4TH CONGRESS, ) SENATE. c DOCUMENT 137,
1st *SVxx/. ('., March 1, jsttf.
SIR: Agreeably to your directions contained in Department letter,
June 9, 1894, hereto annexed, I left Victoria, British Columbia, July 23
last on the United States revenue steamer Rush for the Pribilof Islands
in Bering Sea and other points in the Territory of Alaska. I was
accompanied by Mr. Joseph Murray, inspector of salmon fisheries, and
Mr. John W. McGrath, secretary and stenographer.
1 now have the honor to transmit a report, together with reports of
Mr. Murray and other official documents, bearing upon the subject.
Our itinerary was as follows:
July 23, sailed from Victoria, British Columbia; July 31, arrived at
Unalaska; August 1, at Unalaska; August 3 to 8, St. Paul Island
(Pribilof); August 8, St. George Island; August 9, Unalaska; August
11, Akutan; August 12, Belkofski; August 13, Sand Point; August 14,
Unga; August 1G, 17, Karluk (Kadiak Island); August 18, St. Paul
Island; August 21, Yakutat Bay; August 25, Sitka; August 20, 27,
Juneau; August 28, Wrangell; August 29, Kasau, Loriug, and Metlak-
hatla ; August 30, Fort Simpson ; September 3, Xanaimo and Vancouver.
The area of Alaska Territory has been estimated at 531,000 square
miles — almost one sixth of the total area of the United States. The
population, according to the Eleventh Censuses 32,052; of which total
4,298 are whites, 2,288 Mongolians, 23,531 Indians, and 1,823 mixed.
The length of the coast line of Alaska, including the mainland and
islands, is 20,364 miles, as compared with 3,090 for the Pacific Coast,
2,043 miles for the Atlantic Coast, and 1,810 miles for the Gulf Coast,
including all islands.
Some conception of the distances between the various points in the
Territory may be obtained from the following table:
Statute
miles.
From United States boundary on Portland Canal, Alaska, west to the island
of Attn, approximately 2, 374
From Sitka, 'Alaska, to the Pribilof Islands (seal islands) as a vessel sails 1,565
From Port Towusend, Wash., to Uualaska 1, 949
From Port Townsend, Wash., to the Pribilof Islands 2, 189
From San Francisco to Unalaska 2, 37 1
From San Francisco to Pribilof Islands 2, 611
From San Francisco to island of Attu 3, 282
From San Francisco due west to meridian of Attu 3, 513
From San Francisco due east to Washington 2, 456
Between the Pribilof Islands and the city of Washington there is a
difference of time of six and one fourth hours; betsveen the Pribilof
Islands and San Francisco, three hours.
4
SEAL LIFE ON' TH H PKIBILOF ISLANDS. 5
The report of Inspector Murray, hereto annexed, and the other docu-
ments made a part of this report so completely set forth the present
condition and needs of the Territory of Alaska, as well as its past his-
tory, that little more is left to me than generalization.
The subject matter naturally divides itself into several broad groups,
viz: (1) The fur seal, (2) the salmon lisheries, (.'5) other fur bearing ani-
mals, (4) the land question, (5) the liquor question, (0) the Indians.
I shall briefly consider these questions in order. It will be apparent
that many details do not fall within the jurisdiction of the Treasury
Department; nevertheless I deem it expedient to state what I saw and
certain general conclusions thereon. '
1. THE FUR SEAL OF ALASKA.
It is unnecessary to dwell, except very briefly, upon the history of
the Pribilof Islands, one of the breeding places of the northern fur
seal. Discovered about 1787 by Russians, they remained in the pos-
session of Russia until ceded to the United States in 1807. From
1787 to 1805 there were a number of Russian companies on the islands,
and the seals were ruthlessly slaughtered without regard to age or sex.
In 1800 and 1807 killing was suspended and most of the Indians
engaged in the killing were sent back to Unalaska, whence they were
originally procured. From 1808 to 1834 killing was resumed with lit-
tle care for the preservation of the herd. By 1834 the herd was threat-
ened with extermination, and killing, except a limited number for food,
was prohibited until 1841. In 18.' >5 the principle of killing only male
seals was adopted, and from that time on the herd was watched so
carefully that in 1867, at the cession of Alaska, about 5,000,000 seals
were on the islands, as many, as far as all evidence goes, as were there
in 1787.
From the cession until 1871 the seal islands were free to all, and as a
result over 250,000 seals were taken in one season. After 1870, how-
ever, the catch was strictly regulated and the monopoly of killing seals
was leased to the Alaska Commercial Company for twenty years. At
the expiration of this lease a new lease was made to the North American
Commercial Company, which has not yet expired.
From 1870 to 1880 about 100.000 male seals were taken on the islands
annually, without in any appreciable degree affecting the size of the
herd. From 1880 on, however, causes were at work which soon became
manifest in a rapid falling off of the seal herd, until in 1800 only about
25,000 could be taken on the islands as against over 100,000 in 1889.
The following table shows the total number of seals killed on the
Pribilof Islands from 1870 to 1894, inclusive:
Grand ioial of seals killed for all purpose* on the Prilrilof Island* from 1870 1o 1894,
hiclusire.
Year. Number. Year. Number. Year. Number.
1870 23,771? 187!) 110,511 1888... 1 OH 304
1871 102,960 1880 105,718 1889 102,017
1872 108,819 1881 i 105,063 : 1890 25,701
1873 109,177 1882 \ 99, 812 1891 .... 14406
1874 110.585 1883 j 79,509 18'.)2 7509
875 106,460 \ 1884 \ 105,434 1893. 7390
1876 94,657 ; 1885 j 105,024 1894 15033
1877 84,310 I 1886 | 104,521 '
1878 10H.3123 1887 105.760 Total 2,047.374
6 SEAL LIFE ON THE PKIHILOF ISLANDS.
The cause of the decrease in number found on the islands is now
universally admitted to be the killing of female seals. As no female
seals have been killed on the islands since 1834, it follows that the fall-
ing off is caused by pelagic sealing. From 1875 to 1880 vessels occa-
sionally took seals at sea, but the number caught was insignificant. By
1830 the vessels engaged amounted to 16 ; in 1886, the fleet had increased
to 34, and for the first time entered Bering Sea and commenced taking
seals. The subsequent history is well known; the seizures and pro-
tests finally culminated in the treaty with Great Britain, the Paris
Tribunal, and the award providing regulations under which pelagic
sealing is now carried on.
The following table gives the number of seals killed at sea from 1868
to 1894, inclusive, dividing the catch into localities, as far as possible;
also giving the number of vessels employed.
The figures prior to 1891 contain some seals killed on the Asiatic
coast. It is not possible to distinguish such seals, however, from those
killed on the eastern side of Bering Sea and the North Pacific Ocean,
forming part of the Alaskan or American herd.
This table was compiled from the figures in the British and American
cases before the Paris Tribunal and subsequent corrections taken from
official reports and the official returns of the London trade sales:
Totals hy localities.
Asiatic'.
I'D. I.
Vessels.
appendix
United
Statea
case,
vol. 1.
4.367 .
4. :;<;:
4.430
8.686
16,911
4,430 i.
8 686 .
16 911
,->. 336 .
5.229 .
5 H73
• •i
H! 229
5, 873
! "
5, 033
I
5 515
5,210
5/210
5. r.44
8.867
8.910
10,382
15.551
16, 5*5
17. 183
24,9(50
38, 994
4(5, 628
26,915
43, 158
51,814
69. 788
73, 394
109.001)
142.000
5,544 .
8 557 !
310
8,718 L
10 382 I
1,
15,551 1
14,057
16 971
2,500 j
212
920
000
21, 840
13, 399
9. 324
8,714
14,361
21,838
22, 900
46, 642
28,613 .
24,101
1,200 '.'.
14,595
1,
11.
21,304
17,475
15,497
18.976
•_•::. 041 5
''6
16,000
. . . . ' 7-JO
13, 300
11, 000
847 18,000 •
7.V2
045 8,342
478 6, 836 i
72
31.5S.-i 79
18118
18(59
1870
1871
1872
L873
1874
1875
1876
1877
1878
1879
1880
1 88 1
1882
1883
1884
1885
1886
1887
1888
1889
1890
1891
1892
1893
1894
11
15
34
47
39
68
61
L15
1 --
84
From the above it will be seen that the pelagic catch of the past sea-
son of 1894, the first year in which the regulations of the Paris award
were applicable, was the most destructive in the history of pelagic; seal-
ing, the total killed reaching 55,686, and, including undetermined skins,
62,522, as against only 15,033 killed on the islands.
From 1880 to 1894 the pelagic catch increased from 8,910 to 55,686, or
624 per cent, while the Pribilof Island catch decreased from 105,718 to
15,033, or 86 per cent.
SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 7
When it is remembered that the evidence shows that about three-
quarters of the seals killed at sea are females, it is easy to understand
the inevitable falling off in the herd.
Our agents report a decrease in the seal herd of at least one-half since
1890, and it is apparent that commercial extermination is near at hand
unless changes in the regulations of the Paris award are speedily
agreed to.
It will be remembered that from June, 1891, to and through the season
of 1893, under the modus vivendi agreed upon by the United States
and Great Britain, all sealing in Bering Sea was prohibited pending
the Paris award.
Undoubtedly this gave the seal herd great relief in securing for it
immunity while on its breeding grounds and in the sea procuring food
for the young pups. The subsequent regulations established by the
Paris award also helped the herd by closing the North Pacific Ocean
and Bering Sea during May, June, and July. This is seen at once in
the North Pacific catch, exclusive of Bering Sea, which fell off from
46,. CKO \VKKY.
Sjx't-'uil '/'/•( AK'l MKNT.
H ox/ti ttt/to/i . I). ('.. Xortnthct' ','(). /s,9/.
SIK: 1'ui'suaiit to Department instructions dated ?\Ia\ 4, 1S1M, I ]>ro-
eee on board the North American Commercial Company's steamer
/,al:/ne. Ca])tain Bonnilield commanding.
I was accoin})anied by Sj»ecial Agents .lacob \\. /iebach and James
.Jiidji'e. and we arrived at St. (ieor^e Island on Ji.ne 4. when, pursuant
to Department instructions,] immediately relieved Special A^ent Hall
and placed A^'-nt /iebach in charge of the island.
( )n -lime (i we reached St. Paul Island and found Special A.u'ent Tliomas
!•]. Adams in charge, where he was jx'i'initted to remain until, Inly 1.
when he was temporarily relieved, and Special A^ent -liid^e placed in
charge, his a pjjoint inent as special a^'ent taking ]»lace on that date.
A^ent Adams reinaine(i on St. Paul Island, rendei'in^ such service as
was required, until the return of the steamer in September, when he
accompanied me as far as San Francisco on his way home.
( hie ot the most agreeable changes to be noticed on the islands since
I first saw them is the improvement in the physical condition of the
native inhabitants since sufficient k% food, fuel, and clothing" have been
furnished them. On my arrival at the islands in lS!i;i. every family was
u si ted a nd every dwelling inspected, and where we found a lack of beds,
bedd i n ,u. stoves, cooking utensils, wearing apparel, or ot her necessaries,
they were immediately supplied, and the ^ood resulting from this act
of simple just ice is cjui t e a pparent on all sides, and is v(M'tv satisfactory.
I )epai't men t order for the erection of a number of suitable water-
closets is beinu complied with as rapidlvas possible; the change is
hilly appreciated by the natives, and already the sanitarv condition of
the islands show< marked improvement.
SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 13
That the morality of the people themselves has partaken of the gen-
eral improvement is evident to all who observe their conduct closely;
there are most certainly fewer carousals and much less drunkenness,
and there is every evidence of a marked personal pride in the home and
family relations.
It is the census returns, however, that show most clearly the good
results of the improvement in the treatment of the natives, for ever
since the change was made there has been less sickness and fewer
deaths in proportion to births than ever before. (See Exhibits A and B.)
SCHOOLS.
The attention of the Department has been called to the school system
in vogue on the islands by many of my predecessors in their annual
reports, but nothing has been done thus far to remedy its many radical
defects.
The fault is hardly that of the lessees or of the teacher, for they cer-
tainly supply a school building and school books, and the teacher is
competent, capable, and attentive to his duties, endeavoring at all
times to perform his part well and faithfully.
The trouble is one that lies deeper than the personality of the teacher
or the necessary school supplies, and until the chief cause is removed
there will be but little hope of success in the attempt to impart a
knowledge of the English language to the natives of the Pribilof
Islands.
The remedy lies in an "industrial school1' where the pupils might be
kept secluded from the older natives until the English tongue became
theirs.
The annual report of the school teacher on St. Paul Island is attached,
and marked Exhibit C.
FUEL.
Pursuant to instructions I contracted for 290 tons of coal to supply
the Government houses and the native inhabitants on both of the islands.
This amount, added to the 80 tons delivered by the lessees under their
lease, making a total of 370 tons, was delivered by the North American
Commercial Company and was distributed as follows:
Sr. Paul Island: Tons.
Govern ment house 10
Use of natives 240
St. George Island :
Government house 10
Use of natives 100
Total 360
( hving to an error in weighing there is still due the natives of St. Paul
10 tons, which will be given them next season.
In my report for 1893 I asked that storehouses be erected on both of
the islands in which to store the supply of natives7 coal, and I again
respectfully call attention to the necessity of having them built as soon
as possible, for it is very unprofitable to leave the coal out of doors in
the winds, rains, and snows of Alaska.
The houses need not be expensive affairs, and given the necessary
material, the natives can build them immediately and thus save the cost
in two years by preventing the present waste in slackage.
14 SEAL LIFE ON THE i»RIBILOF ISLANDS.
FOXES.
In December. ISM, there were trapped and killed by the natives of the
islands of St. Paul and St. George 811 foxes, of which 770 were blue and
\\cre white, divided as follows:
811
The skins were sold to the lessees and were classed as follows: First
grade, blue; second grade, blue; third grade, white.
The amount realized on the skins and credited to the natives was as
follows:
St. Paul:
1- irst class. M»i. at .ffi $730
Second class, u'7, at $1 L'OH
Third class. '21 . at $1 27
St. Gcortrr:
First class. -l-i:», at *5 2, 1215
Second class, 114. at .f 1 156
Third class. 11, at fl .. 14
Total 3,710
The money received for fox skins is not a community fund, but is
divided among the men who catch the foxes, each man getting credit for
the full value of the skins he brings in.
The money is credited on his puss book and drawn against for 1'ood
and necessaries until it becomes exhausted before he again becomes a
charge on the Government.
This, too, is the system followed in the spending of the fund derived
from the taking of seal skins; so long as the man has money to his
credit, from daily earnings, lie is self supporting.
I respectfully call attention to the fact that on St. George Island this
year the natives received for fox skins s^,(isr>. while the earnings for
taking seals were only £1. ;).'{!. leaving a balance of sl.l,~>l in favor of
the foxes.
This. I think, is a lesson that should not be forgotten in future, espe-
cially as the indications are that unless a change takes place very soon
by which the fur seal maybe properly protected there will not be many
left to take f»r any purpose, and t he natives will have nothing to depend
on but 1 lie blue fox.
Firmly believing in t he necessity of fostering and preserving the foxes,
1 huve ordered t hat none shall be trapped on the islands of St. Paul and
St. ( leorge during t he trapping season of 1S!M-1),">, but 1 gave permission
to trap foxes on Otter Island, where none have been taken in many
years.
SEALS.
I learned on my arrival at the islands I hat owing to the extremely long
and cold \\ inter and the amount of ice remaining around the beach late
into May. the seals had not hauled out so freely as usual, and the assist-
ant agents informed me that as late as May 11 passages had to be cut
through the ice to allo\\ the bull seals to reach the breeding grounds,
SKAL LIFE ON THK PiUIULOF ISLANDS. 15
and after coming ashore they lay in the snow and ice that covered the
rookeries.
About June 10-12 the young killable males began hauling out in
goodly numbers, but at no time during the whole season of 181)4 were
there as many seals on the islands as hauled out in 189:5.
The indications of decrease are to be seen on all sides in all classes of
seals, but more particularly in the cows on the breeding grounds.
Beginning October 1*3 and ending November .'JO, 1 only the accessible portion-, of the
rookeries could be reached, I consider I am below rather than above
the mark when I put the number of dead pups on both the islands, in
!>>!» 1. ;it L'0,000.
One sigh l of the rookeries when the pu ps are dying by the h u mired
is enough to convince anyone <»f the truth of the claim made by the
Treasury agent s. that it is because of starvation, owing to the deatli of
their mothers at sea. that so many pups die in August and September.
There is no difficult v \\ hat ever 'n tcllinu the difference bet ween starv-
SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 17
ing motherless animals with their flattened sides, feeble movements,
and languid cries, and the well fed, rounded, romping ones that are to
be seen in pods along the beach playing in the shallows.
I fear that this question of dead pups is not fully understood, nor
are its lessons appreciated by the nations most deeply interested in
the preservation of the seals, otherwise some steps would be taken
immediately to put an end to the present mode of sealing at sea.
From the most reliable data at hand I find that during the nine years
beginning with 1880 and ending with 1894 the following numbers of
seals were taken by pelagic sealers:
II
Year. Number. Year. Number, i Ycur. Number.
1886 29,000 I 1890 0(5.000 , 18!M 142,000
1887 45,000 ! 1891 '. 78,000
1888 51,000 1892 85, oou Total 662,000
1889... 57,1100 189:5 109.000 !
I venture the assertion that the killing of that number entailed a loss
of not less than 1,500,000 seals on the herds on both shores of Bering
Sea,
So constant and so rapid has been the decrease of the seals on the
Pribilof Islands, that in 1894 the only sign of increase to be observed
over last year was among the large young bulls who were unable to
find cows with which to form harems of their own. There were more
idle bulls of breeding age on the rookeries than there were bulls with
harems on the breeding grounds.
That the seals are steadily decreasing to an alarming extent, and
that the principal cause of such decrease is pelagic sealing, can not
longer be denied.
That the regulations adopted at Paris do not protect the female seals
in Bering Sea has been proved the past season beyond the possibility
of doubt, for never before in the history of the business did the pelagic
sealers take so many seals as in 1894.
I therefore respectfully recommend that immediate steps be taken to
amend the regulations, and that an international agreement be made,
if possible, by which there shall be no sealing in Bering Sea for three
years or until the rookeries have had time to recuperate from their
present depleted condition, and other arrangements be made for the
adequate protection of the females in the future.
If such an arrangement can not be arrived at, then I should advise
the immediate killing of every seal on the Pribilof Islands rather than
allow the islands to be used as a nursery for the propagation of an
animal that is to be destroyed before our eyes by the subjects of another
nation.
MISCELLANEOUS.
Pursuant to instructions dated May 5, 1894, Prof. Charles H. Town-
send, of the United States steamer Albatross, was permitted to take a
suitable specimen bachelor seal for the use of the Smithsonian Institu-
tion.
GUARDING ROOKERIES.
On September 1 a lieutenant and a boat's crew of armed marine guards
were landed on each of the two islands, where they remained until
November 1, when they were taken off by the revenue cutter Bear.
S. Doc. 137, pt. 1 2
18 SEAL LIFE ON THE PUIBILOF ISLANDS.
During their two months' stay on shore there was no call for their
services, nor will there ever be so long as the Treasury agent does his
duty and the natives are properly armed and treated like men.
It is due to the several naval officers commanding ships in Bering
Sea that 1 say I found them all very willing to do anything they could
for the benefit of the Government interest on the seal islands, and as
early as June offers of assistance were made to me by the commanders
of the Petrel, Ranger, and Alert.
The several vessels composing the fleet in Bering Sea were always at
my service, in turn, whenever I wanted to go from island to island, and
by this means I was enabled to attend to many matters of interest to the
Department which, under other conditions, might have been neglected.
Except the depleted condition of the rookeries and the decrease of
the seals, everything on the seal islands is very satisfactory.
Since the native people are better treated than in former years — hav-
ing plenty of good food, fuel and clothing, and houses free from rent —
there is evidence of good health, contentment, and happiness on every
countenance.
The widows, orphans, aged, and indigent persons who have no other
means of support, are well provided for by the lessees.
The conditions of the lease have been complied with in letter and in
spirit by the lessees, and the most cordial relations exist between the
Government and company agents, both in a social and business way.
Very respectfully submitted.
JOSEPH B. CROWLEY,
Nperial Treasury At/cut, Seal Ixland*.
Hon. JOHN G. CARLISLE,
Secretary of the Treasury.
EXHIBIT A. — Census of native inhabitant* of 67. Paul inland, June 30, 1894.
Name and relationship. Age. Nairn- and relationship. 'Age
Family 1—4 individuals: Family 7—5 individuals— Continued.
Artomanoff, Kerrick, husband 67 Fratis. A g ritina, daughter
Artomanoff, Alexandra, wile 41 Frafis, .John, son
Prokapieff. Auxenia, daughter 26 Fratis, Simoen, son a 4
Pranatf, Krdokea, orphan 20 | Family 8— 3 individuals :
Family 2—4 individuals : G&toff, John, h usband '26
Arkashotf, Arseny, husband 27 < ;iut(,tr. Avdotia, wife
Arkashoff, Marina, wife 34 Glotoff. Mary, mother
i>lia° ::::::::::: \l
Bogodanoff, Sicoli. husband 22 V*r m, V, ' i Vi W1'V"
Bogodanoff, Uleta, wifa i 27 Sedick, Elizabeth, orpttwi
P.o'godanoff, Marv, sister ..I 19 ] Family 10— 2 individuals :
., &, . • i. • -\ * i rf^*«l ±;^,.«4V *1. . U«
Family 4 — 4 individuals:
Bourdukoffsk y, Apolon, husband 40
Bourdukottsk'y, CUiona, wife 33
Bourdukofisky, Peter, sou i 14
Bourdukoffsky, Dleta, daughter 9
Family 5 — 4 individuals:
Biiterin, Karp. husband 40
Buterin, Parasciova,wife 58
(Jalaxtioneft; Alex, husband 22
Galaxtioneff, Al artha, wife 22
Family 11— 1 individual :
Hanson, Alex, bachelor...
Family 12—2 individuals:
Kochooten, John, husband
Kochooten, Tiania, wife. . .
Family 13— 7 individuals:
Sedick, Constantine, son ; 6 1 Koch< »oten, Jake, husband
Sedick, Zohor, orphan 8 Kochonten. Ferronia. wife •>»
Family 6—5 individuals : Kochooten, Uleta, daughter ! 18
Emanoff, George, husband 26 Kochooten, Ellen, daughter 9
Emauott', Catherine, wife 20 Kochooten, Theodore, son ">
Emanoff, Mary, daughter 2 Kochooten, Farian, son
Emanoff, John, son a 1$ , Lodoshinkoff, Natalia, stepdaughter 14
Koznitzoff, John, orphan 17 Family 14— 3 individuals:
Family 7— 5 individuals: Koochooten, Euphcme, husband .">()
Fratis, John, husband 48 Koochooten, 1'elogia. wife 4:S
Frntis, Aukolena. wife 20 Koochootm, Trepan, orphiin 7
o Months.
SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIB1LOF ISLANDS. 19
EXIIIIHT A. — CV/I.SN.S of natirc Inhabitants of St. I'aul Island, June ->0, 1894 — Continued.
ie and relationship.
A,,,
in- andrela
Family 15—6 individuals:
Ko/eroff. Stepan. husband
Ko/erolV, Auastasia, wife
Kozeroff, V vanelly, sou
Kn/erolt', Suendiili. daughter
Ko/eroff. Alexandra, daughter
Nozikolt, Simoen. stepson j
Family 16—2 individuals:
Halerotf, Paul, husband j
Ilaleroff. Aiiritina. wife '
Family 17-4 individuals:
Krukoff. Nieoli. husband j
Krukoff, Catherine, wife i
Krukoff. M etropau, son j
Krukoff, Oustenia, daughter
Family 18— 4 individuals:
Krukoff, Maxime. husband
Krukoff. Feote>ta, --vile
Krukoff. John, son
Krukoff. Condrat, son
Family 111— 5 individuals:
Kushin. Aggie, husband
Kushin, Mary, wife
Kushin. Lukeria. daughter
Kushin, Michael, son
Kushin, Nestor, grandson
Family 20—5 individuals:
Mandregan, Neon, h usband
Mandregan, Mary, \\ ife
Mandregan, Mary, daughter
Mandregan, Zoya. daughter
Mandregan, Leokeuty, son
Family 21 — 3 individuals:
M ere u 1 iff, A lex, husband
Merculiff, Agritira, wife
M erculiff, Paul, brother
Fainily 22 — 5 individuals:
Melividov. Anton, widower
Melividov. Alexandra, daughter
Melividov, ( )lga. daughter
Melividov. Marcia, daughter
Melividov. Alexandra, mother
Family 23—3 individuals:
Melividov, Alex, husband
Melividov, Salome, wife
Melividov. Anton, son
Family 24—3 individuals:
Melividov. Simoen. husband
Melividov, Alexandra, wife
Melividov. Margaret, daughter
Family 25—4 individuals:
Xedera/off. Stepan, husband
Nederazoff. Alexandra, wife
Nederazoff. Marv, niece
Stopoff, Weketa. orphan
Family 26—4 individuals:
Nederazoff Martin, husband
Nedera/off. Catherine, wife
Shane, Mary, stepdaughter
Shane, Parascovia, orphan
Family 27— 5 individuals:
Oustegoff. Peter, li usband
Oustegoff. Parascovia, wife
Oustegoff, Neil, son
Onfltegoff, Stepanda, mother
Shaisnikaff. George, orphan
Family 28— 4 individuals:
Pankaff, Partiri. husband
Pankatl, ( )lga. wife
Pankatl'. Vlasia, son
Pankaff. Vorara, daughter
Family 2!)— 2 individuals:
I'arauchin. Daniel, husband
Parauehin. Klexandria. wife
Family 30—2 individuals:
Shaisnikotf, Paul, bachelor
Shaisiiikoff, Valerian, nephew
Family 31—4 individuals:
Shabolin, Necon, husband
Shabolin. Tvda, wife
Shabolin, Agritina. daughter
Shabolin. A pollanaria, daughter
Family 32 — 9 individuals:
41 Sediek, Theodore, husband
42 Sediek. Mat ha. \\ife
4 Sediek, Anastasia, daughter
3 Sediek. Mary, daughter
1 Sediek. Yusteiiia. daughter
17 Sediek, Matrona. daughter
Sediek. Inokentk. son
42 Sediek, Anna, daughter
52 ll Sediek, Philip, nephew
Family 33 - 5 individuals:
43 ; Seduli. Vassily. husband
33 Seduli. Kli/.abeth, wife
!) S. diili. Vera. daughter
3 Mazekan, Mary, orphan
Mazekan, Ivan, son
37 I Family 34— 3 individuals:
28 { Stepetin. Dorofay. husband
12 Stepetin, Vassa, wife
3 i Stepetin, Vassily, son
j Family 35 — 4 individuals:
48 | Stepetin, Elary, husband
38 Stepetin, Anna, wife
17 Stepetin, Oulena, daughter
9 Stepetin, Parla. daughter
1 Family 36 — 6 individuals:
Terrakanotf, Kerrick, husband
36 Terrakanoff, Anna, wife
31 Shane. Elary. orphan
9 Nederazott'. Agritina
7 Nederazoff, Alexia
3 Nederazott', Mary
Family 37—3 individuals :
18 I Tetott', Peter, husband
17 | Tetoff, Mary, wife
4 Tetott', Alexandra, sister
Family 38— 4 individuals:
38 Tetott. Neon, husband
12 Tetott'. Agritina. wife
Tetoff, Zaher, brother
6 Tetott', S'lnoen, son
58 Family 39—7 individuals :
Volkoff, Markel, husband
19 Volkoff, Alexandra, wife
19 ; Volkotf, Teron.son
a6 Volkotf. Arefa, son
Volkoff, Ellen sister
Kushin, Mouvra, orphan
27 Merculitt', John, orphan
2 , Family 40— 5 individuals:
Resett; Nicoli, husband
36 ! Reseff, Marina, wife
31 | Reseff, Olga, daughter
1 1 ! Igna tieff, Anna, orphan
3 Giteff. Mary, orphan
Family 41—1 individual:
39 Bellaglozatf, Ellen, widow
36 i Family 42— 3 individuals:
14 i Koshernikoff. Ardita, widow
7 Koshernikoff, Paul, sou
Merculiff, Martin, orphan
30 Family 43—1 individual :
26 | Krukoff, Anna, widow
3 Family 44— 2 individuals :
59 Krukoff, Natalie, widow
11 Krukoff. John, son
Family 45-3 individuals:
31 j Balakshin, Matrona, widow
31 Shoposhnikoff. Parascoria, orphan
Rookorishnikoff, Stepan, orphan
2 | Family 46— 4 individuals:
Kozlaff, Parascoria, widow
35 Kozlaff, Michael, son
32 ' Kozlatf, Nicoli. son
Kozlaff, Anton, son
58 Family 47—2 individuals :
14 Serebrinkotf, Olga, widow j 29
Serebrinkott', Repsemer, son a 15
27 Family 48—3 individuals :
24 Popotf, Ardotia, widow | 34
5 Popoff. Krasania, daughter 4
a 5J [ Babakslin, Anna, daughter 9
a Months.
20
SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS.
EXHIBIT A. — Census of native inhabitants of St. 1'aul Island, June 30, 1894— Continued.
Name and relationship.
Name and relationship.
Family 49-1 individual:
Pishnikotf, Vasselisa. widow
Family 50—2 individuals:
Popotf. A fauasia. widow
Shuttyagin, Daria, orphan
Family 51—3 individuals:
Rokorishnikott', Annisia, widow -. .
Rokorishnikoff, Anna, daughter
Rokorishnikoff, Parasroria, daughter . . .
Family 52 — 1 individual :
Rezanzolf, Anna, widow
34
18
Family 53— ;i individual*:
Si-dick. Daria, widow
Koochooten, Ellen, daughter
Kooehooten. /enoria. daughter
Family 54— 4 individuals :
Pet off, Feclusia, widow
I'etoff. (Irene, daughter
Pet off, Sofia, daughter
Kechergrin, George, son
Family 55 — 2 individuals :
Tarrentora, Anna, widow
Tarrentora, Anna, daughter
Age.
RECAPITULATION.
Families
55
Males between 5 and 17 years .... ....
23
196
21
70
110
Females between 5 and 17 years
25
86
15
Marriages
4
24
Births
9
42
Deaths
7
Orphan children at Vnalaska school.
Age.
Sedick, Arotin 13
Krukaff, Lukaria 17
Koznitzoff. Agafia 16
Merculiff. Luboff 18
Granaff, Auastasia 16
Zacharoff, Feodosia 15
Zatzmanatf, Auxenia 1
Fratis, John 12
Resident native population 196
Number of native children absent at school 8
Total population 204
EXHIBIT B.— Census of St. Georgt Island, June 30, 1894.
Name and relationship.
Galanin, Ocalena, widow
Galanin, Evan, son
Galanin, Parferi, husband
Galanin, Fevronia, wife
Gorokoff, Cornell, husband
Gorokoff, Katrina, wife
Galanin, Alexander, adopted son
Kulikuloff, Evan, husband
Kulikuloff, Barbara, wife
Zacharott', Eraanuel -•
Lekanoff, Stepan, husband
Lekanotf, Pelegia. wife
Lekanotl', Anatole, sou
Lekanoff, Sergius. son
Lekanoff, Sarah, daughter
Lestenkoff, Demetri, widower
Lestenkoff, Anna, daughter
Merculoff, Mark
Lestenkoft', Rev. Innokenty, priest
Lestenkoff, Elizabeth, wife
Lestenkoff, Mary, daughter ,
Lestenkoff, Michael, son
Lestenkoff, Sarah, daughter
Malayansky, Nicoli, bachelor, but head of
family
Malavansky, Repsemia, sister
Malavansky, Wana, sister
Age. Name and relationship.
:il Malavansky.Stepineda. daughter of Rep-
semia •
Malavansky, Peter, son of Repsemia
Menaloff. Joseph, son of Fevronia, but head
of family
Menaloff, Fevronia, widow .
48
49
14
25
25
4
2
a 10
31
7
9
64
60
25
22
18
34
19
a Months.
Menaloff, George, son of Fevronia
Menalotf. Helena, daughter of Fevronia
Menaloff, John, son of Fevronia
Menaloff, Martha, daughter of Fevronia
Nederazoff, Nicoli, son of Eogenia, head of
family
Nederazoff, Eogenia, widow
N ederazoff, Malinia, daughter
Nederazoff, Isador, son
Oustegoff', Alxia, husband
Oustegoft', Martha, wife
Oustegoff, Alxaudra. daughter
Oustegoff, Simon, husband
Oustegoff, Mary, wife
Philimonoff, Adrian, husband
Philimonoff, Parascovia, wife
Philimonoff Pelegia, daughter
Pliilimonolf. Andronic, husband
Philimonoff. Zenovia. wife
Pliilimonoff, Marina, daughter
Philimonoff, Mary, daugh ter
Age.
15
SEAL LIFK ON THE FRIBILOF ISLAM;-.
EXHIBIT B. — Census of St. George Island, June 30, IfM-l — Continued.
21
Name and relationship.
Philiinonoff, Leonta, daughter
Philimonoff, Kotr, husband
Philiinonoff, ( )leta, wife
Philimonoff, Gregory, son
Philimonofr, Bogenia, (laughter
Philiinouoff, Demetri, son
Onstegoff, Kproxia, stepdaughter
Oustegoff. Michael, stepson
Oustegoff, Susanna, stepdaughter
Prokopeoff. Peter, husband
Prokopeoff Stepineda, wife
Frokopeoff. Aufanasia, brother of Peter
Rezanzoff, Fedosia, widow
Ke/.an/otf, Innokenty, son of Fed&sia
Rezanzon", Seretina,' granddaughter of Fe-
dosia
lit • /.a 1 1 zoff. Peter, husband
Resansoff, Matrona. wife
Rezanzoff, Tatiana, daughter
Shane, Raiesa, w idow
Shane, Oleta, daughter
Age.
a3
52
32
21
20
8
14
R
Jl
Name and relationship.
50
16 i
7
48
52
10
42
25
Shane, Michael, son
Menaloff, Stepan
Menalotl, Neduda, at Unalaska school
Swetzott'. Kusl ice, li usband
Swet/.off, ( 'hristiana. wife
Swet/.off, Gregory, son
Swet/off, Polixina
Suet/olV. I 'a ul, son
Meualotl', Evan, sou of NVassalesa, head of
family
Menaloff, Wassalesa. widow
Menaloff, Alexandra, daughter
Meualotf, Nicoli, son
Menalott', Eudokia, daughter
Menaloff, Helen, daughter
Philimonoff, Niacen. husband
Rnzanzoff, Eudokia. wife
Ruzanzoff, Innokenty, son
Ruzanzoff. Fedosia, daughter
lluzanzotf, Zoia, daughter
Ruzanzoff, Joseph, son
Age.
17
42
16
13
10
7
44
21
19
13
2
a5
Males, 42; females, 48— total, 90.
a Months.
Birth record.
Date.
July 8, 1893
Aug. 30, 1893
Feb. 4, 1894
May 6, 1894
Name.
Martha F...
Sarah F...
Joseph I M...
Leonta F ...
Name of parents.
Fevronia Merculon", mother.
Stepan and Pelegiu Lekanoff.
Simeon and Eot»-t <'!' >/. I'aul Inland xrhool for the Jir»t l. AIA>KA. I >c< ember •> 1, IS'1-'.
hi AK SIK: The following is a report of St. 1'anl Island school for the tirst term.
commencing September 1. ISMa. and ending 1 >ecember L'L'. 1N!»;;.
1
IVt.-r l',uurdiik«>t.-k\ 14 72 o
0 ...... 2 2 2
2 2
•J
.1 c 1)1 11 h rat is ' . 2 o
n 1 1 2
1
;t
Tref-t mian K rukiit' •_' i
0 ... . 2 2 2
1
^
• Inlin Krilknt'lll 1 2 'I
I -j •> -i
'» *>
;t
.loiin KrnkotVJ) 1 2 "
1 ....
10
•Ji'lm Mnvulii'f 2
1 .
1
11
M art i n M t-rc ul id' - 11 2 l
2 2 2 2
1
12
Sir], an l:....kovislmikuf 12 TJ 0
0 . 2 2 2
1
i::
Inimk, ntv Srdirk H 71 1
0 2
1
14
Xa.-har Se'diek. ... s 72
0 1 1
1 ....
i:.
( 'i'n>tantiue Sedii k fi f.i
n 1 . .. 1
Hi
Valerian Sliaislinikut' 14 72 <
1 2 2
2 2
17
(,.-,,,_,- Sliaislmiknl' 11 72 i
0 ... 2 2 2
2 2
18
Xarhar Tetof 14 72 i
1 2 2
1
Tula! 1M 2>7
it 2 Iti Hi IS
1 1! :>
19
Anna I!alak>]iin It tin :;
o 2 2 2
i
JO
Oiilirta linimliikofsky '•< T2 0
0 2 2 2
i ....
1
Clavdia ( ialakt ionot' 14 72
t , 2 2 2
2 ....
KlI'-n Ki.trii.mtcn '. 72
0 '.' 1
Msivra Ku-liin i:i 72 0
1 1 •_' -J 'J
1
4
Natalia I ...d'-lm i k,,t 14 7o
1 •_' 2 2
2 2
5
Marv • Maud; e^an '. 72 '
] •) -I ')
1 . ...
Xne Mandreirjui 7 .V.» l:;
H 1 1
7
Alexandra Mrl.iviilot 12 72
I) ...... 2 2 2
2 2
y
(il-a Mrlovid.tf > 72
0 . 2 2 2
1 1
'J
Marv Melovidtit' - ''• 72
0 1 1
i)
Marv NYclaiv/nf. ... 11 T'J
1 2 2
1
1
Anna Hdokovislmikof It T'J
n 1 1 I
1
Vi-ra Sednlre i: r,7
0 2 2 2
1 1
Kli/al.t-tli Scdirk 'i 72
1 1 1
4
M a i \ Snl irk t> 72
n I ...J.. 1
Mar'\ Sham- 14 70
it 22 2
2 2
,;
1 >aria shut va-an l'{ T'J
n 1 1 1
1 ....
-7
I '•(• na '1'i-t i 't1 ^ T'J
0 ;; -j '2
1
'•'••
S.tplii.i 'I'etot'. 'i T2
II 1 1
T..tal I! « 1. IIS 2:.
HI f, 11 14 20
14 7
i iran.l tntal -TT 2. T02 :?4
ii, H :I M M A II "> .
iber of nil nils (MI rolled i males 1^' ten ales ''O i
88
\ Ve
ra "<• d 'i i 1 v a 1 1 e n c 1 a nee
k , ,,
.17
A \ *
\ ,-..
[•i''(. ii»-i cent <>t attendance
\ \ '
Sill
iber of ca^c-, nft ardiness
1!)
\ \'e
['a ' r e a * f e (t t' ] 1 1 1 1 1 i 1 s
Sill
liter weeks iif sidli •()!
1 'l '' *
Snt
72'
Names of tcxt-li.M.ks used: Mc( \\\ tte\ 's J'riiner : Mc< Juft'ev 's First K'eader; Mc(Jnf-
fey's Second K'eader: Mc( i iilley's Third I^'eader ; Mc( inU'ey's Fourth K'eade.r; Robin-
son's Arithmetic: Cornell's < Jeo^i apli \ : Sei'ibner's Copy-book.
SIMI;-
sent.
Number of times
tardy.
llranehcs of study
pursued.
•
3
1
M
.=
g
I
ii.
I
2
1
1
2
2
2
2
1
2
2
2
1
1
2
j
1
2
2
1
1
^
;;«//*.
70
70
68
70
70
7d
70
70
70
70
70
70
70
70
70
70
70
70
68
70
70
70
0
0
2
0
0
1)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
(1
0
0
0
0
2
0
0
0
it
0
0
1
4
0
0
0
0
s
2
o
0
o
1
0
1
I
o
1
0
2
1
2
1
1
2
2
2
2
1
2
2
1
2
g
1
2
2
2
2
•2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
•J
2
2
2
1
1
1
2
2
2
1
2
2
1
2
I
1
2
1
1
2
2
2
2
( jrorire Koteheriran 16
2
1
Trefoil Kotehooten 8
INnl Kosheouikof 11
Michiel Kozlof 8
....
Michael Rush in 10
Metrof'in Krukof 10
John Krukof (\I) 14
2
1
John Krnkof (N) 13
John Merculief 10
Martin Mereulief 1"
1
1
Step-in Rookovishmikof 13
1
1
Philip Sedick 17
/achar Sedick 9
Constantin Seilirk. . 7
2
2
2
1
Zachar Tetof ... 15
Total . 266
1,536
4
11
22
22
22
22
2
2
2
1
2
o
2
1
2
2
1
2
1
2
2
1
2
1
9
4
1
Girlt.
Anna Balakshin 10
67
70
70
70
70
70
70
66
70
70
69
70
70
70
67
70
70
70
70
70
3
0
8
0
0
4°
0
0
1
1)
0
0
9
0
0
0
0
0
(1
0
3
1
0
(1
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
2
2
1
2
2
2
1
2
2
2
2
1
A
2
2
2
1
2
2
o
2
1
2
2
2
1
2
2
1
2
2
2
1
1
2
2
2
1
2
2
2
1
2
2
2
1
2
2
2
2
1
2
1
2
1
2
1
2
Onletar BourdnkofVky 10
Clavdia Galaktionof ... I 14
Ellen Kotehooten 10
2 ....
1
Natalia Lodoshiukof 15
Alexandra Melovidof 13
2
2
1
Ol"a Melovidof 9
Marv Melovidof 7
Mar3" Xedarezof 12
Vera Sedulee 14
2 ....
Elizabeth Sediek 7
Mary Sedick 7
Mary Shane . 15
2 1
Daria Shut vagan 14
Irena Tetof 9
Sophia Tetof . 7
Total 216
1, 389 11
5
20
20
20
20
7
4
8
Grand total 482
2,925
15
16
42
42 42
42
16
GENERAL SUMMARY.
Number of pupils enrolled (males, 22 ; females, 20; ........................... 42
il at
Average daily attendance
Average daily absences ..................................................... 21
Average per cent of attendance .............................................. 99
Number of cases of tardiness ............................................... 16
Average age of pupils ....................................................... 11£
Number weeks of school .................................................... 14
Number days of school ...................................................... 70
Names of text-books used : McGuffey's Fourth Reader, McGuffey's Third Reader,
McGuffey's Second Reader, McGuffey's First Reader, McGuffey's Primer, McGuffey's
Spellers, Robinson's Arithmetics, Cornell's Geography, United States History,
Payson, Dunton and Scribner's copy books.
SIMEON A. MELOVIDOV, Teacher.
24
SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS.
EXHIBIT U. — Annual statement of fur seals killed on St. Paul Island, Ala aim, duriny the
year ended August 7, 1894.
Dat«-.
1894.
May 9
23
24
31
June 2
10
13
14
16
19
23
20
I?
July 2
2
4
5
6
7
13
14
17
•21
•23
23
24
25
30
Aug. 1
4
Rookery.
Sea Lion Rock
Number of seals
killed for na-
tives' food.
be -g -
c % = x
g g-J tfe
- /: ^7 .=.•;
"•"? ?- I •= T
I* f l!
— •/. v:
87 ''• 87
1K4. lll-l
Number of seals ki
lessees for skii
3" Rejected.
Z 1
£ 5
? ^
83 =
S52
917 90.'.
522 516
>> 2
251 24(">
D44 9:;;i
1,177 1.171
370 362
1,025 1.010
910 9(H
154 15(1
Watchmen, Southwest Bav
Tolstoi and Middle Hill. - -
')
84« 3
1
W a t c h m e n , Northeast 1
Point !
Lukannon
.").">:{ 5
!t.r>9 H
1
852 17
905 12
516 6
2
Watchmen, Northeast
Point
Zoltoi
Watchmen, Southwest Bay
Northeast Point (south
side)
Northeast Point (north
side)
Half Way Point
Watchmen, Southwest Bay
246 5
5 ..
933 11
1. 17J 6
9
Watchmen, Northeast
Point < '•
Reef i
Watchmen, Southwest Bav
Northeast Point (sand
|
1
362 8
1.016 9
901 !)
150 • 4
Northeast Point (north
i Northeast Point ( so u t h
side)
; Middle Hill
' Half Way Point
287 284 3
272 260 3
4 4
Reef
1
I Watchmen, South west Bay
Total
:
910 903 7
11, 176 i 109
1 11.286 11,176
• 110 11,286
I hereby certify that all skius herein indicated as having been rejected were after-
wards accepted by the lessees as prime skius.
October 8, 1894.
Jos. B. CKOWLKY,
.Special Treasury .if/en t.
SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS.
Annual statement of fur seals killed on St. Paul Island, Alaska, from October .'•/ to
December 30, 1894.
Date.
Kookery .
Number of seals killed for natives' food.
Large
young
seals.
Skins
accepted
Skins rejected.
Under
size.
Stagy.
Cat.
1893.
Oct. 23
Nov. 2
6
7
14
14
20
22
27
27
30
9
69
7
82
6
173
4
208
3
188
25
9
69
79
6
170
4
207
3
175
22
/oltoi
Middle Hill ...
3
K.'i-t'
3
By watchmen for food ...
Reef
I
By watchmen for food
Tolstoi
13
3
Total
774
751
19
3
1
I hereby certify that all the seal skins above indicated as having been rejected
were afterwards accepted by the lessees as prime skins.
October 8, 1894.
JOSEPH B. CROWLEY,
Special Treasury Agent.
I hereby certify that the above is a true and correct statement of fur seals killed on
St. Paul Island during the period named, and that the skins of the same have been
salted in the North American Commercial Company's salt house.
THOMAS E. ADAMS,
Assistant Special Treasury Ageni,
26
SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS.
EXHIBIT E. — Annual statement of fur seals killed on St. George Island, Alaska, during
the year ended August 8, 1894.
Date.
Number of ! Number of
seals killed ! seals killed
for natives' | by lessees
food. for skins.
Rookery. = 1 ,: A.-.-epted.
Aggregate.
1 1 : S
°
'% i
23
Zapadnie
77 77
25
Zapadnie (bv •niards for food)
4 4
27
East and North . . ...
47 47
Nov. 1
Zapadnie (bv watchmen)
4 ! 4
6
North and Starry Arteel
38 ' 38
7
East
9 1 9
g
Zapadnie (bv watchmen)
4 1 4
14
do... '.
1 i
17
North and Starry Arteel
31 31
Total
245 245
245
245
1894.
May 23
North...
„
40
40
Jane 8
do .
126
126
| 126
June 15
Zapadnie (by watchmen)
0 0
22
Great East
826
826
' 826
26
Zapadnie ( by watchmen)
3 3
July 2
Starry Arteel
468
468
468
J 3
Zapadnie (by watchmen)
4 4
9
Zapadnie
303
303
1 303
13
Great East
275
275
275
16
Starry Arteel
181
181
1 181
21
North
249
249
249
24
Zapadnie (by watchmen)
3 3
26
Zapadnie
178
178
178
Aug. 6
Little East and North
152
1
152
1 153
g 7
Zapadnie (by watchmen)
3 3
9
do
3 3
Total
19 19
!<>
19
Grand total
3 062
1 3 063
J. E. ZIEBACH, Treasury Agent.
SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 27
EXHIBIT F.
ISLAND OK ST. GKOUGH,
Bering Sea, Alaska, Augustus, 1894.
This is to certify that 3,062 fur-seal skins have this day been shipped on board the
North American Commercial Company's steamer Lakme, S. Bonitield, master, con-
signed to the North American Commercial Company, San Francisco, Cal.
JACOH E. Z IK BACH,
Assistant Treasury Agent.
ISLAND OF ST. PAUL,
Bering Sea, Alaska, August 29, 1894.
This is to certify that 12,969 fur-seal skins have this day been shipped on board
the North American Commercial Company's steamer Lakme, S. Bonitield, master, con-
signed to the North American Commercial Company, San Francisco, Cal.
JAMES JUDGE,
Assistant Treasury Agent.
EXHIBIT G. — Division money, St. George Island, 18(J4.
ST. GEORGE ISLAND, August 9, 1894.
Division No. T> : Earnings of natives for fur-seal skins taken since October
20, 1893, to August 7,^1894, both inclusive, 3,062 skins, at 50 cents each. . $1, 531. 00
First class :
Lestenkoff, Demetri (chief) 125. 44
Lestenkott', Rev. Innokenty 75. 44
Swetzoff, Eustice (second chief) 100.44
Philimonoff, Eoff 75.44
Philimonoff? Simeon 75. 44
Philirnoiioff. Andrean 75. 44
Oustegoff, Alexia 75.44
Grokoff, Cornell 75. 44
Merculoft', Joseph 75. 44
Second class :
Malavansky, Nicoli 60. 35
Rezanzoff, Peter 60.35
Philimonoff, Andronic 60. 35
Lekanoff, Stepan 60. 35
Oustegoff, eiineon 60. 35
Galanin, Parferi 60. 35
Lestenkoft', Michael : 60.35
Prokopeoff, Peter 60. 35
Third class :
Philimonoff. Gregory 45. 27
Merculoff, George 45. 27
Kulikulolf, Evan 45.27
Rezanzoff, Innokenty 45. 27
Nederazoff, Nicoli 45. 27
Fourth class :
Prokopeoff, Aufanasia 22. 63
Merculoff, Evan 22. 63
Philimonoff, Innokenty 22. 63
ST. GEORGE ISLAND, August 9, 1894.
We hereby certify that the foregoing is a true copy of the distribution of the seal-
ing fund on the above-named island, and that the respective amounts set opposite
the names herein have been credited to such natives on the pass books of the North
American Commercial Company.
Jos. B. CROWLEY,
Special Treasury Agent.
DAN'L WKBSTER,
Agent North American Commercial Company.
D. LESTENKOFF,
Xai'u-e Chief.
28 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS.
EXHIBIT H.— Division money, St. Paul Island, 1894.
Division No. 5 : Distribution of community fund derived from the taking
of fur-seal skins from October 16, 1893, to August 4, 1894, 12,830 seal
skins, at 50 cents $6, 415. 00
First class :
Bourdovokoffsky , Apollon $164. 57
Buterin, Karp 164. 57
Gromoff, Nicoli 164. 57
Kochooten, Jacob 164. 57
Kozeroff, Stepan 164. 57
Krukoff, Nicoli 164. 57
Kushiu, Aggie 164.57
Mandregin, Neon 164. 57
Melevedov, Anton ' 164. 57
Nedarazoff, Martin 164. 57
Nedarazoff, Stepan 164. 57
Oustegoff, I *eter 164. 57
Pankoff, Parfiri 164 57
Paranchin, Daniel 164.57
Rezoff, Nicoli 164. 57
Sedick, Theodore 164. 57
Stepetiu, Elary 164. 57
Tervakanoft', Kerrick 164. 57
Tetoff. Peter 164. 57
Volkoff, Markel 164.57
3,291.40
Second class :
Artoinanoff, Kerrick 131. 65
Arkashoff, A rseny 131. 65
Bogodauoff, Nicoli 131.65
Emanoff, George 131. 65
Fratis, John 131. 65
Glotoff, John 131.65
Haberoff, Paul 131. 65
Kochooten, John 131.65
Kochooten, Eupheme 131. 65
Galaktioneff, Alex 131. 65
Melevedov, Simeon 131 . 65
Melevedov, Alex 131. 65
Seduli, Vassily 131. 65
Shabolin, Necbn 131.65
Stepetin, Dorofay 131.65
Shaisnakoff, Paul '. 131. 65
Tetoff, Neon 131.65
2, 238. 05
Third class :
Hansen, Alexander 105. 32
Koznitzoff, John 105. 32
Merculiff, Alex 105.32
Nozekoff, Simeon 105.32
Stepetin, John 105. 32
526 60
ourth class :
Kochergiu, George 30. 00
Krukoff; JohnM 30.00
Krukoff, John N 30.00
Krukoff, Maxime 30.00
Sedick, Philip 30.00
Shaisnakoff, Valerian 30.00
Tetoff, Zachar 30.00
210 00
Special class :
Krukoff, Nicoli (first chief) 50.00
Gromoff, Nicoli (second chief) 50. 00
100.00
Due John Stepetin from division No. 4 48. 95
6,415.00
SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 29
DR.
Prime skins accepted, 12,830, at 50 cents (>, 415. 00
Cu.
Twenty first-class men, at $164.57 :5, 291. 40
Seventeen second-class men, at $131.65 2, 238. 05
Five third-class men, at $105.32 526.60
Seven fourth-class men, at $30 210. 00
Two special class (chiefs), at $50 100.00
One amount due division 4, $48.95 48. 95
6,415.00
ST. PAUL ISLAND, ALASKA, August 14, 1894.
We hereby certify the foregoing to be a true copy of the division of the fund
derived from taking fur-seal skins on St. Paul Island from October 16, 1893, to
August 4, 1894, and that the several amounts opposite the respective names have
been credited to said natives on their pass books by the North American Commercial
Company.
JOSEPH B. C ROWLEY,
Special Treasury Agent.
J. STANLEY BROWN,
Superintendent North American Commercial Company.
NICOLI KRUKOFF,
Native Chief.
IIKI'nlli n|- .KN-I'H II. i RnWLKY. SPKi !.\L TRKASlKY \<;KNT,
l;n|l Till- VKAIl isi):,.
OFFICE OF THE SPECIAL A<;I:M.
TuKAsum DEI>AKTME:VT,
Washington, 1). ('., Decani her 1, /*'/.>.
SIK: I have tlic honor of submitting1 my annual report on the seal
fisheries of Alaska.
Following -your instructions of May !>. I proceeded to San Francisco,
Cal.. arriving there on the 17th, and on the 2()th embarked on the North
American Commercial Company's steamer I^akntc, en route for the seal
islands, accompanied by Assistant Special Agent Thomas 10. Adams.
\Ve readied St. George Island .June !>. where Mr. Adams was placed
in charge temporarily, relieving Assistant Special Agent Jacob 10. Zie-
bach during the summer. On the 10th of June I proceeded to St. J>aul
Island, on board the ("nited States revenue cutter /Yrr//. tinding
Assistant Special Agent James Judge in charge. He was permitted to
so remain until September 1,'J. when he was relieved by Special Agent
Adams after the return of Special Agent Ziebach to St. George. I
found on my arrival at the seal islands the business atVairs of the Gov-
ernment intact.
NATIVES.
The native inhabitants had been properly cared for during the winter.
Their health was good. The mortality light, as is evidenced by the
census reports and the reports of t he resident physicians <>n the islands
of St. Paul and St. George, marked lOxhibit A.
The order of the Department, that the lessees should erect suitable
water clo>ets at the duelling of each native family on the islands, has
been complied with. The villages undergo a thorough cleaning both
spring and fall, and the sanitary condition is good.
The lessees have complied with the terms of their contract toward
their subjects for support: namely, widows and orphans, and the aged
and infirm who are unable to provide for themselves.
School was maintained on each of the islands eight months during
the past year, as required by the terms of the lease.
The sum expended out of the appropriation. *ll>,r>on, for the fiscal
year ending June .'ill, lsi)f>. for the support of the natives on the seal
islands was as follows:
. .f 10. '.GO. !C)
::, 72*. r>r>
n-rk Chinch of Alaska :;, :5L'f>. 00
17, !»xl.r>0
SEAL LIFE OX THE PKIBILOF ISLANDS. 31
In addition to this sum there was expended in support of these natives
derived from their own earnings, as follows:
On St. Paul :
Division of sealers' community fund $6, 537.50
Derived from blue foxes 1, 025. 00
On St. George :
Division of sealers' community fund 1, 408. 50
Derived from 1>1 no foxes 2, 685. 00
Cash paid natives by North American Commercial Company for mis-
cellaneous labor. . 2,000.00
Total 13,656.00
COAL.
There was landed at the islands 370 tons of coal, 290 tons being
delivered under special contract, and 80 tons under the terms of the
lease. The coal is of fair quality, and sufficient quantity for the com-
fort of the natives and Government agents in charge of the islands.
The same was distributed as follows:
St. Paul Island: Tons.
Government house 10
Use of natives 250
St. George Island :
Government house 10
Use of natives 100
Total 370
A house was built on each of the islands in which to store the coal
for native use, the one on St. Paul Island having a capacity of 300
tons; the one on St. George, 150 tons. The North American Commer-
cial Company furnished under contract all materials, including lumber,
hardware, and paint, and superintended the construction of the two
buildings, for $790. The natives on the respective islands performed the
labor of erecting the same without charge to the Government. The
coal is stored in these buildings and it is believed that they will prove
a great saving in the future.
FURNITURE FOR GOVERNMENT HOUSES.
The following articles for the furnishing of the Government houses
were received :
St. Paul Island :
One hundred and forty-five yards of carpet $156. 10
Six rugs, to match, at $2.75 16. 50
One water pitcher, cup, and tray 5. 50
One Franklin stove 16.00
Felt for office desk 1.50
St. George Island:
One Franklin stove 16. 00
Three rugs, at $2.75 8.25
One dust tray, one-half dozen brooms 1. 85
Eight window shades 7. 00
One toilet set •. 4.00
One water pitcher, cup, and tray 5.50
Total 238. 20
BLUE FOXES.'
The past winter was an exceptionally long and severe one at the seal
islands. There was more snow fall than usual and the ice remained
32 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS.
attached to the shores much Jater than common. The result was that
food lor blue foxes became very scarce and many of them starved to
death. Special Agent Ziebach on St. George Island bought food in
such quantities as he could procure and fed to the foxes that came to
the village in search of food, and in this manner averted the death of
many that would have otherwise perished. No foxes were trapped on
the islands during the past winter. Orders were given to trap foxes on
both islands the coming winter, with the further order to kill all white
foxes found. This was done to prevent the intermixture of the two
foxes, the pure blue being much more valuable.
Ten pairs of young blue foxes were captured on St. George Island and
delivered to Kudolph Neumann of Uualaska, in compliance with the
permission granted by the Department to Messrs. Neumann and Apple-
gate. • Mr. Applegate having failed to call for or arrange for the pay-
ment of his portion of the foxes, the entire number was delivered to
Mr. Neumann, who paid for each fox the sum of $5.50, the 50 cents
being given to the natives for caring for the foxes from the date of
their capture to the date of delivery. The $110 received from Mr.
Neumann for the 20 foxes secured by him were placed to the credit of
the several natives on their pass books, in amounts corresponding to
the number of foxes taken by each.
MARINE GUARDS.
An armed boat's crew in charge of a lieutenant was landed on both
the islands about September 1, as an additional guard to prevent raids
on the rookeries. They were given quarters in the villages in accord-
ance with Department instructions.
The service rendered by the American fleet in the patrol of Bering
Sea, under the command of (Japt. C. L. Hooper, was most efficient. I
most heartily commend the Eevenue Gutter Service as being capable
of performing this work, and recommend that they be given charge
of this work in the future. Every courtesy was extended to me so
that I was enabled to make frequent trips between the islands in the
supervision of the business thereon.
SPECIMEN SEALS.
In compliance with your letter of May 16, Mr. Frederick W. True,
curator of mammals for the United States National Museum, was per-
mitted to visit the seal islands and remain there throughout the sum-
mer, accompanied by an assistant. Every facility was given Mr. True
to enable him to investigate the fur seal, and to study seal life on and
about the islands. He was permitted to take fifteen specimen seals for
official Government purposes.
Dr. Sharp, of Philadelphia, was permitted to take two specimen seals
for a like purpose.
Hon. James Sheakley, governor of Alaska, on his tour of western
Alaska, visited the seal islands in July, in order to personally acquaint
himself with the true condition of the seal herd.
C. H. Townsend, of the United States Fish Gommission, visited the
islands during the summer for the purpose of observing, photographing,
and making charts of the rookeries.
Capt. F. J. Drake, of the United States Fish Gommission steamer
Albatross, spent two weeks on the islands taking observations and
making a plane table survey of the rookeries.
SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 33
SEALS.
The sealing season began on the 13th of June, after my arrival at the
islands. Very few bachelor seals hauled out until about the 20th of
June. The breeding bulls arrived early in May. The remainder of the
herd was full three weeks later in arriving than in former years. This
is accounted for by the fact that the Hoe ice remained about the islands,
extending for miles out at sea, until after the middle of June. Soon
after its disappearance the bachelor seals hauled out in goodly numbers.
The cow herd came later and apparently all at once. The harems were
rapidly formed and the pups were born very soon after the arrival of
the cows.
From August 10, 1894, to June 8, 1895, inclusive, 1,269 seals were
taken on JSt. Paul Island for native food, and from October 20, 1894, to
June 3, 1895, inclusive, 196 seals were taken on St. George Island for
a like purpose. During the past season, closing August 1, 11,231 seals
were taken on St. Paul by the lessees and 2,315 on St. George, making
a total of 15,011 fur-seal skins in the salt houses.
The skins taken from seals killed for native food in the fall were taken
under the quota allotted for 1894, and remained in the salt houses
throughout the winter. Blue foxes broke into the salt house at St.
George in search of food, and damaged 11 of these skins, rendering
them unfit for market. These damaged skins were shipped to the col-
lector of customs at San Francisco, Gal., as per instructions.
Statements showing the number of seals taken, date of killing, and
rookery from which the same were taken, are marked Exhibit B.
Summary of skins taken. fll
On St. Paul Island:
For native food 1, 269
By lessees 11, 231
On St. George Island :
For native food 196
By lessees 2, 315
Total 15, Oil
Skins accepted by lessees 15, 000
The 15,000 fur-seal skins were shipped from the islands on the
steamer liertha, consigned to the North American Gommercial Com-
pany, at San Francisco. Eeceipts for the same are marked Exhibit C.
Distribution of community fund.
St. Paul Island :
To 12,000 seal skins, at 50 cents $6, 250. 00
T<> 140 seal skins, rejected in 1894, subsequently accepted, but not in-
cluded in Division No. 5 70. 00
6, 320. 00
By 22 lirst-class men, at $164.38 3, 616. 36
B.v 1 ~) second-class men, at $131.52 i 972. 80
By 4 third-class men, at $105.21 420. 84
By 7 fourth-class men, at $30 210. 00
By first chief, $50 ; and second chief, $50 100. 00
6, 320. 00
S. Doc. 137, pt. 1 3
34 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS.
St. George Island :
To 2,500 seal skins, at 50 cents $1, 250. 00
By 7 first-class men, at $67.91 475. 37
By 8 second-class men, at $54.32 434. 56
By 6 third-class men, at $40.75 244. 50
By 1 fourth-class man, at $20.75 20. 75
By salaries to first and second chief 75. 00
1,250.00
For detailed statement of distribution of the community fund, with
certificate attached, see Exhibit D.
QUOTA NOT DIFFICULT TO OBTAIN.
It was not found specially difficult to obtain the maximum quota,
15,000 seals, at the islands this season. It need not be taken for granted,
however, that a like number can be as easily taken the coming year or
at any time in the future under the present regulations governing
pelagic sealing. It will be remembered that pending the modus vivendi
no seals were taken in Bering Sea, and only 7,500 male seals were killed
on the islands. A cow could then go to sea for food in safety, and
return to the rookery to suckle her young. Thus the pups born in 1891,
1892, and 1893 were properly nurtured during their infancy, and did not
die of starvation on account of their mothers having been killed at sea.
The male portion of them came of kill able age last year and this. Fully
50 per cent of the seals driven to the killing grounds this season were
of killable size. This exceptionally large percentage is accounted for in
no other way except in that just given.
NEW KILLING GROUNDS.
A new killing ground was established for Halfway Point, at the first
lake, one-half mile south of the rookery. The killing ground estab-
lished for English Bay, Tolstoi, and Middle Hill is at a small lake near
Telegraph Hill, not to exceed a mile from either rookery. Since the
establishment of these killing grounds there is not a drive on St. Paul
Island to exceed a mile in length.
OVERDRIVING.
The natives are accompanied on almost every drive by one of the
assistant agents in charge of the islands or myself, and absolute cau-
tion is taken in every instance to avoid overdriving. If seals be given
their time, they can be driven a mile, or even two, in the cool hours of
nighttime with but slight fatigue. It has been contended that many
seals die by reason of being turned back into the sea from the killing
ground immediately after the drive, while in a heated condition. This
is an erroneous idea. Evidence to the contrary appears at every drive
made.
Two drives were made from Middle Hill and Tolstoi, and as many as
1,000 to 1,500 seals were turned back from each of these killings and
driven directly into the lagoon. A very large proportion of them
remained in this water as long as ten days before returning to the rook-
eries. They were watched constantly, and not a single seal was found
dead in these waters or along its shores as a result. At nearly every
killing of seals from the Keef, Zapaduie, Halfway, and Northeast
Point rookeries, a large proportion of the seals turned back went
directly from the killing ground to the rookery from which they were
driven, without going into the water, and took up their places there as
though they had never been disturbed.
SKAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 35
PELAGIC SEALING.
The result of pelagic sealing in Bering Sea the past two years already
shows a marked decrease in the breeding seals on the rookeries. There
were fewer cows in the harems, and on several of the rookeries there
were " breaks" or " spaces" wholly unoccupied that had never
appeared before. It is evident that the cow herd can not long with-
stand the onslaught of pelagic sealing in Bering Sea. It was believed,,
when double the number of sealing vessels came into the sea August!
than were there last year, that double the number of seals would be
taken. But not so. JSoi was it the fault of the sealer. It was the
scarcity of seals. They were not there in sufficient numbers to be
taken, although the tragedy of last year was reenacted.
At the time of my leaving the islands, dead and dying pups were to
be found on every hand. During the month of October, 22,054 dead
seal pups were counted on the rookeries on the island of St. Paul and
6,012 on St. George. They were distributed in proportion to the num-
ber of breeding seals on the several rookeries, thus showing conclu-
sively that their death was produced by starvation, and not by an*
epidemic' on any special rookery.
The breeding-seal herd has been reduced to such proportion that they
can now be counted with comparative accuracy. I made the count as
follows :
St. Paul Island :
Breeding cows 78, 696
Bulls 4, 372
St. George Island :
Breeding cows 21, 240
Bulls 1,180
Capt. F. A. Drake, of the United States Fish Commission steamer
AUmtrosx, also made a count of the breeding seals on the islands at the
time of making his plane- table survey of the rookeries, and it is prob-
able that by the aid of the survey he may be able to give a more accu-
rate count of the number than I can. But I am certain that if I err it
is in overstating and not understating the actual number.
EXCESS OF MALE LIFE.
There is a surplus of available bulls on the islands. As the cow herd
decreases the bulls increase. There is now a large per cent of male life
that is a detriment rather than a benefit to the breeding grounds.
Nearly 50 per cent of the bulls of breeding age were unable to procure
a single cow with which to start a harem. A large number of bulls had
from one to four only in their harems.
The idle bulls loiter about the boundaries of the breeding rookeries,
intercepting the cows as they come and go to feed, keeping up a constant
warfare. The cows are thus annoyed and harassed throughout the
season, when they should be permitted to rest and care for their young.
Every cow that leaves the island is pursued by one or more of these
big, strong, young bulls. How far this pursuit is kept up can not be
determined. It is believed by some that this is the cause of the cows
going so far out at sea before stopping to procure food, and it seems
plausible enough.
If regulations can not be made at once to prohibit pelagic sealing in
Bering Sea, there is but one remedy left, that of taking such number
of seals on the islands as to reduce the herd to such proportions as will
make the business of sealing at sea unprofitable.
The large number of schooners now engaged in that business will be
compelled to seek other employment. The business once stopped, the
36 SEAL LIFE ON THE PKIBILOF ISLANDS.
taking of seals on the islands could be abated and the herd permitted
to rest and recuperate. I most earnestly urge that this course be taken
without unnecessary delay.
The social and business relations existing between the agents of the
company and the Government at the islands the past year have been
most pleasant.
Respectfully, yours. Jos. 15. CROWLKY.
Special Treasury Agent in Charge of the Fur Seal TxlantlK. Ahmka.
Hon. JOHN G. CARLISLE,
Secretary of the Treasury, Washington, I). C.
OFFICE OF SPECIAL AGKNT, TREASTRY DEPARTMENT,
St. George Inland, Alaska, October 10, 1895.
MY DEAR SIR: On October 2 and 8 I made a careful count of the dead fur-seal
pups on the several rookeries on St. George Island and found the following number:
Zapadnie rookery 2, 083
North rookery 1, 559
Starry Arteef rookery ., 1, 131
East rookery 986
Little East rookery 253
Total 6, 012
The count was made systematically and its correctness can be absolutely depended
upon. The number represents only the actual dead bodies and indisputable remains
of others that foxes and the elements had more or less destroyed. All trace of those
that died during the fore part of August had been washed away. On all the rook-
eries were seen a great many seal pups that were very emaciated, and it was only a
question of a few days before they too would die of starvation. Some were so thin
and weak that they did not have the strength to move, while along the outskirts of
the herd — as we drove the seals slowly to one side of the rookeries — were hundreds
of weaklings that could scarcely keep up with the balance of the herd. A great
proportion, if not all of them, will die. In no case was it necessary to drive the seals
over 200 yards to enable a count to be made. For three weeks previous to making
the count I made frequent visits to and examinations of , the rookeries, and on all
could see the carcasses of seal pups on all parts, and numerous among the live seals
would be seen the emaciated forms of others slowly dying from starvation. Of
course it was impossible to make a count of the weaklings, but my judgment would
say that on the five rookeries on St. George Island not less than 800 will die for want
of sustenance between the 10th and 31st of October.
There is but one reason for this deplorable and even criminal destruction of young
seal life, and that is the killing in Bering Sea of the females that gave them birth
and on whom they are dependent for sustenance until they are old enough to main-
tain themselves, which is in three or a little over three months; and just so long as
sealing in Bering Sea is permitted under the present regulations, just so long will
this destructive waste of fur-seal life continue. Sealing vessels commence the work
of exterminating the seal herd in Bering Sea on August 1, and in two weeks after
you can see the rookeries dotted all over with dead pups, and the number keeps
increasing day by day until a great proportion of the number born die from starva-
tion, their mothers having been killed at sea, where they had gone for food, by the
sealers. It is an established fact that the male seal, with but few exceptions, goes
but a short distance for food during the season the seals are on the island, while the
female travels far outside the limit for food and rest, and is then killed in great
numbers by the sealers. Something could be gained by the extension of the 60-mile
limit to 110 or 125 miles, but a more desirable and practical measure of protection to
the young and female seal life would be the addition of the months of August and
September to the closed season in Bering Sea. The last suggestion would prolong
the fur-seal life a few years, but nothing of a temporary or restrictive nature will be
of an established benefit to the continuation and rehabilitation of the seal herd but
the absolute prohibition of killing fur seal in open water. The two years of sealing
in Bering Sea has been terribly destructive of seal life, and if it is continued two or
three years longer the fur-seal herd on the Pribilof Islands will be practically exter-
minated.
Respectfully, yours, JACOB E. ZIRBACH,
Treasury Agent in Charge of St. George Island.
Hon. JOSEPH B. CROWLKY,
Special Treasury Agent for the Seal Fisheries of Alaska, Robinson, III.
Date.
1895.
Sept. I'll
83
28
Oct. 6
ti
8
8
8
8
2
10
SKAL LIFE ON THE PRIUILOF ISLANDS. 37
Count of dead seals, St. I'aul Inland. Alaska.
Rookery. Pups. Cows. Hulls. Tut;»l.
Ivrlavif 854 7
Lukannon 1. :;»T 8
Lagoon ::»K) 2
Polavinii 1,970 '2
(Jar botch 1,514 7
Zapaduie 5, 231 15
Kiiiilisli Bay :;s 1 -j
Tolstoi..... 2,582 8
Reef | 3,376 j 25
Sea Lion Uo<;k 361
Northeast Point 4.017 25
Total... .1 21,933 101
861
1,355
303
1,972
1,523
5, 249
384
2,591
3,40»
361
4,046
20 22, 054
The above table shows the number of dead seal pups, cows, aud bulls found upon
the rookeries of St. Paul Island, Alaska, and actually counted between the dates of
September 23, 1895, and October 10, 1895.
TIIOS. V. ADAMS,
Special Agent, Treasury Department.
EXHIBIT A.
Census of St. Paul Island, Alaska, June 30, 189o.
Name and relationship.
Place of birth.
Age
Northeast Point
St. Michaels
do
St. Paul
Remarks,
Wide
Family 1 — 4 individuals :
Artomonoff, Kerrick, husband . . .
Ajtomonoff, Alexandra, wife
Ivanoff. Ardokia, sister-in-law . .
Prokopiet, Auxenia. daughter. . .
Family 2—1! individuals:
Arkashon". Arsi'iiv, husband do
Arkashoff. Mariana, wife '• Atka
Stepetin. John, stepson ! Unalaska '
Family 3—3 individuals:
Bogodanoff, Xicoli, husband St. George 23
Bogodanoff, ( hilita, wife ; do 28
Bogodanoff, Mary, sister I do 20
Family 4—4 individuals:
BourdukoiVskx . Apollon, husband ; Unalaska . . 41
Bourdukottsky, Chionia, wife St. Paul 34
Bourdukoffsky, Peter, son .do 15
Bourdukotisky, Oulita. daughter do 10
Family 5—6 individuals:
Baterin, Karp, husband St. Paul ; 41
Buterin, Parascovia, wife Tualaska 39
Sedick, Constantine, stepson St. Paul 7
Sedick, Zahar, orphan do j 9
Mezeekin, Mary, niece do ' ' 22
Mezeekin, Vassa do a2$ Daughter of Marv.
Family 6—5 individual* :
Emanoff, (ieorge, husband do
Emanoff, Catherine, wife do
Emanolf, Mary, daughter do
Emanoff, J ohn. son j do
Ko/nit/.ott', John, nephew do
Family 7 — 5 individuals:
Fratis, John, husband Ladrone Islands
Frat is, A nkolina. wife Unalaska
Fratis, John, son St. Paul
Fratis, Simeon, son ' . . .do . .
Fratis, Argrah'na, daughter ' do . .
Family 8—3 individuals:
Glotoff, John, husband ' St. Paul .
Glotoff, Avdotia, wife do
Glotoff, Mary, mother do
Family 9—3 individuals:
Gromoff, Nicoli, husband j Attu
Gromoff. Oulrana, wife St. Paul .
Sediek, Elizabeth do ..
a Months.
Clothes furnished by com-
pany.
38 SEAL LIFE OX THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS.
Census of St. Paul Island, Alaska, June SO, 1S95— Continued.
Name and relationship.
Place of birth.
Remarks.
Family lo — 4 individuals :
Galaxtioneff, Alexander, husband ; Atka
Galaxtioneff, Martha, wife Unalaska
Vicolof, Claudia, half-sister ; St. George . .<.
Vicolof, Alexandra | St. Paul
Family 11—3 individuals:
Sitka
St. Paul....
...do..
Kadiak
Unalaaka
St. Paul...
....do
Unalaska . .
St. Paul
Hanson, Alexander, husband
Hanson, Lukina, wife
Kushin, Nestor, stepson
Family 12—3 individuals:
Haberoff, Paul, husband
Haberoff, Agranna, wife
Shabolin, Agranna, adopted daughter.
Family 13—3 individuals :
Kochooten, John, husband
Kochooten, Tatiaua, wife
Kochooten, Mark, son
IFamily 14—7 individuals :
Kochooten, Jake, husband d
Kochooten, Feoronia, wife | Unga
Kochooteu, « ulita, daughter St. Paul
Kochooten, Ellen, da -lighter i do
Kochooten, Theodore, son j do
Kochooten, Lariou, son do
Lodoshnikoff, Mat alia, stepdaughter. . j Unga
Family 15 — 3 individuals:
Kochooteu, Eupheme, husband St. Paul
Kochooteu, Pelogia, wife Un;tlaska .
Kochooten, Trefoil, nephew St. Paul
Family 16 — 4 individuals:
Kochergin, George, soi
Tetoff, Feclusia, widowed mother
Kurile Islands
Tetoff, Irene, sister St. Paul
Tetoff, Sophia, sis'.er do
Family 17 — 4 individuals:
Kozerotf, Stepau, husband ..'. Unalaska . .
Kozeroff, Auasta?ia, wife do
Kozerotf, lonally, son St. Paul
Kozeroff, Alexandra, daughter | d
Family 18—4 individuals:
Kfukoff, Nicoli, husband
Krukoff. Catherine, wife
Krukoff, Metro tan, son
Krukoff, Oustmia, daughter
Family 19—4 individuals:
Kmkoff. Maximo, husband Sitka
Krukoff, Feoctesta, wife
Sitka
Atka
St. Paul
...do ..
St. Paul.
...do ..
Krukoff, John M., son
Krukoff, Condrat i
Family 20-4 individuals:
Maudrigan, Neon, father I St. George
Mandrigan, Mary, daughter St. Paul
Maudrigan, Zoe. daughter i do
Maudrigan, Innokenty, son do
Family 21—4 individuals:
ftfercnliff, Alexandra, husband
Merculiff, Agafla, wife
Merculiff, Paul, son »
Merculiff, Paul, brother
Family 22—5 individuals:
Melividov, Anton, father
Melividov, Alexandra, daughter
Melividov, Olga, daughter
Melividov, Mary, daughter
Melividov, Alexandra, mother
Family 23— 3 individuals:
Melividov, Alexander, husband
Melividov, Salome, wife
Melividov, An ton, son
Family 24—4 individuals:
Melividov, Simeon, husband
Melividov, Alexandra, wife.
Melividov, Margret. daughter
Melividov, Christopher, sou
Family 25 — 5 individuals:
Nederazoff. Stepan, husband
Nederazotf, Alexandra, wife
Nederazoff, Mary, niece
Nederazoff, Mary
Kodiak
St. Paul
.do
.do
California. ..
St. Paul . .
Sitka
Akootan
St. Paul
...do..
Hopoff, Neketa do
a Months.
34
20 !
a8 :
43
40
1!)
1C
(i
2
15
51
44
8
17
37
Clothes furnished by com-
pany.
Daughter of Claudia.
St. Paul
....do
....do
.'..do ...
St. Paul
Attu
St. Paul
...do ...
Provisions f urn is bed by
Government. Clothing
for widow and daughters
furnished by company.
This family is supported by
the company. John M.
draws clothing on Gov-
ernment (inters.
Clothes furnished by com-
pany.
Do.
SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIHILOF ISLANDS. 39
Ce.ii8u* of St. raid Island, Alaska. June 30, 1895— Continued.
Naint* and relationship.
Place of birth.
Age.
Remarks.
Family 26— 4 individuals:
Mrdrra/otl, Martiu, husband
St Paul
40
37
15
8
18
18
31
27
4
60
32
32
6
3
12
36
33
66
60
23
16
17
47
40
7
6
4
9
16
52
54
14
4
28
25
1
59
15
31
24
5
2|
24
21
2
41
35
26
5
5
25
20
$
30
34
16
50
41
J
45
28
10
13
Clothing furnished by com-
pany.
*
Adopted daughter.
Clothing furnished by com-
pany.
Sou of Agrafina.
Clothing furnished bv com-
pany.
Sitka
>i ( icor're
do
Family '27—1' individual- :
No/.ekotf, Anastasia, wifi-
Family 2S — 4 individuals:
St 1'aiil
St George
OuMi^off, Parasrovia. wife
Oust itV, Stcpaiiida. mother
Family 2!) -5 individuals:
St George
St Paul
P'inkolV ()l|rii wife
St. George
St Paul
do
Shaisnekoff Geor<>'»'
do
Family 30—2 individuals:
St. Paul
Family 31 — 5 individuals:
K.'srtr. Kcv. Nicoli. husband
Sitka .
do
Kodiak
JJarka
Atka
family 3- — 7 individuals:
St Paul
Unala^ka
Snlu-k, Mary, daughter
Sedick Oustinia daiiirht*'r
Si 1'aul
do
do
do
do
Family 33—4 individuals:
Kodiak
Seduli FliyibHh wife
St Paul
Mt'/lk<>H' \lc\andra wife
Volkoff, Techou, son
St. Paul
Volkotf Arifa son
do
Merculiff tlohu son
do
Family 42—4 individuals:
Balakshin Matrona widow
Ciial ask a
Shaposhnikoff 1'arascovia ....
St. Paul
liookovishnikoff, Anna, orphan
do
Rookovishuikotf, Stepan, orphan . .
...do..
40 SEAE LIFE ON THE 1'KlliILOF ISLANDS.
<>/<> u/ *t. J'aiil Ixlund, .lldaL'd, JimcuC. Av'/.~- — C'oli t i
Faimlv 4:; -1 imli\ idual :
P,ellai:la/.ott. F.lltMt. widow
Si. Paul DU
Famil \ 44 "• indh idua 1- :
Koshovnikotr, Avdotia, widow
St. Paul .- ::i
I\ osho\ in koll'. 1'a ill. si 'ii
do 11
Mer.Miliil. Marfn. nephew ...
d<> r.1
Family 4.'i »'• ii:di\ iduuls:
Kii/li.tr. Para.M-ovia. witlow
Pnalaska.. :j»i
v;, l'tul ^
K.p/lot: Nicnli son
do ti
Ko/lotl. Anton, son.
."."do 1
SerebunkoH', i Iliia. sister.
. . .do :;u
Serebunkotl. Kepsinmiia
Famih 4f, •_' individuals:
KrukoiV. Anna, widow
St. I'aul I".)
Ko/erutr. Sim.iii]. e. adopted dau-hU'r
.tin 4
Familv 47 '1 individual* :
Ki-iikiiir Natalia \\idow
St. I'aul 41
KniUotl. .John .\.. st.n ....
....do .. 14
I-'ainilv -IS 4 individuals:
l'<.]mti. A Viloti;,, widow
Atka :;.".
I '(>! ) jj \\-T-" in - t 1)11 lit
s;] i>-ml •,
I'u|>'itt'. Alexander, daimlifcr
do ,; J
r.alaksliin. Anna, dau^litfi-
...do Id
F:nnil\ 4'.» 'J imH\ id nals :
Til pott. A x'anasia. \\ idnw
St. Paul... 4!i
Shut/.aj^ali, 1 >a ria. orphan
do 14
.Family 5U-1 indi\ idual :
I'ffshn i kolt. \ a>-i ! is\ . \\ ido w
. . . . do :tr.
Fannl \ "i 1 '2 i ndi vid uals :
liookovisluifkot)'. A noia, widow. .
1'nnlaska... L'lt
St I'aul "i
If i1.
lamih ,VJ 1 individual:
Ke/.an/oll'. Anna. \\ iiln\\
St. Micha.-ls til
Family ".:; -I! individual- :
.•><•! 1 irk . 1 >a ria. widow
I'nala.ska :,i
Koclioot.-n. Kllcii. daii-ht.T
St. Paul :;i
Ko,'li(,ut.-n./cnntia.dan-littT
do -ji;
Faniih f>4 '_' individuals:
'lY-nvntova. Anna, widow
...do .... Tf)
T— -J individuals:
VolUoiV. I'.ll.-n. aunt ...
St. Paul 41
Knsliin. Mavra. ni.-n-
-. d«. .. 14
Faniilv .'.ti li indi\ iduals:
Ku.-liin. Marx . >_rias> u id.iu
St llror"!- I!"
Ku^liin. Mii-hai-1. son ..
St.' Paul". ]ii
OlM'H A N CIKLS AT Sf'HooL IN
r.NAl.ASKA IJKLONdINC
Scdick. A vdotia
St Paul 14
Krukoll. Liikt-ria
Unalaska 18
Ko/nit/oli; Ayatia
St. I'aul 17
Mi-rriiliir. L.-il.otl
do 1!!
I \- , 1 1 1 " 1 1 A na s t a s i a ...
.. «).. - 17
/akaroil. Frr,.l<,sia
do It!
/at /inaliotl'. A u \i-ii i a
. ilo . 11
Fl'iltis. Kllril . .
. do i:;
L'i Dauyiit.-:- ol Ol-a >.
14 I>ra
and 17 yi-ars ',M
lii'.i Fciualc« undfi- 5 \ears ....' 15
120
•J('7 Man ,aurs 2
Kii tli- (5
.... IL'ii D.-aths 2
,^7 1 >«-pai t urrs IVoni Island .... 1
Net increase in population from June :!(>, 1MU,
. :::: to .1 une ::o. 18H.">. . . 3
SKAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS.
<'<-H*H* of St. George Inland, Alaxka, .hint- .'>(>, IS95.
41
relationship.
Family 1—3 individuals:
Galanin, Pai fire, husband
Galanin. Buphronia, wife ,
Galanin. Klexia. son
Family 2— 3 individuals:
Gorokoff. Corniel, husband
Gorokoll. Katlierine. wile
( lalanin, Alexander, adopted son
Family 3- 2 individuals:
Kulikuloff. Kvan, widower
/acbaroti. Kmanuel. adopted son
Family 4-3 individuals:
Lestnikoff, Demitri. widower
Lestnikoff. Anna, daughter
Meivulitr, Mark, adopted son i
Family 5 — 4 individuals:
Leatnikoff, Michael, bachelor '
LestnikolV. Flizeheth, mother ;
Lestnikoff. Mary, sister j
Lestnikotl', Sarah, sister
Family 6— ti individuals:
Lekanoll', Stepan. husband
Lekanoll'. Pelegia. wife
Lekanoff. Anatole. son
LekanotV. Sergius, son
Lekanoff. Sarah, daughter
LekanotV. Mariana, dauyhter
Family 7— 6 individuals:
Merculiff. Evan, bachelor
Merculitl'. Vasalisa, mother
Merculiff. Avdotia. sister
Merculiff. Elexandra, sister
Merculiff. Xicoli, brotlier
Merciilin". Helena, sister
Family 8—6 individuals:
MerculitV. -Joseph, bachelor
Merculiff. Euphronia. mother
Merculiff, George, brother
Merculiff, Helena, sister
Merculiff. Evan, brother
Merculiff, Marfa. sister
Family 9 — 5 individuals :
Malavansky. Xicoli, bachelor
Malavansky . Uepsimia, sister
Malavansky, Stepenida. niece
Malavansky. Pe.ter. nephew
Malavansky, Vassa. sister
Family 10-4 individuals:
Nederazoff. Xicoli. bachelor
Nederazott', Evgenia, mother
Nederazoff. Melania, sister
Nederazotf. Esadore. brother
Family 11—4 individuals:
Onstigoff, Elexia, husband
Oustigoff, Marfa, wife
Oustigoff, Alexandra, daughter
Oustigoff. Stepineda, daughter
22
17
a 3
39
40
25
18
26
26
4
3
I
03
Name ami relationsh
Family 1'J— I! individuals:
Oustigoff, ^nnoen, husband
Oustigoff, Mary, wife
Oustigoff. Anfesa. daughter
Family i:i- (i individuals:
Philomanoff. Koff, husband
1'hilomanoff. Flita, wife
Philomanoll. Gregoire, .son
I'hiloiiianoff. At'gaiiia, daughter
Philomanoff. Demit ri. son
Oustigoff. Susanna, adopted daughter. .
Family 14— (i individuals:
Philonmnoff, Simoen, husband
Philomanoff, Avdotia. wife
Philomanoff, Innokenty, sont
Philomanoff, Fedosia, daugther
rhilomanolV, /ova. daughter
IMiilomanoff. -I o-scph, son
Familj7 15 — 2 individuals:
Prokapieff. Peter, husband *. .
Prokapieff, Stepenida, wife
Family 10—5 individuals:
Philomanoff, Andronic, husband
Philomanoff /enobia. wife
Philomanoff, Marian, daughter
PhilomanotV. Mary, daughter
Philomanoff. Leonti.son ..
A-.-.
31
18
a3
50
3:5
22
21
18
30
35
16
7
20
17
41
21
4
45
25
2
a 6
Family 17 — 3 individuals:
Reianzoff, Innofcenty, bachelor 17
Re/.anzoff. Fedosia, mother 51
Re7.an7.off, Serephina. sister 7
Family 18— H individuals :
Rexanzoff, Peter, husband 4»
Rezanzoff, Matrona. wife 53
Ke/.an/.off. Katiaiua. daughter ' 11
Family 19—3 individuals :
Swet/.off, Enstin. liushand 44
S wet /off, Christine, wife, 37
SwetzotF, George, son 9
Family '20—2 individuals :
Galanin, Okalina. widow 32
Galanin, Evan, son 13
I Family 21—3 individuals:
Pniloinanoff, Parascova, widow 31
Philomanoff. Pelegia, daughter 5
Philomanoff. Fecla, davighter | a6
Family 2'J— 4 individuals:
Shane. Riessa, widow 43
Shane, I'leta. daughter 26
Shane. Michael, son 7
Merculiff, Stepan, nephew 4
Family 23—2 individuals:
Swetzoff, Polexania. widow 35
Swetzoff. Paul, son 3
a Months.
RECAPITULATION.
Families 23
Individuals 88
Males 40
Females .. .48
Females betweeen 6 and 16 years ............ ft
Females under 6 years ..... ' .................. 11
Females over 16 years ....................... 28
Males between (5 and 16 years 9
Males under 6 years 9
Males over 16 years 22
40
Sealers ami families, supported by the Govern-
ment ....................................... 76
Widows and orphans, supported by company 12
42 SEAL LIFE ON THE I'KIIULOF ISLANDS.
l!< }>'»•( of thf resident physician.
ST. I'AII. ISLAND. Jinn'. /. /.s'.'/.T.
I>1 \i; Su:: The resident physician respect fully submits the following report on
the ])iil)lic health of St. 1'anl Island diirinu the year ending .hint' 1, 1X!).">:
Two epidemics have visited the island. The lirsi in ( )etober, of iiUluen/a; the
other, varicella, occurred in March. 1 *:».>. An endemic, ^ast ro enteric in tvpe. broke
out in the latter part of February, immediatel v after the opening of t he \v inter seal-
meat cache. This meat had been piled up on the ground before beini;; thoroughly
cooled, ami the layers lowest became tainted.
There were IM cases of inlliien/a severe, enough to make note of. S ea-es of pneu-
monia. ."• eases of pleurisy, and .'! cases of phthisis puliiionalis.
Acute bronchitis has been very common. Ha-mophthesis has. as in previous years,
been frei| niMit . Of the eye, con juiicth i tis and irit is have lieeii most coinnion ; of t he
ear. otitis media of tlie throat, tonsilitis. and pharyngitis. ( >ne case of cellulitis
requiring surgical interference occurred in Sanko Melevedov iVom exposure on the
last killing tield last year. Five severe cases ot' icterus occurred.
In the surgical line there has been done the following: Operation on Axanosia
Popoff. for sii-ipurative syno\ itis ot' the left knee. 1 )ecemher _'l . IS'.ir.; en!s closely the number of cases of
sickness requiring examination and diagnosis which have occurred during that time.
Two deaths have occurred. First. The daughter of Theo Sedic. aue 11 months.
The child had an attack of inllu.-n/a early in < )ctober. but made a ^i.od recovery. 1
was notified of it --last illness. It died. as far as ! can learn, while undergoing the
native process of manipulation, hv Ellen Voekof. Second. Mrs. Neon Mandreijin,
cause, acu t e phthisis.
The births were t5 in number: To A^raiia Mercul i !'. a son, July I. 1^!'!: Alexandria
Me!eved<.\. a son. Aumist 11, is'.M: Fatiana Koochootcn. a soil, No\enib<-r I. 1>«»4;
Mary Messekiti. a daughter. Fein-nary 10. \^.*~>; Evdotia 1'opotf. a daughter. April L'-l .
181J.")', and (Mamlia Vikoulof, a dauiihter, May !!. IS:'.",. Increase in j)opulat:on. 1.
At the bottom of by far tin: mujoritv of troubles amon^ the natives is that va^uo
constitutional condition known as the stromous d iaot hesis or scrofula. It shows
itself chiefly in a genera! lack of the phosphates and mineral salts in the native
physiological economy.
Little can be accomplished in the way of remedying this condition b\ the various
medicinal sirups or emulsions until they can be induced to adojtt a diet which will
furnish the regular da ilv demand ot nature for those esscnt ial constit tients of the
body.
To this end I would sui^vM that the next year's food .supply contain a larirer ]>er-
centaife of those foods rich in phosphates and easily convertible hydrocarbons, as for
ex am pie, of fa t -. la I'd. bu 1 1 ermi Ik, sweet oil. and of foods containing phosphates and
earthy salts, oatmeal, graham llour, cracked wheat, u'raham crackers, etc. It would
also be advantageous if the ( iovernment a^cnt would encourau'e the raising of such
vegetables as will i^row here, such as turnips, radishes, lettuce, etc.
< )ne of the most serious obstacles iii the way of attempts to improve the physical
condition ot' the people is the fact that most of them are such inferior cooks.
Since M-uvh 7. !*!».">. the resident physician has taken t he ohstel rica I work in his
own hands. < >n thai dav. Mrs. Julia I'e.sef ^avc Itirth to a dead child under such
circumstances that he felt it a matter of necessity to put a st op if possi bin to the
further ministrations of the native midwife, Ellen Volkof. A communication was
sent to the ( iovernmeut a^ent. who took immediate steps to that effect.
The village has been 'denied and disinfectant thrown in the jrarba.i;e holes.
In concluding, the resident physician would like, to acknowledge the hearty sup-
port, both moral and material, -^iven him by the Tinted St at es < lovern incut a^ent ,
Mr. Jud.LCe, in every alteMijit to better the public hygiene.
N'ei'V I'espeet I'll I I \' ,
( • \ i:i).\ 1:1: l'i |{i; v i'< >NI>. M . I >
Mr. .1 . STAM.KY- l'>i:<.\s \.
Su irr'i I'h luli'ii I \nrli' Aint'rnnn <'• killed on St. (ieortje Island. Alaxka. ditriin/ the //<«>• ended
• full/ •'•!, AV.'/,".
Number
N umber of seal* of seals
killed for na- killed l.\
tives1 food. lessees
Kookerv
killed.
1894.
Oct. 2" North 58' 5s > 58
2:i Xapadnie (killed by guards) 3 3 :; 3
*'• Ka>t : lit Hi 11. 19
2t« X.>rth 3 3 3 3
3u Xapadnie (killed by guards) 3 3 3 ',>
Nov. 2 do '..' 14 II 14 14
<•> North 35 :r, ;tr, 35
.nie (Killed by u'uardsi . . 3 . 3
!>.(. ;; Xortli r; i;j . m
1895.
May L!5 (Ircat ICa^t If, Hi ]f, 16
JUIH- :; North 2.") 'Jfi ... -jr. 25
14 do i:;n K!9 131)
L'4 Starry A rte.'l 4,^:i 4Sli 483
•J4 Zapadnie (killed by guards) •_' L' 2
'JO (Ircat and Little Kast 471 471 471
29 Xapadnie i k illed by LCiiards) 2 '1 2
July 1 Xortli .' i :.(i 150 150
^ Xapadni.- 2:i2 23J 232
8 Xupadnie (killed by o-uards; ',', 3 3
11 Great and Little East ' 53S 53S 538
20 Xapadnie (killed by guards) :; 3 3
22 Stari-y Art, 11 and North 27!" 27H 27t}n}>ptd from the seal ixland*, including eleven ft lei an shipped to
the collector of customs at San l^ranciNco, ('a!.. 18!t~i.
ISLAND or Sr. TATI.,
Hei-'iny S<-a, Alaska, Aui/uxt //, /«*?,'/ J.
This is to certify that lL',r>00 fur-seal skins have this day been shipped on board
the North American ( 'ommercial Company's steamer Hertha. .) . M. 1 lays, master, con-
signed to the North American Commercial Company at San Francisco, Cal.
.IAMKS .Jrixii:,
ANxixtatit TreaHiin/ At/ent.
ISLAND OF ST. (iKoiuiK,
fieri ny Sea. Alaska, Anf/unf 1-f. 1S'J5.
'I'his is to certify that L',.riOo fur-seal skins have this day been shipped on board the
North American Commercial Company's steamer lierlha, .1. M. Hays, master, con-
signed to the Xortli American Commercial Company. San I'rancisco, Cal.
THOMAS E. ADAMS,
Axxixtant I'redxiirt/ Atjent.
ISLAND 01 ST. <;KOK<;L.
Jie.ring Sea, Alaxka. AiKjimt /•/, /,S'.'A7.
This is t<> certifv that 1 1 damaged fur-seal skins lioxed have this day been shipped
on board the North American Commercial Company's strainer Hertha (.1. M . Hays,
master . run>i'_;ncd t o t hr collector of custom^. San Krancisco, Cal.
Tnos. E. ADAMS,
Treaxury Aycnt.
SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 45
EXHIBIT D.
Distribution of <•<> nuininiti/ fund, St. I'aitl Island, Alaska, Auyust 1,1895 — Division No. 6.
To 12,500 prime fur-seal «kins, at 50 cents $6, 250. 00
To 140 prime fur-r .lOSKI'H MliltllAV. SI'KCIAL TREASURY ACKNT.
KOR THE YKAR IS'.U.
OFFICE OF SPECIAL AGENT,
TREASURY DEPARTMENT,
Waxlii nylon, 1). C., December 30, 1894.
SIR: I have the honor to report that, in compliance with Department
instructions dated June 12, 1894, 1 went to the seal islands of Alaska
and inspected the fur-seal rookeries, noting particularly the numbers
and present condition of the seals in comparison with what they were
every year since I tirst saw them in IfcSl).
I afterwards sailed along the American coast from Unalaska to San
Francisco, calling at every important settlement on the way; inspecting
every salmon stream and cannery on the route; making diligent inquiry
into the condition of the native inhabitants of Alaska; the wants and
desires of the white settlers who are busy developing the natural re-
sources of the Territory, and noting the views of the people generally
011 all that appertains to the present and future prosperity of the new
country.
On July 10, I left San Francisco on board the U. S. revenue cutter
Rush, Capt. C. L. Hooper commanding, and arrived on the 15th at Port
Townsend, where we were afterwards joined by Hon. C. S. Hamlin,
Assistant Secretary of the Treasury, who accompanied us to the seal
islands and back as far as Vancouver City, British Columbia.
We sailed on board the Rush from Port Townsend July 23 and
arrived at the seal islands August 3, first touching at St. George and
sailing along the coast, inspecting all the rookeries on that island
except Zapadnie, and then sailed over to St. Paul Island, where we
landed in a dense fog at 6 o'clock p. in.
The seal islands, commonly called the Pribilof group, consist of four
distinct islands in Bering Sea, situated between 55° and 57° north
latitude, and about 170° west longitude from Greenwich. They are
about 200 miles west from the nearest point on the mainland of Alaska,
200 miles north of the Aleutian chain, and 1^00 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
1,600 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 small and of no 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.1
St. Paul, the larger of the two principal islands, is long, low, and
narrow, its extreme length and breadth being 12 and 6 miles, respec-
tively, and its total area being about 36 square miles. Around the
greater part of the island runs a long, low, sandy beach, easy of access,
where the seals haul out without difficulty, and where they were to be
In 1894 about 1,000 seals hauled out on Otter Island.
47
48 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS.
found for a century in greater numbers than on any other spot on the
earth.
St. George Island has an area of about "21 square miles, and its sides
rise out of the water so abruptly and so steep that there are only a few
places around the whole coast upon which anything coming out of the
sea can find a footing, and consequently 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 forth 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. George Island being much higher than St. Paul, there is a
very marked difference in the amount of rainfall on each — fully five
times the volume falling on St. George, although the islands are only
40 miles apart.
The average temperature for the year is about 35°, ranging from 35°
to 60° in the summer, and from zero to 15° below in winter.
Both of the islands are of volcanic origin, and there is not a sign of
tree, shrub, or vine on either of them. They are covered in season with
moss, 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 — I 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 heaped 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 Creator.
And yet nature finds a use for those rugged and unshapely 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
might 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 the sea to their nests during the
hatching season, when toward evening they fill the air and darken the
sun for hours in their flight with their countless numbers.
Here, too, on St. George Island the famous blue fox finds a perma-
nent home, and grows to perfection, for here he has abundance of
choice and dainty food, and no one to molest him out of season.
SEALS.
To these islands, notwithstanding their cheerless aspect, their dreary
barren shores, their damp and foggy climate, come the fur seals every
year with the unerring regularity of the seasons; here they haul out of
the water and make their home on land for six months at least, during
SI-:AL LIFK ON Tin: PRIIULOF ISLANDS. 49
which time they bring forth mid rear their young, after which they
return to the sea, and disappear in the depths of the great ocean until
the days lengthen out again and nature tells them to return.
Given a lew 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 spot
of earth upon which he dwelt with his family last year, and upon which
he himself, in all probability, was born.
Early in May the breeding males or bulls begin to arrive in large
numbers and select their stations, upon which they lie down and sleep
for several weeks, or until about the time the breeding females or cows
are expected, when they assume au upright sitting posture and send
forth at intervals a cry peculiar to the fur seal, which is supposed 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 there to prevent it by driving them off. No male
seal can stay on the breeding grounds that is not old enough and strong
enough to maintain his position against all coiners. The young males-
are thus naturally forced to herd by themselves at a safe distance from
the breeding grounds during the breeding 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 for
any other purpose 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 the 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 are all brought forth by July 25.
I have for six years paid particular attention to the formation of the
harems or families, and I find 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,
returning to and nursing their offspring every few hours at first, but
gradually lengthening their stay into days and weeks before they
return.
When about four or five weeks old the pups begin to stir around and
get acquainted with one another, forming pods or crowds, and running
in company, at first inclining toward the interior of the rookery, and
afterwards, as they advance in age and strength, they direct their steps
toward the beach, where they paddle 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 he is as "round as a barrel " and as
S. Doc, 137, pt. 1 4
50 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS.
fat and sleek and glossy as possible; but after a four months7 residence
on land, where he never tastes food or drink, he becomes so poor and
gaunt and weak that it is with the utmost difficulty he crawls oft' into
the sea when he leaves, late in August or early in September, to take
his annual journey through Bering Sea and the North Pacific Ocean.
By September lf> the bulls have disappeared, and by the middle of
October the largest of the young males have lol lowed 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 herd follows a
well-defined and (at present) well-known path through the Bering Sea
and the North Pacific Ocean south and east from the seal islands to
the coast of California, nearly opposite Gape St. Lucas, and 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 ((Jalloi-hinutt urninus) is an inhabitant of Bering Sea and the
Sea of Okhotsk, where it breeds on rocky islands. Only four breeding colonies are
known, namely, (1) on the Pribilof Islands, belonging to the United States; (2) on
the Commander Islands, belonging to Kussia; (3) on Kobbeu Reef, belonging to Rus-
sia; and (4) on the Kurile Islands, belonging to Japan. The 1'ribilof and Commander
Islands are iu Bering Sea; Robben Reef is in the Sea of Okhotsk, near the island of
Saghalien, and the Kurile Islands are between Ve/o and Kamchatka. The species is
not known to breed in any other part of the world. The fur seals of Lobos Island
and the south seas, and also those of the Galapagos Islands and the islands off Lower
California, belong to widely different species, and are placed iu different genera from
the northern fur seal.
2. In winter the fur seals migrate into the North Pacific Ocean. The herds from
the Commander Islands, Robben Reef, and the Kurile Islands move south along the
Japan coast, while the herd belonging to the Pribilof Islands leaves Bering Sea by
the eastern passes of the Aleutian chain.
3. The fur seals of the Pribilof Islands do not mix with those of the Commander
and Kurile islands at any time of the year. In summer the two herds remain
entirely distinct, separated by a water interval of several hundred miles; and in
their winter migrations those from the Pribilof Islands follow the American coast
in a southeasterly direction, while those from the Commander and Kurile islands fol-
low the Siberian and Japan coasts in a southwesterly direction, the two herds being
separated in winter by a water interval of several thousand miles.
This regularity iu the movements of the different herds is in obedience to tire well-
known law that migratory animals follow definite 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 interbreeding and existence under diverse
physiographic conditions would destroy all specific characters. '
The pelage of the Pribilof fur seals differs so markedly from that of the Commander
Islands fur seals that the two are readily distinguished by experts, and have very
different values, the former commanding 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 appear along the American coast
as far south as northern California. Returning, the herds of females move uorth-
1 The home of a species is the area over which it breeds. It is well known to nat-
uralists that migratory animals, whether mammals, birds, fishes, or members of
other groups, leave their homes for a part of the year because the climatic conditions
or the food supply become unsuited to their needs; and that wherever the home of a
species is so situated as to provide a suitable climate and food supply throughout the
year such species do not migrate. This is the explanation of the fact that the north-
ern fur seals are migrants, while the fur seals of tropical anil warm temperate lati-
tudes do not migrate.
SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 51
ward along the coasts of Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia in January,
February, and March, oceuring at varying distances from shore. Following the
Alaskan coast north ward ;ind westward, they leave the North Pacific Ocean in June,
travn-se the. eastern passes in the Aleutian chain, and proceed at once to the Pribilof
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 and take stands on the rook-
cries, where they await tin- arrival of the females. Each male (called a bull) selects
a largo rock, on or near which he remains until August, unless driven oil' by stronger
bulls, never leaving for a single instant, night or day, and taking neither food nor
water. Both before and for some time after the arrival of the females (called cows)
the bulls tight savagely among themselves for positions on the rookeries and for pos-
session of the cows, and many are. severely wounded. All the bulls are located by
June !><>.
6. 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 lirst 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 arriving early in June, and soon appear in large schools or
droves immense numbers taking their places on the rookeries 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 hareins. The harems are
complete early in July, at which time the breeding rookeries attain their maximum
si/e and compactness.
8. The cows give birth to their young soon after taking their places on the harems,
in the latter part of June and in Inly, but a few are delayed until August. The
period of gestation is between eleven and twelve months.
il. 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 remain at the islands until the young are weaned, which
is not until they are four or rive months old. Each mother knows her own pup, and
will not permit any other to nurse. This is the reason so many thousand pups starve
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 youn«r, often traveling
considerable distances and visiting group after group of pups before finding their
own. On reaching an assemblage of pups, some of which are awake and others
asleep, she rapidly moves about among them, sniffing at each, and then gallops off to
the next. Those that are awake advance toward her, with the evident purpose of
nursing, but she repels them with a snarl and passes on. When she finds her own
she fondles it a moment, turns partly over on her side so as to present her nipples,
and it promptly 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 reoogni/e their young by their cry, a sort of bleat.
11. Soon alter birth the pups move away from the harems and huddle together in
small groups, called " pods," along the borders of the breeding rookeries and at some
distance from the water. The small groups gradually unite to form larger groups,
which move slowly down to th* water's edge. When six or eight weeks old the
pups begin to learn to swim. Not only are the 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 lenst five times as large as the
female. As a rule each ma,le 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 Avater front
These young bulls may be distinguished at a glance from those on the regular harems
by the circumstance that they are fat and in excellent condition, while those that have
fasted for three months on the breeding rookeries are much emaciated and exhausted.
The young bulls, even when they have succeeded in capturing a number of cows,
can be driven from their stands with little difficulty, while (as is well known) the
old bnlla 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 pup when 3 years old.
1(5. Bulls first take stands on the breeding rookeries when 6 or 7 years old. Before
this they are not powerful enough to fight the older bulls for positions on the harems.
,)*J SEAL LIFK OX THK 1'KI hi LOT ISLANDS.
17. ( o\\s. when nur.-inu. regularly ira\el lon^ (list, -mres to feed. I hey arc fre-
oiiently found Itui t>r \~>n miles from the i-lands, ami soinet imes a( ureater distances.
IN. The to id of I lie fur --e.il eon-i-t- of fish, squids, crustaceans, and probably other
form- of marine lil'e.
1!'. The ureat minority of cows, pups. and >uch of the breeding hull- as have not
a Ire ad \ ^onc. leave the i> lands alioa i the mi idle of November, the dale \ ar\ inu' con-
sidei a lii v with the season .
L'o. l';irt of the noiihreed i 11:4 male -eal- i liolliisehickie), lo^cthei1 with a I'e\\ old
lnil 1-. reiiia in until .1 an nary, and r M ; .ire i n-t am-es until IV hi uar\ . or i-veii later.
L'l. The fur se il ;..- a species is presen t at the 1'ri Id lot' Islands einht or nine nionl hs
ot' the \ear. or from t v. o thirds to three fourths of the time, and in mild winters
sometimes during the entire year. I lie breeding hulls arrive earliest and remain
coin imioiisly on i lie island- about four month-. The hived iu^' cows remain about
six iiion t ii-. and pan of the lion breed i 1114 male seals about eiuht or nine months, and
somet inies i hroiiuh.'ii t the en i ire \ ea .
--. I'liriii'j. the northward initiation, as has been -tated. the last of the bodv or
herd of fur sr.-ils lease the North i'a. itic and enter I'.erin^ Sea in the latter part of
.1 line. A lew sea t tered individuals, however, a re -» en dm inu the summer at various
points aloim the northwest coast. i in se are probably se.ds that were so badly
wounded by pela-h- s'-aieis that they could not travel \\ith the rest of the herd to
the 1'rildlof Islands. it has been a 1 le^cd t ha t yon n^ fn r sea Is have been found in
early -ummer on several occasions alon^ the coa-t of Uritish Colnmbia and south-
east ern A la. sis a. While no authentic case of the kind ha- come to our not h e. it would
be expected from the lar»v mini her of cows t hat are wounded radi \\inier and spring
aloiin tiie-e eo.ist- and aie thereby rendi-red unable to reach the breeding rookrvies,
andmu-t perfoi'ce >j i \'c 'drill to their \ oiin^- ( perhaps premat nrtdy i wherever they
m a v be at tne time.
L'.'l. The reason the nort hem !'•: r -ea 1 i n iia hi ; s the I 'ri hi lot' I -lands to the exclusion
of all other i-laiii-.s and , -oasts is that ii here find- the climatic and physical condi-
tions necessary to iis 1 ; f e wants. This species ret |i; ires a uniloi mly low temperature
and overcast sk\ and a IMITO-\ a i n,ns]d;ere to picveiit the .-un's ray- from injuiinu' it
diiiin.uthe lonu summer season when it remains upon the rookeries. It reouires
also roeUy beaches on \\ hi eh to biin.u' forth its \oiinu'. No islands to the northward
or southward ot' the Prii-ilof Island-, wiih the possible exeejition of limited areas
on the Aleutian chain, are known to po.-se-.s the reiji.isite combination of climate
and p 1 1 v s i c a 1 conditions.
