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WITH FIVE MAPS AND DIAGRAMS, AND APPENDICES. I Presented to both Houses of Parliament by (Jonunand of Her Majesty. March 1893, „^^^^^^g^^^- li O N I) O N • PRJNTKD FOR UEll MAJESTY'S STATlOxNKKV OFFICE BY HARRISON ANO SONS. ST. MARTIN'S LANE, miNTKHS IN OKDINARV TO IIKII MAJK8TV. ltv».^ '^"1^1'"' ^"''^''""^- ^^iti^Ji^otlyoT^U^^iigi; ,„y Book^ller. from EVRh .... SPOTTISWOODE. E.„ Ha«„,.„ Sr«„T. F.k.t Sth.., EC .so 32. Abinodon Str«t. W«.TiiiN8T.a, S.W.: o> ' JOHN ^•^NZ.KS^ Co 12 H.«„v„ S.«.„. Ep...„a„„, ..„ 30, W«»T NiLK StUBET, GLA800nr, OR MODGK?. FIGGIS, & Co.. Limited. 104. ORArroK Sr«,r. D„ru.v. TABLE OF CONTENTS. Paiagraph. , 1 Page INSTRUCTIONS V, vi, vii ; 1 t REPORTS. JOINT REPORT 1 1 i REPORT OF BRITISH COMMISSIONERS 2 1-25 1 1 j i Introductory .. .. .. .. .. .. PARI' 1.— SUMMARY OF FACTS AND CONCLUSIONS. I. — The Form'sk, Pbesent, and PnosreoTivE Condition of the Fur-Seai Fishery in thr North Pacific Ocean. 3-5 i 26-34 (A.) General Conditions of Seal Life .. ., ,. C. 7 35-59 (B.) Killing on the Breeding Islands, . .. ., .. 7-1! i 60-70 (C.) Scaling at Sea . . . , . . . , . . 11-12 1 i 71-84 (D.) Additional points connected with Sealing at Sea or on Shore. . 12-14 85 100 (E.) Former and present condition of the Industry . . . . . , 14-16 ! 101 II. — Considerations relating to tiik Basis upon which Precautions MAY BE DEVISED FOR THE PRESERVATION OF THE FuR-SeAI, 17 102-114 (A.) Interests involved .. .. .. .. .. ,, 17-19 115-144 (B.) Principles involved .. 19-23 145 (C.) Summary of general conditions hearing upon Regulations . . . . III. — Measures for the Protection and Preservation of the Fuii-Seai, of the North Pacific. 23 146 (.<.) General nature of Measures required . . 23 147-150 f i.) Improvements in the Methods of taking Seals 24 151-154 (ii.) Restriction in the Xumher of Seals taken . . 24 155-161 (B.) Specific scheme of Regulat1on^ recommended 25 162 (C.) Methods of giving effect to Regulations . . . . , . , . 26 1 163 (D.) Alternative Methods of Regulation 26 164 (i ) Kntire Prohibition of Killing on one of the Breeding Islands, with suitable concurrent Regulations nt Sea 26 165 (ii.) Recurrent periods of Rest . . . . . . , , 26,27 166-168 (iii.) Total Prohibition of Killing on the Breeding Islands, with con- current strict Regulation of Pelagic Sealing . , 27 160-170 1 i [ (E.) International action . . PART II.— DETAILED OBSERVATIONS ON THE FACIS AND CONDITIONS OF SEAL LIFE. I. — Natuhat. History am) ENVinoNMKNx of the Fur-Seai, of the Noinii Paimfic. (A.) Migrations and Range of the Fur-Seal of the North Pacific — 27,28 1 171-196 (i.) Eastern side ol the North Paeifie .. 29-32 197-208 (li.) Western side of the North Pacific. . 32-34 209-223 (iii.) Distribution nt Sea 34-38 224-243 (B.) F'ood of the Fur-Senl . . 38-42 244-276 (C.) Physical characteristics of the Prihvlolf and Commander Islands, and t nature of the Breeding Grounds 42-49 277-283 (I).) Annual progress of events in Seal Life on the Breeding Islands 49, 60 284-291 (E ) Ages nt which Males roach Virility and the Females produce Young . . 50-52 292-294 (F.) Requisite proportions of Sexes . . 52 295-297 (G.) Coition 62, 53 298-302 (II.) Age at which the young Swim. — Number of young nt u Birth ,. 53,54 303-316 (I.) Distances to which Seals go from the Breeding Islands in search of Food, and times of Feeding . . 54-67 1 317-325 (J.) Habits when Suckling, . ,, .. ,. ,. ., 57, 68 326-343 (K.) Natural causes of Destruction ,. ,, .. ,, ,, 58-61 i 344-356 (L.) Mortality of Young Seals in 1891 61-64 367-378 (M.) Methods of enumerating Seals on the PribylofF Islands and estimates 1 of Numbers , , , . , , . . , , , , 64-67 TABLK OF CONTENTS. ni Parngraph. 377-395 396-446 447-450 451-457 468-473 474-525 526-570 571-600 601-612 613-632 633-653 654-658 659-673 674-693 694-703 704-721 722 723-726 727-770 771-781 782-833 834-901 902-903 904-908 (N.) Various natural indications of former extent of ground occupied by Seals on the Pribjloff Islands . . . . . . . . , , (O.) Changes in Habits of the Fur-Scnl in recent years . . (P.) Fur-Seals Breeding on tlie Southern part of the North American coa* (Q.) Connection or interchange of Seals between the Pribyloff and Com- mander Islands . . . , , , , , , , (R.) Conditions affecting the Sca-Otter and SiaCow contrasted with those' affecting the Fur-Seal . . . . . . , . (S.) Breeding Places and Resorts of tlie Fur-Seal on the Western Side of' the North Pacific II.— Natives op the Coasts of Bhuisii Coiumbia anu Alaska niRECTLY iNTEnESTED IN INDEPENDENT SeaLINO. METHODS OF IIUNTINO, AND NUMDEH TAKEN III. — Pelagic Sealing. (A.) Origin and Development (B.) Methods .. (C.) Proportion of Seals lost (D.) Composition of Catch . . . . . . , , ]\ (E.) Future of the Industry IV. — CoNTKOL AND METHOD, OF SeaLINO ON THE PrIBYLOFF IsI.ANDS THEIR Nature and Results. (A.) Methods cniplojrd (B ) Decrease in Number of Seals, its Origin and Progress (C. ) Standard Weights of Skins taken (D.) Driving of Seals .. .. .. ,. " (E.) Protection of Rookeries from Disturbance .. ,', (F.) Native Interests on the Islands .. (Goii'uds : ;: v.— NuMBEB OF Fur-Seals Killed upon the Puibyloi f Island VI.— Historical Notks on the Condition of the Fur-Seal Hook EUiEs of the Pribyloff Islands in various Years VII. — The Fub-Seal Fishery in the Southern Hemisphere VIII — Makketinq the Seal-Skins Page PART III. CONCLUDINU RgmABKS 67-71 71-73 79 79-81 81-83 84-91 91-97 97-102 102-104 104-109 1C9-113 113,114 114-116 116-110 119-121 121-123 124 124, 125 125-131 131-134 134-140 140-140 149 150 MAPS AND DIAGRAMS. I. Track Chart oi Routes followed by the British Behring Sen Commissioners, 15th July to 0th October, 1891. ^ II. Skctcii Map, illustrating Resorts and Migration Routes of Fur-Seals in the North Pacific. III. Sketch Map, showing approximately the Area frequented by Fur-Seals in the period extending from loth July to 16th August, 1891. IV. Sketch Map, showing approximately the Area frequented by Fur-Scals in tlic period extending from 15th August to 16th September, 1891, V. Diagrams illustrating Number of Fur-Seals Killed. [305] [APPENDICF.S. a 2 ir APPENDICES. Appputlix (A) (B) Li>t of IVisons iind AiUliorilies siipnlvinL' cviilenoo (•Irouliir t.) ni.d replies fioin Toloninl nnd Foreign Ooveriimcnts . . \-aiimis liters and commuiiiotttlons ielalii,p to tlii- Fur-Seal« of the British «ji)liimbiaii iiiid neii'hhoiirini; coasts ^ '■ •• at ■• Misccllannoiis coiit.<.poiidencc and A[i'mornndn . . (E) Seal Pi(!sci vation IJogulntions and Oivlinnnccs . . (F) (G) (H) ■• •• •• •• MiHcellancous 'Jablcs *• • • • « .. ,, Affidavits rolating to Pelagic Sealing. . rage 151-153 154-l(i9 170-178 179-192 193-203 204-212 213-218 219-241 ( «ix ) INDEX TO REPOET OF BEHRING SEA COMMISSION, AND REPORT OF BRITISH COMMISSIONERS. age 1-153 4-l«9 [)-178 )-l92 J-203 1-212 1-218 1-241 Paragraph. A. Acland (Akcrly) Dr., autopsy of dead pups, 1891 Affidovits Baker, Captain W. E. Bisset, Captain A. . , cos.cN ; Cox,W. Crockci', II. . . , , Douglas, A. Haekett, Captain C. KelIey,C.J Lain},', A. D. McDougall, C. . . . . McLean, L. L. Magnescn, Captain T. M. . . O'Lcary, Captain W. Petit, Captain W. Robirts, G. Thomson, R, , , . . , , Alaska Catch — Sales in London , . Alaska Commercial Company — Advantages derived from islands bj . , Seals on Uobben Island destroyed by.. Treatment of natives by Allen, Professor— Feniales receive • des in water Killing under Russian management . . Aleutian Islands- Early history of . , Formerly resorted to by fur-seals Passes through which seals travel Population of, in early times Aleuts — Interests in seal industry . . , . Method of hunting fur-seal . , , . ] Amsterdam Island- Fur-seals on . , . , Appendices , , Area Limit (see Limitation of Scaling) — Knsily manageable on shore , , Possible arrangement at sea Area of Rookeries (see also Rookeries) — Accurate definition impossible . . Lichen as indication of . . Polished rooks as indications of , , ,' Argentine Rejmblie — Reply to inquiries.. .. ., Sealing prohibited in . . . , ,' Atka Island — Grey pups seen at . . . , Attn Island — Seals seen at , . , . . , Australasia- Protective regulations in .. ,, , [302] Page. 3S2 67.1 513 724,725 295 GC3, 661 248 247 175 248 248 529-534 840 141 142, 1 13 395 380 377-379 175 534 1 29 219-241 222 226 224 234 228 239 ?".7 319 230 237 240 227 238 220 228 230 217 131-241 168 168 nx INBBX. Paragraph. Page. B. Bachelor Sciils ($ee Killablc Heals and Males). Barclay Soiiiul— Srals Hi'cn near in December, January, and February • ■ . . 182 , Borrt'ii IVnialcs — Liir^jL- imnihcv observed . . . . 431-433 „ „ in Bchring Sea 646 Uehrin^' Islnml — l\'scrii>iii)n of . . . . . . 262 , , Itdokt'ries on . , . . . . 265-267 , , Behriiig iSca— Date iif entering by schounorA ,, 649 . • I'jir'y explorations in, as bearing on seol Iif I! •• 205, 206 , • l'"ir.Ht pelugic sealinp; in . . . . 596 . , Uiin;j;e of fur-seal in . . 216 .. Bonilln Island- Seals obtained near, in spring, mostly cows . , ., Brazil — Reply to iniiuirie!<. Sealing unknown in . . . . Breeding-grounds— Nature of . , . , • • , . , , Breeding- places — Kfll'ct (if stopping killing on .. ., .. In Golf of Georgia .. .. ., .. In Nurtli I'aeitic .. .. ,. ,, ,, In Southern Ileniisphore .. .. ., .. Killing on {see Killing). On Haystack Island .. .. ., On Race Rocks, near Victoria . . . . . . On Smitli's Island .. .. ,. ,, Original condition of .. ., ., ,. Possible establishment of, on coasts of British Columbia or Aleutian Islands .. ., .. ,, Reasons for selection of by seals , . . . , , Time of arrival at, and departure from .. .. Breeding Rookeries — Examination of . , . . . , . . British Columbia— Boats and men employed in fur-seal fishery of (1887-91), . l"ur-seals permanent winter residents on coast of , . Pelagic catch, and vessels (1871-91) . . Replies t ) ii,(iuiries from Indian agents and other residents in Sealing lleet, value of in 1891 Skins taken on coasts of, by Indians . . , . British Commissioners — Commissions .. ,, .. ,. .. Conduct of inquiry . . , . . , , , Instructions to . . . . . . . . . , Places visited . . . . . . . . , , Plan of Report . . . . . . . . . , Se. 01 al Report of.. .. ., ., Brownlow, Earl — Information as to breeding of deer , . . , , . Bryant, Captain — Co])ulation often occurs in water . , , , . , Death r-rals from natural causes .. .. ., Killing under Uu-isiaiis ,. ., ,. ,, Bulls (see Males). Burgomaster Gulls — Ser Is killed by, on Robben Island . , . . , . 639 31, 244-276 655 244 32 524 248 30 225 407 27, 186 600 569 c. Canton — Reply to inquiries from Cape Horn- Skins sold in Loudon Cape of Good Hope — Protective Regulations at Reply to inquiries from Seal life at 295 337, 338 665 328 167, 168 172 172 172 172 207-212 170,171 VI, vu 3-5 V, vi 4,5 5 3 184, 185 180 216 194 154, 155 154, 1^5 INDEX. xxxl Cutch— CompoHition of (see Pulngic Scaling). Diagrnin illii«trntin>j[ .. ,, Senls niid Bcn-olftrs in Jnpnti "C!mllon«cr"— ' Observations on fc:ils (iiiriii!» voyairc of Uiport by Mr. John Mu y .. ,, " Charts (sro Miips iind Dinriinms). " ' Chile- Harly seal fisheries on const of . , Close Season («ffl Limitations)— Di'st cnnibintd with number limit Defined Hilleront effects on sen and shore On Falkland Islands Only n]ii)licabk' to pelagic scaling . . .'.* In Uruguay .... Clubbing- ^ At Cape of Oood Hope .. ., ,, fireater eare recomracnded , . .. ,, ** In l'"alkbiiul Islands .. .. ,, ]] Coal sold to natives — ' " ' High price of .. ,. ,, ,, Coast Catch .. Cod- Numerous near Bchring Island . . . , Coition . , , , ^ ^ ^ " • Possible at sea, but usual on land ,, .', Commander Islands — " Date of discovery . . ., Different tioni Pribyloir Islands .'.' " Length of drives on" .. ,, ,\' \' Mij;ratiuni little lee riled .. Physical eli;)raet"rislies of .. .. " Protection against ra'ds on . . ,, *', *| Sail s of skins in London ., ,. Seal-killing in earlv vears (in ,, ."* ]* Seals arrive later than on Pribyloff Islands .*.' '.'. '[ ., seen all tlic winter in uiild seasons . , . ] Skins taken for sliipment t.'onimunieation between seals on I'ribyloff and CoramandJr Islands {set' (thn Intcrmn!.";lins:) Comjiositi '11 of Catch (s^r Pelagic Scaling)— Kvidcnco of sealing captains IVreentage of bearing females Copper Island— " " " Description of . . xookenes on Yearh'ugs scarce on, in 1891 . , \\ \\ " (.'o\va (sec (iho Cows suckling)— Age when first jinp is born . .. Arrival on islands.. .. .. '* " ** Date of first going to feed , . , ". ,' ,' \' Distances they go to feed . . . . ,' _' ' * " Travel rapidly in Behring Sea when in nun ! " Cows suclding— i 1 •• Killed at sea ■»'. • •• •• •• ■■ iSatives say they do not eat . . Keinain as a rule close to shore .. Kemarks as to theory Their own young. Analogy of other auimals .'.' Views of Professor Elliott . . Currents in North Pacific Ocean.. D. Dall, Mr.— Early history of Aleutian Islands Dates of arrival of seals on islands Dead pups — Autopsy by Dr. Acland (Akcrly) „ by Dr. GUnther . . Exceptional in 1891 .. None on St. George's Island Paragraph. 855 451-457 C45-6J7 614 2G3 2G8 114 285 279 bOG 309-;!12 187 314 207 309 317-324 317-325 320 196 248 278 352 354 355 318 I'u-e. Facing 2.{ 16U 181 183 137 155, 150 • • 133 • • 131 155, 193 • • • • 169 147 155 • t « • 156 725 035 •• 231 295-297 • • 295 • • 247 261 • • 706 197 244-27G 167 .. 218 283 214 202 214 183 XXXll INDEX. Parograpb. Page. Dead nup» (continued^ — Not duo to p«InK>c scaling . . • • • • 3AS • • On North-coBt Point rookci^ • • a a 340 • • On Tolstoi rookery . . t • • • 348 ■ • Opinion of Mr. Fowler . . • • • • 348 • • Opinions of natives as to causes of • • • • 346 • * rroliaHc rouses of .. • • • • 366 • » Decrease- Affirmed . . • • , ^ 67,04 2 CliiuHy of mali'K on islands . . • • • • 71 f • Miiy lie arrested by Kcgulations ■ • • t 04 • • Not entirely due to pelagic sealing • • • • 71 • • Not observed at sea • • • • 87 • • On Commander Ittlands , , • ■ • « 92 • • On land, observed in 1880 .. • • • • 686 • • On Pribyloff Islands • • • • 80-91 • • Origin and progress of • • • • 674-693 • • Deer-breeding— Analogous to seal-breeding. Information from Ea* . 3rownlow • • , , 184, 185 Departure of seals from islands , . t • • • • • • • 282 • • Depletion (tee alio Extermination) — Greater danger of, on shore . . • • , , • • ■ • 117 • • Less danger of, nt sea • • • • • • • • 118 • • Depositions (see Affidavits). Destruction - Natural causes of , . , , • • ^ ^ 326-343 • * Devereux, Captain 0. — Seals on coast of A'ancouver • • • « • • • • 184 177 Diograms {see also Mops) — Coniporison of pelagic and island catch in one season • • • • • • Facing 22 „ of numbers killed on land and sea from early times to present . . . . • • « • • • • • „ 150 Diseoses of fur-seal {see also Epidemics) • • , , • • 330 a a Distances cows go to feed. Various statements os to • • 309-312 a a Distribution of seals nt sea , , • • 209-223 • • Affcctcil by winds and currents • • • • 209 , a Charts III and IV • • • * • • Facing 150 Means taken to osccrtnin . . • • • • 210 a a Various observations on s • 223 • • Drives — Cause fright and distress . . ■ • • • 74 a a Cruelty of . . . , • • • • 704 « a Large number of seols rejected from , as uukillable a a 708 a a Length of, on Commander Islands ■ • 705 a a „ of, on rribyloff" Islands a a 705 a , Mr. Goff's opinion on • • 708 • • Mr. Palmer's opinion on • • • • 187-189 Mortality caused by excessive • • 74, 704 • • Professor Elliott's opinion on • ■ 714 a a Recommendations as to regulation o • • 147 a a Vital energy of seals impaired by • • 708 • • Vaste of seal life ia • • 721 a a Weakness of seals after • • 710 E. Karly Explorations in Hehring Sea — References to fur-seals in accounts of • • • • • • 205,206 • -. Elliott, Professor — Obstrvatioiis on death of seals from naturol causes . a • • 337 • • „ on driving . . • • • • • • « • 714 • • „ on interrelation between Pribyloff and Commander seals . . • • • • a a • • 452 • • „ on proportion of moles to females a a a , 10 a . „ on seal life ■ • • • • • • • 277 « • Epidemics (sec also Diseases)— At Cope of Gord Hope , , • • a a « • • • 165 Evidence — Circular of inquiry to Governments • • • • a a • I • • 154 List of persons and Uovcrnracnts supplying a a • • • • 151-153 Replies of Governments . . • • a , • • a a 134-169 Excrement — Absence of, noted . . . . • • • • • •> • • 2-13 • • Kone on rookeries. . . . • • • • • • • • 242 • • ZKDEX. xxdU ogc. 185 r? ; 22 150 150 89 Extent of ground occui)ic(I liy smU . . Ixtoniiinotion (see alio Depletion) of Fur-soala Fiimncirilly impojgiMc 7. Fiiirwrnllicr Ground — „ „ .^""'"''""t numerous on from Ist to 15th Juno., ralklnnd InlnudR — Protective ReauIatioiiH on . . neply to inqun lea. . , , Fiiriillones Ii.lnn(ls— " ** SenlH formerly bred on , . Feranles (see aho Cows) neatruction of, at Capo Excess of, owinf? to killing of ninli's on shore .'." Ijarge number liilled on islands in 1868 J 1 oporlion of, in pcliiuie cnteh Fish— All kinds of, eaten by seals , , Large number of, near rockeries Flag— .... Distinctive, for pelagic sealers in Jopau _ ■. recommended , . Flottcry, Cape- Catch of seals near Flower, Sir W. II.— Memornndum on elassifiention of fur-seal Fogs- Assistance to raiders Food— mZ!o "^' "! -T" H'""' "" Commander Islands Disianc.' ; . wind, seals go for. from islands . . i-ur-.Mal ,n Juan Fernandez reported to nbstain from I) surface not bottom feeders Information gained on, from natives , . Of 1'^rinl'"*'''" ''^'"■"""' °" ^'" Migration) . .' Only bachelors nnd cows leu've islonds for Principal kinds of. . Rarely found in seals killed 'on islands ' ' * Stones found in stomnehs of seals Worms in stomachs of seals Fowler, Mr.— Opinion as to dead puns in 1891 Fur-seal {see also Seals)— Abundance of, atfceted by weother " iw sea near rookeries . ilecoming more pelagic Bred formerly on rocks in Ilecate Strait lireed on outlying rocks on Asiatic cJast Change of habits in recent years " >• on each side of Pacific '. „ produced by disturbance Contents of stomachs examined Cuntiiiued abundance at sea Date of arrival nt Pribjlolf Islands >. leaving Pribyloff Islands JJistribution at sea {sc: Distribution) Docs not migrate in Southern Hemisphere Early takes of. ou Pribyloff Islands .. " Evidence of return to same hauling.grounds ' * hxcess of breeding males in 1 8 7 1 E-Kcessive killing of, in 1868 Food of (sec Food). Hunted by Aleuts „ Indians from time immemorial Increased wariness of . , Maximum age of . . \\ Migration range of (see Migration) ','. \\ Paragraph. 377-39'i 45H Page. 187 • • 248 035 808 77,78 226 231 163 185 • • 768 129-193 155, 156 154 165 • • 172, 178 185 [3U2j 235 303-316 243 330, 231 225 224 224-243 305 226, 227 233 236-238 237 fl 348 • • 408 313 85,428 410 447-450 30-32 523 396-446 207 Ao 234 402-407 188 174 29 772-779 270 (5 78 677, 808 28 26 175 527 337,399,412-414 288 27 xxxiv INDEX. ■ ' Fur-sual (continued)— Most abundant near rookeries Motives for landing Northern limit of . . Number killed on PribjIoflF Islands .' * Of ,;'», .."*'"?' '/xt"°1 PJ;°P°rt'onate to distance from islands kwM T." "Z'^^^':''' T'-^'^ : •'''"^™« '""thern range of 01,n,vnor ^'^' "^',"*'?' '" ^'^•'' ^"t'' *'>»«'' of South Seas >Jla brceding-jjrounds of, on— Gulf of Georgia Hajsfack Island .'. Race Kecks (near Victoria) Smith's Island (Washington Territory) .".' 1 lace in classification of mannnalia . . * S^itv ;7Jn'p'-KTi*rr''^^-?™""''' 'f *°°'"»"ch hamssed »caicity of, on Pnbylofrislauds, in 1835-36 .. lable of number killed on Pribyloff Wands, 1817-91 '.'. L'sed as food by Indians .. Varieties of, in Southern Hemisphere" ' Evidence of Gaft- ^' Usi ■! to stciiif wounded seals Goff, ^fr— Opinion on drives. . Kcport on decrease German}- — Interests of, in sealing industry Grass— ° ' As iiulication of rookery area Gravid Feinalos— Killed off Queen Charlotte Islands Killing of, deprecated by pelagic sealers .* '. M „ should be avoided Number in pelagic spring catch .'. Seldom killed in Beliring Sea ., Travel rajjidly in Bchrini; Sea Gray, Captain— ^ Letter on hair-seals Grebnitzky, M.— View3 as io migration of seals . ., proportion of females to males ), "stngey" skins.. Greenland — British legislation affecting . . Hair-seal Fishery Regulations Norwegian Law and Ordinance Grey Pups — S'ai'rk^'isS " '"1; '^^: ""-^ '^:;»--'^'= ^ets „ in Queen Charlotte Sound „ at Unalaska . . Gilnthcr, Dr.— Autopsy of dead pup H. Habitats — British Cdluiubiau cast in winter in Eastern Pacific In summer and winter Japanese const in winter in Western Pacific No separate .summer and winter, in Southern Hemisphere hummer and winter distinct in North Pacific Habits of Fnr-?eiil («r Fnr-scal)— Cause of ehiiii;;c in Change of, in recent vears .. Hair-seal — " " • * Diseases of Letter from Ciplaiu Gray :is to Protective mea-nres (sec Greenland and Newfoundland)." Paragraph. 2H 246 218 771-780 215 190 836 446 800 771 582 835 653 601 27,180 192 27, 201 29 29 397 396-446 342 Page, 172 172 171, 172 172 185, 186 708 692 • • 103 • • 384-387 • • 638 633 80 • • • * 648 643 187 • • • • • • 186, 187 202 54 202 • • • • • • . • 200-202 • • 198-203 • • 202, 203 179 175 • ■ 171 183 186,187 INDEX. XXXV Harems — Itreak up of ,. ,, Diiiifjer if too lai},'o ,, Tiicrcascd size of .. ,, I'loportion of iiiaUs to females Iluiitiiiq: Hights of— ;V'-''."''' >ativo9 of British Columbia ti of islands . . . , I- Ice— -Mortalit.v of seals caused by Incnase of seals on Tribjloff Islands in later Russian times '.'. Indians — I'implojnient of. in scaling-scliooners .. Interest of, in seal Ksliery . . . . '/ .Method of huntin;; fur-seal , . Number of seals lest by . . , , \\ I'rices paid to, for skins, in 1891 '.'. Indian Ajjents — " " Keidies of, to Circular of inquiry Interests involved . . • • , . Aleuts . . As represented by skins taken British Columbian •jcrman.. V"j-' :: :: .lapanese .... l.inul and sea, compared ., "' " " Natives on islands Kiis>ia •' ii.tdniin-ling of Commander andVribvloff 'seals Mr. Kiliott's views on .. ' .. I.Uerrelation of Com.nander and I'ribylofT Veals (.s<v/lntermingiing). •Jackson, Mr. — Seal rcokcries at Capi' of Good Iloiie. . Jan May en — ' ** Itcgulafions for hair-seal fisheries .Ia))an - distinctive flag for scalers in Fih-seal fisheries of . , llegulations for seal (Isheries .', ]| „ ," . " .1 not enforced .. Ueply to inquirips. . Sealing-vcssels saiiiiig from.. M'ieierhabitnt of seals on west side of Pacific!! •!i!!iit C ommission— lu'liort of Kelp- ^• Birth of pr.ps on, improbable ,. Katen by p. ;;,s in September lullablc seals (v c KilHnj,. of Seals on Pril.yloff Islnndsl— Nuiiiber fixed too high . . . , f'niall iiamlHT (if, in 1890 Killer-whales— Destruction of young seals bv Killin;; of females at sea IVrujissihle. 10 pres ive xormal pi,.p-^rtion of sexes ,-„• ''i"-^ "', ''■'""''''* '•■"'''-''•■^ practice less harmful Killmg of .^eals mu F'ribvlofF Islands- Average annual slaugi.;-,- ,;;,,;,,, 1/,,;^^,, j;.;^^ , "uiitrol of, bv United States' ' Evil effects of Excessive in early Russian period Paragrnph. 280 292 54, 55, 430 293 123 123 123 327 ■11, 12 11 1-1 13, 557, 506 509, 570 530 ei fe<2. 515 548 123 108 111-110, 123 103 112 103 127. 128 112. 123 103 ■151-457 ■!52 • • • * ■ • 215 240 • • •• 58, 59 130, 437 ; • » • • 031-330 77-M) SO 7!) emcnt too • • 35, 17-51, 002 43 44, 45, 009 40 Page. 170, 171 17, 18, 19 S2i • • 129 ISC 102 105 75, 480-508 ■)O0-.)OJ 102-104 . , 107 . , 100-167 ■19S 27, 201 , , XXXVI INDEX. I' ' t M lli' I* ' Killing of Seals on Pribyloff Islands (conlmueci)— Iiiimcdiatc cause of danger to seal life Methods employed iu, cruelty of {set Drives) .'." " n theoretically good, . , . " .. waste involved ill . . Mr. Palmer on bad effect of, , Number killed, 1817-91 ,. lUgulations for, at different periods , . ,' * >, difficulty of Sudden iHcrease of, under United States' manaKcment ^suggested improvements in, . , , °^ ») prohibition of, on one island •• total prohibition of Ailluii? on Breeding Islands- Cause of depletion in Southern Hemisphere . . Klawnk-i'"'' ''^"" ""l''""-'' '" Southern Hemisphere Seals taken by Indians of . , Kurile Islands- •• .. Scaling in the .. L. Lagoon liookery on St. Pnul Island Lampsoii, C. M., and C'o.-_ Sale of skins in London Licences— Proposed issue of, to white hunters . . Lichen- Test of area of rookeries , . Limitation of Scaling by Close season Number of seals taken {see Number Limit) Restricted area . . . . Lobos Islands — Fur-seal fishery on Skins shipped from ( 1 887-9 1 ) ,, sold in London (1873-92) Total catch of seals on (187G-91) Little Kastcin Itookerv, St. George Island*.! Los.s of seals at s.a {see Pelagic Scalina;) . . Lubmnon and Kctavie Hookcries, St. Paul Island Luikf — Observations on killing of male seals .. M. Mackay, Mr. J. \V.— Seals on coast of Hiitish Columbia .. Males— ^'"''' ^'''"'"" °'' ^''"''' °" '''''^^■'""' Islands).* Age of virility , . Danger to scallifc if too many killed" ' Decrease of, on i.slamis . . . [ Proportion of, to fniiaies .. " Scarcity of, on islands, makes hr.blts of .seals iiTe*gular '.' Alanatcc (sff Soa-co\v> " Management on — Comnnindei-, eomiiaivd uitli tlial on Pribyloff Islands . . M.nw <' • 1 1 ■"'"'' ' '"'*"ffi<;'';"t cnrc taken till recently . . fflaps (sM also Diagrams). ' 1. Track (;iiait, showing route of British Commissioners Z. Kcsorta and migraticu routes <if seals 3. Area of 8L-al,s, July !ind August \- r " August and September Mayi^rJaS^!:"" ""'"'" "''^"'^ ■""^'^- -'^ I""- "^ B^ins Observiitions on seal lill' Kejiort on Pribyloff Islands ." .' Meteorological observations taken in 1891,'." Paragraph. 117 611 660 74,75 39,'771 36-38 76 659 147, 148 164 121, 166-168 117 154-160 176 PaKc. 256, 273 150 380-382 * • 130-138 130,131, 137 130, 141-144 • > • • 109 • • 215 • • 215 • • 215 257 77, 81, 82, 250 • • 291 183-165 187-189 160-107 215-217 • 1 287 289 71 • • 54 431 ■• 72, 427 76 Facing 150 „ 150 » 150 „ 150 „ 151 277 815 • * 219 • • INDEX. xxxni MethoJs of takiiip; Seals— Iinjirovcmcnts suggostcd at sea •.,. . " V onshore .. .. Migration — * * At fajic of Good Hope Coiirsc of seals in sprin"- In North Pacific ,.'''.'. \' Imiiiiri.'s as to, made in Britisli Columbia Anno at Falkland Islands .. Kniijzc of, on west side of Pacific Iteasons of Seals travel north in snrin-'und south 'in autumn hoMthern course in North Pacific hypothetical . . 1 wo hnes of , , _ ^ " Modus vivouli of 1 Sni . . Mortality of young seals in 1 80 r(Mc Dead Pups) .'.' N. Native iiilc>resls on islands Natives oil Inlands — Allc;,red ill treatment of I'lsuflieient coal supply to .. Native nues interested in sealiii" Ncah 13ay {se< Cape !• lattery)— Kvi'lcnee of Indians as to gravid females taken JNets— Kini)]oynient of should he forbidden . . Givy pujis (ibtair.ed by Newfoundlauil proteetivo Regulations Now South M'ales— Sealing industry in, ceased to exist .. New Zcaiaud— Seal fishery of Nordeiiskiold, linron— Letter from North Atlantic— Fiir-seiil unknown in North-Kiist Point, St. Paul Island— llookcry on North Kookery, St. George Islaiul North-wost catch — Sales in Loudon . . . , North-west Coa>t — Iiidiau seal fishery on Number killed on Islands {sec aho Killing of Seals oil' -Ntt juoperly curtailed Paragraph. near Pribylotr Islands^— laud miuimuui Nuiiiber Limit — liest eomliiued with time limit Piissihle ajiplieation of, at sea Safe iiiaxinuiiu should be fixed on L'jpecially efteolive on land . . Number of Seals v\\ Islands— Aheeled most l)y excessive killini; on shore Area occupied best index of Bryant's imthod of ciiuuK'ratiii»' Klliott's „ ,_ ■' '' l''.stimates of, exaggerated .. ** (Ipiiiioi'.s of various authorities as to '. '. Okhotsk Sea — Fur-seal in Origin ol'deeicase of seuK Otttr Maud— iiaids oi; Seals on, , 0. Pacific I P. Mi,;;ratiiiiis of fur-seal in {kcc Mi<Mation), 'aimer, Mr. \V Observatiniis on brocding-islaiuls 149, 150 147, 148 195 171-1% 172 197-208 208 27 190 27 .'JOS 314^356 723-7jfi 724 725 626-570 635 150 656 837 256,390,3!)! 257 72,73, 131 155 loii 137 130, 161 151 131 92 3r.s 35'S 359 90, 305 366 522 674-(l',)3 716 251, 710 Page. 155 156 195-198 157 182, 183 183 216,217 170-172 •■^'■iJ ■II 187-18» ZZZVlli iin>Ex. T" Pelagic cntcli (see also Pelngio Scaling). Approximate statistics of United States iJcliriMg Son, about 5 per cent, cows in milk '. *. Jlntish Columbian. Kcnorts of .* • • • • " >» schooners , . C'li;ii-ucter and composition of r)i:i)^ninis i!liistrating Eiulv Mtclits in Uchrin;.' Sea Incoinplettness of United Stales' statistics >'.inib(.'r per bom and man ,. Tioportion of fcmalos Wcins lukcn in 1891 Summary from 1871 to IS'Jl' Pelagic Scalers— ■Vot poacliers OiJinions as to nbiindanoe of seals at sVa Pelagic Sealing— Advantagt-s of Indian n.etiiod of spearing Affidavits lyspec'Ing (see Affidavits) . . ',', Amount paid to Indians engaged in 1840 A new factor of decrease in seal life . . At first not objectorl to . . Ben.fits to IndiiMis Capitid cmidoyed . , .'