It seems that Great Britain makes hardly any effort to stop the destruction of the seals, maintaining but two vessels in Bering Sea, while the United States maintains five.
We have lately had some correspondence with England on the seal question, but it has not been made public for fear of causing bad feeling.
Mr. Foster, who, as we told you, has been on a special mission to London and St. Petersburg to arrange the dispute, has met with a friendly reception in Russia. He hopes that the success of his mission in St. Petersburg may induce Great Britain to look favorably on it also.
It is desired that all the countries interested in the matter shall send delegates to a conference to be held in Washington in October.
At the conference it is intended to discuss the whole subject anew and make fresh arrangements.
The difficulty has been that the Treaty of Paris is still in operation, and Great Britain is not willing to open the matter until the treaty has expired.
The Canadian sealers are much averse to the plan of branding the seals. We told you about this a few weeks ago.
Professor Starr Jordan, who is passing through Victoria on his way to the Seal Islands, there to recommence the work of branding, has met with a very cold reception from the sealers.
Professor Jordan has taken with him an electric outfit for branding, which will do the work more quickly and effectually than the old method.