All statements to the effect that fur seals ot' this species formerly bred on the
coa.-ts and islands oi < alitornia and Mexico are erroneous, the seals remaining there
beloiiuinu to \\idely different .-pecies.
DIJlVINtJ AND KILLI.NCJ.
\\ lien- tiic lirst youii0,1 iiuilcs. or bachelors, arrive at the islands in
May. a drive is made for food for tin1 natives, who are hungry lor fresh
meat, not havinu tasted any since the preceding November.
All of the driving is done tinder the immediate and exclusive direc-
tions ot' the native chief, who is the most experienced and most trust-
wori h v m;in on t lie island.
Shmdd the >eals 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 do/en men are on the ground, and silently and swiftly running in
-inii'h- file alonjj, the beach they form a line between the seals ami the
sea : and i hen t lie stall led animals will immediate A start inland, where
they are sin \\ ly followed by t he men. nut il t hey are too far from t he beach
to esc a pc to the wa! t of the driving is done during
i he n i u 1 1 1 . M) as to take advantage of the dew a ud moisture, and to avoid
the sudden appearance of the sun. \\ hich 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,
SKAL LIFE ON THE PKIB1LOF ISLANDS. 53
can not be true, because overdriving means overheating, and an over-
heated fur seal is one from which the fur has fallen and left the skin
valueless, and that means a loss to natives, lessees, and Government
alike. As there is no one to beneiit 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 lor 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 if is best for the skin
and for the tlesh 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-deiined killing grounds on St. Paul
Island, from some one of which the most distant hauling ground or
rookery is not to exceed liA 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 miles,
and during the past fifteen years there has not been a longer drive made
on either island than 3 miles, interested parties to the contrary not-
withstanding.
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, fiipperers, and skinners; the women and girls following the 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 hickory about 5i feet long and about 3 inches thick at
the heavier end, which end is generally bound in sheet iron to prevent
its destruction 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 blow on the head knocks the seal down and stuns him, and
if the blow has been properly dealt he never recovers; but quite often
it requires two to three blows from a bungler to finish him. The
clubbed seals are dragged into line and counted, and then "stuck"
and u fiippered," 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 water and
return to the hauling grounds.
After the skin has been removed, the women take the carcass and,
after stripping on" the blubber or fat, cut off the choice meat in strips
to dry: and, when dried, they pack it into the dried stomach 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 three classes of rejected skins,
namely: cut, small, and stagy.
.)4 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS.
A cut skin is one that has been bitten through by one seal biting
another during one of their many battles, or it may have been acci-
dentally cut during the operation of skinning: a small skin is one that
weighs a little less than the minimum standard set up by the lessee's
agent, generally less than U pounds. After July the fur seal sheds his
hair, and it i> 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 just 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 naturally lowered
in the market.
Heretofore, and until the adoption of the modus vivendi in 1S1H, it
was customary to allow the natives to 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 wasted,
because all skins that are rejected by the lessee's agent are wasted so
far as (loverninent interests and revenue are concerned.
No killing should be permitted for any purpose whatsoever during
the stagy season, say from July '•>[ to November !."».
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 purpose, and in which he also enters the date of the
drive, the rookery driven from, the hour of driving, the state1 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 Jiud
under the direction of the native chief and the lessee's agent. The
skins are spread on the lloor. 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 lea^t live days in the first salt they are shaken out
and examined, and resalted as before, excepting that the top layer is
now put down first and the original position of all layers reversed.
\Yhen sufficiently cured they are bundled by the ual ives. who. spread-
ing a thin laver of salt between two skins, lay them llesh side to llesh
side, and fold the two into a neat . compact bundle, which they tie
securely with strong l wine, and throw into the pile for shipping. From
the >hippjng pile l hey are again counted out. bundle by bundle, by the
Treasurv agent, in whose presence they are always taken from the salt
house to the boa!, from which they aie again counted by I he mate into
the steamer that takes them to San f'rancisco. wheie they are counted
once more by the ciist'ims officers, and finally packed into barrels by
the lessees and shipped direct to London via New York.
Karlv in lh«- morning of August 1. IS'.M. a drive was made from the
Reef rookery in presence of Mr. Ilamiin. who accompanied the native
men who did the work, and \\ ho was present throughout the whole oper-
ation of diivinv.'. killing, and skinning the seals, inspecting, assorting,
counting, and salting tlie skins, just as t he same opera! ions have been
performed every killing season for the past quarter of a century.1
on!\ exception to this is in tlie mot hod of k i 1 1 inu. The olden rule was to
fh m;.n to first k nock dow n his share and t hen t urn in and skin them, but,
ice l:iuuiil us that this was had policy, tor the carcasses that were allowed to
d stiffen before .,kinnin^ uere very apt to have their skins injured in the
HI. In-nee the ;idoption of the present improved system.
SKAL LIFE ON THE I'KIHILOF ISLANDS. 55
During our live days1 stay on St. Paul Island we inspected all the
rookeries, walking over many of them, and 1 carefully noted their con-
dition, the sparsely settled breeding grounds, the deserted hauling
grounds, and the desolate appearance of the place in comparison with
what 1 saw there only live years ago. when hundreds 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 1 observed on the breeding grounds since 1881) was the
great number of idle bulls, young and vigorous, lying around in all
directions, watching an opportunity to secure cows.
They can not succeed, however, for during the past ten years the
cows have been the quarry of the pelagic sealer, whose improved meth-
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
offspring and unborn young, represent a loss of many millions, which
in turn accounts for the acres of bare and unoccupied rookery ground
over which we walked without rinding a seal. When in 1891 I inspected
the same rookeries 1 counted 1,250 idle bulls at t;ie very height of the
rutting season, and I have since observed a steady increase of breeding
bulls as the herd continued as steadily to decrease as a whole.
So plain and palpable has this increase of bulls been for the past live
years, it has become a topic of general conversation among those who
have had opportunities to observe the rookeries from year to year dur-
ing the breeding season: and in his annual report for 1S94 the agent
in charge of the islands says:
The only class of seals that showed an increase over last year were the young bulls,
who were unable to find a single cow with which to start a ha rein on the rookeries.
There were more idle bulls of breeding age than there were bulls with harems oil
the breeding grounds. (See Report of Joseph 1>. Crow ley. 1^9L)
Another very important feature observed in our inspection of the
rookeries in 1894 was the absence of dead pups in the early part of
August, for up to our leaving on the 8th 1 had not seen a dead pup on
the island, and the agent in charge, who 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 UO there was a
dead pup to be seen, but from that date to the close of the season,
according to official communications received from the islands, the car-
casses of dead pups, starved and emaciated, increased with appalling
rapidity until 12,000 were counted by the assistant agents.
The agents report that they actually counted 12,000 dead pups on the
accessible portions of the rookeries to which they could go without dis-
turbing the seals, and after making due allowance for the portions not
visited at all, they believe that a fair estimate of the total number of
dead pups on the two islands of St. Paul and St. George in 1894 would
aggregate 20,000. (See report of Joseph 13. Crowley, 1894.)
And .Mr. Joseph B. Crowley tells us that —
Every precaution was taken to count only such as appeared to have died late in
the season. None of the small young pups which showed decay and bore the appear-
ance of having died early in the breeding season were counted. * I do not
make recklessly the statement of the death of pups Irom starvation. There is posi-
tive proof of it. I witnessed the beginning of its disastrous results the last of
August before 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 yet alive were so wasted and weak they could scarcely
drag themselves over the rocks and would not attempt to get out of the way when
approached. (Report of J. B. Crowley, 1894.)
f)KA1. LIFK ON THK 1'RIBILOF ISLANDS.
•• \Y iiat is t IK- cause of tin- death of so many fur-seal pups ? " lias been
asked many times during the past live years' discussion of the seal
(jucstioii. and many eonilicting ans\\ers have l>een given. 1 think tlie
following, under i he circumstances, is an answer that can not be contra-
dicted. The pelagic sealing season opened in liering Sea on August 1,
is:» |. in accordance with t he international regulations made possible by
the Uering Sea Tribunal, under which pelagic sealers arc licensed to
kill seals, with spears, outside of the 00 mile /.one around the seal islands,
and imincdi'ilely we see the result of their work in the thousands of
pups death after then mothers had been killed at sea by the
men whose right to kill them, at certain seasons, has been established
ami acknowledged by the very t ribunal t hat was created for the purpose
of preventing1 the destruction of the fur seal herd.
One of the most horrible and harrowing sights imaginable is that of
being Mirroiiiided on the bleak and inhospitable shores of the Pribilof
Islands by thousands ol' dead and dying1 pup seals whose death has been
the result of slow starvation, and whose hungry cries and almost human
appeal-- tor food and life must be made1 in v: in, for, no matter how willing
and anxious one may be to render assistance, one feels it is bevond
human power to arrest the gnawing1 of hunger in an animal who is
totally dependent for sustenance on a mother who was killed a month
ago by pelagic sealers!
Those who once witnessed such a >ighi never can forget it. and occa-
sionally I receive letters from some o: them which run somewhat like
the following:
I >o i e'l me what i> in IK- done with the lew remaining seals. 1 1' these
steps had been taken lasl year, even, tlu-re iiii^ht ha\el>een enough left to tell the
tale, lint a- it is I can not hut Ceel \vh:>i a pilialde si^ht the rookeries will present
next veal'. ll was d iseoii i aej ui; enoi! <_Ji last spring when 1 eonrpai'ed the rookeries
wi'h \\hai 1 had seen jusi t lie \ ear In-Core. My heart l>h-d Cor the poor starving pups
so inneh. tin- last stroll 1 took on the rookeries, that i eonld never <;o hack. I don't
see how the .jud;_r<' eophl stand to see 1 1 i.t it '( I de id ones. It would have hroken my
heart I know. The morning we eaine into 1 Mitch llaihor on our voyaue down we
sa \\ three sealing vessels sailing on t to\vard the ('.('-miles limit. Oh. what a Caree.
what a snare and delu.-ion that lid-mile limit \\ a > ! l(ow eonld anxone who had
e\ ( r lieen io the sea] inlands ami noted the hahits ol' tlie feeding cows ever rccoui-
niend such a murderous proposi t ion .' Kven 1 knew lielter than that. I>ut
l:;.(H") cn\\ s taken stau'-ere 1 me. ! had. expected a'.out ."i.JUMI or (i. <)<)(>. and even enl-
elllated the teriil>le eouse(| iieuce upon the rookeries, lnit lii.UlKl! that was terrihle,
terri'de !
The \\ ri t er of tliat let t er is the \\'ile oi' t he Treasury agen t . a n A mer
ican lady of ('hristian education, culture, and refinement, who natu-
rally felt horrified at the sight she saw on the rookeries, and, like the
tender and merciful woman she is. she denounces the system, regula-
tion, custom, or whatever else it may be called, which makes such suf
fering possible.
One inM;iiice in this connection worth recording is that of a pelagic
sealer \\hose heart was touched by the pitilnl cries of an orphan pup.
and the story is told by an eye\\ it ne-s under oat h :
O| the -eal> th;it we] e ca n <_• h 1 oi! the coast Cull\ !»() on! of every !<>() had youn^
pup- in them. The lioats would l,nn,LC the seals on hoard the \c>sel, and we would
take the v(.iiii'_: pup-- out and skin them. 1C the pup is i^ood and a nic-- one, we
would.-!. in li and keep it for oursi 1 vrs. I hadei^hl such skins myseJ I. l'«urout
oC ti \ e. il ca mhl :u Max or June, would he alive, \\heu we cut them out ol' their
motheis. One ol' t hem we kept Co i jirettyne.il' t hrce weeks a 1 i ve oil deck h\ Ceed-
iie^ it on eoiideu-i-d nd I k. One ol' t he men linall^ 1\ i 1 led it lieea u -e i t cried so pit i-
Cu!l . A Cnda il of \ Ilied ! >:i rde.i u.
The reverse -ide of the qiic.-tioii is that held by the average pelagic
sealer. \\ ho kill- the nmt hei cal and cuts out her unborn voting or
lea \ es the born \ounu to slo\\ ! v st ar\'e to death on the rookeries.
SEAL LIFE OX THE J'KIHILOK ISLANDS. f> 7
The British Bering Sea commissioners in this connection stated:
The fnr of the female is equally good with that of the male, and under the condi-
tions under which the hunting is carried on, there is room lor no sentimental eonsid-
eiations in favor of either sex.
I was informed by the Treasury agent and others who had wintered
on the seal islands that the winter of 18!>3-9A had been one of unusual
severity, rigor, and length, and that the seals had been much later in
hauling out than for many years past.
This happens occasionally, for whenever it is unusually cold during* the
spring and early summer months, and the ice hangs around the islands
till the latter end of May or early Julie, the seals will not or can not
haul out until passages 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 20,000 killa-
bles allowed to betaken this year were not to be found unless the
standard weight and size should be lowered by the lessees and smaller
seals taken. As the lessees have not taken any skins weighing less
than 7 pounds, and have killed some 10,000 first-class seals, 1 have no
doubt of their being able to get 20,000 had they chosen to take 4,000
skins weighing from 5 to 6 pounds each.
This opens up a question of the utmost importance to our Govern-
ment, for if we can not tind 20,000 young male seals on the seal islands,
whose skins will weigh from 7 to 12 pounds each, after a modus 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 explanation is not-
hard, but unfortunately, because of many clashing interests, there has
been a glamor of secrecy and sacreduess thrown around the fur seal
question, by and through which plain, practical, business men have
been debarred from expressing an opinion, or, having dared to express
one, have been tabooed by interested parties. For years the cause of
the decrease in the seal herd has been discussed with unabated vigor;
so-called improved methods 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 and of saving from total extinction the remnants of our
seal herd that had, only a few years ago, been numbered by the millions
and valued at nearly |1
Ignoring for the moment all that has been said about the thought-
lessness and brutality of the Russian methods of driving and killing
seals, and of the 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 the property over to the United States
in 18G8 there were nearly 5,000,000 l of seals on the Pribilof Islands,
and that for a period of sixteen years afterwards there was neither
decrease nor diminution perceptible in those immense and valuable herds.
Dr. H. II. 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, confidentially, 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
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. Morton, who was on the islands from 1870 to 1880. (See H. H. Mclntyre
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 Trere no more seals 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.)
1 Grand sum total for the Pribilof Islands (season of 1873), breeding seals and
young, 3,193,420. The noubreeding 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-
seal life on the Pribilof Islands over 4,700,000. (Elliott, The Fur-Seal Islands of
Alaska, pp. 61, 62.)
SEAL LIFE ON THE PKIHILOF ISLANDS. 59
It was in 1873 that. Mr. Klliott estimated the number of seals on the
Pribilof Islands at 4,700,000, and he again tells us in 1SS1 that the
seals never had been more numerous than they were then; but in 1890
lie found them reduced to 959,393 seals, including everything on the
islands, or about one-fifth of what the herd had been in 1873.
Ill 1891 the Treasury agents on the seal islands were instructed to
make daily visits to the rookeries during the breeding season for the
purpose of noting the peculiar habits of the seals and carefully estimat-
ing their numbers 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 weeks, in turn, watching the cows from their first
landing. They would often stay away from their offspring for a week
at a time.
I have selected a favorable location on the lleef rookery, where I was-
soine 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, coupled 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 2,3G4 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 completing
the second journey at Northeast Point on July 22, and the highest esti-
mate I made of the number of seals on each was as follows:
K'ookery. Sc;ils. Rookery. Seals.
Northrasi Point
149 975
Middle Hill
5 J50
Reef
93, 150
Ketavie
5 075
Halfway Point
10 500
16 GOO
Tolstoi and 1 (» ^\:\\. LIFK o.\ TIM-: I'uir.n.or ISLANDS.
one wlio was on the i>land a few years ago, and who ever paid any
attention to the seals when the rookeries were tilled out to their fullest,
and thousands were to be seen spoiling" in the waters around them.
Indeed. 1 do not hesitate to say that there was not to exceed -'100.000
seals on St. 1'anl and St. tieorge islands in August. 1S1M.
It is here the questions naturally arise. "What is the cause of the
decrease of the seal herd.' Is there a reined v: and if so. how can it
be applied .'"
I shall attempt to answer the questions in the order in which 1 have
Mated them, and I aim to show that all of my own views are in strict
a c co I'd \\ it h t hose whose disinterestedness, practical knowledge, or sci-
euti Me attainments warrant t hem in expressing1 views on t he question at
issue.
And it will be found, i think, that while we may ditfer in on;- estimates
of the number of sea's on the islands at any particular time or period,
or that our notions about methods and management may never be exactly
alike, we are all agreed that the cause of the decrease of the fur seal herd
is pelagic sealing.
Speaking for myself.after an experience of six years on the seal islands,
I have no doubt that were it not lor pelagic sealing the seal herd would
be as numerous and as nourishing today as it was in ISiiS or 1SS1, or
at any other period since the discovery of the islands: nor is it at ran-
dom or without long study that I say this, {or 1 have given the subject
a great deal of serious thought during the world-wide discussion of the
question since ISW).
When the question of the decrease of the seal herd was first men
tioned publicly as a reality, theories as numerous as the men who enter-
tained them were offered in explanation of the cause of such decrease,
and tor awhile it was argued with consummate ability and persistent
energy by Mr. II. W. Klliott. who was considered an authority on all
that relates to fur seals, that the driving1 from the hauling to t he killing
grounds injuied the young males to the extent of impotency. and thus
unfitted them at maturity for service on the breeding grounds.
A mere idle guess at first, this theory was pushed to the front with
energy, although, could angry personal feelings and prejudice have been
eliminated from the controversy, the gentleman might have discovered
what every scientist, naturalist, and impartial observer saw from the
first, that so long as all t he cows on the rookeries had pups beside them
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 after the passions and prejudices existing on
the seal islands in istio cooled down or had ceased to exist. Mr. Klliott
made an affidavit in which he says:
it na t ion. actual records, and t rust wort hy test imony
\ lioiii I have conversed, and also Irom Knowledge ol
<•! rcnmst ances of seal life. I am of the opinion that
ic.xpeedv destruction of the 1'iibilof herd ol' fur
e and the lied increases in number of vessels and
ion'.;h the present modus vivendi should remain in
commercial ruin of the herd; that in order to pre-
serve I lie seals from eomplet e dest rnct ion, as a commercial fact or, it is nceessary t hat
jM'laiiic sealing should not only be prohibited in l',eriii«j Sea, but also in flic North
J'ai-i lie i ron i the Is; of Ma until t he end of October, annually. The pelagic hunters
toda\ Kill at least '.HI p, r cent cows it ho ureal majority beini: \s it h \ onn^. nearly
j-eai l \ I'm i ie: i • < i \ in the Pacific Ocean.
As the phvfsieaj condiiions are smh that it is uttcrlv impossible to discriminate, in
mallei- of so\ or a'_M- \\hen shooting or xpcarin^ in ihe water, it is evident that
pelagic sealing can not be regulated in the -lightest decree beyond its complete pro-
hibition \v jt bin certain 1 imi i s. ' Klliot t's affidavit, 1 >',*_' ; see Appendix. !
SKAL LIF1-: ON THE PHIHlLoF ISLANDS. (i
Of all the testimony collected (luring the preparation of the United
States case tor the Tribunal of Arbitration, I know of nothing clearer
or more explicit than this of Mr. Elliott, and to me it seems pitiful,
indeed, that one who has such a grasp of the subject, and the ability to
express it so well, should have been allured for a moment from the plain
path of fact to follow the ignis fatuns of theory through so many lanes
and byways to the sorrow of so many of his friends and admirers.
Reading his different papers, in the light of subsequent events, their
perusal makes one feel sorry, indeed, that he did not adopt Webster's
views and follow his advice when the old veteran sealer conversed with
him on St. George Island that -Oth day of July, 1890, of which Mr.
Elliott writes:
Daniel Webster is the veteran white sealer on these islands. lie came to St. I'aul
Island in 1SC58, and, save the season oi' 187t> (then on a trip to the Kussian seal islands),
he has been sealing here ever since, being' in charge of the work at Northeast Point
annually until this summer oi' 1S90, when he has conducted the killing on St. George.
lie spoke very freely to me this afternoon while calling on me, and said there is no
use trying to build these rookeries up again so as to seal here, as has been done since
1868, unless these animals are protected in the North Pacific Ocean as well as in
Bering Sea ; on this point the old man was very emphatic. (Elliott's report for
1890, p. 250.)
What wonder is it that Webster should have been emphatic in his
remarks on pelagic sealing! For more than fifty years he has been in
Bering Sea, thirty years of which have been spent among the fur seals
of which he has had the practical management, and handled and killed
more of them than any other living man.
A plain, blunt, rough, practical seaman, honest and patriotic to the
core, he could not be wheedled into new-fangled notions or airy theories
which are repugnant to good, common sense, and so he makes oath that:
My observation has been that there was an expansion of the rookeries from 1870
to 1879, which fact 1 attribute to the careful management of the islands by the
United States Government. * * * There was never, while I have been upon the
islands, any scarcity of vigorous bulls, there always being a bufficient number to
fertilize all the cows coming to the islands.
The season of 1891 showed that male seals had certainly been in sufficient number
the year before, because the pups on the rookeries were as many as should be for the
number of cows landing, the ratio being the same as in former years.
Then, too, there was a surplus of vigorous bulls in 1891 who could obtain no cows.
At Zapaduie, on St. George, the drive to the killing grounds is less than a
mile. The 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.
At Northeast Point rookery, on St. Paul Island, the longest drive is 2 miles. la
former times the Russians used to drive from this rookery to St. Paul village, a dis-
tance of 12^ miles. (See Webster's affidavit, Appendix.)
Yes, let it not be forgotten for a moment that from the first taking of
fur seals for their skins on the Pribilof Islands to 1808 they were driven
a distance of V2$ miles — or from end to end of St. Paul Island — and
that no distinction of sex was made, male and female being driven and
slaughtered indiscriminately, until the almost total extinction of the
species in 1834 compelled the Russian- American Company to investigate
the cause of the decrease, which resulted in prohibiting the killing of
females forever after w a ds.
It seems that in spite of their ignorant and barbarous methods and
their possible lack of scientific acumen, these Russians were practical
fellows after all, for the sequel certainly shows that the plan adopted
by them of saving and protecting the female was the true one. Mr.
Elliott's own estimates show that from 1835 to 1881 the herds had
steadily increased up to 5,000,000 seals, or up to a point beyond which
it was impossible to go. Speaking of the increase of seal life, he tells us :
I am free to say that it is not within the power of human management to promote
this end to the slightest appreciable degree over its present extent and condition as
62 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS.
it stands in the state of nature heretofore described. It can not fail to be evident,
from my detailed narration of the habits and life of the fur seal on these islands
during so large a part of every year, that could man have the same supervision and
control over this animal during the whole season which he has at his command
while they visit the land he might cause them to multiply and increase, as he would
so many cattle, to an indefinite number, only limited by time and the means of feed-
ing them. But the case in question, unfortunately, 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 probably many others, equally
so, unknown, which prey upon it, and, in accordance with that well-recognized law
of nature, keeps this seal life at a certain number— at a rigure which has been
reached for ages past, and continue to be in the future, as far as they now are — their
present maximum limit of increase, namely, between 4,000,000 and 5,000,000 seals, in
round numbers. This law holds good everywhere throughout the animal kingdom,
regulating and preserving the equilibrium of life in 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 medusa? of the waters, long before the Russians discov-
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 occupied,
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 pity it is that Mr. Elliott should have forgotten in 1890 the
fact that the long drives of from 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 18/54 to 1881, the herd increased to marvelous
proportions in spite of the long drives and the killing of so many young
males, until, as he himself says, "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."
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 Arbitration, where the British coun-
sel laid such stress upon Mr. Elliott's report of 1890, with his theory of
overdriving, impotency, dearth of bulls, innumerable barren females,
and a consequent decrease of the seal herd as a whole.
In their report the British Bering Sea Commissioners say:
Upon the Pribilof Islands in 1891 we did not ourselves note any great abundance
of barren females, but the facts in this matter would be scarcely apparent to those
not intimately connected with the rookeries for more than a single year. In his
official report on the condition of the islands in 1890, Mr. Elliott states that therefore
then 250,000 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 ttritish
Commissioners, sec. 433, p. 77.)
Not only did they not note " any great abundance of barren females,"
but it is an open 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 story of 1890 about the 250,000 barren females which he observed
on the islands.
There was not a single day of the breeding season of 1891 when some
of the four 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 them,
or from any one else who has ever been on a rookery (excepting Mr.
Elliott), about barren females.
SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS.
63
It has been amply demonstrated by different individuals, and in many
ways, that then- was not a shadow of truth in Mr. Elliott's theory, and
many of his own most intimate friends and fellow workers, who are well
qualified to speak as scientists on the seal question, are among the fore-
most of those who flatly contradict him on that point.
Prof. B. W. Fvermann, of the United States Fish Commission, visited
St. Paul Island while I was there in 1892, and he very carefully inspected
the seals on many of the rookeries, beginning July IS and ending on
the .'list, and here is what he found:
L i K A x x ON K oo K K u Y, Jul n 1ft, from 1.30 to 4 p. in .
HiirtMiis.
4. .
5..
nulls.
]
Cow*.
Pups.
°6
Harems. Bulls. Cowf
9 1
i. I'up.s.
."> 3
<;
Hi!
10 1 1
" 20
4
"(1
11 ]
4 5
• >
5
1° 1
5 ' 15
27
12
i:; 1
6 :iO
10
2
15
o
Total 13 9
0 211
U
0
KKKF ROOKKBY, July ZO, p. m.
Many quite large bulls were seen among the bachelors, and there is no
doubt in my mind but that the number of available bulls is considerably iu excess of
the number necessary to serve the cows.
NOUTHKAST POINT ROOKERY, July 22.
Several hours in the middle of the day were spent in examining this rook-
ery. * * *
.Just west of this is a bunch of about 10 good-sized bulls that had no cows about
them at all. These were not old, superannuated bulls, but young, vigorous ones, and
undoubtedly well able to maintain harems were there a greater number of cows.
This and numerous other similar sights convince me that there are even now a good
many more bulls than are necessary to serve the cows. (Notes on the tur seal, by 13.
W. Everrnaun, Counter Case, United States, p. 264.)
And C. H. Townsend, of the United States Fish Commission, who
has had many years practical experience among fur seals, afloat and
ashore, and who was on duty in Bering Sea during the summer of 1892,
makes affidavit as follows:
As already stated above, I was attached to the steamer Corw'm during the past
summer, and I made all the examinations of the stomachs of the seals referred to in
Captain Hooper's report, covering in all 33 seals. * 1 hese seals were taken on
the 2d day of August, 18il2, at a distance of about 175 miles from the islands. * * *
From the fact that among the females thus taken and examined there were found
mostly nursing cows, with a small number of virgin cows, it is reasonable to conclude
that there are practically no barren females swimming about in the sea unattached
to the islands, or that at any rate, if such seals exist, they are rarely, if ever, taken.
In all my experience I never saw anything to lead me to the conclusion that there is
such a tiling as a barren female. In the case of the virgin cows, a careful examina-
tion of the uterus proved them to be too immature for conception. (C. H. Town-
send; see affidavit in Appendix.)
The testimony of Professor Evermann and Mr. Townsend is a fair
sample of that given by naturalists generally, and it is doubly valuable in
this instance, because it comes from personal friends of Mr. Elliott, and
from friends who rather inclined to his theory until they had opportunity
to investigate for themselves, and to demonstrate to their own and the
world's satisfaction that there never was an impotent bull or a barren
cow seen on the breeding grounds or rookeries of the Pribilof Islands
or in the waters adjacent thereto.
Additional testimony of those who have had experience with the fur
seals, and whose practical knowledge of the whole subject of seal life,
its growth, expansion, and decay, and the causes thereof, entitles them
64 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS.
to a hearing on the point at issue, is most respectfully submitted to the
earnest consideration of all who are interested in the perpetuation of
the Alaskan fur seal.
Mr. Joseph Stanley-Brown, whoalso was on the seal islands in 1891-92,
testifies as follows:
No intelligent observer would, be so bold as to assert that during the season of
1892 there was not an abundance of males of competent virility, despite the occur-
rence of occasional large harems. The accompanying photographs1 show that even
at the height of the season, and just previous to the disintegration of the breeding
grounds, there were, misapplied with cows, old males which had taken their stand,
and from which 1 was unable to drive them with stones.
I should have been extremely glad to have been able to note a great many more
large harems, but the work of the pelagic hunter among the females has been so
effective, that the average size of the 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 hi* 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 born
being equal, there must inevitably be left a reserve of young immature males, the
death of a certain proportion of which could not in anyway affect the annual supply
coming from the breeding grounds. These conditions existing, the Government has
permitted the taking, with three exceptions up to 1890, of a quota of about 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 appreciable part in the diminution of the herd. * * *
From my knowledge of the vitality of seals, I do not believe any injury ever
occurred to the reproductive powers of the male seals from redriving that 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 Buterin, native chief of St. Paul Island (see Appendix):
Plenty of bulls all the time on the rookeries, and plenty bulls have no cows. I
never seen a 3-year-old cow without a 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 were too few, nor more than an occasional barren cow. These latter
were so few as to excite no remark, but if any such disproportion did in fact exist
in 1888 and in 1889, it was the fault of those who killed them at sea, because it never
occurred at all until the marine hunters became numerous and aggressive. I mention
this matter here, because since I left the island 1 have heard it asserted that the mis-
management there caused the decrease of seal life. The management there was just
such as I would follow if all the seals belonged to me.
C. L. Fowler, local agent for lessees:
I never saw any impotent bulls on the rookeries, and do not believe there ever was
any, unless it was the result of age; nor do I believe that young male seals were ever
rendered impotent 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-year old, without a pup by her side in the proper
season. I never heard tell of an impotent bull seal, nor do I believe :here is such a
thing, excepting the very old and feeble or badly wounded ones. I have seen hun-
dreds of idle vigorous bulls upon the rookeries, and there were no cows for them. I
saw many such bulls last year.
1 Not given here.
SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 65
H. N. Glidden, Treasury agent:
During these years there was always a sufficiency of vigorous male life to serve all
the female seals' which came to the islands, and certainly during this period seal life
was not affected by any deficiency of males.
Alex. Hansson:
The orders of the boss of the gang in which I worked in 1888 and 1889, under the
management of the Alaska Commercial Company, were not to kill the 5-year-old
bulls, because they were, he said, needed on the rookeries.
Aggei Kushen, native sealer, St. Paul Island:
We noticed idle, vigorous bulls on the breeding rookeries, because of the scarcity
of cows, and I have noticed that the cows have decreased steadily every year since
1886, but more particularly so in 1888, 1889, 1890, and 1891.
H. H. Mclutyre, general superintendent Alaska Commercial Com-
pany :
And I am satisfied a sufficient number of males was always reserved for future
breeding purposes.
That during the twenty years I was upon said Pribilof Islands as general agent of
said Alaska Commercial Company there were reserved upon the breeding rookeries
upon said islands sufficient vigorous bulls to serve the number of females upon said
rookeries; that while I was located upon said islands there was at all times a greater
number 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 sufficient mature male life recognized that
when in 1887, 1888, and 1889 the depleted rookeries (depleted from causes that will
be 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
upon this reserve of maturer male life.
The policy of the Alaska Commercial 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 the rookeries 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 quota allowed by law, but they confidently expected, by reason of
their good management of the business and faithful fulfillment of every obligation
to the Government, to obtain the franchise for a second term. I was, therefore,
always alert to see that the due proportion of breeding males of serviceable age
was allowed to return to the rookeries. This was a comparatively easy task prior
to 1882, but became from year to year more difficult as the seals decreased. No very
explicit orders were given to the bosses upon this point until 1888, because the bulls
seemed to be plentiful enough, and because it was easier to kill and skin a small seal
than a large one, and the natives were inclined, for this reason, to allow the large
ones to escape ; but in 1888 and 1889 there was such a marked scarcity of breeding
males upon the rookeries that I gave strict orders to spare all 5-year-old bulls and
confine the killing to smaller animals.
Anton Melovedoff, native chief of St. Paul Island:
I have never known or heard tell of a time when there were not bulls enough and
to spare on the breeding rookeries. I never saw a cow 3 years old or over in August
without a pup by her side. The only cows on a breeding rookery without pups are
the 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 counted plenty of the idle, vigor-
ous bulls who had no cows.
Talk of epidemics among seals and of impotent bulls on the rookeries, but those
who have spent a lifetime on the seal islands and whose business and duty it has
been to guard and observe them have no knowledge of the existence of either. An
impotent bull dare not attempt to go on a rookery even had he a desire to do so.
Excepting the extremely old and feeble, I have never seen a bull that was impotent.
Simeon Melovidov, native school teacher, St. Paul 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 talked to the old men of our people, men who can remember back over fifty
years, and not one of them knows of a time when there was not plenty of bulls, and
more than enough on the breeding rookeries, and no one here ever heard of an impo-
tent bull. It has been said that cows are barren sometimes because of the
S. Doc. 137, pt. 1 5
66 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS.
dearth of bulls, but such is not the case at all, for the only cows on the breeding
rookeries in July or August without pups are the 2-year-olds (virgins), which have
come on the rookeries for the first time.
T. F. Morgan, foreman on Pribilof Islands for Alaska Commercial
Company :
Despite the lowering on the standard weight of skins, care was taken annually on
St. George that the residue of available male breeders was sufficient for the needs
of the rookeries, and instructions to that effect were given to the assistants by the
superintendent of the Alaska Commercial Company. In this we were aided by the
inaccessible character of some of the hauling grounds.
I. H. Moultou, Treasury agent:
During these years there were always a sufficiency 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. E. ^ettleton, Treasury agent:
During my stay on the islands I have never seen a time during the breeding season
when there has not been a number of large, vigorous young bulls hanging about the
borders of the rookeries watching for an opportunity to get a position of their own.
L. A. Noyes, M. D. (see affidavit in Appendix) :
The ''dearth of 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 convinced that the virgin females coming onto
the rookeries 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 them-
selves with only one or two.
The theory of " iinpotency of the bull through overdriving" while young was also
found to be 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 2£ miles.
It is also a well-known fact that none but 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.
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 the condition of the
rookeries to convince the most skeptical that there were plenty of bulls, and to spare,
and that hardly a cow could be found on the rookeries without a pup at her side.
For five years I have 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 impotency of the y oungbulls because of overdriving
when young is not worthy of consideration by any sane or honest m an who has ever seen
a bull seal on a breeding rookery; and as I have already answered the question of
overdriving, I will only add here that no young bull ever goes upon the breeding
rookery until he is able to fight his way in, and an impotent bull has no desire to
fight, nor could he win a position on the rookery were 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 number of idle, vigorous
bulls behind the breeding grounds who could not obtain consorts, and one of these
extra bulls always took the place of an old male unable longer to be of use for
breeding purposes.
Daniel Webster, lessees' agent at the seal islands (see affidavit in
Appendix) :
There was never while I have been on the islands any scarcity of vigorous bulls,
there always being a sufficient number to fertilize all the cows coming to the islands.
It was always borne in mind by those on the islands that a sufficient number of males
must be preserved for breeding purposes, and this accounts partly for the lowering
of the standard weight of skins in 1888. The season of 1891 showed that male seals
had certainly been in sufficient number the year before, because the pups on the
rookeries were as many as should be for the number of cows landing, the ratio
being the same as in former years. Then, too, there was a surplus of vigorous bulls
in 1891 who could obtain no cows.
SKAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 67
W. H. Williams, Treasury agent:
During the season of 1891 nearly every mature female coming upon the rookeries
gave birth to a young seal, and there was great, abundance of males of sufficient age
to again go upon the breeding grounds that year, as was shown by the inability of
large numbers of them to secure more than one to live cows each, while quite a num-
ber could secure none at. all. My investigation confirms what has been so often said
1»\ others who have reported upon this subject, and that is that the Pribilof Islands
are the great breeding grounds of the fur seals, and that they can be reared in great
numbers on said islands, and at the same time, under wise and judicious restrictions,
a certain number of male seals can be killed Irom year 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,
happiness, and comfort of the ei\ ili/ed world, while, on the other hand, if pelagic
hunting of this animal is to continue, and the barbarous practice of killing the
mother seal 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 of 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 them
having had from fifteen to twenty-five years experience, while every one
of them have been directly interested in the business either 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 they tound them.
I 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 I could quote many others to the same purpose were
it necessary.
Being 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, we will now take up the subject of dead pups on the
islands, and show that until the work of the pelagic sealer in Bering
Sea became an industry of some importance, dead pups by the thousands,
or by the acre, were unheard of and unknown ; but as the pelagic sealing
industry nourished and grew, and the fleet of schooners multiplied and
doubled in numbers from year to year, the number of dead pups was
found to increase 011 the rookeries in the 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 personal honor, argue that possibly a stampede or an epidemic, or
something else of which we may not be aware, is at the bottom of the
trouble.
Of the latter class are the British Bering Sea Commissioners, and I
quote them in full :
(L)— MORTALITY OF YOUNG SEALS IN 1891.
344. In the season of 1891 considerable numbers of dead pups 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 special
bearings on the general question of seal preservation, it may be well to devote a few
words to this particular subject.
6-S SKALLIFK ON THK PKIH1LOF ISLANDS.
!!!.">. In order to exhibit tin- circumstances surrounding this fact ami to arrive at a
probable explanation ol' its true nieaninu, it \vill lie necessary in tin- tirst instance
ti> give in snnmiari/ed form the observations and n«»t«-> bearing upon it made on the
ground by ollfsel \ t's.
:;iti. \\lieii visiting Tolstoi rookery, St. Paul Island, on the L'lUh ol' July, we
observed and called attention to several hundred dead pup* which lay scattered
about in a limited area on a sinooi h slope near the northern <>r in'and end of the
rookery ground and at .some little distance from the shore. 'I he bodies were partly
decomposed and appeared to have lain \vhere loiind lor a week or more, which would
place the actual date of the death of the pups. say. between the K>th and L'Oth of
July. Neither the (iovernnient agent who was with us. nor the natives forming our
boat's crew at the rime, would at first believe that the objects seen on the rookery
were dead pups, a fti rming that they were st ones : but when it became c lea rl v apparent
that this was not tlie case they could slimiest as causes of death onlv overrunning
Ity bulls or surf alonu the shore, neither one of w hich appeared to us at the time to
lie satisfactory. Mi-. 1 >. \Yehster. interrogated on the subject some days later on
>t (icniiif Island, offered merely the same suggestions, but a few davs still later,
both whites and natives mi the islands were found to have developed quite other
opinions and to be ready to attribute the deaths to the operations of pelagic sealers
killing mothers while off at sea and leading to the death of pups from starvation
consequent on such kilJinn'.
,'! 17. Pel iev iug the mat ter to be one of considerable importance, however, it mi^lit
l>e e\]ilained. particular attention was paid to it on subsequent visits to rookeries.
< >n the Illst of .1 uly and the 1st of August the rookeries of M . ( ieor^e were inspected,
but no similar appearances were found, nor was anything of the. same kind again
seen till the 1th of August, on I'olavina rookery, St. Paul Island, where, near the
southern extremity of the rookery, several hundred dead pups wen- again found by
us, here also covering an area of limited si/.e, which we were able to examine care-
fully without disturbing t he breeding seals. It was estimated that the pups here
found had died bet ween ten days and t wo weeks before, vv hich would place the actual
date of death at about the same time with that of those first referred to.
3-1*. < Mi the following day the extensive rookeries of Northeast Point were visited
and examined, but very few dead pups were anv where seen. Mr. Fowler, in charge
of these rookeries for the company, was specially questioned on this point, and fully
confirmed the negative observations made by ourselves at the time. It may here
be mentioned that the vicinity of Northeast Point had been the principal and only
notable locality from whi« h, up to this date, sealing vessels had been sighted in the
ofling or had been reported as shooting seals within hearing of the shore.
:>!!». < Mi the ll'th of August, after a cruise to the northward of about a fortnight's
duration, we returned to St. Paul and on the same day revisited Tolstoi rookery.
On this occasion the dead pups previously noted were st ill to be seen, but the bodies
were flattened out and more or less covered with sand by the continuous movement
of the living seals. There were, however, on and near the same place, and particu-
larly near the angle between Tolstoi rookery and the sands of English Hay, many
more dead pups, larger in si/.e than those first noted and scarcely distinguishable in
this respect from the living pups, "which were then ''podded out" in great numbers
in the immediate neighborhood. Messrs. Fowler and Murray, who accompanied us
on this occasion, admitted the mortality to be local, and the first-named gentleman
stated that in his long experience he had never seen anv thing of the kind before, and
suggested that the mothers from this special locality mi.uht have gone to some par-
ticular "feeding bank" and have there been killed together by sea sealers. On the
same day we visited the Keel' rookery auain. and a search was made there for dead
pups, which resulted in the discovery of some of approximately the same si/e with
those last mentioned, but probably not more than an eighth, and certainly not more
than one-fourth in number as compared with the inner end of the Tolstoi rookery
ground, and proportionately in both cases to the number of living pups.
.';.">(). While making a third inspection of the St. Paul rookeries in September, on
the ].">th of that month, the Reef and Northeast Point rookeries were again specially
examined. 'I he rookery -round of the southeastern side of the Keef Point was
can-hilly inspected, area by area, with field glasses, from the various rocky points
wh'p h 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 mi^ht have been hidden
from view auion>_r the bowlders. Subsequently, the northeastern sloping ground,
named ( ,;i i botch on t he plans, being a! t hat da t c merely occupied by scat tered groups
of sea Is. w'as wa 1 ked over. The result of the inspect ion was to show that there were?
on the -out beast --ide a few do/en dead pups at the most in sighi . while on the oppo-
site side perhaps a hundred in all were found in the area gone over, being, probably,
the -a me with i ho-e -ecu here the prev ions mom h, and in number or contiguity not
in any way comparable with those seen at the inner end of Tolstoi.
I'ifil. On the same day a final visit was made to the Northeast Point rookeries, then
in charge, of three natives only. Two of these men went over the ground with us
SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLAJs7DS. 69
and were questioned on various subjects, including that of dead pups, through our
Aleut interpreter. They would not admit that they had seen any grout number of
dead pups on the northeast part this season, and did not seem to be in any way
impressed \\itli tin- id«-a thai then- had been any unusual mortality there. The
ground to the north of llutchinsou Hill was, however, carefully examined by us
from the slopes of the hill, and a few dead pups were made out there. Again, at a
place to the north of Sea Lion Neck of the plans, and beyond the sand beach upon
which holluschiokie generally haul out, a slow advance was made among a large
herd of females and pups, though part of these were necessarily driven off the
ground in so doing. An occupied area of rookery was thus walked over, and the
dead pups which appeared at this spot to be unusually abundant were counted with
approximate accuracy. A very lew were found scattered over the general surface,
but on approaching the shore edge an area of about 20,000 square feet was noted, in
which about KM) dead pups were assembled. Some of these lay within reach of the
surf at high tide. Most appeared to have been dead for at least ten days, and sev-
eral were broken up and mangled by the movement of the living seals on and about
them. This particular locality showed a greater number of dead pups to area than
any other seen at this time either on the Northeast or Reef rookeries, but in number
in no respect comparable to that previously noted at Tolstoi, or even to that on the
south part of Polavina.
352. We were informed on this our last visit to the Pribilof Islands that subse-
quent to our discovery of and comments upon the dead pups at the two last-mentioned
places, the attention of Mr. ,J. Stanley Brown (who was engaged during the summer
in making a special examination of the rookeries for the United States Government)
was called to the circumstance, and that he undertook some further examination of
it, of which the result will no doubt eventually be rendered available. Dr. Acland,
who had .just been installed as medical officer 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 much decomposed for correct autopsy, he had been unable to find
any signs of disease, but that all these examined were very thin and without food in
the stomachs.
353. 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 Bering Sea.
354. The body of a pup found by us on the Northeast rookery on the 5th of August,
-which was still undecomposed, was preserved in alcohol, and has since been sub-
mitted to Dr. A. Gunther, F. R. S., of the British Museum, who kindly ottered to
make an examination of it. This is quoted at length in Appendix (D). The stom-
ach was found to contain 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 inflammatory condition. Respecting the actual
cause of death, Dr. Gunther says: "Both the absence of food as well as the condi-
tion of the respiratory organs are sufficient 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."
355. It would be inappropriate here to enter into any lengthened discussion of the
bearings of the above facts on the methods of sealing at sea; but as, after the ten-
tative adoption of various hypotheses, the mortality of the young seals was with a
remarkable unanimity attributed to pelagic sealing by the gentlemen in any way
connected with the breeding islands, and as it has since been widely and consistently
advertised in the press as a further and striking proof of the destrnctiveness of pela-
gic sealing, it may be permissible to allude to a few cogent reasons, because of
which the subject seems at least to require consideration of a much more careful and
searching kind :
(1) The death of so many young seals on the islands in 1891 was wholly excep-
tional and unprecedented, and it occurred in the very season during which, in
accordance with the modus vivendi, every effort was being made to drive all pelagic
sealers from Bering Sea. Those familiar with the 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 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 upon
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 discussed.
(3) The mortality was at first local, and though later a certain number of dead
pups were found on various rookeries examined, nothing of a character comparable
with that on Tolstoi rookery was discovered.
(4) The mortality first 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 already explained, about the 15th or 20th of July, at a time at which, according
to the generally accepted dates as well as our own observations in 1891, the females
70 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS.
had not begun to leave the rookeries in large numbers, or, when leaving them, to do
no more than swim or play about close to the shore. It has already been stated that
Bryant gives the 25th of July as the opening of the period in which the females
begin to leave the rookeries. Maynard states that the bulls, cows, and pups remain
within the rookery limits to the same date, while Elliott places this change in the
rookeries between the end of July and the 5th and 8th of August. It is, moreover,
acknowledged by the best authorities that the dates in seal life upon the islands
have become later rather than earlier in recent years, as compared with those in
which the dates above cited were ascertained. In the case of the death of pups after
the middle of August, it might be an admissible hypothesis that the mothers had
been killed at sea and that subsequently to such killing the young had had time to
starve to death, but not at dates earlier than this. In the present case the mortality
began long before that date, and it seems probable that the deaths which occurred
later must be explained by the same cause, whatever it may have been, extending
from the original localities and becoming more general
356. The causes to which the mortality noted may be attributed with greatest
probability are the following, but the evidence at present at disposal scarcely admits
of a final attribution to one or other of them. If, however, the examination made
by Dr. Acland of several of the carcasses be considered as indicative of the state of
the whole, one of the two first is likely to aftord the correct explanation :
(a) It is well known that in consequence of the decreased number of killables
found on the 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 has thus
been impossible to avoid the collection and driving to the killing grounds, with the
killables, of all sorts of seals not required, including seecatchie and females. It is
also known that the driving and 'killing in the early part of the season of 1891 was
pushed with unwonted energy, taking into consideration the reduced number of
seals, and it appears 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 afterwards found their way back to their orig-
inal breeding places, but either went off to sea or landed elsewhere. The places
where the greatest number of dead pups were first seen on Tolstoi and Polavina were
just those from the immediate vicinity of which drives were most frequently made.
(6) The appearances, indicating a local beginning and greatest intensity' of mor-
tality, with its subsequent 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 stampede, with consequent 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.
(d) It is entirely within the bounds- of probability that raiders may have landed
on at least Tolstoi and Polavina rookeries without anyone upon the islands becoming
cognizant of the fact. Females 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. (Report of British Bering Sea Commissioners, pp. 61-64.)
A brief review of the salient points of the foregoing will not be out
of place at the present time, even 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 week or
more. Neither the Government agent who was with us nor the natives
forming our boat's crew at the time would at first believe that tne 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 ludi-
crous, to say the least, when it is alleged by any man that a boat's crew
of native sealers, whose life work is the handling of seals, could not tell
the difference between the decomposed carcass of a pup seal and a stone,
when those who had never been to the seal islands before saw the dif-
ference at a glance! The commissioners continue:
The bodies were partly decomposed and appeared to have lain where found for a
week or more.
SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS.
71
To anyone not knowing the real conditions existing at Tolstoi rookery
on that particular 29th of July, the words quoted would imply that the
men who "found" the bodies of the "decomposed pups" were walking
around on the rookery, but the truth is we did not land on Tolstoi rook-
ery at all during the 29th of July, nor did we find any dead pups that
had been lying there for a week or more, nor did we find any.
As I was the Government agent who accompanied the commissioners
and was in charge of the boat's crew of natives, I affirm that we sailed
from the village lauding to Zapadnie or Southwest Bay, where we
landed and walked on the rookery without seeing any dead pups; and
afterwards we sailed from Zapadnie and followed the trend of the shore
all around English Hay and over to Tolstoi, without making a landing
till we arrived home at the village. It was while we were passing Tol-
stoi someone asked the question, " What is that up there on the side-
hill?" Field glasses were used by several of the men, and some said
the objects pointed at were dead seals, some said "dead pups," and some
claimed they were not certain whether they were bones or rocks.
Let it be borne in mind that we were looking at a very steep hill,
broken and rocky; that we were from 200 to 300 yards out from land,
and in a boat that was on a choppy 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 349 they tell us that —
On the 19th of August * * we returned to St. Paul, and on the same day
revisited Tolstoi rookery. * Messrs. Fowler and Murray, who accompanied
us on this occasion, admitted the mortality to be local, and the first-named gentle-
man stated that in his long experience he had never seen anything of the kind
before, and suggested that the mothers from this special locality might have gone to
some particular "feeding bank" and have been killed together by sea sealers.
Without attempting to enter into 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 seen
before, and it was in that spirit of astonishment that Mr. Fowler said
he never saw the like, meaning that he never saw so many at one time,
which is very easily accounted for now by the well-known fact that in
no year previous to 1891 were so many seals killed and taken by pelagic
sealers, as may be seen by a reference to the following table:
Table of pelagic catch from 1868 to 1894, loth inclusive, from the be*t authorities and
sources of information, revised and corrected to date.
Year.
Number.
Ye.,
Number. Year.
Number.
Year.
Number.
1868...
4,367
1875
5 033 1882
15 551 '<
1889
1
43 158
1869
4, 430
1876
5, 515 1883
16 585
1890
51 814
1870
8 686
1877
5 210 1884
17 183
1891
69 788
1871
16.911
1878
5 544 ' 1885
24 %0
189°
73 394
1872
5,336
1 1879
8,867 1 1886
38 994
1893
109 000
1873
5,229
, 1880
8,910 ji 1887
46 (iL's
1894
J42 000
1874
5 873
! Iggl
10 382 1888
26 915
| 10C1
II
The real number taken in 1891 was 78,000, but only those actually
sold in London are counted here, and, as there is no doubt that from 80
to 90 per cent of the total catch were female seals, it is not to be won-
dered at that from 20,000 to 30,000 pups were found dead on the rook-
eries in the fall of that year.
72 SEAL LIFE OX THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS.
What Mr. Murray did say on that memorable 10th of August. 1801,
is a matter of record, as follows:
Accompanied by Auent Barnes, Mr. Fowler, of the North American Commercial
Company, and by the i'ritish commissioners. 1 visited Tolstoi rookery on August 11>,
and we found thousands of dead pups, covering a space of about ."> acres, and their
mother^ had disappeared. 1 »r. 1 'a u son. one of t he commissioners, took kodak views
of the place and when he asked me what I thought was the cause of their death, I
answered. •• Their mothers have been killed at sea."
Since 1 left St. 1'aul Island 1 have received a letter from Auent Barnes, in which
hes.i\s: •• You remember the appearance of !<>]stoi.' I visited Halfway I'oint along
with Mr. Fouler and found the same state of a [fairs, or worse : and those who have
been to Northeast I'oint say it is still worse there."
Bearing in mind that Northeast I'oint is the largest rookery in the world, it is no
exauuerai ion to -a\- that bet ween I'd, 000 and .'{n.ono pups are lyiuy; dead at St. Paul
Island whose mothers were slaiiulitei ed by sealing schooners in the open sea and the
pups left to starve upon the rookeries.
The theoiy of an occasional epidemic aiming the seals has been broached, and
plausible arguments advanced to pro', e that t he deerease in seal 1 i fe can be accounted
for without blaming the sealing schooners, but as the "oldest inhabitant " on the
islands has IK; recollection of anything of the sort, and as no one ever saw a do/en
dead cows on any rookery, it is safe to say there is no foundation for or truth in
the epidemic theory. .Murray's Report. is',ii; Senate Fx. Doc. No. lt>7. Fifty-sec-
ond Congress, second session. >
It does not seem possible that the person who wrote in 1S1H the report
from which the fore^oin0' has been copied could have a admitted the
mortality to be local/' and. as a matter of fact, he never did. On the
contrary, because of a t hirty months" continuous residence on the islands
and a personal acquaintance and very intimate and friendly relations
with every person on both. 1 was well aware of the annual increase of
dead pups on the rookeries from the time of the first-confirmed shrink-
age of the seal herd in 1SS(J. That the terrible si°'ht which met our
°-a/e on Tolstoi rookery should have caused exclamations of surprise
from all of us, who knew its real meaning, is not to be wondered at, 1
think, for the starved carcasses emphasi/.ed the fact that in spite of
the efforts of the Herts of the ("nited States and of (Ireat Britain, the
pelagic sealers' deadly work was bein^ done with an energy and suc-
cess beyond all preceding 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 .')(>- the commissioners say:
I >r. Acland. who had .lust been installed as medical oliicer on St. 1'aul. also told us
that he had \\ithin a few days examined the bodies of six of the pups from Tolstoi;
he had been unable to lind any si^ns of disease, but that all those examined
were vei'v thin and without food in the stomachs.
Dr. Akerly it was who visited the rookeries and examined the dead
pups, and whose affidavit will be found in the Appendix.
Comment!!!0,1 on section -.").">. thev sav:
i 1 i The deal h of so many youn.^ seals on t he islands in 1SH1 was wholly exceptional
and unprecedented, and ii occurred in the very season which, in accordance with the
modus \i\endi. every effort was he in -4- made to drive all pelagic sealers from Bering
Sea. I ho-c familial' with the islands were evident 1\ pn/./.Ied and surprised when
their attention was first drawn to it. and were for some time in doubt as to what
cause it miuht be attributed.
It is true we were rather astonished at the number of dead pups on
the rookeiies. and beino- aware "that every effort was bein^1 made to
prevent pelagic sealing." we were pu//Ied to account for it at the time,
for we knew of no cause other than the killin^of t he females at sea by
which it could be accounted for.
Subsequently, however, we learned of the unprecedented catch made
that season bv the sealing licet, and. naturallv. we concluded that our
SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 7
conjectures were confirmed. Nor have I had any information since
sufficiently reliable to cause a change of opinion.
(3) The mortality was at first local, and though later a certain number of dead pups
were found at various rookeries examined, nothing of a character comparable with
that on Tolstoi rookery was discovered.
Treasury Agent Barnes, who was on St. Paul Island long after the
commissioners left in the fall, is my authority for saying that the " same
state of affairs or worse was found later on Polavina and on Northeast
Point/' the two rookeries visited by him.
(4) The mortality first 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 already explained, about the 15th or 20th of July, at a time at which, according
to the generally accepted dates, as well as our own observations in 1891, the females-
had not begun to leave the rookeries in large numbers, or when leaving them, to do
more than swim or play about close to the shore.
As already shown, there were no dead pups seen — most certainly
nothing worth noting — until August 19.
As the commissioners did not land on either of the seal islands till
the latter end of July — about the 28th, if I remember rightly — I can
not see how they could have personally observed the movements of the
females or the condition of the breeding grounds about the 15th or 20th
of July.
Section 356. (a) It is well known that in consequence of the decreased number of
killables found on the hauling grounds in late years, it has been found necessary to
collect these close to and even on the edges of the breeding rookeries. *
It is also known that the driving and killing in the early part of the season of
1891 was pushed with unwonted energy, and it appears to be quite possi-
ble that the females thus driven from their young, though afterwards turned away
from the killing grounds in an exhausted and thoroughly terrified state, never after-
wards found their way back to their original breeding places, but either went off to
sea or landed elsewhere The places where the greatest number of dead pups were
first seen on Tolstoi and Polaviua were just those from the immediate vicinity of
which drives were most frequently made.
The reading of the above quotation staggers one who ever had expe-
rience on a rookery or a killing ground.
The "it is well known," is surely unworthy of the commissioners.
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 made 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 f No sealer, of course, for he would know that there are no females
on the rookeries in the early part 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
pups.
The island records of all the drives made on St. Paul Island in 1891
are at hand, and I will produce a copy for the purpose of showing that
no drives whatever 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 number of dead pups were first seen on Tolstoi and
Polaviua were just those from the immediate vicinity of which drives were most
frequently made.
The fact is, as may be seen by consulting the records for 1890-91, in
the Appendix, that no drives were made from Polavina since July 13r
74
SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS.
nor from Tolstoi since July 20, 1890; so that, instead of being tlie
places most driven from, they are the places not driven from at all in
1891.
The following table, from the official records of the Treasury Depart-
ment, gives all of the killings for food and for skins (quota and modus
vivendi) from the close of the season July 20, 1890, to the close of the
season August 10, 1891 :
Date.
1890.
July 28
Aug. 5
14
23
30
Sept. 6
13
22
29
Oct. 4
14
22
•29
Nov. 14
Dec. 4
1891.
May 15
29
June 4
11
11
12
13
13
15
16
17
18
20
25
29
July 8
13
15
21
27
Aug. 3
5
10
Rookery.
Lukannon.
Reef
Lukannon.
Reef
.do.
Lukannon .
....do
...do...
Middle Hill.
Lukannon..
Middle Kill.
...do...
....do.
....do
Reef...
Reef.
.do.
Zapadnie
Zapadnie and Reef.
Northeast Point...
Zapadnie
Northeast Point...
Middle Hill
Northeast Point...
Reef
Southwest Bay
Reef
Middle Hill
Reef.
.do.
do
do
Lxvkannon..
Middle Hill,
.do...
Reef.
Northeast Point.
Lukannon
Total.
Seals
killed.
Remarks.
129
123
124
155
110
110
109
109
114
95
134
255
233
114
463
718
1,112
428
430
232
866
842
186
1,027
119
215
400
100
121
122
178
248
118
407
100
10, 805
For food.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
For food.
Do.
Do.
Quota.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Modus vivendi.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Surely this is sufficient to convince every reasonable man that instead
of impartially inquiring- into the causes of the decrease of the seal herd
and the best possible method of protection, as was originally intended,
the commissioners have endeavored to screen the result of the work oi
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 United States counsel before the Tri-
bunal of Arbitration, to which I respectfully call the most earnest atten-
tion.
In order to show that the " dead-pup" problem was not a new thing
on the islands before the British commissioners " discovered" it in
1891, 1 quote from the testimony of intelligent native chiefs and sealers
and of many agents of the Government and of the lessees, who 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 5 agents who were on the islands previous to 1884
SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 75
saw but few or none. That, although there were some few drowned in
the surf during heavy wind storms, or trampled to death occasionally
by the fighting bulls, it was not until the pelagic sealer appeared in
Bering Sea that dead pups were found by hundreds and by thousands
and sometimes by the acre.
DEAD PUPS ON THE ROOKERIES.
Dead pups, which seemed to have starved to death, grew very numerous on the
rookeries these latter years, and I noticed when driving the bachelor seal for killing,
as we started them op from the beach, that many small pups, half starved, apparently
motherless, had wandered away from the breeding grounds and become mixed with
the killable seals. The natives called my attention to these waifs, saying that it did
not use to be so, and that the mothers were dead, otherwise they would be upon the
breeding grounds. (H. X. Clark, lessees' agent.)
There were a good many dead pups on the rookeries every year I was on the island,
and they seemed to grow more numerous from year to year, because the rookeries
were all the time growing smaller, and the dead pups in the latter years were more
numerous in proportion to the live ones. (Alex. Hausson, sealer.)
The seals were apparently subject to no diseases; the pups were always fat and
healthy, the dead ones very rarely seen on or about the rookeries prior to 1884. Upon
my return to the islands in 1886 I was told by my assistants and the natives that a
very large number of pups had perished the preceding season, a part of them dying
upon the islands and others being washed ashore, all seeming to have starved to death.
The same thing occurred in 1886 and in each of the following years to and including
1889. Even before I left the islands, in August, 1886, 1887, and 1888, 1 saw hundreds
of half-starved, bleating, emaciated pups wandering aimlessly about in search of
their dams, and presenting a most pitiable appearance. (H. H. Mclntyre, general
manager.)
But facts came under my observation that soon led me to what I believe to be the
true cause of destruction. For instance, during the period of my residence on St.
George Island, down to the year 1884, there was always a number of dead pups, the
number of which I can not give exactly, as it varied from year to year and was
dependent upon accidents or the de^tructiveness of storms. Young seals do not know
how to swim at birth, nor do they learn how for six weeks or two months after
birth, and therefore are at the mercy of the waves during stormy weather. But from
the year 1884 down to the period when I left St. George Island there was a marked
increase in the number of dead pups, amounting, perhaps, to a trebling of the num-
bers observed in former years, so that I would estimate the number of dead pups in
the year 1887 at about 5,0i)() or 7,000 as a maximum.
During my last two or three years I also noticed among the number of dead
pups an increase of at least 70 per cent of those which were emaciated and poor,
and in my judgment they died from want of nourishment, their mothers having been
killed while away from the island feeding, because it is a fact that pups drowned
or killed by accidents were most invariably fat. Learning further, through the Lon-
don sales, of the increase in the pelagic sealing, it became my firm conviction that the
constant increase in the number of dead pups and the decrease in the number of
marketable seals and breeding females found on the islands during the years 1885,
1886, and 1887 were caused by the destruction of female seals in the open sea, either
before or after giving birth to the pups. The mother seals go to feeding grounds
distant from the 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 OF APPEARANCE OF DEAD PUPS.
The loss of life of pup seals on the rookeries up to about 1884 or 1885 was compara-
tively slight, and was generally attributed to the death of the mother seal from
natural causes or from their natural enemies in the water, or, as sometimes hap-
pened, sudden storms with heavy surfs rolling in from certain directions onto the
Breeding rookeries; but never at any time would a sufficient number of pups be
killed to make it the subject of speu-ial comment either among the natives or the
employees of the company. (W. S. Hereford, M. D., resident physician.)
Between 1874 and 1883 predatory vessels occasionally appeared in Bering Sea,
among them the Cyynet in 1874 and the San Diego in 1876, but the whole number of
seals destroyed by such vessels was small, and had no appreciable effect upon the
76 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS.
rookeries. In 1884 about 4,000 skins were taken in Bering Sea by three vessels, and
starved pups were noticed upon the islands that year for the first time. In 1885
about 10,000 skins were taken in this sea, and the dead pups upon the rookeries
became so numerous as to evoke comment from the natives and others upon the
islands. (H. H. Mclntyre.)
NO DEAD PUPS PRIOR TO 1884.
Poaching in Bering Sea had not begun in those years (from 1868 to 1876), and it
was a rare thing to find a dead pup about the shores or on the rookeries. I had
frequent occasion, after the close of the breeding season, to visit all parts of the
island, and there was no appearance of gaunt or starved seals. Occasionally a dead
pup was found that had been crushed To death by the bulls in their encounters with
each other. (George R. Adams, lessees' agent.)
A dead pup 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 any one season 50
dead pups on the rookeries, and the majority of dead pups were along the shore,
having been killed by the surf. (Charles Bryant, Treasury agent.)
There were not, in 1880, sufficient dead pups scattered over the rookeries to attract
attention or to form a feature on the rookery. (W. H. Dall, naturalist.)
During the time I was on the islands I only saw a very few dead pups on the
rookeries, but the number in 1884 was slightly more than in former years. I never
noticed or examined dead pups on the rookeries before 1881, the number being so
small. (H. A. Glidden, 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 Kimmel, Treasury agent, 1882-83.)
I never saw but a few dead pups on the rookeries until the schooners came into
the sea and shot the cows when they went out to feed, and then the dead pups
began to increase on the rookeries. (Nicoli Krukoff, native chief, St. Paul Island.)
I am informed that of late years thousands of young pups have died on the islands
while the season was in progress. Certainly such condition did not exist during my
residence on the Pribilof group. The pups were sometimes trampled upon by the
larger animals, and dead ones might be seen here and there on the rookeries; but
the loss in this particular was never enough or important enough to excite any
special comment. (J. M. Morton, Treasury agent, 1877-78.)
Never while I was on St. George Island did I see a dead pup on the rookeries, and
I certainly should have noticed if there had been any number on the island. (B. F.
Scribner, Treasury agent, 1879-80.)
While I was on the island I never saw more than 25 dead pups on the rookeries
during any one season. I have seen occasionally a dead one among the bowlders
along the shore, which had probably been killed by the surf; but these dead pups
were in no instance emaciated. (George Wardrnan, Treasury agent, 1881-1885.)
While on St. George Island there were practically no dead pups on the rookeries.
I do not think I saw during any one season more than a dozen. On St. Paul Island
I never saw any dead pups to amount to anything until 1884, and then the number
was quite noticeable. (J. H. Moulton, Treasury agent.)
NUMBER OF DEAD PUPS IN 1891.
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 rook-
eries in an emaciated and apparently very weak condition. I was requested by the
Government agent to examine some of the carcasses for the purpose of determining
the cause or causes of their death. I visited and walked over all the rookeries. On
all, dead seals were to be found in great numbers. Their number was more apparent
on those rookeries, such as Tolstoi and Halfway Point, the water sides of which were
on smooth ground, and the eye could glance over patches of ground hundreds of feet
in extent which were thickly strewn with carcasses.
Where the water side of the rookeries, as at Northwest Point and the reef (south
of the village), were on rocky ground the immense number of dead was not so ap-
parent, but a closer examination showed that the dead were there in equally great
numbers 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 step-
SEAL LIFE OX THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 77
ping 011 the carcasses. The great mass of dead in all cases was within a short dis-
tance of the water's edge. The patches of dead would commence at the water's edge
and stretch iu a wide swath up into the rookery. Among the immense masses of
dead were seldom to be found the carcasses of full-grown seals, but the carcasses
were those of pups, or young seals born that year. 1 can give no idea of the 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 among the dead were quite
a number of live pups, which were iu 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 plump condition and active, aggressive conduct of
the healthy appearing pups. (J. C. S. Akerly, M. L>., resident physician.)
In the latter part of July, 1891, my attention was called to a source of waste, the
efficiency of which was most startlingly illustrated. In my conversations with the
natives I had learned that dead pups had been seen upon the rookeries in the past
few years in such numbers as to cause much concern. In the middle of July they
pointed out to me here and there dead pups and others so weak and emaciated that
their death was but a matter of a few days. By the time the British commissioners
arrived the dead pups were in sufficient abundance to attract their attention, and
they are, I believe, under the impression that they first discovered them.
By the latter part of August deaths were rare, the mortality having practically
ceased. An examination of the warning lists of the combined lleets of British and
American cruisers will show that before the middle of August the last sealing
schooner was sent out of Bering Sea. These vessels had entered the sea about July
1 and had done much effective work by July 15. The mortality among the pups and
its cessation is synchronous with the sealing fleet's arrival and departure from Bering
Sea.
There are several of the rookeries upon which level areas are so disposed as to be
seen by the eye at a glance. In September Dr. Akerly and I walked directly across
the rookery of Tolstoi, St. Paul, and in addition to the dead pups in sight, they lay
in groups of from three to a dozen among the obscuring rocks on the hillside. From
a careful examination of every rookery upon the two islands made by me in August
and September, I place the minimum estimate of the dead pups to be 15,000, and that
some number between that and 30,000 would represent more nearly a true statement
of the facts. (J. Stanley-Brown, Treasury agent, 1891-92.)
No mention was ever made of any unusual number of dead pups upon the rookeries
having been noticed at any time prior to my visit in 1870, but when I again visited the
islands in 1890, I found it a subject of much solicitude by those interested in the per-
petuation, and in 1891 it had assumed such proportions as to cause serious alarm.
The natives making the drives first discovered this trouble, then special agents took
note, and later on 1 think almost everyone who was allowed to visit the rookeries
could not close their eyes or nostrils to the great numbers of dead pups to be seen on
all sides. In company with Special Agent Murray, Captain Hooper, and Engineer
Brerton, of the Corwin, I visited the Reef and Garbotch rookeries, St. Paul Island, in
August, 1891, and saw one of the most pitiable sights that I have ever witnessed.
Thousands of dead and dying pups were scattered over the rookeries, while the shores
were lined with emaciated, hungry little fellows, with their eyes turned toward the
sea uttering plaintive cries for their mothers, which were destined never to return.
Numbers of them were opened, their stomachs examined, and the fact revealed that
starvation was the cause of death, no organic disease being apparent. (W. C. Coul-
son, captain, revenue marine.
The schooners increased every year from the time I first noticed them, until in 1884
there was a licet of 20 or 30, and then I began to see more and more dead pups on
the rookeries, until in 1891 the fleet of sealing schooners numbered more than 100
and the rookeries were covered with dead pups. (John Fratis.)
It was during these years that dead, emaciated pups were first noticed on the rook-
eries, and they increased in numbers until 1891, in which year, in August and Sep-
tember, the rookeries were covered with dead pups. (Edward Hughes, employee of
lessees, 1888-1894.)
On the 19th of August, 1891, I saw the young pups lying dead upon the rookeries
of St. Paul, and I estimated their number to be not less than 30,000; and they had
died from starvation, their mothers having been killed at the feeding grounds by
pelagic hunters. (Joseph Murray, Treasury agent, 1889-1894.)
Q. Have you noticed any dead pups on the rookeries this past season, and in what
proportion to former years? — A. 1 have seen an unusual number of dead pups this
year on the hreedinsr grounds ; I may say twice as many as formerly. ( J. C. Redpath,
lessees' agent, 1875^1894.)
. I»iil \ mi see any dead pups on the rookeries this season J. — A. Yes; n,\ attention
was called to the matter l>y ,1. Stanley- Brown, \\lio rei|iiestetl me to examine them
with a view to determining the cause of their death. I examined a number which
had apparently recently tiled. Their bodies were entirely destitute tit fat. and no
food to be found in their stomachs. Alter a careful examination 1 found no evidence
of disease.
. What do you assign as the cause of their death:1 — A. I believe them to have
died of starvation.
. Why do you think they died of starvation? — A. From the fact that nearly all
the dead on T he rookery were pups, and from absence of all si >;ns of disease, emaciated
condition of their bodio. and absence of food from their stomachs, i .1. C. S. Akerly,
M. D. >
There were a «jreat many dead pups on the rookeries during my last three years on
St. Paul Island. Many of them wandered helplessly about, away from the groups
or pods where they were accustomed to lie. ami finally starved to death. \Ve knew
at the time what killed them, for the vessels and boats were several times plainly in
si^ht from the island shooting seals in water, and t he revenue cutters and company's
vessels arriving at the island frequently reported their presence in Bering Sea. and
sometimes the capture of these marauding crews. If all had been captured and the
business broken up the seal rookeries would be healthy and prosperous, to-day, instead
of beiim depleted and broken up. I speak positively about it. lice a use no other cause
can be assigned for their depletion upon any reasonable hypothesis. i\V. ('. Allis,
lessees' a.u'ent.
Dr. Akerly. the lessees' physician at the time, made an autopsy of some of the
carcasses and reported that he could find no traces of any diseased condition what-
ever, but there wa> an entire absence of food or any si^ns of nourishment in the
stomach. lie fore Dr. Dawson left I called his attention to \\hat Pr. Akerly had
done, but whether he saw him on the subject I can not tell. (Milton Barnes, Treas-
ury a^-ent.)
I procured a number of these pups, and Dr. Akerly, at my request, made autop-
sies, not onlv at the village, but later on upon the rookeries themselves. The lun^'8
of these dead pups tloatetl in water. There was no organic disease of heart, liver,
lun.u's. stomach, or alimentary canal. In the latter there was but little and often no
fecal mat ter, and t he stomach was cut i rely empty. Pups in the last st a^'e of emacia-
tion were seen by me upon the rookeries, and their condition, as well as that of the
dead ones. It-It no room to doubt that their death was caused by starvation. (.).
Stanley-Brown. )
The pups on the rookeries were fat and healthy, and while I was on the islands no
epidemic disease ever appeared ainoni; them, nor did the natives have stories of
an epidemic ever destroying them. (Charles Bryant, Treasury airent. 1SI>!M that the stoma-'hs of dead pups had
been examined by the medical ofticers at the island and no traces of food found
therein. From personal observation 1 am of the opinion that fully !»<> per cent of
them died of starvation, .^reat emaciation hein.u apparent. (John C. Cantwell,
re\ eniie marine, i
I ha\e never known of anv sickness or epidemic amon^ the seals, and I am of the
opinion that the t housands of dead pups on the rookeries last year died of starva-
tion on account of their mothers belli- shot and killed while feeding at the fishing
bank> in the, sea. I wa> present last year and saw some of the dead pups examined.
Their stomachs were empty, ami they presented all the appearances of starvation.
I also noticed on the rookeries a «jreut many emaciated pups, which on a later visit
would be dead. It has a 1 \\ a \ s been the practice prior to IS'.U for the natives to kill
:{.IMIII to 1. lion ]iup> in November for food, and we always find their stomachs filled
with milk. ('('. L. Fowler, lessees' a^ent. \
It is my opinion that the cows are killed by the hunters when they feed, and the pups are left to die and do die on the island, t.lohn Fratis. native
sealer. )
Thev were thin. poor, and appeared to have starved to death. (Alex. llaussen,
sealer.)
It is a weli-knoun fact that the female seals leave the islands and ^o ^real dis-
tances for i'ood, and it is clearly pi-oven that many of them do not return, as the
number of pups starved to death on t he rookeries demonstrates. (W. S. Hereford,
M. D.)
SEAL LIFE ON THE PKIBILOF ISLANDS. 79
For if the mother seals are destroyed their young <';«n not but perish ; no other dam
will suckle them; nor ran they subsist until at leant 3 or 4 months old without
the mother's milk. The loss of this vast number of pups, amounting to many thou-
sands, we could attribute to no other cause than the death of the mother at the hands
of pelftgic seal hunters. (II. II. Mclntyre.)
(,>. Uo\v do you account for this:* — A. I think the cows were killed by the poach-
ers while away from the rookeries, and as mother seals nurse none but their own
young, consequently the pups whose mothers were killed die from starvation.
(Antone Melovedoff, native chief.)
The seals are never visited by physical disorders of any kind, so far as I could
ascertain, and I have never seen on their bodies any blemishes, humors, or eruption*
which might be attributed to disease. (John M. Morton.)
These latter pups 1 examined, and they seemed to be very much emaciated. In
my opinion, they died of starvation, caused by the mothers having been shot while
absent from the islands feeding. Another cause of their starving is because a cow
refuses to give suck to any pup but her own, and she recognizes her offspring by
its cry, distinguishing its voice from that of hundreds of others which are con-
stantly bleating. (.). II. Moulton.)
The epidemic theory was urged very strongly in 1891, when the rookeries were
found covered with dead puyjs, but a careful and technical examination was made
of several of the dead bodies without discovering a trace of organic disease, while
starvation was so apparent that those who examined them decided that it was the
true cause of their death. Had sickness or disease attacked the seal herd, it is only
reasonable to suppose a few grown seals would be found dead where so many young^
ones had died so suddenly, but the most diligent search has failed 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 people, and yet it is a fact that a tainted or diseased carcasa
has never been known. (L. A. Noyes, M. D., resident physician, 1880-1894.)
Some of these losses were due to their perhaps 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 be thrown by the surf against the rocks and killed, but under natural conditions,
and with the protection to the rookeries formerly enforced at the islands, the losses
from this cause and all others combined (save alone the authorized killing) amounted
to an infinitesimal percentage of the whole numbers in the herds. (H. G. Otis,
Treasury agent, 1879-1881.)
Another theory, equally untrue, was that an epidemic had seized the herd; but
investigations of the closest kind have never revealed the death on the islands of a
full-grown seal from unknown causes. Let it be remembered that the flesh of the
seal is the staple diet of the natives, and that it is eaten daily by most of the white
employees as well; and yet it is true that a sign of taint or disease has never been
found on a seal carcass in the memory of man. It was not until so many thousands
of dead pups were found upon the rookeries that the problem was solved. The truth,
is, that when the cows go out to the feeding grounds to feed, they are shot and killed
by the pelagic hunter, and the pups, deprived of sustenance, die upon the rookeries.
Excepting a few pups killed by the surf occasionally, it has been demonstrated that
all the pups found dead are poor and starved, and when examined their stomachs are
found to be without a sign of food of any sort. The resident physician, Dr. Akerly,
examined many of them, and found in every instance that starvation was the cause
of death. (J. C. Redpath.)
A double waste occurs when the mother seal is killed, as the pup will surely starve
to death. A mother seal will give sustenance to no pup but her own. I saw sad
evidences of this waste on St. Paul Island last season, where large numbers of pups
were lying about the rookeries, where they had died of starvation. (Commander
Z.L. Tanner, U. S. X.)
I never heard of any disease among the seal herd, nor of an epidemic of any sort or
at any time in the history of the islands. (Daniel Webster, lessees' agent, 1868-1894. )
If the mother of a young seal is killed, the pup 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
have seen pups hardly larger than a rat from lack of nourishment. A starved or
neglected orphan pup is nearly sure to die. At one storm the natives found over 300
pups washed ashore in a little cove, and the water around was full of dead pups. It
is certain that nearly all the dead pups were orphans. The female seal when suckling
her young has to go out into the ocean in search of food, and it is those animals, or
females on the way to the breeding grounds to give birth to the young, that we kill
in the Bering Sea. (T. T. Williams, quoting Captain Olsen.)
80 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS.
The foregoing quotations are from the affidavits and reports of men
who, through years of experience, gained a practical knowledge of fur-
seal life in all its details, and who therefore know of what they speak
beyond 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 employed by
either the Government or the lessees, had private and personal interests
to subserve.
For the purpose of meeting such objections, and to show how the
practical and scientific are agreed in this matter, I will here introduce a
paper written by a well-known naturalist, who has had many years
practical experience among the fur seals on the Commander Islands,
and who has not now, nor ever had, any interest in the Pribilof Islands
or the Alaskan seal herd.
His testimony is therefore the more valuable, and it will be found
that it confirms my position in every particular:
DEPOSITION OF NICHOLAS A. GRKBNITZKI,1 RUSSIAN MILITARY CHIEF OF THE COM-
MANDER ISLANDS.
I, Nicholas A. Grebnitzki, Russian military chief of the Commander Islands dis-
trict, with the rank of colonel, make the following statement:
I have been residing on the Commander Islands and have directed all sealing oper-
ations there for the last fifteen 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 Russian Government thoroughly informed as to its
sealing interests and the proper management of the same.
While I have never had the opportunity to examine the Pribilof Islands seals, yet
I do not hesitate to express the opinion 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 difference in the
animals. Besides, my studies as a naturalist enable me to state that it would be
contrary to all reason to suppose that they mingle with one another. The Com-
mander herd approaches very closely to the Robben Island herd in winter, and yet
it does not mingle with it. Of this I am sure, for I have charge of Robben Island
as well as of the Commander Islands, and know the skins of the two herds to be dif-
ferent. The skin of the Commander seal is thicker, has'coarser hair, is of a lighter
color, and weighs about 20 per cent more than a Robben skin of the same size.
It is wholly improbable that the seals of the Commander herd visit any land other
than the Commander Islands. I believe they regard these as their home, these islands
being peculiarly adapted to their needs at the period to bring forth their young and
of breeding. The fact that the Robben Island herd still frequents Robben Island
to the exclusion of any other land, notwithstanding 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 isolated 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 readily understand that a female which
had been wounded in the water might be subject (sic) to seek the nearest land 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 grounds which have been occupied during past years in a
way which makes it impossible to doubt that they are familiar with the locality. I
believe that at some time during the year every seal comes ashore. There is no reason
to believe that a certain number of any class remain swimming about in the neigh-
borhood of the islands all summer without landing, although there is considerable
difference in the time at which different classes arrive.
Soon after landing at the Commander Islands those cows which were fertilized the
year previous give birth to their young. A cow does not, except in very rare instances,
give birth to more than one pup in a season. The birth of pups can only take place
1 No written evidence having been produced in the report of the British commis-
sioners in support of the various views attributed to Mr. Grebnitzki, the United
States have deemed it desirable to obtain from that official a written expression from
his views upon seal life in general.
SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIB1LOF ISLANDS. 81
on shore. Cows never arrive at tlie islands with new-born pups. But the impossi-
bility of birth in the water is best proved by the fact that the pup when first born is
purely a land animal in all its habits. It does not voluntarily approach the water
till it is several weeks old, and then it is obliged to learn to swim. A snri will some-
tinn's \\ash the young pups oil' the rocks, when they are sure to be drowned. The
pups can not swim at birth, but must be taught by their mothers. A pup would
drown if thrown into the sea belore learning to swim.
Copulation in the water 1 believe to be impossible, for the act is violent, of long
duration, and in general character similar to that performed by land animals.
1 believe that the seals leave the vicinity of the islands mainly on account of the
severity of the winter. Of course, I do not mean to say that they would remain on
the shore all the year round, as many of them do throughout the whole of the sum-
mer, for they \\oiild be obliged to take to the water to obtain food. What I mean is
that they would not go so far away as they now do, but would remain around the
islands, and thus give additional proof of the unquestionable fact that they regard
them as their homn. I base this statement upon the fact that during mild winters I
have myself seen them in large numbers off the Commander Islands. They are olten
reported about 50 miles south of the westernmost of the Aleutian Islands and the
Kamchatka Coast. This would be in accord with the habits of the 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 has become cold and stormy, but in mild winters they
have been on the islands as late as December.
I do not think that fur seals should be classed 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 the sight of man among them on the
rookeries, and while on land are at all times under his complete control. A few men
can drive a large number of them without difficulty. They are intelligent to a very
high degree, and can be made to become in a short time pets. The breeding males
or bulls are alone aggressive.
Seais are polygamous, and the powers of fertilization of the male are very great.
Since the births are about equally distributed between males and females, it follows
that under natural conditions there would be a great excess of male life over that
actually needed for the propagation of the species, and it is, as in the case of so
many other animals, for the positive benefit of the herd as a whole that a portion of
this excess of male life be killed off before it is of sufficient age to go oil the rook-
eries. If not killed off the competition by the bulls upon the rookeries lor females
•would be destructive of much lite. This competition is already tierce enough.
During some of the years prior 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 Commander Islands rookeries all
seals which have been killed constituted a portion of the excess of males above
referred to, and known as bachelors, or hollus< hickie. This is why the rookeries are
to-day in a much better condition than when I first went to the Commander Islands,
notwithstanding that until the year 1891 a gradually increasing number of large
skins has been taken. From 1886 to 1890 the average annual catch was about 50,000,
the skins all being large. The last two years I have reduced the catches, because I
now think 50,000 skins somewhat in excess of what the rookeries can yield, and for
other causes which I will mention later. I feel very sure that the great cause of
this diminution is pelagic sealing.
This year I have counted over 3,500 skins seized on poaching vessels, and have found
91) p;T cent to be skins of females. They were skins taken from Commander Island
seals.
As to skins taken near Pribilof Islands I counted the skins seized in the Rosa Olsen
and found two-thirds of them were skins of females. These were taken, as the log
book of the Kosa Olscn 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 male life is bad, merely because it is an interference with the order of
nature. If not interfered with, nature will produce an overpopulation of the rook-
eries, which would, of course, be a bad thing. By the present mode of killing a
certain number of young males, population is regulated. No tacts can be brought
forward to show that this method is not the right one. Past experience shows 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 suffered. 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 absolute control can be exercised
over the herd while it is on land. I claim that the method now pursued, when
executed under proper regulations, is in theory and practice the only one by which
sealing can be carried on commercially without injuring the vitality of the herd
S. Doc. 137, pt.
82 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOP ISLANDS.
and its ability to maintain its numbers at the proper limit. It does not cause the
seals to change their habits in any way, and I do not believe that even an excessive
killing of ^ouug males on the islands would have the effect of altering the habits of
the female seals with regard to landing and cause them to remain about the islands
iuste:id of coming on shore.
Cows, except, perhaps, in rare cases of accident or for scientilic purposes, are
never allowed to be killed on the islands, and the reason for this is that all cows
are needed for breeding purposes. To kill, therelore, any cow except a barren one
(and there are few barren ones except amongst the very old cows) inflicts a much
greater injury on the herd than the loss of a single life. It is not true that because
it is proper to kill a certain number of males it is also proper to kill a certain num-
ber of females. Hut assuming that it might at some time become desirable to kill
some females, it would still be wholly improper to kill them without regard to size
or condition, as is the case when they aie killed in the water.
There is at the present time upon the Commander Islands an abundance of male
lifc for breeding purposes, and there is no fear that any female will not be served
from lack of virile males. On the other hand, it is undoubtedly true that there were
in 1892 r« latively fewer females than in former years, and I attribute this to two
causes: First, to killing of se;ils in the water, and, second, raids upon the islands.
The tirst of these causes is by far the more important.
The raids have, owing to the great amount of foggy weather, taken place, to a cer-
tain extent, notwithstanding the greatest precautions to guard against them. The
raiders Kill males, females, and pups without discrimination; but however injuri-
ously the raids have affected the rookeries still they are of much less importance
than the killing of Commander Islands seals in the water. During the past two sun>
mers, and especially during the last one, this killing in the waters has become so
preat that if allowed to continue in future years the herd will be in danger of
ultimate extinction.
1 do not know exactly how wasteful this method may be, from the fact that all the
animals wounded or killed are not captured, though 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 positively, however, from actual experience and personal examina-
tion, that a vast proportion, fully 96 per cent, of the skins taken by this method
during the present year are those of female animals. In addition, a certain number
of the skins so taken are those of very young seals, probably of both sexes, such as
are never killed on land.
Very few of the females 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 the other seals. The killing of such
a female involves, of course, the immediate loss of two lives. But even when the
femah? is taken alter she has been on shore and given birth to her yonug this same
result follows eventually, fora seal will suckle only her own pup, and the pups are
for the rirst three to tive mouths dependent altogether on their mothers for food.
Consequently when the mothers, who, after thebirth of their pups, leave the rookeries
in search of food (traveling sometimes considerable distances, I do not know exactly
how far), fail to return, iheir pups must necessarily die.
There are always a few dead pups 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 heretofore, and have attracted the atten-
tion of all persons on the islands who are at all familiar with seal life. It can not
be successfully contended that they all died of natural causes. There is no disease
among the Commander Island seals, and while a certain number of young pups are
always exposed to the danger of being crushed to death (but not as a result of the
drives which are made to collect seals for killing) or of being drowned by the surf,
yet these causes of death will not account for the greater mortal ity of pups which
t ok place during the past summer. Besides, the bodies of the dead pups 1 refer to
are those of starved animals, being greatly emaciated.
It is chiefly during the next few years that the effects of the recent killing of
females will become most noticeable, because many of the pups which in those years
would have become bachelors or holluschickie have never been born or died soon
alter birth.
With regard to the driving of the seals from the beaches to the places of slaughter,
while it does not benefit them, yet I believe that there are very few cases in which
it does them any harm even if they are redriven. I am sure it does not render them
impotent. It should be remembered that, unlike the hair seals, they are fairly
adapted to movement on land, as is proved by the fact that they are in some cases
actually driven considerable distances over ground that is both rough and steep.
Since the killing of seals in the water is wasteful, and in every sense contrary to
the laws of nature (which require that special protection be afforded to the females
and young of all animals), I am of the opinion that it should be entirely forbidden.
If it is only partly suppressed or prohibited within a certain distance from the
SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 83
islands, the evil would not be cured, although its etlccts might be less noticeable,
for the killing of females, many of them heavy with young, would necessarily con-
tinue, since all experience shows that female auimalH always constitute the chief
catch of the open sea sealer.
NICHOLAS A. (JKKBXIT/KI,
District Chief of the Command? r IxluiidH, District St. rettmbury.
(Counter case, United States, p. 362.)
Here we have the testimony of one who is at once a scientist and one
of the most practical of men; a man who has been officially interested
in the fur seal industry for many years, and who has devoted a great
part of his life to the scientific and practical study of the species.
Every word he utters shows his intimate knowledge of the subject
treated, and his practical common sense and scientific acumen, coupled,
with a breadth of view all his own, gives an extraordinary value tp
everything he says on the subject of fur seals.
True, he is interested in the fur-seal industry on the Commander
Islands, belonging to Russia, and for that reason he may fall under the
ban of the hypercritical who seem to suspect the honesty and thq
motives of all who have, or ever did have, any connection with the fur?
seal islands on either side of Bering Sea.
That the class of critics alluded to may be silenced on this point I
will introduce the testimony of leading naturalists, which is in full
accord with all that I have already quoted. It will be seen that Dr.
Merriam briefly stated the question at issue to the naturalists of Europe
and asked for their views, which were freely given and which I take the
pleasure of quoting in full.
CIRCULAR LETTER OF DR. C. HART MERRIAM.
Dr. C. Hart" Merriam, one of the American Bering Sea commission-
ers, addressed the following circular letter to various leading naturalists
in diflerent parts of the world, for the purpose of obtaining their views
as to the best method of preserving the fur seals of Alaska:
WASHINGTON, D. C., April 2, 1892.
DEAR SIR: The Government of the United States having selected me as a natu-
ralist to investigate and report upon the condition of the fur-seal rookeries on the
Pribilof Islands, in Bering Sea, with special reference to the causes of decrease and
the measures necessary for the restoration and permanent preservation of the seal
herd, I visited the Pribilof Islands and made an extended investigation of the sub-
ject, the results of which are here briefly outlined.
FACTS IN THE LIFE HISTORY OF THE NORTHERN FUR SEAL (CALLORHINU8 URSINU8),
(1) The fur seal is an inhabitant of Bering Sea and the Sea of Okhotsk, where it
breeds on rocky islands. But lour breeding colonies are kuown, namely, (1) the
Pribilof Islands, belonging to the United States; (2) the Commaudi-r Islands, belong-
ing to Russia; (3) Roblieu Reef, belonging to Russia; and (4) the Kurile Islands,
belonging to Japan. The Pribilof and Commander islands are in Bering Sea;
Robben Keef in the Sea of Okhotsk, near the island of Saghalien, and the Kurile
Islands between Yezo and Kamtchatka. The species is not known to breed in any
other part of the world.
(2) lu winter the fur seal migrates into the North Pacific Ocean. The herds from
the Commander Islands, Robben Keef, and the Kurilo Islands move south along the
Japan Coast. The Pribilof Islands herd move south through the passes in the Aleu-
tian chain. The old breeding males are not kuown to range much south of these
islands. The females and yonng reach the American Coast as far south as California.
(3) Returning, the herds of females move northward along the coast of California,
Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia in .January, February, and March, «-ccur-
riiig at varying distances from shore Following the Alaska coast northward and
westward they' leave the North Pacific Ocean in June, traversing the passes in the
Aleutian chain, and proceed at once to the Pribilot 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 once land and take stands on the rook-
eries, where they await the arrival of the females. Each male (called a bull) selects
8-i SKAL LIFK OX THK PKIim/>F ISLANDS.
a large rod;. MM or near which he remains, unless driven olt' by stronger bulls, until
August, never h-a ving lor a single install t . night or day. and ta i\ ing neither food nor
•water. I lei ore the arrival of the females ^called cows) the bulls tight savagely among
them.-el\ es toi positions mi tin- n>< >ke,i ies. and many are severely \sounded. All the
bulls ale located by .1 Mile I'D.
5 The piegnant co\\s begin arriving early in June, and soon appear in large
schools or dro\ es. immense numbers taking their places on t he r«okei ies each day
bet ween .111 lie 1 L' ai,d t lie . lid of t lie inont 1'.. \ ar\ ing with the \\ eat her. They assem-
ble alxuit the old bulls in compact Croups called harems. The harems are complete
t-arh in July, at \vhieh time the breeding rookeries attain their maximum si/.e aud
compactness
i r> > I he co\\s give birth to their young soon alter taking their places on the
harems. The period of gestation is; between eleven and twelve months.
(~ A single young is born in each instance. The young at birth are about equally
divided as to sex.
i C'ojMilatioii takes pi ee on land. Most of the cows are served by the middle
of ,)ulv. or soon alter the birth > f their pups. They then take to the water, aud
come and go for food while nursing.
(11) The pups huddle toget her in small groups called pods, at some distance from
the water. \Yhcn ti or s weeks old they move down to the water's edge and learn to
swim. The pups are not born at sea, and if soon alter birth they are washed into
the sea they are drowned.
d-> The cows are believed to take the bull first when two years old, and deliver
their iirst pup when X years old.
(i:;) 1 nils first take stands on the breeding rookeries when b' or 7 years old.
lie': ore this they are not powerful enough to tight the older bulls for positions on the
harems.
11 Cows when nursing, and the nonbreeding seals, regularly travel long dis-
tances to feed, 'f hey are commonly found 100 to 150 miles from the islands and
sometimes at greater distances.
A 15 i '1 he food of the fur seal consists of fish, squids, crustaceans, and probably
otL'vf forms of marine life aNo.
(lii i The great majority of cows. pups, aud such of the breeding bulls as have not
ah-'adv gone, leave the islands about the middle of No\ ember, the date var\iug
considerably with the season.
il7 The nonbreeding' male seals ( hollusdiickie ). together with a few old bulls,
remain until January, and in rare instances even until i ebruary.
i l-s The i ui seal as a species is present at the Pri bilof Isl mds eight or nine months
of t he year, or trom two-iliirds to three-fourths of the time, and in mild winters
sometimes during the entire year. The breeding bulls arrive earliest and remain
continuously on the islands about four months; the breeding cows remain about
nix months, and the nonbreeding male seals about eight or nine months, aud some-
times during the ent ire year.
M-.AI.S KII.I.I'.I) ON T1IK I'KIBII.OF ISLANDS.
i 1!») The only seals killed for commercial purposes at the seal islands are non-
breeding males under 5 or ti \ ears of age. called hollusdiickie . They come up on
the rookeries apart from the breeding seals, and large numbers are present by the
latter part of May. They constant ly pass back and forth from the water to the
'hauling gi«unds. These animals are driven by the natives (Aleuts) from the haul-
ing grounds to t he kill ing grounds, \\ here t hey are divided up into little groups. Those
Selected as of suitable si/e are killed with a club by a blow on the head; the others
jr0 into the water and soon reappear on the hauling grounds. In this way about
100. ODD young males ha\ e been killed annually on the 1'ribilof Islands for twenty
year-.
( _'D , In add i i ion to the commercial killing a hove described, a number of male pups
\vereformerlv killed cadi year to furnish food for the natives, but the killing of
jiups i> now prohibited by the t .o\ ei nmeiit .
The rookerie^ on both St. 1'aul and St. < Jeorge islands bear unmistakable evidence
of having undergone great reduction in si/e during the past lew years. This evi-
dence, consists i 1 "in the universal testimony of all who saw them at an earlier period,
and (2) in the presence upon the back part of cadi rookery of a well-marked strip
SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS.
or zone of grass-covered land, varying from 100 to 500 feet in width, on which the
Btones and bowlders are flipper-worn and polished by the former movements of the
seals, and tin; grass is yellowish-green in color and of a different genus (Ulyceria.
atif/HHtuta) from the rank, high grass usually growing immediately behind it (Elymus
mollis). In many places the ground between the tussocks ami hummocks of grass is
covered with a thin layer of felting, composed of the shed hairs of the seals matted
down and mixed with excrement, urine, and surface; soil. The exact year when this
yellow-grass /one was last occupied by seals is difficult to ascertain, but the bulk of
testimony points to 1886 or 1887. The aggregate si/e of the areas formerly occupied
is at least four times as great as that of the present rookeries.
CAUSES WHICH LED TO THE DEPLETION OF THE ROOKERIES.
The seals which move northward along the coast of the northwestern United
States, British Columbia, and southeastern Alaska from .January until late in June*
are chiefly pregnant females, and about 90 per cent of the seals killed by pelagic
sealers in the North Pacific are fnnales heavy with young. For obvious reasons
many more seals are wounded than killed outright, and many more that are killed
sink before they can be reached, ami consequently are lost. As each of these contains
a young, it is evident that several are destroyed to every one secured.
For several years the pelagic sealers were content to pursue their destructive work
in the North Pacific, but of late they have entered Bering Sea, where they continue
to capture seals in the water throughout the entire summer. The females killed
(luring this period are 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
pups on the island of St. Paul last summer (1891), and the total number of their
carcasses 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 is
shown in the following table :
Year.
Number
of skins.
Year.
Number
of skins.
Year.
Number
oi skins.
Year.
Number
of skins.
1872
1 029
1877
it \
1882
17 700
1887
33 goo,
1878
264
18H3
9* 195
1888
36 818
1874 ..
4 949
1879
12 500
18H4
14 000
1889
39,563
1875
1 646
1880
13 6dO
1885
13 000
1890
51 404
1876
2 042
1881
13 541
38 907
1891
62 50O
!
!
Inasmuch as the number of seals annually secured by pelagic sealing represents
but a fraction of the total number killed, a glance at the^ above figures is enough to*
show that the destruction of seal life thus produced is alone sufficient to explain the
present 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 Bering 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 nec« ssary to bear in mind that the number of
male and female fur seals is equal at birth, that the species is polygamous, and that
each male serves on an average at least 15 to 25 females. It is evident, therefore,
that there must be a great superabundance of males, of which a large percentage
may be killed annually forever without in the slightest degree endangering the pro-
ductiveness 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 superfluous males, for selection 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 unless 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 kil.ed 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 and is directed to
the fountain head or source of supply. From the very nature of the case, selection
can not be exercised, and a large, percentage of seals wounded are lost. Owing to
the peculiar movements of the seal herds, it so happens that about 90 per cent of the1
seals killed ia the North Pacific are females heavy with young, entailing a destruc-
8t> SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS.
tiou of two seal lives for every adult seal killed. In Bering Sea, also, large numbers
of females are taken; these females are in milk, and their young die of starvation on
the rookeries.
Pelagic sealing as an industry is of recent origin, and may be said to date from
1879. The number of vessels engaged has steadily increased, as has the number of
seals killed, until it appears that unless checked by international legislation the
commercial exterminatiou of the seal is only a matter of a few years. It seems a
fair inference, therefore, that the only way to restore the depleted rookeries to their
former condition is to stop taking seals at sea, and not only in Bering Sea, but in
the North Pacific as well.
Having been selected by my Government solely as a naturalist, and having investi-
gated the facts and arrived at the above conclusions and recommendations from the
standpoint of a naturalist, I desire to know if you agree or differ with me in consid-
ering these conclusions and recommendations justified and necessitated by the facts
in the case.
I shall be greatly obliged if you will favor me with a reply.
Very truly, yours,
C. HART MERRIAM.
REPLIES TO C. HART MERRIAM.
REPLY OF DR. ALPHONSE MILNE EDWARDS.
PARIS, April SO, 1892.
SIR: I have rend with great interest the letter you addressed me with reference to
the fur seals of Bering Sea, and I think it would be of real advantage to have con-
certed international measures so as to insure an effective protection to those valuable
animals.
To-day the means of transportation at the disposal of the fishermen are so great,
the processes of destruction which they employ are so improved, tint the animal
species, the object of tlieir desire, can not escape them. We know that our migra-
tory birds are during their travels exposed to a real war of extermination, and an
Ornithological international commission has already examined, not unprotitably, all
the questions relating to their preservation.
\Vould it not be possible to put fur seals under the protection of the navy of
•ivilized nations?
What has happened in the Southern Ocean may serve as a warning to us.
Less than a century ago these amphibia existed there in countless herds. In 1808,
when I- aiming visited the islands of South Georgia, one ship left those shores carry-
ing away 14,000 seal skins belonging to the species Arctoceplialus australis. He him-
self obtained 57,000 of them, and lie estimated at 112,000 the number of these animals
killed during the few weeks the sailors spent there that year.
In 1822 Weddell visits these islands, and he estimates at 1,200,000 the number of
skins obtained in that locality. The same year 320,000 fur seals were killed in the
South Shetlands. The inevitable consequences of this slaughter were a rapid
decrease in the number of these animals. So, in spite of the measures of protection
taken during the last lew years by the governor of the Falkland Islands, these seals are
still very rare, and the naturalists of the French expedition of the Roman che 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 will soon be thus with the CaUorhinus urn him 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 much attention the investigation which has been made by
the Government of the United States 011 this subject. The reports of the commis-
sioners sent to the Pribilof Islands have made known to naturalists a very large
number of facts of great scientific interest, and have demonstrated that a regulated
system of killing may be safely applied in the case of these herds of seals when
there is a superfluity of males. What might be called a tax on celibacy was applied
in this way in the most satisfactory manner, and the indefinite preservation of the
species would have been assured if the emigrants, on their way back to their breed-
ing places, had 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 annihilation,
and an international commission can alone determine the rules, from which the fisher-
men should not depart.
Accept, etc., A. MILNE EDWARDS,
Director of the Museum of Natural History.
SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 87
REPLY OK DK. CARLOS IlKIHi. <>K KUEXOS AYKES.
JUNE 4, 1892.
SIR: In answer to your circular dated April 2, and directed to Dr. Hermann Bur-
meister, I regret to let you know that .same died shortly before the transmission of
your circular by D. N. Bertolette. esq.
Having been namud director of the national museuiu in the place of the deceased,
I have read with great interest your report and conclusions about the causes of the
decrease and the measures necessary for the restoration and permanent preservation.
of the seal herd on the Pribilof Islands, in Bering Sea, and according to your wish I
have the pleasure to let yon know that from the standpoint of a naturalist I per-
fectly agree with you in considering your conclusions and recommendations justified
and necessitated by the facts stated by yon as a result of your special investigation
on the above-named islands.
Very truly, yours, CARLOS BKRG.
REPLY OF PROF. DR. ALFRED NEIIKING, ROYAL AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE OF BERLIN.
BERLIN, April 21, 1892.
Mr. C. HART MEKRIAM.
I'nited States Department of Agriculture, Washington, D. C.:
HIGHLY KSTKFOIKD SIR: I "have carefully read and considered your elaborate
and very interesting letter of the 2d instant, which I received yesterday through
Mr. John Briiikerhotf. Jackson, secretary of legation of the North American legation
in this city, and, in reply, I send yon a statement of my views with regard to its
conteutsv
What you say concern ing the mode of life, and especially the annual migrations of
the fur seal (Cal lot-hunts ,trsinus), whose breeding places are the Pribilof Islands, is so
clear and convincing, and harrnonixes so perfectly with what has been observed by
other reliable scientists, that I fill y agree with your deductions. I am. like your-
self, of the opinion th.it the remarkable decrease of fur seals on the rookeries of the
Pribilof Islands, which has, of late years, become more and more evident, is to be
attributed mainly, or perhaps exclusively, to the unreasonable destruction caused
by the sealers wbo ply their avocation in the open sea. The only rational method
of taking the fur seal, and the only one that is not likely to result in the extermi-
nation of this valuable animal, is the one which has hitherto been employed on the
Pribilof Islands under the supervision of the Government. Any other method of
taking the northern fur seal should, in my opinion, be prohibited by international
agreement. I should, at furthest, approve a local pursuit of the fur seal, where it
is destructive of the fisheries in its southern winter quarters. I regard pelagic fur
sealing as very unwise; it must soon lead to a decrease, bordering on extermination
of the fur seal.
With great respect, Prof. Dr. ALFRED NKHRING,
Professor of Zoology in the Royal Agricultural College of Berlin.
REPLY OF PROF. COUNT TOMMA8O SALVADORI.
ZOOLOGICAL MUSEUM, Turin, April 25, 1892.
C. HART MEKRIAM,
United States Department of Agriculture,
Division of Ornithology, Washington, D. C.
DEAR SIR: I have received your letter concerning the northern fur seal, on the
condition of which you have been selected as naturalist to investigate and report
by the Government of the United Stales.
As a whole I agree with you as to the facts and conclusions drawn on your report,
although the increasing number of seal skins actually secured and sold, as a result
of pelagic sealing shown in your table, does not sufficiently prove, in my mind, that
•we are already in the period of a decided diminution of the number of living seals.
Still, I quite admit that it is absolutely necessary to adopt some measures for the
preservation of the seal herds.
No doubt the free pelagic sealing is a cause which will act to the destruction of
the seal herds, and to that it must be put a stop as soon as possible. But at the same
time I think that the yearly killing of about 100,000 young males on the Pribilof
Islands must have some influence on the, diminution of the herds, especially pre-
venting the natural or sexual selection of the stronger males, which would follow if
the young males were not killed in such a great number. So that, with the stop-
ping of the pelagic sealing, I think, at least for a few years, also the slaughter of so
many young males in the Pribilof Islands should be prohibited.
I remain, very truly, yours,
PROF. T. SALVADORI.
88 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS.
RFI'I.Y Ol DR. <:. HARTF.A115.
BKI:MKN. April ?;', 189:.'.
Mr. C. HART Mi RRIAM.
DFAR SIR: Your excellent report on tlie northern I'nr seal I have read and reread
with intense interst.
I am t'ar from attributing to myself a competent judgment regarding tliis matter,
but eon>idering all facts which yon have so cle.irly and convincingly combined and
expressed, it seems to me thai, the measures yon propose in order to prohibit the
threatening decay of the northern fur seal are the only correct ones promising an.
effective result.
I sincerely regret that for practical reasons it can not be thought of to prohibit
fur-seal hunting for a lew years entirely, as this would naturally assist numerically
the menaced animal.
There is at any rate danger in view, and it can not be too strongly emphasized that
your so well founded proposal^ should be executed at the earliest time possible.
With sincere thanks for the confidence yon have placed in my judgment. I am,
dear sir, your most obedient.
Dr. (J. IlARTLAl'H.
REPLY OF I'ROF. KOIIKHI CnLLKTT, OF Till. /OOLO< i I i'A I. MTSF.I'M "V TIFF, CXIVKRSITY
OF C1I1US1IAMA, NORWAY.
ClIKIsTIANIA, April 2.J, IS!).?.
MY DF.AR Sin: It would be, a very easy reply to your highly interesting treatise
of the fur seal, which you have been kind enough to send us, when I only answered
yon that I agree with you entirely in all points. No doubt it would he the greatest
value for the rookeries on the Prihilof Islands, as well as for the preservation of the
existence of the seal, if it would be possible to stop the sealing at sea at. all. Hut
that will no doubt lie very difficult when so many nations partake in the, sealing,
and how that is to go about I can not know. My own countrymen are killing every
year many thousands of seals. Cjixto phora1, on the ice barrier between Spit/.bergeu
and Greenland, hut never females with young: either are the old ones caught or —
and that is the greatest number — the young seals. Hut there is a close time, accepted
by the different nations, just to prohibit the killing of the females with young.
Perhaps a similar close time could be accepted in the Bering Sea, but that is a ques-
tion about which I can not have any opinion.
Many thanks for the paper.
Yours, very truly. I\. COLLKTT.
RI.I'LY OF I.F.OPOLM YON S( IIRKN< K.
ST. PF. rF.i;snri:<;. April /,'!/;.'>, LW2.
DI:AR SIR: Having read with ea^er and critical attention the memoir you have
addressed 1o me upon the condition of the fur-seal rookeries on the Pribilof Islands
in Bering Sea, the causes of decrease, and the measure's necessary lor the restora-
tion and permanent preservation of the seal herd, 1 can not bur, completely agree
with you in considering tin; conclusions and recommendations yon arrived at qnito
justified and necessitated by t he facts. 1 am also persuaded that the pelagic sealing,
if pur>ned in the same manner in future, will necessarily end with the extermination
of the fin- seal.
Very truly, yours.
LF.OPOLD VON SniRi:.\<'K,
Mimlnr of lltr Impi-rlnl Arat ion 1 j.-s j n -I ln-h ; ud ( 'a pe Stokes in the ( i n 1 1 of I 'en as. on the south-
ern cosi-1 of ('bile, and i> the one seen by Darwin during his memora ide \ oya-c, in
the, limt/lr. I shall never forget that day. when m\ astonished ga/e rested on hun-
dreds of these, eared seals l\in^r about, in e\erv attitude, oi repose, on the, beach and
SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 89
rocks of the shore, or gracefully, and without showing the slightest fear, performing
the most acrobatic evolutions in the water round our boat. That day I had my first
experience of these singular creatures, and from that day dates the special interest
I have ever since taken in the study of the life history of the Otariidw, which is one
of the most marvelous in /oology.
In the spring of 1880, while commissioner for Italy at the grand "Fischerei-
Ausstell 11114" held at Berlin, I tirst had occasion to admire, in the United States
exhibit, the beautiful and spirited drawings of Henry W. Elliott. I have since then
taken a keen interest in the wonderful life history ol the North Pacific fur seal (Cat-
lor hi HUH ursinus), as best exemplified on the Pribilof Islands. Later on I have care-
fully read and commented on the various accounts which have appeared in print oil
the subject; thus, in.). A. Allen's North American Pinnipeds, Washington, 1880 (p.
311' et seq.), but more especially the detailed and graphic descriptions which have
been published by Henry \V. Elliott in his masterly monograph, The Seal Islands of
Alaska, in that grand work by G. Brown Goode and associates. The Fisheries and
Fishery Industries of the United States (vol. 1, p. 75 et seq.), Washington, 1884, and.
again ID his most interesting volume, An Arctic Province, Alaska and the Seal
Islands, London, 1886.
Alter these precedents you can easily imagine how great an interest I take in that
"vexata qua>stio," the fur-seal fishery in the Bering Sea; with what pleasure I
received through the United States Government and Mr. Long, the United States
consul in this city, your communication, and how glad I am of the opportunity thus
afforded me of giving my unbiased opinion in the case and aiding you in your noble
effort to preserve from litter destruction one of the most interesting of living crea-<
tures, and to save at the same tiiue a most valuable source of human industry and
profit.
I have read with great attention your condensed but very complete statement of
the salient points regarding the life history of the North Pacific fur seal (Callorlnnus.
ursinus}. I have carefully considered the results of your investigation upon the con-
dition of the fur-seal rookeries on the Pribilof Islands, your conclusions regarding
the cause of their decrease, and the measures you suggest as necessary for the resto-
ration and permanent preservation of the seal herd; and I am happy to state that
I entirely agree with you on all points.
