When Prof. D'Arcy Thompson returned from his trip to the seal islands this year, he brought with him information that completely upset his former statements and theories, and showed that the seals are decreasing rapidly. Canada became convinced that Russia, Japan, and the United States would combine in an effort to have the seals carefully preserved, and therefore she urged England to refuse to take part in the conference, and thus give her time to consider what may be the best course for her to take under the circumstances. Experts who have been in London examining the year's take of seal-skins are ready to state before the conference that eighty per cent of the skins sold by the Canadian companies are those of the mother seals, and that most of these animals have been shot. This latter point is important, because it is in this way that the seals are killed in the deep-sea or pelagic sealing, which the United States is so anxious to put a stop to. The conference will be held with or without England, but, feeling that Russia and Japan may also have cause for offence if England refuses to meet them, it is said that the State Department has written once more to the British Government, urging it to send some one to be present at the meetings. It is also reported that Sir Julian Pauncefote is anxious that England should be represented, and has used his influence to get her to do so. Our Government is inclined to think that England's refusal is not very polite. Lord Salisbury, however, says that he is entirely free from all blame in the matter, and that the whole trouble has been caused by a misunderstanding with our ambassador, Colonel Hay. His Lordship declares that when Colonel Hay saw him in July last, and gave him the information that Russia and Japan had consented to take part in the conference, he immediately said: "Oh, no, Great Britain will not take part on such conditions." Our ambassador did not hear any such reply, and understood Lord Salisbury to consent. In the mean while, the representatives of Russia and Japan have arrived in this country, and are waiting for the conference to begin. The English papers express themselves as being very pleased that England has refused to be present at the meeting. They insist that we were setting a trap for England, and trying to get her to say or do something at the conference which would let us out of paying the $425,000 of the Paris award. This is unkind of them, and not quite fair to us. By looking at page 926, you will see that it was agreed that about $425,000 should be paid to Canada as damages for keeping her out of the Bering Sea. This sum was to be paid subject to the approval of Congress.