The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-10-16
BUTCHERY OF SEALS
Governor Of Alaska Points to
the Depleted Rookeries.
THE VICTORIA HUNTERS DID IT.
They Hunt With Guns in Spite of the
Law The Old Boundary Line
Should Be Insisted On.

Washington City, Oct. 15.-James Sneak
ley. governor OF Alaska, I'm his annual re-
port TO thu secretary of the interior, says:
NO one at al familiar with the past his
tory of the seal islands can look upon the
deserted rookeries today and not realize
with crushing force how great has been
the diminut:on OF seal life. especially OF
The reproductive class the females"
The governor says that the claim OF the
Canadians and the British that the exces-
sive killing OF seals on Land is the cause
of the depletion is disproved by the Stats
ties. He says that on the rookeries new
there are many male seas. while females
are scarce. The dimlnution is due directly
to the killing at sea, where no discrimina-
ton can be made as 20 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 70 make the usual
catches this season. the catch OF the Brit
ish vessels being not over 300 per vessel
He SAYS Of the British vessels:
1.-The only hope OF saving themselves
from loss was Boring sea, as the supply
here Urfb.lof islands, Is greatly dim.n-
ished Great Britain gave 10 the Canadian
sealers increased facilities by awaiting
herself OF a technically and violating the
clear intent OF the Paris regulations re.at-
ing "a firearms When the Canadian au-
thor.ties secured from England what Is
practically Reputation or al least a ne
CATION Of the Paris tribunal. they knew II
would be possible for British Columbia
schccners coming from the Asiat,c side
CT the sea 20 use firearms and evsde de-
lection by asserting that the skins found
on board with shot wounds while IA Bering
SEA warr skins taken un Tho Iapan cast 4"
The governor saws that the remedy for
the evil Is simple, but under existing con-
dltions is application is difficult, unless
Great britain has forfeited by her recent
action. all right 20 consideration, and the
United States holds with firm hand all
vessels found engaged In destroying seals
The remedy laid down by the Paris tri-
bunai has proved q failure. The governor
saws thar 150o0 skins were taken on the
islands this year. and g 600 were taken by
t0achere Is per cent. Of which were fe-
males. 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 10 enforce the
Paris tribunal
The governor discusses at some length
the mining industry of Alaska. and saws
that the production indicates that Il Will
be a profitable and permanent industry.
The laws OF the mining country are ad-
rninistered b. the miners themselves, and
IL Is wholly Improbable 10 try TO exer-
else government control or the mines az
present.
Upon the subject OF the Alaskan bound
arv, the governor says. The people OF
Alaska over the whole country expect
and believe that the government Of The
United States viii defend and maintain
our right 70 all the territory included
within the boundary line OF the nxeC line
drawn up by the treaty made between
Great Britain and Russia In ISIS, and ac-
guessed in for nearly three-Quarters OF a
century without question or dispute