The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-01-28
He Condemns Pelagfc Sealing, and
Urges an Agreement
to Prevent Further Destruction.
SENATORS AND THE TREATY
PROPOSED AMENDMENTS To THE
ARBITR ALTON AGREEMENT.
Possibility that Efforts of the Lobby
to "RailrOad" the Pooling Bill
VIII BE Fruitless.

WASHlNGIOk, Jan. starr
Jordan, commissioner in charge of the fur
seal investigation for 1896, in his report to
the secretary of the treasury makes a close
estimate of the seals of all classes at one
time or another on the Pri5yloff islands
during the last summer and finds the num-
Der TO nave been about 10000, of which
over Sc, Coo died on or about the islands dur
ing the same period. OF the total mortal
ity, pelagic sealing accounts for 2s,S9S and
about 1900 pups died of starvation or
trampling.
AS to pelagic sealing. President Jordan
says: "Pelagic sealing in Boring sea in
August is in the highest degree destructive
to the herd. If considered as an industry,
it is a suicidal one, as it can be profitably
continued only under conditions which must
bring it to a speedy ending. Pelagic seal
ing is therefore not properly an industry at
all, as it adds nothing to the wealth of the
world. Since it began more than Coz, 1000 fur
seals nave been taken in the North Pacific
and in Boring sea. This means the death
of not less than 4OO.o 900 breeding females,
the starvation of 100000 pups, and the de-
struction of 400, 900 pups still unborn. In
this calculation account is taken only of
those of which the skins have been brought
to market. No record of the 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 of the continued de-
cline Of the fur seal herds 1t is at pres
ent the sole obstacle to their restoration
and the sole limit to their indefinite in
crease. 1t is therefore evident that no set
Element of the fur seal question as regards
either the American or the Russian islands
can be permanent, unless it shall provide
for the cessation of the indiscriminate kill
ing of fur seals, both on the feeding
grounds and on their migrations. There
can be no open season for the killing of
females If the herd is to be kept intact"
The overkilling of males on the islands
in such "a way as to injure the herd. Mr..
Jordan says, has never occurred, and adds:
Overriding, in the sense of premature
killing, has occurred, beyond a doubt. This
affects the quota of future years. but does
not injure the herd itself. There is every
reason to believe that in lSS, to 1889 the
great for the depleted herd, the pups OF
three years before having been largely
starved to death under the action of pelagic
sealing. For this reason the supply of
three-year-old seals fell short, and the de-
ficiency was made up by drawing on the
two-year-olds. This in turn increased the
difficulty in getting the quota for the sue
| ceeding year. and the cut went deeper until
it reached the larger yearlings. The eff
feet of this action shows itself clearly in
the drop from 100, 900 skins in 1889 to 2l,OW
in 1890. In the preceding year almost all
two-year-olds and many of the yearlinSs
had been taken. The sudden drop does not
| represent a correspondingly sudden reduc-
ton in the size of the herd. 1t might occur
even if the herd were increasing. As a
matter of fact, at the time the nero had
been slowly but steadily declining under pc
Iagic sealing. Overkiliing of males, there
fArn 1Anc N &C a 1ADf0r IN mo
diminution of the seal herd. The slaughter
of females at sea and the consequent death
by starvation of many thousands of pups
are believed to be the principal causes or
the depletion of the herds
In concluding his long and comprehensive
report Mr.. Jordan points out what he be-
lieves would prove a solution or the whole
| question of the preservation of the fur
seal. He says: The sole possible basis of
adjustment must be the protection of the
fur seals through mutual concession, IN
ternational courtesy. and self-respect. 80
long as pelagic sealing exists the reStrlc-
lions governing it are of Slight Importance.
and the relations between the owners OF
the Pribyloff islands and the stations whose
ships have the right to destroy its herd must
be in some degree strained. The ultimate
end in view should be an international ar
rangement whereby all skins of female fur
seals should be seized and destroyed by
the customs authorities of civilized ma
tons, whether taken on land or sea, from
the Pribyloff herd. the Asiatic herds or in
the lawless raiding of the Antarctic rock
cries. In the destruction OF the Antarctic, as
we'll as those of the Japanese islands and
of Bering sea. American enterprise has tax
en- a leading part. 1t would be well for
America to lead the way in stopping pelag-
ic sealing by restraining her own citizens
without waiting for the action or other
better grace when we have accorded I'M
asked protection to others.