Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1884-04-05
Eurrka Dailp 5entntfl.
sEALSKINs.

siye privilege OF tdhin& iOVjVVV SS"
mar annum at a rental Of not less than
$50. 900 per annum, that is, 90 cents for
each seal taken. In accordance with this
authority, the exclusive right to take the
fur.seal to the number of 100, 600 per
anpum was granted to the Alaska Com
mercial Company for $4,000 a year.
This contract was made in 1870 and is to
continue 20 years, and has six years
longer to run.
The law provides that no females shall
be killed and none under one year Did.
The killing is limited to the rookeries on
st. Paul and st. George Islands.
The rental and TAX paid by the COM
pany to the Government for lS70-lSSl,
eleven years, was for rental 1856, 4So, and
for tax on skins taken 81, 500, 927, in all
SO. 452, 4S7, which is about five per cent
on the money paid for Alaska. Thus far
the Government has been out of pocket
on this speculation, the whole cost OF
administering the affairs Of the Territory
and the original purchase money.
The whole profits of, this purchase is
enjoyed by the Alaska Commercial Com
pany, which have been very careful not
to publish what they make. But from
the prices of sealskins and the cost OF
taking the seals, the annual profits have
ranged from two and one-half to three
and one.half million dollars. The cost
of taking the seals is not over "a each, or
$500, 900 a year, while the skins have
been worth from $50 to $40 each, or from
SO, 900, 600 to 81, ZOO, 900 a year, leaving
a profit ranging from 81. 900, 900 to
SO, 600, 900 each year.
There is a resolution before the House
asking for an investigation OF this mat
ter, since some ugly rumors have been in
circulation respecting the way this COM
pauy has managed the fisheries and exc
cuted its contract.
1t is but fair to say that all reports
published from the islands are on the
whole most favorable to the management
of the company. The great fear was that
the killing of 100, 600 seals every year
would diminish the number, that the
supply would be exhausted before the
c~ompany's lease would expire. If, how
ever, we can believe the Census Reports,
the number Of seals has steadily increased
from 1870 to 1880.
1t is also true that the company has
every opportunity for dishonest work,
and the strongest possible temptation,
since skins are worth $40, and thousands
of seals are within reach of their clubs,
on an island, to which none but they and
theirs, and a Government agent, are per
mitted to go.
The penalties for killing more than the
100, 900 seals are very severe, and the
right to change the law at any time, il
reserved in the law itself. But whether
a repeal of the law would annul the con
tract made under the law, the courts
may have to decide, and there can be M
doubt, under the circumstances, wha
the decision would be.
The purchase of Alaska, conceived b.
spectators, advocated by Senator Sum
ner, and negotiated by Secretary Sew
ard, was made on a prospective com
merce which has not after IL years tria
paid a half of the Custom-house ex
penses. Mr.. Sumner was eloquent owe
the of ice and fish; but W,
have not yet heard of Alaska ice in on
commercial statistics and Alaska fsl
have played a very insignificant part.
The real reason for the purchase, tn
fur.seals, was kept out of sight till afte
the treaty was ratified, and as much il
the background as possible until Secre
tary Boutwell, made the lease to tn
Alaska Company. The lease on the da.
it was signed, sealed and delivered, wa
worth fifty millions, and it was given T.
the company for 81, lO0.O 900, subject to
tax of So on each skin shipped.
The Alaska Company has q monopol.
of the sealskin trade, and do 30 far con
troll the sales and fashions as to sa,
how long sealskin sacques shall be worl
and how much they shall cost. If a
any time the market is dull. q few
thousand dollars skillfully used il
Paris, London and New York, will
make sealskins the rage end give then
q few inches in additional length
This decree OF Queen Fashion make
an enormous demand for the skins ant
hundreds of thousands are added to tn,
bank account of the Alaska CONNER
cial Company.
We have nj fashion prophets; but 81
far as sealskins are concerned, Chi
ladies may be assured they will b
fashionable for six years, and as muci
longer. az the Alaska Commercial Com