News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1885-06-04
THE ALASKA FUR TRADE.
LEASE OF THE SEAL ISLANDS BY
THE COMMERCIAL COMPANY.
Three Million Seals COngreRate at One
Time on the Isolated Rocks.

"There is no question that the Alaska
Commercial Company, by its lease of the
seal islands OF that country, enjoy one OF
the most valuable franchises that could
possibly be SECURED" said an extensive
importer of seslskins In New York, sand
it is to be regretted that the Government
granted the privilege it did for so insig-
nifcant return. At the same time, no
matter what may be said on the ecore,
the monopoly thus vouchsafed has been
wise thing, inasmnch as it prevents
the general warfare on the seals of these
islands which has caused the virtual ex-
tinction of the fur seal from every other
fishery in the world. Under the pro-
visions OF the company's lease of the
Alaska islands only limited number OF
seals may be killed annually-100, 900 l
believe-and the natural increase of the
animals is many times that. For these
skins the Government receives but 81
each, while they will net the company
about $2,500,00 If the Government
employees having supervision OF the
operations of the Alaska Company are
not corrupt there can be no greater
number of seals taken. have an idea,
however, that there are magnificent OPP
portunities for enterprising officials in
this work of supervision.
"The Pribylof group of islands, over
which the Alaska Company has supreme
control, are 800 miles from Sitka, and
are simply small rocky protrusions from
the sea. The only life one sees there is
in the seal-killing season, which begins
early in June and continues all summer,
the skin of the seal being in its best
condition during these months. The
seals taken on the desolate shores of
these distant islands furnish the finest
quality of seal fur now to be obtained.
The Antarctic islands of Georgia and
Dissolution formerly contained still
fner-clad seal, its value being twice that
of the Alaska sea, but as they were
free hunting grounds the animals long
since became so scarce that it did not
pay to send vessels to their haunts after
them. The last time that seal-hunt-
ing party was sent to those remote
waters less than 100 were taken, while
the time is still within the memory of
seal hunters who are not yet old when a
catch of 2, 1000, 900 year on these islands
was not an uncommon thing. The north
west coast Of Alaska as far as Oonalaska
Is free seal-hunting ground, but the
skins are far inferior to the pelts taken
In the Pribyloff rockeries, as the fisher
men call the seal haunts.
SIT is not pleasant sight, the
slaughtering of seals, nor is there any
thing in it requiring heroism or the ex-
ercise of skill that will awaken the lively
emotions of sportsman. The sealing
vessels begin to arrive at the islands
early in June, and it is fact that in the
heavy fogs that prevail in that latitude
in summer the sailors depend on the
hoarse cries of the seals that are gathered
on the rocky shores to guide them to the
hunting grounds. From the time the
seals begin to congregate at the breed
ing places until August there is constant,
and often deadly warfare waged between
the pugnacious heads of sleek-skinned
harems, and the bellowings of these
Jealous seals may be heard far out to sea
above the roar of the surf. Not less
than 5000, coo seals congregate on these
isolated rocks, and the chorus of voices
it is possible for them to raise may be
imagined. To see the seals literally
packed on these islands is sight never
to be forgotten. The whole surface of
the rocks seems to be wriggling, writh-
ing, comforting mass.
ga three-year-old seal has the choicest
fur. Nothing younger than two
year-old nor older than four-year- old
is killed. The hunters start out before
dawn, while the seals are asleep along
the shores. Taking positions between
them and the sea they cut off their es-
cape. Then the surprised animals are
driven inland, al drovers might drive a
flock of sheep. They are permitted to
take their own time, and when they
reach the killing ground the hunters go
around and knock each one, or the ones
that are marketable, on LIE Mes.Gs Will
heavy club. The skins are removed
from the carcases at once and taken to
the sailing houses where they are
covered with salt and piled up. They
remain in cure for three or four weeks,
when they are counted by the Govern
ment agent and taken to San Francisco,
where the United States Collector re-
counts them and collects the tax. At
San Francisco they are packed in tight
bands ard sent direct to London for the
dressing which no one in this country
has yet learned to give them. The
Alaska seal fishery has added not less
than $40, 600, 900 a year to the trade of
the world by the time the completed
garments adorn the forms of those who
are so fortunate as to be able to possess
than -