The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-09-25
The FUR SEAL IS EXTINCT.
Commissioner Alexander Makes a Host
Startling Statement.
EXTERMIAiTED BY RECKLESS POiCHlNG
Canadian SealerS Have Gone on Killing Until st
Last There Are Practically 10 HOre
Seals 10 Be Killed.
Special to THH MoRNINe CALI.

SEATTLE, Wash. Sept. 24-The sealing
schooner Henry Dennis, with 240O skins,
has arrived at this port from Sand Point,
Alaska. She has on board as passengers
Lieutenant Beatty of the United States
steamer Ranger. who is ordered East, and
A. Alexander OF the United States Fish
Commis isson. who has been spending the
summer in Bering Sea on the steamers
Albatross Rush and Corwin Investigating
the matter OF pelagic sealing and the habits
of the seals for the purpose of gaining evil
dence to be used in the preparation Of the
case Of the United States before the inter-
national arbitration convention at Paris.
Mr.. Alexander leaves tomorrow for Wash
ingtOn.
To The CALL correspondent tonight he
said: II have gained information during
my investigations that shows sealing is prac-
tlcally at an end. The pOachers have almost
eXtermlnated the fur bearing seals IN the
North Pacific and in Berng Sea, and this
is about the last season that seals will be
taken. | have secured many atfdavits from
natives and sealing experts TO the effect
that the number of seals is decreasing. As
an Illustration take the following circum-
stance: On August 90 | was on st. George
Island, one of the Pribyloff group, when
the final drive was in progress for the pur-
up the $4,000 the company is allowed to take
annually. In the drive only 200 could be
herded, while in past years the number that
could be driven was unlimited. The total
number of seals driven in the whole twenty
three drives of the year on the ST. George
rookery was 1C,000. You must bear in mind
that driving seals does not mean killing
them. Only the bachelors are taken when
1t comes 10 killing. When the percentage
of bachelors is not large 10000 for the drives
ic rLyah of
were in all the drives and so were counted
twenty three times. As you will see, this
brings the number down considerably.
MY work was mostly cruising at sea to
determine the mOoted questions as to
whether seals breed in the water, as it is
claimed by the Canadians, or on the roOkerles,
as we claim. The Canadian theory is ex-
ploded. That Government can bring no
possible proof In support OF It's claims, while
we can amply demonstrate the fallacy OF
their contentious. From personal obServa-
tiOns and sworn testimony Of those inter-
ested in the business | have no doubt that
our claims are correct. 1t Is utterly im-
possible for the seals TO breed in the water,
as all who know about them. well know,
although many contend otherwise.
''Ihe seal grounds have been thoroughly
covered in our Investigations this year. The
Corwiu cruiSed along the Aleutian Islands
from Cape st. Elias westward to Attu, th9
westeen extremity of the American pos
aleled the COrwin's cruise In Boring Sea on
the other side of the Islands. Observation
and complete Investigations as TO pelagic
sealing were made by all the vessels
Before l joined her. the Albatross made
q trip TO Copper Island on the western
coast. There her officers obtained ihforma-
| tion from the Russian agents on the island
| that the seals were decreasing on that rook-
cry rapidly as they were on the Pribyof
Islands.
There can be no doubt that the poaehers
are responsible for this state of affairs.
Their claim that the seals are not being ex-
terminated but are migrating 10 some new
rookery is without foundation. No new
rookeIies have been located, although they
have been looked for, and il cannot be
proven that they exist"
Mr.. Alexander says that he Is not at
liberty to make public all the information
he has gathered.
The schooner Dennis also brings news OF
the seizure of the British schooner Oscar
and Hattie with 800 skins at Attu by the
Adams about September /, violating the
mOdus viyend She has been tOwed TO
Oonslaska aud turned over TO the British
authorities at Sand Point
The Dennis met the cutter Corwin bound
to Sitka with the British schooner Henri
eta in tow. She was likewise seized during
the summer for violation OF the modus
vivendi and tOwed to Oonalaska. Later
evidence was obtained that she had pre-
viously violated the revenue laws by trans
ferring skins in American waters, and so
she was reseized.