2G8 REPORT OF BRITISH COMMISSIONERS. 



Art. (^. Any jxTson who catches wounded or ciij)j)led seals washed ashore, even 

 within tlie prohibition limit, shall he paid in money or in kind according to the 

 quality of the skin. 



Art. 7. To prevent the decrease of seals hy careless chasing and wanton killing, 

 special care siiall always be taken, and the preventive method shall be established. 



Art. 8. The nnniber of seals taken will be inspected, and their skins shall lix the 

 proof of their ages. 



Art. 9. The covering and breeding seasons, &c., shall be carefnlly ascertained by 

 practical observations. 



Art. 10. Practical observations and investigations shall be made as to the truth of 

 tlie seals losing or changing the colour of their iur according to different seasons. 



Art. 11. An actual investigation shall be made as to how many seals can be caught 

 annually if the use of guns be discontinued, and clubs and bows and arrows be 

 adopted instead. 



Art. 12. While out hunting, if anything occurs likely to form an object for future 

 investigation, a minute record shall be kept. 



Art. 13. While tlie ])resent Regulations shall be strictly obeyed by all those who 

 are responsible for seal-hunting, they can address themselves to the authorities to 

 eHect required amendments in case practical inconveniences shall have been expe- 

 rienced. 



Seal and Otter Catching. 



We hereby give our sanction to the Regulations for catching seals and sea-otters, 

 and for the sale and importation of their raw skins, and order the same to be pro- 

 mulgated. 



[His Imperial Majesty's Sign-Manual.] 



[Privy Seal.] 



The 16th day of the 12th month, 19th year of Meiji (1886). 



Countersigned by Count Ito Hirobumi, 



Minister I'resident of the Cahinet. 

 Count Yamagata Aritomo, 



Minister of iState for Home Affairs. 

 Count Matsukata Masayoshi, 



Minister of State for Finance. 

 Count Yamagata Aritomo, 

 Minister of Stale for Jgriculture and Commerce. 



193 Imperial Ordinanoe No. SO. 



regulations for catching seals and sea-ottkrs, and for the sale and 

 importation of their raw skins. 



Article 1. Persons who have obtained the special permission of the Minister of 

 State for Agriculture and Commerce, in accordance with the second paragrajih of 

 Decree No. 16 of the 17th year of Meiji, may engage in catching seals and sea-otters 

 during the term, and within the limits of the places, specified for the purpose by the 

 Hokkaido Local Government. 



Every person catching seals and sea-otters shall at all times carry a certificate of 

 such permission, and whenever, whether at sea or on shore, any officer supervising 

 seal and sea-otter catching, or any police officer, demands to inspect the certificate, 

 the same shall be immediately produced. 



Art. 2. Any person engaging in catching seals and sea-otters shall, on arrival in 

 Hokkaido, report the name and tonnage of the vessel and the names of her crew to 

 an officer designated by the Hokkaido Local Government Office for that jiuritose, 

 and shall at all times exhibit, on the mast or in some other conspicuous position in 

 the vessel, a signal s]>ecially adopted by the Hokkaido Local Government Office for 

 vessels engaged in catching seals and sea-otters. 



Art. 3. Any person desiring to sell the raw skins of seals and sea-otters shall pro- 

 duce the same to the officer mentioned in Article 2 hereof, and shall have the seal (a 

 brauil may be used instead of a seal) of the said officer stamped thereon. No person 

 shall be permitted to sell skins not bearing such stamp. 



