§ MR. MICHAEL DAVITT (Mayo, S.)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (1) how many British gunboats have been ordered for patrol service in the Baring Seas during the past three years in connection with the obligations assumed by Her Majesty's Government under the Arbitration of Paris in the matter of preserving the sea] herds from extermination, and what are the number and description of the British boats at present engaged in these seas on that duty; (2) whether he can state how many gunboats have been employed in performing a like service for the United States Government within the same period; (3) what steps, if any, have been taken by Her Majesty's Government to keep firearms out of Canadian sealers in closed waters since the date of the Paris Arbitration; for what reason was the 398 Report of the British Commission withheld until after the Report of the American Commission had been made public; (5) can he state on what grounds the request of the United States Government for a conference to consider the need for more adequate regulations for the prevention of the commercial extermination of fur seals in the Behring Seas was declined by Her Majesty's Government; and (6) when will the correspondence between the two Governments on this whole question be presented to the House.
MR CURZONIn answer to paragraph 1, two gunboats were employed in 1895, three in 1896, and two are employed during the present year, namely, the Pheasant, first-class gunboat, and the Wild Swan, sloop; but the Admiralty have been asked whether a third vessel can be spared for the service. In reply to paragraph 2, the United States Government have not employed gunboats on this service, but six revenue cutters were so employed in 1895, six in 1896, and five during the present year. With regard to paragraph 3, in 1891 an agreement was made for the sealing up of the arms of British sealers entering Behring Sea, but it was. decided in 1895 not to renew this agreement, as it had not been found in practice to protect British sealers from unnecessary interference. The Paris Award regulations contain no provisions forbidding the possession of arms. Arrangements were, however, made, by which vessels clearing direct from British Columbia were furnished with certificates that they had no firearms on board, and also for the deposit by vessels front the Asiatic side of their arms at some rendezvous before entering Behring Sea. The Report of Professor Thomson was not withheld, as is suggested in paragraph 4 of the Question, but some delay occurred in its completion, owing partly to the professional duties of the author at Dundee, and partly to tire necessity of his waiting for certain notes and information with which he had asked Mr. Macoun, the agent of the Dominion Government, to furnish him. In reply to paragraph 5, Her Majesty's Government felt it would be premature to enter upon a conference for a revision of the regulations until accurate statistics, extending over a sufficient period, should have been obtained. The result of the 399 investigations conducted last year has been laid before Parliament. The investigations are being continued this season. The information available previous to 1896 was based on conjectures admitted to be of doubtful value. Her Majesty's Government are convinced that there is no immediate danger as regards the extinction of the seal herd. The correspondence will be laid at an early date.
§ MR. DAVITTWill the correspondence be produced before the close of the Session?
MR. GIBSON BOWLES (Lynn Regis)asked whether the regulations under the Paris Award were not concurred in by both Governments, as being satisfactory; and whether there was not a provision for their reconsideration at the end of five years, which would be next year?
MR. CURZONI will not pledge myself to the words of the phrase, "concurred in as being satisfactory," but they were certainly concurred in by both Governments. As to the second Question, that is so.