Los Angeles herald., 1907-10-27

out on land to feed or rest, or to give
birth to their young, but lived entirely In
the water, resorting to the kelp beds FOR
the functions of breeding. So pronounced
is this change of habit that some writer's
have described the sea-otter as strictly
marine animal by nature, living entirely
in the water, whereas, 1t is naturally no
more 80 than the fur-seal which passes
considerable portion of each year on dry
land.
In the BELIEF of the best authorities
there is but one spot on the earth-that
Is Copper Island-where the sea-otter may
be found adhering to its natural habits
and-says Stejneger-"there 1s no otner
place in the world where so many sea-
offers can be seen at the present day."
Careful management has there preserved
the herd, 30 that from one to two hun
dred--a large catch under existing con-
ditions-may be taken each year without
detriment to 1t. The .rookeries are con-
stantly guarded against intrusion. Shoot
ing or making fires In their vicinity are
strictly prohibited. The method OF
taking the animals iS restricted to nets
and all females and yearlings caught
alive are liberated. The extent Of the
seasons catch is determined in advance
by the administration and the hunt is
conducted by the natives en- mosse under
the direction and control Of the chiet
The Russian government buys all the
skins at a fixed price and derives
handsome revenue from the trade, whilst
the income accruing to the Aleuts places
them In position Of comparative af-
huence. Stejneger, writing ten years
ago and basing his opinion upon actual
observation, said: 'The animal, which
is now nearing its determination on all
i.Ic IL. ohn Uh
1t Is not protected at all, Is actually In
creasing on Copper Island"
BY refraining from resort to the land.
the sea-otter. rendered Its capture more
difficult and so prolonged its passing, but
1t could not escape Its doom. With the
diminution of its numbers the skin rose
in value and the pursuit became closer
and, If possible, more ruthless The ''ot-
ter canoe" secured the waters In which
the creature fed and In the breeding sea-
son descended upon the kelp beds In
such numbers that the survival of
wretched remnant of the former herds
is subject of wonder. By nature gre
garious the animals have, In recent years,
displayed a tendency to consort In cou
Piles and their timidity has long since In
creased to a point that made 1t impos-
sible to approach them within spearing
distance. The crews of canoes and
for many years, with the result that,
perhaps, one in every five killed has been
secured, for, like the fur-seal, the sea
otter dives instantaneously upon being
hit
Between 1873 to 1883. the annual catch
of the Indians of the Aleutian Islands
was from 5000 to 1900. From that pc
riod a steady decrease has brought 1t
down to practically nothing a. with the
expiry Of the industry has vanished the
mainstay almost the sole source of sub
sistence In fact-of the Aleuts. The
skins handled by the Alaska Company
represented the largest proportion Of the
entire catch since 1870. except for the
take Of the Copper Island preserves. In
1873, the Company purchased-in round
numbers. 500 sea-orter pelts: in 1STS
Mr.. Charles D. Waicott. the secretary Of
1000; in 1888. 1000; in 1888, 2.500. ,ince
1892. the figures have never reached 1000
and In recent years have fallen far be-
low 500.
The pelage OF the sea-otter hns always
been one Of the most highly prized Of all
furs. In work published in 1780, It is
stated "Of all these furB (those secured