The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-07-25
GUARDING THE SEALS.
United States War Vessels Keep
ing Watch on Poachers.
TRAP THEM AT PORT ETcHEs.
English Scalers Warned by the Triumph
The Total Catch for the Season
Amounts to 10000 Skins.

ctglilHiig Oh j u0e the seas DegIu cutci-
ing Boring sea through the numerous
passes, and head directly for the Pribilof
group. For some reason the seals were
late in coming this year, no considerable
number being observed until about the
Goth instant. But the fleet of sealers
which usually follow the migrating seals
closely were still absent, and the facts in
the case have only just been dIvUlged.
About the 18th of the month all of the
fleet of United States vessels put to sea
under sealed orders, and it was supposed
by every one here that they had merely
gone on cruise outside in the Pacific to
guard the passes into Berlng sea and pre-
vent sealing vessels from following the
seals inside the prohibited waters. Itnow
transpires that Captain Evans, command
ing the United States naval forces here,
had by some means obtained information
that the British sealing fleet intended to
rendezvous at Port Etches, in Prince Will
lam sound, for the purpose of ship
ping what skins they had secured to
date back to Victoria by steamer
which was to meet the fleet at this place.
The time fixed for the rendezvous was
from June 20 to 20. Captain Evans
promptly dispatched the Mohican, Rush
fleet and to prevent any transfer of car
goes by British vessels in United States
ports as being contrary to our customs
regulations.
The Mohican reached Port Etches about
June Is, and found several sealers slowed
away in a snug little bay in the inner har-
Dor. They claimed that they had put in
there for fresh water, but the next day or
tDr,r Il 80
ping in, all according to their stories after
water. that Captain Johnson. of the Mohi-
can. thought that either a water famine
had overtaken the sealing fleet or else that
Port Etches water must have some re-
markably desirable qualities. In either
case he considered it a very good place to
remain while, and so down went his
anchor. The Rush and Corwin joined the
Mohican about June % and their COM
manders assisted Captain Johnson in
standing by to welcome the incoming
fleet of batfied seaIers OF course these
vessels cannot be prevented from seeking
port for water or to repair damages; but if
they attempt to transfer cargo while
within the limits of United States terri
tory they are liable to seizure. Knowing
this and fearing lest some ignorant sealer
warning of the United States government
officials. the British warship Nymphe put
into Port Etches on her way to Boring sea
and cautioned the sealers not to attempt
to transfer cargo while under surveillance
OF the United States authorities. The
clever move of Commander Evans has GER
tainly placed the poachers in q box for the
time being, for they do not wish to carry
hs oil
Boring sea or into Russian waters and
risk the loss of the entire seasons catch as
well as the vessel in case of capture;
neither can they afford to make the long
trip back to Victoria to land their skins,
as too much time will be lost gong and
returning to the seal-hunting grounds. 1t
may be stated as a fact that of the seventy
one vessels which were to meet at Port
Etches TO transfer their skins not one in
tended to return to Victoria without try
ing 10 enter Boring sea, either on the
American or Russian side, later in the
season. If they do not intend to do this
there is no necessity of transhipping SKINS
The sealing season in the Pacific ocean
is about over now, or will be by July
l, and certainly these vessels are
not going to wait around outside the
passes until next November to intercept
the southern migration of the seal herds
leaving the rookeries about that time 1t
is expected that some plan will be adopted
by the fleet when all have got together to
get rid of their skins. Possibly some other
rendezvous may be set and they will be
more fortunate in Guiding the watchful-
ness of Uncle Sans cruisers, but it is
more likely that the transfer will have to
be made at sea. and this will be difficult
matter to accomplish. In the meantime
the atmosphere i'll the vicinity of Port
Etches is sulphurous.
But few of the American sealing feet
have been seen, and it is believed that
| most of them who intend going into
Boring sea are now TO the westward. The
schooner Henry Dennis of Seattle, for
merly reported as having gone over to the
Japan coast, has been heard from at Sitka,
where she went TO have some injuries to her
hull repaired caused by striking the rocks
| near Middleton island. The Dennis has
secured very large catch, having on board
1,700 skins at present. Captain Miner does
not intend entering Bering sea, but NAV
go 10 the westward after completing his
repairs at Sitka. The large catch made
/ by the Dennis has revivedNthe report of
new roOkery or hauling out ground on
Middleton island. Those protesting to
know seem TO think it more than a CO.
incidence that the Dennis should have
secured more than three times as many
/ seals as most of the rest of the fleet hose
+ catches have been made known and that
she should have been aground on Middle
ton island. 1t will he remembered that
Captain Tanner, of the United States
steamer Aibatross. reported seeing herd
+ OF seals hauled out on this island some
/ two years ago, but it was supposed at the
I time that seals were driven in Tor shelter
! by stormy weather and il was not a
/ customary thing for them to do The
/ crew OF the Dennis declare the renort OF
their getting seals from inshore to be I'M
+ true: bnt, OF course. if II were true they
! could not be expected to acknowledge il.
/ Is 4 woUid not only MAKE them amenable
! 10 punishment by law. but what is more
+ - the purpose, would disclose TO the seal
! ing world secret which for obvious
/ reasons had best be kept 10 themselves.
Great excitement has been caused among
/ the native Aleuts and members of the two
big iar-.raIlns companies ont here by the
/ seizure Of three vessels having on board
/ native hunters who were found killing sea
! otter N the vicinity OF Soldovia BAY in
! the Kodiak district. The seizures wera
/ made by the United States steamer Mo-
/ h'can, on June 6 and the vessels were sent
: under guard TO Sitka for trial. the native
{ hunters being allowed 10 return To their
/ homes The charge brought against the
Z vessels was that they were ~, t-,,.l -, IN