The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-06-22
JORDAN AND THE SEALS
Stanford'S President Starts on
a New International
Mission.
Boring Sea Question to Be Inves.
tigated by America, England
and Japan.

President Jordan of the Stanford UNI
versity, head of the Boring Sea Commits
sion that will endeavor to settle the fur
seal question by gong over the sealing
grounds with representatives of England,
Canada and Japan, started for Seattle Sat-
urday with his secretary to take passage
from that port on the United States Fish
Commission steamer Aibstross, which has
been especially fitted up ana detailed for
the expedition.
The exact nature of the commission is
not yet known, as sealed orders are await
ing DR.. Jordan at Seattle.
The ultimate purpose, said Professor
Jordan last night, during a hasty meal
Just before train time, ais undoubtedly 10
settle the Boring Sea question. Further
than that | cannot say. Detailed instruc-
tons have been sent to Seattle.
I'm the party will be DIR. Leonard
Stejever, curator of reptiles in the Smith
sonian Institution, and originally from
the University OF Christiania, Norway. He
Is probably the best student OF the anat-
omy OF birds and reptiles living. He was
| in charge OF one expedition to the seal
islands. The United States has sent out
two smaller expeditions before this one
which is the largest and best equipped of
ali.
Zone was sent out by the Fish Commits
sion ana the other by a department at
Washington.
"Other members of the party are Freder-
lex a. Hues, curator of anatomy in the
National museum in the Smithsonian In
stltuton; Joseph Murray, a practical seal
hunter of Alaska; Charles II. Townsend,
the naturalist, aboard the Aloatross;
George A. Clark of Stanford UNIVERSITY.
secretary OF the expedition; the British
Commissioner, Hon. Darcy W. Thomp-
son OF London; the Canadian Commits
sioner, Mr.. Macoun of Ottawa; and the
captain of the ship, Lieutenant-Com-
mander jefferson +. Moser.
I'VE will visit three groups OF islands
the Prybiloff, an American possession {:
the Commander, owned by Russia, and
the kurile, group belonging to Japan.
When we visit the last named we win be
joined by two Commissioners from Japan.
l have not yet heard their names.
1t Is an international affair, though |
suppose the foreign Commissioners are
guests OF the United States
The Investigations have to do entirely
with the fur bearing animals, seal and fur
otter. OF course | shall go fishing to some
extent, and shall probably pick up some
interesting specimens.
Il was officially appointed on June II.
but was actually notified several days be-
/
I'VE viii be back on the 18th of Sep
TENDER.
my address in the meantime will be
Nowhere, for | believe there is only one
postofhce up there and mail reaches 1t
about once in SIX months
DR.. Jordan will receive from the Gov
eminent $4,000 for his three months sery-
ice in an expedition that to him will be
much in the nature of a pleasant vacation
trip. At the same time his salary of S10,-
600 year as president of Stanford Uni
versity goes on whether school keeps or
not.
In order to take charge of this impor-
tant Government commission, Professor
Jordan Cancelled all his lecturing engage
ments in the East and his arrangement
with Indiana University, where he was to
have delivered the commencement ac-
dress TO the graduating class. But more
important probably TO him than these con-
siderations was the disappointment of Civ
ing up q long-contemplated visit with his
aged parents, who were to have accom-
panied him from Seattle to their old East