Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1885-05-22
TIE ALASKA FUR TRADE
Three NIlliun SCENTS Conrrcunse :,
Time on the Isolated Rocks' Oss

af
Time On the Isolated RocIks' Va
sThere is no question that the Alasl.
Commercial Company, by its lease ~ i.
seal islands Of that country, enioy ons ].
the most valuable franchises that cO,,,
possibly be secured, said an exsens,.s
importer Of sealskins in New York ~. s.ass
il Is to be regretted that the Goyernn, -
granted the privilege il did for so ;ns;.
nificant q return. At the same tina
matter what may be said on the seo-.
the monopoly thus vouchsafed has hsss
q wise thing, inasmnch as il prevans
the general warfare on the seals az A..
islands which has caused the virtual :
1 tinction OF the fur seal from every OH n
fishery in the world. Under the ~
visions of the company's lease ~ n,
| Alaska islands only q limited nnmhss
seals may be killed annnally-10O OOO
believe-and the natural increase Of n
animals is many times that. For tbsS.
skins the Government receives bnt :
each. while they will net the comnae,
about 50, 500, 600. If the Goyernmsr,
employees having supervision Of n.
operations of the Alaska Company =.
not corrupt there can be no greats
number of seals taken. / have an iass
however, that there are magnificent on
portunities for enterprisinR officials i
this work of supervision.
''The Pribyloff group OF islands. o,p
which the Alaska Company has suprem,
control, are 500 miles from Sitka. M
are simply small rocky protrusions fror
the sea. The only life one sees there
in the seal-killing season, which beein
early in June and continues all sumtne
the skin of the seal being in its be-
condition during these months. IN
seals taken on the desolate shores
these distant islands furnish the fnes
| quality of seal fur now to be obtained
| The Antarctic islands of Georgia al
| Desolation formerly contained a ST
hner-clad seal, its value being twice ths
of the Alaska seal, but as they wei
free hunting grounds the animals lon
since became so scarce that it did M
| pay to send vessels to their haunts altg
them. The last time that a seal-hunI
ing party was sent to those remol
waters less than 100 were taken, viii
the time is still within the memory
seal hunters who are not yet old when
catch Of 1000, 600 year on these island
was not an uncommon thing. The nortl
west coast OF Alaska as far as OonaasE
is q free seal-hunting ground, but Il
skins are far inferior TO the pelts take
IN the Pribylof rockeries, as the fshe
men call the seal haunts.
s'It is not pleasant sight, u
Strengthening of seals, nor is there AM
thing in it requiring heroism or the
ercise of skill that will awaken the live
emotions Of sportsman. The sealil
vessels begin to arrive at the islam
early in June. and il is O fact that in u
heavy fogs that prevail in that latitul
in summer the sailors depend on Il
hoarse cries of the seals that are gather
on the rocky shores to guide them tot
hunting grounds. From the time d
seals begin to congregate at the bree
ing places until August there is cOnstau
and often deadly warfare waged betwe
the pugnaciOus heads of sleek-skinns
harems, and the bellowings of the
| jealous seals may be heard far out tos
above the roar of the surf. Not ID
than 3, 900, 600 seals congregate on the
isolated rocks, and the chorus of voc
il is possible for them to raise may
imagined. To see the seals literal
packed on these islands is sight new
| to be forgotten. The whole surface
the rocks seems to be wriggling, writ
ing, comforting mass.
"a three-year-old seal has the choice
fur. Nothing younger than q tv
year-old nor older than a four-yearo
is killed. The hunters start out beio
dawn, while the seals are asleep alO
the shores. Taking positions betwe
them and the sea they cut off their
cape. Then the surprised animals
| driven inland, drovers might drive
flock OF sheep. They are permitted
take their own time, and when tb
reach the killing ground the hunters
around and knock each one, or the Oh
that are marketable, on the heads
a heavy club. The skins are remos
from the carcases at once and taken
| the sailing honses where they
covered with salt and piled up. Ib
remain in cure for three or four wee
when they are counted by the Cove
ment agent and taken TO San Francs
where the United Stats Collector
counts them and collects the tax
San Francisco they are packed in ii
bands and sent direct to London for
dressing which no one in this couD
has yet learned to give them.
Alaska seal fishery has added not
than SIC, 200, 900 year to the trade
| the world by the time the complex
garments adorn the forms Of those
\ are so fortunate as TO be able TO pos
them"