370 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 



regulations arises. Now, while there never was a more fearless and courageous set 

 of men than these pelagic sealers it will be something entirely new in their history 

 if their records <h> not appeal in the strongest possible terms for a modification of the 

 regulations in their favor. 



The final question that arises in regard to these regulations is, will they, as they 

 now stand, ever be put in operation ? The interested powers have yet to agree upon 

 measures for giving effect to them. Is it likely that, when a neutral tribunal found 

 the making of regulations so tedious and difficult, the interested powers will be able 

 without interminable delay and possibly irreconcilable conflict to agree upon "con- 

 current measures" putting them in force! England has won on the great law points 

 of the case, but these regulations are objectionable to Canada, for they bear some 

 what heavily upon pelagic sealing; and these " concurrent measures" otter tempting 

 fighting-ground for securing their modification in favor of the Dominion. 



Under the circumstances it is only to be expected that the arts of diplomacy will 

 be vigorously exercised in that direction. There is bnt one course, however, for the 

 United States to pursue — permit no modifications, stand squarely for the prompt 

 carrying out of these regulations, and let time reveal how much value they possess 

 for protecting the seal herd. England will champion no plan of greater protection; 

 she has all to gain and nothing to lose from delay, and it will require all the energy 

 and firmness of the Executive to put effectively in force the regulations as adopted 

 by the Tribunal. 



Conclusions. — After more than two years of close study of this question it is my 

 conviction that the only way in which the world can secure the largest benefit com- 

 mercially from the fur seal wherever found is by taking the surplus immature males 

 upon laud under the most favorable conditions suggested by experience; that securing 

 seals by any other methods introduces the fatal element of indiscrimination; that the 

 life of the herd is jeopardized in proportion to the number of females killed; that the 

 injury inflicted on the northern herds by pelagic sealing increases from January to 

 August, grows greater as Bering Sea is approached, and culminates in those waters; 

 that the shotgun and spear are both deadly, the latter by reason of its noiseless 

 efficiency, the former by reason of its ready use by all classes, and that the disposition 

 of this question on the basis of adjusting two conflicting interests is futile and 

 illogical, but material issues are not alone involved; it presents biologic features as 

 well and lias to do with forces of nature beyond man's control. 



Regulations can not be framed by human ingenuity which will preserve the seal 

 herds in their greatest possible proportions and permit the continuation of successful 

 pelagic sealing. It would be reconciling the irreconcilable. It would be accomplish- 

 ing a feat equal to that of making two bodies occupy the same space at the same 

 time. Either the regulations will be prohibitive in their operation — in which case it 

 would be more straightforward to make them so in the first instance — or, if allowing 

 successful pelagic sealing, they will be valueless in preventing the extermination of 

 the seal. In general it may be said that no pelagic sealing can be carried on which 

 is not inherently and uncontrollably injurious to the life of the seal herd — the amount 

 of injury being proportionate to the magnitude of the attack. 



