The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1870-05-14
From Old and New
Fur Seal Fishery in Alaska.

After possession of two years, and
with adequate means of obtaining infor-
nation, the amount of knowledge Of the
territory of Alaska, and it's resources,
evinced in official government reports, is
! lamentably small while the great bulk of
our people have no ideas in respect to it
outside of its name. Such being the case,
think it might not be uninteresting for
me to give short account of the great,
and alas, only source Of revenue, in Alaska
I mean the fur seal fisheries. 1t is net
only on account of their connection with
Alaska, that these fisheries are objects of
interest, but from the fact that the habits
of the animals are exceedingly peculiar,
being wholly unlike those of any other
creatures in the world and also that the
furs obtained there are at present in very
great demand.
The southwest corner of the main body
of Alaska is heightened out into a long pc
ninsula, and from the end of 1t the chain
of Aleutian Islands extends almost to the
opposite shores Of Asia. These islands
form the southern boundary Of Behring
Sea, which, for its stormy turbulence, the
shallewness of its waters and consequent
destructiveness of its waves, and the COM
parative frequency of shipwrecks that occur
upon it, is justly dreaded by sailor, mer-
chant, and insurer.
In this sea, about three hundred miles
| northwest from the extreme end of the
peninsula of Alaska, and entirely isolated
from all other bodies of land, are two small
islands, named st. Paul and St. George
they are so small, that if looked for on
large map they will be found only repre-
sented by mere dots. St. Paul. the larger
of the two, is thirty-fve miles north of St.
George the former is about fifteen miles
long by six broad the latter ten long, by
four broad. They must have been at one
time much larger, but being of old volcanic
formation, they have gradually worn away,
forming by detrition large and dangerous
reefs which, extending several miles into
the sea, render it impossible for vessels to
stay in their vicinity, except in fine wealth
er; especially as at neither of the islands
is there harbor, and the only protection
to be found in a storm is to get if possible
on the lee-side of one of them.
From the shore, with perhaps dozen
exceptions on both islands, cliffs rise per-
pendicularly, varying in hight from fifty to
six hundred feet. These are cut at places
by the wind and rain into most fantastic
| shapes, and are the abode Of countless my
riads of sea fowl. The interiors of these
islands are wild and desolate in the ex-
IRENE, but are greatly diversified by hill
and valley The upper part is of rough,
jagged, uncovered rock so uneven is it
that it is almost impossible to pass over
certain portions of it without suffering
leys the rock is covered by thin layer of
earth, which supports MOSES, a few run
ming vines, and in low damp spots coarse
grass as for timber. there is not so much
as a twig the natives are therefore obliged
to collect all that drifts to their shores to
supply themselves with fuel and building
material. These bleak cliffs and barren
valleys are shrSuded three-fourths of the
time in thick fog for without this great
dampness-as l will hereafter explain-it
would be impossible for the seals to remain
there during the season. Add to this
storms of such violence and duration as to
render landing OF departure from the shores
an impossibility in winter and in summer
only practicable on an average two days in
week, and one may form some idea of the
natural attractions Of this part of our newly
acquired possession.
There are eight beaches at st. Paul's,
and four at st. Georges, which, instead of
ending abruptly at the foot of tall cliffs,
rise gradually up into low hills. On these
beaches, in the early part of May, the seals
begin to assemble; first, few "seacutch-
ers, OF old male seals, arrive and taking
upon themselves the Office of scouts to the
advancing army, go over all the ground. If
much interrupted in their proceedings, they
have been known to prevent the landing of
seals on that beach during the ensuing
summer and for this reason they are per-
mitted to wander at WILL As time pro-
crosses, more arrive, both old and young,
but almost entirely male, until the beaches
fairly swarm with them and the young
and middle-aged are urged, from want Of
room. and by the ferocity of the seacutch
ers who keep the water line wholly to
themselves-back upon the adjoining hill
sides From the middle of May to the first
of June. there is a constant influx of female
seals, who, as fast as they arrive, are seized
by the seacutcher upon whose feet OF
territory, chance has brought them; he
driving back, if he be able, any advcntur-
ous male seal who may wish to contest his
right. If he is not able SO to do he is him
self driven up the hill side, and loses not
only the new conner, but all former con-
quests he may have made; for they are
quickly absorbed into the victars already
crowded harem. In these struggles for