.' ," C'onllieiing evidenee as to sexes taken * ',', Continuation dejieiids on abundance of seals '. '. ton.d not have caused first decrease on land .' ' Criticisms on .. ., ' Cruelty of, as ecmpnred with land kilii'no. Uanger to men employed , . . . Date of commencement . " " ' • • • • ,, " , . " 111 Beliring Sea Early bi-tory of . . First known attempts .', \[ „ l>ractised in canoes .. ',* ,, seizures by United States' Government r nture of Growth of, in United States" Improvements suggested . . \[ Indians seldom lose seals when speared I-oss exaggerated , , ., by white hunters .. *_' Mcthors employed . . * ' " * ' None at Cape of Good Hope ' ., in Falkland I>lnnds .. Not eau-e of dead pups in 1891 ,[ Number of gravid females caught in spring Origin and development of .. .. _'' Originated with natives on coast Parity of interests with land scaliii'' Peculiar to North Pacific . . . .' Proportion of seals lost Eegnlations suggested Self-regulative" ,. . ." "' Sexes not di<-tiiiguislicd United State>' interests in '.'. Peiiods'^^'lS^''"' ^''"'' "'"' ^'''"''' •^"'"'^I'i''" fl<=efs, 189V Found iiuvss;iry i;i Kussian period Suggested as nroteetive measure Physical cl,ar.aeun.lie. of I'rihyloff and Commander Islands '. '. Places visited by Dnti^h Commissioners . . Polaviiia Hookeiy, St. l>,ud Island First diiv<-n"in 1«79 Poacher— Term cannot he appli, ,1 to pelagic scalers Precautions on Island ,— n •. ^'^l!:^'^ "" Couini:ii:<lers than I'ribylofls Pnbyloff Islands— Date <if disooveiy, . Decrease of 5<'al,s nolle, d in 1870 Decrease of kiilabl.- heals m irked in 1885 Description of Historical notes on lookoiies Killing of seal- excea-ivo Paragraph. Page. 427 217 684 0!)0 250-253 782-S33 054 • • •• 646 312 052 633-653 207-212 • • • ■ Facing 22 and 691 108,597 87 77, 78 • . 204 • • • ■ ao7 612 403-407 657 « • . ! 585 60 583 585 219-241 • • • • 106,114 634 • • 054 691 • • 77 610-012 • • 009 04 69, 506 588 580 582 590 • • • a « • 654-058 " 599 149, 150 •• 617-627 014 010-028 601-012 • • • • • • • 155 . 355 048 156 . 01-03, 00-68, 571-000 571-580 120 •• 05 613-032 650 1 1 S, 055 • • 033 103 000 • • • • 40 105 • • 244-270 • • ■1 , 5 250 081 012 • t i i 3 INDEX. XXXIX 'age. 312 7-212 • • 23 and 150 204 207 -211 PribylofT Islniuls (coiitiiiiin/)— Methods piiiployc'd ,, Mr. PnliiiPi-'s visit to ., Native iiopulatidii of I'lij sical cliararteri-tics of . . Statislifs of skins taken on , . Proj'oition of Seals lost at Sea — {Ste Pel;ii;ic Sealing.) Proleclion {sec IVoti'cfive Measures and Regulations)— Aiistrali'sia . , , . Conditions of, sunnnaiized . . Desirable Duty of, affirii^ed . . Easier on land tluiii sea Falkland Isknuli . . InadcqutU'V of, on iireedinn-islands Industrial interests must be eonsidered •Ian Maycn . , . . , , Must be both on sliore nnd sea Must inehulc whole migvatiou raiii;-e .. NewfoinuHinid ,, .. .. Precedents fur . , . , ,, ,, Shouhl control all methods of sealing. . t^outli Africa Protective Measures (sec also Protection and Rcgulations)- C'ape of Good Hope ralklaiul Islands , . Greeidaiid Improved methods of taking, necessary International po-opevation nec'.'ssarv .. ,. .laj.au . . , . , . * , , Xewfoundland Prolii'iition ol' killing; on one island suggested .. licstriction in numbers killed necessary SiK'cific rccomnicndations for Tasmania . . , , Tiital prohibition of killing on islands What are required . , . . Pricis of Skins (.s/-o aho Skins)— Average in London, 1871-Sl From (.'ape of Good Hope . , ., Pnji? — Age at which ihey swim ., ,, Autopsy by Dr. Gtiuthcr .. .. \\ liiitb of, on (iucen Charlotte Islands.. Do not know their own niotlier.s Full of milk in November ,, lulled by- Bulls iighting ,. Indians Storms , , . . . Killed for food Fiive when ti'ken I'rom dead cows Mortality in 18'Jl.. Number at a birth I'eriiid of sutkling Probably drown if Ijorn at sea rnweaned skins unmerchantable Q. (liii on fhailotte Islands — Pups born on . . Seals sren on, in winter Queen Charlotte Sound— Groy pups in , . R. Ilaids Complaints of, in 1891 Destruction caused by, to all classes of seals »• i> United States' vessels in South Seas Paragraph. 659-673 723 244-270 109 Pago. 187-189 129 « • H5 4 • H') 116 129 • • 1-15 140 « • 129 • • 115, 110, 120 115 129 129 12C., 110 1.'9 .. , , 19 1 . . 193 198-203 M7~1.J0 100,170 • • 191, 100 . , 19 0-1 OS 100 101, 102 , . 1 20 1 158 298-;i()0 18;! :iOl 321 211 iSoO (iiiV 328 71, 007 G30 83 301 241 215 74 301 177 23 213 105 727-770 700 74, 729 732, 733 171 (I?. '^\ ^t f',1 ;! xl IXDEX. IJnids {continuril)— Destruction of snnls on Ifobben Island by Drain on S(nl life canst'd by .. .', Rase witb whicb tlicy CMij 01- nindo .. liic-alityof Ii.siiffirient i)rotoetion against, on riibvloft' Islamls T.ist of, on PiihyloiF Islands ^kaiis talccn to'fl.i'clv, on foniinandcr Islands ,'.' .No reLcrdwl insianpc of, bv Canadian vessels on P.ibvloff Islands '.'. Iveiidrml posMble by laxity of control SliriiiM bo more strietly !;uarded a','ainst Sin.ilnriiv of methods to tliose oansin- destruction of'south Sen' Ireednig resorts Raidii!;;. vessels-- Seals ];i!le<l by, in waters mar roukeries Kan^e of fur-seal (see Mi'^ralion). Kcdpatli, Mr, J. C— Thinks seals cat kel|) «cef JJookrry, St. Paul Island .. Regiikidoiis (,v/c cilm Pidteclivo -Measures)— Alternative methods of Ci'mpeMsatory adjustment of ,\ \\ '' General conditions sunimari/,ed International en-opcration necessary ,, May arrest dccrear.e Metliods cf carryinf.; out .. ., \\ Mutual concessions necessary Should be based on industrial as well as physical requirements fepccibc scheme of, recommended Various suggestions for .. .. " Rifles, use of, in pelagic sealing, should be prohibited '' Ifobben Island — Destruction of seals on, by Alaska Commercial Comi)anv Means taken by Russian Uovcrnnicnt for protection of " Migratum routes of seals frequent iiiR 1>'1 -Its •• •* Iiaids on Rookeries — Area of («fc Area o! lloukcries). Features of ..... Kormer extent of . . Necessary eonditions f(.r, exist elsewhere N'ot iicecs-arily limited in aica Cn Hehring Island, North and South.. \. On Copper Inland., On St. Oeorge Island (Oreat Kastern, Lit'tlc lOastern, Nortli," Starry Arteel, and Zapadnie) . . . . On St. Paul Island (I.agODn, Lukannou and Kctuvic, North-EasV ^ 1 oiut, 1 olavma, Keef, Tolstoi, and Zapadnie) Protcetion of, better on Commander than Pribylofl' Islamls Keports a.s to eoiulition of, unsatisfactory Slioidd not be disturbed ,, " " '* " Smell of.. .. .. '■ " Russia — " ' * ■ ■ • • Inerea.se < f seals on Pri: .ylolf Islands under rule of Iiilerests of, in senliuL' industry INI iigeinent of Cimniandcr islands by iin rccautums ajri 1 Kobben Islanii [irotected by, , s. San r lie]dy to inquiries made at Sealing fleet Scarcity of Seals (sci; Killi I)i;e to over-killing of n.alcs ng on Islands) — Sea-cow — E.xtermiiiation of J'. I''islieri(\s — An ibuiidancc of entiiie Ilepuhlio Uislralii Cape of Gaod Hope Chilean .. Parngraiih. Page. 734 770 76a 727 759 737-7GO 707 81, 612 74 148 728 7.:;o 240 256 163-168 15C-1.J8 145 169,170 91 162 102 100 155-161 mo 150, 656 513 515-517 203 510,51.", 258-260 273 276 272 266. 267 268, 269 2.jfi 722 52 148 271 41,42 103 72,722 767 51.j-5n ■138 -440 470 471 877 869, 889 885, 887 878, 879 S( S< 8. SI SI 179 206 INDEX. Xli Seal FiBlicrics {continued) — Falkland Inlands . . . . , . , , Lobos Islands . , , , , , New Zealand . . . . . . . . \\ South Shetland . . Sealing at Sia (s«e Pelagic Pealing). Scaling Fleet — British Columbian .. .. ., United Stiites' .. ,. .. .. '' Sealing Imlustrv {sec alio Interest's involved) — Cni)ital in. ployed ill Former and present condition of .. ,. ". German, Japanese, Uussian, and United Stotcs* interest *in Intt'iests on sea and shore . , Niiniber of men employed in Seal Islands — Flnnrishiiig comlition of when ceded by Kussio Senl'i'g on Islanda— i'arity of interests with scalin!» at sea Sii>ry;ohte(l improvements in methods . . . . \\ Seal Life — Keconiing more pelagic Conditions of, on breeding-islands . . , . ,', Dislinbancc of, greater in recent years Evidence as to conditions of " . , Fluctuntions in number . . . . , . OoiK ral conditions of , , , . , , ^\ Gradual diminution of, on islands Natural conditions interfered with . . . , . | Shoidd be stmlied at sea as well as on land . . ,', Seal Logs — K<])t by Her Majesty's and United States' cruizcrs in 1891 Seals feeding {nee also Food) — Doubtful whetiicr by night or dav Seals (,vfc nlno Fur-seal) — Methods of enumeiating ., .. Sinkinj' when shot ,, Loss ol by, exaggerated ,, Views of Professor Allen as to Sca-olter, ()!)servations on ., Breed all ihe year round Catch of, in Japan Could b'j protected more easily than the fur-seal Forniei rookery of, at Capo Lopatka , . Inadequiite protection of, by United States' Government' Lar^e nund)er of, iu early days Not i)ropcrly jjelagic ' ,', Only remaining rookery is on Copper Island Value of skins of , . . , ,, Scecatehio (rre Bulla). Seizuri s of tsealing-vessehi Date of first seizure Summary of Sc.\es — Kequisite proportion of Shanghai' — Kv'ply to incpiiries from Sheej) — .Analogous to seals in brecu Habits wlien suf'kling Shot found iu seals killed on islands . . , , [' Skins — Average price in London, 1871-1)1 .. Bought from Indians mostly " groy ]mi)8 " or smalls Classed in London more by quiility than ori"in. . Copper Island, sales of . . " . . LdU'erenees between " Alaska " avd " Cojjper ".' ." From Cape Horn . . . . . [[ ,, Cape of Good Hojie ,, ,, Connnander Islands (18()2-91). . *.' .'[ „ Lobos Islands , , , , Marketing of . . , . Ncrth-west coast catch, distinguished by shot and spour niarks " si'li^ of . . Obtained from ladians (18.')2-'J0) Of " stagey '' ami pup nvnU unmerchantable .' '. l)y United States' Government— Im^ liabits Pi ragraph. 882, 88-1 876 892-894 872, 873 600 600 104-107 io3 102, 103 111, 112 67G 12G 147, 148 85 277-283 390 52, 53, 5f) 33 2f)-34 701 34 15 210 310 357-376 613-630 613 630 459-409 1G0 464 ■107 408, 169 4(>0 461 405 459 590 109 292-294 (i2S 1S2 05;! 653 Page, .. 216 155 .. 214 . . 215 902, (103 n5;i 210,21 213 205 206 14-16 166 ISO 181 213 • o 218 74 zlii INDEX. Sking {continutil)— Shipment of, no uvidenoc of fraud . . Weight of Weight of, on islomls „ ^, ••„ . " Reduction in since 1888 *' HouthciM Hemisphere — Account of fur-seals in early times , . * ui-scal fisheries of . . . . \\ South ae^ Sealingl. '*'""'''""' '''"""" '^''''°y'^'^7 AmeriVan jN'^ imulogj- witli pelagic sealing Speni s used by Indians for killing seals . . " Stogov " .scasoi: .. f i'eriodof " Stagey " skins— Never taken at sea . . Unmerchantable . . Stampedes— Death of jjups caused by . . . , , , Starry Arteel Uookery, St, George Island .. Stones found in stomachs («« Food). Suckling {see also Cows) — CoTvs u-ill suckle young of other cows at Cape of Good Hope llalnts during time of .. ^ Swan, Judge— Lctli'i s from , , Thinks seals are found near Cape Flattery all the year round T, Table showing normal increase of seals . . Tasmania — ' * Protective Regulations in . , Reply to inquiries from Tax on skins paid to United States' Government, increase of Time limit (see Close Season) . . . a=c vi Tolstoi Rookery, St. Paul Island.'.' u. United States- Scaling fleet, 1891 -, " » incomplete Returns of catch of Uruguay- Paragraph. vessels Reply to inquiries. . Vcniaminov, Bishop — On drives V. Virgin fen.ulcs difficult to distinguish from 'young m'a'les \ inlity, age of . . , ^ ■' o Volcanic origin of brcodina- island's w. Wariness of seals .uuses them to siiun the coast . . Wark Inlet — Grey pups taken in Waste of seal life on islands Weight of skins taken on islands ' " " » largely reduced in 1889 w ." -J ,.">. , " lowered in 1883 . . >V estern side of North Pncific— Breeding-plac! !i of fur-seal on History of sealing industry on logo 670 671 694-703 697 • • 844-854 834-901 • • 83, 190-192 155, 156 597 503 202, 281 133 •• 134, (331, 032 74 74, 331-333 257 . . 317^325 165 • • • • 172-177 371-375 695 I'JO-138 2.50 .097 V12 633 284-291 249 426 177 74, 75, 667 694-703 697 696 42 1-525 477-485 158 158, 159 206 109 INDKX. xliii igo 90-192 156 JS -177 Wbnlo I'ooil— Seals most numerous where it is found Wilson, Sir Sanmel, M.P, — luforination ns to slioep-brccdinR , , Woriiis— Seals trotiblcd by . , . . . , Paragraph. Yesio Y. Coast fishery . . . . , , Seals seen near, in autumn and late winter z. /apadnie Uookery, St. George Islaiul 1, ,, St. Paul Island Zapooska {see I'eiiods of Kest). y.onc of Protected Waters — Defined., Recommended . . . , 239 343 Page. 184 • • • ■ • 199 166 • • , • • • • 257 256 • • • • • • • • • • • • 155-160 151-155 • • •• s 159 'i IIRIIKTNG SIU COM^TISSrON. INSTRUCTIONS TO BRI'IMSM f'OMMISHIONKRS. ■'i 'I t ^ No. 1. Tlir Miiniiiis nf SiiHsliii)-ii In Sir fi. nfiflrii-Pnirrll and Dr. Diiirson. Gentlemen, h'orriyn Office, June 21, 1891. THE Queen Iiaviii;-' been yiacioii^ly pleased to apjioint you to be iier Commissioners for the purpose of inquirin;>' into the conditions of seal life in IJebring Sea and other parts of the North PaeiHe Oceuii, I transmit lo you herewith Her Majesty's Commission under the Sign ISIanual to that effect. The main object of your incjuiry will be to ascertain, •' Wiiat international arrange- ments, if any, are necessary between Great Britain and the United Stales, and Russia or any other Power, for the purpose of preserving the fur-seal race in Behring Sea from extermination ?" Her Majesty's CJovernment have proposed to the United States tliat the investigation should be conducted by a Commission to consist of four experts, of whom two shall be nominated by eacli Government, and a Chairman, who shall be nominated by Arbitrators. If ihc Government of the United States agree to this proposal, you will he the Delegates who will represent Great Britain in the Commission. But, in the meanwhile, it is desirable (hat you should at once conmicnce your examination of the q stion, and that for that purpose you should proceed as soon as you conveniently can to Vancouver, from whence the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty liavc been requested to provide for your conveyance to the various sealing grounds and other places which it may be expedient for you to visit. Application has been made to the United States' Government for permission for you to visit the seal islands under their jurisdiction, and a similar request will be addressed to the Itussiiin Government in the event of your iindin-j;' it necessary to visit the Commander Islands and other Russian sealing groimds. Your attention should be particularly devoted to ascertaining — ■ 1. The actual facts as regards the alleged serious diminution of seal life on the PribylofF Islands, the date at which such diminution Iiegan, the rate of its progress, and any previous instance of a similar occurrence. 2. The causes of such diminution ; whether, and to what extent, it is attributable — (a.) To a migration of the seals to other rookeries. (6.) To the method of killing pursued on the islands themselves. (c.) To the increase of scaling upon the high seas, and the manner it which it is pursued. I need scarcely remind you that your investigation siiould be carried on with strict impartiality, that you .should neglect no sources of information which may be likely to assist you in arriving at a sound conclusion, and that great care should be taken to sift the evidence that is brought before you. It is equally to the interest of all the Governments concerned in the p .ling industry that it should he protected from all serious risk of extinction in conseq.iuce of the use of wasteful and injudicious methods. You will he provided with all the documentary evidence in the possession of this Department which is likely to he of assistance to you in the prosecution of your inquiry. Mr. A. Froude has been appointed to be your Secretary, and will accompany you on your tour. VI ) ll Scparntc dospalehos will bo ndilrossoil to jou with regnnl to the expcnHCs of vour misHioii, and tlio tbnn in wliich your corrcs|)oitdcuco with tlii.s Otllec bhould bo conducted. I am, &c. (Signed) SALISBUHY. Inclosure in No. 1. lion pnssod under tho ]\nyn\ Hiffn ^^nlnlnl and Si^rnot, appointing Hir George >th Hiidcn-Poweli, K.C.M.G., M.V., and George Mercer Dawson, LL.D., F.R.S., undertake an inqtiiry into tlie Conditions of Seal Life and the precautions Commission Smyl to undertake an inqtii.j ....,, »..^ ..., .^ ~ - , - neccBsnry for preventing the extermination of the Kur-scnl Species in Hcliring Sea and other parts of tlio Nortli Vneilic Ocean. VICTORIA, l.y the Graeo of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Hiitain and Ireland, Queen, Defender of the Faith, ICinpress of India, 8ic., to all and lingular to whom these presents sliall come, greeting ! "Whereas, wo have deemed it expedient that Commissioners should be appointed for the purpose of iiHiuiry into the conditions of seal life and the precautions necessary for preventing the extermination of the fur-seal species in Heliring Sea and other parts of the North Pacific Ocean : N'ow, kno>v ye, tliat we, reposing especial trust and confidence in the diligence, skill, and integrity of our trust v and well-heloved Sir George Smyth Baden-Powell, Knight Commander of Our Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George, .Member of Parliament; and of our trusty and well-boloxed Professor George Mercer Dawson, Assistant Director and (Jcologist of the Canadian Geological and Natural History Survey, have nominated, constituted, and appointed, and do by these presents nominate, constitute, and n])point tliem our Commissioners to undertake the inquiry aforesaid : And we do hereby give to our said Commissioners full power and authorif to do and perform all acts, matters, and things which may l)e necessary and proper r duly carrying into effect the object of this our Commission. In witness whereof we have signed these jiresents with our Royal hand. Given at our Court at Windsor Castle, the 22nd day of June, in the year of our Lord 1891, and in the fifty-fifth year of our reign. By Her Majesty's command, (Signed) SALISBURY. No. 2. The Mnrqvis of Salisbury to the Behring Sea Commmioners. Gentlemen, Foreign Office, January 16, 1892. I HAVE to inform you that Her Majesty's Minister at Washington has sent home the text of seven Articles, signed by himself and Mr. Blame on the 18th ultimo, which are to be embodied in a formal Agreement between Her Majesty's Govern- ment and that of the United St .tes for referring to Arbitrators certain questions at issue between the two Governt ;mt9 in regard to the jurisdiction claimed by the latter over the waters of Beb, ng Sea in connection with the fur-seal fisheries therein. Sir J. Pauncefotc has also fv vardcd the text of an Agreement signed on the same day for the appointment of two < 'mmissioners by Her Majesty's Government and that of the United States rcspectivcl; to ii.vestigate, conjointly with the Commissioners of the other Government, all the fact relating to seal life in Behring Sea, and the necessary measures for its proper protection vud preservation. A copy of Sir .T. Pauncefote's despatch, inclosing both these documents, is forwarded herewith for your information. I now transmit the Queen's Commission under the Sign Manual appointing you to be Her Majesty's Commissioners in accordance with the provisions of the Joint Com- mission Agreement, and I request that you will proceed to Washington as soon as you can conveniently do so, in order to draw up the Report indicated in the second paragraph of the Agreement. 1 VII TS of 3sary rded Tho information wiiick lins been obtained hy your Aniericjin colleagues and your- selves during your recent visit to lieliring Sea will supply ytm with material for the preparation of your Report. TlitTC are, however, a few points to whicli Her Majesty's Government consider it desirable that your special attention should be directed. You will observe that it is intended that the Report of Die Joint Commissioners Khali embrace recommendations as to all measures thtit should be adopted for tlie preser- vation of seal life. Vor this purpose, it will be necessary to consider what licgulations may seem advisalde, whether witiiiii tiie jurisdictional limits of the United States and Canadii, or outside tliosc limits. The liCgulations which the Connnissioners may recom- mend for adopticm within the respective jurisdictions of the two countries will, of course, he matter for tlie consideration of the respective Clovernments, while the Regulations affecting waters outside the territorial limits will have to be considered under clause ♦) of tlie Arbitration Agreement in the event of a decision being given by the Aili^rators against the claim of exclusive jurisdiction put forward on heiialf of the United States. Tlie Report is to be presented in the lirst instance to the two Governments for their consideration, and is subse(|uently to be laid hy those (iovcrnments before tho Arbi- trators to assist tlicm in determining tho more restricted question as to what, if any. Regulations are essential for the protection of the fur-bearing seals outside tho territorial jurisdiction of the two countries. In the event of any points arising on which the Commissioners are unable to arrive at an understanding, they should report jointly or severally to each Government on such points. In conclusion, I have to state that Her Majesty's Government place every reliance on your tact and discretion in the conduct of your investigations with your American colleagues, who will, no doubt, be equally desirous with yourselves of arriving at a common agreement on the questions to be discussed. I am, &c. (Signed) SALISBURY. Inclosure in No. 2. Commission passed under the Royal Sign Manual and Signet appointing Sir George Si ytb Haden-Powell, K.C.M.G., M.P., and Professor George Mercer Dawson, Assistant Director and Geologist of tiie Canadian Geological and Natural History Survey, to be Her Majesty's Commissioners under the liehring Sea Joint Com- mission Agreement between Great Britain and the United States of the 18th December, 1891. VICTORIA, by the Grace of (iod, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, Queen, Defender of the F.iith, Empress of India, &c..&c., &c., to all and singular to whom these presents shall come, greeting ! Whereas we have deemed it expedient that Commissioners should be appointed for the purpose of inquiring into the conditions of seal life in IJehring Sea and the measures necessary for its proper protection and preservation under the Agreement bctwe n Great Britain and the United States of America of the 18th December, 1801. Now know ye that we, reposing especial trust and confidence in the diligence, skill, and integrity of our trusty and well-beloved Sir George Smyth Baden-Powell, Knight Commander of our most dislinguisheil Order of St. IMiciiael and St. George, Member of Parliament, and of our trusty and well-beloved Professor George Meicer Dawson, Assistant Director and Geologist of the Canadian Geological and Natural History Survey, have nominated, constituted, and appoin'ed, and do by tliesc presents nominate, constitute, ami ajipoint them our Commissioners >o undertake tho inquiry aforesaid. And we do hereby give to our said Commissioners Full Power and authority to do and perform all acts, matters, and things which may be necessary and proper for duly carrying into cifcct the object of this our Commission. In witness whereof we have signed these presents with our Royal hand. Given at our Court at Osborne tiic 1st day of January in the year of our Lord 1892, and in the 55tb year of our reign. By Her Majesty's command, (Countersigned) Salisbuxiy. rapli < 1 ) BEHKING SEA COMMISSION. JOINT IIEPOIIT, .\o. 3. The I'chiintj Scd Co,ni>iissio,iet\s' to the ^r<n■,/t,is of SnlLs!jiir!/.--{l{crr;rr(/ Mtirch li).) U'ashiiKjloi), Marrli i, 1S;):>. My hard, AVH hav comlit) Under tlic instiuetions contained h Have the lionour (o transmit lierewitli a IJepoit si-nod tliis d .v hy'llic ^sioncrs of (iivat Britain and the United Stales apiminled to invosti-ate ti.c on ot seal lite ni the North Pacific Ocean. ^ ^ in jour Lordsiiip's despiitclies of the I'Kh Jane, ISDl, and of tlie loth January last, and in accordance wi'tl \Vc liave, &c. (Signed) GEOKGI-: BADIvX-l'OWKLL (JEOIJGE M. DAWSON. Inclcsuro in No. 3. BEIIIllXG SEA COMMISSION JOINT IJEPOHT. An A-reemynt ha', hi- been entered into betuocn the Gover::n.en(s of CreU Britain and the United States to the elfoct that— '' ''^»^'|' 9overninent sliall appoint two Commi.s.sioners to invesli-ate, conioii t!v with he Comin.ssioners ot the other Government, all the fads havini;- rdution to seal life i! JJelirin^' Sen, and the inoa^nros nccossar.y for its proper prolt'ctioa and preservation; Ihe iour CommissK.ncrs shall, so far as they may be able to a^ree, male-, a Joint seSv^tof; 1 r"'^' '"' Governments; and they shall aNo repon, eilher ioimi ol se^cialb, to each Government on any points upon whicii tiiey may l;e unable to' .•.-.■ree- J hesc Keports shall not be n.ade p.d.lic until they shall he submitted "io the c^multtii r" '''^''"'" * '"' ^''' ^<»"^'"^^"^^' o^ ^''^i'- ''^i"^ "-«• ''v tl.o A, Intmtl's And we, ill acconlance with the above Ao-reement, havino- been duly commissioned by our respective Governmenis, and bavin,:., communicated to each other our res pe ' ' v • powers, tound in -ood and due form, have a-reed to the foli,)uino- ]{onort • ~ 1. I he lomt invesli-.ition has been carried out bv us, and ue have utdi-ul rl sources of mtormationavaihible. ' ' <• c uiii,.,.u .i,i 2. The several bree.lii.o- places on the I'ribylolT Is!and>, have been evamined and inveSu.^1 '"'""-""'"^ '^"'^ methods tor taking the seals upon the inlands have b;^"!, y. In regard to ibe distribution and habits of the fur-scal when seen at sea infor- iiiation^base.l on the observation., resided by the cruizcis of tiie United Stales anl 1305] 2 Great Britain, engaged in carrying out llie inocliis viiendi of \S01, has been cxciiangcd for tlie purpose of enabling general conclusions to bo arrived at on these points. 4. Meetings of the Joint Commission were held in Washington, beginning on Monday, the 8th February, and continuing until Friday, the 4th Marcli, 1803. As a result of these meetings, we find ourselves in accord on the following propositions: — 5. Wc arc in thorough agreement tliat, for industrial, as well as for other obvious reasons, it is incumbent upon all nations, and particularly upon those having direct commercial interests in fur-seals, to provide for their proper protection and preservation. 6. Our joint and sevcnil investigations have led us to certain conclusions, in the first place, in regard to the facts of seal life, including l)otii the existing conditions and their causes; and, in the second place, in regard to such remedies as ni.ay he necessary to se^jre the fur-seal against depletion or C(mimercial extermination. 7. Wc find that, since the .\laska purchase, a marked diminution in the number of seals on, and habitually resorting to, the Pribyloll' Islands has taken place ; that it has been cumulative in effect, and that it is the result of excessive killing by man. Jlltirr 8. Finding that considerable diirereiicc of o])inion exists on certain fundamenta' propositions, which renders it impossible in a satisfactory manner to express our views ii a Joint Report, wc have agreed that wc can most conveniently state our respective conclusions on these matters in the "several" llepoits which it is provided may be submitted to our resi)ective Governments. Signed in duplicate at tlie citv of Washington this 4th day of March, 1S1>2. (Signed) GEORGE S.MYTPI BADEN-POWELL. GEORGE MERCElt DAWSON. THOMAS CORWIN MENDENHALL. CLINTON HART MEllRIAM. (Signed) Ashley Anthony Fkoudk, JosETU Stanley-Buow UDK, 1 N, J Joint Secrelaries. 8 exchanged s. ■inning on !0i?. Ana >ns : — er obvious ing direct servation. in tlio first 1 and tlicir cossarv to number of lat it has idamenta' r views ii I'cspectivc J may bo VELL. ALL. llEroilT OF THE BRITISH BEHRING SEA COMMISSIONERS. No. 4. The Behring Sea Commissioners to the Marquis of Salisbury.— {Received August 14.) • ^ wiTir .. f i 1 . , ,. , Foreign OJice, AnguM 13, 1892. WN H reference O our despatch of the 4th March, 1892, inclosing the Joint «ep,rt ot 1,0 Joint Commission, we nou- have the honour to submit, as the " several '' Re o t c,mton,plated ,n that despatch, the Report which we have had the bono, r to make t IW V !'tr *'•' ^"''" "'"''•■ '^' Commission appointing «. to investigate sea i^' n Ik'liring Sea We have, &c. (Signed) GEORGE BADEN-POWELL GEORGE l\. DAWSOX. Inclosuro in No. t. REI'Oiri'. To TiiK QuKicN's Most Excellknt Majkstv. JMay it rj,i;.v,si.; Youu Ma.testv, .•oudilim;s^df's.^l1^? Commissioners, appoints to underlake an inquiry into the .,.1,0,- IW,.. fo. ,1,0 ,,„,„„se „r „,eso,.vi„s ,W ttu^io "1™ ^.^^e X „ rf'' "'' ""•'■ on the ndx^rnat.onal r.ghts involve<l, and on the establishment of lleoidation f r H i^iinn/s^r '" ""' ^'"""'''"" ""' ^'" ♦"'•-^''> •" - habituaiirs;;;: ;:: li: .-:. Wherefore, in oarrjing „ut the ter:.,s of our Commission, it has been our obic-t . aapmc and i-eeord the most con.plete information available, in orl«r to , Z o e in :;u;j;;::;nri?r;^s;;i^':;;^^:i: -^ '^^^'^^^'- "»i-'^"'' ^»^ -tu..; sihsSoJ; v'ilir'ro.- k"7- "'^' '"'•"" *'^" *i"'\'l'"''^ "^■'•" ^''« ^"'t'' »^«^'ifi^' Ocean was provided fur US b ind \\ rool lit our re<]tiest from the res])ec'iive Gov - ^^y - kerios situated in American or Jfnssian torrit ernmenls. ory was obt lined J- . .',3!!! rl'!!"!:'';!!^ '''fr,!