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SE

SEAL AND SALMON FISHERIES

AM)

GENERAL riESOURCES

07

ALASKA.

IN FOX H VOLITMKS.
VOLU.MK 11.

WASHINGTON:

GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE.
189 8.

)U.6

REriHlTl

IIEI'OHTS ON SEAL AND SALMON FISHERIES lU' OFFICERS OF THE TREASURY

1)EI'ART)IENT, AND rORRESl'ONDENri'. I'.ETWEEN Till' STATE AND

TREASURY DErAHTMENTS ON THE I'-ERING SEA UUESTION

FROM JANUARY 1. IMO, TO JUNE :?o, \s%,

COMMENTS ON THAT I'OKl'IOX TllKUl.OF WHICH RELATES
TO PKLAGIO SKALlXtjl

IIY

DAVID STARR JORDAN.

Ill

TABT.E OF CONTENTS.

Report or Joseph MTirray, sp...!.! a.-i.t. "IVaBinT ner;";tmont, i^n- tin, yeur
Dt-partuients upon the subject

Page.

3

-'76

:U5

SALMON FISUKKIES OF ALASKA.

;w5

;!!t7
101
KJli

AppciMlix, Iv Davi.l .Stuir .Ionian ami (ieorgc Ardul.al.l flarU

461

T

T

[Continuation ok Sknatk Documbnt

No. l;t7 J'AKl- I, MTH (.'ONdHEHB, IhT SliBBlON.]

> rp

REPOKT

OK

THE SEAL ISLANDS OF ALASKA,

BY

Special Treasiirii Aiiait,
VOR

T II 3i^ Y E ^ U 18 0 4.

H. Doc. 92, pt. 2 1

REPORT OF JOSRPIf MrRRAY, SPI-TIAl TREASURY ACENT,

FOR THE YEAR m\.

Ol'FIOB OF Hi'ECIAI. AORNT,

Tkkasuuy Dkpaktmknt,
WoHlii Ill/ton, I), 0., Decrmher ;iO, 1H94.

Sir: \ Iiave the honor to rciioit tliat, iu coiuitliaiico witli Depailtnent
iiistnictioiiH (lilted June IJ, 1H!)4, 1 went to the Heal JHlandH of Alaska
and inspected the rnr-seal rookeries, noting particularly the nunilMMS
and present eondition of the seals iu conijtarison with what Miey were
every year since 1 llrst saw them iu 188!).

I afterwards sailed alon^; the American coast from UnalaHka to San
Francisco, calling at every important settlement on the way ; inspeetin./
every salnutu stream and cannery on the route; nuikingdili|;entiiiqu<iy
uito the condition of the i'^it<\r, inhabitants of Ala.<ka; the wants and
desires of the white settleis who are busy developiufr the natural re-
sources of the Ter'=^ory, and notiiip the views of the pe()i)le f^cnorally
on all that api>ertains to the present and future prosperity of the new
country.

t)n .Inly 10, 1 left San Francisco on board the U. S. revenue cutter
Rmh^ Ca]>t. C L. Hooper commanding, and arrived on the 15tli iit I'ort
Townsend, where we were afterwards joined by lion. C. S. Ilamlin,
Assistant Secretary of the Treasury, wlio ac(!ompanied us to the seal
islands and back us far as Vancouver tlity, iJritish Columbia.

We siiiled on board the RiihIi from I'ort Townsend July 23 and
arrived at the seal islands Aufjust 3, llrst touching at St. (leorgo and
Hailing nlong the coast, inspecting all the rookeries on that island
excei)t Zapadnie, and then sailed over to St. Paul Island, where we
landed in a dense fog at 6 o'clock p. m.

The seal islands, commonly called the Pribilof group, consist of four
distinct islands in Bering Sea, situated between 550 {^mi 570 north
latitude, and about 170° west h)ngitude from Greenwich. They are
about liOU miles west from the nearest point on the mainland of Alaska,
20(1 miles north of the Aleutian chain, and 200 miles south of St. Mat-
thews Island, or, in other words, they are about 200 miles away from
any other land.

The seal islands are nearly 2,300 miles from San Francisco, and about
1,000 miles, as the ship sails, directly west from Sitka.

They are known, respectively, as St. Paul, St. George, Otter, and
Walrus islands.

Otter and Walrus are su' ill and of uo importance, and as the seals
do not haul out at present on either of them regularly, and as they are
not included in the lease, it will not be necessary to refer to them again.'

St. Paul, the larger of the two princi])al islands, is long, low, and
narrow, its extreme length and breadth being 12 and 6 miles, resnec-
tively, and its total area being about 30 square miles. Around the
greater part of the island runs a long, low, sandy beach, easy of acce«s,
where the seals haul out without dilliculty, and where they were to be

■ In 1894 about 1,000 seals haulod out on Otter Island.

4 ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

found for a century in greater numbers than on any other spot on tlie
earth.

St. George island has an area of about 27 square miles, and its sides
rise out of the water so abruptly and so steep tliat tliere are only a few
places around tlie whole coast upon which anything coming out of the
sea can ttnd a footing, and conse(iueutly the number of seals landing
must of necessity be limited, which accounts, I think, for the great dif-
ference in the numbers to be found on the two islands.

CLIMATE.

The islands are situated in the path of the Japan current, which, on
meeting the icy waters of the north at this point, brings fortli the dense
summer fogs for which Bering Sea is so justly famous, and in which the
islands are enveloped from May to September. Owing to difference of
altitude, St. Ueorge Island being much higher than St. Paul, there is a
very marked ditference in the amount of rainfall on each — fully live
times the volume falling on St. George, although the islands are only
40 miles apart.

The average temperature for the year is about 80°, ranging from 35°
to (iOo in the summer, and from zero to l^o below in winder.

Both of the islands are of volcanic ojigiu, and there is not a sign of
tree, shrub, or vine on cither of them. They are covered in season with
uioss, grass, and wild flowers, but it is impossible to raise anything by
cultivation, for, no matter how rich the soil may be, there is not enough
sunshine to ripen the crop. Thick fog, leaden sky, drizzly rain, mist,
and moisture are the general conditions ruling there, and during a con-
tinuous residence of thirty months — fifteen on each island — 1 saw only
six wholly clear, sunshiny days.

The surface of the highlands on St. George is covered with loose and
broken rock — rock broken into all shapes and sizes, from that of a pebble
to boulders weighing many tons, and thrown together into every imag-
inable position except a level one.

On St. Paul the winds of centuries have lieaped the sands of the sea-
shore into dunes of considerable height and magnitude, and filled up
many cavities and rough spots, but, excepting a slight covering of most
nutritious reindeer moss, the greater part of the surface of St. George
remains to-day as it came from the hands of the Creatcn*.

And yet nature finds a use for those rugged and unshai)ely rocks, for
under and between them, where the prowling, crafty fox can not pene-
trate, millions of sea birds build their nests, and lay their eggs, and
rear their young. I use the word millions advisedly, and I believe I
niiglit say billions, and yet be within the bounds of truth.

One of the most beautiful sights to be seen in this otherwise desolate
region is the return of the birds from tlie sea to their nests during (he
hatching season, when toward evening tliey till the air and darken tiie
sun for liours in their flight with thejr countless numbers.

Here, too, on St. George Island the famous blue fox ttnds a perma-
nent home, and grows to perfection, for here he has abundance of
choice and dainty food, and no one to nmlest him out of season.

SEALS.

To these islands, notwithstanding their cheerless aspect, their dreary
barren shores, their damp and foggy climate, come t e fur seals every
year with the unerring legularity of the seasons; her? they haul out of
the water and make their home on laud for six mouths ut least, during

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

wliicli time they bring forth iind roar thcii' young, sifter whicli they
return to the sea, and disappear in the depths of the great ocean until
the days lengtlien out again and nature tells them to return.

Given a few warm, sunny days any time about April 20, and the
"first bull" may be seen carefully reconnoitering a rookery and event-
ually hauling out and taking possession of the identical rock or si)ot
of earth upon which he dwelt with his family last year, and iii)on which
he himself, in all probability, was born.

Early in May tlie breeding males or bulls begin to arrive in large
numbers and select their stations, ui)on which they lie down and sleep
for several weeks, or until about the time the breeding females or cows
are expected, when they assume an upright sitting })ostnre and send
forth at :nter\'als a cry peculiar to the fur seal, "which is sui)posed to
be an invitation or signal to the approaching cows.

About the middle of May, and long before the arrival of the cows,
the large young males, or bachelors, begin to arrive at the islands;
and they, too, would haul out upon the breeding grounds were it not
that the bulls are thera to prevent it by driving them oft". No male
seal can stay on the breeding grounds that is not old enough and strong
enough to maintain iiis position against all comers. The young males
are thus naturally forced t(» herd by themselves at a safe distance from
the breeding grounds during the breedivig season, and this regulation
in turn serves a very good purpose, for, as the breeding and killing
seasons run together through the mouths of June and July, the young
males can be easily surrounded and driven to the killing grounds with-
out having to disturb the breeding seals.

None but young male seals are ever killed for food or for skins or tor
any other purjwse on the islands.

About June 10 the cows begin to arrive and haul out and select their
stations for the season.

It has been claimed that the bulls meet the cows at the water's edge
and light bloody battles for them, but my observation has convinced me
that tlie cow herself selects her station, and having once made a choice
she is certainly compelled to remain there.

Shortly after the arrival of the cows the young seals or pups are to
be seen upon the rookeries; and it is safe to say that, with few excep-
tions, they ai'e all bnmght forth by July 25.

1 have for six years paid particular attention to the formation of the
harems or families, and I Iind that from July 10 to 20 the rookeries are
fullest and at their best, and I have counted from 1 to 72 cows in one
harem.

After bringing forth their young the cows go into the sea to feed,
rcturniiifi to and nursing tl. ir ott'spring every few hours at first, but
gradually lengthening their stay into days and weeks before they
return.

AVIk'm about four or five woeks-old the ])up8 begin to stir around aud
get acquainted with one another, forming pods or crowds, and running
in company, at first inclining toward the interior of the rookery, and
alterwards, as they advance in age and strength, they direct their steps
toward the beach, here they i)addle around in the shallows until, step
by step, they learn to swim.

About the beginning of August the harems are broken up, the com-
pact formation of the herd is dissolved, and the different sexes mix and
mingle together indiscriminately all over the rookeries and hauling
grounds.

When the bull hauls out in May be is as "round as a barrel" aud as

6 ALASKA TNDTJSTRTES.

fat and sloek and glossy as possible; but after a four months' residence
on land, where be never tastes food or drink, lie becomes so poor iind
gaunt and weak tliat it is with the utmost ditiieulty he crawls olf into
the sea when he leaves, late in August or early in September, to take
his annual journey through Bering Sea and the Nortli Pacific Ocean.
By September 15 the bulls have disappeared, and by the middle of
October tiie largest of the young males have followed them.

Early in November the cows begin to leave, and if the weather turns
unusually cold or rough they do not delay their departure.

The pups leave about the middle of November, and the yearlings,
male and female, leave early in December.

In exceptionally fine weather it is common to see a few seals in the
waters around the islands all winter, and in rare instances they have
been taken on shore as late as January; but the great lierd follows a
well-defined and (at present) well known path through the Bering Sea
and the North Pacific Ocean south and east from tiie seal ishiiids to
the coast of California, nearly opposite Ca])e St. Lucas, an( return
along the American coast and the Aleutian Islands to Bering Sea.

The following very accurate description of the fur seal and its pecul-
iarities is taken from the report of the United States Bering Sea
Commissioners :

1. The northern fur seal (Callorhinus tirainns) is an inlinbitant of Bering Soa and the
Sea of Okliofsk, where it breeds on rocky islands. Only four breeding cohniics are
known, niiniely, (1) on the Priliilof Islands, belonging to the United Slates; ('J) on
the Conmiander Islands, belonging to Russia; (3) ou Kol>l)i'n Reef belonging to lins-
sia; and (1) on the Kurile Islan<ls, belonging to Japan. Tiie I'ribilof and Conunander
Islands are in Bering Sea; Robbun Reef is in the Sea of Okhotsk, near the island of
Saghalien, and the Knrilc Islands are between Yezo and Kamchatka. The species is
not known to breed in any otlier part of tiie world. The fur seals of Lobos Island
and the south seas, and al.so those of the Galapagos Islands and the islands oil' Lower
California, belong to widely different species, and are placed in ditl'erent genera from
the northern fur seal.

2. In winter tlie fur seals migrate into the North Pacific Ocean. Tiie herds from
the Comiuander Islands, Robben Reef, and the Kurilo Islands move south along the
Japan coast, while the lierd belonging to the Pribilof Islands leaves Bering Sea by
the eastern passes of the Aleutian chain.

3. The fur seals of the I'ribilof Islands do not mix with those of the Commander
and Kurile islands at any time of tlie year. In suiniiier the two herds remain
entirely distinct, separated by a water interval of soveial hundred miles; and in
their winter migrations those from the Pribilof Islands follow tlie American coast
in a sontheaslerly direction, while those from the Coniinaridor and Kurile islands fol-
low the Siberian and Japan coasts in a Bonth westerly direction, tlie two herds being
separated in winte" hy a water interval of several thousand miles.

This regularity in the inovemonts of the ditlerent herds is in obedience to the well-
known law tliat migratory animals follow detinite routes in migration, and return
year after year to the same places to breed. Were it not for this law there would
be no such thing as stability of species, for interbrec<ling and existence under diverse
physiographic conditions would destroy all specific (iliaracters. '

The jiflage of the Pribilof fill seals differs so markedly from that of the Commander
Islands fur seals that the two are readily distinguished by exjierts, and have very
different values, the former ci • imauding much higher prices than the latter at the
regular London sales.

4. The old breeding males of the Pribilof herd are not known to range much south
of the Aleutian Islands, but the females and young ajipear along the American coast
as far south as northern California. Returning, the herds of females move north-

'The home of a species is the area over which it breeds. It is well known to nat-
nrallsts that migratory animals, whether mammals, birds, li.shcs, < r members of
other groups, leave their homes for a part of the year because the climatic conditions
or the food siijiply become iiusitited to their neeils; and that wherever the home of a
species is so situated as to provide a suitable climate and food supply throiigliout the
year bu< h sjiecics do not migrate. This is the explanation of the fact that the north-
ern fur seals are migrantH, while the fur seals oi tropical and warm temperate lati-
tudes do not migrate.

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

' turns

ward along the coasts ol' Oregon, Wiisbiugton, and British Columbia in January,
February, and Miin-li, ocourinjj at varyint; distances from sliorc Following tlio
Aliuikan coast northward and westward, they leave the North I'acil'io Ocean in .fniic,
traverse the eastern passes in the Aleutian chain, and proceed at once to the Pril)ili)f
Islands.

5. The old (breeding) males reach the islands much earlier, the first coming the
last week in April or early in May. They at once land ami take stands on the rook-
erics, where they await the arrival of the females. Each male (called a bull) selects
a large rock, on or near which he remainr until August, unless dris-en off by stronger
bulls, never leaving for a single instant, night or day, and taking neither foc.d nor
wat<*r. Both bef(irp and for some time after the arrival of the females (called cows)
the bulls fight savagely among themselves for positions on the rookeries and for pos-
st'.ision of the cows, and many are severely wounded. All the bnllj are located by
June 20.

<!. The bachelor seals (holluschickie) begin to arrive early in May, and large num-
bers are on the hauling grounds by the end of May or first week of June. They begin
to leave the islands in November, but many remain into December or January, and
sometimes into February.

7. The cows begin arrivinjj early in June, and soon appear in large schools or
droves, immense numbers taking their places on the rookeri(!s each day between the
middle and the end of the month, the precise dates varying with the weather. They
assemble about the old bulls in compact groups, called harems. The harems are
complete early in July, at which time the breeding rookeries attain their maximum
size and compactness.

8. The cows give birth to their young soon after taking their places on the 1. rems,
in the latter part of .lunn and in July, but a few are delayed until August. The
period of gestation is between eleven and twelve months.

9. A single young is born in each instance. The young at birth are about equally
divided as to sex.

10. The act of nursing is performed on land, never in the water. It is necessary,
therefore, for the cows to rouiain at the islands until the young are weaned, which
is not until they are four or live mouths old. Each mother knows her own pup, and
will not permit any other to nurse. This is the reason so many thousiind pups stiirve
to death on the rookeries when their mothers are killed at sea. We have repeatedly
seen nursing cows come out of the water and search for their young, often traveling
considerable distances and visiting group after group of pups before linding their
own. On reaching an asseinl'liigo of pups, some of which are awake and others
asleep, she rajjidly moves about Miiiong them, sniffing at each, and then gallo))!) off to
the next. Those that are awake advance toward her, with the evident (uirpose of
nursing, but she repels them with a snarl and passes on. When she finds her own
she fiiiulles it a moment, turns partly over on her side so as to present hei- nipples,
and it pronii)tly begins to suck. In one instance we saw a mother carry her pup
back a distance of 15 meters (.50 feet) before allowing it to nurse. It is said that the
cows sometimes recognize their young by their cry, a sort of bleat.

11. Soon after birth the pujjs move away from the harems aud huddle together in
small groups, called " pods," along the borders of the breeding rookeries and ,it some
distance from the water. The small groups gradually unite to form larger groui)s,
which move slowly down to the water's edge. When six or eight weeks old the
pups begin to learn to swim. Not only are tlie young not born at sea, but if soon
after birth they are washed into the sea they are drowned.

12. The fur seal is polygamous, and the male is at least five times as large as the
female. As a rule each male serves about fifteen or twenty females, but in some
cases as many as fifty or more.

13. The act of copulation takes place on land, and lasts from five to ten minutes.
Most of the cows are served by the middle of July, or soon after the birth of their pups.
They then take to the water, and come and go for food while nursing.

14. Many young bulls succeed in securing a few cows behind or away from the
breeding harems, particularly late in the season (after the middle of July, at which
time the regular harems begin to break up). It is almost certain that many, if not
most, of the cows are served for the first time by these young bulls, either on the
hauling grounds or along the water front,

These young bulls may bedistinguislied at a glance from those on the regular harems
by the circumstance that they are fat and iu excellent condition, while those that have
fasted for three months on the breeding rookeries are much emaciiitod aud e.vhaiistod.
The young bulls, even when tlioy have succeeded in capturing a number of cows,
can he driven from their stands with little dilliciilty, while (as is well known) the
old bulls on the harems will die in their tracks rather than leave.

15. The cows are believed to take the bull first when 2 years old, and deliver their
first pnj» when H years old.

10. Balls (irst take stands or e breeding rookeries when 6 or 7 years oUl. Before
this they are not powerful enoi>^ . to light the ulde' bulls for positions on the harems.

8

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

17. Cows, when nursing, regularly travel long diHtanren to feed. Tlioy are fre-
quently i'uiind 100 or 1.50 miles from the islands, and sometiiiies at (rrnater (liatanceH

18. Tlie foixl of the fur Heal consists of llsh, S(iuids, crustaceans, and probably other
forms of marine life.

19. The ^reat majority of cows, pups, and such of the breeding bulls aa have not
already gone, leave the islands about the middle of November, the date varying con-
siderably with the season.

20. Part of the nonbiending male seals (holluschickie), together with a few old
bulls, remain until January, and in r.ire instances until February, or even later.

21. The fur seal as a spcrics is present at the Pribilof Islands eight or nine months
of the year, or from two-thirds to three-fourths of the time, and in mild winters
sometimes during the entire year. The breeding bulls arrive earliest and reiuain
continuously on the islands about four months. The breeding cows remain about
six months, and part of the nonbroediiigmalo seals about eight or niue months, and
sometimes throughout the entire year.

22. During the northward migration, as has been stated, the last of the body or
herd of fur seals leave the North Pacific and enter Bering Sea in the latter part of
June. A few scattered individuals, however, are seen during the summer at various
points along the northwest coast. These are probably seals that were so liadly
wounded by pelagic scalers that they could not travel with the rest of the herd to
the Pribilof Islands. It has been alleged that young fur seals have been found in
early summer on several occasions along the coast of British Columbia and south-
eastern Alasku. While no authentic case of the kind has come to our notice, it would
bo expected from the large number of cows that are wounded each winter and spring
along these coasts and are thereby rendered unable to reach the breeding rookeries,
and must perforce give birth to their young (perhaps prematurely) wherever tliey
may be at t'.e time.

23. The 'eason the northern fur seal inhabits the . libilof Islands to the exclusion
of all otiier islands and coasts ):- that it here finds ilie climatic and physical condi-
tions necessary to its life wants. This species requires a uniformly low temjicrature
and overcast sky and a foggy atmosphere to prevent the sun's rays from iojurlug it
during the long summer season when it remains upon the rookeries. It rerjuires
also rocky beaches on which to bring forth its young. No islands to the northward
or southward of tlie Pribilof Islands, with the possible exception of limited areas
on the Aleutian chain, are known to possess the requisite combination of climate
and physical conditions.

All statements to the effect tha'; fur seals of this species formerly bred on the
coasts and islands of California and Mexico are erroneous, the seals remaining there
belonging to widely different species.

DRIVING AND KILLING.

When the first young males, or baclielors, arrive at the islands in
May, a drive is made for food for the natives, who are hungry for fresh
meat, not having tasted any since the preceding November.

All of the driving is done under the immediate and exclusive direc-
tions of the native chief, who is the most experienced and most trust-
worthy man on the island.

Should the seals happen to lie near the water, it will be necessary to
wait till the tide runs out before disturbing them. At the proper time
a dozen men are on the ground, and silently and swiftly running in
single file along the beach they form a line between the seals and the
sea; and then the startled animals will immediately start inlai , where
they are slowly followed by the men, until they are too far from the beach
to escape to tlie water, when they are put in charge of three or four of the
men, wlio bring them along slowly to the killing grounds, which is never
less than lialf a mile away from the nearest breeding .seals. No other
part of the work done in taking seal skins is more carefully performed
than the driving of seals; they are never driven at a pace greater than
about one mile in three hours, and most of the driving is done during
the niglit, so as to take advantage of the dew and moisture, and to avoid
the sudden ai)pearance of the sun, which is always more or less injuri-
ous to seal life on a drive. The stories told by interested men about
careless and reckless driving are not true, and, for obvious reasons,

ALASKA INDriSTRTRS.

re fre-

liinceH
1 other

ve not
l^con-

Jw old

ler.

Iioiiths

[inters

lalioiit
pH, and

can not be tnie, because overdriving means overheating, a^d an over"
hen ted fur seal is one from which tlie fur l)a8 falleji and left the skin
valueless, and that means a, loss to natives, lessees, and Government
alike. As there is no one to benefit by overdriving, it is never indulged
in; and during an experience of six years on the islands I never saw a
skin injured by overheating or overdriving.

As most of the drives are made in the night, the seals are allowed to
lie in the damp grass around the killing grounds for several hours before
killing takes place; and it is customary to allow them to rest for a few
hours, no matter when they are driven, because it is best for the skin
and for the flesh that the animal be killed while it is cool and quiet
rather than while it may be warm and excited.

There are four different and well-defined killing grounds on St. Paul
Island, from some one of whicli the most distant hauling ground or
rookery is not to exceed 2 J miles.

On St. George there are two killing grounds, from some one of which
the most distant rookery or hauling ground is not to exceed 3 uiiles,
and during the past fifteen years theie has not been a longer drive matle
on either island than 3 miles, interested parties to the contrary not-
witlistanding.

Generally the killing is done just after breakfast, and the whole pop-
ulation turns out and takes part in the work.

The men and boys are divided into grades or classes : Clubbers, stick-
ers, flipperers, and skiimers; the women and girls following th^ skinners
and taking care of the blubber and meat.

Two men at opposite sides of the herd will, by advancing till they
meet, cut out twenty or thirty seals from the main body and drive them
up to the killing ground, where six experienced men stand armed with
clubs of ash or hi(;kory about 5J feet long and about 3 inches thick at
the heavier end, which end is generally bound in sheet iron to prevent
its destru(!tion by the continuous biting of the seals.

The clubbers are under the immediate orders of the lessee's local
agent who is a man of large experience in seal work, one who can tell
at a glance how much the skin of any particular seal will weigh, and
he points out the seals to be clubbed.

A smart biow on the head knocks the seal down and stuns him, and
if the blow has been properly dealt he never recovers; but ([uite often
it requires two to three blows from a bungler to finish him. The
clubbed seals dragged into line and counted, and then "stuck"
and "flippered," or, in other words, they are stabbed to the heart and
allowed to bleed freely; and then a knife is drawn around the head
and flippers^ severing the skin and leaving it ready for the skinner,
who strips it off in short order and spreads it evenly on the damp
grass, flesh side down, to cool.

These several operations are repeated till the desired number are
killed, when the remaining seals are allowed to go into the wat«r and
return to the hauling grounds.

After the skin has been removed, the women take the carcass and,
after stripping off the blubber or fat, oUt oft" the choice meat in strips
to dry; and, when dried, they pack it into the dried 8toma<li of the sea
lion, where it is kept air tight and preserved for an indefinite period.

The remainder of the seal is boiled and eaten as wanted.

When all the seals killed are skinned, the skins are taken by wagon
to the salt house, where they are assorted and carefully inspected by the
lessee's agent^ who throws out as rejected all skins that do not come
up to a certain standard. There are thre(

up

namely: cat, small, and stagy.

three classes of rejected skins,

10

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

A cut skill is one that lias beon bitten through by one peal l)iting
another during one of their many batth's, or it may liave btcn a»!(;i-
(lentally cut (luring the operation of skinning; a small skin is one that
weiglis a little less than tiie minimum standard set up by the lessee's
agent, generally less than (i imunds. After .Inly the fur seal sheds his
hair, and it is during the shedding season, when the old hair is falling
out and before the new hair has attained its full growth, that the skin
is said to be stagy.

The fur of a stagy skin is juHt as good as any other; but the half-
grown new hair, being shorter than the fur, can not be plucked out by
hand or by machinery, and is therefore considered a blemish on the
skin, in consequence of which its price and value are miturally lowered
in the market.

Heretofore, and until the adoption of the modus vivendi in 1801, it
was customary to allow the natives U> kill seals for food at any and all
times when they were to be found on the islands. And it was in this
way, and in this way only, that stagy skins were ever taken and wast<'d,
because all skins that are rejected by the lessee's agent ar<! wasted so
far as Government interests and revenue are concerned.

No killing should be permitted for any purpose whatsoever during
the stagy season, say from July IM to November 15.

After a thorough inspection, the skins are counted one by one in
presence of the Treasury agent, who makes a record of the same in a
book kept for that ]mrpose, and in which he also enters the date of the
drive, the rookery driven from, the hour of driving, the state of the
weather, the number of seals killed, the number of skins accepted,
the number rejected, and the cause of such rejection.

The accepted skins are then salted by the natives in presence and
under the direction of the native chief and the lessee's agent. The
skins are spread on the floor, hair side down, and covered with a layer
of coarse salt: again a layer of skins is laid on and covered with salt
as before, and the operation is repeated until all are salted.

After lying for at least five days in the first salt they are shaken out
and examined, and resalted as before, exce])ting that the top layer is
now put down first and the original position of all layers reversed.

When sufficiently cured they are bundled by the natives, who, spread-
ing a thin layer of salt between two skins, lay them flesh side to flesh
side, and fold the two into a neat, compact bundle, which they tie
securely with strong twine, and throw into the pile for shipping. From
the shipping pile they are again counted out, bundle by bundle, by the
Treasury agent, in whose in-esence they jire always taken from the salt
house to the boat, from which they are again counted by the mate into
the steamer that takes them to San Francisco, where they arc counted
once more by the customs officers, and finally ])acked into barrels by
tlie lessees and shii)ped directt to London via New York.

Early in the morning of August 4, 1894, a drive was made from the
Reef rookery in presence of Mr. Hamlin, who accom))anied the nalive
men who did the work, and who was present throughout the whole ojier-
ation of driving, killing, and skinning the seals, inspecting, assorting,
counting, and salting the skins, just as the same operations have been
performed every killing season for the past quarter of a century.'

' The only exception to this is in the method of killinir. The olden rule waH to
allow eaeh man to first knock down his Hhare and tlieii turn in and skin them, but
experience taught ns that this was bad policy, for the carcasses that were allowed to
cool and stitl'en before skinning were very apt to have their skins injured in the
operation, hence the adoption of the present improved system.

ALAPKA mDl'PTRIES.

11

liting

lacci-

thiit

lisce's

Ill's

[llinpr
skin

Jlialf-
jit by
|i tlie
-'ered

Diirinp onr five days' stay on St. Pawl Island we inspccti'd all tlio
rookeries, walkiiifj over many of them, and I eiirefiilly noted their con-
dition, the sparsely settled breeding grounds, the deseited hauling
gronnds, and tlie desolate appearance of the place in coini)arison with
what I saw there only five years ago, when hnndreds of thousands of
seals swarmed over the greater portion of the ground that is now bare
and abandoned.

Next to the shriveled condition of the seal herd as a whole, the most
noted change I observed on the breeding grounds since 1889 was the
great number of idle bulls, young and vigorous, lying around in all
directions, watching an o])portunity to secure (tows.

They can not succeed, however, for during the past ten years the
cows have been the quarry of the pelagic sealer, whose iminoved ineth
ods of hunting in the open waters, and whose unceasing, unerring, and
merciless hunting of them at all seasons, have at length succeeded in
destroying at least a million nursing mothers, who, with their starved
oHs])ring and unborn young, represent a loss of many millions, which
in turn accounts for the acres of bare and uiioccu])ied rookery ground
over w liicli we walked without finding a seal. When in 1891 1 inspected
the same rookeries I counted 1,2'tii idle bulls at the very height of tin;
rutting season, and I have since observed a steady increase of breeding
bulls as the henl continued as steadily to decrease as a whole.

So plain and palpable has this increase of bulls beeoi for the past five
years, it has become a topic of general conversation anumg those who
have hiid opportunities to observe the rookeries from year to year dur
ing the breeding season; and in his annual report for 1894 the agent
in charge of the islands says:

'I'lio only cliisH of s(!iil8 tliiit showed an inoreaso over last year were the young bulls,
win) were uiialile to find a .siuj^lo cow witli which to start a hari'm on tiio roolvciies.
'I'iiero were more idle l)uils of Ijri'edniK iifjo than thori' were Itulis wilii iiarouis on
the breeding grounds. (See Kujiort of .Joseidi J5. Urowley, WJl.)

Another very important feature observed in our inspe(!tion of the
rookeries in 1891 was the absence of dead pups in the early part of
August, for uj) to our leaving on the 8th I had not seen a dead pup on
the island, and the agent in charge, wlio was on St. Paul Island from
June to the latter part of August and who kept a close watch for dead
pups, tells me now that it was not till about August 20 there was a
dead pup to be seen, but from that date to the close of the season,
according to oflicial communications received from the islands, the car-
casses of dead pups, starved and eniaciati d, increased Avith ai)palling
rapidity until lli,OU() were counted by the a sistant agents.

The agents report that they actually counted 12,()(»U dead pu|)S on the
accessible portions of the rookeries to which they could go without dis-
turbing the seals, and after making due aHowance for the portions not
visited at all, they believe that a fair estimate of the total number ot
dead pups on the two islands of St. Paul and St. George in 1894 would
aggregate 20,000. (See report of Joseph B. Crowley, 1894,)

And Mr. Joseph B. Crowley tells us that —

Every preeantion was taken to count only sueh as appenrrd to have died late in
the season. None of the small young pups which showed drcay and bore the appear-
ance of having died early in the breeding season were counted. * ' * I do not
make re"kleHHly the statement of the deatli of pujjs Irom starvation. There is posi-
tive proof of it. I witnessed the beginning of its disastrous results the last of
Augtist befouo leaving the islands. Visiting the rookeries in person. I found hundreds
of pups which had lately died. They bore every appearance of having died of starva-
tion. Hundreds that were y(^t alive were so wasted and weak they could scarcely
drag themselves over the r'oeks and would not attempt to get out of the vsiy when
approached. (Report of J. B. Crowley, 1894.)

12

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

"What is the cause of the death of so iriaiiy fur-seal pnpsT" has been
asked many tin>es during tlic jjast five y«'ar.s' discussion of the seal
question, and many eonlli«;tin}r answers have been {riven, I tliiiiR the
following, tinder tlie cireiinisttinces, is an answer that can not be contra-
dicted. The pelagic sealing season opened in liering Sea on August I,
ISOi, in accordance with the international regulations made possible by
tlie liering 8ea Tribunal, under which ix-lagic sealers are licensed to
kill seals, with spears, outside ofthe GO nnle zone around the swil ishiiids,
and immediately we see the result of tJieir work in tiie tliousands of
pups starved to death after their mothers had been killed at sea by the
men whose right to kill thom, at certain seasons, has been established
and acknowledged by the very tribunal that was created for the i)urpose
of preventing the destruction of the fur-seal herd.

One of the most horrible and harrowing sights inmginable is that of
being surrounded on the bleak and inh()sj)i(able shores of the Pribilof
Islands by thousands of dead and dying i)ui) seals whose death has been
the result of slow starvation, and whose hungry cries and almost human
appeals for food and life must be made in vain, for, no matter how willing
and anxious one may be to render assistance, one feds it is beyond
human i)ower to firrest the gnawing of hunger in an animal who is
totally dependent for sustenance on a motiier who was killed a month
ago by ])elii,iiic sealers!

Those who once witnessed such a sight never can forget it, and occa-
sionally 1 receive letter. > from some of them which run somewliat like
the following:

Do tell me wh.it ia to be done with the few rein.aitiing seals. * * * If these
steps had been taken last year, even, thtre ini^jht have been i',noni;h left to tell tlie
tale, but as it is I can not but feel what a pitialilc sif^lit the r()i)f,oriu8 will |)reseiit
next year. It was diseonraging enongli last Hpiin>; when I coniiiarcd the rnokciioH
with what I had seen jnst tlie year liefiire. My heart bled for the |)ooi' starving pu|)s
so ninch, the last stroll I took on the rookeries, that I could never go back. I don't
see how the .judge could stand to see 1(),0()() dead ones. It would have brolceii ray
heart I know. The morning wo came into Dutch Harbor on our voyage down we
saw throe sealing vesBels sailing out toward the (iO-niiles lindt. Oh, what a farce,
what a snare and deluKion that 60 mile limit was! How could anyone wlio h,ad
ever been to the seal islands and noted the habits of the f<!eding cows ever recom-
mend such a murderous proposition? Even I know uotlcr than that. • » • jjut
13,000 cows taken staggered me. I had exiiectcd about 5,000 or 6,(M)(), and even cal-
culated the terrible consequence upon the rookeries, but l.S,000! that was tcrrilile,
terrible!

The writer of that letter is the wife of the Treasttry agent, an Anter-
Ican lady of Christian education, culture, and rcfinciiieMt, avIio natu-
rally felt horrified at the sight she saw on the rookeries, and, liiic the
tender and merciful woman she is, she denounces the systeni, regula-
tion, custom, or whatever else it may be called, which nuikes such suf-
fering jyossible.

One instan«!e in this connection worth recording is that of a pelagic
sealer whost^ heart was toiK^hcd by the ])ititul cries of an orphan pup,
and the story is told by an eyewitness under oath :

Of the seals that were caught oft' the co.-ist fully 90 out of every 100 had young
pups in them. The boats would bring the seals on board the vessel, and we would
take the young pups out and skin them. If the pnp is good and a nice one, we
would skin it and keep it for ourselves. I had eight such skins myself. Four out
of live, if caught in May or ilune, would be alive when we cut thom out of their
mothers. One of them we kept for pretty near three weeks alive on de<'k by feed-
ing it on coudensed milk. One of the men finally killed it becauHo it cried so piti-
fully. (Aftidavit of Alfred Dardeau.)

The reverse side of the question is that held by the average pelagic
sealer, who kills the mother setil and cuts out her unborn young or
leaves the born young to slowly starve to death on the rookeries.

AI-ASKA INDUSTRIES.

18

leen
I M'a]
Mie
jitiii-
[st 1,
jo by
1(1 to
liuis,
[Is of
['tlio
Islied
Iposo

Tlio British Heriiig Sea coinniissioiierH in this connection stated:

Tilt) fur of till) fuinitlo is u(|Uiilly good witb Mint of the nmlo, and under tlio coiuli'
tioiiH iiniiur wliicli tlio hunting ia uurried on, thuro 1h ruuni fur uu Heutiuiuutul coiiHld-
erutiuutt in favor of either hox.

1 was intbriiu'd by tiie Treasury ajjcnt and others who liad wintered
on the seal ishuids that t]ie winter of 18!K{-91 had been one of unusnal
8(^verity, rijjor, and length, and that tlie seals had been much hiter in
haulinjr out than lor many years past.

Tliis happens occasionally, for whenever itis unusually cold durinfj the
8))rin^ and early summer months, and the ice han^.s around the islands
till the latter end of May or early June, the seals will not or can not
haul out until passapes are made and the rocks and beach cleared of
ice; all of which had to be done last season.

From the same source I also learned that never before, since the
United States owned the islands, were seals so few upon the rookeries
during the killing season of June and July, and that the L!(),<H)n killa-
bles allowed to be taken this year were not to be found unhss the
standard weight and size should be lowered by the lessees and smaller
seals taken. As the lessees have not taken any skins weighing loss
than 7 pounds, and have killed some l(i,()(i() tirst-class seals, 1 have no
doubt of their being able to get i^(),(M)0 had they chosen to take ijOOO
skins weighing from 5 to (i pounds each.

This opens up a question of the utmost importance to our (tovern-
ment, for if we can not tind2(»,()()0 young male seals on the sea! islands,
Avhose skins will weigh from 7 to 12 pounds each, afteramctdus vivendi,
and a general rest of nearly four years, it is most assuredly time for us
to search for the cause of the steady decrease of the fur seal herd.

To all those whose long and practical experience on the islands and
among the seals gives them a right to be heard, the exi)lanation is not
hard, but unfortuinitely, because of many clashing interests, there has
been a glamor of secrecy and saeredness thrown around the fnrseal
question, by and through which i)lain, practical, business men have
been debarred from expressing an o])inion, or, having dared to express
one, have been tabooed by interested jiarties. For years the cause of
the decrease in the seal herd has been discussed witli ninibated vigor;
so-called imin-oved nu'thods of all sorts have been suggested, and a
few of them tried; and, finally, when the question assumed international
proportions, arbitration was resorted to in hopes of forever settling a
vexed question aiul of saving from total extinction the remnants of our
seal herd that hail, only a few vears ago, been numbered by the millions
and valued at nearly .iilO(),0(io',00().

In spite of all that has been done thus far, however, the seal herd is
ra])idly decreasing, and in the very nature of things must continue to
decrease so long as scores of shijjsand thousands of men are permitted
to hunt them in the o])en sea and kill them without regard to age, sex,
or condition.

There is no more mystery about the cause of the decrease and destruc-
tion of tiie fur seal herd than there would be about the decrease of a
herd of cattle on the plains of Colorado if the owner should continue to
sell or kill, or allow someone else to sell or kill, his breeding cows for a
series of years, or until they were all gone.

Twice since the discovery of the seal islands and during Eussian
occupation have the seals been almost exterminated because of the
indiscriminate slaughter of the female, or mother seal, for it is well
known that the Itiussians continued to slaughter everything on the

14

ALASKA INDl'STRIKS.

lalaiids witliout r('j?iii(l to age, Hex, or coiidition until IH'Jl, wheu the
question of total «^xtfiiiiiiuitiou Htared tliuiii in the face.
Vcniaiiiiiiov tells us:

]''r()iii the time ol'tliu diHcovery of the PribiloC InIuihIh up to 1K05 the taldiiK of Tiir
aealH proKroHsod witliout count or liHtn, and v^-itlioat rim|)0MNi1)le hnailH or cliit'tH,
hu^allm^ then ( I7K7 to lh()5, incluHivo) tliore were a nuuilier of nonipaiiieR, roproHiMitiitl
by im many a]L;ontH or IraderH.MiuI all of them vied with each othur in tukin^ an many
BH tliuy could bcloi'o the killing wan Htoppcd. Aflor this, in 1806 and 1807, tlicro
■were no soaln taken, and nearly all the jieople were removed to UnahvNka.

In I80S the killiiijj wa.s again eonimonced, but the people in this year were allowed
to kill ouly on St. (ieorge. On St. Paul hunters were not permitted this year or the
next.

It WU8 not until the fourth year after this that as nutny ib half the nuubor pre-
viouHlv taken were annually killed.

From this time (Ht (ieorjjc 1808 and St. Paul 1810) up to 1822, taking fur seals pro-
i;reN8('d on both iHliiiids witliout economy and with slight uircums)iection us if there
vrure a race in killing lor the most skiuH. Cows were taken in drives and kill«<l, and
were alno driven from the rookeries to places where they were slaughtered. (Elliott's
traiiHlation.)

And Mr. Elliott, coinuienting on Veniaminov's zapieska, tells us that —

A Htudy of this killing througlAuit the /a])ooska of 1834 on St. Paul Island shows
that for a period of Nev( ii years, from 18M5 down to the close of the season of 1811, no
HcalH jiracticully were Uilled Nave tliosu that were needed for food and clothing by the
natives, and that in I8:;r> for the lirst time in the history of this industry on these
ishiiidH, was the vital priiiuiple of )iot killing female seals rccognl/.ed. It will be
noticed that the entry for each and every year distinctly specilies so many bachelor
seals or holliischicUovkotovie.

The sealing in those days was carried on all through the summer until the seals
left in October or November, on account of the tedious method then in vo;;ue of nir
drying tlie skins. This caused them in drivingafterthe breaking up of the brooding
season by the end of .liily, to take up at first hundreds, and thousands later on, of the
fcmalcH, but they never spared those cows then when they nrrivetl in the droves on
the killing grounds, |>rior to this date above (quoted, of 18or>. (Elliott's rojjort, 1890.)

Ignoring for the moment all that has been said about the thought-
lessness and brntaiity of the JJussian methods of driving and killing
seals, and of tlie incalculable waste arising therefrom, which resulted in
the almost total destruction of the species on two occasions, it is never-
theless true that after many years of bitter experience they did learn to
do better; and when they turned tiie property over to the IJnited States
in 18(i8 tliere were nearly 5,(100,000' of seals on the Tribilof li^lands,
and that tor a period of sixteen years afterwards there was neither
decreasenordiminution perceptibleiu those immense and valuable lierds.

Dr. H. IJ. Mclntyre, who was the general superintendent for the
Alaska Commercial Company during the whole time of their twenty-
year lease of the seal islands, writing, contidentially, to his employers in
1889, says:

The breeding rookeries from the beginning of the lease till 1882 or 1883 were, I
believe, constantly increasing in area and population, and my observations in this
directlou are in accordance with those of Mr. Morgan, Mr. VVeljster, and others, who
have been for many years with me in your service, and of the late special Treasury
agout, .1. M. Morton, who was on the islands from 1870 to 1880. (See H. H. Mclutyre
to Alaska Commercial Company, .July 16, 1889, Appendix.)

And Mr, Henry W. Elliott, writing in 1881, fully corroborates the
foregoing when he tells us —

There were no more seals soon here by human eyes in 1786 and 17RV than there are
now in 1881, as far as all evidence goes. (Elliott's Seal Islands of Alaska, p. 6(5.)

'Grand sum total for the Pribilof Islands (season of 1873), breeding seals and
young, 3,193,420. The uonbreediiig seals seem nearly equal in number to that of the
adult breeding seals; but, without putting them down at a figure quite so high, I
may safely say that the sum total of 1,500,000, in round numbers, is a fair enumera-
tion, and quite within bounds of fact. This makes the grand sum total of the fur-
se.il life on the Pribilof Islands over 4,700,000. (Elliott, The Fur-Seal Islands of
Alaska, jip. 61, 62.)

ALAHKA INDUHTR1E8.

If)

the

p re-

It was in 1873 that Mr. Elliott pstiinatod the number of sosiIh on the
rribilot' iKlands at 4,7U(),(>00, and he again tullH ns in 1H81 that the
H<'alH nevtu- iiad been more iMinierouH than they were then; bnt in 1H!)0
ho found thi'in reduced to 969,393 Hcals, including everything on the
isIandH, or about one-fifth of what the herd had been in 1873.

In 1891 the Treasury agents on the seal islands were instructed to
make daily visits to the rookeries during the breeding season for the
])iir|M)se of noting the jxtculiar liabita of the seals and carefully estimat-
ing their nnmbers at various dates on each rookery, and the highest
estimate made, not including the pups, was somewhat less than half a
million.

1 was one of the agents who did this work in 1891, and I have spent
hours and days and wcciks, in turn, watching the cows from their first
landing. They would often stay away from their oflspring for a week
at a time.

I have selected a favorable location on the Reef rookery, where I was
some 30 feet above the harem and out of danger of being discovered by
the seals below, and I have watched one particular pup from its birth
until it was a month old; and I found that the cow left it for an hour or
two only at first, then for a day, and by the end of the month for four
to six days at a time.

This fact, cou|)led with another that I observed in 1890, convinced
me that the fur seals do not digest their food as rapidly as some other ani-
mals, and consequently they can live longer without eating or drinking.

The other fact referred to is this: In 1890 we killed for the natives
on St. Paul Island some 2,304 pups, after all the cows had been gone
from the island for more than two weeks, and we found the stomachs
of all those pups full of pure, undigested milk.

I walked over all the rookeries on St. Paul Island twice during the
season of 1891, beginning at Halfway Point on July 7, and comi)leting
the second Journey at Nortlieast Point on July 22, and the highest esti-
mate I made of the number of seals on each was as follows:

Rookery.

Scalt.

Rookery.

Seals.

Nortlieast Point

149, 975

93, l.'iO

10, r.ou

82, 050
86, 200
32, 060

Middle niU

5,150

Rpof

Kulttv ie

5,075

Halfway I'oiut

LukannoD

1«, 000

Tolnfoi and LBgoon ...••••.•..

Total, not including pupa

Za])ii(li)io and Etat Ziipiulnie ...........

481, 350

EnKliKh Bay

This estimate was made on the basis of an average of 40 cows to each
bull, and it was assumed that only one-half the bulls were in sight at
any one time, or, in other words, we could not get close enough to see
them without disturbing the seals, so we multiplied the nuimber found
by 2, and the product by 40, in order to obtain, approximately, the num-
ber of seals on a rookery.

It is possible, of course, that the method of computation adopted was
not the best and that we probably missed the real number by many
thousands, plus or minus, but for all practical purposes of comparison
between the condition of the rookeries in 1891 and 1894 it is as good as
perfection, for it is enougli to show that no matter how many seals were
there in 1891, not to exceed one-half of the number were to be found in
1894.

The same is ecjually true of St. George, where the rookeries, because
of their relatively smaller area, show the decrease at a glance to any-

IIM

16

ALASKA mnrsTuiKS.

OIK* wlio WHS on tli« island h t\iw .veins iifjo, iiiwl who ovwr paid any
attuntion to tin; seals wIkmi the rookei ies wero llllcd out to tiieir I'lilloHt,
and tlioiisiinds were to be s«'t>n spoitint; in the waleis around flieni.

indeed, 1 do not hesitate to say that there was not to exceed ;i()0,(M)()
seals on St. Taul and St. <ieor),'« islands In An;fUHt, IH!M.

It is iiere the <|nestions naturally arise, "VVlnif is tin* eaus« of tlio
decrease of the seal herd! Is there a remedy, and iC so, how can it
l)e apitliedif"

I shiill attempt to answer the ipiestions in the oriler in which I have
stilted them, and I aim to show tliat all of my own vimvs arc* in strict
accord with those wliose disinterestedness, practical knowlcdf^e, or s(!i-
entilli; attainmentH warrant them in expressing views on the i|uestion at
issue.

And it will he found, I think, that while we nniydifT'er in our estimates
of the numlier of seals on the islands at any i)articiilar time or pciiod,
or t hat our notions al)oMt metiiofis and nninafiement may never he exactly
alike, we are all a;;reed that the cause of the decrease oi' the fur seal lieid
is pelii;,Nc sealinjj.

Hpeakinjilbr my self, after an oxi»eiienee of six years on the seal islands,
I have no doubt that were it not for pelagic sealinp the seal herd wonhl
be us numcious and as llonrishinfj; today as it was in I.sti.S or IHSj. in-
at any other period since the discovery of tiio islands; nor is it at ran-
dom or without lony study that i say this, for I have jriven the subject
a K't'at deal of serious thought during the world-wide discussion of the
question since ISOO,

When the (juestion of the deerease of the seal hord was tirst men-
tioned publicly as a reality, theories as numerous as the men who enter-
tained them were olVered in explanati<m of the cause of sinh decrease,
and tor awhile it was argued with consummate ability and peisistenl
energy by Mr. H. W. Elliott, who was (considered an authority on all
that relates to fur seals, that the driving from the hauling to the killing
grounds injured the young males to the extent of inii)otency, and thus
unlitted them at maturity for service on the breeding grounds.

A mere idle giiess at first, this theory was pushed to the front with
energy, although, could angry personal feelings and ])rejudice have been
eliminated from the controversy, the gentleman might have discovtued
what every scientist, naturalist, and impartial observer saw from the
tirst, that so long as all the cows on the rookeries had pups beside tlu-m
in season, and every mature cow killed at sea was either a nursing
mother or about to become one, the theory of a scarcity of bulls could
not be maintained. And alter the jtassions and prejuilices existing on
the seal islands in 18!l(> cooled down or had ceased to exist, M;. Elliott
made an atlidavit in which he says:

AlttT uar.'fully examining tlie Hitiiotion, actual records, and trustworthy teatiiiiony
ol" men eiifjafjcd in sealing with whom I liavo conversed, nnd also from knowledge of
the migratory habit and peculiar circnnistanccH of peal life, I am of the opinion that
unchecked pelagic sealing is sure, speedy destruction of tlie Pribilof herd of fur
seals; that if allowed to continue and the fleet increases in nunibc^r of vessels and
increased skill of hunters, even though the jjresent modus vivendi should remain in
force, it would result in the utter eommercial ruin of the herd; that iu order to pre-
serve the seals from C(,mplete deatrui^tioii, as a commercial factor, it is necessary that
pelagic sealing should not only be i)rohibited in Bering Sea, but also in the North
Pacilic Ironi the Ist of May until the end of October, annually. The ])elagic hunters
to-day kill at least 90 per cent cows (the great majority being witli young, nearly
ready for delivery) in the Pacitic Ocean.

As the physical conditions are such that it is utterly impossible to discriminate in
matters of sex or age when shooting or spearing iu the water, it is evident that
pelagic sealing can not be regulated in the slightest degree beyond its complete pro-
hibitiou witliiu certain limita. (E'liott's atlidavit, 1892; see Appendix.)

AI,A«KA INnrHTIlIKfl.

17

of llio
ciiii it

Of all tli« IcMtiiiKtiiy collrcted <luriti/; tlio pnipiiration of tlio United
Hliites t'iis«i for tho Tribiiiiiil of Arhitnilioii, I know of not hi iif; dearer
or ni(»re explicit liian tliis of Mr. l']lliott, and to nie it HeenH pitiful,
indeed, tiiat one who has Hiich a ^riisp of the Huhject, and tliealiiiity to
express it so well, HJiould have been allured for a nioni(>nt from the plain
path of fact to follow the i^^niH fatuus of tluMuy throu;;h so numy laneu
and byways to the sorrow of ho many of his friends and admirers.

iN-adint,' his dillerent papers, in the lij^ht of subseijuent events, their
perusal makj'S one feel sorry, indeed, that he did not atlopt Webster's
views and follow his advice when the old veteran sealer conversed with
him on St. (JeorK'e Island that '-'(ith day of July, 181)0, of which Mr.
lilliott writes:

l>;mi<'l WcliHliT Ih tho vdtcnvii \,liito Hciiler on tliPHO InIiiikIh. Ho raino to St. I'aul
IhIiiiiiI in \XW, :iii(I, niiv« tho koiihuu of IK7(S (tlixn onii trip to IId^ HtiHHiaii hciiI iNliiiiilH),
Im liiiH lii'iMi sfiiliiiK lirrc ovor Niiifo, liiiiiiK in cliai'Ko of tim work at NortlmaBt I'oiiit
ainiualiy until tlilH Niininu'r of IHJK), wIkmi ii« linH(u>n(lii(;tiMl the killing; on St. (ionrKO.

He Hjioki) \ erv Iroi'ly to nll^ this al'tiuiioon wiiih' oallint; on iw, and said thrro is no
iiHo trying to huihl thcmi rooktiriuH up a^ain no aH to s<>al htTK, aa hiiH bt'onilono Hinvo
1S('«>', iinit'HS tiicHe aniinalH arc protivlnil in the Nortii I'acitic Oi'ean »h wfll as in
ItiiinK •'''"! on tiiiw point tiio old man wuh vury ompliatic. (i;iliott'H report for
IHW, p. L'50.)

What wonder ia it that Webster shotdd have been emphatic iu his
remarks on pelagic sealing! For more than fifty years he has been iu
Heriii}; Hea, thirty years of which have been spent amoii}; the fur seal.-
of whi(di he has had the ])ractieal management, and handled aiul killei
more of them than any other living man.

A plain, bluut, rough, practical seaman, honest and i)atriotic to the
core, he could not be wheedled into new-fangled notions or airy theories
which are rei)Ugnant to good, common sense, and so he nuikes oath that:

My obHcrvation has liooii that tlioro was an nxpansion of tho rookorio.s from 1H70
to 1K7!>, which fact 1 attrihuto to tho caroful maniit;i'iiic'iit of tho islamN Ity (lio
United StatoH (jiovornniont. » • • 'I'hcro was novcr, whilo I have hccn upon tho
islands, any scarcity of viKorons hulls, there always bciufj a Hulliciont number to
fer(ili/.e all tho cows coming to the islands. • » »

The season of 18!U showed that male Hoals bad certainly lieon in sutliciout number
the year before, boeauso tho pu)i8 on the rookeries wore as many as should be for tho
number of cows landing;, the ratio boinj; tho sumo as in former years.

Thou, too, there was a surplus of vigorous bulls in 18!)1 who could obtain no cows.
• • " At Zapadnie, on St. Georjje, tho drive to tho killing grounds is loss than a
mile. The seals are now being killed tliero instead of being driven across the island,
as they were prior to 1878, when it took throe days to make the journey. * ' *

At Northeast Point rookery, on St. Paul Island, tho longest drive is 2 miles. In
former times the Hiissians used to drive from this rookery to St. Paul village, a dis-
tance of I'Ji miles. (See Webster's athdavit, Appeiulix.)

Yes, let it not be forgotten for a moment that from the ^'rst taking of
fur seals for their skins on tho Pribilof I.slands to l.S<i8 they were driven
a distance of llij nnles — or from end to end of St. Paul Island — and
that no distinction of sex was made, ;,iale and fenuile being driven and
slaughtered indiscrinunately, until the almost total extinction of the
8i)ecies in 1834 compelled the Kussian-American Company to investigate
the cause of the decrease, which resulted iu prohibiting the killing of
females forever afterwaids.

It seems that in spite of their ignorant and barbarous methods and
their possible lack of scientific acumen, these Kussians were practical
fellows after all, for the seciuel certaiidy shows that the plan adopted
by them of saving and protecting the fern 'e was the true one, Mr.
Elliott's own estimates show that from 18. '> to 1S81 the herds had
steadily increased up to 5,000,()()() seals, or " j to a point beyond which
it was impossible to go. Speaking of the increase of seal life, he tellti us :

I am free to say that it is not within tho power of human management to promote
this end to the slightest appreciable degree over its present extent and coudition aa

H. J)oc. J)2, pt. 2 2

18

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

it stands iu tlio state of nature heretofore described. It can not fiiil to bo evident,
from my detailed narriition of the liabits and life of tlie fur seal on these isliiiid!'
during so larj^e a i)art of every year, that could inan have the sumo supervision and
control over this animal during the whole season which he has at hit; command
while thoy visit the land he mii;ht cause them to multiiily and increase, as he would
8o many cattle, to an iudelinite number, only litnited by time and the means of feed-
ing them. But the cjise in i|uestion, nnforlnnately, is one where the fur seal is
taken, by demands for food, at least six months out of every year, far beyond the
reach or even cognizance of any man, where it is all this time exposed to many
known powerful and destructive natural enemies, and probal)ly many others, equally
80, unknown, which prey upon it, and, in accordance with that well-recognized law
of nature, keep.s this aeal life at a certain number — at a lignro which lias been
reache<l for ages past, and continno to be in the future, as far as they now are — tlicir
present maximum limit of increase, namely, between 1,000,1)00 and 5,000,000 seals, in
round numbers. This law holds good everywhere throughout the animal kingdom,
regulating and preserving the equilibrium of life iu the state of nature. Did it not
hold good these seal islands and all Bering Sea would have been literally covered,
and have swarmed like the medusfB of the waters, long before the Itussians di8(tov-
ered them. But, according to the silent testimony of the rookeries, which have been
abandoned by the seals, and the noisy, emphatic assurance of those now occujjicd,
there were no more seals when first seen here by human eyes in 1786 and 1787 than
there are now in 1881, as far as all evidence goes. (Elliott's Seal Islands of Alaska,
p. 66.)

What a i)ity it is that Mr. Elliott should have forgotten in 1890 the
fact that the long drives of irom 6 to 12 miles were continued by the
Russians as long as they were in possession of the islands, and that
from 1808 to 1881 the Americans killed, annually, 100,000 young male
seals without causing diminution or decrease, and that during the entire
forty-seven years, from 1834 to 1881, the herd increased to marvelous
proportions in 8i)ite of the long drives and the killing of so many young
males, until, as he himself says, "there were no more seals wlien first
seen here by human eyes in 1786 and 1787 than there are now iu 1881,
as far as all evidence goes."

1.

•2.

a.

4.

5.
6.
7.
8.,

DECREASE OF SEALS — LACK OF MALE LIFE NOT THE CAUSE.

In this connection it may be well to notice some of the testimony bear-
ing on this very question of an excess or a dearth of bulls on the breed-
ing grounds, collected by the United States when preparing their case
for submission to the Tribunal of Arbitratio'», wliere the British coun-
sel laid such stress upon Mr. Elliott's report of 18110, witii bis theory of
overdriving, imi)otency, dearth of bulls, innumerable aari-en females,
and a consequent decrease of the seal herd as a whole.

In their repor*- the British Bering Sea Commission ^'rs siiy:

Upon the Pribilof Islands in 1891 wo did not onrsolvoo iiote any great abundance
of barren females, but the facts iu this matter would be scarcely apparent to those
not intimately connected with the rookeries for more than a single year. In his
oflicial report on the condition of the islands in 1890, Mr. Elliott states tliat tliere were
then 250,(X)0 females "not bearing or not served last year and this," but he does not
explain in what way this numerical estimate was arrived at. (Report of British
Cmnniissionors, sec. 433, p. 77.)

Not only did they not note " any great abundance of barren females,"
but it is an ojien question whether they noted any, for the fact is there
were not any such animals there to be seen, but they gladly quote Mr.
Elliott's slory of ISOO about the 250,000 barren females whicii he observed
on tiie islands.

Tiiere was not a single day of the breeding season of 1891 when some
of the lour Treasury agents were not out on the rookeries making care-
ful examination of the condition of seal life thereon, and, although I
was one of the four, I have yet to hear the first word from any of tliem,
or I'roni any one else who has ever been on a rookery (excepting Mr.
Klli<)tt; about barren females.

An
has
.aslioi
iiial

As
siimm<
I'apta
tlic L'(

!■>()
iiiiisth
lliat
til th.
In all
such
tiiiii ()
Hfiid

Til
.sain|i
fhisi
from
to in'
work
cow !■
or in

Ad
seals
its gi

mBM

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

19

It lias boon amply demonstrated by diflerenfc individuals, and ..i many
ways, that there was not a shadow of triitli in Mr. Elliott's theory, and
iiiuiiy ot his own most intiniato friends and fellow- workers, who are well
(liiiililicd to speak as sciientists on tiie seal question, are among the fore-
most of tiiose who llatly coiitradiet him on that point.

Pioi'. 1j. W. h^vernnuin, of the United States Fish Commission, visited
>St. Paul Island while 1 was there in 1892, and he very carefully inspected
(he seals on many of the rookeries, beginning July 18 and ending on
llie 31st, and here is what he found:

LuKAN.^;()N KouKKKY, Jiilii 10, from 1.30 lodp. m.

nnieiiid.

1

2
3
4

r.

6

7

Dulls. ; Cows. Pups.

narcma.

0

10

u

12

W

Total

Bulla.

Cowa.

13

90

Pups.

3
20

5
15
30

211

Rkef Rookkry, July so, p. m.
* * * Many (Miito large bulls were seen anionj; the bacliolors, and thoro is no
(loulit in my mind but tbat the number of available bulla is considerably in excess of
tlio uuniboi' necessary to serve the cows.

NOKTHKAST POINT ROOKEKY, July 33.

Several hours in the middle of the day were 8i)unt iu examining this rook-
ery. » * ♦

,iu8t west of this is a bunch of aboiit 10 good-sized bulls that Lad no cows about
tluiii at all. These were not old, HupefiiiiHuated bulls, but young, vigorous ones, and
undoubtedly well able to inai itain h uouis were there a greater number of cows.
This and nunicrous other similar sights eorvince me that there are even now a good
niuiiy more bulls than are necessary to serve the cows. (Notes on the fur seal, by 1$.
W. Kvcrmaun, Counter Case, I'nited Stat.s, p.'_'()4.)

And C. n. Townsend, of the Unit(jd States Fish Commissicm, who
has had many years practical experience among fur seals, aHoat and
ashore, and who was on duty in Bering Sea during the summer of 1802,
■ makes allidavit as follows;

As already stated above, I was attached to the steamer Convin during the jiast
Munimer, and I made all the examinations of the stonuichs of the seals referred to in
I'Mptain Hooiier's report, covering in all 33 seiils. * * ' These seiils were taken on
till' 2(1 day of .August, 18i)2, at a distance of alout 175 miles from the islands. » » •

I'rom tlie fact that among the females thus taken and examined there were found
iiidstly nursing cows, with a siiiall number of virgin cows, it is reasonable to conclude
that tliere are practically no barren feirialcs swimming about in the sea unattached
to the islands, or that at any rate, if such seals exist, they are rarely, if ev((r, taken.
In all my experience I never saw anything to lead mo to the conclusion that there is
such a thing as a barren feuuile. In the case of the virgin cows, a careful examina-
tion of the uterus proved them to be too immature for conception. (C. il. Town-
send; see allidavit in Apj)endix.)

The testimony of Piofessor lOvermann and Mr. Townsend is a fair
.sam |>le of that given by naturalists gcMierally, and it is doubly valuable in
this instance, because it comes from iiersonal friends of Mr. I'-lliott, and
irom friends who rather inclined to his theory until they had (jpportunity
to investigate for themselves, and to demonstrate to their own iind the
world's satisfaction that iiiere never Mas an impotent bull or a barren
cow seen on the breeding grounds or rookeries of the Fribilof Ishinds
or in the waters adjacent thereto.

Additional testimony of those who have had experience with the fur
scids, and whose practical knowledge of the whole subject of seal life,
its growth, expansion, and decay, and the causes thereof, entitles them

20

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

to a lieariiig on the point at issue, is most respectfully subniittod to tho
earnest »;unsi(lcratioii of all who are interested in the perpetuation ot
the Alaskan fur seal.

Mr. Joseph Stanley-Brown, whoalso was on theseal ishinds in 18i»l-!)2,
testifies as follows:

No iutollij;oiit observer would be so bold as to assorf/ that duriiifj the homsoii of
1892 there was not an abundance of males of competent virility, despite the oieiir-
renee of oe(^asional larf^e harems. The accompanying jihotographs' show that even
at the height of the season, and Just previous to the disintegration of the l)reedinj^
grounds, there were, unsupplied with cows, old males which had taken their stand,
and from which f was unable to drive them with stones.

I sho:ild have been extremely glad to have been able to note a great many more
largo harems, but the work of the ,)elagic hunter among the females has been so
eftective, that the average size ol he harems is growing smaller and smaller, while
the number of idle bulls is steadily increasing.

The abundance of male life for service upon the rookeries was evidenced by the
number of young bulls which continually sought lodgment upon the breeding
grounds.

It is highly improbable that the rookeries have ever sustained any injury from
insufficient service on the part of the males, for any male that did not possess suf-
ficient vitality for sustained potency would inevitably be deprived of his harem by
either his neighbor or some lusty young aspirant, and this dispossession would be
rendered the more certain by the disloyalty of his consorts.

The seal being polygamous in habit, each male being able to provide for a harem
averaging twenty or thirty members, and the proportion of male to female bom
being e(|ual, there must inevitably be left a reserve of young immature males, the
death of a certain proportion of which could not in anyway alTect the annual supply
coming from the breeding grounds. These conditions existing, the Gov-nmont has
permitted the taking, with three oxi "ptions up to 1890, of a quota of • jut 100,000
of these young male seals annually. When the abundance of seal life, as evidenced
by the areas formerly occupied by seals, is considered, I do not believe that this could
account for or play any api)reciable part in the diminution of the herd. • *■ *

From my knowledge of the vitality of seals, I do not believe any injury ever
occurred to tlie reproductive powers of the male seals from redriving tliat would
retard the increase of the herd, and that the driving of 1890 necessary to secure
about 22,000 skins could not have caused nor played any important part in the
decrease that was apparent on every hand last year.

Karp Biiterin, native chief of St. Paul Island (see Appendix):

Plenty of build .ill the time on the rookeries, and i)lenty bulls have no cows. X
never seen a 3-year-old cow without i^ pup in July ; only 2-year-olds have no pups.

H. N. Clark, local agent for lessees :

I never noticed any disproportion of the sexes that would lead me to suspect that
the bull seals wore too few, nor more than an occasional liarreu cow. These latter
were so few as to excite no renuirk, but if any such disproportion did in fact exist
in ISSS and in 1889, it was the fault of those who killed them at sea, because it never
occurred at all until tl;<»Tii; rine hunters became numerous and aggi'. ssive. I mention
this matter here, becaust ;.'.nco 1 left the island 1 have heard it asserted that the mis-
manageT'ient there caused thedecreiise of seal life. The management there was Just
such as I would follow if all the seals belonged to me.

0. L. Fowler, local agent for lessees :

I never saw any in-potent bulls on the rookeries, and do not believe there over was
any, unless it was the result of age; nor do I believe that young male seals were ever
rendered im])i)tent by driving. There has always been a plenty of bulls on the rook-
eries for breeding purposes ever since I have been on the islands.

John Fratis, native sealer, St. Paul Island:

I never knew of a time when there were not plenty of bulls for all the cows, and
I never saw a cow seal, except a 2-yoar-old, without a pup by her side in the proper
season. I never hisard tell of an impotent bull seal, nor .lo I believe there is sueii a
thing, excei)ting the very old and feeble or Ijadly wounded ones. I Iiavo seeu hun-
dreds of idle vi^fiirons bulls ni)on the rookeries, and there were no a ivs for them. I
saw many such bulls last year.

'Not given here.

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

21

H. N. Glidden. Treasury :»gent:

Durini; tlussc yi^ais tlioro was iilways a sufViciency of vifjoroiis inalo life to .serve all
tho foiiialu seals which oaino to the islands, and certainly diirin',': tliis period seal life
was not ali'(!Cted by any deficiency of males.

Alox. Ilaiisson:

Tho ordiTs of the boss of the gang in ■which I worked in 1888 and 1889, nndor the
nianii^oiiient of the Alaska Commercial Coin])any, were not to kill the 5-ycar-old
hulls, because they were, he said, needed on the rookeries.

Aggei Kushen, native sealer, St. Paul Island:

We noticed idle, vigorous bulls on tho breeding rookeries, because of the scarcity
of cows, and I have noticed that the cows h.avo decreased steadily every year since
1886, but more particularly so in 1888, 1889, 1890, and 1891.

n. PI. Mclutyre, general superintendent Alaska Coniinercial Com-
pany:

And I am satisfied a sufficient number of males was" always reserved fpr future
breeding i)urpose8.

That during the twenty years I was npon said Pribilof Islands as general agent of
said Alaska (Jommercial Company there were reserved uiiou the breeding rookeries
upon said islands snlhcieiit vigorous bulls to serve the number of females upon said
rookeries ; that while 1 was located upon said islands there was at all times a greater
nuuilier of adult male seals than was necessary to fertilize the females who hauled
upon said rookeries, and that there was no time when there were not vigorous bulls
on the rookeries who were unable to obtain female consorts.

So well was this necessity for reserving suUicipnt mature male life recognized that
when in 1887, 1888, and 1889 the depleted rookeries (depleted fiom causes that will
bo explained further on) would not furnish the quota of 100,000 large skins, 2 and
3 year-old male seals were taken to make up the quota in preference to trenching
u))!)!! this reserve of maturer male life.

The policy of the Alaska Counnereial Company during the whole period of its
lease was, as might be naturally expected, to obtain the best possible skins for
market and at the same time preserve tho rookorie.s against injury, for it was not
only in their interests to be able to secure every year, until the expiration of the
lease, the full ()uota allowed by law, but they conlidently expected, by reason of
their good nianagon;cnt of the liiisineas and fiithfiil fuKillment of every obligation
to the Government, to obtain the franchise for a .second term. 1 was, therefore,
always alert to see that the due jtroijortion of breeding males of servirealile ago
was allowed to return to thti rockeries. This was a comparatively easy ta.sk jirior
to IXH'2, Init becjime from year to yeiir more diliicult as the seals decreased. No very
explicit orders were given to the bosses upon (his iioint until 1888, because the bulls
seemed to bo iilentiful enough, and because it was easier to kill aud skin a small seal
than a large one, and the. natives weio inclined, for this reason, to allow the largo
ones to es<iipe; lint in 188« anil 18S9 tbeie was such a marked scarcity of breeding
males upon the rookeries th;it 1 gave sthict orders to spare all 5-yoar-old bulls ancl
conlino IIk; killing to smaller aniuials.

Ant<ni ]\rolovedoff, native chief of St. Paul Island:

I have never known or lie.ird tell of a time when there wore not bulls enough and
to 8]>are on the breeding rookeries. 1 never saw a cow 3 years old or over in August
without a pup by hia' side. The only cows on a breeiling rookery without pups are
tho virgin cows who have come there for the first time. I never went onto a rook-
ery in the breeding season when I could not have •;ountcd plenty of the idle, vigor-
ous hulls who had no cows.

Talk of epidemics among seals aud of impotent bulls on the rookeries, hut those
who have spent a lifetiiuo oti the seal islands and whoso business and duty it has
been to guard and observe (hem have no knowledge of tho existence of either. An
imjiotent bull daro not attempt to goon a rookery liven bad ho a desire to do so.
Kxcepting the extremely old and foeble, 1 have never seen a bull that was impotent.

Simeon Melovidov, native school teacher, St. l*aul Island:

Nor is there any shadow of fact for the idle statement made from time to time
about a dearth of bulls on the rookeries or of impotent bulls.

I have tiillced to the idd men of our people, men who can renienibor back «<'er iifty
years, and not one of them knows of a time when there was not plenty of bulls. Mid
more than enough on the breeding rookeries, and no one here ever heard of an im|)o-
tent bull. * * * It ha.s been said that cows arc barren sometimes because of the

22

AT.ASKA INDUS'I'RIES.

dearth of ln-.ils, but such is not the ease at all, for the only nows on the brrodinjj;
rookeries in July or August witliout pu])s are the L'-yeiir-olilH (virgins), whieh have
conio on the rookeries for the liist time.

T. F. Morgan, foreman on Tribilof Lsliiiida for Altiska Commercial
Company :

Despite the lowering on the standard weight of skins, rare was taken annuMlly on
St. (ieorgo tliat tlio residue of availal)le male lireedcrs was sul'licii^nt for thi' needs
of tlie rookeries, and instruetions to tliat effect were given to tlio assistants by tlio
superintendent of tlie Alaska Comniereial (loni))any. In this wo wore aided by tlie
inaeeessilile character of some of tlie hauling grounds.

I. H. Moulton, Treastiry agent:

During these years tiiere were always a 8uflieieu<'y of male seals for breeding pur-
poses, and in every year I saw great numbers of idle, vigorous bulls about and back
of the breeding grounds which were unable to obtain females.

S. K. Nettleton, Ti-easury agent:

During my stay on the islands I have never seen a time during the breeding season
when there has not baen a number of large, vigorous young bulls haugiuy; about the
borders of the rookeries watching for an opportunity to get a position of their own,

L. A. Noyes, M. D. (see aflidavit in Appendix):

The "dearth of bulls theory" has been thoroughly and impartially investigated
without discovering a cow of 3 years old or over on tlie rookeries without a pii] by
her side at the jiroper time, and I am convineed tliat the virgin females coming onto
the rookeries for the first time are tlio onlv ones to be found tliere without pu])s.

The investigation established the additional fact that hundreds of vigorous bulla
were lying idle on the rookeries without cows, and many others had to content tlieni-
solves with only one or two.

The theory of "inipotency of the bull through overdriving" while young was also
fonnd to bo untrue, and it was shown that after 1878 all long drives on both islands
had been abolished, and instead of driving seals from 6 to 12 miles, as was done in
Russian times, none were driven to exceed 2i miles.

It is also a well-known fact that none but the ]diysieally str- and aggressive
bulls can hob' a position on the rookeries, and that a weak or an i... potent animal
has no desire to go there.

J. C. Redpath, lessee's agent at the seal islands (see affidavit in Ap-
pendix):

A dearth of bulls on the breeding rookeries was a pet theory of one or two tran-
sient visitors, but it only needed a thorough investigation of tlie condition of the
rookeries to convince the mostskeptical that there were jilenty of luills, and to spare,
and that hardly a cow could be found on the rookeries without a pup at her side.

For five years I hcve given this particular subject my most earnest attention, and
every succeeding year's experience has convinced me that there is not and never was
a dearth of bulls. The theory of inipotency of the young bulls because of overdriving
when young is not worthy of consideration by any sane or honest man wliohas ever seen
a bull seal on a breeding rookery; and as I have already answereil the <iiiestion of
overdriving, I will only add here that no young bull ever goes upon the breeding
rookery until ho is able to tight his way in. and an imjiotent bull has no desire to
fight, nor could lie win a jiosition on the rookery W('re he to attempt it. The man
is not alive who over saw a 6 or 7 year old seal impotent.

B. F. Scribner, Treasury agent:

There was always in both seasons a great sufficiency of adult males to serve all the
females coming to the island, and I noticed each year a great :iunibiu- of idle, vigorous
bulls behind the breeding grounds who could not obtain consorts, and one of these
extra bulls alwayc took the place of an old male unable longer to bo of use for
breeding purposes.

Daniel Webster, lessees' agent at the seal islands (see affidavit iu
Appendix) :

There was never while I have been on the islands any scarcity of vigorous bulls,
there always being a si' iicient number to fertilize all the cows coming to the islands.
It was a] vaysboriie i-i mind by those on the islands that a suffiiient number of males
ninst be preserveci ."or breeding purposes, and this accounts jiartly for the lowering
of the standard weight of skins in 1888. The season of 1891 sliowed that male seals
had certainly been in suflicient number the year befoi«, liecause the pups on tlie
rr jkeries were as many as should be for the number of cows landing, the ratio

.ng the same as in former years. Then, too, there was a surplus of vigorons bulls
;'j 1891 who conid obtain no cows.

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

23

broediiij'
icli liav*!

inorciiil

in.'illv on
lie ik'ihIh
ts by tlio
I'd by tlio

W. H. Williams, Treasury agent:

During the Measoii of 1891 rcurly every mature female coming upon the rookeries
gave birth to a younj; seal, and there was great abnndaneo of males of sufficient age
to again go upon tlie breeding grounds that yeiir, as wiis shown by the inability of
largo numl)ors of tliem to secure more thau one to five rows each, wliilequitoa num-
ber could secure none at all. My investigation aonfirnis what has been so often said
by others who have reported upon this sulyect, and that is that the Pribilof Islands
are t ho, great breeding grounds of the fur seals, and that they can be reared in great
iiumbors on said islands, and at the same time, under wise and judicious restrictions,
a certain number of male seals can be killed from yciar to year without injury to the
breeding herds, and their skins disposed of for commercial purposes, thereby building
up and perpetuating this great industry indefinitely, and thus adding to the wealth,
hiippinesB, and comfort of the civilized world, while, <m the other hand, if pelagic
hunting of this animal is to continue, and the barbarous practice of killing the
motlierseal with her unborn young, or when she is rearing it, is to go on, it will be
but a very short time before the fur seal will practically become extinct and this val-
uable industry will pass out fff existence.

There is the testimony of twenty men who have been on the seal islands
for years, some of them being born and raised there, and several of tliem
having had from fifteen to twenty-five years experience, while every one
of them have been directly interested in the business eitlier for the
Government or for the lessees, and two of them, at least, are natural-
ists of repute, who could not be induced under any circumstances to
vary from the truth and facts as tliey found them.

1 have made the quotations from the " Case of the United States," as
it was prepared for the United States counsel before the Tribunal of
Arbitration, and 1 could quote many others to the same purpose were
it necessary.

IJeing personally acquainted with most of the gentlemen named, and
knowing the truth of their several statements, I deem it quite unneces-
sary to add another name from the scores at hand.

DEAD PUPS.

Assuming then that the "dearth of bulls" theory has been disproved
and disposed of, wo will now take up the subject of dead pui)s on the
islands, and show that until the work of the pelagic sealer in Bering
Sea be(;ame an industry of some im])ortaiu'e,dead i)ups by the thousands,
or by the acre, were unheard of and unknown; but as the pelagic sealing
industry flourished and grew, and the fleet of schooners multiplied and
doubled ill numbers from year to year, the number of dead pups was
found to increase on the rookeries in ti.e same proportion.

That this proposition has been, and may still be, denied by the inter-
ested ones; that men may be found who will swear to the contrary is
already conceded by me, for I have met them who did it; but, in every
instance, they were men whose whole interest capital, and labor were
engaged in the business of seal hunting, and who would follow a seal
wherever it went, on land or water, unless the strong hand of a power
superior to their own intervened to prevent them.

Another class, in which are to be found men of the highest intelligence
and i)ersonal honor, argue that possibly a stampede or an epidemic, or
sometliijig else of which we may not be aware, is at the bottom of the
trouble.

Of the latter class are th? British Bering Sea Commissioners, and I
quote them in full:

(D-MORTALITT OF TOUN'G SEALS IN 1891.

344. In the season of 1891 considerable numbers of dead pujjs were found in certain
places upon the rookery grounds or in their vicinity and various hypotheses were
advanced to account for this unusual mortality. As some of these have speeiaS
bearings on the general question of seal preservation, it may be well to devote a few
words to this particular subject.

24

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

345. In order to exhibit tlio circniiistaiicea surrotnnlinK tins fact and to arrive at a
probable explanation of its true nieaninj!;, it will be necessary In tbc lirst instance
to give iu SMininarized form the observations and not<'s bearing upon it made on he
ground by oursolvea.

316. when visltiii}; Tolstoi rookery, St. Paul Island, on the 29th of Jnly, wo
observed and called attuntion to several hundred dead pui)8 wbicb lay sc;iftcred
about in a limited area on a smooth slop(! near tlie nurtberii or inland end of the
rookery ground and at some little distance frnni the shore. 'I'lie boilics were ]iartly
decom])(ised and appeared to have lain where found for a week or more, which would
place the actual dattt of the death of the pups, say, between the 15th and 20tli of
July. Neither the Government agent who was with us, nor the natives forming our
boat's crew at the time, would at lirst believe that the objects seen on the rooki'ry
were dead pups, aHirmiug that they were stones; but when it became clearly aiiparcnt
that this was not the case they could suggest as causes of death only overrunning
by bulls or surf along the shore, neither one of which appeared to us at the time to
bo satisfactory. Mr. D. Webster, interrogated on the sulijeet some days later on
St. George Island, oll'ered merely the same suggestions, but a few days still hiter,
both whites and natives on the islands were found to have developed fjuite other
opinions and to be ready to attribute the deaths to the o])crationH of pelagic sealers
killing mothers wliile off at sea and leading to the death of pups from starvation
consequent on suc-li killing.

347. IJelieving the matter to bo one of considerable importance, however, it might
be explained, particular attention was paid to it on subsequent visits to rookeries.
On the 31st of July and the 1st of August the rookeries of St. (ieorge were insi)eeted,
but no similar apiicarances were found, nor was anything of the same kitul .again
seen till the ^th of AuKUst, on Pohivina rookery, St. Paul Island, w.here, near the
southern extremity of the rookery, several hundred dead pups were again found by
ns, here also covering an are.'i of limited size, which we were able to examine care-
fully without disturbing the breeding seals. It was estimated that the jjups Iiere
found had died between ten days and two weeks before, which would place tht actual
date of death at about the same time with that of those first referred to.

348. On the following day the extensive rookeries of Northeast I'oint were visited
and examined, but very few dead pups were anywhere seen. Mr. Fowler, in cliargo
of these rookeries for the company, was specially questioned on this point, and full.\
contirmed the negative observations made by ourselves at the time. It nniy hero
be mentioned that the vicinity of Northeast Point ha<l been the prin<ipal .'ind cn'ly
notable locality from which, up to this date, sealing vessels had been siglitud in the
ofhug or ha<l been reported as rhootiug seals within hearing of the shore.

3-19. On the 19tb of August, after a cruise to tiie nortliward of about a fi>rtniKht's
duration, we returned to St. Paul and on the same day revisited 'I'olstoi rookery.
On this occasiim the dead pnjjs previously noted were still to Ix; seen, but flit bodies
were fbittenod ont and more or less covered with sand by the (continuous movement
of the living seals. There were, however, on and near tlie same jilace, antl particu-
larly near the angle between Tolstoi rookery and the sands of English Hay, many
more dead pups, larger in size than those first noted and scarcely distinguisli.-iblo in
this respect from the livinc pups, which were then "podded out" in great numbers
iu the immediate! neighborhood. Messrs. Fowler and Murray, who acconipanicd us
on tills occasion, iidmitted the mortality to be local, and the first-named gentleman
stated that in his long experience lie had never seen any thing of tlie kind befort*. and
suggested that the mothers from this sjiceial locality might have gone to some par-
ticular " feeding bank " and have there been killed together by sea sealers. ( >n the
same day we visited the Reef rookery again, and a search was made thi .e for dead
pups, which resulted in the discovery of some of ajiproxiniately tlie same siz(c with
those last mentioned, but probably not more than an eighth, and cta'tainly not more
than one-fourth in number as compared with the inner eml of the Tolstoi roidieiy
ground, and proportionately in both cases to the number of living \)n]>».

3.50. While making a third inspection of the St. Paul rookeries in .'^eptiMiiber, on
the 15th of that month, the Reef and Northeast Point rookeries were ag.'iin s)iecially
examined. The rookery ground of the southeastern side of the Reef Point w:is
carefully inspected, area by area, with field glasses, from the various roeky jioiuts
which overlook it, and from which the whole field is visible in detail save certain
narrow, stony slopes close to the sea edge, where dead pups might have been hidden
from view among the bowlders. Subsequently, tlie northeastciu fi.'oping ground,
named Garbotch on the plans, being at that date mendy oceujiicd liy scattered groups
of seals, was walked over. The result ol the inspecctif.n was to show that there were
on the southeast side a few dozen dead pups at the most in sight, while on tlu'opiio-
site side perhaps a hundred in all were found in the area gone over, being, probably,
the same with those seen here the previous nionth, and in number or contiguity not
in any way comparable with those seen at the inner end of Tolstoi.

3.51. On the same day a final visit was made to the Northeast Point rookeries, then
iu cl'iirge of three natives only. Two of these men went over the ground with us

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ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

or

ivo at a

0 on he

uly, we
c;itlcrt>(l
il of Ihn
(! )i;irtly
Il would

20tli of
iiiii^ our
rooki'iv
il)p.'irciit
TiiriniM}^

time to

liter on

ill later,

I! other

seiilerw
irvatioii

and wore questioned on variona HiiliinrtH, including that of dead pupa, throngli fnir
Aleut interpreter. They would not Jidniit that they had seen any f;i'<'at nmnlier of
dead pups on the northeast ]>iirt this season, and did not seem to ho in any way
inii'iessed with the idea that there had lieen any unnsiial mortality there. The
ground to the north of Hutchinson Hill was, however, earefnlly examined hy us
froiii the slopes of the hill, and a few dead ])nps were made ont there. Again, at a
])la(e to the north of Sea I, ion Neck of the plans, and l)eyond the sand heach n])on
wliieh hollnsehickif? gemrally haul ont, a slow advance was made among a large
herd of females and pujis, tliou>;h part of these wore necessarily driven off the
ground in so doing. An occu])ied area of rookery was tlins walked over, and thi^
dead ])nps wliieh appeared at this spot to he nnusually abundant were counted with
approximate aecnraey. A very few were found scattered over the general surfaces,
hut on apiiroaching the shore edge an area of ahont L'0,(){H) sci'iari^ feet was noted, in
which ahiMit 100 dead pni)s were assemliled. Some of these lay within reach of the
Burf at high tide. Most a|)peared to have been dead for at least ten days, and sev-
eral were broken uj) and mangled by the movement of the living seals on and ahont
tlieiii. This ])arti(ular locality showed a greater nunihur of dead jinps to area tlian
any other seen at this time cither on the Northeast or Heef rookeries, hnt in number
in no respect comparable to that previouslj' Dote<l at Tolstoi, or even to that on the
south jiart of I'olaviiia.

uriii. Wo were informed on this our last visit to the Pribilof Islands that sul)8e-
(|uent toour discovery of and eomments upon the dead pups at the twola.st-nientioned
jilaces, the attention of .Mr. .1. Stanley I'.iown (who was engaged during the summer
in making ii special examination of I In' ro(d(eries for the United States (iov(M"nnient)
was called to the circumstance, and that he undertook some further exaniiiiation of
it. of which the result will no doubt evf^ntiially be rendered available. Dr. Aeland,
who liad jiist been installiMl as medical ollicer on St. Paul, also told us that he had,
within a few days, examined the bodies of six of the pups from Tolstoi, and that
though rather too nnudi decomposed for correct autopsy, he had been unable to lind
any sinus of disease, hut that all these examined were very thin and without food in
till! stomachs.

'.i'hi. It may be noted here that the carcasses thus examined must have been those
of pups which had died in the mouth of September, or when no sealing schooners
remained in Mcring Sea.

liol. The body of a pup found by us on the Northeast rookery on tlio.'Sth of August,
■which was still undeeoniposed, was ])reserved in alcohol, and has since been sub-
mitted to Dr. A. Gunther, l'\ R. S., of the British Museum, who kindly offered to
make an examination of it. This is qtioted at length in Appendix (D). The stom-
ach was found to cont.iin no food. The body was well nourished, with a fair amount
of fat in the subcutaneous tissue, but no fat about the abdominal organs. The
lungs and windpipe were found in an inlhiinmatovy condition. l{especting the actual
cause of death, Dr. (Janther says: " ISoth the absence of food as well as the condi-
tion of the respiratory organs are aullicient to account for the death of the animal;
but which of the two was the primary cause, preceding the other, it is impossible
to say."

3.55. It would be inappropriate here to enter into any lengthened discussion of the
hearings of the above facts on the methods of seaKng at sea; but as, alter the ten-
tative adoption of various hypotheses, the mortality of the young seals was with a
remarkable unanimity attributed to pelagic sealiiig by the geiitlenu-n in any way
connected with the breeding islands, and as it has since been widely .'ind consistently
advertised in the press as a further and striking proof of the destructiveness of pela-
g)<' sealing, it may bo permissible to allude to a i'ew cogent reasons, because of
which the subject seems at least to require consideration of a much more careful and
searching kind:

(1) Tiie death of so many young seals on the islands in 1891 was wholly excep-
tion.al and uniirecedented, and it occinriMl in the very season during which, in
accordance with the modus vivendi, every elfort was being made to drivt! all pelagic
sealers from Hering ''•ia. Those familiar with the islanils were evidently pu/./.led
and surprised when tucir attention was lirst drawn to it, and wore for some time in
doubt as to what cause it might be attributed.

(2) The explanation at length very unanimously concurred in by them, viz, that
the young had died because their mothers had been killed at sea, rests wholly ui>ou
the assumption that each female will suckle only its own young one, an assumption
which appears to be at least very doubtful, and which has already been disenssed.

(3) The mortality was at tirst local, and though later a certain jiumber of dead
pups were found on various rookeries exiimined, nothing of a character comimrable
with that on Tolstoi rookery was discovered.

(1) The tnortality tirst observed on Tolstoi and Polavina was at too early a date
to enable it to be reasonably explained by the killing of mothers at sea. It occurred,
as alic:idy ex]ilaiiied, about the 15th or liotli ot .Inly, at a time at which, according
to the generally accepted dates as well as our own observations in bSlll, the females

2G

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

Iiiiil not bofjnii to loavir the idokcrics in liiij;<! imnihoiM, or, wlioii Iftiiviiifr tliciii, to do
no more tliiiii Hwiiii oi' pliiy iihimt cIohc to tlio Hliorfs. It haw already lii'im Htiited tliiiD
Hryant jjivcs tlio 25tli of .Fiily an llic o|i(.'iiinfr of tbo ])(!i'iod in wliioli t\w ft'iiiales
bi'Kiii to leave, tlio vookericH. Mayiiiird states that tlu^ ImiIIh, cowh, and piipH i(^iiiaiii
within the ro(d<ery limits lo tlii^ same date, while Klliott places tliis ehaiif;o in the
rookeries hotween the end of July and the 51b and Hlh of Anynst. It is, moreover,
uekn(i\vled!,'ed by the best uiitlioritios that the dates in Heal life n])on the islands
have lieeomo later rather than earlitT in recent years, as compared with those in
whi(di tli(^ dates above cited were ascertained. In the caseof the deatli of pups after
the middle of Aii<;n8t, it might be an admissible hypothesis that the mothers had
been killed at sea and that snbsecjnently to such killing; llie yoiin;; had had time to
starve to death, bnt not at dates earlier than this. In the jiresent case the mortality
be{;an lon^; before that date, and it s(!em» probable that tlie deaths which occurred
latia' mnst be exi)lained by the same canse, whatever it may have been, oxtendinjj
from the original localities and becoming more general

It.'jd. Tlie causes to which tlio mortality noted may be attributed with greatest
probability are the following, but the cvidt,i;ceatproNent at disjiosal scarcely admits
of a final attribution to one or r)tlicr of them. If, however, the examination made
by Dr. A<land of several of the carcasses be con8id(-rcd as inilicativc of the state of
the whole, one of the two tirst is likely to afford the correct (^\|>lMnati(in :

(«) It is well known that in conse(|iience of tlie decreased numher of killables
found on tiie hauling grounds in late years it has been found necessary to collect
these close to and even on the edges of the breeding rookeries, and that it lias thus
bi'cii impossible to avoid the collection and driving to the killing grounds, with the
killables, of all sorts of seals not recpiired, inolndingK<)ecat(diie and females. It is
also known that the driving and killing in the early part of the season of 18111 was
pushed with unwonted energy, taking into consicleration the reduced number of
seals, and it ap^iears to be quite possible that the females thus driven from their
young, though afterwards turned away from the killing grounds in an exhausted
and thoroughly terrified state, never alterwanls louud their way back to tlieir orig-
inal breeding ])laces, but either went off to sea or lauded elsewhere. The ]dacc8
where the greatest nuniberof dead pups were first seen on Tolstoi and I'olavina were
just those from the immediate vicinity of which drives were most fre(piently made.

(6) The appearances, indicating a local beginning and greatest intensity of mor-
tality, with its subsecinent extension to greater areas, might reasonably be explained
by the origination and transmission of some disease of an epidemic character.

(c) The circumstances where the mortality was observed to be greatest appeared
to be such as to be explicable by a panic and stainiiede, with coiise(|uent overrunning
of the young; but, if so, such stampedes must have occurred more than once. They
might not improbably have resulted from attempts to collect drives too near the
breeding rookeries.

(rf I It is (Mitirely within the bounds of probability that raiders may have landed
on at hjast Tolstoi and I'olavina rookeries without anyone upon the islands becoming
cognizantof thefact. IVmales would in such a case be killed in greatest numbers, for
these occupy the stations most easily got at from the seaside, and the killing upon
the rookery ground would also unavoidably have resulted in stampeding large num-
bers of seals of all classes. (Heportof British liering Sea Commissioners, pp.(il-64.)

A brief review of the salient points of the foregoing will not be out
of place at the present time, eveti though the Tribunal of Arbitration,
before which they were considered and upon which they exerted an
influence perhaps, is now a thing of the past.

In section 340 they tell us:

We observed and called attention to several hundred dead pups. • • • The
bodies were partly decomposed and appeared to have lain where found for a we(dc or
more. » * » Neither the Oovernment agent who was with us nor the natives
forming our boat's crew at the time would at first believe that the objects seen on
the rookery were dead pups, affirming that they were stones.

Now, all that seems plain enough, but does it not sound rather hidi-
crous, to say the least, wlfeti it is alleged by any niati that a boat's crew
of native sealers, whose lile work is the handling of seals, could not tell
the dirterence.betwceii the decomposed carcass of a pup seal and a stone,
•when tliose who had never been to the seal islands before saw the dif-
ference at a glance? The conimissioners continue:

The bodies wore partly decomposed and appeared to have lain wlioro found for a
week or more.

Jill, to do

|t.e(l time

leiimlti,s

roinuiii

to ill the,

|ore()ver,

iHlaiHls

tlioso in

lip,s iil'liir

jlicrs Iiiul

■1 tiiiio to

Iiortiilily

IfxciirriMJ

itcndiiijj

I Kre.'itnst
Jy ;uliiiit8
(oil iiiiule

HtiltO of

ALASKA INDIISTRIKS. 2(

To anyoim not kiiowiii^jtlic, rcnl noiidil ions cxiHtiiiff at Tolstoi rookory
oil tiiat i)ai'ti'.iiliir 131Uli of .Inly, the worls (luotcd would imply tliat l!io
men who "(oiuid" tUc bodioH of the 'Mlecoinposed pups" were walking
around on the rookery, but the truth is we did not land on Tolstoi rooic
ery at all duriiig the^'Jth of .Inly, nor did we find any dead pups thiit
had been lyiufj ^here for a week or more, nor did we liiid any.

As 1 was the ( 'overnnient a^ent who accompanied the eommissioncrs
and was in eharg'i of the boat's crew of natives, I atlirni that we sailed
from the village landing to Zapadnie or Hcmthwest Hay, where wo
landed aiul walked on the rookery without seeing any dead pup^; ii"<'
al'tei wards we sailed from Zapadnie and followed (lie trend of tliesliore
all around English I'ay and over to Tolstoi, without making a landing
till we ariived homo at the village. It was while we were jiassing Tol
stoi someone asked the question, "What is that ii]) there on the side-
hill?" Field glas.ses were used by seve.al of the men, and sonie said
the objects pointed at were dead seals, some said "dead pni)s," and some
claimed they were not ctrtain whether they were bones or rocks.

Let it be borne in mird that we were looking at a very steep hill,
broken and roeky; that we were from 200 to 3(10 yards out from land,
and in a boat that was Oi\ a chop])y sea, and therefore in constant
motion, and it will be readily understood why the native sealers were
so dull about dead pups on Tolstoi rookery.

In section 34!> they tell us that —

On tlio 19th of Angiist • • » wo retuniort to St. Paul, and on tlie same day
revisited Tolstoi rookiiry. » » • Messrs. Kowler uiid MiiriMV, who a('eoiii])aiiied
ns on this occasion, admitted the ino'tulity to lie local, and the tirst-iiMiiied f^cntlo-
inan stated that in his long experience he had never seen anything of the kind
before, and suggested that the mothers t'rom this special locality might have gone to
some ](artienlar "feeding bank" and have been killed together by sea sealers.

Without attempting to enter invo an argument of what we actually
saw and said that day on Tolstoi rookery, I will say that it is true we,
Fowler, Murray, and Barnes, were astonished at the number of dead
pups we beheld, a number far exceeding anything we had ever vseen
before, and it was in that spirit of astonishment that Mr. Fowler said
he never saw the like, .:^"aniiig that he never saw so many at one time,
which is very easily accounted for now iiy the wed k'lown fact that in
no year previous to ISOl were so many se.ils killed and taken by pelagic
sealers, as may be seen by a reference to the following table:

Table of pelagic catch from ISGS to 1894, both inclusive, from the bent authorities and
sources of inforviation, revised and corrected to date.

Year.

Number.

Year,

Number. !

1

Year.

i
Number. \

!

Year.
1889

Number.

1S08

4,367

4, 430
8, «8li

1U,»11

5, 330
5,229
5,873

1

1 1875

5, 033 '
5.515
5, 21U
5, 544
8, 807

8, aio

10, 382 ,

1882

.15,551 i
10, 5a5

43. 158

1869

1H70

urn

1H84

ISOO

51.814

1870

1S77

17.183 :
24,900
38, 1'94
40, 0.'8
28,91,i

IS()1

1892

Oil, 788

1871

1878

1 885

73, 394

1872

1879

18,'^li

1893

109. 000

1873

1887

1H94

142, 000

1874

1881

1888

The real number taken in 1891 was 78,000, but only those actually
sold in London aie counted here, and, as there is no doubt that from 80
to 00 per cent of tiie total (!atch were female s(!als, it is not to be won-
dered at that from 20.000 to 30,000 jiups were fouud dead on the rook-
eries in the fall of that year.

28

ALASKA mnuSTRIES.

What Mr. Murray did say on that memorable lOtli of Aiigust, 1891,
is a matter of reeord, as follows:

AoooiniiiiiiiiMl l)y Ancnt Hiirnos, Mr. l'"owlor, of Uw North Ainoriraii Cotnmorcial
Company, aiiil l>y tlir llritiHli roimniHHioiioiM, I viHitcd'I'olNtoi rookery on Aup;nnt 1!),
and wo foiinil tlioiiNniiils of iIcmcI ]iu|).s, covorin^ a spncn of iihoiit 5 aoros, ami llit'ir
uiotherH liad (li.'<Mp|i(!iin'd, Dr. DawHon, ono of thoRonniiiHttloiieiH, took kodak vicwH
of thu ))lii('o, and wlicn lio iiHkod mo wliiit I thoiiKlit was the onuHe of thuir doaDi, I
anHWcrfd, " Tlitnr mollicrH liavo boon killed atst^a."

Sin(!(< I l«d't St. I'liiil I.Mlimd I have recoivcd a lottor from A}j;i'nt Barnes, in which
ho Hays: " Yon nMiiniiilmr tlio iippoaranco of Tolstoi f I visitrd Halfway I'oint alonj?
with Mr. I'owlcr and found tlii^ saino stato of atfairs, or worso; and thoso who have
been to Nortiiciist I'oint say it is still worsn there."

Itcarinj; in mind tliiit Northeast I'oint is the largest rookery in the world, it is no
exaKf?eriilion to say that bc^tween 2(),()()0 and 30,00U juips are lyiiiR dead at 8t. I'anl
Island whoso motliors were slanjjlitered by 8oalin|i; scdiooners in tliooi)on sou and the
pops loft to starve ii])iim the rookeries.

Tho theory of an occasional epidemic amonp; the seals has been broached, and
plausible alignments advanced to prove that the decrease in seal life cao t . accounted
for without lilaniin;; the sealing schooners, but as tho "oldest inliabitant" on tho
isliiTids has no recollcition of anytbinfj of the sort, and as no one over saw iv dozen
dead cows cm any rookery, it is safe to say tliere is no foundation for or truth in
the epid(Muic theory, f Murray's Report, 1891, Senate Ex. Doo. No. 107, Fifty-seo-
Bud Conffress, second session.)

It does not seem possible that the person who wrote in 1801 the report
from which the forejjoing has been copied could have "admitted tlie
mortality to be local," and, as a matter of fact, he never did. On the
contrary, because of a thirty month.'^' continuous residence on the islands
and a personal acquaintance and very intimate and friendly relations
with every i)erson on both, 1 was well aware of the annual increase of
dead i)Ui)s on the rookeries from the time of the flrst-conlirnicd shrink-
afte of the seal herd in 188(!. That the terrible siffht which mot our
}ia/.e on Tolstoi rookery should have caused exclamations of sur])rise
from all of us, who knew its real meaning, is not to be wondeicd at, I
think, for the starved (iarcasses emphasized the fact that in spite of
the efforts of tlie Hoots of the United States and of Great Britain, the
pelagic sealers' deadly work was being done with an energy and suc-
ces.s beyond all jireceding seasons, and that unless some other mode of
protection could be devised by the nations directly interested the seal
herd would soon be annihilated.

In section IMVJi the commissioners say:

Dr. Acland, who bad just been installed as medical oCBcer on St. Pan!, also told ns
that he had within a few days exa'nined the bodies of six of the pups from Tolstoi:
• '' * he bad b(!en unable to find any signs of disease, but that all those examined
were very thin and without food in the stomachs.

Dr. Akeily it was who visited the rookeries and examined the dead
piijis, and whose affidavit will be found in the Appendix.
Commenting on section 255, they say:

(1) The death of so many young seals on the islands in 1891 was wholly exceptional
and unprecedented, and it occurred In tho very season which, in accordance with the
modus Vivendi, every effort was boinp; made to drive all polajjic sealers from licring
Sea. Those familiar with tho islands were evidently puzzled and surprised when
their attention was first drawn to it, and were for some time in doubt as to what
cause it mlKht be attributed.

It is true we were rather astonished at the number of dead pups on
the rookeries, and being aware " that every effort was being made to
prevent pelagic sealing," we were puzzled to account for it at the time,
for we knew of no cause other than the killing of the females at sea by
which it could be accounted for.

Sub.s('(iuontly, however, we learned of the unprecedented catch made
tliat neasou by the sealing fleet, and, naturally, we concluded that our

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

20

b,1891,

JiiTKirc.ial

IkI tlii'ir
Vk viiwH
Idi'alli, [

In wliicli
Int iildti^
plio liiive

it is no

1st. J'anl

and the

donjecttireH worn coiilirnicd. Nor liavo I liiul any information wince
snliicieutly mli.ible to cauHO u change of opinion.

CA) Tim niortiilily wimal llrHt louul, nnd thoiiKh latvr a curtain nuiuberof (load pups
wiu'r fiiiind lit viirioiiH rookuriiMt oxiiiiiliied, uutliing of a cliaracter ooiiipurublc with
tii.it on Tolstoi rookery was diHcovorod.

TreaHury Aff*Mit Hariu's, who wa8 on St. Paul Ishmd hmg aftt^r the
(■oiiiinissionni's left in tlte fall, iH my authority for Haying that tiic" Haine
Htafc of ail'airs or worsts was found later on Polavina and on Northeast
Point,'' the two rookeiics visited by him.

(I) Tliu Miortiility lirHt olmerved on TolHtoi and Polavina was at too early a dato to
oiialilc it to b(i ri'aMoiiiibly i^xnlaiiiod by the killing of inotliurH at Hea. It occiiirtMl,
aH alnttidy oxi)laliii'd, about tiii^ loth ur I'Oth of Jnly, at a tiiiio at which, according
to I lie ^rcncrally accepted datcH, iih woII ii« our own oiiH(.'rvationa in 18111, tiio i'uiiialcH
had not bounn to leave the rookeries in largo nninbers, or when leaving thein, to do
more than Hwini or play about close to the shore.

As already shown, there were no dead pups seen — most certainly
nothing worth noting — until August 10.

Ah the conuiiissioners did not land on either of the seal islands till
the latter end of July — about the 28th, if I remember rightly — 1 (!an
not see how they could have personally observed the movements of the
feniiihs or the condition of the breeding grounds about the 10th or 20th
of .luly.

Section '.>'>i). (a) It in well known that in consequence of the decreased number of
killable.s I'oiiiid on the hauling grounds in late years, it has been found necessary to
collect tliese clone to and oven on the edges of the breeding rook.'ries. » * »

It in also known that tlie driving anil killing in the early part of the season of
ISDl was i)iish(ul with unwonted energy, •• » • and it ajipears to bo quite possi-
lile that the iViinalcs tlius driven from their young, thoiigli afterwards turned away
from (lie killing grounds in an exhausted and thoroughly terrified state, never after-
wardH (bund tlieir way back to their original breeding places, but eithi^r wontotf to
sea or lauded elsewhere The i>lace8 where the greatest number of dead pups were
(list seen on Tolstoi and Polavina were just those from the immediate vicinity of
which drives were most frequently made.

The reiiding of the above quotation staggers one who ever bad expe-
rience on a rookery or a killing ground.

The "it is well known," is surely unworthy of the conimissioiierh.

Which of the men on the islands ever said such a thing? Whoever
said that seals were collected close up to the breeding grounds? No
man who ever mtule a drive or saw one made. Who is responsible for
the story of the driving of females in the early part of the season of
1891 ? No sealer, of course, for he would know that there are no females
on the rookeries in the early i)art of the season.

The commissioners found more dead pups on Tolstoi than on any
other rookery, and they endeavor to show that collecting and driving
of seals from near the breeding rookeries and the consequent taking of
some females or the disturbance of the herds caused the death of the

])I1I)S.

flie island records of all the drives made on St. Paul Islaml in 1891
are at hand, and I will produce a copy for the jmrpose of showing that
no drives wliatever were made from either Tolstoi or Polavina during
the year 1891!

And yet the commissioners, who were supposed to make an impartial
report, say:

The places where the greatest inimber of dead pups were first Been on Tolstoi and
Polavina were jnst those from tlie imiucdiate vicinity of which drives were most
fre(|uently made.

The fiict is, as may be seen by consulting the records for 1890-91, in
the Appendix, that no drives were made from Polavina since July 13,

•M)

AI.AHKA INDU8TRIKH.

nor I'loiii TolstDJ siiicf. July -0, 1800; ho tliiit, inst«'ii(l of liciiip tli«
pliirt's iiio.Ht driven from, tlu^y iiro tli« placoH not driven fioin at nil in
I, Si) I.

Tlic following' talile, from tlie ottlc-ial re<M)idH of tlie Trea.snry Doparf
niciit, n'lM's all of tli(« killin;;'H for food and lor skin.s ((|nota and inoda
viv«ndil from tlii- clo.sc of tlio sea.sou July -(», l.S'JO, to the vUmvi of tho
soaHon Anjjnst 10, 18!(l:

Dalo.

Uookorjr.

HnnlH
klllod.

129
123
124
155
110
83
93
110
109
109
114
95
134
255
283

233
114

463
718

1,112
428
430
232
806
842
186

1,027
110
215
400
100
121
122
178
248
118
407
lUO

l((>ninrki.

1890.
Jlllv 28
Ank. _5

For food.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do

l[,.|.f

23

Udcf

3(1

ilo

Bent, fl
13

.. (1

22

. do

Do.
Do

29

MlddlfilllU

Out. 4

LtikiiiiMoii •••...•..•• ■••.•.....•

Do

14

Jlidclli! Mill

Do.
Do.

22

do

29

do

Do,

Nov. 14

do

Do.
Do,

D(i«. 4

Roof

1891.
May 15
'J9

Kuof

For food.
Do

. do

Juiit* 4

/iidimIimo

Do

11

Quottt.
Do

u

Noi'llioiiHt Point

12

/apiidiiio ,.

Do

13

Nortliea.st Point

Do

13

Mlildli' Hill

Do

15

Moclos vlvpndt.
Do

16

I!e(!l'

17

J)ii

18

liocf

Do.

2U

Middle lli'.l

Do

25

Reef

29

Do.

Jnly 8
13

do

Do.

do

Do.

15

Do

21

MldiUolUll

Do

27

... do

Do.

Aug. 3

Do.

Nortlieiist Point

Do.

10

Lukaniion

Do.

10, 805

Surely this is snfficient to convince every jo.nso.^iible man that instead
of impartially inqiiirinj;' into the causes of tiie decrea.se of the .seal herd
and the best possible method of protection, as was orifjinally intended,
the commissioners have endeavored to screen the result of the work of
the pelagic sealer by making statements about drives, stampedes, and
epidemics on the islands which the facts do not warrant.

In another chapter will be found quotations, bearing on this phase
of the case, from the argument of Jnited States counsel before the Tri-
bunal of Arbitration, to which I I'espectfully call the most earnest atten-
tion.

In order to show that the "dead-pup" iiroblem was not a new thing
on the islands before the British commissioners "discovered" it in
18!)1, 1 quote from the testimony of intelligent native chiefs and sealers
and of many agents of the Government and of the lessees, wlio have had
many years' experience on the seal islands, and they are unanimous in
saying that previous to 1884 there were practically no dead pups to be
seen on the rookeries; agents who were on the islands previous to 1884

ALASKA IN'imHTKIES.

81

ill ill

IIMxIll

of tho

Hiiw liiit f(<w or noIl(^ 'riiiit, iiltlioiiKli tlicio weni Home tow diowiiod jti
tlio siii't'diiriii;^ lioiivy wind storms, or triiiiipl<>d to doatli oi^iMsioimlly
by tlu! ll«:liliii}; l)ulis, it wan not until tlio pt'liinic scaler iiiiiioiiicd in
nVriiiLr M<Mi lliiit dead pups wcro found by liundredH and by tliouHandH
an<l HometinirH by the a' tc.

UKAU VVVa ON rUK ItOOlCEllIES.

rmrka.

Pead pups, which Huoiiied to Iwivo stiirvdil to death, ^rnw very nninHniim
riiKUt'i'ioH llii'Ne hittiir ycai'M, itnd I niiticcd wIkmi driviiiff tho liachidor Hital for

IH Oil tlin

' killiii);,
UN \M' htaiit'd thfiii ii|) from the lii'iKdi, that iiMiiy hiiiiiII |iii|im, hMlfNtarvtMl, iipiiariMilly
iiiothrilcsH, had waiiihMt'd away iVoni tht< hi'<Hidln^ Ki'oiiiidH and liocoini' inixt5d with
till' killahlr Ni'als. I'lic nativi'H ( iilli'd my attciilioii to these waifH, HayiiiL; tliat it <lid
not use to ho NO, and that tli(^ inotlierM w«r»^ dtiad, othcrwiHe tliey woiUdhu upon tii«
hreediii^' KroiiiiiU. (11. N, Clark, Iohhoom' agent.)

'I'lioid were a good many dead pups on tlio rookeries every year I was on the ishwid,
and tliey ,'*ee,iMed to {;row more numerous from year to year, l)ecaii <e tlie rookeries
were all tlitt time ;;i'(i\vin;; smaller, and the dead pups In the hitter years were more
Dunierons In proportion to the live ones. (Alex, llansson, sealer.)

The seals were apparently suhjccrt to no dl-eases: tho pups were always fat and
healthy, the dead ones very rarely seen on or vjout tlie rookeries prior to 1884. lljioli
my return to the islands In 18H(i | was told hy my assistants and the natives that a
very larjie nimilperor pujis had perished the preirediiiK season, a ]iart of them dyinu
upon tlie islioids and others Ix'ing washed ashore, all seeming to have starved tode.ith.
The same thlnj; oi'eiirred in 18M() and in eaeh of the followinjr years to ami includlii|r
18SH. Even hefore 1 left the islands, in August, I88(!, 1887, and 1888, I saw hundreds
of half-starved, oleating, eniaeiate(l niips wandering aimlessly ahoiit in search of
their daniH, and presenting a most pitiahlo appearance. (H. II. Mclntyre, general
manager.)

Milt facts came under my ohaervation that soon led mo to what I believe to he the
true laiise of destriu^tion. For instaneo, during the period of my residence on St.
(ier)rge Island, down to the year 1881, there was always a niiinher of dead pups, the
niimher of which I can not give exactly, as it varied from year to year ami was
dependent mjioii aicidi-ntsor the destructivenesa of storms. Young seals do not know
how to swim at birth, nor do they learn how for six weeks or two mouths alter
birth, and therefore are at the mercy of the waves during stormy weather. Hut from
the year 1881 down to the jieriod when I left .St. George Islaud there was a marked
increase in the number of dead pints, amoiintiug, perhaps, to a trehling of tlwf num-
bers observed in former years, so that I woiilil estimate the number of dead jiiips in
the year 1887 at ahoiit 5,000 or 7,000 as a maxiniuiii.

During my last two or three years I also noticed among tho numher of dead
imps an increase of at least 70 per cent of those which were emaciated and jioor,
and in my Judgment they died from want of nourishment, their mothers having licen
killeil while away from the island feeding, hecause it is a fact that pups drowned
or killed by ac^cidf'uts were most invariably fat. Learning further, through the Lon-
don sales, of the increase in tho pelagic sealing, it became my firm conviction that tho
constant increase in the number of dead pups and the decrease in tho number of
marketal'ie seals and hroedilig females found on tho islands during the years 188,"),
18X(;, and 1887 were caused by tho destruction of female seals in tho open sea, either
belbre. or after giving birtli to the jiups. Tho mother seals go to feeding grounds
distant from thi^ islands, and I can only account for the number of starved pups by
supposing that their mothers are killed while feeding, (T. F. Morgan, lessees' agent.)

TIME OP APl'EAUANOE OF DEAD PUPS.

The loss of lif(M)f pup seals on the rookeries up toahout 1884 or 1885 was compara-
tively slight, and was generally attrihnted to the death of the mothev seal from
tintiiral causes or from their natural enemies in tho water, or, as sometimes liap-
piiied, sudden storms with heavy surfs rolling in from certain directions onto the
breeding rookeries; but never at any time would a sullicicut numher of pups be
killed to make it the subject of special comment either among the natives or the
employees of tho company. (W. S. Hereford, M. D., resident physician.)

Between 1874 and 1883 predatory vessels occasionally appeared in Boring Sea,
among thorn the Cygnet in 1874 and the San Dierio in 1876, but the whole number of
seals destroyed by auch vessels was small, and had no appreciable etiect upon the

32

ALASKA INDUSTKIES.

rookeries. In 1881 about 4,000 «kiii« wore taken in HoriiiK Sea liy tliine vessels, mid
starved pu|>H wore noticed upon tiie islands that year lor tbo first time. In l.SS.j
about 10,0(10 skins were taken in tins sea, and tlie dead piiiw iipon the rookeries
beeanio so iinnierons as to evoke comment from the natives and others upon the
islands, (11. 11. M<liiiyre.)

NO l)i:.\U PUPS PRIOR TO 1884.

Poaching in Bering vSea Lad not begun in those years (from 1808 to 187(5), and it
was a rare thing to lind a db;id pup about the shores or on the rookeries. I had
freiiuent occMsion, alter the close of tiio breeding season, to visit all jiarts of the
island, and tliero was no .■ii)]iearaneo of gaunt or starved si-als. Occasionally a dead
pu)) was tbund tiiat had been crushed to death by the bulls in their encounters with
each other. (George R. Adams, lessees' agent.)

A dead pu]) was rarely seen, the dead being a small fraction of 1 per cent to the
whole number of pups. I do not think while I was there I saw in I'.ny one season 50
dead jiups on tiie rookeries, and the majority of dead pups wore uloug the shore,
Laving been killed by the surf. (Charles liryant, Treasury agent.)

There were not, in 1880, siilliiient dead pups scattered over the rookeries to attract
attention or to form a feati're on the rookery. (W. II. Dall, naturalist.)

During tho time I was on the islands I only saw a very few dead pups on the
rookeries, but the number ii' 1"84 was slightly more than in former years. I never
noticed or examimHl dea:! pups on the rookeries before 1881, the number being so
small. (H. A. Gliddeu, Treasury agent.)

In performing my official duty I frequently visited the breeding rookeries, and
during my entire stay on the island I never saw more than 400 dead pups on all the
rookeries. (Louis Kinimel, Treasury agent, 1882-83.)

I never saw but a lew dead pups on the rookeries until tho schooners came into
the sea and shot the cows when they went out to feed, <iud then tho dead pups
began to increase ou the rookeries. (>'icoli Krukolf, native chief, St. Paul Island.)

I ar.i itiformod that of late years thousands of young puiis have died on the islands
while the season wae in jirogress. (Certainly such condition did not exist duiing my
residence on the I'ribilof groiq). Tho pups were sometimes trampled ui)on by the
larger animals, and dead ones might be seen liere and there ou the rookeries; but
tho loss in this particular was never enough or important enough to excite any
special comment. (.1. M. Morton, 'I'roasury agent, 1877-78.)

Never while I was on St. (ieorge Island did I see a dead pup ou the rookeries, and
I certainly should have noticed if there had been any number ou tho island. (13. P,
Scribner, Treasury agent, 1.879-80.)

While I was on tlio island I never saw more than 25 dead pups ou tho r<'okerie8
during any (me season. I have seen occasionally a dead one among tho bowlders
along the siiore, wliich had jirobably been killed by the surf; but tliese dead pups
weifa in no instance emaciated. (George Wardman, Treasury agent, 1881-1885.)

While on St. George Island there were practically no dead pups on the 'ookeries.
I do not think I saw during any one sea,son more than a dozen. Ou St. Paul Island
I never saw any dead pups to amount to anything until 1884, and then the number
was quite noticeable. (J. H. »Ioulton, Treasury agent.)

NUMllER OF OEAD PUPS IN 1891.

One thing which attrac ed my attention was the immense number of dead young
seals; another was the jMesence of quite a number of young seals on all the rook-
eries in an emaciated am. ajipareutly very weak condition. I was nHiuested by the
(iovernn\ent agent to exaicine some of the carcasses for the iniriioBo of determining
i-he cause or causes of their death. 1 visited and walked over all tiio ro(d<eries, Ou
all, (lead seals were to be I'ound in gn^'it numbers. Their number was more ttp])ar-.)ni
on those rookeries, such as Tolstoi and Halfway Point, the water sides of which were
on smooth ground, and tho eye could glance over i)atcLe8 of ground hundreds of feet
in extent wliicL were thickly strewn with carcasses.

Where tho water side of the rookeries, as at Northwest Point and the reef (south
of' the villag((), were on rocky ground the immense number of dead was not so ap-
parent, but a closer examination showed that tho dead wore there iu e(iually great
numbers scattered among the rocks. In some localities the ground was so thickly
strewn witii the dead that one Lad to pick Lis way carefully in order to avoid step-

ALASKA TNDUSTRIK8.

88

plTig on the carriissos. Tho groat innss of dead in all cases was within » short dis-
caiice of the wator's edge. 'I'hc patclies r)f d<-ud would coiiiiiionce at tho water's edge
aud stretch in a wide swath up into th(t rookery. Among the iinmt;n.se masses of
dead wci'o seldom to be foii!id tho carcasses of full-grown seals, but tho car- assea
wore thoso of pups, or young seals born that year. 1 can give no idea of the exact
nnnibcr of dead, but 1 l)elievn lh:it tlioy (^ould only bo uumbured by the thousand^
on each rookery. Along the water's edge and seattired among the dead were (piite
a number of live pups, wliicli wore in iin cmaeiated condition. Many had hardly the
strength to drag tlieniselvos out of one's way; thus contrasting strongly, both in
appearance and actions, with tlie plump condition and active, aggressive conduct of
the healthy appearing pups. (.1. C. S. Akerly, M. 1)., resident physician.)

In the latter |)art of July, 18i)l, my attention was called to a sonrce of waste, the
etlicienoy of which was most startlitigly illustrated. In my con vernations with the
natives t had learned that dead pujjs had been seen up' n the rookeries in the past
few yearc in such numbers as to cause much concern. In the middle of July tbsy
pointed out to nie here an(i there dead pups and others so weak and emaciated that
their death was but a matter of a few days. Hy the time the British commissioners
arrived the dead pups were in sutlicient abundance to attract their attention, and
r.hey are, I believo, under the ini])ressi()U that they first discovered them.

U'y tho latter ))art of August cleaths were rare, the mortality having practically
(■eased. An exaiuimition of the warning lists of the combined fleets of British and
American cruisers will show that before the middle of August ,'"i last sealing
schooner was sent out of Hering t^oa. 'I'liesn vessels had entered tho sea about July
1 and had done much effective work by July 15, The mortality among the pu])sand
its cessation is synchronous with thosealing fleet's arrival and departure from Bering
Sea.

There are several of th j rookeries upon which level areas are so disposed as to be
seen by the eye at a glance. In Sej)tenil)er Dr. Aketly and I walked (lireetly across
the rookery of Tolstoi, St. I'aul, and in addition to the dead pups in siglit, they lay
iu groups of from three to a dozen among the oliS(Miring rocks on the hillside. From
a careful exandnation of every rookery upon th.c t,wo islands nuidt^ by mo in Angnst
and lSei)tomber, I place the minimuin estimate ot the dead pujis to be iri.OOO, and that
some number between tiiat and 3i),000 would rcjirc^sent nmre nearly r, irue statement
of tho facts. (J. Stanley-Brown, Treasury aj^cnt, 181)1-02.)

No nientioi "vas ever made of any nnnsual number of dead pups upon the rookeries
having beoi' ...niced atany tiniei)rioi to my visit in ISTt), but when I ai^ain visited the
i.slands in 1).. 1, 1 found it a sulijeet of lU' b solicitude by those interested in the jier-
petmition, and In 18',)1 it had assnmeil such iiroj'.utions as to cause serious alarm.
The natives nniking tho drives first discov(>rcd t'as tmnble. then special agents took
note, and later on I think almost everyone wli.) \vas allowed to visit the rookeries
could not close their eyes or nostrils to the great niiuiliorsof dead pups to be seen on
all sides. In company with Si)ecial Agent Mniay, Captain Hooper, and ICugineer
Brerton, of the Cuni'in, I visited thi^ Reeli;nd (iarbotcb rookeries, St. Tanl Island, in
Angnst, 1891, and saw one of the most pi'.iable sig its that I have ever witnessed.
Thousands of <lead i'i><l dying ])Mpswcr'> seatlered ovcMthirookeries, while the shores
were lined with emaciated, hungry littli^ fellows, with their eyes tunit^d towardthe
sea -.ittering plaintive cries for their inotlicrs, which were destined never to return.
Numbers ot them were ojiened, their stoinaclis examined, ami the fact revealed that
starvation was the cause of death, no organic disease being a[ipaient. ( W. C. Coul-
son, captain, revenue marine.

The scho(mers increased every year from the time I first noticed them, until in 1881
there was a fleet of 2(1 or 30, and then I began to see more ami more dead imjis on
the rookcncs, until in 1801 the fleet of scaling scini'Uiers numbered more than JO
and the ro .keries were covered with dead pups. (,)ohii Gratis.)

It was during these years that dead, emaciated pu)is were first noticed on the rook-
eries, am' they increased in numbers until 18111, in which year, in .Viignst and Sep-
tember, tlie rookeries were covered with dead jiups. (Edward Hughes, employee of
lessees, l';88-18y!.)

On the 19th of Angnst, 1801, I saw the young pups lying dead upon the rookeries
of St. Paul, and I estimated tlieir number to be not less tTian 30,(100; inid they had
died from starvation, their mothers having been killed at the lecdiMg ^iiiiinds by
pelagic hunters, (.loseidi Murray, Treasury igent, llS81l-lX!ii.)

Q. Have you noticed any dead jinps on the rookeries tliis past season, and in what
proportion to former years! — A. 1 have scrii an unusual number of di'ad /iips this
year on the breeding grounds; I may sav t\\ ice as many as formerly. (J. C. Kedpath,
lessees' agent, 1875-1891.)

H. Doc. illi, l>t. 2 ;}

34

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.
CAUSE OF DKATII OF PUPS.

Q. Rid yon see any deail juijis oil the rookorifis this season? — A. Yes; niy attention
was called to the matter hy ,). f^tiiiiley-HriPWii, wlio requested nio to examine them
with a view to deleriniiiinff the cause of their death. I examined a nniiiber which
had apparently recently died. Their bodies were entirely destitute of fat, and no
food to lie found in their stomachs. After a careful examination I Ibund no evidence
of disease.

Q. What do you assign as the cause of their death f — A. I bdieve thoui to have
died of starvation.

Q. Why do you think they died of starvation f — A. I'rorn the fact that nearly all
the (lead on the rookery were jiiips, and from alisence of all signs of disease, emaciated
condition of their bodies, and absence of food from their stomachs. (J. C. S. Akerly,
M. D.)

There were a great many dead pnjit on the rockeries during my last three years on
St. Paul lslan<l. Many of them wandered helplcsly about, away from the groups
or pods where they were accustomed to lie, and liiially starved to death. We knew
at the time what killed them, for the vessels and boats were several times plainly >n
eight from the island shooting seals in water, and the revenue cntt»<rs and comiiany b
vessels arriving at the island frequently rejiorted their presence in Hering Sea, and
sometimes the capture of these niaraudiiii: crews. If all had been captured and the
business broken up the sea] rookeries would be healthy aiu. prosperous to-day, instead
ol liciiig depleted and broken uj). I speak positively about it, liecause no other cause
can be assigned for their de]dction upon any reasiinahk hyjiothesis. (W. C. Allis,
lessees' agent.

Dr. Akerly, the lessees' jdiysiciau at the time, made an autopsy of some of the
carcasses and reported that he could *ind no traces of any di8ease<l condition what-
ever, but tlicre was an entire abscn(U) of food or any signs of nourishnii'iit in the
stomach, lielore Dr. Dawson lelt I c.illi'd his attention to what 1 ir. Akerly had
done, but wliether he saw him on the subject 1 can not tell. (Milton Uarnes, Treas-
ury agent.}

I procured a number of these jinps, and Dr. Akerly, at my request, made aiitop-
sias, not only at the village, but later on upon the roolieiies themselves. The lungs
of these dead pups tloatod in water. 'I'K. le was no organic disease of heart, liver,
lungs, stomach, or alimentary canal. 1' the latter there was but little and often no
fecal matter, and the stomach was eutindy empty. I'ups in tlie last stage of emacia-
tion were seen by me upon the rookeries, and their coudilion. as well as that of the
dead ones, lelt no room to doubt tliB-t their death was caused by starvation. (J.
Stanley-lirown.)

The ])ups on llui rookeries were fat and healthy, and while I was on the islands no
epidemic disease ever a))])eared among them, nor did the natives have stories of
an epidemic ever destroying them. (Ch.irlcs Bryant, 'I'reasiiry agent, lf<(i9-1877 )

1 was iiilbnned at the time (N'ovomber, 18J11) that the stomachs of dead jiiips bad
been examined by the medical ollicers at the island ami no traces of food found
therein. From iiersoiiiil obsi'rvation 1 am of the opinion that fully ill) per cent of
them died of star\atioii, great emaciation being ajipareiit. (John C. Cautwell,
revenue marine )

1 have never known of any sickness or epidemic among the seals, and I am of the
opinicm that the thousands of dead pups on the rookeries last year died of starva-
tion on account of their mothers being shot c.iiil killed while I'ec'd.iig at the tishing
banks in the sea. I was jiresent last year i.'.ul saw si^nic of the dead pups examined.
Their stouiaehs were eiiqity, and they presented all the ap)iearances of starvation.
1 also notii'cd on the rookeries a great many emaciated pujis, which on a later visit
would be dead. It has always been the pr;ictice jirior to ISiU for the natives to kill
3,1)00 to 4,000 )pnps in November for food, and v?e always lind their stomachs filled
with milk. (C. L. Fowler, Itissees' agent.)

It is my opinion that the cows are killed by the hunters when they go out in the
sea to feed, and the pups are left to clie and do die on the island, (,'ohu Fratis, nas ■ v .•)
sealer.)

They were thin, poor, and appeared to have starved to death. (Ai 3X. IlanF.j/. ,
sealer.)

It is a well-known fact that the feTnnlo seals leave the islands and go great dis-
taiic,(^s for food, and it is clearly jirovcn that many of tluuii do not return, as the
nuuiber of pups starved to death on the rookeriiis demonstrates. (W. S. Hereford,
M.. D.)

1

to
Tru

iii\

I'll

sea

em

toui

oC

in, I

hv

Km

all

foui

ex;i

of

;

to I

evil

!

we
Z. 1

at;

1

I

'J

we

s

lia\

M

nei.

M

pui

9

ISC

M

her

3

fen

1

in t

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

35

attention

inn tbeni

ler which

t, and no ?

) evidence 1

to have

nearly all
oniiiciated
S. Akerly,

le years on
he j^roupH
Wo i<new
plainly in
coiniiany n
Sea, and
ed and tlm
ly, instead
'thcr cause
|V. C. AUis,

ome of the
it ion wh:it-
ii'nt in the
Akirly had
•nes, Treas-

liide autop-
Tho lunj^s
jeurt, liver,
md often no
e of inuacia-
that of the
vation. (J.

e inlands no
,'e HtoricB of

<r>9-1877 )

id pups had

■ food found

per cent of

/'. Cautwell,

. I am of the

)d of starva-
; the tisliinj;
|)sexaniiMC(i.
f starvation,
a later visit
stives to kill
>Miachs filled

fo out in the
"'ratis, nat' V :)

3x. Hacp-j/i,

(10 Rreat dis-

eturn, as the
S. Hereford,

Kor if thr mother seals are destroyed their youn}; can not but perish ; no other dam
will suckle tlifin; nor can they Hul)Bisl until at least 3 or 4 months old without
the ni()th«M'» inilk. The loss of this vast number of pups, anioiintiuf; to many thoa-
sands, we could attribute to no other cause than the death of the mother at the hands
of pelagic seal hunters. (II. H. Mclntyre.)

Q. How do you account for this? — A. I think the cows were killed by the poach-
ers while away from 'he rookeries, and as mother seals nurse none but their own
younj;, consequently the pups whose mothers were killed die from starvation.
(Antone iMelovedoif, native chief.)

The seals are never visite<l by ])liy8ical disorders of any kind, so far as I could
ascertain, and I have never seen on their bodies any blemishes, humors, or eruptions
which miglit be attributed to disease. (John M. Mori. >>.)

Those latter pu])H I examined, and they seemed to be very iriuch emaciated. In
niv : i.inioii, they died of starvation, c;iused by the motheis iiaving been shot while
ai' ' 'roll) the islaiuls feeding. Another cause of their starving is because a cow
> give suck to any pup but lier own, and she '■•■coi^iiiizes her oll'spriug by
itb ;.;,, distinguishing its voice from that of hundred., of others which arc con-
btaiiily bloating. (.). II. Moulton.;

The epidemii' theory was nrr;>!d very strongly in 189J, when the rookeries were
found covereil with dead pi. [is, but a ciireful and technieal examination was made
of several of the dead bodies without discovering a trace of organic disease, while
starvation was so apjiareut that those who examined them decided that it was the
true cause of their death. Had sickness or diseaxo llt^a(•ked the seal herd, it is only
reasonable to suppose a few grown seals woubl be foinid dead where so many young
ones had died so suddenly, but the most diligent searrh has failed to lind a grown
seal dead upon the isl.nids from unknown causes. I'rom the discovery of the islands
until the piesiiit time the flesh of the fur seal has been th(^ daily meat ration of the
natives and of the white people, and jet it is a fact that a tainted or di^eascd carcass
has never been known. (L. A. Noyes, M. D., resident physician, l>i80-lS9J.)

Some of Miese losses wore due to their jierliaps too early attempts to swim. When
the pup is a few months old the mother seal conducts it to the water and teaches it
to swim near the shore. If a heavy sea is encountered the weak little pup is liable
to bo thrown by the surf against the rocks and liilled. but under natural conditions,
and w ith the ))ro*i i;tion to the rookeries fornu'rly enforced at the islands, the losses
fiom this ( au.-e i;h1 nil others combined (save al ine the authorized killing) amounted
to an iuliniteiiiui I Meiceutage of the whole nunbers in the herds. (II. G. Otis,
Treasury H,;',e,.:, Ih79 1881.)

Another u, ■ a.iily untrue, was that an epidemic had seized the herd; but

investigai vn :.K losest kind have never revealed the death on the islands of a
full grown -^i.'" M,.i 1. known causes, f.et it be remembered that tlif. Ilcsh of the
seal is the 8ta]>!e I ;i oi the natives, and that it is eaten daily by most of the white
employees us well, ^ir i' vet it is irue that a sign of taint or disease has never been
found on a seal carc;:ss i'l the menmry of man. It was not until so many thousands
of (lead pajis were found ui>i)n the rookei ies that the problem was sol ved. 'i he truth
is, that when the cows go out, to the feeding groun<ls lo fee'', they ari' shot I'lid killed
by the pelagic hunter, and the pu|is, deprived of ''ustomiace, die !i])on the rookeries.
Hxceptinga few pups ki'b'd by the surf occasionally, it lias bicn (lemons rated that
all the jiups foninl dead are po(uand stai ved, and when exainiui I their stomachs are
found to be without a sign of food of any sort. The resident physu ;.i"... Dr. .\kerl,v,
ex.imined many of them, and found in oveiy ins'.ance that starvation was the cause
of death. (,l. C. Kedpath.)

A doubl<5 wjisle occurs when the mother seal is killed, as the pup will surely starve
to deatl A nu)ther seal will give sustenance to no )iup but her own. I saw sad
evldci- . '. ,' ! (,is waste on St. I'aul Island last season, where large numbers of i>np8
were i . ■ .Ixjut tlit^ rookeries, where they had died of starvation. (Commander
Z.L.Tai I. ■. ^. N.^

I nevf^r beiiKi of any disease among the seal herd, nor of an epidemic of an.y sort or
at any time in the history of the islands. (Daniel VVebster, lessees' agent, 18CK-1894.)

If the mother of a young seal is killed, the ])np is very likely to die. It will be so
weak that the storm will dash it ashore and kill it, or it may die of starvation. I
hav(, H(^en pups hardly larger than a rat from lack of n(nirishment. A starved or
neglected orpluui jiu)) is near.v sure to die. ;Vt one storm the natives fouiul over 300
pups washed asluut' In a little cove, and the water around was full of dead pups. It
18 certain that n(>arl v all the de.\(l |)U]is were orphans. The fenuile seal when suckling
her young has lo go out into the ocean iii search of food, and it is those animals, or
females (ui the way to the bii'e(liiig grounds lo give birth to the young, that wo kill
in the Horing Sea. (T.T. Williams, i|Uoliug Captain Olsen.)

36

Al.ASKA IXDUS'iPT"'S.

The foregoing quotations are from tlie affidavits and reports of men
who, through years of experi(;i)ce, gained a i»ra(!tical knowledge of fur-
seal life in all its details, and who therefore know of what they speak
bej'ond the possibility of successful contradiction.

It may be urged by our opponents that the testimony is that of men
who are neither learned nor scientific, and who, being emi)Ioyed by
either the Government or the lessees, had private and personal interests
to subserve.

For the purpose of r. . ", iug such objections, and to show how the
practical and scientific a^ \ in this matter, Iwill here introduce a

paper written by a well-k naturalist, who has had many years

practical experience among i. .'ur seals on the Commander Islands,
and who has not now, nor ever had, any interest in the Tribilof Islands
or the Alaskan seal herd.

His testimony is therefore the more valuable, and it will be fonnd
that it confirms my position in every paiticuiar:

DEPOSITION OF NICnOLAB A. ORRBNn7.KI,> KU8BIAN HIUTABY CHIEF Or TBB COM-

MANDKK ISLANDS.

I, NicboIaB A. Grebnitzki, Knssian military chief of the Commander Islands dis-
trict, with the rank of colonel, make the following statement:

I have been rcsidiiiff on the C'cjunuandcr Islaiids and have directed all sealing oper-
atioDH tliere for the last lilteen years, and during this whole period have been absent
from the islands but very little. I have carefully observed seal life, the condition of
the rookeries, and the method of taking seals at all seasons and under all conditions,
with the object of keeping the Kussian Goveriinient thorouglily informed as to its
sealing interests and tlio proper management of tiie same.

While I have never had the opjiortiinity to examine the Pribilof Islands seals, yet
I do not hesitate to exiness the ojiinion that that herd and the Commander Islands
herd are distinct and do not mingle at all. There are some natives on the islands
who are familiar with both, and who state that there is a marked dift'ereuce in tlie
animals. Besides, my studies as a naturalist enable me to state thiit it would bo
contrary to all reason to suppose that they mingle with one another. The Com-
mander herd approaches very closely to the Kobben Island herd in winter, and yet
it does not mingle with it. Ol' this I am sure, for 1 have charge of Kobben Island
as well as of the Couinianiler Islands, autl know the skins of the two herds to bo dif-
ferent. The skin of the (JoMiniauder seal is thicker, hiis coarser hair, is of a lighter
color, and weighs about 20 per cent more than a Jiobben skin of the same size.

It is wholly inii)robable that the seals of the Commander herd visit any land other
than the ( 'oniiiiander Islands, i believe they regard these as their home, these islands
being peculiarly adajjted to their needs at tlie ])eri<)d to bring forth their young and
of breeding. The fact that the Kobben Island herd still frequents Hobben Island
to the exclusion of any other land, notwithstiinding it has been subjected there to
the utmost persecution, shows to my mind conclusively that the presence of man
will not prevent a seal herd from returning to the same land year after year. Even
if isol.'iled cases have occurred (I know of none) in which for various causes a few
of the Commander Islands seals reached other shores, such exceptions would not dis-
prove the general rule above stated. I can reiulily understand that a lemale which
Lad been wounded in the water might be subject (sic) to seek the nearest laud and
there give birth to her pup.

Annually, at almost stated periods, they arrive at the islands and immediately pro-
ceed to occupy the same grouiuls which have been o('cui)ied during past years in a
way which makes it im])ossible to doubt that they are fiiniiliar with the locality. I
believe thut at some time during the year every seal comes ashore. There is no reas(ui
to believe that a certain number of any class remain swimming abont in the ueigh-
l)orhood of the islands all sunuuer without landing, although there is considerable
difllerence in the lime at which ditl'ereut classes arrive.

Soon after landing at the Commnnder Isliiiids those cows which were fertilized the
year prm'ious give birth to their young. A cow does not, excei)t in very rare iuNtances,
give birth to more than one pup in a season. The birth of pups caii only take place

heel

dnii

seal

refer

to-d;

notv

skins

'No written evidence having been produced in the report of the Uritish commis-
sioners in support of tlie various views attributed to Mr. (!rebu't/ki, the United
Stiites have deemed it desirable t> obtain from that ollicial a written expression from
Uis views upon seal life in general.

and
book

exc(
nati:
erioi
cert
forw
it is
Tl
ma I
Slid
nial
ove
exei
goal

ALASKA INDTTSTRTES.

37

of men
e of fur-
sy speak

; of men
eyed by
uterests

how the

Toduce a

tiy years

Islands,

Islands

be found

THK COM-

Blands dis-

■alingoper-
let'u altaent
'onditionof
conditious,
cd UB to its

la Reals, yet
ider Islands
tlio ialiinds
euce in the
it would be
Tbe Com-
ter, and yet
bbeii Islaud
da to bo dif-
of a lighter
le size,
y land other
thcfieislinida
r young and
bbcn Island
::ted there to
enee of man
year. Kven
eanses a few
i)nl<l not dis-
einale which
eat land and

ediatelypro-
Bt years in a
! locality. I
a is no r<-a8()u
in th(t neifjb-
conaidorable

Fertilized the
ire inataneea,
ly take place

tinb oommis-
, the United
)rcasion from

on shore. Cows never arrive at the islands with new-born pups. Rnt the impossi-
bility of birth in the water is best proved by the iacl that llie pup when lirst born is
purely a land animal in all its habits. It does not voluntarily approach the water
till it ia several weeks obi, and t lion it is obliged to learn to swim. A surl will aoiiie-
tiiuea wash the youn^i iiups oil the rucka, when they are sure to bo drowned. Tbe
pups can not swim at birth, but must bo tauglit by their mothers. A pup would
drown if thrown into the sea before learning to swim.

Coi)ulation in the water I believe to be impossible, for the act ia violent, of long
duration, and in general character similar to that jjerlorniod by land animals.

I believe that the seals leave the vicinity of the islands mainly on account of the
severity of the wintor. Of course, I do not mean to say that tliey would renuiin on
the shore all the year round, as many of them do throu;;h()ut tbe whole of tlie sum-
mer, for they would be oblijjed to take to the water to obtain food, What 1 mean is
that they would not go ao far away as they now do, but would renuiin around the
islands, and tlius give additional j)roof of tbe umiuestionable fact that they re{;ard
them as their home. I base this statement upon the fact tliat during mild winters I
have myself seen them in large numbers off the Commander Islands. They are otten
reported nbout 50 miles south of the wosturutnost of tlie Aleutian islanda and the
Kamchatka Coast. This would be in accord with tbe liabits of tho seals of the .South-
ern Hemisphere, which, I am informed, are found in the same locality, more or less,
at all seasons. The seals generally leave the Commander Islands by the middle of
November, by which time it lias become odd and stormy, but in mild winters they
have been on the islands as late aa December.

1 do not think that fur seals should be cla.ssed with wild animals any more than
sheep or cattle when out on large pasturing grounds. Seals, unless needlessly
frightened, become more or less accustomed to tlie sight of man among them on the
rookeries, and while on land are at all times under his comjilete ccuitrol. A few men
can drive a large number of them without dilliciilty. They are intelligent to a very
high degree, and can be made to become in a short time pets. The breeding males
or luills are alone aguressive.

t^cals are polygamous, and the powers of fertilization of the male are very great.
.Since the births are about e(|ua!ly distributed bet ween males and females, it follows
that under natural conditions there would be a gr<'at excess of male life over that
actually needed for the propnuation of the species, and it is, as in the case of so
many other animals, for the jxisitive benefit ol' the held as a wh(de that a portion of
this excess of male life be killed oft' l)eforc it is of snllicioiit age to go uu the rook-
erics. If not killed <)(f the competition by the bulls upon the rookeries for females
would be destructive of much life. This competition is already tierce enougli.

l»uring some of the y<:ars i)rior to the time of my arrival on the islands there had
been considerable indiscriminate killing of seals without regard to age or sex; but
during the fifteen years of my management of the ('oiiiiiianiler Islands rookeries all
seals which have been killed constituted a portion of the excess of males above
referred to, and known as bachelors, or holluschickie. This is why the rookeries are
to-day in a much better condition than when I Hr.st went to the Commander Islands,
notwithstanding tlnit until the year 1891 a gradually increasing number of large
skins has been, taken. From 1H86 to 1890 the average annual catch was about .50.0(X),
the skins all being large. The last two years I have rediK'ed the catihes, because I
now think ,50,000 skins somewhat in excess of what the rookeries can yield, anil for
other causes which I will mention later. I feel very sure that the great cause of
this diminution is pelagic scaling.

This year I have counted over 3,500 skins seized on poaching vessels, and have found
96 per cent to be skins of females. They were akins taken from (.'omniander Island
seals.

As to akins taken near Pribilof Islands I counted the skins seized in the Rosa Ohen
and found two-thirda of them were skins of femalea. These were taken, as the log
book of the liesa Olsen shows, over 80 miles from shore.

I consider it a false argument to say that the killing of a proper portion of the
excess of r; le life is bad, merely because it ia an interference witli the order of
nature. If not interfered with, nature will produce p.ii overpopulation of the rook-
eries, which would, of course, bo a bad thing. By the present mode of killing a
certain number of young males, |io]iulatiou is regulated. ?vo facts can be brought
forward to show that this method ia not the right one. Past experience showB that
it is right.

The method is not proved to be bad by showing that during some years too many
males may have been killed, and that the rookeries have thereby sull'ered. When
such mistakes have been made they can be corrected by reducing the number of
males to be killed for a few years: for the most absidute contrid can be exercised
over the herd while it is on land. I cbiiiu that the nietliod now pursiie<l, when
executed under proper regulations, is in theory and ])ractice the only one by which
sealing can be carried on comnwreially withouo injuring the vitality of the herd

38

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

m

and its ability to niaiutaiii its nniiibeis at the in'opcr limit. It does not nnuse tbe
seals to cbaiifjo tlieir liabits in any way, and I do not Ixlievo that oven an exofxHive
killing of yuiiUK niales ou tho iulandH would Lave the cllect of alloriu); the bubitx of
tho female seals with regard to lauding and causu thorn to renHiin abont the islands
iuHtead of coniinK *)» shore.

Cows, except, ))eihap8, iu rare cases of accident or for scientific jnirpoHes, are
never allowed to be killed on the ishindn, and the reason for this is tiiat all cows
are needed for breeilinj; pnri)oses. To kill, therelbro, any cow except a Itarren one
(and there are i'ew barren ones except :,inonj!;sl the very old cows) inllict« a much
greater injury on tiie herd than the loss of a siM^le life. It is not true tliat because
it is projier to kill a certain number of nialcs it is also jiroju'r to kill a certain num-
ber of females. But assuming that it mi<;hl at soMe time become <lcsiralile to kill
some females, it would still be wholly imjiioper to kill them without regard to size
or condition, as is the case when they are killed in the water.

There is at the present time n|)uu the C'ommaiiilcr Islands an abundance of male
life for breeding purposes, and there is no tear that any female will not be servtul
from lack of virile males. On the other hand, it is (indoubtcHlly true that tliert! were
in 1892 relatively fewer females than iu former years, and I attribute this to two
causes: First, to killing of se;i'.s in tho water, and, second, raids ujxm tho islands.
The tirst of these causes is by far the nuire important.

The raids have, owing to tlie great amount of loj;ny weather, taken place, to a cer-
tain extent, notwithstanding tlie greatest precauiious to guard against them. The
raiders kill males, femab'S, and pups without disiriuiimitiun ; luit however itijuri-
ously the raids have afl'eetcd tho rookeries still they are of much less importance
than the killing of t!ommander Islands seals in t he water. During the past two suin-
niers, and esjieeialiy during the last one, this killing in the waters has become so
great that if allowiid to continue in future years the herd will be in danger of
nltimate extinction.

I do not know exactlv how wasteful this nntliod may be, from the fact that all the
animals wounded or killed are not (ii])tMred, tlionnh I am told that much loss occurs
in that way, and I know that under certain conditions a seal shot dead will sink .at
once. I can state jiositively, however, fromactiial cx|i(aienie aii<l personal examina-
tion, that a vast lirojjortion, fully ',''' jier cent, of the skins taken by this nictliod
during the present year are those of lemale animals. In a Idit ion. a certain number
of the skins so taken .ire those of very young seals, probably of both sexes, such as
are never killed on land.

Very few of the fenuiles killed are barren, no matter when or where they are
killed. Females taken early in the season are generally heavy with young, in which
condition they travel slowly as compared with ihe other seals. The killing of such
a fennile involves, of course, the immediate loss of two lives. l>ut i^ven when the
female is taken after she has been <ni shore and given birth to her young this same
result follows eventually, for a seal will suckle only horownpu)), ami tho jinps are
for the first llirce to tivt; months de])endent altogether on their m' 'lers for food.
Consefjuently when tho mothers, who, after the birth of tlieir piijis, lea>e the rookeries
in search of food f traveling sometimes consideraMe distances, 1 do not know exactly
how far), fail to return, theii- pups must necessarily die.

There are always a few dead i)up8 to be found on the rookeries whose death is not
due to that of their mothers; but during the last year or two a greater number of
dead pups have been actually noticed than heri'tof(ue, and have attracted the atten-
tion of all ])ersons on the islands who are at all familiar with seal life. It can not
be siiccessliilly contendeil that they all died of natural causes. There is no disease
among the Commander Island seals, and while a e(utain number of young pups are
always exposed to the dan;^er of being crushed to death (but not as a result ol the
drives which are nuide to collect seals for killing) or iii being drowned Iiy the surf,
yet these causes of death will not account for the greater mortality of ]iups which
took place during the past summer. IJesides, the liodics of tho dead pu]is 1 refer to
are those of starved animals, being greatly emaciated.

It is chielly during the next few years that the elTccts of tho recent killing of
females will become most noticeable, bocause many of the i)nps which in those years
would have become bachelors or bolluschiokie have never been born or died soon
after birth.

With regard to the driving of the seals from the beaches to tho places of slaughter,
while it does not bcMielit them, yet I believe that there are very few casi'S in which
it does them any harm even if they are redrix en. I am sure it docs not render them
im])otent. It should be rouiemhen^d that, unlike tlie hair seals, they are fairly-
adapted to uiovenient on land, as is proved by the tact that they are iu some eases
actually driven considerable distances oxer ground that is both rough and steei).

Since the killing of seals in tho water is wasteful, and in every sense contrary to
the laws of nature (which rec|Uirt) that special protection be afforded to the females
and young of all animals), 1 .4111 of the opinion that it slionbl be entindy forbidden.
If it is only partly suppressed 01 prohibited within a certain distance from the

ALASKA JNDUSTRIR8.

3!i

canse the
■exocsHivo

1 habitHdf

|jo islaiidH

pocea, aro
all cows
|arri)ii 011(3
a iiiucli
It Ipccaiiso
Itaiii iiuiii-
ilo to kill
lird to 8i/e

le of male
1 1)0 Hprved
llieio were
liiM to two
|io islands.

J, to a cer-
tiorn. 'I'lio
vol' iiijiiii-
rii|i<ii'taii<'0
t two snin-
bitcoiiio so
duuger of

lat all the

loSMOCM'lirS

ill sink at
I pxaiiiiiia-

is iiic'tliod
ill iiiniilior
UH, Bitcli as

0 tlicy are
},'. ill which
iij; ol' Hiich
n when the
C fliiH same
10 |)ii|)s are
IN Cor food.
io rookeries
low exactly

Icath is not
iimiiher of

1 tho atten.
It I'aii not
no disi^ase

g piijiB are
•Hiilf ol the
>y the surf,
iiips which
IS I refer to

killintf of

those yoars

died Boon

ulaiifjliter,
'8 in which
sudor thoiii
are fairljr
some caHeg
1 steep,
•oiitrary to
he females
forhiilden.
) from the

inlnnds, the evil would not be cured, altlioiijih its effects miRht be less noticeable,
for tho killinj; of fiMiiiiles, many of them heavy with yoiiii;;, would iieeessarily con-
tiiiiie, since all ex|>i'rienee showa that feiuule animals always ccMistitute the chief
catch of the opeu-seu sealer.

Nicholas A. OnKnNiTZKi,
District Chief of the Commander Islands, District St. I'eltrsburg,
(Counter case, United States, p. 362.)

Here we have the testimony of one who is at oiuie a scientist and cJe
of the most prnctical of men: a man who lias been otlicially interested
in the fur-seal industry for 1 ly years, and who lias devoted a great
part of Ills life to the scientilic and practical study of the sjteciea.

Every word lie utters shows his intimate knowjedf^e of the subject
treate't, and his practical common sense and .scientilic; acumen, coupled
with a breadth of view all his own, {>ivc8 an extraordinary value to
everything he says on the subject of fur seals.

True, he is interested in the fur-seal industry on the Commander
Islands, belonging to liu.ssia,and for that reason he may fall under the
ban of tho hypercritical Miio seem to suspect the honesty and the
motives of all who have, or ever did have, any connection with the fur-
seal islands on either side of Bering Sea.

Tiiat the class of criti<'8 alluded to may be silenced on this point I
will introduce the testimony of leading naturalists, which is in full
'iccord with all that 1 have already (jnoted. Jt will be seen that Dr.
Merriam brieHy staied the question at issue to the naturalists of Europe
and asked for their views, which were freely given and which 1 take the
pleasure of quoting in full.

CIRCULAR LETTER OF DK. 0. HART MEKRIAM.

Dr. C. LTart Merriam, one of the American Bering Sea commission-
ers, addres.sed the following circular letter to various leading natuialists
in ditlerent parts of the world, for the pui'pose of obtaining tiieir viewa
as to the best method of preserving the fur seals of Alaska:

Wapiiixotov, D. C, April S, 1S9S.

Beau Sin: The Goveinmcnt of the United States lia\iiit; selected iiie as a natu-
ralist to investifiate and ro|Kirt njion the condition ot tlie f'lii-seal rookeries on tho
Pribilof Islands, in lierin}; Sea, wilh s|MH'ial refcieiice to the causes of decrease and
the measures necessary lor the rcstuiiition and pei iiiancnt jireservation of the seal
herd, 1 visited the I'riliilof Islands and made an extended investijjation of the sub-
ject, the results of which are here briefly outlined.

FACTS IN THK LIFE HISTORY OP TilK NORTIIKRN FUR SKAL (CALLOKIIINUS URSINUS).

(1) The fur seal is an inhabitant of Bering Sea and the Sea of Okhotsk, whero it
breeds on rocky islands. Hut lour breeding colonies are known, namely, (1) the
Pribilof Islands, belonging to the t,'iiited States; (2) the Commander Islands, belong-
ing to Russia; (3) KoUlien Reef, belonging to Russia; and (4) the Kiirile Islands,
belonjiing to Jajian. The Priliilof and Commander islands are in lie'ing Sea;
Robben Reef in the Sea of Okhotsk, near tho island of Saghalien, and the Kurilo
Islands between Vezo and Kanitchatka. The species is not known to breed in any
other part of the world.

(2) In winter the fur seal migrates into the North Pacific Ocean. The herds from
the Coniinander Islands, Rohbeii Reef, and the Kurilo Islands move south along the
Ja])uu Coast. The Pribilof Islands herd move south through the passes in the Aleu-
tian chain. The old breeding males are not known to range much south of these
islands. Tlio females and young reach the Amcri<'aii Coast as far south as California.

(3) Returning, the herds of females move nortlnvard along the coast of California,
Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia in .lanuary, Pebruary, ard March, occur-
ring at varying distances from shore Following the Alaska coast northward and
Westward they leave the North Pacilic Ocean in ,111110, traversing the passes in tho
Aleutian chain, ami proceed at once to tho Pribilof Islands.

(4) The old (breeding) males reach the islands much earlier, the first coming the
first week in April or early in May. They at onco land and take stands on the rook-
erics, where they await the arrival of the lomales. Each male (culled a bull) seleota

40

ALASKA INiniSTRIEa.

a large rock, ou or near which he remains, luilcHs driven oil' liy stmnKer hulls, nnMl
August, never Iriiviii^c fur u ningle inxtjiut, ni^ht or day, himI taking neither food nor
water. Kot'ore the arrival of the femult-s (called uows) the IiuUh tight savagely among
tlieiimelvcB for positions on the rookeries, and many are severely wounded. All the
bulls are located liy Juno 20.

(5) 'I'lie pregnant cows begin arriving early in June, and soon appear in large
schools or droves, iinnieiisf numbers taking their i)lu<'eH on the niokcries eiich day
between June 1- and tlie cud of the uioutli, viir.\ iiig with the weather. They assem-
ble about thi! old bulls in ('(im|)act groups called hartniis. The harems are complete
early in July, at which time the breeding rookeries attain their maxiuium size and
conipa(!tne8H.

((>) The cows give birth to their young soon after taking their places on the
harems. The ]ierioil of gestation is between eleven and twelve months.

(7) A single young is born iu each iustauce. The young at birth are about equally
divided as to sex.

(8) The act of nursing is ])erformed on land ; never in the water. It is necessary,
therefore, for the cows to remiiii\ at the islands until the young are weaned, which
is when they are 4 or 5 months old.

(9) The fur seal is ))olygamouN. and the male is at least three times as large as the
female. Each male serves 15 to L'.5 females.

(1(1) Coi)ulation takes pl.ice on laud. Most of the cows are served by the middle
of July, or soon after the birth of their pups. They then take to the water, and
come and go for food while nursing.

(11) The pui)s huddle tcigcther in small groups called pods, at some distance from
the water. When 0 or 8 weeks old they uitive down to the water's e<lge and h^arii to
swim. The i)ui)s are not boni at sea, and if .soon after birth they are washed into
the sea they are drowned.

(12) Tlio'cows are lielievcd to take the bull first when two years old, and deliver
their lirst jiup when 3 years old.

(13) Hulls lir.st take stands ou the breeding rookeries when 6 or 7 years old.
Before this they are not powerful enough to light the older bulls for positions on the
harems.

(11) Cows when nursing, and the nonbreeding seals, regularly travel long dis-
tances to feed. They aie commonly found 100 to 150 miles from the islands and
sometimes at greater distances.

(15) The food of the fur seal consists of fish, sqnids, crustaceans, and probably
other forms of marine life aNo.

(16) The great majority of cows, pu])8, and such of the breeding bulls as have not
already gone, leave the islands about the middle of November, the date varying
considerably with the season.

(17) The nonbreeding male seals (holluschickie), together with a few old bulls,
remain until January, and in rare instances even until I'ebruary.

(18) The fur seal as a.spi cies is present at the I'rihilof Islands eight or nine months
of the year, or from two-ihirds to tliien-fourths of the time, and in mild winters
sometimes during the entire ycir. The breeding bulls arrive earliest and remain
continuously on the islaiiils about four months; the lireeiling cows remain about
six luouihs, and the nonbreeding male seals about eight or nine months, and some-
times during the entire year.

Tea

1872....

lH7:t....

1874...
187......

1870...

8KAL8 KILLED ON THK I'lilBILOF ISLANDS.

(19) The only seals killed for commercial purposes at the seal islands are non-
broediiig iiuiles (under 5 or (J yeais of age. called holluschickie). They come up on
the rookeries apart from the breeding seals, and large numbers are present by the
latter i)art of May. They constantly ])ass back and forth from the water to the
hauling groumls. These animals are driven by the natives (.\leuts) from the haul-
ing grounds to th."!;iilin^'' grounds, where they are divided up into lit tie groups. Those
selected as of suitable siio are killed with a club by a blow ou the head; the others
go into the water and sooi; rea)ipear on the hauling grounds. In this w^y about
100,000 young males have been killed annually on the Pribilof Islands for twenty
years.

(20) In addition to the commercial killing above described, a number of male pups
were formerly killed each year to furnish food for the natives, but the killing of
pups is now prohibited by the (jovornmeut.

PRESENT NUiMBiiKS COMTAHED WITH FORMER ABUNDANCE.

The rookeries on both St. Paul and St. (!eorgc islands bear unmistakable evidence
of havii'.g undergone great reduction iu size during the past few years. This evi-
dence consists ( 1 ) in the universal testimony of all who saw them at an earlier period,
and (2) in the presence upon the back part of each rookery of a well-marked strip

kete
prod

thel
can
the
seal

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

41

H, nntil
1X1(1 nor
among
All the

lurge

icli (lay

iisHern-

)nipl(!te

li/o and

on the

e(iuiilly

cessary,
which

;e as the

1 middle
t(>r, and

deliver

or zone of grasR-covered land, varyinj; from 100 to 500 feet in width, on which the
BtoneN niid ImwldciH !iie Hipper- worn and jioliHlicd by the former movementH of the
BcaiN, and the ^raNH is yelluwiHli-grccii in color and of a dificiont eenim {(jlyceria
aiiiiuKtata) from the rank, hJKh ^niMH nsiially ^ruwin^ immediately behind it (Elymut
mollis). In many planeu the ground between the tiiHHocUH and liiiirmiockB of graHs ia
covered with a tliin layer of f(-ltin,ir. (tompoHcd of tlu^ Hlnid hairs of the seals matted
down and mixed with excrement, urine, and surface soil. The (!xa(^t year when this
ycHow-griisH zoTie waH last occn])i(«(l by seals is ditflc.iilt to ascertain, but the bulk of
itcNtiiiiony points to 18K(i or 1887. The agKr^'Ki'te size of the areOiS formerly occupied
is at least funr times as great as that of the present rookeries.

CAUSES WHICH LK.n TO THE DEPLETION OF THE ROOKKRIKS.

The seals which move northward along the const of the northwestern United
Sliites, iiritiHli Columbia, and soutlieaslern Alaska from .January until late in .Mine
arc cliielly ])rcgiiiiut females, and about !)0 per cent of the seals killed l)y jielagio
scalers in the North Pacific, are feinnles heavy with young. For obvious reasons
uKiny more seals are wounded than killed outright, and many more that are killed
sink before they can be reiichod, ami consequently are lost. As each of these contains
a young, it is evident that several are destroyed to every one secired.

I- (ir several years the |)elagic sealers were content to pursue *".' (r deHtrnctive work
in the North I'aeilic, but of lat(( they have entered liering.Sea, where they continue
to cii))tin(' seals in the water throughout the entire summer. The fenntles killed
during this period arct giving milk and are away from the islands in search of food.
Their young starve to death on the rookeries. I saw vast numbers of such dead
pii]>s on the island of .St. Paul last summer (l,**!!!), and the total number of their
ciircas.ses remaining on the Pribilof Islands at the end of the season of 1891 has been
estimated by the United States Treasury agents at not less than 20,000.

The number of seal skins actually secured and sold as a result of pelagic sealing ia
shown in the following table:

Tear.

Nnnilicr
of skins.

Year.

Ntiniber
ul'Mkin.s.

Tear.

Nuinlipr
of skills.

Tear.

Niirabei
ofskiDa.

1872

1,029
(0
4,949

1, 616

2, 042

1877

(»)
264

1 1882

17,700
9,105
14, 000
13, 000
38,907

1887

33,800

1H7:1

1878

laHi)

1888

36,818

1874

1879

12,500

18H4

1889

9. &63

187."i

IH.HO

13, 600
13,541

1885

1890

1.404

1876

1881

1886

1891

62,600

Inasmuch as the number of seals niiiuially seemed by pelagic scaling represents
but a tVaction of the total number killed, a glam.'e at the above figures is enough to
show that the destruction of seal life thus produced is alone sufficient to explain the
pre8(^nt depleted condition of the rookeries.

Pelagic sealing as now conducted is carried on in the North Pacific Ocean from
January until late in June, and in Boring Sea in July, August, and September,
Some sealing schooners remain as late as November, but they do so for the purpose
of raiding the rookeries.

It has been alleged that overkilling of young males at the islands is a principal
cause of the depleted condition of the rookeries.

In reply to this contention, it is only necessary to bear in mind that the namber of
male and female fur seals is eijiial at birth, that the species is polygamous, and that
each male serves on an average at least 1.5 to 2,5 females. It is evident, therefore,
that there must bo a great superabundance of males, of which a large percentage
may bo killed annually forever without in the slightest degree endangering the pro-
du(^tivenes8 of the herd. Furthermore, it has been shown that the killing of seals
at the Pribilof Islands is completely under the control of man and is restricted to
the superlluous males, for selction as to sex and age can be and is exercised, so that
neither females nor breeding males are killed. It is evident that this killing of non-
breeding males could in no way affect the size or annual product of the breeding
rookeries nnless the number killed was so great that enough males were not left to
mature for breeding purposes. There is no evidence that this has ever been the case.
.Moreover, all seals killed or wounded are invariably secured and their skins mar-
keted; in other words, there is neither waste of the seal herd nor impairment of the
productiveness of the breeding stock.

Pelagic sealing, on the other hand, is wasteful in the extreme amd is directed to
the fountain head or source of siijiply. From the very nature of the case, selection
can not be exercised, and a large jtercentage of seals wounded are lost. Ov;ing o
the peculiar movements of the seal herds, it so b.ap|ieiis that about 90 per cent ol tae
seals killed in the North Pacific arc females heavy with young, entailing a destrao-

43

ALASKA muUSTUIES.

tion of two seal lives for every adult seal killed. In neriiifj Hea, also, large miinber«
of t'enialeH lire taken; tbene feinnlcs are in milk, and their .young dieof Htarvatiun on
the rookfiicH.

Pelagic Beiiling an an induNtry is of recent origin, and niny be said to date from
1879. Tlie nnnilier of veMHeiN eii;,'ani'd lia-; nicudily inpr<>»iHi'd, an bus the number of
aeals killed, until it iii>|)earB tliiit uiilexs cbecki'd by international legiHlation the
commercial extermination of tbi' kcmI i.s only a niatler of a few yearH. It seems a
fair inference, tlierelore, that the only way to restore the denletrd rookeries to their
former condition is to stop taking seals at sea, and not only in Hering Sea, but in
the North Pacific as well.

Having been Hcloctcd by my Onvernment sobdy as a naturnliHt, and hiiving invCNti-
gated the facts and arrived at the above c.oncliisiDns and recoirimi'iidations from tho
standpoint of a naturalist, I desiic to know il' yon iigrce or dilfer with me in consid-
ering these conclusions and recoiiitnt'iMbilionsjustilled and necessitated by the facta
in the case.

I shall be greatly obliged if you will favor me with a reply.
Very truly, yours,

C. Haat M!:ak;!AM.

EEPLIES TO 0. HABT MERHIAM.

REPLY OF DK. ALPIIONSB MILNE KUWARDS.

t

Parih, April SO, 18i)S.

Sir: I have rend with great interest tlie letter you addressed me with reference to
the fur seal*) of Iteiing Sea, and 1 think it would be of real advantage to have con-
certed international measures so as to insure an ell'ective protection to those valuable
animals.

To-day tho means of transportatinn at tho disposal of the fisherinc^n are so great,
the processes of destruction which they employ are so improved, tlmt the aninuil
species, the object of their desiie, can not escniie them. Wo know that our migra-
tory birds are during tlieir travels exposed to a real war t)f extermination, and an
ornithological international commission bus already examined, not unprolitably, all
the questions relating to tlieir preseivation.

Would it not be possible to put fur seals under the protection of the navy of
civilized nations f

"What has happened in the Southern Ocean may serve as a warning to us.

Less than a century ago these amidiibia exi.sted there in countless herds. In 1808,
when Fanning visited the islands of South Georgia, one ship left those shores carry-
ing away 14,00fJ seal sfeins bebuiging to the species Arctociphalus auHtialia. He him-
self obtained 57,000 of them, and lie estimated at llL',000 the numl)er of these animala
killed during the few weeKs th»^ sailors sjieiit there that year.

In 1822 Weddell visits these islands, and he estimates at 1,200,000 tho number of
skins obtained in that locality. The same year 320,000 fur seals were killed in the
South Shetlands. Tho inevitable conseiiuences of this slaughter were a rajiid
decrease in the number of these animals. So, in spite of the measures of protection
taken during the last few years by the governor of the l'"alklaiiil Islands, t hese seals are
still very rare, and tlio naturalists of the l'"reiicliex|)edition of the /^omnnc/ifl remained
for nearly a year at Tierra del Fuego and the Falkland Islands without being able
to capture a single specimen.

It is a source of wealth which is now exhausted.

It wi'il soon be thus with the Ctillurliiiiiin iirsuius in the North Pacific Ocean, and
it is time to insure to these animals a security which may allow them regular
reproduction.

I have followed with ranch attention the investigatici which has been made by
the Government of the I'liited .States on this subject, i ho reports of the commis-
sioners sent to the Pribilof Islands have made known to naturalists a very largo
number of facts of great scieiititic interest, and have demonstrated that a regulated
system of killing may be safely aiijilied in the case of these herds of seals when
there is a superlluity of males. What might be called a tax on celibacy wasapplied
in this way in the most satisfactory manner, and the indelinite preservation of the
species would have been assured if tli'j emigrants, on tlndr way back to their breed-
ing places, bad not been attacked and pursued in every way.

There is, then, every reason to turn to account the very complete information which
we possess on the conditions of fur-seal life in order to prevent their anuihilatioQ,
and an international coiumissiou can alone determine the rules, from which the flsher-
meu should nut depart.

Accept, etc., A. Mtlxe Edwards,

Director of the Muneuvi of Natural History.

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

43

imben
Itiuii on

■to from
liibBi- of
lion the
leom8 a
jtti tlioir
but in

linveHti-
roni the
IcoiiRid-
le l'act«

ttni'lY OK l>ll. ( AlJl.dS lIKltd, Ol- IIIK.VOS AVnEB.

.hisv. 4, 1H!13.

8in: In ntmwcr to your cirniliir dated April 2, and directed to Dr. Ilcriiiiuin Hiir-
lUciHti'r, i rc^iict Id i<:t voii knuw tliat Naiiio diod tthoi'tly biiforc tho truiiHiuissioii of
your cironlar liy I). N. Hi'i'toJHttis t^M(|.

Iliiviu;? Iifcri iiniMcd <lirnctor of tlin national ninsitnni in tho ]>laro of tlio deccaHCfl,
1 have read willi >;rcat intcrcHt your rcpcirt and <iirii'iM,si()nN alioiit tlio cuuhcs of Mie
dcciciiHo and the nicasurort niiccHMary for tho iiHtiiriition and |)(Miiiaiii'Mt prcscTvation
(if thr HOiil hiTil on thii Priliilof InlanilM, in Mrriiif; .Sea, and aicordinjj to yonr wisli I
liiivc tlio plcamiro to kit you know tlial from tin' stiiMd|ioint of a iiaturaliNt I (icr-
fiMlly iiKr<!<' with yon in oonnid<(rin<j y^>uT con. IntiionM and rci'ornini'ndatioiiK.jnstilicd
and nmcHnitated Ijy tlm factu htuted hy you as a rusult of jour Hiioiial inveHtifjation
on the al)ov<)-nain<Ml ishinds.

Very truly, yours, Carlos iiv.iui.

BRPI.Y Of PIIOF. nil. AI.I'ItKIJ NKirillN'ii, UOYAT, A<iRI(llH

TIJIJAr, COI,[,K.(iK OK IIK.Itl.IN.

Hiuii.iN, April 21, 189S.

Mr. C. Hart Mkrhiam,

Vniltd SlaiiH Dviwrtment of AqHculture, Wanhington, D. C:

IIif.iir.Y Khtkkmki) Sir: I have carofnily read anil considered your elaborate
and very iutere.stinn letter of tiie I'd iuHtant, wliidi I ree<'ived ycNterday thronj^h
Mr. .lohn Hriukerholf .Jai^kson, secretary of lefjation of the North American legation
in tliiM city, and, in reply, I oeud you a Htatuniout of my views with regard to its
contents.

\Vhat yon say concerninR the mode ,if life, and especially the annual mi)j;ration8 of
the fursoal (Callorliiiiiis iirniiius), whoso lireedinn j)laies are tho I'riljilof Islands, is so
clear and convinciuf^, ami harinonizos so )ierlectly witli wliat has been observed by
'". other reliable scientists, that I fully aj^ree with yonr deductions. I am, like your-

self, of the o|)inion that tho remarkable decrease of fur seals on tho rookeries of the
Priliilof Islands, whicii Ints, of late years, become more and more evident, is to be
attributed mainly, or perliiips exclusively, to the unreasomible destruction caused
by the seiilers who ply their avocation in the open sea. The only rational method
of taking; the fur seal, and tho only one that is not likely to result in the extermi-
nation of this valuable animal, is tho one which has hitherto been omi)loyed on the
Pribilof Islands under the supervision of the {Joveniment. Any other method of
taking; the northern fur seal should, in my opinion, be prohibited by international
agreement. I should, at furthest, ai)provo a local pursuit of the fur seal, where it
is destructive of the fisheries in its southern winter quarters. I rejjard jielajjic fur
sealinj; as very unwise; it must soon lead to a decrease, bordering on extermination
of the fur seal.

With great respect. Prof. Dr. Ai.frku Nkhrino,

Professor of Zoology in the lioyal Agriciillioal College of Btrlin.

BEPLT OF PROF. COUNT TOMMASO SAtVADORl.

Zoological Museum, Turin, April S5, 1892,
C. Hart Mf.ruiam,

United blaUs Department of JgriciiHitre,

Divmon of Ornitliolui/y, IFaahington, D. C.

Dear Sir: I have received your letter concerniuff the northern fur se.al, on tho
condition of which you have been selected as naturalist to investigate and report
by the Government of the United States.

As a whole I agree with you is to tho facts and conclnsions drawu on your report,
although the increasing number of seal skins actunlly secured and sold, as v result
of pelagic sealing shown in your table, does not sntliciently ])rove, in my mind, that
we are already iii tin! period of a decided diminution of the numl)er of living seals.
■Still, I quite adndt that it is absolutely necessary to adopt some measures for the
iireservation of the seal herds.

No doubt tlic free )ielagie scaling is a cause which will act to tho destruction of
the seal herds, ami to that it must bt! put a stop as soon as possible. But at the same
time 1 think that the yearly killing of about UHl.OtX) young males on the Pribilof
Isliinds must have some intluence on the iliniinution of tho herds, especially pre-
venting the natural or sexual seliMtion of the stronger nuiles, which would follow if
the young males were not killed in such a great number. So that, with tho stop-
ping of tho pelagic sealing, I think, at least for a few years, also the slaughter of ao
many young males in tho Pribilof Islands should be prohibited.
I remain, Tory truly, youre,

Prof. T. Salvaj)oiu.

44

ALASKA INDUHTHlEa.

IlKI'LY OV DIl. U. IIAUTLAUB.

Bkkmkn, April SS, t89S.
Mr. C. Hart Mkrhiam,

Dkai! Sik: Yoiii cxctlleiit ropiirt on tho nortborn fur seal I have read and lereiid
witli iiiioiiHo int)M'Nt.

I am fur from iittriUutinK to nijonlf a oonipotent jiidgmont refcardinn this iiintt(«r,
but coiiHuU'riiiK '>11 lacts wliicli .vdu Iiiivbho cloarly iiml vimviiiciiiKlv coiiiliiiKid and
ex|in*»H<Ml, it Ht'fuiB t(i mo tliiil the iiicisurcH you proimHo in onlor to jndliiliit tlio
tlii't^iitcniii); dd'uy (if till) northitrn fur hciiI ui'o tho only coi'ivct oiiuh iiruniiNinK an
tiM'ectivn rcHiilt.

I Hiiiccioly ri'Krot that for priiptical rciisnim it onn not bo thou;(ht of to prohibit
fur-Hoal liiiiitliii; for a few yoarH iMitirt'ly, an tliiirvvouhl natunilly aHsist nuiiii'rically
th)< iiiPMiicod animal,

Th«ri) i.s at iiiiy lato diinf;''r in view, and it ran not Im tooHlronKly »mipliasj/(id that
your (to wullfonndod proiioMalf) hIioiiIiI bu executed at tiio earlioNt time possible.

With Hinrere thanUn lor the oonlitlenoe you have placed in my Judgment, I am,
dear air, your uioat obedient,

Dr. G. Hartlaub,

BBPLY OF PROP. RODEKT COLI.ETT, OF TllIC ZOOI.OOK'AI. MU8KUM OF TIIH UNIVKR8ITT

OF CllRISTIANIA, NORWAY.

tllllUMTIANlA, April 22, 1S9S.

My Dear Sir: It would be a very easy reply to your hijshly iiiteri'stitiK treatise
of the fur Hoal, whi(di you have liecn kind enough to send ns, when I (Uily aimwered
you that I aj^ree with you entirely in all pointH. No doubt it wonbl be the j;reate8t
value for tho rookeries on the I'ribilof Islands, as well as for the preservation of the
existence of tlie seal, if it would be iiossiblo to atop the 8ealiii}r at sea at all. Hut
that will no doubt be very ditlieult when so many nations ]iartake in tlie sealinp;,
and how that is to go about I can not know. My own conntrvmcn aio killiiiL; every
year many thousamls of seals, C\j»io }>li()rir, on the ice barrier bclwoi^n .Siiit/bi'f;;ou
and Circenland, but never feinalPB with yoimjj; either are the old ones caii^iht or—
and that is tho greatest number — thi; young seals. Hut there is a elo.sc tim(\ aecepted
by the diti'erent nations. Just to prohibit the killing of the females with young.
I'erhaps a similar close time could be accepted in the lioring Sea, but that is a ques-
tion aliont whicli I can not have any opinion.

Many thanks fur the paper.

Yours, very truly, E. Collktt.

REPLY of LEOPOLD VON SCHRENCK.

St. PETKKSnuRO, JpHl 13/S5, 1S9S.
Dear Sir: Having read witli eager and critical attention the nieinoir you have
addres.sed to me upon the condition of the fur-seal rookeries on tho I'rildlof Islands
in Ueriug Sea, the causes of de<Tease and the measures necessary for the restora-
tion and permanent preservation of tho seal herd, I can not but completely agree
with you in considering the conclusions and recoinmendntions you arrived at quite
justified and necessitated by the facts. I am also persuaded that the pelagic sealing,
if ptirsued in the same mauuer in future, will necessarily end with the extermination
of the fur seal.

Very truly, yours,

Leopold von Sciirenck,
Member of the Imperial Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg,

REPLY OF DR. HENRY H. GIOLIOLI.

Firknze, 19 VIA RoMANA, Afay S, 189S.
Dkar Sir: Years ago, in November, 1867, I had the* good fortune to be able to
visit an extensive roid<cry of one of tho South racitic, eared seals, the well-known
Olaria jubata. It was during my voyage round the world on the MiKjenla. The
rookery in question lies Just behind Cape Stokes in the (iulf of I'enas, oii the south-
ern coast of Chile, and is the one seen by Darwin during his memorable voyage in
the lieagle. I shall never forget that day, when my astouishfid gaze rested on hun-
dreds of these eared seals lying about in every attitude of repose on the beach and

ALAHKA INIHT8TKIR8.

45

/.1!K\

il rercAd

iiifittcr,

ilKtll lUlli

liiliit llio
liNiiiK un

I)mliil)it
iriciilly

i/«(l that
il>Io.
It, I am,

ILAL'B,

rockn of tlie dill. re, or griK-flfiilly, ami willmnt hIiowIiik thnaliphtniit fnar, performinK
till' iiiDNt iinoltiitio tn'oliiliiiiiN in llio wiittT idmikI our limit. Tliiil day I liiitl my Ilr8t
(■xpi'iii net' of tliiNit NiiiKol'ii' oiiMt iirt'N, mill I'loiii lli;tt duv <l<it<'H tlix H|i(triitl inturuRt
I have ever Miiitr tiiUrii in llio stiuly of tlio liCe history o^ tho Otaiiida', which is one
ol' thn iiioHt iiiurvuIoiiH in /(iiiloKy*

In till' HpriiiK ol' INXd, wliiln <'(>iiiiiiisHion(ir for Italy at the {{rand " FiBcherel-
Aii«»ttilliinK" hi'id lit Iti'iliii, 1 lli-ftt liaii oic.miiMi to iidniire, in tho I'nitod Static*
I'xliiliit, tint liraiitii'iil uiid Hiiiiitrd dia\viTi;;s of iliinry W. Klliott. I hiivoKlnco tli*«n
1al<rn a ki I'll intiMont in tlir vMuiilinfiil lite liiNtory ol (lie North I'acilic fur Hi^al (^'ai-
liiilniiiis HialiiNN), UN licHt ux<'iii|ilill<'<l on tiio rribilof iHlandN. Later on I havn caro-
tiilly rriiil and connni'iitod on llio varioM.s Hrcoiiiitx wliii'li have a|i|i(!ar))d in print on
tlif Hiilijcit ; tliiiH, in ,1. A. Allrn'M North Anu'riiaii riiiiiipi'ilH, \VaMhiii({ton, IhHO (p.
;il_' 111 H('i|.), but nioro owpt'iiallv tho diluilnl anil jjrapliic dcHcriptioiis wliiidi have
lit't'ii piihiiHlicd by lli'iiry W, ICIIiott in liiit iiiaslorly inonoKniph, The Seal iHianilR uf
Alaska, in tliat k^'I'i'' worit by (i. Itrown (ioodi' and a»,sociati'H, 'I'he KiHlierieg and
lisliiTy IniliiHlrirs of tiio liiitrd SI at oh (v(d. 1, p. 75 «t hoi|.), WaHhiiiKton, 1884, and
a^^aiii in liis iiioNt inturoHting volnino, Au Arctic Province, AhiHku and the Seal
IniamlH, London, 1886.

Ali«r IlioHo pici rdi'iitH ymi can oanily iniofrine how f;reat un interoRt I take in that
"vpxata nnnHtio," the fMr-HcaJ tiNhcry in tho Hiring; Sea; with what pliMiHiire I
received tiiroiiKh tho I'nitcd StatcN (iovorniiiont and Mr. l.oiiK, the I'nitod Htaten
(oiiNiil in thiHcity, your coiiiiniinication, and bow ^'ud I am of the opportunity thus
aiiordcd nie of ^ivin;; my niiliia!<cd opinion in tlic caNo and aiding you in your noble
clioit to pri'Hcrvc troiii iittir ilcNtriiction one of tlio iiioHt iiitcrcMting of living; crea-
tiiri'H, and to Have at tho same time u niont vnliiablc auurco uf human industry and

■olit.

have read with great attention your condenRod but very complete statoniiiit of
'alient points reganling the life history of tho North Pacilic fur .seal (i'allin hiiitit
Id). I have eaiefiilly eonsidiTrd tho results of your investigation upon the con-
..iiion of the liir seal rookeries on tlio I'libilof Islands, your conclusions rejjarding
the cause of their decrease, and tho nieasiires you 8iigj,'eHt ua necessary for tho resto-
ration and permanent ]ireser\ ation of the seal hunt; and 1 am happy to state that
1 entirely iif;rec with you mi all points.

The tirst and most important iioiiit for consideration is evidently the cauRo of the
iiui|Ue!«<ionable decrease ascertained in tho fiir-Hoal rookeriiH on the I'ribilof Islands
dining the few past years. The stringently enforced rules which Htrietly limit tho
killing for commercial piir]io8eH to noiibrceiling inaica or liolluscliickieH, ( nrefully
Kilecied, whkdi srlcctioji lan only be niailc on land, »aitirely jircdude to my mind
the Huggostion that the lamented decrease mav be attributed in any degree to tlie
killing ol' too large a nMiiiber of nonbri'cding iiialcH. Such a decrease might have
been in some slight nu asiiio uttribiitcil to the former cnstom ot' killing each year a
certain number of male piijiH to furnish food for the natives, but that jiractice has
been wisely pndiihited. Therefore,! feel imsitive that the notable decrease in tho
number of fur seals resorting to the rookeries on the Knrile Islands, on the K'uMieii
h'eef (Saglialicn), and more especially on the Coininander Islands, as being in the
Hi'ring Sea.

Having conclusively shown that tho lamented decrease in the herd of fur seals
resorting to tho Pribilof Islands can in no way be accounted for by the selective
killing of nonbrecding males for commercial ])iirpo8es, which takes place on those
islanils under sjiccial rules and iictivo siirvi illance, we must look elsewhero for its
cause, iuid I can see it nowhere but in the iMdiscriminiiteslaiighter, principally prac-
ticed on breeding or pregnant females, as most clearly shown in your condensed
rejiort, by iiclagie sealt^rs.

In any case, all who are competent in the matter will admit that no method of
capture could bo more uselessly destructive in tho case of jiinniiiedia than that called
"pelaj;ic sealing; " not only any kind of selection of the victims is impossible, but it
is ii'luiitting miich to assert that out of three destroyed one is secured and utilized,
ami jjiis for obvious and well-known reasons. In the case of the North Pacilic tiir
seal, 7l)is mode of capture and destruction falls nearly exclusively on those — the nurs-
ing or pregnant females — which ought on no account to be killed. It is greatly to be
deplored that any civilized nation possessing tisLcry laws and regulations should
allow such indisciiuiinate waste and destruction. Tho statistical data .you give are
])aiufully eloquent, and when we come to the conclusion that thefl2,5()0 skins secured
by pelagic sealing in 18!'! represent at a minimum one-sixth of tho fur seals destroyed,
viz, 375, (WO — that is, calculating one in throe se^-ured and each of the three suckling
a pup or big with young — we most undoubtedly need not look elsewhere to account
for the rapid deirease in the rookeries on the Pribilof Islands; and I quite agree
with yon in maintaining that, nnli'ss the mal|)ractice of pelagic sealing be jireventetl
or greatly checked, both in the North I'acitic and in the Itering Sea, the economic
extermination of (Jalhvhinui ursinuii is merely tho matter of a few years.

46

ALASKA IXDUSTRIES.

International legislation onght to intervene, and withont delay, in this CMe and

unggest the nieiinsof po.ssilily pieveiitiiifi or at least coriHidfni lily i,iiiitinir the pclajjio
capture and killing of the noi thcni fur sea! — a deHtructive inid i.lliiiiiitidy I'atal indus-
try, which forcihly recalls the well-knnwn lable of the pi'asa\il who killed the hen
which laid the golden e<x<x». The industry derived from the rational killing of fur
seals, as practiced on t4ie I'rild'of Islands, has an economic value whii h extends far
beyond the limits, thoujih vast, of the United States; and it uinet he remembered
that the commercial extermination of the fur s. ,i' must also put an end to those
industries which are connected with the preparation of the mncl v :!ued aeal-skiii fur.
It is both as a naturalist and as an ohl conimissioE " of lislieries tnat I iieg to say
onco more that I irnist entirely ai\d must emphatically agree with you in the conclu-
sions and recoinmendatioiis you come to in your rejiort on die present condition
of the fnrseal industry in the Hering Sea, with special ref reiice to the causes of
decrease and the measures necessary for the restoration and. permanent preservation
of that industry, which conclusions and recommendations are fully supported and
justified liy the facts in the case.

With much regard, believe me, dear sir, very truly, yonrs,

HKNIIY H. GlGLIOLl.

REPLY OF DR. BAi'UAEL BI.ANCIIARD.

Dr. C. Hart Merriam,

Hiirtmt of .iniiiial liuliistrji,

Department of Ayririiltiire, fVasIiington, D. C.

Sir and Honored Colleague: I have read with the deepest interest the learned
memoir wliiidi you have dene me tho honor to send me cone.eruiiig the biological his-
tory of the Inr seal {('alhi-hinni) vsiiris).

The very ))reci8e observatiouf vhicli yon made at the Pribilof Islands and the no
less (ertaiii information basei' ^n oHicial statistics which you give on the . ".b.ject of
the caiituic of the females on the iiigh sea at the moment when they arc returning to
the I'ribilof Isl;;iids to give birth to their young, have suggested to you eonclusiona
with which I fully agree.

I will go even finther than you, for I think it urgent no*, only to rigidly prohil)it
the taking of the migratory Ca/^u/ii/iHS in the open sea, bu also to regulote and limit
■overely the hunting on land of lualcs still too young to have a harem.

According to your own obsi'i'vatioi the male di^es not pair oft' liefore the age of 6
or 7 years, and the females give birth to only one jnip at a time. It can be said thou
that the H))ecies increases slowly and niuUi|dies with dillliculty. Those are unfavor-
able conditions, which do not allow it to repair the hecatombs which ilur several
years past have been and are deiiinatinu: the siiecics.

Hy reason of the ina.ssacrea of whii li it is the victim this species is advancing rap-
idly towaiil its total and final destrnction, fidlowing the fatal road on ivhua the
lihyl'nia stcihri. tlie Atoinuliiis Iroptealix, and the Mncrorhiiiiis avfiiiKlirasti-i/i nave pre-
ceded it, to I iio only the great mammifers which but recently abounded in the
American seas.

Now, the iriemediable destruction of i eminently useful animal species, nwvh aa
this one, is, to speak plainly, a crime of which we are rendering ourselves guilty
toward our descendants. To satisfy our instincts of cupidity we voluntarily exliaust.
and that forever, a source of wealth which, proiieily regulated, oiij;,;t on the con-
trary to contribute to the prosperity of our own generation and of those which will
succeed it.

When we live on our c. nital wo can undoubtedly lead a gay and extravagant life:
hut hiiw long does this oolish extravaL'ame lastf And what is its to-niorrowf
Inextricable poverty. On the other haml. in causing mir cajiital to lie properly pro-
ductive we draw from It constantly a .splendid incoine, which does not. pi.vhajis. give
the large means dreamed of, liut at lea>:t assures an honoriiblo com])etcncy, to which
the wise man knows how to accommodato hiinself. Hy prudent ventures or by d
well-regulated economy he can oven increase progressively his inheritance and leave
to his children a greater fortune than he had himself received fnini his parents, .'t
is evidently the same with the question which cciniiies "s, and it is for our gener-
ation an imperious duty to prevent the destruction of the fur seal, to regulate
strictly its capture — in a word, to perpetuate this source of wealth and to bequeath
It to our descendants.

To these considerations of an economic character 1 will add another of a nature

finrely sentimental. It is not without profound sadness that the naturalii.t sees a
arge numlierof animal species disappear, the destrui'tion of which this century will
have seen accomplished. \\'heii our seas are no loiiger inhabiliMl by the rctai i a and
the great pinnipeds, when the air is no longer furrowed in all directions by little

1

cue and

Ilie |)olii<ric
TiJil iiidiis-

H the lien
(iiiK of fur

ctoinU far
(iicnilitTCid
to those
ll-Hkiii fur.
}«-ir to Hay
lio <'oiirln.
1 condition

canses of
tjservation
lorted and

IGUOU.

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

47

Insectivorons birds, who knows if the efinilibrinm of nature will not be brolien — an

ef|n'libriiini to wliicli tlie croat 'ri-s on tlie way to extinction liaveRreatlv contribntedf

Witli his iiarpoons. his (ireari. h, and his njacliincs of every liind, niiiii, witli wlioni
tlic instinct of destruction attains its hij^hest point, is the most cruel enemy of nat've
and of mankind itself.

Ilai>|iily, wlulo y<'t in time, tlie savants sound the alarm. In this century, when
we lielifvc in science, we mnst hope thai their voice will not be lost in the desert.

Above all, I have the conviction that the very wise measures which you prop >avy
with the view of preserviuij; the Callorkinun ttvuinuH from an iui!ien<liu}i; tlestrnctioa
will be sulimitted to an international commission, which will ratii'y them and give
them the force of a I.tw.

Will you accept, sir and huuored colleague, the expression of my most distinKinshed
eeutiments.

Dr. Raphael Blajsciiard.

REPLY OF DR. WIUIELM LILLJKIOUO.

Stockholm, May 14, 1892.
Dr. C. Hart Merkiam.

Dkak Sik: In answer to your letter of 2d of April, asUinj; onr oi)i-ii()n as to the
causes of the decrease of the stock of ndrthern fur seals {I'lill'irliiiuiii ;/c.>i«»») on the
ro<ik«ries of the islands in the Noith I'acllii! or I'ering Sea, and eonc.-rninn the means
prop(ise<l liy sou to arn t this decrease, allow uh to state the following;':

Your desijription of e life of the northern fur se^l corres])on(ls {generally with
similar des(rii)tions by iTiner anthors, .rnni the celebrated l)r. Steller, who (17U-1L')
visited the ("oinniander Islands with Vitus lierinj;, tooui il.-'vs, and also with ourown
personal experiences of the animal life in the Ar lir seas, and with tlie inl'oriiuitions
one of us gathered Iroin the inlKiiiitaiits dm iiig a short -jtay in the Heriiig Sea.

\Vc do not, therefore, hesitate to declare that the factd ahoiit the life and habits of
the fur seal stated by you in your said letter under 1-L'O should serve as a liase tor
the regulations necessa.-y to i)reserve this gregarious animal from it« threatened
extinction in a comjiaratively shmt time.

'i'hese regulations may he divided into two categories, viz: (1) Regulations for the
killing, etc., of thi; fur seals on the rookeries, in order to prevevit the gradual iliminu-
tion of "-e stock; (2) regulations for the pelagic scaling, or for the hunting of the
seals H . liming in the o.'.".''n in huge herds to and from the rookeries, or arcuind the
rookeries during liie time wIkmi tlie females are sui'kliiig the jmps on land.

As to th(! former •luesticii, the killing of the sisals on the rookeries, it seems at
present regulated in a suit i hie iii aimer to ell'ectnally i)revent the gradual di mi nut ion
of tlie steek. If a wider exnei ienc* slioe.d re(iniro some moditications in these
regiilati'iiis, tlieii^ is no darg< i hut that si;, h iiiodilicationH will be adoi)led. It is
evidenily in tlic interest of the owners of the roiike-jes to take care that this source
of Vvcaltli should .lot he less >u<'<l by exci'ssive ex]doil, tion. Nor will there he any dilli-
culty for studying the conditions lor health and tluiviug of the animals du" ' ■■; the
rookery season.

As to the pelagic sealing, it is evident that a systematc hunting of tlie wu'.h in the
open sea on the \v;iy to anil from or around the rookeries will very soo?i .au.ie the
eomjdete extinction of this valuable and, from a siientilii^ ])oiiit of view, extieiiiely
iiite-estingand imiiortaiil aniinal, especially «■« a great niimlier of the animals killed
In this manner are jueguaut cows, or cows tem))()raT ilv separated from their imjis
while seeking food In tin^ vieinity of the rookery. ICveryone having some exjieri-
eme in stal linnliiig can als(» :ittest 'hat only a relat'vely small |iart of the seals
killed or seriously \M)iinded in the oji sea can in this manner he caught. Wo are
therel'ore jiersiiaded that a pndiiliiti.m of pelagic H<'aling is ft necessary condition
for the )ire\ eiition of the total extermination of the fur seal,

\ cry truly, yours, W. Lll.!,.iElion(}.

REPLY OF DR. A. V. MII)l)i:X )(M<1'T.

Mr. W. "WiTRTH.

Slit: My delay in answering your letter is ilue to i'lness. I am very ginrt that the
Ifnited States liave sel'cted so coHi|ietent a iie-smi ai. I»r. Merriiim for tlie purpose, of
■iseeitaiuing the cans.'S of tl e rapid decrease ( f se.ils. The laets of the ease have
now Iieen seletitit' ally "\pl;.iiie 1, so (hat the/ may be readily understood even by
an uiiseieiit itie )ie-son. Tin' method of treating these auiinals which was originally
ailopleil h\ the K'ussian Anieriean v'oiii))aiiy at 'iieir home on the I'rihilof Islands is
still (cmtinued in tLe same rational i. '-inner and has, for more tlinn half a century

48

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

been found to be excellent, both on acronut of the large nnmber of seals taken, and
becauae tliny are not exteriiiinateil. So louf; as siiportluoim young iiiiilfs only are
killed, not only the existoiic-e, Imt oven tlm increase of the herd in assur('<l.

Seals are, unfortunately, nii^iatory animals, and set out on their Jouruey during
the winter months. This is espeiially true of the ])rt<;;i\ant feuiales. 'i'hey are then
hunted with constantly increasluff rapacity, and are kiMed in the open sea by free-
booters from all parts of the world. It is evident thiii the only remedy for such a
state of thiuffs can be afforded by international protei'tion.

How rapidly extermination progresses is shown by the disappearances of millions
of bisons. With these, however, the case is quite different, since their destruction
is of MO importance in an economical point of view. Its importance is nuirely of an
esthetical character, and from this standpoint only does modern civilization demand
the pii'.servation of two specimen herds, numbering a few hundn J head each — one
in Lithuania and the other in North America. Siu<!o the attempts to domesticate
the bison, and to produce a cross between it and our domestic catile have proved a
failure, it is plain that the ground where tlm bison formerly r,razed can be more
advantageously occui)ied and yield milk abundantlj'.

The case is (luite otherwise with the seal. This animal is of ecoiiDmical impor-
tance, and was created for a domestic animal, as I pointed out many years ago. (See
my Siberian Journey, vol. iv, part 1, p. 846.) It is in fact the most useful of all
domestic animals, since it requires no care and no expense, and consequently yields
the largest net proHt. If we suppose the seal to have disappeared, what could take
its place as converter of the immense sujiply of fish in the ocean into choice furs to
stock tha markets of the world ?

Bering Island, which has been deserted for one hundred and (ifty years, now
stands as a warning. Has modern progress succeeded in any way in supplying the
place of the seal cow (lihi/tina steAleri), that huge monster which, as a consumer of
marine plants, was intended to convert useless sea weed into savory meat/

If you will conimunicnto (as you say you pinpose to do>tlie contents of this letter
to Dr. Merri;iui, whose address I do not know, y.'U will ol)liL;e me groatly.
I have the honor to be, sir, j'our most obedient servant,

Dr. A. V. MiDDKNDORFF.

•i

REPLY OF OR. EMIL HO^UB.

PjIAGUE, May 18, 189S.
Dr. C. H. Merriam, Esq.

Dkak Sik; With simere attention I have perused the records of your iuvestigntion
of the habits, the pri^sent decrease, and regarding the future of the fur seal (Cullor-
hiiiiia ursinus Gray). Having well considered the matter, I will i)as8 my opinion
without any prejudice whatever.

'i"he (jovornment of the United States may be congratulated upon the action taken
in having sent out for the investigation of a matter nhich (alls into the depiirtmcnt
of the board of trade a scit-ntist, and in this special case a man who has taken such
groat j>aius witL tho object of his ri'.seiircbes.

Our age makes it a duty for all civilized nations to liring trade and commerce in
a c'')8e contact with sciiince. This becomes quite a necessity, like in the present
case, in which commenial ( iistoms, even internationiil agreements, laws, etc., l)ecome
insufficient to secure a sound decision. Such scientitic investigations can supply the
desired conclusions; they do advice the measures to be taken, and provide the basis
upon which an international understanding can he established.

Regarding the object of your researclies, I indorse your opinion that the decrea.se
of the numbers of the fur seal on the rriliiloi' IsImikIm has heen caused by pelagic
sealing in the North I'acilic and in the Keriiig Sea, and that this taking of the seals
at sea has to be stopped as early as jiossible.

To restore in time the numbers of former years, I take the liberty to name the fol-
lowing measures for the sake of consideiiition :

A. Concerning certain agreements with other jjowera.

(1) A mutual understanding upon the iiiiestiou between the United States, Russia,
and .Japan. Thesis three Stntes are conctrui'd jirimo loco in this matter as being the
proiirietors of the breeding places .'is well, like also of the lishing grounds of the
saiil animals during their yearly wanderings to and fio.

{2) For the sake of l>revity in action and a sjieedy settlement, these three States
(after aving agreed upon the foregoing) to select but one representative.

(3) \ le United States having given imi)ul«e to the matter to gain the prestige,
that a I'nited States man sliall be selected to this honor.

(4) A congress to bo called together, invitations to be sent to those of the Euro-
pean and American powei's, whose subjects indulge in pelagic sealing in the North
racilic and the lioriug Sea.

ALASKA IXDL'STKJES.

49

Itaken, and
Is only are

Jiey (luring
I'y iiie then
•n by freo-
I'ur Huch a

if milliona
lieHtruction
lerely of an
|on (It'niiind

eiicb — one
Ponicsticate
I)i'()ved a
lin be more

jieal impor-
iigo. (See

Iscliil of all

■ntly yields
could tiike

oice fura to

years, now

'Pl.vint; ^lie

onsuiner of

tf

f this letter

KNDORFF.

/ JS, 189S.

ivesfifration
lea) (Cat lor -
my opinion

letion taken
•li'liiirtiinnt
taken sucli

>nnnerce in
the present
itc, become
Niipply the
le the baais

he decreaHO

l)y pelajrjo

)f the seals

me the fol<

(5) In the conjinss llie niircfiiilativ e of tlie tlirce jiowcrM to have fdx voices,
rcHiiitiiiK '" two voicis lor rviiy one of iIubc jxjwcrs, wliicii concession to be "granted
upon the facts of iiaraj;ia|ili 1.

(ti) I'he coiigreHs to deal with tlie Htopi)aj;f of p(!laj;ic Ncaliiig of the fur seal, ind
possibly to come to an iiiidcrHtaiHliiii; upon it iuid toenloirii it.

B. Couicniinjiceitain la .v.s and pntiaiitiuiis in tlMMloniJnion.s of t lie United .Stat(!8.

(■]) 'I'o prohlliit taking; HcaJH at Hca liy liomc vessels anil l)y .small boats alon;; tli j
coast durin;; tlie waiideriufiH of tlie animals. 1 think that a j^reat many fur seais
;ire killtMl o". tlieir way to tlie south and llieir return to lliidr brcedin;; jdaces in the
north before ever they do reach the neigbb(uhoo! of I lie latter. The tact tlnit tli<'se
uiimlering animals are idiielly iu'i'j;naiil lenuiles. whicii as tranie are |u-oteetc<l by
l.iwh amonn all civilized nations, may grant them siilcty also aloi';!; the coasts of
liritish Columbia.

2) To see that the existing laws at present in use on botii Si;. Paul and St. George
islands ref;ai'ding tin 'rotectiou of niah' )>ups iU" strictly observeil.

(3) To iuvcsii'Jialc ilie nntiillous neees.sities of the fur seal. 1 believe that the
animals feed, besides on lisli and ernstai e;ins, also on dili'ercnt forms of molliisca,
especially on iiimsscIh, and also on certain sea ivceds.

el) In as(!cil;ii!;in;; the lore^oiiii;, to liy ,ii iiKiease the (|nantity of food in the
Rca of the 1 ribilof '.■<liinds, es]ieiially for 'he ii'asoii that fem.iles, when nursinfi,
may be not conii" lleil to stray as I'ar as Id'; to lo" miles frcun shore, deserting their
]iu]is for BO long and being' also exjioscd to the weapons of t he iieliigie sealers.

(5) In ascertaining the nutritious iieces,<iti(\s to |iay sjiecial attention to mussels
liehmging to the families of the Mjililidw and Jiiailidiv { (n the geneia of Mi/tihin,
Mixlidlii, JJIIi<i(li)iiiin. i'nnia, andollierst, who liaxe thin (!"clls, or to other spi'eies of
the North I'acifii', which would |ironiise a giiod proliii, „| ion ; further, al>o, to certain
se.iweeds, I'or Hubniarinc idantatioii, the sjiecics to which I allude containing a great
dc.il of eatalilo gelatimuis matter,

((>) riiese measures, besidis to be taken from cconiuiiical leason.s on behalf of
|i:ime commeice and iionu' tra<le, to be iciomnicmli'd also from a scieulilic )>oii;t
of vi(>w, as an act of presercaliiMi of a sea ninmiiial and tfom tln^ eonnimu laws of
hiinianlty, that species of large and wild livinj; inamm.al inny \\t: guarded against
utter anniliilati(Ui

ManUind, never to forget that, lieing the master among the living i es on

caiili, it has the power of re ireiition.

If the jielagio sealiiu; of the tin- seal is carried on still longer, like it has b. u exe-
cuted during the last years, the pelauic seiiliu'^ as a business matter and a living
will soon cense by the full extermina t iiui of the nsel'nl animal,

'l"h(! objections biounht forward by the fVieuds ot' tlie jieliigic sealing against its
stoppage, that the latter will ruin a great m.iuy fiinnlle.s of seamen and lishers, can
not be taken as sound arguments. It is a well-known and a common thing in our
age, but a weidily occurrciu'e during the last years, that .i new trade springing up
ruins two other triides, and harilly in o.ie case out of hundreds can a com]>ensatiou
be given or is aski'd tor.

In concluding my note, I thank yon, my dear sir, as my esteemed f(dlow-worker in
another transatlant ic sphere, tor the ex( ilb nt work whii h you have executed during
your weary iuvestigiil ions in tile liering Sea. .Miiy this nolde and important work
be crowned with th<' desiTved success that that piialic liiiut may be stojiped IV--
ever. The opportunity of the ('olunil)iaii Dxhiblliou in Cliii ago might be used to
call the congress to Washington, and then to give to the delegates the treat of a
visit to the monstrous exhibition.

I slionld feel very Inijipy if (uie day to ; :>me I i an make ,vonr personal aciiuaint-
anco iind e;in shake hands wllh vou, my dearsii,

With luy humlde respects, 1 k main, your most olicdient,

Dr. EiMlL, IIOLUB.

LETTERS AND STATinil'.NI'S OF NATUHALISTS.

:es, ITiiRRia,
* being the
nds of the

tree States

B prestige,

the Euro-
the North

SI AiKMi:.Nr r.Y I'liDi'". t. it. iti'xi.i;v.

Tlie followiiifr Ht;it<Miiont. by Prof. T. \l. Huxley, F. E. S., etc., the

eminent iiatiniili.st, wus prcjiared tit the lotinest of the counsel for the
United ytates. As a])iieiiis IVoiii tlio sttitctneiit it.self, it was oiveii by
Professor Iluxley as a scientist, not us a retained advocate:

(1) The problem of the fnr-se:il fishery llppe;l^,^ to nie to he exactly an.ilogous to
that whii li is jircsented by snlm.ui lishcvies. 'fhe I'riMlid' Islands answer to the
upper waters of a salmon river; the Bering Sea south of them and the waters of the
II, Doc. !>J, lit. L' 1

50

ALASKA INDUSTRTES.

Northwp.it I'iicifK^ from CMlilViriii.'i to tbo ShuiiiiiLjin fslamis to tlio rest of theconrsoof
tlio river, its estuary, aiKladjiiitiil Heaiip;ist. 'riif:iiiiiri!ils hri'i'd in t lit: formor and feed
in tlie latter, migrating at rcj^ular periods from. t\n- one to the otlier. ('I'lie (luestiou
whether the fur sealH Imve any breeding places on the No Invest Coast outside of
UeriiiK Sea may be left opeu, as there seuuis to be no doubt that the mam body breeds
at the I'ribilofs.)

(2) An imnortant dili'ereuco is that the females, baoholorH, and yearling fur seals
feed largely within a rad"is of, say, 50 miles of the I'ribilof Islands, while tlie adult
salmon do not feed (8en«ibly, at any rate) in the ujjper waters.

(3) It is dear in the e.iso of fur seals, a« in that of the salmon, thttt man is an
aj^cnt of destruction of very Kioiit poteney, probaiily out weifjhing all others. It
would be ])08sibro in the easeof a salmon river to lish it in snih a fashion that every
ascending or descending tish slionld he eanfj;lit. and the tishery be in this way surely
and completely destroyed. All our salmon-lisliery legisl tion is directed toward the
end of ]ireservii)g tlie breeding grounds on the one hand, on the other of preventing
the lower-water lisliermeu from capturing too large a proportion of the ascending
flsh.

(I) Our fishery regulations are strict and minute. JCvery salmon river has its
fisliory boi'id, comjioscd of representatives of both the ujiper and the lower water
fisheries, whoso business it is to make by-liiws under tJio acts of I'arliament and to
sec that they are carried out. A (iovernmcnt inspector of lisheries I loks after them,
and holds impiiries under the authority of the home secretary in c.iso of disputes.
On the wliolo, the system works well. 'I'he tisiicries of rivers w' jcli have been
pretty nearly doi)Oi)ulated have been restored, and the yield of the best is main-
tained. But the upper-water and lower water ])roprietor8 are everlastingly at war,
each vowing that the other is ruining tlic lisheries, and the insiiector has large oppor-
tunities of estimating the value of diametiically opposite asst^rtious about matters
of fact.

(5) In the ease of the fur-seal fisheries the destructive agency of man is prepotent
on the Pribiiof Islands. It is obvious that the seals might be destroyed and driven
away completely in two or three seaso'' ■. Moreover, as the number of bachelors in
any given season is easily ascertained, i''. if; possibl^i to keep down the take to such
a percentage as shall do no harm to the stock. The conditions for efficient regulation
are hero quite ideal.

(()) IJnt in Moling Sea and on the Northwest coast the case is totally altered. In
order to get rid of all complications, let it be siipjiosed that western Nortli America,
froiii J5eving Straits to (,'alifornia, is in the ])ossission of one jiower, and that wohave
only to consider the ipiestions of the regulations which that power should make and
enforce in order to preserve tlie ftir seal lisheries. Suppose, further, that the author-
ity of that power extended over IJering Sea and over all the Northwest Pacific east
of a line drawn from the .Shuniagin Isiainls to Calilornia.

Under such eonditioni 1 should say, lodkiui; at nothing but the preservation of tlie
seals, that the best course would be to ]irohil(it the taking of the fur seals anywhere
exi'ept on the Pribiiof Islands, and to limit the take to such ])cr('eiita';c iis experi-
ence i)roved to be consistent with th(^ ))ies(rvatioii .f a good, avciau'' stork. The
furs would be in the best order, the waste o( life wohIiI be least, and, if the system
were honestly worked, there could be no danger of . v • rlishiug.

(7) However, since northwest America does not belong to one power, and since
international law does not acknowledge Bering Sea to lie a mare ehiusum, nor rec-
ognize the jurisdiction of a Kipariaa jiowcr beyond the 3-niile limi!, it is ([uite clear
that this ideal arraiigeinent is inijiiacticable.

The cause of the fur-seal fisheries is, in fact, even more diffiriilt than that of the
salmon fisheries in such a river as the Uhino, where the uppev waters belong to one
power and the lower to another.

(8) The Northwest Pacific, from Osiliforniato Shiimagin at any rate, is opeu to all the
world, and, accor<ling to the evidence, the seals kt^ep mainly outside the 3niile limit.
A convention between (ireat Britain and the United States (backed by a nuinber of
active cruisers) might restrain the subjects of both. But what about ships under
Buotlu'r flag!

(9) Mor(!over, I do not see how the Canadians could be reasonably expected to give
np tlieir fishery for the sake of jireserving the Pribiiof fisheries, in which they have
no interest.

(10) If, however, it is admitted that the Canadians I'an not be asked to give np their
fisheries, I see no way out of the diliiculty exeejit one, and I do not know that it is
practicaVde. It is thai the Pribiiof, iJering, and Northwest cim^t fur-seal lisheries
shall be considered national jiroperty on the jiart of the United States and (ireat
Britain, to be worlLed by a.joint fishery commission, which shall have jiower to make
by-laws under the terms of a general treaty, to which 1 siippo.se other powers (who
have hardly nnv interest in the matter i could be got to agree.

(II) 1 am free fi) confess that my expeiience of the iiroci'cdiugs of fishery boards
does not encourage me to hojie that the proceedings of such a couimission would be

1

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

51

altogether liarmonioiiR; lint if it were coiiijioRcd of Kenwible men they wfliild, sooner
or later, Htriifjfjle o\it into a inodiis vivcmli. for. jiftcr all, it is iismiinli tin- Canadian
int«re«t tliiit tlio I'riliiid, lislicricN .sinuiM he pii'si rvcd hh it i.s tln) United States inter-
est that the seals should not lie exlirii.itiil in i'eiiiif; Sea and tlio Northwest I'aeiftc.

(12) In sneh a case as thiH I do not, liclicve that the enfori enient of a close time,
either in Herin^j; Sea or on the Norllnvi ^1 eoast. wnnhl lie of any praetical ntility
iiiiIeHS the tisliirifj is alisoliitely iJioliiliile.d (whicli 1 take to lie out of the question).
It must he jierniitted while the seals are in the sea; and if it is permitted, tliere is
no limit to the destruction which may he ell'ected.

Nnine.ons as the seals may he, they are a trills com]iarf;d with herring schools and
cod walls, and human agt^iiey is relatively a far more im|iorrant factor in destruction
in their case than in that of heninns and cod. Up to tliis time Hshiug has made no
sensible imiiiessiou on the great lieiring and cod fisheries ; hut it has been easy to
extirpate seal fisheries.

(13) finally, I venture to remark that there are only two alternative courses
worth pursuing.

One is to let the fur seals he extirpated. Mankind vv-ill not suflTer much if the
ladies are obliged to do without 8<'al skin Jackets, and the fiacttion of the P^nglish,
Canadian, and AuuMican population whieli lives on the sealskin industry will be uo
worse off than the vastly gieator mnllilude who have had to su!lcr for the vagaries
of fashion times out of iiumher. Certainly, if theseals are to he a source of constant
bickering lielween two nations, the sooner they are aliolished the better.

The other course is to tread down Jill men ly personal and trade interest in pursuit
of an arriingement that will work and be fair all rouiul, and to sink all the stupidi-
ties of national vanity and political self-seeking along with them.

There is u groat deal too much of all these unduniahle elements apparent in the
documents which I have been studying.

T. H. Huxley.

Apku. 25, 1892.

AFFIDAVIT BY DK. rHII.rP T.UTT.KY Srr.ATKn.

Philip Lutley Sclater, Ph. D., secretary of the Zoological Society of London, being
duly sworn, doth dejiose and say that in his ojiinion as a naturalist:

(1) Unless proper measnnis are taken to restrict the indiscriminate capture of the
fur seal in the North Pacifii', he is of opinion that the extermination of this species
will take place in a few years, as it has alrea<ly done in the case of other species of
the same grouj) in other parts of the world.

(2) It seems to him that the projier way of jiroceeiling would be to stop the kill-
ing of females and young ol the fur seal altogether or as far as possible, and to
restrict the killing of the nuiles to a certain number in each year.

(3) The only way he can imagine by which these rules conld be carrted out is by
the killing the seals only in the iidands at the bree<ling time (at which time it
appears that the young males keep apart from the females and old m.-iles) and by
preventing altogether, as far as possible, the destruction of the fur seals at all other
times and iu other places.

Philip Lutley tjcLAiiiu, Ph. D., F. li. 8.

\

ClTT OF WASlTlxriTON, Dittrtct of Coliimbin, s»;

C. K. Townsend, being duly sworn, 4lepoHi's and says:

I am 33 years of age. and my jirofession is that of a naturalist. I am attached to
the United States Fish (.'oinndssion steauu;r Aihalross, with which Commission I have
been connected for nine yeai s. Oceniiying the position of resident naturalist on that
vessel, as I did, I have collected constantly during this iieriod and have hunted with
all kinds of firearms and under various conditions. I have niade seven voyages to
Alaska.

I visited the Pribilof Islands for the first time in 188r), spending the months of June
and September thereon in making collections of natural-hist(U-y siiecimens, includ-
ing those of the fur seal, of which 1 lirought down twenty. In the year 18in I again
visited the Island of St. Paul, arri\ ing there ,Iuly L'S and remaining there about ten
days. The liritish commissioners were on the island at that time. I made frefjuent
oliservationt as to the conditions of the rookeries during this period. Karly in the
summer of 1892 I visited, at the rc'inest of the United States tiovernmeut, (inade-
lope Island, for the purjiose of ac(|uaintiug myself witli seal life there ami of obtain-
ing skulls of the fur seals which fonnerly treijuented those regions. Later in 1802 T
once more visited the Island of St, Paul, arriving there .lune 30. I was there on th3

52

ALASKA INDUSI'iaKS.

islnTuI Hiid on the United Slaliis IJovciiiie stonnicr Cornin, rrninini; to the wostof the
isliiiKlN, continiioiiHlv until iilinut Auj;ii8l Ifi, mid wim I'lifjiined duriiij; all nt this
titiu- ill llio study of spnl lilr, cIiIk i- on j.ind or in tlic wale is of IteriUf; rtoa, aud have
shot seals I'roin a Hiiiall boat.

I carel'iiHy noted the I'ai ■ this year that the yoiiiij,' seal is at liirtli nttached to a
large ]>laeenta, e(|iial jiiirts '. je-third of its weifjlit and of a hiij^lit reil color. It
is soiiietiiiie.s not ex|i('lli'd iiiu,; ii liour or so altei' birth, reniaiiiiii}; attacdied in the
meanwhile by the uniliilical cord to the pup. Jt l'i<'i|iiently reiiiaiim attaelied to the
pii]! a (lay or more. .Vfler parturition the leiiiale, takes an iimriediate inter<'st in Ik'P
ycnini;, and if it has fallen into srjnie sli;;lil rii(d< erin ice she f^eiitly draws it toward
her, taking its nape in her teeth, ."^lie repealetlly turns to it witli iiiaiiilestatioii of
att'eition.

I'rior to July 27, ISDU, many of tlio lemales liad taken to water to feed and could
thereafter be seen returning at all tinies to sni k'e their young. I ipiote the lol low-
ing written nieiiioranduin made b\ nie nii .St. Paul at th.it ilat(!: "Hulls on rookeries
getting exbaiiKted and (|iiiet. mostly sleeping. Cows largely at sea. .Soiiie bulls have
hauled out on sand bearhes that so far liave been bare. Kour-lifths of the si.'als on
rookeries to-<lay are imps."

,)iily L'S I made tlu; following note: "Many females coming from the water bleating
for their young."

I have killed sea liona at the following localities, where they breed in considerable
numbers, and found their breeding ground iinjire'^iiated with the same rank, dis-
airreeable smell that is so noticeable a leal 'no of t lie breeding grounds id' the I'ribilof
fur seal: Light-house IJock, Alaska reniiisula, larallon Islamls, and Moiiten^v h'ock,
California ; San I'leiiito Islands, Lower (California, and San Luis Islands, in the (in If of
California. The soil and rocks at these ]daic8 is as foul with seal excrement as at
the Piiliilofs, where mine, excrement, decaying placentas, and other tilth rubbed
and trodden into the soil .ind rock depressions cause the odors so ehaiaeteristic of
this vicinity, 'i'lie rocks at Monterey may be used in illustration: They lie near
Cypress Point, 4()t) or ,")00 yards oil' tlu^ shore, whiidi the carriage drive follows, and
are covered with hair se.ils, which breed there. They are conspicuously stained
with excrement, and wh(>re the animals lie thi(d<est the ground is .-.ineared and slip-
pery with it. I collected 8e;i lions there in .laniiary of the pnsent year, and after
my shooting had frightened nil the aninmls otf to the sea the rank smell of the ))l,iee
itself drift(?d across the channel into the nostrils of the tourists of the Hotel del
Monte, who witnessed our operations. It would indeed be an extiaordinary occur-
rence if fur seals did Tint de))osit exerenient u])on their breeding grounds iu the same
way that all other aninials of this idass do.

