Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-11-20
SCARCITY OF SEALS.
Less Than One Hundred Thousand Re
ported on the Aleutian Islands.

Less Than One Hundred Thousand Re.
ported on the Aieutian Islands.
WASHINGTON, November I9th.-The en-
tire number of killable seals on the Aleu-
tian Islands, which comprise the only seal
ing grounds belonging TO the United States,
is now less than 100000 This was the
startling intelligence presented yesterday
to Secretaries Window and Blaine. This
information comes from Professor Henry
W. Elliott of the Smithsonian. Institution,
and will be transmitted by the Secretary
of the Treasury in a special message TO
Congress as soon as that body convened.
The reports of the special Treasury
agents prior 10 1890 had been so conflicting
that Congress last summer decided 10 send
a man TO the islands whom they could
trust.
George R. Tlngle, Special Agent under
Cleveland's Administration, reported that
seals by the million swarmed upon the
islands, and pooh-poohed the talked of
Danger. Charles J. Goff of West Virginia,
later presented to Secretary Window a
carefully prepared statement demonstrating
that not one tenth of the seals described in
Tipgle's report came to the islands. Now,
Professor Elliott, fully corroborates Goff.
This fsct places Tingle in queer posi-
ton, especially as be now is the Superin-
tendent of corporation which secured
the sole right to catch seals.
Professor Elliott refuses to talk until his
report has been submitted to Congress, but
from other sources it is learned that very
crooked work was perpetrated during
Clevelands administration, as laid by
the Professor. The report is backed by
survey plates and affidsvits, and will show
that since 1872 the number of bachelor
seals has been reduced from l 500, 600 to
less than 100000. In fact, Professor Ell
lott doubts very much if enough killable
seals remain for next years catch.
The report will recommend that the
Government desist from its catches for at
least seven years. 1t urges that unless this
is done the seals will be absolutely eXter-
minated.
Mr.. Gof was apprehensive as TO the pro-
priety of taxing even $4,000 seals year,
the number Secretary Window had speci-
fed in his advertisement calling for pro-
posals fer new lease of the seal islands.
He suggested that 10000 be the limit His
advertisement having been made public,
however, Secretary Window declined for
obvious reasons to change his figures.
The lease was awarded to the North
American Commercial Company of San
Francisco. They bid $40 % per skin, the
next highest offer being but $S 20. No
doubt was expressed by any one, unless by
Mr. Goff, of the ability of the new COM
pany to get its so, 600 skins, and their man.
ager, ex-special Treasury Agent Tingle
assured his employers that he would secure
go, 600 of the finest skins that were ever
brought down from those islands. How
| false was Mr.. Tingle's representations is
shown by the Investigations of Profess or
Elliott.
| -Four resident special Treasury Agents
who assisted Professor Elliott and TIE off
GERS of the revenue marine, 25 or 30, all
| told, have little hesitation in expressing
themselves, and Professor Elliott seams to
indorse their views. In short, these agents
declare that the seal interests of the Gov
] eminent on the Privylov Islands are to-day
| OF the verge of speedy and complete ex-
| termination unless the Government orders
and enforces rest on land and succeeds in
| stopping poaching at sea.
! They positively assert that point has
| been reached where the further killing on
land and continued hunting in the open
| waters means the immediate ruin of the
| sealing interests of the United States. The
| old hunting grounds of these islands,
which, when Professor Elliott was here
years ago, were covered with thousands OF
surplus young males, are now grass grown
and abandoned. The few young male seals
caught are tsksn from the immediate mar
gins of the sealing rookeries, which no seal
ing gang ever visited in old times.