The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-06-23
TO STUDY THE SEAL
Makeup Of the Commission
That Is to Go North.
DAVID STARR JORDAN HERE.
The American and British Commits
sioners To spend the summer
on the Aioatross.

DR.. David Starr Jordan, president OF
Stanford University. arrived in the city
last evening. He IS president OF the new
Berng sea commission, which leaves Seat
lie for the Prih!Iof islands on the L. 5. :.
Albatross at o'clock tomorrow morning
This new commission is one OF the best
ever sent BY the United States government
on q scientific errand. President Jordans
long and successful career as a scientist is
too well known 10 need any further COM
ment. He Is a host in himself
DR.. Leonhsrd Stejueger was hrough. 10
this country from the University OF Chris
uania by Prof. Baird, OF the Smithsonian
Institution, nearly twenty years ago. and
was at once put at work on the birds OF
North America. He is probably the best
authority on birds In the known world.
This subject was being worked by many
other men. however. and Prof. Baird
transferred DR.. Stejueger to the depart
ment Of reptiles. He is now at work on
this branch OF natural history. In 1sse-S4
he spent eighteen months for the United
States government in the North Pacific
waters. He examined the natural history
Of Boring island and made special research
for the remains OF the famous sea COW dis
covered by g. w. Steller in 1T4l. Steller
was the naturalist with Vitus Bering on
Russia's Great Pacific Expedition" This
trip viii be a visit 10 old haunts by DR..
Stejueger.
DR.. Frederick Lucas Is the osteologist
OF the Smithsonian Institution and is also a
scientist of renown.
Charles II. Townsend has been for years
with the scientific service of the United
States. II was he who a few years ago
captured of the southern coast of Califor-
mia the last of the sea elephants. This spe-
eies is now extinct and the Smithsonian
Institution has the last specimens that will
ever be captured.
MaShAr Of &c ali
member of the commission. He is looked
upon as one of the best equipped men in
the United States navy for such an expe-
dition.
The secretary of the commission is c. G.
Clark, President Jordans private secre-
tary.
The two British members of this inter
national commission. who are now in Sc
attic ready 10 sail on the Albatross. are
Prof. Darcy Thompson. OF the Dundee.
Scotland, University. and James NJ. Ma
coun, assistant naturalist OF the geologi-
cal survey OF Canada The trip north Will
be made by these distinguished gentlemen
as guests of the United States government.
Three groups Of Islands viii be visited:
The PribiIof islands. belonging TO the Uni
ted States; the Commander islands. be-
longing TO Russia, and the Kurile islands,
belonging TO Japan. Before visiting the
last group the commission Will be Joined
by a number of scientists detailed as
members of the joint commission by the
Japanese government.
The only postoffics from y n,ch mail can
be received or sent by the commission dur
ing the summer is Unalaska, by way OF
San Francisco.
President Jordan would give no details,
and said simply: 1--WE will study the life
history of the seal and sea otter. No. I
do not know when we will return or by
what route"
The expedition was to have started to-
day from this city, but when President
Jordan arrived he found waiting for him
a telegram from DIR. Stejueger stating
that he and Mr.. Lucas had been delayed
day and would not arrive here until early
Wednesday morning.
I'VE will therefore wait for that train
and take the commissioners at once TO the
Aihatross. and set sail, probably at
o'clock Wednesday morning" said Presi-
dent Jordan