102 



iiig the rights of the subjects and citizens of either country as regards the 

 taking of fur-seals in or habitually resorting to Bering Sea. Whether 

 this question has been decided or remains to be decided the Tribunal 

 has not yet come to any resolution. That subject, though I have 

 demanded its separate examination and decision, has been passed over 

 by the Tribunal, but in either case I will assume that their rights 

 must be equal and that there will be no discrimination between the 

 people of the two countries as to such rights. 



If the right is given them by this award to scour the Korth Pacific 

 Ocean and Bering Sea at all seasons of the year, with all descriptions of 

 firearms except rilles, and with such number of vessels as may be 

 tempted into the business by its profits, assisted by steamers to carry off 

 the catch so as to keep the hunters steadily employed in killing seals, it 

 will not be j)ossible for the Congress to prevent the citizens of the 

 United States from sharing in the raids upon the seals equally with 

 British subjects. I mean that the people of the United States would 

 withdraw their support, as they should do, from any body of representa- 

 tives that would tolerate such an injustice, and all seal hunters and 

 many thousands who are not, would rush in to destroy them as they 

 did in 18G8. 



We can not expect to impose upon the United States the duty of 

 keeping up this expensive and harassing plan that it now maintains in 

 good faith and perfect honor for the preservation of the fur-seals when 

 we condemn the seals to certain destruction in tlie face of the avowed 

 Ijolicy of both countries that they should be protected and preserved. 



We can not exi)ect the United States to maintain its prohibition of 

 pelagic sealing in Bering Sea as to its own citizens when we enjoin 

 it upon that Government, as a moral duty and a treaty obligation, to 

 repeal her laws as to restrictions upon British subjects in that sea. 



This is what the United States must do, under concurrent regula- 

 tions framed ui)on the plan of Sir John Tliompson, or else it must vio- 

 late the spirit of the treaty, if not its letter, as it is to be declared in 

 such an award, because of the disadvantage to its own people. We 

 can not thus condemn the policy of the United States in its faithful 

 efforts to preserve seal life, and expect that Government to maintain 

 its rigorous laws against its own citizens. 



If we extend an invitation to other nations to enjoy equally with 

 Great Britain and the United States the looting of the seal herd in 

 the North Pacific and in Bering Sea, we pledge the honor of these 



