The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-09-13
THE SEAL GROUNDS.
Behring Sea Last Refuge Of
Once Abundant Animal.
LAwLEssnEss OF PoAcHeRs
Russia Protects Her Rooksries, Making
Short Work Of Illegal Hunters
Need Of Prompt Action.

Need Of Prompt Action
WAsHISGroN CIrY. Sept Ex-senator In
galis's DILL to apply the general laws of Ore
gon, as far as applicable. to the district Of
Alaska, and to authorize the United States
circuit court Of Oregon TO try cases arising
in Alaska, was today sent to the Senate lu-
dietary COMMITTEES, Chairman Plat, of the
territories committee, reporting that his
committee did not properly have jurisdic-
ton over the bill. The object of this meas
ure Is 70 secure judicial determination by
the United States supreme court OF the
rights of the United States in Behring Sea.
D. O. Mills in North American Review.
The conclusion TO be reached as the re-
suit Of the diplomatic communications now
going on between the governments of the
United States and Great Britain in regard
10 the seal fisheries in Benring sea is mat
ter OF considerable importance to the COM
mercial world. The question at issue is
one which indirectly involves the perma-
nence of an industry of large proportions
and the preservation of conditions which
appear to be essential to the continuance
of useful and desirable article of COM
merce.
For the supply Of sealskin fur the mar
kets OF the world ara at the present day all
but entirely dependent upon the Behring
sea fisheries. The vast rookeries which at
one time existed in the Southern hemi-
sphere-in Patagonia, in the Falkland Is.
lands, in KergueIen Land, and in numbers
of islands in various part of the Antarctic
hao fnA ~
of existence. Seals are practical
iy unknown where three-quarters of
century ago they were to be
counted by millions. Indeed, although
that side of the globe is rich in breeding
grounds of the finest description, with cool
water. misty atmosphere, and good land
ings, there are now but few of these where
the seal is found at all. The animal has
disappeared before the ruthless energy and
unrestrained greed Of fishers of sill nation
alities, who for moro than half century
traversed the waters bordering on the
Antarciic ana slaughtered it, careless
whether the priced fur which had attracted
them thither should be known to the
markets of the future, SO long AZ they sue
ceeded in securing from it, in their own
markets, the greatest advantage with the
least trouble and expense to themselves.
But for the hospitable retreat offered to
the seas in the islands of Rehring sea, it
would seem that this wholesale destruction
in their original habitat would have signi-
he'd their total determination. In the
whole hemisphere north of the equator
these islands are the only grounds which
are frequented by the seal in any numbers,
and are, indeed. the only grounds which
meet his requirements.
1t is from the fact that these islands are,
SO 70 speak, the last refuge Of q valuable
furbear;ng animal. and the main source
whence the world draws its supply of the
commodity which this animal affords, that
the Behring sea question derives its COM
mercial significance. From the point of
view OF the interests of commerce. the sub
stantial issue is whe Their or not this COM
modify is to be allowed to disappear
through the virtual determination OF the
seal by the use of methods in the Alaskan
waters which have proved fatal 10 its ex.
4stence in every other part of the world.
The measures taken by the gov
eminent of the United States for
the regulation and preservation OF the
Behring sea seal fisheries were intended to
avert this result, and, being framed in ac-
cordance with the views of men who had
knowledge OF the conditions to be met.
they were well fitted TO accomplish that
purpose. The North American company.
which, on the LIST of May last, succeeded
the Alaska Commercial Company as the
lessee of the United States is held, like its
predecessor, TO the strictest compliance
with the rules enacted by congress y it'll
a view to conducting this business so that
it snail be at once profitable and economic
cal. The number and the age of seals
which may be killed during the year, the
period during which the operations of the
company's employees may be carried on,
the methods which may be employed in
securing and killing the seals, and other
matters which are known to have an i'm
portant bearing upon the maintenance Of
the herds, are defined in the clearest man.
ner by the law, and these directions can
be transgressed by the company or its
agents only under severe penalties.
In violent contrast, however to these re-
strictions imposed upon the lessee of the
Unitea States government are the utter
iawlessness and unscrupulousness of the
poachers, whose appearance on the fishing
grounds few years ago led to the present
diplomatic complications between our gov.
eminent and that OF Great Britain. Their
operations are carried on in absolute disre-
gard Of the future, their sole thought being
of the immediate profit to be made py
themselves out OF the seals captured. Ac-
cordingly, fishing in the open seas. they
turn their attention TO the very subjects-the
femae seals and the young animals
which. in view of the facility with which
they may be secured and OF the great in.
jury to the herds which would result from
their systematic destruction. the United
States government has wisely placed upon
the restricted list. It is reported
that out OF 5000 seslskins which re-
suited from the work of those en-.
gagged in this disgraceful traffic. no
one male skin could be found. This NAV
be easily understood, for the male seal is
strong and alert and no hunter can get
within shooting distance of him, as he can
generally escape from the fastest boat pur-
suing him. And these % 900 sealskins
represented a destruction of seal-Iife
amounting to 10000. At this rate it is
not difficult to estimate how long seal life
can be maintained, if any number of YES
sells can engage from year to year in its de-
struction in this way during the months of
July, August and September. In two or
three years most of the females would be
destroyed, with their young, and in q COM
paratlvely short time the entire family
would be extinguished, ana specimens
would be found only in the museums, g
the buffaloes are found today.
As confirming the wisdom of the United
States in its course towards these islands.
in enaeavoring TO maintain their CONNER
cial junction as source of supply of their
special product, it is worthy OF note that
the seal islands on the Asiatic coast, which
affords furs of an inferior quality and in
considerable smaller quantities, are rigor-
ously protected BY the Russian govern
ment These islands, though only few
hundred miles from the Pribylov group,
are seldom approached by British or
American vessels. The Russians made
short work, by confscatlon and punish
ment, of vessels found poaching in that
quarter. They have even fired into foreign
vessels, without eliciung complaint from
the governments whose flags were thus as