The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-02-07
VICTORIA Is THE GAMER.
American Sealers Rapidly Being Driven
Under the British Flag.

Portland Oregonian,
''Some months ago. said Captain ). J. vinant
to a reporter, 81 sent a communication to the
Oreconian. in which made the statement that
there would probably be number of American
sealing vessels transferred TO the British flag
this season. Already notice there are five, and
this seems to be only commencement. The
five are the Sylvia Handy, Rosie Olsen, Oscar
and Hattie, City of San Diego and Laura. These
vessels, added to those that are building and on
the way from the East, will increase the Victoria
feet TO over forty vessels. These vessels viii
expend in repairs and fitting out, advances TO
crews, etc, on an average, 5000 each. On their
return, il they have fair catch, they will bring
into Victoria in the neighborhood of $4,000.
Their crews number about twenty men each,
which will aggregate about $50 men,
ait is stated, on good authority, that over half
of the hunters in this feet are Americans, who
are driven to seek employment under the Brit
fish. flag because our own affords them no pro-
lection. Is this not an unpleasant picture
for Americans to contemplate, and will the au-
thorities at Washington still continue to close
their eyes TO this gross injustice on the
rights of our own yeople? 1t seems that the
authorities cannot look at this question except
through the speetacies OF Professor Elliott, who
claims TO have learned ii all, but as matter OF
fact Judge j. G. Swan. who is now having a con-
troversy with him, has made study of the
habits of fish and seals, probably before Profes
scr Elliott was born. Professor Elliott reminds
me of an old hen who matches out a brood of
ducks, and goes futtering around as soon as
they attempt to go into the water for fear they
will be drowned. He claims that young seals
cannot swim, unless assisted by an act of con-
gress TO protect and encourage them. Judge
Swan says they may be born in the water and
swim soon as born.
"One thing we all know, that a kitten OF
puppy will swim soon as born; then why
should not an animal that lives most of its life
in the water2 However, l do not propose to
enter into the controversy between Professor
Elliott and Judge swan. / think the Judge
fully able to take care of himself, and probably
he will teach the professor more about seals be-
fore he gets through with him than the professor
ever knew. One thing notice. The professor
has been candid enough TO state that, while
he was one of the first to favor a
closed sea theory, he has now concluded
that il cannot be maintained without changing
the views OF all the great commercial nations
Secretary Blaine now states that he never ia
vored the closed sea theory; so, step by STEP
we lock down from an untenable position, and
yet we keep up the farce of excluding our own
vessels from the sea and allowing the British
vessels 10 60 there and take ali the seals they can
find, simply because we cannot stop them
Therefore Victoria enjoys a fine harvest from
this business, and our people are compelled to
stay on the outside, as il were, and pick up the
crumbs. The question may well be asked again,
Under which flag"