The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-02-02
THE BIRTHPLACE OF SEALS.

The pending controversy as to the breed
ing habits Of seals goes to the very root OF
the Bering sea dispute. The fur seals OF
North and South America are conceded
TO be all Of one species. In South America
they breed along great stretch of coast,
but the prevailing belief is that every
North American fur seal living to-day was
born on the rookeries of the Pribilof
islands, a group of rocks in Bering sea. It
is held by Prof. Henry w. Elliott and
others that the seal pup at birth cannot
swim; that the babies, if thrown in the
water, viii sink like a stone. The
Pribilof islands are leased to rich
company. which is permitted to slaughter
q fixed number of seals annually. The
animals are driven to the shambles by
few natives and butcbered with clubs.
Prof Elliott holds that if the islands were
not protected the seals would be extermin-
ated- Every summer hundreds of thous-
ands of them congregate there, and at all
seasons of the year they are abundant.
At present British vessels are permitted to
enter Boring sea and kill as they please,
while American boats are seized by rev.
enue cutters. Great Britain is perfectly
willing that an armed force be maintained
on Pribilof islands to keep marauders
of all nations from trespassing within a
stated distance from the shore; but this
would involve abrogation of the contract
with the company v hich leases the islands.
Such an arrangement would certainly pre-
vent determination of the fur seals, even
though all vessels were permitted to hunt
for them in Bering sea. Such action, too,
would make Seattle the great rendezvous
Of the seaIers and add hundreds of thou
sands of dollars annually to this city's
trade
1t is by no means proven that all the fur
seals are born on the Pribilof islands.
Pups and old seals are found in Neah bay
during every month of the year. Judge
Swan and other careful observers hold that
the cows bring forth their young on the
kelp beds. and experienced sealers swear
that very young pups can swim. Pro-
fessor Elliott cites case where pup that
had never been sucked by its mother
lived nine days without food. 1t must
certainly have been fat and would not
have sunk like stone.
The PosT-INrEILEGEScER hopes to gather
much testimony concerning the breeding
habits of the fur seal, and soIicits cores
pondence from hunters and naturalists.
This evidence viii be printed and brought
to the attention of the special commission
soon to be sent by Mr.. Blaine 10 Boring
sea. The International difficulty may be
settled in way that will not only save the
seals from determination, but will deprive
British Columbia of one of her leading in
dustries. As to the fate of the leasing
company, that is a trihing matter. The
government receives 8 small revenue. and
few natives are employed TO butcher
end skin the seals. If the fur-bearers
could be taken At sea or on shores other
than those of the rookeries, hundreds of
men would be employed. with head
quarters at Puget Sound The skins are
all prepared in London now, and no
effort has been made to bring the industry
TO Puget Sound, where it belongs, because
the leasing companies have been largely
owned by English canitalists