The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1912-04-18

criminate, was confined to bachelors, and had
no effect on the permanence of the herd.
Although the indiscriminate killing of seals
in the sea had been going on from very early
times, this business was not extensive, was
conducted by natives using spears in their
canoes, and had no appreciate effect. on the
herd.
Special inquiry made by the government
showed that in different years from 70 to over
80 per cent Of the seals killed at sea, either
on the northwest coast or in Boring Sea, were
females
What pelagic hunting then meant to the seal
herd when so large fleet was engaged, and
what it has meant recently when the fleet was
larger in proportion to the number of seals,
may be appreciated when it is stated CD that
for every seal killed and secured by the hunt
ers not less than two seals were killed and
lost because they sank before the hunters
could lay hold of them, while many that we're
wounded and escaped died later; (2) that for
every adult female killed on the way to the
islands in spring an unborn pup was sacri-
feed. (3) that for every female killed after
the herd had reached the islands pup on
shore was left to die a lingering death by
starvation, and pup to be born the next sea-
son. was likewise sacrificed.
The government was not slow to realize the
damage done to the seal herd by pelagic seal
ing and was led to assume jurisdiction over
theN entire American side of Boring Sea and TO
regard as poachers any persons found hunting
seals therein. The seizure OF vessels flying
the United States and British flags followed,
and there arose a controversy with Great Brit
ain which eliminated in the reference Of the
case to an international tribunal of arbitration
that met in Paris in 1898. The award OF the
arbitration court was against the United States
on both Of the main contentious, namely the
Bering Sea is a closed sea, and that the prop
ertv right in the seal herd warranted the gov
ernment in protecting the seals while on the
high seas.
Since the award of the Paris tribunal the
case of the fur-seal herd has gone from bad to
worse. The United States government early
showed it's good faith by prohibiting its citi-
zens from engaging in the lucrative industry OF
nelagic sealing; but the subjects of all other
countries were permitted to do so, and 1t was
the injection of new factor, Japan, that con-
tributed more than any other cause to the
defamation Of our seal herd.
The fur-seal problem with which the United
States government now has to deal presents
several phases The most important duty the
responsible officials have to perform is to con-
serve and increase the seal herd. This in
wolves continuous care, study, and observa-
ton: the determination Of the actual condition
the results of scientific and economic investf
CATION to the welfare of the seals.
scarcely less important duty, and one that
is in no respect antagonistic to the first is to
provide a revenue and to utilize highly useful
resource at the time when that resource pos,
sesses the greatest market value. This IN
wolves the judicious killing of the male seals
when they are two or three years old and the
disposal of their pelts to the best advantage.
A third duty is to ascertain what are the real
needs of the helpless native inhabitants OF the
seal islands, and to give them the air that Is
best suited for their mental moral and physs-
cal natures.
Recent criticism of the governments policy
of taking the skins of seals in view of the de-.
pleted condition of the herd is based on def
cient knowledge. The fur seal being highly
polygamous animal, and males and females be-
ing born in equal numbers, 1t follows that un.
der the conditions that have prevailed and
still continue the number of males produced
is far in excess of the requirements of nature
for the perpetuation of the species.
The preservation and increase of the seal
herd is entirely compatible with judicious sac
ri1ce of a limited number Of young male seals
each year, and this is quite as true when the
herd is depleted as when the rookeries are
crowded to their full capacity. When the pres
ence of a sufficient reserve is determined by
responsible officers of the government, the
utilization of the surplus males for their pelts
and incidentally for native food is justified and
demanded by common sense, and fulf1lls the
utmost demands Of both the spirit and the
letter Of genuine conservation.
If not single male seal were to be killed
on the islands or at sea during the next FIVE
years, not single additional seal would be
produced as a result of that course II not
single male seal were to be killed on the
islands or at sea during the next 20 years. not
a single seal would be added to the herd that
will not be added If the present policy of re-
stricted killing Of surplus males is continued.