*"' ^■'^^'•"" «"yi' i''''^'^^ H<"^»cd in, «,..! sud <ho NoHli Pacific Ocean, ai;a liolil [30.5J 11)2 ig personal interviews wi'h such persons as should i-ntisfv 11.4 that wc liail neglected no source of information which might I)c likely to assist us in arriving at sound crnclusions. 8. Care was taken before commencing our local investigations to complete our personal kiiowlodgc of all d(!cumentary evidence to which wc could procure access, including the previous official correspondence, and a mass of puhlic and private puhii- cations, descriptions, records, and opinions. {). Peqiicsts for information were also addressed to several countries outside the ]!rohal)lc scope of our personal inquiries, from which collateral information of importance could be derived. With the aid of the Canadian and Imperial Govern nent.s, a series of (jueslions wore sent to the various (Governments who now hold the chief resorts of the fur-seal in tiie Southern Hemisphere, namely, the Argentine, Uruguayan, Cliilean, and Ih-azilian Republics, and the Colonies of the Falkland Islands, the Cape of rio'nl Hope, Tasmania, New South AVales, Victoria, imd New Zealand. 10. Inquiries were a'so made for information in regard io the Xorth Pacific seal fisheries to the Governments of Russia and Japan, to Her liritannic Majesty's ComMds at Shanghac, Cant.m, Honolulu, and San Francisco, and to the Canadian Indian Agents along the coast of Hritish Columbia 11. In regard to personal work, a brief account of our proceedings m ill explain the plan of action adopted, and we append a Chart of our track. From the fth to the JIth July we consulted with the Canadian Ministers in Ottawa; we then crossed the continent by train, and at Vancouver and Victoria held prearranged interviews witli those who wore engaged in the practical work of sealing, and with the Commander-in- chief of (he Pacific Station and the port antlioritics. So soon as the chartered steamer " Danube" could be got ready for sea, we left on a direct course for the port of lliuliuk, in Unalaska Island. 12. The " Oanube " made the passage of about 1,400 miles in seven and a half d.ays. After consulting at Unalaska vith the Senior Naval Officer, Commander Turner, of Her Majesty's ship "Nymphe,'' we made the b-.st of our way to the PribylofF Islands, where we spent several days carrying out our first inspection of the seal rookeries in company witii Professor Mendenhall and Dr. Merriam, the Commissioners-designate ot the United States, every hospitality and courtesy being afforded by the officials both of the Government and of the lessees of the islands. 13. At this date the rookeries were still at their fullest, and the organization had not yet broken up. After careful inquiry into the various questions connectetl with the habits and treatment of the seals on these islands, we started on the 0th August on a cruize of 1,450 miles to the eastward and northward in company with Her Majesty's ship " Pheasant," to satisfy ourselves as to the limits of the range of the fur-seal in those parts of Belning Sea. We visited the native and other Settlements r.n Xunivak Island, Cape N'ancouver, St. INlatthew Island, St. Lawrence Island, and Plover Bay in Eastern .Siberia, near the entrance of Bchring Straits, returning thence for a second inspection of the Pribyloff rookeries and to note the difference in their appearance after a fortnight's interval. 1 1. 'Ihence wc proceeded to lliuliuk Harbour, Unalaska, to communicate by appoint- ment with the Commanding Officer:! of tiic English and United States' war-ships as t;> future movements. Leaving that port on the 24th August for the westward we cruized along the Aleutian chain, calling at the Islands of .Vtka and Attn, on which are the only remaining native Sel dements in the western part of the Aleutian chain. 15. We then crossed to the Commander Inlands, and there received from the Russian authorities every facility and courtesy in our task of learning all wc could concerning seal life on those islands. Thence we proceeded down the coast of Kamschati<a to Petropanlouski, where again the Russian authorities gave us every information. On this cruize Her Majesty's ship "Porpoise," sailing in company, proved of the greatest assistance. 1(5. Leaving Pefropaiilouski on the 10th September our course was shii])ed for the Piibyloff Islands, so as to strike them from a westerly diic:;tion, and continue across that portion (f Hebring Sea our observations of seals seen at sea. A thi'd and final CNami- nation of the Pribyloff ro(ikeries was (hen made after a further interval of twenty-six; days, and Unalaska was again reached on the ITtli September. 17. Leaving Pchiiiig Sea on the 20tli Septeml)er, we visited l\iidiak l>lanil, Sitka, and Sliakan, making in(iniries of both the native and White I'esidents as to the fur-seal fishery in thi> tii-fant territorv of the United States. Continuing our cruize of investi- i;ali(.n. we called at (lie )( )llowing places on the coast of Itritish Columbia, viz , Port Siiiijison, Metla-kat'a, Port l';s>inuton, Massct ((^)ueen Charlotte Islnuls), IJelhi-Hell.!, >'nwitfi. Clayoqnot S OUIH! nu 1 nurclay Sound, where, by personal incju'ries, we were rnnl)lc(l to amplify tlic written statements wliicli, in compliance with our previous request, liad boon forwarded to us by the In<lian agents on the coast. The Indian Settlement at Xeah Bay, on llie United States' shore of the Straits of Fuca, was also visited, where \vc likewise obtained valuable information. ]8. The facts thus obtained afforded a direct knowlelge of the fnr-sealing industry, both past and present, as it affects the Indians of South-east Alaska and British Columbia. I!). Wo completed our local investigations by obtaining from the sealers in Victoria, Vancouver, and Seattle, further evidence as to their opinions and wishes, thus con- cluding our task by obtaining autlioritativcly the views of all persons connected with t!ie fur-seal fishery on the facts of seal life and on the protective measures they would favour. 20. The cruize in the ^orth Pacific occupied nearly three months, and the log shows a distance covered of more than 9,000 miles. 21. "We were thus enabled to examine for ourselves all the principal seal rookeries, and especially to in«pect the typical rookeries on the Pribyloff Islands at three different seasons, at the widest intervals of time possible within the period at our command : to learn, by personal inquiry, knowledge of tlie limits eastward, northward, and westward of the present liabitat of the fur-seal, and to satisfy ourselves as to the peculiar features of the localities which the fur-seal ;li(l or did not select as shore resorts. 2".'. [n regard to the important point of the facts and reasons of the presence of the fur-seal in jtarlicular iiortions of the ocean at particular seasons of the year, a point on w hich we could find little or no previous descriptions or recorded observations, records were collated from schooners engaged in scaling, and for 1891 we formulated a plan of seal logs and seal track. charts i)ased on recorded observations of seals seen at sea, which has been very ofTiciently carried ont on the British men-of-war "Nymphe," "Porpoise," and " Pheasant," and on our own chartered steamer, the " Danube,"— similar work having also Ijcon carried on by the United States' men-of-war and revenue-cutters employed in Behring Sea during the same season. For this purpose also special inquiries were made as to the kinds of fish constituting the favourite food of the fur-seal. Photographs were also taken by us of the seals, their breeding places, and surroundings. 2;]. It may be observed further, that in obtaining evidence from persons of experience or knowledge of the subject, we adopted, in general, the informal plan of free inter- views and inde])endent conversation. In this way we acquired very distinct and trustworthy knowledge of their opinions and experiences. 21'. The witnoKses who thus gave evidence included ofiicials of the Governments and the Comj anios, and ex-o!ficia!s now otherwise employed, owners, captains and hunters engagod in pelagic sealing ; natives, chiefly Aleut and Russian half-breeds, engaged in killing and skinning seals on the Pribyloff Islands ; natives, such as Indians, Innuits, and Aleuts, who habitually hunt and kill fur-seals, and merchants and others connected wiili the trade in furs. 25. In the following statement of the results of our investigations, we propose, first of all, to present, in summary, in Part I, a general view of the conclusions at which we have arrived as to the condition of seal life in the North Pacific Ocean, and as to the measures necessary for the preservation of the fur-seal industry. i«: .^"~; \Vc would then, in Part II, deal in a more systematic manner and in detail with the various divi.siors of the subject, and subsequently give, as Appendices, such corre- spondence and statistics as may be needed to contplete our account of the subject under investi"ation. 6 Habits of the fiir-seal. iligrations. WiiiU'i- aivi siiiiinuT iiatiitats. Cvcnis on \ircoiliiiy; lilacos. i(,-o;'il;ng places. Paut I. SUMMARY OF FACTS AND CONCLUSION.'!. I. — The Former, Present, and Prospectivk Condwion of the Fur-seal Fishery in the North Pacific Ocean, (A.) — General Conditions of Seal Life. 2fl. The fur- .seal of tl:c North Pacific Oceai is an animal in its nature essentially pelnfjic, which, during the greater part of each year, lias no occasion to seek tlic land, iind very rarely docs so. For so i c portion of the year, however, it naturally resorts to certain littoral breedinjr places, wlicrc the young arc brought forth and suckled on land. It is gregarious in habit, and, though seldom found in defined schools or compact Ijodies nt sea, congregates in large numbers at the breeding places. Throngliout tlie brooding season, the adults of both sexes — if not entirely, at least, for very consi.lerable peiioJs— abstain from food, but during the remainder of the year the seals arc notably inihunced in their niovcnients by those of the food-fishes upon which they subsist. 27. Such movement.s are, however, subordinate to a more general one of migration, in conformity with which the fur-seals of tlie Xortli Pacific travel northward to the breeding islands in the spring and return to the southward in the autumn, tbllowing two main lines, one of which appro.\imates lo tlie western coast of North America, while the other skirts the Asiatic coast. Tiiose animals which pursue the first-ntentioned migration- route, for the most part breed upon the Pribyloff Islands in summer, and spend the winter in that part of the ocean adjacent to, or lying off, the coast of iiritish Columbia. Those following the second route breed, in the main, on the Commander Islands, and winter olf the coasts of Japan, 'i'he comparative proximity of the breeding islands frequented by tne seals pertaining to these two migration-tracts during the summer insures a certain interrelation and interchange of seals between the t groups, to an extent not fully known, and which doubtless varies much in dill'crent years. 28. The fur-seal of the North Pacific may thus be saiti, in each case, to have two habitafs or homes between which it migrates, both equally necessary to its existence under present circumstances, the one frequented in summer, the other during the winter. If it were possible to confine the fur-seal to the vicinity of the northern islands resorted to during the breeding season, or even within the limits of Hehring Sea, the species woidd become extinct in a single year ; but if, in any way, it were to be debarred from reaching the islands now chiefly resorted (o for breeding purposes, it would, according to experience recorded elsewhere, speedily seek out other places up-ii which to give birth to its young. 'J',). The fur-seal of the Southern Hemisphere, while recognized as distinct in kind, resembles that of the North Pacific in its habitual resort to littoral breeding places and in other respects, but is not known to migrate regularly over such groat tracts of sea, or to have definitely separable summer and winter habitats. ;)(). With reference to the length of the period duiing which the fur-seals resort to thcsliore : — The breeding males begin to arrive on the Pcibyloff Islands at varying dates in May, and remain continunusly ashore for aI>out three months, after which tliey are treeil from all duties on the ])reeding rookeries, and only occasionally return to the shores. The breeding ienialcs arrive for the most part nearly a month later, bearing tiieir young immediately on landing, and remaining ashore, jealously guarded by the males, for several weeks, after which they fake every opportunity to play in the water clo^c along the beaches, and about a month later tiiey also begin to leave the islands in search of food, and migrate to their winter habitat. The young males and (he young females come ashore later than the breeding seals, and at more irregular dates, and "haid out" by themselves. Lastly, the pups of the year, born in .Fune and July, commence to " pod," or lierd together away from their mothers, towards the middle or end of August, and after that frctiuent the beaches in great numbers, and bathe and swim in the surf. They remain on the islands until October, and even November, being among tlie last to leave. •!il. AVhile resorting to or remaining on the lar.d, the fur-seal is ])raelically defenceless, and it is, tlicretore, on uninhabited islands or rocks that large numbers of seals are known to congregate; durin:^' the breeding season. Such places alono have allordcd the necessary security Irom various predaceous animals and from man, ami all the notable seal " rookeries " of both heirisplieres have been found on unpeopled insular areas. Tlic Intilude and coirespontling climate of sucli breeding places his doubtless been a circumstance of some importance in rendering certain loculities congeniiil to the fur-scal, but even the single species inhabiting the North Pacific shows a considerable range of adaptability in this rcspeetj provided that tlic necessary security against disturbance and destruction be afForded for adults and young. 32. Until the discovery by the llussians of tlie Commander Islands in 17tl,and the ]*ribyloti" Islands in 1780, these were iloubtless, in the average of years, fully peopleil with seals up to the limits impo-sed by natural conditions, such as food supply, areas available for breeding grounds, and the counteracting effects of destructive agencies at that time ntftcting seal life. Among the litter, particular mention may be made of pre- dacoous mariiie animals such as the killer whale and shailc, and to hunting carried on in the southern portion of the migration-range of the seal by various native tribes. These agencies were almost continuous in their operation, but, in addition, certain occasional causes of destruction of seals must not be lost sight of. Among these arc, inclement seasons in which the breeding islands, or some of them, remained so hmg ice-bound that tlio females were unable to land in time to give birtii to tiieir young; autumn storms, fatal to young seals, and also the recurrent inroads of murrains or diseases of various kinds. Of the two first of these last-mentioned causes, instances which have resulted in great damage to seal life have been recorded on the I'ribylotl' Islands. In regard to the third, thou^li elsewhere observed, there is a remarkable absence of notice in the records of these islands, 33. The separate or concurrent effects of such causes, even before the era of the seal* hunter, must have produced great fluctuations in the total volume of seal life in certain years or terms of years. There are of course no data available in actual proof of this, but that such must have occurred is sufficiently obvious from analogy with the known facts relating to other animals, and particularly those of a similar gregarious habit. 34. In all parts of tlie world the discovery of the breeding islands of the fur-seal has usually been followed by unrestricted slaughter upon these breeding places, and this has invariably resulted in general depiction, often approaching extermination, but in no known case within historical times, has it actually resulted in complete extirpation. ()ii;>iijal cnnditioiis on lirocdiiig Natural fliictuntion* ill niinibei's. Interference with natural cunditions. (B.) — Killing on the Breeding Hands. 35. The discovery of the breeding islands in the North Pacific, and the slaughter Kffi-cis of of seals upon them by man, introduced a more important factor in regard to their seal killinp. life, the general ctfect of which, under what regulations soever, tended inevitably towards a reduction in the aggregate number of seals frequenting the islands. In other words, the initiation of commercial killing on the breeding islands interfered with the previously established balance of nature. It formed a heavy new draft upon seal life, while no compensating relief was afforded ajrainst the active depredations of other enemies or against other natural occurrences which had heretofore set limits to the increase of the seals. Their former places of secure retreat were invaded by man, w iiile, during the greater part of each year, they remained exposed on the open ocean as before to innumerable accidents, and entirely beyond the contrcd or possible jjrotcction of those in charge of the brocdirg islands. The inroads of the seal killers on tlie islands might be modified in kind or in d give, l)ut tiicir general tendency could not be reversed. ."G. 'I'hc Pribyloff and CJommander Islands of the North Pacific have, however, ii,.^,,!.,,;,,,,,^ continued to be the resorts of large numbers of fur-seals lor more tlian 100 years on'tuvcdinff siibsecpicnt to their discovery and occupati(»n by the I^issians. Almost from the first, i^lmils. regulatio.is restricting the slaughter of seals oi'i land were instituted and carried out by tiie Russian authorities, and similar measures have been continued in the case of the Prihylolf [slantis by the Government of the United States. Though continuous, or nearly so, in their general operation, such regulations have varied much in their nature, and even more with regard to the degree ot efficiency with wliich they have l)een enforced, and in the latter respects they have at no time been entirely satisfactory for the purposes iiitende;!. 37. During the early years of the Uussian control, the conditions of seal life were very iinprnvr- imperfectly understood, and but little regard was paid to the subject. A rapid diminution ment* in in the number of seals frequenting the islands, however, eventually claimed attention, and regulations. improvements of various kinds followed. Among the first of the more stringent measures adopted was the restriction of killing to males, which followed fiom the discovery that a much larger number of males were born than were actually required for service on the 8 NumbcM killed on the PribylolT Islands. Depletion thrfoteiied ill Hiis»iaii times. Iiicrea!<e in later years of Russian rfiijime. Cniteil States' control. Effects of excessive slaugliter. brecilinpc " ronkerics." The killing of fcinnlcs was prncticaily fi)rl)iil(len on the Pril)}'loi[t Ishinds abtiut 1847, and un the Coninmndcr Islaiidi.' prubalil)' about the .same date. S8. The obvious fact wan alno recon;nized that the killing for food nlonc of large numbers of voimg seals or " pups," when their skins came to possess no comiiiercMal value, was a useless naste of seal life. On the Commander Islanii.^ this prncticc ceased alter the year 187 i. It was strongly protested against as earl v as 1875 on the Pribyloff Islands, but was not actually forbidden there until the year 1891. 30. The number of seals annually killed on the Pribyloft' Islands during the earlier years of the Kussian regime is not nccurutely known, though fairly e.\act statistics arc extant from the year 1817. Suflicient is known, however, to show that the number killed in various years before this date differed widely, and was in some years excessive. The whole number of seals killed in certain terms of years has been recorded witit approximate accuracv. A study of the figures thus available indicates that the average annuiil killing during the twenty-one years, 1787 to 1800, both inclusive, was about 60,000; during the nine years, fnm) 1807 to 1816, it was approximately, 47,500 ; and during the years from 1817 to 18G0 was 25,000. Combining the whole period covered by the figures above quoted, and adding the year in which the islands were discovered, we find that the killing on the Pribylolf Islands averaged for tlii'i term of eighty-one years about 3i,0i)0 annually. The e.xact figure.**, in so far as these can be obtained, are given in a tabular form (§771). 40. 'J lie excessive killing of seals in certain years of the Ikussian ])criod of control, together with the nearly promiscMious .shiugliler (for the first utirt of this peiiod) of .«eals of both sexes and all ages, doubtless liiid mucli to do «ith the alarming decreiise in seal life which occuvred more than once during this period. It is to lie noted, however, in this connection, that as both males and females continue to ho prodiictive as bre'dersfor a number of years, the eHcct of excessive killing (if any particular class of seals, such as young nniles or young feniaU s, lor t\v.) or three consecutive years, coidd only produce its full effect on the breeding " rookeries " after the lapse of four or fivi- yoars. It is thus instructive to observe that even to maintain the comparatively low average number killed during the Russian period, it was found absolutely necessary on several occasions to institute periods of rest or "zapooska," in which all killing of seals was prohibited for some years. 41. It is also noteworthy, that tor many years previous to the close of the Russian control (probably from about 1812) under a more enlightened .system of '.ranagemcnt than that of the earlier years, the number of seals resorting to the islands was slowly increasing, and that the average nuinbci" taken annually was gradually raised during these years from a very low figiue to about 30,000, without apparently reversing this steady improvement iri the inimbers resorting to the islands. 42. In 1807, the last year of the Kussian tenure, a sudden and great increase in the take of seal-skins was allowed to occur, and the number rose abruptly in this year to about 75,000. 43. In the next year, being the first in whicli the PribylolF Islands i)assed into the control of the United States, an almost promiscuous slaughter occurred, in which it is estimated that over 242,000 seals were killed. In 1 SOU about 87,000 seals in all were killed, making an averaj^e number for each of the three years, 18G7 to ISUO, ofover 130,000, and including large numbers of females. 44. The effect of the irregular and excessive killing on the breeding islands in these three years (long before pelagic sealing had grown to be of any importance) became apparent in two principal ways: (I) the number of seals diminished on the breeding islands to an extent much greater than could be accounted for by the actual number slaughtered, and at about the same date the seals were seen in unprecedented abundance off the British Columbian coast to the south.ward (facts clearly shown in the diagrams and by the figures elsewhere given for the catch) ; (2) the number of yoimg jjroduced in the three following years was much less than before, and this, in conjunction with the extraordinarily high limit of 100,0w0 allowed by law to be taken each year, com- mencing in 1871, speedily brought about a very marked decrease in males of killable age. Thus, in 1875, notwithstanding the generally optimistic tone maintained in official reports, we find a first significant note of warning, and economy of seal life is inculcated. In the same year the number of skins obtained was considerably reduced in lace of a steady market, and before tiie decline in prices of the two succeeding years, which decline, no doubt, accounts in part lor the still smaller number of skins taken in these two years. 45. It is particularly important to note tlic effects of the excessive killing of the years 1807-G8-t)9, which, combined with those ensuing from llie slaughter of male seals of par- ticular ayes ir various yanrs to 1870, can he closely foUowccl, chiefly by means of Captain Bryant's intelligent notes on Ibis period, which are elsewhere summarized (§ 810 et sen.). 4(». It is clearly apparent, and is borne out by t!ie experience of later years, that any severe disturbance of tlie luitural conditions on tlie breeding islands is at once reflected in changes of habits of the seals and in the irregularities and overlapping of dates in the annual cycle of seal life. Such changes are not prevented by the restriction of killing to males, for an excess in number of males is a ])art of the natural conditions; and any change in the pro)iorti(m of males, even if not pushed so far as to become in itself a cause of decrease in numbers born, constitutes a true cause of change in habit's, and has a very special effect on the lime and place of landing of the females (§ lidii et sei/.). An oxeci'S in number of nuiles, with the consequent competition for females, must, in all probability, further be regarded as a provision for maintaining the strength of the race as a wliole by means of natural selection, and in the case of the fur-seal it is not possible to substitute for such provision the artificial selection of breeding males, as is done with nninnils under the contrcd of man. 47. In 1870 tile I'ribylotf Islands were leased by the United States to the Alaska Commercial Company, and the number of seals to bo killed for skins was fixed empirically at 100,000 annually. This number was admitted at the time by the best authorities to be experimental (§§ 810, 815), and it was provided by Congress that the Secretary of the Treasury might reduce the number allowed for killing if found necessary, for the sake of preserving the seals and with proportionate reduction of rent. Practically, however, and on grounds not publicly explained, it remained unaltered, and became a fixed limit. 48, As early as 1875 and 187G the number thus established was ollicially reported as being too great, but it was not reduced or changed durii:g the entire twenty years' term of the lease, except by an alteration made in the relative proportions to be killed on Ht. Paul and St. (jleorgc Islands in 1874, when also tiie time during which tlie killing for skins might progress was extended. 4;). The limit thus fixed did not include seals killed for food at .reasons or of ages at which the skins were not merchantable ; and, as a result, the total recorded take of .«;eals on the islands in each full year of the lease but three, actually exceeded 100,000. Of these three exceptional years, one falls below 100,000 by a very small amount only, while two are considerably below it. Thus, excluding the first year, the number known to have been killed in each of the nineteen succeeding years of the lease aver ^es 10.3,147. The official figures for the entire twenty years of the lease furtiier show tnat, during this term, I2!),;)30 seals, including about 03,000 unweaned young, or "pups," weie killed for food or otherwise, of which the skins were not marketable ; this waste alone being more than 7 per cent, of the whole number killed. 50. These totals, however, do not inehule seals lost or destroyed in various ways incidental to the modes practised in driving and killing (§ 704 vt fieq.), nor those taken or killed in raids (§ 7-7 et seq.), or other illegal ways consecpient on the imperfect protection of the islai'ds. These together would raise the figures representing the annual killing by a very material thouL'h unknown amount. Lieutenant Maynard, in his report written in 1874, estimates tlie total number of seals killed each year about that date at 112,000. According to llrvaiit (" Monog'-aph of .N'orth American Pinnepeds," p. 410), the total number of seals actually killed upon the inlands during the first six years of the United States' control amounted to 110,000 annually. 51. Tiie killing since 18(57 of so large a number of seals on the Pribyloff Islands thus constituted a draft on their seal lite of a character never before attempted, and more than twice as great as any similar demand of which comparable records have been pre- served ; the annual average, as above stated, for the previous eighty years, having been about 34,000. 52. The various reports on the condition of the seals resorting to the Pribyloff Islands in diti'erent years, and other pul)lislied information bearing on the same subject, are often contradictory, and sometimes so manifestly inaccurate, particularly in respect to the crucial point of the number of seals, that it is difficult from these alone to form any satisfactory or coherent idea of the actual state of seal life during much of this period. These discrepancies in part arise from the frequent changes which occurred in the personnel of the Government Agents and Company's officers, in consequence of which no single method of ascertaining the condition of the " rookeries," or of estimating the number of seals frequenting t'lo iislands, was long maintained ; in part from the appearance in several cases of the same individual, now in tlie capacity of an employe of the Company, [305J . «• ^ . r y ^ , pl'Oili.ri tl liv (lutiirbaiicc. Ul .