Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-07-03


building there is circular tank ouposi.e
the main entrance where two healthy
young seals. male and female, disport
tnemSefves In the water and ~curioasy
inspect visitors who call to see them.fs-
Unless the scientists connected with -the
bureau of fisheries are very nue.. mis-
taken this may be the beginning of the
artificial rearing Of the valuable FUR
seals winch constituted one of the chief
eiements or wealth in the great territory
OF Alaska. bought by this government
from Russia for a sum then thought to
pe excessive by many persons. but which
sum was more than repaid from the rev.
enues received from the seal fisheries.
Now, after many years, the seal herd on
the Pribylof Islands threatens 20 become
extlnct-not from the operations OF the
licensees, but from the unlawful poach-
ing or adventurous sealers, who have
been attracted by the great profits made
In this unlawful business.
For many years the government has
sought to find some way to prevent the
obstruction OF the seal herd. All efforts
70 bring up the young seals away from
their native haunts and without the ma
ternal care OF their mothers have failed.
Finally boatswain on one of the rev.
enue cutters assigned to guard the rock
cries took two baby seals that had lost
their mothers, and with great care he
managed to bring them up by hand"
Inurber Is the name of the man who
succeeded where every one else. had
failed. He arrived at San Diego with his
ship. and the authorities in WashfnKton,
hearing Of his achievement, ordered him
to bring the seals to Washington with
out regard to expense.
He brought along some sea water In
barrels. some Ice and quantity OF fresh
1sh to feed his little charges, which by
tnat time had got beyond the milk stage.
Along the line of the railway, wherever
II was possible, he procured fresh fish
and he finally delivered his charges to
the fisheries bureau in good condition
Every possible care is being taken of
these precious pups" They are fed on
the choicest fresh fish. eighteen pounds
being given to them daily. For fear that
they might not assimilate the heads. that
part of the fish is cut of and the body
only Is fed to them. They are kept, how
ever. in fresh water, and thus far they
seem to be quite much at home In IL
as they would be I'm their native ocean.
There is one variety of seals-and one
fresh water. This is found in Lake Bal
kali, Siberia.
Around the tank I'm which the seals
now about one year old-are kept is q
fence OF iron rods. recurved at the top.
SO that they cannot possibly get out.
visitors who go to see them. Once, before
this fence was erected. one OF the young
seals bit keeper severely. so that now
they are watched when they spring
gracefully to the ledge OF the tank.
No one would think that these graceful
creatures longed for their native sea.
their present home. They are inces-
sanity active. Most OF the time they are
swimming around In the tank. now
their backs. again in the more natural
position. Only occasionally do they
spring lightly up the side of the rock in
the middle of the tank.
Curiosity seems to be the strongest
characteristic Of the seals. When the
door opens to admit visitors they raise
their sleek heads aloft on their long
necks and their great, dark eyes scan the
strangers closely and seemingly without
any trace Of fear. Sometimes they get
fence as possible and try to poke their
sleek muxzles through the spaces between
the rods.
Seals reach maturity at the age OF
three years. 1t is much too soon, there
fore, to say that the experiment of rails
ing them has been a success, but there
seems to be no good reason why the e..
pertinent cannot be carried to sue
cessfuI conclusion. The officials OF the
fisheries bureau are so we'll pleased with
what has been done that they intend to
take about twenty-five of the young seals
next season, give some of them 10 the
natives on st. Paul island to raise, and
distribute the remainder among geological
parks which may wish to try TO bring
them up. Some will be taken to Woods
Hole, Mass, where there Is a biological
laboratory, and where they can be kept
in a salt water tank large enough TO
give them all the exercise they require.
Hopeful scientists are beginning TO see
a prospect that the culture of fur seals
will be carried on as a commercial ELL
terprise, and the threatened destruction
of the herd by the poachers no longer
has the same terror that 1t once had.