Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-07-19
A Glance at the Situation Of Uncle
Sam and His Rookerias.
AN INTERESTING SUBJECT.
The Piracy Must Stop Or the Wsrid vvnl
Have 70 Go Without Seal skias--S0nae
Interesting Facts About she Quecress
Of Animals-Preparin skins.

s~s. = e.s,,.usssA peltry product Of the
Pribylov Islands do at present represent the
only value to ourselves of this great sub-arctic
region. Experts familiar with the situation
stated to q STAR reporter the other day that
but for the protection exercised by this coun-
try over these seal fisheries they would be en-
tirely wiped out and the animals practically
exterminated within five years at the utmost.
As it is, since 1884 pirates in the waters of Behr
ing sea have alarmingly diminished the supply
of amphibian pinnipeds on which the world
almost wholly depends for . most valuable sort
Of furs. The law permits that 10O, 600 seals be
slain annually at the rookeries referred to for
commercial purposes, and it il seen to very
carefully that this number shall not be ex-
ceeded; but no precaution has been taken suf
ficient to prevent marauders in British bot
toms from carrying away each year 30, 600 un-
authorized seal skins by private enterprise. Ii
this meant merely the killing Of 10000 seals it
would not matter seriously. These pirates ap-
proach within thirty miles or SO Of the islands
and shoot the seals as they approach the breed
ing grounds or disport themselves in the
waters. Owing to the fact that when a seal is
struck with bullet or with buckshot it dives
at once and swims away under water, not more
than one seal is secured out of every ten
slaughtered in this way. Thus the 30, 900 skins
obtained represent the massacre OF SOC, 600.
Unfortunately, most of these are COW seals,
either with young yet unborn or after food for
their puppies left on shore. The females de-
stroyed in this manner leave fully zoe. 900 pups
unprovided for and the latter inevitably die
for want Of food. 1t is a simple matter there
fore to calculate what is undoubtedly the fact,
that the $4,000 seals killed each year by ma
rauders signify q loss OF half a million an
nually to the rookeries on the Pribylov Islands.
Already the diminution in numbers occasioned
by this cause has been SO serious that the seal
killers on the islands have been obliged to let
go many Of the creatures for breeding pur-
poses which they would have been glad to kill
To understand the situation fully it is neces-
sary to consider the fact that these rookeries
have during recent years been conducted in as
orderly q manner are cattle ranches. So
many of each sex have been killed each year
with painstakng regard to the maintenance Of
the equilibrium OF sexes, SO as to secure the
best results In breeding. At present there are
too few bull seals to keep the rookeries in
properly supplied condition. Most fatal Of all
the destructive methods adopted by the pirates
Is that OF setting gill nets in calm weather.
HOW ENGLAND Is INTERESTED.
Now, it is worth remembering that England
is jointly interested with the United States in
this seal industry, While this country is con-
cerned in it as a producer Of raw material
Great Britain has a stake not less important az
a manufacturer of furs. 1t is estimated that in
the city of London alone 20. 900 people are alto
gether supported by the business of preparing
Alaska seal skins for market II the two nations
can agree to protect this industry it can be in
definitely preserved; but il marauding is to be
permitted at the present rate Of goings ON, the
wiping out Of the seals is merely an affair OF
generation. A century ago the shores of Terra
del Fuego, the Falkland Isla nds and the west
coast of Patagonia swarmed with millions of
fur seals, but they have simply been wiped out
Of existence by the ruthless butchery Of COM
merciai persons so that there are only few
scattered specimens left in existence. At this
writing there are but three small colonies of
fur seals remaining, besides those Of the
Pribyl ov Handsome in the Russian Behring
sea, another of the mouth of the Rio de Ia
Plata in South America, and the third 100
miles to the south of the latter river.
THE SEAL ISLANDS.
In discussing this very unique subject it will
be as we'll to say something of the Pribylov
Islands and their inhabitants amphibious and
otherwise. The seal is just about the purest
example Of an amphibian Imaginable mas
much as it lives in thew and yet is Obliged
to come up on land for the purpose of repro
ducIng its species. Not until almost exactly q
century ago were the islands in question dis
covered, Tor the simple reason that the whole
area OF waters in Behring sea thereabout is one
almost perpetual fog bank. For hardly half q
dozen days in the year does the sun shine
there, and the incessant drizzle serves both to
keep the animals moist aud to protect them
from observation. The islands, called respect
lively st. Paul's and st. Georges, are lust nor tn
of the Aleutian chain and are separated from
each other by space Of sea thirty miles wide
They are small and nothing of any account
grows upon them, the few hundred resident
Aleuts depending almost wholly upon the seal
fishery for their livelihood. The fishing season
does not last longer than six or eight weeks,
but the pay is SO large that each person
engaged Ill 1t earns from $500 to 5000 for that
length OF service: A matter Of traditional
right this Is largely, the ancestors of these same
folk having held the privileges for MANY gen.
erations back. Six miles northeast of st. Paul's
Island is Warus Island-a fiat ledge Of lava 100
yards wide and quarter of mile long, This
Is the most interesting spot known to the natu-
rallst OF the present day. Landing upon the
ing water fowl, which literally cover the entire
surface of the island, brooding over their eggs
They have no fear of man. and the observer
who does not object to screeching tumult
can sit down among them and make his own
observations OF nature at close quarters. The
natives gather tons OF these birds eggs for
food But as to the seals:
THE ARRIVAL OF THE sEAIs
About the first day Of May the advance guard
of male seals arrives at the island. and thew
swim shyly about, as if doubtful about landing
month later they come by thousands from the
ocean depths. and then ensues the fight for no.
sition on the rocky shores Of the islands. The
first Corners fight those who come next, and so
on the object being to keep a place on the
water line. To maintain such q situation on
| the waters brink no small amount OF proves
is necessary. The holder Of such stains can
| only keep his place by fighting in turn every
newcomer. II is no unusual thing for a buil
| seal to be obliged to fight fifty battles before
| establishing his claim to a front seat on the
surf. No creatures appear more harmless than
seals, and yet they are very ferocious in such
combats. seizing one another with their tee tn
and inflicting dreadful lacerations. 1t il no un-
usual thing for both bull seals, equally matched
, in conflict, to die Of their injuries. Often the
wounds are aggravated by the sand that blows
into them, and in such cases the seals form into
| small gatherings upon the beach, termed bv
the natives hospitals" and either die or re-
| cover, as the case may be.
THE OUTSIDE PLACES
| on the beach are necessarily the most desirable.
for the reason that those occupying them have
the best chance to welcome the female seals
when they arrive few days later 1t must not
be supposed that the female seals land for the
| purpose Of joining the males; on the contrary.
! they would probably avoid doing 30 were il not
that they are about to bring forth their Young
for the bull seals are very unceremonious Ia
! welcoming their gentler sex. When female
arrives she il promptly seized by the neck bv
| the most fayorably situated bull seal and de-
| posted on the rock near him. This appronri.
alton Of feminine property ID not put up with
by other bull seals and fight ensues, often OF
a most bloody character, during which the
female is jerked around in a most painY,l
manner, though she is 30 amiabie that as a rule