The Temuka Leader. THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 1891. BEHRING STRAITS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2147, 8 January 1891, Page 2

The Temuka Leader. THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 1891. BEHRING STRAITS.

Pbesent appearances indicate that a great storm is brewing over the Behring Straits seal fishery disputes. England, A merica and Eussia appear to be buckling on their armor in order to be ready for the fray. And what is it all about? Simply about the killing of a few seals for the sake of their skins. That is all. The world cannot get on unless the seals are killed, and their skins secured for the adornment e£ vanity, and for this England and America may possibly engage in fratricidal warfare. The seals are very rare, and large profits are made out of them, and that is all that is in it. Now who is right ? That is not easily answered. Behring Straits is a channel which separates Asiatic Eussia from America, and is not more than 50 miles in width in some places. On the American side of this channel is what is called Alaska, and until a few years ago this belonged to Eussia. Looking upon Eussian possessions in America as an incongruity, if not a menace to the peace of the country, the United States bought Alaska from Eussia, and with it of course that portion of Behring Straits which went with it. In this there are numerous islands, and on these islands the seals are taken, and the right to fish for the seals forms the subject of the whole dispute. Mr Secretary Blaine asserts that until the purchase of Alaska by America England had no right to fish in Behring Straits. He quotes statistics and produces documentary evidence to prove this, and he insists that theretore England has no right there. Ho further shows that unless some protection is given to the seals from the depredations of the British fishermen there will Boon be no seals to fish for. On the other hand Lord Salisbury insists that British vessels have a right to fish in the waters three miles from land, in accordance with international law. We do not suppose anyone will dispute this, but will the English vessels keep three miles away from the islands jn which the seals are caught ? That is the point. We J

do not suppose they will, and then in that case they would be no better \ than poachers. So far as we can see England is altogether wrong in this dispute. The place belongs to America, and it is not right for England to try to secure a right there by sheer bounce. However, we must confess that we have not all the details of the matter to hand yet, and it may be that England may be able to show she has some claim there,but meantime we earnestly hope such great powers as England, Russia, and the United States will not go to war over a few seals in Behring Straits. If they do they must be more blue-moulded " for the want of a batin'" than Miles Malone ever was. We do not anticipate any such results. We believe the whole guest ion will be peaceably settled, and that there will be no fighting, although indeed things look much like it at the present time.