314 
BULLETIN OF THE BUEEAU OF FISHEBIES 
have an effective guard not only in summer in the waters surrounding the Com- 
mander Islands within a radius of at least 150 miles around the islands, as the 
breeding seals are known to go that far to sea in search of food, but also in winter 
and spring along the coasts of Japan from the latitude of Yokohama to and includ- 
ing the Kuril Islands. The Japanese Government is under no obligation to inter- 
fere with its own subjects in all that big stretch of ocean except to forbid them 
the use of its ports, etc., to prevent them from bringing in the illegally taken skins, 
and to try and punish them according to Japanese law when they have been seized 
by a Russian officer and duly handed over to an authorized Japanese official. 
Article XII of the treaty is of particular interest to the Commander Islands 
sealing industry. It reads as follows: 
It is agreed on the part of Russia that of the total number of sealskins taken annually upon 
the Commander Islands, or any other island or shores of the waters defined in Article I subject 
to the jurisdiction of Russia to which any seal herds hereafter resort, there shall be delivered 
at the Commander Islands at the end of each season fifteen per cent (15%) gross in nuniber and 
value thereof to an authorized agent of the Canadian Government, and fifteen per cent (15%) 
gross in number and value thereof to an authorized agent of the Japanese Government; pro- 
vided, however, that nothing herein contained shall restrict the right of Russia at any time and 
from time to time during the first five years of the term of this Convention to suspend altogether 
the taking of sealskins on such islands or shores subject to its jurisdiction, and to impose during 
the term of this Convention such restrictions and regulations upon the total number of skins to 
be taken in any season, and the manner and times and places of taking them as may seem 
necessary to preserve and protect the Russian seal herd or to increase its number; but it is 
agreed, nevertheless, on the part of Russia that during the last ten years of the term of this 
Convention not less than five per cent (5%) of the total number of seals on the Russian rookeries 
and hauling grounds will be killed annually, provided that said five per cent (5%) does not 
exceed eighty-five per cent (85%) of the three-year-old male seals hauling in such year. 
If, however, the total number of seals frequenting the Russian islands in any year falls below 
eighteen thousand (18,000) enumerated by official count, then the allowaiice of skins mentioned 
above and all killing of seals except such as may be necessary for the support of the natives on 
the islands may be suspended until the number of such seals again exceeds eighteen thousand 
(18,000) enumerated in like manner. 
' THE COMMANDER ISLANDS EOOKERIES IN Wll 
While this treaty was bemg negotiated and signed m Washmgton and during 
the months following the signing things went from bad to worse on the Commander 
Islands, where two important rookeries literally became extinct. 
On April 18, 1911, a council was held in St. Petersburg at the Department of 
Agriculture, at which the condition of the rookeries and the fur-seal industry as 
ascertained by Mr. Suvorof in 1910 was considered. As a consequence of the 
alarming report made by him it was decided to institute a closed season for the 
land killing of seals, to begin in 1912 and to remain in force 5 years. The reason 
for not starting the closed period at once was that, according to the contract with 
the Kamchatka company which expired in 1911, the latter was entitled to a quantity 
of sealskins, though the Government had reserved to itself the right to determine 
each year the number and kind of seals to be killed. The number of seals to be 
killed for skins was therefore set at 200, and as this would not furnish sufficient 
food for the natives, the latter were allowed to kill in addition 200 gray pups. 
Mr. Suvorof was also ordered to continue his examination of the condition of the 
seal herd during 1911. 