Ah already stated abovi>, I was attached to the steamer I'oririti dining the past
summer, and I made all the examinatiiuis of the stomachs of the seals n^ferrcd to
in Cai)tain Hooper's report, covering, in all, ;^> seals. I annex hereto pliotogr:iplis
of two of the seals wliic h were disseiie 1 and examined by me on (he deck ol the
steamer (oncin. These seals wire taken on the L'd day of August, ISSJ, at a dis-
tance of about 17.5 mills Iroin the islands. The idiotogiaiibs exliibit the luamm.iry
glands and convey a good idea ol the considerable si/c ol tin .«e glands, which in all
cases were tilled with milk. The 'iifeieiice is unavoidable that the pup is a vora-
cious feeder, and this iuCerence is in keeping with the observations I have made! on
the riioki'iies, where I have rejieateiily seen jiniis suckle for half an hour at a time.
'J'lie manimaiy gland is very widel> spread over the lower sui lace of the animal;
beginning between the fore lli]i|iers, in fact at the anterior of the sternnui, it extends
well u|i under the arm|iits and li.ick to the jiubic bones. The milk glands are i|uite
thick ami comiiletely charged with milk. The ithotograjihs, especially the lirstoue,
exhibit the milk streaming tVoiii the glands on to the deck.

Annexed to the reiiort of Cajitain lloo|)er is a table giving the results of the exam-
ination of 41 seals which were killed in Dering .Sea in 1S1)2. It appears that id' this
number 22 were nursing seals. The |)hotogr:iphs hereto annexed show (exactly the
way all of these nursing female seals looked when cut open on the deck of the Corwin.

From the fact that among the females thus t.iken and exainined there were found
mostly nursing cows, with a small number ol' virgin cows, it is reasonable to con-
clude that there are jiractically no barren females swimming about iu the sea unat-
tacdied to the islands, or that, at any rate, if such seals exist they are rarely, if ever,
taken. In all my experience I have never seen anything to lead nio to the conclusion
that there is such a thing as a barren female. In the case of the virgi n cows, a care-
ful examination of the uterus proved thein to he too immature for coiiceiition.

In the stomachs of many of the seals examined as above stated there were found
large (iiiaiitities of fish, mainly codfish. There is nothing surprising in this fact, that
coiltisli shiuild be found in the stomachs of surface feeders such as seals are. While
taken at the bottom, the codilsli is not restricted to deep water. It is found from the
shallows along the shore out to the banks where lishermon usually take them. They
are often takeu at intermediate depths, but tish taken at the bottom arc, as a rule
larger.

i

n

\

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

53

could
illriw-
ki'i'ies
i liiive
jiIm on

The cort is a voimi'Ioiin Cccilcr ii|ioii sijiiid, wliidi iiImhiikI at tlio Hiirfaoe. In Alaskan
waters 1 have tuUcii liiiiiilroilH with tlio dip net, iittiT attractiii;; them with the elec-
tric light of the .llhnlrdMH. In its fi('(|iient nii;;iationH tVoni hank to hank the cod
passcB over tim ks of ocean wIktc the water is of prolmind depth. It is iv regular
fe(!iler ujion herring and many other lishes which school at the surface, and in
Alaskan waters l're(iiu!ntly follows tlie lisjicrinan's liate from tlie hottoni to the sur-
face.

As a result of my combined observations ujxpn land and water, as hereinhofore
detailed, I have uo lle8i^ation in statini; jxisitivcly that soon after a reniale gives
birth to her young who leaves tlie island in i|UcHt of food, that she travels great dis-
tances in search of it, and that slie rcluiuH t.o the islands heavily laden witli milk.

While hunting in the Coru-in'a boat many seals were lired n|)iin w lien asleep. 'I'liey
usually bice)) \,itli their head to leeward and Ueeji it moving uneasily Irom side to
side, hut with the nose held clear of the water. A slee|iing seal has his vital parts
pretty well submerged — the nose, lower jaw, and tli])]icr.s being usually held above
the surface, although a htlh! mor<! ajppears at times according to the condition of the
sea and the movenuuits of the animal.

One has to he very close! to get a shot at the head that will kill it. ^lany times
the animal is wounded sullicicntly to get out of reach of the liuntor before it ilies.
1 ha<l very little dilhculty in ai)proachihg sleejiing seals close enough for a fair shot,
but niiKli in killing them. Fair sh(its that scat tiled tlie charge all about them, hit-
ting tile llippeis, 1 linuly believe, and in some cases drawing plenty of hliiii<l, weio
usually without result, until 1 learned to lire directly at the load. Then the shots
began to i»nive fatal ; but even then, unless hit in a vital part, t he animals vmI away,
though bleeding freely. Atliist 1 blamed the iriell'ectu,.l liriiie (Mi thecal tiidges, but
the cartridges proved all right as soon as 1 learned to aim at the head and not at the
animal as a whole,

I learned after some experiments that seals which dashed away ap|)arently nnin-
jureil were usually hurt, and after following them persistently, at great labor to the
boat ))iillei'S, found that they were blreding.

• believe that the majority of slceiiiug se sis lired at are struck. The number killed
at the islands with buckshot in them boars out this claim to a considerable extent.
I do not see how an ordinary niarksiiian can shoot at so large a target as a seal at
short rangt^ with a double-barn I gun loaded with 21 buckshot without strikingsomo
of the exposed portions of the animal.

It is from the instantly killed that seals are sccur<'d; the wounded animal uses its
death druugle to get out of reach. What proporti'.u of the seals reaching the
I'ribilofs with shot in them hear to those which ai". lirod at and escajio (wounded, ;i8
I state above) is not known, but 1 believe that fully as many perish leaving no trace,
as recover suClic lent ly to reach the islands.

Feeding seals shot when raising their Iieads about the honts from curiosity are
more liktdy to bo killed instantly than 8l<M!|)ing seals, but thev sink more (piickly,
A clear shot at the head is altbrded which knocks the life coiu; .etely out of them,
and the rest of the body being under water at the time it would seem that the
pressure upon the linij) body force^^ the air from it. As a rule, seals killed inst>utly,
when the heail is entirely clear id' the water, go ilowii iiuickly, sinking stern fore-
most. Sleeping seals killed when the head is low in the water float for a time, the
head settling into vhe water lirst. the air is retained in the body and it floats. I shot
a seal off Qiiadeloupe Island in .May when it raiscik its head dose to the boat, k'"'- g
it instantly. It sank before we could reach it with the gatl, and continued siuk.xig,
stern first, as wo could iilainly see far below in the i dear water.

Another illustration of the wastefulness of the pelagic sealing might be found in
the nnniber of cartridges exjiended. liming the work of the Corwin no record of
this kind was kept. The hunter usually carried two or three dozen cartridges,
which v.'ere, as a rule, expended before they returned to the ship. Tlu^ number of
seals lost liy sinking, number wounded, and nuiiib(>r secured were recorded.

liepeated firing from the boats was often heard on board shii), and a large number
of empty shells would be returned, when coiiiiiaratixely few seals were definitely
re])orled as secured, lost, or wounded, all other shots being sujiposed to be misses.
I do not think this feature has received proiier consideration. The hunters were
certainly average niarksnien, and it is my belief that the great majority of the
sleeping seals tired at were struck. The guns used were lO-lioio Farkers, loaded
with 21 bu( ksliot. Time alter time I have seen the heavy charge strike about tho
sleeping seal fully expecting to see it killed, when, to my utter surprise, it would
dive and come up beyond our reach. It is iucreilible that the great number of seals
thus escaping were uninjured. I low can one always find traces of blood or signs of
injury when the frii;htened animal is retreating at a rale so rapid that it is soon out
of sight, and especially as its course is mainly under water ami it only ajipears at
the surface with a iiorpoise-liko leap to catch its breath and then dives amiin?

C. 11. TOWNSKNU.

54

AT-ASKA INDTTaTRrRS,

ADDITIONAL TKSTIMONY.

Tlie fi)iv,<;()iii<;' ttvstiiiKniy is tliut of scientists whose loiowledfje of Hie
suliji'ct uiulcr (liscussioii can not well be (iii('sti<ni(Ml. S|)rnl<in},' for
myself, personally, 1 iini pleased to iind my own conclusions (based on
a practical knowicdge solely) so fully indorsed by learned and disinter-
ested men.

In addition to the testimony already quoted, however, and in order
to strenfi'tlien the position taken, I a])i)end to my nqmrt the testimony
of statesmen, jurists, s(!ientists, naturalists, shipmasters, sealers, seal
hnnters, ixdagic sealers, naval ollicers (American and lirltish), mer-
chantmen, seamen, Jndian hunters, native sealers. Treasury a{;ent8,
company agents, British and American Ueriiif; Sea Commissioners, fur
traders, furriers, fur experts, customs ollicers, and men of all classes,
native and foreifiii, friends and enemies, who liave had either the prac-
tical experience, the <>eneral infornuition, or the scientific knowledge to
warrant them in niakin>> sworn statements on the subject at issue; and
a carefhl reading of the testimony introduced will show that their views
in general are in accord with mine, ami sustain my jjosition in every
l)articular.

The (luotations above referred to are taken from the American case
and counter case.

RKTROSrECTIVK AND KXPLANATOTIY,

So runch lias already been said in conlradii'tion of the theoiies
advanced by honest but mistaken men about overdriving of the young
nmles aiul its consequent result of impotencj', of stam])edes on the rook-
eries, and epidemics in the herd, by which so many pui)S were supposed
to be destroyed annually during the i)ast decade, it is necessary for a
correct understanding of the contention that 1 go back a few years and
give a sketch of the causes which gave rise to such, until then, unheard
of theories which have been tlie direct cause of more than one-half the
troubles growing out of the fur-seal (luestion in 'U'ring 8ea.

As already shown by the testimony of Messrs. H. H. Mclutyre, T. P.
Morgan, Daniel Webster, J. ('. Kcdpath, Dr. Noyes, and others who
were on the seal islands for many years, it was not until 188(5 the first
unmistakable decrease of the seal herd was apparent. Had the facts
been reported immediately to the Dei)artnient and the true cause of
such a sudden shrinkage shown, steps might have l)een taken which
would have ))revented furthVr pelagic sealing, or at least an addition to
the sealing fleet; but unfortunately an overzealous Treasury agent
rei)orted an increase of nearly 2,000,000 since Elliott's measurements
and estimates, some fourteen years earlier; and again, in 1888, he tells
the Department:

I am happy to bb able to report, that altlioTigh late landing the breedinn rookeries
are lilh'd out to tlio lini's of meaaurenient heretotore inado, and some of them much
beyond tlio.se lines, showinj; conclusively that weal life is not being dcplt^tod, l)ut is
fully up to th(( estimates given in my report of 18b7. (Re))ort of (J. K. Tingle, 1888.;

When that rei)ort was written, and before it was written, everyone
on the seal islands kiuMv there were indications of a decrease of the
seal herd, and the employees of the lessees so reported at the time to
the superintendent, Dr. 11. H. Mclntyre, who tells us:

I repeatedly poinled out to onr company and to the special Treasury agents during
tlie seasons of 1887, 188S, and 188U tliat tjie seals were rapidl.\- diminisliing, and that
in order to get the full (jnota allowed by law we were ol)ligcd to kill, in increasing
numbers in each of those years, animals that should have been allowed to attain
greater size; and, finally, the catch of 1889 was mostly of this ela«8. (See IVIcIutyre
to Jetl'ries, December 15, 1890, Appendix.)

i

ALASKA INDUSTRIES,

55

Mr. T>aT)iol Webster, tlie oldest and one of the most reliablo and prac-
tical of sealers, tells, under oath:

In 1884 and 18M5 I noticed a decrcuae, and it linoame so niarkod in 1886 that every-
one ou the islanilH saw it. This iniirkod decreaHi^ in 188t) showed itself on all the rook-
eries on both iolandH. (See uHldavit in Appendix.)

And Mr. .F. (). Hedpath, the local aj^ent for the lessees, after an expe-
rience of twenty jears on the islands, says:

As the schooners (pi'lagic hunters) increased, the seals decreased, and the lines of
contraction on the rookeries were noticed to draw neiin^r and nearer to tlie lieiidi,
and tlie killalde Heals lie< aino fewer in niiinliers and harder to 11. id. In l^i8(> the
decrease was so plain that the native0<*iiid all tlie a<;ents were startlod. (Ibid.)

In 1889 the usual annual quota of 100,0(10 could not be found without
taking 50,000 young seals whose skins did not average more thau 4
pounds each.

It was then that the apparent and appalling suddenness of the
decrease aroused in the minds of those who were neither practical
sealers nor had detinite knowledge of seal life on the rookeries doubts
as to the true cause of the decrease, and of the actual conditions exist-
ing on the seal islands so soon atter an oHicial rejioit had ajipeared
affirming the fact of an increase of over 2,000,000 seals in fourteen years.

Theories, as numerous as tlie men who broached them, were launched
forth to a still doubting world; from i)ress and ])latform came an array
of argument and statistics as erroneous as they were bewildering; and
when the Treasury agent's rei)orts reached the Department it was
decided to send an extra special agent to the islands to thoroughly
investigate the conditions existing there and if possible to find the
cause of the sudden decrease of the fur-seal herd; and Mr. Ilenry W.
Elliott was selected for that important work.

When, in 1800, Mr. Elliott reached the seal islands after an ab.sence
of fourteen years, aiul found only a scant one fifth of the seals that he
saw there in 1870, he impulsively and erroneously concluded that the
driving of the young males from the hauling grounds was injurious to
their healthy growth and full devel(ii)meHt; that it produced inipotency
and destroyed their usefulness as breeders on (he rookeries, thus pro-
ducing a dearth of breeding males and a suiphis of barren cow.s, and,
without a shadow of i)roof to siistain him, he made out a most elaborate
report in which he labored to show the truth of his new and wonderful
theory, and then felt i)ersonaily hurt and wronged because the Gov-
ernment refused to iiulorse or approve it.'

Every enemy of the United States in both hemispheres, how^ever,
hailed it with delight, and quoted from it against us with nuich ai)i)ro-
bation until, ufter years of pi'tient reseiirch and scientific investiga-
tion on the part of the Unit d States and of Great Britain, it was
demonstrate(l that Klliolt was in error, and that pelagic sealing is the
cause of the sudden and rapid destru( tion of the American fur seal.

In his overanxiety to jirove his theory he persistently continues to
reiterate the story of a time w hen no drives were made from a number
of places on St. I'aul Island where a great "reservoir of surplus male
life" was held in reserve; but I will let him tell his own story;

In 1872-1874 when no driving was made from Southwest Point, Znpadnie, and all
Enj{liBh Hr.v to the westward of Xeiilnp:iliskio Kaniiiieii, from I'olaviiiii, or anywhere
between it and the hauling j^roiiiids of Lukaiiiion, then there were veseivoirs of

' See letter of Secretary of the Treasury, Appendix.

T

56

ALASKA IXDUSTUIRS.

yonnp: inalo lifo wl'.irh \v(iro n(it drawn upon or (liNlnrliod, from wliiili a st(>n(ly
sti'i'Uiii ol now iniilt', l>I(i()(l t'di' tlitt breocliiiM ^i'ouiuIn umilil and did lliiw. (lilliott'tt
report, (I'liriH print), 18iH), p. 237.)

Again, he saya:

Nobody, in 187'-', ovrr tlmu^jlit of riipIi n tliiii}; as roniiiig over from flio village to
nial(e a killing; at /apadnio. (Ibid., p. L'ltj.)

He contiiiue.s:

I had tliis |(oint in my tlioiijjlit diiriiiff my HindirM in 187'_'-1874, but at that timo no
liolliis(lii(d\io were drivt'ii I'roiii Siinllnvcst I'oint, IVdin /apadnio, from TonluMi Meos
or .Stony I'oint, or from I'ol.ivinia— no Hcals wiTc driver Irorn IIicho |daccH wlicro
ovcryboiiy ndmirtud that full half of tlio rntiro niMiib»r beluiiging to the islandH,
laid. (I Jid., 271.)

Then that inimcnBe Hproad of haiilin<r frronml covered by HwanoH of ycning male
BoalH, at /.ajpadnie. at ,'<(>iitli\vtiKt I'oint, iit Kiii;lisli Hay, lu-yond Middle' Hill, weHt,
at I'olavinia, and over all that H lori^ miles ol' bcacli ami upland baiilin<{ groniwl
botwet'n l.ukannon ISay aM<l Wvlmtcr's house at NovaNtosbnali, all of this cxtcnHivo
8i'alin<; ar«a was not visitod by sbaliiiy; yan^s, or s])okon of by thorn as ncci'ssary to
be diivon from. (i;iliott'n l»;ttur to tlir Sci ridarv of the Trousnrv, report (d' IHUO,
p. iv.)

In ]S7'J-1H7I T observed that all tho yoniijj niah' seals ni'eded for the aniuial ipiota
of 7."), (Kid or !)0,()(lll, as it was ordi-red in the latter year, were easily obtained every
season, between the 1st of,l nnt! and the „'0|h of. Inly following;, from the haiilin^r ^ronnds
of 'rol.-.toi, Lnkaiinon, and Zcdtoi Sands — from these hanlinn f;roiniils adjacent to tho
rookeries or breedint; ii;ionndsot Tidstoi, l.nkaiiMon. I»(M'f, and (iarbotch. All of these
i)oint8 of supply bein;.' not more than U miles distant I'lom the St. I'aul village kill-
lug grounds, the Zultoi drive bein^r |,..ms than Ijnd feet away. (Ibid.)

Therefore, when attentively stud\ inj; in lSt7--IS71, the Rubjrel of what was the
effeet of killini; annually l(lii,0()0 young male seals on these islands (ilO, 000 on St.
I'anl and 10,000 on St. (leor.;e), in view of the forefj;(un;; statement of fait, I was
unable to see how any haiiii w.is beiiii; done to tlii' regular siipjdy of fresh blood for
the breeding rookeries, siiK'e tliost- lai,i;(' reservoirs of surplus male life, above •.anieil,
belli at least just half of the yount.; male seal lite then belonging to the islands —
these large sourees of sii|iply were never driven from, never even visited by the
sealers, and out of tlirir o\ erwheliuiug abiimlain'e 1 thought that surely tuiongh
fresh male seal life mu.^t, ilid annually mature lor service on the breeding rookern.'s.
(Ibid.)

That day in ISTi), when it beoiime neiessary to send a se.nling gang from St. Paul
■village over to Zapadiiie to regiilai l,v drive from that hitherto untomhed reserve,
■was the day that danger iirst ujipearcd in tangible form since 1870— siiue 1857 for
that matter. (Ibid.)

For the pood of the publio .service tlie truth nmst bo told; and that
i.s tliiit the oflitMiil recoi'ds of tlie drives iiiid killiiii^s on the isiiiiids of
St. I'anl and .Sc. (ieoi.w aie in dii'ect oiiposition to Mv, lOliiott. Tliey
show tiiat, beo'innin}; in 1S71, tiiore are no records of tlie daily killiii<is
for 1870 — drives were made rcfi'iilarly from vvvvy liatilinj;' <;ronnd on tlie
ishinds; itiid a chi.se insjicction will revea! tiic fiirl tiiat an a<i^rcoa(e of
102 drives weie made, before 1S7!1, from Zaiiadnie or Soiitiiwcst r>ay,
Poiavinia or Hallway I'oint, and from I'^.tigiisli l>ay, dmiiiji' the very
period of which Mr. Elliott spcaKs when lie tells us "they were never
driven from, never even visite<l !)y the sealers."

For convenience of reference 1 (|Uote iVoiii the olhcial island records
the daily drives and killinji's mtidelietweeii lS7i) and 1,S7!' from the three
priiieiptd rookeries of which Mr. Ivlliott sjieaks so iiositively; and 1
think it will be snflicient to show every lair-iniiided nniii in the country
that tlie larjie reservoir of " sui'iiliis male life" so often spoken of by
Mr. Elliott was unknown to everyone else on the seal islands, and never
bad au existence outsiile his own fertile imagiiiiitiou.

l!

\

>n<ly
ott'rt

;o to

ALASKA IN'DlIS'riHRS.

57

ncro arc, tlic drives rniulc cneli year tntiii 1871 to 1878, botli inclusive,
from Llio rodkerios in qiuslioii:

Year.

Zapiiiliile.
iir

SolllllWORt

Huy.

I'oliivlno,

iir

lliillway

IN.Iiit.

EiiKllHh
Uay.

Tdtiil.

1871

2

1
1

6

11
7
10
lU
4
S
5

D

1H72

Hi

1873

Vi

1874

Id

1H75

*

i
1

3

3

ll<

187(1

11

1877

12

1878 «

12

Ti.lnl.

34

10

58

102

(Seo Soiiiitn Ex. Dtx;. No. 107, ril'lj-scciiiid Coii^jru.sH, si'ionil HeHsioii, A|i|iuti(lix.)

In an attempt to show tliat it was not niifil 187!t that drives were
nijidc i'rom eertiiiii roolicries wliieli lie is pleased to call a 'Marf^e reser-
voir of male lil'e," wliieli iiad not been disturbed or touched bef(»re 1870,
Mr, Elliott (piotes the Island .louriial as tolh.ws:

I'ajid !•-, .JinK^ fl, 1S7!I; Antoiio .Mclovodov Htiirtcrl with ii '^aun to miik« .1 (Irivci iit
Hallway i'i)iiit, roliiviiia. (I'.lliott's lepoit (I'livis piiiit;, l.'iX.i
I'lii^c. !iH, .liiiie 10, ls7!i: Tli« drivo to-ilMV (lit I'oliivina) reHiilt(«l in the tiikinjjof

1,11s KlvillM. (II. (1. OtiM.) f ll)i(l., 15!!. )

I'af^o !•;{. .lutio II, 1S7!'; 'I'liii drivo from Soiitliwest I'ay (Zapadnio) to-day, and
l,4(i-'Nkiiis tak.'ii. (II. (J. Otifi.) (Ibi.l., l.-.lt.)

There is not a word in the l()re<roiii<r, nor is there a word in the
journal, to show that the drives mentioned were the (irst that were
ina(h' IVom those rookeries, but Mr. FJIiott is deteiinined to show that
<)verdii\i!ij; is the principal cause of the destruction of the seals, and
he continnes:

From 111 is day Clune 11. 1870) on to tlin close of that H(!alinfj season's work, .Inly
20, Zajiadnic was driven often, and I'oiavina alNo; lint in IHSO only (uie drive whs
made from IhiH reservoir at /ajiadnie, * * ' and, aii.iin in ISSI, it wasnot driven
from at all, and oidv one drive that vear made from the I'oiavina reserve. ( Mllintl's
report for 1«!M>, \>. \h'.).)

Here the {gentleman is a;;ain in error, lor 1 tind that drives were made
from Za])€idnieor Southwest Ihiyon iSIay I'.hiiid .Iniie7, 187!>, onlya lew
days before he discovered that the tlrst I'.rive had been made 011 tlieOth
of .hiiie.

And in 1880 four drives were made from Zapadnie and five from
I'oiavina, and in I'^SJ si\ drives were made from Zai)adnie and live
from I'oiavina, as the followiiij^ table, taken from the island records,
will show:

Zaji.idnie or Southwest Hay:

Polavina or Halfway Point:

18H0.

Drives.

1880.

Drives.

May U

1

.luneU

1

Juno 8

1

21

1

; 11.'

1

28

1

1(1

1

July 5

1

30

1

Total

4

I'otal

.5

» 1881.

¥b June 7 . ...

1

1881.
June 10

1

1

m 28

1

17

1

ft July 6

1

24

1

ft 1 J

.. . 1

July 2

1

K Dee. 7

I

8

1

W Total

..'... n

Total

If (Sen .^eiiale l'.\. li.ie, Nii. 1; 7

i-i.i', ■■. <■

I, 1 1 oii;;ress, seeond .session, A]

l)endix.)

r)3

ATiAKKA INniTBTRIKS.

Many iimc('ura«'ioa arc to bo lound in Mr, lOlliott's report of 181)0, dne,
perliiips, to tim liiiii icd tiiiiinuM' in w iii<-.li it was |iro|)ar(Hl, and the
bitterness, excitenient, and many disap|iiiititineiitH uttendiii^ it ail llie
way tliroiiuli; nearly ail (if wliiidi were of a private eiiaracter, anrl
wlii(;h ean not well l)c made )inl>lic, even had 1 a deHire Ia) do ho, whi(;h
1 have not by any means. One instance more and 1 am done.

In Ids " liehl noted" on the Htate of the rookeries in 1U*J0, Mr. Klliott
writes:

Jinie /:>. — Not a Hiiifjio bolliini'liak of hiiv ago wliatsnevflr on ZgUdI SbikIb tliin day,
and tlicie liiiH iiol Ihhmi :i l<illuldii Hcal tliiiH Jui' tbero tbia seuHoii. (Klliotl'n report,
IWK) O'l'iiH iiriiil), ]>\). '.'(III-L'IH.)

•lime J.'. — l'iin» woiiflicr (or Ht-alH to liaid in continucii, but tbe iioulii do not haul;
not a Hintrlr Ht*al on /oltoi Sanda this morning; bas not been a bolliiHcbak tliure yet.
(Ildd., |). 'Ji;i.)

Jiiiif -J.'. — Now, not a Hin^'ln vonnj; niulefleal bas baiilcd ou Zoitoi thns far tliiHsoa-
Ron. (.luMft '-''.', IS II. in,) ( lliiii., )i. 'Jti'i.)

./line .V'.— Not a soal on Zoitoi Sanils tbia moriiiuR, and not one since during tbe
day. (Iliid., \i. L'fiti.)

.Iiiiiii i'J. — Not a lH>lliis<b«k or any otlier class of fur Heal on Zoitoi Sands this morn-
inj; or noon, i Diiil., p. -71.)

.Iiiiii' ■!(>. — Not ii liolliiscliak on Zoitoi Sands to-day. (Il)id., p. 276.)

./»/(/ S. — .Mao, not a boiliiscliak ban an yet buiiled upon Zoitoi Sanda. (Ibid.,
p.L'si.)

•hil'i 10,— I obscrvo that not a single yoiiiij; male is ou Zoitoi Sands tbia morning —
not Olio liaa liaiilc<i llicre tliiix far tins nisihon. (Iliid., p. 2'Jij.)

Tlie otliciial records of tln^ drives and l{illinj,^s made on the seal islands
in ISIM) areoii liie in the Treasury Depart iiient, and aeojiy will be found
in tlie apjiendix tit tliis report. I rpinte from tiie reeords tlie followiiifj
drives fioin Zidtoi in INDO: " .May L't, 1 drive; July 19, 1 drive."

Aceonlinf;' to .Mr. Kiliott there was not a seal on Zoitoi on the l!)tliof
July; aecordintj to the island reeords a drive was made from Zoitoi ou
that very same day.

Another error of like importance are the two passaj^es in the same
report which read as follows:

Tlie ini)>(irtaiK'u of niiilin'Htanding tliia fact as to tbe readiuesa of the holliiHiliickie
to baiil iHoiniPtly out on ateadily "swept" fjroiind, provided tbe weallmr iw inviting,
is very ^ireat, lieoaiiH« wlioii not midoiMtood, it was deemed iieeeunary, oven nn late as
tbe season of li'<7-, to 'rest'' tlie hauling Kf'i'nds lu^ar tbo villaire (from wliicli all
the driviii;; has been made siiKO), and nialie trijiH to far-away I'olavina and distant
Za)uulnie, an unnei'essary exjieiiditiire of huniaii time and a caiisoless inllirtion of
physical misery upon jihoeine backs and tlippera. (lOIliott's report, 18!)0, p. 1-2.)

Nobody in 1S72 ever thoiiglit of such ii thing as coining over from tbe village to
make a killing at Zapaduie. (Iliid., p. 21(!.)

At pape 122 Mr. f^lliott remembered and aeknowledRed that drives
■were made in 1872 from Zapadnie and Polavina, and the records con-
firm his story.

rie niijilit have included 1871, for the records show drives were made
from bolli jilaces in that year also.

At iiaue -!40 he seems to have forgotten some of what he had already
written, for he fjravcly tells us: "Nobody in 1872 ever thought of such
a thi!i{» as cominpover from the village to make a killing at Zapadnie."

Enough has been said, I think, for the purpose of showing the public
how it happens, sometimes, that matters of small moment in themselves
may beget tpiestions so momentous that it requires international arbi-
tration to settle them; and tiiat the report of one overzealous otlicer
and the otheial re])ort of another, made in anger and bitterness, have
cost the United States a whole fur-.seal herd, worth, originallv, nearlv
$l(»(),0(t(M»<»<>.

Ho numerous and so palpable were the inaccuracies all through the

\

ALASKA INI)t'STIME8.

50

Ine,
the

(lie
aiul
liicli

iott

I

r(^j)<)rt Hint Mr. I'ViHlcr, tlic (hon Scnctury of tlm Ticusiiiy, icfiiHcd to
lijivf it piihlislicd, iinil Hiil»sn|ii('iitly, i i .i letter to tluj Htute Depart-
iiieiit, piivc ^nod rcasoim I'ni' miiIi action.'

That the tlii'ory of iiijiiiy ol' the yoiiii^' iiihIoh to the extent of inipo
tency l>y (iri\ iiif,' on the isliuids, so forcilily presented l)y .Mr. i'.iliott,
haw been denied hy natnndists neneraily .ml disjirovi'd hy WxctH
adduced by both the Hcientilic and the |tractica! world, has already
been amply demonstrated; that Mr. KIbott hinisell', in Hoveral very
able i)aperH Huiisciniently written, has adojtted the viewH of every
Hcientist of note, troni our own American, l»r. .Merriani, to I'rol'. T. II.
Iliixley, is sat islactoiy evidence, I think, that the bitter <'ontention is
[•lacticaiiy ended, and the claim ol' the I'nited Stntes, that pela;;ie-
sealin^ is the cause of the decrease of the seal herd, is gcuerilly
acknowledged.

PKLAOIO SUALINQ AND DIPLOMACY.

When the actual condition of the seal herd be(;ame known in 1890-91,
and tiie ravat;es of the i)eliif;ic scaler could no lonycr be hidden, it was
sn{Jt,M'stcd that arbitrati(»n be tiicd for a llnal adjiistinent of all diller-
ences l)etween the United States and the i)ela{;ic, sealer. The seals
beinf< born and reared on United Htatea territ<»ry, and never iaudiiif,'
anywhen* else, it was naturally supposed they were the property of the
United States, and until tiuMr skins became con)inercially and exceed-
ijif^ly valuable no one questioned our absolute ownership of the herd.
So sure were we of our umpiestioiu'd title to the seals tliat, on takiu},'
, possession of our newly ac(piired Teiritory of Alaska, (Jonjiress enacted
laws for the jirotection of Alaskan interests and i)articularly for tiie
])rotection of all "furbeariiif^ animals." A few sectiona of the statute
law, in the li^'lit of subsequent events, are interesting:

Skc. lOliO. It hIiiiII be unlawful to l;ill :>nv fur soal upon llio islaiidH of 8t. Paul
mill 8t. (JcorgH, <ir in the waters udjai'cnt tluMeto, PX('»'|it during tlic nw>ntli8 of .luin-,
July, Sc|>f(Miilier. and Octolier in eacli year; and it Hliall lie unlawful to Kill hucIi
Heals at any )ini(( liy tli« use of firearms or by otlnr means tcndinj; to drive the Menis
away from those iKlandM; hut th* natives of the islands sliall hax e tlie lU'ivile;^)! of
killing Mueli younn Heals ai may be noeessary for tlit>ir own food and clothiiiij; diirliij;
other inontliN. and also sueh old seals as may be re(|iiired for their own clothing; and
for the niannfa( tiir(< of boats tor their own use; and the killin<; in sueli eases hIiuU
bo limited and eoiitrollod by such regulations as may be preseribed by the Secretary
of the TreaKury.

Sue. l!)()l. It shall be unlawful to kill any female soul, or any seal less than one
year old, at any season of the year, exci^pt as above provided; and it sh.ill also be
unlawCul to kill any seal in the waters adjacent to the islan(ls of St. I'aul and St.
(Jeiirge, or on the beaehe.s, elill's, oi roeks where they haul uji from the sea to remain ;
and uvery person who violates the jirovisions of this or the proeedini; sei'fion shall
be pnnislied for each olVeiiie by a tine of init less thiin two huiidred dollars luir more
than one thonsainl dollars, or by imiirisonmenl not nnire than .,ix months, or by
both such tine and itnprisonment ; ami all vessels, their tackle, ap])arel, and furni-
ture^ whose crews aie found engaKed in the violation of either this or the preceding
section, shall be forfeited to the Inited States.

Skc. l!l(iJ. For the jjoriod of twenty years from the first of .luly, eighteen hun-
dred and seventy, the number of fur seals which iu:iy be killed for their skins ujion
the island of St. Paul is limited to seventy-live tbou.sand per aniuiin; and the num-
ber of far seals which may be killed for their sltins upon the i.sland of St. George is
limited to twonty-tive tliousand per annum; but the Secretary of the Treasury may
limit the right of killing if it becomes neceHsary for the jireservation of such seals,
with such proportionate rcduc^tion of the rents reserved to the Government as may
be proper; and every jiersou who knowingly violates either of the jirovisions of this
section shall be punished a.s jirovided in the jirecediiig section.

Sec. UHJ7. Kvery jierson who kills any fur seal on eitlier of those islands, or in the
waters adjacent thereto, without authority of the lessees thereof, and every person

' See letter iu Appendix.

60

ALASKA mniTSTRIKS.

wlio ninlpBts disturbs, or intorfiTPs witli tlio Ioskcph. or oitlicv of tliom. oi- thoit
ajjeiits, or (Mii|)l')yee8, in the lawiiil prosciution ol' their busiiicKH, uniiiir tlio ])rovi-
sioiiH of tliis (;liiij)ter, shall for each oli'oiice In- jiaiilNlii'd as pri'Hcrihcd in suction nine-
teen hundred md sixty-one, and all \ esHids, their tackle, a]i)parel, upimrteuances,
and carj^o, whose crews are found enj^a^ed in anv violation of the provisions of sec-
tion nineteen hundred and sixty-tive to Jiinotoen hunched aird sixty -eight, inclusive,
shall be forfeited to the IJnitel states.

Skc. 1968. If any juu-son or .onipany, under any lease herein authorized, know-
ingly kills, or permits to bo killed, any number of seals exceedini; the number for
«iach islaml in this chapter ]>rescril)ed, such ]iorKon or company shall, in a<ldition to
the ]ie!ialtie8 and forfeitures herein provi<le(l, loii'eit tlie whole number of the skins
of seals killed in that year, or, in case the H:;iue have been disposed of, then sucii
person or company shall forfeit (ho value of the same.

Thus for a quarter of a cciiti.iy did tlie United Stf'.'S throw every
possible safeguard of law arouii [ t' 3 seals and utlier fiir-beiiriiij;- ani-
mals of Alaska, which, under ti.e fostering care of tii'^ (rovernnieiit,
and the good iiianagenient of the lessees on the seal islands, produced
the grand results of "growth and exijansion" in the herd and on the
rookeries, sworn to by so innny disinterested witnesses who have had
ocular knowledge of every fact to which tiiey testilied, while during
the same period of t nie the sea otter, which, owing to itr. pelagic liabits,
was necessarily left to the tender mercies of the p<'lagic hunter, who
knows no law higlier or holier thai; avarice and seltisMiK'ss, has been
practically exterminated. Law,s were enacted from time to time as
Occasion reu^nired them; regulations in accordance with law were made
annually for the proper enforcement of the statates and for tlie better-
ment of the natives of the seal islands and the industry upon which
they depended for a livelihood, and on which niillions of civilized people
depended for one of the most beautiiV.l, vab'sfble, and useful furs known
to commerce.

vV ho else, among the thousands now claiming an interest in the seals,
ever offered to protect hem as we have donel

NVliere was the pehigic sealer in the davs gone by, when the lUited
States were sjiending millions of money to protect the seal islarnis, and
when our statutes of protection to the female seal were being enacted?
Echo ansvers, "Where?"

Immediately after the treaty of cession, aiul before we could bring
order out of chaos, die marauder of tliose days 'andi-d on the seal
islands ami slangiiteied s-.'als indiscriminately. kil!i,,g a quarter of a
nviiiioii in one season, and only stopjiing the ruinous work when the
salt was exhausted.

Afterwards the United States statutes Vt'e'e enforced by Government
agents sent to the islands for the pnt])ONi-, and, until 1884, the seals
increased in numbers and in value under the fostering care of the
Government.

For a i)eriod of thirteen years, from 1871 to 18S4, inclusive, we had
taken 100,<H)() male seals annually without a sign of decrease or dinunu-
tion on the rookeries or the slightest injury to the herd, but, on the
contrary, a weil-known and generally acknowledged grnwth and expan-
sion.

Dr. H. H. Mclntyre, general superinteinlent for the Alaska Commer-
cial Company at the seal islands during the entire term (ff their twenty
years lease, when wilting confidentially to his company in 188.'', .says:

The breeding rookeries from the begimiing of the lease, to 1KS2 or 1883 were. I
believe, constantly iu< reasiiij.' iii area and ])o|iul!it ion. and my ohser\ ation.'i in this
direction .'ire in accordance «itli 'licse of Mr. .MiuL'an. Mr. Welister, and others, wh.i
hrive been for nuiiiy yi ars with nns iu your ,:.i ; > lei , and of t'le hili' rtpicl.tl Treiis-
ury a^ent, .1. M. Morton, who was ou tlio islands from 1870 to lb»0. (See h'tter in
Appendix.)

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

61

:;

;

In 1884 an inweasod tU-t't of iieliifji''- sealers apiiiear upon the scene,
and witli vessels specially desifjiif<l and fully e(piip[)ed for the work,
tLey follow the seals from year's end to year's end, shootiiif?, sjjearing,
and rippinpf u]) all they overlake, williont a tlioiisiht or care forage,
sex, or condriiori; and iniiiiediatcly tiie rookciics show si^iis of diiuiriu-
tioii to those who, like Morjiau and Webster, had the experience and
the op])0!'tunity to observe it.

Dr. Mcliityre, in the. letter alre.tuy q;.otcd, continues:

Tlie (loiitiMst bctwiKMi tilt! im'sHiit condition of HCiil lifV iiiid that of the first fleo-
a<l(', of till) least', is so iiiaik(Ml tliat tlin must iiMixiKMt can \u>t tail to iioticn it. .Just
wl.i'ii tlio clianj^e coininenci'd I am iinalile I'loni )>cisonal oUsi'ivation to Hay, for, as
joii will roiiieinlu'i-, 1 was in ill liralth. and unalili' to visit the ihlandn in 1SS3, \Wi,
and 18S5. I h^l't tlic, rcjid.riirs in l*^-*'-' in ilndr liillcst .and Ix'sl condition, and found
thoni in 1886 Jilrcadv showing; a sli^lit fallin.'j; oti, and exiicricncud that year for the
first time some (iil1i('nlty in securing; .just the class of animals in every case that we

isiieil. » • » I'or the cause of the i)rcs('nt diminution of seal life we have
not far '„o look. It is directly traccab'e to the illicit killini; of seals of every afje
anil s' X during the last few ycis in the waters of the North ra(dlic and JJerinj.';- Sea.
Wo are iii no way rcsiionsililc for it. Diiriiij^ the lirst thirteen years of the lease
coniiiaratively few s<ial» were killed by marau<lers, anil we were then able, » * *
under our carcd'nl maua<;ement, to produce a decided expansion of the breeding
rook'jries.

Dr. Mcfnty -e's letter was written in ISSi), wlien the effects of pelagic
sealing first startled the civilized world, and his statements were met
■with doubt or open denial from all who were ignorant of the situation,
and with the chargi^, from jv-dagic s-^alei s and their ajjologists, that the
Americans ha<l destroyed the seals by overdriving on land.

The absurdity and the injustice of tnis idle charge have been shown
in many ways during the discussion of tlie seal i;uestion, but it is reit-
erated again and again by tho.se who have established what they are
pieiised to call an "industry," the chief corner stone of which is the
killing of the female seals at .sea — of seals about to become mother.s,
from whose suddenly rii)ped bellies the ntdjoiii young are cut, or toi'U
oat alive and thrown into the ocean — of mo) Iters whose young htne
been left in)on the rookeries during their ab.sence on the feetling ground.s,
left to die of slow starvtition wliere, iia Ciii)tai.i Coulsoii truly says,
''the shonss are lined with emticiated, hungry little fellows, with their
eyes tnrntd toward the sea, uttering pltuntive cries for their mothers,
which wdc destined never to return."

And, lia.'d as it mtiy seem, aiid dillicult to believe though it may be,
it was with this same pehigio sealer, or for his sake at 'east, we were
asked to arbitrate the (luestion of our exclusive right of jjrojierty iu
the se.il herd, iuid of our right to jtrotecr them out.side of the ordinary,
"3 miles," limit from the land upon which they were born and which
they made their home.

Even Mr. Elliott was induced to lend his intluence to the .scheme for
arbitration, and, tifter his return from the seal ishinds in 18'.>0, we And
him addressing Mr. Itlaine, who was then Secretary of State, as follows:

Lot ine a>;ain, just before I leave, earnestly nrjie that you do not hesitate to invite
an English coinmis.doii to meet us, and juintly visit and view the Pribilofseal rook-
eries next summer at tint heijilit of tWe breedinfj; season in .Inly. That wreck and
ruin thereon, which I saw last Hummer, will bo thi're, and still more ]>roiiouuced
on the same ground next year ( 1 >!•! ) ; it will not fail to arouse the interest and sym
patliy of the Hritish af;entN, and the siLiht of tlie.se dwindlinu' herds will bnn most
eloipipnt and Batisfactory proid' of the conectncss of your iiosltiou taken in your
Ji'iidinfj letter of .lai'iiiiry 'J-, 18i)l), and u)iom the truth of whicli your whole arf;unicnt
in the Ilerin^' Se.a (|utstion rests. It is not ((Uite fair to ask .lohu Hull to believe me
now, • * ' but I assure yon that if ho gets up there ho will soon see enough to
make him respe.-t iii», anil be oif sworn friend in cooperating to save the fur sciij
from impending; exteriiii nation. Indeed. IichIioiiIiI be allowed to see lor himself now;
it is only manly and fair in iis to allow him to do 8U uuder the circumstances.
(Elliott to lUttiiie. 'cceiuber l.t, 181)0.)

\

62

ALASKA INDURTRIEa.

The English comTiiission was invited as sn^s'ei^ted by Mr. Elliott; the
comn>isRioners arrived at the seal islaiids in the latter part of July, 1891 ;
they visited the rookeries and saw the "wreck and ruin thereon;" they
noted the "dwindling herds," and they saw new grass growing on acres
of ground where, a few years earlier, hundreds of thousands of seals
swarmed in season and brought forth their young. Thecominissioners
foniul acres of ground covered with dead puj) seals as thick as they
could lie — "emaciated little fellows" — whose mothers had gone out to
the feeding banks, and were caijtnred by the ])('lagic sealers.

Whether the visit induced them to believe or res]MMt Mr. Elliott
remains to be seen, but it certainly did not "arouse tlicir interest or
sympathy" for the seals, or for ti)e nation that claimed the right to pro-
tect them. Nor did it make them "our sworn friends iu co()[)erating to
save the far seal from impending extermination."

On the contrary, though, they adopted Mr. Elliott's own exploded
theories of overdriving, imimtency, dearth of bulls, lack of young male
blood, redriving, scra])ing the rookeries, staini)eding, and added two or
three more of tlieir own, almost as absurd and nonsensical; and they
wound up their sympathetic and impartial labor in behalf of protection
for fur seals by the following regulations suggested by the British
Bering Bea commissioners:

(B) Specific Scheme op Regulations Recommendbd.

165. In view of the actual condition of seal life as it presents itself to ns at the
present time, we believe that the re<|ui8ite degree of protection would be aflorded by
the ajipliciition of the followin):; specific liiuitatioiis pt shore and at sea:

(a) The maximum number of seals to be taken on the Pribilof Islands to be fixed
at 50,000.

(6) A zone of protected waters to bo C8tal)li8hed, extending to a distance of 20
nautical miles from the islamlH.

(<■) A close se.'isou to bo provided, extendiuor from the l.'itli of September to the 1st
ol May in each year, during wliicli all killing of senilis sliiiU be proliiliited, with the
ailditioiiiil provision that uo sealing vesm'l shall enter Heriiig Sea before thelstof
.Inly in each year.

15G. liospei'ting the compensatory feature of such specilic regulations, it isbelieved
that a just scale of e(|uivalency aH between shore and sea sealing would be found,
and a complete chock established ag;iiiist any undue diminution of seals, by adopting
the following as a unit of compensalory regulation:

I'^r each decrease of 10,000 in the number lixod for killing on the islands, an
increase of 10 nautical miles to be given to the width of protect''! waters about the
islands. The minimum number to be fixed for killing on llie i^i.uids to be 10,000,
corresponding to a inaxiinum width of protected waters of (JO nautii'a! miles.

167. I'he above regulations represent measures at sea and ashore sniliciently eqniv-
ale'.it for all i)raetical purposes, and probably embody or provide tnr rognlatioiis as
applied to seiUing on the high seas as stringent as ■vonld be adini ted by any inari-
timo power, whether directly or only potentially interested.

158. As an alternative method of elVecting ft compensatory adjustment of the strin-
gency of me«8ure8 of protection, it is possible that some advantages nught be found
in the ailojition of a sliding scale of length for the season of sealing at sea, with a
fixed width of zone of protection about the islands.

In this case it is believed that, in correspondence with a decrease of 10,000 seals
killed upon tlie breeiling islands, the length of the sealing season at se.a might be
curtailed by seven days, such curtailment to be applied either to the opening or clos-
ing time of the sealing season.

1,5!). It may be objt^ctcd to the piinciple involved iu any correlative regulation of
shore and sea senling that it would be impossible in any particular year to make
known the niiniber lixed for killing on tlie islamlH in time to secure a corie,s|)ouding
ri'gnlation of pehif,ic si'aling. As a matter of tact, however, if the condition of Ihe
breeding rookeries called for any change, it should be possil)le to fix this number
with suflicieut ))recision a year in advance, while, on tlie other hanil. thi' giiHMal
ctTect would b(^ almost eciually advantag"ous if the number killed on the islands in
any one year were employed as the factor of regulation for pelagic sealing in the fol-
lowing year.

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

63

I,

I

160. Whilo ii zono of iMotoilion Iiii- Ijppii spoken ol' as the best method of safely
fjiiiirdiiifj till", vioinit.v ol llio hitciliii"; isliintls, il in to 1)« lionio in mind that sucii an
arcii niij;lit be <l(;lin<;(l Cor prmf ical jmriioscs as a nu^tiinguliirarea bounded by coitiiin
liufs of liititude and lorinitiido. JCvcn in dense fofj, and tlii'iofore ciiiiiparativoly
calm weatlier, an arrested vessel could be anchored with a ked^o and warp until the
weather cleared, aceordinK to fre<jueut eiistoin. '{"he spe(dal advantages of a concen-
tric zone api)ear to be that it is more dirt ctly in coiit'oiiiiily with the object in view,
and that in tine weather the visibility or otiierwise of the islands theinselves might
serve as a rouyh jjuide to sealers.

IGl. The restriction of the iminbcr of seals killed on the breedinf; islands, appro-
l)riate safeguards beiiif; provided, adiuils of very considerable precision and re(|uire8
no sjiecial ex])lanation. That the restriction of the nunilier taken at sea may be
accotiiplished practically and with all necessary certainty, and that ihe means of con-
trol available in the case of this branch of the scaliii}; industty are sulliciont, is
clearly shown by the successful ai)plicalion of measures such as tlii'sehero ijrojiosed,
to the .laii-.Maycn and Ne\vfoun<lland hair-seal fisheries, as well as of those based on
like principles, which are generally employed in protecting fish and game.

(C) Methods of Giving Effect to Rkgui-ations.

162. The means suited to secure the ])ractical eflicienoy of regulations at Bea are
generally indicated by those »do))te,d in the iiistanecs Just cite<l. It is uiinect^ssary
to formulate these here in full detail, bu„ the lollowinj,' sugi^estions are oll'ered as
pointing out those methods likely to prove most uselul in the particular case under
consideration :

(1) Statutory provisions Rhoiild be made, declaring it unlawful to bunt or take
fur seal during the close season by subjects or ve-.sels of the respective powers.

(2) The time of coinnienccnient of the sealing season should be further regulated
by the date of issuance of special customs clca.ances and of licenses for sealing, and
preferably by the issuanct of such clearances or licenses from certain specified ports
onlv.

(5) As elsewhere ex]iliuijod, the regulation of the- time of opening of the sealing
season is the most important, anil the closini; of the season is practically brought
about by t « onset of rough weather in the early autumn. If, however, it be con-
sidered desirable to tix a precise date, for the close of sea sealing in each year, this
can be done, as in the case of the date of sealing under the .lan-Mayen convention.

(4) The liability for brtiaeh of regulations, of wliatever kind, sliniild be made to
87)ply to the owner, to the master, or person in charge of any vessel, and to the hunt-
ers engiiged on the vessel.

(5) The penalty iin))oHed should be a fine (of which onehal.' should go to the
informant), with i)ossil)ly, in af^'gravated cases or second oU'cuses, the forl'oiture of
the catch and of the vessel itself.

(6) To facilitate the supervision of the seal tiflhery and the execution of the regu-
lations, all sealers might, in aildition, bo re(iiiired to fly a ilistinctive flag, which
might well be identical with or some color mtwiilicatiou of that already adopted for
the same purpose by the .lapanese (iovornmeut.

(D) Al.Tr.K.VATIVE MF.TlIons OF KEGULATiON.

163. Although the general scheme of measures above described appears to ns, all
tilings considered, to lie the most appropriate to the actual cir<Mi.iistances, measures
of other kinds have suggested themselves. Some of these, though i>erhaps less per-
fectly adapted to secure the fullest advantages, lecomincud themselves from tlieir
very simidicity and the ease with which they might l)eapi)lied. Of such alternative
methods of regulations, three may he specially referred to:

(1) Entire prohibition of killing on one of the brcfdinfl telandii,ieith suitable concurrtnt

regiilationt at sea.

164. The entire reservation and protection of one of the two larger islands of the
Pribllof group, eithiT St. I'aiil or St. (ieoijre Island, might be assured; such island
to be maiutained as an undisturbed breeding (dace, upon which no seals sh.all bo
killed for any purpose. On the remaining island the number of si ..is killed for eom-
niercial purposes would remain wholly under the control of the Government of the
I'nited States.

In cousi<leratiou of the guaranteed preservation of a breeding island with the pur-
pose of insuring the eoiitiniiancp of tlio seal stock in the common interest, a zone of
protected waters might be established about the I'rihilof Islands, and pelajric seal-
ing ini;;lit be further controlled and restri<'ted by means of a close season, inc'iiding
the early sjiriiii; months, or by a protected area to the south of the Aleutian Ubiiids,
defined by jiaralleis of latitude, such provisi(Mis at sea to have, as far as possiule,
quantivaleiit relation to those estalilished on the breeding islands.

64

ALASKA IXDI'STklKS.

(2) Ixcrurrciit pcrioilx nf rest,

165. This implies the provision of a ptuioil oC rest or cxoin))!!!)!! of nil Hcnls from
killiiiff, both at sea and on sliore, to oxteud over a coniplote year at such rocuiTeut
intervals as may be deemed neccHsary.

ShcU a period of rest inifrlit be lixed in advance for every fifth, or poHsibly as often
as every fourth year, and be made to form a part of a {fcnoral Hcliciiie imposing
limitation of number of seals killed on the isliiiid.s in inturvening y<ais, together
with restriction by tinie or 1)\ area of iicLi^ie se:iliiig.

While proximately e(|nal in elfiMton botli .shore and sea killing a i)erio(l of rest of
this kind would, in other respects, cause some iii<(in\ eiiieiiee, by ils interruption of
the several industries, and this, though miiiimi/ed l>y the fact that the date of occur-
rence of the year of rest would bo known in advance, would not be wholly obviated
by this circnmstaufe.

(3) Total prohibition of killing on the hreeclin;/ islands, with concuirent strict regulation

of pchigic sialiiiij.

166. While the cireunislanee that bnig usuge may in a measure bo coiiKidirod as

i'ustifying the custom of killing tiir seals on the bi-eeding islands, many facts now
Lnown res|)eeting the life history of the aiiiimil itself, with \ alid inlcrcnccs diawu
from the results of the disl iirbanc'e of ol licr aiiiniiils ii j'oii llieii' bleeding places, as
well as those made obvious l)y the new conilitioiis which have arisen in conse(|Menco
of the develoitment of peligic sealing, point to the conclusion that the breeding
islands should, if p(>-<sible, remain uuilJsturl)od and ihvi(diite.

1G7. If this view should be admitted, and pan icnlarly if thi! United States and
Russia, as the owners of tlui |)rincipal breeding islinds of the Xortli I'acirH', should
agree to cooperati' in entirely prohibiting all kiliin;' of seals on these islands, and
in guarding and iiroteeting the bre(>iling places upon them, it should be possibh; to
obtain, in c<)usideration of such care exercised in the conmion iiiteicst, an inter-
national assent to raeasiires regulating sea sealing of any n^iuired degree of strin-
gency, including certain sp(H'ial i ightsof 8U[)crvision by the powers mentioned.

168. It might, for exaiiiide, under hui h circMinstances, be provided —

(1) That all sealing vessels slunild be re;;istcred, and should take out special
licenses at one or otiier of certain specified jiorts, as, for instance, Victoria, I'ort
Townsend, Honolulu, ll.akodate, ami V'lailivostock.

(2) That such annual <learaiices or licenses be not issued befont a given date (say
Ist of May), anil that certain license fees be exact(Ml. Sucli license lees to be col-
lected by the oiKitonis authorities of the licensing (ioveninient, and to be eventually
transferred, in whole or in part, projiorticmately, to the (ioverninents protecting the
breeding islands, to go towanl meeting the cost of this protection.

(H) That no vessel should seal in Mering Sea before some tixed date (say Ist of
July) in each year, and that vessels intending to seal in Bering Sea should report
either to the United States or to the Kussiau authorities on or after that date at
named purts, such as Unalaska or l'etropa\ lovsk.

(4) That all duly licensed sealing vessels should be re(|ulred to tly a distinctive
flag, and that any unlicensed vessel found engaged in sealing should be subject to
certain penalties.

(."i) That a zone of protctcted waters should be est:ildislied about the breeding
islands, witllin which no sealing should under any cinuinstauces be permitted.

(E) iNTiCRNATIONAL ACTIu.V,

169. In the foregoing remarks on the measures available for the protection and
preservation of the fur seal of the North I'aeilic, relerence is ma<!e throughotit espe-
cially to the eastern iiart of that oce.iii, including more ]iarlicul;irly tlui area com-
prised in the rangeof those fur sealsof which the siiininer haunts and breeding jdaces
are about or on the I'ribilof Islands, and of which the winter home is found esjio-
cially off the coast of Hritish Coluiiibia. It is evident, however, that the same
remarks and recommenihitions apply equally to those! fur seals which in summer
center about the Coinmandcr Islands and in wintm- rrc(iueiit the seas oil' the coast of
Ja])an.

170. It may be stated, further, that no system of control can bo considered as
absolutely eom])h'te and eli'eitive which does not iuelinle under common regulati<ms
all jiarts of the North I'aeilic, and tliat the facility of execution of measures and
their etliciency \v(mld, under ,iny system of regul.itioiis, be niih li increased by the
concurrint action of Orciit liiitaiu, the United states, K'lissia, and .lapan, as indicated
in the niess:ige of the President of the United States in \><X'.K Ap.irt from tlie fac^t
that vessels prevented Ikuii sealiu'^ at given ilales in certain areas might at these
times frequent other waters in increused numbers, the circumstance that there is a

ALASKA INDUSTRIKS.

65

DHlllg

otlior

certain though uot fully known interrelation iind interchange of seal.s between the
eastern and western breeding iHlands of Bering Soa points very clearly to the^dvis-
ability of such cooperation in protection. (Heport of Kritish lieriug Sea Oommis-
sionors, p. 25.)

The most casual observer will see at a plance that the commission-
ers' suggestions are all in favor of the pelagic sealer and his "industry,"
and again.st the United States and the seals. That the public at large
may see this as I see it, I will briefly review a few of the most prominent
points suggested.

The commissioners say:

Tlie maxiiuuni nnniber of seals to be taken on the Pribilof Islands to be tised at

50,000.

That is to say, the United States must agree to reduce their catch on
land one half, to begin with, and the suggestion, remember, was made
long after it was known that the pelagic sealers had captured 78,000
seals in 1891.

They continue:

A zone uf protected waters to be established, extending to a distance of 20 nautical
miles from the islands.

As the largest catches are made at distances of from 80 to 200 miles
from the islands, and as the commissioners were well aware of that fact
when they made the suggestion, its worthlcssness may be understood
so far as the protection and safety of the seals go.

Again, they suggest:

A close season to bo provided, extending from the 15th of September to the 1st of
May in each year, during wlii<'li all killing of seals shall be i)rohibited, with the
additional provision that no sealing vecsel shall enter Bering Sea before the 1st of
July in each year.

As the killing season never did o])en on the i.slands till June, and
always closed on or before August 10 (excepting the few seals killed
from time to time for natives' food), aiul as it is from May to October that
protecttion is absolutely necessary for the preservation of the seal herd;
and as the pelagic .sealer hardly ever enters Bering Sea before July it
is ditticult to see how the "suggestion "could benelit the United States
or save the seals.

The next "suggestion" deserves careful attention, for it Is the key-
note of the whole superstructure raised by the commissioners, who say:

Respecting the compensatory feature of such spocilic regulations, it is believed
that a Just scale of e(|nivalency as between shore and sea sealing would be found,
and a complete check established against .any undue diminution of seals, by adopt-
ing the tollowint;' as a unit of compensatory regulation: For eacli decrease of 10,000
in the number lixed lor killing on the islands, an increase of 10 nautical miles to be
given to the widtli of protected waters about tlie islands. The mininuim number to
bo tixed for killing on the islands to be 10.000, corresponding to a miiximnm width
of protected waters of (it) naiiticul miles.

Here they make tlu' pelagic sealer the .senior partner in the fiir-seal
"industry," and the repiessive part of the "suggestitm" is intended
for the IJnited States oidy.

The situation tit the .start is to be something like this: The United
States are to kill not to exceed 50,000 seals, and the pelagic sealer is
not to a]»proa<;h the breeding islands nearer than 20 nautical miles.
Then f(>r every additiontil 10 miles we would remove the pelagic sealer
we ii\ust reduce our catch on shore by 10,000, so tlnit by the time he is
<iO miles away our ntaximum catch is to be 10,000.

The (irst thought that suggests 'tself here is. What would hapi)cn
were we to ask him for a protected zone of 70 miles from the seal

11. Doc. 02, i)t. 2 n

G6

ALASKA 1NDUSTHIE3.

isliuuls? Logically, we would have to stop killing' on the i^slan(ls alto-
gether and turn theni into breeding grounds for the use of a class of
sportsmeu who are fond of the manly art of hunting gravid female
seals and cutting out their unborn young.

Turning to the "alternative methods of regulation" snggested by
the commissioners we find that they, too, were possessed of the same
thought, for they "suggest :"

Entire jd'oliibition of killing ou one of the brt;eding iHliiiidH, with Ruitable con-
current regulations iit soil. The entire MHLMvalion and protection of one of the two
larger islauds of the Prilnlof grou]), eillier St. Paul or St. tieorge Island, iiiiglit be
assured; such island to be maintained as au undisturbed breeding place, upon which
no seals shall be killed for any purpo.se. On the remaining islands tlie number of
seals killed for commercial imrijoses would remain wholly under the control of the
Government of the United States.

In consideration of the guaranteed preservation of a breeding island, with the
purpose of insuring the continuance of the seal stock in the common interest, a zone
of protected waters might be establislicd about the I'ribilof Islands, * such

provisions at sea to have, as far as possible, quantivalent relation to those established
on the breeding islands. (See section UM.)

Growing bolder and bolder as they proceed they linally come for-
ward with a suggestion, which, for downright coolness, may well claim
"first place" among all the cool jn-opositions nuule in any age or coun-
try; it is nothing less than the "total prohibition of killing on the breed-
ing islands, with concurrent strict regulation of pelagic sealing."

Her'^ at last, the mask is thrown off and the commissioners stand
forth in their true character of "advocates" for the pelagic sealer and
apologists for his horrible methods.

It does not take long to get at the meaning of the "suggestions"
offered, for a careful reading shows at once the whole animus of the
thing is to prevent the killing of seals ou the seal islands, and to turn
the whole herd over to the pelagic sealer.

Had the most heartless of all the pelagic sealers been given carte
blanche to write suggestions, the adoption of which would inure to his
own benefit, he could not improve ou those of the l^ritish Bering Sea
commissioners.

This may seem to be a hard saying, but, from the testimony given by
the pelagic sealers themselves, it is well known that the killing of
female seals anywhere is sure destruction to the herd ; and the British
commissioners laave admitted it to be on more than one occasion.

Speaking of the indiscriminate killing of the seals at sea, they say:

Bnt it is unfortunately the case that at certain seasons considerable numbers of
gravid females are thus killed, and tliis killing is deprecated by the better clii.sses
of the pelagic sealers themselves, not alone on grounds of humanity, but because
they see dearly that it is unduly destructive to tho industrj in wliioh their fortunes
are embarked. (Report of British Bering Sea coiun'ssi oners, section (Wi?, p. 109.)

And yet the gentlemen who say so are tli*' si'.iiie men who have
"suggested" the "total proiiibition of killing on the breeding islands"
and the turning over of the seals to indiscriminate slaughter.

The commissioners were instructed to ascertain :

First. The actual facts as regards the alleged serious diminution of seal life on thn
Pribilof Islands, the date at wliich such diminution began, the rate of its progress,
and any previous instance of a similar occurrence.

Second. The causes of such diminution; whether, and to what extent, it is
attributable —

(o) To i\ migration of the seals to other lookeries.

(6) To the mctliod of killing pursued on the islaiuls themselves.

(c) To the increase of scaling upon the high seas, ai\d the manner in which it is
pursued.

ALASKA INUUSTHIES.

67

it ifl

And tlieu tbey were admoiiislied as follows:

I need scarcely remind you tliat yiiiir invoHlixatioii should be carried on with strict
iniitartiajity, that you slioiild ne^jloct no sources of information wliicli may be likely
to assist yoti in arriving at a Honnd concluHioii, and that great caru Hiiould ho takou
to silt the ovidf'nco that is brought bel'oie you.

It is e<|ually to I he interest of all the (^overnnients concerned in the sealing industry
that it should be juotected fn)m all serious risk of extinction in conseiiuenco of the
use of wasteful and injudicious metliods. f British liering Sea Commissioners' rei>ort,
I', a.)

To which they replied as follows:

To the Queen's Mont KxcelhiU Majesty:

May it pleiise Your Majesty, wo, Your Majesty's commissioners, ai)poiiited to under-
take an ini|iiiry into the con<litiou of seal life au<l the precautions necessary for ])ro-
venting the exteruiination of the fur-seal species in Uering Sea and other parts of
the Noi th Pacitio Ocean, beg to submit the following report. » « »

AVhercfore, in carrying out the terms of our commission, it has been our object to
ac([uiro and record the most complete information available, in order to ])roiiiote, in
the true interests of all concerned an equitable, impartial, and mutually satisfac-
tory adjustment of t lie questions at issue. (Hritish Bering SeaC^ommissiouoi's' report,

p. ;i.)

When Mr. Elliott wa« iirgiiifj the a]»i)oiiitiuentof a joiut commission'
as the remedy for all our troubles on the seal islands, he addressed the
Secretary of State as f()lh)ws:

No\ KMHKlt 22, 1890.

MyDbauM.u. Hi..\ine: ' * * We must take some of the best British rej)re-
sentation up to the islands and let it see the wreck and ruin thereon.

I have no fear of the result ; these Englishmen will return our friends, and work
in harmony with us in the labor of saving these anomalous interests from their
impending ruin.

1 believe that subsequent events have shown liiiu tlitit his faith was
misplaced, to say the least, unless we can fully appreciate the kindness
with which they propose to piohibit all killing on the islands and assume
the whole burden tlitmselves.

Had they .suggested the prohibition of all i)elagic sealing and an even
division between the nations interested of the burdens, expenses, and
proceeds resulting from t; strict and constant i)rotection of the breeding
islands there would be some semblance of justice and right as well as a
desire to perpetuate the seiils indefinitely; but the suggestion that the
United States sluill be forbidden to kill seals ashore and that the islands
must be turned into breeding ^jouuds for the sake of tiie pelagic sealer
is so repuguant to common sense and decency that were not the com-
missioners're])ort at my hand I si'ould not believe they could have been
guilty of making such a suggestion under any circumstances, but
especially under tlie i»lea of protecting iiud perpetuating the fur seals.

Had they attempted to ])rove the \vastefulness of present methods,
or had they <|Uoted tlie testimony of one honest and disinterested per-
son to show tliiit American management of the seals on the islands had
ever been inimical to their increase and improvement, tliere would be
some excuse for the suggestions otiered,but it was beyond their power
to produce testimony of tliat sort.

Therefore, I deem the remarks of the A)neric;in counsel at Paris on
this point as most just and opimrtune, luid as they express my own views
much better than ray own feeble words nan possibly do it I tpiote them
as follows :

We are reluctant to muke any reference to motives; but where opinions are, as in
this case, made evidence, the question of good faith is necessarily relevant. Why is
it that these comuiissioiiors have chosen to disregard the plpin dictates of reason
and natural laws wliieb they were bound to accijit, and to recommend some chea]>
devices in their place, when they so dearly (Ktrceived those dictatesT Wc are not
permitted to think that this was in conscious vi(diition of duty, if .'uiy other expl.iua-

68

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

tion is possible. The only apolojjy we can find (?onieH from the t';ict, clearly appar-
ent upon nearly every iiage ol" tlioir report, that the predominating iiitorest which
they conceived themselvcB ))onnd to re;;ard was not the i)reHervatiou of the seals,
but the protection of the Canadian sealers. This explanation at once accounts for
all their extraordinary roconiniundations, and all tlieir varying; inconsistencies.
Hence, every decree of restraint upon jjclagic aealinj? is reluctantly conceded, and
yielded only when it is compensated for, and more than coni))ciisMted for, by an
added restrii'tion of the supjdy furnished to tlie market from tlie breeding isliuids.
As the work of the pelagic sealers is on the one hand restricted in time or )ilace, and
thiis discouraged, it is on the other stimulated by the certainty of a lictter market
and a richer reward. So persistently and exclusively have they kept this j)olicy
before them as tlioir main object, that an ideal has been formed in their minds which
they openly avow, and to attain which is tlieir constant eil'ort. This ideal is that
nil taking of seals on land should be prohibited, and pelagic sealing be made the
only law Jul mode of c,ij)ture.

They thus express tiicmselves: "It Las been pointed out, and we believe it to be
probaljle, that if all killing of seals were prohibited on the breeding islands, and
these were strictly protected and safe -guarded against encroachment of any kind,
sealing at sea might he indelinitely continued without any notable diminution, iu
conseiiiience of the self regulative tendency of this industry."

And suggesting, as the only objection to this i)olicy which occurs to thorn, that it
might be too much to expect of the United States to thus guard the islands and sup-
port a native i)opulation of 'MO .it its own expense, they continue : ''It may be noted,
however, that some such arrangement would otter, perha])8, the best and slm])lest
solution of the present conllict of interests, for the citizens of the United States
would still have ecjual rights with all others to take seals at sea, and in conseijuence
of the proximity of their territory to the sealing grounds they would probably
become the principal beneticiaries,"

And they tinally come to the conclusion that any taking of seals at the breeiling
places is an error for which there is no defense excejit long usage, and even that
they regard as a doubtful apology. They say :

"While the circumstance that' long usage may, in a measure, be considered aa
justifying the custom of killing fur seals on the breeding islands, ninny facts now
known respecting the life history of the animal itKclf, with valid inferences drawn
from the results of the disturbance of other animals ui>on their breeding jdacos, as
well as those made obvious by the now conditions which have arisen in consequence
of the development of pelagic sealing, i>oint to the conclusion that the breeding
islands should, if po.ssible, remain undisturbed and inviolate."

These rol'erences to the opinions exi)resRed in the rejiort of the commissioners of
Great IJritain, when taken together with the scheme recommended by tlicm, leave
no room for doubt that the defense of the Canadian sealers was from first to last,
their i>redoniinating motive, and enable u > > make for them the apology that they
conceived that this was the duty with wh ■ . they were especially charged. If this
be the fact, it is easy to perceive how all their reasonings and recommendations
should receive a color and character. AVe feel obliged to say that we can perceive
n3 other ground upon which their action may be made consistent with good faith.
(Argument of the United States, p. 201).)

*■»**#*♦

The real conflict between the report of the lU'itish commissioners and the case of
the United States seems to be as to the number of cows iu a harem. The British
commissioners assert that the number is undnly large of cows served by one bull;
the United States produce credible and exjjerienced witnesses to show that, on the
contrary, the number of females is decreasing. A comparison is Invited between
the two statements and the quality of proof adduced in favor of each It is plain
that the British commissioners could not adtnit the diminution in number of fenuale
seals witliout admitting that decrease to be wholly due to i)elagic slaughter. They
are therefore reduced to the necessity of insisting that there is a redundancy of
females and a delicit of males on the islands. They are kind enough to admit, how-
ever, th,at "the sparing of fenniles in a degree prevented, for the time being, the
actual depletion of seals on the islands" (section r>H). It is not i)robable that any
reasonable ])erson will take issue with them on that point. The intelligence and
legislation of the civilized world, not to speak of humanity in its broad sense, have
concurred that to sjiare the female was not the best but the only elVective method of
preventing depletion and eventual extermination.

Even if we should concede, for the sake of the arguiiient and iu direct disregard
of the fact, that tin; diminution is due to the smaller number of males, we would
venture to remind tJjis high tribunal, if such a reminder were needed, that the
pirates or poachers who pursiie and slaughter the pregnant and iiursing females are
killing, by starvation in the one case, by the mother's death in the other, a large
number of males. Even, aeeording to their own showing, the British commissioners

ALASKA TXDlJSTinFS.

69

lil)par-
Iwhioh
1 seals,
lit 8 fur
Jjiicios.
Id, und
Iby ail
ilaiuls.
le, and
liiarkot
(policy
I vvliicli
Is thaf.
|de tlio

iniiHt realize that pclagir soaling is rosiiousilile, to somu extent at loast, for tlj<>
dccroaso in the nuinl)L'r of males, us woil as of fcnialus. They may sjieak of thin
•' industry," as they term it, and glorify it as requiring all the courage and skill
wLicli can be brought to bear on it (whatever that uiiiy mean). (Section (JOii.)
They may contrast its '• sportsmanlike " character with the " butchery " comniitted
on the islands (section 610); but they can not fail to perceive tliat the mode of
destruction, which principally deals with gravid females, necessarily strikes iit the
very foimdalion of Hie, and ninst eventually extinguish the race, Ue<inisi', as they
mildly state it, it is unduly destructive (siM'tion (ilW).

Tlie i)ehigi(' sealer not only kills or attempts to kill the males that In; hajijiens to
meet, l)Ut i)revtnits the birth of males to take their i)laco, lie often kills three w itli
one disi'hargt! of his rille, vi/,, the mother, the unborn young, and the pu]> at home;
but lie doi'S it in a ''s|)(Mtsmanliko" uuinner, and he gives the sleeping Jiiiimal a •' fair
sporting chance for its life.'' (Section GIO.) In many caseH he either misses his
objei-t or wounds it and loses it. So that there is by this manly proi'css an utterly
useless waste of life, in many r.ises a waste more or loss a))palliiig as the " sjiortsnian ''
is more or less skillful. How destructive in reality this jirocess is proven to be may
be seen from tiie liritish commissioners' report under the head of " I'roportion of
seals lost" (p. 101, section 608). It must be a consolation to those disposed to ext(d
this kind of sport that while nearly " all the peLigic sealers coiunir in the o))inion
that the fur seal is annually bi^coming more shy and wary at sea," it is certain that
"the dexterity of the hunters has been increased pari passu with the wariness of
the seals." (Hritish commissiout.'rs' re|)ort, section 401.)

That the number of the seals lias been diminished in recent years at a cumulative
rate and that such diminution is the consequence of destruction by man iscertilied by
the joint report of all the commissioners. That this human agency is pelagic sealing
exclusively, and not the mode, manner, or extent of capture upon the breeding
islands, is abundantly clear.

This follows lUiccHsarily from adniitte<l facts. The fur seals being polygamous,
and each male sufficient for from 30 to .50 females, and being able to secure to himself
that number, it follows that there must be at all times a larger number of sai)er-
lluous males, and the killing of them produces no permanent diminution of the
number of the herd. On the other hand, the killing of a single breeding female
necessarily reduces pro tanto the normal numbers.

An excessive killing of males might indeed tend toward a decrease if carried to
such an extent as not to leave enough for the purpose of etfectual impragnation of
all the breeding females. The taking from these herds of 100,000 males would not,
if that were the only draft allowed, be excessive. This is evident from many con-
si<lerations.

(o) Those who, like the British commissiouers, propose to allow pelagic sealing to
such an extent as would involve the annual slaufrhter of at least 50,000 females in
addition to a slaughter of 50,000 young males on the breeding islands can not cer-
tainly with the least consistency assert that the capture limited to 100,000 males
would be excessive. Nor could they consistently assert this, even though the pelagic
slaughter should bo restricted (by some means which no one has yet suggested) to
10,000 females. It recjnires no argument to show that the destruction of even that
number would be rapidly disastrous to the herds.

(6) And when we turn to the proofs, they are conclusive that prior to the practice
upon any considerable .scale of pelagic sealing the annual draft of 100,000 young
males did not tend to a diminution of numbers.

(c) Of course, it is easily possible that the indiscriminate slaughter effected by
pelagic sealing may soon so lar reduce the birth rate as to make it difflcnlt to obtain
the annual draft of 100,000 young males. This draft, under such circumstances,
would necessarily at once diminish the birth rate, for, the number of females being
less, a less number of males would be required. The number of the whole herd
might be rapidly diminished by the slaughter of females and the consequent diminu-
tion of the birth rate and still 100,000 males continue to be taken for a time without
damage. How soon a point would be reached at which so large a draft of mules
from a constantly diminishing number of births would operate to produce an insuf-
ficiency of males is a problem which from want of precise knowledge of the relative
numbers of the sexes it would be difficult to solve.

The Hritish commissioners' report upon this subject is as follows:

"The systematic and persistent hunting and slaughter of the fur seal of the North
Pacific, both on the shore and at sea, has naturally and inevitably given rise to cer-
tain changes in the habits and mode of life of that animal, which are of importance
not only in themselves, but as indicating the effects of such pursuit and in show-
ing in what particular this is injurious to seal life as a whole. Such changes doubt-
less began more than a century ago, and some of them uniy be traced in the histor-
ical precis elsewhere given (section 782 et seq.). It is unfortunately true, however,
that the disturbance to the normal course of seal life has become even more serious

70

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

ill recent yeiirrf, and that tUou< is tli(n'oroi(> no liu-k of iiiatDrinI licun wiinh f<. hIikIv
Its cliariiit.cr and (licit c\cu III lliu lur.Mjnl tiiin'.'

In the zciil of tlioir advocacy on lidiialtol luliinic Hoiiliiif,' and liicii driuinciation
of tlip inethodH in n.so on the inlands the coiniiiis^ionein have ox|)«uii'iii'((d niiiih and
I's ident ditliciilly in franiin;j; their theory. If thex adniitti^d, in niKiualilird terriH, a
dei-n-aso in nunilier, the ohvioMH dodnction from the coneeNNion would he that the
iinliMiit(;d hlaiif;hter of females must hear tlie hiaiiie and burden of Hiiih a result. If,
on the other hiind, they should assert that the niimlicr ai tiially iniTeaseil, this would
only he consistent with an approval of tiie methods in use on the land. ISetweiii
this Seylla and this Chary hdis a way of escape must ho found, and it was found. The
iiiUcuniity lieri'displayi'<l deserves full noticeand ncknowledsnient. The joint rejiort
contains tliis statement:

•' Wo find that Hin<;i^ the Alaska purchase a marked diminution in the niimhor of
Heals on and huldtiially resorting to the l'ril>ilof iNJands ha.s tnkin place, that it has
been eiiinulative in elfeot, and that it is the result of exces.sive killiii;^ hy man."

liearing in mind that the fur seals formin;; the oliject of this conlroviTKy have no
other home ou land than the I'rihilof Islands, and tlial the llritishcoiiiiuissioners them-
selves concede that they, for the most part, breed on those islands; bearing in mind,
too, tliat these gentlemen have not yet discovc^red any other siimnier habitat lor the
seals, it would siunii that this declaration is e(|uiv;il(nt. in its fair srMise and meaning,
to a statement that the fur seals that frequent the American coast and the Merino
Sea have siilfercd a marked decrease.

J'erhaps it was so intended by the Uritish, as it was bv the United States commis-
sioners; bnt if so, the former gentlemen have lost si of their original intention
and have been led to nice distinctions, which we shall ,.'W examine.

That the seal, although "essentially pelagic" (section l'(l), has not yet learned to
breed at soa is not denit'd, although to the vision of the coiiimissioners the prospect
of such a transfoiination or evolution is evidently not very remote. We must, in
justice to them, quote one single passage, which admirably illustrates tb<' compla-
cency and Molf-conlidence with which they wrest to their own piiri)oscs with unlicsi-
tating violence the laws of nature and the mysteries of ulterior evolution. If this
quotation docs not give a just idea of the imaginative powers of these ofticials
nothing l)nt a perusal of the whole of their work will do them jnstice:

"The changes in the habits and mode of life of the seals naturally divide thoiu-
selves into two classes, which may be considered separately. Tlie lirst and most
direct and jialpable of these is that shown in the increased shyness and wariness of
the animal, which, though alway.s pelagic in its imture, has been forced by circinii-
stances to shnn th(^ land more than before, bo that bnt for the necessity imposed iijion
it of seeking the shore at the season of 1)irth of the young it might ])rubahly ere
this have become entirely pelagic."

An animal "always pelagic,' forced by circumstances to shun the land ukmc than
before, and which would become entirely pohigic, long before this if it were not
obliged to seek the shore for so trifling an object as giving birth to its young, deserves
to be classed among the curiosities of nature. The diffcrciu'c bet u ecn animals (now)
always pelagic and those (in the future) entirely pelagic may not readily lie undor-
stood without explanation not vouchsafed. How can they be always pelagic if they
are obliged to seek the laud or perish, and why is it reasonable to talk of the prob-
ability of their becoming something dilfercnt from what tliey are when that con-
jecture is baBe<l npon nothing bnt reckless and grotesque assumption f Of course,
this and other specimens of affront to common sense are merely gratuitous and
pointless vagiirii's. JJiit the thesis must be sustained, \iz, that the seals are not
even amphibious animals: their resort to land is a merely accidental necessity, and
therefore the Tnited States can no more claim a right to or possctssion in them than
in other "essentially i)elagic .animals," such ns the whale, the codfish, or tlie turbot.

If anything more were tieoded toemphasize the absurdity of this dcliance of well-
known facts and settled distinctions in the animal world we might still fui ther cite
the Uritish commissioners (m the subject of the seal pidage or sliedding of hair. It
seems that these pelagic animals were not endowed by nature with the proper skin
to ])crforni this function in their native element. Unless thoy can find a suitable
placeoutof water they retain the old hair and disregard the laws which would compel
an annual shedding. Lest this seem an exaggeration, read their reiairt citing Mr.
Grebnitsky : "During the ' stagey ' or shedding season their pelage becomes too thin
to afford a suitable protection from the water." (See section 202; also 281, 031, 632.)

It is hardly necessary to say that this theory, so gravely and seriously advanc^ed,
that the seal is naturally and essentially a pelagic animal, is utterly unsnstained by
evidence, is refuted by the language of the commissioners themselves, and disputed
by elemcntaiy writers. It is only necessary to .ascertain how naturalists ileline
pelagic animals and then compare such delinition with the known characteristics
and rudimentary elements of seal life (see especially for this the books of .Johns Hop-
kins UniverBity). Besides, the unanimous and unquestioned testimony of the agents

Itlllll
and

|iH, a

tlin

II'.

jiiild

|V{>(I|

The
))()it

of

llllS

ALAHKA INDUftTHIKS.

71

tor till (jiiv(>riiiiU'iit iiikI tlie IcBscfis bIiowh that tho fur mimIh Mpoiid iit Ifiint four
nioiitim ol' tlii^ year on tliu l'ril>il<>f iHlaixlH.

lluviii^r i'liiind, '.villi tb(! Aiiiurii .u ('oiiiiniHMioiinrM, u iiiaikcd liiiiiluutinii in Uiitniiiii-
hy.v ui' bcuIh on and li iliitnallv rrHorting to the I'riliilur iHJiindH, tliti llritlHli coniinia-
Hidiii'i'H iirocuud to hIiow tliat the HcaJH are nioro nniiieroiiH than over. I'hey have,
uo doubt, ileiiionstrated tliis to their entire satistMction on puKes 72 and 7;t of llndr
report. Captain Warr'H they <|noto an Haying tlmt he notired no iliniiiintion in the
iiniiilier of seaJH dnrin;; tlie twenty yearn that he had hcen in thai liUHineHM, and, if
any change at all, an inereiiHe (neition lOU). 'I'o the same (dl'ect tJajitain Leary, who
HiivN that in llerinn .Sea they were more nnHieron>s than he had over Heen them (MCe-
tion 103), while Mr. Miluo. collector of cimtoniM at \i(toria, reports, what others
have sai<l to him, that owners and inaHters do not entertain the Hli^hteHt idea that
the sealM art' Kearce (Heetion 103). AVliat u trihnte this iiiiist ho to the manafjenientof
the I'riliilof iNlands if, notwith.ttandinn tho coneeded deRtrnction of gravid and iinrH-
iu^ liniaUtN, these .statements shonld he rrno. (apt. \V. (,'ox took ],(Hi() se.'tlsin four
days 100 miles to the westward of the I'rildhd' iBlands (section lO.")). llo found the
Seals mneli moiephntilnl in lit^iiiK Sea than heliad evf^rseen them before. It would
have addeil mnch to the interest of Captain Cox's statement if h(^ had told us how
many of these seals f;avo ovidoneo of having left their imps at homo.

'J ho Mrilish eonimisHiofers multiply the <.vi(leni e to sliow th.'it the fjeiieral oxpcri-
once as stated to them has Inen that seals were equally or more abundant at sea at
the time of their extermination than they had be.eii in former years. It is didlcnlt
to treat this with the respect that a report enianatin;; from gentlemen of character
and hign oflieial jiosition should meet. Either the Htatement in the joint report is
true anil the assumption of an iiirreaso is nntnie, or vice versa. In view of the evi-
dence that these seals have no other home than the I'ribilof Islands, it is ])laln,
beyond the necessity of demonstration, that all the seals killed by Cajitain ('ox and
others in the Keriiifj ISea were inhabitants of those islands, and the testimony only
goes to show that the motlieis do ^o out to sea a hnndied miles or more, as is sworn
to by the witnesses for the Inited .St.'ites, and that it is while they are on the feeding
grounds, or searching abroad for food, that they are caiitnred by the Canii lian ))oach-
ers. If this is not so, then let the eoniinissioners or those ailvocating their views
tell us whore those seals slaughtered by Captain Cox and others found their "sum-
mer habitat."

Any pretense that the seals are decreasing at homo — i. e., where they live through
tho summer, and breed, and nurse, Rtid shed their hair — and i.t the same time are
increasing in the sea is simply an absurdity. It would have added niiii'b to the value
of the testimony of all these masters if they had not sedulously avoideil stating tho
sex of tho animirls that they killed.

'I'hcre is one, and one explanation only, of this, and that expl.'ination makes the
stories above iinoted jilausible. The pelagic seaieis were engaged in liunting nurs-
ing mothers on the feeding grounds wherothose animalsaro fiiiind in large niinibers.
The decrease proved, and indeed admitted to exist (see joint rejiort), had not yet
been so great as to bo manifest to those sealers who were so fortunate as to fall in
with a number of fetnalos either intent upon linding the food necessary to produce a
flow of milk, or sleeiiing on the surface of the water after feeding.

And here wo may note another illustration of the thesis and its advocacy. Having
satisfied themselves that pelagic sealing rather operated to iiuroaso the sii))ply of
seals they remembered that the killing of young males was objectionablo and likely
to n^snlt in exterminatiou, and thereupon discovered the fact that " a meeting of
natives was held " at which the aborigines unanimouslv expressed the oi)iiiion that
tho seals had diminished and would continue to diminish from year to year (an
opinion, too plain, wethink, for argument), but thoy atonco assign tho reason, which
is not the killing of many females, but the extraordinary fact that " all the male seals
bad been slaughtered without allowing any to come to maturity upon the breeding
grounds," (Section 138. )

Having thus jirovcd that the seals were in a flourishing condition of increase, and
that they were decreasing in an alarming degree, tho conclusion is reached that the
decrease is on tho land and tho increase in the water:

"The general eti'ect of these changes in the habits of tho seals is to minimize tho
number to bo soon at any one time on the breeding islands, while the average imni-
ber to be fo«ind at sea, at least proportionately, though perhajis in face of a general
decrease in the number of seals, not absolutely increased." (Section -i 15 of Uritish
Couiuiissi oners' Heport.)

Would it be irrelevant to inipiiro what was the "glimmer habitat" of the numer-
ous seals slaughtered by Captain Warren, Captain Leary, and Captain Cox f Were
they not all of the I'ribilof family ? Did not the commissioners, who quoted Captain
Cox to the etlect that he had, no doubt in true sportsmanlike fashion, with a shot-
gun, killed lioO seals a day for four days, know that tho enormous majority of these
were nursing iiiotliors whose pups were starving at home? (Argument of the United
States, n. 288.)

72

ALASKA INDUfSTHlKS

I

PKLACIC SBAI-INO, OLOSK SRAHON, Rl'<'.

That many honost ami piilriotic iiicii liave •liHcit'd in tlicir opinioiiN
abo '■ tbo true cause of the (U'struction and tlnealeiad tola! extinction
of the Alaskan fur seal is imt to be denied; for, unfortuiuitcly, tlio rival
interests have been s(t niiiny and so diverse, and the seal islands are so
far beyond tiie reach and lien of tiie i)ublic, that it has been very dill)
<'ult to jjet at tiie plain truth of the matter as it really exists. Al)ove
all the tlieories advanced, however, there are two facts wliicli are most
intimately connected with the discussion, which never slioiild be lost
Hif;ht of if we would understand the matter tlioroiijjiily.

First. Tiiat from 183.1, w lieu the Russians lirst i»roiiil)ited tiie further
killiiif>' of the t'eniale seals, to 1884, when tiie pehif^ic sealers became
numerous and powerful, the seal herds grew and tloiirished and the
rookeries expanded notwithstanding long drives and other barbarous
metiiods continued until the United States i)urchased Alaska; and that
from 18(18 to 1880 an average annual killing of 100,000 young males was
made before a sign of decrease or diminution appeared on tln^ islands.

Second. In sjiite of all that has been said ami reiterated against the
lessees' managem iwt of the islands and the methods pursued for so
many years in caring for the rookeries and the seals, in driving and
killing, and the waste of seal life resulting therefrom, it must be
admitted that under this same management (which has been the same,
practically for twenty-five years), the seals increased steadily fiom 1808
to ISSi, or until the pelagic sealers appeared in force in Bering Sea.

Tiiese are facts that have been proved beyond the possibility of a
doubt, and although interested or meddlesome i)arties may and often
do make wild crharges and unreliable statements about bad manage-
ment, bad methods, and barbarity in the driving and killing of the seals,
there is not a shadow of truth in the stories, nor has any honest man
who ever lived on the seal islands ever said or thought of anything of
the sort.

The word " monopoly " is often used for the piir])ose of bringing odium
on the seal question when facts are lacking, but the truth is that, desinte
all the wicked and idleinsinuationsthrownoutin that way, the leasing
of the seal islands to a responsible conii)aiiy was the best as well as the
most i)rudent thing the Government could liave done under the circum-
stances, as the result showed before the pelagic sealer appeared to inter-
fere with the prosperity of the rookeries which had been fostered and
built uj) by the wise management of the lessees.

As an answer to the fault-finder who ])roclaims the destruction of tlie
seals through the mismanagement of a mono[)oly, 1 will quote from the
island records the number of seals actually killed for their skins on
the islands during the twenty years' lease of the Alaska Commercial
Company, and also the number of skins which were rejected or lost
out of ail that were killed.

ISeualu Ex. Doc. No. 107, iilty-sHcond Congress, Becond sessiou, iippendix.]

Total number of seals killed for their skins by the leasees from 1S70 to 1880, both inclusive.

St. Paul 1,403,907

St. George 318,120

Total 1, 782, (i27

Total number of akins rejected from same.

St. Paul 2,480

St. George 628

Total 3,108

AI-AHKA INl»rsTHIE8.

73

In other words, tor every 1,00<» hphIr killed ])y the lo.ss(.j.s, during
their twenty years' lease, there was a loss of 1] skins.

As tiicsti tifjnres wen^ conipiifd l)y nie, orij;iinilly, troni tiie booiis
kept on both of t\u'. seal islands, I know tlu^y can not lui denied or suc-
cessfully contradicted, and I respcc(ful!y sultMiit them, and the lesson
they teach, to the most careful consideration of the Departnu-nt.

Lest sonic critic; nniy say i have not (|Uoted all the lif,nires, let me add
right here that I am speaking of the hun'e young males which were
actually killed for their skins to make u]) the lesseeH, annual (piota, and
of those only.

That the natives killed, for food. I>!>,(i84 young nude seals during the
same twenty years (in addition to pups), and that 27. <>!•() of the skins
were rejected, is true; but the lessees are notblaniable tor that, for they
had notliing whatever to do witii it, and c(Hise(|uently I have counted
only the skins of the seals killed during the regular .sealing season and
before the seals becanu' "stagy."

iMost of the seals killed for natives' food were taken during the
"stagy" season, hence tlie rejection of so many of the skins.

This is why I have repeatedly advised in this iind foinier reports
that no killing for any ]>urpo.se should be i)erniitted during the "stagy"
season.

The numagement of the seal islands, and the care bestowed on the
seals by the lessees and their agents, are matters of history into which
it is not necessary to enter, because the above tigures show far more
elocpiently and conclusively than w(uds of mine could that that must
of necessity he a well managed business which can make such a show-
ing at the end of twenty years.

Only 7 rejected skins out of every 4,01)0 seals killed is a record for
good and careful management that the lessees may very well be proud
of, and it is a withering reply to all the idle story-tellers who have
attempted from time to time to make the world believe that careless-
ness and brutality united in driving the seals hurriedly to the killing
grounds, leaving hundreds dead on the road, and that bad manage-
ment, corruption, and dishonesty reigned supreme on the seal islands.

In another part of this report f have given a table showing the num-
ber of seal .skins actually recorded as sold as a result of pelagic sealing
from 1808 to 1811-1, both inclusive, which shows the gradual increase of
the catch from year to year as the sealing fleet increased in numbers
and ethcieucy, until the 4,'Mi7 skiris taken in 18(18 have grown into
121,143 in 1804.

To further illustrate the growth of pelagic sealing and the havoc it
has wrought on the seal herd I will now insert another table c.om])aring
the numbers taken on the Pribilof Islands with those taken on the open
sea from 1890 to 1894, both inclusive.

Official, pe-

Ingic oatcli, As corrected

Its eiiturcd iu by trade

UiiitPd States sales, iiddiiif;

Otluial,

^''il^.l'i'i^*'' i and Victoria skins Rliipped
liiuns. (BritialiCo- via Sue/,

18D0

18!)1

18il2

1893

1894

Total

u K^timated.

luiiibia) oua-
tom-hoasea.

Caual.

20, 095

51,811

a 60. 000

in, 482

89,788

o75

000

7, ri49

7.3, .394

oafi

000

7, .'illO

78, 083

1(1!)

li*)9

16, 1131

121,143

142

000

65, 557

394, 222

471

069

■i

74 ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

Tliose tulvoii oil tiie islands, it is hardly necessary to say, \v«re young
Hifiles — llie surplus males ol' llie herd, those tak.Mi at sea were taken
indiscrimiuately, without reffurd to sex, and were mostly giiiviil females
or nursing inotliers whose young' perished too.

The oilieial lif^ures for the rri'oil if Islands catdi are take.i iVom the
Tieasury,a}>'ents' annual reports on tile in +lie Department. The oilieial
figures of the pelagic eatch are based on the reports of the (collectors of
customs at San Fra'icisco, Astoria. Port Townsend, and other ports
in the United States, ai:d at Victoria, British Columbia, and, for some
of the, years, from the London trade sales of i)elagic skins.

There is every reason to believe that t'le real number of itelagic skins
taken during the live years last nanii'd aggregate 50!),{)(i0, and if we
consider t^ie loss suataiiied by the wounding and sinking of seals that
are never secured, the iii\mbers would run up t : three quarters of a
million destroyed, lost to the United tStates, in five years.

But let ns take only what are given ofticially as entered in United
States and Victoria (British Columbia) customhouses, .'i04,22'J, and
allow that only .10 per cent of them were females, or, say, 2()(),0(»()
mothers, one-half of whose pups were "cutout alive'' airl thrown over-
board at sea, and the other half of whose imps stp.ived to death ou tk'^
rookeries, then the aecouut would run thus:

Malesenls l^'liwl 194,222

Gravid females 100, (KK)

Pujis "cutout i.f sanu)".. 100,000

Mothers in ni il ic 100, 000

Pups starvcil m rookeries 100, 000

Total RM, 222

But coming back otice more to the bare otHicial figures as given by
the i'ollectors of customs, what do they teach ns?

They show ou their face that the i)elagic sealers are reaping the
»V''alth of the seal herd while the United States are payi'ig all the
expenses; thai during the existence of the modus vivendi, v. hen it was
agreed that all parties should cease kdliiig seals until an impartial
iiupiiry and investigation could be made, the United States lived up to
the agreement, and the jielagic sealer increased his fleet and killed more
seals tluiu !.'e ever killed belbre.

In 18!)U, on the discovery of the d< ease on the rookeries, we imme-
diately red' ced our catch from the regular annual quota if lOO.OOO to
20,!)!>r», but the j)elagic sealer continued on his cruise and captured in
the whole North Pr.cific Ocean and Bering Sea 5i,.Sl i skins.

In 18!tl our catch amounted to 13,48L'; the pelagic scaler, in s])ite of
pledge, pvomise, law, and two armed fleets, captured nearly 7(),()()().

In 1892, v.itl. the modus vivendi thoroughly understood by our agents
on tiie islands, we took 7,54!> seals to feed the natives of the seal islands
as per agreerient with Great Britain, and the pelagic sealer, in defiance
of a'.l law, took ll'.'.VM.

In IS'.Ki, still abiding by the terms of the modus vivendi, we took
7,500, ai'd the ])elagic sealer took 109,000. (Tlivse figures include seals
killed on the Asiatic side of the North Pacilic Ocean.)

It was in 1S!>,'< Oe Tribunal of Arbination met at I'aris, and, after
carefully reviewing the whole situation and the questions at issue, a
decision was rendered inid regulations suggested for the settlement of
the Bering Sea question and for the jirotection of tlie far «eals.

The full text of the awaiil will be found in the A[U'en<lix,

With the Tribunal of Arbitration, and the question.' of national and

1

■ ^

ALASKA INDUSTKIES. li>

inteniatidUiil law decided by it, 1 liave iiotliing to do; but with nil that
ai)])er(aiu8 to the practical side of the seal <|ue8tion and the iiioasiires
wliich should be adojjted for tlie absolute jtiotectiou of tin; seals, 1 have
to do, aud I say, without the least hesitation, tliat tlie rcgnlations
adopted for that express purpose by the Tribunal of Arbitration are a
failure.

That the two great nations directly int("(-,;ed in the (jueslfons laid
before the tribunal were honestly anxious to iuive a definite urn] mutually
satisfactory settlement is not to be doubted : that the (|uestioiis at issue
were fully and ably presented by counsel on both sides can not be dis-
puted; tliatj our own rei»resentatives were in full possession of all the
iacta and testimony, and that they had a thorouf^h knowledj^c and grasp
of the actual situation is shown by the able manner in which they pre-
sented their case and met the arguments of oi)posing counsel, and yet
notwithstanding all this, regulations have been made professedly for
the i)rotection of the seals but practically for the benefit of the pelagic
sealer.

No better proof of this could be given than the official figures already
quoted for 1894 — a total pelagic catch in the North Taciflc Ocean and
Bering Sea, from shore to shore, of 1413,000 seals, while only 1G,031 were
killed on the Fribilof Islands from August, 1893, to August, 18!)4.

Let it be remembered, too, that out of a total of 9i") vessels emidoyed
in pelagic sealing only 37 entered Bering Sea in 1894, and yet, in about
five weeks, these 37 vessels killed over 7,000 seals more than were taken
by the 95 vessels on the American side of the North Pacific Ocean,
exclusive of JBering Sea, in four months, from January to April, inclusive.

That the regulations have already accomplished much good in the
Pacific Ocean outside of Bering Sea is freely admitted; but so long as
they allow the same seals to be killed in August in Jeering Sea which
they protected iu May, June, and July in the Pacific Ocean they can
not be of permanent benefit to the'herd as a whole. The fault is not
the fault of the Tribunal of Arbitration nor of any of tl)e American
gentlenion in any way connected with it, for they very clearly showed
that exterminati<)n would be the result of pelagic sealing iu Bering Sea
at anytime from May to September, as the follow" ig extracts from
argument of American counsel will show:

PELAriO SEALING.

'riio Britisl'. coniniisflioiierH. in their repor( (Heotion 132), say the coast eatch ix made
from Feln'iiury to .June, inilnsive, five iiiopths, wliilo the lU'tini; Sea catch is taken
dnriiig .Inly, Angnst, and nart of Heptember, or two niuutiis and a half.

For each of tiie % vesselii .<n{jaged in tlie coast sealing, the average per month is
111!, wliile the monthly avjrage for each of the Sti vessels entering Hering Sea is 290.

It is at once apparent tliat sealing in liering Sea is over twice as damaging to the
seal herd iis sealing in tlio North racilic, and that in tlirci. yef.r8S,00() more seals wc o
taken in Hering Sea tlirtn along the coast in half the time by » -leet nnmbering tv.-
vessels less than tlie coast licet.

Ortain witnesscB examined by the Unitcil States give sntlicieiit data to show the
time occn]iied in sealing along the coast and tliat oci'upicd in Mcrin, Sea, also the
catches maiii' in each placi, respectively, and in many instances the distance from the
isliinds at which seals were taken. These have all been collated and arranged in
tin ibrm of a table, an examination of which will show that tliey fnlly corroliorate
the statement that pelagic sealing is miicli more ilamaging in Heiing Sea than in the
North I'a(>ilic. 'i'he lirst lour witnesses were examined at Victoria. The page refer-
ences are to the United .States case, Api)cndix, \'ol. II.

Such data as these appearing iu the above table can not he found in the dei)()8i-
tions a))pcaring in the Hritish counter case. It is nnforliinate that this inii)ort;mt
matter should have been left out of the Hritish testimony.

This testimony furllier corridjorates tlie statement of the Mritisli coiiimis-iioners
that the liering .Sou is not entered until about the Ut of .liily.

7G

AT-.^MMC \ mrvt'STHTFW.

or th*' p<'la>^;c :.p i|' rsr\.'niiiii«il l>y the t'iiitedSl!iti'» (Initcrl Siitt««N ( .me. Vppendis,
Vol. H, ji)). :ilo .'j'.'T, iiclusivo) 71) give testimony ,is lo llic tinn- tlitiy fiiNnt'.l Ii< -lUf;
Sea. ()t tills iiUBiber W onlercd tlie Hsa after Jiiiio 20 and *U entered l)etweeii ,)nlj I
and .July 15.

Of the 31t! depositions taken by Great Britain and jivintod in tlie Hritish counter
ease (Appendix, Vol. ITj Ijiit 5 give the time of eutering Kering Sea. One of thcae
(Miner, p. 113} giveK (he lime as "the latter part of , June;" 2 (Hartivcn, j). 112, and
Figuera, p. 12.'i) "eailv in July;'' and the 2 others (Gaudin, p. HI, and I,utjeu», p.
121), "July20.'"

Fi-'im the te.stimony staied above, it is evident why Great Britain failed toexamine
witnesses on this point, since tho liritinh oommiHBioucrRprdi'oscd as a restrictive reg-
ulation tliat Bering S«a should not be entrred before the Ut of .Inly, and the British
connse), in presenting a soiienie for regnlations t<. the tribunal, ineorporaled thesaine
snggestiou therein. It scareely seenm po.Hsibi*. in face of tlie e- dence th»t sealing
does not nsually begin in H«»ringSea nnlilJnly, tliatGre;it JJfj'ain's advisers can
really believe that it woiild restrict pelagic sealing to r>r«4iibit the walers from doing
what they have never done, do not do. and never would d*»,

I )f the .sealers examined by the United States and Oreat Britain, 2f^«i]ggeflt a defi-
nite period for a close time. They are arranged below in the form ol « table, show-
ing tlie inonllis in which they think pelagi'' sf^ling shotild be pr<>Siibite<]. The tirst
7 were examined by Great Britain, and their depositions are jinlnded iin the British
connter case. (Appendix, AHl. II.) The remainder .>>!re ex*«iiiiied by tb« I'liited
States, and their statements appear in the United H»t*« muf. Appeik<<it*. Vol. II).

These men, being pelagic sealers, know what rfirtn-ths »e»;,5ig w inji»^><.ii8 t« (She
seal herd. If, therefore, the advice of all the*** wituessear were followed, every
month in the year would be closed to pelagic sealing.

Tabiilal'.oii of ninnions of pelagic senler/-, showing during whai movthn prtitfHion ix needed

in Heriiig Sea.

IJ

43 ^

^ iS

•1 1 s

I

HImIiow

O'I.earv

E. P. M:o6r -

Geo. Scott

I.iitjens

Comiers

Moreau

Antlerson

ADiiricJus -

Ball

Henri Brown

lireniian

Claimeii

Culler

Frankl.vu

Fnncke

(irittin

Hannon

Haniisi'ii

Harrison "

Hansen

Hollinnn

ifoViiiKon I

KiiTiian !

LawHon I

Lenard

A. Mct.pnn I

D. Mcl.pan

SnuilvfiiU '

2 S

— ir

! I

I I

July.

.July Ang^l^^t.

.(anunry-Jiily.

.tnly Si'iitcnilicr.

Jnly-DiM'imber.

.luly-Septi'niber.

July-September,

Api'll-Aiiiiusl.

Jannary-Aii;.'\i8t 15.

July-.Septcnihcr.

Apiil-Docenibtr.

Aiiril-AiiKuiit.

.inly October.

Api'il-Noveniljcr 15.

Miiy-.SeptemliPi .

Jtil'v-Se)it(>inl)i'r 16.

April- .August.

May- Se]il('niber 16.

June 15 Un- ember.

.liinuiiry-Jiilv 1,1.

.liily-Novemljcr.

Jiiiie-luly.

July-December.

Mafch-Septiniber.

April-October.

Marcb-dciolier.

July AuL'nut.

.Tiiiie l.")-October.

July-October.

«;
■

An exani'iialion of the foregoing table show.s that as to oine months all are sub
stantially .igreed that sealing should be prohibited if the seals are to be jirescrved.
These months are July and August, the principal scaling inoiilhs in IJ-ring .Sea.

All the 2i) include jiilv. except one, wlio thinks thi> dose season should end on
.July 15.

Twenty-four, or foiir-tifths of the witnesses, inclinlc Angii.st. and 17 include Hep
tenibor in their proposed dose seasou.

|uiy I

luiter
Itbcse
aud
i», p.

Iiiiino

I reg.

ritisb
J 8a me
liiling
|s cau

loing

•l.»fi-
iliow-

tirst
■itisli

[nitod
'0.
he
every

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

77

On the facts ubi)\u statinl the United States claim that the following j) re positions
have been denioiistrntt'd beyond refutation :

(1) That female Kcals 2 years old and over are pregnant at all times when found in
the waters of IJeiinjj Sea.

(2) 'I'bat tbc nursing females are the only class of seals which feed to any extent
while iielagic sealing is <ariied on in liering Sea.

(3) Tliat the niirsing females are taken in large numbers over 50 mil<is from the
islands.

(4) That the seal pups are not weaned until after the sealing season has closed in
Bering Sea.

(5) That the killing of a nursing tVuiiale in Bering Sea destroys at least two lives,
namely, the ieniale and the fetus; and it is an irresistible conclnsicin tliat tlie pup
left upon the islands by the female killed also perishes (see ])a]ier directed particn-
larly to that subject).

(t>) That in point of unnil)ers alone sealing in Bering Sea is over twi('e as destruc-
tive to Heal life as .sealing in the North Pacific.

(7) Tiiat the sealing season in Bering Sea comprises only the months of July,
August, aud a part of Sopten\ber.

(8) Tliat all the sealers examined l)y the United States and Great Britain as to the
months when sealing should be prohibited include .inly in the close season proposed,
and nearly all include August.

(9) That to o|ien Bering Sea during the months of .)uly and August, with a pro-
tective zone of 20 miles about the Pribilof Islands, as proposed by Great Britain,
would mean the extermination of (lie st^al herd.

(10) riiat absolute prohibition of pelagic sealii'.g at all times in the whole Bering
Sea east of the 180 degrees meridian from (Jreenwieh is necessary to preserve the
Ahiskan seals, (Notes for United States counsel, p. 10.)

KEUULATIONS.

[Extinct from .Senator llorgiin's opinion.]

I will now state, as I gather from all the evidence before us, what is the evil that
these Governments have found to be so threatening to seal life in the .\laskan herd
as to draw them into an agreement tliat it should bo repressed by their concnrreut
action.

I will not attempt to examine again the details of the evidence so thoroughly i)re-
seuted and with such .judicial impartiality by Mr. Justice Harlan. lean find no Haw or
omission in his earofiil statements of the evidence, or in tlie conclusions that he drew
from it as to matters of fact. I believe that he staled the exact trutli o\' tiie situa-
tion, an<i I fully concur in his treatment of the subject and in tlie couclnsions that
he has reached.

i'lie ]>ri's(nt situation, us I understand it, is as follows, as shown by a comparison
of the Pribilof and pelagic catches:'

Year.

1890.
18!ll.
18!l'.'.
1893.

Pribilof
IslancU.

21,234
12, "71
7, .'iOO
7,E0tl

Total
peliif.ac
oatuli.

ill), iiOO

7.'.:ifl4

cf«o, OUO

Total .

48, 30r. 27,S, 040

n K«tiiimteil.

In ISWthe Pribilof -atrh was 102,(517. which fell otf to 21,2;il in 1890, and this was
all that the islands would yield of billable seals, leaving a di'lieit as compared with
the previous year of 81,!i79 seals uixiii the islands. If this contrast in the numbered
seals that could be taken on the islands in 1H89 aixl 1890 was due to the overkilling
of nudes on the islands and not to ])elairic sealing, the falling otf of nnmliers would
have been indi^ ed in earh of the six years prior to 1889. No one has asserted such
a fact, ind we know that a male seal nniNt be of (i years old before lie is able to take
U)) anil nniiutain a liarem on the rookeries. So that this falling olf liotween 18S9aiul
1890, if it was due to an excessive killing of males, P'ust have occurreil at least as
early us 1882. This is not true, auil no one iiri*!' nds that it is. The killing of ril,t!55
seals that the pebigic hunters got, aud at least three-fold that number, including

' These flgnres, cited by Senator Morgan, iuelude seals taken otf the Asiatic coiist
of the North Paeifie Ocean.

i

78

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

thoM(' thill wi're lost, iiiurtt liiive loaclii'd 300,000 seals that wertj destroyed. Of this
iiuiii1)er thiec-fouitlis were f'cinnlcs, that are uot killable seals on the ishiuds and are
not connted in the Pribilof catcli.

Tlie veriticatiou of this calfuhition is almost perfect iu 1892, when the iielagio
scalers took 7.3,00CI seals, and in IX'U, when they took 68,000. The close apiiroxiraa-
tion of these (ijiures shows that the loss of the seals on the islands was due to |>elagic
sealiii}; and not to the want of virility iu the hnlls on the breeding grounds or to any
other ( aiise.

That the i)roces8 whiuh has ai;tnally depleted the seal herd in four years to the
extent of 561»,0()r) (273, (H)0 of whi(;li were females) is an evil that requires to bo reme-
died, for the sake of the protection and preservation of seal life, no one can doubt,
as it seems to ni'*. This [uogressive depletion of this herd of seals can not fail to
destroy them very soon, and, in the nuNintinic, to de])rivo the United Htates of all
possil)le advantage and lompensation derived from its elforts to save the species.
What the United t?tates lias done, or omitted to r_j, to deserve trcatinent at the hands
of tiiis tribunal that will exiiose its lawful industries to ruin, its revenues to deple-
tion, and its wards on the I'ri'ulof Islands to tlie loss of their only valuable industry
will be an inquiry that will seriously challenge tlio. justice of sncli an award, in the
estimate of ihe civilized world.

The evil to be piovid' i against by this tribunal is, clearly, pelagic sealing with
tirearins.

If there is, or has been, any detriment to the seal herd from the treatnuMt of the
United States, on the islands, the facts on this snliject were not unknown to (iveat
Britain when the treaty was made and before rati (i jatious were exehau^jd. This
subject was not ri-fcMred to in any i.f the correspoudeme between the Governments,
iuui the treaty is silent as to this supposinl misniaiiagenient.

Will the tribunal, in such a case, make an objeititm to protecting and preserving che
fur seals on the water because Great Hritain has not thouj;ht it proper or necessary
to call the methods into (jiiest ion, oi- tlie United States into account for its inannei of
dealing with that subject on land? True, if it can be shown that the deplctioTj of
the herd is due to that cause, and not to ])elagic hiiutiiig. that is a just and proper
iuqniry. If it is due to both causes, this tribunal will deal with the pelagic evil,
that is submitted to its consideratimi, and leave it to the nations concerned in the
protection ol seal life to deal with the evil on land.

If the United .States are not so wise in caring for the seals on land as the pelagic
hunters are in caring for them at sea, as seems to be asserted, they are (|uite as
earnest in the wish to do so. They destroy no female seals, while the pelagic hunter
never spares one. 'I'hey do not tiro njion the breeding rookeries when the seals are
massed, iiiany of tliiiii asleejt, with double-barreled uhorguus and buckshot car-
tridges. Tiiey do not kill indiscriminately all si'ils that rdme in sight.

The United ^itates permit n<i feni;ile s<'!.]:; to be killed; while 75 )>or cent of those
killed by the ]jclagic hunter are ft males heavy <vith young and almost heljilcss.

in that condition, as well !is in accordance v itli a law of their nature, which is an
inqiortant fad iu conueclioii with their domesticity, the female fur seals require a
great deal of sleep. Whi'n asleep, Ihey tnrn upon their backs, fold their flippers
over their breasts, and ciirx lug their hind flippers upward, they form their bodies as
a sort of hoat, (lie spimil column rci)resenting the keel. They can only breathe
the ujiper air; they can not, like a lisii, extrai't air from the water. After inhaling
the air the nostrils close firmly together, and the air, heated by I heir bodies, (<y)iands
ami bnoys tlicm up. 'I'licy seldom breathe oftener than oik n in liftoen miniitcs, and,
when diving, they need not return to the suifvce for air oftener than eveiy thirty
minutes. We know nothing of ilnir habits at night while in the ocean. Gn land
they are so boisterous at night with their bowlings that sleep would se.m to be
impossible, ex( ipt from sbcir I'xhiiustion. They have not a kcan vision, anti the
sunlight is painful to thciii, >o that they leave the landa.ul go to sea on days that
are bright. This causes them to sc.k a summer home in a place whore fo/ts and rains

Erevail. Yet (hey lunsthavo warmth. Na'nre has amply provided for 'nis necessity
y giving th< in a double <oatiiig of thick, strong hair, and of the thickest and linest
fur that was ever bestowed upon any species of aiiiiiials. Ir is .as impel vioua to
water as the down of an eider duck. The pups are born withont this fur, and heuce
their aversion to swiiiiming until it hns grown onl ; and lliis detains ihcm on land
for four months, at least, during whicli period the.\ can subsist only on the milk of
the cow seals While their vision is not keen, their ainlitory organs and scns<' of
smell are excrciiingly acute. They are attracted by sounds as few <dher animals
are. In this far ulty they make n rIos(> a])proach to the endowments of mankind.
Sir John Thoiii|is(ri is nmuscd iil an accumit. read by .Mr. .Iiistice ilarlan, of the
seals being attracted in great iiiiiiibers near to tin' shore at Ilo_\ by the ringing of a
I'hurch bell. In bis creduloim sport over this incident Sir .John forgot that it Is the
personal observation of Mr. l.ow, one of the greatest naturalists who ever lived,
the friend and cunipanion of Unvior, and is more than continued by M. I'eron, whom
I'raiH * hii" liiMionil in the ino«t ronspjcuous way, His aidllties is a naturalist.

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

79

uiiiiiiiiiitcd iii'iiiiMti'l.N with soiil lit'o, iii'u an far in itdvaiiuo of those of I'rofessor
Klliott, from whom l_oi(l lliinneii ((uolos witli much Mii( infliction, as Napoleon waH in
advanon of tho Sionx cbiuftain, Sittin^j; Hull, a-i a military i;»Miiii8.

I will presently nuoto somclhinf; tiirihc-r aljoiit fur seals from Mr. Peron.

1 know Mr, Klliolt, whom the UritiHli (ioveiiimout hasdublicd "professor." I have
resjioct for liis eharacter and sjiri^hlliness. He i.s a painter in water colors of no
mean preleusions. but his use of color does not 8toi> with his canvas. It enters Into
all he says, and makes him too vivid an (Milhnsiast for a safe rcliaueo on (inestions of
measurements, statistics, and cold facts. Mr. f.lliolt was out on the Prihilof Islands
on the KHh (d' .July, I8!l(), takinf; lield n..i:e8, which, to ho of any valu", should be Ire's
from i; 11 rouiantic conjecture. The following is one of his highly colore<l extracts from
his repoit of that day :

"In eomiiany with .Mr. (Jolf and Dr. Lutz I made my plotting of the breeding seals
as thoy lay on the Keef and Garbotch to-day. Here at the vim'v height of the breed-
ing season, when the masses were most compact and uuiionu in their distribution in
Ib71'-l^!7l, I find the annuals as they lay to-day. scattered over twice and thrice as
much ground, as a rule, as the same number would occupy in 1872 — scattered becansn
the virile bidls arc so few in number and tl.e service whi.h tley render so delayed or
inipotoni. In other words, the cows are restless; not ii.'in/ :-,erved when in heat,
they seek other bulla by hauling out in green Jagged jxii its of niassiiig (as is shown
by the (diart ) up from their lan<lih:; belts. 'I'his unui'uial action of tlie cows, or
lather unwonted movement, has caused the pujis aiready to form small i)ods every-
where, even .vhere the cows are most abundiiif, which shadows to mo the truth of
the fact that in live days or a week from date the scattering coiuph'tely of the rook-
ery organization will be thoroughly done. It did not take iilace until the 20th to
the 2')th of .inly, 1872. In 1872 these cows wen piomptly met with the service which
they craved on the rookery ground. The scattering of these old bulls to-day over so
largo an are.a is du<' to extreme feebleness and c(jmbi.ied in many eases to a recollec-
tion of no distant da.\ when they had previously hauled thus far out on this very
ground surrounded by barcMiess, though all is vacant and semi-grass grown under
and around ihem now." (IMssentiug ojiinions, Harlar. and Morgan, pp. 10t>, 100.)

It is assunu'd throughout the re])ort of the Hritish commissioners that pelagic si^al-
i. ^is not necessarily destructive, and that, under regulation, the proseiution of it
need not involve the ex.torminatiouof the herds. This assumption and theevidence
bearing upon it will be elsewherti particularly treated in wh.it we may have to say
upon tlie subject of regulations. It will there be shown that it is not only destructive
in its tendency, but that, if i)i'rmitted, it will comjilete the work of piratical exter-
mination ii\ a very short ))<'ru)dof time. Ilm so far as it is asserted tliat a restricted
and regulated ])olagic sealing is consistent with the moral laws of nature anil should
be allowed, the argument has a bearing u]iou the claim of the United States of a
property interest, and should be brietly consitiered here. Let it j clearly under-
stood, then, just what pelagic sealing is, however restricted or regul.aled. And we
shall now describe it by those features of it which are not disputed or disputable.

\\C pass by the slxocking crucdiy and inhumanity, with its sickening details of
bleating ar,d crying olfspring falling cpon the decks from the bellies of mothers
as they are ripped open, and of white milk Mowing in sUeanis mingled with blood.
Tli^'se enornnties which, if attempted within the territ<uy of a civilized Ntalo, would
si)eediiy be made the subjects of criminal punishment, are not relevant, or are less
relevant, in the discussior, of the mere i|Ue>tion of property.

It is not contended that in i>ela'.;ic sealing (U there can be any silective killing,
or (2) that a great excess of females ovoi' males is not slain, <u- CA) that a great num-
ber of victims ]>erish from wcnimls without being recoveriMl, or (1 ) that in most eases
the females killed are not either heavy with young or nursing mothers, or (.">) that
each and every of these incideids can not be avinded by the selective killing which
i practiced on the breedin;; isbmds. We do not sto]) to discuss the idle questions
whether this form of slaugliter will actually exterminate the herds or how long it
".mvy take to com|)lete the (lestriietion. It is enough fo;' the (iresent purpose to suv
that it is simple destruction. It is destructive because it does not mak(^ or aim to
iiiak(! its draft upon the 'ncrcise, which consists of the 8U)>,rlluo\is mah •, but, by
taking females, strikes directly at tlie stock, anil strikes at the stock in the most
(ianiaging way, by destroying unborn and newly lioin jiups, together with their
mothers. Whoever ninlertakes to s(*t np amoral right to jjrosocute this mode of
slaughtbr on the ground that it will not necessarily result in eompleiv destrneticm
umst maintain that while it may be against the law of nature to work eoinp'ete
destruction, it is yet lawful to <lestroy. lint what the law of nature torbids is any
destruction at all unless it is necessary. To destroy a little and to destroy niui'h
are the same crimes.

If there were evi-n something less Ihaii a .ight, or lather some low degree af rijght —
tor nothing other than rights can be taken ndice of here — some mere conveuit'iice,
it might be worthy ol Consideration ; lint then is none. It can not even be said that
polagie sealing may furnish to the world a sei Iskin at a lower price, Nofliing eftti

80

ALASKA INDUSTRIE3.

1)6 [(lainer tliitn that it '8 the most expensive inodo of '.'aptiiriiii; seal;-. It io(|iiirt'!;
tlio expenditure of a v.ihl wiini in vesselw, boats, appliances, iiml liutiian lat)or, wlii<li
is all iiniiecc.ssaiy, bocause the entin^ increase can be reajjed without tlieiii. 'lliis
tiimecessary exj^nso i.s ;i cliurj^e ujion tke consiinior, and must bo reiiubuiM'd in tlio
price ho pays. In no way can ])elii<;ic sealinj; result in a choap(uiin,i.f of tlie product,
ex('t']it upon the assumption that the stock of seals is inexhaustible and that the
amount of the pelagic catch is an addition to the total catch, which miuht be nuiile
on the laud if caiilurc were restricted to the land; and this assumption is admitted
on all hands, ami ivcii by the couunissionors of (ireat i<iitain, to be untrue.

If there were any evil, or inconvenience even, to bo ai)pndiende(l from a contine-
inent of the capture of the seals to the breeding l>laceH, it mifjht serve to arrest atten-
tion : bul there is none. Much is said, indeed, in the rejiort of the commissioners of
Great Britain concerniiij; a 8upj)08ed inoiioi)oly which woulil tliiis bo secured, as is
pretended, to the lessees of the breediuf; islands, which would enable them to exact
an exces,-;ive price tor skins; but this notion id wholly erroneous, (Aifjument of tlie
United States counsel, p. 08.)

The whole herd owes its existence not merely to the care and protection but to
the forliearance of 'the United Stales Ijoveriimeut within its exclusive jurisdiction.
While the seals are upon the United States territmy dining tlu^ si.ison of reproduc-
tion and nui'tuie that Government niijiht easily destroy the herd by killing tlniu
all, at a considerable immediate proht. From such a slaughter it is bound to refiai.'.
if the only object is to ))reserve the animals lonjj enoufrh to enable them to be extcsr-
niinated by foreijinerw at sea. If that is to be tlie result, it uouM bo for the interest
of the Government, and ]daiiily within its right and powers, to avail itsidf at once
of such jiresent value as its pniptrty jiossesses, if the future jirodiict of it can not
be preserved. Can there be more conclusive proof tlnm this of such lawful posses-
sion and ccmlrol as constitutes property, and alone produces and continues the exist-
ence of the subject of it !

The justice and propriety of those propositions, their necessity to the general
interests of mankind, and the foundation upon which they rest in the original prin-
ciples from which rights of ownership are derived, have been clearly and fori'ibly
pointed out by Mr. Carter. (Argument of the United Stittes counsel, p. 134.)

Thu.s it will be seen tliat the diiti^er ineiiiieiiig the seals in Beiiiij;
8ea by luintiny in .Inly, Auoii.st, ami iSeptcniber was well understootl
by xVnierican eoiiiisel at Paris, and pointed ont by them to the aibi-
trafois with rare ability aiul coneiseness.

As I write, the Congiessional Kecord of December 12 is on my desk
with a letter from Mr. KUiott in whicii he sjieaks very dispiiia<>iiij;'ly of
onr agents and connsel at Paris, and of their lack of knowledf^e of the
subject-nmtter before the Tribunal of Arbitration, thus:

At the time these articles of the I'aris award were published immeuse stress wa.s
laid upon the fact that tirearms were prohibited in Hering Sea by onr agents, who
declare that this |)rohibitioii would disronrago and break up the business of the
jielagic sealer. Tliey were strangely ignorant of the truth in the matter, at least
the lawyi'rs were, and they had nobody <n\ our side with them at Paris who really
knew anything about the life and habits of the seals, who could teaili them liiiter.

That they were neither infiillible nor omnipotent is freely admittetl;
that they may have made some mistiikes niay be true: bill that they
left behind tliem in America an equal number of me;i knowing o!!e
half as uuich as what they knew about seals has not been, nor can it
be. shown.

II mistakes have been made at all they were made when we first
agreed to arbitrate the <iiiestiona that have since lieen dwided against
us by the Tribunal of Arbitiatioii ; ami it is now too late lo enter into
idle dis('ussions, criminations, ami recrimiiiiitions as to who was right
and who was wrong.

1 1 aving on(!e put onr case into the hands of the tribunal, we must abide
by its decision until we can with honor and dignity, worthy our country,
bring about oilier arrangements.

That the regulation.-, made in good faith, do not accomplish all that
was expected of them is so patent to everyone that it needs no discus-
sion here, and the proper steps ouglit to be tiiken as .soon as possible
to remedy their defects.

Of one thing we may rest assured, and lluil is tlmt August and Hep-

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

81

■liicli
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tembei— but August by all means — should have been included in the
"dose time," if the seals are to be saved from extiiictioii.

It is in August theharem.s, or families, are broken up on the rookeries,
and the motiier seals y;o away from the islands to distances of from 80
to UOO miles after food and rest; and it is in August they sleep soundest
and longest, aftei gcnging- themselves with the first full meal tliey have
had time to .secure since June. In August and September tiie weather
is u^sually favorable in liering Sea, and the pelagic hunter, having a
license to work and nothing to fear, goes in among the sleeping mother
seals and (piietly spears them until his vessel is loaded with skins, and
want of room lor nu)re admonishes him to stop.

That the seals have steadily decreased since 188t; (liat much of the
decrease is due to the slaughter of the females by ])(?iagic hunters;
that the rookeries are in abont the same depleted condition that they
were in 1834. after a long period of female slaughter by the Iiussians;
that the remedy applied then must be ai)plied now if we would save
the fi'r seals from total extinction, and build up and replenish the rook-
eries, are selfevident propositions and cannot be denied.

There is no time to debate mere (}uestions of detail, and we are all
agreed, 1 think, that on the absolute safety and continued protection of
the female seal depends tiie perpetuation of the s])ecies. So well has
this been understood and appreciated since 1813") that no female seal
hr.s been, knowingly, killed on the seal islands in Heri;,g Sea for the
past sixty years.

It makes but little dilference now as to whose theory was the correct
one when guessing was in order; nor does it matter much as to whether
spears or shotguns are used in killing mother seals, or wl'etiier they
are killed in the North racitic Ocean or in JJering .Ssa; the only ques-
tion worth considering in this matter of fur seals jn ;f now is "How can
we prevent the killing of femalesf

yortunately the declarations made by the Tribuiuil of Arbitration
snggest the most practicable way of solving the i)roblein; and, with
the consent of Great Britain, we can solve it immediately.

The Tribunal of Arbitration has declared that:

In view of the critical condition to ■vvhicli it appears certain that tlie race of fur
Bealp is now rediiccd in consifincncc of circumstances not fully luiowu. the arliitra-
tors think lit to rcconnncnd both Govprnnients to come to an underHtaiidiiif; in order
to prohibit any killing of fur seals, eituor on land or at sea, for a periorl of two or
three years, or at least one year, suliject to such exceptions as the two Govern-
ments might think proper to admit of.

Such a measure miglit bo recurred to .at occasional intervals if found beneficial.

In the spirit of that declaration, and being only too well aware of tbe
present "critical condition of the race of fur seals," and tiilly appreciai^-
ing the importance of immediate action, if they are to be saved from
extinction, I respectfully ofter the following suggestions:

(1) That the United States Government shall oUicially notify Great
Britain of the failure of the "regulations'" to adequately protect the
seals from the destructive work of the pelagic sealer.

(2) That Great Britain shall be requested to join with the O'nite.^
States in establishing a modus vivendi until, jointly, they arrange to
have the cooperation of both Itussia ami Japan in my-ting regulations
for the j)roper ])rotection of the seal herds coming to the islands or
territory of each.

(3) That during the time set apart for the modus vivendi no sealing
vessels shall bo cleiired for sealing purposes, nor shall seals he taken
anywhere in the North I'acific 0(!ean or in Bering Sea. excepting wiiat
may be taken by the Indians on the Aiaericat and British Golnnil!)iau

IT, l>o<' W., ])t. :.' fi

82

ALA8KA INDUSTRIES.

coasts for food, and by the natives of the Pribilof Islands for necessary
food, fiu'l, and clotliinK, as war, done during the last modus vivendi.

(4) Tliat Congress sliiili be asked for an appropriation to defray t\\»
expenses of a connnissiou of at 'east three conijietent anH disinterested
men, whose duty it shall be to visit all the seal islands and broediiig-
rookeries in the Bering and Okiuttsk seas, and any others whose seals
range in either of those seas or in the North Paeific Oeean; to make a
thonnigh investigation of tur-seiil life, and to collect testimony bearing
on the iiabits of tlie animal on land and at sea, ami all data that it is
possible to secure regarding the elfect of driving and killing on land,
and of pelagic sealing, and sucii other information as may be deemed
necessary to a thorough nnderstandiiig of the seal problem,

(5) That the said commission shall be ai)pointe(l by the President of
the United States, and tliat (Jreat Britain, Russia, and Jai)an be invited
to appoint similar bodies for similar purposes, who, at tiie completion
of tlieir joint in^■estigations, shall jointly report the result thereof and
suggest regulations for the proper and adecpnite protection of the fur
seals on land and water.

In making these suggestions I have kept in view the fact that with-
out concurrent action, which shall be mutually satisfactory to the
nations directly interested, there ';aii be no ade(|uate protection given
to tlie seals; for so long as pel.gic sealers can ojjerate freely in Japa-
nese or Russian waters during a "close time" on the American side, and
vice versa, the herds will eventually be exterminated.

The question has been asked, "SupposeGreat Britain will not consent
to a modus vivendi or a change in the regulations before the expiration
of the five years' term established, by the Tribunal of Arbitration ; what
thenl"

It must be borne in mird that the regulations do not extend to the
seal islands, nor have they anything nhatever to do witL our work
thereon.

Let Congress at the present sessiou repeal all laws -wliicb limit the
numbers or desigimte vJie sex to l>e killed on the islands, and enact
laws tMnpowering the Secretary of tiie Treasury to kill without limit
whenever itmay appear that ailequate protection to tho herds has been
sought for in vain. That this h>st resort is our right and our duty was
plaiul; shown by the Uuittsl States counsel at Paris, who said:

'['}}<• wholi- hiird owes its tv.NUniro not merely to tho ewe and Tro'ectiou, \mt to
th<' ''<->i'l)ejtrHnee of the Unit'<l States Governinont within its exclusive Jnriselietiou,
W'hil»* tho seals are 'ipon tk* (JnH<><i Sfciites territory durisifi; thesenson of ri'iiroductiou
ftn<i nurture, lh»t Cioverffnient might eanily destroy t't'O btsrd liy 1< illiii^ them all at a
consiiliTalile iininediati' profit. From smh a sl.iujjiiTor it is not lioiiud to refrain if
t.h«' only object in to i>reMorv<- the animiils long eif n</h to onaliic thtiin to beexternii-
Dated by forcii;i<'jr8 at sea. ITlhat is io be the .jsult, it would be for the iuti-restof
tho Govcriiuu'.nt, .krid ])li!i'ly within its ris'i. vid powers, to avail itself at once
of such present value aj, its property posH(»'»m'.s if the future product of it can not be
preserved. (Argument of the United Stat<i> counsel, p. Vi^i.)

And yet, wbilf admitting our right, and asking for the enactment ol
a law conferriii;.: the authority to Kill every seal on the Pribilof Islands,
should the necessity arise to flnmand it, 1 abhor the thotightof the ])0s-
siirfility of such a dvoadfui < ontingcju'y.

While it is well t*> be fully prepared, let us use all honorable means Ixi
avert it if possi'ole.

Renpectlully submitted.

•Joseph Mubkay, /Special Agent.

Hon. John G. Caumslts,

(Secretary of the Treasury,

ALASKA IlfDUHTRIBlR.

88

APPENDIX.

PELAGIC SEA LINO.

Drpimtiojt of Milton Barnes, upeciul emploi/ee of United Stxtes Treasury

on St. I'aul Island.

Tkrimtory of Alaska,

67. I'aal Island, ss:

1, Milton ]>!inu8, beiii}; duly 8,.'oni iiccording to law, depose and say
as follows: 1 ain a citizen of the United States, ami when ar home
reside near (lolniiibns, Ohio. f]ave been teiiij)oiaiily stationed dnriiifj
the last year on the island of St. Paul, one of the fur-seal or Fribilof
{jroui) in Bering Sea, as a s])eeial employee of the United States
Treasury De])artnient on said island.

One day during the latter part of August or fore i)art of Se])teniber
last (exact date forgotten), Col. Jose])h Murray, one of the Treasury
agents, and myself, in company with tlie liritish eommissionera, Sir
(jeorge Baden I'owell and Dr. Dawson, by boat visited one of the seal
rookeries of that island known as Tolstoi or English Bay. On arriv-
ing there our at'ention was at once attracted by the excessive num-
ber of dead i)nj)s, whose carcasses lay scattered profusely over tlie
breeding ground or sand beach bordering the rookery jn-oper and
extending into the border of the rookery itself. The strange sight
occasioned much surmise at the time as to the probable cause of it.
home of the carcasses were in an advanced stage of decay, while others
were of recent death, and their general appearance was that of having
died of starvation. There were a few that still showed signs of life,
bleating weakly and piteously, and gave every evidence of being in a
starved condition, with n(» mother seals near or showing them any
attention.

Dr. Dawson while on the gnmnd took some views o! tbe rookery with
his kodak, but whether the views he t^ook included the dead pups I
could not say. Some days after tliis — can not state exact date — 1 drove
with Mr. Fowler, an emjdoyee of the lessees, to what is known as Half-
way Point, or Polaviiia rookery. Here the scene was repeated, but on
a more extensive scale in point of numbers. The little carcasses were
strewn so thickly ovei' the sand as to make it difficult to walk over the
ground without stepping ou them. This (!onditi()n of the rookeries in
this regard was for some time a to|>ic of couversatio;) in the viUnwe by
all ))arlies, including the more intelligent ones among the natives, some
of whom were with Mr. J. Stanley Brown in his w^n'k of surveying the
island, and brought in rei)orts from time to time cf similar conditions
;it substantially all the rookeries arouiul the island. It could not, of
course, be well estimated as to the nund)er thus found dead, but the
most intelligent of the natives — chief of the vill;ige — told ine that in his
judgment there were not less than 20,000 dead pups on the various
rookeries of the island, and others still dying. Dr. Akerly, the lessees'
physician at the time, made an autopsy of some of the carcasses, and
reported that he could Hud no traces of any diseased condition what-
ever, hut there was an entire absence of food or any signs of nourish-
nicnt ill the stomach. Before Dr. Dawson left I called liis attention to
■iMt Dr. Akerly had done, but whether be saw him on the subject I
• i'.ii uot tell.

And further dejionent saith not. MIl.'K^^' Haunes.

84

ALASKA lNr)l>*TRIE8.

Deposition of V. L. Hooptr, vuptaiii, United SttitoH Revenue Mnrine.

DisTKiCT or CofjTMniA,

City of WuHhimjton, sa:

rorsoDally ni)ii('iiit>d before me, C.L. Hooper, whfidt'post'S and sayis:

From tlic iiivestigatioiiH coiiceniiiij;' seal life at sea, jiersoiiiilly con-
d lifted by me, in tlie Mortli I'aeilic during tlie montlis of Marcli, April,
May, and June; in lierinn iSea during tlie month of August and partot
Sei)tember; in tlie vicinity of the Aleutian chain during the month of
October and i)art of November, as well as from the experience obtained
in .six other cruises in Alaskan waters and in Bering Sea, 1 draw the
following conclusions :

There were fewer seals to be seen in the water in the vicinity of tht
Pribilof Islands during the summer of 1892 tlian in 18'.)1.

At least 75 per cent, and probably 80 or 90 per cent, of the seals in
Bering Hea, outside of a narrow zone around the seal islands, are females,
75 per cent of which are nursing mothers and the remaining 25 i>er
cent virgin cows too immature for bearing.

If barren cows exist at all they are rare. I have never known or
heard of but one instance.

In Bering Sea motiicrs go long distances — ns far as 209 miles from the
islands — to feed, codfish furnishing the bulk of their food.

Tliey sleep much in the water, are not timid, and are readily taken;
and their deatli means the destruction of three lives — the mother, Ihe
fetus, and the pup — on the breeding grounds. The jtast season is tlie
first in several years that such deaths among the pups have not occurred
from this source.

At least 70 per cent, and i)robably 80 or 90 i)er cent, of any catch in
Bering Sea will be lemales, either actually bearing or capable of bear-
ing at no distant day. Tliis is borne out by the character of the skins
of the ifeHne/<«, seized last summer for the violation of the modus
Vivendi. The (;aptain informed me that nearly all the skins taken were
tliose of male seals. Under my direction an examination was made of
these skins by N. Hodgson, a man of experience, in whom I have entire
confidence. The catch, as shown by the log and sealing book of this
vessel, was made in Bering Sea ajid consists of 420 skins, 3(il of whicii
were found to be females, 33 males, and 26 those of seals too young to
determine tlie sex.

For every 100 seals, the death of wliich results from pelagic hunting,
not more than 05 or 75 skins are secured.

The female seals are widely disfributed over the sea, and lieuce the
establishment of zonal areas would be rendered im])ossil)le by climatic
conditions.

There is a wide belt of 200 or 300 miles between the Commander and
Pribilof groups of islands which are devoid of seals, and hence no (tom-
mingiing of the herds occur.

There is no foundation for the statement that during the summer
months there are found in Bering Sea bodies of seals which are inde-
pendent of, unattached to, or do not visit the Pribilof Islands.

The annual migration is caused by climatic conditions and feed
supply.

The old bulls are the first to leave the islands, and most of them,
together with many half bulls and large bachelors, remain in the waters
of Bering Sea and off ihe coast of Alaska during the entire winter,
individuals rarely being found south of the fifty-tifth parallel.

The majw part of the herd, consisting of females and their pujis and

I

t)ie.

I

ALASKA INUINTHIES.

85

voiiii;; uiales, beKiii I <> ungrate about tbe end ot ( Mtnlipi, and by .laiiu
iiry 1 all <>f liioni liavobcfiuii their miffratioii. TIu'so <iat«^s are Hoine-
wliat cailitT or latcM-, accord iiifj to the season.

Those thai leave earliest }jo t'artlie.st soiitli. airiviiiti' on Ihe coast of
California, and those leaving later iea(rh th(^ coast faitlier n]». Their
arrival is coincident with the coniinfr of the smelt, iierriny, and eulachon,
npon \vhi(!h they teed.

On reachinji the coast their niijjration route is continually toward
the islands, but I'ollowinj; thepeneral trend of the coast, the inner limit
heinp about lio mileH otl'shore and the outer limit from 75 to 100,

Ah this migration progresses there is a bunching uj) of the herd, but
the seals travel independently and not in bands or schools.

The migration route is from the I'ribilof Islands tlirough the jiasses
across to the coast, up the coast and across the northern sweep of the
Nortli Pacitlc to the Aleutian Chain, and through the passes again to
the islands.

There is uo foundation in the statement that the Pribilof fur seals
which migrate have a winter home oft' any coast. They apj)ear at about
the same time off a long line of coast, reaching from California to
Washington. When they are so found they are known always to be
moving northward up the coast.

The herd, by reason of hunting at sea, has steadily diminished, and
such hunting will ultimately destroy the herd unless jmjhibited in the
North Pacific and Bering Sea, for no matter how small the annual catch
may be there is a possibility that the hunt will always be encouraged
by the higher prices resulting from tbe decreasd catch, as in the case
of tbe sea otter.

O. L. Hooper.

Drposifion of H, N. Mclntyre, superititendent of the PrihUof Islands.

Dtsthkjx of Columhia,

City of Washington^ ss:

H. H. Mclntyre, of West Randolph, Vt., being duly sworn, deposes
and says:

I have stated in fovmer depositions my connection with the sealeries
of Alaska and opportunities for knowledge concerning them.

When the breeding male seals tinst arrive upon the islands in the
si)ring they are much more timid and easily disturbed than at a later
])eriod, and might perhaps be then driven from their chosen places npon
the rookeries, but at a later date, when their relation to their neighbors
is fairly established and the cows begin to arrive, no amount of force
will dish)dge t'>";)i and they will die in defense of their harems rather
than desert tlieni.

In June, 18 2, 1 ca Tied a ])hotographer's camera near the Reef rookery
(»n St. Paul isl nd and while focusing the instrument, with my head
under the bhu -Id ii, and the attention of my attendant was diverted,
two old bulls ma Je a savage assault upon me, which I avoided by dodg-
ing and running. The camera was left where I had placed it and could
not be recovered until seal clubs had been sent tor and one of tiie bulls
killed and the other knocked down and stunned. The throwing of
stones and noisy demonstrations had no effect whatever upon them.
This exjjerience only emi)hasized what I have observed on many occa-
sions upon the islands. The female seals are more timid, and upon the
near approach of man show signs of fear and generally move toward the

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wat«'r, but their Higlit is re8ist4id by the bulls, aud betoic iuipregnatiun
they rarely succeed iu escaping. After this occurs the dis< ijjliue <>f the
harom is relaxed aud the leumles go and come at will.

1 neither saw uor heard, in ray twenty years' experieuce as superin-
tendent of the sealeries, of any destruction of pups by reason of stam-
pedes of seals. But I have occasionally witnessed the death of pups
from being trampled upon by the old bulls during their battles for
supremacy. This is, however, of rare occurrence. Even if stampedes
occurred, the light bodies of the females, averaging only 80 or 90 pounds,
would pass over a lot of pujjs without seriously injuring them.

Later in the season, after the old bulls have been superseded on the
rookeries by the jounger ones, the pups are already able to avoid being
run over, and as a matter of tact the death of pups upon the rookeries
from any cause whatever prior to the advent of pelagic sealers in Bering
Sea was so rare as to occasion no comment.

It was not customary to drive from any points near enough to the
breeding rookeries to cause stampedes, and even if this had been done
I do not think any injury to the rookeries would have been occasioned
by it. It might cause some of the cows to move away, but they would
soon return again.

It is very difficult to determine the average number of females prop-
erly assignable to a single male, and difficult even to ascertain how
many there are in any given family, because the boundaries of thegroups
are never well defined, and such as would be said by one observer to
belong to a certain bull would be declared by another to be in a ditlereut
harem. The surface of the ground mainly occupied as breeding rook-
eries is very irregular. Harenr^^" sometimes run together. Ledges,
bowlders, and lava rocks hinder the uniform mapping of the family
groups, aud it is not difficult, therefore, to select certain spots and count
a nu/nber of female seals which appear to be unattached to any male.
On the other hand, there are often found full grown males upon the rook-
eries at all seasons with no families, and a still larger number with from
one to five females each. Such variations have always occurred.

With our present knowledge of seal life, it is impossible to judge with
any degree of accuracy how many females may safely be referred to a
single male. But, by analogy, it is a very much larger number than
has fiequeutly been named as a fair average.

Horse breeders regard a healthy stallion as capable of serving frou)
40 to 50 mares in a single season; cattle breeders apjiortion at least 40
cows to a bull, and sheep raisers regard from 30 to 40 ewes as not too
many for a single ram, and in the latter case, at least, the season of
service is no longer than that permitted to the male seal. I think it
would be safe to place an average of 40 or 50 seals to a harem as not
excessive.

It is not unusual during the early years of the Alaska Commercial
Company's lease to find exceptionally large harems containing from 50
to 100 females each, but we saw no reason to doubt that they were fully
served by the male.

The erroneous idea seems to have gained lodgment that during the
first decade of the lease a reserve of breeding seals was kept on certain
rookeries, and that toward the end of this decade it became necessary
to draw on these rookeries because killing 100,000 seals per annum had
been too much of a drain upon the herd. This has no foundation in
fact. In the early years of the lease the transportation facilities upon
the islands, both by land and water, were very limited, and, as the
Qoverument agent in charge (Captain Bryant) did not olyect, we con-

ALASKA INDUHTKIE8.

87

suited our convenience and drove more frequently liom ne.ar-by rook-
eries, but at all times worked tbo more distant rookeries more or less
frequently, as appears by tbe seal island records. His successors in
office tbeorized tiiat all tlie rookeries ougbt to be worked in regular
rotation, and so directed. We therefore increased our number of boats
and mule teams in order to transport tlio skins from distant points, and
complied with bis orders. But we did not do this because of any
scarcity of killable seals; no scarcity occurred until pelagic sealing
bad already made serious inroads. There was no 8U(;U thing ever
thought of upon tbe islands as reserves of seals," nor was any differ-
ent practice pursued in respect to driving from year to year, except
that all rookeries were worked more systematically after the.flrst few
years of the lease.

In the early years of tbe first lease a few of the bundles of seal skins
shipped from the Pribilof Islands may have weighed as much as GO
pounds, but I would not undertake to say that I have seen any weighing
as much. If there were any, tbe explanation is as follows: Tbe skins
in such bundles were those of small wigs, and such skins were bundled
oOgether so that tbe flesh sides should be covered completely and no
overlapping edges left.

Excrement is voided by seals upon the rookeries as often, I think, as
by other carnivorous animals. Tliose who assert the contrary appar-
ently expect such discharges as tliey were accustomed to see in the
track of the herbivora. The excrement of the seals is of very soft, often
semifluid coTisistency, and in tbe porous soil or on the smooth rocks is
easily brushed about by the trailing flippers of the seals and lost sight
of. Their food is chiefly tisb, which is highly organized and contains
very little ti?:<ue that is not absorbed and assimilated. Tbe excrement,
therefore, is limited in quantity, even when tbe animal is full fed, and
from its nature and surroundings easily overlooked.

H. H. MoIntyke.

HABITS, iND MANAGEMENT OF SEALS ON ROOKEUIES, AND PELAGIC

SEALING.

Deposition of L. A. N'oyes, resident physician on the Fribilof Islands from

1880 to 1893.

St. George Island, Pribilof Group,

Alaska, ss:

L. A. N'oyes, being duly sworn, deposes and says: I am a native
American, and my home is in liandolph, Vt.; I am 61i years of age, and
a physician by profession.

In 1880 I entered tbe service of tbe lessees of tbe Pribilof Islands as
resident physician at the seal islands, and I have resided here continu-
ously ever since, excepting an occasional visit to my home for a few
months in winter, once or twice since 1880.

From June, 1880, to August, 1883, 1 was on St. George Island, and
from 1883 to 1884 I was on St. Paul Island. I then returned to St.
George, where I have resided eve" since, except the vacations aforesaid.

I have given much time to the .itndy of the Alaskan fur seal and its
peculiar habits, and 1 have watched with care and soiicitnde the
increase and tbe decline in numbers of tbe animal on the hauling
grounds and rookeries, ;ind also tbe methods followed by tbe lessees in
taking the skins — the driving and killing of the youn^ males of fi'om

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ALAiSKA INDUHTRIES.

13 to 5 yeni'8 old, and the sidling, <'iiriiig. bundling, and shipping; tho
Bkins. 1 have likewise carefully observed and noted the coming of tlie
Beala in the opring, the hauling out at ditterent times of the various
ages and sexes, tlieir disposition on the hauling ground»s and rookeries,
the formation of the "harem" or family, the breaking up of the harems,
he scattering of the cows, and the general intermingling of the sexes
in September, and finally the departure of the herd from the islands in
November or later.

I have read most of all that has been written within the past quarter
century on the fur-seal question, and I have listened to and taken part
in many of the controversies in(lulged in by my associates and friends
who have spent many years in the fur-seal industry, and whose ])racti-
cal experience, with all its details, gives weight and value to their asser-
tions. It was I who, at the request of the United States Treasury
agent in charge of the islands, measured all the rookeries and hauling
grounds on St. George Island in 1887,' and I have kei)t the record of
the climatic changes on St. George since the United States Government
discontinued the meterological station at the Pribilof Islands.

In addition to my services as physician I have occasionally taught
the school on St. George, and I have kept the books and accounts for
many years for the lessees on the same island. I am thoroughly con-
versant with the orders issued by the general and local agents of the
lessees to the native chiefs in regard to everything appertaining to the
business of taking the annual catch and the care of the seals. I have
been intimately aecpiainted with the Treasury agents who have had
charge of the islands since 1880, and I acted as assistant agent myself
during the temporary absence of the assistant special .igent. I am
quite familiar with the general and special orders and instructions
issued from the Treasury Department from time to time to the special
agents for the government of the natives and the care of the rookeries
and seal herd; and I know those laws, rules, and regulations have
been faithfully adhered to and fully enforced, published reports of
transient visitors to the contrary notwithstanding.

The seal islands of St. Paul and St. George, geographically known
as the Pribilof Islands, are situated in Bering Sea at about 170° west
from Greenwich and 66° north latitude, and they are nearly 200 miles
from the nearest land.

The climatic conditions in their immediate vicinity are so peculiar
and their formation and situation are so unique that it is not hard to
believe they were selected for a home and resting place by the Alaskan
fur seal because of their adaptability to that purjmse and to that only.
The thermometer rarely goes higher than itiV^ or lower than zero, the
average for a number of years being 35°.

In winter the islands are sometimes surrounded by broken ice, which
comes from the north, and it will come and go with the tide and currents,
generally from January to April, but occasionally remaining later, and
again not appearing at all.

In June, July, and part of August the islands are enveloped fordays
at a time in dense fog, and a clear sunny day is of rare occurrence. The
atmosphere is damp and cool, and the rain falls in a sort of fine mist
which drenches one through before it is felt.

The islands are of volcanic origin, and the shores are rough, uneven
lava rock, and broken rocks and bowlders of like formation. On this

' Tlie ineasnremeiitH were iiiaile very iiuperfoctly, and I uover claimed anything but
an a))])roximato lueaHurumenti. It van my opininu that the uunibera were exagger-
«ted, and I no stated at the time.— L. A. N.

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

8!>

rugfjcd shore tlio Alaskan fur Rcalsinake tlioirsninnior home; hcrotliej
arc horn and reared lor tlie llisl six uinnllis ot tlicir existence; hero
Ihey come every spring- as regnlar as time, iind here they reproduce their
species. Tlie career <)1" the fiir-seal herd on these shores is not unlike
that of any domesticated animal — it is simply a stock-breeding cpiestion.

Areas upou which it is agreeable for the females to breed are carefully
reserved and set aside lor that purpose.

l-lacii year a suflicient number of breeding bulls are reserved for serv-
ice on the rookeries. The utmost care is taken that the future of the
herd is not jeopardized by the injury or death of a female.

So accustomed have the vseala become to the presence of the natives
that the timidity and shyness manifested in the ocean is not shown on
the islands. In tlieir infancy the pups will approach a native without
fear, and later on they are readily handled and thp sexes sei)arated,
should it be necessary to make a killing of i>ups for food. In the han-
dling, management, and enlargenientof the seal herd there is as much
amenability to domestication as there is in a band of range cattle.

Tiie male breeding seals, or bulls, begin to haul out on the breeding
rookeries early in May, and they come in more and more rapidly as the
month advances, and, selecting their respective stations, lie down and
sleej) almost continuously until within a few days of the coming of the
females, or cows, when they assume a sitting posture, and set nj) a bel-
lowing n(<ise i)ec.uliar to themselves, which I suppose to be a "call"
to the ai)proacliing herd of cows. It is at this time the bull appears at
his best and in his most aggressive mood, and none but the physically
strong and successful are allowed to remain within striking distance of
the veterans.

The cows begin to haul out in June, and practically they are all on
the breeding rookeries by July 15. Immediately on arriving they are
taken possession of by the bulls, the strongest and most aggressive
securing the greatest number and guarding with jealous care and
increasing vigilance.

As a rule the pups are born soon after the cows reach the shore,
though it occasionally happens that a cow will be two or three days on
the rookery before bringing forth her young.

I think the pups are all born by July U2, and by the middle of August
the cows have been fertilized for the next year, after which the harems
are abandoned and the bulls begin to leave the islands, and the females
and bachelors (or young males) intermingle indiscriminately on the
rookeries. From the time the bulls haul out in May till they leave in
September they neither eat nor drink, and their lean and lanky appear-
ance ii> Sei)tember is in striking contrast with their rotund form and
sleek and glossy coats in May.

When the i)up is born it is utterly helpless and dependent. It is not
amphibious, and would drown if put into water. I have often watched
the pups near the water's edge when in stormy weather the surf (carried
them off, and in every instance they drowned as soon as they went into
deep water. The pup is entirely dependent on its dam for sustenance,
and when it is a few days old she goes into the sea to feed, returning at
intervals of a few hours at first, and gradually lengthening the time as
the pups grow older and stronger, until she will be sometimes away for
a whole week. During these journeys, in my opinion, she goes a dis-
tance of from 40 to 2(»0 miles from the islands to feed, and it is at this
time she falls a prey to the pelagic hunter.

Returned to the roonery, the cow goes straight to the sjjot where she
left her pup, and it seems she instantly recognizes it by smelling; and

90

ALASKA INI»Ul4TKII'J«.

it is equally coi tain tliat tlie pup can not lecoyiiize its (huii. 1 liavc
often seen pups attenijjt to sucU cows promiscuously, yet no row will
suckle any pup but licr own. When five or six weeks ol<i the iinjts i)e{j:in
to run around and t'oini bunches or "pods;" at seven to ei{;lit weelcs
old they try the water at the edge, where, after i>addling in the shallows,
they gradually learn to swim. After becoming expert swimmers they
continue to show a preference for land, where they generally remain if
not driven into the water by heavy rain or warm sunshine. Tliey make
tio etlbrt to secure sustenancse of any sort bciyoud that furnished by
their dams.

I have examined many pups at the food killings in November, and I
never found anything but milk iu their stomachs.

The young males or bachelors, whoso skins are taken by the lessees,
begin to haul out in May, and they continue to haul out until late in
July, the older ones coming first and the younger ones later; and they
herd by Ihemselvea during May, June, and July, because wtire they
to approach the breeding grounds the bulls would drive them off or
destroy them.

The bacihelors of from li to o years old are the only seals driven or
killed on the seal islands by anyone or for any jiurpose, and the sensa-
tional stories told of how they are tortured on the drive liave no founda-
tion in fact. When necessary to make a drive for skins from any given
rookery, the local agent of the lessees informs the Treasury agent, and
obtains his permission to make the drive. No seals are driven without
the consent of the Treasury agent in charge of the island. All being
ready, the native chief takes a squad of men to the hauling ground,
where the seals are quietly surrounded without disturbing the breeding
rookery, and they are then driven slowly along to the killing ground.

Since the improved methods of 1879 there are no drives of greater
length than 2^ miles, and the majority of them do not exceed 1 mile.
So carefully and so slowly are the drives made, the men driving are
relieved every hour, because of the slow motion they get chilled on the
road. Arrived at the killing grounds, the seals are driven out from the
main body in "pods" of 20 or 30 at a time, and experienced men club
and kill the desirable ones, and allow all that remain t(' retnrn at their
leisure to the adjacent waters. The most experienced men do the skin-
ning, and after them come the women and children, who carry olf the
carcasses for food and the fat or blubber for winter fuel.

In accordance with instructions from the De]>artment, the Treasury
agent is always present at the killings, and he has full jmwer and
authority to interfere in all cases where there is cruelty practiced or
attempted.

All seals killed by the lessees for skins are killed between June 1 and
July 30, and generally the season closes on the 20th of .luly.

After the regular season closes, in July, the natives kill, weekly, for
food, from 100 to 200 male seals whose skins are large enough to be
accepted as part of the next year's quota; and it is during these food
drives in August, September, and October that an occasional female is
accidentally killed. J3eing mixed with the bachelors at this time, some
females are driven and accidentally killed. The killing of a female is
the greatest crime known on the seal islands and is never done inten-
tionally. Of this I am most positive, for I know that every possible
precaution has been taken to guard against it, and 1 believe theie have
not been 100 females killed on St. George Ishnid since 1880, if I may
except some killed by poachers who wore driven off before they secured
the skins of the seals they had killed.

ALAHK\ INDUSTRIES.

91

Never since the islaiids have beeu Auicrican [noperty ban there beeu
indiHcriniinato killing done upon them, uor has ttieie been a desire on
the part of anyone connected with them to injure or daniaj^e or waste
seal liie; on the contrary, everything has been done by the leasees, past
and present, and by the United States, to foster and i)rotect it, and to
improve the methods of driving the seals, so tliat the herds mifi^ht grow
a';d thrive and in<!rease, and perpetuate themselves indelinitely. Laws,
rules, and regulations were made from time to time, prompted by exi)e-
rience, with a view to. add to the value of the projjcrty and to abolish
everything tliat was not beneficial and in strict accord with the most
humane principles. To this end all long drives were prohibited and
arrangements made by which the killing grounds have been brought
as near the hauling grounds as is practicable without being injurious
to the breeding rookeries.

Orders were issued by which the driving is regulated in such manner
that no hauling grounds are molested or disturbed more than another,
and, being taken in rotation, the seals are allowed several days rest
between drives. The rules for driving are so strict, so rigidly enforc^ed,
and so faithfully carried out that I hardly know how they could be
improved upon.

In my opinion the cows are the only seals that go into the sea to feed
from the time they haul out in May till they leave the islands in Novem-
ber or December, and my opinion is based on the fact that the seals
killed in May have plenty of food in their stomachs, mostly codtish,
while those killed in July have no signs of anything like food in their
stomachs.

iigaiu, the males killed for food as the season advances are found to
be poorer and poorer, and in all cases after July their 8toma»!hs are
empty. I am convinced, therefore, that none but mother seals go into
the sea to feed during the summer months, and this accounts for the
sudden decrease in the herd after the sealing schooners became so
numerous in Bering Sea about 1884. The decrease in the number of
seals coming to the islands in the last three or four years became so
manifest to everyone acquainted with the rookeries in earlier days that
various theories have been advanced in an attempt to account for the
cause of this sudden change, and the following are some of them : First,
a dearth of bulls upon the breeding rookeries; second, impotency of
bulls, caused by overdriving while they were young bachelors, and
third, an epidemic among the seals.

The "dearthof-bulls theory" has been thoroughly and impartially
investigated without discovering a cow of 3 years old or over on the
rookeries without a pup by her side at the proper time, and I am con-
vinced that the virgin females coming onto the rookerfes for the first
time are the only ones to be found there without pups.

The investigation established the additional fact that hundreds of
vigorous bulls were lying idle on the rookeries without cows and many
others had to content themselves with only one or two.

The theory of " impotency of the bulls through overdriving" while
young was also found to be untrue, and it was shown that alter 1878
<ill long drives on both islands had been abolished, and instead of
driving seals from 0 to 12 miles, as war done in Russian times, none
were driven to exceed 2J miles.

It is also a well-known fact that nont out the physically strong and
aggressive bulls can hold a position on the rookeries and that a weak
or an impotent animal has no desire to go there.

The epidemic theory was urged very strongly in 1891, when the rook-

0-2

ALASKA INDlIS^TRfKH.

ovies were t'oiind covered with dead pnpa, bur a ciirelni and tecluiicnl
exauiiiiatioii was made on sever.'l of the dead budics williout di.scfover-
iiip a trace of organic disease, while starvation was ho apparent tlial
those who exauuned them decided that it was tlie true cause of their
deatli. Had sickness or disease attacked the seal herd, it is only reason-
able to suppose a few jjrown seals would be found dead where so many
yoiins ones had died so sudtlenly, but the most diligent searcii has
itailed to find a grown seal dead upon the islands from unknown causes.

From the discovery of the islands until the present time the flesh of
the fur seal has been the daily meat ration of the natives and of the
white iieople, and yet it is a fact that a tainted or diseased carcass
has never been known.

In my opinion the sohitiori of the problem is plain. It is the shotgun
and ritie of the pelagic hunter which are so destructive to the cow seals
as they go backward and forward to the fishing banks to sui)p]y the
waste caused by giving nourishment to their young.

At this time they are destroyed by thousands and their young of but
a few weeks old must necessarily die of starvation, for nature has pro-
vided no other means of subsistence for them at this time of life.

Unless the pelagic hunter is prevented from taking seals in Bering
Sea and in the North Pacific, the Alaskan fur seal will soon cease to be
of commercial value.

L. A. NovKS, M. I).

HAIUTS AND MANAOKMENT OF SEALS AND RULES OF FUR COM-
PANIES— PELAOIC SEALING.

Deposition of J. C. Redpath, agent of lessees on St. Panl fslatid.

St. Paul Island, Pribilof Group,

Alasla, ss:

J. 0. Kedpath. being duly sworn, deposes and says: I am an Ameri-
can citizen, a native of Connecticut, and I am 48 years of age. At
present I am a resident of St. Paul Island, Alaska. I have resided on
the seal islands of St. George and St. Paul since my first coming to
Alaska in 1875. My present occupation is that of local agent on St.
Paul Island for the present lessees, the North American Commercial
Company. I have a practical knowledge of, and am thoroughly con-
versant with, the habits and conditions of tlie fur seal as it exists on
the Pribilof Islands of St. George and St. Paul, and also of the methods
adopted and practiced in the taking of the skins, and of the several
efforts made by the former and present lessees, as experience taught
them, to increase the herd and to build up the rookeries and perpetuate
seal life. I have had a personal experience of seventeen seasons on
the killing grounds, in different situations, from that of seal clubber to
foreman, several years of which I have been the resident local agent.
My position as local agent has led me to make a careful study of the
seal question, and it is my duty to report from time to time to the gen-
eral agent of the lessees the result of my observations.

The Alaskan fur seal is a native of the Pribilof Islands, and, unless
prevented, will return to these islands every year with the regularity of
the season. All the peculiarities of nature that surround the Pi'ibilof
group of islands, such as low and even temperature, fog, mist, and per-
petually cloude<i sky, seem to indicate their fitness and adaptability as
a home for the Alaskan far seal; and with an instinct bordering on

ALABKA IND«TS'I'K1E8,

93

I).

OOM-

rea'»oii thoy have selected tlieHe lonely and barren islands as the choicest
spots of earth upon which to assemble and dwell together daring- their
six months' stay on land; and annually they journey across thousands
of miles of ocaan and pass hutidreds of islands, without pause or rest,
until they come to the place of tlu'ir birth. And it is a well established
fact tluit upon no other land in the world <lo the Alaskan t'nr seal haul
out of water.

Karly in May the bulls approach the islands and, after cautiously and
carefully reconnoitering the surroundings, haul out and select their
situations on the rookeries, where they patiently await the coming of
the cows. When they first appear upon the rookeries the bulls are fat
and sleek and very aggressive, but after a stay of from three to four
months, without food, they crawl away from th(j rookeries in a very
lean condition. In my opinion the bull seal returns to the spot he
occupied the preceding years, and I know of several instances, where
he could be distinguished by the loss of an eye or a flipper, in which
he actually did return for a series of years to tlie same spot.

The mother seals or cows commence to haul about June 10, and nearly
all of them are on the rookeries by July 15, and I believe they bring
forth their young almost immediately after reaching their places on the
rookeries. When the pup is from four to six days old the mother goes
into the water for food and, as time passes, her stay becomes longer,
until finally slie will be away from her pup for several days at a time,
and sometimes for a whole week. During these longer migrations she
often goes 200 miles from the rookery, and I have been informed by men
who were engaged in the trade of pelagic hunting that they had taken
"mothers in milk" at a distance of 200 miles from the seal islands.

No cow will nurse any pup but her own, and I have often watched
the piips attempt to suck cows, but they were always driven off; and
this fact convinces me that the cow recognizes her own pup and that
the pup does not know its dam. At birth and for several weeks after,
the imp is utterly helpless and en*"irely dependent on its dam for sus
tenance; and should anything prevent her return during this period it
dies on the rookery. This has been demonstrated beyond a doubt since
the sealing vessels have operated largely in Bering Sea during the
months of July, August, and September, and which, killing the cows
at the feeding grounds, left the pups to die on the islands.

At about n weeks old the pups begin to run about and congregate in
bunches or " pods," and at 6 to 8 weeks old they go into the shallow
water and gradually learn to swim.

They are not amphibious when born, nor can they swim for several
weeks thereafter, and were they put into the water would perish
beyond a doubt, as lias been well established by the drowning of pups
caught by the surf in stormy weather. After learning to swim the
pups still draw their sustenance from the cows, and I have noticed at
the annual killing of pups for food in November that their stomachs
were always full of milk, and nothing else, although the cows had left
the island .some days before, 1 have no knowledge of the pups obtiiia-
ing sustenance of any kind excejit that furnished by the cows ; nor have
I ever seen anything but milk in a dead puji's stomach. The young
males from 2 to 6 years old, whose skins are taken by the lessees, begin
to haul out on land in May, and they continue to haul out till July.
They herd by themselves dming the mouths of May, June, aud July,
and they do this because, during the breeding season, they dare not
appioac^h the breedin^if rookeries, or the bulls would destroy them
Being thus debarred from a position on the breeding rookeries or frou

94

ALASKA INDUSTRIHB.

interniin>rllng wif;h the cows, tliey herd together oii the hanllng pfrouTn^s,
where tlioy are easily approachi'd and surrounded by the iiatives, who
drive tlieiii to the killing grounds without disturbing the breeding
rookeries.

Young males killed in May and June, when examined are found to
be in prime condition, and tlieir stomachs are filled with tish — ])rinci-
l)ally ('odtlsh — but those killed later in the season are found to be poor
and lean and their stomachs empty; which shows that the males rarely
leave the islands for food during the summer mouths.

Statute law forbids the killing of the female seal, and nature regu-
lates the matter so that there is no danger of their being driven or killed
during the regular killing season, which takes place in June and July,
when all the "killing for skins" is done; and after all my ex|)erienco
here I am free to say that a smr.'.l fraction of 1 i)er ce;\t would repre-
sent all the females killed on the islands since they became the prop-
erty of the United States.

The com|Kict family arrangement so tenaciously adhered to during
the breeding season becomes relaxed in August, and the females scatter,
and a few of them mix with the young males, and when the natives
make a drive for food it occasionally happens that a female will accom-
pany the males, and sometimes one or two may be accidentally killed.
I use the word "accidentally" advisedly, because there is no good reason
why the natives or the lessees should kill a female designedly, as the
skin is of no more use or value (if so much), nor its flesh as good for
food as is that of the male. And, exce])ting accidents, it is a fact that
no female seals are, or ever were, killed on the Pribilof Islands since
American rules and regulations were established there.

The regular killing season for the skins under the lease begins June
1 and ends jjractically the last of July; and during this period the
lirst class Alaskan fur-seal skins are taken. The seals are driven from
the hauling to the killing grounds by experienced natives under the
orders of the native cnief, and the constant aim and object of all con-
cerned is to exercise the greatest care in driving, so that the animals
may not be injured or abused in any manner. As t4»e regulations reouire
the lessees to pay for every skin taken from seals killed by the orders
of tiieir local agents, and as the skin of an overheated seal is valueless,
it is only reasonable to suppose that they would be the last men living
to encourage and allow their employees to overdrive or in any manner
injure the seals. I know that the orders given to me as local agent
were always of the most positive and emphatic kind on this i)oint, and
they were always obeyed to the letter. Instead of overdriving or neg-
lecting the seals, the lessees have endeavored to do everything in their
power to shorten the distance between the hauling and killing grounds,
or between the hauling grounds and the salt house.

Before the Alaska Commercial Company leased the seal islands in
1870 it was a common practice to drive seals from Northeast Point to
the village of St. Paul island, a distance of 12 miles, and from Zapadnie
to the village of St. George Island, a distsince of 6 miles, across a very
rough and rugged country.

Fro'n Halfway Point and from Zapadnie on St. Paul Island seals
were driven respectively 5 and 6 miles. When the Alaska Commercial
Company took control of the islands the drive from Northeast Point
was prohibited, and a salt house and other necessary buildings erected
within 2 miles of the killing ground, and all the skins taken there were
salted and stored and shipped from Northeast Point. In 187!> a killing
ground was made and a salt house built at Halfway Point, witliin 2

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

95

miles of tlio hauling grounds, and all skins taken at the Pniiit are salted
tlioir. At Ziipadiiie thu Hanie year a killing ground waa madu witliin
a mile nf the liauling ground, and the skins taken there are taken to
the village salt house in boats, or when the weather is uul'uvorable by
team and wagon.

Since 1H78 there has not been a drive made on St. Paul Tsland to
exceed li miles. At Zapadnie, St. George, a salt house was built about
IS75 and the (i-mile drive prohibited and a trail nnide at great expense
across the island, over which the skins are taken on pack saddles to the
village. Since 1874 no seals have been driven on St. George Island to
exceed li^ miles.

Although the seals are comi)atatively tame alter being on the land
for a short time and do not get scared so easily as is commonly su]>pos«;d,
the rules and regulations of the Tieasury Department are very strict
on the question of absolute protection to the seals on the islands, and
the Treasury agents have always most rigidly enforced them.

It is unlawful to lire a gun on the islands from the time the first seal
appears in the sjjring until the last one leaves at the end of the season ;
and in order to properly enforce this law the tireaims are taken from
the nativeu and locked up in the Governnu'ut house in care of the
Treasury agents.

^o person is allowed to go near a rookery uidess by 8j)ecial order of
the Treasury agent, and, when driving from the hauling grounds, the
natives are forbidden to smoke or make any unusual noise, or to do any-
thing that ndght disturb or frighten the seals. All driving is done
when the weather is cool and moist, and when the condition of the
weather demands it the drives are made in the cool of the night, and
ill no case are seals driven at a higher rate of speed than about half a
mile an hour. So carefully is the driving done that it has been found
necessary to divide the native drivers into several "watches," which
relieve each other on the road, because the pace being so slow the men
get cold.

From 1875 to 1883 it was no uncommon thing for the lessees to take
the annual quota of 100,000 skins between June 1 and July 20, aiul yet
there was no sign of any decrease, but rather an expansion of most of
the rookeries

I do not pretend to be able to say how many seals there are, or ever
were, on the rookeries; nor do 1 believe anybody else can tell; for the
rookeries are so broken and filled with rocks it is impossible to esti-
mate the inimber of seals upon them with any approach to accuracy.
The lines of expansion and contraction are plain enough, and can be
seen and understood by the whole community.

Until 1884 sealing schooners were seen but very seldom near the
islands or in Bering Sea, and the few seals taken by the hunters who
rallied the rookeries occasionally are t<io paltry to be seriously con-
sidered, because the raids were so few, and the facilities for taking
many seals ofl so utterly insignificant. In 1S84 the sealing schooners
became numerous. I believe there were about 30 in the sea that year,
and they have increased very rapidly every year since, until now they
are said tobeabout 120. As the schooners increased the seals decreased,
and the lines of contraction on the rookeries were noticed to draw nearer
and nearer to the beach, and the killable seals became fewer in num-
bers and harder to find. In 188(5 the decrease was so plain that the
natives and all the agents on the islands saw it and were startled, and
theories of all sorts were advanced in an attempt to account for a cause.

A dearth of bulla on the breeding rookeries was a pet theory of one

96

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

«)!• two transient visitors, but it only needed a tlioroiinii invostipntiou of
the condition of the lookerieH to convince the iim.st skeptical tliiit there
were plenty ol" biiilH, and to Hi)are, and that hardly a cow could be found
on the rookeries without a pup at her side.

l\)V live years I iiave given this particular Hubjcct my nutst earnest
attention, and every succeedinif year'a experience has convinced me
that there is not, and «ever Mas, a dearth of bulls. The theory of
impotency of the young bulls because of overdriving when young is
not worthy of consideration by any sane or honest man who lias ever
seen a bull seal on a breeding rctokery ; and as I iiavc already answered
the ()uestion of overdriving. I will only vh\ here tliMt no young bull
gocH upon a breeding rookery until he is able to light his way in, and
an impotent bull has no desire to fight, nor could iie win a luisition on
the rookery were he to attempt it. The man is not alive who ever saw
a (» or 7 year old bull seid impotent.

Another theory, equally untrue, was (hat an epidemic had seized the
herd, but investigations of the closest kind have never revealed the
death oti the islands of a full-grown seal from unknown causes. Let it
be remembered tiuit the flesh of the seal is the staple diet of the nadves,
and that it is eaten daily by most of the white employees as weil; and
yet it is true that a sign of taint or disease has never been found on a
seal carcass in the menmry of man. It was not until so many thousands
of dead i)ups were found upon the rookeries that the i)roblem was solved.

The truth is that when the cows go out to the feeding grounds to feed
Lhey are shot and killed by the pelagic hunter, and the pups, deprived
of sustenance, die upon the rookeries. l'jxcei)ting a few jjups killed by
the surf occasionally, it has been demonstrated that all the pups found
dead are poor and starved, and when exanuned their stomachs are found
to be without a sign of food of any sort. In 1891 the rookeries oji St.
I^aul Island were covered in places with dead pups, all of which had
every symptom of having died of hunger, and on opening several of
them the stomachs were found to be empty.

The resident i)hy8iciau, Dr. Akerly, examined nmny of them and
found in every instance that starvation was the cause of death. The
lowest estimate made at the time, placing the number of dead pups on
the rookeries at 25,000, is not too high

It has been s.id that man can do nothing to facilitate the ])ropaga-
tion of the fur seal. My experience does not support this. The reser-
vation of females and the killing of the surplus males, so that each
bull can have a reasonable number of cows, is more advantageous to
the growth of the rookeries than when in a state of nature bulls killed
each other in their eflbrts to secure a single cow.

The same care can be and is exercised in the handling and manage-
ment of the seal herd as is bestowed by a ranchnmn upon his bands of
ranging stock, and is productive of like resnlts. The seals have become
so accustomed to the natives that the presence of the latter does not
disturb them. The i)ups are easily handled by the natives, and for-
merly, when used as an article of food, thousands of pups were actually
picked up and examined, in accordance with Government requirement,
to avoid the killing of a female. So easily are the seals controlled
that, when a drive of bachelors is made to the killing grounds, a guard
of two or three small boys is sufficient to keep them from straying,
and from the general band any number from one upward can be
readily cut out. It is possible in the future, as it has been in the past,
to reserve unmolested suitable areas to servo as breeding grounds; to
set aside each year a proper number of young males for future service

ALASKA INIU'HTKIKS.

97

upon tlin rookiM'if's. anil by the iipplicatioii nf ilm onliiMiy stncUldccd-
iii^ pi'iiiciplfs not only Id pcrpctiiiitt', Iml lu i'ii|>i(lly iiic.ri>ii8C' tin; st-sil

ll.T.l.

To on*' wild has spiMit so nnmy years aiiioii}; tli« seals as I iiavf, and
wild lias taken ^d ninch iiitenvst, in tlicni, it does appe;ir to lie wrong
that llicyKhonlil lie allowed to \ni so iiillilessly and iiidisei iiniiiMtely
Klan;;lit<'red liy pela^jic liiinfers, who seciiie only ahoiit one I'dnrlli of all
they Uill. There is no donlil in my mind that iinles immediate pro-
tection be H:iveii to tlu^ Ahiskan I'lir seal the species will he practically
deslKiyeil in a very tew years; and in tirder to protect llicm pcla.yic!
hiiiiliiiK innsi be aitsnjutely iirohibiled.

The fore^iun;;- is siilisiantially the same testinidiiy that I ^avu to the
cummisaiuueru who vi^iled thu i.shmds in 18UI.

J. U. UiiDl'ATU.

PRIHlI.nl' IfoiMCI'MUKS.

Deposition of (Vinrlcs J. Oo[f\ Trmmiry (ujvnt in clitinjr of rribUof Islands.

DiSTKlOT OK COH'MIUA,

City of ]V(inhiiiitf()H, .v«;

(Miarlea .J, (lolV, of Clarkslmi},', VV. Va., beiiis' duly sworn, deposes
and Kays: I am 4.") years of iiiHi; dnrinj; the, years l.SSIt and 18!)P I oecu-
])ied the position of s|)eeial Treasury a;;eiit in eharjie of the I'ribilof
Islands. 1 was located on Wt. I'aul Island, only visit iiifr St. (Jeorj^e
IslaiHl occasionally. About the 1st of June, 1.SS!», I arrived on St. Paul
Island, and reiiniined there until October 12, ISSit, when 1 returned to
San Kranciscofor the* winter. .\t;ain went to the islands in 1S!M), arriv-
iiijH' there iiboiil the last week in May, ami remainin;;' until Aufjust 12,
181(0. Since that time 1 have never lieen on the islands. My principal
observatiiMis as to .seal life upon tht^ islands were contined to St. I'aul
Jslaml, as 1 only visited St. (ie<ir^'e Island dceasionally.

Durinjr my first year on the islands the Alaska ('oinmereial (Jomi)any
was the lessi(^ thereof, and during; my second year the North Americiin
Coinmercial (;omj)any. In 188!) I made careful observations of the rook-
eries on St. I'aid Island and marked out the areas (H)vered by the breed-
in;,' gvoniids; in IS'.H) 1 examined thesi' lines made by me the furmeryear
and found avery{j[reat shrinkage in the spaces covered by breed in {;
seals.

In 188!) it was cpiite dillicnlt for the lessees to obtain their full (piota
of 1()(),(MM) skins. So ditlicnlt was it, in fact, that in order to turn oil" a
suilicient number of t and "> year old males from the haulins;- jjrounds
for breediii^i purposes in the future the lessees were compelled to take
about .")0,(KH» skins <tf seals of 1 or 2 years of ajj,e. I at once re])orted
this fact to the Secretary of the Tri^asury, and advised the taking' of a
less number of skins (he followiii}^' year. J'ursuant to such report the
Ciovernuieiit lixed upon the number to be taken at ti(),(HIO, and further
ordered that all killin^iuf seals on the islands should stup after the 2()th
day of .luly. I was t'urther orderetl thai 1 should notify tiie nativ<'s
ujion the Aleutian Islands that all killing of seals while coming fiom or
gniiifj; to the seal islands was itrohibited. These rules and regulatiouh
went into effect in 18'JO, and pursuant thereto I i)osted iu)tices for the
natives at ■,'". ;(r\8 points aloiij; the Aleutian eliain, and saw that the
ordersiii re.'af' .ii co the time of l.illin,i>' and number allowed to be killed
weie executctl >' mou the islands. As a result of the enforcement of these

h. i>oc. 'i_', pt. 2 7

08

AT,\'m\\ IXIUS'l'UIKR.

rouul'.itions the lessees were niiabh^ to take more than 21,2.'W seals of
the Uillable a<;e of tVoin 1 to "> years during' the season of LSDO, so preat
had been the decrease of seal life in one year, and it would have been
impossible to obtain (iO,<>()(» skins even if the time had been unrestricted.

Tlie Table A appended to this allidavit' shows how {;reat had been the
decrease on St. Paul Island haidinj; fjiouiids, bearing in mind the factt
that th<? driving and killing was done by the same pers(ms as in former
years, and was as diligently carried on, the weather being as favorable
as in 1880 for seal driving. 1 believe tiiat the sole cause of tlie decrease is
pelagic sealing, which from reliable information 1 understand to Inive
increased greatly since 188-1 or 1885. Another fact I have gained from
reliable sources is that the great majority of seals taken in the open sea
are jnegnant or females in milk. It is an unquestionable fact that the
killing of these females destroys the ])ups they are carrying or nursing.
The result is that tiiis dest; ui-tiou of i)U])s t^ikes about eijually from the
male and fennile inci'case of the herd, and when so many male ]mps are
killed in this manner, besides the lOiMHKMakcn on the islands, it neces-
sarily tl'ects the number of kitlable seals. In 188*,) this drain upon male
seal lilo showed itself on the islands, and tliis, in my opinion, accounts
for the necessity of the lessees taking so many young seals that year to
till out their quota.

As soon as the cirects of tlie i)elagic scaling were noticed by me upon
the islands 1 reported the same, and the (ioveinment at once took stei)s
to limit the killing iiimn the islands, so that the rookeries might have
an op[iortnnity to increase their numbci s to their former condition ; but
it will be impossible to repair tlMMlcplction if ])elagic sealing continues.
I have no d(mbt, as I lejxirted. that the taking of 100,(){)() skins in 188!>
atl'ected the male life on tiic islands, and cut into the reserve of male
seals necessary to jncservc annually for breeding purposes in the future,
but this fact did not bccoine evident until it was too late to repair the
fault that year. Except lor the nund)ers destroyed by pelagic sealing
in the years previous to IS.SK the Iiauling gnninds would not have been
so depleted, and the taking of 100,0(10 male seals would not have
impairr.-1 the reserve for breeding purposes or diminished to any extent
the seal life on the I'libilof Ishnnls. lOven in this diminished state of
the rookeries in 188!> L carefully observed that in the majority of cases
the 4 and 5 year old males were allowed to drop out of a "drive"
before l!ie bachelors had been driven any distance from the hauling
grounds. These seals were let go for the sole purpose of supplying
siUlicient future breeders.

A few seals are injiiied by rcdriving (often conliicted with overdriv-
ing and sometimes s( called), but the number so injun^l is inconsiderable
and could have no appreciable effect u[)on seal life through destroying
the virility of the male. The decrease, caused by jielagic sealing, com-
pelled whatever injuiious redriviiig has taken i)lace on the islands, as
it was often lu^ccssary to drive every two ov three days from the same
hauling grounds, which caused many seals let go in a former "drive"
to b« driven over again before thoroughly rested. If a "drive" was
made only once a week from a certain hauling gnmnd, as had been the
(!ase before pelagic scaling grew to such enormous ])roportions and
de])leted the rookeries, there would be no dannigo at all resulting from
redriving.

In my opinion jielagic sealing is the cause ot redriving on the islands,
the depletion of the rookciies, and promises to soon make the Alaska

1 Soo " Islaud l?ucords," Appciulix.

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

90

fur-seal herd a thing of tlio piist. If continued as it is to-day, even if
killing on the islands was absolutely foibjilden, tlie herd will in a few
years be exterminated. I am, tiierefore, of tlie opinion that pelagic
sealing should bo absolutely prohibited both in Hering Sea and tlie
North I'aciHc Ocean. If this is done and a few years are allowed the
seal herd to recover from the enornions slaughter of tiie past sevcsn
years the I'ribilof Islands will produce their 100,000 skins as lieretofore
foi' an indetinite jteriod.

I hereby append to and make a part of this allidavit a table, marked
A,' giving the number of seals killed each day on the island of St. Paul
during the years 1.S8D and ISDO up to the liOth day of July.

CllAKLES J. GOI-'F.

MANAGEMENT OV SEAL KFLMNCt, AND PELAGIC SEALING.

Deposition of All id I P. LoudjSpcciol (tssLstant Tnasufy u(/cnt on Fribilof

Islands.

District of Coltimiua,

City of Waithinf/ton, ss:

Abial P. Loud, being duly sworn, deposes and says: I am a resident
of Hampden, Me., and am 55 yeais of age. On April 4, 1885, 1 was
appohited special assistant Treasury agent for the seal islands, aud
immediately started for the islands, arriving at the island of St. Paul
on May 28 or 30. Spent that season on St. Paul Islaud, and returned
for the winter to the States, leaving the islands on the 18th of August.
AVent back again next spring, arriving there in latter part of May, and
remained until August, 1887, on St. Paul Island. Spent the season
of 1888 and 1889 on St. Georgt; Island, returning in the fall of 1889 to
the States. In 188!> I si)ent some time in the fall on St. Paul Island.
On whichever island I was located I always kept careful watch and
made frequent examinations of the rookeries during this entire period.
During the time i'roin 1885 to 1889 there was a very marked decrease
in the size of the breeding grounds on St. Paul Island, and fr( a 1887
to 1889 I also noticed a great decreasii in the areas covered by the
rookeries on St. (leorge Islaud.

In his reports of 1886 aiul 1887 George R. Tingle, special Treasury
agent in charge of the seal islaiuls, repoiied having measured the rook-
eries OTi the islands, and that the reals uad largely increased in num-
ber, giving the increase at about li,00(»,00'». From this report I dissented
at the time, as I was unable to see any /.urease, but, on the contrary, a
perceptible decrease, in the rookeries. I expressed my views to uuiny
on the islands, and all agreed that there had been no increase in seal
life. I do not think that there was a single person on the island except
Mr. Tingle who thouglit there had been an in<;rease, or, in fact, that
there had not been a decrease in seal life. The measiuements of the
rookeries on which Mr. Tingle relied were made with a common rojte by
ignoiant natives while the t "als were absent t'-om the islands, tlie
grounds covered by them being designated by Mi. T^nglo from memory.
Even if these measurements had been correct, which was impussihle, I

' See "Island Records," Apjieiulix.

100

ALASKA INDUSTRIKS.

do not believe it is possible to oalciiliite even iii)[)roxiniatcly the number
of seals upon the rookeries because of the broken nature of the ground
and the irrcfiular outlines of the bvoediiifr j>Tounds. While I was on
the islands 1 attendetl nearly every drive of the bachelor seals from the
haulinp grounds to the killing grounds, and these drives were (tonducted
by the natives with great care, and no seals were killed by overdriving,
l»leuty of time being always given them to rest and cool off. A few
were smothered by the seals climbing over each other when wet; but
the number was very inc()ii.sideral)le, i)eing a fraction of 1 per cent of
thns(> driven, and did not to any extent allect the seal life on the islands.
The greatest care was always taken to avoid overdriving both by the
Government officers and emitloyees of the lessees.

During my experience (and i was on tlie killing ground at every kill-
ing that took place while I was on the islands) I never saw a male seal
which had been injured by bring redriven several times from the same
hauling ground. I am convinced that while I was there there was not
a single case in which the virility of a male seal was destroyed or
impaired in the slightest dcgiee by driving, redriviug, or overdriving,
and I took particular notice of the condition of the males during each
drive. The males old enough for service on the breeding grounds were
always allowed to return to the hauling grouiul from a drive, and I am
satistied a suflicient uuud)er of males was always reserved for future
breeding purjjoses. A suggestion was made to the Secretary of the
Treasury in the fall of 1885 that some old bulls slionld be killed, but
the Secretary declined to permit such animals to be destroyed. I am
con viiiced that the decrease in the rookeries was caused entirely by oi)en-
sea sealing. As 1 was not present on the islands in the fall of 1885, F
am unable to make a statement as to the nunibei' of dead pups on the
roidceries in that year, but in 1886 I saw a huge number of dead pups
lying about. Tliese jjups were very mncli cinaciatLd, and evidently had
been starved to death. I account for tiiis by the killing of the mothers
by open sea scalers before the pups were weaned, and because a mother
■will not suckle any i)up except her own.

In 1887 the number of dead pups was much larger than in 1880. In
18S8 there was a loss number tlian in 1887 or in 188",t, owing, as 1 believe,
to a decrease of seals killed in Heriug Sea that year, but in 1880 the
increase again showed itself. 1 believe the nnnd»er of dead pups
increased in about the satne ratio as tlie number of seals taken in Bering
Sea by pelagic sealers. While I was on the island there were not iiiore
than three or four raids on the rookeries to my knowledge, and I think
that the destruction to seal life by raiding rookeries is a small part of
1 i>er cent as compared with the nund)ers taken by killing in the water.
Another fact in connection with opensea sealing is that tlie great
majority of seals killed are females, and that a great part of tlie females
are pregiuwit or in milk. The nulking fe-nales are most all kUled whde
visiting the feeding grounds, which arc distant 10 or (iO nnles, or even
farther from the islands. The female i.!''essai ily I'ei'ds so she can snp-
]dy nourishment for her young, while the males during the suuuner
seldom leave the islamls. This accounts lor the large nund)cr of females
killed in IJering Sea, Fu July, 1887, F captured the poaching schooner
Anf/cl Dol I If whWc. she was hovering about the islands. 1 exannned the
seal skins she had on board, and about 8(t i)er cent were skins of females.
In 1888 or 188!) I exannned something like .5,000 .skins at Unalaska
which had been takc^n from schooners engaged in pelagic; sealing in
Bering Sea, and at least 80 t> 85 per cent were skins of fenales.

I have conversed with the captains of several marauding schooners

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

101

and otlierswlio weiPoiiiiilDVcd in pelagic sonlinp: liave informod me that
they usuiilly use rillcs in shootinjj seals in the water. Some, however,
use sh'()ti;tiiis. liiit to no fjicaf extent. From these conversations I should
Judge they «li<l not secure more than one-half of the seals Mlled, and
tills, 1 think, is a large estimate of the nnmber secured. I am of the
o])inion that tlie l*ril)ilof seal iierd sliould be ])rote(tted both in l>ering
8ea and the North J'acilic Ocean. If an imaginary line were drawn
about the islands, .S(l or 10 miles distant therclrom, within which sealing
would be piohibited, this woidd belittle i)rotection to seal life, for all
the poachers whom 1 interviewed acknowledged that they could get
more seals in tlie water near the tishing banks, ;;(!, 40, or more miles fioui
the islands, Ihan in the immediate \ icinity theieof, and the hunters on
the schooners always comidained if they got mnch nearer than 40 miles
of the islands. lam certain that even if sealing were prohibited entirely
upon the islands the seal herd would in a short time l)e exterminated by
pelagic sealing, if ])erniitted, l)ecause the females — that is, the pro-
ducers— are tliescals principally killed by open-sea sealing.

Abial p. Loud.

PELACrTC SEATJNCt — :MANAGE>rENT.

in

Deposition of Key rick A rtonHtnoJf, nudvc chief, rcsidentofSt. Paul Island.

Alaska, United States; of America,

St. Paid Isiatifl, Prilnlof (iroup, ss:

Kerrick Artomanolf. being duly sworn, deposes and says: I am a
native Aleut and reside on St. Paul Lsland, Pribilof group, Alaska.
1 was born at Northeast Point, on St. Paul Island, and am (i7 years of
age. I have worked on the sealing gmunds for the last tifty years and
am well acquainted with the methods adopted by the liussian and
American Governments in taking of fur-seal skins and in ])rotecting
and i)reserving the herds on the island. In 1870, when the Alaska Com-
mercial Company obtained a lease of the islands, I was made chief, and
held the i)osition for seventeen years.

It was my duty as chief to take charge of and conduct the drives
with my people from the hauling to the killing grounds. The methods
used by the Alaska Commercial Company and the American Coveri:-
ment for the care and preservation of the seals w<ue much bettei' than
those used by the liussian (iovernment. In old li.issian times we used
to drive seals from Northeast Point to the village, a distance of nearly
l."{ miles, and we used to drive 5 or (J miles from other hauling grounds;
but when the Americans got the islands they soon after shortened all
the drives to less than '^ miles.

From 1870 to 1884 the seals were swarming on the hauling grounds
and the rookeries, and foi' many years they sja-ead out nmre and more.
All of a sudden, in 18S4, we noticed there weie not so tnany seals, and
they have been decreasing very rapidly ever since. My i)eople won-
dered why this was so, and no one could tell why until we learned that
hunters in schooners were shooting and destroying them in the sea.
Then we knew what the trouble was, for we knew the seals they killed
and destroyed must be cows, for mostly all the males remain on or near
the islands until they go away in the fall or fore part of the winter.
We also noticed dead pu^ts on the rookeries that had been starved to
death. These young ])ups have increased from year t(» year since 1887,

102

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

and in 1891 tlie rookories were covered with dead i)ups. In my sixty-
seven years' resideiice on tlie islands 1 never before saw anything like
it. None of our people have ever known of any sickness among the
pups or seals, and have never seen any dead pups on the rookeries,
except a few killed by the old bulls when fighting, or by drowning
when the surf washed them oft". If they had not killed the seals in the
sea there would be as many on the rookeries as there was ten years ago.
There was not one-fourth as many seals in 1891 as there was in 1880.

The fur seal goes away irom the island in the fall or winter and he
returns in May or June; and I believe he will liaul up in the same place
each year, for I particularly noticed some that I could tell that hauled
nj) in the same place for a number of years; and when we make drives,
those we do not kill, but let go into the water, are all back where we
took them from in a few hours. The pups are born between the middle
of June and the middle of July, and can not swim until they are G or
7 weeks old ; ami if born in the water they would die. I have seen the
surf wash some of the young pups into the sea, and they drowned in a
very short time. In four or five days after it is born tlie mother seal
leaves her pup and goes away in the water to feed, and when the pup
is U or 3 weeks old the mother often stays away for five or six days at a
time. The mother seals know their own pups by smelling them, and no
seal will allow any but her own pup to suck her. When the pups grow
to be 6 or 8 weeks okl they form in " pods " and worl- down to the
shore, and they try the water at the edge until they learn to swim.
They will remain on the island until November, and, if not too cold,
will stay till December. I have seen them swimming around the island
late in January. All the seals when they leave the islands go off" .south,
but I think they would stay around here all winter if the weather was
not so cold.

When they come back to the islands they come from the south, and
I think they come from the North Pacific Ocean over the same track
that they went. The females go u])on the rookeries as soon as they arrive
here, but the yearlings, males and females, herd together. I think they
stay in the water most of the time the first year, but after that they
come regularly to the hauling grounds and rookeries, but do not come
as early in the season as they do after they are 2 years old. Male seals
from 2 to 6 years old do not go on the breeding rookeries, but haul out
by themselves. The female seal gives birth to but one pup every year,
and she has her first pup when she is 3 years old. The male seal estab-
lishes himself on the breeding rookery in May or June, when he is 7 or 8
years old, and he fights for his cows and does not leave the place he has
selected until August or Sepiember. Our people like the meat of the
seal, and we eat no other meat so long as we can get it.

The pup seals are our chicken meat, and we used to be allowed- to kill
3,000 or 4,000 male pups every year in November; but the Government
agent forbade us to kill any in 1891, and said we should not be allowed
to kill any more, and he gave us other meat in place of pup meat, but
we do not like any other meat as well as the pui)-seal meat. We under-
stand the danger there is in the seals being all killed off, and that we
will have no way of earning our living. There is not one of us but what
believes if they had not killed them oft" by shooting them in the water
there would be as many seals on the island now as there was in 1880,
and we could go on forever taking 100,000 seals on the two islands.
But if they get less as fast a« they have in the last five or six years,
there will be none left in a little while.

Keeriok Artomanoff.

ALASKA IXTH'STUTKS.
Deposit i<>n of Danirl Webster.

10.'^

Alaska, United Statics,

St. (Icorcjc fshuKl, Prihilof Group, ss:

Daniel Webster, being duly sworn, deposes and says: 1 am 00 years
of am", and am a resident of Oakliuid, Ciil.: my occnpatioii is that of
local aj;ent for the Mortli American Commercial ("om]taiiy. and at pres-
ent 1 am stationed on St. (leorne Isliuid. oft lie rril)ilof <;roup, Alaska;
I have been in Alaskan waters every year but two since 1 was 14 years
of age. I iirst went to JJerinu Sea in is-tri. on a wlmling voyage, and
annnally visited these waters in that pursuit until l^OS. at which time
the purchase and transfer of Alaska was made to the United States;
since that time I have been engaged in taking of fur seals for their
skins. In 1S70 I entered tin; emi)loy of the lessees of the I'ribilof
Jr.Iands, and have been so engaged ever since, and for the last thirteen
years have been the comjiany's local agent on St. (Jeoige Island, and
during the sealing season have, a part of the tinu', gone to St. Paul
Island and took charge of the killing at Northeast I'oint, which is known
to be the largest fur seal rookeiy in the world. For ten years i)rior to
1878 I resided most of the time at Northeast Point, having landed and
taken seals there in 18(18. 1 have had twenty-four years' exi)erience in
the fur-seal industry as it exists in the waters of the North Pacific and
l>ering Sea, and have made a very careful study of the habits and con-
ditions of this useful animal. During this period it has been uiy duty
as a trusted employee of the lessees to observe ami rejiort, each year,
the conditiim of the rookeries. ."My instructions were explicit and
enii»luitic to never permit, under any circumstances, any i)rat;tices to
obtain that would result in injury to the herds. Tliese instructions
have been faithfully carried out b\- myself and other emjiloyees of the
lessees of the Islands, and the laws and reguIati(Uis governing the per-
petuation of seal life have been rigidly enforced by all the (Government
agents in charge of the islands.

In my twenty-three years'experience as a wiialer in PoringSea and the
Northi'aci(ic,during which time 1 visited eveiyjiartof tiiecoastsurround-
ing these waters, ami my suOsei pient twenty-four years' experience on the
seal islands in Herin;;- and Okhotsk seas. I have never known or heard
of i'.ny place where the Alaskan fur seals breed ex(;ept on the Pribilof
group in Bering Sea. These islands are isolated an(l seem to possess
the necessary climatic conditions to make them tho favorite breeding
grounds of the Alaskan fur » . .s, and it is here they congregate during
the summer months of each year to bring forth and rear their young.
JiCaving the islands late in the fall or in early w inter, on account of the
inclemency of the weather, they Journey southward through the passes
of the Aleutian Archipelago to the coast of California, Oregon, and
Washington, and. gradually working their way back to Bering Sea,
they again come up on the rookeries soon after tiie ice disapju'ars from
the shores of the islands; and my observation leads me to believe that
they select, as near as possible, the places they occupied the year
before. The young seals are l)orn on the breeding Mwkeries in .(une
and July. Tlu' head coustitutes the gieater i)artof this animal at this
time, and they are clumsy and awkward in all their movements, ami if
swept into the water by accident or otherwise would iierisli from inabil-
ity to swim — a fact that 1 hav(^ often observed, and oiu' which is well
kn'>\vii to all who have paid any attention to tlie subject. Practically,
they remain in this heli)less condition, though taking on fat rapidly,
until they are from (i to 7 weeks old, when they commence to go into

101

ALASKA IXDUPTRTES.

sliallow wntor, iiiid, iit'tcr rcpcatfvl trials, learn to swiin; but evoii tlion
tliuy spend most of their time on land until tliey leave llie islands lato
in Novend)or. During the first few weeks aftei' their birth they iiro not
amphibious, and land is a necessity to their existence. The mother
seals <xo out to sea to teed soon alter Hiviny birth to thoir yon n^', and
return at intervals of from a few hours to several days to suckle and
nourish their yonnjj.

The mother seal readily distinjinishes her own olfsprinjjc from that of
others, nor will she perndt the younji' of any other seal to siiekle her.
I have iHttieed in the killinu' of youiij;' seals (pujis) for food in November
tiiat tlieir stomachs were full of iiulk. altliouf,di. apparently, the mothei-s
had not been on the islands for several days ])r(?vious. 1 liave observed
that the male seals taken in the fore]>art of the season, or within a few
days after their arrival at the islands, are fat and their stomachs con-
tain (juantitiea of undifiested tisli (mostly cod), wliile the stomachs of
these killed in the latter ])art of the season are empty; and tlieydiinin-
isli in lle.-h until they leave the islainls lato in the season.

I am ot the opinion that while the female often <foes hni};' distances to
feed while j;iviM{i nourishment to her yonnj'', the male seals of 2 years
old and nveisehlom, if excr. leave the islands for that purpose until they
start on their mijii'sition southward. When the seals are on the breed
iiifi' j^rounds they aie not easily frightened unless ihey are too nearly
apiu'oached, and even then they will go but a short distance if the cause
of their frijjht becomes stationary.

It is impossible to estimate with any sort of accuracy the miinber of
seals on the Pribilof Islands, because of the seals beina- constantly in
motion, and because the breediii<;- fjrounds are so covered with broken
rocks of all sizes that the density varies. I think all estimates hereto-
fore nnide are unreliable, and in the case of I'.lliott and others who have
endeavored to undvea census of seal life, the numbers are, in my opiidon,
exajrgei'ated. ^Measurements of the bree<liu,n' {iiounds, however, show
an increase or decrease of the number of seals, because the harems are
always crowded together as closely as the nature of the ground and
temjter of the old bidls will i)ernnt. My observation has been that
there was an expansion of the rookeries from 1.S70 up to at least 1879,
■\vhi(;h fact 1 attribute to the careful management of the islands by the
United States (loveniment. In the year 1880 1 thought 1 began to
notice a falling olflVoin thenund)er of seals on Mortheast Point rookery,
but this decrease was so very slight that probably it would uot have
been observed by one less familiar with seal life and its conditions than
I; but 1 could not discover or learn that it showed itself on .any of the
other rookeries. In 1884 and 18S,') T noticed a decrease, and it became
80 marked in 188(1 that everyone on the islands saw it. This marked
decrease in 188(i showed itself on all the rookeries on both islands.

Until 1887 or 18S8, however, the decrease was not felt in obtaining
skins, at which time the standard was lowered f'-om (5 and 7 pounds to
6 ami 4.^ pounds. The haiding grounds of Northeast Point kept up
the staiulard longer than the other rookeries, because, as I believe, the
latter rookeries had felt the drain of oj)en sea sealing during 1885 and
188(» more tliaii Northeast Point, the cows from the other rookeries
having gone to the southward to feed, where the majority rf the sealing
schooners were engaged in taking seal. There was never while 1 have
been uimn the island any scarcity of vigorous bulls, there always being
a Rullicient number to fertilize all the (iows c.(»ming to the islands. It
was always l)orno in mind by those on the islands that a sullicient num-
ber of males must be preserved for breeding purposes, and this accounts

:

ALASKA TXnUSTRIKS.

105

parfly for tlio loworiiijj of the standard woifrlit of skiiia in 1888. Tlio
season of IS'.M showed tliat male seals had eertaiidy bi-en in sullleient
nnniher the year before, beeanse. tlie pups on the roolu^ies were as
many as should be for tlio number of cows landing, the ratio beinjj the
same as in former years. Then, too, there was a. surplus of vijiorous
bulls in 181)1 who could obtain no cows. ICvery care is taken in driviii{?
the seals from the hauling to the killin<;- fjrouiuls, and duriufj the re<(u-
lar kiiiiu};' season of June and .luly there are no females driven, because
at tliis season they are on the breediufr rookeries and do not intermiufjlo
with the younjT males. If occasionally one does hapjieu to be in the
drive j;ieat care is taken not to injure lu r; tiie law j)rohibitinji the kill-
injj of the female seal is well understood by the natives, and they are
thoroufihly in sympathy with it. Kven were I to re(iuest them to kill
a female seal tliey would refuse to do it, and would immediately reptu't
me to the (iovernment agt'nt. 1 have known an occasional one to bo
killed by accident duriuf;' the food drives late in the season, when the
males and females intermingle on tli<' hauling grounds, but the clubber
was always severely rebuked by the chief for his carelessness, as well
as by the Governmont and company ollicers.

My observation is that the number of female seals killed on the
islands from all causes is too insignificantly small to be noticed. The
longest drives made on St. (ieorge Island are from Starry Arteel and
(Ireat Kastern rookeries, aiul they are less than ^ miles long. Diives
from these rookeries require from four to six hours, according to tho
Mcather. At Zai)adnic rookery, on St. George, the drive to the killing
grounds is less tluui a mile, tlie seals are now being killed there instead
of being driven across the island as they were prior to 1878, when it
took three days to make the Journey. There is now a salt house at
Zapadnie, at which the skins are salted as soon as taken. The killing
grounds on both islands are all situated within a very short distance
from the shore, and seals not suitable to be killed, or that are turned
out for any cause, inuuediately go into the water, and, after sporting
around for an hour or two, they return to the hau.ling grounds, and to
all appearances they are as unconcerned and careless of the presence
of man as tiiey were before they were driven to the killing grounds.
1 have often tibserved that the seals when on the islands do not take
fright easily at the jirescMuie of nuin; iind the natives go among them
with impunity. They will go into a herd of seals on the hauling
grounds and quietly sejiarate them into as many di\ isions and subdivi-
sions as is necessary before driving them to tiie killing grounds. At
ihe killing grounds they are again divided into bunches or "pods" of
2(1 or ■'>() each more readily than the same number of domestic animals
could be handled under the same circumstances.

The bulls on the rookeries will m)t only stand their ground against
the approach of man, but will become the aggressors if disturbed.
Tups are tame ami very playful when y(»nng, and previous to 1891,
when it was the i)ractice to kill ;3,0(»0 or 4,000 for natives' food in
iSovember, thousands of them were picked up and handled to determine
sex, for oidy the males were allowed to be killed. Hair seal and seal
lions haul out on the islands and are seldom disturbed, yet they will
plunge into the watta' at once should they discover anyone upon their
rookeries. But it is not so with the fur seal. They seem at home on
the rookeries and hauling grounds, and they show a degree of domestica-
tion seldom found among similar animals. At Northeast Point rookery,
on St. Paul Islaiul, the longest drive is 13 miles. In former times the
Kussians used to drive from this rookery to St. Paul village, a distance

lOG

ALASKA IXDUSTRIKS,

of V2>, niilos. Soiils turiiod nwiiy IVotii the Ivil'iiii; {^rounds rt'tiirn to tlie
Took«My I'roin whicli tlu'y wvn' tliivi'ii; (lic.eloni ii inalo seal is not
rt'driven day iilttT day. bcciuisc a liauliiif; yrouiid is always yivcii hcv
eral days' rest bct'oie beiiif; diivcMi fVoiii aj;aiii. 1 uover saw or lieard of
the geiieiaiive organs of a iiialc seal l)eiiif; injured by drivinp; or l>y
redriviiip, and if siicli a tiiinj;- iiad taken iilace, even in exceptional
eases, tiie natives would have notici'd and reported it, wliieh they never
did. 1 have seen a seal's llippers made sore by driviu}?, but 1 never
saw one that was seriously injured by drivi'iji'. I do not believe tiiat a
male seal's i)owers of reproduction were ever all'eeted by driving or
redriving.

The bulls maintain tlieir positions on the rookeries from the time
they arrive till the cows come by most bloody battles, and after the
cows commence arrivinj;' they iuc continually contending for their pos-
sessions. During these conllicts they are often seriously wounded, and
their exertions aie f,ir more violent than any effort nuule by a young
male during a drive. Then, too, the male seal must have great vitality
to renniiu on the rookeries for three nu)ntlis without eating or drinking
and with little sleej). In spite of this drain on his vital force he
is able to fertilize all the cows which he can get possession of, and a
barren cow is a rarity. I believe that a bull can serve one huiulred or
more cows, and it is an absurdity to think that an animal ])ossessing
such remarkablo vigor could be tmide imi)otent by being driven or
redriven when a bachelor. An ini|ii)tent bull would have neither the
inclination or vigor to nuiintiiin himself on the rookeries against the
fierce and vigorous possessors of harems. The only bulls hauling up
away from the breeding rookeries are those whose extreme old age and
long service have made them impotent and useless, .and 1 have never
seen or heard tell of anything that would make an exception to this
rule. The methods employed in taking the skins are, in my opinicm,
the best that can be ad<ii)ted. The killing grounds are situated as near
the rookeries aiul hauling uroinids as is possible witliout having the
breeders or bachelors disturbed by tlu^ smell of blood or jjutrefaction,
and most stringent regulations have always been enforced to prevent
•disturbing or fiighteiuug the breeding seals.

I am (;onvince<l that if open-sea sealing had never been indulged in
to the extent it has since 18S,j, or perhaps a year or two earlier, 1(10,0(10
male skins could have been taken annnally forever from the Tribilof
Islands without decreasing the seal herd below its normal size aiul
condition. The cauf^e of the decrease which has taken place can be
accounted for only by open sea sealing; for, until that means of destruc-
tion to seal life grew to be of such proportions as to alarm those inter-
ested in the seals, the seal herd increased, and since that time the
decrease of the number of seals has been proportionate to the increase
in the nund)er of those engaged in open-sea sealing. The majiority of
seals killed in the water are females, and all the females killed in Ber-
ing Sea are mothers who have left their pups on the rookeries and gone
some distance from the islands in searcli of food. The death of every
such mother seal at sea means the death of her pup on shore, because
it is absolutely and entirely dependent on her for its daily sustenance.
I never heard of any disease among the seal herd, nor of an ei)idemic
of any sort or at any time in the history of the islands. 1 do not
remember the precise date of the first successful raid ui)on the rookeries
by sealing schooners, but I do know that for the past ten years there
have been nn>.iy such raids attempted, and a few of them successfully
i;;;i lied out, and that as the number of schooners increased around the

IS

a

ALASKA IXDrsTRIES.

107

fotlie

is not

I'll NCV-

'iird of

<pr hy

ttioiial

■ IH'VIT

never
that ii
iiifj or

Islanda, tlie iittcinpted raids increased in projiortion, and it lias l)eei.
deemed ntu;essaiy to keep armed guards near tlie rookerieH to repel sueli
attacks. Althoufili a lew of the raids were siu^eessliil, and a few hun-
dred seals killed and carried off from time to time during the past ten
years, the a<ifjrej;att^ of all the seals thus destroyed is too small to ho
mentioned when (Muisidering the <!ause of the Huddeii decline of seal
lite on the Pril)ik)f Islands.

Twenty-four years of my life have bcon dev<(ted to tli(^ sealiufr indus-
try in all of its details as it is pursued upon the l'ril>ilof Islands, and
it is but natural that I should become deeply interested in the subject
of the seal life. My experience has be(Mi practical ratiier than tiieo-
retical. 1 have seen the lieids j;row and multiply under carelul inaii-
afjjement until their numbers were millions, as was the case in bS.SO.
From 188'1 to 1891 I saw their numbers decline, under the same careful
inanafjement, until in the latter year tliere was not more than one-fourth
of their numl)eis comiiii?; lo the islands. In my judfinient there is but
one cause for tiiat decline and tiie picseiit <!ondition of the rookeries,
and that is the sliotfj;un and the riiie of the pela},'ic hunter, and it is my
opinion that if the lessees had not taken a seal on the islands for the
last ten years we would still liiid tlie l>re('diiii>' gicmnds in about the
same condition as they are to-day, so destructive to seal life are the
methods adojited by these hunters. I believe the number they secure
is small, as compared with the number they destroy. Were it males
only that tl; 'y killed the damajje would be temjiorary, but it is mostly
females thai they kill in the ojieii waters, and it is ]dain to anyone
familiar with this animal that extermimition innst soon follow unless
some restrictive measures are adojtled without delay.

The foregoing i;-i substantially the same statement that I made to the
commissiouers who visited the islands in 181>1.

Daniel Wkiistee.

PELAGIC SEALING AND PRiniLriF IJOOKKRIER.

Deposiium of Waxliituiton V. Coulson, i'liitfd tStatcti Revenue Marine, in

command of the Kunli.

State oi' California,

difi/ and (Jointtj/ of San Francisco, ss:

a:
ient
was

■'".•/ ■■■-■ .■; "./ "^ -^ ■ J

Washington ('. Coulson, having been duly sworn, deposes and snvi
1 am captain in the United States Revenue Cutter Servic<'. Atpresei
1 am in command of the United iStates revenue cutter h'nsli. 1 wf
attached to the United States revenue cutter Lineolu. under the com-
mand of (^ipt. C. M. Scammon, during the year 1870, from June until the
close of the year as a third lieutenant, and have lH>en an olhcer in the
revenue service ever since. In the month of that year that 1 was in the
Bering Sea and at the seal islands of St. Paul and St. George. I went
on shore at both islands and observed the seals and seal life, the
method of killing, etc. 1 noticed iiarti(Milarly the great number of seal,
wliifjh were estimated by those cojn])eteiit to ,itid*e that at least r),()00,(M)0
and possibly 0,0()(>,0()t», were in sight on the dilferent rookeries. To ine
it seemed as though the hillside and hauling grounds were literally
alive, so great was the number of seals. At St. (leorge Island, though
the seals \vere never in as great numbers nor were there so many haul-
ing places, the seals were very plentiful. At this time and for several
year thereafter pelagic sealing did not take place to any extent and the

108

ALASKA INinsi'lMK^.

I

animals were not divortcd from tlioir nsnnl patlia of travel. All flrr
arms wen- lorhitldt'ii iiiul never have. Ixea used on these islands in tlie
liillin;; and taking of seals. In faet, unusual noineevcn on tUe Hhipsat
ttne.lior near these ishinds is avoitled.

Visiting' tiie rookeries is not |»erniitted only on eertain eonditions, and
anytiiin}; lliat nii<;hl lii;;liten the seals avoided. The seals ani never
killed ill or near tin- rookeries, but are driven a short distance inland,
(o {jrounds esjieeially set ajiart foi' liiis work. I do not see how it is
piissihle to coiidiiet the sealing; iiroeess with f^reater earo or jiidfjiiient.
liider the direition of Mr. liedpath, on St. I'aul, and Mr. Webster, on
St. (ieorj^c^ islands — men who have superiiitended this work for many
years — the natives do tii(! diiviiifj, and the killing is p.^rformed under
the sn])ervision of tlie (iovernnient a<;enta. The natives understand
just how much fati^'iU! <'iin be endured by the seals, and the kind of
weather suitable for dii\ iiitj and killiiifj; no {greater ))recaution in that
re;;ai(i e.aii betaken. The evidence of this is in the small percentaj^'o
of animals injnioil or overheated in these drives. I do not believe the
animals are niiieh frifflitened or disturbed iiy the process of selecting
the drives lioin the rookeries, nor do 1 think it has a tendency to scare
the animals away from the islands.

i'urin;;' tiie seasons of ]8',H) and 18!)! I was in command of the reve-
nue cutter h'tisk in I'.ering Sea and cruised extensively in those waters
around the seal islands and t Ik; Aleutian group. In tlie season of 1S!M)
I visited the islands of St. I'aul and St. (leorge in the months of .Inly,
August, and September, and had ample and freipient opportunities of
observing the seal life aa (;oiiii»ared with 1870. I was astonished at the
reduced numbers of seals and the extent of bare ground on the rook-
eries in 1S!)() as comiiared witli that of 1870, and which in that year was
alive with seal life. In 18!)0 the North American Commercial Company
were unable to kill seals of suitable size to make their quota of (50,000
allowed by their lease, and, in my opiiiiim, had they been permitted to
take no.OdO in I SOI, they could not have secured that number if they
had killed every bachelor seal with a merchantable skin on both islands,
so great was the diminution in the number of animals found there.

1 arrived with my command at St. I'aul Island .luiie 7, 1801; at that
date very few seals had arrived and but a small number had been killed
for fresh fooil. On the li-'tli of .lime, 1801, we were at St. (ieorge Island
and found a few seals had been taken there, also for tbod, the number
of seals arriving not being enough to warrant the killing of any great
number. During that year i was at and around both these islands
every month from and inciiiding .lune until the 1st day of December
(excepting October), and at no time were there as many seals in sight as
in 1800. I assert tliis IVom aiitual observation, and it is my opinion wo
will tind less this year; and should jielagic sealing in the North Pacific
and Bering Sea continue, it is only a (piestion of a very few years when
seal in these seas, and especially at the seal islands, will be a thing of
the past, for tliey are being rapidly destroyed by the killing of females
in the open sea.

As to the i)ei'centage of seals lost in peliigic sealing where the use of
firearms is employed, I am not able to state of my own observation,
but from conversations with those engaged in the business 1 am of the
ojiinion that the number secured is small compared with those lost in
attempts to secure them. No mention was ever made of any unusual
number of dead i)ni)s u])on the rookeries having been noticed at any
time ])rior to my visit in 1870, but when I again visited the islands in
1800 I found it a subject of much solicitude by those interested in the

ALASKA IxnrsTKIKS, 100

perpetnation, and in 1801 it liad assiinicd kik^Ii |in)]i(»rtioiis as to cauHo
scriouH alarm. Tii<! natives makiiin' tlu^ drives lirst discovfrcd tliis
trouble, tiien HjuuMal af^enls toolv note, and later on 1 tliink almost cvery^
one who was allowed to visit llio rookti ies coiild not close* tlicir eyes or
nostrils to the ^reat nnnd)ers ol' dc;id pups to bo seen on all sides.
In company with Special Anient Mnrray, ('apl;dn Hooper, and lMi;;ineer
IJreiton, of the Coririii, I visited the l{eet' and (larbotch rookeiies, St.
I'linl Island, in Auj;nst, 1<S!)J, and saw one of the most pitiable sij^hts
that I have ever witnessed. Thonsands of dead and d.s iiiy' pups were
scattered over the rookeries, while the shores were lined with emaciated,
hun{;ry little fellows, with their eyes turned toward the sea utteriiifj
])laintive cries for their mothers, which were destined never to return.
Numbers of them were opened, their stomachs examined, and the fact
revealed that starvatiou was the cause of death, no oryanic disease
being apparent.

The greatest number of seals takcMi by hunters in IS'.ll was to the
westward and noithwestward of St. J'aul Island, and the largest num-
ber of dead pups were found that year in rookeries situated on the
western side of the island. This t';u:t alone goes a gieat way, in my
opinion, to confirm the theory that the loss of the mothers was the
cause of mortality among the j'oung.

After the mother seals have given birth to their young on the islands
they go to the water to feed and bathe, and I have oiisi i\ed them not
only around the islaiuls, but from HOtoKK) miles out at sea.

Ill dilVerent years the feeding grounds or tin; location where tin; greater
number of seals are taken by jjoacheis scim to dilVer: in other words,
the seals frecpiently change feeding grounds. For instance, in 18S7, the
greatest nund)er of seals were taken by iK)acliers between I'nannik,
Akutan Passes, and the seal islands, and to the soutli west ward and cast-
ward, in many cases ti'oin "lO to IfjO miles distant from the seal islands.
In the season of l.S'.Kt to the southward and wcstwaiil, also to north-
west and northeast of the islands, showing tliat the seals had been scat-
tered. The season of l.S!tl the greatest nund)er were taken to northward
or westward of St. I'aul, and at various distances, from '2i) to loU miles
away.

