80 



its value, and the ea.sy prey it offers to a combination of vessels and 

 weapons for its capture Lave destroyed the species, in a commercial 

 sense, in the southern hemi.spliere, and are rapidly destroying it in the 

 waters of the north Pacific, it would only be surprising if Great Britain 

 and the United States, whose people are alone engaged in this work 

 of destruction, should not have agreed to provide some effectual means 

 for the protection and preservation of this valuable animal. 



In the confident expectation that all the countries where fur seals are 

 bred will adopt the methods of protection and iireservation that this 

 tribunal shall provide, to operate outside the acknowledged limits of 

 exclusive, sovereign, national jurisdiction, if they are found to be wise, 

 just, and practical; and that the Governments concerned will take 

 projier care of these valuable animals, on their islands and coasts; 

 these two Governments have instituted a plan for securing these ends, 

 which is well aidai)ted to that purpose. That result Avill be secured if 

 the tribunal will exert, firmly and wisely, the high powers confided to 

 them. 



The confidence felt by these Governments in the beneficial results of 

 arbitration, is fully justified by their past experience, and has led, doubt- 

 less, to the increase of powers and discretion given, in the treaty of 1892, 

 to this tribunal of arbitration. 



The whole civilized world is interested in the result, and many justly 

 expect that the award, when made, will cover the great question of tiie 

 proper inotection and preservation of the fur seal species in such 

 manner that the regulations may win the approval and secure the 

 adhesion of all the maritime powers. 



It would be a serious dereliction of duty on the part of the tribunal 

 if they should fail to deal with this great question in the broadest way, 

 included iu the purview of their powers, and should confine their decla- 

 rations and award to narrow or technical grounds, or to a simple decla- 

 ration of rights of property in fur seals, or to the powers, or jurisdiction 

 to preserve or protect them in Bering Sea, and should provide no reg- 

 ulations under which these rights, powers, and jurisdiction should be 

 enforced, or exerted, wherever the seals are found. 



The necessity for protecting this property, Us pendens, was not fully 

 understood, and could not be, until the close of the sealing period for 

 1892, after the treaty had been concluded. In 1891 the destruction of 

 seal life, resulting from the catch of 30,000 seals in Bering Sea, by 

 pelagic hunting, was estinuited as being at least equal to the number 



