ALASKA'S SEAL FISHERIES.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 11500, 5 February 1903, Page 5

ALASKA'S SEAL FISHERIES.

BILL PASSED BY UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT. United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright* (Received February 4th, 9.5 a.m.) WASHINGTON, February 3. The House of Representatives has paseed a Bill authorising the resumption of negotiations with Britain for the preservation of the Alaskan coast for seals, and giving authority, if the modus vivendi is not concluded prior to the opening of pelagic sealing, to exterminate the seal herd on the Pribyioif Islands, excepting ten thousand femalee and a thousand males. The Pribyloff Islands are a group of volcanio islands belonging to Alaska, 250 miles north-west of Unal&ska. They are sometimes called the Seal Islands, on account of their being breeding places of the fur seals. The islands are a Government reserve, and are leased to companies for terms of twenty years by the United States Treasury Department. The number of β-jais killed on the Pribyloff Islands is limited to 100,000 annually, and with the precautions taken they increase as fast as if left to themselves. The action of the United States Government in conditionally giving authority for the part extermination of the eeal herd is probably owing to the fact that when the number of ma lee is in excels, the continual fighting on the rookeries destroys many of both femalee and young, whkh get trampled to death. The sea lion of the Pribyloff Wands and other parte of Alaska has very little commercial value, but by the natives along the Behriag Sea coast of Alaska and Kamechatka it is highly prized. l*rom the hide they make coverings for their boats; the intestinee are made into garments; tne stomach pouchee are used an pouches for oil; the flesh is dried and eaten; and the ■whiskers are sold to the (Jnjiiese, who use them m pickers to their opium pipes, and in several ceremonies in their joes-houses.