The Octopus and the Seal: A Local Captain’s War Against a Washington Monopoly

ELLIOTT CONTRADICTED.

That the Pribilof Myth Will Have to Meet Purpose of the Pribilof Myth.

PORT TOWNSEND, Jan. 31.—[Special.]—

In addition to the statement of Captain B. McAlmond, relative to seals having gone on kelp beds, which was published in my report in 1883, in the bulletin of the United States fish commission, as referred to in my article in the POST-INTELLIGENCER of the 29th, I find the following among my notes taken in 1883, which has not before been published.

At Alert Bay, Victoria, B. C., October 30, I met Mr. A. Wesley Huson, then residing at Alert Bay, Cormorant island, B.C. Mr. Huson had been a trader many years, and told me as follows:

"During the years 1875-80 I resided at Nuwitti, keeping a trading post at that place, or, as it is called, Hope island, on the north end of Vancouver island. In March and April of that time, on a kelp patch off the north end of [Vancouver] island, a great number of fur seals congregated. A number of the little pups got strayed out from their mothers and drifted on the ice. I caught a number of them and my wife took one home, where she cared for it, and kept quite a while, and became a pet with us. [Mr.] Huson said the seals had their nursery season on the kelp patch."

(Signed) A. W. HUSON.

And yet Mr. Elliott says the pups will sink like a stone. Mr. Huson is a man of veracity and a reliable man. I purchased from Mr. Huson at Alert bay the specimen which I sent to the Philadelphia Academy, which is now in the National Museum at Washington City. He has spent a long time among the Indians trading for sealskins and other articles of commerce, and he knows what he testifies to.

The following are of recent date.

From statement of Captain Harry Martin, of the schooner Spencer F. Baird, wrecked off Kadiak island during the summer of 1890:

Harry Martin, being first duly sworn, deposes to say: My name is Harry Martin. I was captain and owner of the American schooner Spencer F. Baird, of Port Townsend, state of Washington. During the years 1880 and 1881 I was engaged in the waters of Alaska fishing, sealing and prospecting. During that time I was interested in the study of the habits of fur seals. I have seen the pups of fur seals taken from the womb of the mother that swim as soon as placed in the water. I have seen these fur seal pups in the water swimming with the general herd of seals from July 1st, of thereabouts, till November. These pups were from the size of one thing, apparently a few days old, to more mature pups of a year's age. I have put many pups, taken from the womb of the mother, that swim as soon as placed in the water, so as not to sink like a stone is untrue.

(Signed) HARRY MARTIN.

And yet Mr. Elliott says a fur seal pup will sink like a stone.

Sworn statement of Captain Robert Lavender of stealing schooner Henry Dennis during the summer of 1890:

I was in command of the whaler Henry Dennis... One of our men shot a seal and cut the pup out of the womb and brought it aboard and put it on the deck. It began to swim about and bleat, and made so much noise that I told the men to throw it overboard, thinking it would sink like a stone, but it did not. It swam alongside and cried so to be taken on board that I ordered it shot, which was done.

(Signed) R. O. LAVENDER.

And yet Mr. Elliott says a fur seal pup will sink like a stone.

Sworn statement of Thomas Osgood, relating to fur seals:

I killed the seal mentioned and cut the pup out... It flopped with its flippers and began to cry... I thought it would sink, but swam alongside the vessel... We kept five on board the vessel for a week, feeding them on condensed milk.

(Signed) THOMAS OSGOOD.

And yet Mr. Elliott says a fur seal pup will sink like a stone.

The naval authority in Port Townsend [Admiral] says that the only animal which sea pup resembles in its sinking qualities is pumice stone. I have hundreds of similar affidavits... but I need not quote them all. Mr. Elliott does not deign to produce one single witness to his oft-repeated 20 years assertion that a seal pup will sink like a stone, but contented himself with asking if any one ever saw a seal born in the water.

He has acted for 20 years as a self-appointed dry nurse for the seal pups... and now wants to come along to act as a wet nurse for the pups of Cape Flattery. His romances are very amusing.

I have made a stand at Elliott's assertion that a seal pup will sink like a stone, and he complacently concedes that one of his witnesses can contradict this concession... He is a skilled artist... but he is not a naturalist or a scientist. True science seeks after the truth by patient research and courteous discussion. Mr. Elliott is simply a dogmatist... He had promulgated the theory that all the fur seals of the North Pacific resort to the Pribilof islands, and they must be protected, else they will be exterminated. This theory was asserted in Washington in season and out of season, and backed up with all the powerful influence of the Alaska Commercial Company, which, like a huge octopus, has spread over the city of Washington, sending its snake-like arms into every department, from the capitol to the White House.

Everything is under the baleful influence of that monopoly... It would never do to admit any other theory about seals... When in my report to Professor Baird in 1880 about Bering sea I mention the fact about the seal pups being there every season... the monopoly became alarmed. I never have succeeded in all these twenty years in having this investigation.

The fact that all these years this investigation never has been commenced shows that I am correct in all I have stated in my report, and that it is not for the interest of the seal monopoly to have this myth shown up.

What has caused the present commotion... is that two years ago... they sent for me to appear before them at Tacoma and tell what I knew about fisheries. Then I told the senators about my reports of 1880 and 1883... On their return to Washington the senators found that I was correct, and Mr. Elliott was called upon to rise and explain, and Secretary Blaine got after him also.

This is the whole animus of the case. I only have wanted to inquire into the cause of a fact regarding seals, which I have proved, but thus far I am only met with clamor. When the truth is known about fur seals... the people will pause and ask: Is this right, is this American, for our government to injure our citizens for the benefit of a monopoly?

It has been shown by Bancroft as well as by the government reports, that for more than fifty years Bering sea has been an open sea frequented by hundreds of our whale ships... I say without fear of contradiction that where our whalemen go our fishermen have a right to go and be protected.

The Russian-American Company... petitioned the emperor of Russia... to send a fleet to Bering sea and drive off American vessels. But the czar refused. The Alaska Commercial Company succeeded to the Russian-American Company and they petitioned the government of the United States to drive off American and other vessels from Bering sea, and they have succeeded in inducing the American government... to do that which the emperor of Russia has refused to do for his subjects...

Where is that fine fleet of fishing vessels which came around Cape Horn...? Of that fine fleet not one remains; all have been forced under the British flag... Surety this is a sorry sight.

This sad state of affairs, this great wrong to American fishermen has been brought about... more by the misrepresentations of Henry W. Elliott than any other man...

I feel myself highly flattered to think that I am considered of enough importance in this seal business to draw down his ire upon me, and I will assure him and all his powerful backers that I do not propose to yield one point in this controversy until I see the rights of American fishermen recognized and protected by the American government.

(Signed) JAMES G. SWAN, United States Commissioner.