The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-07-12
Trouble Over the Recent Cap
ture at Ounalaska.
THE MATTE c. OVERS DEFENSE,
British Vessels Nearly Loaded Before
Revenue Cutters Arrived.
Customs Omcers Make No Enort to Catch
Canadian Vessels. but Keep Sharp
Lookout for Americans-News From
the Icy Seas.


Thomas, of the North American CONNER
cial Company's steamer Arago. which ar
rived in port this morning, serious difficult
ties are likely to arise because of the seizure
of the sealing schooner Matte C. Dyer. A
report was published here to the effect that
the cutter Bear had made the seizure, but
such was not the case. The vessel was
seized by Deputy Collector Edmunds, of
Ounalaska.
Captain Mockler, of the schooner, put in
to Ounalaska on June 10, in distress. He
regularly entered his vessel at the custom
house and surrendered his papers, when
the deputy collector seized his vessel for
an alleged violation of the sealing laws.
Captain Mockler protested. but Edmunds
sent the cutter from the fish commission
steamer Albatross and had the schooner
towed into Ounalaska harbor, where sew
enty sealskins, which were reported as the
vessels catch, were taken to the Gus ,tom-
house, as were all the arms on board and
the vessel was made fast to the wharf.
Captain Mockler said that he could prove
positively that he had not sbeen sealing in
Behring sea. and was, therefore, guilty of
no offense against the government; but the
deputy collector was firm, and would not
seems, according to Captain Mockler's
story, as told to the PosT-IErELLIGENcER
representative by Captain Thomas. that
about week before, while boat was out
hunting. it was capsized and two men were
drowned in the Pacific ocean, and the next
day a gale sprang up and the schooner's
bob-stay was carried away.
On top of all these troubles, the cook,
who had been acting strangely for some
time, made threats against the captains
life, and said that he would kill all hands.
He several times attempted to poison those
on board, but was unsuccessful. Because
of this trouble Captain Mockler determined
to make port in distress, and repair the
damage to his vessel and get rid of his
cook and secure men to take the places OF
those who were drowned. He had hardly
had time to enter his vessel, as told above,
before it was seized. The crew are still
standing by the vessel in hopes that it will
be released, but it is doubtful if this will be
done.
The Matte G. Dyer is new schooner
owned at Gloucester, Mass, and this is her
first year at sealing. Captain Mockler has
written to report to the vessels owner, and
the bondsmen of Collector Pratt will, in all
probability, be sued for damages, for pre-
venting the vessel from pursuing legiti-
mate and legal pursuit by reason OF his
holding her without any good cause. Cap
tain Mockler lays particular stress on the
fact that there is not the least bit of proof
that his vessel has been sealing in the sea,
while on the other hand, there is
plenty of evidence to show that
the revenue cutter Bear was in port when
the seizure was made, but took no part
in it.
Captain Thomas says that the Bear ar
rived at Ounalaska on June Is, and sailed
for the seal Islands on June 90. The cutter
Richard Rush had not arrived when the
Arago left. The fish commission steamer
Albatross was at Ounalaska making inves-
LEGATIONS as to the species and habits of
the fish which abound in those waters and
preparing charts of the islands. The sealing
schooner San Diego. of Victoria, was in
Dutch harbor, near Ounalaska, when the
Arago sailed. She had put in to get fresh
provisions and 70 repair her sails, and had
over q hundred sealskins on board, bu
there was no attempt made to seize her.
The British sealing schooner, Henry Dem
mis-, also put into Ounalaska with large
number of skins aboard, but skipped out
during the night without giving the author
tiles a chance to take her. Captain
Thomas says that all the sealing vessels
heard from had been making big catches.
The British sealer Penelope had loo skins
aboard when heard from, about June Is
last. The late appearance of the revenue
cutters has given the sealers splendid
chance to make good catches, and although
the Arago sighted none there is every rea-
son to believe that the sea is full of vessels
which are kept well posted on the move
ments of the revenue cutters.
1t is evident that the revenue cutters are
not oyerexerting themselves to capture
sealers as from the statements of Captain
Thomas no attempt was made to seize
either of them. The story that the gov
ernment is going to adopt milk and water
policy finds general credence here, beca use
of the action of the revenue cutters.
One might say that the sealing vessels
go right within reach of the authorities
and are not touched. The revenue cutter
Corwin is still in port awaiting orders from
Washington as to when to proceed north,
and from lack of preparations on the. ves-
sci it is apparent that no orders are ex-
pected for some time yet.
The Arago, it will be remembered, took
to ST. Paul, one of the Pribylov islands,
George K. Tingle, the manager of the
North American Commercial Company.
and he took formal possession of the
islands on June 1.
Captain Thomas was ayerse to talking on
the subject, but said that the new company
| had arranged the transfer OF the houses,
etc, belonging to the old company, in q
satisfactory manner, and that although he
did not known the price paid for the i'm
provements. there was no controversy about
| it. As far as he could learn, the company has
/ not been getting many seals, but only the
| best seals are killed.
Professor Elliott, of the Smithsonian In
| stitution, who went to Alaska on the
T, Araga, is busy collecting specimens, and
/ is meeting with great success.
| WHERE FUR SEALS ARE BORN.