The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-03-27
ExrERMINATINa THE SEALS.

Indiscriminate Slaughter ON the Leased
Islands IL Having It's Eject.
From q recent report BY Special Treasury Agent
Charles ]. Goh
regret that I am compelled to report
that the seals are rapidly diminishing in
numbers, and to such an alarming extent
that to check the decrease will require, in
my opinion, the most careful consideration
OF the department.
To have a correct understanding of how
the annual catch is taken, it will be
necessary to bear in mind the following
facts: Firstly the acts of congress gov
erning the seal fisheries the season opens
June / and closes July 81, unless otherwise
restricted by the secretary of the treasury.
Second-The bull seals arrive at the
island between May 1 and June 10. and
the cows between June 10 and July 10.
Third-The large young seals, whose
skins are merchantable, commence coming
about the middle Of May, gradually increas-
ing IN numbers as the cows appear. and
with the large young seals come small
portion of the pups born the summer be-
fore, but the greatest majority of the year
lings put in their appearance in the month
of July. Now, in opening the season it is
customary to secure all the 2-year-olds and
upwards possible before the yearlings begin
to I'LL up the hauling grounds and mir
with the killable seals. BY so doing It is
much easier to do the work, and the vear-
hngs are not tortured by being driven and
redriven to the killing grounds. Hereto
fore 1t was seldom that more than Is ner
cent. of all the seals driven the latter mart
of June and the hrst few days in July we're
too small to be killed, but this season the
case was reversed, and in many instances
SO to 80 per cent. were turned away The
accompanying percentage EXAMPLES will
show the disposition of this years drive.
The first killing of fur seals by the les sees
was on June b, and the scarcity of kiIlahle
seals was apparent to all.
The season closed July % and the drives
In July show decided increase in the per
eentages OF small seals turned away and a
decrease III the killables over the drives of
June, demonstrating conclusivelv that
there were but few killable seals arriving.
and that the larger part of those returninr
TO the islands were the pups of last wear.
The average daily killing for the season
was 400, or daily average of 522. incIud-
ing only the days worked.
In 1859 the average dailv killing from
June l to July 20 inclusive, was isis or
daily average of 1874, including only the
days worked. With this undeniahie de-
crease in merchantahle seals. and know
ing the impoverished condition of the rock.
eries ana hauiing grounds, and believing
1t to be inimlcai TO the best interests of the
government to extend the time for killing
beyond ] July 20. adhered 70 the letter and
spirit OF your instructions to me and closed
the killing season July 20. Against the
bitter protestations OF Mr. Georee r.
Ilngie, general manager for the lessees
his communication to me upon the sub.
lect and my reply are enclosed. Had there
been reasonable probability of the Iessees
securing their quota of 6O.OnD seais
should have deemed it my duty to extend
the time for killing to July 81.
The killing of June 9, the first of the
season, was from Reef rookerv. Win
drive of about 100 seals; total killed Iie
sSA Per cent being turned away = too