The morning times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1897, 1895-11-06
INSPECTED SEAL FISHERIES
DR.. Stejneger Returns From Els
Mission in Bering Sea.
British Hunting Has Hurt
the Eisheries

DR.. Leonhard Stejneger, who has been OK
amining the conditions of the sea fisheries
IN Alaska for the past six months, returned
| to the city Monday.
| DIR. Stejneger as seen in his office in the
National Museum. In reply to a question
concerning the success OF his mission, he
said:
II was sent by the Fish Commission to s.
| certain with absolute accuracy just how
far our fisheries have been injured by the
British system of killing seals at sea. Our
American traders have complained for u
long time past that the seal is rapidly diniin-
ishinS in number, and that the fur is also
of an inferior quality. This latter condition
is due TO the ract that the young bearing
animal is frequently injured, and as
consequence her offspring is the sufferer
In order to Verify these assertions, in
May last the Fish Commission sent me TO
visit the American fisheries. have made
scientific Investigation of their present
number, their habits and health, in com
parison TO their condition twelve years
ago, when l made similar expedition
this was before the system OF piracy at sea
began, and II is u just and applicable test
OF the equity OF the late Paris commits
SION"
DR.. Stejneger said that he had also Wis
tied the Russian fisheries in Kamschatka,
with a view OF comparing their present and
previous conditions, but, with the excep-
non of saying that in both places the seal
Is rapidly decreasing in numbers, he would
not disclose the nature of his report.
1t is very Important matter" said
the doctor, land Will have to be handled
cautiously and slowly, ! am now engaged
In getting my notes and statistics In proper
shape, III order to make my report To the
Fish Commission. 1t VIII be Il voluminous
account of what actually saw and scien-
tifically tested, and on the assembling OF
Congress the document Will be properly pre-
scented and its contents made public
DR.. Stejneger said that he saw no ap-
preciable difference in the aspect of the
country since his last visit. Facilities for
travelling are, perehaps, little better,
but in other ways the tide of civilization
has made no recognizable track. In re-
gard to the Eskinos, he said that slight
change for the better might be observed in
the American side, morally, but not finan-
cially.
The Americans are more sober and In
dustrious, and the good work of our mis-
sonaries is well written in this improve
ment. The Russian Eskimos are more
prosperous in certain ways, and have
more money.
They think" said DR.. Stejneger, drily,
that they are vastly cililized, because
they have now mostly discarded their
picturesque native costume OF fur and
wear store clothes. But ii Is not an i'm
provement. Twelve years ago when was
there, the Eskimos, during the long winter
when they could not hunt or fish, occupied !
their time making up their fur robes and |
their wooden shoes, and they were a very |
decent people. Now they buy their shoes |
and clothes, and spend all their free time |
drinking and carousing. and they think /
they are very civilized; wen, perhaps, |
they are" ended the doctor, with laugh. !
DR.. steJneger spent some time in the |
village of Port Petropan-
loki. IL is Il very quaint town of about |
400 Inhabitants. The Russian governor re-
sides there and he was very courteous to |
our American explorer by provid- /
ing travelling accommodations. and other
wise furthering his Investigations. Most |
of his journey was, however, made in the
British man-of-war, the POrpoise, and in
the trading vessels of the furriers.
DR.. steJneger brought home some inter
esting specimens OF arctic birds, ground
squirrels, and mice. Among the birds are
two very soiemn-looking ravens, unusually
large, and of the most satiny plunage.
They seem, apparently, of the old-fashioned
and well-known raven family, familiar TO
all readers of Dickens, Poe, and Scott, but
DR.. Stejneger says that the land OF the
sun produces an entirely different
species, with many interesting and original
Two beautiful white sea-
gulls are also attracting much attention.
He has also many quaint specimens OF
ivory and wood carving. done mostly by !
the Russians a nd sold to the traders and eN-
plorers. Dr. Steineger is very much pleased
with the thorough success OF his inyestiga-
lions from a scientific point, and in ad-
dition to his government repO 1T viii write
a series of papers on this interesting sub
feet.
DR.. stejneger is one OF the most distin-
suished scientists in our large body of
scholars. He is a native of Sweden, and
held an important position in Stockholm,
which he resigned TO come to this cOun-
ry. He has been curator of the depart
nent of reptiles in the National Museum
'or the past thirteen years.