The sun., 1896-08-23
DOOM OF THE FUR SEAL.
PELAGIC HUNTING THE AGENT OF
DETERMINATIONS. ,'


|
seals on July 81 began one OF the last chap
tors In tho rtory OF the seal now rapidly
drawing IN q close. Already reports from
the Alaskan scaling fleet arc coming in.
Each account adds its evidence 10 the sup
port OF the conviction which is fast becom
INK settled that the note of doc m for the
North American fur seal has been sounded
and can never be recalled. In one direction
only is there hope, and even that is slrn-
der that but faint reliance can be placed
upon it. That hope lies with Russia. The cable
brought from ST. Petersburg the other day
the news that the young Czar's Government
was considering proposals which were 10 be
submitted to- tho United States and Great
Britain looking TO the establishment of q
Joint set Of regulations for the sealing in
dustry, which should prohibit absolutely and
forever all pelaRic sealing.
In the adoption OF such regulations lies
the only rolution of the problem of prevent
ing the determination of the fur seal. Be-
cause the proposal comes from Russia there
lie some foundation for hope that II will be
adop cd, for Russia understands the ques-
tion OF seal protection. In the case OF her
own seals. Russin's method has always been
an admirable success. II is as simple as It
10 effective. 1t consists of a general procla-
nation of Hands or" addressed to whom
II may concern. Behind that PROCLAMATION
10 the power Of the Russian empire. ready at
any time TO make It good. Enforcing It they
sent TO the, northern seas, not always squeam-
ishly particular as TO the question OF juris-
LECTION over tho waters guarded. a formidable
feet Of swift Russian Eunboats- Many a
man has found out to his cost what it
meant TO encroach upon the Russian seal
Ing grounds. Memories of vladivostock arc
not easily downed. Many q smart schoon 81
has disappeared from Ala kan waters and
been written down in the Iengthening list OF
Lost at sea" only 10 have hoated back. after
years Of waiting the word Of schooner over
hauled by q gray-coated Russian and burned
at sea, with her men sent away 70 servituds
ia frowninE Russian fortress.
II now Russia can compass the extension
Of her policy, modified so as to strip It OF
its harsh terrors that the United States
and Great Britain will adopt it, there is a
chance that the doom Of the fur seal will
not be recorded for yet many years. That
is the only chance. and how small it Is!
The e1terminatinR slaughter Of the seals
began with the adoption OF the far-heGalded
regulations Of tho Paris arbitration iri-
bunA OF 1893. recognizing and legalizinR,
tn certain extent, pelhgic scaling. AS
long as the seal industry was practically
q monopoly. under tho control OF the Gov
ernment. there was no real danger that the
seals would be e1terminated. but sooner or
later peiaSic sealing is bound TO accomplish
that result The restriction OF pelngic eeal-
ing by the regulations Of the Paris tribunal.
It was believed. would be OF great benefit to
the seals themselves and to the industry, but
It has proved to be OF no value.
The journey from tho southern waters 70 |
the beaches OF st. Paul and st. George be-
IN ha hpi 10, ~
procession, the bachelors frisk along by them !
selves. and the cows. heavy with young, !um-
Der along at the last. II male seal lives !
10 ee six years old he is bull. and the hunters
let him alone. His hide is not worth the tax omit
or the trouble Of taking It. Then he sets UP !
his harem and begins his career as the heal !
of q family. Every bull has to fight his way
10 recognition the possessor OF harem. |
" henever q bachelor thinks he has at
.ained such age and size and strength as !
.ntitle him TO that dignity he leaves the other
which flock by themselves on a !
beach apart from the rest, and hAulE ~: or
he beach with the bulls. Then the trouble
begins. He meets all corners among the old
bulls. and II he fights his way through to
victory his position is thencetorwaru estab-
ished, and the only fighting he will have to
10 thereafter is with the ambitious bachelors
n their turn.
The bulls begin to haul out on their beaches
,arly in the sumner. BY a clrious process
Known only 10 themselves each bull selects
ais place ot abode. How he marks IL NOBODY
snows. but when he has swum back TO meet !
he advancing column and returns with his
am!ly he never makes mistake in going
home ht ne he has .SoSeees fo ia
occupied the casual observer will see only
.reat throng OF seals. scattered about anpa.
II M
me experenced in the wavs of seals will draw
bout each family distinct line. beyond
which nn member OF any other family even
respassos. Very soon after the cows have hauled
ut the youn. are born. As soon the pups
tay on the beach and protect lhe young From
he time that he hauls out with his har.m
outward march begins at the .clo'e OF TIE
ummer. He does nothing toward feeding the
ounE, and so IL is that II a COW is killed by
ooi. the pup left behind on the beach starvcs
o death. and the sealer has taken three lives
or one sealskin. That is the crime OF re-
The sealing monopoly killed only bachelor
eals, , and as long as that policy was pursued
he females were left 10 multiply and increase.
ui the % peisEie lag - seaIers seal 5aks pr,neipaIy ie-
0 900 were females. and these with the un- {
orn pups and the young on TIE beaches repre-
ne peaGic seslers catch should be made up
IrSe!y OF females, because they are the I
asleSt 10 taks.
In the northward march they swim slowly
nd nre comparatively sluggish in their move
lenth. They sleep great deal, and II is then.
lille they are lying at the surface. that the
slaEic scaler kills them. After the young are ,
orn the mothers swim far out into :he warm {
apaDese current in search OF the food fishes
} be found there. They go far beyond the 1
xty mile zone in which sealing is prohibited,
nd are slaughtered there By thousands. Out
de OF this protected zone to the west, south, 1
nd southwest, there are three scaling belts. {
nbracing total area OF about o.. 500 miles, Z
nearly three times the area OF the State OF I
assac ausetts. II Is within This area that the
al killers cruise during the first months OF T
lie open season. When the seals haul of the
'aches and begin the southwark march, the d
hooncrs FOL low using shotgun and spear and I
cktng up the sleeping seals from tine surface '
the water. Occasionally during the first 4
onths Of he open season the se.lers try i
lsh inside the sixty zone, but the work /
the revenue cutter fleet Il pretty sharp. and I
Is not proba bic that many poachers get away
lscathed a
That this pelaeic slaughter OF female seals Is i
e t"o-handcd agent OF eXtermnation the re- u
'rts nov coming in from tnalaska demon e
rate. The United States revenue cutter &
ush came into unalaskR from patrol duty >
the Behrng Sea on Aug, :. She reported that l.