Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1871-04-27

Seal Hunting on the Ice.
SEwFoUNDLAND EXCITEMENT.
Correspondence Of the Evening Post.l



ST. JOHNS, N. F.,.April /, 1871
1t Is not wonderful that the jealousy of
our capitalists should be aroused in re-
gard to our lucrative seal fishery. when
the results OF this years operation, up to
this date, are considered. 1t promises to
be the best fishery for twenty years. The
fleet, as described In my last letter, took
| their departure on the first and second
days of March. On the evening OF the
18th March, the Walrus, owned BY w. and
j. Stewart, returned, loaded to the gun
| vale, having on board IL, 600 seals, value
| $4,000. She reported most favorably OF
the other steamers and also OF the sailing
vessels. Many of these were In the same
| Ice meadow where she had loaded, the
seals being marvellously abundant and
the weather splendid. The news spread
like wildhre, aud the whole town was
speedily In tumult of excitement. Thus
in nineteen days this steamer earned for
her owners S36 900; two-thirds of the
amount go to the owners, aud one-third
among the men, each receiving about 3S5,
Her good news was confirmed in day or
two by the arrival of the Eagle to Bowring
Brothers, with % 900 seals on board fol-
lowed speedily by the Lion, with 20 900;
the Hector, with $4,000 (the largest trip
ever brought i'm, and the Nimrod with 2l
y.
who thus receive 49, 900 seals, value Sl41,-
600, In two steamers. Ridley & Sons, of
Harbor Grace, the firm that were lately In
difficulties, have received 35 800 seals IN
two steamers, and their sailing vessels are
also well loadeu, so that by this fortunate
return they will be ION their legs" once
more.
The Commodore, owned by Punton &
Mum, has brought In rs 900 seals. Eight
in a little over three weeks, and most of
them are Off for second trip and inay oil
ap again. Zach seal is worth IS. The
Monticello will probably soon be iu and II
she gets full cargo she can carry 80, 900
seals. Eighty sal ing vessels are reported
as doing well. lively, out OF the fifteen
steamers have done well the other three
are not yet heard from. Talk about the
gold mines OF California-wherr is the
mine that can compare with this All
other mines become exhausted, but this
one shows 10 signs of decline. This
great sea harvest requires no pIoughing or
sowing, only the reaping It's highly
probable that the value OF the produce this
year will reach a million aud half of dol
lars, all gathered in six or seven weeks.
NJ wonder we are IN dread Of you Arucri
cans rca ing with US such golden har-
vest.
You may be sure we are in high spirits
here over this exciting news. What viz
Ions of gorgeous dresses and b light rib
bons the wives, daughters and sweethearts
OF these stout, greasy fishermen are now
iudul ging, Young fellows that were
hanging frc will not take the matrimonial
plunge, and the priest and parson will be
busy in another fortnight. Shopkeepers
are gloating over their expected gains
and the merchants behold another story
adied to their princely mansions on the
banks OF the Clyde or Mersey. House
wives are planning to 90 In for new car
pets or grand piano for their girls. Such
are the far reaching results OF our success
full al-hunt The whole outfit this year
was one hundred and sixty-one vessels.