New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-01-31
TRICKS TINT ARE VAIN.
Maine Indians Found ont an Max
ing False Seals Noses.

Bangor Me Jan % (SpeciaD-By the exposure
this week Of n remarkable scheme OF swindling, IL
has been demonstrated that the Maine Indian is
not half so innocent as he looks. Some years ago
the legislature passed a law providing for the pay
mnet OF bounty OF 81 each all seals killed in
Maine waters, It having been represented that the
animals We're especially destructive to food fishes
The law provides that upon the presentation OF
the noses Of the seals TO the OF the
est town the bounty shall be paid. town being
reimbursed by the state. In this way many thou
sands Of dollars have been paid out. mostly to
Indians. who are the greatest hunters along the
coast.
For some years the hunting of seals went on
without any noticeable results but lately it has
been observed that some Of the Passamaquoddy
Indians have been killing a surprisingly large
number Of seals and getting large amounts in
bounties Two Indians appeared last week at the
Office of the town treasurer OF Freeport with 200
seals noses for which they received 500 This
the result OF few nights work. At other
towns scores OF seals noses were brought in for
bounty and the money was paid with ques-
tons asked. No official ever took the trouble to
inspect the noses closely for "A seals nose all
muddy. bloody and greasy. is not pleasant thing
to handle. The money has always been paid and
then. according to law. the have been burned
by the official UayinE the bounty. But last week
one shrewd Yankee down the coast smelled q rat
when two disspated Indians had collected Sl45
within two weeks in bountits. This sharp official
held some OF the noses up to the light and discov
cred that they were not natural, but artificial
A wad OF fat had been incased in bit OF seal
skin from which the hair had been singed. two Sits
had been made TO represent nostrils and coarse
hairs from the backs Of the seals had been stuck
through tho skin to represent whiskers. the hairs
being knotted the inside 20 prevent their slipping
through. Then the artificial noses had been dipped
IN Tat and rubbed In mud 10 cover defects. and
the state OF Maine invited to hand 81 for
these specimens OF the red mans cunning.
News Of this important discovery sent along
the coast and 10 got TO Portland Just honest
Indians OF the Quoddy tribe-Lous SapieO and
Joe" Dana-had finished hard days work In the
manufacture OF eighty six seals noses. When the
Indians presented the noses OF the office Of City
Treasurer Dyer morning this week and de-
manded 81 each for them. both arrested. and
for similar bit OF enterprise. All VIII be prose-
cuted for piracy to defraud and also for per
jury in swearing that the bits Of skin and tat were
the noses uf seals.
II IS said that not less than S5.o0 has been paid
ont within year for artificial noses OF seals. hut
now the industry has received its death blow. Not
much money can be made I'm hunting seals. for they
very timid and hard to reach The Indians hide
behind rocks and wait for the seals TO come OF
the at sunset. ana then kill them with clubs
generally securing one in twenty. Lately seal
has been enough. for from its skin the cunning
Indians have been able 10 make scores of moses
and get for them corresponding number OF dollars
for all have look alike TO the town treas