44 



Africa, Tbey were also common in the Fallvland Islands and the adja- 

 cent seas. Bnt'in those islands, where hundreds of thousands of skins 

 were formerly obtained, there have been taken, according to the best 

 statistics, since 1880, less than 1,500 skins. In some cases the indis- 

 criminate slaughter, especially by use of firearms, has in a few years 

 resulted in completely breaking up extensive rookeries. * * * It is 

 manifestly for the interests of all nations that so deplorable a thing 

 should not be allowed to occur. As has already been stated, on the Prib- 

 ilof Islands this Government strictly limits the number of seals that 

 may be killed under its own lease to an American company, and citizens 

 of the United States have, during the past year, been arrested, and ten 

 American vessels seized for killing fur seals in Bering Sea." He fur- 

 ther observed that Great Britain, in cooperating with the United 

 States to prevent the destruction of fur seals in Bering Sea would 

 aid in perpetuating au extensive and valuable industry in which her 

 own citizens have the most lucrative share. U. S. GasCj Vol. 1, p. 172. 



Mr. Phelps, upon receiving this communication, held an interview, 

 in Loudon, with both Lord Salisbury and the Eussian Ambassador, M. 

 de Staal, and reported, under date of February 25, 1888, that his lord- 

 ship assented to the proposition of Mr. Bayard, and that he would 

 also join the United States Government in any preventive measures it 

 may be thought best to adopt, by orders issued to the naval vessels in 

 that region of the respective governments. U. S. Case, Vol, 1, App., 

 173. The Eussian ambassador concurred, so far as his personal o])iu- 

 ion was concerned, in the propriety of the proposed measures for the 

 protection of the seals, and promised to conmiunicate at once with his 

 Government. 



In reply to the last letter Mr. Bayard wrote to Mr. Phelps: "It is 

 hoped that Lord Salisbury will give it favorable consideration, as there 

 can be no doubt of the importance of preserving the seal fisheries in 

 Bering Sea, and it is also desirable that this should be done by au 

 arrangement between the governments interested without the United 

 States being called ui)on to consider what special measures of its owu 

 the exceptional character of the i^roperty in question might require it 

 to take in case of the refusal of foreign powers to give their coopera- 

 tion. Whether legislation would be necessary to enable the United 

 States and Great Britain to carry out measures for the protection of 

 the seals would depend much upon the character of the regulation 5 but 

 it is probable that legislation would be required. The manner of pro- 



