to avail themselves of these provisions. The negotiations are now
proceeding with several Governments, both European and American. It is
believed that by a careful exercise of the powers conferred by that Act
some grievances of our own and of other countries in our mutual trade
relations may be either removed, or largely alleviated, and that the
volume of our commercial exchanges may be enlarged, with advantage to
both contracting parties.

Most desirable from every standpoint of national interest and patriotism
is the effort to extend our foreign commerce. To this end our merchant
marine should be improved and enlarged. We should do our full share of
the carrying trade of the world. We do not do it now. We should be the
laggard no longer. The inferiority of our merchant marine is justly
humiliating to the national pride. The Government by every proper
constitutional means, should aid in making our ships familiar visitors
at every commercial port of the world, thus opening up new and valuable
markets to the surplus products of the farm and the factory.

The efforts which had been made during the two previous years by my
predecessor to secure better protection to the fur seals in the North
Pacific Ocean and Bering Sea, were renewed at an early date by this
Administration, and have been pursued with earnestness. Upon my
invitation, the Governments of Japan and Russia sent delegates to
Washington, and an international conference was held during the months
of October and November last, wherein it was unanimously agreed that
under the existing regulations this species of useful animals was
threatened with extinction, and that an international agreement of all
the interested powers was necessary for their adequate protection.

The Government of Great Britain did not see proper to be represented at