SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 103 



report that Mr. Foster, the then Secretary of the Treasury, refused to 

 have it published, and subsequently, in a letter to the State Depart- 

 ment, gave good reasons for such action. 1 



That the theory of injury of the young males to the extent of inipo- 

 tency by driving on the islands, so forcibly presented by Mr. Elliott, 

 has been denied by naturalists generally and disproved by facts 

 adduced by both the scientific and the practical world, has already 

 been amply demonstrated; that Mr. Elliott himself, in several very 

 able papers subsequently written, has adopted the views of every 

 scientist of note, from our own American, Dr. Merriam, to Prof. T. H. 

 Huxley, is satisfactory evidence, I think, that the bitter contention is 

 practically ended, and the claim of the United States, that pelagic 

 sealing is the cause of the decrease of the seal herd, is generally 

 acknowledged. 



PELAGIC SEALING AND DIPLOMACY. 



When the actual condition of the seal herd became known in 1890-91, 

 and the ravages of the pelagic sealer could no longer be hidden, it was 

 suggested that arbitration be tried for a final adjustment of all differ- 

 ences between the United States and the pelagic sealer. The seals 

 being born and reared on United States territory, and never landing 

 anywhere else, it was naturally supposed they were the property of the 

 United States, and until their skins became commercially and exceed- 

 ingly valuable no one questioned our absolute ownership of the herd. 

 So sure were we of our unquestioned title to the seals that, on taking 

 possession of our newly acquired Territory of Alaska, Congress enacted 

 laws for the protection of Alaskan interests and particularly for the 

 protection of all " fur-bearing animals." A few sections of the statute 

 law, in the light of subsequent events, are interesting: 



SKC. I960. It shall be unlawful to kill any fur seal upon the islands of St. Paul 

 and St. (ieorge, or in the waters adjacent thereto, except during the months of June, 

 July, September, and October in each year; and it shall be unlawful to kill such 

 seals at any time by the use of firearms or by other means tending to drive the seals 

 away fronrthose islands; but the natives of the islands shall have the privilege of 

 killing such young seals as may be necessary for their own food and clothing during 

 other months, ami also such old seals as may be required for their own clothing and 

 for the manufacture of boats for their own use; and the killing in such cases shall 

 be limited and controlled by such regulations as may be prescribed by the Secretary 

 of the Treasury. 



SEC. 1961. It shall be unlawful to kill any female seal, or any seal less than one 

 year old, at any season of the year, except as above provided; and it shall also be 

 unlawful to kill any seal in the waters adjacent to the islands of St. Paul and St. 

 George, or on the beaches, cliffs, 01 rocks where they haul up from the sea to remain; 

 and every person who violates the provisions of this or the preceding section shall 

 be punished for each offence by a fine of not less than two hundred dollars nor more 

 than one thousand dollars, or by imprisonment not more than six months, or by 

 both such h'ne and imprisonment; and all vessels, their tackle, apparel, and furni- 

 ture, whose crews are found engaged in the violation of either this or the preceding 

 section, shall be forfeited to the United States. 



SK< . li'62. For the period of twenty years from the first of July, eighteen hun- 

 dred and seventy, the number of fur seals which may be killed for their skins upon 

 the island of St. Paul is limited to seventy-five thousand per annum; and the num- 

 ber of fur seals which may be killed for their skins upon the island of St. George is 

 limited to twenty-five thousand per annum ; but the Secretary of the Treasury may 

 limit the right of killing if it becomes necessary for the preservation of such seals, 

 with such proportionate reduction of the rents reserved to the Government as may 

 be proper; and every person who knowingly violates either of the provisions of this 

 section shall be punished as provided in the preceding section. 



SEC. 1967. Every person who kills any fur seal on either of those islands, or in the 

 waters adjacent thereto, without authority of the lessees thereof, and every person 



1 See letter in Appendix. 