<(!,< LI,, It<'|><irt('(l It. It hi"l-. CXtTl'llc.l 1C'0,00(,'. l{6)>ni(s iilTord iinsatUfao- tory dalii. ■■',': 10 Evidi'iici' of oilit>r IuihIm, I'lnportinna o" timlrx to icllKlU'S. l'"urllior SOllll'l'S of iiifor.iiatiun. IiimIo 111? I'linrraiK'u ili.'cn'.i^i'. Xi;iiilicr (ix.Ml fur liilli'ii; t()!i lii'.'ii. Xot ad^ntabie. and again an a siijiervisini;' officer of the (Jovcnnnent. There arc also, unfortunately, certain groups of years during whicli no serious attempt appears to have been made to record tlio true condition of tlie breeding islands. This is particularly the case in years between 1 880 and 1 8M). u'6. The killing on the islands was, however, hy law confined to male seals, and it is, rather from the collateral evidence atforded hy allusions to the proportion of virile males to females, together '.ith other incidental references, the meaning of which becomes clear when coupled with local knowledge, than from many of the direct statements published, that a true idea of the actual condition of seal life on the islands during these years can be formed. 54. The proper proportion in iiumher of virile males to adult females is a matter of iniportaiu'o, and in estimates, made while the rookeries of tlie PribylofF Islands were still in excellent condition, there is a salist'actory moasiire of agreement on this point. Hrynnt placed this proportion at one male to nine to twelve females, while Elliott states the mean numl)er of females in a harem in 187'2-7't at from five to twenty (*' ^lonognipli of North American Pinnepeds,'' p. .'V,)0; United States' Census Heport, p. Hit). M. Gre'Diiitzky, Superintendent of the Commandor Islands, and a mitundisl of ])re-eminent experience in tlie facts of seal life, informed us that when the jiropoition of leniiilos exceeied ten to each mature male, he considered that too many males were being killed, and that eaeli harem should in no ease contain more than twenty foniales. ^^ hen, therefore, we find the hnrenis in tl.e Priliylotf Islands growing yearly larger, till at the present iiino they surpass (lie pro])orti()ns aliove mentioned from four to eight limes, it is reasonable to conclude that in this eliiinge tlie effect of an excessive slaughter of young males is vcnclered a|)paicn(. dC>. Our own and all other local ohservatiiuis on the rookeries during the last few years prove that it is no uncommon event to find a single male seal with a harem numbering from forty to fifty, and even as many as sixty to eigl f.y, females. r>(!. Further evidence with the same meaning is afforded by the increasing number of barren females ; by the disturbance and change in the habits of tiic seals ; by the actual dearth of " killable " seals in the vicinity of the nearer rookeries, and the extension of driving (as early as IS"!) or 18S0) to jdaees which had previously been held in reserve and whicli had seldom (U' never Iteen drawn upon in earlier years; by the driving of "killables" from the very margins of the breeding rookeries, whicli should have remained undisturbed; by the longer time during which the killing re(|iiired to be continued in later years in order to enable the full quota to be obtained, and by llie larger numl)er of undersized and otherwise ineligible animals, including females, ruthlessly' driven U]) in recent vears and turned away from the killing grounds in an exhausted and bewildered if not actually injured state. The proportion thus turned away, according to the report of the Special Treasury Agent in 18!)U, actually rose to !)i) per cent, of tlie wliolc number driven. u~. A critical investigation of the published mailer, togetlier with the evidence personally obtained from many sources and an examination of the local details of the rookeries and liauling grounds on the Prihylolf Islaiuls, leads us to believe that there has been a nearly eontinuons detericiration in the condition tvf the rookeries and decrease in tlie number of seals fiv(jiienting the islands from the time at which these passed under the control of the United Stales, and that although this decrease may possibly have been interrupted, ( r even reversed, in some specially favourable years, it was nevertheless real, ami in the main persistent. 58. There can be no doubt that the niiniber fixed by law and maintained for commercial killing on the breeding islands lias been nnicli too great, and that the resulting slaughter of more than 10;i,(iO(l ma'e seals in each year has been more than the total volume of seal life could fairly stand. The sparing of females in a degree prevented, for the time being, the iietual depletion of seals on the islands, and this, with the fact lluit the killing ol' immature males does n<>t immediately produce its effect on the " rookeries," caused tlie ap])arent decrease to be at fust gradual. As, however, this effect was (;f a eiumilative ehai acter, it could not very long escape observation, and it was observed by the natives, as we iiersonally ascertained fr(nn them, to be distinct and serious at least as early as 1882 or 188:i, while t'cdoiiel .Murray, the Government Agent, and Mr. IClliotI, the Special Tiensiiiy Agcnl, in their several reports to the Treasury, trace the beginning of the notable diminution back as far as 187*.) or 1880. Other evidence of a eircmnstaulial rather than a direct eharaeler, elsewhere detailed, enables t:;c earlier effects of the general decrease to be followed still further back (§ 074 et .vc-r/.). 5''. It is particularly necessary to note that the adoption of a high fixed number to be killed each year, practically prevented such a system of adaptable control, based on the 11 observed facts of each year, ns would have enabled tlio best results to have been (ibtaiued and due provision to have been made in time to counteract the ellects of uut'iivoiinil>le Kcasoiis or of other extraneous condition.^ affectin^^ st<al life. 'I'he system adoplcd was in fact purely artificial, and one not suited to the natural rcqinreinents of tiie case. Iiiilri ciKti'iit (0.) — ISeaUng at Sea, no. prom the circumstances above noted, the maintenaiico of seal life in tlio North p.i inip Pacilic was threatened and reduced to a critical state in consequence of the methods m i>>iiv^ » adopted on the breeding islands, where the seals were drawn upon annually to, and even tni'ii'-r iliatt beyond, tlie utmost limits possible apart from depletion, and where, in conse(|ueiu'e of the "" *'''' ' enlari^cd season of commercial killing and the allowance of " food killing " during the entire time in which any seals resorted to the islands, these animals had practicall;; no mulisturbeil season of respite. At this time a new factor also tendinu towards decrease appeared in the form of "pelagic sealing," a phrase applied specially to the hunting of the fur seals on the open sen, schooners or other small vessels being employed as a base of oi)erations, fll. This pnrticidiir nu'lliod of sealing originated as a natural outgrowth from that i,s origin practised from (in\e inmicmorial I)y the natives of tlie coast of Hritish C!ulumbia, and ami (linel(i|i- ])arls of Soiitli-easlern Alasiia antl the Stiite of Wasliington. In this induj^trv these "i^"'- natives linve from the iirst i)ecn largely interested, though it lias been taken up, fostered, and directed by the Whites. It was thus in its mode of origin a perfectly natural and K'gitininte development of the native modes of hunting (§ 571 et .".w/.). ('i2, IVla,';;ic sealing, as thus by degrees expanded into an inii)ortaiif industry, was an css'-ntially novel hutiiod (f taking the fur-seal c<msequent on the peculiar habits mid maritime genius of the native jjooplcs of the we>t coa-l of Nortii Ameriea, and lailirularly of thoi^e in Jhilish Coluininn, and the vicinity of Cape Flattery in the adjacent .*»tate of Washington. It was from the first, and still is, an important source of revenue to a native jjopnlation, numbering many thousands, as well as a help to their advancement in civilization. (]■), Under the circumstances above described as prevailing on the breeding islands, the grfwth of this new industry, lio\\evcr, meant a further aceeleralicm of the rate of diminution of the fur-seal of the North I'acific as a whole. (U. The hunting of the fur-seal by the native peoples in their own canoes, aiul Ui-'wj; the shore as a l)a«e of ojjerations, iiad been practised from times which are ".iiivf jnehistorie for tiie AVest Coast ; but the total nmnbcr of seals thus taken (save in certain '"'"'"'?• e.xeejjtional years) was always small, and it was not till about the year 18G9 that tiic Iirst practical essays were made in taking the seals at sea with thi; assistance of schooners provided with Indian hunting crews and canoes. This method of hunting was initiated almost simultaneously, about the time mentioned, in British Columbia and in tlie adjacent State of Washington. 05. It may here be particularly noted that the industry thus developed in Peciilinr consequence of peculiar local conditions, had never elsewhere appeared as a factor of cliaracdr nf commercial inqjortance, ami that in so far as we have b.'cn able to discover by inquiries j."''','r'° specially directed to this point, no vessels carrying hunters lor the purpose of taking '^''' '"'^" seals at large on the sea-snrface had ever before frequented any seas anywhere. The vessels sailing from New lilngland and from some Ihitish ports, which formerly, in considerable numbers, made sealing voyages to the Southern fLnnispherc (§ S:{4 ct sci] ), slaughtered the seals there only on shore and at the breeding places, and this wilhout any respect for the rigids of territorial dominion or property over the islands they frequented. The "sealing fleet" employed in the Southern Hemisphere has, therefore, at no time been of the same character with that engaged in pelagic sealing in the North raeific. GO. For several years subsequent to its inception, pelagic sealing remained in the its gio.vtli. hands of a few persons, and was to so great an extent a trade secret tiiat little information can now be obtained respecting it. This is particularly the case in regard to the sealing-vessels sailing from Uiuted States' ports, sonic of which, although interested in pelagic sealing proper, are known to have obtained many skins by illegal raiding on the breeding islands from the earliest years of the control of these islands by the United States. 07. From four schooners in 1878 and 1879 (about which time the new development of sealing first began to attract some attention), the sealing tieet owned in British Columbia gradually increased, till in 1889 twenty-three, in 1890 twenty-nine, and in [3051 2 12 First pclnific Hfnliiiu' III liehring'K Ifi'il fifty vckhi'Ih were employed in it. So Ihr ns linown, the first of these vessels to enter Belirin;!; Sl«ii for imrposes of Honling was the "Alary Ellon," in 1884. In ISHfi two of the Uritish Coliinihian vessels continued their voyage into Hehring Sea, nnd in the followiiify year tlie entire fleet, then numbering eighteen vessels (excepting two which were wreelied), did so. The fifty vessels employed in 1^91 were provided with !>70 boats and canoes, and were manned by 1,083 Whites nnd Indians. (is. The number of skins thus obtained grew in iiroportions eurresponding to the growth of the llect from ,'»),3I0 in 1889 to A^,\\:) in 1890, and to 49,016 in 18«.>1. Only a poition of these catelies wore, however, mmlo within Hehring Sen, and of this portion an increasing percentage was obtained in tlie western region of that sen. (>!). At least oiu' vossol registered in tlie United States is known to have entered IJeliiing Sea for legitimnle pelagic sealing as early as 1881, nnd, in this particular extensicm of the industry, the British Columbian sealers cannot therefore claim to he the pioneers. 70. The United Slates have for many years past strenuously endeavoured to build up native mnritime industry. In this pelagic sealing they undoui)tei!ly have on the I'acilic coast a useful nursory for seamen, Tlie industry of wlialing lias shown a serious falling-off in recent years, but that of sealing has exhibited a mnrkcd and steady increase. In 1885 there were not ten vessels so employed. In IS'Jl the sealing Hcet owned in the United States nunihercd more than forty vessels, and the value of the catch is reported to have exceeded 30,000/. Di'rrraiie iibsnrved on J'ribyloff Iiilanda. Measures practised to ublaiu quota. Waste of teal life. (D.) — Additioniil points counerlcd with Sealiinj ill Sea or on Shore. 71. The decrease in the niiinlur of seals resorting to the Pribyloff Islands is reported to have been more rapid since 188(5 or 1887, and this has been attributed to the growth of pelagic sc'aling. .\t the saiiio time, the chief complaint has been that a great proportion of the senls taken i\t sea are females, whereas the most noticeable decrease observed on tlie islands is in males. While, therefore, it may be admitted that pelagic sealing must be held accountable for its share in tlie total effect, the above-mentioned incompatible complaints cannot be received without question. W^lien a decrease became apparent on the islands, prudence should have dictated some curtailment of the annual slaughter there in correspondence with the effect of the new factor tending towards diininution. 72. No such curtailment, however, occurred. The Company holding the lease of these islands on fixed terms were not interfered with, but continued to take their full legal quota of skins without regard to the risk to senl lite as a whole. Not only so, but instead of reducing the catch, the standard of weight of skins taken on the islands was steadily lowered so as to include a younger class of seals under the designation of " killablcs." Instead of skins weighing 7 or 8 lbs., those of 5 lbs. and (as we have ascertained on excellent authority) even of 4 lbs. and of 3^ llis. have been taken and were accepted by the Company as early as 1 889. This is in marked contrast with the conduct of atfairs on the Commander Islands, where no seals yielding skins below 7 lbs. in weight have been allowed to be killed for some years, and where in 1891, in order to afford a h'iU/s- of safety, the limiting weight of skins was raised to 8 lbs. 73 The Company holding the lease of the I'rib; loP Islands bad, of course, its own interests in view, and the period of its least; wa^ 'ii;i.viiig to a cliisc; but it must be naued that no explanation has been offered by tlio lloveriiniciit Agents in charge of the islands of the principles under which they were guided to allow this lowering of standards, with the concomitant encroachment on the limits of brcetliiig rookeries, and the extension of the area of driving to places hitherto held in reserve. 74. Summarizing the causes of waste of seal life involved in the methods actually practised in killing seals on the Pribyloff Islands (§ (559 rt svij.), we find the following to be the most serious : — (i.) The killing of unweancd "pups" and of "stagey" seals for "food," which together reached an average amount equalling 7 per cent, of the total annual catch. The skins of such seals are unmerchantable, and tlieir slaughter is now admitted to be unnecessary, but it has been allowed to continue till tiie year 1891. (ii.) Accidental killing of seals, due to over-driving, and other violence insepaiable from the mode of " driving " and clubbing the seals. TMiese evils had been fully dealt with by the United States' Special Agent in his report for 1890. 18 (lii.) " StnmpcdcH " upon tlio breeding rookeries, cnusol by efforts (o Hecuro "drives" too elosc to tlieir borders, or to carelessness of various kinds. Those arc esiK'ciall}- destructive to "imps," wlilcb are trampled to death bv tbe older seals. (iv.) EH'ci'ls of dislurbaiiec on llie breeding rookeries, and of distress nnd fright resulting from " driving," which, it is be'ieved, ouuscs many mothers with young, nu well ns other classes of seals, to leave the breeding islands prematurely. (v.) Surreptitious killing of seals by unauthorized persons on the islands. This nniy not have reached great dimensions, but is known to have occurred, nnd no stat'stien can bo obtained respecting it. (vi.) Haids upon the rookeries, rendered jjossible by the laxity of control and super- vision, which prove most destructive to nil classes of scols engaged in breeding, and espceiall; to nu '•"r." mothers and "pups." 7-'. The official statistics show, besides the seals kiiled of which the skins were accepted for shipment, only those killed for "food," and of which tho skin« were rejected. All the incidoi.t.il causes of loss above noted nro unacounted for, and tho actual pciccntage of wastage in securing the annual quota of skins since the Alaska purchase i lus remains indeterminate, bnt niijst have been great. It is Jielicvcd to have exceeded 1(» per cent., anil may well have reached 20 per cent, on the .vhuie number of skins accepted. 7(>. It is tints dear that the slaughter of seals npon the breeding islands is in itself an essentially critical and dangerous method of killing, which, although established by long custom, <an scarcely be otherwise justified. No regulations whicli have heretofore been devised have even theoretically removed such dangers. Till quite recently, altogether insulUcient care has been exercised iri carrying out existing regulations ; and the facts above referred to show clearly in what way, notwithstanding stated rules, nnd, in the absence of thoroughly independent and trained supervision, such rules may be so interpreted or strained as to permit the most seridus damage to seal life as a whole. 77. Against the methods of pelagic sealing two principal lines of criticism and of attack have been developed, and both have been so persistently urged in various ways, that they appear to have i..iiieved a degree of recognition by the uninformed alt(»gether unwarranted by the facts, in so far as wc have been able to ascertain them, though in both there is an underlying measure of truth. It is stated (1) that almost the entire pelagic catch consists of femnles; (2) that a very large proportion of the seals actually killed at sea are lost. 78. It is undoubtedly true that a considerable proportion of the seals taken at hea are females, as all seals of suitable size are killed without discrimination of sex. This is, in part, however, a direct corollary of the extent and method- of killing npon tho breeding inlands, where, practically, in late years, all males reaching the shore have been legally idllablc, ami wlieie, as a matter of fact, nearly all the young males which land have been persistently killed for some years, with the necessary result of leaving fe»er killable males in proportion to I'cinales to be taken at sea. lU. The precise bearings (m the industry as a «hole of the character and composi- tion of the pelagic catch unide along various parts of the coast and in Behring Sea are discu^^ed at greater length elsewhere (§ (jli'i et se(].), but it ntay be here noted that the great snridus of females, resulting from the practice just alluded to, has certainly rendered the killing of con;i(lerablc numbers ot these at sea less harmful in its eftect than it might otherwi-e h;ive been. >«0. To assume that the killing of animals of the female sjx is in itself repreiicnsible or inhuman, is to make an assumption alFecting nil cc.'^cs where animals are preserved or doniestieafed by man. ^lost civilized nations, in accordance with the dictates of humanity as well as those of selt-interest. make legislative provision for the protection ol wild animals during the necessary periods of bringing forth and of rearing their young; but the killing of females is universally recognized as permissible if only to preserve the normal proportion of the sexes. This is the case in all instances of game preservation nnd Ftock raising, and in the particular example of the fur-seal, it is numerically demon- strable that, in maintaining u constant total of seals, a certain proportion of females should be annually available for killing. The killing of gravid females must, however, be deprecated as specificall}- injurious, and in any measures proposed for the regulation of seal hunting should receive special attention. 81. Kesptcting the number of seals lost after being killed at sea, a large mass of evidence has been accumulated, not alone directly from the pelagic sealers proper, but .also from independent native hunters, both Indian and Aleut, and from other sources of a disinterested character. The result of this goes to show that the asserted wastefulness of the methods employed is gravely exaggerated by common report, and that tliere has Difficulty of ri"i;iil,iliii'jf shiinkillitiu; , Allp;;ntioiis !i<;aiiint Killing of t'pm:lle><. I'crcentage lint of St'llg killed. r' 11 Moitaiily KtTi'ct of liip:ii jirict's. lieciiMiing ni( rt'i.fKi'j'c. Morr tliiin pvcr t'oiiiid at fca, been niarkeil improvement in tliis lespoot iliio to tlio iiu-reasin^- oxpeiienco of the hunters (§ Cil-T el acq.). 82. ^\.nain.st tliis cxiicrt ('.'sliMiony we liu'.l s.-aiwly more than snpposititious state- ments ([uotoil and ro(jU()toil, whirli, when traced Iiack to tlieir sources, are iliscovered (o rest eitlier on very limited e\i;erienco or on very ilouhtliil authority; in stnne of wiiich tiio number ot seals fired at is hopelessly confused with tlio nnmher killed, while in othors it is even assumed liiat the numl)(. r of rounds of ammunition disposed of represents the number of seals killed. We have tliou^ht it well to tollo •• '4) all the statements upon wliich these alk\i>ations and hypotheticiil calculations are based, and practically all of these are summarised elsewhere (§ 014), and call for no further comment here. It is ccrt'uu that iuexpeiienccd hunters miss many seals, and lose a considerable proportion of those hit, but such jjurely negative results cannot riiihlly be assumed to have any hearing on the number lost by skilled hunters, such as cor.stilutc the crews of the successful sealers. 8-j. .Moie recently a turlher accusation h:>s been made against the jiractice of pelagic sealing, to the ell'ect that large numbers of females, with young upon the breeding islands, are killed at sea, and that in cor.seipienee many of the young die. Tiie consideration of this point involves so numy facts of seal Kfe that it cannot be treated at length hero; but it may be mentioned that, when upon the i'rihyloll' Islands in 18'.)1, we ourselves were the lirst to note and to draw attention to the occnrronce of a considerable number of dead "pups" in certain parts of tlie rookery grounds. A'arious explana- tions of this fact were oll'ered by the residents of the islanil-:, both Whites and Aleuts, hut in no instance was the killing of the mothers at sea at first voluntarily advanced by them as a principal cause. The aciual circumstances, ch)sc'ly investigated by us, were, indeed, such as to call for some other explanation, as elsewhere detailed (§ [Ml rt .sc/.). It is, nevertheless, certain that mothers are somelimes killed at sea, especially in proximity to the shore fronts, and it is cliielly upon tlrs ground a radius of protection about the breeding islands, extending beyond the ordinary Hmit of territorial jurisdiction, is advocated as a measure of material benefit. 84. In additi(m to the circumstances obtaining on the breeding islands, a:ul the inception and growth of pelagic scaling, the high prices ruling for skins iluring the ])ast few years have to a consiilerable extent stimulated tlio lumtin'i' of seals by nativis all aions; the coast. They have also tended to incite, on the i)arl 01 the more lawless sealers, raids upon the shores of the lireeding islands theni-clvcs. nniny of which have proved successful in C(nise(pience ot the wholly inade(piale protection which has heretofore been accorih;d to these shores ; but, so far as we have been able to ascertain, no schooners sailing from Ih'itish t'(dumbia under the Ihitish tiag have even been detected as participants in such raids on the I'ribytolf Islands. {]'j.)~ Voniii'y (tnd jiresiiil Coinlilinn of I lie Imhislnj. 85. Perhaps the most notable result of the above-mentioned co-operating causes, embracing the di.-tnrbance of conditions on the breeding islands consequent on cto-e and persistent diiving and great paucity of males, on raids made upon the shores of the islands, and on hunting at sra during the northward migration of the seals, has been to render that animal even more than before strictly pelagic in habit. 8(). Seals not actually cr.gaged in hreeding, including young seals of both sexes and barren or unimjuegiiated, though mature females, have either m)t lauded upon the islands, or have remained there tor but a short time ; and thus the aggregate munber to be seen on shore at any one time ha^ • f late years become notably reduced. 87. At the same time, the general consensus of the statenienls ohtiiim.d from persmis occupied in pelagic scaling goes to shou that there has been no similar decrease in the number of seals fouiul at sea, hut rather a possib increase during tiie corre- sponding years. The evidence of a genenil kind to this ellect does not stand alone, but is fully confirmed by an analysis of the annu:d catch of the liriti^h Columbian sealing fleet for the past few years, as exliiliite.l in the subjoined table, in which tlu' average number of skins obtained to each canoe or boat, and to each man employed in tlic pelagic scaling industry is given : — un l\.i re; nn no \\( a r ai)i dill tin ava hrc Ilia foi hoM exa rep stni he all as 1 hcc IIU' vea me the ore of on i'ac Up( Spi' Slg inti isia ;ca bill ( 01 olis 1 vai of the 1HS7 1888 188'.) 1890 1801 \(';ir. .MiinDcr 01 Bi'nis Nimiln'r of S, ;ils |.ir t';iiio(' or Hout. jar Mini. IGl sr, HI! 55 IJG 58 ino 59 /.;■/ 40 ]>>; iVom in hiich eausc.s, (i:-e aiul of (lie I)L'on to 1 st'xcs Mill lllO iiihrr to IJCI'SUIIS (U'L'icii.so 10 fOlTl'- oiic, Imt soalini,^ ivonigo ill tiic WoatlR'r ami otlicr dlivioiis eircumstancos, including those connected with the Tiiiccitain slatus of tlio sLalrs in respect to soiziiro, have of course affected the figures fur the various .years to a coi'sidciahlo oxtent ; liut speaking generally, tlie results show a lemaikalilc iiiiifonnily, ami taking;' into cniis'dei'atiou the measures adopted in 1S!)1 under the modus rlrtndi, the results of jielagic sealing in this year are particularly miteuortiiy and (o ih.e point, sceiii;'; that of the fifty schooners employed, nearly all uere turned hack hefore the expiry of the nsnal hnnting season. SS. ^\t sea, however, it is generally ackiiowledi;ed that the .seals are becoming from year to year more am: more dillicuU of ajijirvacli and capture, facts specially noted l»y the native iiidepi'iident hnnters, liecause sjiecially atfcctiiig their catch by reason of the greater distance frcnn shore to which it is now necessary to go in search of seal.s. 8!). While, theielore, it is certain that, in recent year.^ the number of seals to be found upon the I'ribyloff Islands has very considerably decreased, it is uncertain to what extent this particular decrease has been compensited for, or i.s counterbalanced by the greater dispersion of seals at sea. Under all the circumstances, it must be con.sidered as a remarkable evider.ee of the resistance of seal life to unfavourable treatment, that the api.iareiit decrease upon the islands has not been even greater. (10. lUspecting the actual amount of this decrease upon the Pribylolf Islands, it is dillicult ti) arrive at auytliing like precise conclusions, in consequence of the lack of trustworthy evidence of a comparable nature for the various years. A .study of the available published data, made in connection with a personal examination of the various breeding grounds themselves, has convinceil us, however, that some, if not all, the esti- mates '.if the total number of seals made in the earlier years of the term of the Alaska Commercial Company have been greatly exaggerated, while reports made in IP'.H), however accurate in lliemseivc.s, have, liecau-e compared with these overdrawn estimates, exaggerated the amount oi' the decrease. Ul. The alarming l'oreca>t> as to (he condiiion of tlic breeding i.slands based U]ion reports made in ]8i",(), have, I'ortnnau'ly, not been verified by the facts in 18!)]. a~ per- sonally observed by us. If, imleo 1. the correctness of some of these reports for ISOO be admitted, the rookeries mn-t have materially improved in condiiion in ISUl, while all (he evidence colKcled iiulieate> that lliej, were, in 18',)! . in at least as good eondition as tliey were in the preceding year. !)■_'. On the Commamler lilands, where tlie breeding rocik 'ries have uiKhiilitedly been more carei'ully and sy.--lc r-,,'!cally supervised, the nmnber of seals seen has gradually iiicrenseil i'or many years, and lins in lafe ye.irs apparently ludd its o\mi npto the jirescnt year, in uhich a decrease' l.as heiii note>l. There is reason to believe, however, that (he increase c(!ased in ISSi) or |S<!