The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-10-09
THE HABITS OF SEALS.
Return of British Visitors With
Interesting Discoveries.
SOME OLD IDEAS EXPLODED.
Gov. Knapp's Wicked Son Creates An
other Sensation-Whisky Smuggling
-TreadweIl Mine-Indian Murders.

VICTORIA, Oct. Especial. 1.-The steamer
Danube. with the British seal commissioners,
Sir George Baden Powell and DR.. Rawson How
ard, reached Esquimalt late this after
noon. PosT-INTELLIGENCER reporter
at once boarded her and obtained private
interview with both commissioners. There is no
doubt now that instead OF being on wild goose
chase their trip has been throughout one series
of discoveries relating to seal life, and will fur
nish the British government in the
coming arbitration with powerful
weapon In the shape of innumerable
facts collected on the trip. Sir George was very
reticent in many ways, but had no objection in
giving several general points on the trip. He
said that the journey has been one long series
of interviews and examinations of every
individual acquainted in the least with seals,
and that they have neglected no opportunity of
looking at the subject from every standpoint
He said:
OF course every class of individual we I'm
terviewed had an ak to grind and was preju-
diced towards his side of the question, but be-
conclusions that cannot be contravened.
One of the most remarkable features of our trip
is that we have brought to light large number
of new facts in connection with seal life that
have ueyer been touched on before Nv opin-
ion OF most of the books on seal life now
published is that they are superficial in the ex-
treme and really go very little into detail. There
are habits of the seal world that we have dis
covered that will make good reading.
The area covered by the commissioners was
enormous North to st. Lawrence island, west
to Petropololovski, east to the coast of British
Columbia, and south to Cape Beale. 1t forms
the subject of note that all through their
inquiries, the opinions of Indians were sought
for much in preference to those of white men.
The reason for this Sir George gives as being
undoubtedly the best way of getting at
the facts from tue men engaged in the
business all their lives and whose sole occupa-
ton is to hunt seals. 1t will be seen
from the extent of the territory covered that the
Danube not only traversed thoroughly the
whole of Bering sea, but that it includes
all the migratory range of the fur seal.
Several weeks of the trip were spent
in Russian waters and q great deal of
valuable information obtained from there. The
governor of Petropolovski and military off,
GERS visited the vessel and extended all
the Inequalities to the commissioners.
The labors of the commissioners have
undoubtedly covered far greater range than
those Of the American commissioners, and their
report will be more complete and exhaustive re-
view of the subject Every known rookery
and visiting place of seals, every big kelp
bed, and every feeding ground was visited and
examined. The officers of the Danube say they
never saw men work harder or
collecting evidence all day. Several
times the commissioners witnessed the
killing of seals by natives, and several times
took a hand themselves. Twice they fell In
with the American commissioners and ex.
changed eourtesies. Sir George has a high
opinion of their ability and the meetfngs
are very pleasant An interview to be
had with Victoria sealing men will close
the investigation. The commissioners then
proceed to Ottawa and thence Immediately to
Washington City, where they viii at once start
to prepare joint report with the United
States commissioners. Tonight they ara
busily engaged in cabling TO London, asking
further instructions and giving a skeleton of
their trip. The voyage lasted three months.
and over 500 people were interviewed One point
OF the trip that shows how carefully the whole
expedition was planned is that specially pre-
pared charts were produced by sir George
and handed to the captain before entering
places where no steamer had ever been be-
fore. The captain was ordered from one
place to another under sealed orders and the
geography of every out-of-the-way port visited
was known thoroughly to both commissioners.
to whom the captain looked for information on
the subject.
While the Danube was at Petropoluski they
heard authentic news of Captain Mclean
It appears that after the seizure by
the Russian war ship she was toyed to
Viadivostock with her prize crew, half OF the
crew being sent in q roundabout way to the
same destination for imprisonment. The Rms.
sian authorities will probably turn all the men
over TO the American government for punish
ment. They were caught in the act of poaching
deliberately.
The Danube met at various times Of the trip
the United States steamers Elk. Thomson, Mohi.
can. Albatross, Alert and Dora and their inter
course was invariably very cordial.
Following is the resume of the trip from the
official log book:
After arriving at Unalaska, direct from Vic
toria, on July "A, proceeded on July 26 20 81.
Paul, Prioilof islands, and, after the
commissioners had inquired thoroughly