The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-08-23
SEAL HERD DECLINING
DIR. DAVID STARR JORDAN RETURNS
FROM PRIBYLOFF ISLANDS,
And Gives Result of His Investiga-
tiODs-Shrinkage in Number of Seals
Due to PeIagic Hunting.

PORTLAND, Ore, Aug. 22.-Dr. David
Starr Jordan, commissioner in chief Of the
fur seal Investigations, with George A.
Clark secretary of the committee, arrived
in Seattle on the revenue cutter Rush, Cap
tain w. H. Roberts commanding, and
passed through Portland to-day en- route
for San Francisco. The party left Unalaska
on the morning of Aug. 13. DR.. Jordan re-
ports the satisfactory completion of the
summers Investigations by the two COM
missions. Mr.. MacOun, the Canadian COM
missioner, had already left the Pribyloff
islands, and the British commissioner. Prof
Thompson, was about to leave on
her Majesty's steamer Amphion Mr..
Lucas, of the American commission,
remained behind for week or
ten days. and will go direct to San Fran
cisco on the steamer Del Norte. President
Jordan said, speaking directly regarding
the result of his latest Investigations
THE breeding grounds show a shrinkage
Of about Is per cent. over the conditions OF
last season; the hunting grounds a shrink
age of SO per cent. This is about what was
predicted by the American commission last
year. and the conclusions are fully vindi-
Gated in all important regards.
THE primary cause of shrinkage of fe-
males on the breeding grounds is the Pc
lagic catch of last fall and this spring 10
this is added the loss due to starvation of
orphaned pups in 1894, which should this
year have lived to give birth to their first
pups. This starvation in 1894, affecting. as
1t did in like measure the male herd, is
the cause of the diJninution of killable seals
ON the hauling grounds.
The decline of the herd is everywhere
distinctly =
year OWING 70 the effects of the resumption
OF pelagic killing in the Bering sea after
the modus ViVendi OF 1898. For 1898 the
shrinkage will be still greater through the
destruction in 1894 of females with unborn
pups: Thus the evil effects of pelagic seal
ing in any particular year are stun more
clearly felt three and four years after
%EVen II pelagic sealing should be stopped
at once the decline Of the herd must 60 on
until after 1850 because of the after effect
due to the destruction of nursing and un-
born offsprings
THE pelagIc fleet in Bering sea numbers
ABOUT tWenty-nine vessels as against sixty
eight last year. The, reported catches are
unprofitable No seizures have been made.
The only new fact discovered this year
has been that a parasitic worm infestng
the sandy rOOkery areas is the cause of "a
large part Of the early mortality among,
pups which was ascribed in a general way
last year to trampling. The early mortality
as whole shows decrease relative to the
decreased number of animals.
branding of young female seals which
will be begun after Sept. !, viii be carried
on by Colonel Murray. chief agent on the
islands, and Mr.. e. +. Farmer electrician.
The skins of the branded COWS returned
this year to the islands show clearly the
permanency of the mark and it's efficiency
to render the skin unstable without in
jury to the animal or to the herd. Branding
has the same effect on the fur herd that
branding calves or shearing sheep has on
that class of animals. The idea that the
seals might be driven away by branding
is sheer nonsense.
THE catch Of the schooner from the Jap
anese coast reported to have taken branded
skins there was examined in Unalaska by
Captain Hooper, and no such skins were
found Nor were any branded skins known
TO have been taken on the Asiatic coast.
The seals frequenting this coast are a dis
tinct species.
been fenced and the males too young to be
killed this year will be herded there until
the close of pelagic sealing"