The herald., 1897-01-28
AUGUST PELAGIC SEALING
Means the Prompt Destruction of the
Herd
America Must Lead the Way If the
Sealing Business Is Not to Be
Destroyed
Associated Press Special Wire

Associated Press Special Wire
WASHINGTON, Jan. 27.-David Starr
Jordan. commissioner in charge of the
fur seals Investigations for 1896, in his
report to the secretary of the treasury
makes a close estimate of the seals of
all classes at one time or another on the
Pribyloff islands during the last summer,
and finds the number to have been
about 44O, 600 of which number over &c.
600 died on or about the islands during
the same period. OF the total mortality,
pelagic sealing accounts for 29,22S and
about q, 600 pups died of starvation or
by trampling.
AS to pelagic sealing. President Jor-
dan says: "Pelagic sealing in Bering sea
in August is in the highest degree de-
structive to the herd. If considered as
an industry it is a suicidal one, as it
can be profitably continued only under
conditions which must bring it to a
speedy end. Pelagic sealing is therefore
not properly an industry at all, as it
adds nothing to the wealth of the world.
Since it began more than 800 600 fur seals
have been taken in the North Pacific
and in Bering sea. This means the death
the starvation of 300, 900 pups and the
destruction of 400, 600 pups still UNBORN.
In this calculation account is taken only
of those of which skins have been
brought to the market. No record of
animals lost after being shot or speared
is available, though the number is known
to be very great
"Pelagic sealing, in the judgment of
the present commission, has been the
cause of the decline of the fur seal herds.
1t is at present the sole obstacle of their
restoration and the sole limit to their
indefinite increase. 1t is therefore evi-
dent that no settlement of the fur seal
question as regards either the American
or the Russian Islands can be perma-
nent unless 1t shall provide for the ces-
sation of the ndiscrmnate killing of
fur seals, both on the feeding grounds
and on their migrations. There can be
no "open season for the killing of fe-
males if the herd is to be kept intact.
In conclusion of H.. long and compre-
hensiye report Mr. Jordan points out
what he believes would be solution of
the whole question of the preservation
of the fur seal.
He says: THE sole possible basis of
adjustment must be the protection of
the fur seals through mutual concession,
international courtesy and self respect.
$50 long as pelagic sealing exists, the
restrictions covering 1t are of slight
Importance and the relations between
the owners of the Pribyloff islands and
the nations whose ships have the right
+ to destroy its herd must be in some de-
gree strained.
"The ultimate end in view should be
an international arrangement whereby
all skins of female fur seals should be
seized and destroyed by the customs
authorities Of civilized nations, whether
taken on land or sea, from the Priby-
loft herd, Asiatic herd, or in the lawless
raiding of the Antarctic rookeries. In the
destruction of the fur seal rOokeries OF
the Antarctic as we'll as those of the Jap
anese islands and Bering sea, American
enterprise has taken a leading part. II
would be well for America to lead the
way in stopping pelagic sealing by re-
straining her own citizens without wait
ing for the action of other nations.
I'VE can ask for protection with better
grace when we have accorded, unasked
protection to others