On my cruise to St. Matthews and IJnamak Island we did not discover
any seal within 2'> or '.iO miles of those islands, nor do 1 knowof or believe
that the seals haul out ui)on land in any (»f tlie American waters of
Hcring Sea excei)t at the i'ribilof Ishunls. If the seal lil'c is to be
))reserved for commercial i)nrposes the s»>als must be ]trotected, not
only in the lU'ring Sea, but in tiic waters along tJic Pacilic Coast I'rom
tlie Aleutian Passes to the Cobunbia li'i\rr.

Wash. (J. ('ot^i.soN,
Captain, United iStates Ixcrenxe Marine.

Deposition of Thoman F. Mort/aii, a<]cnl of Ichsvck of PribiUf and

Commander 'i)ila7id{i.

Statk of Connkctkhtt,

New London Count;/, as:
Thomas F. ^Morgan, being duly sworn, deposes and says: T am the
]»erson described in and wlio verified two certain athdavits on the r»tli
day of April, I8!)L', Letbre Sevcllon A. Urowii, notary public, in lela-
tiou to the habits, mauageiueut, etc., of the fur seals.

i

no

ALASKA INn!'SJTIMr.<<

T

Tlio hiin'ins on thti IMibilof Islands liiive at nil tiiiicH varied vory
imicli ill si/.i". In tlic years wiu-ii I was on tiu^ islands, hctwt'tMi 1874
iind ISST, it was always possihln to lliid individual liart^ins with 50 or
ju'rliaps .SO leiiialt's, while others \v(»uld only have t or *> feiiuiks, not-
witlistaiidiiifi the averiijie harem wctiild iierliiips confiiin from l."» t(» .'{0
females. Larj^i^ harems, tlioiij;h in sniiiller mimliers, tMiiilinued to exist
even in the years issr» and lss7, when, as I iiavo already stated in a
former allidavit, the number of females be^fan to (Uuireasti.

Wliile I was on the islainis there was no such thiiifj; known as dis-
tnrbiiiK' breeders or stiimiicdiiijL;' tiie rooUerits. The herd is driv«'n
from tlie rookery, is kejtt away iVoin liltii as mneh as possitile, for tlio
reason that the, skins which are taken, if clean, take salt better, euro
in better condition, and briii;: better prices, i'ilth, Kieii*^«» a"<l oi'
make skins come out of keneh Hat, and siicli skins are classed as low
whtMi solil. Mud spoils the suit for ipiick work, so the cleaner the skins
are, the better. As the rejected seals are only to be j^ot away from the
killing,' fiionnd, the quickest way to the sea is the route chosen, and
they often pass over decayin;,' (carcasses, but not of necessity, as tliey
are allowed to choose their own {jaitand roiittfto the sea. They do not
aeein to object to this any more than to the tilth caused by the excre-
ment and decaying jdacentas on the breedinj,' {jicmnds.

I was on the Commander Islands in ISOl as afjent of the Hussian
Heal Hkin Company. I never heard anyone state that barren females (I
mean females without youn}f) were imticed there, ami 1 don't believe
that any person whose opin inn would be entitled to consideration noti(!ed
this fact. It soon woiihl iiav«< become a matter of common knowled,"0
on the islands if there had been any nniiiher of adult females without
youufj. The only sure way to determine whether an adult female is
barren is to examine her as to w hetiier she is yivinj,' milk or is dry. As
the younjj seals do not follow the motlKir continuously, the fact of seeiii};
females without jtups witli tliem does not prove that they have not i)Up3
somewliere on the breedinj; {^rounds, and no person havinjj.any knowl
edge of rookery life could draw such an inferen<'e, and claim that the
females were therefore biirren.

While on the i'ribihif Islands I don't know that I ever saw a sterile
female seal. It is impossible to reco;,'iii/,e the same seal fnmi year to
year unless, as in the case of a few old Inills which have large scars, a
torn li)), a white blind eye, the nose split, or some, unnatural mark.
And, altliough i have seen oUl females without milk, very fat, associat-
ing with the youni;' males, I could not say that they had not been fertil-
ized, and, not having an olfspriug to care for, were asso(!iating with the
males until the season arrived for the herd to leave. At one time the
suggestion was nnule that it would be a good i)lan to kill these females.
I denied that it was ])ossible for anyone to know that they would not
bear young, and that if the killing of one female was authoiized it
would 0])en the way to do great injury to the herd, l^'or, when it
became desirable to market a large number of skins, the clubber would
see large numbers of fenuiles unlit for breeding.

It is dillicult to discover fresli excrement on the rookeries, tor the
seals' flippers soon wipe out the evidence looked for. Still f have often
seen it. In color it is orange, light yellow to almost colorless, and in
consistency soft, almost li(pud. At times it is vory ot!ensive, and at
others nearly odorless. Hut the soil of the breeding ground is inii)reg-
nated with it, which gives to the rookery a most disagreeable odor that
is increased by the decaying placentas.

1 am (quoted by the British commissioners (section 8li5 of thtiir report)

ALASKA INDUSTIMKS.

Ill

I very

II 1H74
50 or

s, not.

to .'{(»

o exist

ill »

to show t.liat inlHMt an iriofjiilarity in the haliifsot tlic soalstook |)la<',«
at tliu i'ribilot' Islands. 'I'iiis iirc^nilarity coiisistcd in tlutfoilowiiiK': In
previousycaJH the seals that arrived in .Iniie rnrnisiied neaiiy all 8 pound
skins and over; very I'ewof tiiesc seals \v»ue let n(><»r rejected, and wiieu
any wore rejected it was ])rin(ipally liecranse they were too iarjje. l>iit
this year th(» "J-yearold seals (•oiiiiiieneed to land much earlier, and the
run of lar<;e haitballs ai'iiv«;d in more scattered Ininclies, Just as it the
herd had been turned back in |ilaces jiiid hurried ahead in others, thus
hnrryiii}; the smaller seals, so that tlicy came on with the head of the
thick, and turniii,u backsitmcoCihclnijre seals which rornierly had arrived
later. Mo irregularity was observed in the lialiits of the tciiialc seals.

Thomas F. Mcikgan.

DepoMition of Javirn (}. Nir<ni, foruur iiisprrtor of customs, niiploi/ee of
Indian Jiurean and of Fi.sh (.'(iiiiiiii/mion of United iStatvs.

STATK op WASUlNdTON,

Jefferson Count)/, ss :

James G. Swan, having l)cen duly s\v(U'ii, dejtoses and says: I am 74
years old, a resident of I'ort Tnwiiscnd. \\iish., and l>y occupation a
lawyer. I am also United Stales commissioiicr, Hawaiian consul,
commissioner for the State of Orcjion. and a notary piildic. I caiiu^ to
the I'acilu! Coast in l<S5l» and to I'ort Towll^clld in I.sr>!(, where 1 have
since held my residence the greater part of the time to the ])resent
date. From 18(513 to l.S()t; J was employed in the Indian l>urcau of the
Interior Department and stationed at Ncali l>ay, and again from 1878
to 1881 I was inspector of customs at the same place. In 1883 I also
visited there in the em])loy of the I'Msli Commissioner.

In 1880, at the re(|uest of the late Professor Haird, of the Smithson-
ian Institute at Washington, 1 niad«! a careful study of the habits of
the fur seal {Callorhiiins ursuius) found in the vicinity of Cape l"'lattery
and the Strait of .Iiian de Kuca, and the result of my observation is
em])odied in the Tenth United States Census (report of United States
Fish and Fisheries, sec. o, vol. "J, p. 21*3. Kiir seal of (!ape Flattery
and Vi(Mnity) and in the report of the I'liitcd States Fish C'ommissiou.
(Hulletiii United States i'Msh Commission, vol. 3, pp. l'Ol-L'07.)

The observations upon which these reports are based were mostly
eoufined to the immediate vicinity of Ca])e l''lattery, and I had at that
time no opportunity for exteiuled impiiry as ^ ) the pelagi*-. habits of
the animals. The natural histoiyof the seal herdof the Pribilof Islands,
when upon or in the immediate vicinity of the land, had been minutely,
and, 1 have no doubt, aiieurately, described by II. \V. Flliott in his mono-
graph ])ublished in LSTo. There had been up to that date no series of
observations nor good evidence on which to base the hy])othesis that
the Pribilof herd and the large mass of seals annually seen on the lati-
tude of Cape Flattery were identical. On the contrary, there seemed
then to be many evideiuies that some other rookeries Miaii those of the
Pribilof Islands were located at some point on the ( )re}. n, Washingtcm,
or British Columbia coast. Young seals weie occas' nally found by
the Indians upon or near the beaches, and pregnant f^auiles were often
captured by them so heavy with jtu]), and apparently so near their full
term of pregnancy, as to warrant the belief that tiie young must be
either born in the water upon bunches of kelj) or uixui the rocks and
beaches on or near the coast. Young seals w ere often brought to the

1

112

ALASKA INDURTRIKS.

Tiidian v'Uajies, and the Uvstiiiiony of botli Indian and wliito liuiitcrs at
that time pointed stron<ily to the conclusion tiiat tlie hiccdinji- .^rounds
of the aniiiuils witli whicii we were familiar could not be lar distant. 1
have myself seen tlie black ])U])s in the watei when they appeared to be
but a few weeks old, and others ha\'e assured me that a considerable
nunduH' were found from time to time swinnnin}; with their niotlieis.
This phenomenon bein^of constant occurrence year after year, and in the
absence of a wider raiifjo of observations, we were natuially coufirmcd
by them in the conclusion to which I have above referred.

In recent years ithas been demonstrated by the large catches obtained
off the coast by pelajjie hunters, and by tlie testimony of a gr(>at num-
ber of people whose attention has been directed to the imitter, that the
herd of seals, of which we saw only a very lindted proportion from the
Neah l>ay station, is a very large one; and it now seems beyorid a doid)t
that the comparatively few authentic cases in whicli pui)s were seen
upon or in the vicinity of the (!oast were anomalous, for it is reasonable
to supi)Ose that in so large a mass of i)regnant fenndes an occasional
one would be prematurely overtaken by the jiains of the i)arturition,
and that the olfspring brought forth under favorable conditions, as
upon a bunch of kelp or some rock, should survive at least a few days
and be brought in and kept by the Indians, as I have occasionally seen
them. I have also seen at the villages late in the season, in the hands
of the Indian boys, live jjups which had been recently removed from
their speared mothers, and whose vitality was such that they c(intinu<'d
to live for several days; but it is a Mell-kuown fact that young nnun-
malia may be born seveial days, or i)ossibly even a month or two,
before full term and still survive. It is possible, too, that as a source
of error the hunters may have mistaken gray ])np8 whose coats had
been darkened by wetting, or those a few mouths old, born the prece-
ding summer, for the so-called black i)ups.

At the Neah Bay station large bull seals aie seldom seen, and the
nmjor part of tiiose killed are pregnant females, having in tiiem snuiU
fetuses early in the season — say about .lanuary or February — and later
full grown young. From all the evidence I am able to gather, i believe
the (litl'erent classes of seals remain a])art when ujion the British Colum-
bia coast, and ohl bulls and immature young males l)eiug chietly Ibund
at a C(nisideiable distance from the land, while the ))regnant females
and young males travel close along the shore, and are fieiiuently seen
in limited munbers in the straits and inlets.

In the light of investigation and research had since the date of my
observations, the most of whicli were made nn)re than ten years ago, I
am satislied that the nuiss of the iierd from whicli the liritisli Columbia
or Victoria catch is obtained are born neither in the water nor upon the
land in the vicinity where tli(>y are caught, and it appears most ])r(iliable
from the routes upon which they are followed and the location in which
they are found by ])elagic hunters bet wet !> March and August that
they originate in, migrate from, and annually return to Bering tSea.

It has lieen staled in print that 1 said 1 had seen pu[)s boiii on the
kelp in the water. This is a gross misrei>rescntation. I merely said
that it had been reported tome that such birth had been witnessed,
and (|Uoted as my authority Ca])t. li. II. McAlmond, of tlu^ schooner
Vli<iiii])i(in (p. L'OLJ, vol. 1, of Fnited States Fish Commission's reimrt).

l'«'lagic sealing was carried on by the Indians at Xeali Bay long
before I first went among them, but they were Uien, and until within a
few years. ]>ro\ided only with their canoes, spears, and other native
imi)lemeuts, constituting the necessary oiitlit for an aboiiyiual seal

ALASKA INUUSTRIKS.

113

litr; hunters at
('(liiifi yroiuKis

iir (listiiiit. 1
iltpi'iued to lio
a coiisidciiiblc
tlM'ir iiiotlicis.

ear, and ill tlio
;il]y coniirnicd
1. '

tcliesobtaincil
P a great nuin-
atter, tliat tlio
rtioM troin the
eyoiid a doubt
il)s were seen
. is reasoiiaWe
an occasional
10 piirtiuition,
coiidition.s, as
ist a lew days
asioiially soon
, in tlic liaiids
it'inovod from
hey continued
. younj;- inani-
loiith or two,
lat as a source.
ose coats had
orn the piece-
seen, and the
in thcin small
iry — an<l later
ther, 1 believe
British Coluni-
r chietly I'ouiifl
'pliant females
equently seen

he date of my
n years ajio, 1
tisli (.'olumbia
r nor uimhi the
most ])rol>able
ation in whi(di
[ Au.nnsi that
Jeriny Sea.
)S born on the

[ meiely said
'en witnessed,

tlie schooner
oil's report),
■ah l>ay ]i)\\ix
until williin a

other native
boi'ijjiual seal

hunter. The (lestructicrn Avroiiji^lit by tliein upon the seal herd was,
coiii])ared with the vast number of which it was composed, very slif''^-.
and did little harm to anyone, wliile tlie result to tlic^ Indians was then
and is still of j^reat importance. Now pelaj;ic seal huiitinf; is carried
on in cpiite a dillerent manner. Xumerous exjieditions are fitted out in
well-e(iuii)ped vessels, some of them under both steam and sail, manned
by whites and Indians, and armed with yuns and spears. 1 am
informed and believe that the herd lias greatly decreased within the
last two or three years, and that if jielasic! sealing is not soon cheeked
the henl will be driven hither and thitiier and so decimated as to render
it coiinnercially valueless. This would be a great wrong to the Indians,
who are dei»endent to a great measure upon the seals for a livelihood,
as well as needless, wanton waste, which civilized nations ought not to
l)ermit. It can not be denied that the natives, who have utilized the
seal lisheries adjacent to their settlements from their eailiest history
and ]nolited by them, deserve .some consideration. I believe that iu
order to preserve the rookeries u])on the islands and build them up to
their former jiroductiveness it is only necessary to restrict i)elagi(' seal-
ing to the coast south of -jt^ 10' and conline it to the use of the primi-
tive methods formerly employed by the natives.

Ja?iks G. Swan.

Deposition of Joyeph 8tanh:ii-Hroirn, Treanuri/ <i<jent.

DlSTlMCX Ol' COLVMBIA,

City of Washiiifiton, .vs:

Joseph Stanley-Brown, being duly sworn, deposes and says: I am 37
years of age; am a citizen of tne United States; reside at Mentor,
Ohio, and am by iirofession a geologist.

I spent the entire seasoi* of isi)l uiion the I'riliilof Islaiids,and during
the summer of IS'.L' again visited them and sj'ent the ju'iind between
June it and August 11 niion the islands of Sr. I'aui and St. (ieorge in
continuation of my investigations concerning scjd life. This season, in
addition to theitoiitiiuious general examination of all the rookei-ies and
the i)lottings of the breeding ground areas upon chart.s, cci tain special
stations Avere selected at ]toints within easy reach of the village and
daily visits made thereto. This method ot' work gave me an excellent
opjiortmiity to make comi>aiisons between the breeding areas of 1S!'1
and those of 1S!»2.

As the result of my observations luring the ])ast season, it is my
oi)inion that there was no increase among the females — the producing?
class — but on the contrary that there was a iiercrptible falling otl'.
This decrease was the more noticeable at ])oints on the rookeries where
the smaller groups of breeding seals are to be found.

There was so liltledriving during the season of lS!)L*that an excellent
oi>portniiity was given to observe life upon the hauling grounds, several
of which were not disturbed during the entire season. There seemed
to be a slight increase of the young bachelor seals, although this may
have been more aiii>arent tlian real from the fact that being uuuiolestetl
they accumulated in large bands.

It is quite certain that the normal habit of the holluschickie is to
remain most of their time ujion shoie, and if left to themselves would
spend more liine there than in the water. 1 have ke]>t a (dose daily
watch upon groui)s of young males, the men.beis of which did not go
into the water for a week or ten ilays at a time.
11. Doc, ItL', j>t. L' S

114

ALASKA INDUSTKICS.

Any statement to the effei^t that the occasional occuirence of large
harems indicates a decrease in the aviiilal)le number of virile males, and
hence deterioration of the rookeries, should be received with great
caution if not entirely ignored. T!ie bulls play onlj' si secondary part in
the formation of iiarems. It is the cow which takes the initiative. She
is in tlie water beyond the reiich or control of the male and can select
her own point of landing. Her manner on coming ashore is readily
distinguislied from that of tlie young males which continuously ]»lay
along the sea margin of the breeding grounds. She comes out of the
water, carefully noses or smells the rocks here or there like a dog, and
then makes her way to the bull of licr own selecting. In this incipient
stage of her career on shore tiiere is but little interference on the ])art
of the male, but once well away from the water and near the bull she
has chosen, he approaches her, manifests his ,ieasure. and greetings a.e
exchanged. She then joins the other cows and as soon as dry lies down
and goes comfortably to sleej). I have seen tliis selective power exer-
cised repeatedly, and the result is tiiat one bull will be esi)ecially favored
while those within ir> or 20 feet will be ignored.

The size of the harems, therefore, has of itself but little to do with
the question of lack of virile males, but iiulicates «iidy tlie selective
power of the females. If 100 bulls rei>resent»'d the necessary supply of
virile males we might, by reason of this fact, lind JO bulls witli very
large harems, 10 with still less, ~>{) with a reasonable number, -0 with a
few, and 10 with none. An onlo(»ker would not. therefore, be justified
in stating that by reason of these few large harems there is a lack of
virile males.

In the verv nature of things ic seems impt'ssible that any method
other than tliis one of selection on the part of the female could ever
have existed.

Large harems are frequently due to to])ographic conditions, the con-
lignration of the land being such that tl\e fejnales can only reach the
breeding grounds through narrow passageways between the rocks, and
around the terminations of which they collect.

Harems often coalesce; tlien bouiularies become indefinite, and when
their size and position make tlu^m too huge for contnd, cows pass to the
rear and are appro])riated by the bulls there.

When once the female is loi'ated, the bull exercises rigid control and
permits no leaving of the lands until she has been served. 1 never saw
a harem so large that the vigilance of the bull in this resj)ect was ever
relaxed. His consorts may <'scape to another harem, but they are never
permitted to go to sea until an inspection convinces the bull that they aie
entitled to do so. No intelligent observer w(mld be so bold as to assert
that during the season of 1802 there vas not an abundance of males of
complete virility, desivile the occurrence of occasional large harems.
The accompanying photogiai)hs' show that even at the height of the sea-
son, and just previous to the disintegration of the breeding grounds,
there were nnsupplied with cows old males which had taken their stand
and from which I was unable to drive them with stones,

1 should have been extremely glad to have been able to note a great
many more of these large Iiarems, but the work of tlie pelagic hunter
among the females has been so ellcctive that the average size of the
harems is growing smaller and smaller, while the number of the idle
bidls is steadily increasing. The rookeries of the I'ribilof Islands will
never be destroyed by superabundance of large harems.

' Not furnished.

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

115

of volume 2, of the case) shows pups, the mothers of which

I arrived on the islands this year a few days after the coming of the
first cows, and by selecting a small harem composed of seals, the airival
of which 1 have seen, and giving it daily observation, I was able to sat-
isfy myself that females begin to go into the water from fourteen to
seventeen days after lirst landing. On first entering the sea they make
a stniiglit line for the outer waters, aiid as far as the eye can follow them
they seem still to be traveling. The lirst cows to arrive are the lirst to
d(q)art in seaich of food, and by the first week in July the cows are
coming and going with such frequency as to be readily seen at any
time. The acconii)anying photograph' (taken on July 8, 1802, from the
same jiosition but one day earlier thau the one of last year wliicli faces
jjtige 13
are at sea.

The fact that the coat of the cow assumes from residence on the shore
a rusty or sunburned aspect gives a ready means of observing her
movements. The rustiness is quickly lost by life in the sea.

The movements of females can also to a certain extent be well observed
by their appearance after giving birth to tneir pups — after fasting and
after gorging themselves with food. After the birth of the pup, and
after remaining npon the rookeries even for a few days when the period
of coming from and going into the water has been entered upon, the
mother has a very decidedly gaunt appearance, in strong contrast to
the plumpness of pregnancy or full feeding. After feeding at sea they
come ashore again well rounded u]). So marked is this that I have
been repeatedly misled by mothers in such a condition, mistaking them
for pregnant cows, and have discovered my error by seeing her call
her pup and suckle it. If I had any doubt in my mind as to cows feed-
ing at sea it was dispelled by an examination of three cows I shot at
Northeast Point on July 25, 1892. Two "sunburnt" cows were first
killed, and their stomacJis were found to be empty. Another was shot
just as she came ashore and her stomach was gorged with half digested
codfish, whicli was identified by Mr. Townsen<l, an expert of the United
States Fish Commission. A dissection was made of this seal, and the
udder — which extends, as a broad, thick sheet, thinning out toward
the edges, over the entire abdominal i»ortion of the cow and well up
to the ibre flip])ers — was so charged with milk that on removing the skin
the milk freely flowed out in all directions, and previous to skinning it
was possible with but little effort to extract a suilicient amount to enable
me to determine its tasve and consistency. A large sujtply of food is
necessary to furnish such an abundant amount of milk. I have no
doubt that a well developed mother seal (;ould yield between a pint and
a quart of milk in the first twenty-lbur hours after landing from a feed-
ing expedition, and with sucli rich fountains to draw ui)on it is no won-
der that the voracious pups increase during their residence upon the
island not less than four times their weight at birth. And it is equally
certain that without such a constant supply of nourishment they could
not make such a rapid growth as they do.

The ])resence of excrementitious matter upon the breeding rookeries
is recognized both by sight and smell. It is of a yellowish color, and
though nuu;h of it is excreted, it is of such a liquid consistency that it
is quickly rubbed into and mingled with the soil, and thereafter its
existence can only be noticed through the discohuation of the soil and
the oft'ensive odor. The latter is readily detected at a distance of miles,
when the wind is completely impregnated with it. The odor bears no

' Not furnished.

116

ALASKA INDUSTItlKS.

resemblance to that which arises from the bodies of a laiye number of
assiMiib'cil animals.

The. quantity of exttremeiititious matter ])rosent is iiiHuonced by the
nature (»f tlieir diet, which, being tisli, is largely assimilated, while in
tlieir CDming and going much of it may be deposited in the water, to
say nothing of drencliing from rain, to which the rookeries (many ot
wliich are solid roc^k; are subjected.

On the hauling grounds, on the other liand, it is almost imjjossible to
detect such nuitter, either througli its ])re8ence, the appearance of the
soil, or its odor. This is a well known fact to anyone who has even
casually inspected such hauling grouiuls as Middle Hill, i)arts of Za-
padnie, western end of ICnglish Bay, western end of Is'orth Rookery,
Starry Arteiil, Great lOast llookery, and others.

This difference between the breeding grounds and the true hauling
grounds is exidained by the fact that the former are occupied by nurs-
ing females, wliich are constantly feeding, while the latter are frequented
chiefly by young males, wliich take but little food during the summer.
This abstention from food on their part is i'urther indicated by the fact
that, with exceptions now and then observed on the killing grounds,
they grow thinner and thinner as the season ad\aiices.

The pup at birth is received by the mother with an atlecjtionate regard
that is unmistakable; a sound not unlike that made by an ewe, but not
so loud, can be heard, and care is exercised by the motlier I'or the pup's
protection. 1 have repeatedly seen a mother, wlieu her olfspring was
still so young as to be heliiless, remove it beyond the reach of the surf,
or gently lift it from a hole between the bowlders into which it had
fallen. 1 have seen them olten place the udder in the most available
position for the pup to suck, and move themselves sufliciently close for
it to be within easy reach. After an absence in the sea, the mother
invariably calls to her young repeatedly, and manifests ])lea8ure on tind-
ing it. Later on the pup is able to recognize its mother, and as the
female will suckle only her own pup the ])leasure and contentment
which the meeting gives both is evident to the most careless observer.

Dead inijis were as conspicuous in their iiifrequency in 18!)2 as by
their numerousness in 18!)1. In no instance was there to be noted an
unusual number of dead pujis, except on the breeding grounds of
Tolstoi, tiie position, character, and size of which gave i)romiiience to
the carcasses. Here the mortality, while in no way approaching that
of the previous season, was still l)eyond the normal, as indi<!ated by the
deaths upon tlie other breeding grounds.

Any surreptitious killing of the niotiiers can not be charged with it,
for such killing either there or anywhere else on the island would have
become the gossip of the village and readily deteiited by the attempt to
disjiose of the skins. There are no hauling grounds so I'lose to the
breeding areas tliat the drivingof the young males (!ould cause conster-
nation among the females during the lireeding season. tStampedes or
disturbances can not account for it, for not only are the breeding
grounds in this jjarticular case of Tolstoi one fourth of a mile away
from the hauling grounds, namely, at Middle IJill (the nearest point to
that breeding ground from which seals were driven in I8!»l and 18!>2),
but it would l;e practically impossible to stampede this breeding ground
by any disturbing cause save of such magnitude as to be the subjectof
eomnion knowledge on the islands, and 1 know that no cause for such a
commotion occurred.

Seals will stand a large amount of annoyance before leaving their
harems, or, indeed, being permitted to do so by the bulls, and the man

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

117

does fiotlive who can stampede rootery bulls. No smoke of vessels or
presence of ships ever caase tlie stampede of an entire breeding {ground.
JSuch tilings have been reported but no one has ever seen it, and it
would require persistent etlbrt to acconijdish sncJi a result. I have had
cause to send natives on several occasions entirely across a rookery,
and no stampede ensued. I have thrown eggshells lilled with blue
l«iint at female seals, for the purjwse of marking them, until rocks and
seals were a mass of blue color, but with no disturbing effect. In the
jirosecution of my investigations I have shot females with a noiseless
ritie upon a small detached breeding ground, have crawled in and
dragged out the seals killed without causing the other mothers to recede
more than 20 feet, and in fifteen minutes thereafter the breeding grounds
I)resented their wonted appearance.

After two seasons' observation I unhesitatingly state that 1 do not
believe there iuxs ever been breeding grounds stampeded in such a whole-
saU; manner as to cause tiie death of pups. If such of-curred in 1881
and 1S!»2 it is certainly extraordinary that oidy the starvelings met death.

The true explanation of t'le deaths upon Tolstoi this year is not
readily found, and must be sought in local causes other than those indi-
cated above, and I am confident that to none of those causes can be Justly
attributed the dead pups of 18!)l and 1892. The following explanation,
based upon my acquaintance witli tiie facts, is offered in a tentative way:

A glance at the map will show that the location and topographic
cliaracter of this rookery have no counterpart elsewhere on the island.
Tiie rookeries upon which deaths are infrequent are tiiose which are
narrow and upon the rear of which are precipitous bluffs that prevent
the wandering of pups backward. The larger part of Tolstoi, as will
be seen from the map, extends far back and has great lateral dimen-
sions. Much of it is conij)osed of drifting sands and it has rather a
steep inclination down to the sea. Tiie shore is an open one, and the
surf, either gentle or violent, is almost constantly present. As the time
for learning to swim approaches tlie ])ups find it easy to come down the
incline. Tliey congregate in large iiumoers upon the sandy shore and
begin their swimming lessons. This is at a period when they are still
immature and not very strong. Tiiebuifeting of the waves exhausts
them and coming ashore they either wander off, or struggling a certain
distance up the incline, made more dillicultof ascent by the loose sand
of which it is composed, lie down to rest and sleep, and are overlooked
by their mothers returning from tin; sea. I have seen mother seals go
up the entire incline seeking their imps.

I find nothing in the history of dead pups upon the island this year
which does not confirm my belief that the great mortality of the season
of 18!tl was due to pelagic sealing in Bering Sea. Had it not been so,
there is no reason why the deaths in 18!»2 should not have been as
widely distributed as they were tlie previous year.

During the past summer particular care was taken to have the drives
conducted in the same manner as in previous years, in order that the
elfect of driving upon the young males might be noted.

From June 10 (the day after my arrival) to the close of the season, on
August 9, there were eleven drives made, the longest one being from
Middle Hill, about 2 miles from the village killing ground. Witlx two
excej)tions, no drives were made from the same hauling grounds except
at inter\als of two weeks. As the killing this year was limited to
7,oOO, there could be but few seals taken each week, and this necessita-
ted turning ba(;k to the water, about 200 yards distant from the killing

118

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

■&„

ground, from 75 to 86 per cent of those driven up, and gave an excellent
o])portunity to observe the effect of driving ui)oii large bands of seals.
In driving it is true that if the weather is unfavorable a lev may die
en route, or in anticipation of their death are clubbed, skinned, and
Uieir pelts added to the quota. It is also true that sometimes there are
HJanifestations of weariness and exhaustion among the driven seals;
that driving causes some excitement; that occasionally smothering
occurs, and that there are other episodes hapi)ening on and about the
killing field which are necessarily incident to and must always form
part of the killing of seals on land, and which are likely to obscure the
judgment of the observer or bo allowed to assume undue prominence in
his mind. But the chief question is the potency of these episodes as
destructive agents. To what extent do they occur and to what extent
do they effect the herd at large are the i)oints to be fairly considered;
and their consideration must not be influenced by an exaggeration due
to the sensibilities of the observer. Care should be and is at all times
exercised to avoid needless waste; but after giving the greatest promi-
nence possible to the injurious methods which are alleged to have been
employed at different times since the American occupancy of the islands,
my observations lead me to believe tliat the loss of life from the causes
indicated above would be but a fraction of 1 per cent of the seals driven ;
and I also believe that it can not, with any show of justice, be made to
account for or phiy other than a very insignificant part in the diminution
of seal life. After my observations of two seasons I can not believe
that creatures which in their maturity possess sufficient vitality to live
for eighty or ninety days witliout food or water, and in which their fetal
life can be cut from the motiier and still live for days, are as bachelor
seals injured in their virility or to any extent disabled physically by the
driving to which they are subjected on the Pribilof Islands.

Joseph STANLEY-liKOWN.

■fc:<-

'^

DEAD PUPS.

Deposition of J. C. S. AJcrrJi/. surficon rniled States Revenue Marine, and
renidettt sii)tjc<>n on St, Paul Island.

State of California,

City and County of San Francisco, ,ss:
J. C. S. Akerly, Ph. B., M. 1)., having been duly sworn, deposes and
says: I am a graduate of the University of California, 18<S;i, and a
graduate of the Cooper Medical College, 1885. From June to August
18, 1891 "^ was surgeon on the revenue-marine steamer Corwin. From
Augu' > to November 21, 1891, I was resident physician on St. Paul
Islanc' 16 of the Pribilof or seal islands. I am at present a practicing
physici; ' vt Oakland, Cal. During my stay on the islands I made fre-
quent visits to the different seal rookeries. One thing which attracted
my attention was the immense number of dead young seals; another
was the presence of quite a number of young seals on all the rookeries
in an emaciated and apparently very weak condition. I was re(juested
by tiie Government agent to examine some of the carcasses for the pur-
l»ose of determining tlie cause or causes of their death. I visited and
walked over all the rookeries. On all, dead seals were to be found in
immense numbei"s. Their number was more a [yparen ton those rookeries
such as Tolstoi and Halfway Point, the water sides of which were ou

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

119

an excellent

mds of seals,

lev may die

skinned, and

nes there are

[Iriven seals;

smothering

nd about the

always form

) obscure the

irominencein

ie episodes as

wliat extent

considered;

rgeration due

s at all times

eatest i)romi-

to have been

)f the islands,

»m the causes

steals driven ;

B, be made to

le diminution

n not believe

itality to live

ch their fetal

e as bachelor

sically by the

d.s.

ey-Brown.

e Marine, and

. deposes and
1882, and a
ne to August
ricin. Frcm
1 on St. Paul
a practicing
s 1 made fre-
ich attracted
sals; another
the rookeries
as re(i nested
3 for the pur-
I visited and
I be found in
ose rookeries
hich were on

smooth ground, and the eye could glide over patches of ground hun-
dreds of I'eet in extent which were thickly strewn with ciir<;asses.

Where the water side of the rookeries, as at Northeast Point and the
Keef (south of the village), was on rocky ground, tlie immense num-
ber of dead was not so ap])arent, but a closer examination showed that
the dead were there in e<iuaily great number scattered among the rocks.
In some localities the ground was so thickly strewn with the dead that
one had to pick his way carefully in order to avoid stc])ping on the car-
casses. Tiie great mass of dead in all cases was within a short dis-
tance of the water's edge. Tiie patches of dead would commence at
the water's edge and stretch in a wide swatli uj) into the rookery.
Amongst the immense masses of dead were seldom to be found the car-
casses of full-grown seals, but the caicasses were those of pups or
young seals born that year, I can give no idea of tlie exact number of
dead, but I believe that they could only be numbered by the thousands
on each rookery. Along the water's edge, and scattered amongst the
dead, v,'cre quite a number of live pups, which were in an emaciated
condition. Many had hardly the strength to drag themselves out of
one's way, thus contrasting strongly, both in appearance and actions,
with the jdump condition and active, aggressive conduct of the healthy
appearing pups.

T" ., majority of the i)ups, like all healthy nursing animals, were plump
auc fairly rolling in fat, I have watdied the female seals draw up out of
the water, each pick out its pup from the hundreds of young seals sport-
ing near the water's edge, and with them scramble to a clear spot on the
rookery, and lying down give them su(;k, /Vlthough I saw pups nurs-
ing in a great many cases, yet I never saw one of the sickly looking
pups receiving attention from the female. They seemed to be deserted.

The cause of the great mortality among the seal pui)s seemed to me to
have ceased to act in great part before my first visits to the rookeries,
for subsecjuent visits did not show as great an increase in the masses
of dead as I would have expected had the causes still been in active
o])eration. It seemed to me that there were fewer sickly looking pups
at each subsequent visit. Tliis grew to be more and more the case as
the season advanced. When I visited tlie rookeries for the purpose of
examining the dead bodies it was with extremeditHiculty that carcasses
could be found fresh enougii to i)erMiit of a satisfactory examination.
I examined a large number of carcasses. All showed an absence of
fatty tissue between the skin and nmscular tissue. The omentum in
all cases was destitute of fat. These are the positions wliere fat is
usually present in all animals, Well-nourisluMl yonng aninnUs always
have a large amount of fat in these localities. The few carcasses which
were found in a fair state of preservation were examined more thor-
oughly. The stomachs were found empty and contracted, but pre-
sented no evidence of disease. The intestines were empty, save in a
few cases, where small amounts of fecal matter were found in the large
intestines. A careful exami ation of the intestines i'ailed to discover
any evidence of disease. The heart, lungs, liver, and kidneys were in
a healthy condition.

Such is the evidence on which I have founded my opinion that the
cause of the great mortality during i8'Ji among the young seals on
St. Paul Island, P.ering Sea, was caused by the deprivaticm of mothers'
milk. The result of my investigation is that there was great mortality
exclusively among nursing seals. Second, the cause of this mortality
seemed to have been abated pari passu with the abatement of sea seal-
ing. Third, the presence of emaciated, sickly looking i)up8 which

120

Ar,ASKA IXnrSTKIKS.

were apparently deserted by their motliors. Fourth, the phiinp,
hPiilthy appeiUiiucc of all the i)up8 1 saw mirsin<;'. i''it'tli, tlic einiKuatt'cl
condition of tlie dead. Sixth, the absence of food in the stoniadis
and tlit'ir contracted condition. Seventh, the absence of dip'stcd I'ood
in tlic intestines, Ei{>lith, tlie ixbsonce of even fecal matter, save in
small amounts in a few cases. Ninth, the absence! of strnctiiral
changes iu the viscera or other parts of the bodies lo account for the
death

.J. C. S. Akeijlv, I'h. B., M. D.

Dcposiiioii of lliunj W. IHIiolt.

OlTV OF WASniNGTON,

District of Coliniihia, ss:

Henry W. Elliott, beinj? dnly sworn, deposes and says: T nni a resi-
dent of ClevelaTwl, Ohio, wIick^ I was Itorn; am 4(i years of age, and
am a citizen of the United States.

1 first visited the I'ribilof Islands in April, 1872, under the joint
api)ointnieiit of the United States TreaMus l)('i)ai tmcnt and of the
Smithsonian Institution, and resided tlieri'on until August, ISTJi. In
1874 I made another prolonged visit under the authority of a s|)ecial
act of Congress. I visited the islands again brietiy in 1870, and during
May, June, .Fuly, and August, under authority of a special act of Con-
gress, in 18JK). During each visit 1 carefully studied the seal life on
these islands, and investigated the habits ol' tlie i'ur seals. In these
years 1 also visited the vaiious islaiuls in and around Bering Hea, the
leading ports and inhabited places on the mainland and islands of
Alaska in the Bacilic Ocean, as also the ports of Britisli Coiumbiii and
the United States; witnessed the methods of jx'lagic sealing, con-
versed with many pelagic seal hunters, shipmasters, and fur traders,
and sought iu all possible ways to acquaint myself fully with seal life
ami the taking of seals.

CMMATIC v.:ONI)rriON'S OK PRIIULOK ISLANDS.

The Pribilof Islands possess a peculiar climate. There are but two
seasons, winter and summer; the former begins with November and
ends with April, the mean temperature being l-'O^ to 2VP F. above zero;
sununer brings only a slight elevation in the tem])orature, between 15°
or 1M)3, so that the mean temi)erature of that season is 40"-' to UP.
With the ojiening of the sumnu^r, about the 1st of May, a cold, moist
fog settles down upon these islands, and is ever jjresent until the latter
part of October. It is doubtless to this remarkably damj) and suidess
atmosphere, together with the isolation of these islands, and the fact
that from their Ibrnnition they are rai)idly drained, that the seals seek
these islands to breed; in fact, it is necessary tlmt such a sunless and
moist climate with a low temi)eraturc should exist for this species of
fur seal wheti on land, and it becomes highly imimrtant that they should
be so protected as to nmke their chosen home as free from unne(;essary
molestation as ])ossible. It is (piite certain that the seal herd which
perennially frecpients the Fribilof Islands has no other terrestrial haunt,
and i\ow never lands, even temporarily, on any other terra firnia in or
bounding the I'acilic Ocean or Bering Sea.

When all the clinnitic, topographical, and other facts are considered,
which are so remarkably favorable to seal life on tlie i'ribilof Islands,

ALASKA INDUSTRIKS.

121

\).

rosi-
, iiiid

and \vlii(!li, witli tlio cxci'iitioii of tlic Oninniaiidcr Islands of Russia,
ran not bo Connd aMywlicrc else in tiio Nortlicrii i'iicilic or JU'iinj,' Sea,
tiu! rciison.'^are pliiin why tlicso islands iiave bc.'n selected by flie far
seals I'or tlicir bivt'dinji resorts, since reproduction of their kind can
jio( be eU'ected in the sea.

My personal observation and study of seal liTo during the ]»ast
twenty years have led me to the certain (Muielnsion that all the 'lerd of
fur seals {(Jitllorliiniis ursiiiii.s) whicii now make their annual nii}-vation
from and back to the I'ribilof Islands (described hereafter) were all
born in June and .Inly (aniinally) upon the l*rii)il()f Islands, jiaas the
first four months of their existence on these islaiuls, nursing at irregu-
lar intervals, learning to swim, and in shedding their fetal coats of
lilack hair for their seagoing jackets of hair and I'ur, leave in Novem-
ber, and annually retain there to spend from four to six months of each
year. In my publislied observations of 1612 anu IHT'l I thought it
])ossible there might be some commingling of the Pribilof seals with
the seal herd of tlie llussian Islands, but from my siibse(|uent study of
their migrations and of the varietal dilT'erences in the lairds in the two
localities, it is now very clear to me that they never mnigle on the
islands, each herd keeping to its own side of the ocean and annually
resorting to its own tixed breeding grounds.

AUUIVAX OF TUK nUI.I.S.

Hetween the 1st and nth of May a few of the adult males (bulls) may
be found ui)on the breeding grounds on the Pril)ilof Islands, but many
(•f tiiein may be seen swimming a short distance from the shore for sev-
(Mal days belnre landing. The nu'thod of landing is to come collectively
lo these rookeiies whicli they occupied the former season, but whether
a bull always takes u|) the same position or strives to do so I was unable
to gather sul1i(;ient data to determine, my oi>inion iieing to the contrary.
Attor landing, the bulls tight furiously for i>ositions upon the rookeries,
the i)lace of advantage being nearest the sea.

VASTING or THK UOOKKRIE8.

All the bulls, from the time they have established themselves apon
the breeding grounds, do not leave them for a single instant, night or
day. nor do they until the end of the breeding season, which closes
some time between the 1st and 10th of August as a rule. The bulls
therefore for the si)acc of three or four months abstain entirely from
food of any kind oi' water. When they do return to the water they are
greatly emaciated and lack life and activity. But the females, directly
to the contrary, feed at fre(|uent intervals during the suckling period,
and at the end of the season are as sleek and fat as when they first
hauled out.

AUItlVAI, OF TIIK COWri.

The cows, or females, begin to come up from the sea during the fore
l>art of dune, and after continual battles between the rival bulls are
linally settle<l upon the rookeries. All the females of L' years of age or
older "haul uj)" on the breeding rookeries, whether they are pregnant
or not, and during tiie period from June until the uuddle of August
they may be found coming and going almost continuously to and i'rom
the rookeries, except a few barren cows, which I will mention here-
after. The ])regnant cows land upon the islands from instinctive knowl-
edge that their period of gestation, which is about twelve mouths,

122

ALASKA INDITSTRlEa.

lacking only a few days, has count to an end. Ah the pups (tlio younfj
.Mt'iils; ran not be Ixnn in the water, tlie t'eiinile'a instinct causes lier to
seek the hmd, upon which lier yonnjf is Itrouj^ht forth, sometimes in a
lew hours, but usually in a day or two, alter landing.

A(iK OK HKAI.H.

The bulls on the rookeries are at least (» years of ape, that being about
tiie time when they attain their growth, tiie age of puberty being
j)robabiy about 5 years. The remainder of the male seals, being those
younger and less j»owerful, called "bachelors," i will refer to later. The
cows probal)ly reacli their growth between 4 and a years, but give birth
to their lirst pup wlien 3, so that cows 2 years old are found upon the
breeding grounds; they are the nubiles.

ORGANIZATION OF THE ROOKERIR8.

As tlie COWS haul up on the sliores they are met by the bulls, who
coax and urge them toward their own position on the rookeries. Dur-
ing this i)roeess the most bitter tights occurred between the bulls for
possession of the cows in 1S72-1874; those nearest the water being the
most advantageously located, obtained the greatest number for their
harems, sometimes having as many as 40 or 50 cows in their possession,
while tiiose farther inland could obtiiin sometimes only 2 or 3; it was
veryditticnlt to fix the average number of cows to a harem in 1872-
1874, but I esti united it at about 15 or 20.

PELAGIC COITION IMroSSIBLK.

In the act of coition on the breeding rookeries I have noticed the fact
thsit no effective coition took place until the <'ow was brought up to or
laid against an inequality of the rookery or fragment of tlie rock; that,
in spite oi the bulk of the male being so great and resting upon tho
female as she lies upon her belly, the orgasms are so rapid and violent
that she is shoved forward unless some obstruction holds her in plactt
This fact is, 1 believe, suflieient to satisfy anyone who carefnlly consid-
ers the matter that it is a physical impossibility for these seals to copu-
late in the water. In my o])inion there is no conceivable iiosition in
which eflectual coition can take place in the water. 1 also observed
that the period of connection in tlie early part of the season lasted froip
eight to fourteen minutes, and in the latter part, when the bull was not
as vigorous, from four to six minutes.

THE PUPS.

Immediately after birth tlie seal i)up begins to move about and to
nurse, which it often does to gorging itself. It weighs but 'A or 4 pounds
when born and is only about 12 inches long. The female after bringing
forth her young goes frequently to and from the water, to feed and
bathe. On returning from the sea she will recognize the cry of her
young though ten tlnmsand pups are bleating at once, and will imme-
diately go to it. The pups themselves do not recognize tiieir own
mothers — a fact I ascertained by careful observation. The mother,
however, w ill not ])ermit any pup but her own to suckle, and will figlit
oil" any which attempt it.

YOITNG SEALS LEARNING TO SWIM.

The pup when born ( au not swim. If he is thrown a rod or two into
the water, his head, which is heavy, will immediately sink, and his pos-
t^'rior parts rise to the surface. Suftbcation is only a matter of a few

'

ALASKA INDUSTRIKS.

123

iTiinntes. TTntil he is iilniost six weeks old ii ]>up can not live in the
water. He tiien bef^iiis to try tlie wiiter, never f,'oiri{>' intentionally
beyond liis depth : soon lie hecornes holder and strikes ont, nsin;^' at llrst
only his tlippers; tiien lie j;i()\vs more and more expert, until tinally the
sea aionKshoro is his tVefpient iibidinjj jdaie. Tin', yoiinfx seal, there-
fore, up to the time it learns to swim, is a laini animal — in no way a
fuU-liedfjed amphibian; and it requires lour inontiis of sueklin^ by itii
mother on the land before it becomes able to shift for itself and io
abandoned by its parents.

BARIIKN HOIALES.

Whenever a female ceases to breed or is barren she hauls up with
the bachelors, and no long(^r }(oes on the breedinjj t;ronnds; she, how-
ever, can be easily distinjiiiislied, and wlieiiever one became nn'xed iu
a drive the natives pointed her out to me in 1H7U-1S74. The whole
number of barren cows was then very inconsiderable.

UNATTAtHKD MALES.

Behind the harems there were always a number of idle and viRorons
bulls in 1872-1.S74, who were unable to obtain any consorts, but they had
to do severe battle to nniintain their position at all.

DISORGANIZATION OF THK ROOKKUIK8.

Between the 20th of .July, when the ruttiiift- season closes, and the .'ith
or 8th of August, the iniiema have chan{>:e(l from their methodicnl com-
l)act disposition ou the rookeries. The old bulls be;;in to leave; the
pui)s are {leathered into pods or fjroups. The cows, pups, and idle bulls
before mentioned now take possession of the rookeries in a disordered
manner, together with a large contingent of the bachelor seals, who have
not thus far been permitted to land ou the breeding grounds by the other
males. By the middle of August three-fourths of the cows spend the
greater part of their time in the water, only coming on shore at irregular
intervals to nnrse their young. The food of the fur seals is mainly tish,
squids and crustaceans, and mothers, while nursing their young, 1 am
satistied, go great distances in Hering Sea for this food — aO, 100,andeven
200 miles away from the Pribilof Islaiuls for that subsistence.

SWIMMING OF SEALS.

I am unable to state positiv(!ly how ray)idly a seal can swim, but I
have seen sipnids of young baciielors follow the revenue cutter, lieli-
(tnce, upon which I was, swimming alongside and around the vessel for
hours, when she was moving at the rate of 14 knots an hour. My ojiinion
is that the bachelors and those cows which are not heavy with pups can
travel through the water from 18 to 20 miles an hour for many consecu-
tive hours without pausing to rest.

UOLLUSCHICKIK, OK BACHKLOU SEALS.

The male fur seals under the age of C years are not allowed to land
upon the breeding grounds by the older and stronger males, and so are
compelled to herd by themselves. These sesils are (tailed hoUuscliickie
or bachelors, and the places which they occupy on land are called iiaul-
ing gnmnds, in contradistinction to the breeding rookeries. It is from
this class of seals that the killable seals are selected.

1'?4

Af-ASKA TNDITSTRIRS.

rOCATINO THK IIAUMNO OKOIINPS.

Tli(! luuiliiitj jiKMiiids uni lociitcd on thc^ Idw, lion IxmksIioh not occii-
ii«'(l l»y tlic l)n'(«liii;; jiioinids, or oIsp inland beliind the liurcniH. In
,]h' liittcr ciisi', lanes an* Iclt between tlie, harems hy the old bulls lor
;he bachelors to pass to and from the sea. In IS72 I noticed one of
'.hese lanes on the I'olavina rookery and tlie one at Tolstoi and tlio
;wo at the b'eel' rookery, but when I returned in 1H74 the lanes had
oeen entirely elosed up. lUit the other lot^ations on iimxicupied boaeliert
ire the most favored haulinn grounds. The bachelors when on land
tan be readily separated into tlieir several classes as to age by the
color of their coats and sizes.

Din VINO TUB SEALS TO THE KILI.INQ OUOUND8.

Only the bachelor seals of from I' to ."i years of age have been killed
by the lessees of the islands. No female has l)een or is allowed to be
taken; a few have been killed by accident. A nund)er of seals are
driven from the hauling grounds to the killing grcninds after being
«ei)arated from the rest by the natives. They can i)e driven safely at
the speed of half a mile an hour, providing the weather is reasonably
wet and cold. On arriving at the killing grouinla they are killed with
clubs and their skins removed. During my visit to the islands, in 1H!H),
1 was led to the conclusion that some niiiu^cessary loss of life had been
occasioned by excessive driving, and that the inethods of (adling the
herd nuist be abolislied; but tliis loss, which is bad enough, bears no
comparison in its injurious elVect upon tlie herd to that loss by reasou
of indiscriminate slaughter wliicli is intlicted upon the fur-seal herd
uuchectkcd by pclagi(; hunting Of this 1 will speak later. Beside.s,
the injurious ellecl of excsessive driving can '"•) easily corre(;ted. It
was stopped in 18!)0, and has been still further restricted since on the
islands.

WKIOIIT AND 81ZH OK SEALS.

A bull when full grown weighs between lOO and /lOO ponnds, some-
times even (JOO, and nieasui(!s from (j to 7 feet in length. The female
weighs from 7(1 to \20 pounds, and measures 4 to i^ feet in ie;igth.
The bachelors, over 1 year and up to 5 years old, weigh from 50 to 200
pounds, and are from 4 to 5i or (> feet in length.

DKI'Al'.Tt'UE OF TTIE SEALS,

About the 1st of November the great mass of the cows and bachelors
begin to dejiart, and the ]mps following from the islands, going south-
ward, the old bulls having nearly all preceded them in iSeptember and
October. Some, however, remain as long as the ice and snow will per-
mit, and when the winters are mild and little ice is about the islands,
which occasionally occurs, fur seals are seen there until late in January
ill small numbers, a few hundreds at the most.

THE MIGRATION OK TllK PRIIULOF SEAL HERD.

To this, my aflidavit, f apjiend a track chart' of the path traveled by
the Pribilof fur-seal herd in the North Pacitic Ocean from the time it
leaves the seal islands and Bering Sea in the late autumn until it
reenters Bering Sea in June or -ith to lOlh of July following. From
records kept at Unalaska and TJmnak for the last eighty years, and
from other information, 1 believe it to be a fact, well settled, that the

•"Not furnished."

200

1

ALASKA INIillSTIMKa.

125

fur sealH ropuliirly pasH (tut frttiii tlH> wiilcrs nf I'xMiii^ Sen into tliM
Nortli l\uri(i»! by tli« iiii(l«il<M)r I'lid ol' Novciii ci iis ii Ixidy; llisit (1i('H«
iiiiiiiials do not turn to tlio eastwiini ,iiid U|) l)y tlio itcninsiihir and
Kadiak coast, but U(m',|) diioclly sontli till lost to view.

Kroiii ship <!aptains who liavu sailt'd during' tiu; lust twoiity years
bBtwt'on Han I'miiciHc^o and Piigot Hoiiiid, I have Icaniccl tlnit wliile
iiiaiviiif^ out IVoiii Hail l''riiii('isco IVoiii the Hound, a Ion;;' westeily reai h,
they have seen larf,'o niiiiibers of fur seals SOO or nion; miles at sea in
.lanuary or late December inoviiij; toward the (Jiililbrnia (Joust. I'.arly
in .January the first stra},'f(lerH be^;in to ajiiiear oil" the ('alitbrnia Coast
and by the niiddlo of Felniiary the iimiii body of I he herd arrives
siimiltiineously off between Haiita Harbura and Caiie Mendocino. From
tliis point the ]»ro},'ress of the herd northward is indiciitcd on the chart
hereto attached.' The fact of this annual niitjration of t he I'ribiiof far-
seal herd and the route thereof is stated from Unowledyc derived from
my own study in the field, and from the testimony of those liMilers and
mariners who responded to niy in(piiries at lliiiilaslia. I'lniiU, Haiinuk,
Helcovakie, Kadiak, Nuciiek, Vakutat, Sitka, I t>ft Himiison, Victoria,
Port Townsend, and Astoria.

THK HBni) VISIT ONLY THE PI.ACK OF TIIEIIl BIHTH.

From all the facts that have eoiiie to my knowled<(eiii relation to the
annual mij;rati(in of the fur seal herd, and also from inforniiitioii care-
fully (gathered, 1 am convinced and believe that the i'ribiiof herd of fur
seals now never land ujion any other coast or islands save the I'ribi-
iof {;roup, the land of their birth. At no time aloiifj die coast does th(
herd ajiproach nearer than gunshot of the shore, and is oftcu 1.00 to liOt)
miles (listaut therefrom.

OHOWTII or rEI.AOIC HEAUNO.

When I first visited Alaskan waters in 1S()5-G(), and again in 1H72,
pelagic sealing was almost unknown, except by Indiiiiis in canoes along
the North Pacitic Coast and the catch wiis small, from a.UdO to lO.OOO
annually. In 1885 it began to assume larger proportions, tor white men
then embarked, and in IHiiii the number of vessels engaged with white
crews in pelagic scaling was 17; tlie number in 1S!)I) was V2, and in l.Sid,
8() known craft; and probably 10 or IL' more clearing tor " whalingand
trading," where, in fact, they intended to seal.

The distinctive effects of ojien-water killing on the seal herd may be
better anderstood by exainiiiing the manner in which pelagic sealing is
now carried on.

MANNKK OV l-ELAGIC SEALING.

A sealing schooner is seldom over 80 or under 40 tons measurement,
employing 15 or L'O men. The vessel sails well into the track of the
migrating herd of fur seals. Kmh boat, to the number of 7 or 8, is
manned with two men, one of whom rows; the other sits in tlie bow
with his shotgun or rifle ami gafV-i)ole. The boat also contains a small
keg of water, some provisions, ammunition locker, skinning knives, and
an extra i)airof oars and sail. These boats are let down over the side
of the vessel, and row out one after the other to the windward, taking
up positions just so far from each other as to be in hail of the one next
to them toward the schooner; in this way they can cover 0, 7, or 8
miles, and the furthermost may be out of sight of the schooner.

'"Not furuisLea."

i2n

ALASKA INDUSTKIE8.

Wlieii the boats liave taken their position thcoarsinau just keeps the
boat's nose to the wind, and the hunter keeps a lookout for seals.

A fur 8 al, when discovered by the hunter in the o]>en ocean, is either
sleej)ing or feeding, and so the only cliissilication by these hunters is
"feeders" or " sleepers." It is an absolute iinjjossibility for the hunter
to determine the sex or the age of any fur seal when in the water, until
it is dragged into the boat.

In swinuning the seal is always submerged several feet below the sur-
face. The seal also devours its food beneath the water. It is, however,
compelled to come up every three, live, or fifteen minutes to br«'athe,
rising head and shoulders above the water for a second or two. If the
seal rises very near the hunter's boat it will dive again too quickly to
be shot at, but if it raises 30, 50 or 100 yards from the boat, it will pause
a nu)nu>nt — long enough for the hunter to shoot at it.

If the seal is not hit or is wouiuled it at once dives and can never be
secured ; if it is killed by the shot it sinks, and unless the boat is moved
up in a minute or two to the spot where the animal sank the carcass will
bt invisible from the surface. If, iiowever, the seal hapjjeus to be
wcmnded so as to be stunned or dazed, it will Uounder on the surface
of the water until secured. Ex(;ept, therefore, in the last peculiar man-
ner of wounding, the seal hunter never knows whether he has missed,
wounded, or killed the seal. Trovided, I' .vever, the boat can be rowed
immediately to tlu; spot wheie the seal was, which depends on the accu-
racy of fixing the sj^jt — necessarily a most diflicult matter — the hunter
may perceive the sinking body, if the seal was killed, some 1, (>, or 8
feet below the surface. In that case he reaches down Avith his gaH' and
fastens on to the carcass and drags it ap to the boat. Seals wounded
either fatally or slightly are never found. They instantly dive md
swim away, to i)erish sooner or later.

TUK WAKTE OK

IKK.

A hunter takes, say, 200 cartridges wheu he leaves the schooner in
the morning, and after perhaps sixteen hours' work returns to the ves-
sel with all these expended. If for these he can show 10 or 12 skins it
is considered a good day's work. The pelagic hunter certainly kills aiul
fatally wounds a very large number of animals which he never secures
the bodies of, the number hit and secured depending very largely upon
the retrieving skill of the hunter. From conversations I have !iad with
pelagic hunters, I am of tlie opinion that a large majority of them do
iiot get one out of every five that they shoot at within and beyoml a
range of 50 yards. At 30 to 50 yards' distance they are almost sure to
hit them if they use bucksliot. No hunter who uses a gun (!an tell the
exact number he secures, as compiued with the number lie kills or
fatally wounds. He can not possibly tell vhc triuh, even if he wants
to do so. He usually blazes away at every seal tl'at rises within range
to a hundred yards or even farther.

The Indian hunters accomi)aiiyiiig a tealing schooner generally use a
toggle-headed spear, fastened to tlie c moe by a line which the.v use.
After a storm the seals sleep nnue than at any other time, and it is
then the Indian hunters are let down in their canoes nnd jiaddle
oil' to the windward, the hunter standing or squatting in the bow,
spear in hand, looking for the protruding nose of a sleeping seal.
When a "sleeper" is seen, the canoe is silently iiaddled as near the
animal as possible, the spear is thrown, and if the seal is struck she
is dragged into the canoe by the line. An Indian luinter r.ccures
nearly every seal he strikes; but it is also iiidiscriminate slaughter, as
he car ■ )t distinguish the age or sex of the "sleeper" before striking it.

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

127

PROHIBITION IN BEUING SEA AND NOKTII I'ACIKIC NECE83ART.

After carefully examiniiij' the sidiatioTi, actnal re«;()nls, and trusc-
worthy testimony of men engasod in scaliii!;, with wiioin I have con-
versed, and also from knowledge of the migratory lial)it and peculiar
circumstances of i^eal life, I am of tlie opinion tliat unchecked pelagic
sealing is sure, speedy destruction of the Pribilof herd of fur seals;
that if allowed to continue, and the fleet increases in number of vessels
i'nd increased skill of hunters, even tliough the ])resent modus vivendi
should remain in force, it would result in the utter coinniercial ruin of
the herd; that in order to preserve the seals from complete destruction,
as a conunercial factor, it is necessary that pelagic sealing should not
only be prohibited in Bering Sea, but also in the North I'acific, from
the 1st of May until the end of October, annually. The pelagic hunters
today kill at least 00 per cent cows, ihe great majority being with
young, nearly ready for delivery, in the Pacific Ocean.

As the ])liysical conditions are such that it is utterly imjiossible to
discriminate in matters of sex or age when shooting or si)earing in
the water, it is evident that pelagic sealing can not be regulated in the
slightest degree beyond its complete prohibition within certain limits.
A zone or belt of 30 or even more miles about tlie Pribilof Islands will
be entirely inettective. No pelagic sealing can be permitted in B'^ring
Sea with safety to the preservation of the herd, and the prohibition
should extend into the North Pacific to a period siilliciently early (at
least by the 1st of May) in the season to protect in great measure the
pregnant female seals as they pass along up the coast.

The visit which I inwde to the Piibii(;f Islands in 1800 satisfied me
that a very groat decrease Inid taken ])lace in the seal herd which
annually resorts to those islands. My observations in 18Vi-, 1874, and
1876 led me to the conclusion iliat, provided matters were condiictcd
in the seal islands an they were then, 100,000 male seals under 5 years
of age might be safe^' taken each year without injury to tiie regular
birth rates or natural n'^rease of tlie herd, inovided no nbiiormal cause
of destruction 0(!curre I. But in ISi'O 1 found .i entirely diiVt rent condi-
tion of affairs existing. Thisdetnease I attril)nte in the greatest meas-
ure to the i)elagic sealing above meiitu)ned. its clV it has been so great,
that there is demanded, in my opinion, a cessation of all killing on tlie
islands, except for the necessitu^sof the natives tor a few years, as well
as the permanent prohibition of pelagii; sealing, as already indicated,
thus giving an opportunitv for the herd to rccstablisji itself apjiroxi-
mately to its normal conditions. When tiie killing is again permitted
on the isli'.nds for commercial piirpos(>s the regulations of the Treasury
Department can be rigidly enforced, overdriving can easily be prevented,
and the present killing of pups by the natives for food should be pro-
L'bited, at least until Ihe herd shall have reached the form and condi-
tion which I found during 1 872-1870.

With such regulations in fcn-ce, and with jielagic sealing discioniinued,
it may be confidently anticipated that within a few years Hiis species,
BO vain able to the human race, will be restored to acomlition Avhich
will render it valuable once again to the commerce of the civilized
world; and this restoration will prove enduring.

Henry W. Elliott.

Subscribed an;' sworn to before me, a notary iinblic in and for tlie
District of Columbia, this liJth day of Ai)ril, 180:;.
[l. s.J Sevellon a. Buown.

128

ALASKA INDUSTHIE8.

Fnitkd States Coast and (Ieodktic SruvEY,

Steamer Mv Arthur, December ,9, 1893.
Hon. John W. Fostku,

Secretary of Stale, Washington, D. C.

Sir : I liave tlie honor to forward the aflklavit desired, aud will forwa rd
the duplicate to-morrow.

We anchored ort' Sechat villa{;e at ;5..'5(> p. in. April 20. Our native
chief came alongside and was reiiucsted to come on board in the uiyrn-
ing and bring with him some of the chief men of the village. He had
planned to go hunting wild geese, wliich were Hying at the time; so I
promised him $3 or $5 for his loss of time and to accompany us to other
villages. We took their testimony in the morning of the L'lst, and ran
to another village, anchoring at 10.45 a. m., took testimony and left at
1.20. Anchored olf Uchielet at 2.40 and left at 4.25. Anchoied olf
Taylor Island at 7,20 p. m. aud left for Port Townscnd at 10 vt. n\

Two to three dollars were given to each head chief and one dollar
each to the others for their loss of time and witness fee after testimony
was given. All that was requested of them was to answer the (juestions
truthfully. The white storekeeper was on board but a few Tjiiuutes, and
was invited to take a glass of beer or liquor. Tlie ])riest dined on b' ird,
and, I believe, took a drink and some claret wine. We were not long
enough in anyone place to intoxicate anyone if we had been foolisli
enough to do so. I sincerely believe they would give the same
testimony to an English party at any time.

There were four commissioned otllicers of the ?favy ])rosent during the
testimony, and a'3 many of the witnesses could speak and understand
EuglJsli, all were satisfied of thciv tiuthfnlness.
Very respectfully,

W. P. Ray,
Lieutenant, United Statca A'avii, Commanding,

Deposition of W. F. Ray,

STATr. <jf California:

W. P. Ray, being duly sworn, deposes and says: 1 am an oilicer in
the United States Navy, holdijig the grade of lieutenant. I'nder
instructions from Wasiiington 1 went from Port Towiiiiend to i>arclay
Sound, on the west coast of Vancouver Island, April 10, 1802, in tlie
steamer AfcArthur, of the United States Coast Survey. 1 returned to
Port Townsend three days later. The object of my \ isit to Barclay
Sound was to procure in Ibrmat.'on in the i'orm of allidavits as to the
habits of the fur seals, to be used in the pending arbiUi'tion with (heat
Britain. I visited the various points in tliat vicinity inhabited by the
Indians, and took the testinumy of a nund)ei' of these people and ot
the priest of the village. For greater convenience 1 took tlie testimony
aboard the steamer, and I agreed to pay, and ilid jiay, each witness a
reasonable sum for attendance, which sum did not exceed tlie usual fee
allowed a witness in a court of, justice. The total amount disl)iirs<'d
by me in obtaining the lestimony of these witnesses was ^l'>'>, which
amount was distributed among l."> men. It was made uj) i):irlly of the
amount paid to each individual witness oii account of his attendance
on board my vessel, i)artly of sums paid out to men who und« rtook to
ascertain the whereabouts of certain of the witnesses and s; ( ure their
attendance as above. E;- h witness received a plug of tobacco. No
other gratuity of any sort was dispensed.

I

ALASKA IXDUSTRIES.

129

At no time during my stay at Barclay Sound was any intoxic;iting
li(|U()r disiicnsed to any native witness, nor was any witness under tlie
intiuence of liipior at tlie time when 1 took bis testimony. We were
not more tlian two and a lialf lu iirs at any one village.

The testimony which I obtained was given in every instance willingly
and cheerlully. Neither tlie witness fees nor the gratuities above men-
tioned formed any ])art of the consideration for tlie giving of this testi-
mony, and I firmly believe the same statennnits will be made to anyone
visiting the place for information at any time.

iJust before leaving, Chief Charlie, chief of ])olice, stated that he and
his peoi»Ie had given food, clothing, shelter, and protection to many ship-
wrecked Americans, and he requested blue cloth enougii to make a uni-
form suit, as lie (M)uld not procure any there. It was given t.- him as a
Kliglit acknoM'lfM';>uu'ut of his kindness to our people in distress.
Value, 1)1 !,.

W. P. Eay,
Lieutenant, United (States Navy,
Commanding (Joayt Surrey Steamer McArthur.

Sworn to before me this 9th day of December, 189i'.

[SEAL.l A. S. MACDONALD.

Notary Fublic in and for Alameda County^ State of California.

Deposition of 0. L. Hooper.

DiSTiiicT OF Columbia,

City of Washington, ss:

Personally appeared before me C. L. Tlooper, who, being duly sworn,
de])oses and says: 1 am 50 years of age; a resident of Oakland, Cal.,
and am an oflicer in the United States Hevenue-Manne Service, holding
the grade of captain, and c(rmmanding the United States revenue-
steamer Corwin.

In obedience to in'W iciiors from the Secretary of the Treasury, I
cruised in the Norii' ) ' i. '^cean trom March 9 to May IG, 189:i, for
the purjmse of inve^ i^ 'i.-y: Ue habits of the fur seal when at sea.
During these investigati »i ' hvul occasion to take the depositions of a
munber of natives and whi. iiv i famiiiiir with the subject.

During a portion of Se]>teinl,icr, all of October, and a ])ortiou of
November tl.ese investigations were continued in the vicinity of the
Aleutian Arcliij.elago, aiul a number of depositions were :akeu also
from the natives of the Aleut villages situated thereon.

No depositions were taken by me from the natives of Vauconver
Isiand, nor fron\ the natives from any other localities except as pre-
viously indicated.

In no instance was liijuor in any form given by me, or by anyone on
my V- ,. . V to any ; ' mt; no alliant was uiuler the intiuence of lifjuor
wltei ''• statem ■ '.^ ts made; no undue intiuence of any sort or
desci.piion was um: . •^'^ :r!>tiiities were given; only such witness fees
were paid as would \<: :. i.jir * jni])en8ation for loss of time when such
loss of tinu^ actually .»ccurred, and the testimony obtained was given
freely and willingly.

Two hundred and eighty depositions were taken, and the aggregate
tp. - ".lid was $G9.5(>.

C. L. HOOPEK.

Subscribed and sworn to before me this 13th day of Decemlier, 1892,
[bkal.J Sevellon A. liUOWN.

11. Doc. 92, pt. 13 9

130

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.
Deposition of Williain H. Williams,

J)I.STUK!T OF OOLUJIHIA,

Citi/ of ]Va8hi))fito7i, ss :

Personally appeared before ine William H. Williams, who being dulj*
Kworn, deposes and says: 1 reside at Wellington, Ohio; 1 am 56 years
ol' age, and am United States Treasury agent in charge of the Pribilof
Islands.

I lia\e soen several newspaper articles in which I am charged witli
having ''suborned Indian testimony," with employing "unfair means"
in obtaining evidence from Indians, fino l.at conclusive proof of this
misconduct has been procured by Majoi .• md of the Dominion

police.

The facts in connection with the procuring r.hese depositions are
as follows: During the summer of 18!)ti I had occasion, in accordance
with instructions from the Secretary of the Treasury, to take tlie depo-
sitions of certain natives concerning the subjects of seal life and sealing
at sea. The Indians from whom I took depositions were the JVIakah
Indians at the iMakah Agency, two Nitnat Indians at the same place,
and the natives on th3 Piibilof Islands. No depositions were taken by
me from any other natives, and I was never at Barclay Souiul, on the
west of VaMcou\ er Island, or on the west coast of British Columbia,
In taking depositions from the Makah Iiulians the only sum of money
paid was .iSli.OO, which was given by me to Oiiestoqua Peterson, son of
the chief, for his services as interpreter for two and one-half days. On
tlie Pribilof Islands the sum of $5 was paid to Simeon JSIelivedof, a
native and schonl Icacher on the island, for four days' services as a
copyist. TJK'se were the only sums of money paid by me to Indians or
to natives, or to anyone in Alaska.

In no instance was any liquor given to an affiant by me, nor by any
one eitlier directly or indirectly associated with me; nor was any affiant
under the intliience of liquor when his deposition was made or verified;
and no undue influence of any sort or description was employed. No
gratuities in any form were given. The testimony obtained was not
only freely and willingly given, in all instances, but often voluntarily.
This was especially true of the two Nitnat Indians.

In the case of the natives at the Makah Agency, the depositions were
taken in the of'lice of the Indian agent, Glynn, and under his personal
knowledge. He is a radical in his opposition to the giving of intoxi-
cants to natives, ami had anyone attempted to offer one of the Indians
liquor he would have been at once ejected from the agency.

W^M. n. Williams.
Sub;5cribed and sworn to before me this 20th day of December, 1892.
[SEAL.J Chas. S. Hughes, Notary Public.

Additional deposition of William H. Williams.

District of Columiua,

City of Wasliiiifiton, ss:

Personally appeared before me William H. Williams, who, ])eing duly
sworn, de])()sef, and says: I reside at Wellington, Ohio; am 50 years of
age, and am United States Treasury agent in charge of the "Pribih)f
IshiTids.

During the summer of lSi»;i I had occasion, in accordance with instruc-
ti/)np from the Secretary of the Treasury, to take the depositions of cer-

1

I

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

131

? duly

tain white men concerning the subject of sealing at sea. The depositions
were taken in Victoria from ship captains, seamen, boat pullers and
steerers, seal hunters, and others interested in sealing, among them tlie
vice-president of tiie Sealers' Association. All depositions were t.ken
and verified before the United States consul, Myers, at Victoria. Tiiis
was the only place in which I took depositions in British Columbia. In
no instance was any liquor given by ine toan alliant; nor was any alhant
nnder (lie intluenee of li(iuur when his deposition was made or verilied;
and no undue influence of any sort or descri])tioM was employed. iSo
gratuities were given. Tlie testimony obtained was, in all instances,
not only given freely and willingly, but often voluntarily. The usual
witness fees (in tiiis case ranging from $1 to $3) were paid, and only in
three instances was the latter sum given, the usual price being $2.

Wji. H. Williams.
Subscribed and sworn to before me this 2()th day of December, 1892.
[seal.]. Ohas. S. livouKS, Notary Public.

Deposition of Joseph Mtirray.

District of Columbia,

City of Washiiif/ton, ss :

Personally a])peared before me Joseph Murray, who, being duly sworn,
doi)oses and says: I reside at Fort Coliins, Colo.; 1 am no years of age,
and am the first assistant Treasury agent at tlie I'ribilof Islands.

In obedience to instructions from the Secretary of the Treasury, I
accompanied the Fish Commission stiumMiv AllidiroKs on the cruise made
by that vessel during the month of April, lS't2, and took dei)ositi()iis
from the natives of Cooks Inlet and Prince William Sound. 1 also took
depositions in Ki)diak, Victoria, Port Townsend, and Seattle from wliite
lueu. In no instance was any liquor given to an afliaiit; nor was any
affiant under the influence of liijuor wlien his statement was made or
verified ; and no undue influence of any sort or descri])tioii was em])ioyed.
Nc coiiipensation whatsoever was given by tlie Ciovernment to any
native or other person for any purpose, uud the testimony obtained wa«
in all instances given freely and willingly.

Joseph Murkay.

Subscribed aud sworu to before me this 21 st day of December, 1892.
[SKAL.J Joseph A. Kinsley, Notary Puhlic.

DESTBUOTION OF FEMALE SEALS.

Testimony of American furriers.

llelative to matt*., of depletion of seal herds of the Prihilof Is
this most deplorable fact is due in our opinion in great part,
entirely, to tlie action of sealers in the iniliscriminate killing of
animals while in transit to and from these islands for bree<liiig pur
the females being killed in much greater proportionate niiiuhers,
to their less aggressive nature and their being less able to e
While on their way to these islands tlie cow (female) seal is in a
f ion of pregnancy, the period of gestation ending slnutly aftei
landing, if iiitercei»ted and killed while in this condition the
obvious. (G. (1. Gunther's Sons.)

lands,
if not

these
[loses,
owing
scape,
coiidi-

their
loss is

132

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

At that time (1865) he made liis inirchasos Ciom the Indians on the
western coast of the Anierican continent, who t)tl'eied to him only the
skins of female seals; that the price he originally jiaid for them was as
low as 50 cents i)er skin; that he offered the Indians a much hifjfher
price for male skins, and was told by them that the nmle seals could
not be caufjht, and that many Indians whom he has personally seen
kill seals, and from whom he has bou}>ht skins, have told him that male
seals and the young cows were too active to be caiigiit, and that it was
only the female seals heavy with young whicii they could catch. The
males, for instance, as deiionent was told by the seal hunters, come up
to the surface of the water after diving often as much as a mile from
the place they went down, whereas the females can, when pregnant,
hardly dive at all.

Deponent say« that, from his own observation of live .seals during
many years, and from his personal inspection of the skins, lie knows
the difference between the skin of a female seal and a male seal to be
very marked, and th it the two are easily distinguishable. The skin of
a female shows tlip marks of the breasts, about which there is no fur.
The belly of the ^emale seal is barren of fur also, whereas on a male the
fur is thick a'.tl evenly distributed. The fenuile seal has a much nar-
rower head than the male seal, and this dilference is apparent in the
skins; also that the ditterences between the male and female seals' skins
are marked; that there is now and always has been a difference in the
price of the tw c from 300 to 500 per cent. For example, at the last sales
in liOndon, on the l.'2d day of February, 1802, there were sold .{0,000
female skins at a price of 40 shillings apiece, and 13,000 male seals at a
price of 130 shillings apiece, on an average.

Heccnid. That from the year 1804 down to the j)resent day deponent
or his lirin have been large purch.isers of seal skins on the wc^etern
co!»'"t a^ America from the Indians and residents on the British coast;
anu (i iionent believes that he has handled nearly three-fourths of the
catch from that time down to the ])resent. That during the whole of
this period he has purchased from 30,000 to 40,000 seal skins a year, and
that he has personally inspected and physically handled the most of the
skins so bought by him or his firm.

That from the year 1880 he has been in the habit of buying skins
from American and Englisli vessels, engaged in what is now known as
poaching, and that he has personally inspected every cargo bought, and
seen unloaded from the ]»oaching vessels, and subsequently seen and
superintended the unpacking of the same in his own warehouse; tiiat
the most of the skins mentioned as purchased by him have been bought
from the poaching vessels, and that of the skins so bought from tiie
vessels known as poachers deponent says that at least 90 per cent of
the total number of skins were those of female seals, and that the skins
of male seals found among those cargoes were the skins of very sunill
animals, not exceeding 2 years (jf age; and, further, that the age of the
seal may be told accurately from the size of its skin.

Thini. That the skins bouglit at Victoria from the poadiing vessels
are shii)iH'd by him largely to the firm oi'C. M. Lampson & Co., in Lon-
don, who are the largest selleis of skins in the world, and the agents
of deponent's firm; that he has been through the establishment of
C. M. Lampson tSc Co., in London, very frequently; that he has fre-
quently heard stated by the superintendent thereof that the great major-
ity of the skins received by them from what is called the "Northwest
catch" — tliat is, tlie n(irt?i\vest coast of Victoria — are the skins of seals
caught by vessels in the open I'acilic or the Being Sea, and that a

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

133

liiif-e proportion of said skins, ainoiuitiiig to at least 90 per cent, were
ill liis, the said superinteudent's,ju(lgiiient obviously the skins of i'eiiiiile
seals.

FcMirtli. That deponent has frc(iiieiitly requested the captains of the
poaching vessels sailing from Victoria and other ports to obtain the
skins of male seals, and stated that he would give twice hm much
money, or even more, for such skins than he would pay for the skins
of females. Each and all of the captains so ap])roached laughed at
the idea of catching mjile seals in th' ')pen sea, and said that it was
impossible for them to do it, and that iiiey could not catch m.alf seals
unless they could get upon the islands, which, except once in a long
Mhile,they were unable to do, in consequence of the restrictions imposed
by the United r-tates Government; because, they said, the males were
more active, and could outswim any boat which their several vessels had,
and that it was only the female seals who were lieavy with young which
could be caught. Among the cai)tains of vessels with whom deponent
has talked, and who have stated to him that they were unable to catch
anything but females, are the following: Cajjtaiii Cathcart, an AiDeri-
can, now about 7") years of age, who commanded the schooner iSan
Diego, ami who subse(iueiitly cominanded other vessels; Capt. Harry
Harmson, Capt. George W. Littlejohn, Capt. A. Carlson, Gustav Sund-
vall, and otiiers, whose names he does not now remember. (Herman
Liebes.)

I find in handling the skins taken in Bering Sea that the teats of
those from the cow seals are much larger and much more developed
than from the ones taken in the North Pacific before they have given
birth to their young; and the fur on the belly of the former is thinner
and jioorcr than on the latter, as a result, 1 suppose, of the heat and
distention of the udder consequent upon giving milk. (Isaac Liebes.)

In my examination of skins offered for sale by sealing schooners I
found that over 90 per cent were skins taken from females. The sides
of the female skins are swollen, and are wider on the belly than those
of the mah^s. The teats are very discernible on the females, and it
can be plainly seen where the young have been suckling. The head of
the females is also much narrower. (Sidney Liebes.)

I have read the alVidavit of John J. Phelan, verified the 18th day of
June, 1892. I was present at the examination of seal skins therein
referred to. While Phelan inspected all of these seal skins, I assisted
him in the inspection of about three-fourths of them. I know that of
those inspe(!te(l jointly none were improperly classed as the skins of
female animals. (Chas. E. Mc('lennen.)

1 was visiting in San Franfsisco in the winter of 1890-91, and I worked
in a fur store during several months of my stay there, and I was called
on to handle and insi)ect thousands of the skins taken by schooners in
Bering Sea, and they were nearly all cow seal skins. (Anton Melovedoif.)

In buying the catch of schooners engaged in the sealing business I
have observed that fully 50 per cent of them were females, and had
fiither given birth to their young or were heavy in pup when killed,
which 'vas easily observed by the width of the skin of the belly and the
si>iall head and development of the teat. (R. H. Sternfels.)

The first consignment was placed in cold storage at the Central Stores
in New York City. A short time since I consented, at the request of
the United States Government, that this consignment be examined, in

134

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

order to dotormine bow many fcinnlo skins it contiiined. To perform
the examination I detailed John .1. I'helan. This man has been in the
eni])loy of my father or of myself since the year lHti8. 1 regard him
as one of the most coni])etcnt, trustworthy men in our serviee. I have
read an afhdavit verified by him on the 18tli of June. I agree entirely
with wiiat he says concerning his experience in the handling and dress-
ing of skins, and from what 1 know of his character and ability I
believe that everytiiing stated by him in this aiUdavit ia correct. (Geo.
II. Tread well.)

It is true that the Northwest Coast catches have of late yeais placed
upon the market a certain number of good skins which could be pur-
chased at iH'ices far below those for which the skins of the Alaska
catch were sold. i>nt 1 realize that this can not continue to be the
case, tor it is a matter of common knowledge among furrier.s that
these Nortiiwest Coast catches are composed mainly of the skins of
female animals, and I understand that the killing of the seals is rapidly
impairing the value of the herd. (Samuel rihnann.)

I have for many years personally examined numerous shipments of
Northwest Coast skins purchased at Victoria. I have had snidi expe-
rience in handling fur-seal skins as enables me, readily in most cases,
but always upon careful examination, to distinguish a female skin from
a male skin, and I know it to be a fact that a very large proportion of
the skins in such shipments are those taken from female animals. It is
also true that a large number of skins in many of these shipTuents are
rendered almost valueless through the numerous bullet holes which they
contain. (Samuel Ullmann.)

I have observed that by far the larger portion of skins purchased by
me were taken from female seals. Not less than eight out of every ten
"were from cows with pup or in milk. (O. T. Wagner.)

During the past two years I have handled large numbers of North-
west Coast skins (i. e., skijis of animals taken in the P.icitlc Oceiin or
in Bering Sea). I have assorted all of them, and in doing so have
specially noticed the fact that a very large proportion were skins of
female animals. To determine this fact in the case of dressed skins I
see whether there are any teat boles. I never call a skin a female skin
unless I can find two such holes on either side. These holes can be
easily distinguished from bullet or buckshot holes, of which there are
generally a great number in Northwest Coast skins. In the case of a
shot hole it is always evide^ . that the surrounding fur has been abruptly
cut oft', while around the edge of a teat hole the fur gradually shortens
as it reaches the edge and naturally ceases to grow at the edge. I have
just looked over an original case of 90 dressed and dyed Northwest
Coast fnr seal skins, which have bpci< lately received from London, and
were still under seal placed on them in London. I found that of these
90 skins 9 only were those of male aniniijls. (Wm. Wiepert.)

Deponent further says that the skins of the Northwest catch are
almost entirely the skins of females; that the skins of males and the
skins of females may be as readily distinguished from each other as
tlie skins of the different sexes of any other animals when seen before
being dyed and dressed, and that the icason why the skins of this
catch are almost exclusively females is that the male seal is much more
active and much more able to escape from the boats engaged in this
manner of hunting than the female se;il, and that a large number of
the female seals included in the Northwest catch are of animals heavy

ALASKA IXDrSTUIES.

I3r.

with yoHTig. A large number of feiiuilea aro also caught on thoir way
tVoni 1111(1 tt) the I'ribilof Islands and tlieii' feeding grounds before and
after the delivery of thoir young on tliose islaiuis. (C. A. VViilianis.)

A statement is attached thereto," prei)ared by dei)onent, giving liis
estimate of the number of female seals killed by pelagic hunting in the
past twenty-one years. ((J. A. Williams.)

That for the last lifteen years he lias had consigned to him l)y fur
scalers from 8,()(»(> to 10,()0(» seal skins annnally, for tlie ])urpose of
dressing and dyeing the sanuj; that about oO per cent, of the skins so
rectuved by iiim came from London in casks marked as they are cata-
logued by (J. M. Lampson & (,'o., and are the skins belonging to wliat
is known as the Northwest catch; and deponent is informed and believes
that the Northwest (latch, as the term is used in the trade, means the
skins of seals caught in the o))en sea and not upoji tlie islands. Another
reason for this belief is the fact that all of the skins of the Nc thwest
catch contain marks showing that the animal lias been killed hy bullets
or buckshot, the skins being i)ierced by the shot, whereas the skins
killed ou the American and Itussian islands are killed on land by clubs
and are not pierced.

That of the skins of the Northwest catch (!oniing into his hands for
treatment probably all aro the skins of the female seal, and that the
same can be distinguished from the skins of the male seal by reason of
the breasts and of the thinness of the fur aroniul the same and upon
the belly, most of the females being killed while tliey are bearing their
young, and the fur therefore being stretched and thinner over that part
of the body; and also for the further reason that the head of the female
seal is much narrower than that of tlie male seal, and thai this point of
ditference is obvious in the skins of the two chisses; that of the total
number of skins received by him about 25 per cent are the skins of the
Alaska and Copper catches; that all the skins of the Alaska catch are
male seals, and an overwhelming proportion of the Coi^ier catch are
likewise male skins; that the remainder of the skins sent to deponent
for dressing and dyeing, as aforesaid, are r<'ceivcd ))y him through tlie
house of Herman Liebes & Co., of San Francisco, and others, the
majority, however, from Herman Liebes & Co. The skins re<'eived
from the lattei' sources are from eacli of the three catches known to the
trade as the Coi)per, Alaska, and Northwest catches, although t lie major
l)art thereof belong to what is known as the Northwest catch, and are,
as ill the case of the skins received from London of that catch, all skins
of the female seal. (Jos. D. Williams.)

In examining and purchasing seal skins from schooners in their raw
state 1 have observed that 00 per cent of their catdi are females. I
know that to be a fact, because the heads of the females are smaller,
the bellies larger, and the teats can be plainly seen. The teats show
more plainly when the skin is dressed and dyed. In examining the
skins taken by sealing schooners I have found most of them perforated
with shot, making theui much less valuable thereby; formerly more of
them used to be killed with a ritie, which did not injure the skin as
much. (Maurice Windmiller.)

The destruction of the seals in the North Pacific Ocean, as well as in
the Bering Sea, is largely contined to females. This fact can not be
disputed successfully. 1 made au exumimitiou of the reports of the

•Not fiiruished.

13G

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

{feiitlenuMi wlin liaiuUcd tlie Noitli I'acilic collcctioji, u|» to mid iiiclnd-
iiij4' tlic year 1SS!>, and all a;;i(HMl that tli<> Nkiiis wcic nearly all from
females. It may not be out of place to explain (hat the smalhir value
of the female seiil,esi)eeially after the birth of liei puj), is in a measure
due to the wearinji of the fur around the teats. The amount <»(' mer-
cluintable fur beinjj reduced to that extent, miikes it necessary for the
handlers of skins to observe carefully whether i)elts are male or female,
as well as their {general condition. They nuike a complete classilicDtioii,
and beinfj experts in their business are not likely to make mistakes,
(Thco. T. Williams.)

PELAOIC SEALING.

Deposition of Maurice Windmiller, /nri'ier, San Francisco,

State of California,

City and County of San Fntncisoo, ss:

Maurice Windniiller, having been duly sworn, dejioses ard says: My
afi'e is 4(>; I reside in 8an Francisco; myoccnpatioii is that of a furrier.
I have been engaged in the far business all my life, and my father was
a furrier before me. I am an expert in dressed and undressed, raw, and
made-up furs, and also a dealer and manufacturer in the same. I liave
bought and examined large numbers of fur-seal skins (iuring the last
twelve years cauglit by sealing schooners both on tlie American and
Kussian side of the North Pacific and Bering Sea, and 1 can easily dis-
tinguish one from the other.

The Kussiiin seal is a smaller seal, and the fur is not as close as tlie
fur of the Alaska seal, nor as good quality. They are an entirely dif-
ferent herd from those on the American side, and their skins have pecu-
liar diaracteristics by which it is not difficult to separate thein. In
examining and pun^hasing seal skins from the schooners in their raw
state I have observed that !M) per cent of their (;atch are femiiles. I
know that to be a fact because the heads of the females are smaller,
the bellies larger, and the teats can lie jilainly seen. The teats show
more ])laiiily when the skin is dressed and dyed. In examining the
seals taken by sealing sclioone.s I have found most of tliem perforated
with shot, making them niucli less valuable then^by. Formerly more
of them used to be killed witli a rifle, which did not injure the skins
as much.

Maurice Windmiller,

T

general seal-skin industry.

Deposition of Joseph J). WiUiams, furrier, New YorJe,

State of New York,

City and County of New Yorl; ss:
Joseph I). Williams, being duly sworn, says that lie is 74 years of
age, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of IJrooklyii, in (he
State of New York; that he has been engaged in the business of dress-
ing and dyeing tHr-seal skins continuously for iifteeii years jiast, and
jirior to that time, at intervals during the whole time he has been
engaged in business, during a period jf some iilty-odd years, he has

ALASKA INDUS'JRIES.

137

[H'lnd-
I fro in

VillllC

mor-
or tlio

'Illillo,

ill ion,
takes.

•li'PHsed jind dyod HOiil skins, nnd that liis faMior was ('n},';i^orl in the
Hainc biisini'SH bi'i'oro liini; tliat Ibr the, last liltcfu years lie lias liad
(!OiisijL;iiod to liini by far dealers I'roin 8,01)0 to 10,000 s(!al skins anninilly
lor the pnrpose of dressing and dyeinj;' the siime; that aliontflO per
cent of the skins so rci^eived by him came from London in casks marked
as they are catalogued by (1 M. liampson <Si Co., and are the skina
belonj^infi to what is known as tiie Northwest catiih; and deponent is
informed and believes tiiat the Northwest catch, as tht; term is used in
the trade, means the skins of seals canfjht in the ojkmi sea, and not
u])i)n the islands. Another reason for this belief is the fact that all of
the skins of the Northwest catch (contain marks showiiifr (hat the ani-
mal iiad been killed by bullets or buckshot, the skins bcinj;' jiierced by
the shot, whereas the skins killed on the Aniei ican and Russian islands
are killed on land by cbibs and are not jiierced.

That of the skins of the Northwest catch cominfj into his hands for
treatment j)robat)ly all ai<'. the skins of the female seal, and that the
sanu! can be dislinyiiislied from the skins of the nnile seal by reason of
the breasts and of the tiiinness of the far aronnd the same and upon
the belly, most of the female seals beinj;' killed while they are bearinj;'
their yonng, and the fur therefore being stretched and thinner over that
])art of the body; and also for the furt.ier reason that the head of the
iennde seal is much narrower than that of the male seal, and that this
point of dilference is obvious in the skins of the two classes. That of
the total nninber of the skins received by him about li."» per cent are the
skinsof theAlaskaand ('opper catch. Thatall the skins of the Alaska
catch are male seals, and an overwhelming i)roportioii of the Copper
catch are likewise male skins. That the renniinder of the skins sent
to deponent for dressing and dyeing as aforesaid are re<'eived by him
through the house of Herman Liel)o.T »fc Co., of San Francisco, and
others, the majority, however, from Herman liiebes & Co. The skins
received from the latter .sources are from each of the three catches known
to the trade as the Copper, Alaska, .and Nortliwest catch, although the
major ]>art thereof belong to what is known as the Northwest catch, and
are, as in the case of the skins received from London of that catch, all
skins of the female seal.

Joseph D. Williams.

DESTUUOTION OF FEMALE REALS.

Testimony of British furriers.

I can also tell by examining a skin whether it has been talfen f'om a
female or a male. I have exannned and sorted a great many thousand
skins takeii from sealing schooners, and have ol)served that they are
nearly all females, a i'ew l)eing old balls and yearlings. A female seal
has a smaller head and a larger belly when with young than a male seal,
and the fur on the belly when with young is mncli thinner, and the liu'
on the belly part where the teats are, in consequence of being worn, is
not worth much, and has to be cut off after being dyed. (George
Bantle.)

The skins of the male and female animal are readily distingni.shable
from each other in the adult stage by reason of the dilference in the
shai)e of the heads. That the Copi)er and Alaska skins aro almost
exclusively the skins of the male animal, and the skins of the North-

138

AT,A8KA INDUSTRIES.

west catch nrc at loawt 80 ])er cent of the skins of tlui ft'inalc aiiiiiiiil.
That in'ior to ami in piciiiiratioii (or iiniUiii^ tliis dcixisitioii (Icpoiicnt
says lie ciiict'iilly lookcl tiin)ii;;li two lai'}>c lots of skins now in his
waichoiis)^ f(,r tiio especial purpose of cstiinatinfj; tho pciccHitan'c of
feinalc skins found aniou^ the Northwest catcli, and he believes the
above cstinmto to be accurate. Tlnit the skins in the Northwest <'atch
are also pientert with shot and sjieiir lUiirks, in (!onse(|neiice of havin};-
been killed in the open water instead of upon land by club. (II.. S.
lievington.)

And In the same way deponent thinks, from his own i)ersonal exiteri-
onee in handlin;;- skins, tliat he would have no didiculty whatever in
separatinfi tiie skins of tiio Northwest eatcli from the skins of the
Alaska cat(di by reason of the fact that they are tiie skins almost
exclusively <if females, and also that the fur ui)on the bearinjj female
seals is niucli thinner than ui)on the skin of the luide seals; the skin
of the animal while pre<,'nant being extended and the fur extended
over a laige area. (Alfred Fraser.)

That the said firm can distiuRuish very readily the source of pro-
dmttion of the skins when the latter are in their undressed state; that
for several years besides the skins of the regular c(unpanies, such as
the Alaska Company (American concessionaire) and the Copper Com-
pany (Kussian concessionaire), the said firm has bought (|uautities of
skins called Northwest Coast, Victoria, etc. That these skins are those
of aninuils eauj^ht in the oi)en sea by persons who api)arently derive
therefrom lar};e prolits, and nearly tliree ((uarters of them are those
of fenuiles and puj)s, these probubly beinji' less dilllcult to take than
nmles; that these animals are taken by i)einf>' shot. That the seals
taken by the Alaska and (Jopper com|»anies an? males; the destruction
of which is much less i)reiudicial to the preservation of the race, and
which furnish the best skins, these beinu' much liner and more furnished
with (h)wn ; that they are killed on tho islands with clubs. That every
animal killed i)y ball or shot bears the traces of such slauiiliter, which
marks greatly depreciate the value of the skin. (Emin llert/.)

An essential point of difference between the skins of the Northwest
catch and the skins of the Alaska and Copper Island catches consists
in the fact that most of the Northwest skins are the skins of the female
seal, Avliile the Copper and Alasl.a skins are of the male seal. Deponent
Las ma<lc no computation ov examination which would enable him to
say specifically what proportion of (he Northwest catch are the skins
of the feniide seal, but it is the fact that the great nujjority, depoTient
would say 7.5 to SO per cent, of the skins of this catch are the skins of
the female aninuil. The skins of the female seal, for instance, show the
marks of the breast, and the fur on the belly is thinner, and the whole
of the fur is also liner, lower in pile; that is, the fibers composing the
fur are shorter than in the case of the male seal. Another means of dis-
tinguishing the female skins from the skins of the male lies in the fact
that the skins of the female are narrower at the head and tail and pro-
portionately wider in the belly than the skins of the male seal. Another
means of distinguishing the seals of the Northwest catch from those of
the (Joi)i)er Island and Alaska cat<!hes consists in the fact that nearly
all the skins of this catch have holes in them, which dei)oiient under-
stands is caused by the fact that the seals from whiidi they are talcen
have been shot or speared iu the open sea, and not — as is the case with
the seals from whi(;h the skins of Cop])er Island and Alaska catches
are taken and killed — with clubs upon land. (Walter E. Martin.)

'

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

139

Botli tlio (!(t|)i)('r Isliiiid skins iumI tlic Alaska skins sue iilmostoxclti-
Hiv«"ly llie skins of Mk^ niiilc sculs, and tlic tliU'rioncci bctwccM tlie skin
of a male seal and a fcinaif seal of adult aye (!an 1)6 as readily seen as
between tlie skins of ditleient sc^xes of otliei' animals. Tliattlio North-
west skins are, in turn diHtin^;uislial)lo from the Copper Islaiul and
Alaska skins, first by reason ol the fa(!t tliat a very larjje juoportion
of the adidt skins are obviously the skins of feimile animals; second,
because, they arci all pierced with a spear or harpoon or shot, in eonse-
<|uenceof bein^;' killed in open sea, and not, as in the case of Copi)er
Island and Alaska skins, bein^ killed upon land by (;lubs; third,
because the Northwest skins are cured upon vessels i)y the crews of
whicili they are killed, upon which there are not the same facilities tor
tlayiufi or saltinir the skins as there are upon land, where the Copper
and Alaska skins are flayed and salted. The -lapanese skins, which, I
think, are now included in the Northwest catch, are distinf^uishable
fiom the other skins of the Northwest catch by beinji' yellower in color,
Laving a much shorter pile, because they are salted with fine salt, and
have plenty of blubber on the pelt. That the skins i)urchase(l by
deponent's firm are handed over by it to what are called dressers and
dyers, ibr ' e purpose of being dressed and dyed. (Henry Poland.)

That flerenees in the skins of the adult male and the adult

female i,^. . are as markcil as tlie difference between the skins of the
two sexes of the other animals, and that in the Northwest catch from
85 to !>(• i)er cent of the skins are of the female animal. Deponent
docs not mean to state that these figures are mathematically accurate,
but they are, in his Judgment, a))proxinnitely exact. (Geo. Uice.)

I should estimate the projjortion of female skins included within the
Northwest catch at at least 75 per cent, and I should not be surprised
at, nor be inclined to contradict, an estimate of u])\\ard of 00 per cent.
My sorter, who actually handles the skins, estimates the number of
female skins in the Northwest catch at !>0 per cent. One means of dis-
tinguishing the skins of the Northwest catch from those of the other
catches is the fact that they are pierced with shot or spear holes, having
been killed in the o])en sea, and not, as in the case of the Coi)iter an(i
Alaska catches, killed upon land with clubs. (William 0. B. Stamp.)

The number of Jajianese skins averages, deponent should say, about
0,000 a year, although there is a good deal of fluctuation in the quantity
from year to year, and deponent says that, like the other skins iiu-luded
in the Northwest catch, they are principally the skins of fenuile seals,
not easily distinguishable from the skins taken from the herds frequent-
ing the eastern i)art of the Pacific Ocean and Bering Sea, except by
reason of their being principally si)eared instead of shot. The most
essential difference between the Northwest skins and the Alaska and
Copi)er catches is that the Northwest skins, so far as they are skins of
adult seals, are almost exclusively tlie skins of female seals, and are
nearly always ])ierced with shot, bullet, or spear holes. The skins of
the adult female seals maybe as readily distinguishable from the skins
of the adult male as the skins of the ditl'erent sexes of other aninnils;
that practically the whole of the adult Northwest-catch seals were the
skins of fenude seals, but the skins of the younger animals incduded
within this Northwest catch, of which we have at times considerable
numbers, are much more diflficult to separate into male and fenmle skins,
and 1 am not prepared to say that I could distinguish the male from
the female skins of young animals. A certain percentage of youjig

140

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

aniiiials is found among the cousigii. nts rec^eived by us at tho begiu-
uiiig of each season, wliich, wo uudi'rstaiul, and ave iiifoinied, arc the
skins of seals caught in the Pacilie Ocean otV the west coast of America,
out a mucli ainuller perceJitagc of such small skins is fouiul among the
consignment later in the season, whicii we are informed are of seals
caught in the Bering Sea. (Emil Teichmanii.)

From C. M. Lampson & Co. to C, A. Willhtms, August 22, J.SS9,

London, 64 Queen axuEET, E. C,

August 22, 1889.

Dear Sir : Wo beg to acknowledge receii>t of your I'ii vor of the 10th
instant, inchising draft of a pai)er to be submitted to Congress on ■oier-
chant marine and lisheries.

We liavc read ..le paper with a great deal of interest and consider
that it [daces tlie matter in a thoroughly impartial way before its readers.
It has been so carelully prepared a:id goes into all details so fully tuot
we can add but little to it. The'e are, however, o.ii or two points to
whicii we beg to draw youi attention, and which viii will lind marked
in red ink on tlie paper.

When si)eaking ol the supply of fur skins wc would suggest mention-
ing the fallowing localities:

Ciipe of Good Hope. — l''rom some islands o'f this cape, under the pro-
tection of the Cape (lovernment, a yearly sr opiy of from 5,0(10 to 8,000
skins is derived. All these skins con.ic to rlie London market, part of
them being sold at i)ublic auction, the remainder being dressed and
dyed for account of the owners.

J«/j«H.— The sui)i)ly from this source has varied very much of ate
years, amounting sometimes to ir),()00 skins ?. year, at others to only
5,000. Last year, we understand, tiie Jiipaiies(> Govertiuient passed
stringent laws ])r()liibiting the killing and importation of seals, with the
v'ew of protecting seal lite and encouraging rookeries, and the conse-
quence has been that this year very few skins have come Ibrward.

Vancnurcr Jslaud. — h'or many years past, indeed long before the for-
mation of the Alaska Com])any, regular su])plies of fur seals in the
salted and parchment state have come to the London market, killed
mostly olf Capo Tlattery. The quantity, we slnmld say, has averaged
at least 10,000 ju'r annum. This catch takes plact in the months of
March and April, and we belii^ve that the animals fn.m which these
skins are derived are the females of the Alaska seals, just the same as
those caught in the Bering H.>a.

Had this ([uantity been materially increased, we feel sure that the
breeding on the I'ribilof Islands woulu have sufl'ered before now; but
fortunately the catch must necessarily be a liuiiled one, owing t« the
stormy time of the year at which it is made and the dangerous coast,
where (he seals (»nly for a short time are found. II must, however, be
evident that it'tliese animals are followed into the UeringSeaaml hunted
down in a calm sea in the ([uietest nuuiths of the year, a practically
unlimited (luantity of females might be taken, and, as you say, it would
be only a few years till tho Alaska seal was a thing of the past.

C. ]\L Lami'SON & Co.

C. A. Williams, Esq., Xeir London,

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

141

i

TESTIMONY RELATING TO THE GENERAL SEAL-«KIN INDUSTRY IN

GREAT BRITAIN.

]}eposition of 11. 8. Bevhifiton, head of the Jinn of Bevingtou tO Morris,

furriers, ],ondon,

H. S. Beviiigton, M. A., beiiij? duly sworn, doth depose imd siiy:
That ho is 40 years of age and a subjeotot' Jler Hrituuiie jAliiJesty,and
is the liead of the Ann of Beviiigton «& .Aiorris, (h)iiig business as far
merchants and manufacturers at L'.S (Gannon street, in the city of Lon-
don; that his said linu was founded in the year ITlifi, and has been
continued in the same family during the wliole of tliese years down to
the present time, and lias been eni';aged during tiie whoU; of the period
since 17U0 in the same busi-icss, <U:iiing in iiirs and leather; that
deponent has been in the bunness ever since the year A87;{. JJuriiig
the whole of the period sin^ , that date his said linn ha.si been in the
habit of buying fur-seal skin ,, and he knows from his general knowl-
edge of the business that prior to that time thi y were in tiie habit of
buying seal skins ever since they bec.uiie an article of commerce; that
deponent has personally handled many thousands of skins of the fur
seal, and by reason of that fact and of his experience in his bnsinesri,
has a general knowledge of the history of the fnrseal skin business
and a general and precise kn (wledge of the several kinds of skins
which now and for many years last past ha ve come ufon the London
market; that since deponent has been in business rjkins coiiiiug u])on
the London market have been principally divided Int'i three classes,
known as the Alaska catch, the Copper catch, and tn(! Northwest catch,
Small supjilics have also been received fiom the ^Southern Sea, and
Jiobos Islands, Falkland Islands, and Cape Horn, but the skins arriving
from these last-mentioned lo<'alities make no ligure in the market; that
what is known as the Alaska cutch consists of skins of seals which are
kill.id 111)011 the F'-iliilof Islands, in tiie Bering Sea, and the Cojiper
caich of skins wh i are killei! ;;[>mu the Copjier and JJering islands,
ir. llussfan v.'aters.

That the Northwest skins consist of skins taken from animals whicb
are caught in the open I'acilic ()ce;,n off the coa«,3 of iUitish Columbia
or in the Bering Seu/, that the ditl'eieiices between the three several
;u)rts of skins last mentiuJied are so marked as to eiia ile any iierson
skilled in th<> i>usiness or iiccMisti-iued to handle the same to readily
distingiiisli the skins of one e.stch fr<)in those of another, especially in
bulk, ai'.d it is the facu that when they reach the market the skins of
each class come separately and are not found mingled with those
behmging to the otiier classes. The skins of the Copjier Island catch
are distinguished from the skins of the Alaska and Nortliwest catch,
which two last-ineiitioned classes of skins appear to be nearly allied to
each other, and are of the same general c^ iiacter, by reason of the
fact that in their raw state the Copper skins arc lighter in color than
cither of tiie other two, and in the dried state there is a marked ililfer-
ence in the appearance of the fur of the Copper and the other two
classes of skins. This diil'creiHc is ditticult to describe to a person
Hiiaccustomed to handle skins, but it is nevertheless clea''aiid distinct
to an oxjiert, and may be generally described by saying tin t the ( 'opjier
skins are of a (-lose, short, and shiny fui', pairJculavly (lown by the ilaiik,
to a greater extent than the Alaska ami ^'orthwe^:»^ slciii^. Tiic skins
of the male and female animal a'c rcii'My distinguisii'd f'oin each other
in the adult stage by reason of the tli'fei'^.nce in the sUajie of the heads;

142

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

that the Copper and Alaska skins are almost exclusivoly the skins of
the male animal, and the skins of the Northwest catch are at least 80
per c Jilt of the skins of the female animal; that prior to and in prepa
ration for making this dni>osition, deponent says, he carefully looked
thron{>h two large lots of skins now in his warehouse for the special
pur])08e of estimntiiiK' the percentage of female skins found among the
Northwest catch, and he believes the above estimate to be accunite.

That the skins in the Northwest catch are also pierced with shot and
spear marks, in (;onse(|uence of having been killed in the open water
instead of upon land by clubs; tliat tlie business of dealing in fur-seal
skins in the city of London has become an established and important
industry. Deponent is informed tiiat practically all the seal skins in
the world are sold in London, and the number runs up in the year to
between 1U(),()(»(> and 2(H),0()(), averaging considerably over 15(),()0(> a
year. These skins are r.nld lor the most part either by the tirm of C. M.
Lampson & Co., through their brokers, (load, Kigg & Co., or bj the
firm of Culverwell, Brooks & Co. At the auction sales, which are
advertised two or thiee times in the year by these firms, skins are
bought by dealers fiom all over the world, who are present either in
person or by proxy. Tiie next stage in the industry is the dressing and
dyeing of the furs, and practically the whole of these fur-seal skins sold
in London are dressed and dyed in that city. The princijjal firms
engaged in that business are C. W. Martin «Sc Sons and George Kice.
Deponent's own firm dress a small num))er of skins, and have dressed
in one year as many as 23,000, and formerly dyed large numbers of
skins, but do not now dye skins, as the secret of the present fashioniddo
color is now in the hands of other firms. Alter having bv^.en dressed
and dyed, the skins of the fur seal are then passed into the hands of
fur merchants, by whom, in tuin, they are })assed to firriers and dra-
pers and retail dealers generally. Deponent estimates the total num-
ber of persons engaged in one way or another, directly or indijoctly, in
the fur seal industry in the city of London to be at least 2,000 or 3,000,
many of whom are skilled laborers, all receiving high wages.

Tliat a large amount of capital iV3 also invested in the business in the
city of London, and tiie precise value of the industry can be estimated
by reckoning the amount expended in the various pro(!esses which
deponeiit has enunu^rated upon ea(;h skin. For instance, after the skins
arrive at the London market they are sold at the sales at ]>rices which
in the year iSOO averaged, say, 80 shillings apiece. The commissions on
the selling of the goods, inc]iiding\,'arehousing, insurance, and so forth,
deponent believes, amount to (i per cent of the price obtained. That
the amount paid for dressing, dyeing, and nnichining each skin aver-
ages, say, 10 shillings. These processes take together about four or five
months. The next exi)enditure upon the skin is, say, an average of o
shillings at least for each skin for cutting up, and that tliereafter there
will be an average of at least from 3 to -t shillings i)er skin expended in
quilting, lining, and making up the jaitkets or other garments, sli()wing
a total exi)emliture upon each skin for labor alone, in the city of Lon-
don, of 25 shillings in addition to the i)erccntage ])aid for brokerage,
before the processes of manufacture began, arid tlie most of this money
is actually jtaid out in wages.

Depoiumt says that in the above estimates he has given the bottom
figures, and that the amount actimlly expended upon the skins in the
city of London undoubtedly uvernges a larger sum. This would make
on an average of 200,0(t skins a year, which is not excessive, a total
expenditure annually in the city of London of £250,000, minus the

ALASKA mmiST »TE8.

143

amounts paid for cutting antl iiuiking up in respect to the skins sent to
the United States.

Deponent further says tiiat the ])reservation of the seal herds and
the continued supply of fur-seal skins, which furthermore, it is impor-
tant should be constant and regular in sni)i)ly, is absolutely necessary
to the maintenance of this industry. l)ei)oneiit says that the reason
for this opinion is shown in the history of last season's business. For
instance, at the October sale tlie prictes of skins were very high, as a
short supi)ly was expected. The skins purciiased at that sale were
then put into the hands of the dressers and dyers, where they would
be retained, as above stated, in proitess of treatment four or five monllis.
During fliis interval it api)eared that instead of there being a short
8U])ply tiie poaching vessels liad caught a large number of skins, 50,000
or 00,000, which, being unc ,)ectt'dly i)lunipcd on tne market, brouglit
the price down so that there was a loss of perhaps 2o shillings per skin
on the sk.ns bought at the October sales; and deponent furtiier says
that it is of course obvious that the business can not be maintained
unless the herds are preserved from the destvuction which has over-
taken the South Sea herds, which formerly existed in such large num-
bers, and so imiwitant has the seal skin business become that if the
herds were exterminated deiumeut says it would hardly be worthwhile
to remain in the fur business.

Deponent says while he does not wish to express any opinion upon
the matters whic^li are in controversy, that nevertheless, looking at tlie
question of ])reserving the seals from a natural-history point of view
alone, and I'aving no regard wliatever to the rights of any individuals
or nations, but looking at the matter simply from the point of view of
how best to preserve the seals, he has no hesitation in saying that the best
way to accomi)lish that olrject would be to prohibit absolutely the kill-
ing of all sealh except upon the islands, and farthermore to limit the
killing of seals on the islands to the male species at particular times,
and to limit the num))crs of the males to be so killed. If, however, the
rights of individuals are to bo considered, and sealing in the open sea
is to be allowed, then dei)onent thinks that the number of vessels to
be sent out by each country ought to be limited, and the number of
seals which may be caught by each vessel should be specilied.

Dejionent says that one reason why he thinks the killing of seals in
theo]ieii sea should be prohibited, and all killing limited to the islands.
Is because deponent is of (he opinion that when seals are killed in the
open sea a large number must be killed which are not recovered, and
conse(piently that the heiils must snlfer much greater loss than is
measured by tln^ skins of the seals caught or coming to market.

Deponent further says that one reason for this opinion is that he has
had some small ex})erience in shooting hair seals in the Scilly Islands,
and has himself persoiuiUy killed hair seals at a distance of 40 or 50
yards which sank before he could reach them. Hair seals are of the
same geiunal family as fur seals, and he has no doubt that the same
thing occurs and must occur when tho fur seals are killed on the open

S'JU.

ilKUUEiiT SilKLLKY DKVlNlJXON, lAI. A.

\

i

144

ALASKA TNDUSTRIK8.

Deposition of Alfred Fraser, member of Jirm of V. M. Lampson & Co.,

fvrriers, London.

State op New York,

City and County of New Yorl; ,ss:

Alfred I'raser, being duly sworn, says:

(1) That lie is a subject of iler lUitaunic Majesty and is 52 years of
age and resides in the city of Brooklyn, in the State of New York.
That he is a nicinber of the (inn of ('. M. Lanii)S(»n & Co., of London,
and has been a member of said firm for about tliirtcen yeais; \n-U)v to
that time he was in the em])loy of said lirm and took au active ])art '.n
the manaj^ement of the business of said firm in fjondon. That the busi-
ness of C. M. Lampson t.V Co., is that of merchants, enpfaged princi-
pally in the business of selling fur skins on commission. Tliat for
about twenty four years the lirm of C. M. Lampson »& Co. have sold
the great majority of the whole number of seal skins sold in all the
markets of the world. That while he was engaged in the management
of the business of said firm in Loudon he had personal knowledge of
the character of the various seal skins sold by the said firm, from his
personal inspectiou of the same in tiu'ir warehouse an«l from tiie phys-
ical handling of the same by him. That many hundred thousands of
the skins sold by C. M. Lan)pson <S; (Jo. have physically passed through
his hands, and that since his residence in this country he has, as a
member of said firm, Iiad a general and detailed kiiowljdsre of the char-
acter and extent of the business of said firm, altlioug.i since his resi-
dence in the city of New York he has not physically hai:dled the skins
disposed of by his fbin.

That during the last year or two a large number of skins have been
sold iu London by tlie firm of Culverwell, lirooks & Co., and that sai<l
firm, as deponent is informed and believes, have secured the consign-
ment of skins to them during the period aforesaid by advancing to the
owners of vessels engaged in what is now known as i)elagic sealing
sums of moncj'^, whicli is stated to be llo per skiu, as against ship-
ments from Victoria of such skins.

{2) That the seal skins which have been sold in Loudon from time to
time since deponent first began business have been nhtained from
sources and were known iu tlie market as —

{a) The Sontli Sea skins, being the skins of seals principally caught
on tlie Houth Shetland Islands, South (ieorg(5 Islands, and Sandwich
Land. That many years ago large numbers of seals were caught upon
these islands, but in conseipience of the fact that luj restrictions were
imposed on the killing of said seals, they were jtractically exterminated,
and no seal skins a])peared in the nnirket from those localities for many
years. That about twenty years ago these islands were again visited,
ami for five seasons a considerable catcli was made, amounting, during
the whole five seasons, to about ;}(»,<K)() or U>,(MH) skins. Among the
skins fottnd in this catch were those of tlic oldest males and the small-
est pups, thus showing, iu the judgment of dejionent, that every seal
of every kind was killed that could be leaclied. That in conseipieiice
thereof the rookeries on these islands were then completely exhausted.
Once or twice thereafter they were visited withoyt result, no seals
being found, and about five years ago they were again revisited and
only 3(1 skins were obtained. ()ej)onent is informed that all the South
Sea skins were obtained by killing seals ui)on the islands above nu'u-
tioned,and that it is obviously e\ei'y where much easier to kill seals upon
the laml than in the water; ami, iu the judgment of the deponent, the!
seals of the above-mentioned islands were thus entiiely exteruunated

ALASKA INDUST?1IE8.

145

(Jo.,

because of tlie entire absence of any protection or of any restriction of
any idnd wliatevcr upon tlie niiinljer, age, or sex of seals Icilled, and
not merely, as deponent understands li:,- been claimed by some author-
ities, because tlicy wore killed on land instead of in open sea, Miiich
moreover, in that locality, deponent is informed, is practically impos
sible, by reason of the roughness of the sea and weather,

[b) A considerable immber of seal skins were formerly obtained upon
the Falkland Islands; how many deponent is not able to state.

(o) That a oerdiin number of seals were also caught at Cape Horn,
and that mort^ or less are still taken in that vicinity, though the whole
number has been very greatly reduced.

[d) That at the present time and for many years last past the skins
coming to the market and which are known to commerce have come
from the following sources : Hy far the mosc important are the Northern
Pacilic skins, which are known to the trade under the following titles:

The Ahiska catch, which are the skins of seals caught on the Pribilof
Islands, situated in Bering Sea. For many years past the whole of the
skins iVJight upon these islands have been sold by deponent's firm, and
a statement of the nund)er of skins so sold in each year is appended
hereto and marked F^xhibit A, showing the aggregate of such skins
sold from the year 1870 to the year 18!)1, inclusive, as 1,877,077.

The (Joi>perc'itch. being the skins of seals caught upon what are known
as the Commander Islands, being the islands known as Copper and
Bering islands. All the skins so caught have been sold by deponent's
tinn in the city of London, and the total number of such Copper catch
from the year 1872 to LSitli appears upt)n the statement which is hereto .
annexed and marked ICxhibit 13, showing the total so sold during such
years of 7tJ8,0!)(i skins.

The Northwest catch, being the skins of seals caught in the open sea
either of the Pacilic Ocean or the Bering Sea. These skins were
originally caught exclusively by tlie Indians and by residents of the
colony of Victoria and along the coast of the British possessions. A
statement of the total number of the catch from the year 1808 to 1884,
inclusive, is appended hereto and marked F^xhibit C, showing atotal of
ir);j,;5l8. That statement is divided into three heads: F'irst, the salted
Northwest coast skins; second, the dried Ncnthwest coast skins, both
of wliieh were mainly sold through dei)onent'S f'rm in London; and
third, salted Northwest coast skins, dressed i"id dyed in London, but
not sold there. It will be noticed that in the years 1871 and 1872 an
unusually large proportion of dried skuis appeared to have been
marketed. Those skins were i)urchased in this year from the American-
Hnssian Comi)any and sold when the Americans rook jMissess'in. For
the years 1871 and 1871i, therelore, the surplus skins over the average
for the other years shouhl be rejected in a coin])utation of the general
average of seals killed .hiring tlie years from 1808 to 1881, inclusive.

From the year 1885 to the year 1891 the number of skins included in
the No'iuwest catch enormously increased, and a statement of such
skins is hereto annexed and marked Fxhibit I), showing a total of
.■i">l,*.)(iL', ami is divitled, like the statement marked Exhibit C, into tliree
heads: The salted Northwest coast skins, the dried Northwest coast
skins, and the salted skins dressed and dyed in London but not sold
there. The majority of the first two classes were, as in the i)revious
case, sold by deponent's firm. The great niajority of these skins appear-
ing in tlie last inenlioned statement are the skins cauuhl by vessels sent
out from the Canadian provinces; many also l>y vessels sent out from
San l'"raneisco. Fort Townsend, and Seattle, and a few from vessels
sent out from Yokohama; the majoiity, however, are supposed to have
11. Doc. it-', pt. 2 10

146

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

been cauplit by vessels sent out from British harbors, A large number
oi" tlu' skins included in Exhil)it 1) have been consigned to 0. M. Jjaiup-
sou tS: Co. by tlie firm of Herinun Liebes (S^. Co., of San Francisco. In
estimating the total number of the Norths •*" catch it should also bo
UKUitioncd thiitsoinelliinglilve;)0,(KK) skins bei ngingto tiiat catch iiave
been dressed and dyed in the United States, which have not gone to
Loiulon at all.

{(') Ik'sides the Alaska, Copjjer, and Nortiiwest skins tliere iire also
a certain iiuniber of skins arriving in London known as the I.obos
Island skins, althougli tiie sanic are not handled by the lirm of C. M.
Ijunqisoii iV Co., but tlie total mimber of which, from tiu* year ISTU to the
year ISid, inclusive, is, as appears from the catalogues of sales, 247,777.
The Lobos Island skins are those of seals killed on tlie Lobos Ishind,
belonging to the Ee[)ublic of Urnguay; and deponent is informed and
believes tiuit tliere is no open-sea sealing in the vicinity of such island,
and that the animals are jirotected on the island as they are on the
Knssiau and Pribilof islands, by prohibition from the killing of females
and limiting the number of males killed in each year. A statement of
the seals killed on Lobos Island is hereto annexed and marked Exhibit
E, from which it ajiiiears that there is a regular annual supply obtained
from tiiat source, which shows no diminution.

(./') There are also a certain number of skins sold in London obtained
from rookeries at or near the Cape of Cood Hope, the exact number of
wliich deixnient is not able to state, but which, he is informed, shows
a steady yield.

Tlie statements marked A, B, 0, D, and E, hereunto appended, have
lieen carefully ])repared by me personally, and the figures therein
stated have been compiled by nie from the several sale catalogues of
C. M. Lami)Son «Ji ('o., and others from my private books which 1 kept
during all the years covered by the statements, and I am sure that
these statements are substantially accurate and trulj' state the respec;-
tive nniiibers of the skins cauglit and sold whi(di tliey purport to state.

(0) Tlic great majority of the skins sold from the N(U'tliwest catch
are the skins of female seals. I)ei)onent is not able to state exactly
what pro])oi tion of such skins are the skins of females, but estimates
it to be at least 8.1 jier cent, and the skins of females are readily dis-
tinguishable from those of the males by reason of the fact that t)n the
breast and on the belly of the bearing female there is comparatively
little fur, whereas on the skins of the male seals the fur is evenly dis-
tributed ; and also by reason ot'^ the fact lliat the female seal has a nar-
row head and the male seal a broad head and neck; and the skins of
this catch are also distinguishable from the Alaska and Copper catch
by reason of the fact that seals are killed by bullets or buckshot or
speared, and not, as on the Pribilof and Commander islands, by clubs.
JMarks of siicii bullets or l)ucks]i()t or spears are clearly discernable in
the skins, and there is a marked difference in the commercial value of
the female skins and of the male skins. This fact, that the Northwest
skins ar(f so largely the skins of females, is further evidenced by the
fact that in many of the early sales of such skins they are classified in
dei>onent\s books as the skins of females.

(1) Deponent further says, that in his .judgment the absolute i)roliibi-
tion of pela.i^ic sealing, i. c., the killing of seals in the open sea, whether
in the North Pacific or the Bering Sea, is necessary to the preservation
of tlie seal herds now surviving, by reason of the fact tliat most of the
females so killed are heavy with young, and that necessarily the increase
of the sjicc^es is diminished by their killing. And further, from the fact
that a large nunibei of females are killed in the Bering Sea while ou

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

147

the search for food after tlie birth of their young, and that in con.se-
quence tliereof the pups die for want of nonrishincnt. I)cp<tneiit Iiaa
no personal kiiowlo(fge of the trutli of thi.s .statement, but he has infor-
mation in resi)ect of the same from persons who have boeu on the I'ri-
bih)f Jshinds, and lie believes the same to be true. Deponent fiirtluT
says that this opinion is ba.sed upon tlie a.ssumption that thi' ])r('.seiit
restriction imposed by Russia and the United States on the killing of
seals on their respective islands are to be maintained, otlierwi.se it
would be necessary to impose such restri<'tioii,s as well as to jiroliibit
pelagic sealing in order to preserve tlie herds.

(5) JJep(ment is further of the opinion, from his long observation and
handling of the skins of the several catches, that the skins of the
Alaska and (Jop])er catches are readily dLstinguisiiable from cadi other,
and that the herds from which such skins are obtained do not in fact
intermingle with each othei', becau.se the skins classihed under the
head of Copper catch are not 1'outid among the con.sigiiments of skins
receivcu from the Alaska catch, and vice versa.

(G) Uepcnient further .says that the distinction between the skins of
the several catches is so marked, that in his judgment he would, for
instance, have had no dilliculty had there been included among 100,000
skins in Alaska catch 1,000 skins of the Coiqier (^atch,in distinguishing
the 1,000 Cojiper skins and .separating thcni from the 09,000 Alaska
skins, or that any other person with wiual or less exiierience in the
handling of skins would be ecpially able to distinguish ^hem. And in
the same way deponent thinks, from his own pcr.sonal e.xiierieuce in
handling skins, that he would have no dilliculty whatever in separating
the skins of the Northwest catch and the xVlaska catch, by rea.son of the
fact that they are the skins almostexclu.sivcly of females, and also that
the fur upon the bearing female seals is much thinner than n])o:i clie
skin of the male seals, the skin of the animal while pregnant being
distended and the fur extended over a large area.

(7) Deponent says that the number of persons who are employed in
the handling, dressing, dyeing, (tutting, and mannfacturiiig of seal
skins in the city of London is about '2,000. many of whom are skilled
laborers earning as high as £S or £4 a Aveek. Deponent estimates the
amount paid in the city of London for wages in the preparation of fur-
seal skins for a manufactiirers u.si , and excluding the wages of manu-
facturers' employees, ])rior to the beginning of the pelagic .sealing in
1885, at about £100,000 per annum: and deiioncnt further says that in
his judgment if this pelagic sealing be not prohibited, it is but a (jnestion
of a few years, probably not more than three, when the industry will
cea.se by reason of the extermination of the seals in the same way in
Avhich they have been exterminated (Ui the South Sea Islands, by reason
of no restrictions being imposed upon their killing.

Alfred Frasee.

KxniBiT A.

Salted Alaska fur si'al skins sold in London,

Year.

Skins.

Year,

Skills,

Year.

1880

1881

1882

188.)

1884

Skins.

Year,

Skins,

Year.

1
Skins.

1870

1871

1872

l.'<7:i

1874

9, 905
100, 8iHi

90. 2811
101,218

90, 150

1875

1870

1877

187S

1879

99, 034

90, ;;67

75,410
99,911
100, 030

100, 10 1
99,921

100,100
75,914

99, 887

1885

1 M..iti

18H7

1888

1889

1

99,719

99,910

99, 940

100, 000

100, 000 .

1

1890 . . .
1891 ...

Tdljl

1^ 20,994
•:'< a 4, l.'.S
.' lu, 173

. 1,877,977

aFuoU skills.

148

ALASKA INUUSTUIES.

ExHiniT B.

Sailed Copper Idand fiir-beal Mm sold in London.

Year.

ijkins.

Voar.

.Skins.

Year.

1882

1883

1884

1885

i 1880

!

Skins. !

39,111
30, 500
20, 075 i
48,029 !
41,752

Your.

SkiDH.

Year.

SkiiiH.

1872

1873

1874

1875

1870

7, 182
21,1114
30. 340
34.479
33, 208

1877. ...

1878

1879

18,S0

1881

25, 380
10,000
28,211
;'8,885
45, 200

1887

1888

1889

1800

1891

5 1, .584
40, 333
47.410
05, 4Mi
17, 025

1892

Total..

30, 078
708, U90

EXIIIHIT C.

Salted Xorlhwent coast fur-sea I skins sold in London prior tv peUuiic sealing in Bering Sea,

Year.

Skins.

1,029

_

Year.

Skius. Year.

Skina.

Year.

Skina.

Year.

1884

Total..

iSkins.

1872

1873

1K74

1875

1870

Ili77

1,040 ' 1878

2,042 ■ 1879

18,'!0

201

12, 212

8, 939

1881

1882

1883

9, 997
11,717
2,319 .

!

9,242
04,366

Salted Norlliw(st coast fiir-senl skins dressed and dtjvd in London (hut not sold there)
taken prior to peluyio sealimj in Jterint/ t!ea.

^Ycar.

Skins. 1 Year.

II
Skius. Year.

Skins.

Year.

Skins.

Year.

Skins.

1872

1873

1874

099 i' 1875

40 1870

122 ' 1877

578 i 1878

1,001; i, IS79

772 , 1880

1

2, 434 '

2, 397
4, 502

1

1881

1882

1883

5,890

11,727

2, 319

1884

Total..

9, 242

40,215

Dry Southn-cst coant fur-seal skins sold in London prior to peUufic sealinr/ in licring Sea.

Year.

Skius.

Year.

Skins.

Year.

Skins.

Year.

Skins.

Year.

1884

Total..

Skins.

1808

2,141

1,071

084

12, 495

1872

1873

1874

1875

14,584

1870

903

1,173

912

918

1880

785

1809

1870

1871

8-11 1K77

1881 r.fin

2, 772
1,351

1878

1879

1882

1883

321
390

42,767

Of (li(^ Hkins sold :n 1S71 iinil 1872 a very Inrce pro|icHtiiin were tlio aeciiiiniliiticn of tlio Russian-
American C'oniiiany, and sold by lliem after the purehasc nl' Alaska by tlie United States.

KKCAI'lTULATION.

Years.

Salted skins .sold in I.,ciii(loii 1872-1 884

Salted sluii.s dri'ssed and dyed in London 1^72-1884

IJry skin.-* koUI in London.! ! lb').8-1884

Skins.

04, 366
40,215
42,707

(Jrand total.

I

153,318

T

ExiiiniT D.

Dry Northwest coast fur-seal skins sold in London after commencement of pelagic sealing

in Jlering Sea.

Year.

Skins.

Year.

Skins.

1,252

228
090

Year.
1 1891

Skins,

J f;S5

1,520

1888 ..

1,083

970
2,843

I*i9 ..

Total

]t(,37

1890 .

8,004

■^liiiiH.

30, 078
708, 000

9,242

04,306

9, 242
■10, 215

01,306
40,215
42,707

1,083
8,001

I

ALASKA INDl'STRIES.

149

Salted Norihwcsl coaH fur-seal kHuh drcsscil and th/cil in J.nndnn (hid vot »iihl there)
taken after the cunimniccmcnl of pelaijic seatiny in Jlcrin;/ ^ca.

Yc.'ir.

Skina. '

Year.

Skins.

1885

10,607

l.''i. 087

1HH9

2,017

1880

1887

3, rm

1,930

Total

39 290

1888

In luMitimi to above, it is cstiiiiiilod lliat from 25,000 to 80,000 skins have bcon (IrcHHcd and dyed in
till) rniloil .States. — K. T. K.,.ir., noinry piililic.

Salted Northwest coast fur-seal skins sold in London after commencement of pelayic sealing

in Ilering Sra.

Year.

Skins.

2,078
17, 9119
30. 907
30,818
39, 003

Year.

Sklna,

188')

1 890 -

38 315

IHKO

iKin

.'il. 180

1887

1;,U2

28 298

) 888

Total . .

1880

2.'i4, 008

REC APIT OLA TION.

Years.

lS.S,-)-1891
1M5-1889
188.')-l,'iS9
1885-18'.'2

Skins.

I)rs' Hltiiis sold in Ijondon .

«,C04
39, 2:10

Salted Hkiiis dreH.sed and dved in London, bnt not Mold t I'.i'ri'

Halted Nkiiw dicHseil mihI dyed in I'liilud States, crtliniaU-d

Salted flkiiis flr)!d in Ijoiuion

30, 000
254, 008

Grand total

331, 902

ExuiniT E.
Safted Lohos Island fur-seal skivs sold in London.

Year.

Skins.

Year.

SkiuB.

Year.

1

Skina.

1873

0, nr,o

8. .'■>09
8, 179
11,353
13,006
12,301
12. 'J!!.--.
14,80.')

1881

18K'! .

13. .'■.09
lli.'JOO
]'2.80l
10,2J8
10,H.'.3
13,007
11,008
20, 747

1889

8, 7J.J

1K74

1K!I0

18, .Ml

1875

1SK3

1K91

15, 831

1870

1 K84

1892 a

4,800

1877

IKS,")

Total

1878

1 K.>0

247, 777

187B

1«87

1888

1
i

1880

a To date.

Additional deposition of Alfred Frnser, memhcr of tlic firm of G. M.
Lamjhson & Co., furriers, Loudon.

State of New York,

CAi)i and County of New Yorl\ ss:
Alfred Fraser, beiii"^ dul\ sworn, says: I am a nioinber of the firm of
C. M. Ijamjisoii t.\: Co., of London, and the person described in ami who
verified an allidavit on the 1st day of April, 1892, lelatinj; to the fur-
seal industry, Tlie tables hereto annexed, niarived A, B, U, 1), 1'], and
F, have been prejiared by me from the printed catalogues of public auc-

150

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

lion siiloH in Loiulnii of fur ,soal skins, and also from m.v luiviito iiiiMno-
niiidii, iiiid Irom kiiowlfd^c mid inloniKition of tlio fui'-scid industry, I
believe tlieiii to be conect in every piii ti<'n]iir. Siiid tables state ail of
tli(! salted liir-seiil skins of (he Alaska, Copper, Northwest eoast, and
Lobos calciies, .vliicli. acconliuy lo the said catalogues and iiienioranda,
were sold at public aiietion in London between tho years 18(J8 and 181)1,
to^'ether with the average i»riee per skin obtained during each of said
years for the aforesaid skins.

Alfekd Fbaseb.

\

ExiiiuiT a.

Salted Alaslca fur-seal skins sold in London from 1870 to 1891,

Year.

Skins.

1870 1 0,90,''.

1871 100. 80«

1872 !M). 28.1

1873 101,248

1874 00,150

Year.

SkinB.

1875

99,031

1H70

90, 207

1877

75,410

1878

99, 91 1

1870

100, 030

Year.

1880 . . .

1881 . . .
1882...
1883...
1884...

Sktus.

UIO. 101
99, 921

lOM. JOO
75,914
90, 887

Year.

1885

1880
1HK7
1888
18.S9

SkioB.

90,710
99,91(1
99, 040
100, 000
100, 000

Year.

890.
1891 .

Total.

Skins.

( 20, 994

t 4,158

13,473

1,877, on

ExHiniT B.
Salted Copper Island fur-seal skins sold in London in the years 1870 to ISOS.

Tear.

Skins. Year.

Skins.

Year.

Skins.

Year.

Skina.

Year.

1

Skins.

1870

1871

18T2

1873

1874

12,0.W 1875

9,522 i; 1870

7, 1.S2 1877

21,014 il 1878

30,319 ,1 1879

il

34, 479
33, 2M
25, 380
19, 000
28, 211

18,80

, 1881

■ 1882

i 1883

1 1884

38,885

15,2'i9
39,111
30, 500
20, 075

1 1885

1880

1 18«7

1 1888

V'"'

48, 929
41, 75.'
54, 581
40, 333
47,410

1890

1891

1892

Total..

95, 486

17,025
30, 078

789, 018

ExuiiiiT C.
Salted Xorthu'cst coast fur-seal skins sold in London prior to pelagic nealingin Bering Sea.

Year.

Skins.

Year.

Skins.

Year.

Skins.

Year.

Skins.

Year.

Skins.

1872

1873

1, 020

1875

1870

1,S77

1,040
2, 012

1878

1879

1880

281
12,212

8, o:io

1881

1882

1883

0,997

11,717

2, 319

1 1884

1

1 Total..

9,242

1874

4,919

04, 300

Ex mil

IT D.

:

Salted Northwest coast fur-seal skins sold in London after commencement of pelagic sealing

in Bering Sea.

Year.

Skins.

Year.

Skins.

1885

2,078
17, 909
30,907
30,818 !
39, 603 1

1390

38,315

1886

1891

51, 180

1887

1802 a

28, 298

1888

Total

1889

254 008

a To March 25.

i

i

ALASKA INDUMTRIES.

ExiiiisiT K.
Salted Lohoa Maud fur-seal ikin» sold In Loudon.

151

Y««r.

SkinH.

Yenr.

Skins.

i

13. RflO
13,200
12,861
10,258
10, 053
13,667
11,008 1
20, 747

T(<nr.

HkllM.

1873

6,500
8, 509
8,179
11,353
13, 006
12. 301
12, 205
14,866

1 1881

1HS9 .
1800 .
1891.
1892 0

8,755
18, .541

1874

1882

IH75

; 1883

15 8.'14

1876

1 1884

. ..

4, >^00

1877

1885

Total

Ih78

1886

247, 777

]S70

1887

J880

1888

a Tu ilato.

ExiiiniT P.

Salted Alaska fur-sr.al «fein« told in London in the i/carH 186S-1S71 Itiken prior to the

leasing of the I'ribilof Islands.

Year.

Skins.

28, 220
121,820
110,511

Year.

Sklus.

1808

1871

20 HI

I860

Total . .

1870

280, 602

Tlie foUoMiiifif table, preparod by Ilutcliiiisoii, Kohl, TliiliiXMis & Co.,
of Han Franci.sco, lessees of the right to take fur seals ujion tlie Com-
maiuler and Itobben islands, sliows the niunbcr of .seal skins secured
aumially from these respeetive islands from 1871 to IHDl :

Year.

1871,

1872,

1873

1874

1875

1870

1877

187(

187!

1880

1881

1882

Com-
nianiler
Inlands.

Kiibbi^ii
Island.

614

350
710

88{;

152
432
584
108
749
174
314
514

2. 094
2,414
3, 127
I,52.'i
2. 940
3,142
4, 002

3, 330
4, 207
4,106

Total.

614

350
404
300
279
OTO
533
340
750
004
521
020

Year.

1,883.

1884.
18H5.
1886.
1887.
1888.
18.S9.
1890.
1891.

Total .

C»m-

IIIIMIlltT

IkIuoiIs.

26,650
49. 441
41,T:i7 !
54.fi01
4li. "(7
47. 3.:2
52.8.-,.l
53. 780
5,800

Roliben
iHlaiiil.

2. 0-19 I

3.810 :
],p;j8

Total.

609
203
575
501
347
362
859
780
800

,1 776,407

Table (\f annual seal-skin supply compiled from table of London trade mifs as ginn by

Emil Teichmann.

Year.

Lobos
Island.

Capo
Horn.

Northwest
catch.

Alaska
catch.

(Jopper
catch.

Total.

1870

881
12, 405
16,303

081

0,065
100,896
96, 283
101 248

10,019
113,301

1871 1

1872

7,182

llfl 7KS

1H7 1

6, 956
8, 507
8,179
11.353
13,066
12,301

12, 205
14, ."80
13,509

13, 200
12.861
10,258
10.053
13.667
11,008
20,747

8,755

21,014 i:iii'74S

1871

7,843 90.150

30, 340
34. 407
33. 208

25, 380
10, 000
28,211
38, 885

45, 209
30.111
30. 5U0

26, 057
48. 929
41,7.J2
64, 584

46, 333
47,416

136 851

1K75

3,575

4, 007

1, 045

3, 607

16,527

13,501

10.573

23. 207

9.544

20, 142

20, 205

33, 975

43, 330

40, 000

41.808

99, 034
90, 207
75,410
90,011
100, 036
100, 161
9, 0U4
100, 100
75, 914
90, 887
90,719
90. UIO
99, 940

100, 000

100, 000

145, 867

1870

6,306

7,631

18. 227

12,180

17, 502

13, 164

11,711

4,655

8,743

3, 404

909

2,762

4,403

3,021

145, 321

1877

123, 432

1878

143, 040

1.^)79

108,249

1880

184, 045

1881

188, 436

1882

187. 329

1883

13!) 474

1884

169.705

1885

183 270

1886 '. !

190,213

1887

211,693

1888

211,483

1880

201, 000

152

ALASKA INDUsruiES.

Tahh of pcrrenliigei of annual nnil-iihiii nin>i)hi compiled from tnhle of London tradi salcg

asyiiiit I'll lUiiil Tekhmunn.

Yonr,

Inlillicl.

CnpB
Horn.

KorlliwcNt
ciitch.

AlHskil
catuli.

f "r

catch.

TotAl.

1870

0, 0020
.110

.i:)0

.11102
. 0072
.(124(1
. UJ.-*2
• OI.'.S
.(102,'>1
. (1027
.07;i0
. 082,'i

. i2;i;i

. 0(185
.1187
.11:1
. 1795
. 2ii 17
.1804
. 2075

0. 0;i80
. 800
. 8047
.774:1
.68:10
.0201
,011:1
.008
. 504 1

.8i:i

.5417
. 5;i()7
.5:11:1
.5142
. 5821
. .M47
.5:107
.4721
. 4728
.4075

1. 0000

1871

1872

0. O.ll

. o.'.o
. 10.'.:i
,2:101
.211,1
. 2578

. im:i

.1077
.210a
. 2451
. 2007
.2(110

.ie;ii

. 2084
.214:1
. 2578
.2100
. 2J5U

187;i .

1 000')

1«74

0. or.;i2

. (I.'fUiI
. 0782
. Ulft4
.08:il
. 07.10
, 0H04
.(1720

. 07o;i
. (ii»2:i

. (1050
.6510
.0718
.(l,'>21
.OilKl

.oias

1870

1.(111:10

1870

0. 0440

.1)1118
.(i.'i75
. 0722
. 11040
. 0007
. (1024
. 0:iH4
. 0;i:i2
.010(1
.01147
.oi:iH
. 020"
.0150

1,00110

1877

I.O'IOO

187H

1. (lOIIO

1879

1 . 0000

1880

1.0000

la.si

l.(KlllO

]882

1,0000

18811

1.0000

1884

1.000:)

1HH5

1 . 0000

18811

1. 0000

1887

1.0000

1.0000

188U

1. 0000

s

'(:

OnUISB OF TIIK LOUIS OLSEN IN THE BERING SEA.

BY A. U. AI.KXANDKR.

On the 25111 ol' :\Iiiy, at St'iittlo, I met Capt. E. P. ]\Iiiior, master of
tlie AiiK'iicaii scaliii;; wcliooiitn' Uany Iiciniis, wlio, on tlic .same (lay,
had arrived IVoiii .laiiaii, liis ve.ssel liaviny' been wrecked on tliat coa.st.
At tilt' time of meetiii}; him he was eiiikavorin;;- to charter another
vessel, and jiojied to be in the IJerin^' Sea by tiie 1st of August. Iiiform-
iiiy him that the United States Commissioner of I'Msli and Fisheries
was anxious that I should make a cruise with him should he succeed
in getting a suitable ves.sel, he I'leely consented, and informed me that
if he found out in time he would let me know by mail.

On the morning of the I'Sth 1 sailed in the C'//// nf Topehi for Sitka,
and from there took ])assage in the Crescent Citi/ for IJnalaska. Soon
after arriving there I joined the AUxttrosn, and remained by iier until
the evening of the -!i»th of 'July, when I Joined the sealing sciiooner
Jjouis Olscn, of Astoria, Oreg., Cajitaiu (iiiillaius, master, who did not
for a moment hesitate about giving me a jiassage. I\ly reason for
joining the Olsrn was on ac.ctmnt of not having heard from Captain
Miner as to whether he had succeeded in obtaining a vessel; J was
al.-^o informed by several sealing captains that he did not get a vessel,
and in con.sequence would not be in the sea. The time having arrived
when ])elagie sealing was about to commence, 1 Mas glad to accept, as
I thought, the only op])ortunity which would be offered for the season.

The ne.xt day, in latitude 54° 08' north, longitude l(i7^^ 04' west, we
saw our first seals, 2(1 in number, 12 of wliicli were "sleepers." Seals
when sleeping are by sealers always called by the above name. In the
afternoon we saw G seals about half a mile from the vessel playing in
a bunch of seaweed. The sea at the time was perfectly smooth witli a
light air stirring. Two hunters and my.-elf started out in a boat to
watch them and see how near we could approach without disturbing
them. We soon leariu'd that they were unusually tame, as we approached
near enough to touch one with a spear pole which was in the boat. They
showed little signs of fear, notwithstanding that we were within 30 feet
of them for fully live minutes. Diving under the seaweed and sud-

ALASKA INDUHTRIKS.

153

:

■i

in

i

deiily (hriistini;' (licir lioinlN up tlirnit-.'!! it socmcd to adoid lliciii jxvad
l)l('iisiir('. Ifolliiij,' over iiinl (ivcr in tlie Nciiwticd, flicir tli|»|icrs hccoiii
\\\<X liiii.uicd ill it, Win iilso a |ilt'ii-<;int ciijoviiicnt. 'I'lmy paid hut little
iitlfiitiiiii to iiH and sccnicd iilniost iiidiircrciit as to how iK'ar w«
nppKiiiclicd so loii(i' as wi- did so (|iii('tiy. Tiiis caus*!!! tlic iiniitcrs to
exclaim several limes, "II' we oiil\' iiiid a ;;nii we could kill tiicm all.''
Under tli(^ ciiciimstaiices it was hut natural dial a gun slionid ho tlio
uppei'inost llioii;;'lit in their minds.

i'larly in liie spriiiiv, liolh on the. Northwest coast and olT' the coast
of .lapan, seals are sometimes loiuid wliieli eviiK'c little sij^iis of tear,
but al'ler one day' shooting' on the j;roiind they heeiniii' very wild aii«l
mislriisi lid, and, liu;; a crow and snme land animals, seem lo scent a fjun
in the air. On this ])artienlar occasion a koilaU canieni would have
given good results — il was one op]»orluiiit}' of a Miousaiid.

Till! f(dlowiiig day, iUst, seals were plentiful. The wind heing light
during the ])ievioiis night, our position had clianged hut little.

On August 1, at a veiy early hour, the spears were hroiight forth and
the seal on them hioUen. W'hiletliis was going on many remarks w<'ro
made in regard to the Mr.st day's trial, yome of the hunters were already
discouraged and were eonlldent that they Avero only wasting time by
attemi)tiiig to use s|)ears; the thought of being obliged to ado])! the
])rimilive weapmi < tin; iSiwash was indeed humiliating to them. A
few on h(»ard fel. moie hojx'fnl and were willing to give tiie spear a fair
trial. I'jver since !* ,i\ lug IJnalaska the hunters had been ])racticing at
throwing the sj)ear jiole. I'jvery piece of lioating seaweed or other
object which (!ame within range had been a targit. On several occa-
sions the l)oats iiad been lower«'d and a supply of clii])s and small
])ie(;es of wood liiUeii along. These were thrown ahead of the boat as
targets to throw at. It was soon fonud that an ohJe(;t thai could be
easily hit at a distance of -'5 or .'5(1 feet from the vessel was not so easily
reached from a boat, as the smallest wave woidd cause her to move just
enough to cause the jiole to go wide of its mark. A day's practice
throwing from tiie boats had the etfect of teachiug the iiunters the
various ways of holding the spear to make nn)re sure of its hitting the
mark under the many eoiidilions of sea and wind. All this time s]>eiU'
throwing had been carried on with lifeless objects lor a mark. The
oi)portuiiity was about to jiresent itself to exhihii skill in throwing at
something lliat if missed (he lirst time would not be likely to remain
stationary long enough to give the marksman another trial. A cool
liead and steady nerves would be the special re(|uiremeiits to insure a
BUiteesst'iil day's liuiit shtudd seals be jilentiful.

The 1st day of August did not ])rove a success, so far as sealing was
eoncerned, the weather being too foggy to send out the boats. iSeat-
tering seals were observed all day. but they were all "travelers;" that
is, they were all moving in various directions. Our noon position was
latitude n(»o 11' north, longitude I7:i'^(il' \\est. The next day seals
were less numerous. None were observed in the forenoon ; in tlie after-
noon lli were seen; all but one were tra\('ling to the westward. This
individual was asleej); a boat was ({uickly lowered and the hunter on
watch was rowed toward it. Before the boat had covered half the dis-
tance the seal showed signs of waking, and shortly after, becoming
aware of ai)!)roaching danger, it disai»peaied. Our noon position on
this day was latitude o7° 21' north, longitude 1 73° 4(i' west. Seals here
were not so identil'ul as they were fartlier south. In the afternoon we
hove to and caught two cod in (m fathoms of water. No more seal life
was observed until the afternoon of the following day, when two sleep-

154

ALASKA. INDUSTRIES.

iiiff seals were sig'nted. latitnd*^ ~>1° 50' north, ioiipitndo 17.^° 48' west.
Five boats Avere sent out. Tiiey returned at 5 ji. m., Iiavinj;- taken
no seals, altlioiigh ii liad been seen, but they were all ^'travelers."
Heavy tn}.>; and strong;- iiidieations of the wind bree/.inj;' u]) fi'esli . aused
the boats to return earlier than tiKy otherwise would. In the eveniufj^,
the vessel beinij hove to, several seals came close aloujrside. They
seemed to be very curious to know what we wei'e AW the spo-'irs on
board were repeatedly thrown at theui, but they had the jj'ood sense to
keep Just out of range, Wliistliiiij' had theen'eetof eiiticiuj;- them close
aboard, but the si<iht of u sjjcar or two beiiig aimed at tiiem would cause
them, without any appsreut ett'ort, to increase their distance by 20 or
more feet.

The lirst seal captured by the Olseii was on Angust 4, ii laiitnde 57°
50' north, longitude 17.'° 48' west, the same ]>osition n corded on the
previous day. At 8.45 a. m. sail was made, ami at 10.45 •• aoats were
lowered, two ''sleei»crs'' having been seen. The weather being foggy
the boats were soon lost to sight. The vessel was hove to, it being
niin^h easier lor the boats to keei) the bearing of the vet.oel than for
the vessel to kee]» track of the boats.

iis poon as tlu> l-oats had left a hand line Ak'as put over in 70 fathoms
of water. An hour's lishing resulted in 18 cuL Their average weiglit,
as near as could be judged, was 12 pounds; the largest weighed not I'ar
from 30 pounds. All but two of the cod Avere in a heallhy condition.
T1"''"C t"> '^ had soi'es on their backs about the size of a half dollar, which
had eaten nearly lo the backbone Thi.s instaiice is mentioned here on
account of the part of tlie fish Avhere the soics Avere. In botli cases
they were situated near the neck, directly over the vertebra ; they were
as round and smoolh as if cut with a knife.

Notwithstanding that the fog did not lift daring the day, the Liats
remained out until \> p. n?. The result of rhe day's hunt was 12 se«ls —
4 rialca and 8 females. One of the seals had / rovionsly been speared
in one of its tiippers, as it was nearly severed .'lom its body, sliowing
that the seal must ha; o had a itind stinggle to free itself. The largest
number of seals ca.ight for this lirst day's successful hunt was taken
by two boats, they bringing in live each; two other boats (;ai)tured one
each, and the reinainiTig tAvo lioars brought in nothing. Tiie hiniteis
in these boats, on learning that 12 seals had been captured, indulged in
strong language at their nonsucccss.

About 50 sells had been i>!j>--erved from the boats, the mo: t of wliicli
were aw.-ike. Only an occasional individual had been seen duriir' tlio
diiy from the vessel, tlie fog It^ing too dense to see more tlian an eighth
of a mile.

In no single instance Avas the first seal speared at captured; it was
only after repeahtd attempts by each hunter tliat one was Iiit. The
excitement caused by the desire on the part of each to be the lirst
to capture a seal, conibined with the inexperience of throwing the
primitive wcai)on, Avas no doubt the (diief cause of the i)i«or results.
The eight fenuUcs captured Avere all nursing st-als; but little food Avas
found in tiieir stonuichs, ami that Avas too much digested to tell Avhat
it consisted of; it was, however, phuicd in al(!ohol.

In the evening, atter the seals bad been skinned and everything made
snug lor the nij:,ht, each hunter told his exix'riencc during the <lay,
which, us may be suiiposed, Avas more entertaining tlmn instrtictive.

On the 5th the Avind and weatlu'r AA'ere not suitable for sealing; rt
very fresh southea: t n-ind ])revailed, and in order to kecj) our jiresent
position the vessel 'v.is hove to under easy sail. A large number of

1

)

ALASKA INDUSTKIES.

155

J)

■i

!

1

seal-s was noticed ; they wt'ie freqnoiitly sp(!ii playing about, somoiimes
on tlm crest of a Wiivc, and tliou in tlie hollow of a sea. Tlicy seem-
ingly had no fixed course, but would swim in one directmn a half a
mile or so, return and go in an oi)))osite way. It is more than likely,
had the wind been blowing a stripng gale, they would all have been
bound in one direction. The wind continued fresli, with a rough, choppy
sea, until the following noon, when tlie log wliich had come in during
the night lifted and the wind suddenly subsided into a calm. The boats
were i)nt in readiness and sent out for an afternoor.'.'i i j'lt. Consider-
ing libe state of the sea and the time of starting, a fair afteinoon's work
w.;j done, J I) seals being landed on deck by S.oO p. m. Fifteen of the
number were cows and 4 males. Only 6 liad food in their stomachs.
Every hunter reported seals numerous, about half of the number being
."^.sleep. They slept in bnnches of tJ and 8, and when aroused from their
slundier were very tame, but owing to the inexjjerience of the hunteis
with spears in a comp "atively rough sea, the successful throws were few
and far between, had the liunters been provided with shotguns instead
of spears, it is pretty safe to Siiy that a hundred or more seals would have
been nearer the day's catch. To be compelled to see seals escape that
could easily have been killed with a shotgun brought forth from both
hunters and boat crews loud and imprecatory language upon the heads
of all those who were instrumental n i)rohil)i ting the use of firearms in
the Bering Sea. These n'.en had not been used to seeing their prey get
awf" so easily, and to them the sight was moro than exi'sjierating.
During the absence of the boats a large number of trave'.ing seals had
been seen from the vessel and also an occasional "sleeper."' One of the
latter was observed close aboard a little on our lee. It evidently was
sleepi'^g soundly, for neither the slatting of the sails nor the blowing
of the fog horn had tl.e effect of awaking it, and it was only when the
scent of the vessel rciiched its nostrils that it showed signs of life.
After being fully aroused it did not exhibit any great signs of alarm,
but played about not far off for some time. It seldom hap|)ens that a
seal will show such indifference to its surroundings as this one. The
captain and mate said they had never in all their experience seen a seal
so tame. The general o]iinion <m board was that it was due to therj
bei'ig no firearms used or hui ting allowed in the IJering 8ea for the
past few years that caused the seals thus far observed to show so little
fear of man.

The highest catch for any one single day >yas taken on the 7th. The
day commenceu with a gentle bveeze from tiie south, and a smooth sea.
A light fog hung low over the water which ])revcnted the boats from
being seen more than 20 yai 'Is. At 8 a. m. the last boat shoved off, and
they were not seen again until evening. >.'oon position: Latitude, oS"^
30' north; longitude, 1 7.'i" 50' west. In the forenoon hand-line fishing
was carried on. The depth of water here was 00 fatlioms. Six gocxl-
sized cod were cauoiit in <piiek succession; - males and 4 fenuiles.
Their stomachs were well lillcd with food. In tbe stomach of a large
feniale was found an octopus; it had been recently swallowed, as its skin
showed no discoloration. Cod vvere abundant; we could have filled the
decks in a day's fishing with a single line. The i.bundance of cod inaj'
have been the ( ause of seals being i)!entiful if this region. In the
evening the bouts all returned nearly at the sauie time, bringing in 34
seals, . JO of wiiich were females. Twenty-four of the number Inul food
in their stomaclis. The material, however, was finely masticated, and
hard to identify, but a portion (d it looked very much like the flesh of
•!od. If a portion of the food was codj the questica arises, did the seals

156

ALASKA IXDU8TUIE8.

dive to tlio bottom in 00 faflioins of wnlcr iuul briiipj tluMr j)r(>.yto tli«
siirfjHte? As a lulc cod •,ivc lonnd very close to tlie hottoio, esjx'cially in
deep water; in shallow phircs tliey are soiiietinses loiind nearer tlie snr-
faee. It is not probable that seals in this region found an abnndanee
of eod or even scattering' ones near the surlace. Just how dee]) a seal
can dive and secare food is a mooted (uiestion. Mr. Henry Elliott .uives
tbeni credit of being- able to dive lo profonnd dejtths. The writer has
conversed with a <;(«(d many sealers on the suliject. Int has never be<'n
able to gather any reliable information. Sealers as a rule are not a very
observinj;' class of men, for the reason that their interest is all centered
ill 1;he commercial side of tli(^ (jn(>stioii, and thiidf little of the habits or
other peculiarities of seal life. The most satisfactory evidiMiee the writer
ever liad that seals are deep divers was two years a<;<) on the. f'airweatlier
(iironnd, a large bank olf the coast of Alaska, while on a cruise in the
revenue-cutter fJuricin. We were about to return to the ship at the end
of a successful afternoon's hunt, when a large bull suddeidy came up
close to our canoe, not over ;5(> feet away, with a very large red rocklisli
ill its mouth, which it immediately proceeded to devour. The lish was
alive and could be plainly seen struggliujr in tlie seal's mouth. Our
position at the time was some 75 or <S0 miles (dfshnre from Yakutat
Bay. We hail no means of ascertaining the dei»tli of tlie water, but it
could not have been much less than 100 fathoms. Ited rock lish is also
a species that generally swims clnse to the bottom, altliongli like ('(ul it
is possible that they sometimes feed near the surface. Thc^ writer dues
not maintain that seals can go to the bottom in KK) fathoms of water,
but thinks they can dive mucli deeper than is generally supposed.

All the hunters on this day reported seals plentiful, but could find
very few asleep. Had the sun been shining it is safe to say that tlie
majority of those with food in their stomachs would have slept dining
a greater ])art of the day, for, as a rule, ideals with full stomachs sleep
when tlie sun is out, the air warm, and the sea smooth or com]iaraf i\ ely
so. Their time of sleeping, however, is not always when conditions are
I'avorable, for after a gale of long duration they are frequently seen
asleep wlien the air is cold and tlie sea uncommonly high. At siuih
times seals are completely exhausted. It is not an infrequent sight
during the winter and spring months, at the end of a h)ng and heavy
gale, to sec seals sleeping soundly in a snowstorm, with that por-
tion of the body out of the w^ater covered with snow. lu conscfpience
of the seals on this day being restless, a great many of the M taken
were wliat is known to sealers as " tinners,*' that is. seals about half
asleep, rolling about and scratching themselves. Sometimes "tinners"
are hard to api)roach, and at other times very easy. A restless on(^ will
try very hard to take a nap, but just as he gets comfortably lixed some-
thing disturbs him; holding its head up he will take a look allaioiiml,
as if daiigei' was scented in the air. These are hard to cajiture with
8])ears.

Indians seldim jtay any attention to moving seals when hunting with
spears; tiiey think it a waste of time. White hunters, when they can
find no sleejiing seals, freipicntly give chase to " linners" and "travel-
ers," and in many cases are rewarded for their tr(ud)le. The hunters
on tlie i)lsr)i soon found that few s(>als would be taken on certain days
if they only selected sleeping ones. Many lia]iliazard throws were
made at swimming and tinning seals, the majority of which were fail-
ures, but enough good shots wiue made to make the experiment a i>ay-
ing one.

For several days seals had been observed chasing some kind of lish,

a

ALASKA lNUL;iTUIES.

157

and dnriiif!^ this last day's limit they were quite plentiful. Only a single
individual woni<l be seen; it would dart first iu one direction and theu
jiiaiiotiicr, and occasionally wonld make a desperate leap out of water.
Prcsontiy u sea! would be noticed not far off swiinniiny as rapidly and
iu as maiiydilferent directions as the lish. On the day in question, two
seals were speared, just as they came to the surface, each with one of
these fish in its mouth. The seals did not relinquish their hold when
sjieared, but kej)t a lirm j;rip until knocked on the head. The s])eci-
mens i)rove(l to be Alaskan jjoilock. In b'lth eases the specinu'us of
fish secnred were broujjlit up by larj>e raalesj one was somewhere
between W and 10 years of ajje.

Tlie two followinj;- (hiys, 8th and Dth, the weather was too boisterous
for sealinfi'; wind southeast and every indication of a ffale. We lay to
under the foresail in order to keep as near our present position as p(»s-
sible. A iieavy sea set in from the westward, but the wind did not
increase above a strong" breeze. Scattering seals were about each day,
all tra\elin,y' to the westward. From observation we learned that dur-
ing stcu'my weather seals traveled in an oi)posite direction to the wind.
In a gale it will be found tliat seals are far more immerous on the lee
side of the I'riliilof Islands than to the windward of them. When the
wind is heavy and the sea nmgh seals as a rule travel from the seal
islands directly to leeward or nearly so. Just how much the wind
changes the course of the main body of seals would be hard to say,
but so far as our investigations extended, in connection with the travel-
ing herd which came under our notice, we are inclined to think that
Reals within TOO miles of the seal islands, bouud to the feeding grounds,
will in most cases seek the g'oumlstothe leeward of the group. Seals
in a gale take every advantage of wind and sea. It is necessary that
they siionld, for there is evidently a limit to their endurance.

On the nu)rning of the lOth light winds jjrevailed, but a choppy sea,
combined with a long rolling swell from the west-southwest, rendered
it unlit for sealing, although scattering seals had been noticed. Two
days of idleness had made everybody on board anxious to get out in
the boats. In the afternoon the wind fell to a calm, and the boats were
put over in latitude TiSl!?' uortii, longitude 172 ^W west, and renuiined
out until evening, bringing in only three seals. Very lew were seen
from the boats, although they covered considerable ground during the
day. Seals were eijually scarce iu the vicinity of the vessel; only six
were observed. One of these, more bold than the rest, kejit circling
around the vessel, coming nearer each time. Finding that it was inclined
to be in(iuisilive, it was einourage<l to nmke further investigations as
to wiiat we were by continual wiiistling by those on board. It was
finally cntic<'d alongside and captured, the sjuar passing through one
of its hind llii)pers. A series of photographs showing all the dilferent
positions the seal was in dnring its struggle for liberty would have been
vahiible. It fought bravely for life wiiile in the water, but on being
hauled on board its p(twer was greatly lessened. It did not, however,
give up without a des|»erate struggle to regain its liberty. At one
jieriod of the light it drove everybody from the main deck, and it was
only wiien a noose was thrown over its neck and its head hauled down
to a ring bolt that terms of peace could be made, which was by knock-
ing in on the head. The cateli of seals for the day was 4 — 15 fenndes and
1 nnile; the total catch to date (!!• — 1.''> nmles and ."((i females.

The next day (lUh) tiie boats nuide an early start. Fverything
looked I'avorabie for a good day's hunt, tlu^ wind being light and the
sea smooth, two things Mhieh are alnui.^t indispensable in seal hunting.

158

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

No seals had been noticed during the morning, but it does not neces-
sarily follow that because none are observed from tlie vessel they are
not about, for frequently it hai)pous that good catches are made when
not a seal has been seen from the vessel. This was not one of those
exceptional days; 13 was the catch — 3 males and 10 cows. Seals had
been comparatively plentiful, but were not inclined to sleep and were
too wild to api)r()ach. A piece of an Alaskan i)olloek was brought in
by one of the hunt»>rs, it having been taken from a seal's mouth in the
same manner as the two others previously described. The shape of an
Alaskan pollock would indicate it to be a fish that could easily escape
from a seal. It niiiy be, however, that seals do not select a single fish,
but give chase to a body of them after the manner of whales, sword-
fish, and sharks, and out of many succeed in capturing one or more.
The reason for seals seen on this day being so wihl coiihl bo accounted
for only In one way, they having had little to eat. The stomachs of
those taken fullj'^ corroborated this theory. A series of trials were
made for bottom fish, but with negative results; we seemed to bo
drifting over barren ground. The noon position on this day was 57°
42' 38" north latitude; 172° 52' west longitude.

Our pleasant weather was about to be bioiien for a considerable
length of time, for on the 12th the day began with a gale from tlie
soutlieast, acc.omjianied by a heavy sea. Lay hove to under single-
reeled foresail and trysail. In the afternoon s[)oke with the schooner
Teresa, of San Francisco; also saw tlie s('ho<mer Kate, of Victoria,
British Columbia, a short distance away. Seals Ireipienily seen all
through the day. In the early ])art of the night the wind increased to
a heavy gale, and in the latter part the wind decreased in force and
hauled to the west-southwest. A heavy sea kei)t ui) all day. In the
forenoon a vessel was sighted low on the horizon. An occasional seal
observed; phalaropes numerous.

August 14: Weather pleasant, but wind fresli from the westward.
In the evening boarded the schooner Fawn, of Victoria, British Colum-
bia. Slie reported losing a boat and tliree men on the 11th. (They
were afterwards i>icked up.) The Faicn had an Indian crew and had
taken 20 skins in the sea. Tliis news gave our linnters considerable

nortli ; longitude 173° 14'

Position, latitude 57° 37'

encouragement
west.

August 15: Pleasant weather in the early part of the day, but very
squally in the latter part; sea rougii. Latitude 57° 11' north; longi-
tude 173'' 09' west.

August 10 : Variable weather ; clear in the morning, thick and squally
in the attcriioon; sea very rongli. But few seals seen. Noon position,
latitude 57° 01' north; longitude 172° 30' west.

August 17: At 7 a. m. made sail and ran to the southward; wind
northwest and fresh, gradually decreasing to a light breeze in after-
noon. A lieiivy fog came in later in the day. Position, latitude 56° 54'
north; longitude 172° 45' west. Continued on our course until 8 a. ra.
the next day, at wliich time saw a seal " finning " close by. A boat was
quickly manned and started in pursuit, but the seal was on the alert
and soon increased the distance between itself and enemy. Shortly
after this a "sleeper"' was noticted not far off on the weatiier bow
Another boat was lioisted out, which was silently rowed toward tlio
coveted i)rize. No attemi)t was made by the hunter to throw tlie spear
until the boat was within 20 feet of it. It was easily captured. When
opened its stomach was found to be well iilied with food, wUicli no
doubt was the cause of its sleeping so soundly.

1

ALASKA INDUSTHIES,

159

Later in the day all the boats went out, but returned at tlie end of
three hours with only one seal. The sea was sniootli and but little
wind stirrin;^-, but the air grew sudchady chilly and the sky very cloudy,
■which ])ra('ticaily put an eiul to tiie chances of seals sleeping for the
day. On this particular occasion the hunters were very much dis-
gusted on account of not having shotguns. They claimed that with
guns the day's catcli at the least calculation would have been between
<!() and 7(1 seals, instead of the small number of two. On a day like
this, when seals showed no inclination to sleep, shotguns in the hands
of skillful hunters Avonld have done very destructive wo k to the seal
held, for exi)erienced hunters kill lU'arly if not quite as many traveling
seals during the course of a season as sleei)ing ones. In the early his-
tory of pelagic sealing liunters sought sleeping seals oidy, but they
Lave learned the movements of the seal so thoroughly that traveling
and tinning seals are almost as desirable as sleeping ones.

Hand-line lishing was carried on from the vessel in (iO iathoms of
water. In one hour 10 cod were caught, their average weight being
about 9 pounds. It was estimated tlnit the largest would weigh -'iO
pounds, the snudlost 4 pounds. In their stomachs were found snndl
starlish, ))rawns, sijuid, medusa', and a q[uautity of decomposed lisli,
all of which was saved.

Unfortunately this was our last day's hunt. From this time on we
had stormy weather and heavy gales. Eighty-four seals had been taken,
Ki males and OS females. All the females w'ere nursing cows, except
one, which was a yearling. The last seal canght by the Olsen was taken
in latitude olP 05' north, longitude 17li'^ 17' west.

I'larly in the moining of the 10th the weather was jdeasant, with indi-
cations of its being a suitable day for sealing, but shortly after the wind
began to freshen from the southeast, gradually increasing in force and
hauling t(» the westward. Lay to under a double-reeled foresail; heavy
s(iualls at times. Noon position, latitude 'h>° 'M' north, longitude 172'^
12' west.

August L'O: Heavy gale from the northwest; very high sea running.
Kan before the wind for three hours, hoping to run out of the heaviest
part of the gale, but no perceptible ditl'erence was felt. Lay hove to
until 10 p. m., at which time again kept olf before the wind and rau
until 10 a. m. the next day. About this time saw several seals, and
soon after ran close to a bunch of seals, five in number, all huddled
together. It was evident that they were well tired out, or else they
Avonld not have been asleep in such weather. Tosition, latitude .54°
38' n(nth, longitude 108° 01' west. In the afternoon sighted several
vessels.

On the 12LM bore away for LIninudc Pass; wind north-northwest and
blowing a gale, Ibllowed by a heavy sea. On the morning of the 23d
sighted the lower i>art of Akutan Island, the top of it being enveloped
in a heavy fog. All through the day seals were plentiful, many of which
were asleep. During the past few days enough seals had been seen to
cause a vessel to lay by and wait until the weather should moderate.
The captain thought that bad weather had set in for the fall, and
accordingly had made up his nuud to go home. A mistake was made
ill this decision, for after we had left the sea and were on our way homo
good catches were being made by all the vessels that remained.

At (J o'clock in the e\ening we had left Unimak Pass behind us, and
were standing on an east by soutli course. The next day, when about
7."') miles from the pass, saw a sleeping seal, and 10 miles faither on saw
two more. When about 200 miles otl'shore sahnou were noticed jumi)-

IGO

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

ing. They were so near tliat we could hardly mistake the species.
Wliales were also i)leiititu].

For the lirst two or tliree days after le.iviiiK' the s(>!i tlie weather was
pleasant, but duriuj^' tlie j^reater [)art of the voya;;*' lioine heavy gales
from the westward prevaihMl, which made the caittain all the more coii-
tideut that no mistake had been made by leaving so early.

On the eveiuiig of tlie (ith of September we arri\ed at Victoria, hav-
ing been twelve days on the voyage home.

The writer was very kindly treated by the captain, otlicors, and crew
of the Olscn, every effort being made by them to lend assistance and
collect such material as was desired. Had the Olsen been among seals
under favorable circumstances, as many vessels were, the writer could,
with th(^ assistance of the kindly disposed crew, have gathered consid-
erable material; but we were one of the unfortunate ones. It was
subsequently learned that during tlie time we were having exceedingly
stormy weather — often hove to in a gale — many vessels of the fleet that
Avere several degrees farther south were having pleasant weather aud
getting good catches every day.

Seah lalcn in the Berlny Sea hij the schooner Louis Olsen, 1,194,

rodltion.

Number.

Male,

Date.

North lati-
tiiilo.

West loiigi-
tiulo.

Female.

Aucr. 4

0 / '/

57 50 00

58 30 (10
5s ;!0 no
58 27 00
57 42 38
50 05 00

0 / tl

173 48 00
173 5!! 00
173 50 00
172 40 00
172 52 00
172 17 00

12

10
31

4
13

2

4

4
4

1
3

8

15

7

GO

10

;(

11

10

18

2

Total

64

10

08

[St.itistics cdinjiilod by 11. H. Mi'Intyre, 1880.]

Seal Kkiii» laniJed at Victoria from IWrinq Sea, as shown by the Victoria custom-house

records.

Schooner.

IfSl.i 1882. ; 1883.: 1834.

S.lii Uicpo ( A iiu'riiiiii)

.Mi'X.aiiil OltiT (ArniriiMii) '

Mai-y Kllcii (iiriti.sh) '

Vaiillerliilt (Aiariican) j

City of San liii',i!ii ( Aiiii'i'icaii) '

Lookout {Aiih'i'ii-an) '

I''av(»rit(' (Ilritisli) I

Aiiiiin (Anieriian)

'I'lifii'sc (Aim'i'i(i;ii, now lirilisli)

Svlvia Handy (AniinicaD)

Helen liluni (Anicritan) '

Dol]>hiii (liiitiah, now American,.), (1. I

103 327 ! 008

080
1,700
1, 409

S%van).

Alfre<l .Vdains (liritiMlj, now the l.ily).*.

Ithiek Dianioiiil (i'.i'iti«li)

I'atlilinder (liritisli) '.

Sierra ( ISritisili) I.

Active (iii-itisli) i.

Auni(> Hoeli (l!i'itiH|]) I.

W. r. Say ward (l(riti~^li) !.

Grace (Hiiti,xli, now the .1. H. f.c^wi^) ..'.

renelo|ie ( Brit i.ili ) | .

Jlonntain ( 'bi<ir(I!riti.><li)

Mnrv 'I'avlor (llriiiKo)

Kati^ (liritishl \.

Trliiniiih (Urilisli) j.

Lottie I''ii]rliulil (I'litish) .• '.

Adu(iirUisU) j.

1885.

1,720

18S0.

1887.? I 1888.

1,187

1,773
],24-i
1,053
1, IIIO
1,385

3, 559 j 2, 130
1,120 1,349
1, 000 1 1, 187

7U0

3,402

182

2,000

1, 700
(')

2, 200
1,455

328'
1,700
1,000
1,338
1. 112
1,009
1,700

191

o;.o

188Q.

1,8<7 1
50 C

000 .

440 ('
530 !

S'zed.

1,040

!l"i,"766

1)00

2,;)77

S'zed.
Szed.
S'zccl.

1,292
024
l,00il
1,025
500
2. 507
S'/ed.

705
800

1, 054
780

2, 4V0

650
014

55

50

1,C00
' 1,856

Oil
00

i

8
15
SO

3
10

2

08

1889.

650
014

55

!"i,'coo
' "i.'sso

'. " "iiii

00

I

ALASKA INDUSTRIES. 161

Seal skins landed at VirUn-ia from Bering Sea, etc. — Continued.

Schooner. 1881.

1882.

1H83.

1884.

1885.

1886. 1887. f

1

1888.

1889.

Juniata (Britiuh)

1,030

Annie C. Muoro (Uritinh)

715
2, OO'.I
1,41:4
450
620
600
400

Mii'uie Mc (liritlBli) \

1, 200

A(l(*lf (Gtinuun) '

1,350(

Allic J Aigcr ( Aiuorii;;iii) '

4i'0 '

.'IftO

284
239

60

700

Sappnire (British)

1, 629

74

Lilly (liritish)

Ariel (liritish)

1 316

Minnie (IJritiah)

521

Beatrice {Jiritinh)

700

f

700

Lilly L (American)

800

1,637

!BeHHiB Keuter ( Aniericiiii)

550

Chiillen£(6 ( Aiiusi'icRii)

96

Total

193 327 908 ' 4, 0«9

1

9,181 27 '240 ''S rial i.=> no?

23 060

Skins Boized by tUo United Statia,
ftpprox iniate

' 1 '
2,000 )•> oon<i

2 500

1 !

29,240

193

327

008 '> ORD a 181

34.331 15 ni>7

25 508

•Actual numbM of Bkins Helzed U,618 or 11,902. See page 337 United States counter caHO.— J. S. B.
NoTB.— Tlie interrogation point (?) following figures in 1887 column indicates doubt as to t lie coireot-
ness of the report.

Number of Victoria and Northwest Coast fur- seal skins sent to market from ISSl to t8S9,

inclusive.

Year.

1881

1882
1883
1884
1885
1886
1HH7
lh88
1889

Bering

Sea
skins.

193

327

908

4, 089

9,181

29,240

34,:i:;i

15, 097

25, 506

North

Paiiflc ] Total.

skins, i

1

16,380

22, 880

8,180

10, 053

U. 184

4,7:15

8,908

24, 801

20,580

16, 573

23, 207
9, (194
20,142
20. 365
33. 975
43, 2;i9
39, 898
40, 140

The above totals are ht'lioved to l)(i very uearl\' (MH'iect, liaviiij;' l>oeu
coinpiied from the rjOii(h»ii catalo.yiies of sales, but the imiubers ciiiifi^lit,
lesjiectively, iu IJering 8ea iiiul tlH' North I'aeitic are not <letiiiitely
known. Theiiatcli of the Nortli I'ac, lie has been ascertained by dednet-
in}>' tlie iminber reporttid from tlie 'ictoria eustom-house reeords as
huviufi' been til IvtMi in Herin^ Sea from < lie total number sold in Ijondon.

It will be noticed that nearly iu i)r(i;")ortion as the Ikniufj: Sea calcli
increased, that of the Northern Pacitic decreased; and, that while the
total catch of 1888, following the seizures and re|»ressioii of IS.ST, w;is
notverymateriiilly less, the proportion taken from Bcriuj;' Sea was iiuiwli
smallei' than in the iirecedinj;' and follo\vinj>' year.

The inference may be clearly drawn tlnit to the e.xtent to whicli illicit
sealinji is sujipressed in Beriiu^' Sea, it will be more active in Ihc North
I'acific, and that the simide closure o!' the former body of water a.nainst
marauders will do little toward the eli'ective protection of si'al life.
11. Doc. '.tL', pt. L' 11

1G2

ALARKA INDIISTRIRS.

Value of Victoria, lirilwh Columbia, seahii;! vessels, utimated hi/ A. R. Milne, esq.,
lurveyor of the port of Victoria, and T. T. Willinms, of San Francisco, August, 1SS9.

ScllOullrr.

Mary Taylor...

Patlilinder

Viva

Mary Kllen

Triunipli No. 1.

Favorite

Kate

Aiinira

Minnie

Sapiiliire

Winifred

Hlk Diamond . .
Lilv

Owner'H name.

Came, Mansio & Co.

do

do

D. McLean

U. C. liakeriCo....

C. Spring

do

N'ot linown

II. .lacolison

Marvin i&Co

McDolaii

A. l''iiink

<lo.

l'(^n<'lopi' i (iray & Moaes .

MiiKK''' ^'ao .
W. P. Say ward..

Juniata

Annie C. Moore.

Tlieresa

A riel

Mountain Chief.

Wanderer

TrIunipliNo. 2. .
I.etelia

Totiil .

Ilodd it (Jo.
Lnndlierg \- Co. ..

Hall.tGi-opel

Moore & Ilaekelt.
I!iilil>ington & Co.

lliu'knian

IndiauR

Paxlon cfcCo

.\Iiiir liros

Indian.s

Milne's
valuation.

$8, OHO

10. 000

12,11110
8, 000

14,1100
8. 000

7, 000
8,u|i0

8, '.m

15, 000
2, .-lOO
0, fi'lO
8, .'iOO

10,000

10, Olio

8,000
U, 000

i,";, 000

10, 000
U, 000
3,000

;i, 000
;i, 000

2, 000

Williams's
valuation.

$4, 500

10,000

12,000

(1, 001)

11,000

«, 000

7,000

8,000

8,500

15, 000

2,500

5,000

5, 000

10,000

7,000

8,000

3, 000

15, 000

10, 000

9,000

1,000

1,000

1,750

100

Tonnage.

a 200, 500 • 6173,350

43
66
92
03
08
80
58
41
46

124
13
82
69
70
71
60
40

113
63
90
23
16
15
28

1,464

Crew.
White, Indian.

261

22

30
30
24
30
40
10
30
36

21

6

28

5

28

22

20

21

20

a

20

3

15

20

389

o Actual result, $198,000.

6 Actual result, $171,350.

Slight errors ai)i)ear to have been made in footing the above, but the
totals are as reported respectively by Milne and Williams.

The above estimates include cost of outfit for a season's cruise, com-
prising boat.s, guns, spears, ammunition, provisions, etc.

The schooner Araiinah, formerly belonging to the Victoria sealing
fleet, was seized bj^ the Russian Governineiit July 1, 18.S8.

Mr. Milne estimates the cost of a sealing venture as (b ' tvs:

Wages of crews and liuiiters per vossol $7, 000

Insurance, 7 per cent of $8,000 SfiO

Provisions, salt, ammunition, etc 3, 000

Total per vessel, average 10, 5G0

He also estimates the annual average! catch at 2,000 skins per ves-
sel, but as a matter of fact the average has been for Victoria vessels
during the last four years only about 1,L'8S skins per vessel aiinunlly.

Mr. Williams estimates the expense of a seahng trip as follows :

For five boats $500

Five Martin rifles, at $35 175

Five shotiiuns, at $35 175

Two o.xtrn, guns 70

Salt for skins 200

Five tiiousantl rounds of aiiininnition 125

Insurance, one-third ol a year 175

Captain's wages four months 400

Ten men at $35, and 5 at $20 per month 1, 800

Paid hunters, 1,600 sltin.s at $2 per skin 3,200

Provisions, 20 iikmi i motitlia at $8 pnr niontli 640

Total per vessel, average 7,460

AI.AHKA INDJISTRFES.

Ifi3

$500

175

175

70

200

125

175

400

1,800

3,200

610

The annual average price paid for seal skins in Victoria fronj 1881 to
188!), inclusive, is as follows:

22

3U

;)0

■24

:jo

4U
10

;i6

36

28
28

20
20
16
20

389

Per Bklu.
$7.75

1887

Per Rktn.
$5.50

7.50

1888

5.62

7.65

1889

6.50

10, 560

Per Hkin.

1H81 $0.25 1884

1882 8.00 I 1885

1883 10.00 ! 1886

(xciioriil average, $7.53 per ukiu.

It will he observed that the price of Victoria and Northwest coast
skins lias decreasiMl. Tliis has resulted from the fact that it was found
by the London dressers tliat the skins of seals taken indiscriminately,
chietly from females, in the water, did not compare favorably with those
taken Irom carefully selected yonny males on the islands.

On the basis of the fore{join}j; (ij^ures. the value of the fur-seal trade,
as c(mdueted by the Oanailiitns, is surprisingly small. Their annual
catcii at present priites is worth about !|l2."),(U)(), and the highest esti-
mated value of the tonnage engaged is only $i'()(),000 — amounts incom-
parably small in proportion to the loss that would be sustained by the
United States and England in case the seal fisheries were broken up,
as will inevitably result if the Canadian nninner of killing is continued.

The following is extracted from the report of United States Consul
Stevens, of Victoria, British Columbia, to the Department of State, in
June, 188!>:

Siiico the l)ui;iiiniiin of the present deojiih* thf hunting of the fur Heal lias been
vigorously imrsued t'roui this |)ort. Thcri) iirt- some 21 vessolB, varying from 26 to
126 tons regJMter (an nggri'ijatc tonnime of 1,737 tons), employing l^S men, and
valued iit aliout $12)),(M)0, engiiged in hunting the fur sciil. These vessels, some of
them having small steam power, leave hen; aUont tlit^ 1st of .January and prorced
southward, returning in May and landing the skins, t:il<ing somi!of them v.a far south
as Han l>iego, Cal., and along the coast up. They again h'ave for the m)rth, going as
far as the Bering Sea, returning in .September. The total rateh for 1S88 amounted to
26,720 skins, much smaller than for recent previous years. Of these, 14,!tS7 were
reported as "the Hering Sea collection,"' the distinctive niinie given to those taken
far north, in the neighborhood of the Aleutian Islands, and claimed to be finer furs
than any other.

These skins nre sold here in bundles, salted to preserve thoiu, and they may be
kept many Hiniiths in that condition without injury. Ordinarily sales are made at
80 nuieh i)er skin for the lot; sometimes, however, they are sold in assortments of
males, females, and pups, the average price for the latter being $6 per skin. They
are shipped from here to London, where they are dressed and <lyed, paying a duty
when (hey reach tlie United States, as they mostly do, of 30 per cent on their then
value of about $22.50 per skin.

During these years (1886-87) some eight of these vessels were aeized in the north-
ern waters by tlii^ United Stiitcs revenue cutters for viivlittion of the law of .Inly,
1870, "to preveat exluiiuLuutiuu of fui-beaiiu^ auimalu." No iMUiiiu'eo were uiade
inlim.

164 ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

Wietoria and yortktoeit ooait fur-ital akin» nold and drtiud in London.
(Compiled by Mr. Alfred Fraaer, of the bonae of Mewn. 0. M. LuiipBon II Co.]

Ye»r.

Dry (kin*
•old.

Salted
iikliie gold.

DreHied for
owuors.

Total.

1M8

2,141

1,071

081

12, 405

14,BH4

801

2,772

1,351
903

1,173
912
918

2 141

1869

1 871

1870

■•■•••......

084

1871

12 495

1872

1,030

699

40

122

578

1, 062

772

2,434

2,397

4, 662

6,K90

11, 169

6,385

10, 115

16, 667

16, 087

3, 689

1,930

10,312
931

1873

1874

4,949
1, 0 18
2,042

7, 84:i

3,575
4,097

1876

1876

1877

1,945

1878

204

12,212

8,939

9,907

11,727

2,319

9,242

2,07H

17, 900

38, 907

30,810

3. 010

1879

16, 627

1880

13, 501

1881

68«

321

■■•Wt

785

1,620

979

2,843

1,252

16 573

1882

"t 207

1883

094

1884

, 142

1885

b M, 305

1886

a 33, 975

1887

d 43. 230

< 39, 098

1889

46, 146

Total

49,381

168,076

83,488

337,071

• Setained in XTnitod States (estimate).

h + 3,000 ^ 23,365. e + 3,000 = 36,975.

Non.— Indians dried the akins.

4 + 3,000 = 46,239.

<■«• 8,000 ==42,000.

During the past four years, say from 1885 to 1888, about 3,000 Bering
Sea and Victoria skins have been annually dressed and dyed in the
United States, and must be added to the above.

The large number of dry skins sold in 1871-72 doubtless consisted in
part of the stock of the Russian- American Company taken before the
cession of the Territory, and held in their warehouse at Sitka.

Addins to the above f;rand total 337,071

Skins dreBsed in the Unit«d States, as above stated 12,000

349, 071
And dednoting those from the Rnaaian- American Company's stock of 1867. - 24, 000

Makes total killinj? iu the waters of the North Paoifio and Bering Sea, from

1868 to 1889 325,071

That this number should be considerably more than doubled to rep-
resent the total illegitimate destruction of seal life has been so frequently
repeated and so thoroughly proved as to need no further proof or
demonstration.

It is worthy of note that of the above 325,071 skins, 203,865 have
been taken within the last six years in constantly increasing numbers,
except during the year 1888 following the seizures and repression of
1887.

Sealing vetaeh (_»choonar$) fitted out in 1889 mnder the American flag.

Sylvia Handy.
Allie J. Alger.
J. G. Swan.
Venture.
Henry Dennis.

San Jose.
Lily L.
Mollie Adams.
Bessie Renter.
Challenge.

Lottie.
Mary Deleo.
0. 8. Fowler.
City of San Diego,
Adoiiia.

Caroline.

Adelo (German).

Mariu(lela8Cruzes(t)

Ah^xiiiiiUir.

Webster.

'

AI-ASKA INDtfSTKTKa.

Derrmme in sl:i' nf I'ribiluJ' lilund neat «/,inx, ISSH-tSSO,
[ComiiiUHl li.v Mr. Aliri'il riiiHci. nf Mi'hhim. i'. M. KiimpHiiii A (!<>., cif Lnmlun.)

AviTiiKi'
wuitflil.

Lnrec iniililling»i

MiililliiiuM

Mi<lilliii)iH and hiiiiiIIh...

SnmllH

Lnr).'r |)ii|m

Miildlliit! piiiiK

Sintill |>ii)>M

Kxtni Miii:ill pnpH

Kxtra uxlia Hiiiiill )m|ia.

lAtH. (tZ.

(I
0

• >

4

(I
(I
4
(I

I'.l
15
12
II
8
7
II

Total

1X1.370 ; B».8H'J tt9,0:i8 i QU. I>7U

165

IHH.'i.

1886.

1887.

1888.

1889.

1411

i:i:i

2»

2

l.Hll

i.nn

eon

177

220

5, ;)iio

4, «7.'i

2, 2.04

2.;)) 8

2, 133

20. m\

i;i, ;tiK

8.1150

!l, 2«K

7. Ii20

a4. 27»

28, .'J7H

23, 178

18,;i05

11.1140

2,'). 2(17

IIIMHO

A:<.:,\n

:m, 600

20, 476

l(l,aH4

17,04.'i

24, 814

29, 2:ii»

;):i, K50

1.21)1

:i. H57

4, 420

3,002

18,728
521

IP'.1, 097

The losaecs of tlio soul isliiiids liavc hrcii uiialile dniiiip tlie last throe
yejirs to .seciuf tlic most (h'siial)li' si/cs of .skins, owinj;- to diiiiiiii.shcftl
iiuiiihcr of seals, tlic result oC illi(;it killiiij;' 1»_\ iiiaranders.

The, (lecica.sc in the size oT skins taken liy U'.s.see.s is in proportion to
the increase of miinbeis e,an{>ht by tlie inaiau(U!r.s.

\

LOSS OK KKMAI.K SKALS.
British and Ainerican lentiniony.

[Kxtract Iniin li'ttirur Sir Oiort;^ liailcn I'dwcll. imlilishiil in tin' I.oikIdii Timea November 30, 1889.]

As a matter of faet the C'aiuulian sealers take very few, if any, seals
close to the islands. Their main eateh is made far out at sea, and is
almost entirely <;ompose(l of females. (CJa.se of the United States,
j». 2(K), and iSenatc* Ex. Doc. No. '>'>, Fiftv-seeond Congress, lirst session,
p. DO.)

[Kxtra«t from h^ttrmr Ki ar-Ailiniral Hoi ham, (jf tin' llrilisli navy, to iVdiniralty.J

Wauspite, at Esiiiiiiiuilt, September 10, 1890.

I have to reciuest yon will briii};' to the notice of the Lords Cominis-
sioiiers of Admiialty this letter w ith reference to my telegram of the
8th instant.

1 ])ersonally saw the masters of the sealing schooners named below,
and obtained from them the iidbrmation hert^ reported: Capt. C. Cox,
schooner Sitpphirr; <'aptaiii i'etit, schooner Mari/ Tdi/ior; Captain
Hack«'tt, schooner Annie iScyinour; Capt. W. Cox, schooner Triumph.

They al.so mentioned that two-thirds of their catch consisted of female
seals, but that after the 1st of , Inly very few indeed were captured "in
pu])," and that when sealing outside the Bering Sea, round the coast,
' .. iiie way up (where this year the heaviest catches were made), they
acknowledged that the seals "m jiup" were fretiuently captured.
(Extract from \'ol. Ill, Ajipeiidix to Case ot Great Britain, cited in
Cnited States, No. 1, 1S!)1, p. 17.)

There were killed this year so far from 4(),(l(»0 to o(),000 fur seals,
which have been taken by schooners from San Erancisco and Victoria.
Tlie greater number were killed in r.eriiig Sea, and were nearly all cows
or female seals. This enormous catch, with the increase which will

ine

4I<A8KA INOfHTRIES.

tako j)IiM'(' when the vosfi N tlttiiig up evory year aro ready, will, 1 am
afraid, soon deplete our lur seal tisliery, aud it, is a an'ut pity siuili a
valuable industry could U(tt in some way be |)rotect(!d. (lOxtraet from
rei)oits of tlie departuu'ut of llslierieH of (Jaruida, I.SH(i, by TlioniaH
Mowiit, iuHjx'etor of lishericH for llritisli (Jolinnbia, p. 208. Cited in
British Case, Appendix, Vol. Ill, p. IT.'?; United States No. IHIIO.)

The majority of our hunters contend that there are over 7 j)er cent
of jMips in the entire vntrh of fur seals on the coast, while in liering
Sea the catch does not (exceed I jier cent. Hut they (!an not deny the
fact that ()() i»er cent (»f the entire cat(!h of IJerinf;' Sea is made up of
female ^-.eals. ( Extract from reports of the departnuMit of lisherios,
(Jauiida, 1.S.S8, p. L'll, by Thomas iMowat, inspector of lisheiies for Hrit-
ish Columbia, ('ited in United States Case, p. L'Ol.)

Kiel Honde, of Victoria, sealer. (Case of liiited States, A])peudix,
Vol. II, p. 31.-..)

I>onde has been out tour years on s^alinp Bchooners from Victoria,
namely, from 1887 to 18!Ht, inclusive, lie says:

Till) Ht'iilHCiimnlit iilonKtlKM'oasl a Iter tlif Istnf April wcro nioHtly progiuint foinaleH,
and thoHtt I'aiiglit in iiiTin^ Sua wen; fcinaloH that had ^ivt^n liirth Id their MHing.
I often noticed tho milk llowinfj out <it' thoir hreastH when h(!inu skinned and have
seen live ijups eut out of their niotherH ami live aruun<l on the deckH lor a week.

Cross-examination by the British Goverinnent (see Hritish Counter
Case, Vol. II, p. W):

That on caeh of said vessels [namely, the four ho had served on] I have had more
or less to do with skinning the seals, and would say that ahoiit (>() per cent on tho
coast were I'einaleH and ahout 5( per cent in lierin^ Sea, 1 distinj^uiMliod the tiialo
akin from the female by tho absence of teats.

Christ Clausen, of N'ictoria, master mariner (Case of United States,
Appendix. Vol. U, p. ;il9):

Acted as mate in 188H. Was navigator on schooner Mimtie in 1890.

My catch that year was 2, (Mil), of which about 2,0(K) were caught in liering Sea.

Acted as navigator on same vessel in 181I1.

The seals we catch alonj; the coast are nearly all pregnant females. It is seldom
we capture an old hull, and what mules we gi't are usually y<mng ones. I have fre-
quently seen cow seals eut open aud tho unborn |>ui)m cutout of them, and they
would li\i for several days. This is a fre(|uent occurrence. It is my experience that
fully 85 i)er cent of (he seals I took in IJering .Sea were fenuiles tliat had given birth
to their pups, aiul llu;ir teats would be full of milk. I have caught seals of this
kind from KM) to 150 miles away from tho I'ribilof Islands.

E. M. Greenleaf, of Victoria, master mariner (Case of the United
States, Apjiendix, Vol. II, p. 324):

Since then (1882) I have been interested in the sealing business, and am well
acquainted with it and the men engaged in it and the mothoils employed. I am
acquainted with the hnntprs and masters who sail from this port, and board all
incoming and outgoing vessels of I hat class. 'I'heso men all acknowledge that nearly
all the seals taken oil' the Pacitic Coast are females, and that they are nearly all with
young.

» * » # # « i--

I have also learned by conversation with Bering Sea hunters that they kill seal
cows 20 to 200 miles from the breeding grounds and that these cows had recently
given birth to young. I have observed in the skins that the size of the teats show
either an advanced state of pregnancy or of recent delivery of young.

Arthur Crritiin,of Victoria, .sealer (Case of United States, Appendix,
Vol. II, p. 825):

He went sealing in 1890.

Began sealing olf the northern c^oast of California, following the sealing herd
northward, capturing about 700 seals iu the North Pacific ( )cean, two-thirds of which
wore females with pui)s; the balance were young seals, both male aud female. We
entered tiering Sea .July IH through Uniniak I'ass and captured between !)00 and
1,000 seals therein, most of which were females in milk.

ALASKA INDHHTKIRS.

1(17

]

Of tho following? yoar, lie, Hays:
\V« ciiptiii'itil liotwi'ftii 1100 mill 1,(100 on

tlid coiiHt, ino«t 111! of which worn fomalos
with |)n|m, W'iMMiti'iuil thit HIM .Inly I- IIii'oukIi I'liiiiiiilv I'liHs and (.'iiiturcil HlioiitHOO
I i'iiIh in thoHf \v;itrrH, iihont. tioprr cent (if wiiich wdi'u Ibmuli'H in milk I'roin 20 to lUO
iiiilcH rniMi tlit^ i'uolu>rii'H,

(Oaso of the United States,

James Harrison, of \'i(;toria, sealer
Appendix, Vol. 11, p. 3li()):

\V« (^innineucod Hdiiliiiu rijjiit off tlio count; wont nn Car Honth :ih tlio California
t'oa^l, unci tiion linntcil noitli tn thn \\>'Ht, coast of Vancouver iHlamlH. Caught 500
Hl\ins ihii'lng till) NcaHon ; alinoHtalInf tlieni wcro ]iri;giiant fcinalcn. Out of lOOmiala
taken altontlM) ptu'ccnt won Id lie females with young |iii|ih in tlicni. I can't tell amnio
from a female while in tlie water at a diHtaiiee. ( »ii an average, I think the hunters
will Have alioiit one out of three that they kill, liiit they wound many more that
«Hea|io and die afterwards. We entered lierlng Sea aliont the Int ol" .lune, and
eaiight alioiit 200 HeaJH in tlnme waters. I'liey were iiiontly motherH that liad given
hirth to thitir young ami were around the liHliing li.iiikH feeding. The hiinturH lined
HhotgniiH and rilles. In liorhig Sea we killed liotli males aud foiiialea, but I do not
knov* the iiroportiou of one to I ho otl\er.

James llayward, of N'ietoria, seai(!r (Case of the [Jnited States,
AppeiMlix, Vol. II, ]). .'{Ii7):

lie went oat 8eulin{>' in l.SST, 1.S8.S, 1.S90, and 181)1. llis vessels
ajipear to have made hwnv catclics. I le makes the follo\vinj,f statement:

Most of the Hoals killed on the coast are])regnaiit femaleN, while those wekilledin
Hering Sea after the Ist of .liily were females that had given hirth to their youngon
the Heal islandH and come out into tlie Hea to feed. Have caiight them 1.50 uiiloH off
from the Hliort* of the seal islandH, and have nkinned them wheu their broatita were
full of milk. Seals travel and go a loug way to feed.

Alfred Dardean, of Victoria, sealer (Case of United States, Appen-
dix, Vol.11, p. ;5L'2):

He went setding in 1890,

We caught over 'JOO skins lieforo entering the sea and onr whole catch that year
was 2,1.51) skins. Of the seals that were caught otf the coast fully ilO ]ier cent out of
every hundred had young jMips in them. The boats would bring the seals killed on
board the vessel ami v . would take tln^ young pups out and skin them. If the pup
is a good, iiiie om- wo >voiild skin it and kei'p it for ourselves. I had 8 such Hkins
myself. Four out of live, if caught in May or .June, would bo alive when wo cut
them out of the mothers. One of them we kept for pretty near three weeks alive
on deck by feeding it on condensed milk. One of the men finally ktiled it because
it cried so pitifully. We only got 3 seals with jiups iu tlieni in Horing Sea. Most
all of them were females and had given birth to their young on the islands, and the
milk would run out of the teats on tlm doidi when we wouhl skin them. Wo caught
female seals iu milk more than 100 miles olf the I'ribilof Islands.

Morris Moss, fnrrier, and vice-president Sealers' Association of Vic-
toriii (Case of ITnited States, Ajjpendix, Vol. II, ]>. 341):
He has bought from 1(1,000 to 20,000 setil skins per annum.

I believe the majority of seals captured by white hunters in Bering Sea are females
in search of food.

J. Johnson, of Victoria, sealer aud sailing master (Case of the United
States, Ai)peiidix, Vol. II, p. 331):

Has spent six years of his life sealing, and been captain of four dif-
ferent schooners.

A largo majority of the seals taken on the coast are cows with pup. A few yonng
males are taken, the ages ranging from I to 5 years. Once iu a while an old IJull is
taken in the North Pacific Ocean. I use no discrimination in killing seals, bnt kill
everything that eomes near the boat in the shape of a seal. The majority of the
seals killed in Kering Sea are females, 1 have killed female seals 75 miles from the
islands that wore full of milk.

BMCHH

wmsm

ins

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

Victor .iiicobsoii. dl' Nictoriii, sealer (Case nC tli<( I'liited States,
Appeiiilix, Vol. II. p. ;i2.S):

He IS a llritish siibjeet. Has beeiieii<>ai;e(l in sealinj;' tbi'eleveii years,
ten years ;is a m.ister. He is now master and owner of sehooner Mari/
Elkii and owiiei of scliooner Miiniir.

Tlic I'l'innlc st'.iln j;() tlirouiili tlio jiiissfs IVdmi tlin I'licilic (>uc:iii into Bi'i'iiii; Sea
liftwciii .linii' lTi Mild .Inly l."i. Females kilh'd pi-cvioiis t" t'lis jiirirl I'ornclwilli
]iiii) lull iioiii' with itiijpM nl'tiT tl lit hit tcT date. I liiiv> killed female seals taken \>y
nie that thii-e in live ale reinalo- and nearly all with (inp.

CrossfXiiiiiiiiiitioii hytlie '3ritisli {Toverniiient (See iSritish Counter
Case, A])pendix, \'ol. 11, ];. "•";):

,M\ experienee lias lieeii that ahent three out of live seals taken on tin* coast riro
females, and afioni llic? same in I'.eriiiij Sea.

Edwin P. I'orter, of N'ietoriii, setder (Case of tiie Uinted States,
Ap)»endix, Vol. II, p. .'{Ki):

l.iy oxiierieiu . in lour yeai ' soalinj; is that nearly all the seals taken alontj tho
coast are ]ire;;naiit teniales, and it is s<-l(Ioni that one of them is caiiijihl tliat has not
il yoiinn' pu]) in liei . In the lore jiart of the season tlie ]ui|) is small, lint in May and
,)nne, when tlie> ari' taken oli'the (,ineen ('harlotte and Kodiak isl.inds, the nnlioni
]iiip is <|'iito lar;:e, am! wo fre(iiiently take tJKMii ontofthe niotheis iiliv(\ 1 have
kept .soiiie of them alive for six weeks, that were ent out of their niollior.-. liy fe"ilin}^
them eondeiised lai'k. 'I'ho seals we eajitiire in l!<M'in;.c .^I'li wer.' fully Ml i>er eeiit
ioniales tli.it had j;iven liirtli to their yonii^i;, A faet that 1 olteli iiotieed was that
their teals would he full of milk when 1 skinned tliein, and I hav(' seen them killed
fioiii L'O to KM) miles fiom the seal islands.

Charles I'eterson, of N'ictoria, sealer (Cafe of the United States,
•ipelldix. Vd]. 1 1, p. [ii,~)) :

We ( ntered iierini: Sea ahoiit the l.">th of Aiifriiflt, 1hronc;h the I'niniak P.iss, and
captnreil therein 1.101 seals, uiost of wliieli were eows in milk, (hi that vo.\ af:e wo
paiij;lit female seals in m'lk nvi r SO miles from the rookeries where they ha<i left
their .vomit;, I lia\e se n the ileek .ilniost Hooded with mill; « liile we were skinniiijj
the seals. Ninety per "nt <if all the seaU we eajit ucd in I'ai^ water were female
seals.

Robert il. Me.'ianns, of N'ietoria, ,ii.iirnalist ((Jasc of tlic^ I'nited
Stiites, .IpjieiidiN, Vo], I., p, 'S'M):

Tuesday. An:fnsl ITi. rain in morniiif^. lloats and eanoe out at half jiast !• o'oloek ;
out all vhiy fri inrnin;, to dinner). Kesiilt : Kirst hoat, 2 seals reported; wininded
and lost ;">; seal,-; .sa'd to he, sb.v and wary, and not so nnmerons as fori""i!.\ ; attc'ii-
tion called lo cow st'al ini:'"- "'::::'ie(l (which I had taken for a yoiii . hull). I'lie
8no\N while milK niiiniiii; d"-vii hlood :* liiiecl deck was a siekeniii;f si^lit. Indian
eanoe, 1 seal. Total, It seals, 2 inedinnis, and 1 cow,

Wednesday \ii,L,nst 2(3, cloudy nioinin;;. .Seals lloatin;;' round sehooiu^r. Itoats
and ca'ioe (liil all;'.i,\. Kesiilt: I'irst lioat.tseal; seeend lioat, iioik' ; Indian canoe,
10 seais; total, 1 1 seals; 8 cow,s in milk iikI li nu dinm. Sl.-ip)ii r in lirst lioat hlamed
the ]inwder, .See(md hoa* said il was too heavy and clumsy for the work, Ski|i|i(n
reported Iia\ in;; wonuded and lost 7. and the men in second hoat 0 -li! in all.
Skipper said seals not so niiiiierou^ as formerly, more shy ; also Idiimed the powder.
Eviileiitlv a '.;ie,it deal of shoolin;.; and very lew seals to corresiKUid.

Saturday, .\Mi;u-t I'll, shiji's cook lirouj;ht down from (le<'k a larj^e cow seal at 10
van Is rise. I'oats and canoe out all day, I'iiie,c!(!ar, hallux- weather, .\kiitan Island
in si-iht. h'esiilt: Tirsl hoat, ■! seals; sccimd lioat. 3 seals; co(di, from deck. 1:
Indi.in caniM', 10; total catch, 17 seals, fjreater proportitni cows in milk. Il<urid
si^fht ; could not sta.v the ordeal mir till all wer<' llayed. ,\ huLte niimlier rejiorted
as won '. led and lost, Aecordin;; to a))|iearaniM's, shiu,ehter and indisciiininate.

Sniid.-y. .\nenst liO h'esiilt of liii't: I'iist ho ;l , 2 seals ; siicond Icat, 1; Imli.in
ianie, 7; total, 10 seals, i of which \vere cows in milk. Sev(aal, as usual, reported
wounded and lost hy the lioats. I'lii! ;/reat superiority of the Indi,in sjiear eviilent.

The British eoinniissioiiers, in their report, express the following;
view.s with regard to ijcla^ic sealing, wliieh vievvs should be s]»ecially

^wr

ALAP^KA INDUSTRIES,

169

Mitvji

i;i.sf :iro

noted in comuM-lioii witli tin- fDiojioiiij;' descriptions ol' how gravid
nursing feniiiles ar' killed:

i\Xi. h.v tilt' pcliinic, H(>;ilciM Mild by Imlinii liunti'iH nloii.Lj tlui ((.iist, I'lir s(^al,s of both
sexes iiri' killed, and, iiidetMl, it would he iini'e;ison:il)le, under tlie cireiniistiiiiee.s, to
exiioet tliiit 11 1 1 ^tiiietion nli<!nld he iiiado in lliis res]ie(!l , ;iiiy iiioic tliiiii lliiit tlio
aiiL'ier slioild diiicniiiiimte hel ween the «e\e,s of the fisii In; iii;iy li()(d<.

(ilu. 'J'li(> aeeuHiitiori of hiitidieiy laid af;;iiiiMt tliosc^ who (ake the, seals on shore
can not, he hroiiLiht, against lliis i)ehi,i;i(^ nietliod <>t' killing; the seal, which 's leally
liinitini; as (lisi inynished iVoni slan}j;hter. and in which the animal has whr' ■ iiy lie
descrilied as a tail' chaiiee. lor its lite.

Cai)t. C li. Hooper, of llie I'nited States revenue niarin<' (I'uited
Slates Counter Case, ]). I'li):

Cajitaiii Hooper made extensive oliieial investigations in regard to
seal life on tlie I'rihilof Islands, in iicimg Sea, and tlie North i'aeilic
()(;ean in ISill and ISKi'. In the course of these investigations lie cap-
tured, between , Inly '.'4 and August .'51, ISO'J, II seals in IW'ring Sea.
Ho made no ell'orls to secure large nuinliers or all that he saw. 'i'he 41
seals were composed of the following classes: Old males. 1; young
nuiles. II: nursing <'ows. I'L'; virgin cows. 7. He .says:

Since lea\ ii '^ San Franci-~co on .March !l the t'unciii has steamed 1(;,2(I0 miles, and
8,713 miles since the <liite of my reportinj: foi- dnty, as jiart of the lU'rinji Sea lloet.
O.'tliis distaiK ", ^>,sH\~ miles were steanu^d in ISerini; Sea.

I lind ill Koueral, as one of llii! results of my investijiatioiis, that more? than two-
tliirds of the seals taken are now ha\ ini; yoniii; or i'a])a1)le of hc^aring them at no
distant day ; that it is ini|iossihle to discrimin.ale as to ajre or o\ of seals while in
the water, exeepl in tin; case of youiij; )iu|is and (dd hulls: that oven undir tie' most
favoralde eondilions a lar^e ]iei ceiila;;'*' is lost liy siiikinj;' or wound inj;; and that by
ri'ason of the lameness of the nursiiifi cows, wliicli form the larger jiart of the seals
seiil , )ielae;ic liiinl ini;' in Heriiifr l^ea i.s ]ieciiliarly destructive and imie.ss stojijied will
wlio|I,\ extia'n'.inate tlie already i;ri ally deph'ted herds.

I ilo not bidii've that it is jiossihle to indicate any zonal limit in lieriiiL; Sea beyond
which ))elaei(' sealinj; could lie carried on and at the s:;me time presirve the seals
I'rom coiii|dete annihilation. I'lirtlier, I v, isli to ren .w .i statement conlained in a
former reixnt made to t'le .Secretary of the Ireasiiry, lliat, unless sii]ipienipiited with
protection in thl^ Piicili ! Oeean, no amount of ]iro<: "tion in ISeriiii; Sea Mill jireserve
the herds.

Capt. 1>. <i. Shejiard. I iiited States reveime marine (Ca.se of the
United States. Apjiendi.x, \'ol. 11, p. 1.S7)-

I ilii: I.") years of aije. a resident of AVas'.iiiii;ton. I >.('., and am cajitain in I lie I'nited
.Statics Kevcniie-Marine Service, chief of division re\eniii^ ma.rine. Treasury Depart-
ment. In eommandof Ihe reveiiiK^ ste.iiiier 7i'»k//, I made tliiei> ' niises to IJerine' Sea
in th(> y<!ars ISST, ISSS, and I SS!) for tin imiposo of en fore in ij exisiinjj; law for protec-
tion of seal lile in Alaska ami the wa'.ers thereof'. I 1m reliy a|ii)eiid to and make it
Jiart of this allidavit a table, marki-'. A, ;j;ivinj; the mimes of tin' vetsids sei/ed by nie
in Heriiiu' Sea while \i(dalinj;- the l.iw of the I'nited States in relation to tL<( taliiug
of fur-beariiiir animals.

I examined the skins taken from sealini; vessels seized in IsSJand Issii, o\er IL',' 00
skins, and id' these al least two tliirds or three-fourths were the skins of females,
Of t be I'einales taken in the I'aiili.' < >ceaii, and early in the season in Herinj.; Sea,
nearly all are heavy with yoiiiiu', iind the de.ith of the female necessarily causes the
death of till" mibein |inp seal; in fad, 1 have seen on nearly every vessel seized the
p.-ltB of unborn jiujis wlii(di had beiMi taken from their mothers. (if the females
taken ill lierinii .Sea nearfv all are in milk, and 1 hr.vo seen the milk come from the
carcasses of dead females lyini; on the decks of sealiliK vessels which were more
than lOti miles from the I'ri'.iilof Islands. I rmii this fact, and from the further fact
that I liav<i seen sisals in the water o\ cr l.')0 miles from the islands diirintr the siiin-
liier, I am convinced that the female, after i;iviiii.; birth to liei' you iii; on the rookeries,
ijoes at least lot) miles, in many eases, from the islands in seiiieli of food. It is
iiii|iossible to dlstiuijiiish a male from .i female seal in the water, except in the case
ol :i very old bull, when his size distini^niislies him Therefore, oiion-sea sealing is
entirely indiscriminate as to sex or age.

170

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

Capt. Daniel McLartie (Case of the United St»tr<^s, Ai)i)endix, Vol.
II, p. 443) :

(Japtain McLane ha.H been engaged in pelagic scaling for eleven years
as master of vessels a<ii<l deposes in part as follows:

<,». of wliat sfx iiro tins si>iils taken by yon, or usually killed liy liiniliiifr v<!8h<'1h in
th(,' North I'acilic and UtTinfr Seaf — A. IVniales.

(^. What percinit;!;;!' ot' (liciu are cows? Suppose you catoli 100 .seals, how many
male.s would you liavo among them ? - A. About 10.

Q. What pcrcciita^cof the cows taken are with i)U|) ? —.\. Tlie I'cmalos are nu)stly
all with ]iu|); tluit is, up until the 1st of ,luly.

(.j. Have you noticed any decrease in the c|iiantity of animals in the last few
years' — A. Yes, sir.

(J. To wliiit do you attrilputi^ the cause? — A. Killingotf the females.

Q. If seilinsi continues as liiTotofore, is there any daii>f>r of exterminating thenif —
A. V<H, sir; they will all be exterminated in three years, and there will be no niur«
sealintr.

Q. bo you tldnk it is absolutely necossar\ to i»rotect the cowsin the Kering8«!»f —
A. Yes, sir.

James Kieriiiin, of San Franci.seo, sealing captain (Cas* of tl»«
United States, Ai)peiidix, \'ol. II, p. -140):

My experience has been that the sex of the seals usually killed by hnntoffl enipi»/>-er!
on vessels under i.iy eommand, both in the oce:in an<i Horing Sea, were c<»*«.» f
should say thnt not less than SO jier ecrit of those caught eaeli year were of thwC sex.
I have observed that thosi' killed in the North Paeif.c were mostly female r.irrying
their young, anil were gene ally caught while aslei p iin the water, while those taken
in the Ikuing Sea weie nearly all mother seals in milk, that had left their youiig and
were in secrch of food.

The mother docs not leave the rookery in search of food until she has dropped hor
young and become ])regmint again, hence when she h;\s ti.'cn slain i"t means the loss
of three, as the voung pup will uni|iiestionably die for lack of snsteuanc c.

ilicliael White, of San Fnuieisco, sealing captain (Case of the
United States, Appendix, \'ol. II, p. 489):

I am 50 years of age. 1 reside at Kast ( )akland. My occupation is master mariner,
and I have been so engaged for twenty-seven years, otf" aDii on. I have been engaged
in seal hunting during the years 'Ss,',, 1887, i8?S, and l^■<il in tlie North i'acilic and
Bering S; a. J lir.st went out in 1885 in the echoonvr CH;i of Sun fHcjn, chartered by
myself and others, and my catch for that year was between 2, 3(X) and LMOO scale.
Of that number about 1,!KH> were caught in I'eringSea. There were but very few ves-
sels sealing at that time. In ISSti J was master of the soli loner Tereac, sailing from Sau
Francisco on the I'd day of I'ebruary, and commenced aptuiing seals on the coast
of California, ami followed them from that date north into lloring Sea. We caught
them from .5 to (tV miles oil' the coast. I entereil l5erii"T Se:i on the titli day of June,
1S8(), and previous to that time had caught about 880 seals. Then I sealed in Bear-
ing Sesi from that time to the 28th of August; caught about 2, 20(i more, the whole
cati'h liciug 3,0*10 for the year.

In 1SS7 1 was master of the schooner Lotti( Fairchild. sailing from San Francisco
on or about the I7th <la,v <if March, and wcu'ked nortliward to Bering Sea, and cap-
tured 88;{ seals. 1 then eiitcriMl liering Sea about the tith of July, cruising there
until the 2itth day of August, and took 2,517 wals more, the whole <'atch being 3,400
for the year.

In 188X I took the schooner f'lulautited on a fishing and sealing voyage, leaving
here on or about the 20th of March, and criii <e(l i:: the NiTtli I'ai'ilic up to the ishmn
of Kodiak, capturing IdO seals up to the 7th ilav of .luiie. 1 di I not enter Bering
Sea that year. 1 did the same in 1880, my trip b'siij,' the same as in 1888, and iiiy
cajiture of stials was about the same. I then (|uit sealing, and I am now engaged in
trading with the (iilbeit and Marshali islands in the Soiilli I'aeitlc .Sea.

In my captures oil the const be( wt^'ii here .nul Sitka 00 jier cent of my catch were
females, bn oil the eo.'ist (d' I'liiniak I'ass there was a 8(uiievvtiat small'r percentage
of females, and nearly all the females weri' cows heavy with pup, and, in some
instances, the period of gestation was so near at baud that 1 have freiiueutly taken
the live ]inp from the mother's womb.

1 never paid iiiiy jurticiilar attention as to the exact number of or proportion of
each sex killed in Biuiiig Sea, but 1 <!o know that tins larger portion of them were
females and were mothers giving milk. 1 have never hunted withiu 15 miles o* the

\

ALASKA INDUSTKIES.

171

PriliiloC IslanilH, lint I havoot'tcn killtHlsoalH in milk iit distancos (if iiiit: Icsallian 100
t^ L'OO iiiilcH from tlioso islaiid.s. I'mm my kimwlodge iiiid (^\p(!rii'iic() in tlio liiisincMH
it '•! my (!()iivictioii that within tlio lust few years, Hinco Ihc. sialciH Iiavo ln'como so
nmiK'ioiis in tho I'acilic and licrinj; Soa, tliat nnt inure tliaii mus (iiit of tlirco is
seriir"!. f)nr imriiose and |iractico was to take all seals wo could get, ref^ardlcss of
their ai;e <ir sex, witliont any discrimination whatever.

M. A. Ilealy:

My own observation and tho information obtained from seal linntors eonvineo mo
thai fully i(0 per ci-nt of the H(!als Ibmid swimiiiini^ in lionnf^ Sea diirinj; the
breediiifr season are females in search of food, and tile slan.nhter results in tho
destriKttion of her yininjj by starvation. I (ujjily believe that the fur-seal industry
at the I'libilof Islands can bo saved from destruction only by a total jirohibition
a;;ainst killinj;- seals, not only in the waters of liering Sea, but also during their
annua) immigration nortliward in thol'ai'itie Ocean.

This conclusion is based njion the well-known fact that tho mother seals firo
slaughtered by the thousands in tho North Faeitic while on their way to tho islands
to give birth to their \, oiiug, and extinction must neciwsarily come to auy spocics of
ai inial where thi^ tcmale is continually hunted and killed during the period recpiircd
i:)y gestation and rearing of her yoniig. As now ]iractice(l. there is no respite to tho
female seal iVom the relentless jinrsnitof the seal hunters, for the schooners close
their season will- '. <loparturo of the seals from the nortliian sea and then return
iK.me, rctit imme^.i ' .. and start out np<in a new v<iyago in February or March,
otMiimencing npou ;. coast of California. Oregon, iind Washington, following tho
stals northward as the season advances into liering Sea.

Captain ('onJ.son says:

In couipany with Special Agent Murray, Captain Hooper, and Engineer Rrrrtoii,
of tho Conrin. I visited the Keof and (Jarboieh rookeries, St. I'anI Island, In August,
18(11, and saw one of thomost pitiable sights that 1 have ever witnessed. Thous.inds
of dead and dying jiops were seatti'red over the rookeries, while the shores were
lined -w ith eiiiaciatcd, hungry little fellows, with their eyes turned toward the sea,
uttering jilaiutive cries fo:' their mothers. wlii< h were destined never to return.
Numbers of tiiem were ope led, their stoniaihs examined, and the fact revealed that
star\ ation was tho cause of deiith, no organic disease being ajijiareut.

