The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1894-01-09
GOING INTO SEALING.
THE BUSINESS THAT SUCCEEDS OLD
WHALING DAYS.
Steamers Get the Bone and Oii-wind-
TANNERS to the Rookeries- Material
for sacque.

This heyday of seal-hunting nearly
parallels that halcyon epoch now having
life onlylin wealth of "reminiscences
and that expressive volume condensed
in the few words, +" the good old whal
ing TIM 8" The advent of steamers has
80 modernized the oil and bone business
that those who knew it so well in years
agone now find it but knocking mem
ory. Whaling voyages by wind jam.
mers' are made practically impossible.
A couple of steamers last season brought
into San Francisco more of the cash
representative of the big denizen Of the
Northern waters, than did feet of
score of the schooners, barks. and bark
entines in the field Il Is like the forlorn
story of the old plainsmen seeing tho
mule train and the bull train supplanted
and derided and cast aside by the iron
horse The hunting is brought down to
business basis, with all the elements
of adventure blotted out. The steamer
roves from one field to another while
the sailing vessel slowly and almost
helplessly drifts about forced to depend
upon pure chance as against the careful
calculations of keen management.
The departure of u large number OF
sealing vessels from the Coast last month
and the visit OF several of tie crafts to
this port indicates the existence of use
for the castaway tools OF whaling. And
sealing is q successor not to be despised.
There is plenty of money in it. 1t has a
prominent ingredient of danger. 1t re-
quires sharp eye, steady hand and
clear head A boat the size of the pretty
little schooner Winchester, say 800 tons,
slightly more or less, is about the proper
thing. Have say six to ten hunters.
The old whale boats will serve admir-
ably. For other equipment and supply
there will be wanted two shotguns and
rife for each hunter sharp knives for
skinning, plenty OF salt Tor preserving
the pelts, food, water, clothing and per-
haps some ballast. This is high press
ure business and the fare is excellent.
This year the rookeries 10 be invaded
chiefly are off the coast of Japan. A
number Will go to the Behring sea and
some to the islands near Alaska owned
half by the United States and half by
Russia. Into the Japan sea is made the
much travelled path that never shows a
trail or mark. The boats are lowered
Two sturdy fellows who get fifty to
seventy five cents for each seal, handle
the oars and carry the heavy, sharp
knives. The hunter sits at the bow.
His arms are.ready for instant use and
his eyes are sweeping the surrounding
sea in eager search. Finally he sights
dark object away in the distance. The men
at the rowlocks are given the information
and bend to their oars. There is likely
choppy sea, for this is the best condition.
Then the seal sleeps. Then his delicate
sense of hearing is handicapped by the
signing and weeping of the small waves.
The hunter is often brought to within a
few feet of his quarry before he fires.
Moving target and nervous, bobbing
footing permit only of a snapshot. His
piece roars out. Nearly always the sec
ond barrel is used. Often the reserve
shot is brought into action and fire.
quently rifle ball at very close range is
required to silence the game, The bun
seal or the female with young il no
coward. 1t is vicious and not without
means of defense and aggression. Many
times a section is torn from one OF the
staunch boats or it is almost overturned
with terrific blow from bleeding
hipper. hook is struck into the car
cass and it comes over the side. Seals
live in punches and others are GER
tain to be in the vicinity OF the one
just slaughtered. The sleep and death
comes upon them like thief in the night.
IL 10 IL uCuth pithSt ny EiSht
and its decree is enforced by the most
cumming means man can devise. MY
lady" must have her sealskin sacque,
This is the genesis OF it. When half Il
dozen or pore seals lie in the bottom
the skins are taken off and the naked
forms heaved over. The hunting is done
in the breading season and for every
mother seal taken two lives are lost.
Every means that the highest skill can
suggest has been used in attempting to
rear the unborn pups. There has been
no success whatever, but the very finest
grade OF skin is taken from these pups.
Liebes x Co. and the Alaska Com
mercial Co. are the principal capitalists
in sealing enterprises. The former have
lease of Russian rookeries, Ladd x
Co., of San Francisco are also in the
business. The Japs are going into it.
They sent to the Coast last October for
thirty hunters. The latter get from SO
to $3.50 for every seal they kill. A skin
is worth about $50 at Vancouver or San
Francisco. All skins are shipped to
London for curing. The process is I'M
known in the United States.