The first and most important point for consideration is evidently the cause of the
unquestionable decrease ascertained in the fur-seal rookerii s on the Pribilof Islands
dining the few past years. The stringently enforced rules which strictly limit the
killing for commercial purposes to nonbreeding males or holluschickies, carefully
selecced, which selection can only be made on land, entirely preclude to ray mind
the suggestion that the lamented* decrease may be attributed in any degree to the
killing of too lar«ie a number of nonbreeding males. Such a decrease might have
been in some slight measure attributed to the former custom of killing each year a
O'l-tain number of male pups to furnish food for the natives, but that practice has
been wisely prohibited. Therefore, I feel positive that the notable decrease in the
number of fur seals resorting to the rookeries on the Kurile Islands, on the Rohben
K'ef (Saghalien), and more especially on the Commander Islands, as being in the
Bering Sea,
Having conclusively shown that the lamented decrease in the herd of fur seals
resorting to the Pribilof Islands can in no way be accounted tor by the selective
killing of noubreeding males for commercial purposes, which takes place on those
islands under special rules and active surveillance, we must look elsewhere for its
cause, and I can see it nowhere but in the indiscriminate slaughter, principally prac-
ticed on breeding or pregnant females, as most clearly shown in your condensed
report, by pelagic sealers.
In any ca-e, all who are competent in the matter will admit that no method of
capture could be more uselessly destructive in the case of pinuipedia than that called
" pelagic sealing; " not only any kind of selection of the victims is impossible, but it
is admitting much to assert that out of three destroyed one is secured and utilized,
and this for obvious and well-known reasons. In the case of the North Pacific iur
seal, this 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 fishery laws and regulations should
allow such indiscriminate waste and destruction. The statistical data you give are
painfully eloquent, and when we come to the conclusion that the 62, 500 skins secured
by pelagic sealing in 1891 represent at a minimum one-sixth of the fur seals destroyed,
viz, 375,000— that is, calculating one in three secured and each of the three suckling
a pup or big with young — we most undoubtedly need not look elsewhere to account
for the rapid decrease in the rookeries on the Pribilof Islands; and I quite agree
with y«u in maintaining that, unless the malpractice of pelagic sealing be prevented
or greatly checked, both in the North Pacific and in the Bering Sea, the economic
extermination of Callorhinus ursinus is merely the matter of a few years.
90 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS.
International legislation ought to intervene, and without delay, in this case and
suggest the means of possibly preventing or at least considerably limiting the pelagic
capture and killing of the northern fur seal— a destructive and ultimately fatal indus-
try, which forcibly recalls the well-known fable of the peasant who killed the hen
which laid the golden eggs. The industry derived iroin the rational killing of fur
seals, as practiced on the Pribilof Islands, has an economic value which extends far
beyond the limits, though vast, of the United States; and it must be remembered
that the commercial extermination of the fur seal must also put an end to those
industries which are connected with the preparation of the much valued seal-skin fur.
It is hoth as a naturalist and as an old commissioner of fisheries that I beg to say
once more that I most entirely and m«-st emphatically agree with you in the conclu-
sions and recommendations you come to in your report on the present condition
of the fur-seal industry in the Bering Sea, with special reference 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 by the facts in the case.
With much regard, believe me, dear sir, very truly, yours,
HKNRY 11. (JiGLioi.i.
REPLY OF DR. RAPHAEL BLANCIIARD.
Dr. C. HART MERRTAM,
Jiureau, of Animal Industry,
Department of Agriculture, Washington, D. C.
SIR AND HONORED COLLEAGUE: I have read with the deepest interest the learned
memoir which you have done me the honor to send me concerning the biological his-
tory of the fur seal (Callorliinus ursitmn).
The very precise observations which you made at the Pribilof Islands and the no
less certain information based on official statistics which you give on the subject of
the capture of the females on the high sea at the moment when they are returning to
the Pribilof Islands to give birth to their young, have suggested to you conclusions
with which I fully agree.
I will go even further than you. for I think it urgent not only to rigidly prohibit
the taking of the migratory Callorhinus in the open sea, but also to regulate and limit
severely the hunting on land of males still too young to have a harem.
According to your own observation the male does not pair off before the-age of 6
or 7 years, and the females give birth to only one pup at, a time. It can be said then
that the species increases slowly and multiplies with difficulty. These are unfavor-
able conditions, which do not allow it to repair the hecatombs which for several
years past have been and are decimating the species.
By reason of the massacres of which it is the victim this species is advancing rap-
idly toward its total and final destruction, following the fatal road on which the
Ithytina stelleri, the Monachns tropicaUs, and the Macrork'mns anfjimlirostris have pre-
ceded it, to cite only the great mammifers which but recently abounded in the
American seas.
Now. the irremediable destruction of an eminently useful animal species, such as
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 exhaust,
ftnd that forever, a source of wealth which, properly regulated, ought 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 capital we can undoubtedly lead a gay and extravagant life:
but how long does this foolish extravagance last? And what is its to-morrow f
inextricable poverty. On the other hand, in causing our capital to be properly pro-
ductive we draw from it constantly a splendid income, which does not, perhaps, give
the large means dreamed of, but at least assures an honorable competency, to which
the wise man knows how to accommodate himself. By prucb nt ventures or by a
well-regulated economy he can even increase progressively his inheritance and leave
to his children a greater fortune thau he had himself received from his parents. It
is evidently the same with the question which occupies us, 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 I will add another of a nature
purely sentimental. It is not without profound sadness that the naturalist sees a
large number of animal species disappear, the destruction of which this century will
Bave seen accomplished. When our seas are no longer inhabited by the cetacea and
the great pinnipeds, when the air is no longer furrowed in all directions by little
SI;AL LIFI: ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 91
insectivorous birds, wh<» knows if the equilibrium of nature will not be broken — an
equilibrium to which the creatures on the way to extinction have greatly contributed?
\Yith his harpoons, his firearms, and bis machines of every kind, man, with whom
the instinct of destruction attains its highest point, is the most cruel enemy of nature
and of mankind itself.
Happily, while yet in time, the savants sound tin- alarm. In this century, when
we believe in science, we must hope that their voice will not be lost in the desert.
Above all, I have the conviction that the very wise measures which you propose
with the view of preserving the Callorhinns tirsinun from an impending destruction
will be submitted to an international commission, which will ratify them and give
them the force ot a law.
Will you accept, sir and honored colleague, the expression of my most distinguished
sentiments.
Dr. RAPHAEL BLANCHARD.
RKfLY OF DR. WILHELM LILLJEBORG.
STOCKHOLM, May 14, 1892.
Dr. C. HART MKRRIAM.
DEAR SIR: In answer to your letter of 2d of April, asking our opinion as to the
causes of the decrease of the stock of northern fur seals (Callorhinus nr*imi*) on the
rookeries of the islands in the North Pacitic or Bering Sea, and concerning the means
proposed by you to arrest this decrease, allow us to state the following:
Your description of the life of the northern fur seal corresponds generally with
similar descriptions by former authors, from the celebrated Dr. Steller, who (1741-42)
visited the Commander Islands with Vitus Bering, to our dajs. and also with our own
personal experiences of the animal life in the Arctic seas, and with the informations
one of us gathered from the inhabitants during a short stay in the Bering Sea.
W<- do not, therefore, hesitate to declare that the facts about the life and habits of
the fur seal stated by you in your said letter under 1-20 should serve as a base ior
the regulations necessary to preserve this gregarious animal from its threatened,
extinction in a comparatively short time.
These regulations may be divided into two categories, viz: (1) Regulations for the
ki ling, etc., of the fur seals on the rookeries, in order to prevent the gradual diminu-
tion of the stock; (2) regulations for the pelagic sealing, or for the hunting of the
seals swimming in the ocean in large herds to and from the rookeries, or around the
rookeries during the time when the female's are suckling the pups on land.
As to the former question, the killing of the seals on the rookeries, it seems at
present regulated in a suitable manner to effectually prevent the gradual diminution
of the stock. If a wider experience should require some modifications in these
regulations, there is no danger but that such modifications will be adopted. It is
evidently in the interest of the owners of the rookeries to take care that this source
of wealth should not be lessened by excessive exploitation. Nor will there be any diffi-
culty for studying the conditions lor health and thriving of the animals during the
rookery season.
As to the pelagic sealing, it is evident that a systematic hunting of the seals in the
open sea on the way to and from or around the rookeries will very soon cause the
complete extinction of this valuable and. from a scientific point of view, extremely
interesting and important animal, especially as a great number of the animaLs killed
in this manner are pregnant cows, or cows temporarily separated Irom their pups
while seeking food in the vicinity of the rookery. Everyone having some experi-
ence in seal hunting can also attest that only a relatively small part of the seals
killed or seriously wounded in the open sea can in this manner be caught. We are
therefore persuaded that a prohibition of pelagic sealing is a necessary condition
for the prevention of the total extermination of the fur seal.
Very truly, yours, W. LILLJEBORG.
REPLY OF DR. A. V. MIDDENDORFF.
Mr. W. WURTS.
SIR: My delay in answering your letter is due to illness. I am very glad that the
United States have selected so competent a person as Dr. Merriam for* the purpose of
Dining the causes of the rapid decrease of seals. The facts of the case have
now been scientifically explained, so that they may bo readily understood even by
an unscientific person.* The method of treating these animals which was originally
adopted by the Russian American Company at their h«»me on the Pribilof Islands is
still continued in the same rational manner, and has, for more than half a century
92 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS.
been found to be excellent, both on account of the large number of seals taken, and
because they are not exterminated. So long as superfluous young males only are
killed, not only the existence, but even thr increase of the herd is assured.
^eals are, unfortunately, migratory animal«, and set out on their journey during
the winter months. This is especially true of the pregnant females. They are then
hunted with constantly increasing rapacity, and are killed in the open sea by free-
booters from all parts of the world. It is evident that the only remedy for such a
state of things can be afforded by international protection.
How rapidly extermination progresses is shown by the disappearances of millions
of bisons. With these, however, the c;ise is quite different, since their destruction
is of no importance in an economical point of view. Its importance is merely of an
esthetical character, and from this standpoint only does modern civilization demand
the preservation of two specimen herds, numbering a few hundred head each — one
in Lithuania and the other in North America. Since the attempts to domesticate
the bison, and to produce a cross between it and our domestic cattle have proved a
failure, it is plain that the ground where the bison formerly grazed can be more
advantageously occupied and yield milk abundantly.
The case is q'uite otherwise with the seal. This animal is of economical 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 profit. If we suppose the seal to have disappeared, what could take
its place as converter of the immense supply of fish in the ocean into choice furs to
stock the markets of the world?
Bering Island, which has been deserted for one hundred and fifty years, now
stands as a warning. Has modern progress succeeded in any way in supplying the
place of the seal cow (Rhylina stelleri), that huge monster which, as a consumer of
marine plants, was intended to convert useless sea weed into savory meat?
If you will communicate (as you say you propose to do) the contents of this letter
to Dr. Merriam, whose address I do not know, you will oblige me greatly.
I have the honor to be, sir, your most obedient servant,
Dr. A. V. MlDDENDORFF.
REPLY OF DR. EMIL HOLUB.
PRAGUE, May 18, 1892.
Dr. C. H. MERRIAM, Esq.
DKAR SIR : With sincere attention I have perused the records of your investigation
of the habits, the present decrease, and regarding the future of the fur seal (Citllor-
hinus ursinus Gray). Having well considered the matter, I will pass my opinion
•without any prejudice whatever.
The Government of the United States may be congratulated upon the action taken
in having sent out for the investigation of a matter which falls into the department
of the board of trade a scientist, and in this special case a man wrho has taken such
great pains with the object of his researches.
Our age makes it a duty for all civilized nations to bring trade and commerce in
a close contact with science. This becomes quite a necessity, like in the present
case, in which commercial customs, even international agreements, laws, etc., become
insufficient to secure a sound decision. Such scientific investigations can supply the
desired conclusions; they do advice the measures to be taken, and provide the basis
upon which an international understanding can be established.
Regarding the object of your researches, I indorse your opinion that the decrease
of the numbers of the fur seal on the Pribilof Islands has been caused by pelagic
sealing in the North Paciric and in the Bering Sea, and that this taking of the seals
at sea has to be stopped as early as possible.
To restore in time the numbers of former years, I take the liberty to name the fol-
lowing measures for the sake of consideration :
A. Concerning certain agreements with other powers.
(1) A mutual understanding upon the question between the United States, Russia,
and Japan. These three States are concerned primo loco in this matter as being the
proprietors of the breeding places as well, like also of the fishing grounds of the
said animals during their yearly wanderings to and fro.
(2) For the sake of brevity in action and a speedy settlement, these three States
(after having agreed upon the foregoing) to select but one representative.
(3) The United States having given impulse to the matter to gain the prestige,
that a United States man shall be selected to this honor.
(4) A congress to be called together, invitations to be sent to those of the Euro-
pean and American powers, whose subjects indulge in pelagic sealing in the North
Paciiic and the Bering Sea.
SEAL LIFE ON THK PBIBILOF ISLANDS. 93
(5) In the congress the representative of the three powers to have six voices,
resulting in two voices for every one of these powers, which concession to be granted
upon the facts of paragraph 1.
(6) The congress to deal \viili the stoppage of pelagic sealing of the fur seal, and
possibly to come to an understanding upon it and to enforce it.
B. Concerning certain laws and precautions in tliedominions of the United States.
(1) To prohibit taking seals nt sea by home vessels and by small boats along the
coast during the wanderings of the animals. 1 think that a great many fur seals
are killed on their way to the south and their return to their breeding places in the
north before ever they do reach the neighborhood of the latter. The fact that these
wandering animals are chiefly pregnant females, which as game are protected by
laws among all civilixed nations, may grant them safety also along the coasts of
British Columbia.
(2) To see that the existing laws at present in use on both St. Paul and St. George
5 protection of malt
(3) To investigate the nutritious necessities of the fur seal. I believe that the
islands regarding the protection of male pups are strictly observed.
animals feed, besides on fish and crustaceans, also on different forms of mollusca,
especially on mussels, and also on certain seaweeds.
(4) In ascertaining the foregoing, to try to increase the quantity of food in the
sea of the Pribilof Islands, especially for the reason that females, when nursing,
may be not compelled to stray as far as 100 to 150 miles from shore, deserting their
pnps for so long and being also exposed to the weapons of the pelagic sealers.
(5) In ascertaining the nutritious necessities to pay special attention to mussels
belonging to the families of the My til idee and Ji'iculidw (to the genera of Mytilus,
Modlula, Lithodomis, Pinna, and others), who have thin shells, or to other species of
the North Pacific, which would promise a good prolih'catiou ; further, also, to certain
seaweeds, for submarine plantation, the species to which I allude containing a great
deal of eatable gelatinous matter.
(6) These measures, besides 'to be taken from economical reasons on behalf of
borne commerce and home trade, to be recommended also from a scientific point
of view, as an act of preservation of a sea mammal and from the common laws of
humanity, that species of large and wild living mammal may be guarded against
utter annihilation
Mankind, never to forget that, being the master among the living creatures on
earth, it has the power of re creation.
If the pelagic sealing of the fur seal is carried on still longer, like it has been exe-
cuted during the last years, the pelagic sealing as a business matter and a living
will soon cease by the full extermination of the useful animal.
The objections brought forward by the friend* of the pelagic sealing against its
stoppage, that the latter will ruin a great many families of seamen and fishers, can
not be taken as sound arguments. It is a well-known and a common thing in our
age, but a weekly occurrence during the last years, that a new trade springing up
ruins two other trades, and hardly in one case out of hundreds can a compensation
be given or is asked tor.
In concluding my note, I thank you, my dear sir, as my esteemed fellow-worker in
another transatlantic sphere, for the excellent work which you have executed during
your weary investigations in the Bering Sea. May this noble and important work
be crowned with the deserved success that that piratic hunt may be stopped for-
ever. The opportunity of the Columbian Exhibition in Chicago nitght 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 should feel very happy if one day to come I can make your personal acquaint-
ance and can shake hands with you, my dear sir.
With my humble respects, I remain, your most obedient,
Dr. EMIL HOLUB.
LETTERS AND STATEMENTS OF NATURALISTS.
STATEMENT BY PROF. T. H. HUXLEY.
The following statement by Prof. T. H. Huxley, F. K. S., etc., the
eminent naturalist, was prepared at the request of the counsel for the
United States. As appears from the statement itself, it was given by
Professor Huxley as a scientist, not as a retained advocate:
(1) The problem of the fur-seal fishery appears to me to be exactly analogous to
that which is presented by salmon fisheries. The Pribilof Islands answer to the
upper waters of a salmon river; the Bering Sea south of them and the waters of the
94 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS.
Northwest Pacific from California to the Shumagin Islands to the rest of the course of
the river, its estuary, ami adjacent seucoast. Theanimals breed in the former and feed
in the latter, migrating at regular periods from the one to the other. (The question
•whether the fur seals have any breeding places on the Northwest Coast outside of
Bering Sea may be left open, as there seems to be no doubt that the main body breeds
at the Pribilofs.)
(2) An important difference is that the females, bachelors, and yearling fur seals
feed largely within a radi'is of say, 50 miles of the ljribilof Islands, while the adult
salmon do not feed (sensibly, at any rate) in the upper waters.
(3) It is clear in the case of fur seals, as in that of the salmon, that man is an
agent of destruction of very great potency, probably outweighing all others. It
would be possible in the case of a salmon river to fish it in such a fashion that every
ascending or descending fish should be caught, and the fishery be in this way surely
and completely destroyed. All our salmon-fishery legislation is directed toward the
end of preserving the breeding grounds on the one hand, on the other of preventing
the lower- water fishermen from capturing too large a proportion of the ascending
fish.
(4) Our fishery regulations are strict and minute. Every salmon river has its
fishery board, composed of representatives of both the upper and the lower water
fisheries, whose business it is to make by-laws under the acts of Parliament and to
see that they are carried out. A Government inspector of fisheries looks after themj
and holds inquiries under the authority of the home secretary in case of disputes.
On the whole, the system works well. The fisheries of rivers which have been
pretty nearly depopulated have been restored, and the yield of the best is main-
tained. But the upper-water and lower-water proprietors are everlastingly at war,
. each vowing that the other is ruining the fisheries, and the inspector has large oppor-
tunities of estimating the value of diametrically opposite assertions about matters
of fact.
(5) In the case of the fur-seal fisheries the destructive agency of man is prepotent
on the Pribilof Islands. It is obvious that the seals might be destroyed and driven
away completely in two or three seasons. Moreover, as the number of bachelors in
any given season is easily ascertained, it is possible to keep down the take to such
a percentage as shall do no harm to the stock. The conditions for efficient regulation
are here quite ideal.
(fi) But in Bering Sea and on the Northwest coast the case is totally altered. In
order to get rid «.f all complications, let it be supposed that western North America,
from Bering Straits to California, is in the possession of one power, and that we have
only to consider the questions of the regulations which that power should make and
enforce in order to preserve the fur seal fisheries. Suppose, further, that the author-
ity of that power extended over Bering Sea and over all the Northwest Pacific east
of a line drawn from the Shumagin Islands to California.
Under such condition* I should say, looking at nothing biit the preservation of the
seals, that the best course would be to prohibit the taking of the fur seals anywhere
exeept on the Pribilof Islands, and to limit the take to such percentage as experi-
ence proved to be consistent with the preservation of a good, average stock. The
furs would be in the best order, the waste of life would be least, and, if the system
were honestly worked, there could be no danger of overfishiug.
(7) However, since northwest America does not belong to one power, and since
international law does not acknowledge Bering Sea to be a mare clausum, nor rec-
ognize the jurisdiction of a Riparian power beyond the 3-mile limit, it is quite clear
that this ideal arrangement is impracticable.
The cause of the fur-seal fisheries is, in fact, even more difficult than that of the
salmon fisheries in such a river as the Rhine, where the upper waters belong to one
power and the lower to another.
(8) The Northwest Pacific, from California to Shnmagin at any rate, is open to all the
world, and, according to the evidence, the seals keep mainly outside the 3-mile limit.
A convention between Great Britain and the United States (backed by a number of
active cruisers) might restrain the subjects of both. But what about ships under
another flag?
(9) Moreover, I do not see how the Canadians could be reasonably expected to give
up their fishery for the sake of preserving the Pribilof fisheries, in which they have
no interest.
(10) If, however, it is admitted that the Canadians can not be asked to give up their
fisheries, I see no way out of the difficulty except one, and I do not know that it is
practicable. It is that the Pribilof, Bering, and Northwest coast fur-seal fisheries
shall be considered national property on the part of the United States and Great
Britain, to be worked by a joint fishery commission, which shall have power to make
by-laws under the terms of a general treaty, to which I suppose other powers (who
have hardly any interest in the matter) could be got to agree.
(11) I am free to confess that my experience of the proceedings of fishery boards
does not encourage me to hope that the proceedings of such a commission would be
SEAL LIFE ON THE PUIIJILOF ISLANDS. 95
altogether harmonious; 'nit if it were composed of sensible men they would, sooner
or later, struggle out into a modus vivendi. tor. after all, it is as ruiich the Canadian
interest that the. I'rihilof fisheries should be preserved as it is the United States inter-
est that the seals should not he extirpated in Bering Sea and the Northwest Pacific.
(12) In such a case as this I do nor believe that the enforcement of a close time,
either in Bering Sea or on the Northwest coast, would he of any practical utility
unless the fishing is absolutely prohibited (which I take to he out of the question).
It must be permitted while the seals are in the sea; and if it is permitted, there is
no limit to the destruction which may be effected.
Numerous as the seals may be, they area trille compared with herring schools and
cod walls, and human agency is relatively a far more important factor in destruction
in their case than in that of herrings and cod. tip to this time fishing has made no
sensible impression on the great herring and cod fisheries; but 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 be extirpated. Mankind will not suffer much if the
ladies are obliged to do without seal-skin jackets, and the fraction of the English,
Canadian, au«t American population which lives on the seal skin industry will be no
worse on" than the vastly gi eater multitude who have had to suffer for the vagaries
of lashion times out of number. Certainly, if the seals are to be a source of constant
bickering between two nations, the sooner they are abolished the better.
The other course is to tread clown all merely personal and trade interest in pursuit
of an a IT ngement that will work and be fair all round, and to sink all the stupidi-
ties of national vanity and political sell-seeking along with them.
There is a great deal too much of all these undeniable elements apparent in the
documents which I have been studying.
T. H. HUXLEY.
APKIL 25, 1892.
AFFIDAVIT BY DR. PHILIP LUTLEY SCLATER.
Philip Lutley Sclater, Ph. D., secretary of the Zoological Society of London, being
duly sworn, doth depose and say that in his opinion as a naturalist:
(1) Unless proper measures are laken to restrict the indiscriminate eaptnre of the
fur seal in the North Pacific he is of opinion that the extermination of this species
will take place in a few years, as it has already done in the case of other species of
the same group in other parts of the world.
(2) It seems to him that the proper way of proceeding would be to stop the kill-
ing of females and young of the fur seal altogether or as far as possible, and to
restrict the killing of the males to a certain number in each year.
(3) The only way he can imagine by which these rules could be carried out is by
the killing the seals only in the islands at the breeding time (at which time it
appears that the young males keep apart from the females and old males) and by
preventing altogether, as far as possible, the destruction of the fur seals at all other
times and in other places.
PHILIP LUTLEY SCLATER, Ph. D., F. E. S.
CITY OF WASHINGTON, District of Columbia, ss:
C. H. Townsend, being duly sworn, deposes and says;
I am 33 jears of age. and my profession is th«it of a naturalist. I am attached to
the United States Fish Commission steamer Albatross, with which Commission I have
been connected for nine years. Occupying the position of resident naturalist on that
v< ssel, as I did, I have collected constantly during this period and have hunted with
all kinds of firearms and under various conditions. I have made seven voyages to
Alaska.
I visited the Pribilof Islands for the first time in 1885, spending the months of June
and September thereon in making collections of natural-history specimens, includ-
ing those, of the fur seal, of which I brought down twenty. In the year 1891 1 again
visited the Island of St. Paul, arriving there July 28 and remaining there about ten
days. The British commissioners were on the island at that. time. I made frequent
observations as to the conditions of the rookeries during this period. Early in the
summer of 1892 I visited, at the request of the United States Government, Guade-
lope Island, for the purpose of acquainting myself with seal life there and of obtainr
ing skulls of the fur seals which formerly frequented those regions. Later in 1892 J
once more visited the Island of St. Paul, arriving there June 30. I was there on the
96 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS.
island and on the United States Revenue steamer Corwin, cruising to the west of the
islands, continuously until about August 15, and was engaged during all of this
time in the stuily of seal lile, either on land or in the waters of Bering Sea, and have
shot seals from a small boat.
I carefully noted the fact this year that the young seal is at birth attached to a
large placenta, equal parts to one-third of its weight and of a bright red color. It
is sometimes not expelled until an hour or so after birth, remaining attached in the
meanwhile by the umbilical cord to the pup. It frequently remains attached to the
pup a day or more. After parturition the female takes an immediate interest in her
yonug, and if it has fallen into some slight rock crevice she gently draws it toward
her, taking its nape in her teeth. She repeatedly turns to it with manifestation of
affection.
Prior to July 27, 1892, many of the females had taken to water to feed and could
thereafter be seen returning at all times to suckle their young. I quote the follow-
ing written memorandum made by me on St. Paul at that date: "Bulls on rookeries
getting exhausted and quiet, mostly sleeping. Cows largely at sea. Some bulls have
hauled out on sand beaches that so far have been bare. Four-fifths of the seals on
rookeries to-day are pups."
July 28 I made the following note: "Many females coming from the water bleating
for their young."
I have killed sea lions at the following localities, where they breed in considerable
numbers, and found their breeding ground impregnated with the same rank, dis-
agreeable smell that is so noticeable a feature of the breeding grounds of the Pribilof
fur seal: Light-house Rock, Alaska Peninsula, Farallon Islands, and Monterey Rock,
California; San Benito Islands, Lower California, and San Luis Islands, in the Gulf of
California. The soil and rocks at these places is as foul with seal excrement as at
the Pribilofs, where urine, excrement, decaying placentas, and other filih rubbed
and trodden into the soil and rock depressions cause the odors so characteristic of
this vicinity. The rocks at Monterey may be used in illustration: They lie near
Cypress Point, 400 or 500 yards off the shore, which the carriage drive follows, and
are covered with hair seals, which breed there. They are conspicuously stained
with excrement, and where the animals lie thickest the ground is smeared and slip-
pery with it. I collet-ted sea lions there in January of the present year, and after
my "shooting had frightened all the animals off to the sea the rank smell of the place
itself drifted arross the channel into the nostrils of the tourists of the Hotel del
Monte, who witnessed our operations. It would indeed be an extraordinary occur-
rence if fur seals did not deposit excrement upon their breeding grounds in the same
way that all other animals of this cla^s do.
As already stated above, I was attached to the steamer Corwhi during the past
summer, and I made all the examinations of the stomachs of the seals referred to
in Captain Hooper's report, covering, in all, 33 seals. 1 annex hereto photographs
of two of the seals which were dissected and examined by me on the deck of the
steamer Corwin. These seals were taken on the 2d day of August, 1892, at a dis-
tance of about 175 miles from the islands. The photographs exhibit the mammary
glands and convey a good idea of the considerable size of these glands, which in all
cases were filled with milk. The inference is unavoidable that the pup is a vora-
cious feeder, and this inference is in keeping with the observations I have made on
the rookeries, where I have repeatedly seen pups suckle for half an hour at a time.
The mammary gland is very widely spread over the lower surface of the animal ;
beginning between the fore flippers, in fact at the anterior of the sternum, it extends
well up under the armpits and back lo the pubic bones. The milk glands are quite
thick and completely charged with milk. The photographs, especially the first one,
exhibit the milk streaming from the glands on to the deck.
Annexed to the report <>f Captain Hooper is a table giving the results of the exam-
ination of 41 seals which were killed in Bering Sea in 1892. It appears that of this
number 22 were nursing seals. The photographs hereto annexed show exactly the
way all of tlu-se nursing female seals looked when cut open on the deck of the Corwin.
From the fact that among the females thus taken and examined there were found
mostly nursing cows, with a small number of virgin cows, it is reasonable to con-
clnde'that there are practically no barren females swimming about in the sea unat-
tached to the islands, or that, at any rate, if such seuls exist they are rarely, if ever,
taken. In all my experience I have never seen anything to lead me to the conclusion
that there is such a thing as a barren female. In'the case of the virgin cows, a care-
ful examination of the. uterus proved them to be too immature for conception.
In the stomachs of many of the seals examined as above stated there were found
large quantities of fi&h, nminly codfish. There is nothing surprising in this fact, that
codfish should be found in the stomachs of surface feeders such as seals are. While
taken at the bottom, the codfish is not restricted to deep water. It is found from the
shallows along the shore out to the banks where fishermen usually take them. They
are often taken at intermediate depths, but fish taken at the bottom are, as a rule,
larger.
SEAL LIFE OX THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 97
The cod is a voracious feeder upon squid, which abound at the surface. In Alaskan
waters I have taken hundreds with the dip net, after attracting them with the elec-
tric light of the Albatross. In its frequent migrations from bank to bank the cod
passes over tracks of ocean where the water is of profound depth. It is a regular
feeder upon herring and many other fishes which school at the surface, and in
Alaskan waters frequently follows the fisherman's bate from the bottom to the sur-
face.
As a result of my combined observations upon land and water, as hereinbefore
detailed, I have no hesitation in stating positively that soon after a female gives
birth to her young she leaves the island in quest of food, that she travels great dis-
tances in search of it, and that she returns to the islands heavily laden with milk.
While hunting in the Corwin'a boat many seals were fired upon when asleep. They
usually sleep with their head to leeward and keep it moving uneasily from side to
side, but with the nose held clear of the water. A sleeping seal has his vital parts
pretty well submerged — the nose, lower jaw, and flippers being usually held above
the surface, although a little more appears at times according to the condition of the
sea and the movements of the animal.
One has to be very close to get a shot at the head that will kill it. Many times
the animal is wounded sufficiently to get out of reach of the hunter before it dies.
I had very little difficulty in approaching sleeping seals close enough for a fair shot,
but much' in killing them. Fair shots that scattered the charge all about them, hit-
ting the flippers, I firmly believe, and in some cases drawing plenty of blood, were
usually without result, until I learned to fire directly at the head/ Then the shots
began 'to prove fatal; but even then, unless hit in a vital part, the animals got away,
though bleeding freely. A.t first I blamed the ineffectual firing on the cartridges, but
the cartridges proved all right as soon as I learned to aim at the head and not at the
animal as a whole.
I learned after some experiments that seals which dashed away apparently unin-
jured were usually hurt, and after following them persistently, at great labor to the
boat pullers, found that they were bleeding.
I believe that the majority of sleeping seals fired at are struck. The number killed
at the islands with buckshot in them bears out this claim to a considerable extent.
I do not see how an ordinary marksman can shoot at so large a target as a seal at
short range with a double- barrel gun loaded with 21 buckshot without striking some
of the exposed portions of the animal.
It is from the instantly killed that seals are secured; the wounded animal uses its
death struggle to get out of reach. What proportion of the seals reaching the
Pribilofs with shot in them bear to those which are fired at and escape (wounded, as
I state above) is not known, but I believe that fully as many perish leaving no trace,
as recover sufficiently to reach the islands.
Feeding seals shot when raising their heads about the boats from curiosity are
more likely to be killed instantly than sleeping seals, but they sink more quickly.
A clear shot at the head is afforded which knocks the life completely out of them,
and the rest of the body being under water at the time it would seem that the
pressure upon the limp body forces the air from it. As a rule, seals killed instantly,
when the head is entirely clear of the water, go down quickly, sinking stern fore-
most. Sleeping seals killed when the head is low in the water float for a time, tfce
head settling into the water first, the air is retained in the body and it floats. I shot
a seal off Quadeloupe Island in May when it raised its head close to the boat, killing
it instantly. It sank before we could reach it with the gaff, and continued sinking,
stern first, as we could plainly see far below in the clear water.
Another illustration of the wastefulness of the pelagic sealing might be found in
the number of cartridges expended. During the work of the Corwin no record of
this kind was kept. The hunter usually carried two or three dozen cartridges,
which were, as a rule, expended before they returned to the ship. The number of
seals lost by sinking, number wounded, and number secured were recorded.
Repeated firing from the boats was often heard on board ship, and a large number
of empty shells would be returned, when comparatively few seals were definitely
reported as secured, lost, or wounded, all other shots being supposed to be misses.
I do not think this feature has received proper consideration. The hunters were
certainly average marksmen, and it is my belief that the great majority of the
Bleeping seals tired at were struck. The guns used were 10-bore Parkers, loaded
with 21 buckshot. Time after time I have seen the heavy charge strike about the
sleeping seal fully expecting to see it killed, when, to my utter surprise, it would
dive and come up beyond our reach. It is incredible that the great number of seals
thus escaping were uninjured. How can one always find traces of blood or signs of
injury when the frightened animal is retreating at a rate so rapid that it is soon out
of sight, and especially as its course is mainly under water and it only appears at
the surface with a porpoise-like leap to catch its breath and then dives again f
C. H. TOWNSEND.
S. Doc. 137, pt. 1 7
98 SF.AI. LIFK <)N THK PRIKII.nF ISLANDS.
AI)1>ITI< 'N AL TESTIMONY.
Tin- forcju'oiiijn' testimony is that of scientists whose knowledge of the
subject under discussion can not well !>e questioned. Speak in u1 for
niyseir. personally. I am pleased to find my own conclusions based on
a practical knowledge solely so fully indorsed by learned and disinter-
ested men.
In addition to the testimony already quoted, however, and in order
to strengthen the position taken, I append to my ivpoi t the testimony
of statesmen, jurists. scientists, naturalists, shipmasters, sealers, seal
hunters, pelagic sealers, naval officers (American and r.ritish . mer-
cliantmeii. seamen. Indian hunters, native sealers. Treasury agents,
company agents, llritish and Amerieaii lieiin^ Sea (Commissioners, fur
traders, t'unie.s. I'ur experts, customs officers, and men of all classes,
native and foreign, friends and enemies, who have had either the prac-
tical experience, the general information, or the scientific knowledge to
warrant them in making sworn .•statements on the subject at issue: and
a careful reading of the lest i nun iv introduced will show that their views
in general are in acco:d with mine, and sustain my position in every
particular.
The quotations above referred to are taken from the American case
and counter case.
So much has already been said in contradiction of the theories
advance*] by honest luit mistaken men about overdriving of the youn<^
males and its consequent result of i in potency, of stampedes on the rook-
eries, and epidemics in the herd, by which so many pups were Mipposed
to be destroyed annually during the past decade, it is necessary for a
correct understanding ol' the contention that ! 1:0 back a few years and
uive a sketch of the causes which j»-avc rise to such, until t hen. unheard
of t h-'ories which have been the direct cause of more than one halt the
troubles jn'rowiiijn' out of the fur-seal question in ileiin^' Sea.
As already shown by the testimony of Messrs. II. 11. Mdntyrc. T. F.
Morgan. Daniel Webster. J.< . K'edpath. Dr. Noves. and others who
\\'ere on the seal islands for many \ears. it was not until iSSil the first
unmistakable decrease of the seal herd \\asapparent. Mad the facts
been reported immediately to the Department and the true cause of
>uch a sudden shrinkage shown, steps niiu'nt ha\'e been taken which
would have prevented furl her pelagic sealing1, or at least an addition to
I he sealing iieet : but unfortunately an over/ealous Treasury aireut
reported an increase of nearlv L'.OOU.uuo since Klliott's measurements
and estimates, some fourteen years earlier: and au'ain. in isss. he tells
the I >epal tlliellt :
I :im happx to lie aide in report that although late landing tin- hrccdiim nmkrrit's
:iri' lil!i-il HIM ID iln- liiirs <>l iiicii-iin-niciil licn-i nl'urc ni;nlc. ;iud xmif ul' llinn much
IM-VOMI! ihnsc lin.-. showing roiirl lisi vHy that sc;il lil'c i- iml litMii"' stimuli's -i \TII in my i-«-pnrt of Iss7. , 1,'cjM.rt of < •. K'. '1'iii^lc. ISSS. i
\\ hen that repo:l \\as written, and before it was written, everyone
on the seal inlands knew 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. II. II. Mdntyre. who tells us:
I P-pi-Mtrilh |mitiir<] mil t n i >u r <•< mi pun \ jiiid to i hr special Treasury a.ui-nts during
tin- seasons |i tlial (lie seal'- \\ere rapidlx d im i nish i uu. and that
in order to u<-t Ih.- full .|iiota allo\\n| ],\ la\v \\ e \\t-rt- oldl-rd to kill, in increasing
iiuiiiliei'- in each ol those \eal'-, animals thai should have heeii allowed to attain
greater si/e : and. linally, the eat eh of iss'.i \\ as most 1 y of t his class, i Set? Me] n tyro
to.I«-!liics7 I (rccmhci 1.",. ISMII. A ppcndix. i
SEAL LIFE ON THE PR1BILOF ISLANDS. 99
Mr. Daniel Webster, the oldest and one of the most reliable and prac-
tical of sealers, tells, under oath:
In 1884 and 18X5 I noticed a decrease, and it became so marked in 1886 that every-
one on the islands saw it. This marked decrease in 1886 showed itself on all the rook-
eries on both islands. (See affidavit in Appendix.)
And Mi. ,!.('. I led path, the local agent for tlie lessees, after an expe-
rience of twenty years on the islands, says:
As the schooners (pelagic hunters) 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 numbers and harder to h'nd. In 1886 the
decrease was so plain that the natives and all the agents were startled. (Ibid.)
•
In 1881) tlie usual annual quota of 100,01)0 could not be found without
taking 50,000 young seals whose skins did not average more than 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 definite 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 after an official report had appeared
affirming; the fact of an increase of over 2,000,000 seals in fourteen years.
Theories, as numerous as the men who broached them, were launched
forth to a still doubting world; from press and platform came an array
of argument and statistics as erroneous as they were bewildering; and
when the Treasury agent's reports 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 tind the
cause of the sudden decrease of the fur-seal herd; and Mr. Henry W.
Elliott was selected for that important work.
When, in 1890, Mr. Elliott reached the seal islands after an absence
of fourteen years, and 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 development; that it produced iinpotency
and destroyed their usefulness as breeders on the rookeries, thus pro-
ducing a dearth of breeding males and a surplus of barren cows, and,
without a shadow of proof to sustain 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 personally hurt and wronged because the Gov-
ernment refused to indorse or approve it.1
Kvery enemy of the United States in both hemispheres, however,
hailed it with delight, and quoted from it against us with much appro-
bation until, after years of patient research and scientific investiga-
tion on the part of the United States and of Great Britain, it was
demonstrated that Elliott was in error, and that pelagic sealing is the
cause of the sudden and rapid destruction of the American fur seal.
In his overan xiety to prove his theory he persistently continues to
reiterate the story of a time when no drives were made from a number
of places on St. Paul 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, Zapadnie, and all
English Bay to the westward of Neahrpahskie Kammeu, from Polavina, or anywhere
between it and the hauling grounds of Lukannon, then there were reservoirs of
See letter of Secretary of the Treasury, Appendix.
100 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS.
young male life which were not drawn upon or disturbed, from which a steady
stream of new male blood for the breeding grounds could and did now. (Elliott's
report (Paris print), 1890, p. 237.)
Again, he says:
Nobody, in 1872, ever thought of such a thing as coming over from the village to
make a killing at Zapadnie. (Ibid., p. 246.)
He continues :
I had this point in my thought during my studies in 1872-1874, but at that time no
holluschickie were driven from Southwest "Point, from Zapadnie, from Tonkee Mees
or Stony Point, or from Polavinia — no seals were driven from these places where
everybody admitted that full half of jthe entire number belonging to the islands,
laid. (Ibid., 271.)
Then that immense spread of hauling ground covered by swarms of young male
seals, at Zapaduie, at Southwest Point, at English Bay, beyond Middle Hill, west,
at Polavinia, and over all that 8 long miles of beach and upland hauling ground
between Lukanuon Bay and Webster's house at Novastoshuah, all of this extensive
sealing area was not visited by sealing gangs, or spoken of by them as necessary to
be driven from. (Elliott's letter to the Secretary of the Treasury, report of 1890,
p. iv.)
In 18J2-1874 I observed that all the young male seals needed for the annual quota
of 75,000 or 90,000, as it was ordered in the latter year, were easily obtained every
season, between the 1st of .1 une and the 20th of J uly following, from the hauling grounds
of Tolstoi, Lukannon, and Zoltoi Sands — from these hauling grounds adjacent to the
rookeries or breeding grounds of Tolstoi, Lukaunon, Reef, and Garbotch. All of these
points of supply being not more than 1| miles distant from the St. Paul village kill-
ing grounds, the Zoltoi drive being less than 600 feet away. (Ibid.)
Therefore, when attentively studying in 1872-1874, the subject of what was the
effect of killing annually 100,000 young male seals on these islands (90,000 on St.
Paul and 10,000 on St. George), in view of the foregoing statement of fact, I was
unable to see how any harm was being done to the regular supply of fresh blood for
the breeding rookeries, since those large reservoirs of surplus male life, above named,
held at least just half of the young male seal life then belonging to the islands —
these large sources of supply were never driven from, never even visited by the
sealers, and out of their overwhelming abundance; I thought that surely enough
fresh male seal life must, did annually mature for service on the breeding rookeries.
(Ibid.)
That day in 1879, when it became necessary to send a sealing gang from St. Paul
village over to Zapaduie to regularly drive from that hitherto untouched reserve,
was the day that danger first appeared in tangible form since 1870— since 1857 for
that matter. (Ibid.)
For the good of the public service the truth must be told; and that
is that the official records of the drives and killings on the islands of
St. Paul and St. George are in direct opposition to Mr. Elliott. They
show that, beginning in 1871, there are no records of the daily killings
for 1870 — drives were made regularly from every hauling ground on the
islands: and a close inspection will reveal the fact that an aggregate of
102 drives were made, before 1879, from Zapadnie or Southwest Bay,
Polavinia or Halfway Point, and from English Bay, during the very
period of which Mr. Elliott speaks when he tells us "they were never
driven from, never even visited by the sealers."
For convenience of reference I quote from the official island records
the daily drives and killings made between 1870 and 1871) from the three
principal rookeries of which Mr. Elliott speaks so positively; and 1
think it will be sufficient to show every fair-minded man in the country
that the large reservoir of "surplus male life" so often spoken of by
Mr. Elliott was unknown to everyone else on the seal islands, and never
had an existence outside his own fertile imagination.
SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 101
Here are the drives made each year from 1871 to 1878, both inclusive,
from the rookeries in question :
Year.
Zapadnie. , Polavina,
or or English ,r .„,
Southwest Halfwax Bay.
Bay. Point.
1871
•J
1
5 . .
1 6
1 11
. .. 7
9
13
12
15
18
11
12
12
1873 . .
1874
5
10
1875
7
1
4
4
1 10
1 4
3 5
5
1876 . .
U77
1878
Total
M.
10 58
102
(See Senate Ex. Doc. No. 107, Fifty-second Congress, second session, Appendix.)
In an attempt to show that it was not until 1879 that drives were
made from certain rookeries whicli he is pleased to call a "large reser-
voir of male life," which had not been disturbed or touched before 1879,
Mr. Elliott quotes the Island Journal as follows:
Page 92, June 9, 1879: Antone Melovedov started \vith a gang to make a drive at
Halfway Point, Polaviua. (Elliott's report (Paris print), 158.;
Page 9:i. .June 10,1879: The drive to-day (at Polaviua) resulted in the taking of
1,118 skins. (H.G.Otis.) (Ibid., 159.)
Page 93, June 11, 1879: The drive from Southwest Bay (Zapadnie) to-day, and
1,462 skins taken. (H. G. Otis.) (Ibid., 159.)
There is not a word in the foregoing, nor is there a word in the
journal, to show that the drives mentioned were the first that were
made from those rookeries, but Mr. Elliott is determined to show that
overdriving is the principal cause of the destruction of the seals, and
he continues:
From this day (June 11, 1879) on to the close of that sealing season's work, July
20, Zapadnie was driven often, and Polavina also; but in 1880 only one drive was
made from this reservoir at Zapadnie, * * and, again in 1881, it was not driven
from at all, and only one drive that year made from the Polavina reserve. (Elliott's
report for 1890, p. 159.)
Here the gentleman is again in error, for I find that drives were made
from Zapadnie or Southwest Bay on May 19 and June 7, 1879, only a few
days before he discovered that the first drive had been made on the 9th
of June.
And in 1880 four drives were made from Zapadnie and five from
Polavina, and in 1881 six drives were made from Zapadnie and five
from Polaviua, as the following table, taken from the island records,
will show :
Zapadnie or Southwest Hay: Polavina or Halfway Point:
J880. Driret. 1880. Drives.
May 14 1; Junel4 1
JuneS 1 21 1
12 1 28 1
Hi 1 July 5 1
' 30 1
Total 4
Total 5
1881. =
June 7 1 1881.
15 1 June 10 1
28 1 j 17 1
July 6 1 24 1
14 1 July 2 1
Dec. 7 1 8 1
Total 6, Total 5
(See Senate Ex. Doc. No. 107, Fifty-second Congress, second session, Appendix.)
102 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS.
Many inaccuracies are to be found in Mr. Elliott's report of 1890, due,
perhaps, to the hurried manner in which it was prepared, and the
bitterness, excitement, and many disappointments attending it all the
way through; nearly all of which were of a private character, and
which can not well be made public, even had I a desire to do so, which
I have not by any means. One instance more and I am done.
In his " Held notes" on the state of the rookeries in 1890, Mr. Elliott
writes :
June 19. — Not a single holluschak of aiiy age whatsoever on Zoltoi Sands this day,
and there has not been a killable seal thus far there this season. (Elliott's report
1890 (Paris print), pp. 263-264.)
June 22. — Fine weather for seals to haul in continues, but the seals do not haul;
not a single seal on Zoltoi Sands this morning; has not been a holluschak there vet.
(Ibid., p! 264.)
June 22. — Now, not a single young male seal has hauled on Zoltoi thus far this sea-
son. (June 22, 6 a. m.) (Ibid., p. 265.)
June 22. — Not a seal on Zoltoi Sands this morning, and not one since during the
day. (Ibid., p. 266.)
June 22.— Not a holluschak or any other class of fur seal on Zoltoi Sands this morn-
ing or noon. (Ibid., p. 274.)
June 30.— Not a holluschak on Zoltoi Sands to-day. (Ibid., p. 276.)
July 8. — Also, not a holluschak has as yet hauled upon Zoltoi Sands. (Ibid.,
p. 284.)
July 19.— I observe that not a single young male is on Zoltoi Sands thi.s morning—
not one has hauled there thus far this season. (Ibid., p. 295.)
The official records of the drives and killings made on the seal islands
in 1890 are on file in the Treasury Department, and a copy will be found
in the appendix to this report. I quote from the records the following
drives from Zoltoi in 1S90: "May 24, 1 drive; July 19, 1 drive."
According to Mr. Elliott there was not a seal on Zoltoi on the 19th of
July; according to the island records a drive was made from Zoltoi on
that very same day.
Another error of like importance are the two passages in the same
report which read as follows:
The importance of understanding this fact as to the readiness of the holluschickie
to haul promptly out on steadily " swept '•' ground, provided the weather is inviting,
is very great, because when not understood, it was deemed necessary, even as late as
the season of 1872, to -'rest'' the hauling grounds near the village (from which all
the driving has been made since), and make trips to far away Polavina and distant
Xapadnie. an unnecessary expenditure of human time and a causeless infliction of
physical misery upon phocine backs and flippers. (Elliott's report, 1890, p. 122.)
Nobody in 1872 ever thought of such a thing as coming over from the village to
make a killing at Zapaduie. (Ibid., p. 246.)
At page 122 Mr. Elliott remembered and acknowledged that drives
were made in 1872 from Zapadnie and Polavina, and the records con-
firm his story.
He might have included 1871, for the records show drives were made
from both places in that year also.
At page 246 he seems to have forgotten some of what he had already
written, for he gravely tells us: u Nobody in 1872 ever thought of such
a thing as coming over 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 questions so momentous that it requires international arbi-
tration to settle them: and that the report of one overzealous officer
and the official report of another, made in anger and bitterness, have
cost the United States a whole fur-seal herd, worth, originally, nearly
$100,000,000.
Ho numerous and so palpable were the inaccuracies all through the
SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 103
report that Mr. Foster, the then Secretary of the Treasury, refused to
have it published, and subsequently, in a letter to the State Depart-
ment, gave good reasons for such action.1
That the theory of injury of the young males to the extent of inipo-
tency by driving on the islands, so forcibly presented by Mr. Elliott,
has been denied by naturalists generally and disproved by facts
adduced by both the scientific and the practical world, has already
been amply demonstrated; that Mr. Elliott himself, in several very
able papers subsequently written, has adopted the views of every
scientist of note, from our own American, Dr. Merriam, to Prof. T. H.
Huxley, is satisfactory evidence, I think, that the bitter contention is
practically ended, and the claim of the United States, that pelagic
sealing is the cause of the decrease of the seal herd, is generally
acknowledged.
PELAGIC SEALING AND DIPLOMACY.
When the actual condition of the seal herd became known in 1890-91,
and the ravages of the pelagic sealer could no longer be hidden, it was
suggested that arbitration be tried for a final adjustment of all differ-
ences between the United States and the pelagic sealer. The seals
being born and reared on United States territory, and never landing
anywhere else, it was naturally supposed they were the property of the
United States, and until their skins became commercially and exceed-
ingly valuable no one questioned our absolute ownership of the herd.
So sure were we of our unquestioned title to the seals that, on taking
possession of our newly acquired Territory of Alaska, Congress enacted
laws for the protection of Alaskan interests and particularly for the
protection of all " fur-bearing animals." A few sections of the statute
law, in the light of subsequent events, are interesting:
SKC. I960. It shall be unlawful to kill any fur seal upon the islands of St. Paul
and St. (ieorge, or in the waters adjacent thereto, except during the months of June,
July, September, and October in each year; and it shall be unlawful to kill such
seals at any time by the use of firearms or by other means tending to drive the seals
away fronrthose islands; but the natives of the islands shall have the privilege of
killing such young seals as may be necessary for their own food and clothing during
other months, ami also such old seals as may be required for their own clothing and
for the manufacture of boats for their own use; and the killing in such cases shall
be limited and controlled by such regulations as may be prescribed by the Secretary
of the Treasury.
SEC. 1961. It shall be unlawful to kill any female seal, or any seal less than one
year old, at any season of the year, except as above provided; and it shall also be
unlawful to kill any seal in the waters adjacent to the islands of St. Paul and St.
George, or on the beaches, cliffs, 01 rocks where they haul up from the sea to remain;
and every person who violates the provisions of this or the preceding section shall
be punished for each offence by a fine of not less than two hundred dollars nor more
than one thousand dollars, or by imprisonment not more than six months, or by
both such h'ne and imprisonment; and all vessels, their tackle, apparel, and furni-
ture, whose crews are found engaged in the violation of either this or the preceding
section, shall be forfeited to the United States.
SK< •. li'62. For the period of twenty years from the first of July, eighteen hun-
dred and seventy, the number of fur seals which may be killed for their skins upon
the island of St. Paul is limited to seventy-five thousand per annum; and the num-
ber of fur seals which may be killed for their skins upon the island of St. George is
limited to twenty-five thousand per annum ; but the Secretary of the Treasury may
limit the right of killing if it becomes necessary for the preservation of such seals,
with such proportionate reduction of the rents reserved to the Government as may
be proper; and every person who knowingly violates either of the provisions of this
section shall be punished as provided in the preceding section.
SEC. 1967. Every person who kills any fur seal on either of those islands, or in the
•waters adjacent thereto, without authority of the lessees thereof, and every person
1 See letter in Appendix.
104 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS.
who molests, disturbs, or interferes with the lessees, or either of them, or their
agents, or employees, in the lawful prosecution of their business, under the provi-
sions of this chapter, shall for each offence be punished as prescribed in section nine-
teen hundred and sixty one, and all vessels, their tackle, apparel, appurtenances,
and cargo, whose crews are found engaged in any violation of the provisions of sec-
tion nineteen hundred and sixty-live to nineteen hundred and sixty -eight, inclusive,
shall be forfeited to the United States.
SEC. 1968. If any person or company, under any lease herein authori/ed, know-
ingly kills, or permits to be killed, any number of seals exceeding the number for
each island in this chapter prescribed, such person or company shall, in addition to
the penalties and forfeitures herein provided, forfeit the whole number of the skins
of seals killed in that year, or, in case the same have been disposed of, then such
person or company shall forfeit the value of the same.
Thus for a quarter of a century did tbe United States throw every
possible safeguard of law around the seals and other fur-bearing ani-
mals of Alaska, which, under the fostering care of the Government,
and the good management of the lessees on the seal islands, produced
the grand results of "growth and expansion" in the herd and on the
rookeries, sworn to by so many disinterested witnesses who have had
ocular knowledge of every fact to which they testified, while during
the same period of time the sea otter, which, owing to its pelagic habits,
was necessarily left to the tender mercies of the pelagic hunter, who
knows no law higher or holier than avarice and selfishness, has been
practically exterminated. Laws were enacted from time to time as
occasion required them; regulations in accordance with law were made
annually for the proper enforcement of the statutes and for the better-
ment of the natives of the seal islands and the industry upon which
they depended for a livelihood, and on which millions of civilized people
depended for one of the most beautiful, valuable, and useful furs known
to commerce.
Who else, among the thousands now claiming an interest in the seals,
ever offered to protect them as we have done ?
Where was the pelagic sealer in the days gone by, when the United
States were spending millions of money to protect the seal islands, and
when our statutes of protection to the female seal were being enacted t
Echo answers, u Where?"
Immediately after the treaty of cession, and before we could bring
order out of chaos, the marauder of those days landed on the seal
islands and slaughtered seals indiscriminately, killing a quarter of a
million in one season, and only stopping the ruinous work when the
salt was exhausted.
Afterwards the United States statutes were enforced by Government
agents sent to the islands for the purpose, and, until 3884, the seals
increased in numbers and in value under the fostering care of the
Government.
For a period of thirteen years, from 1.871 to 18S4, inclusive, we had
taken 100,000 male seals annually without a sign of decrease or diminu-
tion on the rookeries or the slightest injury to the herd, but, on the
contrary, a well-known and generally acknowledged growth and expan-
sion.
Dr. H. H. Mclntyre, general superintendent for the Alaska Commer-
cial Company at the seal islands during the entire term of their twenty
years lease, when writing confidentially to his company in 1889, says:
The breeding rookeries from the beginning of the lease to 1882 or 1883 were, I
believe, constantly increasing in area and population, 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 Treas-
ury agent, J. M. Morton, who was on the islands from 1870 to 1880. (See letter in
Appendix.)
SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. ^ 105
In 1.SS4 an increased fleet of pelagic sealers appear upon the scene,
and with vessels specially designed and fully equipped for the workr
they follow the seals from year's end to year's end, shooting, spearing,
and ripping up all they overtake, without a thought or care for age,
sex, or condition; and immediately the rookeries show signs of diminu-
tion to those who, like Morgan and Webster, had the experience and
the opportunity to observe it.
Dr. Mclntyre, in the letter already quoted, continues:
The contrast between the present condition of seal life and that of the first dec-
ade of the lease is so marked that the most inexpert can not fail to notice it. Just
when the change commenced I am unable from personal observation to say, for, aa-
you will remember. I was in ill health, and unable to visit the islands in 1883, 1884,
and iss.~>. 1 left the rookeries in 1882 in their fullest and best condition, and found
them in lSS(i siln-ady showing a slight falling off, and experienced that year for the
first time some difficulty in securing just the class of animals in every case that we
desired. * • » 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 last few years in the waters of the North Pacific and Bering Sea.
We are in no way responsible for it. During the first thirteen years of the lease
comparatively few seals were killed by marauders, and we were then able,
under our careful management, to produce a decided expansion of the breeding
rookeries.
Dr. Mclutyre's letter was written in 1889, when the effects of pelagic
sealing tirst 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 charge, from pelagic sealers and their apologists, that the
Americans had destroyed the seals by overdriving on land.
The absurdity and the injustice of this idle charge have been shown
in many ways during the discussion of the seal question, but it is reit-
erated again and again by those who have established what they are
pleased to call an "industry," the chief corner stone of which is the
killing of the female seals at sea — of seals about to become mothers,
from whose suddenly ripped bellies the unborn young are cut, or torn
out alive and thrown into the ocean — of mothers whose young have
been left upon the rookeries during their absence on the feeding grounds,
left to die of slow starvation where, as Captain Coulson truly says,
uthe shores are lined with emaciated, hungry little fellows, with their
eyes turned toward the sea, uttering plaintive cries for their mothers,
which were destined never to return."
And. hard as it may seem, and difficult to believe though it may be,
it was with this same pelagic sealer, or for his sake at least, we were
asked to arbitrate the question of our exclusive right of property in
the seal herd, and of our right to protect them outside 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 influence to the scheme for
arbitration, and, after his return from the seal islands in 1890, we find
him addressing Mr. Elaine, who was then Secretary of State, as follows:
Let me again, just before I leave, earnestly urge that you do not hesitate to invite
an English commission to meet us, and jointly visit and view the Pribilof seal rook-
eries next summer at the height of the breeding season in .July. That wreck and
ruin thereon, which I saw last summer, will be there, and still more pronounced
on the same ground next year (1891); it will not fail to arouse the interest and sym-
pathy of the British agents, and the sight of these dwindling herds will be a most
eloquent and satisfactory proof of the correctness of your position taken in your
leading letter of .January 22, 1890, and upon the truth of which your whole argument
in the Bering Sea question rests. It is not quite fair to ask John Bull to believe me
now, but I assure you that if he gets up there he will soon see enough to
make him respect me, and be our sworn friend in cooperating to save the fur seal
from impending extermination. Indeed, he should be allowed to see for himself now;
it is only manly and fair in us to allow him to do so under the circumstances.
(Elliott to Hlaine, December 19, 1890.)
106 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS.
•
The English commission was invited as suggested by Mr. Elliott; the
commissioners arrived at the seal islands in the latter part of July, 1891 ;
they visited the rookeries and saAv 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. The commissioners
found acres of ground covered with dead pup seals as thick as they
could lie — u emaciated little fellows" — whose mothers had gone out to
the feeding banks, and were captured by the pelagic sealers.
Whether the visit induced them to believe or respect Mr. Elliott
remains to be seen, but it certainly did not u arouse their interest or
sympathy" for the seals, or for the nation that claimed the right to pro-
tect them. Xor did it make them "our sworn friends in cooperating to
save the fur seal from impending extermination."
On the contrary, though, they adopted Mr. Elliott's own exploded
theories of overdriving, impotency, dearth of bulls, lack of young male
blood, redriving, scraping the rookeries, stampeding, and added two or
three more of their 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 8ea commissioners:
(H) SPECIFIC SCHEME OF REGULATIONS RKCOMMENDEH.
155. In view of the actual condition of seal life as it presents itself to us at the
present time, we believe that the requisite degree of protection would be afforded by
the application of the following specific limitations at shore and at sea:
(a) The maximum number of seals to be taken on the Fribilof Islands to be fixed
at 50,000.
(&) A zone of protected waters to be established, extending to a distance of 20
nautical miles from the islands.
(c) A close season to be provided, extending from the 15th of September to the 1st
of May in each year, during which all killing of seals shall be prohibited, with the
additional provision that no sealing vessel shall enter Bering Sea before the 1st of
July in each year.
156. Respecting the compensatory feature of such specific regulations, it is believed
that a just scale of equivalency as between shore and sea sealing would be found,
and a complete check established against any undue diminution of seals, by adopting
the following as a unit of compensatory regulation:
For each decrease of 10,000 in the number h'xed for killing on the islands, an
increase of 10 nautical miles to be given to the width of protected waters about the
islands. The minimum number to be fixed for killing on the islands to be 10,000,
corresponding to a maximum width of protected waters of 60 nautical miles.
157. The above regulations represent measures at sea and ashore sufficiently equiv-
alent for all practical purposes, and probably embody or provide for regulations as
applied to sealing on the high seas as stringent as would be admitted by any mari-
time power, whether directly or only potentially interested.
158. As an alternative method of effecting a compensatory adjustment of the strin-
gency of measures of protection, it is possible that some advantages might be found
in the adoption 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 the breeding islands, the length of the sealing season at sea might be
curtailed by seven days, such curtailment to be applied either to the opening or clos-
ing time of the sealing season.
159. It may be objected to the principle involved in any correlative regulation of
shore and sea sealing that it would be impossible in any particular year to make
known the number fixed for killing on the islands in time to secure a corresponding
regulation of pelagic sealing. As a matter of fact, however, if the condition of the
breeding rookeries called for any change, it should be possible to fix this number
with sufficient precision a year in advance, while, on the other hand, the general
effect would be almost equally advantageous 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.
>KAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 107
. While a /.one of protection has been spoken of as the best, method of safely
guarding the vicinity of the breeding islands, it is to lie borne in mind that such an
ar«-a mi.ulit be defined for pract ieal pin-poses ;is a rectangular area bounded by certain
lines of latitude and longitude, liven in dense fog, and therefore comparatively
calm weather, an arrested vessel could be anchored with a ked.ive and warp until the
weather cleared, according to frequent custom. The special advantages of a concen-
tric /one appear to he that it is more directly in conformity with the object in view,
and that in line weather the visibility or otherwise of the islands themselves might
serve as a rough guide to sealers.
Hil. The restriction of the number of seals killed on the breeding islands, appro-
priate safeguards being provided, admits of very considerable precision and requires
no special explanation. That the restriction of the number taken at sea may be
accomplished practically and with all necessary certainty, and that the means of con-
trol available in the case of this branch of the sealing industry are sufficient, is
clearly shown by the successful application of measures such as these here proposed,
to the .ian-Mayen and Newfoundland hair-seal fisheries, as well as of those based on
like principles, which are generally employed in protecting fish and game.
((') MKTIIODS or GIVIXH Hi FKCT TO REGULATIONS.
UJ2. The means suited to secure the practical efficiency of regulations at sea are
generally indicated by those adopted in the instances just cited. It is unnecessary
to formulate these here in full detail, but the following suggestions are offered as
pointing out those methods likely to prove most useful in the particular case under
consideration :
(1) {Statutory provisions should be made, declaring it unlawful to hunt or take
fur seal during the close season by subjects or vessels of the respective powers.
(2) The time of commencement of the sealing season should be further regulated
by the date of issuance of special customs clearances and of licenses for sealing, and
preferably by the issuance of such clearances or licenses from certain specified ports
only.
(3) As elsewhere explained, the regulation of the time of opening of the sealing
Reason is the most important, and the closing of the season is practically brought
about by the 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 Jan-Mayen convention.
(4) The liability for breach of regulations, of whatever kind, should bo made to
apply to the owner, to the master, or person in charge of any vessel, and to the hunt-
ers engaged on the vessel.
(5) The penalty imposed should be a fine (of which one half should go to the
informant), with possibly, in aggravated cases or second offenses, the forfeiture of
the catch and of the vessel itself.
(6) To facilitate the supervision of the seal fishery and the execution of the regu-
lations, all sealers might, in addition, be required to tly a distinctive rlag, which
might well be identical with or some color modification of that already adopted for
the same purpose by the Japanese Government.
(D) ALTKRXATIVK METHODS OF REGULATION.
1(>3. Although the general scheme of measures above described appears to us, all
things considered, to be the most appropriate to the actual circumstances, measures
of other kinds have suggested themselves. Some of these, though perhaps less per-
fectly adapted to secure the fullest advantages, recommend themselves from their
very simplicity and the ease with which they might lie applied. Of such alternative
methods of regulations, three may be Specially referred to:
(1) Entire prohihitiun of killing on one of the breeding island*, with suitable concurrent
regulation* at sea.
1K4. The entire reservation and protection of one of the two larger islands of the
Pribilof group, either St. Paul or St. George Island, might be assured; such island
to be maintained as an undisturbed breeding place, upon which no seals shall be
killed for any purpose. On the remaining island the number of seals killed for com-
mercial purposes 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 pur-
pose of insuring the continuance of the seal stock in the common interest, a zone of
protected waters might be established about the Pribilof Islands, and pelagic seal-
ing might be further controlled and restricted by means of a close season, including
the early spring months, or by a protected area to the south of the Aleutian Islands,
defined by parallels of latitude, such provisions at sea to have, as far as possible,
quantivalent relation to those established on the breeding islands.
SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS.
!»;.".. This implies tin- provision of a period of rest or exemption of all seals from
killing, liolh at sea and on shore, to extend o\er a eomjdete year at such recurrent
intervals as may lie defined neeessar\ .
Sueii a period of' rest might he lived in ad\ an* e for everv tifth. or possibly as often
as every fourth year, and he made to forma part of a general scheme imposing
limitation of number of seals killed on the islands in intervening years, together
with restriction by time or h\ area of pelagic sealing.
While proximately equal in effect on hoth shore and sea killing a period of lest of
this kind \\ould. in oilier respects, cans'- some ineonveii iem-e. by its int erru pt ion of
the severa 1 i udiist rh-s. and this, t hou^h minimi/ed liy t iie fart t hat the date of ocenr-
reiiee of the \ear of rest wouhl he k 1 1 o \\ n iii ad van re. would not lie \\ hull \ oh via ted
hv this eil'cumstanee.
lii'i. While the ( -ire must ance that hm^ usa^'e may in a measure he considered as
justifying the custom of killing fur seals on the breeding islands, man\ tacts no\v
known respecting the lite history of the animal itself, with valid inferences drawn
from the results of the disturbance of other animals upon their breeding places, as
well as those made obvious by the new conditions which 'have arisen in consequence
of the development of pelagic sealing, point to the conclusion that the breeding
island> should, if possible, remain undisturbed and inviolate.
lt>7. If this \ iew should he admitted, and particularly if the 1'nited States and
Russia, as the owners of the principal breeding islands of the North 1'acitic, should
agree to cooperate in entirely prohibiting all killing of seals on these islands, and
in guarding and protecting the breeding places upon them, it should be possible to
obtain, in consideration of such care exercised in the common interest, an inter-
national as-cut to measures regulating sea sealing of any required decree of strin-
gency, including certain sp< cm 1 rights of supervision by the powers mentioned.
IfJS. It miu'ht. tor example, under such circumstances, lie provided —
1 That all sealing vessels should be registered, and should take out special
licenses at one oi- oilier of certain specified ports, as. for instance. Victoria. 1'ort
Towiisend. Honolulu. Hakodate, and Vladi vostocU.
('- , Thai such annual clearances or licenses be not issued before a "Jven date i say
1st of May •. and that certain license fees be exacted. Such, license fees to lie col-
lected l>\ the customs authorities of the licensing (ioveri i men t , and to be eventually
transferred, in whole or in parr, proportionately, To the ( Jovernments protecting the
breeding island-, to ^o to\\ard meeting the cost of ibis protection.
:! That no vessel should seal in I'.ering Sea before some lixed date tsa\ 1st of
• Inly.) in each year, and that vessels intending to seal in llerinu Sea should report
either to thelnitcd States or to the Russian aut horii ies on or a ft er 1 hat date at
named ports, such as 1' na la ska or I'etropavlovsk.
< 1' Thai all duly licensed sealing vessels should be required to il\ a distinctive
Man. and that anv unlicensed \cssel found en^'a^ed in scaling should be subject to
cert ain pena It ie.-.
:, That a /one of protected waters should be established about the breeding
islaniU. \\ itli:n wliich no sealing should under any circumstances be j»ennitted.
Hi!'. In the foregoing remarks on the measures a\'ailable for t he protect ion and
jircser\ a 1 iop ot' t he fur sea 1 of the Nort h I'acitic. re I ere nee is made throughout espc-
ciall', tu the eastern par! of thai oec.iii. including nn-re pa rt icii la rl \' the area com-
prised in i he i anuc of t hose fur si>als ol \\ h \<-\\ the summer haunts and breed in u' places
are about or mi the J:rihih>f Islands, and of which the winter home is found espe-
cially off the coast of Uritish Columbia. It is evident. ho\\ever. that the same,
remarks and recommendations appiv enuallv to those fur seals which in summer
cent er a hou t t he ( 'omiiia mb-r Islands and in winter freq iieii I I lie sea^ «>|f the eoasl of
.lapa n .
17". It mav be stated, further, that no svstem of control can be considered as
absulutelv coni]ilcte and effective which does not include under common regulations
all parts of the North I'aeilic, and that the facilitv of execution of measures and
their efficiency would, under any system of regulations, be much im-p-ased by the,
co i MM irrcnt act ion of (Jn-at Britain, the I 'nitc<| St ates, l» ussia. and Japan, as indicated
in the message ot' the I'resjd.eut of the I nitcd Stales in IN*!'. Apart from the fact,
that vessels prevented from sealing at ^iveii dales in certain areas miuht at these
tiims Iretiiieiit other \\ateis in inereased numbers, the circumstance that there is ;i
SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 109
certain though uot fully known interrelation and interchange of seals between the
eastern and western breeding islands of Bering Sea points very clearly to the advis-
ability of such cooperation in protection. (Keport of British Bering Sea Commis-
sioners, p. 25.)
The most casual observer will see at a glance that the commission-
ers7 suggestions are all in favor of the pelagic sealer and his " industry,"
and against the United States and the seals. That the public at large
may see this as 1 see it, I will briefly review a tew of the most prominent
points suggested.
The commissioners say:
The maximum number of seals to be taken on the Pribilof Islands to be fixed 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 of protected waters to be established, extending to ti 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 worthlessness may be understood
so far as the protection and safety of the seals go.
Again, they suggest:
A close season to be provided, extending from the 15th of September to the 1st of
May in each year, during which all killing of seals shall be prohibited, with the
additional provision that no sealing vessel shall' enter Bering Sea before the 1st of
.July in each year.
As the killing season never did open on the islands till June, and
always closed on or before August 10 (excepting the few seals killed
from time to time for natives' food), and as it is from May to October that
protection is absolutely necessary for the preservation of the seal herd;
and as the pelagic sealer hardly ever enters Bering Sea before July it
is difficult to see how the "suggestion" could benefit 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 specific regulations, it is believed
that a just scale of equivalency as between shore and sea sealing would be found,
and a complete check established against any undue diminution of seals, by adopt-
ing the following as a unit of compensatory regulation: For each decrease of 10,000
in the number fixed for killing on the islands, an increase of 10 nautical miles to be
given to the width of protected waters about the islands. The minimum number to
be fixed for killing on the islands to be 10,000, corresponding to a maximum width
of protected waters of 60 nautical miles. ,
Here they make the pelagic sealer the senior partner in the fur-seal
"industry," and the repressive part of the " suggestion" is intended
for the United States only.
The situation at 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 approach the breeding islands nearer than 20 nautical miles.
Then for every additional 10 miles we would remove the pelagic sealer
we must reduce our catch on shore by 10,000, so that by the time he is
60 miles away our maximum catch is to be 10,000.
The first thought that suggests itself here is, What would happen
were we to ask him for a protected zone of 70 miles from the seal
110 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIB1LOF ISLANDS.
islands.' Logically, we would have to stop killing on the islands alto-
gether and turn them into breeding grounds for the use of a class of
sportsmen 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"* suggested by
the commissioners we find that they, too, were possessed of the same
thought, for they •' suggest :r
Entile prohibition of killing on one of the breeding islands, with suitable con-
current regulations at sea. The entire reservation and protection of one of the two
larger islands of the 1'ribilof group, either >t. 1'aul or St. !>, p. 109.)
And yet the gentlemen who say so are the same men who have
"suggested" the "total prohibition of killing on the breeding islands'7
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 the
Pribilof Islands, the date at which 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
attributa hie —
(a) To a migration of the seals to other rookeries.
(h) 'I o the method of killing pursued on the islands themselves.
(c) To the increase of sealing upon the high seas, and the manner in which it i»
pursued.
SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. Ill
And then they were admonished as follows:
I need scarcely remind you that, your invrstigai ion should be carried on with strict
impartiality, that you should neglect no sources of information which may he likely
to assist you in arriving at a sound conclusion, and that great care should he taken,
to sift the evidence that is brought before you.
It is equally to the interest of all the (Governments concerned in the sealing industry
that it should be protected from all serious risk of extinction in consequence of the
use of wasteful and injudicious methods. (British Bering Sea Commissioners' report,,
p. 2.)
To which they replied as follows:
To the (Jut'en'* M please Your Majesty, we, Your Majesty's commissioners, appointed to under-
take an inquiry ihto the condition of seal life and the precautions necessary for pre-
venting the extermination of the fur-seal species in Bering Sea and other parts of
the North Pacific Ocean, beg to submit the following report.
Wherefore, in carrying out the terms of our commission, it has been our object to
acquire and record the most complete information available, in order to promote, in
the true interests of all concerned an equitable, impartial, and mutually satisfac-
tory adjustment of the questions at issue. ( British Bering Sea ( 'ommissiouers' leport,
p. 30
When Mr. Elliott was urging the appointment of a joint commission,
as the remedy for all our troubles on the seal islands, he addressed the
Secretary of State as follows:
NOVKMBKK 22, 1890.
MY DKAR MR. BLAINK: We must take some of the best British repre-
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.
I believe that subsequent events have shown him that his faith was
misplaced, to say the least, unless we can fully appreciate the kindness
with which they propose to prohibit all killing on the islands and assume
the whole burden themselves.
Had they suggested the prohibition of all pelagic sealing and an even
division between the nations interested of the burdens, expenses, and
proceeds resulting from a strict and constant protection of the breeding
islands there would be some semblance of justice and right as well as a
desire to perpetuate the seals indefinitely; but the suggestion that the
United States shall be forbidden TO kill seals ashore and that the islands
must be turned into breeding grounds for the sake of the pelagic sealer
is so repugnant to common sense and decency that were not the com-
missioners' report at my hand I should not believe they could have been
guilty of making such a suggestion under any circumstances, but
especially under the plea of protecting and perpetuating the fur seals.
Had they attempted to prove the wastefulness of present methods,
or had they quoted the testimony of one honest and disinterested per-
son to show that American management of the seals on the islands had
ever been inimical to their increase and improvement, there would be
some excuse for the suggestions offered, but it was beyond their power
to produce testimony of that sort.
Therefore, I deem the remarks of the American counsel at Paris on
this point as most just and opportune, and as they express my own views
much better than my own feeble w^ords can possibly do it I quote them
as follows :
We are reluctant to make 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 commissioners have chosen to disregard the plain dictates of reason
and natural laws which they were bound to accept, and to recommend some cheap
devices in their place, when they so clearly perceived those dictates? We are not
permitted to think that this was in conscious violation of duty, if any other explana-
SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS.
tion is possible. The only apology we can find comes from the fact, clearly appar-
ent upon nearly every page of their report, that the predominating interest which
they conceived themselves bound to regard was not the preservation of the seals,
but the protection of the Canadian sealers. This explanation at once accounts for
all their extraordinary recommendations, and all their varying inconsistencies.
Hence, every degree of restraint upon pelagic sealing is reluctantly conceded, and
yielded only when it is compensated for, and more than compensated for, by an
added restriction of the supply furnished to the market from the breeding islands.
As the work of the pelagic sealers is ou the one hand restricted in time or place, and
thus discouraged, it is on the other stimulated by the certainty of a better market
and a richer reward. So persistently and exclusively have they kept this policy
before them as their main object, that an ideal has been formed in their minds which
they openly avow, and to attain which is their constant effort. This ideal is that
all taking of seals on land should be prohibited, and pelagic sealing be made the
only lawful mode of capture.
They thus express themselves: "It has been pointed out. and we believe it to be
probable, that if alJ killing of seals were prohibited on fche breeding islands, and
these were strictly protected and safe-guarded against encroachment of any kind,
sealing at sea might be indefinitely continued without any notable diminution, in
consequence of the self regulative tendency of this industry."
And suggesting, as the only objection to this policy which occurs to them, that it
might be too much to expect of the United States to thus guard the islands and sup-
port a native population of 300 at its own expense, they continue : "It may be noted,
however, that some such arrangement would offer, perhaps, the best and simplest
solution of the present conflict of interests, for the citizens of the United States
would still have equal rights with all others to take seals at sea, and in consequence
of the proximity of their territory to the sealing grounds they would probably
become the principal beneficiaries.7'
And they finally come to the conclusion that any taking of seals at the breeding
places is an error for which there is no defense except 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 as
justifying the custom of killing fur seals on the breeding islands, many facts now
known respecting the life history of the animal itself, with valid inferences drawn
from the results of the disturbance of other animals upon their breeding places, as
well as those made obvious bjT the new conditions which have arisen in consequence
of the development of pelagic sealing, point to the conclusion that the breeding
islands should, if possible, remain undisturbed and inviolate."
These references to the opinions expressed in the report of the commissioners of
Great Britain, when taken together with the scheme recommended by them, leave
no room for doubt that the defense of the Canadian sealers was from first to last,
their predominating motive, and enable us to make for them the apology that they
conceived that this was the duty with which 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. We feel obliged to say that we can perceive
nD other ground upon which their action may be made consistent with 'good faith.
(Argument of the United States, p. 209.)
*##*###
The real conflict between the report of the British commissioners and the case of
the United States seems to be as to the number of cows in a harein. The British
commissioners assert that the number is unduly large of cows served by one bull;
the United States produce credible and experienced 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 admit the diminution in number of female
seals without admitting that decrease to be wholly due to pelagic slaughter. They
are therefore reduced to the necessity of insisting that there is a redundancy of
females and a deficit of males on the islands. They are kind enough to admit, how-
ever, that "the sparing of females in a degree prevented, for the time being, the
actual depletion of seals on the islands" (section 58). It is not probable that any
reasonable person will take issue with them on that point. The intelligence and
legislation of the civilized world, not to speak of humanity iu its broad sense, have
concurred that to spare the female was not the best but the only effective method of
preventing depletion and eventual extermination.
Even if we should concede, for the sake of the argument and in direct disregard
of the fact, that the diminution is due to the smaller number of males, we would
venture to remind this high tribunal, if such a reminder were needed, that the
pirates or poachers who pursue and slaughter the pregnant and nursing females are
killing, by starvation in the one case, by the mother's death in the other, a large
number of males. Even, according to their own showing, the British commissioners
SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 113
must realize that pelagic sealing is responsible, to some extent at least, for the
decrease in the number of males, as well as of females. They may speak of this
" industry," as they term it, and glorify it as requiring all the courage and skill
which caii be brought to bear on it (whatever that may mean). (Section 609.)
They may contrast its ''sportsmanlike" character with the "butchery" committed
on the islands (section HID); but they can not i'aiJ to perceive that the mode of
destruction, which principally deals with gravid females, necessarily strikes at the
very foundation of life, and must eventually extinguish the race, because, as they
mildly state it, it is unduly destructive (section 633).
The pelagic sealer nob only kills or attempts to kill the males that he happens to
meet, but prevents the birth of males to take their place. He often kills three with
one discharge of his ritle, \\/., the mother, the unborn young, and the pup at home;
but he docs it in a "sportsmanlike" manner, and he gives the sleeping animal a " fair
sporting chance for its life." (Section 610.) In many cases he either misses his
object or wounds it and loses it. So that there is by this manly process an utterly
useless waste of life, in many cases a waste more or less appalling as the " sportsman"
is more or less skillful. How destructive in reality this process is proven to be may
be seen from the British commissioners' report under the head of " Proportion of
seaK lost " (p. 101, section 603). It must be a consolation to those disposed to extol
this kind of sport that while nearly "all the pelagic sealers concur in the opinion
that the fur seal is annually becoming 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.7' (British commissioners7 report, section 401.)
That the number of the seals has been diminished in recent years at a cumulative
rate and that such diminution is the consequence of destruction by man is certified 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 necessarily from admitted 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 super-
fluous 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 effectual impregnation 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-
siderations.
(a) Those who, like the British commissioners, propose to allow pelagic sealing to
such an extent as would involve the annual slaughter 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 be restricted (by some means which no one has yet suggested) to
10,000 females. It requires no argument to show that the destruction of even that
number would be rapidly disastrous to the herds.
(fe) 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 far reduce the birth rate as to make it difficult 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 he reached at which so large a draft of males
from a constantly diminishing number of hirths 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 British 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 thai; 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 may 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
S. Doc. 137, pt. 1 8
114 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBtLOF ISLANDS.
in recent years, and that there is therefore no lack of material from which to study
its character and effect even at the present time."
In the zeal of their advocacy on behalf of pelagic sealing and their denunciation
of the methods in use on the islands the commissioners have experienced much and
evident difficulty in framing their theory. If they admitted, in unqualified terms, a
decrease in number, the obvious deduction from the concession would be that the
unlimited slaughter of females must bear the blame and burden of such a result. If,
on the other hand, they should assert that the number actually increased, this would
only be consistent with an approval of the methods in use on the land. Between
this Scylla and this Chary bdis a way of escape must be found, and it was found. The
ingenuity here displayed deserves full notice and acknowledgment. The joint report
contains this statement:
" We find that since the Alaska purchase a marked diminution in the number of
seals on and habitually resorting to the Pribilof Islands has taken place, that it has
been cumulative in effect, and that it is the result of excessive killing by man."
Bearing in mind that the fur seals forming the object of this controversy have no
other home on laud than the Pribilof Islands, and that the British commissioners them-
selves concede that they, for the most part, breed on those islands; bearing in mind,
too, that these gentlemen have not yet discovered any other summer habitat lor the
seals, it would seem that this declaration is equivalent, in its fair sense and meaning,
to a statement that the fur seals that frequent the American coast and the Bering
Sea have suffered a marked decrease.
Perhaps it was so intended by the British, as it was by the United States commis-
sioners; but if so, the former gentlemen have lost sight of their original intention
and have been led to nice distinctions, which we shall now examine.
That the seal, although "essentially pelagic" (section 26), has not yet learned to
breed at sea is not denied, although to the vision of the commissioners the prospect
of such a transformation or evolution is evidently not very remote. We must, in
justice to them, quote one single passage, which admirably illustrates the compla-
cency and self-confidence with which they wrest to their own purposes with unhesi-
tating violence the laws of nature and the mysteries of ulterior evolution. If this
quotation does not give a just idea of the 'imaginative powers of these officials
nothing but a perusal of the whole of their work will do them justice:
"The changes in the habits and mode of life of the seals naturally divide them-
selves into two classes, which may be considered separately. The first and most
direct and palpable of these is that shown in the increased shyness and wariness of
the animal, which, though always pelagic in its nature, has been forced by circum-
stances to shun the land more than before, so that but for the necessity imposed upon
it of seeking the shore at the season of birth of the young it might probably ere
this have become entirely pelagic."
An animal "always pelagic," forced by circumstances to shun the land more than
before, and which would become entirely pelagic 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 difference between animals (now)
always pelagic and those (in the future) entirely pelagic may not readily be under-
stood without explanation not vouchsafed. How can they be always pelagic if they
are obliged to seek the land or perish, and why is it reasonable to talk of the prob-
ability of their becoming something different from what they are when that con-
jecture is based upon nothing but reckless and grotesque assumption? Of course,
this and other specimens of affront to common sense are merely gratuitous andU
pointless vagaries. But the thesis must be sustained, viz, that the seals are not
even amphibious animals; their resort to land is a merely accidental necessity, and
therefore the United States can no more claim a right to or possession in them than
in other "essentially pelagic animals," such as the whale, the codfish, or the turbot.
If anything more were needed to emphasize the absurdity of this defiance of well-
known facts and settled distinctions in the animal world we might still further citej
the British commissioners on the subject of the seal pelage or shedding of hair. It
seems that these pelagic animals were not endowed by nature with the proper skin ;
to perform this function in their native element. Unless they can find a suitable
place out of water they retain the old hair and disregard the laws which would coi 1 1 1 >el
an annual shedding. Lest J1 '
Grebnitsky: "During the'
to afford a suitable protectioi
It is hardly necessary to say that this theory, so gravely and seriously advaiiced,i
that the seal is naturally and essentially a pelagic animal, is utterly unsustaiued byj
evidence, is refuted by the language of the commissioners themselves, and disputed
by elementary writers. It is only necessary to ascertain how naturalists define
pelagic animals and then compare such definition with the known characteristics
and rudimentary elements of seal life (see especially for this the books of Johns Hop-
kins University). Besides, the unanimous and unquestioned testimony of the agents^
SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 115
for the Government and the lessees shows that the fur seals spend at least four
months of the year on the I'rihilof Islands.
Having found, with the American commissioners, a marked diminution in thenum-
ber of seals on and habitually resorting to the Pribilol Islands, the British commis-
sioners proceed to show that the seals are more numerous than ever. They have,
no doubt, demonstrated this to their entire satisfaction on pages 72 and 73 of their
report. Captain Warren they quote as saying that he noticed no diminution in the
number of seals during the twenty years that he had been in that business, and, if
any change at all, an increase (section 403). To the same effect Captain Leary, who
says that in Bering Sea they were more numerous tban he had ever seen them (sec-
tion 103), while Mr. Milne, collector of customs at Victoria, reports, what others
have said to him. that owners and masters do not entertain the slightest idea that
the seals are scarce (section 403). What a tribute this must be to the managemeutof
the Pribiiof Islands if, notwithstanding the conceded destruction of gravid and nurs-
ing females, these statements should be true. ('apt. W. Cox took 1,000 seals in four
days 100 miles to the westward of the Pribilof Islands (section 40.1). He, found the
seals much more plentiful in Bering Sea than he had ever seen them before. It would
have added much to the interest of Captain Cox's statement if he had told us how
many of these seals ga\ e evidence of having left their pups at home.
The British commissioners multiply the evidence to show that the general experi-
ence as stated to them has been that seals were equally or more abundant at sea at
the time of rheir extermination than they had been in former years. It is difficult
to treat this with the respect that a report emanating from gentlemen of character
and high official position should meet. Either the statement in the joint report is
true and the assumption of an increase is untrue, or vice versa. In view of the evi-
dence that these seals have no other home than the 1'ribilof Islands, it is plain,
beyond the necessity of demonstration, that all the seals killed by Captain Cox and
others in the Bering Sea were inhabitants of those islands, and the testimony only
goes to show that the mothers do go out to sea a hundred miles or more, as is sworn
to by the witnesses for the United States, and that it is while they are on the feeding
grounds, or searching abroad for food, that they are captured by the Canadian poach-
ers. If this is not so, then let the commissioners or those advocating their views
tell us where these seals slaughtered by Captain Cox and others found their "sum-
mer habitat."
Any pretense that the seals are decreasing at home— i. e., where they live through
the summer, and breed, and nurse, and shed their hair — and at the same time are
increasing in the sea is simply an absurdity. It would have added much to the value
of the testimony of all these masters if they had not sedulously avoided stating the
sex of the animals that they killed.
There is one, and one explanation only, of this, and that explanation makes the
stories above quoted plausible. The pelagic sealers were engaged in hunting nurs-
ing mothers on the feeding grounds, where those animals are found in large numbers.
The decrease proved, and indeed admitted to exist (see joint report), had not yet
been so great as to be manifest to those sealers who were so fortunate as to fall in
with a number of females either intent upon finding the food necessary to produce a
flow of milk or sleeping on the surface of the water after feeding.
And here we may note another illustration of the thesis and its advocacy. Having
satisfied themselves that pelagic sealing rather operated to increase the supply of
seals they remembered that the killing of young males was objectionable and likely
to result in extermination, and thereupon discovered the fact that " a meeting of
natives was held " at which the aborigines unanimously expressed the opinion that
the seals had diminished and would continue to diminish from year to year (an
opinion, too plain, we think, for argument), but they at once assign the reason, which
is not the killing of many females, but the extraordinary fact that " all the male seals
had been slaughtered without allowing any to come to maturity upon the breeding
grounds." (Section 438.)
Having thus proved that the seals were in a flourishing condition of increase, and
that they were decreasing in an alarming degree, the conclusion is reached that the
decrease is on the land and the increase in the water:
••The general effect of these changes in the habits of the seals is to minimize the
Sliunber to be seen at any one time on the breeding islands, while the average num-
ber to be found at sea, at least proportionately, though perhaps in face of a general
decrease in the number of seals, not absolutely increased." (Section 445 of British
Commissioners' Keport.)
Would it be irrelevant to inquire what was the "summer habitat" of the numer-
ous seals slaughtered by Captain Warren, Captain Leary, and Captain Cox? Were
they not all of the Pribilof family? Did not the commissioners, who quoted Captain
Cox to the effect that he had, no doubt in true sportsmanlike fashion, with a shot-
gun, killed 250 seals a day for four days, know that the enormous majority of these
were nursing mothers whose pups were starving at home? (Argument of the United
States, p. 288.)
116 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS.
PELAGIC SEALING, CLOSE SEASON, ETC.
That many honest and patriotic men have differed in their opinions
about the true cause of the destruction and threatened total extinction
of the Alaskan fur seal is not to be denied ; for, unfortunately, the rival
interests have been so many and so diverse, and the seal islands are so
far beyond the reach and ken of the public, that it has been very diffi-
cult to get at the plain truth of the matter as it really exists. Above
all the theories advanced, however, there are two facts which are most
intimately connected with the discussion, which never should be lost
sight of if we would understand the matter thoroughly.
First. That from 1835, when the Russians first prohibited the further
killing of the female seals, to 1884, when the pelagic sealers became
numerous and powerful, the seal herds grew and flourished and the
rookeries expanded notwithstanding long drives and other barbarous
methods continued until the United States purchased Alaska; and that
from 1868 to 1886 an average annual killing of 100,000 young males was
made before a sign of decrease or diminution appeared on the islands.
Second. In spite of all that has been said and reiterated against the
lessees' management 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 from 1868
to 1884, or until the pelagic sealers appeared in force in Bering Sea.
These are facts that have been proved beyond the possibility of a
doubt, and although interested or meddlesome parties may and often
do make wild charges 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 purpose of bringing odium
on the seal questionN^hen facts are lacking, but the truth is that, despite
all the wicked and idle insinuations thrown out in that way, the leasing
of the seal islands to a responsible company was the best as well as the
most prudent thing the Government could have 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 up by the wise management of the lessees.
As an answer to the fault-finder who proclaims the destruction of the
seals through the mismanagement of a monopoly, I 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 all that were killed.
[Senate Ex. Doc. No. 107, Fifty-second Congress, second session, appendix.]
Total number of seals killed for their skins by the lessees from 1870 to 1889, both inclusive.
S Paul 1,463,907
St. George 318,120
Total 1,782,027
Total number of skins rejected from same.
St. Paul 2,480
St. George 628
Total 3,108
SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIHILOF ISLANDS. 117
In other words, for every 1,000 seals killed by the lessees, during
their twenty years' lease, there was a loss of If skins.
As these figures were compiled by me, originally, from the books
kept on both of the seal islands, I know they can not be denied or suc-
cessfully contradicted, and I respectfully submit them, and the lesson
they teach, to the most careful consideration of the Department.
Lest some critic may say I have not quoted all the figures, let me add
right here that I am speaking of the large young males which were
actually killed for their skins to make up the lessees, annual quota, and
of those only.
That the natives killed, for food, 99,684 young male seals during the
same twenty years (in addition to pups), and that 27,G90 of the skins
were rejected, is true; but the lessees are notblamable for that, for they
had nothing whatever to do with it, and consequently I have counted
only the skins of the seals killed during the regular sealing season and
before the seals became " stagy."
Most of the seals killed for natives7 food were taken during the
"stagy" season, hence the rejection of so many of the skins.
This is why 1 have repeatedly advised in this and former reports
that no killing for any purpose should be permitted during the u stagy"
season.
The management 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 figures show far more
eloquently and conclusively than words of mine could that that must
of necessity be a well managed business which can make such a show-
in ,u at the end of twenty years.
Only 7 rejected skins out of every 4,000 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, ancj/that bad manage-
ment, corruption, and dishonesty reigned supreme on the seal islands.
In another part of this report I have given a table showing the num-
ber of seal skins actually recorded as sold as a result of pelagic sealing
from 1808 to 1894, both inclusive, which shows the gradual increase of
the catch from year to year as the sealing fleet increased in numbers
and efficiency, until the 4,367 skins taken in 1868 have grown into
121,143 in 1894.
To further illustrate the growth of pelagic sealing and the havoc it
has wrought on the seal herd I will now insert another table comparing
the numbers taken on the Pribilof Islands with those taken on the open
sea from 1890 to 1894, both inclusive.
Tear.
Official.
Pribilof Is-
lands.
Official, pe-
lagic catch,
as entered in
United States
and Victoria
(British Co-
lumbia) cus-
tom-houses.
A s corrected
by trade
sale's, adding
skins shipped
via Suez
Canal.
1890...
20 995
1891
13 482
6() 788
a7K ,MI()
1892
7' "i40
1893
7 500
7X 08T
KtQ fififl
1894
16 031
121 143
149 DO/)
Total
65 557
•JQI OOO
4.71 fifift
1
a Estimated.
118 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS.
Those taken on the islands, it is hardly necessary to say, were young
males — the surplus males of the herd, those taken at sea were taken
indiscriminately, without regard to sex, and were mostly gravid females
or nursing mothers whose young perished too.
The official figures for the PribiloC Islands catch are taken from the
Treasury agents' annual reports on tile in the Department. The official
figures of the pelagic catch are based on the reports of the collectors of
customs at San Francisco, Astoria, Port Townsend, and other ports
in the United States, and at Victoria, British Columbia, and, for some
of the years, from the London trade sales of pelagic skins.
There is every reason to believe that the real number of pelagic skins
taken during the five years last named aggregate 500,000, and if we
consider the loss sustained by the wounding and sinking of seals that
are never secured, the numbers would run up to three-quarters of a
million destroyed, lost to the United States, in live years.
But let us take only what are given officially as entered in United
States and Victoria (British Columbia) custom houses, 394,222, and
allow that only 50 per cent of them were females, or, say, 200,000
mothers, one-half of whose pups were "cutout alive" and thrown over-
board at sea, and the other half of whose pups starved to death on the
rookeries, then the account would run thus:
Male seals killed 194, 222
Gravid females 100, 000
Pups " cut out of same " 100, 000
Mothers iu milk 100, 000
Pups starved on rookeries 100, 000
Total 594, 222
But coming back once more to the bare official figures as given by
the collectors of customs, what do they teach us?
They show on their face that the pelagic sealers are reaping the
wealth of the seal herd while the United States are paying all the
expenses; that during the existence of the modus vivendi, when it was
agreed that all parties should cease killing seals until an impartial
inquiry and investigation could be made, the United States lived up to
the agreement, and the pelagic sealer increased his fleet and killed more
seals than he ever killed before.
In 1890, on the discovery of the decrease on the rookeries, we imme-
diately reduced our catch from the regular annual quota of 100,000 to
20,995, but the pelagic sealer continued on his cruise and captured in
the whole North Pacific Ocean and Bering Sea 51,814 skins.
In 1891 our catch amounted to 13,482; the pelagic sealer, in spite of
pledge, promise, law, and two armed fleets, captured nearly 70.000.
In 1892, with the modus vivendi thoroughly understood by our agents
on the islands, we took 7,549 seals to feed the natives of the seal islands
as per agreement with Great Britain, and the pelagic sealer, in defiance
of all law, took 73,394.
In 1893, still abiding by the terms of the modus vivendi, we took
7,500, and the pelagic sealer took 109,000. (These figures include seals
killed OD the Asiatic side of the North Pacific Ocean.)
It was in 1893 the Tribunal of Arbitration met at Paris, and, after
carefully reviewing the whole situation and the questions at issue, a
decision was rendered and regulations suggested for the settlement of
the Bering Sea question and for the protection of the fur seals.
The full text of the award will be found in the Appendix.
With the Tribunal of Arbitration, and the questions of national and
SEAL LIFE ON THE PHIBILOF ISLANDS. 119
international law decided by it, I have nothing to do; but with all that
appertains to the practical side of the seal question and the measures
which should be adopted for the absolute protection of the seals, I have
t<> do, and 1 say. without the least hesitation, that the regulations
adopted lor that express purpose by the Tribunal of Arbitration are a
failure.
That the two great nations directly interested in the questions laid
before the tribunal were honestly anxious to have a definite and mutually
satisfactory settlement is not to be doubted; that the questions at issue
were fully and ably presented by counsel on both sides can not be dis-
puted; that our own representatives were in full possession of all the
facts and testimony, and that they had a thorough knowledge and grasp
of the actual situation is shown by the able manner in which they pre-
sented their case and met the arguments of opposing counsel, and yet
notwithstanding all this, regulations have been made professedly for
the protection 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 Pacific Ocean and
Bering Sea, from shore to shore, of 14U,000 seals, while only 16,031 were
killed on the Pribilof Islands from August, 1893, to August, 1894.
Let it be remembered, too, that out of a total of 95 vessels employed
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 Bering 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 Bering Sea which
they protected in 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 the American
gentlemen in any way connected with it, for they very clearly showed
that extermination would be the result of pelagic sealing in Bering Sea
at any time from May to September, as the following extracts from
argument of American counsel will show:
PELAGIC SEALING.
The British commissioners, in their report (section 132), say the coast catch is made
from February to June, inclusive, five months, while the Bering Sea catch is taken
during .July, August, and part of September, or two mouths and a half.
For each of the 96 vessels engaged in the coast sealing, the average per month is
113, while tin- monthly average for each of the 86 vessels entering Bering Sea is 290.
It is at once apparent that sealing in Bering Sea is over twice as damaging to the
seal herd as sealing in the North I'acilic, and that in three years 8,000 more seals were
taken in Bering Sea than along the coast in half the time by a fleet numbering ten
\ easels less than the coast fleet.
Certain witnesses examined by the Tinted States give sufficient data to show the
time occupied in sealing along the coast and that occupied in Bering Sea, also the
catches made in each place, respectively, and in many instances the distance from the
islands at which seals were Taken. These have all been collated and arranged in
the form of a table, an examination of which will show that they fully corroborate
the statement that pelagic sealing is much more damaging in Bering Sea than in the
North Pacilic. The iirst four witnesses were examined at Victoria. The page refer-
ences are to the Tinted States case. Appendix, Vol.11.
Such data as these appearing in the above table can not be found in the deposi-
tions appearing in the British counter case. It is unfortunate that this important
matter should have been left out of the British testimony.
This testimony further corroborates the statement of the British commissioners
that the Bering Sea is not entered until about the 1st of July.
1'JO SEAL LIFE ON THE PR1BILOF ISLANDS.
( >f tin- pelagic sealers examined l»y tin- I'nittMl States ( Fnited States case. Appendix,
Vol. II. jip. ;!i;>-.~>(>7. inclusive) 7!' jjive testimony as to the time they entered Bering
Sea. < M' this mi n ilier tiS entered the sea a fter .) une L'0 and til entered bet ween ,)niv 1
and . 1 1 1 1 \ 1 ."• .
< )f the ;:ir> depositions taken by < Ireat I'.rilain and printed in the ! Irit ish counter
ease Appendix. \'ol. 11 bin ."• jjive the time of entering Bering Sea. One ot' these
.Miner, p. 1 li! ui ve- the time as "the latter part of .1 une : " '2 i 1 lart iven. p. Ill', and
Fiuuera. p. iL'.V •• earlv in .1 illy : " and the L' others ( i and in, p. 111. and L'at Jens, p.
121 . "July L1!'."
From the testimony stated above, it is e\ ident why (Jreat Britain tailed tocxamine
wit lie-. -e> on this point, since the Bri t i-h commissioners proposed as a rest rict i ve re^-
nlatiitn that Beri n •_: >ea should not be entered beibre the 1st of .1 nly, and t he British
counsel, in present int a t < s and ! irea t Britain. I'll su^ucst a deli-
nite period for a dose time. They are arranged belo\v in the form of a table, show-
in^ the month- in which they think pelagic sealing should !>:• prohibited. The first
7 were examined by lireat Britain, and their depositions are included in the British
counter case. (Appendix, Vol. II. > The remainder were examined by the I'nited
States, and their -t atcments a p] tear in the I'nited States case. Appendix. Vol. II ).
These men. beinu' pelagic sealers, know what months s'-aliu^ is injurious to the
seal herd. If. therefore, the advice of all the-e witnesses were followed, every
month in the year would be clnscd to pelagic sealini;'.
Tul) illation nt <>]> i it 1 1 nix <>f i>< I •' n ! c, >'*. n)n>irhi(/ /' n i'i n -i irl/ it i I>I--H HIH i >)'<•!• <'ll » >i ix HI < (led
III />'/ I'llKj >'f <(.
DMmw — .July.
Mun'aii '.'. »._. ,I,,1\ SepicniluT.'
Ainlricins - • " •" • • *- —...-.. ^-~- .J:inn:ir.v An mist 15.
Jiiviinsiii -. — —
Claiisi-n
11 uniiiiii "'.'.'.['.'.'."'.'.'.'.'.. — —
Hiirrison -J:mu:ir\ .Tnlvl.">.
H;.ll-,ll — - — • — ~ .Inls \n\eini.cr.
.Jolili-oli '" .)ill\ DC, •cm). rr.
L«-nanl... ^— — — — -^— — — — — — M;orli October.
I).' MrLi-iiii '.!.".'!."."."!!".!! .Inii.-l.-, Uriulu-r.
An examination of the I'ore^oinu table shows that a- tit some months all are snb-
Ktantiallv agreed that sealing should be ]>roh i luted if the seals are to be preserved.
These months are .July and August', the princijcil sealinu' months in Bering Sea.
All the, L".» include .Inly, except one. who thinks the close season should end on
.Jnlv \~>.
Twent v-foui1. or fonr-fiftliH of the witnesses, include Auu'ii-t. and 17 inciinle Se,j>-
tember in their proposed close -eason.
SKAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLAND-. 121
On the facts above stated the United States claim that the following propositions
have beeii demonstrated beyond refutation:
(1) That female seals 2 years old and over are pregnant at all times when found in
the waters of Bering Sea.
(2) That the nursing females are the only class of seals which feed to any extent
while pelagic sealing is carried on in Bering Sea.
(3) That the nursing females are taken in large numbers over 50 miles from the
islands.
(1) That the seal pups are not weaned until after the sealing season has closed in
Bering Sea.
(5) That the killing of a nursing female in Bering Sea destroys at least two lives,
namely, the female and the fetus; and it is an irresistible conclusion that the pup
left upon the islands by the female killed also perishes (see paper directed particu-
larly to that subject).
i> That in point of numbers alone sealing in Bering Sea is over twice as destruc-
tive to seal life as scaling in the North Pacific.
(7) That the sealing season in Bering Sea comprises only the months of July,
August, and a part of September.
(N) That all the sealers examined by the United States and Great Britain as to the
months when sealing should be prohibited include July in the close season proposed,
and nearly all include August.
(9) That to open Bering Sea during the months of July and August, with a pro-
tective zone of 20 miles about the Pribilof Islands, as proposed by Great Britain,
would mean the extermination of the seal herd.
(10) That absolute prohibition of pelagic sealing at all times in the whole Bering
Sea east of the 180 degrees meridian from Greenwich is necessary to preserve the
Alaskan seals. (Notes for United States counsel, p. 10.)
REGULATIONS.
[Extract from Senator Morgan'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 Alaskan herd
as to draw them into an agreement that it should be repressed by their concurrent
action.
I will not attempt to examine again the details of the evidence so thoroughly pre-
sented and with such judicial impartiality by Mr. Justice Harlan. I can find no flaw or
omission in his careful statements of the evidence, or in the conclusions that he drew
from it as to matters of fact. I believe that he stated the exact truth of the situa-
tion, and I fully concur in his treatment of the subject and in the conclusions that
he has reached.
The present situation, as I understand it, is as follows, as shown by a comparison
of the Pribilof and pelagic catches:1
Year Pribilof
Islands.
Total
pelagic
catch.
1890 21 234
51 655
1891 r> 071
68 000
1892 7.500
1893 7 500
73, 394
"S> 000
Total 48 305
973 04 ()
a Estimated.
In 1889 the Pribilof catch was 102,617. which fell off to 21,234 in 1890, and this was
all that the islands would yield of killable seals, leaving a deficit as compared with
the previous year of 81,379 seals upon the islands. If this contrast in the number of
seals that could be taken on the islands in 1889 and 1890 was due to the overkilling
of males on the islands and not to pelagic sealing, the falling off of numbers would
have been indicated in each of the six years prior to 1889. No one has asserted such
a fact, and we know that a male seal must be of 6 years old before he is able to take
up and niaintain a harem on the rookeries. So that this falling off between 1889 and
1890, if it was due to an excessive killing of males, must have occurred at least as
early as 1882. This is not true, and no one pretends that it is. The killing of 51,655
seals that the pelagic hunters got, and at least three-fold that number, including
1 These figures, cited by Senator Morgan, include seals taken off the Asiatic coast
of the North Pacific Ocean.
122 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS.
those that were lost, must have reached 300,000 seals that were destroyed. Of this
number three-fourths were females, that are not killable seals on the islands and are
not counted in the Pribilof catch.
The verification of this calculation is almost perfect in 1892, when the pelagic
sealers took 73,000 seals, and in 1891, when they took 68,000. The close approxima-
tion of these figures shows that the loss of the seals on the islands was due to pelagic
sealing and not to the want of virility in the bulls on the breeding grounds or to any
other cause.
That the process which has actually depleted the seal herd in four years to the
extent of 569,065 (273,000 of which were females) is an evril that requires to be reme-
died, for the sake of the protection and preservation of seal life, no one can doubt,
as it seems to me. This progressive depletion of this herd of seals can not fail to
destroy them very soon, and, in the meantime, to deprive the Tinted States of all
possible advantage and compensation derived from its efforts to save the species.
What the United States has done, or omitted to do, to deserve treatment at the hands
of this tribunal that will expose its lawful industries to ruin, its revenues to deple-
tion, and its wards on the Privilof Islands to the loss of their only valuable industry
will be an inquiry that will seriously challenge the justice of such an award, in the
estimate of the civilized world.
The evil to be provided against by this tribunal is, clearly, pelagic sealing with
firearms.
If there is, or has been, any detriment to the seal herd from the treatment of the
United States, on the islands, the facts on this subject were not unknown to Great
Britain when the treaty was made and before ratifications were exchanged. This
subject was not referred to in any of the correspondence between the (Governments,
and the treaty is silent as to this supposed mismanagement.
Will the tribunal, in such a case, make an objection to protecting and preserving the
fur seals on the water because Great Britain has not thought it proper or necessary
to call the methods into question, or the United States into account for its manner of
dealing with that subject on land? True, if it can be shown that the depletion of
the herd is dne to that cause, and not to pelagic hunting, that is a just and proper
inquiry. If it is due to both causes, this tribunal will deal with the pelagic evil,
that is submitted to its consideration, and leave it to the nations concerned in the
protection of 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 quite as
earnest in the wish to do so. They destroy no female seals, while the^pelagic hunter
never spares one. They do not tire upon the breeding rookeries when the seals are
massed, many of them asleep, with double-barreled shotguns and buckshot car-
tridges. They do not kill indiscriminately all seals that come in sight.
The United States permit no female seals to be killed; while 75 per cent of those
killed by the pelagic hunter are females heavy with young and almost helpless.
In that condition, as well as in accordance with a law of their nature, which is an
important fact in connection with their domesticity, the female fur seals require a
great deal of sleep. When asleep, they turn upon their backs, fold their flippers
over their breasts, and curving their hind nippers upward, they form their bodies as
a sort of boat, the spinal column representing the keel. They can only breathe
the upper air; they can not, like a h'sh, extract air from the water. After inhaling
the air the nostrils close firmly together, and the air, heated by their bodies, expands
and buoys them up. They seldom breathe oftener than once in fifteen minutes, and,
when diving, they need not return to the surface for air oftener than every thirty
minutes. We know nothing of their habits at night while in the ocean. On land
they are so boisterous at night with their howliugs that sleep would seem to be
impossible, except from sheer exhaustion. They have not a keen vision, and the
sunlight is painful to them, so that they leave the land and go to sea on da.vs that
are bright. This causes them to seek a summer home in a place where fogs and rains
prevail. Yet they must have warmth. Nature has amply provided for this necessity
by giving them a double coating of thick, strong hair, and of the thickest and finest
fur that was ever bestowed upon any species of animals. It is as impervious to
water as the down of an eider duck. The pups are born without this fur, and hence
their aversion to swimming until it has grown out; and this detains them on land
for four months, at least, during which period they can subsist only on the milk of
the cow seals. While their vision is not keen, their auditory organs and sense of
smell are exceedingly acute. They are attracted by sounds as few other animals
are. In this faculty they make a close approach to the endowments of mankind.
Sir John Thompson is amused at an account, read by Mr. .Justice Marian, of the
seals being attracted in great numbers near to the shore at Hoy by the ringing of a
church bell. In his credulous sport over this incident Sir .John forgot that it is the
personal observation of Mr. Low, one of the greatest naturalists who ever lived,
the friend and companion of Cuvier, and is more than confirmed by M. Peron, whom
France has honored in the most conspicuous way. His abilities as a naturalist,
SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS.
acquainted intimately with seal lif«-, an- as far in advance of those of Professor
Elliott, from whom Lord ilannen quotes with much satisfaction, as Napoleon was in
advance of the Sioux chieftain. Sitting Bull, as a military genius.
1 will presently quote something further about fur seals trom Mr. Peroii.