Tlie jjrcat nnmlierof seals talien by hunters in ISOl was to the westward andnorth-
westw.'ird of St. Paul Island, and the largest number of dead were found that yi'ar in
rookeries situated on tlie west side of the island. This fact alone goes a great way,
in luy opinion, to conlirm the theory that tho loss of tho mothers was tho cause of
mortality among the young.

After the mother seals have given birth to their young on tho islands they go to
the water t(i feed and batlie. and I have observed them, not only around the island,
hut from XO t.i 100 miles out at sea.

In diilerent years th<! feeding grounds or tho location wliero tho greater number of
seals are taken by poachers seem to differ; in other words, the seals frei|uently change
feeding grounds. For instant, in 18''" the greatest number of seals were taken by
poachers between IJnimak and Akutau passes ami the seal islands, and to the south-
westward of St. (ieorge Island In ISXit the catching w as largcdy done to the south-
ward and eastward, in many cases from "lO to 1,")0 miles distant from the seal islands.
In the s(!ason of IKilO, to tin- southward and westward, also to northwest and north-
east of the islamls, showing that the seals have been scattered. The season <if 1?<91,
the greatest number were taken to northward and westward of St. I'aul, an I at
various dist.ances from 2'> t<i l.'iO miles away.

Mf. Red pat 1 1 :

The Alaskan tiir seal is a native of the Tribilof Islands, ami. unless iiroveuled, will
return to those islands every year with thi' regularity of the seasons. All the pccul-
iariti.s ol' nature that surround the rribilof group of islands, such as low ami even
1cm]H laliiie, fog, mist, and pei|ietually clouded sky, seem 1<i indicate their litncss and
adaptability as a homo for the Alaskan fur seal; and. witii an instinct bordering on
reasnii.ihe;, liave selected thcsi. hmely and barren islands as the choicest spots of
i.'iitli u|ion which to assemble and dwell together (hiring their six months' stay on
land, and auinially they jiinmey across tin 'sauds of miles of ocean and pa.is hun-
dreds ol islands without jianse or rest, unt.i they come to the place of their birth.
And it is a well-established fu( t that upon no other laud in tho world do tho Alaskan
fur seal hai! out of water.

J. C. lit (Ip.itU says:

l*Jo cow will nurse any pup but her own, and I have often watched the pups
atteiupt to suck cow s, but they were always driven of!', and this fact convinces me

[•^i;

172

ALASKA TNDTIRTRIES.

that the cow ii'cognizcs her own j)iip Imi tliat tlio pu]) doos not know its dam. At
Iiivtli, and for Hcvcriil weeks iil'liu', tlie |iii|) is ulterly helpless iind entirely (lo|>en(l(nit
iijion its ibuii tor Kiistrn.uice, and should .■iiiythiiij;; jiievent her retnrn dnrin^^ this
jieriod, it iliis on the rookery. This h.is been donionstriited heyoiid ;\ doubt, sineo
the sealini,' vessids hiive operuted largely in Herinfj Scii dnrin;; tlie months ot' .luly,
Aiiuust, and Si'iiteinlier, and wlneh. killini; tlii' cows at the t'eedin^; <froiinds, left tlio
pups to (i\e on tile islnuds.

At about r> weeks old the pups bei;in to run about iin<l eouf;ref{iite iu bunches or
" pods," iind at •) to 8 wi'cks old I licy j;o into the sinillow water iiud i^radually learn
to swim. 'I'hey :ire not amphibious \v lu'ii born, nor can they swim lor several wc(dis
there:ilt(;r, and were they ]>ut into tlu^ wiiter would piu'ish beyoiul a d(uiht, as has
been well estaldished by thedrowninj;- of pu]is cauj^ht by the surf in stormy weather.
Alter |e;nuiui; to -.u iui the ]iui)s still ilr.iw snstename ti'oni the cows, and I have
noticed :it the uuu u:il killing' of pups for looil in Xovemlier that t heir stomach.s were
always full of milk and nothini; else, althoUi;li the cows had left, the islands S(un()
days before. 1 h:uc no kuowledyo of I lie ]iups (d)lainin}^ susteuiuice of .my kind
exce|)tth;it furnished by the i nws, nor have 1 ever seen anytliiui,' but milk in a dead
pnji's stomach.

Kiirj) Piiiteriii .says:

Schouners kill cows, puiis din, .iiid seals are gene. Some men tell mo last year,
" Kiirp. seals iiiesick." I know seals are not sick; I never seen a sick senl, ami I
ei:t8(.il meat every day of my lite. No hi}^ seals die unless we club them ; only pups
die for food after the eowsareshot.it sea. When wo used to kill piijis for food in
November, they were always lull of milk; the j)Uiis that die o.i the rookeries have no
milk, lilt,' cows }ii) into the sea to fetul iiflcr the jmps are born, and the schooner
men shoot them all the time.

Ciiptain ('artlicut says:

Alxuit 80 ])er c(>nt of the se.ils 1 caught in Heriiifi; Sea were mothers in ndlk. and
were feedin;, around the lishiue- tanks Just north of the Aleutian Islands, and I >^<>t
most (d' my seals from ."!• to L'."i(l ndli's from the seal islands. I dmi't think I over
sealed within 2."i miles of the I'ribilol' Islands. They are \ cry tamo after "jiviii;;-
birth to their y(Uiiiu. and are easil\ apprn.iched hy the hunters. When the femal/s
leave the isl.inds to feed, they will eo vciy f.ist to the fishini^ banks, and alter they
};et tiieir food they w ill jxu to sleep on the waters. That is the hunter's gn'al chance.
1 think we sc' lire more in jirojiortion to the numlicr killed than we itid in the North
Pacilic I liiinted w itii sliott;un and rille. but mostly with shotjiun. Seals were not
iicaily as numerous in ISNT as thi'y ^vii'c, in l.'<77. .nel it is my belief that the docreaHe
in niimburs is liue to the hiiiitine and killinu; of female seals in the water. I do not
think it 'lossilde tor seals to exist for any leiifrth of time if the present slaughter
continiii' . the kill in ff of the female means death to her horn or iinliorn pup, and it
is noi rc.isonablo to expi'ci ihat this iniiiniisc drain on the herds can b eoutinned
without a \ ery rapid di-erease in their numbers, and which practically nieaus exter-
minatimi within a very few years.

Clii'ist Clausen .says:

The Indian hunters, when they use sjicars, saved nearly every one they struck.
It is m,\ oliservation and CNperienee that an Indian or a whitu hunter, unless very
oxjieit, will kill and destroy many times more than ho will save if he uses lirearms.
It is our object to take them n hen asleep on the water, and any attempt tcx'aptiire
a breaching seal eei,,.,ai|y ends in fiiilure. The ^eals we t'atch alon«- the coast are
neail\ all |pre;;uant females. It is sehloni we captine an old bull, and wliat imiles
we eet ai,> usually youiii;ones. I have fie(ueiitly seen cow seals cut open and iiiihora
pu]is cut out ot' llieiii. ami tlie> wcoild live for .several day, i'liis is .-i frc:|iieiit
occurrence. It is my exjierieuce th.at fully 8."p percent of the si'als 1 took in ileiinj^
i<ea weri' f( males and had j;iven Inrth to their ))U]is. and their teats \' oiild bo full of
milk. I h.i ve caiifiht .s(>als of this kind lo'Mo lod miles from I'ribilof Islands. It is
my opiiiimi that spi-ars shoald be used iu hunting seals. an<l if they are to i'c kept
Ikjiii exiermiiiatioii i lu^ shotgun should he discanled.

(.icoro'c Disliow says:

1 use a sholjrun exi Insively for takinir seals. Old hunters lose but very few senla,
but beginners lose a i;reat many. I use the Parker shotgun. .\ large ))rr)))ortion of
all seals taken aic females Willi |iuii. I never exaiuiued them as to sex. Hut very
few old bulls are lakeii. only li\ i' being taken out id' a total of IKK) si'.ils taken by my
schooner. I'si no di~. rimination in killiiiu seal, but shoot e\erything that comes
near the boat in the .■^liape id .i 8e.il. liiinfers shoot seal in tlu^ most exposed part of
the body. lla\o never known any pups to be Itorn in the water, uor on the laud on

ALASKA INDUSTKIKS.

17.".

iii'H or
li^ai'ii

\VC('l;s

IS has
atlior.

llilVO

WITO

sdiuo

kind

I tlciul

the coiist ol' Aljusk.i niiywhiTc outside of thf l'ril)ilof' iHhinil-. If:ivc iiovor known
t'ur seal lo hiliil upon the ImuiI any where on tlic coaHt (;x((!|>I on Ihe I'rildlof Isliuid.s.
Most ol ilie seals taken in Iiciln^; Sea art! leniales. Have takeji tlu-in 70 miles IVoni
th(5 islands that wefe full ol' milk. I think a elosod season should he esfalilishi'd Cor
hi(^edinn seal tVoiri .lannary 1 to Anynst 15 in the North I'aiilic Oceiin and Bering
Sea.

(T«>()rf>e Fiur(;liil(l .says;

Most id' them wore cows, nearly all of which had j.ujis in them. \V<' took some id'
Ihe |in])S alive out of the liodios of the femaies. \\'e entered lierinj;' Sea May L'."),
and we i^ot "01 seals in there, the create:' (jnantity of whiili were feni.iles with their
l)i-eastH full of ndlk, a faet whieh I know hy reason of lia\ ini; seen th ' milk llow on
the deek when they were liein;Li skinned. Wo had inc lioats on hoard, eaeh hoat
h:i\ in;; a l.nnter, boat |inller, and steerer. We used shofi^uns and rilles. We yot
one out of every live or six that we killed or wounded. We wounded a ureat many
that we dill not ^e,. We eauijlil them from M to ,">ll nnles off the seal islands.

Noriiiaii llodj^soii says:

1 do not tliink it iioHsible for fnr seals to l)rood or eo|>ulato in water at sea, and
never saw nor heard of the action takinj; jdaceon a hatch of lio.itinjj; kel]). I have
iM'ver seen a young fur-seal pup of the same season's tdrtli i:. thii water at sea nor
on a ])atcli of tloatinn kelp, and. in fact, never knew of their heing liorn anywhere
.save on a rookery. I have, liowver, cut ii]ien a gravid cow and fallen ihe young
one from its mother's womh .ilive and crying. I do not lielieve il possilde for a fur
sc;d to he successfnll\ rai^.ell unless born and nurseil on a roouery. I have seen fur
seals resting on patches of Ilea ting kelp at sea. hiil do not believe iiiey ever haul up
for breeding pur|)oses anywhere except on rookeries.

(^aptaiii 'PiiiiiH'f, liouteiiant (•(•iiiniiiiidt'i' in tlie, Uiiitwl .States Navy,
inakt's a <h']i()sitii)ii wliidi is ciititlt'd to |)ai'ticular consideration. The
f')llo\viii<; is a short exti ict:

Seals 1- i lied in Henug Sea ;ter the birth of pu|)s are largidy mother seals, and the
farther they are found from the islamis the (freater the ])ercentage will be. The rea-
smi for this seeming ))arado\ is very simple. Ihe young males, having no family
res|ionsiliiHtics, can atl'ord to hunt nearer home, where food can he found if siiflicient
time isdexoted to the search. The mother does n.it leave her younii except when
necessity compels her to seek food for its sustenance. She can not atldrd to waste
timeon feisding grounils already occu])ied by youiij;er ;ind more active leeders, hence
she makes the b. st of her way to richer tields farther away, merges lier-ell' with fooil,
then seeks rest and a i|uiet nai)on the surface. I'mler these circumstances she sleeps
soundly, and becmnes an ea.sy victim to the w.itchful hunter.

A double waste occurs when the mother seal is killed, as the pujis will surely
starve lo death. A mother seal will ^iive sustenance to no iiuj) but her own. I saw
sad evidences of this waste on .St. I'aul last season, wheie large uuuibers of pupa
were lying about the rookeries, where they had died ot' starvatimi.

Di'.cuEAsF, (II .Seals.

EXCKSSIVK KILLINd THE ADMITTKl) CAUSE.

We tiiid tli;it since tlie ALiska itiiichdsc ti itiai'kcd diniiniitioii in (ho
imiiiinT of scids on iind lialiitiiiilly icsoitin^- to the rrihilof Islands has
tiikcn ]»lii(i'; that it hi:' been ciinnilative in eltect. and that il is tlie
residt ol' excessive killino' by man. ^doiut report of United States aud
Bi'itisli iJeriiij,' S<'a coniinissioners.)

PELAtilC SEALING THE SOLE (lAUSE.

Opinions of A)tii ricaii C(>iinniis,sioii():s.

Having answered the iirst of the two queries relating' to conditions
of seal lite at the pre.-^ent time, the second becomes im|>ortant. It is:
lias tin- decn^ase in nnmlier been conllnc<l to any particular chiss of
seals, or i,'^ it most notable in any class or class(>s' In anN.\er to this,
it is our opinion that the diminntion in numbers began and continues
to be most notable in fennde seals. ( lleport of Americiin coiumissiouers.)

174

ALASKA INnrSTRIRS.

As ii niattiT of fact, tlicre is suflRcient evidence to convince lis tliat
by tar the greater part of tlie seals taken at sea are females; indeed,
W(! have yet to meet with any evidence to the contrary. Tlie state-
ments of those who have had occasion to examine the catch of ])elagic
sealers mif,dit be (inoted to almost any extt^nt to the ellect that at least
80 per cent of the seals thus taken are females. On one occasion we
examined a pile of skins picked out at random, and wliicii we luive
every reason to believe was a part of a pelagic catch, and found them
nearly all females. When tiie scalers tliemselves are not intiucnced by
the feeling that they are testifying against their own inteiests, they
give similar testimony. The master of the sealing schooner -/. G. Siran
declared that in the catch of 1800, when he secured several hundred
seals, the pro])ortion of females to males was about hmr to one, and on
one occasion in a lot of 00 seals, as a matter of curiosity, he counted the
number of females with young, finding 47. (Kei)ort of American (;om-
missioners.)

The decrease in the number of seals is the result of the evil effects
of pelagic sealing. (Report of American commissioners.)

Opinion of Dr. Allen.

From the foregoing summary it is evident that the decline in the
Tiniiiber of the killable seals at the Pribilof rookeries and tlic immense
<li .roase in the total number of seals on the I'ribilof Islands are not
due to any change in the management of the seal herd at the islands,
but to the direct and uncpiestionably deleterious etHects of pelagic s(;al
ing. At the irtlauds tiie killing is regulated with reference to the num-
ber of killable seals on the rookeries, tiuMlesignated (|Uota is limited
to nonbieediug youi'g males, and every seal killed is utilized. The
killing, as thus regulated, docs not impair the productiveness of the
rookeries. In i)elagic sealing the slaughter is iudiscriminat<' and unlim-
ited, and a large proportion of the seals killed are lost. The catcli also
consists almost wholly of breeding females, which at the time of cap-
ture ari' either heavy with young or ha\e young on the rookeries
depending upon them for sustenance!. Thus two or more .seals are
destroyed to everyone utilized, and nearly all are drawn from the (lass
on whicli the very existence of the seal heid depends. (Article by Dr.
J. A. Allen.)

Opinions of experts.

I have always taken a great interest in the sealing industry and felt
a great desire to have them juotected from destrncticm, and 1 say with-
out hesitation tliat the great decrease in the number now annually
arriving ut the seal islands is due entirely to the killing of female seals
by pelagic sealers. (George Adams.)

From my general knowledge of natural history, from my study of the
habits of seals, as well as from the opportunities I have had toaccpiaint
myself witii tlic sources of destruction which are at worK, I firmly
believe that pelagic sealing would not only account for the diminution
of the seal herd, but if continued the seals will iuevitably be commer-
cially destroyed. (A. 13. Alexander.)

I believe there has been a great decrease of seals on the islands
since I left there, and this is no doubt due to pelagic sealing. (James
Armstrong.)

1

I

ALAi.CA INnUSTRIES.

175

My ])('oi>le wondcrfjd why this was so, and no one couhl tell until we
learned tliat liunters in schooners were sliootinf,' and desiroyinj,^ them
in the sea. Then we knew wliat the trouble was, tor we knew the seals
they killed and destroyed must be cows, for most all the males remain
on or neiir the islands until tiiey go invay in the fall or fore ))art of tlie
winter. We also noticed dead i)Ui)s on tlii' rookeries that had been
starved to death. If they had not kilU'd tlie seals in the sea there
would be as many on the rookeries as tliere was ten years Ago. There
was not more than one fourtli as many seals in 18!)1 as there was in LS.SO.
We understand the danger there is in the seals bein^- all killed off and
that we will have no way of earning our living. Tliere is not one of us
but what believes if tliey had nut killed them olf by sliooting thei.i in
the water there would be as many s(!als on the islands now as there was
in 1880, and we could go on forev^M' taking IOO,()(M) seals on the two
islands; but if they get less as fa.st as they luive in the last live or six
years there will be none left in a. little whde. (Kerrick Artomanoft".)

Upon examining tlie Bering Sea catch for 1891, as based u])on the
records of the Victoria custom-hous(^, I as(!ertained that nearly 3().0(K)
seals had been taken by the Britisli tleet alone in Bering Sea during
the summer of 18!)1. When there is added to this the catch of tlie
American vessels, the dead pujis upon the rookeries, and allowances
made for those that are killed and not recovered, we have a catch which
will not only nearly reach in numbers the (juotaof male seals allowed to
be taken upon the islands in years gone by, but we have a catch in the
.securing of which destruction has fallen most heavily uixui the jtroduc-
ing iv "lies. This is borne out by a further fact. The young bachelor
seals <:an lie idly on the hauling grounds and through the iicculiarities
of their i»liysical economy sustain life with a small sujijily of food, but
the cows must raiij^e the ocean in .search of nourishment that they may
meet the demands made upcm thei;i by their young. That seals go a
great distiince from the islands I know from jiersonal observation, for
we saw them 1 lit) miles to the northward of the island on the way to
Nunival. That the females outnumber the males ten to one is well
known, otherwise the hauling ground would [)resent such an array of
killable seals that there would be no necessity for the (lovernment to
suspend the annual ((uota. It inevitably follows thaf the females are
the cla.ss most preyed upon in Bering Sea. No class of animals which
bring forth but i .single olfspring annually can long su.stain itself
against tlu^ destrviction oi' the producers. As a result of my investiga-
ticui I believe that the destruction of females was carried to the jioint,
ii' about 188."), where the birth rat(? could not keej) up the necessary
suj»pl\ of mothers, and that the ei|uilibrium being once destroyed and
the drain upon the producing class increasing from year to year from
that date, the present depleted condition of tlie rookeries has resulted
directly tlierefrom. (,I. Stanley- Brown.)

When we first noticed that the seals on the rookeries were not .so
many as they used to be, we did not know what was wrong, but by and
by we found that ])lenty of schooners came into the -sea and shot seals,
and we often found bullets and shot in seals when we were skinning
them. And then we found plenty of dead jmps on the rookeries, more
and more every year, until last year (1891 ), when there were so many the
rookeries were covered with them, and when the doctor (Akerly) opened
some of them there was no milk or food in their stoinacli.s. Then we
all knew the cows had been shot when they went into the .sea to feed,
and the jmps die<l because they had nothing to eat. I'ienty of scfeoouers

176

ALASKA INDI'STRIES.

came tiist iilfout eijiiit or iiini' years aj;o, iiiid nioie and iiiort' o\ cry year
siiiee, and tlie seals <n't less and less ever sinee selmuners eanie; and
my ])ei pi-- kept saying' "No cows." "No cows." l-'irst tlie rows j^et less
and then iiie haclielois j;'et less, and tlic company ayeiit lie says ''kill
.smaller seals," and we kill sonic whose skins wei^h only lA pounds,
instead of 7 pounds, same as they always j^ot. Then we eonld not av.i
enouf^h of seals and at la.st we could hardly get cnouj.'h for meat.
Schooners kill (M)ws, jiups die. and seals are }>one. (Karp ISuterin.)

The cause of this decrease 1 believe to he due to the piomiscnons
killinj;' ol' the seals by hunters in the ojjen sea and the disturbance
caused l)y tlieir prescuce in destroyiu,u' the motlier seals and scatterinjj
the herds. (Jairu's H. Douglass.)

1 know of no other cause for the decrease than that of the killinj; of
the cows at sea by the pelayic hunters, which 1 believe must be i)ro-
hibited if the Alaskan fur seal is to be saved from total dcstru(;th)n.
(C. J.. Fowler.)

In my opinion pelajjic sealinji' is the caus(^ of redriving on the ishnnls,
the depletion of the rookeries, and itromises to soon make the Alaska
fur-s<'al herd a thinj;' of the past. If continued as it i; to-day, even if
killinj;- on the islands was absolutely forbidden, the herd will in a few
years be exterminated. (Charles .1. Golf.)

During;' my visit to the islands of St. Paul and St. (ieorj^c for the last
twenty years 1 have caiefully noticed that those islands were visited
by yreat herds of fur .seals dnrinji' the breedinj;- .sea.son. and that,
althoujih lt>().()(MI Tinile seals were taken annually at the islands by the
lessees, no [>erceptible diminution in their niunbers was noticeable until
within the past few years, when the killinj; of seals in the open sea on
tlie part of (is]iinj>; vessels became prevalent, since which time there
lias been a \'<fi:y perceptible diminution in tiie numlier of stvjils seen ia
the water of Heriny Sea and haidin,i; .^rounds on the islands. This
decrease has becoi!;i' alarmiii.uly sudden in the last tiiiee or four years,
due, I believe, tit the ruthless and indiscriminate meihodsol destruc-
tion ewiployed hy vessels in taking female seals in tlw." open sea. (Capt.
M. A. Heaieys)

I made the conililions (H seal life a careful sttidy foi years, and 1 am
li^'mly ol' the opinion tlKsv decrease in numlK-i on the I'ribilof Islamis
is due wholly and ontit'eljk to hunting and kiMing them in the o[)en sea.
(W. S. Hereford. >

When in ISN> we all saw the decrease ot seals niion tin luuling
grounds and rookeries, wc asked eaih otli«>i what was the cause of it,
but when we learned that white men were shooting seals in the water
with giiWNS Me knew what was the matter; we knew that t they killed
seals i« the walt-r thai they must be nearly all females riiat wen- going
out tu tiH'd, thv the males stay on tin- islands nnfil thi.\ get rea«l> to go
aws^ in the tall or winter. It was among the cows we iirst, noticed the
i^vrease. and as we lU'ver kill the cows on the islands, w knew they
Miusl be killing them in the water. (.Aggia Kushen.)

Th«'re can be no question, in my opinion, about the ultimate result to
the rookerii'S of marnie sealing. It' it is continued as it has {>eeu for
the last two in- three yeors, the seals will be so nearly wi]>ed out of exist-
ence in a short time as to leave iMthing to iiuarre! about, ami an article
of commerce that has afforded , vast amount ol comfort and satisfais
tion to a large class of wearer s and a large income to K>tli Aineriva/U
and British merchants will be a thing of the past. (l.»wiac Liebes..)

1

ALASKA INDIIKTR1K8.

177

1 am CMiiviiiccMl tliiit tluMlecrciisc in tlic rookorios was cimsed entirely
by »>i)t'iist'a scaliiij''. (Abial I*. Loud.)

'Ilicrr svci'c no (l('sti'n(;ti\ c a;;cncics at work npnii tlic i>lan<l that
would not luiNC Icll llir rookeries in better condition in IS'.Kl than they
weie in 1S70. I'ntiJ tiie elleets of the tfue ayent ot destruction bcj,'aii
to i)e nianit'esi tiiert^ was an excess of nude life on tlie ishtnds siillicicnt
to i)einiil of an annual catch of 1()().00(» seals for an inilefinite jieriod
witiiout Jeopardizing- I lie rool\cries. If it be rcinendiered tl:at tlic seals
taken in tiie waters by jmnters are eiiielly females, that their youuf;
die witii tiu'm, and Ihal all of tln»se killed are not secured, and if llien
an e.vauuiiation hv made of the pelajiic skins actually sold durin;;' the
past twenty years, tlie real source of the depletion of the rook<'ries will
be (bund. In my Judjuinent such depletion was caused by pelagic seal-
iuf;', and that it i;rcw ;;reater from year to year, as the nundx'i' of
socalled poachinjj schooners increased, and that its effects be(;an to
manifest themselves about 1.S8.1 or isstJ. The depletion on both haul-
inji' and breedinj;' ji''<>ii"ds is a<eounled lor by the fact that the eatch
of said sealers (consists of at least ^5 per cent cows. Sai<l cows, when
taken in the North racilic. are in the majority of eases with ])ups, and
in IJcrin,;.; Sea are so-called milkin^i females. Whenever a milking' cow
is killed, iicr puj> on the rookeries dies of siarvatiim. In suiipoitof
this fact last stated, the number of dead ])ui)s dnrinj; t he last four years
I was upon the islands increased annually. The ellcct of the eomi)arii-
tively lew raids upon the rookeries theniselves, while injurious, bear
but a small ratio to the enormous (lama,'.;e done by tiu^ ix'lanic huntinji'.
Those in charj^c of the isliinds did not, when the decrease on the rook-
eries conunenced, know exclusively the cause thereof. My opinion llieii
was that it was caused by pelaf^ie sealing;', but I had lieen informed
and believed that the United States (b)vernment intended to seize all
such poaching' \essels. Kelying upon such ip'biniation I authorized
the li'.king' of seals as betbre. The i)roper protection of scid life was
nov fully carried out in I'.ering Sea and the North I'acilic by reason of
England's interference, and the rookeries were thus dei)leted. (II. 11.
Mclntyre.)

From statements made by ^lersonal ac(piaintances and fiiends, I
bet " • ■ ' ■ .■•.•■ . > ,

pel

vious 1 ,_ .

as to the cause of such decrease of seals. I'elagic scaling as practiced
ju'ior to the year ISSJ had no apparent etVect ujion seal life, and even
when to this was ailded the taking of adelinite number year after year
under lease from the I'luted States (loverninent, there was still a con-
stant in(!rea.-e of seals observed. I am, therefore, fully conliinied in
the belief that the decrease in their nundiers is diu solely to ihe indis-
eriminate killing at sea ot'all ages, regardless of s(>x. as practiced since
1884. (11. W. Mclntyre. 1

The seals have rapidly decreased since sealing vessels a])i)eare(l, but
before the inroads of these seal hunters there was no trouble in obtain-
ing the full quota of the best grades of skiirs, as the herds previous to
that time had been noticeably increasing. (John .Malcwansky.)

(). To whal do you attribute the decrease in the numlier of seals on
the rookeries ? — A. To the great iuind)er of cows killed by poachers,
and eouse»iuently less pups are born on the rookeries.

i). How do you know that cows have been killed by poachers:? — A.
I have handled and seen a great number of skins captured by the rev-
11. Doc. Ill', j.i. -.1 12

From statements made by ^lersonal ac(piaintances and fiiends, I
lecanie aware (»f a rai)id decrease in seal life in Alaska, and reports of
lehigie sealing, as made public through the ju'ess, conibine<l with jtre-
'ious ])ersonal atVairs as existing ])rior to bS8L', leaves no possible doubt

178

ALASKA INOrSTItlFS.

emit' (iittors Iroiii the |H)at;liiiifj vessels, tiiid llu'ic were viMy t'ow iiialo
skins iinioii;^ tliciii; iilso liiivc soon anion}; them a i^rcat nninbor of
unborn piips. Twice npoii Mic rookcrios I iinvc seen cows killed and
lott Iheie liy til*' poaclieis. (Anton Meiovedol'l.)

I kiiowof no oilier explanation tlian this: The cows are shot and
killod wlieii tli".v iio into the sea to I'eed and the pups die on the rook-
eries. This, I tliii.lv. is the true solution of the vexed (|iieHlion, •' What
lias bocoiiie of I lie seals?" (Anton Melovedolf.)

Since ls,s;5, however, there is said to liavo occhitcmI a very material
diminution of Die seal life on the Pribilof Islands, duo, as it is claimed,
to a laifio and indiscriminate slanj^litor of these animals in the waters
of 15erinj>' .Sea and tho Pacitic Ocean. The cause assi<;ne(l for (his loss
is nnd<mbte<lly the true one. If no other pioof wore fortheoniiii};' iii
n'lation to it. the hirj^c disjilay of dead pups on the rookeries would in
itself fnrnisli all the evidence re(|uii«'d. Such diminution could not,
ill my o])iiiioii, be the result of the yearl\ slauj^hter of skins. It is
shown that an appreciable exiiansioii of the rookeries took placo after
twelve or fourteen years of sindi slauHhtor, and 1 think this fact
conclusively denionslratea that tho number of seals which the law jior-
mitted to be killed each year was not {greater than the known c(uuli-
tions of tho seal's life would safely warrant. (.1. M. Mortem.)

From tho exiierienco gained, and observations made, dnriiifj; throe
killiiij;' seiisons: Ironi the information jiloaned from men who have
devoted tiioir lives to the practical side of tho seal <|iiestioii. and from
the books and reports in the (Jovei :inieiit oflices on tho islands, 1 am
able to say that, in my opinion, there is only one fiioat cause of the de-
crease of tho fur seal, and that is the killintr <>f the fomales by polapic
huntiuj;'. (Joseph Murray.)

I believe this decrease is owing to tlit> large iiumbor of vessels engaged
in hunting the fur seal at sea. and the indiscriminate methods em])loyod
by those sealing vessels in taking skins. (Arthur Newman.)

The jiractieo of pelagi<' seal liunting was followed by the Northwest
Coast Indians fiom their earliest liist(U'y, but amounted to so little as
to be inappreciable on the islands. lOven after white hunters engaged
in it in a limited way oui' losses from this source wore attributed to the
marine onomios of tho seals, and was so far oviii'conie by the good iiiau-
agemont of the islands as to i>ormit the growth of the herd to continue
so long as it was limited to a low vessels and continod to the vicinity of
the Oregon, Washington, and British Colnmbian coasts. Hut even
before any c<»nsiderable slaughter had taken place in the waters of
Bering Sea. as early as IS.SL!. it was noticed that the rookeries had
sto])pe<l expanding, though they wore treate*! in every way as they
always had been. An examination of the London ( 'ataloguoof sealskin
sales shows that the " N'lctoria cateh'' already aggregated a very eon-
siderable number of sk^ns, and now biiiigs home the (tonviction that
jielagic sealing, when vnilinod almost wholly to the I'acitic, is still a
very dangerous eiiem\ oi seal life on the islands. After IS,S() the forc(!
of iielagic hunters was greatly augmented, and became more and more
aggressive, until they appeared in alarming numbers in Bering Sea in
1S84 and liSS."). In bSsT w<> wore forced to commence taking smaller
skins in order to obtain our (piota and |)reserve enough breeding bulls.
In ISSStlioy were still smaller, while in issit more than hiilfof them
were such as we would not havekilloilin former years; and we called the
attention of the Treasury Department to the evident diminution otseal

ALASKA lNDi;sTUIE8.

179

life, iiihI '(H'oiniiKMKh'd that fewer seals be killed in Ciitiirc. Tliere ean
Im> no i|ii(sti(>ii iis to tli(^ ciiiiscof liit' (liiiiinntioii. It is tiic liiit'ct result
of pelagic si-aliiif,', and tin- same (U'stnir-tion, if conliniifd a lew years
lousier, will entirely dissiitatt; any coniMKireial value in the rookeries, if
it does not, indeed, annihilate tlieni. '(iustave Niebauni.)

In my opinion the sohilinn of the piuijlem is plain, it is the .sliotf,nin
and the rille of the pelat,nc hunter which ai-e so destructive to tiie cow
seals as they ^o backward and forwaid to the lisjiin^ banks to supply
the waste causiMJ by j;ivin;4 noiuisiiment to their youny. At this time
tli«'y are destroyed i)y thousands, and their yoim;; ol but a few weeks
old nursi necessarily die of starvation, for nature has jirovided no other
means of subsistence for them at tids time of life. (L. A. N'oyes.)

<i». How do you account for it? — A. By the numbers, principally
fenniles, that ait^ killed in the wateis by imirauders. (d. C. Kedpath.)

I saw no diiidiiution of seal lite durinj; my three years on the island.
The outlines of the I'ookeries remained Just about the same from year
to year. 1 was fold at the tinu' that tliere had formerly lieen a lar<fo
incMcase, and did not then understand why it did not continue, as every
condition seemed fa\orable for it. There were, appaiently, an abun-
dance of bulls for s('i\ice: e\ery cow seemed to lia\'e a imp, and all
were In-althy and in {iood condition. No females were killed, mid in tlio
natural order of growth there ou.uht to have been at this time a con-
stantly increasiuf^' area covered with breeding rookeries. Vet sueh was
not the case. The explanation of the matter came later, when we I'airly
awoke to the fact that our animals were beiiij;' slaughtered by tens of
thousands in the North I'acilic. I knew in a eonmiercial wiiy from (air
sales catalo^uiie that a very large nuudx'r (d" " N'ietoria skins,'' as they
were called, were bcinj:' sent to nuirket, and that this number j^rew con-
stantly larger; but 1 did not then know, as I now do, that each skin
sold it'presenfed a waste of two or three and perhaps esen foiii' or fivo
seals to obtain it. Noi was any attention given to the now well-known
fact that these animals were a part of our herd as wrongfully stolen
from us, 1 believe, as my cattle w(udd be if driven in and appropriated
from the highway when lawfully !c<'ding. ( Leon yioss.)

Since my residence on the I'ribilof Islands I have kept a very careful
watch of the progress of the events there, and have interviewed a great
many connected with the seal industry. 1 am (d' the conviction that
the rcjMirled decrease in seal life on these islands can be attributed to
no other caii>e save pelagic sealing. While i was located at !St.(ieorge
Island in ISSI pelagic sealing was •■ . mil previcais to that time had
been of very little consequence, lni\ing v'T slight elfect ui)oii seal life,
^'ot more than four or live vessels werecngaged in pelagic sealing in
1S81 in the watei's of Hering Sea. a.iU prior to that time a still fewer
number were so engaged. Hut since i -sl t iiis industry has grown yearly
until now about a hundred vessels are destroying the seals in great
nnndiers, and, as 1 am informed and la-iieve, the great majcuity of those
killed are females. Then, too, large numbers are killed in this way
which are never recovered nor reported. (V\'. B. Taylor.)

Scarcity (d' seal can be attributed to no other cause than pelagic
hunting and tlie indiscrinnnate shooting of seals in the oju'ii sea, both
in the North I'aiiCic and r.ering Sea. (John C Tolnian.)

i am sure the decrease is caused by the killing of female .seals in the
oi'tMi sea, ami tliAt if their destruction liy tiie indiscriminate killing in

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180

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

the open sea is permitted to continue it will only be a very short time
until the herd is destroyed. (Charles T. Wagner.)

I have no doubt that it is caused by the killing of female seals in the
water, aud, if continued, will certainly end in their exteraiination.
(M. L. Wasiiburn.)

1 am convinced that if open-sea sealing had never been indulged in
to the extent it has since IHSo, or perhaps a year or two earlier, 1()(>,()()(>
nude skins could have been taken annually forever from the Pribilof
islands without decreasing the seal herd below its normal size and con-
dition. The cause of the decrease which has taken jilace can be
accounted for oidy by open-sea sealing ; for, until that means of destruc-
tion to seal life grew to be of such proportions as to alarm those inter-
ested in the sisals, the seal herd increased, aud since that time the
decrease of the number of seals has been proportionate to the increase
in the number of those engaged in open-sea sealing. From 1884 to
181)1 1 saw their numbers decline, under the same careful management,
until in the latter year there was not more than one-fourth of tiieir
numbers coming to the islands. In my Judgment there is but one ca.ise
for that decline and the i»resent condition of the rookeries, and that
is the shotgun and ritie of the pelagic hunter, and it is my opinion
that if the lessees had not taken a seal on the islands for the last
ten years we would still tind the breeding gnmnds in about the s ime
condition as they are today, so destructive to seal life are the methods
adopted by these hunters. (Daniel Webster.)

Deponeu' by reason of his experience in the business, his observa-
tion, conversations with those ])hysically engaged in catciiing and curing
skins, and the custody of herds on the islands, feels justiticd in exj ress-
ing tlie opinion that tlie nunil)eis of the seal herds have, since the
introduction of the open sea sealing on a large scale, sutl'ered serious
diminution. The killing of large nnnd)ers of females heavy with young
can not, in deponent's knowledge, but have that ett'ect. (C. A. Williams.)

I made careful inipiiry of the people on the islands, both native and
white, and of those who wei'e or had been employed as masters or mates
on sealing vessels, and (itliers interested one way or another in the cap-
ture of fur seals for food or for i»iofit, and failed to find any of them but
who admitted tliat the number of seals in Bering Sea was much less
now than a few years since, and nearly ail of them gave it as their
opinion that the decrease in nundjer was due to pelagic hunting, or^ as
they more frequently exjjressed it, the killing of females in the water.
(W\ H. Williams.)

DECUKASK OF THE A1,ASKAN SEAL HEK1).

After 188;i they seemed to stay about the same, as far as the number
of breeders was concerned, as long as 1 was there. (John Armstrong.)

1 ascertained by (piestioning those who had years df contirnous exjje-
rience with the seals that up to the year ISSL' tlieie was an annual ex]ian-
sion of the boundaries of the breeding grounds; that this was followed
by a i)eriod of stagnation, whicli in ttirn was followed by a marked
decaden(;e from about ]88o-8(> down to the present time, (J. Stanley-
Brown.)

I am unable to state whether the s«'als increased ov not during my
residence on ISt. Paul, bnt they certainly did not decrease, except, i)er-
haps, there was a slight decrease in 1884. In all my conversations with

ALA8KA INDU8'JRIE8.

181

the natives — which were, of course, a great mauy — they never spoke of
tlie seals being on the decrease, as they certainly wouhl have done if
such Iiad been the case. (H. A. Glidden.)

While on St. Paul I do not think the number of seals increased, and
in the last year (1884) I think there was a slight decrease. (J. H.
MoultoTi.)

l.'l)on the Commander Islands, as 1 have already said, the increase
in seal life was constant for many years, but in 1800 we noticed a
decided disturbance in the rookeries and a considerable decrease in
their population. This we 8ul)sequently attributed, when the facts
were ascertained, to pelagic sealing in the adjacent waters. (Gustave
Niebaum.)

I noticed during this period no perceptible increase in the breeding
rookeries ou St. George. (B. F. Scribner, Treasury agent.)

ON PRIBILOF ISLANDS.

In 1882 there was no scarcity of killable seals. The men drove up as
many every day as tiiey could handle, and those selected for killing
comprised only the choicest ones. (W. C. Allis.)

There seemed to be also a large suri)lu8 of full-grown bulls for rook-
ery service, and enough escaped from the slanglittjr ground to keep the
number good as the old ones passed the age of usefulness. I do not
believe the condition of the rookeries nor the manner of driving and
killing the seals at this time could have been improved. It was perfect
in every respect, and the lessees, em])loyees, and natives, as well as the
seals, all ap))eared to be rud were, I believe, contented and happy. In
18S(i the conditions had somewhat changed. The natives complained
that big seals were growing scarcer; that there were many dead pups
on the rookeries, and the superintendent intimated to me that he did
not like the outlook as conipared with a few years previous, and said
he thought either the number killed or the size of the animals taken
for their skins would have to be reduced of killable seals, and the
work went on as during my lirst year (1882) in the service. But the
trouble of which they complained grew more serious in the following
years, and 1 think it was in 1888 the superintendent told the bosses
they must kill less large seals and more "yellow bellies," or 2-year-olds.
In 1889 a very 'arge proportion of the catch was made up of this class.
It was then perfectly ajjpareut to everybody, myself included, that the
rookeries were "going to the bad" and that a smaller number must
inevitiibly be killed the following year. (W. O. Allis.)

The aggregate size of the areas formerly occupied is at least four
times as great as that of the present rookeries. (Report of American
Bering Sea commissioners.)

I have noticed a great decrease in the numbers of the fur seals since
1887, both on the rookeries of St. Paul Island, which are much shrunken
in the area covered bji seals, and in the waters of the Pacific and Bering
Sea. On the rookeries, ground formerly hauled over by seals is now
grown up with a scattering of recent growth. (O. H. Anderson.)

The skins aken prior to 1886 weighed from 6 to 10 pounds each,
averaging about 8 pounds per skin; bi. I understand from those who
remained there ou duty that much snniller ones were afterwards taken,
because the large seals had become scarce and were needed for rookery
service. (John Armstrong.)

182

ALASKA INDI'STKIKS.

From 1870 to 1884 tlie seals were swarming on tlie lianling' grounds
and the rookeries, and I'or many years tliey spread cmt more and more.
All of a sndden, in l.SSt, we noticed there was not so many seals, ami
they havebeendecreasing very rajndly ever since. (Kerriek ArtoiminoJr.)

There are not nenrly as nnniy seals on the coast as there were two or
three years ago. (.lolinny Haroiioviteh.)

There are i'ertain i)hysical as well as historical sources of inforniatioii
upon the island from wliicli tlie relation of the present to the past con-
dition of the rookeries cini be Ncry dearly made out.

(1 ) Not only upon, but immediately to the rear of, tlie area at present
occui)ied by the breedinj;- sculs occur fragments of basalt whose angles
have been rounded and polished by the lli])pers of seals. Among these
latter rocks gniss is found growing to an extent i)roportioniite to their
distances from the ])re.sent breeding grounds, and further, the soil
shows no recent disturbance by the seals. This rounding of the bowl-
ders of the abandoned areas was not due to the imjungemeiit of sand
driven by the wind. No geologist would be willing to risk his re])uta-
tion by asserting that this rounding came from any such agency. The
distinction between the result of sand-blast a(!tion and seals' tlippers
is very marked.

(2) A careful examination among the roots of the grass will often
show the former presenile of seal by the peculiar appearancieol the soil,
due to the excrementa of tlie seal and the occurrence of a thin mat of
seal hair. The attention of Dr. George M. Dawson was called to such
a felt of hair upon the summit of Hutchinson Hill, and both he and
Dr. (J. Hart Merriam collected spt limens of it from among the grass
roots at that locality.

(3) At the rear of the rookeries there is usually an area of mixed
vegetation — an area the boundary of whi(!h is sharj)ly defined, and
between which and the present breeding grounds o(!curs a zone of
grass of only a single variety. In the innnediatc vicinity of the i)re8-
e!it breeding grounds oidy 8(!anty bunches are to be seen. These
gradually coalesce as the line of mixed vegetation is approac'hed. The
explanation of this is that the seals were tbrmerly so abundant as to
destroy the normal mixed vegetation at the rear of the breeding
grounds, and that the decrease of the seals has been followed by the
encroachment of the uniform variety of grass.

(4) The statements made to me by competent observers who have
li\'ed upon the islands for years all agree that the shrinkage in the
breeding area has been ra]>id during the past five or six years.

After observing the habits of seals for a season, 1 unhesitsitingly
assert that to satisfactorily account for the disturbance to vegetable
life over areas whose extent is visible even to the most careless and
I)rejudiced of observers, would recpiire the i)resence of from two to three
times the amount of seal bfe which is now to be found upon the islands.
That there has been enormous decrease in the seals there can be no ques-
tion. (J. Stanley-Brown.)

Have observed carefully th<^ areas occupied by the seals on the rook-
eries and hauling-out grounds, especially at Northeast Point and the
Iteef, on St. Paul Island, in 1884, 1885, 1886, and 1891, and on both rook-
eries the areas formerly occupied by seals have greatly decreased, so
nnich so that at first api)earance it seemed, in 1891, as if the hauling-
out grounds had been entirely deserted. Subse(]uent examination dis-
closed the fact that this was not strictly true, there still being a small
number of male seals left on the grounds. Have also observed that the

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

183

seals are m\vA\ more scattered on the breeding rookei-ies than in former
years (1884, ISS;";, 1S8(»); iilso that the number of seals in the water has
proportionately det leastMl, and that they liave ^^rown very mueli more
siiy and diniciiit toap|)roa( li. Without presumin}; to be absohitely cor-
rect, wouhl estimate tlie number of seals present at St. I'aul Island
dnrinj; the year l.s'.tl to about 10 per cent of the numl)er therein former
years of observation— 1884, 188r>, 188(». Mohn C. Cantweli.)

I did not notice any falling oft" in the size of the rookeries from the
landmarks to wliich they came when J first saw them during the first
two years I was on the island, and all agreed, in discussing the luatter,
that tlie seals had never been more numerous than tiiey were; but in
the following years, and particularly in lHf>6 and 188!t, no other opinion
was licard tlian that the animals had greatly diminished, and in this
opinion I fully coincided. (Henry N. (Ilaik.)

During the seasons of 18(t0and 1801,1 was in ccminiand of the revenue
cutter h'unk, in Ucring Sea, and cruised extensively in tliose waters
around the seal islands and the Aleutian group. In the s".a8on of 1890
I visited the islaiuls of St. Paul and St. (reorge, in the months of July,
August, and September, and had ample and fre<iueiit opportunities of
observing the seal life a8com|)ared with 1870. I was astonished at the
reduced nuinhers of seals and the extent of bare ground on the rookeries
once teeming with seal life. In 18!)0 the North American Commercial
Company were unable to kill seals of suitable si/e to make their quota
of <iO,000 allowed by their lease, and in my oi)inion, had they been i)er-
niitted to t,ike50,000 in 1891, they could not have secured thatnumber
if they had killed every br.chelor seal witii amercliantable skin on both
islands, so great was the diminution in the number of animals found
there. (W. C. Coulson.)

I arrived with my command at St. Paul Island June 7, 1801. At that
date very few seals had ai rived, and but a small number had been killed
for fresh food. On the li-'th of June, 1801, we were at St. (ieorge Island
and found a few seals had been taken there, also for food, the number
of seals arriving not being enough to warrant tlie killing of any great
nund)er. During that year I was at and around both these islands
every month from and including .luiie until the 1st day of December
(exce|»ting October), acd at no time were there as many seals in sight
as in 1800. I assert this from actual observation, and it is my opinion
we will find less this year. (VV. C. Coulsou.)

During my annual cruising in IJeringScaand to and from thePribilof
Islands 1 have carefully noted the number and ajutearance of seals in
the water and on the breeding rookeries from the deck of my vessel, and
have also rci)eatedly visited the hauling grounds from year to year, and
it was about bSSland 188r> that bare s|)<)ts began to ajipcaron the.ook-
eries, so mucii so that myself and the other oHicers often spoke of it
and discussed the «'auses therefor. The decrease in nnnibei' of seals
both on the Pribilof Islands and in the waters of IJering Sea and North
Pacific has been very rapid since 1885, especially so in the lastthieeor
four years, and it is my opinion that there is not now more than one-
third of tlie number of seals in these waters and on the islands that
there were ten years ago. (Leander Cox.)

During my last visits to the islands I observed a very marked diminu-
tion in tlie number of seals thereon as contrasted with the henl on the
rookeries five or six years [)revious]y. I am familiar with the an'aand
topography of the various rookeries on the islands, and have observed

184

ALASKA INDt'STRIES.

1

tliat spaces formerly occupied by houI herds are now vacant and parts
of tliein covered witli {;rass, Tliis diniinutiou was particularly iiutice
able in 1.S87 and 1888, the last two years' visit to the islands, (.hiines
II. Donglas.)

For many years prior to 18f)(» I have observed the rookeries from my
shi|» and also Irom the islands. The first decrease in the nuiiilx r
appeariiifj on the rookeries and in the snri'oundin}.'' sea that I i)articn
hilly noticed was in the summer of ISSl, and it has become more luaikcd
from year to Near since. For the last three or four years their disap
liearance has iteen very marked. In October, 18i»(>, 1 nuide a trip from
Unalaska to St. Michaels. When about -(» miles south of »St. (ieorjje
we commcuced to watch for seals j)assin{i' the Za])adnie rookery cluse
insluue n]i>u<x the west end of St. (leorffc Island to Otter Island and
Seal Island idck , thence to Northeast Point, about a mile and a half
otl'shore. When we started, I requested the ollicers to keej) a sharp
lookout and to report if they saw any seals in the water. I was on
deck most of the time myself also, and we oidy saw two seals in the
whole run ; whereas ten years a}?o, when on a similar \ (lyafje, seals were
so jdentitul tluit it A\as impossil)le to count them. From my long obser-
vation I do not think there are as many seals by two-thirds now annu
ally arriviiijn' on the islands or in those waters as theie were ten years
ago, when I lirst commeuccd to notice that they were decreasing. My
this statenunt J mciiu to say that only oiu'-third as many are now to be
seen as iormerly. (M. (J. l-Irskine.)

Seals have decreased in nund)ers very rapidly in the last few years,
and to anyone who saw the breeding rookeries as 1 did in 1880 the
change is most wonderful. (0. L. Fowler.)

It was on the breeding rookeries and among the cows that 1 first
began to notice the decrease in seal life, and I do iu)t think there were
more than one tburth as many cows on the breeding rookeries in I8!H
as were there in 1887. (C. L. Fowler.)

1 have been a resident of the seal islands for the past ten years; for-
merly assistant agent of the Alaska Commercial (3(mipany, now agent
of the North Ameiican Company, and during that time was engaged
in the taking of seals. I have listened to the testimony of J, C. Hed-
l)ath, as aliove, and fullj' concur in all that he has said concerning seal
life, with the exception that the number of seals on the islands tiiis
season are, in my judgment, not more than one fourth of what they
were in 1887. (O. L. Fowler.)

In those days (from 18('.0 to 1S82 or 1888) we used to get plenty of
seals on the Zoltoi sands near the Itc 3f rookery, and now there are
none there. It was in 1884 that I first noticed a decrease in the seals,
and it has been a steady and a very rapid (lecrease ever since 188(1, so
that at present there are not one fourth as many seals on the ishuid as
there was every year from 180!) to 1883. (John Fratis.)

In lS8!t I made careful observations of the rookeries on St. Paul
Island and iimrked (mt the areas covered by the breeding gnmiids; in
18t)() 1 examined these lines made by me the former year, and found a
very great shiinkagc in the spaces ( overed by breeding seals. In 188i)
it was quite diilicult for the lessees to obtain their full quota of lOO.OOO
skins; so diflicult was it in fact, that in order to turn off" a sudicient
number of 4 and "» yoiirs old males from the hauling gronnds for breed-
ing purposes in the future, the lessees wore exnnpelled to take about
5U,0UU skins of seals of 1 or 2 years of age. I at once reported this

'

ALAHKA INDliJTRIEB.

185

fact to tlip Spcretiiry of the Troiisiiry, and iidvised the taking of a leas
number of Hkins the foUowing year. I'ursiiant lo hhcIi iei)orttlie Gov-
ernment fixed the number to be taken as (i(M>l><), and fiirtlier ordered
that all killing of .seal.-i upon the iHlandH 8honld stop after the liOMi day
of July. 1 was further ordc^red to notify the natives upon tiie Aleutian
IsIandH that all killing of seals while coming from or going to tlie seal
islands was ])rohii)ited. These rules and regulations went into effect
in IS'tO, and pursuaut thereto 1 p(»stod notices for the natives at various
ixiinls aUmg the Aleutian chain, and saw that the orders in relation to
the time of killing and number allowed to be killed were executed upon
the islands. As a result of the enforcement of these regnlations, the
lessees were unable to take more than 21,2.'iS seals of the killablc age
of f^om 1 to f) yoai a during the season of 189(t, so great had been tlui
decrease of seal life in one year, and it would have been impossible to
obtain 00,000 skins even if the time had been unrestricted. (Charles
J. (Joff.)

The Table A, ai)pended to this aflhlavit, shows how great has been
the decrease on St. Taul Island's hauling grounds, bearing in mind the
fact that the driving and killing were done by the same ])ersons as in
former years, and were as diligently carried on, the weather being as
favorable as in 1880 for seal driving. I believe that the sole causes of
tlio decrease is pelagic sealing, which, from reliable information, I under-
stand to have increased greatly since 1884 or 188"). Another fact I
have gained from reliable sources is that the great majority of the seals
taken in the open sea are pregnant females or females in milk. It is
an uiKiuestionable fact that the killing of these females destroys the
pnjis tiiey are carrying or nursing. The result is, that this destrnction
of pui)s takes about equally from the male and leinale increase of the
herd, and when so many male pups are killed in this manner, besides
the 100,000 taken on the islands, it necessarily affecits the number of
killable seals. In 1880 this drain u])ou male seal life showed itself on the
islands, and this, in my opinion, at^-ounts for the neiiessity of the lessees
taking so many young seals that year to lill out their quota. As soon
as the effects of pelagic sealing were noticed by me upon the islands
I reported the same, and the (lovernment at once took stei)s to limit
the killing ni)on the islands, so that the rookeries might have an ojypor-
tunity to increase their numbers to their former condition; but it will
be impossible to re])air the depletion if i)elagic sealing continues. I
have no dcmbt, as I reported, that the taking of 100,000 skins in 18S0
affected the male life on the islands and cut into the reserve of male
seals necessary to ])reserve annually for breeding i)urpose.} in the
future, but this fact did not become evident until it was U)o late to
repair the fault that year. Except for the Jiumbers destroyed by pelagic
sealing in the years previ(ms to 1880 the hauling grounds would not
have been so depleted, and the taking of 100,000 male seals would not
have impaired tlit' reserve for breeding ])urposes or diminished to any
extent the seal life on the Pribilof Islands. Even in this diminished
state of the rookeries in 1880 I carefnlly observed that in the majority
of cases the 4 and 5 year old males were allowed to drop out of a
"drive" before the biiehelors had been driven any distance from the
hauling grounds These seals were let go for the sole purpose of sup- .
plying sufficient ture breeders. (Charles J. Goff.)

I believe there has been a great decrease in the numbers of the fur-
seal S])ecie8. I do not believe that there are now one tenth as many
fur seals irequeutiug the Pribilof Islands as there were ten years ago.

186

ALASKA INUrSTHIES.

Nino or ton yonrs iii;o, wlion lyiii},' ofV tlio I'iil)il()r Isliuids in tlio fall,
liio young seals iisod lo plav in tlio wator alxmt tlio vossols in laifjro
nuinbors; in jjfoing to tlio wostwaid in tlio niontli of May many soiils
wore always to bo soon betwoon (hialaska and tlio I'our Mountain islands.
ill niidsuninior. wlioii niakinfj jjassajjes botweon InalasUa and tlio Pii-
bilof Islands, used to soe lar{;e bodies of fur seals feodinff; they were
invariably to be mot with most numerously about (iO niilos nortliwost
true from IJnalaska, and from there u)) to and from the feeding grounds.
When last I visited tlie rookeries, three years ago, in 18.S9, 1 noticed a
great shrinkage in the area covered by seals on the rookeries, (Charles
.1. Hague.)

In ISSi; and 1SS7 there appeared to be enough seals, and the men were
koi)t pretty steadily at work afti'i' the iirst few days of the season until
the ('at(;h was conijilotod. Ciood sized skins were taken in these years,
and there was no trouble in getting them, but large seals grew very
searce on the island in 1S88, and still more so in the three following
years. I am sure the size, of the rookeries on St. Paul Island and the
number of seals on them in 1891 were less than one-half their size and
number in 188G. (Alex, llansson.)

Coincident with the increase of hunting seals in the sea there was an
increase in the death rate of pn]» seals on the rookeries; also a i)er-
coi»tilde diminution of female seals. As hunting increased it became
seU' evident, even to the most (!asual observer, that the rookeries were
becoming devastated. It is positively a fact tliat there are not near as
many seals occupying the rookeries now, at the present time, as there
were when I tirst saw tlie islands. The vaciant spaces on the breeding
and hauling grounds have increased in size from year to year since
1884, and liave been very noticeable for the last tour or Ave years.
When 1 first wont to the seal islands the seals were actually increasing
in numbers instead of diminishing. Two facts presented themselves
to me later on : First, seals were arriving each year in diminished num-
bers; second, at the same time that the female seals were decreasing
in numlM^rs the number of dead pups on the rookeries were increasing.
The indiscriminate slaughter of seals in the water has so depleted
their number that the company is at present unable to get their quota
of skins on the island as allowed per contract with the Government,
and is restricted to such an insignificant number that it is not enough
to supply food to the native population of the islands. It is an indis-
putable fact that large portions of the breeding rf)okeries and hauling
grounds are bare, where but a few ytars ago nothing but the happy,
noisy, and snarling seal families could be seen. • • * The driving
rookeries also necessarily liave sutt'ered, as witness the difference in the
catch, a drop from 100,000 to about 20,000 in 1800. (W. S. Hereford.)

I have been enijdoyed on the seal islands since 1882, have resided
ui)on them (iontinucmsly for ten years, and have a personal knowledge
of the seal life as it exists on the islands and in the waters surrounding
them. There was less than one-third the number of seals on the islands
last year than in 1882. The decrease in the number of seals coming to
the islands was first noticed and talked about two or three years after
I tirst came to live hero; and since 1887 the decrease has been very
rapid. A careful insiiection of the rookeries each returning season since
1887 showed that the cows were getting loss aiul less, although it was
a rare thing to find a cow seal that did not have a pup at her side.
(Edward Hughes.)

'

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

187

Ten or twelve years ago the rookoriert and sea were full of seals, bnt
nuw tliere are not a preal, many. We used to kill Hr»,()(M> in less than
two months' time on St. Panl Island, and our pcoph" earned jdenty of
money to buy everythinji; tiiey want«'d, and in tiie winter we killed l.',IIO(»
or .'{.(M(0 male pups for food and clothinf,'. Now we are not all()wed to
kill any more ])ups. and only 1/M) male seals lor food, and the jjeople
are very murh worried to know wiiat is to beeonie of tiieni and tiieir
ehildren. (Jacob Kotchootten.)

I remember the first time I noticed a decrease of seals on the rook-
eries, about seven or eifjht years ajio. and tlie seals have beeonie fewer
every year since. We used to kill s."),ii(l(» seals on 8t. I'aul Island in
less tlian sixty days' time until iSiMi, when they became so few we
could not take more than about one fourth of that number in the same
length of time. (Nicoli Krukoff.)

All our people know the seals are jjetting scarcer every year, and we
think it is because of the schooners coming in and shooting the cows
in the sea. (Nicoli Knikoff.)

About 18S."» a decrease was observed, and that decrease has be(;ome
more marked every year from 1885 to the present time. (Aggei Ru-
sh en.)

There are not one-fourth as many seals now as there were in 1H82,
and our ix'ople are very much alarmed to know what is to become of
them alter tiie seals are killed ofl'. If the seals decireaseas fast as they
have during the past live or six years tliere will be none left in a very
short time for us to live upon. (Aggei Kushen.)

During the time from 188.") to 188!) there was a very marked decrease
in the size of the breeding grounds on St. Paul Island, and from 1887 to
1889 I also noticed a gieat decrease in the areas covered by the rook-
eries on St. George Island. (Abial P. Loud.)

In his repo/t of 1880 and 1887 (leorge R. Tingle, special Treasury
agent in charge of the seal islands, rejiorted having measured the r(»ok-
eries on the islands, and that the seals had largely increased in number,
giving the increase at about 2,000,(K)(). From this report I dissented at
the time, as I was unable to see any increase, but, on the contrary, a
perceptible decrease, in the rookeries. I expressed ray views to many
on the islands and all agreed that there had been no increase in the seal
life. The measurements of the rookeries on which Mr. Tingle relied
were made with a common rope by ignorant natives while the seals were
absent from the islands, the grounds covered by them being designated
by Mr. Tingle from memory. (Abial P. Loud.)

During the three years following 1882, namely, 1883, 1884, and 1885, 1
was not upon the islands. Upon my return in 1886 I noticed a slight
shrinkage in the breeding areas, but am unable to iiulicate the year of
the |)eriod of my absence in which the decrease of breeding seals began.
From the year 1886 to 188i), inclusive, my observation was continuous,
and there was a greater decrease of the seals for each succeeding year
of that i)eriod in a cumulative ratio, ])roportionate to the number of
seals killed by the pelagic sealers. (H. H, Mclutyre.)

In 1C86 I again assumed personal direction of the work upon the
islands, and continued in charge to and including 1889. And now, for
t,he first time in my experience, there was ditticulty in securing such
skins as was wanted. The trouble was not particularly marked in 1886,

188

ALASKA INDl'STUIES.

'

bnt inoreasod from year to yenr to an alarmiiif; extent, nntil in 1889, in
onlcir to scicuic tlie i'liU quota and at the Hunie time tnrn hark to tlie
rookoricH kucIi brecdiiifj bulls as they Hceined to absobitcly nt'cd. we
wore tbnuid to take I'ully 50 per cent of auiinal8 under size, which oujrlit-
to liave been allowed one or two years more growth. Coneerninu this
mutter I r<'p<»rl('d to the Alaska Commercial Company, under diite of
July Hi, is.sit, as follows: "The contrast between the present condition
of seal life and that of the tiist decade of the lease ia so marked that
the most inexpert can not fail to notice it. .lust when the change com-
nienci'd 1 am unable from i)ersonal observation to say, for as you will
remember J was in ill health and unable to visit the islands in 1H8;{,
1884, and 188;"). I left the rookeries in 1882 in their fullest and best
condition and found them in 188() already showing slight falling otf, and
experienced that year for the first time some difliciulty in securing just
the (!las8 of animals in every case that we desired. We, liowever,
obtained the full catch in that and the two following years, fiuishing
the work from the 21th to the 27th of July, but were obliged, particu-
larly in 1888, to content ourselves with smaller skine than we had hereto-
fore taken. This was in part due to the necessity of turning back to the
rookeries many half grown bulls, owing to the notable scarcity of breed-
ing males. I should have been glad to have ordered them killed instead,
but under your instructions to see that the best interests were con-
served, thought best to reject them. The result of killing from year to
year a large and increasing number of small animals is very apparent.
We are simply drawing in advance upon the stock that should be kept
over for another year's growth." (H. II. Mclntyre.)

Q. How does the number of seals on the rookeries this year compare
with the number five years ago? — A. The number now is abont one-
fourth of what they were then. (Noen Mi'.ndregin.)

In 1887 I began to notice a diminution in the number of seals arriv-
i.ig at the islands, which wasduetotheindiscriminate killing by sealing
vessels in the open sea, some 50 or (iO miles distant. While we still
obtain about the usual number of skins, many metre are taken from the
younger animals than formerly, and are somewhat inferior in quality.
(John Malowansky.)

From 1885, which was about the time the sealers appeared in the
waters, the decrease in seal life was rapid, and the natives commenced
saying "no feniales," "no lemales," until now we are confronted with
depleted rookeries and probable extermination. (John Malowansky.)

Q. Have you noticed any perceptible difference in the number of
seals on rookeries from one year to another! — A. Yes.

Q. About how much leas is the number of seals during the past year
than they were six yeais ago? — A. The number of seals this year is
about one fourth of what they were six years ago, and about one-half
of what they were last year.

Q. In what way do you form your above opinion as to the relative
number of seals on the rookeries? — A. By the fact that many spaces on
the rookeries which were formerly crowded are now not occupied at all.
(Anton Melovedoff.)

About 1886 I noticed that the lines of former years were not filled
with cows, and every succeeding year since then has shown a more
marked decrease. In 1889 the bachelors were so few on the hauling
grounds that the standard weight of skins was lowered to 5 pounds,

ALAHKA INDU8TKIES.

180

and hnndredH were taken at only 4 pouiHis in urdur to fill the quota of
1()0,(M)(>. (A. MeloviMlotf.)

Until tlu' HclioonJU'H came int-o Boiiii}; Sea the rookt'iiciS were alwa.VH
well lilltd, and many of them had (^rown .st«-adil.v lor yearH, when it
was no nncoMimo'i tiling for the lessees to take tlie (|nota of sr^lMK)
seals on Ht. I'aul Island between June I and liO of each year. After
IHSI, when the ori}iinal two or thn'e sealing vessels had {jiown to be a
wellorfjaiiized Meet, we found a steady decrease of seals on all tiie
rookeiit's. and we found it diflieult to secure tlie <|uota of skins, and in
l<S.s!» the lessees had to lower tin^ standard of \\eif,'lit lower than ever
before in the histctry of the island. (.Simeon Melovidov.)

I'rom the year 1871 till ISSf) we were able to yet from St. (Jeorfje and
St. i'aul islands 1(K),II0() male seals within the period known as the
sesilinfj season of six weeks, from the KMli of .lune to the 1st of August,
and still leave a lar^e percenta^^aiof nnirkel able seals, in ISH't, ami in
every year thereafter until 1 left in IMS?, there was a marked decrease
in the number of marketable Hkiiis tiiat could be obtained in each year
(luring; tlie sealiiiff season. We were able, down to the last year (1H87),
to f;et our total catch of lOO.OOO seals, but in order to gi't 'hid nund)er
we had to take what in pnivious years we would have rejected, inimely,
undersized skins, i. e., the skins of younj; seals. Prior to bssj we had
endeavored to take no skins weiphin<f less than 8 pounds, but in (trder
to make up our (|Uota in the last mentioned year we had to take skins
wei}ihin<r as little as G^ pouudu to the number of Heveral thousands.
(T. I'. .Morgan.)

In the years 188.'5, 188(;, and 1887 my attention was attracted not only
to a diminution in the numi)erof killable seals appearinffon the islancl,
but to a decrease in the females as well. Up to the year 1881 the breed-
injr space in the rookeries liad increased, and from that year down to
1S87, when I left the island, the acreafje covered by the rookeries which
were occupied by seals constantly diminished. (T. F. Morjian.)

My attention was called to the decrease of seals and the depletion of
the rookeries at an early date alter my arrival. I attemi)ted to study
the habits and conditions and to note the nund)ers of seal on the sev-
eral rookeries and haulinjj grounds. The natives and employees of the
Alaska Commercial (.'ompaiiy were unanimous in their opinion that the
seal had been decreasing steadily and rapidly since 1884. I rejioited
the fact to Agent CloH", who had found similar conditions existing on
St. I'aul, and he so reported to the Uejiartment, and suggested that
not more than G(>,(K)() seals should l)e taken in any one season in future.
In jtursuance of instructions from Agent (lotf, 1 lelt St. deorge Island
on the l!)th of July, 18!t(), and landed on St. I'aul Island on the L'Oth of
the same nu)nth, and remained there until August, 18!)1. During the
month of eJuIy, 18!M), I walked over the rookeries and hauling grounds
of St. Paul Island, and Agent Golf pointed out to me the lines to w hich
in former years the seals liauled, and the large areas which they cov-
er«'d; and then he called my attention to the sauill strip covered by
seals on that date, which was snniller than the year jjrevious. Agent
Gotf stopped the killing of seals by the lessees on ai.d alter the L'Oth of
July, 18!)0, because of the dei)leted c(nnlition of the hauling grounds;
and 1 fully concurred in his order and action. I spent the sealing season
of 18!»1 on St. Paul Island, and pursuant to instructions of Agent VVil
liams, I giive my time and special attention to the study of the condi-
tion of the rookeries, botli the breeding and hauling grounds. I visited

I

190

ALASKA INDUBTRIEa

tlio rookorioH dnily from tlui 7tli to llie L'L'd of July — during; tlic jioriod
wluni the rookfiics aie riillcst iiiid at tlu'ir best — and I can'rully iiotvd
tlieir roiiditioM and tlut nnnibei' of Hoals; tin; niiinhui' of cows to the
fiirnily, and tliu number uf idle, vigorous bidlH ufion each rooktiiy.
(Joseph Murray.)

Upon hiy (irstviHit to the rookeries and iiauling grounds of theiHland
of iSt. I'iiul niy attention waH attracted to the eviclences ot reeent and
remote necupaney by the seals. .Marked dirferenees were notieeable in
lheapi>earanee of vegetation on hirge areus formerly oeeupied as breed-
ing and iiauling grounds, while near the water's «'(lge, more iccently
oeeupied, th»< ground was eiwirelj (lare of vegetation, enabling one to
trace the gradual decrease of areas occuj)ied during the last six to
eight year.s. My examination of the rookeries on St. Paul and Ht.
(ieorge during tim years 18!»(>, 18!H, and IMitU enaUed me to trace the
yearly decreasing area oceui)ie(l by the fur seals on these islands.
Aside from the evidences of deserted rookeries and hauling grounds
shown by native inhabitants of eaeli island, the rrrounds occupied in
Ibrmer years were now deserted and grass grown. The silent witness
of the deserted rookeries contlrms the testimony of the resident agents
of the lessees of the islands and of the native inhabitants that the
number of .-eals began to decrease with the advent of pelagic sealing,
and that the yearly decrease has been in proportion with the yearly
increase in the number of vessels engaged in that enterprise. (S. U.
Nettleton.)

The decrease in the number of seals conung to tiie islands in the last
three or four years became so manifest to everyone ac(|uainted with the
rookeries in earlier days that various theories have been advanced in
an att«'inpt to account for the cause of this sudden change, and the lb!
lowing are .some of them: (1) "A dearth of bulls upon the breeding
rookeries;" (U) "Impotency of bulls cau.sed by ovcu'driving while they
were young bachelors," and (3) "An eiudemic among the seals." (L.
A. Noyes.)

Q. Have you noted any perceptible difference in the number of seals
on the rookeries fiom one year to another? [f so, what changes have
you observed? — A. Within the last four or five years 1 have observed a
decided de(rrease in the number of seals on the rookeries.

Q. In what proportion have the seals decreased within the time men-
tioned i — A. As far as my judgment goes, I should say at least one-
half. (J. C. Kedpatb.)

As the schooners increased the seals decreased, and the lines of (ton-
traction on the rookeries were noticed to draw nearer and nearer to the
beach, and the killable seals became fewer in nund)ers and harder to
tind. In 188(5 the de<-rease was so plain that the natives and all the
agents on the islands saw it and were startled, and thectries of all
sorts were advanced in an attempt to account for a cause. (.1. C.
Redpath.)

1 had no difficulty in getting the size and weight of skins as ordered,
nor had my predecessors in the office, u|» to and inc,ln(ling 18S|. The
casks in which we packed them for shipment were made by the same
man for many years, and were always of uniform size. In 1885 these
casks averaged about 47A skins each, and in 188(5 they averaged about
50^ skins each, as shown by the records in our office. After this date
the number increased, and in 1888 they averaged about .'ins skins i)er
cask, and iu 1889 averaged about (50 skins per cask. These latter were

ALASKA INDUSTItlKS.

191

ii

)

4

i

not Hiu'.h HkiiiH as we wniitcd, but the siipcrinfiMKh'iit on the JHlaiulfl
reportvd that thoy were tht' Ix-nt ho could art. (Ii«'on SIosh.)

The uunibfi- of seals on the L'riliiiof iHlaixlH in decreasin^r. 1 saw
positive (troof of this on Ht. I'aul Island last scasou. (Z. L. Tanner.)

1 had an excellent opportunity t(» obscive some of the seal rookeries
durin;;' my first visit to the islands, itiid spent mucii time in Htudyin^
the hai>its of tlic seiils, both on the rookt'iics and in the adjacent waieis.
1 was partii'ulai'iy impressed \n th the j^ieat nnndtcis to be seen, iioth
on land and in the water. Dniin^ the summer of 1<SS!I tiie /I'f/x/t was
cn^M(;cd cruising in ])ursuit of vessels eti;;a^ed in illegal sealing, ho tliat
our anchorages off the seal rookeries that season were short and inlro-
«|Ucnt, lienc(! 1 did not have tiie opportunity to observe them ,., 'isely
on land as the |)receding sear, huriuf; IS'.M) the Rusk was not ei '.. /ed
in preventing sealing outside the shore limit, and we spent nuicli lime
in full view of the seal rookeries and cruising about tlie seid islands,
ami i also made lie(iiUMit visits to the breeding grounds, ' ; e dcsc . tod
appearamc of the I'ookeries ami the abs iice of seiils in tlie water waK
very m)ticeabl< i. > (' was a matter of general remark among the otiieers
ol the vessel who iiad been on tbrnu-r (Muise . Veiy large tiai !s oi tlui
rookerii which i had fornu'rly seen (tccuitied by the seals wore entirely
deserted, and the herds were much simdler than thosci of IS,s.s. My
attention was also <"alled. by tiiosc conversant with the facts, to Ihe
grass gr(»wing on the insiaue side of some of the rookeries, and to the
three dilfeicnt shades of grass to be seen, indicating the sjjacics that
had not been occupied by the seals for several years, owing to their
diminished number. The darker shade .showed where the growth first
commenced, and a lighter shade tnreadi succeeding year. 'I'lierc were
three or four dillerently shaded grow ths, reaching down to the sand of
the rookeries, and on that portion of the rookeries occupied by seals
they were not lying near as compact as in 1«.S8. In our lVe(iuent pas-
sages during 18!>(( iietweeu the Aleutian group and the seal islands we
sometimes nuide an entire trip without seeing a seal. This was entirely
different from the experience of preceding year.s, indicating a great
falling off of seal life. (Francis Tattle.)

In the year 1880 1 thought 1 began to notice a falling off from the
year previous of the number of seals on Northeast Point rook<'ry, but
this decrease was so very slight that probably it would not have been
ob.served by one less familiar with seal life and its conditions than I;
but 1 could not discover or learn that it showed itself on any of the
other rookeries. In 1884 and 1885 I noticed a decrease, and it became
80 marked in 188(i that everyone on the islands saw it. This marked
decrease in 1881! showed itself on all the rookeries on both islands.
Until 1887 or 1888, however, the decrease was m)t felt in obtaining skins,
at which time the standard was lowered from (i ami 7 pound skins to 5
and 4A i)ounds. The hauling grounds of Northeast Point kept up the
standard longer than the other rookeries, because, as I believe, the
hitter rookeries had felt the drain of the open sea sealing during 188.1
and 188t» more than Northeast Point, the cows from the other rookeries
having gone to the .southward to feed, where the majority of ^he sealing
schooners were engaged in taking .seal. (Daniel Webster.)

In pursuance of Department instructions to me of May 27, 1 801, 1 made
a careful exanunatiou during the sealing sea.son of the habits, nund)ers,
and conditions of the .seals and seal rookeries, with a view of nporting
to the Department from observation and such knowledge on the subject

"■

192

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

as I might obtain whether or uot, in my opinion, the seals were diinin-
ishiiiji' on the Fribilof Ishmds ; and if so, the causes therefor. As a result
of such investigation, I found, from the statements made to me by the
natives, Government agents, and employees of the lessees, some of whom
had been on the islands for many years, that a decrease in the number
of seals had been gradually going on since 1885, and that in the last
three years the decrease had been very rapid. A careful and frequent
exaiiiination of the hauling grounds and breeding roolieries by myself
ami assistant agents during the moiitiis of June, July, and August
showed that the seals had greatly diminished in number. We foun<l
large vacant sj)aces on all the rookeries, whicl. in former years duriiig
tiiese months had been covered by thousands of seals. Prior to 1888
the lessees iiad been able to take 100,000 skins from male seals, but I
am clearly of the opinion that not more than one-third of that number
of merchantable skins can be taken during the year 1891, (W. H.
Williams.)

DECREASE OF SEALS.

Management of rookeries not the cause.

In studying the causes of diminution of seal life, there were found a
variety of actual and possible sources of desti action which are effective
in varying degrees. Fortunately, tlie most im])ortant of these sources
Mere directly under my observaticm, and the following facts presented
themselves for consideration : The restrictions upon the molestation of
the breeding grounds and u})on the iiilling of fenniles has been impera-
tive both on the ])art of the Government and lessees since the American
ownership of the islands, so that in the taking of seals no injury could
possibly liave occurred to the females and bulls found thereon. For
some years i)ast the natives were i)erinitted to kill in the fall a tew thou-
sand male pups for food. Such killing has been ])rohibit( d. It is not
apparent how the killing of male pups could have decreased the number
ot females on the breeding grounds. (J. ytanley-Brov/n.)

If the seals were as numerous to day on the Pribilof Islands and the
manner of driving and killing conducted in the same manner as during
my experience there, 100,0(10 male seals of from 2 to 4 years of age could
be taken from the hauling grounds annually for an indelinite i)eriod
without diminution of the seal herd. (Charles Bryant.)

Because of the manner of killing seals on the islands, the precautions
taken to kill only males from U to 5 years, and the careful limit ath)n of
the numbers taken, I am fully convinced that the taking (4' seals on the
Pribilof Islands could never affect the numbers of the seal herd or
deplete the rookeries. (S. N. Buynitsky.)

I was in the employ of the Alaska Commercial Company, tlie former
lessees of the seal islands, and their instructions were to use the utmost
care in taking their quota of seals, so that tliere might be no dimiiiutiou
in number from year to year, and I personally kiu)w those instructions
were rigidly enforced. (Leander Cox.)

If no other agency is at work in destroying seal life, 100,000 bachelor
seals can be taken from the Pribilof Islands yearly for an indelinite
period, provided the rookeries were in the same condition they were ii;
1871. Of this I am convinced from the fact that the seals continued
to increase during all the tinu' I was upon the islands, when 100,000
were killed every year except one, when 95,000 were taken, ^yamuel
I'^alconer.)

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

193

Tlie maiiiigeinciit of the sealeries upon Copper Islfind, inulcr Russian
o(;ciipation, was left AvhoUy to the native chiefs and iffuorant laborers
of the Ilussiaii-Aineriean Company. The work of killinfj the seals and
curing the skins was done by tlicin in a very unsystematic, careless
way; but even then it was understood that as tlie seals are polyj^fanious
tlie surest way to se(;uro an increase of the herd was to kill off surplus
males and sjjare the females, and this was systematically practiced,
resulting, as far as 1 am aware, most satisfactorily. After the exi)ira-
tion of tiie franchise of tiie Itussian-Araerican Company, in 18G7 I think
it was, and tiicir abandonment of the island, and the execution of the
lease to Hutchinson, Kohl & Co., in 1871, several dilferent parties visited
the island, killed seals injudiciously, and inflicted great injury upon the
rookeries. They were restrained to some extent by the natives from
iudiscriminate slaughter, but I have no doubt they killed more ma.js
han they ought to have done, and perhaps also some females. [Ipon
my arrival upon the island, in 1871, the native chief told me that the
seals were not as plentiful as they had been formerly. I announced,
that we intended to secure 6,000 skins that year. They i^rotested that
it was too many, and begged that a smaller number be killed for one
year at least. We, however, got the 0,000 skins as proposed, and an
almost constantly increasing number in every subsequent year as long
as 1 stayed on the islands, until in 1880 the rookeries had so developed
that about 30,000 skins were taken without in the least injuring them.
This is proved by the fact that the increase for tlie next ten years allowed
still larger numbers to be killed, amounting, I think, in one of the years
of the second decade of the lease to about 40,000 skins. In ordCr to
secure uniformity in the methods pursued respectively upon the I'ribilof
group and Commander Islands, the respective lessees of the two
interests sent Capt. Daniel Webster, an expert sealer of many years'
experience in the business, and who was at the time in the service of
the Alaska Commercial Company at St. Paul Island, to assist and
instruct me through the summer of 1874 in the best miiuner of handling
seal droves, salting skins, and generally in the conduct of the business.
In working under his direction, 1 found that the methods pursued by
the resi)ective parties upon the ditfereut sealeries did not differ in any
essential feature. The main object in l)oth plaies was to select good
skins for market and spare all female seals and enough vigorous bulls
to serve them. When the sujjply of bulls is more than enough I have
no doubt the number of otfspring is diminished. The bulls, when over-
numenms, fight savagely for the possession of the cow seals, and unin-
tentionally destroy many young in their conflicts. The healthiest
condition of a rookcy is no doubt when, under the laws of polygamous
reproduction for thif species, the proportion of the sexes is properly
balanced. (0. F. Emil Krebs.)

Following the surrender of occupancy of these islands by the Russian-
American Company m 1808, the sealeries were left open to all parties,
and various expeclitions visited them unrestricted by any govern-
mental control. Their catches amounted in 1808 to about 15,000, in
18051 to about 20,000, and in 1870 to about 30,000 skins. In 1871 the
Russian (xovernment executed the lease to Hutchinson, Kohl tSc Co.,
and it was found necessary to restrict the killing for this year to about
6,000 skir.; , because the rookeries had been largely depleted by the
excessive killing, unwise methods, and heedless husbandry. The result
of improveti methods showed themselves at once, and the rookeries
steadily increased in size and number of occupants. We were thus
enabled to procure an almost constantly increasing number of skius

H. Doc. Uli, pt. 2 13

194

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

from year to year duriiif!; the wliole term of our lease. We were unre-
stricted as to the numlM'rs to be taken, and after the (irst two years of
the lease were urged by the Iviissian authorities ui)()m the ishuids to take
more than we wanted, in view of the condition of the sealskin nnirket.
I revisited the islands on various occasions subseijuent to 1871, and my
observations conlirmed tlie fact that we were moving in the right direc-
tion to secure au increase of the rookeries. The exi)erience of the whole
term of the lease proves conclusively that our ])oliey in conducting the
business was a wise one, and tliiit our manr.er of handling, managing,
and killing the seals was in every respect what it should have been.
This policy was ])redicated upon the custom of the Kussian-American
Company, observed during many years and strengthened by my own
actual experience in conducting the business of taking seals upon the
P)'ibilof Islands in 18G7, 18(J8, and 1809, and more particularly during
tlie seas(m of 18G8, when there was unrestricted sealing done by various
parties regardless of the future of the rookeries. The pernicious effects
of the methods pursued by them were at on(;e observed, and measures
immediately taken by me, aided by the natives, over wloui I had com-
plete coi»trol, to correct their practices and bring theiii within reason-
able customs already proved elhcacious in i^reserving the rookeries from
anuihilatiou. (Gustave Niebaum.)

If the right proportion is maintained between the sexes, the greatest
possible nund)er of progeny is assured. As long as we were able to
keep exclusive control, undisturbed by outside intluences, we main
tained the steady increase of the herd and prolitable returi's from the
industry. When outside parties, beyond our Jurisdiction, ciirried on
their destrm^tive work to any considerable extent, the etpiilibriuni of
the sexes was destroyed, any calculation of those in charge of the
fslands was nullilied or miscarried, and the speedy decrease and ulti
mate destruction of the seals and sealing industry made certain. ( H. H.
Mclntyre.)

We protect and take good care of the seals, and if they were not
killed in the sea we could nndce them increase ui)ou the islands so that
they would be as many as before. (A. Melovedott.)

We (;an care for and protect the mature seals as well as the cattle on
the ranges are cared lor and protected, and if they could be guarded
from the hunters in the sea we could by good management again make
the rookeries as large as before. (S. Jlehjvidov.)

Naturally the cause of this diminution was a matter of interest and
inquiry. It was not evident that it was from causes incident to the
taking of the seals upon the island. The greatest care was exercised
in the driving. Under pretnsely similar conditions the herd had increased
in former years. The number of skins originally apportioned to St.
George Island was reduced at an early date, and oidy increased in pro-
portion to tlie rookeries' expansion. No disturbaiu'eof the rookery was
permitted, even tne presence of dogs and use of lirearms being prohib-
ited during the presence of the seals. (T. F. Morgan.)

The management of the rookeries the first fifteen years of the Alaska
Commercial Company's lease resulted in a large increase of seals. The
same business nuiiuigement (iontinued and the same system was pur-
sued to the end of tlu^ term, yet in the last flv(! years the rookeries fell
off. Clearly it was through no fault of the company, and resulted from
some cause beyond their control. I do nut think the Alaska Commer-
cial Company made any mistakes in managing the seal herd. They

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

195

handled tbem iu every resjiect as I would have done if they had been
luy own personal property and as I would do if they were now to come
into my hands. If tliey erred in any particular in their niaiia};ement, it
was in their futile atteni))t in 1888 and 1889 to stop the waste of the
seal life at the island spij;(it wliile it was running- m,." at tlie bunshole
of pelagic sealing. The record shows that we did not liiiish the catch
as early in 1885 as had been done in former years. I do not tliink this
was from any lack of seals, but was caused by greater care in making
our selection of animals to be killed. (Leon Sloss.)

I again visited St. Paul Island and remained there several days in
the summer of 18Sr», l)ut saw no evidence tiien or when formerly on tiie
island to lead me to think tliat the lessees were danniging the rookeries
or doing anything dilferent from what a judicious regard for tlie future
of the industry would dictate. In giving this evidence 1 am as free
from ])fejudice as is possible when entertaining, as 1 do, a feeling that
the late lessees treated me in some measure unjustly, in)r have I any
interest whatever in the seals or the products of the sealeries. (George
H. Temple.)

Raids on rookeries not the cause.

It may be worth while to add that the suggestion has been made that
the decrease on the number of seals is due to piratical raids upon the
islands themselves during the breeding season. While it is uncpies-
tionably true that such raids have occasionally occurred during the past,
and that some skins have been obtained iuthat way, the numljcr of these
is so trilling in comparison with tlie annual pelagic catcii as not to affect
in any way thequesti(m under consideration. It is also ditlicult for one
familiar with the rookeries and habits of the seal to conceive of a raid
being made without its beccmiing known to theoflicers in charge of the
operations upon the islands. The " raid theory," therefore, maybe dis-
missed as unworthy, in our judgment,of serious consideration. (Keport
of American Commissioners.)

The statistics which I have examined, as well as all the incjuiries
made, show that in the raids upon the rookeries themselves by maran<l-
ers the loss of seal life has been too unimportant to ])lay any ])art in the
destruction of the breeding grounds. Tiie iidiosi)itable sliores, the
exposure of the islaudi:) to surf, tlie unfavorable climatic conditions, as
well as the presence of the natives and white men, will always prevent
raids upon the islands from eve/ being ireipient or effective. (J. Stanley-
Brown.)

During my stay upon St. George Island several attemjits were made
by poachers to get on shore and steal the seal, but they succeeded, as
far as I am aware, only on three occasions, and in all tiiosc three 1 do
not think they killed more than 1,L'()0 or 1,5(M> seals, iiicbiding piijis. If
any others had effected a landing we should have known it, for the rook-
eries are constantly watcherl, and the natives are very keen in this
matter. (Harry N. Clark.)

We tried to make a raid on St. George, but the Con-in was after us
and we kept out of its way. (Peter Dully.)

During the time I was on St. George Island there never was a raid on
the rookeries to my knowledge, and 1 never heard of any such raid ever
having taken place. (Samuel Falconer.)

196

ALASKA mPTTSTRIES.

I have known of one or two schooners operating in Berinfj F5ea a?
early as 1877 or 1878, and they were on the rookeries o(r(;iisioiially during
the past ten years, but they can not damage the seal herd niueh by raid-
ing the rookeries, becaiise they can not take many, e\en were they per-
mitted, which they are not by any means. (John Fratis.)

Raids on the rookeries by marauders did not, wliile I was on the
island, amount to anytiiing, and certainly seal lite there was not atlcctcd
to any extent by sucli incursions. I only knew of one raid upon St.
Paul Island wliile I was there. It was by a Japanese vessel, and tlicy
killed about 1<H> seals, the carcasses of wliich we found on board when
we captured the vessel. (H. A. Glidden.)

We sailed about January from Victoria, British (Columbia ; sailed
along the coast until the latter part of June and went into Bering ISea,
and sealed as near to St. George Island as we could. VVe caught about
300 or 400 seals in the sea. Our iuteution was to make a raid, but were
driven away by a revenue cutter. We left the sea about the latter part
of July. (Joseph Grymes.)

Max. Heilbronner, having been duly sworn, deposes and says: I am
secretary of the Alaska Commercial Agency, and as such have in my
custody all record books of the coin naiiy, and among them tlie daily
r'jcordsor " log book" kept by the luiMitsof the company cm Ht. George
Island ^''•oin 1873 to 1880, inclusive, and on St. Paul Island from 1870 to
1889, inclusive. In these books every occurrence was carefully noted
from day to day by the agent in charge at tiie time. They have been
examined under my supervision, and show only the following raids on St.
George Lsland during the time covered by them, to wit:

October 23, 1881: The carcasses of 15 dead i)nps and a cargo hook
were ibund on a rookery. It was supposed that the crew of a schooner
seen about the island ;. few days previous landed in the night.

October 10, 1881: Fifteen seal car(;asses were found on Zapadnie
rookery. A guard was stationed, and the following night the crew of
a schooner made an unsuccessful attempt to land. The boats were fired
on by the guard and retreated.

July 20, 1885: A party landed under the dills in a secluded place
and killed about 500 adult female seals and took the skins away with
them. They killed about 500 pups at the same time, leaving them
unskinned.

July 22, 1885: A party landed at Starry Arteel rookery and killed
and ski'-ned 120 seals, the skins o" which they left in their flight, when
pursued by the guard. They kill 3d also about 200 pups, wliich were
left unskinned.

November 17, 1888: A crew landed and killed some seals at Zapad-
nie; how many is not known, but at this season of the - r<iv the number
must have been small, because the seals have nearly an migrated.

September 30, 1889: Eighteen dead pups and lour clubs were found
on a beach near a rookery. It is not known whether any others were
killed.

An examiimtion of St. Paul record does not show any destiiuitive
raids •ii>on the island. It is a fact, however, that Iti July, 1875, i»rior to
the beginning of the record, the crew of the schooner ISan IHego landed
on Otter Island, a small islet 0 miles from St. Paul, and killed and
skinned l,0(i() seals. She was captured before leaving the island, and
both the skins and vessel were condemned to forfeiture by the United
States court.

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

197

Tlie reports of the superintendent for the lessees show that it was the
custom of the coiiii)!iiiy's agent on the islands to frequently patrol tlie
rookeries whenever tlie weather was such that a landing could be effectecl
on them, and to keep watchmen at points distant from the villfiges,
whose s))C'cial duty it was to report every unusual or suspicious oocMir-
rence. For this purpose the northeast point of St. Paiil Island was
connected with tlie village by telephone in 1880, a distance of 12 miles,
and the natives instructed in tKe use of the instrument. If any raids
upon the islands, other than those herein mentioned, had occurred, lam
sure they would have been detected and reported to this ollice. No siicli
reports are on tile. (^lax. lleilbronner.)

H. H. Mclntyre, having been duly sworn, deposes and says: I was
superintendent of the seal fisheries of Alaska from 1871 to 1889, inclu-
sive. The records above referred to were kept under my direction by
my assistants on the respective islands. 1 was in frequent correspond-
ence with these assistants when not personally present and am sure that
anything worthy of notice would have been promptly reported to mo.
I believe that these records contain a true account of all destructive
raids upon the islands. If there had been any others I should have
heard of them. Every unusual occurrence at any point about the islands
was noted by the keen-eyed natives and at once reported to the com-
])any's office, the matter was investigated, and a record of it entered in
the daily journal. I am confident that the only marauding expedition
that ever succeeded in killing more than a few dozen seals each were
those of 1875, upon Otter Island, and of 1885 upon St. George Islaml,
the details of which were set fortli by Mr. Heilbronner in the foregoing
affidavit. If there were others of which no records appear the number
of seals killed was comparatively very small and had no appreciable
eftect upon seal life. (II. H. Mclntyre.)

Sometimes they try to land on the rookeries, but we drive them off
with guns, and tliey never get many seals that way. (Nicoli Krukoff.)

I do not mean to say tliat the seals were injured because a few were
killed on the rookeries, when men from schooners landed on the islands
in the night or when the fog was very thick, for the numbers killed in
that way never amounted to much, as it is not ottoii the raiders can
land on a rookery and escape with their plunder. (Aggie Kushen.)

Who ■-' a raid we would watch for a favorable opportunity to make
a landing, aTid tlien kill male and female fur seals indiscriminately.
Probably for every -^OO marketable skins secured, double that number
of pups were de.itJroyed. (L. M. Lenard.)

While I was on the island there were not more than three or four
raids on the rookeries to my knowledge, and I think that the destruction
to seal life by raiding rookeries is a small part of 1 per cent as compared
with the numbers taken by killing in the water. (A. P. Loud.)

It is often difficult to entirely prevent poaching on the islands,
although in my judgment it hp.i imt been of suflicient importance on
the Commander Islands to have any perceptible influence in the diminu-
tion of the herd. (John Malowaiisky.)

I remember seeing an occasional sealing schooner in Bering Sea as
long ago as 1878, but it was in 1884 they came in large nund)ers. At
first it was 8U])posed they intended to raid the rookeries, and we armed
a number of men and kept guard every night, and we drove off any
boats we found coming to a rookery. Sometimes iu a dense fog or very

198

AT.ASKA INDUSTRIES.

(lark iiijrlit tlipy laiidod and killed a few hniidrod seals, but the iiniiiibera
taken ill this inauncr are too small to be considered. (A. Melovedoff.)

One cause of destruction is raiding, whiirn has been done upon the
slions of the islands. A half dozen such raids are known to nie per-
sonally; but while it is not i)ossible for nie to state with certainty the
skins actually secured by such raids, I believe that, althoiij;h such
raidinjf is detrimental, its injurious ellect as compared with the disas-
trous results of pelagic sealing is insigni(i(!ant. (T. F. Morgan.)

There was only, as I recoUec^t, four raids on the islands while I was
there; but little or no damage was done, and seal life was not percej)-
tibly atVected l)y such marauding. (J. il. Moulton.)

From my ixrsonal knowledge of the number of seals killed upon the
Prihilof l.-.iaii<ls by raids upon the rookeries during my residence there,
aii<l from iiiroiination gained from other sources, I conclude that the
number of fur seals killed is infinitely small compared with the number
killed in pela^', sealing — so small as to have no appreciable effect
upon seal life upon the islands. (S. K. Nettleton.)

I am told that the diminution of seal life has been attributed to raids
by poachers upon the seal islands. Very few of these have occurred,
and the iiiiiiilier of skins obtained by the poachers has been compara-
tively inliiiitesimally small. I think the whole niiinber obtained by
them in this way does not exceed .■?,00() or 4,()0(> skins. We were accus-
tomed always to maintain a ])atrol and guard upon the rookeries when-
ever the weather was such that poachers could land ujion them, and
u])on the least susj)icious circumstances measures were taken to fore-
stall any attempts to steal the s(?als. The sea is usually rough in the
fall, when poachers try to get in their work; the shores are, at most
places, inaccessible from boats, and the natives an; vigilant and acti/e.
If marine hunting is stopped, they can be safely trusted to defend the
property upon wliieh their very existence is dependent, as they have
done repeatedly, against any single schooner's crew. (Gustave Nie-
baum.)

There were occasional raids made upon the islands (Commander) by
poachers during our twenty years' lease, but they were generally unsuc-
cessful in killing any considi^rable number of seals, and their raids had
no appreciable etfect upon the rookeries. (Gustave Niebaum.)

During those years the lawless occupation of .seal i)oaching was in
its infancy. Marauding vessels from time to time were seen in these
waters, but the islands were so well guarded that during my term of
oilice tlien; never was a successful raid or landing upon either of the
islands of St. Paul or St. George. The only landing upon any island of
the group was made in .June, 1881, upon the unoccupied island of Otter
(not included in the lease), as described in my sjiecial report to the
Secretary of the Tieasury, dated July 4, 1881. On that occasion a pred-
atory sciiooner succeeded in landing a boat's crew, who killed 40 or 50
seals, when they were driven off' by a boat sent by me for that i^urpose
from St. Paul, about 0 miles distant. (H. G. Otis.)

Until 1884 sealing schooners were seen but very seldom near the
islands or in Bering Sea, and the few seals taken by the hunters who
raided the rookeri(^s occasionally are too paltry to be seriously consid-
ered, because the raids were so few, and the facilities for taking many
seals ofl' 80 utterly insignificant. (J. C. KedpatU.)

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

109

There wa« but one Hncrpssfiil raid on the rookeries while I was upon
the island and but lli;"» seals wi-re idllcd. I do not consider that raids
on the rooiceries liave an\ tiiinjj; to do with the decrease of tiie number
of seals. (T. F. Jiyan.) '

^\'hile 1 was on the islands there were no raids on the rookeries, and
seal life was never depleted at that time by such means, (li. F. IScrib-
ner.)

There was but one raid on the rookeries wliile I was there, and that
took ))lace on Otter Island, about (iO sidns hcinji taken. Alter that raid
the (Jovernnient iiept a man on Otter Island durint,' the entire sununer
to i)rote(;t it from maraudtus. liaids on the islands never affected seal
life to any extent. (W. B. Taylor.)

I do not remember the precise date of the first successful raid upon
the rookeries by sealing sciiooners, but 1 do know tliat for the past ten
years thcie have been many sudi raids attemited and a few of them
successfully carried out, and that as the number of sclu)oners increased
arouml tiie ishmds, the attempted raids increased in proportion, and it
has been deemed necessary to keep armed {"uards near the rookt riesto
repel such attacks. Although a few of the raids were successful and
a few hundred seals killed and carried off from time to time during the
])ast ten years, the aggregate of all the seals thus destroyed is too small
to be mentioned when considering the cause of ihe sudden decline of
seal life on the Pribilof Islands. (Daniel Webster.)

DESTRUCTION OF FEMALE SEALS.

Examination of pclafiic catch of 1892.

On May 7 of this year 1 examined 35.5 salted fur seal skins, ex steamer
Umatilla from A'ictoria, and found the same to be fresh skins taken off
the animal withiTi three months. They were killed in the North Pacific.
On examination I found they were the skins known as the Northwest
Coast seals, and belong to the herd which have their rookery on the
Pribilof Islands. 'I'he lot contained 310 skins of the fur-seal cow
(matured). From the shape of the skins most all of these cows must
liave been heavy with pup, and same cut out of them when captured.
Eighteen skins of the fur-seal nuile (matured). Twenty-seven skins of
the fur-seal gray pup, from (» to 9 months old; sex doubtful.

On June 2 1 examined 78 salted fur seal skins, ex steamer Walla
Walla from Victoiia, and found the same to be fresh skins taken oil"
the animal within three months. They were killed mi the North Pacific.
On examination I found they were the skins known as the Northwest
Coast seals, and belong to the herd which have their rookery on the
Pribilof Islands. The lot contained 00 skins of the fur-seal cow
(nnitured). From the shai)e of the skin most all of these cows must
have been heavy with puj), and the same cut out of them when ca|)-
tnred. Five skins of the iur-seal male (matured). Seven skins of the
fur-seal gray ])up, from 0 to 9 nu)nths old; sex doubtful.

On June 7 I examined L'OS salted fur-seal skins, ex steamer Umatilla
from Victoria, and found the same to be fresh skins taken off the
animal within three months. They were killed in tiie North Pa<!ific.
On examination 1 found they weie skins known as the Northwest coast
seals and belong to the herd which have their rookery oi; the Pribilof
Islands. Tiie lot contained 1.'12 skins of the fur-seal cow (matured).
From the shape of the skin most all of these cows must have been

1

200

AT>ASKA INDUSTRIES.

heavy with pnp, and same cut out of them wlien captured. Eleven
skins of tht' fur-seal male (matured). Forty skins of the fur seal gray
pup, from G to 9 months old; sex doubtful.

Un the same date I also examined 124 salted fur-seal skins, ex steamer
Uviatilla from Victoria, and found the same to be fresli skins taken off
the animal within three months. They were killed in the jS^irtli Pacific.
On examination I found that they were the skins known as the North-
west coast seals and belong to the herd whicli have their rookery on
the Pribilof Islands. The lot contained 9.S skins of tlie fur seal cow
(matured). From the shape of the skin most all of these cows must
have been heavy with young, and the same cut out of them when cai>-
tured. Fifteen skins of the fur-seal male (nuitured). Sixteen skins of
the fur-seal gray pup, frojn 6 to 9 months old; sex doubtful.

I notice on examining seals caught this siu-ing that there is a lack of
the larger size of productive aninials, and the lots mostly contain the
skins of the medium-sized seals, running from 2 to 3 years of age.
(Charles J. liehlow.)

On the 29th instant I examined 2,170 salted fur-seal skins, ex schooner
Emma and Louise from the North Pacific Ocean, and found same to be
fresh skins taken off the animal within four months. They were killed
in the North Pacific. On examiniiti(m I find they were the skins known
as the Northwe t coast skins, and belong to the herd which have their
rookery on the Pribilof Islands. The lot contained 4 skins of the fur-
seal large bulls (breeding bulls); 123 skins of the fur-seal nuile (mostly
matured); 98 skins of the fur-seal gray puj), less than 1 year old, sex
doubtful; 1,112 skins of the fur-seal cow (mostly matured). From the
shape of the skin most all these cows must have been heavy with pup,
and same cut out of them when captured. (Charles J. 13ehh)w.)

As a result of the work 1 have i)erformed for so many years I am able
to distinguish without difficulty the skin of a female seal from that of
a male seal. There are generally several ways in which I can tell
them apart. One of the surest ways consists in seeing wliether any
teats can be found. On a female skin above the age of 2 years teats
can practically always be discovered; when the animal is over 3 years
old even a person who is not an expert at handling skins can discover
two ])rominent ones on each side of almost every skin. This because
after the age of 3, and often even after 2, almost all females have been
in i)Ui). There are also teats on a male skin, but they are only very
slightly developed. When the fur is matted, as it is in salted fur-seal
skins, the male teats can not be found, but the female teats of skins
more than 2 years old can be found under all circumstances.

I have been able to test all iry ob,servations as to the teats on salted
fur-seal skins by Ibllowing these skins through the various processes
which I have described. During these processes the skins become thin-
ner and thinner, and the teats more and more noticeable, and at an
early stage in the dressing they must be wholly removed. There are
other wsiys of distinguishing the skins of the two sexes. I will state a
few of them.

A female has a narrower head than a male seal. By the word " head "
I mean here to include that part of the body from the head down to the
middle of the back. I believe all men who have handled the skins of
both sexes have noticed this point. Then, again, when the whiskers
have not been cut off they generally afford a safe means of distinguish-
ing the sexos. Male whiskers are much more brittle and of a darker
color than those of the female animal. When the male seal is over 6

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

201

years old it begins to have a mane, and for this reason it is after that
age called a wig. Finally, it is generally i)0SHible for me to tell the
skins of the two sexes apart by just takhig a look at them or feeling
them. I suppose I can do this because I have been at the business so
long that I am an exi)ert in it.

Tlie chief classes of seal skins that I have handled are tlie Alaska,
the Northwest coast, and the Copper Island skins. I can always dis-
tinguish the skins of these classes. The Northwest Coast skins are
most easily told by the very great projjortion of females contained in
any given lot. Among the Alaska and Copper skins I have hardly ever
seen a female skin. (John J. Phelan.)

I was sent to New York from Albany a few days ago by Mr. George
H. Treadwell, with instructions to go through a certain lot of seal skins
which, 1 underst^md, he had recently bought in Victoria, and to find
out how many of these skins were taken from female animals. I have
spent lour days in doing this, working about seven hours a day.

Theie were several men who unpacked the skins and laid them before
me, so that all of my time was spent in examining the individual skins.
The lot contained 3,r)50 skins. I found that, with the possible excep-
tion of two dried ones, they were taken from the animal this year;
they were a part of what is known as the spring (;atch. I know this
to be the case by the fresh appearance of the blubber and of the skin
as a whole. This aUbrds a sure way of telling whether the skin h;ts
lain in salt all winter or whether it has been recently salted. I per-
sonally inspected each one of these skins by itself and kept an accu-
rate record of the result. I divided the skins according to the three
following classes: Males, females, and pups. In the class of pups I
placed only the skins of animals less than 2 years of age, but without
reference to sex.

I found in the lot 395 males, 2,167 females, and 988 pups. Leaving
out of account the pui)S, the percentage of females was therefore about
82. The great majority of what I classed as male skins were taken
from animals less than 3 years of age. There was not a single wig in
the lot. On the other hand, nearly all the female skins were those of
full-grown animals. On every skin which I classed among the females
1 found teats, with bare spots about them on the fur side. Such bare
spots make it absolutely certain that these teats were those of female
skins.

With regard to the pup skins, I will say that I did not undertake to
determine whether they were males or females, because they had a
thick coat of blubber which, in the case of an animal less than 2 years
old, makes it very hard to tell the sex.

All of the skins that I examined were either shot or speared. I did
not keep a close count, but I am of the opinion that about 75 per cent
of them were shot.

The result of the examination is about what I expected it would be.

The figures only confirm what I have always noticed in a general
way, that nearly nine-tenths of the skins in any shijjment of Northwest
coast skins are those of female animals. (John J. Phelan.)

Examination of catch of vessels seized.

About seven years since I was on the revenue cutter Oonmn when
she seized the sealing schooner San Diego in Bering Sea. On the
schooner's deck were found the bodies of some 20 seals that had recently
been killed. Au examination of the bodies disclosed that all of them,

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ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

witli but a ain;,flo exception, were females, aud had their yoniip inside
or were Riving' suck to tiicir yoiinff. Out of some oOO or (KM) si<ins on
board 1 only found some '> of tiie number that were taken from males.
I have also been present at numerous other seizures of sealing vessels,
some 18 in mnnber, and among the several thousand skins seized I
found on examination that they were almost invariably those of fenuiles.
There certainly was not a larger proportion of males than o to 1"<)
skins. This great slaughter of mother seals certainly means a speedy
destruction of seal life. (James II. Douglass.)

While in Unalaska in September, 18!>1, awaiting transportation to
San Francisco, 1 had an opportunity to examine personally the catch
of the steam slooj) Challenge, which had l)eeii warned out of the sea,
and was undergoing repairs at the harbor named. The catch amountccl
to 172 skins, which were all taken in Bering Sea at various distances
from the seal islands, and of this number only three weie those of male
seals, one of those being an old bull, and the other two being younger
males. (A. W. Lavender.)

In July, 1887, 1 captured the poaching schooner Amjel Dolly while she
was hovering about the islands. 1 examined the seal skins she had on
board, and al)out 80 percent wen; skins of females. In I8s,s or 188!» I
examined something like 5,01)0 skins at Unalaska, which had been taken
from schooners engaged in i)elagic sealing in liering Sea, and at least
80 or 8.5 per cent were skins of females. (A. P. Loud.)

I have personally inspected skins taken upon the three schooners
Omvard, Caroline, and Thornton, which skins, taken in Bering Sea,
were landed in Unalaska and were then ])ersonally inspected by me in
the month of May, 1887. The total number of skins so examined was
2,000, and of that number at least 80 per cent were the skins of females.
I have also examined the skins taken by the United States revenue
cutter R»,s7( from one of the North Paeilic islands, where they had been
deposited by what is known as a poaching schooner and taken to Una-
laska, which numbered about 400 skins, and of that 400 skins at least
80 per cent were the skins of female seals. I liave also examined the
skins seized from the -lames Hamilton Lewis in the year 1801, by the
liussiau gunboat Aleut, numbering 410, of which at least 90 per cent
were the skins of female seals, I'rom my long observation of seals and
seal skins I am able to tell the dilference betweeu the skin of a male
and the skin of a female seal. (T. F. Morgan.)

I examined over 12,000 skins from sealing vessels seized in 1887 and
1880, and of these at least two-thirds or three-fourths were the skins of
females. (L. G. Shepard.)

REASON PREGNANT FEMALES AEE TAKEN.

I think cow seals are tamer than young male seals. (Martin Benson.)

A cow seal that is heavy with pup is sluggish and slee])s more soundly
than the males, aud for that reason they are more readily approached.
(Henry Brown.)

They are very tame after giving birth to their young and are easily
approached by the hunters. When the females leave the islands to
feed they go very fast to the fishing banks, and alter they get their food
they will go to sleep on the waters. That is the hunter's great chance.
I think we secured more in proportion to the number killed than we did
in the North PaciUc. (James L. Carthcut.)

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AT,ASKA TNDTTSTRIRS.

203

Thoy sleop iiioro and me le.ss iictivo and nioreeasily «ni)tiired. (Simeon
Cliinkuo tin.)

I tliink the fuinule seal is less active and more easily apitroaciied.
(Peter Chnrcli.)

1 liave noticed that the (einalos wlion at sea are less wild and distrust-
ful fiiaii the liachelor seals, and dive less {|iiici<Iy in the |)r(!scnce (il'tlio
hunter. After fecdiiifj phiiitil'iiily, or when n'sliiifj alter lieavy weatiier,
they ai)i>ear to tall asleep upon tlie siirlaee of tlie water. It is then they
beeonie an easy tarf,'et for the hunters, (.lames U. i)ou{;lass.)

I think the females sleep more on the water, and are less active and
more easily taken than the males. (10. Ilofsta<l.)

When tlie females are with puj) they sleep m«»ro, are less active, and
more easily ap|>roached than the male seals. (1*. Kahiktday.)

Think (iows are nnich more plentiful on the coast, sleep more, and are
more easily caittured than the male seals. (John Kowineet.)

Think cows are less active and require more sleep than the young
male se.als. ((ieorge Laeheek.)

I am informed and believe that the reason of there being such a large
proportion of females among the coast skins is because the male, which
is powerfid and strong, usually swims more readily and at a lonj;er
distance from the c(»ast, and are so scattered and a<'tive and hard to
catch thut it does not pay to hunt them. The female heavy with young
easily tires and sleejts on the water, and is easily shot while in that
condition. ((Jeorge Liebes.)

Mother seals heavy with young are much easier taken, for they are
usually asleep on the water. (William H. Long.)

Q. Why is it, in your opinion, that more female than male seals are
killed by the jioachers? — A. JJecanse, flrst, in the passage of the seals
to the islands in the early season tlie females travel in groups and the
males scatter; secondly, after arriving at tiie islands the males remain
on or about the hauling grounds, while the females, having their pups
to nurse, go out into the sea to obtain food.

Q. How do you tell the skin of a female from that of a male? — A. By
the nipples and general appearance. (Anton MelovedoiV.)

As I understand the fact to be, most of the seals killed in the open
sea are females. My reasons for this (toncliision are that, from my
knowledge of the seal, 1 know that the female when heavy with young,
as they are during the early part of the season when on their way to
the rookeries, where they are delivered during the months of June and
July, are much heavier in the water and much less able to escape,
because they are cai)al)le of remaining under water to escai)e for a very
much less period of time than when they are not heavy with young, or
than the male seal would be. (T. F. Morgan.)

It is harder to take an old seal than a young one, the older ones being
more on the alert and are not less active when pregnant. ( W. Roberts.)

Of the seals killed, from 60 to 70 per cent are females, which, during
their northerly migration, are heavy with young, slow of movement,
aTid recpiire an extra amount of rest and sleep, thus largely increasing
their liability to successful attack. (Z. L. Tanner.)

1 have been told that it is easier to catch the female seal at sea than
it is to catch the male seal, but I have no personal knowledge of that

204

T

ALASKA INDUSTRIK8.

point. I snppoHe, howovor, that tliere muHt bo Home foiiiHlation for the
HtiitcmPiit by r«'iis(»iioC tlH'Tiict tliii) so siiiall ii proportion of nuilc adult
NtMiis are iiicliuUHl in wliat in culled Unt norlliwoHt catch. (lOiiiil
Teiclimaiin.)

The cows arc loss active, hIooj) more, and aro more easily cai)tun'd.
(M. Thlkahdaynalikco.)

Oow seals sleep sounder on the water, are less active, and are (sasiiy
captured. (iJames Unatajiin.)

Cows are more easily captured because tliev have pups. (Kudol|)li
Walton.)

They are less active, sleep more, and are easier cai)tured. (Charlie
Wank.)

It is my opinion that female seals are more easily caittnred and
appear to be more tame than the male seal, and, I think, sleep more.
(T. 8. Weittenhiller.)

The large proi)ortion of females killed in the North I'acilic is due to
the fact, as I explained before, tliat males jiursuc their way to the
liauling grounds with dispatch, while the females are more leisurely in
their movements and take frequent rests. (T. T. W'illiama.)

DiiORKASE OF 8KALS.

Percentage lost of seals killed.

From ray experience I am satisfied that 33j^ ])er cent shot with a shot-
gun are lost, and when a rifle is used a larger per cent are lost when
killed. (I'eter Anderson.)

We lost three out oi" four we killed. (H. Andricius.)

On an average, we saved one out of three that were killed. (Hern-
hardt Bleidner.)

It is my honest belief that for every fur-seal skin obtained by ])elagic
sealers at least live other seals' lives aro taken. (J. A. Bradljy.)

During the trip of 1891 I don't think we got more than one seal out
of six that we killed; many were wounded, and others were shot
dead and sank before the boat could get to them. (Thomas Brown.)

Native hunters secure about one-third of jill fur seals killed at sea,
while in my Ix^lief white hunters secure even a leas number in propor-
tion to those killed. (M. Cohen.)

An average hunter will get one out of four of breaching seals and one
out of three of sleepers that he kills, but a common hunter will not get
so many. (Peter Collins.)

And that a vast number of the seals killed by them are lost. (Lean-
der Cox.)

It is my experience that very few, if any, seals were lost by the hunters
who use the spear, but fully 75 per cent of all those killed by the rille
were lost. (James Dalgarduo.)

From my observation of the methods employed by the open-sea hun rers
I believe that a very large proportion of those killed by them are lost.
I have often heard sealers so exi)ress themselves. They have said to
me that they get only about one out of tive shot or killed j others made

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ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

205

the losH bUH fjroiiU)!'. 1 tliiiik tlio latter statement more nearly correct.
(M. C. KiHkiiic.)

Of HCiils killt^l, about four out of Ave are naved. (F. l'\ Fecny.)

An ex|)(!ricnceil liunter like inyHclf will {jet two out of three tlir.t he
kills, but an ordinary liunler would not tjct more than oue out of every
three or four that he kills. (Thomas (iilisoii.)

1 lose about 50 per cent when I use the shotpun, and more arc lost
when rillo is used. I nlways shoot tluMii in tiic head when possible, but
if iKtt possible, 1 slioot them iu any part of the body that is exposed.
(Gonastut.)

About 50 i)er cent are lost when killed with a shotgun, and a larger
per cent when ritle is used. (James (londowen.)

The hunters would get, on au average, one out of every four they
killed. (James (Irymes.)

On an average, I think the hunters will save about one out of three
that they kill, but they wound numy more that escajje and die after-
wards. (James iJarrison.)

l"'ormerly the seals were gentle and the approach of a vessel did not
even alarm them, but when lirearms (^ame into use it so frightened them
that they had to be shot at long range, entailing a loss of not less than
three out of every four or live killed. (M. A. Ilealy.)

Myexi)erience convinces me that a large percentage of the seals now
killed by shooting with rilles and shotguns are lost. My estimate would
be that two out of every three killed are lust. Formerly the killing was
done by s])earing, and in later years it was learned that shooting them
was a swifter method of killing. At the start the hunters were iuex-
Iterieneed and a large proportion were lost. (James liieruan.)

I use the shotgun for taking seal, and sometimes I lose oue or two out
of ten that I kill. (James Klonacket.)

I have made it my business to find out what proportion of skins of
seals killed are reiilly brought into the market, and from the informa-
tion which I obtained from the sealers, hunters, and those owning the
skins I learned that on an average only about one out of six killed was
secured, varying with the expertness of the hunter. (George Liebes.)

The number of seals actually secured to the number killed does
not exce<'d about oue in fi-.ur, or about one is taken for every three
destroyed, varying, of course, with the skill aud experience of the
hunters. (Isaac Liebes.)

From these couversations I should judge they did not secure more
than (me half of the seals killed; and this, I think, is a large estimate
of the number secured. (A. P. Loud.)

1 have frequently noticed, in the harbor of Petropaulovsky, that the
natives, in killing hair seals, are ^nly able to obtain one animal out of
every four or five of those killed, nd that they freipiently wait about
four days for the bodies to be was) id ashore. (John Malowansky.)

None I lost when
killed with shotgun.

I used spear.
(Nashtau.)

About 20 per cent are lost when

An experienced A No. 1 seal hunter, in shootiiT sleeping seals with
a shotgun, will get a large proportiou of what he kills, aud will get one

T

206

ALASKA INDUrTRIES.

out of four breacbing seals tliat he kills; but aii ordinary common
hunter like myself will sometimes use ten cartri(li;es and not get oue
seal. 1 can safely say that a coiuinou hunter will only get oue seal out
of three. (Niles Nelson.)

The white hunters who used guns in Boring Sea were banging away
at the seals sometimes all day long, ajul tliey would lose a great many
of those that thc,\ shot. 1 do not tiiink that they brouglit to the
sehooner one-half of those that tiiey killed, to say nothing of those that
they wounded and got away. (Osly.)

But since it has become the practice to hunt seals with guns a good
many are killed, wouT)ded, and lost. Gieen hunters' bang away and
wound more than they kill, and will shoot six or seven before they
get one, and sometinu's more, (iood hunters will d(» much better. 1
used to get most of the seals I killed, but I have killed live dead in
succession and lost the whole of tliem. (William Parker.)

Shotgun is exctlusively used by me for taking seals. Lose about 20
per cent of those killed witii shotgun. (Abel Kyan.)

The captain, mate, and myself went out several times with the stern
boat and we killed 15 the lirst time we went out. 1 think we went <mt
that way three or four times, and we usually got one out of four killed.
I recollect one day wlien we were hunting, l)a<l weatlier .set up and we
did not get any seals. In good weather we got more seals than we did
in bad weather. (Teter Sinies.)

And we got one out of five killed. (John A. Swain.)

On mv lirst voyage I think we got two out of every live that we
killed. "(Adolph W. Thompson.)

When seal were struck with a spear none were lost; lose about oO per
cent when killed with shotgun. (<3harlie Tlaksatau.)

I had in my employ men who are old seal hunters and who were for-
merly engaged in that business, and they have often told me that they
lost at least two out of every three they killed. (M. L. Washburn.)

Percentage lost of seals struck.

The skill of the hunter has a great deal to do with the nund)er of
seals secured of those killed or wounded, but the most expert does not
get more than half he hits, and the average for hunters in general
would be about three in ten. (0. A. Abbey.)

We secure one out of about every live that we shoot at or kill.
(Charles Adair.)

An experienced hunter would get one out of every three that he shot
or killed, and a green hunter would get aboni one out of every seven or
eight that he shot or killed. (Charles Adair.)

It has been my custom in the last few years to exanune the logs of
scaling vessels and to converse with officers ami hunters of such vessels
in order to obtain what information I could as to the methods employed
by hunters and the loss of seals occasioned in 8U(;h pursuit. From the
logs I learned that in many instances 100 rounds of ammunition had
been fired to each skin secured, and often more; and on an average I
found that not over five s"als to the hundred shots liad been o])tained.
The logs further showed that a large number had been wounded and
lost. 1 also ascertained from the li^gs and from conversation with

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ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

207

mastora of sailing schooners tliat not one seal out of ten killed or
wounded had been caught. These inciuiries I pursued at San Francisco
until quite recently. The chief killing by pDai-hers 'as done between
the passes of Aleutian Arcliipelago and the Pribilof Islands. (George
It. Adams.)

Have always used a sliotgun and rifle in taking seal since a young
man. I rarely lose any seal I shoot, as I never slioot at them unless
they are veiy close to tlie boat. (Adam Ayonkee.)

Have always used a shotgnn for taking seal, and lose about 40 per
cent of what I shoot. (Maurice Bates.)

Ifo seal were lost when struck with spear. About 40 per cant of seal
shot with shotgun are lost, and more when the rifle is used. (Wilton
C. Bennett.)

I use the shotgun for taking seal. I lose about 25 per cent of the
seals shot. (I'ldward Benson.)

Tlie spear and sliotgun have been used by me. But few seals are
lost tliat are struck by spear. About G6 per cent are lost when shot
with shotgun, and a larger proportion are lost when rifle is used. (Mar-
tin Benson.)

On the Vionecr we had a couple of good hunters, who would get
almost all tliey shot at, wlide some of our hunters would lose a good
many tliat tliey would kill and wound. A green hunter will not get
more than one out of tive, and I have known one hunter on our vessel
who shot eigiit sliots and got only four seals. Indian hunters that use
spears seldom lose any that are struck, and there is :;o wounded to go
away and die. (Neils Bonde.)

This year the seals are wilder than the year before; I think it was
because they \i ere hunted so much. We did not capture as many in
proportion to the nunibiH' shot as we did the year previous, and did not
save nu)re than one out ')f six that we shot. (Thomas Brown.)

We got on an average three or five out of every twelve killed and
wounded. It deiiendsa great deal upon the weather. There were lots
of seals in the water at tliat time. (Thomas Brown.)

The average hunter would );Tet one out of every three that he shot;
a i)Oor hunter not nciuiy as many. There are 21 buckshot to a sliell.
* * * When they are in school sleeping we get a good many. We
did not get as many is we shot at in Bering Sea as we did on the coast.
If we got one out of every three we were doing pretty well. (Charles
Chalall.)

I used a shotgun almost exclusively last season, and lost about one-
third of all furs shot. (.lulius Christiansen.)

I think about oO per cent of the s(!als shot with shotgun are lost, and
greater proportion are lost when shot with a rifle. (I'eter Church.)

I always use the shotgun for taking seal. I think about 25 per cent
are lost. (William Clark.)

Over 50 per cent are lost when shot with shotgun. (John C. Clement.)

My observation of the seal hunting by white hunters in 1888 is that
they do not secure more than two oi' three out of every hun<lred shot.
The number of shots Hred by a hunter in an ordinary day's sealirg
is something enormous, and the waste of seal life in the water is

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ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

dreadful to contenii)liite. * • * The proportion of loss of seals
shot by white hunters iu the Otto was quite as great in 1891 as by
the hunters in the year before stated. I have never seen any black
pups in the North racitic Ocean. (Louis Culler.)

When it was rough weather we got one out of six that wo killed or
wounded, and in smooth weather we could jjet on an average one out of
three and sometimes three out of five. (John Dohrn.)

On an average, all the hunters got one out of three or four seals
that tliey killed or wounded. There were plenty of seals in the water
at that time. (Richard Dolan.)

We got one out of every five or six that we killed or wounded. We
wounded a great many thp'^j we did not get. (George Fairchild.)

When I was a young man the Indians used the spear for taking seals;
now they have learned from the white men to use the shotgun. About
three out of ten are lost that are shot. (Frank.)

Tlie hunters used rifles and shotguns. They got about one out of
every six they shot at or killed, and sometimes they got none. The
great majority of them were females. We used rifles, we had experi-
enced hunters on board, and we got one out of every three killed or
wounded. (William Frazer.)

Q. What percentage of seals are t.aken compared to those you destroy
in doing so? In other words, liow many do you actually get of those
you shoot? — A. About 30 per cent.

Q. Is it not a fact, when ^ou first started in the busi-.ess and was
inexperienced in hunting, that you, like all other beginners, destroyed
a much larger proportion than you now do? — A. Yes; a little more in
proportion. (Edward W. Fuucke.)

Indians lose a less number of the seals shot at and wounded or
killed than white hunters. When they use spears they get nearly all
they wound. When they use shotguns they do not get more than one
out of eight killed or wounded. In conversation with boat steerers
and boat pullers I have frequently heard them state that hunters would
sometinicR fire from 75 to 10'' shots without bringing in a single seal.
The hunters would claim they secured nearly all tiiey tired at or killed,
but it is known that this is not true. It is impossible to say what pro-
portion of the seals fired at are killed or wounded, but taking the run
of hunters, good and poor, I should say that the best get about oO per
cent of those shot at, while the poorest do not get more than one out
of fifteen lired at (E. M. Greenleaf.)

The native hunters used spears exdusis'ely in hunting the seals, and
secured fully two-thirds of all struck. 1 am of the opinion that with
firearms not more than one-third of the animals shot are actually
secured. (A. J. Guild.)

Have always used a shotgun for taking seal, and lose about 25 per
cent of the seals I shoot. (Henry Haldane.)

I use the shotgun exclusively for taking seal. About 65 per cent of
the seal hit are lost. (Martin Hannon.)

Q. According to your experience, what percentage of animals that
are shot are actually taken by the boats? — 4, That depends a good
deal on the man that shoots them. Some fellows will niss four out of
five and aiu)tlier may miss three out of five and cripple thorn. I think
on a general avci age we will get about three out of five. (H. Harmsen.)

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

209

We

per

Q. Wliat percentage of seals are taken compared to those you destroy
in doiTif:; so; in other words, how many do you actually get out of those
you shoot? — A. We get about 7") per eeut of them.

Q. Is it not a fiU;t that wlien you first started in tiie business and
was inexperienced in limiting, that you, like many others, destroyed a
nnich larger proportion tlian you now do? — A. Yes, sir; it is. (Andrew
J. Hotl'man.)

The shotgun was exclusively used by our hunters. T caii form no
idea, as to tiie amount of seals lost. Some hunters lost more and some
less. It ranges all the way from 10 to 75 per cent, ac(;ording to stories
told by hunters. (O. lloim.)

We used shotguns, and secured about two seals out of five that we
shot. (Alfred Irving.)

The Indian hunters with speurs would not wound or lose but very few
seals that they struck, but the ordinary white hunter will, on an average,
lose over half that he kills and wounds. (James .lamieson.)

About 40 per cent shot with shotgun are lost. When the rifle is used
a larger per cent is lost. (J. Johnson.)

Have always used shotgun and rille for taking seal. I never lose any
seal when I shoot them, because I always shoot tliem close to. (Johnnie
John tin.)

The spear and arrow were used to take seal when I was a boy, but
now 1 use the shotgun and ritle. At least 50 per cent are lost when shot
with shotgun. When rifle is used a larger portion of seals are lost. (P.
Kaliiktday.)

I always use the shotgun for killing seal. I lose about four out of
ten that I shoot. (King Kashwa.)

I always use the shotgun for taking seal. Sometimes I lose two and
three out of ten that I shoot. (.lim Kasooh.)

Fully one-half the seal shot with shotguns are lost, and a much
larger proportion when the ritle is used. None were lost when struck
with a spear. (Mike Kethusduck.)

On an average we got one or two out of every six or seven that we
wounded or killed. (James Kennedy.)

Constant shooting lias frightened them and made them wild, so that
they have to be shot at great distances unless found asleep. Much
de])ends tor successful hunting upon the weather, as it is didicnlt to
get accurate aim when both the hunter's boat and the seal are in motion.
A poor hunter does not secure more than one out of every five shot or
aimed at. Good hunters do better. (.lames Kieruan.)

The tirst sighted was August 4, longitude 130° .■>2' west, latitude
52° 40' mnth. During the days following August 4 canoes we.e
lowered, but their search for seals was fruitless. On August 14, before
entering Mering 8ea, a seal was speared by the Indians otf Marmont
Island, which was bearing NW. ^ W. 35 miles. We entered the sea
at 0.30 p. m. on the I'lid day of August and at 0 o'clock the following
morning we got our first seal in Bering Sea. It was shot by one of
the white men in a boat. We were at this time about 25 miles west by
north of Northwest Capo on Unimak Pass. On the same d.ay tour
other seals were shot, aiul thre«> not recovered. Two sank and the
other escaj^ed badly wounded. The following day the caittaiu shot
H. Doc. 02, pt. 2 14

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ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

two, losing one, and the other boat broupjht one seal on board. On the
25th .if August we were, 125 miles southeast of St. (Jeorge Island. The
Indian huiiteis were out all day and brought in three seals, the white
hunters getting none. The captain int'ornied nie that day that the i)re-
vious year he liad tai<en in this locality 148 seals in one day, and that
one of his hunters got 'A8 and lost 40, which he shot. The next day the
two boats and canoes Mere out, and the captain brought back one, but
had shot and lost six others, one of which sank. The other boat
rejjortedthat they had sliot seven, but all sank before they could get
theni, the water being so colored with blood that it was impossible to
see tlie bodies sufficiently to recover them with the gaft". The two
Indians brought back ten seals, all speared. Out of the Hund)er taken
on board four were full of milk. On the i37th the Indians brouglit in
two seals and the captain one, wliich were all tiiey had seen. On the
29th seventeen seals were taken; tiic captain got three, having lost
two, killed or wounded. Tlie otlier boat brought in three, having lost
two, and the cook shot one from the schooner's deck. Out of these
seven were females, wliich covered the decks with milk while they were
being skinned. 1 am convinced that at the very least white hunters
lose 50 per cent of the seals they hit, and probably the maiority of
those wounded will ultimately die. (Francis E. King-Hall.)

When a seal is struck with a si)ear we never lose him. About 50 per
cent are lost when shot with a shotgun, (liobert Kooko.)

About GO i)er cent of the seals are lost when shot with a shotgun.
When rifles are used a much larger i)ro])orti()n is lost. (James Lacheek.)

Of all the fur seals struck in the entire season by both implements
more than two-thirds were actually secured, the t • -^ter proportion of
losses resulting from the use of the shotgun. (JauK i B. Lennan.)

The average hunter will fire ten times to get one seal. I think on an
average he gets one seal out of every three killed. (William H. Ijong.)

Q. W1 1 lit percentage of seals are taken compared to those you destroy
in doing so; in other words, how nuiny do you actually get outof those
you shoot? — A. I should say we get about 80 ])er cent of those we
shoot.

Q. Is it not a fact that when you first started in the business and
was inex]»erienced in hunting, you, like ail other beginners, destroyed
a much larger ijroportion tlian you now do? — A. Tiiere is lu) doubt
about that, (Cliarles Lutjens.)

The shotgun was used exclusively. Over GO per cent of the seals
shot were lost, (tjieorge McAlpiue.)

I think I lose about 66 per cent of the seals shot with shotguns.
(J. D. McDonald.)

Taking the general average, wo would not get more than two seals out
of every ten that the hunters shot at. Out of every sixty-five seals
that were brought aboard the schooner I got one, so 1 tried to si)ear as
many as I could after tiiey were shot. Wo caught nu)re seals in I'ering
Sea than we did going along the coast, as we found more of them.
* * * All the seals tluit we shot at in rough weather were lost. In
fine weather they sleep on top of the water, and we do not lose so many
of them. (Wiiliam Mclsaac.)

No seals are h)st that are struck with spears. With a shotgun about
fiO per 'jftut are lost. (James McKeen.)

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

211

Wc got about one out of every five tliat we killed or wounded. There
was any amount of them that we shot and did not pet at all. It seciiied
as if a tfood many got away. * * * \V'e had some white and Indian
hunters. 1 do not think tiiat we lost as many tiiat year in ])io|)or-
tion to those that we killed and wounded. They were better luiiitera.
(William MeLaughliu.)

Q. Aecordiiij^ to your experience, what percentage of animals that
are shot at are actually taken by the boats ? — A. That is accMtrdiiig to the
anununition tiiat we use. About one-third are taken. (Daniel Mc-
Lean.)

We had Indian hunters who used shotguns. The Indian hunters are
Hiore expert than the white hunters and they do not lose so many
seals as they kill. 1 think they would get one out of every two or three
killed or wouiuled. (Thomas Madden.)

Abouc 50 per cent of the seals shot with shotgun are lost. (Edward
Maitland.)

There were six boats on the vessel. Some of the boats would come
in without a seal after being out all day long shooting, but they would
wound a great many. On an average, taking all tlie boats together,
they got one out of every five or six that they killed or shot at. We
wounded a great nniny that we could not get. (Patrick Maroney.)

About 50 per cent are lost that are shot with the shotgun. (Charles
Martin.)

I do not think they would get more than one seal out of every six or
seven they shot, and sometimes only one out of ten. (Henry Mason.)

Our hunter was a good one. His name was Joe Williams. I think
hii got one out of every three, on an avciage. He used a I'ifle a good
(Icid, and was a fine shot. Some of the hunters in the other boats wi-'ld
siioot at the seal and not get any at all, and come in at night without
any, or maybe one oi two. There was one hunter from Nova Scotia that
did not kill any, scarcely. (William Mason.)

1 think about o3 per cent of the seals shot with a shotgun are lost.
(E. Miner.)

About 20 per cent of the seals I shoot with shotgun are lost. (Amos
Mill.)

(J. What percentage of seals are taken, compared to those you destroy
in doing so; in other words, how Mian.\ do you actually get out of those
you shoot? — A. About 75 per cent. We lose about '-'5 per cent.

Q. Is it not a fact that when you first started in the business and
were inexperienced in hunting, that you, like all other beginners,
destroyed a much larger proportion than you do now? — A. Certainly;
there is no doubt about that. (Frank Moreau.)

From my knowledge of the aquatic habits of the seal, and the diflft-
culty of accurate slioodng when the object is in the water, I am of tiie
opinion that a large number of seals are killed by vessels engaged in
the business of taking seals in the open seas which are not caugiit. 1
am unable to form an estimate of the number of seals shot or speareil
from vessels which are lost, but in the last two or three years of my
residence at St. (Jeorge Island, in taiiing 15,000 seals, I fimnd ai)])roxi-
mately tliree pounds of lead, in the form of slugs, bullets, and buck-
sliot, which 1 personally took from the bodies of male seals, some of

212

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

wliich were so badly womided that they would have died. I have per-
sonally examined the log of tiie schooner Angel Bollie, in wlii( h it was
stated that the hunters from that vessel got about one seal out of every
ten shot at; also that on one occasion they tired 250 rounds, and got
20 seids; on anotlier occasion 100 cartridges, and gotO seals, iiud Avlii(!h
log also stated that the captain personally shot and killed 7 seals, of
which he got only one. (T. F. Morgan.)

They lost very few of the seals they speared. They secured about
all of the seals they speared. (John Morris.)

When in Bering Sea, I had an oi)i>ortnnity to observe the difference
in the number of steals lost by killing tlieni with shotguns and by taking
them with si)ears. The hunters that used shotguns htst more tlian one-
half tliey shot, while the hunters that used spears seldom ever lost one
that they hit. (Moses.)

It is generally conceded that the Indian hunters in the use of the
spear seldom lose one they kill or wound. (Morris Moss.)

When I was a boy I used a shotgun for taking seal, bought from the
Hudson Bay Company at Fort Simpson, and have always used a shot-
gun for sealing. I think about two out of ten seal shot are lost. (Smith
Natch.)

Sometimes I lose two and sometimes three seal out of ten I shoot.
(Dan ^'athlan.)

It depends a great deal upon the weather as to tlie amount of seals
obtained by the liunters. After a heavy blow you see the seals lying
on top of the water avSleep, and you can get very close to them, r.iid on
an average you would get two or three out of every live or six you kill
or wound, while in rough weather you would not get one out of tive or
six killed or woundec!, (John O'Brien.)

Not being hunters of experience, our men lost about two-thirds of
all the seal shot. Good hunters would not lose to exceed 25 per cent.
(Nelson T. Oliver.)

We used shotguns, using buckshot, and I have known twenty shots
to be tired at a seal before we got her. When we shot at "sleepers"
we got a good many more than when we shot at "bacliclors" or " roll-
ers," and we secured on an average about one out of every three killed
and wounded. The percentage of loss of those killed and wounded is
fully as great as I have stated. (John Olsen.)

When the rifle is used less than one seal for five shots is secured;
inanv shots miss, but of those seals hit al)out one-half are secured.
(W.K'oberts.)

It is very hard to estimate the number lost of those shot, but I should
judge ai) expert hunter would lose certiiinly from 40 to 00 percent,
and a hunter not particularly expert would lose from 80 to 85 i)er cent.
(L. a. Shei)ard.)

In some iiistanres we ran upon schools of seal and shot five or six,
all of which would be lost; in other instances we wcmld secure about
one-half of those wouiuled. '>ne-half of all seals shot on the coast are
lost. (William Short.)

About 25 per cent are lost when shot with a shotgun, and more are
lost when shot with ritle. Shotgun and rille are used by me for taking
neal. (Jack Shucky.)

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

213

about

seals

When I used a spear none were lost that were struck. When shot-
gun is used nearly 50 per cent are lost; when ritle is used a still larger
percentage is lost. (Martin Singay.)

No seal were lost when struck with spear or arrow. Fully 60 iier
cent of seal shot with shotgun are lost, and a much larger per cent are
lost when sliot with a ritle. (Jack Sitka.)

Always use a Hudson Bay gun to take seal with. A Hudson Bay
gun is a single barreled shotgun. Sometimes 1 lose one and sometimes
two out of ten tliat are shot. (Tiiomas ISitowl.)

I think about one-third of the seal shot with shotgun are lost. ( Fred
Smith.)

Very few pre lost wiien struck with a spear. About 66 per cent are
lost when shotgun is used. (William H. Smith.)

An ordhiary hunter will not get more than one out of four that he
shoots at. (Cyrus Stephens.)

About 25 per cent of seals shot are lost. (Joshua Stickland.)

Q. Wliat percentage of seals are taken compared to those you destroy
in doing so; in other words, how many do you actually get out of those
you shoot? — A. 1 guess we get hardly two-tliirds of what we shoot.

Q. Js it not a fact that when you first started in the business and
was inexperienced in hunting, that you, like all other beginners,
destroyed a much larger proportion thaii you do now? — A. It is.

I have always understood that 3.3 per cent of seals shot with shotguns
are lost. (W. Thomas.)

The hunters use shotguns and rifles exclusively for taking seal. I
think tiiat from what I have been able to learn about half the seal shot
are lost, the hwnters being unable to secure them before they sink.
(John 0. Tolnian.)

About 60 per cent of the seal shot with shotgun are lost. A much
larger j)er cent is lost when rifle is used. (Peter Trearsheit.)

I get most all the seals that I hit with the spear. I lose one-half of
those I shoot with a gun. (John Tj^sum.)

When the spear was used all seal speared were secured. About 50
per cent of the seals are lost when shot with shotgun. Whenever I
have used a rifle for shooting seal a much larger proportion of those
killed have been lost on account of shooting them at a longer distance
from the boat. (James Unatajim.)

I think I generally lose about 75 per cent of the seals shot with shot-
gun. (George Usher.)

I have .arned from personal observation and from conversations
with jKuties that they lose in killed and wounded at least two out of
every three obtained. Other sealers have told me that their loss is
much greater. (Charles T. Wagner.)

About 50 per cent are lost when shot with shotgun. When ritle is
used a much larger per cent is lost. (Rudolph Walton.)

I have often conversed with the hunters relative to the percentage
of the loss of seals to those taken, and some tell me they get one out of
five or six. (Elkan Wasserman.)

I

214

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

My IniTitera use sliotgnn exclnsivoly. Tliey carry a rifle with them
in tiie boat, but have not used one tliiH season to my knowledge. 1
think, as near as 1 can estimate, about 3.1^ per cent of the seals shot
are h)st. (F. S. Woittouhiller.)

From my kno\vk'(i<je and experience in the business it is my convic-
tion tliat within {lie last few years, since the sealers have become so
numerous in the Pacide and Herinj;' Sea, that not more than one out of
thi ee are secured. ( Michael White.)

1 always use the sliotfjun for taking seal. I think I lose about live
out of every ten that I shoot. (Billy Williams.)

That for every three sleeping seals killed or wounded in the water
only one is recovered. For every six traveling seals killed or wounded
in the water only one is recovered, (Theo, T, Williams,)

Sometimes I lose one and sometimes two out of ten that I shoot with
a shotgun. (Fred. Wilson.)

When the si)ear was used very few seal were lost. About r>{) per
cent are lost wlien shot with shotgun. .A larger per cent are lost when
killed with a rille. I use the shotgun for taking seal, and lose about
two out of ten that I shoot. (Hilly Yeltachy.)

Sometimes I lose OTie and sometimes two out of every ten that I
shoot. J always shoot the seal close to the boat, so I don't lose many.
(Hastings Yethnow.)

The shotgun is used altogether for taking seal. About 33]^ per cent
of the seal shot are lost. (Alf. Yohansen.)

Always use shotgun for taking seal. I lose but very few seal, as I
always shoot them very close to the boat. (Paul Young.)

Have always used tlie shotgun for taking seal. Think I lose about
three out of ten of those I shoot. (Walter Young.)

In hunting with spears I capture nearly all that I hit. (Thomas
Zolnoka.)

Wovnding.

Those only wounded, whether fatally or otherwise, dive and escape
capture. The less severely wounded may, and in many cases doubtless
do, recover from their woun<ls; but, in the nature of things, many
others must die of tlieir injuries. There is a wide range of chances
between an instantareously fatal or disabling shot and a slight wound
from which the victim may readily recover, with obviously a large pro-
portion of them ou the fatal side of the dividing line. (Dr. J.A.Allen.)

A good many of the seals that I have caught in the last three or four
years have shot in them and some have been badly wounded. I have
seen while hunters shooting seals out in the sea, and they lose a great
many more than they get, and we sometimes capture some of those that
they have badly wounded. (Bowa-chup.)

Have caught a great many seals that had shot in them. (Peter
Brown.)

We often take seals that have been wounded with a rifle or shotgun,
and in their bodies there are a large number of shot (James Olap-
lanhoo.)

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

215

A pood many are wounded and escape,ouly to die afterwards. (Alfred
Dardean.)

Wlien I yet seals now a great many have shot in them, a thing I never
saw before until about six or seven years ago. (Frank Davis.)

Some that 1 shoot are wounded and get away, and ])r()bnbly die. I
have caught a good many seals that had sliot in them. (I'^ilabiisii.)

They kill and wound a great many tliat they do not get. J have
si»eared a great many seals that had shot in tliein. (Selwish Johnson.)

I know that a great many must be lost by the white hunters, for a
great many that 1 eatch have shot in them, and some are badly wounded,
(James Ligjitiiouse.)

During the killing season on *^he Commander Islands we freiiuently
find in tlie bodies both bullets and shot. (.lohn Malowansky.)

I have captured a great many seals with the spear and found shot in
them, (John Tysum.)

When they were wounded we had to chase them, and then sometimes
would not get them. (Patrick Maroney.)

While out seal hunting last year I captured a few seals that the white
hunters had wounded and lost, and found a good many shot in their
bodies. I have captured a good many seals lately that had buckshot
in them. (Charley White.)

At the times wheu the male seals are on the rookeries the large
catches are made. A traveling seal is alert, cautious, (juick of hearing,
and easily disturbed. A sleeping seal is at the mercy of anyone. The
large proportion of traveling seals shot at aiul lost is due to tlie timidity
of the animal; ir. fact, all the husiters admit that when there is much
sliooting going o [i tlie seals are very difficult to get. The loss of sleep-
ing seals, which 1 estimate as two lost for one saved, is due to the fact
that unless the bullet or shot kills the animal instantly it will immedi-
ately dive, and it is not easy to kill a seal instantly. The head of the
seal affords t'lt a small mark. Even i" the case of a sleeper, the
motion of the water keeps it moving. The boa* from which the hunter
shoots is also moving, and while there are men who at a distance of 50
or 00 yards can shoot a sniall object under such circumstances, they
are extremely rare. They are famous as experts and they are highly
rewarded for their skill. Certainly not one in ton of all the seal hunters
can truthfully assert, nor do they attempt to do so wheu in a confiden-
tial humor, that they kill 50 per cent of their seals dead. I was in the
company of a number of them in Victoria, in 1880, and heard them
talking among themselves of their prowess. Some put forward claims
which the others derided. Any estinnite in excess of the one I have
already given called forth uncomplimentary remarks and charges of
boastfulness. The disinclination of these men to state the absolute
facts, and they alone know what the facts are, in relation to the num
ber of seals shot and lost, has been intensified lately by the feeling
that it is necessary for them to make a good showing to back up the
claim that pelagic sealing is not absolutely of the seal herd. (Thomas
T. Vv^illiams.)

Many of the seals I have speared had shot and bullets in them.
This was never seen before until about eight years ago, aud now it is
a frequent occurrence. (Wispoo.)

A great many that I have caught in the last <^hree or four years have
shot in them, and many have been badly wounded. (Thomas Zolnoks.)

216

ALASKA INDUSTIJIES.
Percentage lost — General statements.

1

We had a row on board bocause some of the hunters were green
hands and tlie men would not go ont in the boats willi them, Tliey
took the haulers out of our boats and put them into tlie oilier boats
that made no catch, and then we kicked tliat they shonhl put the green
hunters into our boats, because everytldng they would shoot would sink
on them and be lost. (Charles Adair.)

Tiie destructiveness to seal life by pelagic hunting is very great. The
majority of seals killed are lu'cgnant females, so that two lives are often
sacrificed in securing one skin. This is true whether firearms or 8])ear8
are used. In additi<m to this, the number of skins marketed does not
represent the number actually destroyed, for many ate killed that are
not secured, while others, though fatally wounded, still possess strength
enough to escape their pursuers. (A, li. Alexander.)

Of those killed the number saved varies with the skill of tlie hunters.
Last year we lost very few. (Charles Avery.)

A very few are lost when shot with the shotgun, as we shoot them
close to the boat- (Johnny Baronovitch.)

In hunting with the spear we don't lose many that we hit. I never
hunted with guns. (Peter Brown.)

Experienced hunters lose very few seal that are shot, but beginners
lose a great many. (Cliarles (Jampbell.)

As to the percentage of seals lost in pelagic sealing where the use of
firearms is employed, I am not able to state of my own ol)servation and
experience, but from conversation with those engaged in the business I
am of the oi)inion that the number secured is snuiU compared with
those lost in attempts to secure them. (W. C. Coulson.)

None were lost when the spear was used. When the shotgun is used
sometimes tliev aie h)st. A few more are lost when rifle is used.
(Charlie Dahtlin.)

Were I engaged at present in sealing I should prefer the spear to the
rifle or shotgun, and I believe its use is not near so destructive to seal
life. (James Dalgarduo.)

The Indians have always hunted seal with a shotgun, and lam sorry
to say that they have killed a great many more than they secured.
(William Duncan.)

From the ammunition we furnished them I learned iiat some of the
hunters on an average used fiom two to three rounds of shot to a seal,
while others used from forty to fifty rounds. (George Fogel.)

Have always used the shotgun for killing seal, and but very few are
lost. (Chief Frank.)

Have always used spear for taking seal, and but very few are lost.
(Chad George.)

A very large number of shots are thrown away. In the case of the
Thistle, in her voyage of 1891, she brought in but nine skins, while her
hunters had lired away 2C0 pounds of shot. She had poor hunters.
(E, M. Greenleaf.)

That in pelagic sealing twice as many seals are lost as are captured.
(W. P. Griffith.)

ALASKA INDITSTKIES.

217

Always slioot the seal close to tlie boat and rarely lose one; but when
shot at witli the rille 1 lose a good many, (ilooniali Diek.)

I have always used spears in hunting;- sesils, and seldom wounded or
hit one that I did not j;et until in lS!>i, wiiieh year, iind the only one,
1 went to l!erinf( Sea, and used llw siiot<,qui part of tiie time. 1 found
in the use of tiie shotgun that u gre;it many of the seals that were
killed or wounded were lost. (Alfred Irving.)

Welosebnt very few seals that we hit with a spear. (Selwish Johnson.)

When seals were struck with a spear none were lost; a great many
are lost when the shotgun is used. (C. Klananeck.)

I have often heard tluMu say tiiat tliey only get two or three out of a
sciiool, and when they kill them, if tlicy do not get them right away,
tiiey will sink and be lost. Further, that they lose a good many that
they kill. (James Lafkin.)

Q. Do you generally shoot seals with a rifle or shotgun! — A. A shot-
gun. Ninety per cent are killed with a shotgun. (Frank Moreau.)

Always use the shotgun for taking seals. 1 lose very few, as 1 always
shoot them close to the boat. (Matthew Norris.)

I can not say how many seals are killed and wounded, but there is
no doubt that green hunters lose many, while those more experienced
in business lose fewer. ' (Morris Moss.)

We used the spear more than the gun and secured nearly all of them
that we hit with it, but lost a great many seals that we shot. We pre-
fer to use the spear, because in so doing we do not lose so many or
frighten them away. (Osly.)

The shotgun is not as fatal as the rifle, but it ruins the skins of the
seals. (Adolphus Sayers.)

Breech-loading firearms (rifles and shotguns) are the instruments
principally employed by pelagic fur-seal hunters, both invtive and white.
By means of tlie.se weapons a greater number of skins are secured in a
season than when sjjcars are used; but the projiortion of seals struck
and lost to those actually secured is nmch less than when the spear is
used. (John W. Smith.)

The best hunter will Are about 20 cartridges, and they get 10 or 12
seals, while a hunter of less exi)erience will lire 100 rounds and get
nothing, but will wound and disable them. (Adolph W, Thompson.)

I have always used spears in hunting the seal, and seldom lose, any
I hit. (Charley White.)

In attempting to determine the sex of seals killed in the Bering Sea
and the North Pacific, and of the number of seals killed in excess of
those actually secured by the hunters, I had interviews with upward
of fifty seal hunters, aside from interviews subsequently had with Indian
hunters. I find this portion of my work by far the most diflicult. Much
discussion had already been had about the damaging effect of i)elagio
sealing, and the hunters were loath to tell how many seals were killed
and not recovered, and were often averse to making truthful reports
about the sex of the animals killed, but by frequenting their haunts
and cultivating their company tor long periods I succeeded in getting
accurate statements from a number of them. (Theo. T. Williams.)

I found that at first the hunters were disposed to brag of their skill

218

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

811(1 to ovorPHtiniato tlicir success in secnring skins of soiil.s shof, at.
Tlio reiisoii lor tliiit was tliiil 1 was al)oiit to eiifraffc in scalinfj ontcr-
liriscs and tiiat I was Miaiiin^; in(|iiiri(>s lor tlio ])iir|io8u of as(u-rtainin^
tlu'ir skill as Imntcrs, witii a view to onna<;inti: tliein. Tlio ])ractic(! in
Uritisii Colunihia is to pay tlie bast liiintt'is tlic lii;.;lH'st rate kit skin.
Mc.n wlio could shoot faiily well, Imt who use a 8hot{,Min, could l»«
secured for a sealing voyagt* from tl to ijil.no pei' skin, while hunters
who shot with a rille and were of rccogni/ed skill in some instances
were paid as high as $l.'.5(> per skin, an<l, generally speaking, as high
as $'2 i>er skin. The reason for this is obvious to those whoiiave inter-
ested themselves in the sealing l)usiness. A seal killed with buckshot
is so much puiuitured tmiuently that the pelt is of lesser valin\ It is
not j)rolitable for schooners to engage as hunters men who miss their
ehancesof killing the seals and bla/.e away indiscriminately, with small
residts. Even tliough the hunt<'r is only paid for the skin he recovers,
the loss to the vessel by his lailnre to kill when au opportunity offers
is eciuivalent to the profit it would have made on the skin if secured.
For these reasons and on account of the g<Mieral pronenessof men who
consider themselves experts in the use of any weapon to brag, the seal
hunters of British Columbia, as a class, grossly exaggerate the percent-
age of skins they recover to the uumberof seals aimed at, wounded, or
killed. (Theo. T. Williams.)

In attempting to ascertain exactly the number' of seals kiilid and lost
by the Bering Sea hunters, I found a wide divergence of stat(mient. It
is greatly to the advantage of the seal hunter to have the re|)utation of
losing but few seals. lie is paid by the skin, and the more he ('atclies
the greater his remuneration : but that is not all. TIk; hunter with the
best rej)utation as a sure catcher is in the greatest donnind. can secure
employment in the best schooner, and tiie largest sum of advance
money. Besides .self-interest, there comes vanity to urge the hunter
to make the biggest reputation possible for himself. To use a common
expression, the seal hunters all brag about their sureness of aim. The
best shots use a rifle and fire at a range of from 50 to 12.") yards. The
poorer shots depend on a shotgun loaded witi; buckshot, and will lire
at a seal uj) to 50 yards away. The Tiullan hunters use sjiears, and
paddle noiselessly up to the sleeping seal to plunge the spear in its
shoulder. They never attemjjt to s])e!:j u ^eal that is awake. Au
Indian hunter will paddle in among a lot of -'sleepers" andsi)ear them
one after the other, while a white hunter, who uses firearms, alarms
every seal in the neighborhood at the first discharge. The Indians lose
about one-third of all they spear, either from failure to kill when they
strike or because the dead seal sinks too (]uickly for them to secure it.
The white hunters do not get one-half of all they shoot. Some hunters
are very careful shots and will not fire unless the seal is well within
range, but the seal is likely to sink before the boat can get to it, or if
wounded, will dive like a flash to get away. A number of liunters have
boasted that they secure 95 seals for 100 shots, and some have made
affidavits of even more wonderful ex])loits. They presume too much
on public ignorance and credulity. (Theo. T. Williams.)

Fortunately, itis not necessary to depend on the statements of the seal
hunters. I secured access to the ship accounts of several sealers, and
found that in every case the consumption of ammunition showed more
than ten cartridges used for every seal skin captured. I spent consid-
erable time among the Siwash Indian sealers, and, while they brag of
their individual prowess, they admitted a loss of 30 per cent at least.

ALASKA INDUSTRIK8.

219

On tlilB Hnhjpct I ap]u nd a Htatomont fna(l<> by Captain Olsen, of the

HoaliiiK l)aik Urssif h' 'cr, at Vicitoria.

(';ilit;iiii <)ls(Mi, of ^n^^ AiiKMiciin schooner licuHiu Rutcr, of Astoria,
readied Victoria September L'7, I8S',>. In the odice of tlie American
(roiisiil, Col. li, Htevenw, he said: " I took afiO Hkiii.s in Herint; 8ea. Of
these 27 were pups,Jj2(> females, and 'A male Heals, wliicli I killed olf the
iHJand of Kadiak. Most of the female seals were with yoiiii^. i iiad
a tjreeii crew and jjreen imnters. Tiicy used shotnuns aixl sometimes
tlie rifle. Tliey fjot about one seal for every tliree they aimed at. Some
they missed altoj-ether, and some of tiie wounded ones got away. There
is great risk of losing a traveling seal. Tiie sleeping seals blow up an
air ithidder l hat keeps tliein from sinking, but the seals when awake sink
easily, liooksareused to grapple them, but if the boat is some distance
from tlie seal when it is killed it does not often get it. For that reasoii
rifle shooting at long range hardly pays. I will get about $7,7.") for some
of my skins and $8 for otliers. Aly voyage will pay, becianse 1 ran the
boat on tlie cheap. I oii'y had two men to the boat, and only paid my
hunters $1 per skin instead of $2, which is psiid to first-class hunters.
Some very skillful hunters do not lose many skins. Tliey will never
fire unless a seal is at close range, and they generally kill. Of c(mrse
they lose some from sinking. All the hunters brag about how lew tliey
lose, because they want the reputation of being good hunters. The
better reputation they have the bett(n' chance tiiey get.

If JJering Sea were open many new men would come into the business
and the loss would be greater. Only a few men make successful hunt-
ers. It is like being a clever rifle sliot. If the best hun*^er8 lose ten
or lll'teen in a hundred, the other kind lose ten times as many, if not
more. Green hands will throw away a lot of ammunition, shooting at
everything they see, whetlier it is in range or not. You can not stop
them. They will wound more than they kill. (T. T, Williams.)

BESTBUOTION OP NURSING FEMALES.

We entered Bering Sea through the Mnckawa I'ass the 1st of -Inly,
and commenced hunting seals wherever we could find them, anuuig
wliicli were a great many cows giving milk, which we killed from 30 to
150 miles from the islands. (Charles Adair.)

I have no exact information as to the ])roi)ortion of male and female
seals killed by pelagic hunters, but it is my firm conviction, from my
knowledge of the iiabitsof the males in not leaving the islands during
the breeding season, and thd well-known fact that niothei" seals go great
distances in search of food while nursing their young, that the femiles
are slaughtered in great numl)ers during their Jouneys to and from the
islands by pelagic, hunters. (George It. Adams.)

And when in Bering Sea we take seals from 10 to 120 miles from the
seal islands. (William Bendt.)

And the larger proportion of those killed in Bering Sea are also cows.
Have killed cow seals, with milk in them, 0.") miles from the Pribilof
Islands. » » • A few male seals are taken, ages ranging from 1 to
5 years. Once in a while we catch an old bull in the Pacitic Ocean.
(Martin Benson.)

We came out of Bering Sea the latter part of August and had caught
about 1,700 seals between the Pribilof Islands and IJnalaska. We
caught them from 10 to 100 or more miles ofl' St. George Island. (Niels
Boude.)

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ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

We entered Bering Sea the middle of May and captured 300 while
in there. Most of these were mother seals with their breasts full of
milk. (Thomas Bradley.)

I hunted in Bering Sea in 1880 (that being the only year I ever went
to tliat sea) and hunted se'l.^ with spears about 70 miles southwest off
tlie islands, and our catch was nearly all cows that had given birth to
their young and had milk in their teats. (Peter Brown.)

Have killed cows with milk about 60 miles off the Pribilof Islands.
A few old bulls were killed by me last season. (Charles Campbell.)

At least seven out of eight seals caught in Bering Sea were motiiers
in milk. (Charles Challall.)

We entered the sei through the Unirnak Pass, and captured therein
about 40 seals, most all of which had milk in their brersts. (Louis
Culler.)

The waters were full of them at that lime. We caught them from 50
to 60 miles off the seal islands. (Joliii Dalton.)

But the seals I caught in Bering Sea were most all cows in milk.
(Frank Davis.)

The proportion of female seals killed in Bering Sea is equally large,
but the destruction to seal life is much greater, owing to the t'nct that
when a mother seal is killed her suckling pup left at the rool^ery also
perishes. Impregnation having also taken place before she lelt the
rookery in search of food, the fetus of the next year'3 birth is likewise
destroyed. (James H. Douglass.)

We left San Francisco and fished up the coast p'ltd we entered Bering
Sea, in July, and sealed about the sea until we were driven off by the
revenue cutter Concin. From there we went to tlie Copptr Islands.
Our whole catch amounted to 900 skins, and we killed nioRt of them with
rifles. We only got about one out of eight that we shot at, and they
were most all feniales giving milk or in pup. 'When we cut the hide ou
you could see the milk running from the breasts of the seals. The
second year we got over 1,300 skins; some of them were cows with i)ups
in them, and most all the rest were cows giving milk, and some of the
latter we killed as far from the rookeries as rjnimak Pass. (Peter Duffy.)

We entered Bering Sea about April and we got 795 in there, the
largest part of which were mother seals in millc. When wo were skin-
ning them th ) milk would run on the deck. (John Fyfe.)

I know that frilly 75 per cent of those we caught in Bering Sea were
cows in milk. (Thomas Gioson.)

My observation and the inform.ition obtained from seal hunters (con-
vince me that fully 90 j,ev cent of the seals lound swimming in lU'riiig
Sea during the breediuj^ season are females in search of food, and tlicir
slaughter results in the destruction of her young by starvation. (M. A.
Healy.)

While in Bering Sea we cruised around the Pribilof l8lan<ls in all
directions, often coming within view of them but never landing or mak-
ing any attempt to do so. The proportion of females taken to males
was about 70 per cent, more than tvo-thirds of these being nursing
cows, while the remainder were 2yeaT oids^and yearlings. On first
epiering the sea an occasional pregnant cow'woidd be taken, but this
was uncommon. Of the males taken in Bering Sea the numbers of

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

221

yearlings and very young bachelors was about equal; no bulls were
ever taiten. (Norman Hodgson.)

Those that I secured in Bering Sea were nearly all females and had
given birth to their young and were in milk, Our vessel captured
about 460 seals at a distance of about 100 miles from the Pribilot
Islands, most all of which were cows in milk. (Alfred Irving.)

We entered the sea and caught about a thousand there. We sealed
all over on this side of Bering Sea, sometimes being over 150 miles off
tl'e seal islands, and sometimes we were closer. I did not pay any
attention to tho proportion of females, but I know we skinned a great
many that were giving milk, because the milk wonld ran from their
breasts onto the deck when they were being skinned. We killed mother
seals in milk over 100 miles from the seal islands. We generally shoot
them when they are asleep on the water. * * # We caught between
300 ajid 400 seals on the coast and 600 in Bering Sea. We sealed on
the American side of Bering Sea around the Pribilof Islands, any-
where irom 10 to 150 miles off". Tlie capture of 1800 was about the
same in proportion to sex as the year before. (James Kean.)

We entered Bering Sea about the latter part uf July and captured
260 seals from 20 to 100 miles off the seal ishuids. A large proportion
of them were females nursing their young and their teats were large
and full of milk. (James Kennedy.)

I have observed that those killed in the North Pacific were mostly
females carrying their young and were generally caught while asleep
on the wiiter. (James Kiernan.)

The same day after a chase of an hour we were seized by the U. S. S
Mohicaii. Th*} total catch of seals at the time of seizure was 48, and
i\t least 20 were females, the nmjority of which were in milk. All the
St •. !s \N ere taken Irom 120 to 180 miles from St. George Island. (Francis
M King-Hall.)

When in Bering Sea we arc isually from 50 to 150 miles from the
Pribilof Islands. (Andrew Laing.)

I have killed females in milk in Unimak Pass, and even out in the
Pacific Ocean, 200 milds from the land. (E. N. Lawson.)

In Bering Sea, where wo obtained about 400 skins, males and females
in aboui equal numbers were taken. The females were mostly nursing
cows, while the males were joung ones, between the ages of 2 and 5
years. (James E. Lennaii.)

Another fact in connection with open-sea sealing is that the great
majority of seals killed are females, and that a great i)art of the females
are i)regMant, or in milk. The milking females are most all killed
while visiting the feeding grounds, which are distant 40 or cO miles, or
even farther from the islands. The female necessarily feeds so that she
(an sui)ply nourishment lor her young, while the males during the sum-
mer seldom leave the islands. This accounts for the large number of
females killed in Bering Sea. (A. P. Loud.)

Q. Did you ever kill any seals later in the season *hat were giving
milk? — A. Yes, sir. (Alexander McLean.)

Those we caught in Bering Sea were mostly all feijjales with milk in
their breasts. • * • The next season, 1890, we got on the way up
between 100 and 200 seals, and then we entered Berincr Sea about the

222

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

18th or 19th of July, and I cani^hfc 00 seals, mostly all females. • • •
When we were in Beiinjj Sen we luiuted from 40 to 200 miles off the
sea! islands. (Patrick Maroiiey.)

About two-thirds of those caught in Bering Sea were females that
had big teats and were giving milk. We could tell tiiat when we were
skinning them, because the milk would run out on the decks. (Wil-
liitm Mason.)

We sealed around Unalaska, but did not go toward the Pribilof
Islands. We caught 1,000 seals, all of which were captured iu the sfea,
close to Unalaska; most all of them w^erecowsin milk; but wheu we first
entered the sea we killed a few cows that had i)up8 ia them. * * *
That year we sealed east of the island and caught about 800 seals. I
do not know how far we were from the islaiuls, for we could not see
them. The seals we caught were mostly cows with milk. (Moses.)

I was sealing iu Bering Sea during July, August, and September,
1885 and 188(5. I was cruising in Bering Sea around about tl) j Pribik '
Islands, and from 100 to 300 miles off. The principal portion of the
cruising was between the Aleutian and Pribilof islands. One of the
principal sealing grounds is off Bogslof. (Nibs S'elson.)

After entering the sea we got one femaie with a very large pup, which
I took out alive and kept it for three or four days, when it died, as it
would not eat anything. All the others had given birth to their young,
and thei- breasts were full of milk. (John Olsen.)

The seals taken in Bering Sea are nearly all grown. We get but very
few young seals. I think we catch in Bering Sea more males in pro-
portion to females thau we do on the coast. We catch a good many
females iu Bering Sea that have given birth to their young on the
islands and are in milk. I have caught plenty of cow seals in milk
100 miles or more from the islands, ^at seldom get any that have a pup
in them in those waters. (Williar. Parker.)

We entered Bering Sea about the ISth of August through the Uniinak
Pass aud captured therein 1 ,404 seals, most of which were cows in milk.
On that voyage we caught female seals in milk over 80 miles from the
rookeries whert) they had left their young. (Charles Peterson.)

The seals cai)tured in Bering Sck were fully 80 per cent fenuiles that
had given birth to their young. A fact that I often noticed was that
their teats would be full of mUk when I skinned them, and 1 have seen
them killed from liO to 100 mdea from the seal islands. ( Edwin P. Porter.)

Q. How do you know that the marauders kill feinales principally? —
A. I know that the females, after giving birth to tlieir young on the
rookeries, freiiuent the open sea in search of food, when ..s the males
frequent the hauling grounds or wafers immediately around it. At
various times 1 have seen skins which were seized by the cutters from
the poachers, and they were substantially female skins. (J. C. Redpath.)

I have been in Behring Sea but a part of one season. Of the seals
taken, about one-third were males, one third females with young, (me-
third l)arren and yearlings. (W. Roberts.)

I have taken nursing females when as much as 100 miles fro.n Prib-
ilof islands. I estimate that the seals killed by pelagic hunters are ai;
least 00 per cent females; this es'imiite is based on tlie great number
of mothc less pupa I have observed ou the rookeries, ami also ou state-

T

ALASKA I1IDUSTRIE3.

223

ments made to me by many euj^aged in pelagic sealing whom 1 met and
conversed with at Unalaska. (T. l'\ liyan.j

W^e caught 767 seals in Bering Sea that year (1884) from 30 to 150
miles oil' the seal islands. The most of tliein were females, for the
reason that they aie not as cute as males. A great many of the females
had their breasts full of milk, which would run out on the deck when
we skin:;ed them. * • * My third voyage was in 1881). 1 sailed
from Yokoliama ou tlie Arctic, about the latter part of January. Wo
clciired under the American flag. » * ♦ We entered Bering Sea
about the 17th of May and caught about 900 seals, the most of them
around the fishing banks just nortL- of the Aleutian Islands. The
majority of them were mother seals. (James Sloan.)

The majjority of seals taken iu Bering Sea are cows with milk, But
a very few yearlings are taken, and once in a while an old bull is taken.
The male seals taken are between li and 4 years old. • * * i luive
taken female seals 80 miles oft" the Pribilof Islands that were full of
milk. (Fred Smith.)

Have killed cow seals that were full of milk over 40 miles from the
Pribilof Islands. (Joshua Stickland.)

I have never cantured any cows in milk along the coast, but when
in Bering Sea in 1889 1 sealed off about 90 miles from the seal isl aids
and caught cows in milk there. (John Tysum.)

The majority of seals killed in the water are females, and all the
females killed in Bering Sea are mothers who have left their pups ou
the rookeries and gone some distance from the island in search of food.
(Datiiel Webster.)

Ninety-five per cent of all the seals killed in Bering Sea are females.
(The<», T, Williams.)

'";;3Vv.sjnd8 of the female seals were captured by the pelagic hunters
'!: ij-^'iiv, Sea during the season of 1891, the most of which had to be
e<-i ri. •lite a distance from the rookeries, owing to the presence of
unr <l \ • ■ '-'Is i)atroMing the sea for miles around the islands. That the
slaugl-' r of the seals was mostly of females was confirmed by the
thousan>' . ./f dead pujjs lying on the rookeries, starved to death by the
destruction of tiicir mothers. (W. H. Williams.)

We cauglit a few seals in there (Boring t^ea). When we first went in
we did not see niany, but alter we were tlu'e awliile we saw plenty of
them that had large breasts that were full of i.:'ik. sMid our catch were
most all fenniles. The average would be about one male to ten females.
We killed cows in milk 150 miles from the seal islands. (John
Woodruff.)

DESTRUCTION OF FEMALE SEALS.

Testimony of pelagic scalers.

My ex])erience in seal hunting is that a much greater number of
females aie taken at sea than males of the fur-seal si)i'cies; and of the
females the majority are pregnant or milking. (Andrew Anderson.)

Q. l^o you knew of what sex the seals were that you have taken in
the Pacific and Bo ing Sea? — A. Yes; I have taken both male and fennile
seals, but I suppose the greater i)er cent that I have taken would be
about 90 per cent, or even more.

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ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

Q. What percentage of the skius you have taken were cowp f— A.
About 90 per cent, for the simple reason that tlie bulls' are not migra-
tory. (George JBall.)

Most all the seals taken by me have been cows. I think cows sleep
more and are more easily approached. Never killed but seven old bulls
on the coast of Washington in my life, but have taken a few i)ups every
year. (Wilton O. Bennett.)

Think the majority of the seals taken are cows. Never killed but
two old bulls in my life Have killed quite a nun\ber of yearling seals
and some young males . »(* '' years old. (Edward Benson.)

Q. Do you know of wn the seals were that you have taken in

the Pacific and Bering Sett . Mostly females.

Q. What percentage of the skins you have taken were cows? — A,
About 80 per cent. (Daniel Clausseu.)

From my experience, observation, and conversation with seal hunters
I am of the opinion that fully 75 per cent of their catch are females.
(Leauder Cox.)

I saw one schooner's catch examined at Unalaska in 1889, and there
were found a large percentage of female seals among them. (M. C.
Erskine.)

Of those taken probably four out of five are females. (F. F. Feeny.)

The seals taken by them (the 0. H. White and the Kate Mitnning)
were nearly all fenuiles. (George Fogel.)

Have never killed an old bull in my life, nor have seen one the last
few years. (Luke Frank.)

Q. Do you know of what sex the seals were that you have taken in
the Pacific and Bering Sea? — A. The majority of them are temalcs.
Last year I killed 72, and out of the 72 there was oidy 3 males.

Q. What percentage of the skins you have taken were cows? — A.
About 90 to 95 per cent. (Luther T. Franklin.)

Oft' Cape Flattery there is hardly a dozen large males taken out of
every thousand large seals whose skius are called first class; all the
males taken here are small ones. (Thomas Frazer.)

Q. Do you know of wliat sex the seals were that you have taken in
the Pacific and Bering Sea? — A. About 90 per cent of them were
females.

Q. What i)ercentage of the skins you have taken were cows? — A.
About 90 per cent. (Edward W. Funclvc.)

We caught about 1(50 seals before entering the sea. Over 100 of them
were cows. (John Fyfe.)

Caught 1,500 seals on that voyage. We caught some a little ways
from Victoria, and on the way up to Bering Scii, but the most of them,
about 1,200, we (iaught in Bering Sea. I was told by the men that they
were nearly all females, and I thought so, too, from the milk that 1 saw
in their breasts when they were on the deck. I saw over a huiKhed
little pups taken from the seals, which they threw overboard. (George
Grady.)

To the best of my knowledge and belief about seven of every ten
seals killed iu pelagic sealing are females. (W. P. Griffith.)

ALASKA INnrSTRIES.

OOf

Q. What sex are the seals taken by you or usually killed by hunting
vessels in the North Pacific or Bering Hea? — A. Mostly females. The
biggest percentage, I ihink, are (cniales.

Q. VVliat percentage of tlieni are cows? — A. I couldn't tell you.

Q. Out of 100 seals tliat you would catch ordinarily what ))art of
tlieni would be cows? — A. I aiu under oath, and 1 could not tell you
exactly. All I can say is the greater portion of them. (Charles H.
Hogman.)

Think the seals taken by me have been about eipially divided between
females and males. Have taken a numl)er of yearlings and some 2 and
3 year old males. Have never killed an old bull, (llenry JIaldane.)

Q. Do you know of what sex the seals were that you have taken in
the Pacific and Bering Sea? — A. Two-tiiirds of them are females.

Q. What percentage of the skins you have taken were cows? — A.
Two thirds, I should say. (William lleuson.)

Q. Do you know of what sex that you have taken in the r'acific and
Bering Sea? — A. The seals that I have taken were princii)ally females.

Q. What percentiige of them are females? — A. It is very seldom that
you ever get hold of a male. (Gustave Isaacman.)

My experience has been that the sex of the seals usually killed by
hunters employed on vessels under my command, both in the ocean and
Bering Sea, were cows. 1 should say that not less than 80 per cent of
those caught each year were of that sex. (James Kiernan.)

We caught about 400 or 500 seals before we got to Bering Sea. I
don't know the precise number. Tliey were bulls and females mixed
iu, but the general run of them were females. (William Isaac.)

Q. Of what sex are the seals taken by you or usually killed by bunt-
ing vessels in the North I'acific or Bering Sea '' — A. Principally females.

Q. What would be your judgment as to the percentage? Out "f 100
that you kill, how many of them would be females? — A. Say I would
bring 2,000 seals in here, 1 may have probably about 100 males; that
is a large average. (Alexander McLean.)

Q. What percentage of them are cows? Suppose you catch 100 seals,
how many males would you have among them? — A. About 10. The
seals killed by me were about half males and half females; have killed
but one old bull in my life. I have killed quite a number of yearling
seals, but never examined them as to sex. (Frederick Mason.)

Q. Do you know of what sex the seals were that you have taken in
the Pacific and Bering Sea? — A. Mostly females.

Q. What percentage of the skins you have taken were cows? — A. I
should .judge about 00 per cent. (Frank M-acin.)

I can not give the exact estimate of the sex, but I know that a large
;,ortion of them are females. (Niles I'lelson.)

In going up the coast to Uiiiinak Pass we caught about 400 seals,
mostly females with young, and ]»ut their skins on board the Daiiuhc,
an English steamboat, at Alatack Bay, and after we got into Bering
Sea we caught 220. We had 200 at the time the lieutenant ordered us
out of the sea, the remainder we caught after. (John Olsen.)

We began sealing off (Jape Flattery and captured about 300 seals
along the coast, most all of which were females and yearlings. We did
not capture over 50 males all UAd on this voyage. About 00 per cent
U. Doc. OJ, pt. 2 15

'22 fi

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

of all the seals we ('a])tnred in the water were female seals. We can},iit
350 seals aloiifj the coast, all of which were females excepting llO.
(Charles Peterson.)

The majority of seal killed by me have been cows; have killed a few
small males. (iSliowuosch.)

From what 1 have been able to learn, the majority of seals taken
around Kodiak are females. (John C. Tolman.)

In ray conversation with men ennaged in seal hunting in the open
w.'iter of the North I'acitic and Bering 8ea, 1 have not been able to get
suflicient information to form a reliable estimate of the average number
saved out of the total number shot nor of the percentage of females
killed. As a rale, the hunters are extremely reticent about giving
information on the subject to othcers of the Government, but from the
well-known fact that the female seal is much uu)re easily approacthed
than the male, and sleeps more freiiuently on the water, and is less
active when carrying her young, I have no dcmbt that the female is the
one that is being killed by the hunter. (Francis Tuttle.)

I believe the number they secure is small as compared with the num-
ber they destroy. Were it males only that they killed the damage
would be tem]»orary, but it is mostly females that they kill in the open
waters. (Daniel Webster.)

1 never i)aid any particular attention as to the exact number of or
proportion of ea(^h sex killed in Bering Sea, but I do know that the
larger portion of them were females, and were mothers giving milk.
(Michael White.).

DECREASE OF SEALS.

Opinions of white sealers.

I have noticed a perceiitible and gradual decrease in seal life for the
past few years, and attribute it to the large number of vessels engaged
in hunting them at sea. (Andrew Anderson.)

In the sea, seals are much more timid and make off as fast as possible
at the a])proach of a vessel, while formerly they were usually quite
curious Jind would sport and jilay about tlie vessel when come u]) with.
I believe this decrease and timidity is due to the indiscriminate slaughter
of the seals by pelagic sealers. (C. F. Anderson.)

Q. To what do you attribute the decrease? — A. I attribute the decrease
to the indiscriminate slaughter of the seals. (George Ball.)

I believe that the decrease in fur-seal life, which lias been constant of
late years, is due i)rincipally to the number of vessels ejigaged in hunt-
ing them at sea. (J. A. Bradley.)

Seven or eight years ago, when seals were hunted almost wholly by
Indians with sjjcars, a vessel hunting in the vicinity of Cape Flattery
was sure of getting several hundred skins in about three months, from
Mai'(!h to the end of IMay, but at the present time a vessel is doing well
if she gets a much smaller number, because the skins bring much higher
prices. The records of "catches" in the last three or four years will
confirm any person who examines them in the belief that the seals are
decreasing in the Pacitlc Ocean on the Anu;rican side. I have no reason
to doubt that it is the saine on the Itussian side. At present they are
hunted vigorously and with better methods than formerly. The hunters

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

227

have liad more experience and understand their habits better, but
notwithstanding this, tliecatclies are decreasing ott' tiiecoast. (William
Breunan.)

Seals were not as numerous in 1887 as they were in 1877, and it is my
belief that the decrease in numbers is due to the hunting iiid killing of
female seals in the water. (James Jj. Carthcut.)

Have noticed f it seals are becoming very scurce on the coast the
hist few years, i ,,o cause of the scarcity of tlie seals, I think, is too
many schooners in the North raci<i(! Ocean and Bering Sea and the
indiscriminate killing of females with pup in the water. (Peter Church.)

Q. Has there been any decrease in the quantity of seals as compared
to the ])revh)us years? — A. 1 think there has. (Daniel Claussen.)

Q. If there is a decrease, to what do you attribute it? — A. To the
killing and linntingof them by seal hunters. I think the indiscriminate
killing of se:»ls in llering Sea is the cause of their scarcity along the
coast. (John (J. Clement.)

There were not nearly as nmny seals to be found in 1889 as there
were in 1888. 1 think the decrease is caused by the great destruction of
females killed in the sea by the hunters. (Peter Collins.)

I attriuute this decrease |of the seals] to the terrible slaughter now
going on in the sea. (Leander Cox.)

Tiiere can be but one cause for the scarcity of seals, and that is the
indiscriminate killing of them in the water, and unless that is stopped
the seals must soon be exterminated. The sea otter, which were plenty
on this (!oast at one time, are now scarcely seen at all, and the indis-
criminate slaughter of them in the water has almost entirely extermi-
nated the animal. Some few remain in the far north, but they are very
hard to secure. (William Duncan.)

Until hunting and killing were commenced by hunters in the open
sea, I observed no appreciable decrease in the number arriving, which
was about 1884. In my opinion the chasing of the seals and the shoot-
ing of them has a tendency to frighten them and disturb them, and
prevents their increasing as they would if they were left undisturbed
in the waters. (M. C. Erskine.)

The large decrcf se of seals in the waters of the ocean and sea must
unquestionably be caused by the indiscriminjite killing now going on by
poaching schooners, and if not disctmtiiiued it Avill most certainly be a
matter of a very few years before the seals will be exterminated. (M.
C. Erskine.)

The seals have most decidedly decreased in number, caused by the
continual hunting and killing in the open sea. (F. F. Feeny.)

I give them four years more, and if they keep on hunting them as
they do now there will be no more seals left worth going after. I
attribute the decrease in numbers to their being hunted so much. My
experience is that tlie seal herds in the North Pacific and Bering Sea
have been greatly dei)leted within the last few years by the constant
pursuit and killing of them in the water by hunters. (George Fogel.)

In my opinion, seals and all other fur-bearing animals are decreasing,
and the cause is pelagic hunting. (William Foster.)

Q. Has there been any decrease in the quantity of seals as compared

?28

ALASKA IXDUSTRIKS.

witli ])rovi(nis years? — A. I bave not been on tlie isliinds in the last few
years, bnt 1 slioiild imagine tliere lias been a fireat decrcMsc.

(.},. To wiiat do you attribute the decrease? — A. To tin' nninbcr of
vessels tiiat are up tiiere engaged in killing seals, nearly all of which
are females. Last year theris were 7-1 vessels fitted out IVoni Victoria
aloiu!, to sav nothing of vessels that are lifted out at other places.
(Luther T. Franklin.)

The seals are not so numerous off Cape Flattery as they used to be
some years ago, and it is my opinion it is owing to the constant hunting
by so many schooners. (Thomas Frazer.)

Q. Lias there been anydeiMcase in theciuantity of seals as compared
with previous years! — A. There is a decrease of about I'O or 3U per
cent.

Q. To what do y»m attribute the decrease? — A. 1 attribute it to their
being overhunted. (I'^dward W. Funcke.)

I am decidedly of the oi)inion that fur-seal life has considerably
decreased of late years, and believe it is due i)rincii)ally to pelagic
sealing. (A. J. Oouhl.)

While at anchor off St. I'aul Island, the juips jilaxing about the vessel
were very few, and while making a jia^sage belween l^nalaska and
Pribilof islands, during tlu' breeding season, did not si'eadnzcii in the
open sea during the whole trip, where formerly] met hundreds. In
going from Unalaska to Atka and returning, during the last oi' May
and the first part of June of this year (LS!!-!), 1 did not see a single fur
seal in the water. 1 attribute this great decrease to the indiscriminate
slaughter of the species by pelagic sealers and their wastelul methods
of securing skins. (Charles -J. llague.)

Q. To what do you attribute this decrease? — A. Too many in the
business, I suppose: too many after them.

Q. Would you attribute it to the killing of the females, and thereby
there are uot nearly as manv boin? — A. Certainly; it has got all to do
with it.

Q. Then really ycm attriluite the decrease to the killuig of the fe-
males?— A. Yes, sir. (H, llarmsen.)

1 am decidedly of the o])iniou that the decrease in numbers of seals
in the North Pacific and 13ering 8ea is owing to i)eiagic hunting, and
that ur'ess discontinued they will soon become so nearly extinct as to
be wort.. (ess for commercial purposes. (J, M. Hays.)

I think the seals are not near as plenty as a few years ago, and they
are much more shy and harder to catch now than they were when 1
first went out sealing. I think this is caused by hunting them so much
with guns. (Jame.^ Hay ward.)

Q. If there is a dcaease. to what do you attiibnte it? — A. To the
amount of seal hunters and hunting that is actually going on. (Andrew
J. Ilolfnuin.)

Seals have decreased very fast the last three years. The d(H!rease is
caused, I think, by the indiscriminate killing of seals in the water,
(E. Hofstad.)

Q. To what do you attribute the cause? — A. Killing off the fenuiles.
Whale killeiis and sharks kill a good many. (Custave Isaacson.)

Q. To what do you attribute the cause of this decrease? — A. The
increase of the fleet and killing off all the females. (Frank John - ;i.)

ALASKA INDUSTKIES.

220

My knowledge, being from long exjierienoe, is that tho seals are
becoming gradually scarcer in the iiortiiern waters, particularly so in
later years. Tlie cause of this decrease I l)elieve to be the indiscrimi-
nate slaughter of the mother seals. Tiiey are hunted too much, and
hence inntiier seals are becoming scarcer, which, if not checked, will
lead t(> their early extermination. (James Kiernan.)

lie also told me, from his own knowledge, that the Uchuckelset Indi-
ans had a few years ago cauglit off the (toast 1,(!0() seals in a season,
and that now tiiey could catch hardly any; that the white men's guns
were not only destroying the seals, but driving them farther from the
coast. (Francis li. King-llall.)

In my opinion, fur-seal life has not only enormf)Usly decreased in
numheis since 1.S80, but it has become gniatly scattered and grown
wilder and more timid, forsaking many i)];.t's where they were formerly
to be found at certain seasons of the year engaged in feeding. This I
attribute to the large number of vessels engaged in killing fur seals
indiscrinnnately at sea. (James E. Lennan.)

If they keep on hunting tiiem in Bering Sea and the North Pacific in
the same way they have done in the last few years, they will exterminate
them in tiie same way, because most all the seals kilhMl are females.
The young ones will all die, and every female seal you shoot makes the
killing of two, because after the seal has given birth to Ik:' young the
pup will starve to death on the land, or when you shoot them in the
water they may have a pup inside. (Caleb Lindahl.)

1 have observed a very great decrease in fur-seal life since 188r>, aad
believe it is almost entirely due to the large numbers of vessels engaged
in pelagic sealing. (E. VV . Littlejohn.)

The seals are much less plentiful the last year I sealed than the first.
I attribute this decrease to the hunting of them in the water and the
increaseil number of boats and men engaged in the business in the last
few years. (William IJ. Long.)

Q. lias there been any decrease in the quantity of seals as compared
to i>revious years?— A. There has been a deci<'ase.

Q. To what do you attribute the decrease i — A. To the hunting of
the seals in Bering Sea. (Charles Lutjens.)

There can be but one reason for the decrease, and that is they are
hunted too much in the open waters. (J. J). McDonald.)

There were not as many seals in 18!)0 as there were in 1880. I think
thei'e are so many boats and hunters out after them tliat they are being
killed otf. They sire hunted too much. (William Melsaac.)

There were not as many seals as formerly. Have noticed the decrease
in the last three years; caused, I think, l)y the indiscriminate killing of
female seal. (James McKeen.)

I was also cod lishing in 1884. There were a great many more seals
in the water then than there were in 18S!). In 1884, when we were cod
fishing, we met the steam whaler TlirtLslter, and 1 heard the captain
remark that it was a damned shame the way they Avere killing the female
seals in Bering Sea. (William Mcliaughlin.)

Q. To what do you attribute this decrease? — A. I think this is on
account of killing those female seals wiien they have pups, and the
business is getting so that so many vessels are going into it, and they

230

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

aro killing those i)tii)a off, A seal lias not got a chance to go to work
and iiicreasse.
Q. The motiior seals! — A. Yes, sir. (Alexander McLean.)

Q. Have you noticed any decrease in the (juantity of animals in the
last few years? — A. Yes, sir.

(J. To what do you attribute the cause? — A. Killing off the females.
(Daniel McLean.)

I hfive given up the sealing business because tlie slaughtering of the
female seals is making them so scarce that it does not pay. (James
Maloy.)

I think seals are not as plentiful as they used to be; caubed, I think,
by the indiserimiiiatc killing of females witli pup. (G. E. Miner.)

Q. To wliat do you attribute that decrease? — A. From the killing of
seals, both by hunters and others. (Frank Moreau.)

Deponent further says that he thinks that the decrease in the num-
ber of seals found in tlie rookeries and the increase in the number of
dead pups are caused direcitly by the open sealing in the sea, connnonly
called poaching. (T. F. Morgan.)

I am not able to say whether the seal herd is decreasing, but it is
reasonable to suppose tiiat where they are hunted and harassed at all
times by so many hunters they aro sure to be driven from their usual
haunts, if not totally destroyed. (Nelson T. Oliver.)

Seals were not as plentiful in 188(5 as they were in 1885. I think the
principal cause of that decrease is on account of killing the females in
the water, and also through their getting shy by being chased by the
boats. (Niles Nelson.)

Since the use of rifles and shotguns has become common seals are
much less in numbers and are more shy and timid. (William I'arker.)

Seals are not near as plentiful as when I went out in 1888, and I
believe the decrease is due to their being hunted so much with shot-
guns and rifles. (Edwin P. i'orter.)

I know that the seals are rapidly decreasing, and I believe it is caused
by killing females in the water. (Adolphus Sayers.)

I took very great interest in the seals, because I used to hunt them
myself, and I noticed a great decrease in the number of seals from what
the.'e was formerly, when I was on sealing voyages. It was, in fact, lo
marked that I called the captain's attention to it, saying that we had
seen very few seals. They have been getting scarcer every year since
I have been going to Bering Sea, and if something is not done right
away to protect them there will be no more seals in these waters. I
know as a fact that they are killing them indiscriminately, and all the
hunters care about it is to get a skin. 1 know something about it, as I
have been sailing from this coast up along those waters lor nineteen
years, and, as I said before, I paid particular attention to them, and I
linnly believe if they allov/ the killing in the sea to go on as they are
now doing it will only be a question of a few years before there will not
be enough to pay anyone to hunt them. (James Sh)an.)

I think the seal." are decreasing in number all the time, because there
are more vessels out hunting after them and are killing off the female
seals. (Cyrus Stephens.)

ALASKA mnirSTRIKS.

2P.1

Q. If there is a decrease, to what do you attribute itT — A. On
account of ho inu<;li extenniuation and liiinting by tiie seal hunters.
((JuHtave Snndvall.)

I liaveiieard tliatseal have been decreasing the hist few years; caused,
I think, by pelagic sealing. (W. Thomas.)

The decrease, I tiiiidf, is caused by the indiscriminate killing of
female seals. (Rudolph Walton.)

From what I know seals have been decreasing very fast in recent
years. Think the decrease is caused by tiie indiscriiiiiiiate killing in
the North I'acidc Ocean and Jieriug Sea. (P. S. Weittenhiller.)

My experience is that the seals have been decreasing in numbers for
the last six or seven ycar.s, and witliin the past two or three yeais very
rapidly, owing to the indiscriiiiinati; killing of tiiem by pelagic; hunters
and vessels engaged in that business in the watOTSof the North I'acilic
and Bering Sea. (Michael White.)

TNOEEASE OF SEALING FLEET.

Pelagic sealing as an indnstry is of recent origin and may be said to
date from 187!). In 1880, acc^ording to the otticial reiiort of the Cana-
dian minister of marine and lisheries, 7 vessels and 213 men were
engaged in pelagic .sealing in the North Pucilic, securing 13.000 skins,
valued at $103,li0(). The same authority states that in lSS(i liO vessels
and 459 men secured ;W,!)07 skins, valued at $389,070. In 18i»l the
number of United States and Canadian vessels had increased to over
100; upward of 2,000 men were engaged, and more than 62,000 skins
were secured. (Report of American commissioners.)

The number of seal skins actually recorded as sold as a result of
pelagic sealing is shown in the following table:

Soar.

Number.

Year.

Number.

Tear.

Number.

Tear.

Number.

1872

1, 029

1877

6,700
9, .-.ii:i

12, ."lOU

13, Olio
13,541

1882

17, 700

9, 105

a 14, Olio

13, 001)

88, 907

1887

33, 800

1873

1^78

lss:i

1888

37. 789

1874

4, »4U
1,0411
2, 042

^X-!9

1880

1884

i8sa

40. 998

1875

188.5

1890

48,519

1876

1881

1886

1891

62, 60l>

o Number e.stiniatuil from value given.

One reason for deponent's oi»inioii that the total number of seals in
the Pacific and Bering Sea has dimini.'^lied very rai)i(!ly is the fact —
which deiionent knows from the fact that lie buys so large a portion of
the poacliois' catch — that there arc now engaged in what is called
"poaching" about 80 vessels, and that about five years ago not more
than 10 vessels were engaged in poaching; that tne total number of
skins brought in by the whole 80 vcssols is now not very much greater
than tiie niiiiiber brought in five years by 10 ves.sels. The poaching
vessels a few years ago have been known to get as many as 3,000 or
4,000 skins, and deponent has bought 4,000 skins from one vessel,
whereas no ixiaching ves.scl now gets more than a few hundred with
the same size crew. One vessel last year sailing from Victoria made
a catch of 1,000 skins, but this is now an altogetlier exceptional catch,
and this vessel had a crew twice as large as i)oaching vessels for-
merly carried, and was equipi)ed with from 12 to 15 boats instead of 6

L'32

ALASKA INI)USTI!IR8.

or (i. Ono or two other poacliinp vossoIm iiIko madelar^ccatiiliefl — that
is, over l.'JOO skins — l)iit tlio avcra;;!' cati'h ol' the |»oa('liiiifj vessels in
not more tliaii a tew hundred eadi. Tliis is true, altlioujjth tlio i)oach-
iiip vessels are uow e<iui|iped witli much more experienced Hhooters,
witli Ix'tter rlHcs. and with lietter l)()ats tliaii any of tlie vessels liad
five years aji<>. Many of tiie ixiachinK vessels now have boats pointed
at both (•i\(ls, so that they eaii ^o backward and forward witli equal
ease; tlie old poaclier only liad ordinary ships' boats. DejXJiient
kn»twa this to l)c Irae becaiiM- he has seen the boats aud talked with
the captains of the sclioouers about theni. (Hernuin Liebes.)

I lUMcr saw nian\ sealinj;' s<liooners bet'ore 1HS1, but they have been
coininfi more and more every year since, ami 1 notice that as the schoon-
ers multiply in the sea the seals decrreaso on the rookeries, (Af^jjei
Kuslien.)

From issf) to the present time the fleet of predatory vessels has con-
stantly increased in proportion as the seal herd has decreased on the
rookeries. * • ♦ A very noticeable decrease in the herd commen(!ed,
as I have already ])ointed out, in 188(1, and was coincident in time and
l)rop()rli()iiate in extent with the number of seals destroyeii in the water.
The business ot pelaj^ic senling in lierinfj Sea first assumed consider-
able i)roportioiis in lS8t. and in that year <lead i»np seals first became
nniiH loas enont;h upon the rookeries to excite remark upon the islands.
As the sealinj;' licet increased the starved animals became more numer-
ous. In 1887 f'oMrtcen vessels were seized foi' illetrnl sealiii},', and the
effect was seen in the following' year, when a much less nund)eren;;iij,'ed
in the bnsiness and the lierinp Sea catch amounted, as 1 am informed,
to abont.'U.OOO skins aj-iiinst about VJ,im\ or L'0,()()() in 1888. The failure
of the United States (iovernment to vigorously jjursne in 1888 and the
following years the rejircssive policy so auspiciously begun in 1S87, led
to a large increase of the sealing fleet and corresponding desfrnction of
the herd, but the proliibition of jtelagic sealing neverfheless continued,
and the usual ])roclamiition was published by the (iovernment warinng
all ])arties not to kill seals in Bering Sea or waters adjacent to the
Alaskan coast. (11. JI. Mclntyre.)

Up to 1883 and 1884 it was only an occasional venturesome vessel
that came around and secured a few hundred skins and thought itself
lucky aud cleared out, but since that tinu^ not even the smallest craft
is satisfied unless it secures its thousands of pelts regardless of sex.
(W. S. Hereford.)

While in Bering Sea during the annnner of 18()!) I never saw a vessel
sealing about the islamls or anywhere in the sea, nor did I hear any
report of the presence of such sealing vessels in those waters. (J. A.
Henriques.)

I do not know of any sealing schooner that went to Bering Sea until
Captain JMcLean went there about nine years ago in the Favorite.
(William Parker.)

Q. What etl'ect, in your opinion, does the increase in the number ol
poaching vessels in Bering Sea have upon seal life? — A. Since the
number of sealing vessels has increased the number of seals coming to
the islands has corresimndingly decreased. * * * In 1 884 the seal-
ing schooners became numerous. 1 believe there were about 30 in the
sea that year, and they have increased very rapidly every year since,
until now there are said to be about 120. (J. C. liedpath.)

ALASKA INDUSTIMES.

233

I first went out in IcSMu, iti tlio H(rlio()iior ('ily of San Dirr/o, chartored
by niysoir luid otiiiMs, aiul my caUih for tluit your wiih bctwoon L',.'iO()
and L',I(K) HOiil.s. Of tliiil iiiiiul)er iiboiit 1,!M»() wore ciuii^lit in Bcrinif
Hca, 'riiore were but very lew vessels sealing at that time. (Michael
Wiiile.)

DEOUEASE OF SEALS — PELAOIO SEALING THE SOLE OAUSB.

Opinions of Indian hunters.

Fur seals were formerly iiuujIi more ])leiitiful, however, but of late
yeais are bet'omin;" tonstaiitly scan-er. This is, we think, owiuff to the
number of vessels ('nf;aj{('d in liuntingtiieui at sea. (.John Alexaudrott'.)

l''ur seals were formerly observed in this neigldxtrhood in great num-
bers, but of late y(!ars they have been eonstantly dinunishing, owing
to the large number of sealing vessels engaged in hunting and killing
them. (Nicoli Apokchce.)

I have noticed that seal have decreased very rapidly i i the last three
years, owing to too many schooners engaged in sealing along the
coast of Alaska aiul Boring S(ni. (Adam Ayonkee.)

The seal are not near as plentiful as they used to be. The cause of
the decrease is, I thiidi, too many scilioonera hunting them off Prince
of Wales Island and around Dixons Entrance. (Maurice Bates.)

Seal are not as plentiful on the coast as they used to be. They have
been decreasing very fast the last few years. [ think this is caused by
the indiscriminate killing in the water. (Wilton C. Bennett.)

Seal are getting very scarce. I think the cause of the scarcity is too
many people hunting seal. (Edward lienson.)

Seals were very i)lenty in the straits and around the ca]ie until about
six years ago, when tlu' white hunters came in schooners and with shot-
guns and conunenct'd to kill tiiom all olf, and now there is none in the
straits and we can not get but one or two where we used to get eight or
ten. They are very sliy and wild, and are decreasing very rapidly.
(Bowa-chup.)

White hunters came here about five or six years ago and commenced
shooting tiic seals witli guns, since wlii(;h time tliej' have been rapidly
decreasing and are becoming very wild. When we hunt seals with
spears we creej) uj)on them wiiile asleep on the water and spear them.
A few years ago my peoj)le would catch from 8,()()() to 10,000 each year;
now we get only al)nut 1,000 or less. * * * Seals used to be very
numerous along the coast al)f)ut Cape Flattery, and no decrease was
ever noticed in their numbers until soon after the white hunters came
around here — about seven years ago — and commenced shooting them.
Since that time they have decreased fast and have become very shy.
(Peter Brown.)

They were formerly much more plentiful than now, which is owing,
we beifieve, to the number of vessels engaged in killing them at sea.
(Ivan Canetak.)

Years ago seals were very plentiful from 5 to 10 miles froni the shore.
I could see tiiem all around in bunches of from 10 to 20 each, but since
the white man has commenced to kill them with the rilie and shotgun
(in the last live or six years) they have decreased very rapidly. (Charlie.)

•)f

34

ALASKA ix-tDrsTRIKS.

Fur seals have decreased very ranidly during the last five years, and
we believe it i» due to the large number of vo>s.sel8 enga ^jed in hunting
them at sea. (Vassili Ohirhinoft'.)

Have noti('e<l the se;:! are decireasing very fast the last four years;
too many schooners are liunting them in the open watars of tLe Pacific
Ocean and Bering Sea. (Ciiiukootin.)

The last live years fur seal lias been growing very scarce, and it is
hard to get any now. 'IMiere aie too nuu.y wliite n.en with schooners
hunting them off Dixons Entrance, and u'-icss it is stopped the seal
will be ail gone. (William Clark.)

Seals are now very siiarce and wild along the (ioast. I believe the
cause of tlii« is that white hunters have been hunting tbciii so much
with guns. (James Claplanhoo.)

Seals used to be very plentiful, and I never noticed aiiy decrease in
their number until white hunteis coinntenced coming here and killing
them with gnus, about six or seven years ago; since thr.t they have
decreased very ra])i(Uy and have got very shy. Our tribe used to
have 1:0 diniculiy in catching 8,000 to 10,000 seahi and now we can
not get a thousand. (Circus Jii:',)

I have been out sealing 01: tin coast this spring in a schooner that
Cf^rried 10 canoes, with two hun ers to each canoe. We were out three
days ami caught o seals. If ne had been out that long six or eight
years ago Mith the saiiwv <'.rew v,e would have taken between (!0 and 100
seals. Seals are wild an I shy now, and have becoir.e very scarce. I
think the reason for thi'» is that tliey have been hunted so luuch by
white hunters w 110 use firearms. (Jetf. Davis.)

Some years ago the fur seal were plenty off the islands, but since the
schooners have hunted them they are nearly all .^ouo, and it is hard for
the Indians of this village to get any. (Eshon.)

Seals are not so ])lentiful as. they were a few years ago. They began
to decrease about live or six years ago. A good many years ago I used
to capture seals in the Straits of San Juan de Fuca, but of late years,
since so many schooners and white men have come around lice sl:"ol;-
ing with guns, only a few conu; in licre and we do not hunt in the
Straits any more. I used to catch 40 or 50 seals in one day, .tnd now
if I get 6 or 7 1 would have great luck. I have to go a long distance
to get seals now. Seals are wild and afraid of an Indian. Tliey have
become so since the white men an». the trader began to siioot them with
shotguns a7id ritlcs. In a short time there will be no seals left for the
Indian to kill with a spear. (Ellabush.)

Fur seals were fornu'ily nuufh more iiiinierous than of late years, and
are each year bccoi. ing constantly scarcer. I believe this decrease is
due to the number vf vessels which are engaged in hunting them at
sea. (Vassili Feodor.)

When 1 was a young man there were lots of seals around Qu'^eu
Charlotte Islands, but now they have become scarce. The last few
times I was out after them I did not see a seal. Tiiey have been grow-
ing scarcer every year since the white man began hunting them in
schooners. (Frank.)

Fur seal are not as i»leiity a-, they used to be, and it is hard for the
Indians to catch any. I think there are too many white men in
schooners liunting seals around Dixons lOntrance. (Chief Frank.)

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

235

S.nce the white men have been hunting the seal with schooners they
have become very scarce, and it is hard for the Indians to get any in
their canoes. (Luke Frank.)

Seal have decicased on the coast very fast tlie last four years. The
reason of the decrease is too much hunting and indiscriminate killing.
(Chad George.)

The seal are becoming very scarce, caused, I think, by ti^e white men
hunting them too much. (Charles Gibson.)

Seal are becoming very scarce this last three or four years, and Indian
hunters can hardly kill them now. Too many scliooners are hunting
seal, and Ii:;li. n liuntcrs l-ave to go a long way in tiicir canoes in order
to get ai.y, and tiicy seldom kill oi.'e. (Gonastut.)

Hav^ ioticcd that seals are decresising the last four years, caused, I
thii.K, by too many white men Imnting seal hi the waters of the Pacific
Ocean and Hering Sea. (.lames Gondowen.)

Pur seals have decreased in numbers of late years, and we believe ft
is due principally to the large number of vesself^. hunting them at sea.
(Nicoli Gregorott".)

The seal are not nearly as plentiful as they once were, and I think
they are li uited too much by scboonera. (Henry Haldane.)

Seals are not as ])lentiful new as they were before white men com-
menced hunting them with gun.s aroi.nd here some six o." seven years
ago. They are more shy now and it is much more difficult for the liunt-
ers to creep up and spear them than it was a few years ago. (Alfred
Irving.)

Yeai's ago we could see seals all over the water. They are not so
plentiful now. They have been growing less and less ever since the
white man came in and began to liunt them with guns, about six or
seven years nfo, and so many vessels went into the business. (Ishka.)

My idea is chat there are too many camp tires arourid on the coast of
Alaska tliat .scare the .seals :mt to sea. The seal smell the smoke and
wont come nesir \ht' land ; a;.d there are a large iinmher of people shoot-
ing seal, wliicii scares them away li.so. (Jack Joiinson.)

There are too many schooners hunting seal oft Pii.nie of Wales
Island, and it is hard fjir Indians lo get any in cr>!(oes. (Johnnie
Johutiu,)

Have noticed that seal are decreasing very fast the last few years
along the coast, caused, I tliink, by pelagic; sealing. « » * Think
the seals are most all killed by the jiehigii' seal hunters in the waters of
the North I'acilic 0(!eai so far from the land that the Indians have no
chance to get any in caimes, as they only go a short distance from the
shore. (P. Ivaliiliday.)

Do not know why the nnnibcr of the fur seal .seen about these islands
are now less than in toriner years. (Samuel Kahoorotf.)

I think the seal are about as plentiful along this coast, but much more
scarce farther west. The cause of :liis .scarcity is too much pelagic
hunting. (I'hilip KashevaroiV.)

When I \va8 .> young man th i serd were very plentiful around here,
but sin'',e the se'iot.ners began hnnling them they have become very
scaree. The wiiite l.unter destvoyed tlie .sea otter and will soon destroy

238

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

the seal. I don't like to see the schooners around here hunting seal,
for they kill everything; they see, and unless they are stojjpcd the seal
will soon be gone. Tlie sea otter is already gone. (King Kashwa.)

Seals have been growing scarcer the last live years, since the white
man began hunting them with schooners, and if they are not stopjjed
the seal will soon be all gone. (Jim Kasooh).

Seals have decreased very rapidly along this coast in the last three
or four years. The decrease is caused, I think, by schooners using
shotguns and rilles and killing mostly female seals. (Mike Kethusduck.)

The reason of the scarcity is, I think, that there are too many white
hunters sealing in the open waters. (Kinkooga.)

Soal are becoming very scarce on the coast. Tho reason they are
becoming so scarce is that hunters shoot them ,vith guns and kill cows
"with pnp. (C. Klananeck.)

Seal used to be phMitil'iil, but now they are neai'ly all gone. They
are too much hunted by the white men witii schooners. (James Klo-
nacket.)

Seal have become veiy scarce the last three years, and what few there
are are very wild and hard to get at. I think the reason tliatseal have
become scarce is that Ihcy are hunted too nuich, and too many fenialea
killed with pup. (Robert Kooko.)

Have noticed that seal are decreasing very fast the last few years,
I think the cause of tho decrease is thai tliere are too many s(!liooiiers
hunting seal in Bering Sea and along the ^orth I'acitic Coast. (John
Kowineet.)

Seal are not as i)Ientiful as in former years ; have noticed the decrease
in the last three or ibur years. Think the cause o^" the decrease is the
great number of schooners L;ealing in the North Pacific Ocean and Ber-
ing Sea. (George Laeheek.)

Seals are not nearly so plentiful now as they used to be. About seven
years ago wliite men conimeui'cd to hunt seals in this viciuily with guns,
since whieli time tiiey have been decreasing in nund)ers, and have
become wild and lianl to catch. * * * Seals are not so i)lcntiful
and are more shy than they us(>d to be, and are more (lillicnlt to catch,
because the> Im/e been hunted so much for the last live or six years
with guns. (,iames Lighthouse.)

White hunters in numbers eonunenced to hunt them around (Jape
Flattery with guns about six years ago, and since that time the seals
have decrcas(Ml very rapidly. (Thomas Lowe.)

Since the white man with schooners has been hunting seal they have
been growing scarcer every year, and unless they are stt)])ped the seal
will soon be all gone. The Indians now have to go a long way and
suffer great hardships in order to get any. (Charles Martin.)

After car<'ful inquiry among our oldest people and weighing my own
experience and ol)scrvations, I believe the <lecrease of the Alaskan fur
seal is due altogether to pelagic hunting. (S. Melovidov.)

Since the schooners have eonunenced to hunt seal they are becoming
very scarce, and the Indians have to go a long ways to g(^t the few that
they ( X (Matthew Morris.)

Yeais ago seals were much more plentiful than they are now, and I

1

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

237

conld see them all aiomid in Vmnches on the water, but since the white
man came here and conimeueed to kill them with the lille and the shot-
gun, within the last five or six years, they have raj)idly decreased in
number. (Moses.)

When 1 was a young man seals were very plentiful off Prince of
Wales Island and Dixous Entrance, but since the schcjners have
begun huntiii!; seals they iiave become very scarce, and Indians now are
obliged to go a long ways to kill any, and sometimes they will hunt fi>r
days witliout gecting a seal. (Nashtau.)

Since the v.hite men with schooners began to hunt seals, the last five
or six yciirs, seals have become very scarce, and it is hard for the Indians
to get ii y now. They have t<j go a long way and hunt a long time in
order to get one or two seals. (»Smith Natch.)

The last four or live yea.s seals have been growing scarcer avery
year, owing, i think, ti> loo maTiy while men hunting seals in sijhooners
ott'Que.'n L'liarlotte islands and in Dixons. (Dan Nathlan.)

I think the reason of the seal becoming so scarce every year is that
there are too many white men hunting seal in P>ering Sea and the Pacific
Ocean and it should be stopped. (Nfc'iantake.)

Seals are not near as plenty as they used to be; too many hunters are
catching tiiem and indiscriminately killing them. (James Neishkaith.)

When I was a young man seals were much more plentiful iJiiin they
are now. The last three years, since the schooners began hiuiting seals,
they have become very sciarce, and it is hard for the ''idians toget any
now. This year tliey have killed but two. (Nikla

The Indian fur seal hunters of my ]»eoj»le all tell me "lat the fur seal
are beconiing very scaice; too many white men are killing them a'l the
time, and they kill cows with pnj), as well as other kinds. I .(,ii the
chief of my peoi)le, and they all tell me what they know. (Peter Olsen.)

Seal are gettirig very scarce along the coast; cause of the scarcity
is, 1 think, too many schooners hunting them oft' Prince of Wales Island.
(Abel Kyan.)

Sinc(! the schooners have hunted seal off the Prince of Wales Island
the seals have become scarce, and it is hard for the Indians to get any
in canoes. In former times they used to get identy. (.Ja<ik Suucky.)

The disappearance of the fur seal is due to the killing by peljigic
seal hunters, wiio api)ear in large numbers off this i)art of the coast;
and the scarcity of the fur seals is in juoportion to the number of ves-
sels engaged in seal hunting. (Alex. Shyha.)

Seal have become very scarce the last few years. Too many white
men are engaged in killing seal. (Martin Singay.)

Have noti<ed a large decrease in seal in the last three years, caused,
I think, by pelagic sealing in lieriug Sea and the North Pacific Ocean.
(Jack Sitka.)

Since the white men have been hunting with schooners they have
become very scarce, and Indians are obliged to go a long way and stop
away from home a long tinui in onb^r to get any, and after being away
there fbnr or five days they freijuently return without killing one seal,
they have become so scarce. (Thonnis Skowl.)

There are no seal left now; they are most all killed off. The last ten

238

ALASKA INDUSTRIKS.

years tlie seal liave been decreasing very fast — ever since the white men
with sciiooiier.s beyaii to hunt them. (CJeorye Skultlia.)

Seal have been j^rowing scarce ak)ng the coast tlic last four years.
Think tlierc are too many schooners engaged in sealing in the North
Pacific Ocean and 15ering Sea. (M. Thlkihdaynahkee.)

Have noticed a large decrease the last four years. 1 think that
pelagic sealing in Bering Sea is the cause of the seal becoming scarce
along the coast. (Chiiriie 'llaksatan.)

Have lieard all the Indians of different tribes say that seal are becom-
ing very scarce in the last tliree or four years. Tuey also say thatuid<'ss
the schooners are stopped from sealing in Bering Sea and tlie North
Pacific Ocean tlie seal will all be gone, and none will be left for the
Indians ov anyone else. Tlie seal have become so scarce of late years
that I don't know much about them. (Twongkwak.)

During tlie last five or six years seals have decreased in numbers
very rapidly. A great many of the white men are jioor 'lunters and
lose a great many of the seals that they shoot. They slioot, and shoot,
and shoot, and don't get any scalo, and tliat makes tiiom wild, so that
an ludiaa can't get near them witli a spear. (John Tysum.)

Have noticed the seal have been decreasing along the coast the last
four years. Think the cause of tlie decrease is that there are too many
schooners engaged in pelagic sea', v : in Bering Sea. (James Lrnatajim.)

Last year was a very bad season. The Indians think scarcity of seals
is due to the method of hunting thciu ado])ted by the whites, by which
the seals are scared away. (Francis Veibeke.)

Have noticed the seal are decjreasing very fast, particularly the last
four years, caused by th(! indiscriminate killing of seal in the waters of
the North Pacific Ocean and Bering Sea. (Cliarlie Wank.)

So many schooners and white men are hunting them with guns all
along the coast chat they are getting all killed off. (Watkins.)

Formerly the Indians hunted them for foinl, but nowadays white men
and Indians hunt them for their fur, and th<y are rapidly diminishing
in number. (Weckenunesch.)

Seals were always plenty in the Straits of San Juan de Fuca and
along the coast until the white liunter came here and commenced shoot-
ing them some six or eight years ago; since that time they have
decreased very rapidly. (Charley White.)

Seals are becoming very scarce since the white men began hunting
them in schooners. (Billy Williams.)

Seals have become sciir(!e the last tliree or four years, and the cause
of it is, I think, the indiscriminnte killing of seals in the water. (Fre<l
Wilson.)

Seals are not near so j^lenty as they were seven or oi'cht years ago.
I think the cause of this is tliat tliey have been hunted so much by
white hunters, who use shotguns and rifles. (Wispoo.)

Have noticed tlie seal are decreasing very fast, owing to so many
schooners hunting seals in the waters of the North Pacific Ocean and
Bering Sea. (Michael Wooskort.)

The seal, like the sea otter, are becoming very scarce. I think if the
schooners were x>rohibited from taking seal in Bering Sea and along the

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

239

coast of Alaska the Keal would become plentiful and the Indians could
kill them ouce more, !■> canoes. (Yahkaii.)

Since tlie white men with schooners began to hunt seal oft' Prince of
Wales Island the seal liave become very scarce, and unless they are
stopped from luiiitiiiiu' seal they will soon be all ^one. If the white men
are pennitted to hunt seal much longer the i'ur seal will become as
scarce as tiie sea otter, whi(!h were ([uite i)lenty around Dixoiis
Entrance when 1 was a boy. The Indians are obliged to go a long way
for seal now and often return alter two or three days' hunt without
taking any. (Hastings Y^ethnow.)

Seal have been decreasing very rapidly the last few years, and it is
hard for our pe()i)ie to get them. Tliere are too many white men hunt-
ing them witli schooners otf Prince of Wales Island. (Paul Young.)

Since tlie white man began to hunt seal they are becoming very
scarce. (Walter V^ouug.)

Within the last iive or six years seals have decreased in number very
fast and are becoming very shy, and it is ditlicult to creep upon them
and hit them Mith the spear. Years ago the heads of seals along the
coast woiild stick up out of the water almost as thick as the stars in
the heavens, but since the white men with so many schooners have
come and began to shoot and kill them with the guns they have become
very scarce. (Hish Yulla.)

If so many white hunters keep hunting the seal with shotguns as
tliey do now it will be but a short time before they will be all gone.
(Thomas Zolnoks.)

DEOltEASE OF SEALS — RESULTS OF INDISOEIMINATE SLAUGHTER,

It is imi)ossible to distinguish the sex of a seal in the water, unless
it is an old bull. 1 am unable to state anything as to the proportion
of females taken, but the seal hunter shoots every kind of seal he sees.
(C. A. Abbey.)

I can not tell the difference between the male and female seal while
in the water, except it be an old bull. (Peter Brown.)

1 shoot all seal tliat come near the canoe and use no discrimination, as I
can not distinguish a young bull from a cow in the water. All hunters
shoot everything that comes near their boats. (Akatoo.)

No discrimination is or can be used; everything is game that comes
within range of the hunter's weapon. (A. 13. Alexander.)

It i^ impossible to distinguish the male from the female at a distance
in the water. (H. Andricius.)

It is im])ossible to distinguish sex when the seals are swimming, and
killing is indiscriminate. (Charles Avery.)

The sex of seal can not be told in the water. I shoot everything that
comes near the boat. (Adam Ayonkee.)

I used no dis(;rimination, but killed everything that came near the
boat in shajie of a seal. Never stopped to ask if it is female or not. A
few old bull, have been taken by me. (Johnny Baronovitch.)

Everything that comes near the boat in the shape of a seal is shot,
regai'd less oil sex. (Maurice P>ates.)

240

AT.ASKA INDUSTRIES.

Tlio sex of the soal can not be told in tlie water; I slioot everything

that comes near tlie boat.

(Wilton C. Beiiiiett.)
nies near the boat, and use no discriiuina-

(Edward Benson.)

the sex of tlie seal can not be

Wo kill everythiiijj tlia'
tion, but slioot them re{^ardic8s of .sex.

We kill every tliiiifj regardless of sex;
told in the waters. (Martin llenson.)

It is almost imjiossible to distinguish the female seals from the male
in the water unless it is an old bull. (Bernhardt Bleiduor.)

It is not i)ossible to make any distinction between males (other than
large bulls) and I'emales of the fur-seal species at sea and there is none
attempted. Full-powered bulls are, however, readily recognized at sea
by their much larger size and darker fur; they are seldom taken, their
pelts being comparatively valueless. The slaughter is therefore indis-
criminate, the object being to secure all the skins possible. (J. A.
Bradley.)

W^e used to shoot at anything we ran across, and got about a third
of what we killed or wouiuU-d. I do .;ot know how many miles olf the
seal islands we were when we caught them, as I did not kuow the dis-
tances. (Thomas Hradley.)

It is not easy to tell a bull from a cow or either from a year-old pup
when they are in the water, and the hunters must shoot at all the seals
they see. If they get them tliey are fortunate, for at the best many
are lost. Some hunters rarely miss a seal they tire at. but many are
wounded, and a seal with a charge of bullets and buckshot in him must
be in very vigorous health to recover. Some liun: jrs never miss a seal
during the season, but it' others get one out of four they wouuvx they
are doing well. (William Brennan.)

It is practically impossible to distinguish the age or sex of seals in
the water while ai)]>roachiiig them while at a reasonable guushot dis-
tance from them, excepting in the case of old bulls. (Henry Brown.)

Use no discrimination, but kill all seal that come near the boat.
The best way to shoot seal to s,ecure them is to slioot them in the back
of the head when they are asleep with their noses in the water. (I'eter
Brown.)

I can not distinguish male seals from female at a distance in the
water, unless it be an old bull with a long wig. (Landis Callapa.)

I can not distinguish male seals from female in the water except in
the case of an old bull, which is told by its size. Use no discrimination,
but kill everything in the shape of a seal that comes near the boat.
(Charles Campbell.)

