The Alaska daily empire., 1923-05-28
Seals to Pay Tribute.
Seattle Times.

Announcement that the Department of Commerce, which exercises jurdsction the fisheries of Alaska has authorized the killing of 25s00 fur seals on the Pribilof Islands and the marketing of their skins this year. calls attention to industry santly increasing in wealth. without counterpart in the world and conducted by United govern ment the profit itself Great Britain and Japan
 Since the treaty fin 1911 by the United States Great Britain, Japan and Russia forbdding peagic sealing, the fur seal industry has been under the management of the United States. The taking of belts by Federal agents began in 1911. but the yields were intermittent until 1917. when 54O0 skins sent to market. In subsequent years the output has been regular. In seasons the number has averaged more than twenty-five thousand annually . The price from the sale of the skins since the Government assumed control of the business have ranged from sS1 a pelt in some years to $160 in others with aggregate returns for entire period Of $4,OOO,OoO. The net proceeds under the terms or the peagic treaty distributed 70 per cent to the United States and 15 per cent each to Great Britain and Japan the British Government giving allotment Canada
 The fur seal played prominent part in the transfer of Alaska from Russia ito the United States in 1867 The presence of the treasure was known to California fishing intreests when the Ter ritory was owned by the Muscowvies and these fishing interests induced California delegation in Congress to urge strongly the purchase the North and
 In 1870, the Alaska Commercial Company whose head offices were in San Francisco obtained from the American Government exclusive sealing lease Tor twenty years in Boring waters. The company during the life of its lease reported the taking of belts worth $27,253,314, in which the Government shared according to its royalty, to the extent of s5s94,23o and expended for patrol and supervision S67O,0O0.
 In 1890, the North American Commercial Com pany also with headquarters in San Francisco ob- tained another exclusive lease for twenty years It reported that during the life of lease it took belts worth only s8,4S5,764 of which the Government optalned about $35O0000 and expended s5, 900 900 In patrol and supervision. experiencing net loss of about $1 500, ,00O
 The seal herd when the Government assumed oharge In 1910 had been depleted to 9OOOO It's census last year showed 604,902. The number will increase despite the larger take of skins because of the conservation methods in conducting the industry
 UT the Priblof group of islands only two are of any consequence. St. George and St. Paul with a otai or ISo square miles, On the former there are zl2 natives and on the latter 125. On beth islands there are twenty white who are peranan ent resldents-Goyernment employees. teachrs and mis- slonaiues In the summer when the seaskns arc taken' the white population is augmented by SCOT, Of workers from the States
 oh the Prrbilofs are the largest rookeries of fur seas Tn the world. The islands are freouented bv the seals in summer, and the pelts are taken from late Tn June until late In August The hides are brought to Seattle in uncmed state Until 1918 they were sent to London, but since then they have been shipped to St. Lous where they are tanned and dressed and sold at auction
 me winter is spent by the seals in subtropca waters Ihey are on the way north now to nav to .nree world powers seasons tribute of more than S1,0OO,000 for protection