New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-09-05
CONDITIONS OF SEAL LIFE.
DR. DAVID STARR JORDAN TALKS OF HIS
TRIP TO BEHRING SEA.
WIS RESEARCHES WILL STRENGTHEN THE
AMERICAN OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES OF
THE srAIs-WTY ENGLAND HAS TAKEN
HER PRESENT POSITION.

,-os,i~a+inr the present condition OF the seals
IN the rookeries on behalf Of the Government.
comes home with great deal OF interesting
information. On his arrival at Stanford Uni
yersty he talked for some time with repre-
sentative Of The Tribune about his trip he
confidently believes that the result OF his trip
will have considerable bearing upon the con-
ventiOn Of represen tatives OF the four inter-
ested nations that is to meet in Washington THIS
fall.
TIE principal result Of his Investigations TINS
yea is the absolute proof that he has obtained
thac the seal herd is rapidly decreasing he
says it will be difficult for the advocates OF the
rrifisb cause to bring any testimony to bear
to counteract this fact. for the reason that the
british commissioners in Behring Sea were with
him during the whole Of his counting operations
and tailed their figures with his throughout. the
results in every case appearing the same. speak
ing Of this subject. Dr. Jordan after brushing
away the contentious Of Professor Ellott as
bainq unworthy Of notice said:
..W-bile am not speaking authortatyely on
behalf Of our Government am pretty well as
srsd = what the feeling is in official circles in
washington with regard to the position Of Great
rrj,atn and the seals. England would have
gladly given in to our contention long ago had
&, not been for her desire 10 refrain from any
action that would probably injure her with the
Canadian Government. There is no reason on
Garth why If this had not been 50. Great Britain
should have held out so long for contention
with which she as nation has no concern
Russia. I am confident, is behind US in every
move We are making for the abolition Of pelaglc
seal.nr and l look forward with confidence TO
the convention in the fail bringing forth some
frui; that will settle this question for all time
THE SOLUTION EXPECTED.
Speaking Of the international side Of this
question still q little further. am glad to be
able 10 saw that there is every probability OF the
law az economics bringing about in a natural
way in the near future the point we are trying
n gain A few years ago when Victoria was
great centre for the sealing Industry and when
nearly every prominent merchant there was
growing wealthy on the returns brought him ny
lis schooners they began TO imagine that the
Industry was a sort OF everlasting gold mime
that could never be worked out. In spite OF al
our protests uttered at that time, these men
continued their operations, adding every year a
,,rca number Of schooners to the sealing fleet
The situation to-day. I am glad to say, is com
rle.ely changed. The number Of schooners has
fallen of 30 per cent and last year all en-
Caced in the business lost money. TINS year
they are still worse of. Having By ruthless
system of determination gradually depleted the
supply they now find themselves unable TO get
skins and most OF the schooners are mortSaSed
up 10 every cent Of their value"
In addition to his work among the seals. DR.
Jordan. at the request OF the Government paid
considerable attention TO the condition Of the
sea otter. an animal which he contends has a.
ready suffered the extinction which is about to
20 rr1'e
TO prevent it He says that the estimate made
by careful hunters during his visit to Behring
Sea this year shows that not more than a thou
sand sea offers now exist. They have been ruth
lesslv hunted down and driven from one area
OF water to another until they now revisit their
old haunts no more, and in places where they
used 10 be found In swarms none have been
known 20 return for years.
"W N the sea otter with the SEAL. con-
t'a.aI Or Jordan. the less their numbers be
come he less valuable are their skins. This is
2 curious law Of economics which IS exemplihed
more oy the sale and purchase Of costly furs
than anything else. When the fur supply gets
down below certain point the market becomes
ent..-F broken and the demand instead Of in
creas .ng as the supply grows less falls OF and
prices 60 down accordingly, the market being
ruined Thus only few years ago when a
hundred thousand sealskins were shipped from
London every year they averaged $50 each in
selling value. Now that the supply has been re-
duced to a few paltry thousands the price has
gone down two-thrds. II the process con-
tinues at the same ratio the fur dyers OF London
viii so out OF business entirely.
DECREASE ~ THE YOUNG.
'T-.e study Of sal G's In the North is always
% .ne q matter OF intense interest. Their habits