(l, niul was replaced by a deficit in I Sill in coiise(piencc of the number of skins tak-.Mi in tin twi; foregoing years, v.hieli greatly exceeded the average, nresnmably because these yais were the last of the Alaska Comnicreial Company's le.i.se of thes.' islands, Iveasonable proof is thus again allorded (hat (he sum (o(al ot seal life on the breeding i-lands is ,iii'ec(ed most directly by exce-;sive killing on shore. V'-'i. In nearly all tlial has heretofore been written on the fur-seal of the !Nor(h Pac'' V , ((enlion has been too narrowly canlined to such ol)servatioiis as could be made upon (ne breeding Islands, and the fact that the greater pait of the life of the seals is spent, not upon tluse i>lands. but at large on Mie oconn, lias been to a great ext<'n( lost sight of. 'I'liis naturally haj)peiied from the circumslance that those in any way interested in the seal-*, till the beginning of pelagic sealing, renniined upon the breeding islands, and knew merely what could be ascertained lliere. Tiie data nnv obtained at sea. f I r the first time ei ables the iiiigratioii routes and the winter as well as the summer hiihilaf of the fur-seal to be clearly nnderstood. and it becomes I'vident that, in ( oiwiilering IIk' condition <>f seal life ;is a \\h'ile, we must include, not only ihe oliservatio::s made on the . ands, but als > (h ' coinjdemeutnry, a'ul, in pari, countei- vailing, facts noletl at sea. Moro w.iry tliaii lor- Di'iiir.iition oil i'rihyiolJ" l-liuuls. niniiiiiition <Mi CoiniiMii- (I; r isliimU. F.icts at M';i ami a^liori' Clllll|l'('- iii"iilai V. 10 I'uiiclutions. I'o!sil)le ICIiUlt. In.iiiotriat con si li'i'u- tioiij. lie^Milaticiii desirable. 04. A review in iletnil of r.ll tlio available fac's, most of which have been alhided to or oiiUinod in the forejioin:? i);\rt of tliis summary, loads us to believe that there has been, in the main, a <j;radi'.al re luction in the total V(dnnic of seal life in tlie North Pacific, dntina: liark to a period approximately coincident witii the excessive and irreji'uliir killing; on the PrihyloiF Islands in 1807 to IS(>,), but that this reduction in total volume has not in late years Ijoen nearly so rapid as the ()I)si'rved decrease in numbers upon the Pribyloif breedinj;' islands in the corresponding years. Suc!i a review suggests that if suitable and moderate regulations be now adopted and carried out, the decrease may bo arre-ted, and no danger of the proximate depletion of the fur-seal or destruction of the fur-seal risliery need be anticipated. {)5. If, however, the inflexible and heavy draft on seal life in the ])ast should be maintained on the breeding islands, wliile jielagic sealing also continues to increase at the present ratio, it is practically certain that the whole nu iiber of seals must, in the course of a few years, become fnrtlier reduced to such a degree as to cause the inthistries l)ased upon their capture to lose all importance from a commercial point of view. Tiie contimied undue disturbance of the .'^eals must likewise tend to cause them to abandon their present haunts. 00. Apart, therefore, from such, merely ethical considerati(ms us have from time to tinie been ailvanced in lavour of the preservation of the fur-seal, but which appear to have no .special bearing upon this more than on any other animal in a state of nature, the intrinsic value of the fur of the leals together with the material interests involved in the taking a-.-.d the dressing of the skins, seem to call for such regulations as may result in the niafntejumce of the fishery. 07. A point, however, of grave l)ut unrecognized importance, is the direct influence on the sealing industry of the market for seal-skins. It is neccssiry to remember tiiat ihe re{|uirements of this market may from time to time altogether alter the regulaiioiis necessary. In the Atlantic hair-seal tishery, for instance, the international regulations l)ecame subject to the new reciuirements of a process by which the hair of newly-boii. seals became commercially valuable. Again, the actual price of the skins at an^ particular peiiod depeiuls largely ni)on (lie uncertain re(piirenients of fashion; and it is known that the Alaska Connnercial Compiiny, recognizing this fad when lessees of the Pribyloff Islands, by various more or less (irtct methods, did much to popularize ami increase the market value of the seal-skins, of which in the earlier years of their lease they held a practical monopoly. 08. To render this point perfectly clear, it is only necessary to cpuite the following expressions from the report of the Congressional Connnittee of 1S70 on the Alaska Ccmimercial Company : — "Every art and appliance and much money have l)een expended in the cultivation of a taste for seal-skin furs, wliich the Alaska Commercial Company had almost the exclusive control over V>y placing on sale a larger number of skins than was rc(|uired the prices obtained would he les-;ened, and the popular estimate of this luxury depreciafeii, si, that its i)resent value would be endangered and a change of fashion probably effected, diverting it to some otlier fur, which might ruin the trade altogether." !iO. The high price obtainable for the skins in recent years has, however, been in itself a principal cau^e of the increased activity in killing and hunting which now appears to threaten the industry. If, for any reason, the price of seal-skins should fall below, or even nearly to, the amount of the Government tax (10 dol. 2."> c.) jjuyaljle on skins under the new lease of the IVibyloft Ulands, then, on tiie one hand, the lessees would no longer find it remunerative to continue taking souls on shore, and, on the other, the profits of sealing at sea would become .-o much reduced as to discourage i'urlhor enterprise in this direction, lOO. It would thus appear that, as matters stand, a most influential factor in re.spoct to the fate of the fur-.seal fishery is one altogether removed from natural facts of seal life, and that either the denumd for seal-skins as a whole, or the special size or kind of skins called for by the market, nniy at any time be ch->nged in such a manner as to introduce new determining factors in the industry. It is therefore evident that, in u matter of such considerable importance, sonie additional and ])ossibly counteracting system of regulation of an inti'lligont kind is desirable; thai thi^ should include a con- sideration of the industrial features of tiie case as well as of tiio^e relating to ili fur-seal as an animal, and shoiUd be susceptible of constant adaptation to the c anging ro(|uire- meiits of the problem. 17 ave been lieve tliat lite in the ■ssivo and liiction in ^eroase in 1 u review (1 out, the fur-seal or sliouUl be ■ase at tlie the course ries l)ase(l iew. Tlie abandon im time to appear to ot nature, s involved »ns as niav V t influence 'ml)er tiiat •o^'ulatioi!-; ■c'gulat'ous ie\vly-bo>i, lis at an) )ii ; and it sees of the ilarize and lease they following le Alaska expended (^ompany number of estimate a change the trade r, been in )\\ appears l)elow, or iins under would no other, the ;e furtiicr factor in in natuial )eeial size a manner it that, in iteracling ide a con- fur-seal >^ roijuirc- II.—CONSIDEnATIONS RELATING TO THE B.VSIS UPON WIlTCIl PRECAUTrONS MAY BE DEVISED FOU THE PuESEIlVATIOX OP THE PUR-SEAL. 101. The case to he met in the North Pacific is outlined in tlic foregoing paragraphs, xhe cuse to and is treated in greater detail in Part II of tliis lioport. Broadly stated, it is that too be met. many seals are or may be killed, that there arc too few males on the breeding islands; and that the seals, being so continually harassed and disturbed, may take to other breeding and feeding jjlacos, or largely diminish in numbers, and in either case endanger and damage the existing sealing industries. (A.) — Interests involved, 102. In regard to interests, the sealing industry is naturally divided into what may, for the sake ot brevity, he termed the shore and ocean interests respectively. The rights in either case are indisputable, and tlie possessors of one class of these rights will not willingly allow them to be curt.iiled or done away with for the mere purpose of enhancing the value of the rights of their commercial rivals. Thus tiie onl}- basis of settlement which is likely to be satisfactory and permanent is that of mutual concession, by means of reciprocal and equivalent curtailments of right, in so far as may be necessary for the preservation of the fur-seal. 10!5. It may be added, tliat the line of division between the shore and ocean interests is not an international one, and that the question of compromise as between the two industries cannot, in consecpience, be regarded strictly from an international point of view. If we may judge from the respective number of vessels employed, the interest of ftv^ii citizens of the United States in pelagic sealing is at the present time approaching to an ecpiality with that of Canada ; while Germany and Japan have l)een or are represented in sealing at sea, and other flags may at any time appear. The shore riglits, again, are at present cliieily divided between the United States and Russia, although Japan owns some smaller resorts of tlie fur-seal. 104. Confining ourselves nrore strictly to the eastern part of the North Pacific, to which the present discussion directly relates, a comparison maybe nistituted between the amount of capital employed in the prosecution of sealing on shore and at sea, and of the other interests involved. lO'i. At the present time tlie actual value of the buildings, ])lant, and equipment of the North American Commercial Company, on the Islands of St. I'aidand St. George, is estimated not to exceed |!tO,000 dollars (^tJjOOO/.). Adding to this a further sum to cover other items of capital less directly connected with the islands themselves, the entire inve-tod capital would probably be over-stated at 200,000 dollars (40,000/.) ; and it is not to be forgotten that the Companies leasing the seal islands habitually do a piotitahle retail trade in supplies, v^c, with tlie natives and others in addition to ac(piiring the -eal-^kins. 10'), The estimated aggregat'' value of the British Columbian vessels employed in ^•c.iiin;;, v.ith their equipment, as they saihd in 1891, was 350,000 dollar.-, (72,000/.). It lia- iecM asserted that only a portion of diis total, corresponding with the length of the per'iu la -acli year in which these vessels are actually engaged in sealing, should be taken is tiw capital invested. This statement is, however, as a matter of fact, incorrect. TIiv .1. >."i;ii;- vessels are seldom used in or litled for other employment, and nearly all of them remain laid up in harbour between the dates of the closing and opening of the sealing season — that is, between October and January, or February. 107. Adding to the . 'love amount an estimate of the value of the United States' sealing fleet in the same year, which, it has been ascertained, exceeds 250,000 dollars (50,0011/.), and may jn-obably amoimt to 300,000, dollars (60,000/.), an aggregate amount of capital of about 050,000 dollars (I W,000/.) is represented by the combined fleets. In the foregoing estimates, no mention is made of the revenue accruing to tin f-overinncnt of the United States from the lea-e of the Pribylolf Islands to the sealing * 'innany, lOr*. it is ditiieidt to present r. numerically accurate statement showing the 111: gnitudc of tlie several interots as rcirosented by the number of skins taken on the i'iil)yloll' l-lands and at sea re^pcc(ivoly. During the past few years, the statistics of the Canadian pelagic catch have hicn fnl.y and carefully recorded ; but of the catches made by the numerous vessels sailing from ports in the ITnited States, no trustworthy or complete ollicial or trade statistics appear to exist. Certain appro.ximate figures for the total pclimi" catch have, however, been obtained, the ditterencc between which and those (yo5j p Interests .it sea iinil nshnri". Ca|)ilal employed. On iIr Piibyloff IsI;iii(Is. In tlio Canadian vosstls. Total. Comparative iinnilicr of skiiK taken. 1 ; \ \: J ^ w 18 Nmiilior iiiin (III- |)!<>M(1. I tci'csls. Xalivo n >< IliillL'. representing the Canadinn pclacic calcli, compared witli other incomplete statistics, may be roughly assiiined as slio\\iiij>- the o;«tcii hj Uniled Stntos' vessels. Tiiese totals include, iiowever, in some cascs^ skins taken on seizure tVoni both ranadian and Uniled Slates' vessels. 'I he statement thus presented nuiy be considered as at least sullicientiy accurate to indicate the relative importance and growth of the sl.ore and sea industries respectively. The catches made by Uniled States' vessels are comparatively small in proportion to the number ot vessels emidoyed, chielly because of the lack of skilled hunters. 109. These statistics may be tabulated as follows: — Yo.ir. 188C Skins taken on tlie l'iil)jl(ift' Islands. 8i'),-IoJ 1887 <)O,770 1S88 8f.,'.i0o 1 88',) 7s,C,2;i 1811(1 iJd.dl.J ISStl 1J,070 Skins taken at sea Canadian Vessels. 21,311 20,:>(ir. 21,:i2'.i 27. 808 -!'.r, !7 •19,016 Apprnximate totals fof Skins taken at sea (ivciDils of catch by I'niti'il States' V( ssi'ls I !)eing fiaj!;nientai'v). Ueniark^ 30,000 37,")0G CO ■12,8;() oL.JiU) G&,00(( l-'irst st'i/.iu'es l)y fiiitcd St'ilcs' G.)- veMiMK':,t." TInce Oaiiailian and ont' I'i ited Stales' \essel siized. Six Caiiadiaii and ten I'nited States' ve-M'ls M'iztd. No :-eizr.i('s luado. l'"oiii' Canadian and two Unit"d Slatis' vesiels "-eizcd. No .'-oiz!iie< made. Killiii,!^ slopped on I'litnlolT Islands, at fii^aivs stilted. l)y United Stales'^ Go- vernineiit A'jont. Vessels tunied back iron Ilihiinj; Sia beibre eoaipletion ol' voyaj;es. Killiii'; on I'ribylofl" Islands, limited to 7,500 nnder ni'xhit Vivendi, aetiially readied 12,071. 110. Ill exjdanntion of the above talde, it may be added: (1) That the fioures given lor the Pribylotf Islands are tliose of the skins actualiy accepted for shi|)ment in each year by the lessees, and are theefore neither identical with tluLse representing llie ship:iieiits made yearly, nor with those elsewhere given for the «liole numlier (<f seals kihed in each year; {'!) that the relatively small coast catch made by the Imlians in their own canoes and without tiic aid of sealing-vessels is not included in the pelagic catch ; i'X) ihal the jielagie catch as given includes skins taken botli outside and witiiin Beiiring Sea, and both in the easlorn nnd western parts of that sea, as well as such skins as were olitained l.'v raids made on shore on tiie breediiiiv islamis. 111. Tiie luimln'r of men emploved in liie jh-itish ("oluiubian sealing tleet alone, in this year (ISOU. was 1,(»S:3, in the United Slates" fleet ab'Hit 7."iO. nudving a total of alioiit 1,i~:3i) iiersons earning their Hveliliood by ihis means, of whom alio'it l.l.'JOare While and 400 liulians. in the shore sealing upon tiie I'ribvh'll Islands the number of men employed is about 10 Whites and Sii " native-. " llL'. Upon the l'rib\l(ilf Islands the wliok< "native" population deriving its support irom the industry ot killing the Inr-.-eal numheis under J^Oii. Much has been .said as to the necessity ot providing for the siipiiorl ot these jiarticular "natives." It is not so generall} recognized, however, that in Ihitisli Columbia jirobably ],.",(i0 or '.^,000 natives depend upon the earnings of about :170 Indian hunters employed in the sealing fleet. The earnings of these hunters thus represent much of the support of a consideral)le part of tlie entire native popidalion of the west coast of Vancouver Island. 11:'). The direct interest in sealing of the Indian tribes of IJritisb Columbia, parts of Alaska, and the Stale <it' W'aslingloii is, moreover, i,ol ciMiiined to tlseir share in pelagic sealinu' jiroper. The lesults d' indep^ndeni bunting, carried on for the most part in canoes fnmi the slioic by men \\\\ i do nut ship in sealing-vessels, is, from the point of view (if the Indiiins theiiisehes. not iiironsideiai'le. I' ainonntsfer the IhitisJi Colunibiaii coast alone (v^ ;')()".») lo jm annual money value uf aboiil JJO.dOU ihdlars ((((inO/.), beside.-. a considerable i'ood value represented hy the seal Iksli and tat. Thi^ independent native hunting is undoubtedly a primitive vested interest of the const tribes, and its (duiracter in (his respect is stiengthened by the fact, now made clear, Hint the winter home of the fur-.seal lies along, and is adjacent to, the part of the coast which these senl-huntiu<>' tribes inhabit. 10 114. In regard, then, to the interests liiicly to be aft'octed hy any nieasuros of pie- servation, it is evident that niiieli the largest amount oK invested eajjital is tliat enna^ed in peliigie sealing, while the nuist important nalivo interest involved is that of the Indians who take seals either along the coast or as engaged liunters in tho schooners. On the islands there is far less capital employed, and the nuniher of natives earning a livelihood is relatively small. ^'imimiry. figures parts ol" peliigic part in point of Unnhiaii iu'side-i t of the lie dear, he coast nn (B.) — Principles in col red. 115. Passing from the interests to a more special consideration of the principles ... lolved in the ^ roteetion of the fur-seal, it is in the fist place clear, in view of the ha!)its and range of migration of this animal, that unlimited killing, whether practised on shore or at sea, must ultimately result in destroying the prosperity of the sealing industry as a wlude, and, therefore, tliat any measure of protection, to he ellective, must include l)oth areas. 110. It is, moreover, c([ualiy clear, from the known facts, that efficient protection is much more easily aflorded (m liio breeding islands than at sea. The control of the nwnil)er of seals killed on shore might easily bo made absolute, and, as the area of the breeding islands is small, it should not be diflieult to completely safeguard these from raiding by outsiders and fiom other illegal acts. 1 17. The danger to seal life on the breeding islands is, on the other hand, and for rcnsons of a similar kind, particularly great. It is chieHy by the persistent killing of between certain ages upo;i tlie I'ribyloff Islands that the sealing industry is 1 mal out on shore at tlie breeding season the emispi'.ere is entirely due. and, as we have iniivediatcly threatened. To killi!)ii' eavrici dej.:etii)n of the t'nr-seals of the ^^otitbern ^ _._ , .. . .. „ „ seen, as an efl'eet of sucli i;iliing. loiig before the inception of pelagic sealing, the rookeries of ihe I'ribyloff Islands were nuav than once bronglil !o tlie \\'vi>;e of depletion. It i.> certain that by i xces.-ive killing v,n tlie I reeding island-, to whatever class of seals directed, the sealing indn-try as a whole might wiiliout dillicuKv be ruined. 1 IS. In.-ealingai sea the conditions are categorically dilferent, for it is evident that by rca-on of the very method of Imnting the jnoflts muNt decrease, other things being e(|ua!, in 11 ratio much ,::realer than that of any decrease in the number of seals, anil that there istlierefore inherent an aefomatic principle of regidation suiiicient to ]nevent the p!)ssible destruetion of tlie industry if jnactiscd only at sea, Tiie growth of pelagic sealing proper, even though vo recent in its oiigin. already i)egins to ci)nlribnte experience in support of this view. The seals when at sea. occupy a given area of surlace, and there is thus a natural limit to the nninber of boats or canoes whicli can work that area witliout inter- fering to a certain extent with each other's success. The increasing wariness of the seal has already been alluded to, am! it is also to be borne in mind that sealing at sea can only be carried on in calm weathei-, seals obtaining absolute " rest " while stormy weather prevails. lift. It is, therefore, abund.intly I'videiit. if we judge by actual experience, that a control of seal life beginning and ending with protection at sea, either ])artial or absolute, can do no nn)re than palliate, and certainly cannot materially lessen, the danger to seal life as a wiiole. unless such control be devised and adopted in close co-operation with agreed-upon equivalent measures on the breeding islands, ^-0. Whetlier from the point of view of expediency or from that of justice, this nnist be the dominant jjrinciple of any regulation, and while it is imi)rohai)le that any scheme of measures would l)e seriously proposed whicli neglects this principle, it cannot be too plainly stated that if the attempt is made to regulate the killing of seals on shore or at sea without the provision of concurrent restrictions upon the other method, the result at best would bo a curtailment of slaughter in one (lireetion, the door b>ing left open to a more than e(|uivalent slaughter in the other, and no security being obtained. It therefore follows that, as one class of restrictions must be applied within jurisdictional linnls, and tiie other ivtpdres regulations applieable to all comers upon the high seas, the subject of measures must he considered as one of conventional agreement, conces- sion, or bargain as between the l'o>vers interested. It will al-o lie rememlieied, that the primary plea lor such an arrangement has been that advanced in their own interest by the possessors of the breediii"; islamls; but it is helievcd, on the other hand, that had no sueii j'lea been made, the interests of tin' pelagic sealers would, in the natural course of events, have led tlieni to press for a better prolectio.i ot the breeding places of the cc's ashore, in iIk interests oi their own branch of tho industry. [30Jj D .i Pi'otrclioii l)i)lli on slioro .•111(1 at M'!. blasicr on shore-. (iiejter il.iiijier of (ii'|.k'tion on siioro. Less ilanper I'rotcctiim >ra alone (luite in- ai'eqiiato. si . 20 Sllgjrstcil |ii'oliil)ltlon on sliorc. Newmsilioil of control iircrssiirv. ViltioMS rights involved. Proliiljiticii on I'rib)'- loffs. Ni't'ds no infjr'iitional ■ . lai 01.8. Tlie riilinp; principle of prutcclinn. Ili(r!ils nt <iea and on breed in;; islands coninarcd. 121. ft lins 1)0011 poinidil out, niul wc believe it to be probable, that if all killing of seals were prohibited on the brcecP '^ islaiuls, and the.se were strictly ])rotected and safe- guarded against encroachnient of any kind, sealing at sea might be indefinitely eon- tinued without any notable diminution, in conse(;ucnce of the self-regulative tendency of this industry. i i22. The natural development of pelagic niothod.s of sealing has rendered it now no longer possible to ])reserve llie seals merely I'.v restricting the catch on the breeding island.s, and the old methods of utilizing the seals on iliose islands, and of allording them a measure of protection there during the season at which they come to land for breeding j)urp()ses, have become in their nature inctlective nnd iniqjpropriate, especially in view of the sea sealing, which, at the time tliesc inethods v.crc adopted, was practically unknown. The added knowledge of the fur-seal now gained reiulors it lurther necessary to recognize it as an essentially pelagic animal, which, at a certain -eason of each year, resorts (o the land. Thus, the older iind cruder methods of regulation have become un.soiu :d aiul in large measure useless, and the new conditions whicth have arisen re(iuire to be faced, if it is desired to obviate all danger of commercial extermination. I2'3. Besides the general right of all to hunt and take the fur-seal on the high sea.s, there are, however, some special interests in such hunting, of a i)reseriptivc kind, arising from use and immemorial custom, such as thvsc of the " natives " of the PribylofF Islands, and of the inhabitants of the Aleutian Islands, of South-eastern Alaska, of the coast of British Columbia, and of the State of Washington. There are also rights dcpemlent on local position, such as those of the Governments possessing the breeding islands and those controlling the territorial waters in or adjacent to which the seals spend the winter half of the year. Such rights do not, however, depend on position only, but also on the fact that the seals necessarily derive their sustenance from the fish which frequent these waters, which, if not ihiis consumed by the seals, would be available for capture by the people of the adjacent coasts. 'I'he rights of this kind which flow from the possession of the breeding islands are well known and generally acknowledged, but those of a similar nature resulting from the siluati.)n of the winter home of the seal along V c coa.st of British Columbia iune not till lately been fully appreciated. 121. Beterring more jiartiiidni ly to the Bi ibylotf Island.s, it must perhaps be assumed that no arrangement wouhl he entertained which would throw the cost of the setting apart of these islands as breeding grounds on the United States' flovernment, together ^^ith that of the support of some ^00 natives. It may be noted, however, that some such arrangement would offer perhaps the best and simplest solution of the present conflict of interests, lor the citizens of the United States would .still possess equal rights with all others to take seals at sen, and in consequence of the proximity of their teriilory to the sealing grounds, tliey would probably become the principal henefi'"''aries. 125. Any such disinterested protection of breeding islands either by Russia or the United States would possess the extreme simplicity of being entirely under the control of a single Government, whereas in every other project it becomes necessary to face the far more difficult pi oblem of international agreement to some code of regulations involving an accompanying curtailment of rights. In other words, any such arrangement must he viewed either as a concession of certain rights on the high seas, or a concession of peculiar rights devolving from territorial possession of the breeding islands of the seal, made in each case for the purpose of inducing ecjuivalent concessions on the other .side in the common interest. 126. For practical imrposes, the main consideration is that any scheme of measurea of protection shall absolutely control, so far as may be necessary, any and every method of taking seals; and from industrial considerations, and in ordei' properly to determine on reciprocal concession.s, it is necessary to assume some ruling principle in avcordance with which tlie.se shall be governed, and such may be found, in a rough \vay, in postulating a parity of interests as between pelagic sealing and sealing on the breeding islands. This would involve the idea that any regulation of the fishery, as a whole, should be so framed as to afford as nearly as possible an equal share in benefit or proceeds to these two interests. 127. Inasmuch as the United States and Russia, with in a minor degree Japan, alone have direct interests in the breeding islands, while all other nations share with them the undoubted right of sealing on the high seas, it may at first sight appear inequitable that any basis of airangenjent giving so large a share to the possessors of the breeding islands and involving so general a curtailment of conunon rights should be contemplated. 128. The exceptionally favourable position which the United States and Russia would 21 hold imtlir such a basis of arrangement is, however, to some extent justified hy the fact, tliat upon these Governments would devolve the expense and responsihility of elliciently eontrolling and guardin;^' (iie hit'ediny' islands of the seals It niiiy he noted thut tiic jiresent time is one sjieeially fivourahle to some siien arrangement, heeause Great Britain and the United St"tes alone possess considi'rable scaling- fleets, and it is probaide that any regul,.ui>iis agreed up(n> by these t.vo Governments (especially if also approved by Kiissia) would meet with tlie ready coiicnrrenee of other I'owi rs at present but slightly interested, or with merely a potential eoneern in the matter. 12!). in dealing «itli spceilie n.easiires of preservation, it may be well to bear in mind that more or less edi.'etivo steps have already been taken for this purpose in other parts of the world besides the Pribylotf and Commander Islands. It is wholly in aceordanoe with long experience in game ])roteetion in the Dinted Kingdom that the tendency has arisen in viirioiis parts of the Ibitish Empire to protect the fur-seal. In Australasia, in South Africa, and in the Falkland Islands, regulations have l)een adopted from time to lime «itli lliis object. Further precedents of a specially appropriate ch:iracler arc found in the regulations of the Newfoundland Government for the control of the great iiair-seal (isiicry, and in the dan-Mayen International Agreement, whereby a certain area of the North Atlantic, defined by linos of latitude and longitude, has been sul jocted to specific rubs as to sealing since 1S75, these rules afiecting the control of ves > Is, their captains, and crews. \oO. The princii)al modes of ])rolection of a practical character which have been suggested for the North I'aci'ic by various authorities may be classed under the fi owing heads : — («.) Time. Limit in period of sealing. [b ) Number, himit in number of seals taken. (c.) Area. Lindt in regions over which scaling may be carried on. {(}.) Methods. Improvement in methods of conducting sealing. 