Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1915-05-14
FUR SEALING IN
PR|B|L0FFs MAY
COMMENCE SOON
Experts Recommend That Law
Prohibiting Industry Be Re-
pea|ed in Order to Preserve
Valuable Treaty Rights,


Washington, May 13.~-The congress
sional legislation to carry out recon-
mendations Of commission of three
scientific experts with a view to re-
sumption Of commercial killing of
seals at the Pribiloff islands in the
Behring sea will be recommended
next winter by the secretary of COM
merce. William c. Redfield. according
60 present expectations. The ultimate
future OF the Alaska seal herd has
been vexed international problem
for years.
Canada and Japan, which are inter
ested financially in the American herd
by the terms of a treaty which abOl-
ished pelaglc sealing, made an inves
tigation contemporaneously with the
American experts. Both governments
have made representations TO the
United States that the condition Of
the seal nerd warrants resuming seal
ing operations at once.
The report Of the three American
experts, submitted TO congress in its
closing days and about to be pub
lished is by Wilfred II. Osgood Ed
ward a. Preble and George III. Parker,
selected by the National Academy of
Science. the Smithsonian Institution
and the secretary OF agriculture at the
instance Of the secretary of COM
merce. These men investigated con-
ditions on the Pribiloff islands last
summer.
Their report, whose revision has
Just been completed. points out that
the treaty effective December Is,
1911, between the United States,
Great Britain, Japan and Russia, is
essentially an agreement by which the
foreign nations. relnquish their right
to take seals on the high seas In ex-
change for a share in land sealing to
be conducted by the United States.
Great Britain and Japan paid large
sums TO retire their sealing fleets, OBJ
viously expecting to be reimbursed In
the near future by their 8 per cent
share of land sealing. The United
States reserved the right TO suspend
land sealing If necessary to protect
and preserve the seal herd and to in
crease its number This suspension
occurred in 1912. The report con-
tends that now, after three seasons
without commercial sealing, there is
no necessity for continued suspen
sion.
"The condition of the seal herd in
1914" says the report. sis such that
resumption of commercial sealing on
a moderate scale in 1915 could be UNI
dertaken with confidence that the
protection and growth of the herd
would not be jeopardized in the slight
est degree. The inference is clear
that unless sealing Is resumed agita-
ton will continue and integrity OF a
most desirable treaty endangered"
People of Pribiloff Islands.
The voluminous report states that
the people of the Pribiloff islands,
though not natives, have for so long a
time made the islands their home that
they recognize no other. "They are q
people still semi-civilized," says the
report. They constitute heritage ac-
quired by the United States with the
islands and their valuable wild inhab-
itants and considerations of economy
and humanity demand that they bel
accepted as such and managed with
all possible wisdom and fairness.
Many changes in the methods of
dealing with the natives seem to be
necessary. In their management a
great deal will depend on the per-
sonality of the officials in charge 1t
is believed that the work necessary to
put the sealing plant on an efficient
basis and the resumption in the near
future of commercial sealing, accom-
panied by better system of compen-
sation and the opportunity of ex-
the reward of their labor ac-
cording to their desires, will help to
make the natives self-respecting and
the people may become an entirely
efficient, happy COM
There are good reasons. from both
economy and welfare of the seal herd, |
to resume commercial sealing at once, |
The report concludes. There should
be only two restrictions TO practically |
guarantee growth and preservation of
the herd These are that females
should not be killed for their skins or
for food and that breeding bulls
should be maintained in numbers suf-
ficient to supply one to each forty |
bearing cows.
The report says the manage ment OF |
all the animals should be placed IN
charge of a specially qualified ofucer
and the management of the natives
and the fiscal affairs under another
officer, the former having senior !
rank. That the Pribloff seal herd is
not on the verge of extinction is as
serted with the declaration that COM
plete rehabilitation of the herd may
be confidently expected in view OF
its present size and condition. Pro |
visions commensurate with the needs
and Importance of the property in
the report adds, ARE to be
regarded as wise investments and cur
tailment of operations at this time IS
not justified by conditions"
Among the statements by the three
experts are:
"rhe fur seal herd contains APP