The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-11-08

years might be killed so that the supply
should not become exhausted. 1t was
estimated that with this limitation the
supply would last for many years-the
increase probably amounting to half the
number killed yearly, but the estimate
was incorrect, or too many have been
killed, for the supply is rapidly dimin-
ishing, and there is not more than half
a million marketable seals in the Alas
kan waters. In addition the poachers
take a great many, which was not fig
ured on in the official estimate. True,
the government endeavors to put stop
to this seal pirating, but the buccaneers
generally manage to escape the revenue
cutters. At this rate Of decrease the
supply will become exhausted in q very
few years. Seals Of the fur bearing
species are not found elsewhere in this
country, or, if found at all, they are in
such limited fields as to be invaluable
to commences; hence the necessity of
preserving the supply. Fur bearing seals
are found in small numbe off the
coast of California, but they are from
the Alaskan rookeries-the animals
merely being on prospecting tour.
The seals prefer the Alaskan rocker
les because those islands are rugged,
steep and almost inaccessible to seal
hunters The seals seem to have learned
this from experience with the Russians,
who had been hunting them for nearly
a century before the United States
bought the islands. The tradition was
no doubt handed down, for the instinct
of danger is as strong in animals as in
human beings, perhaps. They roost in
these rocky cliffs in droves numbering
IL ~ " nd Rvb
ing for position, as in the human world.
Those that cannot get foothold on the
rookery have to content themselves with
a less preferred position out on the
beach, where they are more liable to an
attack from the hunters, and, besides,
the seal prefers a rocky foundation,
where he can slide around with ease.
When lying upon the beach, the hunter
gets between the seal and the water and
their capture is easy. The seal can
walk, climb and run, after a fashion,
as we'll as swim. At night they leave
their rookeries and swim out into the
shallow water. They soon roar and bel
low themselves to sleep, and in the
meantime the hunters, by circuitous
route, have placed the seals between
themselves and the shore. Then they
(the hunters) will begin to shout, boot
and fire pistols in the air. The seals are
easily stampeded, and they at once
make for the shore in the opposite direc-
tion from the noise. When they have
waded out upon the beach, the seals are
surrounded, and the hunters prod them
into line and march them to the "kill-
ing grounds near by. Here the hunters
again use their steel prods and form the
seals into line, as the Spaniards do their
prisoners condemned to be shot. The
seal exeoutioner uses a sharp edged club,
striking the animal on the back Of the
head, generally killing is with one
blow. When the blow is not effective,
the roar of the animal is pitiful, almost
human in tone, and one that would
move almost any human being to sympa-
thy-save the callous executioner. The
blow is struck upon the head and club
used because a knife or bullet would
| impair the value Of the skin. The small
holes found in the skin where these ami
mails have bit each other in their dis
putes are carefully sewed up, for the
smallest abrasion lessons the value. In
! shaving the skins to the commercial
| thinness abrasions are made, and their
value is decreased in proportion to the
| damage. J. NJ ScANLAND.