The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1869-01-31

The Alas Ks Seal Ffsheries-H0w the Auimats
Are Taken-New London Sends the FIEss
vemel from the Atlantic Coast.
New London claims the honor of having sent
the first vessel from the Atlantic coast to the wa
tiers of Alaska to engage in the fur seal business
This vessel was the bark Peru, E. Morgan, master.
owned by Williams q Haven, of that city The
Hartford Courant says: "Captsin Morgan has
recently returned home, overland, from San Fran
cisco, and gives an interesting account of his
operations and description of the locality where
the fur seals are found. He joined bis ship at the
Sandwich Islands in February last proceeded by
way of Sitka to the island where the seals resort
and arrived there on the 18th OF April. Soon after
be landed his men. with building material. pro-
visions salt and utensils, and hoisted for the first
{ ime the American flag on the island. The master
hired some natives to assist, and made sprepara-
tons for the summers work.
Needing more supplies the ship was sent back
to Honolulu for additional provisions and lumber,
which arrived later in the season. Some twelve
or fourteen buildings or dwellings, store and salt
houses, were erected along the shores, and In due
Iime the taking Of skins commenced. The men
employed in this work followed the old Russian
rules OF killing only the males and removing these
back from the beaches before dispatching them,
lest those coming in from the water should be
a armed and driven of by blood or carcasses on
the shores. The young seals or pups were never
molested. The men report the antics Of these
little fellows. gathered in vast numbers learning
The Peru party met with strong rivalry and
opposition in their work from the employees of
San Francisco concern, who. having bought out
the stock of goods and vessels belonging to the
old Russian. American Fur Company. claimed TO
be their successors in the fur business of the terri
tory. They tried almost every means Of annoy
ance, but soon found that New England seamen
were not TO be coaxed or driven away.
:" The islands known for many years as the
home of the fur seal are two in number, and are
aituatad ineida north of the EOX Alantian
Islands. about forty miles apart and two or three
hundred miles from any other land. They are
triangular in shape-the largest about twenty
miles long. east and west; the other about two
thirds the size. The soil is sandy, with under
lying clay and rocks; some prominent hills, with
low places and ponds between. Along the shore
are sand beaches with cliffs and projecting lodges
of rocks, on which the ocean surf constantly
breaks. No harbor sifordng good security is to
be found at either island. Strong winds from
almost every quarter are prevalent, and, during
the summer, fog and rain are very common, in
duced by vast quantities of ice that come floating
down from the northern seas. In winter the cold
northern winds make the climate extremely cold
ard inbospitable. No trees or shrubs of any kind
are found a rank grass, some vines producing
berries and q profusion Of flowers are the sole
vegetable products. Our animals sea lions, wal
rus. foxes, ducks and fish comprise the list.
"About one hundred families of the native
Alutes live upon these islands, and derive their
subsistence from the products of the land and sea.
They are an active and hardy race, peaceably dis
posed, resembling some what the Exqulmsux, but
more intelligent. They live in huts or caves,
speak the Aleutian and Russian language, and
have been employed for many years in the taking
and curing of the fur seal skins. The seals are
found at these islands only in the summer season
they begin TO arrive in April or May, and continue
10 come and go during the summer, occupying the
shores, often coming up the bluffs to a consider
able height. Their number is legion. The young
ere brought forth during the months OF June and
July, the mothers sucking them for nearly two
months, when they can provide for themselves.
Later in the seeson all the old seals shed their
coats of hair; as soon as this is renewed they
begin to migrate. and before winter sets In the
whole herd have departed on their annual voyage
TO sea, hot to return until the next spring.
"The bark Peru is believed to be the only YES
sci on this side of the continent that has been sent
to engage in the fur business In our new posses
SONS There were, in fact, but few vessels at
the seal islands this year. all Of them, except the
Peru and one other, combining to work together,
thus obtaining large number of skins. The mer-
chants and masters of New London engaged in
the whaling business have always been found fore
most in every sea to discover and fish on new
grounds for the pursuit of new game, and the ad.
venture of the bark Peru in new trade shows
that the past reputation of that port for marine
enterprise is not likely to die out. a
The last of September the Peru took of her
catch of skins, left part of her crew to remain
through winter, carried some of the natives EN-
ployed during the sumner to their homes il
Kodac, and proceeded thence 10 Honolulu where
she arrived November 2 with a valuable cargo