San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1883-10-04
Sealing in Alaska.

Sealing in Aisstn.
Globe Democrat
SAN Francisco, September lO.-.Few
ladies who wear sealskin sacques know
that the scientists name Tor the AM
NAL that first wears that fine pelt Is
CaIlorhinus ursinus, or indeed any 9TH
er of the remarkable facts and status.
tics connected with the seal SKIN OF
commerce. When we started tor
Alaska wo thought that we shouia
find out all about the great seal hsh-
cries at Sitka, but at the ancient cap,
ital less was known, and the seal
islands of the Pribyloff group seemed
even further of, than at San FRANCIS
CO. Although these rocky islets lie
to the north and west of the Aleutian
chain, a matter of 800 miles distant
from Sitka, the capital of Alaska only
has communication with them VIA
San Francisco, and knows but little
of what may happen in these small!
municipalities leased for a term OF
twenty years to the Alaska CONNER
cial Company OF San Francisco.
At the time of the Alaska purchase
in 1868, some of the most ardent sup
porters of the measure laid no stress
upon the value of these seal islands,
and Senator Sumner made no refer
ence to them in his great speech
which virtually decided the destiny
of Alaska as a possession OF the Unit
ed States. Hayward Hutchinson
one of the first of our countrymen. to
engage in fur trading in Russian
America, went from Sitka across to
the Pribyloff Islands in 1868, and
there encountered Capt. Morgan, OF
New London, who, like himself, was
looking over the possibilities Of the
new Territory in the interests OF home
capitalists. They joined forces, and
returning to San Francisco, made no
effort to spread the great news. In
1870 Congress passed law declaring
the seal or Pribyloff Islands a govern
ment reservation, and prohibiting any
one from hunting seals on those
shores except under certain restrlc-
tons. Following that the islands
were leased for period of twenty
years to the Alaska Commercial
Company, of San Francisco,
at an annual rental of $4,000, and
impose tax of So upon each OF the
100, 900 skins of the fur seal which
they are permitted to take annually
By common and possibly reliable
gossip, each one of the twelve shares
pays the triple of 100000 for an an
nual dividend, and rumor further as
cribes the possession of one OF these
shares to Gen. Grant. Early in June
the desolate shores Of the Pribylof
Islands become vocal with the hoarse
voices of the seals, that have made
this their gathering place during the
breeding season for unnumbered years
It is estimated that 100000 seals
congregated on the rookeries of st.
Paul's Island this summer, and those
who have looked down upon these
rookeries at the height of the season
report it as most astounding spec
tacle. Acres of the rocky shore are
alive with seals of all sizes and kinds
and the very ground seems to be
writhing and squirming as the I'M
calmly creatures drag themselves ovel
the rocks, or pause to fan themselves
with their fippers. Great battles are
waged between the heads of seal fam
lilies from June to August, and the
harsh chorus of their voices is hearc
at sea above the roar of the breakers
and is the sailors guide in making
the islands during the heavy summe.
fogs. Only the male seals from 2 t'
4 wears of age are killed, and the skins
of the 3-year- olds have the finest an(
closest fur. The method of killing
them has nothing heroic or hunts
man-ike about it. The natives star
out before dawn, and, running dowr
the shore, get between the sleeping
seals and the water, and then driv'
them as they would SO many sheep
to the killing ground, half-mile in
land. They drive them slowly, Civ
ing them frequent rests for cooling
and gradually turning aside and leav
ing behind all seals that are not u
to the requisite age and condition
When the poor, tame things hav
reached their death ground the native
60 round with heavy clubs and xii
them with one blow on the head
The skins are quickly stripped from
them and taken to the sailing house
where they are covered with salt ant
Ilo;J -, o,.aot ,,;lae The natives 70