131. Limitations of time have been pineed most prominently in the list of remedies ; and, indeeii, " close seasons " have been popularly regarded as the main if not the only remedy of a general kin.l. It is dear, however, in the light of facts, that, for the purpose ot Hunting the total mnniiers takt n, a time limit is specially applicable only to the pelagic indii.slry, in which the iiniiil)er of stals taken bears a ilirccl ratio, other tliing-i being ecjual. In the length of the season of luuiting, and wiiere the only way in which a rethiced catch would not result from a shor'cned season would be by an increased nundjer of vessels employed. ^^ liich would soon reach unremunerative limits. On the breeding islands, on the contrary, limiting the time of killing does not necessarily limit the numbers taken, ami tlir only elVeetive limit is one of nuuiber. This has been fully aelNnowledged in the measures ado;)ted throughout with regard to the regulation ot the Caleb on both itie i'ribyloir luid (."oinmander Klands, where it is obvious that if but one or two summer months in all were allov.ed for killing and no other restrictions were applied, the number of seals killed woidd beeonie merely a (luestiiu of the namber of men employed, ami need only be limited by the exhaustion of aninnils to kill. i-VJ. With fuither reference to the elVeet ol i)roposed time limits or close seasons on the shore- and ^ea-sealing respeclively. and in order '.o prove' ihat snedi an apparently simple method of regulation is not e([ually apjilieable to l)oth industries, it may be shoun that generally this effect would be not only inequitable, but often diametrically oplio>ite in tlie two cases. In pelagic sealing, the weather is usually such as to induce a few vessels to go out in danuary, but the catches made in this month are as a rule snnill. In February, .N'arch, and April the conditions aie usually belter, and larger catches are nnide. In May ami .lune the seals are found furl her to the north, and these ar-' good sealing months; while in July, .\ugu>t, and part of hfeptember sealing is conducled in Hehring Sea, and good catches are often made till such time as the weather becomes so uncertain and rough as to practically close the season. 13-3. Upon tlie IVihyloli' Islands, though it has been the custom to kill a certain number of seals for food at all times during the period of five or live and a-lndf months in wh.icli any se'als are found on shore, the young males or •' bachelors" (which, together with virgin females, are practically the oidy class which cm be taken ashore in large numbers without actually breaking ui) and destroying the breeding rookeries) do not arrive in notable proportions till .lune. and, in coinim)n with ether seals upon the ishinds, become "stagey," and ineapalde of yielding good skins about tlie middle of August. The proiitalde killing on lli ■ I'ribylolf Islands is thus naturally limited, as a maximum, to a period of about two months, and as a rule and under normal circum- stances, the annual (juota has been completed within thirty to tifly working day.s, during Moasiiics adoptei) eist'wlure. IVincipal nidcips of protection suggested. Timo liiiiits : Close 7( USOIIS. I'^il'icta (tiller fit SI n :i:i I oa >hoie. Oil llip r.-;iui(>!r I'^laiiij'. • ■ • : 1 ■■ »^ ) Close tliiiti nut C(|iiiilly m>piit'3i)ic. Otner lllC.iilS l)f tiV'i'itioii. Coiiiliini'il llniitution of liiiio and ntiiiibri'. Time liiiiiis l/iniits ot .•iic.i on i'liuie. I'xiu iipc of <llllll'ol ilt wliicli (lie slnunlilcM- is cnniocl on at a iiiinuM-iciil ratio iiiiuiy liuK-.s gi cater than that i'.ttiiinable diirini;' any prriod of llio ])c'lnnic icillini;-. l:^t. Willi si'iils killed at sen, (lie skins are never I'ountl to he in a "stiii;e_)' " eunditiDn. as hiis heen ascerlaineil liy iniitiirie; speeiilly iiiiide on this piiint, and t'lere is, tliero- 1'or.', no naturally delinile elosc to the lime of protitahio kiiliii!;'. s-neli as oeoms on the islands. The markedly "stan;(\v" eliaraetcr of the skins at a paitieulur svason nppears to he confined to tiiose seals which have remained for a coiisiderahle lime on the land. 135. AVithout, tiierefore, enterin;;- at length into a comparison of the respective oU'ects of close seasons at sea or on shore, it may he stated that, with the exception of the months of July and .Aujjfust, any ch>se time whatever would have practically no elFect on the kiliinu; on the islands, while several i>f the months which mi<Tlit he chosen would seriously alTect sealiiii;' at sea. If, ayain, June or July siioid;! lie chosen as a close month, it would shorten the time of killini;' up >n the ishrids, hut uitlionl necessarily vcducin.i;- the nu:nhcr killed; while an endeiivour to insert such a innudi of inaction, in the middle of the season of peliii;ic sealing, would not only he very diliicult in proper enforcement, hut, if enforced, would practically hreak up the sealing' voyages, as the vessels engaged are then far from their home ports, 1 •'?(). Limitations of unmher of other kinds have, however, In'en jiroposi'd as api)licahle (o the regulation of pelagic sealing. Thns, it has heen suggested that the nnmher of seals to he taken hy each vessel should he limited ac»'ordii)g 1.) tonnage; (hat the whole nnmher of vessels employed should he limited; tliut those engaged in sealing he refjuired to ohtain a licence; and that a limited nnmher of personal licences should he su])plied to iudiviilual hunters. Some such provisions might he found to jjossess a partial applicahility, but while tliey might he useful jiorticms of a greater whole, they couM not hy themselves hecome el'icient systems of eontrol. l-"i7. An eipiitahle l)asis of protection is therefore not to he found in the adoption of any simj)le and corresponding clo,se season, including a part of each year applicahle to holh shore and sea alike ; hut as pelagic sealing might easily l)e regulated l)y the ado|)t!on of a close sea.son, while shore sealing might uitli ecaial faeilily l)e governed hy a limit of nuintier, it seems prohahle that some comiiiom'se of interest may he arrived at hy a comhinntion of these nselhods. l^iS Ff certain moiilhs should he discussed as a close time for sealing al sea. it hccomes important (.> ii',(|uir>' which \Y.\yt of the season is most injurious to seal lif(! in proportion to the nundter of sk'sis secured, and to this incjuiry there can he hut the (me reply, that the most destructive part of (he pelagic catch is that of the spring, during which time it includes a considerahle proportion of gravid females, tlien coin- niencing to travel on their way north to hring forth their young. It is on similar grounds and at c irresponding scasiUis that protection is usually accorded to animals of any kind, and, apart from the fact (hat these seals are killed upou the high seas, the .same arguments apply to this as to other cases. l:'.Il. This portion of the pehigic se iling is wludiy carrietl on in that ])art of the North Pacilic which lies to the south of the Aleutian Islands, and iicre also,as lias already heen pointed out, a certain nnmher of seals are l<illed at the same season hy the iiide];eiident realing of natives resident along tiie coast of IJritish (,'olunihia and South-eastern Alaska. Tiie aggregate miniher of seals killed in this particular way is, howevei', relatively so small liint it may he practically ignored in uuy general proposals looking to protection, it is .'scarcely possihle, under present circunistances, to interfere with the independent native sealing, even if it should he considered just to attempt to do so. This species of hunting is decrea-dng ratiser than increasing in amount as oilier industries grow up, and it may he further indirectly discouramd without great ditlicidty. 110. It may he remcndiered that, to a great degree, anyjrestrictic.ns^^of time applied to sealing at sea are also restrictions of area, f'lr at diii'erent seasons (he scalin<'' is necessarily carried on in dillerent parts of the ocean. Ml. ivespeeting prolection hy means of limiting the area of >-eiiling opiiations, it may he pointed out that the circunistances are such as to enahle this to he ("one upon the hrceding i.slands witliont dithculty, for, holh in the case of ;he I'nited States and Eussia, two separate islands are resorted to hy the fur-seals, and one or other of these islands in each case might 1 e strictly set apart and maintaineil as n reserve of seal life. Or, again, certain portions of the several islands might without diiliculty he permanently exempted from driving or disturhance hy the sealers. 112. Limitations airccting sealing operations on the high seas, hy international assent, might eiiually he established and maintained with the aid of a suflicient patrol of cruizers, tliough such police regulations woukl he attended with considerable expense. I ■I 1% ■:| Tv face' pauf ZX . I' h'lutfir Siuilint/. liUlimj on PtibulolT his. ■ \^'>O.)ji).U3t)f0iBi, Hm^on ( S..n3,rilI,.2'M«rtu,» Ij, \\] lo \M til I)r it fV< ce (li) till ))e ])() ol) ])ri wii an 11 0( «li illK pci pill aiu in pro vici isltv niai lion niL't itse] ns I exis imsc lies my ilfsl IL 1 110 28 Simio oxpondituro i-;, liowovor, invoUod ntulor nny systoin of control of sonlinj? nt son, wIit'tluT ik'liiu'd Ii}" Mioft or I)y (iim- limits. 1 4:^. ill any cnsc. gront fjood writild lie done hy cxtondinc; around the hrcodinj^ islands, (d 11 distance to lie auroed tijion in conloiniHy with tiio circ'iiii'stant'os, a zone of protocled wiitois, Sncli an area of iiroteetioii, if only of nioderati; «idlli, would not alone iiiwent the dihturhanee or slauu;liter of pnelically all seals at the time actually resorting' to the l)rcedinn- rookeries, hnt wotdd possess tlie great additional advantafje of rendefin<j it possible to put down the very destiuctive raids n})on the rookeries, which have, utmost from the time of the Alaska purclu'sc, been practised with comparative impunity by certain nnscrnpMlous scalers (§ 727 rt neq.). It has always been easy, under cover of darkness or foj>', to slip in under the land across an imaginary line drawn at only three miles from the shore ; but by extending such a limit to ten or twenty miles, it can be made an effective safeguard, so long as any cruizer is retained about the islands on ]io]ice duty, 'i'hc advantages of such a widened zone of protection will be quite obvious to any sailor, and its practical etfect would be to keep the scalers, from ordinary jiiudential motives, very far from the shores of the breeding islands. A GO-mile zone was rc])ortod by Mr. HIaine (in l)ecend)cr 1890) to be, in the opinion of the President, an '-etlective mode of preserving the seal fisheries for the use of the civilized world." I'H. To render .such reseivcd area an etlicient protection, however, it would be necessary to provide that between certain dates no vessels, whether under pretext of w hilling or fishing of any kind, slKUild enter tiie protected area except in niakin<>' a jiassage, and that any vessel lowering boats, or hoveriiig within this area, would be subject to penalties. It is already known that vessels ostensibly engaged in whaling and other pursuits in Hehring Sea, have really occupied themselves or aided in sealing or raiding, and any less strict measures vi' preservation could only result in increasing this evil. Pinlrcti (1 Z('i!<H roiniit s( ,'il i>lai:iii. (C.) — Siimmdiy of General CondUions bearing upon Regulation. 145. From the foregoing review of the various facts and circumstances of seal life in tlie North Pacific, the following may be stated to be the governing conditions of projier protection and preservation : — {a.) Tlie facts show that s(nne such iirotection is eminently desirable, especially i;'. view of fiirlhor expansions of the sealing imliistry. (Ii.) 'I'lie domestic jirolection heretofore given to the fur-senl on the breeding islands has at no time been \\liolly satisfactory, either in conception or in execution, and many of its methods have now become obsolete. (c.) .Measures of protection to ho eifective must include both the summer and winter homes, a:id the whole migration-ranges of the fur-seal, and control every place and all iiK'thods where or by wliicli seals aie taken or destroyed. {(I.) Although iiriniarily devised for the protection and perpetuation of tl;e fur-seal itself and of the scaling industry as a whole, any measures must be such as to interfere as little as possible with established industries, and such as can be instituted umler existing cir:!umstanccs. (p.) iujuitabic eoiisidcralion must therefore lie given to the several industries imsed upon the taking of seals, and especially to the number o!' persons dependent on hcse for a livelihood and to the ainourt of cajiital invested, so that the mea-urcs adopted nay be sucli as to recommend themselves on the ground of common interest. (/.) The controlling Regulations should be so fiained as to admit of varying degrees o:' stringency in accordance with the changing exigencies of the ease. III. — jN[EASl'Ut;S F Ml Tin: rilOTi;ciTO\ AND I'lnCSKiiVATION Ot' rillO FUK-SKAL OF TIUO NOUTII rAC'lFJO. (A.)— General Nature of Measures rcijuired. 14G. The actual measures necessary for the proper protection and proservaticn of ilie fur-seal fall under two heads, namely : — (i.) Improvements in the methods of taking seals ; (ii.) Restriction in the number of seals taken. ( H ^ n 24 Those of the lattor cliitH nre tho moro important, but an the " improvcmo lU in methods " arc more oftwily tloalt witli, and arc scrticely opon to quesiion, those nviy lio first outlined. (\.)- Tii'proft'iiD'nls ill thr ^fl^lllods of liildny Srals. 147. On the lirpeilirn/ iilaiKls.—'lho "drives" Hlioidd l)o uuido ha sliort as possildo, «ay, not to exceed iialf-ii-nule as a maxinnim. Tlicy siioidd ho carried out witli duo deliberation, avoiding c.NCossivc liurry, and under the i)ors()iuil supervisitm of a rospou- nihle oHiecr, and all seals not intended to be killed should, as far as possible, bo " cut out " at an early stage in each " drive." The actual clubbing of the seals shoidd be ijcrfornied with greater care, avoiding injury or death to seals not intended to i)e talan. 148. Care should be exercised to avoid disturbing the actual breeding rookeries in any May, and no seals not capable of yielding niorchantable skins should ever be killed. The breeding islands slionld he fully secured against " raids," a competent guard, with aulhority to repel any attempts at lumling, being provided; wliile some armed vessel should remain about the islands during the whole of each sealing season, say, from the 1st June to .'K)th Novemlter. 141'. At Sen, Here most i.f the improve iients in methods which may be suggested, necessarily partake of the characler of vestriciions which may tend directly to roduce the nmnl)er of seals taken. Such improve.nents therefore require to be considered in their connection with the general regulations proposed for the restriction in number of seals killed. l.'iO. The most important improvements or restrictions which may be treated from the side of " methods " !ue as follows : — I'rohibition of the use of rides in shooting seals at sea, and of the employment of nets as a means of ea])ture. The adoption of a system of personal licences for White hunters, such licences to be renewable aiuinally, and revokahle for proved breach of any of the regulations provided. Vessels propelle?'. by machinery to pay an increased licence fee, or to he wholly excluded from scaling. i I (ii.) — Restriction in the Number of Seals taken. 151 . We are of opinion that to be efFective and suited to the existing conditions and to the interests at present involved, any system of measures for regulating the number and kind oj' seals taken should include provisions of the following kinds : — («.) Tho strict limitation of the num!)er of seals killed on the breeding islands to a safe maxinum, the number and kind of seals to be adjusted within I he limit of this maximum, fro; i year to year if found necessary, in accordance with the actually observed state of the b, ceding rookeries in each year. (h.) The institution of a zone of protected waters surrounding the breeding islands. (c.) The establishment of a close time, such as to limit the period of hunting at sea, and so devised as in particular to safeguard the seals during that porticm of the spring (covering the earlier part of the sealing voyages as now made) in which a certain proportion of gravid females is taketi. 152. One or other of these provisions for the limitation of sea sealing should he subject to modification in area or time respectively, in such manner as to check any tendency to excessive killing at sea, to allow for exceptionally unfavourable breeding seasons, and, in general, to correspond with any marked increase or ilecrease found to occur in the number of seals. USti. It is suggested that such compensatory changes in the degree of stringency of regulative measures shall be made to depend upon the number fixed for killing on the breeding islands in each year, so that if it be found necessary or advisable to change this ruling number at any time, llie degree of stringency of the regulations appli«;(l at sea may be proportionately increased or diminished. 154. A compensatory princi[)le of this kind should absolutely remedy (if not in each individual year, at least in the average of years) any possible want of efficiency in tlie general scheme of measures, removing any doubt which may be supposed to attach to the proper c(mtrol of sealing at sea, which it is not possible to regulate on an exact numerical basis. I 25 (B.) — !<pr<-ific Sriieme of Reijulul'wns recommended. 156. Ill view <)f tlic nctiml eonciition of seal life as it prescnls ityelf to m at the present time, we believe that the rtouisite (lt'j,'rcc of protection would be nftorded by the application of the following Kpeoific liniitationH at Hiiore and at Hea : — («.) Tlie niasimum number of seals to be taken on tbu I'ribylolf Islands to be fixed at 50,000, (/».) A zone of protected waters to be establislied, e.'.tuulin;;' to a dlKtaneo ol 20 nautical miles from tbo islands. (f.) A close season to be ])rovided, extcndinj;' from Ibc ITitli Septemlier to tbe Ist May in eacli year, during which all killing of stals shall be prohibited, with tiu additional provision that no sealing-vessel shall enter Behring Sea before the Ist July in each year. IfiO. Respecting tbe 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 itgainst any undue diminution of seals, by adopting the following as a unit of compensatory regulati«)n : For each decrease of 10,000 in tbo number fixed for killing on tlie i>ilands, au increase of 10 nautical oiilos (o be given to tbe width of protected waters about the islands. The minimum number to be fixid for killing on the islands to be 10,000, corresponding to a maximum width of protected waters of 00 nautical miles. 157. The above regidations represent nieasures at sea and ashore sutlicicntly equivalent for all practical purposes, and probably embody or provide for regulations aa applied to sealing on the high seas ns stringent as would be admitted by any Maritime Power, whether directly or only potentially interested. 158. As an alternative nutbod of effecting a compensatory udjuslment of the stringency of measures of i)iotection, it is possible tliat some advantages might be found in the adoption of a sliding scale of length for the season of scaling at sea, with u 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 kngth of the sealing season at sea might be curtailed by seven days, such curtailment to be applied either to the opening or c'osing time of the .sealing season. 159. It may be objected to the principle involved in any correlative legulation of shore and sea sealint;, that it would be impossible in any parlicular 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 diange, it should be jjossible 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 tbe number killed on the islands in any one year were employed as the factor of regulation for pelagic sealing in the following year. K 0, While a zone of protection has been spoken of as the best method of .safe- guarding the vicinity of the breeding islands, it is to be borne in mind that such an area might be defined for practical i)urposes as u rectangular area bounded by certain lines of latitude and longituvle. I^Iven in tiense fog, and, therefore, comparatively calm weather, an arrested vessel could be anchored with a kedge and warp until the weather cleared, according to frequent custom. The special advantages of a concentric zone appear to be that it is more directly in conformity with the object in view, and that in fine weather the visibility or otherwise of the islands themselves might serve as a rough guide to sealers. 161. The restriction ot the number of seals killed on the breeding islands, appro- priate safeguards being provided, admits of very coi.^iderable precision, and requires no special explanation. That the restriction of the number taken at sea may be accom- plished practically and with all necessary certainty, and that the means of control available in the case of this bianeh of the sealing industry are sufficient, is clearly shown by the successful application of measures such as these here proposed, to the Jan-Mayeu and Newfoundland hair-seal fisheries, as well as of those based on like principles which are generally employed in protecting fish and game. 'i. ■ [30yJ K 26 (C.) — Methods of giving effect to Retjulations. 1G2. The means suited to secure the practical efficiency of rcijnlations at sea arc jpfcnorally indicated by those adopted in tiie instances just cited. It is unnecessary to formulate these here in full detail, but the following suggestions are oftored as pointing out those methods likely to prove most useful in tlic particular case under con- sideration : — (i.) Statutory provisions should b^ made, declaring it unlawful to hunt or take fur- seal (luring the close season by subjects or vessels of the respective Powers. (ii.) The time of commencement of the sealing season should he further regulated by the dale of issuan«'e of special Customs clearances and of licMU'cs for sealing, and ])referably by the issuance of such clearances or licences from cctain specified ports only. (iii.) As elsewiiere explained, the regulation of the time of opening of the sealing season is the most important, and tlic closing of the season is practically brought about by the onset of rough weatlicr in the early autumn. If, liowever, it be considered desirable to fix a precise date for the close of sea-sealing in each year, this can be done, as in the case of tlie dale of sealing under the Jan-Mayen Convenlion. (iv.) The liability for breacli of Ihe regulations, of whatever kind, should be made to apply to the owner, to the master or person in charge of any vessel, and to the hunters engaged on the vessel. (v.) The penalty imposed should be a tine (of wiiich one-lialf siiould go to the informant), with possibly, in aggravated cases or second offences, the forfeiture of the catch and of Ihe vessel itself. (vi.) To facilitate the supervisuin of tiio seal fishery and tlie execution of the regulati<ms, all sealers might, in addition, l)e rocjuircd to lly a distinctive flag, which might well be identical with, or some colour moditication cf, Ihat already adopted for the same purpose by the Japanese Government. (D.) — Alternutiir Methods of Rcifuliition. 1G3. Although the general scheme of nieasines above described appears to us, all things considered, to be the most appropriate to tiie actual circumstances, measures of other kinds liave suggested themselves. Some of tiiese, though perhaps less perfectly adapted to secure the fullest advantages, recommend tiiemselves from tlieir very simplicity " oi!. Of such alternative methods of and the case with which they might De appi regulation, three may be specially refeired to : - (/'.) — Entire Prohibition of Killiiuj on one of the Breoding Islandx, with suilablc Concurrent RegulolJons at Sea. 1G4. The entire rescvation and protection of one of the two larger inlands of the Pribyloff group, either St. Paul or St. George Island, might he assured ; such island to be maintained as an undisturbed breeding piact.', upon which no ^eals sliall be killed for any purpose. On the remaining island, the nunil)er of seals killed for commercial purposes wouhl remain wholly under the control of the (Jovernment of the United States. In consideration of the guaranteed ])res(rvatioii of a hneding island with the purpose of insuring the continuance of the seal stock in the common interest, a zone of protected waters might he established about the Piihyloll" Islands, and pelagic sealing might be fuither controlled and restricted by means of a cIdsl' season, including the early spring months, or by a proteclcil area lo tlie south of the Aleutian Islands, dellned by parallels of latitude. Such provisions at sea to have, as far as possil)h',(|iiantivalent relation to those established on the breeding islands. {ii.) — Recurrent Periods of Rest. lOo. This im|dies (he provision of a period of res', or exemption id' all seals from killing, both at sea and on shore, to extend over a complete year, at such recurrent intervals as may be deemed necessary. 27 Such a period of rest niiglit be fixed in advance for every fiftli, or possibly as oflon as every fourth, year, and be made to form apart of a fjcneral sclieme imposing? limitalioii of number of seals killed on the islands in intervening years, together with restriction by time or by area of pelagic sealing. While proximately equal in effect on both shore and sea killing, a period of rest of this kind would, in other respects, cause some inconvenience by its interruption of the several industries, and this, though minimized by the fact that the date of occurrence of tlio year of rest would be known in advance, would not be wholly obviated by tliis circumstance. (Hi.) — Totiil Prohlhilinn of KHUntj on the BreediiKj Islands, with Concurrent strict liff/ulation of Peliiijic SealiiKj. IGG. While the circumstance I hat long usage mav in a measure be considered as justifying the custom of killing iur-scals 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 tlieir breeding places, as well as those made obvious by the new conditions which have arisen in consequence of the develop- ment of pelagic sealing, point to the conclusion that the breeding islands should, if possible, remain undisturbed and inviolate. 107. If this view sh.uld be admitted, and particularly if the United States and Kussiii, as the owners of the principal breeding islands of the North. Pacific, sliould agree to co-operate in entirely prohii)iling all killing of seuls on these islands, and in guarding and protecting the breeding ])laces upon tlicni, it should be possil>le to obtain, in con- sideration of such care exercised in the common interest, an international assent to measures regulating sea sealing, of any required degree of stringency, including certain special rights of suiiervision by the Powers mentioned. JOB. It might, for example, under such ciicumstances, be provided — (1.) That ail sealing-vesscis should be registered, and should take out s-peeial licences at one or oiher of certain specified port-', as, for instance, Victoria, Port Townsend, Honolulu, Hakodate, .ind Vladivostock. (2.) That sucii annual cleariiuces or licences be not issued before a given date, say, 1st May, and that certain licence fees be exacted. Such licence fees to be collected by the Custcms authorities of the licensing (Jovernmcnt, and to be eventually transferred, in whole or in part, proportionately, to the Governments protecting the breeding islands, to go toward meeting the cost of this protection. (:i.) That no vessel should seal in Hehring Sea before some fixed date (say, 1st July) in each year, and that vessels intending to seal in JJebring Sea sbnuld report either to the United States or to the llus>ian authorities on or after that date at named ports, such as Unalaska or I'etropanlouski. (4.) That all duly licensed sealing-vesscis should be re(iuired to tiy a distinctive flag, and that any unlicensed vessel found engaged in sealing should be subject to certain penalties. (5.) That a zone of protected waters should be established about the breeding islands, within which no sealing should under any circumstances be permitted. ■: i " i yK.) — International Act- n. 109. In llio foregoing remarks on the measures available for the prolection and preservation of the fur-seal of the Nortli i'acilic, reference is made throughout especially to the eastern part of that ocean, including more particularly the area comprised in the range of tllo^o fur-seals of which the summer haunts and breeding jdaces are about or on the Pribyloff Islands, and of which the winter luune is found especially olf the coa«it of Ihitisb Columbia, it is evident, however, that the same remark.