The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1912-04-26

OF mighty and lndiScrlmlnale SiduSh-
ter. Today this wanton killing has
been stopped, and the United States
gov eminent is in entire control OF the
industry of these islands, where be-
fore it received royalties from pri-
vate source.
The priblof group consists of two
volcanic rocks about thirty miles apart
situated in the heart of the Berlng
sea. st. Paul. the larger, is no more
than thirty-two square miles in extent.
During the breeding season the sun sci
dom penetrates the dense mfSts that
enshroud the islets. -At the time they
were discovered in 1856. they were UNI
inhabtated Today there is Il popu-
lation of about five or six hundred,
mostly of Russian ancestry. who sub
sist mainly on the returns incident 10
the sealing industry When the United
States acquired Alaska from Kussia
there were 5.000,CG0 pinnipeds on the
Pribilof group. There was no APP
preciable dminution in their number
until 1886. when pelagic sealing began
to he extensively practiced. In 1871
they had decreased to 1.000,CtG. Aft
or that the decrease became SO mark
cd that last year the United States gov
eminent, Russia. Japan ana Great
Britain entered into an agreement pro-
viding that pelagic sealing (the kill
ing of female SEALS on the Pribllof IS
lands should be abolished. There were
less than 200 COO seals recorded in the
last official report of the islands.
SEALS FIERCE FIGHTERS
During the early days Of May the
mature seals begin TO arrive on the
| islands, and for several weeks the
| males of the species engage in fierce
| BATTLES for position upon the roOkery,
proximity to the water determining de-
| STABILITY. In these combats many
seals are killed or MANNED SO that they
die. The females arrive about month
later. The bull doesn't leave his sta
ton an hour during the entire season,
but remains for three months, neither
eating nor drinking, but subsistin2
solely upon superfluous fat, with which
he is provided on bis arrival.
The most important element in seal
life on the rookeries consists Of the
minated specimens, for it is from their
ranks that the entire supply Of skins
Is secured. The fur of the bull after
the sixth year is of no commercial
value.
The bachelor seals, as they are call
ed do not attain the development nee
| essary TO admit CT their forcing anC
maintaining places for themselves il
the rookeries until they are over 81,
years old To enter the area pre-
enpted by the breeding seals is Ger
tain death to the bachelor seals.
The movements of seals in water ar
very rapid and graceful. On land the
are very different. The body is cor
tracted by an upward bending OF tn
spine and so thrown forward by
series Of jerks. and they manage Z
cover the ground far from slowly i
this way One OF the chief peculiar
ties of the seal is the fiexibility of tn
spine. A strange habit when wild
the swallowing OF large stones withou
any apparent reason for so doing.
Under the terms Of treaty signe
by the United States. Great Britain
!. Japan and Russia. which is now in e.
; feet. the future OF the seal industry
, assured. The life of the treaty is fl
! teen years, and the nations concerne
: believe 1t will operate TO enlarge tn
seal herds