The evening times., 1895-11-05
Or. sTEJNteER's RETURN
Fish Commission Expert Who
Has Examined Seal Fisheries.
SUCCESS OF HIS MISSION
He Was Sent to Ascertain just How
Far American interests Have Bee.
Killing Seals at Sea-Made IA Similar
Expedition Twelve Years Ago.

Dr. LeonharQ SteJneSer, VINO mas Deem eX-
anining the conditions OF the seal fisheries
in Alaska for the past six months, returned
TO the city yesterday.
DR.. Stejneger was seen this morning in
his office in the National Museum. In re-
ply to question concerning the success OF
his mission, he said:
II was seut by the Fish Commission to as
certain with absolute accuracy just how
far our fisheries have been injured by the
British system or killing seals at sea. Our
American traders have complained for
long time past that the seal is rapidly diniin-
ishing in number, and that the fur is also
of an inferior quality. This latter condition
IL due TO the fact that the yOung-bearing
animal is frequently injured, and as a
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. l have made
scientific Investigation OF their present
number, their habits and health, in COM
parison to their condition twelve years
ago, when i made similar expedition
this was before the system OF piracy at sea
began, and 1t is just and applicable test
OF the equity of the late Paris commits
sion."
THE RUSSIAN FISHERIES.
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-
ton of saying that in both places the seal
is rapidly decreasing in numbers, he would
not disclose the nature OF his report.
lit is very Important NATTER said
the doctor, land will have to be handled
cautiously and slowly, au now engag ged
in getting my notes and statistics in proper
shape, in order to make my report 10 the
Fish Commission. 1t will be volumnous
account of what actually saw and scien-
tifically tested, and on the assembling OF
Congress the document Will be properly pre-
seDted and its contents made public
DR.. StejDeger said that he saw no ap-
preciable difference in the aspect of the
country since his last visit. Facilities for
travelling are, perehaps, a little better,
but in other ways the tide Of civilization
has made no recognizable track. In re-
gard to the Eskirnos, 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-
sionaries is well written in this improve
ment. The Russian Eskimos are more
prosperous in certain ways. and have
more money.
They think" said DR.. stetneger, drily,
THAT they are vastly cililized, because
they have now mostly discarded their
picturesque native costume OF fur and
wear store clothes. But il is not an i'm
provement. Twelve years ago when was
there. the Eskimos, during the long inter
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: well. perhaps,
they are" ended the doctor, with laugh.
VERY QUAINT TOWN.
DR.. Stejneger spent some time in the
Kamchatskan village Of Port Petropan-
ioki. 1t is a 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.. StejneEer brought home some inter
esting specimens of arctic birds, ground
squirrels, and mice. Among the birds are
two very solemn-looking ravens. unusually
large. and of the most satiny plunlage.
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
midnight sun produces an entirely different
species, with many interesting and original
characteristics. Two beautiful white sea-
gullS are also attracting much attention.
He has also many quaint specimens OF
ivory and wood carving, do Ne mostly by
the Russians nd sold to the traders and cx-
plorers. DR.. Stejneger is very much pleased
with the thorough success OF his investiga-
tions from a scientific point and in ad-
ditiOn to his government repO rt will write
a series OF papers on this interesting sub
ject.
DR.. Stejneger is one of the most distin-
guished scientists in our large body of
scholars. He is native of Sweden. and
held an important position in Stockholm,
which he resigned TO come to this coun-
try. He has been curator of the depart
ment of reptiles in the National Museum
for the past thirteen years.