The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1889-08-14
ALASKA SEAL INDUSTRY.

Its Great yalus-The BFesdipg Grounds
Something About the Territory
New FORK Herald.
Alaska presents the anomalous con-
dition Of belnga Territory otthe United
States without a territorial government,
having no laws except Treasury regula'
tons, no political subdivisions, but .
customs district, with a collector and
tho necessary subordinate officials Pur'
chased by the United States Govern
nent in 1867 for s., 200, 900, has has ap'
parently been run nearly ever since 10
Interest OF the Alaska Commercial Com
pany, whose contract for twenty years
began In May, 1870, and will expire by
Limitation in May next. This contract
was by special act OF Congress, and
authorizes the Commercial Company to
kill seals in the Alaska waters to the
number OF 100000 annually, the "baehe'
lor," or young male seals, being the only
ones permitted TO be slaughtered
though there Is little doubt that this
provision In the contract has by nc
means been held as binding by the seal
fishers, For the seal killing franchise
the United States Government receives
from the Alaska Commercial Company
the sum OF $4,000 per annum, az
amount so ridIculously dlsproportioned
TO the real value Of the franchise that Il
ia not be wondered at either that thu
company has grown rich and powerful
or that it Is anxious ~ procure an ex
tension OF the contract for another terri
OF twenty years 81 less, as the Herald
San FrancisCOtoTrespondent has shown
to be the, case.
VALUE or THE SEAL INDUSTRY.
while the returns OF the Commercial
company are not Immediately accessible
Tor the period covered by the latter hal
OF the term OF their contract, tho otlicia
figures for the first ten years, or iron
1870 to 1880, can be- given, and as there
Ia a practical limitation on the numbe
OF seals killed, and the price Of the iu
In the markets does not greatly vary, III!
statistics OF the industry for the tul
term Gun easily be calculated, In fact
these statistics IRE given for thirteeI
wears. or from 1867 to 1883, and shoV
that during that period the number o
| fur seals killed was l,277,SS3, or abou
the stipulated hundred thousand skin
per annum. These skins, at the marke
value In London, Sl5 per skin, amount
ed 10 SIG, $780, 1905. 1t may therefore b.
figured that for the full twenty years
| term the Alaska Commercial Compan!
will have received iorthe sealskins takeI
the sum OF $50, 100000.
Now, besides the $50, 900 annually paIt
for the seal franchise, the United State
government receives from the compan!
a revenue tax OF s. for every skin ship
ped abroad, and also 90! cents for eaCl
skin and 35 cents for each gallon OF oil
The company pays, besides, 40 cents to tn
natives whom they employ In killing 70
every seal killed. For the twenty years
therefore, the United States would re
ceiye the gross sum OF SS,4l0, 900, or {
little more than ten per cent OF the gros
Weld. Meanwhile the cost pet annun
| 10 the company OF taking the skins, ad
ded 10 the incidental expenses, woult
come to about 81, coo, 900 for the entirv
period OF twenty years, leaving the com
pany with net profit per annum o
s., 100000 to set againSt the United
States annual revenue from the seal fish
ery OF $l70,600.