St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-03-06
in May. A season of open water is thus


more than century, enormous numbers
have been known to resort for breeding.
From both the American and Russian
rookerles they swarm in the open waters
of Behring sea in quest of food.
The argument has been advanced that
all seals in waters within the sea
boundary of Alaska are domiciled on
the American shore. But this would be
difficult point to establish with pre-
cision, and hence the United States
claim to jurisdiction over seal hunting
beyond the three-mile limit will proba-
bly, have to be placed upon safer
foundation. That such exists there is
no reasonable doubt.
Russia and America.
Strange to say, seals are animals, hav-
ing none of the characteristics of fish.
The young will drown in the water
unless taught to swim by their parents
and older seals.
During the winter they wholly aban-
don their island homes and seek more
congenial abode on the mainland shore.
Returning to their summer haunts at
the rookeries, it has been shown that
individuals select the same locations
formerly occupied, thus indicating
proprietary interest in real estate.
While the roOkerleS are occupied only
small number, comparatively speak
ing, are found on the islands at time.
Millions traverse the waters for many
miles in all directions IN quest of food.
Manys Of these travellers are females,
and these, in all the varying stages of
breeding young, are the seals so lndis-
criminately slaughtered by the unli
censed hunters. Experience in the
South seas has fully shown that their
Of fI,n f,,,
in very short time. Within the early
portion Of this century various islands
in the South Pacific ocean Swarmed
with fur seals, and here the enterpriS
ing British and Yankee sailors pursued
them with undying zeal and brutal
effect until the rockerieS were abolished
from the face of the earth. But during
all this period no Yankee ship or British
cruiser invaded the sacred Russian pre-
cinctS Of Behring sea in quest of the
myriad seals known to be sporting out
side the three-mile limit there. And
why? Because from the time when
Russia established her pioneer jurisdic
ton over the lands and waters extend
ing southwark from Behring straits she
has to this day maintained exclusive
jurisdiction over seal hunting in her
part of Behring sea. Over our part of
those handicapped waters she main
tanned it up to the time of transfer to
the United States. And furthermore,
that jurisdiction has been formally rec
OgniZed in treaties with both Great
Britain and the United States, as will
readily appear from perusal of those
documents in the light of contemporary
history and diplomatic correspondence.
Indis criminate Slaughter.
AS a result OF the indiscriminate
slaughter of seals in the South Pacific,
there are today only three fur-seal rock
cries in all the waters of the earth-one
in the American part of Behring sea,
another in the Russian part, and third
on Lobos island, off the mouth of the
river La Plata. in South America, the
latter of minor consequence.
Reasonable estimates place the num-
Der of seals inhabiting the American
rookeries i'll Alaska at about four mill
ions, but this number is rapidly de-
creasing owing to the appearance of the
British cruiser with old South Pacific
methods, and it is to be particularly
n oted that he only cruises in American
waters, while just across the sea-bound-
airy line is rookery in Russian waters
where exclusive jurisdiction beyond
the three-mlle limit is carefully re-
spected by him.
From the foregoing it will be seen
that the Behring sea property acquired
from Russia has a distinct money value
t O the citizens OF the United States,
arising from:
~ The fur-seal hunting industry.
(2) The fisheries.
AS to the value of the first, we may
reach fair conclusion as follows:
The aggregate sum received by the
United States up to June 80, 1888, di-
rectly or indirectly. on account of the
fur seal industry was $685., 2SS. This
over and above all expenses for main
tanning the local government. 1t will
: be interesting to note that this is $685.
2S3 in excess of the sum paid for Alaska.
Now this sum of money is what was re-
.ceiyed by the United States govern
ment. The citizens who had the sealing
privilege may safely be assumed to have
received from the sale of furs enough
more to raise this amount to $54000,0 900.
Such an income in eighteen years, cap
italiZed on basis of 5 per cent interest,
represents valuation of S60,000,00 tor
the fur seal industry alone.
A cash value of the fisheries can not
now be reasonably estimated. An in
ference may be drawn from considera-
zion of the elements which 60 to make
up the great Importance of the fisheries
On the Atlantic coast. This inference
is that the fisheries in Behring sea may
in time rival the fur seal industry in
money value alone. W. A. JONES.