The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-10-16
FEW FEMALE A
MOST HAVE BEEN KILLED OF BY
RECKLESS CANADIAN PIRATES.
Paris Tribunal Regulations of Little
Benefit-Repoft of the Governor of
AInska-The boundary Survey

WASHINGTON, Oct. 15.-James Sheakley,
Governor Of Alaska. in his annual report
TO the Secretary OF the Interior, says that
on the 4th of July the cutters Rush, Cor
win. Grant ard Perry were in the harbor
or Unalaska and gave the natives an OBJ
ject lesson as to the proper and patriotic
celebration of the day.
On the disappearance of the seals the
Governor says: mo one at all familiar
with the past history OF the islands can
look on the deserted rookeries to-day and
not realize with crushing force how great
has been the diminution of seal life, and
especially of the reproductive class-the fe-
males" The Governor says that the claims
of the Canadians and the British that thes
excessive killing OF seals on land is the
cause of the depletion is disproven by the
statistics. He says that on the rookeries
now there are many male seals, while fe-
males are scarce. The diminution is due di-
rectly TO the killing at sea, where no dis
elimination can be made as to the sex of
the seals. He says that better protection
must be granted then than is afforded by
the Paris tribunal, and that the schooners
have not been able to make the usual
catches this season, the catch of the Brit
ish vessels being not over 200 per vessel.
The Governor says of the British YES
sells: Their only hope of saving themselves
from loss was Boring sea. AS the supply
here (PribylofD is greatly diminished, Great
Britain gave TO the Canadian sealers in
creased facilities by availing herself of a
technlcality. and violating the clear intent
or the Paris regulations relating to fire.
ans When the Canadian authorities Sc
cured from England what is practically a
reputation, or at least a negation of the
Paris tribunal regulations, they knew il
would be possible for British Columbian
schooners coming from the Asiatic side of
the sea TO use the allowed firearms and
evade detection by asserting that the skins
found on board with shot wounds while i'm
Bering sea were skins taken on the Japan
csc coast The Governor says that the
remedy for the evil is simple, but, under
existing conditions its application is diff
Sqit unless Great Britain has forfeited by
her recent action all right to consideration
and the United States holds with a firm
hand all vessels found engaged in Destroy
ing seals. The remedy laid down by the
Paris tribunal has proved a failure" The
Governor says that 1900 skins were taken
on the Islands and $1,000 were taken by
poachers. 30 per cent. of which were fe-
males. The Governor says hat the patrol
of the sea by the United States has been
OF the best and the government has acted
in good faith in its efforts to enforce the
The Governor discusses at some length
the. mining industries Of Alaska, and says
that the production indicates that it will be
a profitable and permanent industry. The
laws or the mining country are adminis-
tered by the miners themselves and it is
wholly impracticable TO try to exercise gov
eminent control of the mines at present.
On the subject OF the Alaskan boundary.
the Governor says: 1.-The people of Alaska.
over the whole country. expect and believe
that the government of the United States
will defend and maintain our right to all
territory included within the boundary line
fixed and agreed upon by the treaty made
between Great Britain and Russia in 1885
and acquiesced In for nearly three-quarters
OF a century without question or dispute"