Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1890-12-13
FAR AWAYIAL ALASKA.
Seal Thieves Under Proteetiea OF British
Bl1sssr Rapidly Destroying the Value
of Oar Purchase From Russia by
WantOn Slaughter OF Scala
Necessary for Navy to Proceed to Alaskan
Waters to Prevent the Fate of the
Seal Like That OF the Buffalo
on the Plains.

WASHINGTON, d. c., December 1o.-Sheldon
Jackson, who was last spring appointed United
States general agent of education for Alaska,
Washington, aad reported to Secretary Noble
for assignment in the bureau of education.
Mr.. Jackson. in conjunction with his mission
for the bureau of education, was also an
agent for the census bureau in the capacity
of enumeration. 0Soon after his appointment
he started for Alaska, and since that time
has directed his attention principally to
thorough examination of the condition of
the natives; their modes of living. education,
etc. He will soon begin the preparation of
q report on these subjects, which, it Il be-
heved, will be one of the most valuable doc
uments of its kind ever submitted to the
government on the needs and condition of
the Alaskan territory.
Mr.. Jackson was on board the revenue
cutter Bear four months, which enabled him
to get st the heretofore inaccessible portions
OF Alaska, and to secure some valuable stats
tics respecting che number of natives now
there. On the voyage the Bear reached
point a. far orth as Point Barrow where
Mr.. jackson established a school under the
supervision of the United States, and which,
he says. Il the northernmoSt school In North
America.
While ne was chiefly interested in the sub
iects enumerated, Mr.. Jackson also studied
the fur seal fisheries. He is very emphatic
IN his denunciation of the Illegal actions of
the British poachers and 'bulldozing' tactics
OF the English government against the United
States.
''If the government of the United States,''
he says, docs not Immediately take aggres-
sive measures to prevent the wanton destruc-
nf ffrrc lie
dustry will, IN year or so, be totally ex-
termlpated. Last year the North American
Fishing company executed a contract with
the United States agreeing to pay, equiva-
lentIy, 81 ,000,O 600 annually for the privilege
of taking 60,0O0 skins, but were unable to
take more than q, 900; while the British
poachers swarmlng the waters in open de-
fance of our revenue cutters and the laws of
the United States, illegally and indiscrim-
nately captured more than $4,000 seaHs. The
number, however, only represents about one
fifth of their actual plumber, for while in an
endeavor to capture them under water the
poachers killed more than 200, 600 seals which
they could not bring to the surface. The
officers of the Bear, very often, without or
ders or authority, were powerless to do any
thing to prevent the destruction of the seal,
and the poachers, in sheer defiance of their
presence. continued the destructive work as
long as there was anything in sight, until
discriminatory killed, in or out of the catching
season, and the female seal was treated with
no more consideration than the males. Young
seals, almost unable to take care of them
selves in the water, were maiciously killed.
They were not taken from the rookeries by
the poachers as demanded by the contract of
a legimate company, paying enormously for
the privilege; but were killed by carblnes
directed by Indians in canoes, under the pro-
lection of English cruisers. 1t is absolutely
necessary that the United States should send
her navy into those waters to seize every |
English poaching vessel found within the !
three mile limit Illegally killing off the re-
naming seals.
"Three years ago the rookeries at this sea- |
son of the year were black with breeding |
seals, while now there are scarcely any of |
them, and if nothing is done to protect the |
seals, the industry in n little more than a |
year will have been totally exterminated. It |
may appear strange. but it is nevertheless
true, that young seals soon after their BIRTH
if put in the water, will drown Just like any
other animal naturally thriving on terra
hrma. l noticed that Secretary Blaine, in
the recent correspondence with Lord Sails
bury on the fur seal dispute, called his atten-
ton to the fact that the English government
exercised an exclusive monopoly of the pearl
islands. off the coast of India. How long 40
you suppose they would allow the United
States, or any other intruder, to reap the
benefits of that industry?
''Only long enough" he concluded, "for
them to dispatch their big cruisers to those
waters and seize and hold for damages every
approaching vessel found reaping the bene-
fits of their monopoly"