There is no way of distinguishing the sex of fur seals (except large
bulls) in the water at sea, nor do hunters ever make any etibrt to
do so, but, on the tontrary, kill all seals they can indiscriminately.
(Vassih Chichiuoff.)

Sex of the seal can not be told in the water unless it be an old bull.
All seal are shot that come near the boat, regardless of sex. (Simeon
Chiu-koo-tin.)

It is iini)08sible to distinguish the sex of the fur seal in the water at
sea, and no effort was ma(le to <lo so. We killed all fur seals indis-
criminately. (Julius Christiansen.)

the

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

241

The sex of the seal can not be distinguislied in the water. 1 shoot
everything tliat conies near enough. ( Peter (Jhurch.)

I am nnable to tell a male seal from a female while in the water,
unless it be au old bull with a long wig. (James Claplaniioo.)

The sex can not be told in the water, and all are shot that come near
the boat. No discrimination is used; hunters lull every tiling they see.
(John C. Clement.)

In i)elagi(' sealing no distinction is made by hunters as to the sex of
the seals, the killing being done indiscriminately. It is not possible to
distinguish between the male and female seals at sea, even if a liunt(!r
so desired, and this is the reason why pelagic seiiling will soon result
in the total extermination of the species, (M. Cohen.)

The hunters will kill any seals that come along, it being impossible to
tell the sex in the water. (Peter Collins.)

All seal are killed that come near the canoe, whether it is male or
female; 1 make no difference. In former years there wcvv lots of seal,
but now there are very few. Too many schooners hunting them all the
time in the water, killing the mother seals as well as others. (Charlie
Dahtlin.)

We tried to shoot them while asleep, but shot all that came in our
way. ( Alfred Dardean.)

Use no discrimimition in killing seal, but shoot everything that
c(tmes near the boat h) the shape of a seal. Hunters shoot seal in the
most exposed part of the body. (George Dishow.^

I can not tell the sex of the seal in the water. (Peter Dutt'y.)

I never examine them to know whether they are male or female seal.
I can not tell the difference in the water, and shoot eve.y thing without
knowing whether they are male or female. (Echon.)

While there is some ditt'eronce in the appearance of the female and
old male seals, 1 do not think it would be possible for the hunters to
tell that differeiice in the sea at any great distance. (M. C. Erskine.)

Everything in shape of seal that comes near the boat is killed.
(Chief Frank.)

I can not tell the sex of a seal in the water; use no discrimination,
but kill everything that comes lu'ar the boat. (Luke Frank.)

There is no way by which hunters can distinguish sex while the seals
are in the wiiter, nor do we aim to do so; the killing is always done in
an indiscriminate way. (Thomas Frazer.)

r could not tell whether a seal was a male or female while it was in
the water, unless it was an old bull. (William Frazer.)

There is no way that 1 know of to distinguisli the sex of a seal when
it is in the water. No attempt is made to discriminate the sex so as to
kill only males. (F. F. Feeuy.)

Can not distinguish the sex of seal in the water, but spear every-
thing that comes near the boat, regardless of sex. (Chad. George.)

I have never examined the seal as to sex. I shoot everything that
conies near the boat, and use no discrimination whatever. (Charles
Gibson.)

II. \hw. \)2, pt. L' 10

242

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

I kill everytliing that comes near the boat, and use no discrimination,
as the SOX (;an not be told in the water, except it be an old bull, which
is told by its size. (Gouastut.)

Can not distinguish sex of seal in the water. Hunters use no dis-
r imiiiatiou, and kill everything that comes near the boat. (James
Gondoweu.)

We have no way of distinguishing fur seals in the water at sea as to
whether males or females, and do not try to do so, but kill all we can
indiscriminately. (Nicoli Gregorott'.)

Every seal is shot that comes near the boat, regardless of sex; hunt-
CVA use no discrimination. (James Griffin.)

Among all other fur seals at sea no distinction is possible, and none is
attempted. The killing is indiscriminate, the object being to secure
all the pelts possible. Bulls are, however, readily recognized at sea by
their larger size and darker fur. (A. J. Gould.)

I always shoot everything that conies near the boat; can not tell the
sex in the water. (Henry Haldane.)

I use no discrimination in sealing, but shoot everything that comet*
near the boat, regardless of sex. (Martin Ilannon.)

I can't tell a male from a female while in the water at a distance.
(James Harrison.)

My experience has been that the vessels employed in hunting seals
shoot, indiscriminately, pups, male and female seals, regardless of age
or sex; and even should sealers wish to discriminate in the killing it
would not be possible for them to do so. My study of them in a long
experience has not enabled me to positively distinguish the sex of ii
seal while in the water. It is the custom to pay t-cal hunters per skins
taken; hence it is the object of the hunters to secure as many as ])os-
sible, without reference to sex, age, or condition. While hunting they
use small rowboats, with two or three men in each boat armed with
shotgun and rifle, chiefly the former, and it would be simply impossi-
ble for the master or owners, even should they desire it, to supervise
ten or a dozen hunters as to the killing of any particular sex or kind.
(M. A. Healy.)

It is difficult to tell the sex of a seal which you shoot at in the water;
but "ou can tell an old seal from a young seal. (William Hermann.)

It is impossible to distinguish positively between females and males
(other than large bulls) in the water at sea, and no eflbrt is made to do
so. Full-powered bulls are readily recognized by their great bulk and
darker fur. The killing of the fur seals is therefore absolutely indis-
criminate, as the object is to secure all the skins possible, irrespective
of sex, age, or condition. (Norman Hodgson.)

Hunters use no discrimination in shooting seal, but kill everything
that comes near the boat. They could not discriminate if they wanted
to, as the sex can not be told in the water. (O. Holm.)

Everything in the shape of a seal that comes near the boat is killed.
(Jack Johnson.)

I am unable to distinguish a male seal from a female seal at a distance
in the water. (Selwish Johnson.)

I shoot everything in the shape of a seal that comes near the boat,
and use no discrimination. (Johnnie Johntin.)

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

243

The 80X of the seal can not be told in the water unless in the case of
an old bull, which is told by its size. Wo use no discrimination in
shooting sejil. Everything is killed that conies near the boat, regard-
less of sex. (Philip Kashevaroff.)

We can not toll the difference between a male and a female in the
water, but kill everything that comes near the boat. (King Kashwa.)

All killing of seals in the water mast of necessity be indiscriminate
slaughter, as it is impossible to tell the sex or the exact af^e of a seal
until it has been taken into the boat, whereas on land careful discrimi-
nation can be made. (Francis R. King-Hall.)

Hunters use no discrimination in hunting seal, but shoot everything
that comes near the boat. (Kinkooga.)

Hunters always kill all seal that come near the boat, regardless of
sex. (C. Klananeck.)

I kill everytiiing that comes near the canoe, regardless of sex.
(Robert Kooko.)

1 always kill every seal that comes near the boat; hunters use no
discrimination. (John Kowineet.)

Have never killed but few old bulls in my life. The only seal that
can be distinguished in the water is the old bull, which can be told by
its size. Everything in shape of seal that comes near the boat is
killed if possible, regardless of sex. (George Lacheek.)

We can not distinguish between the sexes of fiir seals in the water at
sea, nor do we try to. On the contrary, everything in sight is taken if
possible, except large bulls, whose skins are worthless. (E. L. Lawson.)

It is impossible to distinguish between males and females of the fur-
seal species in the water at sea, excepting large bulls, and no effort is
made to do so. The object is to get all the marketable skins possible,
and the killing is consequently indiscriminate. The pelts of large bulls,
whose fur is coarse and of little value, and of yearlings of both sexes,
whose skins are tx)o small, not being strictly marketable skins, they
were not taken. (James £. Lennan.)

Of late years most of the catches of Northwest skins are soil at a
(jertain price per skin without particular examination. The dealers,
knowing the location from which the skins are obtained, make an
average price, and owners and hunters are, therefore, less part'-.'ular
than they were in former years as to the class of animals they capture.
They kill everything they see witl out regard to age or sex, their only
object being to swell the total number of the catch to the higiiest pos-
sible figure. (Isaac Liebes.)

But of course you could not tell when you shot a seal lying asleep
whether it was a male or female. We shoot at all the seals when we
get a chance, but it is only the ones that we find asleep that we catch.
(Caleb Lindahl.)

It is impossible to distinguish the sex of fiir seals at sea (excepting
large bulls) and no effort is made to do so, the object being to secure
all the skins possible; hence the killing is indiscriminate. (E. W.
Littlejohn.)

It is impossible to tell the sex of a seal in the water. (William H.
Long.)

244

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

EveryMiiiig was killed that came uear the boat; we did not use any
dlBcriuiinutiou. (George McAlpine.)

The sex can not be diHtiiiguislied in the water unless it be the vam
of an old bull, which is distinguished by its size. Everything is killed
in the shape of a seal that (;oiiies near the boat. (J. 1). McDonald.)

When we find weather we are out in the boats killing all the seals we
can get. We can not hunt in rough weather. (William Mclsaac.)

Sex of seal can not be told in the water. We use no discrimination
and kill ; 11 seal that come near the boat. Seal are not shot in any j»ar-
ticular plii'te; shoot them in the head if possible; if not, in the body.
(James McKeen.)

It makes no difference if a seal is a male or female; we shoot every-
thing that comes near enough. (Edward Maitland.)

I know it to be the custom of seal hunters to shoot seals at sea when
they are at rest upon the surface of the water, and tliat those generally
obtained are females, and constitute but a very small portion of those
killed and lost. (John Malowansky.)

Everything that comes near the boat in shape of a seal is shot. I
can not tell the sex of a seal till after it is dead. (Frederick Mason.)

We hunted with shotguns and shot them mostly when they were
asleep on the water, or any chance we could get. I was a boat puller,
and the hunters shot at everything in sigiit. (Henry Mason.)

We generally tried to kill them while asleei) in the water, but fired at
everything that came around us. (Thorwal Mathasan.)

I use no discrimination in shooting seals; shoot everything that (tomes
near the boat, and all other hunters do the same. (G. E. Miner.)

Q. If awake, do you shoot them while breaching? — A. Yes, sir; we
shoot at them anywhere, either while they are breaching or heads up,
or any way. (Frank Moreau.)

We shot at everything in sight. We killed more females than males,
and we lost a good many that we killed. (Eddie Moreliead.)

Shoot everything that comes near the boat in shape of a seal, and use
no discrimination. (Matthew Morris.)

The sex of the seal can not be told in the water. Hunters use no
discrimination, but kill everything they can. (Nashtau.)

We shoot everything that comes uear the canoe in shaj)e of a seal,
regardless of sex. The sex can not be told in the water unless it be an
old buU. (Dan Nathlan.)

Everything is killed that comes near the canoe in 8hai)e of a seal.
We can not tell a male from a female in the water. (Joseph Neishkaith.)

I can not tell the age or sex of a seal in the water. (Niles Nelson.)

I can not tell the difference between a male and female seal in the
water, and I shoot every seal that comes near the canoe. (Nikla-ah.)

Sex can not be distinguished while the seals are in the water, nor do
the liunters try to do so, for they kill everything they can shoot. (Nel-
son T. Oliver.)

I am unable to tell the sex of the seal while it is in the water, unless
it be an old bull with a long wig. (Osly.)

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

245

It is iinimsHible to distiuguish the miilo weal from the l'einiil(i svli«n
they Jire in the water at a reasonable gunHhut distance. (Charles
reterson.;

Yearlings are rarely taken in North Pacific. The age or sex of a seal
in the wat(!r can not he distinguished, except that when close the appar-
ent size is an indication of iige. (W. Roberts.)

I use a shotgun to hunt for seal. Have lost very few seal, as I always
shoot them near the boat. Everything in 8iuij)e of a seal that comes
near the boat is killed. I use no discrimination. (Rondtus.)

Everytliing in the shape of a seal that comes near the boat is shot.
Hunters use no discrimination, but kill everything that puts its head
above the water. (Abel Ryan.)

It is im])ossibIe to distinguish a male from a female seal in the water,
except in the case of a very old bull, when his size distinguishes him.
Therefore open-sea sealing is entirely indiscriminate as to sex or age.
(Ii.G. Bhepard.)

All seal are killed that come near the boat, I never stop to consider
whether it is a male or female, but kill it oft" if I ('an. (Jack Sliucky.)

Hunters use no discrimination, but shoot everything that comes near
them. Their sex can not be told unless in the ease of an old bull, which
is distinguishable by its size. (Jack Sitka.)

The sex of the seal can not be told in the water. I kill everything
that comes near my canoe in shape of a seal, and all other hunters do
the same. (Thomas Skowl.)

Always shoot everytliing that comes near the boat in shape of a seal,
regardless of sex. (George Skultka.)

Hunters use no discrimination, but shoot everything that come near
the boat. (Fred Smith.)

It is impossible to distinguish between male and female seals at sea,
even if the hunters so desired, except it; the case of full-powered bulls,
when they are readily recognized by their greatly superior size. Large
bulls are rarely taken. No distinction is thought of by pelagic sealers,
and the killing is done indiscriminately, the object being to secure as
many skins as possible. (John W. Smith.)

I can not tell the sex of the seal in the water, unless he is an old
bull. A hunter will blaze away at anything he sees in the water. (B.
W. Soron.)

Hunters use no discrimination, but shoot everything in the shape of
a seal that comes near the boat. (Joshua Stickland.)

All seals are killed that come near the boat, regardless of their sex.
I never look to see whether I have killed a male or female seal until I
have the seal dead in the boat. (M. Thlkahdaynahkee.)

Hunters use no discrimination in killing seal, but kill everything that
comes near the boat, regiirdless of sex. (W. Thomas.)

The sex of the seal can not be told in the water when hunting. We
use no discrimination, but kill everything in the shape of a seal that
comes near the boat. (Charlie Tlaksatan.)

Hunters use no discrimination in taking seal, but kill everything that
pokes its head out of the water near the boat. (John C. Tolman.)

246

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

Thn Rox of the seal can not be told in the water, flnnten ase no
(liHcrini illation and everything? in the shape of a seal that conies near
the boat is killed. (Peter Trearsheit.)

Sex of aeal can not be distinguished in the water, except in the cane
of an old bull, which can be told by its size. No discrimination is uned
in taking seal; everything that comes near the boat is shot at. (James
Unattyim.)

1 always shoot everything that comes near the boat, regardless of
sex. We use no discrimination. (George Usher.)

Bex of seal can not be distinguished in the water. No discrimination
is used ill seal hunting; all are killed that coma near. (Kudulph
Walton.)

The sex of seal of same age can not be distinguished in the water.
The only seal that can be distinguished is an old bull. We use no dis-
crimiiiation in seal hunting; everything is killed that comes near tlie
boat. Pelagic hunters have become so plentiful and seals have become
so wild that we are obliged to take long shots at them. (Charlie Wank.)

Our purpose and practice was to take all the seals we could get,
regardless of their age or sex, without any discrimination whatever.
(Michael White.)

Everything in the shape of seal that comes near the boat is shot. I
can't tell the difference between a young cow and a male seal. (Fred
Wilson.)

The seals are getting wild and hard to catch. There are a great
many green hands in the business. We shot at everything that ciiiiie
along. We were getting 50 cents for every skin obtained. Our boats
went 30 and 40 miles from the schooner. Sometimes they would leave
in the morning at 5 and not return until the next dav at 4 or 5 in the
evening. (John Woodruff.)

Tlie sex of seal can not be told in the water. No discrimination is
used in seal hunting. All seal are killed that come near the boat. The
only seal that can be distinguished in the water is an old bull. (Michael
Wooskort.)

I can not distinguish the sex of a seal in the water, but kill every seal
that comes near the canoe, if possible. (Billy Yeltacliy.)

I can not tell the sex of a seal in the water, and use no discrimi-
nation, but kill everything that comes near my canoe in the shape of a
seal. (Hastings Yethnow.)

We use no discrimination in killing seal, but shoot everything that
comes near the boat. What seals we have seen this year are very wild
and hard to get at. The cause of their being wild is tlie indiscriminate
shooting of them in the water. (Alf. Yoliansen.)

I use no discrimination, and kill everything that conies near the boat
in the shape of a seal. (Paul Young.)

1 can not tell the difference between a male and a female in the water;
use no discrimination, but kill everything that comes near the boat.
(Walker Young.)

We fired at all the seals we could, regardless of their sex. We got
one out of every six or seven we shot at or killed. (George Zam-
mett.)

ALASKA INDU8TRIK8.

247

DK8TUUCTION OF PHK(JNANT ViMAI.ES.

We caught about 185 Heals, mostly femalos in young, and wo killed
tliein while they were asleep on the water. (Charles Adair.)

Most of the seals killed by me have been females with puj). ( Akatoo.)

We sealed along the coast and captured 154. Most all of them were
l)regiiant females. (Charles Avery.)

Most all seals that I have killed were pregnant cows. Ifave taken a
I'ew male seals from 1 to 4 years old, I think. Have never killed an old
bull. (Adam Ayonkee.)

Q. What percentage of the cows you have taken were with piip? —
A. About 90 per cent of the cows taken weie witii pup. There may be
one in a hundred that is either without pup or has bad one. (George
Ball.)

Most all the seals taken are females with pup. (.Johnnie Haronovitch.)

Seventy-five per cent of the seal taken on the coast are cows with
T»up. (Martin Benson.)

We left Port Townsend in May and sealed south to Cape Flattery,
ui.l then went north along the cioast until we came to Unimnk I';ish,
and captured from 'M)0 to 400 seals. Most all were females and had
l)ups in them. I think fully two-thirds of all we caught were fomales,
and a few were bulls. • • • We secured 500 skins along the coast,
most all of which were pregnant females. (Bernhardt Bleidner.)

I have never killed any full-grown cows on the coast that did not
have i)U|)S in them, and I have hunted all the way from the (Columbia
Kiver to Barclay Sound. (Bowa-chup.)

We left Victoria about May, going north, and sealed all the way to
Bering Sea. We had about 60 before entering Bering Sea, nearly all
of which were females with young pups in them. (Thomas Bradley.)

Our last catch of seals on the coast were almost exclusively gr.avid
females. (Henry Brown.) •

Wo had li50 seals before entering the sea, the largest percentage of
which were females, most of them having young pups in them. 1 saw
some of the young pups taken out of them. (Thomas Bi >wn.)

On my last sealing cruise this sj)ring we caught five seals; two of
them were females and had pups in them; three of them were young
and smaller seals and had black whiskers. None hut full grown cows
have white whiskers, but young cows and young bulls have black
whiskers. About half of all the seals captured along the coast have
white whiskers and are cows with ])ups in them. Most all full gr<)wn
cows that are caught have pups in them. Once, late in the season, T
caught a full-grown barren cow with white whiskers. (Landis Callapa.)

Seventy-five per cent of seals shot in the North Pacific Ocean are
females heavy with young. (John C. Cantwell.)

Most of the seals we killed going up the coast were females heavy
with pup. I think nine out of every ten were females. (Charles
Challall.)

Not quite half of all seals caught along the coast are cows witL i)up8
in them. About half are youn^ seals, both male and female, and the

248

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

rest (a small iiumbei") are inetlium-si/eu males. We iievev get any old
bulls worth speaking: of, and we do not catch as many gray pups now
as formerly. Have not caught any gray pups this year. Do not know
what has beccje of them. Have never caught any full grown cows
witiiout pups in them, and have never caught any cows in milk along
the coast. (Charlie.)

Of those secured, the larger part by far were females, and the majority
of rhese wers pregnant cows. (Juliua Christiansen.)

Most of the seals taken by me have been females with young. A
iivv male seals have been taken t>y me, their ages ranging from I to 5
y<;ars old. Killed three 'arge bulls during ;iiy life. (Peter Church.)

A great many years ago we user t/> catch about one-ualf cows and
one 1i, (If young seals. I never cau,l.i, any seals along the coast that
had ,!ri\'ei) birth to their young and that had milk in theii breasts. 1
never captured any barren cows. * • * We secured ten seals in all,
live of whicjh had pups ir. them. I know this because I sa"..' the pups
when we cut the carcas •les open. • • • The other five seals were
smaller and probably mile and female. (Ciraus Jim.)

About half the seals killed by me have been cows with pup. I never
shot but two old bulls in my life. Have shot a few yearlin;.'' saals. The
youn<r males I hava killed were between 2 and 3 years old, I think.
(William Clark.)

The .seals we catch along the coast are nearly all pregnant females.
It is seldo!" we ca])ture an old bull, and wliat males we get are usually
yountr ones. I have frequently seen «!(>w seals cut open and the unborn
l)ups cut out of them a-nd they would live foi several days. This is a
fre(jU»'"t occurrence. (Christ Clausen.)

Q. What percentage of • he cows you have taken were with pup? — A.
About 70 per cent. (Peter Collins.)

The majority of seals taken are cows with pup; once in a whilo we
take an old bull. A few yearlings are takcTi also. (Chiirlie Dalit lin.)

From 75 to 80 per cent of all the seals tak^m were motheri in young,
and when cut bpen on deck we found the young within them. (.James
Dalgarduo )

We iiad between 100 and 300 seals before entering the sea. Most all
of them Avere females with pups in them. {,}> <\n Dalton.)

Of tlie seals that were (taught off the coast ful' / 90 out of every 100 had
young })U])s in them. The boats would bring the seals killed on board
the vessel and we would take the young i)ups out and skin them. If
the puj) is a g<iod. nice one we would skin it and kcii) it for ourselves.
I hiul eight such skins myself. Foiir out of five, if caught in May or
rlune, would be alive when we cut them out of the mothers. One (»f
them wc kept for pretty nt-arly three weeks alive on deck by feeding it
on condensed milk. One of tlie men finally killed it because it cried so
pitifully. (Alfred Dardean.)

Tn all my ex]>erience in sealing on this coast I have killed but one
cow seal that had milk in her breast, and that had given birth t(. her
]m\}. I have killed a very few barren cows along the coast. Nearly ai'.
of the full-grown cows along the coast have pups in them. (I"'rank

Divis.)

We sailed from San Francisco to Queen Charlotte Island, and caught

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

249

between 500 and 600 seals, nearly all females heavy with yonng. I
have seen a young live pup taken out of its mother and kept alive for
three or four days. We sealed from 10 to 120 miles oft' the coast.
(Joseph Dennis.)

A large proportion of all seals taken are females with pup. A very
few vearliiigH are taken. Never examine tlii-ni as to sex. But very
tt'W old bulls are taken, but live ^'^irnf tak^iu out of a total of 900 seals
by my schooner. (George Dishow.)

We left Victoria the latter end of January, and went South to (Jape
niaUv:o, sealing around there two or three months, when we started
north to Bering Sea, sealing all the way up. We had between 200 and
.500 seals before entering the sea, a great many of them being females
with pups in them. (Richard Dolan.)

'i lie Indians left their homes in March and remained away until May.
Tlieir bunting lodges were '^n some small islands outside of Dundas
isliind. From what they tell me the majority of seals taken by tliem
liave beeii females with young. (William Duuttan.)

We went north to Bering Sea, sealing all the way up, and got 110
st'alr, before entc ing the sea. Most of them were cows, nearly all of
wliich bjid pups in thcMu. We took some of the pups alive out of the
bodies of tin; females. (George FairchikL)

Most all of the females taken are with young, or mothers. (F. F.
Feeny.)

There were cow seals with pup among the seals that I have taken,
but don't know how many. 1 have never taken an old bull in mv life.
((Jhiof Frar.k.)

I think the seals taken by me are about half females witli pup, and
the rest are 1 and 2 year old males and yearlings; never examined the
yearlings as to sex. (Luke Frank.)

Q. What pi^rcentage of the cows you have taken were with pup t —
A. All that are killed in the racitic are with pup, and those that are
killed in Beni'g Sea have been delivered of pups on the islamls and are
with milk. ( juther T. Franklin.)

Q. What percentage of the cown you have taken were wi.h pupt —
A. About 60 per cent were with pup. (Edward W. Funcke.)

Most all the seals taken by me were females with pnp. Most of the
seals killed in Bering Sea have betiu cows with milk. Hiive never
taken a bull seal off the coast of Washington, but have taken a few
larther north. A few young males are taken oft" the coast of Washing-
t(m. (Chad George.)

i did not pay much attention to the sex of seals we killed in the
North Paciti<!, bui know that a great number of them were cows that
iiad pups in them, and we kille<l most of them while they were asleep
on the wate. . (Thomas Gibson.)

Most of the seals killed are (ows with pnp. A few males are killed,
averaging from I to 4 years old. Have killed but one old bull in my
life. A lew yearlings are taken, the majority of which are females.
(James (ion(i<)Wen.)

We cajitured *i3 seals, all of which were females, and all were preg-
nant. Witli regard to progna'icy, I may note that the seals taken otT
the coast of Vancouver Island were not so far advanced as thos« taken

250

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

farther north. * * • I am acquaitited with the hunters and mnst<>rs
wlio sail from this i)ort, and board all incoming and ontgoing vessels of
that class. These men all acknowledge that nearly all the seals taken
oft" the Pacific Coast are females, and that they are nearly all with
young. (E. M. Greenleaf.)

We began sealing off the northern coast of California and followed
the sealing herd northward, capturing about 700 seals in the North
Pacific Ocean, two- thirds of which were females with pup; the balance
were young seals, both male and female. We captured between 900
and 1,000 on the coast, most all of which were females with pups.
(Arthur Griffin.)

The catch was mostly females. Those we got in the North Pacific
were females in pup, and those taken in Bering Sea were cows giving
milk. (Joseph Grynies.)

Of the skins taken in this region fully nine-tentlis are pregnant and
milking females, but I never saw a young pup in the water. Largo
bulls were never taken, their skins being practically valueless. (A. .).
Guild.)

Q. What percentage of the cows are taken with pups? — A. All tlie
large ones have — all the grown ones have. Very seldom you find a
barren one. (Charles H. Hagman.)

A large majority of seals taken are females with young. Only two
old bulls were taken by me last year out of the 100 seals taken. But
very few yearlings are taken. Paid no attention to sex. A few male
seals are taken between 2 and 4 years old, 1 think. (Martin Hannon.)

Q. What percentage of the cows taken are with pups ? — A. You can
safely say about four-fifths of them. You get about 800 out of 1,000
seals. (U. Harmsen.)

I am told the white hunter kills mostly cow seals with pup. (Sam
Hayikahtla.)

I have often conversed with masters, seamen, and hunters engaged
in hunting the fur seals, and their stateinents to me have always been
that the capture of a male seal was a rarity; tliat nearly all of their
catch were cow seals heavy with young, or those who Ind given l)irth
to their young on the islands and gone out to the flshing bank to feed,
and that they lose a large proportion of those killed and wounded.
(J. M. Hays.)

Q. What percentage of the cows you have taken were with pup? —
A. At least 00 per cent were with pup. (William Heiison.)

Of the seals secured in a season fully 70 i)er cent are females, and of
these more than GO per cent are ])regnaiit and milking cows. The males
taken are about equally divided in numbers between yearlings and
bachelors from the ages of 2 to 5 years; bulls are seldom shot. (Nor-
man Hodgson.)

Q. What percentage of the cows you have taken were with pupf —
A. About the same amount (about 95 i)er cent) were with pup. (And. J.
Hoffman.)

Most all seals taken are females with young. * • » a few male
seal are taken. 1 would say they are generally .'} or 4 years old. A few
yearlings are killed, mostly lemales. About live bull seal are killed out
of every handred takeu. (E. Hofstad.)

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

251

Al)ont one-lialf of those canght along the coast wore full-grown cows
with pupa in them; a few were medium-sizod males, and the rest were
younger seals of both sexes. I have never <!aught a full-grown cow in
the straits or along the coast that did not have a pup in her. (Alfred
Irving.)

Q. What percentage of the cows taken are with pnj)? — A. In the
early part of the season, up to June, all the full-grown cows are with
j.np.

Q. Did you ever kill any cows whose young were born, and were
giving milk? — A. That I don't remember taking notice of. I can not
answer that (juestion. (Gustave Isaacson.)

Tiie female seals go through the passes from the Pacific Ocean into
Bering Sea between .Tune 25 and July 15. Females killed ])revi(ms to
tills time I found with pups, but none with pups after that latter date.
(Victor Jacobson.)

We began to seal when about 20 mih c off Cape Flattery. We worked
towawl tlie northwest, and captured between 60 and 100 seals on the
• oast, about two-thirds of which were females with pup; the balance
were yearlings consisting of male and female; after which we ran into
Barclay Sound for supplies, from which place we worked to the north-
ward toward Bering Sea. We captured about 80 seals while en route
to the sea; about two-thirds of these were females with pu]), the balance
being yearlings about one-half male and one-half female. (James
.lamieson.)

We began sealing off Barclay Sound, and caught three skins only,
all of which were females with pnp, « ♦ • in huntijig along the
coast, I think about 80 per cent of those we cauglit were females, and
most of them were carrying their young. We seldom cauglit any
bulls, but caught a few of the younger males. 1 have seen the unborn
young cut out of the mother seal and live for a week without food. We
used to skin some, but threw most of them overlMiard. (James
Jamieson.)

A majority of the seal taken on the coast are cows with pup. A few
j'oung males are taken, the ages ranging from 1 to 5 years. Once in
awhile an old bull is taken in the North Pa^ilic Ocan. (J. Johnson.)

Most of tlie seals taken are females with pup. Once in awhile an
old bull is killed. (Jack Johnson.)

A large proportion of seals killed by me were cows with pup. Have
killed a very few old bulls and some yearlings. (Johnnie Johntin.)

Most of the seal I have taken have been pregnant cows. But a very
few young male seal are taken by me along the coast. (P. Kahiktday.)

The majority of seal are cows with pup. A few males are taken,
about 4 or 5 years old. (Philip Kashevaroll.)

About half of the seals killed are females with pnp. ITr.ve killed
some yearling seals, but never killed any old bull. The young males I
killed were between 2 and .') years old. (Jim Kasooh.)

We caught somewhere about 500 seals before entering the sea, of all
kinds. There were a good many females among them : there was a
good many more of them than males, but the exact number i do not
know. The old females hsul young pups in them. I saw them taken
out and a good many of them skiuued. (James Keaii.)

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ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

We sailed from Victoria, British Columbia, and bore due north to
licritig Sea. Wlien we arrived there we had some 75 to 80 seals, the
{greater part of which were females, some of which had pups in them.
(James Kennedy.)

Most of the seals taken by me were females with pup; have taken a
few male seals from 1 to 4 years old. A very few yearlings have been
killed by me, mostly females. (Mike Kethusduck.)

Those taken in Bering Sea were nearly all mother seals, in milk, that
had left their young and were in search of food. (James Kiernan.)

Most all seals killed by me have been cows. * * ♦ Have not
killed a bull seal for three years. I have taken a few yearlings, mostly
females. (John Kowineet.)

All the seals which I have seen killed were females, and the majority
of these were pregnant cows. (Olaf Kvam.)

Most all seals that I have taken were cows with pup. A few male
seals have been taken by me from 1 to 2 years old. (George Lacheek.)

A good many have pups in them, and when the boats come aboard
loaded with seals, after they got through skinning them they would
have a big ])ile of pups on deck. (James Laflin.)

We had a good catch, having taken 1,400 skins, more than 1.000 of
which we secured on the coast. Of the latter more than 75 per cent
were female pelts, and of these about 60 per cent were taken from
pregnant cows. (James E. Lennau.)

I have often cut a seal open and found a li\e young one inside.
(Caleb Llndahl.)

Of all the seals captured by me about one-half of them, I think, were
(!ows with pups in them, and it is very seldom that 1 have ever caught
a full grown cow that was barren or did not have a pup in her; nor
have I, in my long experience, caught a cow tliat was in milk, or that
had recently given birth to her young. I seldom ever kill an old bull,
for there are but very few of them that mingle with the herd along the
coast. (James Lighthouse.)

In the year 1885 COO fui| seals were caught during the month of March
off the l"'ariillon Islands (California). In subsecpient years we have iiad
to go farther north each year in order to secure a good spring catch.
My experience has been that ful!y 90 per cent of all seals taken were
females, and of these two-thirds were mothers in milk. (15. VV. Little-
john.)

I know that a large proportion of the seals taken were mothers in
pup or mothers giving millc, but I paid no particular att*!ntion to the
percentage. (William 11. Long.)

On my last trip this year, when hunting seals off" the (lape, I caught
10 seals, 5 of which had i)ups in them; the rest of tluMii were from I to
2 years old, part male and part female. I think that fnlly one-lialf of
the seals caught along the coast are full-grown fenniles with i)ups in
them. We sometimes ciit(!h a few medium-sized males, the rest being
younger ones, both male and female. (Thomas Lowe.)

Q. What i)ercentage of the cows you have taken were with pupT —
A. About 70 per cent, I should say. (Charles Lutjens.)

Most of the seals taken were females with pup. A few male seals were

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

253

killed, ages ranging from 1 to 5 years. One old bull was taken. (George
Mc Alpine.)

Most of the seals taken by me have been females with pup. The female
seals are easier killed tliau the male, a.nd we aim to get them. A few
yearlings have been killed by me, mostly females. (J. I). McDonald.)

Several of the females that we caught in the ocean were in pup, but
the pup taken out of tiie belly was of no use for anything, and we would
throw it overboard. (William Mclsaac.)

Wo had 300 or 400 seals altogether before entering Bering Sea.
Tiiey were most all females, which had young pups in them. (William
McLaughlin,)

Q. Whatperceiitageof the cows taken are with pup? — A. Thefemales
are mostly all with puj) — that is, up until the 1st of July. (Daniel
McLean.)

We came down each year to the coast of Oregon, then went along up
the coast to Bering Sea. I do not recollect the exact number of seals
we caught in 1888, 1889, 1890, but last year we caught about 150 along
the coast. I did not pay much attention to the sex of the seals, but I
seen lots of little pups taken out of them. (Thomas Madden.)

We sailed up the coast and caught a few seals until we got to Bering
Sea. We caught 1,100 seals, nearly all of whicli were cauglit in Ber-
ing Sea. We caught them around St. George Island. I think otit of
the 4,100 we caught there were (iOO females. Out of that tiOO tiiere
were over 400 that had pups inside of them, and we threw them all
overboard. (James Maloy.)

About half of the seals killed by me, I think, were cows with pup.
Have never killed an old bull, but have killed a few yearlings in my
life. Never exaniiiied the latter as to sex. (Oharles Martin.)

The biggest part of my year's catch off the coast were females with
pups in them. (Patiick Maroiiey.)

In 1890 I went sealing in the schooner Argonaut, She sailed from
Victoria about the 8th of April, and sealed along the coast up to the
pass in Bering Sea. We cauglit about 250 seals that year. Most of
the seals we caught in the North Pacific were females. A good many
of them also had pups inside. (Henry Mason.)

I noticed in the seals that we caught along the coast that a great
many of them were females and had pups. I think most of them were
females. 1 know that in my boat the catch was most all females and
they had pups in them. They were usually shot when sleeping on the
water. (William Mason.)

We caught over 1,000 seals off the coast, almost all females, and a
great number of them had pups in them. * * * Entered Bering
Sea in July and was (ihased out by the cutters. Did not catch any
seals in the American waters in Bering Sea, but went over across on
the Russian side and sealed there. The whole catch for that year was
about 1,500 seals. Those that we killed on the Russian side were about
in the same proportion as to females as those killed on this side. (Tlior-
wal Mathasan.)

Q. What percentage of the cows yor have taken were with pup? —
A. About 75 per cent were with pup. (Frank Moreau.)

254

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

Most all the seals killed by nie have been feiiialeH with pup. (Amos
Mill.)

We bepan sealing off" Cape Flattery ; sailed and sealed to the north-
ward, aii(l captured about 800 seals along the coavSt. There were not
over ten males in the whole lot. The females had pups in them, and
we cut tliem out of their mothers and threw them overboard into the
ocean. (.John Morris.)

About half of the seals caught along the coast are cows with pups in
them. A few medium-sized males are also taken, and the rest are young
seals of both sexes. We scarcely ever see an old bull seal, nor can we
tell the sex of the seals in the water. I have never caught any full-
grown cows along the coast that did not have pups in them. (Moses.)

About half the seals taken by me are cows with pup. I have taken
a few old bulls in my life, but not many. Have taken quite a number
of yearlings. The male seals taken are between 2 and 3 years.

(Nashlau.)

About one-half of the seals I have taken were females with pup.
Have taken a very few yearlings. Once in a while I take an old bull,
but not often. The male seals that I have killed are 2 and 3 years old,
1 think. (Dan Nathlau.)

Think about half of the seals taken by me have been cows with pup.
The rest are yearlings and young males 2 and 3 years old. Have never
seen an old bull in my life. (Joseph Neishkaith.)

Ahnost every female that has arrived at the age of maturity is preg-
nant. We follow them on from tiiere into Bering Sea, and almost all
the females taken are pregnant. (Niles Nelson.)

We sailed south as far as Blanco, sealing around there for two or
three months, when we headed north into Bering Sea, having caught
250 or 300 seals before entering the sea, of which GO per (jent of them
were females, mostly all of them having pups in them. (John O'Brien.)

In the beginning of the season we killed mostly yearling seals, but as
the season advanced we got almost all mothers in young in the vicinity
of Cape Flattery or from the Columbia Eiver to Vancouver, (Nelson
T. Oliver.)

The catch along the coast for the last six or seven years, since the
rifle and shotgun have come into use, is principally females, and the
grown ones have pups in them. The catch of young seals is nunih less
in proportion to the number caught than they were when Indians used
to take them by spearing. (William Parker.)

We began sealing off Cape Flattery and se.iled right up toward Be-
ring Sea, capturing 16 seals along the coast, all of wliich were females
with pup. We captured 250 females with i)up on the coast and then
returned to Victoria, after which we sailed again in a short time on the
same vessel with the same crew for the North Pacific Ocean and Be-
ring Sea, capturing about 250 female seals while en route to Bering Sea,
also a few male yeailings. (Charles Peterson.)

My experience in four years' sealing is that nearly all the seals taken
along the coast are pregnant females, and it is seldom that one of them
is caught that has not a young pup in her. (Fidwin P. Porter.)

T have been out sealing this year and caught 16 seals; 5 of them were
full-grown cows that had pups in them. The rest were young seals

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

255

abont 2 years old, botli male and female, excepting one, and that was
a gray pup. (Wilson Porter.)

Mo.-it of the seals taken by me have been cows with pup. (Rondtus.)

The niajjority of seals taken by me have been females with pup. Once
ill a great while I catch an old bull. A few yearlings have been taken
and tlie majority of males are 2 and 3 year olds. (Abel Ryan.)

While cruising along the coast our principal catch was female seals
witli i)up, the biilance being principally yearlings, about half male and
female. (William Sliort.)

We had 315 skins when we arrived here. Mostly all of them were
females heavy with pup asleep on the water, and we killed them with
shotguns. (Peter Simes.)

Most of tiie seal taken by me were cows with pup. (Aaron Sim

son.)

Most of the seals taken are cows with young. (Jack Sitka.)

]\r<»at of tlie seals taken by me are females with pup. Never killed
but one old bull in my lH'c. Have killed but a few yearlings and never
looked to see if they were male or female. The young males killed by
me were between 1 and 3 years old. (Thomas Skowl.)

I think 3 females with pup out of every 10 killed. I kill lots of
yearlings, but never examined them as to sex. Never shoot any old
bulls, although I have seen a good many. (George Skultka.)

We sailed from here on the Flying Mist on the 17th day of April,
1871, and caught altogether on that voyage about 875 seals, of which a
large majority were either females with pups or with their breasts full
of milk. I saw it flowing on the deck when we were skinning them.
# # • Went to Okhotsk Sea and sealed there about two months.
We got there some 600 seals, of which more than one half were females,
and the most of them had pups in them. (James Sloan.)

I am informed by our Loudon sales agent, and believe, that nearly
or quite nine-tenths of the Victoria catch is composed of females.
(Leon Bloss.)

A very large majority of the seal taken in the North Pacific are cows
with pup. (Fred Smith.)

We left San Francisco in February, and fished all the way up to
Ivadiak Island. We caught about 476 seals and about 40 otters. To
die best of my jiidgiiiout, the greatest portion of these were cows heavy
with young. We could see the milk running out of their teats when
they were skinned. I saw i)ups inside of the seals that we cut, and we
saved some of them and fed them." (E. W. Soron.)

We left hero with the City of San Dieyo in February, 1888, and arrived
in Bering Sea in June, 1888. As soon as we got into the ocean we
commenced shooting seals and continued shooting all the way up to the
Aleutian Islands. The seals became more plentiful as we were going
north. We caught about 660 during that voyage. We killed a portion
in Bering Sea. We killed 1 large bull that 1 recollect, and the rest
were nearly all females with i)up, or mothers giving milk. (Cyrus
Stephens.)

Most of the seals taken are females with pup. Out of 111 seals last
year I killed but 3 bulls. A very few yearlings have been taken by me.

256

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

A few male seal have been taken by me from 2 to 4 years old. (JoBhua
Stickland.)

We commenced sealing as soon as we got outside of the cape, and
captured about 270 seals along up the coast. Most of the senls caught
were i^reguant females, and when we would skin them the milk wouhl
run out of them on the deck. We began sealing off the Columbia Eiv(^r
and tlieu sealed northward up the coast to Bering Sea, and captuicd
about 320 seals in the North Pacific Ocean, mostly all females, and nearly
all had young pups in them. (John A. Swain.)

Most of the seals taken by me were cows with pup. • • * A few
male seal have been taken from 1 to 4 years old. But very few old
bulls have ever been taken by me. Have killed a few yearlings every
year. (M. Thlkahdayuahkee.)

Most of the seals taken on this coast are cows with young. Quite
a large number of yearlings are taken, most of which are females.
(Charlie Tlaksatan.)

Most of the seal taken by me have been females with pup. A few
male seals have been taken by me, ages ranging from 1 to 4 years, I
should think. Some yearlings have been taken, a majority of wliich
were females also. Very few old bulls have been killed by me. (James
Unatajim.)

Most of the seals taken have been cows with pup. I have taken hut
a very few old bulls. I have killed plenty of young males, uiid have
taken quite a number of yearlings, but never examined them as to sex.
(George Usher.)

The majority of seal taken are cows. A few yearlings are killed,
mostly females. (Rudolph Walton.)

In purchasing fur seals from hunters I have noticed that not less tlian
75 per cent of the catch taken previous to May 25 are female seals, and
from the development of the teat on th 5kin were evidently females
with pup. After that the catch is mostly young seals, and I paid no
attention to the sex. (M. L. Washburn.)

Most of the seals captured along the coast are cows with pups in
them. I have never captured any cows in milk or that had given
birth to tlieir young that year on the coast, and I do not recollect of
ever having caught an old bull. (Watkins.)

Out of 50 seals taken so far this season 40 are females with pup and
4 are males. Only one yearling seal has been taken this season among
the males. I should think the male seals taken this year were between
2 and 3 years old. (P. S. Weittenhiller.)

While out hunting this year we caught 16 seals; one-half of them
were cows with pup, the remainder were yearlings and 2-yeap-olds of
both sexes. (Charley White.)

In my captures off" the coast between here and Sitka 90 per cent of
my catch were females, but off the coast of Uniinak Pass tliere was a
somewhat smaller percentage of females, and nearly all the females
were cows heavy with pup, and in some instances the time of delivery
was so near at hand that I have frequently taken the live pup from the
mother's womb. (Michael White.)

I think about one-half the seals killed by me have been females with
pup, and the balance were divided up between yearlings and 1 and 2

ALASKA INDUSTHIE8.

257

year old males. Never examined the yearlingH nstosex; have never
killed lui old bull in my life. (Hilly Williams.)

Think that most of the seals I have taken were females witli pup.
Have also taken some 2 and 3 year old males and some yearlings.
Never killed but one old bull in my life. (Fred Wilson.)

Most all the seals caught by me along the coast were cows that had
pups in them. I never killed a barren cow or one that was in milk.
(Wispoo.)

About half the seals I have killed were females with pup, and the
balance were yearling seals and 2 and 3 year old males. Never killed
an old bull in my life, nor have I ever seen one. (Billy Yeltachy.)

Some years ago there were more male seals taken than are taken
now, but now about one-half are females with i)up. The rest are year-
ling seals and 1 and 2 year old males. 1 have never examined the
yearling seal to ascertain their sex. Uave not killed any old bull seal
for a number of years, but used to kill them. ( Yethnow.)

Most of the seals I have killed were females with pup. Once in a
while an old bull is taken. (Paul Young.)

I have been out on the Pacific Ocean this year seal hunting and
caught three seals. They were large cow seals, and had pups in tliein.
One and 2 year old seals are about equally male and female. (Hish
YuUa.)

Almost half the seals I now catch are cow seals, and have little pups
in them. (Hish Yulla.)

About one-third of all the cows I caught along the coast were cowa
with pups in them; never caught any old bulls, and used to catch more
gray pups than I do now. Most all the rest of the seals I caught have
been 1 and 2 years old, and are about equally male and female. (Thos.
Zoluoks.)

Ofpiob Special Agent Treasury Department,

Washington, D. C, December 30, 1892.
Sir: I have the honor to hand you herewith a series of tables setting
forth the number of fur seals killed on the Pribilof islands, for all
causes whatsoever, during the term of the lease of the Alaska Com-
mercial Company — that is, from 1870 to 1889, both inclusive.

These tables have been compiled by nie with great care from the offi-
cial records of the Pribilof Islands, and are correct, careful compari-
sons having been made. They include every seal killed from any cause,
intentional or accidental, incidiuit to the taking of seal skins on the
islands of St. Paul and St. George.

Joseph Murray,
First Assistant Special Agent.

Hon. Charles Foster,

Secretary of the Treasury,
H. Doc. 92, pt. 2 17

268

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

Tablet ithmpinri in dflail all killing of fur teals, for whaltoever purpoie, on the Priliilof
Jslaiids durini/ the tenn of the lease of the Alaska Commercial Company— that is, from
187U to 1889, both inotim've.

Noi'K.— There is a miaapprehnnBion in regard to the namsa of the several rookeries and ImtiliiiK
Kriniiuls, and tliey are often ('unrounded by |inople who are not thoroiiKhly acquainted with theni.
Ziijtoi iind Garliotoh are local Biil]divi8ion8 ol the Keef Kooltery and mu tnwled an rooliurieii l>.v Home
of tlio TroaHury ngeiilH. while (iIIiith Ignore thoni altocotlior. Zapadnio and SvnihwiHt liny an' one.
I'idivinaand llalfwav Point are one; some men using tun Uusitian while otliorsuHothu KugliBli uhmich.
KncliHli liny and Middio Hill are separate and distinct rookeries, and yet tlioy are often H])okon of Jis
thoii<;li they wore one. Near is a local subdivision of North Kookery. Little Eadt is a subdiviHiou
of KaHt Kookery. Sea Lion Koek, SouthwoFrt Voint, and Itocky Point are neither rooliories nor haul-
in;; ;:ninnd8 In the strict ncnseof the terui: thu Heals come and'gont will, for It is only \inder the most
faviiralile couilitloiiH ot wind and water tliey can be reached, and it Is but Holdom there are nianv of
tin ni. liy keeping thene facts in mind it will ho Hueu that seals were driven from all of the hauliu);
grounds on both islands from 1870 to date.

ST. PAUL ISLAND.

[No record of daily killings for 1870.]

Date.

1870.

July

1871.

Mav 10

■ 21

Juno 1

2

6

8

10

14

15

10

20

22

23

24

24

29

28

1

8

6

7

8

18

21

22

22

24

20

28

28

31

11

18

24

29

Sept. 4

11

18

20

29 I

2

0

10

13

14

16

17

17

10

21

21

25

27

28

28

Aug.

Eookory.

Not Indicated in the records ol
this year

Oct.

Tolntoi

Hoef

Tolstoi

Ueef

....do

EngliHli liny

Sout h went l!ay

Zoltoi

/oltoi and I'.nglisli ISay..

Zoltoi

Southwest Hay

Lukanuon

Zoltoi

Reef

NorthcaHt Point

Zoltoi and Keel'

Tulxtoiand Knglistli ilay.

Lukanuon.

Nortlif ast Point

Lukaunon and Zoltoi.. .

Rcif

Lukaunon

Zolici

Kn^iliHli Uay

Ketova

Northeast Point

Zoltoi

Zoltoi and Lukaunon. ...

Tolstoi

NorllicaHt Point

Lukanuon

Zoltoi

.. do

do

Ketova

Lukaunon

Zoltoi

Ketova

...do

Tolstoi

Ketova

lliilt'way Point

Ketovn.

Tolstoi

Keef

Northeast Point.
Ketova.
Itoef

Tolstoi

English liny

NorthoaHt Point.

....do

....do

....do

....do

Total
killed
for all

pur-
poses.

15,314

186

240

579

222

917

1,682

2, 701

874

1,107

l,3ftit

1,1171

1, 28:t

618

796

2,654

1,014

2,401

1,133

2, o;i8

3, 023

1,189

750

1,040 I

1,940

801

3,404

1, 179

1,807

1,418

2,845

657

205

150

118

60

193

178

105

77

130

1,250

1,308

6, 083

896

606

633

683

1,158

8,150

3,666

2,181

2,142

3,042

679

495

1871.
Oct. 30

Nov
Deo.

1872.

May 11

' 14

24

June 1

3

5

10

11

12

13

14

15

17

19

20

21

22

24

27

28

29

July 1

6

6

9

12

13

16

17

10

22
24
25
30

Aug. 1
6
0
13
17
20
29

Sept. 7
12
20

Oct. 3

3

10

21

Tolstoi

EngliHli Bay.

Keef

do

do

Total.

Northeast Point

Reef

do ,

do

Tolstoi

Reef ,

Tolstoi and EnglUh Hay

Sout hwebt Hay

Zoltoi and Keef

Tolstoi and English Bay

do

Reef and Northeast Point

Zoltoi

English Bay

Reef

Lukaunon ,

Nort heast Point and Ketova . . ,

Reef and Zoltoi

English Bay

Tolstoi and Northeast Point

Ketova and Lukanuon

Z(dtoi

English Bay

Zoltoi ami Northeast Point

English Bay

Zoltoi and Lukanuon

English Bay

Zoltoi '.

Halfway Point ,

English Bay, Lukanuon, and

Northeast Point

Zoltoi

Engl ish Bay

Zoltoi ,

do

Northeast Point

Zoltoi ,

Northeast Point

Tolstoi

Northeast Point

Zoltoi ,

Lukaunon

Zoltoi ,

do ,

do

English Bay

Zoltoi ,

do

Ketova

2,092

30

729

047

3,877

81,803

6

227
455
759
278
293
209

L6ie

662
L057
1,730
4,714

395
2,828
1,169
1,705
5,547

910
4,018
6,427
1,151
1,841
3,265
6,705
3,139
2,071
2,329
1,116
L664

7,388

1,384

2,080

038

34

10

119

7

90

3

114

161

09

122

118

93

490

127

81

ALASKA INDUBTRIES.

250

Tabled showing in delnil all killing of fur dealt, for whaUoever purpone, on the Pribilof
Island* during the term of the leane of the Alaika Commercial Company — that it, from
1870 to ISS'J, both inclutive — Continued.

ST. PAUL ISLAND-Oontlnned.

Date.

2,092

;io

720

fl47

3,877

6

227
455
759
278
293
200

i,eie

662
1,057
1,730
4,714

305
2,828
1,160
1,705
5,547

910
4,618
6,427
1,151
1,941
;i, 265
6,765
3,139
2, 071
2, 329
1,116
1,664

7,388

1,384

2,080

038

34

10

119

7

90

3

114

161

09

122

118

93

490

127

91

1872.

(lot. 20

Nov. 20

30

30

Deo. 5

0

Not. —

1873.

May 23
23

June 3
4
6
10
11
13
13
16
16
16
18
21
21
23
24
26
27
27
30

July 1
2

9
»

14
16
16
17
18
19
19
21
22
22
24

Aug. 4
13
20
20

Sept. 1
9
29
30
8
10
21

Bookery.

Oct..

Nov,

Ueo. 9

30

1874.

Apr. 27

May 6

10

25

30

Zoltot, Reef, and Luknniion.

TolHtiii

Nortlicaat I'oiut

do

Ruef

ZolUii

Total.

Ueef

South wi'Rt Hay..
Uc.ifiinil Tolstoi
Soiitliwdst Bay..
Keel' uikI Tolstoi
Sotitli west Buy and KnuliHli Bay

I{«(!f and Zoltoi

Tolstoi mill KiiiiUhIi Bay

Nortlu^Mst I'uiiit

Tolstoi

Lukaniion

IJiof.

Soutliwost Bay anil KiikIIsIi Bay

/olt<ii

Niirtlioaiit Point

Tol.stoi and English Bay

Knglirtli Hay

Houtaiid Tolstoi

/.oltoi anil Lukannon

Norllipast I'oint

Tolstoi

LiikannoE and Zoltoi

Tols ' oi

Zoltoi

do

Zoltoi and Tolstoi

....do

Nort lieast Point

Tolstoi

Zoltoi

...do

Enelish Bay

Zoltoi

Lakannon, Ketova, and Zoltoi .

Northeast Point

Kuglish Bay

Lnkunnonand Kotova

do

NorthuBst Point

Zoltoi

do

do

LukannoB

Zoltoi

do

do

Soifth wi'St Bay

Ketova

...do

Zoltoi

I 'or nativog' food

I toef

G arbot<3h

Total.

Nort hnast Point.
Soutliwost Bay. .
Kocf

.do.

Total
killed
for all
IMir-
posea.

1,284
753
724

1,286
112
4211

5, 121

81.810

193

104

803

703

920

2,597

1,666

2, 029

3, 243

1,770

677

4B5

3, 1(46

652

3.412

1, 803

3. 159

2,210

],U7

5, 020

1,848

2,337

l,9:i8

2,212

710

1,510

2,494

6, 278

(125

1,248

1,547

1..S61

!t29

1,017

5, two

754

1, 07!)

446

2,727

179

1«8

05

155

IIU

109

122

10

104

80

154

5,489

231

267

81, 987

10

404
340

301
217

Date.

1874.
•Tune 3
3
4
8
8
0
10

11

13
13
13
16

17
17
19
20
20

2;i

25

26

27

27

30

July 1

I

8

4

4

fl

8

9

9

10

10

13

14

15

16

16

17

17

23

28

Aufr. 3

10

17

20

31

Sept. 7

16

26

Oct. 1

19

29

Nov. —

Dec. 17

1896.

Jan. 1

Fob. 10

16

17

7

10

14

18

24

81

Jane 1

1

6

May

Rookery.

Sonthwegt Bay

H«nf

Tolstoi and Kn^lish Bay

Northeast Point

Hcfif and Znllni

South west liny and EnKlish Bay

Tolstoi ;

Koef and (rarbotch

Southwest Hiiv and Kniilish Bay

Tolstoi.

Northea.'<t I'oint

Reef and Zoltoi

Kntrlish Bav and Tolstoi

/oHol....;

Southwest and English b.iys . . .

Zoltoi and Liikannon

Nortiieast Point

Zoltoi and Lukannon

Kuglish liay

Reof and Zoltoi

Kutova and Lukannon

Northeast Point

Zoltoi and Tohtoi

Knglisii Bay and Tolstoi

Ueef, Tolstoi, and I.iiliannon . . .

Tolstoi

Lukannon

Zoltoi

English Bay

Kuglish Bay and Tolstoi

Zoltoi

Tolstoi and Lukannon

Zoltoi

Northeast Point

Tolstoi and Lukannon

English Bay

ZolTol

Lukannon and Ketova

Zoltoi

lyukan non

Northeast Poi n t

Tolstoi

Zoltoi

do

do

....do

do

....do

do

do

do

do

Reof

...doi

Pups for natives

Ueef

Total.

Northeast Point

do

do

do

Southwest Bay

Northeaat Point

....do

Reef

....do

....do

English Bay and Southwest Bay

Tolstoi

Zoltoi and Tolstoi

Total
killed
for all

pur-
pose*.

2,39.^

w<n

4, 01)2

639

1,898

034

540

1,1182

022

4, 737

801

2,680

474

3,419

3, 033

7,217

3, 082

3,270

1,921

1,321

8, 172

1,212

2,209

2, 021

1,5.38

538

3,014

1,564

2, 702

1,087

1,580

432

3,307

1,664

2,169

475

1,099

668

533

4,004

130

167

112

107

131

89

201

197

163

174

179

175

236

4,807

1,541

98, 139

26
fl
9

16

408

9

20

143

657

492

,201

203

C82

260

ALASKA INDlJSTKIEa

Tables . .owing in detail all killing of fur seals, for whatsoever purpoae, on the I'rihilof
Islands durina the term of the lease of the Alaska Commercial Company — that is, from
1S70 to 18S9, boih inc/uoife— Coutinued.

ST. PAUL ISLAKD-Continued.

Dkte.

1875.

June 7

7

7

10

12
12
14
16
16
17

la

IS
19
22
22
24
25
26
26
28

ao

Julv 2

3

6

8

9

10

10

13

. M

15

16

16

17

22

S8

Alif,'. 4
14
81

Sept. 2
12
21
80

Oct. 12

Nov. 5
17
2»

Deo. 2
4

1876.

San. 12

May 2a

31

June 3

Rookery,

Zoitoi nnd Reef

South weat liay

Ncii'thuiiHt I'oiiit

Knj^lirth Bay, Southwoat Hay,

Xolnlol

Keel' luid Zoltoi

Nortlieiwt I'oint

Tolstoi undEiigllshBay ,

lliill'way Point

Tolatol and reef

Lukannon

SoiitliweBt Bay, English ISay...

Zoltoi

NortheMt Point

Tolstoi

Zoltoi ,

English Bay

I^nkonnon

Northuast Point

Southwest Bay ,

Keef

Zoltoi aifll EnL'lish Hay

Lakannon, Ketova, Zoltoi

NortheiiHt Point

Zoltoi and Lukanuou

EngliBh Boy

Tolstoi and English Bay

Lukannon and Ketova

Northeast Point

Zoltoi ,

Tolstoi and Englinh Hay

Luknnnnn and Kotova ,

English Bay

Zoltc.i

Northeast Point

Zoltoi ,

do

do

Kotova ,

Zoltoi ,

do

do

....do

do

...do

ToifkA""'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.

Southwest Bay

Pups killed for food ,

Northuast Point ,

Tolstoi

Total.

Tolstoi

Southwest Bay

Reef

Southwest Bay

Reef and Zoltoi

Tolstoi

Southwest Bay

lu I Ziltoi

11 ' Northnast Point

la ; Zoltoi

14 Halfway Point

15 Tolstoi, Zoltoi, Reef ,

17 1 Southwest Bay

17 Northeast Point

Zoltoi

Tolstoi

Zoltoi

BnRlish Bay and Northeast
Point

Total
killed
for all
pur-
poses.

711

1, 580

27

1,45U

eai

4, 0115
739
2,115
707
4,')2
3, 303
1, 3B3
5, 252
1,830
1,150
3,009
262
7,349
4,047
1,527
3,927
2,534 I
5,024
1,248 I
3,370
2,003

1, va

5,937 I

1, ."iflS
1,81(1 1

748

2. 700
1,2115
7, 439

557
159
235
192
159
210
143
146
153
115
172

1,990
24

3,745
15

94,960

914

223

189

836

673

4G8

566

184

1,585

868

811

1,509

2,641

3,120

2,942

3,101

480

10,S9S

naU.

Oct.

1876.

June 26

28

29

July 1

4

5

7

8

8

10

13

22

29

Ang. 1

10

17

23

Sept. 1

11

19

28

6

14

18

31

Nov. 24

24

Deo. U

1877.

May 22

J une 4

6

9

12

13

14

15

16

IB

10

20

21

22

23

23

26

26

27

28

28

80

30

July 1

8

4

•

7

7

9

10

10

•14

22

Aug. fl

11

20

30

.Sept, 12

21

29

Bookery.

Zoltoi

EngliibHill

Zoltoi

Tolstoi and Northeast Point.

Tolstoi and Ketova

...do

English Bay

Lukannon

NortheaHt Point

Zoltoi

English HUl

Zoltoi

do.

Total
killed
foraU
pur-
puses.

Lukannon and Zoltoi.

Zoltoi

Ketova

....do

Zoltoi

Kotova

Zoltoi

... do

....do

....do

...do

Tolstoi

Southwest Bay

— do

Pups killed for food..
Tolstoi

Total.

Beef

....do

Southwest and English Bay

do

Reef

Halfway Point ,

English Bay and Southwest Hay

Tolstoi

Zoltoi

do

Tolstoi

Southwest Bay

Lnkannon

Halfway Point

Northeast Point ,

Tolstoi

Zoltoi

Halfway Point

Tolstoi

Zoltoi and Lukannon

EnslishBay

Tofitol

Northeast Point

Zoltoi

Tolstoi and Lnkannon

Tolstoi and English B.ay

Lukannon and Ketova ■

Zoltoi

Northeast Point

Zoltd

Tolstoi

Northeast Point

Zoltoi

...do

do

.do.
.do.
.do.
.do.
.do.
.do.

3,017

1,442

11,495

2,644

2,846

2, 267

2,126

2,116

2,039

1,974

63

1,040

3,677

120

134

215

179

130

133

146

133

136

120

163

636

(165

3,958

825

83, 157

343

548

799

1,705

440

1, 095

1,647

1,507

1,094

1,013

],4.'>8

1,6.31

1,172

1,224

6,965

1,050

1,260

430

2,020

1,401

2,106

1,917

6,449

1,849

1, 534

2, 522

2, 275

1,113

5,600

495

2,086

2,172

1,066

75

165

172

190

200

196

171

les

883

a, 017

1,442

11,405

-J,6i4

2,848

2, 2U7

2, 120

2,116

2,039

1,974

B3

1,040

3,677

120

134

21S

179

130

133

146

133

136

120

163

636

3,058
825

84S
648
799

1,705
440
1, GO'S
1,647
1,507
1,094
1,013
1,458
1,631
1,172
1,224
6,965
1,050
1,250
430
2,020
1,401
2,106
1,017
6,449
1,K49

1, 534

2, 522
2,275
1,113
5,000

405

2,088

2,172

1,066

76

165

172

190

200

106

171

les

ALASKA INDUSTRIES

261

Tablrit thawing in detail all killing o/ fur neaU, for whaUoerer purpose, on the Prihilof
Mandti iliiriiiji the term of the leane of the Alafka Commercial Company — that is, from
1S70 to ISHD, both i»ic<u«ii'f— ("oiitimled.

ST. PAUL ISLAND-Contlnncd.

I)«t<'.

1877
Oct.

Nov.

6
16
24
7
0
12
19
27
29
Doc. 20

July

Aug.
S(>pt.

Ocl.
Nov.

187 S. I
May 10

30 I
June 8 I

11
12
13

14

15
17

18

10
20
21

22

22

24

25

26

27

28

29

29

1

2

3

4

6

0

0

8

9

10

10

12

13

16

17

18

18

30

. 10

22

2

14

24

2

10

1

4

6

8

28
Aug. to(|
Deo. J

Kookery.

T<iliil
killi'd
for all
pur-
poBeH.

Zoltol

....do

ilo

Zolliil iiiiil Kftova

/.ollcii anil l.iikiiiinuii

/oltoi anil KdhI'

TolHtol

do

do

Nurtheutit Point

171

167

140

2,715

1,636

757

222

1,259

383

20

Total 67,810

Soa I.ion Uork

Sonlliwiwt llav !

Ki'of '

TolMliii and Kn^'lUh Hay

liwl and Znltoi ". '

Soiitliwe.st Hav and KngliHh I

Hay

Tnlrtfoi

Kctovtt, Reel', Zoltol

Tolstoi '

SontliwvHt Kay and KngliHli

Hay

[.iikannou, Krtova, Zoltol

Tolstoi

Sontliwcst Hav and KngUsh

Hay

Zoltol, hiikannou, Ketova ]

Xortlioast Point i

Halfway Point

Tolstoi

Zoltoi. Kotova, Lukaunou

English Hav

Zoltol and ketova

Tolstoi

Noitlii'nst Point

Halfway Point

Zoltoi and Ketovft

Lukaunou

Zoltol

Tolstoi

Zoltol and Ki'tova

Northeast Point

Halfway Point, Liikannon,

Kotova

Zoltoi

do

Xiirthi'ast Point

Tolstoi and .Middle Hill.

Zoltoi

MidilloIIill

Zoltoi

do.

Lukanuon

Zoltol

do

do

do

do

Lnkanuou

do

do

do

do

Rpcf

do

Tolstoi and Reef .
do

200
703
857
2,40!)
550

1,099

887
1,2S3
1,501

2,278

908

1,731

1,4,57
1,300
5,900
1, 473
1, 552

1, 896

2, 672
1,601
1,131
6,375
2,237
3,903

791
2.010
2, 622
1,030
7,231 •

1,369 '
910 ::
2,288 1 1
3,322 :i
:i,00ll :j
2, 101 I
1,086 I
2.337 i!
1,.549 1 1
272
401 .
294 i
173
211
156 I
144 i
148
140
1.380
2,000
1,2.55 i
.571 i
1,144
853

Northeast Point (watchmen) . . . ! 133
Total ' 88,519

Date.

1879.
May IB
26
Juno 2

7

9
10
11

12
i:i
14
10
17
18
10
20
21
10
17
18
19
20
23
24

Jnlv

July

Aug.

Sept.

Sookery.

Sottthwest and EnslUh bays.
Reef

do.

Knglish and Southwest hays,
'l\.lstol

June 30
1

2
.1
4
7
8
9
10
7
8
0
10
14
I'l
10
16

Reef

Hallway Point

Southwest and Kiigllsh bays . . .

Tolstoi

Reef, Zoltoi, Ketova

SouthwestHay and Middle Hill.

Halfway Point

Southwest Hay and Middle Hill

Ueef, Ketova, Zoltol

Soiithwestliaynud English Hay .

Tolstoi andMiildlo Hill

Re<if, Ki^tova, Lukaunou

Northeast Point

... do

....do

...do

...do

Tolstoi and .Middle Hill

Southwest and Knglish l)ayH...

Reef, Zoltoi, Ketova *

Tolstoi, Middle Hill, Knglish

Ha.v, Zoltoi

FTallway Point

Kotova, Reef, Lukanuon, Zoltoi

Nort heast Point

....do

....do

....do

d^

Total
killed
for all

pur
poses.

2
2
11
20
27
28
5
8
11
18
18
18
18
20
29
20
Oct. 7

Tolstoi and Middle Hill

Knglish Bay

Liikannon and Zoltoi

Zoltoi and Middle Hill

English Hay

Lnkannon and Ketova

Northeast Point

do

do

do

do

Zoltoi and Middle Hill

Zoltoi. Ketova, Liikannon

Zoltoi and Ketova

do

Northeast Point

do

do

do

Zoltoi

Zoltoi and Ketova

Middle Hill, Lukanuon, Tolsto
do

Zoltoi

Nort heast Point

Zoltoi

do

do

Specimens

Zoltoi

.Southwest Hay

Zoltoi

Northeast Point

Zoltoi

Halfway Point

Southwest Bay

Northeast Point

Zoltoi

Southwest Bay

Noi (heast Point

Ketova

278
625
102

L627

434

1,188

1,462

498

730

997

522

1,331

914

1,119

1,176

1,053

1,528

000

1,860

1,745

1,289

2, 300

1,822

1,995

1,642
1,940
1,206

1, 550
1,414
I,3,'I0
1,074
1,605

2, 017
2, 148
1,885
1,932
2, lOB
1,168
2, 524
1,628

866
1,988
2,077
1,528
1,020
983
948
2,418

1 , 204
1,519

398

2, 052
1,233
2, 882

1.57

278

13

273

195

206

18

203

1

184

16

174

2

6

4

198

6

109

262

ALASKA INDUSTRIES,

Tables showing in detail all killing of fur seals, for wtiatsoever purpoxe, on the Vribilof
Islands during the term of the leane of thf Alaska Commercial Conqtany—that is; from
liTOtolSSO, both iHc/M8ire— Continued.

ST. PAUL ISLAND- Ciutinnod.

Date.

1879.

Oct. 20

29

30

31

31

3

3

5

5

Nov.

13
27
Doe. 6
10
26
26

18R0.
Mav 1-1

22

June 1
8
9
U
12
It
15
16
17
18
■9

u

19<

21

22

23

24

25

26

2U
2BS

29

dL

1

2

3

3

5

5

6

7

8

0

10

6-10

12

13

14

15

16

17

28

30

31

Aug. 11

19

28

Sept. S

IH

30

Jnlv

liooken'

Total
kiUed
for all
pui -
poaei.

Ajitiiiiiinon

do

do

Kelovft

do

Lukunnon

do

Garbotch

do

do

Ri-ef

do

Garbotch

Reef

Northeast Point.
Southwest 13ay..

283
.'■>44
.■135
999
107

1, 153
31

1,466

79

356

260

172

1,206

1,308
62

, isny.

Southw

Keof

Nortlieast Point

Heef

Southwest liiiv

Repf

English 1!;. , Tolstoi

Southwest iihI English bays..

Halfway I'utnt

iieef anil Zoltol

Zapadnie and Enjilish Bay

Kctova, Zoltoi Keef

Tiilstoi and EMglish Hav

English iiaya.id Middle Il.U..

XorDieast I'oiiit

Halfway P'dnt

Keto\ (1, Zoltoi, Reef

'I'oUtoi and Middle HIU

Reef, Zoltoi, Kotova

English Bay and Kiddle Hill. .
Ketova, Zoltoi, Keof

ttalfway Point

Ketovr. Lnkannon, Zidtoi

Tolstoi and Middle Hill

do

English ISav and Mi<l<lle Hill . .

Ketova, Zoftoi, Reef

Northeast Point

Halfway .' .jint

Imkannon and Ketova

Tolstoi

Tolstoi and Lukannon ,

Zoltoi, Keof, Lukannon. 'Cet< vu
Tolstoi, Lukannon, Middle Hill

Zoltoi, Ketov;., Lukannon

'•, ortheast I'oiiit.

^(dtoi, Kotova, Lukannon

lolsloi aiul English Itav

Reef, /olt'ji, L'.;kannon, Ketova

English Itay

Middle Hill and Lukannon

Zoltoi

North ist Point

Halfvay Point

Zoltoi

do

do

do

do

do

do

Total 88,221

209
225
19
216
1,497
926
889

1,459

1, 03,'i
1,702
1,437

2, 582
1,062

A'ortheasiroint 6,202

Date.

763

1,204

r«5

990

.•8

1,619

802

6. 27S i

1,.S18

1,743

2,297

1,022

2, 374

1,386

7,107

789

051

l..')77

1,854

2, 221

1.428

1,221

7, 073

817

1,763

2.C40

l.S.'U

2, 481

834

43

228

218

253

160 ]

189

195 '

239 :

227 i

1880.
()('t. 12
2,'>
Nov. 2,?
3.5,0s
Dec. 6
9
24
Nov. 11
J9

i/<ai.

Jan. 1-3
May 4

14
29

June 6

7

9
10
14

15

16
17
18
20
21

Julv

23
24

25

27

28

2P

12
13
14
IS

16
18
19
20

Rookery.

Lukani'on. ..
English r>ay

Lukannon, Ri

if. Keldva.

Reef

•Southwest liay. .
Northeast Poi.;t .

Middle Hill

English llay

killed
for, ill
pur-
poses

200
193

1,410

1, 170

13

82

270

270

Total 84, 779

on re-

! T.ilatoi anil reef

Additional skins fiiun'

I lonni

Addi'ional sU'ns fouTjd in salt . .

[ Reef

I Reef and Zoltoi

Southwest and English bays,

Tolstoi

Zoltoi

Hnlfway Point

Zoitoi

Hoi'i'iwest and English bays,

Tolstoi

/'dtoi, Reef, Lnkannon

HaliVay Point

Tolstoi

Zoltoi and Lukannon

Tcilsloi, Middle Hill, Norlhea-it

Toiut

English Bay, Middle Hill, Tol

stoi, Nortlteast loint

Reef and Tolstoi

Halfway Point, Middle Hil'.,

Euijlisb Hav, Tolstoi

^UdifleHill, Lukunnon, Z-Utiii,

Reef

Middle Hill, Lnglish liay, Tol-
stoi, Northeast Point.

English ISav, Southwest liay,
Northea.st I'oint.

Zoltoi, Ncrthcast

' iriiY

Lukannon,
Point

English Hav, Middle
Northeast Point

Tolstid and Lukannon

Halfway P.iint

Englisli Hay, Middle Hill, Tol-
stoi, Norttienst Point

Zoltoi, Ketova. Northeast Point

Southwest Hay, Knglish liay,
Northeast Point. '. ..

Zoltoi, Tolstoi. .Middle Hill,
Northeast Point

Halfway Point, Xorlhoast
Point

English Hay, Middle Hill, Tol-
stoi

Zoltoi, Tidstoi, l.ukaniiMn

English liav, Ml.ldio Hill

Enelish and .Sonlhvesl liava . . .

Englhth llay, .Middle Hill, Tol
stoi, Zoltoi Ketova, Lukan-
non

Zoltoi, Ketova (Til), North-
east Point, food 1 16)

Middle Hill, Tolstoi, Zoltoi,
Ketova, Lukannon

English Dav, Midd' ■ 'till, Tol-
stoi

Tolstoi, Zoltoi, Keio- a, Lukan
Don

1,058

8

3

165

423

1,250
127
474
196

2,387

724

539

1,229

1,614

4,103

;i, 049

1, 164

3, 082
1,275
2,043
3, 318

2, 987

4. 596

3, ,).">8
943

3, 758
1,949

4, 853
;i,42I
2, 209
2,631

:i,er5

1,782
I, 173

3, ,561
727
2, 4.W
2, 301
2,636

260

iu:t

4, 410

1, 178
ID

«2
270
270

84, 779

1,058

8

3

165

423

1,250
127
474
196

2,387

724

r.30

l,i'20

1,614

4,103

:i,049
1,164

3, 082

1,275

2, 013

3, 318

2, 067

4.596

3, 358

943

3, 7.58
1,049

4, 853

3,421

2, 269

2,6,11
:i,ii;5
1,782
1,473

.1, ,561
727
2, 455
2, 301
2,636

ALASFfA INDUSTRIES.

263

Tables shoiring in detail all killing of fur seals, for whatsoever purpose, on the Prilnlof
hliituls during the tmn of the leane iif the Alaska Commercial Company — thai is, from
1S70 to ISS'J, both inclusive — Coiit'nued.

ST. PAUL ISLAND— Continued.

Date.

1881.

.liilv

27

IK- 29

All-

.')

16

17

20

26

29

Scpl.

6

17

19

28

on.

10

2!)

Nov.

5

Doc.

mIv

Uookory.

Ziiltoi

NorllienHt I'oint

Zoltoi

d(i

NorllieaHt Point

do

Zoltoi

'; NortlioaMt Point

i /.oHi>i

I NortliKiHt Point

Zoltol

Zoltoi(208), NortliciiBtPoint(5)

Zoltoi (211), Noi t houHt I'oint (5)

Zoltoi, Noitliiast Point

TolMtoi . . .

Middio Hill

Tolstoi

Middio Hill

Sout liwoHt Bay ,

Kccf

1882.
Jan. 12
Ki'b, 8
10
Jlay 22
31
June 2

a

10
12

i;i

13
14
16

17
19

20

21

22

23

24

26

2K
29

Total.

Tot.ll

killed

for all

pur

pO.M'JH.

202

38

•.!24

270

10

6

240

7

249

11

205

213

216

227

209

683

494

462

1,022

1,294

Roof

do

.... do

TolHto'

Itpof

Sonthwoat Bay, Middio Hill,

Tolstoi ."

Soiiihwoat Hay

Zidtoi and Keejf

Tol3t<d and Ucof

fSoutlnvcHt Bay and No,'a.ea8t

Point

Halfv ay Point

-Vorlhpaflt Poini

SoiUIi\vo8t Hay a.Ml T()lBtoi ....
Halfway Pciint. K.M-f, ToIhIoI . .

.SoiitliwVrtt Hay anfl Tolstoi

Kotova, K«6i', Zoltoi, North-

(Mut Point

SouthwHHt Hay and Northca,st

Point

Knglish Hiiy, Tolitoi, North-

laBt Poi.it

Ki'tova, Koif, Zoltoi, North-
cast i'oint

Hallway Point and Nortl.oast

Point'

Middl.' Hill, Tol.itoi, Norl'.oast

Point

Siiiillivvi'st Hay and Northoa«t

I'cdnt

Kiigli-sli Hay. Middle Hill,

Noithoast Pidnt

IJccf, Tolstoi, Nnrthoast Point.
.Middle Hill, Tolstoi, Nortlioast

Point

Halfway Point, Lukainon,

Ni.rtlu'u.st Point

Mortlioast INdnt and Reef

Sontliwi'st P.ay and Northeast

Knaliali ' Viay, ' Middio ' Hi i i , '
Norl liea.st Point

Zoltoi aid Northeast Point

Middle Hill, Zolt(.i, Northeast
Point

Knglish Hay, Middle Hill,
Northeaiit Point

ai, 774

80

103

8

120

246

400
848

428
488

2, 223
217
306

8o;i

1,158
1,070

1,829

3, OflU
1,617
2,811

2, 528
1.560
3,104

3, 220
4,270

2,239 j

2, 469 I
1.601

2, 575
3,034

1.540 i]

2,673'!

1882.
July 8

10

12

i3

17

18
19
20
25
27

4
14
26

4
15
27
30

6
17
30
30
17
28
3U

4 {

6 !
12

Miti.

Sept.

Oct.

Nov.

liw.

1883.
May 26
June 4

6
9
11

12
13
14
15
Hi
18
10

20
27

23

18-23

25

20

-■8
20

30
-30

2

3
4
5
6

July

Halfway Point and Northeast

Point

Reef, Ketova, Lukannon,

Northeast Point

do

Southwest Hay and N<jrtheast

Point

EnKli.il. liav, iliddle Hill, Toh

SMti, Norlhea.st Pnint

Kngliiih Hay. Middle Hill.

Northeast I'oint

Zcdtoi

Zoltoi, Liikannnn, Ketova

Southwest Hay

Z(dtoi

Northeast Point

Zoltid

do

do

do

...do

do

Northeast Point

Zoltoi

do

Reef.

Northeast Point

Middio Hill and Tolstoi.

Kcof

I'olstoi

Roef

....do

....do

2,454

3.291

2, 833

3, 420

3. U87

2, .593

1,012

1,276

727

204

19

252

226

234

191

237

227

25

201

261

166

23

248

383

429

498

388

400

Total . 79,834

Sonthwest Bay

Southwest and liiijjiish bays,
Tolstoi '. ...

Halfwav Point

Ueef...'.

.Southwest Hay, Middle Hill,
Tulsl.ii ■

Ili'ef ami Zoltfd

Hallway I'oint

Southwest and Knglish hays. .

KuKlish Bay and Tolstoi

Keef and Zoltoi

.Southwest Bay

Knglish Hay, Middle Hill, Tol-
st<d

Halfwav Point and Lukaunon .

Keef aiid ! ilsttd

English Hay, Middio Hill, Ted.
stol

Keef, Zoltoi, Lukan.ion

Northeast Point

Kuglish liav, Jlid.llo Hill, Tol-
stoi '.

Zoltoi anrl Liikannon

Southwest and English hays . . .

Zoltoi, T(dstoi, Keef, l.ukannon.

English Bay, Middio Hill, Zol
tol ".

l.ukannon. Keef, Zoltoi

Northeast Point

Halfway Point

Southwest Bay

Middle Hill and Tidstoi

Zoltoi and T.nkannon

Zoltoi, Middio Ulll, Tolstoi ....

230

592
354
177

405

490
440
341
417

735

9118
972

1,401
1,078
3, 279

1,428

838

1,640

1,612

1,519
1.191
5,012
1,700
2. 151
1,494
2, 348
1,756

264

ALA8IU INDUSTRIES.

TaU'lcs showhifi i» detail all kUlinfi of fur seals, for whatsoever purpose, on thf Frihilof
Inlands during the term of the lease of the Alaska Commercial Company — that it, from
t870 to 18S0, both ineimi've—Coutinmd.

ST. PAUL ISLAND— Continued.

l):ito.

1883
Julv

Auk

(»it.
Nov

188
Jmm.
Mmv

Jiiiii

Jnlv

Kookery.

HI

i;t

14

16'
17

18
li)

1
10
•M

1
11!
•J I

(■>
'JO
2i)

1

5
15 '

■ji;

27

h

lU

Ziiltoi. Kepf, Tjukannou

.MitUlln Hill

Noiiheast Pnint

Knglish I'.av, Mi<liUeHill. lols

toi, Zolto'i

IlalfH-av Pi)iiit, Liikannon,

Ztiltoi

Sunt Invest l».»v

English Bnj, Miildlo Hill, Znl-

toi '.

do

Hallway I'oint and Zoltoi

S(uitli\s('st liay
Middlo llil '
Zoltoi

Total
killed
for all
pur-
poaes.

2.

1,

, inkaunon, Zoltoi ; 8,

....do..
... do..
....do..
...do..
....do..
... d.i..

lilTf . . . .

Kotova.
liepf.

do

do

... do

TidHtoi

Norllica.-it Poinl (to dale).

KccC

do

Total.

'.Ucof

/N'ortlicast I'oint (to dati.')

do

Hallway PointandKeef

N'oitlma'Jt Point (to date)

Southwest Bav and Rcff

Ke.f ;

Southwest and I'^ngli.sh bavs,
Zoltoi

liooi and Halfway Point

Ki'to\aand Tolstoi

.Southwest Hav and Halfway
I'oint .'

Zoltoi. Ivetova English 15a.

Zoltoi and Keof. .'

! Hallway Point

South. wi'sl Pay

Kn"lish liay," Tolstoi, Jtpof.
Zidtoi...'.

Halfway I'oint ,

English' Hav and Tolstoi ,

Soulhwist Pay

'/.olloi and Pcef

Xorlhcast I'oint

Hallwav I'oint ami Zultid

Zoltoi, liocf, Pnkannon, Ketova

Southwest Hav

Knglish iiav, 'Middle Hill. Tol-
stoi :

Zidtoi !!,'('■, Ketova

N'oilliea-I Point ...

■I'oisloi, Middle Hill, rukannon.

Z(dloi and Halfway Point

Zoltoi. Ue f. Tolstoi, l.nkannon.

Knglish l;av and .Middle Hill

Soulhwrsl Pay, Zoltoi. .Middle
Hill, l.ukaniion

English Bay and Tolatui

1,

»»»
,164
,066

1,023

, 0,')9
.444

136
06U
116

87fi
18:t
1 81
250
102
278

I2:t

286
200
2O0

ri(i2
:i3C

884
119
134
155
84
66
420
421

o3, 295

177
36
20

187

ir.

427
318

767

l,23il

426

l,.30l
80D
771

R3H

l,4'^l

1,266
912
487
1,793
i,117
3, 092
2, 163
1,729
1,197

2, 546
1.830

r>. 134

1,5011
1,662
l,«'2n
1.HK8

340
522

1884.
July 1-4

8
9
10

!t
15
16

17
18

14-18
19

1

5
12
19
26

Sept.

Oct.

Nov.

Doe

1885
May

.Tuiii

Rookery.

Total
killed
for all

I)nr.

poses.

12
10
27
5
14

30
3
5

10

24
5
6

24

22
23

26
26

20
21)
30

N^>»thea»t Point

/.•>(toi Keof. Kotova

Halfway I'oint

Kcef, Zoltoi Lnkunnoii

Southw ent B««-

KoglishBsy, .'^(iddlo Uill, Tol-
stoi ..

North»-an» Point

Middle Kill. Tolstoi fAikstn
noil, Zoltoi , Reief

Halfway Point stai Zoltoi

.Soiithw imt J5av

Engliiih J%»t.y,'>ri<Mfc j»ill, K«-
to\.*

Zolti' <cBd LukairAOD

Eiiifii.jij) Pay, XoMoi, Middl*-
Hill

Xor'heast Point

MiildleHill, Tolstoi, Uukanno*.
Kutova, Zidtoi, Keof

Middle Hill, Ztdtoi, T<d»f.«,
Ketova

Zoltoi

do

do

do

do

do

do

do

do

do

Lukanuon

Keef

English Pav

Keef ■

do

Tolstoi

Keef

do

English Pay

Reef

Total.

5, 799
1,251
1.935
2,071
1.966

!.!«•
3,003

3, 087
2, '.15
2,052

1,528
1,782

1,872
0.089

'2,529

1,911

198

92

80

90

78

160

147

131

150

142

141

115

179

1,956

785

182

153

495

285

24i

88, 861

Sea I.ion Rork

Keef [

Zoltoi

Ztdtoi and Keef I

do I

Tolstoi and English Bay

Hallway I'oiut '

Zoltoi and Reef I

Southwest Bay

English Bn- Middle Hill. Zol

Lnkannoii and Ealfway Point.

ZoPolai.l Ueef "

Zoltoi Keel', l.ukannon

Northeast I'oint

Hait'way I'oint ami Zipltoi

Northeast I'oint

Englis'.i l!nv, .Southwenl Hav,

Middle Hill '. .

Reef and Lukannon

Northeast Point

Halfway Point

Northeast Poinl

Lwkannoii. Zoltoi, Iteef

Nortloast I'oint

Southwest Bay

Northeast Point

English Bay and Middle UitI . . .

Igl
141
49

73

r<i5

b87
741
973

1.700

617
i . 309

986

789
1..532
I. 143

847

1,733
1.681

i.iir.i

1.373
667

1,328
539

1.602
.'.US

2, 681

Iil7

1 . :«)!»

98fi

7Hf.

I.5:i2
1, 14:1

H47

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

2G5

Tahlen showing in detail aU killing of fur HeaU,for whahoover purpose, on the I'rihilof
Jslands dnrinfi the term of the leane of the Alaska Commercial Company — that is, from
1870 to 1SS9, both incluaire — Coutinued.

ST. PAUL ISLAND- Continuoil.

Date.

188,-.
June ;iO
Jiilv 1
1

7
8
8
U
1)
1(1
10
13
13
14
14
15
1.1
111
Hi
1;
17
IH
18
20
20
21
'J I

'»'.>

21

Kookery.

Total 1
killt'd
lor nil I
]iiir
poHBD. :

All-

:t

12

S«»i»t

.■■.

2.-I

Ot 1.

7

14

28

Ko\

2

4

Noit liMst Point

K*'ef, LukaiiiKin, /oltoi, K**tov;i

Northeast Toiiit

Tolstoi, Middle Hill, KdkH.sIi

Uav

XorllieiiHt Point

llallwiiy I'oiiit and Zoltoi

NorlluMst Point

Lnkaniion an<l /olloi

Xorllua.st Point

.Southwcat lia.

Noitlii as 1 Point

Middlo llill, SoulliwCMl Pay.

T(]lttloi ". ..

Nortlioast, Point

Ziiitoi, Lnkannoii, Ketova

Noillipa.^l Point

Midillt! lliliand TolHte.i

Noril.caj^t Point

Hallway Point

Noillipa.^t Point

Sou' li west Bay

Nortiieast Point

Eii^liali liav and Tol«toi

Nortlioast Point

Zolloi

Nortlicaut Point

Haltwiiy I'ointMul Lnkannoii..

Northi .iHl Point.

/.olto!

Northeast I\)int

Uvef. folMtoi. Mid.llcIIill

N'orlh<'a8t Point

South woBt Hay

Nor'tiieaMl I'oint

Middle lliliand Knt,!i»li Hay. . .

Nurthfa.^t I'oint

/.olt(d and l.iikaunon

Northeast Point

.Stiddlo ilill. £ni;liHli liav,

Zulto; ^ ■...

Nortlie.inl I'oint

Hallway Po-nt, Middlo llill,

KulL.a

EnKlish Hay. Zolloi, Kelova,

Midillrlidi. Lnknnnon. Kool..

Zoltui, iiocr. MlUdlo Hill

Zoltoi

do

Z(dt«i and Kocf

Zoltoi

.do

, do

I.

Oii:i
(111

do

.... do

... do. ..

K<'Of

.... do

.. do

Mhldli'Ildl

Kii r

4/
17\

il

<lo

.Vorlhcast Pom,

2. 498

2,210
98:i
147
179

I8r,
1:1.')

155
152
78
122

1.524

M)4

:iiio
:i;t2

118

i,miii

48

1,01(1.
Jan 21
2(1

Total 8M. 8.10

8
17
10-17

Soa Lion l.'ock

Sontliwist Itay

Norlhrast Point

do ..

.SiiutliwiiMt liay and lU'if
Nurtbcadt Point

84
49

7

r-,

m)

49

Dati\

i,o!j;i

1.777
1,09«

1,465

0,11
2, i;i4

058 ■

976

Kil !
1,271 ;

522 I

!i

2,604

1. 1H4 ;
•I n50 -

740 I
1,291

79:1 ;

2, :i04 I
071 I

2,134 1
822

2,ii:)2

955
2, 139 !

363
2. 137 ■

757
2,203

017 ,
1,,5.52

610 i
1,591 '

828
2, 723

474
2. 743

687

1886.
May 29
•luiii) 4

8

9

10
U
14
14
15
15
16

16
17
17
18
18
19

19
21
21
22
22
23
23
24
24

Jlllv

Tcdstoi, Kngli.sh Pay, South-
wist Bay

Halfway Point

Keofaiid Zoltoi

KiiL'lish Hav

Lnkannon 'Kocf

Northi'aHt Point

Southwi'st Bay

NorthoiiHt Point

Knirlish H.iy, Middle llill, Tol

Htoi

NortlieaHt Point

Halfway I'oint

Northeast Point

Uiif iind Zoltoi

Noitht-a.st Pidnt

Kn;;li.ili H,iv, Middli- lli'l, Tol-
' -Uoi ".

NorlhiM.st Point

Southwest Bay

, Norllifiist Poiiit

Kn^linh Bay and Tolstoi

I NortlieaHt Point

Halfway Point

Northeast Point

Zoltoi

Northeast Point

Kcef, Zoltoi, Knulish liav. Mid
die Hill, 'lolstoi

Northeast Point

.. .do

South west Bay

Nortlieast Point

I lilnKlish Bay, Tolstoi, Zoltoi

I Norl'.ieaat Point

Ha'.lwav Point

I .■^oilheii-'i Point

j Kn^iisli r.a''anil ToIbIoi

I Northeast J'l. lit

Southwest liay...

Nort he. 1st Point

Ueefaod Zoltoi

i ICnirlisli Bay and Tolstoi

■ Northeast Point

' Halfway Pi»inl

I'oTlhejiat Point

/.olloi. Peel, Lnkannon

I Northeast I'oint

, .' mlhwest lia\

! Northeast I'oint

ICii^'lish lia\. Middle II i II .

1 olsloi

N.irlheasl P..inl

Ueef. Zolloi Kelo\a. Lnkanio'ii.

Halfway Point

SoulhwV'St Bay and Souliiwest
Point

NortlieaHt Point

KhUlixh liav and Middle Hill ..

Noi-lheast i'oint

Zoiloi. Keel, Ketova, Lnkannon

Noil lie;isi I'oint

Ilalluay I'll. lit

' Norlheast Point

I Southwest li, IV anil S.Milhweat
1 Point '

Norllieiisl Point

lieefai li Zolloi

Nortlie.ist I'oint

Kntlish Bav, Middle Hill Tol

sloi

i Northeast Point

Total
killed
for all
pftr-

pOHBH.

153

1,323
'^99
U34
214
427

1,313

1, HiO
1,110

850
585
833
701
051
371;

1,004

371
1.891
1,101
1,0117

0,59
1,770

955
1,.5;,5

498

2. 158

.5,s;

411

1,07(1

920

1 , 503

791

490

l.O.'iO

! . 319

1 202

85(i

50()

I. 203

I. 103

1 180

942

800

1 909

1,187

1 . 40«

952

l..")03

O'lO

1 133

1.014

1. 112

l,.vi>l

1,074

002

1 . '.1 57
W'.KI

!i:i7
1,01:1

2, U.'i7

407

2,312

75'l

, 140
Hill

266

ALASKA INDUSTKIEa.

Tahle!< shoicinfi in detail all liilling of fur scah, for whatsovrcr purpow, on the Pribilof
Ishindx during the term of the lea^e of the .llaska Commercial Company — that in, from
1S70 to ISS'J, both inclusive— Couthuied.

ST. PAUL ISLAND-Continuwl.

IJookory.

Auk-

Sejit.

Oct.
Nov.

24
'•i
26

■J
9
19

:io
«

17

2il

II

28

5

G

H

10

H.nlfvray Pnint

\(H-tlu'artt I'oiiit

SoutliwiHf li.iy .iiiil Southwest
roiiit

Northoiist I'ciint

Reef, /iiltoi, Lukaunoii, KhIovii

Nortlieast Point

Kii^lish I!mv aiid MiddloIIill ..

Noiilieasv P(tiiit

Halfway Point, .Simlhwc-: IJay,
Lukaiinuii, Zoltoi

Zoltoi

do

do

<lo

do

... do

Kp<f

do

do.
do.

Reef and [.iilvaniion .

Kcpf

do

21 .

...do..
Tolstoi .

Uepf

Tolstoi.

Total.

188

".

Mav

24

Juno

1

ti

11

i;!

ITi

10

17

20

20

21

21

.lulv

2;i

24
24
2;i

liccf and Sontliwpst Hay

Nort li a>*t I'oint

lolsloi

Iti'cf and Zoltoi .

Tolstoi

Soiitli went Hay

Koi'f :Mid /oltoi

Hallway Point

Knyllsli Hay and Tolstoi

Soiitlnvcst lii'.y

Northcasi I'oint

n<>-i-

Xorllii'ast I'oint

I'.niilisliISav, Tolstoi, Lukannon

Nort licnst Point

Halfway Point

.VorlliPiiHl Point

Heef and /oltoi

.\ortlioast I'oint

Tolstoi, Jfiddio Hill, Eng'iHli

Bay ^

West i'oint and Sontliwist Hay

N'oiilii'ast Point

Kt'cf, Zoltoi. Ketova, Lukannon

Nortlu'a8i Piint

Middle Hill .-.nd Tolstoi

Northeast I'oint

Halfway Point

Nort liciist Point

Eflfilisliliay

Northeast I'oint

Keef and Zoltoi .

Northeast Point

Tolstoi and Miiidlo Hill..

Northeast Point

Keef, Zoltoi, Lnkannon . . .

Northeast I'oint

Halfway J'oiiit

Northeast I'oint

Euglish Hay and Tolstoi.

Northeast I'oint

lieof and Zoltoi

2,01.-)

ii2a

3, 147

7:iD

1, 02.'^.

1, Oils
75
1S2
IM
96
I4H
I4(>
148
144
152
7Gii
445
UOO
7M
37 1.
289
:i80
191

88, 085

275

i;i8

419

:)15

5U1

407

520

7.W

705

.'■>23

1.899

1.041

452

1,004

1,172

1,314

521

1,105

709

1.901

1,180

1.20,";

2, 064

69!
1,.<95
1,144
1,604
1, 203
1,162
1,'^01
1 610

624
1,703
1.106
•i. ViS
I, 056

99U
1,247
1,022

994
1,128

Aoji.

Sept.

Nov

Doe

9

0
12
12
13
13
14
14
15
15
10
16
17
18 i
18
10

19
20
20
21
21

22
23

24

31

1

8
10
24

5

6
15
28

0
17
26

1

3

4

6 i

25 1

26

0

15

Northeast Point

S<nilliwest Hiiy

Northeast Point

Liiglish ll.ay, Tolstoi, Lnkunnon

NortlK'ast t'oint

Keef. Zoltoi, Ketova

Northeast I'oint

Halfway Point

Nortlieast Point

Tolstoi and I.iikannon

Nort lieast I'oint

K»'ef and Zoltoi

Nort he.ast I'oinI

Wist Point

Sou til west H;(\

Northeast Poiiit

KuKlish Hay, .Mnhlh' Hill, Tol-
stoi

Norllniist I'oint

Koef Zolloi, I.iikannon, ICetovii.

Norl lieasi I'oint

Halt'wav I'oint and Lagoon

Northeast I'oint

Enj;lish Hav, Tolstoi. Middle
Hill

Nortlieast I'oint

Sontliwest liay, Ueef. Zoltoi,
Lnkannon

Tolstoi

Northeast Point

Zoltoi

do

Ueef and Lnkannon

English Hav _

Middlellill

Enjilish Bay

Zoltoi . . . . ."

do

ilo

do

do

Keef

do

do

Zoltoi

MiddloHill

Iteef

Middle Hillaie. Tolstoi

do

Sea Lion lioek and .Southwest
liay

Total
killed
for all

pur-
poses.

795

2, Olio
429

2, 595
•2,219

3, 020
1,930
1,201

826

1, 208

803

986

546

017

2,108

1,071

2. 038
922

3. 200
11,092

1.307
798

1,877
1 , 082

2, 226
232

39
137
113
209
,521
403
350
102
100
116
108

76
1,013
1,132

.S2

65
fill

82
185
450

IM

Total ; 89,092

1888.
,ran. 2
May

Nortliei'st I'oint

10 I Tolstiii, \Wt't\ Sea Lion Uoi'k

■24 Keef

•28 '. ...do

31 Norlliea-t Point

.luiie 2 Keef

7 Ki^fand Zidtoi

9 Tolstoi

11 Soiithwesi Hay

12 Enirlisli H.iy.."

15 Halfwav I'oint

10 Keef andZoltoi

18 Sontliwest Hav

18 Northeast I'oint

10 T'olstoi

10 Northeast I'oint

21 Keef and Zoltoi

21 Northeast Point

22 Halfway Point

fjtj

l.il

113

82

82

121

175

342

513

587

4'28

789

764

1,490

400

930

I. 400

1.604

801

ALASKA INDU8T{i:IE3.

2G7

Tables ahou'infi in dclail all killiiifi of fur seah,f(}r whatsoever purpose, on the Pribilof
Islnnds ditrin;/ tin: term of the lease of the Alaska Commercial Company — that is, from
1S70 to 1SS9, both inclusive — Continned.

ST. PAUL ISLAND— Continued.

795

, nil,-)

2, 5U5

2, 219

:), 029

I,9;i0

1.201

«26

1,298

810

980

r,4r.

«17
2, 108
1,071

2, 226
232
39
1,17
IK!
209
521
403
350
192
100
11«
108
76

:,oi3
i,i;)2

32

<a
oil

82
185
450

l.ll

82
82
121
175
342
513
587
428
789
701
! , 490

m>

930
1.400
1.004

801

Date.

Itookerv.

1888.
Jnm- 2^

23 !

'J? ■

25 i

25

20

20

KngliHli Bar, Tolstoi, Miilillo Hill

Northeast i'oiiil

do

July-

Ant;.

0
6
7
7
!)

9
10
10
12

12
13
13
14
15
15
10
10
17
17
18
18
10
10
20
20
21
LI
21
23
23
24
24

Soiitliwost, H;i\"

Nortlica.st INjint

Ei.;;lirtli liav, Middlo Hill, Tol-

Htoi

N(>rt lii'a.st Point

Rcct', /oltoi, Krto\a, Ltil<aii-

iion ,

XortJicuHt I'oiiit

Hallway Point

Norllieii-st Point

■Soiitli \vc,-(t llav

Northeast Point

Middle llill, Kn^lish Uill, Tol-

.stoi

Norl liea.st Point

Iteef and Zoltoi

Nortliea.st Point

Hallway Point

Xort heart t Point

Sent h went liny

Northeast Point

Enylisli liay. Tolstoi, l.nkaii

mm

Nortlieast Point

Keef and Zoltoi

Northeast Pr)int

HallVay Point

Nortlieast Point

Knfilisli liav, Tolstoi, l.nkun-

in.n, Middlellill

Nortlieast. Point

liecl and Zoltoi

Northeast Point

Kn^'lish liay, Middin Hill, Tol-

Htoi

Northeast Piiint

Soiit invest I iay

Northeast Point

Hallway Point

Northeast Point

'\V-"sl INnnt

Uoel ami Z(dloi

Nortlieast Point

and T()l8toi

1,942

440

1,491

1,609

490

!M)(!

Knf;lisl\ liay and
.Northeast Point.

Southwest Hay .

.Nortlieast I'oilit

Halfway Point

Northeast Point

Ueof and Zidtoi

Nortliea.st Point

Knsjlish Bay and Tolsto

l.iiiioon

Noillieast Point

Reef. Liil<annon, Zoltoi.

Northeast Point

Hallway Point

Norllieast Point .

ICnulisli l!av, Tolstoi, Mntdle
Hill ■

Northeast Point

Keel', Zoltoi, l.iikannon

Nort liea.st Point

Sonlhwest Itavanil Zoltoi

Zoltoi '

do

.. do

Middle Hill and l.iikannon . . . .

Zollid

do

2, 1 '15

^M

911

1.180

1 098

025

Date.

1888.
Sept. 0

Oct.

Dee

1889.
Mav 22

,liim

,Jiilv

Kookery.

Total
killed
for all
piir-
poses.

Zoltoi

do

do

do

Lukaiinoii

Middle Hill

do

Middle ITill and Zoltoi.

Keef

do

do

...do

Middle Hill

Keef

....do

Tidstoi

Soa Lion Koek

I'olal.

Sea Lion Koek...

Keef

do

Northeast Point.

Iteef

do

Tols

ilstoi .

Zoltoi and Keef

Southwest Hay

Halfway Point

Northeast Point

Kndlish i:av, Tolstoi, -Middle

Hill ".

Northeast Point

do

Kei'i', Zoltoi. Liikannon

Soirthwest Hay

Northeasl Point

ICiiKlish liav, Tolstoi, Middle

Hill ;

Northeast Point

Keef and Zoltoi

Halfway Point and Liikannon .

Northeast Pidnl

Knj.'lisli liav .-iiid Middle Hill .

Northeast Point

.■^oiithnest Hay

Northeast Poiiit

Koef, Zoltoi KetoMi

Northeast Point

....do

K.nf;lL*'' '•',-■ and Tolstoi .....

North! -'.^t Joint

Keif, '/.rAi<i\. l.iikannon .

Hallway Point

Norlliea.st Point

Euullsh Hay, Tidstui, Middle

HiU ■

Keef. Zoltoi, Liikannon

Norlliiast Point

Southwest liay

Northeast Point

Kniilish liav, ToMoi, Middle

Hill :

Northeast Point

Keef, Zoltoi, Liikannon

Northeast Point

Knt^lisli Pay and Tolstoi

Northeast Point

HallVay Point

Northeast Point

Keef and Zoltoi ,

114

100

98

98

8,1

98

111

126

701

547

716

151

277

111

129

206

78

124
41

234
133
201
120
947
762
340
895
1.0154

1.161
1.270

494
1,,'>61

253
1.205

1,355
754

•J, .")7H
979

1.407

i,;ii4

441

311

844

1,340

479

335

1,038

1,200

1,023

834

968

l,S41
1.700
1.559
1.255
I 524

I 302

;',76
814
»M

i.sn

Dtt

CM

8U0

2,004

268

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

Tahlvs nhowhifi ill dHaU all killiii;/ of fur 8cah, for ichulgocrer purpose, on Ihr Pribilof
l.iltnitli diiriiifi the term of the leime of the Alaska Commercial I'ompanij — that is, from
IS'^0 to 1SS9. Inilh inclusive — Cinitiuucd.

SI'. PAUL ISLAND— Continued.

Diit<'

Kookcrv.

1889.
July y.i
13

Soul liwcst liay

>iortln'.'ist Point.

KnuliHh I'.ay anil Atiilillc Hill..

X(trtln-ast Point

Kent', /.oltoi. I.iikannon

Xortlicast Poin I

Halfway Point and Lukannon.

Nortlii'a.st INiint

Laijoon, l''.ni;li><li liav, iliddlo

NortlicuHti Point

■Soul li west Pay

Nortlica^t Point

Kcef and Zolliii

N'orthca.st Point

KnKli.sli Pay, Middli' Hill, l.n-
liannon ,

Northoa.st Point

Ki'Ot Zoltoi, Ketova

2:i Northca.st Point

•J4 Hallway Point

'J4 Nortliciist Point

L'5 I Enslisli I'.ay and Sliddli' Hill.,

'J5 j Nortlipa.ft I'oint

lift ' Sontl'.woMt Pay

20 Norlliea.sl Point ,

Total
killod
for all
pur-
poxes.

.'I!

Date.

1,000

7U3

;t. 0H5
1,k:w
1,911
1 150

ii48

■J, 040
1,282
2, 017
8114
l.!>13

24;i

1,043

3,'iU
1,122

740
1, 384

610

1,750

1

080
1,483

I 1889.
I July 27

:! 29

i 29

' 30

31

:il

«

14

Rocker V.

All.

Sojit

Xov

Uei:

31
9
18

ZoKoi and Lnk.inmoi

Kngli.sli llavand .MidiUo llili

Norl lioa.<)t Point

HaMway Point

.Soiilliw I'st liay

Northeast Point

Zoltoi

Lukannon ,

Zolloi

do

Tolstoi

Zoltoi

do

do

do

do

Lukannon

Zoltoi

Tcdstoi

Keet

do

Zapaduie

Koof

Zapadui((

Total
kilh'd
lor all
pur-
pose.s.

1,105
1.043
1.024
973
615
538
lOU
163
131
141
179
141
110
107
120
103
132

i,in»

1,460
347
192
10
240
243

Total ; 73, 982

Ji

Ji

ST. fiKOKtiK ISLAND.

1870.

IKTI.

.Iiilv

4
0
8
9
13
15
17
20

MO

24
26
27
28
1
3

8
10
12
14
15
18
20
21
23
25
27
28
30
31

Not indicated
ol'tlii.syoar.
AlaakaCoiunicnial i

inson. Kohl A, Co .

:i tho rcrordft
Iliit.'li.

I 1.200
473
( 0, 780 ,

Total 8,459

Near

.Ndrllioast

Near

Son til went Hay...

Starry Arteid

.Soiitllwest Hay...

N'ortliern

.Southwest liay ..

Northeast '

Starry Arlei 1

Southwe.st liay.. .

Northoast ...

Starry Arleol

Northern

Southwest liay. . .

Starry Arleel'

Soutliwest Hay.. .

Northi^rn

... do

Southwest liay.. .

Nortliern

...do

Southwest Hay. .

Northern *

Southwest liay ..

Northern

do

Starry Artcel

Southwest liay . .

Northern .. .. .

Taken in Oetoher
Pups for food

123
98
09
277
322
301
434
172
518
.594
298
462
571
875
303
518
012

1,709

1.021
481

1,038

1,204
484
945
542
7«2

1 , 054
730

1,270
893
237

2, 090

1872.
Juno 3

8
10
11
11
12
12
15
15
17
19
19
19
22
22

28

29

29

1

.Inlv

Total I 21,157

Southwest Hay .

North

Pliutt

Southwest liay.

North

Starry Arteil . .
Southwest liay.

East

Starry Arteel ..

Nortl'i

East

North

Starry Arteel ..
Soutliwest Hay.

Kast

North

Starry .\ rteel . . .
Soutliwest Hay.
Kast .

Starry Arteel...

North

Starry .\rteel ..

Nortfi

Starry Arleel...
Soutlnvest Hay.

East ."..

North

Starry Arteel . .
Southwest Hav.
East .

Starry Arteel..,
Soutliwest Hav.

North '..

East

Starry Arleel. . ,

North

East

Southwest Bay.

North .". .

East

Starry Arteil. ..

North

Kast

Starry Arteel...

140
2B
49
102
81
175
98
61
140
188
405
300
212
281
860
349
701
261
629
500
237
805
40O
500
643
981
454
431
245
041
300
574
274
718
367
300
610
1,412
482
1,332
COO
583
770
, 676

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

269

Tab'es nhowhii/ in detail all killiiuj of fur neah, for whatnovrer purpose, oti the I'rihilnf
Islandx duriiuj the, term of the tease of the Alaska Commereial Company — thai is, from
Wu to liSSO, both iucliisive — Continued.

ST. (iEOHCrE ISL.AND— Cdiitimicd.

!)7;t
615

CM

\m

103
131
141
179

141
110
107
120
103

i:)2

1,1(19

1,400

347

192

lU

240

243

140
20
49
102
81
175
0«
61
140
188
405
300
212
201
800
349
701
201
029
500
237
805
400
500
043
981
454
431
245
041
.300
574
274
718
307
300
010
1.412
482
1 , .332
000
583
770
, 576

Pair

1871
J Illy

1873,
June

Jul

4

5
6
9
10
12
13
10
17
19
21
21
23
24
25
20
27
28
,30
30

3
4

5
8
8
9
11
11
12
13
14
10
17
18
20
21
23
23
'*5
20
28
28

1874.

JllIUl 1

s
11

12
14
16
18
22
23
27

Kookery.

Southwoflt Biiv

East

Starry Arteel

North

East

Slarrv .\i'tt'i)l

IviBl'

North

Ea«t

Niirlh

starry Artfcl

Soiitllweat liav

Killed lor ualive.i' I'ooil.

Total.

North

Starry .Vrtecl

Sontliwi'st Bay

East and Starry Art opl. . .

Soiitliwest J3av

Niirtli

Soiitlnvest Bay

Nortli and Starry Arfi'd

SinUhwf.st Bav

East '

.Starry .Vrti'ol and North . .

Sont Invest Hav

ICast

luthwcst ISay

.Starrv Art< oland North.

Ei

,S' nth wost Bay

, tarry Arlrol iiud North.

Southwest Bay

East .'

Starry Arteel. ..
Suutliwest Bay.
Ea.st

Starry Arteel ..
.Soutliwest Bav.
Ea

Starry Arteel and North.

Ea- 1

Soutliwest Bay

Starry Arteel and North.
Ea.st

Southwest Bay

Starry Arteel and North.

Kast

SoHtliwest Bay

Starry Arteel'and North.

l^asl

Southwest Bay

Starrv Arteel

East ■

Soulliwei't Buy

Starrv Arteel

East'

I'ups killed lor food

Total.

North

...do

East

Starry Arteel and North.

Southwi'St Bav

Eact

Starry Arteel and North.

East'

Starry Arteel and North.
Soutliwest Uay

Total
killed
lor all
pur
poses.

.171
400 ,
000
320 I
703 I
300
400
252
350
85
200
227 i'

, 000

27,000

198
240
285
190
275
300
521
378
174
313
506
870
180
499
195
241
301
493
310
168
332
564
592
517
743
016
690
974
002
474
34')
337
480
, 007
013
, 359
,810
51,)
889
,710
000
588
, 528
I. 190

. 190

.56
81
110

154
250
170
354
178
378
575

Date.

18".
June
July

Kookery.

Starry Arto6l and North.

p:ast

Starry Arteel and North.

East

do

East and North

East

Starry Arteel

Soutliwest Bay

East

East and North

East

North

Pups killed tor food

Total.

1875.

June 1 Starry Arteel ,ind North.

9 do.

11 East.

11 Starry Arteel and North

16 East.'

18 Starry Arteel and North .

19 Southwest Bay.

23 East

24 .Starry Arteel and North .

28 East '

30 Starry Arteel and North .

July 5 Ea,st

7 Starry Arteel and Norm .

12 East

14 i North

17 do

Killed for I'ood

Total.

1876,
June

Julv

1877.
Juui^ 1
12
13
14
18
20
22
23
26

Julv

North.....

Starry Arteel and North .

East

Southwest Bay

Starry Arteel "and Norlli .

East' —

St.arrv Arteel an»l North .

East ■

Starrv Arteel and North .

East

Stii rry Arteel

Eas' '

Pups for food

Total
killed
for all
pur-
poses.

686
8IK)
792
641
548
263
534
,568
411
871
778
640
156
2,446

12,446

302
256
177
3o7
358
334
294
666
540
JiU2
112
717
019
073
676
177
, .500

ll,r)(H)

415

599

784
531
.067
,188
,C23
,259
. (.'27
,3.'.7
. ooO

Total.

U,5o0

North ' 198

do 71 :

East 673

Southwest Bay 1, 383

North and Starrv Arttwl 1, 15-1

East - 833

North , 871

East r>52

North and Starry A rtetd ' 1,880

East 1, 530

North and Starrv Arteel I, 669

East 2,164

North 300

East 880

KiUedlorfnml 256

.....*» 1,500

'Sonl.

16, .500

270

ALASKA INDUSTUIE8.

Tablen showina in detuil nil killing of fur seals, for whatHorvcr /xo'/ioic. ow the I'rihihf
hlanih diiriiiii the ttrm «f the lease of the Alaska ('oiiititercidl I'onipaini—lhdl is, from
t87u to lSi>9, both iuclusire — Coutiuuod.

ST. (lEdltr.K Isr.AND-Cdiitiimed.

Date.

llooUtu'v.

1878

June 10 North

14 I Southwest Biiv

17 North, Starry Artfcl. K.ist...

19 I Southwest I'.'ay

22 I Nortli anil Starry Artecl

■-'5 I East

21 '' SouthweHt liav

2» ilo '

Killed for foml to date

July 1 ; East ■

2 Norlh and Stiirry Arleel

4 ' Soiilhwost Biiv'.

8 East i

10 North mid Starry Arti'cl

1'-' Southwest liay

13 do

15 j East

17 East and North

'0 North and Starry Arteel

21 East '. '

Killed fnrlood to May 10, 1870..

325

1879,
June 3

10

11

12

la

16
17
19
20
20

2;!

2ti
27

no

J<ily M

4

.5
6

U
Ifi
10
24
28

Aui;. 0
10

Si'|.l 1

Oct.
N,..

He. ,

North

East

Southwest IJay

Starry Arteel

Southwest Bay

East

Southwest Bay

S'arry Arteel iiudNorlh..

Kiist'

Southwest Bay

North and Starry Arteel ,

Southwest Bav

Ea.st '

Sout'nvest liav

>ir>rth and Starry Arteel . . .

■K!»«t

North aiul Starry Arteel . . .

Southwest Bay

do ■.

North

ElVBt

North and Starry Arteel . . .

Eiint

North

Southwest Bav

do ■

North

ilo

do

North

do

iln

do

... ilo

... do. .

Killed terlood

SouthnesI liav and Suirry Ar

le. 1 ■ .

Total

1880

May 1 ■- North

2ii Starry .\rteel

June :i North

9 East

12 I North and Starry Arlcel.

Total I 20,804

l)ale.

.lulv

Any. 6

n

.Sept. I

l)e.

Koiikerv.

East

Southwest liav

do '

N ort h and St arrv A rl eel

Eail '.

Southwest Bay

North and Stiirry Arteel

Southwest liav

East ■

Southwest Bay

North and Starry Arteel

East

Soutliw.st Bay

Starry Arteel

Ninth

East

Southwest Bay

North and Starry Arieil

East '.

Soutlnve.st Bay

East

During season jiorished on the
drive.s

North

/iajiailtiie

lie

North

.... \<>

North and East

North

Zapadiiic

North

do

do

do

/»l>a<1nio

do

East

Zapaduiu

Total
killed
for all
pur-
poses.

352

738

254

559

MU

223

1,183

518

814

839

1,322

1,770

8t(>

808

392

956

961

.MS

1,483

1.814

049

28

72

7

8

60

ni

220
40
35
47
62
501
705
30
10
65
16

Total 20,939

Sept. 3

North

do

Starr\ Artoel, East, North

.... lo

Zniiaduie

S'^irrv Arteel. North, East

. do

East and Zapadnio

Starry Arteel, North. Xapadnie

Easl

Starry Artoel and Noi t h

Earn uiid Zapadnie

Zjtpadnie, Starrv .\rleel Norlli

KasI

Starry Arteel and Nortli

ZMijiiuliiio

Ka.st

Sturry Art«K>l and North

Kast.'

Starrv Artoel

Zapn<hiie

East

ZHifindnie

ftast. North, Starry Arleel

North

do

do

do

do

do

32

r,:>

612
920

408
622
445
1,030
518
553

m5

1, 119
1, 0.14
1,378
I, 182
470

1, 3r>a

363

I, 310

498

771

1,715

592

1,63B

43

45

57

92

52

62

.152

7a8

254

r>5a

1,183

r.18

8U

81)9

l,:t22

1,770

84B

808

:)92

056

961

.IIS

1,483

1.814

040

28

72

7

8

60

fil

220.

40

35

47

62

501

705

;io

10
05
16

20, 939

32

55
612
920
498
622
445
l.OliO
518

55;)

H15
1, 119
l,o:!4
1,378
I, 182

470
1, S.W

363

i,;no

498

771

1,715

592

l,G39

43

45

&7

52
53

ALASKA INDUSTRIES. 271

TahlcH nhoivinij in (Irlail all kiUinii nf fur eeah, for wlidhotrcr juirpiisf, an Die I'riliilof
hlaniU diiriiKi the lirm <>/' llie li'dxe of (he .llaska Conimcriial (.'i)iiijian\i — iUal Ik, f rum
lS7u lu JSS'J, bulk iiic/Hsii'e— Coutuiuod.

ST. (HCOItdE ISI-ANI)-(,'oiitmii(Ml.

(HCOItdE ISI-ANI)-(,'oiitmii(Ml.

IliltK.

IHSl.
Sept. 13
24
Oct. 3

Nov.

Kookory.

North

Kiist ,

North

Kust

North

do

Slurry Artoel ,

Total
killed
lor nil
piir-
pogeH,

05
88
lis
50
559
472
113

'lolnl , 21,289

Jiiiii

July

Aug.

1882.
Mav 22
29 ,

n

12 1
18 I

19;

22 !

" I
27

29

1

iSt

11

12
14
15
17
18
19
20 j
5 !

11 i

17 i

Sept. 15
Nov. 22 I

28 I

1883.
May 20
Juno 4
12
15
19
22
25
28
30
2
4
7
9
10
10
11
12
13
10
17
17
18
19
20
21
23
25
27
30

North

do

do

Starry Artoel, North, Eant.
.do

do.

do.
.do.

do.
.do.
.do.
.do.

do.

do

East

Starry Artoel aud North.

East.'

Starry Arteiil and North.

East

Starry Arteelaud North.

East.'

Starry Artcelaiid North.

Nortli

East

Starry Artcel

East.

....do

....do

Starry Artoel

do

Total.

July

North

do

Starry Artecl and Eaat

do

.Starry Artet'l

Ea.f t i^ud Starry A rtei'l

East. Nortli Starry Artecl. .

do :

do ,

do

do

. <lo..

/apaduit^

Little IC.istaiid East

/a)>adi)ie

Noith and Starry Arteel

Li ( t le l^aat and ICast

Nortli and Starry Arteel...

I.illlc, East and I'i.igt

/a|iailiiio

Starry Arteel and North

Littlo Eaat and East

Zapadiiie

LittU' East and East

Zapailnie

North. Etutt, Sl.in-v Artoel .

East

St«rrv Art«el 'Norlh, East .
4o

'■••» j

July

12

48

26

509

890

927

847

195

044

273

065

911

384

955

371

115

070

.527

049

022

080

055

50

40

45

.34

44

46

119

19

19,978 Auii.

Hale.

1883.
July 31

A UK- 13
21
31

Sept. 14

O't. 19
29

Nov, 2
19

1884

.May 21

20

June 4

10

12

10

18

21

23

20

28

I

1

3

7

10

12

14

40

78
130
287

01
380

443
Oil

340
200
047

, 330
307
507
203
.'•i40
321
775

,017
130
407

,'.M0
2,S1

, 150

760

78

006

505

Sept.
Nov.

Kookory.

Starry .Vrli'il, Nnrlh, East

I>uriii;; thoseason, perished on

(It i\ es

East

1885.
May 18
,1 mie 1
11
15
18
17

Near

Little East.

Kasi

Near

Near anil North

North

North and Starry xVrteel .

Total
killed
for all
pur.
pusoii.

473

.38

100

,50

60

54

120

540

340

171

Total 10.214

Ivist .
North
i'.ast

/npadnie....

S'arry -Vrleil, North, East

Zapailnie

Starry .Vrlcl, .North, East

/aiiailiiie

Starry .\rtoel. North, East

/aiiadnie

Starry Arteel, North, East

/ajiadnio

do

Starry Arti'cl, North, East

Zapaiblie

Starry Arteel, North. East

Zapadnie

East and Litt'e East

Starry Arteei .lul North ..

Zapadnie

East and Littlo East

Starry Arteel and North ,

Zapadnie !

Starry -Artei ; and .North

East hn<l Littlo East

Zapadnie

.Starry .\rteel, Noith, East
E;

St.

do

! North

[ East

.Near

North

do

' do

do

.Starry Artcel

Tot.il.

North

do

Starry .\rteel, North, East.

Za|iailiiie

do

Starry Arteel and Nortli . . .

East.'

Zj'.,iadnie

27 ! Starry Arteel, North, llasl.

29 I Zajiadnie

.Inly 3 Starry Arteel, North, East .
7 Zapadtiie

10 Starry Arteel, North, East .

1 3 j Zapadn ie

17 I Starrv .\rteel, .North, East .

20 1 Zapadnie

25 I North

Auj;. 3 i du

15

52

119

1.222

094

585

572

.592

003

578

489

289

11

71

90

1, 209

973

302

405

720

'J9fl

506

797

744

597

573

640

225

19

48

64

00

00

515

482

503

27

10, 573

40

750
77

698
802
825
414

1, 775
401

2. 287
7H9

2, 158
1,011

o .J.JO

"483
35
23

272

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

'I'ahlin nhoiiing in detail all killitii) of fur Hcah, for ti'Jialtnrrrr purpon , on the I'rihilof
hiaudx diiriiifi the. term of the leane of the Alaska Commercial Comjiany — that is, from
JS70 to I8S9, both inc/Hsire— Continued.

ST. (lEOR(iK I.SI,ANI)-Ci)iitlmie<l.

Bttti-.

Auk. 6

Nov.

JlllU'

Julv

Sept
Nov.

Jiiiii

Jul>

1886.
Miiv IS

Aut'. 2

1887.
May 20

:io

1

I
it

n
II

12
14
18
19
21
22

Koiikiry.

I 'I'litiil
killi'il
< fur all
1 pur-
I puseH.

North

Kast

Noitli

N'l'iir

Xiiilli

ilo

Stariv Aitiel

I'orlsliod ou (Uivuti Jiiriun year.

I

50

05 I

07
250
700 1 1
120

41

53

Total 16,144

Euxt

North

(.'apturiMl MkiiiH

/.ajiadnii' I'ucmI nkiim

Stanv .Xrttx'l, North, Kast.

/apailiiic

Starry Arlifl, North, Eaal.

/apailuii'

Starry Artcoland North ..
Ka»l .'

/.apadiiio

do

Starry Arlccl and North .

Hast .

/n)>adiii<'

Starry Artcol and North .

Kast

.Starry Aitcrl and North .

Zapailnio

Kast

.Starry Arti'Pl and North

Zapadnio

Starry Artflol and Nortli .
Ka.st.

Kawt and North .

Noar Nortli

do

ICa«t

North

Kaht

North .

do

Ku»t

North

EaHt

rcriahud on drive

30

102

4

81

1.430
779

1,438
843
742
343
306
2h8
632
482
620

m:\

650

807

745

888

712

663

853

527

295

14

11

66

42

70

759

24

527

3

12

North

do .

North and East

Nortli, Kast, Starry Artcid . .

'.apadnic

. do

"Starry Artwl, North, East . .

Hast

Zapadnio

Starry A rteel and North

Ka,Ht."

starrv Artu«land North

Zapadnio

East, North, .starry Artet<l

East

Zapaduie

.■5tarry Arte- 1, Near, North . .

East

Zapadnio

Near, North, Starry Arti'cl .

East

Starry Art<;el and North

25

32

390

465

427

261

974

533

599

817

liO

lilO

883

1.321

421

701

1,296

1,.W9

1 . 077

894

1. 130

489

Dalo.

1887.

Aug. 3

6

12

20

22

Sept. 5

10

19

Oft. 24

Nov. 1

7

1888.

Jiini' C

11

12

16

18

19

22

25

26

27

20

2

3

4

6

0

10

12

13

16

17

18

10

20

23

24

25

28

27

27

Au«. 9

9

.Tolv

Total 1 16,436

Sept.

Oct.
Nov.

188U.
May
.Tniii

July

liooker}-.

Near .....

ElUHt

do....

do....

...do....

Near

Zapadnio .

ilo

East

Noar

do....

T'otal 16,668

North

Zapadnie

Starry Arteel, North, East.

do

Zapadnie

Starry Artool, North, East.

do

Zapadnio

Starry Artoel and North...

East

Starry Arlocl and North . . .

Zapadniii

Ea.st

Starry Art«idand North...

EaHt

Zapadnio

.Starry ArtiolandNorth

East."

Sta rry A rt eel and Nort h . . .

Zapaunix

North

Starry Articl and East

Zapaclnio

Starry Artprl, North, East.
Zapaduiu ■

.Starry Arterl, N'orth. East

Zapadnio

15

20

28 i

5

27

20 !

1

5

Aug. 20 1

Starry Arti'i'l, North. Kant

Zapadnio

Starry Artoo!, North, East

Near"

Nort h

do

East

.Starry Artcel and North

Kast and Starry Artiel

North

Nort h and East

North

do

Zajiaduie (for watchniou)

Total.

North and Kant

East

Zajiadnic

do

Starry Artecl, North, East.

East

North and Starry Artecl .

Zapa'lnio

East and North

Zapadiiit*

Starry Arleol and Kast

Zapaanie

Nortii, East, Stwry Arteol.

Total
killed
for all
pur-
poses.

53
41

87
23
61
44

24

45

126

768

614

121

272
455
227
427
324
764
911
895
438
343
343
532
503
650
389
,170
820
518
705
410
692
366
554
179
405
1,59
521
144
410
39
39
37
191
494
428
40
73
610
308
68

17,034

60
150
207
244
773
176
284
606
496
223
429
1«7
276
418

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

273

TablKK xli owing i'm ditnil all killing of fur .irrtU, fur uhahoevtr purpnnr, nii llie I'rihilof
IsIuikIh during llir Irrni of llir laim' nf the Alaiika Commercial Vimiiiiuiij — llutt in, from
AST" Id /.s'.S'.'y, liolh iiic/Msice— Coiitiniiod.

ST. (JKOUGK ISLAND- ('(.iiliniii.l.

63
41

87
23
61
44

'J4

45

VM

766

614

121
272
4SS
227
427

:i24

764
Ull
HU5
4:i8
:i43
U43

r.32

650
389
1,170
820
518
705
4tU
692
36S
E54
179
405
159
521
144
410

;i9
:ig

37
I'.ll
494
428

40

73
(110
368

68

17, 034

60
156
207
244
773
176
284
596
496
223
429
167
276
118

Date.

1889.
July H
10
12
13
15
111
IH
19

• )•>

2.3
24
25
27
28
29

lidiiklTV.

Total

killocl

for III!

pill'

pOflOH.

Znpnilnlo 229

North, KiiHt. Starry Art<iel 270

ZiipMiliiici I 192

.Noitli. KiiHt, Starry Artecl I 607

Ziipatliiici I 371

Ncirtli, Kiist, Starry Artiiel j 1,028

Zapiiilnif I 439

NiHili. Kint, Starry Artoel 1, 140

Zapailiiii' I 500

Niirlli, ICbhI, Starry Artcol i , (i2H

Zapiiiliiii) ! I 279

Niirtli, KiiHt, Starry Arteel I 1, 430

(Ill ". I 942

Zapailnic , 508

North, Ka.st, Starry Artool 515

Dato.

1889.
A 11(5. 10
19

Hi)oK)*ry.

Sept.

(lot.

Nov.

North
... <l<>
... <lo
7 I Kant..

21 do

30 I North
1! |.... ilo
21 1 Starry
31
0
12

Arli'd

25

North

... do

... do

Slurry Arteol.

Total
klllrd
r<irall
piir.
liomia.

55

SO

48

U4

50

33

37

32

4

606

477

01

Total I 15,228

Fur neah killed on the inland of SI. Paul, for all purjionta, from 1870 to 1SS9, hoth ini-lunive.
[Conipili'd Irom tablta on Ule in the Tnamiry Departiiiciit.]

Soala killed for iiativcH' food.

SoaU killed for ukiiiH for Total of liaohelorH killed,
ai'coptod and rejocti'd.

Year.

1870

1871

1872

1873

1874

1875

1870

1877

1878

1879

1880

1881

1882

1883

1884

1885

1880

1887

1888

1889

Pups.

2, 800
2, 877
.■', 121
5, 4H9

4, 897

3, 74,')
3, 0.W
5,007

5, 2110
.''1,071
4.413

Itach-
clorH.

( Skins Skina

av ro-

coptod. jcctcd.

, !I82
,741

, 7H8
,824
,177
.178
, '-'HO

Total . 07, 554

6. 449
2.341
fi, 910
2,090
4,874
0. 282
5. (Mil
4,041
4,718
5. 070
4, 4fi«
7,538
5, 175
3, 108
3.9117
3, l.'<4
3,081
4,207
3. 702
3. 400

Rsi^h-
eiors.

I

Skins

ac-
cepted.

Skins
re- ,
jected.j

Haih.
idors.

2. 290
5. 305
1, 198

4, 22.'-|

5, 7H4
:), 004

2 K).;
3, o:;-j
3,898
3,408

6, 008
3, 302
2. 194
2, 582
2. 508
•J. l.-n

0. 449
51
1,551
892 1
049
498
1,997
1,188 I
1,080 !
2, 072 i
1,418 ;
1,470 I
1.813

974 I
1,325
076 j

232

02

830

n, 005

75, ,585
09, 782
74, 408
88, 308
84, 0,'13

74, 138
58, 702
78. 595
77, 280

75. 000
7«, 230
74, 059
57, 145
82,213
82, 908
82, 180
82, 708
80, .130
81,712

6.017
74. 028
09. ,570
73,881
88, 258
81,800
71.137
.5K, 732
7.-I. 570
77, 280
75, 872
70 109
74. .'•i81
57. 070
82. ojili
82. 800
82, l.'iO
82, 079
80,314
81,698

48
957
200
521
110

73

1

30

28
07
78
75
127
42
30
29
16
14

12.514
77, 920
70, 098
70, 498
93. 242
91,215

79, liH)
02, 803
83,313
83, 250

80. 300
83.774
79,834
60,313
80, 120
80, 0'.I2
8.'-., 201 I
86,015 '
84.092 ;
85,112 '

Skins

ac-
cepted.

6,1117
70. 918
74, 941
75, 082
92. 483
90. 044

77, 2111
01.. WS
82, 2il2

81. 178

78, 920

82, 220
77, 943
59, 204
81, OliH
85, 374
84, 030

80. 0,54
84.014

81. 208

Skins !

ro- 1

.jucted.

Grand
total of
seals
kilhid
for all
pur-
poses.

6, 497

1. 008

1,757

1,410

759

571

998

218

111

072

440

537

891

049

452

718

63!

261

78

844

571

1,998

1, 218

1,111

2. 072

1,440

1 , 537

1,891

1,049

1,452

718

1,5,314

81,803
81 819
81, 987
98, 139
94, 900
83, 1.57
07, 8: 0
88,519
88, 321
84, 779
83, 774
79. 834
63, 295

88. 801
88,880
88,085

89, 092
86, 270
87, 392

90,630 l 0 2 834 il, 463.907 1,461,427 2,480 1,554,537 1,520,212 28,314 1,622,091

NoTK.— Tlioahovoslatcnitnii ,i''i,iil<a all .seals killed from all causes, either intentional oraccidental,
incident to the takiiii; nl'aeai skins on the island oi St. I'aiil.

II. Doc. !•-', j.t.

-IS

IMAGE EVALUATION
TEST TARGET (MT-3)

<^

//,

V]

A

/A

w'^^i

'/

1.0

I.I

1^ |2^

• 50 **

I- 124

t lis, 11 2.0

2.2

1.8

1.25 1.4

16

-* 6" —

►

Photographic

Sciences
Corporation

23 WEST MAIN STREET

WEBSTER, N.Y. MS80

(716) 872-4503

^1

%

u

274

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

Fur aeaU killed on the island of .St. George, for all piirjioHex, from IS70 to tsso, hoik

inclusive.

[Compiled from tabloH on file in the Treasury Department.]

Year.

SeaU killed for natives' food.

Pups.

I Bach-
i olors.

Skins t SkniH

Hf- ! rt'-
oopted. jectcd

Seals killed for skins
for lessees.

1870

1, 2«1

1871

2,090

187'J

2, 000

187a

2, 190

1874

2,44(1

187.5

1,500

1870

1, 500

1877

I.-IOO

1878

1 ,500

1879

1,,')0«

1880

1, ;i3o

1881

1,031

1882

1883

1,000

1884

1,500

1885

1,080

18811

1, 280

1887

1, 350

1888

078

188«

1,071

237

237

256
1,,532
843
702 I
812
483
475
345
319
544
585 1
1,40!) I
512

250
l,2ifl
504
505
5u9
371
408
223
304
413
471
1, 321
280

310

279
137
303
112
7
122

15
131
114

HH
232

liacli.
I'lcirH.

7,2.59

I 18.830
I 25, 000
1 25, 000

! 10,000
10. 000

10, 000
14, 744

17, 772
19. 841

18, 907

19, 440
19,495
14,739
14, 728
14, 74.5
14, OOU
14, 727
14, 047
13.042

•
.Skins I Skins

ac- i re-
cepted. jected.

7,259

18, 830
2.5, 000
25, 000
10, 000
10, 000
10, 000
14, 744
17, 772

19, 758
18. 830
19, 300
19.440
14.075
14,620
14,680
14,578
14, 726
14, 582
13,641

Total of bacliulurs killed, '
accepted and rejected.

Total..' 28,064 9,0.54

,198

, 8.50 318, 128

I

317, 500

3,55, 246

NOTB.— The above stat<'nH'nt inclndegnll seals killed from all causes, either intentional ovaccidental,
'iieideni to tlii' takiniL' "!' Ktal .skin!* on thr island of St. George.

Fur seals l.ilU'il on the islauds of SI. Paul and SI. (teorge, for all purposes, from 1S70

to 1SS9, both incluaii-e.

I

:\iii
.iiii

Jiilv

Seals killtMl fur nalivcs' foisl.

Seals killed for skins Total of bachelors killed,
for lessees. i accepted and rejected.

■K

«T

00

«4

ac *

s*

U

3

^ £

J£-^

^

ra

Jl

«T3
U3

m

a p<

CO

a a

Grand
total ut
seals
killed
for all
pur-
poses.

St . Paul Islaiiil . 07, 5.54 90. 030 64, 790 25, 834 1, 463, 907 1, 401, 427 2, 480 1, 5.54. 537 1,.520, 212 28, 314 1, r,2J. 091
St.Gcuryelslauil ;28, 0041 9,0541 7, 198 1,8,50 318,128 317, ,500 028 327,1821 324,09812,484 3.55,'.'IO

Total 95, 028 99, 084 71, 994 27, 790 1 , 782, 035 1 , 778, 927 3, 108 1 881, 719 1, 850, 910 30, 798 1 , 97

Dal
.Tnni'

•Inlv

ALASKA '.NDUSTRIEa.
Seals taken on St. Paul Island in 1,100.

!7r)

Dutn.

Slay

JUIIK

Hookcry.

, ToUl.

Jnlv

28

n
II

i:i
1(>
17

17 I
18

18 ;

20 i

20 [

21

21

23 i

2a

24

24

25

25

20 [

27 I

27

28

28

:io

:io
I

SoiitliwiHt liny

I{<'(3r ■

.In

TolMloi

Kiel'

Niiiiliciist I'Miiit

Uiillway Point

Tcilst.ii ami Miildlo Kill

NdrllicaHt rciiiil

Hoof and I.iikannnii

NdrtlnaHt I'oinl

SimtlnviHt Hay

Nortlirast I'liint

Kn^IiHli Hay anil Liikaniion..

N'lirtlii'ast I'oint

KiefinnlZ.iltDi

Northiast I'liint

Halfway Point

Nortlita.st Point

Sout Invest liav

Knuliali Pay anil Miilillo Hill.
Niirllicast Point

NortlicaHt Point

Tolstoi. Midillo Hill.

Hay, Ki'tova

Xorllioast Point

Ki'i'f

Noiilii'nst I'oinl

Hallway Point

Northeast Point

Soutliwest liay

NortlieaBt Point

Knulisli

119

.Iiilv 4

110

4

574

5

182

',

317

7

III

lli7

7

274

8

78

8

:i3n

9

438

9

292

10

!l(i

10

521

IL'

17!)

42ii

13

205

13

2111)

14

HJii

15

117

3UI)

15

2311

10

200

17

■'.1

17

18

209

18

98

19

240

19

131

20

242

9(1

20

183

180

Kookery.

TolBtoi. Knj-lish Bay, Middle Hill

N'ortlienst Point

Heel'

Nortlnast Point

Kn^'lisli Pay. Middle Hill. Tol-
stoi, Li'.kannon, Keliiva

Northeast Point

Halfway Point

Northeast Point

Sontliwt'st l»ay

Nort lieast Point

Iteef

Xiirlliiast I'oiiit

Kniilish Pay. Middle Hill, To].
Htni, LtikaiMion, Ketova

Hallway Point

Northeast Point

Keef

Kn»:liHli Pay, Middle Hill, Tol.
stoi, Liikannon, Ketova

Northeast Point

do

l*olavina, Liikaiinon, Ketova...

Northe.i.st I'oint

do

Zapadnie

Hoef and Zoltoi

Northeast Point

EiiKliah liay. Middle Hill, Tol-
stoi, Ketova, Hoeky Point

Nort heast Point

Total.

494

321

.526

74

411

336
201
379
163
271
378
112

033
211
058
104

315
245
312
372
485
405
236
556
446

780
r>56

Total 17,124

Scaln taken an St, (leori/e Island in ISM.

Date.

•Iiine

diilv

Kookery.

TotaL Date.

Hoiikerv.

North

East

North

Kaat and Little East

Z.ipadnie

Starr.v .\iieiland North

Kastlinil Little Last

Starry Artoeland Norlli

Zapaihiie

East and Littlu Kast

Starry Arteel and Nortli

East and Little East

Zapaduiu

71
218
IIR
181
394
161
181
189
189
149
238
57
58

duly

East and Little East

Starry Arteel and North-
East

Starry Arteol and North.

Zapadiiie

Kast

Starry Art<>el and North.

Kast."

Starry Arteel and Nort'.i.
/apailuie

Total.

24
193

60
103

5.1
132
119

71
041
527

Total I 4,133

i

276 ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

PAST AND FUTURE OF THE FUR SEAL. '

II V .KlSKIMI .STANI.KY-llltOWN.

Tliore are but two proups of fur .seals to furni.sli to tlie world its
sH|)i)ly of seal .skiii.s, tlic fur .seal of the north and the fui' seal of the
south.

When Sir Francis Drake cireuniuavifiated the globe in IoTT-I.^kSO the
Arct»cci>h(tliin, or southern fur .seal, was to be found at not less than
thirty localities, and their numbers aggregated luillioiis. To-day the
coutributioiis of these southern waters are from three resorts, and do
not usually reach l.~),()()() skins aunually.

When Vitus Bering, in 1711. was wrecked upon the Commander
Islands, off the coast of Kamchatka, and I'ribilof searched out, in
17.S()-87, the group of islands in Bering 8ea tliat bears his nan»e, there
were: discovered, not only the chief breeding grounds of tiie northern
fur seal, Callorhinns iirsinuN, l)ut some of the most superb seal rookeries
the world has ever known. It is questionable if mortal vision ever
rested upon more magnificent displays of amphibian life than were to
be seen on the island of St. Paul at the time of its discovery. Today
these subarctic resorts are ]irostrate; their glory also has departed, aiid
they furnish a home for but a mci'e renniant of the seals that formerly
swarmed in myriads idong their rocky .shores.

For two years the hopes of tlioaghtfnl persons were high, that througii
the medium of international negotiations and the deliberations of wise
and able men thesafety of tlie fur seal would be at last secured. To-day,
when the decision of ilie Paris Tribunal is common property, we llnd
public oi)inion divided on the (juestiou as to whether the practical appli-
(ration of the decision will i)reserve the fur seal as a commercial com-
modity.

CnAUAOTEBISTIOS OK THK SEAL.

The condition of aftairs thus briefly outlined is all the more deplorable
when we consider tlie characteristics of the animal with which we are
dealing. It is a creature peculiarly adapted by its habits to nniii's man-
agement. It occui)ies no territory needed, as were the buffalo's feeding
grounds, for the sid)sist('nce of more valuable domestic animals; no
herders are required to prevent its being lost in the wastes of the ocean,
and no exjjense is incurred either to jjiotect it from the inclemency
of the weather or to ])rovide a winter food .suiijtly; yet with nion^ cer-
tainty than th(^ ranchman's Ihxtks and herds seek the home range do the
seals annually return to their breeding grouiuls where, under proper
management, they can without injury to the parent stock be made to
yield a jjrollt eqinil to if not greater than that derived from the cattle
of the jdains or the slieojt of the mcmntains.

THE SOUTIIEUN FITU SEAL ANT) IT.S DESTRUCTION.

Despite these characteristics, which nmst have been apparent to the
most ignorant aiul unobservant, what has been the course of events?
Turning first to the fur seal of tlie south we find that as early as 1G9(>
some little interest was manifested in its capture, but it was not until
the close of the last century that the jjursuit was begun in earnest.
Hardy mariners, stinndatod by the hojje of sharing in the |»ro(its of the

' From Bulletin United States Fish ConiniiHion, 1893, pp. 361-370.

ALASKA INDU8TBIES.

277

A

ftir trade which the Russians ha«l devolopod with the Chinese, searched
out tlie resorts of the southern fur seal; ravaged them year after year,
in season and out of season; slaughtered the helpless creatures with
clubs on land regardless of age or sex; gathered a harvest of 10,000,000
or 17,000,000 skins, and by 1830 had i)ractically destroyed, in the south-
ern seas, this valuable fur-bearing animal, if all these resorts were in
their original condition and under wise and prudentdirecition, they could
easily supply to the fur trade annually something like a half a million
skins, with corresponding advantage to an army of skilled artisans. As
it is, indis(!riniinate butcliery has left only the Lobos Islands rookeries
at tlie mouth of the La Plata River and a few insignificant resorts at
Cape TTorn and the Cape of Good Hope, the total yearly yield of which
is, as before stated, less than 15,000 skins. Such destruction is left abso-
lutely without justification in the face of man's entire ability to maintain
the fur seal rookeries at the highest possible limits permitted by the
operation of nature's restrictions, or when depleted to develop them
again. This is not idle speculation, but rests upon a firm foundation of
fact furnished by the history of the fur seal of the north.

THE NOBTHEBN iniB SEAL AND ITS RELATION TO THE SEAL-SKIN

INDUSTRY.

The two great resorts of the northern fur seal are tho Pribilof and
Commander islands in Bering Sea. Robbens Reef, a rocky islet in the
Okhotsk Sea, has a small rookery, and a few localities of minor impor-
tance are Ibuiid along the Kurile Islands. While the Russians who
first discovered these resorts prohibited all interference from outsiders,
their own treatment of the seals was similar to that practiced by the
sailors in the south. No attention was paid to ljx, season, or period of
j)rocreation, and it was not long before the end came there just as it had
done in the south. The Russians were taught by this severe lesson
that the only way in which the rookeries could be restored and per-
petuated was to protect the females from death and the breeding
grounds from molestation. This course, accompanied by practically a
suspension of killing during certain years, was rigidly adhered to, with
the result that when the rookeries of the Pribilof Islands were turned
over Ut the United States in 18(i7 their condition, instead of being one
of exhaustion, approximated that which existed when they were first
discovered. The truth of this will be more apparent when it is stated
that in 1808, before the United States could assume and exercise con-
trol over its newly acquired possessions, nearly a quarter of a million
skins were improperly tsiken from the islands of St. Paul and St. George
by unauthorized ])erson8 without apparently producing any diminution
of the numbers which came the following year.

Although there are but four of these northern localities, and Russiaa
mismanagement from time to time played such havoc with them that
the catch was an uncertain quantity, still they have contributed since
their discovery between 5,000,000 and 6,000,000 skins to the fur trade,
or about one-third as many as have been furnished by the southern
resorts. Frtmi the time that the fur seal of the south ceased to be of
commercial importance trade has relied upon these rookeries. Thanks
to the more enlightened policy employed by the Russians, and adopted
and improved upon by the United States, these rookeries of Bering
Sea contributed to commerce for the twenty years ending with 188!) a
uniform yearly quota of nearly irid.OOO pelts, which formed the basis
of and made possible the systematized seal-skin business of modern

278

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

times. As a raw coinmodity tliey sold for an average of $2,500,000 at
the annual liondon trade sales, and the rribili)l'<iuota yit;lded tlieCiov-
ernmcnt of the United States in revenue more than the $7, -'00,000
orifjinaily pnid for tlie entire Territory of Alaska. The vahui of raw
sciil skins is now rejiresented by about $ir> for skins taken at sea and
8.'!0 for Pribilof skins. At the present revenue rate, f it were now
l)i>ssible to take from tiie Pribilof Islands tiie former yenrly quota, the
(jiovernment income would be nearly -$1,000,000 annually.

mrOKTANOE OF TIIK SKAL-SKIN INDUSTliV.

The seal-skin industry is of no slight importance, and its ])roportions
are but rt)ughly indicated by tiie first i)rofifc on tlie raw skius. These
]u'ltries must be gathered in remote regions; they form part of the
transportation business of railro.id and steanishij) lines; coopers must
make casks for their shipnuMit; they must pass through the iiands of
many laborers before they reach the 40 buyers in London who i)urcha8e
them, aiul the 2,000 skilled artisans who convert them into fabrics
suited to the iis»M)f trade; and when all this is done there must still bo
stores maintained and clerks employed in order that they may lind
their way to the wealthy consumers. The labor incident to the taking,
transporting, manijjulating, and disi)osiiig of these peltries demands
the employment of thousands of jiersons each year, and when we recall
the i>rices i»aid lor these skins when converted into the garnu-nts dic-
tated by fashion, it will readily be seen that it is an industry the ulti-
mate value of which is represented by millions of dollars annually.
Above all it is a peculiarly worthy industry, in that it gives occupation
to niiiny, while the prolits come from the purses of those best able to
pay them.

CAUSE OF THE DESTRUCTION OF THE NORTHEKN FUR SEAL.

Some ten years ago there was put in opeiation on the American side
of the Pacific Ocean an agency of destruction, the growth of which, if
uninterrupted, promised to prove as eflective as did the .sailors' clubs
u])on the southern resorts. Its promise has been generously kept, and
from its deadly though partially controlled eflects the rookeries iire
now suffering. That agency was ])elagic sealing, or the taking of sciils
at sea by means of weapons. The source of tlie injury is the indis-
criminate killing. Whether this is prac^ticed on land, as in the south,
or at sea, as in tlie north, the outcome is the same. No animal which
produces but a single offspring each year can long survive an a'.ta(!ic
which involves the death of the producing class, tlic, females. I am
aware that there is another side to this question, and that two gresit
nations point each a finger at the other and say: "You did it." 'ilie
suV)ject niiitter of that contention is only germane to such a paper as
this ill so far as it touches upon the career of the seal, and only to that
extent will it be referred to.

England and danada hold the theory (which, in justice to them,
should be stated) that the decline of the northern rookeries was due to
excessive killing on the islands, jielagic sealing being a factor of only
secondary importance. If this tlieory meant that after iielagic sealing
had made serious inroads n])()n the seal herds it was excessive killing
to continue taking the aim:nil (|uota of 100,000 skins, it would be a
sound one, and the irnited States would be, culpable to that extent,
but England and Canada would not accept this limitation; they want
it to account for much more. They fail, however, to sustain their

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

279

theory until they show by clearest proof that the decjliiie of the rook-
eries he<iiin i)rior to the dovelopnicnt of pelagic sealii:;^, and iilso get
rid of tlie awkward fact tliat for the first twelve or fifteen years tliere
was no dilliciilty in securing tlio annual (juota allowed bylaw. Why
did tiiis alIeg(Ml decadence through excessive killing on land take so
long to manliest itself? Certiiinly the evils of indiscrimination is not
inherent in land killing; on the contrary, selection can be exercised at
the rookeries as readily as it can be at the abattoir, and there is no
more necessity for molesting the females than there would l)e for a
farmer to sliip all of his lierd to Kansas City and have the selectioTi of
the killable males made at the stock yards. The briefest recital of the
facts of seal life will make this plaiu.

THE FACTS OF SEAL LIFE.

The northern fur seals, unlike their southern relatives, are forced each
year by Arctic cold and the necessity for food to leave their homes on
the aiii>roach of winter and to seek the southern waters and the abun-
dant lish supply along the continental shores. The migration routes
of tlie Alaskan and Asiatic herds do not coalesce, nor do the seals
intermingle. Late in April or early in May, depending upon the char-
acter of the season, the breeding males, bulls, or " seecatchie," first
return to their resorts from this migration. About a month later the
mature females or " niatkie" begin to seek the breeding grounds, and
between the time of arrival of these two classes the young males or
'' hollustchikie" are swimming iu the water near the rookery fronts or
hauling out upon the hauling grounds some distance away from the
areas occupied by the mature seals. The young males are not permit-
ted to gather upon the breeding grounds until, by reason of age and
strength, they are able to maintain a position there.

Each old bull when he arrives in the spring selects and maintains,
often by desperate combat, a little area upon which he hopes to estab-
lish his household. The male weighs four or five times as much as his
consort, and, as is usually the case where the male prei)onderates in
size, they are extremely polygamous. Their vitality and virility is
almost beyond belief. For eigTity or ninety days, while they are mak-
ine secure their ixisition, and while guarding and presiding over their
families or "harems,'' they are debarred from both food and water.
When the season of propagation is past they again betake themselves
to the sea, and the breeding grounds are given up to the intermingling
of young males, females, and pups, but during that eighty or ninety
days the immature nuilea from 1 to 5 years of age have been compelled
to consort together upon the hauling grounds, and thus there is given
an opportunity without in any way interfering with the course of events
ui)oii the breeding grounds, to dri\e away, select, and slaughter such
of these young males as will fuinish desirable pelts. These are the
only skins shipped from the islands.

Can anyone successfully maintain that in the case of polygamous
animals the taking of the "surplus male life and reserving the females
can destroy the herd? If this can be demonstrated, then our stock-
raisf rs are at fault, and the evidence derived from Kussian manage-
men ?oes for naught.

THE FACTS OF PELAGIC SEALING.

Before the breath of life can be breathed into this theory of decadence
through excessive killing on the islands there must be removed from

280

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

the record books certain well-estubliBhed facts concerning pelagic seal-
ing. It will be necessary to dispose of the fact that while in 1878 there
was but I vossel engajjed in pelagic sealing, the number steadily
increased niitil in 18!L' there were 1-1! to follow on the migration tracks
of the herds, to harry tliem eight months out of the twelve, and, if
permitted, to ac(!ou)pany them to and even upon their chosen resorts.
There must also be a successful refutation of the fact that there is a
loss of at least lo per cent inherent in the methcils of tiiking seals at
sea; that pelagic sealing strikes at the very life of the rookeries, by
killing 75 or 80 per cent of the females, more than half of which are
mothers whose death involves that of their unborn ollspring; and that
the period of gestation being nearly twelve months, a mother killed in
Bering Sea means that three seal lives n;ay pay the penalty.

It is e(|uall.v important to the maintenance of this theory that there
be an elimination of the fact that during the four seasons, ending with
the past one of 18!t3, there were taken on the Pribilof Islands only a
total of 50,000 skins of young males, while during that same period
there were jutnally marketed by the sealers over 200,000 skins, which
represent«'d only about half the injury done the seal herds, an injury
falling heaviest upon the producing class, the females. For four years
there has been jjractically a closed time on these islands, and pelagic
sealing has had full swing in the ^orth Pacific. The rookeries have
not improved under these conditions, and until the records of the real
cause of destruction stand iui])eached it is idle to ofl'er obscure and
im}>robable exi)lanatioiis Cor the present condition of seal life.

It has only been i)rolital)l(' to follow this question of the cause of the
decadt'uce to indicate wiiat might be expected from pelagic sealing.
Whenever and to whatever extent carried on, its deadly eflects are cer-
tain and continuous, the amount of injury being limited only by the
magnitude of the enterprise. Improprieties on land can ba guarded
against, but the disastrous consequences of i)elagic sealing are inherent
to the business and are beyond man's control. They can be lessened,
but only through the curtailment of the number of seals taken. The
injurious ellect upon the herd, while proportionately less, remains a con-
stant factor.

In following the career of an animal possessing such capacity for
self-perpetuation and ready adapt.ability to the uses of num, the student
of natural history or of ecionomics is struck by the wanton and needless
destruction which pursues it wherever found. As to its future he turns,
for what comfort he may be able to extract, to the decision of that court
of recent if not last resort — the Paris Tribunal of Arbitration.

1

THE PAKIS TRIBUNAL OF ARBITRATION.

The causes which led to the arbitration are known to all. For some
years the Alaskan I'nr seal, when on its migration route, had been
the eagerly sought quarry of the pelagic hunters. This route, which
by reason of its vast extent and proximity to inhabited shores makes
this herd especially vuliu^rable to attack, extends from the Pribilof
Islands southward through the jtasses of the Aleutian chain, expands
in the broad Pacific, but ultimately brings the seals in more compact
masses to the North American Coast, and thence along its shores, back
through the passes, to the Pribilof Islands again. Realizing the peril
of the rookeries, the (iovernnient of the United States attempted to
partially protect them by seizing sealing schooners in Beiing Sea.
Each year it was thought that at least so far as these waters were cou-

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

281

cernt'd the daiij^er would cease, but cadi year it increased is the vessels
inulti|)liod and tlie skill and knowledge of the sealers became fjrciiter
and was uUiniately extended to the Asiatic herd which frecinents the
KuHsian or t^uniniander Islands. The continued seizing of schooners
by tiie United States met with remonstrances on the i)art of Canada
and England, and finally, after much irritation and heat, became tiie
subject of diplomatic negotiations, the peaiieful outcome of which was
the Paris Tribunal of Arbitration.

Three dutirs were intrusted to the Tribunal of Arbitration: It was to
settle certain jurisdictional questions, to decide the question of projjerty
rights, and in the event of the matter being left in such shape tiiat tiie
concurrence of Great Britain was necessary to establish regulations for
tlie purpose of protecting and preserving the fur seal, it was to frame
Kucii regulations as would be applicable outside of tiie jurisdiction of
tlie resjiective Governments and to indicate the nontcrritorial waters
over which these regulations should extend. As it is not important in
this connection to consider the jurisdicitional phases of the (lase there
will be taken up at once the property question and the regulaticms — the
two points that immediately concern ns; the former fmm the stand-
point of general interest, and the latter by reasou of their iutimute
relation to the future of the seals.

THE AMERICAN POSITION,

f

The able representativt^s of the United States took the position that
the tribunal was bound by no precedents, and i)08sessed,by virtue of its
very origin, a creative as well as a judicial function. They urged upon
the tribunal the taking of high ground and the settlement of the cjues-
tion ui)Ou broad and comprehensive principles. They pointed out that
man, by means of invention, was rapidly extending his dominion over
the water, as ho had over the land, and, by employing methods which
w -re not even dreamed of when many existing municipal and inter-
national laws were enacted, threatened the very existence of many
creatures useful to man. Turning from the citations of voluminous
authorities vindicating the justness of their claim of property right in
the seals and in the industry, they i)leaded with sturdy argument and
great eloquence that the tribunal would fail of its high duty did it not
lend its aid to such an extension of the world's idea of property right as
was needed to meet the demands of the advancing age. They asked
that the narrow ground be not taken that this great tribunal was called
into existence solely for the purpose of settling a dispute between two
nations, but that it was given an opportunity and was vested with the
power to make a substantial contribution to international law, and that
its verdict, while disposing of the immediate matter in dispute, should
be such a formulation, upon broader lines, of our conception of rights ot
property and of protection as would be of value to all mankind, irrc
s|)cctive of nations. They pointed out that the material progress of
the world was based upon the fundamental principle of ownership, ami
that the most ellective way of preventing the commercial annihilation
of certain great groups of creatures was by lodging in the nation best
qualified by its geographic position to protect them a custodianship, to
be exercised over them for the benefit of all. It was shown that the
adoption of this jirinciiile would dispose of the question of the relation
of other governments to the subject; would make possible the rehabili
tation of many of the seal rookeries of the south ; that it would jirotect
such industries as the coral and pearl fisheries, and that it would be

282

ALASKA INDIISTIUKS.

useful \n controllinp tlio, rapid iuroads man's iiipcMUiity is now iiiakiti}»
on tlic(l(Mii/(>nH of tli(> Ki>a. In Hliort, tliat it. would be a direct, uhcIuI,
and coiumouHeuse way of settiin}; the whole nuitter.

THE BRITISH POSITION.

With equal skill of aifjuuieut and elociuence of address the ndvo-
catcs of (ircat Hritaiii ant! (Janada held that the tribunal possessed hut
one function — that its duty was to declare the law and iu)t to •• ;ike it;
but that, whatever its function niit;ht be as au internatioiial body, it was
not vested with the i)ower to make international law, but must keep to
the straifjlit aiul narrow way of settiiii}"' a (lontcnticui between two
nations and adjustinjif two ccmllictin^' methods of eatchin^ seals. They
asked that the tribun.vl j)rovide for tiie continuation of pela>,'ic sealin;^
under the most favoratde conditions consistent with cairyin<;' out the
terms of tlie treaty. True, nothing was said in the treaty about ])re8erv-
inf; the business of i)elapic sealin}>:, but before so patient and ffctu^rous
a court it was not ditlicult to confuse the issue of preservinj^ the seals
and continuing pelagic sealing and to take up a large share of the ))!o
ceedings with pleadings in behalf of the latter. They denumded that
the question of property right be settled from the standpoint that the
seals were wild animals, which man could only reduce to possession by
destroying. They insisted that the law relating to wild animals, regard-
less of its origin, had been aece])ted by nations as the years ran on; it
was very old law and very good law; but, whether good or bad, it was
the law, and from its teachings the tribunal nnist not allow itself to be
enticed away by tlie seductive citations and insidious arguments of
learned counsel on the other side, Tiiere must be no making of laws to
suit new conditions; the old stand bys must be adhered to, whether
ai»i)li(able or not. They urged that the seals being wild animids, the
United States had done nothing to encourage oi' develop in them the
aninuim reveitendi — the inclination to retuin to their homes, as in the
case of bees and similar creatures — and thus had lost their claim to a
projierty in them, and if the world or a part of it desired to turn out
in boats and to destroy the industry by shooting the seals in the water
they had a perfect right to do so, for a wild animal was free to all. No
matter if seal mothers roaming the sea for fond did fall beibre the gun
or spear of the pelagic hunter and their heli)less pups starve on the
rookeries, the hand of destruction must not be stayed, foi- the United
States had no rights anyone was bound legally to respect when the
seals were 3 miles off shoie, and humanitarian considerations had no
pla(!e in the controversy. They insisted that the tribunal had no author-
ity in law to declare a property right in the seals or in the industry, but
if the tribunal contemplated disregarding the law and settling this
question on lines of their own choosing they must refrain from iloing
so, because it would interfere with that wonderful invention, the inuiuv
morial right on the high seas, an interference imtions not only would
not brook, but which they would actively resent,

THE tribunal's DECISION.

The tribunal, true to the conservatism of the Old World, accepted
this interpretation of their powers, recognized the potency of venerable
legal relics, assented to the arguments of the counsel for (Jreat Britain
and Canada based thereon, and contented itself with deciding that the
United States had no right of protection or property in the fur seals.

U

II

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

THE llKaULATIONS.

283

Tlio iioxfc tusk U) wliich the tribiiiiiil iuldresscd itself was tlie fram-
ing oC logiiliitioiiH. 'I'liusc ri'tftiliitioiis fiirtii.sli the last hopH tor lliu
incscrvalioii of the liir seal ius a coiiinienMal foinniodify. It is not
l»roltable tliat any oHmm' nations iuiviii}; seal interests will be content
with less than tint United .States secured, nor is it likely tliey will
obiiiin more, and tiius they lepiesent the measure of protection all
Heals are lila-ly to receive in the liiture.

Alter listeniiij; to an enormoas mass of testimony — some yood, some
bad, and some very iiidill'erent — ciniccrniny seal lile, the iribuniil ])io-
l)oses to preserve the Alaskan brancii of the northern I'nr st al by i»ro-
hibitinj;' sealinf^ within a /one of <iO miles around the Tribilof islamls
by establishing a closed lime, or time of no killing at sea, IVom May I
to .luly 31; by permitting only sailing vessels toengago in the bnsiness
of seal hnnting, niul refpiiring them to carry a distinctive tiag, to take
ont a special license, and lo keep a daily record of the catch and tiie sex
of the seals taken, these records to be commanicated to each of the
two (loverninents at the close of the sealing season; by limiting the
wciiifons of cai)tnre to sholgnns in the North I'acilie and spears in
Jicriiig 8ea, and by requiring the two (Jovernments to take sncli meas-
ures as will determine whether the hunters are fit to handle with sutfl-
cient skill the w capons by means of which the seals are to be captured.
Tiicse regidations. which are to remain in force until they have been in
whole or in part abolished or modilled by common agicement between
the (joveruiiicnts of the United States and (ireat JSrilain, are toltesnb
milted every live years to a new examination, so as to enable both
(Jovernments to consider whether, in the light of past experience, there
is occasion for any modilication of them.

The thiee prime points in the regulations are: The zone around the
islands; the dosed time of three months injected into the middle of the
sealing season, thus breaking it up, and the restriction of the use of
11 rearms to the North Pacific.

First as to the zone: If there was anyone fact clearly established by
the testimony of the pelagic sealers themselves and ollicial experts it
was that in the summer season great nund)er8 of seals, and especially
females, are found at haig distances from the islands of Hering Sea,
distances two or three times greater than that of the i)r(itecting zone
])rovided by the r'^gulations. Now, as the object was to preserve the
fur seals, it is proper to assume that the tribunal, proujpteil by a desire
to protect them, and acting in good faith, established such a zone as
they believed would i)ractically i)rohibit the attack of tiie i)elagic scaler;
but if this was so, then mere aii.ount ol distance was immaterial, and
in view of the fact that incessant fogs brood over the waters of ISering
Sea dniing the summer season, rendering it dillicult to tell when a vessel
is witiiin or without a zone, the limit of which can not be marked, why
not at once adopt that initural and well-defined boundary line, the
Aleutian chainV .lust here arises the question: When vessels are
seized, whose word shall be accepted as to the locality of seizure — the
pelagic sealer's or the seizing ofllcer's? Does not this uncertainty, hav-
ing as it does an important bearing on the question of conviction, weaken
the regulations restraining intluence on pelagic sealing? Aside from
questions of protection it seems to me that this part of the decision will
tend to increase dispute and bitterness rather than to diminish it.

The adoption of the closed time means the recognition on the part of

284

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

tlie tribunal that the destruction by the pohifjic, Hcaler has been exucs-
sive, and the cutting oil' of oiu^ month of tlio seaiin}» m'ason in HeriiiK
Ban clearly shows that it realized tlie danger to tlie herd from allowing
sealing there. Why, then, was sealing not prohibited altogether in
tliose waterst Is the danger less in Angiist and a portion of Septum-
berf The seals are still going h>ng distances from the islands and the
sealer can (continue his vork until stopjyed by the Septeml)er gales.
Bering 8ea is the focal jxint, tlie great massing ground of seal life, and
tlie seals are more readily taken there than anywhere else. In 18!M the
catch of the C:',natlian fleet in tlie North I'acitlc was a little over L!1,0(M)
seals, and befor'.' the umdus vivendi could be enforced a portion of the
lleet sealed froiii thiee to Ave weeks on the American side of Bering Sea,
and with fewer vessels an(i with fewer small boats they took in that time
as many seals as they had previously secured in the racitic. During
the three years ending with and iiu-luding 18!)1 the Canadian fleet (and
1 only < I note from ( 'anadiau records, because they are so reliable) took,
ill five iiKiiiths, in the Xorth Pacittc, an average of 507 skins per vessel;
with ten vessels less, tliey took in B.jring Sea 727 skins per vessel in
about two and one-half months.

The proposed regulations still allow at least live weeks' sealing in
Bering Sea; but, say the regulations, the hunters can only use sjjears
in Bering Sea, thereby intimating that spears are less etfective than the
shotguns allowed in the North Pa(;iHc, and that an additional safeguard
has therefore been provided in Bering Sea. Just why the shotgun is
pernicious in Bering Sea and is nor in the North Pacific is not indicated ;
but if we turn to the testimony of the Northwest Coast Indians, who
ship on the schooners and accompany tiiem to Bering Sea, we find that
they claim that they can do better work with tlio spear than with the
shotgun. The latter makes the game wild, while the former does not.
The spear makes no noise, and they are thus able to take seal after seal
as they sleep on the water, and get all in sight, while at the sound of a
gun's discharge the comrades of the captured or wounded seal swim
away.

It is evident from an inspection of these regulations as a whole that
the tribunal, taking into account the interests of both nations, endeavored
to frame measures which, while protecting the seals, would permit the
continuation of pelagic sealing. This seems to me a task the accom-
plishment of which is an inij^ssilulity. The evils of pelagic seahng
ai)pear to have been clearly recognized by the tribunal, but instead of
adopting prohibitive measures it took the middle course of throwing
some protection around the seals, and wh'le at the same time ajipearing
to concede something to the pelagic sealers, made the conditions just
suiBciently hard as to prevent them from engaging successfully in the
business. It is admitted that these regulations possess value in limit-
ing and discouraging pelagic sealing, but their inherent weakness is
that while they now seem to possess some deterring ])ower, changed
conditions may at any time arise which will negative their infl'ience
and offer inducements sufflcient to enable the sealers to again engage
in this business on a large and injurious scale. This contingency is
not so remote as may appear at first sight, in 188!» the average price
paid in Victoria for skins taken at sea was $0.83; in 1890 it had risen
to $10.70; in 1891 it was $1.5. In 1889 the cost of each skin in wages
was from $2 to $3; in 1890 and 1891 it was $3.50; in 1892 it was $4;
in other words, an advancing price for both master and hunter.

Now, it is evident that it will be some time before the Pribilof Isl".i!. «
can very greatly increase their annual output of skins. The masii:.aia

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

285

ontpnt of the Commandor IsliindH has beoii reached, and probably will
have to bo dccreaHod in tin'! ritliirc. Tlicrt' must lie thri>u},'h thoHe rcpu-
hitioiiH Home (mrtaJhnoiit f tlit> contribiitioii ut' the Hcaliiifr hcIiooihts,
and tlie roHult of all thirt will Ixt that m;il HkinH will dcMnand a higliur
price. Uhould tliat price reach a fl((ure which will coni])CiiHat« for the
obstacles which the repulatioiis place in the way of the pelagic Healer,
tiien we will have the changed conditions referred to, and pelaf,'ic seal-
in},' with its attendant evils will k" on as before. If there is doubt in
the minds of anyone upon this point it is only necessary to turn to the
history of the stitt otter, wliicli, though nearly exterminated, is as
ea};erly Boujtht after todiiy as it ever was, simjjly because the ever-
iiK^reasing jtrice the trade is willing to pay for its skin still conipensates
for the Hinall numbers now taken. Tiiere is no . ison to b(;lieve that
the career of the fur seal will be diircreiil from tL »; )f tiie sea otter.

Another possible source of changed conditions Iks in the regulations
themselves, for they jtrovide, as \v(! have seen, iov their own inodidca-
tion every five years, and the pressure w'li come 'leaviest from the
pelagic sealers' side of the case. Indeed, ine regulatio'.^ require that
rac'i Delagic sealer — an interested party — shall keep records whi(rh are
to bo made available when the <|uestioii of mod 'Im;;! Lions of the regula-
tions arises. >tow, while there never was a more fearless and coura-
geous set of men than these pelagic; sealers, it will be something entirely
new in their history if their records do not ai)i>eal in the strongest pos-
sible terms for a modification of the regulations in their favor.

The liiial questi(m that arises in regard to these regulations is, vv ill
they, as they now stand, ever be put in operation? The interested
pow ers have yet to agree upon measures for giving efl'ect to them. Is
it likely that, when a neutral tribunal found the muking of regulations
so tedious and diflicult, the interested jiowers will be able without inter-
minable delay and possibly irreconcilable conflict to agree upon "con-
current measures" putting them in force? England has won on the
great law ])oint8 of the ca.se, but these regulations are objectionable to
tianada, for they bear somewhat heavily upon pelagic sealing; and these
" concurrent measures " otter tempting fighting ground for .-lecurinf; their
modification in favor of the Dominicm.

Under the circumstances it is only to be expected that the arts of
diplomacy will be vigorously exercised in that direction. Tliere is but
one course, however, for the United States to pursue — permit no modi-
fications, stand 8(]uarely for the jirompt carryingout of these regulations,
and let time reveal how much value they possess for protecting the seal
herd. England will champion no plan of greater protection; she has
all to gain and nothing to lose from delay, and it will require all the
energy and firmness of the Executive to put ottectively in force the
regulations as adopted by the tribunal.

CONCLUSIONS.

After more than two years of close study of this question it is my
conviction that the only way in which the world can secure the largest
benefit commercially from the fur seal wherever found is by taking the
surplus immatnre males upon land undei' tiie most favorable conditions
suggested by experience; that securing seals by any other methods
introduces the fatal element of indiscrimination ; that the life of the herd
is jeopardized in proportion to the number of females killed; that the
injury inflicted on the northern lierds by pelagic sealing increases from
January to August, grows greater as Bering Sea is approached, and

286

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

culminates in those waters; that the shotgiin and spear are both deadly,
the latter by reason of its noiseless efticieucy, the former by reason of
its ready use by all classes, and tliat the disposition of this question on
the basis of adjusting two (lonliicting interests is futile and illogical,
but material issues are not alone involved; it i)resents biologic features
as well and has to do with forces of nature beyond man's control.

Kegulations can not be framed by human ingenuity which will pre-
serve the seal herds in their greatest possible proportions and permit
the continuation of successl'iil pelagic sealing. It would be reconciling
the irreconcilable. It would be accomplishing a feat equal to that of
making two bodies occupy the same space at the same time. Either
the regulations will be prohibitive in their operation — in which case it
would be more straightforward to make them so in the lirst instance —
or, if allowing successful pelagic sealing, they will be valueless in pre-
venting the extermination of the seal. In general it may be said that
no ])elagi(; sealing can be carried on which is not inherently and uncon-
trollably injurious to the life of the seal herd — the amount of injury
being proportionate to the magnitude of the attack.

AWAHD OF THE TRIBTINAL OF AHBITRATION CONSTITOTED UNDER THE TEEATY
CONCLUDED AT WASHINGTON THE 28TH OF FEBRUARY, 1892, BETWEEN THE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN OF THE UNITED
KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND.

(EngliBh version.]

Whereas, by a treaty between the United States of America and Great
Britain, signed at Wasliington, February 29, 1891i, the ratilications of
which by the Governments of the two countries were exchanged at
London on May 7, 1S!>2, it was, amongst other things, agreed and con-
cluded that the questions which had arisen between the Government of
the United States of A nuMica and the (^lovernmeut of Her Britannic
Majesty, concerning the jurisdictional rights of the United States in
the waters of Bering Sea, and concerning also the preservation of tiie
fur seal in or habitually resorting to the said sea, and the rights of the
citizens and siibjects of either country as reganls the taking of fur
seals in or habitually resorting to the said waters, should be submitted
to a tribunal of arbitration to be composed of seven arbitrators, who
should be appointed in the following manner, that is to say: Two should
be named by the President of the United States; two should be named
by Her Britannic Majesty; His Excellency the President of the French
Eepubli(! should be jointly reqiu'sted by the high contracting ]jartie8
to name one; His Majesty the King of Italy should be so re([uested to
name one; His Majesty the King of Sweden and Norway siiould be
so requested to Jiame one; the seven arbitrators to be so named should
be jurists of distinguished reputation in their respective countries, and
the selecting ])owers should be requested to choose, if possible, jurists
who are acquainted with the English language;

Ajid whereas it was further agreed by Article TI of the said treaty
that the arbitrators should meet at Paris within twenty days after the
delivery of the counter cases mentioned in Article IV, and should pro-
ceed impartially and carefully to examine and decide the questions
which had been or should be laid before them as in the said treaty pro-
vided on the part of the (iovernments of the United States and of Her
I'litauiiic Majesty, respectively, and that all questions considered by

ALASKA INDU8TKIES.

287

the tribunal, including the final decision, should be determined by a
majority of all the arbitrators;

And whereas by Article VI of the said treaty, it was further pro-
vided as follows:

In deciding the mutters submitted to tlie said arbitrators, it is agreed that tlio fol-
lowiii;^ live jioints sliiill be submitted to them in order tliat their award shall embrace
a diHtinct deiiHioii upon each of said live points, to wit:

1. \\ hat fxcliiHivc jurisdiction in tlio sea now known as Bering Sea, and what
exclusive rijilit.s in the seal fisheries therein, did Russia assert and exercise prior and
ui> til the time of tlie cession of Alaska to the United States?

2. liow far were tliew claims of jurisdiction as to the seal flsheries recognized and
conceded by (!ieat Britain?

;?. Was the liod.v of water now known as Bering Sea included in the phrase Pacilic
Ocean, as used in the treaty of 18L'5 between Great Britain and Russia; and what
ri'j;hts. if any, in Bering Sea were held and exclusively exercised by Russia after said
treaty .'

•1. iiiil not all the rights of Russia, as to jurisdiction and as to the seal fisheries in
Heriiij; Sea east of the water boundary, in the treaty between the United States and
Iiiusia of the 30th of March, 18(i7, pass unimpaired to the United States under that
treaty?

5. Has the United States any right, and if so, what right, of protection or prop-
erty in the fur seals frequenting the islands of the United States in Bering Sea when
such seals are found outside the ordinary 3-mile limit?

And whereas, by Article VII of the said treaty, it was further agreed
as follows:

If the determination of the foregoing questions as to the exclusive jurisdiction of
the United States shall leave the subject in such position that the concmrencB of
Great Ikitain is necessary to the establishment of regulations for the proper protec-
tion and preservation of the fur seal in, or habitually resorting to, Bering Sea, the
arbitrators shall then determine what concurrent regulations, outside the jurisdic-
tion limits of the respective Ciovernnients, are necessary, and over what waters such
regulatiims should extend;

The high contracting parties furthermore agree to cooperate in securing the adhe-
sion of other powers to such regulations;

And whereas, by Article VIII of the said treaty, after reciting that
the high contracting parties had found themselves unable to agree
upon a reference which should include the question of the liability of
eiich for tiie injuries alleged to have been sustained by the otiier, or by
its cifizciis, in connect'ou with the claims presented and urged by it,
and that "they were solicitious that this subordinate question should
not interrupt or longer delay the submission and determination of the
main ([ucstions," the high contracting parties agreed that "either ot
them might submit to the arbitrators any question of fact involved in
said cla'ins and ask for a finding thereon, the question of the liability
of eithe:' Government upon the facts found, to be the subject of further
negotiation;

And V. hereas the President of the United States of America named
the Hon. John M. Harlan, Justice of the Supreme Court of the United
States, a:id the Hon. John T. Morgan, Senator of the United States, to
be two of the said arbitrators, and Her Britannic Ma-jesty named tlie
Kight Hon. Uord Hiuinen and the Hon. Sir John Thompson, minister
of justice and atloiney-general for Canada, to be two of the said
arbitrators, and His I-^xcelleucy the President of the French Kei)ublic
naiiu'd tilt! liaron de Courcel, senator, ambassador of France, to be
one of tlie said arbitrators; and His Majesty the King of Italy named
the Marquis Einilio Visconti Venosta, former minister of foreign atfairs
and senator of the Kingdom of Italy, to be one of the said arbitrators;
and His Majesty the King of Sweden and Norway named Mr. Gregera
Gram, minister of state, to be one of the said arbitrators;

And whereas we, the said arbitrators so named and appointed, hav-

283

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

inp taken apon ourselves the burden of the said arbitration, and having
duly met at Paris, proceeded impartially .and carefully to examine aiul
decide all the questions submitted to us, the said arbitrators, under the
said treaty, or laid before us as provided in the said treaty on the part
of the Governments of Her Britannic Majesty and the United States,
resjtectively;

Now we, the said arbitrators, having impartially and carefully exam-
ined the said questions, do in like manner by this our award decide and
determine the said questions in the manner following; that is to say,
we decide and determine as to the five points mentioned in Article VI
as to which our award is to embrace a distinct decision upon each of
them :

As to the first of the said five points, we, the said Baron de Com eel, Mr.
Justice Harlan, liord llannen, Sir John Thompson, Marquis Visconti
Venosta, and Mr. Gregers Gram, being a majority of the said arbi-
trators, do decide and determine as follows:

By the ukase of 1S21 Russia claimed jurisdiction in the sea now
known as Bering Sea to the extent of 100 Itiilian miles from the coast
and islands belonging to her; but,in the cou. se of the negotiations which
led to the conclusion of the treaties of 1824 with the United States and
ami of 1825 with Great Britain, Russia admitted that her jurisdiction
in the said sea should be restricted to the reach of cannon shot from
shore, iiiid it appears that from that time up to the time of the cession
of Alaska to the United States Eussia never asserted in fact or exer-
cised any exclusive jurisdiction in Bering Sea or any exclusive rights
in the seal fisheries therein beyond the ordinary limit of territorial
waters.

As to the second of the said five points, we, the said Baron de Courcel,
Mr. Justice Harlan, Lord llannen. Sir John Thompson. Marquis Visconti
Venosta, and Mr. (iregers Gram, being a majority of the said arbi-
trators, do decide and determine that Great Britain did not recognize
or concede any claim upon the part of Russia to exclusive jurisdiction
as to the seal fisheries in Bering Sea outside of ordinary territorial
waters.

As to the third of the said five points, as to so much thereof as requires
us to decide whether the body of water now known as Bering Sea was
included in the i)hrase "Pacific Ocean" as used in the treaty of 1825
between Great Britain and Russia, we, the said arbitrators, do unani-
mously decide and determine that the body of water now known as
Bering Sea was iiic luded in the phrase "Pacific Ocean" as used in the
said treaty.

And as to so much of the said third point as requires us to decide
what rights, if any, in Bering Sea were held and exclusively exercised
by Russia after the said treaty of 1825, we, the said Baron de Courcel,
Mr. Justice Harlan, Lord Hannen,Sir John Thomjison, Marquis Visconti
Venosta, and Mr. Gregers Gram, being a majority of the said arbitra-
tors, do decide and determine that no exclusive rights of jurisdiction
in Bering Sea and no exclusive rights as to the seal fisheries therein
were held or exercised by Russia outside of ordinary territorial waters
after the treaty of 1825.

As to the fourth of the said five points, we, the said arbitrators, do
unanimously decule and determine that all the rights of Russia as to
jurisdiction and as to the seal fisheries in Bering Sea cast of the water
bouudaiy, in the treaty between the United Stales and Russia of the
30th March, 1867, did pass unimpaired to the United States under the
said treaty.

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

289

As to the flftli of the said five points, we, the said Baron de Courcel,
Lord iraniien, Sir John Thompson, Marquis Visconti Venoata, and Mr.
Grofjers Griiiii, being a majority of the said arbitrators, do decide and
determine tliat the United States has lot any right of protection or
l)i()l)erty in the far seals frequenting the islands of the United States
in Bering Sea when such seals are found outside the ordinary 3-inile
limit.

And whereas the aforesaid determination of the foregoing questions
as to tlie exclusive jurisdiction of the United States, mentioned in
Article VI, leaves the subject in soch a position that the concurrence
of Great Britain is necessary to the establishnu-nt of regulations for
the iiroper protection and preservation of the fur seals in or habituall.y
resorting to Bering Sea, the tribunal having decided by a majority as
to each article of the following regulations, we, the said Baron de
Courcel, Lord Hannen, Marquis Visconti Venosta, and Mr. Gregers
Gram, assenting to the whole of the nine articles of the following regu-
lations, and being a majority of the said arbitratois, do decide and
determine in the mode provided by the treaty tlmt the following cnn-
cnrrent regulations outside the jurisdictional limits of the respective
Governments are necessary, and that thej should extend over the
waters hereinafter mentioned, that is to say :

BKOULATIONS. •
Article 1.

The Governments of the United States and of Great Britain shall
forbid their citizens and subjects, respectively, to kill, capture, or pur-
sue at any time and in any manner whatever the animals commonly
called fur seals within a zone of 60 miles around the Pribilof Islands,
inclusive of the territorial waters.

The miles mentioned in the preceding paragraph are geographical
miles, of 60 to a degree of latitude.

Article 2.

The two Governments shall forbid their citizens and subjects, respec-
tively, to kill, capture, or pursue, in any manner whatever, during the
season extending each year from the 1st of May to the 1st of July, both
inclusive, the fur seals on the high sea, in the part of the Pacific Ocean,
inclusive or Bering Sea, which is situated to the north of the thirty-
fifth degree of nr-th latitude and eastward of the one hundred and
eightieth degree of longitude from Greenwich, till it strikes the water
boundary described in Article I of the treaty of 1867 between the
United States and Itussia, and following that line up to Bering Straits.

Article 3.

During the period of time and in the waters in which the fur-seal
fishing is aUowed, only sailing vessels shall be pernntted to carry on
or take part in fur-seal fishing operations. They will, however, be at
liberty to avail themselves of the use of such canoes or undecked
boats, i)ropelled by paddles, oars, or sails as are in common use as
fishing boats.

Article 4.

Each sailing vessel authorized to fish for fur seals must be provided
with a special license issued for that purpose by its Government, and
shall be required to carry a distinguishing flag, to be prescribed by its
Qover* ent.

.s. Doc. 'Jli, pt. 1»

290

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

AUTICLK 5.

Tlie masters of the vessels eiifjaged in fur-seal flsliing shall enter
accurately in their ollicial log book the date and place of each fur-seal
lisliiug oi)eration, and also the number and sex of the seals cajitnied
upon each day. These entries shall be coniniuni('atcd by each of the
two Governments to the other at the end of each lishing season.

Article 6.

The use of nets, firearms, and explosives shall be forbidden in the
fur-seal fishing. This restriction shall not apjily to shotguns wlion such
fishing takes jdace oniside of Bering Sea during the season when it
may be lawfully carried on.

Article 7.

The two Governments shall take measures to control the fitness of
the men antlu)rized to engage in fur-seal fishing. These men siiall have
been i)rovcd fit to handle witli sullicieut skill the weapons by means of
which this fishing may be carried on.

Article 8.

The regulations contained in the preceding articles shall not apply to
Indians dwelling on t'le coasts of the territory of the United States or
of Great Britain, and carrying on fur-seal fishing in canoes or undecked
boats not transported by paddles, oars, or sails, and manned by not
more than five persons each in the way hitherto practiced by the Indians,
provi<led such Indians are not in the employment of other persons, and
provided that, when so hunting in canoes or undecked boats, they shall
not hunt fur seals outside of territorial waters under contract for the
delivery of th(^ skins to any person.

This exemption shall not be construed to afl'ect the municipal law of
either country, nor shall it extend to the waters of Bering Sea or the
waters of the Aleutian I'asses.

Nothing herein contained is intended to interfere vdth the employ-
ment of Indians as hunters or otJierwise in connection with fur-scaling
vessels, as heretofore.

Article 9.

•

The concurrent regulations hereby determined with a view to the pro-
tection and preservation of the fur seals shall remain in force until tliey
have been in whole or in part abolished or modified by common agree-
ment between the 'iovernments of the United States and of Great
Britain.

The said concurrent regulations shall be submitted every five yen.rs
to a new examination, so as to enable boh interested (iovernnn'iits to
consider whether in the light of past exiicrience there is occiision for
any modification thereof.

And whereas the Government of Her Britannic Majesty did submit
to the Tribunal of Arbitration by Article VIII of the said treaty cer-
tain questions of fact involved in the claims referred to in said Article
VIII, and did also submit to us, the said tribunal, a stateni' iit of the
said facts, as follows, that is to say:

FINDING8 op FACT PKOPOSKD BY THE AOENT OF OREAT BRITAIN AND AGREED TO
AS PKOVKI) BY Till'. AOKNT FOR THK INITED STATES AXD SUBMinKD TO THE
TIUBUNAL OF ARBiriiATION VOH ITS CONSIDKRATION.

1. Tlint tlic several aourclnis and seiztirrs, whether of Hhips or jtckkIh, and the sev-
eral arrests of masters aud crews, resjiectivnly, nieutioued in the schedule to the

ALASKA INDSUTRIES.

291

RritiHh case, pnf);eB 1 to 60, iiicliisivo, wore iiiiido by tlio authority of tbo Iluitnl
States Govoriiineiit. The (|Uosti()iis as to thu valnc of the Hai<l vessels or their con-
tents, or either of them, and the iiuestion as to wliether tlie vessels mentioned ii.
the schedule to the ISritish ease, or any of tlieni, were wholly or in part the aitiial
property of the eitizens of the United States have been witlulrawn from and havp
not lieen conaidored l>y the tribunal, it beinf; understood that it is open to tlie Unlti d
Slates to raise tliese questions or any of them, if they think tit, in any future nejio-
tiations as to the liability of the United States (Joverninent to pay the amounts
mentioned in the schedule of the Hntisli ease.

'J. That the seizures aforesaid, with the exception of the I'athfinder, seized at Neah
ISay, were made in Hering Sea at the distances from shore mentioned in the schedule
annexed hereto, marked C.

;i riiat the said several searches and seizuresof vessels were made by public aimed
vessels of the United States, the commanders of which had, at the several times wlieu
they were made, from the KNccutive liepartment of the (Jovernnient of the United
States, Instructions, a copy of one of whiih is annexed hereto, marked A, and that the
others were, in all substantial respects, the same; that in all the instanees in wliich
proci'cdinKs were had in the districtconrts of the United States resnltin;? in condem-
nation, such proceedings were begun by the filing of libels, a cojiy of one of whiih
is annexed hereto, marked H, and that the libels in the other proceedings were in all
snbstaiitial respects the same; that the alleged acts or oll'eiises for which said scvi'ral
searches and seizures were made in each case were done or committed in Hering Sea
jit the (listances from shore aforesaitl ; and that in each case in which sentence n| con-
demnation was i)as8cil, except in those cases when the vessels were released after
ronileinnation, the seizure was adopted by the (ioverninent of the United States;
and in those cases in which the vessels were released the seizure was made by the
authority of the United States; that the said lines and iniprisonnients wcn^ for alleged
breai'hcs of the municipal laws of the United States, which alleged brcaidies were
wholly eominitted in Hering Sea at the distances from the shore albrcsaid.

4. That the several orders mentioned in tlie schedule annexed liereto and marked
0, warning vessels to leave or not to enter Bering Sea, were made by public armed
vessels of the United States, the commanders of which had, at the several times
when they were given, like instructions as nientione<l in finding 3, and that the ves-
sels so warned weie engaged in sealing or prosecuting voyages for that purpose, and
that such action was adopted b.v the (ioverninent of the Liiited States.

5. That the district courts of the United States in which any proceedings were
had or taken for the purpose of condemning any vessel seized, as mentioned in the
sehednb^ to the case of (jreat Britiiin, pages 1 to 60, inclusive, had all the Jtirisdic-
tion and ])owers of courts of admiralty, including the jirize. jurisdiction, but that in
each case the sentence pronounced by the court was based upon the grounds set
forth in the libel.

Annex A.

TnKASURY Depaktmknt, Office of the Secuetart,

Washington, April SI, ISSn.
Sir: RefeiTing to Department letter of this date, directing you to proceed with the
revenue steamer Hear, under your command, to the seal islands, etc., you are hereby
clothed with full powt>r to enforce the law contained in the provisions of section llCiG
of the I'nitcd Stiites Ifevised Statutes, and directed to seize all vessels and arrest and
deli>'er to the ]iriii)er authorities any or all persons whom you may detect violating
the law referred to, after due notice shall have been given.

You will also seize any liciuors or lireariiis attempted to be introduced into the
country without i)roper permit, under the provisions of section lit5,5 of the Kevised
Statutes, and the proclamation of the President dated February 4, 1870.
Hespectfully, yours,

C. S. Faihciiild, Acting Secretary.
Cftpt. M. A. llEAi.Y,

Commanding Re> jnue Steamer Bear, San Francisco, Cal.

Annex B.

In the district court of the United States for the District of Alaaka — Angust special

term, 1886.

To the Hon. Lafayeite Dawson, Judge of said District Court:

The libel of information of M. D. Hall, attorney for the United States for the Dis-
trict of Alaska, who prosecutes ou behalf of said United States, and being present

292

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

here in court in his proper por.son, in the nnnip and on behalf of snid United States,
iigaiimt the scl'ooniT Thornton, her tmkle, iippiircl, boats, cargo, and fiiniitnro, and
agninBt all pciHonB intiTvuning for their intereHt tlierein, in a cause oi' forfeiture,
uUeges and infornis as odlows:

Tliat Charh'.s A. Aliliey, an olTiccr in the IJevenue-Marino Service of the Unit'.d
States, and on special <liity in t\w waters of the District of Alaska, iientofore, to
wit, on the 1st d:iy of .' uirust, 18S(5, williin the limits of Alaska Territory, and in the
waters thereof, and within the civil and Jm'.icial liislrict of Alaska, to wit, witliiii
the waters of (hat portion of ISerin^' Sea Uclongiiifj to the said district, ou waters
navigable frmn the se.i by vessels of 10 or more Ions burden, seized the ship or vessel
commonly called a scliooner, the Thornton, her tackle, apparel, boats, cargo, and
furnilinre, being the pro]>erty of some jierson or jxtsoiis to the said attorney unknown,
as forfeiti'd to the United States, for the f<dlowing causes:

That the said vessid or schooner was found engaged in killing fur seal within the
limits of Alaska Territory, and in the waters thereof, in violation of section 1956 of
the l{eviscd Statutes of the United States.

And tlie said aitoriiey saith that all and singular the proniisea are and were true,
and witiiiu tl\e admiralty ami maritime. jurisdiction of this court, and that liyreason
thereof and liy force of the st.itutes of lln' United States in such cases made and
])rovided, the aforeiiieiitinned ami desi'ribed schooner or vessel, being a vessel of
over 20 tons burden, her tackle and aiiiiarel, boats, cargo, and furniture, became
foiiolted to the use of the said United States, and that said schooner is now within
the district aforesaid.

Wherefore the said attorney jirays the tisual i)rocess and monition of this honor-
able court issue in tliis liehalf, and thatall persons interested in iln' before-mentioned
and de8cril)ed schooner or vessel may be cit(>(l in general and sjiecial to answer the
premises, and all due ])roceediugs being had that the said scliooner or vessel, her
tackle, apparel, boats, cargo, and fnrnituro may, for the cause aforesaid, and others
api)earing, be condeimied by tlie definite sentence and decree of this honorable
court, as forfeited to I lie use of the saiil United States, according to the form of the
statute of the said United States in such cases made and provided.

M. I). Hall,
United Slatis I)inf7-ict Altornry for the District of Alaska.

Annex C.

The following table shows the names of the British scaling vessels seized or warned
by the 1,'nited States revenue cruisers, 188f)-1890, and the approximate distance from
land when sidzed. The distances assigned in the cases of the Carolcna, Thornton, ui\il
Onward are on the authority of the United States Naval (Commander Abbey (see
Senate, Ex. Uoe. No. lOG, pp. 20, 30, 40, Fiftieth Congress, second session). The dis-
tances assigned in the cases of the Anna Heck, JV. I'. Soiiward, Dolphin, and Grace are
on the authority of Captain Shepard, United States Kovenue Marine (Blue Hook,
United States, No. 2, 18i)0, pp. 80-82. See Appendix, Vol. III).

Kame of vessel.

Date
of seizure.

Aug. 1,1886

Approximate distance frcnu land when seized.

United St.ites

vebsel making

seizures.

75 miles

70 mili'8

Do.

Aug. 2,1886

Do.

Wariicil by (jorwin in Mliunt Maiiiu pnsilion an

Onward.
66 mi It's

Anna lleck

July 2,1887

July 9,1887
July I'J, X'^-
Julv 17,1887
Auj,'. 10, 1887
Aug. 25, 1887
Aug. 4,1887
July 31,1889
July 29, 18 1
July 11,1889

do . .

Rush.

W p. Snvwanl

59 niili'H

Do.

Dolpliin.

40 milfs

Do.

Do.

62 ruiles

Do.

Ada

Bear.

Triumph

Warnrd by I'uah mit to cnlcr iteiiiig Sea

66 miles .

Rush.

Pathflndfir

Do.

Triumph

Black DiiiiiHiiid

Ordered out of Hering Sea by Rush. (J) As

to ni)»ltion wheu w.irued.
35 mi lea

I)n.

I.ily

Aug. 6,1889

July 30, 18S9
Au-. 13,1889
July 1'', 1889
Mar. 27, 1890

66 miles Do.

A riel

Ordered out of liering Sea by Rush

do

Kate

Miunic

65 miles

Do

C(ir\vni

Pathfliuler

Seized in Neah Hay. ( 1)

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

293

And whereas the Government of Her TJritaiinic Majesty did ask the
said arbitrators to find the said ta(;ts as set lorth in tlio said statement,
and whereas the ajiciit and coniiscl for tlio Tlidtod States Government
thereupon in our presence inlbrmod us thnl tlie said statement of facta
was sustained by the evidence, and tlmt tliey iiad iif^reed with the af^ent
and counsel for Iler liritannic Majesty that we, the arbitrators, if we
sliould think fit so to do, might iind the said statement of facts to be
true:

Now we, the said iirl»itrators, do unanimously find the facta as set
forth iu tlie said statement to be true.

And whereas each and every question wiiieh has been considered by
the tribunal has been determined by a mnjority of all the arbitrators:

Now we, Baron de Courccl, Lord Ilannen, .Mr. .Fustice Harlan, Hir
John Thompson, Senator Morgan, the Marquis Visconti Vonosta, and
Mr. Gregers Gram, tlie respective minorities not withdrawing their
votes, do declare tins to be the final decision and award in writing of
this tribunal in accordance with the treaty.

Made in duplicate at Paris and signed by us the 15th day of August,
in the year 1>S!»3.

And we do certify this English version thereof to be true and accurate.

(Bering Sea Arbitration. Indexes to the British case, p. 19.)

DECIAHATIONS MADE BY THE TRIBUNAL OF ARBITRATION AlID RKFERHED TO
THE GOVERNMENTS OE THE UNITED STATES AND GREAT BBIXAIN FOB THEIR

CONSIDERATION.

[Englisli version.]

I.

The arbitrators declare that the concurrent regulations, as determined
upon by the Tribunal of Arbitration, by virtue of Article VII of the
treaty of the 2!)th of February, IS'Jii, being applicable to the high sea
only, should, in their opinion, be supplemented by other regulations
applicable within the limits of the sovereignty of each of the two powers
interested and to be settled by their common agreement.

II.

In view of the critical condition to which it appears certain that the
race of fur seals is now reduced in consotinence of circumstances not
fully knowni, the arbitrators think fit to re<'omnuMid both Governments
to come to an understanding in order to prohibit any killing of fur seals,
eitlier on land or at sea, for a period of two or three yeais, or at least
one year, subject to such e.xceptions as the two Governments might
thiiiiv proper to admit of.

Such a measure might be recurred to at occasional intervals, if found
beneficial.

III.

The arbitrators declare moreover that, in their opinion, the carrying
out of the regulations determined upon by the Tribunal of Arbitration
should be assured by a system of stii)ulations and measures to be
enacted by the two powers; and that the tribunal must, in consefjuence,
lea^^e it to the two powers to decide njion the means for giving effect to
the regulations determined upon by it.

We do certify this English version to be true and accurate, and have
signed the same at Taris this- l.">th day of August, 18!>3.

(Bering Sea Arbitration. Indexes to the British case, p. 3.)

\

294

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

^MseU composing the Canadian lealing fleet for 1S94,

1. Arctic.

2. Aiiiiik.

3. Aurora.

•I. Auuit! O. Moore.

5. Ajjnes McDonald.

6. ArietaB.

7. Annie E. Fiiint.

8. Krenda.

9. Heat rice.

10. BorualiB.

11. O. G. Cox.

12. Cosco.

13. Charlotte.

14. City of San Diego.
1,5. Dora Siewnnl.

16. Diana.

17. E. H. Maroin.

18. Enterprise.

19. Fawn.

20. l'"loronco M. Smith.

21.

22.
23.
L'l.
2i<.
2(!.
27.
2S.
29.
3(1.
31.

:!•-'.

33.
31.
35.
30.
37.
38.
39.
40.

Geneva.

41.

Pioneer.

Henrietta.

42.

Rimie Olsen.

Kate.

43.

Shelby.

Kilmeny.

44.

San .JoHO.

K at li trine.

45.

Sapphire.

C. 1). Rand.

46.

.Snnoy I.aHS.

I.iDliic.

47.

Sadie Turpel.

Labrador.

48.

Theresa.

LouiH Adair.

49.

Triumph.

Minnie.

50.

Umhrina.

May liell.

51.

Viva.

Maud S.

52.

Vera.

Mary Taylor.

53.

Venture.

Mascot.

51.

VV. B. Hall.

Mary Ellen.

55.

W. 1'. Sayward.

Mermaid,

5(!.

Wanderi'r.

Otto.

57.

Walter L. liich

Ocean Roll.

58.

W. A. Earle.

Osca and llattio.

59.

Favorite.

Penelope.

Vetsela eomposing the American sealing fleet for 1894.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
U.
15.
10.
17.

Alton.

Alexander.

A'laconda,

Anna Matilda.

AUie I. Alger.

Bonanza.

Bowhead.

(}. G. White.

Knwna and Lonisa.

I'.inma.

I'.piiin^jcr.

Edward E. Webster.

Ella Johnson.

Ethel.

Geo. I'eabody.

(ieo. K. White.

H. C. Wuhlberg.

18. Henry Dennis.

19. Herman.

20. Ada Etta.

21. .Jane Grey.

22. Kate and Ann.

23. Louis D.

24. Louis Olsen.

25. Lillie L.

26. .Josephine.

27. Mary H. Thomas.

28. Mascot.

29. Mattie T. Dyer.

30. Mathew Turner.
31 Penelope.

32. Prescott.

33. Retriever.

34. Rattler.

35. Rosio Sparks.

36. St. Paul.

37. Sophia Sutherland

38. San Diejio.

39. Stella Erland.
4(K Teresa.

41. Volunteer.

42. Willard Ainsworth.

43. Wimlicster.

44. Aii.ature.

45. Columbia.

46. C. C. Perkins.

47. Deeahks.

48. Dart.

49. FeP.tz.

50. James G. Svcon.

51. Puritan.

MANAGETMENT OF ROOKERIES— DECREASE OP SEALS.

Seal Islands, Alaska, July 16, 1889.

Gentlemen: I regret to roi)()rt that the season's soal catch is pro-
gressing very unfavorably, and that the condition of tlii^ breeding rook-
eries, already i)ast the date of fullest occupation for the jear, indicates
a large falling otf in productiveness — much greater, in fact, than I have
heretofore reported.

During the period from 187.'} to 1883, as my rejiorts from year to year
will show, we experienced no difficulty in obtaining the full catch of
seals early in the season, and the skins were allot the best marketable
size and ([uality, for we had at that time a large surplus of killable
animals from which to make our selection. It was customary during
that i)eriod to secure in the month of June nearly one-half of our
catch, all of the primcst and best, and at the same time turn back to
the rookeries for breeding aninnds, or as being undesirable for market,
a very large i)ercentage, averaging for the ten years in question per-
haps 30 per cent of the whole number driven. In .July in each of those
years the i)ercentage of rejected animals was still larger, amounting
from 50 to 80 i^er cent of the number driven ; but of those a large major-

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

295

Ity wore niulcr nizo for killin<j and retiiiired the additional year's gfowtli
tliat \v(> were enabled by the very abundant supply ot seals to pive
tlieni. We could confidently count on their return the next season in
prime condition.

The season's work for a catch of 1()(),<)()() skins was then finislied from
the lUh to the liOth of July, determined by our ability to do tiie work
and not by the condition of the hauling- {jrounds, lor we had always
seals enoufjh in si}>ht after tlie lUth of June, and sometimes even earlier,
to keej) our force fully occupied.

The breeding rookeries, frona the beginninfj of the lease till 188li or
IHS'J, were, I believe, constantly increasing in area and pojiulatlon, and
my observations in this direction are in accordance with those of Mr.
Morgan, Mr. Webster, and others who have been for many years with
me in your service, and of the late Special Treasury Agent J. M. Mor-
ton, who was on the islands from 187U to J.S80. Even as late as 188")
Special Treasury Agent Tingle reported a further increase of breeding
seals, but his estimates were made in comparison with those of I'ntf.
11. W. Elliott in 1872-73, and he was probably not fully awsue of the
fact that the increase had occurred i)rior to 188.'5, and that in 1885 there
was already perhai)8 a slight diminution of breeders.

The contrast between the present condition of seal life and that of
the first decade of the lease is so marked that the most in(;xpert can
not fail to notice it. Just when the change commenced I am unable
liom personal observation to say, for, as you will renv luber, 1 was in
ill health and unable to visit the islands in l.~s83, 1884, and 188.5. 1 left
the rookeries in 188U in their fullest and best condition, and found them
in 1880 already showing a slight falling ofl', and experienced that year
foi' the first time some difliculty in securing just the class of aniiiials
in every case that we desired. We, however, obtained the lull catch in
tiiat and the two following years, finishing the work from the 24tli of
June to the 7th of July, but were obliged, particularly in 1888, to con-
tent ourselves with much smaller seals than we had heretofore taken.
This was in part due to the necessity for turning back to the rookeries
many half-grown bulls, owing to the scarcity of breeding males. 1
should have been glad to have ordeied them killed instead, but, under
your instructions to see that the best interests of the rookeries were
conserved, thought best to reject them. The result of killing from year
to year a large and increasing number of small animals is very appar-
ent. We are simply drawing in advance on the stock that should be
kei)t over for another year's growth, reserving as far as i)ossiblo, of
course, all desirable half-grown bulls for breeders, but at the same lime
killing closer, 1 believe, than a wise policy would indicate.

The deduction need hardly be drawn, as it is only too apparent that
the lessees, for the next two or three years at least, must, in any event,
if the rookeries are to be stocked up to their best condition, be content
with very small eatch(!S. I estimate that not more than 15,(t()() or UU,()(>0
desirable skins can be obtained next year, and it is possible that taking
even a much smaller nuniber would sooner restore the rookeries to their
former vitality.

The (fliange in the breeding rookeries, though not so immediately
alai ining as that observed in the hauling grounds, owing to the large
nuniber of seals still in sight, is sutliciently marked to excite curious
inquiry as to its cause. Large patches of ground on the outskirts of
every rookery, which were covered with breeding seals and their young
a few y<'ars ago, are now bare; the lanes and patlis across the rookeries,
along which the uonbreediug seals pass to and from their grounds, are

296

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

groAvinfj wider, and wliat is still more distnrltinp to tlio exporioiicod
seal hunter there is a very notiecablo sinirscncss of jxtpuliitioii, both
maleaiKU'einale, on every rookery. 1 should eeitaiuly hewitliin bounds
in statiiifj that at least one-third less seals landed on the islands this
year than ten years af;o.

You will remark tiiat I have, at the bcfrinninjj: of this statement,
referred back lor comiiarison only to 1873. I'rior to that time we were
sulfering from the excessive killinn' of 1808, wlien, in the al)sen(re of any
restriction, more than l'(M),()00 seals were killed in a single year. The
deli(!ieney of male breedinj;' seals, caused by this excess, continued for
four or five years, and is referred to by Si)ecial Treasury Agent Bryant
ill his report to the Department under date of September o, 1872. I
allude to this only for the pur|K)se of calling attention to the tact that
any improj)er handling of the seal industry is immediately followed by
marked results.

For the cause of the present diminution of seal life we have not far
to look. It is directly traceable to the illicit killing of seals of every
age and sex during the lastfew years in the waters of the North I'a<!ilic
and Bering 8ea. We are in no way res[)oiisiblefor it. JJuring the first
thirteen years of the lease comparatively few seals were killed by
marauders, and we were then abh^ not only to make good the deficiency
caused by the slaughter of 1808, but, under o,;r careful management, to
jnoduce a decided exi)aiision of the breeding rookeries.

The history of fur-seal killing on the British (Joliinibia coast would,
no doubt, carry us back to an earlier date than the t; ansfer of Alaska
to the United States, but it was done mostly up to 1875 l)y the use of
rude appliances, and the hunters were unable to i)ur8ue tlieir vocation,
to any great ext(nit, on the ()])en sea. About 1875-7(>, under the stim-
ulusof better prices for skins, induced by the improved metlnds a])plicd
by us to the fur markets of the world, it was fouud profltable to lit out
more expensive ventures from Victtoria, and the seals were followed
along the British t^olumbia and United States coas^'ts as far north as
Sitka; but prior to 1882-83 it had not come to the knowledge of the
hunters that their work could be i)rofltably pursued farther to the
northwestward. The catch was too small up to this time to seriously
affect seal life. An occasional predatory schooner came into Bering Sea
before 1882, and the San Diego, with her cargo, was seized in 1876 and
condemned to forfeiture under secitiou 1950 of the United States laws.
In one or two other cases certificates of probable cause of seizure were
issued by the courts to the revenue officers, thus affirming the illegal-
ity of killing seals in Alaskan waters.

About 1882-83 the British seal hunters discovered that profitable
voyages could be made to Bering Sea, and the few vessels (engaged in
those years were soon joined by others, until, in 1885, a fiect of twelve
or fifteen s(!liooners, some of them projjelled by steam, were engaged in
the business, and the catch sent into Victoria amounted to about 25,()()()
skins. The fleet sent more than 40,000 skins to market in the following
year. More stringent orders were, however, issued to our revenue ves-
sels, and three of the twenty or more engaged in that year were seized
and still lie rotting on the beach in Unalaska Harbor. In 1887 a
still larger fleet ajjpeared, but was badly demoralized before the end of
the season by the capture of fourteen of the vessels and the confiscation
and sale of a large part of them, together with a large number of skins;
in all, some 12,000, I think. Had this repressive policy of the Govern-
ment been firmly adhered to from that time we should probably be little
troubled with marauders this year; but pending negotiations with for

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

207

(>\<xu powerH sealed onlera to be opened in liering Sea were jjiven to
the revenue ollicsers, (lirectinn them not to make Heizures, and while
tliese orders were witlilield from Ameriean hunters tliey iip|)ear to liave
been ])ublislied to I lie Hritisli lieet, for the usiuil nund)eror British ves-
sels made a prolilahle senson's cruisi^, sending int<» market more tlmn
1!I,()0(» skins; at llie same time our American vessels were deterred by
the tone of the piiblisiied reffulations of our (iovernment from undcr-
tnkiii{j their usual voyajjes.

The operations of t lie marauders in the North Pacifie and Hering Sea
beyond the jurisdiction of Hritish Columbia, and ex<!lusive of what is
known as the " Victoria eatch " proper, may be sunuuari/.ed, not with
absolute accuracy, but (sorrectly enoufjh for all pract ical purjjoses, about
as follows:

l.S.s.i, 1,0(»(), and 1884, 5,000 skins, estimated without reliable data at
hand; 1885, 12,000; 1880,27,500; 1887,25,000; and 1888, 1!),00(> skins
re])orted by Messrs. C. M. Lamjison & Co., of London ; 1880, 10,701 skins
to Auiifust 1, landed at Victoria, liiitisli Columbia.

Add to this the Victoria catch for the same seven years, which has
aveiaf^ed about 12,000 skins j)er annum — 84,000 — and we have a total
of 184,201 skins sent to market in less than seven years. To represent
the destruction of seal life, this number should be nl-arly doul/icd to
include the loss of one youufj seal in embryo or left to starve upon the
islands for nearly every adult killed; and af,'aiii doubled, perhaps, to
compenKate for the unknown factor of waste in killiufj. .lust what i)ro-
portion of seals killed are actually secured we do not know, but we are
confident that the loss of dead seals in the nmj^li water of the open sea,
and the woundiny sind subsequent death of many more, is a larfje jier-
centaj;e of those taken. Beyond this, we must also take into the
acc<mnt the demoralization of the herd, the infraction of their steady
migratory habits and their possible deviation from their accustomed
haunts, and the consequent destruction of the industry within our
borders if indiscriminate slaughter is continued. I append a list ot
vessels reported engaged in sealing the present season.

I have at band data from this year only on whicdi to hu. »n estimate
of the respective numbers of seals killed in the waters of the North
Pacific and Jiering Sea. It appears that during the i)resent season at
least 5,201 skins, exclusive of the catch of the Amerhian vessels, were
taken after the sealers left the Straits of Fuca and before they passed
the Alaskan peninsula, for that number were transshii)i)ed to the British
schooner Wanderer at Sand Point and sent back to Vi(;toria to avoid
possible capture by our revenue vessels. The British schooners Path-
finder, Vit-a, and Sapphire landed in Victoria their spring catches,
amounting to 1,719 skins, early in June, and again sent down by the
Wanderer 2,030 skins about the middlfi of July. This latter number
must have been captured in the Pacific in less than six weeks, and
many of them among the Shumagin Islands and along the coast to the
westward of Kodiak, clearly within Ameiican waters.

Attention should also be directed to the fact that by preconcerted
action all the liritish vessels rendezvoused at Sand Point, Ounga Island,
Alaska, where there is neither port of entry nor customs ofiicer sta-
tioned, and there, in utter disregard of customs law or international
right, transshipped cargo, received supplies brought from a foreign
port, and landed and sold whisky to the Alaska natives.

Until the present season we have been under the impression that the
catching of seals in the wateis of the North Pacific would be dillicult
and unprofitable, and that seal life could be preserved by miiiulaiuing

298

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

tlu' closure of Tiering Sea. Now, however, it He»>iiiH doubtful wlietlier
it will not 1)11 nei<^ssiiry to extend protection over tlie Wiit«!rs of the
North I'acilic.

or (jourse it will be awked if this can be legally ell'ectcd; 1 see no
obstacle in the way of doing it. We would have no diniculty w.nit(!ver
in j>roving to tlic satisfaction of any fairinindcd nation that .ill the
sciils in the ciistciii purt of the North Paculle and Hering Hea arc born
and reared on tlie I'ribilof iHhinds, and those in the western i)art of
tlic same waters have their habitat on the ('oniiniinder Islands; nor do
they r«'sort for bre«Mlingto any other than these tw(» jdaces in the North-
ern lIcniispluM'c, excepting only the very sniidl number found on Kob-
ben isliind in the Okhotsk Sea. They can bo positively identiticd as
our i)roi)erty. The seals found in those respective i)la('ea differ so tnuch
that ex]>ert skin assorters can distinguish between thoni ii< liiiiidling
the skins; niid, in any event, this matter concerns only the United
Htates and Russia. When the seals on which the Hiitisli are now poach-
ing lire found in the Pacille they are simply astray; but arc, nevcrtiie-
less, either our property or that of Russia, and should be resi)ected and
protected as such.

After twenty one years of careful study of the subject, 1 am entirely
satislled that the usual migratory course of the seals leads them to the
southward from the Tribilof Islands, mostly through the i)asses into
the Pacific, to tlie eastward of and including the pass of longitude 172^
west; thence they turn to the eastward along the Aleutian Archipelago,
through the Shiiiiiagin group, and past Kodiak, to n])pear in February
and March down about Vancouver Island and in the straits and chan-
nels to the northward and eastward of Vancouver, where large numbcis
are annually killed in the early spring mouths. The more notable proofs
of this are:

(I) That many young seals are killed In November, December, and
January by the Alaskans among the Aleutian Islands, and more could
aii<l would be taken if the natives wore not restrained by our agents
from hunting them.

(li) l'"ur seals are fish eaters and naturally keep upon such banks and
shoals, within easy soundings, as furnish them an abundant food supply.

(3) They are rarely seen in the waters of the North I'acilic at any
considerable distance from soundings, but are plentiful along the Alas-
kan coast during all the winter months.

(4) A large proportion of the several thousand seals killed annually
about the British Columbia coast in March and April are prci^nant
females in just that stage of gestation that would be expected in ani-
mals whoso period of eleven months termii\ates in June.

(")) Almost simultaneously with their disai)pearance from the liritish
Ooliiml)ia coast in April they are again fouml in increasing numbers in
the Aleutian Archijjelago and, a little later, in Bering Sea.

(G) The most careful search for other breeding grounds than those at
the Pribilof Islands has been fruitless. It can be i)ositively asserted
that none exist.

The best season for marauding in Bering Sea is the latter part of
July aud August, for the femaie seals, having left their young on the
islands, are then off on the feeding gn)und8 to the southward, and tJie
destruction of the mother at this time is followed by the loss of the puj),
whi(!h dies for want of nourishment. This was vividly illustrated in
the heavy storms of last fall, when several thousand pups, too weak and
feeble to withstand their violence, were thrown upon the beaches and
killed. In the earlier years of the lease no such destruction of the ymmg
was observed during the autumn storms as we have lately wituesbed.

ALASKA 1NDURTUIK8.

299

The greater part of t]w illcRiil killitif; is done witli flrearniH, hnt. Home
of (lie vOHsels iiianiied l»y liuiiiiiiH, and notal)l,v tlie lildck IHdmimii,
Hei/.t^d tliis Himmier, ani lilted only with Hpcars. mid those, NkilUnlly
handled, are even more el!'e,(!tive than Runs, iis liiey can he used with-
out alarming the nei^ildxuinR seals. The «'rew of the lilinlc hiniiiund
secured ll.'{ skins in less than two ihiys preceding iu'r captuie. It is
also regarded by ohi hunters as quite feasible to catch them still more
rapidly and surely by the use cd" seines and purse nets, thonfih I am
not aware the attempt has as yet been made.

The etlect of this extensive and indiscriminate slauyhttir i Imvo
already pointed out. If unrestricted killing is to be continued we have
lu) occasion to inquire in re^^ard to any liirther franchise. The renewal
of the lease would hardly be woi th taking as a pift. and w itii the assur-
ance of fullest jirotection against nnirauders and jioaiMiers, the fact
slmuld not be lost Bi^ht of that under the most intclli<;(Mit management
some years nuist elapse before the rookeries can be restored to their
former pidductiveness. The protection, too, nuist extend beyond I5cr-
iiifj Sea and over the North racilic to insure perpetuation of flie Indus-
ti'.\ ; and ou^ht, indeed, in order to make it complete, to include all the
waterB along the British Columbia (toast, fc even the comparatively
snuill number killed tliere is no inconsiderable item to the lessees iu the
present status of the rookeries.

]>itt'erent plans for the preservation of the seals are su;;Rcsted:

1. It is certaiidy in the interest of the whole world, excepting a few
Canadian seal hunters, that the seals should be ])ropa;;ated ami killed
under projjcr restrictions. Tiiis is ])arti(!ularly true for the lOnglish, for
they have more cai)ital investetl in the business and more people
iicpendent upon the seal industry than any other nation. If, tlierejnre,
a territorial limit can be dclined beyond which no seals shall be killed
in the water, such limit being agreed ujmn by convention with Mnglaiul
and Russia, and acquiesced in by the i)owers that have nothing at
stalce in the matter, protection will bealVorded to such an extent as the
limit i^roves restrictive. My own idea is that it should cover all the
aiinatic resents of the seals, but if it be decided that IJritish Columbia
hunters are right in killing seals in Hritish Columliia waters, then the
lindts nught be defined, say, by restricting their ojierations to the east-
ward of longitude lo-'P west fr(tni Clreenwich, to tlie southward of lati-
tude 54° north, and to the northward of Cape h'lattery. If at the
same time restrictions are needed for the protection of Itnssian inter-
ests in the Northwestern racific, similar linntations, as the tacts may
indicate, nu'j- be nuirked out and seal life respected at all points beyond
such limits.

