The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-07-04
PUGET SOUND SEALING FLEET.
All the Vessels Clear From Port
Townsend With Indian Crews

Port Angeles, July 3-Special-Deputy
Customs Collector William Clark has been
Kept busy during the past two weeks in
clearing the Puget sound sealing fleet for
Berfng sea. The entire fleet cleared last
month from this port. The reason for this
Is that the vessels must have their crews
with them at the time they clear. and as
all or the Indian sealers are from Neah
Bay, this is the most convenient port 10
clear from. The captains of the sealers
complain bitterly of the restrictions and
regulations under which they are placed
by the United States government as COM
pared with those Of British Columbia, and
say that unless many of these formalities
are dispensed with before next year they
VIII In the future sail under the British
flag. The following fleet has cleared from
this port for Boring sea, the last sailing
out OF the hai-bor Saturday: Stella Erland
tweutyseven men, b. b. Whitney master;
Deeahks. twenty-seven men, BENZ. Mar
Trims, master: Jas. G. Swan, thirty men,
Jas. w. Todd. master, Columbia, twenty
three men, q. F.. Christianson master:
Beriug Sea. twenty men. Lars Lar
sen master; Geo. ". Prescott. nineteen
men, Henry McAlmond master. The
schooners average about forty-three tons
and carry on their decks a number OF In
dian canoes which are used exclusively
for sealing, II having been demonstrated
that they can be padded so quietly
through the water that the Indians can
get within happening distance of the
seals without the hunters presence being
made known.
These are some OF the requirements
with which the captains and crews OF the
sealers are compelled TO comply: First
the crew must be with the vessel at the
time she clears and they must all be pre-
pared TO prove. by means Of certificates
from the Indian agent or otherwise. that
they are expert sealers, and by the wav
the captains claim that this year their
crews are exceptionally good hunters and
consequently they anticipate a good catch
The name and description of every man
is taken by the customs officials and the
number OF harpoons is also registered. The
Indians are allowed no firearms or liquors.
Their instructions are that they win be
permitted 10 kill seals in Bering sea from
August ! until April u, and In order that
this rule may be enforced all OF the har-
poous on board the vessels are sealed ND
by the collector and the captain is IN
structed not 10 open them until August l.
and II he ia overhauled by a United States
ran-of- war before that time and his har-
poons found unseaied his vessel will be
seized. Another requirement. Is that a list
OF the seals killed be kept and that a rec
orsi he preserved OF their sex and the l6ca-
ton in which they were Killed. After these
conditions have been promised or complied
with the collector issues a special license
and clears the vessel. No charges or fees
are demanded by the United States for
clearing sealers. on the British side much
or this red tape IS dispensed with and the
vessels can clear and afterwards pick up
their crews when and where they please
The Indian sealers have nothing to do
with navigating shin. and from the time
Of sailing until August they employ their
time on board as they see fit. While in
port the captains experience great difi-
Guilty in Keeping fheir crews together. as
the Indians have a morbid craving for
nquor and are often IN a beaStly state az
intoxicatIon while on shore As The cap
tain has no authority over his Sealers their
drunken condition is often the means o.
preventing him from sailing for-soms DAYS
after he has cleared and the only way 70
avsd such a delay is 10 allow the rev to
remain in iail until the schooner IS ready
- leave and then herd tho men on board
The British Columbia scaling feet consists
% about Hfty Schooners. while n the feet
from this side there are only about twelve
vessels. The inability 81 owners to secure
enough good hunters on this sae Is Ire
nv}rcipAl reason why the United States
He~t is 50 small. - only hRrpoons can be
used In capturing seals, and as the Indians
are exceedingly expert With those weap-
ans thew are xTeatls iD demand during
this season OF the wear and are correspond
Erriw independent in contracting 20 so for
a voyage.