I kiiow Mr. Elliott, whom the British (Joverniuent has dubbed " professor." I have
respect for his character and sprightliness. He is a painter in water colors of no
mean pretensions, but his use of color does not stop with his canvas. It enters into
all he savs, and makes him too vivid an enthusiast, for a sale reliance on questions of
measurements, statistics, and cold facts. Mr. Elliott was out on the Pribilof Islands
on the 10th of July, 181K). taking lield notes, which, to he of any value, should be free
from all romantic conjecture. 1 he following is one of his highly colored extracts from
his report of that day :
•• In company with Mr. (ioH'and Dr. Lutz I made my plotting of the breeding seals
as they lay on the Reef and (iarbotch to-day. Here at the very height of the breed-
ing season, when the masses were most compact and uniform in their distribution in
1872-1874, I find the animals 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 because
the virile bulls are so few in number and the service which they render so delayed or
impotent. In other words, the cows are restless; not being served when in heat,
they seek other bulls by hauling out in green jagged points of massing (as is shown
by the chart) up from tl>eir lauding belts. This unnatural action of the cows, or
rather unwonted movement, has caused the pups a ready to form small pods every-
where, even where the cows are most abundant, which shadows to me the truth of
the fact that in five days or a week from date the scattering completely of the rook-
ery organization will be thoroughly done It did not take place until the 20th to-
the 25th of July, 1872. In 1872 these, cows were promptly met with the service which
they craved on the rookery ground. The scattering of these old bulls to-day over so-
large an area is due to extreme feebleness and combined in many cases to a recollec-
tion of no distant day when they had previously hauled thus far out on this very
ground surrounded by bareness, though all is vacant and semi-grass grown under
and around them now." (hissenting opinions, Harlan and Morgan, pp. 106, 109.)
It is assumed throughout the report of the British commissioners that pelagic seal-
ing is not necessarily destructive, and that, under regulation, the prosecution of it
need not involve the extermination of the herds. This assumption and the evidence
bearing upon it will be elsewhere particularly treated in what we may have to say
upon the subject of regulations. It will there be shown that it is not only destructive
in its tendency, but that, if permitted, it will complete the work of piratical exter-
mination in a very short period of time. But so far as it is asserted that a restricted
and regulated pelagic sealing is consistent with the moral laws of nature and should
be allowed, the argument has a bearing upon the claim of the United States of a
property interest, and should be briefly considered here. Let it be clearly under-
stood, then, just what pelagic sealing is, however restricted or regulated. And we
shall now describe it by those features of it which are not disputed or disputable.
We pass by the shocking cruelty and inhumanity, with its sickening details of
bleating and crying offspring falling upon the decks from the bellies of mothers-
as they are ripped open, and of white milk flowing in streams mingled with blood.
These enormities which, if attempted within the territory of a civilized State, would
speedily be made the subjects of criminal punishment, are, not relevant, or are less
relevant, in the discussion of the mere question of property.
It is not contended that in pelagic sealing (1) there can be any selective killing,
or (2) that a great excess of females over males is not slain, or (S) that a great num-
ber of victims perish from wounds without being recovered, or (4) that in most cases
the females killed are not either heavy with young or nursing mothers, or (5) that
each and every of these incidents can not be avoided by the selective killing which
is practiced on the breeding islands. We do not stop to discuss the idle questions
whether this form of slaughter will actually exterminate the herds or how long it
may take to complete the destruction. It is enough for the present purpose to say
that it is simple destruction. It is destructive because it does not make or aim to
make its draft upon the increase, which consists of the superfluous males, but, by
taking females, striken directly at the stock, and strikes at the stock in the most
damaging \\ ay, by destroying unborn and newly boru pups, together with their
mothers. Whoever undertakes to set up a moral right to prosecute this mode of
slaughter on the ground that it will not necessarily result in complete destruction
must maintain that while it maybe against the law of nature to work complete
destruction, it is yet lawful to destroy. Hut what the law of nature forbids is any
destruction at all unless it is necessary. To destroy a little and to destroy much
are the same crimes.
I 1 there were even something less than a right, or rather some low degree of right—
for nothing other than rights can be taken notice of here — some mere convenience,
it might be worthy of consideration; but there is none. It can not even be said that
pelagic sealing may furnish to the world a seal skin at a lower price. Nothing can
124 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS.
be plainer than that it is the most expensive mode of capturing seals. It requires
the expenditure of a vast sum in vessels, boats, appliances, and human labor, which
is all unnecessary, because the entire increase can be reaped without them. This
unnecessary expense is a charge upon the consumer, and must be reimbursed in the
price he pays. In no way can pelagic sealing result in a cheapening of the product,
•except 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 might be made
on the land if capture were restricted to the land; and this assumption is admitted
on all hands, and even by the commissioners of Great Britain, to be untrue.
If there were any evil, or inconvenience even, to be apprehended from a confine-
ment of the capture of the seals to the breeding places, it might serve to arrest atten-
tion; but there is none. Much is said, indeed, in the report of the commissioners of
Great Britain concerning a supposed monopoly which would thus be secured, as is
pretended, to the lessees of the breeding islands, which would enable them to exact
an excessive price for skins ; but this notion is wholly erroneous. (Argument of the
United States counsel, p. 98.)
The whole herd owes its existence not merely to the care ami protection but to
the forbearance of the United States Government within its exclusive jurisdiction.
While the seals are upon the United States territory during the season of reproduc-
tion and nurture that Government might easily destroy the herd by killing them
all, at a considerable immediate profit. From such a slaughter it is bound to refrain,
if the only object is to preserve the animals long enough to enable them to be exter-
minated by foreigners at sea. If that is to be the result, it would be for the interest
of the Government, and plainly within its right and powers, to avail itself at once
of such present value as its property possesses, if the future product of it can not
be preserved. Can there be more conclusive proof than this of such lawful posses-
sion and control as constitutes property, and alone produces and continues the exist-
ence of the subject of it?
The justice and propriety of these 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 forcibly
pointed out by Mr. Carter. (Argument of the United States counsel, p. 134.)
Tims it will be seen that the danger menacing the seals in Bering
Sea by hunting in July, August, and September was well understood
by American counsel at Paris, and pointed out by them to the arbi-
trators with rare ability and conciseness.
As I write, the Congressional Record of December 12 is on my desk
with a letter from Mr. Elliott in which he speaks very disparagingly of
our agents and counsel at Paris, and of their lack of knowledge of the
subject-matter before the Tribunal of Arbitration, thus:
At the time these articles of the Paris award were published immense stress was
laid upon the fact that firearms were prohibited in Bering Sea by our agents, whe
declare that this prohibition would discourage and break up the business of the
pelagic sealer. They were strangely ignorant of the truth in the matter, at least
the lawyers were, and they had nobody on our side with them at Paris who really
knew anything about the life and habits of the seals, who could teach them better.
That they were neither infallible nor omnipotent is freely admitted;
that they may have made some mistakes may be true; but that they
left behind them in America an equal number of men knowing one-
half as much as what they knew about seals has not been, nor can it
be, shown.
If mistakes have been made at all they were made when we first
agreed to arbitrate the questions that have since been decided against
us by the Tribunal of Arbitration ; and it is now too late to enter into
idle discussions, criminations, and recriminations as to who was right
and who was wrong.
Having once put our case into the hands of the tribunal, we must abide
fcy its decision until we can with honor and dignity, worthy our country,
bring about other arrangements.
That the regulations, 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 ought to be taken as soon as possible
to remedy their defects.
Of one thing we may rest assured, and that is that August and Sep-
SEAL LIFE ON THE PKIBILOF ISLANDS. 125
tember — but August by all means — should have been included in the
u close time/' it' the seals are to be saved from extinction.
It is in August the harems, or families, are broken up on the rookeries,
and the mother seals go away from the islands to distances of from 80
to 200 miles after food and rest: and it is in August they sleep soundest
and longest, after gorging themselves with the first full meal they have
had time to secure since June. In August and September the weather
is usually favorable in Bering Sea, and the pelagic hunter, having a
license to work and nothing to fear, goes in among the sleeping mother
seals and quietly spears them until his vessel is loaded with skins, and
want of room for more admonishes him to stop.
That the seals have steadily decreased since 1884: that much of the
decrease is due to the slaughter of the females by pelagic hunters;
that the rookeries are in about the same depleted condition that they
were in 1834, after a long period of female slaughter by the Russians;
that the remedy applied then must be applied now if we would save
the fur seals from total extinction, and build up and replenish the rook-
eries, are self evident propositions and cannot be denied.
There is no time to debate mere questions of detail, and we are all
agreed, I think, that on the absolute safety and continued protection of
the female seal depends the perpetuation of the species. So well has
this been understood and appreciated since 1835 that no female seal
Las been, knowingly, killed on the seal islands in Bering Sea for the
past sixty years.
It makes but little difference 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 whether they
are killed in the North Pacific Ocean or in Bering Sea; the only ques-
tion worth considering in this matter of fur seals just now is "How can
we prevent the killing of females0?"
Fortunately the declarations made by the Tribunal of Arbitration
suggest the most practicable way of solving the problem; 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 which it appears certain that the race of fur
seals is now reduced in consequence of circumstances not fully known, the arbitra-
tors think tit to recommend both Governments to come to an understanding in order
to prohibit any killing of fur seals, either on land or at sea, for a period of two or
three years, or at least one year, subject to such exceptions as the two Govern-
ments might think proper to admit of.
Such a measure might be recurred to at occasional intervals if found beneficial.
In the spirit of that declaration, and being only too well aware of the
present " critical condition of the race of fur seals,'7 and fully appreciat-
ing the importance of immediate action, if they are to be saved from,
extinction, I respectfully offer the following suggestions:
(1) That the United States Government shall officially notify Great
Britain of the failure of the u 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 United
States in establishing a modus vivendi until, jointly, they arrange to
have the cooperation of both Russia and Japan in making regulations
for the proper protection 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 be cleared for sealing purposes, nor shall seals be taken
anywhere in the North Pacific Ocean or in Bering Sea, excepting what
may be taken by the Indians on the American and British Columbian
126 SEAL LIFE ON THE PKIBILOF ISLANDS.
coasts for food, and by the natives of the Pribilof Islands for necessary
food. fuel, and clothing, as was done during the last modus vivendi.
»4 i That Congress shall be asked for an appropriation to defray the
expenses of a commission of at least three competent and disinterested
men. whose duty it shall be to visit all the seal islands and breeding
rookeries in the P>ei ing and Okhotsk seas, and any others whose seals
range in either of those seas or in the North Pacific Ocean: to make a
thorough investigation of lur-seal life, and to collect testimony bearing
on the habits of the animal on land and at sea. and all data that it is
possible to secure regarding the ellect of driving and killing on land,
and of pelagic sealing, and such other information as mav be deemed
necessary to a thorough understanding of the seal problem.
i .T) That the said commission shall be appointed by the President of
the C nited States, and that ( Jreat llritain. Russia, and Japan be invited
to appoint similar bodies tor similar purposes, who. at the completion
of their joint investigations, shall jointly report the result thereof and
suggest regulations for the proper and adequate protection ot the fur
seals od la ml a ml water.
In making these suggestions 1 have kept in view the fact that with-
out concurrent action, which shall be mutually satisfactory to the
nations directly interested, there can be no adequate protection given
to the seals: for so long as pelagic sealers can operate freely in Japa-
nese or Russian waters during a --close time" on the American side, and
vice versa, the herds will eventually be exterminated.
'1 IK* ( j ues t ion has been asked, •* Suppose (i real P>ritain will not consent
to a modus vivendi or a change in t he regulations before the expiration
of the live years' term established by the Tribunal of Arbitration: what
then ?"
It must be borne in mind that the regulations do not extend to the
seal islands, nor have they anything whatever to do with our work
t hereon.
Let Congress at the present session repeal all laws which limit the
numbers or designate the sex to be killed on the islands, and enact
laws empowering the Secretary of the Treasury to kill without limit
whenever it may appear that adequate protection to the herds has been
sought for in vain. That this last resort is our right and our duty was
plainly shown by the United States counsel at Paris, who said:
Th" whole herd owes its existence not merely to the care and prot eel ion. but to
the forbearance of the Tinted States (Government within its exclusive jurisdiction.
While the ,-eals an- :i pon the I 'nited States territory during;' t he season of reproduction
and nuri nre. that < Govern men t mi uht easi i v dest n>v t he herd hv killing 1 h cm all at a
considerable immediate profit. From Hitch a slaughter it is not hound to refrain if
:'ii on uh t o enable them to be exl ermi-
le^ult. it \\oiild be for ihe interest of
and powers, to avail itself at once
if the future product of it can not bo
preserved. A i u ii me) it of the 1 ' n i ted States compel, p. i;;i . t
And yet. while admit 1 ing our right . and asking for t he enactment of
a law conferring the authority to kill every seal on the Pribilof Islands.
sluaild the necessity arise to demand it, I abhor t he t hough t of 1 he pos-
sibility of -ndi a dreadful contingency.
\\ lule it is well to be fully prepared, let us use all honorable means to
avert it if possible.
Respect in !ly submit t ed .
JosFi'ii MFKKAY. Special Aycnt.
I Ion. JOHN ( i. CA i.'i.isi.i;.
^ff-rrhin/ of t!i< YV/v/.v/o-y.
SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 127
APPENDIX.
PELAGIC SEALING.
Deposition of Milton Barnes, *i><'<-i«l employee of United States Treasury
on *S7. Pnul
OF ALASKA,
St. Paul Island^ ,VN :
I, Milton Barnes, being duly sworn according to law, depose and say
as follows: I \\\\\ a citi/rn of the United States, and when at home
reside near Columbus, Ohio. Have been temporarily stationed during:
the last year on the island of St. Paul, one of the fur-seal or Pribilof
group in Bering Sea, as a special employee of the United States
Treasury Department on said island.
One day during the latter part of August or fore part of September
last (exact date forgotten), Col. Joseph Murray, one of the Treasury
agents, and myself, in company with the British commissioners, Sir
George Baden Powell and Dr. liawsoii, by boat visited one of the seal
rookeries of that island known as Tolstoi or English Bay. On arriv-
ing there our attention was at once attracted by the excessive num-
ber of dead pups, whose carcasses lay scattered profusely over the
breeding ground or sand beach bordering the rookery proper 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.
Some of the carcasses were iu 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 no mother seals near or showing them, any
attention.
Dr. Dawson while on the ground took some views of the rookery with
his kodak, but whether the views he took included the dead pups I
could not say. Some days after this — can not state exact date — I drove
with Mr. Fowler, an employee of the lessees, to what is known as Half-
way Point, or Polavina rookery. Here the scene was repeated, but on
a more extensive scale in point of numbers. The little carcasses were
strewn so thickly over the sand as to make it difficult to walk over the
ground without stepping on them. This condition of the rookeries in
this regard was for some time a topic of conversation in the village by
all parties, including the more intelligent ones among the natives, some
of whom were with Mr. J. Stanley Brown in his work of surveying the
island, and brought in reports from time to time of similar conditions
at substantially all the rookeries around the island. It could not, of
course, be well estimated as to the number thus found dead, but the
most intelligent of the natives — chief of the village — told me 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 lessees7
physician at the time, made an autopsy of some of the carcasses, and
reported that he could find no traces of any diseased condition what-
ever, but there was an entire absence of food or any signs of nourish-
ment in the stomach. Before Dr. Dawson left I called his attention to
what Dr. Akerly had done, but whether he saw him on the subject I
can not tell.
And further deponent saith not. MILTON BARNES.
128 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS.
Deposition of C. L. Hooper, captain, United States Revenue Marine.
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA,
City of Washington, ss :
Personally appeared before me, C. L. Hooper, who deposes and says:
T7t ^.T- _ * —A*--. j_* - - • i -i • /» i-w
ducted
May,
September; in the vicinity of the Aleutian chain during the month of
October and part of November, as well as from the experience obtained
in six other cruises in Alaskan waters and in Bering Sea, I draw the
following conclusions :
There were fewer seals to be seen in the water in the vicinity of the
Pribilof Islands during the summer of 1892 than in 1891.
At least 75 per cent, and probably 80 or 90 per cent, of the seals in
Bering Sea, outside of a narrow zone around the seal islands, are females,
75 per cent of which are nursing mothers and the remaining 25 per
cent virgin cows too immature for bearing.
If barren cows exist at all they are rare. 1 have never known or
heard of but one instance.
In Bering Sea mothers go long distances — as far as 200 miles from the
islands — to feed, codfish furnishing the bulk of their food.
They sleep much in the water, are not timid, and are readily taken;
and their death means the destruction of three lives — the mother, the
fetus, and the pup — on the breeding grounds. The past season is the
first in several years that such deaths among the pups have not occurred
from this source.
At least 70 per cent, and probably 80 or 90 per cent, of any catch in
Bering Sea will be females, either actually bearing or capable of bear-
ing at no distant day. This is borne out by the character of the skins
of the Henrietta, seized last summer for the violation of the modus
vivendi. The captain informed me that nearly all the skins taken were
those 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 and consists of 420 skins, 361 of which
were found to be females, 33 males, and 26 those of seals too young to
determine the sex.
For every 100 seals, the death of which results from pelagic hunting,
not more than 05 or 75 skins are secured.
The female seals are widely distributed over the sea, and hence the
establishment of zonal areas would be rendered impossible 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 com-
mingling 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 the coast of Alaska during the entire winter,
individuals rarely being found south of the fifty-fifth parallel.
The major part of the herd, consisting of females and their pups and
(SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 129
Ling males, begin to migrate about the end of October, and by Janu-
ary 1 all of them have begun their migration. These dates are some-
what earlier or later, according to the season.
Those that leave earliest go farthest south, arriving on the coast of
California, and those leaving later reach the coast farther up. Their
arrival is coincident with the coming of the smelt, herring, and eulaclion,
upon which they feed.
On reaching the coast their migration route is continually toward
the islands, but following the general trend of the coast, the inner limit
being about 1^5 miles offshore and the outer limit from 75 to 100.
As this migration progresses there is a bunching up of the herd, but
the seals travel independently and not in bands or schools.
The migration route is from the Pribilof Islands through the passes
across to the coast, up the coast and across the northern sweep of the
North Pacific to the Aleutian Chain, and through the passes again to
the islands.
There is no foundation in the statement that the Pribilof fur seals
which migrate have a winter home off any coast. They appear 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 prohibited 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 the decreasd catch, as in the case
of the sea otter.
C. L. HOOPER.
Deposition of H. H. Mclntyre, superintendent of the Pribilof Islands.
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA,
City of Washington, ss :
H. H. Mclntyre, of West Randolph, Vt., being duly sworn, deposes
and says:
I have stated in former depositions my connection with the sealeries
of Alaska and opportunities for knowledge concerning them.
When the breeding male seals first arrive upon the islands in the
spring they are much more timid and easily disturbed than at a later
period, and might perhaps be then driven from their chosen places upon
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 dislodge them, and they will die in defense of their harems rather
than desert them.
In June, 1872, 1 carried a photographer's camera near the Eeef rookery
on St. Paul Island and while focusing the instrument, with my head
under the black cloth, and the attention of my attendant was diverted,
two old bulls made 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 for and one of the bulls
killed and the other knocked down and stunned. The throwing of
stones and noisy demonstrations had no effect whatever upon them.
This experience only emphasized 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
S. Doc. 137, pt.
130 SEAL LIFE ON THE PKIB1LOF ISLANDS.
water, but tlieir flight is resisted by the bulls, and before impregnation
they rarely succeed in escaping. After this occurs the discipline of the
harem is relaxed and the females go and come at will.
1 neither saw nor heard, in my twenty years' experience 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 pups 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 lact 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 the groups
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 different
harem. The surface of the ground mainly occupied as breeding rook-
eries is very irregular. Harems sometimes run together. Ledges,
bowlders, and lava rocks hinder the uniform mapping of the family
groups, and it is not difficult, therefore, to select certain spots and count
a number 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 frequently been named as a fair average.
Horse breeders regard a healthy stallion as capable of serving from
40 to 50 mares in a single season; cattle breeders apportion 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
Government agent in charge (Captain Bryant) did not object, we con-
SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 131
suited our convenience and drove more frequently from near-by rook-
eries, but at all times worked the more distant rookeries more or less
frequently, as appears by tlie seal island records. His successors in
otlice theorized that all the rookeries ought to be worked in regular
rotation, mid so directed. We therefore increased our number of boats
and mule teams in order to transport the skins from distant points, and
complied with his orders. But we did not do this because of any
scarcity of killable seals; no scarcity occurred until pelagic sealing
had already made serious inroads. There was no such thing ever
thought of upon the 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 first few
years of the lease.
In the early years of the first lease a few of the bundles of seal skins
shipped from the Pribilof Islands may have weighed as much as 60
pounds, but 1 would not undertake to say that I have seen any weighing
as much. If there were any, the explanation is as follows: The skins
in such bundles were those of small wigs, and such skins were bundled
together so that the 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. Those who assert the contrary appar-
ently expect such discharges as they were accustomed to see in the
track of the herbivora. The excrement of the seals is of very soft, often
semifluid consistency, and in the 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 fish, which is highly organized and contains
very little tissue that is not absorbed and assimilated. The excrement,
therefore, is limited in quantity, even when the animal is full fed, and
from its nature and surroundings easily overlooked.
H. H. MdNTYRE.
HABITS, AND MANAGEMENT OF SEALS ON ROOKERIES, AND PELAGIC
SEALING.
Deposition of L. A. Noyes, resident physician on the Pribilof Islands from
1880 to 1892.
ST. GEORGE ISLAND, PRIBILOF GROUP,
Alaska, ss:
L. A. ^Toyes, being duly sworn, deposes and says: I am a native
American, and my home is in Randolph, Vt.; I am 52 years of age, and
a physician by profession.
In 1880 I entered the service of the lessees of the 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, I 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 ever since, except the vacations aforesaid.
I have given much time to the study of the Alaskan fur seal and its
peculiar habits, and I have watched with care and solicitude the
increase and the decline in numbers of the animal on the hauling
grounds and rookeries, and also the methods followed by the lessees in
taking the skins— the driving and killing of the young males of from
132 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS.
2 to 5 years old, and the salting, curing, bundling, and shipping the
skins. I have likewise carefully observed and noted the coming of the
seals in the spring, the hauling out at different times of the various
ages and sexes, their disposition on the hauling grounds and rookeries,
the formation of the uharem" or family, the breaking up of the harems,
the 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 indulged in by my associates and friends
who have spent many years in the fur-seal industry, and whose practi-
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 kept the record of
the climatic changes on St. George since the United States Government
discontinued the ineterological 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. 1 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 acquainted 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 agent. 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 56° 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 purpose and to that only.
The thermometer rarely goes higher than 60° 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 for days
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
1 The measurements were made very imperfectly, and I never claimed anything but
an approximate measurement. It was my opinion that the numbers were exagger-
ated, and I so stated at the time. — L. A. N.
SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIB1LOF ISLANDS. 133
rugged shore the Alaskan fur seals make their summer home; here they
are born and reared for the first six months of their existence; here
they come every spring as regular as time, and here they reproduce their
species. The career of the fur-seal herd on these shores is not unlike
that of any domesticated animal — it is simply a stock-breeding question.
Areas upon which it is agreeable for the females to breed are carefully
reserved and set aside for that purpose.
Each year a sufficient 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 jeopaydi/ed by the injury or death of a female.
So accustomed have the seals become to the presence of the natives
that the timidity and shyness manifested in the ocean is not shown on
the islands. In their infancy the pups will approach a native without
fear, and later on they are readily handled and the sexes separated,
should it be necessary to make a killing of pups for food. In the han-
dling, management, and enlargement of the seal herd there is as much
amenability to domestication as there is in a band of range cattle.
The 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
sleep almost continuously until within a few days of the coming of the
females, or cows, when they assume a sitting posture, and set up a bel-
lowing noise peculiar to themselves, which I suppose to be a " call"
to the approaching 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 22, 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 in September is in striking contrast with their rotund form and
sleek and glossy coats in May.
When the pup 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 200 miles from the islands to feed, and it is at this
time she falls a prey to the pelagic hunter.
Returned to the rookery, the cow goes straight to the spot where she
left her pup, and it seems she instantly recognizes it by smelling; and
134 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS.
it is equally certain that the pup can not recognize its dam. I have
often seen pups attempt to suck cows promiscuously, yet no cow will
suckle any pup but her own. When five or six weeks old the pups begin
to run around and form bunches or upods;" at seven to eight weeks
old they try the water at the edge, where, after paddling 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. They make
no eifort to secure sustenance of any sort beyond that furnished by
their dams.
I have examined many pups at the food killings in November, and I
never found anything but milk in their stomachs.
The young males or bachelors, whose 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 themselves during May, June, and July, because were they
to approach the breeding grounds the bulls would drive them off or
destroy them.
The bachelors of from 2 to 5 years old are the only seals driven or
killed on the seal islands by anyone or for any purpose, and the sensa-
tional stories told of how they are tortured on the drive have 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 2J 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 to return 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 off the
carcasses for food and the fat or blubber for winter fuel.
In accordance with instructions from the Department, the Treasury
agent is always present at the killings, and he has full power 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 July.
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. Being 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 I believe there have
not been 100 females killed on St. George Island since 1880, if I may
except some killed by poachers who were driven off before they secured
the skins of the seals they had killed.
SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 135
Never since the islands have been American property has there been
indiscriminate killing done upon them, nor has there been a desire on
the part of anyone connected with them to injure or damage or waste
seal life; on the contrary, everything has been done by the lessees, past
and present, and by the United States, to foster and protect it, and to
improve the methods of driving the seals, so that the herds might grow
and thrive and increase, and perpetuate themselves indefinitely. Laws,
rules, and regulations were made from time to time, prompted by expe-
rience, with a view to add to the value1 of the property and to abolish
everything that 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 enforced,
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 codfish,
while those killed in July have no signs of anything like food in their
stomachs.
Again, the males killed for food as the season advances are found to
be poorer and poorer, and in all cases after July their stomachs 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 "dearth of-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 rookeries 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 ui m potency of the bulls through overdriving" while
young was also found to be 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 2$ miles.
It is also a well-known fact that none but 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-
136 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS.
eries were fouiid covered with dead pups, but a careful and technical
examination was made on several of the dead bodies without discover-
ing a trace of organic disease, while starvation was so apparent that
those who examined them decided that it was the true cause of their
death. Had sickness or disease attacked the seal herd, it is only reason-
able to suppose a few grown seals would be found dead where so many
young ones had died so suddenly, but the most diligent search has
failed to find a grown seal dead upon the islands from unknown causes.
From the discovery of tbe islands until the present time the flesh of
the fur seal has been the daily meat ration of the natives and of the
white people, and yet it is a fact that a tainted or diseased carcass
has never been known.
In my opinion the solution of the problem is plain. It is the shotgun
and rifle of the pelagic hunter which are so destructive to the cow seals
as they go backward and forward to the lishing banks to supply 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. NOYES, M. IX
HABITS AND MANAGEMENT OF SEALS AND RULES OF FUR COM-
PANIES— PELAGIC SEALING.
Deposition of J. C. Redpath, agent of lessees on St. Paul Island.
ST. PAUL ISLAND, PRIBILOF GROUP,
Alaska, ss:
J. C. Redpath, 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 the 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 Pribilof
group of islands, such as low and even temperature, fog, mist, and per-
petually clouded sky, seem to indicate their fitness and adaptability as
a home for the Alaskan fur seal; and with an instinct bordering on
SEAL LIFE ON THE PKIBILOF ISLANDS. 137
reason they have selected these lonely and barren islands as the choicest
spots of earth upon which to assemble and dwell together during their
six months' stay on land; and annually they journey across thousands
of miles of ocean and pass hundreds of islands, without pause or rest,
until they come to the place of their birth. And it is a well-established
fact that upon no other land in the world do the Alaskan fur seal haul
out of water.
Early 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 lirst 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 the 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 the 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 1 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 she 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 1 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 pups 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 pup is utterly helpless and entirely 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 o 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 has 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 obtain-
ing sustenance of any kind except that furnished by the cows; nor have
I ever seen anything but milk in a dead pup's stomach. The young
males from 2 to 5 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 during the months of May, June, and July,
and they do this because, during the breeding season, they dare not
approach the breeding rookeries, or the bulls would destroy them.
Being thus debarred from a position on the breeding rookeries or from
138 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIHILOF ISLANDS.
intermingling with the cows, they herd together on the hauling grounds,
where they are easily approached and surrounded by the natives, who
drive them 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 their stomachs are tilled with lisli — princi-
pally eodlish — 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 months.
Statute law forbids the killing of the female seal, and nature regu-
lates the mat ter so that there is no danger of t heir 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 ail my experience
here 1 am free to say that a small fraction of 1 per cent would repre-
sent all the females killed on the islands since they became the prop-
erty of the I'nited States.
The compact 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.
1 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 llesh as good for
food as is that of tin1 male. And. excepting 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 practically the last of July: and during this period the
first-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 chief, 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 in jured or abused in any manner. As the regulations require
the lessees to pay for every skin taken from seals killed by the orders
of their local agents, and as the skin of an overheated seal is valueless,
it is and <» miles. When the Alaska Commercial
Company took control of the islands the- drive from Northeast Point
was prohibited, and a -all house and other necessary buildings erected
\\ it 1 1 i ii i' miles of t lie killing ground, and all the skins taken t here were/
salted and stored and shipped from Northeast Point. In 1ST!) a killing
ground was made and a salt house built at llalfwav Point, within "2
SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIIilLOF ISLANDS. 139
miles of the hauling grounds, and all skins taken at the Point are salted
there. At Zapadnie the same year a killing ground was made within
a mile of the hauling ground, and the skins taken there are taken to
the village salt hoase in boats, or when the weather is unfavorable by
team and wagon.
Since 187S there has not been a drive made on St. Paul Island to
exceed U miles. At /apadnie, St. George, a salt house was built about
1ST."* and the (J-mile drive prohibited and a trail made 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 U.J miles.
Although the seals are comparatively tame after being on the land
for a short time and do not get scared so easily as is commonly supposed,
the rules and regulations of the Treasury 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 uulawi'ul to fire.a gun on the islands from the time the first seal
appears in the spring until the last one leaves at the end of the season;
and in order to properly enforce this law the firearms are taken from
the natives and locked up in the Government house in care of the
Treasury agents.
No person is allowed to go near a rookery unless by special 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 might 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
in 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, and 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 I believe anybody else can tell; for the
rookeries are so broken and filled with rocks it is impossible to esti-
mate the number 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.
Unt 1 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 rookeries occasionally are too paltry to be seriously con-
sidered, because the raids were so few, and the facilities for taking
many seals oft so utterly insignificant. In 1884 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 to be about 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 1886 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 bulls on the breeding rookeries was a pet theory of one
140 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS.
or two transient visitors, but it only needed a thorough investigation of
the condition of the rookeries to convince the most skeptical that there
were plenty of bulls, and to spare, and that hardly a cow could be found
on the rookeries without a pup at her side.
For five years I have 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
impotency of the young bulls because of overdriving when young is
not worthy of consideration by any sane or honest man who has ever
seen a bull seal on a breeding rookery; and as I have already answered
the question of overdriving, I will only add here that no young bull
goes upon a breeding rookery until he is able to fight his way in, and
an impotent bull has no desire to tight, nor could he win a position on
the rookery were he to attempt it. The man is not alive who ever saw
a 6 or 7 year old bull seal impotent.
Another theory, equally untrue, was that an epidemic had seized the
herd, but investigations of the closest kind have never revealed the
death on the islands of a full-grown seal from unknown causes. Let it
be remembered that the flesh of the seal is the staple diet of the natives,
and that it is eaten daily by most of the white employees as well; and
yet it is true that a sign of taint or disease has never been found on a
seal carcass in the memory of man. It was not until so many thousands
of dead pups were found upon the rookeries that the problem was solved.
The truth is that when the cows go out to the feeding grounds to feed
they are shot and killed by the pelagic hunter, and the pups, deprived
of sustenance, die upon the rookeries. Excepting a few pups killed by
the surf occasionally, it has been demonstrated that all the pups found
dead are poor and starved, and when examined their stomachs are found
to be without a sign of food of any sort. In 1891 the rookeries on St.
Paul 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 physician, Dr. Akerly, examined many 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 said that man can do nothing to facilitate the propaga-
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 efforts 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 ranchman upon his bauds of
ranging stock, and is productive of like results. The seals have become
so accustomed to the natives that the presence of the latter does not
disturb them. The pups 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 serve as breeding grounds; to
set aside each year a proper number of young males for future service
SEAL LIFE ON, THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 141
upon the rookeries, and by the application of the ordinary stock-breed-
ing principles not only to perpetuate, but to rapidly increase, the seal
herd.
To one who has spent so many years among the seals as I have, and
who has taken so much interest in them, it does appear to be wrong
that they should be allowed to be so ruthlessly and indiscriminately
slaughtered by pelagic hunters, who secure only about one-fourth of all
they kill. There is no doubt in my mind that unless immediate pro-
tection be given to the Alaskan fur seal the species will be practically
destroyed in a very few years; and in order to protect them pelagic
hunting must be absolutely prohibited.
The foregoing is substantially the same testimony that I gave to the
commissioners who visited the islands in 181)1.
J. G. REDPATH.
PRIBILOF ROOKERIES.
Deposition of Charles J. Goff, Treasury agent in charge of Pribilof Islands.
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA,
City of Washington, ss:
Charles J. Goff, of Clarksburg, W. Va., being duly sworn, deposes
and says: I am 45 years of age; during the years 1889 and 1890 I occu-
pied the position of special Treasury agent in charge of the Pribilof
Islands. I was located on St. Paul Island, only visiting St. George
Island occasionally. About the 1st of June, 1889, 1 arrived on St. Paul
Island, and remained there until October 12, 1889, when I returned to
San Francisco for the winter. Again went to the islands in 1890, arriv-
ing there about the last week in May, and remaining until August 12,
1890. Since that time I have never been on the islands. My principal
observations as to seal life upon the islands were confined to St. Paul
Island, as I only visited St. George Island occasionally.
During my first year on the islands the Alaska Commercial Company
was the lessee thereof, and during my second year the North American
Commercial Company. In 1889 1 made careful observations of the rook-
eries on St. Paul Island and marked out the areas covered by the breed-
ing grounds ; in 1890 I examined these lines made by me the former year
and found a very great shrinkage in the spaces covered by breeding
seals.
In 1889 it was quite difficult for the lessees to obtain their full quota
of 100,000 skins. So difficult was it, in fact, that in order to turn off a
sufficient number of 4 and 5 year old males from the hauling grounds
for breeding purposes in the future the lessees were compelled to take
about 50,000 skins of seals of 1 or 2 years of age. I at once reportep
this fact to the Secretary of the Treasury, and advised the taking of a
less number of skins the following year. Pursuant to such report the
Government fixed upon the number to be taken at 60,000, and further
ordered that all killing of seals on the islands should stop after the 20th
day of July. I was further ordered that I should notify the natives
upon the Aleutian Islands that all killing of seals while coming from or
going to the seal islands was prohibited. These rules and regulations
went into effect in 1890, and pursuant thereto I posted notices for the
natives at various points along 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
14'J SEAL LIFK ON THE I'KIl'.LLoF ISLANDS.
regulations the lessees were unable to take more than L'1.L'.">S seals of
the killable age o!' from 1 to .""> years during the season of ISiH). so great
had lieeii tlie decrease of seal life in one \ear. and it would have been
impossible to obtain <;o.t!0t> skins e\ en if tiie time had been unrestricted.
The Table A appended to t his affidavit shows how great had been the
e on St. Paul Island hauling grounds, bearing in mind the fact
that the' driving and killing was done by the same persons as in former
years, and was as diligently earned on. the weather being as favorable
as in l»!Mor seal driving. I belie vet hat the sole cause of the decrease is
pelagic sealing, whieh from reliable information 1 understand to have
increased greatly since 1SS1 or is,s,"i. Another fact 1 have gained from
reliable sources is that the great majority of seals taken in the open sea
are pregnant or females in milk. It is an unquestionable fact that the
killing of these females destroys the pups they are carrying or nursing.
The result is that this destruction of pups takes about equally from the
male and iemale increase of the herd, and when so many male pups are
killed in this manner, besides the KM MM H) taken <>n the islands, it neces-
sarily affects t he number of killable seals. In ISS'.i this drain upon male
seal life showed itself on the islands, and this, in my opinion, accounts
for the necessity of the lessees taking so many young seals that vear to
till out t heir quota.
As soon as the effects of the pelagic sealing were noticed by me upon
the islands I reported the same, and the Government at once took steps
to limit the killing upon the islands, so that the rookeries might have
an opportunity to increase their numbers to their former condition : but
it will be impossible to repair the depletion if pelagic sealing continues.
I have no doubt, as i reported, that the taking of 100.000 skins in 1S8J)
affected the male life on the islands, and cut into the reserve of male
seals necessary to preserve annually for breeding purposes in t he fut ure,
but this fact did not become evident until it was too late to repair the
fault that year. Kxcept for the numbers destroyed by pelagic sealing
in the years previous to 1SS!) the hauling grounds would not have been
so depleted, and the taking of 100,000 male seals would not have
impaired the reserve for breeding purposes or diminished to any extent
the seal life on the Pribilof Islands. Kven in this diminished state of
the rookeries in IS.Sil I carefully observed that in the majority of cases
the 4 and ,"* year old males were allowed to drop out of a "drive"
before the bachelors had been driven any distance from the1 hauling
grounds. These seals were let go for the sole purpose of supplying
sufficient future breeders.
.V few seals are injured by redriving (often conflicted with overdriv-
ing and sometimes so called). but the number so injured is inconsiderable
and could have no appreciable effect upon seal life through destroying
the virility of the male. The decrease, caused by pelagic sealing, com-
pelled whatever injurious redriving has taken place on the islands, as
it was often necessary to drive every two or three da\ s from the same
hauling grounds, which caused many seals let go in a former "drive"
to be driven over aain before thorouhl rested. If a "drive
depleted the rookeries, there would be no damage at all resulting from
redriving.
In my opinion pelagic sealing is t he cause of redriving on the islands,
the depletion of I he rookeries, and promises to soon make the Alaska
SEAL LIFE ON THE PRII5ILOF ISLANDS. 143
fur-seal herd a thing of the past. If continued as it is to day. even if
killing on the islands >\as absolutely forbidden, the herd will in a few
years be exterminated. I am, therefore, of the opinion that pelagic
sealing should be absolutely prohibited both in Bering Sea and the
North .Pacific Ocean. If this is done and a few years are allowed the
seal herd to recover from the enormous slaughter of the past seven
years the Pribilof Islands will produce their 100,000 skins as heretofore
for an indefinite period.
I hereby append to and make a part of this affidavit a table, marked
A,1 giving the number of seals killed each day on the island of St. Paul
during the years 1889 and 1890 up to the 20th day of July.
» + *•»*•
CHARLES J. GOFF.
MANAGEMENT OF SEAL KILLING, AND PELAGIC SEALING.
Deposition of Abial P. Loud, special assistant Treasury agent on Pribilof
Islands.
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA,
City of Washington, ss:
Abial P. Loud, being duly sworn, deposes and says: I am a resident
of Hampden, Me., and am 55 years of age. On April 4, 1885, I was
appointed special assistant Treasury agent for the seal islands, and
immediately started for the islands, arriving at the island of St. Paul
on May 28 or 30. Spent that season on St. Paul Island, and returned
for the winter to the States, leaving the islands on the 18th of August.
Went back again next spring, arriving there in latter pa,rt of May, and
remained until August, 1887, on St. Paul Island. Spent the season
of 1888 and 1889 on St. George Island, returning in the fall of 1889 to
the States. In 1889 I spent 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 from 1885 to 1889 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 great decrease in the areas covered by the
rookeries on St. George Island.
In his reports of 1886 and 1887 George E. Tingle, special Treasury
agent in charge of the seal islands, reported having measured the rook-
eries on the islands, and that the seals had largely increased in num-
ber, giving the increase at about 2,000,000. 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 my views to many
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 thought there had been an increase, or, in fact, that
there had not been a decrease in 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.
Even if these measurements had been correct, which was impossible, I
1 See "Island Records," Appendix.
144 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS.
do not believe it is possible to calculate even approximately the number
of seals upon the rookeries because of the broken nature of the ground
and the irregular outlines of the breeding grounds. While I was on
the islands I attended nearly every drive of the bachelor seals from the
hauling grounds to the killing grounds, and these drives were conducted
by the natives with great care, and no seals were killed by overdriving,
plenty 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 inconsiderable, being a fraction of 1 per cent of
those driven, and did not to any extent affect the seal life on the islands.
The greatest care was always taken to avoid overdriving both by the
Government officers and employees of the lessees.
During my experience (and I was on the 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 b^ing 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 degree by driving, redriving, 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 ground from a drive, and I am
satisfied a sufficient number of males was always reserved for future
breeding purposes. A suggestion was made to the Secretary of the
Treasury in the fall of 1885 that some old bulls should be killed, but
the Secretary declined to permit such animals to be destroyed. I am
convinced that the decrease in the rookeries was caused entirely by open-
sea sealing. As I was not present on the islands in the fall of 1885, I
am unable to make a statement as to the number of dead pups on the
rookeries in that year, but in 1886 I saw a large number of dead pups
lying about. These pups were very much emaciated, and evidently had
been starved to death. I account for this by the killing of the mothers
by open sea sealers before the pups were weaned, and because a mother
will not suckle any pup except her own.
In 1887 the number of dead pups was much larger than in 1886. In
1888 there was a less number than in 1887 or in 1889, owing, as I believe,
to a decrease of seals killed in Bering Sea that year, but in 1889 the
increase again showed itself. I believe the number of dead pups
increased in about the same ratio as the number of seals taken in Bering
Sea by pelagic sealers. 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.
Another fact in connection with open- sea sealing is that the great
majority of seals killed are females, and that a great part of the females
are pregnant or in milk. The milking females are most all killed while
visiting the feeding grounds, which are distant 40 or 60 miles, or even
farther from the islands. The female necessai ily feeds so she can sup-
ply nourishment for her young, while the males during the summer
seldom leave the islands. This accounts for the large number of females
killed in Bering Sea. In July, 1887, I captured the poaching schooner
Angel Dolly while she was hovering about the islands. I examined the
seal skins she had on board, and about 80 per cent were skins of females.
In 1888 or 1889 I examined something like 5,000 skins at Unalaska
which had been taken from schooners engaged in pelagic sealing in
Bering Sea, and at least 80 to 85 per cent were skins of females.
I have conversed with the captains of several marauding schooners
SEAL LIFE ON THE PKIB1LOF ISLANDS. 145
and others who were employed in pelagic sealing have informed me that
they usually use rifles in shooting seals in the water. Some, however,
use shotguns, but to no great extent. From these conversations I should
judge they did not secure more than one-half of the seals killed, and
this, I think, is a large estimate of the number secured. 1 am of the
opinion that the Pribilof seal herd should be protected both in Bering
Sea and the North Pacific Ocean. If an imaginary line were drawn
about the islands, 30 or 40 miles distant therefrom, within which sealing
would be prohibited, this would be littie protection to seal life, for all
the poachers whom I interviewed acknowledged that they could get
more seals in the water near the fishing banks, 30, 40, or more miles from
the islands, than in the immediate vicinity thereof, and the hunters on
the schooners always complained if they got much nearer than 40 miles
of the islands. I am certain that even if sealing were prohibited entirely
upon the islands the seal herd would in a short time be ex terminated by
pelagic sealing, if permitted, because the females — that is, the pro-
ducers— are the seals principally killed by open-sea sealing.
ABIAL P. LOUD.
PELAGIC SEALING — MANAGEMENT.
Deposition ofKerrick Artomanoff, native chief, resident of 8t. Paul Island.
ALASKA, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
St. Paul Island, Pribilof Group, ss :
Kerrick Artomanoff, being duly sworn, deposes and says: I am a
native Aleut and reside on St. Paul Island, Pribilof group, Alaska.
I was born at Northeast Point, on St. Paul Island, and am 67 years of
age. I have worked on the sealing grounds for the last fifty years and
am well acquainted with the methods adopted by the Russian and
American Governments in taking of fur-seal skins and in protecting
and preserving 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 position 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 Govern-
ment for the care and preservation of the seals were much better than
those used by the Russian Government. In old Russian times we used
to drive seals from Northeast Point to the village, a distance of nearly
13 miles, and we used to drive 5 or 6 miles from other hauling grounds;
but when the Americans got the islands they soon after shortened all
the drives to less than 3 miles.
From 1870 to 1884 the seals were swarming on the hauling grounds
and the rookeries, and for many years they spread out more and more.
All of a sudden, in 1884, we noticed there were not so many seals, and
they have been decreasing very rapidly ever since. My people 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 pups on the rookeries that had been starved to
death. These young pups have increased from year to year since 1887,
S. Doc. 137, pt. 1 10
146 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIl-ILoT ISLANDS.
and in 1S1U the rookeries were covered with dead pups. In my sixty-
seven years" residence on the islands ! never before saw anything like
it. None of our people have ever known of any sickness among the
pups or seals, and have never M'en any dead pups on the rookeries,
except a lew killed by the old bulls when lighting, or by drowning
•when the surf washed t hem off. 1 f they had not killed i he 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 >eals in 1>!H as there was in 1SSO.
Th" fur seal goes away from the island in the iall or winter and he
re tin us in A I ay or June ; and 1 believe he will haul up ii; ; he same place
each year, for I particularly noticed some that 1 could tell that hauled
ii}» in the same place for a number oi' years: and v. hen we make drives,
those we do nor kill, but let go ;nto the water, are all back when- we
took them from in a few hours. The pups me born between the middle
of June and the middle of .Inly, and can nut swim until they are away in the water to feed, and when the pup
is - or ,'i weeks old the mother often stays a\\ay for live or six days at a
time. The mot her seals know their own pups by smelling them, and no
seal will allow any but her own pap to suck her. When the pups grow
to be o' or 8 weeks old they form in ••pods" and work down to the
shore, and they Try the water at the cd.Lie until they learn to swim.
They will remain on the island until November, and. if not too cold,
will stay till December. J liaveseen them Mvimming around the island
late in January. All the seals when they leave the islands go olf south,
but I think they would stay around here ail winter if the weather was
not so cold.
\Yhen they come back to the islands they come from the south, and
1 think they come from the North ljacilic Ocean over the same track
that they went. The females go upon the rookeries as soon as they arrive
here, bin 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 - years old. Male seals
from ~ to (> 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 >he has her first pup when she is .'I 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 tights for his cows and does not leave the place he has
selected until August or September. Our people like the meat of the
seal, and \\ e eat no other meal so long as we can get it.
The pup seals are our chicken meat, and we used to be allowed to kill
,'J.onn or 4.MOO male pups every year in November: but the ( Jovernment
agent forbade us to kill any in IS'.M, 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 \\ ell as the pup- seal meat. We under-
stand the danger there is in the seals being all killed off, and that we
will ha ve no wa v of earning our living. There is not one of us but what
believes if they had not killed them off 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,
lint if they get less as fast as they have in the last live or six years,
there, will be none left in a little while.
KEKK ICK AKTOMANOFF.
SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 147
Deposition of Daniel Webxter.
ALASKA, UNITED STATES.
St. Georyc Itilaml, Pribilof Group, *#."
Daniel Webster, being duly sworn, deposes and says: I am CM years
of age, and am a resident of Oakland, Gal.; my occupation is that of
local agent for the North American Commercial Company, and at pres-
ent I am stationed on St. George Island, of the Pribilof group, Alaska;
I have been in Alaskan waters every year but two since 1 was 14 years
of age. 1 first went to Bering Sea in 1845, on a whaling voyage, and
annually visited these waters in that pursuit until 1868, 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 1870 I entered the employ of the lessees of the Pribilof
Islands, and have been so engaged ever since, and for the last thirteen
years have been the company's local agent on St. George Island, and
during the sealing season have, a part of the time, gone to St. Paul
Island and took charge of the killing at Northeast Point, which is known
to be the largest fur seal rookery in the world. For ten years prior to
1878 I resided most of the time at Northeast Point, having landed and
taken seals there in 1868. I have had twenty-four years' experience in
the fur-seal industry as it exists in the waters of the North Pacific and
Bering Sea, -and have made a very careful study of the habits and con-
ditions of this useful animal. During this period it has been my duty
as a trusted employee of the lessees to observe and report, each year,
the condition of the rookeries. My instructions were explicit and
emphatic to never permit, under any circumstances, any practices to
obtain that would result in injury to the herds. These instructions
have been faithfully carried out by myself and other employees of the
lessees of the Islands, and the laws and regulations 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 whaler in Bering Sea and the
North Pacific, during wrhich time I visited every part of the coast surround-
ing these waters, and my subsequent twenty- four years' experience on the
seal islands in Bering and Okhotsk seas, I have never known or heard
of any place where the Alaskan fur seals breed except on the Pribilof
group in Bering Sea. These islands are isolated and seem to possess
the necessary climatic conditions to make them the favorite breeding
grounds of the Alaskan fur seals, and it is here they congregate during
the summer months of each year to bring forth and rear their young.
Leaving the islands late in the fall or in early winter, 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 the ice disappears iroiii
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 born on the breeding rookeries in June
and July. The head constitutes the greater part of this animal at this
time, and they are clumsy and awkward in all their movements, and if
swept into the water by accident or otherwise would perish from inabil-
ity to swim — a fact that I have often observed, and one which is well
known to all who have paid any attention to the subject. Practically,
they remain in this helpless condition, though taking on fat rapidly,
until they are from 6 to 7 weeks old, when they commence to go into
148 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS.
shallow water, and, after repeated trials, learn to swim; but even then
they spend most of their time on land until they leave the islands late
in November. During the first few weeks after their birth they are not
amphibious, and land is a necessity to their existence. The mother
seals go out to sea to feed soon after giving birth to their young, and
return at intervals of from a few hours to several days to suckle and
nourish their young.
The mother seal readily distinguishes her own offspring from that of
others, nor will she permit the young of any other seal to suckle her.
I have noticed in the killing of young seals (pups) for food in November
that their stomachs were full of milk, although, apparently, the mothers
had not been on the islands for several days previous. I have observed
that the male seals taken in the forepart of the season, or within a few
days after their arrival at the islands, are fat and their stomachs con-
tain quantities of undigested fish (mostly cod), while the stomachs of
these killed in the latter part of the season are empty; and they dimin-
ish in flesh until they leave the islands late in the season.
I am of the opinion that while the female often goes long distances to
feed while giving nourishment to her young, the male seals of 2 years
old and over seldom, if ever, leave the islands for that purpose until they
start on their migration southward. When the seals are on the breed-
ing grounds they are not easily frightened unless they are too nearly
approached, and even then they will go but a short distance if the cause
of their fright becomes stationary.
It is impossible to estimate with any sort of accuracy the number of
seals on the Pribilof Islands, because of the seals being constantly in
motion, and because the breeding grounds are so covered with broken
rocks of all sizes that the density varies. I think all estimates hereto-
fore made are unreliable, and in the case of Elliott and others who have
endeavored to make a census of seal life, the numbers are, in my opinion,
exaggerated. Measurements of the breeding grounds, 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
temper of the old bulls will permit. My observation has been that
there was an expansion of the rookeries from 1870 up to at least 1879,
which fact I attribute to the careful management of the islands by the
United States Government. In the year 1880 I thought I began to
notice a falling off from the number of seals on Northeast Point rookery,
but this decrease was so very slight that probably it would not have
been observed by one less familiar with seal life and its conditions than
I; but I 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
so marked in 1886 that everyone on the islands saw if. This marked
decrease in 1886 showed itself on all the rookeries on both islands.
Until 1887 or 1888, however, the decrease was not felt in obtaining
skins, at which time the standard was lowered from 6 and 7 pounds to
5 and 4£ pounds. The hauling grounds of Northeast Point kept up
the standard longer than the other rookeries, because, as I believe, the
latter rookeries had felt the drain of open-sea sealing during 1885 and
1886 more than Northeast Point, the cows from the other rookeries
having gone to the southward to feed, where the majority of the sealing
schooners were engaged in taking seal. There was never while I have
been upon the island any scarcity of vigorous bulls, there always being
a sufficient number to fertilize all the cows coming to the islands. It
was always borne in mind by those on the islands that a sufficient num-
ber of males must be preserved for breeding purposes, and this accounts
SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 149
partly for the lowering of the standard weight ol skins in 1888. The
season of IS!>1 showed that male seals had certainly been in suth'cient
number the year before, because the pups on the rookeries were as
many as should be for the number of cows landing, the ratio being the
same as in former years. Then, too, there was a surplus of vigorous
bulls in 1S{»1 who could obtain no cows. Kvery care is taken in driving
the seals from the hauling to the killing grounds, and during the regu-
lar killing season of June and July there are no females driven, because
at this season they are on the breeding rookeries and do not intermingle
with the young males. If occasionally one does happen to be in the
drive great care is taken not to injure her ; the law prohibiting the kill-
ing of the female seal is well understood by the natives, and they are
thoroughly in sympathy with it. Even were I to request them to kill
a female seal they would refuse to do it, and would immediately report
me to the Government agent. I have known an occasional one to be
killed by accident during the food drives late in the season, when the
males and females intermingle on the hauling grounds, but the clubber
was always severely rebuked by the chief for his carelessness, as well
as by the Government and company officers.
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. George Island are from Starry Arteel and
Great Eastern rookeries, and they are h ss than 3 miles long. Drives
from these rookeries require from four to six hours, according to the
weather. At Zapadnie rookery, on St. George, the drive to the killing
grounds is less than a mile, the 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, immediately go into the water, and, after sporting
around for an hour or two, they return to the hauling grounds, and to
all appearances they are as unconcerned and careless of the presence
of man as they were before they were driven to the killing grounds.
I have often observed that the seals when on the islands do not take
fright easily at the presence of man; and the natives go among them
with impunity. They will go into a herd of seals on the hauling
grounds and quietly separate them into as many divisions and subdivi-
sions as is necessary before driving them to the killing grounds. At
the killing grounds they are again divided into bunches or "pods" of
20 or 30 each more reaolily than the same number of domestic animals
could be handled under the same circumstances.
The bulls on the rookeries will not only stand their ground against
the approach of man, but will become' the aggressors if disturbed.
Pups are tame and very playful when young, and previous to 1891,
when it was the practice to kill 3,000 or 4,000 for natives' food in
November, thousands of them were picked up and handled to determine
sex, for only 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 water 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 Island, the longest drive is 2 miles. In former times the
Eussians used to drive from this rookery to St. Paul village, a distance
15<) SEAL LIFE ON THE PKIHILOF ISLANDS.
of li'J, miles. Seals turned away from the killing grounds return to the
rookery from which they were driven: therefore a male seal is not
redriven day alter day. because a hauling ground is always given sev-
eral days' rest before being driven from again. 1 never saw or heard of
the generative organs of a male seal being injured by driving or by
redriving. and if such a thing had taken place, even in exceptional
castes, tin1 natives would have noticed and reported it. which they never
did. 1 have seen a seal's flippers made sore4 by driving, but 1 never
saw one that was seriously injured by driving. 1 do not believe that a
male seal's powers of reproduction were ever affected by driving or
redriving.
The bulls maintain their positions on the rookeries from the time
they arrive till the cows come by most bloody battles, and after the
cows commence arriving they are continually contending for their pos-
sessions. During these conflicts they are often seriously wounded, and
their exertions are far more violent than any effort made by a young
male during a drive. Then. too. the male seal must have great vitality
to remain on the rookeries for three months without eating or drinking
and with little sleep. 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. 1 believe that a bull can serve one hundred or
more cows, and it is an absurdity to think that an animal possessing
such remarkable vigor could be made impotent bv being driven or
redriven when a bachelor. An impotent bull would have neither the
inclination or vigor to maintain 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 i 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 opinion,
tin1 best that can be adopted. The killing grounds are situated as near
the rookeries and hauling grounds as is possible without having the
breeders or bachelors disturbed by the smell of blood or putrefaction,
and most stringent regulations have always been enforced to prevent
disturbing or frightening the breeding seals.
1 am convinced that if open-sea sealing had never been indulged in
to the extent it has since 18S.1, or perhaps a year or two earlier. 100.000
male skins could have been taken annually forever from the I'ribilof
Islands without decreasing the seal herd below its normal si/e and
condition. The cause 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 number of those engaged in open sea sealing. The majority 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 search of food. The death of every
such mother seal a! sea means the death ol her pup on shore, because
it is absolutely and entirely dependent on her for its daily sustenance.
I never heard of any disease among I lie seal herd, nor of an epidemic
of any sort or at anv time in the history of the islands. I do not
remember t he precise date of the first successful raid upon t he rookeries
bv scaling schooners, but 1 do know that for the past ten years there
have been many such raids attempted, and a few of them successfully
carried out. and that as the number of schooners increased around the
SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 151
islands, the attempted raids increased in proportion, and it has been
deemed necessary to keep armed guards near the rookeries to repel such
attacks. Although a few of the raids were successful, and a few hun-
dred seals killed and carried off from time to time during the past ten
years, the aggregate of all the seals thus destroyed is too small to be
mentioned when considering the cause of the sudden decline of seal
life on the Pribilof Islands.
Twenty-four years of my life have been devoted to the sealing indus-
try in all of its details as it is pursued upon the Pribilof Islands, and
it is but natural that I should become deeply interested in the subject
of the seal lite. My experience has been practical rather than theo-
retical. I have seen the herds grow and multiply under careful man-
agement until their numbers were millions, as was the case in 1880.
From 1884 to 1891 1 saw their numbers decline, under the same careful
management, until in the latter year there was not more than one-fourth
of their numbers coming to the islands. In my judgment there is but
one cause for that decline and the present condition of the rookeries,
and that is the shotgun and the rifle 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 find the breeding grounds in about the
same condition as they are to-day, so destructive to seal life are the
methods adopted by these hunters. I believe the number they secure
is small, as compared with the number they destroy. Were it males
only that they killed the damage would be temporary, but it is mostly
females that they kill in the open waters, and it is plain to anyone
familiar with this animal that extermination must soon follow unless
some restrictive measures are adopted without delay.
The foregoing is substantially the same statement that I made to the
commissioners who visited the islands in 181)1.
DANIEL WEBSTER.
PELAGIC SEALING AND PRIBILOF ROOKERIES.
Deposition of Washington C. Coulson, United States Revenue Marine, in
command of the Rush.
STATE OF CALIFORNIA,
City and County of San Francisco, ss:
Washington C. Coulson, having been duly sworn, deposes and says:
I am captain in the United States Eevenue Cutter Service. At present
I am in command of the United States revenue cutter Rush. I was
attached to the United States revenue cutter TAncoln, under the com-
mand of Capt. C. M. Scammon, during the year 1870, from June until the
close of the year as a third lieutenant, and have been an officer in the
revenue service ever since. In the month of that year that I 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. I noticed particularly the great number of seal,
which were estimated by those competent to judge that at least 5,000,000
and possibly 0,000,000, were in sight on the different rookeries. To me
it seemed as though the hillside and hauling grounds were literally
alive, so great was the number of seals. At St. George Island, though
the seals were 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
152 SKAL LIFE OX THE PRIHILOE ISLANDS.
animals were not diverted from their usual paths of travel. All tire-
aims were forbidden and never have been used on these islands in the
killing and taking of seals. In fact, unusual noise even on the ships at
anchor near these islands is Avoided.
\ isitiug t he rookeries is not permitted only on certain conditions, and
anything that might frighten ; he seals avoided. The seals are never
killed in or near the rookeries, but are driven a short distance inland,
to grounds especially set apart for this work. I do not see now it is
possible t() conduct the sealing process with greater care or judgment.
I nder the direction of Mr. Uedpath. on St. Paul, and .Mr. Webster, on
St. tieorge islands — men who have superintended this work lor many
years — the natives do the driving, and the killing is performed under
the supervision of the Government agents. The natixes understand
just how much fatigue can be endured by the seals, and the kind of
weather suitable for driving and killing: no greater precaution in that
regard can be taken. The evidence of this is in the small percentage
of animals injured or overlie, ited in these drives. I do not believe the
animals are much frightened or disturbed by the process of selecting
the drives from the rookeries, nor do 1 think it has a tendency to scare
the animals away from the islands.
During the seasons of 1S!K) and 18iU I was in command of the reve-
nue cutter h'uxli in P>ering Sea and cruised extensively in those waters
around the seal islands and the Aleutian group. In the season of 1890
I visited the islands of St. Paul and St. (leorge in the months of -July,
August, and September, and had ample and frequent opportunities of
observing the seal life as compared with 1870. I was astonished at the
reduced numbers of seals and the extent of bare ground on the rook-
eries in lsn the 1-th of June. 1891. we were at St. my opinion we
will find less tin's year: and should pelagic sealing in the North Pacific
and llering Sea continue, it is only a question of a very lew years when
seal in these seas, and especially at the seal islands, will be a thing of
the past, for they arc being rapidly destroyed by the killing of females
in the open sea.
As to the percentage of seals lost in pelagic sealing where the use of
firearm- is employed. 1 am not able to state of my own observation,
but from conversations with those engaged in the business I am of the
opinion 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 pup^ upon the rookeries having been noticed at any
time prior to my visit in 1*70. but when I again visited the islands in
IS'.MI I found it a subject of much solicitude by those interested in the
SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS.
perpetuation, and in 18{)1 it had assumed such proportions as to cause
serious alarm. The natives making the drives first discovered this
trouble, then special agents took note, and later on J think almost e very-
one who was allowed to visit the rookeries could not close their eyes or
nostrils to the great numbers of dead pups to be seen on all sides.
In company with Special Agent Murray, Captain Hooper, and Engineer
Brerton, of the Concin, I visited the Keef and (iarbotch rookeries, St.
Paul Island, in August, 1891, and saw one of the most pitiable sights
that I have ever witnessed. Thousands of dead and dying pups were
scattered over the rookeries, while the shores were lined with emaciated,
hungry little fellows, with their eyes turned toward the sea uttering
plaintive cries for their mothers, which were destined never to return.
]s umbers of them were opened, their stomachs examined, and the fact
revealed that starvation was the cause of death, no organic disease
being apparent.
The greatest number of seals taken by hunters in 1891 was to the
westward and northwestward of St. Paul Island, and the largest num-
ber of dead pups were found that year in rookeries situated on the
western side of the island. This fact alone goes a great way, in my
opinion, to confirm the theory that the loss of the mothers was the
cause of mortality among the young.
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 observed them not
only around the islands, but from 80 to 100 miles out at sea.
In different years the feeding grounds or the location where the greater
number of seals are taken by poachers seem to differ; in other words,
the seals frequently change feeding grounds. For instance, in 1887, the
greatest number of seals were taken by poachers between Unamak,
Akutan Passes, and the seal islands, and to the southwestward and east-
ward, in many cases from 50 to 150 miles distant from the seal islands.,
In the season of 1890 to the southward and westward, also to north-
west and northeast of the islands, showing that the seals had been scat-
tered. The season of 1891 the greatest number were taken to northward
or westward of St. Paul, and at various distances, from 25 to 150 miles
away.
On my cruise to St. Matthews and Unamak Island we did not discover
any seal within 25 or 30 miles of those islands, nor do I know of or believe
that the seals haul out upon land in any of the American waters of
Bering Sea except at the Pribilof Islands. If the seal life is to be
preserved for commercial purposes the seals must be protected, not
only in the Bering Sea, but in the waters along the Pacific Coast from
the Aleutian Passes to the Columbia River.
WASH. C. COULSON,
Captain, United States Revenue Marine.
Deposition of Thomas F. Morgan, agent of lessees of Pribilof and
Commander islands.
STATE OF CONNECTICUT,
New London County -, **:
Thomas F. Morgan, being duly sworn, deposes and says: I am the
person described in and who verified two certain affidavits on the 5th
day of April, 1892, before Sevellon A. Brown, notary public, in rela-
tion to the habits, management, etc., of the fur seals.
154 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS.
The harems on the Pribilof Islands have at all times varied very
much in size. In the years when I was on the islands, between 1874
and 1887, it was always possible to find individual harems with 50 or
perhaps 80 females, while others would only have 4 or 5 females, not-
withstanding the average harem would perhaps contain from 15 to 30
females. Large harems, though in smaller numbers, continued to exist
even in the years 1885 and 1887, when, as I have already stated in a
former affidavit, the number of females began to decrease.
While I was on the islands there was no such thing known as dis-
turbing breeders or stampeding the rookeries. The herd is driven
from the rookery, is kept away from filth as much as possible, for the
reason that the skins which are taken, if clean, take salt better, cure
in better condition, and bring better prices. Filth, grease, and oil
make skins come out of kench flat, and such skins are classed as low
when sold. Mud spoils the salt for quick work, so the cleaner the skins
are, the better. As the rejected seals are only to be got away from the
killing ground, the quickest way to the sea is the route chosen, and
they often pass over decaying carcasses, but not of necessity, as they
are allowed to choose their own gait and route to the sea. They do not
seem to object to this any more than to the filth caused by the excre-
ment and decaying placentas on the breeding grounds.
I was on the Commander Islands in 1891 as agent of the Russian
Seal Skin Company. I never heard anyone state that barren females (I
mean females without young) were noticed there, and I don't believe
that any person whose opinion would be entitled to consideration noticed
this fact. It soon would have become a matter of common knowledge
on the islands if there had been any number of adult females without
young. The only sure way to determine whether an adult female is
barren is to examine her as to whether she is giving milk or is dry. As
the young seals do not follow the mother continuously, the fact of seeing
females without pups with them does not prove that they have not pups
somewhere on the breeding grounds, and no person having any knowl-
edge of rookery life could draw such an inference, and claim that the
females were therefore barren.
While on the Pribilof Islands I don't know that I ever saw a sterile
female seal. It is impossible to recognize the same seal from year to
year unless, as in the case of a few old bulls which have large scars, a
torn lip, a white blind eye, the nose split, or some unnatural mark.
And, although I have seen old females without milk, very fat, associat-
ing with the young males, I could not say that they had not been fertil-
ized, and, not having an ofrspring to care for, were associating with the
males until the season arrived for the herd to leave. At one time the
suggestion was made that it would be a good plan to kill these females.
I denied that it was possible for anyone to know that they would not
bear young, and that if the killing of one female was authorized it
would open the way to do great injury to the herd. For, when it
became desirable to market a large number of skins, the clubber would
see large numbers of females unfit for breeding.
It is difficult to discover fresh excrement on the rookeries, for the
seals' flippers soon wipe out the evidence looked for. Still I have often
seen it. In color it is orange, light yellow to almost colorless, and in
consistency soft, almost liquid. At times it is very offensive, and at
others nearly odorless. But the soil of the breeding ground is impreg-
nated with it, which gives to the rookery a most disagreeable odor that
is increased by the decaying placentas.
I am quoted by the British commissioners (section 825 of their report)
SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 155
to show that in 1884 an irregularity in the habits of the seals took place
at the Pribilof Islands. This irregularity consisted in the following : In
previous years the seals that arrived in June furnished nearly all 8-pound
skins and over ; very few of these seals were let go or rejected, and when
any were rejected it was principally because they were too large. But
this year the 2-year-old seals commenced to laud much earlier, and the
run of large half bulls arrived in more scattered bunches, just as if the
herd had been turned back in places and hurried ahead in others, thus
hurrying the smaller seals, so that they came on with the head of the
flock, and turning back some of thelarge seals which formerly had arrived
later. No irregularity was observed in the habits of the female seals.
THOMAS F. MORGAN.
Deposition of James G. 8wan, former inspector of customs, employee of
Indian Bureau and of Fish Commission of United States.
STATE OF WASHINGTON,
Jefferson County, ss :
James GL Swan, having been duly sworn, deposes and says: I am 74
years old, a resident of Port Townsend, Wash., and by occupation a
lawyer. I am also United States commissioner, Hawaiian consul,
commissioner for the State of Oregon, and a notary public. I came to
the Pacific Coast in 1850 and to Port Townsend in 1859, where I have
since held my residence the greater part of the time to the present
date. From 1862 to 1866 I was employed in the Indian Bureau of the
Interior Department and stationed at Neah Bay, and again from 1878
to 1881 I was inspector of customs at the same place. In 1883 I also
visited there in the employ of the Fish Commissioner.
In 1880, at the request of the late Professor Baird, of the Smithson-
ian Institute at Washington, I made a careful study of the habits of
the fur seal (Callorhinus ur.nnus] found in the vicinity of Cape Flattery
and the Strait of Juan de Fuca, and the result of my observation is
embodied in the Tenth United States Census (report of United States
Fish and Fisheries, sec. 5, vol. 2, p. 293. Fur seal of Cape Flattery
and Vicinity) and in the report of the United States Fish Commission.
(Bulletin United States Fish Commission, vol. 3, pp. 201-207.)
The observations upon which these reports are based were mostly
confined to the immediate vicinity of Cape Flattery, and I had at that
time no opportunity for extended inquiry as to the pelagic habits of
the animals. The natural history of the seal herd of the Pribilof Islands,
when upon or in the immediate vicinity of the land, had been minutely,
and, I have no doubt, accurately, described by H. W. Elliott in his mono-
graph published in 1875. There had been up to that date no series of
observations nor good evidence on which to base the hypothesis 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 evidences that some other rookeries than those of the
Pribilof Islands were located at some point on the ( )regon, Washington,
or British Columbia coast. Young seals were occasionally found by
the Indians upon or near the beaches, and pregnant females were often
captured by them so heavy with pup, and apparently so near their full
term of pregnancy, as to warrant the belief that the young must be
either born in the water upon bunches of kelp or upon the rocks and
beaches on or near the coast. Young seals were often brought to the
T)*) SKAL LIFE ON TI1K PK'IBILOF ISLANDS.
Indian villages, and the testimony of both Indian and white hunters at
that time pointed strongly to the conclusion that the breeding grounds
of the animals with which \ve were familiar could not be far distant. I
have myself seen the black pups in the water when they appealed to be
but a few weeks old. and others have assured me ihat a considerable
number were found from time to lime swimming with their mothers.
This | the nome noi i being of constant occurrence year after year, and in the
absence of a wider range of observations, we were naturally confirmed
by them in the conclusion to which 1 have above referred.
In recent years it has been den ion si rated by the large catches obtained
oil the coast by pelagic hunters, and by the testimony of a great num-
ber of people who.-c attention has been directed to the matter, that the:
herd of seals, of which we saw only a very limited proportion irom the
Xeah Bay station, is a very large one: and it now seems beyond a doubt
that the comparatively few authentic cases in which pups were seen
upon or in the vicinity of the coast were anomalous, tor it is reasonable
to suppose that in so large a mass of pregnant females an occasional
one would be prematurely overtaken by the pains of the parturition,
and that the offspring 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 1 have occasionally seen
them. I have also seen at the villages late in the season, in the hands
of the Indian boys, live pups which had been recently removed from
their speared mothers, and whose1 vitality was such that they continued
to live for several days: but it is a well known fact that young mam-
malia may be born several days, or possibly 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 pups whose coats had
been darkened by wetting, or those a few months old. born the prece-
ding summer, for the so-called black pups.
At the Neah Bay station large bull seals are seldom seen, and the
major part of those* killed are pregnant females, having in them small
fetuses early in the season — say about January or February — and later
full-grown young. From all the evidence I am able to gather. 1 believe
the different classes of seals remain apart when upon the British Colum-
bia coast, and old bulls and immature young males being chiefly found
at a considerable distance from the land, while the pregnant females
and young males travel close along the shore, and are frequently seen
in limited numbers in the straits and iidets.
In the light of investigation and research had since the date of my
observations, the most of which were made more than ten years ago, I
am satisfied that the mass of the herd from which the British Columbia
or Victoria catch is obta ined are born neither in the wat er nor upon the
land in the vicinity where they are caught, and it appears most probable
from the routes upon which they are followed and the location in which
they are found bv pelagic hunters between March and August that
they originate in. migrate from, and annually return to Bering Sea.
It has been slated in print that I said I had seen pups born on the
kelp in the water. '[\\\> is a gross misrepresentation. I merely said
that it had been reported to me that such birth had been witnessed,
and <|iioted as m\ aiithorilv ('apt. F. II. McAlmond. of the schooner
(Jlninifiinii p. I'd.",. \(,l. I. of 1'iiited States Fish Commission's report).
Pelagic sea I i in:' was carried on by the Indians at Neah Bay long
before, I first went among them, hut they were then, and until within a
few years, provided only with their canoes, spears, and other native
implements constituting th«- necessary outfit for an aboriginal seal
SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 157
hunter. The destruction wrought by them upon the seal herd was,
compared with the vast number of which it was composed, very slight,
and did little harm to anyone, while the result to the Indians was then
and is still of great importance. Now pelagic seal hunting is carried
on in quite a different manner. Numerous expeditions are fitted out in
well-equipped vessels, some of them under both steam and sail, manned
by whites and Indians, and armed with guns and spears. I am
informed and believe that the herd has greatly decreased within the
last two or three years, and that if pelagic sealing is not soon checked
the herd will be driven hither and thither and so decimated as to render
it commercially valueless. This would be a great wrong to the Indians,
who are dependent to a great measure upon the seals for a livelihood,
as well as needless, wanton waste, which civilized nations ought not to
permit. It can not be denied that the natives, who have utilized the
seal fisheries adjacent to their settlements from their earliest history
and profited by them, deserve some consideration. I believe that in
order to preserve the rookeries upon the islands and build them up to
their former productiveness it is only necessary to restrict pelagic seal-
ing to the coast south of 54° 40' and confine it to the use of the primi-
tive methods formerly employed by the natives.
JAMES G. SWAN.
Deposition of Joseph Stanley-Brown, Treasury agent.
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA,
City of Washington, ss :
Joseph Stanley-Brown, being duly sworn, deposes and says: I am 37
years of age; am a citizen of the United States; reside at Mentor,
Ohio, and am by profession a geologist.
I spent the entire season of 1891 upon the Pribilof Islands, and during
the summer of 1892 again visited them and spent the period between
June 9 and August 14 upon the islands of St. Paul and St. George in
continuation of my investigations concerning seal life. This season, in
addition to the continuous general examination of all the rookeries and
the plottings of the breed ing- ground areas upon charts, certain special
stations were selected at points within easy reach of the village and
daily visits made thereto. This method of work gave me an excellent
opportunity to make comparisons between the breeding areas of 1891
and those of 1892.
As the result of my observations during the past season, it is my
opinion that there was no increase among the females — the producing
class — but on the contrary that there was a perceptible falling off.
This decrease was the more noticeable at points on the rookeries where
the smaller groups of breeding seals are to be found.
There was so little driving during the season of 1892 that an excellent
opportunity 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 apparent than real from the fact that being unmolested
they accumulated in large bands.
It is quite certain that the normal habit of the holluschickie is to
remain most of their time upon shore, and if left to themselves would
spend more time there than in the water. I have kept a close daily
watch upon groups of yonng males, the members of which did not go
into the water for a week or ten days at a time.
158 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBlLOF ISLANDS.
Any statement to the effect that the occasional occurrence of large
harems indicates a decrease in the available number of virile males, and
hence deterioration of the rookeries, should be received with great
caution if not entirely ignored. The bulls play only a secondary part in
the formation of harems. It is the cow which takes the initiative. She
is in the water beyond the reach or control of the male and can select
her own point of landing. Her manner on coming ashore is readily
distinguished from that of the young males which continuously play
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 her own selecting. In this incipient
stage of her career on shore there is but little interference on the part
of the male, but once well away from the water and near the bull she
has chosen, he approaches her, manifests his pleasure, and greetings are
exchanged. She then joins the other cows and as soon as dry lies down
and goes comfortably to sleep. I have seen this selective power exer-
cised repeatedly, and the result is that one bull will be especially favored
while those within 15 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 indicates only the selective
power of the females. If 100 bulls represented the necessary supply of
virile males we might, by reason of this fact, find 10 bulls with very
large harems, 10 with still less, 50 with a reason able number, 20 with a
few, and 10 with none. An onlooker would not, therefore, be justified
in stating that by reason of these few large harems there is a lack of
virile males.
In the very nature of things it seems impossible that any method
other than this one of selection on the part of the female could ever
have existed.
Large harems are frequently due to topographic conditions, the con-
figuration of the land being such that the females can only reach the
breeding grounds through narrow passageways between the rocks, and
around the terminations of which they collect.
Harems often coalesce; then boundaries become indefinite, and when
their size and position make them too large for control, cows pass to the
rear and are appropriated by the bulls there.
When once the female is located, the bull exercises rigid control and
permits no leaving of the lands until she has been served. I never saw
a harem so large that the vigilance of the bull in this respect was ever
relaxed. His consorts may escape to another harem, but they are never
permitted to go to sea until an inspection convinces the bull that they are
entitled to do so. No intelligent observer would be so bold as to assert
that during the season of 1892 there was not an abundance of males of
complete virility, despite the occurrence of occasional large harems.
The accompanying photographs1 show that even at the height of the sea-
son, and just previous to the disintegration of the breeding grounds,
there were un supplied with cows old males which had taken their stand
and from which I was unable to drive them with stones.
I should have been extremely glad to have been able to note a great
many more of these large harems, but the work of the pelagic hunter
among the females has been so effective that the average size of the
harems is growing smaller and smaller, while the number of the idle
bulls is steadily increasing. The rookeries of the Pribilof Islands will
never be destroyed by superabundance of large harems.
1 Not furnished.
SEAL LIFE ON THE PKIBILOF ISLANDS. 159
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 arrival
oi' which I 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 iirst landing. On first entering the sea they make
a straight line for the outer waters, and as lar as the eye can follow them
they seem still to be traveling. The first cows to arrive are the first to
depart in search of food, and by the tirst week in July the cows are
coming and going with such frequency as to be readily seen at any
time. The accompanying photograph' (taken on July 8, 1892, from the
same position but one day earlier than the one of last year which faces
page 13 of volume 2, of the case) shows pups, the mothers of which
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 ol 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 their pups — after fasting and
after gorging themselves with food. After the birth of the pup, and
after remaining upon the rookeries evea 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 up. 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 suclvle 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 u sunburnt" cows were first
killed, and their stomachs were found to be empty. Another was shot
just as she came ashore and her stomach was gorged with half-digested
codfish, which was identified by Mr. Townsend, 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 portion of the cow and well up
to the fore flippers — 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 sufficient amount to enable
me to determine its taste and consistency. A large supply of food is
necessary to furnish such an abundant amount of milk. I have no
doubt that a well- developed mother seal could yield between a pint and
a quart of milk in the first twenty-four hours after landing from a feed-
ing expedition, and with such rich fountains to draw upon 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 presence of excrementitious matter upon the breeding rookeries
is recognized both by sight and smell. It is of a yellowish color, and
though much 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 discoloration of the soil and
the offensive odor. The latter is readily detected at a distance of miles,
when the wind is completely impregnated with it. The odor bears no
1 Not furnished.
160 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS.
resemblance to that which arises from the bodies of a large number of
assembled animals.
The quantity of excrementitious matter present is influenced by the
nature of their diet, which, being fish, is largely assimilated, while in
their coming and going much of it may be deposited in the water, to
say nothing of drenching from rain, to which the rookeries (many of
which are solid rock; are subjected.
On the hauling grounds, on the other hand, it is almost impossible to
detect such matter, either through its presence, the appearance of the
soil, or its odor. This is a well known fact to anyone who has even
casually inspected such hauling grounds as Middle Hill, parts of Za-
padnie, western end of English Bay, western end of North Rookery,
Starry Arteel, Great East Eookery, and others.
This difference between the breeding grounds and the true hauling
grounds is explained by the fact that the former are occupied by nurs-
ing females, which are constantly feeding, while the latter are frequented
chiefly by young males, which take but little food during the summer.
This abstention from food on their part is further indicated by the fact
that, with exceptions now and then observed on the killing grounds,
they grow thinner and thinner as the season advances.
The pup at birth is received by the mother with an affectionate 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 mother for the pup's
protection. I have repeatedly seen a mother, when her offspring was
still so young as to be helpless, remove it beyond the reach of the surf,
or gently lift it from a hole between the bowlders into which it had
fallen. I have seen them often place the udder in the most available
position for the pup to suck, and move themselves sufficiently close for
it to be within easy reach. After an absence in the sea, the mother
invariably calls to her young repeatedly, and manifests pleasure on find-
ing it. Later on the pup is able to recognize its mother, and as the
female will suckle only her own pup the pleasure and contentment
which the meeting gives both is evident to the most careless observer.
Dead pups were as conspicuous in their infrequency in 1892 as by
their numerousness in 1891. In no instance was there to be noted an
unusual number of dead pups, except on the breeding grounds of
Tolstoi, the position, character, and size of which gave prominence to
the carcasses. Here the mortality, while in no way approaching that
of the previous season, was still beyond the normal, as indicated by the
deaths upon the other breeding grounds.
Any surreptitious killing of the mothers 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 detected by the attempt to
dispose of the skins. There are no hauling grounds so close to the
breeding areas that the driving of the young males could cause conster-
nation among the females during the breeding season. Stampedes or
disturbances can not account for it, for not only are the breeding
grounds in this particular case of Tolstoi one-fourth of a mile away
from the hauling grounds, namely, at Middle Hill (the nearest point to
that breeding ground from which seals were driven in 1891 and 1892),
but it would be practically impossible to stampede this breeding ground
by any disturbing cause save of such magnitude as to be the subject of
common knowledge on the islands, and I 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
SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS.
does not live who cun stampede rookery bulls. No sinokeof vessels or
presence of ships ever cause the stampede of an entire breeding ground.
Such things have been reported but no one has ever seen it, and it
would require persistent effort to accomplish such a result. I have had
cause to send natives on several occasions entirely across a rookery,
and no stampede ensued. 1 have thrown eggshells filled with blue
paint at female seals, for the purpose of marking them, until rocks and
seals were a mass of blue color, but with no disturbing effect. In the
prosecution of my investigations 1 have shot females with a noiseless
rille 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
presented their wonted appearance.
After two seasons' observation I unhesitatingly state that I do not
believe there has ever been breeding grounds stampeded in such a whole-
sale manner as to cause the death of pups. If such occurred in 1891
and 181)2 it is certainly extraordinary that only the starvelings met death.
The true explanation of the 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 1891 and 1892. The following explanation,
based upon my acquaintance with the facts, is offered in a tentative way :
A glance at the map will show that the location and topographic
character of this rookery have no counterpart elsewhere on the island.
The rookeries upon which deaths are infrequent are those 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 composed of drifting sands and it has rather a
steep inclination down to the sea. The shore is an open one, and the
surf, either gentle or violent, is almost constantly present. As the time
for learning to swim approaches the pups find it easy to come down the
incline. They congregate in large numbers upon the sandy shore and
begin their swimming lessons. This is at a period when they are still
immature and not very strong. The buffeting of the waves exhausts
them and coming ashore they either wander off, or struggling a certain
distance up the incline, made more difficult of ascent by the loose sand
of which it is composed, lie down to rest and sleep, and are overlooked
by their mothers returning from the sea. I have seen mother seals go
up the entire incline seeking their pups.
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 1891 was due to pelagic sealing in Bering Sea. Had it not been so,
there is no reason why the deaths in 1892 should not have been as
widely distributed as they were the previous year.
1 )uring the past summer particular care was taken to have the drives
conducted in the same manner as in previous years, in order that the
effect 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. With two
exceptions, no drives were made from the same hauling grounds except
at intervals of two weeks. As the killing this year was limited to
7,500, there could be but few seals taken each week, and this necessita-
ted turning back to the water, about 200 yards distant from the killing
S. Doc. 137, pt. 1 11
162 SEAL LIFE ON THE PKIBILOF ISLANDS.
ground, from 7f> to 85 per cent of those driven up, and gave an excellent
opportunity to observe the effect of driving upon large bands of seals.
In driving it is true that if the weather is unfavorable a few may die
en route, or in anticipation of their death are clubbed, skinned, and
their pelts added to the quota. It is also true that sometimes there are
manifestations of weariness and exhaustion among the driven seals;
that driving causes some excitement; that occasionally smothering
occurs, and that there are other episodes happening 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 be 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 points 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 that 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 play 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 without food or water, and in which their fetal
life can be cut from the mother 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-BROWN.
DEAD PUPS.
Deposition of J. C. 8. Akerly, surgeon United States Revenue Marine, and
resident surgeon on St. Paul Island.
STATE OF CALIFORNIA,
City and County of San Francisco, ss:
J. C. S. Akerly, Ph. B., M. D., having been duly sworn, deposes and
says: I am a graduate of the University of California, 1882, and a
graduate of the Cooper Medical College, 1885. From June to August
18, 1891, I was surgeon on the revenue-marine steamer Corwin. From
August 18 to November 24, 1891, I was resident physician on St. Paul
Island, one of the Pribilof or seal islands. I am at present a practicing
physician at 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 requested
by the Government agent to examine some of the carcasses for the pur-
pose of determining the cause or causes of their death. I visited and
walked over all the rookeries. On all, dead seals were to be found in
immense numbers. Their number was more apparent on those rookeries
such as Tolstoi and Halfway Point, the water sides of which were on
SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 163
smooth ground, and the eye could glide over patches of ground hun-
dreds of feet in extent which were thickly strewn with carcasses.
Where the water side of the rookeries, as tit Northeast Point and the
Reef (south of the village), was on rocky ground, the immense num-
ber of dead was not so apparent, but a closer examination showed that
the dead were there in equally 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 stepping on the car-
casses. The great mass of dead in all cases was within a short dis-
tance of the water's edge. The patches of dead would commence at
the water's edge and stretch in a wide swath up into the rookery.
Amongst the immense masses of dead were seldom to be found the car-
casses of full-grown seals, but the carcasses were those of pups or
young seals born that year. I can give no idea of the exact number of
dead, but 1 believe that they could only be numbered by the thousands
on each rookery. Along the water's edge, and scattered amongst the
dead, were 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 plump condition and active, aggressive conduct of the healthy
appearing pups.
The majority of the pups, like all healthy nursing animals, were plump
and fairly rolling in fat. 1 have watched 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 suck. Although 1 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 pups seemed to me to
have ceased to act in great part before my first visits to the rookeries,
for subsequent 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
operation. It seemed to me that there were fewer sickly looking pups
at each subsequent visit. This grew to be more and more the case as
the season advanced. When 1 visited the rookeries for the purpose of
examining the dead bodies it was with extreme difficulty that carcasses
could be found fresh enough to permit of a satisfactory examination.
I I examined a large number of carcasses. All showed an absence of
fatty tissue between the skin and muscular tissue. The omen turn in
I all cases was destitute of fat. These are the positions where fat is
usually present in all animals. Well-nourished young animals 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 examination of the intestines failed 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 1891 among the young seals on
St. Paul Island, Bering Sea, was caused by the deprivation of mothers7
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 pan passu with the abatement of sea seal-
ing. Third, the presence of emaciated, sickly looking pups which
164 SI;AL LIFI; ON THE PKIIULOF ISLANDS.
were apparently deserted by their inolliers. Fourth, the plump,
healthy appearance of all i he pups 1 saw nursing. Fifth, the emaciated
condition of I lie dead. Sixth, the absence of food in the stomachs
and their contracted condition. Seventh, the absence of digested food
in the intestines. Fighth, the absence of even fecal matter, save in
small amounts in a tew eases. Ninth, the absence ot structural
changes in the viscera or other parts of the bodies to account for the
death.
.1. C. s. AKKKL\, Ph. U.. M. I).
CIT^ OF WASHINGTON.
/>/.viY/V/ ot Columbia^ -v.v :
Henry \V. Flliott, being duly sworn, deposes and says: 1 am a resi-
dent of Cleveland, Ohio, where 1 was born; am Hi years of aye, and
am a citi/en of the Tnited States.
1 iirst visited the Pribilof Islands in April, 1ST-, under the joint
appointment of the I'nited States Treasury Department and of the
Smithsonian Institution, and resided thereon until August, 1S7.">. In
I, and during
May. June, .Inly, and August, under authority of a special act of ( 'on-
gress, in 1S1M). During each visit I carefully studied the seal life on
these islands, and investigated the habits of the fur seals. In these
years 1 also visited the various islands in and around Bering Sea, the
leading ports and inhabited places on the mainland and islands of
Alaska in the Pacific Ocean, as also the ports of liritish Columbia and
the I'nited States; witnessed the methods of pelagic sealing, con-
versed with many pelagic seal hunters, shipmasters, and fur traders,
and sought in all possible ways to acquaint myself fully with seal life
and the taking of seals.
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 -<> F. above /ero;
summer brings only a slight elevation in the temperature, between 1~>°
or L'O , so that the mean temperature of that season is 40 to M)°.
\\ ith the opening of the summer, about the 1st of May, a cold, moist
fog settles down upon these islands, and is ever present until the hit ter
part of October. It is doubtless to this remarkably damp and sunless
atmosphere, together with (he isolation of these islands, and the fact
that from their formation they are rapidly drained, that the seals seek
these islands to breed: in fact, if is necessary that such a sunless ami
inoiM climate with a low temperature should exist for this species of
fur years of age have been killed
by the lessees of the islands. No female has been or is allowed to be
taken: a few have been killed by accident. .\ number of seals are
driven from the hauling "-rounds to the killing grounds after being
separated from the resr by the natives. They can be driven safely at
the speed of half a mile an hour, providin.tr the weather is reasonably
wet and cold. On arriving at the killing grounds they are killed with
clubs and their skins removed. During my visit to the islands, in 1*00,
I was led to the conclusion that some unnecessary loss of life had been
occasioned by excesshe driving, and that the methods of culling the
herd must be abolished: but tins loss, which is bad enough, bears no
comparison in its injurious effect upon the herd to that loss by reason
of indiscriminate slaughter which is inflicted upon the fur-seal herd
unchecked by pelagic hunting. Of this 1 will speak later. Besides,
the injurious eitect of excessive driving can be easily corrected. It-
was stopped in I8!K). and has been still further restricted since on the
islands.
\V I.K.HT AM> M/.K Ol >I.AI S.
A bull when full grown weighs between -400 and -~> years old. weigh from ."><) to -00
pounds, and are from 1 to .">.•, or ti feet in length.
About the 1st of November the great mass of the cows and bachelors
begin to depart, and the pups following from the islands, going south-
ward, the old bulls having nearly all preceded them in September 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 1 here mil il late in January
in small numbers, a few hundreds at the most.
'I ill; MKiKATlMX nl I III I'|;I r,l I.oF M.A1 )lia;i>.
To this, my affidavit, 1 append a track chart1 of the path traveled by
the Pribilof fur-seal herd in the North Pacific Ocean from the time it
leases the seal islands and Bering Sea in the late autumn until it
rcenters Bering Sea in June or 1th to Kith of .Inly following. From
records kept at I'nalaska and I'mnak for the last eighty years, and
from other information, I believe it to be a fact, well settled, that the
1 " Not fnniishfd."
fur seals K
SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 169
ils regularly pass out from the waters of Boring Sea into the
North Pacific by the middle or end of November as a body; that these
animals do not turn to the eastward and up by the peninsular and
Kadiak coast, but keep directly south till lost to view.
From ship captains who have sailed during the last twenty years
between San Francisco and Pn.net Sound, i have learned that while
making out from San Francisco from the Sound, a long westerly reach,
they have seen large numbers of fur seals 800 or more miles at sea in
January or late December moving toward the California Coast. Early
in January the tirst stragglers begin to appear off the California Coast
and by the middle of February the main body of the herd arrives
Simultaneously oft" between Santa Barbara and Cape Mendocino. From
this point the progress of the herd northward is indicated on the chart
hereto attached.1 The fact of this annual migration of the Pribilof fur-
seal herd and the route thereof is stated from knowledge derived from
my own study in the field, and from the testimony of those traders and
mariners who responded to my inquiries at Unalaska, Umak, Sannak,
Belcovskie, Kadiak, Nucliek, Yakutat, Sitka, Fort Simpson, Victoria,
Port Townsend, and Astoria.
THE HERD VISIT ONLY THE PLACE OF THEIR H1RTH.
From all the facts that have come to my knowledge in relation to the
annual migration of the fur-seal herd, and also from information care-
fully gathered, I am convinced and believe that the Pribilof herd of fur
seals now never land upon any other coast or islands save the Pribi-
lof group, the land of their birth. At no time along the coast does the
herd approach nearer than gunshot of the shore, and is often 100 to 200
miles distant therefrom.
GROWTH OF PELAGIC SEALING.
When I first visited Alaskan waters in 1865-60, and again in 1872,
pelagic sealing was almost unknown, except by Indians in canoes along
the North Pacific Coast and the catch was small, from 5.000 to 10,000
annually. In 1885 it began to assume larger proportions, for white men
then embarked, and in 1886 the number of vessels engaged with white
crews in pelagic sealing was 17; the number in 1890 was 42, and in 1891,
86 known craft; and probably 10 or 12 more clearing for " whaling and
trading," where, in fact, they intended to seal.
The distinctive effects of open-water killing on the seal herd may be
better understood by examining the manner in which pelagic sealing is
now carried on.
MANNER OF PELAGIC SEALING.
A sealing schooner is seldom over 80 or under 40 tons measurement,
employing 15 or 20 men. The vessel sails well into the track of the
migrating herd of fur seals. Each boat, to the number of 7 or 8, is
manned with two men, one of whom rows; the other sits in the bow
with his shotgun or rifle and gaff- pole. The boat also contains a small
keg of water, some provisions, ammunition locker, skinning knives, and
an extra pair of 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 6, 7, or 8
miles, and the furthermost may be out of sight of the schooner.
'"Notfnruished."
170 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS.
When the boats have taken their position the oarsman just keeps the
boat's nose to the wind, and the hunter keeps a lookout for seals.
A fur seal, when discovered by the hunter in the open ocean, is either
sleeping or feeding, and so the only classification by these hunters is
"feeders" or " sleepers." It is an absolute impossibility 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 swimming 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, five, or fifteen minutes to breathe,
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 it it raises 30, 50 or 100 yards from the boat, it will pause
a moment — long enough for the hunter to shoot at it.
If the seal is not hit or is wounded 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
be invisible from the surface. If, however, the seal happens to be
wounded so as to be stunned or dazed, it will flounder on the surface
of the water until secured. Except, therefore, in the last peculiar man-
ner of wounding, the seal hunter never knows whether he has missed,
wounded, or killed the seal. Provided, however, the boat can be rowed
immediately to the spot where the seal was, which depends on the accu-
racy of fixing the spot — necessarily a most difficult matter — the hunter
may perceive the sinking body, if the seal was killed, some 4, 6, or 8
feet below the surface. In that case he reaches down with his gaff and
fastens on to the carcass and drags it up to the boat. Seals wounded
either fatally or slightly are never found. They instantly dive and
swim away, to perish sooner or later.
THE WASTE OF LIFE.
A hunter takes, say, 200 cartridges when 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 and
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 had with
pelagic hunters, I am of the opinion that a large majority of them do
not get one out of every five that they shoot at within and beyond a
range of 50 yards. At 30 to 50 yards' distance they are almost sure to
hit them if they use buckshot. Xo hunter who uses a gun can tell the
exact number he secures, as compared with the number he kills or
fatally wounds. He can not possibly tell the truth, even if he wants
to do so. He usually blazes away at every seal that rises within range
to a hundred yards or even farther.
The Indian hunters accompanying a sealing schooner generally use a
toggle-headed spear, fastened to the canoe by a line which they use.
After a storm the seals sleep more than at any other time, and it is
then the Indian hunters are let down in their canoes and paddle
off 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 paddled 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 hunter secures
nearly every seal he strikes ; but it is also indiscriminate slaughter, as
he can not distinguish the age or sex of the "sleeper" before striking it.
SKAL LIFE ON THE PKIBILOF ISLANDS. 171
N is i4Ki:i.\(i SKA AND NORTH I-A( n i< NI < K-SARY.
After carefully examining the situation, actual records, and trust-
worthy testimony of men engaged in sealing, with whom I have con-
versed, and also from knowledge of the migratory habit and peculiar
circumstances of seal lite, I am of the opinion that unchecked pelagic
sealing is sure, speedy destruction of the Pribilof herd of fur seals;
that it' allowed to continue, and the fleet increases in number of vessels
and increased skill of hunters, even though the present modus vivendi
should remain in force, it would result in the utter commercial ruin of
the herd; that in order to preserve the seals from complete destruction,
as a commercial factor, it is necessary that pelagic sealing should not
only be prohibited in Bering Sea, but also in the North Pacific, from
the 1st of May until the end of October, annually. The pelagic hunters
to-day kill at least 00 per cent cows, the great majority being with
young, nearly ready for delivery, in the Pacific Ocean.
As the physical conditions are such that it is utterly impossible to
discriminate in matters of sex or age when shooting or spearing in
th«' 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 the Pribilof Islands will
be entirely ineffective. No pelagic sealing can be permitted in Bering
Sea with safety to the preservation of the herd, and the prohibition
should extend into the North Pacific to a period sufficiently 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 made to the Pribilof Islands in 1800 satisfied me
that a very great decrease had taken place in the seal herd which
annually resorts to those islands. My observations in 1872, 1874, and
1876 led me to the conclusion that, provided matters were conducted
in the seal islands as they were then, 100,000 male seals under 5 years
of age might be safely taken each year without injury to the regular
birth rates or natural increase of the herd, provided no abnormal cause
of destruction occurred. But in 1800 1 found an entirely different condi-
tion of affairs existing. This decrease I attribute in the greatest meas-
ure to the pelagic sealing above mentioned. Its effect has been so great
that there is demanded, in my opinion, a cessation of all killing on the
islands, except for the necessities of the natives for a few years, as well
as the permanent prohibition of pelagic sealing, as already indicated,
thus giving an opportunity for the herd to reestablish itself approxi-
mately to its normal conditions. When the killing is again permitted
on the islands for commercial purposes 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-
hibited, at least until the herd shall have reached the form and condi-
tion which I found during 1 87^-1 870.
With such regulations in force, and with pelagic sealing discontinued,
it may be confidently anticipated that within a few years this species,
so valuable to the human race, will be restored to a condition which
will render it valuable once again to the commerce of the civilized
world; and this restoration will prove enduring.
HENRY W. ELLIOTT.
Subscribed and sworn to before me, a notary public in and for the
District of Columbia, this l.'ith day of April, 1802.
[L- s-] SEVELLON A. BROWN.
172 SLAL LIFK ON THE PRIHILOF ISLANDS.
CMTKD STATKS COAST AND CRODF/HC SIKVKY.
^Iciintcr M<-.[ rtlitir. December 9. 1^9.2.
Hon. JOHN \V. FOSTKK,
Nrr/'f iiii'Uuf Stutt . ]\'((s)l hit/toil. />. ('.
SIR: I have 1 lie honor to for\\ ard the a i'idax it desired, and will forward
the duplicate 1 o-morrow.
\\~e anchored otf Sechat village at .'>..'>0 p. in. April L'O. Our native
chief came alongside and was requested to come on board in the morn-
ing and bring wit li him some of tin1 chief men of t he village, lie had
planned to go hunting wild geese, which were living at the time: so I
promised him s-> or >s-~> for his loss of time and to accompany us to other
villages. \Ye took their testimony in the morning of the L'lst. and ran
to another village. anchoring at 10.45 a. in., took testimony and left at
l.L'O. Anchored oiV I'cliielet at 1*. 10 and left at i.-!.\ Anchored off
Taylor Island at 7.'_'0 p. m. and lei't for Port Townsend at 10 p. in.
Two to three dollars were given to each head chief and one dollar
eacli to the others for their loss of time and witness tee after testimony
was given. All that was requested of them was to answer the questions
truthfully. The white storekeeper was on hoard but a few minutes, and
was invited to take a glass of beer or liquor. The priest dined on board,
and. I believe, took a drink and some claret wine. \Ve were1 not long
enough in any one place to intoxicate anyone if we had been foolish
enough to do so. 1 sincerely believe they would give the same
testimony to an Knglish party at any time.
There were four commissioned officers of the Navy present during the
testimony, and as many of the witnesses could speak and understand
Knglish. all were satisfied of their truthfulness.
Very respect full y.
W. T. KAY.
Lieutenant, r/d/rd States \iii»/((i«liit, which
amount was distributed amoii.u' 1~» men. It was made up partly of the
amount paid to each individual witness on account of his attendance
on board mv vessel, partlv of sums paid out to men who undertook to
ascertain the whereabouts of certain of the witnesses and secure their
attendance as above. Kach witness received a plu# of tobacco. No
other gratuity of any sort was dispensed.
SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 173
At no time during my slay at Barclay Sound was any intoxicating
liquor dispensed to any native witness, nor was any witness under the
influence of liquor at the time when I took his testimony. We were
not more than two and a halt' hours at any one village.
The testimony which 1 obtained was given in every instance willingly
and cheerfully. Neither the witness fees nor the gratuities above men-
tioned formed any part of the consideration for the giving of this testi-
mony, and 1 firmly believe the same statements will be made to anyone
visiting the place for information at any time.
Just before leaving, Chief Charlie, chief of police, stated that he and
his people had given food, clothing, shelter, and protection to many ship-
wrecked Americans, and he requested blue cloth enough to make a uni-
form suit, as he could not procure any there. It was given to him as a
slight acknowledgment of his kindness to our people in distress.
Value, $10.
W. P. BAY,
Licntenttnl, United States Navy,
Commanding Coast Survey Steamer Me Arthur.
Sworn to before me this 9th day of December, 1892.
[SEAL.] A. S. MACDONALD.
Notary Public in and for Alameda County, State of California.
Deposition of C. L. Hooper.
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA,
City of Washington, ss:
Personally appeared before me C. L. Hooper^ who, being duly sworn,
deposes and says: I am 50 years of age; a resident of Oakland, Cal.,
and am an officer in the United States Ke venue-Marine Service, holding
the grade of captain, and commanding the United States revenue-
steamer Cor win.
In obedience to instructions from the Secretary of the Treasury, I
cruised in the North Pacific Ocean from March 9 to May 16, 1892, for
the purpose of investigating the habits of the fur seal when at sea.
During these investigations I had occasion to take the depositions of a
number of natives and white men familiar with the subject.
During a portion of September, all of October, and a portion of
November these investigations were continued in the vicinity of the
Aleutian Archipelago, and a number of depositions were taken also
from the natives of the Aleut villages situated thereon.
No depositions were taken by me from the natives of Vancouver
Island, nor from the natives from any other localities except as pre-
viously indicated.
In no instance was liquor in any form given by me, or by anyone on
my vessel, to any affiant; no affiant was under the influence of liquor
when his statement was made; no undue influence of any sort or
description was used; no gratuities were given; only such witness fees
were paid as would be a fair compensation for loss of time when such
loss of time actually occurred, and the testimony obtained was given
freely and willingly.
Two hundred and eighty depositions were taken, and the aggregate
fees paid was $69.50.
C. L. HOOPER.
Subscribed and sworn to before me this 13th day of December, 1892.
[SEAL.] SEVELLON A. BROWN.
174 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIB1LOF ISLANDS.
Deposition of William H. Williams.
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA,
City of Washington, ss :
Personally appeared before me William H. Williams, who being duly
sworn, deposes and says: I reside at Wellington, Ohio; I am 56 years
of age, and am United States Treasury agent in charge of the Pribilof
Islands.
I have seen several newspaper articles in which I am charged with
having "suborned Indian testimony," with employing "unfair means"
in obtaining evidence from Indians, and that conclusive proof of this
misconduct has been procured by Major Sherwood of the Dominion
police.
The facts in connection with the procuring of these depositions are
as follows: During the summer of 1892 I had occasion, in accordance
with instructions from the Secretary of the Treasury, to take the depo-
sitions of certain natives concerning the subjects of seal life and sealing
at sea. The Indians from whom 1 took depositions were the Makah
Indians at the Makah Agency, two Nitnat Indians at the same place,
and the natives on the Pribilof Islands. No depositions were taken by
me from any other natives, and I was never at Barclay Sound, on the
west of Vancouver Island, or on the west coast of British Columbia,
In taking depositions from the Makah Indians the only sum of money
paid was $2.50, which was given by me to Chestoqua Peterson, son of
the chief, for his services as interpreter for two and one- half days. On
the Pribilof Islands the sum of $5 was paid to Simeon Melivedof, a
native and school teacher on the island, for four days' services as a
copyist. These 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 either directly or indirectly associated with me; nor was any affiant
under the influence 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 Xitnat Indians.
In the case of the natives at the Makah Agency, the depositions were
taken in the office of the Indian agent, Glynu, and under his personal
knowledge. He is a radical in his opposition to the giving of intoxi-
cants to natives, and had anyone attempted to ofler one of the Indians
liquor he would have been at once ejected from the agency.
WM. H. WILLIAMS.
Subscribed and sworn to before me this 20th day of December, 1892.
[SEAL.] CHAS. S. HUGHES, Notary Public.
Additional deposition of William H. Williams.
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA,
City of Washington, ss:
Personally appeared before me William H. Williams, who, being duly
sworn, deposes and says: I reside at Wellington, Ohio; am 56 years of
age, and am United States Treasury agent in charge of the Pribilof
Islands.
During the summer of 1892 I had occasion, in accordance with instruc-
tions from the Secretary of the Treasury, to take the depositions of cer-
SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 175
tain white men concerning the subject of sealing at sea. The depositions
were taken in Victoria IVom ship captains, seamen, boat pullers and
steerers, seal hunters, and others interested in sealing, among them the
vice-president of the Sealers' Association. All depositions were taken
and verified before the United States consul, Myers, at Victoria. This
was the only place in which I took depositions in British Columbia. In
no instance was any liquor given by me to an affiant; nor was any affiant
under the influence of liquor when his deposition was made or verified;
and no undue influence of any sort or description was employed. Xo
gratuities were given. The testimony obtained was, in all instances,
not only given freely and willingly, but often voluntarily. The usual
witness fees (in this case ranging from -SI to $3) were paid, and only in
three instances was the latter sum given, the usual price being $2.
WM. H. WILLIAMS.
Subscribed and sworn to before me this 2()th day of December, 1892.
[SEAL.] CHAS. S. HUGHES, Notary Public.
Deposition of Joseph Murray.
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA,
City of W&xKington, ss :
Personally appeared before me Joseph Murray, who, being duly sworn,
deposes and says: 1 reside at Fort Collins, Colo.; I am 50 years of age,
and am the first assistant Treasury agent at the Pribilof Islands.
In obedience to instructions from the Secretary of the Treasury, I
accompanied the Fish Commission steamer Albatross on the cruise made
by that vessel during the month of April, 1892, and took depositions
from the natives of Cooks Inlet and Prince William Sound. I also took
depositions in Kodiak, Victoria, Port Towusend, and Seattle from white
men. In no instance was any liquor given to an affiant; nor was any
affiant under the influence of liquor when his statement was made or
verified ; and no undue influence of any sort or description was employed.
Xo compensation whatsoever was given by the Government to any
native or other person for any purpose, and the testimony obtained was
in all instances given freely and willingly.
JOSEPH MURRAY.
Subscribed and sworn to before me this 21st day of December, 1892.
[SEAL.] JOSEPH A. KINSLEY, Notary Public.
DESTRUCTION OF FEMALE SEALS.
Testimony of American furrier*.
Relative to matter of depletion of seal herds of the Pribilof Islands,
this most deplorable fact is due in our opinion in great part, if not
entirely, to the action of sealers in the indiscriminate killing of these
animals while in transit to and from these islands for breeding purposes,
the females being killed in much greater proportionate numbers, owing
to their less aggressive nature and their being less able to escape.
While on their way to these islands the cow (female) seal is in a condi-
tion of pregnancy, the period of gestation ending shortly after their
landing. If intercepted and killed while in this condition the loss is
obvious. (G. G. Gunther's Sons.)
176 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS.
At that time (1805) he made his purchases from the Indians on the
western coast of the American continent, who offered to him only the
skins of female seals; that the price he originally paid for them was as
low as 50 cents per skin; that he offered the Indians a much higher
price for male skins, and was told by them that the male seals could
not be caught, and that many Indians whom he has personally seen
kill seals, and from whom he has bought skins, have told him that male
seals and the young cows were too active to be caught, and that it was
only the female seals heavy with young which they could catch. The
males, for instance, as deponent 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 says that, from his own observation of live seals during
many years, and from his personal inspection of the skins, he knows
the difference between the skin of a female seal and a male seal to be
very marked, and that the two are easily distinguishable. The skin of
a female shows the marks of the breasts, about which there is no fur.
The belly of the female seal is barren of fur also, whereas on a male the
fur is thick and evenly distributed. The female seal has a much nar-
rower head than the male seal, and this difference is apparent in the
skins; also that the differences between the male and female seals7 skins
are marked; that there is now and always has been a difference in the
price of the two from 300 to 500 per cent. For example, at the last sales
in London, on the 22d day of February, 1892, there were sold 30,000
female skins at a price of 40 shillings apiece, and 13,000 male seals at a
price of 130 shillings apiece, on an average.
Second. That from the year 1864 down to the present day deponent
or his firm have been large purchasers of seal skins on the western
coast of America from the Indians and residents on the British coast;
and deponent believes that he has handled nearly three-fourths of the
catch from that time down to the present. 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 English vessels, engaged in what is now known as
poaching, and that he has personally inspected every cargo bought, and
seen unloaded from the poaching vessels, and subsequently seen and
superintended the unpacking of the same in his own warehouse; that
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 the
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 small
animals, not exceeding 2 years of age; and, further, that the age of the
seal may be told accurately from the size of its skin.
Third. That the skins bought at Victoria from the poaching vessels
are shipped by him largely to the firm of 0. M. Lampson & Co., in Lon-
don, who are the largest sellers of skins in the world, and the agents
of deponent's firm; that he has been through the establishment of
O. M. Lampson & 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 u North west
catch" — that is, the northwest coast of Victoria — are the skins of seals
caught by vessels in the open Pacific or the Bering Sea, and that a
SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 177
large proportion of said skins, amounting to at least JM) per cent, were
iii his, the said superintendent's, judgment obviously the skins of female
seals.
Fourth. That deponent has frequently 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 as much
money, or even more, for such skins than he would pay for the skins
of females. Kaeh and all of the captains so approached laughed at
the idea of catching male seals in the open sea, and said that it was
impossible lor them to do it. and that they could not catch male seals
unless they could get upon the islands, which, except once in a long-
while, they were unable to do, in consequence of the restrictions imposed
by the United States 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 heavy with young which
could be caught. Among the captains 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: Captain Cathcart, an Ameri-
can, now about 75 years of age, who commanded the schooner San
Dieyo, and who subsequently commanded other vessels; Capt. Harry
Harmson, Capt. George W. Littlejohn, Capt. A. Carlson, Gustav Sund-
vall, and others, 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 poorer than on the latter, as a result, I suppose, of the heat and
distentioii 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 males. 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 affidavit of John J. Fhelan, verified the 18th day of
June, 18i)2. 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 inspected jointly none were improperly classed as the skins of
female animals. (Chas. E. McClennen.)
I was visiting in San Francisco 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 inspect thousands of the skins taken by schooners in
Bering Sea, and they were nearly all cow seal skins. (Anton Melovedoff.)
