30 THE FUR SEALS OF THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 
first by the Indians off the Northwest Coast, going out in their canoes to capture the 
seals in the course of their winter migration. The number of animals so taken was 
at first merely nominal, and it was not until about the year 1879, when schooners were 
first introduced to transport the canoes to their field of operations and care for them 
there, that the industry began to make itself felt on the herd. The rise of pelagic 
sealing thereafter was rapid, and in 1880 it was extended into Bering Sea. From 
this time on the killing at sea steadily increased, and as the bulk of the catch was 
composed of females the operations of pelagic sealing necessarily produced an 
injurious effect on the herd, which disclosed itself first in the diminished product of the 
hauling grounds already noted. 
THE EXTENSION OF SEALING TO BERING SEA 
At the first entry of sealing vessels into Bering Sea the United States acted on 
the precedent established by Russia in the Ukase of 1821, seized a number of the 
sealing vessels and confiscated them. Pelagic sealing being largely a Canadian 
industry, this action at once started a controversy with Great Britain which extended 
over the period from 1886 to 1890. Meantime the injurious effect of the slaughter of 
large numbers of females was more and more evident in the herd, until in 1890 it became 
alarming, the number of killable seals having decreased to one-fifth the usual number. 
From the discussion of the seizures of Canadian vessels and the efforts of the 
United States to secure protection to its fur-seal herd, resulted a treaty, in the spring 
of 1892, remanding the whole matter to the consideration of a tribunal of arbitration 
which should pass upon the legal questions involved, and if need be provide such 
measures as were necessary for the proper protection and preservation of the herd. 
Asa basis for such action, provision was made for a thorough investigation of the 
condition of the herd by a joint commission of experts. 
THE TRIBUNAL OF ARBITRATION. 
This Tribunal of Arbitration met at Paris in the summer of 1893, and as a result 
of its labors a set of regulations was formulated, the essential features of which 
were the establishment of a closed zone of 60 miles in Bering Sea about the islands 
and a closed season, from May 1 to August 1, within which all sealing was prohibited. 
THE REGULATIONS. 
During the pendency of the deliberations of the Tribunal, pelagic sealing was in 
part suspended. The season of 1894 witnessed the first operations of the regulations, 
and the resumption of pelagic sealing under them showed an increased catch over the 
unrestricted killing of 1891. The United States became convinced at the close of the 
first season that the regulations were inadequate. A protest was entered and Great 
Britain was asked to consider their immediate revision. At the close of each subse- 
quent season this protest and request were again renewed. Failing to obtain such 
reconsideration the United States early in 1896 accepted the proposal of Great 
Britain to prepare for a reexamination of the regulations at the end of the five-year 
trial period, by subjecting the whole question to independent scientific investigation 
on the part of the two Governments. The present report is the outcome of this 
investigation so far as the United States is concerned. 