-, and recommendations apply e(|ually to those fur-seals which in summer centre about the Commander Ishmds, and in winter lre(iuent the seas olf the coast of .lapan. 170. It nujy be staled, further, that lu) system of control can be considered as absolutely complete and effective which docs not include under common regulations all parts of the North I'acitic. and that the facility of execution of measures and their clliciency would, under anv system of regulations, be much increased by the concmreni [305j * !•: 2 i. ! t i • I* :\-i 28 action of CJrcat Britain, (he Ciiitcd States, Russia, and Japan, as indicated in the Mossanfc of the President of the United States in 1889. Apart from the fact that vessels i)rcvented from sealing at given dates in certain areas might at tliesc times frequent other waters in increased numbers, tiie circumstance tliat tliere is a certain, though not full^' luiown, interrelation and interchange of seals between the eastern and western breeding islands of Bchring Sea, points very clearly to the advisability of such co-operation in protection. 1 i 20 Pai:i 11. DETAILED OUSEllVATFONS OX THE EACrS AND CONDITIONS OF SEAL LIFE. I. — Natural IlrsToiir and Envikoxment of rnn Fur-seal of the North Pacific. (A.) — Miiirntinns and Rnnrfp nf the Fur-seal nf the North Pacific. ('\.y-Kaslrrn Si'lr of t lie \nrtli I'urijir. 171. KosiKH'tinii: till' luiiirations and raii!;v oftlu' fiii-soal in tlio North I'ai-itic, wliile niunorous scattorod lotV-iviiccs aiv to l)o found, tlii'sc arc for the most ])art tVagmontarv and vagiu', and no oonni-cled account of tlic nii<>rations or ndji'ration routes, based upon facts, lu've lioretofoio Iiccn iiivcn. The additional iufoimalion jiaiueil in tiie course of f-pecial in(|uirics on tliis sulijcct now, however, not oidy cnaliles tlie migrations of the fur-seal to be clearly followed, ijut appears delinitively to .sel at rest the ([uestion which lias been consistently asked by .sealers from the earliest times of the l{u>sian occupation as to the winter habitat of the fur-seal, 172. AVritten intjuiries oii this and other points were addressed to the district Indian agents along- the coa^t of British Columbia, and the traders, Aleuts, Indians, and others interested or engaged in seal-hunting, or resident on the West Coast, have been conversed with and (juestioned. (See Appendix C.) 17;?. The notes thus obtained are summarized below, and it may be stated that, with few and nnimportant exceptions, such as may l)e explained by variations from year to year in time and direction of migration, these arc concordant anil homogeneous in their meaning. 174. Those who have been upon the Pribyloif iMlaiuls in the autumn and winter state that the seals leave these islands and their vicinity for the south chietly between the middle of October and the eail\ i)art ol' December, though a few nniy depart before the first date, while in exceptionally mild seasons stragglers liave been known to remain after the latter month. The niatmc scuIn, especially the leniales, are the lirst to leave, the pups (now on account of their change of coat iiidiing as "grey imps"') going later, and almost all about the middle of Novemltcr, win they are driven oif by the weather. The "holluscliickie ■' (half-grown males or " iiachcior^' ) and a few old bulls are the last to leave. 175. b'rom October to December, but chielly in .Novemlur, the seals are seen in varying abundance by the Aleuts of tiie eastern i*art of the Alentian hlaiuN and are himteii by these people. The openings in the Aleutian chain, through which most of the seals go soutiiward, are those known as the t'nalga, Akntan, l^nimak, and Issanakh Passes. Tlie s^ als killed here are chielly grey pups, which, particularly wlien the wind blows sirongly from northerly directions, seem to miss the actual passes, and to become emba\ od for a time in the harbours ami inlets on the northern side of the islands. When stronii' easterly winds prevail at this season, grey pups, which have evidently made their departure from the PribyloH' Islands, are occasionally and in small nmnbers drifted as far to the westward as Atka Island, longitude 172 we>t, but nnnr ue ever seen at Attn Island. 17'J. < 'n getting clear of the Aleutian Islands, the seaK continue their migration in a southerly or south-easterly direction, ami do not follow the coast in its north-easterly sweep, round the bonier of that part of the ocean which is sometimes called the (Julf of .Alaska. They are not seen about Kadiak at this .season, and only rarely in the autumn and winter oil' Sitka. Nearly two degrees of latitude south of Sitka, however, the Indians of Klawak, in the Jlucarelli (Julf, take a number of seals every winter, generally about Christmas, most of these being grey pu|)s or yearlings. 177. About the northern part of tlic (iuecn Charlotte islands, some young seals are seen every winter toward the end of January and in February. These are chieHy grey pups or yearlings, though a few full-grown males and seals of other ages are seen a^ well. Hunting is not carried on at this season, but considerable numbers of such seals ■ I I 30 have Homctimes been taken dose to the shore, lietwcen the latter part of February ami the third week in April, it is stated that no seals are seen here. Abreast of, (.r t-oniewliat i'urthor north than, the Queen Ciiarlotte Islands, a con- siderable body of seals is often met witli at sea by the pelagic sealers in May or June. These seals sire then niovin<y nortiiward. In the iiortliern part of Ilccate Strait and its adjacent waters a few grey pups are said to be often found in Noveniljer and December, but persons giving information on this point mention the end of December as the time of arrival. Seals are more plentiful in January, February, and March, but particularly in February. The entrance to Wark Inlet is specially noted as a locality at which grey pups arc often obtained at this season. A few adult seals are soniefimes taken in winter off Banks Island, but no regular huntii\!r is attempted there before the 1st March, when Bonilla Island is occupied for this purpose by Ivit-kathi Indians, and the 1st April, at which time Tshimsians resort to Zayas Island tor the same purpose. Tlic hunting, as at present practised, extends over Ajjril and the greater ])art of May ; off lionilla Island it is continued through the greater part of .Tune, but this difference is due rather to the option of the Indians than to any diversity in dates in the arrival and departure of tlie seals in the two places. Seals of both sexes and all ages are killed during the hunting season, and a few full-grown bulls are seen, but are siddom taken. Tiiere is, in this region, no interval between the arrival of seals from the north in the early winter and their departure for the north, which occurs in the main about the end of May. Mr. R. (Junningham slates, that about twenty-three years ago, lie was personally cognizant of the fact that for several successive years a snnUl colony of adult eeals stayed all the winter about .Somervilie Island, in the entrance of Observatory Inlet. These seals apjjcarcd to he IVdlowing and feeding upon the ulachan or candle-fish. ITS. On that part of the coast ai)oui. Milbank and I'itzhugh Sounds, still further south, but uidike the last rc^itm in beiiig fully open to the Pacilic, a few seals arc seen about Christmas, or not long thereafter. They are generally first observed outside Cape Calvert. Seals are most alumdant in Marcii, but a few remain till the laltc: part of June. The seals cominL; first are chieily females, hut after about the 1st June they are nearly all young males. Fully matured large males are found in small numbers; grey pups or yea; lings venture further into the inner channels, and come nearer to the shores. 179. About the north end of Vancouver's -Island and the entrance to Queen Charlotte Sound the seals are iirst seen early in December, but not in any abundance until about Christmas, from which time, for a month or six weeks, they are very numeroiLs in all this vicinity; though the stormy character of the weather prevents the Indian hunters from going far to sea in pursuit of them. They are stated to disappear about April. Tiie females are the first to arrive in the winter, but are followed by the grey pups or yearlings a little later, and in most of the time during which the seals remain, both sexes and all ages are represented, tlu.ugh the grey pups come nearest to the shore, particularly when (he weather is roiigli. In the winter of IHOO-Oj, a number of seals were killed by tlie Indians as far in as the entrance of Knight's Inlet, and on one occasion (according to Mr. Ilu.son, about 1870, in March) a groat number of grey pups ascended Knight's and Kingcombe Inlets to their heads, following the ulachan, which seek these places to spawn at this season. ISO. At Nootka, on the west coast of Vancouver Island, it is stated that no seals are seen before Christmas, but in the fust or second week after that date, according to the weather, hunting begins, and is continued for three months. Occasional large old bidls are also rarelv seen here. I SI. At Clayocjuot Sound, the seals arrive {vhout Christmas, or between that time and the end of December, and hunting begins early in January. The Indians report that some schooners hunt oil' that coast for about a month from this date before going north. Seals of both sexes appear here and remain together, but no large bulls iiave ever been seen. In 1SS5 seals were unusually ahimdant off Clayoquot as early as the 10th or 15th December, l)nt were niostjy grey j)nps '• smalls," or 2 ajul 3 year-olds. ISii. .About r.arclay Sound the seals arc first reported in Decemhor, and arc often very abundant during .lainutry and February. The greater number leave before (he cml of April, when they begin to travel north, but n few arc killed, lurlher out at sea, Bometimes as la(e as (he lotli June. Most of the skins hrought in by Indians are grey pups or "sn>alls," hut in 1891 there was an unusual number of adult skins. ISy. With I'urtlier reference to the occurrence of fur-seals on tlie coast of liritish 30 a Columbia generally, the following note by Mr. J. W. Mackay, who has for many years been conversant with this coast, may be quoted. In reply to inquiries made, he writes : " These animals were driven to the ocean from the narrow waters by the use of fire-arms in hunting. During the spring, numbers of the young animals fisii in tlie broken waters inside the half-tide rocks and roofs which fringe the western shores of Vancouver Island and of the other ij^lands which lie west of the mainland fiom Queen Charlotte Sound to Dixon Entrance. The older animals remain fuithor at sea, but numl)ors of them take refuge in the larger sounds during stormy weather; I have seen them olf Metla-katla in the month of January." 184. Captain ,)ohn Devereuv, who has been for twenty-seven years on the coast of British Columbia, and has had excellent opportunities for ol)scrvation, in command of the Canadian (jovcrnment steamer "Douglas," informs us, in reply to questions addressed to him, that from the latter part of Xovcmbcr, or early in December, to the beginning 'jf June, the fur-seal is found off the coast of the entire length of Vancouver Island, but that in the early winter the weather is altogotlier too rough for hunting. He adds, " When they are found along the bank on the west coast of Vancouver Island they are feeding on their natural foediug-gronnds." He further Mlat"-; thitt, though often far off the land, he hns frecjuently found them inshore, and even eigiitoen miles up Barclay Sound ; as well as in the Strait of Kuca, and, on rare occasions, in the Gulf of Georgia. 18o. Near Cape Flattery and about the entrance of the Straits of Tuca, it is roi>ortcd tliat the Indians have on exceptional occasions seen seals as early as December, and schooners have been known to take seals in tiiat month oif the Cape ; but the seals usually arrive about the 1st January, when hunting begins. (Jrey pups are the first to appear, but in February all sorts of seals are found, except mature males. Xo full- grown bulls have ever been seen in tl»is vicinity, No females with pup are found after tlie oth or (Uh July, and it is probable that only a few stragglers of any kind remain, though, according to .Juilge Swan, occasional seals are to be found here at all seasons. 'I'he last seals seen in summer are as a rule males or b:irron females. In exceptional instances a few seals, probably grey pups or yearlings, have been noted in recent years as far up the Straits of Fuca as Victoria and Port Toynsond. Mr. .1. \V. Mackay, already quoted, states that the <dder hunters of the Songis, Sooke, and Tlalum tribes, living on or near the southern end of Vancouver Island, told him that in former years fur-seals were in the habit of landing in large numbers at Race Rorks, within 1 1 miles of Victoria. Fur-neals also many years ago frequentoil the (Julf of Georgia, and Mr. Mackay has himself bought skins from the Soshal Indians, of .larvis Inlet, which they had taken at Sangster Islanil, near Toxada Island. 180. From the foregoing notes, embodying the result ot careful inipiiries personally made at the localities referred to along a stretch of 2,00ij miles of the west coast of the Continent, it is evident that in that i)art of the ocean adjacent to the entire length of the co.ast of British Columbia, as well as within the main openings and inlets of that coast, the fur-seal is a permanent winter resident, arriving soon after it is known to have passed southward through tiie Aleutian chain, and rcnaining till a general movement to the north begins in the early spring, and, though the movement last referred toaccpiires greater force and regularity towards its close, no time occurs between the arrival of the soals from the north and tiie return migration, at which they are not found oif this coast. 187. To the north of the Queen Charlotte Islands, howevei', the case is diirerent, for here, as already stated, the seals do not follow the coast in the autumn migration, whereas they move in rather close parallelism or contiguity to it \\\wn on their way north in the spring and early summer. Thus, in the vicinity of Sitka some seals appear near the coast as early as the middle of April, but they Ijecome abundant during May, and some are still seen in the early part of .lune. On tlu' Fairweathcr ground, in the (Julf of Alaska, seals are most numerous from the 1st to the loth June. AI)out the i?."»tli June, in IS'Jl, they were found in abundance by the sealing-schooners on the Portlock banks, to the east of Kailiak Island. About Kadiak they are generally found from the •2oi\\ .May to the end ol June, being most abundant in the average of years about the lUlh June. They are seldom seen in July, and very rarely even stragglers are noticed after the middle of that month. In the latter part of June, or about the 1st July, the female seals in pup, which hive entereil Behriug Sea, are found only making their way rapidly and directly to the bret'dini; i>lanils, while ihe i;re,il IiimIv of non-breeding seals either tiascl in a more leisurely way and uilli frequent intervals (»f rest, in the same direction, or disperse them- selves in search of food over various parts of the sea. ■ I ■. » ■■ I K i 4 I: 30 b 188. According to Elliott, Bryant, and Maynard, tho ftreater number of the adult breeding males (known as " beachmasters " or " seaealchie ") arrive at the Pribyloff Islands and (al<c up positions there, from the 1st to about the middle of June. The females aI)out to uive birth to their i)ups follow, at first in small and then in large numbers, tlieir time of arrival ending about the lOlh to 25th July. Yearlings (the grey pups of tho ])revious season) come to the islands in groat numbers in the latter part of July, 180. (-'(miparatively little aUenlion lias boon given to the nioveniintis of tlie full-grown males by the pelagic sealers, because of tho small value of their skins, but it has been noticed tliat even as early as IMay the fenuiles at sea are travelling more jjcrsistently than the other seals to tho north, while after the Ist June tliey are said to '• bunch up" and to travel so fast towards the passes in the Aleutian Islands, that it i^ impossible to kill many of them. I'JO. Kospccting the extreme southern limit of the ningc of tlie fur-seal of tlio North Pacific on the American coast, little can be added to what has already been published. The earliest departures of vessels for pelagic sealing from Victoria usually occur not long after the 1st January; these vessels then generally cr'iize southwards, sometimes nearly to the latitude of San Francisco, in pursuit of seals; but it would appear that no large "catches" have been recorded to the south of the C(dumbia Hiver, and frequently much of what has been classed in the Returns as •• south-coast catch " has been obtained off the entrance of the Strait of Fuca. It seems certain that in recent years, at least, no considerable number of seals is found further south than about 40° north latitude, though stragglers nuvy lind their way much further south. Captain f^cammon, in his work on marine mamnuilia, states that lur-scals were formerly abundant on the Californian coast. They have been noted, in small numbers, as lately as 1878 on the coast of Southern California,* while Professor .Fordan informs us that they were still taken in considerable numbers on the Guadaloupe Islands there in 187'J.t We have also been informed by an experienced sealer that in former years, he had seen fur-seals as far south as the (iulf of Tehuantapec. 191. On this sidtject Professor Allen writes : '"Tbe fur-seal is well known to have been formerly abuiulant on the western coast of iS'orth America, as far south as California, but the exact southern limit of this range I have i)eeu unable to determine." He then quotes Scammon as to the occurrence of these animals on the San Penito Islands, the coast of liower California, Guadaloupe Island, and Cedros Island, in latitude 28^. He adds, writing in ISiSO: "Although at one time abundant on the California coast, they are by no means numerous there now, having been nearly exterminated by unrestricted slaughter by the sealers.''^ This local deidetion of seals may incidentally be taken as a furtber evidence of the- local character of the seal herds above referred to, a point of some importance, which is subsequently discussed. If included in tiie annual migration-cycle of the Pribyloll' Island seals, the Californian coast should not at this d'lto have shown any notable si^n of (liuiiiuilion in numbor of seals. It is, iiowever. extremely improbable tiiat these seals were conLerned in the annual migration to Behring Sea. ami doidilful whether they were regularly migratory at all in the i)ropcr mmiso of the term. Like nu)st of the fur-seals of the southern hemisphere, they may merely have resorted to the neighl)0uriiig land at tlie breeding season. Scammon states that the I'ur-seals i'oinierly bred along the Calirornian coast. The Farallone Inlands, oil' that const, are known to have been the resort of a considerable body of seals, which nay be assumed to have been of the same species with those of the North I'acitic, and doubtless occupieil these islaiuls as breeding places. The Pnssians establislied a stntioi>. there, and. -from 181-' to 1S|S, about S,-t()0 iur-seal hkins were obtained there, and it is staled that before their occupation by the Russians as many as 1(»,U0(» wore taken on these islands in a sinjile autumn. "§ 'I'he season at which this killing ti^ok place, if correctly given, is alone sudleient to show that the seals found here were not ndgrants from the far north. 1!»2. Disregarding e.xceptiiuud cases of snuill importance, with the occurronce of fitragglers preceding or lagging behind the nuiin body of seals, and incbuHng both sexes and all ages oi sral without relerenee to (he diilerent dates at wliich these are known to reach various points, it would thus appear liiat tlie se;,N which resort to the eastern part of Behring Sea, with the Pribvlolf Islands as a ceiidc, in (lie main frequent that sea • liliiijll, ('iiiMi« l!i j.oil, |. r.G. f " I'ifelnry liiiliiBUii'rt cjfiln' I'ljiu'il Slale-'," vol. ii, |i :)'j',i. I " .Moiio|rru|)li of Niirlli Aiiiprirnii riniiipt'il?," p. 3'"_'. § nancroft's Worki", vol. .\xiiiii,ji. 487. 31 iini the early pnit of June till about tlio niiddle ot Xovcmbor, .a'pciiol of about five iiioiiflis iind n-lialf. l?eliring Sea nin_v, in fact, I)l' named tlieii' siiininrr luihilnt. Diuiiin- a porioil of four and a-half or five months, extt'ndin^ in the main fio'ii about tlio 1st .laiiiiary to tlic middle or end of ^Fay, tliey frequent tlu' sea lyinii; off tliat part of the West ("oast included I)(t\veen tlie ofJth and 4(5lii panllels of n rth lalitiule. — tiieso limits incliidiiiLi: tiio «hole Icniitli of t!ie IJritish Columbian coast, and cxtendin,!;- hL'yond it sli<j,]itly at both extreme^. This is the irintrr hnhitttt of the fur-seal of ♦he eastern side i)\ the Ninth Tacilic. During' a ,c;reat part of the time, in whicli the seals arc olF this ooa^t, tlic weather is so tempestuous as to jjrevent successt'iil pela^'lc huiitini>-, wlieilier from f-chooners, or directly l)y canoes using- tlie shore as a l)ase of operation-;. 'Ihe actual numbers of seals seen close in shore depend largely upon the weather in each locality, ami varies much from uar to year; and witii a ])revalenco of strong westerly winds, the grey pnjis or yearlings arc driven into the immcdiat-.' vicinity of tlie coast and into its hays and channels, lir-^t and in the largest numbers. 'I'lie neiglibouriiood of l)i.\ou Kntranei", the mirtliorn I'ud nf Yaneoiiver Island, the entrance to Queen Charlotte Sound, av.il the entrance to the Straits of Fuca, are localities specially notable fi-r tlie abundance of -cals (luring the winter and spring. 'I'lie actual resorts of tlie seals are not alone iiiHucr.ced by the weather, b.it al.so greatly by tlic supply of suitable food, as more fully explained elsewhere ; and it is |ii(>liably in great mcas-.tre because of the abundance ol' food fishes near the larger op'iiings in the land above mentioned, that these places are special resorts. 1.1.3. It is a noteworthy and interesting" fact, ascertained in the course of the present iiiiiuiry, that the full-gn.wn males, known as " licachmasters " or " seacatchie," have "•clilom or never been reported to the south of the ;50th parallel, while ail other classes nf seals are found in considerable numbers much further south. This statement, of t'liirse. applies to tli(> seals fre(|nenting as their winter habitat thai part of the ocean l\iiig oil the coasts of Uritish Columbia and the State of Washington. ini. Touching the distance to which the seals extend off the co.ist during the "ii.ter months, the generally stormy weather at this s.>ason, witii the dependent absence (if pelagic sealers, have iirevenled accurate inftn'mation from being obtained. Captain Divereux, already cited, has, however, possessed special opportunities for obtaining information on this subject He writes: "The distance from the shore where they (fur-seals) are to be found most jdentiful, say, olf Cape Beale (where the bank extends furthest from the land), is from f^O to 150 miles; but these figures must not be taken by any means as a fixed limit." .Judge Swan has recorded the fact that, in 1880, large iniinbers of fur-seals were seen at ficnn TOO to WO miles off shore by ve.ssjis bound into til ' Straits of Fuca from China and the Sandwich Islands, but the exact time of year is not given.* While the seals are mo\ing northward in the spring, it can only be stated t!:at, when ll!" weather becomes such as to enable pelagic hunting to be carried on, the i: aiii boily of seal-; is found to extend for a width of oO or OU miles olf the coast of \'anci!".v<'r Island, nnd for a'lout SO miles otl' the (^ueen Charlotte Islamis. lii'i. I'.etuern (he winter and sumnier resorts of the fur-seals lies a minimum (I'-taiice of about 1,'JOO miles, a 'ro-s which they j ass only during their migration. As ■'ilr.-ady stated, in llicir spring migration they appear to follow parallel to the general lre;i'l of the coa-t ini tli ir way noillr'.ard an I we-t'\anl. keeping in touch witii the sliore, ■ r at lea-t v>itli th" soundings or stiltniavine t'dge ol I lie C'lntinenlal plateau. l!)fi. In theii' soiithein or soi'.tn-e.istern migration the seals do not follow the I'.'i'.sf, bnt alti'r jiassing (lirough the Aleutian islands, it is ))ossible that they may at lir.st scatter rather widely and at random over th' ocean, it !< certain, at least, that tiny do not ]iur.--ne a direct course to the nortl>er?i ]io:tion of tludr "inter liabitat, and thence travel regularly southward along the c >ast. 'I'iie comparatively small ditleiences and occasional irregularities in their dates of arrival in the dill'erent parts of their winter resorfs, w ^tli other circumstances, .si'em lo indicate tiial thi-y come in-shore fro!u the we>t'.ard with an extended front. This, it would ap|iear, re-uits naturally from the set ot ill' currents in tliis part ot' the ocean from west to ea.st and directly toward the e.iast, t 'g ther with tlu prevalent westerly winds of November. December, and January. The latter are well shown in detail on Maps L'T, 17, and 4!) in the " ('liallcnger " IJeport.s, I'hysicfi and Cliemistry, vol. ii. (For citrrents and directions of drift in the Facilic <>C(an, sei' esjjccially l'etermann"s ••Mitteilniigen."' .'W5 Uand, 18!)0.) While, therelore, the course and manner of lhi.s southern and eastern migration (end.iracing scarcely two monlh.s of the entire year) must at present remain to so.m; ' t '3or.] Fislu rv Ii!ili,>ir.i's of llii' Unlliil .>iatov," vol. ii, p. o'i. V 32 extent liypotliotical, the whylc remaining migrutory route of tlic fur-seal is now accurately known, anil the clrcumstaneos are such as to leave little doubt that tins part is correctly explained as above. It may be supposed, that to the winds and currents chiefly is attributable the concentration ot the fur-seals in the vicinity of the coast preparatory to the inception of the spontaneous nortlnvard movement early in tho spring. (ii )— Western Side of the North Pacific. 15)7. Hespcctinjr the migration-range of tho fur-seals which resort to tho Com- mander Islni\ds, to Robbon Island, and in smaller nujnbers to several places in the Kuiilo IshuuN, lis more fully noted in subsequent pages, comparatively little has been recouled ; but the result of inquiries made in various directions, when brought together, .nre suUic'-ent to enable its general character and the area which it covers to be outlined. The doliciency in iiiformation for the Asiatic coast depends on the fact that pelagic sealing, as understood on the eoa^-t of America, is Ibero practically unknown, while tlic peojdo inhabiting the coast and its adjacent islands do not, like the Indians and Aleuts of ilie opposite side ol" the \orth Pacilic, naturally venture far to sea for hunting purposes. lOS. Tho facts already cited in connection with the migration of the seals on the east side of tlie Pacilic, show that these animals enter and leave Ikdiring Sea almost entirely by the eastern jmssi-s tiiroiigh the Aleutian chain, and thai only under excep- tional circuinstanci.s, and under stre^is of weatr.er, are some yuung seal', while on their way s'luth, driven as far to the west as Atka Islam!. Xo large bodie.; of migrating .seals are known to pa.>s near Attn lsli;tid, th.o westernmost of the Aleutians, and no young seals have ever within memory been seen there. Thesis circumstances, with others which it is not necessary to djtail he;e, are sudicient to demonstrate that the main niigration-roules of the seals fre(iueniing the Commander Islands do not touch the Aleutiai\ cliain, and there is every reason to believe thiit although the seals jiccome more or less commingled in Beliring Sen during the summer, the migratio;:-routes of the two sides of the North Pacific are essentially distinct. I'JO. ])mii;g the late autumn, the winter, and in early .-i)rlng, tl.e fm"-seals of the wc.>te;n siJe of the North Pacilic are in fact known to fro(juent ;hat pint of the ocean to the eastward of the Island of Vezo, the northernmost of tlij Japanese grimp, and are .seen alxiiit tl-.at coast cliietly between Inobasaki and the east part of Yezo. As the prevailing winds are at these seasons od'-shore, and as neither tlie-e nor any oceanic current tend to estalilisli a drift toward the l;iml, the fur seals are probaldy much more wiilely scatter' d in proportion to their number.-, and are spread out to a greater distance ironi t!.e land hero, than those of the otiier side of the ocean are found to be during the corrcspomling period of slay in their winter habitat, 'fhis belief corresponds with such iniermiition as ue h.ive been al)le to obtain on the subject, and probably in part at least explains ll;o fact that it has not yet been fouiul to bo a proiilable eiiterjirisc to engage in i)oh\;.;ic sealing in this portion of the Pacilie. It must furtlier, however, bo mentioned hero, that no deliniio information has been obtained as to the iu)i tlurn limit of tiie tract whic!i may lie doseriiKvl as the winter iiabitat of the l'ui-.