§ MR. W. E. PRICEasked the President of the Board of Trade, Whether any efforts have been made to induce the Governments of certain foreign countries interested in the Arctic seal fisheries to agree to the establishment of an international close time for seals; and, if so, whether he can state to the House with what results those efforts have been attended, and whether any time has actually been determined upon during which the capture of seals shall be prohibited; and, whether, in the event of any such close time being agreed upon, it is proposed to enforce its due observance, and, if so, by what means?
§ SIR. CHARLES ADDERLEY, in reply, said, only two Foreign Governments—Sweden and Germany—had been concerned in the negotiations with regard to the establishment of a close time for seals. The Papers which he had laid upon the Table two days ago stated all that had passed on the subject. He was afraid the negotiations would not be terminated in time to establish a close season that year, but by next year there was a prospect that a close season would be established internationally upon the coast of Greenland where the seals bred.