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
either given birth to their young or were heavy in pup when killed,
which \\as easily observed by the width of the skin of the belly and the
small head and development of the teat. (E. H. Sterufels.)
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
S. Doc. 137, pt. 1 12
178 SEAL LIFE ON THE PKIBILOF ISLANDS.
order to determine how many female skins it contained. To perform
the examination I detailed John J. Phelan. This man has been in the
employ of rny father or of myself since the year 1808. I regard him
as one of the most competent, trustworthy men in our service. I have
read an affidavit verified by him on the 18th of June. 1 agree entirely
with what he says concerning his experience in the handling and dress-
ing of skins, and from what I know of his character and ability I
believe that everything stated by him in this affidavit is correct. (Geo.
H. Treadwell.)
It is true that the Northwest Coast catches have of late years placed
upon the market a certain number of good skins which could be pur-
chased at prices far below those for which the skins of the Alaska
catch were sold. But 1 realize that this can not continue to be the
case, for it is a matter of common knowledge among furriers that
these Northwest Coast catches are composed mainly of the skins of
female animals, and 1 understand that the killing of the seals is rapidly
impairing the value of the herd. (Samuel Ullinann.)
I have for many years personally examined numerous shipments of
Northwest Coast skins purchased at Victoria. J have had such 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 shipments 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. (C. T. Wagner.)
During the past two years I have handled large numbers of North-
west Coast skins (i. e., skins of animals taken in the Pacih'c Ocean 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 holes. 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 evident that the surrounding fur has been abruptly
cut off, 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 fur-seal skins, which have been 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 animals. (Win. 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
the skins of the different sexes of any other animals when seen before
being dyed and dressed, and that the reason 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 seal, and that a large number of
the female seals included in the Northwest catch are of animals heavy
SKAL LIFE ON THE I'lilHILOF ISLANDS. 179
with young. A large number of females are also caught on their way
from and to the I'ribilof Islands and their feeding grounds before and
after the delivery of their young on those islands. (0. A. Williams.)
A statement is attached thereto,* prepared by deponent, giving his
estimate of the number of female seals killed by pelagic hunting in the
past twenty-one years. (lacc to explain that the saialler value
of ! be female seal, especially a ft er the 1 »irt h of her pi i p. is in a measure
(hie to the v. eariiiL: 'of tiie fur around the teats. The amount of mer-
chantable fur beini: reduced to that extent, makes it necessary tor the
handlers of skins to observe carefully whet her pelts are male or female,
as well as their .general condition. 'I1 hey make a complete classification,
and beinu experts in their business are not likelv to make mistakes.
Theo. T. Williams.
STATE or CALIFORNIA,
('Hi/ <'/»/ ('(unittf it/' Xtiii /-Y'O/r/.vro. .v.v.-
Maurice Windmiller. having1 been duly sworn, deposes and says: My
a.u'e i> H>: 1 ri side in San I-Yancisco; my occupation is that of a furrier.
I have been en^a^ed in the fur 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. 1 have
bought and examined lar^e numbers of fur-seal skins during the last
twelve years caught by sealing schooners both on the American and
llnssiun side of the North Pacific and IJering Sea. and I can easily dis-
tinguish one from t he other.
The Iviissiaii seal is a smaller seal, and the fur is not as close as the
fur of the Alaska seal, nor as ^ood '>i <>/' \< it- r< .•/'/;. x.v:
,I(i-' pi i I > . . ' i ' , ' ; d 1 1 ! \' s\\'i»ri i . sa \'s t ! ia t he is < i \ ea rs o!
a '.' e. ;i n't; : i ,{' the I nit ed States, and a I'esiden i of 1 irookly n. in the
St a t e ol \ 01 k : thai he 1 1 a - 1 >e< n eu u i 'j,cd i n I he busi ness ol dress-
ii'ii'aiid d \ ei f'ii -eal skins eonl innously for lil i '.ien yeai1- past, and
, to thai lime, at intervals diiriii'j' the \\-li •»!(• lime he has been
e ','_;;_< d i : ; 1 n i ••! i less. < In i 1 1 1 14 a perio< 1 of some ii ft \'- odd years, he has
SEAL LIFE OX THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 181
dressed ;md dyed seal skins, and that Ids father was engaged in the
same business before him; that for the last fifteen years he has had
consigned to him by fur dealers from 8,000 to 10,000 seal skins annually
tor the purpose of dressing and dyeing the same; that about 50 per
cent of the skins so received by him came from London in casks' marked
as they are catalogued by C. M. Lampson & Co., and are the skins
belonging to what is known as the Northwest catch; and deponent is
informed and believes that the Northwest catch, as the term is used in
the trade, means the skins of seals caught in the open sea, and not
upon the islands. Another reason for tins belief is the fact that all of
the skins of the Xorthwest catch contain marks showing that the ani-
mal had been killed by bullets or buckshot, the skins being pierced by
the shot, whereas the skins killed on the American and Russian islands
are killed on land by clubs and are not pierced.
That of the skins of the Xorthwest catch coming into his hands for
treatment probably all are 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 around the same and upon
the belly, most of the female seals being killed while they 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 the male sea!, and that this
point of difference is obvious in the skins of the two classes. That of
the total number of the skins received by him about 25 per cent are the
skins of the Alaska and Copper catch. That all the skins of the Alaska
catch are male seals, and an overwhelming proportion of the Copper
catch are likewise male skins. That the remainder of the skins sent
to deponent for dressing and dyeing as aforesaid are received by him
through the house of Herman Liebes & Co., of San Francisco, and
others, the majority, however, from Herman Liebes & Co. The skins
received from the latter sources are from each of the three catches known
to the trade as the Copper, Alaska, and Northwest catch, although the
major part 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.
DESTRUCTION OF FEMALE SEALS.
Testimony of British furriers.
I can also tell by examining a skin whether it has been taken from a
female or a male. 1 have examined and sorted a great many thousand
skins taken from sealing schooners, and have observed that they are
nearly all females, a few being old bulls 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 much thinner, and the fur
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
Ban tie.)
The skins of the male and female animal are readily distinguishable
from each other in the adult stage by reason of the difference in the
shape of the heads. That the Copper and Alaska skins are almost
exclusively the skins of the male animal, and the skins of the North-
182 SEAL LIFE OX THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS.
west catch are at least 80 per cent of the skins of the female animal.
That prior to and in preparation for making this deposition deponent
says he carefully looked through two large lots of skins now in his
warehouse for the especial purpose of estimating the percentage of
female skins found among the Northwest catch, and he believes the
above estimate to be accurate. That the skins in the Northwest catch
are also pierced with shot and spear marks, in consequence of having
been killed in the open water instead of upon land by club. (H. S.
Bevington.)
And In the same way deponent thinks, from his own personal experi-
ence in handling skins, that he would have no difficulty whatever in.
separating the skins of the Northwest catch from the skins of the
Alaska catch by reason of the fact that they are the skins almost
exclusively of females, and also that the fur upon the bearing female
seals is much thinner than upon the skin of the male seals; the skin
of the animal while pregnant being extended and the fur extended
over a large area. (Alfred Fraser.)
That the said firm can distinguish very readily the source of pro-
duction of the skins when the latter are in their undressed state; that
for several years besides the skins of the regular companies, such as
the Alaska Company (American concessionaire) and the Copper Com-
pany (Russian concessionaire), the said firm has bought quantities of
skins called Northwest Coast, Victoria, etc. That these skins are those
of animals caught in the open sea by persons who apparently derive
therefrom large profits, and nearly three-quarters of them are those
of females and pups, these probably being less difficult to take than
males; that these animals are taken by being shot. That the seals
taken by the Alaska and Copper companies are males: the destruction
of which is much less prejudicial to the preservation of the race, and
which furnish the best skins, these being much finer and more furnished
with down ; that they are killed on the islands with clubs. That every
animal killed by ball or shot bears the traces of such slaughter, which
marks greatly depreciate the value of the skin. (Emin Hertz.)
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, while the Copper and Alaska skins are of the male seal. Deponent
has made no computation or examination which would enable him to
say specifically what proportion of the Northwest catch are the skins
of the female seal, but it is the fact that the great majority, deponent
would say 7.~> to 80 per cent, of the skins of this catch are the skins of
the female animal. 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 finer, 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 Copper Island and Alaska catches consists in the fact that nearly
all the skins of this catch have holes in them, which deponent under-
stands is caused by the fact that the seals from which they are taken
have been shot or speared in the open sea, and not — as is the case with
the seals from which the skins of Copper Island and Alaska catches
are taken and killed— with clubs upon land. (Walter E. Martin.)
SEAL LIFE ON TI1K I'KIIJILOF ISLANDS. 183
Both the Copper Island skins and the Alaska skins are almost exclu-
sively the skins of the male seals, and the difference between the skin
of a male seal and a teaiale seal of adult age can be as readily seen as
between the skins of different sexes of other animals. That the North-
west skins are. in turn distinguishable from the Copper Island and
Alaska skins, first by reason of the fact that a very large proportion
of the adult skins are obviously the skins of female animals; second,
because they are all pierced with a spear or harpoon or shot, in conse-
quence of belli"' killed in open sea, and not, as in the case of Copper
Island and Alaska skins, being killed upon land by clubs; third,
because the Northwest skins are cured upon vessels by the crews of
which they are killed, upon which there are not the same facilities for
flaying or salting the skins as there are upon land, where the Copper
and Alaska skins are Hayed and salted. The Japanese skins, which, 1
think, are now included in the Northwest catch, are distinguishable
from the other skins of the Northwest catch by being yellower in color,
having a much shorter pile, because they are salted with fine salt, and
have plenty of blubber on the pelt. That the skins purchased by
deponent's firm are handed over by it to what are called dressers and
dyers, for the purpose of being dressed and dyed. (Henry Poland.)
That the differences in the skins of the adult male and the adult
female seals are as marked as the difference between the skins of the
two sexes of the other animals, and that in the Xorthwest catch from
85 to 90 per cent of the skins are of the female animal. Deponent
does not mean to state that these figures are mathematically accurate,
but they are, in his judgment, approximately exact. (Geo. Rice.)
I should estimate the proportion 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 upward of 90 per cent.
My sorter, who actually handles the skins, estimates the number of
female skins in the Northwest catch at 90 percent. 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 open sea, and not, as in the case of the Copper and
Alaska catches, killed upon land with clubs. (William C. B. Stamp.)
The number of Japanese skins averages, deponent should say, about
6,000 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 included
in the Northwest catch, they are principally the skins of female seals,
not easily distinguishable from the skins taken from the herds frequent-
ing the eastern part of the Pacific Ocean and Bering Sea, except by
reason of their being principally speared instead of shot. The most
essential difference between the Northwest skins and the Alaska and
Copper catches is that the Northwest skins, so far as they are skins of
adult seals, are almost exclusively the skins of female seals, and are
nearly always pierced with shot, bullet, or spear holes. The skins of
the adult lemale seals maybe as readily distinguishable from the skins
of the adult male as the skins of the different sexes of other animals;
that practically the whole of the adult Northwest catch seals were the
skins of female seals, but the skins of the younger animals included
within this Northwest catch, of which we have at times considerable
numbers, are much more difficult to separate into male and female skins,
and I am not prepared to say that I could distinguish the male from
the female skins of young animals. A certain percentage of young
184 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS.
animals is found among' the consignments received by us at the begin-
ning of each season, which, we understand, and are "informed, are the
skins of seals caught in the Pacific Ocean off the west coast of America,
but a much smaller percentage of such small skins is found among the
consignment later in the season, which we are informed are of seals
caught in the Bering Sea. (Emil Teichmann.)
From C. M. Lampson & Co. to C. A. WilliamSj August :.>£
LONDON, 64 QUEEN STREET, E. C.,
August 22, 1889.
DEAR SIR: We beg to acknowledge receipt of 3 our favor of the 10th
instant, inclosing draft of a paper to be submitted to Congress on mer-
chant marine and fisheries.
We have read the paper with a great deal of interest and consider
that it places the matter in a thoroughly impartial way before its readers.
It has been so carefully prepared and goes into all details so fully that
we can add but little to it. There are, however, one or two points to
which we beg to draw your attention, and which you will find marked
in red ink on the paper.
When speaking of the supply of fur skins we would suggest mention-
ing the following localities:
Cape of Good Hope. — From some islands off this cape, under the pro-
tection of the Cape Government, a yearly supply of from 5,000 to 8,000
skins is derived. All these skins come to the London market, part of
them being sold at public auction, the remainder being dressed and
dyed for account of the owners.
Japan. — The supply from this source has varied very much of late
years, amounting sometimes to 15,000 skins a year, at others to only
5,000. Last year, we understand, the Japanese Gover: ment passed
stringent laws prohibiting the killing and importation of seals, with the
view of protecting seal life and encouraging rookeries, and the conse-
quence has been that this year very few skins have come forward.
Vancouver Island. — For many years past, indeed long before the for-
mation of the Alaska Company, regular supplies of fur seals in the
salted and parchment state have come to the London marker, killed
mostly off Cape Flattery. The quantity, we should say, has averaged
at least 10,000 per annum. This catch takes place in the months of
March and April, and we believe that the animals Irom which these
skins are derived are the females of the Alaska seals, just the same as
those caught in the Bering JSea.
Had this quantity been materially increased, we feel sure that the
breeding on the Pribilof Islands would have suffered before now; but
fortunately the, catch must necessarily be a limited one, owing to the
stormy time of the year at which it is made and the dangerous coast,
where the seals only for a short time are f und. It must, however, be
evident that if these animals are followed into the Bering Sea and hunted
down in a calm sea in the quietest months of the year, a practically
unlimited quantity of females might be taken, and, as you say, it would
be only a few years till the Alaska seal was a thing of the past.
C. M. LAMPSON & Co.
C. A. WILLIAMS, Esq., New London.
SEAL LIFE ON Till. PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 185
TESTIMONY RELATING TO THE (JENERAL SEAL SKIN INDUSTRY IN
(JREAT BRITAIN.
of H. S. BevhujtoH, head of the Jinn of Jtevington & Morris,
London.
II. S. Bevington, M. A., being duly sworn, doth depose and say:
That lie is -10 years of age and a, subject of Her Britannic Majesty, and
is the head of the linn of Bevington & Morris, doing business as fur
inen-hants and manufacturers at 1*8 Cannon street, in the city of Lon-
don; that his said linn was founded in the year 1726, and has been
continued in the same family during the whole of these years down to
the present time, and has been engaged during the whole of the period
since 17'JG in the same business, dealing in furs and leather; that
deponent has been in the business ever since the year 1873. During
the whole of the period since that date his said firm has been in the
habit of buying fur-seal skins, and he knows from his general knowl-
edge of the business that prior to that time they were in the habit of
buying seal skins ever since they became 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 business,
has a general knowledge of the history of the fur-seal skin business
and a general and precise knowledge of the several kinds of skins
which now and for many years last past have come upon the London
market; that since deponent has been in business skins coming upon
the London market have been principally divided into three classes,
known as the Alaska catch, the Copper catch, and the Northwest catch.
Small supplies have also been received fiom the Southern Sea, and
Lobos Islands, Falkland Islands, and Cape Horn, but the skins arriving
from these last -mentioned localities make IK> figure in the market; that
what is known as the Alaska catch consists of skins of seals which are
killed ui)on the Pribilof Islands, in the Bering Sea, and the Copper
catch of skins which are killed upon the Copper and llering islands,
in Russian waters.
That the Northwest skins consist of skins taken from animals which
are caught in the open Pacific Ocean off the coast of Biitish Columbia
pr in the Bering Sea; that the differences between the three several
sorts of skins last mentioned are so marked as to enable any person
skilled in the business or accustomed to handle the same to readily
distinguish the skins of one catch from those of another, especially in
bulk, and it is the fact that when they reach the market the skins of
each class come separately and are not found mingled with those
belonging to the other classes. The skins of the Copper Island catch
are distinguished from the skins of the Alaska and Xor;hwest catch,
which two last-mentioned classes of skins appear to be nearly allied to
each other, and are of the same general character, by reason of the
fact that in their raw state the Copper skins are lighter in color than
either of the other two, and in the dried state there is a marked differ-
ence in the appearance of the fur of the Copper and the other two
classes of skins. This difference is difficult to describe to a person
unaccustomed to handle skins, but it is nevertheless clear and distinct
to an expert, and may be generally described by saying that the Copper
skin^ are of a close, short, and shiny fur, particularly down by the flank,
to a greater extent than the Alaska and Northwest skins. The skins
of the male and female animal are readily distinguished from each other
in the adult stage by reason of the difference in the shape of the heads;
186 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS.
that the Copper and Alaska skins are almost exclusively the skins of
the male animal, and the skins of the Northwest catch are at least 80
per cent of the skins of the female animal; that, prior to and in prepa
ration for making this deposition, deponent says, he carefully looked
through two large lots of skins now in his warehouse for the special
purpose of estimating- the percentage of female skins found among the
Northwest catch, and he believes the above estimate to be accurate.
That the skins in the North west catch are also pierced with shot and
spear marks, in consequence of having been killed in the open water
instead of upon land by clubs; that the business of dealing in fur seal
skins in the city of London has become an established and important
industry. Deponent is informed that practically all the seal skins in
the world are sold in London, and the number runs up in the year to
between 100,000 and 200,000, averaging considerably over 150,000 a
year. These skins are sold for the most part either by the tirm of 0. M.
Lampson & Co., through their brokers, Goad, Rigg & Co., or by the
firm of Culverwell, Brooks & Co. At the auction sales, which are
advertised two or three times in the year by these linns, skins are
bought by dealers from all over the world, who are present either in
person or by proxy. The 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 principal firms
engaged in that business aie C. W. Martin & Sons and George Rice.
Deponent's own firm dress a small number 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 fashionable
color is now iu the hands of other firms. After having been dressed
and dyed, the skins of the fur seal are then passed into the hands of
fur merchants, by whom, in turn, they are passed to furriers and dra-
pers and retail dealers generally. Deponent estimates the total num-
ber of persons engaged in one way or another, directly or indirectly, 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.
That a large amount of capital is also invested in the business in the
city of London, and the precise value of the industry can be estimated
by reckoning the amount expended in the various processes which
deponent has enumerated upon each skin. For instance, after the skins
arrive at the London market they are sold at the sales at prices which
in the year 1890 averaged, say, 80 shillings apiece. The commissions on
the selling of the goods, including warehousing, insurance, and so forth,
deponent believes, amount to (> per cent of the price obtained. That
the amount paid for dressing, dyeing, and machining each skin aver-
ages, say, 1(> shillings. These processes take together about four or five
months. The next expenditure upon the skin is, say, an average of 5
shillings at least for each skin for cutting up, and that thereafter there
will be an average of at least from 3 to 4 shillings per skin expended in
quilting, lining, and making up the jackets or other garments, showing
a total expenditure upon each skin for labor alone, in the city of Lon-
don, of 25 shillings in addition to the percentage paid for brokerage,
before the processes of manufacture began, and the most of this money
is actually paid out in wages.
Deponent says that in the above estimates he has given the bottom
figures, and that the amount actually expended upon the skins in the
city of London undoubtedly averages a larger sum. This would make
on an average of 200,000 skins a year, which is not excessive, a total
expenditure annually in the city of London of £250,000, minus the
Sn.AL LIFK ON THE PKIBILOF ISLANDS. 187
amounts paid lor cutting and making up in respect to the skins sent to
the I'nited States.
Deponent further says that the preservation of the seal herds and
the continued supply of fur-seal skins, which furthermore, it is impor-
tant should be constant and regular in supply, is absolutely necessary
to the maintenance of this industry. Deponent says that the reason
for this opinion is shown in the history of last season's business. For
instance, at the October sale the prices of skins were very high, as a
short supply was expected. The skius purchased at that sale were
then put into the hands of the dressers and dyers, where they would
be retained, as above stated, in process of treatment four or five months.
During this interval it appeared that instead of there being a short
supply the poaching vessels had caught a large number of skins, 50,000
or (>(>,0()0, which, being unexpectedly plumped on the market, brought
the price down so that there was a loss of perhaps 2<~> shillings per skin
on the skins bought at the October sales; and deponent further says
that it is of course obvious that the business can not be maintained
unless the herds are preserved from the destruction which has over-
taken the South Sea herds, which formerly existed in such large num-
bers, and so important has the seal-skin business become that if the
herds were exterminated deponent says it would hardly be worth while
to remain in the fur business.
Deponent says while he does not wish to express any opinion upon
the matters which are in controversy, that nevertheless, looking at the
question of preserving the seals from a natural-history point of view
alone, and having no regard whatever 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 accomplish that object would be to prohibit absolutely 'the kill-
ing of all seals except upon the islands, and furthermore to limit the
killing of seals on the islands to the male species at particular times,
ami to limit the numbers of the males to be so killed. If, however, the
rights of individuals are to be considered, and sealing in the open sea
is to be allowed, then deponent 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 specified.
Deponent says that one reason why he thinks the killing of seals in
the open sea* should be prohibited, and all killing limited to the islands,
is because deponent is of the opinion that when seals are killed in the
open sea a large number must be killed which are not recovered, and
consequently that the herds must sutler much greater loss than is
measured by the 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 experience in shooting hair seals in the Scilly Islands,
and has himself personally killed hair seals at a distance of 40 or 50
yards which sank before he could reach them. Hair seals are of the
same general family as fur seals, and he has no doubt that the same
thing occurs and must occur when the fur seals are killed on the open
sea.
HERBERT SHELLEY BEVINGTON, M. A.
188 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS.
Deposition of Alfred Fraser, member of firm of C. M. Lampson & Co.,
furriers, London.
STATE OF NEW YORK,
City and County of New York, ss :
Alfred Fraser, being duly sworn, says:
(1) That he is a subject of Her Britannic Majesty and is 52 years of
age and resides in the city of Brooklyn, in the State of New York.
That he is a member of the firm of C. M. Lampson & Co., of London,
and has been a member of said firm for about thirteen years ; prior to
that time he was in the employ of said firm and took an active part in
the management of the business of said firm in London. That the busi-
ness of C. M. Lampson & Co., is that of merchants, engaged princi-
pally in the business of selling fur skins on commission. That for
about twenty-four years the firm 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 London he had personal knowledge of
the character of the various seal skins sold by the said firm, fiom his
personal inspection of the same in their warehouse and from the phys-
ical handling of the same by him. That many hundred thousands' of
the skins sold by C. M. Lampson & Co. have physically passed through
his hands, and that since his residence in this country lie has, as a
member of said firm, had a general and detailed knowledge of the char-
acter and extent of the business of said firm, although since his resi-
dence in the city of New York he has not physically handled the skins
disposed of by his firm.
That during the last year or two a large number of skins have been
sold in London by the firm of Culverwell, Brooks & Co., and that said
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 pelagic sealing
sums of money, which is stated to be $15 per skin, as against ship-
ments from Victoria of such skins.
(2) That the seal skins which have been sold in London from time to
time since deponent first began business have been obtained from
sources and were known in the market as —
(a) The South Sea skins, being the skins of seals principally caught
on the South Shetland Islands, South George Islands, and Sandwich
Land. That many years ago large numbers of seals were caught upon
these islands, but in consequence of the fact that no restrictions were
imposed on the killing of said seals, they were practically exterminated,
and no seal skins appeared in the market from those localities for many
years. That about twenty years ago these islands were again visited,
and for five seasons a considerable catch was made, amounting, during
the whole five seasons, to about 30,000 or 40,000 skins. Among the
skins found in this catch were those of the oldest males and the small-
est pups, thus showing, in the judgment of deponent, that every seal
of every kind was killed that could be reached. That in consequence
thereof the rookeries on these islands were then completely exhausted.
Once or twice thereafter they were visited without result, no seals
being found, and about five years ago they were again revisited and
only 3(> skins were obtained. Deponent is informed that all the South
Sea skins were obtained by killing seals upon the islands above men-
tioned, and that it is obviously every where much easier to kill seals upon
the land than in the water; and, in the judgment of the deponent, the
seals of the above-mentioned islands were thus entirely exterminated
MSAL LIFE ON THE I'lUHILOF ISLANDS.
because of Mie entire absence of any protection or of any restriction of
any kind whatever upon the number, age, or sex of seals killed, and
not merely, as deponent understands has been claimed by some author-
ities, because they were killed on land instead of in open sea, which,
moreover, in that locality, deponent is informed, is practically impos-
sible, by reason of the roughness of the sea and weather.
(b) A considerable number of seal skins were formerly obtained upon
the Falkland Islands; how many deponent is not able to state.
(c) That a certain number of seals were also caught at Cape Horn,
and that more or less are still taken in that vicinity, though the whole
number has been very greatly reduced.
(y far the most important are the Northern
Pacih'c skins, which are known to the trade under the following titles:
The Alaska 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 caught upon these islands have been sold by deponent's firm, and
a statement of the number of skins so sold in each year is appended
hereto and marked Exhibit A, showing the aggregate of such skins
sold from the year 1870 to the year 1891, inclusive, as 1,877,977.
The Copper catch, 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
firm in the city of London, and the total number of such Copper catch
from the year 187 '1 to 1892 appears upon the statement which is hereto
annexed and marked Exhibit B, showing the total so sold during such
years of 768,090 skins.
The Northwest catch, being the skins of seals caught in the open sea
either of the Pacific Ocean or the Bering Sea. These skins were
originally caught exclusively by the 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 Exhibit 0, showing a total of
153,348. That statement is divided into three heads: First, the salted
Northwest coast skins; second, the dried Northwest coast skins, both
of which were mainly sold through deponent's firm in London; and
third, salted Northwest coast skins, dressed and dyed in London, but
not sold there. It will be noticed that in the years 1871 and 1872 an
unusually large proportion of dried skins appeared to have been
marketed. Those skins were purchased in this year from the American -
Kussian Company and sold when the Americans took possession. For
the years 1871 and 1872, therefore, the surplus skins over the average
for the other years should be rejected in a computation of the general
average of seals killed during the years from 1808 to 1884, inclusive.
From the year 1885 to the year 1891 the number of skins included in
the Northwest catch enormously increased, and a statement of such
skins is hereto annexed and marked Exhibit 1), showing a total of
3.') 1.902, and is divided, like the statement marked Exhibit C, into three
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 previous
case, sold by deponent's firm. The great majority of these skins appear-
ing in the last-mentioned statement are the skins caught by vessels sent
out from the Canadian provinces; many also by vessels sent out from
San Francisco, Port Townsend. and Seattle, and a few from vessels
sent out from Yokohama; the majority, however, are supposed to have
190 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS.
been caught by vessels sent out from British harbors. A large number
of the skins included in Exhibit D have been consigned to C. M. Lamp-
son & Co. by the firm of Herman Liebes & «.o., of San Francisco. In
estimating the total number of the Northwest catch it should also be
mentioned that something like 30,000 skins belonging to that catch have
been dressed and dyed in the United States, which have not gone to
London at all.
(e) Besides the Alaska, Copper, and Northwest skins there ;ire also
a certain number of skins arriving in London known as the Lobos
Island skins, although the same are not handled by the firm of C. M.
Lampson & Co., but the total number of which, from the year 1872 to the
year 181)1, inclusive, is. as appears from the catalogues of sales, 247,777.
The Lobos Island skins are those of seals killed on the Lobos Island,
belonging to the Republic of Uruguay; and deponent is informed and
believes that there is no open sea sealing in the vicinity of such island,
and that the animals are protected on the island as they are on the
Eussian 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 appears that there is a regular annual supply obtained
from that source, which shows no diminution.
(/') There are also a certain number ot skins sold in London obtained
from rookeries at or near the Cape of Good Hope, the exact number of
which deponent is not able to state, but which, he is informed, shows
a steady yield.
The statements marked A, B, C, D, and E, hereunto appended, have
been carefully prepared by me personally, and the figures therein
stated have been compiled by me from the several sale catalogues of
C. M. Lampson & Co., and others from my private books which 1 kept
during all the years covered by the statements, and 1 am sure that
these statements are substantially accurate and truly state the respec-
tive numbers of the skins caught and sold which they purport to state.
(3) The great majority of the skins sold from the Northwest catch
are the skins of female seals. Deponent is not able to state exactly
what proportion of such skins are the skins of females, but estimates
it to be at least 85 per cent, and the skins of females are readily dis-
tinguishable from those of the males by reason of the fact that on 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 of the fact that 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.
Marks of such bullets or buckshot or spears are clearly discernable in
the skins, and there is a marked diiference in the commercial value of
the female skins and of the male skins. This fact, that the Northwest
skins are 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
deponent's books as the skins of females.
(4) Deponent further says, that in his judgment the absolute prohibi-
tion of pelagic sealing, i. e., the killing of seals in the open sea, whether
in the North Pacific or the Bering Sea, is necessary to the preservation
of the seal herds now surviving, by reason of the fact that most of the
females so killed are heavy with young, and that necessarily the increase
of the species is diminished by their killing. And further, from the fact
that a large number of females are killed in the Bering Sea while on
tin4
SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIHILOF ISLANDS.
191
search for food after tlie birth of their young, and tluit in conse-
quence thereof the pups die for want of nourishment. Deponent has
no personal knowledge of the trnt.li of this statement, but he has infor-
mation in respect of the same from persons who have been on the Pri-
bilof Islands, and he believes the same to be . ti tie. Deponent further
says that this opinion is based upon the assumption r hat the present
restriction imposed by Kussia and the United States on the killing of
seals on their respective islands are to be maintained, otherwise it
would be necessary to impose such restrictions as well as to prohibit
pelagic sealing in order to preserve the herds.
(5) Deponent 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 Copper catches are readily distinguishable from each other,
and that the herds from which such skins are obtained do not in fact
intermingle with each other, because the skins classified under the
head of Copper catch are not found among the consignments of skins
received from the Alaska catch, and vice versa.
(6) Deponent 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 difficulty had there been included among 100,000
skins in Alaska catch 1,000 skins of the Copper catch, in distinguishing
the 1,000 Copper skins and separating them from the 1)9,000 Alaska
skins, or that any other person with equal or less experience in the
handling of skins would be equally able to distinguish them. And in
the same way deponent thinks, from his own personal experience in
handling skins, that he would have no difficulty whatever in separating
the skins of the Northwest catch and the Alaska catch, by reason of the
fact that they are the skins almost exclusively of females, and also that
the fur upon the bearing female seals is much thinner than upon the
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, cutting, and manufacturing of seal
skins in the city of London is about 2,000, many of whom are skilled
laborers earning as high as £3 or £4 a week. Deponent estimates the
amount paid in the city of London for wages in the preparation of fur-
seal skins for a manufacturer's use, and excluding the wages of manu-
facturers' employees, prior to the beginning of the pelagic sealing in
1885, at about £100,000 per annum; and deponent further says that in
his judgment if this pelagic sealing be not prohibited, it is but a question
of a few years, probably not more than three, when the industry will
cease by reason of the extermination of the seals in the same way in
which they have been exterminated on the South Sea Islands, by reason
of no restrictions being imposed upon their killing.
ALFRED FRASER.
EXHIBIT A.
Salted Alaska fur seal skins sold in London.
Tear.
Skins.
Year.
Skins.
Year.
Skins.
Year.
Skins.
Year.
Skins.
187D
1871
1 872
1874
9,965
100,896
!)•;. •_>*:;
101, IMS
90, 150
1875.
1876.
1877 .
1878.
187!) .
.
99, 634
90, 267
75, 410
99,911
100,080
1880
1881
1882
1 1883
1884
1
100, 161
99, 921
100, 100
75, 914
99, 887
1885
1886
1887
1888
1889
99,719
99, 910
(.»9, !>40
100, 000
100, 000
1890
1891
Total..
5 20, 994
I a 4, 158
13, 473
1, 877, 977
a Food skins.
192
SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS.
EXHIBIT B.
Copper Island fur-seal skins sold in London.
Year. Skins.
Year.
Skins.
Year.
Skins.
Year. Skins.
Year.
Skins.
187° j 7 182
1877
25 380
1882
39 111
1>*7 54 584
1892
30 678
1873 21, 614
1874 30,349
1875 34, 479
1878
1879
1880
19, 000
28,211
38, 885
1883 ....
1884 . ...
1885 . ...
36, 500
12(5. 675
48, 929
1888 46. 333
L889 47.41U
1890 . . 95, 48(5
Total..
708. 096
1876 33,298
1 1881
45, 209
1886. ...
41, 752
1891 17,025
EXHIBIT C.
Salted Northwest coast fur -seal skins sold in London prior to pelagic sealing in Bering Sea.
Year.
Skins.
Year.
Skins.
Year.
Skins.
Year. Skins.
Year. Skins.
1872
1 029
1875
1,646
1878
264
1881 9 997
1884 9 °4
1873
1876 . .
2,042
1879
12, 212
1882 11,717
1874
4 949
1877
1880
8 939
1883 2 319
Total 04 i!6
' |
Salted Northwest coast fur-seal skins dressed and dyed in London (but not sold there)
taken prior to pelagic sealing in Bering Hea.
Year.
Skins.
Year.
Skins.
Year.
Skins.
Year. Skins.
Year. Skins.
1872
1873
699
40
1875
1876
578
1,062
1878
1879
2,434 i
2,397
1881 5,890
1882 11,727
1884 9. 242
1874
]22
1877
772
1880
4,562
1883 2. 319 ;
Total.. 46,215
Dry Southwest coast fur-seal skins sold in London prior to pelagic sealing in Bering Sea.
Year.
Skins.
Year.
Skins.
Year.
Skins.
Year. Skins.
1
Year.
Skins.
1868
1869
2,141
1 671
1872 . . .
1873
14, 584
801
1876
1877
993
1 173
1880
188J 686
1884
785
1870
1871
684
12, 495
1874
1875
2, 772
1,351
1878
1879
912
918
1882 321
1883 390
Total..
1
42, 767
Of the skins sold in 1871 and 1872 a very large proportion were the accumulation of the Russian-
American Company, and sold by them after the purchase of Alaska by the United States.
KECAPITULATION.
Years.
Salted skins sold in London ls,:Ms8t
Salted skins dressed and dyed in London
Dry skins sold in London 1868-1884
(U.3GO
46,215
42, 7(57
Grand total 153,348
EXHIBIT D.
Dry Northwest coast fur-seal skins sold in London after commencement of pelagic sealing
in Bering Sea.
Year.
Skins.
Year.
Year.
Skins.
1885 . ...
1 520
1888
• .)-.)
1891
1 i,g;j
1886
979
1889
228
1887
2 843
1890
699
Total
8,604
SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS.
193
Salted Northwest coast fur-seal skins dressed and di/ed in London (but not sold there)
taken after the commencement of pelagic sealing in Bering Sea.
Year.
Skins.
Year.
Skins.
1885
16 667
1889
2 017
1886
15, 087
1887
3 589
Total
39 290
1888
1,930
In addition to above, it is estimated that from 25,000 to 30,000 skins have been dressed and dyed in
the United States.— E. T. R., jr., notary public.
Salted Northwest coast fur-seal skins sold in London after commencement of pelagic sealing
in Bering Sea.
Year. Skins.
Year.
Skins.
1885 2,078
1890
38 315
1886 17 909
1891
54 igo
1887 . 36 907
1892
28 298
1888 36 818
1889 39 563
Total
254 068
I
REC APITULA TION.
Years.
Skins.
Drv skins sold in London
1885-1891
8 604
Safted skins dressed and dved in London but not sold there
1885 1889
39 290
Salted skins dressed and dved in United States, estimated
1885 1889
30 000
Salted skins sold in London .
1885-1892
254 068
Grand total . . .
331. 962
EXHIBIT E.
Salted Lobos Island fur-seal skins sold in London.
Year.
Skins.
!
Year.
Skins.
Year.
Skins.
1873 .....
6,956
1881 . .
13 569
1889
8 755
1874
8 509
1882
13 200
1890
18 541
1875
8 179
1883
12 861
1891
15 834
1876
11,353
1884
16 258
1892o
4 800
1877
13 066
1885
10 953
1878
12,301
1886
13 667
Total
247 777
1879
12 295
1887
11 068
1880 . . .
14 865
1888
20 747
a To date.
Additional deposition of Alfred Fraser, member of the firm of G. M.
Lampson & Co., furriers, London.
STATE OF NEW YORK,
City and County of New YbrA% ss:
Alfred Fraser, being duly sworn, says: I am a member of the firm of
C. M. Lainpson & Co., of London, and the person described in and who
verified an affidavit on the 1st day of April, 1892, relating to the fur-
seal industry. The tables hereto annexed, marked A, B, C, D, E, and
F, have been prepared by me from the printed catalogues of public auc-
S. Doc. 137, pt. 1 13
194
SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS.
tion sales in London of fur seal skins, and also from my private memo-
randa, and from knowledge and information of the fur-seal industry, I
believe them to be correct in every particular. Said tables state all of
the salted fur-seal skins of the Alaska, Copper, Northwest coast, and
Lobos catches, which, according to the said catalogues and memoranda,
were sold at public auction in London between the years 1868 and 1891,
together with the average price per skin obtained during each of said
years for the aforesaid skins.
ALFRED FRASER.
EXHIBIT A.
Salted Alaska fur-seal skins sold in London from 1870 to 1891.
Tear. Skins.
Year. : Skins.
Year.
1870 . .
9,965
1875 . . .
. 99, 634
1880
1871. ...
! 100,896
1876 . . .
. 90, 267
1881
1872 ....
96, 283
1877 . . .
.: 75,410
lj 1882
1873 ....
101, 248
1878 . . .
.1 99,911
|i 1883
1874. ...
90, 150
1879 . . .
. 100.036
I!1884
Skins.
100. 161
99. 921
100. 100
75,914
99, 887
Year. Skius. Year. Skins.
1885 1 99,719
1886 ! 99,910
1887 99,940
1888 1 100,000
1889 100,000
189Q
90
1891
C 20, 994
\ 4,158
13,473
Total..1 1,877.977
EXHIBIT B.
Salted Copper Island fur-seal skins sold in London in the years 1870 to 1892.
Year.
Skins.
Year. { Skins.
Year. .
Skins.
Year.
Skins. Year. Skins.
1870
12,030 ; 1875.... I 34,479
I
1 1880
38, 885
i 1885 ...
48,929 1890 1 95,486
1871
9,522 1876....
33, 298
1881
45,209 |! 1886
41,752 1891 1 17,025
1872
7,182
! 1877 ....
25. 380
1882
39,111 j 1887
54,584 1892 30.678
1873
21, 614
| 1878....
19, 000
i 1883
36,500 1888
46,333
1874
30, 349
1879 ....
28, 211
1 1884
1
-•
26,675 1889
|l
47,416 Total.. 789,648
1 1
EXHIBIT C.
Salted Northwest coast fur-seal skins sold in London prior to pelagic sealing in Bering Sea.
Year.
Skins.
Year.
Skins.
Year.
Skins.
Year.
Skins. Year.
Skins.
1872
1873
1,029
1875
1876
1,646
2 042
1878
1879
264
12 212
1881
1882
9, 997 1884 . . .
11 717
9,242
1874
4,949
1877
1880
8, 939
, 1883
I
2,319 Total..
64, 366
EXHIBIT D.
Salted Northwest coast fur-seal skins sold in London after commencement of pelagic sealing
in Bering Sea.
Year.
Skins.
Year.
i
Skins.
1885
2,078
1890
38, 315
1886
17 909
1891
54, 180
1887
36 907
1892a
28, 298
1888
36 818
1889 . ..
39 563
Total
254,068
a To March 25.
SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS.
195
EXHIBIT E.
Salted Lobos Island fur-seal skins sold in London.
Year.
Skins.
Year.
Skina.
Year.
Skins.
1873
6 .V.H;
1881
13 569
1889
8,755
1874
8* 509
1882
13, 200
1890
18,541
1875
8 179
1883
12, 801
1891
15,834
1876
11 353
1884
10,258
1892 a
4,800
1877
13* 066
1885 .
10, 953
1878
12 301
1886
13 667
Total
247, 777
1879
12,295
1887
11, 068
1880
14 865
1888
20, 747
a To date.
EXHIBIT F.
Salted Alaska fur-seal skins sold in London in the years 1868-1871 taken prior to the
leasing of the Pribilof Islands.
Year.
Skins.
Year.
Skins.
1868
28, 220
1871
20,111
1869
121, 820
1870
110 511
Total
280, 662
The following table, prepared by Hutchinson, Kohl, Philipeus & Co.,
of San Francisco, lessees of the right to take fur seals upon the Com-
mander and Robben islands, shows the number of seal skins secured
annually from these respective islands from 1871 to 1891 :
Year.
Com-
mander
Islands.
Robben
Island.
Total.
Year.
Com-
mander
Islands.
Robben
Island.
Total
1871
3 614
3 614 |
1883
26, 650
2 049
28, 699
1872
29 356
29 356
1884
49 444
3 819
53 263
1873
27* 710
2 694
30 404
1885
41 737
1,838
43 575
1874
28 886
2,414
31 300
1886 ....
54,591
54, 591
1875
33, 152
3,127
36, 279
1887
46,347
46, 347
1876
25 432
1 528
26 960
1888
47 362
47 362
1877
18 584
2 949
21 533
1889
52, 859
52, 859
1878
28 198
3 142
31 340
1890
53 780
53 780
1879
38, 749
4 002
42 750
1891
5 800
5 800
1880
45 174
3 330
48 504
1881
39 314
4 207
43 521
Total
776 467
1882
40 514
4 106
44 620
Table of annual seal-skin supply compiled from table of London trade sales as given by
Emil Teichmann.
Year.
Lobos
Island.
Cape
Horn.
Northwest
catch.
Alaska
catch.
"Sr
Total.
1870
684
9 965
10 849
1871
12 495
100 896
113 391
1872
16 303
96 283
7 182
119 768
1873
6 956
981
10l' 248
21 614
130 749
1874
8 507
7 843
90 150
30 349
136 851
1875
8 179
3 575
99 634
34 497
145 867
1876
11,353
6 306
4 097
90* 267
33 298
145 321
1877
13 066
7 631
1 945
75 410
95 380
123 432
1878
12, 301
18 227
3 607
99 911
19 000
143 046
1879
12 295
12 180
15 527
100 036
28 211
168 249
1880
14 386
17 562
13 501
100 161
38 885
184 945
1881
13 569
13 164
16 573
9 994
45 209
188 436
1882
13 200
11 711
23 207
100 100
39 111
187 329
1883
12 861
4*655
9 544
75 914
36 500
139 474
1884
16 258
6 743
20 142
99 887
26 657
169 705
1885 .
10 953
3 404
20 265
99 719
48 929
183 270
1886
13, 667
909
33,975
99*910
41 752
190 213
1887
11,068
2,762
43,339
99 940
54 584
211,693
1888
20 747
4 403
40 000
100 ooo
46 333
211 483
1889
8,755
3,021
41 808
100 000
47 416
201 000
196
SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS.
Table ofpercentayes of annual seal-skin supply compiled from table of London trade sale»
as given by Emil Teiclunann.
Year.
Lobos
Island.
Cape
Horn.
Northwest
catch.
Alaska
catch.
Copper
catch.
Total.
1870
0. 0620
0 9380
1 0000
1871
110
890
1 0000
1872
.136
8047
0 051
1 0000
1873
. 1362
.7743
.059
1.0000
1874
0 0532
0072
6830
1653
1 0000
1875
0560
. 0246
. 6204
.2364
1.0000
1876
0782
0 0440
0282
6113
2143
1 0000
1877
. 1054
.0618
.0158
.698
.2578
1. 0000
1878
. 0831
.0575
.00251
.5944
. 1363
1.0000
1879
0730
. 0722
.0927
.813
.1677
1. 0000
1880 .
. 0804
. 0946
. 0730
.5417
.2103
1.0000
1881
0720
.0097
.0825
.5307
.2451
1.0000
1882
. 0703
.0624
.1233
.5343
.2097
1.0000
1883
09<;>3
0334
.0685
.5442
.2616
1 0000
1884
. 0950
. 0332
.1187
.5821
.1631
1. 0000
1885
.5540
.0196
.113
.5447
. 2684
1.0000
1886
0718
. 0047
.1795
. 5307
.2143
1.0000
1887
.0521
.0133
.2047
. 4721
. 2578
1.0000
1888
0981
.0207
. 1894
.4728
.2190
1.0000
1889
.0435
.0156
.2075
.4975
.2359
1.0000
CRUISE OF THE LOUIS OLSEN IN THE BERING SEA.
BY A. B. ALEXANDER.
On the 25th of May, at Seattle, I met Capt. E. P. Miner, master of
the American sealing schooner Harry Dennis, who, on the same day,
had arrived from Japan, his vessel having been wrecked on that coast.
At the time of meeting him he was endeavoring to charter another
vessel, and hoped to be in the Bering Sea by the 1st of August. Inform-
ing him that the United States Commissioner of Fish and Fisheries
was anxious that I should make a cruise with him should he succeed
in getting a suitable vessel, he freely consented, and informed me that
if he found out in time he would let me know by mail.
On the morning of the 28th I sailed in the City of Topeka for Sitka,
and from there took passage in the Crescent City for Unalaska. Soon
after arriving there I joined the Albatross, and remained by her until
the evening of the 29th of July, when I joined the sealing schooner
Louis Olsen, of Astoria, Oreg., Captain Guillains, master, who did not
for a moment hesitate about giving me a passage. My reason for
joining the Olsen was on account of not having heard from Captain
Miner as to whether he had succeeded in obtaining a vessel; I was
also informed by several sealing captains that he did not get a vessel,
and in consequence would not be in the sea. The time having arrived
when pelagic sealing was about to commence, I was glad to accept, as
I thought, the only opportunity which would be offered for the season.
The next day, in latitude 54° 38' north, longitude 167° 04' west, we
saw our first seals, 20 in number, 12 of which were " sleepers." Seals
when sleeping are by sealers always called by the above name. In the
afternoon we saw 6 seals about half a mile from the vessel playing in
a bunch of seaweed. The sea at the time was perfectly smooth with a
light air stirring. Two hunters and myself started out in a boat to
watch them and see how near we could approach without disturbing
them. We soon learned 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 five minutes. Diving under the seaweed and sud-
SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 197
deiily thrusting their heads up through it seemed to afford them great
pleasure. Rolling over and over in the seaweed, their flippers becom
ing tangled in it, was also a pleasant enjoyment. They paid but little
attention to us and seemed almost indifferent as to how near we
approached so long as we did so quietly. This caused the hunters to
exclaim several times, "If we only had a gun we could kill them all."
Under the circumstances it was but natural that a gun should be the
uppermost thought in their minds.
Early in the spring, both on the Northwest coast and off the coast
of Japan, seals are sometimes found which evince little signs of fear,
but after one day's shooting on the ground they become very wild and
mistrustful, and, like a crow and some laud animals, seem to scent a gun
in the air. On this particular occasion a kodak camera would have
given good results — it was one opportunity of a thousand.
The following day, 31st, seals were plentiful. The wind being light
during the previous night, our position had changed but little.
On August 1, at a very early hour, the spears were brought forth and
the seal on them broken. While this was going on many remarks were
made in regard to the first day's trial. Some of the hunters were already
discouraged and were confident that they were only wasting time by
attempting to use spears; the thought of being obliged to adopt the
primitive weapon of the Si wash was indeed humiliating to them. A
few on board felt more hopeful and were willing to give the spear a fair
trial. Ever since leaving Unalaska the hunters had been practicing at
throwing the spear pole. Every piece of floating seaweed or other
object which came within range had been a target. On several occa-
sions the boats had been lowered and a supply of chips and small
pieces of wood taken along. These were thrown ahead of the boat as
targets to throw at. It was soon found that an object that could be
easily hit at a distance of 25 or 30 feet from the vessel was not so easily
reached from a boat, as the smallest wave would cause her to move just
enough to cause the pole to go wide of its mark. A day's practice
throwing from the boats had the effect of teaching the hunters the
various ways of holding the spear to make more sure of its hitting the
mark under the many conditions of sea and wind. All this time spear
throwing had been carried on with lifeless objects for a mark. The
opportunity was about to present itself to exhibit skill in throwing at
something that if missed the first time would not be likely to remain
stationary long enough to give the marksman another trial. A cool
head and steady nerves would be the special requirements to insure a
successful day's hunt should seals be plentiful.
The 1st day of August did not prove a success, so far as sealing was
concerned, the weather being too foggy to send out the boats. Scat-
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 56° 11' north, longitude 172° OF west. The next day seals
were less numerous. None were observed in the forenoon ; in the after-
noon 12 were seen; all but one were traveling to the westward. This
individual was asleep; a boat was quickly lowered and the hunter on
watch was rowed toward it. Before the boat had covered half the dis-
were not so plentiful as they were farther south. In the afternoon we
hove to and caught two cod in 65 fathoms of water. No more seal life
was observed until the after noon of the following day, when two sleep-
198 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS.
ing seals wei'e sighted, latitude 57° 50' north, longitude 173° 48' west.
Five boats were sent out. They returned at 5 p. m., having taken
no seals, although 8 had been seen, but they were all " travelers."
Heavy fog and strong indications of the wind breezing up fresh caused
the boats to return earlier than they otherwise would. In the evening,,
the vessel being hove to, several seals came close alongside. They
seemed to be very curious to know what we were. All the spears on
board were repeatedly thrown at them, but they had the good sense to
keep just out of range. Whistling had the effect of enticing them close
aboard, but the sight of a spear or two being aimed at them would cause
them, without any apparent effort, to increase their distance by 20 or
more feet.
The first seal captured by the Ohen was on August 4, in latitude 57°
50' north, longitude 173° 48' west, the same position recorded on the
previous day. At 8.45 a. m. sail was made, and at 10.45 the boats were
lowered, two "sleepers" having been seen. The weather being foggy
the boats were soon lost to sight. The vessel was hove to, it being
much easier for the boats to keep the bearing of the vessel than for
the vessel to keep track of the boats.
As soon as the boats had left a hand line was put over in 70 fathoms
of water. An hour's fishing resulted in 18 cod. Their average weight,
as near as could be judged, was 12 pounds; the largest weighed not far
from 30 pounds. All but two of the cod were in a healthy condition.
These two had sores on their backs about the size of a half dollar, which
had eaten nearly to the backbone. This instance is mentioned here on
account of the part of the fish where the sores were. In both cases
they were situated near the neck, directly over the vertebra; they were
as round and smooth as if cut with a knife.
Notwithstanding that the fog did not lift during the day, the boats
remained out until 9 p. m. The result of the day's hunt was 12 seals —
4 males and 8 females. One of the seals had previously been speared
in one of its flippers, as it was nearly severed from its body, showing
that the seal must have had a hard struggle to free itself. The largest
number of seals caught for this first day's successful hunt was taken
by two boats, they bringing in five each; two other boats captured one
each, and the remaining two boats brought in nothing. The hunters
in these boats, on learning that 12 seals had been captured, indulged in
strong language at their nonsuccess.
About 50 seals had been observed from the boats, the most of which
were awake. Only an occasional individual had been seen during the
day from the vessel, the fog being too dense to see more than an eighth
of a mile.
In no single instance was the first seal speared at captured ; it was
only after repeated attempts by each hunter that one was hit. The
excitement caused by the desire on the part of each to be the first
to capture a seal, combined with the inexperience of throwing the
primitive weapon, was no doubt the chief cause of the poor results.
The eight females captured were all nursing seals; but little food was
found in their stomachs, and that was too much digested to tell what
it consisted of; it was, however, placed in alcohol.
In the evening, after the seals had been skinned and everything made
snug for the night, each hunter told his experience during the day,
which, as may be supposed, was more entertaining than instructive.
On the 5th the wind and weather were not suitable for sealing; a
very fresh southeast wind prevailed, and in order to keep our present
position the vessel was hove to under easy sail. A large number of
-
SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 199
Is was noticed; they were frequently seen playing about, sometimes
on the crest of a wave, and then in the hollow of a sea. They seem-
ingly had no fixed course, but would swim in one direction a half a
mile or so, return and go in an opposite way. It is more than likely,
had the wind been blowing a strong gale, they would all have been
bound in one direction. The wind continued fresh, with a rough, choppy
sea, until the following noon, when the fog which had come in during
the night lifted and the wind suddenly subsided into a calm. The boats
were put in readiness and sent out for an afternoon's hunt. Consider-
ing the state of the sea and the time of starting, a fair afternoon's work
was done, 19 seals being landed on deck by 8.30 p. m. Fifteen of the
number were cows and 4 males. Only 6 had food in their stomachs.
Every hunter reported seals numerous, about half of the number being
asleep. They slept in ounchesof 6 and 8, and when aroused from their
slumber were very tame, but owing to the inexperience of the hunters
with spears in a comparatively rough sea, the successful throws were few
and far between. Had the hunters been provided with shotguns instead
of spears, it is pretty safe to say 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 in prohibiting the use of firearms in
the Bering Sea. These men had not been used to seeing their prey get
away so easily, and to them the sight was more than exasperating.
During the absence of the boats a large number of traveling 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
sleeping soundly, for neither the slatting of the sails nor the blowing
of the fog horn had the effect of awaking it, and it was only when the
scent of the vessel reached 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 happens 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 opinion on board was that it was due to there
being no firearms used or hunting. allowed in the Bering Sea 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 was taken on the 7th. The
day commenced with a gentle breeze from the south, and a smooth sea.
A light fog hung low over the water which prevented the boats from
being seen more than 20 yards. At 8 a. m. the last boat shoved off, and
they were not seen again until evening. Noon position: Latitude, 58°
30' north; longitude, 173° 56' west. In the forenoon hand-line fishing
was carried on. The depth of water here was 60 fathoms. Six good-
sized cod were caught in quick succession; 2 males and 4 females.
Their stomachs were well filled with food. In the stomach of a large
female was found an octopus ; it had been recently swallowed, as its skin
showed no discoloration. Cod were abundant; we could have filled the
decks in a day's fishing with a single line. The abundance of cod may
have been the cause of seals being plentiful in this region. In the
evening the boats all returned nearly at the same time, bringing in 34
seals, 30 of which were females. Twenty-four of the number had food
in their stomachs. The material, however, was finely masticated, and
hard to identify, but a portion of it looked very much like the flesh of
cod. If a portion of the food was cod, the question arises, did the seals
200 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS.
dive to the bottom in GO fathoms of water and bring their prey to the
surface? As a rule cod are found very close to the bottom, especially in
deep water; in shallow places they are sometimes found nearer the sur-
face. It is not probable that seals in this region found an abundance
of cod or even scattering ones near the surface. Just how deep a seal
can dive and secure food is a mooted question. Mr. Henry Elliott gives
them credit of being able to dive to profound depths. The writer has
conversed with a good many sealers on the subject, but has never been
able to gather any reliable information. Sealers as a rule are not a very
observing class of men, for the reason that their interest is all centered
in the commercial side of the question, and think little of the habits or
other peculiarities of seal life. The most satisfactory evidence the writer
ever had that seals are deep divers was two years ago on the Fairweatlier
Ground, a large bank off the coast of Alaska, while on a cruise in the
revenue-cutter Cor win. We were about to return to the ship at the end
of a successful afternoon's hunt, when a large bull suddenly came up
close to our canoe, not over 30 feet away, with a very large red rockfish
in its mouth, which it immediately proceeded to devour. The fish was
alive and could be plainly seen struggling in the seal's mouth. Our
position at the time was some 75 or 80 miles offshore from Yakutat
Bay. We had no means of ascertaining the depth of the water, but it
could not have been much less than 100 fathoms. Bed rocktish is also
a species that generally swims close to the bottom, although like cod it
is possible that they sometimes feed near the surface. The writer does
not maintain that seals can go to the bottom in 100 fathoms of water,
but thinks they can dive much 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 the
majority of those with food in their stomachs would have slept during
a greater part of the day, for, as a rule, seals with full stomachs sleep
when the sun is out, the air warm, and the sea smooth or comparatively
so. Their time of sleeping, however, is not always when conditions are
favorable, for after a gale of long duration they are frequently seen
asleep when the air is cold and the sea uncommonly high. At such
times seals are completely exhausted. It is not an infrequent sight
during the winter and spring mouths, at the end of a long and heavy
gale, to see seals sleeping soundly in a snowstorm, with that por-
tion of the body out of the water covered with snow. In consequence
of the seals on this day being restless, a great many of the 34 taken
were what is known to sealers as "tinners,'7 that is. seals about half
asleep, rolling about and scratching themselves. Sometimes " tinners"
are hard to approach, and at other times very easy. A restless one will
try very hard to take a nap, but just as he gets comfortably fixed some-
thing disturbs him; holding its head up he will take a look all around,
as if danger was scented in the air. These are hard to capture with
spears.
Indians seldom pay any attention to moving seals when hunting with
spears; they think it a waste of time. White hunters, when they can
find no sleeping seals, frequently give chase to u tinners " and " travel-
ers," and in many cases are rewarded for their trouble. The hunters
on the Olsen soon found that few seals would be taken on certain days
if they only selected sleeping oues. Many haphazard throws were
made at swimming and finning seals, the majority of which were fail-
ures, but enough good shots were made to make the experiment a pay-
ing one.
For several days seals had been observed chasing some kind of fish,
SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 201
ami during this last day's hunt they were quite plentiful. Only a single
individual would be seen; it would dart first in one direction and then
in another, and occasionally would make a desperate leap out of water.
Presently a seal would be noticed not far off swimming as rapidly and
in as many different directions as the fish. On the day in q uestion, 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
speared, but kept a firm grip until knocked on the head. The speci-
mens proved to be Alaskan pollock. In both cases the specimens of
fish secured were brought up by large males; one was somewhere
between 8 and 10 years of age.
The two following days, 8th and 9th, the weather was too boisterous
for sealing; wind southeast and every indication of a gale. We lay to
under the foresail in order to keep as near our present position as pos-
sible. A heavy sea set in from the westward, but the wind did not
increase above a strong breeze. Scattering seals were about each day,
all traveling to the westward. From observation we learned that dur-
ing stormy weather seals traveled in an opposite direction to the wind.
In a gale it will be found that seals are far more numerous on the lee
side of the Pribilof Islands than to the windward of them. When the
wind is heavy and the sea rough 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
seals within 100 miles of the seal islands, bound to the feeding grounds,
will in most cases seek the grounds to the leeward of the group. Seals
in a gale take every advantage of wind and sea. It is necessary that
they should, for there is evidently a limit to their endurance.
On the morning of the 10th light winds prevailed, but a choppy sea,
combined with a long rolling swell from the west-southwest, rendered
it unfit 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 58° 27' north, longitude 172° 46' west, and remained
out until evening, bringing in only three seals. Very few were seen
from the boats, although they covered considerable ground during the
day. Seals were equally scarce in the vicinity of the vessel; only six
were observed. One of these, more bold than the rest, kept circling
around the vessel, coming nearer each time. Finding that it was inclined
to be inquisitive, it was encouraged to make further investigations as
to what we were by continual whistling by those on board. It was
finally enticed alongside and captured, the spear passing through one
of its hind flippers. A series of photographs showing all the different
positions the seal was in during its struggle for liberty would have been
valuable. It fought bravely for life while in the water, but on being
hauled on board its power was greatly lessened. It did not, however,
give up without a desperate struggle to regain its liberty. At one
period of the fight it drove everybody from the main deck, and it was
only when 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 catch of seals for the day was 4 — 3 females and
1 male; the total catch to date 6i) — 13 males and 56 females.
The next day (llth) the boats made an early start. Everything
looked favorable for a good day's hunt, the wind being light and the
sea smooth, two things which are almost indispensable in seal hunting.
202 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS.
No seals had been noticed during the morning, but it does not neces-
sarily follow that because none are observed from the vessel they are
not about, for frequently it happens 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 approach. A piece of an Alaskan pollock was brought in
by one of the hunters, 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 may 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 wild could be accounted
for only in one way, they having had little to eat. The stomachs of
those taken fully corroborated this theory. A series of trials were
made for bottom fish, but with negative results; we seemed to be
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 broken for a considerable
length of time, for on the 12th the day began with a gale from the
southeast, accompanied by a heavy sea. Lay hove to under single-
reefed foresail and trysail. In the afternoon spoke with the schooner
Teresa, of San Francisco; also saw the schooner Kate, of Victoria,
British Columbia, a short distance away. Seals frequently seen all
through the day. In the early part of the night the wind increased to
a heavy gale, arid in the latter part the wind decreased in force and
hauled to the west-southwest. A heavy sea kept up 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 fresh from the westward.
In the evening boarded the schooner Fawn, of Victoria, British Colum-
bia. She reported losing a boat and three men on the 1 1th. (They
were afterwards picked up.) The Fawn had an Indian crew and had
taken 20 skins in the sea. This news gave our hunters considerable
encouragement. Position, latitude 57° 37' north; longitude 173° 14'
west.
August 15: Pleasant weather in the early part of the day, but very
squally in the latter part; sea rough. Latitude 57° II' north; longi-
tude 173° 09' west.
August 16 : Variable weather ; clear in the morning, thick and squally
in the afternoon; sea very rough. But few seals seen. Noon position,
latitude 57° 04' 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 heavy fog came in later in the day. Position, latitude 50° 54'
north; longitude 172° 45' west. Continued on our course until 8 a. m.
the next day, at which 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 noticed not far off on the weather bow.
Another boat was hoisted out, which was silently rowed toward the
coveted prize. No attempt was made by the hunter to throw the spear
until the boat was within 20 feet of it. It was easily captured. When
opened its stomach was found to be well filled with food, which no
doubt was the cause of its sleeping so soundly.
SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 203
i,ter in the day all the boats went out, but returned at the end of
three hours with only one seal. The sea was smooth and but little
wind stirring, but the air grew suddenly chilly and the sky very cloudy,
which practically put an end to the 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 catch at the least calculation would have been between
00 and 70 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 would have done very destructive work to the seal
herd, for experienced hunters kill nearly if not quite as many traveling
seals during the course of a season as sleeping ones. In the early his-
tory of pelagic sealing hunters sought sleeping seals only, but they
have learned the movements of the seal so thoroughly that traveling
and finning seals are almost as desirable as sleeping ones.
Hand-line fishing was carried on from the vessel in 60 fathoms of
water. In one hour 10 cod were caught, their average weight being
about 9 pounds. It was estimated that the largest would weigh 30
pounds, the smallest 4 pounds. In their stomachs were found small
starfish, prawns, squid, medusae, and a quantity of decomposed fish,
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,
16 males and 68 females. All the females were nursing cows, except
one, which was a yearling. The last seal caught by the Olsen was taken
in latitude 56° 05' north, longitude 172° 17' west.
Early in the morning of the 19th the weather was pleasant, 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 to the westward. Lay to under a double-reefed foresail; heavy
squalls at times. Xoon position, latitude 55° 39' north, longitude 172°
12' west.
August 20: 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 difference was felt. Lay hove to
until 10 p. m., at which time again kept off before the wind and ran
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
would not have been asleep in such weather. Position, latitude 54°
38' north, longitude 168° 01' west. In the afternoon sighted several
vessels.
On the 22d bore away for Uniinak Pass; wind north-northwest and
blowing a gale, followed by a heavy sea. On the morning of the 23d
sighted the lower part 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 mind to go home. A mistake was made
in this decision, for after we had left the sea and were on our way home
good catches were being made by all the vessels that remained.
At 6 o'clock in the evening we had left Unimak Pass behind us, and
were standing on an east by south course. The next day, when about
75 miles from the pass, saw a sleeping seal, and 10 miles farther on saw-
two more. When about 200 miles offshore salmon were noticed Jump-
204
SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS.
ing. They were so near that we could hardly mistake the species.
Whales were also plentiful.
For the first two or three days after leaving the sea the weather was
pleasant, but during the greater part of the voyage home heavy gales
from the westward prevailed, which made the captain all the more con-
fident that no mistake had been made by leaving so early.
On the evening of the 6th of September we arrived at Victoria, hav-
ing been twelve days on the voyage home.
The writer was very kindly treated by the captain, officers, and crew
of the Olseu, every effort being made by them to lend assistance and
collect such material as was desired. Had the Olseu been among seals
under favorable circumstances, as many vessels were, the writer could,
with the 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 the time we were having exceedingly
stormy weather — often hove to in a gale — many vessels of the fleet that
were several degrees farther south were having pleasant weather and
getting good catches every day.
Seals taken in the Bering Sea by the schooner Louis Olsen, 1S94.
Date.
Position.
Number.
Male.
Female.
North lati-
tude.
West longi-
tude.
Aug. 4...
i o / //
57 50 00
O / "
173 48 00
173 56 00
173 56 00
172 46 00
172 52 00
172 17 00
12
19
34
4
13
2
4
4
4
3
8
15
30
3
10
2
g 6
58 30 00
7
58 30 00
10
58 27 00
11
1 57 42 38
18
| 56 03 00
Total
...1
84 16
68
j
[Statistics compiled by H. H. Mclntyre, 1889.]
Seal skins landed at Victoria from Bering Sea, as shown by the Victoria cnslom-house
records.
Schooner.
1881.
1882.
1883.
1884.
1885.
1886.
1887.?
1888.
1889.
San Diego (American) . ...
193
327
908
980
1 726
1 187
1,700
Mary Ellen (British)
1 409
773
3 559
2 130
700
V anderbilt (American)
'
1, 244
1,420
1, 349
•City of San Diego (American)
953
1 600
1 187
Lookout (American) ..
,100
Favorite (British)
385
3 492
1 887
1 700
Annie (American)
182
50*
1, 040
2 000
900
650
•Sylvia Handy (American)
1, 700
440?
614
it)
536
Dolphin (British, now American, J. G.
Swan)
2 200
S'zed
Alfred Adams (British now the Lily;
1,455
Black Diamond (British)
328
990
765
55
Pathfinder (British)
1,700
2,377
800
50
Sierra (British)
1,000
Active (British)
1,338
Annie Beck (British)
1 142
S'zed
W P. Sayward (British)
1 600
S'zed.
1,600
•Grace (British, now the J. H. Lewis) . .
1,700
S'zed.
Penelope (British)
194
1 292
1,054
1,850
Mountain Chief (British)
630
624
780
Mary Taylor (British)
1,000
1 625
911
Triumph (British)
500
2,470
60
Lottie Fairfleld (British)
2 507
Ada (British)...
S'zed.
SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 205
Seal skins landed at Victoria from Bering Sea, etc. — Continued.
Schooner.
1881.
1882.
1883.
1884.
1885.
1886.
1887. .'
1888.
1889.
1 030
Annie C Moore (British)
715
1 300
Viva (British)
2,069
2, 180
MiioC
12
OOO
M-irv l-'llen
D McLean
t;
(M)ll
63
Trinnipli N<>. 1 .
K. C. I'.aker A Co
( ' Spring
14
8
lt(H
mi,
11,
ti.
000
000
98
80
Kate
du
1 II II
000
Aurora
Minnie
Sapphire
. Nut known
. H.,Jacohson
Marvin & Co
8
8
f>0<
8.
8.
If).
000
,")OO
000
41
40
124
Klk Di'imoml
\ Frank
<)
r)lll
r>
ooo
81'
Lilv
do
Ooo
f>9
Pem-i^K-
(irav A Moses
O'»dd A Co
10
10
00
0(1
1.0,
000
000
70
71
\V I* S-iywinl
I,uudberir »v Co
8
in i
n
ooo
t>0
IJallA-Ueopel . ..
00
000
40
Moore A Hacki-tt
l.'i
(Ml
1")
000
113
Theresa
\riel
r,al)l)ington \ Co
10
1)
t)0
MM
10.
000
(too
!>0
MoiinTain < hiet'
Wanderer
1 ndians
I'ax ton A ( 'o
:;
Ml
) 1.
\ i
ooo
000
•j:i .
16
Muir Ilro-,
10
1 1
7 ."iii
15
Letetia
Indians
-
10
100
Total
a °oo
r>()
) M7I!
1550
1. 464
,
/ Actual result. *1'.'8,00().
/-Actual
result.
$l7l.:;5o.
Slight errors appear to have been made in footing1 the above, but the
totals are as reported respectively by Milne and Williams.
The above estimates include cost of outlit for a season's cruise, com-
prising boats, guns, spears, ammunition, provisions, etc.
The schooner Araunah, formerly belonging to the Victoria sealing
fleet, was sei/ed by the Russian (lovernment Jaly 1, 1888.
Mr. Milne estimates the cost of a sealing venture as follows:
Wages of ert'\\ .s ami hunters ]>er vessel $7, 000
Insurance. 7 JXT cent of ^8,000 560
Provisions, salt, am munition, etc 3, 000
Total per vessel, avernj
lie 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 ~ -1- '— ^ 1 "00 -1"'"
Mr. Williams
matter or fact the average has been tor V ictoria vesse
t four years only about 1,288 skins per vessel annually.
s estimates the expense of a sealing trip as follows:
For ii ve boats
Five Marl in rilles. at .f;>5
Five shotguns, at $^5
Two extra, guns
Salt for skins
Five thousand rounds of ammunition
I us u ranee, one- third of a year ,
Captain's wages four months
Ten men at $'.>'>. and 5 at $20 per month
Paid hunters, l,b'0() skins at $2 per skin
Provisions, 20 men 1 months at $8 per month
Total per vessel, average ,
$500
175
175
70
200
125
175
400
1,800
3, 200
610
7, 460
SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 207
The annual average price paid for seal skins in Victoria from 1881 to
1889, inclusive, is as follows:
Per skin.
1881 $9.25
1882 8.00
1883.. .... 10.00
Per skin, l Per skin.
1884 $7.75
1885 7.50
1886.. 7.65
1887 $5.50
1888 5.62
1889.. 6.50
General average, $7.53 per skin.
It. will be observed that the price of Victoria and Northwest coast
skins has decreased. This has resulted from the fact that it was found
by the London dressers that the skins of seals taken indiscriminately,
chiefly from females, in the water, did not compare favorably with those
taken from carefully selected young males on the islands.
On the basis of the foregoing figures, the value of the fur seal trade,
as conducted by the Canadians, is surprisingly small. Their annual
catch at present prices is worth about $125,000, and the highest esti-
mated value of the tonnage engaged is only $200,000 — 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 manner 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, 1889:
Since the beginning of the present decade the hunting of the fur seal has been
vigorously pursued from this port. There are some 21 vessels, varying from 26 to
126 tons register (an aggregate tonnage of 1,737 tons), employing 458 meu, and
valued at about $126,000, engaged in hunting the fur seal. These vessels, some of
them having small steam power, leave here about the 1st of January and proceed
southward, returning in May.and landing the skins, taking some of them as far south
as San Diego, Cal., and along the coast up. They again leave for the north, going as
far as the Bering Sea, returning in September. The total catch for 1888 amounted to
26,720 skins, much smaller than for recent previous years. Of these, 14,987 were
reported as "the Bering Sea collection," the distinctive name given to those taken
far north, in the neighborhood of the Aleutian Islands, and claimed to be finer furs
than any other.
These skins are sold here in bundles, salted to preserve them, and they may be
kept many months in that condition without injury. Ordinarily sales are made at
so much per 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 dyed, paying a duty
when they reach the United States, as they mostly do, of 30 percent on their then
value of about $22.50 per skin.
During these years (1886-87) some eight of these vessels were seized in the north-
ern waters by the United States revenue cutters for violation of the law of July,
1870, "to prevent extermination of fur-bearing animals." No seizures were made
in 1888.
208
SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS.
Victoria and Northwest coast fur-seal skins sold and dressed in London.
[Compiled by Mr. Alfred Fraser, of the house of Messrs. C. M. Laiupson & Co.]
Tear.
Dry skins
sold. •
Salted
skins sold.
Dressed for
owners.
Total.
1868
2 141
9 141
1869
1,671
1 671
1870
684
684
1871
12 495
12 495
1872
14 5g4
1 029
699
16 312
1873
891
40
931
1874
2 772
4 949
122
7 843
1875 . .
1 351
1 646
578
3 575
1876
993
2,042
] 062
4 097
1877
1,173
772
1,945
1878
912
264
2 434
3 610
1879
918
12 212
2 397
15 527
1880
8 939
4 562
13 501
1881
686
9 997
5 890
16 573
1882 ...
321
11 727
11 159
23 207
1883
• 90
2 319
6 385
9 094
1884
785
9 242
10 115
a 20 142
1885
1,520
2,078
16, 667
6 20, 365
1886
979
17 909
15 087
c 33 975
1887
2,843
36, 907
3 589
d43 239
1888
1,252
36, 816
1,930
• 39, 998
1889
f.. .
46, 146
Total
49 361
158 076
83 488
337 071
a Retained in United States (estimate).
6 + 3,000 = 23,365. c + 3,000 = 36,975.
NOTE.— Indians dried the skins.
d+ 3,000 = 46,239.
e + 3,000 = 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.
Adding to the above grand total 337, 071
Skins dressed in the United States, as above stated 12, 000
349, 071
And deducting those from the Russian-American Company's stock of 1867.. 24, 000
Makes total killing in the waters of the North Pacific 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 vessels (schooners) fitted out in 1889 under 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.
O. S. Fowler.
City of San Diego.
Adonia.
Caroline.
Adele (German).
Marie de las Cruzes(?)
Alexander.
Webster.
SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS.
209
Decrt-tw in ni:r of I'nbilof Island seal skinx, 1885-1389.
Mr. Alfred Frascr. of Messrs. ('. M. Lamps.m \ Co.. of London.]
A rerage
w.-i^ht.
1885.
1886. 1887.
1888.
1889.
Lbs. oz.
19 0
149
i:::t 29
2
Middlings
15 0
1,811
1,17:{ 696
177
220
12 2
5,300
4, 875 2, 254
2,318
2, 133
Smalls
<» i:s
20,664
13,318 8,950
9,298
7,020
Lap'f pups
8 4
34. 270
28,578 23,178
18,305
11,040
7 0
25, 207
3i», 910 35,591
36,669
26, 478
Small pups
(> 0
10, 684
17,045 24,814
29, 239
33,859
5 4
1,291
3,857 4,426
3,962
18 728
4 0
521
Total
99, 376
99, 889 99, 938
99, 970
99,997
The lessees of the seal islands have been unable during the last three
years to secure the most desirable sizes of skins, owing to diminished
number of seals, the result of illicit killing by marauders.
The decrease in the size of skins taken by lessees is in proportion to
the increase of numbers caught by the marauders.
LOSS OF FEMALE SEALS.
British and American testimony.
[Extract from letter of Sir George Baden-Powell, published in the London Times November 30, 1889.]
As a matter of fact the Canadian sealers take very few, if any, seals
close to the islands. Their main catch is made far out at sea, and is
almost entirely composed of females. (Case of the United States,
p. 200, and Senate Ex. Doc. No. 55, Fifty-second Congress, first session,
p. 96.)
[Extract from letter of Rear- Admiral Hotham, of the British navy, to Admiralty.]
WARSPITE, at Esquimau, September 10, 1890.
I have to request you will bring to the notice of the Lords Commis-
sioners of Admiralty this letter with reference to my telegram of the
8th instant.
I personally saw the masters of the sealing schooners named below,
and obtained from them the information here reported: Capt. C. Cox,
schooner Sapphire; Captain Petit, schooner Mary Taylor; Captain
Hackett, schooner Annie Seymour; Capt. W. Cox, schooner Triumph.
*******
They also mentioned that two-thirds of their catch consisted of female
seals, but that after the 1st of July very few indeed were captured " in
pup," and that when sealing outside the Bering Sea, round the coast,
on the way up (where this year the heaviest catches were made), they
acknowledged that the seals "in pup" were frequently captured.
(Extract from Vol. Ill, Appendix to Case of Great Britain, cited in
United States, No. 1, 1891, p. 17.)
There were killed this year so far from 40,000 to 50,000 fur seals,
which have been taken by schooners from San Francisco and Victoria.
The greater number were killed in Bering Sea, and were nearly all cows
or female seals. This enormous catch, with the increase which will
S. Doc. 137, pt. 1 14
210 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS.
take place when the vessels fitting up every year are ready, will, I am
afraid, soon deplete our fur-seal fishery, and it is a great pity such a
valuable industry could not in some way be protected. (Extract from
reports of the department of fisheries of Canada, 188G, by Thomas
Mowat, inspector of fisheries for British Columbia, p. U68. Cited in
British Case, Appendix, Vol. Ill, p. 173; United States Xo. 1890.)
The majority of our hunters contend that there are over 7 per cent
of pups in the entire catch of fur seals on the coast, while in Bering
Sea the catch does not exceed 1 per cent. But they can not deny the
fact that 60 per cent of the entire catch of Bering Sea is made up of
female seals. (Extract from reports of the department of fisheries,
Canada, 1888, p. 241, by Thomas Mowat, inspector of fisheries for Brit-
ish Columbia. Cited in United States Case, p. 201.)
Mel Bonde, of Victoria, sealer. (Case of United States, Appendix,
Vol. II, p. 315.)
Bonde has been out four years on sealing schooners from Victoria,
namely, from 1887 to 1890, inclusive. He says :
The seals caught along the coast after the 1st of April were mostly pregnant females,
and those caught in Bering Sea were females that had given birth to their young.
I often noticed the milk flowing out of their breasts when being skinned and have
seen live pups cut out of their mothers and live around on the decks for a week.
Cross-examination by the British Government (see British Counter
Case, Vol. II, p. 94):
That on each of said vessels [namely, the four he had served on] 1 have had more
or less to do with skinning the seals, and would say that about 60 per cent on the
coast were females and about 50 per cent in Bering Sea. I distinguished the male
skin from the female by the absence of teats.
Christ Clausen, of Victoria, master mariner (Case of United States,
Appendix, Vol. II, p. 319) :
Acted as mate in 1889. Was navigator on schooner Minnie in 1890.
My catch that year was 2,600, of which about 2,000 were caught in Bering Sea.
Acted as navigator on same vessel in 1891.
The seals we catch along the coast are nearly all pregnant females. It is seldom
we capture an old bull, and what males we get are usually young ones. I have fre-
quently seen cow seals cut open and the unborn pups cut out of them, and they
would live for several days. This is a frequent occurrence. It is my experience that
fully 85 per cent of the seals 1 took in Bering Sea were females that had given birth
to their pups, and their teats would be full of milk. I have caught seals of this
kind from 100 to 150 miles away from the Pribilof Islands.
E. M. Greenleaf, of Victoria, master mariner (Case of the United
States, Appendix, 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 methods employed. I am
acquainted with the hunters and masters who sail from this port, and board all
incoming and outgoing vessels of that class. These men all acknowledge that nearly
all the seals taken off the Pacific Coast are females, and that they are nearly all with
young.
* * * # # * *
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 Griffin, of Victoria, sealer (Case of United States, Appendix,
Vol. II, p. 325) :
He went sealing in 1890.
Began sealing off the northern coast of California, following the sealing herd
northward, capturing about 700 seals in the North Pacific Ocean, two-thirds of which
were females with pups ; the balance were young seals, both male and female. We
entered Bering Sea July 13 through Unimak Pass and captured between 900 and
1,000 seals therein, most of which were females in milk.
SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIB1LOF ISLANDS. 211
Of the following year, he says :
We captured between 900 and 1,000 on the coast, most nil of which were females
with pups. We entered the sea July 12 through Uuimak Pass and captured about 800
seals in those waters, about 90 per cent of which were females in milk from 20 to 100
miles from the rookeries.
James Harrison, of Victoria, sealer (Case of the United States,
Appendix, Vol. II, p. 326) :
We commenced sealing right off the coast; went as far south as the California
Coast, and then hunted north to the west coast of Vancouver Islands. Caught 500
skins during the season ; almost all of them were pregnant females. Out of 100 seals
taken about 90 per cent would be females with young pups in them. I can't tell a male
from a female while in the water at a distance. On an average, I think the hunters
will save about one out of three that they kill, but they wound many more that
escape and die afterwards. We entered Bering Sea about the 1st of June, and
caught about 200 seals in those waters. They were mostly mothers that had given
birth to their young and were around the fishing banks feeding. The hunters used
shotguns and rifles. In Bering Sea we killed both males and females, but I do not
know the proportion of one to the other.
James Hayward, of Victoria, sealer (Case of the United States,
Appendix, Vol. II, p. 327):
He went out sealing in 1887, 1888, 1890, and 1891. His vessels
appear to have made large catches. He makes the following statement :
Most of the seals killed on the coast are pregnant females, while those we killed in
Bering Sea after the 1st of July were females that had given birth to their young on
the seal islands and come out into the sea to feed. Have caught them 150 miles off
from the shore of the seal islands, and have skinned them when their breasts were
full of milk. Seals travel and go a long way to feed.
Alfred Dardean, of Victoria, sealer (Case of United States, Appen-
dix, Vol. II, p. 322) :
He went sealing in 1890.
We caught over 900 skins before entering the sea and our whole catch that year
was 2,159 skins. Of the seals that were caught off the coast fully 90 per cent out of
every hundred had young pups in them. The boats would bring the seals killed on
board the vessel and we would take the young pups out and skin them. If the pup
is a good, nice one we would skin it and keep it for ourselves. I had 8 such skins
myself. Four out of five, if caught in May or June, would be alive when we 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 killed it because
it cried so pitifully. We only got 3 seals with pups in them in Bering 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 the deck when we would skin them. We caught
female seals in milk more than 100 miles off the Pribilof Islands.
Morris Moss, furrier, and vice-president Sealers' Association of Vic-
toria (Case of United States, Appendix, Vol. II, p. 341):
He has bought from 10,000 to 20,000 seal 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 and sailing master (Case of the United
States, Appendix, Vol. II, p. 331):
Has spent six years of his life sealing, and been captain of four dif-
ferent schooners.
A large majority of the seals taken on the coast are cows with pup. A few young
males are taken, the ages ranging from 1 to 5 years. Once in a while an old bull is
taken in the North Pacific Ocean. I use no discrimination in killing seals, but kill
everything that comes near the boat in the shape of a seal. The majority of the
seals killed in Bering Sea are females. I have killed female seals 75 miles from the
islands that were full of milk.
212 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS.
Victor Jaeobson, of Victoria, sealer (Case of the United States,
Appendix, Vol. II, p. 328) :
He is a British subject. Has been engaged in sealing for eleven years,
ten years as a master. He is now master and owner of school) er Mary
Ellen and owner of schooner Minnie.
The female seals go through the passes from the Pacific Ocean into Bering Sea
between June 25 and .July 15. Females killed previous to this time I found with
pup, but none with pups after that hitter date. I have killed female seals taken by
me that three in five are females and nearly all with pup.
Cross-examination by the British Government (See British Counter
Case, Appendix, Vol. II, p. 83) :
My experience has been that about three out of five seals taken on the coast are
females, and about the same in Bering Sea.
Edwin P. Porter, of Victoria, sealer (Case of the United States,
Appendix, Vol. II, p. 346) :
My experience in four years' sealing is that nearly all the seals taken along the
coast are pregnant females, and it is seldom tLat one of them is caught that has not
a young pup in her. In the fore part of the season the pup is small, but in May and
June, when they are taken off the Queen Charlotte and Kodiak islands, the unborn
pup is quite large, and we frequently take them out of the mothers alive. 1 have
kept some of them alive for six weeks, that were cut out of their mothers, by feeding
them condensed milk. The seals we capture in Bering Sea were fully 80 per cent
females that had given birth to their young. A fact that I often noticed was that
their teats would be full of milk when I skinned them, and I have seen them killed
from 20 to 100 miles from the seal islands.
Charles Peterson, of Victoria, sealer (Case of the United States,
Appendix, Vol. II, p. 345) :
We entered Bering Sea about the 15th of August, through the Unimak Pass, and
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 where they had left
their young. I have seen the deck almost flooded with milk while we were skinning
the seals. Ninety per cent of all the seals we captured in the water were female
seals.
Robert H. McManus, of Victoria, journalist (Case of the United
States, Appendix, Vol. II, p. 337) :
Tuesday, August 25, rain in morning. Boats and canoe out at half past 9 o'clock ;
out all day (returning to dinner). Result: First boat, 2 seals reported; wounded
and lost 5; seals said to be shy and wary, and not so numerous as formerly; atten-
tion called to cow seal being skinned (which I had taken for a young bull). The
snow-white milk running down blood-stained deck was a sickening sight. Indian
canoe, 1 seal. Total, 3 seals, 2 mediums, and 1 cow.
Wednesday, August 26, cloudy morning. Seals floating round schooner. Boats
and canoe out all day. Result: First boat, 1 seal ; second boat, none; Indian canoe,
10 seals; total, 11 seals; 8 cows in milk and 3 medium. Skipper in first boat blamed
the powder. Second boat said it was too heavy and clumsy for the work. Skipper
reported having wounded and lost 7, and the men in second boat 9 — 16 in all.
Skipper said seals not so numerous as formerly, more shy ; also blamed the powder.
Evidently a great deal of shooting and very few seals to correspond.
Saturday, August 29, ship's cook brought down from deck a large cow seal at 40
yards rise. Boats and canoe out all day. Fine, clear, balmy weather. Akutan Island
in sight. Result: First boat, 3 seals; second boat, 3 seals; cook, from deck, 1;
Indian canoe, 10; total catch, 17 seals, greater proportion cows in milk. Horrid
sight; could not stay the ordeal out till all were flayed. A large number reported
as wounded and lost. According to appearances, slaughter and indiscriminate.
Sunday, August 30. Result of hunt: First boat, 2 seals; second boat, 1; Indian
canoe, 7 ; total, 10 seals, 7 of which were cows in milk. Several, as usual, reported
wounded and lost by the boats. The great superiority of the Indian spear evident.
The British commissioners, in their report, express the following
views with regard to pelagic sealing, which views should be specially
SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 213
noted in connection with the foregoing descriptions of how gravid
nursing females are killed:
633. By the pelagic sealers and by Indian hunters along the coast, fur seals of both
sexes arc killed, and, indeed, it would be unreasonable, under the circumstances, to
expect that a distinction should be made in this respect, any more than that the
angler should discriminate between the sexes of the fish he may hook.
010. The accusation of butchery laid against those who take the seals on shore
can not be brought against this pelagic method of killing the seal, which is really
hunting as distinguished from slaughter, and in which the animal has what may be
described as a fair chance for its life.
Capt. C. L. Hooper, of the United States revenue marine (United
States Counter Case, p. 214) :
Captain Hooper made extensive official investigations in regard to
seal life on the Pribilof Islands, in Bering Sea, and the North Pacific
Ocean in 1891 and 1892. In the course of these investigations he cap-
tured, between July 24 and August 31, 1892, 41 seals in Bering Sea.
He made no efforts to secure large numbers or all that he saw. The 41
seals were composed of the following classes: Old males, 1; young
males, 11; nursing cows, 22 j virgin cows, 7. He says:
Since leaving San Francisco on March 9 the Corwin has steamed 16,200 miles, and
8,713 miles since the date of my reporting for duty, as part of the Bering Sea fleet.
Of this distance, 5,567 miles were steamed in Bering Sea.
I find in general, as one of the results of my investigations, that more than two-
thirds of the seals taken are now having young or capable of bearing them at no
distant clay; that it is impossible to discriminate as to age or sex of seals while in
the water, except in the case of young pups and old bulls; that even under the most
favorable conditions a large percentage is lost by sinking or wounding; and that by
reason of the tameuess of the nursing cows, which form the larger part of the seals
sent, pelagic hunting in Bering Sea is peculiarly destructive and unless stopped will
wholly exterminate the already greatly depleted herds.
1 do not believe that it is possible to indicate any zonal limit in Bering Sea beyond
which pelagic sealing could be carried on and at the same time preserve the seals
from complete annihilation. Further, I wish to renew a statement contained in a
former report made to the Secretary of the Treasury, that, unless supplemented with
protection in the Pacific Ocean, no amount of protection in Bering Sea will preserve
the herds.
Capt. L. G. Shepard, United States revenue marine (Case of the
United States, Appendix, Vol. II, p. 187):
I am 45 years of age, a resident of Washington, U. C., and am captain in the United
States Revenue-Marine Service, chief of division revenue marine, Treasury Depart-
ment. In command of the revenue steamer Rush, I made three cruises to Bering Sea
in the years 1887, 1888, and 1889 for the purpose of enforcing existing law for protec-
tion of seal life in Alaska and the waters thereof. I hereby append to and make a
part of this affidavit a table, marked A, giving the names of the vessels seized by me
in Bering Sea while violating the law of the United States in relation to the taking
of fur-bearing animals.
*******
I examined the skins taken from sealing vessels seized in 1887 and 1889, over 12,000
skins, and of these at least two-thirds or three-fourths were the skins of females.
Of the females taken in the Pacific Ocean, and early in the season in Bering Sea,
nearly all are heavy with young, and the death of the female necessarily causes the
death of the unborn pup seal; in fact, I have seen on nearly every vessel seized the
pelts of unborn pups which had been taken from their mothers. Of the females
taken in Bering Sea nearly all are in milk, and I have seen the milk come from the
can-asses of dead females lying on the decks of sealing vessels which were more
than 100 miles from the Pribilof Islands. From this fact, and from the further fact
that I have seen seals in the water over 150 miles from the islands during the sum-
mer, I am convinced that the female, after giving birth to her young on the rookeries,
goes at least 150 miles, in many cases, from the islands in search of food. It is
impossible 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.
214 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS.
Capt. Daniel HcLane (Case of the United States, Appendix, Vol.
II, p. 443):
Captain McLane has been engaged in pelagic sealing for eleven years
as master of vessels and deposes in part as follows :
Q. Of what sex are the seals taken by you, or usually killed by hunting vessels in
the North Pacific and Bering Sea? — A. Females.
Q. What percentage of them are cows? Suppose you catch 100 seals, how many
males would you have among them? — A. About 10.
Q. What percentage of the cows taken are with pup? — A. The females are mostly
all with pup; that is, up until the 1st of July.
Q. Have you noticed any decrease in the quantity of animals in the last few
years? — A. Yes, sir.
Q. To what do you attribute the cause? — A. Killing off the females.
Q. If sealing continues as heretofore, is there any danger of exterminating them? —
A. Yes, sir; they will all be exterminated in three years, and there will be no more
sealing.
Q. Do you think it is absolutely necessary to protect the cows in the Bering Sea? —
A. Yes, sir.
James Kiernan, of San Francisco, sealing captain (Case of the
United States, Appendix, Vol. II, p. 449) :
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. I
should say that not less than 80 per cent of those caught each year were of that sex.
I have observed that those killed in the North Pacific were mostly female carrying
their young, and were generally caught while asleep on the water, while those taken
in the Bering Sea were nearly all mother seals in milk, that had left their young and
were in search of food.
# * Tf 7? • * # #
The mother does not leave the rookery in search of food until she has dropped her
young and become pregnant again, hence when she has been slain it means the loss
of three, as the young pup will unquestionably die for lack of sustenance.
Michael White, of San Francisco, sealing captain (Case of the
United States, Appendix, Vol. II, p. 489) :
I am 50 years of age. I reside at East Oakland. My occupation is master mariner,
and I have been so engaged for twenty-seven years, off and on. I have been engaged
in seal hunting during the years 1885, 1887, 1888, and 1889 in the North Pacific and
Bering Sea. I first went out in 1885 in the schooner City of Sun Diego, chartered by
myself and others, and my catch for that year was between 2,300 and 2,400 seals.
Of that number about 1,900 were caught in Bering Sea. There were but very few ves-
sels sealing at that time. In 1886 I was master of the schooner Terese, sailing from San
Francisco on the 2d day of February, and commenced capturing seals on the coast
of California, and followed them from that date north into Bering Sen. AVe caught
them from 5 to 60 miles off the coast. I entered Bering Sea on the 6th day of June,
1886, and previous to that time had caught about 880 seals. Then I sealed in Ber-
ing Sea from that time to the 28th of August; caught about 2,200 more, the whole
catch being 3,000 for the year.
In 1887 I was master of the schooner Lottie Faircltild, sailing from San Francisco
on or about the 17th day of March, and worked northward to Bering Sea, and cap-
tured 883 seals. I then entered Bering Sea about the 6th of July, cruising there
until the 29th day of August, and took 2,517 seals more, the whole catch being 3,400
for the year.
In 1888 I took the schooner Undaunted on a fishing and sealing voyage, leaving
here on or about the 20th of March, and cruised in the North Pacific up to the island
of Kodiak, capturing 400 seals up to the 7th day of June. I did not enter Bering
Sea that year. I did the same in 18£9, my trip being the same as in 1888, and my
capture of seals was about the same. I then quit sealing, and I am now engaged in
trading with the Gilbert and Marshall islands in the South Pacific Sea.
In my captures off the coast between here and Sitka 90 per cent of my catch were
females, but off the coast of Unimak Pass there was a somewhat smaller percentage
of females, and nearly all the females were cows heavy with pup, and, in some
instances, the period of gestation was so near at hand that I have frequently taken
the live pup from the mother's womb.
I never paid any particular attention as to the exact number of or proportion of
each sex killed in Bering Sea, but I do know that the larger portion of them were
females and were mothers giving milk. I have never hunted within 15 miles of the
SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 215
Pribilof Islands, but I have often killedseals in milk at distances of not less than 100
to 200 miles from these islands. From my knowledge and experience in the business
it is my conviction that within the last few years, since the sealers have become so
numerous in the Pacific and Bering Sea, that not more than one out of three is
secured. ( )ui purpose and practice was to take all seals we could get, regardless of
their age or sex. without any discrimination whatever.
M. A. Healy:
My own observation and the information obtained from seal hunters convince me
that fully i'O per cent of the seals found swimming in Bering Sea during the
breeding season are females in search of food, and the slaughter results in the
destruction of her young by starvation. I firmly believe that the fur-seal industry
at the Pribilof Islands can be saved from destruction only by a total prohibition
against killing seals, not only in the waters of Bering Sea, but also during their
annual immigration northward in the Pacific Ocean.
This conclusion is based upon the well-known fact that the mother seals are
slaughtered by the thousands in the North Pacific while on their way to the islands
to give birth to their young, and extinction must necessarily come to any species of
animal where the female is continually hunted and killed during the period required
for gestation and rearing of her young. As now practiced, there is no respite to the
female seal from the relentless pursuit of the seal hunters, for the schooners close
their season with the departure of the seals from the northern sea and then return
home, refit immediately, and start out upon a new voyage in February or March,
commencing upon the coast of California, Oregon, and Washington, following the
seals northward as the season advances into Bering Sea.
Captain Caulson says:
In company with Special Agent Murray, Captain Hooper, and Engineer Brerton,
of the Corwin, I visited the Reef and Garbotch rookeries, St. Paul Island, in August,
1891, and saw one of the most pitiable sights that I have ever witnessed. Thousands
of dead and dying pups were scattered over the rookeries, while the shores were
lined with emaciated, hungry little fellows, with their eyes turned toward the sea,
uttering plaintive cries for their mothers, which were destined never to return.
Numbers of them were opened, their stomachs examined, and the fact revealed that
starvation was the cause of death, no organic disease being apparent.
The great number of seals taken by hunters in 1891 was to the westward and north-
westward of St. Paul Island, and the largest number of dead were found that year in
rookeries situated on the west side of the island. This fact alone goes a great way,
in my opinion, to confirm the theory that the loss of the mothers was the cause of
mortality among the young.
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 observed them, not only around the island,
but from 80 to 100 miles out at sea.
In different years the feeding grounds or the location where the greater number of
seals are taken by poachers seem to differ; in other words, the seals frequently change
feeding grounds. For instant, in 1887 the greatest number of seals were taken by
poachers between Unimak and Akntau passes and the seal islands, and to the south-
westward of St. George Island. In 1889 the catching was largely done to the south-
ward and eastward, in many cases from 50 to 150 miles distant from the seal islands.
In the season of 1890, to the southward and westward, also to northwest and north-
east of the islands, showing that the seals have been scattered. The season of 1891,
the greatest number were taken to northward and westward of St. Paul, and at
various distances from 25 to 150 miles away.
Mr. Kedpath:
The Alaskan fur seal is a native of the Pribilof Islands, and, unless prevented, will
return to those islands every year with the regularity of the seasons. All the pecul-
iarities of nature that surround the Pribilof group of islands, such as low and even
temperature, fog, mist, and perpetually clouded sky, seem to indicate their fitness and
adaptability as a home for the Alaskan fur seal; and, with an instinct bordering on
reason, they have selected these lonely and barren islands as the choicest spots of
earth upon which to assemble and dwell together during their six months' stay on
laud; and annually they journey across thousands of miles of ocean and pass hun-
dreds of islands, without pause or rest, until they come to the place of their birth.
And it is a well-established fact that upon no other land in the world do the Alaskan
fur seal haul out of water.
J. C. Redpath says:
No cow will nurse any pup but her own, and I have often watched the pups
attempt to suck cows, but they were always driven off, and this fact convinces me
216 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS.
that the cow recognizes her own pup but that the pup does not know its darn. At
birth, and for several weeks after, the pup is utterly helpless and entirely dependent
upon its dam for sustenance, 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 5 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 Avould perish beyond a doubt, as has
been well established by the drowning of pups caught by the surf in stormy weather.
After learning to swim the pups still draw 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 islands some
days before. I have no knowledge of the pups obtaining sustenance of any kind
except that furnished by the cows, nor have I ever seen any thing but milk in a dead
pup's stomach.
Karp Buteriii says :
Schooners kill cows, pups die, and seals are gone. Some meu tell me last year,
" Karp, seals are sick." I know seals are not sick; I never seen a sick seal, and I
eat seal meat every day of my life. No big seals die unless we club them ; only pups
die for food after the cows are shot at sea. When we used to kill pups for food in
November, they were always full of milk ; the pups that die on the rookeries have no
milk. The cows go into the sea to feed after the pups are born, and the schooner
men shoot them all the time.
Captain Carthcut says:
About 80 per cent of the seals 1 caught in Bering Sea were mothers in milk, and
were feeding around the fishing banks just north of the Aleutian Islands, and I got
most of ruy seals from 50 to 250 miles from the seal islands. I don't think I ever
sealed within 25 miles of the Pribilof Islands. 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 will go very fast to the iishing banks, and after they
get their food they will go to sleep on the waters. That is the hunter's great chance.
I think we secure*more in proportion to the number killed than we did in the North
Pacific. I hunted with shotgun and rifle, but mostly with shotgun. Seals were not
nearly as numerous in 1887 as they were in 1877, and it is my belief that the decrease
in numbers is due to the hunting and killing of female seals in the water. I do not
think it possible for seals to exist for any length of time if the present slaughter
continues. The killing of the female means death to her born or unborn pup, and it
is not reasonable to expect that this immense drain on the herds can be continued
without a very rapid decrease in their numbers, and which practically means exter-
mination within a very few years.
Christ Clausen says:
The Indian hunters, when they use spears, saved nearly every one they struck.
It is my observation and experience that an Indian or a white hunter, unless very
expert, will kill and destroy many times more than he will save if he uses firearms.
It is our object to take them when asleep on the water, and any attempt to capture
a breaching seal generally ends in failure. The seals we catch along the coast are
nearly all pregnant females. It is seldom we capture an old bull, and what males
we get are usually young ones. I have frequently seen cow seals cut open and unborn
pups cut out of them, and they would live for several days. This is a frequent
occurrence. It is my experience that fully 85 per cent of the seals I took in Bering
Sea were females and had given birth to their pups, and their teats would be full of
milk. I have caught seals of this kind 100 to 150 miles from Pribilof Islands. It is
my opinion that spears should be used in hunting seals, and if they are to be kept
from extermination the shotgun should be discarded.
George Dishow says :
I use a shotgun exclusively for taking seals. Old hunters lose but very few seals,
but beginners lose a great many. I use the Parker shotgun. A large proportion of
all seals taken are females with pup. I never examined them as to sex. But very
few old bulls are taken, only five being taken out of a total of 900 seals taken by my
schooner. Use no discrimination in killing seal, but shoot everything that comes
near the boat in the shape of a seal. Hunters shoot seal in the most exposed part of
the body. Have never known any pups to be born in the water, nor on the land on
SKAL LIFE ON THE PKIBILOF ISLANDS. 217
the coast of Alaska an\ \vlicn- outside of the Pribilof Islands. H:ivo never known
fur ><-ul to haul up on the land any \vhcre on the coast except on the Pribilof Islands.
Most of the seals taken in Bering Sea are females. Have taken them 70 miles from
the islands that were full of milk. 1 think a closed season should be established for
breeding seal from .January 1 to August 15 in the North 1'acitic Ocean and liering
>e;i.
George Faircliild says :
Most of them were cows, nearly all of which had pups in them. We took some of
the pups alive out of the bodies of the females. We entered Bering Sea May 25,
and we got 704 seals in there, the greater quantity of which were females with their
breasts full of milk, a fact which I know by reason of having seen the milk flow on
the deck when they were being skinned. We had five boats on board, each boat
having a hunter, boat puller, and steerer. We used shotguns and rilies. We got
one out of every five or six that we killed or wounded. We wounded a great many
that we did not get. We caught them from 10 to 50 miles ott' the seal islands.
Normaii Hodgson says:
I do not think it possible for fur seals to breed or copulate in water at sea, and
never saw nor heard of the action taking place on a batch of floating kelp. I have
never seen a young fur-seal pup of the same season's birth in the water at sea nor
on a patch of 'floating kelp, and, in fact, never knew of their being born anywhere
save on a rookery. I have, however, cut open a gravid cow and taken the young
one from its mother's womb alive and crying. I do not believe it possible for a fur
seal to be successfully raised unless born and nursed on a rookery. I have seen fur
seals resting on patches of floating kelp at sea, but do not believe they ever haul up
for breeding purposes anywhere except on rookeries.
Captain Tanner, lieutenant-commander in the United States Navy,
makes a deposition which is entitled to particular consideration. The
following is a short extract:
Seals killed in Bering Sea after the birth of pups are largely mother sea's, and the
farther they are found from the islands the greater the percentage will be. The rea-
son for this seeming paradox is very simple. The young males, having no family
responsibilities, can afford to hunt nearer home, where food can be found if sufficient
time is devoted to the search. The mother does not leave her young except when
necessity compels her to seek food for its sustenance. She can not afford to waste
time on feeding grounds already occupied by younger and more active feeders, hence
she makes the best of her way to richer fields farther away, gorges herself with food, •
then seeks rest and a quiet nap on the surface. Under these circumstances she sleeps
soundly, and becomes an easy victim to the watchful hunter.
A double waste occurs wlien the mother seal is killed, as the pups will surely
starve to death. A mother seal will give sustenance to no pup but her own. 1 saw
sad evidences of this waste on St. Paul last season, where large numbers of pups
were lying about the rookeries, where they had died of starvation.
DECREASE OF SEALS
EXCESSIVE KILLING THE ADMITTED CAUSE.
We find that since the Alaska purchase a marked diminution in the
number of seals on and habitually resorting to the Pribilof Islands has
taken place; that it has been cumulative in effect, and that it is the
result of excessive killing by man. (Joint report of United States and
British Bering Sea commissioners.)
PELAGIC SEALING THE SOLE CAUSE.
Opinions of American commissioners.
Having answered the first of the two queries relating to conditions
of seal life at the present time, the second becomes important. It is:
Has the decrease in number been confined to any particular class of
seals, or is it most notable in any class or classes? In answer to this,
it is our opinion that the diminution in numbers began and continues
to be most notable in female seals. (Report of American commissioners.)
218 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS.
As a matter of fact, there is sufficient evidence to convince us that
by far the greater part of the seals taken at sea are females ; indeed,
we have yet to meet with any evidence to the contrary. The state-
ments of those who have had occasion to examine the catch of pelagic
sealers might be quoted to almost any extent to the effect 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 which we have
every reason to believe was a part of a pelagic catch, and found them
nearly all females. When the sealers themselves are not influenced by
the feeling that they are testifying against their own interests, they
give similar testimony. The master of the sealing schooner J. G. Stcan
declared that in the catch of 1890, when he secured several hundred
seals, the proportion of females to males was about four to one, and on
one occasion in a lot of 60 seals, as a matter of curiosity, he counted the
number of females with young, finding 47. (Report of American com-
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
number of the killable seals at the Pribilof rookeries and the immense
decrease in the total number of seals on the Pribilof Islands are not
due to any change in the management of the seal herd at the islands,
but to the direct and unquestionably deleterious effects of pelagic seal-
ing. At the islands the killing is regulated with reference to the num-
ber of killable seals on the rookeries, the designated quota is limited
to nonbreeding young males, and every seal killed is utilized. The
killing, as thus regulated, does not impair the productiveness of the
rookeries. In pelagic sealing the slaughter is indiscriminate and unlim-
ited, and a large proportion of the seals killed are lost. The catch also
consists almost wholly of breeding females, which at the time of cap-
ture are either heavy with young or have young on the rookeries
depending upon them for sustenance. Thus two or more seals are
destroyed to every one utilized, and nearly all are drawn from the class
on which the very existence of the seal herd 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 protected from destruction, and I say with-
out hesitation that the great decrease in the number now annually
arriving at 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 to acquaint
myself with the 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 inevitably be commer-
cially destroyed. (A. B. 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.)
SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 21 0
My people wondered why this was so, and no one could tell 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 seal*
they killed and destroyed must be cows, for most 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 pups on the rookeries that had been
starved to death. 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 more than one fourth as many seals in 1891 as there was in 1880.
We understand 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 off by shooting them in
the water there would be as many seals on the islands 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 as they have in the last five or six
years there will be none left in a little while. (Kerrick Artomanoff.)
Upon examining the Bering Sea catch for 1891, as based upon the
records of the Victoria custom-house, I ascertained that nearly 30,000
seals had been taken by the British fleet alone in Bering Sea during
the summer of 1891. When there is added to this the catch of the
American vessels, the dead pups upon the rookeries, and allowances
made for those that are killed and not recovered, we have a catch whicb
will not only nearly reach in numbers the quota of 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 upon the produc-
ing females. This is borne out by a further fact. The young bachelor
seals can lie idly on the hauling grounds and through the peculiarities
of their physical economy sustain life with a small supply of food, but
the cows must range the ocean iu search of nourishment that they may
meet the demands made upon them by their young. That seals go a
great distance from the islands 1 know from personal observation, for
we saw them 120 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 present such an array of
killable seals that there would be no necessity for the Government to-
suspend the annual quota. It inevitably follows that the females are
the class most preyed upon in Bering Sea. No class of animals which
bring forth but a single offspring annually can long sustain itself
against the destruction of the producers. As a result of my investiga-
tion I believe that the destruction of females was carried to the point,
in about 1885, where the birth rate could not keep up the necessary
supply of mothers, and that the equilibrium being once destroyed and
the drain upon the producing class increasing from year to year from
that date, the present depleted condition of the rookeries has resulted
directly therefrom. (J. 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 plenty 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 pups 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 stomachs. Then we
all knew the cows had been shot when they went into the sea to feed,
and the pups died because they had nothing'to eat. Plenty of schooners
220 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS.
came first about eight or nine years ago, and more and more every year
since, and the seals get less and less ever since schooners came; and
my people kept saying "No cows," "Xo cows.7' First the cows get less
and then the bachelors get less, and the company agent he says "kill
smaller seals,7' and we kill some whose skins weigh only 4| pounds,
instead of 7 pounds, same as they always got. Then we coufd not get
enough of seals and at last we could hardly get enough for meat.
Schooners kill cows, pups die, and seals are gone. (Karp Buterin.)
The cause of this decrease I believe to be due to the promiscuous
killing of the seals by hunters in the open sea and the disturbance
caused by their presence in destroying the mother seals and scattering
the herds. (James H. Douglass.)
I know of no other cause for the decrease than that of the killing of
the cows at sea by the pelagic hunters, which I believe must be pro-
hibited if the Alaskan fur seal is to be saved from total destruction.
(C. L. Fowler.)
In my opinion pelagic sealing is the cause of redriving on the islands,
the depletion of the rookeries, and promises to soon make the Alaska
fur-seal herd a thing of the past. If continued as it is to-day, even if
killing on the islands was absolutely forbidden, the herd will in a few
years be exterminated. (Charles J. Go ft'.)
During my visit to the islands of St. Paul and St. George for the last
twenty years I have carefully noticed that those islands were visited
by great herds of fur seals during the breeding season, and that,
although 100,000 male seals were taken annually at the islands by the
lessees, no perceptible diminution in their numbers was noticeable until
within the past few years, when the killing of seals in the open sea on
the part of fishing vessels became prevalent, since which time there
has been a very perceptible diminution in the number of seals seen in
the water of Bering Sea and hauling grounds on the islands. This
decrease has become alarmingly sudden in the last three or four years,
due, I believe, to the ruthless and indiscriminate methods of destruc-
tion employed by vessels in taking female seals in the open sea. (Capt.
M. A. Healey.)
I made the conditions of seal life a careful study for years, and I am
firmly of the opinion their decrease in number on the Pribilof Islands
is due wholly and entirely to hunting and killing them in the open sea.
{W. S. Hereford.)
When in 1886 we all saw the decrease of seals upon the hauling
grounds and rookeries, we asked each other what was the cause of it,
but when we learned that white men were shooting seals in the water
with guns we knew what was the matter; we knew that if they killed
seals in the water that they must be nearly all females that were going
out to feed, for the males stay on the islands until they get ready to go
away in the fall or winter. It was among the cows we first noticed the
decrease, and as we never kill the cows on the islands, we knew they
must be killing them in the water. (Aggei Kushen.)
There can be no question, in my opinion, about the ultimate result to
the rookeries of marine sealing. If it is continued as it has been for
the last two or three years, the seals will be so nearly wiped out of exist-
ence in a short time as to leave nothing to quarrel about, and an article
of commerce that has afforded a vast amount of comfort and satisfac-
tion to a large class of wearers and a large income to both American
and Brjtish merchants will be a thing of the past. (Isaac Liebes.)
SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 221
1 am convinced that the decrease in the rookeries was caused entirely
by open-sea sealing. (Abial P. Loud.)
There were no destructive agencies at work upon the island that
would not have left the rookeries in better condition in 1890 than they
were in 1870. I'ntil the effects of the true agent of destruction began
to be manifest there was an excess of male lite on the islands sullicient
to permit of an annual catch of 100.000 seals for an indefinite period
without jeopardizing the rookeries. If it be remembered that the, seals
taken in the waters by hunters are chietly females, that their young-
die with them, and that all of those killed are not secured, and if then
an examination be made of the pelagic skins actually sold during the
past twenty years, the real source of the depletion of the rookeries will
be found. In my judgment such depletion was caused by pelagic seal-
ing, and that it grew greater from year to year, as the number of
so-called poaching schooners increased, and that its effects began to
manifest themselves about 1885 or 1886. The depletion on both haul-
ing and breeding grounds is accounted for by the fact that the catch
of said sealers consists of at least 85 per cent cows. Said cows, when
taken in the North Pacific, are in the majority of cases with pups, and
in Bering Sea are so-called milking females. Whenever a milking cow
is killed, her pup on the rookeries dies of starvation. In support of
this fact last stated, the number of dead pups during the last four years
I was upon the islands increased annually. The effect of the compara-
tively few raids upon the rookeries themselves, while injurious, bear
but a small ratio to the enormous damage done by the pelagic hunting.
