CHAPTER XIV. 



EFFECTS OF PELAGIC SEALING ON THE SEAL-SKIN INDUSTRY. 



Thus far we have considered solely the effect of pelagic sealing ou the fur-seal 

 herd. It is worth while, however, to look at the effect also on the general seal-skin 

 industry. In former days the supply of seal skins came in part from the southern 

 hemisphere; but these herds are practically extinct, except for a few thousand skins 

 taken at certain protected points. The fur seal skin industry is therefore practically 

 dependent for its existence on the preservation of the seal herds of the North Pacific. 



INTERNATIONAL INTEREST IN THE FUR-SEAL HERDS. 



The United States and Russia ou the one hand, and Great Britain on the other, are 

 vitally interested in this industry, the former nations because of their property rights 

 in the seals and the revenue they should derive from the safe and legitimate killing 

 of males on land; the latter nation through the interest of her citizens in the city of 

 London engaged in the dressing and dyeing of seal skins. Practically all the seal 

 skins of the world are prepared in London. Practically all the seal skins of the 

 world are supplied by the herds frequenting the Pribilof Islands and Commander 

 Islands and belonging to the United States and Russia. 



UNITED STATES INTERESTS. 



Speaking more directly for the interests of the United States, it may be said that 

 during the first twenty years of its possession of the islands our Government derived 

 an annual revenue of $317,500 in tax paid by the lessees of the rookeries. During 

 this period the annual quota averaged 100,000. With a like quota and the more 

 advantageous terms of the present lease with the new company, the United States 

 ought now to be receiving a revenue of $1,000.000 annually from its fur-seal herd; 

 but instead it receives an income scarcely sufficient to meet the cost of patrol in the 

 enforcement of the regulations for the protection of the herd. 



The United States has also other interests than its revenue under the lease. For 

 example, it derives a revenue from the importation of prepared skins brought from 

 London to the American market. Seventy-five per cent of the dressed seal skins find 

 their ultimate market in the United States. On the 75,000 skins which American 

 dealers should now be importing were conditions normal, the United States should be 

 deriving an annual income of $375,000. In the manufacture and sale of seal-skin 

 garments American citizens have an important interest. 



Putting these various elements together, it will be seen that under normal con- 

 ditions the United States should be enjoying to-day an income of about $1,375,000' 

 from its fur-seal herd, whereas it receives less than one-fifth this amount. 



1 Case of United States Fur Seal Arb., Vol. I, p. 272. 



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