The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-11-29
SEAL SKIN PRICES.
much Speculation as to the Result of tho
First sales Next Month

First sales Next Month.
Chief Justice Davie of the British
Columbia supreme court rendered a
very peculiar decision this week in a
sealing case assessing damages for de-
PENDANT In the Beatrice case. but. wise
~ or unwisely, purposely avoiding say
ing who should pay the damages. The
British Columbia papers give as his
reason Tor so doing that the court
thought Ii a matter for negotiations
between the governments, and Il was
not a matter for him to say who was
responsible
The same court assessed a fine of f100
against the sealing schooner Shelby.
which by Inference was found to be
guilty of having taken seals illegally.
The Colonist gives the following par
tlculars of the seasons catch by the
Victoria fleet and prospects for the
coming season:
Although only home a few weeks,
the sealing fleet are already beginning
preparations for another season, and Il
is fully expected that before the year
ends a number of schooners will be on
their way to the Japan coast, the most
productive field of operations last sea-
son. Whether or not the greater num-
Der OF schooners will go in this direc-
ton and thus avail themselves OF the
four hunting grounds, except the Brit
ish Columbia coast, is as yet undecid-
ed. but is a subject OF great importance
to local business men, ror there Is a
vast difference for supplying for a
schooner for a three months cruise
and one going for a voyage of three
or more times that duration. 1t Is also
a question which materially affects
seal hunters. The wages they will re-
ceive will be at least those of last
year, and IL more is asked 1t probably
can only be settled by compromise.
Owners OF sealing vessels have already
pledged themselves to adhere TO last
seasons wage standard during the
coming year, but to give none of the
customary extras TO Indians. At pres
ent, however, some of the expert hunt
ers propose holding out for more, but
they have not yet met TO finally de-
eide. What seal skins will bring in
the London market is a matter OF
all gone forward to the great English
markets and the first big sales TO be
held will be held early next month.
On the average the skins are said to
be better cured than for many seasons,
and those taken in Boring sea have
been benefited rather than otherwise
by the handling given them by the
officers of the American revenue cut
tiers. Collector Mines official state
ment of the sealing business during the
past season, which was yesterday
given out for publication, gives a very
interesting account OF the skins taken
this year II shows that OF the 1913
skins, the total catch OF the Canadian
feet in Boring sea. 1876 pelts were
those OF male seals, and 20,004 were OF
These numbers added togeth-
er make the biggest catch obtained in
any of the sealing rounds. but they al
so represent the work Of more schoon-
ers-44 vessels-which hunted in Ber-
ing sea; 22 hunted on the Japan coast.
20 on the Copper Island coast, and 80
on the British Columbia coast, or 81
vessels in all were engaged in the
sealing business. representing a feet
of 1889 tons. employing 7SS whites and
S54 Indians. There were 1857 skins
taken on the Japan coast, and 6.2s1 on
the Copper Island coast. These fig
ures were obtained after the most care
full research, and are in every particu-
lar in accordance with the logs OF the
different schooners. The number OF
male and female seals killed in the
sea will be probably one of the most
points from an American