PROTECTION UNDER TREATIES 135 



were laid before Congress through Senator J. M. Dixon, 

 and the Senate Committee on the Conservation of National 

 Resources. These demands were: (1) The immediate abo- 

 lition of the leasing system for the killing of Fur-Seals on our 

 islands, (2) the making of international treaties (with England, 

 Russia, Japan, and Mexico) for the total suppression of Seal 

 killing at sea, and (3) a long close season (of five or ten years) 

 for the recuperation of the shattered herds. 



The response of Congress was prompt and far-reaching. 

 On April 30, 1911, the leasing system of killing was forever 

 terminated, and the management of the Fur-Seal industry 

 was placed under the control of the Department of Com- 

 merce. In 1912 treaties for the suppression of pelagic seal- 

 ing were successfully negotiated with England, Russia, and 

 Japan. The terms of those treaties provided that each of 

 the nations named should restrain its subjects from pelagic 

 sealing, and in return would receive a share in the annual 

 proceeds of the Fur-Seal industry. The United States Gov- 

 ernment was specifically empowered to suspend killing oper- 

 ations on land for such period or periods as the best main- 

 tenance of the herds might require. It was stipulated in the 

 treaties that when killing operations were conducted on a 

 commercial basis, Japan should receive 15 per cent, and En- 

 gland 10 per cent, of the proceeds. It was also stipulated that 

 during any close season which the United States might find 

 it necessary to enforce for the recuperation of the herds, the 

 United States should annually pay to England and Japan the 

 sum of $10,000 each. These treaties were ratified. 



In 1912, after prolonged deliberation, Congress decided 