2. If restriction by territorial limitation ii likely to be dillicult to
enforce, or if for any other reason it apjiears objectionable, a close season
could be agreed upon by convention within which no seals should be
kdled in the water. Such season should begin, if it be determined to
allow seals to be killed in British Columbia waters, at about the time
when the seals leave the vicinity of Vancouver Island in the s]>ringand
continue until the ♦^xt winter, say about the middle of .May until about
the 1st of February

3. To facilitate ti , entbrcement of the regulation, both the teiritorial
limitation and clo^e season might be adopted. The vast extent of
water to be patrolled, and the eagerness with which I lie seals are i)ur-
s\ied, make it necessary to throw eveiy possible safeguard around tlieni
if they are to be preserved.

It would uuquestiouably be unwise, from a finaucial point of view, on

300

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

the part of any of the nations interested, to allow pregnant female seals
(and scarcely any other are taken there) to be killed on the British
(Joiumbia coast: but, if soiiictliitif; must be conceded to the poachers,
jiciliaps the opixntunity to pursue their destructive occupation a Ion y
this coast is tlic least tiiat will reasonably content them.

In tlie present status of the seal lishery the value of a renewal of the
franchise lor another term of twenty years is very dinicull to estimate.
The outlook Cor the next tlirce or four years is decidedly bad. The
chief elements of uiicertiiinty are:

(1) Doubt as to the intentiim of our Governiucut in regard to pro-
tecting the fisheries against ])oachers.

(2) Question whether, in case a resti ii-tive imlicy is decided upon, the
Government will be able to successfully patrol the broad extent over
wliich the seals are scattered. A failure to protect tlicui without fur-
ther delay will be fatal to any ciuisiderable catch on the islands.

(3) The fact that the rookeries are already badly depieled, and that
all the best seals, for the next two or three years at least, must be
reserved for breeders.

(4) The jiositive knowledge that the seals that would otherwise come
forward for killing duriujj; the next two years have already been slaugh-
tered, and that the catch must for several years to come be mucli
smaller than heretofore,

I was of opinion two years ago that the next twenty years' lease
could bo more valuable than the present tei in, but am now greatly in
doubt whether we can afford to pay as much as the present rental, even
with a guaranty from the (Jovernment of entire protection (tutside of
British Columbia waters. Without such guaranty there is "nothing in
it" beyond a small prospective catch from such animals as may escape
the toils of the hunter this summwr. At the present rate of diminution
the rookeries will soon do little more than support the natives dei)endent
<m them and pay the expenses of the necessary outfit to follow the
business.

Very truly, yours, H, II, McIntyue,

ijuperintendent.
The Alaska Cohmehcial (.ompany,

<S'((n Francisco, Cal.

CAUSES OP DECREASE IN SEAL HEED.

West Randoli'U, V t,, Bevcmher 15, 1S90.

My Deau Snt: I have at hand extracts from the report of Prof. II.
W, Elliott to the Seinetary of the Treasury in the fall of ISili), relative
to the decrease of the seal rookeries of St. Paul and St, tlcorgc islands,
Alaska; and knowing that you take a deep interest in th ' matter, beg
to call your attention to a few conspicuous error into whicii he has
fallen.

He asks, " Why is it that we find now only a scant tenth of the num-
ber of young male seals which I saw there in 187'J? When did this
work of decrease and destruction so nif.rked on the breeding grounds
begint And how? " He answers these questions as follows:

(1) From overdriving, witliont tiociliii^ its waniiiij;, lirht bpa[un in 187!>, (In pped
tluuinnlil 1'<X'^, tlinn Buddenly renewed a;;!iin with inmeascd energy Cioni year to
year, nntii the end is abruptly readied, this seasnn of 1890.

(2) From tlie sliooting of fi.r seals (chioliy leuialos^ in the open waters of tiie North
Paciiio Ocean and Bering Sea, begun aa a buBlnesa in 1886, and contiuubd to date.

AI,ASKA INDUSTRIES,

301

Pi'ofessor Elliott is a naturalist, and a very good one. He is thor-
ou{jlilyfainili;tr with the size,foim, colo comparative anatomy, domes-
tic habits, and whatever poes to make up the natural history of the
seal. He is tolerably familiar with the seal as viewed from the liiiiiter
o)' business man's standpoint, lie is also fairly capable of deducinj,' from
}>iv('n facts a theory in regard to the increase or decrease of tlie seal,
(riven correct premises, he would perhaps corneas near tlie truth in
liis dednction as tlie average observer. Bui when his ])remises are
wrong, his deductions are more mischievous than those of the average
man, becau>e he asseverates his findings with such positiyeness, and
such an air of knowing all about it, as to carry the investigator along
with liim to thepitialls digged by theory from wrong hypotiieses.

He says, in brief, that tlierc was overdriving in 1879, none in tiie two
following yeais, beginning again in 1882 and continuing "until the end
is abruptly reached in the season of 1890." As he writes forcibly iu
the same connection against the i)ractice of driving the long distaiice
from Southwest Bay (Zapadnie) to the village killing ground — about 4
miles — pointing out most disastrous effects from this practice, I suppose
he means by "ovenlriving" the driving too great distiiuce. If this is
it 1 quite agree with him, and always have, and for that reason, except
on very rare occasions, did not allow seals to be driven the long dis-
tances he describes, and it has never been habitually done. Boats were
almost invariaidy sent to Strnthwest liay and carts to Halfway Point
to bring in the skins, and the animals were as invariably killed, dur-
ing the la.st ten years of the Ala.ska Coinniercial Company's lease, as
near the rookeries as seemed pruden^ The windmill he tights through
several paragraphs of alleged " reasons ' is less worthy of attack than
Don (i>nixote's. It exists only in his imagination.

Then, the end was not ''abruptly reached." I repeatedly pointed out
to our cnmpany and to the special Treasury agents, during the seasons
of 1887, 18.\S, and 1889, that the seals were rapidly diminishing, and
that in order to get the full quota allowed by law we were obliged to
kill, in increasin^^ numbers in each of those years, animals that should
have been allowed to attain greater size; and, finally, the catch of 1889
Mas mostly ot tiiis class. If they had beeu contented with the same
class in l.sitO a much larger catch could have been obtained.

Again he \i; in error in saying that marauding in Beiing Sea began
in 188(), It commenced in 1881 with a catch of 4,000 skins, and was
followed with a take of almost 10,000 in 188.^.

This brings us to the second reason given by him for the decrease, to
wit, "the siiooting of seals (mostly females) in the open waters of the
North I'acitic Ocean and Bering Sea." And here he strikes the key
note of what should have been liis Avarning, but lie strikes it so Hat as
to throw his chorus cjuite out of tone; but he was not there present on
the islands during any of those six years of active poaching prior to
the .season just past, nor, in fact, for several years i)reviou8 to those six
years, and does not know what he is talking about. Ilissecojid "reason"
shcnild have been his first, and I assert most jiositively, with knowledge
drawn from an accurate personal cognizance of the facts, that the dimi
nution of the seal was exactly coincident iu the time of the decrease,
and in its ratio from year to year, with the time aii<l extent of the pirat-
ical marauding of the Canadian and American vessels in the waters of
Bering Sea, and jmor to the beginning of such maraiul'r.g was not
perceptible aiid did not exist.

I regret that Professor Elliott did not urge this one true reason with
all the strong force of which he is capable, because it is fully time that

302

ALASKA 1NDUST1ME8.

tlie serious iinpnrt to the seal fisheries of furtlior poaching was under-
stood by our (iovcniiuent, preiuisiiig alwiiys that it is really in eariiest
about wliat it is duiii<r to preserve the tisheries, which, indeed, 1 liud
myself already doubting. «■

I am, very truly, yours,

H. H. MolNTYEE.

Gen. N. L. Jeffijies,

Washington, I). C.

LETTER FEOM SKf'RKTARY OF TREASURY TRANSMITTING ELLIOTT'S
REPORT TO STATE DEPARTJlEiNI'.

Treasury Departmi;nt,

Office of tuk Sixhjetary,
Washington, 7). C, Fehriiaii/ iK:, 1893.

Sir: Iu compliance with the request (ioutained iu your communica-
tion of February 11, I have the honor to transmit horewKh a certilied
co])y (together with the i)hot()graphic reproductions of the illustrations
and maps) of the report of 11. W. Klliott on tiie Pribilof Ishnuls for
1890. The original of tliis report will be placed in the custody of
Special Agent W. II. Williams for such use as you may liiul necessary.

In handing you this report "». deem it my duty to acipiaint you with
certain facts in connecticm with my refusal to ])cnnit its i)ul)Iication.

Upon its examinatiim I became convince' tiiat it was pervaded by a
spirit of aggi -ssive criticism instead of bei. ^ a disi)assioiuite statement
of facts; tiiat Mr. Elliott's views had been unduly influenced by his
relations toward certain iiulividuals; that the report contained nuu'li
matter, and particularly that referring to the fur seal, which had already
been published by the Government in two forms at least; that the illus-
trations being made from sketches possessed inherent defects wiiich
rendered them valueless as records of the diminution or growth of the
rookeries, while the scale of the rookery charts was too small to accu-
rately indicate the condition of seal life at the time these observations
were made.

I therefore declined to permit Mr, Elliott's return to the islands, and
deemed it expedient to withhold publication of his report jtending the
sending of other officers to the islands for t'.ie verification of his state-
ments and for the procuring of data on a systematic plan, aided by
photograi)hy.

On further examining Mr. Elliott's report in the light of this addi-
tio'iiul information and comparing his s'atements with the island records
now on file iu this Department, I find that not only do the objections
against the rei)ort »'ited above still hold good, but that i\Ir. Klliott has
so used extracts from the records of the islands as to make tliem appear
to substantiate his assertions that mismanagenuMit on the ])aft of the
United States has jdayed an important part in the diminution of seal
life, which assertions are unsupjjorted by the unabridged records. In
view of its inaccuracies, its misleading character, and its disagreement
with the information brought to me indepeiulently by at least three
other officers whom I sent to the islands, and the further giave fact ot
the misuse of ofMcial data by Mr. lOlliott, I do not believe that the
Government would be justified in pablishing this report.
Very respectfully,

OifABLES FosTEE, Seoret".ry.

Hon. John W. Foster,

Secretary of State.

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

303

ME. THELP'S ARGUMENT BEFOEE PAUIS TRIBUNAL.

On April 4, 189.^, Mr. Phelps made to the Tribunal the following
statement in rej^ard to Mr. Elliott's report of 1890:

riiis piiper was produced and furniBhod to the British commissioners duriuK their
«('>si(iii ;it \V!iHiiinj;ton and remained in their possession as long as they -arcd to keep
it. It will thus be seen that there has been no dis, osition on the part of the United
States (lovcrumeut to withhold or to conceal this document.

II.

The report is of little value as an authority and qnite as li'cely to
mislead as to guide. The author is utterly untrustworthy as an
observ er.

(1) Ills field notes show this on their face: A field note should be a
bare and (^lear and uucolored record of faets observed. Tlie^e •;;e a
record not only of facts, but of conjectures, oiiinioiis, predictions,
rellections, emotions, etc.

An obseiver should be severely objective. Elliott is always sub-
jective. It is his own conjectures and reasonings which he is most
(toncerned with. A perusal of pages 236 and 237 (entry of July 10) will
aH'ord amusing proof of this.

(2) It is tlie misfortune of Mr. Elliott and of those who rely upon
him that he has written at different times on the subject of fur seals,
and his representations of the facts at these different times vary
in some cases according to the theories which he was interested to
establish.

Tims, in 1872-1874, he observed that a certain detached rock or islet
was then covered with the forms of fur seals; but in 1890, writing with
the ]iurpose of sliowing that injurious redriving was practiced, he repre-
sents tiiat the presence of seals at this place was a wholly recent
phenomenon, occasioned by a too severe working of the neighboring
sealing grounds.

(3) [lis assertions of important matters of fact are shown to be errone-
ous by evidence far better than his. For instance, in his report for
1890 he represents certain places which on liis earlier visits he found
abounding in young seals to be absolutely destitute of them, whereas
it is i)roved by the records of tlie islands that at those very times young
seals were driven and killed from those same places.

Thus lie writes July 19, 1890: "Not a single liolluschak on Zoltoi
Sands this morning and not one had hauled there this season." Tiie
oilicial records for 1890 (Uritish case, Appendix, Vol. Ill, United States,
No. 2, 1890, ]))). 10, 23) show: (a) That on that very day 3,!>u(! seals
were driven from Z(dtoi in connection with lieef rookeries, of which
nund)er 'h){t were killed; (ft) that a drive had already been made from
those same places June 24, on which occai?ion 426 sealr were killed.

(4) Mr. Elliott ai)])ears to be guilty of great inaccuracy in ciuoting
statements which have been made to him. Thus he attributes to Daniel
Webster the following:

Ho Hiiys tliiit ovor since 187G-77 he has observed a steady shrinking of the hanling
grounds at NortheiiHt Point.

In the United States case (Api)eiKlix, Vol. II, p. 181), Daniel Webster
makes, however, a sworn statement which is wholly at variance with the
ab(»ve:

My observation has been that there was an expansion of the rookeries from 1870up
to at least 1879. In the yeat 1880 I thought I began to notice a falling oil' from the

.304

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

yoar previous of the numVier of seals on Northeast Point rookery, but this decreiiso
wns HO very slijjht that probably it would not have been observed by one less familiar
witli H(^:ii lifu and its conditions than I.

(5) A8 a reasoiier be is eijually bad. He is dominatcid by a favorite
tlicory, and when this comes in collision with facts he can not yield the
former, and is consequently constrained to accommodate the latter to it.

(()) The counsel for Great Britain, in order to establish credit for
3Ir. Elliott as an authority, point to the circumstance that Mr. Blaine
relorred to him with respect in his letter of March 1, 1890. Mr. Blaine
was, undoubtedly, as many others were upon the lirst appearance of Mr.
Elliott as a writer upon seals, under the impression that lie was a trust-
worthy witness. But such was not, at that time, the view of those
representing the British Government.

In order to discredit Mr. Elhott as a tlieorist and reasouer, iMr.Tupper
cites, in a letter dated March 8, 1890 (British case, Appendix, Vol, 111,
United Stiites. Xo. L', 1890, p. 441), the following criticism made upon
Mr. Elliott by i\lr. W. L. Morris in 1879:

This man Beciiis to be the natnral foe of Alaska, prosecuting and persi'ciitinn her
witli tlie brusli iiud the pen of an I'Xjiert whenever and wherever he can f;et an audi-
omo, and I attiilmte the present forlorn condition of thi Territory more to hia
ijfiioranco and niisrcprcsontation than to all other ca-.ses combined.

Mr. Tapper then goes on to say:

His evidmii't' in 1888 is open advocacy of the United States contention. His writ-
ings and rcpoi t-i prior to the dispute will be referred to, and it will be submitted that
his statciiii'iits and experiences before 1888 hardly support his later theories.

(7) Dr. Dawson's (one of the British commissioners) estimate of I'ro-
fessor lOlliott in the fall of 1891 is th' .- told by Judge Swan (United
States counter case, p. 414), who quotes ^r. Dawson as follows:

I'.llioti's work on seals is amusing. I have no hesitation in saying that there is no
important point that he takes up in his book that ho does not contradict somewhere
else iu the same covers. • • • His work is superficial in the extreme.

III.

The avowed purpose of Mr. Elliott in this report of 1890 is to show
that the Alaskan li<>rd has been generally diminished in numbers and
to i)oint out the causes of the diminution.

The only true cause of this decrease which can be gathered from any
facts stated by him is pelagic sealing; but he has a theoiy that there
is anotlier cause, namely, overdriving and redriving, whi(;h he assumes,
not only without proof, but against the proof, to have been practiced
to a considerable extent for a long period of time jirior to ]S90.

It is imi)ortaut to understand just what he means by overdriving and
redriving. He does not mean careless handling or uiulue urging of the
seals during any given drive, for he specially states that the drives
were and are very carefully made (infra, under fourth, 3).

What he (htes mean by his charges concerning overdriving is this:
That in the face of a diminishing number of i,eals it was still endeav(U"ed
to take 100,000 skins per annum, which necessitated, at a date as early
as 1881 to 1885, the following:

Driving from the rookery margins, where alone the young males were
found in these later years, with consequent disturbance to the brfiediug
se^vis.

The turning away from the killing grounds of an increasing number
of unkillable seals, which seals ran the risk of being several times
redriveu iu the same seasou.

ALASKA INDl'STRIES.

305

(b) Wlieii (lid this soriipiiijj,' of the rookery marfiiiis iuid overdiiviiijr
be.t'iii ? There is no (evidence that either bcj^aii itrioi' to 18!)(). Elliott
failed toobserveor leeord eitlier between 187U and lS7(i. He advances
in his lejjort of iSiK) no evidence whatever on the subject, tiionj;li he
alleges at a sin<;le ])hice lliat tlie natives assured hini " tliat they iuul
been driving seals in this method ever since I880; had been obliged to
or go without seals."

This statement attributed to tlio natives is wliolly uncorroborated,
nor does it ai)i)ear in their examinations, which are given at j)iige.<. 300
to ;3()1; that it is in conllict with the evidence of Mr. Goll' will be shown
hereafter.

(c) Mr. I'^IIiott thinks that the necessity which leads to oveidiiving,
namely, a scarcity of killable males, began to exhibit itself as early as
1879, and in proof of this he alleges that a hitherto untouched reserve
was then resorted to, namely, Zapadnie. I'urthermoie, he sujiposes
that this scarcity of killable seals, making redriving essentially neces-
sary, was decisively manifested in 1882 and continually thereafter by
the fact that a constant resort was from that time made to theretofore
"untouched sources of supply" (VI, VllI, IX). In this particular also
he is totally in error. No such supposed "un4ouched sources of supply"
then, or ever, existed. Zapadnie and Polavina are intended by Inm.
They had been systematically drawn upon froMi the lirst. (Vol, II,
Ai)pendix to United tStates case, pp. 117-127; United States counter
case, pj). 78, 70.)

Mr. Elliott's error iu this res])ect is the more inexcusable, since tUe
ofliciid island records were at his disposal and iip])ear to have been
examined by him. The following tables showing the drives that were
actually made from Zapadnie and Polavina are taken from the IJritish
argument, page 103:

Year.

S:HltllW09t

ISay (ill-

i-liutiii;;

Zupailiik-).

Halfway

I'oint

(I'uliiviua).

Tear.

1871

4
I

a
7

8
6
«
7
5

1
1
0
0
1
1
3
3
3
4

1881

5

10
9
9

6
12
8
8
8

i

1872

1 S,-i2

6

1K73

,ss:)

6

1874

1 Hi 1

g

1875

1^R.'>

1 i.8li

8

,87t)

g

1K77

18^7

6

1H78

J 1.-.-8

1889 .. .. ..

8

lH7!t

7

188U

(In examining tables in the United States case. Appendix Vol. II,
])1>. 117-127, it should be remembered that "Zapadnie" and "Southwest
Kay" are two names for the same i)lace, and so also are " Tolavina"
and "Halfway Point," the latter term being the English ?br Pidavina.)

(it) Upon this basis of utter niisai)i)rehension Elli<itt proceeds forth-
with to construct a theory, and his theory as tar outruns his sujiposed
facts as those suppo>;ed facts do the truth. For he jyroceeds to assume
that the driving and redriving of seals have been gradually increasing
from year to year and very raj)idly since 1884-85, that the i)rocess of
driving in any form renders those seals which are turned back from the
killing grounds worthless for rookery service, and that the work of
destruction thereby produced "set in from the beginning, twenty years
before 1890" (pi». 7 to 10).

(c) lie introduces uo proof that driving, overdriving, or redriving of
any sort ever injured the generative organs of a seal which was allowed

II. Doc. 02, pt. 2 20

3oa

ALASKA INDUSTIilES.

eventually to return to the water, Stivo the following (see ])]). 150, 203,
271), which he Las mistrai.'slated from Veuianiinof. 13ut liere, too, he
has led himself into error:

Elliott's translation {p. SOS).

Nearly nil tl)(^ old iiicii think and assert
that the seals wliich are spiired every
year, i. e., those wliicli have not been
killed for several years, are truly of little
use fur broedinj;, lying about as if they
were outcasts or disfrauchised.

Correot translation.

Nearly all the old travelers think and
assert that sparing the seals for some
years, i. e., not killing them for some
years, does not contribute in the least to
their increase and only amounts to losing
them forever.

Veniaminof thus makes no reference whatever to driving, still less
does he refer to any supposed eflects of driving ui)on the reproductive
powers of the seal.

It should be added that both the British commissioners and the
British Government have been misled by Elliott's erroneous trf.nslation.
(See British Commissioners' lieport, sec. 712, and British counter case,
p. 2(J3.)

(/) The iiotion that the mere driving of a seal even over rough ground
renders it impotent is in itself suflicieutly absurd, but it becomes still
more so when considered in connection with the following - .tract Irom
Mr. Elliott's field notes (p. 24'4) :

I have sat for hours at a time vfatching the seals come up and go down in ceaseless
files of hundreds and thousands, actunlly climbing up in places so steep that it was
all an agile mini could do to follow them safely.

(</) It follows from the above that so far as Elliott's report is relied
ou to show considerable cause of injury to the herd, it fails entirely.
His belief upon this point was iouTuled upon an utter mistake, assuming
that he did not wish to be misled, lie never saw any redriving or
overdriving until 181)0 (when it did exist); nor had any other witness
ever seen any worthy of notice previous to 1890.

The counsel for (ireat Britain, seeking for another evidence to prove
redriving, have recourse to the rei)ort of Mr. Goff for 1890. Jiut he
disproves the assertion by distinctly contrasti::g the large numbers of
young seals turned back in 1890, with the small number theretofore
turned back. (British counter case, p. 205.)

(/i) Eliminating this clear and manilest error from Elliott's report,
the latter proves, and alone proves the following: That in 1872-1874 the
herd was in a con<litioiiof full and abounding prosperity; thiitwhen he
next observed it in 1870, its condition was not perceptibly changed;
that in 1890, when he last observed it, it had become greatly diminished
in numbers, so as to make it diflicult to obtain the quota of 100,000
without redriving.

And tliis is just what the United Stateshave from the first maintained.

IV.

His melange of observations, reasonings, conjectures, y)rediction8, and
criticisms, when scrutinized, will be found to support the i)osition8 of the
United >States in nearly every particular, certainly in each of the fol-
lowing:

(1) That it is in the power of the United States and its lessees under
normal conditions to gather the whole annual increase of the seals
without diminishing the normal numbers of the herd,

I'ago ()!): The polygamous liabit of this animal is such that, by its own volition, I
do not think that more than one male annually out of fifteen born is needed ou the
breeding grounds in the future.

of

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

307

Page 118: In this admirably perfect method of nature are those seals which can be
properly killed without iiijury to the rookeries, selected and held aside by their own
volition, 80 that the natives ran visit and take thom without distiirbiuf; in the least
degree the entire riuiiit of the breeding grounds where tlie Htocl< is perpetuated.

Page 129: When the " holluschickie" are up on land they can be readily separated
into their several classes as to age by tl-o color of tlieir coats and si/e, when noted;
namely, the yearlings, the 2, 3, 4, and 5 year old males.

(2) That the methods adopted on the Pribilof Islands were from the
first, according to his observations of 187U-1874, admirably adapted to
accomplish the gatiioring of the annual increase (pp. 71, 74).

(See also description of drive in the parts quoted from his report of
1874, pp. 122-128.)

(li) That the methods pursued in 1S!)0 (with the single exception of
alleged redriving and overdriving, already noticed) were in all respects
as good as, and in some better than, those pursued in 1872 to 1874.

Page 269: I ahouhl remark that the driving of the seals has been very carefully
done; no extra rushing iind smothering of the herd, as it was fre(|uently done in 1872.
Mr. GolV began with a sharp admonition, and it has been scrupulously observed thus
far by the natives.

Page 283: Yesterday al'ternoon I went back to Tolstoi over the seal road on which
the drive above tallied was made in the night and morning of the 7th instant; the
number of road " luints" or road skins was not large, which shows that the natives
had taken great care in driving these seals. This they have uniformly done thus far
(see also p. 129).

Mr, Elliott draws a bill (p. 217) for the restoration of the herd, but it
contains no designed improvement in the methods.

Elsewhere, however, he suggests the following: That no culling of
the herds be allowed, i. e., that every seal driven up be killed (p. 73),
and that no driving be allowed after July 20 (p. 179).

These are the sole improvements which even he has to suggest.

(4) That according to his observations of 1872-1874 and 1876 the
herd could safely supi)ort a draft far larger than 100,000, probably as
large as 180,000 iiniiiKilly (p. 00).

(Ue was first on the islands during the three years 1872 to 1874.
This report, written in 1800, represents the herd in 1874 as being in a
flourishing condition. lie was again (m the islands in 187t5. He does
not intimate anywhere in this report of 1800 that the condition of 1876
was not in all respects as good as that of 1872, 1873, and 1874.)

(5) That female seals should never be killed.

Page 74; We do not touch or disturb these females as they grow up and live, and
we never will if the law and i)resent management is continued.

Pago 213: In lH3ri, (or the lirst time in the history of this Industry on these islands,
was the vital principal of not killing female soals recognized.

(6) That pelagic sealing is essentially destructive in its initure, and
that at least 85 per cent of the pelagic catch is composed of females.

Page IX: I could figure out from the known number of skins whieh these hunters
had placed on the market a statement of the loss and damage to the rookeries, to
the females and young born and unborn, for that is the class from which the poacher
secures at least 85 of the IcO of his catch.

Page 13: Tjie young male soals have been directly lutween the drive, club, and
poacher since 1882, while the females have had but one iJirect attiick outside of the
natural causes. They have been, however, the chief quarry of the pelagic sealer
during the last five years.

(7) That the loss through the wounding and sinking of seals is
enormous.

Page 214: Five thousand female seals, heavy with their young, are killed in order
to secure every l,ti(X) skins taken. (See also p. 85, footnote.)

(8) That it is an absolute necessity that pelagic sealing should be
supi^ressed on the ground that it is an immoral pursuit, and one which

308

ALASKA INDUSTKIE8.

is "roim^iiaiit to tlie sense ol" (leceiicy and siniidcst instincts of true
manhood." lie niaivOH the following roconiincndation (see p, 214):

Tliiit i)(«l!ifj;ic. NCiilin^ in tlio watiTs of Heriii},' Sea bo pioliiliitf'd unci NiipincsNcd
tliioMnlidiit tlic Urc('(lii)j; Kriison, no matter how, so tliiit it is «l()Ul^ and done ipiicldy.

This str)) is 0(|M (lly iiiiperativc. 'I'hc inmiorality of that drinand niado liy tlio
open-water Kealt'i- til ruin witliin a lew Hlioit ycais and dcNtroy loicvcr tiicsn fiir-
beaiinjf inteicsts on tlu! I'lildlol' IsiMnds — tlK^ iniinoiality of this demand can not be
ghisscid ovei' liy any MoiildNtry. I'he idea of iiermittiiifi siieli a ehaHo to coiitinno
where ."i.dOO tcmales, heavy with their unliorn youii.n, are kiUed iu order to .seen re
every l,()(i<) wliins tal:en, is repnunant to the Honso of decency and the 8iiii]dc8t
iiiHtincls of trne niaiiliood.

I can not nd'raiTi lidin expressini^ my tlrm belief that if the truth \h known — made
plain to res|)(insilde heads of tlie civili/ed powers of the woild — that not one of these
(iovernments will heNitat(! to niiite with onrs in dosin;; lieriii}; Sea and its |)HHse8 of
the Alentian chain to any and all pelai,'i(! fur sealing; durinj^ the breeding souson of
that animal.

(!)) That cows sucklf no pups other thtin their owu.
Iteferring to the driving of nursing cows, he says:

VaiH''2i)7: * • » That means death or permanent disability, even if the cows
are driven but once — death to Ixith cow and her pup left behind, since that pup will
not bo permitted to suckle any otlier.

(10) Tliat pups learn to swim; that in the begiiniing of August a
large majority of them are wholly unused to water (p. -"lo), and tiiat a
number of them do not ''get into the water" before September J (p. LMiO).

(11) That the seals are of a gentle disjjosition, are not frightened by
the presence of man, and should not be regarded as wild aniiuiUs.

Page 123: DodUtij of fur aials when driven. — I was also im))rc8Hcd by the aiiignlar
docility and anuability of those animals when driven along the road; thoy never
show tight any more than a lloek of slice]) would do,

Pago ;iS: (IciillciicnH of llw neah. — Descend with mo from thissand-duiui elevation of
Tolstoi an<l walk into the drovi; of hollnschiekie below lis; we can do it; you do not
notice much confusion or dismay as wo go in among thi'in; they siiiiply oi)eii out
before us and close in behind our tracks, stirring, crowding to the riyht and left as
we go, 12 to 20 foot away from us on each side. J^ook at this small Hock id' year-
lings—some 1, othors 2, and even 3 years old, which are conuhiiig and sjiitting
around us now, staring npat our faces in aniazoiuent as we wall; ahead; they strug-
gle a few rods out of our roach and then come together again lichind us, showing
no further notice of ourselves. You could not walk into a drove ol'hogs at Chicago
without exciting as much confusion and arousing an iulinitely :iioro disagreeable
tumult; and as for shoep on tho plains thoy would stampedo far iiiiickor. Wild
indeed! you can now readily understand how easy it is for two or three men, early
in the morning, to come where we are, turn asiilo from this vast In'rd in front of us
and around us 2,000 or 3,000 of the best examples, and drive thoni back, up and over
to tho village.

(12) That virgin females go to the islands when 2 years old and are
there impregnated.

Page 18: It must be borne in mind that perhaps 10 or 12 jior cent of the entire
nuuihor were yearlings last season and came up onto these breeding grounds as vir-
gins for tho lirst time during this season; as 2 year-old cows thoy of course boar
no young. (Ibid.) This surplus area of the males is also more than baliinced and
equalized by the l."i,0(H) to 20,ll(iO virgin Icmalcs which come onto tho rooki^ry for tho
first time to meet the males. Tliey cmne, rest a few d;iy8 or a week, and retire, leav-
ing no young to show their )ireseiico on the ground.

Pago 13!): Next year those yearlings which are now trooi)ing out with the youthful
males on the hauling grounds will repair to the rookeries, while their nialo com-
panions will be obliged to come again to this same spot.

V.

Again this report not only supports all positions taken by the United
States on the main ])oiiits, but as clearly condemns all of the special
assertions miule on the i)art of Great Britain for the purpose of weak
ening those positions:

(1) Mr. Elliott holds that coition is never effected iu the sea (p. 83).

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

309

I

t

(2) Wo ropiiiliiitcs the notion tliat the seals liave in any reapert
cliiuiRed tlicir liabits. citlicr in dates of arrival at the islands or other-
wise (I)]). SO, 101, lOf), 1(»S, L'4(>. L'tL', LMIl ).

(.'{) His ohaervatioiis arc^ to the enc(!t that in the years 1872 to 1870
the herd was in a condition of aboimdinji: ])rositerity. The British
(.lovernnient eites Hryant to jtiove that durini:' tliis period a decrease
in certain classes of the seals had been observed (pp. (•!>, 77, 78, 7!), 124,
151).

(4) The Dritish assertion tliat the elfect of raids npon the island has
been considerable is contiadicted by him (pp. oT, o.S).

(.")) He states, contrary to the contention of (Ireat Britain, that there
has been a piadual improvement in the methods of driving and that
thti actual dnvinff to-day is carried on with the greatest of care (pp.

2(;i», L's;{).

(()) He states that the condition of the natives has improved since
the Americans took ])ossession of the islands, and that they are today
in eveiy resjiect well off (pp. Ui'.i, 18.")).

(7) lie states that no reduction took place in the standard weight of
skins until 1S87 (p. 11.'}).

(8) H(! states that the seals have great powers of locomotion on land
(pp. 5;j, 244, 25S).

Elsewhere Mr. lOlliott says (Fur-seal Fisheries of Alaska, p. 130):

Its Ibri'leel or ili|»]it'is are (^xoicdinjfly bro.'id and ])owerful, and when it comes out
of tho water it nwjve.s forward, stepping with conwiderable raj)i(lity and lunoli grace.

(!)) That the latest date for properly observing the rookeries is July
20 or thereabouts, for after that date disintegration sets in (pp. iii. 16,
21, 83, 2;3(;, 2H>).

It follows that the rookery observations of the British coniinissioners,
who did not reacdi the islands in 1801 until .luly 27, are worthless. It
follows, also, that Mr. Macoun (whose observations in 1891 were even
less extensive tlian thoseof the British commissioners) is not in a posi-
tion to institute any comp-uison between the appearance of the rookeries
iU 1801 and 1802, resi)e(!tivt:'y,

(10) Mr. Elliott gives no countenance to the idea that there exist
independent pelagic sclu)ols of young seals which do not visit the
islands, liis report is replete with instances where he has observed
large numbers of yearlings and 2-year olds of both sexes on the islands.

Page 105: By tbo 14tli to the 20th of ,Jnno, they (the holhischickie) then appear
in tlieir finest form and number for the season, being .joined now l)y the great bulk
of tlio L'-yciir olds, and (juiti' a number of yearlingn. Hy tlie 10th of .Inly tlieir num-
bers are beginning to largely iiierease, owing lo the intlux at this time of that great
body of the last year's pups or yearlings. My the I'Oth of July tho yearlings have put
in their appearance for the season in full force. Very few yearlings make their
ajipearaiK'e until the 15th of July, but by the 20th they literally swarmed out, in
1872-1S74, and mixed up completely with the young and older males and females a«
the rookeries relax tlieir dt«(i|)line and " ])od " or scatter out.

Page 243: I took notice of a large proportion of small or 2-year-old females, and
the unusual slowness of hauling, eomjiared with 1872, which was now at its greatest
activity .Inly 7. (Tolstoi, ,Iuly 1, 1S!»0.)

rago2r>3: The holluschickie are chiefly 1-year olds; nine-tenths of tho several
pods hauled out here to-day are yearlings. A great many yearling females are
hauling down at landings in ami among the scattered harems, aimlessly paddling
about; their slight forms and bright backs, white throats and abdomens, are shining
out v<Ty In-i'jhtly. (North IJookery, .luly ;!0, 1870.)

I'agc :!:'S; 1 obsei veil a very larg<( proportinn of yearling cows scattered all over
the breeding groiiuil (Vuiii end to eiul near the sea maruiu. while the yearlings of
both sexes are crnipletel . iiii\ed tipnii ilie oiitskiits of the rookery, here and every-
where else eominingleil with the adult cows and their young pups. (tit. George,
JulvMO, 180O. )

310

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

Keferences to the report showiiip tliat yearliiifrs and a-year olda come
to the islands might be multiplied almost indefinitely. (Bee pp. 98,
139, 140, 143, 147, 253, liSr*, 250, 277, 289, 291.)

(11) Mr. Elliott scorns the notion upon which the framers of the
British case have sought to base the moral title ofCiinnda to a special
benefit from the herd, namely, that the seals consume food which would
otherwise support flslieries valuable to Canada, for he shows that the
true enemy of these fisheries is the dogfish, of which the seal is, in its
turn, the greatest destroyer.

Page 307: Supi)oso. for arKiiinoiit, that we conld and did kill all tho soalR, we
would at once give tlie deadly doj;lihli {Sijuahw anvai lliiiu), wliich fairly HwariiiH in
these waters, an iniiuenNO iiiipetiiH to Hn i)ri'H»;iit extt'iiHivc woik of dcHtniction of
untold niillioiiN of young food tislies, such as h^Ti -iig, cod, and salmon.

A dogtish can and does destroy every day of its oxistcnee hundreds and thousands
of young cod, salmon, and other food fishes — destroys at leiist double and (piadru-
ple as much as a seaJ. What is tho most potent factor to the destruction of ttiedog-
nshf Why the seal himself, and unless man can and will destroy the dogtish lirst,
he will be doing positive injury to tlie vt>ry cause ho pretends to chanipiou if he is
permitted to disturb thiseijuilibrium of nature and destroy the seal.

VI.

If Mr. Elliott's views, as an observer of facts, as a discoverer of causes,
as a reasoner. or as an aiitliority in any particular upon seal life upon
the Pribilof Islands, are of any value whatever, it should be to show
that in the years from 1.S84 to 1890 the male seals had, in coiiseiiuence
of overdriving, become so few in number and so destitute of virile jxtwer
that they were not competent to the task of impregnating even tiie
diminished number of female seals which the herd then contained.

Do those who represent the Government of Great Britain really wish
to persuade the Tribunal that this is true? Such would seem to be the
only conceivable purpose for which such a struggle was made to intro-
duce this report into the evidence. Unless it tends to i)rove this, it has
no tendency except to overthrow every position taken on the part of
Great Jiritain.

But yet the same learned counsel have produced more than one
hundred witnesses who swear that in the years 1891 and 1892 the seals
were founil upon the seas in unprac(!deuted numbers, and sometwcnty-
flve of them note specifically having taken young, small, or 2 year old
seals, some of the catches consisting exclusively of this (jlass, wliich
must have owed their existence to the impotent bull observed by Mr.
Elliott.

What are we to believe — that Elliotts statements are worthless, or
that these witnesses are testifying to what is false, or that these few
supposed impotent bulls were endowed with procreative powers wholly
unprecedented even in the case of the Alaslcan bull seal? Let these
contradictious be reconciled as best they maj\ In the view of the Gov-
ernment of the United States, both these conflicting statements are alike
untrustworthy and should be disregarded.

(1) The names of the one hundred witnesses and upward are given
in the British counter case (Appendix, Vol. II, pp. 29-33).

(2) The names of the twenty- five witnessses above mentioned, who
caught young, small, or 2-year olds in 1892, are as follows (see British
counter case, Appendix, Vol. II, pp. 14-22) :

Oapt. Abel Douglas, George Roberts, William G. Goudie, James
Shields, George F. French, Andrew Mathison, Cajjt. Ernest Lorenz,
Gapt. Charles Campbell, Capt. J.ames W. Todd, Henry Paxton, George

fc

ALASKA INDUhTlllliS.

811

Ih'iitor, Civpt. -liinios I). VVainMi, Ciijit. .Mioajiili Picknoy, dipt. Midiai'l
Kt'cfc, Williiiin V. llohwd, 1'. (iiiilsoii, Kasiulo, SclioultwirU, Cliiliiipi
siiin. Iliinaisuiii, (llaliouto, W. Watt, ("hit ka koi, Ivickiiina. and liliea-
cliesut.

And Mr. lOlliott liiiiisclt' socnis I o have observed tlie iisiud iniinlicr of
.veailiiiji's in l,S!)(i. And yet tht\ iinpotency which lie iMiaj;ines to have
"been hioiif^ht alioiit as tile result of rediiviny- thi'oiij;h a series ol'ye;irs
must, it' it existed at idl, have been nearly as marked in LSSK, when
these yearlings were beyottcu.

PELAGIC SEALING IN BLUING SEA.

rORUKSl'ONDBTK OF THE TIIKASIKV WITH OTIIKK DKPAKTMKNTS

ri'ON THE Sir.JECT.

313

PELAGIC SEALIiNG IN BERING SEA.

C0EEE3P0NDENCE OF THE TREAStmY WITH OTHEK BEPAllTMENTS TTPON THE

SUBJECT.

Treasury Department,

Wofihhifilon, J). C, Jituuary 19, 1S95.

Sir: I have the honor to incloso iierewitli our oHicial statenient of
the American i)elagic fur-seal catcih of 1894, taken from the reeord of tlie
cuHtom-liouses at the ports of San Francisco, Port Towiiseiul, and
Astoria, tliat the same may b(> tUiiismitted to the British Government
in c(»iiii>liaiice with article a of the Berinff Sea arbitration award.

It ajipears in said st'itement that the total number of seal skins t.aken
bv An)erican vessels and entered at American ports was 2(),((!)5. The
catch was distributed between the Asiatic Coast, the liritish Columbia
and Xorthwestern (^oast, and Berin;t>' Sea, the two latter constitntinj;' the
total i>elasic catch taken from the American herd of so-called Alaska
fur seals.

It will be observed by reference to said statement that in many
instances the latitude and longitude have been omitted. Tlie explana-
tion of this oll'ercd by the collector at San Francisco is that the several
masters of the said vessels deposed under oath that they cleared with-
out noti' of the pending award, and consequently were ignorant of its
reciuirenient.

An cxamina^'on of the London sales of North Pacific pelagi<' fur skins,
which have ucently been held, discloses that 125,L'(!!) skins were sold
and about 10 UOO reserved for future sale; to this should be added the
skins retained in tlie United Stales, estimated at 10,000, the total being
14.'>,2(iO. The nnollicial returns of the British catch, transmitted to the
State I »ei)artnient by our consul at Victttria. nlded to our otticial returns,
make a total of 121, M'>, or about 21,126 skins less than the estimated
catch of 14.^,20l» based on trade sales and estimate of skins retained in
the United State.-^. It is possible that this number may have been trans-
shipi)ed by American or lUitish vessels at Yokohama. We have no
record of any transshipments except .as regards (5,7(jO skins, which
arrived in the port of San Francisco, and a ^pear in our otlieial returns,
and which were undoi'btcdly taken on the .lapan and Russian coasts.
It is possible that said balance of 24,120 skins may have been entere<l
at Victoria or shipped via Sue/ Canal.

Siionld the identity of these skins be ascertained, this Department
will submit a sni)plemental report thereon.

All of the skins, of whitili the sex is iiidiciated in the accompanying
statement, were carefully exainineii by an expert inspector at the time
of their entry,

1 have the honor to request that yon call upon the British Govern-
ment for its ollicial returns of the pelagic catch for 1131)3 and 1894, and

816

316

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

that yon specifically request information on the following points as tg
Hie c'atches of 1803 and ]Si)4:

(1) As to the total iinmber of seals taken by British vessels.

(2) The total iniinber of skins landed at British ports by said vessels.
{.'5) TVie total nnnil)er traii?ishipi)ed in Japan and Knssian ports, and

landed nltiiiiatcly at Victoria.

(•1) The number of skins landed at Victoria by American vessels.

(")) A re]»ort as to the sex of scab' taken in Bering Sea and the North
Paciiic Ocean.

((i) Location of the place of catch by latitude and longitude.

(7) The number of seal hunters em])loyed, indicating white-i and
Indians, and also the numl er of the crew and the tonnage ol pa ;li
vessel.

1 have further to reciuest that you iii(|uire whether or w, ; :i.; .
skins were s])ceially examined as to the sex by the British GovejiuiKnit,
as was done in the case of the skins entereu in Uu! ""d States ports.
1 have the honor, etc.,

J. G. Carlisle, Secretary.

The Secretary of Stat^.

TreasI'Ry Department,
Washriifiton, J). C, Fchrunry n>, 1895.
Sir : T have the honor to inform you that the statistics heretofore
furnished to you by this Department, containing a statement of the
pelagic catch of seals taken by American vessels in the north Paciiic
Ocean and Bering Sea during the season of ISOt, were not extended so
as to siiow the (-perations by latitude and longitude for each day. I
herewith transr.it two co]»ies of a detailed statement of such operations,
which statements include four vessels additional to those named in the
papers heretofore sent to you, viz, the Louix Ol.sen, which entered at
Vi(!toria; Rose Sparks, Thcresc, and 'hoie Grcii, which entered at San
Francisco. These statements have been compiled under the direction
of the United States Fish Commission, from the records of the custom-
houses and per.s()nal observations of I'rof. C. 11. Townsend, who is c(m-
nected with the Commission. D will be noted that, as you have been
advised heretofore, the renniining vessels cleared without notice of rhe
regulations of the Paris award, and therefore ke])t no record of latitude
and longitude. Tiie <!ollector of customs at San Francisco reports that
he reciuired tlu^ masters to make oath to this fact on entry.
Respectfully, yours.

C. S. H A:\rLiN, Actinf/ Secretary.

The kSECRETARl OF STATE.

(For inclosiiro, seo Hei)()rts on Fur Seals by Fisli CoinmiBsion, Ho ' ■ .. i37, part 11,
51tu (Joujj., Ist sesa., pji. 59-00.)

TREAt-'JE y T'Ei APcTMENT,
Wash! in/ton, IK C. '<■/ ■■>! nj 12, 1895.
Sir: As re inestod by ^Ir. Bax-Ironsides, I take plo:i'-Mue in trans-
mitting for your information coj)y of a letter dated the llth instant,
addressed by me to the Pi(!sident, in relation to the resolution recently
introduced iu the Senate, calling for reports, do'uments, and other

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

31'

papers, including logs of vessels, pertaining to the ent'orofMiciit of tlif
regulations respecting fur seals, adopted l).v the (iovornnieiits of the
United States and (ireat liritain. in accordance with the decisidn of
the Tribunal of Arbitration convened at I'aris, and the regulations
under which such reports are reijuired to be made, etc.

1 desire to state, also, that 1 have to-day transmitted to the honorable
the Secretary of State two copies of a statement i)repared by I'rof. C.
II. Townsend, of the I'Msh Coninussion, wherein is given further informa-
tion as to the latitude and longitude in whicii seals were taUen by
pelagic sealei'S in American vessels during the season of ISIM, one of
whi(;h copies, it was t>'"r.uested, shouhl be transinifted for tlu^ informa-
tion of tiie Hritish (iovernment in compliance with article o of the
Bering Sea arbitration award.
Respectfully, yours,

J. (}. Caulisle, /Secretary.

Siv Julian Pauncefote,

Britinh Aiiibansudvr, W((tihin(jtoii, I). 0,

[luclusiirc]

TUKAST'SY DkI'AUIMI'.NT,

Waihiu'jtou, I) C, i'( biliary 11, ISO"),
To tho Presidknt:

Jioferiiufj; to Seiiato resolution of tliiiiiiary >'■, IS'.O, c;illiiif^ tor all io])ort«, <l.(c'ii-
nieiits, aii(l otlicr papers, iucliiilin^ logs of vessels, ri^latiiij; to the tiiforct'Diuiit of
the regulations resiiecting fur seals adopted by the Governiiieiits of tlui I'liitod
States and Great liritaiii, in aeeordance wllli tlie deeisioii of tlio Tril)i!;ial of Arid
tration eonveued at I'aris, aud the resoliiti(/ns (regulations?) iiniler which said
reports are rec|uireil to lie niadi', as well as relating to the niunlier of seal taken
during the season of ISIII by pelagic luiutors and by tile lessees of the I'lildlol and
Coinuiiiuder island; , I have tho honor to transuut herewith a statenieiit taken from
tho logs of vessels showing tho latitude and longitude in which fur seals were takon
in iiaring Sea. It will be noticed that only id of tho '.VI American vessels engaged
in fur-seal lishiug have iua(h' returns as to said latitude and longitude. I'he ((dlector
of eustoms at San Francisco rc)iorts that the cajilains of the other >esscls deposed
under oath that thev cleared without notice of the regulations and therelore !• ado
uo record of the j)laces of cap: re.

1 h.ive further to state that during the season of ISIU about 1 lL',lli*0 seals were
killed by pelagic hunters in tho North I'aeilic ( Icean, including I'lcring Sea. Of this
uninber aljout l)l),l)(10 were taken either in I'lcri: g Sea or on the Auic'can siile (d' the
North I'aeilic Ocean; iri,(i;{;! -■■alswor' takiMi n\ tlii' I'ribilof Islands 'oy tho North
American (JoninuTci:'! ('<Mni).in,\ lessees undi r the contract with this (ioveriiuu'iit
dated March 12, ISllt). This Dcpa'tiueut has uo otlic'al statistics of the catch on the
Couimaiidor Islands, but is uuollien.ilv inforau^d that it amounted to l.'7.L'S5.

I also transmit heewltii extracts iiom rhe logs of the I'nited States U'evenue-
Mariui? steanu'rs J!i:ili. Cunriii. and llmr, witli relation to the enfoicemeiit of the
regulations res])ecting fur seals as determined liy the I'aris friluiual of .\rbitiation.

I'he itajiers above referred to eonstiluti^ all the rejiorts and doiiimentH in this
Department which it is deemed eomjiatibh; with the public interests to transmit to
Couyri'ss at this rime.

I have the honor, etc.,

J. (!. t'AliLlsi.i;, Sfcirtarii.

TKKASTTltY DlCPAUTAlKNT,

\Vasliiii<i(<>n, />. ('., Mai/ il, Js<)5.
Sm: Tho exjierience of the past sealing setison — the tirst iiiidef the
pi'ovisions of tlu^ Paris iiward of August \~>, 18!K> — has disclo.sed cer-
tain defects both in the form and sct.i)e of the award iind of the legis-
lation, especially that enacted by the British (lovernment, for ciirrying
out its provisitin.s. I deem it my duty to call these defects to your

318

ALASKA. INDUSTRIEb.

attention with the request that you communicate with the British Gov-
ernment and endeavor to secnire by mntiial arriviigement approi)riiite
legislation in order that the object of tlie award — the preservation of
the fur-seal fisheries — may bo, inoie effectually accomplished.

The contention of the British Government that regulations framed
for the purpose of carrying out the award should be coextensive with
and limited by the terms of tlie award would seem to be sound. It
therefore only remains to consider certain aspects in which the award
fails to provide for contingencies wliich, in the opinion of this Depart-
ment' ^ihould be i)romptly guarded against by concurrent legislation
not a .' 3 with the absent of (xreat Britain in the form of regula-

tions Xjk of the limitations hereinafter referred to.

The mo adical defect in the award is Article VI, which prohibits
the use of nets, firearms, and explosives in fur-seui fishing, the only
exception being that of guns when used outiide of Bering Sea. The pro-
hibition is directed simply to the use of these wcajjons for one partic-
ular i)urpose — seal fishing — lenving both the possession and use lawful
for all other puri)ose8, such as killing whales, walrus, sea otter, hair
seal, and other animals found within said sea.

I'^xperieuce has shown it to be almost a i»racticable impossibility to
detect a scab ng vessel in tiie act of using such firearms for this one
prohibited puri)ose. Although the searching oilicer may be morally
certain that firearms liave been used and may properly consider the
mere presence of firearms on the vessel, if accompanied with bodies of
seals, seal sicins, or other suspicious evidences, sufficient justification
(even apart from the i)rovisions of section 10 of the act of Congress of
April 6, 1891, which is api)licable only to American vessels) for the
seizure f f such a vessel, it must be apparent that in proceedings for
condennuition brouglit in a court thousands of miles away from the
place of seizure it will be almost an impossibility to secure conv)cti(m
and forfeiture on the ground of Illegal use of weaporis. Furthermore,
under the procedure necessary following the seizure of a British vessel
the United States seizing officer delivers tiie vessel, wi h such '.ritnesses
and proof as he can procure, to the senior British i^aval officer at
Qualaska. At the tri;il no representative of our Government is present,
and the British Goveirimcnt nuist conduct the prosecution and must
trust to such proofs and witnesses as the American officer could collect
and furnish at tiie time. Under such circumstances forfeiture of the
vessel could not be secured except in the clearest cases of guilt.

The prohibition of the use of iirearms in seal fishing in Bering Sea
was effectually accomplished only by prohibiting the ijossession of fire-
arms in said sea for any purpose whatever.

The provisions of section 10 of the act of Congress of Ai)ril 6, 1894,
raising a presumption of illegal use from the possession of implements
forbidden then and there to be used, is of great value in enforcing the
award, but the act is limited to American vessels. It is to be regretted
that there is no equivalent provision in the Jkitish act of Parliament
enacted April 18, 1894, for carrying out said award.

In this connection it is significant that in the act passed by Parlia-
ment for carrying out the modus vivendi of June 15, 1891, prohibiting
all sealing in Bering Sea (54 and 55 Victoria, Chap. XIX), a provision
similar to that contained in the act of Congress above cited was
inserted, as follows:

If IV British shi)) is found within Borinjj; Sea havinj; on board thereof fishing or
80;ilinij iiii))lomeuts or seiil skins or l)odie8 of st';ils it sliall lieou tlio owuor or master
of snch sliip to i>rove th:vt the ship was not used or employed in coutraveutiuu of
this uct.

ALASKA INDUSTKIE8.

319

It is to be regretted tliat tlie late Britisli act for carrying out the
award coiitainecl no siniilnr pr tvisioii, inodilied, of course, to suit the
terui.sof tlie awai'd. Although an amendment briugingit into harmony
with the American law would reudor the task of enforcing the award
much easier and the result more efficacious, yet, as stated above, the
most satisfactory anicndnieut would con^sist in common legislation ren-
dering a vessel subject to forfeiture if found with firearms iu its pos-
session in JJering Sea.

The above suggestions are prompted by certain rejjorts just received
from the United .States Fish Commission containing staiements of
otlicors of the Commission employed last season iu Bering Sea that tire-
arms were used by scalers fishing in said sea. Although little or no
direct eviden(;e was submitted by these officers as a basis of their
oi)inion, yet the opportunity they had of observing the ojjerations of
the sealing fleet aiidof boarding vessels and in8i)ecting catches renders
their opinion of the greatest value and proujpts the Department to sug-
gest the necessity of an immediate (tiiange in the law.

It should further be provided by legislation that sealing vessels hav-
ing implenu'iits or seal skins on board, desiring to traverse the area cov-
ered by the award during the close season if licensed, and during any
season if unlicensed, should have such implements duly sealed and
their catch noted on the log book (a jirivilege now accorded at the
option of the master, under the regulations of 1895, Article IV), under
penalty of forfeiture for violation of this provision. This ])rivilege, how-
ever, as ai)ove stated, should not l)e accorded vessels liaving firearms iu
Bering Sea.

It is further to be noted that under the British act of Parliament the
])rovisions of tiie merchant shipi)ing act of LSo-l with res|)ect to official
logs (including the penal provision) are made applicable to sealing
vesvscls. Said penal provisions, however, do not iippear in the schedules
attached to the copy of the act in the possessio'i of the l)ei)artnient.
I have therefore to request that you ascertain of the British Gov-
ernment whether sucli penalties include forfeiture of the vessel and
cargo. The United States act, section 8, exi)ressly provides that any
violations of the award or regulations will render the vessel and cargo
liable to forfeiture, it is feared that because of the specific reference
to the penal provisions of the mercthants' act as to official logs the ftiil-
ure of a vessel to kec]) log entries might not bring her within tlie gen-
eral liability to forffiture contained in the British act, unless said mer-
chants' act, made a part thereof, contains similar jjrovisions. During
the past season log-book entries were duly nnide by the United States
sealing vessels in JJering Sea and were transmitted to Congress.

The Department is also informed that similar entries were made by
British vessels in Bering Scii, which entries have been duly transmitted
by the British (ioveriiipont. ^Many vessels, however, had cleared for
the coasts of Jai)an a:id Russia as early as January, long before the
l)assage of either the actof Congress of April (J, 1891, or the act of I'ar-
liamentof April 18, 18111.

Jnasuuudi as the award was not self operative and contained no ])en-
alties for its violation the Department considered that the penalties
provided in the subset|uent legislation were not retroactive and could
not properly be ai)i)lied to acts or omissions beforj the i)assage of said
legislation. Entry was therefore permitted of the catch of seals on
receipt of the nnjster's oath that he cleared in ignorance oi" the pre
visions as to log book entries. During the coming season collectors

320

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

liave been iiistnicted to rigidly enforce the law as to logbook entries.
Tlie exact status, therefore, of the British law becomes inijiortant.

J have further to call your attention to the fact tliat, by acts of Con-
gress making ai)i)roi)riations for sundry civil (expenses of the (iovern-
meut for tlie liscal years ending LSDo and l.St(G, provision was made for
the ai)pointinent of seal ex])erts to examine! all seal skins landed in the
TTnitcd iStates as to the inunber and sex, with the pur|)ose of verifying
the log book entries. All skins entered during the i)ast season at United
States ports, except I'ortTownsend, were didy examined by said inspec-
tors as to number and sex; by an error, however, the skins entered at
Port Tiiwnsend, although duly counted, were not examined as to sex.

1 would respectfully request that you ascertain whether during rhe
l)ast season the British (iovernnient employed similar insi)ectors to
verify the log book entries of British vessels as to number and sex of
seal skins landed.

I have also further to suggest that you retjuest of the British Gov-
ernment that its consent be given to stationing United States inspectors
at British Columbian poits, for the purpose of verifying said log entries
of British vessels and examining the skins as to sex, freely according
to the British (lovernment a like privilege in United States ports.

I would also call your attention to the fact that under the British act
it is nowhere made the duty of the British naval ollicers to St'lze ships
when found in violation of the law. Section 11 of the United States
act imposes said duty on United States ollicers duly desigtiated by the
President. Tliis latter ])oint, I believe, has already been called by you
to the att iition of the British (iovernnient.

Should these suggestions as to new legislation meet with your
ap])roval and be enacted by the respective (Jovernments, I am conlident
tiiat the award can be enforced so as to better subserve the i>urpose for
whi<;h it was intended — the i)reservation of the fur-seal lisheries.

I have the honor to request that you communicate these suggestions,
if api)roved bj^ you, to the British Government.
Itespectfully, yours,

J. G. Oaelislb, Secretary.

The Skoketaky of State.

TRKASITRY Dl'lPAlJTMKNT,

Wdsliiiif/tflH., I>. C, Mny 6, 1895.

StK: In my letter of even date herewith J had the honor to suggest
that you endeavor to secure the cooperation of the British (iovernnient
to the end that certain necessary legislation be enacted to render the
Paris award more etfective for the purpose of pieserviug the fur-seal
herd. I have now the honor to transmit certain further suggestions as
to widening, by nnitual agreement, the scope of the award, which 1
believe to be warranted by the infornnitiou now in possession of the
department.

The sealing season just closed was the first during which the pro-
visions of the Paris award were applicable, and I regret to have to
state that the pelagic catch of seals both without and within the award
area was the largest ever known in the history of ]telagic sealing.

In my communication to Congress, January 21, 18!>r» (Ex. Doc. No.
243, Fifty-third Congress, third session),' 1 was able to state the catch

'A copy of this corunuinicatioii is appentled hereto.

ALASKA INDUHTKIES.

321

as reported in the rinited States and British Cohinil)ia onstom-houses
as 12l,14.'J. I stated, however, that it was known that a hir<;e number
of slcins were tra!isshii)])ed in Jai)an ))orts and sent to London by way of
the Suez Clanal. Reliable int'orniation as to tlie sale of fur-seal skins
in London for tlie season of LSiit discloses tliat l.'58,3li3 skins, taken at
sea in the North I'aeilic Ocean from tUe American and Russian or
Japanese herds duriuj; the season of 1894, were sold in London. Care-
fii' "stimatea show tliat about .'5.(i(H) were retained in the United States
foi ureasing and dyeing', making a total of 111,323. To this should be
added about 800 whicli were known to have been on a vessel believed
to have been lost, niakinj? the total about 1413,000. Of this amount
5r),(i80 wen; taken within tlie area covered by the I'aris award.

The foUowinj;- tiible ;;ives tiie number of skins taken within said
i'aris award area during' the years 18'J0 and 18U4, inclusive:

IKitO 40, 80<J

18111 .15, 'Ml

18'J1' I(),fil2

18!i;} 28,013

1894 55, r.8(!

]t would be within moderate bounds to state that these fissures of
seals killed and recovered r«>i)resent only about one-third of all killed,
but whose bodies were not recovered.

A perusal of these tij^ures must satisfy the most skeptical that the
fur seal herd will be speedily extc iiiimited unless an immediate change
is made in the scope as well as the form of the award.

So far as the articles of the award relating to the North Pacilic
Ocean, exclusive of Bering Sea, are concerned, forbidding all seal fish-
ing from May to August, it must be aduiitted much good has been
accomplished, and favorable results were apparent on the islands early
in the season. The fatal defect in the scope of the award, however,
was in opening liering Sea during August and Sei)tember to sealers,
jyrohibitiug only therein the use of lirearms. It has been claimed, and
with some evidence in its favor, that the spear is as destructive in Ber-
ing Sea as the shotgun. Some experts believe that even greater
destruction is accomplished in Bering Sea by the use of the spear than
by guns, for the reason tiiat the noise of the shotguns frightens away
many seals who might be easily killed sleeping on the water by si)ears-
men. While the herd is traveling in the North Pacific Ocean away
from the islands it is very diflicult to kill seals with spears, as they are
constantly traveling and rarely found asleej) on the water. In Bering
Sea, however, the females leave their pups on the islands and go out
for a distance of 100 or 1200 miles from the islands, far beyond the pro-
hibiti'd z(me of (iO miles, to feed. They are there found in large num-
bers asleep on the water, and can easily be killed by the silent, skillful
si)ear8men. The large inunber of pups found dead from starvatio-! on
the islands during the latter part of Se|)tember and October, 1894 —
12.000 by actual count on the accessible i)arts of the rookeries, and
20,000 by careful estimates — shows the destructive eflect of permitting
sealing at all in Bering Sea. Should Bering Sea be forever closed to
pelagic sealers, and should the closed season now i)rovided by the
award in the North Pacnlic Oce.m be maintained, the Department
believes that the seals would receive fair protection, and that fur seal
lishing might continue to be a profitable one, both on land and on sea.
Unless this limitation in the scoi»e of the award be made, within a very
few years at the most llni seals will be externuiuited commercially and
the industry destroyed.

H. Doc. 92, pt. 2 21

1522

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

Tlie Oopai'tinont MiKlerstiinil.s that you have already siijijiested to the
Itiitish Govt'iniiKMit the appoiiitinent ot a comiuissioii, to consist ol
ineinliei's appointed l»y the <lovei'mneiits of (ireat iiritaiii, llussia,
-lapaii, and liie I'nited States, to examine I'm tliei' into tlie sealinj,' ques-
tion, and tliat pendiii}.',' tiieir examination and leijort a niodns vivendi
he ajiieed upon, one elause of whicii provides foi' closing,' lieiin^' .Sea to
l(ehi.!;ic seaiin.i;- ahsohiteiy. This eommunieation is sent you to fuitiu>r
inform you tlnit the oi'lieial (i^iures of last season's eateh, now definitely
known, fully bear out the wisdom and neees.sity of such a chaufje in
the ))n)visions of the awaiil.

TnistiniL;' lliat some an aii};ement as above. su;.':jj;'ested nmy bo ayreod
upon. I have tiie honor to be,
Respect fully, yours,

J. (i. ('AiM.iSLK, Sccrdary.

The Secu i;tarv of SrA'ji;.

Sll!; I liiivfitlii'lK

wiiij; resolution, dated
to I'uniisli llio tloiiBd
coiivoiicd at I'ari.s in

[Iiiclosuro.)

'PlIKASrifV l)KrAllT.Mi:NT,
H'nnlii Ill/toil. I>. ('.. ■lidiiKiyi/ :/, /SO'i
nor to ii('kno\vledf;'c tlic icccipl of tin- loll,
the 1 Itli of Dcci'nilu'i', ISl'l, (if till' IFoiisc of li'i'prf.sciiliilivcH;

'■ licsolfal, 'I'hiit the .SoiTctaiy of tlio 'I'reasnr.v lie rf(|iicsti'd
•\villi infoi-iiialioii —

"1. Ah to wIiiIIkm llio artirlt's of tlio licrinij; Sea 'I'libiinal
ISi'.S, for lilt' re,:; 11 1,1 lion ol'tlm fiir-sisil iiKliintrv of Alaska, lia\c irsiiltcd diirinj; tlui
last scasjn in savinj; tli<; liir seal herds from tlial dcslriiclioii \vhi<li these articles
were intended to ]iie\enl.

''2. Whether the SC' r<'iary has anthcMil ic inl'ornialioii )f the jiroliahle number and
BOX of Ala.sUan fur seals killed in the last scmsod by ]icla,i^ie sealers; and if so, what
such informal ion is; and in view of such faet.s, what, in the Jndt;nient of (he .Secre-
tary, will he the practical icsiilt of these arlicle.s if carried out in f;ood faith for the
future.

"S. What is tlio iiresent eoiidition of the fnr-se:\l herds on the I'rihiiof Islands.'

"4. What has heeu the revenue derived hy the (loveinnieiit fiiuii (he fur-seal herds
of Alaska iliiriiif;' the jiast seasiiu, and also what has liccn the expenditure diirinj; the
same perioil in exicntinj; the rei^iilations of the I'aris award .'"

In re))ly to tin' lirst imiiiiry I iiave tostate that tluMinmher of seals taken hypehi.;ic
sealers in the Xordi I'acilie Ocean for the season Just expired anil entered ;il, I'niled
Sta((!saiid IliKisli Coliiniliia ]>orts, as eoiitiiined in llio aceompanyinf; table, (toin-
jiiled from olHciiil report-- of (ollectors of customs in (he riiidil Stales and reporls
t ransmitted by the I'liKeil States consul at \'irl(iiia, lirilish Culiiuibia, compiled by
him from the ollicial s( ati-nicuis of the collector of enstoins ,-il thai port, a^i^renate
121, Mil. Of this number ,","i,( i>:)^ I were taken from the so-called Aiask.i seal iierd in tlu!
North i'acitic Ociaii and in i'erin,n' Sea; .")8,li2I were taken oil' tin; coasts id'. lapan and
liUssia. liMviii^' (i.Sliil nniletcrmined. Niuiity-iivo vessels wen; employed, (iO bolonjf-
iiii; to (ireat ISritain and '.i'l to the I'nited .states.

As appears ill said tabic, tin- actual number of seals killrd in ISitl exceeds the
amount of skins eutei-c.'I as above by about L'O.OIKt. making; llie total ealili about
]I2,(HMI. This balance of 20,01)0 skins was probably shijipi'd to Loudon via iSiioz
t'anal frcuu the Asiatic. Coast.

l-'rom thitse tin 11 res it b.-coaies evident that diirin;;- (he present season thiTo has been
!in iiu|n'eeed(Ui(<Ml increase over [irecodin;j; years in the number of seals killed by
])( la;;ie scalers, both in Amrricau and Asiatic waleis. This increa.se lias eanscil an
alar in ill}; decrcaRc in t he niiiiiber of seals cm the islands, as he iiji nailer e\plain(-(l. A
BitunirKtaiit fact In (his eonni'ction is the iiuincceileiited numher of dead jiiips found
(111 the i^lanils this season which ]iresiimal)ly died of starvation, tlndr miillK'is beiiiy;
killed at sea. Our ajjeiit eoiintecl over 12.1)110 on the aercssible ])orticiiis of the rook-
cries alone. lie eslirnates, upon sai<l count, a total (d' nearly 20,001). It shonlil be
rt nembered that at the (dose id' tlu^ season of ISI13, when |iclai;ie sealing was jirohib-
ited in Herin;; Sea. Ii\ss thiu 1,000 were found ou .St. I'aul Island, no count having
been made on the island of St. (Jeori^o.

Th ■ alarniim;' increase in the luinitier of seals killed by ptdafrie scalers, and tlio fur-
ther fact that in four or live weeks Iheves.^oN in lie! in;;- Sea. only about one-third
of the total nnniher, killed more seals than were taken in the four months s(;alin(f ou

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

323

the AmrM'ican sideof tlic North I'acilic, ciiiiihasizo the coiiclnsioii expressed in my
annual report tot'ongrcsn. Hint lon^ lii'foro the cxpirationof tho llvd ycaiH, wlien tlio
ro^^ulations onacti'd liy thu rrilmiial of Arliit ration iirc to bi^ Hnbrnittod to tho
respective (iovornnienis Cor rei-xaniinalion. tlie t'nr Hual will have been praetifftlly
extemiinaleil.

iMy anHwor to tlio iirHt, iininiry is, thcicfori', that the operatiiin of tlii> articles of the
Hcrinj; Sea Tribnnal foi' tlie re-julation of the fnr-Hoal industry of Alaska lias not
resulted in saving the fnr-soal herd from that destruction which those artiides. werti
intended to ])revcnt.

As to the number and sex of Alaskan fur seals killed dnrinjj the past season by
l)elai;ic sealers, I have to Htate tliat of llu; AnuTJean cateli of l.'ti,{1!)ri seals, H,0!ti) were
nuiles, LI,!!"*! fenniles, and 7,0;iO pnpsand.seals the sex of which was unknown, Kaeh
seal landed in the United Stivtcs was carefully exaiMiuedastosex by experts appointed
by the l)e|)artiuent.

Of tlni catch of the British Columbia schoontMS of iir),OI8 seals, as reported by our
consul, only those killed in Meiini; Sea — I'd,!!'.") — were cliissilied as to sex. Of these,
11,7-ii were repinted as males and H.102 as females.

With refereiKi' to the present cmidition of the fur-seal herds on the Pribilof Islands,
I have to rei)oi't a daiij^erous •' , lease. Information on lllo in the Dcpartiiicnt indi-
cates a falliiifi oil' of at lea'it (uio-half during the past tour seasiuis. It thus ajipears
that the eoiKlitiou of the Alaskan fur-seal herd is most critical. All facts jioint to
its speedy extermination unless the j)reseiit re!j,ulatioiis, eiiai ted in the award of the
Pal iM Triliunal, are <'han;;ed at an early date, ho as to alVord a greater measure of
protection to tlie seal herd.

In reply to the imiuiiy concerning the revenue derived by the Government from
the fur-seal herds during the past season, and the cxipenditiires during the same
pericd in executing the re(|r,irement8 of the Paris award. I have to state that ir>,0(K)
seals were taken on the Pribilof Islands in the year last jiast, and 1,0;)1 reiiiaineil on
hand from last year. The aiiiount to be ])aid by the lesscs of the islands, according
to the provisions of their contract, on or before April 1 next, will bo ^214,298.37. the
items being as follows:

Rental $(«>, 000. 00

Tax of $2 per skin on Hl.'Wl skins 32.062.00

Honusof .$7,625 per skin on 16,0;il skins 122,236.37

As to ex])enses, I have to state that the honorabhi the Secretary of the Navy reports
that the expenditure incident to the prescnci- of the United States naval vessels in
Hering Sea during the past year was .•|iI58,lSS.2."). The exiieiists attending the pres-
ence of the revenue stiMinors Iteiir, Corwiii, and Hush aggregate ttO. ]1().24. The
amounts named do not include the i)ay of ollicers or men or the rations supplied to
them. Of the $1,">()0 ap|iropiiat(!il to enable the .Secretary (d' the Treasury to pay
the necessary expenses of enforcing the provisions of section 1 of tin; act appntvcd
April 6, ISiM, under which two exjierts were employed to examine and classify
jielagic seal skins, the sum of +250 has been ex]iemied. Tlu^ salaries ami expenses
of the agents of the Seal Islands, whose duties would re(|uire them to lie ])resent on
said islands without regard to the Hering ."-oa controversy, have not been imdiidcd
in jirepariug this answer to the resolution. The aggregate expenses would, tlnue-
fore, seem to be +1!)8. 551. 49.

In this connection i lia\(! to state that suit has been instituted against the Xortli
American Connnercial Company for the recovery, under the terms of its lease of the
Seal Islands, of the sum of :f 132,187.50, covering the season of 18',I3. The company
nanii'd, under its lease, is required to ])ay tlio sum of .f60.0(X) per annum rental, $2 tax
on each seal taken, and, in addition, .+7. t)25 foreaih seal skin acce])ted. It is claimed
by said com])aiiy that, as it was denied the right to take the number of seals cou-
temidated .at the time the lease was executed, by reason of the operation (>f the
nio<lus vivemli, a reduction in the rental and in the item of $7,625 per skin should
be made. This claim, under advice of the Attorney-tieneral, has not been admitted
by the Treasury Diipartuuuit, and, as hereinbefore stated, suit has been instituted.
I tind that the following balances for the years specilied are due from said comiiany
under its lease, notwithstanding the fact that my jiredecessois li.ave accepted pay-
nu'nls in less amounts than those mentioned in the contract hereinbefore referred
to: 1890, $47,403; 1891. $133,628.(i4 ; and 1892, $10S,686.52.

Action by this Department on tin; abovc-iuputioned un]iaid aiiioiints will bo deter-
mined by the result of lli(> suit pending lor the amount due for the year 1893.
Respectfully, youi.s,

J, G. Cakli.si.k, Sc<iel(iry.

Hon. CuAUi.Ks I'. Citisf,

Speahir of llie lloiisc of ]{eprfii<eiitulh'cs.

324

ALASKA INDU8TKIES.

!iiimmari) of pelagic leal oaivhen for 189,^ mid ISOI, haxrd on the officiul rclm-nt from ports

of e.iitri/.

Year.

Nationality.

llrltiHli Co.
Iiiinliiii mill
North w«at

coartif*.

BerliiK Son.

Japan

('OftHt.

KiiHHiiin
Coast.

Lonility
iliiiliiter-
mined.

8,342

»ii„...i Orand
A"'"'' total.

1893 ..

MddiiH vivi'ti.)

di in opera-}

I tiou. )

6, lUO-
2«, 4'.'.-

'"■ii)'.m

""ii.'oM'

flS;?!? } *"•»«'

Canadlau . . .

Aiii-riciui. . .
Ciiiiadiiiti . ..

Total..

28,013

0,83(1

18114...

12,:iBH
11,703

},rm 1 201

411. 4ra 7, 437

i;M»5}tl21,.43

•H, 101

31, .W

!>0,gH3 1 7,638 0,830

* Notei eoneerninij cati'lifor 1S9S. —'Ihe I'liitt 1 SliitoH loiiaiil at Virtoriii Htiiti.'i ((Jiiiisiiliir UoportH
No. 101, p. 279) tliitt Aiiii'rii'nii Holiodiicrii in IHU:i tniiiH.'iliijipi'il, at Viil^oliania ami Hakodadi, ImIwi'i-ii
17,000 Hud 18,000 Rkin». TIiohu Hkiim. ailiK'd to tlioHo wliiih in all pii)l>aljilil,v wimu IraiixHliippi'd liy
IlritiHh Coliiiidiiu voaHelsoii llio Asiatics (Joa.Ht,aTid iucliKliii^'lliop.slijiialiil niinibi^r I'utained in Ainciica
for troatniHiit, would hwoII tlto total catfli to about loii.noo. 'Tin* acciiracv of tlieso tl;;iii'«'.s m corrob-
orated by the fact that tho ti'ado anU'H of London (all acal iikin.s are Hold thcrt') ui'cottnt for tlie diupo-
sition of 109,600 akins in 1803.

\ Notf^eoncei iting catctt/or ISSI. — Tlie catch of 0,8;'.C notod in the column Invaded " Loculity iindeter-
niined " were skins, 70 of which worn landed at AhIoiIiv willmnt Htatement as to place of capture-, 841
were tran.sNhii>pcd at Unalaaka, and the reinaioinK 0,119 wen transshipped liom V'okobania. All wore
onteri'd and rocMirded in American jiort-i of entry and limy arn (inile certainly a niiNtiiro of North\vc..4t
Coast uiul Japan skins. It has Itccn astM-rtaincd from the nalcs of hciI Hidns in London that about
125,000 skin.s were actually sold, and about 14, OHO withhold for I'm ore sale in 1H94. In addition thereto
it i» ostiniated that about 3,000 skins were retained in this i-onntry and ol.Kewliero for treatnuuit. It
thus appears that about 142.000 is a ti;iure ]UMcb more tdosely reproHontinii the number of skins taken
in 1894 than thu olllcial returns of 121,113. The balanoe, about 20,000 skins, was probably shipped to
London, via Suez Canal, from the Asiatic Coast.

Nnmher of schooners

restarted as haring tuLcn Bkins.

Year.

Anu'ricau.

Canadian.

Total.

1893

28
35

*58
•60

81

1891

95

'Indian canoe catch conntod as one (1) vessel. In destructive efTeots the canoe catch is about e(xual
to throe average schooner catches.

Number of schooners reported as having made catches in Bering Sea.

Year. American. Canadian. Total.

1803 , Modus Vivendi in o|ioratinn.

18D4 10 j 27 1 37

TllKASUllY J)EPABTMENT,

WaNliiiif/fon, Jj. C, May :/.5, 1895.
Sir: I beg to return lierewitli the letter of the British aiiibassiidor,
dated the 11th instant,' handetl me by you, traiisiiiitting the declina-
tion of his Goveriiiiieiit to agree upon concurrent regulations for carry-
ing out the provisions of the J'aris award during the present season.
The reason given for such declination is that the provisions of the
award relating to the special license and distinguishing iiag are already
provided foi- in the British order in council of February 2, 189/5; that
concurrent regulations similar to those agreed upon for last season by
the representative Governments as to sealing u]) tlic outlit and arms
of sealing vessels are not considered necessary for tiie ])res('nt season,
inasmuch as the possession l)y vessels within the award area and dur-
ing the closed season of said outfit and arms is nowhere forbidden by

> Not furnished.

ALASKA INDTrSTRTKH.

325

tlio loriiis of tlio iiwiud. On tlio siittj<'<'t of tlu^ rcmilatioiis of lust
H(si.s()ii it is stiit<Hl tliat "tlic iirriiiiKt'liKMit in (|ncsti"n lias not in j»ra<!-
tico been WDiUed lor I lie prolcf-tion of I'.ritisli scalers from interference
as Her Majesty's (lovernnient liad liojted would liavt; been the ease,"
relerenee beiiif^ si)eeially made to tlie seizure by (Jiiited States odieers
of tlio IJritisli scrliooners Waiidtrcr and F((ri)rilt;

Attention is fiirtlier ealled to tlie laet tliat in niakiof,' said seizures
the United States olfuieis were under 1 lie erroneous imi)ression that the
act of Congress of April (i, llS'.M, was applicable to l>rilisli vessels, and,
in fact, cited said act as justilication for the seizure, whereas its pro-
visions are ai)plicable only (o American vessels, the right to seize
Hritish vessels being limited to oll'enses under the Uritish act of Par-
liament oidy to be »ix(!rcised by virtiu' of the power given in the order
in council of A])ril ;<(>, J.SOt. iie(piest is also made that United States
ollicers engaged in jiatrolling the award areaduviug the present season
bo instructed accordingly.

In reply, I have the honor to state that on December 15, 1894, a draft
of proposed concurrent regulations Ibr the season of 18!>r» was trans-
mi'^ted by you to the Britisli andtassador for the approval of liis (iov-
evnment. This diatt had been i)repare(l l)y me and sent to you for this
])urpose. Subseipiently the IJritish ambassador obtained your consent
to (!onfer directly with me upon the'subje(!t, and a number of interviews
were accorded Idm by myself and Assistant Secretary Hamlin upou
this matter. He submitted a draff, now in our ])osscssion, of proposed
concurrent regulations eontainiiigcertain suggested improvements over
the draft submitted by myself; after preliminary negotiations covering
considerable jx'riod of time a draft was (inally agreeil upon satisfactory
to each of us, the understanding being that 1 should submit a copy
of the same to the l*rosi<lent foi' his apjiroval and j)ronmlg{ition and
that he, on his part, should ftnward a coj)yfor the apjirovalof his Gov-
ernment and for insertion in an order in cou'icil shortly to be ])assed.
He stated that it would be necessary to insert the regulations in a new
order in council for the reason that the last order bearing upon the
subject w IS limited in its oj)eratioiis u» the scaling season of 1894.

I accordingly ])resented a eojjy of the j)roposed regulations to the
I'resident, who signed the same, understanding that they received the
ai)proval of the iJritish andjassador and would be forwarded by him to
his (iovernment, as above stated.

Whih^ I did not for a moment understand or believ, .,'11 it the British
ambassador had authority or had undertaken deti. . •',< to bind his
(lovernmeiit without a formal transmission of the proposed regulations,
yet 1 had eveiy reason to believe that the draft agreed upon by n.«i would
be promptly aecei)ted by the British Government, or its declination as
l)romptly communicated. The order in council alluded to by the Brit-
ish ambassador was enacted February L', 1895. On that date the copy
of said proposed regulations must have been in the possessic n of the
home Government, as it was given to Sir .Julian on January 17 lor trans-
mission. I would further (tall to your attention the fact that in said
order in council a reference is made to arrangements which have been
entered into by the resjiective (loveinnients, which can only refer to
these ])roposed regulatio.is ami which by necessary implication recog-
nizes the same as valid and subsisting. The preamble of this order
recites that —

Wlioreas arraiigoinciita liavo been iiiadu lictweoii Her Majesty's Governiiiont and
tlic, (ioveminont of tho I'nitt'd istiitcs (or giving elloct to articles 4 anil 7 of the
Bolio<lnle(l provinions, and it is oxpodient that effect Bhould be given to those arrange-
uieiits by au order in cuuucil. * • *

320

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

Tlio won! "iiriaiiRCiiients" ill said picaiiiblc. iis I liavo ufalod, run
only refer to tlu'Ht^ propositi re;;ii!at ions for the season oT l.Sl)."», lor no
otiieraj;reenient orarraniLtenient tiiaii (liat contained in said reKulatioiis
Inis been entered inlotiiis year Ix'tweeii tlie lespoetivu (iovernnuMits as
to any of the award provisions, tlie arrangements for last season liavinf;'
been by their terms limited to the sealin};' season of IHitt.

It nniy be pointed out that said order in eonneil related only to the
special license and distinf^uishiiifj tlag; these were, however, the only
nnitters embraced in said re;.;ulations which depended ujton the order in
eonncMl for their binding' force, the rennunin^ provisions boiii^' optional
with the masters of vessels.

That this word "arranfjementa " can only refer to the asrt'enient of
understanding' upon wliich said rej^uhitions were bas<'d on our i)art is
made clear by the use of the same word in the previous orders in coun-
cil of Ai)ril .'{(> ami .lune 27. ISill. respectively. Jn the order in council
of April .{(», lS!»t, it is recited—

Until Mnimi^oiiioiits for f;i\ iii^j fiirtluir cllVct to urticloH I ami 7 of tiio Hiiid Hcliod-
iiled jJioviHioiiH sluili Imvc bi'cn niiidi' lictwciMi llcr Miijimty and tlio Govormiiriit of
thu United States, tlie following provUioiis sluMild have ollect. " • '

Following this order, to wit, on May 4, 18!)1, the I'res of the

Tnited iStates signed aiul api»rove(l regulations for the se ..' 181)4

based upon an aoreenient made by Wir .lulian and myself for the respec-
tive Governments, articles 7 and 8 of which provided for a special
license and distinguishing Hag.

The order in coum'il following on June -'7, 181)4, contains this signifi-
<!ant language:

And wliori'iis aiifinjienientH liavo lieen made I'or };ivin^ further etl'out to the said
nrticdi'H and for itj;iihitinj; dm ini; the ]troNout year tlie lishinj^ for fnr aeala in aceord-
ance with tlie s(lied'il(Ml jiroviHiona. ' *" *

It thus would seem that the word "arrangements" as contained in
the orders in council of April .'50 and dune 27, 1894, respectively, couhl
only mean the preliminary agreement \ipon winch were based the regu
lations of 18;i4; this agreement was expressly limited by its terms to
the sealing season of 18!)4. It would tiierefore seem to follow that the
reference to "arrangements" in the order in council of I'-ebruary 2,
18!)5, could oidy relate to the agreement as contained in the proposcul
regulations approved by the rresident and transmitted to the British
Government as aforesaid.

While, therefore, it would seem that the British (lovernnu'ut by nec-
essary inii)lication has ratified and recognized as subsisting the pro-
posed regulations, submitted as above, by the passage of the order in
council of February 2, 181),"), I nevertheless recognize that this notifica-
tion and concurrence can at any time be withdrawn ujton notice to our
Government. 1 feel it, however, to be my duty to express deei) regret
that the British Government should have communicated its declination
at this late period of the season after our consuls have been instnuited
and our patrolling lleet has sailed under orders based ou the assumption
that the i)rivileges afforded by said regulations should be accorded
during the present season as during last season to British as well as to
American vessels. It is to be regretted, also, that the chief reason
assigned for such declination — the seizure of the schooners Waitdcrer
and Fnrorite should not have promi>ted an early refusal to enter upon
preliminary negotiations for new regulations, thus saving niuch trouble
and uncertainty now apparently unavoidable. The British fleet engaged
in sealing last season numbered sixty vessels; of those the Wamierer
and Favorite were the only ones seized. Tiiese seizures were made

ALASKA INDI'STKIKS.

3l'7

can
n- 110
tirtiiH

lis as
iviii«'

0 till-

only
cr it)
ioiiiil

1 if. of
lit is
:'<.iiii-

IIIICJI

bociiiisft of II direct inrriiclioii oi' lli«i rc;;iiliiti(»iis of 1801, agreed ujioii,
asiibovc sliitcd, by Imtli ('ii)\ ci iimciits. Tlic Wnndrrrr w a^ sci/cil ,liiii»*
!», IS'M, iiiid tli(^ Farorltr on August 1'7, IHIM. Tlic master of tlic Wmi-
(Ivnr before the sei/iiie stated to !lie boarding olliccr tliat all liis aiiiiH
were sealed up, wliicli iiiioii exaniination was found to be true.

The Depaitincnt is unaware that any objeclioii has ever been made
by the Hiitish (lovernmeiit iiccaiise of these sei/.iires until Hie |ireseiit
time, and it iiiiist express its re^iret that tiiese facts, in possession of
said (lovernmeiit diiiiiij;'all <if the preliminary nej^ntiations above set
forth as to tlu^ re;;iilatioiis for this season, should only now be broiif,dit.
forward as a fi'i'('""d for its refusal to adopt concurrent regulations.

In view of this coinmniiieation from the British ( loveriimeiit, it is
l»resnined by the Department that no llritisli sealiiijn' vessel now at sea
has applied, or will hereal'tei' apply, lor the privilej;e of haviiif^ its out-
lit and arms seale<l up. The olllcers of the patrol lleet will, however,
be instructed not to reti'ard the fact that the oiitllf and arms are not
Healed as evidence in coiisidiuin;;' whether or not a liritisli vessel has
violated the act of I'arliameiif. They \ ill also lie iustriieted to lefiise
to i;ranf this privilege in the future t<v l.ritisli vessels. I have to reipiesf
that you at once ;;ive similar iiistiiiclions to our eonsuls in ■Japanese
and liritisli Columbia ports, and, liirther. tliat you reipiest tliat the
]>ritish (lov«M'iinieiit shall notily ils ollieers eufiiiinfd in patrolliii};' the
award area to seal up the outtil and arms of American vessels apjilyin^'
for this iirivile.f,'e, in acc'oidance with sections -land 7 of the re}i;iilatiniis
proinuljiated by the I'resideat -laniiaiy bs, isil,").

Ill closiii},' I would further iiilbrm you that the instriiciions already
Hiveii our ollieers as to pal iMllini;- the award area diirinji the present
■season will not admit of any error or doubt as to the i)roi»er scope and
limitation of the a(!t of (Joii^reas approved April (i, lSt)l.
I have the honor, etc.,

J. (i. Caulislk, iSevrcUtry.

The SiiouETAiiv oi-' State.

Ti;T;Ast'RV Dei'ARTmknt,
}\'(isliiii(it»ii, It. ('.,Jinu: II, IS!)-,.

SiU: The DepartincTit is in receipt of a cDiumiinication dated KSitka,
Miiy lo, in which the M'iziire of the IJritish sealiiij^' schooner ^licllni on
May 11 byCaptain ?ilunj;er, of the raited Slates revenue cutter Conriit,
is rejwrted. The declaration of seizure slates that the boardinji' ollieer,
Lieut. W. K. W. Hall, "found the followini;' evidem e that she was
eiifi'ayed ill sealiii,;;' unlawfully: She was found within the area ol' pro-
hibited waters, liititnde o2" oU' 10" north, lon.uitiide ]^r 10' oS" west,
with IL'l seal skins on board, and all the iinplemeiit.s and outtlts lor
sealing, includiuj;' ."> tons of salt, '.\ boats, and 7 shot guns and ainmunitioii
for me."'

Thodeclaratiou of seizure luepared by (.'a|)taiii Muuficr and delivered
to the eommanding' ollieer of II, M. S. rin'<isnnt states that the vessel
was seized for disicfiardin.ii' the ])roclamatioii of the President of the
United States and the act of Conjiress, Ajiril (i, 18!»4. From an examina-
tion of the report of Cajitaiu Munger it would appear that the seizure
was made on \\n\ firoiind that there was cause to believi^ that said \es
sel had killed fur seals within the award area during the closed season,

328

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

the reason of sr.ch belief being foiiiul iu the possession by the vessel of
seal skins, implements, and outfits, together with salt, shotguns, and
aiTimuuitiou.

On reeeipt of said report, Oaptaiii Iloojjer. commanding ollieer of the
patrolling tleet, was reminded that the act of Congress of Ajtril 0, 189 1,
was apjdicable only to American vessels. Ho was also directed, if on
investigation he found tiiat said vessel was seized on tlie (iharge of
illegal killing during the closed season, to instruct Caidaiii Mungcr to
deliver to the cominiuiding otticer of if. M. S. I'lied.smit an amended
declaration of seizure, as'^igning is tl.o cause the violation of tin? second
article of the regulations of the Paris award, as set forth in the sched-
ules annexed to the British act of Parliament known as the Jlering 8ea
award act of 1804.

In this connection the reeoii)t signed by the commander of il, M. S.
Phemant is called to your attention :

HiTKA, May IS, ISO.',.

In accordance witb the ])r(iviHions of .section 12, article 0, ol' t!ie Bering Sea fish-
eries award, I have tliis day reci'i\(wl IVoni C. 1^. Hooper, captain, LJ. 8. il. C. S., com-
manding I5erin<j Scalieot, tlio liritish sciiooner Shell>ii, "* ^'icto^ia, lirltisii Coliinihin,
C. (Jlasson, mnster, with her tnclJe, fnr'iitiire, cargo, and docnnKMits, seized l)y tlio
United States revenue steamer Conri! . (^ai)t. !•". M. Mungcr, commanding, for viola-
tion of the act.f of Ooiigress and of the Uritisli I'arliiinient regnl:iting tlio fur-seal
fisheries.

I'kank a. GAifrouTii,
Lifutenani, Uotjul Xanj, Commaudhut H. Jl. M. S. I'lieamiit.

I have +he honor to suggest for your consideration the ex])edieiicy of
obtan.irg the consent of tiie B'itisii (lovernnient to tiie appointment
of coni scl to represent the United States (iovernnientin condemnation
proceedings against the Shelht/ and such orlier British vessels as may
be seized this season by the United States oHlcers for violation of tlie
regulations of the Paris award. I believe that such action would greatly
assist in the proper enforceiriiut of the award i)rovisi()ns. In this con-
nection T would suggest the advisability of notifying at once the Brit, '>
Government that tlie declaration of seizure will be amended to the end
that the libel in admiralty may set forth the breacii of tlio British act of
Parliament known as tiie Bering Sea award act of 1801.
I have the honor, etc.,

J, (-.. Carlisle, HecreUry.

The Secretary of State.

Depatjtmkivt of State,

]Voiihiit<it(>H, May ^vy, JS9r>.
Sir: Referring to your letter of the ;)Oth ultimo, I have the honor to
i close for your information a copy of a disjialch from t'.e consul at Vic
toria lejiorting that the commander in chief of that station ordered the
release of tiie schooner Wanderer, having reached the conclusion that
HO case could be made out ag:unst the vessel.

Thecollector of the port iMioriiied the consul that the Government at
Ottawa instructed him to take no oHicial action i'l the matter.
I have the hoTior, etc.,

Edwin I*". Uiil,
Actiny Secretary.
The Seouktary of the TuEAtiURy.

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

329

[Iiiclosiirp]

CoNsci.ATi; oi- 'inK TInitkd States,
I'iiliii id, Ilrilin]! Ciiliimhia, May 13, 1S05.
Sir: In reply to yoiii- dispntfli, Xo. 10, of the Ith iiiftiiiit. icciivi'd to-diiy, inclosing
oopy of letter IVoin the 'I'reiisiiiy Depiiitinenf, rot, .icslinj^ information witli respect to
tl)e final disposition of tlie scalinfj; scli(ion<i' ll'aiidvrey, soized dnring the sealinj; s'^a-
Boii, 18!)4, I hei; leave to Inform tin* Dejiartniont that the said Hchoonor WiW released
liy the commander in chii'f of the I'ai'ilic stiuic n Admiral Steiiheiison, of H. M. S.
Jitiyal Arthur.

'1 his schooner was seized liy the V, S. 8. Concord hy reason of the fact that one
nnsealed i;nn was foun(' in one of lier berths.

She was tiiriiod over to H. M. S. I'hcitudtit and bronyht to this jiort. Upon investi-
gation it was found that all lier other guns and her <'ntire armament were si^aled, and
that her n'ustor was not aware and had no knowledge that tliere was a gun aboard
unsealed la violation of the provisions of the Paris award.

(Jolloetor A. J{. Mii:io, of this port, and froiri whom T get this information, advises
me that his (lovernmeit at Ottawa instnictecl him to talce no olhcial aitiou wliat(^\ or
in the matter, and that tlie commander in cliief of tiiis station, after <arefnl investi
gation, anil a'simg under legal arivice, ordered the release of the schooner, the con-
clnsioii having been reai bed that no case coul "
I am, sir, etc.,

\V.
IFo".. Ki)WiN F. Uin,,

jlaaislinit /Sccrclar;/ of fStale, Wa-ilthifiton, 1). C.

lie made out against her.

P. KoBEitTS, United Stalia Coniiil.

Triusujjy Department,
W(i.si,!iifi1(m, D. ('., ,Jiiiie1:.>, 1895.

Sir: I li.ave the iionor to ackiiowlt'(l)40 tlic letter dated May 23, from
tlic Actiii};; Secretary of Stiite, inclosiiij;- for my consideration a coni-
nmnieatioii from the IJnited States consul at Victoria, llritish Columbia,
1o the eflect that the British sealinp s.'hooiier Wundrrcr, seized June !>,
1S!> J. in the North I'iicilic Ocetin by the commander of the T'^i.ited States
cruiser Concord and formally delivered to the commander of H. M. S.
I'lirasout, was subsctiuently taken to Victoria and released by Admiral
Stephenson, of II. M. S. Ixoijal Arfmir.

It is further stated in said communication that upon investigation it
was found that all the j,'iiiis of the \V<u<ilcrcy except one were secured
under seal; that ler master had no knowledjic that there was a sfun on
board unsealed, i,i violation <if the ])r" ''sions of the Paris award, iind
further, that fho "conunander in chic; of this station, after careful
investifjjatiitn, and acting' under leoa' idvice, ordered the release of the
schooner, the conclusion liaving b( -n reached that no case could be
made out against her.'"

The Department also understands that tlie sealing schooner Furorite,
.-icized in I'.ering Sea August L*l, 1S!U, by the comnuuiding oHicer of
vT. S. "- j\l oil icon, was similarly released on being turned over to the
Hritisii naval atrhorities. I deem it to be my duty to call to your atten-
tion this action of the naval authorities of (irent Ibitain. with the sug-
gestiftn that it is not in accord with evident intent and sjiirit of the
legislation enacted by the respective (lovernments tor carrying out the
])rovisions of the Paris award.

These vessels we-e seized under aulhority of the (>rdev in council of
the I'l'itish (lOverniiU'nt dated April IM, l<S!)t, authorizing United States
oHicers duly commissioned ami instriu ted by the President to seize any
Uritish vesseii which has violated the Uaiis award rcgidations, as con-
t.Miied in the act of Parliament known as the leering Sea award act,
18.»1, and brii ;g her for adjudication before any liritisu court of admi-

330

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

ralty, or in lion tlieicof to deliver her to any llritish officer for adjndi-
cation bot'ore the eonrt.

The ])lain spiiit and intent of the law wonld seein to reiinire pro-
ceedings in a(lniiralty for condeiuniition and forfeiture of every vessel
seized l)y the I'nited States officers and delivered to the 15ritisli author-
ities as aforesaid. In the cases in question, however, it wonld appeal'
that Admiral Steiihenson, in diseiiarj;iiijj' said vessels, ^ook upon hiiuself
to decide a (luestion which, under the law, could pro[)erly be decidcil
only by a IJritisIi court of adiniialty.

The evidence in the case of the Wanderer clearly wonld seem to
justify the susjiicion and belief that some, at least, of tlie 400 seal sUins
Ibund on board had been taken duriuji the i)roliibited season l;y means
of shot<>uns, in violation of the av, aid regulations and of the Uritisii
and American law.

Jn the case of tlie Fiaoriti i,2.">0 seal skins were found on board,
to;ietlier with a shotj;iin whose barrel was ))artly cut off', but leaving
about 12 inches. It was Ibund that it would shoot accun.tely for a dis-
tance of oO yards.

The causes particularly assiji'iied for these seizures, the cari'yinfj- of
lirearms unsealed, taken in connection with the fact that such weapons
Mcre forbidden then and there to be used, and that there were also
found seal skins on Ixiard, wonld i»laiid.v Justify the belief that said
lirearms had been used in violation of article (i of the award as con-
tained in the Uerin.m' Sea awaid act ot bSill (British) and the actot
("oufjress, A])ril (I, 1Si)l (American). That the notices of .,;izure, as
])rei>ared by the I' nit ed States seizini;' officers, do not, with particularity,
specify the ille;; il use of tliese weaiMUis, but rely chietiy ui)on their
]tresence on boa'd unseated, clearly would not prcxcnt such ,,se beiiij;'
lirovcd in snbse(in<'nt ]»i'0(reod-/if>s in court of admiralty for condi'inna-
tion and I'dieiture, said notices lieinj;' nu-rely to acipiaint the authorities
to whoiVi tlie ships are turned ovei' of the seizure and of the partii^nlar
offenses relied upon for maintaining a libel in condemnation proceedings.
]t would seem perfectly clear that additional breaches of the law could
be assig.K'd ami nnide the sultjcct of condemnation proceedings at any
time before the trial took jdace.

The instructions issued by the British <loverinnent to the commanders
of its cruising vessels f)r the season of ls!M w(»uld, it is submitted,
have im|»osed n])on such officers under similar circumstances the duty
of seizing these vessels. Said instructions, in pan, were as follows:

If you Mie siilislii'd iliiil :i vcshi-I Iimh limited contiiiry to tlip act yoii will soize
licr. * * * Wlii'tlifi- tlie vi'sHi'l has hern <Mi;;:i,!;t"cl ill liinil inn' you iiiuat Jii(l.i;e tVoMi
tlio jucsoiu'c of H<'al hkiiin or lioilies of seals on lioanl and otlicv (•irciiniHtancrs and
iiiclicatiouN. ((>i'(( Sciiatt' K\. Doc. 1)7, p. 1 Hi, I'ifly-tliiril ('nnnrcsj, tliin! sc.s.sion.)

In the ease of the Wdiulci cr. the master gave his gun.s and ammnni-
ticui to the commander of the United Slates cruiser yorh-foirii, lobe
secured under seal. ! ater in the same day he was lioarded by the
cruiser Coitcord, and slated I hat the guns and ammunition sealed up by
the Yorhloirn was all he had on board. A tier a searcli, howevci', a
breech-loading shotgun and a bag of loaded shell were fouml concealed
in the extreme forward jiart of the vessel under a i)ile of iron cans
between decks. Wiiile the officer was making an entry in the log book
as to this weajxin tln^ master of tiie vessel was heard t(t say to tlu>,
mate, "(iod damn it, I told you you ought to have had that |iut in witii
the others," or words to that effect. This decei»tion of the nnister,
together with the concealed weapons, the presenc«Min boa''d of seal skin.s,
and olher susjiicious evidence revealed on search, clearly should have

ALASKA INDL'STIUES.

3:n

iidi-

bo(Mi sul)initf(nl to a com-t of adiiiitally in coiuloiniiiitioii proccodiiijis.

I respect liilly call tlicsi* I'acts to your attoii'.ioii, willi the .simncstioii
tliat a formal iti'ot<'st aK'ain^^t sai<l nctioii of tlu^ liritisli naval aiiflmri-
tics bo coiiiinuiii(;atc(l to the Jhilisli (iovcriiiiicut, witli tlic i'e(|iU'st that
in futitie every vessel seized by riiiied Sl;'tes oflicers sliall be ])rorci'ded
against fo! eondciiiiialioi! in the adiiiiral!;,' court havin.u' .iuvisdiction in
the premises.

1 have the honoi'. etc.,

J. (i. Caulisi,].;, Sirvdarti.

The Kecuetauv of .Sta tj;.

ThK ASTT :c Y 1) K 1- A HTMENT,
]\\usl,iii(jl:jn, t>. ('., '/line J;J, h^9r>.

Sir: f have received a copy of the eoinmunicatiou of the Ibitisli
Foreijjn Otiiee to the I'-ritish ambassador of the 17th ultimo, in answer
to his dis])atch of .iauuary 21 last, {■on\ cyiu;^- the proi)ositiou of tins
(Jovernment for tlio ;-pt)oinl uicut (dim international commission b; tlie
(iovernments of tlie I'uited states, (ireat IJritain, Russia, an<i -laitan,
respectively, for investi^iitiny- the fur-seal lisheries of the North Pacilic,
Ocean, and, pending a report of said com mission, for a modus viveudi
pioliibitinj:^ sealinji' in Hcriny Sea and ext iiidinji' the regulations of the
Paris awiird rilonf;*the thiily-iifth dcLvrcc cit' north latitude to the shores
of Asia.

The communication oi»cns with nmposition tliat our (lovernment.
because of its content ion before ihc (is tribunal ihat the Asiatic and
Aniericiin fur seal herds are distinct and do n^i^ eomniin<;le, can not
now with ju'opriety draw any infeiem-e as In Mn of her etl'eets of pelagic
sealinj;' on the American fur seal herd from lij;ur«'- indiciitinp increased
catches over i)revious seasons in the total of seals .died on thi Asiatic,
and American sides of the Northern I'acilic! Ocean. Tlieelaim is fur-
ther iMlvaneed that altliiai;;h the catch of fur seals dnriii<j last sea -on
on the Asiatic side was f^reater than in any previous year, yet the catch
taken from tiie Anierieau iieid — that is, within the Paris award area —
wliile admitt<'dly larmier than in most ]U'evious seasons, \s,is. in fact, not
as larjii! as that of rhe season of isitl. Our (ioveiiinient is furtiier
rennnded therein that the success or failure of the regulations estab-
lished by the Paris tribunal must be Judjicd '-solely by their e "ct on
the herd which they were intended to protect."

1 have the honor to reply that dnrin.u' the hearinjis Ix . theTri-
buiud of Arbitration at Paris it was earnestly contended by counsel
representinji' (!reat !5ritain that the Asiatic ami Anu'rican herds did
commin{4le. That fact was dis])ut<'d by the American counsel in the
lij;ht of the evidence before them. The tril»unal. however, was not
(tailed n])()ii to niakd any deliinte lindinj;- u))Oii this imitortant (luestion.
While I do not wish to bi' understond a ■ espressin^' any opinion ui)on
the sul»iect, yet, in view of the admission contained in said eoinmuniea-
tion, in whicdi I cordially join, that '-our knowledjie ol seal life is still
far from complete,'' I feel (hat thei|Ucstion as to whether said herds
intcrniin^ied requires most careful consideration and study. It has
been suf>'j4'estcd that the Anu'rican herd seal, even if not natuially com-
niinfi'lin.n' with the Asiatic, herd, may have been driven over to Asiatic
shores by incessant slan^liter dnrin.u' the past seasons. If such be
found to be the fact on careful investigation — whicli investigation is

332

ALASKA INDURTnTES.

uiifortniiately refused by tlie British (loveniinent — it iniplit iijiijoar tliat
tlie totiil siaiiffliter of liir seals o.. botl; sides of tlie North Paeilic Oeeaii
has a :nore intimate cuuiiectioii vvitli tlie present eonditioii of the
Aniericau fur-seal herd than is now admitted.

However this may be, the British Foreinn Olhee s(»em to have fallen
into the serious error of assumiufj that the proposition of the United
States (iovernnuMit, eontained in your letter of .January 2'J last to the
liritish ambassador, was purely seliish in iiS eharactei, havinj>; applii^a-
tion only to the material interests of the United States Government in
the American fur-seal herd, ^\()tliin<x eoid<l be further from the tnitli.
It is to be presumed that the President in said letter was a(;tuated by
the desire to proteet the fur seal lisherics on both sides of the North
Bacific Ocean, A.siatie as well as Ameri(;an, for the benelit of mankind.
Incidentally this would result in benefit to the interests of the United
States; but the i)roposition was founded on broad linmanitarian ]Hin-
eiph^, no especial benetit being sought save what would accrue to all
mankiiul from the jiroper regulation '^: these valuable tisiieries. A
proposition of similar nature, but limited to Bering Hea, was made b/
Secretary Bayard to our ministers in England,. Ta[ian, h'ussia, Sweden,
and is^orway for formal traiisnnssion to tiie respective GovernnuMits as
far back as 1887. Subse(iuently, at the re(iuest of Lord Salisbury, '!;c
British minister of foreign affairs, its scoi)e was broadened so as to
embrace thew"'>ie Nortliern Pacific Ocean from the Asiatic to the
American shoi's north of the forty-seventh degree of north latitude.
Unfortunately tho liritish Oovernnient withdrew its approval of this
arrangenuMit, (See letter of White to Bayard, -lune liO, 1S8S.)

The closed season established by tlie Paris award has induced nany
sealing vessels to go over to .Fajian and Knssiaii waters, thus causing a
startling increase in tiie pelagic slaughter off these shores. The figures
given in said communication imdudc only the slaughter in .Japan waters;
adding the seals killed in Kii.ssian waters we have a total of over 7.'3,O0O
in 18!).'j and over 7{),(>()(l in 1894, It was to regulate the killing in these
waters as well as in American waters that the proposition contained in
said letter of .Tannary L'.'> was made.

But even if we ;issume iliat the .\iiieri(;aii and Asiatic herds are dis-
tinct and have never coiniiiingled, the fact still remains that the slaughter
of the American herd during the past season has been greater than any
season in the history of pelagic; seabng. The coiumunication of the
Foreign Otlice states that about lL'.r,0() fewer seals were killed in the
award area in ISOI than in 181)1, it is suggested, howevei', that their
comi>utation of seals killed in Bering Sea in 18!)] (29,14(5) consisted
])artly of seals taken oti the western side of the sea in the vituiiity of
the Bussian seal islands, while the figures for the catch in said sea in
1894 (31,085) included only seals killed on the eastern side of die sea,
embraced within the area of the Pari> award.

It is a matter of history that after .he promulgation of the modus
Vivendi of .June li}, 1891, between tlie dates of .June 29 and August 1.1,
41 British vessels were warned out ni (he American side of Bering Sea
by American cruisers (see reiiort of lUitish commissioners in rejiort ol
Paris tribural). Of these vessels so warned it is believed that nniiiy
went over to the Kussian side of iiering Sea and made catches there.
From statistics in the possession of this Department it would ai>i)ear
that about .8,4.'?!} seals were taken ; of these 0,010 by British vessels and
1,810 by American vessels. There should be deducted, therefore, from
the British figures 0,(510, leaving about L'.'5,()0() as the catch of said ves-
sels in the award area in Bering Sea during the season of 1891, (A

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

333

lilt

'Mil

lie

.similar result (2.3,041) was reached by deducting from the catch stated
ill '/onsul Myers's ie])()rt, L'S,605 (United States counter case), the
number of 5,847, estimated to have been killed oH^" the Ilussian Coast.
This estimate was readied after a careful examination by an expert of
all the cateiies of 1891 and by aflldavits scattered through the case
and counter case of the United States and Great Britain,)

The number of seals stated by this Government to have been killed
in Bering Sea during 1891 (23,041) does not include any caught by
American vessels during that season, for the reason that the expert
who prejiarod the figures could not obtain exact information on this
([uestion. Other statistics now in the possession of the Department
indicated that 0,73(5 seals were killed in Bering Sea, from the Asiatic
to the American shores, by American vessels in 1S<)1 ; subtracting from
this total 1,810 seals supposed to have been killed in Kussiau waters
and wo have as a result 4,020; adding this to 23,0 i\, the total number
of seals killed within the American area in Bering Sea for the season
of 1801 falls below 28,000.

The comnuinicatioii of the Foreign Oflice states the total catch of
AmericaTi and i>iitish vessels within the award area in 1801 as (58,000.
This Department is in the possession of a carel'ul computation, prei)ared
by an expert of the catcih for 1801, based on a careful study of all the
evidence as disclosed in the case and counter case of both Govern-
ments. This estimate places the number of seals known to have been
killed within the award area at 4r),U00, leaving about 10,000 undeter-
mined. Taking, however, the tigures as given by li.fc Foreign Ottice,
(58,000, and subtracting the niiniber supi)osed to have been killed in
Ilussian waters, 8,432, we have left 00,508 as the maximum catch within
the award area for that season.

The oflicial statement of the catch for 1802, contained in the report
of the Canadian department of marine and fisheries, credits 14,805 out
of a total of 53,912 to the Asiatic shores; the report for 1891 gives only
the total of 52,095, crediting none to Russian waters; nor does the
report of tlie British coniiiiissioners of the catch of 1891 give any num-
ber as killed in said waters. It is respectfully suggested that to this
extent these reports are in error.

In compuiuig the catcli of 18'.ll the Foreign OHice states that 55,(502
seals were killed witiiin the award area, including 17,558 as the catch
of American vessels. It should be remembered, however, that in my
communication to Congress, from which the totals contained in the let-
ter of January 23 to the British ambassador were taken, 6,830 skins
taken by Amer'c.in vesi'-^'ls were stated as undetermined as to location.
Assuming (hat they were divided as between the American and Asiatic
herds in the same proportion as the other skins landed during the
season of 1804 at American ports by United States vessels, we sliould
have the total catch of American vessels within the award area 55,08(5+
(5,152, making a total of 01,838. This total justifies my repeating the
statement contained in previous letters to you that the pelagic catch
within tiie award area last season was the largest in the history of
pelagic sealing, tlie nearest apitroximation being the season of 1891, in
whicii, even on the theory of the British figures, not exceeding 50,5(58
seals were taken. The signilicance of this catch of 1894 will be better
appreciated when it is understood that only 95 vessels were employed,
as against 115 in 1891.

It is fiirtiier contended in said communication that the iiuTcased
catcii, witli projiortionately fewer vessels, indicates an increased num-
ber of seals in 1894 as compared with 1891, and consequently a better

334

ALASKA INDUSTRH"8.

coiiditioii of the I'lirsoul lierd. VVlu'ii. liowcver, tlie st.irtliiig decrease
of seals on tlie IVibilof Islands, proiiomiccd by exports to be at least
one " U' since 1S!»I», taUeii in conn(H'tion witli the ^Tcat destruction of
pnps ;/ m starvation on the islands last season caused by the slau;;hter
of their mothers at sea is considered, it will apiiear conclusively demon-
strated that the iiu'reased catch is l)ut a measure of the increased iuef-
licieney of the ('r(!\vs employed as hunters on the sealing vessels and
that the seal herd is rapidly diminishing- in numbers and is in danger
of speedy extermination unless changes are made in the regulationa
established by the Paris award.

Jt is correctly stated by the Foreign Ollice that tlio catch in the
award area of last season outside of IJer'ng Sea was less than during
the season of iS!),'!. It should bo remembered, however, that it falls
only a little short of the catch of l>Si>;{, and that it was taken during
tlie four months, January to April, Mliile the catch of IS!*;; was taken
during the seven mouths-, .binuary to July. Un(:nestion"bly, however,
the i»roliibition in the award regulations of pelagic scaling 'luring the
nuuiths of .^lay, -luue, and .Inly was calculaled t() do much good to the
herd, and some favorable rosnlts might naturally have been expected
on the islands. After, howevei', the sealing tieet had entered Bering
Sea the startling increase in dead pu!)s (by accurate estimate about
!'(».()(!()) Ibund on the islaiuls revealed unniisiakably the fatal defect iu
the award regulations iu opening lieriiig Sea to pelagie sealing.

The marvelously increased etticiency ol' tin; jjelagic seal hunters iu
the use of the shotgun and sjjcar, as sliown by tlie enormous catches of
late years, especially of last season, under said award regulations, will,
in my judgment, speedily deplete the fur-seal herd. The ]»elagic
(iatches must soon decrease in like degiee with that necessitated iu the
latul catches on the I'ribilof Islands, licpoits at hand of the coast
(•atch of the season of 18!)5 would seem to indicate that this condition
has already been reached. It is to be presumed, however, that for
some few years the ix'lagic slaughter of IJering Sea — the great nursery
of the fur-seal herd — (tan be maintained at ligures a])i)roxiniating" or
even exceeding those of last year. That such slaughter as has taken
place within tlie last year — hugely of nursing iemales — gives conclu-
sive evidence tlu't the regulations as established by the Paris award
area are not giving that measure of ])i'otection that the arl)itrators
intended, can not, it is respectfully submitted, be longer seriously denied.
Commercial extermiinitinn of the fur seal herd. Asiatic as well as Anier-
i(!an, is imminent. It is to be deeply regretted, therefore, that the
Jiritisn (iovernment has declined our proposition for the appointment
of an intermitional commission aiul for the suggested modus vivendi.

The suggestion, however, is nnide by the l'\)reign Ollice that resident
agents be. appointed by the I iiited States and (ireat l>ritain, to be sta
tioned on the I'ribilof Islands, to investigate Jointly during the next
four years and to ri'port from time to time as to th> condition of the
fur-seal (isheries. The appointment of similar agents on the Com-
numder Islands is also suggested.

While I believe that this suggestion of the JJritish Government is
inadecpiate and will not satisfactorily sujiply the need of an interna-
tional (iommission of scientists, yet I am disposed to favor a new
l)roposition to said (iovernuu'ut, based largely on their suggestioji, as
follows: That three agents be appointed by (ireat JJrilain, lUissia,
Japan, and the I United States, respectively, twelve in all, who shall bo
stationed on the Knrile, (,'omniander, and I'ribilof islands, respectively;
that they be instructed to examine carefully into the fur-seal fishery

ALASKA INIJUSTHIKS.

335

iind to n-coiimiend (roiii tiiiio, to time iiiiy su<>f;'estioiis as to Jiecded
fliiiiif^t's ill tlie rcjiuliiiidiis of the i'iuis iiwiird, and dcsivalile liiiiita-
lions of tlu'. land cat<'li('s on eacli of said islands; tliat witliin foui-
years tlicyslnill present a linal report to their resiiective (lovernnients,
and tliat, pending;- said report, a modus vivendi be entered intoextentl-
inji' the award re};uIatioiis alon.y the line of the thirty-tilth dei;ree of
north latitude from the Aineriean to the Asialic shores.
1 have the honoi'. et'-.,

J. (1. <'AKi.i,-:Lj;, S(cn:li()-i/.
The kSKcuKTAiiv (jr Statk.

!)i'.i>ai;i'mi:ni' ok State,

Widiliiiif/liiii, Jiiik; :''), lf<95.
HlU: I have the honor to inelose for your infoi luation and considera-
tion a copy of a dispatch, No. loO, of the Iltli instant, from the United
States andjassador at London, in le^aid to liritish legislation in refer-
ence to sealinji' i" the North I'aeilie Ocean.

You will observe tliat Mr. IJayard, for the purpose oi' better compar-
ing' the jjendinjj;' bill with the act of I Sit.'!, w liich it is in^L'nded to replace,
incloses a copy of the act last mentioned and also of the merchiiiit
sliippin;;' act of l.i'Jt, wiiich is recited and referred to in the act now
proposed.

1 have the iionor, etc.,

1Uoua:;u OljsEy.
The Secuetauy ok the T"i^\sTniY.

[U\i'.:\<\in'.]

.;?ii!AssY oi' iiii: ('mtki) Statks,

l.oiii!oii. Jinw /•/, }Sri5.
tilU: 1 liavo to-d.iy olitiiiiiril Mild li;iv<i iiiiw tlio lioiior to inclose herewith co| y of
the ])ro|ioni'(l 1)111 i'c';Mlatiii,!;' sciiliii;^ in ItiTiiiK Son and olhci- p.iilw of the I'acilic
Ocoan ailjai'cnt to I'.c-i iiiu. Sea. for the ])iiiiiosf ol' lietlcp cnuip;!: in;;' this liill with
Ihi' act ot IsilH (wliirh it is iiitcndod to replace i. 1 also inelose herewith a cojiy of the
act last mentioned and also of tli(> niercliaiil shippinj; ac'- " ISlll. which \h recited
and rei'c Tied lo in the act now i)ro])oscd

.Since olitainiii)^ llicsc copies liul little time is left licf'orc the mail closes lor criti-
cism of the projioscd nindilicn I ions in the pliiaseoloyy of the act of U-'.K), and ! defer
comineiits tlieieon at tlii-. writing.
1 have the honor, etc.,

T. F. liAVAHl).

lion. Ki)\\ IN V. I'm..

.tclitiil ■SVc)r/(U\i/ (;/■ Slnle.

JrLY 3, IS!).-).

Sir: T have the honor to aeknowledjje the receipt of your coiiiniuni-
cation of dune !'.'>. inc.losiiio- a copy of dispatch No. ITiO, of the 1 Itii
ultimo, from the United States ambiisstidor tit London, in re,t;'iird to jiro-
posed Uritish lej^isiation with reference to sealinji in the North I'acidc
Ocean. 1 have further to iii'knowledge the inelosiires therein, namely,
!i copy of the said proposed act, seal lishery (North Pacific* iict, and of
the merehiuits' ship]iin<T act of \»'M.

1 liiive carefully retid the same, and desire toenail to your attention
the aignilicaut omission in said pending bill of the sixth clause of the

336

ALASKA INDl'STUIRS.

liiat s(H',tion of the seal-fisliery (North Ptnufic) act of ISO,'?, whicli expired
by limitation on tlie 1st instant, and for whicli the present pctiiding bill
is to be substituted. This clause is as follows:

If (luiiiiK tlio period and within tlio sens Npeciricd liy tlio ordor a IiritiKli Hliip iti
found liavinK on t)()ard tlnTeof rmliinKoraliootinf; inijtloineiitH, or seal slciiis, or Ixxlies
of 8oals, it Hliall bt; on tlio owner or niastei' of such sliip to prove that tho whip waa
uot used or iMn]do.ved in eontravention of this act.

A similar jtrovision was contained in the seal fisheries (Bering Sea)
actof 1891, upon which the modus vivendi of ISOl and 18!t2 was founded,
clause 5 of section 1 of which provided as follows:

If a IJritish ship is I'ound witliiu Ueiinfr Sen lia\ iinj; on hoard tlirreof fisiiintj or
shooting iniplenienta, or seal skins, or bodies of seals, it shall be on (lie owner or
master of siuh ship to prove that the ship was not used or employed in eontraveu-
tion of this art.

Inasmuch as the pending bill expressly states tlial its provisions shall
not be in derogation of the provisions of the Hering Sea award act of
1S!)4, but in addition thereto, this omissiou is signiticant and becomes
of the utmost importance.

Under the Bering Sea award act of 1804, enacted to carry out the
provisions of the Paris award, the subject-matter of orders in council is
strictly limited to provisions for carrying into eil'ect the schedule pro-
visions (that is, the Paris award and the mercliants' sliipping act), and
for giving the necessary authority to United States ollicers to seize
British vessels which have violated the award provisions.

The scoi)e of such orders in council as may bo issued under said act
is also limited to the area designated iu said award.

The seal-tishery (North Pacific) act of 1893, however, extends the
scope of the orders in council to all of the Pacific Ocean and Bering
Sea north of the forty-second parallel of latitude, and, further, gives
the widest latitude to said orders as to limitations, conditions, qualifi-
cations and exceptions, wliich appear to Her .Majesty in council expe-
dient for carrying into effect the object of this act as expressed in the
title, "For prohibiting the catching of seals at certain ])eriods in Bering
Sea and other i)arts of the Pacific Ocean adjacent to Bering Sea."

If, therefore, the pending bill .should reenact the clause above quoted,
in which the presumption of illegality is drawn from the presence of
implements or seal skins on board, it would be ])os,sible by subse(iuent
orders in council to bring the British law into harmony with that
enacted by Congress n\)ou this question, to which I have had the honor
in previous communications to <;all to your attention. Should, however,
the pending bill become law with said clause omitted, I fear that it may
prove a source of embarrassment in the effort to proi)erly enforce the
provisions of the Paris award in the future. I have the honor to request,
if such course be approved by you, that our and)assador at Loudon be
instructed to ])resent these views to the British Oovernment.
Very respectfully,

C. S. Hamlin, Acting /Secretary.

The Secretaky op State.

Jttly 18, 1895.
Siu: Referring to my letter to you of the 8th in.stant, wherein it was
stated that on the 27th ultimo tho collector of customs at San Fran-
cisco had reported to the United States attorney hl said port the action
of the master of the sealing schooner Sojjliia Sutherland in taking seals

ALASKA INDL'STIMKS.

337

diirinpr tho closed season wiiliin the, limits of the aicii of tlic award of
tliC! tribminl of Pai'is, and witlioiit the siicciiil license provided for in
article 1 of said J'aiis award and section .'5 of tlie act of Congress dated
A])ril (i, ].S!)1, and rei|iiestin};' that iiistrnetions he f>iven to (lie ilistri(;t
attorney to proceed promptly in said case and to rei)ort tlic result, 1
have the honor t^> inform you that I have received a letter, dated the
Stli instant from tlie Inited States attorney witli reference to said ease
and recommending that no action he commenced ajiainst either the
master or thevessel, and that the sldns he released to the proper owner.
The hasisofthe United States attoiiiey's iecommen(iation is that the
sUins in (piestion are those of seals secnred within the pidhihited waters
hy iiiend)crs of the crew of the vessel, wlio duriii.u the voyage were
nnrnlyand detiant,an(i that the action of said memliers of the crew was
without tiie knowled,ut' or constMit of the master of the vessel or any of
its otiicers. It is stated, also, that the master of the vessel was not
aware that the takinj^ of the seals within the waters referred to was
))roliibited, havinj;' sailed from San Francisco in .hinnary last. and with-
out having heen advised of the instructions of this Department in the
prenii.ses.

I would respectfully reipiest that instructions he !;iven hyyou to the
ITinted States attoriu'y at said jiort to proceed i)rom])tly in said case
and conunence proceed in.t-s for condemnation of the vessel and for the
statutory fine to he imposed U[»on the master umler section S of the act
oi(Jonjj;ress of April (i. JSi)l.

Although tin' (listrict attorney states certain facts which niij^ht prop-
erly he considereii on a petition for lemission of the penalty or forfeit-
ure of the vessel hy the Secietary of the Treasury, yet this l)ei)artment
l)eliev(!s that the necessary steps )ireliminary to imposing a tine and
condemnation of the vessel should he at once taken. Article 4 of the
rejiulations of the Paris awanl provides that every vessel killing seals
witiiin the award area nnist he i)r()vi<led with a special license. Section
.'■{ of the act of Conjiress of Ai)ril (!, 18!>t, prohibits all seal killing with-
out said special license, and section S provides for a tine or imjirison-
ment of the master, and also for forfeiture ol' the vessel offending. This
statute is pereni])tory and would seem to admit of no discretion what-
soever, ['nder the provisions of suhseclion 2, clause I, of the Hritish
legislation known as the Hering Sea award act of IS'.M, it is i)rovi(led
that if a master uses due diligence to enforce the act, and that the
cffense in ([uestion was committed hy some other ])erson without his
connivaiH'e, he shall not he liahle to any ))enalty or forfeiture. There is
no such provision, however, in said act of Con;.iess of Apiil (i, IStl-l.

I would further say that the State Depart. nent has tiled a formal
l)rotest with tl.e .secretary of state of foreign atfairs of (ireat I>ritaiu
because of the action of the Uritish (Jovernment in dischargingwithout
condemnation jjroceedings thetwo llritish vessels Wdinlcnrnml Favorite
seized hy United Statesofticers during last season. It therefore becomes
of the utmost importance that we proceed vigorously against otTenders
of our own nationality. Should the court impose a line upcm the master
or declare the vessel forfeited, a petition may then be tiled with the
Secretary of the Treasury to remit the line or forfeiture. Tlio nuitter
can then he brought to the attention of the State Department and
pr()i)er action may be taken.

I would further re(iu(sst that the district attorney he directed to give

to the Secretary of the Treasury and to the Secretary of State due notice

of the trial, in order that the British Ciovernment may he notified and

be given an opportunity to appoint couusel to take part in the coudem-

11. Uoc. 1)-', pt. 2- L'U

338

ALASKA INDUSTRIRS.

nation proficcdinn'sslioiild itdeomHUcli action advisable. Arof|upstliaM
already hccn made by our (ioveniinciit tliat counsel may lu^ ai»poiiited
to icpirsent our interests in similar proceedings in I»ritisli ColuMd)ia.
I iiiive the lionor. etc..

J. G. Oarlihlk, Secretary.

Tho ATTOKN'KV (iKNKUAL.

,IULV 20, 1895.

Sill: l\ef'errinp to my letter to yon of the 18tli instant in relation to
tlu! case of the sealin<>- schooner Soi)hi(t Sutherltiiid, charged with talcing
seuls during the dosed season within the limits of the area of the iiwanl
of the Tribunal of Paris, and without tlio sjtecial license provided for
in article 4 of said award and section .'5 of the act of (Congress dated
April (!, 18!)1, wherein rc(|nest was made that instructions bo given by
y<m to the Tnited States attorney "it San Francisco to proceed promptly
ill said case and comimMice proceedings for the condemnation of tlici ves-
sel and lor the statutory line to be imposed upon the master, under sec-
tion 8 of the a(!t of ( 'ongiess of April (i, IS'J-t, 1 have the honor to invito
your attention to the tbllowing statement concerning the schooners
I'crhins and I'lirilKii :

On May 1 1 last the collector of customs at Port Townsend informed
the Depart ineiit, by wire, that the schooners named, whicdi were licensed
duly, iiad reported with ten or twelve seal skins, respectively, which
were taken oil Cape I'^lattery, ft distance not exceeding Jo miles from
the shore, and tliat botii schnoners were owned and manned entirely
by Indians. Tlie colhH-tor stated further that no log books were kept
on sai<l vessels, and he recommended that tne entry of the skins be
all<»\ved. On the loth of the same mouth the collector was instructed
by wire as follows:

If cai-cH of scluKiiiors I'erlnim iiiid Viivitan aro not within article 8 of Paris award
and seilion (i, act of (iinjiicss Aiiiil (!, ISDI, report matter to district attorney for
proiKT |)r(iici ilin^^s iiiidc'r sections S and !l of said act.

1 have to rcipiest that instructions similar to those given to the
United States attorney at San Francisco in the case of the sealing
schooner Sophia Siithniand be given to tiio United States attorney lor
the State of VVasliington in the cases u\' tho schooners l'crlii)i.s and
I'liritttn, and that lie be impressed with the necessity lor speedy action
in the i)remises.

Hes])ectfully, yours,

S. WiKK, Acthuj Secretary.

The ATTOKNin -('.K>ii;!{AL.

Sju'Temhek 7, 1895.

Sill: I have the honor to inform you that sealing vessels returning
from the seal fisheries are beginning to arrive at jrniled States and
liritisli ("olnmbian ports.

In view of tins fact, 1 would ask whether the Uritish (ioveriiment has
as yet ie]»lied to the request of our (ioveriiment to be permitted to send
experts to r.ritish Columbian ports to insjiect the ollicial logs and
to examine all seal skins landed as to sex. Inasmuch, also, as several
American vessels and at least one IJritish vessel have been seized this
season for violation of the award of the Paris Tribunal, 1 desire to be
informed whether or not the British (ioveriiment has consented to the

ALASKA INDURTTlIRa.

339

appointmont by onr (Jovcrninont of couiih*!] to rcprcsoiit in coudeinna-
tion ])rocoe(liiifj;H tor tlu^ forfeiture of siiirj oneiitliiifj: vessels.

Intiiis coriiieotion f would siij;;;-est lliiit the <iueslioii wlioMier Joint
ref^iiliitioiiH for the ('(tiiiinj;' seiiliii}; seasdii ('an ho iij^need upon by tho
respective (Joverimieuts be deteiiiiined iit once, as vessels will he{;iii to
lea\ e for the seiilinjj; {grounds early in November, and there will conse-
quently rcnuiin very little time in which to aj-roe upon joint resolutions
should such a course l)e deterniiiu'd ujjon.
i have the honor, etc.,

The SKiniKi'AUY of fcjTATi;.

C. ^?. llAMi.iN, Alt! IN/ Hecrvtury.

J)K1'ABTMKNT OF STATE,

W(tshi)ififou, June 17, isn5.

My Draw Mr. IIamlin: I heg to transmit to you lierewith for your
immediate use a copy of a note of the l.'Uli instant, from the British
charj;*'' d'affaires ad interim inclosing a copy of a minute of the Cana-
dian prjvy council, which is said to contain the information recjuested
in a let'ter of the Treasury Department of the li»tii of .laiuiary last,
relative to Canadian pela^i(; sealinj;- in 1S!);> and lS!t4.

To complete the record a formal letter of transmittal, sijjned by the
Secretary of State, purporting to cover these inelosnres will be sent to
your Department tomorrow.

I am, my dear sir, very truly, yours,

Alvky a. Auee.

UOU. CUABLES S. 11 AMUN.

[Iiiclnitiiro.]

NhwroijT, June 7,?, JS95.
Siu: With reference to tin- ot;ito Popiirtiiioiit note of tlio L'lid Jamiiuy liist, niarltod
No. 17, reqiicBtiiig certain inl'orin:itioii witli icnaid to (.inailiaii )>i'la,i;ic xealiiif; in
189.^ and IS'll, I liavotlie lionor, actiiiK 'inder tlic iiistinctioiiM (d' tli(> Iviil of Jvitnl)erly,
to forward liercwitli copy of a niiiintu of tlie Ciuiudiau privy touncil containing tbo
ill formation aslicd for.

I liave the honor, etc.,

IIlJGIl GoUGU.

Hon. E. F. UuL.

Extract fvom a report of the rommiltre of iJie hnvorahlc the prw;/ council, apjirortd hy
his excel leiictj on the 2iUh Apvil, ISUii.

The committee of the privy council have had uiidtsr toiisidcration the annexed
report from the minister of maiiiie and liHlicrii'H, dalfd liOtli April, ISIto, in connection
with certain information toiicliiiif; Canadian pohn;ic soaling in Wd'i and 1804, which
had been requested by the I'nited States (jovcriiiiiont.

The honorable committee advise that yonr excellency be moved to forward a cer-
tified copy of this report, tofjether with its .appendices, to the right honorable the
principal secretary of state for the colonics.

All which is respectfully submitted for your oxeellcncy's approval.

.John .1. McGke,
Clerk of the I'riry Council.

340

ALASKA INDrSTRIES.

[Aiintix A toO. C. KKIJ, April 2U, 1HU5.]

liititudi' luid longU
iiuittii't ( wlicllicr

MAiirxK ANit KisiiKKii.s, Canada,

nttiiint, Apiit .11. isn.'i.

'J'o Mis Exrr.t,i,EN(v iiii; (i()\'i;i!Niiii-(ii':NKi!Ai., iii ('iniiivil:

rill) iinili'iHi;;iii'il lias tli» lioiior to rovurt to uii ii|i|ii'()VO<l iiiiinite of roiincil iIuIikI
ad April, 1«!I5 (750.1.).

In lol'iiiriiig to a diH|(utrb IVoin his ixctdlriicy I lor MiiJcKtv'H iimliiiHMtuloi' iit
WiiNliiii^tiiii, ihiti'd IMtli I'ldiiiMiry, I'otivcyiiif; the reiiiii'st ol' I hi' 1 iiilcd .Sliitos
(•ovi'i'iiiiioiit tor rcrtalii liironiiMtion toiu'hili;; (aiiiiiliuii |ii'lii;;i(! Ni'aliii); in l^illi iiiiil
\H\H, thi.s iiiiiiuto of council iiiildcntiill.v annoHiu'cil that iiiiich of thu iiiforiiiiitlon
was .-ilroady in the hands of Her MaJi'sty'H (JovfriuiiiMit.

It wrtH also Htateil thai tUo nndcrsi;;iiod had caiiMiil MtrpH to lir taken to iirociPM
from N'ictoiia, ISritish (.'oliiinlda, such sii|i|iluiiicnlary inforiuatioii In iho diicction
indicated iih nii^'lit l>c olitaiiialil<<.

Tho iindorsifjncd has now tlio honor to rc|)orl to your excellency that he has
received the information a.skeil for, which li« apjieiids to this re|iort, tonetlicr with
thu corrcspomlenco with the collector of cimtoni.s at Victoria on tho snhjeit, as
follows :

1. Letter to Mr. A. R. Milne, March ^, IHiio.

2. Letter from Mr. A. K. Milne, March ;tO, \.>i'X>, inclosing—
(«) Letter from Mr. .L ('. Nixon.

(6) .Siimniary of catch Ity Uritish Colnnihia sealim; licet, 1S9H and \H'M.
(o) Dotiiiled statement of catch in Iterini; .Sea ill IS'M, showing

tilde where taken and sexes of seals.

((/) Detailed statement, 18!IM, showing vessels, toiinago, crews,
white or Indian).

(e) Detailed statement, IHill, showing vessels, tonnage, crews, huuteis (wbei 'cr
white or Indian).

The undersigned would observe that tho United States Secretary of State, in his
rei|ueBt for iiiformatiun, desired to lie informed whether the skins taken by Itritish
pelagic Mcalors were exainined as to sex, by expert iiispectors, as was done in tho
case of skins entered at I'nited States ]ioits.

Vour eMollciicy will observe, from the a|i|iendices to this reporl. that tho iinibr-
signed in seeking the in formation a.sked Ibr gave consideiuble |ii'oiiiiiicnce to this
point, with the object of tliicidaling whether any i)ractiial lieiiclit was likely to
accrue from such a course, whether or not it had been hitherto pi:i<ticcd.

Information was sought as to tho practicability and value of -mdi a ine.ins, and
its etl'ectiveness towaril establishing the sox of the animals from which the skins
were taken. Also whether it was considered to bo reliable in establishing the sexes
of tho seals killed, whether it could bo adopted, and whether, in view of the log
records on this particular (loint, demanded l)y the tonus of the award, su.di a course,
if iiraclicable and ell'octivo, would be necessary or useful, even in insuring by the
check it might alford more careful attention to the iNiimination by the masters of
the vessels of the seals killed al sea and the consei|iieiit greater acciuacy in their
log entries.

From the information elii'ited on this ])"int, it appears that tho skins taken by the
( aiiadian pelagic sealers were not so oxamined by ex(iort inspectors at tho time of
landing at Victoria and \'aiicoiiver.

There also a|ipi>ars to be some grmind, on tlio ( anadian racitic ('oast, for doubting
that th<! skins landing in San I'rancisco and I'ligot Sound ports wore examined as to
sex by expert insiieetors.

The (•idleclor of customs gathers that little credence is given to the statement that
an expert examination of the skins was made, iiniKmiich as it would 1)0 unreliable
and uncertain.

The separation of the female from the male skins at the time of landing must, it
is stated, bo mainly deterinined by the teats, which it is well known occiii with male
as well as female seals, while a furtli'-r coiii|ilication arises from the fact that (|uite
a number of the females are barren, and the teats on the skins taken from such ani-
mals would not be more proinineiit than on tliose taken from males.

Your excellency's attention is also invited to tho statement that both in San Fran-
cisco and at Victoria a young, ineN|)orienced lad was engaged by the linn of Liebcs
Itros., the largest furriers on the I'acilic Coast, to examine some seal skins which
thoy were about to ]iiircliase (|iresuin.ibly as to si^x) and tho reported o])inions of
reliable sealers and furriers as to the nature of such an examination, in view of the
lack of either experience or intelligence by tho examiner, roiinisito to determine the
point.

Tho nndersigiu'd would further refer to the statement in the collector's letter, that
formerly tho matter had been the subject of miieb cniisidiiratioii among thosi) inter-
ested in the sealing business, with the result that the opinion xircvailed that vciy

r

ALASKA INDUHTUIES,

341

Mt
I OS
111(1

ion

few ('X)i(MtM iiio nl>l<' lo ili'tcrriiiiio tlii! Hex iVoin :in I'X.iiiiiliiition ol' tliti HkiiiN iiltiT
tlii<.\ li:iv(i lioi'ii Hiilti'il mill iiiixi' I.

It, Kiiins lliiil nil llii' iiiltH III 1') tlio r.nhir of tlic liiiir, iiiid tlio wIiIhUoih of tlio iiiil-
iiiiiIh, lis well iiH Id llif idii'lit ion of tlir I'lir, liii\(^ pioNoil liinoliiililo. 'I'lio jxmltivo
MHHCi lion Is \ciitiiiril Hull I lie oiilv tiiiH' \\ lirii tlir mux ciiii lie conrrtly ilotoriiiilioil in
ililiiiiK fli(^ (iiioiiitioiiH (if Mkliiniii}; till' iiiiiiimirt, wlicn nicli |ii'lt rmild lio ticki'tcil.

'I'lio I'olloctor IiinImimih IIio o|iiiiii>ii of tlio Into Mr. Dm Ih, n')iri'soiitiiti\ o in Victoria
of the linn ol rilniiin iV Soim, fur iloiiliis, iif Now Viuk iiiul SI. I'aiil. 'J'IiIh noiithi-
niiiii is roloi'ioil Id «m jioHSi'ssiiiK ('Xjiort kmiwli'dnc in llic iimcliiiso iif liirH, iiaitiuii-
liirlv rioiil Hkins.

In IS'.ll Mr. DiivJH mot tin' soiilin;;; Hoot ill its londi/MiiiH oil' Olitiik Hay to tnin.sfor
tlio Hkiiis to tlio sti'iiiiior I'iiiikIii: |iro\ioiiH to I ho do|iartiirc ol' tlio Nu:ilinjj; solioonors
I'oi- llio Asiiitic wiitois.

iio In i'o|irr.si'ntoil iih liitviii}; riii]ili;ilii';ill,\ staloil Hint it wiih viitiiiilly iiii|HiMsiliIo
to diNtin^iiiisli tlio Hi'xos 111 lliu aiiiiiiiilN Iroiii w hirli llio skins wiro liikrn liy tlio tciitH
or ollioi wise, llio (inly sure way lioiiif; (il)scr\ ntions diirintJ llio |ir(i((.ss of lliiyinj;,
iillli(ii|i,'li ill (Aco|iti(Miiil ( 1INC8 ol' very clioico Nki lis, llio sex III ii;lit lie dot orniiiicil. In
tlio ciiHo (if liairoii rcniMJiH, liiiwi^vcr, tlio distini lion wiih iniuliciilly iiii|iossililo.

A I'lnllior iiiHliinio is citod of iin oxiiiiiiniiticni in IHItii of iilioiit-llOHkiiis at \' lot or I a,
Mr. Miicoiin of (Mliiwii, .Mr. Mnnsio of \ ictiuiii, and sen oiiil ol hers I'liilinfj to dotor-
iniiio tlio Noxos of llio iiiiiniiils fiiini wliirli llioso Hkins wore tiikoii, notwilhstuiiding
tlioy wore Miloctod and i nmoiiiirid liy .Mr. Koiil/niior, an oxiiori for Mossrs. I!oh-
oowit/ iV Co., to lio tlio iiiiiiliiit Iroiii iiiiilo soiiIh, 'I'ln- touts ]irovo(l to bo as proiiii-
iiont as tlioHO to lio found ii]i(in llio skins of any fciniilo soiil.

it is adniilloil, liowovor. tluil Iho poll ul a foniiilo soul killed while very heavy with
yoiiiij; may lio diloiniinid I'lom its piiuliiir sliniio.

Tlio oollootor cxiiios-ios Iho o|iiiiiiiii tliiit oxiiiil isiiniiiiation of seal skins would
lie almost iiii)irii('tioiili|o, wliilo its olloiliviiioss would ho iincorlain in ostahliHiiiii};
Iho SOX of so.il.s from which tiny were takon. Hence it woiilil not ho iiocoHsiiry or
iisoful. lint ho lielicvos Ihiit if llie soaleis. in addilion lo koe|iiii^ iiccnrajt) \o^ entries
(IS to their llsliiiif; (i|ierations, were ('oiiiiicllcd to liihol or taj; oaoli skin its to the gox
of the aiiiiiial at the time of lliiyiii|{ the most roliahle evidence obtiiinahlo would he
insured.

'I'lio iiiidersiniiod would fiirthor iii\ ite ymir oxcollonex "s attonlioii to the ,stiitoiiioi:t
tliatl.lKI" skins wore landed in \ iotoria and sold fmni tlio State of W'asliinnton,
L'uilod States of America, iliiriii}; lS!t| which were not oxamiiied as to sox hy experts.

Also to the letter from Mr. .1. ('. Nixon, of Seatllo, slating that the skins landed at
the I'ligct Somid ports wore not oxamined hy oxperls.

In the light of the ovideiico ooiitained in the aiipciidiecH lo this report, the iinder-
Hignod i.s of opinion that sncli iin oxaiuinatioii of the salted seal skins when landed
at the home iiorts would jiiove of little iitilitv in establishing the sexes of the seals
lulled.

The undersigned rocoiiinionds tliat a copy of this report, if apiirovod, together with
its appendices, be forwarded to the right hoiioriible Her Majesty's principal secretary
of stale for tlio cohiiiies.

HespoctfiiUy submitted.

John Costioan.

f Annex li to O. C. No. 8H;t ,^. April in. IRil.'i.j

Ottawa, Mnicli ,?. !Snr>.
Silt: I have the lioiidi' to inform yon that a re(|iicHt of the United States Socrotary
of Stale for certain information in respect of thi! Canadian sealing Hoot and their
opoiations during the seasons of ISlKi and IS'.U has hoeii conimniiieated to the (iov-
oriimoiit by his oMclleiu'y Her .Majesty's ambassador at Washington.

(1) 'Iho total niimli(>r of seals lakoii by Krilisli vessels in the North Pacific Ocean
and Horing Sea, both on the .Asiatic and .American sides.

(2) The total iiiimbor of skins landed at I'lilish pons by >a d vessels.

(3) The total nunibor triiiissliii)i)od in .(apancso or Itiissian iiorts, including any
that may have hoeii ultimately entered at \ iotoria.

(1) The nnnilior of skins landed as entered at A'ictoria by Amorioan vessels.
(5) A report as to the sex of all skins taken in Iteriiig .Sea and the North J'acific
Ocean.

(()) Location of the ])liioe of catch by lalitiido and longitude.

(7) The names of all xcssols employed, tonnage, number of crow, and number of
seal hunters, indicating whether whites or Indians.

(8) The fiuther rci|iiost is made that iiiformation may be given as to whether the
skins taken by the Canadiiin pelagic sealers were examined as to sex by expert
inspectors, 'is was done in the case of skins entered in United States ports.

342

ALASKA INDUSTR1K8.

Tho bonorable tlio niiiiist(>r of iiiiiriiio and fmliories would bo iilciisod if yon will
obtain the inforniatidii as above intiiniiicd and rlassilied, .rsnch of it as is i)rofiira-
blo, and forwaid it to this ('"jiaitiiiciil al your eailicHt convcnicnio.

\Vitli regard to section S, toncliin^ the oxprit ins|)ertiiin of skins wlion landed,
with a view to deteiiiiiuing tho sex of tho animals fioni which they wore taken, it
is jjresiuiK'd that uo nioasnres of this natnre have hitherto been adopted at A'ictoria
or VaiK'onv r.

Tlie deii;: rnient would, how( ver, like to have your opinion as to thopractical)ility
and value of sucli a 'iieans ami its ell'ceiiveiicss toward the end in view.

Also, if it is ((in.sidered to In; reliable in est.il)lishin.i; the sexes of tho seals killed,
whether, in your opinion, it could be adopted, and whether, in view of tho log records
on this ])oint re(]uired by tlm tonus of tho award, such a courtie, .f practicable and
eli'oetivc. would bo nci'i'ssar,\' or uscl'ul.

It may be tliat the a(lo|ilion of an iiispo(;tiou of this character would, by the check
it alVordcd, insiirc more careful atl'iilinu to the examination by tho masters of the
vessels of the steals killed at sea and greater curacy in their conseciuent log entries.
I liavo tho luuior, etc.,

■ lOHN Haiedik,
Ac(iii<i i/epiihi Miiihiter ^[al■ine and Fishcriet.

A. R. Mii.NK, i;s(i.,

V'j! lector of C'ii„.(/i/is, I'ictorhi. /liitiKh Colniiibia.

[Aniier C to (.1. C. N'o. 88:1 .T, A |iri) 2(i. 1895.]

(M-sTOMs Canada,
I'ictorui, I>rili'<li (/(iliiinhia, UiovVi :l(i, ISOfi.

Sir; I have tho honor to aiknowli-dge the receipt of your lctt<'rof tho 8t)i instant,
conveying the iiiforniatioii t!iat a ro«|uest had been madi! by tlu) United States Sec-
retary of State for certain informal ion iu respect of the Canadian sealinu; lloct and
their operations duiiug th(! sc,"sous ot' 18!)3 and lSil4, and that such reijuest bail been
comniunicatcd io the (iovciumeut by his oxi elleney Her Majesty's ambassador at
Washington.

In compliance therewith, I beg to franatnit herewith the information asked for
toiu'liingtlie oiieiati(. lis during thosi' two years nd arc arranged uiuler the following
hcadir' s:

(1) 'the total number of seals taken by liritij'u ves.sels in the North Pacific Ocean
aud IJering Sea, both on tlie .\Hiatic and \uierican sides

(2) The total numln'r of skins landed at British iiort- l>y said ves?3ls.

(3) Tho total numb(r traiissliipped in .lajiaiiesc or Kussian ))orts, including any
that may iiave been ultimat ,'ly entered at \'ictoria.

(1) Tho number of skins l.vnded as entered av Victoria by Amercan vessels,

(5> A report as to the sex of all skins taken ii; lieriiig Sea and the North Pacilic
Ocean.

(0) Location oi the place of catch by bitltude and loniiitude.

(7) Tho names of ali vessels employed, ionnage, number of crew, and number of
seal huntoi's, indicating win ''"-r whites or Indians.

(>) riio further ■■c(|uest i.s i' '1(^ that information n\ay be given as to whether tho
skins taken by tiie Canaduut pelagic sealers wor(^ cxaminod as to sex by export
insjieetors, as was done in the ,asc of skins (uitered in I'nited .'slates ports.

The skins taken by Can.'Kliiin iidagic sealers were not examinccl as to or'xby ex])Brt
insiieetors at the time of landing IVoni the vessels at this jiort oi at Vaucotiver.

A general denial is nlaib' that theiieal skins wi^-e. on being lauded .at United Stateo
ports — namely, at .San I'r.in* isco anil I'uget Siuiuil — exandned as to sex bv exi)ert
inspectoiH.

No conlidence is entertaineil here in the Amciiian statement made that an expert
<^.\aniii;atiou of the 'd<ins was helil, as sni h would be unreliable aud uncertain when
seiiarating th(! females from the males at 'ime of l;inding. which could nuiinly be
del-'.inined by the teats (d' the animals, it being a well-known fact that nudes have
such as well as females, and i|uitc a number o( females have been barren — that is,
have bepn barren during the season or longer — ^"td the males have teats as i)rominont
on the skin .as the b.arrcu feuuvles.

Parties interested in scaling state th.at in Sau Francisco and hero a young, inexpe-
rienced lad was sent by l.iebcs Kros., the largest furriers of ihat city, to exannne
Home seal skins laiulcd whiili they were about to purchaso, but the ndiablo sealers
and furriers say that such was a jierfei t farce, bo not ha\i«g the ex])erieuce and
intelligence reijuisite to dcternnue such.

In the past tliil matter l..is been the subject of mu'jh disoiissinn here among those

AL./i.SKA INDUSTKIES.

343

ill
'ii-

it

interested iu sealiuj?, and the consenHus of opinion in that very few cxiiorls !irp abln
to ili^termino the sox from the sIutis wlioii (licy liave boon sailed Miid mixed, and all
iiili's as to the color of tlie liair and the wliislvors of llii) animal or tin' coiiililion of
the fur have been found to l)e iinrt'lialile and unsatisfactory, a hcmI skin liciiij^ split
from the lower .jaw to tlio tail, even tht^ tail it.self, wliicii in V(>iy short, hfing about
an in<h iu lo:i}{th, is also split, and. the sex cuu not he dcterniincd that way.

It is ])ositively asBuvted that the only time to determine the sex is wliile skinniiii^
the animal while fresh, and that mastois ( ould then imt a tiekct on each Hkin.

Mr. Davis, the representative here of Messrs. .losojdi rUmau i.V Sons, I'm' de.ilers. of
IScw York and rft. I'aui, tv); j resiihMl here for a few years, since (hiceased, and who came
here with expert knowledf^o in the piircliaso of skins, ))artieiilarly seal skins, went
north on the steamer Danube iu IHUl to meet the soalinj; llect which had a rendezvous
olf Alitak liay, to transfer their skins, pr(ivioiis tr) llicir departure to the l\'ussian
side, from the Bchooncrs to tlie steamer, to be brouj^lit her<\, cmpbatieully sti.ted that,
it was practically impossible to tell the male from the fcniiile skin by the teats or
otherwise, and the only sure way, in his opinion, was to see the aiiiinal skinned. It
mieht, however, in exceptional cases of very choice skins be determined by the fur
or whiskers, and to tell a barren female from a male was ahnost iin|jossible.

Mr. Macoun, of Ottawa, with Mr. Munsie, a shipowner, and olheis. in llS!*:^ exam-
ined in warehouse here about 200 skins, and they could not dcterniine in that num-
ber the males from the females; and they nelcctod skiii.s said to be males by Mr.
Kai'.tzauer, an ex|)ert for Messrs. Boscowitz A: Co., an<l they wore lound to have
teats as ])romiiienl ujion them as tiiose found on any female.

!t is known, however, that a skin oil' a female seal th:it has been killed while very
heavy with young is broader iu proportion to its leu'^th than the male skin, which is
more oblong.

It is my opinion that an expert examiiiation would he almost impracticable and its
etfectiveness unceitiiin in establishing the sex of the seals killed, and 1 consider
would not be neicssary or usetni.

The ailoption of an inspection of this character would, no doubt, if reliable .'unl
conduet^'d with certainty, afford a check as to the accuracy of log entries; but this, I
am certain, would not In, done at the time of landing without nnich irritation .md
disj)utation regarding tlio sex of seals,

I can only therefore say that it appears to im' tinit if tlic scalers in addition t(»
keeping their logs accurate\v as to each day's lishing were conipclled to lal>el ■>r tag
each skin as to s(-x at tlie time id' skinning and s). lilting the animal, would insure,
the nmst reliable evidence which could he obtained.

T iniglit state that 1,037 seal skins were landed here and sold from the State of
Wiifehin;;ion dtiring tlie year 1891, which certainly were not examiii'^d as to sex by
expert inspectors, and those that wore landed at oilnr I'ngct Sound ]iorts you will
see by the inclosed letter I received from .Mr. .1. ('. Nixon, who is largely interested
in the seal industry, that no such examination took place at any I'uget Sound ports
during last year or any previous ye.ir.

I have the honor, etc. A. li, MiLNK, CuUecior.

John II.viiDiK, Ksi),,

Aclhiy Dtni'hi Minister of .'^farine and h^ixherifs, Olldira.

SKl'TK.MIiKU 10, 18!»r).

Sill: I liave carefully considered tlic loport of Iloii, ,101111 Costijjiin
to lii.s excel k'licy tlic (ilovenioi- ( ieiicnil of ( 'iiiiiid;i. ( oiiliiiiiiiig niimite in
council dated A|»ii! 2, l8!)o, iiiclo.scd in yoiii- letter to nie of . I line 17.
Altiiouf^li tlie iiu'losure.s imrport only to j^iveeeittn'ii iiilbiination a.sked
Ibi' by our (ioveninuint by letter of .January L'"., IS!),"), yet certain state-
ments and denials are coiitiiined tiierein \\,.icli merit Ciirefiil atteiiticm
and reply by this Department,

In answering in the negative the question." \vhetlier tlu; pelagic seal
sivinstalen by British sealers were examined at the British jiorts of
entiy as to sex (as was stated in our ctunuiuMiciitioii to have lieen done
to all Ameri(;un seal skins entered at ITnited states ports), the collector
of customs at Victoria, British Colunibiii. in his letter to Mr. ('ostigau
iiiclo.sed in said report, enters a general denial tlitit sctil skins were
oxiimiMed as to sex by expert inspectors at S;in l-'rancisco and Piiget
Stmnd pjrts. He further states that it is impossible tu distinguish the

344

ALASKA IMDUSTrilKS.

sex of seals by insi)Octioii altor tin skins invc Iifcii siil(t'(l,iiiiil tliataiiy
examination at ])ort ot'cutry IIhmcI'oic would be im])rn<ti(!al»]e and iis(^
less. While tliis denial of an examination at Tnited States jtoits was
not called fov by any iinestiou ]in)i)onnd('d in your letter to tlie JJritisli
(Jnvernnient, yet as it is conelied in such a bnis(]nc nnuinerand repeated
by the Hon. Mr. Costigan, it would secui to merit a i)roni])t reply by
this Department.

The statement that all skins landed at United States ports durinjj;-
the season of 1891 were examined as to sex by expert insju'ctors was
supposed by this l)e])artinent to be true wiien it was made in our letter
sent to you. Inspectors were duly appointed for this s]»eci(ic i)uri)ose
and instructed to makesuch exaniin;!!ion,and their returns were on tile
in the Treasury. It was discovereil later, liowever, that at Port Town-
send tlie iiisjx'ctor although exaniiniuj^' and verifying the skins laiuled,
yet nnide no exaniinatioii as to sex. On tlie recei|)t of tiiis discovery,
to wit, on February L'l, I immediately notilied you, with the re(piest
that this fact be (lomnmnicated to the ibitish Government. 1 inclose a
<'opy of this letter. It can only be assumed that the i>ritisli (iovern-
nient in forwarding to you with its tacit a])i)roval the rei)ort of Mr.
('ostigan containing this brus(pie deinal must have overlooked the fact
lliit it bad in its possession at the time the letter of our (lovernment
fully explaining the matter.

I would birtlier slate that the Department does not understand the
reference contained in said re])ort to the young ami in<>xperienc,ed lad
emitloyed by Licbes Bros, in the examimition of seal skins at San I'ran
Cisco. Such i'.n action, if it took place, was wholly uiiupieial, and had no
connection whatsoever with that made by the I'nited States (lovern-
ment. The ollicial exi)ert employed by this Department at San I'ran
Cisco is a ]U'actical farrier by oc(U|)ation. He has been engaged
constantly and exclusively tor the ])ast eleven years in the fur business,
and has handled large (luantities of salted seal skins mid all kinds of
raw furs. He was highly recommended by pers(Uis well (pmlitied to
Judge of his ability, and is a man of great experience. Kvery seal skin
landed at San Francisco was carelully examined by him as to sex.

As to the further statenuMit contained in said communication, that (he
sex of seals can not be determined I'.Wvv th<' skins have been removed,
I would say that the Treasury l)e|)aitment has consulted exjjcrts of rep-
utation upon this (|uestion and is inlui mcd that any ordinarily intelligent
l)erson at all ac(|Uaintcd with the subject could in at least seven cases
out of ten accurately determiiu' the sex before the skins go to the
<li'esser. That such is an admitted fact will be seen 1>,\ icference to the
inclosed extracts from the testimony before the Trilainal of Arbitra-
tion at Paris, whicli 1 will thank you to return alter reading.

1 also iiu'losc lor your infornmtion a cojiy of a Treasury circular giv-
ing instructions to customs oflicers as to ascertainment of sex.

J would fun her state that in a previous communication 1 retpiested
you to obtain the consent of the IJritish (lovernment to the a])point-
mentof expert insjjectors to exandne all skins landed at Hritish Colum-
bian ])orls. The reason for this re(iuest was that there is a great
discrei)ancy in the IJritish and American returns ma<le by sealers as t,(»
the proportion of females killed, the American sealers reporting a very
much greater jiroportion than the British. Although in many instances
the P.ritisli sealers weic? close to the .\nn'ricaiis, yet th(> .Vnu'ricans
rejtorted from two to live times as many lemales as males, a result
entirely at conflict witii the ibitish returns. (Certain masters, more-
over, of Uritisli vessels iu IJering Sea exjdained to the ag(>nt of the

ALASKA INDl'STKTES.

34:

I'liiiod Sfiilos Fis!i Coiimiission llinl tlie seals avcit skinned in canoes
by Indians and flic pelts thrown <>\\ hoard, and that under the circnni-
stances they had no time to bother with iiispectinj;' skins minutely as to
sex. 'I'he l)e])artiiient is of opinion that under such circumstances
reports of Ibitish sealers aie unreliable, and that the jnopoition of
female skins taken by the ('anadian tleet is nuieh fj'reater than that
retnrned.

This would seem to be corroborated by sworn statements, now in the
))ossession of the 1 )e])art men t, of experts wiio])('rsonallyins])('cle(l in IjOIi-
don S(tnie of the, largest consiu'uinenls ol' seal skins taken in IS'.tl, and
found that from .S5 to DO per cent of them weie females.

Tiie Department is thcrelnri' of fiie opinion that examination by
insju'ctors of all skins landed at Uiitish < olnmbian i)orts would {greatly
assist in arrivinj;' at a more thoron.t''li knowledj;e of seal (.'onditions, and
I would thcrcfdie ask that the iUitisli (lovcrnnu'iit be urj^cd fo rsply
as soon as jjossiblc to the rei|nest as above already fran-imittcd.
I have the honor, etc.,

C. S. ITammx, Artiiiji tSctrrtdry.

The SKcni'/rAitY oi' Statk.

1)|-,1>AI!I MKNT OI' SCATi;, A >hiit>:( :.>fi, 1S95.

Sit? : I have the honor lo inclose for yonr information translations of
two notes from the Russian charfji- d'aJlaires ad interim at this cajiital,
jtresenfinji' the views of his Government on the subject of Dei'artment's
note of daiuiary L'.i last to the Ibitisii ambassador at Washinj^ton con-
cerniiifi' the rejiulation of fur-seal hunting' in IJcring Sea.
1 have the honor, etc.,

Alvey a. Adkk.

AvtiiKj ^Secretary.
The Sr.ciJKTAiJv oi' tiik Tui:AstRY.

Iliiclmnro.l

Imi'I-.imai, T.r.cAiiox or TJissia,

ll'dnliiiiiiliitl. Aiiiiii'<t .'-■hilii .'<;, JS!)J.

Mr. Si:(1!i:tapv ok Statk : Tlio ('(nitt iits oC tli^' note of Mr. (ircslnmi. lute Soontary
nfStiitc. Ill tilt' aiiili:iHs;i(li)r lit (irciit Iliitain at \\'iisliiiii;tiiii. b.'iti iiij: diitiMtt' tlio liSd
lit .liuuiiir\ last, (■(iiicciiiiiii; the ri'Ljubition ot I'ln' seal lii'iit ini;, lias lifcii .siilimilti-il Id
tlio I'xainiiiatiiiii (if a Hi.ci ial ciiiiiiiiis.sidii, w liich ri'ro.;iii/('cl llu' necessity nt' a iiiiifurm
Trfiiiiii' lor liirncal liiiiitiiij;' «i\ the liiKli h'^t* f<"' all lln' iimllicrM ]iiirti(iii (if the I'acilic
Ocean, rrmii the coasts (iC America Idllidsint Asia. I'd tliis end tlic I'cileral (iiivein-
liieiit |ii'(i|i(iscH tlio a)i]ioiiitinciit (if a mixed cnmmissiipii. to lio 0(im|Misc(l of the rcpre-
Ni'iitatlv es of the I 'lilted States of Aiiiei ica. ot' li'iissia, of (Ireat Hiitain, and ot'.la)ia!i.
uhost! duty it shall lie to exainino this i|Ufsli(ui. 'the federal (Mivcrniiieiit I'lirllier
)iro|ioseH to secure the enl'oicemetil ol' the ileclHlous of the Triliiiiial of Arliiliatiou
which Hat at I'aris relative to fur seal IniiitiiifJ as far a-. Xi north hililii<lc in the
I'licilic Ocean, and to ]iiohitiit hunt in;; in lie mi"- Sua until the commissi on shall have
rinishcd its lalioi's.

While acceiiliiifi. in ])rin<iiilc, tile Hii;,fj:estioii concernin}i; the a)))iointinent of the
aforesaid commission, the Iiniierial ( ioveriimeiit attaches much jrreater iniiiortanee
to the modus vi\ end!, whenhy the dccisioiis ol the 'Iriliiinal ol Arliil rat ion a I I'aris
are to lie eiifoiced ill all water'' ol t he I 'acilic Ocean sitnateil luii 111 of the th it,\ -fifth
jiarallel of iiorlli latitude, iiieliidiiii; the Sea oi Okholsk.

The spiril of ei|iiily which actiiales thi- I'edeial (iovei uiiient diies no I permit me to
don lit liial Your I Excellency will he pleased to a^ree tlial th" ]i resent slate of thinji'S,
in which the decision of tlie 'I'rilninal cd Arhitialion a I I'aris is enforced only in the
easlem |iaii of the IScrin^ Sea, the liir scmIs in llie western jiart of the same sea being

k

346

ALASKA INDUSTUIKS.

thus iloprivcd of this piolcction, Hluinid no 1oiii;(t exist. In reality, all the good
nieasiiren that have Ix'nn taUeii in liirinij; S(>a are jiiiriily/eil and prodnctive of no
it'HnltH j'roni tlie vt-iy fact that iho western part is not within the inoti'cted zone.

Conseiiiiently, llie iiii|iciial Uoveinnienf, adhering; to its view with regaid to the
iieeessity of establishing a niiiroiiii regime for all wateis of the PiUMlie Ocean Hitiiatcd
north of the tliirty-lifth ]iarullel of north latitude, is of opinion that it would he
more pruetical to make no exce|>tioii in tiie ease of liering Sea by ])rohil)itiiig seal
hnnting until tlie tcniiinatioii of tlie lahor.s of the aforesaid niixed coniniiHsion, hut to
enl'oice the same nniforni n gime in tliat sea to which all waters of the I'acilie Ocean
north of the thirly-titfh parallel of north latitude are to he subjected.

In (udering me to convey its thanks to the Federal Government for the kind com-
munication which it has htieu jileased to make to it, the Imperial (iovernmeut
instructs me to assure Your I^xccllency of its earnest desire to cooiierato in the suc-
cess of the aforesaid suggestions, as of any other suggestion tending to establish a
uniform ri^ginie for the regulation id" fur-seal hunting on thc> high seas iu all parts
of th(; racilic Ocean north of the thirty-tifth ]iarallel of ninth latitude.

lie ])lea8cd to accept, Mr. Secretary of (State, the assuianco of my very high cou-
sidoratiou.

A. SoMow.

His Excellency, IJicii.m;i> Oi.m:v,

Sccrvluri/ of Sidle.

[IlM-tnsurO.]

Imikuiai, LKr.A'rioN of Utr.ssiA,

ll'd.iliitujton, .tiigiisl 7-:'6, 1805.

Mr. Skciiictary: In herewith transmitting to you a note bearing date of August
7--6, 18!t5, concerning the reniilatiou of fur-seal hunting, I have the honor to send
you a memorandum containing a statement of the result of the labors of the special
commission instructed to rcjiort concerning the contents of the nrde addressed by
Mr. (iiesham, late Secretary of State, to the ambassador of Great Hiitain at Wash-
ington, under date of .January I'H, 1MI.5, relative to liir seals.

For my own part, I desire to beg you. Mr. Secretary, to kecj) this legation informed,
as you have hitherto done, with ri'gard to the develo]imeut of this question, thus
facilitating a mutual uiideistanding between our two (tovcruuu'nts.

Be i)lea8ed to accept, Mr. .Secretary, the assurance of my very high consideration.

A. SoMOW.

IIou. Ai,\KV A. Adkk,

Actinij iSccntary.

[^loiniir:ni<biin.]

iMl't UIAL LeOATION of RtTSSIA,

IVoxhiinilDii, AiKjiixt 7-SG, 1SS5.

The commission is of the opinion that our i)rincipal object, viz, to put a stop to
the extermination of fur seals, could be more successfully attained not by the
ajtpointment (d' a technical mi\i d coiMuiission, but by the convocati(ui of a regular
diplomati<' conlerenee whose decisions slntuld be obligatory ujion all nations. ( tther-
wise there is reason to fear that illicit fur-seal hunting will continiuj under other
foreign Hags, such as that of .S\\ edcn. of Italy, etc.

The representative of the minisli\ of tiuauco has made the following remarks
concerning the enfcuceuH'nt of the decisions of the arbitrat(us at I'aris:

(1) It is to b(> desired that article 1 of these regulations, wlii(di prohibits fur-seal
hunting at .all limes and by .all ini'ans within a /one of (lO nautical miles around the
I'ribilof Islau<ls, should Im modilied in such a way as to extend the zone in which
hunting is pr<iliibit<'d to 2f)0 miles around the Commander Islands and Fnlenien
(Hoblxui Islands).

(2) As tlie Counnander Islands .are on the boiindar,\ line bi^tween liering Sea and
the I'acilie Ocean, fur seal hunting with lirearms should he jirohibiled in all the
waters of the I'acilie Oeean as far as ;(,") uoith latitude ahuig the Konsilsky and
Counnander islands ami the co.ists id' .lapan.

(li) As the fur seals that wint(>r oii the Knssian islands leave their winter lairs
earlier than those on the I'ribilot Islands, the time iluring which sealing on the high
seas is ])roliibited should be made to last lor the I'oi nnr not nrtil the 1st of May, but
until the 1st of Maicli, or, strictl.N sjicaking, until the Ist of April.

ALASKA INDl'STRIES.

347

All tliose measures relate exclusively to fur-seal hunting <iii the liish sftaN, Hiiioe
liuntinijon land in RnsHJan territory, viz, on tlir (Jonmiander Islaii(ln ami l"u1iiiion,
is uudcr strict inspeutiou, and the number ot seals tliut are allowed to be killed is
strictly limited.

SEPTEMHKR 18, ISOiJ.

Sir: I have the honor to ackiiowlcdjio the coniiiuiniciition of the
Acting Secretary of Htate, dated August L'O, 181)5, iiicldsiiiff transla-
tions of two notes from the Kiissian charge d'aiVaires ad interim at tliis
capital, ])resenting tlie views of liis (iovernnient on tlie subject of the
note of your Department of .lanuary l'.'5 hust, to tiic British embassy
at Wasliington, concerning the reguhitions governing seal hunting in
Bering Sea.

Q'helirst note inclosed in yoniconiinunication states tliat the Hussian
Government acce])ts in prineii»lc the suggestion of an international
comniissi.oiijand agrees to tlie extension of the I'aris award regulations
along the line of the thirty-lifth degree of nortli latitude to tlie shores
of Asia, but that it disagrees with our ])roi)osition to close Bering Sea
to sealers pending a rci)ort of said commission.

The second note incloses a report of a Bussian commission, to which
the whole matter of regulations of fur-seal hunting was submitted. The
coniiuission In its report states that the diplomatic conferen(!e of nations,
obligatory upon all, for the purpose of regulating the fur seal lisheries,
would be preferable to an international commission; that a zone of 200
miles should be established aiound tin; ('onimander Islands within
which no sealing should be jierniitted, and that the use of lirearms
should be prohibited north of the thirty fifth degree of north latitude.
The said commission further rei)orts that '-as the fur seals that winter
on the Bussiati islands leave their winter lairs earlier than those on the
Pribilof Islands, the time during which sealing on the high seas is pro-
hibited should be nuide to last for the former not until the 1st of May,
but until the .'list of I\Iarch,or, strictly speaking, until the 1st of April."

I have carefully considered said notes, and have the honor to reply
that I do not quite understand the projiosition contained in the first,
to the ett'ect that to Bering Sea shouhl be applied the same law as to
the North Pacific Ocean north of the thirty-lifth degree of north lati-
tude. I would res])eetfully ask that you reipiest of the Bussian Gov-
ernment an expression of opinion whether it desires the prohibition of
all sealing north of the thirty tilth degree of north latitude penditig
the report of a commission, or simply that the regulations of the Paris
award and the closed season thereof be extended to Bering Sea on the
western as well as the eastern side. Ncn- dol understand the last sug-
gestion in the second note (pioted in full above that the closed season
should last until the 1st of April. At tirst sight it would seem that
tlie translator employed by your Depai tment is in eiror, and that the
word "after'' should be snbsituted for the word '■ until,'" as under the
Paris regulations the open season lasts from August through A])ril.

I would further state that it appears from the note of Lord Gougli to
you, dated August 10, of which a copy was sent to me by you on August
28 last, that the British Government refuses to lecognize that Bussia
and .lapan have any interest in the seal (isheries regulated by the I'aris
award, and that it can not take part in any impiiry on the Pribilof
Islands in which these powers are associated. I would respectfully
suggest that the b'lissian Goverinneiit be informed of tiiis refusal. I
can not see any objection to a diplomatic contereiice such as is sug-
gested by the Bussian Government as to the fur-seal hunting iu the

348

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

•western part oftlic Xortli riUMtic Oceiui and Bering Sea, and feci that
nincli ji'ood would result froiu sucli a conrereiu'e.
I liave tlie liouor, etc.,

C. a. II AM UN, AvtiiKj Secretary.
Tlio Secketarv of SrAiic.

OOTOTIER 3, 1805.

Sii?: I have the honor to atilcnowh'd^e the reeeipt of your eonimuni-
eation oitlie 1st iii: taut' in relation to the cases oC the three schooners
aj;ainst which proceeding's for violation of I he act of Ajtril (i, IS!) t. fjiving
eil'ect to the award rendered by the Ti'ihuinil (»f Arbitration at Paris,
have been coniiuenced at .San l''raiic,isco. and in reply to your incpiiry
state that this Department did iuslrnct the collector at San Franeiseo
on the Kitli of Ai)i'il last as to the licensing;- of vessels clearing from
his i)ort in the language (juoted by you.

The insi ructions sent to the collector were bascid upon articles 2 and
4 of the award of the I'aris Tribunal and section .'? of the act a])proved
April tl, 18!>4. giving eil'ect to the jirovisions of said award. If. in your
opinion, the construction jdaced n])on tlu'. articles and section referred
to is iiH'orrect. I would thank you to so advise nie, in ordei' that suit-
able instru(!tions nmy be sent to the cnUectors of customs on the I'acidc
Coast for tlieir liiture infornnition and guidance.
IJespectfully, yours,

W. I'j. Curtis, Actimj ISevretary.

The Attownfa- (ij:Ni;uAL.

XovF,:MTir,ir 27, 1S9,'>.

Sin: On January ."> last the schooner Kate anil Amu: cleared from
San Fran(Msco for "hnnling and lishing outside prohibited waters"
without the special sealing license i)rovided by the Paris award and
the act (d" Ajiril (>. lsi)4. (^n i\Iay -'^0 this schooner arrived at Astoria,
Greg., where she was allowed to land her catch alter an exandnatiou
of the skins by the collector of the port. The vessel, it a]>pears, then
proceeded to San Francisco, where it is believed she is at ])resent. A
copy of the hig book of the schooner was forwarded to this l)ei)artnient
by the collector at Astoria, ui)on exandnatiou of which it a])i)eared
that the vessel had taken seals within the award area, and. not having
been ])rovided with a special sealing license, should have been .seized,
together with her catch, upon her airival at Astoria. A letter has
been addressed to-day to the collector at San Franci.sco, directing him
to take the necessary steps to seize the vessel for violation of the act
above cited, and to rejjort the facts to the i'niteil States attorney for
his action. 1 have the honor to rei|uesf that the attoriu'ybe instructed
to proceed promptly and vigoiously in the action against the vessel.
Kespectiidly. y(»urs,

S. WiKi:, Acfiuf/ Secretary.

The Attorney Cenekal.

'Not I'lmii.slic'd.

ALASKA INDUSTKIES.

349

Dki'Art.^[i;nt of Staik,
]Viiyliiii(/ton, Norcmher L'1, IS95.
SllJ : The TJnsainn clinr^V' fl'iiff'iiircs lias loniuiliited iiKiiiirios of wliii li
you spoke to me tlic other day and presents them in the paper herewitli
inelosed.

1 shouhl be ghxd of any suggestions from you as to the answers to bo
made.
With the answers please return queries and oblige,
Jiespectfnlly, yours,

lllCUARD OLNEY.

lion. <'iiAi{LEs .S. 1Ia:^ii,in,

A>>ni>itant tScffctary 0/ the TnaKiinj.

[Incliiaiire.]

I'rSMAX IMI'I.HIAI. l.ECiATIOV, lV(l9hi>l(lton.

Queries:

(1) Wiis the United States GovoniiiKMit iiwarc tliiit in tlie act of I'arliament iHsiiod
by tlio (iovfriiiiient of (ircat liiitiiiii in piirsiiiiiicc ol' tlie I'xiin;; Sea award act iu
18!tl was iiniilt(Ml tlio claiisi' (! of the I'nllDwinfj; re^iilatitius ou seal lislierics:

'■ If dmini; the [leiioil and witliiii llie st'as Kpi'cilicd liy tlio ordci' a liritisli .sliip is
found liaviiiij on Itoard llicicdf fisliinn' or Hliontinu; iniiiiriiii'uts or aoal skius or iKulien
of seals, it sliall lie on the owniT i>v master of sueh sliiji lo jirove tliat the .ship was
not ufied or ciiiployed In eontravenlion of this act."

(2) In (:on.si(lcrinf; the ln'st way to pioiect tlie seal fisheries the I'liifed .St.'ites
(iovernnieut tliounlit de.siralili', peiidiiij;- the iu\i!stii;atious of the seal fi.slieries liy a
special coll iniiss ion, to extend tile nUes of the I 'avis award to the seal fisheries on tlio
Boas lyine- to tiie noith of the thirty-lifth decree of north latitude and prohibit
entirely the seal lisherles in the HoriM;j; .Sea propter.

Is that piohlliilion of the seal fisluTies In the r.i'ring Sea inlended for the purpose
of protectiuj; the breeding area of the seal, or has it any other purpose '

XOVKMUKK '20, ISOo.

Sir: I have the lionor to acknowledge the receipt of your coiiimuni-
eation of tlie L'lst instant, wish which was inclosed certain inquiries
from tiie Ifussian cliarg '■ d'allaires, concerning the seal lislieries (North
Pacilie) act, 18;).'5 and 1S!)."», and ceitain sng.ut'stions on the part of this
Government as to extending the regulations of the I'aris award to the
shores of Asia, and in rei)ly to state in answer to said impuries, and iu
the order of tiieir subnussioii:

(1) The Inited (States (lovernment is aware that in the act of Par-
liament known as seal fishery (North Pacifu;) act lS!),"i, clause ti of the
earlier act Known as seal lisiiery (North I'acilic) act bSiK), was omitted.

The Treasury l)e|)artment on dune -5, IS!!,"), received a copy of the
l)rop()sed seal fishery (North Pacific) act IS'.lo from the Secaetary of
State, and on July .'», ISi)."), called attention to this signilicant omission,
and received from you a copy of your letter of -Inly S, addressed to
dames H. Roosevelt, charg*' d'allaires at London, in which you e.xpressed
deej) regret tiiat the clau.se referred to should not have been reenacted,
and the earnest hope that some means may be provided yet whereby
this omission may he remedied.

(2) The purpose of this I)e[)artment in recommending verbally to the
Secretary of Stale, through Assistant Secretary Hamlin, that theexiat-
ing I'aris award regulations be extended along the line of the thirty-
tilth degree of north hititude to the shores of Asia, and that iu additiou

350 ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

thereto Borinpf Sea sliould bo closed to seal lisliiiifj itcndinp the report
of the iiitcniiitional coiiimissioii, was to seciin^ protection for fcdiiiile
seals in the breedin.y areii, as it was denionstiated by iiidisinitable evi-
deuce tiiat tlie lenialo lea\'o their yoiiii}; on the I'libilof Islands, and
fieijuently are tbund in search of food and rest hnndreds of miles at sea.

Snch a prohibition, it is sngjiested, wonhl bo of e<iual value in pro-
tecting; the Russian herd fie(|ueiitin,u' the ("mninaruler islands, as well
as the herd freiiuen tins' the i'ribilof Islaiuls.

The coninuinication iVoni tlu' iiussiau ciiar},^! d'alfaires is returned
herewith, in compliance with your re(]uest.
Kespectfully. yours,

S. WiKE, Acting Secretary.

The Skckktauy of State.

I

Dkpaktmknt' of State,

W(i.sliin<it<)ii, Janiiar)) i?2, It^OG.
Sir: Inclosed please find memorandum left with me by the Itussian
nu"nister at tliis capital.

1 desire to ask whether tliere is any other objection to the proposed
renu)delinjj' of tiie couventiitn with IJussia of 1S!)4 excei)t tlie obvious
one of the inducenuiuts and advantajies it wouhl altbrd to Canadian
sealers.

Could Great Hritaiu's concurrence be secured? Would not an
arranf;enie!it liivc tliat projiosed by the Itussian minister be an advan-
tageous one for the United States'/
iJespectfully. yours.

ElOHAUD OLNEY.

Hon. John Ct. Caimjsle,

St'cntar" of the Treasury,

[Iiiclosiire.— Tr^iiiHlntion.]

Tbo fur-seal herds frequenting tlio Russian inlands in Bering Sea and tlio Sea of
Okhotsk are tliviMtciied with coiiiph'to extermiuiitidu within a very short period.
Their situation liiis been doubly liad since the Paris arbitration rerogiiizi'd tlio right
of America to ])rohibit miiritinio hunting within (iO miles of the islands belonging to
her, whereas the Russian herds are proti cted only within liO miles of their islands,
without taking into consideration the tTiet that the entire imdiiUition of hunting
during several months and the regulation of the weapons enijiloyed, also established
by the i'aris arl)itration, secure to America privileges of sneh imiiortaneo that the
poachers jirefcr to direct their efl'orts against the Kiissian seals, whieh are massacred
in such numbers th;it the oxtiiution ot the race must infallibly result, and the more
so because the females, which regularly seek food for their young beyond the l!0-milo
belt, are th(^ most certain victims of the hunters who lie in wait lor them on the liigh
seas.

In view of the great injury resulting therefrom to the Imperial treasury; in view
of the necessity of |ircserving the fur se;il race, which constitutes the only resource of
the inhabitants of the above-mentioned islands, the Im])erial (Jovernment, desirous
of remedying this state of all'airs, thinks it its duty to represent to the I'uited States
Government that it is urgent to extend the legulations established by tlit> Paris arbi-
tration to all the waters of liering Sea and the .Sea of Okhotsk, as well as to those of
th(! I'aeitic from one t'outineut to the other down to the thirty-fifth degree of north
latitude.

.Sneh a provision would bo e()uitiible as regards Russia and advantageous to the
two powers, as their interests are absolutely identical in this (juestion.

The Imperial (ioviu mneut would be especially gratilied if the time of the close
season could be made to begin oim month sooner and to end one mouth later.

ALASKA INnUSTRIES.

35 (

In return for ii loniodcliii;; ciC tli« convcntidii (if IK!I| in this sense, tlie Fiiiik^i'^mI
(inveinnieiit would roi)|i<'riit» (>iuiii'Mtly \vi( li tli(> Unilrd Sl:it< h (JoviTiitrM-iit in its
elloi'ts liiivin;; for thoir olijcet tlict ruliiryi'Micnt of llio ic{;uliitiohH prejiiuiMl \>y vlio
I'Mi'i.s iirbitrution.

.January 29, 1890.

Sir: 1 liavo tlie honor to acknowledfjo tlio receipt of your (loiiiimiiii-
ciition of .laiiiiiiry 21!, inelosiiij;' a jnemorancluin left witli you ay (he
Kussian minister at tliis caijital, and asiiino- my opinion as to wlietlier
tliere is any ol)jeetion to tiie proposed remodelinjj of tlie convention
witii liussia of 1894, except tlie obvious one of the indMcenients and
advantajcres it wouhi adord Camidian seaU'rs; also, as to wiiether tlie
arranj,'ement proposed l)y tiie IJussian miniHter wduld be advantageous
for the United States, ])i'ovided (Ireat Ihitain's concurrence could be
secured.

I have the honor to reply that I sei^ no objection to the proposed
remodeling of tiie coirvention witli K'lissia of is!»-t otlier tlian the one
mentioned to you. It is my further belief tliat it would be for the
distinct advantajje of the I'nited iStates it tlie existiiij;' regulations
provided by the I'aris Tribunal \ver«i extended so as to embrace all the
waters from the Asiatic to the Aniericun shores in the North Pacific
(Jcean, the Sea of Okhotsk, ami ]>ering Hea north of the thirty-tifth
degree of north latitude.

riuler the terms of the Paris award the killing of fur seals is ])rohil>-
ited during the three months of May, .June, and 'Inly. In practice the
sealers start out early in .January and hunt seals along the coast of the
United States and British Columbia until tiie closed season l)egins on
May 1. Between .January and May they are thus able to take seals,
but on account of the inclemency of the weatiier the catch is necessarily
restricted. Sealing can not be lawtully carried on after May 1 until
the 1st of August. At this time the fur-seal herd has left the North
I'acitic Ocean and is in Bering Sea. Tlu^ masters of sealing schooners
have, however, learned by ex])erience that they can sjiend the months
of May, .Tune, and .July sealing on the IJussian and .Japan coasts and
]»rocure good catches, alter which they can reach liering Sea in time to
liunt during the month of August, when sealing is again permitted
under the Paris award regulations. If, however, tiie Paris award regu-
lations should be exteiuled so as to eml)race the Asiatic shores, there
could be no sealing whatsoever in the North I*acilic and Bering Sea
between May 1 ami August 1. Tliis would undoubtedly operate to
make it more expensive to maintain a sealing lleet. and Mould probably
result in a large falling off of the number of jx'lugic sealers. In this
connection I would respectfully call to your attention the suggestions
made by Hon. .James 0. Carter, to the effect that pelagic sealing be
absolutely forbidden to American citizens, for the reason tliat such seal-
ing (as was contende<l before the Paris Tribunal) is crutil and inhuman,
a large ])ortion of the seals killed being fenuiles heavy witii young. His
suggestions will be tbuiid in a letter of the late Secretary Gresham
to Ambassador P)ayard of October (i, 189,'?, which is No. 14 in Senate
Executive Document No. (>7, Fitly third Congress, third session.

As regards the further suggestion of the Bussian uunister, that "the
Im])erial (iovernmentwonld be specially gia tilled if the time of the closed
season could be made to begin one month sooner and to end one month
later,'' I have the honor to state that I approve such a suggestion as
being a step in the right direction.

352

ALASKA INDUfSTKIKS.

Tlie iniiiister further iiiiikcs lefon'Mct'. in IiIh coininiiiiicatioii to tlio
30-inile zone t'liiliiif; projicily to prottct tlio Ifiissinii scnls, I'roiii tlie (iict
tliiit the females seek food for tlieir yoiiiij;- hcyoml tlic'iO-niile licit. This
stiitciiient is iiiidoubtedly tnic. In fact, tiic (i(t mile, /one estahlislicd
around tlie I'ribilof islands docs not satisl'atlorily piotcct the seal held.

1 have the honor to inclose a nu'inomndinn, siiowiii^ in delail the
location of the catches of 7,87!) seals killed diiriiii^' the jiast season in
Bering Sea, from w hicli it appeal's that female seals were killed as far
as (!()() miles from the (lO-mile /.one.

The l)ei)artment will shortly he in possession of a report from Dr.
Charles Townsend, of the rniletl States Fisli (.'ommissioii, as the result
of special stinly of this subject last suinmei' in Iierin.t"' Sea. Should y(Mi
desire further information upon this subject this reiiort will be sent
to you.

Very respectfully, J, G. C'AliLisi.K,

IScvntdrij,

The Sechktauy op !Si iE.

I'^KinfUAUv 10, I,s%.
SiE: I have the honor to forward herewith for transmission to IFer
IMa.jesty's (iovernmeiit, in ('omiiliaiice with the jirovisions of arti(^le .')
of the award lendered by the'l'ribunalof Arbitration at Paris, two co[)ies
of the entries nuide in their res]iective lo^' books by the iimsters of
American pelagic sealing vessels during the season of IsUo. 1 would
respectfully re(|uest that yon obtain from the British (iovernment as
soon as possible the returns of the JJiitish scaling vessels for the same
period.

Kesp<,ctfully, yours,

S. WlKK, AiHiKj tSecrcluy]/.
The Secbetauv of State.

Depautmknt of State,

Wash ill {lion, Feltrnarn S, ISOh'.
SlU: I beg to inclose draft of ]>reliminary iirrangements between Ku.s-
siaand the United States submitted by the I'ussian minister at this capi-
tal, the same to take effect only mIicu adherence of Great Britain is
procured.

Do you see any objection to the I'uited States ac(;eding to such an
arrangement?
Awaiting reply at your earliest convenience, 1 am, resjieet fully, yours,

lIlCUAKD Ol^KY.

lion. (yHAiiLEs S. Hamlin,

Asuistant tSccrclary of the TreuHurij,

February 13, 1S90.

Sir: 1 beg to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of I'cbrnary 8
inclosing a draft of preliminary arrangement between Russia and the
United States, submitted by the Kussiau minister, in which you ask

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

353

(lio
i\u:t
This
iM'd
I'ld.

IIk!
II ill

lar

Dr.

suit

whether I «ee any objection to tho United States acceding to such an
ariangenient.

I have ciircfully exiimincd the inclosed draft, and while I find certain
portions not perfectly clear I understand tlu^ proposals to be:

First. That the jirohibited /one around the Comniander and Hobbcn
islands Hhall be in the future (iO miles instead of ;50, as now lixed by the
agreement of 1894.

Second. That pelagic sealing shall be wholly jirohibitcd from Ajiril I
to October 15 in lieriiig Sea, tlieseaof Okhotsk, and the I'acitic Oeran
north of the thirty fifth degree of north latitude, from the Asiatic to
the American shores.

Third. That all exisf ing articles of the arrangement of 1891 not hereby
abrogated shall remain in force.

I perceive no objections to the first and second yiropositions. The
American herd is now protected under the regulations of the Paris
award during May, June, and .Inly. On .luly .'il, when tiie season ends,
the herd is in IJeriiig Sea. Tlie i»ropos(Ml ariangenient inoviding for
closing Mering Sea to fur seal tishing between Ajiril I and October 15
would satisfactorily ])rotect our herd, as after October 15 no sealing
vessels could remain in Bering Sea on account of the inclemency of the
weather.

Under the third suggestion, the jirohibit m of sealing to American
vessels within 10 miles of the Kussiaii Coast would still (tontinue, as
would also the jjrovision relating to the seizure of American vessels
found hunting fur seals within said luohibited area, outside of Territo-
rial waters, by Russian naval ofliceis, and for coiidenination of such
vessels by the courts of the United States. I would suggest that in
order to bring the proposed lU'iangeinent into hai iiiony with t!ie terms
of the Paris award the jirovision as to the 10 niili- limit bo omitted, and
that there should be inserted in the draft a reciprocal provision that
Russian sealing vessels, if any, may be seized by Aineiican naval ollicers
and condemned by the Russian courts for bieacli of the convention. 1
would further suggest that the Russian (lovernment should agree to
accept and be bound by all the provisions of the I'aris awanl and the
legislation in respect thereto not abrogated by said proposed draft,
which should be stated to be not in derogation of the award of the Paris
tribunal, except where necessarily inconsistent therewith, but in addi-
tion thereto.

1 notice that no suggestion is made as to obtaining the concurrence
of the Japanese Government as to said proposed arrangement. Dur-
ing the past season five Japanese sealers were reported to have engaged
in fur-seal fishing, making a catch of 2, 9G0 seals. 1 have the honor to
suggest that it might be advisable to obtain the consent of Japan. The
principal injury sutlered by the Russian herd at the hands of jielngic
sealers is wliilc the herd is off the shores of .lapaii, going north to tiie
Commander and Robbeii islands. Tor example, in 1.S94 only a little
over 7,000 seals were killed at sea in Russian waters, as compared with
over 71,000 taken off the coast of .Japan. In 1895 about the same num-
ber were taken in Russian waters, as comjiared with over L'9,000 taken
ott" the coast of Japan; and in the same year only six American vessels
rejwrt making catches in Russian waters, to the total amount of 7(10
skins. In 1894 only 201 skins were reported taken by American pelagic
sealers.

I take pleasure in inclosing a memorandum giving, on page 107,
information as to the cat<!h of seals and other kindred subjects, which
H. Doc. 92, pt. 2 23

;{r)4

ALASKA IM>USTHIF;H.

}

ia shortly to appear in the Secictary's roi)ort. I also rot urn the 1 1 rait
submitted with your letter of the -Sth instiiiit.
Itespeetfully, yourH,

C. 8. llAMLiN, Acting ISeiictary.
The Sk(;u1''/i'auv ok Sta'I'k.

DlU'ARTMRNT OF Si'ATK,

Wanliiiitjttni, l-'fhni(i)ji 'Jl, tf^Hil.

!SiU: The inclosed note (in translation) of the iiiissian minister at
thiseapital speaks for itself. It seems to me the 10 uiile alon{;-the eoast
arranjiement is not material. Do you think it is?

If not, the agreement as approved by the Treasury 1 >ei)artnieiit would,
as I understand it, be sullieientiy expressed by an instrument eontiiin-
inp th(* provisions shown by a draft herein inclosed.

IMease give me your views upon the matter, returning the draft witli
such alterations as you deem to be needed.

The Russian minister is exeeedingly anxious that no time shoidd l)e
lost in initiating the proposed negotiations in liondon. I therefore hope
to hear from yon on the subject at once.
Very truly, yours,

liK llAUU OLNI'^.

Hon. ('nAKi,Ks S. Hammn.

Anfiistant iSccrvtary of tlw I'lemury,

FEnurATtY '1C>, 1896.

Sir: I beg to acknowledge the receipt of your letter dated February
24, inclosing the draft of an agreement between the Russian Govern-
ment and the United States regarding new regulations of the fur-seal
fisheries from the Asiatic to the American shores. Yon state that in
your opinion the suggestion of the Department regarding tiie abroga
tion of the 10 mile zone is not mattuial, and yon ask further expression
of opinion from me on this (juestion. In rei)ly. I have the honor to
state that this prohibition, if continued, will prevent American seal
ing vessels from particii)aling in the fur-seal fisheries within 10 miles
of the Kussian and .Jai)an coasts. Such a proiiibition, if enforced also
against the British Canadian sealers as well as those of Russia and
•lapan, would put the citizens and subjects of all of these nations on
ecjual grounds. 1 see, therefore, no objection to the continuation of
such prohibition.

In the draft you inclose there is evidently an error as to the closed
season, it being made to read from A])ril 1 to April 15. In the originnl
suggestion contained in your letter of February S, the agreement read
from April 1 to October 15, and I assume that those are still the dates
during which total inohibition of fur sealing is desired.

I will also CiiU your attention to the statement in the preamble of the
last draft of agreement, "that the object is to ])r()vido that the same
law shall govern maritime hunting of fur seals in the waters Irequented
by both the Russian and American herds." This statement shoidd be
omitted, as the suggestion made by the Russian Government modilies.

/

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

3-)5

at- least to tlie oxterit of tlic lOiiiilo ])r()liibito(l zoiio, the rofjiilations of
tlm I'iiri.s iiwiii (I.

I take plwisiiic ill iiido.siiijj u dral't of an a;,Mci'iiient wliicli I think
covers th«^ Huj,';i»'«tioiis iiiadc by thi^ Jtiissian (lovcniinciit.
N'vry rt'Hpcct fully, yours,

J. (j. (JAiiLiSLii, /Secretary.

TIlO SKCUKTAKY ()!•' SJ'ATK.

IIiirlcmurK.]

/vgrpemiMit bi'twcpii flio Govoviininnt of llm I'nitcil Staton and tlip rmporiiil Govorn-

iiiiMt of IJimsia, siiii)ili'iiii'ntaiy tn an ii;,'rticiriciit of Miiy I. W.H, reliiliv(> to thi< fiii-

Hcal fislierirH in llonii); Sua and tho Noitii Pacific Ocean.

Wlioroas ux|)ci liMici' liaH shown tliat tlie |ii'ovisioii,s of itaiil aKicuiiiDUt arc inaile-
i|uatc to tlicaucoTiipliHliincnt of its piii'iKiscs, I lie cunt lact inn par tins ilo h(?rcl)y a)j;ico
to add to and mipplciiicnt tlic same hy tlin pfdvisions follow in;; :

I. ri)u extent of the piohiliiteil zone aruiind the (/'onnnanilei' IhIiukIh and Kobben
I.sland Hhall lio OO nautical inili'N,

'J. Maritime limiliM;; id' fur Neals shall lie wholly jiroliibited from April 1 to Octo-
ber Vi in lierin;^ Sea, tlut Sea nf i >IJiol*ik, ami the I'aiilic ( )cean north oi' tho thirty-
fiftii decree of iiorlh lalilnde, from one contMieiit to the other.

It. 'I'lieHaida^reiMncntid' .May I. IM'.M, as horciiy added to and Nupplemcnted, in hereby
declared (oxc(^|it ho far as ncce.ss.arily in cunsiHleneo tlicrcuith) to l)c in addilioii to
tlic ref{iilatioim of the Paris award and not in dercp;;atioii i hereof; all ol' wliieb said
refiulations, save as herein modihcd, and tin! a(^t» of (;<)ii;;iess dated A])ril (j and
April L'l, isil.'i, jiasscd to carry out the rcjiulations cd" said award, the said Imperial
(Jovernmcnt oi' Kiissia hereby accejits and a^rccH to carry into full elfoct as rej^aiilH
its siibjecls.

■1. All li'ussian vessclH enjfa>;od in hnntinj; fur seals in violation of the aj,'i'oenient
of May l, IMM. as hereby added to and supplemented, or in vi(dation of the regula-
tions of tht> Paris award and the luds ol' ( on;,'i'ess dated .Vjiril (1 and April 1.'4. 1891,
in relation thoieto, may ho seized and detained hy the naval or other commissioned
ollieerH of the I'nited Slates as provided in said kifiislatinii, and all the provisions of
said statutes shall be applicable to Uussian vessels and sliall 1)» carried out by the
courts of }{imsia.

5. All tho provisions of said aitreement of May 1, 18111, not inconsistent with the
provisions of this snppleiiiontal agreenKMit shall remain in full force and etfoet.

(!. The provisions of this siipphMuental agreement shall he operative and otfoctive
as 8o(m as the Hiitish (■overument and the .lapanesc Uovorniuent shall have both
agreed to be bound thereby.

March 6, 1896.

Sik: 1 have the lionorhcrewitii to transmit, for your iufonnatiou and
fonsideration, copy of a letter dated the liTth iiltiiiio, and of the afllda-
vit therein referred to from Mr. 11. Liebes. of San Franoi.sco, Cal., in
relation to the uiipi'olit;ii)le eonilitidii of the scal-eatehing business as
condueted by sealiiiji' schooiier.s. and ])rotesfin.i;' afjaiust the present
practice of the owners of siieii vessels in extermiiialiug the .seal herds
without resuUiiif;' pecuniary gain.
Hespectfiilly, yours,

S. WiKE, Acting Secretary,

The Secuktakv op State.

[Ini'Icisnro.l
[H. l,iebi)s ct Co., importera of skins and nianiit.ii tiiiers of fiincy fiir.s, Xos. M3, IM, 11)7 Post stioct.]

San Fkancisco, Cal., Febrnarii .T, /f!>6.
Dkaii Sin; Referring to Iho cmiversation had with you while in Washington
lately i)ortaining to the iinprotitalile condition of the seal-catching business, and
upon your suggestion I now beg to inclose two atlidavits covering the same, which,

356

ALASKA INDUSTRirS

if not in tlio form you desire, oaii be cliaiijn '1 as you ni.iy iiulioate. Slionld yon wish,
several ntliurK siiriilar and from oilier |i:ntirs can no (lonl)t lir obtained.

In (act, there will bo no dillicultv whatever in l)einf; a''!e to \)rove liy experts that
the sealing Bcliooiiors are inirsiiini; tlie business at a loss, and it soeiiiB oiitraj^couB
that they tdioiild jiernist ;:■ fxtenninatiiifi; tliu herd willioirc any pecuniary i(ain. The
only reason ihey continue in the bufdness is that th;> vessicLs so en{;aiie,l are not lit
for any other purpose, and iiirther in the hope of an aiix iice in the price of seals in
thti Jjondon nia,-l;et, which ci-n only tal<e i)lace if the r.^al catch on the I'ribilof
Tslandt! bj redaaed, but if on the contrary the same weie increased it would ho
deniora'.i/e the trade by reduciuf^ present prices to such an extent that tinancially
thov Would not be abie to lit out another season, and this ti; oonie extent would solve
the ])rob!i'n'. and save the seal herd from eiiti'c ilcstriudion.

It is now an ackuowlcdL^cd fact ihat sealing in the North I'acilic is niucli more
unprolitable than in the IJering >Sea, and vv(;uld be abandoned entirely if the hiiut-
iuLT could not be successfully continued inri the Ibninjj; Sea, as the seals taken
therein have a iiiMcli larger coiiiiucirial \alue (ban tho-.e taken in the North '.'arilic,
which is accounted for by the same coiitainiii.,'; ijuitc a number of yount; male seals,
such as are 'ir)t taken on the I'ribilof Isl mis, but allowed lo i^o l)ac'v into the water.
The skins of these vounir males, as stated above, are valued at. very iniuli mirethan
tlu' skin of the cow ac;!l. and if they (the younj; males) were taken (ui the islands
anil not allowed to <^o back into the water to fall into the hands of the ))oaclicrs,
their catches would be worth consideiably less ciuumcrcially, besides e;reatly rodnc-
inS the rpiantity they coulil take.

These facts are biune out by the sworn slaternents made of the ])ercentago of male
skins contained in the Heriufr.'^ea catch o*' last year, whi(di, I umlerstiind. ui\uibere.<l
about 15,l)(iO, and had the lessees been ji rmitted to take these s. >ls the (iovt -nuient
wiuild have receiveil a revenue on same and the sealers would have been so de.noral-
ized that very few, if any, would have fitted . at the present season.

I trust I have not encioached iijion your valuable time, and if I can be of any
assistance to yon jdease commaiul uio.
Yours, truly,

C. S. flAMi.iN, Esq.,

Assistant t'iecretari/. Iniivd dilutes 'rreiixiirii,

II, LlKUI'.S.

H'lisliintiton, D. C.

Ai.EXANDKil McLkan, beinj; iluly sworn, deposes and says : I have been encased as
captain of se.illn}; schooners for thirteen years last past, and fiu' seven yc^ais com-
manded a British si'alini; srhooner sailing from the ji >rt of \ietoria, British Colum-
bia; .lUd have, while so engaged, luintod lor fur se ils in the w.iters of the North
Pacific Ocean and Bering Se:' : am thorcuighiy familiar with all the details ;uj to the
cost of such sealing vessels, thei'' out tils. ,ind every ox)iei\so attached thereto. [ am
also fully informecl as to the jiriees fe.r-seal skins sold for in the London market
eacdi year, and that th. price so realized the la.st two years, taking the average catch
per schooner for the same period of time, has left a loss to the vessel so engaged in
the sealing business, both 'luericanand ISritish audio conse(|uen(^o of the slaugh-
tering of the cow seals ii ..le ]iast years, I I'oiind iluiiiig my last cruise to the Niuth
I'licilic and Moring Sea that the i|uantify of seals has been so L;reatly ledi.eed tliat
the average catch per scdiooner will necessarily bo consiilerable less the coming
season than in the past, so that it will not pay to coatinue tln^ Imsiii" ss, and for the
(list tiiiie in thirteen years I shall not engage in the same tie- )iresent se.ison.

A i.i; \ .\ M > I ; It .\I cLiCA n .

Subseribeu .uul sworn to liefore me this i:lst dav oi t'eluiun y. A. 1 1. iMH!.

[.'<KAi,. I .M \i;k Lani:, Xolrtrn I'lihliv.

A. P. LouF.NrzKN, b(>iii4dMly sworn, d(U)oscs and says: T'lai he is secretary juiil
general manager of the I'aeiiie Trading Cojuiiany, a corporation existing under the
laws of the State of California; that said e(Uiip;in> is the owner of the .\meiican
schooners llDnanzn. i'.diiard !■'.. It'rh>ili'r, Herman, and AIIdh ; that s.iid schooners were
engaged in the 8e:iling bnsini'ss during the past two years, hnnting lur seals in the
w;iters of the North I'aeiiie Ocean and I'lcring Sea, :iiid in the same lociitions \isited
by ''olh the Amerii;in and lirilish ('olumbia seiiling tliuMs; that said S' hooncvs left
this port at the usual time and retuiued here willi their cargoes at the end of each
season; that they were engaged in the taking of fur seals during these respective
seasons, consisting of t'roiu ei:;lit to nine 'uoiiths eac h year; thai theaver.ige catches
of said soliooncrs for the p;ist two years wer.) more than the avei:ige catches per
Rchoonc^r of (he entiro setiling lleet, both A...enca" ami liritish, during the same
period ; that the catches of seals above rofeind to were shipped to L 'udon aud soM

ALASKA INDirsTICIKR.

357

tlmre at pnWio anctioii in tho iisinil hkiiiik r, uml llii' .iiiioiuit r^nllzod tor (lie fi.iid
HPiil skins \\ ns iiiiifli below llie cost iittiiihul to the ratcliiii;; ol' tlu; s:mii\ and hi ciicli
oast' lel\, a loss to tliti comiiiiiiy ; tliar lie ikmsoiiuHv snpci .'iirc-inlcd tlio lilt iii^ out ol'
till) al)ove-ii, lined scluioniTs for Initli yeais al«i\ .• staled : tliat the same was dont^ as
econonncally as iiossilde, ami at as hiw n rust ;is .■uiyoiie else eonl<l have litted ont
said or siniiha vessels lor, either in this ]iort (jr in any |>ort in Uritish Colniu')ia ;
that the parties eni;aK"'' as hii liters, etc., on a'lov o vessels were I'lilly com pet en t anil
or|iiiil to any enniuied on ■;.•. other vessel onl ol this port or any jiort in British
Coluiiiliia; tliat diirinLf the i/esent year ( IxiT.) tin! selionners l!(j]i(ui:a, II eh.itir, uml
llfitiiaii lia\o lieeii witlniiawii I'roiii the sealiiifi luisiiifsH I'or the reason that tliesanie
lias proven decidedly iinprolitahle, and tor the I'lulher reason tlia' there is a jirnsjiect
that their cati lies would he decreased in i!oiisei| iiciice of tlio diminution of the seal
herd, which would nndonhtedly leave a lar;;er lo-sthan ii former yeirs; that from
statistics w.ithered throiijjh his own experience in this hnsine^s in the past years it
is sliown that the average cost of each seal taken in tlie waters of the North Pacific
Ocean and lioriiif; Sea in the usual maiiner, computed on an averaj;o cateli of tlio
entire sealin;; tleet, is from tli> to $11, "id landed in London; that siicli cost varieH
accordinp; to the si/e of ilie vessel's catch; that as the ]ier capita catch of these ves-
sels iniisl necessarily he largely reduced from now on the seals so taken will natu-
rally cost comparatively more, making; the husiness of catching scale still more
nnilesiiiihh,' and iinpiolitalde.

In witness wlieivof the said A. 1'. Lorcntzen has heronnto set his hand and seal
this 20th day of lebrnary, 18116.

A. P. LOUEVTZKN.

Snbserihed and sworn to before me this .'(hli day of February, IHitfi.

Mr.Mjv- H. yi wnt^i >s, Xotary PuhUc.

MAUCH G, 18'lfi.

SlU: 1 liavo the Ikhioi to stiitc for your iiifbriniition tbat in tlie last
aiiiiiiiil r(']iiiii oi' .J. I), (howlcy. speciiil aj^eiit in charge of the seal
ishiiids, it ajijicars tluit by iictiial count -.S,(Ml() seal jiuijs diet! in the
I'lihihii' islaiuls diiiiiio- the last season tVoni starvation, their mothers
havinj;- lieen kiiii'tl at seiL A ciirffiil ostiiiiate. bas<'d upon a partial
count, placed the number of pups which died from starvation during
tl'.-" season of JS'll at LMi,(l()(>. The cotint for ^H[)^^ was careful'y verified
by an aj^ciit of the North American CVinmieicial (.'(»mpany ujion the Prib-
ilof islands. The rej.ort of Agent Crowley, above refetre.l to, with
other pajiers, was recently transini*^k'd tothe 8en;ite, in com]iliance with
a resolution of that body, and is uav in the liands of the Govermnent
Printer, its publication having been ordered. I desire to call your
attention also to the nnprecedentedly large catch of seals in Bering
8e;i during the i)ast season. The tirtal was 4Ll'>!>, as eoiupared witli
;{l,r),sr) during the season of ISitl. This is by far the largest catch ever
nnwle in Pering dea, and it is believed that another catch of similar
si/.e f'»r the coming season will almost coniplctel.y extermitiate the fur-
sea' herd. The gr«'ater portion of seals killed at sea were fetimles. The
total catch dining the last sc ison ia the Ninth Pa ific and Bering Sea
from the American herd was .W.'.IIM as eoiiii)ar>'d w t!i the total for 1894
of (ll,.s,'>S: tlie small lallin^; olf bcii..; due to Ihe fact of the inclemency
of the wcat her between January and May along the northwestern coast,
and also to the diminution of the seal aerd. On the oiher hand, the
catch in the Bering Sea increased very largely, as the inclosed figures
show.

I would respectfully call these figun s to your attention, in the hope
that tli(> British (iovernmcnf ma.^ consent for the coming season to some
further regulation of the fur seal fishery in order to save the herd from
extermination.

1 have lie honor, etc.,

S. WiKK, Acliiuj Secretary.

The Sk<.)uktau\ of State.

J58

ALASKA ItOJtWrsT >1K«.

March 13, 1.S90.

Sir: The act approved Februiiry 21, isrt3 (27 Stat.. i72), cxtoiids the
provisions of section l!>r»() ol' iiir Itcvised iStiitnlcs, rel.(fiiifi' to tiie i;iil-
inj;' of fnr-beai'iiii;' animals in Ahiska, to tiiat portion of tlie North
Pacific Ocean covered by the international agreement reached as a
result oi' the Tribunal of Arbitration at Paris. The act provides also
that when such agreement is concluded it shall b<^ the duty of the I'lcsi
dent to declare tliat fact by in-ocluiiation and to (lesij>natc the portion
of the Paciti(; Ocean to which it is .ipplicable.

1 have the honor to iurpiiie wiiethcr the prncdamaiion of the Presi-
dent, datnl Ajiril 0, ]«1>4, i»roniul<;atj««}j the provisions of the act of
AprilG, 1«!>4, containing the aw^rd of the Paris Tribunal, is the procla
niation issued \x\ compliance with the ai-t of February 21, tS.t.'J, above
cited, or whether it is deeni»-d necessary tihtat anotker should be issued
to meet the recjuiiemeuts of tliat act.

in order that the necessary instriwtious way be issued to olii^c'-g of
this department. 1 have th*' noiwfr »I.m) ro »»'«|nest that I be a>; ; d
whether or not it is \tn)])o^u"{ to i*****' fior tli* "Hirivnt year a procu. -a-
tion sinular to that of IVv.ruary M. J.S95 :;< .Stat.. J2r)8), prohibitinjf
all i>ersons from enteriiifT the water- of iici
of the United States for the luirpose of
.section VXtCt of the Pevised Statutes.
Kespeetfully, yours,

S. W'iKi;, Arthiij Sccnhiyy

The SiiCKETAKV OF State,

■ij: Sea within the dominion
violating the provisions of

DlCI'ARTMKNT OF RtATR,
Washington, April :'(), lRi>6.

Sir: Tn a private and confidential lelcfjram from the Pritish Forci},'n
Ottice U) the Pritisii Andiassador at this capital it is >tal cd, amonj^'
other things, that Her Majesty's (iovernnu-nt is fully in accord with
the Pnited States (lovcrnmcnt in desiring that ;dl Jiecessary and pra<!-
ticable measures should betaken to jirevent the destruction of the seal
herd. To that end they juopost^ to cmi)loy an additional cruiser the
forthcoming season on patrol duty, while notice has been issued by the
Canadian (lovernment thai in future sea.sous nursing females should be
distinguished from iuiy others.

It is added that, with a view to the consideration of the (piestiou of
further restrictions to be imjiosed in future years. Her Majesty's (lov
ernmeut desires, with the concurrence of the ('ui*cd States, to cmn-
nnssioi) a naturalist from f'ngland to reside during' the forthcoming
»i«ason on the J'nbilof Islands; that the ('ai,,idian (Juvernmeiii also
*J<'Mir«'s to again send Mr. Maiwim tocontintie his investigations; that
tlu'>»« gentlemen aie expected to reach the islan<ls in the early part of
iFune; *»»<} that Mer Majesty's rjovertiment hopes that tin;, will enjoy
the cooperation of llie Cuited States antliorities and will receive all
necessary facilities for the a<!<'omplishmeiit of the purposes of their
mission.

It is suggested that the company leasing the fur seal catch might be
willing to make arrangements to perndt the gentlemen named to pro-
ceed in the company's steamer.

Will you kindly give me your views upon the lungoing propoaitious,

ALASKA INDrHTRIF.R.

SaSI

and (^speciiilly upon the jioitit wliftliof Micro is any objection to a resi-
dence ni)()n the I'ribilof Islands of British or Canadian coininissioners,
as siijigested.

Very icspectinlly, yours,
The 8KCKETA11V oi' Tin-; 'I'i;i;asi ky.

KlCUAlU) Ulnky.

Depautment of State,

\Vii.slii,i(iton, April :JX>, 18DI!.
My Dear Sir: I shouM like un answer at your earliest convenience
to mine of a day or two since, askinji' your views respectin}>' the request
of the Jiritisli (iovernnient tiiat a naturalist, appointed by that (iovern-
inent, be permitted to reside on the TribJlof Islands the coming season,
and respecting;' the other matters stated in my letter.
\ ery truly, yours,

KlCIIAUD Oh.NEV.
Hon. CUAUI.ES S. llVMLIN,

AnsistaHl iSccrctarji of tlir Tnn.sury.

Al-IJIL L'.?, KSntl.

Siu: I have the honor to acknowledge your note of April -t», inform-
ing the Department of the desire of Her Majesty's Government to
commission a naturalist from lOngland to icsiile during the forthcoming
season on the I'ribiiof Islands, and of the further desire of the Cana-
dian (lovernuient to s( ml again Mr. Macoun to continue his investiga-
tions. Yon suggest, also, that the company leasing the fur seal islands
might be willing to make arrangements to permit tlie gentlemen named
to pro<eed in the comjtauy's steamer.

I have the honor to reply that I see no objection to a suitai ly qnali-
iied Z(»ologist residing on the islands this season, but I beg to impress
upon yon the necessity, if such permission be given, of also sending a
zoologist to represent the United States Government. I would further
suggest that it be understood that this ])ermission shall in no way be
construed as a waiver of the position of the United States that an
immediate change in the regulations of tiie Paris award is necessary
to preserve the fur seal herd from destruction during the coming sea-
son, or as an abando iineut of its etlbrts in this direction. Inasmuch
as the closed season begins May 1, and continues until the 1st of
August, wluii the fur seal herd is in Hering Sea. there will be ample
time to complet<! negotiations tbr such a change in the regulations.
shoiUd the British Government consent thereto. As to the desire <»f
the Canadian Government to send Mr. Macoun to the islands, I would
state that I have made careful inquiries as to Mr, M<ic(mn's standing
and abilities as a /.oologist. I beg, in this connection, to inclose a
copy of a note from Mr. .1. Stanle.\ IJrown, agent of the North American
(;<immercial ('ompany,the present lessee of the seal islands, from which
it would seem to apitear tint the interests of both tl'.e Inited States
and of Great llritam might oe subserved better by the designation of
some other person than Mr. Mai'oun. I do not, however, see the
necessity of Iniviiig any zoologist to reju'csent Canada, other than the
oiu' representing the British Croveriiment.

3«J0

ALASKA INDrSTRIES.

T would further respectfully suggest that before any permission be
given, tlie name of tlie zoologist be submitted to me, in order that the
Dejiartiiieiit may be satisfiecl as to his capacity. Mr. Brown requests
that his letter be considered confidential.

I liave the honor, etc..

The yEciiEiAuv OF State.

S. WiKE, Acting Secretary.

1318 MAspAcnusETTS Avenuk,
nashhigton, I). C, April 22, 1896.

Sir: In reply to your note of tliis date, I have to say that Mr. J. M. Maco'in is a
liotaiiist (il!ti( iaily iiniiipcted with tlie Canailian geolofjical survey. He is an agree-
alile and iiniialpU' m-iitli'iiian to "vhoni personally I feel most kindly, but iu the sense
ol liaving kiiovvliilge of animals he is not a nafiirnlist at all. In 1892, while study-
ing - als and liieir hiiliits on the I'rihilof Islands, he con li lined a report of Dr. Ever-
niaii 8 to the cliVet that they had in ootnpaiiy seen a nunihur of dead female seals at
Noithcast I'nint, St. I'aul Island. The investigation which was immediately made
showed that x\n; creatures they had seen were the pups of the sea lion and at leuflt
three out nf live wore males.

Upon his ri'turu to Canada, Mr. Macoun prepared a rejiort which was printed as
pages KM to l.")t) of the appendix ot the Counter Case of (Jreat Britain, vol. 1. Thi8
re|iort is so lillcd with his own version of couvarMations ard statements of other
individuals, insulliciont oi)servation8, conjcoture, and statements made with the
evidriit intention of mislead ing those unfamiliar with the sul);ect, and is so lacking
in the frank anil honest spirit of scientilic investigation that he should not be again
received hy the United Slates as a rejiresentatlve of Groat Britain in any capacity.
I'lie whole repo.t wa'; uiaiio under the suiiervision of l^r. Dawson, one of the British
Bering Sea coiinnissioiiers. and was designed to form an adjunct to and bolster up
that e.xtraorilinary and thoroughly discreditahle document, the report of the British
coiiiiiii.ssioners. Air Macoun is a suliordinate of Dr. Dawson's, and any future
investigations hy him will lie carried out in the same B])irit and within the same
])uri)ose as were those of 18!(2.

Tlie natural history farts ndating to the fnr seal, so far as they can he ascertained
from residence on tlie I'liliilofs, are well k';own, and it is not a naturalist who is
needed so much as the services of an honest man of high standing who will faithfully
count the dead pups upon eai'h rookeiy after Septeiuher 20. All .sealing in Bering
Sea should he SMs|iPiided. and it would be a simple* matter to determine from the
count made in September • y representatives of the United States and Great Britain
in concert (this is iiuportaul) whether the enormous numbers of dead pupu counted
last year is a normal, annual occurrence unali'ectcd hy the frightful slaughter of
mothers in Hciiiig Sea. There is still anijile time to save the terrUile waste of seal
life which has occurred dm ing the past two summers — that waste which has destroyed
alike the .Maskaii and Uiissian weal herd.
Very rcsjiei t fully,

J. STANLBY-BnOWN.

Hon. v.. S. Hami.in,

Aisisluni -Stcrtlaij/ nj ihe 'iietiHuyy,

AiMML 25, 1896.
Sir: I have madv' iuiiuirios of Mr. .1. Stiiiiley-'ilrown, superintendent
of tlie Nortii Aiiu'ritiin Coinniercial Company, who informs methattiie
company's steamer Hointr will .sail from Sar. Francisco between the 15ta
and 2()th of May for tlie ishinds. The steamship is a iommodions one,
having forty staterooms, and there will be no trouble iu accommodating
the representatives of tiie i>riti,sli (iovernment. The steamer will reach
Unalaska probably about June .i, and continuing its <'ourse, will reach
the island.^ about .July 7. The whole seal herd will not be on the
islands before .July 1(». and it would not b(^ priuitic-iible, therelbre, to
undertake to count the numlier of seals betbre that date, and this
counting would take probably ten days. It would be, therefore, nearly

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

3(!!

