Evening star., 1895-02-26
WIPE OUT THE RACE
ehe Pribilov Seal Herd May Be Ex-
terminated.
TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM
In the Interests Of Humanity Drastic
Measures Necessary.
TERRIBLE CRU ELTY

The treasury has already reckoned up
the number of seals left in the Pribylov
herd, and has arranged the details of the
slaughter that Is to take place in case 1t
is decided to wipe out these valuable fur
bearing animals entirely and forever.
Stock having been taken, as 1t were it Is
found that there remain from $4,000 to
100000 females and 10000 or $4,000 males,
AL of these can be. killed next summer,
being driven by squads In the usual man
ner from the hauling grounds to the kill
Ing places and clubbed to death. As fast
as this is done the skins will be salted
down in the salt houses on the island.
where they may be kept in good condition
for four or five years, so not to flood
the market with a great quantity of hides
at once. Prices would thus be maintained.
and the last ones disposed of would go
of at huge figures.
These 100000 or 10000 seals, which are
oil that are left from q herd numbering
millions twenty years ago. represent today
a total value Of about $14.OO0.OO0. When
the animals have been killed, this money
viii be turned into the treasury. Quite
for the benefit of Alaska, being sufficient to
support the government of the whole ter
Eitory in prepetuity. yielding consider
able annual surplus In addition. OF course,
the destruction of the fur seals will de-
prive- the natives of the Pribylov Islands
Of the means of support on which they
have relied hitherto. But there are only
300 or SO Of these natives. and in such
an event they would doubtless migrate to
Oonalaska and Kodiak, where they could
canneries.
Rapid Destruction.
At present Uncle Sam finds himself IN
the position of having $14 100000 worth Of
capital invested with no security at ALL
1t Is a prey to robbers. and the only way
.Prbylov Islands for good. How rapidly
The seals have been destroyed may be
Judged by glance at few figures. In
every year between 1885 and 1882 inclu-
sive. somewhat more than 100000 of the
animals were killed the islands. In
1880 their numbers had been so far re-
duced by the operations OF pelagic hunters
that 1t was deemed expedient to slaughter
on the islands only 25,OOO. This was re-
duced to 140OO in 1891. and. under the mo-
dus vivendi. to about 1900 in 1892 and 1888,
respectively. In 1894. though the regula-
tions of the Paris tribunal permitted the
Staying of 10000 seals on the islands. only
$4,000 were killed. because it was evident
that the race was In imminent danger OF
extinction.
While this wise and mercfful economy
has been practiced on the islands. the Pc
lagic sealers have increased the measure
of their destruction year by year. The
climax was reached in the season just ex-
pired, when more than 5000 of the ami
served, serve was the same year. 1891, in which
the killing on the islands was limited to
1900 When 1t Is further considered that
at least three-fourths OF the seals taken
at sea were females. heavy with young.
and that probably at least half as many
more were killed. but lost, while all Of the
island catch were carefully selected males.
some conception may be had of the disas-
trous results of pelagic sealing One effect
Of this destruction in Bering sea was the
finding of Il, 900 dead pups by the treasury
agents last fall on the Pribylov Islands, on
accessible parts of the rookeries- A care
full estimate based on this count makes
the total number about 10000. These pups
died of starvation, their mothers being
KILLED at sea while seeking food
Greatest of All.
Last spring Assistant Secretary of the
Treasury Hamlin became impressed with
the idea that the rookeries were in danger,
In spite of assurances to the contrary by
Messrs Foster. Phelps and Carter, our agent
and counsel at the Paris tribunal. He re-
solved to go to Alaska himself and see
how things were working. There he found
that the regulations adopted at Paris call
ed for the patrolling Of a large part OF the
Pacific ocean by fleet Of nine or ten veS-
sells of war and revenue cutters, at an an
nual cost of at least siOO, 600 to the public
treasury; also that the new regulations not
only did not protect the seals, but actually
facilitated theirl destruction. Having WIS.,
tied the Pribylov Islands last summer, he
returned to Washington with full evidence
on these points In hand In November he
y had an opportunity to see the returns OF
sales of sealskins In London, which is the
market for practically all Of the pel.s.
These returns gave positive and undeniable
information that the pelagic catch OF Iur
seals for the year 1894, under the regula-
tions adopted at Paris, was the greatest
in the history of the business.
Horrible Cruelty.
The fearful significance Of the figures
aroused the Treasury Department and the
Secretary of State to perception of the
fact that 1t was necessary to secure an
immediate change in the regulations or to
submit to the entire loss of the herd Mr..
Henry Elliott. the naturalist, recognized
as the greatest living authority respecting
the seals, was called into consultation. He
urged that Great Britain had united with
the United States in the preparation of the
regulations for the sole purpose OF saving
the seals for the benefit of all mankind
These regulations had been enforced, and
the result was worse than failure. There
fore, IL Great Britain insisted on continu-
guilty of violating the faith which the
United States reposed in her. If, when
asked by the United States to right this
wrong. she refused, this government would
be warranted In turning to the islands and
taking every one of the seals left thereon
Mr.. Elliott further urged that under the
circumstances this measure. harsh ana
drastic though 1t seemed, would be mercl-
ful and humane. Under the existing regu-
/lations thousands. and even tens of thou
4 sands, Of nursing mother seals are slaugh-
tered at sea Dy tue peidSiC Dutchei D. ieoV-
ing their helpless offspring by myriads to
starve to death miserably. The exhibition
he declared, was so very cruel and horrf-
BILE that, IL 1t did not occur SO far away
the authors and perpetrators of the dia-
bolical mischief would be jailed and pun
ished like felons.
Drastic Measures.
In accordance with these representations
certain members of Congress urged the
Depaytment' of State and the Secretary OF
the Treasury to take steps at once toward
Z reopening the case with Great Britain. The
figures on the subject were laid before
4 Congress January % last On that very
1 day Mr.. Dngley of Maine arose In the
House and called the attention Of the coun-
try to the shameful results of the enforce
ment of the Bering sea regulations. He
introduced bill, which was referred to
the committee on ways and means. This
bill repealed certain sections of the exist
/ ing law prohibiting the killing of female
fur seals on the Pribylov Islands. 1t also
directed the Secretary of the Treasury to
kill all of the fur seals and turn the pro-
ceeds into the treasury. However. it was
slol ,Lok ~ \