The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-07-02
CHASING SEALERS.
A Prospect of Lively Times in
Behring Sea.
Fast Sailing Yachts Expected to Keep Out Of
the Way of Slow Going Government
Cruisers.

The latest news from the sealers was
brought to this city by the steamer Walla
Walla. which arrived yesterday from Vie
toria.
The British and American war-ships are
moving on Behring Sea. The United
States steamer .Mohican left Nanaimo in
company with the British cruiser Nymph.
On Wednesday of last week the Alert and
the English cruiser Pheasant left Victoria
together for Behring Sea.
\ New York paper sent j. King Hall
out from the East and he left for the seal
ing grounds on the schooner 0tto, which
sailed last week. Another passenger on the
same vessC3 iS Z. AtcAIanus. who gees north
as correspondent for English and German
lapeTs. These correspondents were offered
beI,hs on the steamer Costa Rca, which
has been chartered TO carry the British Com
missiouers TO the Behring Sea, but pre-
\ ieIred to 60 on the schooner. Both the
= Otto and tile Mascot left before the Presl-
dents proclamation reached them officially,
and the chances are that it will be some
time before either of them IS seen by the
cruisers and its arms taken away.
LOSSES OF PROFITS.
Il is the general impression that a heavy
loss will be entailed on the owners and
crews Of the sealing vessels by the new
law, and this is borne out by the fact that
the lessees Of the seal Islands are about to
enter a suit against the United States
Government for breach OF contract. In fact
the North American Company are the only
parties that will suffer any loss by the en-
forced close season.
Most of the vessels fitted out in this and
other cities will AT least secure enough skins
to pay their expenses before they are stop
ped by the cruisers. There is little doubt
hut that many a seal will be captured in
spite Of all the Government can 10. The
War-veSSels now iD Behring Sea are slow
10. Of vessel ~ would stand a poor show
IN race after some of the sealing crafts.
MAY MAKE EXPENSES.
It is generally expected by the owners Of
sealerS belonging TO this city that their YES
sells viii return as soon as they are notified
Dy the cruisers, even if the hunters and
arms are not taken away from them.
Charles D. Ladd Of this city has two vessels
IL the Arctic, but does not expect to lose
much by the new law. He said that, of
course, the crews Will kick, but no real
loss will be entailed. Taking the hunters
aud arms from the vessels VIII effectually
prevent their capturing any more seals, and
is, lJfact, the only way to prevent the men
y0kins after being warned.
I'VE expect" said Nj. Ladd. that the
arms Will be returned to the proper owners
at the close of the season, or when the
cruisers return. 1t costs 5000 TO $4,000 to
fit outa vessel for a seasons trip to the seal
ing grounds, and some OF the vessels may
not secure skins enough to cover the ex-
pense Of fitting out while others will get
sufficient to leave a margin after all bills
have been paid"
Several other owners were interviewed
and all OF them expect their vessels Will
make expenses. The only fault they find is
that the treaty was made after most of the
sealing craft were on their way to the north.
Had the treaty been signed earlier in the
feaSon none OF the vessels would have been
fitted out.
LIVELY TINES IN PROSPECT.
It is the general impression that the
cruisers will have their work cut out to stop
the English vessels taking seals. Many Of
the latter are yachts and built for speed
and would have no trouble Whatever in
keeping out of the way of the cruisers. Only
a 'ay or two ago a couple of very fast
schoUieTs left Victoria for the sealing
grQunds and expect to be able TO keep out
Of the way OF the cruisers. This they can
easily do by keeping sharp lookout from
the masthead for smoke, which will betray
the approach of steamer long before she
can see the sealing vessel, and of course in
any wind at all the sealer would have lots
VI time TO get out of tine way.
The latest reports are that the Marion will
SAL Tor Behring Sea on Sunday next, am
. viii spend th season there, after which she
VIII continue on her way to the China sta
ton.