The herald., 1894-08-27
THE SEAL ISLANDS OF ALASKA,
Capt. Hall Gives an Interesting
Account of Them.
The Seal is Disappearing on Account
of the Greedy POachers.
Male Seals and Their Hsrcms-The
Islands of st. George and st. Paul.
Blus Foxes and Their Dies
OF Bsa Urchins.

the city at present ia Capt. II. L. daii,
government agent at Alaska, who has
been making short visit to Southern
California before going east.
Captain Hall is an Ohio man and he
has had long experience in government
service, both state and national, and his
personality is charming one. He is
large ano impressive looking gentleman.
and his years of public life have made
him acquainted with men and measures.
He is man Of keen observation and
pleasant conversational powers, and
although he was averee to talking much
about Home phases of life in Alaska be-
fore making his official report to the
government, he nevertheless gave aome
exceedingly interesting accounts of lie
in the far north and information rela-
tive to our sealing interests there. when
asked about them by HERALD re-
porter.
II left the seal islands in June" he
said, "and arrived at san Francisco
about the middle of July. 1 could not
go east then on account OF the strike,
and after waiting some time determined
u "
Southern California. I went to the
islands in the spring Of 1893. as treas
ury agent"
SIS the term OF an agent only q
year?''
"No, but the agents are not required
to H}ay in that comparatively isolated
country two winters in succession. They
are allowed to leave some time in the
uaooud n VI, n, ~ nh rofrvr fo1l
spring. Meantime, however, other agents
take their places. Another agent had ar
rived before left and took my place."
In responus to inquiries about tho seal
islands. their location and something
about their climate, Captain Hall said:
"There are two of the islands st. Paul
and st. George-in the Bsring sea, as
you are aware. ST. Paul ia considerably
larger than st. George. They are about
200 miles north OF Neualaska, and about
$50 miles south of Bering straits, and
do not belong to the Aleutisn chain OF
Islands. In climatic aense, the year
may be fairly divided into summer and
winter, the spring and fail being ehort
and much the same as summer. The
winter ia long-seven months or more
but the cold 10 not go severe as ie gener.
ally supposed. Last winter is said to
have been the coldest there in several
years, but the temperature fell below
zero only twice. One day it was five be-
low and another seven, bat this was at
O'Clock in the morning. The rest OF the
winter it was considerably above. But
there is much wind, and at times it is
very heavy. Otherwise. the winter lex
cept in lengthy is very much like winter
in our middle states. As to the summer
temperature, my recollection is that it
generally ranged from 80 to go. During
this season there is a wonderful profusion
OF wild flowers, many of which are really
beautiful, and they are everywhere, from
the seashore to the top of the low noun
tains, and are very attractive. There is
not much sunshine at any time of the
year. and in summer very little. Dur
ing the summer there is more or less
fog every day, caused. it is said, by the
mingling OF the cold currents from the
north and warmer currents from the
Japan stream eouth."
"Are there no seals in that region ex-
cept on these islands?"
mo. The fur seal, 1t is said, does not
like sunshine, especially while on the
breeding rookeries, and therefore the
climatic conditions on these islands suit
the animal excellently, which, it is cup
posed, accounts for their selection"
Are the seals increasing in number
since the government prohibited the
killing OF them in large mum bsrs. as was
the case until two or three years past ?"
II think not. During the contention
with Great Britain as to whether Boring
sea should be regarded as closed sea
the number allowed to be killed was
only 1900 each year. For some years
after Alaska came into the possession OF
United States as many as 1000 year
were killed. But it seems that their
track through the ocean after they leave
the islands in the fall is now known,
and sealers intercept them and kill large
numbers, chiefly by shooting them. 1t
is estimated that of every killed are
lost, and 40 females as well ss males are
shot the ultimate destruction is very
great. do not think it would be safe to
take over 10000 pelts at the islands now,
if an increase in the herd be desired.
There the only seals killed are young
males from to years OF age. The
pelts of younger ones are too small, and
of older ones too coarse. II there are no
more seals on the islands this year than
last it would be somewhat difficult to
secure 10000 pelts of the kind that are
taken there"
"Do you know what the pelts are
worth in markst?"
mo. do not. have been told that
they brought $40 each in the London
market two years ago, but do not know
that to be the case. OF course pelts
taken at the islands bring much larger
prices than promiscuous lots taken at
sea. becsuse of the uniform and beat
grade, and better opportunity to cure
them"
II believe there are limitations as to
killing seals at sea now?"
THAT is true, but have not seen the
decision OF the high court at Paris.
One point is, have heard, that they
can be taken in Bering Sea by spears
only--shootng being prohibited. And
another, that they shall not BIS taken
nearer the islands than 60 miles. But
mother seals are known to GO as far as
100 miles from the islands for food while
nursing their young; and if killed when
30 feeding, the young necessarily die of
starvation. A government agent who
had been on st. Paul island during Pres
ident Hsrrison's term, told me that &C.
cording to count and estimate made
by him one year, there we're not less
than 10000 dead pups on the rookeries
there that year. Each female has but