The San Francisco call., 1898-02-15
BRANDED SEALS.

I many respects the most important news sent down from the revenue cutter Bear, now at Unalaska, the announcement that the seals branded by the United States officials have in large numbers returned the seal islands, and are now at their usual rookeries. This news given informa- ton received from Colonel Murray, the treasury agent in charge of the islands, is authentic, and be regarded finally settling the question Of the feasibility of solving the problem of protecting the seals by branding them.
 Many plans had been proposed and not a few of them tried for protecting seal fisheries from poachers before President Jordan of Stanford sug- gested the advisaby of branding the females so as to render their skins valueess and therefore of no profit to the poachers. The plan met with good deal of opposition. The most potent and frequently made objection that branding would SO frghten and pain the seals that they would abandon the islands and seek rookeries elsewhere This objection is now disposed of. The seals have returned and there is no danger the rookeres will be abandoned
 Another objection often made was that the brand ing would not sufficiently destroy the fur to render the skins valueless for commercial purposes This also has been refuted by the reports from the islands, a number of the branded animals have been examined and in every it has been found that the brands are clear and distinct. According to our special correspondent Lieutenant Berry mot single vestige of hair or fur remains in the wake of the iron, although the mark is at least year old"
 From these reports it seems clear the controversy peagic sealing is settled and the United States has accomplished the protection of its seal fisheries without the aid consent of any other nation. h. ternational tribunals will longer be necessary to provide laws for the prevention of pelagic sealing We shall not have to carry on further controversy p1,<n x1.z seal poaching. What statesmen and dplomatsts could not do, simple plan devised by the exercise of common-sense has achieved.
 It will not have escaped the attention of intelligent men that this important item of treated yesterday in manner worthy of its importance by newspaper in the city except The Call The Chronicle contained the bare announcement from its correspondent: From Colonel Murray, special agent in charge of the island it was learned that the branded seals were returning to the island rookeries The Examiner had a hardly more extended notice of the fact, and that huddled conused1y in the body of long report dealing with the general events of the voyage of the Bear.
 The information thus carelessy treated by contemporaries will be received throughout the United States with than ordinary qualification. It promises to put speedy end to an international dispute which threatened to become chronic, and involve the United States ln endless difficulties with Canada and Great Britain It also assures relief to the Government from considerable portion of the cost of patrong the seas around the islands As correspondent says With the female seals branded in such manner that the skins are value less and with the bachelor seals herded in the salt lagoon on St. Paul Island until the weather be- comes too bad for pelagc sealing, there will be no profit in the business for the sealing schooners And we can easily protect the herd from raiders on the islands, within or without the sxty-rile prohibited