Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1885-05-20
1lI1 ALASKA FUR TRADE.


C0mmercin1 lnduetry.
.Thore ID no question thatthe Alaska
Commercial Company, by its lease Of
the seal islands OF that country, enjoys
b OF the most valuable franchises
that could possibly be secured" said
an extensive importer Of sealskins in
this city, land it is to be regretted that
the Government granted the privilege
it did for 20 insignificant a return. At
the same time, no matter what may be
said on that score, the monopoly thus
vouchsafed has been q wise thing, in
asmuch as 1t prevents the general war
fare on the seals of these islands which
has caused the virtual extinction Of the
fur seal from every other fishery in the
world. Under the provisions of the
company's lease Of the islands only q
limited number of seals may be killed
annually-1OO, 900 / believe-and the
natural increase Of the animal Is many
times that. For these skins the Gov
eminent receives but 81 each, while
they will net the company about ST.
500, 600. II 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 opportunities for
enterprising officials in this work Of su-
pervision.
1.-THE Pribyloff group of islands, W
which the Alaska Company has SUI
preme control, are 500 miles from Sitka,
and are simply small rocky protrusions
R.or~ Abo aon Tho nr1u 1tfo ann came
there is in the seal-killing season,
which begins early in June and con-
TIMES all summer, the skin Of the seal
being in its best condition during these
months. The seals taken on the DESC
late shores of these distant islands
furnish the finest quality of seal fur
now to be obtained. The Antarctic
Islands of Georgia and Desolation
formerly contained a still finer-clad
seal, 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 a seal-hunting party was
sent to these 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 2,00O;-
600 a year on these islands was not an
uncommon thing. The northwest coast
of Alaska as far as Oonalaska il a free
seal hunting ground, but the skins are
far inferior to the pelts taken in the
Pribyloff rockeries, as fishermen call
the seal haunts.
sit is not a pleasant sight, the
Strengthening of seals, nor is there any
thing in it requiring heroism or the ex-
ercise of skill, or that will awaken the
lively emotions of a sportsman. The
sealing vessels begin to gather at the
islands early in June, and it is a fact
that in the heavy fogs that prevail in
that latitude in summer the sailors de-
pend upon 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 con-
gregate at the breeding places until
August there is constant and often
deadly warfare waged between the
pugnacious heads of sleek skinned ha-
Iems, and the bellowings Of these jeal-
u seals may be heard far out to sea
above the roaring of the surf. Not less
than three million 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 lit
orally packed on these islands is a sight
never to be forgotten. The whole sur
face of the rock seems to be a wrig-
Cling, writhing, comforting mass.
"a 3-year-old seal has the choicest
fur. Nothing younger than a 2-year-
old or older than a 4-year-old is killed.
The hunters start out before dawn,
while the seals art asleep along the
shores. Takin{ ppositions between
them and the sea they cut off their es-
cape. Then the surprised animals are
driven inland, as drovers might drive
flocks of sheep. They are permitted
to take their own time, and when they
reach the killing ground the hunters
20 around and knock each one, or the
ones that are marketable, on the heads
with a heavy club. The skins are re-
moved from the 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
Government agent and taken to San
where the United States
Collector recounts them and collects
the tax. At San Francisco they are
in tight bands and sent direct
to London for the dressing, which as
yet no one in this country has learned
to give them. This Alaska seal fishery
has added not less than $50 ,0OO, 900 a
year to the trade of the world by the
time the completed garments adorn
the forms of those who are so fortu-
nate as to be able to possess them =
Nep York Times.