The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-11-20
That Is What Professor Henry
". Elliott Says.
Almost E1terminatsd by the Csaseless
Warfare Wastd Upon Them.
Information Regarding the Departure Of
Steamers for China and Japan
Carrying English Halls
Special to THE MORNING CALI.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 19.-''The entire num-
ber. of killable seals on the Aleutian Islands,
which comprise the only sealing grounds be-
longing to the United States. is now less
than 100000" was the startling intelligence
presented yesterday to Secretaries Window
and Blaine. This information comes from
Professor Henry W. Elliott of the Smith
sonian Institution, and will be transmitted
by the Secretary of the Treasury in special
message to Congress as soon as that body
eonvenes. The reports of Special Treasury
Agents prior to 1890 had been so conflicting
that Congress last summer decided to send
man to the islands whom they could trust.
George R. Tinsle. Special Agent under
Cleveland's administrator. reported that
seals by the million swarmed upon the
islands, and scoffed at the talk of danger of
their determination.
Charles J. Golf of West Virginia. later
presented TO Secretary Window carefully
prepared statement demonstrating that not
One-tenth OF the seals described in Tingle's
report came from the islands. Now Profess
sor Elliott fully corroborates Golf. This
fact places Tiugle in a queer position, espe-
cial.y as he is now Superintendent of the
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 perpetrated during Cleveland's
administration is laid bare by the professor
The report is backed by surveys, plates and
aflidayits, and will show that since 1872 the
number of bachelor seals has beeu reduced
from 1.5O0.O00 to 100000. In fact, Professor
Elliott doubts very much if enough killable
seals remain for next years catch.
The report will recommend that the Gov
erDnfent shall deSiSt from its catches for at
least seven years. 1t urges that unless this
is done seals will be absolutely eXterminated
Mr.. Golf was apprehensive as to the pro-
priety of taking even $1,000 seals year
the number Secretary Window had specified
in his advertisement calling for proposals
for new lease of the seal islands. He sug-
gested that 10000 be the limit His adver-
tisement having been made public, how
ever, Secretary Window declined for obvi-
Gus reasons to change the figures. The
lease was awarded to tie North American
Commercial Company of San Francisco.
They bid $40 % per skin, the next highest
offer being but SS 20.
No doubt was expressed by any one,
unless by Mr.. Gnff, of the ability of the new
company to get its $4,000 skins, and their
manager, ex-Special Treasury Agent Tinge,
assured his employers that he would secure
900 of the finest skins that were ever
brought down from those islands, How
false were Mr.. Tingle's prognostications is
shown by the investigation Of Professor
Elliott.
The four resident special Treasury agents
who assisted Professor Elliott, and officers of
the revenue marine. % or 80 all told, have
little hesitation in expressing themselves,
and Professor Elliott seems to indorse their
views. In short these agents declare that
the seal interests of the Government on the
islands are to-day on the verge of speedy
and complete determination unless the Gov
ernmeat orders and enforces rest on land.
and succeeds in stopping poaehing at sea,
They positively assert that point has been
reached where further killing on land and
continued hunting IN open waters means
the immediate ruin of the sealing interests
of the United States. The old hunting
grounds of these islands, which when Pro-
feSsor Elliott was here years ago were COW
cred with thousands and tens of thousands
of surplus young males are now grass
grown and abandoned. The few young
seals caught are taken from the immediate
margins of the sealing rookeries which no
sealing gang ever visited in the old times.