Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-11-05
AFTER SEAL PIRATES.
The Cruise of the Revenue Cutter
Bear in Behring Sea.
no CHANCE FOR SEIZURES THERE.
Small Opportunity for Seal POachers to Ply
Their Trade.
10 CHANCE FOR SEIZURES THERE.
WHY THE SEALS ARE DIMINISHING
ESPECIAL TELEGRAM TO rHR DISPATCH,

~
SAN FRANCISCO, November 4-Late ad-
vices from Ounalaska, Alaska, say that the
officers of the revenue cutter Bear, living
there. were much surprised TO see the steamer
Bertha appear flying United States flag
When Captain Healy, of the Bear, learned
of the Bertha's mission, which was 10 cruise
around the seal islands, he agreed to assume
her duty, as the weather is so rough now in
Behrlng Sea that only the stanchest vessels
can live through the storms, and only the
most experienced navigators in the Arctic
waters dare encounter the gales that rage
Lear the seal islands The officers of the
Bear were greatly amused by the tales of the
seal poaching that have been circulated. The
best answer 10 these yarns is to give the de-
tails of the recent cruise of the Bear.
CRUISE OF THE BEAR.
On September the Bear started on her
first cruise around the seal islands. Up to
October IA no attempt had been made by
any sealing schooner to raid the rookeries.
One vessel called for water, but her master
was warned against the violation of law.
On October Is Captain Healy, then at st.
Georges Island, was informed that iour
schooners had raided seal rookeries the
previous dav. The guard reported two
boats landed, but when he fired they es-
capped, leaving 100 dead seals that they shot
but failed TO skin. Investigation showed
the killing was correct but no trace could
be gained of more than two scnooners.
Nothing has been seen of any other poach-
ers near the islands, and the Alaska Com
mercial Company reports that SIX schooners
had gone through the entrance of Behring
Sea on their way home. as the weather was
becoming too rough for hunting. The Bear
left on the second cruise September 26, and
cruised around the islands until October 13,
eucountering the worst weather that Captain
Healy ever experienced in the Arctic.
HOPES OF HOME DIsPELLED.
During one gale the ship hove to for
three days and it required all her strength
and Healy's seamaDship to preserve her
from wreck. On October Is the Bear again
reached Ounalaska and the officers hoped
she was headed or home, but the Bertha's
arrival dashed these, and Healv decided to
make another cruise around the rookeries.
To show how small the chance is for seal
pirates to work at these islands it NAV be
well TO state that only one rookerv, Zapa-
dine, is out of sight OF the village. AT
Zapadine there is a guard which gives
warning of the arrival OF any boat With
an east wind no vessel can land there At
no other point on st. Georges can seals be
killed by boats crew. Native guards are
watching night and day at the rookery and
they fire on any intruaer ONLY one vessel
landed its crew on either of the Prybitoff
Islands the past season to kill seals, and
THIS attempt proved a failure, as they did
not secure skins ter shooting 100 SEALS
The risk OF landing in the heavy breakers is
very great, and from August till November
seal pelts are in the poorest condition, the
hair dropping of in patches.
WHY SEALS ARE DIMINISHING.
There IS no doubt seals on Seal Island
have diminished in a marked degree this
season. Two factors account for this One
Is the large number OF schooners killing
seals in the Pacific Ocean and the Behring
Sea and the other is the ravages of the killer
whale. The latter j. ter or to sea lions
while female seals swim near the whales |
without fear and hence fall an easv prey to |
the whales yOracity. 1t is reported from |
Sank that upon the rocks surrounding that |
island carcasses of seals killed by poaching
schUOnCrs have been washed up in many
cases with the fur still intact, showing the
reckless slaughter this season. Experts de-
clare that the Revenue Marine should be de-
tailed rs gaurd on the seal islands and the
present system OF Government agenss abol-
ished. The presence of the Bear near the
islands assures protection OF the seals until
they leave Tor warmer waters.
It was recently reported that 5000 gal
Ions OF alcohol had been shipped at Homo
lulu in American whalers for Alaska Can
-ain Healv declares these spirits 20 to !
siberia, where no laws against liquor traffic |
18th the natives are enforced. Only one |
American whaler was caught this season |
riIh whisky on board and that was confis- |
cafad.