Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-12-31
Prof sAtejnsger Favors Branding the
), Females.
KILLING MALES NOT 50 DISASTROUS
Great ,andI Useless Slaughter by
Pe'agic Sealing.
r USSIA'S VAIN EFFORTS

Prof. Leopold Stejneger of the National
Museum, who was one of the United
States fur seal commissioners to the Rus
sian Islands, in the Boring sea, has re-
turned to Washington. Prof. Stejneger
left the capital in June, and his headqaur
tiers while away were on the Commander
Islands, in Boring sea. the center of the
seal industry of the Russian government.
There are also a couple of small islands in
the OkEotsk where the sealing is
carried on by the Russians
The, professor is a recognized authority
on all matters pertaining to the seal ques
ton. He has been investigating the sub
ject as one of the representatives of the
government for several years In regard
to the matter of branding seals, he said to
Star reporter:
Branding Marks VIII Remain.
"'rhe idea that the branding will not
remain Oh seals l regard as preposterous.
am positively assured that the brands
will remain on the animals, just they
do on horses or other beasts. Two or
three of the seals which were branded on
the Pribilof Islands last year were discov-
cred this year with the brands ON them.
The reason that more were not found can
probably be accounted for by the fact
that the branded seals did not return.
The scars on the seals are most notice.
able at all times, particularly on the males,
where they have received the wounds caus-
ing the scars In fighting. The scars are so
common on the seals that the printed
blanks furnished the Russian government
officials have separate columns, where spe-
cfal reference is made to the SCARED skins,
after the killings, as they worth little.
However, there Is no way TO prevent the
decrease among the seals, except by the
prohibition of pelagic sealing altogether.
The pelagic sealers kill principally females,
as they are more generally found outside
the prescribed limit. as they go out in the
sea when pregnant.
Russia's Efforts.
1.-The Russian government has been able
to do nothing in the way of: preventing the
decrease. Russia has never claimed the
right 10 stop sealing, the United States
government has done, in the open sea. An
agreement WAS entered into, however, be-
tween the Russian government and England
whereby pelagic sealing could not be car
ried on within thirty miles OF the islands.
This was no protection for the seals, how
ever, as they are liable to go out hundred
and fifty miles the same as thirty miles.
1t is one thing TO claim the right to pre-
vent peiag;c sealing, however, but it is
quite aHother thing to stop it.
The stecfease in the seals in the Russian
Islands is great. There is no contributary
cause. The only one which makes the de-
crease is the pelagic scaling. Take the
mortality of man, for instance under ordi
nary circumstances, as compared with that
in case'tof war Add to this the condition
of not only the men. but the women. war
ring ana killing one another, and it is easy
to see what Increase there would be in the
mortality.
There are only about G5 900 seals left on
the Commander Islands, and still fewer on
the island in Che Okhotsk sea. The govern
ment kills only males the islands, so
that il this was kept up there would be no
extinction Of seals. The males are of no
Use after they are three or four years of
age, as their skins are worthless. Only
about one male is needed to every one hun
dred females, so that when none of the lat
ter is killed, there being an equal number
of each in the beginning, the decrease
would amount to very little as compared to
the extinction carried on by the pelagic
SealerS.
branding the Females.
Il think the branding would be good
thing for females used for breeding pur-
poses. The pelagic sealer makes no dis
elimination whatever, killing the males
and females, his prey generally being the
female, on account of the circumstances /
have mentioned before. Suppose he secures
ten seals as a result of his days work
mere are probably several more which
nave been shot, but which have not been
KILLED outright. and which have been prac-
tlcaIiV wasted so that it is evident the
pelagic sealing is bad thing in more ways
than one The sealer uses an ordinary