The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-01-28

WASHINGTON. Jan. 27.-David Starr
Jordan. commissioner in charge Of the tur
seals Investigations for lsse. IN his report
10 the secretary OF the treasury, makes
close estimate Of the seals OF al classes
at one time or another on the Prioiiof
islands during the last summer, and nnds
the number 10 have been about ife.eH, or
which over $500 died ON or about the
islands during the same period. OF the
total mortality. pelagie sealing accounts
for % IS. and about 1000 pups died or
starvation or by trampling.
As TO pelagic sealing Prof. Jordan says
s.Pelagic sealing in Bering sea in Au-
gust is in the highest degree destructive
10 the herd. II considered as an INDUSTRY,
il is a suicidal one. as IL can DC YIoAt-
ably continued only under conditions
which must bring il TO a speedy end; Pel-
agic sealing Is therefore me- properly an
industry al all. as il adds nothing 10 the
wealth OF the world. Since II began more
than 500 coo fur seals have been taken IN
the North Pacific ocean and in Berins
sea This means the death OF not less
than 10000 hnesding females. the starva-
ton OF So, 600 pups and the destruction OF
20 600 pups still unborn. In this calcuia-
ton account is taken OF only those OF
which skins have been brought 20 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
members OF the present commission. has
been the sole cause or the continued de-
cline of the fur seal herds. 1t is at pres
ent the sole obstacle 10 their restoration
and the sole limit 10 their indefinite in
crease Il is therefore evident that no
settlement OF the fur seal question as re-
CARDS either the American or the Russian
islands can be permanent unless IL shall
provide for the cessation of the indiScrim-
mate killing OF fur seals both on the feed
ing grounds and on their migrations.
There can be no open season for n XII T.
ing OF females If the herd is 10 be kept
intact.
The overkilling Of males on the island
in such a way as 10 injure the herd, Mr..
Jordan says. has never occurred he adds:
Overriding in the sense of premature
killing has occC rred beyond doubt This
affects the quota OF The future years, bat
does not inJure the herd itself. There IS
every reason to believe that in 1881 TO 1883
the fixed quota OF 100. 90 skins had become
too great for the depleted herd, the pups
of three years before having largely
starved TO death under the action of Pc
lagic sealing. For this reason the supply
OF 3-year-old seals fell short, and the de-
ticiency was made up BY drawing on the
2-year-olds. This in turn increased the
difficulty in getting the quota for the sue
ceeiing year, and the cut went deeper
until II reached even the yearlings. The
effect of this action shows Itself clearly
in the drop from 600 skins in 1889 TO
u 90 in 1890 In the preceding year almost
all the 2-year-olds and many of the year
lings had been taken. This sudden drop
den reduction in the size OF the herd. IL
might even occur If the herd was increaS-
ing As a matter of fact. at the time the
nerd has been slowly but steadily declining
under pelagic sealing.
In conclusion OF his long and compre-
hensive report Mr.. Jordan points out
what he believes would prove solution
or the whole question of the preservation
OF the fur seal He says:
THE sole possible basis of adjustment
must De the protection Of the fur seals
through mutual concession, International
courtesy and self-respect.
so long pelaSic sealing exists the
restrictions governing X are OF slight i'm
portance. and the relationS between the
owners Of the PribIlof islands and the ma
tons whose ships have the right TO de-
stroy its herd must DE II some degree
strained.
THE ultimate end I'm 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 Pribnoh herd. Ash
attic herd or In the lawless raiding OF the
antarctic rookeries. In the destruction OF
the fur seal rookeries OF the antarctic as
well as those of the japanese islands and
OF Boring sea, American enterprise has
taken a leading part. II would be wei for
America 10 lead the way in stopping Pc
lagic sealing by restraining her own clti-
zens without waiting for the action OF
other nations.
I'VE can ask for protection with better
grace when We have accorded unasked
protection TO others.