Evening journal., 1913-10-21
ST. LOUIS THE
WORLD FUR CENTER
Alaska Seal Catch Disposed Of
Now in America --SCene
Shifts From London

A history-making epoch takes
place in St. Louis on December 16,
when for the first time the Alaska
Seal Catch will be disposed of
through an American house instead
OF London, England, as formerly.
Just how far-reaching the effect
will be of this important decision by
Secretaryfof Commerce Redheld. may
be gathered from the fact that for
many years Il has been as natural to
associate London with seal furs as
with royalty. Apart, too. from the
mere disposition Of the furs them
selves. is the fact that a great tam
ming and dyeing industry has been
maintained in England on the very
strength of past control of the Alaska
seal output by British houses. II is
fairly evident that this industry will
be removed from England to America
in order to further facilitate the home
production OF an article truly Ameri-
can IN its every aspect Another con-
sideration is the fact that this step
will naturally mean the elimination
OF the heavy duties which in the past
have added to the prices Of seal skin
garments in America.
On the date mentioned. December
16, buyers from the worlds leading
fur establishments will bid on the
1913 catch at the Funsten Fur EX-
change. where the sale will be con-
Quoted by Philip b. FOuke and A. M.
Ahern. of Funsten Brothers and Com
pany which house has been awarded
the Alaska catch.
This years catch consists Of the
thousands OF raw skins taken under
the present laws governing the
Alaska output Under these laws,
which favor the development of the
herds, the output will naturally
multiply within the next few years.
a fact all the more significant In the
light of this award made for the first
time in history TO an American house.
Through pelagio sealing-killing
seals in the open seattle Alaskan
herd was doomed to determination
until the passing of laws by the
United States. Russia, Japan and
Great Britain prohibiting this form
of sealing AS It is impossible
to distinguish the males and females
apart when In the water, and,
the females predominating, the great
est number killed we're females.
This I'm turn meant the death Of the
pups on shore through starvation.
Thus a serious problem presented
itself, especially in view of the fact
that since the purchase Of Alaska
from Russia for S7,000,000 the seal
skin Industry has repaid the U. S.
over s15.000.000 more than twice the
The bull seals fight for their harems.
which number from 20 to 40 COWS. and
even many more. according to the fight
ing strength of the "boss OF the herd.
Consequently large number of the
younger males are bachelors-not haV-
inc arrived nc the years of fighting
strength sufficient to win harems OF
their own. Yet they do fight. and in
/ their constant battles the female is OF.
ten injured For the good Of the hero
the number Of these blood-thirsty bach
elors should be kept down. as well a
for the sake of the skins. A torn o
scratched skin has little value. Th
present laws. however protect the bach
elors with the rest Of the herd, although
biologists ssert that only comparative
! " few males are needed TO increase th'
/ Nefu ne present tiu-t 0'hooh WI
| last for three wears longer. during whicl
time seals may be killed only by the
natives of the islands for food purposes
These are the skins which will be offer
ed for sale through the st. Louis house
of Funsten Brothers and Company on
December l6 This is indeed an event
OF vast Importance, not only in Ameri-
can commerce. but also TO those whose
quest for this truly royal fur has led
them to the doors of foreign ports
Many interesting books. free for the
asking, are published by the United
States Government on seals and sealing
but perhaps none of them outweighs in
interest the value OF this award, for the
first time in history, to an American
house and which after all, viewed from
the very nationality of the product. i'
only as it should be- II is a chapter
in the history of American commerce
which will naturally mean a change il
the school books Of the world, since il
means the removal from London Eng
land, to St. Louis q. S. A.. of an i'm
portant branch of the fur industry an,
with IL the subsidiary industries Of tan
ming and dyeing which win give new
, work to thousands