THE FUR-SEALS AND THE BERING SEA AWARD 55 



no provision for restricting the destruction of the seals on the 

 Pribilof Islands by the American Company." 



The provisional treaty, therefore, found an early grave in 

 the waste basket. In the meanwhile, however, events of 

 seemingly greater importance toward a final settlement of the 

 troublesome questions were transpiring in Washington. Im- 

 mediately following the conclusion of the convention between 

 the United States, Russia, and Japan, the proposed joint meet- 

 ing of the English, Canadian, and American scientific experts 

 took place (November 18, 1897). At this auspicious meet- 

 ing, the scientists were enabled to agree, and the resulting 

 joint statement of their conclusions in regard to sealing con- 

 ditions promised well for future successful negotiations with 

 Great Britain. At last there was a common basis of fact 

 upon which the two nations could stand in their deliberations 

 for a new set of regulations. Most important of all for Amer- 

 ican interests, these conclusions of the experts virtually sus- 

 tained the American position, calling for the very remedial 

 measures which the United States Government had been 

 striving to bring about for four years. The commissioners 

 agreed that there was ample evidence since the year 1884 

 .'iat the fur-seal herd of the Pribyloff Islands had declined 

 'eatly in numbers, but at a varying rate from year to year ; 



t from given data, the former yield of the islands was 

 from three to five times as great as in 1896 and 1897 ; that 

 the death among the young fur-seals was very great ; that 

 actual count of these and of the females upon the islands con- 

 firms the belief in the diminution of the herd ; that a marked 

 decrease was to be noted in the twelve months from 1896 to 

 1897 ; that the method of driving and killing practised on 

 the islands by the American Chartered Company calls for no 

 criticism or objection ; that pelagic sealing involves the kill- 

 ing of males and females alike ; that the reduction of males 

 effected on the islands causes an enhanced proportion of fe- 

 males to be found in the pelagic catch (62 to 84 per cent) ; 

 that a large proportion of females in the pelagic catch includes 

 not only adult females, both nursing and pregnant, but also 

 young seals ; that the polygamous habit of the animal coupled 



