The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1894-11-23

A reporter OF the INTELLIGENCE yes
terday had the pleasure OF meeting a
very interesting character, in the person
Of Capt. A. Q. Folger, Of Victoria, Brit
ish Columbia. native Of Nantuckes,
Mass, but who is at present engaged in
tho seal fishing business in the North
Pacific ocean. The captain Is the CUES.
of his brother.in-law, Capt Locke G..
nallock, Of Hallock Bros, at his. resi-.
dence on South Front street, Island.
Capt. Folger, who is fine specimen
Of the Yankee sailor, bronzed and hand.
some, started his sea.farin9 life when
quite young in the latter part Of the COS,
shipping on whaling vessel. Hetoliow.
ed this life for four years, when he found
himself in California. He was one OF
the pioneers in sea otter fishing, taking
them from the coast OF Japan. At first
the value of the fur OF the sea otter was
known only to few, but. others
soon found out their commercial i'm.
por.ance, and it was but q short time
until the animal was exterminated.
Then Capt Folger turned his attention
to seal hunting. which occupation he'has
been engaged in for twenty-one years,
and Is now occupied in taking seals of
tho coast of Japan, as international
agreements now preclude successful
voyages in Boring sea. Before the
difficulties arose between Great Britain
and the United States Captain Folger
was in command Of the steamer Oacan
Hattie, OF which he is half owner, and
which he still commands, and fished in
Boring Sos, but since the new regula-
tons agreed to by the British, Russian
and American governments he has
been compelled to devote his attention
to the Japan coast, and HE only fear Ia
now that Japan may enter the conven-
ton OF the powers, In which case he
says he would have TO 60 to Cape Horn,
where the seals are not nearly so plenti-
full. His vessel flies tho British colors,
though she is an American bottom.
Still preserving his fealty TO the stars
and stripes aud his Yankee identity,
Captain Folger has laid himself open to
the hatred Of his fellow-sailors, who
think no Yankee has any righta they are
bound to respect, but he has not only
maintained his position, but on every
occasion compelled the respect OF his
crew. He reports that his catch the
past summer has been larger than was
ever known.
Thesealing season generally lasts about
six months. the ships being driven home
by the northwest gales, which usually
spring up the first OF September. The
distance to the Japan coast, however,
compels the vessels to set sail eeveral
months before tho season is opened.
Capt. Folger says the sealers fear the
Russian government the most for the
reason that their war vessels van k up
intruders without asking any questions.
They do not allow any foreign vessel to
approach within ten miles OF her coast
or within q circle OF thirty miles OF any
breeding rookery. The captain said
that one clear night his vessel was with
out the line waiting for some seals to
cross, with Russian man-of-war in the
distance watching him. when 1t &C.
CURED to him to take his position from
the sun. Finding that he was scarcely
two milos from the danger point, too
close for comfort, he turned tail. III
1t had been cloudy day." said he,
'tthey would have gobbled me up and
swore that was within the line. We
could run right away from tho revenue
cutters, but when one Of these men-of-
war gets after you you might as well reef
your sails. The grounds now are 80
closely guarded that it is impossible to
do any poaching."
"How doyou sailors live at sea ?" asked
the reporter.
"As we'll as on land, and sometimes
better" said tho Captain. The only
saGried portion OF the crew are the
captain, who gets $50 to SIS month,
and the mate and cook. Formerly the
sailors were paid $50 month. but now
they receive SO cents for every seal their
boat captures. The captain besides his
salary receives 80 cents a head Tor every
seal taken, and ii he desires to go fishing
on his own hook he gets 81 for every
seal he captures. II he is a good hunter
he can get from 200 to 800 seals on his
individual account. Besides the sailors
each vessel has six hunters, men Of
long experience in the craft OF seal hunt.
ing, who receive from IS to $3.50 head"
"As to our fare on shipboard, We have
the best OF everything in the canned
goods line. Then the brains, tongue
and liver OF the seal, the latter dish being
as pleasing to tho palate as the most
epicutean invention. Besides, we have
fsh in the waters all around US. Live
we'll? Well. I should say so. Many a
meal l have eaten that was better than
Ihaye obtained at some 81 day hotels"
Captain Folcer will remain some days
in tho city, when he will repair to the
scenes OF his boyhood days for short
visit.