THE BERING SEA DISPUTE A SETTLEMENT. 689 



tion of the preservation of the industry. What is needed is that all 

 interested in this fishery, whether they take their seals on land or at 

 sea, should come tog'ether to determine what dangers or risks are now 

 being run, and how they may be avoided in the future. 



Some such settlement is becoming- more than ever necessary now, 

 seeing- that the question is daily assuming international dimensions. 

 It is no longer a mere family bickering- between Yankee and Britisher; 

 no longer a mere means of twisting the British lion's tail for electioneer- 

 ing- purposes. Russia, with her important breeding islands, frequented 

 by probably one-half of the seals that travel up the British Columbia 

 coast; Japan, with lesser breeding grounds but an increasing number 

 of sealing- vessels; Germany, with her enterprising citizens fitting out 

 sealers; these and other nations are entering- upon the field. 



A sound general view must be taken. The area affected is wide. 

 Eftectively to j)rotect the industry one would have to include all the 

 Pacific Ocean and coasts thereof to the north of, say, latitude 50°. The 

 territorial powers are Cliina, Japan, Russia, the United States, and the 

 British Empire. Germany and other powers are interested in the tisus 

 and frnctus of these seas. The one complete remedy is international 

 agreement resulting in international administration, with a view to 

 the proper preservation of the far seal. AVe have an admirable and 

 successful precedent in our own North Sea, where, outside of territorial 

 Avaters, various matters of police, even to the retailing of spirituous 

 liquors, are administered by an international executive, and under laws 

 set up by the mutual cooperation of all the States whose flags are to be 

 found on the vessels engaged in those fisheries. 



Such a settlement appeals to the common sense of all concerned. 

 Sufiicient material points and facts in the "natural history" of the case 

 have now been gathered together and placed on record; sufficient is 

 known on which to base an international agreement. A conference of 

 the five or six powers interested could in four Aveeks, and well before 

 the next fishing season opens in Bering Sea next July, determine on 

 the outlines of such international administration as should best pre- 

 serve the rights and interests of all at present engaged in the industry. 

 Indeed, the outlines of such a settlement have already been drafted, 

 and are su(;h as would completely safeguard the permanent interests 

 both of the "pelagic" and the "shore" sealers. It is a common-sense 

 settlement for the good of all concerned. It will, therefore, commend 

 itself to the people of the United States, of Canada, and of the United 

 Kuigdom; and the Governments of these countries, as well as of Russia, 

 Japan, and Germany, will, without doubt, best realize the wishes and 

 interests of their peoples by securing such a common-sense settlement 

 of this troublesome Bering- Sea dispute. 



