River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1912-04-04

cr1m1nate, was confined TO DacnelorS, ana 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 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 feet 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 ID 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 Tor
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 pup on
shore was left to die 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
+he entire American side of Bering 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 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
Rering 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 furseal herd has gone from bad TO
worse The United States government early
showed its good faith by prohibiting it's c1ti-
zens from engaging in the lucrative industry or
nelagic sealing; but the subjects OF all other
countries we're permitted to do so, and it was
+ha 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
and needs of the herd, and the application OF
the results Of scientific and economic lnVesti-
cation to the welfare of the seals
scarcely less important duty and one that
is in no respect antagonistic to the trst is 10
provide revenue and to utilize highly useful
resource at the time when that resource pos
sesses the greatest market value. This IN
wolves the judicous killing of the male seals
when they are two or three years old and the
disposal of their pelts to the best advantage.
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 AID ph@sl-
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, it follows that TIN
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
rif1ce 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 b!
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 fulflls 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 at during the next ffva
years, not single additional seal would be
produced as a result Of that course. II not a
single male seal were to be killed On the
islands at during the next 20 years, net
a single seal would be added to the herd thai
will not be added if the present policy of re.
stricted killing of surplus males is continued.