REPOKT OF BRITISH COMMISSIONERS. 275 



These views were conveyed to the Scottish Office by the Board of Trade, with an 

 intimation that they were unable to see that future steps towards establishment of 

 new restrictions could be taken unless some course could be suggested for reconciling 

 the respective views of the Scottish, Norwegian, and Swedish interests. 



Early in 1887 the reply of the Scottish interests was received. They thought the 

 point raised by Sweden in connection with young seals moulting not material, as the 

 short hair skins had now become more valuable than the fur-skins. Tbey were will- 

 ing to accept the area as defined by Norway, and that, on the day of opening, the 

 fishery should commence at 6 a. m. They agree as to need for protecting fuiuale 

 seals, but thought opening on the 10th April would insure this, as later the females 

 would get too wild to allow of their being shot, and they agree as to need for pro- 

 tecting hooded seals late in the season. 



They were, however, firm as to the need for making the opening and closing dates 

 for the fishery as near the 10th April and 10th July as possible, and did not see how 

 hooded seal fishery could be made free during general close time without endanger- 

 ing the observance of close time for other kinds of seals. 



These views were communicated to the Foreign Office by the Board of Trade in 

 the hope of an understanding being arrived at between Norway and Scotland, so as 

 to form a basis for negotiation with the other Powers. At the same time, it was 

 pointed out that the including of Iceland and its waters in the protected area would 

 involve inviting Denmark to join in the arrangements. 



In March 1888 a further communication was received from Norway. It now 

 appeared that, owing to a change observed in the last two or three years in the con- 

 dition of the ice off Greenland, the Norwegian interests no longer wish the hooded 

 seal fisheries to close on the 15th July. 



They declined to make any concession as regards the day for opening the seal 

 fishery generally, and it was doubtful whether they would adopt any date for clos- 

 ing. On other points they now acquiesced with Scotland, to which country these 

 views were conveyed. 



Later in the year Russia intimated that she concurred with Norway on all points. 



Subsequent correspondence afforded no pi'ospect of reconciling the divergent- 

 views of Scotland and Norway, whilst Denmark took exception to the territorial 

 waters of either Iceland or Greenland being included in the area of protection. 



In these circumstances, the negotiations came to a standstill, and the arrangements 

 made in 1875-79 have been maintained. 



Copy of the English Act, with the Order in Council, in handbill form, as circulated 

 in the past amongst those interested and now in force, is annexed. 



(Initialled) J. M. N. 



February 11, 1892. 



Seal Fishery (Greenland). — 38 Vict., Cap. 18. 



Order in Council made the 28th day of November, 1876, for applyimj "The Seal Fishery 



Act, 1875." 



At the Court at Windsor, the 28th day of November, 1876. 



Present: The Queen's Most Excellent Majesty in Council. 



Whereas by "The Seal Fishery Act, 1875," it is enacted that when it appears to 

 Her Majesty in Council that the foreign States whose ships or subjects are engaged 

 in the seal fishery in the area mentioned in the Schedule to that Act, or any 

 201 part of such area, have made or will make, with respect to their own ships 

 and subjects, the like provisions to those contained in that Act, it shall be law- 

 ful for Her Majesty, by Order in Council, to direct that that Act shall, after the date 

 mentioned in the Order, apply to the seal fishery within the said area, or such part 

 thereof as may be specified in the Order : 



And whereas it has been made to appear to Her Majesty in Council that the foreign 

 States whose ships or subjects are at present engaged in the seal fishery in the area 

 mentioned in the Schedule to the said recited Act have made or will make, with 

 respect to their own ships and subjects, the like provisions to those contained in the 

 said recited Act : 



Now, therefore. Her Majesty, in exercise of the power vested in her by the said 

 recited Act, by and with the advice of her Privy Council, is pleased to direct that 

 "The Seal Fishery Act, 1875," shall, after the date of this present Order, apply to 

 the seal fishery within the area mentioned in the Schedule to the said Act. 



And Her Majesty, in exercise of the same power, by and with the like advice, is 

 further pleased to fix the 3rd day of April in every year as the day before which the 



