REPORT OF BRITISH COMMISSIONERS. 47 



For each decrease of 10,000 in the number fixed for kilhug- on the 

 islands, an increase of 10 nautical miles to be given to the width of 

 protected waters about the ishiuds. The minimum number to be fixed 

 for killing on the islands to be 10,000, corresponding- to a maximum 

 width of protected waters of 60 nautical miles. 



157. The above regulations represent measures at sea and ashore 

 sufficiently equivalent for all practical purposes, and probably embody 

 or provide for regulations as applied to sealing on the high seas as 

 stringent as would be admitted by any Maritime Power, whether 

 directly or only potentially interested. 



158. As an alternative method of effecting a compensatory adjust- 

 ment of the stringency of measures of protection, it is possible that 

 some advantages might be found in the adoption of a sliding scale of 

 length for the season of sealing at sea, with a fixed width of zone of 

 protection about the islands. 



In this case it is believed that, in correspondence with a decrease of 

 10,000 seals killed upon the breeding islands, the length of the sealing 

 season at sea might be curtailed by seven days, such curtailment to be 

 applied either to the opening or closing time of the sealing season. 



159. It may be objected to the principle involved in any correlative 

 regulation of shore and sea-sealing, that it would be impossible in any 

 particular year to make known the number fixed for killing on the islands 

 in time to secure a corresponding regulation of pelagic sealing. As a 

 matter of fact, however, if the condition of the breeding rookeries called 

 for any change, it should be possible to fix this number with sufficient 

 precision a year in advance; while, on the other hand, the general 

 effect would be almost equally advantageous if the number killed on 

 the islands in any one year were employed as the factor of regulation 

 for pelagic sealing in the following year. 



100. While a zone of protection has been spoken of as the best method 

 of safeguarding the vicinity of the breeding islands, it is to be borne in 

 mind that such an area might be defined for i)ractical purposes as a 

 rectangular area bounded by certain lines of latitude and longitude. 

 Even in dense fog, and, therefore, comparatively calm weather, an 

 arrested vessel could be anchored with a kedge and warp until the 

 weather cleared, according to frequent custom. The special advantages 

 of a concentric zone appear to be that it is more directly in conformity 

 with the object in view, and that in fine weather the visibility or other- 

 wise of the islands themselves might serve as a rough guide to sealers. 



101. The restriction of the number of seals killed on the breeding- 

 islands, appropriate safeguards being provided, admits of very consid- 

 erable precision, and requires no special explanation. That the restric- 

 tion of the number taken at sea may be accomplished practically and 

 with all necessary certainty, and that the means of control available in 

 the case of this branch of the sealing industry are sufficient, is clearly 

 shown by the successful application of measures such as these here 

 proposed, to the Jan-Mayen and Newfoundland hair-seal fisheries, as 

 well as of those based on like iDrinciples which are generally employed 

 in protecting fish and game. 



26 (C.) — Methods of (jiving effect to Hef/itlations. 



162. The means suited to secure the practical efficiency of regulations 

 at sea are generally indicated by those adopted in the instances just 

 cited. It is unnecessary to formulate these here in full detail, but the 



