The seal puppies can be easily caught and handled.  Last year three hundred and fifty of them were marked with a series of bars across the back, which had much the appearance of a huge face.

The hair will never grow again over the spot that has been burned, and the marks are made in all the best parts of the fur, so that the skin is utterly destroyed, and the seal is no longer worth killing.

The pups that had been branded were very carefully watched until they had quite recovered from their burns, and it was found that none of them had been injured by the branding, nor did their altered appearance seem to make any difference in their habits, nor in the friendliness of their tribe toward them.

* * * * *

The Dingley Tariff Bill was brought up in the Senate last week.

It promises to be a very long while before a vote is reached on this subject.

Senator Aldrich, who has charge of the bill in the Senate, explained its various portions with the greatest care.

He stated that it was the desire of the framers of the bill to assist the growth of agriculture, commerce, and manufacture, and that their one aim was to enable American industries to compete with those of foreign countries.

He went on to say that there was no desire to raise the rate of taxation on imports (or goods brought into this country) to such a height that people could no longer afford to deal in them, the idea was merely to fix the price at such a figure that foreign goods could not be sold for less money than native goods could be manufactured for.

The friends of the measure, Mr. Aldrich said, hoped in this way to encourage American industries, and increase the prosperity of the country.

There is much agitation in Europe over the Dingley Bill.

In the Italian Chamber of Deputies, the Minister of Foreign Affairs said the Government was watching the outcome of the Tariff Bill with the greatest interest.

He stated that the Government had called the attention of the United States to the injuries that Italian trade would suffer if the bill were passed.

He went on to say that while Italy did not intend to raise her tariff on American goods in return, she would undoubtedly levy heavy taxes on Americans doing business in Italy if the bill were passed.

The attitude of Germany is even more threatening than that of Italy.

The German Ambassador sent an official letter to Mr. Sherman, the Secretary of State, the other day, saying that the proposed duty on sugar is considered a violation of the commercial treaty between Germany and the United States.

He requested the Secretary of State to call the attention of Congress to the matter, and inform them that they will break the agreement with Germany if they pass this clause of the bill.

He added a little hint of the course his country will take in case the bill becomes law.