The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-07-10

Maj. 3. W. Clark. q special agent Of the
government In charge Of tho seA islands
Ia Boring sea, has arrived In this city d.
rect from his headquarters on the island
Of St George. He brings the flrst infor-
nation from those far away possessions
Of Uncle Sam Since the close OF marine
navigation in Bering sea seven. or eight
months ego. Leaving St. George June II
on the Del Noxte. q supply vessel of tho
North American Commercial. Company,
the lessee Of the islands. Mai. Clark reach
ed Dutch Harbor June Is. there connect
ing with the Pacific Steam Whaling Com
pany's steamer Excelsior. which ran up
the Aleutian archipelago to Cook isslea and
thence from the Westward to Juneau.
where he boarded the City Of Topeka for
Seattle.
Maj. Clark Is . cultured gentleman and
he returns rich In incident and informa-
ton pertaining to the seal question; al-
ways. by reason of its many International
phases. of absorbing interest. He says
very frankly that the pelagers are fast
discriminating seal life. He gave also the
first information relative to the time the
British-Amer1can lines steamship Garonne
passed through Unimak pass on her way
to st. Michael. the date being as near as
he could reckon 1t June ID or II
At Tyonook. Cook inlet. Mai. Clark saw
Capt. Glenn. leader Of the government ex-
petition. dispatched for the purpose Of
establishing a route by way OF the Shu-
shitna and through the mountain range
overland to the Yukon at or near Eagle
City At this time the Duchesnay. Capt.
Glenns river boat. had assembled the Shu-
shitna a distance Of no miles. returning
to TyonoOk.
Capt Glenn was not very communicative
regarding his movements, though he had
encountered no serious obstacles.
Discussing his return and seal island At
fairs. Maj. Clark said:
II came out on business leaving the
islands June IA. Things were quiet when
I left. As to seal life I'm confident that
It is not one-tenth as great in extent as 1t
was in former years. The destruction Of
the herd Is still progressing under pelagic
sealing. The provisions Of the Paris trib-
unal for the better preservation Of seal
life are totally inadequate. The zone
drawn around the seal islands Is far within
the natural seal grounds. 1t II well known
that the seals roam far beyond the limits
Of this zone. The only effective provision
that can see would be to prevent relagic
sealing altogether. The vessels entering
Bering sea necessarily kill the bre ading
female seals whose pups are left starving
on the rocks
THE number Of pelagic vessels IS 0imin-
ishing simply from the fact that they have
killed of 80 many seals. There have not
been SO many starving pups on this ac-
count.
"No pelagic sealers were around the IS
lands when left, but I was told that the
fleet had marshaled and was folsowi lg IL e
seal herd on its return from Southern
waters. The herd returns up the Caiifor-
MIA, Oregon and Washington coast. thence
across near to Vancouver island. hugging
the shore around to the passes OF the
Aleutian chain through which they make
their way into Bering sea- Throughout
the long voyage they are followed and
preyed upon by the sealera
about three out Of every hve killed are
recovered. The other two sink. And 1
think fully three female eeals are killed
to two males. Gravid females are less
agile. They can't get about as lively as
the bulls"
Maj. Clark says the salmon canneries
along the Aleutian islands are doing big
business. Their catches are unusually
large and all OF the concerns. big and lit
tie alike. are thriving.
The Excelsior stopped at Unga and took
about $4,000 worth of bullion from the big
quartz mine at that place. transferring 1t
TO the Topeka at Juneau.