68 



exercise the same right during the chised season, it being supposed that in these 

 waters it would be possible to destroy larger numbers of seals than can be taken by 

 the Indians on the northwest coast. This is apparently not the case, and there is no 

 good reason for this discrimination. 



9. Becision of rcfinlations. — The, really important clause iu the award of the Paris 

 Tribunal is that which relegates the matter after live years to the authorities of Great 

 Britain and the United States, giving these nations, vitally concerned, the right and 

 duty to protect the fur seals in case the regulations already adopted fail in this 

 regard. 



PATROL OF BERING SEA. 



The acts of Congress and of Parliament, in connection with the award of the Paris 

 Tribunal, makenecessary the joint ]iatrol of the North Pac i He Jind Hering Sea by vessels 

 of the United States and (ireat Britain. The worlv of the patrol in Bering Sea is in 

 the highest degree difficult, onerous, and expensive. This woric has been performed 

 with the greatest faithfulness, so far as the ITnited States is concerned, by the admir- 

 ably organized revenue-cutter fleet under the competent direction of ('apt. C. L. 

 Hooper. How unpleasant and even dangerous is the continuous cruising in this rough 

 and foggy sea those who have not visited this region can hardly ajjpreciate, wliile 

 the examination or seizure of schooners belonging to men too ignorant or too careless 

 to heed the restrictions laid on them by the Paris Tribunal is a task extremely 

 unpleasant. The results are not wortli the costs, as regulations not in a high degree 

 self-enforcing are useless to the fur-seal herd. The patrol tieet for 18ilt) has con- 

 sisted of the revenue cutter Hush. Capt. W. H. Poberts; I'trni, Capt. II. D. Smitli; 

 Corwiti, C:ipt. W. D. Roath ; Grant, Capt. J. A. Slamni, and Wolcoil, Capt. M. I.. Phillips. 

 Of these vessels the Corwin was assigned to the 60-milc zone. The region patrolled 

 by the otlier vessels has been divided into four quadrants, the vessels being assigned 

 to one or another from time to time. Neither fur seals nor sealers have l>een found 

 in the northeast ([uadrant. For (-reat Britain II. yi. S. Safellite, Pheasant, and 

 Icarus have done the duties assigned them, under tiie direction of Capt. A. C. Allen. 

 Each of the American re/enue cutters has cruised iu tlie North Pacific and about the 

 Pril>ilof Islands, covering iu the aggregate about 70,000 miles, tlie cost of coal alone 

 being about $35,000. Seven vessels supposed to be violating the regulations have 

 been seized. Of these five (James (t. Swan, Aitioko, Fiva, Beatrice, and June (Tray) 

 were found within the prohibited zone, one (Aurora) had shot skins on board, and 

 one (Sitka) had neither special flag nor license. Tiu' /u(/c, seize<l for having two 

 skins containing shot holes, was released, having no firearms on board. 



CLOSING OF BERING SEA. 



If a close season were so limited in time as to virtually close Bering Sea, and the 

 custom houses of Great Britain and the Ignited States were to cooperate in the work 

 of patrol, it could be performed by fewer vessels, and possible seizure of schooners 

 for unintentional irregularities would lie less likely to occur. So long as pelafiic seal- 

 ing is ])erniitted, however, under any regulations, it will run its course and cut its own 

 throat. This is only a (lucstion of a year or two, more or less, whatever the regula- 

 tions controlling it. Of the present restrictions, the sixty-mile zone and the closure 

 in May, .lunc, and .Inly only, are worth the cost of enforcement. It is not necessary 

 to search the seas to find vessels in the idose season if the customs houses ]irevent 

 their clearance at that time. The examination of skins for shot holes should be made 

 at the customs houses by experts. The deck of a schooner in a southeast gale is not 

 the place for such investigations. 



HOPE OF PERMANENT ADJUSTMENT. 



That the way is open to a permanent, honorable, and amicable adjustment the 

 present writer does not doubt. The facts in the case no longer admit of cavil. 

 The high character and unquestioned ability of the commission of investigation 

 appointed by Her ^lajesty's Foreign Office in 18'J6 afford a guarantee of judicial 

 fairness in any future action of the British Government. 



NO SETTLEMENT FINAL IF PERMITTING PELAGIC SEALING. 



In any event, this is certain: No settlement not the right one can be final. This 

 final settlement will not lie hastened by indirect attem]its to save the fur seals by 

 limiting pelagic sealing while still legalizing it. To call n.ames will certainly not 

 mend matters, rich as the A'ocabulary of our indignation may be. If the Paris 

 Tribunal was in error in its conclusions or in its regulations its mistakes are 

 not necessarily fatal. Their attempt at compromise is only an episode, not a 



