The morning call., 1892-09-28
FROM Behring'S POACHERS
They Report Millions Of Fur
Seals Left.
THE CARS MEN ON GUARD.
One of ths Crew Of the Thistle Tells CT What
Was Done by the MeI-of-War in
the Far North.

John Loehhead Jr. is the last of the
crews Of the seal poachers to arrive in the
city for the season. He reached San Fran
cisco last evening, arriving from Victoria,
where he landed the 18th inst. from the
steamer Thistle.
The Thistle is owned by Victorian capi-
talists and early in the year came to this
city for her final fitting out. She sailed from
this port on the 10Th of February last and
seven months after landed at Victoria wit
the 450 skins which constituted her catch
for the season.
The Thistle Is the first steamer ever en-
ployed as a seal fisher exclusively.
After leaving the city tho Thistle sailed
for Barclay Sound, where two of the crew
became insubordinste. and stealing one of
the steamers boats attempted to desert A
storm arose, and the deserterS finding them
selves in great danger begged TO be permit
ted TO board the steamer This they we're
allowed to do on IA promise OF good behavior; :;
but the danger over they again became un-
ruly, and the captain then deported them to
an island inhabited only by natives,
whence, after much suffering and hard
ships. they finally made their way to Vic
toria.
The Thistle was obliged to return again
TO Victoria TO recruit her depleted crew and
again sailed, heading for Sand Point.
Of the season was had, and in a few days
she secured catch Of 450. which she landed
on tender at Sand Point, and which was
afterward safely conveyed to Victoria. only
escaping seizure by few hours
From Sand Point the Thistle was ordered
to the coast of Kamtchatk a. her destination
being Copper Island in the Russian posses
sions, but just before reaching that danger
Gus locality the steamer lost her main
shroud and was detained.
This accident prevented her seizure by the
Russians, who were actively ON the look
out, the captain Of the Thistle being warned
at night by small sealing schooner which
had barely escaped from the clutches of the
Hatchful Russians.
Thus warned the Thistle was put about
and spent the rest of the season in the
Berlng Sea.
Mr.. Lochhead is amply qualified to Judge
Of The prospect OF the present extinction of
the seal. He scouts the idea and claims
that the seal. though probably less numer-
Gus than in former times, still exists in
countless numbers and will afford for an
unlimited succession OF years material for
profitable enterprises.
Killing seals, in Mr.. Loehhead's opinion,
is very easy. 1t Is done mostly in calm
weather, when the brutes take their sieSta.
III the lungs OF the seal are distended at the
time 1t is killed it floats, if not it sinks, and
this latter is the case about one time in
three, so that in securing 200 dead seals 800
are killed, and most IL not all those killed
are females. who are Fastening TO the rook-
cries TO bring forth their young.
AS 10 the numbers who resOrted to the
usual rookeries the poachers were Of course
not Informed. MT. Lochhead, however, as
seTts that TumOTs abounded among the
feet that no diminution had been observed
aud also that the American Company was
slaughtering them on the islands without
ruuuuuuu-y engagement as TO numbers
ksklAAe with the United