The evening world., 1891-04-01
SEALS PRESERVE THE FOOD FISH.
The Fur Seal Il Benenciai, Net Irju-
riou., to the supply ef Feed Fishes.

rious, TO the supply of Food fishes'
IrroL Rsnry W Einon IN Forest AVID S'r,aw.l
In Census Bulletin No. 90. March 10.
1891 Washington. u. G., upon the
Wealth acd Resources Of Alaska" Supt.
Porter makes the following statement IN
his letter OF introduction to Special Agent
Petrofl's report:
One Of the most eminent authorities on Alaska
recently stated II as his belief that the salmon,
the entire destruction Of the fur seal which now
n Ss, nssS nos excite
alarm.
As this subject Of what influence the fur.
seal herd had and haa upon the supply OF
been discussed during the last six or seven
years among chthyologists and paturalists
generally at the Smithsonian Institution
aud Of the Unitsd States ti.h Commission,,
II iu not y new theme, but the verdict OF
experts here is diametricslly opposed to the
statement above made by MIR. Porters
authority as he quotes him.
TIN No. 10 appears the following significant
suggestion by Special Agent Petroh OF the
real and most destructive o. emy which these
food fishes have to encounter:
The waters of Prince William Sound contain
Territory. the most abundant species being the
whoh seem. to nays ssn sS, se
upon which 10 leeds.
tttds) that vexes the soul OF the East coast
| fishermen from Massachusetts, up to the
Cult Of IT. Lawrence; 1t 10 the same ILL
az se s.ve snd dsad
Of the cod, lake and pollock lt is none the
less destructive in tho waters OF the North.
Ts s2S fnd esa Aas foNRs NusiS .0d.
Bebring Sea and ranging as far south 81
Cape Mendocino, coast of California.
II is especially nnmeron: and Soraciou' al sl
Straits of tucs and Kodiak, and IL feed,
largely upon young codtiah from to
inches in length, young salmon fry anc
Now. what has mainly prevented these
doRfishes from so multiplying es to pro
duce the same result Of ruin 10 the God ant
A. IL declared to BE- the case in Prince
William Sound by Special Agent Petr of,
above cited?
iecta all fishing Of that creature - unprotit
able. except i'll very small way for its oil
but the fur seal regards the squalus as IL
especial aud most toothsome, game. and feed
fat upon it's plump. oily body. with sof
gelatinous fins; bites the head of at q
napc aud usually rejects il, because the teeth
involved In the slight mastication that thi
animal ever gives to its food: or course.
do not deny that the fur seal eats cod, sal
mon and herrings. wolf-6shes. sculpins anc
crabs.
A little reflection will teach most mel
that nature has kept q perfect system o
checks and balances upon the relative statu
of all wild life. and that when man steps IL
to disturb that system Of natural eQuilibru un
he generally makes q bluudei and strive
hard to atone for IL afterwards.
OF course. II We could protect the foot
fishes Of Alaska from this dogfsh. their owl
J most natural enemy. and other enemies. a
we'll as the fur seals can and do. then ther,
would be no argument on that score in favo
of saving these animals; but until we ar,
equal to that task IL is best to let the fur-sea
life remain, without reference to seyera
other excellent and Meighty reasons why !
should not be greedily and thoughtlessl!
exposed to the positive danger OF swift ex
termin nation by the hands Of unchecked
pelagic sealers.
IL your readers who are really interested
in the subject OF the preservation Of tn
food fish fisheries Of Alaska will turn 70
recent report upon 1.-THE Salmon and Sal
mon Rivers OF Alaska, " by DIR. T. H. Bean
United States Fish Commission. they vii
Aud in its pages abundant proof that th
: chief enemy to-day. and its only one. to tn
well being and pPrpetu alton OF this 10 dust tr
up there IL man himself. and that the seal
, cut no figure in the trouble.