sary. limited prohibition, while those who are unbiased Means neces by interest or who desire the preservation of the seal declare that absolute prohibition can only accomplish its preservation. bition of pelagic Mr. Phillip Lutley Sclater, Ph. D., secretary Absolute probiof the Zoological Society of London, says that, sealing. in his opinion as a naturalist, "unless proper measures are taken to restrict the indiscriminate capture of the fur seal in the North Pacific the extermination of this species will take place in a few years, as it has already done in the case of other species of the same group in other parts of the world;" that "it seems to him that the proper way of proceeding would be to stop the killing of females and young of the fur-seal altogether, or as far as possible, and to restrict the killing of the males to a certain number in each year;" and that "the only way he can imagine by which these rules could be carried out is by killing the seals only on the islands at the breeding time (at which time it appears that the young males keep apart from the females and old males), and by preventing altogether, as far as possible, the destruction of the fur-seals at all other times and in other places." Professor Dall, whose opinion must necessarily be con 1P. L. Sclater, Vol. I, p. 413. See also quotation from Prof. T. H. Huxley, ante, p. 240. Absolute probi-sidered as entirely unbiased, unless a scientific bition of pelagic sealing. interest can be regarded as a bias, says: "Upon the amount of protection depends the safety of the seal herd in the future. If protected only upon the Pribilof Islands, extermination will be rapid; if they are protected upon the islands and in the waters of Bering sea also, the decrease will be slower, but ultimate extinction will probably follow. To preserve them completely it is necessary that they should be protected in all waters which they frequent at all times." Mr. C. A. Williams, whose long experience in the fur business has made him thoroughly competent to speak on this question, and whose interest is no longer affected by the preservation of the seal herd, says that he "regards it as important that the seal herd should be protected in the North Pacific, as otherwise they will be exterminated, even if sealing be prohibited in the Bering Sea."2 Dr. H. II. McIntyre says: "In my judgment the seals should be protected in Bering Sea and the North Pacific, and that pelagic sealing should be entirely prohibited in said waters." Mr. Alfred Fraser, already mentioned as a British subject, whose interests are entirely with the continuance of the sealskin 1 Vol. II, p. 24. * * * bition of pelagic industry in London, says "that, in his judgment,, Absolute prohithe absolute prohibition of pelagic sealing, i. e., sealing. the killing of seals in the open sea, whether in the North Pacific or the Bering Sea, is necessary to the preservation of the seal herds now surviving." Besides the statements given above, many other witnesses express the same opinion.2 Those asserting the need of only a limited Limited prohibipro- tion of pelagic hibition are divided in their views as to the sealing. means necessary, some advocating a close season, in which all killing of seals should be prohibited, others that the use of firearms in taking seals should be forbidden, others that the seal herd should not be molested in the waters of Bering Sea, and still others who believe that a zone about the islands of from thirty to fifty miles would be sufficient. The first of these propositions is supported by A close season. a number of sealers, but the period of time in which pelagic sealing should be prohibited varies Daniel Claussen advocates a close season from July 1 to the last of October; Arthur Griffin, from April to September 1, inclusive;* Joshua 'Vol. II, p. 557. 3 2W. C. Coulson, Vol. II, p. 416; T. F. Ryan, Vol. II, p. 175; J. H. Moulton, Vol. II, p. 73; W. B. Taylor, Vol. II, p. 177; B. F. Scribner, Vol. II, p. 90; T. F. Morgan, Vol. II, p. 65; Gustave Isaacson, Vol. II, p. 440; J. A. Bradley, Vol. II, p. 227; H. W. McIntyre, Vol. II, p. B'. Vol. II, p. 412. 4Vol. II, p. 326. A close season. Stickland, from May 1 to September 15;1 Frank A close season impracticable. 4 Johnson from the 1st of July to the end of the year;' G. E. Miner, from January 1 to August 15.3 James Kiernan says the seals should be protected from February until October, and Isaac M. Lenard, from February to November.5 Thomas Brown (No. 1.) says that in order to prevent the extermination of seals the hunting of them should be prohibited until after the mother seals give birth to their young; which opinion is also advanced by Capt. Victor Jackobson.' William Short says that sealing should be prohibited in the North Pacific before the middle of June.8 And Charles Peterson says: "The practice of taking seals in the water before they give birth to their young is destructive to seal life and should be prohibited."" 6 A glance at the above opinions of those who have been or are engaged in pelagic sealing is sufficient to show that a close season can not accomplish the preservation of the seal, for, taken Vol. II, p. 350. 2 Vol. II, p. 441. 3 Vol. II, p. 467. See also George Dishow, Vol. II, p. 323. 4 Vol. II, p. 451. 6 Vol. II, p. 217. Vol. II, p. 319. collectively, every month in the year is comprised. A close season in the statement of one sealer or another, evidently showing that in every month the seal herd needs protection. Dr. George Dawson, one of the British Bering Sea Commissioners, in an article entitled "Note on the Question of Protection of the Fur Seal in the North Pacific," which was inclosed in a communication from Sir Julian Pauncefote to Mr. Blaine, dated March 9, 1890, says: "The circumstance that the female furseal becomes pregnant within a few days after the birth of its young, and that the period of gestation is nearly twelve months, with the fact that the skins are at all times fit for market (though for a few weeks, extending from the middle of August to the end of September, during the progress of shedding and renewal of the longer hair, they are of less value), show that there is no natural basis for a close season generally applicable." And Sir George Baden-Powell, the other British Bering Sea Commissioner, in a letter to the London Times, published Saturday, November 30, 1889, opposes a close season for all months excepting July, August, and September, on the ground that "the Canadian sealers commence sealing in December and seal contin Sir Julian Pauncefote to Mr. Blaine, March 9, 1890, inclosure No. 4. impracticable. |