The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-08-31
EXTINCTION OF THE FUR SEAL.

The American commissioners who have
been for year past investigating the con-
dition OF the fur seal rookeries are de-
eidedly OF the opinion that the seals are
being extcrminated. and that unless fur
Their steps are taken for their preservation
they will soon become extinct. On the
whole, II does not appear that this would
be the most unsatisfactory solution of the
sealing question. Aside from sentimental
considerations. no serious damages would
follow upon the complete extinction of the
fur seal. The sealing industry has been,
so far as the laws OF the United States
rlgidiy enforced could make II, monopoly
In the hands Of one company composed OF
a limited number Of stockholders The
total amount Of the labor bills OF this COM
pany in any one year would hardly ex-
coed those paid by any one of dozen
large sswmlils on Puget sound. The
produe. was an article OF luxury solely
and was not essential 20 the comfort or
happiness Of any single individual. More
over. there are innumerable substitutes
for seal fur every whit as useful and
some even more fashionable. II fashion Is
to be considered the test.
peiagie sealing. the only method OF cap
turing the fur seal which was open 20 the
citizens Of the country aside from those
belonging 10 the favored company. has
been rigidiy restricted until IL has ceased
TO become profitable. In addition to this
IL has. through the represSive policy OF
our government directed against 70, been
driven entirely into the hands OF the clti-
zens OF Canada. In whose pecunlary well
fare there Is no reason why our govern
ment should take any particular interest.
The attempts az suppressing peiasic seal
INK have cost the taxpayers Of this gov
eminent enormously. as a large fleet OF
government vessels has been annually en-
ployed IN Bering sea. trying 10 enforce the
regulations governing the taking OF seals
IA open waters The disputes over the right
Of the Canadians to take seals In the open
waters has been tho cause Of friction be-
tween th}s government and ihst OF Great
Britain and. tn fact. the diplomatic com
pliea,ions created thereby stlli remain 10
be untanEied our government through
It's seizures ~ Canadian vessels engaged
In peaglc sealing has. according 20 the
decision q an unbiased International
,rlhuusl madc itself liable 20 the owners
~ ihe captured vessels IN damages which
have oes So, heen liauldased. but which
VIII reach enormous figures.
Al o. this has followed solely because
81 tbe aeslve to preserve 20 tho North
American Commercial Company the
! prontabIc monopoly 81 the killing Of seals
in their breeding rookeries on the Pribnot
islands. It does not seem as though the
game we're worth the csndle n the entire
gug seal herd were 10 disappear of % ne
earth. NOT two hundred American tlEens
would suffer TIRE loss ~ employment. and
nas an American home would lack
In any ~ ia comforts by reason Of tAe
fact. Tae government would Lose the
small rental which So receives for the
/ Prlnaof Islands. au aa7unt which does NOT
begin to cover thc cost % which Sc r. being
pn. auuuany bv The necessity % patroiliug
perins sca NTH wsrshirs. the Canadian
pelaxic soaic-s would Asve 20 seaustely
abandon a pursu.t vhica has for some
wars past rreve3 % be entirely vithoet
aay frost ana sae feed FISH IN Pacific
waters woula he PA az their nsost se-
strue,lve enemy The enly serious less }a
{ she master vosls fa0 uPoa tae Company
whseh ROW has moncnoly % the sealing
business. aua. - necessary, the govern
uaen4 cosia compensate taat company for
its loss Sc il can ee shown the gain al-
ready ussae has nos amply repsid TIE
outlay ~ csrtyal