New-York tribune., 1912-08-17
THE SEALING DISPUTE.

II is difficult to understand why
there should he so stubborn dispute
over the question of establishing
closed season for sealing at the Pr'oy-
low Islands. OF course the terms OF
the duadrupartite treaty OF. July q
1911. should be faithfully observed, 1or
the sake both Of maintaining the ma
tional honor and of securing the ilnpor-
tapt object for which that treaty was
made. namely, the suppression OF pelil-
gle sealing. But 1t should surely ne
possible to attain whatever legitimate
ends may he sought In the establish
mept of a closed season without any
violation Of the letter or spirit or the
treaty.
That treaty IS to last until Decelh-
bcr-15. 1926, without privilege OF prior
nbrogation. During that period pela-
cic sealing is to be prohibited and pre-
vented in the North Pacific Ocean ana
in the various waters adjacent thereto.
But littoral sealing is Ia be permitted
on tbc coasts belonging to the four sig
nafOrv mowers. Each Of the four Da-
tions is TO give TO the others. or TO some
~ them. each year a certain proper
tion of the seal skins taken on lis
coasts. Thus the United States IS L"
give 10 Japan and Great Britain cach
II ncr cent of its catch. or AT least
one thousand skins yearly. In ali that
there Is an obvious intention that the
industry of sealing shall be prosecuted
wear after year, for the profit OF al
the four nations.
There is also. however. clear recog-
milton of the right OF any nation 10
suspend sealing by ordering u chosen
season at any time. Thus Article y
saws. Nothing herein contained snail
restrict the right of the United states
lat any time and from time to TINE 10
suspend altogether the taking of seal
"skins on such islands or shores sub
eject to its jurisdiction" According to
Article NJ. such suspension may he or
dered without indemnity 10 the other
mowers whenever the seal herd OF the
pribylov Islands falls below 10000 IN
number. But if a closed season he or
dered bv this country when the census
Of seal Is not below that number. then
the United States shall pay 10 Japan
and Great Britain each $4,000 in Hen
Of their shares Of the catch. II may nc
added that similar stipulations are
made concerning sealing on the Jap
aneSe. Russian and British coasts, eh-
ccDtjnC that the right Of Japan ana
Russia to suspend sealing IS limited 10
the first five years Of the treaty. white
that of the United States extends
through the whole fifteen years.
There can be no valid objection.
therefore, to temporary suspension OF
sealing. The objection is to so lon:
closed season as ten years. Technical
Is the United states might have n right
f. order even that. provided II paid
japan and Great Britain each SlOWN
n wear indemnity. But that might De
construed as violation Of the spirit or
the treaty, which may he interpreted
as contemplating suspension only be-
cause Of undue depletion Of the herd
and not for speculative purposes. If
the herd has fallen below 100000
closed season should doubtless be or
dered until It increases again TO that
number But the purpose would be
served by suspendlng sealing for only
a year or two. with Of course ample
power to extend the closed season for
additional successive years so long as
might be necessary for the replenish-
Ing Of the herd. To proclaim a closed
season Of ten or even FIVE years at a
stroke Is quite unnecessary,