Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-03-09
TO PROTECT SEALS
House Committee Discusses
Possible determination.
DIFFERENT OPINIONS
BILL PROHIBITS SEALING ON
PRIBILoF ISLANDS.
Ex-senator Faulkner Opposes the
Measure = Hearing to Be
Resumed Tomorrow.
DIFFERENT OPINIONS
Ex-senator Faulkner Opposes the

A decidedly interesting hearing was held
before the House committee on ways and
means this morning on the subject of the
Joint resolution introduced by Representa-
tive Robinson of Indiana authorizing and
directing the Secretary of Commerce and
Labor to suspend at once and indefinitely
the killing of fur seals on the Pribilof
Islands of Alaska. The privilege of killing
seals on these islands is leased by the gov
eminent to the North American CONNER
cial Company, under such restrictions as
the Secretary of Commerce and Labor shall
prescribe. At the hearing this morning
the statement was made by Prof II. w.
Elliott of Cleveland, Ohio, that unless the
killing of young bull seals on the islands
was at once suspended the ur-bearing
animals would be exterminated. Ex-Sena-
tor Faulkner of West Virginia, who appear
ed as the representative of the lessees of
the islands. controverted this view. His
claimed that the killing of the male seals
on fand was positive benefit, while the
danger of determination lies in the opera
lions or the pelagic Sealers, who take the
COW seals at sea and thus destroy the
mother and her young. The interest of the
members of the committee in the subject
was so great and Interruptions were so
numerous. that it was decided to continue
the hearing tomorrow me ming at 10 o'clock,
when both Prof. Elliott and ex-senator
Faulkner will be given an opportunity to
extend their remarks
The resolution which called forth the
hearing. and which this year represents the
FORM or legislation proposed in the lower
branch OF Congress for the protection of
the seals, was introduced the I'd instant by
MI Robinson and referred to the commit
tee ON ways and means of which Represen-
tative Payne of New York. the republican
floor leader Is chairman. The killing of
female seals on land is already prohibited
by law. The resolution allows during the
proposed suspension the killing of $500
seals each year. under government direc-
ton and supervision, to provide food for the
natives on st. Paul Island, and 2O0O on st.
George Island. The skins of these seals. 1t
Is proposed. shall be sold by the govern
ment and the proceeds covered into the
treasury of the United States
Prof. Elliott Protests.
The hearing this morning began at 1850
o'clock and was concluded at noon, the time
being divided equally between Prof. Elliott.
who favored the resolution. and ex-senator
Faulkner, who opposed it.
Prof. Elliott spoke first. He said his In
terest in the seal was that of the naturalist
and artist. He had, lived among the ami
mails, and they had so impressed them
selves upon him. tina t he could not see them
surely exterminatedt without raising his
voice in protest. The speaker said his first
acquaintance wath the seals began in 1877,
when he was sent to Alaska as the repre-
sentative of the Smithsonian Institution 10
make a biological study of the species on
the Pribilof Islands and in adjoining waters
In 1874 Prof Elliott said he was again sent
to Alaska under a special act of Congress
to make a further study of the question
Again in 1890 he went to Alaska under
another act of Congress:'----~
Americans Responsible.
Returning from this trip, Mr.. Elliott de-
clared he refused to be influenced by the
officers of the government In saying that
the peiagic sealing of the Canadians was
wholly responsible for the determination of
the seals. The speaker asserted that all
the officalism in Washington could not in
fiuence him to make a single misstatement
of fact He contended then and holds now
that the land killing of young males by the
American sealers has more to do with the
reduction of the herd in the islands than
anything else. Prof. Elliott made the un-
qualified statement that Ii pelagic sealing.
stopped entirely, the land killing now
practiced will in few years result In the
destruction of the seals.
After 1890 Prof. Elliott and his official con-
nection with the scaling question was ter
minated He asserted that he WAS the first
naturalist to live among the seals, and that
his reports to the Smithsonian Institution
had stood from the day of their making
until now as authoritative statements, the
only points on which scientists had differed
with him being as to relative destruction
wrought by land killing and pelagic sealing.
Prof Elliott declared that in 1884 the Rus
slams had practically exterminated the fur
bearing seals on the PribilOm Islands, due,
he asserted, to the land slaughter.
When the United States took charge of
the islands the seal herd was propagated
until it reached a total of about 4 800, 900. A
few wears ago the herd numbered only 49,
Of hat time Prof David q Jordan
of Stanford University, one of the sealing
commissioners claimed the low ebb had
been reached and there would be no further
reductions. Despite this, however, the
speaker declared, treasury agents reported
last August that the herd in the islands
amounted to only 10000 of all kinds of
seals. Prof, Elliott claimed this number
had been reduced since August until now it
was only about 10000 head.
Law Violated.
Prof Elliott declared that unless the Rob-
inson resolution be adopted all seals in the
PribiIof group will be exterminated, and
fourteen years work of the government
would be set at naught. The lessees OF the
islands are not supposed TO kill seals under
one year of age. yet Prof. Elliott declares
hundreds of thousands Of yearlings are
killed without the. knowledge as to whether
they are eleven or twelve months of age
The evidence of this, the speaker ayowed
is TO be found in the London sales of skins
and In the testimony of the treasury agents
Previous to 1900 he said the minimum skin
allowed to be marketed was of six pounds
weight. Since that time the limit has been
reduced to five pounds, and as many of the
latter as can be found are taken. They are
the yearling SKINS
The law of .gulyr I, 1870, reserves to the
United States. the, right to restrict or sus-
mend the killing Of Seals. Prof. Elliott said
the North American Company would claim
that the benepoenti features of it's contract
with the government would involve it in
suspended. He, denied this. The company
pays 30 cents to the natives for each skin
taken, provides the children with school
facilities, pays medical fees and looks
after the wido%s affd orphans. Prof Elliott
declared that sby fox skin treaties and
profits on store GOODS. etc.. the company
gets back every dollar 1t spends, and the