The herald., 1896-10-01
International Commission Back
From Alaska
A CAREFUL EXAMINATION
OF Every Phase of the Life Of the Fur
Seal
DIR. Jordan Reports on the Results Ac-
commlished-Pelagic Sealing Must
Be Stopped-Settlement
Associated Press Special wire

Associated Press Special Wire
SEATTLE, Wash, Sept. 30.-The
steamer City of Topeka, which arrived
from Alaska tonight, had on board DR.
David Starr Jordan, president of STAN
ford university; Prof. darcy Thomp-
son of Dundee, Scotland, and Prof. Fred
erick Lucas of the Smithsonian insti-
tuition, Washington, d. c., all members
of the international commission sent to
Bering sea to study the seal question.
OF the results of the trip DR.. Jordan
says:
1.-THE commission is a large one and has
been able to cover every phase of the
life and history of the fur seal, both on
the Pribyloff islands and on the seal
islands of Russia and Japan. Every
poiAt hitherto under dispute has been
critically investigated and settled be-
yond cavil A census of all the rocker
les has been made and a full examina-
tion of all influences adverse to the
development of the fur seal herd made.
A detailed report of the commission Will
be al once sent to Washington.
'While there is still very large body
OF seals on I16 ITlDylOll loiohiooJ - Ao
only remnant of the great numbers
existing in 1850 and the numbers are
still declining. For this decline the COM
misisoners find but one cause-pelag1c
sealing, or the indiscriminate killing OF
females while feeding or while migrat-
ing. Three-fourths of the seals killed
in Bering sea are nursing females. AS
each of these is also pregnant, the death
of one means the starvation of her pup
left on the islands while the mother
is feeding land also the death of the
unborn young. Pelagic sealing as an
industry is wasteful in the highest de-
gree. 1t has already cut its own throat
for neither in Bering sea or off the Japan
coast will the pelagic catch this year
pay expenses. un
1.-The commissioners express the opin-
ion that the way will be open to an am
icable, honorable and satisfactory set
tlement of the question along the only
lines possible. There can be no further
bubble over the facts in the case and
the high character and eminent ability
of the commissioners this year sent out
by England give promise of just deal
ing with this great interest. For the
present the commission is assigned the
investigation Of the facts in the case.
Their application belongs to the repart-
ment at Washington city,"
The seal commission that went north
in the United States fish commission
steamer Albatross in June last was made
up Of the most distinguished party of
men that ever undertook to adjust the
seal difficulty. At the commissions head
was DR.. Jordan, and with him were DR..
Leonard Stejuegu of the Smithsonian
institution, DR.. Frederick Lucas of the
same institution, scientist of renown,
and Prof. Charles H. Townsend, for
several years connected with the scien-
tific service of the United States. The
British representative, Prof. darcy
Thompson of Dundee, Scotland, univer-
sity ,and Mr.. James M. Macoun, assist
ant naturalist of the geological survey
of Canada, represented that govern
ment s%tNAN.f.
Prof. Jordan and Prof. Lucas left for
San Francisco tonight.