The islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1891-1899, 1895-10-24
SEAL DIFFERENTIATION
Annual Report of Governor
Sheakley, OF Alaska.
SAYS ROOKERIES ARE DESERTED
he Blames Great Britain for Violating
the Paris Agreement Relating
to the Use of Firearms.

Washington, Oct Thames Sneak
ley, governor of Alaska, in his annua
report to the secretary of the interior
says that on the Fourth of July, the
cutters Rush, Corwin, Grant and Perry
were in the harbOr of Unalaska and
gave the natives an object lesson as to
the proper and patriotic celebration OF
the day. On the disappearance of the
seal the governor says:
mo one at all familiar with the
past history of the islands can look
upon the deserted rookeries today and
not realize with crushing force how
great has been the diminution of seal
life, especially of the reproductive
class, the females
The governor says that the claim of
the Canadians and British that the ex-
cessive killing of seals ON land is the
cause of the depletion is disapproved
by the statistics. He says that Oh the
rookeries now there are many male
seals, while females are scarce. The
dilninution is due directly to the kill.
ing at sea, where no discrimination
can be made as to the sex of the seals.
He says that better protection must be
granted them 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
British vessels being not over 200 per
vessel He says of the British vessels:
1.-The only hope of saving themselves
from loss was Behring sea, as the sup
ply here (Pribyloff) is greatly dimin-
ished. Great Britain gave to the Can
adam sealers increased facilities. by
availing herself of technically and
violating the clear intent of the Paris
regulations, relating to firearms. When
the Canadian authorities had received
from England what is practically a
reputation, or at least a negation, of
the Paris tribunal, they knew it 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 in Behring sea were
skins taken ON the Japan coast"
The governor says the remedy for
the evil is simple, but under existing
conditions its application is difficult.
Unless Great Britain has forfeited. by
her recent action, all right to consider
alton, and the United States holds
with firm hand all vessels found en-
gagged in destroying seals, the remedy
laid down by the Paris tribunal has
proved failure. The governor says
that $4,000 skins were taken on the
island this year, and 38, 900 were taken
by the poachers, IS per cent of which
were female. The governor says that
the patrol of the sea by the United
States has been of the best, and the
government has acted in good faith in
it's efforts to enforce the Paris tribunal
The governor discusses the mining
industry of Alaska, and the production
indicates that it will be profitable
and permanent industry. The laws in
the mining country are administered
by the miners themselves, and it is i'm
practicable to try to exercise govern
ment control of the mines at present.
Upon the subject of the boundary
he says:
''The people of Alaska, over the
whole country, expect and believe the
United States government will defend
and maintain our rights to all the ter
ritory included within the boundary
line agreed upon by treaty made be-
tween Great Britain and Russia in
1895, and acquiesced in for nearly
three-quarters of century without
question or dispute.