The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1890-12-10
BRITISH POACHBRS
Their Depredations on Our Seal
Fisheries.
wanton Destruction of Animals by
Indians Under Protection of y
English Cruisers.

Interesting Report by an Agent Of the
Census and Educational Bureaus Who
Has Had Good Opportunities for OBJ
servztion.
WASHINGTON, Dec. a-Mr. Sheldon
jackson, who was last spring appointed
United States General Agent OF Educa-
ton for Alaska, having completed his
labors, has returned to Washington and
reported to Secretary Noble for assign
ment in the Bureau OF Education. Mr..
jackson, in conjunction with his mis-
sion for the Bureau OF Education, was
also an agent for the Census Bureau in
the capacity OF enumerator. Soon after
his appointment he started for Alaska
and since that time has directed his at
tention principally to thorough exam
ination OF the condition OF tho natives,
their modes Of living, education, etc.
He will soon begin the preparation Of
report on these subjects which 1t is be-
lieved will be one OF the most valuable
documents Of It's kind ever submitted to
the Government on the needs and con-
dition Of the Alaskan territory. Mr..
jackson was on board the revenue cut
ter Bear four months, which enabled
him TO get at the heretofore inaccessible
portions Of Alaska, and to secure some
valuable statistics respecting the num-
Der OF natives now there. On the voy-
age the Bear reached q point as far
north as Point Barrow, where Mr.. Jack
son established school under the su-
pervision OF the United States, and
which he says is the northernmosts school
in North America.
While he was chiefly interested in the
subjects enumerated, Mr.. jackson also
studied the fur seal fisheries He is
very emphatic in his denunciation OF
tho illegal actions Of the British poach-
ers and the "bulldozing" tactics OF the
English government against the United
States. 'lf our Government" he says,
docs not Immediately take aggressive
measures to prevent the wsnton de-
struction OF fur seals. this great and
lucrative industry will, in year or SO,
be totally exterminated. Last year the
North American Fishing Company ex-
ecuted contract with the United States
agreeing to pay equivalently $1,000, 900
dollars annually for the privilege of
taking Go,0Ol skins, but were unable 70
take more than $1,000; while the British
poachers swarming the waters in open
defiance OF our revenue cutters and the
laws OF the United States, illegally and
indiscriminately captured more than
so, 900 seals. This number, however,
only represents about one-fifth OF their
actual plunder, for while In an endeavor
TO capture them under water, the poach-
ers killed moro than 200, 900 seals which
they could not bring to the surface.
The officers OF the Bear, without orders
or authority, were powerless TO do any
thing TO prevent the destruction OF the
seals and the poachers in sheer defiance
OF their presence continued the destruc-
tive work as long as there was any
thing in sight, until there are very few
live seals remaining.
They Unfortunately killed-in or
out OF the catching season-and the fe.
male seal was treated with no more con-
sideration than the males Young seals,
almost unable 10 take care OF thom-
selves In the water. were maliciously
killed They were not taken from tho
rookeries by the poachers, as demanded
by the contrict OF legitimate COM
pany paying enormously for the privi-
lege, but were killed by carbines d.
rected by Indians In canoes, under the
protection OF English cruisers II is abb
solutely 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 of the remaining seals.
Three years ago the rookeries at this
season Of the year were black with
breeding seals, while now tnore are
scarcely any on them, and II nothing is
done TO protect the seals the industry in
little more that year will have been
totally exterminated. 1t may appear
strange, but 1t is nevertheless true that
young seals soon after their birth, II
put in the water, will drown just like
any other animal naturally thriving on
terra frma."