Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-03-22
SLAUG EHIEEkhNsc FUR SEALS.
sEoyy an Expensive Article of Fensi-
nine Apparel Is Obtained.

The method followed by the natives of st
Pauls and St. GEORGES islands. off the Alaska
coast, in capturing the fur seals is curious
During the summer season the seals frequent
the shores of these islands and gather on the
beach i'll vast numbers. The Younger male or
bull seals are the only ones that are killed. and
they are found assembled by themselves away
from the breeding rOUkeries. The natives 20
down to the beach in the early morning and
quietly surround group of 100 or more seals
getting between them and the water. The seals
are then alarmed with shouts and cries. and
terrified. fec inland along the only way left
open. They are driven in this way to the kill
ing place near the village on the shores of the
island. Driving them is very easy thing.
although it takes them some time to accomplish
the distance; but they biunGer along. stimu-
lated by the cries of their captOrs. The old bull
seals that may be in the drove are apt to show
fight. but if they do they are allowed to drop
out OF the crowd, as their skins are worthless
The young ones are as easy to drive as a flock of
sheep.
The seals. when finally driven up on the flats
between the east landing and the village, and
almost under the windows of the dwellings. are
herded there until cool and rested. The drives
are usually made very early in the morning. at
the first breaking of day. which is 1:30 to to 2
o'clock Of June and July in these ATTITUDES.
They arrive and cool Off on the Strengthening
grounds, SO that. by Or Z o'clock, after break
fast, the abIe-bodied male population turn out
from the village and 90 down to engage in the
work of slaughter. The men are dressed in
their ordinary working garb of thick flannel
shirts, stout cashmere or canvas pants, over
which the ''tarbossa" boots are drawn; if it
rains, they wear their ''kaInlaikas" made of the
intestines and Threats of the sea lion and fur
seal. Thus dressed they are armed with a club.
a stout Oaken or hickory bludgeOn. which have
been made particularly for the purpose at New
london, Conn, and imported here for this
special service. These sealing clubs are about
five or six feet in length, three inches in diam
eter at their heads, and the thick ness of mans
forearm where they are grasped by the hands.
Each native has his stabbing knife his sknning
knife and his wholesome; these are laid upon the
grass convenient when the work OF Draining 0 r
or knocking the seals down is in progress This
is all the apparatus which they have for killing
and skinning.
When the men gather for work they are under
the control of their chosen foremen or CHIEFS
usually on st. Paul, divided into two working
parties at the village and sub-party at northeast
point, where another salt house and slaughter
ing field is established. At the signal of the
chief the work of the day begins by the men
stepping into the drove cOrraled on the fats
and driving out frOmit 100to $50 seals at time,
make what they call pod, which they surround
in circle, budding the seals one on another as
they narrow it down. until they are directlyf
within reach Of their clubs. Then the chiee
after he has cast his experienced eye over this
struggling WrlCnlng kautlcle III the center. passed
the word that such and such seal is bitten, and
that such and such seal is too young and that
such and such seal Is too old. The attention
of his men being called to these points, he gives
the word strike and instantly the heavy clubs
come down all around, and every one that is ell
igible is stretched out stunned and mOtiOness in
less time, really, than take to tell it, Those
seals spared by the chief, now struggle from I'M
der and over the bodies Of their insensible COM
paniOns and pass hustled off by the natives back
to sea- Then the careasses are skinned and the
pelts prepared for shipment.
The common or popular notion in regard to
seaskins is that they are worn by those animals
just as they appear when offered for sale; that
the fur seals swim about, exposing the soft coat
with which our ladies Of fashion so delight TO
cover their tender forms during inclement
winter. This is a very great mistake; few skins
are less attractive than the sealskin when it is
taken from the creature. The fur is not visible
it is concealed entirely by coat Of stiff over
hair, dull. gray, brown and grizzlcd. 1t takes
three Of them to make q lady's sacque and boa
Fitting them for the market Ia tedious, costly
process, requiring great skill. As the summer
wanes the seals iorsake the islands, and old and
young take to the sea, and it is supposed spend
their intervening months, until next season, on
the fishing banks Of the North Pacific.