Show THE MODUS THAT modus in the bering sea matter begins to assume a cation foreign to the etymological meaning of the phrase strictly speaking it means a method of living but according to developments during the past few days it promises to become a method of killing it has come up in the british house of commons in con lection with the question of harbor defenses in british columbia the discussion evoked on the occasion was to say the least suggestive in washington our authorities are conferring with the naval department as to what to is best beat to be done unusual excitement and activity also prevails prevail in the navy yards 0 on r the pacific coast it is reported that president harrison is awaiting a reply from lord salisbury to the demand made for a renewal of the modus vi vendi in the event of a refusal it is thought that decisive action will be taken by the united states the modus referred to is an agreement entered into last june between tween the british government and ours in relation to seal fishing in bering sea article 1 of that agreement binds great britain to prohibit i seal killing in bering sea until may on the part of british subjects and article 2 binds the united states to a like course of action on the part of american knie rican vessels and citizens but for certain specified reasons a limited number of seal might be killed by americans article 8 3 provides for the capture of poachers irrespective of nationality by any of the high contracting tr parties but subject to being handed over as soon as practicable to the authorities of the nation to which they respectively belong who shall alone have jurisdiction to try the offender and impose i DO pose the penalties penal for the same 11 1 1 in the meantime provisions were made with a view of effecting a permanent settlement of the question under these a joint high commission was appointed to investigate the seal problem problem both from a natural history and and territorial point of view tle the members of that commission commis alon visited bering sea last fall and made a close study habits habito and conditions condi tlona of the seal though these members all agreed that the extinction of the animal was wag assured unless protective mea measures were adopted yet tuey did not agree au as to these measures the reports 0 01 to this commission were intended for the arbitration board to which the settle ment of the whole matter would be submitted the case was progressing favorably until report came that lord salisbury had positively refused to renew last years agreement As there is no possibility that a settlement can be arrived at before many mouths the refusal to renew gave the question a serious aspect there are now some fifty vessels or more flying the british fl flag ag ready to enter bearing sea how many americans americana are ready to enter it is difficult it to say before the agreement went into effect last year it is estimated that vessels with an average crew to each of 20 souls were er in poaching with unlimited authority to spear shoot or trap the animal regardless of sex age or condition the work of these 2000 men meant in a short time the complete extermination of the seal unless the agreement is renewed the same condition will prevail this year and the seal would be destroyed before the settlement could be accomplished the british columbiana columbians Columb ians sare are growing very belligerent about this matter they are demanding damages for their vessel owners who were shut out last year altogether the case as it stands is a complicated one |