Thomas County cat., 1890-12-18
BRITISH POACHERS.

Prompt and Aggressive Measures
WASHINGTON, ID. c., December 10.-Sheldon
Jackson, who was last spring appointed United
States general agent of education for Alaska,
having completed his labors, has returned to
Washington, aad reported to Secretary Noble
for assignment in the bureau of education.
Mr.. Jackson. IL conjunction with his mission
for the bureau of education, was also an
agent for the census bureau in the capacity
of eoumerator. Soon after his appointment
he started for Alaska, and since that time
has directed his attention principally to a
thorough examination of the condition of
the natives: their modes of living, education,
etc. He will soon begin the preparation of
a report on these subjects, which, 1t Is be-
lleved, will be one of the most valuable doc
umcnts 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 at the heretofore inaccessible portions
of Alaska, and to secure some valuable statls-
tics respecting the number of natives now
there. On the voyage the Bear reached
point as far orth as Point Barrow, where
Mr.. Jackson established Il school under the
supervision of the United States, and which,
America.
While ne was chiefly interested in the sub
Jects enumerated, Mr. Jackson also studied
>he fur seal fisheries. He is very emphatic
n his denunciation of the illegal actions of
The British poachers and '.bulidozing' tactics
Of the Engilsh 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-
ton of fur seals this great and lucrative in
dustry Will. IN year or so, be totally eX-
terminated. Last year the North American
Fishing company executed a contract with
the United States agreeing to pay, equiva-
lently, 81 100000 annually for the privilege
of taking 6O,U01 skins, but were unable to
take more than u ,G09: while the British
poachers swaTming the waters in open de-
hance of our revenue cutters and the laws of
the United States, illegally and indiscriIni-
nately captured more than 900 seals. The
number, however, only represents about one
fifth of their actual plunder, for while in an
endeaTor to capture them under water the
poachers killed more than SD0, 900 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, III sheer defiance of their
presence. continued the destructive work as
long as there was anything in sight, until
there are very few seals remaining. They
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 mAliciously killed.
They were not taken from the rookeres by
the poachers as demanded by the contract of
a legima:e 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-
manning seals.
"Three years ago the rookcries at this sea-
son of the year were black with breeding
seals, while now there are scarcely any of
seals, the industry in little more than a
year will have been totally extsrminated. 1t
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 q o
you suppose they would allow the United
States. or any other intruder, to reap the
benefits of that industry!
SONY long enough" he concluded, ''for
Slem to dispatch their big cruisers to those
waters and seize and hold for damages every
vessel found reaping the bene-
fits of their MONOPOLY