The San Francisco call., 1896-03-12
WHITE.
by hal
boats, including steam launch. has been

boats, including steam launch. has beer
built here in the City for the Perry.
The gilt scroll carving, known in marine
parance as gingerbread work" has beer
taken off the counters and bows OF the
cutters and nothing but the vessels name.
in severe gothic text ornaments the hulis.
The Treasury Department, after taking
that nondescript flag, with its vertical
stripes and dusky stars lit was really red
white and black), from its fleet, finish ed
ish ornamentation also. Now the cutters
look like war vessels with the red, white
and blue at their mizZens.
But the greatest change has been made
in the Bear-that sturdy steamer which is
only in her element when bucking the
Arctic ice. Ali her life she has been a
black bear-an animal unknown where
she has summered and occasionally hiber-
mated. Now she sails under traer color
white-like the grim animal king of the
polar zone. Even the little wooden bear
which forms her tgurehead looks more fit
ting in his fresh snowy coat. So the white
Bear will be more in artistic harmony with
her surroundings when next she is crush
ing the foes with her ironclad forefoot.
Regarding the proposed determination
of the seal herds in Bering Sea'as prac-
tical solution of the pelagic problem the
officers of the revenue cutters concur.
Notwithstanding the humane efforts Of
the department to save them, the destruc-
tion of the seals will go on till the last one
is dead" said lieutenant yesterday who
has spent many seasons in the north.
For just as long as the skins bring big
price skillful hunters will chase the ami
mails. The seizure of 'pelagic vessels only
involves the Government in expense, and
that, added to the expense of maintaining
the patroling fleet around the rookeries,
is huge burden for the National treasury.
While a cutter is capturing a schooner.
big fleet of the latter are going on slaugh-
tering the seals, male and female, old and
young. The presence of British cruiser
in Berng waters is a bald d-headed farce, as
the English officers are in sympathy with
the Victoria hunters.
What specia: use is a sealskin anyway?
Only the rich mans wife can wear one,
and why should the poor man pay taxes to
support an institution that brings him no
practical benefit. Even the skins when
stripped from the dead animals are sent to
London to be prepared for market and are
the means of supporting an industry.
The United States pays out money in Its
attemp5 to save the seal, then pays ont
money for the skin it could not save.
When the seals are gone the Canadian
hunters VIII go COQnSnlng.
Another overdue vesselis the bark Enoch
Talbot, which is reported to be nine days
out from San Pedro, bound for this port.
She has cargo of fifty carloads Of Los
Angeles oil CONSIGNED 10 the Arctic Oil
Company. No information can be learned
from her owners regarding her condition
or whereabouts.
Lieutenant Commander Louis B. Turner,
with a division of the Naval Battalion.
went to the navy-yard Yesterday in the
tug Markham. Colonel James of the Gov
ernor's staff was also passenger on board
the tug, and his mission was to confer
with the commandant at the navy-yard
the monitor COmanche's de-
livery to the State. The party was received
by the yard officials and told that the yes-
sci was at their disposal.
The Spreckels Tug Company will tow
the Comanche to this City next Saturday,
when she Will be moored in the bay at
some convenient locality, probably off
olson or Harrison street. The Markham
towed down fine steam launch from the
which will be q part of the
8 set of boats.
The Monadnock had successful trial
trip around the bay and out to sea yester-
day. She made an average speed of twelve
knots, the machinery working smoothly.
The bark Gatherer, the first of the can
merry fleet, sailed for the Alaskan watars
yesterday, and the new pretty schooner
after an old Russian
Governor of Alaska-will sail in a few
days. The whaling bark Lydia sailed for
the Arctic and the ship Roanoke for Hon
O1Ti1l Uocfar6av