The morning call., 1891-08-26
BACK FROM ALASKA.
The Catch at Seal Island Has
Been for Food Purposes.
W. H Williams, the Special Treasury Agent,
Gives Some Interesting Information-Dr.
C. Hart Merriam's Return.

William H. Williams, Special Treasury
agent at the Seal Islands, Alaska, arrived
from the north yesterday and Is at the Oc-
cidental. He has been connected with the
Customs Department for number OF years,
aud-abO three months ago was detailed to
represent the interests OF the United States
in the protection and preservation OF the
seals He will leave for Washington to-
morrow night. and will submit to the Sec
retary of the Treasury report containing
some interesting data.
The total number of seals taken for
good" he said, at the Islands of St.
George and ST. Paul, the only localities
where the seals are captured ashore, from
August !, 1890, TO June Is, 1891, is 1884, of
which 1881 were STACY From about the
1st of August to the end of October, the
seals shed their hair, and then, of course,
the skins are not mer chantable. When in
this condition they are said to be STACY
! estimate taat about 10000 seals have been
taken by pCachers in the sea.
SEALS TAKEN IN THE SEASON.
Under the Presidents proclamation the
number of seals taken from June 10Th to
August 1st is 62+S, a total of 1882 for the
year. BY the terms of the proclamation the
total number of seals to be killed at the
islands from June 15. 1891, TO May /, 1892
must not exceed 1900. so that only 1852 seals
can be killed for food by the natives Tor the
balance OF the year. Those taken must not
be pups, and no seals can be killed until the
conclusion OF the STACY season in October.
This years catch at the seal lslauds has
been practically for food purposes. The
natives rely upon the seals to furnish them
with meat but they realize the situation and
have complied readily with the require
ments OF the Government. They are par
tculary careful to kill no COW seals. There
is no question but that if these animals are
not protected in Behring Sea, the seal queS-
ton will be of very short duration.
My duties were administrative, and all
seals killed on The islands were reported TO
NE. When the North American CONNER
cial Company captured an animal, its value
vas divided among the residents. There
are about 800 natives on the Islands of st.
Paul and St George, and they all show eyi-
dence Of an origin similar to that OF the
japanese. They are not hardy race,
being subject TO pulmonary troubles, and a
number died last year of la grippe.
NATIVES NOT IN WANT.
They have no vicious characteristics,
and ale easily governed. The stories that
they are in want have no foundation, good
food and clothing being furnished them,
and there is now on the islands double the
quantity of fuel furnished on any former
year. Should they require necesSaries they
VIII be reimbursed by the Government
The American and British Commission
ers were on St PauPs Island for some time
and conducting their joint conferences with
apparent unanimity. Their investigation MS
were careful and thorough, and l presume
their report is now in the hands of the Gov
eminent.
The British Commissioners. Sir George
Baden Powell and Sir William Dawson, went
up TO St. Matthew's and Nunneyiak islands
about the middle of last month in search of
polar bears, and believe the Commissioners
shot several fine specimens"
DIR. {. Hart Merriam, one of the United
States Commissioners, arrived in the city on
Monday and proceeded TO a private hotel
where he remained until yesterday. He has
started for Mount Whitney to resume his
work on the biological survey. When seen
he declined to discuss his Alaskan mission
stating that as his instructions were secret,
he could not anticipat9 the report which is
being carried to Washington by Professor
I. c. Mcndenhall, his fellow Commissioner