Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1912-04-04

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 appreciable effect on the
herd.
Special inquiry made by the government
showed that in different years from 10 to over
90 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 a feet was engaged, and
what 1t has meant recently when the feet was
larger in proportion to the number OF seals'
may be appreciated when it is stated Q) 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 were
wounded and escaped died later; (2) that for
every adult female killed on the way to the
islands in spring an unborn pup was sacrl-
feed: (3) that for every female killed after
the herd had reached the islands a pup on
shore was left to die q lingering death by
starvation, and a 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
the entire American side of Boring Sea and TO
regard as ~poachers any persons found nuntlns
seals therein. The seizure OF vessels hylng
the limited States and British flags followed.
and there arose a controversy with Great Brit
ain which eliminated in the reference of the
Ease 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
erty right In the seal herd warranted the gov
eminent in protecting the seals while on the
high seas. s17
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 its good faith by prohibiting its clti'
zens from engaging in the lucrative industry OF
pelagic sealing; but the subjects OF all otner
countries were permitted to do so, and 1t was
the injection of a new factor, Japan, that con
tributed more than any other cause 10 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
and needs of the herd, and the application Of
the results of scientific and economic 1nVestl
CATION to the welfare of the seals.
A scarcely less important duty, and one tina
ia in no respect antagonistic to the first, is tt
provide a revenue and to utilize a highly usefu
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 WOO or three years old ana 'th'
disposal of their pelts to the best advantage
A third duty is to ascertain what are the rea
needs of the helpless native inhabitants Of thu
seal islands, and to give them the air that II
best suited for their mental, moral and physi
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
eient knowledge. The fur seal being a highl.
p~olygamous animal, and males and females be
ing born In equal numbers, 1t follows that un
der the conditions that have prevailed ant
still continue the number of males ~produce'
is far in excess of the requirements of NATURE
for the perpetuation of the species.
The preservation and increase of the sea
herd is entirely compatible with ~judicious sac
rifce of a limited number of young male seal
each year, and this is quite as true when tn
herd is depleted as when the rookeries ar
crowded to their full capacity. When the pres
ence of a sufficient reserve is determined b,
responsible officers of the government, tn
utilization Of the surplus males for their pelt
and incidentally for native food is justified ant
demanded by common sense, and fulfllls tn
utmost demands of both the spirit and tn
letter of genuine conservation.
II not a single male seal were to be killet
on the islands or at sea during the next f1v,
years, not a single additional seal would b
produced as a result OF that course. If not
single male seal were to be killed on tn
islands or at sea during the next 20 years, no
q single seal would be added to the herd tina
will not be added If the present policy OF RI
~stricted killing Of surplus males is continued.