334 ALASKA INDUSTRIES. 



condition of the fur-seal herd. When, however, the startling decrease 

 of seals on the Pribilof Islands, j)ronounced by experts to be at least 

 one-half since 1890, taken in connection with the great destruction of 

 pups from starvation on the islands last season caused by the slaughter 

 of their mothers at sea is considered, it will appear conclusively demon- 

 strated that the increased catch is but a measure of the increased inef^ 

 ficiency of the crews employed as hunters on the sealing vessels and 

 that the seal herd is rapidly diminishing in numbers and is in danger 

 of speedy extermination unless changes are made in the regulations 

 established by the Paris award. 



It is correctly stated by tlie Foreign Ofiice that the catch in the 

 award area of last season outside of Bering Sea was less than during 

 the season of 1893. It should be remembered, however, that it falls 

 only a little short of the catch of 1893, and that it was taken during 

 the four months, January to April, while the catch of 1893 was taken 

 during the seven months, January to July. Unquestionably, however, 

 the prohibition in the award regulations of pelagic sealing during the 

 months of May, June, and July was calculated to do much good to the 

 herd, and some fa^vorable results might naturally have been expected 

 on the islands. After, however, the sealing fleet had entered Bering 

 Sea the startling increase in dead pups (by accurate estimate about 

 20,000) found on the islands revealed unmistakably the fatal defect in 

 the award regulations in opening Bering Sea to pelagic sealing. 



The raarvelously increased efficiency of the pelagic seal hunters in 

 the use of the shotgun and spear, as shown by the enormous catches of 

 late years, especially of last season, under said award reguhitions, will, 

 in ray judgment, speedily deplete the fur-seal herd. The pelagic 

 catches must soon decrease in like degree with that necessitated in the 

 land catches on the Pribilof Islands. Reports at hand of the coast 

 catch of the season of 1895 would seem to indicate that this condition 

 has already been reached. It is to be presumed, however, that for 

 some few years the i^elagic slaughter of Bering Sea — the great nursery 

 of the fur-seal herd — can be maintained at figures approximating or 

 even exceeding those of last year. That such slaughter as has taken 

 place within tiie last year — largely of nursing females — gives conclu- 

 sive evidence that the regulations as established by the Paris award 

 area are not giving that measure of protection that the arbitrators 

 intended, can not, it is respectfully submitted, be longer seriously denied. 

 Commercial extermination of the fur-seal herd, Asiatic as well as Amer- 

 ican, is imminent. It is to be deeply regretted, therefore, that the 

 British Government has declined our proposition for the appointment 

 of an international commission and for the suggested modus vivendi. 



The suggestion, however, is made by the Foreign Ofiice that resident 

 agents be appointed by the United States and Great Britain, to be sta- 

 tioned on the Pribilof Islands, to investigate jointly during the next 

 four years and to report from time to time as to the condition of the 

 fur-seal fisheries. The appointment of similar agents on the Com- 

 mander Islands is also suggested. 



While I believe that this suggestion of the British Government is 

 inadequate and will not satisfactorily supply the need of an interna- 

 tional commission of scientists, yet I am disposed to favor a new 

 proposition to said Government, based largely on their suggestion, as 

 follows: That three agents be appointed by Great Britain, Eussia, 

 Japan, and the United States, respectively, twelve in all, who shall be 

 stiitioned on the Kurile, Commander, and Pribilof islands, respectively; 

 that they be instructed to examine carefully into the fur-seal fishery 



