206 DIPLOMATIC CORRESPONDENCE. 



The Canadian Government estimate the percentage of seals so 

 Avounded or killed and not recovered at 6 per cent. 



In view of tlie facts above stated, it is improbable that pending the 

 resnlt of the inquiry, which I have suggested, any appreciable diminu- 

 tion of the fur-seal species should take place, even if the existing con- 

 ditions of pelagic sealing were to remain unchanged. 



But in order to quiet all apprehension on that score, I would propose 

 the following provisional regulations. 



1. That i)elagic sealing should be prohibited in the Behring Sea, the 

 Sea of Okhotsk, and the adjoining waters, during the months of May 

 and June, and during the months of October, November, and Decem- 

 ber, which may be termed the "migration periods" of the fur seal. 



2. That all sealing vessels should be prohibited from approaching 

 the breeding islands within a radius of 10 miles. 



These regulations would put a stop to the two practices complained 

 of as tending to exterminate the species ; firstly, the slaughter of female 

 seals with young during the migration periods, es]»ecially in the narrow 

 passes of the Aleutian Islands ; secondly, the destruction of female seals 

 by marauders surreptitiously laiuling on the breeding islands under 

 cover of the dense fogs which almost continuously prevail in that local- 

 ity during the summei'. 



Mr. Taylor, aiiotlun- agent of the United States Government asserts 

 that the female seals (called cows) go out from the breeding islands 

 every day for food. The following is an extract from liis evidence: 



The cows go 10 and. 15 miles, and even farther. I do not know the average of it — 

 and they are going and coming all the morning and evening. The sea is black with 

 them round abunt the islands. If there is a little fog and they get out half a mil*^ 

 from shore we can not see a vessel 100 yards even. The vessels themselves lay aronud 

 the islands there where they pick up a good many seal, and there is where tlit .ailing 

 of cows occurs when they go ashore. 



Whether the female seals go any distance from the islands in quest 

 oi" food, and if so, to what distance, are questions in dispute, but pend- 

 ing their solution the regulation which I juopose against the approach 

 of sealing vessels within 10 miles of the islands for the prevention of 

 surreptitious landing practically meets Mr. Taylor's complaint, be it 

 well founded or not, to the fullest extent; for, owing to the prevalence 

 of fogs, the risk of capture within a radius of 10 miles will keep vessels 

 off at a much greater distance. 



This regulation if accepted by Her Majesty's Government would 

 certainly manifest a friendly desire on their ])ait to cooperate with 

 your Government and that of Russia in the protection of their rook- 

 eries and in the prevention of any violation of the laws appliiable 

 thereto. I have the honor to inclose a dralt of a preliniinaiy conven- 

 tion which I have prepared, i>roviding lor the appointment of a mixed 

 commission who are to report on certain specitied questions within two 

 years. 



The draft embodies the temporary regulations above described to- 

 gether with other clauses which appear to me necessary to give proper 

 efiet t to them. 



Although I believe that it would be sufficient during the " migration 

 periods" to prevent all sealing within a specified distance from the 

 passes of the Aleutian 1 slands 1 have out of a deference to your views 

 and to the wishes of the llussian jMinister, adoi)ted the fishery line de-^ 

 scribed in Article V, and which was suggested by you at tlie outset of 

 oui negotiation. The draft, of conrs<', contemphites the eon<'!tiHon of 

 a fiuLlier cuuvcution after full examination of the report of the mixed 



