ALASKA INDUSTRIES. 367 



The returns show that the Canadian sealing vessels all kept well outside the 60- 

 mile radius, and as there seems little doubt that during the period when sealing is 

 allowed in Bering Sea the great bulk of the seals are inside that limit, the natural 

 deduction is that less than half the herd is at any time exposed to capture, and that 

 the danger of extermination by pelagic sealing must therefore be comparatively 

 remote. 



It is observed that on the islands 15,000 seals were killed last season, as compared 

 with 16,000 in the season of 1894, but in the reports which have been received on 

 this point it is not stated whether any difficulty was experienced in obtaining that 

 number of skins, nor from what class of seals the skins were taken. 



Taking into account the catch on the islands, the whole catch from the Alaskan 

 herd was 71,300 in 1895, as compared with 71,716 in 1894, being only about half the 

 total catch taken in 1889 and previous years, and though it may be the case that a 

 sin ughter of some 70,000 a year is more than the herd can properly bear for a series 

 of years, Her Majesty's Government see no reason to believe that it is so large as to 

 threaten early extermination. 



The necessity for the immediate imposition of increased restrictions, to take effect 

 during the coming season, does not, therefore, appear to be established, and it must 

 be borne in mind that at this late period it is no longer possible to give effective 

 warning of any change in the regulations to the large number of vessels which have 

 already cleared for the Japan Coast fishery, and which will, after that is concluded, 

 proceed to Bering Sea for the opening of the fishery in August. The imposition of 

 restrictions without due warning would cause great confusion and hardship, and 

 would undoubtedly give rise to large claims for compensation on ground which 

 could not, with justice or reason, be disputed. 



But Her Majesty's Government fully share the desire so strongly expressed by 

 your Government that all necessary and practicable measures should be taken to 

 prevent the possible extermination of the seals. 



As a precaution for the strict observance of the regulations prescribed by the Tri- 

 bunal of Arbitration and now in force, they will give directions for the employment 

 of an additional cruiser this season in policing the fisheries, although, as far as they 

 have been able to judge, the force employed up to the present time has been sufficient. 



In accordance with the desire expressed by you in your note No. 317 of the 6th 

 February, Her Majesty's Government have requested the Dominion government to 

 issue a notice to the effect that the returns which the sealing vessels are required to 

 furnish shall in future specify which of the females killed are barren and which are 

 in milk, and a reply has been received from His Excellency the Governor-General of 

 Canada that this will be done. 



In order to investigate more completely the question of the necessity of further 

 restrictions in future years, Her Majesty's Government are desirous at once to take 

 the necessary steps for conducting an independent inquiry on the Pribilof Islands 

 into the state of the herd, by an agent sent from Great Britain. This gentleman 

 would be a naturalist possessed of the necessary scientific qualifications, and care 

 will be taken to select a person who will be entirely free from bias in carrying out 

 the mission intrusted to him. 



The Canadian government are also desirous of sending Mr. Macoun again to the 

 islands this season in order to continue his investigations. The British agent and 

 Mr. Macoun would arrive at the islands early in June and remain until toward the 

 end of September, and Her Majesty's Government would be glad if the United States 

 authorities would grant them all necessary facilities and cooperate with them as far 

 as possible. 



It has been suggested that arrangements might perhaps be made with the company 

 which leases the seal catch on the Pribilof Islands to allow the British agent and 

 Mr. Macoun to proceed in their steamer as passengers. 

 I have the honor, etc., 



JULIAN PAUNCEFOTE. 



APRIL 29, 1896. 



SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge your favor of the 27th instant, being an 

 answer to my note No. 344, of the llth ultimo, wherein is urged the adoption for 

 the coming season of further restrictions on pelagic sealing in Bering Sea in view of 

 what this Government believes to be the demonstrated imminent extermination 

 of the fur-seal herd. 



Without at this time adducing any additional considerations in support of the 

 position taken by this Government, I hasten to say that it welcomes an independent 

 inquiry by the British Government into tlte present state of the fur-seal herd 

 through the British and Canadian agents referred to in your note. They will be 

 given all needful facilities for their investigations by this Government, which will 

 request the North American Commercial Company to give them all convenient 

 transportation facilities on its steamers. 



