New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-08-09
SEALS FAST DISAPPEARING
THE PRICE OF THE FUR LIKELY TO RISE.

c. c. sHAYNE BELIEVES THAT THE GOVERNMENT
SHOULD PROHIBIT SEALING ENTIRELY IN
ORDER TO PREVENT THE ExTERMr-
NATION OF THE HERD
Reports have been received at the State De-
par,ment at Washington from the United states
Consul at Victoria p. c.. to the effect that the sea-
herd in Behring Sea is near determination. seanns
vessels which have arrived from the northern nsn-
Ing grounds also report extremely light catches OF
sea-. small In fact as to annihlate any eApee'a
ton that the fur seal catch this year VIII De pro-
ductive Of any great profit
c. c. Shayne, the we-known furrier, OF NOS ia
and 126 West Forty-second-st' wheh see" ny
Tribune reporter yesterday, said:
..There can be no doubt that fur seas. under the
present condition OF things. will soon De exterm'-
mated. Figures speak for themselves. Eish' years
ago the number Of seals caught during the season
was 100000 Last year they had dwindled down 10
1900 and this year the harvest will be even far
be,ouy ,his The cause OF this Is well known to
every one connected with the trade. The United
States Government has simply not given sufnc'ent
protection to seals. They agreed TO give thls pro-
lection but they have not carried II OUT ana Eng
land who should have Helped our government is
even more to blame. because she seems to take no
interest whatever in this important question OF the
seal fisheries What has been the result? The
poachers for the last ten years have been Killing
seals with absolutely discrimination all the year
round until now the pursuit Is proft.ess even 10
them II this is allowed to continue, II does not
require much penetration to find out how long the
seal Industry will remain In existence Figure out
the drop from 100 900 to 1900 in eight years and one
can easily perceive that two or three years more
and seals will be classed with the extinct animals
"Of course prices will advance. and rapidly too
In few years time seal fur will. unless something
is done to stay the slaughter. reach a fabulous
far incta m
was travelling on the praires and saw the same
wholesale butchery of buffalos going on there as
with seals now At that time you could buy bur
falo hide for a song; now they cost 80 eacn
and in little while longer they will be double this
price And SO II will be with seals Prices are al
ways governed by the laws Of supply and demand
| and in little time sealskin will be one of the
dearest furs In existence. cannot say to what ex-
tent the prices will be affected this year. In conse-
| ouence OF the hard times we have experienced
lately the trade has been dull. and fur manufactur-
| ers have a large amount OF unsold stock on hand'
think fur men are in good way 70 maze h fortunes sac
during the next two years by reason OF TINS rv.,
You see they have large accumulations OF sea- iurs
on hand and the Ss. or ene sending
travellers to-day with view OF selling some OF my
but tho n9n Which Bound
to ensue; u.,-,o,,. o,,on 20 3 ,,r,,ed extent the
present bad state of the seal sheres viii
peratively be to stop seal-fshing ior
|
| Government should insist upon this II only to pro-
tect their 1t would be necessary OF course
in this case substitute the North American rui
Company which has the contro, Of the fisheries TINS
year but the subsequent revenue from the hsneries
| would amply repay the Government In future years
| II would be necessary to have England's co-opera
| ton to protect the seals, and hope the two Gov
ernments will be stirred into action by the reports
| that are coming In regarding this seasons catch
| OtherWise the seal will become extinct. and fash
| ionable women will be compelled to wear natura
furs-by natural l mean such furs as mink, sable
| etc-as their mothers did thirty-fve or forty year
| ago. before the way Of preparing sealskns becam
| known.
| becoming scarcer although not In such proportion
as the unfortunate SEAL Mink sable marten
skunk and beaver skins have been greatly reduces
in supply during the last few years. and my Oh
seryation shows me that they will become gradual
scarcer every year. As population and civilization
Increase the more luxurious become the habits o
the people and the outlook for the fashionable fur
bearing animals is beginning to look very bad. IN
deed The resources are not equal to the rapid
| Increasing demands