The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1891-09-23
ALASKA.

tionai Controversy-A Cool Subject for
Hot Evening
large company assembled in the Con-
gregational church parlors on Friday even
ing to partake OF the supper served by the
Ladies' BENEVOLENT and Home Missionary
society. After pleasant social hour the
company adjourned to the auditorium 70
hear Major W. H. Williams on his recent
trip to Alaska. The speaker was intro
duced by Rev. W. E. Barton, who re-
marked that Wellington includes all the
territory explored and taken possession Oh
by our citizens in the name OF the town:
It is thus bounded on the east and west by
the work Of our missionary societies; the
temperature OF the evening locates It's
southern boundary somewhere near the
equator. and Major Williams is here to
describe to us the islands Of Alaska, which
he has recently annexed on the north.
Major Williams then spoke in pleas
ant conversational manner, describing just
the things which the people wanted 10
know about. Maj. Williams sailed from
San Francisco on the U. s. revenue cutter
Rush on May eth under command ci tie
government, 10 care for the interest oil the
government, On the islands where most
of the seal are taken. He arrived alter
voyage of fourteen days. The course was
one mile north by two and one-half west
San Francisco being east OF the geo
graphical center OF the possessions OF the
United States. Sailing through the passes
Of the Aleu,ian ArchIpelago-apparenily
once mountain chain of volcanic origin
extending entirely across 10 The Russian
coast, the Pribyloff islands are reached
The passes in the island chain are narrow.
The islands rise abruptly from the sea like
mountain peaks with submerged bases
The most western Of our islands are only
few hundred miles east of the islands
which extend out from the Russian coast
About 1776 the islands oi the Pribyloff
group we're discovered after eighteen
years search. The seal had been observed
passing north from the Pacific ocean into
Bering sea annually for years; but the
islands which constitute their breeding
ground are small, and hard to find because
Of fogs. Even now experienced navigaiors,
having their exact location on charts, fino
them with difficulty. Here the seal come
In the spring and remain till autumn. The
old males arrive first, each taking poses
sion Of convenient place on the rocks,
and defending 1t against all intrusion.
They maintain their respective positions
with much strife and believing. The fe-
males arrive later, and are captured by
the males in numbers pioportionate TO
their strength, from two to seventyfve.
The abachelorsn or young males, "haul
up" on shore In companies until they are
able 10 defend their right 10 position on
the "rookeries," when they are about six
years Of age. The fur Is Of value when
they ara three or four years OF age: and
only bachelor seals Of this age are allowed
70 be killed.
The killing is done with clubs by ex-
pert natives, who select from the crowds
Of bachelors driven inland, those Of suita-
BILE age, driving the others back TO the wa
ter. The government sells the right TO
kill seals to a single company, and charges
about Gil skin for the privilege, besides
about 40 cents skin for the support Of
the natives on the island, The limit is
100000 skins per annum. There would be
comparatively little danger Of exterminat-
ing the tribe II the killing were confined
TO the islands where these restrictions are
observed. The danger results from killing
at sea. One hundred poaching vessels
were warned out of Berlng sea this sum-
mer. But these, during the comparatively
short time they were there, secured skins
which must have meant the killing OF
some 100000 seal. These vessels shoot the
seal at sea when they show their heads,
killing thus male and female, old and
young. Resides the waste from unmarked
able seals thus uselessly killed, all shot
dead sink TO ihs bottom and are lost only
those are obtained which ale mortally
wounded, but not Immediately killed.
This Is what the government seeks TO stop
Secretary Blaine holds that such indls-
criminale killing is against good morals,
and that the seals, whose home is on ISL
ands belonging 10 the United States,
sho uld have the protection Of the govern.
ment when they 60 out to sea TO feed. II
would have been impossible to have Kill
led 100000 seals on the islands Of St. Paul
and st. George this year. 1t is perfectly
clear that unless killing at sea is stopped
very soon we will have no seal TO protect
Major Williams described the climate
as pleasant during the time Of his resi-.
dence there. Heavy clothing Of ordinary
quality Is ample and the wearer is CON-
Portable. On both these islands the ma.
tiyes' houses are neat and painted wEIte
the natives being apparently Of mongol-
ian decent The government quarters are
Comfortable. The surface OF the islands
is rough. but portions Of them are explor-
ed with some difficulty by means Of spar
NJ mules and blackboard. On The whole
the trip was very pleasant one, and the
summer on the islands more enjoyable
fhnr nnnlh hnvn hean anticinafen