Those in charge of the islands did not, when the decrease on the rook-
eries commenced, know exclusively the cause thereof. My opinion then
was that it was caused by pelagic sealing, but I had been informed
and believed that the United States Government intended to seize all
such poaching vessels. Relying upon such information I authorized
the taking of seals as before. The proper protection of seal life was
not fully carried out in Bering Sea and the North Pacific by reason of
England's interference, and the rookeries were thus depleted. (H. H.
Mclntyre.)
Froni statements made by personal acquaintances and friends, I
became aware of a rapid decrease in seal life in Alaska, and reports of
pelagic sealing, as made public through the press, combined with pre-
vious personal affairs as existing prior to 1882, leaves no possible doubt
as to the cause of such decrease of seals. Pelagic sealing as practiced
prior to the year 1882 had no apparent effect upon seal life, and even
when to this was added the taking of a definite number year after year
under lease from the United States Government, there was still a con-
stant increase of seals observed. I am, therefore, fully confirmed in
the belief that the decrease in their numbers is due solely to the indis-
criminate killing at sea of all ages, regardless of sex, as practiced since
1884. (H. W. Mclutyre.)
The seals have rapidly decreased since sealing vessels appeared, but
before the inroads of these seal hunters there was no trouble in obtain-
ing the full quota of the best grades of skins, as the herds previous to
that time had been noticeably increasing. (John Malowansky.)
Q. To what do you attribute the decrease in the number of seals on
the rookeries? — A. To the great number of cows killed by poachers,
and consequently less pups are born on the rookeries.
Q. 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-
222 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS.
€ime cutters from the poaching vessels, and there were very few male
skins among them; also have seen among them a great number of
unborn pups. Twice upon the rookeries I have seen cows killed and
left there by the poachers. (Anton Melovedoff.j
I know of no other explanation than this: The cows are shot and
killed when they go into the sea to feed and the pups die on the rook-
eries. This, I think, is the true solution of the vexed question, "What
has become of the seals?" (Anton Melovedoff.)
Since 1883, however, there is said to have occurred a very material
diminution of the seal life on the Pribilof Islands, due, as it is claimed,
to a large and indiscriminate slaughter of these animals in the waters
of Bering Sea and the Pacific Ocean. The cause assigned for this loss
is undoubtedly the true one. If no other proof were forthcoming in
relation to it, the large display of dead pups on the rookeries would in
itself furnish all the evidence required. Such diminution could not,
in my opinion, be the result of the yearly slaughter of skins. It is
shown that an appreciable expansion of the rookeries took place after
twelve or fourteen years of such slaughter, and I think this fact
conclusively demonstrates that the number of seals which the law per-
mitted to be killed each year was not greater than the known condi-
tions of the seal's life would safely warrant. (J. M. Morton.)
From the experience gained, and observations made, during three
killing seasons; from the information gleaned from men who have
devoted their lives to the practical side of the seal question, and from
the books and reports in the Government offices on the islands, I am
able to say that, in my opinion, there is only one great cause of the de-
crease of the fur seal, and that is the killing of the females by pelagic
hunting. (Joseph Murray.)
I believe this decrease is owing to the large number of vessels engaged
in hunting the fur seal at sea, and the indiscriminate methods employed
by these sealing vessels in taking skins. (Arthur Newman.)
The practice of pelagic seal hunting was followed by the Northwest
Coast Indians from their earliest history, but amounted to so little as
to be inappreciable on the islands. Even after white hunters engaged
in it in a limited way our losses from this source were attributed to the
marine enemies of the seals, and was so far overcome by the good man-
agement of the islands as to permit the growth of the herd to continue
so long as it was limited to a few vessels and confined to the vicinity of
the Oregon, Washington, and British Columbian coasts. But even
before any considerable slaughter had taken place in the waters of
Bering Sea. as early as 1882, it was noticed that the rookeries had
stopped expanding, though they were treated in every way as they
always had been. An examination of the London Catalogue of seal-skin
sales shows that the " Victoria catch " already aggregated a very con-
siderable number of skins, and now brings home the conviction that
pelagic sealing, when confined almost wholly to the Pacific, is still a
very dangerous enemy of seal life on the islands. After 1886 the force
of pelagic hunters was greatly augmented, and became more and more
aggressive, until they appeared in alarming numbers in Bering Sea in
1884 and 1885. In 1887 we were forced to commence taking smaller
skins in order to obtain our quota and preserve enough breeding bulls.
In 1888 they were still smaller, while in 1889 more than half of them
were such as we would not have killed in former years ; and we called the
attention of the Treasury Department to the evident diminution of seal
SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 223
life, and recommended that fewer seals be killed in future. There can
be no question as to the cause of the diminution. It is the direct result
of pelagic sealing, and the same destruction, if continued a few years
longer, will entirely dissipate any commercial value in the rookeries, if
it does not, indeed, annihilate them. (Gustave Niebaum.)
In my opinion the solution of the problem is plain. It is the shotgun
and the ritie of the pelagic hunter which are so destructive to the cow
seals as they go backward and forward to the fishing banks to supply
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 provided no other
means of subsistence for them at this time of life. (L. A. Noyes.)
Q. How do you account for it? — A. By the numbers, principally
females, that are killed in the waters by marauders. (J. C. Eedpath.)
I saw no diminution of seal life during my three years on the island.
The outlines of the rookeries remained just about the same from year
to year. I was told at the time that there had formerly been a large
increase, and did not then understand why it did not continue, as every
condition seemed favorable for it. "there were, apparently, an abun-
dance of bulls for service; every cow seemed to have a pup, and all
were healthy and in good condition. No females were killed, and in the
natural order of growth there ought to have been at this time a con-
stantly increasing area covered with breeding rookeries. Yet such was
not the case. The explanation of the matter came later, when we fairly
awoke to the fact that our animals were being slaughtered by tens of
thousands in the North Pacific. I knew in a commercial way from our
sales catalogue that a very large number of " Victoria skins," as they
were called, were being sent to market, and that this number grew con-
stantly larger; but I did not then know, as I now do, that each skin
sold represented a waste of two or three and perhaps even four or five
seals to obtain it. Nor was any attention given to the now well-known
fact that these animals were a part of our herd as wrongfully stolen
from us, I believe, as my cattle would be if driven in and appropriated
from the highway when lawfully feeding. (Leon Sloss.)
Since my residence on the Pribilof 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. I am of the conviction that
the reported decrease in seal life on these islands can be attributed to
no other cause save pelagic sealing. While I was located at St. George
Island in 1881 pelagic sealing was then and previous to that time had
i been of very little consequence, having very slight effect upon seal life.
Not more than four or five vessels were engaged in pelagic sealing in
1881 in the waters of Bering Sea, and prior to that time a still fewer
number were so engaged. But since 1881 this industry has grown yearly
until now about a hundred vessels are destroying the seals in great
numbers, and, as I am informed and believe, the great majority of those
killed are females. Then, too, large numbers are killed in this way
which are never recovered nor reported. (W. B. Taylor.)
Scarcity of seal can be attributed to no other cause than pelagic
hunting and the indiscriminate shooting of seals in the open sea. both
in the North Pacific and Bering Sea. (John C. Tolman.)
I am sure the decrease is caused by the killing of female seals in the,
open sea, and that if their destruction by the indiscriminate killing in
224 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS.
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, and, if continued, will certainly end in their extermination.
(M. L. Washburn.)
I am convinced that if open-sea sealing had never been indulged in
to the extent it has since 1885, or perhaps a year or two earlier, 100,000
male 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 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 number of those engaged in open-sea sealing. From 1884 to
1891 I saw their numbers decline, under the same careful management,
until in the latter year there was not more than one-fourth of their
numbers coming to the islands. In my judgment there is but one cause
for that decline and the present condition of the rookeries, and that
is the shotgun and rifle 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 find the breeding grounds in about the same
condition as they are to-day, so destructive to seal life are the methods
adopted by these hunters. (Daniel Webster.)
Deponent, by reason of his experience in the business, his observa-
tion, conversations with those physically engaged in catching and curing
skins, and the custody of herds on the islands, feels justified in express-
ing the opinion that the numbers of the seal herds have, since the
introduction of the open-sea sealing on a large scale, suffered serious
diminution. The killing of large numbers of females heavy with young
can not, in deponent's knowledge, but have that effect. (C. A. Williams.)
I made careful inquiry of the people on the islands, both native and
white, and of those who were or had been employed as masters or mates
on sealing vessels, and others interested one way or another in the cap-
ture of fur seals for food or for profit, and failed to find any of them but
who admitted that the number of seals in Bering Sea was much less
now than a few years since, and nearly all of them gave it as their
opinion that the decrease in number was due to pelagic hunting, or, as
they more frequently expressed it, the killing of females in the water.
(W. H. Williams.)
DECREASE OF THE ALASKAN SEAL HERD.
After 1882 they seemed to stay about the same, as far as the number
of breeders was concerned, as long as I was there. (John Armstrong.)
I ascertained by questioning those who had years of continuous expe-
rience with the seals that up to the year 1882 there was an annual expan-
sion of the boundaries of the breeding grounds ; that this was followed
by a period of stagnation, which in turn was followed by a marked
decadence from about 1885-86 down to the present time. ( J. Stanley-
Brown.)
I am unable to state whether the seals increased or not during my
residence on St. Paul, but they certainly did not decrease, except, per-
haps, there was a slight decrease in 1884. In all my conversations with
SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 225
the natives — which were, of course, a great many — they never spoke of
the seals being on the decrease, as they certainly would have done if
such had been the case. (II. A. Glidden.)
\Yhile 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.
Moulton.)
Upon the Commander Islands, as I 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 subsequently attributed, when the facts
were ascertained, to pelagic sealing in the adjacent waters. (Gustave
Hiebaum.)
I noticed during this period no perceptible increase in the breeding
rookeries on St. George. (B. F. Scribner, Treasury agent.)
ON PRIBILOF ISLANDS.
In 1882 there was no scarcity of ki liable seals. The men drove up as
many every day as they could handle, and those selected for killing
comprised only the choicest ones. (W. C. Allis.)
There seemed to be also a large surplus of full-grown bulls for rook-
ery service, and enough escaped from the slaughter 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, employees, and natives, as well as the
seals, all appeared to be and were, I believe, contented and happy. In
1880 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 compared 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 tirst year (1882) in the service. But the
trouble of which they complained grew more serious in the following
years, and I 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 1880 a very large proportion of the catch was made up of this class.
It was then perfectly apparent to everybody, myself included, that the
rookeries were "going to the bad" and that a smaller number must
inevitably be killed the following year. (W. C. 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 by 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. (C. H. Anderson.)
The skins taken prior to 1886 weighed from 6 to 10 pounds each,
averaging about 8 pounds per skin; but I understand from those who
remained there on duty that much smaller ones were Barter wards taken,
because the large seals had become scarce and were needed for rookery
service. (John Armstrong.)
S. Doc. 137, pt-. 1 15
226 SEAL LIFE ON THE PKIBILOF ISLANDS.
From 1870 to 1884 the seals were swarming on the hauling grounds
and the rookeries, and for many years they spread out more and more.
All of a sudden, in 1884, we noticed there was not so many seals, and
they have been decreasing very rapidly ever since. (KerrickArtomanoff.)
There are not nearly as many seals on the coast as there were two or
three years ago. (Johnny Barouovitch.)
There are certain physical as well as historical sources of information
upon the island from which the relation of the present to the past con-
dition of the rookeries can be very clearly made out.
(1) Not only upon, but immediately to the rear of, the area at present
occupied by the breeding seals occur fragments of basalt whose angles
have been rounded and polished by the flippers of seals. Among these
latter rocks grass is found growing to an extent proportionate to their
distances from the present 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 impingement of sand
driven by the wind. No geologist would be willing to risk his reputa-
tion by asserting that this rounding came from any such agency. The
distinction between the result of sand-blast action and seals' flippers
is very marked.
(2) A careful examination among the roots of the grass will often
show the former presence of seal by the peculiar appearance of the soil,
due to the excrementa of the 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 Hutehiuson Hill, and both he and
Dr. C. Hart Merriam collected specimens 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 which is sharply defined, and
between which and the present breeding grounds occurs a zone of
grass of only a single variety. In the immediate vicinity of the pres
ent breeding grounds only scanty bunches are to be seen. These
gradually coalesce as the line of mixed vegetation is approached. The
explanation of this is that the seals were formerly 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
lived upon the islands for years all agree that the shrinkage in the
breeding area has been rapid during the past five or six years.
After observing the habits of seals for a season, 1 unhesiTatingly
assert that to satisfactorily account for the disturbance to vegetable
life over areas whose extent is visible even to the most careless and
prejudiced of observers, would require the presence of from two to three
times the amount of seal life 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 the areas occupied by the seals on the rook-
eries and hauling-out grounds, especially at Northeast Point and the
Beef, 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
much so that at first appearance it seemed, in 1891, as if the hauling-
out grounds had been entirely deserted. Subsequent 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
SEAL LIFK ON THE PRimLnl ISLANDS. 227
seals an- much more skittered on the breeding rookeries than ill former
years 1.SS4, 1SS.~>, ISSU); also that the number of seals in the water has
proportionately decreased, and that they have grown very much more
shy and difficult to approach. Without .presuming to be absolutely cor-
rect, would estimate the number of seals present at St. Paul Island
during the year 1S91 to about 10 percentof the number there in former
years of observation— 1884, 1SS5, iss<>. (John C. Oantwell.)
I did not notice any falling olf in the size of the rookeries from the
landmaiks to which they came when I first saw them during the first
two years I was on the island, and all agreed, in discussing the matter,
that the seals had never been more numerous than they wTere; but in
the following years, and particularly in 1888 and 1889, no other opinion
was heard than that the animals had greatly diminished, and in this
opinion 1 fully coincided. (Henry N. Clark.)
During the seasons of 1890 and 1891, 1 was in command of the revenue
cutter /I'M*//, in Bering Sea, and cruised extensively in those waters
around the seal islands and the Aleutian group. In the season of 1890
I visited the islands of St. Paul and St. George, in the months of July,
August, and September, and had ample and frequent opportunities of
observing the seal life as compared with 1870. I was astonished at the
reduced numbers of seals and the extent of bare groundon the rookeries
once teeming with seal life. In 1890 the North American Commercial
Company were unable to kill seals of suitable size to make their quota
of (>0,000 allowed by their lease, and in my opinion, had they been per-
mitted to take 50,000 in 1891, 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. (W. C. Coulson.)
I arrived with my command at St. Paul Island June 7, 1891. At that
date very few seals had arrived, and but a small number had been killed
for fresh food. On the 12th of June, 1891, we were at St. George Island
and found a few seals had been taken there, also for food, 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 including June until the 1st day of December
(excepting October), and at no time were there as many seals in sight
as in 1890. I assert this from actual observation, and it is my opinion
we will find less this year. (W. C. Coulson.)
During my annual cruising in Bering Sea and to and*from thePribilof
Islands I have carefully noted the number and appearance of seals in
the water and on the breeding rookeries from the deck of my vessel, and
have also repeatedly visited the hauling grounds from year to year, and
it was about 1884 and 1885 that bare spots began to appear on the rook-
eries, so much so that myself and the other officers often spoke of it
and discussed the causes therefor. The decrease in number of seals
both on the Pribilof Islands and in the waters of Bering Sea and North
Pacific lias been very rapid since 1885, especially so in the last three or
four years, and it is my opinion that there is not now more than one-
third of the 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 the number of seals thereon as contrasted with the herd on the
rookeries five or six years previously. I am familiar with the area and
topography of the various rookeries on the islands, and have observed
228 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS.
that spaces formerly occupied by seal herds are now vacant and parts
of them covered with grass. This diminution was particularly notice
able in 1887 and 1888. the last two years" visit to the islands. (James
11. Douglas.)
For many years prior to 1890 1 have observed the rookeries from my
ship and also from the islands. The first decrease in the number
appearing on the rookeries and in the surrounding sea that I particu
larly noticed was in the summer of 1884, and it has become more marked
from year to year since. For the last three or four years their disap
pearance has been very marked. In October, 1890, I made a trip from
Unalaska to St. .Michaels. When about 20 miles south of St. George
we commenced to watch for seals passing the Zapadnie rookery close
inshore along the west end of St. George Island to Otter Island and
Seal Island rock; thence to Northeast Point, about a mile and a hall
offshore. When we started, I requested the officers to keep 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 only saw two seals in the
whole run; whereas ten years ago, when on a similar voyage, seals were
so plentiful that it was impossible to count them. From my long obser
vation I do not think there are as many seals by two-thirds now anuu
ally arriving on the islands or in those waters as there were ten years
ago, when I first commenced to notice that they were decreasing. B^
this statement I mean to say that only one-third as many are now to be
seen as formerly. (M. C. Erskine.)
Seals have decreased in numbers very rapidly in the last few years
and to anyone who saw the breeding rookeries as I did in 1880 the
change is most wonderful. (0. L. Fowler.)
It was on the breeding rookeries and among the cows that I firsl
began to notice the decrease in seal life, and I do not think there were
more than one-fourth as many cows on the breeding rookeries in 189]
as were there in 1887. (C. L. Fowler.)
I have been a resident of the seal islands for the past ten years; for
merly assistant agent of the Alaska Commercial Company, now agem
of the North American Company, and during that time was engagec
in the taking of seals. I have listened to the testimony of J. C. Red
path, as above, and fully concur in all that he has said concerning seal
life, with the exception that the number of seals on the islands this
season are, in 'my judgment, not more than one- fourth of what they
were in 1887. (6. L. Fowler.)
In those days (from 1869 to 1882 or 1883) we used to get plenty o:
seals on the Zoltoi sands near the Eeef 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 decrease ever since 1880, sc
that at present there are not one-fourth as many seals on the island at
there was every year from 1869 to 1883. (John Fratis.)
In 1889 I made careful observations of the rookeries on St. Pau
Island and marked out the areas covered by the breeding grounds; ir
1890 I examined these lines made by me the former year, and found a
very great shrinkage in the spaces covered by breeding seals. In 1£~"
it was quite difficult for the lessees to obtain their full quota of 100,00(
skins ; so difficult was it in fact, that in order to turn off a sum' cienl
number of 4 and 5 years old males from the hauling grounds for breed
ing purposes in the future, the lessees were compelled to take about
50,000 skins of seals of 1 or 2 years of age. I at once reported thi
SEAL LIF1-: OX TI1K PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 229
tact to tin* Secretary of the- Treasury, and advised the taking of a less
number of skins the following: year. Pursuant to such report the ( lov-
ernment fixed the number to be taken as (JO. 000, and further ordered
that all killing of seals upon the islands should stop after the liOth day
of .July. 1 was further ordered to notify the natives upon t lie Aleutian
islands that all killing of seals while coming from or going to the seal
islands was prohibited. These rules and regulations went into effect
in 1 SIM), and pursuant thereto 1 posted notices for the natives at various
points along the Aleutian chain, and saw that the orders in relation to
the time ot killing and i. umber allowed to be killed were executed upon
the islands. As a result of the enforcement of these regulations, the
lessees were unable to take more than 21,1* >s seals of the killable age
of from 1 to r> years during the season of 1890, so great had been the
decrease of seal life in one year, find it would have been impossible to
obtain 00,000 skins even if the time had been unrestricted. (Charles
J. Goff.)
The Table A, appended to this affidavit, shows how great has been
the decrease on St. Paul Island's hauling grounds, bearing in mind the
fact that the driving and killing were done by the same persons 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
the decrease is pelagic sealing, which, from reliable information, I under-
stand to have increased greatly since 1884 or 1885. 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 unquestionable fact that the killing of these females destroys the
pups they are carrying or nursing. The result is, that this destruction
of pups takes about equally from the male and female increase of the
herd, and when so many male pups are killed in this manner, besides
the ] 00,000 taken o the islands, it necessarily affects the number of
killable seals. I n 1880 this drain upon male seal life showed itself on the
islands, and this, in my opinion, accounts for the necessity of the lessees
taking so many young seals that year to fill out their quota. As soon
as the effects of pelagic, sealing were noticed by me upon the islands
I reported the same, and the Government at once took steps to limit
the killing upon the islands, so that the rookeries might have an oppor-
tunity to increase their numbers to their former condition; but it will
be impossible to repair the depletion if pelagic sealing continues. I
have no doubt, as 1 reported, that the taking of 100.000 skins in 1889
affected the male life on the islands and cut into the reserve of male
seals necessary to preserve annually for breeding purposes in the
future, but this fact did not become evident until it was too late to
repair the fault tha t year. Except for the numbers destroyed by pelagic
sealing in the years previous to 18S9 the hauling grounds would not
have been so depleted, and the taking of 100,000 male seals would not
have impaired the reserve for breeding purposes or diminished to any
extent the seal life on the Pribilof Islands. Even in this diminished
state of the rookeries in 1889 I carefully observed that in the majority
of cases the 4 and 5 year old males were allowed to drop out of a
Ff drive" before the bachelors had been driven any distance from the
hauling grounds. These seals were let go for the sole purpose of sup-
plying sufficient future breeders. (Charles J. Goff'.)
I believe there has been a great decrease in the numbers of the fur-
s«';il species. I do not believe that there are now one tenth as many
fin seals frequenting the Pribilof Islands as there were ten years ago.
230 SEAL LIFK ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS.
Nine or ten years ago, when lying off the Pribilof Islands in the fall,
the young1 seals used to play in the water about the vessels in large
numbers; in going to the westward in the month of May many seals
were always to be seen between Tnalaska and the Four Mountain islands.
In midsummer, when making passages between Tnalaska and the Pri- •
bilof Islands, used to see large bodies of fur seals feeding; they were
invariably to be met with most numerously about . (Alex. Hansson.)
Coincident with the increase of hunting seals in the sea there was an
increase in the death rate of pup seals on the rookeries; also a per-
ceptible diminution of female seals. As hunting increased it became
self evident, even to the most casual observer, that the rookeries were
becoming devastated. It is positively a fact that there are not near as
many seals occupying the rookeries now, at the present time, as there
were when I tirst saw the islands. The vacant spaces on the breeding
and hauling grounds have increased in size from year to year since
1884, and have been very noticeable for the last four or five years.
When I first went to the seal islands the seals were actually increasing
in numbers instead of diminishing. Two facts presented themselves
to me later on: Fiist, seals were arriving each year in diminished num-
bers; second, at the same time that the female seals were decreasing
in numbers the number of dead pups on the rookeries \\ere 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 rookeries and hauling
grounds are bare, where but a few years ago nothing but the nappy,
noisy, and snarling seal families could be seen. * The driving
rookeries also necessarily have suffered, as witness the difference in the;
catch, a « rop from 100,000 to about 20,000 in 1890. (\V. JS. Hereford.)
I have been employed on the seal islands since 1882, have resided
upon them continuously 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 first came to live here; and since 1887 the decrease has been very
rapid. A careful inspection of the rookeries each returning season since
1887 showed that the cows were getting less and less, although it was
a rare thing to find a cow seal that did not have a pup at her side.
(Edward Hughes.)
SLAL LIFE to 18S9, inclusive, my observation was continuous,
and there was a greater decrease of the seals for each succeeding year
of that period in a cumulative ratio, proportionate to the number of
seals killed by the pelagic sealers. (H. H. Mclntyre.)
In 1SS<; I again assumed personal direction of the work upon the
islands, and continued in charge to and including 1889. And now, for
the first time in my experience, there was difficulty in securing such
skins as was wanted. The trouble was not particularly marked in 1886,
232 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS.
but increased from year to year to an alarming extent, until in 1889, in
order to secure the full quota and at the same time turn back to the
rookeries such breeding bulls as they seemed to absolutely need, we
were forced to take fully 50 per cent of animals under size, which ought
to have been allowed one or two years more growth. Concerning this
matter I reported to the Alaska Commercial Company, under date of
July 10, 1889, as follows: "The contrast between the present condition
of seal life and that of the first decade of the lease is so marked that
the most inexpert can not fail to notice it. Just when the change com-
menced I am unable from personal observation to say, for as you will
remember I was in ill health and unable to visit the islands in 1883,
1884, and 1885. I left the rookeries in 1882 in their fullest and best
condition and found them in 1880 already shoeing slight falling oft', and
experienced that year for the first time some difficulty in securing just
the class of animals in every case that we desired. We, however,
obtained the full catch in that and the two following years, finishing
the work from the 24th to the 27th of July, but were obliged, particu-
larly in 1888, to content ourselves with smaller skins 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. H. 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 about one-
fourth of what they were then. (Noen Mandregin.)
In 18S7 I began to notice a diminution in the number of seals arriv-
ing at the islands, which was due to the indiscriminate killing by sealing
vessels in the open sea, some 50 or GO miles distant. While we still
obtain about the usual number of skins, many more are taken from the
younger animals than formerly, and are somewhat inferior in quality.
(John Malowausky.)
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 females," "no females," 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 less is the number of seals during the past year
than they were six yea»s 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 Melovedoft'.)
About 1886 I noticed that the lines of former years were not lilled
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,
SKAL LIF,. ON T11K I'KIWLOF ISLANDS. -33
and hundreds were taken at only 4 pounds in order to lill the quota of
100.000. (A. Melovedotf.)
Tntil the schooners eame into Bering Sea the rookeries were always
well tilled, and many of them had grown steadily for years, when it
was no uncommon thiug for tlie lessees to take the quota of 85,000
seals on St. Paul Island between June 1 and 20 of each year. After
1SSI, when the original two or three sealing vessels had grown to be a
well-organized fleet, we found a steady decrease of seals on all the
rookeries, and we found it ditticult to secure the quota of skins, and in
18S!) the lessees had to lower the standard of weight lower than ever
before in the history of the island. (Simeon Melovidov.)
From the year 1874 till 1885 we were able to get from St. George and
St. Paul islands 100,000 male seals within the period known as the
sealing season of six weeks, from the 10th of June to the 1st of August,
and still leave a large percentage of marketable seals. In 1885, ami in
every year thereafter until 1 left in 1887, there was a marked decrease
in the number of marketable skins that could be obtained in each year
during the sealing season. We were able, down to the last year (1887),
to get our total catch of 100,01)0 seals, but in order to get that number
we had to take what in previous years we would have rejected, namely,
undersized skins, i. e., the skins of young seals. Prior to 1887 we had
endeavored to take no skins weighing less than 8 pounds, but in order
to make up our quota in the last mentioned year we had to take skins
weighing as little as G£ pounds to the number of several thousands.
(T. F. Morgan.)
In the years 1885, 1880, and 1887 my attention was attracted not only
to a diminution in the number of killable seals appearing on the island,
but to a decrease in the females as well. Up to the year 1884 the breed-
ing space in the rookeries had increased, and from that year down to
1887, when 1 left the island, the acreage covered by the rookeries which
were occupied by seals constantly diminished. (T. F. Morgan.)
My attention was called to the decrease of seals and the depletion of
the rookeries at an early date after my arrival. I attempted to study
the habits and conditions and to note the numbers of seal on the sev-
eral rookeries and hauling grounds. The natives and employees of the
Alaska Commercial Company were unanimous in their opinion that the
seal had been decreasing steadily and rapidly since 1884. 1 reported
the fact to Agent Goff, who had found similar conditions existing on
St. Paul, and he so repoited to the Department, and suggested that
not more than 00,000 seals should be taken in any one season in future.
In pursuance of instructions from Agent Goff, I left St. George Island
on the li>th of July. 1890, and landed on St. Paul Island on the 20th of
the same month, and remained there until August, 1891. During the
month of July, 1800, I Walked over the rookeries aud hauling grounds
of St. Paul Island, ami Agent Goff pointed out to me the lines to which
in former years the seals hauled, and the large areas which they cov-
ered ; and then he called my attention to the small strip covered by
seals on that date, which was smaller than the year previous. Agent
Goff stopped the killing of seals by the lessees on and after the 20th of
July, 1SUO, because of the depleted condition of the hauling grounds;
and 1 fully concurred in his order and action. I spent the sealing season
of 1891 on St. Paul Island, and pursuant to instructions of Agent Wil-
liams. I o-ave my time and special attention to the study of the condi-
tion of the rookeries, both the breeding and hauling grounds. I visited
SKAL LIl-'K < >\ THi: PklP.ILoF ISLANDS.
their condition and the number of seals: the number of cows to the
family, and the number of idle, vigorous hulls upon each rookery.
(.1 OMM >h M urra v.
(pon my lii'M \'isi( to the rookeries and hauling grounds of the island
of St. i'aiil my at tent ion was at tracted to the evidences oi recent and
remote occupancy 1 » y the seals. Marked differences were noticeable in
the appearance of \ cgetat ion on la rue areas formerly occupied as breed-
ing and hauling' grounds. while near the water's edge, more recently
occupied, the giound was entirely bare of vegetal ion. enabling one to
trace Ihe gradual decrease of areas occupied daring the last six to
eight years. My examination of ilie rookeries on St. Paul and St.
Ueorge dining the years is'.Ml. IS'.H. and IS!)U enabled me to trace the
yearly decreasing area occupied by the fur seals on these islands.
Aside from the evidences of deserted rookeries and hauling grounds
shown by native inhabitants of each island, the grounds occupied in
former years were now deserted and grass grown. The silent witness
of the deserted rookeries confirms 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, i S. I*.
Xettleton. <
The decrease in tlu4 number of seals coining to the islands in the last
three or four years becaaie 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 fol-
lowing are some of then1: (1) "A dearth of bulls upon the breeding
rookeries:" (!'} •'Impotency of bulls caused by overdriving while they
were v<>ung bachelors." and o>) "An epidemic among the seals." ( L.
A. Xoyes.i
M. Have you noted any perceptible difference in the number of seals
on the rookeries from one year to another.' If so. what changes have
vou observed .' — A. \^ it hin t he la.--t four or five \ ears I have observed n
decided decrease in the number of seals on the rookeries.
if. In what proportion have the seals decreased w thin the time men-
tioned '. — A. As far as mv judgment goes. 1 should say at least one-
half. M. ( '. Red path. (
As the schooners increased the >eals decreased, and the lines of con-
tract ion on tli" rookerh-s were not iced to draw nearer and nearer to the
beach, and the killable seals became fewer in numbers and harder to
find. In IS*1! th<- decrease was so plain that the natives and all the
aiM-nt^ on the islands saw it and were startled, and theories of all
sorts were advanced in an attempt to account for a cause. (J. (J.
Kedpath.)
I had no difficulty in getting the si/e aui/,e. In issf) these
casks averaged about 17.' skins each, at d in Is-Sd they averaged about
.">!)'• skins each, as shown by the records in our office. After this date
the number increased, and in 1 SSS they averaged about ~>~> skins per
cask, and in 1 ss'i a\ erased about (>0 skins per cask. Tliese hitler wei'O
>EAL LIFE ON THE P1UBILOF ISLANDS. 235
not such skins as we wanted, but the superintendent on the islands
reported tliat they were the best he could get. (Leon Sloss.)
The number of seals on the Pribilof Islands is decreasing. 1 saw
positive proof of this on St. Paul Island last season. (X. L. Tanner.)
I had an excellent opportunity to observe some, of the seal rookeries
during my first visit to the islands, and spent much time in studying
the habits of the seals, both on the rookeries and in the adjacent waiters.
I was particularly impressed with the great numbers to In- seen, both
on land and in the water. During the summer of 18SJ) the Rush was
engaged cruising in pursuit of vessels engaged in illegal sealing, so that
our anchorages off the seal rookeries that season were short and infre-
quent, hence I did not have the opportunity to observe them as closely
on land as the preceding year. During 18JH) the Kmh was not engaged
in preventing sealing outside the shore limit, and we spent much time
in full view of the seal rookeries and cruising" about the seal islands,
and I also made frequent visits to the breeding grounds. The deserted
appearance of the rookeries and the absence of seals in the water was
very noticeable and was a matter of general remark among the officers
of the vessel who had been on former cruises. Very large tracts of the
rookeries which I had formerly seen occupied by the seals were entirely
deserted, and the herds were much smaller than those of 18S8. My
attention was also called, by those conversant with the facts, to the
grass growing on the inshore side of some of the rookeries, and to the
three different shades of grass to be ween, indicating the spaces 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 for each succeeding year. There were
three or four differently shaded growths, 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 1888. In our frequent pas-
sages during LS'JO between the Aleutian group and the seal islands we
sometimes made an entire trip without seeing a seal. This was entirely
different from the experience of preceding years, indicating a great
falling off of seal life, (Francis Tuttle.)
In the year 1880 I thought I began to notice a falling off from the
year previous of the number of seals on Northeast Point rookery, but
this decrease was so very slight that probably it would not have been
observed by one less familiar with seal life and its conditions than 1;
but I could not discover or learn that it showed itself on any of the
other rookeries. In 1SS1 and 1885 I noticed a decrease, and it became
so marked in 18«S(J that everyone on the islands saw it. This marked
decrease in 1SS(> showed itself on all the rookeries on both islands.
I'm il 1887 or 1.SS8, however, the decrease was not felt in obtaining skins,
at which time the standard was lowered from (> and 7 pound skins to 5
and 14 pounds. The hauling grounds of Northeast Point kept up the
standard longer than the other rookeries, because, as I believe, the
latter rookeries had felt the drain of the open-sea sealing during 1885
and ISSiJ more than Northeast Point, the cows from the other rookeries
having gone to the southward to feed, where the majority of the sealing
schooners were engaged in taking seal. (Daniel Webster.)
In pursuance of Department instructions to me of May 127, 1891, 1 made
a careful examination during the sealing season of the habits, numbers,
and conditions of the seals and seal rookeries, with a view of reporting
to the Department from observation and such knowledge on the subject
SI:.\L Lin-: ON THK INMIJILOF ISLANDS
a^ I iniulii obtain \\ hcther <»r not. in inv opinion, the seals were dimin-
ish in- «>n i In- I'ribilof Islands: and if so. 1 lie causes 1 he re tor. As a result
of such i n vest i-.ii ji »]i. I roiiiid. t'; oin the statements made to me by the
n at i \v>. ( io\ ern men t audits, and employers of I lie lessees, some of whom
had been on the island-- for many years, that a decre ise in the number
of seals had been u'radnally .uoin- mi since iss.~i. and that in the last
tliree years the decrease had been very rapid. A careful and frequent
examination <>i ihe hanlinu' grounds and breeding rookeries bv mvself
and assistant audits during tlie months oi' .Inn'1. Julv. and August
showed that the seals had greatly diminished in number. \\'e found
lar.uv vacant spaces on all the rookeries, which in Ibrmer years during'
these moiith> had been co\ ered by thousands ot' seals. 1'rior to 1SSS
the lessees had been able to take lOO.IMO skin- Irom male seals, but 1
am elearly of tiie opinion that not more than one third of that number
ot' merchantable skins can be taken during l!ie vear ls!'l. (\V. II.
Williams.;
I)Kt KKASL (»F SEALS.
In studying the causes ot' diminution of seal life, there weie found a
variet y ot' actual and possible sources of destrnd ion which ai e e! feet ive
in varying decrees. Fortunately, t he most important of the-e sources
were directly under my observation, and the following facts presented
tliemsel ves for consi. iera i ion : The restrict ions u pon t lie molest at ion of
the breeding ground- ai:d upon the killing of females has been impera-
ti\'e 1 »ot h on the pai t of the ( lover n i;en t and lessees since t he A men can
ownership ot' fiie islands, so that in the lakin.u of seals no injury could
possibly ha ve occurred to the females and bulls found iheicoii. For
some yea ;-s past the naf i ves were permitted to k ill in t he la II a few thou-
sand male puns for food. Sir-ii killing has been prohibited. It is not
appa rcii i how the ki lliim' of male pups could ha ve decreased t he number
of leiua'es on the breeding grounds ,-). Stanley IJiown.)
i! ill*- seal-- were as numerous to day on the I'ribilof Islands and the
mair.ici of driving and killing conducted in i lie same manner as during
m v e \ perience t here. 1 00. o '0 male sea is of from '.' to I \ ear- of a ,ue could
be t-ti.en tVom the naiiliiiL1, grounds an nually for an indefinite period
withoiii dim in n i i-m ol the seal he; d. (Charles I Iryaut . ••
I lecaiise of ! he man ner of killing seals on t he is! a nd.-.. the preca lit ions
taken to kill onl\ males IVom i: to o years, and the careful limitation of
the numbers taken, i am fully convinced that the taking ol seals on the
1'iibiiof Islands could never affect ihe number- of ihe seal herd or
depict,- (he rookeries. S. N. liuynitsky.
1 \\a> in Ihe employ ot' the Alaska ('ommercial ('ompanv. the former
lessees of the sea I island--, and their instructions \\ ere t o use Ihe lit most
care in taking t heir .putt a of seals, so 1 hat t here m ,uht be no d in li nut ion
in number Irom vear t" vear, and I personally know those instructions
were rii: id i \ enforced. ( Leander ( 'o\.
If no ot her a^enc\' is at \\nrk in destroy in .y seal 1 i !•-. 1 00.000 bachelor
seal- can be taken from the Fribilol Islands \early for an indelinite
period . pro \ n led the rook eric. > \\cre in the sa me coiid i t ion t he\ \\ ere ill
1*71. <>! this I am convinced from the fact that the seals continued
to increase during all the lime ! was upon the islands, when 100.000
were killed ever\ \ear except one. \\hen Ho. 000 were taken. (Samuel
Falconer. , •
SKAL LIFE ON THE PRIHILOF ISLANDS. 237
Tlie management of the sealeries upon Copper Island, under Kussian
occupation, was left wholly to the native chiefs and ignorant laborers
of the Russian-American Company, The work of killing the seals and
curing the skins was done by them in a very unsystematic, careless
way; but even then it was understood that as the seals aie polygamous
'Jie surest way to secure an increase of the herd was to kill off surplus
males and spare the females, and this was systematically practiced,
resulting, as far as I am aware, most satisfactorily. Alter the expira-
tion of the franchise of the Russian American Company, in 1807 I think
it was, and their abandonment of the island, and the execution of the
lease to Hutehinson, Kohl & Co., in 1871, several different parties visited
the island, killed seals injudiciously, and inflicted great injury upon the
rookeries. They were restrained to some extent by the natives from
indiscriminate slaughter, but I have no doubt they killed more males
than they ought to have done, and perhaps also some females. Upon
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 0,000 skins that year. They protested, 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 J stayed on the islands, until in 1880 the rookeries bad so developed
that about 30,000 skins were taken without in the least injuring them
This is proved by the iact that the increase for the 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 order to
secure uniformity in the methods pursued respectively upon the Pribilof
group and Commander Islands, the respective lessees of the two
interests sent Capt. Daniel Webster, an expert sealer of many years7
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 manner 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 respective parties upon the different sealeries did not differ in any
essential feature. The main object in both places was to select good
skins for market and spare all female seals and enough vigorous bulls
to serve them. When the supply of bulls is more than enough I have
no doubt the number of offspring is diminished. The bulls, when over-
numerous, tight savagely for the possession of the cow seals, and unin-
tentionally destroy many young in their conflicts. The healthiest
condition of a rookery is no doubt when, under the laws of polygamous
reproduction for this species, the proportion of the sexes is properly
balanced. (C. F. Emil Krebs.)
Following the surrender of occupancy of these islands by the Eussian-
American Company in 1868, the sealeries were left opeu^to all parties,"
and various expeditions visited them unrestricted by any govern-
mental control. Their catches amounted in 1868 to about 15,000, in
1869 to about 20,000, and in 1870 to about 30,000 skins. In 1871 the
Russian Government executed the lease to Hutchinsou, Kohl & Co.,
and it was found necessary to restrict the killing for this year to about
6,000. skins, because the rookeries had been largely depleted by the
excessive killing, unwise methods, and heedless husbandry. The result
of improved 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 skins
238 SEAL LIFE ON THE PiifBILOF ISLANDS.
from year to year during the whole term of our lease. We were unre-
stricted as to the numbers to be taken, and after the first two years of
the lease were urged by the Russian authorities upon the islands to take
more than we wanted, in view of the condition of the seal-skin market.
I revisited the islands on various occasions subsequent to 1871, and my
observations confirmed the (act that we were moving in the right direc-
tion to secure an increase of the rookeries. The experience of the whole
term of the lease proves conclusively that our policy in conducting the
business was a wise one, and that our manner of handling, managing,
and killing the seals was in every respect what it should have been.
This policy was predicated upon the custom of the Russian- American
Company, observed during many years and strengthened by my own
actual experience in conducting the business of taking seals upon the
Pribilof Islands in 1807, 1808, and 1809, and more particularly during
the season of 1808, 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 once observed, and measures
immediately taken by me, aided by the natives, over whom 1 had com-
plete control, to correct their practices and bring them within reason-
able customs already proved efficacious in preserving the rookeries from
annihilation. (Gustave Niebaum.)
If the right proportion is maintained between the sexes, the greatest
possible number of progeny is assured. As long as we were able to
keep exclusive control, undisturbed by outside influences, we main-
tained the steady increase of the herd and profitable returns from the
industry. When outside parties, beyond our jurisdiction, carried on
their destructive work to any considerable extent, the equilibrium of
the sexes was destroyed, any calculation of those in charge of the
islands was nullified 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 make them increase upon the islands so that
they would be as many as before. (A. Melovedoff.)
We can care for and protect the mature seals as well as the cattle on
the ranges are cared for 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. Melovidov.)
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. Urid^r precisely 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 only increased in pro-
portion to the rookeries' expansion. No disturbance of the rookery was
permitted, even the presence of dogs and use of firearms 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 management continued and the same system was pur-
sued to the end of the term, yet in the last five years the rookeries fell
off. Clearly it was through no fault of the company, and resulted from
some cause beyond their control. I do not think the Alaska Commer-
cial Company made any mistakes in managing the seal herd. They
SEAL LIFK ON THK 1'KIBILOF ISLANDS.
handled them in every ropeet us I would have done if tliey had been
my <>\vii personal properly and as 1 would do it' they were, now to come
into my hands. 11' they erred in any par! ieular in their management, it
was in their futile attempt in 1SSS and IS.St) to stop the waste of the
seal life at the island spigot while it was running out at the btftlghole
ol' pelagic sealing. The record shows that we did not finish tbe catch
as early in issr> as had been done in former years, i do not think this
was from any lack of seals, but was caused by greater care in making
our selection of animals to be killed. (Leon Sloss.)
1 again visited St. Paul Island and remained there several days in
the summer of ISSf), but saw no evidence then or when formerly on the
island to lead me to think that the lessees were damaging the rookeries
or doing anything different from what a judicious regard for the future
of the industry would dictate. In giving this evidence 1 am as free
from prejudice as is possible when entertaining, as I do, a feeling that
the late lessees treated me in some measure unjustly, nor 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 unques-
tionably true that such raids have occasionally occurred during the past,
and that some skins have been obtained in that way, the number of these
is so trifling in comparison with the annual pelagic catch as not to affect
in any way the question under consideration. It is also difficult for one
familiar with the rookeries and habits of the seal to conceive of a raid
being made without its becoming known to the officers in charge of the
operations upon the islands. The " raid theory," therefore, maybe dis-
missed as unworthy, in our judgment, of serious consideration. (Eeport
of American Commissioners.)
The statistics which I have examined, as well as all the inquiries
made, show that in the raids upon the rookeries themselves by maraud-
ers the loss of seal life has been too unimportant to play any part in the
destruction of the breeding grounds. The inhospitable shores, the
exposure of the islands to surf, the unfavorable climatic conditions, as
well as the presence of the natives and white men, will always prevent
raids upon the islands from ever being frequent or effective. (J. Stanley-
Brown.)
During my stay upon St. George Island several attempts were made
by poachers to get on shore and steal the seal, but they succeeded, as
far as 1 am aware, only on three occasions, and in all those three I do
not think they killed more than 1,200 or 1,500 seals, including pups. If
any others had effected a landing we should have known it, for the rook-
eries are constantly watched, and the natives are very keen in this
matter. (Harry X. Clark.)
We tried to make a raid on St. George, but the Corwin was after us
and we kept out of its way. (Peter Duffy.)
During the time I was on St. George Island there never was a raid on
the rookeries to my knowledge, and I never heard of any such raid ever
having taken place. (Samuel Falconer.)
240 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS.
I Lave known of one or two schooners operating in Bering Sea as
early as 1877 or 1878, and tliey were on the rookeries occasionally during
the past ten years, but they can not damage the seal herd innch by raid-
ing the rookeries, because they can not take many, even were they per-
mitted, which they are not by any means. (John Fratis.)
Raids on the rookeries by marauders did not, while I was on the
island, amount to anything, and certainly seal life there was not affected
to any extent by such incursions. I only knew of one raid upon St.
Paul Island while I was there. It was by a Japanese vessel, and they
killed about KM) seals, the carcasses of which we found on hoard when
we captured the vessel. (El. A. (Hidden.)
We sailed about January from Victoria, British Columbia; sailed
along the coast until the latter part of June and went into Bering Sea,
and sealed as near to St. George Island as we could. We caught about
300 or 400 seals in the sea. Our intention was to make a raid, but were
driven away by a revenue cutter. We left the sea about the latter part
of July. (Joseph G-rymes.)
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 company, and among them the daily
records or " log book" kept by the agents of the company on St. George
Island from 1873 to 1889, inclusive, and on St. Paul Island from 1870 to
1881), inclusive. In these books every occurrence was carefully noted
from day to day by the agent in charge at the time. They have been
examined under my supervision, and show only the following raids on St.
George Island during the time covered by them, to wit:
October 23, 1881: The carcasses of 15 dead pups and a cargo hook
were found on a rookery. It was supposed that the crew of a schooner
seen about the island a few days previous landed in the night.
October 10, 1884: Fifteen seal carcasses 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 cliffs 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 skinned 120 seals, the skins of which they left in their flight, when
pursued by the guard. They killed also about 200 pups, which 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 year the number
must have been small, because the seals have nearly all migrated.
September 30, 1889: Eighteen dead pups and four clubs were found
on a beach near a rookery. It is not known whether any others were
killed.
An examination of St. Paul record does not show any destructive
raids upon the island. It is a fact, however, that in July, 1875, prior to
the beginning of the record, the crew of the schooner San Diego landed
on Otter Island, a small islet 6 miles from St. Paul, and killed and
skinned 1,660 seals. She was captured before leaving the island, and
both the skins and vessel were condemned to forfeiture by the United
States court.
SKAL I.IFK ON THK PRIBILoF ISLANDS. '2 4 1
The reports of the superintendent for the lessees show that it was the
custom of the company's agent on the islands to frequently patrol the
rookeries whenever the weather was such that a, landing could be effected
on them, and to keep watchmen at points distant from the villages,
whose special dntv it was to report every unusual or suspicious occur-
rence. Kor this purpose the northeast point of St. Paul Island was
connected with the village by telephone in 1880, a distance of 12 miles,
and the natives instructed in the use of the instrument. If any raids
upon the islands, other than those herein mentioned, had occurred, 1 am
sure they would have been detected and reported to this office. No such
reports are on tile. (Max. ileilbronner.)
H. 11. Mclntyre, having been duly sworn, deposes and says: I was
superintendent of the seal h'sberies 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 me.
1 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-
pany'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 188.") upon St. George Island,
the details of which were set forth 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
effect upon seal life. (II. H. Me 1 11 tyre.)
Sometimes they try to laud on the rookeries, but we drive them off
with guns, and they never get many seals that way. (Nicoli Krukoff.)
I do not mean to say that 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, lor the numbers killed in
that way never amounted to much, as it is not often the raiders can
land on a rookery and escape with their plunder. (Aggie Knshen.)
When on a raid we would watch for a favorable opportunity to make
a landing, and then kill male and female fur seals indiscriminately.
Probably for every 500 marketable skins secured, double that number
of pups were destroyed. (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 has not been of sufficient importance on
the Commander Islands to have any perceptible influence in the diminu-
tion of the herd. (John Malowansky.)
I remember seeing an occasional sealing schooner in Bering Sea as
long ago as 1878, but it was in 1884 they came in large numbers. At
tirst it was supposed 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 in a dense fog or very
S. Doc. 137, pt. 1 16
242 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS.
dark night they landed and killed a few hundred seals, but the numbers
taken in this manner are too small to be considered. (A. Melovedoff.)
One cause of destruction is raiding, which has been done upon the
shores of the islands. A half dozen such raids are known to me per-
sonally ; but while it is not possible for me to state with certainty the
skins actually secured by such raids, I believe that, although such
raiding is detrimental, its injurious effect as compared with the disas-
trous results of pelagic sealing is insignificant. (T. F. Morgan.)
There was only, as I recollect, four raids on the islands while I was
there; but little or no damage was done, and seal life was not percep-
tibly affected by such marauding. (J. H. Moulton.)
From my personal knowledge of the number of seals killed upon the
Pribilof Islands by raids upon the rookeries during my residence there,
and from information gained from other sources, I conclude that the
number of fur seals killed is infinitely small compared with the number
killed in pelagic sealing — so small as to have no appreciable effect
upon seal life upon the islands. (8. 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 number of skins obtained by the poachers has been compara-
tively infinitesimally small. I think the whole number obtained by
them in this way does not exceed 3,000 or 4,000 skins. We were accus-
tomed always to maintain a patrol and guard upon the rookeries when-
ever the weather was such that poachers could land upon them, and
upon the least suspicious circumstances measures were taken to fore-
stall any attempts to steal the seals. 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 are vigilant and active.
If marine hunting is stopped, they can be safely trusted to defend the
property upon which their very existence is dependent, as they have
done repeatedly, against any single schooner's crew. (Gustave Niv-
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 considerable number of seals, and their raids had
no appreciable effect upon the rookeries. (Gustave Niebaum.)
During those years the lawless occupation of seal poaching 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
office there 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 special report to the
Secretary of the Treasury, dated July 4, 1881. On that occasion a pred-
atory schooner 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 purpose
from St. Paul, about 6 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 rookeries occasionally are too paltry to be seriously consid-
ered, because the raids were so few, and the facilities for taking many
seals off so utterly insignificant. (J. C. Redpath.)
SEAL LIFK ON TIIK PRII'.ILOF ISLANDS. 243
There was hut one successful raid on the rookeries while I was upon
the island and hut ll'.") seals were killed. 1 do not consider that raids
on the rookeries have anything to do with the decrease of the number
of seals. (T. F. Ryan.) '
While 1 was on the islands there were no raids on the rookeries, and
seal life was neyer depleted at that time by such means. (B. F. Scrib-
ner.)
There was hut one raid on the rookeries while I was there, and that
took place on Otter island, about <>() skins being taken. After that raid
the Government kept a man on Otter Island during the entire summer
to protect it from marauders. Raids on the islands never affected seal
life to any extent. (\V. P>. Taylor.)
I do not remember the precise date of the tirst successful raid upon
the rookeries by sealing schooners, but I do know that for the past ten
years there have been many such raids attempted and a few of them
successfully carried out, and that as the number of schooners increased
around the islands, the attempted raids increased in proportion, and it
has been deemed necessary to keep armed guards near the rookeries to
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
past ten years, the aggregate of all the seals thus destroyed is too small
to be mentioned when considering the cause of the sudden decline of
seal life on the Pribilof Islands. (Daniel Webster.)
DESTRUCTION OF FEMALE SEALS.
Examination of pelagic catch of 1892.
On May 7 of this year I examined 355 salted fur seal skins, ex steamer
Umatilla from Victoria, and found the same to be fresh skins taken oft'
the animal within 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. The lot contained 310 skins of the fur-seal cow
(matured). From the shape of the skins most all of these cows must
have been heavy with pup, and same cut out of them when captured.
Eighteen skins of the fur-seal male (matured). Twenty-seven skins of
the fur-seal gray pup, from (> to 9 months old; sex doubtful.
On June 2 I examined 78 salted fur seal skins, ex steamer Walla
^\' to !) months old; sex doubtful.
On the same date I also examined 124 salted fur seal skins, ex steamer
I'mntiHa from Victoria, and found the same to be fresh skins taken off
the animal within three months. They were killed in the North Pacific.
On examination I found that they were the skins known as the North-
west coast seals and belong; to the herd which have their rookery on
the Pribilof Islands. The lot contained !)•'> skins of the fur seal cow
(matured). From the shape of the skin most all of these eows must
nave been heavy with young', and the same cut out of them when cap-
tured. Fifteen skins of the fur seal male (matured). Sixteen skins of
the fur seal gray pup, from (> to 0 months old; sex doubtful.
I notice on examining seals caught this spring' that there is a lack of
the larger size of productive animals, and the lots mostly contain the
skins of the medium-sixed seals, running; from "2 to ."> years of age.
(Charles J. Behlow.)
On the 29th instant I examined 2,1 70 salted fur seal skins, ex schooner
K nun ft and LnniM 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 examination I find they were the skins known
as the Northwest 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 male (mostly
matured): 1)8 skins of the fnr seal gray pup, 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, (diaries ,7. Behlow.)
As a result of the work 1 have performed 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. Oue of the surest ways consists in seeing whether 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 prominent 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 pup. 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 my observations as to the teats on salted
fur-seal skins by following these skins through the various processes
which I have desciibed. 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 ways 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 sexes. Male whiskers are much more brittle and of a darker
color than those of the female animal. When the male seal is over G
SEAL LIFI-; ON THK P1J1I5ILOF ISLANDS. 245
years old it begins to have a mane, and for this reason it is after that
age called a wig. Finally, it is generally possible for me to tell the
skins of the two sexes apart by just taking a look at them or feeling
them. 1 suppose 1 can do this because I have been at the business so
long that 1 am an expert in it.
The chief classes of seal skins that I have handled are the 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 proportion 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
II. Tread well, with instructions to go through a certain lot of seal skins
which, I understand, he had recently bought in Victoria, and to find
out how many of these skins were taken from female animals. I have
spent four days in doing this, working about seven hours a day.
There 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 :>,.~>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 catch. [ know this
to be the case by the fresh appearance of the blubber and of the skin
as a whole. This affords a sine way of telling whether the skin has
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 oidy the skins of animals less than 2 years of age, but without
reference to sex.
I found in the lot 3<.),"> males, 2,107 females, and OSS pups. Leaving
out of account the pups, the percentage of females was therefore about
82. The great majority of what 1 classed as male skins were taken
from animals less than ."> 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 ligures only confirm what I have always noticed in a general
way. that nearly nine-tenths of the skins in any shipment of Northwest
coast skins are those of female animals. (John J. Phelan.)
Examination of ratch of vessel* seized.
About seven years since I was on the revenue cutter Concin when
she seized the sealing schooner San Dict/o in Bering Sea. On the /
schooner's deck were found the bodies of some 20 seals that had recently
been killed. An examination of the bodies disclosed that all of them,
246 SEAL LIFE ON THE PKII3ILOF ISLANDS.
with but a single exception, were females, and bad their young inside
or were giving suck to their young. Out of some ."iOO or (KM) skins on
board I only found some 5 of tbe number that were taken from males.
I have also been present at numerous other sei/nres of sealing vessels,
some 18 in number, and among the several thousand skins seized 1
found on examination that they were almost invariably those of females.
There certainly was not a larger proportion of males than f> to 100
skins. This great slaughter of mother seals certainly means a speedy
destruction of seal life. (James H. Douglass.)
While in Unalaska in September, 1801, awaiting transportation to
San Francisco, I had an opportunity to examine personally the catch
of the steam sloop Ghitllcngc, which had been warned out of the sea,
and was undergoing repairs at tbe harbor named. The catch amounted
to 172 skins, which were all taken in Bering Sea at various distances
from the seal islands, and of this number only three were those of male
seals, one of those being an old bull, and the other two being younger
males. (A. \V. Lavender.)
In July, 1887, 1 captured the poaching schooner . \ nr/el Dolly while she
was hovering about the islands. 1 examined the seal skins she bad on
board, and about 80 percent were skins of females. In 18SS or 1SS9 1
examined something like 5,000 skins at Tnalaska, which had been taken
from schooners engaged in pelagic sealing in Bering Sea, and at least
80 or 85 per cent were skins of females. (A. 1*. Loud.)
I bave personally inspected skins taken upon the three schooners
Onward, Caroline, ami Thornton, which skins, taken in Bering Sea,
were landed in Tnalaska and were then personally inspected by me in
tbe month of May, 1887. The total number of skins so examined was
2,000, and of that number at least SO per cent were the skins of females.
I have also examined the skins taken by the United States revenue
cutter Rush from one of the North Pacific 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 JOO skins at least
80 per cent were tbe skins of female seals. 1 have also examined the
skins seized from the Jamex Hamilton Lewis in the year 1891, by the
liussian gunboat Aleut, numbering 41<>, of which at least 90 per cent
were the skins of female seals. From my long observation ot seals and
seal skins 1 am able to tell the difference between the skin of a male
and tbe skin of a female seal. (T. F. Morgan.)
I examined over 12,000 skins from sealing vessels seized in 1887 and
1889, and of these at least two thirds or three fourths were the skins of
females. (L. G. Shepard.)
REASON PREGNANT FEMALES AKE TAKEN.
I think cow seals are tamer than young male seals. (Martin Benson.)
A cow seal that is heavy with pup is sluggish and sleeps more soundly
than the males, and tor that reason they are more readily approached.
(Henry Brown.)
They are very tame after giving birth to their young and are easily
approached by tbe hunters. When tbe females leave the islands to
feed they go very fast to tbe fishing banks, and after 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 Pacific. (James L. Cartbcut.)
SEAL LIFE ON THE PHIHILOF ISLANDS. 247
They sleep more and are less active and moreeasily captured. (Simeon
y
the nipples and general appearance. (Anton Melovedott'.)
As I understand the fact to be, most of the seals killed in the open
sea are females. My reasons for this conclusion are that, from my
knowledge of the seal, I 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 capable of remaining under water to escape 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
anore on the alert and are not less active when pregnant. ( W. Koberts.)
Of the seals killed, from 60 to 70 per cent are females, which, during
their northerly migration, are heavy with young, slow of movement,
and require an extra amount of rest and sleep, thus largely increasing
their liability to successful attack. (Z. L. Tanner.)
I 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
248 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIIULOF ISLANDS.
point. I suppose, however, that there must be some foundation for the
statement by reason of the fact that so small a proportion of male adult
seals are included in what is called the northwest catch. ( Kmil
Teichmann.)
The cows are less active, sleep more, and are more easilv captured.
(]\I. Thlkahdaynahkee.)
Cow seals sleep sounder on the water, are less active, and are easily
captured. (James Unatajim.)
Cows are more easily captured because they have pups. (Kudolph
Walton.)
They are less active, sleep more, and are easier captured. (Charlie
Wank.)
It is my opinion that female seals are more easily captured and
appear to be more tame than the male seal, and, I think, sleep more.
(P. S. Weittenhiller.)
The large proportion of females killed in the North Pacific is due to
the fact, as I explained before, that males pursue their way to the
hauling grounds with dispatch, while the females are more leisurely in
their movements and take frequent rests. (T. T. Williams.)
DECREASE OF SEALS.
Percentage loxt of *m/.v killed.
From my experience 1 am satisfied that 33£- per cent shot with a shot-
gun are lost, and when a rifle is used a larger per cent are lost when
killed. (Peter Anderson.)
We lost three out of four we killed. (H. Andricius.)
On an average, we saved one out of three that were killed. (Bern
hardt Bleidner.)
It is my honest belief that for every fur-seal skin obtained by pelagic
sealers at least five other seals' lives are taken. (»J. A. Bradley.)
During the trip of 1S91 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 all fur seals killed at sea.
while in my belief white hunters secure even a less 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 rifle
were lost. (James Dalgarduo.)
From my observation of the methods employed by the open-sea hunters
I believe that a very large proportion of those killed by them are lost.
I have often heard sealers so express themselves, They have said to
me that they get only about one out of five shot or killed; others made
SEAL LIFE ON THE PKIBILOF ISLANDS. 249
the loss still greater. I think the latter statement more nearly correct.
(M. G per cent are lost when shot
with shotgun, and a larger proportion are lost when rifle is used. (Mar-
tin Benson.)
On the rioncrr we had a couple of good hunters, who would get
almost all they shot at, while some of our hunters would lose a good
many that they would kill and wound. A green hunter will not get
more than one out of live, and I have known one hunter on our vessel
who shot eight shots and got only four seals. Indian hunters that use
spears seldom lose any that are struck, and there is no wounded to go
away and die. (Xeils Bonde.)
This year the seals are wilder than the year before; I think it was
because they were hunted so much. We did not capture as many in
proportion to the number shot as we did the year previous, and did not
save more than one out of six that we shot. (Thomas Brown.)
We got on an average three or Jive out of every twelve killed and
wounded. It depends a great deal upon the weather. There were lots
of seals in the water at that time. (Thomas Brown.)
The average hunter would get one out of every three that he shot;
a poor hunter not nearly as many. There are Ul buckshot to a shell.
When they are in school sleeping we get a good many. We
did not get as many as we shot at in Bering Sea as we did on the coast.
If we got one out of everv three we were doing prettv well. (Charles
Chalall.)
1 used a shotgun almost exclusively last season, and lost about one-
third of all furs shot. (Julius Christiansen.)
1 think about .">() per cent of the seals shot with shotgun are lost, and
greater proportion are lost when shot with a ritle. (Peter Church.)
I always use the shotgun for taking seal. I think about 25 per cent
•are lost. (William Clark.)
Over .~)0 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 or three out of every hundred shot.
The n umber of shots tired by a hunter in an ordinary day's sealing
is something enormous, and the waste of seal life in the water is
252 SF.AL LIFK ON THK I'RIHILOF ISLANI'S.
dreadful to contemplate. * * The proportion of loss of seals
shot by white hunters in the Otto was quite as great in IS'.H as by
the hunters in the year before stated. I have never seen any black
pups in tlic North 1'acilic Ocean. (Louis ( 'idler.)
^ hen it was rough weather we got one out of eals
that they killed or wounded. There were plenty of seals in tin- wa:er
at that time. ; liichard 1 )olan. <
We ,uot one out of every live or six that we killed or wounded. We
wounded a great many that we did not get. ((leor.uc Fairchild.
When I was a young man the I ndians used tin- spear for taking seals:
now they have learned from the white men to use the shotgun. About
three out of ten are h»t that are shot. ( Frank.
The hunters used rilles 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 ritles. we had experi-
enced hunters on board, and we got one out of every thiee killed or
wounded, i William Fra/cr.
O. What percentage of seals are taken compared to t ho>e you dest roy
ill doing so? In other words, how many do you actually get of tho>e
you shoot .' — A. About ->0 per cent.
(,). Is it not a tact, when you first started in the business 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
propo.tion. (Fdward \Y. Funcke.i
Indians lose a less number of the seals shot at and wounded or
killed than white hunters. When thev use spears thev get nearly all
they wound. When they use shotguns they do not get more than one
out of ei«i'ht killed or wounded. In conversation with boat steerers
and boat pullers i have frequently heard them state that hunters would
sometimes tire from 7.~» to H><) shots without bringing1 in a single seal.
The hunters would claim they secured nearly all they tired at or killed,
hut it is 'unown that this is not 1 rue. It is impossible to say what pro-
portion of the seals tired at are killed or wounded, but taking the run
<»f hunters, u'ood and poor. I should say that the best o-et about -~><( per
t do not uvt more than one out
The na t i ve hu n ters used spears exclusively in hunting t he seals, and.
cured fiillv two thirds of all struck. 1 am of the opinion that with
ne third of the animaN >hot are actuall
otgun for taking seal, and lose about -."> per
(Henrv Haldane.)
I use the >hotgun exclusively for taking hootsthem. Some fellows will miss four out of
live and another mav miss three out of live and cripple them. I think
on a general average we will get about three out of live. (11. Harmsen.)
SEAL LIFI: ON nit: PKIMILOF ISLAND.-. 253
(,). What percentage of seals are taken compared to those you destroy
in doing so: in other words, how many do yon actually get out of those
you shoot.' — A. We get about 75 per cent of them.
(v). Is it not a fact that when yon lirst started in the business and
was inexperienced in hunting, that you. like many others, destroyed a
much larger proportion than you now do .' -A. Yes, sir: it is. (Andrew
J. Hoffman.)
The shotgun was exclusively used by our hunters. I can form no
idea as to the amount of seals lost. Some hunters lost more and some
less. It ranges all the way from 10 to 75 per cent, according to stories
told by hunters. (O. Holm.)
We used shotguns, and secured about two seals out of five that we
shot. (Alfred Irving.)
The Indian hunters with spears 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 Jamieson.)
About 40 per cent shot with shotgun are lost. When the ritle is used
a larger per cent is lost. (J. Johnson.)
Have always used shotgun and rifie for taking seal. 1 never lose any
seal when I shoot them, because I always shoot them close to. (Johnnie
John tin.)
The spear and arrow were used to take seal when 1 was a boy. but
now I use the shotgun and ritle. At least 50 per cent are lost when shot
with shotgun. When rifie 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. (Jim Kasooli.)
Fully one half the seal shot with shotguns are lost, and a much
larger proportion when the rifie 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 has frightened them and made them wild, so that
they have to be shot at great distances unless found asleep. Much
depends for successful hunting upon the weather, as it is difficult to
get accurate aim when both the hunter's boat and the seal are in motion.
A pool- hunter does not secure more than one out of every five shot or
aimed at. Good hunters do better. (James Iviernan.)
The first sighted was August 4, longitude 130 o 32' west, latitude
52 4(i' north. During the days following August 4 canoes were
lowered, but their search for seals was fruitless. On August 14, before
entering Bering Sea, a seal was speared by the Indians off Marmont
Island, which was bearing NW. J W. 35 miles. We eutered the sea
at (>.30 p. in. on the 22d day of August and at 9 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 Cape on Uuimak Pass. On the same day four
other seals were shot, and three not recovered. Two sank and the
other escaped badly wounded. The following day the captain shot
254 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS.
two, losing one, and the other boat brought one seal on board. On the
25th of August we were 125 miles southeast of St. George Island. The
Indian hunters were out all day and brought in three seals, the white
hunters getting none. The captain informed me that day that the pre-
vious year he had taken in this locality 148 seals in one day, and that
one of his hunters got 38 and lost 40, which he shot. The next day the
two boats and canoes were out, and the captain brought back one, but
had shot and lost six others, one of which sank. The other boat
reported that they had shot seven, but all sank before they could get
them, the water being so colored with blood that it was impossible to
see the bodies sufficiently to recover them with the gaff. The two
Indians brought back ten seals, all speared. Out of the number taken
on board four were full of milk. On the 27th the Indians brought in
two seals and the captain one, which were all they had seen. On the
29th seventeen seals were taken; the captain got three, having lost
two, killed or wounded. The other boat brought in three, having lost
two, and the cook shot one from the schooner's deck. Out of these
seven were females, which covered the decks with milk while they were
being skinned. I am convinced that at the very least white hunters
lose 50 per cent of the seals they hit, and probably the majority of j
those wounded will ultimately die. (Francis B. King-Hall.)
When a seal is struck with a spear we never lose him. About 50 per
cent are lost when shot with a shotgun. (Robert Kooko.)
About 60 per cent of the seals are lost when shot with a shotgun.
When rifles are used a much larger proportion 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 greater proportion of
losses resulting from the use of the shotgun. (James E. 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. Long.)
Q. What 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. I should say we get about 80 per cent of those we
shoot.
Q. Is it not a fact that when you first started in the business and
was inexperienced in hunting, you, like all other beginners, destroyed
a much larger proportion than you now do? — A. There is no doubt
about that. (Charles Lutjens.)
The shotgun was used exclusively. Over 60 per cent of the seals
shot were lost. (George McAlpine.)
I think I lose about 66 per cent of the seals shot with shotguns.
(J. D. McDonald.)
Taking the general average, we 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 I tried to spear as
many as I could after they were shot. We caught more seals in Bering
Sea than we did going along the coast, as we found more of them.
* * * All the seals that 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. (William Mclsaac.)
No seals are lost that are struck with spears. With a shotgun about
50 per cent are lost. (James McKeen.)
SKAL LIFE ON' THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 255
We got about one out ol every five that we killed or wounded. There
was any amount of them that we shot and did not get at all. It seemed
as if a good many got away. * * * We had some white and Indian
hunters. 1 do not think that we lost as many that year in propor-
tion to those that we killed and wounded. They were better hunters.
(William McLaughlin.)
Q. According to your experience, what percentage of animals that
are shot at are actually taken by the boatsl — A. That is according to the
ammunition that we use. About one-third are taken. (Daniel Mc-
Lean.)
We had Indian hunters who used shotguns. The Indian hunters are
more expert than the white hunters and they do not lose so many
seals as they kill. I think they would get one out of every two or three
killed or wounded. (Thomas Madden.)
About 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 the boats together,
they got one out of every five or six that they killed or shot at. We
wounded a great many 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
he got one out of every three, on an average. He used a rifle a good
deal, and was a fine shot. Some of the hunters in the other boats would
shoot at the seal and not get any at all, and come in at night without
any, or maybe one or two. There was one hunter from Xova Scotia that
did not kill any, scarcely. (William Mason.)
I think about 33 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.)
Q. What 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. About 75 per cent. We lose about 25 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 diffi-
culty of accurate shooting when the object is in the water, I am of the
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 caught. I
am unable to form an estimate of the number of seals shot or speared
from vessels which are lost, but in the last two or three years of my
residence at St. George Island, in taking 15,000 seals, I found approxi-
mately three pounds of lead, in the form of slugs, bullets, and buck-
shot, which I personally took from the bodies of male seals, some of
SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS.
which were so badly wounded that they would have died. I have per-
sonally examined the log of the schooner Ant/el DoUic, in which it was
stated that the hunters from that vessel got about one seal out of every
ten shot ;it; also that on one occasion they tired 250 rounds, and got
20 seals; on another occasion 100 cartridges, and got <> seals, and which
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 opportunity to observe the difference
in the number of seals lost by killing them with shotguns and by taking
them with spears. The hunters that used shotguns lost more than one-
half they 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 1 was a boy 1 used a shotgun for taking seal, bought from the
Hudson Bay Company at Fort Simpson, and have always used a shot-
gun for sealing. 1 think about two out of ten seal shot are lost. (Smith
Natch.)
Sometimes I lose two and sometimes three seal out of ten 1 shoot.
(Dan Nathlan.)
It depends a great deal upon the weather as to the amount of seals
obtained by the hunters. After a heavy blow you see the seals lying
on top of the water asleep, and you can get very close to them, and on
an average you would get two or three out of every five or six you kill
or wound, while in rough weather you would not get one out of live or
six killed or wounded. (John O'Brien.)
Xot 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'7
we got a good many more than when we shot at "bachelors" 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 1 have stated. (John Olsen.)
WTheu the rifle is used less than one seal for five shots is secured;
many shots miss, but of those seals hit about one half are secured.
(W. Roberts.)
It is very hard to estimate the number lost of those shot, but I should
judge an expert hunter would lose certainly from 40 to GO percent,,
and a hunter not particularly expert would lose from 80 to 85 per cent.
(L. G. Shepard.)
In some instances we ran upon schools of seal and shot five or six,
all of which would be lost; in other instances we would secure about
one-half of those wounded. One-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 rifle. Shotgun and rifle are used by me for taking
seal. (Jack Shucky.)
SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 257
When 1 used a spear none were lost that were struck. When shot-
gun is used nearly 50 per cent are lost; when rifle is used a still larger
percentage is lost. (Martin Singay.)
No seal were lost when struck with spear or arrow. Fully 50 per
cent of seal shot with shotgun are lost, and a much larger per cent are
lost when shot with a rifle. (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 that are shot. (Thomas Skowl.)
I think about one-third of the seal shot with shotgun are lost. (Fred
Smith.)
Very few are lost when struck with a spear. About 66 per cent are
lost when shotgun is used. (William H. Smith.)
An ordinary 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 Sticklaud.)
Q. What 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. I guess we get hardly two-thirds of what we shoot.
Q. Is 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 than you do now? — A. It is.
I have always understood that 33 per cent of seals shot with shotguns
re lost. (W. Thomas.)
The hunters use shotguns and rifles exclusively for taking seal. I
link that from what I have been able to learn about half the seal shot
e lost, the hunters being unable to secure them before they sink,
oh 11 C. Tolman.)
About 60 per cent of the seal shot with shotgun are lost. A much
rger per 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
ose I shoot with a gun. (John Tysum.)
When the spear was used all seal speared were secured. About 50
;r cent of the seals are lost when shot with shotgun. Whenever I
ive used a rifle for shooting seal a much larger proportion of those
lied have been lost on account of shooting them at a longer distance
om the boat. (James Unatajiin.)
I think I generally lose about 75 per cent of the seals shot with shot-
in. (George Usher.)
I have learned from personal observation and from conversations
ith parties that they lose in killed and wounded at least two out of
very three obtained. Other sealers have told me that their loss is
uch greater. (Charles T. Wagner.)
About 50 per cent are lost when shot with shotgun. When rifle is
*ed a much larger per cent is lost. (Rudolph Walton.)
I have often conversed with the hunters relative to the percentage
* the loss of seals to those taken, and some tell me they get one out of
re or six. (Elkan Wasserman.)
S. Doc. 137, pt. 1 17
258 SEAL LIFK ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS.
My hunters use shotgun exclusively. They carry a rifle with them
in the boat, but have not used one this season to my knowledge. I
think, as near as I can estimate, about 33£ per cent of the seals shot
are lost. (P. iS. Weittenhiller.)
From my knowledge and experience in the business it is my convic-
tion that within the last few years, since the sealers have become so
numerous in the Pacific and Bering Sea, that not more than one out of
three are secured. (Michael White.)
I always use the shotgun for taking seal. I think I lose about five
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 spear was used very few seal were lost. About 50 per
cent are lost when shot with shotgun. A larger per cent are lost when
killed with a rifle. I use the shotgun for taking seal, and lose about
two out of ten that I shoot. (Billy Yeltachy.)
Sometimes I lose one and sometimes two out of every ten that I
shoot. I 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 J per cent
of the seal shot are lost. (Alf. Yohausen.)
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 the 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
Zolnoks.)
Wounding.
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 wounds; but, in the nature of things, many
others must die of their injuries. There is a wide range of chances
between an instantaneously fatal or disabling shot and a slight wound
from which the victim may readily recover, with obviously a large pro-
portion of them on 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 white 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. (Bowra-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 r
and in their bodies there are a large number of shot. (James Clap-
lanhoo.)
SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 259
A good many are wounded and escape, only to die afterwards. (Alfred
Dardean.)
When I get 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 I shoot are wounded and get away, and probably die. I
have caught a good many seals that had shot in them. (Kllabush.)
They kill and wound a great many that they do not get. I have
speared a great many seals that had shot in them. (Selwish Johnson.)
I know that a great many must be lost by the white hunters, for a
great many that I catch have shot in them, and some are badly wounded.
(James Lighthouse.)
During the killing season on the Commander Islands we frequently
find in the bodies both bullets and shot. (John Malowowansky.)
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
>odies. I have captured a good many seals lately that had buckshot
n them. (Charley White.)
At the times when the male seals are on the rookeries the large
catches are made. A traveling seal is alert, cautious, quick of hearing,
and easily disturbed. A sleeping seal is at the mercy of anyone. The
arge proportion of traveling seals shot at and lost is due to the timidity
of the animal ; in fact, all the hunters admit that when there is much
shooting going on the seals are very difficult to get. The loss of sleep-
ng seals, which I 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 but a small mark. Even in the case of a sleeper, the
motion of the water keeps it moving. The boat from which the hunter
shoots is also moving, and while there are men who at a distance of 50
or 60 yards can shoot a small 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 ten of all the seal hunters
can truthfully assert, nor do they attempt to do so when 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 1889, and heard them
balking among themselves of their prowess. Some put forward claims
which the others derided. Any estimate 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. Williams.)
Many of the seals I have speared had shot and bullets in them.
This was never seen before until about eight years ago, and now it is
a frequent occurrence. (Wispoo.)
A great many that I have caught in the last three or four years have
shot in them, and many have been badly wounded. (Thomas Zolnoks.)
260 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS.
Percentage lost — General statements.
We had a row oil board because some of the hunters were green
hands and the men would not go out in the boats with them. They
took the hunters out of our boats and put them into the other boats
that made no catch, and then we kicked that they should put the green
hunters into our boats, because everything they would shoot would sink
on them and be lost. (Charles Adair.)
The destrueti ven ess to seal life by pelagic hunting is very great. The
majority of seals killed are pregnant females, so that two lives are often
sacrificed in securing one skin. This is true whether firearms or spears
are used. In addition to this, the number of skins marketed does not
represent the number actually destroyed, for many are killed that are
not secured, while others, though fatally wounded, still possess strength
enough to escape their pursuers. (A. B. Alexander.)
Of those killed the number saved varies with the skill of the hunters.
Last year we lost very few. (Charles A very.)
A very few are lost when shot with the shotgun, as we shoot them
close to the boat. (Johnny Baron ovitch.)
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. (Charles Campbell.)
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 observation and
experience, but from conversation with those engaged in the business I
am of the opinion that the number secured is small 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 they are lost. 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 that some of the
hunters on an average used from 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 fired away 260 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.)
SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 261
Always shoot the seal close to the boat and rarely lose one; but when
shot at with the rifle I lose a good many. (Hooniah Dick.)
I have always used spears in hunting seals, and seldom wounded or
hit one that 1 did not get until in 1801, which year, and the only one,
1 went to Bering Sea, and used the shotgun part of the time. I found
in the use of the shotgun that a great many of the seals that were
killed or wounded were lost. (Alfred Irving.)
We lose but 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 them say that they only get two or three out of a
school, and when they kill them, if they do not get them right away,
they 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. I lose very few, as I always
shoot them close to the boat. (Matthew Morris.)
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 native and white.
By means of these weapons a greater number of skins are secured in a
season than wTheu spears are used; but the proportion of seals struck
and lost to those actually secured is much less than when the spear is
used. (John W. Smith.)
The best hunter will fire about 20 cartridges, and they get 10 or 12
seals, while a hunter of less experience will fire 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 difficult. Much
discussion had already been had about the damaging effect of pelagic
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 for 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
262 SEAL LIKE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS.
and to overestimate their success in securing skins of seals shot at.
The reason for that was that I was about to engage in sealing enter-
prises and that I was making inquiries for the purpose of ascertaining
their skill as hunters, with a view to engaging them. The practice in
British Columbia is to pay the best hunters the highest rate per skin.
Men who could shoot fairly well, but who use a shotgun, could be
secured for a sealing voyage from $1 to $1.50 per skin, while hunters
who shot with a rifle and were of recognized skill in some instances
were paid as high as $_J.50 per skin, and, generally speaking, as high
as &2 per skin. The reason for this is obvious to those who have inter-
ested themselves in the sealing business. A seal killed with buckshot
is so much punctured frequently that the pelt is of lesser value. It is
not profitable for schooners to engage as hunters men who miss their
chances of killing the seals and blaze away indiscriminately, with small
results. Even though the hunter is only paid for the skin he recovers,
the loss to the vessel by his failure to kill when an opportunity offers
is equivalent to the profit it would have made on the skin if secured.
For these reasons and on account of the general proneness of 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 number of seals aimed at, wounded, or
killed. (Theo. T. Williams.)
In attempting to ascertain exactly the number of seals killed and lost
by the Bering Sea hunters, I found a wide divergence of statement. It
is greatly to the advantage of the seal hunter to have the reputation of
losing but few seals. He is paid by the skin, and the more he catches
the greater his remuneration; but that is not all. The hunter with the
best reputation as a sure catcher is in the greatest demand, can secure
employment in the best schooner, and the 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 snreness of aim. The
best shots use a rifle and fire at a range of from 50 to 11*5 yards. The
poorer shots depend on a shotgun loaded with buckshot, and will fire
at a seal up to 50 yards away. The Indian hunters use spears, and
paddle noiselessly up to the sleeping seal to plunge the spear in its
shoulder. They never attempt to spear a seal that is awake. An
Indian hunter will paddle in among a lot of " sleepers" and spear 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 quickly 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 hunters have
boasted that they secure 95 seals for 100 shots, and some have made
affidavits of even more wonderful exploits. They presume too much
on public ignorance and credulity. (Theo. T. Williams.)
Fortunately, it is 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.
SEAL LIFE OX THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 263
On this subject I append a statement made by Captain Olsen, of the
sealing bark 7&,v.\/V A'///rr, at Victoria.
Captain Olsen, of the American schooner Bessie Ruter, of Astoria,
reached Victoria September 27, 1881). In the office of the American
consul. Col. K. Stevens, he said: "I took 550 skins in Bering Sea. Of
these 27 were pups, 5120 females, and 3 male seals, which I killed oft' the
island of Kadiak. Most of the female seals were with young. I had
a green crew and green hunters. They used shotguns and sometimes
the rifle. They got about one seal for every three they aimed at. Some
they missed altogether, and some of the wounded ones got away. There
is great risk of losing a traveling seal. The sleeping seals blow up an
air bladder that keeps them from sinking, but the seals when awake sink
easily. Hooks are used to grapple them, but if the boat is some distance
from the seal when it is killed it does not often get it. For that reason
rifle shooting at long range hardly pays. I will get about $7.75 for some
of my skins and 88 for others. My voyage will pay, because I ran the
boat on the cheap. 1 only had two men to the boat, and only paid my
hunters $1 per skin instead of $2, which is paid to first-class hunters.
Some very skillful hunters do not lose many skins. They will never
fire unless a seal is at close range, and they generally kill. Of course
they lose some from sinking. All the hunters brag about how few they
lose, because they want the reputation of being good hunters. The
better reputation they have the better chance they get.
If Bering 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 shot. If the best hunters lose ten
or fifteen 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, whether it is in range or not. You can not stop
them. They will wound more than they kill. (T. T. Williams.)
DESTRUCTION OF NURSING FEMALES.
We entered Bering Sea through the Muckawa Pass the 1st of July,
and commenced hunting seals wherever we could find them, among
which 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 proportion of male and female
seals killed by pelagic hunters, but it is my firm conviction, from my
knowledge of the habits of the males in not leaving the islands during
the breeding season, and the well known fact that mother seals go great
distances in search of food while nursing their young, that the females
are slaughtered in great numbers during their jouneys to and from the
islands by pelagic hunters. (George E. 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, 05 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 Pacific 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 Unalaska. We
caught them from 10 to 100 or more miles oft' St. George Island. (Niels
Bonde.)
264 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS.
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 1889 (that being the only year I ever went
to that sea) and hunted seals with spears about 70 miles southwest off
the 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 mothers
in milk. (Charles Challall.)
We entered the sea through the Unimak Pass, and captured therein
about 40 seals, most all of which had milk in their breasts. (Louis
Culler.)
The waters were full of them at that time. We caught them from 50
to 00 miles off the seal islands. (John 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 fact that
when a mother seal is killed her suckling pup left at the rookery also
perishes. Impregnation having also taken place before she left the
rookery in search of food, the fetus of the next year's birth is likewise
destroyed. (James H. Douglass.)
We left San Francisco and fished up the coast until we entered Bering
Sea, in July, and sealed about the sea until we were driven off by the
revenue cutter Corwin. From there we went to the Copper Islands.
Our whole catch amounted to 900 skins, and we killed most of them with
rifles. We only got about one out of eight that we shot at, and they
were most all females giving milk or in pup. When we cut the hide off
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 pups
in them, and most all the rest were cows giving milk, and some of the
latter we killed as far from the rookeries as Unimak Pass. (Peter Duffy.)
We entered Bering Sea about April and we got 795 in there, the
largest part of which were mother seals in milk. When we were skin-
ning them the milk would run on the deck. (John Fyfe.)
I know that fully 75 per cent of those we caught in Bering Sea were
cows in milk. (Thomas Gibson.)
My observation and the information obtained from seal hunters con-
vince me that fully 90 per cent of the seals found swimming in Bering
Sea during the breeding season are females in search of food, and their
slaughter results in the destruction of her young by starvation. (M. A.
Healy.)
While in Bering Sea we cruised around the Pribilof Islands 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 two-thirds of these being nursing
cows, while the remainder were 2 year olds and yearlings. On first
entering the sea an occasional pregnant cow would be taken, but this
was uncommon. Of the males taken in Bering Sea the numbers of
SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 265
yearlings and very young bachelors was about equal; no bulls were
ever taken. (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 4<>0 seals at a distance of about 100 miles from the Pribilof
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 oft
the seal islands, and sometimes we were closer. I did not pay any
attention to the proportion of females, but 1 know we skinned a great
many that were giving milk, because the milk would run 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 and 400 seals on the coast and 000 in Bering Sea. We sealed on
the American side of Bering Sea around the Pribilof Islands, any-
where from 10 to 150 miles off. The capture of 181)0 was about the
same in proportion to sex as the year before. (James Kean.)
We entered Bering Sea about the latter part of July and captured
2(>0 seals from 20 to 100 miles off the seal islands. 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 water. (James Kiernan.)
The same day after a chase of an hour we were seized by the U. S. S.
Mohican. The total catch of seals at the time of seizure was 48, and
at least 20 were females, the majority of which were in milk. All the
seals were taken from 120 to 180 miles from St. George Island. (Francis
E. King-Hall.)
When in Bering Sea we are usually 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 miles from the land. (E. N. Lawsoii.)
In Bering Sea, where we obtained about 400 skins, males and females
in about equal numbers were taken. The females were mostly nursing
cows, while the males were young ones, between the ages of 2 and 5
years. (James E. Lennan.)
Another fact in connection with open-sea sealing is that the great
majority of seals killed are females, and that a great part of the females
are pregnant, or in milk. The milking females are most all killed
while visiting the feeding grounds, which are distant 40 or (>0 miles, or
even farther from the islands. The female necessarily feeds so that she
can supply nourishment for 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 that were giving
milk? — A. Yes, sir. (Alexander McLean.)
Those we caught in Bering Sea were mostly all females with milk in
their breasts. * * The next season, 1890, we got on the way up
between 100 and 200 seals, and then we entered Bering Sea about the
266 SEAL LIFE OX THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS.
18th or 19th of July, and I caught 90 seals, mostly all females. * * *
When we were in Bering Sea we hunted from 40 to 200 miles off the
seal islands. (Patrick Maroney.)
About two-thirds of those caught in Bering Sea were females that
had big teats and were giving milk. We could tell that when we were
skinning them, because the milk would run out on the decks. (Wil-
liam Mason.)
We sealed around Unalaska, but did not go toward the Pribilof
Islands. We caught 1,900 seals, all of which were captured in the sea,
close to Uualaska ; most all of them were cows in milk ; but when we first
entered the sea we killed a few cows that had pups in them. * * *
That year we sealed east of the island and caught about 800 seals. I
do not know how far we were from the islands, for we could not see
them. The seals we caught were mostly cows with milk. (Moses.)
I was sealing in Bering Sea during July, August, and September,
1885 and 1886. I was cruising in Bering Sea around about the Pribilof
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. (Xiles Nelson.)
After entering the sea we got one female 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 their breasts were full of milk. (John Olsen.)
The seals tak°u 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 than we do on the coast. We catch a good many
females in 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, but seldom get any that have a pup
in them in those waters. (William Parker.)
We entered Bering Sea about the 15th of August through the Unimak
Pass and 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 where they had left their young. (Charles Peterson.)
The seals captured in Bering Sea were fully 80 per cent females that
had given birth to their young. A fact that I often noticed was that
their teats would be full of milk when I skinned them, and I have seen
them killed Irom 20 to 100 miles from the seal islands. ( Edwin P. Porter.)
Q. How do you know that the marauders kill females principally?—
A. I know that the females, after giving birth to their young on the
rookeries, frequent the open sea in search of food, whereas the males
frequent the hauling grounds or waters immediately around it. At
various times I have seen skins which were seized by the cutters from
the poachers, and they were substantially female skins. ( J. 0. lied path.)
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, one-
third barren and yearlings. (W. Roberts.)
I have taken nursing females when as much as 100 miles from Prib-
ilof Islands. I estimate that the seals killed by pelagic hunters are at
least 90 per cent females; this estimate is based on the great number
of motherless pups I have observed on the rookeries, and also on state-
SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 267
ments made to me by many engaged in pelagic sealing whom I met and
conversed with at Uualaska. (T. F. Kyan.)
\\ e caught 707 seals in Bering Sea that year (1884) from 30 to 150
miles off the seal islands. The most of them were females, for the
reason that they are 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 skinned them. * * * My third voyage was in 1889. I sailed
from Yokohama on the Arctic, about the latter part of January. We
cleared 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 north of the Aleutian Islands. The
majority of them were mother seals. (James Sloan.)
The majority of seals taken in 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 2 and 4 years old. * * * I have
taken female seals 80 miles oil' 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 Sticklaud.)
I have never captured any cows in milk along the coast, but when
in Bering Sea in 1889 I sealed off about 1)0 miles from the seal islands
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 on
the rookeries and gone some distance from the island in search of food.
(Daniel Webster.)
Ninety-five per cent of all the seals killed in Bering Sea are females.
(Theo. T. Williams.)
Thousands of the female seals were captured by the pelagic hunters
in Bering Sea during the season of 1891, the most of which had to be
secured quite a distance from the rookeries, owing to the presence of
armed vessels patrolling the sea for miles around the islands. That the
slaughter of the seals was mostly of females was confirmed by the
thousands of dead pups lying on the rookeries, starved to death by the
destruction of their mothers. (W. H. Williams.)
We caught a few seals in there (Bering Sea). When we first went in
we did not see many, but alter we were there awhile we saw plenty of
them that had large breasts that were full of milk, and our catch were
most all females. 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 sealers.
My experience in seal hunting is that a much greater number of
females are taken at sea than males of the fur seal species; and of the
females the majority are pregnant or milking. (Andrew, Anderson.)
(,>. Do you know of what sex the seals were that you have taken in
the Pacific and Bering Sea? — A. Yes; I have taken both male and female
seals, but I suppose the greater per cent that I have taken would be
about 90 per cent, or even more.
268 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS.
Q. What percentage of the skins you have taken were cows! — A.
About 90 per cent, for the simple reason that the bulls are not migra
tpry. (George Ball.)
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 pups every
year. (Wilton C. Bennett.)
Think the majority of the seals taken are cows. Never killed but
two old bulls in my life. Have killed quite a number of yearling seals
and some young males 2 or 3 years old. (Edward Benson.)
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.
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.
(Leander 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 C. H. White and the Kate Manning)
were nearly all females. (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 females.
Last year I killed 72, and out of the 72 there was only 3 males.
Q. What percentage of the skins you have taken were cows? — A.
About 90 to 95 per cent. (Luther T. Franklin.)
Off Cape Flattery there is hardly a dozen large males taken out of
every thousand large seals whose skins are called first class; all the
males taken here are small ones. (Thomas Frazer.)
Q. Do you know of what 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 percentage of the skins you have taken were cows? — A.
About 90 per cent. (Edward W. Funcke.)
We caught about 100 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 Sea, but the most of themr
about 1,200, we caught in Bering Sea. I was told by the men that they
were nearly all females, and I thought so, too, from the milk that I saw
in their breasts when they were on the deck. I saw over a hundred
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 in pelagic sealing are females. (W. P. Griffith.)
SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 269
Q. What sex are tbe seals taken by you or usually killed by hunting
vessels in the North Pacific or Bering Seat — A. Mostly females. The
> bluest percentage, I think, are females.
(,). What percentage of them are cows? — A. I couldn't tell you.
Q. Out of 100 seals that you would catch ordinarily what part of
them would be cows? — A. I am under oath, and I 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 equally divided between
females and males. Have taken a number of yearlings and some 2 and
3 year old males. Have never killed an old bull. (Henry Haldane.)
Q. Do you know of what sex the seals were that you have taken in
the Pacific and Bering Sea! — A. Two-thirds of them are females.
Q. What percentage of the skins you have taken were cows? — A.
Two-thirds, I should say. (William Henson.)
Q. Do you know of what sex that you have taken in the Pacific and
Bering Sea? — A. The seals that I have taken were principally females.
Q. What percentage of them are females! — A. It is very seldom that
you ever get hold of a male. (Gustave Jsaacman.)
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. I should say that not less than 80 per cent of
those caught each year were of that sex. (James Kiernan.)
WTe caught about 400 or 500 seals before we got to Bering Sea. I
don't know the precise number. They were bulls and females mixed
in, but the general run of them were females. (William Isaac.)
Q. Of what sex are the seals taken by you or usually killed by hunt-
ing vessels in the North Pacific or Bering Sea? — A. Principally females.
Q. What would be your judgment as to the percentage! Out of 100
that you kill, how many of them would be females! — A. Say I would
bring 2,000 seals in here, I 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.
(^. What percentage of the skins you have taken were cows! — A. I
should judge about 90 per cent. (Frank Moreau.)
I can not give the exact estimate of the sex, but I know that a large
portion of them are females. (Niles Nelson.)
In going up the coast to Uuimak Pass we caught about 400 seals,
mostly females with young, and put their skins on board the Danube,
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 Cape 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 told on this voyage. About 90 per cent
270 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS.
of all the seals we captured in the water were female seals. We caught
350 seals along the coast, all of which were females excepting UO.
(Charles Peterson.)
The majority of seal killed by me have been cows; have killed a few
small males. (Showoosch.)
From what I have been able to learn, the majority of seals taken
around Kodiak are females. (John C. Tolman.)
In my conversation with men engaged in seal hunting in the open
water of the North Pacific and Bering Sea, I have not been able to get
sufficient information to form a reliable estimate of the average number
saved out of the total number shot nor oi' the percentage of females
killed. As a rule, the hunters are extremely reticent about giving
information on the subject to officers of the Government, but from the
well-known fact that the female seal is much more easily approached
than the male, and sleeps more frequently on the water, and is less
active when carrying her young, I have no doubt 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 temporary, but it is mostly females that they kill in the open
waters. (Daniel Webster.)
I never paid any particular attention as to the exact number of or
proportion of each 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 perceptible 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 approach of a vessel, while formerly they were usually quite
curious and would sport and play about the vessel when come up with.
I believe this decrease and timidity is due to the indiscriminate slaughter
of the seals by pelagic sealers. (G. 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 has been constant of
late years, is due principally to the number of vessels engaged in hunt-
ing them at sea. (J. A. Bradley.)
Seven or eight years ago, when seals were hunted almost wholly by
Indians with spears, a vessel hunting in the vicinity of Gape Flattery
was sure of getting several hundred skins in about three months, from
March to the end of May, 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 Pacific Ocean on the American side. I have no reason
to doubt that it is the same on the Eussian side. At present they are
hunted vigorously and with better methods than formerly. The hunters
SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 271
had more experience and understand their habits better, but
rithstanding this, the catches are decreasing oft' the coast. (William
mnan.)
)als 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 and killing of
female seals in the water. (James L. Carthcut.)
Have noticed that seals are becoming very scarce on the coast the
last few years. The cause of the scarcity of the seals, I think, is too
many schooners in the North Pacific 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 previous years? — A. I think there has. (Daniel Claussen.)
Q. If there is a decrease, to what do you attribute it? — A. To the
killing and hunting of them by seal hunters. I think the indiscriminate
killing of seals in Bering Sea is the cause of their scarcity along the
coast. (John C. Clement.)
There were not nearly as many seals to be found in 1889 as there
were in 1888. I think the decrease is caused by the great destruction of
females killed in the sea by the hunters. (Peter Collins.)
I attribute 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
011 this coast 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 decrease of seals in the waters of the ocean and sea must
unquestionably be caused by the indiscriminate killing now going on by
poaching schooners, and if not discontinued it will 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 the seal herds in the North Pacific and Bering Sea
have been greatly depleted 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
272 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS.
with previous years? — A. I have not been on tbe islands in the last few
years, but I should imagine there has been a great decrease.
Q. To what do you attribute the decrease? — A. To the number of
vessels that are up there engaged in killing seals, nearly all of which
are females. Last year there were 72 vessels fitted out from Victoria
alone, to say nothing of vessels that are fitted 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 Fra/er.)
Q. Has there been any decrease in the quantity of seals as compared
with previous years? — A. There is a decrease of about 20 or 30 per
cent.
Q. To what do you attribute the decrease ? — A. 1 attribute it to their
being overhunted. (Edward W. Funcke.)
I am decidedly of the opinion that fur-seal life has considerably
decreased of late years, and believe it is due principally to pelagic
sealing. (A. J. Gould.)
While at anchor off St. Paul Island, the pups playing about the vessel
were very few, and while making a passage between Unalaska and
Pribilof Islands, during the breeding season, did not see a dozen in the
open sea during the whole trip, where formerly I met hundreds. In
going from Unalaska to Atka and returning, during the last of May
and the first part of June of this year (1892), I did not see a single fur
seal in the water. I attribute this great decrease to the indiscriminate
slaughter of the species by pelagic sealers and their wasteful methods
of securing skins. (Charles J. Hague.)
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 not nearly as many born? — A. Certainly; it has got all to do
with it.
Q. 'Then really you attribute the decrease to the killing of the fe-
males'?— A. Yes, sir. (H. Harmseu.)
I am decidedly of the opinion that the decrease in numbers of seals
in the North Pacific and Bering Sea is owing to pelagic hunting, and
that unless discontinued they will soon become so nearly extinct as to
be worthless 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 I
first went out sealing. I think this is caused by hunting them so much
with guns. (James Hay ward.)
Q. If there is a decrease, to what do you attribute it? — A. To the
amount of seal hunters and hunting that is actually going on. (Andrew
J. Hoffman.)
Seals have decreased very fast the last three years. The decrease 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 females.
Whale killers and sharks kill a good many. (Gustave 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 Johnson.)
SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 273
My knowledge, being from long experience, is that the seals are
becoming gradually scarcer in the northern waters, particularly so in
later years. The cause of this decrease 1 believe to be the indiscrimi-
nate slaughter of the mother seals. They are hunted too much, and
hence mother seals are becoming scarcer, which, if not checked, will
lead to their early extermination. (James Kiernan.)
He also told me, from his own knowledge, that the Uchuckelset Indi-
ans had a few years ago caught off the coast 1,000 seals in a season,
and that now they could catch hardly any; that the white men's guns
were not only destroying the seals, but driving them farther from the
coast. (Francis K. King-Hall.)
In my opinion, fur-seal life has not only enormously decreased in
numbers since 1880. but it lias become greatly scattered and grown
wilder and more timid, forsaking many places 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
indiscriminately at sea. (James E. Lennan.)
If they keep on hunting them in Bering Sea and the North Pacific in
the same way they have done in the last few years, they will exterminate
them in the same way, because most all the seals killed 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 her 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.)
I have observed a very great decrease in fur-seal life since 1885, and
believe it is almost entirely due to the large numbers of vessels engaged
in pelagic sealing. (E. W. 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
increased number of boats and men engaged in the business in the last
few years. (William H. Long.)
Q. Has there been any decrease in the quantity of seals as compared
to previous years?— A. There has been a decrease.
Q. To what do you attribute the decrease? — 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. D. McDonald.)
There were not as many seals in 1890 as there were in 1889. I think
there are so many boats and hunters out after them that they are being
killed off. They are hunted too much. (William Mclsaac.)
There were not as many seals as formerly. Have noticed the decrease
in the last three years ; caused, I think, by the indiscriminate killing of
female seal. (James McKeen.)
I was also cod fishing in 1884. There were a great many more seals
in the water then than there were in 1889. In 1884, when we were cod
fishing, we met the steam whaler Thrasher, and I heard the captain
remark that it was a damned shame the way they were killing the female
seals in Bering Sea. (William McLaughlin.)
Q. To what do you attribute this decrease? — A. I think this is on
account of killing those female seals when they have pups, and the
business is getting so that so many vessels are going into it, and they
S. Doc. 137, pt. 1 18
274 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILO.F ISLANDS.
are killing those pups off. A seal has not got a chance to go to work
and increase.
Q. The mother seals? — A. Yes, sir. (Alexander McLean.)
Q. Have you noticed any decrease in the quantity of animals in the
last few years? — A. Yes, sir.
Q. To what do you attribute the cause? — A. Killing off the females.
(Daniel McLean.)
I have given up the sealing business because the 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; caused. I think,
by the indiscriminate killing of females with pup. (G. B. Miner.)
Q. To what do you attribute that decrease? — A. From the killing of
seals, both by hunters and others. (Frank Morreau.)
Deponent further says that he thinks that the decrease in the num-
ber of seals found in the rookeries and the increase in the number of
dead pups are caused directly by the open sealing in the sea, commonly
called poaching. (T. F. Morgan.)
I am not able to say whether the seal herd is decreasing, but it is
reasonable to suppose that where they are hunted and harassed at all
times by so many hunters they are sure to be driven from their usual
haunts, if not totally destroyed. (Nelson T. Oliver.)
Seals were not as plentiful in 1886 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 Parker.)
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. Porter.)
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
there was formerly, when I was on sealing voyages. It was, in fact, so
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. I know something about it, as I
have been sailing from this coast up along those waters for nineteen
years, and, as I said before, I paid particular attention to them, and I
firmly believe if they allow 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 Sloan.)
I think the seals are decreasing in number all the time, because there
are more vessels out hunting after them and are killing off the female
seals. (Cyrus Stepherns.)
SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS.
275
Q. If there is a decrease, to what do you attribute it? — A. On
account of so much extermination and hunting by the seal hunters.
Gustave Sundvall.)
(G
,,'
I have heard that seal have been decreasing the last few years; caused,
'Link, by pelagic scaling. (W. Thomas.)
The decrease, I think, is caused by the indiscriminate killing of
female seals. (Rudolph Walson.)
From what I know seals have been decreasing very fast in recent
years. Think the decrease is caused by the indiscriminate killing in
the Xorth Pacific Ocean and Bering Sea. (P. S. Weit ten heller.)
My experience is that the seals have been decreasing in numbers for
the last six or seven years, and within the past two or three years very
rapidly, owing to the indiscriminate killing of them by pelagic hunters
and vessels engaged in that business in the waters of the North Pacific
and Bering Sea. (Michael White.)
INCREASE OF SEALING FLEET.
Pelagic sealing as an industry is of recent origin and may be said to
date from 1879. In 1880, according to the official report of the Cana-
dian minister of marine and fisheries, 7 vessels and 213 men were
engaged in pelagic sealing in the North Pacific, securing 13,600 skins,
valued at 8103,200. The same authority states that in 1886 20 vessels
and 459 men secured 38,907 skins, valued at $389,070. In 1891 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:
Year. Number.
Year.
Number.
Year.
Number.
Year.
Number.
1872 1.029
1877 .
5,700
9,593
12,7>00
13, 600
13,541
1882
17, 700
9,195
a 14, 000
13, 000
38, 907
1887
83, 800
37. 789
40, 998
48, 519
62,500
1873
1878
1883
1888
1874 4, 949
1875 1 646
1879
1884
1889
1880
1885
1890
1870 2 042 1881
1886
1891
a Number estimated from value given.
One reason for deponent's opinion that the total number of seals in
the Pacific and Bering Sea has diminished very rapidly is the fact —
which deponent knows from the fact that he buys so large a portion of
the poachers7 catch — that there are 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 the total number of
skins brought in by the whole 80 vessels is now not very much greater
than the number brought in five years by 10 vessels. 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 poaching vessel now gets more than a few hundred with
the same size crew. One vessel last year sailing from Victoria made
a catch of 1,900 skins, but this is now an altogether exceptional catch,
and this vessel had a crew twice as large as poaching vessels for-
merly carried, and was equipped with from 12 to 15 boats instead of 5
276 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS.
or 6. One or two other poaching vessels also made large catches — that
is, over 1,200 skins — but the average catch of the poaching vessels is
not more than a lew hundred each. This is true, although the poach-
ing vessels are now equipped with much more experienced shooters,
with better rifles, and with better boats than any of the vessels had
five years ago. Many of the poaching vessels now have boats pointed
at both ends, so that they can go backward and forward with equal
ease; the old poacher only had ordinary ships' boats. Deponent
knows this to be true because he has seen the boats and talked with
the captains of the schooners about them. (Herman Liebes.)
I never saw many sealing schooners before 1884, but they have been
coming more and more every year since, and I notice that as the schoon-
ers multiply in the sea the seals decrease on the rookeries. (Aggei
Kushen.)
From 1885 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 commenced,
as I have already pointed out, in 188(>, and was coincident in time and
proportionate in extent with the number of seals destroyed in the water.
The business of pelagic sealing in Bering Sea first assumed consider-
able proportions in 1884, and in that year dead pup seals first became
numerous enough upon the rookeries to excite remark upon the islands.
As the sealing fleet increased the starved animals became more numer-
ous. In 1887 fourteen vessels were seized for illegal sealing, and the
effect was seen in the following year, when a much less number engaged
in the business and the Bering Sea catch amounted, as I am informed,
to about 34,000 skins against about 19,000 or 20,000 in 1888. The failure
of the United States Government to vigorously pursue in 1888 and the
following years the repressive policy so auspiciously begun in 1887, led
to a large increase of the sealing fleet and corresponding destruction of
the herd, but the prohibition of pelagic sealing nevertheless continued,
and the usual proclamation was published by the Government warning
all parties not to kill seals in Bering Sea or waters adjacent to the
Alaskan coast. (H. H. 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 and cleared out, but since that time 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 summer of 1869 I never saw a vessel
sealing about the islands 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 McLean went there about nine years ago in the Favorite.
(William Parker.)
Q. What effect, in your opinion, does the increase in the number of
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 correspondingly decreased. * * * In 1884 the seal-
ing 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 there are said to be about 120. (J. C. Eedpath.)
SEAL LIFE ON THE PKIBILOF ISLANDS. 277
I tirst went out in 1885, in tbe schooner City of Man I>/6Y/o, chartered
by myself and others, and iny catch for that year was between 2.:>uo
and U,400 seals. Of Unit number about 1,900 were caught in Bering
Sea. There were but very few vessels sealing at that time. (Michael
White.)
DECREASE OF SEALS — PELAGIC SEALING THE SOLE CAUSE.
Opinions of Indian hunters.
Fur seals were formerly much more plentiful, however, but of late
years are becoming constantly scarcer. This is, we think, owing to the
number of vessels engaged in hunting them at sea. (John Alexandroff.)
Fur seals were formerly observed in this neighborhood in great num-
bers, but of late years they have been constantly diminishing, owing
to the large number of sealing vessels engaged in hunting and killing
them. (Nicoli Apokchee.)
I have noticed that seal have decreased very rapidly in the last three
years, owing to too many schooners engaged in sealing along the
coast of Alaska and Bering Sea. (Adam Ayonkee.)
The seal are not near as plentiful as they used to be. Tbe cause of
the decrease is, I think, too many schooners hunting them oft' 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. I think this is caused by
the indiscriminate killing in the water. (Wilton 0. Bennett.)
Seal are getting very scarce. I think the cause of the scarcity is too
many people hunting seal. (Edward Benson.)
Seals were very plenty in the straits and around the cape until about
six years ago, when the white hunters came in schooners and with shot-
guns and commenced to kill them all off, 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 shy and wild, and are decreasing very rapidly.
(Bowa-chup.)
White hunters came here about five or six years ago and commenced
shooting the seals with guns, since which time they have been rapidly
decreasing and are becoming very wild. When we hunt seals with
spears we creep upon them while asleep on the water and spear them.
A few years ago my people would catch from 8,000 to 10,000 each year;
now we get only about 1,000 or less. * * * Seals used to be very
numerous along the coast about 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 believe, to the number of vessels engaged in killing them at sea.
(Ivan Canetak.)
Years ago seals were very plentiful from 5 to 10 miles from the shore.
I could see them all around in bunches of from 10 to 20 each, but since
the white man has commenced to kill them with the rifle and shotgun
(in the last five or six years) they have decreased very rapidly. (Charlie.)
278 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS.
Fur seals have decreased very rapidly during the last five years, and
we believe it is due to the large number of vessels engaged in bunting
them at sea. (Vassili Ohichinoff.)
Have noticed the seal are decreasing very fast the last four years;
too many schooners are hunting them in the open waters of the Pacific
Ocean and Bering Sea. (Chin-koo-tin.)
The last five years fur seal has been growing very scarce, and it is
hard to get any now. There are too many white men with schooners
hunting them off Dixons Entrance, and unless it is stopped the seal
will be all gone. (William Clark.)
Seals are now very scarce and wild along the coast. I believe the
cause of this is that white hunters have been hunting them so much
with guns. (James Claplanhoo.)
Seals used to be very plentiful, and I never noticed any decrease in
their number until white hunters commenced coming here and killing
them with guns, about six or seven years ago; since that they have
decreased very rapidly and have got very shy. Our tribe used to
have no difficulty in catching 8,000 to 10,000 seals and now we can
not get a thousand. (Circus Jim.)
I have been out sealing on the coast this spring in a schooner that
carried 10 canoes, with two hunters to each canoe. We were out three
days and caught 5 seals. If we had been out that long six or eight
years ago with the same crew we would have taken between (JO and 100
seals. Seals are wild and shy now, and have become very scarce. I
think the reason for this is that they have been hunted so much by
white hunters who use firearms. (Jeff. Davis.)
Some years ago the fur seal were plenty off the islands, but since the
schooners have hunted them they are nearly all gone, and it is hard for
the Indians of this village to get any. (Eshon .)
Seals are not so plentiful as they were a few years ago. They began
to decrease about five or six years ago. A good many years ago 1 used
to capture seals in the Straits of San Juan de Fuca, but of late 3Tears,
since so many schooners and white men have come around here shoot-
ing with guns, only a few come in here and we do not hunt in the
Straits any more. I used to catch 40 or 50 seals in one day, and now
if I get 6 or 7 I would have great luck. I have to go a long distance
to get seals now. Seals are wild and afraid of an Indian. They have
become so since the white men and the trader began to shoot them with
shotguns and rifles. In a short time there will be no seals left for the
Indian to kill with a spear. (Ellabush.)