Aujjuat 1 befort^ any report of said representatives could be sent bade
and reach the United States or (!reat IJritain,

The only ell"e(;tive mode would be to a<;re(' in advance, as 1 have
supge.sted in another letter of this date, upon a modus vivendi closing
Bering Sea, and prohibiting all killing on land and sea duiing the
remainder of this .season, excei)t food skins for the natives. If. how-
ever, the British representatives were authorized to declare such a
modus, if the result of their investigation warianfed .sucli action, it
would be possible to notify the sealing vessels at IJiiaiaska, where they
rendezvous, ^rior to going into Hering Sea. It woidd lie impossible,
liowever, to send a rejjort back to the United States and (Ireat iiritain
in time to receive an answer and to notify said vessels of the conclusion
of the respective (Tovernments.

I have the honor, etc,

The Secretary ok Statj^..

B. WncE, Act in f/ Scrrcianj.

Depahtmkxt of Static.
WashiiifjIiiH, April :'■''. IsOi;.
Sir: I have the honor to transmit to you herewith two copies of a
report from the Canadian minister of marine and lislieries resjiecting
the catch of the Canadian sealing lleet during the .sea.son of 18!)."). and
of the statistics annexed to the report, which supply the information
required by article •"» of the Bering Sea arbitration award.

The docuim-nts in (luestion were received with a note of tbo li3d
instant from the British ambas.sador at this capital.
I have the honor, etc.,

IllCUARD OLNEY.

The Secretary of the TiiKAsi'RV.

[Iiiclnsuros.]

Report from the minuter of marine and fislterien nf ('nnnda, irilli rifere:>''f to ihf rnlch of
the British aealei's v^hu operated on the Xorlh Amerieaii eoont diirini/ the year lHOo.

Maiusk anj> I''isiii:nii;s, Canada, Otiawa,

•January 4, ISOG.
To His Excellency tlic GovuHNou-Oh'.NiatAI, in (.'of.Sci/, :

Kcvertiiifj to the approvcil niiiiiito of council (biti'd tlio iiutli .Inly lust, c<iniiiinnl-
cating the catch of the ISiitiah sealeiH which opeiiitcd on the Xortli Aimviii'ii (•(< inti
during the H)irinjj of IHit.o, the umlci^ifjiicil liiis now tlie honor to a|i|ii ;; I. tor iho
infornmtiou of Vonr KxcclliMicy, a conmniniciition from the collector of ■ o, 'onis iit
Victoria, dated the Tfh ultimo, covcrin;?:

(a) I^ist of tlie iniine.s and masters of all vessels liceiiscd at N'ictoriu for IbOS.

(fc) StatOMient of tlie catch of liritisli sealing licet fur l.s'.i.").

(c) The catch of American schooners landed at \ ictoria.

(rf) Tlie catch of .\nierican scho(inirs hiiided at I'lmd Sound.

(p) The catch of American schooners landed it Astoiiii, Ore<r

(/) The catch of Ainericuti sclioouers l.iiided at San I'l mci.sco.

((/J The catch of Priliilof Islands i Aineiican).

(/M The catch of Copper Islands i K'nssian).

(i) The boardinjjs of liritish \e-srls in Mcring S,-a,

(,;') (^opiflH of oliicial lof;- of all Uritisli vessels --liitiiii; from N'ictoria, ^iviiiL; loca-
tion of each day's fur seal lisliinj; operations.

The undersigned would obMerve that the catch of seuls duiaig the past .seven \ ears
was —

N ihiiIht

1889 Hf), lilO

1890 1.'!, ii-T)

1891 52, litio

1892 I!), 743

npreseutiug practically au avuiaj^e of tiO,000 skins per annuiu

XiinilHT.

18it.3 W, .592

189t !».-., 048

18;t5 7a, 614

'.fm;n

3()2

A1,ASKA INDUSTrtlKS.

It in tliiis (loiniiiistiatcil tli;lt tlic vifld (if the idispiit .v<!;n-, ui>t\vitli»tnii<liilK tlic
exiiliuiiitidiis of tiii|)iopiti(nis wputlicr iiiiil tinliivor.ihle (•irciiiiistiiiicoR, Ih laii;el.\ in
<?Xfi's.s iif the avurjini' tukc of tlic imsl hcvcmi years.

I'ridr to the <ixtriiiii(liii;iry iiuil .ilmormal taUn of IXill. iiihIit the inoMt f;ivoiiililo
<oiiilitioiis of weatlicr and olhcr circiuiistaiircs. tliatof ISIKI yrcatly cxcoedud any in
pri\ ions years in th(^ history of the scalinu induNtry, yet the taUo of IIm- jircseiii
\<-:ir Ih couNidcraldy larj^((r than that was.

I'he midor.sijincd in of tlio ojiinion tliat tlic .siniiificaine of the dei reaso in llii'
I'atch as compared with IWII eau not lie no marked an mi|;lit at fii«l M<ih{ appear, if
llie reHnlts of the two years are consideml alone.

lie further helieves that the contention that the seal herds are heinu rapidly
exterminated, and that only a vrstijic of theii former ij;ri'atneHs n mains, does not
appear to jjatlnir mtieh Htrenj;lh from an iniiiartial examinal ion of the fif^iiros nprt!-
Hi'nlinfi the annual eatch. Indeed, considered in the lii^ht of the explaiial icjns
oliered liy tiio .sealers, the result of the jin'scnl year'.s oiierations may In- regarded
as alfordiuj; reasonahle firouuds for an exactly oiipnsite conclusion.

I'erhaps one of the most noteworthy incidents in the industry thiH year is the eatch
hy the 8<'hooner Direclur in the South Atlantic Ocean, olf Falkland Islamls, of lidL'
.seals.

Ini|uiricH were iustituli d for the [oirposo of colleitinc; any infornuition conncetid
with the incident which niijiht he of interest to the iiuestion of the scaliti;i; industry
f;enerally.

It was ascertained that Capt. Frederick W. (iillierl, oi' the schooner JJinclur. HI
tons register, with .1 crew of 135 men. sailed fnuu Halifax, Nova ."^eotiaiOii tlie 2t)th of
Hecemiier, I8!tl, hound for the Asiatic side of tlw Xorth I'acific ( icean.

On reacliini; the tenth <legreo of south latitu(l(i the master w.as ol)liKed to ehani,'e
his course hy reason of his sujiply of )irovisions and water heinjf iusullieient to
enahle him to complete hi.s voyaj^e.

I'h6 run from llalifax to tJhe I'alkland Islands was made in forty eij4ht days.
While off the southern end of the i dands Ik^ encountered several j;rou|)s (d' seals. He
couso(|uently devottid thirty-six days to sealiir!.; in that neii,rlihorliood, as well as ott
the east and west ends of .'^tateii Island, n suiting in the capture ■>( i>'2t) seals, wliii li
he took to the port of \'ietoria.

The captain reports that he was compelled to suspend his sealing operations owinj;
to a idiange in the weather, whicdi became i|iiite stormy, and as it was gellin;^ late
in the season he proceedeil on his vovaye to Victoria, reai'hini; thi're on the L'ls' of
May, lWtr>.

Captain (iilhcrt re|)orted that all the seals were secured at sea, far di.stant from
any of the sealing preserves, and were shot in the sanu' manner as are tho.se taken
in the North I'acific Ocean by the \'ictoria sealin<; fleet.

He met with lu) interference. In reply to the in(iuiries made it was ascertained
that no record existed of the laiulini; in the ])ast of . any seal skins at a I'ritish
Columbia jxirt w hicb did not form jiai t of the, catch of the sealers operatiu;; in the
North Pacific Ocean, either on the Anuuican or Asiatic side thereof.

The skins are reported to have been in good conditi(in, and to be of the same kind
as those usually sold by Messrs. Fampsou A ( o., Loudon, and are classed and
known with flie Lobos Islands seal skins from the mouth of the river I'latte, and
bringing about the same pri<'es as tliose taken in the .North Pacific Ocean.

The ehara<ter of the skins is ropresenfed as being very similar to that of tuose
nsnally secured hy the Mritish Cidumbiau fleet.

The />;rec/()c, under the counnand of (.ptaiti (.'ilhia-t. tilteil at Nictoria for the
August and September season in Bering Se.i, whcrea(ufch of ti88 seal skins was
secured.

'I'lie undersigned rei^oniiucudH that a copy of this report, if.'ipiiroved, togetlier w ith
its ajipi'ndices, be forwaiiled to the right honoratde the piincijial secret.iry of state
for the ((diuiies.

Respectfully submitted.

.liilIN C'isl ii. w.

Ci --roMs, Can.vd.v, VicToiiiA. rSitirisii Coi.rMuiA,

Ihreiiihey 7. ISO.').
Siii' I have the honor to forward hcrt!uilh a statement in complete form showing
the following:

(1) The names and ni;i-.f eis of all vessels licensed at Victoria for W\io.

(L') The lateh of I'.rilisli sealing llect foi- IMt.").

{'A) The eati h of Americiu schooners landed at Victoria.

(4^ The catch of Anierii an scliooners landed at Puget Sound.

ALASKA INDUSTKIES.

3(J3

(5) 'riio ciitrl) of Aiiioricuu schooners landed at Astoiin, Oro^.
(,6) 'I'lii^ catili of American ncIiooixm-.s landed at Sau Francisro.

(7) Till) catcli of rril)ilof Inlands (Anii'riiaii).

(8) 'I'lic I iifidi of(o|iiicr Islands (Kussiani.

(9) The boavdiri}^ of lirilish vrssels in llcrinj; Sen.

(10) 'I'he eopics of odii'ial lojjs of all l>ritl>*h veHscIs sailing froni \'ii'toria, fjivini-
location of each day's I'nr seal iisliin;;()|ierat ions.

In snliMiiltinfi; the above reiiovl of the fur siNiliiif; o|)erations for the jiast year, I
would hei; to say that the lij^nres have In en collected with eoiisiderablo care and
tronlile, and I desire here, foryijiii belter underRtaniliii;; of the year's work, to;{iv«
a ri'sunic^ of the oj)eratioiis of the ll.-et sailini^ from this |>ort.

lt'('Hiill8, ism. — The catch of 18!i| bi-iii!; the iar^esl in the history of this port,
amoniitin^; to 91, 171 skins, the resnlts, however, were i;enerally unsatisfactory aii<l
uuprolilablt^ to the owners of vessids.

This loss was brouijht about jiartly by their own act in k'^'ik cxorhitani prices
to the seal hunters, payinj; them as hitrli as :ii|.."i() ami :iil.7."> per skin, wlien the sabs
in London only brouf,'ht aliout .+7 to is per skin, thus liriui;inj; i|uile a nuuilier of
owneis into debt, and some to disaster.

I endeavored at thetime of thoenfjaKeiiientol the crews in 1894 to briuf; the owners
to realize that there was i;reat daniier in payiuu this high li^jurt^ to hunters, but
there was such comiietition that all argument was unavailing.

The present year, lio\vc\ er, the elfect of the low jirices brought the ow ners to
realize the situation, and the v<'ssols jmid this year to all white hunters only one-
lifth lay and to the Indh-ns the same, \>ith a small bonus.

I.ii-eiixes, — There have been licensed during the 'liist year (il Hritish vi^ssels sailing
from this port. Of this number 22 sailed during' iJecember, Ixitl. and .lanuary, 189.0,
to .Ja])an; .'i3 were engaged in the British Columbia Coast catch, and H Indian
schooners, which likewise conliued their o])eratioiis to the IJritish ('(duuibia (oast
up to the Ist of May.

Crcics,— There were engaged in this industry 70,") white seamen and xfil Indians,
showing this year a decrease in the white seamen and an increase in the number of
hiflians. The fact of the increase of Indi.ns was owing ^o the demand for sjiear-
men in liering Sea, w here lirearms could aot be used.

JItiiils and MinocK. — The record shows that there were 210 boats aud 421 canoes iu
use this year, exhibiting a decrease of .")(! boats and an increase of 1(!2 canoes. This,
aa with the ere\v8,was owing to the number of Indian sjiearnien going to Hering Sea.

lirilish Colnnthia iixiHt cn/c/i. — The liuures shov the total British Columbia Coast
cateh to be 9,85;^, exhibiting a decrease of 1,8.'')0 skins couiiiared with 1891, although
a larger uuiuber of vessels were engaged. I'he cause assigned for this decrease was
(diietly owing to the boisterous weather which (irevailed along the Mritish ( 'olum-
bian Coast, and when the weather moderated the seals had ))assed northward, so
that the larger herds could not lie reached before the Ist of May, the counnencenient
of the close season.

./«//((« catih. — The total icsult of tlie operations on the .lajianese Coa,st show that
there were only taUt o 18,(1^7 skins, as against 19. 18,i iu 189i, being a marked decrease
of 30,79(1. This deiwease caust-d me to iTiaiv<' diligent ini]uiry from the masters and
cTi'Ws, and the conclusion arriv ed at was that stormy weather UHually prevailed all
along the ,Jai)aiiese Coast. pre\(>nting the seiiooners Ironi lowering: iheir boats some-
times for days together. Also, il seems tii lie the consensus of n|>iuion au»>ng them
that the schooners this ye.ar were in advance ot tlie seal herd, whuch had apparently
gone farther to the s<iutli than usu.il.

Coppfr hiiuul cdtcli. — Tw<'i'Jy schooners were sealing in the vicinity of Coi)per
Island, which obtained a catch of 6,281, as against 21 vessels lurs-r vear with a catch
of7.l:;7.

llcriiKi Sfd. — In the month of ,Iuu»> last Xi vessels (deared from this ])orr for Hering
Sea. proceeding to the west coast, wheii> they obtained Indian hunters, and ]>ro-
ceeded direct to liialaska, where they wim'o ail instriicted, if they report*'d them-
salves to the custom house there, that no diltieulry was anti'dpat, On tlit- < lea ranee
papers from this poit it was jihiinly stnicd tliat they had no ti rearms, net.-, or explo-
sives, and that their hiiuling outfit consisted only of spears, i in the Ist >f August
they all left tl'.e port of t'ualaska. I'nilod >t;ites of America, and at once sailed to
I he scaling grounils.

'I'hero were also 8 vessels which I'Utered Hering Sea from th>
been engagetl in sealing on the .lapauese side, makiug a tot.i

llshing in liering Sea, the result of then lishin.ii l>eing ;-f5,918, as agaiD»i 27 vessels in
1891 ith a 1 atch of 2(>,ri"i an increase of '.\,V.>:i seal*.

The weather was Hood, and seals re|iorted to W fairly ■pleutifnl; but in this
regard aome couliUdlll^ Ud'ouiils »vru given, no doubt measoiwd by their individual
succesB,

westward which h.id
I ot 41 Mtitish \ essels

364

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

Ikmrdinfin. — Tlio wliolt" tnvfc of flic Aiiii<rirnti Tfcvciinf i^crvirn. rmisistiin; of 5 or
G vi'SHi'ls, wiiH con jrri'f;i\ It'll in HL'rini^ Sen, mihI Iroin f Im i'\ hloinn jjivrii ninl llic t'litriiM
iniulo in tho olli('i:il Iorh, tliey wck^ continuously (jn tlip piitrol ontHidc tlic tin mile
zono, as yon will nee liy tin; inclosed sfiitiMiicnt, lli(>y hiiviiif; inaile lOd bo;ii(lin;;H
I'nini the Hd of An^nst to tlie L'otli of Scptonilier.

'I'lin records of tlio lioardinj;s show thai Hevcr;il of tho vohhoIs were hoarded from
'^ to 5 linu's, and nearly all were hoarded nioic Ih.iii ome, and no oxeniption was
made to thoso vchscIh which had cdeared limn \ ictoria with (joly H|iearfi. as it was
ninlevHtood that in scaiihinij Ihe \ chscI ami ovcrlianliiifj tliOMkins the main conten-
tion was whether the hUIiis had licen nliot.

'Ihis our Kealers, who had only spcnrs and no liicainis, consiilereil a f;rcat liard-
ship — that thoii- Mkins ahonld be so often ovorliaiiled and the skins and salt scatterud
over their provisions and coal, loavinj{ thi'iii all over the hold withuut in onu case
otl'eriiig to re])arU them, thorchv caiisinj; diiii^icr to their i)rcscrvalion.

It was likewise repoi ted that these IYci|neiit hoardings took place when storm was
threntenin^' and daii;;er was a|))ireheniled \u the canoes and hoats, sometimes at a
distance ol' 5 to 10 miles away, |inrsniiii; seals.

It api>ears to me, however, frcmi the oxetdlent condition all tho skins were in w l-.cn
landed here, that no daiii.ijre had come to tin; skins iioin the hoardings, and it may
)iossildy he that the freipient salliiius may have added to their pieservation.

Apart from the interriiiition to the voyage while heiii"' hoarded, and the incon-
venience and trouhle in repacking the skins, no other damage was sustuiued, so far
as I could learn.

Sehitria. — Diirinf the i)ast year there Lave been three seizures, which were all
dnly re]iorted to .>on.

( 1) The sidu.jner Shrlhii, which wassoizcil by the riiitod States sliip fUiniin for hav-
ing seals and unsealed sealing implemiiits (m board in jirohibited waters. 'I'his vessel
wius seized in latitude ;{J^ .oU north, lonj^itiide I:i4 Id west, while on her homeward
voyage from the sealing ground, haxing pinceeded about litHI miles and reached as far
south asyneen Charlotte Island, I'.i it ish Columbia, when she was a nested and ordered
to proceed to Sitka, with a prize crew on board, and fioni that jdin e she was
directed to proceed to \ ictoria and rcjiort to me. ( 'n the ntuin of the \ cssel to
this port, where she has lain in tli(> harbor awaiting the action of the vice-admiralty
court, which sat here in Nov.-mber, and tin- vessel being .uljudged guilty, was
ordered to pay a line of .'.'!• ' ami all costs.

(2) Tho y/fa(ri(r, which a as seizi il In ISiriiig S<'a on tho 20lh of August for viola-
tion of the lil'th article of tho rejiiilations of the I'aris award (a.s set forth in the
Bering Sea awar<l act of is;i| ) — that is, that she had not entered up her log book from
the 12th to the L'Oth ot August. This vessid was tried and aiMinitted; the judgment
curried all costs. This vessel has sinet; been restored to hernwiiers.

(3) 'J"he /C. li. \larihi. which was seized in IJering Si a by the United States revenue
cutter Bush fo* violation of article ti of the renulatious of the I'aris award (iiering
Seaawaidact, IStM" that is. that she had used lireai nis in killingseals. Thissidiooner
had on board at the time of seizure :J.M) skins, one of which was si lectc^d which
api)eared t<> havr a hole resembling a vbot hole, anil which was the grounds on which
this schtHiner «.is seized and sent bu k to \'ictoria for trial, fhis ves.sel was tried
and t^H' sei/iiro dischaiged witliou i osts.

While the vase of the .\ftiiiin ^as in court I was very kindly reiiuested by the
dc'cMilant to view the skin v.'i.cli was the cause id' seizure, the defendant having
obtained perinission to view ■ le same, which was then in i)ossession of tho couit,
and it wa.s only from curium, >, ami not that I was rciiuiied to give any evidence,
that I, with a few others, viewed the skin, and 1 canio to the conclusion, seeing
that it was a very diHici;!t matter lor the experts to determino piecisely w hero the
shot hole was, that tin . harge iigainst tho vessel was a very uncertain one.

The owners of tin s, hooners liraiiice ami /v. />'. Mnrriu ha\ o suli'ered severe loss by
the seizure and intiMuption of the season's voyage. The actual loss of tho E. 11.
Mariiii alone, piisumiiii; lli.it, she would ha\ o taken about the same niimbir of skins
as other vessels ol similar si/.e and eiinipnuiit, u ill lie not less thun $1(1, 0(H).

l>i»afteni. — 'there were only three serious disasters to the sealing Meet during the
past year, viz. the schooners Rosie OUeii. Jln-iidii, and Wnltcr .1. lUirlc.

Ihe Runii Ohm was wrecked on the bSth of .lune while entering thei)ortof Hako-
date for w ater. and became a total loss. The crew and seal skins were all saved.

The linnda « ;is wrecked on the 1st of .Inly last. When going into the Little
Kurile SlraitN f.u water she struck on a rock and became a total loss. 'I'ho schooner
Geneva hove in sij;ht ami rescued the crew, skins, and some portions of the rigging.

The H'altir A. /■.Vir/e was eaiisized on tho 14th of .Vpril in latitude ."iH- north and
longitude i:>!:i west. This vessel had a crew of 28 jjcrsons, and was sealing ou the
British Columbia eoaxl whcii tho storm overtook her. .Ml hands were lost. She
was subsequently found bottom ■■i:p in tin? iieijihborhood of Capo Tonki, and was
towed into Koiliak and 15 bodies were foiiud iu the ship's hold.

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

305

Falkland fslaud latch. —Thf si'liotiner Direrlor iiirivt'il here frimi Mnlifiix, Kova
Scotiii, on tli(f lilMt <>l' Miiy, ami wlulo in tlio viciiiit.v of tlit! Falt'.iiml IhIhikIh, or
lietwt't'ii tliiit anil Stiilrn Ishiiiil, olitiiiiii'd (>.'() Nciil hMiim, wliii'li wi' » l>'Mii>;lit to tliis
port. 'I'lu) (;in;i!instiiii( Ts of this wiTf ('(iiivcvcil to ym in my '>ttei' of the lOtli of
Aiij^iiHt. 1 liavr Ht'(in Uiipt. 1'. \V. fUllifrl, anil ln' 1i;ih mitliinii lintlKsr to aild to the
iul'onnatioii convc^yed to yon in my lotti'r, only ilj.'il lie alliiiMfxl tliat tlio linntiny;
wiiH (lone on lilt) Hea, and that no altfinpt waH made to tako HkiiiH on thuland: that
lio was ontside tlio JnriKdii'lion of any loriii'^n <Mivcrnmi'nt, and that if the weather
hull been nioi'o moderate ho coohl have oldainrd many niorr, bill ho desired not to
drlay there, aw ho wished to |iro('i'id to lieriiiy; Sea.

■Vd/uiiy "/armt. — After careful ini|niry in regard to tlii.s matter. I lind that the
majority of oiir HctaliTH would desire to have tlieii' lireariiiH sealed up before entrring
Hiring ^ou, to avoid interru|ption and sri/.uri> for tri\ iai ainl don lit ml causes, bnt this,
1 do not think, they would mean to apply to the I'acilic Ocean jiruper.

Offuial loijH. — All vessels leaving this port ha>e been careliilly notiliid to Keep their
ollicial lo{j hooks in eonforiuity with the instinctions of arti(de 5 of the I'aris re^ula-
tions, and they have biin fairly kept, ncordiii!.' each day the number of males an I
females taken; bnt I niif^lil sn^jircst that an additional seilin;; loj; or an addition to
the i)reHent ollicial loi; he made whereby the sealers niij^ht record daily some other
items of interest that mieht be of use to the (ioveruiiient,

Atircenirnt uitli lliinniti.^l had t he limior. on the ItJih of .lanuary last, to receive your
letter, and, in complianie with the wi>hes of the honorable the minister, 1 in-oiiinl-
gated in every possible lu.'inner the renewal ol the provisional auroement with Kus-
sia, providinj;a protect i\e /one of lid miles a round the Komaudorski Islands, Tulent^w
Islands, or Iv'obbeii K( ef, in the Okhotsk Sea, and a jirotective /one of 10 miles along
the shores ol the Wiissian mainland.

Iteiiiilt'< ol' IS:);'!. — The eat( h for tlm Uritish Columbia tiei't of Mritish vessels being
71,35!), ami there was likewise landed trom Amiuican vessels '2,2'.<o, making a total of
73,t?M skins whicli have ])assed through this poit.

The ruling i)rice. dm inu the month of A uf'ust and the early part of .S('pteinber was
$9, but during the latter part of Seplemlier and ( )ctober the jprice went iij) to f 10 ,50.

I thought the price was very good, being a consideraVde advan<'e on last year, and
those wlio were fortunate enough to sell at the latter pric'o will do very well, as
informal ion h.as been received here from liimdon that the skins will not roach tliat
figure alter deducting the exintnses.

U may bo that some of the skins may be ki^it ov(U' tor higher figures, but I think
it safe (o sav that the value of the present year's soaliug will amount to about
.f 700,000, or, say, $7;>0,0()0,
I ha\o, etc.,

A. 1!. .Mit.NK, Collector.

W'm. S.Mirii, lls(|.,

JJipiiIji Miiii^tir of Marine and F.i.herir'i, Ottawa.

the

Al'RTL L'9, 1896.

Sill: I liiive tlio lioiior to aclcnowlcflfto the receipt ol' your note,
iiiclosiii};' a report IVoiii the minister of marine tiiitl fisheries of Canada,
witli reference to the ea!(!h of British scalers, and copies of lU'itish
lo{; books for the sea.son of lSi».").

In this connection I (h.'siic to call your attention to two siffniticant
statements in the repi)rt ol' Air. A, K. Milne, ccdleetor at Victoria, to
the deputy minister of marim* tii.d fisheries, as beariii{>' on the implied
claim of tlie r.iitish (ioveriimcnl, com, liied in a letter and inclosures
from the British iimhassador to yourself, dated A'uil L'8, 1 SIX), of which
you inclosed me a ei)]>y, that the fur-seal skins were injured by the
fre((tient searches of our revenue crnis<'r.s.

On i)ai;e 4 of said report tlu; collcclor states tliat, from tlic excellent
condition of the .skins when landed tit Victoria, no dainaoe, In ai.s judfj'-
inent, had come to tliem fiom the searches by revenue cruisers. On
l)age T) the further statement !.>; unule that, after careful inquiry, the col-
lector foiuul ihat a majority of the British sealers desired to have their

;566

ALASKA INltfS'lRIF.S.

fir«>;irms soalod up before entering lieriiiK Sea, to avoid intorrn|)tioii
and seizure lor trivial iiiid (loubtful causes.
I have tlie iionoi, etc.,

S. WiKE, Actiiif/ iSn'rctary.
The SliCRETARY OF STATE.

Dkpautmknt of State,
Washiniitnii, April x.'!), t^^ffi.

Siu: 1 be}; to incdose iierewith ('o])y of note Just received fioin the
liritish ambassador at tliis cajtital; also copy of note I liavesent to him
in reply.

In rcjily to the impiiry adilressed to me by the Treasury Department
in a coniinunicatioii of a day or two since, vi/., wiiclhcr in my Judj;nient
there was any itrosjiect of the Ibitish (iovernment agrceinjj; to any
niodificiition of the lUMinj; Sen rf<,'iilat ions for the coniiiif;' season, I
desire to say that, in my Juduinent, it is (piite imi)robabh' that any such
ajjreemf lit will lie mnde.

On the other hand, I have good reason for believing that if the rejjort
of the British and (,'aiiadian aj^cnts proposed to be sent to the Pribilof
Islands, as above stated, should conlirm the position of this (!o\ern-
nx'ut as to the threatened immediate extcrniinatiou of the fur seal herd,
a modus vivendi mi}.jht be entered into whicii would insure the [)rotec-
tion of the fur-seal lierd during the condng season,
Respectfully, yours,

lilCllAKl) ()LiNB\.
lion. (JlIAHLKS S. FlAAirjN,

A,s.sint(t)it Sccniari/ of thr Tnnsiiry.

[Inclosiii'cs. t

liniiisii Embassy,
fVnKhiiiiilon, April J7, isur,.

Sir; With rpfcrencn to yonr note No. 'MX dC tlie lltli ultimo, in wliivli yoii urge tliB
ailoption of some rmllici- icstiictioiis on ju'la^jic sculiufi in Herinj; Soa for tlx- <'oiniii;j;
seiisou in view nt llip iilli'gcd inmiiiicnt cxtcrinindtidu ot' tlie i'lir-sciil licnl, I liav((
tlie honor to Inlbriii yon tliiit tin' lonlcntH ol vonr note ba.vt' received the ciirefiil
consideration of Her Miijcsty's (iovernniciit.

I aiu iimtrncti'd by Her .Majesty's iirini'ipal .secretary of state for foreign alVairs to
state that the ai)|ireliensions of the I'nited Sliiies (lovcrnnnnt 0,1 thi.i liead ajipear
to 1)6 foniiilod mainly on the fact tlmr hy actual count :.'S,(l(lO dead \n\]\n were ibnnd
in the island 1,'ist year, and on the ,is.siini]itioM that thedeaths of these pups were the
direct resnlt of their mothcr.s liavine; Ihmiii lulled .1.1 .sea. ,

But, from thp e\hanstivc di.sciiMsion of the nuestion in the report and snpplomen-
Jiiry vejiort of tlie I'.iiti.sh '.leriujL; Sea coniiMissioiierH, it has not liceii satisfactorily
estahlishfd that the moiiality of the imns i.s eaused Uy tlie killiiic;(d' seals at sea.
The date, moreover, which the arliitralors lixed for theojieniiifi' of lieriiifiSea pelagic
sealing and the radin.s within which sealinj; was prohihited round the I'rildlol
Islands were (Uderniiiied, alter lull cniisideration, to he siii'licicnt to protect nursing
females whose pups were not aide to jirovide for theuiselves.

It shonld als(i he home in miiidlli;:( in the I'eriiiij; Sea catch of 18!>.">the nroportion
of males to I'eniales taken hy Canadian sealers was .ilunit !."> per cent of males against
of) per cent of females, although the i<'tinns of the .Vnieiiean sealers in that sea give
an a\'erage of 'f females to 1 ■.\\:\h\

In the iiicaiitime the admitted fact that fhi' seals at sea show no apparent diniiini-
tion of numbers, and that t)ic sealers in Heriiig Sea were able to make prai tieally
as largo Ofttehe'^ last yeai -u- in the previous year, does not point to the iiumiiiout
extenn illation of the seals.

ALASKA IM)C8T11IE8.

3(1

Tilt) retiirim kIiow tlmt the Ciiiiiiiliiin st'iilinj; vessols all kept wnll onfsidp tlie (10-
niiln riiiliiiN, and iia tlii>r*> MucitiH littl ' iliiulit thai iluriiif; llir prridil wlicii Nenliii;; \>i
itlldwcil ii! liprin;; Se.i tlir ){H'at liiilU ot llio hciils arc iiisidc' thai limit, tlio ii.itiiial
deduct ion iH tliat Ichh than half thi< h«rd in at any time ixpuHcd tn raptiiic, and tliat
the cluii}{cr of oxterniiiiatioii by ]>Lda);i*: Hualiii;; iiiii.st thuiuloie bti noiiipuratlvoiv

ICIIKltf.

If JN oliHorvtid that on tho ishiiidit 15,000 himiIh were killed laHt NnaNoii, aH (^oinpaied
with Ki.lKM) in tilt! Hcason of 1S!)4, but in the lepoitN wljicli liave been iiircivcd on
tliis point it is not Mtatcd wjiothcr any dilliciilt.v wan cxpriicnci-d in obtaining that
nnniimr of HkiiiH, nor I'roin what claNs of seals the «kin.s were t.iken.

Taking; into iieconnt tlie eat(di on t lie inlanilM, the wlioli' eateli from the AhiMkiin
tiord wiiH 71,H00 in ISItf), a» compiiied with 7l.7l(i in 1><!II, beiii^; olil,\ about liall llie
total cateh taken in lt^f<9 and iirevioiiH veins, and t!H>iii;li it may bi' tlie eiiHe that a
iilaiifjiiter of sotne 70,000 a year is more than the lierd can jjroiierly licar for a Heiie.s
of yearn, Her Milic.-^ly'B <ioveriinu'nt Hee no reason to Ixdiove that it iw so larf{e as to
threaten early extiiiniiiation,

rile neecHsitv lor the immediate ini|)ositioii of inereuBed lestrietioim, to take etteil
dnriiif the eomiiif; season, does not, tlieiet'ore, appear to be cHlablishcd, and it must
be borne in mind that at this late |ieriod it is no lon^'ei possible to ;;i\ e elVeeli ve
warniiiK of any elcnue in the re;; n la linns to tlie inr^e number of vessels whi(di have
already ebaicd for the .lapaii Coast lislitry, and wlii'h will, after that \n eonehiibd,
proreid to Herinjf ^^ea for the ii|ienin^; of the lishery in Aiii^iist. 'I'lie iiiiiiositioii of
restrictions wiflioiit due warniiiu woiiM cause c;reat confusion and h.irdsliip, and
would iiiKbiiibledly ^ive rise to larKo claims for coiiipeiisation on ground which
could not, with iiisti<e or reason, be dis|iut>.'d.

lint Her Majesly's (lox ermiieiit fully share the desire so Htroii;;ly expressed b\
your ( io\ eriinii nt that all neeessaiy and |iiaelicalde nieasiires should lie taken to
prevent the possible extoiinination of the seals.

As a ]irccaiil ion for the. strict obsei vanee of the lej^iilations prescribed by the 'I'ri-
bnnal of Arbitration and now in fone, they will "ive diiectioiis for ihi' employiiipiit
of an additional cruiser this si ason in )iolieiii;; the lisheries. allhoiijjh, as far as they
have l)coii able to jiidfje, tin- force eijinlov ed up to t be present I iiiie has been siillieicnl .

Fn accordance with the desire expressed by yon in your note No. IH7of the 0th
I'cbniary, Ibr Majisty's (io\ I'riuiient have leiiiicsted the l)oiiiinion jfovertiment to
issue a notice to the eliucl that the leturns which the sealinir vessels are re(|iiired to
furnish shall in fiitiiri' sjiecify which of the feiimles killed are barren and wliich ate
in milk, and a reply has been receivtMl fioin His I'xcellcncy the (iovcrnor-l leiieral of
Canada that this will be done.

In oriler to investij;ate more coin|detely the iiiiestion of (he necessity of fnrtlier
restrictions in future years, Her .Majesty's (ioveriiment are d('siroiis at once to take
the necessary steps for conducting; an independent iiii|iiiry on the I'libilof Islands
into the state of the herd, by an assent sent from (ireat Hritain, I his Kt'(i'l<'"ian
would be a naturalist possesseil of the necessary scienlili<' (nialifnations, and care
will be taken to select a person who will he entirely free from bias in carry in;; out
the mission intrusted to him.

The Canadian governmenl are also desirous of sendiufj; Mr, .Macoiin aj;ain to the
islands this 8oas(in in order to coin inne his iinesl i,!.;ations. The Itritisli aijcnt and
Mr. Miieoun woiibl airive al the islands early in .(line and remain until toward the
end of September, and Her .Majody's (lo vein men ( would bo u lad i I' (he United States
authorities would grant tlioiii all necessary facilities and eoi))!eriite with them as far
as |iossible.

11 has been siifiKCsled that arrangements nii;;li( jierhaps be niaile wi(h t he coin]iaiiy
.'• Iii(di leases thp seal catch on the I'ribilof Islands (o allow the I'ridsh af^enl and
Yi' Mucoiin to judcecd in their ste.imer as passengers.
1 have the honor, etc.,

J II. IAN I'AII.M f.l-OIK.

AfHII. L'il. bSitt),
Snt : I have the honor to acknowlediia >our favor of the 27th instanl. lieiug au
HnBW(>r to my note No. 311, of the lllii iillinio, wluicin is iirgeil the .idoplion for
the coming season of liii ther resliictions on jielagic si'aliiii; in lieriiig Sea in view of
what this ••overnmeiit believes to be the ileiiicuistrated iniiiiinent extermination
of the fiir-aeal herd.

Without at (bis time aiidnciin; any additional considerations in support of the
position taken by this (biv ei iiment, 1 hasten to say that it wtdcomcs an independent
ini|iiiry by the liiilisli iioverniiient into the jireseut stati- of thi^ liir-s.-al herd
thron;;l the liritisli and Canadian a^cnls nd'ei red (o in your note. They will be
given all needful facilities for tlioii inv f.sligations by tlys (iovernnient, which will
letiue.st the North Ameiicau (.'oiiinierciil Company to give them all conveiiieut
irausportation facilidesou its etcamers.

IMAGE EVALUATSON
TEST TARGET (MT-3)

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Sciences
Corporation

23 WEST MAIN STREET

WEBSTER, M.Y. 14580

(716) 872-4503

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368

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

I venture to also HiiRgost that if the naturalist selected by the British GoTernment
could come to Wasliiuj^ton ou liin way to Alaska and have a free and full conference
with Assistant Secretary Huiuliu the objects of his mission would probably be
greatly promoted.

I avail niyslf, etc., Hiciiaru Olnby.

His Exi;elleucy the Right Honorable Sir Julian Pauncefote.

ii

May 5, 189(5.

Sre: I have tlie honor to acknowledge yonr letter of April 29 inclos-
ing copy of a note received by you from the British ambassador at this
capital, and also a copy of your answer thereto.

In the note of tlie Hritisli ambassador it is stated that the whole
catcli taken from the Alasiiau herd, including the land catch on the
I'ribilof Islands for the years 18'J4 and 1895, was, 71,716 and 71,300,
rc8i)ectively. While this statement is substantialiy correct for the
year 1895, it would appear that in the year 1891 a large number was
taken, namely, 70,871 — (il,838 at sea, and 15,033 on the Islands.

Tlie further statement is made in said letter that the fur seals show
no apparent diminution in numbers, and attention is called to the fact
that the sealing vessels in Bering Sea made practically as large catches
during the season of 1895 as in that of l)S9t, which fact the ambassador
contends does not point to the immediate externiination of the fur-seal
herd. The fa(;t, however, that the seals on the islands have decreased
at least one-half since 1S90 would seem to answer this claim. A
further answer will also be fouiul in the report of the Secretary of the
Treasury for 1S95, on page cc, wherein it ai)i)ear8 that the average
catch i)er ves.sel on the Northwest Coast fell ott" 5 per cent in 1895 as
comi)ared with 1894, while the average catch in Bering Sea fell off 12
per cent as comi)iired with 1894. At the same time, while the percent-
ages of females killed in Bering Sea were the same for British vessels
in 1894 and 189."), there was an increase fiom 69 to 73 per cent for
American vessels in 1895. That the seal catch is nniiutained at the
figures cited is because of the fact that Bering Sea is a nursery for
the herd while it is ou the isl*iids, and of the further fact that the seals
can be killed easier while in Bering Sea than when traveling off the
Pacific Coast toward the islands.

The statement of the ambassador that the total land and sea catch
from the Alaskan herd in 1895 was only about one-half of what the
same was in 1889 would seem to be a further convincing argument as
to the decrease in tiie seal hei d. In this connection I would state that
in 1889 the catch on land and sea was about 132,000, of which 102,000
were taken on the Pribilof Islands and 30,000 at sea, the pelagic catch
being about 22 per cent of tlie total. In 1895, on the other hand, the
pelagic catch, 50,291, had increased to 78 per cent of the total, 71,291.
From 1880 to 1895 the pelagic catch in(!reased from about 8,000 to
50,000, or (500 per cent, while the I'ribilof Islani's catch decreased from
105,000 to 15,000, or 80 i)er cent.

It is stated also iu said letter that it would now bo too late to give
effective warning of any change in the regulations, and that vessels
which have cleared already for the Japanese Coast would be seriously
injured by any change at this late date. I have the honor, however,
to call your attention to tlie fact that the modus vivendi of 1891 was
agreed upon as late as June 15.
Kespectfully, yonrs,

S. WiKE, Acting Secretary,

The Sboekxary of State.

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

369

May 5, 1896.
Sra: I have the honor to state that the Department is informed by
the Secretary of State that the British ambassador has requested per-
mission in behalf of the British Government to send two nsituralistH to
the Pribilof Islands to investigate the present condition of the fur-seal
herd during the coming season. It wil], tlierefore, in the opinion of this
Department, be necessary to secure the services of some eminent zool-
ogist in this country to conduct a similar investigation on behalf of the
United States in cooperation with the oflicers of tlie United States Gov-
ernment who may be detailed for tliis purpose by the President. I
have the honor to suggest that an appropriation of $5,500 be made for
this purpose, and herewith inclose a form of appropriation for your
consideration.

Very respectfully, yours, C. S. Hamlin,

Acting /Secretary.
Hon. William B. Allison,

Chairman Committee on Appropriations, United States Senate.

The Secretary of the Treasnry is hereby authorized, out of any nioueyB not other-
wise appropriated, to expend not exceeding $5,500 for inveatif^ation of the condition
of the fnr-seal herd in the North Pacific Ocean and ISorin); Sea during the fiscal years
1896 and 1897. He in further authorized, in addition to said $5,500, to pay the neces-
sary expenses of any oflUcials of the Government who may be detailed for said investi-
gation by (he President.

United States Commission of Fish and Fisheries,

Washington, D. C, May 9, 1896.
SiE: I have the honor to inform you that the Fisli Commission
steamer Albatross is now being fitted out at the Mare Island navy-
yard, California, for fishery investigations on tlie Alaskan Coast, and
that preparations are also being made in connection therewith to con-
form to the provisions contained in the act of Congress approved
March 3, 1893, as follows, namely :

\nd the Commissioner of Fisheries is authorized and reqiiired to investigate,
nnder the direction of the Secretary of the Treasury, and when ho re<|ueate<l to
report annually to him regarding the conditions of Hcal life upon the rookeries of the
Pribilof Islands.

My reason for bringing this matter to your attention is due to the
fact that the investigations called for are subject to your autliorizatioii,
and I beg to be informed if you desire to have the work taken up again
this season. In this event, I would respectfully request that tlie chief
Treasury agent at the Pribilof Islands be notified of the proposed
inquiries, and that he be directed to facilitate the work of the Fish
Commission party to such an extent as he may be able to. I would
also ask that the party be allowed the same acconimodaTions at the
Government building as have been accorded it in the past, and that it
be permitted to participate in the mess furnished by the sealing com-
pany, the same as the Treasury agents.
Very respectfully,

J. J. Brice, Commissioner,
The Sboretaey of the Treasury,

Washington, D. 0.
H. Doc. 92, pt. 2 24

370

ALASKA INDUSTRIKS.

Mav 14, 18()(i.

Sir: Aclciiowledfiing the receipt of your letter of tlic !>tli instant,
wlicrein you request to be advised wlietlier. under tlie act of March li,
18!).">, tliis Dei)artiiieMt desires an investigation and report t(» be made
by the Fish Gonunission as to the condition of seal life on tlie rooivcriea
of the I'rihilot Islands durinji the coniinjj: summer. I have tiie honor
to inform you that tiie Department considers such investigation and
report most desirable, particularly in view of information received from
the honorable tlie Secretary of State, that an iMiglish and a Canadian
natuialist will be permitted to reside on the islands during the conung
summer. 1 feel, therelbre, that the assistancte desired can be ren-
dered by our Commission in examining into the condition of the rook-
eries, taking a careful census of the seals, examining the bodies of the
dead pups to ascertain the cause of death aiul nuiking other sindlar
investigations,

I would tliank you to inform me of the earliest date on which the
AlhdtrosN will be ready to sail, so that 1 may have a ju'isonal interview
with you before that date.

Hespectfully, yours, C. S. Hamlin,

Aalituj Secretary.

The COMJUSSIONEU OK FlSII AiN'I) I'isiiinaKs,

\V((sliiii<iti)n, J). 0,

]\IAV 14, ]8!)(i.
Sir: The report of the ujinister of marine and fisheries, seut by tlie
British Government, inclosing a copy of tiu>. log book entries of British
vessels for tiie season of 189.">, as rei|uired by article '> of the regulations
of the i'aris tribunal, contains copies of such entries only as relate to
the catch of the J3ritisli vessels in Bering Sea, and omits all entries
showing the killing of the 0,.S5.'5 seals taken by the British vessels on
the Northwest Coast.

I have the honor to request, therefore, that you ask the British (tov-
ernment to liuiiish the log-book entries containing the record of the
Northwest Coast catch.

Kes])ectfully, yours, C. S. Hamlin,

Acting tSecretary.
The Seceetauy uf State.

May 26, 1800.

Sir : The Department has been informed by the ho'iorable the Secre-
tary of State that two English naturalists will shortly go to the Pribilof
Lslands as representatives of the British (iovernmcnt to enter upon an
investigation of the juesent condition of the fur seal herd.

In my Judgment it would be necessary to send some eminent zoologist
to accomjiany these British rei)resentatives to make an independent
investigation in behalf of the Cnited States (iovernment.

It will also jd'oliably be exjiedient to detail one or more officers or
employees uf the United States to take part in said investigation.

ALASKA INJ>L'STK1ES.

371

I inclose a ♦'orm of joint resolutiou authorizing such investigation,
and 1 would ask that you expedite its passage through the House.
Respectful ly, yours,

C. S. Hamlin,
Avtiiuj tiecretary,
Hon. Nelson 1)in(;i,kv, Jr.,

House of Rrpn.sentatircs,

JOINT KE80LUTI0N to authorize a soientiflo inveatigation of the fur-seal flsherie*.

lie it resolred htj the Senate and llonv of lli'preseutalhen of the fniled Statu of America
in Congresn assoiiibhd, That tim Secretary of the Treasury be, aud is hereby, author-
ized t(i exi>erid from any moneys in tlie Treasury not otherwise apjiropriated a sum
suHicicnt to j)rovide for tlie employment of persons to ronduct a scientific investiga-
tion during the tiscal years 18Sl(i and 1X97 of the present condition of the fur-seal
herds on the Pribilof, Commander, and Kooril islands, in the North Pacific Ocean
aud lieriii^ Sea, said amount not to exceed for both said years the sum of $5,000.

The President is also authorized to detail for the purposes of assisting in this
investigation any otlicer or ollicers or employees of the United States Government,
their actual expenses and the exjiensos of the jierson or ])erson8 employed under the
preceding paragriipli to lie paid l)y tiie Secretary of the Treasury out of any moneys
in the Treasury not otiierwiso approjiriated.

Tile President may detail a vessel of the United States for the purpose of carrying
out this iuvestigatiuu.

Department of State,

Washington, June 9, 1S96.
Sii{ : Referring to the Department's letter to you of the 27th of May,
18!>5, transmitting to you a copy of a comnm icatioti from the British
Foreign Otlice, dispatch No. 9ii, of .May 17, 1895, to Sir Julian Paunce-
fote, on the subject of the necessity of further provisions to preserve
the fur-seal herd of the Northern Pacific Ocean and Bering Sea; and
referring also to the Department's note on the 2-lth of June, 1895, to
liOrd Gough in regard to the same subject (see Foreign Relations, part
1, 1895, i)p. (i49-().).'i), I have the honor to inclose for your information
and consideration a copy of a further note of the 4th instant, from the
British ambassador at this capital in regard to the matter in question.
I have the honor, etc.,

RiGHAED OLNEY.

The Secuetauy op tue Treasury,

[IiiilosMre.]

Washington, June 4, 1S96.

Sir; With reference to the question raised in your note to Her Majesty's charg6
d'alFnires, No. 13;t, of .liine 24, 18!t"). whether the coni])utation made Ijy the British
Bering Sea eomniissionersof the seal catch of 1M91 witiiin the awarded area included
the number of seals caught on the Asiatic side of BiTing Sea, I have the honor to
transmit yon lic^rewitli, by direction of Her .Majesty's secretary of state for foreign
atlairs, a rtjiort of tlie collector of rustcuns at \ictoria, giving full particulars of tlie
catch for the year in tiuestion and showing the respective localities from which the
yield was set iired.

The total Asiatii: catch was fi,r)9.5 seals. I'he deduction of this figure leaves tlie
total for the award area at i:},;i()l, including the catch of the United States schooner
fiti/nf S(in Dieijo, landed at N'ictoria and lalien on the American side, which amounted
to 1)41 hkiuH.

The figures given for 1894, however, include the Indian catchon the British Colum-
bia Coast, viz, ;<, 989 skins. This ligiire was very jiropcrly added, since these skins
were secured from animals belonging to the so-called American herd. For piu-poses

372

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

of conipariion it is necessary to iuclude those takoii by Indians in 1801, amonntin^
to 1,!I53, and this would raJNO the Hgure for IS'.ll to 45,61), Hhuwinga lialance in favor
of that year, as BKiiinst the total of 88,041 for 1894, of 7,570 sIuhh.

The collector of eustoniB also ])oint8 out that tlienniiilierof Ihitish vessels engaged
during 1891 in sealing within the award area was5U, while, in 18U4, 59 vcsaels woroKo
employed.

According to the statement taken from the liooks of the lln.tod States custom-
house, no less than 41 United States vessels wore engaged in the seal tishery during
1891, making a total for that year of 111, instead of 115, as stated in your note of Vis-
count (jongb, above referred to.

The total Meet mentioned in that note, for the year 1894. was 95 vessels. The deduc-
tion of 59 IJritish vessels would leave the numlier of United States vcss(>l8 at 36.

It is, moreover, apparent that the Piit:'h of 1891 would have been still l;irger but
for the interference with and expulsion of sealing vessels from Bering Sea under the
modus Vivendi,

I have the hon(U', etc.,

Julian Pauncefotk.

Hon. K. Oi.xEY,

Report by the collector of cnatomK, Victoria, Ih-ilinh Cohimbin, to the deputy mivisler of

miirinr and Jhliericn, Ottawa.

CusTO.MS, Canada, \'ictokia, BniTiaii Coi.rMniA,

February 20, IS'JG. ;

Sir ; I have the honor to revert to your letters of the 19th of September .ind Kith of
December last, inclosing for my information an extract from a coniniuni<'ation from
the United States Government touching the catch of seals as taken from the statistics
supplied through me.

I beg leave to observe that the contontiou appears to be hinged on the relative
catches of the years 1891 and 1894, and that the IJritish statement in the main is
that, notwithstanding the large take of 18114, that of 1891 was as large, so far as the
so-termed American herd was concerned.

before dealing with the subject, I bcj^ to premise that I regret that I had to tabu-
late the tiguros of the poal catch for the year 1891 from the reports of the masters of
the several vessels as declared by them, to which no objection could lie tiiken, us at
that time there was no information given in the vessel's log book as to the locality
or date of each fur seal lishing operation, the catch then being divided into three
periods, viz, the lower coast, the up))er coast to Siind Point, and the Hering Sea,
and this division was made to agree with th(! landing periods when the skins were
taken or shi)>pcd home ♦.o his port. Thus, after the vessels had lelt their skins at
Sand Point, Alaska, to be shipped to \'icloria, they included all seals taken there-
after as being from Hering Sea and adjacent waters; the imaginary water line
obviously arranged between the United States and Russia for other reasons than to
give dominion over any i)art of Hering Sea, other than territorial waters, was then
of little concern to our sealers, and thus, when they returned to their home port, the
declaration on their inwaid and s))ecial sealing report (losignated their entire catch
as being made in Hering Sea, without any regard to location, and the figures were so
regarded in our statistical books.

The manifests and special rei)ort8 of all British scaling vessels arriving back at
this port during the season of 1891, when coin])ilod, gave the total catch as follows:

I^ower Coast catch 3, 565

Sand Point, or Upi)er Const rateh 17, 162

Bering Sea catch 28,489

Kurile Islands (Asiatic) catch 399

Total 49,615

Caught by Indians on British Coast 1,953

Total skins for 1891 51,568

These figures as given in the tabulated statements then supplied your department
are beyond conjecture, having been compiled with the greatest c;ire, and the number
of skins lande(l also having iieen verified at the time by actual count by the local
customs otlicers.

The promulgation of the modus vivendi of 1891 was an important feature in the his-
tory ol the sealing industry, when a numl>er of our British vessels were warned out
of the American side of Bering Sea, between the dates of 30th June and 16th August
of that year.

A1.A8KA INDLSTUIES.

373

It is ftlsn woll known, in '•onnectioii witli the liistory of pula^iic Hciilinj;, tliiit 1 1 ves-
sels of tlie lirillsh L.'oliiiiilii:i lltict, who wcru iiotilii'd of tlm oi)eration r)t' the modus
viveiuM, left Unriiijr Scmi anil ailjiicent waters, ijoinnover to the KtiHslan Hidn of Hcrin;;
iifix, anil Hnalt'il a ihui t Hitaiton iu the vicinity of Copper Island, rbtitruing from them
direct to this port.

Jt must 1)0 borno in niinil that most of the 11 ressels whifb went to Copjicr Island
hud, on ieaviiifi tin- I'a^l siilr, a consiiltralil-' niiinlicr of skins, which they koi)t on
board on their voyau;i' to the Kiissian side having; no opportunity of htndin<; them,
so that when they did reliirn to this port, tho loi-ality of catch then beinjj deemed
of little iiiiportaneo, the whole of tho skint were entered on their reports as being
from llering .Sea and wore elassilied in our statistiral books as such, and which is
licrl'ectly accurate, so far as the actual nuMilicr of skins landed was concerned, and
which a^ree with tiie tal)nlated rct'iriis. ( fable A, pa;;e 205, of the report of the
licriiiH .Sea Comnnssion, 21st June, l.~';tJ. )

Since the receipt of your letter of the luth of Sept^rnbisr last, I have examined the
lii^ boidvs and papers of the various scalers as to the exact number of skins taken
by those 11 vessels in tho vicinity of Copper Island, and after many interviews with
masters anil owners, much delay, and patient ini|uiry, I am now able to |>resunt to
you ;in accurate report of tho result ol llnir sealin;; operations while iu the neij^h-
borhooil of the (Jommaiiderosky Islands in IMDl, which was:

Niiiuo ot" HCliixMier.

X

ol

unilicr
nkliiH.

Rcmarka.

C. n. Tuppor

374
731
300
1,170
l.OS'J
60-1
624
541
3t)7
148
254

Copper Islaud.

VlVB

HeHtrice

Do.

Ho.

Do.

Mil nil .S '.

Do.

Do.

Do.

Do.

(Ji'iievH ., ....

Do.

Uiiibriiut ,

Do.

Total

0,198
309

Total Asiatic catch

6,595

The scliiKuicr lloiealiH. after her return to this port on the Slst August, was char-
tered by a man named Hansen and went ironi here to tho Knrile Islands, and retntned
late in the fall with lillil sldns. These ti^nrcs are given in the above statement as
belon^^intr properly to the Asiatic side. Therefore the tignres for the season of 1891
are as follows:

Lower coast catch' 3,565

Sand Point or Upper coast catch ' 17, 162

Bering Sea ' 22, 293

Ci>i)per Islands (Asiatic)^ 6,196

Kiirilo Islands* 399

Total 49,651

Taken by Indians on British Columbia co.i--t 1, 953

It will be seen by the tigures above given that the actnal number of skins taken
in 1891 within tlie'area of the Paris award was 43,020, and 6,595 were taken on the
Asiatic side, outside of the award iirea.

By the returns of 1891 you will observe that the total catch of seals within the
area now covered by the Paris award was as follows: Kasteru side Pacific Ocean,
ineiuiling licriug Sea, 38,014.

The foregoing figures relate solely to British voasels, bnt in the year 1891 the
Anicri. .''i schooner Cili/ of Sail Dinjo landed at this port 641 skins taken on the east-
ern sii of Bering Soaj which should be added to the catch taken by British vessels,
becau. ^ they were lauded here, making the total catch of seals landed at Victoria,
taken in Unit year within the area of the Par^ award, 43,3t!l. and in comparing the
year 1891 with" 1894 the result is as follows: T^tal skins obtained within the area of
the Paris award in 1891, 43,661 ; in 1894, 38,014. making 5,617 more skins in 1891 than
in 1894.

It must he taken into consideration that the vessels in 1891 were very early in the

> Paris award areit.

*A8iatio.

374

ALASKA 1NIJUSTKIK8.

I|

HflnliiiR nciison wnrnod out, and liiid to lonve H»viii(r Sea, the liiifrrr inimher briiiij
coiiinelled tu roliiKinJHh tlieir Htaliiij^ i>|irrati<)iiB in July, for bail iIid vi'nncIh roinaiiied
until Aii^iiHt, with the i^ood wuathur aiich uh prevailed, tho catch ul' 18U1 would have
been much larf;er.

Tlio nunilior of HritiHh vi.'nsel8 iMi(j;af{od in Healing within the area of the I'aris
award in th<( yenr ISill wan "iD. The uunihor of vessels engaged in sealing within
the area of the i'aris award in WM wasri!).

The following atatenieiit hIiowh the nuMiluTof Auierican veHHeis which cleared i'roni
American jjorts on Healing voyages (vide p. L'Oti, United States No. 2, 1M!I3, Report of
the Bering Sea CoMiniJHNiou, -'Ist June, 18!)2: Sun Francisco, 23'; Port Townsond, 9;
Astoria, 2; San Hiego, 2; other ports, r>.

Therefore, taking the AniericMn Mtateuient us taken from their custoin-honso books,
exhibits the fact that 41 Anieriiau vessels were engiitfcd in sealing in the year IKill,
and this number, added to r>i> lirilish vessels Himilarly (Mii])loye(l (see returns, 18'Jl),
plainly shows that the entire lleet, liritish and American, ccinsisled of ill vessels in
the year l)Si)l, and it is inconipieheuslblo iiuw the United States authorities place the
nunibor at 115 for 1S91.

The sealing returns i'roni this port, which I think are lieyond fiuestion, show that
in the year IMill there were engaged in sealing 5!) British vessels, sailing from liritish
Columbia ports (see sealing returns, 1^!I4), and aeeordlng to the Aineriean statement
thoentire sealing lleet, liritish iind American, numbered !(u vessels for W.)\ ; dediK'ting
therefrom tlie 5!! British vessels would leave I!t> United States vessels so eniployod.

Vou will find on examination of the sealing returns tor the year IH'.tl that the crews
and e((Uipnient of the vessels were considerably increased In comjtarison with the
same in 1891, and you will likewise observe that in 1891 the greater number of seals
were taken on the.)a|)aii coast.

It was estimated, with uncertainty, that the American catch in 1891 approximated
10,000, and this added to our liritish catch, 49,(rl,"), would make t>7,t»ir), or, in round
numbers, G8,0()0 skins.

The returns for the year 1894 exhibit tho fact that the following-mentioned number
of skins were taken by British vessels on tlie Asiatic side (outside award area), viz:

.Japan coast 48,993

Copper Island 7, 437

Total, 1894 (Asiiit ic) 56, 430

Within Paris award area, 1894 38,044

Total, 1894 94,474

In following the argiiiiient advanced by the I'nileil Siiites. on jciire H in the extract
you send me, it is apparently admitted that our tigurus of the catch iu 1894, within
the Paris award area, is correct.

Hut it ap))ears by United States Treasury Department tables, the details of which
were mentioned in Mr. (iresham's note of J.'iil .laniiary, that there were taken 6,836
skins by American vessels, tho locality of catch being umletermineil.

I can not understand why it should be asstimed by the United Spates (iovernment
that 6,152 skins, taken from those whoso location of catch was nudeteriniued, and
added to those taken within tho award area, when it is well known that the greater
number of United States vessels went to . Japan wati-r.s to engage in soaliiig iu 1894.

It appears to be well known that there were few American vessels sealing in the
North Paciiic within the award area in 1894, as stated, the greater number having
gone to .lapan waters, for in the jiast a number of these usually visited this port for
BUj)plies, aud to dispose of thi^ir skins, ami I became aware of their movements;
therefore it api)ears to me unjiistiliable to assign 90 per cent of tho undetermined
catch in 1894 to the award area.

In regard to the statement made relative to the evidence taken before the Tribunal
at Paris that tho number of seals killed but not recovered was from two to live times
as many as those secured. This is to me an extraordinary statement to introduce into
the matter under consideration, and one which I can not concede in any way, for I
am assured that as the seasons go by the seal hunter improves in skill and dexterity
in pursuing the seal, and owners and masters are now oo careful in selecting those
competent to hunt that they will eiu|iloy iiiily those skillful as seamen and hunters.

There is no doubt that tho lack of success of many Aiuerican vessels is a good deal
due to obtaining unskilled hnnters and oeamen, priuci|ially in San Francisco, while
our sealers are very intelligent and comjietcnt men, mostly domiciled here, and to tell
them that they lose from two to live times as many seiils as they secure would uniiise
them.

KegrettLng that this has been so long delayed, I have, etc.

A. K. Mii.NK, Co'dvctor.

■The steamer Thistle, boing a British vessel, not included iu above,

ALASKA INtmSTKIKS.

STf)

Ketiirii ()/ thfi niimher of tllun tiiLeii hi/ Itiilinh rfimeh on the .isiatic side (oiitnidi award

area j for Ike year 1H'J4,

MatiiK oi nrlitiuiiem.

Yieloria ftieU,

AifiieH MrUuiialil. .

Ariiuko —

Annie ('. MiKirn...

Anuic K. I'aiiit

Arli'tis

Aurora

JicHtrice

Borciiliti

Brcnila

Cmlolta G. Cdx

(,'ttHf<>

City of Shu l)ii)t{u..

Diiiua

l)<ira Siiiwoid

K. li. Mai'viu

Entei'iiriiio

Karciurite

Fawn

Fisf r Mnid

Flureiu'x U. Smitli.

<J«U('va

Ui'urii'tta

Kiite Katlmriuo....

Kilnii'uy

Kiluifuy

Lalirailur

Lil>liie

Mary Kll«n

Stary Taylor

MaHOOtp

Maud S

May Bflle

.Moriiiaid

Alinuie

Mountain Chief

'•cean Belle

Jncar and Uattie. .

Otto

Penolope

I'iouu«

Koaie Olnen

Sadie Turpel

Sau JoHu

Sapphire

Saury Lnm

Shelby

Teresa

Triumph

Umbrina

Venture

Vera

Vivn

\V. I'. Hall

\V. P. Savwanl. . .
Waller A. Earlo.
■Walter L. Kicb..
Wanderer

i'linH

Va\tevuver eeiiel".

Beatriio

(". D. Hand.

I'.i iii-li

(.'ohiiiiliiu

coax I.

1U7
75

ii:i

H2
80
41
US

in

100
70

m

40
I5U
!U
OH
09
180
159
21

on

92
31

68
82
19
25
9:i
Oli
4:1
40
97
58

7;i

40
'.'.■)
8:1
HI
80
70
GO
39
50
31
109
38
10
03
98
99
48
GO

4«7

Japan
eoust.

1,707

3nH I.
30:1 .

000

02'

31 r.

79

2«:)

488
175

418

17U
34

1,320

9'^

99

till

68

H91

70

400

25
in

3, 989

357

C'opjier
J aland.

1,497
1,197

oua

2. ;i-<:i
1,047 ,
1,92a .
1,.'I04 1
1,901 I
2, .'.8 4 .
2,118 .
1,254

Oil

90 I
1,092 !

l.iHO I

1,900 ;
874 I
568 j.

1, 343 !
925 I

1,003

1,783

1,102
'2,'588\

1,075
1,437 :

710 ;

000 I
1,471

I

I

1.703

Heriiijf
Sea.

471

'siii
"ii'

313

2,"jO
433

314

81
558

200 .

80 i

250 .

86

107
5o5

120

1.-.;;

35

1,0,17

91

2!7
1, 100
1,149

1,005

819
2,105

i;08

377

3.240

00

909

195

.1 672

.( 1,749

Total.

1.240
040

707
8H7
1.059
034
500

4!)7
'545'

•1

530

274
170

1.733

1.014

1,300

290
1,203

1, 043

850

2.178
2. rJ4
2, 0'..<
1,288
931
1.518

1, 452

2, 728
1,947
1,020
1,554
2,394
2, 584
2,118
1.508
1, H40
1,557

92

177

1, 050

1,082

940

1, 328
R34
808

1,210
2.452
1, 124
1,103
1.429

I l****

2! 108

2,153

175

804

1,999

1,637

1,602

1.681

1,8R9

I,0-)4

)>:;9

2, 040
838
411

1,222
4. .560
2, 801

909
2, 270
1,437

710

641
2, 143
2,440

400
3,989

1, 703
357

Total .

11,703 48,093

.437 ■ 20,341 04,474

37G

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

<'iitrh of I'vilinh Cohitiihia Hchoonern in Ihe ririnilfi of Copper Ttlanii a/ltr they wfre
warned nut of llvring Hca, IS'Jl, and included iii tabulated ttattment with Bering Hea
calvh.

NiiiiiK III' Hi'liiiuner.

Kninbar

of iklDI.

Reinaikn.

874
731
300
1,170
l.OVi
005
624
Ml
887
148
284

CopiHT UUnd.

Do.

Oiiiiii HpIIk

Do.

< >Hf rir itml lliiltiu •

Do.

Miiiicl S

Uo.

KiillnTliits

Do.

]*t^iii^li>pe

Uo.

Do.

Do.

Uiiibriiitt -

Do.

Total

«. IM
398

Borcalis ciiloli netir

Kurilc IaIiukIh

lo cutcli

Tutal ARiBt

fl,5B5

June 13, 18!>0.

Sill: I have the lienor to acknowledfje receipt of your note of .hiiie
0, iiK losinp a note dated .June 4 from the British ambassador to your-
self. 8ir .Iiilian'a note is in reply to your letter of June 0, lsf)o. I
have carefully considered the same and have the honor to give the fol-
lowing resnm^ of the correspondence leading up to said letter.

On January 23, 1805, the late Secretary (J resham in a commuuication
to the British Goverunient, stated that tiie slaughter of seals at sea in
1804, both American and Asiatic, was iinpreceuented in the history of
peiiigic sealing.

On May 17, 1895, the British Foreign Oflice by letter denied this
staten.ent, making the further assertion that in the season of 1891,
12,(MK) more seals were killed from the American herd than in 1804.

On June l-'4, 1805, you replied to the foreign olllce, calling to its
attention a serious error in the returns cite<i by it to justify the above
denial. This error consisted in the fact that in the figures cit«d by the
British foreign oilice for 1801 in said letter (British vessels, 49,()15;
American vessels, 18,()()0; total, approximately, 68,000) there were in-
cluded 8,4313 seals killed from the Asiatic herd on the western side of
Bering Sea by British and American vessels, warned from the eastern
side by American cruisers under the modus vivendi. Of these seals
6,(110 were estimated by you to have been killed by British vessels, and
1,816 by American vessels. You further pointed out that by deducting
these Russian seals, there was left a total of 59,568, as the corrected
pelagic catch for 1801; that, on the other hand, adding to the United
States orticial figures of the catch for 1894 (55,686), the estimated num-
ber of skins taken from the American herd contained in the 6,836 skins
landed at American ports and classed as "undetermined" in the
American returns, there was left a total of 61,&i8 as the catch of 1894,
fully sustaining the contention of your predecessor that the catch from
the American herd of 1H94 exceeding that of 1891 or any previous year.

The British ambassador in his letter of June 4, 1896, incloses a report
from the collector of customs at Victoria. This report discloses the
fact that the original otlicial returns of the British Government for
1801, upon which the said Government based the above mentioned
denial, were in en or, as claimed by you, in that they included, as a
part of the catch, from the American herd some 6,595 seals killed by
11 British vessels in Itussian waters from the Asiatic herd.

ALASKA INDUSTUIKS.

37 7

NotwitlistnnclinR this admitti'd error, tlie oritfinnl denial of tlio Hrit-
IbIi Govoniiiioiit is Htiil iiiaiiitaiiu-d in Haid luiU'r uf 'luiitt I. 8ir .luliuii
calls nttciition tlierciii to the factH tiiat in tlie retnrn of the pcla^ric
catch for 1H94, the Indian catcis oil the liritish Cidunibian cosiHtilt.i'SU)
watt included; he elainiH, therefore, tliat the Indian catch of 18<J1 Hlionld
also be added t<i the retnrnH of that year. This cialch he states t4» be
1,053 HkiiiK. It shonld be noted, iiowever, that aithou^'h tlie report of
the Uritiuh Coiiiniissioners (Appendix F) contaiiied in tlie ])njccedin;;s
of the Paris tribunal, doeH ^ive ],!>5.'S skins as piirciiased from the
ludians at Victoria in 18!)1, in addition to those killed at sea by liritish
vessels, yet the oflicial report for IH'M of the (.'anadiaii department of
marine and tisheries, page 171, states the total catch of Intlians in
cunoes to be only 404. Assuming, Iiowever, the figures \,',)r>:i to be cor-
rect, and adding these figures to the corrected liritish returns as sliown
by your letter of June 24, the total pelagic catch would be (51,5lil for
1891, while that of 1894 was (il,8;j8; thus even <)n the British contcii-
tion the catch of 1894 was larger thau in 1891.

Sir Julian in his letter deduces the conclusion from the report of tlie
collector at Victoria that in 18'.tl 7,r»70 more skins were taken by liritish
vessels thau in 1894. Your original statenient, however, was not con-
fined to British vessels, but to the total pelagic catch, both of British
and American vessels.

The estimate of the number of American lierd skins in the (),8.'3(J skins
entered at American ports as "undetermined," contained in your let-
ter of June 24, is also disputed in said letter of 8ir Julian. It is
respectfully submitted, however, tliat said estimate is substantially
correct. It was reached by dividing the said <i,S;{(i skins in the same
proportions between the American and Asiatic herds as the other skins
lauded at Americau ports where tiie location was delinitcly determined.

It would thus appear that your iiroposition that tiic slaugiiter of
seals from the American herd iu 1894 was greater than in 1<S91 is
maintained.

As regards the number of vessels em])loyed in the seal fisheries in

1891, the number stated, 115, was obtained from the a]ti)endix to the

United States (iovernment's case before the Paris tribunal, volume 1,

page 591, and is believed to be as accurate a statement ascau be made.

liespectfuUy, yours,

Chaulks S. Hamlin,

Acting tSecretnry.

The Seceetaey op State.

JtTNE, 13, 1890.
SiE: Further instructing you as to the scientific invostigatioii to be
made by you of the present condition of the I'urscal herd on the Pribilof,
Commander, and Kurile islands, I have the honor to state that Prof.
D'Arcy W. Tliompson and Mr. James M. Macoun have been designated
by the British Government and Canadia?'. government, respectively, to
make an independentinvestigatiou relative to the samesubject. Having
found it impracticable to rely upon the ordinary means of reaching the
fur-seal islands, they have been ottered and have acee])ted transporta-
tion and accommodations on board the steamer Albatross, and will be
granted the same facilities as yourself and party for conducting their
independent investigations. As regards the investigation on behalf of
the United States Government, you are charged with the arrangements
of the details both of the field work and of the work to be performed by

378

ALASKA INDUSTIUK.S.

the gentlemen dpsigiiatiMl to iiHsiht yon, roliaiicc liciiif; placoti ii|miii
your JiKlKUieiit to iitili/c to tlic best iulviintn}fe tin- inciiiis ,siii»i)Ii('(l Ibr
accomplisliing the ubjectM ot Ww e.\|»<!(liti(»n. You iiip authoii/t'd to
direct tli« nienilxTH of your i)arty to act conjointly with yon on all mut-
ters, or you may assign tlicm severally to the wtiuly of separate Hultjecits,
or to diHi-rent localilii s, as you coiisid'T most ex|)e(lient. The advisa-
bility i« sn{jf,'ested for your consideration ol' .'-ciKlinf' one of yonr party
U|)on the u-illiatroHx to the Kiiiile and Kobben islands. Slionhl you
need transportatic/:; diirinj,' sncli absence of the AllKtIniss, the (!oni
luander of tl'ie llerin;;' Sea patrol licet, Captain Hooper, will be instructed
to render you every laeility.

Yonr (iind report will be ex])ccted to relate more specilically to tlie
group of seals which resort to the IMibilof Islands, but the Asiatic
herd may be investi;;ated Ui sn(di extent as seems advisable in order to
art'ord the opportunity for instituting' comparisons from which important
deductions uniy be reached.

The priin-ipal object of this investigation is to dctermint! by jtrecise
and detailed observations, llrst, the present condition of the American
fur-seal herd; second, the natnic and imminence of tlie causes, if any,
which apjiear to thrcalen its extermination; third, what, if any, bene-
tits have been secured to the herd through the operation of the act of
Congress and act of ParlianuMit based npr)n the awnrd by the Paris
Tribuinvl of Arbitration; tonrtli, what, if any, addilinnal ]»rotective
nu'asnres on land or at sea. or changes in the present system of reg-
ulations as to closed season, prohibited /one. prohibition of lirearms, etc.,
are recpiired to insure the jtreservation of the Inr seal herd.

Your inquiries should furthermore be extended, in so far as the time
and circumstaiu-es permit, to end)race the consideration of all important
questions relating to the initural histoiy of the seals, both at sea and
on the islands, with special reference to their bearing upon the sealing
industry.

Y'our attention is specially directed to the following (juestions which
should be treated in yonr report.

(1) The effect of pelagic sealing in the North I'aciticOi-ean and Bering
Sea upon the fur-seal herd, due account being taken of the classes of
seals killed.

(2) What effect, if any, has the annual removal of bachelor seals,
which has taken place on the I'ribilof Islands, had ui)ou the fur seal
herdt

The solution of these two <|uestions involves a study of the entire
subject of the relations of the two sexes and the ]»roportion of the nnile
seals required to be preserved in order to maintain the stability of the
herd.

(3) Whether killing on land or sea has interfered with the regular
habits and o<'C!;i)ation of the islands by the herd, or has ope.ated to
reduce the strength of the seal race as a whole by a natural selection f

(4) The propriety of existing methods of driving seals from the
hauling grounds to the killing grounds, culling, and other practices
connected therewith ?

(5) The cause of the destruction of nursing pujjs upon the islandst
During the sen sons of 18!)4 and 1895 about 2(),(»0(» and 30,000 dead pups,
respectively, were found npon the islands. You should specia'.b' 'vi-
sider the causes of their death, whether from starvation or cthe ' '. ' so,
preserving specimens whenever practicable.

(0) The extent, date, and causes or mortality on the isiau'ls of .^uais
of all classes?

ALASKA INDl HIUIKS.

379

(7) Tlic bnM'diiiK liiil)its<»l' tlu) sealH, willi special reference to tlio aj;e
at wliicii tlifi rcinalcH herein and coasn to biciMl, and tli<> trf<|iiun(;y of
biccdinf;, wht'tlior aiiiiiially or at lonf{«r iiit«'rvalsT

(H) Tli«', condition of fcmalo Hcais taken at sea as tu iiiusin^ and preg-
nancy!

(!•) The di.stanct which the Heveial clasKeH of seals go from the
islands, and the direction wliicdi they tiikc in seanih of food or rest at
dill'erent times dnring the season'/

(10) The a(!tnal decrease, if any, in tlie iiiMnbe'- of seals in each class
on the I'ribilof Islands \vhi(;h has occiired (luring 'ie jiast year, and
also since the year iSdO, and since the year 1870? .■. careful census of
the rookeries should l)e taken this season for conipaiison with the enu-
meration niade in l.Sito and previous yciirs.

(11) An exanunation of the (|uestion as tc il e character of the food
of fur seals.

,'.; Whether the I'ribilol' Islands herd of fur seals intern>ingle with
the Asiatic herds of the ("orumander or K'lrih^ i.'laiids.

(13) Whether nursery seals nurse other than their own pui)s on the
islands?

These latter (luestions are merely suggestions to guide you in your
examination aiul report.

I have the houor, etc.,

CUAKI.ES N. llAMHN,

Actintj t'Secnfd !/.
Dr. David S. .Iohdan,

Falo Alto, Cal,

June 1.3, 18%.

Sir : T have the honor to inform you that Prof. David S. Jordan, presi-
dent of the Leland Stanford .lunior University, has been appointed to
conduct a scientitie investigation of the fur-seal herds iu accordance
with the joint resolution of Congress, approved .lune 8. There have
been detaile<l to assist iu this iuvestigation the following gentlenieu:
Lieut. Commander Jefferson V. Moser; Leonhard Stejneger, esq.; F. A.
Lucas, esq., both of the National Museum, and Charles II. Townseud,
of the United States Fish Commission. The United States Fish Com-
mission steamer Alhatrosa has also been assigned for this purpose.

I have the honor to retiuest that you send to Professor Jordan, care
United States Fish Commission steamer Albatross, Seattle, Wash., a
copy of the Foreign Relations of the United States for 1895, part 1 ;
also copy of the proceedings, 14 volumes, before tlie Paris Tribunal of
Arbitration, published under the ausi)ices (if cl'C State Department.

I shall be able to advise you tonuirrow when the Albatross will sail
in order that you may communicate witii the British Government as to
the gentlemen who are to take passage thereon, in behalf of said
Government.

Respectfully, yours,

C. S. Uamlin, Acting Hecretary.

The Seceetauy of Sxatk.

380

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

Department of State,
WasIiiiKjion, June J 3, 1896.

Sir: Referring to your letter of the 27tb of September last, relative
to a report received by yoii from (3apt. C. L. Hooper, of tlie Hevenue-
Cutter Service, comman(iiiifj the lioriny Sea fleet, cdiiceniing the circmn-
stances atteiiciinf,' the seizure of the Ihitish sealiiifr Hchooiier Beatrice,
aiitl with releirnce also to the suhsefiueiit correspondence on the sub-
ject as noted below, I have the lionor to inclose for your iiif'oriniition
and consideration a coi)y of a note of the iltii instant, from the IJritish
ambassador at tliis capital in regard to the matter of prosecuting an
appeal in the case.

You will observe that the ambassador states tliat Her Majesty's Gov-
ernment does not consider tliat it would be justified in proceeding with
an appeal unless this Government is prepared to bear the cost of pursu-
ing it and to satisfy any damages which tiie court of appeal nuiy award.

Awaiting ai: exi)ression of your views in regard to the subject, 1 have
the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant,

EiciiAUD Olnky.

The SECliiiTAUY OV TUE TrKASUHY.

[Iiiclcisiires.]

No. 208.] Department of Statk, WaKhinijIon, Octohrrl, 1S95.

Exukllkncy: I have the honor to inform you that from a report dated the 2lHt
ultimo, received at tlie Treasury Department from Csipt. C. h. Hooper, K.C.S., coni-
mamling the Boring Sea fleet, it appears that on the morning of August 20 lust, in
latitude 54'^ 5i' 03" north, longitude IBS'' 31' 21" \vu«t, the British sealing 8<'lio<iner
Beatrice, of Vancouver, was bourdetl by two otHccrs from tlio revenue steunicr Iliinh
and found to have 147 seal skins on boiird, while her otiicial log recorded but G4, and
that 4 of the skins slioned evidence thiit the seals had been shot, and that he seized
the liealrice, her tackle, cargo, etc., for violations of the filth article of the regula-
tions of the I'iiri.s award, set forth in the British act of Parliament known as the
Bering Sea award act, 1894.

In view of the report made by Captain Hooper as to the shooting of seals, the
Treasury Dejiartnient has instructed that oflicer to pre)iare and file an amended
declar.ition with the coniiiKiiider of II. M.S. J'heasaiit, sjiecifying the killing of seals
■with firearms by the crew of the Beatrice in Bering Sea in violation (f the sixth
article of the regulations referied to and of the Bering Sea award act.
I have the honor, etc.,

RiriiAKi) Olnev.

His Excellency Sir Julian Paunckkotk, G. V. li., (i. C. M. (J.

No. 361.] Depaiit.mk.nt of State, Wathington, April S, 1896.

ExcELLKXCY : Adverting to my note of October 1 last, I have the honor to reiiucst
that Her Majesty's Government will direct that an appeal be taken to the proper
court from the decision of the British Columbian court in tlio case of the British
sealing schooner Beatrice, of Vancouver, seized by the United States revenue cutter
Bush, on August 20, ISi)."), for violation of the regulations of the Paris award and the
Bering Sea award act of 18!)4.

I have the honor, etc., Ricuaki> Olney.

His Excellency Sir .Julian Paunckkotk, G. C. B., G. C. M. G.

Washington, April 7, 1S96.
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your note, No. 361, of the 3d
instant, requesting that Her Majesty's (iovernmeut will direct that an appeal be
taken to the proper court from the decision of tlie British Columbian court in the

f

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

381

case of the British senlinK schooner Heatrice, of Vanconver, seized by the United
Stiites revenue cutter ICiish on August 20, 1895, for violation of the regiilutions of the
Paris aWard and the Beriu^; Sea award act of 1894.

I have not faiUnl to bring this mattctr to the notice of Her Majesty's principal
secretary of stat*^ for foreign affairs.
I Iiave the honor, etc.,

Julian rAU.vcEKOTE.
Hon. RiciiAKD Oi-NHY.

WAsniNCiTON, June 9, 1896.

.Sik: Witli reference to my note of the 7th April last and to |)revioiis correspond-
ence in rc^tard to the case ol tlio British Healing schooni-r livatrice, I have the honor
to inform you tli.it I am in receipt of a dispatch froiu llor Majesty's secretary of
state for foreign affairs, stating that he has considered, in couurMnication with the
secretary of state for the colonies, the recpiesC contained in your note to nie, No. 361,
of 3d April, that an appeal should be taken from the decision of the Hrilisli Colum-
bian court.

The Marquess of Salisbury observes that it will bo seen, on referring to the text of
the judgment, that the court distinctly stated that the tlolay in posting up the log
was not unreasonable in the circumstances, and further implied that even if the
proceedings had been taken against the master for a personal jtenalty under the
merchant shipping act, a conviction would not have been obtaiiieil.

The legal point raised in the .judgment is, however, a novel one, and it may be
desirable to obtain a definite decision from a hijiher court as to wlietlior the penalty
for infringing the regulation recjuiring the entry in the olliiial log book of particu-
lars of every scal-tishing operation is determined by section 1 (2) of the Heriiig Sea
award act, 1894, or by the provisions of the merchant Khipjiing act as to the keeping
of logs.

The intention of section 1 (3) of the Boring Sea award act would seem to have
been to compel the keejiing of logs by small sealiishiiig vessels which are not
required by the merchant shipping act to do so, rather than to detine the penalty for
breach of the award regulation, which prescribes special log entries; and it would
geeiii to have been conlemiilatcd that the vessel should be liable for any breach of
these regulations.

But the decision as regards the case of the Heatrice appears to Her Majesty's Gov-
eriiuieiit to have been substantially in accordance with justice, and if an appeal is
to be taken in order to settle tlie above point it would not, in their opinion, be fairto
throw upon the owners of the vessel the trouble and cost of defending the appeal.

I am instructed liy the .Maripiess of Salisbury to state to you that for the reasons
brielly indicated above. Her Majesty's (Joverniiiont do not consider that they would
be justilied in proceeding with an appeiil unless the I'nited Slates lioveriiiiieut are
preiiared to bear the cost of pursuing it and to satisfy any damages which the court
of app<-al may award.
I have, etc.,

Julian Painckkoth.

Hon. KiciiAiU) Oi.NBir.

Departmknt of Statk, Wathington, June IS, 1896.
ExCELi "NCY: With reference to my note to you of the Ist of October last, in rela-
tion to tliH seizure of the British sealing schooner Hedtvice, and to the subse(|uent
correspondence concernini; the subject, I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt
of your r- te of the iitli instant, in regard to theiinestion as to an appeal of the case,
and to inform you (hat the mutter is rc<oiving consideration.
I have the honor, etc.,

KiCllARD Olney.
His Excellency Sir .lULiAN Pauncki-otk, G. C. B., G. C. M. G.

June 15, 18'JG.
Sir: I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter of .lune 12, inclos-
ing a copy of a note of the Mth iii.stiint from the British ambassador
with relation to your request thfit the decision of the court in the case
of the Hritish sealing sciiooner Hrntrirc be appealed from. Tn said
letter the British ambassador states that JJer Majesty's Government

382

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

does not consider that it will bejustitied in proceodiiig with an appeal
nnless this Government is prepared to bear tlie i-osts of the siune and
to satisfy. any damages which the court of appeals may award.

Under these circnmstances, I am of the opinion that our request for
an ai)peal should not be pressed. My obje(!t in asking that this apjteal
be taken was because of the action of the court in referring the case
t<t arbitrators to assess the damages to which the sealing schooner was
entitled on account of the seizure thereof. I assume tliat the United
States Government will in no event be liable for the amount found due
by such a tril)unal, it not having been a party to the case.

On this assumi)tion I base my opinion that it would be unv>ise to
press for an appeal, thereby becoming a i)arty to the case.
Respectfully yours,

C S. llAMLiK, Acting Secretary.
. The Secuetaiiy of State.

SP

SALMON FISIIi:i!li:s OF ALASlul

H KIMiUTS

<)l

SPECIAL A(;ENTS PHACHT. IJ'TTHKLL AM) ]\V\\\\\\

Till, V1:AI{S 1,S!)l', 18U;5, 161)1, '.,S!)r).

383

[REPORTS OF AGENTS FOR THE PROTECTION OF THi SALMON FISHERIES OF

ALASKA I

RKPOHT or SI'KCIAL ACKNT I'KACHT.

WASHliN<no.N, 1). ('., .hiuHtn-ji 19, li^HB.

Siu: III acconlaiicc with tlie terms of my instructions, dated Auffiist
10, 1H{>2, I have the lioiior to submit herewitii a statement of my woric
for the jtartial season of ISIL','

A more extended report was made impraetieahie by tlie lateness of
tlie action of ('on<.Mess in makinjf tlie necessary approi>nation for tlie
protection of tiie sabnon fisiieries of Alaska. The delay thus enforced
upon the agent made it im])ossible to leave for the scene of my labors
until the sailing of the September steamer for Alaska.

Immediately upon my airival at tSitka. 1 caused to he ]»ublished a
"notice lo packers of salmon within the distri(!t of Alaska." securing
300 extra copies of the issue of the ne^vsllaper containing it, and the
same has been i)la(;ed in the Lamls of every owner, agent, or manager
having connection with the salmon fisheries of Alaska. Tlni same is
herewith attached, marked Appendix A.

Hy rapid traveling, made possible by my thorough knowledge of the
ninnerons waterways, I succeeded in visiting all but two of the canner-
ies operated in southeast Alaska during the past .season, having pre-
arranged iiiectings with the managers of those that I was not able to
reach before the cessation of active operations.

nAKUICADKS AND (lUSTK fCTIONS.

Within the letter and thes])irit of the law, barricades or other obstruc-
tions, such as are described in the act of Congress apiiroved March 2,
iSSit. copy of which is hereto attached {.see Department Circular N(».
131, Ai)pciidix AU were reported to me to have existed in a number (»f
streams, and evidences of such having been removed previous to my
visit were found by me at a number of jioiiits. Without exception, ajl
the responsible managers cited to me that if the law was imi)artially
enfarced. the corporations having the larger interests would hail the
result with satisfaction, snul the assurance from tlu> agent that all would
be brought within the strict pale of the law led to general acipiiescence.

In the larger streams, such as the Stikinc, rnuk, Takii, ('hilkoot,
and C'hilkat, ctfective barricades are a i)ractiial impossibility. Where
tried, the forces of nature, such as drift and freshets, have carried them
out. In several ofthe.se streams, traps connected with the shore ha\t^
been used, but, as .mu'.Ii have not extended into or beyond the i-hannel,
no obstruction can be said to have been maintained. In arriving at
this <'oncliision, I have the advice of the Tnited States attorney, lion.
(3harles S..I()hnson, Sitka, to whom was referred the case of the alleged
obstruction of the diilkat Kiver.

In the similler streams, however, the partial or c(Uiii)lete obstruction,
by means of fences, dams, tish wheels, or traps, has been more success-

'This n^|i;nt Ii:ih lircii ]iiiii(c(l in SciiiUo Ddciiiiuut No. 'M, I'il'ty-sfiond Congress,
secoiiil session.

38,5
il. Doc. 02, pt. 2 25

;;s(;

AI>ASKA INDK.STUIES.

fully luaiiitjiiiied, ami, while all such operated by white iiu'U had becu
reiuoved i>revi()us to my ex])e(;ted arrival, the evidcuees to uie were
eouelusive as to their previous exi.steuee. lu iiio.st iustauees, the (act
being known tiiat an ollieer to enforce the law was appointed was sulli-
cieiit to cause a hasty removal of all such obstructions as were unlawful,
and I am led to believe that for tlie latter part of tlie season the salmon
had unrestricted ])assaye to the lakes which constitute their breedin;^^
gidunds and which lind their outh't t»» the ocean throu;;ii the smaller,
ck'ar-\\'i(er streams.

The most successful obstructionists of these small salnu>n rivers are
the natives themselve-i. Those haviuf;' i)roprietary rij^hts to a salmon
"chuciv" (ind no dilliciilty in disposing of all tiie salmon they may
deliver at the nearest canning establishment, and with them the first
nio\ (• is to barricade the stream a short distance above its mouth or
just above the contiuence of the tides with the current, so that seining
for the mass of lish struggling to ascend the river is a matter of little
labor and i)ro(luctive, to the native (iahermeu, of desirable results. To
readi these viohitors of the law is practically inii)ossibie. Tiie natives
are mostly impecunious, and the collection of a line is impracticable to
a degree.

1 II this connection, and also to enable the otHeer having charge of this
work to reach tiic more numerous and irresponsible viohitors of it law
which they do not entirely comprehend, it is, in my opinion, necessary
to revise and amend thelaw,"ao tliatan alternative punishment, by means
of imprisonmcMt, can be inllicted by the court. 1 am led to believe, as
the result of formal interviews with several representatives of more pre-
tentious establishments than those controlled by the natives, that the
l)aynient of the tine of 82."»() imposed by the present law would not be
considered an insuperable hardship, and that in the height of the ''run"
it would be to their advantage to ])ay the line, "if convicted,"' rather
than lose the lish.

As to the possibilities of conviction under the ])rese,nt Jury system of
Alaska, 1 will leave the prosecuting attorney to speak for himself. My
own i)revi(»us experience has led nie into the belief that in cases wheie
the United States is the plaintilV the average Alaska jury is for the
defense.

FISII lIATrilKKIES.

Several of the more ex])erienccd lishcrnicn have attempted the prop-
agation of salmon in the streatns entirely controlle<l by them, and others
are said to be anxious to provide for their future wants by a system of
s])awn hatching if the (Jovernment will sanction their means and meth-
ods. Application to the special agent in charge for permission could
only result in a reference to the law. which, if interpreted literally and
enforced impartially, would prevent the maintenance of the necessary
dams in the hatcliing streams. A typical hatchery of this class has
been in operation at the works of (Jalbreath «,\: Co., at I'oint Ullis, on
Kuin island, Chatham Straits, which can best be described as follows:

A dam has been constructed at a point .just above extreme high tide,
with a second dam a short distance above it. with access thereto by a
suitable i)assageway, so that a person stamling upon the lower dam,
armed with a scoop ni't, can dip up the desired salmon from below and
readily transl'er them into the stream above the upper or second dam,
beyond which there are no further obstructions, and tiie lisli are left
undisturbed to linish their journey to their breeding waters, never far
removetl.

ALASKA INDI'STKIKS.

;{S7

It is estimated that out of .500 female salmon, to which umst be added
the requisite number of milteru, there will be fry enough to furnish all
the adult salmon recjuired for such a <'annery as the one operated l)y
them (since burned), estimated at 15,000 cases of 48 tins each, holdinj"'
one pound each, and yet make provisiou for the loss of young and adult
lish from natural causes before it is time for them to ieturn to propa-
gate their kind in turn. There is much fon-e i<i the assertion on the
part of experieniied fishermen that the unrestricted passage upstream
of the hordes of ravem)us trout, which always follow the run of salmon,
is productive of more damage to the issue of the breeding salmon than
all other causes combined, and that by a system of*hat(!herie8, such as
devised and operated at Point Ellis, the trout will not be able to ascend
the streams, aud a much larger percentage of the ova will hatch out.

THE SALMON AND HIS KNKMIES

Beginning with the trout, which follows the breeding salmon into the
mountain streams and lakes in which he delights, the course of life for
the salmon is uncertain and errati<*. His enemies are numerous, and
each in its way more than his match. If the male salmon succeeds in
tightiiig ott the trout and protects his mate while she deposits the ova
in some apparently secnie crevice in the rocks or in a hole scooped out
of the bottom gravel with his battered nose, and again covered from
sight, it is not yet safe from the marauding instinct of the sea gull and
the ])ernicious search of the '-saw-bill" duck. If escaping both of these,
and in the early days of spring, the bunches of young fry, playing ui)on
the surface of the water while drifting out to sea, escape the frequent
dives of the kingtisher, they are in danger of being gulped by the schools
of herring which come up into s(mie of the estuaries to meet them; or,
if by maneuvering along the shore in the reeds and grasses, a portion
manages to escape these heretofore unheard-of enemies, more of them
are destined to help make a dainty meal for the sea bass, whose ui»ward
rush scatters the terrified little shiners, whose number is reduced at
each successive running of the gauntlet.

Once out to sea, lurking in the protecting fastnesses afforded by the
rocks, the young salmon is not yet out of danger, furnishing food for
the "liig fish," not excepting the members of his own immediate family.
Having escaped the teetli of his own kind and grown to a size affording
protection as against them, we might follow him to the feeding grounds
or banks, where shark and dogfish feast upon him and the members of
the seal family are in uni(Mnitting pursuit. These enemies of the salmon
follow the schools, when at the age of 4 years they are impelled by
instinct and the promptings of nature to seek a fresh- water stream for
purposes of reproduction, and when caught in the gill net of the fisher-
men, unable to jlee, gorge themselves upon his delicate flesh. In addi-
tion to these, the birds of the air and beasts of the forests lay in Avait
for him as he appears in the shallows of the streams; the eagle, raven,
crow, and hawk swoop down upon him from above; and the otter steals
upon him from his hole in the rocks: the bear wades out among tliem
and with a flip of his forefoot throws them out on the shore, there to be
devoured ivt leisure, ft would certainly seem that when this valuable
fish has to contend with so many natural enemies the superior skill of
man should be held in restraint aud wise legislation for his protection
be enforced.

Tin; SALMON I'ACK OF 1892.

The entire pack of salmon for the district of Alaska for the season
just closed is, as is shown by the tables in Appendix B, 457,y()l) cases,

.'iSS AI,A8K.\ IM)l'sri;iKS.

]5,2r>2 barrels, iiiid i,2l'> liall'barrels of sailed \vh(il»; salmon; and of
salted bellies, .'{."i barrels and .% half barrels. In ordinary parhinee. it
reijuires ;> barrels of salmon to jtrodneo 1 bairol of bellies.

As it will be seen, tlie t(»tal value of tlic ai^nrejiate pack at the market
l)rices riding' in San Francisco, the ])rinciital i>ort of distribution, is
.<(-',(»(> t,;Ui).()."».

I>ased upon an avernfie of cost of ••'L'.T.'i per case and ••<(> per barrel (liOO
])ounds to the barrel) and $11 for bellies, the i)rofits of the iudu.stry,
while not (Excessive, are for the season just past fair mid satisfactory,
and several establishments heretofore conducted at a loss are ])resum|)-
tively able to realize dividends this .season. Anionic other cau.ses lead-
inj; to this result are to iienu-ntioned the reduction inoi)eratinj;' expenses,
bron}j;lit about by tlie more economical nninaj^ement incident to cooper-
ation throufih a board of trustees kiu»wn as the .Vlaska Pacrkers' A.ssocii-
ation, and a very considerable falling' off in the pack of the IJritish
('olund)ia canneries, which has resulted in a better market and ]ar;;er
demand abroad. Of these ujarkets l']njj;hind and Au.stialia are the
princii)al ones.

TIN I'J.ATK.

Tin plate, which enters so larj;ely into the cost account of tinned
salmon, was sold and delivered cheaper to the consumer for the sc sou
of 18i>l.' than for the two seasons i)rcvious, and contracts for delivci'ies
for the season of IS!*;? have been made upon a still hnver basis, as vi'ill
be seen by a refcience.

l.owt'Ht ro]i()iti(l price for humsoii (duty iiaiil. di'livcrcd nt San I'raiiciscn and
Astoria ) :

ISiU ))ili. SO

1S1I2 5. S21

1893 -i.Tf

Al.lKN LAIJOK.

A larji'e percentage of the labor employed in the principal establish-
ments is nonciti/.en, IJritish C()liind)ia and l';uroi)e furnish some, but
the larger i)roi)ortiou are Chinese. The latter are employed ])rincipally
in work reciuiring great manual dexterity, such as making cans, tilling
cans, labeling, and ]>acking. In some few cases Chinese contractors
employ luitive or Indian labor, and in a few minor instaiKU's natives
do all the w«»rk usually done by the Chinese, but itn the. whole the sys-
tem of contracting with a responsible Chinese lirm for a certain num-
ber of "hands'' or to put up a pack of a specilied inininium number of
cases for the season meets with the most a]>i)rovai. Tiie introduction
of improved machinery, which has taken the place of much hand Avork,
such as can soldering and can lilling. has brought tiie l)usiness -within
such limits as to have a restrictive operation uinin tht^ tendency t(»
"strike."' The native lisherman h,\8 in)t been slow to avail himself of
the strike method as taught him by the more irrcsi»onsible European
laborers, but the cooperative managenu-nt has apparently had a deprcss-
iug eifect, and during the season Just passed no strikes were reported.

SAI-llON STKKAMS HELD 15V Al.IlONS.

Duriug the past season some dilliculties arose among the native lish-
ermen and a party of lishermen from Hritish Colund)ia headed by an
educated halfbreed from Victoria. Complaint being made to me, I
rel\?rred tlu^ matter to the United .States attorney for his action and
his decision has had the teudency to discourage any fuither irruption

ALASKA INDTTSTRIKS.

;is!)

(»r like cliiU'nctt'P. njMni lliis niiittor I iilso (oncspDiKled with (lir
Trfiismy iJcpjii tinciil, iiiid in Ai»i)oii(lix (' will l»(; toiiii«l ii copy ol I lie
C()i'i'esj)(»ii(lc'ii(»'.

I'ISIIINd INDT^SIKIKH OTIIKH THAN SA1,M()\.

Wliilt' salmdii lieads tlic list iis ainoiif; tlic inodiictivt' I'ood llslios of
Alaakii, it is ]>y no iiu-ims tiie only prolital»l(! industry. A CnitlitT
icl'ercncc to tlur tal)lt's, Ai)p('inli\ l».siio\vs liic ( atcii of cod us rcporti'd
by tlie two conccins cnjiagcd in lids industry. I'xploiatinns hy tlic
Ciiitt'd .States l-'isii Coinnussion stcanior Alhalniss iiavc dctinitidy
located a number of -'banks" <;r('ater in area tiniu those of Xewibuiul-
land, upon which feed innunierabhi codfish of mood size and sui)erior
llavor, and it needs but a market within re;ich >>i' tlie distributing' point
of San l''ran<'isco to insure a pcrnnineni ami ample supply.

As compared with the lisheries of the Atiantie banks, those of the
Gulf of Alaska and JJerin;;- Sea ai'e to all intents and purposes to bo
])referred. The danf>ers to the lishermon are but few. Thc^ loss of a
dory or a uian is so infreciucnt, and tin- climatic conditions so favorable,
as to reduce the risk to a ndnimum. Much of the jisliin;;' is conducted
from shore stations, located in snug harbors. The men are comlbrtal)ly
])n)vided for and w(dl paid. A rccluction in freif^iits siclr as woidd
ensue from tlie completidu of an interoccanic canal won id, in my esti-
mation, place at the disi)osal of the millions of th(> jieopleof the United
States east of the llocky .Mountains the delicious ((uality and inestinui
ble (juantity of the Alaskan codlisii.

OTHER l-'lSIIINd INDUSTinES.

Many of the inlets and laji'oons to Avliich access is had from the
straits, sounds, and pulf of the Alexander Ai-chii»elago are, in their
season, full of herring, smelt, and capelin, and they all have their share
in the furnishing of tiie larders of the Alaskan housekeeper. There is
Imt one concern engaged in the business of preparing marketable
l)roduct from such .sources — tiu' Alaska Oil and (iuano Conijtany, located
at Killisnoo, Admiralty Island — and the jtroductions of this concern,
such as herring oil and tish guano, find a ready sale in the United
States, Hawaiian Islands, and (piito recently shipments hy means of
sailing vessels have been made direct to ICngland. As a fertilizer the
guano is said to be superior to all others in the production of sugar
cane, while the oil can be used by special i)reparatioii for all tiie ordi
nary puri^ises to which linseed oil is put in tiie i)repai'ation of paints.

The outpnt of tiiis concern for the season is given in Appendix E.

lIALliniT I'ISIIERIES.

Nearly all the inshore banks and sheltered bays contain hali)>nt in
large tiuantities, and sporadic etforts have been made to liiid a market
for them. Canning has not met with siutcess, but such would come into
demand were the salmon output much reduced behtw the i)resent limit.
The tish when so prepared is delicate and toothsome. An occasional
schooner has secured a load of fresh halibut, packing same in ice
obtained from the nearby gla(!iers, meeting with more or less success
by shipiiing same in refrigerator cars from jiorts on Tuget Sound direct
to New York and Boston.

Sun-dried or smoked halibut is a staple article of food for the native
Alaskan during the winter montlis, and salted napes aiwl lius are

:v.)0

MA<K\ INDIISTIUES.

cst(M>in('(l !i (U'lif'iujy by tlic (Jaiu'iisiiin oiHcurc. Some day in tlio luliuo
the iialilfiit of Alaska may supply the i)laciM)r tlio Clroeiilaiul article
now sold in the Atlantic, States. The dillercnce in the rate of IVeiphts,
wluMi same are more nicely adjusted to competiufj circumstances, may
safely be met by tlie fact that halibut tishinn' in Alaskan waters may
be pursued witii safety and comi»arative comfort duriuff the entire
season. Some recently discovered grounds in and about Cordova Hay
and Dixons Entrance, along the southern extremity of Prince of Wales
island, have excited attention, and at this time of writing a steam
schooner {Francis Ciittiiiji) is taking a fare, and the visit may result iu
the establishment of a station at or near Cape Aluzon.

ErLACIION, OR CANDLE-Fiail.

This peculiar fish, a member of the smelt family, has achieved a
world-wide reputation as the candle-tisli of tlie Northwest Indians, and
derived its ])eculiar cognomen from the fact that when sun dried or
smoked it is so ri<h and oily that the application of flame to one end
will cause it to burn as wouhl a piece of pitch pine or "lightwood."

A few years ago a considerable quantity was smoked and 8hii)ped by
a firm then located at old Fort Tongass, but tlie difliculty in obtaining
same in the waters of Naas I?iver, the same being in British Columbia,
made the venture unprofitable. A small (juantity is put \\\) in salt
])ickle upon orders, and the natives of the southern end of the Alaskan
])anlian(lle secure by ]»urchase and barter from the Tsimpsian Indians
of Hritish Columbia a considerable (|uantity of eulachon "grease,"
which takes the i)lace of lard iu their domestic; economy. At infre-
i|uent ])eriod8 this fish has been known to ascend the Stikine, Unuk,
and Chilkat rivers, and may freijuently be met with among the natives
at Fort Wrangel, Juneau, and vicinity. Its peculiarity in selecting
only glacial rivers in its spawning migrations and the fact that it can
be caught only by the insertion of small mesh gill nets through holes
in the ice during the month of February tend to make it exclusive
and expensive. As the eulachon '' grease" is extracted by a system of
putrefaction, its ]»rcsence iu a native house is indic'ated to the European
nostril while he be yet afar off.

In addition to the foregoing, not less than 10,000 gallons of dogfish
oil, so called, ])roduced from tlie liver of the dogtish and shark, was
extracted by the natives and sent to market through the medium of
the trading store. This oil, because of its heavy body and freedom
from grit, is a most ilesirable lubricant, and linds among tlie logging
camps of the Puget Sound region a ])rotitable market as " skid grease."
With improved facilities, sucli as may be assumed will be at the service
of (he special agent during the season of l.S!>3, an exact report of this
industry may be exi)ected, and for the season of 1892 the sum of •'«S3,000
can safely be added to the amount heretofon; reported, making a grand
total of !?2,2o7,9.'$9.5.'j received from the various lishing industries of
Alaska, as follows:

Salmou !ti2,0«l,3IO.Or)

Codlisli 104, 0G2. 00

Herring oil and gnano, salted liorring S(J, 5.S7. ")()

Dogfish oil ;{,000.00

Total 2, 257, 93'J, 55

Respectfully submitted.

Max Pracht,
Special Atjent for the Proieciion of Alaslatt Salmon Fisheries.
Tlie Skoretarv of thk, Treasury.

ALASKA IXnrHTHIKS

:',!M

Al'l'KNDlX A.

N'oTK K TO PaCKKIIS III S.M.MiiN WIIIIIN nil. IMSIKK I iiI' ALASKA,

Tn I'oiifomiity with inHtriirtiims from llio TrcnHury r)e])iirtiiii'nt. I ilosiro to refiT
all liriiiH or iKTHOiis iii;i;ii,n'il in tlic tiikiiiK"!' hiiIiiioii uitliiii tiir liiiiilH of tlit! OlHtricf
111" AliiHliii 111 tlin (ollouiiij;:

ll'irculur.— 1««'.'. I)n|iiiilniniil N'". i:il. ilivlsinn ul Hiwiiiil injinm.l
l'KOrE("IIf)N or llIK SALMON 1 ISII i;i!IK> Ol' ALASKA.

'rKKASfUY UKI'AKTMLNI, < >I llfi; Ol Tin; Sl'.l r.KTAIiV,

ll'(i'<liiii;iloii, I). I'., .hifiiinl III, IS93.
Til Ihr nfficem of the viinlomx in the Terrilorij of Munku mid all nthrr juvmiih ,(iiiiiriir(l :

I'lm iittisiitioii of till' collcrtnr of cmhIoiiim mimI nil iillirors of Hit? I'liiti'il St;itns in
till! rnritory of AliiHka, mm well as all otluM' iier.soim (,'oiiienipil, im ralli'tl to tlin tcriiis
()'' nil art of ('iiiifiicsH aii|ii(i\((l Maif'li -, ix'.t', wlicifiii it is providcil : "Tliattlio
I'liitiiiii of ilaiiis, liariiciiilcs, and other olistiiutioiis in any of tlw rivers of Alaska,
Willi lilt' iiMiposi' or irsnll of |)ievmitinn- or iiniiiilinj; llie asiciit of salmon or»i)ther
HiiiiilvDiiioiis spcrii'H to tlii'ir spawnint; ^'rounds, is Iniicliy doclared to ho miliiwfnl,
and tlio Si'Ptelaiy of fill) 'I'rrasiiry is hondiy antliori/cd and dircctrd to estahlish
Miili regulations iiiul siirveillanee as may be neeessary to iiiiiiro that thin |)i()hihition
is striitly iiifoned and to otherwise protect tho salmon li'^hi ries of Alaska; and
every pei'son who shall He fiiiitid j^nilty of a violafion of the provisions of this sec-
tion shall he lined not less Mian $:ri(» for each day of the contiiliiaiiee of sneli ohstnio-
tion : " and also to an act aiiproved Mareli :), 18',)1. entitled ••An act to rcjieal tiniher-
enltiire laws and for other piiri)o,-es." which pro\ ides Ihal the I'liited States reserves
the ii;;lit to ro^iilale ♦lie takiii;;- of salmon and to do nil other thinjjs iieiessary to
)iroteet and prevent tliedestrnetioii of salmon in all the waters id' the lauds jjruuted
under said aetaml frei|U<^i.ted hysalnion.

OHleers of the customs hci\ ice and ollieers ai)]ioiiitpd to enforfo tt' ■ 'ovisions of
Iho law referred to are herolty directed to report all ease-^ of infractn .. .if said laws
to the United States attonioy lor the District of Alaska, with a view to the prose-
cution of olVenders

A. r.

Nl.ni.KTON,

Icliiiy Sv<-rclftrii.

And also to the followini
my a]i)iointnient :

extracts from the letter of iiistnietions aeeoiii|KUiyiiiif

TiiKAsruY Dr.i-AitLMKXT, Oi'KicF. or Tin; .ski hi-.tary,

IWtshinnloii, l>. C, Aii;ii(sl in, 1S9?.

Si!!; Ilaviiiff heeii appointed as a s))ecial aueiif for the ])reservatioii of the salmon
fiBheries in Alaska, yon are informed that it v.ill ho your duty to ascertain and
report the loeatioii of every Ralmoii eaniiery or salteiy in Alaska; the capacity of
the same in cases, harrels, hiilf hands, and kits; the pack in fiill for each season ; tho
iniiuher of hoxes of tin consnmed and the cost of same; the nuniher of employees m
each cannery or saltery, and the total thereof, segrc'vitinir whites, natives, (.'hineso,
etc, male aiid Ibmale. iidnlls and minors, and whether citizens or aliens. You should
also ineliide in said report the codlish, herrinj?, hernnfj oil and guano, and other
snch industries.

I inclose herewith for your information a copy of a circular, this date, relating to
the in'ovisioiis of fhe fn-st section of tho act aiijiioved March _', issil. entitled "Au
act to provide for tho protection of the salmon tisheries of Alaska." It will ho your
dntv to enforce the inovisions of said act, and to warn all persons who havi; erected
dams, or barricades, or other obstructions to romovo the same forthwith, and in
default thereof you will report all tho facts with tho iiroper proofs to the United
.states at tornov ibr prosecution.

At tho close of the season you will submit a full report ol your labors ,\ml the

302

ALASKA IXDl'fiTKIKS.

roMtill III' your olmtTV.'it iiiiiH iiiuliT tlii'Mc iiiMtMiitiiiiiH, wiDi mhIi riTniiiiiii'iiiliii iiiiiN jh
you iiia.v <liTiii MilvisMlilc. ^ iiiir oU'rial nt it I Ion will \w Sil^H.
KeHpei'tfiilly \oiiim,

A. 11. Ni;rn.i;ii>N,

.Itihiji Snrflarji.
Mr. Max I'iiaciu, I\ iinliiiujloii, U.C.

HiTKA, Alaska, Si plfmhir y>, /.s',''.'.
A copy oC tlif aliovo ■' cinnliii" liaviii)^ Ikx'Ii iii()|iirl> addrcsj^itil to tlic piTHnii in
char^r of iivi'i'v (atiiiiMy ami Nalti^iy witliiii tlio liiiiilM ol' tlii' illHtrii t, aiiit llio nimiu'
('onNi;;iiril to till- (Mistoily lit' tlio I'liiti'il StatiH iiiailM to lio I'lirwarilrii, all hiicIi aro
lieii'liy iiil'iirniril that sui'li is roiisiiluroil Hiilllriciit tor iiiiipom's of •• waiiiinjj, " anil
thai proccrilin^s in proMciMiion will ho iuMtitutitd jigiiinxt all prrsons t'ounil In ho
viulitin^ the law.

Max riiACiii,
> Sj)iiitil Aiitnt in t'lKirijr.

ALASKA INDI'STUIKS.

;5!>a

in/.

mil in

HIIIIII'

li ar«
" mill

tl> I'O

r<ji:

•S"

X

M

0

u

Ph

< i

'II

its

a
'2

•nini.iiiiu^ 1
il«K Jii itiiii)

'.Ml|lllll\

■liaA'ii|ti
-iiiti .|.ii|iilli ,>{

MHtt.) Jklll
UII||UHIItuIlUII,|

•».IIlnl| 01
,|ii Villi Jill ii|i'!|

'|><».Viiitliii.) V \Ui\

■'M'lMI'l.l
■njniM( HI
JII A'ii|i j.iil >ipi;|

■pd.CoiiIiii.i H.did

s a

3 $

'Hl|ii)inn(iMu<i,,i

■HJ11(II| 01

JII a'<i|i Jill ii|ii;|

5 1^ .« i:

5 S <

<2|

'IISAIIldllllt HA'll(|

. •JJliiim 9|iiK
■>|.iii.tt

IIIUJ) (lllll ll|

nci]iiUJiiili.iiiu I
'|iJiuii| liini||IAV

lumiii iin.w

'i||iii>iii j.iil

IIOIIIInll'MllllU)
■1MA'0[(I|||.I KA'U(|

•H|Ill|ill .iii!i\; i

•"«!ii''ii ;

I

■i|«!l-M"MA\

•B.>in9(t j

•i|f!I>il"i|A\

i S

'r- >

%

5

'r- >>

a y

ji «c

:S'.2 ■S'as :S!2a ;
' I-; 1^ ' 'li!*^ • '" * '*' '

:38

: ; :S

:S

^ l><!^r«i

: S A S

;52S

• .?. Ji 3

! :^ :'3

.2 .a"

:i^ -J ;^ sy :3 ;y

o

X A Z. T. f. ^. 1^'

X « t: S :3 £•

- c •» : ~ i '.. : : ^ ; :

l-i S - b-'* 5 *" \!!rtr5«^-.5
:, - I- .± t- i- Z .= S* -■-■='= ?

r,04

ALASKA INDUSrinKS.

a 3 c'C'STj

ALASKA INDT^STRIES.

1505

■::

Ahisla xalnwii pacl.—sr""i" nf i.99,?— Continued.

KKCAI'iri'LATIOK.

(;aspsl)!\rkp(l,4ri7,!>fi!),at$4.20 $1 , 923, 4fi9. 80

HurrclssallK(i.l5,2r)J,iit$8 'if^'l'lV'li"

llair liiivrclsHalteil,4,2ir.,at*1.25 'rl-,'!,

KainlH of l.oUifB Halted. :tr>, at $1.'> ,>'■'• ""

Half hands of Ik^IUcs .sallfd, 110, at $8 28iU)()

Total ^^^^"l^

Tin Iilato (•ousimiiil (49,23« boxes, 108 iioiiiids oacli* pounls. . 5, ;tn. 812

Value of till plate, duty paid, $291,600.00; duty at 2.2 rents per pound 116,991.80

Avi'iage((is1 per liox. duty puiil. for the aeason of 1892 • ;••■•,;" .i. 9^. 3J

Avcrajio cost of canned siilinoii. ]icr rafio of 4 dozen, in Ipomid tins, Ueliveied at San ^

Fiancisro '••"''

Nori;.- Size of slieet of tin jilatc. 14 liy 20 inelies; 112 alieetH (108 iionnds) to a box. A box of tin
niiikcs 448 cans. The cost, n8 rejiorted. is duty paid at Han Frantiseo. Astoria, or at the works. 1 ho
rate of dniv is 2.2 cents per pound, or iii2.370 per box. The amount of drawback allowed npon expor-
tation eciualb about 2.''i I'euts per case, or $2 per l)ox of (in.

:a

li

Appendix C.

Treasury Depautment, Office of the Secretart,

Washington, 1). C, January 10, 1893.

Sir; Referring to your report of tho 2il ultimo, in relation to disputed claims
npon Alaska lisberv locations and particnlarly to your inquiry ^yhetlleT or not aliens
niiiy claim and hold salmon lislieries or tontroi streams that carry salmon iu Alaska,
I ilicloso herewith for voiir infornuition copy of an opinion, dated the 28th ultimo,
of th(^ Acting Solicitor of the Treasury, to wlop-. the subject was referred.
Respectfully, yours,

(). L. Spaldinc, Avtiiuj Seeretarij.

Mr. Max I'liACiiT,

Special Jycnl, SUka, Alaska.

r-- 9
7? 9

Department of .Tustice,

OkFIOE of the SOI.ICirOH OF TllEA.sURY,

Washington, D. C, Kovembcr 2S, 1S92.
Sir: Inquiry is made by Special Agent Max Pracht " whether aliens can claim
and hold Halmoii tishc.ricH, or control streams that carry salmon, in Alaska?"

h\ reply to your reference of .said inquiry, I have to advise you that aliens have no
siicit right. Be.iides, Congress has reserved to the United States the exclusive right
to regulat*- tho takin^^ of salmon, and to prevent the <le8truction of salnioii. in Alaska.
See section 14, act of March 3, 1891 (26 Stat., p. 1095), and iict of March 2, 1889
(25 Stat., p. 10O5).
The letter referred to is herewith returned.
Very respectfully,

The SECUETAHY 111 TUK TltKASUUY.

F. A. Rrkvr, Acting Solicitor.

2-j

O O .J

^i

3or,

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

Al'l>H.M)l\ I).

Cudjifh hiiliinlrii of .Itatiha.
(Ciillati'il by Mux Prailit, siicciiil ii);i'iit.]
■ \V.-ii;lit.

Name orcnnipany anil staiioiis Nann' at' \cssols cin-
anil trailiiif.' jiosIm. jilnvfil.

•pig

36;")
l.-iii
'Jail

Tlic ilr( ollani 1' ..liin;; anil i ; I

Trnilin;; Co. : i ] 7ViH.v. Ttms. I

Slmniauin LslamlH. livi' ' Si'lioonor f'zariiin.r 210. OiiO ;i-l-l 1110 $rill

Htatiiins: in'iiii-ijMl storr. tliiri- ii-iiiHiliiiiim| 'JIO.IKIO

I'irate C'ovi'. Bra^nn. I M:i. (iilu
()kliol«k Hi'.n. statiiin at Si'limmer Ili'i'a 12r).U0vi

I'ltrniirtiilnv.ski.
Lynili' ami iloiijili <'ii. :

Saiiil Point. I'oiioll' Island .. .^liinonorA'i'nnirc.

Un^ia, .1 nn::a r.arKriitint'l*'j'fni(int

Ni'laon Irtlanil. Sa'naktiroiip liaikiiitino J. A.

I'alknibiirp.
Comiianv llarlioi, Sanak Si'hiiiini'r.IolinHan-

Islami. k.

Ikatiik Slatinn, Ikatiik Si'lmonor Araf;o . ..

I'l-niiisula.
New Station. Hmiilfison

Inland.
Sqnaw Ilarlior, ItrilCovo;

Halnion station."

130 .ID .1!9l,:i"i0'
Kir, .-,1) I I

•2-2r, no (I)

(i.'iij. Olio 118.5 887 ,10 (I)

j

miK. '

( .13 i|!20 .

(10 21) .

20 20 .

■IHi 20 .

;i06 ;12 .

135 20 .

' Itppoit not ri'aily. 1 Incliiili'd in llui aliiivo (inures.

NoTb;. — Park olTiOO ItairolM inrluilitil in tin- Halnnm .ntatistio.'^.

; Pickled flgli.

Xiimhcr of mci; (-mjiloiini uiiil cnmiiennaHon.

Tolnl tlslioniK-n '. 142

]..ay jier l.oiio lisli (inrlndinu tiansportation anil snlisisti'iici'l :

' .Slmniayin (iroiip $27.50

Otlici'Htations 25.00

Dri'SH fianji. per iiioi.tli 25.00

.Split tiis. per niortli 00.(10

ISallfis, jieiinontli , .10.00

HKCAPITII. \TI()N-.

Total valiio of dried codlUli $94, 3,10

Total value of jiiekled eodli.^li 1, 092

Total value of lonj;iiesi and sounds 0, ,120

Total value of oil 1, 200

Total 104,002

.Vl'PENDIX K.

Aldnhii livrrinij fmhciifs.
[.Statistii'H II, Hated liy Max Pr'ielil, sjieeial agpnt.]

Corporation Alaska Oil and Otiniio Co.

l<(i(iiti()ii Killisiiiio, .Vdiiiiialty Isliiiul.

Jicniiijj (Mti>;lit !<lt,2i!6 barrelM,

ri(»(]iiot :

LML',(ir)0 ^rjilloiii, oil, at L'5 cents • $(iO, .")12..")0

810 tons ouiiiiii, lit .+27. ."■>() 22, 27,"> (lO

],(MK)liain>ariels saMcd licriiim if, 7.">0. (K)

Total 8ti, '>M. 50

l''iiii)loyei'8:

Wliite (iiiclndiiio- incrl.aniis and crows of steanitirs) 49

Niitivcs (iiioliidiii^' tisliiriiicii and retinery optM'ative») 4.")

Cllitn'Hc (incsH-Jioiisc cooks) 5

I'liratioii ol'sciisoti, live iiioiillis (.\iioiist lo Xovciiibcr, incliisivi!). *

OF SPECIAL AGHNT IJ'TTREI.L.

CUyDKXS.triOX .L\I> UKAURAXaEMEXr Of DATA I'.MIiODIKD IN
ANNUAL liKl'Oirr or PAVL S. LtJTTRKI.I.. SPECIAL ACKNT FOR TEE
SALMON FlSlLEPilES IN ALASKA. YE All ISH-I.

Mr. J. K. Lntiioll, the former speciiil a<;eiit. liad made an extended
tour through Alaska, visitinj^- tlic vaiiou.s salmon canneries, and had
htid tlie foundation of a. (•om]>lete and exhaustive report upon thtlr con-
dition, etc. Owing- to his death, however, before the latter object liart
been accomplished, his son. I'aul S. Luttrell, was <h'legated to collect
data from the pai)ers of the late J. Iv. Luttrell, and to construct there-
from aa complete a report ujion the condition of the salmon fisheries as
■was possible. vSucli rei)ort has been submitted, but was sonu'what
prolix, and in form but a verbatim copy of wliat letters he could find
bearing upon tlie sahnon packing industry, and written by various per-
sous in Alaska ui)on the solicitation of .1. K. Luttrell. It is the pur-
pose, therefore, to present here, in a compact form, the substance of the
report.

f<;VL:\I()N IIATt'IlEHIKS.

It is the opinion of the jtackers on tiic Karluk Kiver — the greatest
breeding grounds of the salmon — that the supply of red salmon is
rapidly det^reasing, owing to the increased catch, and that some meas-
ures should be taken to artificially iiroi)agate this species, in addition
to proliibitory measures. Tiiese Karluk b'iver canneries elected a
hatchery and achieved considerable success in the propagation of the
salmon spawn, several millions of the young salmou having beeu
hatched out. That hatchery, hov ever, is now closed.

Mr. .L V. Callbrealh has also erected a hatchery on Ethalene Island,
ami as the method employed at his hatchery is soniewliat dilfereut from
that usually pursued, a brief statement of his i)racrici' is here made:
Jlis hatchery is located on a small creek, |»ractically useless, because
few lish visit it. This creek is the outlet of a small lake. Tlie creek
is dammed completely across by two dams, one above the otlier, tlie
lirst a feet higit, Just above tide water, while tlie other is 15 feet high,
antl ino yards farther upstream. The hatchery is located between
these two dams. No lisli can jiass either of these dams unaided.
When the salmon try to ascend tliis stream, tliey are i):cked up with a
dip net and passed over the (irst dam, leaving behind the trout, bull-
head, and other fish that prey upon the salmon spawn. Owing to the
fact, however, that the dams were erected so near salt water, many of
t\w salmon, when they reached the barrier, did not attempt to pass.
but lay in salt water until they were ready to spawn, and when taken
lip their eggs woiihl not hatch out owing to the fact that they " ripened"
in salt water. Tlie hatchery will be moved to a iioint immediately on
the lake, where there is iin abundance of fresh water, and where it is
exiiected much better results will be attained. As it was, Mr. Call-
breath turned out over 700,000 young lish, where they had absolutely

397

:vjs

ALASKA INDISTRIEh

IK) enemies until they go Inu-k into salt water. The lower diuu will
still be kept in position to exclude the pirate fish.

The gentleman recomuKMuls the passage of a law giving ])roperty
rights to persons producing llsh under these conditions, where it can be
established that the fish are the product of private enterprise.

Bearing in mind the law which forbids obstructions placed over the
entire width of a stream fre<iuented by salmon, iVfr. Callbreath nnikes
a distinction between barricades and dams used as a means of whole-
sale slaughter of salmon and those placed for the jmrpose of detaining
lish until they are ri])e, and for preventing interference from ])irate
fishes. The latter class of obstructions, while a violation of the letter
of existing law, is deemed not a violaticm in spirit. "Fencing" can be
done only on small streams, and if but 10 ])er cent of the usual number
of salmon were allowed to i)ass the barricade and s[»awn undisturbed in
the waters above, the number of small fry hatched out would be greater
than if no obstruction Avere offered, and the sea trout and other pirate
fish allowed to work havoc among the salmon spawn and small fry.

HAIUTS OF THE NATIVES.

The natives, as a class, are intelligent, industrious, and peaceable,
finding their entire means of support in hunting and fishing. A great
portion of the lowlands of Alaska have abundant forests of spruce and
pine, some trees 1 and 5 feet at the butt and running n\) for a hundred
feet ■without a limb. There are excellent facilities for farming and
herding, the climate being mild and nirist. The thermometer seldom
gets below zero in winter, and 00° F. is o average for summer.

While the native male ]K)pulation is engaged in hunting and fishing —
there being a separate time for each — the women gather various kinds
of roots, berries, and barks, which are preserved in seal grease, and
eaten during the winter. The natives around Yukatat Bay catch about
1,000 hair seal every year, a portion of the flesh of which is dried, while
the fat is boiled down into grease. Of this great (luantities are used,
everything they eat being cooked with it. They compare it to the
"Boston man's butter.''

The nati\ es i)ractice both iiolygamy and polyandry, although but
few instances of the latter relation exist at i)resent. This is due to a
l)eculiar custom in vogue among them, namely, that when one of a mar-
ried coui)le dies f he relatives of the deceased take all the worldly goods
the pair might have accumulated and divide thorn among themselves,
leaving the survivor nothing bnt a heavy heart and the clothes on his
back. To a woman left a Avidow with a hall' dozen chihlren this prac-
tice works great hardship. To guard against this hardship a man gen-
erally becomes ])os8essed of two wives or more, and when one of them
dies the surviving wiv«'8 still renniin Joint owners of his goods and
chattels, and the involuntary division of his pro]»erty among the rela-
tives of the deceased is thereby avoided. Polygamy, it would seem, is
a blessing to an industrious native, for on tiie death of one wife her
relations can not step in and take away that which he has been a life-
time in accnnudating.

The SwcdisliMissionsiry Society, whose heathiuarters are at Chicago,
has been doing good work among these luitives — establishing a school,
■Mi'l taking among them a lunnber of native children to educate and raise.
Unfortunately, their main building was destroyed by fire recently, and
tiie mission ])ractically closed. Bnt th<^ mission owns a small sawmill,
and they exi»ect soon to gef out the lumber and build up again.

will

[

ALASKA INDL'STIilKS.

THE "rOTLATCII.

;i!l!)

Olio of tli<^ most curious of the many reiiiark.nble custonia of the
natives is the " iiotlatch,"' and a description of it at some length would
seem not out of place. The meaning of the jmtlatch is very broad, and
siguilies that which is given by one Indian to another, or by one tribe
to another tribe, wht^ther as a pure present, in ])aymeiit for an assault
committed, for an imaginary cause of death, for accidental homicide,
or for murder.

In the lirst case, should a man desire to make himself i)opular and
rise ill the estimation of his fellows to the dignity of a 1;)ig chief, he col-
lects, by great efforts, a considerable (juantity of blankets, camphor-
wood trunks, biscuit, molasses, Cabot W. blankets, etc., and distrib-
utes everything he has among the other members of the tribe, crowning
the distribution with a feast, and, if hoocherioo can be obtained, a
"drunk." When all lias been consumed, his object has been attained
and his prominence in the tribe is assured, lie is a big man according
to the size of his potlatch, wiiicli is not so barbarous after all.

Ill case of an assault, which is very rare, the friends of the manwho
is Avorsted will demand a jiotlatch from the contjueror to salve tiie
wounded feelings or disfigured face, and they are always paid without
regard to the merits iu the case.

To illustrate a potlatch for an imaginary cause of death, there is
instanced the case of a boy who owned a small skiff and who invited
other boys to go with him in the skiff after berries. While away they
all ate of some poisonous root, from the effects of which one of the boys
died. His relations demanded payment from the father of the boy who
owned the skiff, tlioii* argument being that if the boy had no boat he
could not have taken the other boys with him, and, of ourse, none of
tiieiii would have eaten the poisonous root and died. They got the
potlatch, but it almost resulted in a fight.

Should an Indian accidentally kill another, his relations are made to
pay heavily for the death, and if tiie two principals sire members of
different tribes the demand is much greaf<'r, amounting in some actual
instances to more than $1!,000. The whole tribe of the (me who did the
killing assist in thn jiayment. For murder of a male Indian a similar
payment is required, but if a female is killed a few blankets will sutHce.

A potlatch is given upon the demolition of an old house, and also
after the death of any iiiomber of the tribe, liut it seems the most
prolific source of potlatching is the cicc^tion of new houses. The loca-
tion for the new building is .selected at a "smoking council" of the
tribe, after wiiich the erection is coniiiieiiced, the owner being assisted
by such members of his tribe as are experts. As it nears completion
another council is held, at which is decided tlie date of the potlatch.
The whole tribe is notified, and each member is expected to contribute
something toward the potlatch and tlie subsefiuent feast. On the
eventful morning all assemble at the new house, each in his best, with
the exposed portions of their bodies covered with paint and further
embellished with wads of cotton pasted at irregular intervals on the
face and iu the hair. Tlie festivities commence with a dance, the women
executing a species ofside shuffle, whilethe men augment the enthusiasm
by stami)ing their feet, liverybody sings. When the song and danc-
ing are tinished, some one hands up a bolt of calico, or some blankets,
handkerchiefs, soap, or what not, at tlie same time mentioning the
11. line of the j)ersou or ])ersoiis to whom the (hnior desires the jtiesent
to be given, (It is well to mention, parenthetically, that the potlatch

400

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

presents and least are given to members of opposite tribes.) Tlic i)rcs-
ent, whatever it may bo, is divided or torn into as many i)ortions as
donees, and then ])rese;kted, alter which more singing and more ])re8ents
Uiitil everytliiiig is given away, Tiiis may last twenty lour or forty-
eight hours, the women during tliis time nc vir h'aving tlieliouse, and
eating nothing save an oeeasional eraelier whicii may have been ])re-
sented to them, moistening their throats, as they beeome dry, witli the
juice of tobacco, made moist in a can of water.

After the i)ot!atcli comes the feast. IMce has l)een cooked and
seasoned with molasses and seal oil ; boxes of sugar and biscuit opened,
and an abundance of tlie oinnipresent seal grease provided. Every
available recei»taclc, from a Mashtub to an old tin can, is used for pass-
ing around the food, and everybody eats until their stomachs rebel,
go outside, relieve themselves by vomiting, and icturn to the attack
until all has been consumed. They know no such thing as sto])i)ingat
an intermediate point. The potlatch and subseiiuent feast mr.st exceed
the cost of the simple structure in honor of which it is given many times.

TIIK ISLAND OF AFOGNAO.

Mr. A. Lasey, Tnited States de])uty surveyor for Aliv^ka, accom-
panied the late J. K. Luttrell during a greater portion of his travels
among the various canneries, and esi)ecially auiong those on the Kar-
luk Itiver and on the island of Afognac IMr. Luttrell had thoroughly
discussed with him in regard to these canneries, and .'lad communicated
to him his ideas and the recommendations he would make in his report
with reiierence thereto. Me therefore presents, upon re(inest, ^Mr. Lut-
trell's ideas and conclusions on tiie subject of the better protection of
the salmon fisheries and the proposed establishment of a tiovernmeut
hatchery on the island of Afognac.

Tiiis islant^lias been recently condemned and set apart as a (ioverii-
ment reservation, tlie object being to use the same for the purjmse of
a hatcherj'. Tt is the second largest islanl in northwest Alaska,
containing an area of over (iOO s([uare miles. It is mountainous, and
the lower parts are (;overcd with a thick growth of valuable ])ine, from
which most of the small schooners and boats employed in hunting and
trading have been built. On it fur-bearing animals, such as brown
and black bear, silver gray fox, and other small game, are found. There
is on its coast one settlement of about liOO inhabitants, natives and
Creoles, and has a church, two stores, and a schoolhonse. The pojjula-
tion depend for their living on hunting, lishiiig, and cutting wood for
export to the more southerly iioints of Alaska, the peninsula and adja-
cent islands being entirely devoi<l of timber, even foi' domestic purposes.
On it there are a half dozen canneries, the value of two of whicli exceed
$I()(),0()0. Tlie Afognac Hiver, on which it is intended to erect the
hatchery, is tilled with rapids and natural obstructions, so that the num-
ber of salmon endeavoiing to ascend this river to spawn is (!onipara-
tively small. The greater portion of the fish caught in Afognac Bay
are passing schools.

In marked con^^rast to this is the Ivarluk Eiver and Lake on Kodiak
Island — the great natural breeding ground of the salmon. Immense
schools of the tish gather every summer at the mouth of the river, and
iu former years ascended unhindered to the lake. On Karluk Spit, a
narrow tongue of land at the month of the river Karluk, ar<' estab
llshed 5 llrstclass canneries and fishing stations, and in close proximity
on the south side of the river 2 more, making 7 canneries in all.

I

ALASKA IXl^UhTRIES.

K)l

Tlicst' caniiei'ios pa(!k away every year from 20(),0()() to 250,000 casos of
red salmon, eacli case retiiiirinp on an avorapc 14 fisli. making; a sraiid
total of from 2,000,000 to 2,r)00,000 salmon can<;'lit there every season.

Th(! owners of these eaimories, foreseeinj? or fearing- that a few years
would bring altout a total destrnetion of the red salmon if*no jjrotective
measures were adoi)ted, ajrreed amono- tiiemselves not to lish on one
day in each week ami on that day to leave open tlie mouth of the river
to afford the fish an opi)ortunity of ascending to tiie lake. In addition,
they established a first class hatchery, cai)able of turning out several
millions of young fish every seasoTi. This hatchery was located on the
bank of the Karluk Hiver at the head of tide water, about 2 miles
above the canneries. Tiie hatchery, however, has not been in opera-
tion within file last two years. A very careful examination of it by
Messrs. Luttrell and Lasey showed it to be in very good order, requir-
ing only trifling repairs. A conii)etent person had been employed by
the canneries to superinteiul the hatchery, and had for his use a com-
fortable dwelling house. The experiment iiroved successful insofar
as several millions of young salmon were hatched, but later on it was
found that tiie water use<l in the iiatchery and obtainecl from a ravine
had liecome surcharged with impurities, lovering the young lish with a
species of parasite, eventually causing deatii. This ditliculty can very
easily be obviated by leading the waters from the Karluk Kiver to tin;
hatchery, a distance of al)out 300 yards, in an iron pipe or wooden
flunu', at a cost not to exceed ><">00.

Tiiis hatchery the canneries propose to turn over to the United States
(lovernment, i)roviding the (iovernnient is willing to operate it instead
of establishing a h itchery on the island of Afognac.

The object of Mr. Ivasey was to make jtlaiii that Mr. Luttrell believed
Afognac Island to be ill chosen as a place for establishing a hatchery.
Its reservation would entail tlie destruction of several canneries located
tiiereon, tiie value of two of whicli is estimated at over 8100,000. These
canneries have already sulVered great pecuniary loss by reason of the
conipidsory closing of t'i"ir establishments, and it would seem that a
claim for danmges again'^t the (jovernment would i)roperly lie. The
United States would be oliiiged to i)urchase these canneries and other
im])rov<'ments, and the amount necessary tlierefor would greatly exceed
$100,000. On the other Inuid, the owners of the Karluk Kiver can-
neries have erected and e()uipped a liatcliery, and tliis these owners
have agreed to transfer gratis to the; Government, and stand ready so
to do whenever tin: (iovernnient chooses to accept.

In view of these facts, Surveyor Lasey states that Mr. Luttrell, after
rejifatcd conferences with tiie owneis of the several <'anneries, liad
decided to mal<o the following recommendations bearing upon the
subject :

I'irst, To abandon Afognac Island as a (iovernnient reservation, for
the following reasons:

((t) It does not nMjuire for the pur])oses of a hatrlicry an islaiul con-
taining an area of over 000 scjuan' miles.

ill) The natural resources of the island, itarticularly the tind)er, are
needed not only by the inhabitants of the island, but by the whole of
the jieninsnla and adjacent islands lying southwest down to llnalaska,
and the closing of the island would seriously attect the whole country
and its industries.

{(') The (iovernnuMit would be obliged to purchase tiie canneries and
lisliing stations and all improvements existing on the islands, the claim-
ants of which have already made application for i)atent8and depositee!
II. Doc. 92, pt. 2 -'2i\

\\K

ALAHKA INDIISTIIIKS.

tlioainouiii ol'pnrchasr money in the United States snbtrciisiu'y at San
Francisco.

[d] Tilt" value of tliese improvements will exceed $100,000.

(e) The .sliuttin,u' down of these cianneries dnrinj;- the i)resent snmmer
has already caused the owners pcenniary losses, for which losses the
Goverinneiit will most iiUely be held responsible in addition.

(/) The erection of a liatclu'ry will cost several thousand dollars more.

(//) The im|)rovements of the Afo^-nai; River, to enable the fish to
a8(;end, will cost a considerable sum.

(/() That the Karlidc Kiver and Lake, beius' the g'reat breeding' jjfrounds
of tl)e salmon, ou^iit to be the place for a hatchery, the more so when
the immense catcli Ihere, season after season, is considered.

The second recommendation Mv. Lnttrell intended to make was the
Ibllowinjj:

Second. To accept the ofler of the Karluk I'ackinjj' Company, to turn
over to the Tinted States Government this hatchery on the Karluk
River under the conditions specilied above, for the following reasons:

{(() It will save the expense of building a hatchery on Afognac
Island.

{b) The estimated cost of repairing the Karluk hatchery will be
trilling'.

(r) Tidesa a hatchery is establislied at once at Karluk, and artilicial
means are resorted to for the i)ropagation of the salmon, in addition
to other preventive measures, the red salmon will soon be extermi-
nated, the yearly catch dinunishing jierceptibly, although a greater
number of hshermen are employed, and a great variety of seines are
used.

((I) It will not be necessary to purchase any improvements or vested
rights, saving thereby a great sum of money.

(e) No improvements, in the way of removing ol)structions, are
needed on the Karluk liiver,

Mr. Lnttrell also intended recommending additional measures for the
protection (»f the salmon fisheries:

I'irst. To prohibit entirely lishing in the river except by natives for
theii' own use.

Second. To suspend all fishing operations during two days of each
week, or limit the season's catch to a si)ecilied number of ca.ses during
a certain number of years, to give the fish an opportunity to recuperate.

Third. To leave a space of 100 yards wide, from the nnrnth of the
river to dee]) water, open at all times for the fish to enter the river.

Konrih. Not to tolerate any obstructions in the shape of dams or
wire fences in the river.

Fifth. \'iolation of any adopted i)rotective measures to be punished
by a. fine and imprisunment.

Sixth. To appoint a proper otiicer to reside during the fishing season
at Karluk. whose duty it shall be to see that all protective measures
are strictly observed.

No attemjjt has been made lo afford data from which to base an esti-
mate of the totr.l number of cases of salmon packed by the various
canneries, or the total value of all the canning ]>lants. Hence it is
utterly impossible to compile such statement. from tliis report.

The suggestion is made that the attention of the (io\erninent should
be directeti to the wanton destruction of deer by the natives. Mr.
Wadleigh, of the North Pacific Trading and Tacking Company, of San
Francisco, who makes the suggestion, states that it is no uncommon
thiug *'or a party of natives to go out and return in a few days with 25

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

4(i;5

or .")(►, and sometimes more, deerskins. No nse wliatever is made of the
carcasst's, iind they are alIo\v(id to rot wIkm'c tlie animal has l)eon
skinned. At tlui present rate of destrnction it will be bnt a tew yeais
before deer will become extinct. lie leconiniends the enaetment of a
law similar to that in force in IJritish Columbia, i)rohibitiu^' the exiior-
tation of deerskins.

The report contains tlie draft of a bill the object of which is robotter
protect the salmon tisheries in Alaska. A copy of such draft is hereto
uuiiexed.

AX ACT (V ■ till) liettor protection of tlio salmon tiHlirries of AliiMk.1.

Ik it enacted bij the Senate nnil flonw of Uepreaciitatires nf the I'niteil stntfn (if
Amtricd in ('omjeexH iiHucmhliil, 'I'hat tlie crt'ction of diiiiiH, \v('ii>, Idiirii'iuli's, or otlur
obstructions in any of tlic riveiH of Aliiskii with tlio ])iirp(iso or roMiilt of prevent iiig
or iiupcdinj; tilt; iiscent of salmon or other niiMtlronioiis Hpei'ios to their spinvning
groiinil. or taking, eatrliing, or lisliing lor sahiion hy any (h'viec, siivi' nnil ox(ci)t by
an Indian or AInet sitear np unnavigalde .streams more than one tliousand yards
from its eontlncnee with the ocean, is lieruhy dechned to he unlawful; and the Sec-
retary of the Treasury is herel)y autliori/.ed and direeted to e^taldish .such survoil-
lance and re;;uhitioiis as nniy ho necessary to in.sure that ihis ])rohiUition is strictly
enforced, and every ])erson or persons, corpiuation, or assoi iation or comiiany v.-ho
shall ho found guilty of a violation of the jirovision (if this seition shall lie fiiiod
not more than thre(( thousand, dollars nor less than one thonsanil dollars and two
hundred ;ind fifty dollars for e.ach i\i\,\ of the continuance of such ohstruction, and
the hall of such lines is hereby directed to hi^ paid lo the person or persons who
may give the information loading to the conviction of the guilty p.irtx or parlies.

Skc. 2. That for the puri)oses of this act all streams in Alaska shall he deemed
unnavigahle when vessels of six-foot draft c'an not ascend the same with safety at
ordinary high water.

Skc. fS. That the Coniniissioner of I'ish and Fisheries is hereby empowered and
directed to investigate all charges of illegal lishing brought to his notice by reapou-
sible parties and shall, if he finds tlieni well founded, instruct the United States
attorney to proceed at once against the olfender.

Skc. i. Dams, weirs, barricades, or olherobstructiims shall be defined as being an
obstruction when a distance of one hundred yards is not left o]ien al all limes for
fish I.. . scend said livers.

Sec. 5. 'fhal during each week one da;, of twentv-fonr hours shall lie set ajiart,
and lishing in .inv m.inner. shajie, or form on said day will be illegal and unlawful
and punishable by the lines as set lorth in section I.

SKC. (J. That ten- the piirpo.ie of pnvenling the further impairment or exhaustion
of the valuable fisheries this act shall take olfect from and after its passage, aud all
acts or parts of acts iu couUicl with this act are hereby repealed.

I

UEl'orJ OF SI'KCIAL ACKNT MIRRAY ON THK SALMON
nSllKKlliS IN ALASKA.

Office ov Spk(!IAL AdEwr, 'I'REAsruv DKPAKr^iENT,

WnsMi'iif )i, I). ('., Fvbnun-ii /. /n.'W.

Sin: 1 liave the honor to report that, piusuiuit to Dopiu'tineiil instnic-
tioiis (latt'd June 1-, 18!)4, I sailed to Alaska, and visited and insjiected
the salnioneaniiiiifr establishments on many of tlic bays, rivers, and
streams of that Territory, an acconiit of which is lierewith respectfidly
submitted for the information ol the Department.

.Inly 10, 18!>4, I sailed from 8an Fninciseo on board tiie linited States
revenue steamer Hush, Capt. (J. L. Iloopei' <!onunandin{j, ami proceeded
to Port Townscnd, Wash., where we arrived on the loth, and where we
were afterwards joined by JJon. C. S. liaiulin, Assistant Secretary of
the Treasury,

July 2;5 we sailed from Port I'ownsendand steered for the seal islands
in Bering: Sea, where wo landed Au;j;ust .'!, and on wliicli we spent live
days ^oinij over tiie rookeries, notinj;' their condition and the condi-
tion and numbers of the fur seals, and inakinj*' inquiry into matters of
imi)ortance connected witli the seal question.

Aufiust 8 we left the seal ishmds, reucliing Unaiaska on the !)th,
where w(> remained one day to coal ship, aiul tlien, on the JOth, wo
sailed alonj,' the Aleutian chain and the Alaskan I'eninsula, callmji- on
the way at Akutan, Akun, Ik'lkofsky, Sand I'oint, Coal Harbor, Kar-
Ink, Kadiak, Yakutat, Sitka, Taku Inlet, Juneau, Doujjjlas City, Fort
Wrangeil, Kassan, Lorinjj, I'ort Chester, or New Metlakahtia, St.
Marys, Port Sinq)son, Nainiinu), and Vancouver City, wliere Mr. Ilainliii
left the shiji and ]»roceeded by rail to Washington. Continninj;' the
voyafje, [ proceeded to San Francisco, callinj^^ in at Fort Townsend,
New Whatcom, and Astoria on the way down.

At Karluk, on Kadiak Island, we found what 1 consider the finest of
all the salmon streams in Alaska, if not the linest on the whole Pacific
Coast; most certainly the linest fron\ w 1 rli salmon arc at present ta^eu
for canning puri)oses, quantity and (|Uiiiily being considered, for I lind
that nearly one-third of the entire Alaska pack for 181.H was put u]) at
the mouth of the ivarluk River.

Assuming, then, that it is the ])rincipal salmon stream in Alaska, 1
shall take it as a model for all of the others for the purposes of illus-
trating what I have to say about the salmo:i industry of Alaska and
of the dangers by which it is beset,

Fxcei)ting the great Yukon, which* is navigable for thousands of
nnles, the Kuskokwini and a few others of minor inq)ortance, the liveis
of Alaska are small streams of from 20 to2(Hhniles in length, and many
a stream that is rich in the linest offish and of tiie utmost importance
to the fisherman is only a few miles in length — a mere drain for a very
limited watershed of high, rugged, and snow-clad hills, behind whicii
small lakes of the clearest, purest, and coldest water are to be found,
and in which the salmon deposit their eggs in season, and from whicli
Imndreds of millions of young salmon descend annually to the sea.

101

AI.ASKA INDl'STHIRH.

K);')

wlioro tlioy iciiiiuii until iiiatiirily, al'tfir wliicli tlicy K'tiiiii to tlieir
iiiitivc^ sti'ciiiii iiixl (loi)nsit tlicir I'iisj;^.

Kiirliik i;i\ir. on Kadiuk Island, is about 20 mill's Ion;;', and Hows
betwei'ii iii^li liills and over many talis (»r rapids from the time it leaves
the lakes above, at times widening out to a breadth ot sev<'iiil linndred
I'eet and again narrowing <lown to less than KM) feet at its nioutli.

Notwithstanding its dimiiintive size, however, there are six (tanning
plants erected there, whieh in the aggregate reiiresent an outlay of
!j!r)(M),()(l(), and in four of whicdi was (ianned during theseascm of is04
tiHO.tlOO easels of IS ]»ounds per case, or 11,010,000 i)Ounds of fisli. or in
lonnd nundters about .'{,2'J0,(I((0 salmon.

A)»pended will be found Ivxhibit A, in whieh is given the lunnber of
eases of salmon ]»aeked in Alaska from IS8!> to If^'Xi, botii inclusive, each
ease containing fS cans of 1 pound ea(;h.

Ivslubits H and C giv(! an itendzed statement of the work done at the
canneries in l.S!>3 and l<sy4, the mime and location of each cannery,
the nund)er of men employed by each (white, Indian, and Chinese), the
apjtaratns used in lishing, the nund)er of salmon taken a)ul canned, the
number salted and barreled, number of steamers, lighteis, and boats
used, the lu'cessary sea-going vessels and then' tonnage, and the value
of each ])lant.

Kxhibits li and (J contain the names of the canneries which were run-
ning in ISOii-Ot only. Kxhibit D gives the name of every known can-
ning plant and saltery in Alaska — 27 canneries, 11 salteries, and 1
lieriing tishery.

Kxhibit K sliows the distances a vessel would have to sail from Cape
Kox, in southeastern Alaska, to Nushigak, llering Hea, il she called at
all the caiHieries en route, a total distance of nearly 0,000 miles.

Kxhibit F shows the amount of tin (tonsumcd in tht; canneries in 1894,
and also its jirice and the amount of iiniKut duty paid to the (lovernment.

It is not claimed at all that any of the exhibits are absolutely full and
<'om])Iete; on the contrary, 1 found it very ditlicult to lind the ollices or
hcachiuarters of many of the canneries, and, when found, it was imiios-
sible to get my (luestions answered by many of them.

For most of the information received 1 am iiidebte<l to the Alaska
Packers' Association, the 11. I>. Hume (Janning Company, and to Mr.
liarling, ol' the Alaska Improvement Company, all of San Francis(M».

A comparison of the annual output from ISS!) to 1S!)| shows that in
1801 the salmoii-])acking industry of Alaska reaclie<l its highest point,
with an output of 807,0!MI easesof 18 p<tuiids each, ()r in round numbers
about 20,000 tons of tish.

The (Mitjiut tell otf about one-half in 1802, since which time a gradual
increase is iierceptible, until in 1804 we have an output of (H>9,041 cas«s
of 48 i)otinds each.

I'rom the best information obtained in Alaska — and an earnest eilbrt
was made to gather it impartially — the salmon-packing industry within
the section embraced between (lape Fox and the Nushigak River has
attained the limit beyond which it is dangerous to pass; and that, if
we would peq)etuate the salmon industry and keej) it up to its ])resent
graiul proportions, measures of protection must be taken by which the
streams and spawning grounds shall be kept oi)en and undisturbed at
all times, so that the tish may freely ascend and deposit their eggs in
season.

With good care and a due regard for the future of the saliuon indus-
try, millions of tish maybe taken fnnii the Karluk IJiver annuallyforall
time without injury; but it should never be forgotten that there is a

4or,

Af-ASKA INDIES riHKS.

limif l)t'.v(»ii(i wliicli it is not siili' to k'('. ii'"l "m' 'I ^\'' \v<»nl(l rcup ;iii
iiMiiiial ijdidcii liiirvcsl \vc imist also j,'iiiii<l tlic soiinr of f.iipply. iiimI sco
t lint iiotliiii^' is (lone to citlici' lisli or strcaiii llml will cliiiii^c tli*' iiat -
lira! ordiT iimU'r wliicli llic lisii !ia\t' prowii i > such iiiirnbrrs and by
wiiicli llit'.v may !)(' iici'pclnatcd wilhoiil aliatniiciit t'oicNcr. Iiit'ortu-
natcly. lilt' conditions cxistin;;' at KarInU arc not t'oi' tlic best interests
of tli«' salmon industry, its <;ro\vlli or iterjietuation; and unless the.
United States (loveiiimcnt asserts its full lifjhts in the juiMnises by
enaitin.'j and rijiidly entoieinji' laws Ibr the adeipiale protection of the
salmon of Alaska, they, like the sea ott(irand fur seal, will soon Ix^lhinffs
of the past.

Paradoxical thoui;h it may appear, it is nevertheless true, that none
are more anxious to .save and ]ieri)etuate. the salmon than the canners
themselves, and yet their methods are such as. if ('(tntinued. will very
,soon destroy them.

bet it be borne in niind that all the canninp factories in Alaska are
owned by three or fbui' corporations in San {''rancisco, who ha\(! mil-
lions invested in tlic salmon cannin;>- industry, but who have in) inter-
est in the (leveloi)nient of Alaska, and who. as a nnitter of fact, do not
add one dollar to the wealth of the younj;' Territory from which they
take millions of doll us annually.

These coi'iiorations are rivals in the salmoncannin;;' business, and
their livalry is carried to such extremes bclinu's that bloodshed at any
moment will in)t surprise those who know" the real conditions exi.stin{f
there.

Now. this bitter rivalry of great and rich corporations, if allowed to
continue, will eventually destroy the salmon. Ibr, rather than allow A
to make a t;ood haul of tish, 15 will dam tlu^ stream and jtrevent the
ascent of the salmon, or C will destroy the iisli already on the spawn-
iiifi' ;;rounds and thus destroy the croi) whi<'li would otherwise appear
otf the mouth of the stream four years hence; or A and 15 will Join
forces aji'ainst (' and actn.'diy destroy his nets and by (bree i)revent
his fishing'.

We had barely cast aiicjiov ;:! Karluk before we were ai)proaehed by
the suiierintendent of one of the j-reat canneries with a hmji' list of
wrouffs perpetrated on l!i« couii)any durinj;' the ])eaceful and le.!j;itimate
])ursHit of their business.'

Landing, atterwards, we were met by a crowd of native lishermen
who had complaints to nnike to the (lovernnnrnt about the way they
are treated by the whites, who take up all the streams and forbid the
natives to fish there any more.

After the Indians came the sni)erintendent of another of the canning
establishments with a com])laint that his rival over the river had broken
the agreement mutually nnule by them some time betbre, by whi(;h a
'•close time" of twenty-four hours per week sliould be observed for the
]mri)ose of allowing the salmon to enter the stream and ascend to the
S])awning grounds for the i)uri)0se of reproduction.

This agreement was observed lor awhile until ii scarcity of tish in the
bay threatened a short outi)ut of canned goods, and tluMi orders were
issued to not only ignore the ''close time"' in future, but to go into the
river and takeout all the tish that had reached the spawning beds, which
was done at once, and some lili.5,0(>() sabnon were eai)tured and canned,
and not a tish of that run was left to reproduce the si)ecies.

When the rei)resentatives of these great cori)oration8 tell us of the

I

' See affldiivit in A|>i)on(lix.

ALASKA INDUHTIMKS.

K)7

tliev

niillioiiH ul' nior tlicy liavr iiixTstrd in |Im> Alii^k;iii SiiliiKHi Itusiiioss,
and ii-^k iih iC we ran jxjssilily liclicvf that tlM'\- would |i«Mniil ll;i' ddiiiu'
ol any til in;;' wliicli ciinld injnic tli(^ salmon or km! nee llit> annual supply,
it looks so rcasoiialdt^ tinit tli<\v should be fully alive to tln-iiown liuaii-
rial intcifsts tliat at litst it is liard to rcali/.f tlial llit> salmon aic hcin^-
destroyed very rapidly, and those who have not heen on the ;;rouhii
to see it with theiidwn eyes are not to lie idanied lor doubting' the
assertion.

It is n(!verMiel(!ss oidy loo true, and a tew words of expliinution will
undie if (piite eleai' to tliti doulttiu;;' ones.

It is true in a meinMal way that I h(^ eaniiors thoiiiselves do not fence
ordain the streams, but they buy the salmon from the men who do.

At Loriii^', for iiislanee, <'aplaiii Hooper and .Mr. Ilaiiiliii undertook
to enter the Htreaiii in a boat, but were prevented by a dam elear aero.ss
fruiii bank to :;aiik. 'I'liat feiuto bad been there for years, and tlie.
Kalmoii, running' up a^ain.st it in their idforts to enter the stream
every year for i»nrpo.ses of reiiroduetion, were eaiij^lit and v-aiined until
the ref^iilar supply was exhausted, and otlier streams were laid under
tribute to keej) tli(^ canneries ;;(»in{^'.

No one liad even thoUi;ht it worth while to remove the old dam.

The ;;entleuiaii who t;ave me tin; inlormatiou has been a resiiU'iit of
I.orinj;' for tlie past eleven years, and knew of wliat he talked.

Anion;; many other thiii;is, lie .said: •' liecause (d tlie' briUf^iiifj of
wliitcs and Chinese here; from San I "raneisco the natives are crowded
out, and oiilyabiuit (! jier cent of tliose tornierly employed can now liiid
w(uk at Loriiif^."

What is true of Karluk and of Loriu";' is also true ol every place in
Alaska where salmoii are canned — wherever two ri\al canneries are
located on, the, same stream there are neither dams nor fences allowed,
but neither is there time, j;iven the lish to <'iiterantl ascend the stream,
and the couseiiuence in either ease is to destroy the salmon.

Wherever a cannery is hx^ated far en(Ui<ih away from rivals a (bim,
fence, or .some other nu)de of trajiiiiiif;' salmon is resorted to and relied
on for a steady supply u itil the river is (islied out.

Speakiiifi' to one of the siijiei iiitendeiits at Karluk, and askiny him
for reliable information, be said:

W'liiMcvci- riviiUy docs not t\i,s( on any I'lsliliii;' rivci' in Al:isk<i tjicrt' noiu'inlly oxiHt.-(
:i (Imiii, liiiriiciuli", etc ., to wit, ('liijjiiik l'.:iy. on tin' iiortli .siiic of tlie Aleiiliiiii I'cniii-
Hiilii, is lislii'd 1)y iiioiinx)! ii fi'iii c. 'I'licrc isa fciiio Mt l.oriiif;. in sou tljcns tern AlnsUii,
Mild llicin oxists a (euro in tlio small trilnitaiy Hticaiii at its ( oiiII'.umicc with tbo
NiiHlii^rak Iv'ivcr. Ilristol Itay, Alaska. I p in Cooks Inli't, I! miles bi'low tlio moiitli
of the Co)) per liivn , tliiTc exists a weii I'xteniliii;; tint into the in lot 100 yar(l.s. lo uliiili
is attacluid a pound net.

1 asked him. ''How can the Karhdc River be made .self-sustaining .'"
to which lie replied:

(ll ]{> cstrtblisliiiif; a weekly idosn season.

(2) l!\ prohiliitliiij; lisliinj; in tlio rivci (excepting' Indians with hook or spoar).

(H) When it is too loiiirh to fish on the ocean hcai h lish will oiilci' tlio river if let
alone.

The lish naturally run to the river on the turn of the onean tide, hut when it is
stormin;; the fish are iinalile to enter the liver liy crossing tho liar on account of the
living gravel, which scares thciii olishoie.

At. half tide, however, when the liar i.s covered liy li or 8 feet of water, the lisli
make ii lireak across tho liar and enter the calmer water of the river.

When the salmon lirst enter the river they do not go directly ii)! to the spawning
grounds or lakes, lint remain for weeks in the biiK kish waters until they are ripe and
ready to spaw ii. and for this, if for no other reason, the (iovernment ought to [irohiliit
the taking of the lish that have once escaped tho aoto below aud euterod the bra<kish
or tide waters of the ii\ei'.

40«

ALASKA INPrSTIUF.8.

1 Iiavo over lieeii coiiBi.stcnt in my iidvocacy of uo iisbing in tho KuilaU Iiiv(!r, iind
in lSt<?< I Ht;iit('(l out to utoi) it.

Ono of my rivals, Mr. , caino to nii' lately and .sai<l, " Vou'ri' a tool not to enter

into some aurcenicnt with ns: hrinj^ in alonjf with yon. DisiMrd all thcso

exi>cnse.s, boats and 8tiannT>, and wave coal. It's money we're after in tlii.s Teiritory.
We do not conn) np liere to lliia (iod-for.saken ])la<'e for fun. I'orni one (fraud Iiiir
lisliini; i)ool, even tlunigh yon do not wish 'to can to^'Mher, and work a.s I do for my
comjiany at Chif^nik." I said, '' How do yoii do it at Cliifinik? What ec(Mi(Mnii'al
device have you tx<>t <lown theit ?" He re])lied; " I've jrot a leiico in the river; Ivi'
f;ot a pound net on tliisside, and a pound lu't on that side, and ouo day I nsooue, and
one day I use tlie other. It lishes day and niulit, and it is the slickest tliinff you ever
saw, and it's a dead ojxmi and shut j;ame. All 1 say is, ' .liunnie, }jo np to tlie trap ami
liring me down 15.(00 lish ; ' all they've ^ot to do is to tak(^ a gang of men on the
lighter and she comes clown with the next tide witli l.").U()(l. The next day I say,
' Well, boys, go up and bring me down IS, 000 lish,' and they go and get them out of
the other trap, for while tiiey are working one siile the other side is lishing.'' I
said, "'.Vby, Hilly, that is against the law of 18811." " 1 know tliat," horcjilied, "but
we are not np here for our health.'' 1 continued, "Then 1 am to infer from thiscon-

versation that yon wou'd have nie enter a pool alo.iy, with you and , decide on

the number of tish to be taken, divide the catch jtro rata, lessen our expenses, hire
fewer men, use less seine, fewer boats, and double our jirofits by simply building a
wire fence acrosn the river f" "'f hat's tlie whole thing," said he, " in a nutshell."

The story told by my friend from Kiirltik i.s only a repetition of sev-
eral other.s, to the same eifect, told by the leading' citi/.cii.s of every set-
tlement „ (lere we ealled, iiud so well did all of t'acm agree in the main,
1 have no doubt whatever of their absohUe truth.

Were it necessary I could mention the names of all who furnished
the information, but for obvious reasons 1 will only mention the names
of men who are in the service of the (loveniineiit.

Whiie we were at Sitka Captiiin IJuiWcll, c()mman(iin}j the l. !S. gun-
boat Finta, called on Mi. llamlin, ;.nd during the conversation saitl:

It is a eonnnon occurrence when atten'|)ting to ascend a river or stream in a steam
launch to lind tra])s, dams, and wire scicens olistructiug them in nniny places to the
utter destruction of the salmon.

I should have b(;en Iiapjjy to destroy them if I only li:'.d orders from anyone in
authority to do so, b.iit no one over asked nu; to meddle with them in any manner.

Speaking of the illicit distilleries and litiuor smug"'!ng in Alaska,
and of the impossibility to lliul a jury to convict for sucli crimes, a
prominent olilicial of Sitka said:

The same thing is true of the lisheries law, the land law, or any other law that
would control white men; a jury of white men can not be found here who will convict
a criminal of that class.

Traps are set, streams are danmiod, salmon are ])revented from ascending the rivers
t;> the spawning grounds, and are destroyed by men who Inive no interest \vh;ite\ er
m the develoi)ment of the Territoiy, an(l yet is imiio.s8ible to tind a, jury to cor vici
the guilty ones, for llie iialmoit men leill stand by the liquor men, and the liiiuor meii will
stand hy the salmon men.

I conld till a voiume with testimony like this; testimony given vol-
untarily by disinterested men and reputable (liti/ens; Imt .'iiough has
been .saul, I think, to show the necessity of the (lovernment taking steps
to conti ol the streams und save the salmon from extint^tion.

Durii/g our stay at Karluk we landed and visited the establishments
of the Alaska 1'acker.s' Association and nh'} that of the Alaska lmi)rove-
meut Coujpany. Owing to bad weathcir we were unable to reach the
li. 1). Mume t'annery.

We conversed willi all sorts of men. from the superintendents down
to the native Kadiiik lishermen, and they were ail agreed that sal
mon were decreasing in the Karluk Kiver, and that unless the United
States Government interfered to prevent it they would continue to
decrease.

Some of the men went so far as to say that in order to keep up the

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

40!)

ami

rogiiliir supply of caimod siiliiioii soiiio very inferior Jisli were lioiii;^
l)a('ke(l at some of tlii> caniu'iics that would not liaxebeeu looiced at or
used for auy pr.rposc, a lew years a^o.'

One of the most remarivable tilings 1 noticed at Karluk was the num-
ber of Ibreigners engaged as (isliermen. 8c.a:.dinavian, baiu". and (ier-
nian predominated on one side of tlie stream, and Italians on the otiier,
wiiile <'hinese, e\(!lusively, weie emjjloyed within the canneries, clean-
ing and canning the lish ami jireparing the cases lor mar];et.

It seemed, too, tliat the bitter rivalries of tlie cori)orati()ns are some-
times taken up in a more intensilled form by the men and carried to
the point of cxi)losion.

However that may be, it is true that the foreigners are brought from
San Fra'icisco to fisli tlie streams of Alaska, and that they actually h)ok
U])on the streams and (ish as their own individual jiroperty.

The unfortunate native Aleuts, whose fathers owned Alaska^ and all
its riches of stream and foi'est long before ('olumbus was born, are hustled
(mt of the way of these Mediterranean tishennen with scant coremonj',
and forbidden to fish in tiieir native streams.

They must obey. Appeal;' To whom are they to appeal ? There is?
no one within reach who would listei. *o them.

Dimly, in a soi t of da/.ed way, thv>y know something of a Great Father
away, away olf in a place called Washington ; but how are they to reach
him If Whenever the American Hag appears they lly to tlie vessels car-
rying it to present a petition and recount the wrongs and the injustice
which they sutler.

Who cares anything for jwor, dirty, ignorant creatures like th^m?
Who believe^* their story ' No oiie.-

Landing at Karluk we met a committee of native men \vh<>, through
an interpreter, told us of how tlie.\ were denied the rigid to lisli for
themselves, and refused emidoynient by the canners as well. It seems
that owing to the i'act that seines were stretched across the mouth of
the river the salmon couhi not {is(!eiid the stream and eonse(|uently
there were no lisli fo'- tiie natives to get whenever they <Ud attympt to
get any; and being refused employment as regular hands along with
the foreigners, they could not make a living.

That the natives may possibly exaggerate the wrongs inflicted upon
them; that they may nmgidfy their sulfering whenever they meet a
])erson who wil' stoi) "'"I listen to their tales of woe, is ])ossibly true
enough; but it is e(|ually true that the conditions existing on tiie Alas-
kan streams, from which so many millions' worth of beautiful tlsh are
taken, are not the s(nt of (tonditions that will benetit the native Alaskan
either morally,. physically, or tiuancially.

Nor is it either Just or right that his best interests should be left
dependent upon the whim of foicigners who may come in and cam]*
down beside his stream and mon(;]toli/e its treasures, while refus
ing him either employment to earn or the right to tlsh to make a
living.

The other side of the story is told, however, by the superintendent of
one of the canneries:

KaHI.CK, AikjiihI /,'. is:>l.

(iKNTI.EMKN: III alldwiiij, tlio iiafives only to ti-ili in tlic rivoi I would s:iy that iir
certain times of the tiilc wo iiro roiiiptilleil to !av our seint ■^' Croiii thi' month of the

'See letter of C'oniuiisHiuuer of ]•' isheries in A,ipon(lix.

■In('.li1t<DtalIy, a letter from an Alaskan cauiicr to lion. MiiVHhall >[ol)onald has
been rol'erred to the Uopartincnt and lo the .spt-iial atteiit for Ihc piuteition of tlir
Nalinon licheiieN in Alaska; and an iln Htoiy fiil'y illustrati'H my meauiug 1 have
a|i|>eiuled it tu tbis report. It lolls its own Htory.

410

ALASKA INOrSTRTKS.

I i\ cr.so t,li:il thov will swinn w it li tlic lidt!, or Id iivoid tlicir lUmliliu;; up nr s\viiij;in;;
too I'll I'. We li;ivc ('^ en to cross 1li« river iit its iiioiilli to woiU oiu' sriiics to the l]cst

ll(l\ llltllJIC.

I'liis si-asoii our wliKo lishcrnion linvc not rniijilil any lisli to sjiink of above wliat
virtually niijjlit lie ealloil tlic nioutli of the river. Onrwliile lislierinen ar(< cinite
williiiff, and iiav,- lieiii for the jiast two years, to H'^''' ' ''<i native:) the |)ri vileiii^ of
(isliinij the rivar alio' e llie month. The sanu^ is true of tlie Italians liHliinf;' foi- tho
Alaska lni|>roveinenl < '■uipaiiy. 'i'lioy have not doiu; anytliiii;; ai;aiiist the nati\es
tishiui;.

I'lie decrease i'l lisl: eaiij.fiit in tlir river is .something too larj^e to nnmlier.
Voni.s, t inly.

S. li. .Mattii i:\vs.

.Messrs, tii.xs. .•<. Hammn anil ,I(is. Mriiit.w.

Vi'e askt'd Mr, ^[iittlH'ws whetluM' tlic siilinoii wt'i'e decveasinji- in iIic
Karliilc liiver, :iii(I liis i'('i)ly was. 'Tlie (locroii.sc in lisli caiijiiii i 'li,
livef i.s soiiH'tliii o too lai'{;(' to iniiii))ri'.*'

Hi.s woids liavo bi'iMi coiioborateil by everyone to whom I incntio^ied
tlio snbjert, and tlieie were, many who sii;;j;est('.l tlie e '^altlislimeiit of
*'lial('heries" I'or tlie jjropaji'ation of .salmon, .so that tlie present sii|)|iiy
yiij^ht be rontiniied indetinitely; and some of the eauners otfered to
doi'ate to the (it/vernment a '•l...tcliery '' already prepared on tlie
Ivarlnk liiver, on eondition of its being worked at the oxpen.se of tlie
(Jovernment; while otlier.s sugge.sted a ta.x of 5 eents per ease and 10
cents ])ei' barrel, on every case and barrel of salmon taken in Alaska,
on condition that tlie Government would enact laws, and apiioint ajicnt.s
to enforce them, lor the full protection oi" the salmon streams and the
])eri)etnatioii of the (isii.

Before leaving Karlak Mr. Barling, of the .Vlaska improvement
Coni])any, sent the following letter:

Kaiu.tk, AikjiihI i: , I,-,'. 1. 1,

Dl'.Mi Siii: Herewith r-'Peinlod yon will lind a feu sniigestioim necessary to tho
jirotcction of tlu' salmon oi' Karlnk K'iver:

y\\ I'roliiliiliiiii all li: iniiin the river above tho tirsi rajdds. save and c^xicjit by
Alents, and their catch ot salmon should be limited.

(2) To ]irohildt lishiucf from I'riday t> )). m. until Saturday fi j). in.

(H) Hegulatiuif the si/e of seine mesh used — not to be less than lij iiiclies stretched
mesh.

( I ) I'iniisliini.': the aiieliorinu of set iictsnt or noiir the month of the Karlnk IIimt.
'^Iiis will insure the iuiinodiate an<l uninterrupted layiiii; out of all nets.

(.")) 'I'he use of purse icts should I)e <leclareil illecal. rjioii the head of jiurse
nets. 1 can assure you their use has often been deplored since their introduction upon
the Atlanli<' Coast.

(Ill That a tax of .-> cents per ease bi; levied against the total p.iek of .Maska; same
to he collected as the 'i'rc>asur\ sees lit to decide. This tax would raise upward of
.f25,000.

(7) Operate the hatchery at KarliiK out cd' the funds above raised.

llopini; the above \y\V. ULcet with v"ur kindly consideration, I remain.
lies))eetfull\-. vour>,

11. .1. 1!aI!1.I.\i;.

Hon. ('. S. Hami.iv.

The idea of levying a tax on salnion packed in Ala.ska . .., lirst
broaclied to me by Mr. Barling, and, with a single exception. ! have
Ibuiid it favorably received by tlie eanners.

After my return to Washington, ;ind while collecting data for my
report, I compared several bills which had been intiod's^od iiito Con-
gress, or j)re]»ared for that purpose, by the liien.'s ■)i tae several rival
establishments in Alaska, foi the iirotection <;'' salm<>- . < lad been
assured, too, by every salmon canner I had nn;! that tlu'y were deeply
interested in the matter of full and adei|nate ))rotection, and that they
hoped to .see a bill i)assed and the law most rigidly enforced to that end.

That I might succeed in framing a satisfactory bill 1 read many that

IK- 111},'

licst

III''
'll,

■

ALASKA INDT'STKIKS.

411

]i:i(l hc'.'ii (li'invii nr i)rn])o,s<Ml in I he -iDiist' liy (lie Jitfovncys iiiul tVioii'ls
of tilt' camicrs thciiisch cs, us well sis tlic r<>])(irts of (he lionurjihlc
Cominissioiicr of I'MsIieries, from wiios*^ valiiiiblc Itcport for l.Sitii I liavc
jiiacUi luDfi'tliy quotatioas,' 1 made diligoiit iM(|iiiry into tlie salmon
laws of Orcfjon and Wasliiiif;ton, and tliat we migiit benefit l»y tiic
exix'i'icnce of tlios(^ wlio liavp bcoii ])roto(;1iiiji' salmon for tiic past tliou-
sand years I read Unnd's Law of Salmon Fisheries in iOngland and
Wales and A Treatise on the Law of iSeotlaiid Itcluting to Kigiits of
Fisliing, by Stewart.^

The following bills, which I respectfully snbmit to the consideration
of the Department, are il " result of my iii\ estimations:

A III U, to aiiit'iiil nil iiol I'lililliil ' An ;i<'l

jirijvidi'
Alaska.

I'm' the iiriilicliiiii lit' tlie ^aliiiiiii ti«lici'ii-.s cif

He H iiiarletl hi/ the Sentiti- and limine of He jirrmnlo tires -if the I'liileiJ Stnlendf Amerirn
ill Ciiiiiinsn iiHxriiilileil, Tliiit the lu't iiinintvcd Miircli sccoikI, piulilccn liiiiHlrcd anil
einlit.v-.iiiv, iiiiil ciititlcil 'An net t" liroviili' for the ]Hiitertii)M iiT this sahiiou lisli-
crii.i oC Aliiskii," IS lii'r»',by iiiiiciiiU'il iiml roclnnti'il iis I'ollows:

" Si'.ri'KiN 1. 'I'liMt tilt) ciixtiiiii III' iliiiiis, li.ii riciiilis. fisli wlii'tds, i'i'ik'oh, trajiH.
]ioiiiitl lifts, or liny tixi'il iir stiitioiiiivy tilisti'iictioiis in .iiiv purl iiCllie rivers m-
Hti'CMiiis of Al.iskii. or to lisli for or <';itoli fi;iliiioii or Hiiliiion trout in ;iiiy niiiiiiifr or
by iiny iiioiins with the jturposo or resull of jirfVi'iitiiii;' or iiiipciliiiM tlit' ii.sccnt of
siihiion or sMliiioii trout to tlii'ir sp.i wiling around within one hiiiiilreil yiinls ol' tlic
niontha of sncli rivois or stniiiiis, is iliichirt.Ml to ho iiiil.i wt'iil, .I'lil thi! Sefrot.iry of
the I'reasiiry is limclty iiiilhoiizfil mid ilirectiMl toroinovo sue)' obstructions iind to
c'stiihlisli iii:d en force such rcj^ii hit ion sand sur.eilliince asiiia; lie ncccHsaiy to insure
tliat tills ]ii'ohibi(ioi; ami all otiier |iri)\ i;-ions of law relating; to the salmon llslieries
of Alaslia are striitly coni]ili('il with.

'■Si:f. 2. That it shall lie unlawful to lish, catch, or kill any siiiiiion or salmon
trout of any \aricty, except with rod or spear, above the tide waters of any of the
creeks or rivers or their tributaries in the Territo'v of Alaska, or to lay or set any
drift net. set net, orscliie lor any purpose, across the title waters of any river or
stream, for a distance of more than two ihirds of the width id' Mich river, stream,
or channel, or lay or .'ct .■iny seine oi net within tine hundred yards of any othciiiet
or seine which is beinj; laid or set in said stream or idiannel, or to take, kill, or (ish
for salmon in any inaniicr or by any niftans in any of the waters of the Territory of
Alaska, either in the Btroaiiis or tide waters, from noon on Fritlay of each wee'.: until
six o'clock po.-tmeriiliaii of the .Saturday following, or to fish for or catch, or kill in
an,v manner, or liy any ajipliances, any salmon or s.ilmon trout in any si ream of less
than Olio liundiod y.irds in width in tiie said territory of Alaska between the ho-.us
of six o clock in the niorniny; anil six o'clock in the evening of tht .same ilay, of each
and every tlay of the week.

•'Si'.f. 3. That the Secretarv of the Treasury m: y, at his discretion, set aside cer-
tain slrcains as spawning groiip^'s, in wl ich no falling will be perniitled ; and when,
in his jnilgniciit, the rcMilts of lisl.iiig operatiors on aiiyslreani indicate ihat the
nninber of Halmoii takco is larger ti an the c.ip: city of the stream to ])roduce, he is
aiithoiizeil to establish weekly closo s^^asons, t > limit the iliiratioii of the lishing sea-
Hon, or to )iroliibit fishii g iMitirelv for oim ,. . ..r or mora, so as to permit the salinon
to increase,

".Six". 'I. 'That to enforce the )n'ovisions of law herein, and such regulations as tin'
.'Secretary of the Treasury may establish in pursuance thereot', he is aiilhoii/.ed ami
directeil to a|i|ioiiil. one iiirt|icctor of tishcries at a salary of three huiidrcd ilollai>
per month, and two assistant insjiectors at a salary of two huiiilred ami lilty ilollars
jier moiitli. and ho will aiiniiall.v siiliniit to Congress estimates to covtM- the salaries
and actual traveling ix])ciises of the ollicers hereby aiithori/ed, and for sii;'h other
exponditiireH as nia> l<c neccsNary to carry out the provisions of the law herein.

"Skc. .'i. 'That any jierson violating the pro\isions of this act. or the rcgulutioii.s
€)stabli.<hetl in iiiirsuance thercnl', slinll. iijioii conviction thereof, he )iiiiiislieil by a
line not excceiliiig one thoiisantl dollars, or im])risoiimeiit at hard labor for a term of
ninety ilayH, or both hiicIi lino and inii>risomiieiit, at thi^ discretion of the court; ami
further, in case of the violation of Hny of the jirovisions of section one of this act,
am' conviction thereof, a further lino of live huntlred ilollars per diem will be
iiiijnsetl I'or <ach day that the obstruction or olistriictioiiH therein are nia!ntaincd."

'Soti i^xtrautH in Appeuilix.

■See Apiienilix,

41-2

ALASKA INDUSTHIF.S.

A ]'.i!<I. iiitill'il 'An ml. I.) [ll■l^vil^,l lor tlio pruti'i'tioii ">' tlu' Hiilinon 'islicii'ii.s cil' Alimka."

SecikiN 1. 'I'liMt Irom and iil'tcr tliepaHHiijjeot' this act every jieivoii (ir coipoiatinu
eiinafiofl ill tlio ImsiiKis.s of takiiij; salmon in tho wati'i's of f lio Tcnitniy (jT Alaska
for saltinj; or canuini; imrposfs sliall, on llui lir.si. day of lldCiniber of i^aili year, liln
Willi the Socrt'tary ol tin' Treasury of f In' I'tiilod States a sworn statcjnciit of the
nimilu'r of barrels, jiacka^t's, or i ascH ot Balinon so packeil, salted, or eaiined by liini
or lliein, and shall jiay annually to the Treasury of the I'liited States tlie sum of live
cents iier ease of forty -eiyht jioiiiiils or llss, and ton cents ])er barrel for (^ach eaKO or
barrel of saliiioii so canned or salted by him or them.

Ski. 2. That the ictiirns iirovided for in section one, sliall be made under rejjiila-
tions to be jir. r l)ed by the Seerctary of the rr<'asury : and all jiroviHionsol' oxistinj;
law as to oiniii I '■■>} ^ retiiins of peiHons or lorporations and as to penalties, civil
iirerimiiial, (or ;. sion or false reiiirn iindertLe pro\ isions of the hiw jnovidinj?

IVu' an iueoine ta.\, Aiiuiist t wenty-eifihtli, eighteen hniulred and ninety-four,

shall, HO far ;is the s.i - .nay be ainiiicabhv lie in full forcf; and virtue as to tlii.^ act.

Jlill Xo. 1 wasihawii as iicaily in (■(Hiforinity witli tlic Oro},<»ii statutes
as tlio (liiroienco in the sizi- of the. Coliinibia Jiivcr and (lie salmon
stioanis of Alaska would r\ arrant; and a {ilance tit the i)ill and at the
()re{j;on statutes will show that a yearly close time of three months and
ii weekly close time of twenty-four hotirs duniij>' the season in <)ref>'on
is much more oititiessive, in eom])ari80ii, than a weekly close time of
thirty houis in Alaska.

1 liave no <lesire to injnre the men who ])ack salmon in Alaska; on
the contrary, J wish to see the canneries tlonrish and mnltiitly and their
owners ]i"oai)er so Ions' as there is no daiijicr of destroying? the source
from Avhich their iirosjierity is derived. IJiit I do know that the history
of salmon in America- is ii history of harried devastation and extinction
of the sjiecies, and J am anxious that the (iovernment shall stt'i* in in
lime to i)revent its destruction in Alaska, !ind,like Scotland, enact laws,
and enforce thei.i, by which the salmon may increase and mnlti|ily and
be perpetnated for all time.'

Hill jS'o. 2 was drawn at the refjuest of Mr. liarlinfi; and other large
canners, and it has been warmly indorsed by Ii. i>. llnme cL ('o., the
Alaska Im]>rovenient Company, iind others who are deeply interested
in the Alaska salmon industry.

The (piestion of its constitutionality has been raised in cerfa::i (|nar-
ters and may iiossibly vitiates it for all prtictical ]»nr])oses. for w hicli I
should be very sorry indeed, for, looki'.ij;- at the matter from the jiractical
standpoint solely, 1 say there ought to be full and ample ])rotcction given
to the food-llshes of Alaska; and if those who make millions out of
them and have millions invested in the business are willing to pay for
such ])i(»tection, they oiigiit to be allowed to do so.

Should those who areoppo.sed to legislation looking to tiie in'otection
of salmon in Alaska stu-cecd in defeating tlie proposed bills, however,
it will still be the duty of the Department to do everything within the
existing law tlnit can be done for the i»eipetitation of the salmon.

Jlistiu-y teems with evidence ol tht^ fatrt that from the tenth century
till now the Scotch have had to wage a continuous legal battle I'lr the
constant lirotection of their tislieiies, and that their immense-salmon
interests of to-dtiy owe their origin, growth, tind world-renowned suc-
cess to the tireless efforts of the men who labored for their ])i()tection.

'A coinparison of the American and Scotch systems of salmon eiiltiin' isj;Iven by a
friend, who says: "Irom the lime of tlio settlement of the State of Maine by the
whites until there was not a salmon left in the streams, whii h, jirevioiisly had always
been full of thciii, was about two hundred years; and the ])o]mlation was not yet
1,0()(),(M10 souls. Scotland, on the contrary, with a ])opnhitioii of ;!,(KIO,0()0 soiils, has
more .salmon now than she had one thoiisatid years ajjo, when she very wisclv enacted
laws, which have always been tuforced, to protect them "

'

:

ALASKA INUUSTHIES.

4i;}

As my i^olt' iiiiii tlironghoiit tliis inquiry has been to elicit trutii tor
the i)iu'i)ose of hiyiiif>- down a basi" of action for tiie sure protection and
l>erpetn:ition of tlic Alaska salmon, witiioiit injury to any legitimate
ent<,^rprise, I sent copies of the prepared bills, wirii the followiiijf letter,
to tlie i)rincipal Alaska canners, and their replies and criticisms are
subjoined:

\\ AsiilNdTo.v, I). (.',, I'ehriKirii 1, IH'Jo.

(iKNTLKMKN: Plonso I'lnd inclnspd copies of two ImIIh mIioiiI to be indodiued in
Coiii{iti.-i« for tlio protoctioii of tlii' Haliiioii linlierics ol Aiiisl<ii.

Tlicy .'iro esHeiitijilly tlie pnxiuctioii of all that liaf been 8ii^(;e.stc(l for that jmrposo
from tiiii(( to tiiiio )),v the, rfijin'SciitativcH and friends of all of the coiporatiouH inter-
ested in the Alaskan salnion-eanning biiHinesB.

'J'ho bills introdnced by MesHis. >to\vart, Mitidudl, Hobbins, and others; the aii!:;-
geations made by Messrs. Hirsch, Hnnie, and liarlinfj;, and the reportsand reeoniiiien-
dationsof the lion. Marshall .M(>l)onald, C'omini.ssioner <if Kish and Fisheries, have
been diligently examined by rae, and it has been my honest intention and sole aim
to frame a bill that would bi' as nearly Jnst and pi|nal to all interested in the ]ier-
jietiiatiou of the salmon lislieries as it is possible to ho.

If I have not suceieded in doing all that should bo done, or if I have suggested
something that would be unfair or injurious, I beg of you to point it ontimmedialely,
and 1 promise to give your suggestions the most respertful attention.

The proposition to levy a tax of 5 cents j)er case .-ind 10 cents ))cr barrel comes to
mo directly from the canncrs thomstdves, and, fiom what I observed while at the
canneries, I um in favor of the tax, and 1 think it will prove a Ijlessing to you who
have millions invested in the business.

'I'ho amount of the tax wi.sely expended by the (ioverniiieut in propagating and
protecting salmon will be of lasting benelit to all concernetl, but more especially to
yon who are deej)ly interested.
Very respectfully,

.lo.sKi'H Murray.
SpecUtl Aijent/iir the Protection of the Salmon I'isherk'-i in Alaska.

Al,ASK.\ — AssociArioN,

San Framisa), Cat.

The following replies from the several tirnis addressed and from jMr.
IJarling of the Ala.ska Im])rovenient Company were received by me,
and iire given in lull for the information of the Department:

.Sa.v Fuancisco, I'l'bntanj II, ISOo.

Dkaii Urn: Wo have the pleasure to acknowledge receipt of yours of the 1st
instant, covering a bill as i)roposed by yonrsell'. for the protection of salmon fish-
eries of Alaska, and in response to your recjuost if you have suggested anything that
was nnjust that wi^ sliould point it out iinniediutely, wo wired you iis follows:
•' Letter received, with thanks. Hill objectionable. .Same ex|)lained by mail."

.\ud in eonlirniation of same beg to say that in section 1 you specify tliat the erec-
tioii of dams, barricades, lish wheels, feuees, traps, iiound nets, etc., in any of the
waters of Alaska sliall be i)rohibit.i'd. .So far as dams, b.irric'ades. lish wheels, and
fences, we agree with you most strongly, but, as you are awaie, the fishing grounds
of Alaska cover a. large amount of territory, and what iiught be Just and l)est for
one section are not for another; for inBtan<'e, in I'riino William Sound. Cook Inlet,
and Bristol liay. where the waters at. iioint of fishing are from ."> to ;!() miles wide,
the use of t nips and ])oiin(l nets .vre necissary to make the business remunerative.
And as it might be necessary tl'.at the law be general, we would suggest that the use
of traps and poiiinl nets be |)ermitt(?d in the waters of Alaska, but not to extend
over one-third the width o^ any stream— thus le.iviug two-thirds the width frou for
the nnintcrruiitid passage of the (Isli.

To make a close season from noon on Friday of each week nntil I? o'clock ]). m.
of the Saturday following wonM work a very great hardship in a district like Mristol
Hay, where th'' paidv of red salmon is made in fifteen to sixteen days at the outside.

lieferring to a special tax. we hardly feci it just that th(^(tovoriiinent shouldimpose
same, when it is a tact that the Alaska s.ilinoii packers )(ay yearly iipw.ird of .f 100,tX)0
from import duties. There luiy bo locations that wouhl wairant jiroiiagation, and
that a tax should bo levied for that purj>oso and for that direct location wouhl
certainly be jiroper.

We beg io ask that iu making laws for the i)roteclion of the salmon, you do
not lose sight of the fact that the caiiners who have large sums iuvested in property,

4U

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

which is iiiiiiiovablf and of no vjiliie olhrrwiKr. ciiii not; iiDord to liuli Htreanis or thn
Wiileis of Al.isU,! in n way to tin' (l('pl(,'tion ol' tlui fisli ; and also tliat tliey ho not
asked tocatcii lish in so o\i)('nsiv(! a iniinnoi- that they who are not producers of over
onO'tliii'd the i|riantity of salnu)n wlilcli is eannid shall )niv(< to do so at nn expengu
■wliieli precludes tlioir c(iin])elition witli otlier localities, especially liritish (.idnnilda,
as the tish from that river ar(^ superior to a (■ertainc\t('nt and will always dennind a
somewhat increased price, and thcreforewould comparatively shut out the I'uited
States ])rodnct if an im rcased cost of catchinj;' is demanded.

Another iKiint which the canners of Alaska conio into competition are. the waters
of lioth ( Mcijon and Washington, in both of whiih the use of trrt])s and pound nets
are allowc-d.

IIo))iug you will consider our suggestions in the tenor in which they are intended,
wo remain,

^■our8, truly, W, M. riRAln'oiii), SiTrrlarii.

Col. ,Ios. MUKKAY,

I'hh Cdmmianliiiier i>l' .//d'.Ad,

!■::! X ylrrct yir., Wa^hiuiilun, H. C.

San I'hanlisco, Cal., i'ehrimr\i IJ, 1S!).5.

Dkar Sid; Your letter (and im losnres) of I'eliruary 1 camoduly to hand and have
pcrticularly noted its contents, .ind in rei)ly would say:

The .let of l.'^Sil, would, if carried out. result in what we have no diuilil the iUyv-
ernment has in view, viz : The ]iieser\ ation of thosalmon in Alaskan waters, .and (.c'-vo
to each and all of her citizens cMiual chanc(! and rinlit to take salmon.

The hill (d" two sections to provide for the protection of salmon lisher'es in
Alaska, is, in our opinion, ar. oi|uilalile and just measure, and should liecome a hiw,
inasninch .as the salmon industry jmys no tax and needs protecticm for which it
ought til liay, and wd have gr.ave douhst in oui' mind if any can be I'ound to opjxtso
such .a measure win .vish (!((nal and Just iirotecticui.

'I'he draft of the other lull, with all due (lefereuce to you, we herewith return, with
erasures that we think ought to he madi'.

Section I, we would suggest, instead of inspectors, that you provi^le lor jiolicing
theri\ersby Cnitcd States vessels, , and information that may be laid by responsible
jiarties, and on proof of violation of tlll^ law give half of line to the inlbrnu'r. By
such a method we think the law couhl be enforced.

Hoping that the Government will accept our suggestions in the s])irit in which
they are written, we rcm.iin,

^'ours, very respectfully,

lion. .Ii>s. MiuitAV,

S2)ecial Jijvnt <>/ the I'ishvrien in .llaska.

*I,A.SKA IMI'UOVKMKN I Co.,

My ,;amks lOvA, ri-c:siiltiil.

iJy JAMiis Maui.su.n, •'ian'tary.

\\\smsv,n>s, i). C., Frhninrii II, ISO.',.

1>E.AR Coi.dNKl.: In c(unpliance with your reiiuest for my v'ows as to wherein the
proposed act, entitleil "An act to anu'iid ,in act entitleil ' An act to itrovide for the
protection of the salmon fisheries of Al.iska,'" is injurious to the salmon lishiug
industry, I have the honor to submit the following:

Section 1 of the proposed act ])rovides, among other things, that it is unlawful to
"erect dams, barrica<les, lish-wlieels, feii< es, trajis, jiound nets, or any fixed oi' sta-
tionary obstructions in any part of the rivers or streams of Alasl<.a, or to tish for or
catch siili'KUi or salmon tiout in any nmnnor or by any means with the purpose or
result of i)rcveutiug nv inijx'ding the ascent of salmon or salmon trout to their
spawning ground within 100 yards of the i.iouth of snili rivers or streaius," etc.

As nuiniigcr for tln^ .Maska Improvement Com])any my duties compel my attendance
at the fishing grounds during tlie entire lishiug season, .and by virtue id' my long
experience as nuiuagei and director of the industry in the immedlat(^ n^iglibnrhood
of K.irliik, I b(dieve I have ae(|uiredmore th.in a supi-rlicial knowledge of the whole
subject of s.almiui lishiug as wiOl as the i)ecuii,irities and eharactcristii'S of the tish
which inhabit those waters during the season lor catching the s,lnn^

If ihe purjMise of' the (iovernmeut is to construe the abovc'-ipiiited piovisions of
said section 1 ..o as to enibr,ico w itliin its seojte the hauling ol' sciiu's or nets, and
such seine or net hauling is to be considered as " ))roventiug or im|)eding Ihe ascent
of salmon or saliiiou trout to their spawning griumd w ithin lOO yards of the mouths

/

ALASKA INDUS-TRIES.

41,

of Hill li rive IS (ir stit^iiiiis." siicli ;in iiiliiliitinii or iiroliiliitimi will teiiil to ciiiisc, iiical-
f'liliililc iiijiiiy til till) Miliiioii itiiliistiy. ii.s will .is tn tlio.^i' now riiL;;i;i('il in llio Kiilur,
who. liy ri'iison iil' their liirfjt' interests. lire endeavoiinu to (irouiotc tlie profjress ami
jnoKpciity of tint 'rcnitnry.

In tliis eounrotion it will not lio iiiJipprojiriati- to dct^iil one of the )i(M'nliaritit'.f of
tho IinIi ill thrir asreiit of liir HtrraniH or riveis for the ]nirpost! of Hjiawninj;'.

It is the nature of the anadronioiis .'*))ei ie^ to enter a streani oi' river and follow
th<! edih l"rnied li\ the jnnetme of the fre»h and i-alt v.aler. This hahit i.s hottt-r
ilhistr:!' liy an exaininatioii of I lit; ai eouiiianyini^ di:if,'iinii.

I- V re]iiesent the outllowiiiK fie>h water from the Karliik Kiver, which, by rea.soii
of the rapid.s near its mouth, };ivos it u tremendous impetus for the last 300 yards of
its (leseeiit.

/) represents the eddy of salt water formed hy the oiitllow of the fresh water from
the river, on the .M.isha raekin;; As-<ociation's side, the current of said eddy having
a trend toward thi' lalter's heaeh.

a represents the eddy of salt water also formed by the o;;tll<iw of the fresh water
from the river, on the Alaska Improvenient (,'onipan\'s side, the current of the eddy
in this instanio trendiiifi away iVom the hitter's beach,

(/ (' rei)reseiit the ilireetiiuis in which the lish "stand"' inshore on tht^ir way to the
river and spawniii;^ j;ii)Uiuls.

It will be readily seen tlwit the entry of the lish in the eddy uii the Alaska Packer's
fddti is ill th(^ direction which in' essarily lirinj;s them closer to the beach; while the
op|iosit<^ is the case on the Ahi.ika Iinprnvenient ( ■iiiii]i:iny's side, the lish in that
instance, and on iiccount of the otfshore tiend of the eddy, are compelled to "staiul"
inshore mi a line parallel to the fresh- waNr ciirieiit.

If We are jirohibiteil or jireveiited from h:iuliuji oiir nets within the proposed pro-
Hcribed distance of ini) yards of the mouths of smh rivers and streams, we will
jiriK^ically bo Icfjislated out of existence, and tho salmon-lishing industry will bo
ruined.

'I'he oist of the whole eoiitrn\eisy, developed within the past year, iiinl consei|uent
on the abuses of the salmon-lisliing industry, is that the salmon which enter the
rivers and stip.iiiis and s|iort about in their natur.il pl.iyi;roiind should remain
iiuniolestcd and free fioiii any a varieion-* moti\es on the jiarl of those un|iriiicipled
tishermeii who, in order to further tlieir own selli~h interests, would conduct this
industry in a way such as would veiy mpoii cripple if not eompletely <i<'stroy the
species of lish which now frci|nent .Alaskan waters to spawn.

.Section 2 of i he proposed aet provides, aiiioui; othi-r tilings, for a weekly close sea-
son of thirty hours, lu- in the hmmiage of the si it ion, •' frmn noon on Friday of each
vviM'k until ti o'clock postmei idi.in of the Saturday followin;.;. '

The ninulicrof lish eiiteiiiii; atiy ol' the rivers or streams durinji (he close period
of Ihiity hours each week is a!i;,'ment.d by thenninbiTol salmon llial will "iiin''
into said ri v. r-; and streams before the " layini; out '' or haulinj; of the nets, as well
as diiriuL; tlie interim of these aets.

About one-lil'lh of the eiitiri' lishinj; season i.i stormy, iluiiug whirh time it is
im|)ossib!e to "lay out" or haul a seine or net; but the storms do not prevent or
obstruet the entr:incc of the lish in the rivers and streams after the •• h.ilf tide," and
conse,|uc'itly the number i^ thereby i iiormously au^meutcd also.

I'nder these various cniiditions a Mitheieiit uninlier id' salmon will havc^ entered
the ri\ers and streams to render extinction of the spi^ies impossible.

Speiial attention is called to the fact that it is above ami not below th<^ mouth of
tht^strt^am or river that it is essential, iiuportaut, and necessary to ])rotect thesiilmon.

It can noi surcdy be- the desire or purpo-i ol the (iovernment to injure or destroy
the lishing industry of Alaska — an industry whieh is imiissidiibly coiinci ted with
the I'liliiie progress .ind advancement of tlie welfaie of the Tf'rritory.

I desire fill ther to call your attention to the fact that the Alaska Improveiueiii
C'miipaiiy was the oni« that forced its comjietitors at Karliik to tish the ocean beaeh,
as against the I'orincr jiractice of lisliiii;; in tho liver, and against the dam creited
therein, and it is the purpose of that conipany to aid the ( iovernmeiit in any way
pos:;ible iu the enloieemeut of all law- which lia\e for their object the lieriietiiity of
the chief industry nl. Alaska, vi/, the -aliuoii (i>herics.

While as a in.itter of fact the Alaska Ini]iroveinent Company has mo objection to
urge in oj)positi(Ui to the weekly close season of thirty hours, it is manifest to any-
(Uie who liiiiiN.s the condilions at places in .Alaska other thiiii Karluk that sie h a
])rovision to a ;;reaitT or less extent may be a hardship and an injiistiee to many
other com ]>a nil's wliose ])lants are not as favorably situated as is that of the comiiany
whieh I represent.

The operators at KarliiU ha\etlie advantage of their competitors in having a minh
longer period in which to operate in the line of t loir business. Some of Ilicir cum
)ietiloiH are restricted, naturally. b\ reason of the fait that the •' run '' of the salmon
embraces a period of from thiit.v six to fortytive dnys only, a period less tliiin half
of that enjoyed by the Alaska Iini>ro\ einciit Company.

4i(;

ALASKA IXDUSTRIES.

ALASKA INDUSTRIES. 417

I desire ai;ain toimpreHsnpon you tlio fact that it is not within the proscribed 100
yarils that the salmon need protection, but iu those portions of tlie streaiuH and rivers
above tlieir mouths and liereinbelbro mentioned as the ijliiyfjroiiiids of tiio fish,
where tlieir movements are sucli as to tempt tlie cni)idity of those who, if left to
their Hellish devices, would soon annihilate the species.

lu view of the foregoing I respectfully sug^f^st, reeommend, and urge that the 100-
yard limit, as proposed to be enacted into law, bo oliminatoil from said section 1 of
the projiosed act.

Uespectfully submitted.

If. J. Hauling,
Manager of the Jlaska Improvement Cumpaiuj.

.JOSKIMI >[irRRAY,

/Special Agent for Protection of Salmon Fisheries in Alaska,

Washington, 1). C.

BuooKLYN, N. Y., February IS, 1895.

Ueau C'OLf>NEL: Supplementary to my letter of the llth instant, I beg to state
that the bill meets with the approval of our president, Kva. He re(|uest8, however,
injustice to all the various canning interests concerned, that tliewords in section 2,
"or to iish fir or catch, or kill in any manner or by any appliances, any salmon or
salmon trout in any stream less than 100 yards in width in the said Territory of
Alaska between the hours of 6 o'clock in the morning and (J o'clock in the evening
of the same day of each and every day of the week," be tlimimited. Ho lays stress
on the fiict that those words would be detrimental to the interests of quite a few,
and lie claims that section 3 amended so as to read, "set aside certain parts of
streams," etc., would besiitlicient, and at the same time it would not limit thediscre-
tionaiy jiowers conferred upon the honorable Secretary of the Treasury, who could
tlien designate iiny certain stream or streams which were in danger of exhaustion or
imiiairiiient of their run of salmon.

Another rciisoii he had iu mind was the ditliculty which would beset the Govern-
ment in enforcing the law, inasmuch as some catch most of their Iish at night and
others during the diiy.

|{y leaving it to the discretion of the Secretary he could, as ho saw tit, absolutely
prohildt lishing in any stream or only partially so, such as is suggested by the specific
language whicii Mr. Kva desires stricken out in soctiou -'.

Yours, respectfully, H. J. Barling.

Col. ,IOSi;i'H MUKKAY,

L'nited States Fish Commissioner for the District of Alaska.

San Francisco, Fehruanj 7, 1S05.
Dear Sir: Yonr valued favor of 1st instant Just received, also the bills, for jiro-
tection of salmon iu Alaska, referred to, iu regard to which will say that I c:in
discover nothing in them but that which will be a benefit to all. You are to bo con-
gratulated for having framed such a bill, and if you are successful in having it
liecome a law will deserve much credit. These bills will atiord the necessary
protection and nuian the maintenance of a permanent industry iu the Territory.
With my best wishes for your success, 1 remain,

Yours, truly, K- D. Hu.me.

Hon. Joseph Murray,

}yushin<jion, I). C.

It is not necessary, I tliiuk, to criticise all tlie objections raised by
my tViemls to the bills proposed; for if once {■ .wn a fair trial the
faulty parts will easily be detected and (iiiickly altered without injury
to anyone.

The n:ain point to bo considered is that the Alaska fisheries are of
great exttiut, immense value, and deserving of the greatest care; that
H. Doc. 9U, pt. 2 27

41 H

ALASKA INDUHTRIKS.

tlic history of 8almo:i in America is u history of wanton (h'striiction and
waste, and that nnless we bepin now to enaet hiws and rigidly enforce
tlieui for the proteittion of the species it is only a matter of time nntil
the same destrmitixe methods pnrsued from Maine to Orefjon will pro-
duce the same results in Alaska.

A n industry that lias produced in live years 3,8r)0, 46(i cases of canned
salmon — l.S4,8'Jl',3(i8 pounds of the very finest and richest of human
food — is uuiloul>tedly one that is deservinpf of the very highest consid
cratioii from us all, and ought to have the l)est possible protection from
the (icneral (Jovernment.

rarticular attention is invited totherei)ort foe i8!)liof the honorable
Commissioner of Fisheries, from r nich I ".lave largely »iuoted ; for there
he shows, beyond the ])0!?sibi!ity of contradiction, what destructive
methods have been followed in other localities, and whicdi, if continued
in Alaska, will bring aboc.c the same direful and irreparable results.

Knowing the possibilities that await Alaska in the near future if her
natural resources are not allowed to be frittered away, and also know-
ing how easy it is ro make a bad or a good beginning, I respectfully
recommend that all possible safeguards be thrown around those natural
resources, (consistent with tlie best interests of all who have investments
made and business established in the Territory.

A revenue cutter, reenforced by half a dozen steam launcdies, ought
to be sent to and kept in Alaska for the purpose of enforcing the reve-
nue laws — patrolling the inland waters, and carrying theollicersof the
(lovernment from place to place in the prosecution of tlu'ir duties. The
appointment of an inspector of Alaskan fisheries and two assistants, to
visit and reside at the canneries during the fishing season, would be
productive of great good to all those who an', iu favor of law and order
and good goverhment.

All of which is very resi)ectfully submitted.

.lOSEPn M II UU AY,

Special Aijent for the Protection of Salmon Fiskerics in Alaska.

Hon. John G. Carlisle,

Secretary of the Treasury.

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

419

Exhibit A.

Alanka nalmon fiaok, ISS9 to W,9.?.

I'MriU!*.

Location of
caiiucricfi.

Alusko I'liekem' Astorialiiin
Caiinfrii'i/,

Ali'uliiiii iHlaiiil anil MiningCo. .. Kar)nk ...

Iliiino I'aikiiiK ('<> ilo

Kail Ilk I'arkin}; Co I ilo .

Kiidiak I'aikinnC'o ' do ,

Arctii'. I'ackiii;; ( 'o 1 Kyak

Jiojall'iiekin);*'!) AIukiihU.

UiiHHian Aiiicriiaii l'arkiii({ Co . J ilo .

Arctic I'ackiiif; Co

Kodiak l'iickiii({ Co

AlaHkn Tacking (<'i>

BriHtol I'.ay Canning Co.
Nu«liii);ak Canning Co .

Aictic Pack' '/Co

Cliicnik Hay I'acking Ci

G. \V. lliiiin'i

Nortlicrii I'acking Co...

Arctic Tacking (,'i> j ilo

Central Alaska Co I Tliiu Point

Thin Point Tacking Co i do 27,

Pacilic Tacking Co I Copper Uivcr

A licrdccn Tacking Co Wrangell Vi.

Alaska Salmon Tucking Hud Fur Luring 25,

Co.

Chilkat I'acking Co CInlkat Kiver 12,

Tyraniid Trading and Fiuhing Co.' Pyramid Ilarlior 16

sn,

2S,

nil

27,

:i7,
in,
as,

Alitak 13

... do

Niisliagak Kiver 2(1

BriHtol Bay 32,

....do 27,

....do

ChignikBay 22,

CooKH Inlet

lo 18,

31,
1

500
000
,145
000
000
0(10
000
000

000

000

,000

Knnibcr of omor.

ignz.

1890,

30, 308
36, 1100
30.114
47, 000
44, 000
11,000
20, 434
17,400
16, 250
25, 000
31,00(1
38,000

Total .

Canneriet not belongini/ to the
Alatka rackern' Asioeiation.

Alaska Improvoment Co

Ahtoria Tacking (>>

Baranoll Packing Co

Bering Sea Packing Co

BoHlon I'isliing and Trading Co . .

('Iiilkat Cannery Co

Metlukalitla Inilustrial Co

Nortli Pacific Trading and Pack-
ing Co.

Pacilic Stcani Whaling Go

ToninsiiliiTradingandFishingCo.
K. U. Hume A: Co

Eadiak

Knin Island

Uaranoll' Islands.

ITgashik

Yes Bay

Chilkat Kiver

Metlakahtla

Klawak

Copper Kiver .

do

K.irluk

Total .

(irand total.

,000

44, 000

13,000

,600

10.000

,000

,748

7,017

,000

2,400

,000

13. 000

.80(1

15, 800

,500

22, 780

30, 300

30, Olio ■ 76. 000 50, 9!)0

00.483 I 67, .WO 50. 220

32,800 ! 30, i;i8

33. 100 j j

21,000

25, 777

31.500
32, 100

37, 188
34, 750

50,000
21,200

35.848
57, 553

I, 000
000

17. 327
17, 000

25. 300
20. 100
22, 000
31,1)71

29, 400

30, 000
30, 900
75. 000
21,000
17,000
20. 000

7,000

4, 000

27,000 i 28,990

16,000 j 22.728

22,800 j 21,000 2.'i. 1.'3

13, ,375 I .
13, .500 I

31, 665

28,700 1 13,668

514,793 570.830

26,000

3,790

27,000
9. too
10, 475

629, 220 349, 000 462, 646

7,0i:'>

19, 000

9. 327
20.000

11.370 10,106

62,000

16, 201)
7,949
5,000

17. 335
20. 040

P, 000
9,281

52, 000

10, 200

13.741
22, 500
11,300

15, 000
2, 531

16,000] 24,000 j.
12, 119 I 20,074;.

84,601 114,629 i 178,779 1, . 7.< i

38,795

9,609

15. 102
19,418
12.500

35,000
15, 270
15, 492

161, 188

599,394 ; 691,459 807,999 I 458,741 623.832

420

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

KxniniT H.

sidiisiirH of Alaska Halnwn pnvk, sinmm 189,1,
ALASKA I'ACKKItS' ASSOCIATION

Nuiiie.

Urlatol Itiiv I'niiiiiiJi;

Co.
AliiHkii rncUiiii; Co...

Arctic I'ackiiinCo

111)

'I'liiii I'diiit l'arkiii^<'ii
Knrliik raiKiiii; Cd.. .

IIiiiiiK I'm kin;; Cii

Kiicliak I'ai'kiiiuCd.. .
.\rclii' Parking Cci. ..
Arc'tii' Finliini; Cd. . ..
CliiKiiik ISiiv racking

C(i.
I'ai illi' rnckiii;; i'o. .

Locution.

Mi'ii oinployeil.

NnHlinniik

do

do

Nnkiii<k ....

Thin Point .

Karl Ilk

do

do

Alitak

KlIHHilot}' . . .

< liiKiiik ....

I'yrainid llailior Park-

'iii«Co.
lilliiliT Packing' (,'0. .
.Maska Saliuoii Pack

inu and I'lir Co. |
I'Kasilik FisliiiiK Xtn \

tioii.

PriiM'f) Williiiiii.i

Sound.
Pyramid Ilarlioi..

I'oil \ViaUK>'ll .
I.ot'ini!

Si'liiirt Kiver.

WhitP.

60

02
58
12
18
00
80

SO ;

33 '

4 'J
00

(l.'i

7(1

ID
15

20

Na-
tive.

41

Clil

IIUSI'.

Apparn-
tiiH iiHed.

ShIiiioii takiiii.

Klntt.

87 UlUnetK. 15.000

40
45 I

00

85

HI. 111)0
13,0110

15
30
28
25
15
30
2U

23

•Ml

15
32

1,W
LM)

HO
flS
140

5H
01

55
50

....do
...do
....do

Stdno ,...:

...do....

....do

....d

...do

I all n«lH.< 30.000

Cill niM8 !

anilMfdiie.
....do ,

U.1I. «llvrr.

200, 000 ' 22, (10(1

21)0, 000
2U0, (Hill
100,(100

no, 000

8(10, dill)
81)11. 110(1
400, UIIO
300, 000
17(1, 000
OIH). 1)00

220, (MM)

(lillnotH 140.000

Total .

754

...do..
Seiiio . .

fi, IHJO

.do .

gr<. 000

42, 000
200, 0(MI

24, 000
28. 1100

31 lino
IK

'.)(i, 000
Hill, IHII)

430 1,135 80, 000 4, 767, 000 nuO, 000

Name.

Bristol liav Cunning
Co.

Alaska Paokiny Co

Arilio Packing; Co

Do

Thin Point Parkin;; Co

Kai'liik Parkint'Co

linnii- Parking Co

Kodiak Parking' Co.. .

.Vi'i'tif Parkin;; (>o. . . .

.Airtir l'iHliin;;Co

Clii|;iiik Hay I'aikiiiK
Co.

Pacilli^ Parking' Co

Pyianiid llarlior Pack-
ing Co.

(ilaciiT Paikiu){(;o. .

.'MasUa Salmon Pack-
ing and I'lir Co.

I'Katdiik i'lnliing Sta-
tion.

34,7.10 .

37. 188
3.'i, 848

Total.

50, 220
59, 1)50
30, 138
25, 777
31,005
57, 553

28. 090
13, 008

Steam- 1

erg.

1

1

850

1

2,000

1

1.232

1 '

03

2 1

2 i

I 1

73 I

200 j

32

22,728

2.5, 153 08

I 1,970

462, 646 6, 496

I.iuht-

iTHand Value,
boats.

40 $12, 000

NetH.

.Sail ton- Value
nat'o cm- of

^er! ^'"'"" I''".^""''- l'l'"'t

42
41
8
10
35
35
25
20
40
24

40
25

14
8

12, 000
10,000 I
13,0111) I
0, 000 I
25.0(10 1
15, Olio

10, 000

10,000

10, oini
10. 1100

25,000 !
16,000 I

13,000 I
2,000 I

1, 200 I

811 $4, noil

84

82

10

4

12

12

0

4

Kll

!)0

7U
50

30
4

4, 200

4. 10(1

8(10

8(111

■J, 4110

2.41111

1.2III)

8110

4. (1(10

4. riiin

3, ,1110
2. .5110

l,,5iio
800

831 $01,(100

1,072

Oil

5,'i5

175

2, 091

2, O.'il)

1, 111(1

771

1,370

1,025

Ol.Ono
01,0110
2..''iiil)
20,0(10
136. 'illO
12.1, 2.'iO
123.5110
.52,(100
32, 500
71..500

939 30, 000
1.187 30,000

630
658

27, 300
52, 000

l,.'i(IO

20

413 205,200 027 38,100

17.113 090, .1.10

ALASKA INDURTRIKS.

421

StatlsUrt «/ Ahmka mlmon pack, leaton iSOS — Continiind.

rOUl'OUATIONH NOT IN THE ALASKA I'ACKERS' ASMtCI AT1()\.

Name,

Locution.

C. v.. Wliltiify .V Co NuHlmRak

I/. A. rcilcTHoii Nakiii k

(,'l.iiH. XcIhoii Si'linii Uivi T

I.yiiili' \ IIdiikIi Shiiriinulii JhIiiiicIh

AluHkii Iinj»rn\ ciiH'iit C*» Karl ilk

Iv. I). IIuiiui A; Vo .ilr»

Oliver .Sinilli Kmliak iHlaliil

(;. 1). I.adil (;o(ik« liilil

I'luiili' Sti'iiiii Wlmllii).' Co I'rliiio Will in in SoiiihI.

rt'iiiimuliir I''irtliiiii; null Trailing (Ut ('oi>)mt llivcr

(-'Iillkat Cniiiiinu Cii I'vraiiilil llarlmr

Koanl & SliikfH I'nrI Allliiprp

llaraniitf rackiiiu ('» liaranuir Inlaiiil

N'lirtli racilii' I'i.tliiiij; aiid Trniliin; Co , Klawak

Capn Kiix I'lnkinj; Co ' Capo Kox

llonlnii I'iHliiim mill 'Iriiilin); (Jii \'vh Hhv

Mollakalitia ImlimtriaU'i) Slrllakalitla

J. Mara nicy AVlialo Hay

Varioim Soutlieastern Alanka ..

Cniicg.

Ift, 42U

llfi, IIUO

ir.,270

lU, 41K

«,no«

ir., 101!

12,500

Total 17:i, 71H

IlarrBlH.

1.4110

2, li'id

2, Too

•Jli.'i

t!

2, 5011
401!

2:i'.i

(ion

1,1100

I. ',7

2. OIH)

.■ilM)
I,4IIU

l.l. 77!)

KXIIIHIT (J.

Stutistica of .lla/ika sutinuii park. si(tnoii »/ l,s:)-l.
Al.A.SK A rArKKlJS' ASSOCl A Tli ).\.

Xftinr

liHcatinii.

Men employed
While

ApparnliiH
Xa- ' Chi- iisi'il.

Salmon tnki'ii.

Brintol Hav ('anniiiK

C'o.
Alankn rnckiiiH Co...
Ari'tic Packing; (,'ii. .

Do

Tliin I'diiit I'liikin);

Co.
KarlnU I'arkiiif; (d .
iltinii' racking Co. . . .
Arctic I'ackinK Co •
Ai-c(ic I'MhIiIii^ Co. . . .
Cliii;nik Hav Packing;

Co.
I'arillr rarkiiiK Co.

NiiHliaKiik ..

do

.... do

Nakiii'k

Tliiii I'd in t .

ryraniid llarlior I'ack-
'inn Co.

(iliiriiT Packing Co.

Alaska Saliiioii I'ack-
inn and I'or Co.

I'liini Kobcrts I'ack-
int'Co.

I'nasliik Fisliiii); Sta-
tion.

Total

Karl ok ..

do..

Alitak...
KiiHilotr
(,'lii^iiik

I'rinic Will iani

.Sound.
I'yraniiil Harbor.

I'ort Wrnnccll...
I.oring

KotiKiuiig ...
Si'liua Uivcr.

live. I no so.

Kin«.

lii'd.

Sihcr.

RO

li'.'
5«
15
18

lliO
U2
1)5

liO

41

4(1
45

50
4H
17
40
20

llillnctH. :i.ooo

ilO

«5

...do .
.do .

.|,,"iOO

:!, lino

283, nOO 18. 0011

132

132

270, 000

307. 000

128. .".Ill

Seine ....: 1 12.-..050

...do ' 1,006.000

l.OUO, (100
300. 000
283, 01)0
0(10. Olio

05

33

0(1

74

61

70;

31

2.-I

51
36

55
US 1

?:•

;

31

1

del I

.W ....do ....! ,

75 Cill not.. I 15,500

124 (rill net '

and seine.

do.... 2,0110

Hill not..

...do ....I
Seine '

7. (100
6,000

Gill not.

dill iii-tH
and seine.

112.8,50

15,000
14.000

27(1. 000

17,0110

140, 000

11,000

8(1, 000
37, 000

120.0110
205, 000

134. 000

810 ; 505 1,027 i 41,000 5,403,350 . 42.5,000

422

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

Statistics of Aluslca salmon park, season of 1S94 — Ooutiniied.
ALASKA I'^CKKKS' ASSOCIATION.

Name.

CaaeH.

lirialol Hit y Canning Co
AluHkii raikiuK Co ...:

Antic I'lukiiig Co

Do !•

Tliiii I'ointl'iickiiig Co [.
Karliik l'iirkiiig(,'o....|

11 unic I'arking (Jo

irctic I'Hikiiig Co |

Arctic Kirthin;;Co

Cliignik Bay Packing
Co.

Tacitic Packing Co

I'Miiin-cl Harl)orPack-
'ing Cn.

Glacier Packing Co

AlaHka Srluion Pack-
ing vnd KirrCo.
I'oint Jtobcrto Pack-
ing Co.
Ugasliik rishing Gta-
tiou.

30, 909
3U, 038
30, 113

Barrola.

79, 000
79, 000
27, 720
34, o:i3
55, 3.''i2

28,?-0
38, (81

25, 250
2fi, 86U

420
2. 571
2, 519

354

20

^"- boats.

2,680
2,257

Totkl I 485,833 10,825

40
42
41
f.
Vt
.7
48
20
40
24

40
25

14

Ne

Valuo.

Num-

ber.

if' 2, 000

'80

12. Oi'o

84

10, 000

82

13, 000

10

6, 000

4

30, 000

15

20, 000

15

10, oc»

4

10, 000

80

19.000

..«.!

25, OilO
l(i, 000

13,000
2, 000

■J I 1,200
0 I 1,200

Vnhid.

Sail ton-
uago em-
ployed.

70
50

30
4

$4. (KiO

4, 200

4, 100

800

800

3, 000

3, 000

800

4,000

4,,')00

3, 500
2, 500

1, .1110
800

3 i

600
600

940

032

1,072

5.14

263

1,831

1,830

1,161

1,129

1,.5?0

1.276
M82

636
771

234

310

Valiio

of
plant.

