The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1912-04-20

VIII powers for a term of ID
CIV The agreement PROMPTS
absolutely pelagic sealing, or
The killing Of fur seals while IN the "atei' alN
places the legitimate killing OF surplus nuae
scala on land under the direct control OF TUE
governments interested.
This convention insures the rescue oi 1n0
depleted fur-seal herds from commercial
4inction: prohibits the citizens or suoJec.s VI
the contracting powers from ensasihs ~
wasteful cruel occupation ana fehoVes
snms-standiug disturbance of international good
will
Fur seals inhabit certain parts OF both the
nnrthern and southern hemispheres, but the
n,oat l,nnortant herds live in the north racine.
represent three distinct but closely related spe-
elas and are known as the Alaskan Russlah
and Japanese fur seals. respectively Although
the northern seals roam widely on the high
seas they always resort for breeding purposes
to certain definite bits Of land, and 1t is this
habit which gives particular nations property
rights In them and has created several inter-
national complications.
The japanese seals visit no land except Rob
ben island and certain islands Of the Kurile
ehain; the Russian seals never go TO other
ahores than those of the Commander Islands,
seals after distributing themselves over the
eastern part of the Pacific Ocean as far south
as southern California. make an annual pill
grImage TO islands In Boring Sea.
or all the fur seals the most numerous and
Important are those Of Alaska, which came to
the United States with all the other resources
OF the territory when Russia coded her juris-
diction The Alaskan fur seals have for many
years Been the subject of protracted national
and international discussion. and during the
years 1910 and 1911 came In for an unusual
amount of attention. In addition to the con-
sideration received during the diplomatic nego-
stations resulting in the treaty already men,
toned. Congress has enacted new law re
ssting to the seal islands. new dispensation
has come In the administration of the islands,
and the government as represented by the
Bureau Of Fisheries has for the first time en-
gagged In the business of taking and market
lng seal skins
The new dispensation" includes permanent
scientific observation and control of the herd
discretionary authority to suspend all killing,
and discretionary power to lease the sealing
privileges or to exploit them as a government
monopoly.
The only land to which the Alaskan fur seals
eyer resort is the group of small rocky islands
lying in Boring Sea 215 miles north of Una
1aska Island, the nearest land These bits of
bleak land have come to be popularity known
2s the Seal Islands, from their most conspic-
nous feature: but among geographers they
are called the Pribilof Islands, in honor of the
Russian navigator who In 1886, while in the
employ of Kamchatkan trading company.
followed the migrating seals and ascertained
Cor the first time where they resorted.
Al the time Of the discovery Of the Pribilots
there were no human inhabitants. As soon
A. ArIr- --fr3,~~ 3
transferred thereto from the Aleutian Islands
u number of natives to do the manual labor
and from time to time established small colo
niles at various convenient points.
The present population numbers about BOZ
ON the two islands.
When the seal islands came into our custody
ehe fur seals thereon constituted the most val
liable aquatic resource that any government
aver possessed. Owing to the immense body
Df animals present and the difficulty Of count
aag with any degree OF accuracy estimates o.
the size OF the herd at that time necessarily
dafYer widely. the extremes being two million
and seven million. 1t is safe to assume tha
aMs number was between two and half ant
fsnr million. distributed on 20 to 80 rookeries
Al the close of the season Of 1911 thu
Alaskan seal herd consists OF not more thar
100000 individuals OF all ages.
This appalling dwindling Of the herd ha
occasioned much concern and has subjected
me government to much unfavorabe criticism
Because the government has exercised full ant
continuous control during all the intervening
years ND to the present date. 1t will be seen
however, that the criticism Is not Justified, 70
the reason that the decline and defamation o
the herd came through causes operating whel
The seals were on the high seas and beyon
the protecting care OF their foster father.
It is furthermore asfact that the government
took active steps to secure adequate protectio
for the seals when away from the Pribilofs
ana that its efforts were frustrated chiefly b
the results OF an unfortunate fnternations
arbitration.
Although the seals are easily killed by tn
methods adopted by man for their destru'
hon on sea and land they are capable OF witt
standing great priyaton and of undergoin
extraordinary muscular exertion.
TO maintain themselves during winter In tn
ssnaastons north Pacific without resorting t