Fur seals were formerly much more numerous than of late years, and
are each year becoming constantly scarcer. I believe this decrease is
due to the number of vessels which are engaged in hunting them at
sea. (Vassili Feodor.)
When I was a young man there were lots of seals around Queen
Charlotte Islands, but now they have become scarce. The last few
times I was out after them I did not see a seal. They have been grow-
ing scarcer every year since the white man began hunting them in
schooners. (Frank.)
Fur seal are not as plenty as they used to be, and it is hard for the
Indians to catch any. I think there are too many white men in
schooners hunting seals around Dixons Entrance. (Chief Frank.)
SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 279
E
ie white men have been hunting the seal with schooners they
)ine very scarce, and it is hard for the Indians to get any in
their canoes. (Luke Frank.)
Seal have decreased on the coast very fast the 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 the 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 schooners are hunting
seal, and Indian hunters have to go a long way in their canoes in order
to get any, and they seldom kill one. (Gonastut.)
Have noticed that seals are decreasing the last four years, caused, I
think, by too many white men hunting seal in the waters of the Pacific
Ocean and Bering Sea. (James Gondowen.)
Fur seals have decreased in numbers of late years, and we believe it
is due principally to the large number of vessels hunting them at sea.
(Nicoli Gregoroif.)
The seal are not nearly as plentiful as they once were, and I think
they are hunted too much by schooners. (Henry Haldane.)
Seals are not as plentiful now as they were before white men com-
menced hunting them with guns around here some six or seven years
ago. They are more shy now and it is much more difficult for the hunt-
ers to creep up and spear them than it was a few years ago. (Alfred
Irving.)
Years 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 hunt them with guns, about six or
seven years ago, and so many vessels went into the business. (Ishka.)
My idea is that there are too many camp fires around on the coast of
Alaska that scare the seals out to sea. The seal smell the smoke and
wont come near the land ; and there are a large number of people shoot-
ing seal, which scares them away also. (Jack Johnson.)
There are too many schooners hunting seal oft Prince of Wales
Island, and it is hard for Indians to get any in canoes. (Johnnie
John ton.)
Have noticed that seal are decreasing very fast the last few years
along the coast, caused, I think, by pelagic sealing. * * * Think
the seals are most all killed by the pelagic seal hunters in the waters of
the North Pacific Ocean so far from the land that the Indians have no
chance to get any in canoes, as they only go a short distance from the
shore. (P. Kahiliday.)
Do not know why the number of the fur seal seen about these islands
are now less than in former years. (Samuel Kahooroft'.)
I think the seal are about as plentiful along this coast, but much more
scarce farther west. The cause of this scarcity is too much pelagic
hunting. (Philip Kashevaroff.)
When I was a young man the seal were very plentiful around here,
but since the schooners began hunting them they have become very
scarce. The white hunter destroyed the sea otter and will soon destroy
280 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS.
the seal. I don't like to see the schooners around here hunting seal,
for they kill everything they see, and unless they are stopped the seal
will soon be gone. The sea otter is already gone. (King Kashwa.)
Seals have been growing scarcer the last five years, since the white
rnau began hunting them with schooners, and if they are not stopped
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, 1 think, by schooners using
shotguns and rities 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.)
Seal are becoming very scarce on the coast. The reason they are
becoming so scarce is that hunters shoot them with guns and kill cows
with pup. (O. Klananeck.)
Seal used to be plentiful, but now they are nearly all gone. They
are too much hunted by the white men with schooners. (James Klo-
racket.)
Seal have become very scarce the last three years, and what few there
are are very wild and hard to get at. I think the reason that seal have
become scarce is that they are hunted too much, and too many females
killed with pup. (Robert Kooko.)
Have noticed that seal are decreasing very fast the last few years.
I think the cause of the decrease is that there are too many schooners
hunting seal in Bering Sea and along the North Pacific Coast. (John
Kowineet.)
Seal are not as plentiful as in former years; have noticed the decrease
in the last three or four years. Think the cause of the decrease is the
great number of schooners sealing in the North Pacific Ocean and Ber-
ing Sea. (George Lacheek.)
Seals are not nearly so plentiful now as they used to be. About seven
years ago white men commenced to hunt seals in this vicinity with guns,
since which time they have been decreasing in numbers, and have
become wild and hard to catch. * * * Seals are not so plentiful
and are more shy than they used to be, and are more difficult to catch,
because they have been hunted so much for the last live or six years
with guns. (James Lighthouse.)
White hunters in numbers commenced to hunt them around Gape
Flattery with guns about six years ago, and since that time the seals
have decreased 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 stopped 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 careful inquiry among our oldest people and weighing my own
experience and observations, I believe the decrease of the Alaskan fur
seal is due altogether to pelagic hunting. (S. Melovidov.)
Since the schooners have commenced to hunt seal they are becoming
very scarce, and the Indians have to go a long ways to get the few that
they do. (Matthew Morris.)
Years ago seals were much more plentiful than they are now, and I
SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 281
could see them all around in bunches on the water, but since the white
man came here and commenced to kill them with the rifle and the shot-
gun, within the last five or six years, they have rapidly decreased in
number. (Moses.)
When I was a young man seals were very plentiful off Prince of
Wales Island and Dixons Entrance, but since the schooners have
begun hunting seals they have become very scarce, and Indians now are
obliged to go a long ways to kill any, and sometimes they will hunt for
days without getting a seal. (Nash ton.)
Since the white men with schooners began to hunt seals, the last five
or six years, seals have become very scarce, and it is hard for the Indiana
to get any now. They have to go a long way and hunt a long time in
order to get one or two seals. (Smith Natch.)
The last four or five years seals have been growing scarcer every
year, owing, I think, to too many white men hunting seals in schooner*
off Queen Charlotte 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 Bering Sea and the Pacific
Ocean and it should be stopped. (Nechantake.)
Seals are not near as plenty as they used to be; too many hunters are
catching them and indiscriminately killing them. (James Neishkaitk.)
WThen I was a young man seals were much more plentiful than they
are now. The last three years, since the schooners began hunting seals,
they have become very scarce, and it is hard lor the Indians to g« t any
now. This year they have killed but two. (Nikla ah.)
The Indian fur-seal hunters of my people all tell me that the fur seal
are becoming very scarce; too many white men are killing them all the
time, and they kill cows with pup, as well as other kinds. 1 am the
chief of my people, and they all tell me what they know. (Peter Olsen.)
Seal are getting very scarce along the coast; cause of the scarcity
is, I think, too many schooners hunting them oft' Prince of Wales Island.
(Abel Ryan.)
Since the schooners have hunted seal oft' 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 plenty. (Jack Shnoky.)
The disappearance of the fur seal is due to the killing by pelagic
seal hunters, who appear in large numbers off this part of the coast;
and the scarcity of the fur seals is in proportion 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 noticed a large decrease in seal in the last three years, caused,.
I think, by pelagic sealing in Bering 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 time in order to get any, and after being away
there four or five days they frequently return without killing one seal,
they have become so scarce. (Thomas Showl.)
There are no seal left now; they are most all killed off. The last ten
282 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS.
years the seal have been decreasing very fast — ever since the white men
with schooners began to hunt them. (George Skultka.)
Seal have been growing scarce along the coast the last four years.
Think there are too many schooners engaged in sealing in the North
Pacific Ocean and Bering Sea. (M. Thlkahdaynahkee.)
Have noticed a large decrease the last four years. I think that
pelagic sealing in Bering Sea is the cause of the seal becoming scarce
along the coast. (Charlie Tlaksatan.)
Have heard all the Indians of different tribes say that seal are becom-
ing very scarce in the last three or four years. They also say that unless
the schooners are stopped from sealing in Bering Sea and the North
Pacific Ocean the seal will all be gone, and none will be left for the
Indians or anyone else. The seal have become so scarce of late years
that I don't know much about them. (Twongkwak.)
During the last five or six years seals have decreased in numbers
very rapidly. A great many of the white men are poor hunters and
lose a great many of the seals that they shoot. They shoot, and shoot,
and shoot, and don't get any seals, and that makes them wild, so that
an Indian can't get near them with a spear. (John Tysum.)
Have noticed the seal have been decreasing along the coast the last
four years. Think the cause of the decrease is that there are too many
schooners engaged in pelagic sealing in Bering Sea. (James Unatajim.)
Last year was a very bad season. The Indians think scarcity of seals
is due to the method of hunting them adopted by the whites, by which
the seals are scared away. (Francis Verbeke.)
Have noticed the seal are decreasing very fast, particularly the last
four years, caused by the indiscriminate killing of seal in the waters of
the North Pacific Ocean and Bering Sea. (Charlie Wank.)
So many schooners and white men are hunting them with guns all
along the coast that they are getting all killed off. (Watkins.)
Formerly the Indians hunted them for food, but nowadays white men
and Indians hunt them for their fur, and they 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 hunter 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 scarce the last three or four years, and the cause
of it is, I think, the indiscriminate killing of seals in the water. (Fred
Wilson.)
Seals are not near so plenty as they were seven or eight years ago.
I think the cause of this is that they have been hunted so much by
white hunters, who use shotguns and rifles. (Wispoo.)
Have noticed the 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 prohibited from taking seal in Bering Sea and along the
SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 283
coast of Alaska the seal would become plentiful and the Indians could
kill them once more in canoes. (Yalikah.)
Since the white men with schooners began to hunt seal off Prince of
Wales Island the seal have become very scarce, and unless they are
stopped from hunting seal they will soon be all gone. If the white men
are permitted to hunt seal much longer the fur seal will become as
scarce as the sea otter, which were quite plenty around Dixons
Entrance when 1 was a boy. The Indians are obliged to go a long way
for seal now and often return after two or three days' hunt without
taking any. (Hastings Yethnow.)
Seal have been decreasing very rapidly the last few years, and it is
hard for our people to get them. There are too many white men hunt-
ing them with schooners off Prince of Wales Island. (Paul Young.)
Since the white man began to hunt seal they are becoming very
scarce. (Walter Young.)
Within the last live or six years seals have decreased in number very
fast and are becoming very shy, and it is difficult to creep upon them
and hit them with the spear. Years ago the heads of seals along the
coast would 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
they do now it will be but a short time before they will be all gone.
(Thomas Zolnoks.)
DECREASE OF SEALS — RESULTS OF INDISCRIMINATE SLAUGHTER.
It is impossible to distinguish the sex of a seal in the water, unless
it is an old bull. I 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.)
I shoot all seal that 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. B. Alexander.)
It is impossible to distinguish the male from the female at a distance
in the water. (H. Andricius.)
It is impossible 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 discrimination, but killed everything that came near the
boat in shape of a seal. Never stopped to ask if it is female or not. A
few old bulls have been taken by me. (Johnny Baronovitch.)
Everything that comes near the boat in the shape of a seal is shot,
regardless of sex. (Maurice Bates.)
284 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS.
The sex of the seal can not be told in the water; I shoot everything
that conies near the boat. (Wilton C. Bennett.)
We kill everything that comes near the boat, and use no discrimina-
tion, but shoot them regardless of sex. (Edward Benson.)
We kill everything regardless of sex; the sex of the seal can not be
told iu the waters. (Martin Benson.)
It is almost impossible to distinguish the female seals from the male
in the water unless it is an old bull. (Bernhardt Bleidner.)
It is not possible to make any distinction between males (other than
large bulls) and females 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.)
We used to shoot at anything we ran across, and got about a third
of what we killed or wounded. I do not know how many miles off the
seal islands we were when we caught them, as I did not know the dis-
tances. (Thomas Bradley.)
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 they are fortunate, for at the best many
are lost. Some hunters rarely miss a seal they fire 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 hunters never miss a seal
during the season, but if others get one out of four they wound they
are doing well. (William Brennan.)
It is practically impossible to distinguish the age or sex of seals in
the water while approaching them while at a reasonable gunshot 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 secure them is to shoot them in the back
of the head when they are asleep with their noses in the water. (Peter
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 effort to
do so, but, on the contrary, kill all seals they can indiscriminately.
(Vassili 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
Chin-koo-tin.)
It is impossible to distinguish the sex of the fur seal in the water at
sea, and no effort was made to do so. We killed all fur seals indis-
criminately. (Julius Christiansen.)
SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 285
The sex of the seal can not be distinguished in the water. 1 shoot
everything that comes near enough. (Peter Church.)
I am unable to tell a male seal from a female while in the water,
unless it be an old bull with a long wig. (James Claplauboo.)
The sex can not be told in the water, and all are shot that come near
the boat. No discrimination is used; hunters kill everything they see.
(John C. Clement.)
In pelagic 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 hunter
so desired, and this is the reason why pelagic sealing 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; I make no difference. In former years there were 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 discrimination in killing seal, but shoot everything that
comes near the boat in the shape of a seal. IJuuters 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 Duffy.)
I never examine them to know whether they are male or female seal.
I can not tell the difference in the water, and shoot everything without
knowing whether they are male or female. (Echon.)
While there is some difference in the appearance of the female and
old male seals, I do not think it would be possible for the hunters to
tell that difference in the sea at any great distance. (M. C. Erskiue.)
Everything in shape of seal that conies 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 near the boat. (Luke Frank.)
There is no way by which hunters can distinguish sex while the seals
are in the water, nor do we aim to do so; the killing is always done in
an indiscriminate way. (Thomas Frazer.)
I 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 I know of to distinguish 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. Feeny.)
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
comes near the boat, and use no discrimination whatever. (Charles
Gibson.)
286 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS.
I kill everything that comes near the boat, and use no discrimination,
as the sex can not be told in the water, except it be an old bull, which
is told by its size. (Gouastut.)
(3an not distinguish sex of seal in the water. Hunters use no dis-
crimination, and kill everything that comes near the boat. (James
Gondowen.)
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. (Xicoli Gregoroff.)
Every seal is shot that comes near the boat, regardless of sex; hunt-
erj» 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 comes near the boat; cannot tell the
sex in the water. (Henry Haldane.)
I use no discrimination in sealing, but shoot everything that comes
near the boat, regardless of sex. (Martin Hannon.)
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 a
seal while in the water. It is the custom to pay seal hunters per skins
taken ; hence it is the object of the hunters to secure as many as pos-
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 you 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 effort 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 John tin.)
SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. "287
The sex of the seal can not be told in the water unless in the case of
an old bull, which is told by its size. We use no discrimination in
shooting seal. Everything is killed that comes near the boat, regard-
less of sex. (Philip Kashevaroft'.)
We can not tell the difference between a male and a female in the
water, but kill everything that comes near the boat. (King Kaskwa.)
All killing of seals in the water must of necessity be indiscriminate
slaughter, as it is impossible to tell the sex or the exact age of a seal
until it lias 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 everything that conies near the canoe, regardless of sex.
(Robert Kooko.)
I 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 fur 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 too small, not being strictly marketable skins, they
were not taken. (James E. Lennan.)
Of late years most of the catches of Northwest skins are sold at a
certain 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 particular
than they were in former years as to the class of animals they capture.
They kill everything they see without regard to age or sex, their only
object being to swell the total number of the catch to the highest 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 fur 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.)
288 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS.
Everything was killed that caine near the boat; we did not use any
discrimination. (George McAlpiiie.)
The sex can not be distinguished in the water unless it be the case
•of an old bull, which is distinguished by its size. Everything is killed
ill the shape of a seal that comes near the boat. (J. D. 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 all seal that come near the boat. Seal are not shot in any par-
ticular place; 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 that 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 sight. (Henry Mason.)
We generally tried to kill them while asleep in the water, but fired at
everything that came around us. (Thorwal Mathasan.)
I use no discrimination in shooting seals ; shoot everything that conies
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 Morehead.)
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 near the canoe in shape of a seal,
regardless of sex. The sex can not be told in the water unless it be an
old bull. (Dan Nathlan.)
Everything is killed that comes near the canoe in shape of a seal.
We can not tell a male from a female in the water. (Joseph Neishkaitk.)
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. (Ntkla-ah.)
Sex can not be distinguished while the seals are in the water, nor do
the hunters try to do so, for they kill everything they can shoot. (Kel-
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.)
SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBTLOF ISLANDS. 289
It is impossible to distinguish the male seal from tLe female when
they are in the water at a reasonable gunshot distance. (Charles
Peterson.)
Yearlings are rarely taken in North Pacific. The age or sex of a seal
in the water can not lie distinguished, except that when close the appar-
ent size is an indication of age. (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 shape of a seal that comes
near the boat is killed. L use no discrimination. (Eondtus.)
Everything 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 impossible 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.
(L. G. Shepard.)
All seal are killed that come near the boat. I never stop to consider
whether it is a male or female, but kill it off if I can. (Jack Shucky.)
Hunters use no discrimination, but shoot everything that comes near
them. Their sex can not be told unless in the case 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 everything 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 in 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. (E.
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. Thlkahdayuahkee.)
Hunters use no discrimination in killing seal, but kill everything that
comes near the boat, regardless 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. Tolmau.)
S. Doc. 137, pt. 1 19
290 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIB1LOF ISLANDS.
The sex of the seal can not be told in the water. Hunters use no
discrimination and everything in the shape of a seal that comes near
the boat is killed. (Peter Trearsheit.)
Sex of seal can not be distinguished in the water, except in the case
of an old bull, which can be told by its size. No discrimination is used
in taking seal; everything that comes near the boat is shot at. (James
Unatajim.)
I always shoot everything that conies near the boat, regardless of
sex. We use no discrimination. (George Usher.)
Sex of seal can not be distinguished in the water. No discrimination
is used in seal hunting; all are killed that come near. (Rudolph
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-
crimination in seal hunting; everything is killed that conies near the
boat. Pelagic hunters have become so plentiful and seals have become
so wild that we are obliged to take long shots at them. (Charlie Wauk.)
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 came
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 day at 4 or 5 in the
evening. (John Woodruff.)
The 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
Wooskoot.)
I can not distinguish the sex of a seal in the water, but kill every seal
that conies near the canoe, if possible. (Billy Yeltachy.)
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 the indiscriminate
shooting of them in the water. (Alf. Yohansen.)
I use no discrimination, and kill everything that comes near the boat
in the shape of a seal. (Paul Young.)
I 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.)
SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIJ3ILOF ISLANDS. 291
m;sTIM OTION OF PKEGNANT FEMALES.
We caught about 185 seals, mostly females in young, and we killed
them while they were asleep on the water. (Charles Adair.)
Most of the seals killed by nie have been females with pup. (Akatoo.)
We sealed along the coast and captured 154. Most all of them were
pregnant females. (Charles Avery.)
Most all seals that I have killed were pregnant cows. Have taken a
few 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 pupf—
A. About 99 per cent of the cows taken were with pup. There may be
one in a hundred that is either without pup or has had one. (George
Ball.)
Most all the seals taken are females with pup. (Johnnie Baronvitch.)
Seventy-live per cent of the seal taken on the coast are cows with
pup. (Martin Benson.)
We left Port Town send in May and sealed south to Cape Flattery,
and then went north along the coast until we came to Unimak Pass,
and captured from ;WO to 400 seals. Most all were females and had
pups in them. 1 think fully two-thirds of all we caught were females,
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 pups in them, and I have hunted all the way from the Columbia
Jliver to Barclay Sound. (Bowa-chup.)
We left Arictoria about May, going north, and sealed all the way to
Bering Sea. We had about GO 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 gravid
females. (Henry Brown.)
We had 250 seals before entering the sea, the largest percentage of
which were females, most of them having young pups in them. I saw
some of the young pups taken out of them. (Thomas Brown.)
On my last sealing cruise this spring 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 but 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 pups in them. Most all full-grown
cows that are caught have pups in them. Once, late in the season, I
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 with pups
in them. About half are young seals, both male and female, and the
292 SEAL LIFK ON THK PRIBILOF ISLANDS.
rest ia small number; are medium-sized males. We never get any old
bulls worth speaking of. and we do not catch as many gray pups now
as formerly. I hue not caught any gray pups this year. Do not know
what has become of them. Have never caught any full grown cows
without pups in them, and have never caught any cows in milk along
the coast. < ( 'harlie. )
Of those secured, the larger part by far were females, and the majority
of these were pregnant cows. (Julius Christiansen.)
Most of the seals taken by me have been females with young. A
few male seals have been taken by me, their ages ranging from 1 to f>
years old. Killed three large bulls during my life. (Peter Church.)
A great many years ago we used to catch about one-half cows and
one-half young seals. I never caught any seals along the coast that
had given birth to their young and that had milk in their breasts. 1
never captured any barren cows. * * * \\"e secured ten seals in all,
live of which had pups in them. 1 know this because I saw the pups
when we cut the carcasses open. * * The other five seals were
smaller and probably male and female. (Circus Jim.)
About half the seals killed by me have been cows with pup. 1 never
shot but two old bulls in my life. Have shot a few yearling seals. The
young males I have killed were between li and .'5 years old, 1 think.
(William Clark.)
The seals we catch along the coast are nearly all pregnant females.
It is seldom we capture an old bull, and what males we get are usually
young ones. 1 have frequently seen cow seals cut open and the unborn
pups cut out of them and they would live for several days. This is a
frequent occurrence. (Christ Clausen.)
Q. What percentage of the 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 while we
take an old bull. A few yearlings are taken also. (Charlie Dahtlin.)
From 75 to so per cent of all the seals taken were mothers in young,
and when cut open on deck we found the young within them. (.James
Dalgarduo.)
We had between 100 and .'>00 seals before entering the sea. Most all
of them were females with pups in them. (John Dalton.)
( )f the seals that were caught oil' the coast fully 00 out of every 100 had
young pups in them. The boats would bring the seals killed on board
the vessel and we would take the young pups out and skin them. If
the pup is a good, 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
.June, would be alive when we cut them out of the mothers. One of
them we kept for pretty nearly three weeks alive on deck by feeding it
on condensed milk. One of the men finally killed it because it cried so
pitifully. (Alfred Dardean.)
In all my experience, in sealing on this coast I have killed but one
cow seal that had milk in her breast, and that had given birth to her
pup. I have killed a very few barren cows along the coast. Nearly all
of the full grown cows along the coast have pups in them. (Frank
Davis.)
We sailed from San Francisco to Queen Charlotte Island, and caught
SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 293
between 500 and 000 son Is, nearly all females heavy with young. I
have seen a young live pup taken out of its mother and kept alive for
three or lour days. We sealed from 10 to 1_!0 miles off the coast.
(Joseph Dennis.)
A large proportion of all seals taken are females with pup. A very
few yearlings are taken. Never examine them as to sex. But very
few old bulls are taken, but live being taken out of a total of 1)00 seals
by my schooner. (George Iiishow.)
We left Victoria the latter end of January, and went South to Cape
I.ianco. sealing around there two or three 'months, when we started
north to Bering Sea, sealing' all the way up. We had between _M)0 and
.'JOO seals before entering the sea, a great many of them being females
with pups in them. (Richard Dolan.)
The Indians left their homes in March and remained away until May.
Their hunting lodges were on some small islands outside of Dundas
Island. From what they tell me the majority of seals taken by them
have been females with young. (William Duncan.)
We went north to Bering Sea, sealing all the way up, and got 110
seals before entering the sea. Most of them were cows, nearly all of
which had pups in them. We took some of the pups alive out of the
bodies of the females. (George Fairchild.)
Most all of the females taken are with young, or mothers. (F. F.
Feeny.)
There were cow seals with pup among the seals that 1 have taken,
but don't know how many. I have never taken an old bull in my life.
(Chief Frank.)
I think the seals taken by me are about half females with pup, and
the rest are 1 and 2 year old males and yearlings; never examined the
yearlings as to sex. (Luke Frank.)
Q. What percentage of the cows you have taken were with pup f —
A. All that are killed in the Pacific are with pup, and those that are
killed in Bering Sea have been delivered of pups on the islands and are
with milk. (Luther T. Franklin.)
Q. What percentage of the cows you have taken were with pup? —
A. About GO per cent were with pup. (Edward W. Fuucke.)
Most all the seals taken by me were females with pup. Most of the
seals killed in Bering Sea have been cows with milk. Have never
taken a bull seal off the coast of Washington, but have taken a few
farther north. A few young males are taken off the coast of Washing-
ton. (Chad George.)
I did not pay much attention to the sex of seals we killed in the
North Pacific, but know that a great number of them were cows that
had pups in them, and we killed most of them while they were asleep
on the water. (Thomas Gibson.)
Most of the seals killed are cows with pup. A few males are killed,
averaging from 1 to 4 years old. Have killed but one old bull in my
life. A few yearlings are taken, the majority of which are females.
(James Gondowen.)
We captured 03 seals, all of which were females, and all were preg-
nant. With regard to pregnancy, I may note that the seals taken off
the coast of Vancouver Island were not so far advanced as those taken
294 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIHILOF ISLANDS.
farther north. * * * I am acquainted with the hunters and masters
who sail from this port, and board all incoming and outgoing vessels of
that class. These men all acknowledge that nearly all the seals taken
off 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 Grymes.)
Of the skins taken in this region fully nine-tenths are pregnant and
milking females, but I never saw a young pup in the water. Large
bulls were never taken, their skins being practically valueless. (A. J.
Guild.)
Q. What percentage of the cows are taken with pups? — A. All the
large ones have — all the grown ones have. Very seldom you find a
barren one. (Charles H. Hagmau.)
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, I think. (Martin Haunon.)
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. (H. 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 statements to me have always been
that the capture of a male seal was a rarity; that nearly all of their
catch were cow seals heavy with young, or those who had given birth
to their young on the islands and gone out to the fishing 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 60 per cent were with pup. (William Henson.)
Of the seals secured in a season fully 70 per cent are females, and of
these more than 60 per cent are pregnant 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 pup? —
A. A bout the same amount (about 95 per cent) were with pup. (And. J.
Hoffman.)
Most all seals taken are females with young. * * * A few male
seal are taken. I would say they are generally 3 or 4 years old. A few
yearlings are killed, mostly females. About five bull seal are killed out
of every hundred taken. (E. Hofstad.)
SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 295
>
About one-half of those caught along the coast were full-grown cows
with pups in them; a few were medium-sized males, and the rest were
younger seals of botli sexes. I have never caught 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 pup? — A. In the
early part of the season, up to June, all the full-grown cows are with
pup'.
to SO seals, the
greater part <>f \vhieh were females, some of which had pups in them.
. Ian.es Kennedy.
Mo>r of ih«' seaN taken by me were females \viih pup: have taken a
few male seals from 1 lo I \ears old. A very few yearlings have been
killed by me. mostly females. ,.Mike !s.et huxlurk. .
Those taken in i'.eiinu' Sea were nearly all mother seals, in milk, that
had left their yoiin^ and were in seareh of food, i. lames Kiernan.)
Most all seals killed by me have been cows. Have not
killed a bnli seal for three years. 1 have taken a few yearlings, mostly
females. .'.John K<>\\ ineet. )
All the seals which 1 have seen killed were females, and the majority
of the>e were pregnant cows. lOlaf Kvam.
Mo>t all seals that I have taken were cows witli pup. A few male
seals have been taken by me from 1 to L* years old. ((leor^e Lacheek.)
A <^'ood many have pups in them, and when the boats come aboard
loaded with seals, after they ^'ot through skinning them they would
have a \}\g pile of pups on deck, (.lames Latlin.)
We had a »'ood catch, having taken 1. 100 skins, more than 1 .000 of
which we secured on the coast. Of the latter more than 7-"> per cent-
were femah' pelts, and of tiiese about <)<> ]>er cent were taken Iroin
pregnant cows. .lames I'.. Lennan.)
Of all t he seals captured by me about one- ha If of them. 1 think, were
cows with pups in them, and it is very seldom that I have ever caught
a full -.uTou n eow that was barren or did not have a pup in her: nor
have I. in my Ion ^ experience, caught a co\\ that was in milk, or that
had recently .u'iven birth to her youni^'. 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 1 tioo fur seals were caught during the month of March
off the I-'arallon Islands :( California ;. In subsequent years we have had
to go farther north each year in order to secure a good spring catch.
My experience has been that fully t>0 per cent of all seals taken were
females, and of these two thirds were mothers in milk. ( K. W. Little
John.)
1 know that a large proportion of the seals taken were mothers in
pup or mothers giving milk, but I paid no particular attention to the
percentage. (William II. Long.)
On my last trip this year, when hunting seals oil' the cape, I caught
10 >eaN. .""> of which had pups in them: the rest of them were from 1 to
"2 years old, part male and part female. I think that fully one-half of
the seals caught along the, coast are full grown females with pups ill
them. We >ometimes catch a few medium sized males, the rest being
younger ones, both male and female. (Thomas Lowe.)
(t). What percentage of the cows von have taken were with pup? —
A. About 70 percent, I should say. (Charles Lutjens.)
Most of the seals taken were females with pup. A few male seals were
SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. '297
Uled, ages ranging from! to r> years. One old bull w:is taken. (George
M< Alpine.)
Most of the seals taken by me liave been females with pup. The female
seals are easier killed than the male, and 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 the belly was of no use for anything, and we would
throw it overboard. (William Mclsaac.)
We had :>oo or 400 seals altogether before entering Bering Sea.
They were most all females, which had young pups in them. (William
McLaughlin.)
Q. What percentage of the cows taken are with pup ? — A. The females
are mostly all with pup — 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 188S, 18S<), 18VM), 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 which were caught in Ber-
ing Sea. We caught them around St. George Island. I think out of
the 1,100 we caught there were 600 females. Out of that 600 there
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 examined the latter as to sex. (Charles Martin.)
The biggest part of my years catch off the coast were females with
pups in them. ( Patrick Maroiiey.)
In 1S90 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 caught 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. 1 think most of them were
females. I 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 chased 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. (Thor-
wal Mathasan.)
Q. What percentage of the cows you have taken were with pup? —
A. About 75 per cent were with pup. (Prank Moreau.)
298 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS.
Most all the seals killed by me have been females with pup. (Amos
Mill.)
We began sealing off Cape Flattery; sailed and sealed to the north-
ward, and captured about 800 seals along the coast. There were not
over ten males in the whole lot. The females had pups in them, and
we cut them 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.
(Nashtau.)
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,
I think. (Dan Nathlan.)
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 Neishkaitk.)
Almost every female that has arrived at the age of maturity is preg-
nant. We follow them on from there into Bering Sea, and almost all
the females taken are pregnant. (Mies 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 60 per cent 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 liiver 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 much 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 sealed right up toward Be-
ring Sea, capturing 16 seals along the coast, all of which were females
with pup. We captured 250 females with pup 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 yearlings. (Charles Peterson.)
My experience in four years7 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. (Edwin P. Porter.)
I 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
SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 299
ibout "2 years old, both male and female, excepting- one, and that was
a gray pup. (Wilson Porter.)
Most of the seals taken by me have been cows with pup. (Rondtus.)
The majority of seals taken by me have been females with pup. Once
in a great while 1 eatcli an old bull. A few yearlings have been taken
and the majority of males are 1* and 3 year olds. (Abel Ryan.)
While cruising along the coast our principal catch was female seals
with pup, the balance being principally yearlings, about half male and
female. (William Short.)
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 the seal taken by me were cows with pup. (Aaron Sim-
son.)
Most of the seals taken are cows with young. (Jack Sitka.)
Most of the seals taken by me are females with pup. Never killed
but one old bull in my life. 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 .'{ females with pup out of every 10 killed. 1 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. J saw it flowing on the deck when we were skinning them.
* * Went to Okhotsk Sea and sealed there about two mouths.
Wre got there some 500 seals, of which more than one half were females,
and the most of them had pups in them. (James Sloan.)
1 am informed by our London sales agent, and believe, that nearly
or quite nine-tenths of the Victoria catch is composed of females.
(Leon Sloss.)
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 475 seals and about 40 otters. To
the best of my judgment, the greatest portion of these were cows heavy
with young. We could see the milk running out of their teats when
they were skinned. 1 saw pups inside of the seals that we cut, and we
saved some of them and fed them." (E. W. Soron.)
We left here with the City of Mm />ieyo 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 650 during that voyage. We killed a portion
in Bering Sea. We killed 1 large bull that I recollect, and the rest
were nearly all females with pup, 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.
300 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS.
A few male seal have been taken by me from 2 to 4 years old. (Joshua
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 seals caught
were pregnant females, and when we would skin them the milk would
run out of them on the deck. We began sealing off the Columbia Elver
and then sealed northward up the coast to Bering Sea, and captured
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. Thlkahdaynakkee.)
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 Tlaksatau'.)
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, 1
should think. Some yearlings have been taken, a majority of which
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 but
a very few old bulls. I have killed plenty of young males, and 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 than
75 per cent of the catch taken previous to May 25 are female seals, and
from the development of the teat on the skin were evidently females
with pup. After that the catch is mostly young seals, and 1 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 their young that year on the coast, and 1 do not recollect of
ever having caught an old bull. (Watkins.)
Out of 50 seals taken so far this season 46 are females with pup and
4 are males. Only one yearling seal has been taken this season among
the males. 1 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-year-olds of
both sexes. (Charley White.)
In my captures off the coast between here and Sitka 1M) per cent of
my catch were females, but off the coast of Uiiimak Pass there 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
SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 301
year old males. Never examined th« yearlings as to sex; have never
killed an old bull in my life. (Billy Williams.)
Think that most of the seals I have taken were females with pup-
Have also taken, some 2 and .'> 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 .'> 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 pup. The rest are year-
ling seals and 1 and 2 year old males. 1 have never examined the
yearling seal to ascertain their sex. Have 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.)
1 have been out on the Pacific Ocean this year seal hunting and
caught three seals. They were large cow seals, and had pups in them.
One and 2 year old seals are about equally male and female. (Hish
Yulla,)
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 cows
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.
Zolnoks.)
OFFICE SPECIAL AGENT TREASURY DEPARTMENT,
Washington, D. (7., 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 me 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, incident 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.
302
SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS.
Tables showing in detail all killing of fur seals, for whatsoever purpose, on the Pribilof
Islands during the term of the lease of the Alaska Commercial Company — that is, f*om
1870 to 1SS9, both inclusive.
NOTE.— There is a misapprehension in regard to the names of the several rookeries and hauling
grounds, and they are often confounded by people who are not thoroughly acquainted with them.
Zoltoi and Garbotch. are local subdivisions ot the Reef Rookery and are treated as rookeries by some
of the Treasury agents, while others ignore them altogether. Zapadnie and Southwest Bay are one.
Polivina and Halfway Point are one; some men using the Russian while others use the English names.
English Bay and Middle Hill are separate and distinct rookeries, and yet they are often spoken of as
though they were one. Near is a local subdivision of North Rookery. Little East is a subdivision
of East Rookery. Sea Lion Rock, Southwest Point, and Rocky Point are neither rookeries nor haul-
ing grounds in the strict sense of the term ; the seals come and go at will, for it is only under the most
favorable conditions of wind and water they can be reached, and it is but seldom there are mauy of
them. By keeping these facts in mind it will be seen that seals were driven from all of the hauling
grounds on both islands from 1870 to date.
ST. PAUL ISLAND.
INo record of daily killings for 1870. J
Date. Rookery.
Total
killed
for all
pur-
poses.
Date.
Rookery.
Total
killed
for all
pur-
poses.
2,992
30
729
647
3,877
1870
1871.
May 16
J 24
June 1
2
6
8
10
14
15
16
20
22
23
24
24
29
28
July 1
6
7
8
18
21
22
22
24
26
28
28
31
A.g.11
24
29
Sept. 4
11
18
26
29
Oct 2
9
10
13
14
16
17
17
19
21
21
25
27
28
28
Not indicated in the records of
this vear
15, 314
186
246
579
222
917
1,682
2,701
874
1,167
1, 39 J»
1,971
1,283
518
796
2,654
1,014
2,401
1, 133
2,038
3,623
1,189
756
1,040
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
5,083
896
506
633 i
683
1,158
3,150
3,666
2,181
2,142
3,042
679
495
1871.
Oct. 30
31
Nov. 7
Dec. 19
19
1872.
May}i
24
June 1
3
5
10
11
12
13
14
15
17
19
20
21
22
24
27
28
29
July 1
6
9
12
13
16
17
19
22
24
25
30
Aug. 1
6
9
13
17
20
29
Sept. 7
12
20
Oct. 3
3
10
21
Tolstoi
Eno-lish Bay
Tolstoi
Reef
do
Reef
do
Tolstoi
Total
Reef
81, 803
5
227
455
759
278
293
209
1,616
662
1, 057
1,730
4,714
395
2, 828
1,169
1,705
5,547
910
4,618
6,427
1,151
1.841
3,265
6,765
3,139
2,071
2,329
1,116
1,664
7,388
1,384
2,080
638
34
10
119
7
90
3
114
161
99
122
118
93
490
127
91
do
Northeast Point
English Bay
Southwest Bay
Zoltoi
Reef
Zoltoi and English Bay
Zoltoi
do .
do
Southwest Bay
Tolstoi ...
Lukannoii
Reef
Zoltoi
Tolstoi and English Bay
Reef
Northeast Point
Zoltoi and Reef
Zoltoi and Reef
Tolstoi and English Bay
Tolstoi and English Bay
do
Lukannon.
Reef and Northeast Point
Zoltoi
Northeast Point
Lukannon and Zoltoi
English Bay
Reef
Reef
Lukannon
Zoltoi
Northeast Point and Ketova . . .
Reef and Zoltoi
English Bay
Ketova
English Bay
Tolstoi and Northeast Point
Northeast Point
Zoltoi and Lukannon
Zoltoi
Tolstoi
English Bay
Northeast Point
Zoltoi and Northeast Point
English Bay
Lukannon
Zoltoi
. .do
English Bay ...
do
Zoltoi
Ketova
Halfway Point
Lukannon
English Bay, Lukannon, and
Northeast Point
Zoltoi
Ketova
Zoltoi
do
English Bay
Tolstoi
Zoltoi
Ketova
do
Halfway Point
Northeast Point
Ketova
Zoltoi
Tolstoi . .
Northeast Point
Reef
Tolstoi
Northeast Point
Northeast Point
Ketova
Zoltoi
Reef .
Lukannon .
Tolstoi
Zoltoi
English Bay
do
Northeast Point
do
do .
English Bay
do
Zoltoi
..do.
do
...do...
Ketova . . .
SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS.
303
Tables showing in detail all killing of fur Heals, for whatsoever purpose, on the 1'ribilof
Islands during the term of the lease of the Alaska Commercial Company — that is, from
1870 to 1889, both inrliwive — Continued.
ST. PAUL ISLAND— Continued.
Date.
Rookery.
Total
killed
for all
pur-
poses.
Date.
Rookery.
Total
killed
for all
pur-
) »O8<*8.
1872.
Opt 2()
1 284
1874.
June 3
Southwest Bay
2, 395
Nov '")
Tolstoi
753
3
Kerf
538
90
724
4
Tolstoi and English Bay
556
30
1 286
6
Northeast Point
4 062
Dec r»
Reef
112
8
Keef and Zoltoi
639
6
Zoltoi - - •
426
Southwest Bay and English Bay
1.898
Nov '
5 121
lo
Tolstoi
634
11
Keef and Garbotch
540
Total
81,819
13
Southwest Bav and English Bay
1.982
13
Tolstoi
622
1873
11
Northeast Point
4 737
May 93
Keef
193
15
Reef and Zoltoi
891
23
104
17
English Bay and Tolstoi
2.689
Keef'ind Tolstoi
803
17
/oltoi '
474
4
703
19
Southwest and English bays . . .
3,419
6
Ret- fund Tolstoi
920
20
Zoltoi and Lukaunon
3,033
10
2 597
20
Northeast Point
7 217
]1
1 666
23
Zoltoi and Lukannon
3 982
13
2 029
25
3 270
13
\ortheast Point
3 243
26
Reef and Zoltoi
1 921
16
1,770
27
Ketova and Lukaunon
1,321
16
677
27
Northeast Point
8 172
16
Keef
465
30
Zoltoi and Tolstoi . . . .
1 212
18
21
Southwest Bay and English Bay
Zoltoi
3,946
652
July 1
English Bay and Tolstoi
Reef, Tolstoi, and Lukannon . . .
2,209
2,621
21
Northeast Point
3 412
3
Tolstoi . . .
1 538
23
Tolstoi ami English Bay
1,803
4
Lukannon
538
24
English Bay
.'] 159
4
/oltoi
3 014
26
2,210
6
English Bay
1 564
27
Zoltoi and Lukannon
1,147
8
English Bay and Tolstoi
2,702
27
5 090
9
Zoltoi
1 987
30
Tolstoi
1,848
Tolstoi and Lukannon
1 580
July 1
2 337
10
Zoltoi
432
2
Tolstoi
l' 938
10
Northeast Point
3 367
3
Zoltoi
2,212
13
Tolstoi and Lukannon
1 664
5
do
710
14
En glis h Bay
9 169
g
Zoltoi and Tolstoi
1 510
15
Zoltoi
475
9
do
2 494
16
Lukaunon and Ketova ...
1 099
9
6 ">78
16
Zoltoi
668
14
Tolstoi
925
17
Lukannon
533
15
Zoltoi . .
1,248
17
Northeast Point
4 004
16
do
1 547
23
Tolstoi
130
17
English Bay
1.561
28
Zoltoi
167
18
Zoltoi
929
Aug. 3
.... do
112
19
Lukannon Ketova and Zoltoi
1 047
10
do
107
19
Northeast Point
5,696
17
.do
131
21
English Bay
754
26
do
89
22
!.uk;i niioii and Ketova
1,979
31
do
201
22
.... do
446
Sept. 7
.. do
197
24
Northeast Point
2 727
16
do
163
Aug. 4
Zoltoi .
179
25
do
174
13
do
168
Oct 1
do
179
20
do
95
19
Reef
175
20
Lukannon
155
29
dot
236
Sept. 1
Zoltoi
119
Nov
4 897
..do .
109
Dec. 17
Reef
1 541
29
do
122
30
Southwest Bay
10
Total "
98 139
Oct 8
Ketova
104
16
do
80
1875
21
Zoltoi
154
Jan 1
Northeast Point
25
Nov. —
5,489
Feb. 10
.. . do
Q
Dec. 9
Reef
231
16
do
9
30
Garbotch
267
17
do
16
Mav 7
Southwest Bay
498
Total
81, 987
5 10
Northeast Point
9
14
do .
20
1874.
18
Reef
143
Apr. 27
10
24
do
657
May 6
Southwest Bay
404
31
do
492
19
Reef
340
1 201
25
. do
301
1
TM" t a^ a w y
203
30
do
217
5
Zoltoi and Tolstoi...
692
304 SEAL LIFE ON THE PKIIULOF ISLANDS.
Table* shoiriinj hi detail all killiny of fur seal*, for u-hatxoerer purpose, on the Prilnlof
Island* durinji the tirm of (lie lease of the Alaska Commercial Company — that is, from
1^'7" f<> />>,'/. both incluyice — Continued.
ST. PAUL ISI.AXl) < ontinued.
Date.
1875.
Jmir 7
10
12
12
14
Iti
18
19
19
24
Pookery.
Xoltoi .in.l Kerf
Sollt ll \\ rst Pav
Northeast Point
Total
killrd
for all
pur-
poses.
711
o::i
4. U05
7:19
2 115
452
1. 150
202
4. 047
P527
.">. 024
1 , 505
1.810
74 s
2. 700
Date. Uookery.
1876.
Jim.- "(i Xoltoi
Total
killed
tor all
pur-
poses.
862
3, 017
1,442
1 1 , 495
2. 644
2, 840
2. 207
2,126
2. 116
2. 039
1,974
53
1,040
120
134
215
179
130
133
146
133
136
120
163
636
665
J, 958
825
28 Kipjish Hill . .
•"• Xoltoi
Kn-lish P.a\, Southwrst Pay,
Pret and ' Xo'ltoi! ." .\ !".".'."."."!"
Tolstoi and Fnulish Pav
Halfway Point '.
Tolstoi and r.-rl'
Southwest Bay. English Pay. .
Northrasi Point. .
Tolstoi
Xolloi
Fn-lish Bay
Lukaunon.'
• July 1 lolstoi and Northeast Point...
4 Tolstoi and Ketova
l.ukannon
s Nor i h.-ast Point
10 Xoltoi
Pi F.n-lish Hill
22 Xoltoi
L".t do
An;:. 1 l.ukannon and Xoltoi
17 Ketovt
11 K.-tova""!
19 Xoltoi
28 do
July
An-.
Sept.
Oft
Nov.
De..
IK7f
Jan.
30
6
0
10
10
13
14
16
16
17
4
14
21
12
21
17
Soiithw.-st Pav
Prrf '
Xohoi and F.n-lish Pav
Lukuniioi). Ketova, Xoltoi
Nort hrast Point
Xoltoi and Lukaiinon
Fn-'lish Pax-
Ocr. (! do
14 do
18 do...
'11 Tolstoi
No\. 24 Soulhwi-st Pay
Pups k illrd for food
Tolstoi and' Fniilish Bay
l.okannon and K.-lova
Not t ln-ast Point
Xolloi
Der. 15 Tolstoi...
Total
1877.
May •<"' Reef
83, 157
342
548
799
1,705
449
1, 095
1.647
1,507
1,094
1,013
1,458
1,631
1, 172
1,224
5, 965
1 , 050
1, 250
430
2. 020
1,401
2, 106
1,917
6, 449
1,849
1,534
2, 275
1. 113
5, 600
495
2. 086
2, 172
1,066
75
105
172
190
200
196
171
103
l.ukannon and Ketova
KiiL'lish Pay
Northeast Point
Xoltoi
.... do
do.
K.-to\a
7,4:',9
159
235
192
159
210
143
140
115
172
1 , 990
24
15
094
June 4 do
5 Soul h west and Kiiulish Bay.-..
P' Prrf
13 Halfway Point
14 Fu<:lish Bav and Southwest Bav
...do...
do
10 Xoltoi
do
18 do
do
do
19 Tolstoi
Tolstoi
21 l.ukannon
22 Halfway Point
4
12
Tups killed lo'r food
23 Northeast Point
"3 Tolstoi
Northeast Point
Tolstoi..
Total
ToNtoi -.-
"0 Halfwav Point
''8 Xolloi and l.ukannon
94. 900
914
1S9
073
408
184
1 . 5 .-5
808
1. ,".09
2. fill
3, 120
180
P). 690
3d Tolstoi
30 Northeast Point
Junr
31
c,
H
lo
1 I
1 ;
I
,
0
1
;
Pr,f '
Prrf and Xoltoi . .
Tol-toi
Sou t h \\ r-t I'.av
July 1 Xoltoi
3 Tolstoi and Pukaimon
4 Tol-toi -mil Fn"lisli Piv
0 Pukannonand Ketova.'
7 Xoltoi
Xoltoi '
Northrasi Point
Xolloi
Halfwa\ Point
'lolstoi. Xoltoi. Prrf
North. -asl Point ..
Xoltoi
ToUtoi
Xoltoi .
Kn-lish Pa\ and Northr.^t
Point...
'1 Xolloi
In Tolstoi .
10 Northrast Point
14 Xolloi
Ail", i; .... ,1,, .
11 . ...do
3ii do
Sept. 12 do ...
21 do
29 . . .do...
SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS.
305
Tables showing in detail all killing of fur veals, for whatsoever purpose, on the Pribilof
Islands during the term of the lease of the Alaska Commercial Company — that is, from
1870 to 18S9, both inclusive — Continued.
ST. PAUL ISLAND-Continued.
Date.
Rookery.
Total
killed
for all
pur-
poses.
Date.
Rookery.
Total
killed
for all
pur-
poses.
1877.
Oct. 6
16
24
Nov. 7
9
12
19
27
29
Dec. 20
1878.
May 19
30
June 8
11
12
13
14
15
17
18
19
20
21
22
22
24
25
26
27
28
29
29
July 1
!
J
6
6
8
9
10
10
12
13
16
17
18
18
Aug. 10
22
Sept. 2
14
24
Oct. 2
10
Nov. 1
4
6
8
26
28
Aug. to?
Dec. ^
Zoltoi
171
157
146
2,715
1, 535
757
222
1,259
383
20
1879.
May 19
26
June 2
7
9
10
11
12
13
14
16
17
18
19
20
21
16
17
18
19
20
23
24
25
26
27
28
23
24
25
26
27
30
July 1
2
I
i
June 30
2
d
July 4
8
9
'?
8
9
10
14
15
16
16
25
Aug. 2
2
11
20
27
28
Sept. 5
9
18
18
18
18
29
29
29
Oct. 7
Southwest and English bays. . .
Reef
278
525
162
1,627
434
1,188
1,462
498
730
997
522
1,331
914
1,110
1,176
1,053
1,528
966
1,860
1,745
1,289
2,300
1,822
1,995
1,542
1,940
1,206
1,550
1,414
1,339
1,074
1,665
2,617
? 148
1,885
do
do
do
/oltoi and Ketova
English and Southwest bays,
Tolstoi
Zolto^ and Reef
Reef
Tolstoi
Halfway Point
do
Southwest and English bays . . .
Tolstoi
do
Reef Zoltoi Ketova
Total
Southwest Bay and Middle Hill.
Halfway Point
67, 810
Southwest Bay and Middle Hill.
Reef, Ketova, Zoltoi
206
703
857
2,409
556
1,099
887
1,283
1,501
2,278
998
1,731
1,457
1.309
5,900
1, 473
1,552
1,896
2,672
1,661
1,131
6,375
2,237
3,903
791
2.010
2,622
1,OS6
7,231
1,369
916
2,288
3, 322
3,600
2,101
1,986
2,337
1,549
272
404
294
173
211
156
144
148
149
1,380
2,000
1,255
571
1,144
853
133
Southwest Bay
Southwest Bayiand English Bay .
Reef
Tolstoi and Middle Hill
Tolstoi and English Bay
Reef and Zoltoi.
Reet, Ketova, Lukannon
Northeast Point
Southwest J'.av and English
Bay
do
do
do
Tolstoi
Ketova, Reef, Zoltoi
do
Tolstoi and Middle Hill
Southwest Bay and English
Southwest and English bays.. .
Reef, Zoltoi, Ketova
Lukannon, Ketova, Zoltoi
Tolstoi
Tolstoi, Middle Hill, English
Bay, Zoltoi
Southwest Bay and English
Hay
Halfway Point
Ketova, Reef. Lukannou, Zoltoi
Zoltoi, Lukannon, Ketova
do
Halfway Point
do
do
Tolstoi
English HJIV
Zoiioi and Ketova
Tolstoi
do
Tolstoi and Middle Hill
English Bay
Lukannon and Zoltoi
Northeast Point
I lalfwii v Point
Zoltoi and Ketova
L u kaiinon
Zoltoi
Tolstoi
Zoltoi and Middle Hill
English Bav
Lukannon and Ketova
Northeast Point
do
do
1, 932
2,106
1,168
2,524
1,628
866
1,988
2,077
1,528
1,920
983
948
2,418
1,264
1,519
398
2, 652
1,233
2,882
157
278
13
273
195
206
18
203
1
184
16
174
2
5
4
198
8
7
109
Zoltoi and Ketova
Northeast Point
Halfway Point, Lukannon,
Ketova
Zoltoi
do
XOIM lu-ast Point
Tolstoi and Middle Hill
do
do
Zoltoi and Middle Hill
Zoltoi, Ketova, Lukannon
Zoltoi and Ketova
do
Northeast Point
do
Zoltoi
Middle Hill
Zoltoi
do
Lukannon
Zoltoi
do
do
do
do
Lukanuon
do
do
Zoltoi...
Zoltoi and Ketova
Middle Hill, Lukannon, Tolstoi
do
Zoltoi
Northeast Point
Zoltoi
do
do
do
do
do
do
Reef
do
Tolstoi and Reef
do...
Zoltoi
Southwest Bay
Zoltoi
Northeast Point
Zoltoi
Halfwav Point
Southwest Bay
Northeast Point (watchmen) . . .
Total
Northeast Point
Zoltoi
Southwest Bay
88, 519
Northeast Point
Ketova
S. Doc. 137, pt. 1 20
306
SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS.
Tables showing in detail all killing of fur seals, for whatsoever purpose, on the Pribilof
Islands during the term of the lease of the Alaska Commercial Company— that is, from
1870 to 1889, both inclusive — Continued.
ST. PAUL ISLAND— Continued.
Date.
Rookery.
Total
killed
for all
pur-
poses.
Date.
Total
killed
Rookery. for all
pur-
poses.
1879.
Oct. 20
29
30
31
31
Nov. 3
3
5
5
10
13
27
Dec. 6
10
26
26
1880.
May 14
22
22
June 1
8
9
11
12
14
15
16
17
18
19
18
21
22
23
24
25
26
2H
26$
28
29
30
July 1
3
3
5
5
6
7
8
9
10
5-10
12
13
14
15
16
17
28
30
31
Aug. 11
19
28
Sept.J
30
Lukannon
263
544
H35
999
107
1,153
31
1,466
79
356
260
172
1,206
1,308
62
5
1880.
Oct. 12
25
Nov. 2,(
3,5,6^
Dec. 6
9
24
Nov. 11
29
1881.
Jan. 1-3
May 4
14
29
June 6
7
9
10
14
15
16
17
18
20
21
22
23
24
25
27
28
29
30
July 1
4
5
6
7
8
9
12
13
14
15
16
18
19
20
260
193
4,410
1,176
13
82
270
270
do
English Bay
do
Ketova
Lukannon, Reef, Ketova
Reef
do
Lukannon
Southwest Bay
Northeast Point
Garbotch
Middle Fill
do
English Bay
do
Total
Reef
84,779
do :
Garbotch
1,058
8
3
165
423
1,250
127
474
196
2,387
724
539
1,229
1,614
4,103
3,649
1,164
3,082
1,275
2,043
3,318
2,967
4,596
3,358
943
3,758
1,949
4,853
3,421
2,269
2,631
3,075
1,782
1,473
3,561
727
2,456
2,801
2,536
Reef
Northeast Point
Additional skins found on re-
count
Southwest Bay
Total
Additional skins found in salt..
Reef
88, 221
Reef and Zoltoi
209
225
19
216
1,497
926
889
763
1,204
765
990
18
1,619
802
5,279
1,459
1,035
1,702
1,437
2,582
1,062
6,202
1,516
1,743
2,297
1,622
2,374
1,386
7,167
789
651
1,577
1,654
2,221
1,428
1,221
7,073
817
1,763
2,640
1,834
2,461
534
43
228
218
253
160
189
195
239
227
Southwest and English bays,
Tolstoi
Reef
Zoltoi ...
Reef
Zoltoi
Southwest Bay ...
Southwest and English bays,
Tolstoi
Reef
Zoltoi, Reef, Lukannon
Southwest and English bays...
Halfway Point
Tolstoi
Reef and Zoltoi
Zoltoi and Lukannon
Zapadiiie and English Bay
Ketova, Zoltoi Reef
Tolstoi, Middle Hill, Northeast
Point
Tolstoi and English Bay
English Bay, Middle Hill, Tol-
stoi, Northeast Point
English Bay and Middle Hill. . .
Reef and Tolstoi
Halfway Point
Halfway Point, Middle Hill,
English Bay, Tolstoi
Middle Hill, Lukannon, Zoltoi,
Reef
Ketova Zoltoi Reef
Tolstoi and Middle Hill
Reef Zoltoi Ketova
Middle Hill, English Bay, Tol-
stoi, Northeast Point
English Bay and Middle Hill. . .
Ketova Zoltoi Reef
English Bay, Southwest Bay,
Northeast Point
Halfway Point
Lukannon, Zoltoi, Northeast
Point
Ketova," Lukannon, Zol toi ......
English Bay, Middle Hill,
Northeast Point
Tolstoi and Middle Hill
do
English Bay and Middle HilL . .
Ketova Zoltoi Reef
Halfway Point
English Bay, Middle Hill, Tol-
stoi Northeast Point
Halfway Point
Zoltoi, Ketova, Northeast Point
Southwest Bay, English Bay,
Northeast Point
Tolstoi
Tolstoi and Lukannon
Zoltoi, Tolstoi, Middle Hill,
Northeast Point
Zoltoi, Reef, Lukannon, Ketova.
Tolstoi, Lukannon, Middle Hill
Halfway Point, Northeast
Point
Northeast Point
English Bay, Middle Hill, Tol-
Zoltoi, Ketova, Lukannon
Tolstoi and English Bay
Zoltoi Tolstoi Lukannon
Reef, Zoltoi, Lukannon, Ketova.
English Bay
Middle Hill and Lukannon
Zoltoi
English Bay Middle Hill
English and Southwest bays . . .
English Bay, Middle Hill, Tol-
stoi, Zoltoi Ketova, Lukan-
Northeast Point
Halfway Point
Zoltoi, Ketova (711), North-
east Point, food (16)
Zoltoi
do
Middle Hili, Tolstoi, Zoltoi,
do
do
English Bay, Middle Hill, Tol-
stoi
do
do
Tolstoi, Zoltoi, Ketova, Lukan-
non
do...
SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS.
307
Tables shou-ing in detail all killing of fur seals, for whatsoever purpose, on the Pribilof
Islands during the term of the lease of the Alaska Commercial Company — that is, from
1870 to 1889, both inclusive— Continued.
ST. PAUL ISLAND— Continued.
Date.
Rookery.
Total
killed
for all
pur-
poses.
Date.
Rookery.
Total
killed
for all
pur-
poses.
1881.
July 27
Zoltoi
202
1882.
July 8
Halfway Point and Northeast
18-29
Northeast Point
;jg
Point
2 454
Aue 5
Zoltoi
L>24
10
Reef, KetoAra, Lukannon,
10
do
276
Northeast Point
3,291
17
Northeast Point
10
12
do
2 833
20
do
6
13
Southwest Bay and Northeast
26
Zoltoi
240
Point
3 420
•>9
7
14
English Bay Middle Hill Tol-
Sent 6
Zoltoi
249
stoi, Northeast Point
3,087
17
Northeast Point
11
17
English Bay, Middle Hill,
19
Zoltoi
205
Northeast Point
2,593
28
/oltoi ('-"(J8) Northeast Point (5)
213
18
Zoltoi
1 012
Oct 10
Zoltoi C'll) NOJ theast Point (5)
216
19
Zoltoi Lukannon Ketova
1 276
25
Zoltoi Northeast Point
227
20
Southwest Bay
727
Nov 5
Tolstoi
209
25
Zoltoi
204
16
"Middle Hill
683
27
Northeast Point
19
17
Tolstoi
494
Aug. 4
Zoltoi
252
21
Middle Hill
462
14
do
226
Dec 7
1 022
26
do
234
9
Reef
1 294
Sept 4
do
191
15
do
237
Total
83 774
27
.... do
227
30
Northeast Point
25
1882
Oct. 6
Zoltoi
201
Jan 12
Reef
80
17
do
261
Feb 8
do
103
30
Reef
166
10
do
8
30
Northeast Point. .
23
May 22
Tolstoi
126
Nov. 17
Middle Hill and Tolstoi
248
31
Beef
246
28
Reef
383
June 2
Southwest Bay, Middle Hill
30
Tolstoi
429
Tolstoi
400
Dec. 4
Reef
498
7
849
6
do
388
g
Zoltoi and Reef
428
12
do
400
10
Tolstoi and Reef
488
12
Southwest Bay and Northeast
Total
79,834
Point
2 223
13
217
1883.
13
Northeast Point
366
May 26
Southwest Bay
230
14
16
Southwest Bay and Tolstoi
Halfway Point Reef Tolstoi
803
1 458
June 4
Southwest and English hays,
Tolstoi
592
17
Southwest Bay and Tolstoi
1 070
6
Halfway Point
:!54
19
Ketova Reef Zoltoi North-
g
Reef
177
east Point
1 829
11
Southwest Bay Middle Hill
20
Southwest Bay and Northeast
Tolstoi .'
405
3 069
12
Reef and Zoltoi
352
21
English Bay Tolstoi North-
13
Halfway Point
252
east Point
1,617
14
Southwest and English bay s. . .
490
22
K< tova Reef Zoltoi North-
15
English Bay and Tolstoi
440
east Point
2 811
16
Reef and Zoltoi
341
23
Halfway Point and Northeast
18
Southwest Bay
417
Point"
2,528
19
English Bay Middle Hill Tol-
24
Middle Hill, Tolstoi, Northeast
stoi
735
Point
1 560
20
908
26
Southwest Bay and Northeast
27
Reef and Tolstoi
972
Point
3 164
22
English Bay Middle Hill Tol-
27
English Bay, Middle Hill,
Northeast Point
3,226
23
stoi .'
Reef Zoltoi, Lukannon
1,401
1,078
28
Reef, Tolstoi, Northeast Point.
4,270
18-23
Northeast Point
3,279
29
Middle Hill, Tolstoi, Northeast
Point
2 239
25
English Bay, Middle Hill, Tol-
BTOi
1 428
30
Halfway Point Lukannon
26
838
Northeast Point
2,469
27
Southwest and English bays
1,640
July 1
Northeast Point and Reef
Southwest Bay and Northeast
Point
1,601
3 805
28
29
Zoltoi, Tolstoi. Reef, Lukannon.
English Bay, Middle Hill, Zol-
toi
1,612
1 519
4
English Bay, Middle Hill
30
Lukannon Reef Zoltoi
1,191
Northeast Point
2,575
25-30
Northeast Point
5,012
5
Zoltoi and Northeast Point
3 034
July 2
Halfway Point
1 700
6
Middle Hill, Zoltoi, Northeast
Southwest Bay
2,151
Point
1 540
4
Middle Hill and Tolstoi
1 494
7
English Bay Middle Hill
5
Zoltoi and Lukannon
2,346
Northeast Point...
2.673
6
Zoltoi. Middle Hill. Tolstoi ..
1.755
308
SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS.
Tables showing in detail all killing of fur seals, for whatsoever purpose, on the Pribilof
Islands during the term of the lease of the Alaska Commercial Company — that is, from
1870 to 1889, both inclunive— Continued.
ST. PAUL ISLAND— Continued.
Date.
Rookery.
Total
killed
for all
pur-
poses.
Date.
Rookery.
Total
killed
for all
pur-
poses.
1883.
July 7
2-9
10
12
13
14
16
17
18
19
Aug. 1
10
20
Sept. 1
12
24
Oct. 6
20
29
Nov. 1
2
5
15
26
27
27
Dec. 12
19
1884
Jan. 2
May 15
21
24
27
June 3
5
9
10
11
12
13
14
16
17
18
19
20
21
21
23
24
25
26
27
27
28
30
July 1
2
3
4
939
1,164
5,066
1,923
1,659
2,444
2,136
2.060
1,116
1,876
8,183
191
250
102
278
123
286
200
200
1, 562
336
884
119
134
155
84
66
420
421
1884.
July 1-4
7
8
9
10
7-10
12
14
15
16
17
18
14-18
19
21
Aug. 1
5
12
19
26
Sept. 2
12
19
27
Oct. 5
14
22
30
Nov. 3
5
10
24
Dec. 5
6
24
1885.
May 19
June 3
6
11
13
15
16
17
18
19
20
22
22
23
23
24
25
25
26
26
27
27
29
29
30
5,799
1,251
1,935
2,071
1,966
1,920
3,003
3,067
2,515
2,052
1.526
1,782
1,872
5,089
2,529
1,911
198
92
80
90
78
160
147
131
150
142
144
115
179
1,956
785
182
153
495
265
244
88, 861
Middle Hill
Zoltoi Keef Ketova
Northeast Point
Halfway Point
English Bay, Middle Hill. Tols-
toi Zoltoi
Halfway Point, Lukannon,
Zoltoi
English Bay, Middle Hill, Tol-
stoi
Southwest Bay
English Bay, Middle Hill, Zol-
toi
Middle Hill, Tolstoi, Lukan-
do ....
Halfway Point and Zoltoi
Halfway Point and Zoltoi
Southwest Bav
English Bay, 'Middle Hill, Ke-
tova
Middle Hill, Lukannon, Zoltoi.
Zoltoi
do . -.-
English Bay, Tolstoi, Middle
Hill
do
do
Northeast Point
do
Middle Hill, Tolstoi, Lukannon,
Ketova Zoltoi Reef
do
do
Middle Hill, Zoltoi, Tolstoi,
do
Reef
Zoltoi
Ketova
.. do
Reef
do
do
do
do
do
do
do ....
Tolstoi
...do
Northeast Point (to date)
do
Reef
do
do
do
Total
63, 295
Reef
sReef
English Bay
177
36
20
187
15
427
318
767
1,239
426
1,364
865
771
838
1,424
],266
912
487
1,793
1,117
3,992
2,163
1,729
1,197
2,546
1,830
5,134
1,500
1,662
1,826
1,888
1,340
1,522
Reef
do
^Northeast Point (to date)
Tolstoi
do
Reef
Halfway Point and Reef
do
Northeast Point (to date)
English Bay
Reef
Reef
Total
Southwest and English bays,
Sea Lion Rock
Reef and Halfway Point
181
141
49
73
125
587
741
973
1,700
617
1,309
986
789
1,532
1,143
847
1,733
1,681
1,051
1,373
667
1,328
539
1,602
553
2,681
Ketova and Tolstoi
Southwest Bay and Halfway
Point
Reef
Zoltoi .
Zoltoi, Ketova, English Bay
Zoltoi and Reef
Zoltoi and Reef
do
Halfway Point
Tolstoi and English Bay
Halfway Point
Southwest Bay
English Bay, Tolstoi, Reef,
Zoltoi
Zoltoi and Reef
Southwest Bay
Halfway Point
English Bay, Middle Hill, Zol-
toi
Southwest Bav
Lukannon and Halfway Point. .
Zoltoi and Reef . ..
Northeast Point
Zoltoi, Reef. Lukannon
Northeast Point
Zoltoi, Reef, Lukannon, Ketova.
Halfway Point and Zoltoi
Northeast Point
English Bay, Middle Hill, Tol-
stoi
English Bav, Southwest Bay,
Middle Hill
Zoltoi Reef Ketova
Reef and Lukannon
Northeast Point
Northeast Point
Tolstoi, Middle Hill, Lukannon.
Zoltoi and Halfway Point
Zoltoi, Reef, Tolstoi, Lukannon.
English Bay and Middle Hill..
Southwest Bay, Zoltoi, Middle
Halfway Point
Lukannon Zoltoi, Reef
Northeast Point
Southwest Bay
English Bav and Tolstoi...
English Bay and Middle Hill. . .
SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS.
309
Tables showing in detail all killing of fur seals, for whatsoever purpose, on the Pribilof
Islands during the term of the lease of the Alaska Commercial Company — that is, from
1870 to 1889, both incluaire— Continued.
ST. PAUL ISLAND— Continued.
Date.
Rookery.
Total
killed
tor all
pur-
poses.
Date.
Rookery.
Total
killed
tor all
pur-
poses.
1885.
June 30
Northeast Point
1 053
1886.
May 29
Reef
153
July 1
Reef Lukannon Zoltoi Ketova
1 777
do
562
1
Northeast Point
1 096
8
Tolstoi, English Bay, South-
2
Tolstoi Middle Hill English
1 323
Bav
1 465
9
H alf way Point
299
2
Northeast Point
631
10
Reef and Zoltoi
634
3
Halfway Point and Zoltoi
2 134
H
English Bav
214
3
658
14
427
4
976
14
1.343
4
Northeast Point
161
15
Southwest Bay
1,166
6
1 271
15
1 116
6
Northeast Point
*522
16
English Bay Middle Hill Tol-
7
Middle Hill Southwest Bay
,stoi
850
Tolstoi
2 664
16
585
7
Northeast Point
1 184
17
Halfway Point
833
8
Zoltoi, Lukannon Ketova
2 550
17
Northeast Point
761
8
Northeast Point
746
18
Reef and Zoltoi
651
9
Middle Hill and Tolstoi
1 294
18
Northeast Point
376
9
Northeast Point
793
19
English Bay, Middle Hill, Tol-
10
Hiilt'way Point
2 304
stoi
1,064
10
Northeast Point
671
19
Northeast Point
371
13
2 134
21
1 891
13
Northeast Point
*822
21
Northeast Point
1,161
14
English Bav and Tolstoi
2 692
22
English Bav and Tolstoi
1,007
14
'955
22
Northeast Point
659
15
Zoltoi
2 139
23
Halfway Point
1,770
15
Northeast Point
363
23
Northeast Point
955
16
0 V-J7
24
Zoltoi
I 555
16
Northeast Point
757
24
Northeast Point
498
17
Zoltoi
2 203
95
Reel' Zoltoi English Bay, Mid-
17
Northeast Point
647 j
dle Hill Tolstoi
2 158
18
Reef. Tolstoi Middle Hill
1 55°
25
Northeast Point
581
18
Northeast Point
616
26
do
441
20
1 591
28
1 070
20
Northeast Point
828
28
926
21
21
Middle Hill and English Bay . . .
Northeast Point
2, 723
474
29
29
English Bay, Tolstoi, Zoltoi
1,503
794
22
Zoltoi and Lukannon
2 743
30
Halfway Point
490
22
Northeast Point
687
30
Northeast Point
1,056
23
Middle Hill Enelish Bav
July 1
English Bav and Tolstoi
1,319
Zoltoi I.. .7
1 603
Northeast Point
1,202
23
Northeast Point
631
2
Southwest Bav
856
24
Halfway Point Middle Hill
2
Northeast Point
566
Ketova
2 498
3
Reef and Zoltoi
1,263
25
English Bay Zoltoi Ketova
5
English Bay and Tolstoi
1 163
Middle Hill Lukannon Reef'
2 215
5
1 180
27
Zoltoi, Reef, Middle Hill
*983
6
Halfway Point
942
Aug. 3
Zoltoi
147
Q
Northeast Point
866
12
do
179
1
Zoltoi Peef Lukannon ....
1 969
21
Zoltoi and Reef
185
1
Northeast Point
1,187
Sept. 5
Zoltoi
135
8
Southwest Bav
1 466
12
.... do
155
8
952
25
do
15%>
g
English Bav Middle Hill
Oct. 7
do
78
Tolstoi
1 563
14
do
122
g
Northeast Point ....
636
26
do
MI
10
1 133
Nov. 2
Reef
1 524
12
Halfway Point
1 044
4
do
064
7
. do
300
13
Point
1 442
9
Middle Hill
332
12
Northeast Point . ...
1 501
21
Reef
148
14
English Bav and Middle Hill
1 074
Dec. 4>
fin
14
Northeast Point
'602
W
Northeast Point
48
15
15
Zoltoi, Reef, Ketova, Lukannon.
Northeast Point
1,957
899
16
937
Total
88 880 '
16
Northeast Point
1 013
1886.
17
Southwest Bay and Southwest
Point ' . .
2,057
Jan. 21
Sea Lion Rock
84
17
Northeast Point
407
29
Southwest Bay
40
19
Reef and Zoltoi
2 312
May 5
Northeast Point
7
19
Northeast Point
'753
y 8
do
5
20
English Bay Middle Hill Tol-
17
Southwest Bay and Reef
300
atoi
3,140
10-17
Northeast Point...
49 ;
20
Northeast Point. . .
801
310
SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS.
Tables shotting in detail all killing of fur seals, for whatsoever purpose, on the Pribilof
Islands during the term of the lease of the Alaska Commercial Company — that is, from
1870 to 1889, both inclusive — Continued.
ST. PAUL ISLAND-Continued.
Date.
Rookery.
Total
killed
for all
pur-
poses.
Date.
Rookery.
Total
killed
for all
pur-
poses.
1886.
July 21
21
22
22
23
23
24
24
26
Aug. 3
19
30
Sept. 6
17
29
Oct. 11
28
Nov. 5
6
8
10
22
23
Dec. 1
21
1887.
May 24
June 1
6
9
11
13
15
16
17
20
20
21
21
22
22
23
24
24
23
25
27
27
28
28
29
29
30
30
July 1
2
2
4
4
5
5
6
6
7
7
8
Halfway Point
1,476
312
2,015
923
3,147
739
1,625
658
1,993 !
75
152
134 i
96
148
146
148
144
152
768
445
900
711
379
289
380 i
191
1887.
July 8
9
12
12
13
13
14
14
15
15
10
16
17
18
18
19
19
20
20
21
21
22
22
23
24
31
Aug. 1
16
24
Sept. 5
6
15
28
Oct. 6
17
26
Nov. 1
3
4
6
7
25
26
Dec. 9
15
1888.
Jan. 25
May 19
24
28
31
June 2
7
9
11
12
15
16
18
18
19
19
21
21
22
Northeast Point
795
2,065
429
2,595
2,219
3,029
1,930
1,201
826
1,298
803
986
546
617
2,108
1,671
2,038
922
3,209
11, 092
1,397
798
1,877
1,082
2,226
232
39
137
113
209
521
403
356
192
100
116
108
76
1 013
Northeast Point
Southwest Bay
Southwest Bay and Southwest
Point
N ortheast Point
English Bay, Tolstoi, Lukannon
Northeast Point
Northeast Point
Reef, Zoltoi, Lukannon, Ketova.
Northeast Point
R«'ef Zoltoi Ketova
Northeast Point
English Bay and Middle Hill. ..
Halfway Point
Northeast Point
Halfway Point, South west Bay,
Tolstoi and Lukannon
Zoltoi
Keel' and Zoltoi
do
. do
West Point
do
do
Northeast Point
.. do
English Bay, Middle Hill, Tol-
stoi
Reef
do
do
Reef, Zoltoi, Lukannon. Ketova.
Northeast Point
do ...
Reef and Lukannon
Halfwav Point and Lagoon
Northeast Point
Reef
... do .
English Bay, Tolstoi, Middle
Hill '
do
Tolstoi
Northeast Point
Reef
Southwest Bay, Reef, Zoltoi,
Lukannon *
Tolstoi
Total
Tolstoi
88, 085
275
138
419
315
501
407
526
750
765
523
1.899
1,641
452
1.004
1,172
1,314
521
1,165
709
1,961
1,180
1,205
2,964
691
1,895
1,144
1,604
1,203
1, 162
1,201
! 1, 616
624
1,703
1,196
2,023
1,056
990
! 1,247
1,622
994
i 1, 125
Northeast Point
Reef and Southwest Bay
Zoltoi
do
Northeast Point
Tolstoi
Middle Hill
Reef and Zoltoi
Tolstoi
Zoltoi
Southwest Bay
do - -
Reef and Zoltoi
do
Halfway Point
do
English Bay and Tolstoi
do
Reef
Northeast Point
do
1,132
32
65
611
82
185
450
169
Reef
do
Zoltoi
English Bay, Tolstoi, Lukannon
Mid die Hill
Reef
Halfway Point
Middle Hill and Tolstoi
Northeast Point
do
Reef and Zoltoi
Sea Lion Rock and Southwest
Il'l V
Northeast Point
Tolstoi, Middle Hill, English
Bay
Total
89, 092
545
131
113
82
82
121
175
342
543
587
428
789
764
1,490
490
930
1,400
1,604
801
West Point and Southwest Bay
Northeast Point
Northeast Point
Reef, Zoltoi, Ketova, Lukannon .
Northeast Point
Tolstoi, Reef, Sea Lion Rook...
Reef
Middle Hill mid Tolstoi
do
Halfway Point
Northeast Point
Northeast Point
Reef
Reef and Zoltoi
Tolstoi
Reef and Zoltoi
Southwest Bay
Northeast Point
Tolstoi and Middle Hill
Halfway Point
Northeast Point
Reef and Zoltoi
Southwest Bay
Tolstoi
Reef and Zoltoi
Reef and Zoltoi ..
Halfway Point
SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS.
311
ibles showing in detail all killing of fur seals, for whatsoever purpose, on the Pribilof
Islands during the term of the lease of the Alaska Commercial Company — that is, f ram,
1870 to 1889, both inclusive — Continued.
ST. PAUL ISLAND— Continued.
Rookery.
Total
killed
for all
pur-
poses.
Date.
Rookery.
Total
killed
for all
pur-
poses.
1888.
June 23
23
22
25
25
26
26
27
27
28
28
29
29
30
30
July 2
3
4
4
5
5
6
6
7
7
[J
10
12
12
13
13
14
15 ,
15 j
16
16
17
17
18 I
18
19
19
20
20
21
21
21
23
23
'J4
24
25
25
26
26
27
Aug. 2
8
16
23
24
'24
English Bay, Tolstoi, Middle Hill
Northeast Point
-do
Southwest Bay
Northeast Point
English Bav. Middle Hill, Tol-
stoi
Northeast Point
Reef, Zoltoi, Ketova, Lukan-
non
Northeast Point
Halfway Point
Northeast Point
South west Bay
Northeast Point
Middle Hill, English Hill, Tol-
stoi
Northeast Point
Reef and Zoltoi
Northeast Point
Halfway Point
Northeast Point
Southwest Bay
Northeast Point
English Bay, Tolstoi, Lukan-
non
Northeast Point
Reef and Zoltoi
Northeast Point
Halfway Point
Northeast Point
English Bay, Tolstoi, Lukan-
non, Middle Hill
Northeast Point ,
Reef and Zoltoi
Northeast Point
English Bay, Middle Hill, Tol-
stoi
Northeast Point
Southwest Bay ,
Northeast Point
Halfway Point
Northeast Point
West Point
Reef and Zoltoi
Northeast Point
English Bav and Tolstoi
Northeast Point
Southwest Bay
Northeast Point
Hal f way Point
Northeast Point
Reef and Zoltoi
Northeast Point
English Bay and Tolstoi
Lagoon
Northeast Point
Reef, Lukannon, Zoltoi
Northeast Point
Halfway Point
Northeast Point
English Bav, Tolstoi, Middle
Hill ,
Northeast Point
Keel'. Zoltoi, Lukanuou
Northeast Point
Southwest Bav and Zoltoi
Zoltoi . .
do
do
Middle Hill and Lukannon
Zoltoi
...do...
702
565
973
1,440
870
1,158
1,509
2,005
850
911
1,180
1,098
625
1,625
964
2,071
1,413
1,188
1,439
822
1,241
1, 942
446
1,491
1,609
490
906
2,398
1,740
1,083
959
1,557
927
1,337
912
773
550
481
2,004
1,038
2,055
1,328
2,216
1,004
1,410
705
2,018
646
1,157
190
742
1,269
917
347
970
1,619
1,028
1,353
650
950
177
140
159
364
321
19
Sept. 6
15
22
29
Oct. 10
18
27
Nov. 3
5
7
8
9
15
26
30
Dec. 17
26
May 22
25
28
31
June 5
10
12
14
15
17
17
18
18
19
19
20
21
22
24
24
25
25
26
26
27
27
28
28
29
29
July 1
1
2
Zoltoi
do
do
do
Lukaunon
Middle Hill
....do
Middle Hill and Zoltoi.
Reef
....do
....do
....do
Middle Hill
Reef
....do
Tolstoi
Sea Lion Rock . . .
114
100
98
98
83
98
111
126
761
547
716
154
277
111
129
206
78
Total 86, 270
Sea Lion Rock.
Reef. . .
.do
Northeast Point.
Reef
...do...
Tolstoi
Zoltoi and Reef
Southwest Bay
Halfway Point
Northeast Point
English Bav, Tolstoi, Middle
Hill
Northeast Point
..do...
Reef, Zoltoi. Lukannon
Southwest Bay
Northeast Point
English Bay, Tolstoi, Middle
Hill .
Northeast Point
Reef and Zoltoi
Halfway Point and Lukannon. .
Northeast Point
English Bay and Middle Hill ..
Northeast Point
Southwest Bay
Northeast Point
Reef, Zoltoi, Ketova
Northeast Point
...do...
English Bay and Tolstoi
Northeast Point
Reef, Zolto'i, Lukannon
Halfway Point
Northeast Point
English Bav. Tolstoi, Middle
Hill
Reef. Zoltoi, Lukannon
Northeast Point
Southwest Bay
Northeast Point
English Bay, Tolstoi, Middle
Hill
Northeast Point
Reef, Zoltoi, Lukannon
Northeast Point
English Bay and Tolstoi
Northeast Point
Halfway Point
Northeast Point
Keef and Zoltoi...
124
41
234
133
201
120
947
762
340
895
1,054
1,161
1,270
494
1,561
253
1,205
1,355
754
2,578
979
1,407
1,314
441
311
844
1,349
479
335
1,038
1,200
1, 023
834
968
1,841
1,706
1,559
1,255
1,524
1,302
376
814
914
1,314
641
654
800
2,004
312
SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS.
Tables showing in detail all killing of fur seals, for whatsoever purpose, on the Pribilof
Islands during the term of the lease of the Alaska Commercial Company — that is, from
1870 to 1889, both inclusive — Continued.
ST. PAUL ISLAND— Continued.
Date.
Rookery.
Total
killed
for all
pur-
poses.
Date.
Rookery.
Total
killed
for all
pur-
poses.
1889.
July 13
13
15
15
16
16
17
17
18
18
19
19
20
20
22
22
23
23
24
24
25
25
26
26
Southwest Bay .
1,006
793
3,085
1.838
1,911
1,156
1,931
948
2,046
1,282
2,017
834
1,913
243
1,943
350
1,122
740
1,384
616
1,756
1
680
1,483 !
I
1889.
July 27
29
29
30
30
31
81
Aug.uO
22
31
Sept. 9
25
Oct. 5
X
26
Nov. 4
19
21
27
27
30
Dec. 11
1,105
1,643
1,624
973
615
538
160
163
131
141
179
141
110
107
120
103
132
1,169
1,460
347
192
10
240
243
~73. 982
Northeast Point
English Bay and Middle Hill. . .
Northeast Point
English Bay and Middle Hill..
Northeast foint
Halfway Point .
Reef Zoltoi Lukannon
Northeast Point
Northeast Point
Halfway Point and Lukannon.
Northeast Point
Lukannon
Lagoon, English Bay, Middle
Hill
Zoltoi
do
Tolstoi
Southwest Bay
Zoltoi
Northeast Point
do
Reef and Zoltoi
do
Northeast Point
do
English Bay, Middle Hill, Lu-
kannon .
do
Lukannon
Northeast Point
Zoltoi
Reef, Zoltoi, Ketova
Tolstoi
Northeast Point
Reef
Halfway Point
do
Northeast Point ..
Zapadnie
English Bay and Middle Hill..
Northeast Point
Reef
Zapadnie
Southwest Bay
Total
Northeast Point
ST. GEORGE ISLAND.
1870.
1871.
June 4
6
8
9
13
15
17
20
22
24
26
27
28
July 1
3
5
8
10
12
14
15
18
20
21
23
25
27
28
30
31
Not indicated in the records
of this year.
Alaska Commercial Co., Hutch-
inson Kohl & Co
( 1,200
< 473
I 6,786
1872.
June 3
5
10
11
11
12
12
15
15
17
IS
19
22
22
22
24
24
25
25
27
28
29
29
July 1
2
2
3
4
5
6
6
7
9
9
10
11
12
14
15
15
17
18
Southwest Bay
140
26
49
162
81
175
98
61
140
188
405
300
212
261
860
349
701
261
629
500
237
805
400
560
643
981
454
431
245
641
300
574
274
718
367
300
610
1,412
482
1, 332
600
583
770
575
North
East
South wtjjt Bav
Total
North .. "...
Starry Arteel
8,459
Southwest Bay .
Near
East
123
98
69 1
277 i
322
301 j
434
172
518
594
298
462
571
875
303
518
612
1,769
1,021
481
1,038
1,264
484
945
542
792
1,054
730
1,270
893
237
2,090
Starry Arteel
North
Northeast
East
Near
North
Southwest Bay
Starry Arteel
Starry A rteel
Southwest Bay
East
Northern
North
Southwest Bay
Starry Arteel
Northeast
Southwest Bay
BMI
North
Starry Arteel .
North
Southwest Bay
Starry Arteel ..
Starry Arteel
Southwest Bay
East
Northern
North
do
Starry Arteel
Southwest Bav
East
• do
Starr v A rteel
Southwest Bay
Soutliwest Bay
North
East . .
Starry Arteel
do
.North
Starry Arteel
East
Southwest I'.av
North
Taken in October
East .
Starry Arteel
Total
North
21, 157
Ea"*t
Starrv Arteel . . .
SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS.
313
Tables showing in detail all killing of far seals, for whatxofi-rr purpose, on the I'ribilof
Islands during the term of the lease of the Alaska Commercial Company — that is, from
1870 to 1M9, both im-luxive— Continued.
ST. GEORGE ISLAND— Continued.
Date.
Rookery.
Total
killed
lor all
pur-
poses.
Date.
Rookery.
Total
killed
for all
pur-
poses.
1872.
July 19
Southwest Bay. . . .
1 171
1874.
June 29
Starry Arteel and North
686
20
400
July 1
East
800
°2
Starr v Arteel.
600
792
22
North
320
g
East
641
23
East
703
9
1 do
548
25
Starry Arteel
:$oo
14
East and North
263
25
rust <
400
15
East
*>34
25
North
252
16
568
27
East
350
18
Southwest Bay
411
27
North
85
20
East
871
27
Starry Arteel
200
22
East and North
778
27
Soutliwest Bay
227
24
East
640
Killed for native*' food
2,000
24
North
156
Pups killed for food
2 446
Total
>>7 ooo
Total
12 446
1873.
June 4
North
198
5
Starry Arteel
240
1875.
6
9
10
Southwest Bay
Kast and Starry Arteel
Southwest Bay
285
190
275
June 1
9
11
Starry Arteel and North
do
East
302
256
177
12
13
16
17
North
Southwest Bay
North and Starry Arteel
Southwest Bay
300
521
378
174
14
16
18
19
23
Starry Arteel and North
East
Starry Arteel and North
Southwest Bay
East
307
358
334
1,294
666
21
01
Starry Arteel and North
313
506
24
28
Starry Arteel and North
East'
540
692
23
East
180
30
Trilv- *i
Starry Arteel and North
Fast
1,412
24
>>5
Sovit Invest Bay
499
Starry Arteel and North
1,019
26
12
East
1.073
27
Southwest Bay.
301
14
North
676
17
do
177
30
310
Killed for food
1,500
30
East ."
168
July 2
Total
11,500
Southwest Bay
564
1876
4
East
592
North
415
5
Starry Arteel
517
g
'¥79
8
Southwest Bay
743
12
East .
388
8
East '
616
14
Southwest Bay
519
9
Starry Arteel and North
690
15
Starry Arteel and North
784
11
East
974
22
Fast
KOI
11
Soutliwest Bay
602
25
•Starry Arteel and North
2 067
12
Starry Arteel and North . . .
474
27
East '
1 168
13
East' 1
345
29
Starry Arteel and North
1 023
14
Southwest Bay
337
July 3
East
1 259
16
Starry Arteel'and North...
480
Starry Arteel
1 027
17
East
1 097
7
East'
317
18
Southwest Bay
913
Pups for food
1 500
20
Starry Arteel and North
1 359
21
East
1,810
Total
11 500
23
Southwest Bay.
513
23
25
26
Starry Arteel ..
East'.
Southwest Bay
889
1,710
600
1877.
June 1
12
North
do
198
702
28
28
Starry Arteel'
East
Pups killed for food
588
1, 528
2.190
13
14
18
20
East
Sout h west Bay •
North and Starry Arteel
"Fast-
578
1,389
1,154
Total
27. 190
22
North •.
871
1874.
23
26
East
North and Starry Arteel . .
552
1,860
June 1
North
56
29
East
1 589
8
do
81
july 3
i g«g
11
East
116
East
2 164
19
Starry Arteel and North
154
g
North
300
14
Southwest Hay
250
10
East
880
16
East '
170
Killed for food
ou
18
Starry Arteel and North
354
do
1 500
22
East
178
23
Starry Arteel and North
378
,
Total
11
16 500
27
Southwest Bay...
575
314
SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS.
Tables shelving in detail all killing of fur seals, for whatsoever purpose, on the Pribilof
Islands during the term of the lease of the Alaska Commercial Company — that is, from
1870 to 1889, both inclusive — Continued.
ST. GEORGE ISLAND— Continued.
Date.
Rookery.
Total
killed
for all
pur-
poses.
Date.
Rookery.
Total
killed
for all
pur-
poses.
1878.
June 10
North
325
1880.
East
352
14
Southwest Bay
1,074
15
Southwest Bay
738
17
North, Starry Arteel, East
858
17
do
254
19
Southwest Bay
717
17
North and Starrv Arteel
559
22
North and Starry Arteel
570
19
East
599
25
East
324
19
223
27
851
91
North 'ind Starry Arteel
1 183
28
do
517
22
Southwest Bay
*518
Killed for food to date
405
23
East
814
July 1
East
644
25
839
North and Starry Arteel
930
25
North and Starry Arteel
1 322
A
Southwest Bay
1 433
28
East
1 770
8
East
793
29
Southwest Bay
846
10
North and Starry Arteel
1,333
30
Starry Arteel
808
12
Southwest Bay
328
July 1
North
392
13
do
1,025
f)
East
956
15
East
1 892
2
961
17
East and North
1,290
North and Starry Arteel
515
19
North and Starry Arteel
1 577
6
East
1 483
21
East
1 291
7
Southwest Bay
1 814
Killed for food to May 19, 1879..
2,627
9
East ,
949
Total
20 804
During season perished on the
28
16
72
17
Zapadnie
7
1879
North
G9
20
do
g
June 9
East
450
28
North
60
10
Southwest Bay
105
An ,1,,
87
Nov.
4
Near
North
250 20 do
700 22 do
23
61
18
21
Starrv Arteel
120 Sept. 5 Near
41 10 /apadnie
44
24
Perished on drives during year.
5:> 19 do
Oet ''1 l>vnt
45
Total
1(5.144 Nov. 1 Near
766
614
188
Mav
5.
18
East
li'.l Total
16 668
North
102
June
8
( 'apt ured skins
4 1888
14
/apadnie food skins
81 June 0 North
121
in
[4
17
Starry Arteel. North, East
Zapadnie
Starry Art eel, North, East
1,430 11 /apadnie
779 12 Starrv Arteel, North. E;
1,4:18 10 do
272
st 455
:'J
Starrv Arteel and North
East '
742 lit Starrv Arteel. North. E;
343 i)-) do
st :i24
764
24
''8
/apadnie
do
306 2.". /apadnie
911
8'15
Starrv Arteel and North
fvl" ''7 Hast
4:58
Julv
1
East '
48l) %>(* Starrv Artec! 'iinl \orth
•{43
343
6
Starrv Arteel and North ..
East "
50.3 3 East
050 4 Starrv \rteeland Nortl
532
50.3
LO
Starrv Arteel and North .
867 6 East
650
12
745 9 /apadnie
389
i i
East
888 10 Starry Arteel and North
1 170
15
14
Starry Arteel and North
/apadnie
712 12 East
(iGL! 1'! Starrv . rteel and North
820
518
•'1
Starrv Arteel and North . ...
851! 16 ' /apadnie
705
East
527 17 ! North
410
An"
23
East and North
N'ear North
295 18 i Starrv Arteel and East..
14 19 /apadnie
692
366
<)
East
11 20 Starrv Arteel, North, Ea.-
66 23 /apadnie
t 554
! 179
Eas! :;::::: :::
70 25 /apadnie
159
Sept
i;
N'ortli
7(3 ''6 Starrv Vrteel North Ea-
t 521
Oct.
East
759 27 ! /apadnie
144
t 410
Nov.
8
11)
North
East
527 Aug. 9 Near'
:! 9 North
39
39
Perished on drive
1" 15 do
37
''0 East
191
Total
16.4:56 28 Starry Arteel and North
'•M'nt 5 East and Starrv Vrteel
494
428
188
"7 North
40
May
'JO
''8
North ..
do
25 Oct. 20 North and East
:{" Nov 1 North
73
610
Jline
9
14
North and East
North, Eaat.Starrv Arteel ....
Z'Mndn ie
:J9() 5 do
465 Aug. 20 Zapadnie (for watchmen)
368
68
20
''61 Total
17 034
:•;
Starrv Arteel. North, East
East .'
/apadnie
971
:">:{:) 1889.
599 Mav 22 North and East,,
60
28
'!0
Starrv Arteel and North
Ea-t '
8»7 June 4 East
110 10 /apadnie
156
207
July
1
4
6
8
il
12
Starr\ A rteel and North
/.apadnie
Ka«t, North. Starry Arteel
/a'padnie!::
Starrv Arteel Near North
KID 17 do
88.'i 18 Starrv Arteel, North. Ean
1. :(21 21 Ea-t
421 22 North and Starrv Arteel
701 21 /apadnie '
1 •_'<)(; '25 EastannNorth
244
176
284
59(5
496
11
18
19
21
East.'.,
/apadnie
Near. North, Starrv Arteel ....
East .'
Starrv Arteel and North
1,509 27 Zapadnie..
1.U77 29 Starrv A rteel and East..
S91 Julv 1 Zapadnie
1. mo 2 North, East, Starry Artei
189 i 5 do
'.'.'.'.'.'.'., 429
167
1 275
! 418
SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS.
317
Tables showing in (Mail all killing of fur seals, for whatsoever purpose, on Hie I'riMlof
Islands during the term of the leane of the Alaska Commercial Company — that /*, from
1870 to 1SS9, both inclusive— Continued.
ST. GEORGE ISLAND— Continued.
Date.
Rookery.
Total
killed
for all
pur-
poses.
Date.
Rookery.
1889.
Tnlv 8
229
1889.
V it ' •• 1 0
North
10
270
" 19
do
12
192
30
do
13
North Fast Blurry Arteel
667
Sept 7
East
15
371
21
. .. do
16
\orth Fast Starry Arteel
1 028
30
North
18
439
Oct 11
do
19
\nrth Fast Starry Arteel
1 140
21
Starry Arteel
22
/aividnie
500
31
North
23
North Fast Starry Arteel
628
Nov 6
do
24
279
12
.... do
25
North East Starry Arteel
1 430
25
Starry Arteel
27
do'
942
28
Zapadnie
568
Total
29
North, East, Starry Arteel
515
Total
killed
for all
pur-
poses.
55
56
48
64
50
33
37
32
4
606
477
61
15, 225
Fur seals killed on the island of St. Paul, for all purposes, from 1870 to 1889, both inclusive.
[Compiled from tables on file in the Treasury Department.]
Year.
Seals killed for natives' food.
Seals killed for skins for
lessees.
Total of bachelors killed,
accepted and rejected.
Grand
total of
seals
killed
for all
pur-
poses.
Pups.
Bach-
elors.
Skins
ac-
cepted.
Skins
re-
jected.
Bach-
elors.
Skins
ac-
cepted.
Skins
re-
jected.
Bach-
elors.
Skins
ac-
cepted.
Skins
re-
jected.
1870 .
2,800
2,877
5,121
5,489
4,897
3. 74fi
3,958
5,007
5,206
5,071
4,413
6.449
2,341
6,916
2,090
4,874
6, 282
5,061
4,041
4,718
5,070
4,466
7,538
5,175
3, 168
3,907
3,184
3,081
4,207
3,762
3,400
"2,296'
5,365
1,198
4, 225
5,784
3,064
2,853
3, 632
3,898
3,408
6,068
3,362
2.194
2,582
2, 508
2,480
3,975
3,700
2,570
6,449
51
1,551
892
649
498
1,997
1,188
1,086
2,072
1,418
1,470
1,813
974
1,325
676
601
232
62
830
6,065
75, 585
69, 782
74, 408
88, 368
84, 933
74, 138
58, 762
78, 595
77, 280
75, 900
76, 236
74, 659
57, 145
82, 213
82, 908
82, 180
82, 708
80, 330
81,712
6.017
74. 628
69, 570
73, 884
88,258
84, 860
71, 137
58, 732
78, 570
77, 280
75, 872
76, J69
74, 581
57, 070
8*2, 086
82, 866
82, 150
82, 679
80, 314
81, 698
48
957
206
524
110
73
1
30
25
""28"
67
78
75
127
42
30
29
16
14
12, 514
77, 926
76, 698
76, 498
93, 242
91,215
79, 199
62, 803
83, 313
83, 250
80. 366
83,774
79, 834
60, 313
86, 120
86, 092
85, 261
86, 915
84,092
85, 112
6,017
76, 918
74, 941
75, 082
92, 483
90,644
77, 201
61, 585
82, 202
81, 178
78, 920
82, 226
77, 943
59, 264
84, 668
85, 374
84, 630
86, 654
84, 014
84,268
6,497
1,008
1,757
1,416
759
571
1,998
1,218
1,111
2,072
1,446
1,537
1,891
1,049
1,452
718
631
261
78
844
15, 314
81,803
81 819
81, 987
98, 139
94,960
83, 157
67,810
88, 519
88, 321
84, 779
83, 774
79, 834
63, 295
88,"861
88,880
88,085
89, 092
86, 270
87, 392
1871
1872 .
1873
1874
1875 .
1876
1877
1878
1879
1880
1881.
1882
1883 .
2,982
2,741
2,788
2,824
2,177
2,178
2,280
1884
1885
1886 .
1887
1888
1889
Total .
67,554
90, 630
64,796
25,834
1,463,907
1,461,427
2,480 1,554,537
1,526,212
28,314 1,622,091
NOTE.— The above statement includes all seals killed from all causes, either intentional or accidental,
incident to the taking of seal skins on the island of St. Paul.
318
SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIHILOF ISLANDS.
Fur seals killed on the island of St. (Icort/e. for .
for lessees. accepted and rejected
Grand
total of
seals
Skins Skins ,,„.,, Skins Skins ,,...,. Skins Skins f,)r all
1870
rups.
elors.
ac-
cepte
1. jected.
elors.
ited.
"~>9
re-
jected.
elors.
cepted.
re-
jected.
pur-
poses.
8 459
1871
" u90
237
.>•{
-
18 S30 1
830
19 007
19 067
•>1 157
1872
1873
" 19o
25. 000 2
•),", (JOO '"
. ooo
oOo
25. 000
25, 000
"5 00(1
27, 000
''7 11K)
1874
2 440
10 000 1
Ooo
10 000
10 000
}•> 446
1875
1870
1.500
1 500
10.000 1
10 ooo K
. OOo
000
10. 000
10 000
10,000
10 000
1 1 , 500
1 1 500
1877
1878
1879
18so
1881
1882
1 , 500
1, 5dO
1 . 50(5
L330
1.532
843
812
4 S3
25
1. 21
5(
5t
5(
0 ,
0 1 310
1 279
5 137
9 3(13
1 112
14,744 14
17.772 17
19.841 IS
18, 9o7 I*
19.440 1!
19.495 H
. 744
.'758
, 830
, 300
440
83
80
35
15. 000
19. 304
20. 084
12.009
20. 258
19. 978
15. 000
18.988
19! 395
19.809
1 9 8 1 1
310
302
214
389
107
10,500
20, 804
22, 190
20. 939
21.289
19 978
1883
1. 0011
475
41
14,739 14
04
15. 214
15. 143
71
16,214
1884
1885
1880
1887
1. ;>00
1,( ISO
1,280
1. 350
345
319
514
585
30
41
47
3 1 22
4 15
3 131
1 114
14. rJ8 14
14.745 14
14.0U6 11
14.727 14
. 020
108
59
2S
1;>, 0,3
15,084
15, 150
15. 312
14, 843
14.990
14,991
15 190
230
74
159
116
16, 573
16, 144
16, 436
16 068
1888
1889
978
1. 071
' 512
1. 32
2?-.
1 88
0 232
14,047 14
13.042 i:
, 5>2
, 641
65
1
10,050
14 154
15.903
13 9"!
153
233
17,034
15 225
Total..
28,004
9. 054
7,19
8 1. *50
318. 128 31'
. 500
028
327. 182
324. Oll.s
2, 484
355. 246
XOTE. — The above statement includes all seals killed from all causes, either intentional or accidental,
incident to tin- taking of seal skins on the island of St. George.
Fur seals killed on tlie islands of SI. /'aid «nd St. deonje, for (til purposes, from 1S70
to 18S'>, holh inclusive.
Seals killed for natives' food.
Seals killed for skins Total of bachelors killed,
for lessees. accepted and rejected. Grand
total ol
'-- i^. i_;|?_- killed
for all
— . l poses.
St. Paul Island . . 07. 554 90. 030 04, 7:KJ 25, 831 1. 4(i3, 9(i7 1. 401, 427 2, 480 1, 554. 537 1, 520. 212,28. 314 1, 022, 091
St. T.eor-e Island. 2*. 001 9, 054 7.198 1.S50 318.128 317,500 02S 327.182 324, 098 2, 484 355.246
Total 95.02s 99,084 71, 991 27, 790 1. 782. 035 1. 778. 927 3. 108 1 8*1,719 1, 850, 910'30, 798 1.977,337
SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS.
Seals taken on St. Paul Island in 1890.
319
Date.
Rookery.
Southwest Bay
Total.
Date.
Rookery.
Tolstoi.EnglishBay.MiddleHill
Total.
May 28
June 6
11
13
16
17
17
18
18
20
20
21
21
23
23
24
24
25
25
26
27
27
28
28
30
30
July 1
2
2
3
3
119
116
574
182
317
16
167
274
78
339
438
292
96
521
179
426
205
266
166
117
396
230
206
79
209
98
246
131
242
96
183
180
July 4
5
7
-
8
8
9
9
10
10
12
13
13
14
15
15
16
i?
18
18
19
19
20
20
494
321
526
74
411
336
261
379
163
271
378
112
633
211
658
104
315
245
312
372
485
405
236
556
446
780
556
17,124
Reef
do
Reef
Tolstoi
Northeast Point
Reef
Knglisli Hay, Middle Hill, Tol-
stoi, Lukannon, Ketova
Northeast Point
H'dlway Point
Northeast Point ....
Tolstoi "ami Middle Hill
Halfway Point
Northeast Point
Southwest Bay
Northeast Point
Northeast Point
Southwest Bay
Reef
Noithrast Point .......
\ortheast Point
English I Jay and Lukannon
Northeast Point
English Bay. Middle Hill, Tol-
stoi Lukannon Ketova ...
Reef and Zoltoi
Halfwav Point
Halfway Point
Reef
Norl heast Point
English Bay, Middle Hill, Tol-
stoi Lukannon Ketova
Southwest Bay
English Bay and Middle Hill. . .
Northeast Point
do
Reef
Polavina, Lukannon, Ketova...
Northeast Point
Northeast Point
Tolstoi. Middle Hill, English
Bay, Ketova
do
Zapadnie
Reef and Zoltoi
Reef
Northeast Point
Northeast Point
English Hay, Middle Hill, Tol-
stoi, Ketova. Rocky Point
Northeast Point
Halfway Point
Northeast Point
Southwest Bay
Total
Northeast Point
Seals taken on St. George Island in 1890.
Date.
Rookery.
Total.
Date.
Rookery.
Total.
June 2
North
71
July 8
East and Little East
24
16
East
218
y I
Starry Arteel and North
193
18
North
118
11
East
60
19
East and Little East . ...
181
12
Starry Arteel and North
103
20
394
14
Zapadnie ...... .............
53
23
Starry Arteel and North
164
15
East
132
25
East and Little East
184
16
Starry Arteel and North
119
28
Starry Arteel and North
189
18
East
71
30
Zapadnie . ..
189
20
Starry Arteel and North
641
July 1
East and Little East
149
20
Zapadnie ...
527
3
Starry Arteel and North
238
5
East and Little East
57
Total
4 133
7
Zapadnie
58
320 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS.
PAST AND FUTURE OF THE FUR SEAL. '
BY JOSEPH STANLEY-BROWN.
There are but two groups of fur seals to furnish to the world its
supply of seal skins, the fur seal of the north and the fur seal of the
south.
When Sir Francis Drake circumnavigated the globe in 1577-1580 the
Arctocephalus, or southern fur seal, was to be found at not less than
thirty localities, and their numbers aggregated millions. To-day the
contributions of these southern waters are from three resorts, and do
not usually reach 15,000 skins annually.
When Vitus Bering, in 1741, was wrecked upon the Commander
Islands, off the coast of Kamchatka, and Pribilof searched out, in
1786-87, the group of islands in Bering Sea that bears his name, there
were discovered, not only the chief breeding grounds of the northern
fur seal, Caltorhinus ursinus^ but 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. To-day
these subarctic resorts are prostrate; their glory also has departed, and
they furnish a home for but a mere remnant of the seals that formerly
swarmed in myriads along their rocky shores.
For two years the hopes of thoughtful persons were high, that through
the medium of international negotiations and the deliberations of wise
and able men the safety of the fur seal would be at last secured. To-day,
when the decision of the Paris Tribunal is common property, we find
public opinion divided on the question as to whether the practical appli-
cation of the decision will preserve the fur seal as a commercial com-
modity.
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SEAL.
The condition of affairs thus briefly outlined is all the more deplorable
when we consider the characteristics of the animal with which we are
dealing. It is a creature peculiarly adapted by its habits to man's man-
agement. It occupies no territory needed, as were the buffalo's feeding
grounds, for the subsistence of more valuable domestic animals; no
herders are required to prevent its being lost in the wastes of the ocean,
and no expense is incurred either to protect it from the inclemency
of the weather or to provide a winter food supply; yet with more cer-
tainty than the ranchman's flocks and herds seek the home range do the
seals annually return to their breeding grounds where, under proper
management, they can without injury to the parent stock be made to
yield a profit equal to if not greater than that derived from the cattle
of the plains or the sheep of the mountains.
THE SOUTHERN FUR SEAL AND ITS DESTRUCTION.
Despite these characteristics, which must have been apparent to the
most ignorant and unobservant, what has been the course of events?
Turning first to the fur seal of the south we find that as early as 1690
some little interest was manifested in its capture, but it was not until
the close of the last century that the pursuit was begun in earnest.
Hardy mariners, stimulated by the hope of sharing in the profits of the
'From Bulletin United States Fish Commision, 1893, pp. 361-370.
SKAL LIFK ON THK 1'KWILOF ISLANDS. 321
fur trade which the Russians had developed with the Chinese, searched
out the 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 Hi, 000, 000
or 17,000,000 skins, and by 1830 had practically destroyed, in the south-
ern seas, this valuable fur hearing animal. If all these resorts were in
their original condition and under wise and prudent direction, they could
easily supply to the fur trade annually so .nothing like a half a million
skins, with corresponding advantage to an army of skilled ai tisans. As
it is, indiscriminate butchery has left only the Lobos Islands rookeries
at the mouth of the La Plata River and a few insignificant resorts at
Cape Horn and the Cape of (lood Hope, the total yearly yield of which
is, as before stated, less than 15,000 skins. Such destruction is left abso-
lutely without justiticatiori 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 NORTHERN FUR SEAL AND ITS RELATION TO THE SEAL-SKIN
INDUSTRY.
The two great resorts of the northern fur seal are the Pribilof and
Commander islands in Bering Sea. Kobbeiis Reel; a rocky islet in the
Okhotsk Sea, has a small rookery, and a few localities of minor impor-
tance are found along the Kurile Islands. While the Kussians 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. Xo attention was paid to sex, season, or period of
procreation, and it was not long before the end came there just as it had
done in the south. The Kussians 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 to the United States in 18(17 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 taken from the islands of St. Paul and St. George
by unauthorized persons without apparently producing any diminution
of the numbers which came the following year.
Although there are but four of these northern localities, and Kussian
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 ,">,000,000 and 6,000,000 skins to the fur trade,
or abmit one-third as many as have been furnished by the southern
resorts. From the time that the fur seal of the south ceased to be of
commercial importance trade lias 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 1881) a
uniform yearly quota of nearly 150,000 pelts, which formed the basis
of and made possible the systematized seal-skin business of modern
S. Doc. 137, pt. 1 21
322 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS.
times. As a raw commodity they sold for an average of 8-, 500, 000 at
the annual London trade sales, and the Pribi lot' quota yielded the Gov-
ernment of the United States in revenue more than the $7,200,000
originally paid for the entire Territory of Alaska. The value of raw
seal skins is now represented by about $15 for skins taken at sea and
$30 for Pribilof skins. At the present revenue rate, if it were now
possible to take from the Pribilof Islands the former yearly quota, the
Government income would be nearly $1,000,000 annually.
IMPORTANCE OF THE SEAL-SKIN INDUSTRY.
The seal-skin industry is of no slight importance, and its proportions
are but roughly indicated by the lirst profit on the raw skins. These
peltries must be gathered in remote regions; they form part ot the
transportation business of railroad and steamship lines; coopers must
make casks for their shipment; they must pass through the hands of
many laborers before they reach the 40 buyers in London who purchase
them, and the 2,000 skilled artisans who convert them into fabrics
suited to the use of trade; and when all this is done there must still be
stores maintained and clerks employed in order that they may find
their way to the wealthy consumers. The labor incident to the taking,
transporting, manipulating, and disposing of these peltries demands
the employment of thousands of persons each year, and when we recall
the prices paid for these skins when converted into the garments 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 many, while the profits come from the purses of those best able to
pay them.
CAUSE OF THE DESTRUCTION OF THE NORTHERN FUR SEAL.
Some ten years ago there was put in operation on the American side
of the Pacific Ocean an agency of destruction, the growth of which, if
uninterrupted, promised to prove as effective as did the sailors' clubs
upon the southern resorts. Its promise has been generously kept, and
from its deadly though partially controlled effects the rookeries are
now suffering. That agency was pelagic sealing, or the taking of seals
at sea by means of weapons. The source of the injury is the indis-
criminate killing. Whether this is practiced on land, as in the south,
or at sea, as in the north, the outcome is the same. No animal which
produces but a single offspring each year can long survive an attack
which involves the death of the producing class, the females. I am
aware that there is another side to this question, and that two great
nations point each a finger at the other and say: "You did it." The
subject-matter of that contention is only germane to such a paper as
this in so far as it touches upon the career of the seal, and only to that
extent will it be referred to.
England and Canada 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, pelagic sealing being a factor of only
secondary importance. If this theory meant that after pelagic sealing
had made serious inroads upon the seal herds it was excessive killing
to continue taking the annual quota of 100,000 skins, it would be a
sound one, and the United 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
SKAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 323
theory until they show by clearest proof that the decline of the rook-
eries begai) prior to the development of pelagic sealing, and also get
rid of the awkward fact that for the first twelve or fifteen years there
was no difficulty in securing : the annual quota allowed bylaw. Why
did this alleged decadence through excessive killing on land take so
long to manifest itself? Certainly the evils of indiscrimination is not
inherent in land killing; on the contrary, selection can be exercised at
the rookeries as readily as it ran be at the abattoir, and there is no
more necessity for molesting the females than there would be for a
farmer to ship fill of his herd to Kansas City and have the selection of
the killable males made at the stock yards. The briefest recital of the
facts of seal life will make this plain.
