Mr. Olney to Mr. Somow.
Washington, December 3, 1895.
Sir: The inquiries, a memorandum of which was left with me at our last interview and copy of which is hereto appended, were referred by me for answers to the Department of the Treasury.
The answers of the Treasury Department are as follows:
The United States Government is aware that in the act of Parliament known as seal fishery (North Pacific) act, 1895, clause 6 of the earlier act known as seal fishery (North Pacific) act, 1893, was omitted.
- 1.
- The Treasury Department on June 25, 1895, received a copy of the proposed seal fishery (North Pacific) act, 1895, from the Secretary of State, and on July 3, 1895, called attention to this significant omission, and received from you a copy of your letter of July 8, addressed to James R. Roosevelt, chargé d’affaires at London, in which you express deep regret that the clause referred to should not have been reen-acted, and the earnest hope that some means may be provided yet whereby this omission may be remedied.
- 2.
- The purpose of this Department, in recommending verbally to the Secretary of State, through Assistant Secretary Hamlin, that the existing Paris award regulations be extended along the line of thirty-fifth degree north latitude to the shores of Asia, and that, in addition thereto, Bering Sea should be closed to seal fishing pending the report of the international commission, was to secure protection for female seals in the breeding area, as it has been demonstrated by undisputable evidence that the females leave their young on the Pribilof Islands, and frequently are found in search of food and rest hundreds of miles at sea.
Such a prohibition, it is suggested, would be of equal value in protecting the Russian herd frequenting the Commander Islands, as well as the herd frequenting the Pribylof Islands.
Accept, etc.,