Sib:  In  reply  to  yonr  note  of  the  Sth  instant,  I  have  the  following
observations  to  make:

First.  Ever  since  the  Beliring  Sea  cpiestion  has  been  in  dispute  (now
nearly  six  years)  not  one  ship  from  France  or  Germany  has  ever  engaged
in  sealing.  This  affords  a  strong  presumption  that  none  will  engage  in
it  in  the  ftitnre.
Second.  A  still  stronger  ground  against  their  taking  part  is  tliat  they
can  not  afford  it.  From  Franc>e  or  Germany  to  Bering  Sea  by  the
sailing  lines  is  nearly  20,()00  miles,  and  they  wcmld  have  to  make  the
voyage  with  a  larger  ship  than  can  be  profitably  employed  in  sealing.
They  would  have  to  start  from  hcmie  the  winter  preceding  the  sealing
season  and  risk  an  unusually  hazardous  voyage.  When  they  reach  the
lishing  grounds  they  have  no  territory  to  which  they  could  resort  for
any  purpose.
Third.  If  we  wait  until  we  get  France  to  agree  that  her  ships  shall
be  searched  by  American  or  ihitish  cruisers  we  wiU  wait  until  the  last
seal  is  taken  in  Behring  Sea.
Thus  much  for  France  and  Germany.  Other  European  countries
have  the  same  disabilities,  liussia,  cited  by  Lord  Salisbury  as  likely
to  embarrass  the  United  States  and  England  by  interference,  I  shouhl
regard  as  an  ally  and  not  an  enemy.  Nor  is  it  probable  that  any  Amer-
ican country  will  loan  its  flag  to  vessels  engaged  in  violating  the
Behring  Sea  regulations.