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 approach of winter and to seek the southern waters and the abun-
dant fish supply along the continental shores. The migration routes
of the 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 u matkie'' begin to seek the breeding grounds, and
between the time of arrival of these two classes the young males or
u hollustchikie" are swimming in 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 preponderates in
size, they are extremely polygamous. Their vitality and virility is
almost beyond belief. For eighty or ninety days, while they are mak-
ing secure their position, 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 males 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
upon the breeding grounds, to drive away, select, and slaughter such
of these young males as will furnish 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-
raisers are at fault, and the evidence derived from Russian manage-
ment goes 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
324 SEAL LIFE ON THK I'KIBILOF ISLANDS.
Jfche record books certain well established tacts concerning- pelagic seal-
ing. It will be necessary to dispose of the tact that while in 1878 there
was but I vessel engaged in pelagic, sealing, the number steadily
increased until in 181)2 there were ll'2 to follow on the migration tracks
of the herds, to harry them eight months out of the twelve, and, if
permitted, to accompany 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 10 per cent inherent in the methods of taking seals at
sea; that pelagic sealing strikes at the very life of the rookeries, by
killing 7t> or 80 per cent of the females, more than half of which are
mothers whose death involves that of their unborn offspring; and that
the period of gestation being nearly twelve months, a mother killed in
Bering Sea means that three seal lives may pay the penalty.
It is equally 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 1803, there were taken on the Pribilof Islands only a
total of 50.000 skins of young males, while during that same period
there were actually marketed by the sealers over 200,000 skins, which
represented 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 practically a closed time on these islands, and pelagic
sealing has had full swing in the .North Tacific. The rookeries have-
not improved under these conditions, and until the records of the real
cause of destruction stand impeached it is idle to offer obscure and
improbable explanations for the present condition of seal life.
It has only been profitable to follow this question of the cause of the
decadence to indicate what might be expected from pelagic sealing.
Whenever and to whatever extent carried on, its deadly effects are cer-
tain and continuous, the amount of injury being limited only by the
magnitude of the enterprise. Improprieties on land can be guarded
against, but the disastrous consequences of pelagic sealing are inherent
to the business and are beyond man's control. They can be lessened,
tmt only through the curtailment of the number of seals taken. The
injurious effect 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 adaptability to the uses of man, the student
of natural history or of economics 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.
THE PARIS TRIBUNAL OF ARBITRATION.
The causes which led to the arbitration are known to all. For some
years the Alaskan fur seal, when on its migration route, had been
the eagerly sought quarry of the pelagic hunters. This route, which
by reason ot its vast extent and proximity to inhabited shores makes
this herd especially vulnerable to attack, extends from the Pribilof
Islands southward through the passes 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 Government of the United States attempted to
partially protect them by seizing sealing schooners in Bering Sea.
Each year it was thought that at least so far as these waters were con-
SEAL LIFE ON THK PKU5ILOF ISLANDS. 325
cerned the dauber would cease, but each year it increased as the vessels
multiplied ami the skill and knowledge of the sealers became greater,
and was ultimately extended to the Asiatic herd which frequents the
Russian or Commander Islands. The continued seizing of schooners
by the Cuited States met with remonstrances on the part of Canada,
aiid Kugland. and finally, after much irritation and heat, became the
subject of diplomatic negotiation*, the peaceful outcome of which was
the Paris Tribunal of Arbitration.
Turee duties were intrusted to the Tribunal of Arbitration : It was to
settle certain jurisdictional questions, to decide the questiou of property
rights, and in the event of the matter being- left in such shape that the
concurrence of Great Britain was necessary to establish regulations for
the purpose of protecting and preserving the fur seal, it was to frame
such regulations as would be applicable outside of the jurisdiction o£"
the respective Governments and to indicate the uon territorial waters*
over which these regulations should extend. As it is not important inr
this connection to consider the jurisdictional phases of the case there
will betaken up at once the property question and the regulations — the
two points that immediately concern us; the former from the stand-
point of general interest, and the latter by reason of their iutiutatfe
relation to the future of the seals.
THE AMERICAN POSITION.
The able representatives of the United States took the position that
the tribunal was bound by no precedents, and possessed, 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 ques-
tion upon broad and comprehensive principles. They pointed out that
man, by means of invention, was rapidly extending his dominion over
the water, as he had over the land, and, by employing methods which
were 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 im
the seals and in the industry, they pleaded 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 off
property and of protection as would be of value to all mankind, irre^
spective of nations. They pointed out that the material progress of
the world was based upon the fundamental principle of ownership, and
that the most effective 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 principle 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 protect
such industries as the coral and pearl fisheries, and that it would be
326 SEAL LIFE ON THE PKIBILOF ISLANDS.
useful in controlling the rapid inroads man's ingenuity is now making
on the denizens of the sea. In short, that it would be a direct, useful,
and common-sense way of settling the whole matter.
THE BRITISH POSITION.
With equal skill of argument and eloquence of address the advo-
cates of Great Britain and Canada held that the tribunal possessed but
one function — that its duty was to declare the law and not to make it;
but that, whatever its function might be as an international body, it was
not vested with the power to make international law, but must keep to
the straight and narrow way of settling a contention between two
nations and adjusting two conflicting methods of catching seals. They
asked that the tribunal provide for the continuation of pelagic sealing
under the most favorable conditions consistent with carrying out the
terms of the treaty. True, nothing was said in the treaty about preserv-
ing the business of pelagic sealing, but before so patient and generous
a court it was not difficult to confuse the issue of preserving the seals
and continuing pelagic sealing and to take up a large share of the pro-
ceedings with pleadings in behalf of the latter. They demanded 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 accepted by nations as the years ran on; it
was very old law and very good law; but, whether ^ood or bad, it was
the law, and from its teachings the tribunal must not allow itself to be
enticed away by the seductive citations and insidious arguments of
learned counsel on the other side. There must be no making of laws to
suit new conditions; the old stand-bys must be adhered to, whether
applicable or not. They urged that the seals being wild animals, the
United States had done nothing to encourage or develop in them the
animum revertendi — the inclination to return to their homes, as in the
case of bees and similar creatures — and thus had lost their claim to a
property 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 food did fall before the gun
or spear of the pelagic hunter and their helpless pups starve on the
rookeries, the hand of destruction must not be stayed, for the Tnited
States had no rights anyone was bound legally to respect when the
seals were 3 miles off shore, and humanitarian considerations had no
place 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 doing
so, because it would interfere with that wonderful invention, the imme-
morial right on the high seas, an interference nations 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 (ireat 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.
SEAL LIFK OX THE I'KIP.ILOF ISLANDS. 327
TIIK Kl-:<} TLATIONS.
The next task to which the tribunal addressed itself was the fram-
ing of regulations. These regulations furnish the last hope for the
preservation of the fur seal as a commercial commodity. It is not
probable that any other nations having seal interests will be content
with less than the United States secured, nor is it likely they will
obtain more, and thus they represent the measure of protection all
seals are likely to receive in the future.
After listening to an enormous mass of testimony — some good, some
bad, and some very indifferent — concerning seal life, the tribunal pro-
poses to preserve the Alaskan branch of the northern fur seal by pro-
hibiting sealing within a /one of GO miles around the Pribilof Islands
by establishing a closed time, or time of no killing at sea, from May 1
to .July 31 ; by permitting only sailing vessels to engage in the business
of seal hunting, and requiring them to carry a distinctive tiag, to take
out a special license, and to keep a daily record of the catch and the sex
of the seals taken, these records to be communicated to each of the
two (lovernments at the. close of the sealing season; by limiting the
weapons of capture to shotguns in the North Pacific and spears in
Bering Sea, and by requiring the two Governments to take such meas-
ures as will determine whether the hunters are fit to handle with suffi-
cient skill the weapons by means of which the seals are to be captured.
These regulations, which are to remain in force until they have been in
whole or in part abolished or modified by common agreement between
the Governments of the United States and Great Britain, are to be sub
mitted every five years to a new examination, so as to enable both
Governments to consider whether, in the light of past experience, there
is occasion for any modification of them.
The three prime points in the regulations are: The zone around the
islands; the closed time of three months injected into the middle of the
sealing season, thus breaking it up, and the restriction of the use of
firearms to the North Pacific.
First as to the zone: If there was any one fact clearly established by
the testimony of the pelagic sealers themselves and official experts it
was that in the summer season great numbers of seals, and especially
females, are found at long distances from the islands of Bering Sea,
distances two or three times greater than that of the protecting /one
provided by the regulations. Now, as the object was to preserve the
fur seals, it is proper to assume that the tribunal, prompted by a desire
to protect them, and acting in good faith, established such a /one as
they believed would practically prohibit the attack of the pelagic sealer;
but if this was so, then mere amount of distance was immaterial, and
in view of the fact that incessant fogs brood over the waters of Bering
Sea during the summer season, rendering it difficult to tell when a vessel
is within or without a /one, the limit of which can not be marked, why
not at once adopt that natural and well-defined boundary line, the
Aleutian chain? .lust here arises the question: When vessels are
sei/ed, whose word shall be accepted as to the locality of seizure — the
pelagic sealer's or the seizing officer's ? Does not this uncertainty, hav-
ing ns it does an important bearing on the question of conviction, weaken
the regulations restraining influence 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
3'JX SEAL LIFE ON THE PKIHILOF ISLANDS.
the tribunal that the destruction by the pelagic sealer has been exces-
sive, and the cutting off of one month of the sealing season in Bering
Sea clearly shows that it reali/ed the danger to the herd from allowing
sealing there. Why, then, was sealing not prohibited altogether in
those waters? Is the danger less in August and a portion of Septem-
ber f The seals are still going long distances from the islands and the
sealer can continue his work until stopped by the September gales.
Bering Sea is the focal point, the great massing ground of seal lite, and
the seals are more readily taken there than anywhere else. In 18!>1 the
catch of the Canadian Meet in the North Pacific was a little over 1*1,000
seals, and before the modus vivendi could be enforced a portion of the
Meet sealed from three to five weeks on the American side of Boring Sea,
and with fewer vessels and with fewer small boats they took in that time
as many seals as they had previously secured in the Pacific. During
the three years ending with and including 181)1 the Canadian neet (and
I only rjnote from Canadian records, because they are so reliable) took,
in five months, in the North Pacific, an average of 507 skins per vessel;
with ten vessels less, they took in Bering Sea 727 skins per vessel in
about two and one-half months.
The proposed regulations still allow at least five weeks' sealing in
Bering Sea; but, say the regulations, the hunters can only use spears
in Bering Sea, thereby intimating that spears are less effective than the
shotguns allowed in the North Pacific, and that an additional safeguard
has therefore been provided in Bering Sea. .lust why the shotgun is
pernicious in Bering Sea and is not 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 them to Bering Sea, we find that
they claim that they can do better work with the spear than with the
shotgun. The latter makes the .7<); in is'H ir was >?l."i. In 1SSO the cost of each skin in wages
was from *U to *:$; in IS'.M) and 1S!)1 it was $,'$.50; in 18!)1> 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 Islands
can very greatly increase their annual output of skins. The maximum
SEAL LIFE ON THE PKIBILOF ISLANDS. 329
output of the Commander Islands has been reached, and probably will
have to be decreased in the future. There must be through these regu-
lations some curtailment of the contribution of the sealing schooners,
and the result of all this will be that seal skins will demand a higher
price. Should that price reach a figure which will compensate for the
obstacles which the regulations place in the way of the pelagic sealer,
then we will have the changed conditions referred to, and pelagic seal-
ing with its attendant evils will go 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 sea otter, which, though nearly exterminated, is as
eagerly sought after to-day as it ever was, simply because the ever-
increasing price the trade is willing to pay for its skin still compensates
for the small numbers now taken. There is no reason to believe that
the career of the fur seal will be different from that of the sea otter.
Another possible source of changed conditions lies in the regulations
themselves, for they provide, as we have peen, for their own modifica-
tion every five years, and the pressure will come heaviest from the
pelagic sealers' side of the case. Indeed, the regulations require that
each pelagic sealer — an interested party — shall keep records which are
to be made available when the question of modifications of the regula-
tions arises. Now, 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 appeal in the strongest pos-
sible terms for a Modification, of the regulations in their favor.
The final question that arises in regard to these regulations is, will
they, as they now stand, ever be put in operation? The interested
powers have yet to agree upon measures for giving effect to them. Is
it likely that, when a neutral tribunal found the making of regulations
so tedious and difficult, the interested powers will be able without inter-
minable delay and pocsibly irreconcilable conflict to agree upon "con-
current measures" putting them in force1? England has won on the
great law points of the case, but these regulations are objectionable to
Canada, for they bear somewhat heavily upon pelagic sealing; and these
" concurrent measures '" offer tempting fighting ground for securing their
modification in favor of the Dominion.
Under the circumstances it is only to be expected that the arts of
diplomacy will be vigorously exercised in that direction. There is but
one course, however, for the United States to pursue — permit no modi-
fications, stand squarely for the prompt carrying out 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 effectively 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 immature males upon land under the 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 herds by pelagic sealing increases from
January to August, grows greater as Bering Sea is approached, and
330 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOP ISLANDS.
•culminates in those waters; that the shotgun and spear are both deadly,
the latter by reason of its noiseless efficiency, the former by reason of
its ready use by all classes, and that the disposition of this question on
the basis of adjusting two conflicting interests is futile and illogical,
but material issues are not alone involved; it presents biologic features
as well and has to do with forces of nature beyond man's control.
Regulations can not be framed by human ingenuity which will pre-
serve the seal herds in their greatest possible proportions and permit
the continuation of successful 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 first 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 pelagic 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.
AWARD OF THE TRIBUNAL OF ARBITRATION CONSTITUTED UNDER THE TREATY
CONCLUDED AT WASHINGTON THE 29TH OF FEBRUARY, 1892, BETWEEN THE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN OF THE UNITED
KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND.
[English version.]
Whereas, by a treaty between the United States of America and Great
Britain, signed at Washington, February 29, 1892, the ratifications of
which by the Governments of the two countries were exchanged at
London on May 7, 1892, it was, amongst other things, agreed and con-
•eluded that the questions which had arisen between the Government of
the United States of America and the Government of Her Britannic
Majesty, concerning the jurisdictional rights of the United States in
the waters of Bering Sea, and concerning also the preservation of the
fur seal in or habitually resorting to the said sea, and the rights of the
•citizens and subjects of either country as regards 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
Republic should be jointly requested by the high contracting parties
to name one; His Majesty the King of Italy should be so requested to
name one; His Majesty the King of Sweden and Norway should be
so requested to name one; the seven arbitrators to be so named should
be jurists of distinguished reputation in their respective countries, and
the selecting powers should be requested to choose, if possible, jurists
who are acquainted with the English language;
And whereas it was further agreed by Article II 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 Governments of the United States and of Her
Britannic Majesty, respectively, and that all questions considered by
SEAL L1FK ON THK PKIHILOF ISLANDS. 331
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:
[n deciding the matters submitted to tin- said arbitrators.it is agreed that the fol-
lowing live points shall be submitted to them in order lliat their awanlHhall embrace
a distinct decision upon ei.ch of said live points, to wit:
1. What, exclusive jurisdiction in the sea now known as Bering Sea, and what
exclusive rights in the seal fisheries therein, did K'ussia assert and exercise prior and
iij) to the time of the cession of Alaska to the United States?
l'. How far were these claims of jurisdiction as to the seal fisheries recognized and
conceded l>y (Jreat Britain.'
'.'>. Was the body of water now known as Bering Sea included in the phrase Pacific;
Ocean, as used in the treaty of ixi>r> between (Jreat Britain and Russia; and what
rights, if any. in Bering Sea were held and exclusively exercised by Russia after said
treaty '.
I. Did not all the rights of Russia, as to jurisdiction and as to the seal fisheries in
Bering Sea east of the water boundary, in the treaty between the United States and
Russia of the SOth of March, 18«>7, 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
snch seals are found outside the ordinary 3-mile lirnit^
And whereas, by Article VI I of the said treaty, it was further agreed
us 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 concurrence of
(ireat Britain 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 < Governments, are necessary, and over what \vat- rs such
regulations 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
each for the injuries alleged to have been sustained by the other, or by
its citi/.ens, in connection with the claims presented and urged by it,
and that u they were solicitious that this subordinate question should
not interrupt or longer delay the submission and determination of the
main questions/' the high contracting parties agreed that *• either of
them might submit to the arbitrators any question of fact involved in
said claims and ask for a finding thereon, the question of the liability
of either Government upon the facts found, to be the subject of further
negotiation ;
And whereas the President of the Tinted States of America named
the Hon. John M. Marian, Justice of the Supreme Court of the United
States, and the Hon. John T. Morgan, Senator of the United States, to
be two of the said arbitrators, and Her Britannic Majesty named the
Right Hon. Lord Hannen and the Hon. Sir John Thompson, minister
of justice and attorney-general for Canada, to be two of the said
arbitrators, and His Excellency the President of the French Republic
named the Baron de Courcel, senator, ambassador of France, to be
one of the said arbitrators; and His Majesty the King of Italy named
the Marquis Kmilio Visconti Venosta, former minister of foreign affairs
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. (iregers
(Iram, minister of state, to be one of the said arbitrators;
And whereas we, the said arbitrators so named and appointed, hav-
332 SEAL LIFE OX THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS.
ing taken upon ourselves the burden of the said arbitration, and having
duly met at Paris, proceeded impartially and carefully to examine and
decide all the questions submitted to us, the said arbitrators, under the
said treaty, or laid before us as provided in the said trea y on the part
of the Governments of Her Britannic Majesty and the Tinted States,
respectively;
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 live 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 ft ve points, we, the said Baron de Coureel, Mr-
Justice Harlan, Lord Hannen, Sir John Thompson, Marquis Visconti
Venosta, and Mr. Gregers Gram, being a majority of tlie said arbi-
trators, do decide and determine as follows:
By the ukase of 1821 Russia claimed jurisdiction in the sea now
known as Bering Sea to the extent of 100 Italian miles from the coast
and islands belonging to her; but, in the course of the negotiations which
led to the conclusion of tflie treaties of 1824 with the Tinted States and
and of 1825 with Great Britain, Russia admitted that her jurisdiction
in the said sea should be restricted to the reacli of cannon shot from
shore, and it appears that from that time up to the time of the cession
of Alaska to the United States Russia 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 Coureel,
Mr. Justice Harlan, Lord Ilannen, Sir John Thompson, Marquis Visconti
Veuosta, and Mr. Gregers 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 phrase "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 included 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 Coureel,
Mr. Justice Harlan, Lord Hannen, Sir John Thorn pson, 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 decide and determine that all the rights of Russia as to
jurisdiction and as to the seal fisheries in Bering Sea east of the water
boundary, in the treaty between the United States and Russia of the
30th March, 1807, did pass unimpaired to the United States under the
said treatv.
SEAL LIFE ON THE PKIIULOF ISLANDS. 333
As to the fit'tli of the s;iid five [joints, we, the said Baron de Courcel,
Lord Hannen, Sir John Thoiii]>son, Marquis Visconti Venosta, and Mr.
Gregers Grain, being a majority of the said arbitrators, do decide and
determine that the United States has not any right of protection or
property in the fur seals frequenting the islands of the Tinted States
in Bering Sea when such seals are found outside the ordinary •"> mile
limit.
And whereas the aforesaid determination of the foregoing questions
as to the exclusive jurisdiction of the United States, mentioned in
Article VI, leaves the subject in such a position that the concurrence
of Great Britain is necessary to the establishment of regulations for
the proper protection and preservation of the fur seals in or habitually
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 llannen, 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 arbitrators, do decide and
determine in the mode provided by the treaty that the following con-
current regulations outside the jurisdictional limits of the respective
Governments are necessary, and that they should extend over the
waters hereinafter mentioned, that is to say:
REGULATIONS.
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 (>0 miles around the Pribilof Islands,
inclusive of the territorial waters.
The miles mentioned in the preceding paragraph are geographical
miles, of 00 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
thirty-
fifth degree of north 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 Russia, 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 allowed, only sailing vessels shall be permitted 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, propelled by paddles, oars, or sails as are in common use as
fishing boats.
ARTICLE I.
Kaeh 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 nag, to be prescribed by its
Government.
334 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRJBILOF ISLANDS.
ARTICLE 5.
The masters of the vessels engaged in fur-seal fishing shall enter
accurately in their official log book the date and place of each fur-seal
fishing operation, and also the number and sex of the seals captured
upon each day. These entries shall be communicated by each of the
two Governments to the other at the end of each fishing season.
AKTICLK 6.
The use of nets, firearms, and explosives shall be forbidden in the
fur-seal fishing. This restriction shall not apply to shotguns when such
fishing takes place outside 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 authorized to engage in fur-seal fishing. These men shall have
been proved fit to handle with sufficient 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 the 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,
provided 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 the skins to any person.
This exemption shall not be construed to affect the municipal law of
either country, nor shall it extend to the waters of Bering Sea or the
waters of the Aleutian Passes.
Nothing herein contained is intended to interfere with the employ-
ment of Indians as hunters or otherwise in connection with fur-sealing
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 they
have been in whole or in part abolished or modified by common agree-
ment between the Governments of the United States and of Great
Britain.
The said concurrent regulations shall be submitted every five years
to a new examination, so as to enable both interested Governments to
consider whether in the light of past experience there is occasion 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 statement of the
said facts, as follows, that is to say:
FINDINGS OF FACT PROPOSED BY TIIK AGENT OF GREAT BRITAIN AM) AGI.'KKD To
AS PROVED BY THE AGENT FOR THE UNITED STATES AND SI BMITTKD TO THE
TRIBUNAL OF ARBITRATION FOR ITS CONSIDERATION.
1. That the several searches and seizures, whether of ships or goods, and the sev-
eral arrests of masters and crews, respectively, mentioned in the schedule to the
SEAL LIFE ON THK PKIBILOF ISLANDS. 335
British case, p:iges 1 to (JO. inclusive, were made l»y tin- authority of the Tinted
States Government. The <|iiestioii8 as to the value of the said vessels or their con-
tents, or either of them, and the question as to whether the vessels mentioned in
the schedule to the British ease, or any of them, were wholly or in ]>art the actual
property of the eiti/eiisof the 1'nited States have been withdrawn from and have
not been considered by the tribunal, it being understood that it is open to the Tnited
States to raise these questions or any of them, if they think tit, in any future nego-
tiations as to the liability of the Tinted States Government 1o pay the amount*
mentioned in the schedule of the British case.
2. That the sei/.ures aforesaid, with the exception of the rathfnidi-r, seized at Neah
Bay, were made in Bering Sea at the distances from shore mentioned in the schedule
annexed hereto, marked C.
. 3. That the said several searches and sei/.ures of vessels were made by public armed
vessels of the Tnited States, the commanders of which had, at the several times when
they were made, from the Executive Department of the Government of the United
States, instructions, a copy of one of which is annexed hereto, marked A, and that the
others were, in all substantial respects, the same; that in all the instances in which
proceedings were had in the district courts of the United States resulting in condem-
nation, such proceedings were begun by the tiling of libels, a copy of one of which
is annexed hereto, marked B, and that the libels in the other proceedings were in all
substantial respects the same ; that the alleged acts or offenses for which said several
searches and sei/.ures were made in each case were done or committed in Bering Sea
at the distances from shore aforesaid ; and that in each case in which sentence of con-
demnation was passed, except in those cases when the vessels were released after
condemnation, the sei/ure was adopted by the Government 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 fines and imprisonments were for alleged
breaches of the municipal laws of the United States, which alleged breaches were
wholly committed in Bering Sea at the distances from the shore aforesaid.
1. That the several orders mentioned in the schedule annexed hereto and marked
G, 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 mentioned 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 by the Government of the United 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
schedule to the case of Great Britain, pages 1 to 60, inclusive, had all the jurisdic-
tion and powers of courts of admiralty, including the prize jurisdiction, but that in
each case the sentence pronounced by the court was based upon the grounds set
forth in the libel.
ANNEX A.
TREASURY DEPARTMENT, OFFICE OY THE SECRETARY,
Washington, April 81, 1886.
SIR : Referring 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 power to enforce the law contained in the provisions of section 1956
of the United States Revised Statutes, and directed to seize all vessels and arrest and
deliver to the proper 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 liquors or firearms attempted to be introduced into the
country without proper permit, under the provisions of section 1955 of the Revised
Statutes, and the proclamation of the President dated February 4, 1870.
Respectfully, yours,
C. S. FAIRCHILD, Acting Secretary.
('apt. M. A. HKALY,
Commanding Revenue Steamer Bear, San Francisco, CaL
ANNEX B.
In the district court of the United States for the District of Alaska — August special
term, 1886.
To the Hon. LAFAYETTE DAWSON, Judge of mid District Court:
The libel of information of M. D. Ball, attorney for the United States for the Dis-
trict of Alaska, who prosecutes on behalf of said United States, and being present
336
SEAL LIFE ON THE PBIBILOF ISLANDS
here in court in his proper person, in the name anv Rush
K-ite 1 Au<* 13 1889
An
Minnie July 15 1889 65 miles
PAthfltidftT* . . Mar. 27* 1890 Seized in NVali l.nv. (?)...
SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIHILOF ISLANDS. 337
And whereas the Government of Her Britannic Majesty did ask the
said arbitrators to find the said facts as set forth in the said statement,
and whereas the agent and counsel for the United States Government
thereupon in our presence informed us that the said statement of facts
was sustained by the evidence, and that they had agreed with the agent
and counsel for Her Britannic Majesty that we, the arbitrators, if we
should think fit so to do, might find the said statement of facts to be
true:
Now we, the said arbitrators, do unanimously find the facts as set
forth in the said statement to be true.
' And whereas each and every question which 1ms been considered by
the tribunal has been determined by a majority of all the arbitrators:
Now we, Baron de Courcel, Lord Uannen, Mr. Justice Harlau, Sir
John Thompson, Senator Morgan, the Marquis Visconti Venosta, and
Mr. Gregers Gram, the respective minorities not withdrawing their
votes, do declare this 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 loth day of August,
in the year 1893.
And we do certify this English version thereof to be true and accurate.
(Bering Sea Arbitration. Indexes to the British case, p. 19.)
DECLARATIONS MADE BY THE TRIBUNAL OF ARBITRATION AND REFERRED TO
THE GOVERNMENTS OF THE UNITED STATES AND GREAT BRITAIN FOR THEIR
CONSIDERATION.
[English 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 29th of February, 1892, 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 consequence of circumstances not
fully known, the arbitrators think fit to recommend both Governments
to come to an understanding in order to prohibit any killing of fur seals,
either on land or at sea, for a period of two or three years, or at least
one year, subject to such exceptions as the two Governments might
think 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 stipulations and measures to be
enacted by the two powers; and that the tribunal must, in consequence,
leave it to the two powers to decide upon 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 Paris this loth day of August, 1893.
(Bering Sea Arbitration. Indexes to the British case, p. 3.)
S. Doc. 137, pt. 1 22
338
SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS.
I'essels composing the Canadian sealing fleet for 1804.
1. Arctic.
2. Ainak.
3. Aurora.
4. Annie C. Moore.
5. Agnes McDonald.
6. Arietas.
7. Annie E. Paint.
8. Brenda.
9. Beatrice.
10. Borealis.
11. G. G. Cox.
12. Cosco.
13. Charlotte.
14. City of San Diego.
15. Dora Sieward.
16. Diana.
17. E. B. Maroin.
18. Enterprise.
19. Fawn.
20. Florence M. Smith.
21. Geneva.
22. Henrietta.
23. Kate.
24. Kilmeny.
25. Katherine.
26. C. D. Rand.
27. Libbie.
28. Labrador.
29. Louis Adair.
30. Minnie.
31. May Bell.
32. Maud S.
33. Mary Taylor.
34. Mascot.
35. Mary Ellen.
36. Mermaid.
37. Otto.
38. Ocean Bell.
39. Osca and Hattie.
40. Penelope.
41. Pioneer.
42. Rosie Olseu.
43. Shelby.
44. San Jose.
45. Sapphire.
46. Saucy Lass.
47. Sadie Turpel.
48. Theresa.
49. Triumph.
50. Umbrina.
51. Viva.
52. Vera,
53. Venture.
51. AY. B. Hall.
55. AV. P. Sayward.
56. Wanderer.
57. Walter L. Rich.
58. AY. A. Earle.
59. Favorite.
composing the American sealing fleet for 1894.
1. Alton.
2. Alexander.
3. Anaconda.
4. Anna Matilda.
5. Allie I. Alger.
6. Bonanza.
7. Bowhead.
8. G. G. White.
9. Emma and Louisa.
10. Emma.
11. Eppinger.
12. Edward E. Webster.
13. Ella Johnson.
14. Ethel.
15. Geo. Peabody.
16. Geo. R. \Vhite.
17. H. C. AVahlberg.
18. Henry Dennis.
19. Herman.
20. Ada Etta.
21. Jane Grey.
22. Kate and Ann.
23. Louis D.
2-1 . Louis Olsen.
! 25. Lillie L.
i 26. Josephine,
i 27. Mary H. Thomas.
| 28. Mascot.
29. Mattie T. Dyer.
30. Mathew Turner.
31. Penelope.
32. Prescott.
33. Retriever.
34. Rattler.
35. Rosie Sparks.
36. St. Paul.
37. Sophia Sutherland
38. San Diego.
39. Stella Erland.
40. Teresa.
i 41. Arolunteer.
42. AVillard Ainsworth
43. Winchester.
! 44. Amature.
45. Columbia,
j 46. C. C. Perkins.
! 47. Deeahks.
48. Dart.
49. Felitz.
50. James (i. Swan.
i 51. Puritan.
MANAGEMENT OF ROOKERIES — DECREASE OF SEALS.
SEAL ISLANDS, ALASKA, July 16, 1889.
GENTLEMEN : I regret to report that the season's seal catch is pro-
gressing very unfavorably, and that the condition of the breeding rook-
eries, already past the date of fullest occupation for the year, indicates
a large falling off in productiveness — much greater, in fact, than I have
heretofore reported.
During the period from 1873 to 1883, as my reports 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 all of the best marketable
size and quality, for we had at that time a large surplus of killable
animals from which to make our selection. It was customary during
that period to secure in the month of June nearly one-half of our
catch, all of the primest and best, and at the same time turn back to
the rookeries for breeding animals, or as being undesirable for market,
a very large percentage, 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 percentage of rejected animals was still larger, amounting
from 50 to 80 per cent of the number driven; but of those a large major-
SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 339
ity were under si/e for killing jinti required the additional year's growth
that we were enabled by the very abundant supply ot seals to give
them. We could confidently count on their return the next season in
prime condition.
The season's work for a catch of 100,000 skins was then finished from
the 14th to the 20th of July, determined by our ability to do the work
and not by the condition of the hauling grounds, for we had always
seals enough in sight after the 10th of June, and sometimes even earlier,
to keep our force fully occupied.
The breeding rookeries, from the beginning ot the lease till 1882 or
1883, were, I believe, constantly increasing in area and population, and
my observations in this direction are in accordance with those of Mr.
Morgan, 31 r. 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 1870 to 1880. Even as late as 1885
Special Treasury Agent Tingle reported a further increase of breeding
seals, but his estimates were made in comparison with those of Prof.
H. W. Elliott in 1872-73, and he was probably not fully aware of the
fact that the increase had occurred prior to 1883, and that in 1885 there
was already perhaps 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 inexpert can
not fail to notice it. Just when the change commenced I am unable
from personal observation to say, for, as you will remember, I was in
ill health and unable to visit the islands in 1^83, 1884, and 1885. 1 left
the rookeries in 188:! in their fullest and best condition, and found them
in 188G already showing a slight falling oft", and experienced that year
for the first time some difficulty in securing just the class of animals
in every case that we desired. We, however, obtained the full catch in
that and the two following years, finishing the work from the 24th 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. I
should have been glad to have ordered 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
kept over for another year's growth, reserving as far as possible, of
course, all desirable half-grown bulls for breeders, but at the same time
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 catches. I estimate that not more than 15,000 or 20,000
desirable skins can be obtained next year, and it is possible that taking
even a much smaller number would sooner restore the rookeries to their
former vitality.
The change in the breeding rookeries, though not so immediately
alarming as that observed in the hauling grounds, owing to the large
number of seals still in sight, is sufficiently 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 years ago, are now bare; the lanes and paths across the rookeries,
along which the nonbreeding seals pass to and from their grounds, are
340 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS.
growing wider, and what is still more disturbing to the experienced
seal hunter there is a very noticeable sparseness of population, both
male and female, on every rookery. I should certainly be within bounds
in stating that at least one-third less seals landed on the islands this
year than ten years ago.
You will remark that I have, at the beginning of this statement,
referred back for comparison only to ]873. Prior to that time we were
suffering from the excessive killing of 1808, when, in the absence of any
restriction, more than 200,000 seals were killed in a single year. The
deficiency of male breeding seals, caused by this excess, continued for
four or five years, and is referred to by Special Treasury Agent Bryant
in his report to the Department under date of September 5, LS72. I
allude to this only for the purpose of calling attention to the fact that
any improper 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 last few years in the waters of the North Pacific
and Bering Sea. We are in no way responsible for it. During the first
thirteen years of the lease comparatively few seals were killed by
marauders, and we were then able not only to make good the deficiency
caused by the slaughter of 1868, but, under our careful management, to
produce a decided expansion of the breeding rookeries.
The history of fur-seal killing on the British Columbia coast would,
no doubt, carry us back to an earlier date than the transfer of Alaska
to the United States, but it was done mostly up to 1875 by the use of
rude appliances, and the hunters were unable to pursue their vocation,
to any great extent, on the open sea. About 1875-70, under the stim-
ulus of better prices for skins, induced by the improved meth< ds applied
by us to the fur markets of the world, it was found profitable to fit out
more expensive ventures from Victoria, and the seals were followed
along the British Columbia and United States coasts 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 profitably 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 section 1956 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 fleet of twelve
or fifteen schooners, some of them propelled by steam, were engaged in
the business, and the catch sent into Victoria amounted to about 25,000
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 appeared, 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-
SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIHILOF ISLANDS. 341
eign powers sealed orders to be opened in Bering Sea were given to
the revenue officers, directing them not to make seizures, and while
these orders were withheld from American hunters they appear to have
been published to the British fleet, for the usual number of British ves-
sels made a profitable season's cruise, sending into market more than
10,000 skins; at the same time our American vessels were deterred by
the tone of the published regulations of our Government from under-
taking their usual voyages.
The operations of the marauders in the North Pacific and Bering Sea
beyond the jurisdiction of British Columbia, and exclusive of what is
known as the u Victoria catch " proper, may be summarized, not with
absolute accuracy, but correctly enough for all practical purposes, about
as follows:
1883, 1,000, and 1884, 5,000 skins, estimated without reliable data at
hand; 1885,12,000; 1886,27,500; 1887,25,000; and 1888,19,000 skins
reported by Messrs. C. M. Lampson & Co., of London ; 1889, 10,761 skins
to August 1, landed at Victoria, British Columbia.
Add to this the Victoria catch for the same seven years, which has
averaged about 12,000 skins per annum — 84,000 — and we have a total
of 184,261 skins sent to market in less than seven years. To represent
the destruction of seal life, this number should be nearly doubled to
include the loss of one young seal in embryo or left to starve upon the
islands for nearly every adult killed; and again doubled, perhaps, to
compensate for the unknown factor of waste in killing. Just what pro-
portion of seals killed are actually secured we do not know, but we are
confident that the loss of dead seals in the rough water of the open sea,
and the wounding and subsequent death of many more, is a large per-
centage of those taken. Beyond this, we must also take into the
account 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 of
vessels reported engaged in sealing the present season.
1 have at hand data from this year only on which to base an estimate
of the respective numbers of seals killed in the waters of the North
Pacific and Bering Sea. It appears that during the present season at
least 5,201 skins, exclusive of the catch of the American vessels, were
taken after the sealers left the Straits of Fuca and before they passed
the Alaskan peninsula, for that number were transshipped to the British
schooner Wanderer at Sand Point and sent back to Victoria to avoid
possible capture by our revenue vessels. The British schooners Path-
finder, T/Vrt, and Sapphire landed in Victoria their spring catches,
amounting to 1,719 skins, early in June, and again sent down by the
Wanderer 2,039 skins about the middle 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 American waters.
Attention should also be directed to the fact that by preconcerted
action all the British vessels rendezvoused at Sand Point, Ounga Island,
Alaska, where there is neither port of entry nor customs officer 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 waters of the North Pacific would be difficult
and unprofitable, and that seal life could be preserved by maintaining
342 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS.
the closure of Bering Sea. Now, however, it seems doubtful whether
it will not be necessary to extend protection over the waters of the
North Pacific.
Of course it will be asked if this can be legally effected; I see no
obstacle in the way of doing it. We would have no difficulty whatever
in proving to the satisfaction of any fair-minded nation that all the
seals in the eastern part of the North Pacific and Bering Sea are born
and reared on the Pribilof Islands, and those in the western part of
the same waters have their habitat on the Commander Islands; nor do
they resort for breeding to any other than these two places in the North-
ern Hemisphere, excepting only the very small number found on Rob-
ben Island in the Okhotsk Sea. They can be positively identified as
our property. The seals found in these respective places differ so much
that expert skin assorters can distinguish between them in handling
the skins; and, in any event, this matter concerns only the United
States and Eussia. When the seals on which the British are now poach-
ing are found in the Pacific they are simply astray; but are, neverthe-
less, either our property or that of Eussia, and should be respected and
protected as such.
After twenty one years of careful study of the subject, I am entirely
satisfied that the usual migratory course of the seals leads them to the
southward from the Pribilof Islands, mostly through the passes into
the Pacific, to the eastward of and including the pass of longitude 172°
west; thence they turn to the eastward along the Aleutian Archipelago,
through the Shumagin group, and past Kodiak, to appear in February
and March down about Vancouver Island and in the straits and chan-
nels to the northward and eastward of Vancouver, where large numbers
are annually killed in the early spring months. The more notable proofs
of this are:
(1) That many young seals are killed in November, December, and
January by the Alaskans among the Aleutian Islands, and more could
and would be taken if the natives were not restrained by our agents
from hunting them.
(2) Fur 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 Pacific 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 pregnant
females in just that stage of gestation that would be expected in ani-
mals whose period of eleven months terminates in June.
(5) Almost simultaneously with their disappearance from the British
Columbia coast in April they are again found in increasing numbers in
the Aleutian Archipelago and, a little later, in Bering Sea.
(6) The most careful search for other breeding grounds than those at
the Pribilof Islands has been fruitless. It can be positively asserted
that none exist.
The best season for marauding in Bering Sea is the latter part of
July and August, for the female seals, having left their young on the
islands, are then off on the feeding grounds to the southward, and the
destruction of the mother at this time is followed by the loss of the pup,
which 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 young
was observed during the autumn storms as we have lately witnessed.
SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 343
The greater part of the illegal killing is done with firearms, but some
of the vessels manned by Indians, and notably the Black Diamond,
seized this summer, are iitted only with spears, and these, skillfully
handled, are even more effective than guns, as they can be used with-
out alarming the neighboring seals. The crew of the Black Diamond
secured 143 skins in less than two days preceding her capture. It is
also regarded by old hunters as quite feasible to catch them still more
rapidly and surely by the use of seines and purse nets, though I am
not aware the attempt has as yet been made.
The effect of this extensive and indiscriminate slaughter I have
already pointed out. If unrestricted killing is to be continued we have
no occasion to inquire in regard to any further franchise. The renewal
of the lease would hardly be worth taking as a gift, and with the assur-
ance of fullest protection against marauders and poachers, the fact
should not be lost sight of that under the most intelligent management
some years must elapse before the rookeries can be restored to their
former productiveness. The protection, too, must extend beyond Ber-
ing Sea and over the Korth Pacific to insure perpetuation of the indus-
try; and ought, indeed, in order to make it complete, to include all the
waters along the British Columbia coast, for even the comparatively
small number killed there is no inconsiderable item to the lessees in the
present status of the rookeries.
Different plans for the preservation of the seals are suggested:
1. It is certainly in the interest of the whole world, excepting a few
Canadian seal hunters, that the seals should be propagated and killed
under proper restrictions. This is particularly true for the English, for
they have more capital invested in the business and more people
dependent upon the seal industry than any other nation. If. therefore,
a territorial limit can be defined beyond which no seals shall be killed
in the water, such limit being agreed upon by convention with England
and Russia, and acquiesced in by the powers that have nothing at
stake in the matter, protection will be afforded to such an extent as the
limit proves restrictive. My own idea is that it should cover all the
aquatic resorts of the seals, but if it be decided that British Columbia
hunters are right in killing seals in British Columbia waters, then the
limits might be defined, say, by restricting their operations to the east-
ward of longitude 153° west from Greenwich, to the southward of lati-
tude 54° north, and to the northward of Cape Flattery. If at the
same time restrictions are needed for the protection of Russian inter-
ests in the Northwestern Pacific, similar limitations, as the facts may
indicate, may be marked out and seal life respected at all points beyond
such limits.
2. If restriction by territorial limitation is likely to be difficult to
enforce, or if for any other reason it appears objectionable, a close season
could be agreed upon by convention within which no seals should be
killed 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 spring and
continue until the next winter, say about the middle of May until about
the 1st of February.
3. To facilitate the enforcement of the regulation, both the territorial
limitation and close season might be adopted. The vast extent of
water to be patrolled, and the eagerness with which the seals are pur-
sued, make it necessary to throw every possible safeguard around them
if they are to be preserved.
It would unquestionably be unwise, from a financial point of view, on
344 SEAL LIFE ON THE PKIBILOF ISLANDS.
the part of any of tbe nations interested, to allow pregnant female seals
(and scarcely any other are taken there) to be killed on the British
Columbia coast; but, if something must be conceded to the poachers,
perhaps the opportunity to pursue their destructive occupation along
this coast is the least that will reasonably content them.
In the present status of the seal fishery the value of a renewal of the
franchise for another term of twenty years is very difficult to estimate.
The outlook for the next three or four years is decidedly bad. The
chief elements of uncertainty are:
(1) Doubt as to the intention of our Government in regard to pro-
tecting the fisheries against poachers.
(2) Question whether, in case a restrictive policy is decided upon, the
Government will be able to successfully patrol the broad extent over
which the seals are scattered. A failure to protect them without fur-
ther delay will be fatal to any considerable catch on the islands.
(3) The fact that the rookeries are already badly depleted, and that
all the best seals, for the next two or three years at least, must be
reserved for breeders.
(4) The positive knowledge that the seals that would otherwise come
forward for killing during the next two years have already been slaugh-
tered, and that the catch must for several years to come be much
smaller than heretofore.
I was of opinion two years ago that the next twenty years' lease
could be more valuable than the present term, but am now greatly in
doubt whether we can afford to pay as much as the present rental, even
with a guaranty from the Government of entire protection outside 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 summer. At the present rate of diminution
the rookeries will soon do little more than support the natives dependent
on them and pay the expenses of the necessary outfit to follow the
business.
Very truly, yours, H. H. M C!NTYRE,
Superintendent.
The ALASKA COMMERCIAL COMPANY,
San Francisco, Cal.
CAUSES OF DECREASE IN SEAL HERD.
WEST RANDOLPH, VT., December It, 1890.
MY DEAR SIR : I have at hand extracts from the report of Prof. H.
W. Elliott to the Secretary of the Treasury in the fall of 1890, relative
to the decrease of the seal rookeries of St. Paul and St. George islands,
Alaska; and knowing that you take a deep interest in the matter, beg
to call your attention to a few conspicuous errors into which 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 1872 ? When did this
work of decrease and destruction so marked on the breeding grounds
begin? And how? n He answers these questions as follows:
(1) From overdriving, without heeding its warning, first begun in 1879, dropped
then until 1882, then suddenly renewed again with increased energy from year to
year, until the end is abruptly reached, this season of 1890.
(2) From the shooting of fur seals (chiefly females) in the open waters of the North
Pacific Ocean and Bering Sea, begun as a business in 1886, and continued to date.
SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS.
Professor Elliott is ti naturalist, and a very good one. He is thor-
oughly familiar with the size, form, color, comparative anatomy, domes-
tic habits, and whatever goes to make up the natural history of the
seal. He is tolerably familiar with the seal as viewed from the hunter
or business man's standpoint. He is also fairly capable of deducing from
given facts a theory in regard to the increase or decrease of the seal.
Given correct premises, he would perhaps come as near the truth in
his deduction as the average observer. But when his premises are
wrong, his deductions are more mischievous than those of the average
niaii, because he asseverates his findings with such positiveness, and
such an air of knowing all about it, as to carry the investigator along
with him to the pitfalls digged by theory from wrong hypotheses.
He says, in brief, that there was overdriving in 1879, none in the two
following years, beginning again in 188U and continuing "until the end
is abruptly reached in the season of 1890." As he writes forcibly in
the same connection against the practice of driving the long distance
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 "overdriving" the driving too great distance. 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 invariably sent to Southwest Bay and carts to Halfway Point
to bring in the skins, and the animals were as invariably killed, dur-
ing the last ten years of the Alaska Commercial Company's lease, as
near the rookeries as seemed prudent. The windmill he fights through
several paragraphs of alleged "reasons'7 is less worthy of attack than
Don Quixote's. Jt exists only in his imagination.
Then, the end was not lk abruptly reached." I repeatedly pointed out
to our company and to the special Treasury agents, during the seasons
of 1887, 1888, 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 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 class. If they had been contented with the same
class in 1890 a much larger catch could have been obtained.
Again he is in error in saying that marauding in Bering Sea began
in 1880. It commenced in 1884 with a catch of 4,000 skins, and was
followed with a take of almost 10,000 in 1885.
This brings us to the second reason given by him for the decrease, to
wit, "the shooting of seals (mostly females) in the open waters of the
Korth Pacific Ocean and Bering Sea." And here he strikes the key
note of what should have been his warning, but he strikes it so flat as
to throw his chorus quite out of tune; 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 previous to those six
years, and does not know what he is talking about. His second " reason "
should have been his first, and I assert most positively, with knowledge
drawn from an accurate personal cognizance of the facts, that the dimi-
nution of the seal was exactly coincident in the time of the decrease,
and in its ratio from year to year, with the time and extent of the pirat-
ical marauding of the Canadian and American vessels in the waters of
Bering Sea, and prior to the beginning of such marauding was not
perceptible and 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
346 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS.
the serious import to the seal fisheries of further poaching was under-
stood by our Government, premising always that it is really in earnest
about what it is doing to preserve the fisheries, which, indeed, I find
myself already doubting.
I am, very truly, yours,
H. H. MclNTYRE.
Gen. N. L. JEFFRIES,
Washington, D. C.
LETTER FROM SECRETARY OF TREASURY TRANSMITTING ELLIOTT'S
REPORT TO STATE DEPARTMENT.
TREASURY DEPARTMENT,
OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY,
Washington, I). C., February 23, 1893.
SIR: In compliance with the request contained in your communica-
tion of February 11, I have the honor to transmit herewith a certified
copy (together with the photographic reproductions of the illustrations
and maps) of the report of H. W. Elliott on the Pribilof Islands for
1890. The original of this report will be placed in the custody of
Special Agent W. H. Williams for such use as you may find necessary.
In handing you this report I deem it my duty to acquaint you with
certain facts in connection with my refusal to permit its publication.
Upon its examination I became convinced that it was pervaded by a
spirit of aggressive criticism instead of being a dispassionate statement
of facts 5 that Mr. Elliott's views had been unduly influenced by his
relations toward certain individuals; that the report contained much
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 which
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 pending the
sending of other officers to the islands for the verification of his state-
ments and for the procuring of data on a systematic plan, aided by
photography.
On further examining Mr. Elliott's report in the light of this addi-
tional information and comparing his statements with the island records
now on file in this Department, I find that not only do the objections
against the report cited above still hold good, but that Mr. Elliott has
so used extracts from the records of the islands as to make them appear
to substantiate his assertions that mismanagement on the part of the
United States has played an important part in the diminution of seal
life, which assertions are unsupported by the unabridged records. In
view of its inaccuracies, its misleading character, and its disagreement
with the information brought to me independently by at least three
other officers whom I sent to the islands, and the further grave fact of
the misuse of official data by Mr. Elliott, I dp not believe that the
Government would be justified in publishing this report.
Very respectfully,
CHARLES FOSTER, Secretary.
Hon. JOHN W. FOSTER,
Secretary of State.
SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIHILOF ISLANDS. 347
MR. PHELP'S ARGUMENT BEFORE PARIS TRIBUNAL.
I.
On April 4, 1893, Mr. Phelps made to the Tribunal the following
statement in regard to Mr. Elliott's report of 1890:
This paper was produced and furnished to the British commissioners during their
session at Washington and remained in their possession as long as they cared to keep
it. It will thus be seen that there has been no disposition on the part of the United.
States Government to withhold or to conceal this document.
II.
The report is of little value as an authority and quite as likely to
mislead as to guide. The author is utterly untrustworthy as an
observer.
(1) His field notes show this on their face: A field note should be a
bare and clear and uncolored record of facts observed. These are a
record not only of facts, but of conjectures, opinions, predictions,
reflections, emotions, etc.
An observer should be severely objective. Elliott is always sub-
jective. It is his own conjectures and reasonings which he is most
concerned with. A perusal of pages 236 and 237 (entry of July 10) will
afford amusing proof of this.
(2) It is the 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.
Thus, in 1872-1874, he observed that a certain detached rock or islet
was then covered with the forms of fur seals; but in 1800, writing with
the purpose of showing that injurious redriving was practiced, he repre-
sents that the presence of seals at this place was a wholly recent
phenomenon, occasioned by a too severe working of the neighboring
sealing grounds.
(3) His 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 his earlier visits he found
abounding in young seals to be absolutely destitute of them, whereas
it is proved by the records of the islands that at those very times young
seals were driven and killed from those same places.
Thus he writes July 19, 1890: "Not a single holluschak on Zoltoi
Sands this morning and not one had hauled "there this season/7 The
official records for 1890 (British case, Appendix, Vol. Ill, United States,
No. 2. 1890, pp. Ill, 23) show: (a] That on that very day 3,956 seals
were driven from Zoltoi in connection with Reef rookeries, of which
number 55(> were killed; (b) that a drive had already been made from
those same places June 24, on which occasion 426 seals were killed.
(4) Mr. Elliott appears to be guilty of great inaccuracy in quoting
statements which have been made to him. Thus he attributes to Daniel
Webster the following:
He says that ever since 1876-77 he has observed a steady shrinking of the hauling
grounds at Northeast Point.
In the United States case (Appendix, Vol. II, p. 181), Daniel Webster
makes, however, a sworn statement which is wholly at variance with the
above :
My observation has been that there was an expansion of the rookeries from 1870 up
to at least 1879. In the year 1880 I thought I began to notice a falling off from the
348 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS.
year previous of the number of seals on Northeast Point rookery, but this decrease
was so very slight that probably it would not have been observed by one less familiar
with seal life and its conditions than I.
(5) As a reasoner he is equally bad. He is dominated by a favorite
theory, and when this comes in collision with facts he can not yield the
former, and is consequently constrained to accommodate the latter to it.
(6) The counsel for Great Britain, in order to establish credit for
Mr. Elliott as an authority, point to the circumstance that Mr. Elaine
referred to him with respect in his letter of March 1, 1890. Mr. Blame
was, undoubtedly, as many others were upon the first appearance of Mr.
Elliott as a writer upon seals, under the impression that he 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. Elliott as a theorist and reasoner, Mr. Tapper
cites, in a letter dated March 8, 1890 (British case, Appendix, Vol. Ill,
United States, No. 2, 1890, p. 441), the following criticism made upon
Mr. Elliott by Mr. W. L. Morris in 1879:
This man seems to be the natural foe of Alaska, prosecuting and persecuting her
with the brush and the pen of an expert whenever and wherever he can get an audi-
ence, and I attribute the present forlorn condition of the Territory more to his
ignorance and misrepresentation than to all other causes combined.
Mr. Tapper then goes on to say:
His evidence in 1888 is open advocacy of the United States contention. His writ-
ings and reports prior to the dispute will be referred to, and it will be submitted that
his statements and experiences before 1888 hardly support his later theories.
(7) Dr. Dawson's (one of the British commissioners) estimate of Pro-
fessor Elliott in the fall of 1891 is thus told by Judge Swan (United
States counter case, p. 414), who quotes Dr. Dawson as follows:
Elliott'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 he does not contradict somewhere
else in 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 herd has been generally diminished in numbers and
to point 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 theory that there
is another cause, namely, overdriving and redriviug, which he assumes,
not only without proof, but against the proof, to have been practiced
to a considerable extent for a long period of time prior to 1890.
It is important to understand just what he means by overdriving and
redriving. He does not mean careless handling or undue 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 does mean by his charges concerning overdriving is this:
That in the face of a diminishing number of seals it was still endeavored
to take 100,000 skins per annum, which necessitated, at a date as early
as 1884 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 breeding
seals.
The turning away from the killing grounds of an increasing number
of unkillable seals, which seals ran the risk of being several times
redriven in the same season.
SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS.
349
(b) Wlieu did this scraping of the rookery margins and overdriving
begin? There is no evidence that either began prior to 1890. Elliott
failed to observe or record either between 187U and 1S7U. He advances
in his report of 1890 no evidence whatever on the subject, though lie
alleges at a single place that the natives assured him u that they had
been driving seals in this method ever since 1885; had been obliged to
or go without seals."
This statement attributed to the natives is wholly uncorroborated,
nor does "it appear in their examinations, which are given at pages 300
to 304; that it is in conflict with the evidence of Mr. Goff will be shown
hereafter.
(c) Mr. Elliott thinks that the necessity which leads to overdriving,
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. Furthermore, he supposes
that this scarcity of killable seals, making redriving essentially neces-
sary, was decisively manifested in 18»SU and continually thereafter by
the fact that a constant resort was from that time made to theretofore
"untouched sources of supply" (VI, VIII, IX). In this particular also
he is totally in error. No such supposed "untouched sources of supply'7
then, or ever, existed. Zapadnie and Polavina are intended by him.
They had been systematically drawn upon from the first. (Vol. II,
Appendix to United States case, pp. 117-127; United States counter
case, pp. 78, 79.)
Mr. Elliott's error in this respect is the more inexcusable, since the
official island records were at his disposal and appear to have been
examined by him. The following tables showing the drives that were
actually made from Zapadnie and Polavina are taken from the British
argument, page 103 :
Southwest
V«ir BilV 'in'
chiding
Zapadnie).
Halfway
Point
(Polavina).
Year.
Southwest
Bay (in-
cluding
Zapadnie).
Halfway
Point
(Polavina).
1871 4
1
1881
5
4
187'' 1
1
1882
10
5
1873 3
0
1883
9
5
1874 6
o
1884
9
9
1875 . '• 1
1
1885
6
g
i876 8
1
1886
12
9
1877 6
3
1887
g
Q
1878 ... 6
3
1888
g
g
1879 7
3
1889
g
7
1880 5
4
(In examining tables in the United States case, Appendix Vol. II,
pp. 117-127, it should be remembered that "Zapadnie" and "Southwest
Bay" are two names for the same place, and so also are "Polavina"
and "Halfway Point," the latter term being the English for Polavina.)
(d) Upon this basis of utter misapprehension Elliott proceeds forth-
with to construct a theory, and his theory as far outruns his supposed
facts as those supposed facts do the truth. For he proceeds to assume
that the driving and redriving of seals have been gradually increasing
from year to year and very rapidly since 1884-85, that the process 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" (pp. 7 to 10).
(e) He introduces no proof that driving; overdriving, or redriving of
any sort ever injured the generative organs of a seal which was allowed
3f)U SEAL LIFE OX THE PHIBILOF ISLANDS.
eventually to return to the water, save the following (see pp. 130, I'Oo,
L'71), which lie has mistranslated from Venianiinof. But here, too, be
has led himself into error:
Nearly all the old men think and assert Nearly all the old travelers think and
that the ->eals which are spared every assert that sparing the seals for some
year. i. e., those which have not been years, i.e., not killing them for some,
killed for several years, are truly of little years, does not contribute in the least to
ti>e for breeding. 1\ ing about as it' they their increase and only amounts to losing
were outcasts or disfranchised. them forever.
Venianiinof thus makes no reference whatever to driving, still less
does he refer to any supposed effects of driving upon the reproductive
powers of the seal.
It should be added that both the British commissioners and the
British Government have been misled by Klliott's erroneous translation.
(See British Commissioners' Report, sec. 712. and British counter case,
p. Hi;:5.
( /' i The notion that the mere driving of a seal even over rough ground
renders it impotent is in itself sufficiently absurd, but it becomes still
more' so when considered in connection with the following extract from
Mr. Klliott's tield notes (p. L'44):
I have sat for hours at a time watching the seals come up and go down in ceaseless
tiles of hundred^ and thousands, actually climbing up in places so steep that it was
all an agile man could do to follow them safely.
(, I. and 5 year old males.
(2) That the methods adopted on the Pribilof Islands were from the
first, according to his observations of 1872-1874, admirably adapted to
accomplish the gathering; of the annual increase (pp. 71, 74).
(Bee also description of drive in the parts quoted from his report of
1874, pp. 122-128.)
(3) That the methods pursued in 1800 (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.
I 'age 261): I should remark that the driving of the seals has been very carefully
done; no extra rushing and smothering of the herd, as it was frequently done in 1872.
Mr. Goft' began with a sharp admonition, and it has been scrupulously observed thus
far by the natives.
Page 283: Yesterday afternoon 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 "faints" 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 support a draft far larger than 100,000, probably as
large as 180,000 annually (p. 69).
(He was first on the islands during the three years 1872 to 1874.
This report, written in 1890, represents the herd in 1874 as being in a
nourishing condition. He was again on the islands in 1876. .He does
not intimate anywhere in this report of 1890 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 present management is continued.
Page 213 : In 1835, for the first time in the history of this industry on these islands,
was the vital principal of not killing female seals recognized.
(6) That pelagic sealing is essentially destructive in its nature, 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 which 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 100 of his catch.
Page 13 : The young male seals have been directly between the drive, clnb, and
poacher since 1882, while the females have had but one direct attack 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 1,000 skins taken. (See also p. 85, footnote.)
(8) That it is an absolute necessity that pelagic sealing should be
suppressed on the ground that it is an immoral pursuit, and one which
352 SEAL LIFE OX THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS.
is "repugnant to the sense of decency and simplest instincts of true
manhood." He makes the following- recommendation (see p. 214) :
That pelagic sealing in the waters of Bering Sea be prohibited and suppressed
throughout the breeding season, no matter how, so that it is done, and done quickly.
This step is equ «lly imperative. The immorality of that demand made by the
open-water sealer to ruin within a few short years and destroy forever these fur-
bearing interests on the Pribilof Islands— the immorality of this demand can not be
glossed over by any sophistry. The idea of permitting such a chase to continue
where 5,000 females, heavy with their unborn young, are killed in order to secure
every 1,000 skins taken/ is repugnant to the 'sense of decency and the simplest
instincts of true manhood.
I can not refrain from expressing my tirm belief that if the truth is known — made
plain to responsible heads of the civilized powers of the world — that not one of these
Governments will hesitate to unite with ours in closing Bering Sea and its passes of
the Aleutian chain to any and all pelagic fur sealing during the breeding season of
that animal.
(9) That cows suckle no pups other than their own.
Referring to the driving of nursing cows, he says:
Page2:*7: * * That means death or permanent disability, even if the cows
are driven but once — death to both cow and her pup left behind, since that pup will
not be permitted to suckle any other.
(10) That pups learn to swim; that in the beginning of August a
large majority of them are wholly unused to water (p. 255), and that a
number of them do not " get into the water" before September 1 (p. 260).
(11) That the seals are of a gentle disposition, are not frightened by
the presence of man, and should not be regarded as wild animals.
Page 123: Docility of fur seals when driven. — I was also impressed by the singular
•docility and amiability of these animals when driven along the road; they never
show tight any more than a flock of sheep would do.
Page 98 : Gentleness of the seals. — Descend with me from this sand-dune elevation of
Tolstoi and walk into the drove of holluschickie below us; we can do it; you do not
notice much confusion or dismay as we go in among them; they simply open out
before us and close in behind our tracks, stirring, crowding to the right and left as
we go, 12 to 20 feet away from us on each side. Look at this small lioek of year-
lings—some 1, others 2, and even 3 years old, which are coughing and spitting
around us now, staring up at our faces in amazement as we walk ahead; they strug-
gle a few rods out of our reach and then come together again behind us, showing
no further notice of ourselves. You could not walk into a drove of hogs at Chicago
without exciting as much confusion and arousing an infinitely more disagreeable
tumult ; and as for sheep on the plains they would stampede far quicker. 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 aside from this vast herd in front of us
und around us 2,000 or 3,000 of the best examples, and drive them back, up and over
to the 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 per cent of the entire
number were yearlings last season and came up onto these breeding grounds as vir-
gins for the first time during this season; as 2-year-old cows they of course bear
no young. (Ibid.) This surplus area of the males is also more than balanced and
equalized by the 15,000 to 20,000 virgin females which come onto the rookery for the
first time to meet the males. They come, rest a few days or a week, and retire, leav-
ing no young to show their presence on the ground.
Page 139: Next year these yearlings which are now trooping out with the youthful
males on the hauling grounds will repair to the rookeries, while their male 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 points, but as clearly condemns all of the special
assertions made on the part of Great Britain for the purpose of weak-
ening those positions :
(1) Mr. Elliott holds that coition is never effected in the sea (p. 83).
SEAL LIFE OX THE PK1P.ILOF ISLANDS. 353
(2) lie repudiates the notion that the seals have in any respect
chunked their habits, either in dates of arrival at the islands or other-
wise '(pp. SO. 104, lOfi, 10S, 240. 242, 2!>1).
(3) His observations are to the effect that in the years 1872 to 1876
the herd was in a condition of abounding prosperity. The British
(iovci nineiit cites Bryant to prove that during this period a decrease
in certain classes of the seals had been observed (pp. 69, 77, 78, 79, 124,
151).
(4) The British assertion that the effect of raids upon the island has
been considerable is contradicted by him (pp. 57, 58).
(5) He states, contrary to the contention of Great Britain, that there
has been a gradual improvement in the methods of driving and that
the actual driving- to day is carried on with the greatest of care (pp.
269, 283).
(6) He states that the condition of the natives has improved since
the Americans took possession of the islands, and that they are to-day
in every respect well off (pp. 163, 185).
(7) lie states that no reduction took place in the standard weight of
skins until 18S7 (p. 143).
(8) He states that the seals have great powers of locomotion on land
(pp. 5:;, 244, 258).
Elsewhere .Mr. Elliott says (Fur-seal Fisheries of Alaska, p. 136):
Its forefeet or flippers are exceedingly bro;ul and powerful, and when it comes out
of the water it moves forward, stepping with considerable rapidity and much grace.
(9) 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, 236, 249).
It follows that the rookery observations of the British commissioners,
who did not reach the islands in 1891 until July 27, are worthless. It
follows, also, that Mr. Macoiin (whose observations in 1891 were even
less extensive than those of the British commissioners) is not in a posi-
tion to institute any comparison between the appearance of the rookeries
in 1891 and 1892, respectively.
(10) Mr. Elliott gives no countenance to the idea that there exist
independent pelagic schools of young seals which do not visit the
islands. His 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 the 14th to the 20th of June, they
in their finest form and number for the season, being joined now by the great bu
of the 2-yeav olds, and quite a number of yearlings. By the 10th of July their-iium-
bers are beginning to largely increase, owing to the influx at this time of that great
body of the lust year's pups or yearlings. By the 20th of July the yearlings have put
in their appearance !'<>r the season in full force. Very few yearlings make their
appearance until the 15th of July, but by the 20th they literally swarmed out, in
1872-1*7 1, and mixed up completely with the young and older males and females a: I took notice of a large proportion of small or 2-year-old females, and
the unusual slowness of hauling, compared with 1872, which was now at its greatest
activity July 7. (Tolstoi. July 1. IS}»0.)
Page _'.">:;: The holluschickie are chiefly 1-year olds; nine-tenths of the several
pods hauled out here today are yearlings. A great many yearling females are
hauling down at landings in and among the scattered harems, aimlessly paddling
about; their slight forms and bright backs, white throats and abdomens, are shining
out very brightly. (North Rookery, July 30, 1870.)"
Page 298: I observed a very large proportion of yearling cows scattered all over
the breeding ground from end to end near the sea margin, whil:>.
DIVISION OF SPECIAL AGENTS,
TREASURY DEPARTMENT,
Washington, D. <7., December 20, 1895.
SIR : I have the honor to report that pursuant to Department instruc-
tions dated April 4, 1895, I proceeded to the Pacific Coast and sailed
from Seattle April 23, on board the regular mail steamer for Sitka,
where I arrived May 1 and learned that court was about to be held at
Juneau, to which city I immediately returned for the purpose of looking
after the interest of the Government, as it might appear 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 :
TREASURY DEPARTMENT, OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY,
Washington, D. C., April 4, 1895.
SIR : You are directed to perfect your arraugeiueuts with a view to your departure for
Sitka, Alaska, with as little delay as practicable. It will be your duty to ascertain
and report the location of every salmon cannery or saltery in Alaska; the capacity
of the same in cases, barrels, half-barrels, and kits; the pack m full for each season;
the number of boxes of tin consumed and the cost of the same per box at place of
purchase; the approximate or actual selling price of the product of each fishery in
the market to which the same may be consigned; the number of employees in each
cannery and the totals thereof, segregating whites, natives, Chinese, etc., male and
female, adults and minors, and whether citizens or aliens. You should include, also,
in said reports the codfish, herring, herring-oil, guano, and other such industries.
It is desired that you investigate the alleged taking and destruction of the eggs of
game wild fowl in Alaska, as well, also, as to the alleged wanton destruction of game
birds, deer, fox, and other animals, and also the advisability of adopting suitable
regulations as to close seasons, in ordar to prevent such destruction in future.
You should visit, if possible, every cannery in Alaska, and, when practicable, the
necessary journeys should be made on vessels of the United States. This instruction is
not to be construed, however, as forbidding the use of other means of conveyance
when necessary. You are expected to report to the nearest collector of customs any
infraction of the revenue laws which may come to your notice. You should report,
also, to the Department any violation of the laws relating to the introduction of
firearms or cf liquors into the Territory of Alaska.
For your information I inclose herewith copy of the circular dated August 10, 1892,
pertaining to the erection of dams, barricades, or other obstructions in the rivers of
Alaska for the purpose or result of preventing or impeding the ascent of salmon or
other anadromous species to their spawning grounds. It will be your duty to enforce
the provisions of said circular and to warn all persons who have erected dams, barri-
cades, or other obstructions to remove the same forthwith, and in default thereof
you should report the facts, with the proper proofs, to the United States attorney for
prosecution. •
You should submit reports to the Department from time to, time showing the result
of your work, and at the close of the tishing season you should forward a full report,
covering said season and stating the result of your observations under these instruc-
tions. Any recommendations you deem advisable may be embodied in your reports.
Any official communication which the Department may tiud necessary to address to
you hereafter will be mailed to Sitka, Alaska. In this connection you are informed
356
SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 357
tli at in addition to your duties MS an n^ciit for the salmon fisheries you are to hold
yourself in readiness to make such other investigations or render any service which
the Department may require of you. If practicable, you should at some time dur-
ing the ensuing season visit the seal islands of St. Paul and St. (Jeorjie for the pur-
"f inspecting the rookeries thereon and of comparing their condition with that
of the season of isj»l, with which you are. familiar.
Respectfully, yours, J. G. CARLISLE,
Secretary.
Mr. JosKi'ii Mri:i:AY,
Special? Agent for Hie I'rotection of the Salmon Fisheries,
Fort Collins, Colo.
In addition to the foregoing, I was verbally instructed (time permit-
ting) to attend court during the trial of the 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 importation of spirituous liquors.
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 I was in the midst of the best part of Alaska and of its best and
most energetic citizens, where I could procure most of the information
asked for in my instructions, I resolved to attend court until the arrival
of the Bering Sea patrol fleet off Sitka, and then continue my journey
to the westward.
During our travels through Alaska in 1894, Hon. C. S. FTamlin,
Assistant Secretary of the Treasury, and I were informed at every
important point we touched and found white men that, " because 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 I am sorry to have to 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
to return verdicts of "not guilty" in behalf of every violator of the
revenue law, but also for any crime, if one only knew the particular
attorney to employ.
Mr. Adolph Myer had been a deputy for Marshal Porter; had abso-
lute control and personal charge of the marshal's office, books, and
money, and for years served his superior faithfully and well. But
under the evil influence of bad and wicked men he was led step by
step from one crime to another until forgery and embezzlement 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 I advised to stand up
for the right against all of the vile methods that might be used against
him, and that in doing so he would be supported by the Government.
He said he was afraid of bodily injury, of his personal safety; that
unless he could secure the joint services of a certain attorney whom he
named and whose strength and worth lay in his power to influence
juries, it would be useless to try the case before a jury, for most of the
jurymen would be personal friends of the prisoner and many of them
participators in his crime; that although the prisoner was guilty of
enough crime to keep him imprisoned twenty years, if he could not
influence the jury he would be turned loose on a verdict of "not guilty."
Not knowing how to influence the jury for the purposes indicated,
and being unable to control the district attorney, I was necessarily
obliged to remain a silent spectator of a compromise between the parties
interested, the terms of which were that on condition of the withdrawal
of the plea ef "not guilty" and the substitution of the plea of "guilty"
358 SEAL LIFE OX THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS.
the prisoner would be let off with a small tine and light sentence, which
was done by the district attorney stating that a tine of $,">0 and twenty-
eight months' imprisonment would be satisfactory.
As soon as he was sentenced lie was taken from his cell to the grand
jury room to testify against his former employer and superior officer,
ex Marshal Porter, and he actually did testily 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 8 1,1 L'l )..'>-, which
amount was part of the money drawn by Deputy .Myers from the
Department during t lie temporary absence of the marshal, and for which
lie 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 embezzlement. He
was approached in my presence by the district attorney as a friend,
and asked to acknowledge that the Government owed the money to the
marshal's office, or to be disgraced in his 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.
LIoTOK AND SMr<;<;LIN(i.
Liquor cases were called and disposed of with the regularity of clock-
work, and always with the same result: the witnesses were Indians and
half-breeds, the prisoner was a white man. and his friends and chums
were in the jury box to acquit him.
'•Can you render a verdict according to the law and testimony," said
the judge to a man who was being sworn as a juror. 'k I can," said the
fellow, '-unless the testimony is that of an Indian."
The testimony of Indians is not valued in .luncan. 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 •><> public, saloons open and
doing a public business, some of the more pretentious ones keeping
open house all night, and there was not a Government oflicer in Juneaii
who could be found to interfere with them.
On one technicality or another it seems the laws are not sufficiently
explicit to make it the plain duty of any particular oflicer to raid a
saloon without the cooperation of other officers, who arc. as a rule, not
on hand when wanted.
Speaking to a customs oflicer at Juneau, 1 said, "How on earth do
you account for the existence of so many saloons in .luneau, and many
larger ones in course of erection, if you men do your duty .' v To which
he replied. "Mr. Murray, I know yon are justified in asking such a
question, but you do not know anything about the real situation here
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 1O barrels of liquor, but what was the result '.' The district attor-
ney came into court and moved to have that smuggler discharged on
payi ng a line of s.~j()/'
Meeting the district attorney, I asked him for his side of the story,
and he said. -; Yes, I did let the fellow go on a small line, for I found
that because he was not in the inner circle of smugglers and vendors
he had been selected as 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/'
SKAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 359
And so the story continued to the end of the chapter; one officer
willing1 to lay all the blame on the other, while between them the inter-
ests oi the Government are left to suiter, and the law, that was intended
to do good, become a subject of derision and contempt.
Atrhineau many influential professional and businessmen — whose
names can be given if necessary — expressed themselves 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 a Hairs who are all more or less financially interested in the
liquor business. We favor the fearless enforcement of the law or its
unconditional repeal. 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 places.'"
One of the most prominent attorneys at the Juneau bar said: "I
have faith in the future of Alaska, and I think I can give some reliable
information about the country and its needs. 1 believe the Govern-
ment is to blame because, for 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 upon
with contempt. Juries can not be found here, even among our best peo-
ple, to convict for smuggling or violating the revenue laws. Perjury
is common; and I should advise the 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 — isagainstit. The whole system needs
an overhauling. Tilings 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 liquor law, and liquor is sold here publicly. Charge $1,000
for license and then enforce the law. Had I 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 quote scores of them were it necessary.
Complaint was made on all sides by men of that large class who are
too poor to purchase liquor in large quantities and are not influential
enough to get permits from the customs authorities to bring it in on the
mail steamer. That only a few favored ones — mostly liquor 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 permit from January 1, 1894, to
March 10, 1.S95 — fourteen months; during which time permits were
issued to 34 persons to bring in several hundred barrels of distilled and
malt liquors.
It seemed that the necessity to obtain a permit had ceased to exist
when I was in Juneau in May. for representative salesmen for whole-
sale liquor houses at San Francisco, Seattle, and Portland were otler-
ing to deliver the liquor into the saloons at Juneau before they would
ask pay.
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 enforce or
repeal the present prohibitory law relating to the liquor traffic in the
Territory.
So long as the Government does not own or control a boat of any sort
in a stretch of country 1,500 miles long, where the only road is a water-
360 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS.
way — so long as Government officers are compelled, because of lack of
boat service, to stand 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 wa^ informed of an attempt that was about
to be made to laud 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 ilies over the district. It will
require the presence of a revenue cutter and half a dozen steam launches
to kill oft* smuggling in Alaska." Every word of which I indorse1.
The peculiar 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 population 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 assistant dis-
trict attorney, Mr. Hoggert, on this subject he said: u 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 during 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 EGGS.
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. 1 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 hearing of such a thing until I asked them. I
have written to traders whose business takes them to the Upper Yukon
country, far into the British possessions, men who travel from the
source to 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, u 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
SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 361
he has not as yet gone nor is likely to go until the inducement is some-
thing of far more value than wild-fowl eggs.
DESTRUCTION OF DEER.
The destruction of deer in southeastern Alaska and in all the tim-
bered portion of the Territory from Cape Fox to Port Moller, a distance
of, say, l.LMM) to l.">00 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 1 asked what use had been made of the carcasses,
1 was told the deer were shot for their hides only.
I was informed by many men — officers and citizens — that, as the
weather became warmer in the early spring, the smell from decaying
deer carcasses became horiibly offensive 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 U5 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 the 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 supply for the natives of that barren region, and
it is a very laudable enterprise; but at the same time we allow the
continued wanton destruction of the deer that covers the whole tim-
bered part of Alaska — 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, whose beaches
are kept clean by the tides, where riflemen are ready, stationed in boats
offshore, to begin the manly sport of shooting down helpless creatures,
who can neither resist nor escape.
The following letter from an eyewitness explains itself:
STEAMER ALBATROSS, Unalaska, August 28, 1895.
MY DEAR SIR: I have not been able to unearth the notes I had on deer killing in
Alaska. Krieily, their slaughter has been very great. During the winter of 1894 deer
were killed and wasted in southeastern Alaska. Snow was unusually deep and the deer
were forced to the beaches, which were left clear by the tides. Shooting was 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 bought for 35 cents each. I do not think that Indians should
be 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
going on for the past few years is continued, there will be very few deer left.
As the hides are of comparatively little value, their exportation might be stopped
without causing an v 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. JOSEPH MURRAY.
362 SEAL JLIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS.
FOXES.
After we pass the timber belt to the westward we find but very little
game, the only valuable land animal on the Aleutian chain of islands
being the fox, which until recently was a source of income to the natives,
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 which whole
islands are stripped of their foxes in one winter, and the native hunter
and his children left to starve. So systematically is the work done and
so desperate are the gang engaged in it that those who know them 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 they dam
the streams, capture the salmon by the quantity, and sell them to the
nearest cannery for what they will bring. They 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. They 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 group of
islands, where they spend the winter poisoning foxes and securing the
pelts. These 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.
No 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 I 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 smugglers to their ren-
dezvous and break up the whole business at one blow. As it is now,
all the officers in Alaska are utterly powerless to do anything, and the
consequence is the laws are defied and derided and spat 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, which, if
properly protected by the Government, is capable of giving profitable
employment to the native hunters for all time.
Beginning at Sitka they were to be found till very recently all around
the coast and Aleutian Islands as far westward as Attou, a distance of
nearly 5,000 miles; but now, after a few years of hunting by the mod-
SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIB1LOF ISLANDS. 3fi3
ern methods of steamers and steam launches, they are seldom found
outside a few favorably secluded spots. The steamer and the steam
launch carry crows nf 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,
they die of starvation, for they can not go down for food in deep water.
None but native hunters should be permitted to hunt sea otter,
because it is almost the only support of all the native people from
Cooks Inlet to Attou Island, and, if left to them exclusively, their simple
methods of hunting on the water in skin boats, in which they dare not
venture far from land, can not possibly drive the animal away from its
customary haunts nor exterminate it.
I include in the term native hunters all whites 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
in force until 1893, and in the meantime many white hunters married
native women, made homes, and raised families, and became natives of
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 that business exclusively,
the men themselves have made it their life work, and are now too old
to change 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 Department had given fair warning that he
would not be given the rights of a native hunter the case is altogether
different, and in his case the ruling of the Department ought to stand.
The farther 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 AVs7/,
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 the
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
19th and L'oth of June visiting the principal rookeries and hauling
grounds, 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 inlands early in July and spent the 6th, 7th,
and Sth on the rookeries observing their daily growth and expansion,
as the cows were now arriving and the harems were well denned and
the pups becoming numerous.
Being 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 fields until July 18, when I returned to
the seal islands, where, all being ready, I entered on the most careful
and thorough inspection of the rookeries ever made by me. The result
is shown in the inclosed table marked Exhibit A.
Beginning at St. Paul Island July L'l.and completing the work at St.
George August 14, I walked over the several rookeries and counted
364 SEAL LIFE OX THE PRIHILOF 'ISLANDS.
every individual breeding male or bull seal who bad a harem, noting
and counting very carefully, too, every idle bull, or, in other wordsr
every bull whose youth, strength, and vigor fitted and qualified him for
a harem had there been cows to be found in sufficient numbers to sup-
ply them, which, unfortunately, there were not. So carefully 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 possible to get
them.
Under the head of bachelors, or young males, are included all the
seals on the islands other than 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 breeding females or cows is based on an arbitrary
average of 40 to the harem, or 40 cows to every breeding bull, as was-
adopted in and followed since 1891, though 1 am of the opinion it was
an overestimate and that the harems never did and do not now contain
an average of 40 cows each.
Having adopted that number, however, and having used it so long
in our estimates, it was necessary to use it in the present instance for
the sake of making fair comparisons when considering the steady
annual decrease of the seal herd and the shrinkage of the rookery area*
Admitting the average number of cows in a harem to be less than
40 — and I believe all who know anything about seal life on 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 proportion.
By way of explanation I will say that when we first attempted to
count the bulls, in 1891, for the purpose of getting, approximately, at
the number of seals on the islands, it was deemed best to run the risk
of overestimating the herds, lest Great Britain should object to our
figures and insist on a recounting and, possibly, discover an error upon
which to base an argument against us for the purpose of showing our
anxiety to prove the wicked wastefulness of pelagic sealing.
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 multiply the num-
ber found by two. on the ground that it was not possible 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, I 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 consequence now, for the fact remains that, no matter
what the actual numbers were in 1891, 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 practical purposes, 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-
SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 365
demonstrated from the statistics oil file in the Department which show
a, pelagic catch of Alaskan seals to have been as follows:
1891 .. 45,491
IS!IL> 46,642
1893 28,613
1S!M 55,668
1895 (estimated) 40,000
Total for Jive years 216, 864
to which I add o'O percent for the loss of pups that died on the rookeries
because of the killing of their dams at sea during the nursing season.
I base the proportion of pups on what I witnessed this year in Bering
Sea, where the logs kept by the sealers showed a killing of (JO per cent
females for the season : 21(>,8(>4 plus <>0 per cent equals 34(i,98'J seals
taken or destroyed in live years by pelagic sealers who pay nothing
whatever for the care of the animals.
I have estimated 40,000 as the catch for 1895. 1 left Bering Sea Sep-
tember 18. when 31,iM(> seals had beeu taken by pelagic sealers, of which
number IS.SCSor CO per cent were females as per 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 and
rest, instead of which they met the pelagic sealer who, according to law,
killed them and carried off their skins and left their helpless young to
bleat themselves to death upon the rookeries.
In a former report I pointed out the absurdity of the regulations that
would protect the female seals from the pelagic sealer during the
months of May, June, and July, most of which time they are on the
islands and beyond his reach, and that would give him a clear 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 other times,
she needs protection.
The taking of 31,000 seals in the month of August, 1895, proves the
correctness of my position, and renders it needless to dwell upon the
absurdity of the position the nation has been placed in by the present
sealing regulations.
I therefore most respectfully call the attention of the Department to
the five suggestions made by me in my report of last year, the adop-
tion of which I 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 fleet of the
Pacific Ooast had to do duty in Bering Sea, I 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 1894, and of which I treated in
my report for that year.
I found the fishermen with their nets in the narrowest part of the
Karluk River, and so systematically do they work the nets that I could
Gu'6 SEAL LIFK OX THE 1'RIIULOF ISLANDS.
not set* how it was possible tor a fish to ever pass them to the spawn-
ing grounds.
Remonstrating with the tbreinan about such flagrant violation of the
law and o!' his own promise, made in IS'.M. tliat sueli methods should
not be continued, lie replied: •• 1 was sent here to take lish: my orders
are to lake them wheiever I can lind them, and 1 am going to obey my
orders."
lie afterwards explained to me how, during the storms when the
water is too roi gh to allow the spreading of nets, enough salmon pass
into and up the river to supply twice the quantity of spawn required
for perpetuating the stock.
His rival across the river indorsed him in all this, but added: ';As
soon as the storm ceases the fishermen follow the salmon upstream to
the playground and capture every one of them."1
Exhibit 11, which accompanies this report, is a copy of a bill which I
would like to see become law. for 1 believe 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.
Exhibit (.' is a detailed statement of the salmon pack in Alaska for
1SJ».">. showing the number of lish taken, the number of cases put up,
and the numberof men — white, native, and ( Miinese — 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 1 have been unable to
secure is the selling price of the product of each cannery in the market
to 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 pack is sold, is as follows: Silver
salmon, si' cents per do/en: red salmon. \)'2\ cents per dozen: king
salmon. OL'J, cents per do/en, and barrels of UOO pounds net, 84.7.").
Considering that only very lew silver salmon are taken and packed,
it is safe to say that the whole number of cases put up in 1895 averaged
£.':>. 00 per case, or a sum equal to ^-,±^,7(14. 10, which, added to the
price of Hi.sr>7 barrels at s4.7."i. makes a grand total of *_!,3-!0,0<>8 as
the price reali/ed on Alaskan salmon in 18!).").
Exhibit E is a summary of the salmon pack of the Pacific (-oast and
Alaska for 1S!>.~». showing a grand total of -,040,0111 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 perpetuated indefinitely goes without saying, and
yet I find it the hardest part of all to make men believe there is any
danger in t lie present methods of fishing.
'lhat 1 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 deeply interested in Alaska, whose homes
are there, and who have everything at stake in the successor failure
of t lie Territory.
To Mr. William Duncan (Ealher Duncan), of Metlakahtla, 1 sent a.
series of questions which 1 requested should be submitted to his peo-
ple for consideration and the answers given to me when 1 called at the
Th<- phi\ ground i- that part of thr stream where the salt and fresh \vatcrs meet
and mingle, in which the salmon prefer to live for several weeks before spawning.
SI:AL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 367
settlement in the fall. As I did not have the opportunity to return by
that route, I could not call at Metlakahtla as I intended, so Mr. Dun-
can very kindly sent me the following- letter:
MKTI.AKAIITLA, ALASKA, October /.:, 7X9.7.
My DEAR Mic. MrnuAv: Your letter dated Inalaska, September 11, only reached
me the latter part of last week. It ha.\ Tin: PKIT.ILOF ISLANDS.
CONCH SioN.
Knough has been said 1 think to show the necessity of some radical
changes in Alaska, the first of whi'-h should be the enforcement of the
law.
1 therefore most respectfully recommend the following:
First. The repeal of the present prohibitory liquor law and the sub-
stitution of high license.
Second. That a revenue cutter and three armed steam launches be
permanently located in Alaskan waters.
Third. That the custom house on Mary island be discontinued and
removed to a more desirable, because more useful, location in the
Tongas Narrows.
Fourth. That Alaska be divided into at least two judici.il districts,
with one judge at Sitka and one at Circle City, on the Yukon.
Fifth. That three additional commissioners be appointed. one at Cnga,
one at St. Michaels, and one at Circle City.
Sixth. That a deputy collector iif not a custom house' be located at
Cnga.
Seventh. That a marine hospital be erected at Cnalaska. (Fitherof
the trailing companies will erect and furnish a building if the Depart-
ment will furnish medicines and a physician.,
Fighth. That Alaska be allowed a Delegate to Congress.
There are many important matters that I have not referred to in this
report, such, for instance, as the condition of the native tribes on the
Aleutian Islands and in southeastern Alaska : schools and post-oHiees
on the Yukon 1'iverand in the great interior — allot' which will be dealt
with in a future report.
The proposed changes are really necessary to the present and future
welfare of Alaska, and. because of the rapidly increasing white popu-
lation flocking to the rich gold diggings, it is absolutely necessary that
the law should be rigidly enforced. The wealth of Alaska in furs,
fish, and gold, if properly protected by the (lovcriiment. will be of
immense value, which may be made to increase annually, but which, if
neglected by the (lovernment and left to the present system of no law
at all, or what is far worse, lawlessness, will soon end in disgrace and
disaster.
Very respectfully submitted. JOSEPH .Mr KM: AY,
Special Af/cnf for the Protection of Salmon FixJteries in Alaska.
Hon. .JOHN C. CARLISLE,
tiecrctan/ of the '/'/
.\ a inlicr of m:«lx on Hi. I'atil tntti >'/. (Ifortjf ixlnnilx, .ST// <>!' 7S!i.~.
ST. I'Al'L ISLAM).
li-.-l'
J.a-M
Tolst
1,7125 (i!l. Odd '.I. 000
:;r>n 11,0"" 2,0011
:;on rj. ooo I.OHU
L'du H. ooo :tdd
1 .OIK) in. oiiO f). Odd
5o 'J. OOo 50
100 1 (i. (M'd
: 0
•i,dOd
MH
l,00o 80,725
200 Hi, 550
200 13,500
50 8,550
500 -Hi, 500
L'. 100
250 1 (5. fi50
1 . 500
loo 5, Odd
:;oo 24. :too
2,000 215, .'!75
SKAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS.
373
\nmher of seals on >7. I'tnil and St. George islands, season of 1895— Continued.
ST. <;KOK<;K ISLAND.
Rookery.
Bulls with
harem H.
Cows.
Bach-
elors.
Idle
bulls.
Total.
Starrv \rteel
60
2 400
300
„„
2 800
North
100
4, 000
500
50
4,650
East
80
3 200
3 000
40
6 320
Little East
25
1 000
50
20
1 095
Xapadnie
110
4,400
3, 000
50
7,560
Total
375
15,000
6,850
200
22,425
Total on both islands
5 000
200 000
30 000
2 800
237 800
EXHIBIT B.
•
Liquors cleared from Puyet Sound for Alaska, January 1, 1894, to March 10, 1895.
Date.
Per-
mit No.
Kinds and quantities.
Consignee.
Name of vessel.
Date cleared.
Jan. 6, 1894
51
1 barrel bottled beer
A dolph My er
City of Topeka.
Jan. 15, 1894
Dec. 22 1893
46
1 barrel rye whisky
do
do
Do
Do
46
1 barrel Bourbon whis-
C. F. Fueher
do
Do.
Do
44
ky, 10 barrels beer.
1A barrels ( 'alif'ornia
William Nelson
do
Do.
Dec. 21,1893
Jan 5 1894
41
50
brandy. 1£ barrels
California claret, 5
barrels beer, 3 barrels
ale, 3 cases porter, 10
gallons sherry, 10 gal-
lons Irish whisky, 10
gallons Scotch whis-
ky, 10 gallons gin, 10
gallons rum. 1 case im-
ported brandy, 1 case
imported whisky, 2
cases champagne.
1 gallon port wine, 1
gallon brandy.
6 bottles ( 'hina'liquor
C. J. Kostromehuofl'
do
do
Do.
Do
Dec. 6, 1893
Jan. 2, 1894
Dec. 22,1893
Do
39
49
45
47
1 case whisky. 1 case,
wine, 1 case porter.
1 barrel beer
1 barrel porter
1 barrel \vhiskv libar-
Duncan McKimon . .
W.C. Mills
Chae.Giffey
Win Mulcihv
do
do
do
do
Do.
Jan. 30,1894
Do.
Do
Dec 6, 1893
37
rels nun. H barrels
brandy, 1 barrel por-
ter. 1 barrel beer.
30 gallons claret wine
C S Johnson
do
Jan 15 1894
Feb. 7, 1894
Feb. 8, 1894
Feb. 7, 1894
Do
Jan. 20, 1894
57
59
58
55
53
5 gallons whisky
•J barrels beer
1 barrel whisky. 5 bar-
rels beer, 2 barrels
porter, 2 barrels ale,
G cases Irish whisky,
6casesllennes\- bran-
dy.
1 barrel whisky. 1 bar-
rel brandy. 8 barrels
beer, 1 case cham-
pagne, '_' barrels whis-
1 barrel gin, 5 gallons
Smebv Bros
E.DeGroff
W. Mulcahy
William Nelson
E. De Grott'
...do ...
do
do
do
do
Feb. 17,1894
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do
Jan. 16,1894
52
Jamaica rum. 2 gal-
lons Madeira wine,
12 gallons sherry
wine. :;u gallons clar-
et. 1 case 1. randy, 1
case champagne, 1
barrel ale, 1 barrel
porter, f> gallons port
wine, 1 1) gal Ions whis-
ky. f> cases whisky.
1 case nine
W. P. Mills
Mexico
Feb. 27,1894
Jan. 22, 18«.»4
54
50 gallons whisky, 20
J. C. Kooshcr
City of Topeka
Mar 14 1894
gallons brandy. L'O
gallons port wine, 10
gallons alcohol, 50
gallons claret, 6 bar-
rels beer, 2 cases gin.
374 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS.
Liquors cleared from Puyet Sound for Ahtxka. etc. — Continued.
Ppr
Date. niitNo Kinds aml quantities.
Consignee. Name of vessel. Date cleared.
Feb. 23,1894 61
Feb. 24.1894 63
Mar. 9,1894 64
Feb. 20, 1894 60
Mar. 9,1894 67
Do 66
2 barrels bonvbou whis-
ky, 10 gallons ruin, 2"
gallons brandy, 10
gallons port wine.
:* barrels bottled beer. . .
William Nelson Citvt
f Topeka.. Mar. 14,1894
> Mar. 29,1894
E.DeGroif d
1 case whisky
II F Swift . do -- T)o
\V M Tavlor Chilk
:tt Ai»r 7 1>«U
Do 65
1 case ale, I case porter.
1 barrel whisky. I.1, bar-
rels brand v.' 3 cases
Irish whisky, 6 bar-
rels beer.
10 gallons whisky. 1
case beer. 1 gallon
brandy. '1 rases wine.
15 gallons port wine
3 gallons whisky
10 gallon* alcohol
5 gallons alcohol
•J barrels whisky, 1 bar-
rel brandy , 2 cases gin ,
20 gallons ruin. f>e;iM's
whiskv, 5 cases bran-
dy, 10 barrels beer, 10
cases porter, 10 cases
ale, 2 cases cham-
pagne, 1 barrel port
wine, 1 barrel sherry,
! barrel claret. 1 bar-
rel alcohol.
.1 M Davis do Tlo
Do - 68
W Mnh-ahv d
i Do.
Feb. 23,1894 62
Mar. 9, 1894 70
Apr. 4, 1894 72
Do 71
Robert Duncan. .ji- - . ('ity<
Father Don^key d
t Topeka.. Apr. 13,1894
> .. . Am-. 28. 1894
Archv Campbell do May 14, 1894
C. F.Peuher do 'Do.
May 19,1894 93
Do 96
F. D. Xowell Rosalie May 29, 1394
M a \ Hndleman do Do.
Do 91
Mrs. Hammond d
F.Bach d
B. De Groff Citvc
R E Rogers 'd
> Do.
> Do.
f Topeka.. June 12, 1894
j Do
Do 92
do
3 barrels beer
June 4,1894 100
t Do 99
May 9. 1894 84
June 13, 1894 105
June 18, 1894 107
June 28, 1894 108
May 19,1894 94
July 1,1894 116
June 28, 1894 109
June 18, 1894 113
Aug. 3,1894 120
July 18,1894 114
Aug. 3,1894 119
Aug. 13, 1894 123
Aug. 13, 1894 i 124
Sept. 6.1894 ! 129
Aug. 13, 1894 122
Sept. 6,1894 128
Oct. 4, 1894 139
Sept. 6,1894 130
Oct. 3, 1894 138
Sept, 25, 1894 132
Oct. 17, 1894 ! 142
Do 145
4 barrels beer
1 dozen bottles brandy
E. De Grolf (Jiice
do Cityc
> June 22,1894
f Topeka.. June 29,1894
> Do.
15 barrels beer, 1 barrel
sherry wine, 1 barrel
whisky. 5 cases por-
ter, 1 barrel port wine.
5 cases ale. 5 cases
gin. 5 cases claret
wine.
10 barrels beer
K. DeGrotV Queei
(' Spnher d
i July 8, 1894
i Do.
20 barrels beer, 1 barrel
brandy, 1 barrel port
wine, 1 barrel sherry,
1 barrel claret, 3 cases
champagne. 5 cases
porter, 5 cases ale.
5 cases brandy.
10 gallons whisky
Max Endlemen City
K.De Groff Queei
Karl Koehler d
• f Topeka July 27,1894
i .. . Aug. 6,1894
Do
lO'barrels beer
1 case whisky, 1 case
wine, 1 case porter.
1 case cognac, 10 cases
port wine. 10 cases
sherry. 10 cases whis-
ky*
1 case ale, 1 case porter.
E.De Groff City of Topeka.. Aug. 13,1894
D McKinnon do Do
E De Groff Queen \u Sept, 19, 1894
R C Rogers Mexi
•ii Sent. 25. 1894
10 barrels whisky
E De Groff . -- Do.
do Citv r
f Topeka.. Oct. 11,1894
•o . . . . Oct. 25. 1894
10 barrels white wine. 1
barrel claret.
do Me-ci
R C Rogers ...do Do.
Karl Koehler d
) Do.
u Do.
Ed. De Grotf d
> Nov. 10, 1894
Sept. 25,1894 135
Oct. 17,1894 1 144
Do 144
Dec. 19,1894 150
1 case whisky
30 gallons whisky
10 gallons ruin
1 bottle brandy, 1£ gal-
lons whisky, 1 gallon
port wine.
M Healy .- d
Do.
Ed, D« Groff Chilcat Nov. 21.1894
do Mexico Nov. 26, 1894
Dr. C. Theving do Do.
SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS.
cleared from- rntjet Hound for Alaska, etc. — Continued.
375
Date.
Nov. 16, 1894
Per-
I1|ir Xo Kinds and quantities.
( 'onsignee
Name of vessel. Date cleared.
147
11 dozen Kiiiiiin-1. U
dozen Benedictine, 1.'
do/ en absinth, 1A
do/.en tdraohwasser,
1\ do/en anisette, 1A
K. Ih'droll1 Mexico Dec. 28, 1894
Dec. 19,1804
j.u, 9 1395
151
157
do/oen niarascbino, 1 J,
dozen Chartreuse, I
case gin. 1 case cham-
pagne. 1 barrel por-
ter. 1 barrel ale.
1 barrel bottled porter..
Win. Mulcabv
K Detiroll'
Chilcat
Jan. 3, 1895
Jan V 1*95
Do
M-iv 4 1894
157
82
12 bottles China liquor.
Sing Lee
do
Cliilkat
Do.
Jan 'J3 1895
Jan. -2. ISM:.
Do
155
162
12 bottles assorted liq-
uors.
10 barrels beer
B.O. Rogers
I DeGrolt"
City of Topeka.
do
Do.
Feb 7 1895
Jan. 1H.1s-.tr,
Jan '• 1895
159
154
6 do/.cii bottles porter. .
1 barrel claret
( K. Tibbits
C S. J ohnson
do
do
Do.
Do.
Dec 1() 18'M
102
I red Hall
to
Do
Ft'b. I:'., IS! l.l
Do
170
1(59
10 gallons whisky
1 . DeGrotf
do
lo
lo
Feb. 24,1895
Do
.Ian ''1 IS1).")
1G1
do
to
Do.
Jan 10 1895
160
20 av Packing
do
31
65
do ....
172 049
Co.
Hume- Packing Co
...do ...
84
142
. . do . .
603 4'71
Arctic Packing < 'o j
Alitak
31
is
do....
174.568
8,321
Chigiiik l.av Packing Co.
Chignik
89
48
31
77
110
do
Gill nets
25, 199
324, 277
683 319
Pacific Packing Co
Pyramid Harbor Pack-
ing Co.
Glacier Packing Co
Alaska Salmon Packing
Prince Williams
Sound.
Pyramid Harbor..
Fort Wrangell
Loriii"- !
95
80
41
30
39
62
71
SO
63
77
70
and seine.
do ....
Gill nets..
do ....
Seine
4,319
9,453
3,294
143, 100
310, 759
133, 509
14 733
142, 937
7,028
154, 183
435 368
and Fur Co.
Point Roberts Packing-
Koggiiing
34
10
Gill nets..
405
143, 800
Co.
Fgashik Fishing Station.
Egegak Fishing Station.
Togiak Fishing Station
Si'lina liiver
Togiak
41)
12
12
22
dill nets
and seine.
dill nets..
do
65, 219
54, 321
1 800
Total
1,002
881
1,211
62, 190
4,646,215
775, 887
376
SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS.
Statistics of Alaska salmon pack, season of 1895 — Continued.
Xame.
Cases.
Bar-
rels.
Ligi
Steam- D(
ers cm-
ployed. Num-
ber .
:ers and y
JiltS.
™"<- =&•
ets.
Value.
Sail
ton- Value
nage of tin
em- plate,
ployed.
Bristol Bay Cannin0' Co .
33 434
2 42
$18 OUO 80
$4 000
1 355 $19 360
Alaska Packing Co
Arctic Packing Co
34, 632
33 631
1 44
1 43
13. 000 \ 84
1° 500 83
4, 200
4 100
1, 100 19, 100
1 040 19 600
Do
22. 731
1,045
1 23
15 000 42
2 100
900 13 200
Thin Point Packing Co
395
1 10
6 000 4
800
255 !
Karluk Packin«r Co
48, 379
3 47
30 000 j 15
3,000
Tanglefoot Bay Packin 500 6
1 200
555
Egf"'ak Fishing Station
1,048
3
600 3
600
126
40
9
400 2
400
130
*
Total
473, 949
7. 455
26 504
278 900 684
44, 900
18. 404 279, 760
Statistics of Alaska salmon pack, season of 1895 — Continued.
Xame.
Location.
Barn-Is.
C.E.Whitney & Co Nushagak 1,043
Prosper Fishing and Trading Co Kvichak 2,300
L. A. Pederson ; Xaknek 14,253 300
Bering Sea Packing Co I TJgashik 12,007 !
Norton, Teller & Co ..do 220
Lynde & Hough Shumagin islands , 75
Alaska Improvement Co ; Karluk I 26. 000 ;
C.D.Ladd Cooks Inlet 350
Pacific Steam Whaling Co j Prince William Sound j 25,037
Peninusular Fishing Co u'opper River 15,000
Baranoft* Packing Co Haranotf Island 14. 805
North Pacitic Fishing and Trading Co j Klawak ' 12,228 104
Boston Wishing and Trading Co Yes Bay U, 100
Metlakahtla Industrial Co. .
Miller&Co
Cape Fox Packing Co
Various
Meltakatta
Cordova Bay
(Jape Fox
Southeastern Alaska.
12, 000
Total 145.430
1,800
1,200
2,000
9, 392
SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS.
377
EXHIHIT D.
Salmon packing (stations in Alaska.
Xo.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
I
25
26
27
Locality.
Name of company.
Can- Salt- Her-
nery. ery- ring.
* 1
Chilcat '
Alaska Packing Association
2
Port Althorp -
Ford & Stokes "^
1
Killisnoo
1
Kcd Fish I'.av |
Baraiiott' Packing Co
1
Fort Wraiigell
Alaska Packing Association
1
Yes Bay
Boston Fishiuir and Trading Co
1
Lorin &
Alaska Packin°r Association .
]
Port Chester
Metlakahtla Industrial Co
1
1
Klu\vak
North Pacific Packing Co
Cordovia Bay
Miller &. Co
1
Tolstoi Bay
do
1
Tort Ellis
Kniu Island
1
( 'a pe Fox
1
Copper lliver, Delta Peninsula
EvaK Village ....
Fish and Trading Co
I
Pac.ilic Steam Whaling Co
1
Cooks Inlet, Kussilo lliver
Alaska Packing Association
1
do
1
West side of Cooks Inlet
Afognak (not in operation)...
C. D. Ladd & Co
1
2 1
Karluk River
Alaska Packing Association
2
Alaska Improvement Co. . .
1
R. D. Hume & Co '
Alitak Bay '
Alaska Packing Association (used up)
j
I'-ak Bay, Eagle Harbor
Chignik Bay.. . ,
Oliver Smith
I
I
Pirate Cove", Popoff
McCollum Tradiu" Co
i
Thin Point
Alaska Packin' Association 1
1
do
1
Knichak liiver •
Alaska Packiii"' Association
Xnshagak
Prosper Fish and Trading Co
1 '
Port Alexander
\Vhiteney Co 1
Total
27
14 1
EXHIBIT E.
Sailing distances from Cape Fox to the different salmon canneries in Alaska.
[Figures in parentheses are map numbers.]
(13) Cape Fox to (10) Cordovia
Bay
(13) Cape Fox to (8) Port Chester.
(10) Cordovia Bay to (9) Klawak..
(8) Port Chester to (11) Tolstoi
Bay
(8) Port Chester to (7) Loring
(7) Loring to (6) Yes Bay
(11) Tolstoi Bay to (5) Fort Wran-
tf«'ll
(5) Fort Wrangell to (12) Port
Ellis
(9) Klawak to (4) Red Fish Bay. ..
(4) Red Fish Bay to (2) Port Al-
thorp
(2) Port Althorp to (3) Killisnoo..
(3) Killisnoo to (1) Chilcat Inlet..
(1) Chilcat Inlet to (14) Copper
RiverDelta..
Miles.
80
50
100
60
60
25
100
100
150
150
200
200
1,000
Miles.
(14) Copper River Delta to (15)
Eyak village 50
(15) Eyak village to (17) Afognak. 500
(17) Afognak to (20) Ugak Bay,
Eagle Harbor ".. 75
(20) Ugak Bay to (19) Alitak Bay. 100
(19) Alitak Bay to (18) Karluk
River 100
(18) Karluk River to (21) Chignik
Bay 300
(21) Chignik Bay to (22) Pirate
Cove 200
(22) Pirate Cove to (23) Thin Point . 150
(23) Thin Point to (24) Ugashik. . . 500
(25) Naknik River to (26) Kvichak
River 25
(26) Kvichak River to (27) Nusha-
gak 100
Total 4,375
378
SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS.
EXHIBIT F.
Summary of salmon pack, 1895.
Columbia River 617, 460
Alaska 619, 379
British Columbia 512, 877
Outside rivers 290, 300
Total 2,040,016
Cases.
Columbia River 617, 460
Alaska (16 locations) 619, 379
British. Columbia:
Fraser River 347, 674
Skeena River 66,983
Lowe Inlet 8,500
Nass River 19, 000
Rivers Inlet 61, 720
Alert Bay 5, 500
Clavoauot 3, 500
- 512, 877
Outside rivers and bays:
Nehalem River 6. 300
Sinslaw River S. 552
Coquille River 9, 468
Umpque River 10, 300
Tillamook River 5. 000
Alse.'i Bay 5, 000
Coos Bay 10, 380
Puget Sound (4 locations) 157, 000
Grays Harbor 18, 000
Shoalwater Bay 16,000
Rogue River 14, 000
Sacramento rivers 24, 000
California rivers 6, 300
290, 300
2, 040, 016
EXHIBIT G.
Alaskan and Pacific Coast salmon pack, from 1866 to 1895, both inclusive.
Year.
Columbia
River.
1867 . .
1868 ..
1869..
1870...
1871 . .
1872 . .
1873 . .
1874 ...
1875 . .
1876 . .
1877 . .
1878 . .
1879 . .
1880...
1881..
1882 . .
1883 . .
1884--
1885..
1886...
1887...
1888..
1889...
1890..
1891 . .
1892 . .
1893..
1894..
1895 . .
Outside
4,000
18, 000
28,000
100, 000
150, 000
200,000 j
250,000
250,000
350,000 j
375,000
450,000 I
460,000 I
460,000 !
480,000 i
630, 000 i
551,000 !
541, 300 I
629,400 !
656, 179 !
524. 530 i
454,943 I
373.800 I
367,750
325, 500 I
433,500
390, 183 |
481,900 !
425,200 !
511,000 !
617,460 !
Alaska.
Total.
2,500 ,
3,000
33,900 i
46,300 ;
66.500 '
61^000 i
»8,200 ;
229, 700
249,300 |
198,000
122,800 ;
100,250 ;
170,400
231,900
212,000 i
265,734 <
102,123
82,447 !
160,800
209, 496
214. 896 i
290,300 ;
9,847
67, 387
113,601
57, 394
61, 300
175, 675
255, 061
243, 000
138, 945
106, 865
163, 004
201, 990
135, 600
414,400
409, 464
314, 813
221, 797
590, 229
494, 470
512, 877
36, 000
54, 000
74, 850
120, 700
190, 200
427, 372
709, 347
688, 332
789, 294
461, 482
645, 545
678, 501
619, 379
4,000
18, 000
28, 000
100, 000
150, 000
200, 000
250, 000
250,000
352, 500
378, 000
493, 747
573, 687
640, 101
598, 394
779, 500
956, 375
1. 045, 661
1, 106, 400
971. 924
806, 495
909, 047
997, 890
1, 142, 722
1, 714, 981
1, 633, 419
1, 576, 737
1. 325, 979
i. 870, 470
1, 898, 867
2. 040, 016
SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIHILOF ISLANDS. 379
EXHIBIT H.
A BILL to amend an act entitled "An act to provide for the protection of the salmon fisheries of
Alaska."
/:<• it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America
in Congress assembled, That the act approved March second, eighteen hundred and
eighty-nine, entitled ''An act to provide for the protection of the salmon fisheries of
Alaska." is hereby amended and reenacted, as follows:
SECTION 1. Tluit the erection of dams, barricades, fish wheels, fences, traps, pound
nets, or any fixed or stationary obstructions in any part of the rivers or streams of
Alaska, or to tish for or catch salmon or salmon trout, in any manner or by any means,
with the purpose or result of preventing or impeding the ascent of salmon or salmon
trout to their spawning ground, is declared to be unlawful, and the Secretary of the
Treasury is hereby authorized and directed to remove such obstructions and to estab-
lish and enforce such regulations and surveillance as may be necessary to insure that
this prohibition and all other provisions of law relating to the salmon fisheries of
Alaska are strictly complied with.
SEC. 2. That it shall be unlawful to tish, catch, or kill any salmon or salmon trout
of any variety, except with rod or spear, above the tide waters of any of the creeks
or rivers of less than five hundred feet wide in the Territory of Alaska, or to lay or
set any drift net, set net, or seine for any purpose, 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 witbin one hundred yards of any other net
or seine which is being laid or set in said stream or channel, or to take, kill, or fish
for salmon in any manner or by any means in any of the waters of the Territory of
Alaska, either in the streams or tide waters, from noon on Saturday of each week
until six o'clock post meridian of the Sunday following, or to fish for, or catch, or kill in
any manner, or by any appliances, except by rod or spear, 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.
SK> . 3. That the Secretary of the Treasury may, at his discretion, set aside certain
streams as spawning grounds, in which no fishing will be permitted; and when, in
his judgment, the results of fishing operations on any stream indicate that the
number of salmon taken is larger than the capacity of the stream to produce, he is
authorized to establish weekly close seasons, to limit the duration of the fishing
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 herein, and such regulations as the
Secretary of the Treasury may establish in pursuance thereof, he is authorized and
directed to appoint one" inspector of fisheries 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 provisions of the law herein.
SKC. 5. That any person violating the provisions of this act, or the regulations
established in pursuance thereof, shall, upon conviction thereof, be punished by a
fine not exceeding one thousand dollars, or imprisonment at hard labor for a term of
ninety days, or both such tine and imprisonment, at the discretion of the court:
And provided further, That in case of the violation of any of the provisions of sec-
tion one of this act, and conviction thereof, a further fine 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 be given
by any Government officer or private citizen.
THIS BOOK IS DUE ON THE LAST DATE
STAMPED BELOW
AN INITIAL FINE OF 25 CENTS
WILL BE ASSESSED FOR FAILURE TO RETURN
THIS BOOK ON THE DATE DUE. THE PENALTY
WILL INCREASE TO SO CENTS ON THE FOURTH
DAY AND TO $1.OO ON THE SEVENTH DAY
OVERDUE.
APR 4 1S35
r\r\ A i n o 7
F
. FFR 261937
rK 4 1987
,,-r-,
-%-j^fV
( /KQr'V'
H,yisc4ftV 6WW
\
LIBRARY USE
APR 1 n 1957
f\rr\ j. j I'-'**
RtCD LD
APR I 9 1957
= 3£(ha/5rWW
—
j REC'D
.
! UIVY 31
aSL
1 rftt*' «»*
! r~^ r#- *-» • ?~Tr> IJ 1 1 irtPTT^
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REC D?'LUiDb2ij
0"^
NOV 9 1962
LD 21-100m-8,'34
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UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY