The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-05-30
WARNING OF MR.. SCHULZ
Calls Attention to the Present
Encroachment of Amer
leans.
SEA ANIMALS MADE SCARCE.
Lucrative Catch Of the Foreigners
Enviously Watched by the
Canadians.

OTTAWA, ONTARIO, May 29.-In his re-
port to the Government Lieutenant-Gov-
ernor Schulz, referring to the encroach-
ment of American whalers in Hudson Bay,
says:
"After a cessation of their efforts for
number of years American whalers have
again resumed their former practice of
wintering their ships at Marble
Island, from which part of Can
ada, it will be remembered, the
almost complete denudation of sea animal
life in our great Canadian sea was effected,
and our custom regulations and some
other laws Especially relating to individ-
uals) were completely ignored. The pres
ent whaling ships, which wintered in our
harbor on that island last winter Chat of
1s93-9D no doubt pursue the same meth
DDS as those of past years.
1t is a gratifying evidence that dur
ing the years of rest from pursuit and
attack the whale, walrus and seal have in
creased in the northwestern waters of the
bay; yet I have again to repeat the warn
ing given so many times since 1 first
brought the matter up, seventeen
years ago, that without some
control is exercised over the present
method of killing those animals which
will allow them fair chance of escape,
and of restocking these once valuable
waters, the merciless bomb, lance and gun
and other appliances which give these
creatures no chance of life at all will
speedily destroy the last hope of restock-
ing the Canadian waters
While abiding to this violation of our
laws by foreign whalers, have had occa-
sion from time to time to call your atten-
ton to the large and lucrative catch of sea
animals by the foreign whaling feet which,
having its headquarters at San Francisco,
annually enters the Arctic Sea through
Boring Strait in pursuit of whalebone,
ivory, etc.
So long as this fleet was admitted to thel
short season when Point Barrow could not
be safely passed and repassed and many be
lated ships were crushed on the dangerous
Alaskan coast, there was little danger of
! the denudation of those seas.
| But the loss of life was so great and the
crushed ships so many that the Govern
| ment Of the United States decided to main
tain permanent relief station on Point
Barrow, and the United States ship Thetis.
being detailed to escort three ships and
men to build the station, sailed east after
doing so, to be near the feet should her
services be required by disabled ships.
While thus engaged she found, sounded
and mapped the valuable harbor on the
| Canadian island lying near our Arctic
coast and about one hundred miles west of
one of the mouths of the Mackenzie River.
known as Herschel Island. No more
perfect Arctic harbor could be found,
as it was on the southern side, near
enough to the Arctic coast to main
tain daily communication with the Esqui-
maux and far enough to allow late fall en-
try and early spring departure an excel
lent entrance and deep water, with good
holding ground within.
Foreign whalers have been quick to see
its advantages as giving them nearly dou-
BILE the length Of their fishing period.