The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1885-06-03
THE ALASKA FUR raaoE.
lease Of the seal Islands by she cemmer-
cinl Company.


There is no question that the Alaska
Commercial Company, by its lease of the
seal islands of that country, enjoys one Of
the most valuable franchises that could pos
sibly be secured" said an extensive inn
porter of sealskins in this city, I" and it is
to be regretted that the Government granted
the privilege it did for so insignificant re-
turn. At the same time, no matter what
may De said on that score, the monopoly
thus vouchsafed has been wise thing, 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
Alaska islands only limited number Of
seals may be killed annually 900 be-
iieve-and the natural increase of the ami
mails is many times that. For these skins
the Government receives but 50 each, while
they will net The company about 50 $780,
900. If the Government employees having
supervision of the operations of the Alaska
Company are not corrupt there can be nc
greater number of seals taken. I have an
idea, however, that there are magnificent
opportunities 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 DESC
late shores of these distant islands furnish
tho finest quality of seal fur now TO be OBJ
tanned. The Antarctic islands of Georgia
and Desolation formerly contained still
finer-clad seal, its value being twice that Of
the Alaska seal, but as they were free hunt
ing grounds the animals long since became
30 scarce that 1t did not pay to send vessels
to their haunts after them. The last time
that seal-hunting party was sent to those
while the time is still within the memory of
seal hunters who are not yet old when a
catch of 1000, 900 year on these islands
was notan uncommon thing. The northwest
coast of Alaska as far as Oonalaska is q free
seal-hunting ground, but the skins are far
inferior to the pelts taken in the Pribyloff
rockeries, as the fishermen call them.
1t is not pleasant sight, the slaughter
ing of seals, nor is there anything in it re-
quiring heroism or the exercise of skill, or
that will awaken the lively emotions of q
sportsman. The sealing vessels begin to
gather at the islands early in June, and it ID
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 breeding
places until August there is constant, and
often deadly warfare waged between the
pugnacious heads of sleek-skinned harems.
and the bellowings Il these jealous seale
may be heard far out to sea above the rcaI
of the surf. Not less than 9,000, 600 aeali
congregate on these isolated rocks, and the
chorus OF voices il is possible for them tc
mise may be imagined. 70 see the seals
literally packed on those islands is a sight
never to be forgotten. The whole surface
of the rocks seems to be wriggling, with
ing, comforting mass.
:" A 3-year.old seal has the choicest fur.
Nothing younger than 2.year-old nor olde,
than 4-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 of their
escape. Then the surprised animals are
driven inland, as drovers might drive focks
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 the head with 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 re-
main in cure for three or four weeks, when
they are counted by the Government agent
and taken to San Francisco, where the
United States Collector recounts them and
collects the tax. At San Francisco they are
packed in tight bands and sent direct to
London for the dressing which no one in
this country has yet learned to give them.
This Alaska seal fishery has added not less
than $40, 600, 900 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.n
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