! Joseph Pope on behalf Of Grea: Britain
| Baron Ushda and the Hon Hiteshi Dauke
on behalf OF Japan and the Hon Pierre
Botkine and Baron Nolde on behalf Of
| Russia