The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-01-19
INTEREST HERE IN
SEAL CONTROVERSY
Brought Up by the Revival Of
Old Charges Against
Officials.
QUESTION NOT CHANGED
Are More Than 10 Per Cent. of
the Males Necessary for tho
Good Of the Herd2

The revival in Washington Of old
charges against Charles Nagei. who was
Secretary Of Commerce and Labor in the
Taft Administration. and against Walter
d. Lembky. a former special agent OF the
Government: George M. Bowers. a former
United States Commissioner Of Fisheries /;
David Starr Jordan, chancellor Of Leland
Stanford University. and other prominent
men Il interesting to men in this city
who are familiar with the long existing
controversy as 10 whether or not there
shall be an absolutely closed season for
the American seal herds.
The allegations made by Henry W. FL
Lott and Andrew r. Gallagher to tho
House Committee on Expenditures that
former Secretary Nagel closed his eyes TO
the slaughter OF seals. disreKarted evil
dence against the killers and permitted
the North American Commercial Company
of San Francisco to make large sums I'm
the Illegal business and that DIR. Jordan
and other scientists had knowledge Of the
unlawful taking Of seal skins. were used
four years ago by DIR. William T. Horna-
day and associates as the basis for an at
tack on Nagel and other Government Off
cialA
Are There Too Many Male sealsS
Dr.. Hornaday was suffering from a
severe cold yesterday and was unable to
talk. but inquirers were referred to let
tero written by him In 1910 when the
Camp Fire Club accused Secretary Nagel
OK permitting wanton slaughter. The
whole question really came down to the
point as TO whether O certain proportion OF
the male seals should be killed annually
for the good Of the herd, or whether the
herd would best renew itself. II protected
absolutely. Secretary Nagel took the ad-
Wa OF naturalists that n certain amount
OF killing was essential for the preserya-
tion Of the herds. DIR. Hornaday secuted
the idea and laughed at the notion that
man had to assist nature,
Secretary Nagel and his friends have
on several occasions described the accuse
tons now revived as extravagant or base.
Ices. Mr.. Nagel said to the House COM
mittee: We are persuaded that II is
perfectly safe to kill certain large
proportion of the male seals in other
words that the preservation OF 10 per
cent. or something in that neishborhood.
OF the male seals Is sufficient to guarantee
tho natural Increase of the herd" DR..
Jordan said: THE killing Off OF the
superf1uOus males In no way Injuries the
herd." That was the opinion OF DIR.
Frederic a. Lucas and OF DR.. Townsend
81 the Aquarium.
Reply Of Seal Protectors.
Or. Hornaday. supported by the Camp
Fire Club and many lovers Of animals
retorted sharply to these views.
"Why has Secretary Nagel tried
to hoodwink President Taft and Congress
In order TO turn the bureau Of fisheries
into a slaughter house for seals?' he
said 1T Is a crime to slaughter seals
on the Prlbilof Islands. The order to Kill
seals Is in defiance of All agreement with
Congress that there shall he a closed
trade only" As to the statement that 1,
was necessary TO kill a large proportion
OF male seals Dr. Hornaday said soorn.
fully. "As II "a wild species does not know
how to multiply itself successfully without
the help OF man."
DIR. Hornaday and his associates charged
also that the amount paid to the Nortl
Ame rican Company for It's posts-SI0O. 90,
was excessive because the property wa.
not worth more than $4,000.
The charges now repeated came 4
nothing four years ago. Dr. Hornada!
did not press for an investigation o
Nagers action because, II was general,
understood. the New York Geological
Society did NOT favor such a course. par
ticuiarly when such well known officials
Of the society as DR.. Townsend and other:
we're in opposition to DR.. Hornaday.