Show coast guard to convoy migrating b b pacific seal herds SEATTLE WASH ten coast guard cutters will soon convoy pacific seal herds as they migrate from warmer waters oft off the coast of the united states toward their summer homes near alaska when the seals congregate to in numbers off the coast of oregon and washington the patrol will get under way they will accompany the alerd rd as far north as the aleutian SW lands to protect them against poachers A few of the boats will remain to guard the herds during their mating season and the summer until the last seals depart from the rook eries to in late autumn coast guard protection Is the result of an international agreement that became effective in 1911 at this time the united states great britain russia and japan reached an agreement to protect the rapidly dwindling seal herds from extinction while commercial killing of seals is rigidly restricted by law indians on the american and canadian sea boards aleuts aleuns and aborigines of alaska are permitted to hunt seals at any time they must however use no firearms and travel in open boats propelled by sail paddle or oar the boats crew must be limited to live five persons and there must be no contract hunting under the regulations established in 1911 the size of herds has increased from less than to the which live along the pacific ocean today |