Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 119, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 May 1911 — SEAL CATCH DEMINISHING [ARTICLE]

SEAL CATCH DEMINISHING

Instead of 50,000 Skins Annually Yield in Behring Sea Does Not Exceed More Than 4,000. St. Petersburg—-In accepting the American proposal to hold a seal fishery'conference in Washington, the Russian government appears to be animated by a somewhat belated desire to repair the mistake committed at the Behring sea conference in not indorsing the 60-mile limit. The result has been that the seal rookeries in the Commander islands are rapidly becoming exhausted. These fisheries are leased to a Russian company under a contract which expires jthis year. The substance of the report drawn up by the official sent by the government to report upon the condition of the rookeries is as follows: "WShereas, formerly 30,000 to 50,000 obtained annually, the present yield does not exceed 4,000. Even this number is attained only by the slaughter of a fair proportion of young females. This procedure is necessary, since the killing off of the males is already leading to a decline in the number of brood seals.” The conclusion arrived at is that unless some measures are taken to put a stop to pelagic sealing it would be best to kill off the whole herd. Although pelagic sealing has diminished the stock in the Pribyloff islands, the enforcement of the 60-miles limit has enabled the Americans partially to cope with the evil. The main and, indeed, the only offenders, appear to be the Japanese. Although Japan has not recognized the 60-mile limit, American gunboats police it against all comers. In the waters around the Commander islands Japanese poachers, although frequently fired upon by the alert guards, commit incessant depredations, and boldly come Inshore after fur seal and otter. Much satisfaction is felt here over the prospects of putting an end to this

deplorable state of affairs. Japan signifies her willingness to take part In the impending conference if Great Britain accepted the American invitation, which has been assured, thanks to the consent of Canada* All the Interested powers will thus be represented.