.tot. (100
91,000

ill, coo

2, .lOO

20, (100

i;i(i, .500

1211. 250
52. 000
32, .500
71, .500

39,000
89, (100

27, 300
52, (HH)

1,.500

1, 500

20

410 I 206,400

630 ! 38,700

15,357 868,5.50

(;OT{P;<KATIONS NOT IN ALASKA PACKEKS' ASSOCIATION.

Nn ne.

Location.

C.E, Whitney A- Co

Pri.'8]M>r Finliing and Trading Co.
L. A. I'edorBoii .

Bering Sea Packing ('"

Clias. Nel.-^on

Norton. Tiller c>;(;o

Lvndo Hl Ilougli

Oliver Sniitb

Alaska Iniproveincnt Co

U. II. Hume &Co ,

C.D.I.add ,

Pacilic Steam Whaling C'o

PoninHoliir I'isliing and Trailing Co .

Haninoll' Packing ( o

North P.acilic Pisliing and Trailing Co ,

Hoston FiRhing and Trading ('o

Mellakahllalnilu.ttrial Co

Miller .V Co

Capo Fox Packing Co

VarioiiH

Tolstoi Salting Station

17,304

Nushagak
Kvichak ..
Nu" lek...
Uganhik..

do

do

Shimiagin InlandM

Kadiak Inland

Karliik 44,300

Tanglelimc Pay 26, 984

Cooks Inlet

Prince Willi.ani Sound .

Copper Kiver

ItaranolV Inland

Klawak

Yes liiiv

Metlakahtla

(,'ardovia Day

Cape Fox ..."

Southea«t<<rn Alanka ..

29, 000
15, 000
10, 910
1,1, 620
12, 000
14, 000

IlarrelM.

050
2, 000
2,010

2,600
596

30
2 1100

45

,004

Total I 183,208

1,800
2. ()00

4, IKK)
700

21,180

^'alIlo

III'

Jilniil.

•tUl.dOd

01,(1011

'.11. will

•_', .'iOil

2(1, (Kill

i:i(i, .'idii

12(1, liOd
52. 0(1(1
,'12, iM)

71, rm

39, 000
8!l, 000

27, 3(10
52, "00

1,500

1,500

ono

2, 000
2,G40

2,000
59(i

30
2. 11(10

45

2, (104

ol

1,80(1

2. (XHI

4,IK)0

700

21, 186

"

alaska industries.
Exhibit D.

Salmon packin(/ stationg in Alaska.

42a

H
9
10
11
12
13
14
15

1«

17
18

19

20
21
22
23
24

(;hilcat

I'ort A Ithori>

KilliHiioo

Kitd Fish Hay

Kiiit \\' riinyell

YeH liny

Ijuriiij;

I'liit tiic^ter

I. -.iwak

L'. nluvia Itay .

Ti Istoi liay.

iort Kills

Capo Fiix

CdJiiuii' Uivr, Delta I'fliiiiiHula.
Kv'ik V illagc

Alanka Packers' Associaiitn. .

Ford <fe Stokus ,

Herrine Fisliery

Haranoiri'ackiuK Co

Alaska Packers' Associatiou. . .
BostoTi yisliin^ and Ti'adiiig ('n
Alaska Packi'is' Assniatimi...

MetlnKahtla Iiidiistiial Co

North Pacific aud Pbckiug Co. .

Miller &. Co

do

Kniu Islaud

1 .

1 i.
1 '.
I
1
1

('oika Inlet, Kiii^silo Kiv>;!
Ww t Ride of Cooks Inlet.

A I'oKuak I

Knrhik Itivir

Alaska liiiprovenientCo. .

1!. 1). Hum:! & Co ..

Alitak liny

I'gak liav, Eaglo Harbor.

Chi<;iiik Bay

Pirate (Jove, PiipolV

'I'liin Point

UgaiUik

Fisli and Trading Co

Pacilic Stiam WTiallng Co . ..
Alaska Packers' Association.

do

C.U.Ladd&Co

Alaska Packers' Association.

Naknok Kiver..
1
Kvicliak River .

Knaliagak

Fort Alexander.

Alaska Packers' Association ((Uiediiii).

Oliver Sniilli

Alaska Packern' .Association

McCiiliiiin Trading fjn

\ iafi''a Packers' Association

Bering Sea Packing Co

Alaska Packers' Assoclaticn

Sullivan Kiver Packing Co

Johnson

Alaska Packers' Association

Peterson

Alaska Packers' Associatinn

Prosixr Fi.sli and Trading Co

Alaska Packers' Asso.iation

■Whitcney Company

1 .
1 .

1 1.
1 .

Total

1 Not in operation.

Exhibit E.

Sailiny (lintaiiciii from "ape Fox to the different salmon canneriex in .Ihiskd.
[Figi res in parentheses are map n'r: bers.j

Localities,

(13) Cajio Fox to (10> Cordovia Bay

(i;i) ('a]ie Fiix to (Hi Port (,'liest«r.'

(10) CiijiU.via Ilav to (il) Klawak

(H) Port Clieslcr to (11) Tolstoi Dov

(H) Port Cliester to (il I.oring '

(7) I.oring lo (6) V IJay

(11) Tolstoi Hay t^ i I'orl ^Vl•llI•|.;ell

(5) Flirt Wriingcll to (12) Port Fills

(9) Kliiwak to (4) I!ed Fish liav

(J I Ited Fish Hivv ti> (2) I'ort .Vlthorp... .

(21 I'ort Allhiirp to (3) Killisnoo

(3) Killisnoii lo (I) Chiliat Inlet

(l)('liiliat Inletto (14) Cojiper Kiver Delia
04) (Jopper Kiver Delta to (15) Kyak Vil-

lugo

Localities. , Miles.

(15) Kyak Villnge lo (17) Afognak 500

(17) At'ognak lo (2ii) I'gak liay, Eaghi
liarhor 75

(20) I'gak Ilav to (19) Alitak Ilav 1(1(1

(19) Alitak Hay to (1H| ICiirluk liiver ... 100

(18) Karluk Kiver to (2! ) Cliignik Pay . . 300

(21) ('liit'Uik liav 111 (221 I'irale Cove . . . . 200

(22) Pirat* Cove to ('23) Thin Point 150

(23) Thin Point to ('24) I'gasliik 600

(25) ','aknel( Kiver to (20) Kvichak Kiver. 25

(26) Kvichak Kiver to (27) Nushagak. . . . 100

Total 4,375

Exhibit F.

Amount if tin consumed in the salmon rannerien of Alaska, cos/. <ini/ imjiorl dtittj paid,

for ti<e year ending Deftmlur .11, tSO-i.
lioxes '. V4,ooo

Cost 1)1230,000

Duty pail'. »173,oou

^

424

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

APPENDIX.
No. 1. — Extracts from report on the salmon fisheries of Alaska, hy Marshall McDonalA.

Jrr.Y 2, 18!ti'.

OKKIIN AND DEVELOPMENT OK THE ALASKAN SALMON KISIlKltl KS.

'I'he inaiveloiis iibimd.ince of several specii's of salmon in Alaskan wiitdis has liocii
loiiij known, Imt in consc(|n(!n(e of the reini)teuesH of this roi^ion and its inncccssi-
Mlity, tlie abnndiint supply in livers niaicr niarUets, iind a dis])08itioii on the jiiiit
of liuyers to nnderrato Ala.skan ])rodnitN, its tisheiy leHoiirces have, not been laiil
nnder contrilnition for niarki't 8np)>ly within a few ycais, dniin;:; which wehave socn,
as flio result of reckless and ini]>ri)videiit lishini;, the ])rartical destrnction of the sal-
mon tisheries of the .'Sacramento and the reduitiof. of tlic take on theColnnibia to less
than ouc-half of what it w;;s in the early history of the salinon-canninj; iudustiy on
that river. At jueHf^nt the streams of Alaska, i'urnish the larger proportion of the
canned salmon whi( h tind their w;iy to the markets.

'J'lio jiioneer in the early develoj)ment of the salmon-canninfi industry in Alaskan
waters was the Alaska Commercial C'oni]>auy, whi(di in IMS" established a . annory
on Kiirlnk Ki\ er. on the west side of ivadiak Island, ami jiaiked about 13,000 cases
of salmon. The onteri)riso ])roved cxceedinjily ])rotitable, and operations were
rajjidly extended so that the pack of this I'ompany on the Karluk Kiver in 1HS8
agK'UKiited 101,000 cases of 18 i)ounds caih, represent ini; a catch of over 1,200,000
bine hacks oi' red salmon in the estuary of a small strcMim with a volume and drain-
a{{e aioa not oxcoediufi that of Kock Creek (the small stream flowing through the
Zoological I'ark and discharging into the Potonuic ]{ivor within the city limits of
■Washington, D. ('.). The enormous prodnctiou of this year was secured by entirely
obstiucting the river by running a fence across so that no tish could pass uj), and by
continuing canning operations w'tliout intermiasion until late in October, when rii,)st
of the fish were dark and inifit for food.

The immense pack made Ly the Alaska Commercial Comi)any in 1887 and 1888, the
f'-nie of which (|uickly extended to San Francisco, liad two inipiwtant results. The
attention of Congress wasdi'octed to the inevitable disaster that would oveitake the
salmon fisheries of Alaska '.uiless ])rom|)t mea^.ures werti talien to restrain the imiuov -
ideut and destructive n'ochods employed for the capture rd' the salmon. Accordingly,
njion the recommen'lation of the Counnissioner of Fisheries, an act for the ])rolection
of the salmon fisheries was introduced into Congress and became a law on March 2,
1«89, as follows :

AX tVCT to provide for tli« jirotection of the H.tliiii>ii fislmrics of Aliinka.

"/}« itenacted hy the Senate and llonsenf Representatives of the United Staten of America
in Confirms asseinbleil, Thiit the erectiou of dams, bairicades, or other obstructions iii
any of the rivers olAlaskii, with the |iurpose or restdt of preventing or iiupcdiug
the ascent of saliuou or other anadrimous s])eciaB to their spawning giounds, is
heiebv declared to be unlawful, and the Secretary of the Treasury is her(!liy autho-
i/ed aiul diri^cted to (fstablish such regulations and surveillance as nuiy be ui'i-essiii-y
to insure that this prohibition is strictly enfoned and to otherwise proti'ct the sal-
mon fisheries of Alaska ; and every ]ierson who shall be found guiltv of a violation
of the iirovisions of this section shall be fined not less than two humlred and lifty
dollars for each day of the continuance of such ol)structi.in.
• " Sei'. 2. 'I'hat the Coirnuissicuier of Fish and Fisheries is hereby empowered ,ind
directed to institute an investigation into the habits, abundance, and tlistribniion
of the salmon id' Alaska, as well as the jiresent londitions and methoils of the fish-
eries, with a view of recommending to Congress such additional legisl:iti(ui as may
Lc necessary to prevent the impairment or exhaustion of these valualde fisheries,
and placii'g tln^m under regular and permanent conditions of i)rodnction.

".'^Ec. 3. That section nineteen hundred an<l fifty -six of the ]{evised Statutes of
the United States is hereby declari^d to include and ap))ly to all the d<uuinion (dtlie
United States in the waters of Hering Sea; ami it shall be the duty of the 1 'resident,
at a (imely season in each year, to issue his i)roelamation and cause the siimi', to be
published for one month in tit h'ast one newsiuijxM', if iiny su(di th(^re lie, ])uldished
at each United States ])ort of entry on the I'aiific (oast, warningall perscuis ag.iinst
entering said Wiitcrs for the pnijxiso of violating tie provisions of said section; and
lie shall also cause one or more vessels of the United States to <liligently iruise said
waters and arrest all persons, and sei/o all vessels found to be, or to have been,
engaged in any violation of the laws of the United States therein,"'

This act, though authorizing and directing the Secretary of the Treasury to estab-
lish audi regulations and surToillauce as should bo uocoHsary to insure that the pro-

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

425

hibitioii wonld bo enforced, neithsr prescribed tbo machinery nor apjiropriated the
nieiiii8 to ciirry it into (^rt'cct. Some restraint has doul)tle.sH boon imposed upon
atteini)ts at violation of the law where they are likely to come under observ.'ition,
but it is [iiobiibly violated without hesitation or scruple whore the chance of dis-
covery is casual or remote.

STATISTICS OK THE FISHEniES.

lai(

Tlio immense take of salmon in the estuary of the Karlnk Kiver ii. 1R87 and 1888
bad thii additional result of attracting attention to a (icld jironi^.inj,' such extrava-
ir.nit rcturus for the capital invested. More than l!0 new canneru^s ^v<'ro established
diirin^; the season of ISHJ). I'ivo were located on tho sand spit at the mouth of the
Kariuk River and Ii ot'iers so near as to draw their supplies fioni that souno. Over
H.50, 000 cases of red sal'ion, lepreseuting 1,000,000 lish, wore taken fioui this insig-
nificant rivulet in IHXit anil sent into the markets of tho world. During this season
there w(M-e H(i eannories in operation in Alaska, and the value of the salmon pack
arru)Mnted to ^;i,:^7.'>,0(K).

Tb<^ following tabid, showing the Alaskan salmon pack from 1K;-!3, when syatomatie
canning operations .vere first instituted, to 18i)0, after they had probably reached
tlioir largest (b'velopnient, is very interesting as well as suggestive: interesting, as
illiistialing the wonderful wealth of the waters; suggestive because we know that
it has been iiei'oniplished by irrational .lud dostructivo methods, and by improvident,
willful, anil contcni])tuons disrejiard of natural laws, whose aid and nnobstructeil
oi)eration are essential to the mai'iteuanco of a coutiuuing and productive salnion
fishery in Alaska;

The Alaska mlinon pack from 18S3 to 1,190.

Vear.

Number of
eases.

38, 000 '
45, 000
74, 850
120. 700

Tear.

Nmiibev of

ni.sea.

1S8:) .

1887....
1888....

1889

1890

190, 200

1H84 .

298, 000

188.1 . ..

675, 000

1880

010,747

A review of the statistics of the salmon pack of Ala,'»ka from 18S,'l to 1890, compiled
from data gathered by the division of lisberies of the United States I'ish (.'ommis-
sion, shows that the total yield of the salmon fisheries of this region from 1 883 to
18!t0, both inclusive, was l.',or)0,4ri7 cases of IH jjonnds each, reiuesentiug an aggregate
prodiii'tion of 28, ,'0G,it,")8 salmon within the period mentioned. During the first throe
years the pack was small, vl/, 30, 000 cases in 188;^, l.">,000 cases in ixsi, and 74,8."iO cases
in 1H85. After this the increase in jirodnction was phenomenal, and in ISXM had
reached the enormous amount of (u.'iiOOO. Production in thosubse(|nent years \< ■ eded
slightly, but the aggregate for ISilO and 1891 did not fall much short of the pack of
1889. Of the entire Alaskan yield, about one half is taken from the estuary of the
K.arluk Hivcr. ,\ilding the product of ISOl to the aggregate for jirevions years, wo
have a total yield of canned salmon since 18s3, when regular canning began, aun)unt-
ing to nearly 2,7.")0,000 ca.ses, and a total value of $11,00(^000.

iiesides the cannc'J salmon, tho rivers of .Maska yield annually nearly 7.011(1 b.ii
of 200 pounds each of salt salmon. Winn we add to the above )U'oduetiou the enor-
mous (|uantitie8 of salmon which are consumed by tho natives in the fresh and dried
condition, W4> shall bo able to form sonu! ade<nnite nh-a, of the iuimense value of the
Alaskan salmon, and tho importance of fostering ami establishing conditions of per-
manence for this great resource.

In 1889 tho salmon fishery gave oni])loyment to 00 vessels, including K! steamers,
l.'i barks, 2 briiis, and 1 ship. Tiiirty-six canneries were in active operation, not
counting a number of small establishmi^nts whose jiack w's light and inci<loutal to
geinra' trading with tho natives. The capital stock of these eanninii eomiianies
rauR^^d from $75,000 to !i*300,(HH). The estimated capital was $1,000,000 ami tho value
of tho i)ack, $3,;!75,000.

I'UE.SKNT CONDITION Ol.' TIIK. FISHKUIES — UU.HTRl'CTIONH IN THE lilVEHS.

Early in Ai)ril, 1890, information reached tho Commissioner of IMsheries in regard
to a salmon traji, the construction of which had been deterniiued u|)on by four can-
nery firms located on the Nushagak River. About 25 nnles from the mouth of this
river is a tributary known as Wood River, into which most of Ibe saluion entiu'ing
the Nushagak make their way for the luirpose of spawning in the two large lakes at

426

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

its liead. Helioving tliiit Hucb action was a vi"'ation of the act of Confjress iipprovod
March 2, 1H89, jn-ovidiug for the iirotection oi' the Nalnion (islioricH of Alaska, tho
Ciiiiui)iHsii)iicr tr;;ii8iiiitted the inforinatiou to tlio Sccrtftary of tho 'rioasnry with the
Hiij{({«'Htii)ii that the iifce»Haiy Hte])H bo taken by hoiuo of tlio TroiiHiiry olluinls in that
region. Tho matter was referred 1.) the chief of the Revenne-Marine Division with
tlie reeoniinendation thtit, if possible, the captain of one. of tlio revenue-marine
steamers crnisiiiji; in Alaskan waters bo directed to make, an iiivestigatioii and, if ne(v
essary, have tlie obstnietious removed I'.nil the guilty parties arrested and ]>rosci-iite(l.
On April 12 tho chief cf tho Reveune-Marine Divisinn returned tho eorrespoiiilen<('
to the Coumiissioner of Fisheries with the information that the eommanding otlicein
of the revenue inarint! steamers cruiKing in Alaskan iviitors during the ensuing season
w i>iild be instrnctetl to enforce the law for tho protection of the llslicries iis far as cir-
cumstances would ]iermit. lie suggested, also, that the eommanding ollici^r of tho
Fisli Commission steamer . I //>a/ro«« be iiistr\icted to inveatiga.'e tho complaint and
enforce the law if founil necessary. Inasmuch as the (Jomnussioiicr of Fisluu'les did
not, have autliority to give directions for the (Miforceniont of tho law, ho wrote to the
chief of the Revenue-Marine Divisitm on April 17 that if the .Secretary desired to
confer the necessary authority upon the comuuinding ollicer of the .tllxilroM, IJeut.
Commander Z. L. 'fanner. United .States Navy, he would take jileasnre in forwarding
same. On the following day, therefore, tlie Acting .Sec- atary of the Treasury, il.ni.
(MMirgo S. liatcheller, forwarded to the Commissioner id" Fisheries the following
order, clothing the commander of the AlbatroHS with the necessary authority to act
in the matter, inclosing at tho same time copies of Treasury circular of March 16,
188U, in rolatiou tu the matter :

Treasury Depart.mext, Office of the Secretary,

Washington, l>. C, April IS, 1S90.
Sir: You are hereby d- *1--:1 with full power .and authority to enforce the provi-
sions of law contained in .'Ct of Congrtiss apjiroved March 2, "188!), i)roviding for tho
protection of the sulmon lisiiTios of Alaska, wliich prohibits tho erection of dams,
barricades, or other obstructio.is in any id" the rivers of Alaska, with the imrpose or
result of preventing or iinpediug tho ascent of salmon or other aiiadromous species
to their spawning grounds.

Respectfully, yours, Geo. S. nATCHELi.F.it,

Actiny Secretary.
Lieut. Commander Z. L. Tanner,

Commanding Cnitcd States Fish Commission Steamer AlbatrosH,

San Francisco, Cal.

This corrosjiondence was referred to the ichthyologist of the Connnission, who
made the following report :

United .statkk (!ommissio\ of Fish and Firiieries,

If'ashinyton, IK C, July SI, 1S90.
Sir: After having considered the letters of Lieut. Connuander Z. L. Tanner, United
States Navy, dated .June 1,5 and 18, 1890, referring to ^he construction of a trap in
Wood River, Alaska, I respectfully offer my opinion that such :i contrivance for the
ca])ture of salmon is of tho nature of an obstruetini which would im])ede iind, in all
?>r<diability, prevent the ascent of salmon to their s])awMing grounds. It is tliorel'oro
(dearly a violation of tho act approved March ."', lb8'J, a portion of which is ijuoted
herewith :

[Public No. lf)8. — An act to provide for tlio protection of tlie Hiiliiion ti«Iiorien of Aliislia.]

" lie it enacted hy the Senate and House of lleprrseniatirrs of the I'nilcd States of Uncrici.
in t'onyrcsH aascmbted, Th it the erection of dama, barrl ades, or other obstruction" in
any of the rivers of Alaska, with the jiurpose or res t of ju'eventing or imiieding
tlie ascent of salmon or other anadronmiis s))ecio.H to their spawning groninls, is
horeliy declared to be unlawful, and the .Secretary nl the Tri'asury is hereby aiitluir-
i/ed and directed to establish such regulations and kim veillatice as may tie necessary
to insure that this prohibition is strictly enforced and to otherwise protect (he salmon
lisheiies of Alaska; and every person who shall bi Ibund guilty of a violation of the
Iirovisions of this section shall be fined not less than two hundred and fifty dollars
for each day of the conlinuance of such obstruction.''

It has been denionstrati'd that traps in salmon rivers will speedily exterminate the
Bulmon. Newfoundland furnishes a satisfactory illustration of this fact, .So well is
this matter understood that Hritish Columbia forliids altogetiier the capture of
salmon in narrow reaches of streams, and the rivers are guarded to see that tho close
time and other regulations are olmerved; the length of nets and their si/e of mesh
are fixed by law; oveu the olial from canneries is not allowed to lie in the way of
ascending iish.

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

427

The AluHkan .ilinon firms arc in the Tt^rritory to get fish. They prefer to get them
without injury to tho fiitiiio of the busiiicBS if ])OHBil)lo, hut gft them th(!y iiinst or
he ovorconie hy iinaiiciiil (lisaster. In their ollbrts to win siiccesn tiiey have often
stiotdied nets acrotm the inouthH of small streams and prevented tho salmon from
tiding 11)1 until a siiliiicicait nuinher liad collei^tt'd to make a <ro>iil seine haul possilile.
They have erected traps in rivers in sueh a way us to stop every salmon from aseend-
iiig, and, in some cases, actually built inn>assable hanicadei-' to jirovent the ascent of
lish entirely until tho demands of the canneries were satisfied. Kven whoii lishiufj
rej;iihitloiis wore adojited liy mutual agreement among the firms interested individual
intiiKtioiis of the rule were only too rre(|iient.

The trap men on Wood Klver al<^ building ujioii the well-known haliit of the
((uiiinat (<ir king salmon ) of fiillowing along tlie shonvs in shallow water to escape
from enemies. All the conilitions, both natural and invented, will favor the entrance
of salmon into the great inclosure at tho end of I lie loader of netting. Jn all jiiolia-
hility few salmon will swim in mid-channel and reai h the iii)iier waters and lake
sources of the rivi'r, and it will always bo jiossiblo to cut oil' this remnant in the
manner siigge8te<l by l.ientenant-Comniander Tanner, and actually ]iraeti> ed by lish-
erm;Mion occasions, that of stretching a soino across the open water. If the (Joverii-
meiit slioiild inter|)rot its aits so as to allow the uno ol'trajis, in 8])ite ol' tho unforta-
nnto outcome of such ap]iliances in neighboring countries, it should tlien ]iroscribe
regulations for the coiidiu't of tho fishery and a])])i>int agents to see that tho laws are
enforced. If these matters are lolt solely to the discretion of tho individuals having
a linancial iiiteri'st in this lishcry there will booh bo no salmon to jirotoct.
Vorv respectfully,

T. H. Bean,
rohtliyoloi/itt, United Slates Fish Commimon.

Col. Marsha i.L McDo.vai.d,

I'vited States Commissioner of Fish and Fisheries,

Absolute prohibition of tho capture of salmon by tho use of any kind of nets or
traps within Kit) yards of tho mouths of tho rivers would assuie that sonn; proportion
of each run of salnum would succeed in entering tho streams and reaching the
spawning grounds.

The prohibition of the use of more than one seine in the same berth would prevent
that actual and otfective obstruction of tho approaches to tho rivers which is now
acconiplished by the .ise of seines in pairs sweejiing the same area and succeeding
eacdi other so continuously as to capture every fish coming within the st'iiio beitli.

The above re<|uireinciits, reasonably and nnil'orinly enforced, would probably bo
sut'lieient to maintain regular conditions of produt'tion and ren<ler piTuiaiient this
great food source. Shouhl they bo sii|)ploincntcd Ity recourse to artiticial jiroiiaga-
tion <ui an adeciiuito scale, it will bo jiossible not only to maintain the present sui)]>ly,
but probably greatly to increase tho annual jiroduction. The onfori'emont of the
rognlatioiiH and reiiuirem.'uts aliove indicated would, however, demand constani
ininnto supervision and tho employment of a large iiersonuel and diflicnlt adminis-
tration.

It is believed that bettor results and more satisfactory .idininistration could bo
accomplished by limiting tho catch in each stroam to its actual ]>ro(luctive capacity
under existing conditions, and liy leasing thi^ jirivileges of taking tho salmon to the
highest biddi^r. The lossc-s of any river wouhl see that there was no trespassing
n]ion luivilogos for which they ]iaid. '\ im limitation of the earch being kept safely
within the natural productive cajiaiuty nf the stream, greater care would heexereised
hy the caniiers, the <|uality of the inoducts would be imjiroved, andstability of prices
assured by reason of tho I'ai't that the total production would bo aiiproximately
known in advance of the season.

The number of (■a?'('S jtacked would V)o a matter of easy and accurate ascertainment
by the (iovernment agent <'harge(l with that duty. Should tlio funds obtained from
the lessees be applied first to theatliMinistratioii of thoregulationsof tho lisliory. and
the balance denoted to systematic tish-cMltiire, it is probable that tho revenues from
these fisheries will not only snlliee for their rational inanagement. but will i)ermit
and provide for such e\teiisive fish-cultural o|ierationB as will nut only maintain
1 resent I'onditions imd jjroduction, but also greatly increase tho annual output.
Very roBpectfully,

Mahskai.i, Mc'Don'alk, Commiseimier.

No. 2. — Oreqon Statutes, vol. ;.', of fishing for salmon.

Skc. 3489. It shall not be lawful to take or lish for salmon in the Columbiii River
or its tributaries, by any means whatever, in any year hereafter during the months
of March, August, and September; nor at the weekly close times in tho months of

428

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

April, June, and July; that iHtoHay, lietween the hour of six o'clock in the afternoon
of each and e ■ Saturday until six o'idock in the iiftornoou of Sunday lollowin;^;
and any persoi. jjersons catehinj; salmon in violiition of the provisions of this
Hfction, or purchaiunjj salmon so unlawfully caufjlit, shall, upon conviction thereof,
ho lined in a sum of not less than iivo hundred (lollars nor more than one IhouHaiid
dollars for the lirst offense, ami for each and every KuhHOi|iient oll'cnsi^ upon con\ ic-
tion thereof, shall he lined not less than one thousand dollars, to which nuiy ho added,
at the discretion of the court, iniprisoumont in the county .jail for a term not exceed-
ing one year.

8i".i'. 3190. It shall not he lawful to fish for sahnon in the Coliimhia Kiverorits
trihutaries during the said montlis of April, May, .June, and .Inly with gill nets the
meshes of which are less than four and one-eighth inches H(|Uare, nor with sidncs
whose meslu's are less than three inchi's siiuare, nor with weir or lish traps whose
slats are less than two and one-half inches apart.

Nothing herein contained shall prevent fishing in said ri\er or its trUiutaries with
dip nets during the fisliing season as estahlished and doflued l>y .-icction thirty-four
hundred and eighty-nine.

Kvery tra]) or weir shall have in that i)art thereof whore the lish are usuall;- taken
an oiK^iing at least one foot wi<lc, extending u])ward from the hottoni towar<l the
toji of the weir or traj) live leet, and the netting, slats, and other material used to
close such aperture while fishing shall he taken out, carried u)i(in shore, and there
remain during tlie said months of March, August, and Sei)teml)cr, and the weekly
close time in the months of Ajiril, May, .lune, and .Inly, as iireserihed in section
thirty-four hundred anil cighty-nino, to the intent that during said close time the
sahnon may have free and unohstructed ])assage through such weir, Ira]), or other
structure, and no contrivance shall he placed in any ])art of such structure which
shall tend to hinder such fish.

In case the inclosure where the fish are taken is furnished witli a l)oard floor an
0))ening extending from the floor five feet toward the top of the weir or trap shall
he ecjuivalent to extending the said 0|ieuiug from l)ottoni to toj).

Any ])erson or persons violating the ))rovi8ions of this section or encouraging its
violation hy knowingly ]uirehasing salmon so unlawfully caught shall lie deemed
guilty of misdemeanor, and u]ion conviction thereof shall ho lini'd fortlic first otiense
not less than five hundred dollars nor more than one thousan,. dollars, to which may
he aildeil impiisonmeiit in the county jail for a term not exceeding one year.

Sec. 34!U. The person or ])ersons making comi)laint of any violations of the i)ro-
visions of this act shall, ujion convictinn of the offender, he entitled to oiu'-haltthe
fine recovered; and any prosecuting attorney who shall, njion com|ilaint heiugniade
to him of the violation of this act, fail to jirosecute the party accused shall he deemed
guilty of a misdemeanor in olhec, an<l upon conviction thereof shall he fined in the
sum of five hundred dollars for each and every offense.

Skc. 3192. 'I'his act shall not he so construed as to interfere in any way with any
estaldishuK'nt or eiiteri)rise for the ])ropagation of salmon, whether hy tlu^ I'nited
States (io\ ernmcut or any regUiarly organized comi)any or society for that ])urpo8e,
located or ojterated njiou saitl ('olnnd)ia River or any of its trilintarics.

Ski'. 3t93. It shall he uulawliil for the jirojirictor of any sawndll on thi^ Columbia
River or any of its trihutaries, or any em])loye(i therein, to <Mst, the sawdust nuido
by such sawmill, or sutler or permit such sawdnsl to he thrown or discharged in
any nuinncr, into .said river or its tributaries below the Cascades of the Columbia
l{iver ami falls of the Willamette IJivei'.

For each and every willful violation of this section the itarty guilty of such vio-
lation shall he liable to a fine of fifty dollars for i ach an(t every such offense, to bo
recovered before a Justice of the i)eaeo of the ])roper county.

Si;c. 3491. .\iiy i)arty <'ouvieted of any violation of'tlie jirovisionsof this lawshall
he Rentenecd to ])ay the tine and costs adjudged, and in defaultof ]>ayiug'M' securing
the iiaxnicnt thereof, he shall he committed to the county Jail until sucii line and
costs shall be paid or secured, until he shall have been in))>risonc(l oiui day for every
two dollars of such fln<' and costs. Hut execution may at any time issue against the
]iro]ierty of tlu^ defendant for whatever sum nniy be due of such tine or costs.

rj)on ])aym<'nt of such line or costs, or the balance after <leducting the commuta-
tion by im])risonmenl or securing the same, the ])arty shall he discharged.

All lines and penalties collected for violation of thisact shall constitnle a fund for
the maintenance of hatching houses for the ])ropagatiou of salmon, and be disbursed
in accordance with the provisions of an a<'t cntitleil "An act to encourage ihe estab-
ishment of hatching houses for the jiropagation of salmon in the waters of the
Columbia River."

SiU'. 349."). All fines and penalties hereby or herein imposed shall be enforceil and
collected as other fines and penalties, and jurisdiction toenfori-esuch lines not herein
given to the Justices' conrtH shall he vested in the circuit court of the iirojier county.

t)E(j. 34*J6, It shall be unlawful to catch saluiou lish with not, seiue, or trap, iuauy

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

429

Htroam of water, bay, or inlet of tho 8t'«, or river of thi.s State, at any season of tlie
ycni lii'tucon sunset on Saturday and sunset on the Sunilay following of each and
every week.

Skc. 31117. Any jiorson who h1i:i11 violate this act, either by lishing with tho means
and apidiances aforesaid or hiring others to do so, shall be guilty of misdeineanor,
and bo (lne<l in any siini not less than lifty nor exceeding one hundred and fifty <lol-
lars, and by iiii|iii>omnent in the county Jail of the proper county not less than live
days nor more than ten clays.

Skc, 3i'Jb. Justices of the peace sh.-ill have concurrent jurisdiction in such oases.

No. ,'!. — E.rtriicl/1 from n treatise mi tin

law of Scotland relatiny to r'uihta of fiiliim/, hy
Stncdrt.

SALMON I'l.SIIINfl — P<)ACIIIN<; AND OTHEK OI'KKNSES.

Fhhhig htj mentis of a VujUt, eto.—\\y the act 18(!S CU and 32 Vict., c, 123, 17) it is
eiiacttMl ''thati'very |iersiiii tliat shall use any light or iireof any kind, or any spear,
lei.stcr, galf, or other like iiislruiiieiit. or otter, for catching siilinon, or any iustru-
nient for dragging for >aliiion. or liave in his possession a light or any of the afore-
said instruments under such circumstances as to satisfy the court before whom lie
is tried that h<^ intended at tlie time to catch salmon by means thereof, shall lie
liable to a pen.ilty not exceeding .t!."), and shall forfeit any of the aforesaid instru-
ments and any salirion found in lils possession; but this section shall not aaply to
any jierson using a gatf as auxiliary to angling with a rod and line."

Diinamitv. — -Xo peison nmy kill |ish in the Cnitcd Kingdom by means of dynamite
or any explosive ( 10 iind II \iet., c. (i,").;

Cotvhinii siihiioii leii/iiiii) at a fall. — Uy the act 1H6H (31 and 32 Vict., c. 123, t."), sub-
sec. 5) it is enacted that " every person who 'sets or uses, or aids in sotting or using,
a net or any other (engine for the capture of s:ihnon when leaping at or trying to
ascend any fall or <)th(;r impediment, or when falling back aCter leaping,' shall be
liable to a jiomiUy not exceeding £.">, and to a f:;,iuer jienalty not exceeding £2 for
every salmon taken, and shall I'orfeit the SJ'lmon so taken; he shall further be liable
in the expenses of the prosecution."

With regard to this ])rohiljition, H seems only necessary to remark that it extends
only to maihinery of a fixed natuie, and imports no prohibition of draggi'ig pools
lyin.^; iit the fool of falls.

J'ahiii;/ ur dvniriiiiinij the young fialmon or oh»tructing the.' jassage, or disturbing spawn-
ing l)e(h.— \\y the net l^d^ (31 "and 32 Vict., c. 123, 19) it is en;icteil that "every jier-
son who shall willfully taliu or destroy any smolt or salmon fry, or shall buy, sell, or
cxjioso for sale, or have in his jxissession the same, or shall place any dovieeor enjiint!
for the ; urixise of obstructing the jiassage of the same, or shall willfully iiij jro tho
same, or sii.ill willfullx injure or disturb any salmon spawn or di.stnrb any spawning
b( il, or any biiiiU or shallow in which the spawn of .salmon may be, or during the
annual close I line shall obstruct or impede salmon in their passage to a. ^ such bed,
bank, or shallow, shall be liable to a penalty) mit exceeding Co for every such ofl'enso,
and shall forfeit every engine useil in committing such otiense, together with any
smolt or salmon fry found in his jjos-scfsion."

The clause gnes on to declare that this provision shall not " .ipply to acts done for
Ihe ])urpose of the artitliial luopagation of salmon or for other scientitic i)ur|)ose8,
or in the course of cli.ining and repairing any dam or mill lade, or in tho course of
the exercise of rights of prop<'ity in the bed of any stream." It provides also that
the district board m.iy. with the consent of all the ))roprietor8 of salmon tislierios in
any liver or estuary, r.dopt such means as they think lit for preventing the ingress
of salmon into mirrow streams, in which the lish or the spawning beds are, from the
nature of Iht- channel, liable to be destroyed, but always so thjit no water rights
used orenjoyed for the purpose of manufactures, of agriculture, or of drainage shall
lie interfered with thereby.

"No lixed engine of any description shall be ])laced or used for catching salmon in
any inland or tidal waters; and any engine placed or nseu in contravention of this
section may lie taken iiossessioii of or destroyed; am! any engine so jilaced or used
and any salino'i taken by such engine shall be forfeited; and in addition thereto,
the owner of any enuiiie placed or used in contravention of this section shall, for
each day of so placiiin' or using t\w same, incur a jienalty not e.vceediug .£10; aim
for the )iurposes of this section, .1 net that is secured by anchors or otherwise tem-
porarily lixeii to the soil shall lieileemed to be a fixed engine; but this section shall
not alfect any ancient right or mode of lishing .as lawfully exercised at the time of
the |iassing of this act by any person by virtue of any grant or charter or iiiimo-
niorjal usage: I'lovided, nlwaiiH, 'I'hat nothing in this aectiuncoQtaiuud shall be deemed
to apply tu lishing wuiis or lishing milldama.''

430

ALASKA INDUST.JIICS.

No. l. — Exlravtn from Jliind'H law of Hdlmon fiahcriva in Enijltind ami l\'tilen.
I Salmon tlNhiTy art, 18lil.|

(1) CausiiiR (11 knowingly ])t)riiiittiuK li<ini(l or solid matter to be placed into any
waters (•iintaiiiiiifiM.iliiion, nr into tlio tribiitmii's of Hiuih waters, tiiiit poiHons or l<illH
IIhIi. roiialtit's: I'irst (pll'ense, Jl'>; sccumd, not Iush tiian .C2 l(in., not nioro tlian ,Clf>
anil f.'2a(lM.v; tliird, not less than C'l, not more tlian jC20 a day, from tin; date of
tldrd conviction; tonrth, not lens tli;in ,lj2(l a day.

(2) I'sin;; or liavin^ in imssession li>;lit8, otters latliH, Ja<!l<H, wiius, Hnares, 'itroko
halls, Hiiatclies, or otlier like instrnnu^nts (e.\ce)(t galin as auxiliary to a rod and lino)
lor takinj; sahnon, trinit, oi' e.liar. I'en.ilty : F()rroitiir(i of instrninents ; first offense,
jL!5; Hi^cond, not less than C- It's., not more than .C'>; third, not less than .1^5, or
imprisonment for not less than one or more than six months.

(5) IJsinj; any lish roe for lishinjn, or hnying, selling, or having in i)oHsim»ion .iny
salmon, trout, or char roe. I'enalty: forfeiture of roc; lirst oll'enso, .£,'2; Heeon<l, not
le»8 than ,C'2; third, im])risonni('ut for not less than one or more than six months.

(I) Usiu}^ any nets with a less mesh than two inches, unless a smaller size is
allowed hy liye-law. I'enalty: Forleitureof nets; first olfense, jC."); second, not less
than .C'2 lOs., or nujro than £'>■, third, not less than £!>.

(~>) Placing or using any fixed engine not lawfully in use "n 1H57, 1M,")8, 1859, IStiO,
and 18(51, for catching, or facilitating the catching, or deterring or obstructing the
free passage <if 8aluu)n. I'enalty: Forfeiture of engine; first ofl'ense, t!10 a d;iy;
second, not less than .C- Ids. In whole, not exceeding £10 a day; third, not less than
£5 iu whole, not exceeiling C 10 a day ; fourth, not less than .CIO a day.

(6) Using any dam, exie])t legal fishing weirs and fishing niilldanis, for catching,
or facilitating the catching, of Balnion. Penalty: Forfeitun^ of all trajps, nets, and
coiitriv.anies, and all salmon caught; first offense, not exceeding £5 and £1 for each
salmon caught; second, not less in the whole than ,C2 10s., and not exceeding £5
and £1 for each salmon; third, not less than £5, and not exceeding £5 and £1 for
each salmon caught; fourth, not less than £5 and £1 for each saluuju caught.

(7) Fishing for any salmon within .">() yards above or 100 yards below any dam, or
in the head, tail, or race of any null, unless the dam has a lish pass, a])])roved by the
home oHice. with such a flow of water as will enable salmon to pass up and down.
Penalty : Forfeiture of all salmon caught and nets used; first offense, £2 and £1 for
each salmon caught; second, not less in wlndo than £2 lOs., and not exceeding £2
and £1 for each salmo!i caught; third, not less than £0, and not exceeding £5 and
£1 for each salmon caught; fourth, not less than £~i ami .CI for each salmon caught.

(8) Rid'using to ])lace a grating, approved by the in8))ectors, across any artificial
channel for sujiplying towns with water, or any inland navigation. Penalty: Not
exceeding £'5 a ilay for the first offense; second, not loss than £2 lOs., not exceeding
£5 a day ; third, not less than £5, and not exceeding £5 a day ; fourth, not leas than
£5 a day.

(0) Refusing to maintain such grating. Penalty : Not exceeding £1 a day for the
first offense; second, not less than £2 10s., and not exceeding <J 1 a day ; thiid, not
less than .C"), and not exceeding CI a day; fourth, not less than .CI a day.

( 10) Taking, killing, injuring, or attempting to take, liny ing, selling, exposing for
sale, or having in ]iossession for sale, unclean or unseasonable salmon, trout, or char.
Penalty: Forfeiture of fi.sb ; first offense, .Co and .CI for each fish; second, not less
than £2 10s., not exceetung £."> ami £1 a fish; third, not less than .C5 and not
exceeding £."> and £1 a fish, or imprisonment for not less than one or more than six
months; fourth, not less than Co and .C 1 a fish, or imprisonment.

(II ) Taking or destroying, buying, selling, or exposing for sale, jilaciiig any device
for obstructing the passage of or willfully injuring the young of salmon, or disturliing
any spawning bed on which the spawn of tlio salmon may be. Penalty : Forfeiture
of all young salmon, rodK, lines, nets, etc.; first off«nse, not exceeding £5; second,
not less than £2 nor more than C~>; third, not less wian £.">.

(12) Disturbing or attempting to catch any salmon spawning or near the spawning
beds. Penalty: First offense, not exceeding £5; second, not less than £2 lOs. or
more than .C5; not loss than £5.

(13) Fishing for salmon during th<' annual close season. Penalty: Forfeiture of
salmon and nets, or iiistinmeiits used in fishing; first offense, not exceeding £.5 and
£2 for each fish caught; third, not less than £5 and not exceeding .Co and £2 for
each fish caught, or impiisonuent for not less than one nor more than six months;
fourth, not less than .Co for each fisli caught, or imprisonment.

(14) Not removing lixed engines and tempoiary fixtures from a (ishery within
thirty-six hours after close time begins. Peinilty : Forfeiture of all engines and tem-
porary fixtures, etc., first offense, not exceeding £10 a day; second, not less than
£2 10s. and not exceeding ,£10 a day ; third, not leas than £5 and not exceeding £10
a day; fourth, not less than £10 a day.

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

431

(15) l-'iBhiiiK for Biilmon (liiriiiji weekly cloBo time. Pciinltv: Forfoitiiroof all nots
iir moviiblo iiiHtnimi'iits used; lirHt oU'eiiHc, not cxcoi'iling i5 mid £1 tor each tiBh;
Hrcoiid, not l<'HH thiiii JC2 KIh, uiid not cxccrdin^ £'> itiid £1 I'oi' oach TihIi; third, not
loHH than JL'r> anil not czcuodiuK £5 and £1 for each tish; fourtli, not loew than £5
nnd £1 lor ciich UbIi.

(Hi) Not niiiiiitiiininK an opcninji; tlirongh rribs and traps dnrinf; the weekly closo
tinn'. Penalty : Korl'eitnrc of lisli ; lirHt oilensc, £5 and £1 a lish ; second, not Ichh
tliiin £2 lOs. and not excecdinff £"> and £1 a lish; third, not less tliau £5 and not
I'scccdini; £5 and £ 1 a lish; I'onrth, not less than £5 and £ 1 a HhIj.

(17) ( >l)strnitin,!^ any person iintliorizi'd liy the homo ()lli"c to make a lish pass.
Penalty: First ollensc, £10; second, not less than £2 lOs. aud not excccidiu^ £10;
tliiril, not less than £5 and not cxceedintj £10; I'onrth, not hss tlian £10.

(18) In.jniin); any lish pass made nnderthe authority of the home otiico. Ti'iialty:
'I'hc ox|ienBe of nnikinjj };ood the in.jnry; lirst otl'ciise, not exct^edin^; £5; second, not
less than £2 and not exiccding ,)J.5; third, not less tiian £5,

(lil) Doinjj any act whcrohy salmon ari' prevented passinf; throngh a tish pass, or
taking salmon passin<; thron<;h a lish pass. Pemilty: Forfeiture of salmon ami
instrnments used in taking tlicm; first oll'ense, .Cr>; second, not loss than £2 and
not oxceeiling £10; third, not less than £5 and not exceeding £10; fourth, not less
than £10.

(20) Not atlixini; a lish pass to any now dam or to any old dam raised or altered so
as to create incicased olistniction to tish. Penalty: Expenses of inakinj; tlii' tish
pass, and not exceeding £5 for lirst otleiise; not less than £2 nor more than £5 for
second; and not li'ss than £5 for the third.

(21) Not keejiing the sluices that draw oil' the water from a dam shut on Sundays
anrl when the water is not wanteil for milling purposes. Penalty : Frst oH'cnsc, not
exceeding 5s. an hour; second, not less than £2 lOs. and not exceeding .")s. an hour;
third, not less than £5 and not exceeding 5s. an hour; fourtli, not less than 58. an
hour.

(22) Not making a legal gap in a fishing weir. Penalty : First otl'enso, not exceed-
ing C'5 a <ltty ; second, not less than £2 lOs. and not exceeding £5 a day; third, not
less than £5 and not exceeding £5 a day; fourth, not less than £'5 a day.

CSS) Not maintaining a legal frec^ gaji or altering the beil of the river so as to
reduce the How of water throngh a legal free gap. Penalty: First oH'cnse. £1 aday;
HCH'ond, not less than £2 lOs. nor more than .CI a ilay ; third, not less than £5 nor
more than £1 a <lay ; ftnirth, not less than £1 a day.

(21) Placing any obstruction, using any contrivance, or doing any a<t whereby
salmon are deterred in jiassing up and down a free gap. Penalty: First offense, not
exceeding £5; second, not less than £2 10s. and not exceeding £10; third, not less
than £5 and not exceoding £10; fourth, not less than CIO.

(25) Using any box or crib in any tishing weir or lishing niilldam, the upper sur-
face of the sill 'of which is not level with the bed of the river, and the bars or
inscalesof which are nearer than 2 inches and not placed periiendicnlariy. Penalty:
First oH'cnse, not exceeding £5 a <lay ; second, not less than £2 lOs, and not exceed-
ing £5 a day; foiirlh, not less than £5 a day.

(21!) Not maintaining a box or crib in such state. Penalty: First otl'ense, not
exceeding £1 a <lay; second, not less than $2 lOs. and not exceeding £laday;
third, not less than £"5 and not exceeding £1 a day; fourth, not less than £1 a day.

(27) Using any box or crib in any fishing weir or fishing niilMam, having (vny
spur, tail wall, leader, or ou*rigger of a greater length than twenty feet from the
upper or lower side of such li )x or crib. Penalty: First oll'ense, not exceeding £1 a
day; second not less than £2 10s. and not exceeding £1 a day; third, not less than
£5 and not exceeding £1 a day; fourth, not less than £1 a day.

[Salmon lisliery act, 186.').]

(28) Fishing for salmon with a rod iind lino without a license. Penalty; First
oll'ense, not less than double the amount of the license tluty and not exceeding £5;
second, not h^ss than £2 lOs. and not exceeding £5; third, not loss than £5.

(2il) Fisliing for salmon within any fishing weir, lishing milklam, putt, puteher,
net, or other instrument or device oth<'r than Ji rod and line. Penalty : First oti'eiise,
not loss than double the license duty payable and not exceeding £20; second, not
less than £2 10s. and not exceeding £20; third, not less than £5 and not exceeding
.C20; fourth, not less than £20.

(30) Any i)eison fishing refusing to prodnco his license on being asked by a con-
servator, water bailifi', or licensee. Penalty : First oll'ense, not exceeding £ 1 ; second,
not less th.'in £2 lOs. ; third, not less than £2.

(■SI) Fishing for trout or char between the 2d October and the Ist February fol-
lowing, both inclusive. Penalty: Forfeiture of fish; lirst oli'euse, not exceeding £2,
second, not less than £2 10s, ; third, not less than £5.

[:v.

ALASKA INDU8TKIK8.

(1)2) Not ciitcriiij; buIiuou inleii(U><l inr i'N|)()i'tatioii witli the proitcr ofllcor of ciih-
toiiiH botiiro Nlii|iiiitMit l)ft\v(Hii tlir 'Ml S('iitoint)4M' and tlio ItOth A|>i'il. I'l'iinlty : First
ollini.su, not (ixi'ocdin;; C- ii I'ihIi ; hoioikI, imt ItiMS than ,t!2 ami not eNcccdinj^ £2 ii
tiHh; third, not Ibmh than £'< and not uxteudiug JC'i a lish; fourth, not Iush than £2 a
Uuh.

I Salmon UHlirrv act, IH7:i.{

(33) Clork of tho jjoaco oniittin;; to Hend notice of thi' nainoN and iiddroHscN of tho
conHi'i'ViitorH iipixiinlfd liy dilliMunt counties wheio the diHtrict roin|iriHi'H luoic tlian
oni' I'Oiinty to tho clerk of tlic hoard within fouitcon days of tho aiipoinlnicnt. Pen-
alty; I'iiBt olVcuMc, Cl'; Hei'ond, not less than .C- 1()h. ; thiid, not Icmh tlian tlT).

(Ml) Cicik of tlic JuMticcH not Hcnding cortilicato of any conviction ajjaiiiHt tlio
HiiliiKMi liHhory ;icts to tho clciK of tlie hoard of conservatois witliin one month.
I'eniiity : I'irst ollensc!, not cxcetMliuif £2; socond, not U-na than il2 lOs. ; tiiird, not
Itms tli.'in £!>.

(Mo) IShootin;; any draft net for nalinon acrosH a river or acrosH nioro than tliroo-
(|uarterH <pf its « idth within 101) yards of any other draft net nut drawn in and
landeil. I'enalty : I'irst oliense, not exceeding Uo; yeuoud, not less than £2 10s, and
not exceedinj; (JTi; third, not less than £5.

No. r>. — Letter iif I,. I. l'itiernoii, nitoiviiiy cotidithn exintinij on XnhniL liini; Alatktt.

San Francisco, January JS, 1S96.

Deak Sin; iro])e you will ))ardon my tiikiuK this liUerty, sir, hut Mr. .\lo\ander,
tish commissioner for tliis coiist, speaking in refer(>nce to my (tannery site in Alaska,
rci'onunc^nded that 1 write full particuliirs to you perscuially.

Mr. Ale\ancler stated that \w was ahout to leave for WashilifjtcHi and will also luinj;
the matter lieforo you. lie has lieeii on the frround and is i)ersonaily accjuainted with
the whole a Hair.

I have heen to Alaska regularly for the last nine years, and for tho last live years
have heen salting salmon for myself on the west side of Naknek Kiver, Itristol May.

Having hut little money, I was ohliged to start aloue on a snnill siale at lirst and
only put u]) 1.'50 barrels. I did this without ;iny assistance from anyiuni.

The company who allowed me to take passage on their vessel charged jfOOO for tho
round trip. A uuxloriite tignre would have heeu .|2(10.

The next year I packed l.")!) harrels with the assistance of one man and a little help
from the natives.

l"or the third year 1 had a contract made to pay .fTOO for my passage, but at this
time till' Alaska Packers' Association was formed, which, as you no doulit know, is
a comhination of all the Alaska canneries, exci'pting two or tlirce.

I went to them and tindeav iired to obtain a passage, hut they ntused to take me
up and told me that if I could do anything .ihnic to go ahead. This was rather dis-
couraging to me, hut, nothing daunted, I decided to chiirtei' a small schooner, Caldeii
FItne by name, and after many hardships succeeded in coming home with 1,200
harrels. I'hese weie packed with the assistance of 12 men and the natives.

The fourth year 1 chartered the schooner I'rospvr, and with the assistance of 25
men ami the natives ])acke(l 2,000 hariols.

The (iltli year I chartered the schoonoi' Sailor lUtij, and with the assist.ince of 29
men and the luitives ( lune homo with 2,0.50 barrels. This was for the year 1891, hut
1 have not succeeded in selling .ill the salmon as yot, owing to action of the Alaska
Packers' Association.

Knowing that most salting expeditionn linally result in a cannery being put up, it
has been tlieir (lolicy light along to discouiage salting as much as possible, and last
year they made a niastei' stroke by deciding to put up ;i.i much salt salmon as they
could and then sell it for mnidi less than cost. Thoy reduced the price from fS to -fo
per barrel, which, of couise, ruined the profit I had been making each year, liesides,
I am luuible to get rid of the salmon.

Tho only thing left for me to do is to start a small cannery and I am now tn.iking
the nei'essary ])reparations. Hefore coming to this conclusion 1 ajjpoaled to the
.Vlaska Packers' Associaticui and endeavored to sell them my plant, failing which, I
agreed to pay them for the use of their side of the river a good round rental each
year. They also refused this, and in fact 1 have not heen able to come to any under-
standing with them whatever.

They are also making preparations to put up a cannery across the river from me,
and 1 learn from good authority that theii' idea is to put tra])s on my side of the
river also, so that I will be eutirely shut out. The situation is so that without traps
thu lish caii not he caught.

ALASKA INDIJSTBIES.

433

I had my side of the river duly Hiirveyed liiHt Hiiiiiiiier, and what I inirtionlarly
deHJrn and pray for in thsit you ruHtrict tliem t'roiii linliiiig on my nIiIi' of tim liviTuiid
oil tliu liiiid tli.'it I havo hiid Hiirveyeil. Of (luiirHi', my Hurvtty only ^iich down on the
bvticli IIS fur iiH hi^li- water mark, iin<l it tteuniH tome tiiat tliey can bi' ri'Htrioted from
llHhinti on any land in front of my survey, and wliirh i» dry at low water.

I would 1)0 |>erfe(^tly willing to stay on my Hide of the river if they would Htay on
theirs, and tiioy liave the butter Hide. Of I'onrHe, I HJiall bo de|)e;ident entirely for
my living on what I do in thin river, while thoy are a lar^e corporation witii
i<.5,(l<NI,()(X) of (capital, and have (tannery niti^H all over AhiHka, ho tliat any little imon-
venience they niijjht Hutfer by bothering me, or any Hniall loss which they mlj{ht
incur by ho doiu^', wonbl really cut no (inure in their liuHinesH.

If th<!y are allowed to block mo in with tiapH on my siilt^ of the river I hIuiU cer-
tainly be driven to the wall, and not oidy I, but many of the poor uativcH, who
d<>poud upon the work which thoy obtain from nie for their li\ in^.

Kor the laHt three years I have niven them .fl a day ami board. Thoy are also
becoming more civili/e<l each seanon and Hoem more willing to work. It ban been my
policy right along to encourage them in thiH and to teach tlit^m aH much an possible,

Kach year, aa hoou jvh our vohhcI ih sighted out in Bristol Hay, a score or more of
the nati\ CH start rigiit out in canoes and board us many nuloH from our anchorage,
'riufv are alwaya anxious for i)roviNionH, au<l I deal out to them chests of crackers,
clothing, and provisionn, all of which seem to delight them very much.

All I nave made in and out of Alaska I have put in improvements at my cannery
site, and it Heeinn a strange law to me which will allow a huge corporation like the
Alaska I'ackerH' AsHoeiation to down a poor man.

Since (irst starting in Naknek with a very Hinall capital I have certainlj' had uphill
work and a varied experienc<!. It ban been nothing but constant work and trouble.
This will, of course, all count for naught if these people are allowed to crush me, and
my whole i)rospect in life will be Hpcnlcd.

I ap|)eal to you, sir, for protection, and hope you will do all in yonr power to assist
me in seeing that thev keep within the law, and that they do nothing toward their
fellow-men (even if the law can be evaded in so doing) except what is Just.

I know the (•overniueiit likes to protect the nativi'S as much as posHibl(% and if I
am ruined the natives will be injured beyond measure also. In addition to this, all
the men that 1 have been employing eaeh year, and have taken from here, will of
courHo lie out of employment, and if I am succcHsfnl in constructing my cannery and
jirotected in catching fish on the land which I have had surveyed, I will be able to
employ many more than any year before.

1 feel satisfied that with your assistance I can pull through, and this large corpo-
ration can easily be kept within the projier bounds. They have certainly no right
to molest me and have no reason for being Jealous of me, as my cannery is not in
opposition to theirs, for I was in Alaska long before the Alaska Packers' Association
wa« ever thought of.

Would it be convenient for yon to send a steamer by the river before the tishing
season commences, say about middle of .luuef

Am very anxious to hear from you, sir, and hope you will be kind enough to let mo
know what the jirospect is as soon as convenient.

Thanking you in advance and anxiously awaiting your reply, I remain.
Your obedient servant,

L. A. rKi)i-,it.s().\,
7:3S Ilarrinun utrcet.

Col, Mausiiam, MnDoNALu,

United Siatft Commissioner of Fish and Fisheries, Washimjton, P. V.

Karluk, Ala.ska, August ill, 1S94.

STATEMENT OF .MU. AUTIHU L. DLNCAN.

Arthur Tj. Dnncaii, su))erinteudent of the Hume ( 'aiming and Trading Oompany.
Tangleloot Hay, near Karlnk, Kadiak Island. My business is catching and canning
salmon in shore seines drawn from the shore.

On July (I, 18514, we made our first lay out with the purse seine, nnder direction of
Mr. .laines Williams, who was then our boss fisherman (purse seine), and who is now
at San Francisco.

Wo first started to fish below ,Iulia Ford Point, but the Alaska Packers' Associa-
tion did not trouble us below that point. On .Inly 9 we started to lay out our purse
seine, and after we got our line run out this party came (uit from the shore and ,\lr.
Williams jiicked u]i our line and then moved his whole gear, lighter and all. farther
duwu toward the mouth of the river; he did this because he thought they were

H. J^oc. Uli, pt. 2 28

4:m

ALASKA INDUHTUIKS.

coining (lilt to liitorfoii' with )iis luit. l>r(^viol|H to IIiIn a iiotiri> wiih I'oiiikI Hi){iiiiil
" I' i>luti limn of KiirliiU," (MilHJdit oiii' riininT.N , iinili'il to I ho Mii;; poht oiitHJilo ot' my
lloiiHu. 'IIiIh iiotii'i' wiiH lo tho fllcct thni if wo tislicd uithiii the liiiiits of Sovcii
Mill- I'liint Mini Jiilla I'onl I'oiiit, with ii piiiHc Ni-iiii', it woiilil inui't witli tliu Hitme
I'liti' thiit thn triipH iliil used liy IliiiUcr in tlii^ Kiirinlt KiMir. (Mdstfo.vod.)

On tiio Hcroiid o<CiiMioii, whrii Wo wont to hiv out our jiiirHo Ncino, wo worn alioiit
thr(,'o-i|iiiii't('i's of ji iiiilo Iroiii tho inoiith of tho river, iiiid oiir not could not, in any
wiiy liiivo covi-rcd tho inoutii of tho rivor, ;ind thoy run ii not out no tliiit wo roiihl
not rJoMc ill wilhoiit fJ"'"J{ over their not. < >n tliin occiiNion, Mr. WilliiiniH Nhoitonril
nil liis I'll I'll it .'iiid run his net into tho Iiimki', just iiroiiiid tlieir mmiio sUilf, thus coin-
piotinir tho Olio I'irt'iiit. To do this, iiowovor, iio could not m^t tho full net out, hut
only 11 ]i,'ii t of it. Tlion ho niudc a liiiiil, which, of coiii'mo, w.ls N|>oilcd liy not Imiiin
ahio to Kct out his full net. I'lio iiioii |miIIoiI thoir not out, und ciir.sod, iiiid Niiid tlio
lioxt tiiiio thoy would lix mo. Our mrii tlion wont to tho men, and .shcutly iifter-
wardH two Htoiim hiiincliort mid two Heinon eiimo down to whoro the iiiirso seine was
lyiiiK, 'ind every tiiin^ that Mr. Williaius would iiiiike a movo those iiioii would follow
with tho steam launches and seiiios.

Tho next day Mr. Williams said ho would have to overhaul his jjoar and shorten
up his net: if ho wasK<>>'>K to ho molested ho could not work such a lon^ net. .Mioiit
l.liO |i. 111. wo woro ready to start out a);aiu and ^et down to the point (close to tlio
slide), and on jiassiiiK tho Alaska Improvomont Coin|iaiiy's steam launch notiood two
men coiiiiiif,' out from tho shore in a soino hoat, ovideiitly to net up steam, and aftor-
wiirds noticed they wei(> ({ettiiiK up steam in oiio of tho Alaska I'ai'keis' Association
Coin|iaiiy's steam launches which was lyiiiij at hornioorinjj. Ahoiit L'p. in. wost;irtod
to run out a purse seiiio, and in the moantiino ii seine skiff started olf Karluk holonj;-
in;; to tho .Maska I'ackors' Assmiatiou and arrived Just as wo jjot our ]iiii'so soino
haul out ahoiit '2 fathoms to each wintj. <'i'pt. Harry N'ewinan, of tho .Maska I'ack-
ers' Association, was in cli.'irf;o of this hoat, and he ran over our not with his seine
skitV and 1 waini'd him not to do it, and to keoj) away. lie didn't iiotico this anil
was startin;; in to cross tho lino and held up his anchor ovidoiitly with tho intention
of drojipiiiM it inside our net and ^vo called to him not to do it, I > lit he took no notice
of itaud droppod his anchor over into tho middle of our net. Ho then circled around
tho insido of our iii't and I lion crossed over the cork line and thi^n pass, d tho painter
of his seine skilf to one of tho Alaska I'ackiu's' Association Htoaiii laiinchos which
had come down in th(Miieantiuio. Tho steam launch then towed his hoat with his
anchor still do\\ n in our net. I warned him not to do this, hut ho simply jioiuted
to tho soine skilf and to .Newman.

Then anollicr stisim launch came down and )iassed over our not, and then Mr. liar-
liiiK. ot tho .Maska liu)ii'ovoiiicnt Company, came down with a steam launch and had
some dories, 1 think, llo then ]iassed the liui' of his seine skilf to tho other .Maska
Tackors' Association's steam launch which had (lassod over the toji of our net and I
warned him to keep away, luit lio ran ri>;ht through it and jiassod over tho other
side and came to the hack of our linhtor. Then ho caiiio around to tlie front of tho
net whei'c tho Alaska 1 'ackers' Association's steam launch was turn iiifj the seine ski If
with the unchoi' and ho took the line from tho other steam launch and lief;iiii to tow;
tliat is, liarlinf.?'s steam launch Iiej;an to tow tho skilf with the anchor in jilaco of
the other steam launch; then tho other two steam liiiiiiclicH hilched on to liarlinjj's
hiiiiich and iiU three towed. I was in our steam launch, and tinally, after two
attempts, siicicoded in cutting tho line. We then hauled in tho halance of tho purse
seine to the lighter, and tho anclior, which wo found entanglod in the wob of tho
)uirso seine, we throw overhoard, and alter getting the halaiici' of tlie weh wo
started oil' and went down to tho waterfall, which is about 2 miles from the mouth
of till' river, and two of tho other sie.ini launclies followed us with a lisliing gang
and gear. Wo went to see if one of our lishiiig gangs had got any tish and then we
started boiiie. Within a few days after we laiil our purse seine in front of our lan-
iR'iy, but they didn't trouble us any this time. We tislied several times after this
with our purse seine, but we were not troubled in front of our own cannery. Thoy
said wo must ni^t use our purse seine between , Julia I'^ord Point and Seven Milo
I'oiiit. .lulia Ford Point lies just next to our cannery, between it and Harling's.
Seven Mile Point is a jioint about 7 miles north of tho Karluk Kiver. They also
limited us to a mile and a half otfshore. This notice, however, simply applied to
our ])iir8o seine.

Once before this our men had gone over to tho mouth of the river and were about
to start to lay a shore soine, luit Harling informed them as often .is they did this he
would lay another seine witliin theirs and scooji the catch.

Wo have n(!ver used our jiurse seine within tho limits laid down in the notice of
the Karluk tishermen since the disturbance, \\o tish now exclusively with tho shore
seines directly in front of our establishment to tho beach and sometimes down at the
waterfall. We never go to the river at all.

The piirso seiue wo found could not be worked with advantage off tho shore in

l.'i

I

i

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

435

i

front of our cnniiory, ami wd liav<i not uHod it reffnlarly hImco tlie diHtiirliaiK'c, Imt
liavK nia<li< HcviM'al trialH. Oiilmarily in iibIiik our Hliort^ Ht'lncH wr Htiirt willi a lino
ill llridlo Lino, 15 or I'd liithonis ; wo tlirn HoriiBd tlio Hoiiio in a Huuiicircli', according
to tlio way tlio HhU have coino in; w(< then haul it in ou the otLur oidu by luuaiiH of a
donl<<\v oMKino.

I di'siro to lirinw out eKpcrially tho jioint if wo w«ro ("crmittod to uho tlii' piirHc
Noino witliiu tliu liinitH )iroHcribud by tli*i iiotiuo of tlio Karluk liHlnwinon we could do
HO siiccfHsriilly ; lit l<!ast Mr. WilliiuiiH rliiiniH tliiH. I!;irlinn iiotilit-d our biiHM liHlior-
iiiiin on the day wlicn lio thri>aten(t<l to cork our lines nliovo tuiMitionud that any
attfiiipt ou our part to liind a Hlioro not would bo a failiin-.

I'ho ludiiiuH arc in tlio habii of drawing iictH in thu Karluk Kivor and scliiii;,r the
liMli to tho AIiihUii I'lickcrH' AHsociation.

To-day t here uro no oliHtructiouH in tho Karluk Ui visr. The Indians niurcly drag the
scincH in Iho river, in my opinion.

Thuro arc uiuro lish hero thia year than there wore latit, althuugh they were late
in coiiiini;.

Wo have 16,0(M) casps now and hopo to jret L'M,fMK) during tho hchhou, aiiil we ha\o
already ( leiirod our cxpciiMos. Wo shnt down last year Septciuber It!.

Wo JiHh at any time, lojjiirdleHS of title.

Thcru hiiN biM'U iiu undcrstantliii;; that there hIiiiII bo no tishiiig by seine or Other-
wImo from I'riday at li )). ni. to Saturday at 0 \>, m., but all the .auncrs at times have
disicKarded this.

Tho AlaNka Packers' AsHociation liavo four cannories. Two are now in o])eratioii.

Wo have 05 Cliini'su in our omploynn-ut and make our contract with one (Miinanuin
at San Frani'isco. Wo <;iiarant(!e him -5.I>U(I cases and ho Is ]iaid II cents por case
and put up HDD a day, good and merchantable, and l;ici|iier and label them.

All our Chineso are I'ojjistered ex<e|it one, and it is stated in our coiitrnct that ii
they are in>t registered tho contractor is to ])ay the lino. We take them up and
down. They return about SeptcMiibor or Octidicr, after we have linishod our sea '.ou.

Wo lia\ e 31 white men, Swedes and Germans, and uo natives, and have about 110
men in all.

The ( 'hinese feed t heinsolves, mainly on rice and lish.' W'e merely give them quarters
and fuel.

1 think there ought to bo somo limitation at the mouth of the river.

I have worked in a hatchery and know of no reason why we should not succeed
up hero.

Karm'K, Ai.a.ska, AiiijuBt I'l, 1S94.
Thon personally appeared tho within-mentioned Arthur 1,. Duncan and made
oath that the statumeuts heruiu cun'Dained were true, to the best of bis knowledge
and belief.

I'. L. lldOPKK,

Motary Public, Dintrict of Alaska.

REPORT OF JOSEPH MURRAY, SPECIAL TREASURY AGENT, FOR

THE YEAR 1895.

Division op Special Agents,

TrR ASDK / DePARTMKNT,

Wofihinffton, I), C, December HO, 1895.

Sir: I have the honor to report that pursuant to Departiiieut instruc-
tions (late<l A[)ril 4, 1S05, I proceeded to the Pacific Coast and sailed
from (Seattle A])ril 23, on board tlie regular 'nail steamer for Sitka,
wliere 1 arrived May 1 and learned that court was about to be held at
Jui.eau, to which city I inunediately returned for the purpose of looking
after tho interest of the Government, as it might ai)i)ear in the ex- Mar-
shal Porter case, one of whose deputies, Mr. Adolph Myer, was: about
to be tried on charges of forgery, embezzlement, stealing public records,
and several others of like nature.

My written instructions are as follows:

Tkeasuri Dkp/ :tment, Office of mv. Rkcrrtart,

Washington, U. C, April 4, 1895.

Siu ; Yon aro directed to perfect your arruogements witli i view to your departure for
8itk;i, Alaskii. w"^!! as little delay as practicable. It will ue your duty to .iscurtain
and report the locatiou of evury salmon ci.niiery or saltei-j in Alaska; the -.'apacity
of the same iu tasos, barrels, half-baf rt is, and kits ; 1 lie pack in fii i for each Heaaoii :
the nunibtT of boxes of tin ronsunied and the cost of the same j'or box at plice of
purohii.se; the approximate or actual soiling price of the product of each iishery in
the market to which tlie same may be ionsif^neci; the number of omployeca in each
cannery and the totals thereof, segrngatinf; whites, ni'ti' es, Chinese, etc., riale and
feir.alu, adults and minors, and whether citizens or aliens. You should include, also,
in said reports the codfish, herring, hurrinK-oil, guano, and other such industries.
It is desired that yon inveboigate the alleged takiuf; r.tid destruction of the eg^'' "f
Kumo wild fowl in Alaska, iw wcil, also, as to the ailt';,t>,d wanton destruction of game
birds, deer, fox, and other animals, au'' :ilso the advisability of adopting suitable
regulations as to close seasons, in ordui < prevent such destruction in future.

You should visit, ifpossiblt every cf^iu'cry in Alaska, and, when practicable, the
necessary journey Hshiiuld be niadeon ves„,jl8ol the United States. This instruction ia
not to be coiwtrued, however, as forbidding the use of other means of conveyance
when necessary. Von are expected to report to the nearest collector of customs any
infraction of the revenu'j laws which may come to your notice. Von should report,
also, CO the Dopartiiient any violiitiou of the laws relating to the introduction of
firuarm.H or of lifiuors into the Territory of Alaska.

For your information I inclose lierewith copy of the circular dated August 10, 18il2,
pertaining to tht- erection of ('ains, barricades, or other olistructions in the rivers of
Alaska for the pui-pose or result of preventing or ini]' 'ding the ascent of salmon, or
other anadroir.ous species to their spawning .itrounds. It will be your duty to enforce
thejtrovisions of said circular and to warn all persons whf, have erected dams, barri-
cades, or oth(!r obitructioi's to remove the same forthwith, and in default theioof
yon should report the facta, with the proper proofs, to the Duii'^d States attorney for
prosecution.

ion should submit reports to the Department from time to time showing the result
of your work, und at the close of the fishing season von should forwa -d a full report,
covering -iiiid season and staMng the result of your observations undei- tlu^so instruc-
tions. Anv recomincrdations you deem advisable may be embodied in your reports.
Any oflicial communication whici, tl.e Department may find necessary V) address to
you heijalter will be mailed to 8>tka, Alaska. In Ihib connection you are informed
436

I

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

437

that in addition to yonr dtities ap an nftent for the f>alroon fisheries you are to hold
yourself in readiness to make such other investigations or rendor any sorvice wliich
the Department may require of you. If j)racti<;able, yon slioiild at some time dur-
ing the ensuing season visit tlie seal islands of St. Paul mid St. George for the pur-
pose of inspecting the rookeries thereon and of comparing their condition with that
of the season of 1894, with which yon are lauiiliar.

Respectfully, yours, J. Q. Carlisle,

Secretary,
Mr. Joseph Murray,

Special Ayenlfor the Protection of the Salmon Fisheriet,

Fort Colling, Colo.

In addition to the foregoing, I was verbally instructed (time permit-
ting) to attend court during the trial oftiie ex-Marshal Porter case and
to take particular notice of how jury trial was conducted in Alaska,
and to learn what I could from reliable sources about the manufacture
and im])ortation of spirituous lic^uors.

Finding it was as yet too early for salmon fishing and that I could
not find transportation to the nearest cannery for several weeks, and
as 1 was in the midst of the best i)art of Alaska and of its best and
most energetic citizens, where I could ])r<)cure most of the information
asked for in my instructions, I resolved to attend court until tlic arrival
of th > Bering Sea patrol fleet off Sitka, and then continue my journey
to the westward.

During our travels through Alaska in 189-4, Hon. 0. S. Hamlin,
Assistant Secretary of the Treasury, and 1 were informed at every
important point we touched and found white men tliat, " be<'ause of its
nonenforcement, the law is looked upon as a farce," and that '* it is
impossible to find a jury to convict for smuggling or violating the
revenue law," and 1 am sorry to have tx) report that it is only too true.

For three weeks I was present at every session of the court, and in
that time I learned beyond a doubt that not only were juries to be had
Ui return verdicts of "not guilty" in behalf of every violator of (lie
revenue law, but also for any crime, if one only knew the particular
ittorney to employ,

Mr. Adolph Myer had been a deputy for Marshal Porter; had abso-
lute control and personal charge of the marshal's oflice, books, and
Kioney, and for years served his superior faithf'illy and well. Rut
t iider the evil influence of bad and wicked men he was led step by
st^p from one crime to another until forgery and embezzlem-Mit were
reached, and then the end.

When the case was about to come to trial, I was in daily, hourly
communication with the district attorney, whom 1 advised to stand up
for the right against all of the vile methods that might be used against
him, and titat in doing so he would be sui>ported by the Government.
lie said he was afraid of bodily injuiy, of his personal safety; that
unless he could secure the joint seivices o*' a certain attorney whom he
named and wlios^^ strengtii and worth lay in his ])ower to influence
juries, it would be useless to try the case bt fore a jury, for most of the
j'trymen would be [lersonal friends of the iirisoner and many of them
l)articipator8 in liirt crime; that aUhough the prisoner was guilty of
enough crime to k'^ej) him im])rison<'d t\v(>iity yei'rs, if he co'ild not
influence the jury he wouhl be turned loos m»ii a verdict of ''not guilty."

Not ki'owiug how to influence the jury for the purposes indicated,
and being unable to control the district attorney, I was necessarily
ol)li{.'cd to remain a silent spectator of a compromise between tlie parties
int^McsiAd, tiie ternu. of which were that on conditi<,nof the witlidiawal
of the plea ©f "not guilty" and the substitution of the plea of "guilty"

438

ALASKA INOTJSTRIRS.

tlie prisoner would be let off with a small line and light sentence, which
was (lone by the district attorney statiujj; tliat a line of $50 and twenty-
eight mouths' imprisonment would be satisfactory.

As soon as he was sentenced he was taken from his cell to the grand
jury room to testify against his former enii>loyer and superior offi(;er,
ox Marshal Porter, and he actually did testify to Porter's having em-
bezzled or stolen a sum of money from the Government, sent from the
Department of Justice by check, amounting to some $1,120.32, which
amount was part of the money drawn by Deputy Myers from the
Department during tlie temporary absence of the marshal, and for which
he had just been convicted.

And yet, on testimony of that sort-and from such a source, ex- Marshal
Porter was indicted by the grand jury of Alaska for embezzleuient. He
was ap])roached in my presence by tiie district attorney as a friend,
and asked to acknowledge that the Government owed tlie money to the
marshal's office, or to be disgraced in liis old age by an indictment by
the grand jury.

Porter answered that he would die before he would consent to rob
the Government, and the next day he was indicted.

LIQUOB AND SMUGGLING.

Liquor cases were called and disi)ose(l of with the regularity of clock-
work, and always with the same result; the witnesses were IndiiUis and
half-breeds, the prisoner was a white man, and his friends and c^liunis
M'ere in the jurj' box to acquit him.

"Can you render a verdict according to the law and testimony," said
Mie judge to a man who was being sworn as a juror. "I can," said the
fellow, "unless the testimony is that of an Indian."

The testimony of Indians is not ralued in Juneau, although many of
them are brought in here as witnesses, and supported at the expense of
the Government.

Within sight of the court-house were 30 public saloons open and
doing a public business, some of the more pretentious ones keejnng
ojien house all night, and there was not a Government oflicer in Juneau
who could be found to interfere with them.

On one technicality or another it seems tho laws are not sufficiently
explicit to make it the plain duty of any particxxlar otticer to raid a
saloon without the cooperation of other officers, who are, as a rule, not
on hand when wanted.

Speaking to a customs officer at June.au, I said, "How on earth do
you account for the existence of so many saloons in Juneau, and many
larger ones in course of erection, if yon men do your duty f " To which
he rejilied, "Mr. Murray, I know you are justified in asking such a
question, but you do not know anything about the real situation l.ere
or you would not blame me personally. When I first came here 1 was
zealous and watchful, and I raided a smuggler's den and captured
some 10 barrels of liquor, but what was the result? The district attor-
ney came into court and moved to have that smuggler discharged on
paying a fine of $50."

Meeting the district attorney, I asked him for bis side of the story,
and he said, " Yes, I did let the fellow go on a small fine, for I found
that because he was not in the inner circle of smugglers and vendors
he had been selected aa a victim and his whisky seized, taken to the
custom-house, and sold at private sale to one of the inner ring for less
than one third its real value."

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

43!)

And BO the story continued to the end of the chapter; one officer
wilhng to hiy all the blame on the other, while between them the inter-
ests of the Government are left to suifer, and the law, that was intended
to do good, becjoine a subject of derision and contem]it.

At Juneau many inliuential professional and business men — whose
names can be given if necessary — expressed tluimselves to me in sub-
stance as follows: "There are 30 saloons here doing an open, public
business, and the governor is being very badly deceived by men high
in public affairs who are all more or less financially interested in the
licpior business. We favor the fearless enfon^enient of the law or its
unconditional re[)eal. We think that the true solution of the liquor
question in Alaska is high license — say $1,000 in Sitka and Juneau and
in proportion in smaller jjlaces."

One of the most prominent attorneys at the Juneau bar said : " I
have faith in the future of Alaska, and I tiiink I can give some reliable
information about the country an<l its needs, 1 believe the Govern-
ment is to blame because, ^'or ten or twelve years, no effort has been
made to enforce the law, until now the average man has no idea of
having any law enforced. Courts, juries, and lawyers are looked u])on
with contempt. Juries can not be (bund iiere, even among our best peo-
ple, to convict for smuggling or violating the revenue laws. Perjury
is common; and I should advise tlie taking away the jury system of
trial in cases where the excise laws are in question. I would say that
all petty cases should be tried without a jury. Everything here— cost,
distance, and sparse settlement — is against it. The whole system needs
an overhauling. Things are done in such a slipshod manner that (gov-
ernment interests are neglected and the weak attempts made to uphold
the law are a complete farce. No serious attempt has been made to
enforce the li(iuor law, and liquor is sold here publicly. Charge $1,000
for license iuid then enforce the law. Had 1 the power to do it, I would
enforce the law at any cost; for, as now carried on, we are teaching the
rising generation to utterly disregard all law, and they are growing up
to be our dangerous classes."

The foregoing are sample conversations with the best people in
Alaska, and I could (juote scores of them were it necessary.

Complaint was matle on all sides by men of that large class who are
too poor to i)urchase '.'ouor in large quantities and are not inliuential
enough to get permits from the customs authorities to bring it in on the
mail steamer. That only a few favored ones — mostly licpior dealers —
were allowed this privilege seemed to be a source of much indignation.

Exhibit marked B, handed me by the district attorney, shows the
quantity of liquor that entered by i)erniit from January 1, 1894, to
March 10, 1895 — fourteen months; during which time ])ermits were
issued to 34 persons to bring in several hundred barrels of distilled and
malt liquors.

It seemed that the necessity to obtain a ])ermit had ceased to exist
when 1 was in Juneau in May, lor rei)resentative siilcsnieu for whole-
sale liquor houses at San Francisco, Seattle, "'xl Portland were offer-
ing to deliver the liquor into the sah)ons at Juneau betVue they would
ask i)ay.

This, in brief, is a true outline of the liquor question in Alaska, nor
can it be remedied unless the Government goes to work to cnt'orce or
repeal the present prohibitory law relating to the liquor trani(5 in the
Territory.

So long as the Govornment does not own or control a boat of any sort
in a stretcli of country 1,D00 miles long, where the oidy road is a water-

440

ALASKA INDUSTRIES,

way — so longr as Government officers are compelled, because of lack of
boat service, to staud helpless on shore while the smuggler plies his
illegitimate trade beneath their very eyes, so long will the present state
of affairs continue to curse Alaska and to be a disgrace to our whole
country.

While at Juneau in May 1 was informed of an attempt that was about
to be made to land a cargo of liquor destined for the Yukon Valley
trade, and one of the most energetic inspectors in Alaska was on the
watch to capture it if possible. He did not succeed, however, for by
the time he secured a boat to transport him to the rendezvous of the
smugglers he found he was twenty-four hours late. Speaking of the affair
afterwards he said to me: "If I only had a boat that was always at
my disposal I think I could break up a great deal of this smuggling;
but, hampered as I am now, I am powerless, for no sooner do 1 hire a
boat to go anywhere than the signal flies over the district. It will
require the presence of a revenue cutter and half a dozen steam launches
to kill off smuggling in Alaska." Every word of which I indorse.

The peculia'" conditions surrounding the Alaskan liquor question
have not been taken into account by many men of extreme views who
have written or spoken on the subject; indeed, I question if they ever
understood it. The truth is that if there is a climate under the sun
where liquor is a necessity to man that climate is in Alaska, and con-
sequently white men demand and must have it at any cost and in spite
of all obstacles.

This is the reason we find 99 per cent, of the white i)opulation bitterly
opposed to the present prohibitory law. This is why no officer can be
found to attempt to enforce the law or a jury to uphold it. And where
public sentiment and public opinion are so plainly against a law, no
matter how well intentioned or good in itself, it is wise to heed the sign
and amend or repeal it. During a conversation with the assistsint dis-
trict attorney, Mr. Hoggert, on this subject he said: "During the past
four years $148,000 were spent in Alaska on cases of Indians and half-
breeds who had gotten drunk or had peddled whisky without any lasting
or definite results. Had we had a high license durin » that time we could
have saved that expense to the Government and collected revenue
enough to make the Territory self-supporting."

DESTRUCTION OF GAME-FOWL EGOS.

The stories told of the wanton destruction and the systematic steal-
ing of wild game-fowl eggs have no foundation in fact.

I have traveled over thousands of miles of the coast line of Alaska,
making diligent inquiry into this matter, without finding one person
who knew anything about it. I have conversed with men who spent
twenty to thirty years in the interior of Alaska, mining, hunting, and
trading, men who had gone over every mile of habitable land in the
Territory, without ever liearing of such a thing until I asked them. I
have written to traders whose business takes them t;Othe Upper Yukon
country, far into the British possessions, men who travel from the
source ti) the mouth of the great river; I have written to missionaries
whose labors call them into all the native settlements on the Yukon,
Kuskoquim, and other rivers, and the unvarying reply is, " We never
heard anything about such things."

As a matter of fact, it is not yet known for certain where the wild
fowl lay their eggs. They certainly find some island, marsh, morass,
swamp, or tundra where man can not penetrate, or, at all events, where

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

441

be has not as yet goue nor is likely to go until the inducement is some-
thing of far more value than wild-fowl eggs.

DE8TEU0TI0N OP DEEE.

The destruction of deer in southeastern Alaska and in all the tim-
bered i)oiti(>n of the Territory from Cape Fox to Port Moller, a distance
of, say, 1,200 to 1,500 miles, is carried to such excess that it would
hardly be credited in a civilized community.

1 saw bales of the dried deerskins at many of the trading posts await-
ing shipment, and when I asked what use had been made of the carcasses,
I was told the deer were shot for their hides only.

I was informed by many men — oflQcers and citizens — tiiat, as the
weather became warmer in the early spring, the smell from decaying
deer carcasses became horribly oflFensive around the towns and villages.
White men go out and kill the animals for fun, just to see who can
knock down most in a given time. The natives kill them, because they
can get a drink of whisky, valued at 25 cents, for every skin secured.

That such things have been allowed to continue at any time is to be
deeply regretted; but that it is still allowed to continue after the
natives on the seal islands have become a burden on tlie Government,
and other tribes to the northward soon will be because of the wanton
waste of their natural food supply on land and water, passes the com-
prehension of every sensible citizen who understands the present
situation.

To the northward we are endeavoring to procure and foster the rein-
deer for a future food sujiply for the natives of that burren rej;iou, and
it is a very laudable enterprise; but at the same time we allow the
continued wanton destruction of the deer that covers the wliole tim-
bered part of Alaskiv — an empire as large as Texas. In the winter,
when the snow is deepest and the animals can not make a way through
the dense undergrowth beneath the timber, the so-called sportsmen as-
semble, and with dogs drive them out on the seashore, wiiose beaches
are kept clean by the tides, where riflemen are ready, stationed in boats
offshore, to begin the manly sport of shooting down lielpless Ci matures,
who can neither resist nor escajje.

The following letter from an eyewitness explains itself:

Steamer Albatross, Unalaskn, August g8, 1895.

My Drar Sir: I have not been able to unoarth the notes I had on deer killing in
Alaska. Urielly, their 8]aught«r lias been very great. I)iirin<; the winter of 1894 deor
wore killed and wasted in HoutheaHtern Alaska. Snow was unusually deep and the deer
were forced to the Ijcaehes, which were left clear by the tides. Shooting wa« done
from boats and canoes by both whites and Indians. I know of three Indians killing
175 deer from canoes in two days. Many whites shot for hides alone, and at many
places hides could be boup;ht for 35 cents each. I do nut think that Indians should
i>e prevented from shooting all kinds of game for their own needs, but killing for
hides alone is certainly reprehensible, and if the rate of slaughter that has been
•ioing on for the past few years is continued, there will bo very few deer left.

As the hides are of comparatively little value, their exjjortution might be stopped
w'thout causing any serious hardship to anyone, and of course when the hides become
unsalable, the Indians will not kill many more than they need.

I have never heard of any destruction of birds or birds' eggs and can not imagine
how there could be any remarkable waste of that nature, although I am familiar
with the natural history of a considerable portion of the Territory.
Very truly, yours

C. H. TOWNSEND.

Col. JosEi'ii Murray.

<r

442

ALASKA INDUSTUIES.

FOXES.

After we pass the timber belt to the westward we find but very little
.-Tfaiue, the only valuable land animal on the Aleutian chain of islands
being the fox, whi(;h until recently was a source of income to then.ativcs,
who spent the greater part of the winter hunting and trapping the
animal.

All that has been said about the wanton destruction of deer can be
said with equal truth about the wholesale poisoning by wliicli wliole
islands are stripped of their foxes in one winter, and the native liunter
and his children left to starve. So systematically is the work done and
80 desperate are the gang engaged in it that those who know tliem best
are very careful to say least about them.

Members of the gang are to be found wherever there is money to be
made suddenly by illegitimate means. In the fishing season tiiey dam
the streams, capture the salmon by the quantity, and sell them to tlie
nearest cannery for what they will bring. Tiiey never take the trouble
to tear down the dams. They are to be found in schooners in the early
spring hunting the sea otter in forbidden waters. Tliey go to Bering
Sea after seals, and last season some of them made a successful raid on
a trading post and robbed it of some 15 or 20 tine sea-otter skins, valued
at $7,000 to $10,000.

Generally they wind up the year's plunder by selecting a grou]) of
islands, where they spend the winter poisoning foxes and securing the
pelts. Tliese are the men who are armed to the teeth with the best
modern breech-loading arms; men who own swift-sailing schooners, in
which they carry cargoes of whisky from British Columbia, and, follow-
ing the Alaskan coast and Indian settlements, peddle it out to natives
for whatever skins and trinkets they may have to spare, and having
made them drunk, they slip in and rob them of everything.

jS^o effort has ever been made to break up their nefarious business,
and now they swagger into court as though the Government were an
intruder, and listen awhile to the proceedings; just long enough to
assure themselves that their tools at the bar and in the jury box are
doing their duty — to the gang.

The perpetual presence of a revenue cutter that would patrol the
inner waters of Alaska from Cape Fox to Chilcat and Sitka, aided by
armed steam launches stationed at convenient points along the route,
is the only practical method that 1 know of by which the present dan-
gerous bands of outlaws can be suppressed.

With boats at his disposal whenever needed, the marshal could
enforce the law, the collector could follow the sjnngglers to their ren-
dezvous and break up the wliole business at one blow. As it is now,
all the oflicers in Alaska are utterly powerless to do anything, and the
consequence is the laws arc defied and derided and si)at upon.

THE SEA OTTER.

The most valuable of all the fur-bearing animals in Alaskan waters
and the most widely distributed is undoubtedly the sea otter, wliicli, if
pro])erly protected by the Government, is (!apable of giving profitable
em))loynient to the native hunters for all time.

Beginning at Sitka they were to l)e Ibuud till very recently all around
the coast and Ahuitian Islands as far westward as Atton, a distance
of nearly 5,000 miles; but now, after a few years of hunting by the

I

ALASKA 1NDUSTKIE8.

448

modem methods of steamers and steam launches, they are seldom found
outside a few favorably secluded spots. The steamer and the steam
launch carry crews of white hunters into every nook and cranny on the
coast and otter-hunting grounds where an animal is to be found, and
every one of them is either killed or chased away from home — chased
out to sea in many instances, where, if they happen to elude the hunter,
tiiey (lie of starvation, for they can not go down for food in deep water.

None but native hunters should be permitted to hunt sea otter,
be(!iiiise it is almost the only support of all the native people from
Cooks Inlet to Attou Island, aud, if left to them exclusively, their simple
methods of hunting on the water in skin boats, in which they dare not
vcnttire far from land, can not possibly drive the animal away from its
customary haunts nor exterminate it.

1 include in the term native hunters all wliites who were married to
Indian women prior to 1893, when the ruling was changed. The orig-
inal ruling of the Department, made some twenty years ago, remained
ill force until 1893, and in the meantime many white hunters married
native women, made homes, and raised families, and became natives oj
Alaska to all intents and purposes.

All their earthly possessions are invested in sea-otter hunting prop-
erty, their families have been brought up to tliat business exclusively,
the men themselves have made it tiieir life work, and are now too old
to cliaiige or to go away from home to attempt to make a living at any
other business, and therefore it would be an act of gross injustice to
disturb them at this late day. With the white man who married a
native woman after the Dei)artmeut had given fair warning that he
would not be given the riglits of a native hunter the case is altoget'jer
did'erent, and in his case the ruling of the Department ought to stand.
Tiie fartlier away from the native settlements the average Alaskan
white hunter can be kept the better for the natives.

FUR SEALS.

Sailing from Sitka June 2, on board the U. S. revenue cutter RmsJi,
Capt. C. L. Hooper commanding, I landed at St. George June 18, where
1 learned that the preceding winter had been one of unusual severity,
that ice had lain around the island until June 15, and that, up to tlie
date of my landing, very few female seals had appeared upon the
rookeries.

The same story was repeated on St. Paul Island, where I spent the
I'.ttli and liOth of June visiting the principal rookeries and hauling
giouiids, after which I sailed away and visited many of the native set-
tlements along the Aleutian chain, particulars of which will be given
in my report on the condition of the native tribes.

1 returned to the seal islands early in July and sjient the 6th, 7tli,
and Hth on the rookeries observing their daily growth and expansion,
as the cows were now arriving and the hiirems were well delined and
the pups becoming numerous.

Heing well aware of the fact, however, that it is not till about July
20 the rookeries are full for the season, I continued to follow the instruc-
tions which called me to other tields until July 18, when I returned to
the seal islaTids, where, all being ready, I entered on the most careful
and thorough inspection of the rookeries ever made by me. The result
is siiown in the inclosed table marked Exhibit A.

Heginning at St. Paul Islaiul July 21, and completing the work at St.
CJeorge August 14, I walked over the several rookeries and counted

444

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

every individual breeding male or bull seal who had a harem, noting
and counting very carefully, t-oo, every idle bnll, or, in other words,
every bull whose youth, strength, and vigor fitted and »|iialiti('d liini tor
a harem had there been cows to be found in suflicient numbers to sni)-
ply them, which, unfortunately, there were not. So carofully and so sys-
tematically was the counting done that I feel I can recommend the
figures as being as nearly correct and reliable as it is ])0S8ible to get
them.

Under the head of bachelors, or young males, are included all the
seals on the islands other tlian those on the breeding rookeries, many
of them being young females, too young to go on to the breeding
grounds.

The bachelors have been estimated by me in the usual manner of
estimating a bunch of seals, and they may very possibly run a thousand
or two more or less than the figures given.

The number of l)reeding females or cows is based on an arbitrary
average of 40 to tlie harem, or 40 cows to every breeding bull, as was
adopted in and followed since 1891, though I am of the oj)inion it was
an overestimate and that the harems never did and do not now contain
an average of 40 cows each.

Having adoi)ted that number, however, and having used it so long
in our estimates, it was necessary to use it in the present instance for
tlie sake of making fair comparisons when considering the steady
annual decrease of tlie seal herd and the shrinkage of the rookery area.

Admitting the average number of cows in a harem to be less than
40 — and 1 believe all who know anything about seal life ou the rook-
eries will admit it is — then the total number of seals in the herd, as
estimated by me, will be that much less in projiortion.

By way of explanation I will say that when we first attempted to
count the bulls, in 1891, for the pnrjmse of getting, approximately, at
the number of seals on the islands, it was deemed best to run the risk
of overestimating the herds ast Great Britain should object to our
figures and insist on arecouiujng and, i)ossil)ly, discover an error upon
w^Iich to base an argument against us for the purpose of showing our
anxiety to prove the wicked wastefulness of pelagic scaling.

As the seals were at that time too numerous and the harems too com-
pact to admit of our going through and among them as we can now, we
simply aimed to count every bull we could see and nuiltiply the num-
ber found by two, on tlie ground that it was not jxissible to penetrate
the mass far enough to see more than one-half of them.

And, lest that was not enough, we allowed an average of 40 cows to
each harem, although we were quite certain it was too high.

I have gone over the rookeries every year, in season, since 1891, and
I have noted the steady decrease of the herd from 500,000 then to
237,800 in 1895, when, because of the decrease, 1 was able to go in
among the herd at the height of the season and count every bull on the
islands.

Whether we erred in our estimates in our first crude efforts to get at
the facts is of no consetjuence now, for the fact remains tliat, no matter
what the actual numbers were in 18!»1, more than one-half of the whole
herd has been exterminated since then.

Taking it for granted that the estimates were wrong, the proportion
is still correct for all piaittical ])urj)oses, so that if we take the 500,000
of 1891 against the 237,800 of 1895, we find an average annual decrease
of 52,440 for the five years beginning with 1891 and ending with 1895.

That the average annual loss has been greater than this can be

I

I

we

ALASKA INDUHTUIKS, 445

demonstrated from the statiHtiuB on file in the Depiirtment which show
a pelagic catch of Ahiskan seals to have been as follows:

1891 45,491

1892 40, t>42

1893 28,613

1894 55,668

1895 (ostinmtod) 40,000

Total for live years 216,804

to which I add (10 per cent for the loss of ])up8 that died on tlie rookeries
because of the killing of their (laiiis at sea during the nursing season.

I base the i)r()porti(m of pups on what I witnessed this year in Bering
Sea, whore tiui logs kept by the sealers showed a killing of (JO per cent
females for the season: 210,864 plus 00 percent ecjuals 340,9Hli seals
taken or destroyed in five years by pelagic sealers who pay nothing
whatever for the care of the animals.

I have estimated 40,000 as the catch for 1895. I left Bering Sea Se])-
teniber 18, when 31,210 seals had been taken by pelagic sealers, of which
numl)er lS,S68or 00 per cent were females as ])er the logs of the several
vessels. These females were nursing mothers in milk, whose young
were left upon the rookeries while they went out to sea for food an(l
rest, instead of which they met the ])elagic sealer who, according to law,
killed them and carried oft" their skins and left their hel|)less young to
bleat themselves to death upcm the rookeries.

In a former report I pointed out the absurdity of the regulations that
would protect the I'emale seals from the i)elagic sealer during the
months of May, June, aiul July, most of which time they ai'c on the
islands and beyond his reach, and that would give him a dear and
free field in August, as soon as the mother seal takes to the water
in search of much needed food and rest and when, above all otlnu- times,
she needs protection.

The taking of ,31,000 seals in the month of August, 1805, proves the
correctness of my position, and renders it needless to dwell upon the
absurdity of the position the mition has been placed in by the present
sealing regulations.

1 therefore most res])ectfully call the attention of the Department to
the five suggestions made by nu^ in my rejtort of last year, the adop-
tion of which 1 believe will forever settle the seal question.

SALMON.

Owing to a lack of traveling facilities to the several canneries during
the fishing season, and to the fact that the whole revenue deet of the
Pacific (3oast had to do duty in Bering Sea, 1 found it impossible to
visit many of the canneries beyond Karluk, where I found that one of
the rival establishments had sold out to the Alaska Packers' Associa-
tion and quit the business, thus leaving only two principal competitors
on the river — the Alaska Improvement Company and the Alaska Pack-
ers' Association.

Much crimination and recrimination were indulged in on both sides
as each endeavored to show it was the other one who violated the law,
and a string of complaints was presented by the Indians similar to
those presented by the same party in 1804, and of which 1 treated in
my report for that year.

I fouTul the fishermen with their nets in the narrowest part of the
Karluk liiver, ana so systematically do they work the nets that I could

446

ALASKA INDIISTRIKS.

not see how it was possible for n fish to ever pass them to the spawn-
injj srouiids,

IJciiioiistnitiug with the foioinaii aboatsuch flagrant violation of tiie
law mid of his own [iromise, made in 18i)4, that, su(;h methods should
not 1)0 continiu'd, hv, replied: "i was sent here to take fish; my orders
are to take them wherever I can find them, and 1 am yoinfj; to obey my
orders."

lie afterwards exphiined to me how, during the storms when tiie
water is too rough to allow the sprending of nets, enough salmon pass
into and up the river to supply twice the <|uantity of spawn required
for i)eri»etuating the stock.

His rival across the river indorsed him in all this, but added: "As
soon as the storm ceases the (isliernien follow tlie salmon upstream to
the i)laygronnd and ca[»ture every ono of them."'

Exiiibit II, which accompanies thi itort, is a copy of a bill which I
would like to see become law, for I beiifve it would, if enforced, put an
end to the present wasteful methods of salmon slaughter in Alaska
without doing injury to any honestly conducted enterprise in the
Territory.

Exliihit C is a detailed statement of the salmon jiack in Alaska for
18!)r), sliowing the number of fisii taken, the nuiiilier of cases put up,
and the numberof men — white, native, and (Jhinese — employed ; also the
cost of the tin consumed in the business, the amount invested in each
plant owned by the Alaska Packers' Association, and other data as per
instructions. The only item of prime interest I have been unable to
secure is the selling price of the product of each cannery in the market
tr which it is consigned.

Through the kindness and courtesy of the Alaska Packers' Associ-
ation 1 have learned that the average selling price in San Francisco,
where the greater bulk of the whole pa(;k is sold, is as follows: Silver
salmon, 82 cents per dozen; red salmon, Dli.^ cents [ler dozen; king
salmon, 92J cents per dozen, and barrels of ^(U) pounds net, $ t.75.

Considering that only very few silver salmon are taken and packed,
it is safe to say that the whole luunber of cases i»utup in l.S!)5 averaged
$3.60 per case, or a sum equal to $2,220,7(14.40, which, added to the
price of 16,857 barrels at $4.75, makes a grand total of $2,:j20,9C8 as
the price realized on Alaskan salmon in 18%.

Exhibit F is a sununary of the salmon pack of the Pacific Coast and
Alaska for 1895, showing a grand total of 2,040,01 (> cases of 48 pounds
each, the largest yearly catch on record. An examination of the figures
shows that about one third of this catch was taken from the streams of
Alaska.

That adequate protection should be given to these streams by which
the salmon may be pei})etuated indefinitely goes without saying, and
yet i find it the hardest part of all to make men believe there is any
danger in the present methods of fishing.

That I might not be accused of setting my own individual opinion
against men of practical experience, 1 addressed letters of inquiry to
many gentlemen who are decidy interested in Alaska, whose homes
are there, and who have everything at stake in the success or failure
of the Territory.

To Mr. William Duncan (Father Duncan), of Metlakahtla, I sent a
series of questions which I reijuested should be submitted to his peo-
ple for consideration and the answers given to me when I called at the

' The |)l;iyKroini<l is that part of tiie streiiiu where the salt and fresh waters meet
and iningh', in which tlie salmon prefer to live for s(i\ oral weeks before spawning.

■ff

\

I

ALASKA INDUSTRIKS.

447

st'ttlciiiPTit in the fall. As I did not have the oppoitunity to return by
tliat rout(\ I could not c»II at Metlakiihthi as I intended, ho Mr. Dun-
can very kindly sent nie the following letter:

Mktlakaiiixa, Alaska, October 15, ISOH.

My l>KAU Mu. Muhhay: Your letter dated tJiiiiluska, Septonibor 11, ouly rutichod
NIP tlii^ liittf^r ]iurt of liitit woek. It liad tx'rii dutaiiicd at Kituliociin over iv week
tliioiifili tlio IiK'k ofcourtt'Hy of the postmaHtcr tIiiT«.

1)11 my lUTival llOIlll^ last Slay, after the plouHaiit trip in your cotiipany to Sitka, I
iMllt^d a iiieutin^ of our iicople and propouniled to them th(i at^veral knotty (|U0Hti(in8
von hnil Hii)rf{(>.st<'d for our ('onHideratioii. 1/aHt ni;^ht we held another nuMitiug, to a
iiih< hour, on the same hnNJiieNS, and I waa much pleased with the aeuHible way the
iiMtiveH took part in the iliHOUHHion.

(^iKwtion 1. " How to HecMire poHHc.sHion of Anniitte Island to our people and toHiich
oilier Indi^inn hh may Join them from aurrouuding bands, whether by individnal or
counimnily title."

Our anawer to this (gnention is a nnanimons voire in favor of a community title,
and the town (touncil Ixung emjiowered to grant allotments of land for legitimate
pur))ost'H to individual - aH rircMuiHtanocH may arise calling for such action.

|{y thirt plan the ]iveNent unity and regulations in the community could be pre-
.scrved, whereas if individual titles of KiO acres were granted liy the Government,
the holder of each allotment being thus independent of the community, conllictiug
intercHts might reHull in a rui)tiire which would he very prejudicial to the character
and ])rogn!HB of the settlement.

Quest ion 2. "How can the ri^^hts of the natives to the salmon streams be best
Heiur(>(l and maintained ?"

Our answer is, that, pending the Indians arriving at full American citizenship and
responsibility, the (iovcrumcnt might proclaim all salmon streams Indian reserva-
tions or Government property, and only allow tishiiig in them to proper persons and
under proper regulations.

Such a law would prevent canning companies from taking exclusive control of the
salmon streams, and might be made an important factor for bettering the condition
of tlic natives.

At i)re.seut Alaska is in danger of losing one of its greatest food supplies, through
cannery operations. Tlio Indians are born Ushermen, and being permanent residents
of the country fishing should, to a great extent, be in their hands, not as employees
only, but as vendors of the salmon to the canneries.

(Question 3. "How best to jirescrve salmon life in Alaska f "

Our answer to question 2 partly applies as answer to this. I will, however,
^numerate our views:

(1) Let the salmon streams be declared Government property, and the fishing in
them be absolutely controlled under Government regulations and by Government
agents.

(2) Only permit a certain number of salmon to be taken from each stream, the
number biding decided by the capacity of the stream.

(3) Allow no modern barricades to l)e used in the streams, and even the simple ones
which Iiave always been used by the natives ought to be removed on .Saturdays in
each week.

(4) A limit should be placed to the pack of each cannery. I think 20,000 cases
should be the limit. If, however, canneries can keej) on increasing their pack and
extending their time each year, as at present, lower salmoi' each season will be left
for reproduction.

(5) No cannery should be .allowed to work on Sunday, and if fishing was forbidden
after noon on Saturday till midnight Sunday of each week Sunday labor would
cease. We strictly keep to this rule at Metlakalitla.

Question 4. " How bet.t to suppress liquor traliic ? "

(1) Our answer is, give the present liquor law a fair trial, and to that end every
liquor saloon in Alaska should be suppressed and every dro[. of li(nior now in it
should be destroyed.

(2) Any person found smuggling or selling liquor in Alaska should bo fined and
imprisoned.

(3) Do away with the Juries at the trial of li(iuor cases. Let the Judges or com-
missioners appointed by the Government decide, upon certain given evidence, on the
guilt of the persons arrested for offenses against the liquor law and an appeal
allowed only to the supreme district court.

(1) Let every person found intoxicated be imprisoned, and in the case of natives
the sentence to be commuted if the prisoner will give information leading to the
conviction of the person or persons who supplied him with the liquors that intoxi-
cated him.

148

ALASKA INDl'STRIl'.fl.

(6) Let evtiry iiifiiriiinr iiKiiinNt ottendon in liquor caoeH (if hin ovidenco londH to a
<'onvii!tioii) bH rowardixl l>y reoiiiviuK a part of the line iiiipoHtMl on tlio t n'tnidrr.

(6) Let itvcry cniniiilHHioiior in AlaHka be inHtruutud to swoiir in a ^ootlly niinilntr
of H))ucia] |>o]ii'e, witliout nalary, uHtiecially anion|{ tlie nativns, and let theae be
ennoiiraKed to aHNJHt in vitiryinx out tliia law.

C^ueHtFuu 5. " Hhonid absohite title to land in Alaska be gi\oa to cannery corpo-
rations f"

Our answer to this is, wo think that title to the laud on which they have idaced
oaiinorieH Hhnuhl be K>ven, but not to lands used only an liMhin^ HtatiouH.
' (jouBtion <i. "Ah to the (rrantin)]; of titles to land to whites in Kuucral."

Wo tliink that .juHt ho long as the Oovitrnnient refuseH lo ^ive titlcH to land in
Alaska the coiiiitry will be overrun with an irrimponHible tloating popiilalldu.
Owinj; to the characteristics of the lountry this will be true, to a lar^e exlriit, in
any event; but tlie ownership of ])roperty would have a tendency to locate houiu
peruiuneut roHideuts.

(Question 7. "iShould the exportation of lumber from AlaHka be allowe<IT"

We think that until the country Ih more settled up the law forbidding the expor>
tation of lumber, which now cxiHts, should remain in force.

Question H "Indian citizenship."

We think that queHtion had better be delayed. No doubt there are some natives
ripe for tiie |)ositiou, but the mivss are not ho. Let the missionary and school teacher
continue their work till the goal be reached.
Yours, very respectfully,

W. Duncan.

Hon, .loMiu'ii MunuAY,

Fori Colliui, Colo,

I resjiectfully ask particular attention of the Department to this letter
of Mr. Duncan, for 1 believe that the adoption of many of his sugf^es-
tions would be a full and satisfactory solution of the many knotty i)rob-
lems at present perplexing all who feel a worthy and laudable interest
in the present good and future welfare of Alaska.

Another and an entirely different phase of the salmon question was
broufjlit to my attention by Mr, John O. Callbreath, of Fort Wrangell,
who has been endeavoring, single-handed, to introduce and propagate
salmon in streams where they did not exist, or from which they had
been driven before. I promised him in the spring that I would visit his
hatchery in the fall during my stay in the vicinity, but I did not get an
oi)])ortunity to return that way.

The following letter was written afterwards by Mr. Callbreath and
deserves careful consideration. Particular attention is called to that
portion of it treating of special "property rights to the producer for all
fish in excess of the natural product of the stream."

What Mr. Callbreath wants is assurance that after he has success*
fully stocked a stream with salmon, where none or but very lew existed
before, lie will be given rights in the fish as against all other claimants
who might desire to establish canneries on the stream. But here is his
letter to speak for itself:

Seattlk, Wash., December 10, 1895.

Dkar Sill: I refjrot my inability to have forwarded you an account of salmon
hatchery at au earlier day. Husiness iu the interior, from which point there was uo
moans of communication, detained mo until late iu the fall. I have, however, a trusted
suporiuteiideut trained under my own care, who has made a complete success up to
November 1. I shall return soou and'^ive the busiiioss my personal attention until
the young fry are out and placed in their respective preserves.

My process of hiitching is the same as tha' followed by the (iovernment hatcheries
at Clackanuis, in the State of Oregon, and ueed not be described here.

My hatchery is situated on the western side of Etholine Island, on a lake discharg-
ing throuj^h a small stream, a mere brook, into McIIenry Inlet — and producing from
3,000 to 5,000 sukkesh {Oncorhynclms nerka) saiuion, au amount too insignilicant to
be iished by the cauuers or salters — and known among the Indians and tlshernien as
a " cuttus chuck," or worthless stream. The lake on which my hatchery is located is
about three-fourths of a mile from tide water and contain.^ about .")00 acres.

I have built <\ dam 8 feet high across the creek a few yards above tide water, over
which no tish unaided can pass. When the sukkesh start to ascend the stream for

ALASKA INDHBTRIKS

449

H]iiiwiiiii^, Uicy uii' iiiipoiiiiih'il ill 11 li'ii)) liiildw Ihd iluiii, |ii('k< (I nii with n ili|i nin, iiiid

inufriilly pliK't'd iilidvc tlm diiiii, I'roiii wlionctt tliev (|iii(;kl.v indcet'd up tn tliri lake,

wlicrt) tlu'.v llo ill tlio Htill, dfi'|( \vuti:r until ripr lor spawuiiif,', a ))cri(id i>l' rioiii two

to Hix wi'fk.M. I'licy llu'u taku to I ho BinuilrlfUi' MtrcanisiuiiuiiiK into tlu' liiKc, whi'ro

gj timy ari) iinaiu iiiipoiiudcd liy iikmiih td' a widr and trap, niul aro Htiippiil of thi'Ir

J^ •'KK'*- 'riitM'j{j,'Haii! I lien l'ertili/t;d l),\ Htiipidnn tiif lualc o\ cr Hu^ui, plaicd in liaskuls,

,.i luul not in tiiiii/,'11.4 in tlm way nsnal in all ImtiliuricH. A pcculiarily alioiit ihisclaNH

Ji ol' Halnion, tlir iiiuvrhiiiuliiiH imka, is tliat tlioy will not fi'ci|Urnt a stri-'ani uiiIcsh it

lia.s a lake wlit ro tlicy can lii' mid lipi'ii licloit' Npawiiing, alllionuli tliry ui'vcr Hpawii

in tliolakc; all tliiuitlicr spnii s ol" Alankan Halinon rrniucnt tlitKihcains whiio tlioy

fan olitiiin Mpawninj; j^nnind imlisci imiuiitely wliellior llicy liavo lakes or mil.

My object in diiiiiininn my Ntrcaiii near tide \vat«r in to keep li.ick all c neinie.s of
tlio yonnn IV.v. muli mm Hca trout, bull headw, Hciilpinn, slicklebacks, elc. ; by this
nieauM I liaviMiiy lake and Hireanm cleared of these .scourges of llie youim .salmon,
an Ihoy are all Hultwater lisli, and only ^o up to the lakes lor ]ilunder, returning' to
Niilt water when tin ir Heasou in over. < )|' (oiirso there were many ol' them in tho
lakt and wtreanis the first year, but when they pansed down over the dam they could
never return, 'I'o pyot(H't the young fry from their oiiemie.s in tho fresh water 1
beliovo to be the ureat secret of HiUMessfiil Halmoii propagation. There is no bar to
the niimlicr of yoniiK that can be produced at the (iovernmeni hatcheries, whori; the
spawn in iinlimitud i|iiantitie.-< can be obtained. Hut unh-SM protected Iroiii their
enemies while yoiini; (and everythiuj; largo enoiinh to swallow them are their euo-
niies) a large proporti<in of them are destroyed in fresh water. In my own case,
however, the supply of li.sh is limited, and all aie utilized.

My hike now fairly swariim with young .salmon where heretofore scarcely one
could be seen. 1 find, however, that tho sea trout and othei.s named are not thcM-
only enemies. Their older brothers feed on the young fry. I'he .\ouiig salmon
remain in the fresh water wlieri! they wore hatched fourteen to eighteen iiionths, so
they havtUrom two to four iiioiiths to jirey on their young lirotlicrs. Then, after
go-ng to sea, they will reliiin for a short tiuK^ to their native streams for a cannibal-
istic feasf. and here again in my case my ilaiii acts aw protector to the liltle ones, as
when once they pass down they can nut return. 1 liav(i seen them in vast numbers
about thesi/e of sardines, ami pai^kcd almost as close, lelow the dam, trying to get up,
but they soon disajipear anil return to salt water. In connection w iih this matter
of protei ting tho younger from their older brothers, I last year commenced an exper-
imental iiroct'Hs, which I feci encouraged to believe will jirove successlul; that is,
by tiiriiiiig out a portion of my young fry in streams, on which there are lakes that
fall into the sea by falls, over which no li.sli can (lass. As a ciPiisei|iience, most of
these streams and lakes aro entirely barren of lish of any kind. There arc three
streams and lakes of this ih^scrijition contiguous to my hatchery. In tho winter of
l«!tl-!ir) I jilaced 1,()(I0,()(1() young fry into one of these lakes, and the present season
of 18!t.")-il(i will iilaee 2,(100,000 in 'uothor lake, and so keep on alternating until I
prove whether they will return to these streams. At tho same time I will keep on
stocking my own hatchery lake with as many as 1 think it will sustain. If my
experiment of stocking these heretofore barren lakes and streams proves successful,
and I can see no reason why it should not, it will prove of groat value to tho salmou
lisheries of this coast, as these lakes abound all along the Alaskan coast.

I commenced my hatoLery in the fall of 1802, but owing to tho iinpiiro walerof
the crook, which contains a'largo amount of impurities, had but indilfereiit success,
turning out only about ()00,0t)O. I then moved my hati hery iin to tho hike, three-
fourths of a mile, where I found streams of pure water and even temperature,
■15^ in summer and never below :!t< in winter, and then the tish riiiencd more
healthily, as they were in their natural water. In ihc fall of IMK!, however, there
was biit'a small run of salnion. but Ihecngs hatched much better and 1 turned out
about 1,701),(IOO voiiiig fry. I'lie season of 1801-0.5 we had a better run and turned
out l.:>00.0(10 in one hatdiery lake and l,Ot)0,000 in the barren lake before montiouod.
The present winter of I80,j-i)(; we will turn out 4,000,000 or over, having had a much
larger run than usual, which we will distribute bctWi'ou our hatchery lake and two
other barren lakes, fheso three barren lakes aro situated. re8i)ectively. :^. 0, and 0
miles from our hatchery, and entails a good deal of labor and expense cul ting trails
and carrying Ihc young tish in Imckets to their nursery. There an^ a few coliocs
{Oncorhii'iichits lxi><ii'tch) that frei|Ucnt our stream, but never more than \"0. As they
are a good lish, although not as valuable as the sukkesh. we also pass them over the
dam and stri]! thorn. Their time of running is about six weeks later than the sukkesh.
( )wing to thesmallnessof our hatchery stream, we have opportunities of observing
the habits of tho salmon with greater accuracy than on large streams. From close
(diservation made for a number of years, I am of the oiunion that no salmon return
to tho sea after ascending for i)ropagating purposes, unless thoir natural habits of
coiiulatiug are intorforred with. I am, however, of the opinion that some of the
males will return if they are kept from tho spawiiiiig bods anil from i)orforujiuft' tht>

IT. T)o(v 02, pt. 2 29

•iOO

ALA8KA INDUSTRIES

functions of Hill nil loi vxhlih thoy ascend: that i.s to say, it left to their uutuxKl
statu they will all dio. Ariit tlio fomalo.s will iill die anyway. But the males, if
they do not cuiincct widi a .sjciwiinu: bed. tlicir milt iu sonio cases dfog not liqiiil'y,
iisit rtniaiiiti K(did, and porno of thom will retnin to the wea. litit had they not hee'i
haired It'oni till) sp.iw niu'4 heds t'u'ir mill would li<iiiify and the;, \\oi!ld all die.

'\^ (! have diseoN I'lcd what S(!ems to ns to be. anew variety of .sea t''oiit.(iiiitosiniilar
to the rainbow, w i( i the i ddition of a gristly booli, or turning u]) of tholower.jaw,
and fitting into ;' recess in tlio end of the njiper ,jp,w, completely covering the end
(if the snout and titting in tlie recess so neatly tliat it will not be observed unles.s
the. piws lire o))en. I can liudiio ilt tscrijition of aHiinilar trout in the treatise sent nio
ie. .Inne, ISlM, by the Fish (.'ommisdouer. Hon. Marshull McDonald, which gave afuU
descri]iti()n of all the different species of troui. Wo have no alcohol or would have
preser\ ed a specimen.

According to the rule generally accepted liy scientific nen, llie salmon will return
four years from the liuLe their paveuts enlei' the stream f.)rspawiiing purposes, which
will tiring my first s.tlmon back the coming su'umer. wlieu 1 will be able to give
you a miue definite account of my venture,

1 think, m cases like my own, uher(< hitherto worthless streams are built up and
made to ])roduee large (luautities of valuable fish that will usseniblc in the bays or
inlets at the mouths of the streams, where they have beisn bred, that hitherto pro-
duced Jionc, so to speak, a law of (,'ongress should be passed giving ])roporty rights
to I lie producer for all fish iu exiess of the natural product of the stream. It is hidil
by legal men that I have consulted on the subject that ." will have a i)ro))erty right
in such li-^li. but It would be far better if such rights were reenforced b" an act of
Congress.

I have ki pf a careful accotiut of all the sukkosh and c'hoes that we passe<l over the
dan> irom day to ilay. so that ! can Tell exactly the number of lish that the *)trouiu
noniially ]iri)ilu<('d.

llopiir^ 1 may Ikpc the ])leasuri> of meeting you on vour return.
I remain, yours, truly.

.liiiiN ( . Cai.lhhi;ai II.

II U. .IdSKlMI -MrUKAV,

Spccuil Aiiviil for tin I'ruU'iiioH of -Stdiitoii l'inlii'.rirn in Alanho.

1'. .'^.— 1 will iie a1 I'cu'l \Sr.ingell during I'ebriiary, and should l)c pleased to hear
I'ruia voii.

.1. C. C.

NoiV, here is i iiiiiii who, tlioii^h not wealtliy, liay spent money and
inauy yc;ii.s viihuilth' time uiakiii^' experiments in oiiii of the most useful
and lionoruble of tlie arts — the production of human food.

Such men deserve a itatient hearing and every possible encourage
meiit, and iu the hope of his getting both 1 respectfully recommend
nis very timely iind i)ractical letter to the serious consideration of tite
Department.

l^xliibit 1) gives tlie iiam«\s of ili«' canneries and packing .stations,
Exliibit 10 shows the sailing distances one must travel from cannery to
canneiy in order to see all of tiiem, and shows conclusively, I think,
th 't in ordir to see ail of theiti in one season it will be necessary to detail
a revenue cutter to cat ly tlie iigent.

A icvenue cutter <;ould nnike the trip between June 1 and July 20,
completing the jiHiiiiey at the canneries in iJering 8ea in ample t'lue to
repo t for patiol duty in AugusI,

Exhibit (J gives a summary of the Ahbskan and I'acitic Coast salmon
pack from ISOO to- 1805, both inclusive, showing at a glance that tiie
Alaskan streams were drawn upon to their utmost capacity in 1891,
wiieii 7Si»,2!M c;ises of 48 pounds eatdi were packed, witli the re.sult of n
'.'ailing off of 40 per cent thr following year.

The wisdom <>i protecting an industry that has yielded in the thirteen
years of its existence 5,oOr),00:_' cases of salmon, worth •*215,OOO,()00,
shoii.'d not be lightly questicmed or set aside, a'ld when it is rememberetl
that, excepting the civilized Indians with Ah. Duiu-an at Metlakahtla,
tliere is not a resident cannery owner in Alas' ,', smd that not one ttollar
of nil ilie nullfons taken from iter strciims is left or spent in the Terri-
tory, )■ will b(> conceded. I thitd;, l>y ail lair mindeil men that tiie lea.st

ALASKA INDUSTRIES.

451

the Geiienil iiov^rniiienl ciiii do is to protect the tisli w^^iiiust exteraii
nation, and the native, (lopeudent solely uju/n a salmon diet, in his rigid
to an abundant siipidy ol" salmon for iood. Tiiese two things are easy
of accomidislinient if immediate steps are taken, but if neglected much
longer the task will be a most diilicMilt one.

In order to protect the salmon -leams the laws must be enforced,
and it is, unfortunately, oidy too I'.ae that up to date there lias nut
been a united attempt made to enforce tliem.

The Tnitcd .States commissioner at Fort Wrangell — ont; of tlw! few
fearless ones who only know their duty — wrote me a full accv>unt of how
the I'iw is disregarded, evaded, and not enforced by otlicers whose duty
it is to uphold the law at all hazartls. The letter covers a wide field,
and is (piite i)liiin and outspoken, using men's real names, the printing
(»f which in my report is not now considered necessary; I will therefore
suppress names and quote <mly a faw passages relating to salmon
matters.

('a«o alK'i' case Las b((t)u eoinpiouiisod at tlio instance ot attonioys lor thoir clients
in rniuinal cast's. Take oni" uxaniplc: In .luly, 1!^93, Mr. J. (i. Brady, wlio was then
actin;;- United States attorney in the alisenco of Mr. .Johnson, entertaiued a coni-
l)Iaint of thi^ natives a.ijainht eannciy men foiol)8tnictiuj^ salmon streams. Mr. lirady
prevailed upon Connnander Harwell, of the U. .'^. S. I'inta, to convey him and othor
necessary olticers to Klawak and Lorinj;'. ' They came via Fort Wrangell and

leipiested me to accompany them. The I'inta reached Loring in the night, and wo
fonnd the river "' ieneed'' from sliorc to sliore, and aliout 1 tons of salmon in the traps
and iH'ts. We caused the arrest of Mr. lleckman, the superintendent of the cainiery,
and i)laccd him under bond of ^;!. 000, re(iuiriug him to appear before the luited
States district court at its next session.

The law, as you are aware, imposes a tine of ■f-'SO foi- every day a stream is
I lislructed. Court did not convene until after the retirement of the dis-
trict attorney, Mr. , and the apjiointmeut of his snecessor, Mr. , who

agreed to accept the nominal line of fKK). ,'^llperiutendent Wadleigh, of

the Khiwak cannery, was also placed under bonds, and although two terms of court

have since iiocn lield he has not l)een required to appear. The is lending ii

hand in helpiiii; i'j whitewasli liis ease.

These two cases iucludiug the tri]> of the Phila, have cos', the (toverument more
than .tl,fX)0

The otlicers who placed the men under bonds liave been humiliated, wliile the vio-
lators of the law, aided by otlicials dish)yal to the '' ivernment. have won a great
victory " '

I codld cite many I'ases In which olHeial positions ait; used to shield crime and

V. Kkily. ' omw/xsioHcr.

def.

a. the ends of justice.
Vour obedient servant,

\Vm,

Were il necessary to atld to or conhrni the commissioner's words, I
v/ould say that while at Loring iii 1894 Hon. C S, Hamlin, Assistant
Secretary of tic Treasury, accompaiued by Capt. 0. L. Hooi)er, com-
manding the revenue cutter />'/'.s7(, attempted to go uj* the river in a
small boat, but .soon found thelnselve^ barred out by tlie identical
"fence'' mentioned in the commissioner's lette'-.

The Wadleigh case rel'erred to was called ii cotirt at .luneau last
May. and in my presence his attorney arose tind siiid: Mr. Wadleigh
had written inid ottered to pay as much as it woidu cost him to travel
back and forth on the steamer from Klawak to .luneau. some .'«<40, on
condition that the (Jovernment dropi)ed the complaint.

Now, here is a case where the man wtis tiiken red handed in the act —
he does not iittem]»i denial — iiiid yet, although it happened in 189.'}, he
has not been brought to trial, but instead of answering the suimiions
of the court lie imi)udently writes btick his ultimatum, which was seri
ously considered by the district attorney, wiio would have accepted it
had 1 not been [tresent iind strongly protested agiiinsi the wlude farce.

In jualice to the present district attorney for .Miiska. 1 will say all
the.se things lia,)]>enpd prior (o In's appointment. •

4o2

ALASKA INDL'STKIK.--^

CONCLl :«10N.

Ij^iiougli Ims been >said 1 tbiiik to show the necessity of some liiflical
ehaiiues iu Ahiska, the first of which should be tlie enfoicement of the
law.

I therefore most respectfully reconimend the following:

First. The re|)eal of the i)resent prohibitory li<iuoi- law and the sub-
stitution of high license.

Second. That a revenue (.utter and three armed steam launches be
permanently located in xVlaskan '*.i(fts.

Third. That the customhouse on .Mary Isiau'l be di«contiuued aud
removed to -^ more desirable, because more mseful, location in the
Tonti'as Xarrows.

Fourth. That Alaska be divided into at least tw<» jiidiciai districts,
with one .judye at Sitka and one at Circte City, utt th« Yukon.

Fifth. Tha t three additional comiiii8sif>n«r« Iw a))|)oiii»*'d. <uie at LTuga,
one at St. Michaels, aud one at Circle < nty.

Sixth. That a deputy (toUector (if v»t a cn.'foiii luunn* be ii'H.Mted at
lJu{»a.

Seventh. That a marine hospital l>e erected at I nsnlaska. (Either of
the trading co.n[>anies will erect and furnish a buildmj^ if the Depart
nuMit will furnish medicines and a ))hysician.)

Kighth. That Alaska be allowed a Delegate to ( ongress.

There are iininy imjuntant matters that I have not referred to iu this
repoit, such, for in.^tance, as the condition of the native tribes on the
Aleutian Islands aud in southeastern Alaska; schools and iiostotiices
on the Yukon Jiiver and in the great interior — all of which will be dealt
with in a future report.

The proposed changes are really necessary to the present aud future
welfare of Alaska, md. because of the rajjidly iucueasing white popu-
' ition Hocking to tin; rich gold diggings, it is absolutely necessary that
the law should lie rigidly eufortied. The wealth of Alaska in furs,
tisli, and gold, i ' properly protected by the Government, will be, of
immense value, \ hich may be made to increase annually, but which, if
neglected by the (.ioveruraent and left to the present system of no law
at all, or what is iar worse, lawlessness, will soon end in disgrace aud
disaster.

Very respectfully submitted. Joseph Mukkay,

Speeivl Agent for tlic Protection of Salmon Fishericn in Alaska .

Ron. John S. Carlislk,

Secret (Uji of the Tnasury.

i

KxHiiur A.

yiimher 'ij nr.nlii tm Ht /'mil ami Si. liiuriji istan(l», season nt' jsn.',
xr. I'AII. isl AND.

lUwkt^i'v

Norllicast I'diiil .
Ualfway I'oint ..

IiUkiiiin<>ii

Kiiliivlr

liecf

LaEoon

ToUtdi

MUlilU'Hill..
£ntiliHli May.
iia)lll<lnit^

Ti/liil ,.

UullHwith
harciiiK

,725 .

350

3U0 I

SOO

.IIOU

50

400

lUO
500

<'o«>

m. 000

H.OOO ,

t% im

i.mt

40, 000
2. OUO

18, Olio I

4,000
20, lyOO '

lilK'l

elof-^

0, 000
2, 000
1,000
300
5,000

I, Ml

goo

:i, Auo

4,626 ; 185,000 23, 1 DO

hill!

iMlllx.

1 , 000

200

200

50

500

280

m

lUll

Total.

«0, 725
Ifl, 5.';o
13,500

8,550
10, 500

2. 100
16,650

1.000

A. UOO
24. .100

V m j\t).m

AI,AHKA INDl'STRIES.

4r.;!

S'limliir lit' m.//k nil SI. PiHil iiud Si. (iri/nji inhiiiiU, mosok nf IsU.''

SI (;i:()[{i;r, isr.AXH

( iml iniii'(|.

Kni)k<'r\ .

iHiillKwitlj

Itai'li

C'loVH.

Idle

TlltMl.

StaiTv ArtPfil

Noiili

East

Liltlc Kaat

Znpndnii-

Total

I'otiil nn botli ialuiidri.

(Ill
100
81)
25
110

375

■J, 4iiO
4,0011

;i, 200
1,000

4, 400
16,000

5, OOO 200. 000

.'lUll
,500

:t. 000
5"

II.OIlO

0,850
^0. 000

40
.•lO
40
20
50

2. 8iMI
4,050
6,320
1,095
7,560

200 22,425

2, 800 I 237, 80O

I'.XIIIIUI 1!.
Liqnuin rleurid j'rnm I'tujel soiiiul .I'nr .ihiiil:<i. ■/aniiarii l.JSitl.ln March /". /,'?.'W,

Dnto.

mil N'd

KindH anil c|iiniititii'.s

• 'iiiisicncf.

NaniiMiJ' vo^M(•]. Daterlt'fl^ed.

.lull. 0. 1H94

Dec. 22.1893

no

Do.

ner. 21.189:)

•Ian.
IJoc.

5, 1 1*1)4
«, 1893

.1.111. 2,1894

Dxc. 22, 1893

Do

Deo. 0. 1893

Fell 7. 1894

Fell. H, 1894

Fi-1). 7. 1894

Do

,laii

1894

Jan. 16,1894

.I;mi. 22, 1894

."il 1 liarrel liottlod beer. . . .

40 1 barrel ryowlilsky. . . .
16 1 barrel lioiirbon wlii.x

ky, 10 barrels beir.
44 IJ barrels Califoriiifi
brandy, U barrelH
Calilornia I'laret, .5
barri'lMlirer, 3 luirrel.s
ale, 3 cases porter, 10
^alionsslierry, lOjjal-
lonn Irisli whisky, 10
;;alU>iiH .Si-oich whis-
ky. 10 nalluns j.'in. 10
gallon.'* rum. 1 ease im
jiorted liramly, 1 case
imiiorted wlliNky, 2
easrx champagne,

41 I gallon port wine. I

f;allon brandy.
,')ii li bottles <Miinalii)Uor.
39 1 case vvliiHky, 1 ea,;c
wine. 1 I a.'!' porter.
1 barrel beer.

to

45
47

.\ilolph Xlyer City ol

ilo do

t '- F, Fueber do

William N'elwoi do

Topokii ,lan, 15,1894

Do.

Ito.

Do.

1 barrel porter

1 barrel whisky. U bar
rels nun, 1^' baVrelH
lirandv. 1 bnirel jmr-

ter.

iirrel beer.

37 30 pallons ilarel

57 5 gallons ^vhisky

."i9 2 barrels birr

58 1 barrel whisky. 5 bar

relrt beer. 2 harrrls
porter, 2 barrcln ale
6 eases Irish whisky,
flea»esHennes\ br.in-
<I,V.
55 1 barrel v.hisky, 1 liar
ri'l lin ml;. . ?* harirls
beer, 1 ea.-o ehniii
papnc 2 barrel's wins-

('. ,1, Kostroniehuofl' il"

Himn Sinu (lee do

Duncan MoKimon dn

W.C.Mills do

Chas. (iill'ov do

Willii

I Xelson

1 barrel ^1". •' gallons K Dei,

.lainaiea rum, 2 i.il

Ions Madeira wini .

12 gaMona sherry

wine. .'10 (gallons <l,ir-

et, 1 ease brandy, 1

CHNC eliampa)(ue, I

barrel ale, 1 barrel

imrter, 5 gallon < jiort

wine, lOgalloiis whis-
ky. 5 eases whisky,
lease Willi- W. 1*. ililln Mexico

Ilo,

llu.
D...

■lau. 30, 1M14
Do.
Do,

.Ian, 15, 1894
Feb, 17,1894

Do.

Do.

Do.

llci.

•4 .50 galloim whisky. 20 .T. ('. Koonlu^r Oltyol Topeka

gallonn brandy. 20
snllons jiort wine. 10
uullous ali'oliol. no
i;ullon^ I larel, U bui

Feb, 27,1894
Mar, 14.1894

els Ih

'I', J laaea gin.

454

ALASKA IXDrSTUIER.

liilimr^ I Iriirfd Ifoiii Piifie.l Soiiu(l fiv .ilnnkn. i>i\ < imtiimi'd.

|);ll<

mil Nil

Kinils :iiiil i|ti:iii1itit-M

• iiDniaii'i

Xiilni' (if \r»>rl. Date cltMreil.

I'rii. •-':!, IHWI

Fell, 24, 18«t
^\ar. 0, 1KI4
Fcl.. 20, 1894
Alar, !», 1894

Do

Do

Do.

I

Vfih. j:i. !«»4

Mar. 9,1894
Alir. 4, 1894

Do

Mav 19,1894
"Do

, Dii

Do

Jiiiio 4,1894
Do

May 9, 1894
Jurif 13, 1894
Juno 18.1894

Aiip, ::, 1891

A.lj:,
Aug,
Sppt,
Aiiji,
Sppt
Oit.

l.'l, lh»4
l;t, 1894
«. 1894
13, 1894
0, 1894
4, 1894
A. 1894

Oct, ;i, lh94
Sopt, 25, 1894
Oct, 17, 1(.94

Do

Sf-pt, S.^i, 1894
Oi't, 17,1891

Do

Dpi-. 19 1W4

04
tio
fi7

en

(15

m

-I

71
93
9(1

91
92
lOd
90

S4
10,".
HIT

,lnne 28, 1894

Iii8

May 19,1894

94

.Tnlv 1,1894

m;

.Iinii-

28, 1894

109

J line

18, 1894

113

Aug.

3, 1894

120

.July

;8,]894

114

123
124
129

122
128
139
130

138
132
142
J 4,''.
135
114
144
l.W

2 lianola l)oiirl)ou wIiIh.
ky, 10 KalloiiH ri;in,20
gallons bianily. lo
KallonH iiorl wiiic,

3 barrels liotlliil bi'or.

Icani' wlii,sk,\

3 ca^ro winp

Ica8e\vbi,sky

1 gallon riini

1 caso ale, 1 <aso portor.
1 barrel whisky, IJ bar-

rel.x branilv. 3 oason
IriHh «lii,slty, fi bar-
rels beer

10 ^'aliens wbi^^ky, 1
caHB beer, 1 gallon
brandy, 2 eases wine.

15 gallons port wino

3 i;a lions whisky

10 gallons alcohol

5 gallons alcohol

21)arrels whisky, 1 bar-
rel braniiy.2easeagin,
20 gallons mm, Ticases
whisky, 5 cases bran-
dy, 10 liarrcis beer, 10
eases porter, 10 eases
.lie, 2 cases ehani
pagne, I barrel \mT*
wine, 1 1 irrel shcrr.v,
1 barrel < laret T bar-
rel alcohol,

1 barrel beer

do

3 barrels beer

1 barrel beer

4 barrels beer

1 dozen bottles brandy. .
15 barrels Iwcr, 1 barrel

sherry wine, 1 barrel
whisky, 5 cases por-
ti r. 1 barrel port wine,
5 cases ale, 5 cases
i;in, ,0 ease-' claret
wine,
10 barrels beer

2 cases whisk.v

20 barrels beer. 1 barrel

b- nuly, 1 barrel poi't
wine 1 barrel sherry.
1 barrel claret, 3 cases
cliamjiagnc 5 cases
porter, ,' cases ale,
5 rases brandy.

in gallons wliisKy

1 case whisk.v

10 barrels beer

I case whisky. 1 case
u ine, 1 case porter.

1 case eogn !C, 10 <-asos
port win., 10 cases
sherrv, lo cases whis-
k.v- '

1 case ale, I case porter,

10 barrels Imit

ic barrels bcci

30 barri'ls wine

10 barrels whiskv

10 barrels aliohol

10 barrels white wine, 1
barrel claret,

1 case whisky . ,

1 barrel i lan'l

I case "vlilsky

5 barrels heer

1 ca:ie whisky

30 galliiiis whisky

10 gallons nun.

WillJMin Nelson Cilyi.l ■I'dpeka. Mar. 11,1894

K. Del iron d Mar. 29,1894

Kobcrt Held do .

Mrs. K. C. Uogers do . .

n. F.Swift do..

W. M, Taylor Chilkat .

.. .M. Davis do ..

W. Slulcahv do ..

Do,
Do,
Do.
Apr. 7, 1894
Do.
Do.

I'libeii Dnncan. ir r'ily.il Topeka .\l)r. 13,1894

Father Donskev du Apr. 28,1894

Archv (.'ain|)bcll do Mav 14,1894

(;. K.'Feuher do Do.

V. I). Nowell Kosalie i May 29, 1894

Max Endlemaii do Do,

.Mrs. Hanniiond dn

F. Hacli do

E. De ( J rofl' City of Topeka

R. E. Rogers ' do

K. De Groir Oiieen

do Citj of Topeka

Max Endlinian do

Do.

Do.
.lime 12, 1894

Do.
•I one 22,1804
I lino 29.1894

Do.

E, Ueliiofl Queen July 8,1894

(j'. Spuber do Do.

Mav Endlemen Olty of Topeka July 27, 1894

E, DeiJrotf Qucon Vi'c, 0,1894

Karl Kochler do Do.

E.DetJrotr City of Topek.i. Aug. 13,1894

D. McKiiinon do Dn

E. De (irotr

tjiieen

.\Ui;.21,18i'4

1 bottle brandy, 1( gal-
lons whisky! 1 gdd'in
port wine

J. Mont. David City ol Topeka Aug. 31, |8!i4

E,l)cOrolf ilo....: ; D,i.

do do j ,Sei)t, 19,1804

K. C. Rogers Mexico I Heiit, 25, 1804

K, De OrbiV : do , Do,

do City of Topeka,. Oct. 11,1894

do ! Uexieo | Oct, 2,5, 1894

R. (J. Rogers do Do,

Karl Kochler do , Do,

Robert Reid do Do,

Ed. De Groll do Nov. lo, 1894

M.lloaly do Do

Bd.DeOroflr l.'hilcal Nov. 21.1891

do Slexicii Nov. 2(1 1894

Dr. C, XliBvjag do , Do.

De
Ja

Ml

J a
Jn
D(
Ft

J a
J II

ALASKA r.XUr.STKlES.

4r)5

Liquuii' cUureit J'loiii I'mjvl sound i\>r Alankn. iti\ — ('(inliiiuod.

ml.

Dull'.

I'(ir

iiiit N(i l^i'i'l" I'll'' 'III"""'!''''. rouHiKiie'-. Naiiii' "T visol Hali' ilcui'Hil,

1K<I4

1(<!)4

1R»4

1894
1894

I«I4

Nov. in, 1K(i.| 117 li (I'./.i'ii Kiiniiiil. 1 ',

ilozcii l!in'Mli(^tlin', li

(lozi'ii nb^' nth, \l

1 (loziii kirai .iwiiBsiT,

I l.i il'iziii aiiisiMtc. ij

dozen (Jliartr'-ii.**c, I
cn.s'^ pin. 1 cane ciiain-
panni-, 1 liarri'l por-
Xv 1 liaiTul all'.

1 oarri'l hottU'il porter..

5 barrels liotthitl heor...

12 biittli'rt China li(|iior.

Ti i:allonsnli'oliol

lli l)ottl*'s asHortcil lif|-
uors.

10 barrelnlifcr

fl (lozitn lott' '8 porter..

1 l>aiTcl ilarul

j gallons port wine

10 (iiill iim wliirtky

a ;;allon.'* ttloohol

1 dozen brandy

20 j;»llon» cUiret

i:. Dedrotl.

1 '.)■■. ■>«. IH94

Deo. 19, ia'.l4

151

Jiin. 2. 189,-,

157

Do

157

Mav 4, 1894

82

I Ml. 2,189:.

l.-i5

Uo

IG2

,Tnn. 19,189.1

159

.Ian. 2. 1895

151

nc'\ 19,1894

152

l'"eb. :5 189.'->

170

Do

109

.Tan. 21,1895

Hit

.liin. 19. 18115

inn

Win. Mulcahv CliiUal ..

K.DoOroll ! .Me.xiro ..

Sinji T,ee do . . .

K. Val'ntine Cliilkat ..

It. <J. Ko(;ora I Citv of I'l

]•:. Hodroll' do .

C.K.Tibliits ' do .

C. S. rlolmaon 1 do .

Fred Hall ! do.

E.Dedroll' do .

do do .

... -do do .

(rcorge Kyrage do.

ijielia.

Jan.
Jan.

.Ian
Feb,

I'eb,

:), 1K95
12,1S95

I>o.

. \m>

. 7, 1895

n.i.

Do.
Do.

24, 1895
Do.
Do.
Do.

'riie witliiii porniita are Ri^ued by Ben.JHniin Mmire. eolieeKo- oC
I'oiiT TnwN'sF.Ni). Wahii., Uari'h I. l^nr,.

Sitka. .Ma.ska.

1894

1894
1894

1894
1894

18'J4
1894

18:14

1894

1804
1894

1891
1891

1894

1894
1894

KXIItlllT ('.

siaiiKiir^ of AluHka salmon puck, season of tsyr,

Number ol' men '
employed.

Nunib'.r or..4;ilMion aUci.

Nan

llrJHtol liay (.'aniiing Co..

Alaska Paukiiin Co

Aretio I'aeking Co

Do

Thin I'oint I'ackin^i Co..

Ivarink I'ai kin.c (;<i

Tanfilel'dol llav I'aekinu'
Co.

Tltinie Paiking (lo

Aretie I'aeitin;^ Co

Arctic I'isliinK Co

Chii;nik Hay Tacking Co

l.ocati

Nnsbagak .

do

do

Xuknok

Thin I'oint.

Karlnk . ...
d

Ajiparatiis

iiHHd.

King.

fill 44

05 40

01 i 48

47 21

28 , 20

84 48

;i5 21

T'acilic PackiiiLiCo

Pyramid Ilarbin- I'ack

itigCo.

Glaiier Packing Co

-Alaska Sahnon Packing

and I' ur Co.
Point Koberts Packing

Co.
I'gasliik Fisliing .Stat ion -

Egegak FiRhiiig .Station.
Togiak FiHhtiig Station.

Total

do

Alitak

KiisMoir

Chiguik

Prince WillianiM

Sonnil
Pyrumi'l Harbor..

Fort Wrangell

I.oring

95
98
95
70

' iiii
05

142

Iiill IietH.. 4,644

do 8, 82:i

do ....'. 5,100

do .... 1.U47

Seine

do....

do....'

I.'.'il.

2!)2. 770 9, 250

;i.5fl, 022 10, IQi)

329, 548 8, 700

209,.H51

23,45:i

58il,0IHl

172, 1149

I

Kogginng . .

Selina liivr

Fg'-mik

Toijiak

84 52

al : 18

02 ; 48 77

89 31 110

95 :i9 li:!

rtl 02 77

41 71 .'5

:;o 80 70

tt 10

49 22

.... do ...

do....

do ....

(ilU nets

and seiue.

do ...

12

'■ill nets..

do ....

Seiui'

(iiUiiMf

Uill iietH

and seine,

Olll nets..

do ...

25. 190

4, :)19
9, 15;)

3.2M

i

405

tie3,421
174, 508
;i24,277

ii8:i,:n9

8, ;i2i

143 I'Hl 142,937

310, 759 7, 028

13,3,509 154, 1<3

14. 733 43fl 3«8

143.80"

«.->, 219

,54.321

1 , .'<00

1,002 081 1.211 fl2.HW \»IO,215 77,5,887

'i.')() ALASKA INDUS ri;iKf>.

>/(i/i.s7(('.s- lit' Aluxl.d tdtniiin pai-l . xninon uf /S!)'i- ( oiitiniicd.

Niiiii

liii,sl<il liny Ciiuiiini,' ('i>..

Alaska I'a'ckiiitr Co

Ari'tii' rackiiii; Cn

Do

Tliiii Toint Packing Co . .

Karliik rai'kin.u Co"

'raiif;l<'i"ot liav I'n<'Ulni;

Co.

lliinio Packing Co

Arctic Packing Co

Arctic FiHliing Co

Cliignik Hay Packing Co

Pacific Packing Co

Pyramid Harbor Pack

'ing Co.

tilacicr Packing (;o

Alaska Salmon I'acking

an<l Fnr Co.
Point Jiobcrt.s Packing

Co.
TJgasliik Fishing Station.
iCgcgak Fishing Station..
Togiak Fishinu .Station..

( 'ascs.

:i;i. 4114
■M. 032
H:i. ti.'ll
'J'J. 731

•ts'aTiV

15, 277

47, 5011
l.),:i31
30. 18H
70, 050
21,453
35. 373

27,410

32. 554

Bar

."stoani.
orsi'ni-
liloyed.

I.ijihtcrs
hoats.

mil

Not-

1,04.".
.".It.'i

360

3,142

1,354
1,048

40

Total I 473.<t49 7.455

20

Nuni
bcr.

42
44
43
23
10
47
28

48
23
10
24
13

:n

13
3

504

\'iilo.

$18. 000
13, 000
12, ,500
15,000
6. 000
30, 000
15. 2uO

21,000
11,000
18, 200
19,0110
15, 000
18.0110

14,200
1 1. 10(1

II. 200

2, ,500
(JOO
40O

278. ilOO

Ninii
her.

811
84
83
42
4

15
III

15
I

811
00

."lO

30
1

084

\al.|

0,100
21,000
42, 000
13, 200
21.000

0 10,200

1 10.200

1.4O0

1.200
000
4(10

234 .

555 .
120 .

130 {.

44,000 18,404 279,7li0

Statistics of AUisla xalmoii park, nfnuoit of 1:~'9.' — Coiitiiini'il

Xaiiic.

Locatio

Ca.io

14,253
12.007

20. 000

C. E. AVhitney & ('o i Nnnhngak

Prosper Fiihing anil Trailing Co ' Kvichak

L. A. I'eilcraon Naknok

Bering Sea I'acking Co Vgashik

Norton. Teller & ('o do

Lyndc & lloiigh Shnniagin islands

Alaska Iniprovenipnt Co Karliik

C. D. Ladd Cooks Inlet ■

Pacific Steam Whaling Co Prince William Sonnd ' 25.037

Poniniisnlar Fishing Co. i ("^onpev Kiver 15,000

Baraiiotl' i'acking Co I Ba'ranotV Island 14. 805

North Pacific Fisliing ami Trading Co Klawak 12, 228

Boston Fishing and TradifigCo... Ves liay 14, 100

Metlakahtla Industrial Co Meltakiitta 12,000

ililler <fc Co Cordova Bay ,

Cape Fox Packing Co Cape Fox . ." ;

Various S,,ut hcastern A laska '

Total ; 145 430

Haricls

1,043
2, 300

300

220
75

350

104

1,801/
1,200
2. Olio

9, 392

i

22(1

KM

i

ALASKA IXDITSTniRS.

lAniBM T».

.Vd/mo/i inifkin;/ >((((io/i.\ hi AUmhi

157

Ldi'ulilv.

NaiTic '»rroniit;(ii_\

• '.III Salt- Hor-
ncry. < ly- ring.

U

7
x
(1
til
II
12

i;i

14

i:.
10
17

18

10

20
21

'a

20

27

f'liilcat

V\>\\ Alllioip

KilliHiioii

Iti-'il Kisli Hay

Fort Wrnnni'll

Yes liay

LDriiiji

I'cirt CluMtor

Kliiwak

Ciirilivia I!ay

TiiNtdi liav'

I'lii'l i;ilia.'

( 'iipi' Kox

('ipi)|itr l!iviT, neltHPoiiiiisnla
Kyak Viliaj;.-

Clinks Inlpt, Kiissiln IMvcr..
West Hide III' < 'links Iiili'i. .. .
Al'o'inak (mil in opcratinii)
KaiTiik Iti\'or

Ala.ska I'aoking ANftniiatinn...

Fiiril & Stiikis

llrrriiiL' Finlicry

Jlaiaiuiir 1' icking Cn

Alaska Packing A'^snciatinn. . .
UiMtiiii Firtliiiii; aiiii Tradiii;; Cn
Alaska racking A-sociatimi ...

Mi'llakalilla Jniliistrial Va<

.v. Mill I'acitlc Packing Cn

Miller A: t'n

ilii

Kniiilslanil

Fish and Trading Co

Pacilic Steam Whaling Cn

Alaska ]*ackiiii; As.sociatiiin .

dii

r.D.Ladd A Cu

Alaslia Inipi'iivcnicnt Co.

J{. 1) lluiiiiA ('o

AlilaU liav

Fgak r.av' Fairlc Ilailior

Chignik Itav

Pirate t'ovc. i'oiiiiir

'i'liin Piiint

Fgashil

do

do

do

Naknil: Jiivir

do

Knichak Itivcr

Xiishagak

Fort Alexander

Alaska Pa<king Asnnriatioii .

.Vlaska Packing Association (iiscil up) .

Oliver .Smith

Alaska I'ackinj; As.socialion

-McCollnm Trading »Jo

.Alaska Packing Association

P.cring Sea Packing Co.

Alaska Packing Assooiattiin 1

Sullivan Itiver I'aekiug Cn 1

'Johnson .

.'Vlaska Packing Asaociation . .

Peterson

.\laska Packing Associaiimi . .
Prosper Fish and 'I'radiiig Co .
.Vlaska Packing Association . .
W hitenev Co

'Total .

U

KXHIIUT I"..

SkWiik) ilisliiiicin I'ram I'dj)! For to the different tttlmoii /■(iinierii-i in Aliinkn.
[Fiiiiires in parenilioses .ir" niaii iin'nberH.|

(13) Capo Fox to (10> Conlovia

Bay

(13) C»]w Fox to (S) Fort Cliostcr
(10) Conloviii Havto (!l) Klawak..
(8) I'ort Clicstpr to (11) Tolstoi

liiiy

(8) I'ort C'liestorlo (7) Lorinn

(7) I.ovinn to (111 Vos May

(11 > Tol-^toi I)Hv to (.")) Fort Wraii-

K<-11

(5) Fort Wrauijell to ( ILM Fort

Kllis

(it) Klawak to (1 ) Roil Fish Itav...
(4) K'.'(l Fisli Hay to (2) Fort Al-

t liorp -

(2) Fort Alllu>rii t . iIM Killisnoo
(I!) Killisnoo to O ' <'liiliat \\<h I
(1) Cllllral Inlrt to (l\] (nllpur

River Dflta l.OiHi

Miles.

,11) Collier Ivivnv Doita to i l."i -

SO Kyak villayio

.")0 (15) Evak village tin^J7) At'onualL.
100 (17) Afopiak to (1>0) Fcrak^ Bay.

Fagle Harbor

(iO (20) Ugak Bav to i lil) Alitak Ma v.
tiO (19) Alitak Bay to (18) Kiirln'

2ri Ki vor

18) Karliik Hivnr to (21) Chignik

1(H> Bav

(21; "cliignik Bttv to (22) Firato

100 Cove

l.'iii (22) Fir.ifo Covfit(>i2o) Thin Foint.

(2;?) Ihiii Point to (21)ITgasliik. .-

150 (25) NaUiiik Kiver to (3B| Kvichalt

90(1 Hivcr

'JOII I'JII) Kvlrhak Kiverto ,27) Nitamii-
«aK

Mil.-

50
50(1

75
100

100

:iOo

200
150
50<'

IC^

lolal

1,375

IfjS

ALASKA 1ND1;STR1KS.

Kmiiiht V.

■'< II tumor II of s,.htinii jxirk. W.l.

Oases.

Columbia Hivov 617,460

Alaska «>1!», ;t7it

Hritish Coliimbiii r.l2, 877

Outside rivers 290,300

Total 2, 040, 016

Columbia IMvor

Alaska ( It! locations)

ilritish Cohutiliia:

rrasor Ri ver ;!47, 671

Skceiia l{ivor 6(3, 'JSI!

Loweliilet 8, 5(X»

Nass Kiver 19, 00()

Fiivevs Inlet 61,720

Alert Ha V .">. ol'O

Cla voquot 3, nOO

Cnse«.
017,460
619, 379

Outside rivers and bays:

NelialtMri Kiver. . .' 6. 300

Siuslaw River i<,:>:>2

Coqnille River 9,468

Unipcuie River 10, 300

Tillamook River 5, 000

Alsea Bav 5, 000

Coos Hay 10,380

Pujjet Sonnd (4 loeatlons) 1.'7, 000

Gravs Harbor IS,000

Shoiihvater Hav 16, 0(M)

Rogue River 14,000

Saeramento rivers 24, 000

( alitbrnia rivers 6, 30O

512. 877

290, 300

2, O40, (»16

Kxiiinn •;.

.Iliinkan inid I'nci^^ Cons/ mimoti pad. from /A'-') Id ISU.'i, holli hichmlre.

V(Mlf

Ciilninhia
Kiver.

Outsii'.e

rivers i»inl

bays.

liritinli
(,'i)linnl)l;i.

Alaska.

Tofal.

IMlli .
t8«7.
1868.
I860.
I«7(» .
1871 .
1872.

187:?.

1874.

1875 .

187ii .

1877 .

1878.

1879

1880

18«1

1882

1883 .

1884.

1885.

1886.

1887 .

1888

188y

18(X).

ISM.

t^2.

1863.

1894.

189,'. .

4,
18,

28,
lOM,

aso,

S50,
37.5,
450,
40(1,

mi

4SV,
VM.
.Wl,
541.
62tt,
«0«,
624.,
464.

«m,

325,
433,
310U,
481,
4-J.'>,

r.u,
1117

000

w> .

'"inj t.
iiOO i.
WW .
uoo .
ouo 1.

000 '.
000

000

OOO

000

000
000
0(«>
(lUO
300
400
17<»
.VIO
943
800
7511
500
500
183
UOO
200
000
ISO

2,500

'.t, 000

33, 0011

46, 300

68. .500

61,000

S8, 20(1

229, 7(" I

249, :<0'i

198.1100

U'i..Ml(l

10U.250

170,400

231,900

212. (100

26.^, 734

roa, 1 23

82,447
180, 800
209, 490
214. 896
290, :ii;'i

9.847
67,387
113,001
.57, 304
61,300
17.-., «75
255, 001
243, (100
l.'ts. 945
100, 8(i5
163,(1(14
201,1190
135 (sno
4!4, 400
4'>;>, 464
814,813
221, 797
500. 229
404, 470
5r.',,S77

36, OOO
.54. 000
74, 850
1211, 700
190.200
427, 372
709, 347
68.8, 332
789,291
461, 482
645, ,545
678,501
fil9,::79

4,000

18, 000

2H, 000

100, 000

1511,000

200, 000

250, 000

250, OOO

352, 500

378, 000

493, 7 (7

573, 087

OKI, 101

508, 394

779,500

950, 375

1.045,601

1, liiO, 4(H1

071. 924

806, 405

909, 047

997, 890

1,142,72.:

1,714,081

1.633,419

1.. 576, 737

1, 325, 970
1.870,470
1,898,887

2. 040, 010

M.ASKA INUPSI'IUl;

l.M»

r\iirriii H.

A BITir< tonnifliul im net nntitliirt "An :i( i In

lin)\ Ul« (ill the pnit*!! Hun nl' (lie ^nlincni (isliincM fif
Alaskii."

J{« it enacted by the Senate and Ilouseof Kcpreuuiutiie.it of the United statigof Jmcrica
ill ConfireHH ansvmlih'it, 'I'hnt iho act iipi)rovt!d Miircli sot'oiirl, cij{lili''ii Imnilrpil mid
cii^lit.v-niiio, eiititlud "An uit to provitlo for tli(^ piiitcction of the salmon lishories of
AlaHkii,'" is iKUfby amended and roonacted, as Ibllows;

Skction I. Tliat the erection of diims, bunicadu.t, IIhIi wheels, fencsH, traps, jjoiind
nets, or any fixed or stationary (djstnictioiis in any purl of tlio rivers or stro.in s of
Alaska, or to (ish for or catcli si.lmonor salmon I rout, in any manner or by any ni' ans,
with th(! imrpose or result of preventing or impeding the ascent of salmon or salmon
front to their spawning ground, is declared to be unlawful, and the Secretary of the
'treasury is hereby authorized and direcfed to remove s\ich obstructions and to estab-
lish and enfono such regulations and surveillanoo as may be necessary to insure that
this iirohibifion and all other provisions of law relating to the salmon lisheries of
Alaska are strictly complied with.

Sec. 2, That it shall be unlawful to fish, catch, or kill any salmon or salmon trout
of any variety, except with rod or sjioar, above the tide waters of any of the creeks
or rivers of less than five hundred fi'et wide in the 'I'erritory of Alaska, or to lay or
sot any drift net, set net, or seine for any purjiose, across the tide waters of any river
or stream for a distance of more than one-third of the width of such river, stream,
or channel, or lay or set any seine or net within one hundred yards of any other net
or seine which is being !:ii(i or set in said stream or channel, or to take, kill, or fish
for salmon 'n any manner or by any means in any of the waters of lav i'erritory of
Alaska, either in the sirciimsor tide waters, from noon on Saturday of each week
until six o'clock podt meridian of tliei^unday following, or to fish for, or catch, or kill in
any manner, or by any appliances, except by rod or s]. ear, any salmon or salmon trout
in any stream of less than one hundred yards in width in the said Territory of Alaska
between the hours of six o'clock in the morning and six o'clock in the evening of the
same day of each and every day of the week.

Sec. 3. That the Secretary of the Treasury may, at his discretion, set aside certain
streams as spawning grounds, in which no fishing will Ix^ permitted; and when, i!i
his Judgment, the results of fishing operations on any stream indicate that the
number of salmon taken is larger than the capacity of tlie -.treain to produce, he is
authorized to establish weekly close seasons, to limit the duration of the tishing
season, or to prohibit fishing entirely for one year or more, so as to permit the
salmon to increase.

Sec. 4. That to enforce the provisions of law hereir., acd such regulations as the
Secretary of the Treasury may establish in pursuance the-'eof, he is authorized and
directed to appoint one inspector of Hsheries at a salary of ten dollars per day,
and two assistant inspectors at a salary of eight dollars each per day, and he will
annually submit to Congress estimates to cover the salaries and actual traveling
expenses of the officers hereby authorized and for such other expenditures as may be
necessary to carry out the jtrovisions of the law herein.

Sec. .">. That any person violating the provisions of this act, or the regulntioiis
established in pursuance thereof, sliall, upon conviction thereof, be puni.-hed by a
fine not exceeding one thousand dollars, or imprisonment at hard labor for a term of
ninety days, or both such fine and imprisonment, at the discrciioti of the court:
And provided further, That in case of the violation of any of the iirovijious of sec-
tion one of tills act, and conviction thereof, a further line of two hundred and fifty
dollars per diem will be imposed for each day that the obstruction or obstructions
therein are maintained after notice to remove the same. Said notice may bo givtn
by any Government officer or private citizen.

'' ^

i\rpKN 1)1 x.

Murray, 1804: Cage 11.

That uo (lertd i)Ui).s were IbuiMl upon tlie rookeries in 18!U in tlio oaily
part of Aiif^iiHt was due, not to their absi'iice, but to tiic fact tliat no
close inspection waH made. It is impossible without iietually goinj^' on
the breedinfj' j,M'<"ii"hs and drivinj;' oil' tiio liviiifj cows and pups to yet
iin idea of tlie nund)er of dead pups. Such an inspection was not made
in ItSOl nor in any year prior to l.S!t(i; conse(|uently the facts reyardiny
Llie plienouiein)n of dead pups were never known until that time. The
dead pups seen on Tolstoi Ifookery in 18!)1 and l.S!>L! beionf>'ed, in tiie
hitter year wholly and ii» the former partly, to this early mortality,
whicli occurs before pelayic sealin{'- be;;ins. Wliat has heretofore been
said reg'arding this estinnite of starved pups in connection with the
reports of Messrs. Ilandin and (Jrowley applies here also. In the quota-
tion here ascril)ed to .Mr. <'rowley appears the statement that in the
count of dead jiups an effort was nia<h' todislini;iiish the recently dead
from those long dead. If tins is true, it would increase the value of
the Ogiues as a nu'asure of starvation: but this statement does not
occur iu Mr. Crowley's rejmit, and in any event, ;;ranting that the
figures iuchided only starved i>nps, they still fall sliort of the facts.

Murray, 1804: f'.Tyc 15.

The several estimates by Mr. Elliott and others liere (juoted or men-
tioned will be discussed in connection with the reports fVom which they
are taken, which a])pear in later volumes of this .series.

Mr. Murray's estimate for 1891, here given in detail for St. I'aul
Islaiul, repre.sents a broad and general jtersonal impressi(>ii railier than
an accurate enumeration, as undoubtedly does idso tlial for I.S!>t. the
details of which aie not given. The elements of wcalciH'ss in these esti-
mates lie in the assumed average size of harem and in the arbitrary
doublin.' i iite number of bulls seen in order to account for others
suppost 1 to , ;ist but not seen. The si/e of harem assumed (40) is
more tlr 11 I'n »Ie tinit of the average nund)er of jinimals ever seen at
onetime s ;i i irein (17) and is one-fourth larger than the actual num-
ber (;{()) 1)1 '•';vvs, including absent ones, which the investigations of
185)0-97 .show to belong to the average harem. These tigures therefore
must be taken with a good deal of allowance and can be held only to
represent in a very general way the relative condition of the herd. It
may be uoted that no higher accuracy was claimed by .Mr. ^lurray for
these* and subsequent estimates made by him.

Muiniy, 1804: I'ltiic j.<.

The discussion of dead im]ts on this and subsequent pages of this
rejjort has but little value, because built on theassumi»tion that all had
died of starvation. This was the comnmn belief until the investigations
of IX'.in weie nnule. The fact that a large natural mortality, due to

■t(U

IMAGE EVALUATION
TEST TARGET (MT-3)

/.

/«.

C/j

u^

%

1.0

I.I

!.25

1^ 1^

1^ Hill 2.2

If Ki

2.0

1.8

1-4 IIIIII.6

1 . -

Photograpi
Sciences
Corporation

23 WEST MAIN STREET

WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580

(716) 872-4S03

1° . w

■1

^

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vV

W2

APPENI>1X.

totally different causes, ocuuin prior to Au^uat !<•. mid has probably
occurred for centuries, must be kept constantly in mind in roadiny all
early discussions of dead pups.

Murray, i8g4: Page 27.

The ligures for the pelagic catch here given include also the seals
taken on the Asiatic side, a fact which is not made dear.

Murray, 1895: Fagti ts^!.

This iletailed estinuite of seals for ISDo is tloubtless the most elabo-
rate and accurate which Mr. Murray has made. It, however, contains
manifest inconsistencies, as for example, Lagoon Kookery is estimated
at 50 harems and li,()OU cows. This rookery was counted in the same
season both by Mr. True and by Mr. Townsend. The latter found 80
harems and l,2U> cows, the former H'J harems and 1,204 cows. Again,
on Kitovi IJookery l!00 harems and 8,(100 cows are found, whereas Messrs^
True and Townsend in the same season found 14.") harems ami 2,040
cows. IMoreover, the figures themselves show tliat no account is taken
of numbers less than ."iO iu the enumeration of harems. Hut the most
serious defect in the '.'numeration arises from the date at which it was
made. Mr. Murray assumed that the rookeiics were at their height by
the 20th of July and, beginning his enumeral ion at this time, completed
it on August 14. Our investigations for the past two seasons show that
tlie height of rookery development falls about the Ifith of July; that
by the 20th the harems are beginning to break up. and that the mating
.season for adult seals is ju-actically over by August I. Counts and
observations made after the 20th of July give no true idea of condi-
tions in the height of the season, and those made during the first half
of August show wholly different conditions. Then the original harems
are broken up. Tiie regular bulls are gone, and their jWaces aie filled
with young and idle bulls controlling transient harems of virgiu cows.
This enumeration of the seals, therefore, has only the value of a per-
•sonal estinuite made at jin unfavorable time and under a misa])prehen-
sion of the facts of rookery develoiunent.

We nuiy here contrast the vari(ms estimates offered for the season of
1895, and e.\i)rcss our regret that such variant and contradictory
results shouhl be reached and published by duly accredited agents of
the Government:

Agoiit.

Harems. ' Cowa.

True I 4,402 70,423

'.'i»»l.v 5,552 00,03B

Mnrrii.v j 3,000 , 200,000

It may, however, be observed that all this w(uk was conscientiously
and intelligently done. The trouble lay in the methods employed. It
is a curious fa(!t that the estimate laost carefully aiul accurately worked
out is farthest from the truth. This resulted cliietly from the vitiating
assumi)tion tiiat practically all the cows were jiresent on the rookeries
at the height of the season.

!

CorreH|)uii(leiice : I'iigc i^j.

The estimates of starved jmps here given include also imps whicii
died of natural causes prior to the beginning of pelagic sealing. Kef-
eronce should be made to notes upon this subject ajjpended to the
reports of Messrs. ilandin, Crowley, and Murray, where the ,sid)ject is
di.scussed at length.

•

1 .\ J ) E X

Adeo, Alvey A,. AsBistant JSecrotii rv ol' st.iti-. i oi rfctinniilrmc n^Iatini; to
jtcl.ifiic sealing ;{3il, .lir)

.Vtoifiiiic, iHlaud of .100

Agents, H])ociaI. reports of:

Lilt Hell, Paul .'^ ;i!)7

Murray, Joseph :i, 104, 13(5

Prarht, Max 3N")

Al:i.ska:

Caniiories, location of I lit, 121

Canuers, letter to 113

Codfihh industry of 390

Dt'or, destruction of .141

I'oxcN, destruitiou of 442

Kur seals of 4t3

Game-fowl eggs, alleged destruction of 410

(Government, recoinniendutioiis for 452

Herring lislierios of 3itg

Liquor selling 438

Liijiiors cleared for 4,"i3

Xaknek River, conditions on . . . : .132

Natives, custiniis of ;!9ft. :nyj

Natives, liJibits of 398

Natives not allowed to lisli for salmon 409

Natives, occupations of 398

< >ntla ws 442

Salmon tislieries 44,")

S.ilmon iislioriis, extracts from report l)y Marshall McDonald on 424

Salmon fisheries, protection of 391

Salmon liahories, reiiorts on 38.")-l,")9

Salmon tisherii's, suggested laws to ])rotei-t 403, 411, 112, 4,">9

Salmon puck, statistics 393, 4."),5, 4,58

Salmon JIM eking stations 423, 4,")7

Sea otter 412

Smuggling 438

Alaska ('ommercial ; om))any :

Seals taken for all piiri>oses by 258-274

Seals taken for skins by. !,S70-)889 72

Alaska Impioveinent Company, |)rotection of salmon lislieries 414

Alexander, A, li.. cruise of the Louis Oisea 152

Aliens :

Sa linon lislieries can not be held by 395

Salmon streams held by 388

Angel Dolly, seizure of lOO, 202

Arbitration, Paris Tribunal of 280

American position 281

Award of 2X1!

British pnsi*^iou 2S2

Deoision of 282

Deiliiriitions of, referred to rioveninionts of nnited States and <ireat

Uritairi 293

Kxfraeis from argument of American counsel on pelagic sealing 7.5

Phelps. K, .)., ar,;nment of ] 303

Regulations of 283, 289

ii;:;

Mil

INDKX.

I'age.

Area, Paris award, number of ^kinw taken within, 1H!M)-1S!»| 321

Hacbelor humIb, or hollimchickio VJ'.i, ',iO[)

Hurling, K. .1., ])rotection of salmon lislii'ries ll(i, Hi

liarriciiiles and otiHtruL'tionH, salmon tisliinj; 3><5

liutclicllcr, ( icor^ie S., Actinf;' Secntury of tlio 'i'reasnry , iuHtriictiouM 4J(i

Uiiyard, T. ]"., aniliusNador, forrehpondenct) nlatinn' to jx.'Iagiu soalirij; ;^;i5

Hi'an,T. II., iclithyologist, report iL'O

Beatrice, seizure of SHO, 38 1

lierg, Carlos, preservation of seal life i:i

Berin;^ Sea;

Cruise of the Louis olsen in 152

I'elaKic Scaling in, correspondence 315-382

If lack Diamond, seizure of 2!i'J

Mlancbai'd, Kapbael, i)reservation of seal life K!

Bradford, W. IJ., jirotcctiou of salmon lisheries 413

Hriic. .J. J., Connnissioner of I'isli an<l I'isheries, corrcsjjondeucc 36!'

Britisli Beriufi .Sea commissioners:

Instructions to (iO

International action suggested by (It

Methods of giving etfect to suggested regulations ()3

Methods of regulation, alternative, suggested ()3

Kegiilatious for ])rotection reeomnicnded (iL'

.Suggestions of, iavor the pelagic sealer Cm

British vessels .seized, list of ii!)2

Bund's law relating to salmon lisheries, Kngland and Wales 430

Calllaeatl),.lohnC, letter to 8i)ecial agent 44s

Candle-tish (culachon) 39(1

Canneries, salmon:

Distauees from ( ape l-'o\ to 123, l,')?

Karluk i^'i.er io;)

Location of 3!t3, 419, 421

Names 01 393, 419, 4-Jl

Tin used in, cost of 423

Cape Kox, sailing distances from canneries 423, 457

Carlisle, .1 G,, Secretary of the Treasury :

Correspondence relating to pelagii sealing 315-330, 351, 354

Instructions 43t)

Candine, sealing vessel 202

Catch of pelagic sealers, 18GH-1894 27

Chal Icnge, sealing vessel 202

Characteristics of seal pups 122

(.'haracteristics ol' seals (J, 39, 27t)

Clark, Oecnge Archibald 4(!1

Climatic conditions of islands 4, 88. 120

Codfish iuduBtry of Alaska, statistics 39(1

Collet t, Kohert, preserviition of h<mI life 14

Connnandcr Islands, seal life; on 31)

Comniissiou, Joint, suggested , ()7

Companies, canning, names of 393, 419, 121

Corresponiience of Departments on pelagic sealing 315-.'i82

Costigan, John, correspondem-e rel.iting to jxlagic scaling 310, IJdl

Coinisel, American, remarks of. regarding manageiiienl, of seal ishiuils 07

Cruise of the Louis Olsen in Bering Sea 152

Curti.s, \V. E., Acting Secretary of the Treasury, correspondence relating to

pelagic sealing 348

Custmns of natives 398, :f99

Death of i)upH, starvation cause nf U, 31, 83

Decrease of her.Is. cau-e of 11, 10, 300

Deer, flestruction of 441

I)e])o8ition8:

Abbev,C. A 200. 2.S9

Ackerly, .1. C. S IIS

Adams, George It 174,207,219

Adair, C 200, 210, 219, 217

Akiitoo 239, 247

Alexander, A. B 1,52, 174, 210, 239

Aloxandrolf, .1 233

Allen, ,L A 174, 21 1

Allis. \V. C IHl

American ( 'ouiuiissioucrs 173. 181. 19.^. •./.tl

INI)KX.

465

I'age.
321

. l-','i, ,'iO!)
11(1.111

■ ■ . 4.'(i

... 333

.. 126

380,381

13

■ . 15a
315-382

2IMJ

•k;

.. -113
369

(16

m

(!3

<i2

(!5

ii')''

'. '. 430

. . 448

.. 39(t

123. 157
. 405
419,121
419,121
. 123
423, 157

351. 351

- 436
. 202

27

- 202

- 122
, 39, 276

461

88. 120

. 396

44

36

67

119, 121

fl.5-:i82

110, 361

67

152

1 )ti|iiisitiuuB — Coutiuued. I'ugc.

Aiuiersou, A ^ J23, 226

Viidersiin, ('. H 181

Aiidersoii, ('. 1' 226

AniU'isoii, IV'ter aoi

Andiiciiis, H 204, 239

Apokchee, N 233

Aiiiistroiig, .faiues 174

Aniistroiif>-, John 180, 181

Artoiiiaiiolt', Kerrick 101, 175, 182

Avoiy, Charles 21(i, 239, 217

Ayoiike.', Adaui l'l»7, 233, 239, 247

liadeii-rowell, Sir Geoffj;*' , 163

liall, Georjio 224, 226, 247

llarnes. M 83

liarouovitfh, J 182.216,239,247

liates, Maurice 21)7, 233, 239

liehlow, Charles .1 200

lii'iiilt, Williaiii ; 210

Meiiiiott, W. C 207. 221, 233, 240

Boimoii, K 207, 224, 233, 240

Unison, M 202, 207. 219, 240, 217

Hevingtoii, II. .'^ 138,11!

IJl I'diier, Beruhardt 201,240,247

IJoiidc, Neils 166, 207, 219

Howa-chnp 214,233,217

Uradley, .(.A 201, 226, 240

liradlcy. T 220,210,247

lironiiaii. William 227, 240

llrown, Henry 202, 210,247

Hrown, I'oter 214, 216. 220, 233, 239, 240

ISrown, Thomas 204,207,247

Ury ant, Charles 192

Hii'terin, K 172, 176

Hiivnitskv, 8. N 192

Caiiapa, h 240, 247

Campbell, Charles 216, 220, 210

Cauetak, I 233

Cantwell, ,J. C 183.217

Cartlieut, .1.1,. 202, 227

(.'atliciit, Cajitain 72

(,'hallall,Charl<'s 207,220,217

Charlie 233,218

Cliichinotl, \' 231,210

Chin-koo-tin, S 203,231,210

Christiansen,.! 207,210,218

Chureh, IVter 2(«. 207. 227, 211, 218

Circus .liiii 231, 21S

Cla))lanli<)0, .lames 211,231,211

Clark. II. N m, 195

(;iark. William 207,234.218

Clausen, C 166, 172, 21S

Clanssen, l» 221,2:^7

Clement, ,!ohu C 207,227,211

C«dien. M 204, 207, 21 1

Collins.!' 201,227,211.218

( oulson. VV. C 107, 171, 183, 216

Cox, l,eander 18,3. 192,201,221.227

Culler, J^ouis 208. 220

I )ahtllii. Charles 216. 21l!2l^

Dalgiirduo. .lames 204, 21ii. 2 is

Da I ton, .1 22l)! 2 IS

hardean. A i67, 21,5, 21l! 2In

Uav is, Frank 215, 220. 218

Davis, .JetV 2.34

Dennis. ,1 249

Uiek, H()(miall 217

Dishow, Ceori;e 172. 241, 249

Dohin, ,Tohn 208

Dolan. Kichard 208. 240

FT. Doc. 01' ])t. 2 m

4()fi

INDEX.

ItepositioiiM— Contiuiiod. Piigi..

DoMgluBs. .T. H I7i;. I8I.202, 203. •-'20

IJiiliy, 1' l!t.5, -J-JO, Lni

Duncan, Willimn 216, 227, 219

Ecbon 241

EllalniNh 2l.'«, 234

Klliott, II.W 120

KrsUiiir. M. (' 1><l,205, 224, 227, 241

Ktthon 231

Fiiircliild. (ieornc 173. 208, 24!»

Falconer, S 1!»2, lit,".

IVeny, F.l' 205, 224, 227, 241, 249

I'codiir, V 234

I'ojjel, ( ioor^ri! 2U>. 224, 227

i'ostfi', Williiini 227

Fowler. C. L i76, 184

I'raiik 20S, 234

I rank. Chief 21rt, 234, 2»l. 219

I rank, Luko 221.23.5,241, 249

Fianklin. L.T 224,228,249

Frnser. A , 138. 141,1

ralis. .lolin 181,

la/or. Thomas 224,228,

ra/.< r, William 208,

iincko, Ed. W 208, 221, 228,

ylc, .lolin 220,

L-orKC f'had 210, 235, 211,

iltsnn. ('

ibsoii. Cliarles 233,

ibsou, Tliomas 20.5,220,

liildcn, H. A 181,

ctKCI

49
196
241
241
249
224
249
235
241
249
19«

)7, 176, 185

tionastut 205, 235, 242

Condowen,, lames 205.235,242,249

tionld. A.. I 228,212

(irady, (ieorge 224

(irconleaf, E. M 100. 208, 216, 2.50

Grou'oroll, X 235,242

(irittin. A 166,250

(iriffln, .)

lirillith, W. 1' 216.

(iryniPH. .lames

( Jry me.>i. .loscph liHi.

(inild, A. I

t iunther's iSoiih

flasriie, C..J 186,

Hald.ino. il 208, 225, 235,

llannon. M 208.242,

1 lan.sson. A

Ilanii-eii. H 208,228,

Harrison. .1 It

Havikalitla
llav>.J.M ..
I

ii7. 205,

228. 25(

lav ward, . I Itii.

Io;ilv. M. A 171. 170.205,220,

I loilVironner. M 196,

ilenriiii;c8. ,1. A

I lonson. William 225,

1 lertz, E

I ler. lord, W. .< 176. 186,

Hermann, W

I lodKso", N 173. 221, 242,

Hoflman, A. J 209, 228,

I lofHtad. E 203. 228.

1 lawman. C. II 226,

I lolm, () 209,

lloo|Mr. C.L 84.129,

I lotliam. Kear-Admiral

i I utiles. E

Irving. Alfred 209.217,221.235.

242
224
205
250
250
131
228
242
250
186
250
242
250
250
228
242
197
232
250

i:}x

232
242
250
2.50
250
2.50
242
169
165
180
251

FNDEX.

4f)7

i>:i-j

Dt^poHitious— Contiuiieil. t'»gi".

Isaao, Williiim 225

iHOucmau, J tiiBtavw 225

[Hiiacsou, O 228,251

Isbka 235

,Iacol)8oii, V 168, 251

.lumicsou, J 209, 251

.rokuHOD, Fruuk 228

.lohiison, J Iti7, 209, 251

.lohusoii, .Iiick 235, 242, 251

.lohiison, Selwish 215, 217, 212

.Iohntiii,J 209,235,242,251

Kabiliday.P 2;J5

Kiiliiktaav, 1* 203, 209, 251

KashevuioU', P 235, 243, 251

KusUwa 209, 2*i, 243

K asooli , J 209, 236, 251

Keitu, .TaiueH 221, 251

Kiiiucdy, Jaiiit'M 209, 221, 252

Kiitliusdiick, M 209, 236, 252

Kieniaii, .1 170. 205. 2(»!». 221, 225, 229, 252

K'in;;-Hall, F. R 210, 221, 229, 243

KiiikiM.u;)! 236,243

Klanaiieck, V 217. 236. 243

Klouacket, .limuti 205, 236

Kohooi'ofl', S 235

Kooko, R 210,236,243

Kotchootton, .1 187

Kowiueet, .1 203. 236, 243. 252

Krol.8, C. F. K 193

K r u k of r, N 187,197

Kusbisn, A 176, 187, 197. 232

Kvaiu, Olaf 2,52

Lacheek, G 203. 236, 243, 2.52

I-acheek, .1 210

l^afkiu, James 217

I .afliii, .James 252

l.aing, A 221

I .ainpson & Co 140

Laveiuler, A. W 202

l.awsoii, E. L 243

LawBon, E. X 221

I.euaid. L. M 197

I .ennan, .1. E 210, 821. 22}t, 243, 252

I-iebts, G 203,205

I .iebes, II 133, 232

l.ifbes, I 133, 176, 205. 243

I.iobes, « 133

I -ighthoiise, ,J 215, 236, 252

LiiKlabl,C' 229,243,252

Lit Uejobn, K. W 229, 243, 252

L(>n}.,'\V. 11 203, 210, 229, 243. 252

Loud, A. 1' !Ht. 177, 187, 197, 202, 205, 221

Lowe, Tboiiias 236, 252

Lutjens, Cbai les 210, 229, 252

MiAlpiiK", G 210, 244, 253

McClenneu, Cburlfn I'. 133

.MtDouald, .1. D 210.229,244,253

Mcliityre, 11. H &-.. 177, 187, 18^, 194, 197, 232

Mclutyrc, H.AV 177

Mclsaac, William 210. 229, 244, 253

.MoKeeii. .laiii.'s 210,229,241

•McLane, D 170

McLaughliu. Williani 211. 229, 253

McLeai), A 221, 225, 230

McLean, 1) 211. 230, 253

McManiis, R. H 168

Madden, Tbomas 211.253

Maitlaml. Edw 211.244

.Malownusky, J 177. 188. 197. 20.".. 215, 244

46H

INUBX.

lit'piiHitious— (:ouiiiniu<I. I'agf.

Malo.v, J JM, 253

Mauilrejjiu, X 188

Maroncv, I'at 211.215, 222, 253

Martin, ('hiirlcs 211,238,253

Martin, W. K 13«

Mason, l'i«(l 225, 214

Mason, 11 211, 244, 253

Mason, William 211, 222, 2,")3

Miitliasun. '1' 244, 253

Mulovidoll, A 133. 178, INS, 18U. l!)4, 198, 203

Melovidov. s 189. 194, 230

Mill, Anios 211, 254

Minor, E 211

Mintr, (i. K 230, 24 1

Moivau. Franli 211. 217, 22."., 230. 24 1, 253

Morchiiul. K<l<lic 241

Moi-jjan, T. ]•' 109. 189. 194. 198, 202. 203. 212, 230

.Nlorris, .loliii 212. 251

Morrii", M 23o, 24 1

Mortou, .1. M 1 7H

Moses 212. 222. 237, 251

Moss. M 1(!7,212, 217

Monltou. .1. H 181, 198

Mowatt. Tlionias I(i6

Murray, Joseph 131, 190

Nashtau 205, 237. 244, 251

Nat<h, S 212,237

Natulan, Dan 212, 237, 244, 25 1

Nui'hantakc 237

Ncishkaitb, J 237, 244, 2.54

Nelson, N 2(K5, 222, 225, 230, 244, 251

Nettleton, 8. It 190. 198

Nrwuian, A 178

Niebauni, G 179.181. 191,198

Norris, Matthew 217

Xovcs, L. A X7. 179, 190

Nitlaali 237, 244

O'Brien, .loliii 212,251

Oliver, X. T 212, 230, 24J, 251

Olsten, .lohu 212, 222, 225

( )lsou, IVter 237

( )slv 20(i. 217, 24 I

Otis, II. (i 198

I'arker. Wiliiani 2(K), 222, 230, 232. 254

I'cterson. Cliarlcs KiS, 222, 226, 215, 254

I'holan. .lolin .1 201

Polaud. II 139

I'ortor. i;. 1' U>X, 222. 230. 254

i'orter, W 255

Kav. William I' 128

l.'eilpath, J. I 92. 171, 179. 19C, 198. 222. 232

liiie, GeoFK'' 139

KoI.ertH, W 203, 212, 222, 245

Kondtus 245, 255

Uvan, A 206,237.215,2.55

Uyan. T. V 199, 223

Savers, A 217, 230

SciiUner. U. 1' 181.199

sjiepard. I.. ( J 169, 202, 212, 215

Short. William 212, 2,55

Showoosch 226

Shnckv, .luck 212. 237, 245

Shyha, A 237

Simes. I'tter 206, 255

Simsou, A 255

Singav. M 213, 237

.Sitka. .Tack 213, 237. 245, 255

Skowl, 'riioinas 213. 237, 245, 255

skiiltku, 0 238, 245. 255

INMKX.

4nn

.. 'JiiO,2o3

.... ISS

l.".,2L'2,253

11,236,253

.... 13X

.. 225, 2M

11, 214,253

11,222,253

.. 244,253

!)4, 198, 203

t<9. 194, 230

.. 211,254

.... 211

.. 230,241

iO, 24 1, 253

. . . . 24 1

1)3.212,230

.. 212,254

.. 23o,24l

I7K

-'2.237,251

!7, 212, 217

.. 181,1!»«

.... I(i6

.. 131,190

17,244.251

.. 212,237

17,244,251

.... 237

(7,244,2.54

!0. 244, 25 1

. 190.198

... 178

1, 194,198

... 217

179, 190

237, 244

212, 251

,244,254

, 222, 225

. . 2,37

217,241

198

232, 254

245, 254

201

. . 13<»

230, 254

.. 255

. 128

222 23''

"""'139

222, 245

215,255

2! 5, 255

199, 223

:.'I7,230

IMl, 199

212,215

212,2.55

22()

237, 245

. 237

-'06, 255

255

213, 237

245,255

245, 255

245. 255

l>«>[i(>r4itioiii«- ( (niliiiii'Ml. I'oK' ■

Hlouii, .lumi's 223, 230, 255

Bloss, LiM.u 179, 191, 95, 2.55

Suiitb, Frt^d •-'13, 223, 245, 2,55

Suii t li, .1 . VV 217, 245

Smith, Willimii II 213

.Soioii, !•;. W 245, 255

.stump, A\'. (,'. II 139

8tiiiilo\ -lirowii, ,1 113, 17.5. 180. 182. 192, 195

•Sti'pbcuN, Cvnis 213, 2,30. 2,55

Stein tels, |{,"ll 133

.Stickliind, ,l(>.shuii 213, 223. 245, 256

Suntlvall, ({ 231

Swain, .I.A 206,2,56

Swnii, .IiMnrH (i Ill

Tanner, ('ii]>tnin 173

Tannir, Z, 1 191, 203

Taylor, W.U 17', 199

Tfirliniann, E 140, 201

Temple, (i. n 195

Thomas. W 213, 231, 215

Thompson, A. \V 20t>, 217

Thlkuh(liiyiiahl««e, M 204, 23H, 2 15, 25(;

Tlak8atan,(' 206,238,245,251!

Tolman, .1, (' 179,213,226,245

Tread well, 0. 11 134

Trearsheit, 1' 213, 2 16

Tuttle, F 191.226

Twongkwak 238

Tysnni, ,Iolni : 213, 215. 223. 238

iniraan, S 134

Unatajim. .1 204, 213. 238. 246, 256

1 jHher", George 213. 246. 256

Verlieke, V 2;«

Wagner, C. T KM, 180, 213

Walton, R 204. 213. 231, 246, 2.56

Wiink, Charlie 204, 238, 2 16

WaHhlmrn, M. 1 180, 206. 256

WaHBerman, K 213

Watkins 238.2,56

Webster, Dnniel 103, 180, 191 199, 223, 226

Wockennnesch 238

Woitteuhiller, P. S 204, 214, 231, 2.-.6

White, (Jharlev 21.5.217,238.2.56

White, M 170, 214. 226, 231, 233, 246, 2.56

Wiepert, William 131

Williams, Hill v 214, 238, 257

Williams, <'. A 1.35,180

Williams, ,I()8. D 135, 136

Williams. 1'. T 136, 201, 214. 215. 217, 218. 219. 223

Williams, W. H 130,180,192,223

Wilson, Fred 214, 238, 246, 257

Windmillcr, M 135,136

Wispoo 215. 238, 257

Woodrnir, .1 223, 246

Wooskoot . M 238, 246

Yahkah 239

Yeltachy, H 214, 246. 2.57

Yethnow, H 214, 239, 246, 2.57

Yohauscn, A 214,246

Vounp, P 214, 2.39, 246, 257

Young, W 214. 239, 246

Yulla , H 239, 257

Zanimett, (i 246

Zolnoks, Thomas 214. 215. 239, 2.57

Diplomacy anil pelagic sealing 59

Disorganization of rookerie.s 123

Distances from Cape Fox to salmon canneries 423. 457

Drives of seals, nnmber of, 1871-1878 57

Drivintf and killiug aoals, manner of 90

470

INDF.X.

nimcaii, Arthur I,., .^(iittiiiieiil 433

DiiiiiMii. \v ., Ii'itcr til Npi'cial nK(<nt ^47

l",<l\v(ir(lH, Alpli'iiiHe M.. pictHiTViition of 8ciil life ' i'J

1jii iiiieH ot' tlif siilnion 387

JCiikIiiikI, Itmitl'H law ri'liitiiit; tii Hnlnion llHht^-ieH 430

Kulacliou (ciiudlfliNln 3!tO

ExpcrtH, opinions oC, on pelagic Hfaling 173

J''a(l8 of pelagii' Mci\lin)j 279

Kaircliild, C. S., Acting Si'crotiirv of flie TreaNnrv, iiiHtructiunH 291

Fnvoiitf, H.'iznrcof a2r.-y27, :t2!t, !!30, :t;i7

Fomiile Brals, (IcstriK tioii of 199,219,223,247

I'iHiioricH, halibnt 389

KiHherios, Halinon :

Alaitka, reports on 385-459

Alien labor 38K

HiirricadeH ant) obstrnetionH 3)^5

Ilrceiling grounds 400

Hand s law, Kngland and Wales 430

III! teheries 380, 397

Karlnk Hiver, decreaKC of 410

Kurlnk Hiver, HnggestionH for protection 410

Law for protection of 424

Law of Scotland relating to 429

Laws, HUggoHtcd, for protection of 403,411,412,459

Natives debarred from lishing 409

Obstrnctions in livens 425

Oregon Htatntea 427

Origin and dovelopnient of 421

I'aik, 1800-1896 458

Pacli, 1883-1890 425

Pack, 1889- 1893 419

i'ack, 1892 JW, 393

rack, 1894 421

Pack , 1895 455, 458

rack. Pacific Coast, 1860-1895 458

Packers, notice to 391

Packing stations, Alaska 423, 457

Protection of 391.410-418

Fisliing indnstries 389

Plcot, sealing, increase of 231

Pood of natives 92

Food of HcalB 52

Foster, Charles, Secretary of th" Troasury, letter transmitting report to

Department of State 302

Foxes, dcstrnction of 442

Fnr companies, rules of 92

Fnr seal, northern, and its relation to the seal-skin industry 277

FurricMs:

American, testimony of, regarding dcsTvnction of female seals 131-1.'?7

Kritish, testimony of, regarding destruction of feniale seals ]37-l.")2

Game-fowl eggs, alleged destruction of 440

Oiglioli, Henry II., preservation of seal life 44

(ionch, Hugh, liritisli charg<< d'att'aires, correspondence relating to pelagic

sealing 339

Government of Alaska, reromnicndations for 452

Government revenue derived from seals 278

Governmental l)o|)artments, lorre-pondenco on pelagic sealing 315-382

Great Kritain, sealskin industry in 141-152

Grebnifzky, Niclioluu A., seal life on Commander Islands 36

Grounds:

Breeding, salmon 400

Hauling, location of 124

Growth of pelagic sealing 73

Habits of natives 398

Habits of seals 84. 87, 89. 93, 279

Halibut fisheries 389

Hamlin, C. 8., Acting Secretary of the Treasury, correspondence relating to

pelagic sealing 316, 335, 338, 343, 3 47, 3.52, 369. 370, 376, 3?7, 379, 381

Hardie. .John, correspondence relating to pelagic sealing 341

INDKX.

171

Pagr.

138

/^il

42

:W7

.130

3!K»

173

a79

291

, ;i2it"33(), :w7

', 2Ii», 223, 247

:i«»

.... :«5-4B!»
38X

3Hr)

400

4;io

.... :i8G,3!t7

410

410

424

42it

411,412,459

409

42".

427

124

458

425

419

... 3«7,393

421

... 455,458
... 158
... 391
423,457
^91. 410-418
. . 389
.. 231
92
52
t ti)
.. 302
.. 442
92
277

131-137
.. 137-152

.. 410

44

igic

339

.. 452

.. 278

315-382

141-152

3()

400
.. 124
73
. . 398
89. 93, 279
.. 389
to

?. 379, 381
341

IlitreniH. >'

DoMi'iiptioii of

DiHHuliitiiiii (1'

Si/eof 5,80.

lliirManI), (!,, iiri'nciv Mtioii oC sciil lift'

Iliiti liriicH, Naliiiou

Iliiiiliii^' K>'"i"i'''^ '■

Location ol'

Misiinprclii'iisiou uh to iiuiiu'8 of

II<T(1 viwItH only ]ila<ti of bii'tli

lIcrdH, cauHd of iUmmimho of II. Iti,

llrrrinf; lisliei icH of Alaitkn, HtntistiiiH

lIolhiKcliickic. or Imcluilor nchIh 12:i.

Ilnlnh, Kinil, |iriiservation of hoal life

Iliinii', l>, !».. iirotiMlion of salmon litliorifu

IInut«r-«:

Indian, opiniouN of, on ilecrt-nst! of soalH

Wliltf, opinions of, on drcreai-o of Heals

Huxley, T. II. , Ntatcnitiht rrKurdin;; hiiiI life

In<lian hnntcrrt. opinioiiH of, on drcrcaHo of hruU

InduHtries. I'lHliini;

Iimtnu'tioim to Hijtish Iteiing Sea cornnnHsionois

International aetioii NnKK'''*^'''l ''.^' I'lilinli llering Sua i iiuin>iM.siunerH

.lanioH Ihiuiilton Lewis, Healiuf; veusel

.lordan, David .Stai'i'

Karlnk Kiver:

CanneiinH

Fisberie.s, suKfiustioun for proteetion

Kalinon, (leeronso of

KoUey, W. A,, I'nited States CununisBioniM-. lettc-r to Hpeeial »mnu

Killing fi;ronndH, diivinij sealH to

Lalior, alien, in Halnion caniierieH

Libel of Bclioonei' Thornton

Liebos, IL, corresiiondence relating to pelagie Healiug

iiifc, seal, waste of

Lilljeboru', Willielni, preservation of seal life

liiqnor selling

Jii(|nori4 cleared for Alaska

List of IJritisli vessels seized

London, seal skinsdyed anil sold in 117-

Lonis Olsi n (schooner), ernise ol', in lierini;' ."^ea

Luttroll, I'aiil S,, special agent, report on salmon HsIk ries of Alaska

McDonalil, .Marshall, extracts from report on salmon lisherios

Me(ieo, .lolin .1.. (^orrespondento relating to pelagic r.ealing

Mclntyre, II. II.. HU),erintendent .Maska Commercial Company:

Decrease of seals

Management of rookeries

Mal(< life, lack of. not caiisu of decre/iso of seal.s

Management of rookei ies not eanso of decreasi' of seals

Manner of driving and killing seals

Merriam, C. Hart (Dr.), letter to naturalists

Method of driving and killiug seals

.Methods of giving olfect lo suggested regulations of Itritisli Hering 8ea com-
missioners

Methods of regulation, alternative, suggested liy Uritisli |!erii\g tioti connuis-

siontMs

.MiddendorfV. A. V., jjreservation of seal life

Migration of the. sea I herd ,

Milne, A. I'., correspondence velatin'i to pelagic seaMng. . . .

Morgan, .John T. (Senator), extract from opinion of ,

Movements of female seals

Murray, .Jo.seph, siiecial agent, reports, etc

Xaknek Hiver. Alaska, conditions on

Names of American sealing vessels ,

Names of Canadian sealing vessels

Names of rookeries, niisapprebonsioii of

Natives:

Customs of 398.

I'ood of

nnbits of

3l2,;«i2,

3,404.413. 130, Kil-

104,

11]

r»

110

II

3H(;

121

•j:>H

;>o*i

:<!iti

•.m

i><

117

233
220

19
I'll: I
iWi

III!

tU
202
Kil

lor.
tio

IKl
l.-)l
121
338
291
:!,"),-.
120
47
438
453
292
-152
1.52
■Ml
421
339

.•iOO

291

18

192

90

39

8

o;!

G3

47

121

372

77

115

-402

132

, 291

294

258

399

92

398

472

INItKX.

NntivoB— CoHtinnoil, ''i>g»

Not iillownl ti) IIhIi liii' hhIiiioii 40lt

OiM'i:;);ili<iim ol' ... 880

NntuniliHts, Hiiili'iiH'iitH 111', oil |)r<'N(M'vittii>ii of Html lil'i-;

Iti'iK. I'nrldH 43

lUiiiK'lianl, It'll pliiicl Ml

Coll.'tt. li'olHTt U

l".(l\V; Ills, Alplioiiio .M ■•'_'

(iJKlioli. ll.'iiiy ]1 41

lliirt'.iiiili, (i 41

lloliil). Kiiiil 4K

lliixl.v, r. II 4»

I .illirlioru, W'illiclni 47

Mu'ilondoiir. .\. V 47

Nt'liriiij{, All'niil Ill

tSalvndoi'i, 'roMiiiin>is;> 4't

Scliiler, I'hilip l.iitl.-.v [il

TowiiMeiid,! '.II "il

N'oii SchrciK'U, Iii'0|io1i1 II

Ncliriii);, .Ml'rcd, iirini'i'viilion of Hfiil Mfi< 4'<

Ni'ltlt'toii. A. It., Ac linn >-'t'c rctiiry of IJio TreaHiiry, iiiNtnictiiniH H!M

>i'ortliw('fit Cimst niid \'i('toriiv »Uiiin iiiarkcU'd, 1X^1 l^>l!> 1(11

Obstriii'tiiiim and liariicadcH in .salmon liNJifrioH 8'*"

OcriiliatiiiiiH of liativus Mi."*

( Hiii'V, Uicliurd. Secri'tarv of State, forroRpondcnro ri'latiii;; to politKi*' st'iilinK- I'ST),

:mt, :«>, ;i52, ;i54, ;r.«, :ir>!t, no i . 'mm. :wt. ;t7 1 , :wo, 38i

Onward, scaling vessel '-'"•'

0)iinions of oxpiTtx on ]i(«lanio RraliiiK 17H

Oii'^on statu L«M for jirott'ction of salmon I'mlierius 427

Outlaws 442

rmillc CoaHt Ralmon pack, 18tX>-189r. 4BM

I'ackors, iioti.i' til :W

Parkin); stuliiMiH in Alaska I'.'H. 15"

Talis award area, iiiiiiiImt of skiim tak' n witliiii. ISKO-lSiM 321

I'aiis rcunlalions do nut jtrolfct seals 80

I'aris 'rriliiiiial of Arliitrntion 280

Amcritan jmsitioii 281

Arhriniicnt of E. .1. I'bolps 803

Award of 28»{

British position 282

Doiisioii of 282

Declarations of, referred to (iovorninents of I'nited (States and tireat

Hritain 203

K\ tracts from arKumcnt of American coiiiiboI on pelaj»ic scaliiit; 7")

KcRMlat ioim of 'Jm;!. 280

Past and future of tlio fur seal 270

I'aiiiicefotc. Jnliau. ambassador, corre8|iondeuce relating to pelauic soalinn'. . . 300.

371.:{K0.3S1

Pedersoii, 1,, A., ronditions on Naknek River. Alaska 432

Pelagic sealing:

Adee, Alvey A., Assistant ."^oneiary of State, correspondence . . 'X\9. 3l."i

IJayard, T. F., amliassador, lorrespondenco :i3.'>

Hrieo, ,1. .1.. ('oiMiiiissionor of I'isli and rislieries, eorrospondenco 3tWt

Kvilisli Heriiifj Sea ('oiiiiiii.ssioners, su^jgestions favor (>">

Carlisle, .1. (i.. Secretavv of the Treasury, corresiiondeiice 31,5-HHO. .S.'il. .S.'vl

Cateli, IHfiS-lSOl ' ' 27

Catch. !M72-180I 41

Catch, 189i)-lK04 73

Catch, |X!il-lso."> 44r>

Catch, 1803-1«!M 821

Catch of Hrilish .se.ilers, 189.") 301

Cause of diiiiiiiiition of herds 11, 10, II, 0.5, OS, 113,27s

Coirespondenct^ of (ioveriiniontal deiiartmonts on ;!15-3S2

Costijian. John, currespondence 340, 361

(!urtis, W. E,, Actin^r Secietury of the Treasur.v, coiTespondcnce .... 348

Extracts from ari;uinent of American counsel before the trib' • r' of arlii

tration on resiiltf} of 75

Facts of 270

Femali' seals, destrnctlon of H'O, 219. 223. 247

(irowth of .7,3,125

Oounh, Hugh, co: lespondeuce 339

INhKX.

m:\

;m

i:i
111
ti
I'.'

41
il
In
l!l
IV
17

l:;
i;i
r.i
r.i
II
ri

.'<!M
Kll

427
442
458
891
VJ'X 157
X'l
«0
28()
281
«03
28(!

. 282
t

2n;i

7")

2M.S, 28ft

27fi

. 30(!.

:tw). :wi
4;i2

:t:f!). :m.-
. ;ta"i
. ;i«9
(;r.
ir.i.:r>i

27
41
73

4ir,

fl2l

3(51

13, 27N

115-3x2

7i)
•279
23. 217

•;!. 125
339

i'oliiuit' Heiilinu ('oiilitnii'il. I'uu*-.

Hamlin. ('. S,. Aetiiiu >i <iit;ii\ "I lli<i rri-iiH>ir\ , rorifM|)oiiil' iirr .. 3t(l,

;i:i.".. 33«. 343, :I47, 352, ;kilt, 37<>. 37(1. 377, 370, :WI

Hardin, .lohii. <oi'i'i-s|i<iii(l)>ii<'t> 811

IiiiTuiisu of. ill {{iihhIiiii iiikI ,lii))niii!Hf wiitrm 832

l.iclit'H, II., ('i>rrrH|)i>ii(lriir(> 855

Mr(ii>«'. ,liiliil .1.. cnriCHltoiHlflKM) 83lt

Miiiiiifrnr 125

Miliir, A. ]{., i'i(ri(ii|ioinlciico 312.3(12,372

< )luev, Uii'hikrd. t^ocrt-lary of stiitf, rorridpoiiili'iicc ;!35,

3l!l. 3.511. :i.52. 351, 3.5M, 35!t. 3(il, 'MMi, 3(>7, 371, WO, 3^1

< i|iiiiliiim of liiiliaii ncitlcrs on .Icin^is.- nf simiIh li.v 2;>3

( lj> 111 Kins <i( HCiilris rt'KMrdlllj; |)l(>ti'*'. m ''' olii 7(>

()|iinii>iiH dl' w lute m'ttlfi/* on dicii'iKin u, ■ Ih liy 22(i

I'll unci' lilt*'. .Ill 11 an, uiiilinsMador, rorrispon .I'liio 3)!<l, 371, 380, 381

l'('lrrnl:ijri> <>i' si'IiIm liint li.V 2l(i

l.'.MiiltHol 23!l

K'lilieriK, W. r., I'liiti'd .'^tiiti'n con' n . rnrii n| indi'iin- 82!t

Seals, )irrri-ntai;i^ lout <>i tlioite bti ick liv limitfiv 2()(i

Skills sold UK ifHiilt ol. 1X72-18'I1 ." 231

Solo niiiHc of deirciiHO of 8e:ils, o|iiiiionN ol' <'xpiMtM 173

Soli' cause of dii icaHO of -^cals. ojiiiiiim . ol liidiiili linnlers 233

Soiiiow, .\.. K'lissian char;;"' d'atlairo^, I'orre.tiiondenoe 345, 34(i

Stanley- 1 irown, .1., correDpondence 3tJ0

rill, Kdwin {•'.. Aetini; Seeietary of Statu, coi n>.s)ioiideiico 828

W'ike, S., Acting Secreturv of tljf TreusiiiN-. eorre.-|.oii(leiiee 33S

•MH. 3 lit. ;C)2, .355, .;57. 358. 35!t. 360, 3a5, 3()S

I'elnnic HeKliiif! and diploniary 5!l

l'el('(Mitii^e lost of seals Htriick liy |'el:iule linnters 20(i

I'ei'son.s C'nj{aj;ed in llii' lalpriciition of seal-skins in 1. on Ion 117

I'lielpH, i;, .1.. ;ilj,'miient luifore tin- I'aiJH tiiltiinal 803

I'lllIlH silfJUeHteil for |il'esrr\ atioii of Meals 2!l!l

I'otlatcli 8!tit

I'riielit. M:ix. Hperial a!;ent, report on saliiioii fislierieit of AliiHka 385

I'riliilof Islands. {S,, olno St. I'aiil l8laiiil.st. (Jeorgo Island.)

C'lini.itic eonditions I. M8. 120

(H'ot^nipliie.'il Hit nation 3, 8X

Metii(n'o;o;;ii'al 88

(trijriii I

Otter 3

3

3

I

15

Ifi5

7;i

St. (Jeorge
St. I'aiil ..
Seals

Se;il> on. in 1X73

Skins, soiil. dectea.sc in sizo of

StatistiiB.ollieiiil, of seals taken. 18!Hi-lS'ti

Statistics, ollicial. of seals taken for all jinrposes by Alaska Coinineicial

t'oiniiaiiy 2,58-274

Teniiieratiiie. averano I

Walrus 3

I'riiesof seal skins, averaire. 1881-188!t Ifi:!

I'riees of skins taken at sea 281

Protection of aalinon fiHlturiuB 41tM18

I'lips:

Cliaiacteristics of 122

Dead, on islands, st.itciuent of Kritish Herinj; ISea ( oniniissioners 23

Dead, on rookeries U. 31, 32.83, 100, 101, 10i», 118

Dead, time of ajipearaiKe on rooki rics 31

I.earninu to swim 122

Starvation of 11,34, S3

Uiiids oil rookerii'8 not cause of <leere!ise of seals 195

IJcasons why prejrnant females are taken 202

U'ccomnieudations for jireservation of seals 81

Keeve. 1'. A., .\etinj; Soliciioi of ilie 'li-easiiry. opinion rojtitrding aliens con-
trolling fislieiies 395

Regulation, alternative method of, suggested by liritish Bering Sea eoniniis-

sioners 03

Ikcgulations:

I'nris, do not protect seals 80

Proposed, liy Hering Sea coinniiusiouers 02

474

INDEX.

K<'giil;iti<)nM -( 'Diitiniictl. Vif^v.

Snjiigcsttid.or liriliHli I" ri^iii; >i':i i ipimnissidiicrs. iiu'tlioilsol'giv iim oltcrl to OH

Tribunal of Arbitratiou. fiiiluro of 75

Resorts of sf.ils 277

Kevonne deiiv I'd liy tlio (iovenniieut from neals 278

Roberts, AV. l'..rnito(l States eousul.covrcspondencoreliitiiiK to jiclagir Ne.iliiig. 32!i

Rookeries:

A life of seals on 122

Arrival of seals on 121

Mulls, fastinj; of, on 121

( 'iinscs of (lecieasc of seals on 41

Disorganization of 12.'5

Habits of seals on >*9

.\Ianajj;enieul of 291

Management of, not cause of tlocrease of seals 192

Misapprehension as to names of 258

OrKauization of 122

I'lips, dead, not found on, prior to 18l<l 32

I'ups, dead, on 11, 31, S2. X3. 10(). 101. lOtt. 118

Raids on, not eause of decrease oi seals 195

Rnles of fnr eom|>anieH 92

.St. Cieorge Island:

Area 4

Oeo)>:ra])hiral situation , 88

.Sia Is, number taken for skins by Alaska Commeridal Company, 1870-1889. 72

."^eals, number taken on. 18!t."i 453

.Seals, ollieial statistics of number tiikeii for all purposes by Alaska Com-
mercial Company 268-274

St.l'aul I.slantl:

Area 3

Geograiibical situation . 88

Rookeries, number of seals on, 18SM 15

Seals, number taken for skins by Alaska Commercial ( 'ompanj-, 1870-1889. 72

Seals, number taken on, 1S!I."> 4.52

.Seals, otlicial statistics of number taken for all purposes by Alaska Com-
mercial Company 2.58-208

.Salmon :

Breeding grounds 400

Calming companies, names of 393. 419. 421

Enemies of 387

■Salmon canneries:

Distances from Cape Fox to 423, 457

Karluk River 405

Location of 393, 419, 421

N.amesof 393.419.421

Tin used in, cost of 423

.Salmon fisheries 445

Alaska, reports on :{8,5-459

Alien labor 3.S8

Harriciides and obstructions ;-t85

Breeding grounds 400

Bund's law, England and Wales 430

Hat iheries 386, 397

Karluk River, decrease 410

Kiirlnk River, snggestionr for protection 410

Law for protection of 4'.'4

Law of Scotland relating to 429

Laws, suggested, for protection of 403, 111, 412, 459

Natives <lelmrred from fishing 409

Obstructions in rivers 425

( bogon statu tes 427

Origin and dev(dopment of 424

Pack, 1806-1895 458

Pack, 1883-1890 425

Pack, 1889-1893 419

Pack, 1892 387, 393

Pack, 1894 421

Pack, 1895 455,458

Pack, PnciHc Coast. 1X(;(;-1895 458

INDEX.

47:

to 111!

ir,

... 277

. 278

ng. ;^2!^

... 122
. . . 121

... 121

41
. . . 123

89
... 29.1
. . . 192
... 258
- . . 122

32
1. 109, 118
... 195

92

4

88
39. 72
. . . 453

3
88
15
72

452

423. 457
. 105
419, 421
419.421
. 423
. 445
:(85-459

;is«

385
400
430

386, 397
410
410
4.'4
429

412, 459
409
425
427
424
458
425
419

m. 393

421

155, 4.58

458

Sjiluiou tinliiiiics ('ontiiiiifd. I'iigi-

I'Hckers, iintirc to 391

Packing stiitioiiN, Alstska 423,457

Protection of 391, 410-418

Snlinon tiHliiiijj, natives debarred from 409

Salmon hatcherius 380, 397

Salmon, prices ol', in 8an KranciKco 440

Salviitlori, TonniiasKO, jjrcHervation of seal life 43

San 1 )ief;o, sealiD^ vessel 201

San l'"ranci8Co:

Prices of salmon in

Principal market for salmon

Selater, l'liili]i Lutley, statemi'nt regardinin' seal life

Scotland, law of, relating to salmon lisheries

Sea otter, destruction of

Seal Islands. (Scr aho l'ril)iIof Islands.)

Arrival of seals on

('limatie conditions

Counsel, American, remarks of, re<j;ardinK management of

Dead pups on, statement of Itritish Heriiiy Soa commissioners

Geographical sit nation

Meteorolojiica I

Seal life, waste of

Sealers:

British, catch of, in 1H9.")

(Jlassilication of

Indian, o])iuions of, on decrease of seals

Opinions of, regarding jirotection from pelagic sealing

White, opinions of. on decrease of seals

Sealing fleet:

American, vessels composing 16-1,

('anadian, vessels composing

Increase of

Sealing, pelagic. (.sv« Pelagic sealing.)

Sealing venture, estimated cost of

Sealing vessels, valuation of

Seals :

Age of, on rookeries

Alaska herd, decrease of

Arrival of, on rookeries

ISarren females

Cause of decrease of 11

(characteristics of

Commander Islands

Decrease of, lack of male life not the cause

Decrease of. ojjinions of white and Indian sealers 220,

DecreH8<' of, |)elftgic sealing tho sole cause of, oi)ini.)ns of experts

Departure of. from islands

i )escript ion of

Desf ruction of, liy pelagic scaling 11, 10, 41. 95, 98, 113,

Docility of i

Driving and killing 8,

I'astiiig of liulls on rookeries

Female, destruction of 131-1.52 199,223,

female, loss of, Hritish and American t(«fimony 105-

Food of

Pur of

Habits of M, 87, 89, !t3, 11.3.

Harems. deseri|)ti<m of

Harems, dissolution of

Harems, si/.e of 5, 80,

ilolluschickic, or bachelor so.'ils 123,

Killing of, performed under supervision of (iovernment :igcnts

Management of rookeries not cause of decrease of

Mannvr of driving and killing

Migration of the herd

Migratory course of

Movements of females -.

Northern

Noi-thevn, cause of destrnction of

10, 41, 9.-), 98, 113,
fi,39,

440

410

r.i

42}t
442

88
07
23
88
88
120

361

9

233

70
220

2it4
294
231

162
162

122
180
121
123
278
276
30
18
233
173
121
ti
278
308
124
121
247
173
52
443
279
114

110
309
108
192
90
124
298
115
277
278

47(;

INDFA'.

.Settle Coinilliinil. I'aUi'.

Niiiiibi T tiikfii li,\- iielajiir sealol-*, IHtiS-lKill '_'?

NmiilMT tnlicii lov all imrposi's by Alaskii ('(inniicn'iiil ('ompany -. i5H-271

Niiiiilioi- taken ioi ikins liy Ahiska Coiniiieicial ( '(iiii]iimy. 1870 ISHit 72

Kmiilii'r taken on inlands I si),") 452

Nnrrtiiifi ii'iiialcs, di'sliiu'lloii ol' 21it

I'aris I'cijiilalious do iiol |.rott'(l HO

I'ast and i'uturc of 27<i

r.'latfic (>!itL'li, 18!»l-lWt."> 415

Pi'Iajfic sealitis: <•,'). me or iliniinulion Ol' lli'i, 98

IJOfi

216

125

I'crcentage lost, of tlioso stiiick liy ]iclaj;ic Imnter.-'.
I'ereentajii' oC lo.s(. statenicnls by pelagic Healers
i'laee of biilli, retinii of lipnl to

Plans, snjjgested, for ])reservation of 299

Raids on rookeries not cause of decrease of

Keason why i>re;inant females are taken

Recommendations Hng}i;ested for i)reseivation of li
Resorts of

•d

195

202

81

27V

Rcsnlts of IndiBciiminate Hlaugliter 239

Revenne of tiovc inmenl derived from 278

Rookeries, canses of de,)letion of 41

So\itliern, dostvnetion of 27f)

Swimming p'lwei s of 123

Visit only the ])liiie of birth 125

Weight and size of 124

Woiiinling ol' 214

Vonng. learning to su im 122

Seal-skin indnstry ;

Importance of 278

Its relation to tlic nortlwrn for seal 277

Seal-skins:

Averagi' prices, l8Sl-l8S!i I(i3

Decrease in si/e nl' I(i5

i'alirication of, nnniliei' of ](er.s(in- in gaged in 147

Sohl and i\\{'i\ in London, statistics of 1 17-152

Shelby, seizure of 327, 328

Size and wi'ight of seals 124

Size of seal skins, decrease in I(i5

Skins;

Number marketed, 1881-lsS!i Kil

Number H(dd and dress.'d in l.ond<in. IS68-1889 164

Number sold .ind dyed in l.ondiui 117-152

Number sold, result of itclagic sealing, 1 872-1 !S91 231

Number taken within I'.iris award area. 1890-1894 321

Prices of, taken at sea 284

Smuggling 438

Somow. A., eorresjiondence relating to peliigic sealing 34,5, 310

Spjinlding, < •. L., Ai^ting Sei letary of tlie Treasury, iiistructions 395

Stanley-Iirown, .1. ;

Correspondence relating to pelagic sealing 3fiO

J'ast and future of the fur seal 27(>

Statisticii of London trade in seal-skins 147-1.52

Statistics, ollieial. of seals taken for all ](ur)>oses bv Alaska Cniuniercial Com-
pany 2.58-271

Streams, salmon, held by aliens 388

Suggestions of ISritish Hering Sea commissioners fa.vor /la'fic; sealers 05

Swin\ining powers of seals 123

'restimony, l?rilish and American, respecting loss of fi-niale seals 1()5-173

'rbiu'utnn (8choonei\ libel of 291

Tin used in canning, cost id" 423

Townsend, ( '. II.. statenu'iit regarding seal life 51

Treasury Department, corres))ondenee with other Departments on pidagic

315-382

sealing

rill, I'.dwin 1'., Acting Secretary of .state, correspondence relating to pelagic

sealing 328

United States, demonstration of pro))ositions of 77

Vessels, British, seized, 1X811-1890, list of ^ 292

Vessels, sealing, Atneritan, names of 164, 294

Vessels, scaling, valuation of I(i2

INUEX.

47

Vesselw, .sei/iiiv ol : I'agf.

kagi-l Dolly UK), L'02

Fieatrico 380, 1381

lilack Diiimoiul 2!»!t

Favorite 325-327, 32tt-330, ;«7

Heurietta 84

San Diogo 201. 2<Jii

iShelbv 327, ;!28

Wanderer 325-330. 337

Victoria anil Northwest Coast wkins uiiiikcled, 1881-lNSH Kji

Von .Si'hniirk, LeopoM. |ireser\ ation id' simI lili' II

Wales, Bund's law relating, to salmon tislierios 13(1

Wanderer, soiziiri! of 32.5-33(i. :i37

Waste of .--eal life 12l>

Wike, S., Acting Sei letary of tlio Treasury. ^■l(rre^llonlllMll'e relating to pelagir

sealing 33s. 318. 3 l)i. 3.">-'. 3."i.'). 3:.7. :ir»x, 3.")it. 3ti(). 3t).5, 368

Woiiudiug of ei'uls 211

5-382

328

77

202

1, 2!M

1112