Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1897-12-18
A PLEA FOR THE SEAL.
The Proposition to Annlhllste the Herd
Prof. Jorda1's Strongly -WOrded Pro-
test-The Destruction OF This Noble AMI
NAL Would be Reprehensible from Every
Point of View and Very Bad Economy.

Tho Proposition to Annlhilate the Herd
Prof Jords1's Strongly -Worded Pro-
test-The Destruction OF This Noble AMI
NAL Would be Keprehenslbie from Every
Point OF View and Very bad Economy.
WASHINGTON, Dec. ll.-Prof. David
Starr Jordan, president of Stanford
university. who was the leading expert
for the United States government in
the seal negotiations here last autumn,
has given his verdict strongly against
any such proposition as that presented
in the bill to be introduced by Repre-
sentative johnson, of North Dakota,
looking to the immediate killing of all
of the seals on the seal islands, as the
easiest method in which to prevent
further friction between the United
States and Canada. The report of Dir.
Jordan, showing in preliminary way
the results of his Investigations in
in Behring sea during the past season,
will shortly be published, and mean
time the following extract shows his
opinion:
within the past two years it has
several times been proposed that we
should settle the fur seal question once
for all by the slaughter of the entire
herd on its breeding grounds. 1t is
scarcely necessary to point out that
this course OF action would not accom-
plish the desired end. AS the ami
mails are never all present at one
time on the islands, Il remnant would
be left which would in time,
revive the herd, and with it the whole
question. In the meantime every OBJ
lection which has been urged against
pelagic sealing would be justly charge
able against such a slaughter 1t
would be necessary to lie in wait for
the females, and kill them az they
came ashore on land to give birth to
their young, or to provide them with
nourlshment. The young must be
slaughtered wholly or else be left to
starve. The proposition is an abomin-
able one, without a single redeemng
| feature.
THE fur seal is the noblest of all
the animals of the sea. From the
naturalist point Of view it is the most
interesting form of life on the earth.
| From the commercial view it is one of
the most valuable. Unlike the buffa-
10, the elk, the stag and like animals,
it occupies territory that cannot be
used for any other purpose. Where
the other animals once roamed great
cities have sprung up, but the naunts
of the fur seal would be deserted for
all time if their inhabitants were de-
stroyed.
Though sadly reduced in numbers,
a nucleus of the fur seal herd is still
left. Under favorable conditions it can
be restored. The Prybylotf herd once
yielded 100000 skins annually, worth
| Y, 100000 or more, and without injury
to itself. This would represent cash
value of 50, 600, 0OJ, If properly pro-
tected it will again reach these figures
These figures represent sum too
great to be thrown away in tiendish
spite. TO slaughter the fur seal our
selves because its preservation is beset
with diplomatic difficulties, in which
the fault has not all been on one side.
| would be confession OF impotency
unworthy of civilized nation. 1t
would transfer to the United States
alone and for all time the odium for
the destruction of the fur seal herds.