The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1895-10-16
DINIyJTI0y OT SHALN
Annual Report Of James Sheakly,
Governor of Alaska.
BRITISH MAINLY RESPONSIBLE,
SAYS the Governor, for the Ruthless de-
struction OF Female Srels ut Sen, by
Wholly Ignoring the Provisions Laid
Down by the Paris Tribunal.


Wholly Ignoring the Provisions Laid
Down by the Paris Tribunal.
WAsHINGToN, Oct. 16.-James Shcakly,
governor of Alaska in his annual report
to the secretary Of the Interior says re-
gnrding the disappearance of the seals:
mo one at all familiar with the past
history of the Islands can look upon the
deserted rookerios 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 claims of the
Canadians and the British that the ez-
cessive killing of seal 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
females are scarce. The diminution is
due directly to the killing 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 "Their
only hope of saving themselves from loss
was Bahring sea- as the supply here
(Pribylotf) is greatly diminished. Great
Britain gave to the Canadian sealers in
creased facilities by availing herself of a
technicality, and violating the clear in
tent of the Paris regulations relating to
firearms. When the Canadian authori-
ties secured from England what is prac-
tically repudiation, or at least mega
ton 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 that the remedy for
the evil is simple, but "under existing
conditions its application is difficult, un-
less Great Britain has forfeited, by her re-
cent action, all right to consideration, and
| the United States hold with firm hand
| all vessels engaged in destroying seals
! The remedy laid down by the Paris trib
unal has proved a failure"
The governor says that $1,000 skins werC
taken on the islands this year, and 3S 00(
| were taken by pOachers, 10 per cent. OF
which were females.
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 its efforts to enforce the Paris tri
| bunal.
The governor discusses at some length
the mining industries of Alaska, and sayi
that the production indicates that it will
be profitable and permanent industry
The laws of the mining country are ad
ministered by the miners themselves, anc
it is wholly impracuicablc TO try to exor
else government control OF the mines al
present.
Upon the subject of the Alaskan bound
airy the governor says: "The people o
Alaska, over the whole country, expec
and believe that the government of thl
United States will defend and maintain
our right to all the territory includel
within the boundary line fixed and agreed
upon by treaty made between Grea
Britain and Russia in 1925 and acquiescet
in for nearly three-quarters of a ccntur.
without question or dispute"