The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-01-18
Exhaustive Report on the
Scaling Industry.
Estimates Made In America
Said to Be Erroneous.
No Danger OF the Extinction Of the
Fur Bearing Animal.

London, Jan. 1S.-Gerald Barrett Ham
ilton, one of the British commissioners,
appointed to investigate the conditions
of seal life in Behring sea. has recently
returned to London on the conclusion OF
his mission.
Leaving London last summer with
Professor Darcy Thompson, Mr.. Ham
iiton proceeded via New York and San
Francisco TO the north of Japan. Thence
he was conveyed on board III. nj. S.
Spartan to Robin island, near Sag
halien. where there is a small rookery.
Professor Thompson went indepen-
IDENTIFY to the Prybylon group. The In
vestigation was made in consequence
of the statement that the seal herd was
being wiped out by pelagic scaling.
After spending six weeks on the Com
>.ander islands, and visiting Robin
island. MIR. Hamilton joined Professor
Thompson on the Prybyloffs. There tho
commissioners remained until the end
OF October. The Canadian and United
States commissioners, Messrs. McCoun
and Clarke. were also on the Prybyloffs
at the time. The British commissioners
say they received most friendly treat
ment from the Americans, who behaved
in a very fair way. Owing to the excep-
tional powers given TO the American
commissioners by their governments.
they were able to do more than bad
been previously accomplished. Among
other things a census of every seal on
the island was taken. This showed that
there were $4,000 females on the Pryby-
lofts, and proved that the American
estimates OF previous years were very
much below the mark. Another !mpor-
tant piece of work was the counting OF
dead pups. The Americans claimed that
owing to the killing at sea Of breeding
females vast numbers Of pups were left
to starve on the islands; they said as
many as 10000 perished in this manner
IT was therefore highly important to
know pctually how many dead pups
there were. There were a large number
of them-about 11,000-that II was
proved had been killed by overcrowding
before the commencement of pelagic
sealing: about 10000 had died later in
the season.
The results of the Investigations on
the spot have tenCed to prove TO the
minds of the commissioners that al
tlouEn IL Dttl Sdlu tIdl luG
industry would collapse within two
years, there is no fear OF such an early
extinction of the fur seal. No doubt Is
entertained that. now the question has
been approached In such an amicable
way some measures for preserving the
seal will be adopted. The large decrease
in this years catch of seals is probably
due in part 70 the bad weather preva-
lent during the early part of August.
1t does not necessarily Indicate a de-
crease in the number OF seals On this
point opinion is divided. The Canadians
say that the seals on the Prybyloffs have
increased in number, while the Ameri-
cans claim that they have decreased
The British commissioners are now
preparing their reports. and they will
probably be in the hands of the foreign
office In the spring. In all probability
fresh commission will be sent this
year in order to report any change as
compared with last years conditions.