>eal on ihe v.este:i> side of the North Vaei-.e. It ni.iy t'lereforo possibly include some poiliou of th.' waters adjaconf to the Kurilj Islands. ■J(iO. Aceoriling to information contained in a .Mem^i.aniaim supidied by you Majesty's Minister at Tukio (Apiiendix J$), the seals are first seen oil the coast of Yezo early in November, while from other s )urees it has been a^eeMained, that in former ycius, w'.un the Alaska Commercial Company",-, ve.ssel folluwod the southern route iu her spriiii;- voyage from San Fraiu'i.sco to IVtrojiaiilou-ki, i'ur-se;,N wei..' often seen at sta in tlio niont'i of M:iy in about tho same latitude. Jo|, Wl.en tlio seals fir.-t come sout'i in the autumn, tiie gr^'v pups are often almU'laiit. nt^i far iVom tho shores o!' Ye/o and ahi.ut Nan.Im." and iiom •J.noii to .".,000 are annua'.'y taken there by the inhabitant-, in heats. In the Memorandum just referr^-d to, it i- stated thai, '•I.ar:;e numbers of s.nils IVom the l{ussi;\n rookeries arc seatttreil e\ery winter ovir tho oct'an lying oil' liio east coast of Ja[)an, but fbey aio unmolested by foreign or ;iati\t- seaiing-vos el-, and only tlio fringe ol them is louehed by liative fi-l:ermon in tle.ii- open boats along the Nandtu and Vezo coast." L'lii'. When these seals nio\f' to the r.orthward, in the ^prin^- ( r early ;unin.er, they doubtle-s follow a route piirailel to the lino of tho Knrilo Islands, though there ii A m;i: (irt on l!ii' c.s! co:-st of N i|cn, iic."i latiluJ'j -to . 33 As .'auic more Liincc UlU SUC'll oast ;age incd tract the .Mil to V(»U iniu'i • ill ot'leii :',,00O just ■s arc 'v ai\- lU'lu'll tliry .•I'o is nolliing known to s}io-.v uhcthor tlioy pass ncnr to these inl hkIs, or nt sonic consiilcrablo ilislnnco to the eastward of them. Accordini? to Mr. Grcl)i -ky, Superintondont of the Commander Islands, tlic seals travel with the northward lii.ineh of the .Fapin cnrrent, and are tirst seen on the sonth-wc^torn shore of Copper Island, where some of thcni land, while others continue their journey to the north-westward, between Copper ami Hehring Islands ; and those which land on the northern rookery of Rehrin;? Island come to it eventually tVoii a north-eastern direction. The same gentleman further states, as the re>ult of his oliservations, that these naturally pelagic animals land thus on the Commander Islands only heciu-e it is necessary for the females to do so in order to give l)irth to their young; while he bi-lieves the main reason of the landing, at later dates, of the seals not actually engaged in breeding, is that during tl;e "shedding" or *' stagey " season, thiir pelage becomes loo thin to afford a suitalde protection fronj the water. The date of arrival of the seals on the Commander Islands is somewhat later than on the I'libyhitf Islands, and the dates of leaving appear trt be also later and rather more irregular in correspondence with the longer summer season and less precisely marked beginning of cfdd weather. I:i fact, in unusually mihl years, a few fur-seals may generally be found about the Commander Islar.ds all tlie winter. 20!?. According to Captain Brandt, of the Russian <;un-l)oat " Aleut." who has had long experience of these water--, the fur-seals freciucnting IJobben Island, on the oast coast of Saghalien in Okotsk Sea, pass through the Knrile Archip' iago into the Pacific in autumn and do not go directly south into tiie dapan Si'ji ; tliougli he has seen a few fur-seals at sea not far to the north of Vladivostok. 204. It will be observed that tlie migration-range of the fur-seals frrqtienting tiie Commander Islands is somewhat less extended tlian that of tho^c resorting to the PribvlofT Islands, its cnliro length being little morn than l.OQO miles. 20.">. It is of interest here to refer to the account of the migrations of the fur-seal m- " sea-cat," drawn up by the IJussi.in Krasclieiiimikotf, which is siipposeil to be based partly on his own observatii.ns and largely on tho^^e of his fellow-traveller Steller, both members of Hehring Kxpeditimi.* He writes; "The sea cats ar • caught in the spring and in the month of September, about the IJiver She'j])an()va ; at «bi.di time they go from the Kurilskoy (Kurile) Islands to the Amerie.m cia^t (iimiI Commander Islands); but the most are catchod about the Cap.' of Krunitzkoy, as between this and the Cape Shupin-ki>y (both on the east coast <.f Kaniisehatka) ; the sia i- generady calm, and affords them proper places to retire to. Almost all the feirals that aie caught in the spring are [tregnant ; and such as are near their time of brinu;ing f.irlhtheir young are immediately opened, and the young taken out and skinned. None ef then arc to be seen from the beginning of dune to tiie end of August, when they return !rom the south (sir, read east) with their young." 200. The remarks on the same subject made by Fleurici; in ^larchand's voyage are probably in the main also based on these of Steller. He writes, ret rring to the last decade of the eighteenth century : — ■ "Ces animanx cpiittent an mois de Juin les cotes de la presqu'ile do Kamtschatka, et y reviennent, eomme il a etc dit, a la fin d'.Xeut ou an commet:cemeiit do Septembre, pour y passer rantomno et I'hiver. Dans le temps du depart, bs f,-nie!les sont jjretes .'i mettre has, et il paroit que I'ohjet dii voyage de ces ampliibies e'. do s'eloigner le plus <pi'ils pcuvcnt de toutc terre bahitee, pour faire tranquilleinent lour pet its sur des bonis solitaires, et s'y livrer ensnile sans trouble anx plaisirs de 1 amour ; c.ir c'est un niois apr^s qu'elles ont mis has fjuc les femelles entrent en chaleur. Tons reviennent fort, maigres li la fin d'Aout ; et il est i» prcsnmcr que, pendant lour absence, i!> no mangent q'l.' pou on point du toiit."t 207. The p.irticiilar interest attaching to these quotations is, that they appear to show that at the early dates to which they refer, the fur-seal was much better ki own and more often seen by the natives of the coast of Kamtschatka tiian it is at the present da}-, from which it is reasonable to conclude that or the Asiatic coast as well as on that of North America the fur-seal has considerably changod ita habits, as the result of persistent hunting, and has become more pelagic than it originally was. Particulars of the same kind referring to the North American coast are elsewhere referred to in detail (§ aOO el spq.). 208. The mode of origination of the regular migratory habit, wlreb bns bcfomo hereditary and instioetivi in the case at least of by far the largest number of the fur-seals of the North Pacific, is an interesting (pieslion of a genoraJ kind. It is evident 1^ * Quol.d liy .1. \. . tr .ii!i aiion, 1 7(J i . t '• V'i>v I'ji' a;t air I'li \t^^)o I fViliii ill •• Mi)n()(7i'.i|'ii (if .N'orili Ann liiMii M,);.l,v rOO-'i.'' : ii;r v. •, (;->. :MI : 1, (;. Ivinl I' 2 h- 1 31 S 1 V ir mn' H tliftl tlie lial)il lias nro»n up nn a necessary result of resorlinjj to far luirllieru Iiree'lin,:; grounds, Mliile at llio same time it is not essentiaih" a jiart of llic lil'o liislory of llu' nninicJ, as llie hreediii;; stations formerly occiiiiicil on tin- t'alifornian enast show. Jt is further in^lriietive to mention, llial as (he result of iiujiiiries made on lliis iioint from tlius.' most familiar willi tiie snhjeet in New Zialand, ilie I'aliiland hiamls. and C'ajie Colony, it is found tliat the (•lo>ely related fur-seal of t'le Snutliein ir<.inis[)liere does not rei;ularly mi^jratc over gnat (raels ol tlu' oecan, hut, \v!;en oecupnng stations ulieie the con- ditions are favouralile lor i!s cxisleuee tl rouiiiiont the year, it merely aj)|iroaehes (he shores and lands u|i(m them at the hri'eding senson. 'i'he Ktntinned presence of fur seals about the Commander Islands in nnhl winters, liliewisi.- sliius (hat even in (lie ease ot ilie fur-seal of (he N'ortli I'aciru'. it re(|nire^ (he promnliiig aiiorded hy defideil changes in the seasons to kci'p up the regularity of its mii^ratury liahits. It has indeed hi en suggested, anil with .some pndjability, (li-it the seasonal clianges in ;he ten)pera(nre of (he sea itself may have nineh to do with impressing regularity im (he annual movement of miuration, or, in other words, that when this temperature falls helow or rises al)ove eertiiin limits, (lie seals begin (o move southward or northward in search of less frigid or less liea(eil waters. Ti»e data at hand are, however, iiisudicient for a iletaile.1 stniiy of (his point. (iu.)--Di.'<triliiitl()n (il !<r(i. 200. The distribution and mode of occurrence of (ho fm-seals at sea when con- grogated in (heir winter habitats on the (wo sides of the North I'acitic, and v\hi!e migrating, Inive already been noticed. While (ho inforimition on these points is not a> complete as could he wished, it is snlliclent to show in a general way how (ho lur-seal i-» ntfeeted in its movements by currents, drift, and winds. In speaking of its food and feeding habits on a i-ubse(pient page, it fmther becomes a))parent in what nniuner the seals congregate and travel in following certain food lislies. ft appears to be rather in consccpience of such circumstances, operating conjointly upon these jielagic animals, tiinn to any ruling gregarious tendencies while at sia that they become collected into "scho(ds" or groups of greater or less dimensions. I'hij at least is the result ot the examinations nnulo during the summer of 1S91 in Behring Sea, where, though twt) or tlir^e seals were often seen actually in company, and occasionally as many as six or eight, tiie general rule seemed to be that each seal was pursuing its own course, travelling, sleeping, feeding, or sporting in the water, without referepce to others in the vicinity. This is clearly shown by the observaticm that even wlien passing through an area at sea in which the seals would be noted as abumlant, they are as a nuitter of fact usually se]'arated liy distances much too great to enable any single animal, or any group (»f two or three indiviiluals, to be in any way cognizant of the presence of the next adjacent individual or similar group. Apart from seals met wi(h near the shores of the breeding islands, the densest '• scheol " found by us was on one occasion about live miles to (he westward of the land of St. I'aul Island, where about forty seals were counted in a distance run of two miles. In all other cases, it was exceptional to meet with seals to the number of four to a mile nm, while two to a mile run was much above the average even when passing through areas of abundance. It is thus evident (hat the seals had been brought logetlii r in such areas of abundance by reason of common conditions rather than by their own volition. 210. In order to arrive at as complete a knowledge as possible of the actual distribution of the fur seal in Behring Sea, a circular was prepared, in which it was requested that regular seal logs should be kept on (he Pritish crnizers, and, (hrougii the kindness of (he Commander-in-chief on the I'acific Station, communicated (o their Comniai.ders. The work was taken up with enthusiasm by the various (dficers, and maintained throughout (he season. Careful observadons of (be s-ame kind were also made on our owns(eamer, the " Danube," and subsequently, through (he conr(esy of tin- L'nitcd States' Commissioners, copies of the track-charts, and observations made of icals by the various United States' cruizers, were supplied. Information on the san:e Hulijeit was also sought in various other wa\s, such as by inipiiry from the captains and hands of scaling-vessels n-.et in Victoiia and A'ancouver, and from the inhabitants of various iilaces (ouched at (during tlie summer. 2il. Little or i.olbing has previously been put on record witli regard to the distri- bution of the fur-seal in Iichring Sea during the months of their stay there, for though li e pelage sealers Inid formed their own opinion as to the best regions for (arr3i''g on (heir avocation, .hey naturally did not make these public, and it is believed thai, in son e lases at least, they were rather inclined to keep such knowledge as they 3S Imd jjniiicMl li.y cxpciiiiire oiillrolv piivato. What has hoon ncdially piihlislii'd on (liis MihJL'i't tlopemls iiiiiicipally up ni moii;;ii« ohsLTvations or ill-foiiiulcd coiijocdiros siu'!> as the nsidoiit iigi'iils on tlio hiccdini; islands have been obli! to nniko «ilh tlicir limited oppdrtuiiitiis. Tlie riiTiini>l.\nc'i's in 'S)l wiio, liowever, o.\co|)(i(inally lUvonrablo tor ae(iuirin<{ inloniiiition ol' a (.-onipaialilo kind on the (inostion of di.sti'il)titi<)n. 'Jl-. The oifseivalio'.is at ion, maud lor IS'.d pnieti<"ally cover pretty ihoron^hly the period of ahont t»\o m-ntlis durin;4' wli'eli seals are ordinarily taken hy pela;;ie linntir^ in I'cininj;' Sea, extending- finiii il.o iiiiiMIe of July to tiie middle of September, and tluy are niiieli more coiiiidete lor the eastern ilian for the western part of tlie Helirinjf Sea. 21.'^. On eonsidi'ratimi of tin- ninliriii! to he dealt witli, it «as deeitled lliat it nii^lit be nio.it advanla;;e(tu-!y diviiliil intotuo periods of ai)out a nn.nth each, lhelir.it inehulinx' all dales from the l.")lh .Iidy to llie l.'dh .\iii;nst, ami the .second t!io>e between the l.'th i\ii;iust and the l.'ilh HrplenilnT. .\ll tlu' lii.es cruized over in the tirst of these periods were pli>tted on one ^et of m.i|is, an. I tiiose in tiie second period on another. The jiarti of thc-e liacks run iver duriiiu' llic n';;Iil. and in winch seals therefore con!d not well he (djserviil, "ire iiidiiateil on the m.ips ii a I'ill'erent, maimer from tlio day tracks, as far as p(is.sii)lc; and nitli the as.sislaiice of the loj^s, the numbers of seals seen in certain intervals were then entered ahnii' the various routes in a {•raphie manner. The placis in whicii pelagic .sealers had reimrted seals to be abundant or otherwise, as well as those in whiih sealina;- vessels were found at work by the cruizers, and other facts obtained from various S'iurce.<, were also indicated on the ma[)H. 2)}. Without altemptiii;; to entir into further details hero as to the methods employed, the general lesults ai rived at may now be brielly described: — It is evident, in the first place, that tlie seals are mo>t abundant in the water in the immediate vicinity of the snores of the breeding i.slands, this abundance of seals extending; often not more than half-a-mile from the fronts of the brcedinj»; jjrounds, and seldom for 3 or 4 miles in such a way as to be at all notable. In the case of the Pribylotf Islands, it is also observed that seals were numerous in both the inontidy periods in the tract included in a {General «ay between St. I'aul and St. George Lslands, though they differed much in this respect even at nearly appro.xiniatc dates. It is further clearly shown that the I'ribylolf and Co.iimai:der groups form the main centres of abundance of seals in IJebring Sea during the summer ; but that while this is undoubtedly the case, the seals are not found to decrease in numbers with any approximation to regularity in zones concentric with the islands, — always excluding the seals in the immediate neighbourhood of the shores. :]15. U is therefore not possible to outline a series of zones in which the number of seals present «ill bear an inverse ratio to the distance from the islands. It i.s, however, po.ssible to draw an approximate limit for a region about the Pribylotf group, which will roughly deHiie the area of abundant seals at sea during each of the two monthly periods ciioseii. In the case of the ngic i about the Commander Islands, data, though almost wanting for the first monthly periitd, and but scanty for the second, are sutlicient to indicate a general mode of distribution similar to that dennmstrable in the firtt case. Within the areas of abundant seals, these animals are, however, by no means regularly di.itribu'.ed, even at any particular (ixed date, but are .scattered in irregular patches in the dilluse character already described, and are very often thickest locally towards the outer liniits of the area. 21(>. lievoiid these areas, seals are foimd more or less sparsely scattered over a great jjart of Ikdning Sea, which in the lirst period extemls, in the longitude of the I'ribylofl' Islands, from the Aleutian chain northward to about the oihh degree of latitude, includes the whole vicinity of the western Aleutian Islands, and spreads again to a greater «iilth with the Commander Islands as a centre. 21". In l'?91 the area of abundant seals about the Pribylotf Islands appeared to be not only changeil in form, but considerably reduced in size in the second monthly period ; while that of scattered seals was not only changed in form, but much enlarged in area. It ai)pear8, that in most years, in the later summer this area of scattered seals extends to the north-east of the Commander Islands, quite to, or even beyond, the 00th parallel of noith latitude. This particular extension is probably to be explained by the drift of that branch of the Japan current which flows through the western part of Hehring Sea, assisted by the prevailing southerly winds in the same part of the sea in June ami July;* \\Iiile the eoni|)aiatively restricted spread in a northward direction in the eastern pari of tiie >ea may bo similarly eoniucted with the general movement of the water from north to south in that region. t I I' Sir y\:i'>!i .'i.' uiul .'/.), ■• Cln'iliiiyi I- rxpi'dition l)f|iort," i'liysics and Clieniistry, vol. ii. ¥ 36 218. The iiorllicni outline of tliis wiilcr region of scntlpri'tl souls in llic second monthly period, may ho imieticallynHsumpd as thnt of the norniiil nxiiije of tlio fiir-senl to tlie north, nnd is adopted os such on one of tlie ai'companyinn; maps. On other mnp» tlio outlines of the areas of ahtmdant and scattered seals in each monthly period aro fthonn. The extreme northern rnngc of the fur-seal, however, extends far beyond tho line Just referred to, for Captain Henley and Lieutenant Jiirvis, of the United States' T'evenue C'rui/.cr " Ik'ar," state that fur-seals are occasionally seen hy whalers ns far an St. Lawrence Island, and even on the northern shores of that island. They also fonnd in 1.<0I, nt ( npe Tchaplin or Indinn Point on the Siherian const, the natives in |i(iss(>ssion of a tew skins of old hull seals, which they staled had been taken near St. Lawrence bland. Our own intjuiries on tliat island and at Plover Hay on tlie Siherian coast were juirely negative as regards fur-seals, though hair seals, including the rare handed or rihhun >oa\ {fllnliloplincit fasciatii), were being taken by the Tuskis in nets. It «as, however, further ascertained that one or two instances hail occurred of oM male seals being taken iicar St. Michael, not far from the Yidion mouth, ami it is therefore proliable tliat a line drawn from Cape Tchnplin to this plnce may I.e considered ns defining the extreme maximnni northern range of the fur-seal of the Xorth Fncific. This limit, hnwever, apjienis to be but rarely attained, and then only hy mature nnd old nniles, which have probably become useless on the breeding rnokerie.«, otui have been driven or have wandered away alone far from their kind. '2\\>. With the idea thnt the general distribution of the fur-scnls in llehring Sea, frrin the breeding islands as centres, might show some direct relation to the prevailing winds, meteorological ohservntions made during the summer hy ourselves and on several of the cruizers were sent to the Meteorological Department of Canada, and were there, under the direction of Mr. Carpmael, analyzed by Mr. Stupait, who prepared wind-roses for each of the monthly periods for the vicinity of the Prihyloff Isinnds. The observa- tions taken near the Commander Islands were, however, insutlicient tor such treatment. The wind-roses thus obtained tor the vicinity of the Prihyloff I.' lands were then com- pared, both in a direct nnd in an inverse sense, with the outlines of the area of abundant seals, hut without bringing to light any manifest connection of the kind conjectured, though there appeared to ho a slight hrdancc of evidence in favour of the belief that the seals tended rather to travel against the wind than with it. So far, therefore, as thi.s evidence goes, it seems to show that the seals found at sea, even in the regions in which they arc not very far from the breeding islands, arc not animals which have only tentporarily left the islands, for in this case their movements would almost certainly show- some obvious relation to the prevailing wind and weatiier. The fact tliat they do not do so, in itself suggests that the seals met with at sea really form practically independent pelagic schiiols of a diti'use kind. 220. An examination of the aiea surrounding the Pribylofl" Fshuuls in which seals were abundant in 1891, together with sn;'!i other tacls bearing on former years as could he obtained from pelagic .«ealer.s, indicates that the maximum limit to which this area may reach from the islands in the summer months in any direction is not more than about ISO miles, and it is probable tliat similar conditions obtain with regard to the Commander Islands. 221. Respecting the number of fur-seals to lie found at sea within the areas of abundance above referred to, and exclusive of those freijucnting the islands and their immediate shores, it is difficult to attain to anything like certain resulls. The endeavour has been made, however, in a tentative way to reach some roughly approximate istimates, by li'.id-ng the number of seal-* actually seen in measured lengths of runs in or ncroi-ssuch areas, cliosen as typical, and tiiade at ditierent times in both monthly periods. The results obtained varied somewhat widely, as might be expected, not alone in consc- tjuence of the actual dillercnce in density of the seals, hut also from circumstances connected with the weather and the state of liie sea suif.ice. The observations made were, however, combined in a general average, which, when thus treated, showed about one seal noted to each mile run. On the assumption (which cannot be very far from the fact) that on the average a width of hall'-a-mlle was efliciently scanned from the deck, this would give a mean numiier of two fur-seals to each s(piare mile of sea sin face within the area referred to. 2:'2. As to the much larger area of scattered seals, it is still mure dili'cnlt in this ca>e to arrive at any even ai)|)roximatcIy accurate results, for though long rnns were often made without meeting any seals, limited patclies of relatively abundant seals were some- times met with, and the-e seemed to be quite irregularly distri!)Uted. It appears probable, liowever, that the density of seals within these areas dors not exceed, but may reach, about one to five square miles. 37 this iften )nic- oars l)iit C2-'3. No connected bod^' of obHorvntionM is in exititenee an to tlic ncttial ultundancc of hluIu nt hen and tlicir distribution in various parts of their range in different years, but inoie attention bas naturall,v becti paid to tluu since tbe development of |>cln<;ie Healin;;. The ftdlowin^ references on tbis sul)jeet bave been found in docntncnls already publislied, or obtained in evidence. Tliey are to^^etber sufficient at least to show that ibc distril)Ution ot tbe seals at sea, particularly as between different parts of their winter habitat, is subject to considerable variation. 18(5(1. .Iiiiijie J. (i. Swan says, that between ]857 and 18(Ji^ fur-scals were very searct! about Capo Flattery, and that it is oidy since the last-mcntionod year that tbcy have be;;;un to resort to tbe vicinity of Fuca Strait in sucb ;rreat nunjbcrs.* [Tliis statement is probaldy Itased on the number <tf skins actually taken by tbe Indians, and may in part, at least, bo o.\plainoil by the fact tbat for a lu.Mibor of years tbe Indian^ scarcely bunted the fur-sct.l ;(ii').]_ 1HG8. i?,(JO() fiu--scals are said to have been killed about tbe Strait of Fucii in this year.f 18(V.). Uruiiit speaks of Ibc abundance of fur-seals off tbe coasts of Oreguii, AVasliii(j;ton, and Jiiilisli Cdlinnbia in this as compared with former yiarsj 1872. C^'iiptaiu Jiowis, ilim connected with tlie Hudson's Hay Company, stated that in 18"-* " imnansc lunnbcrs (d'fur-sial pups and yearlings'' were observed in the ocean oil' Vancouver Island and the entrance to Fuca Straits. That he ha^l never diirin:; thirty jeais of prc\ious service on the north-west coar%t seen or board of sucli an abundance of fur-seals, lie lli-ugbt that " S,0(J() or 0,000 skins, chiefly jaips and yearlings," were taken. § 187->. Captain lewis, prcvi )udy cited, stited that in ibis jear ven few fur-seals were seen off' the IMlish Columbian C(«ast. His figures bbowed only '• 'KM) or "iO) skiii> ; these were all (dder ones."]' lyGO to 18;si). Writing in I88(), Judge .1. (J. S\\aii >ay.-, : "This nnpivcedented number of seals which nnule their appearance, a nimjb'jr which seents to have increased every season hince 1^(30, will give employment to a 1 irgcr (!eet of vessels another year ■••r ISsO. Fur-sials were reported in great abundance l(i(,' to ;)()() miles off'-sboie, by vessels making for (he Stia't af Kuea. .\ccoiding to .hidge .1. (J. Swan,*'- the canoe calcli of Xeah Day (Makab) Indians in this year was l,"j.")S. l.'^81. ,Mr. Marsiiliot, m'coikI engineered" United States' Kevenuo Cutter " Wolcolt," .'(■.les that in t'.iis year fur-seals were very abuudant in Paget Sound, and were taken as far in as Hoods Canal. ft K*^S'^. .ludge .1. (I. Swan, in a letter to SeiuUor Dolpli, says: "'Seals are ripiirtL-;! as being unusually niiniemus tbis season, and arc in myriads, California steamers repurt mnning Ihroiigh one heril which extended 100 miles, and the seals a))peared to lie as thiek as they coidd swini." + J ISSi). ("aptain .1. I). U'arren, who has been actively eiigaged in scaling for twenty years, stalo tlial during that time he has noticed in) dinuniition in (he number of seals at sea, hut, ii'any eiiange at all, an increase, js^ 1881). Captain V\ . O'Leary, uil'i four year-.' exjierienee, says: '■ tlur e IS anv dcciease in the miniljer oi .-^eals eiilerin;i I'e inni See. do not think I never saw- so nianv seals aionii' (he coast as (here were (1 is ve.ir, and in IJelirini;' Sea il.ev were more nnmeroiis than I oversaw l)elore."i; |1 l.si)). .Mr, .\, i;. Milne. Collector of Customs at \'ietoria, summaii/ing tlic in- (ormation obtained by him IVoni sealers respecting that season, says: '• I can now safely repeat wlial I lia\e already said and written, that owners and masters di not entertain the slightest idea that the seals are at all scarcer." He adds, that statements made to a contrary eilect in the jiress are believed to bave been inspired by interested motives.*^* l.'s'Jo anil ISitj. Mr. I{. II. I'idcock, Indian, rei)orts that the Indians of northern port of Vancouver Island .-ay the far-seals have been less plentiful than before during these two years. ^Mi'. Harry (Juillod, Indian .\gent for the west coast of Vancouver I-land^ .siys that. * ■' I'i^li' rv Iiiili.^!lic.-i of llic I'liilcii 8l:ai'.«." vol. ii, p. '.j'.IA. t t),ill. '■ .\l;i>^ka au.l its Itrsouic. ■., ' \k iOli. * ■■ Moii:iL>ia|ili ol Noitli .American I'i jiiipid*," p, 332. ^ QiiuLii liv IlUii 0, I'liiuil t^tati.-' CuiMK Inport, p. U',6. U I'niloil i;iau>' Crii-n-, K p ri, p. JC'C. «■ •' I i>lirr_v I;iilii«liiis of ll.t' l.'iiitiil .Sl.-acK," mjI. ii, p. i'.'J/. *•' J;. ill., |>. ; yi. tl (JiiDlril li\ .Ii:(lj:f ,1. Ii. Swan in l!all. " Uriteil SlaUs' fisiu'ty Couiinia.sii.n," vol. iii, p. '206, i\ I'ailiann'iilarv I'apiT [<". Cl;31 I p. 19.». ' S;ij Ibiil., p. ooU. lill Jbi.l.. p. yj7. ' %% i'arli.,mi'iaar\ I'.npir [C. (j-Jj3], p. 7S. iU Ii 8h tl.c Itnliaiis roporL an unti.sual i\');m 'nn 'o of scnls in these two }cnrs, w'uilc they were scart'e for tliiOL' jcais pr.'vionsly ISDI. Mr. C'. Toil I, IiKiiini n^rciit at Motla-Kall.). on tlic noitlicrn jmrt df tlio coast of I)iiti-li ('olunil)ia. stales tlir.t (lie Indi.ms believe tl.e nuniljer of fur-seals to have been about the sji^iie for (he jasl t>vfiit,v vears. ResiHH'lin^ the nmnb.'r of seals met with at soa in this year, the following statements occur in the sworn cvitlenee of sialers : — 0. J. Kelly: Seals arc as plentiful this year from the coast (of British Columbia) to the Shnma^in Islan Is as la-t year. C'ai)tain W. I'etit : Troni C'aj)e Flattery north, seal; were more plentiful than any year since l.'^S;;; in I5eliri»»j;' Si-a, as pl.ntifiil as in fnrmer years. Cajjtain W. K. ]?aker: .Alonjr the coast to the Shumasin Islands seals were as ]ilontiful in some jilaces as tlie year before; in others, more plentiful. No material (liiference in my average catch for last four years. No decrease in number of .seals in lato yeais. Captain A. liissct : Seals were as plentiful bust year as in previous years along the coast. Captain T. M. Maunesen : Seals were more plentiful lust year than I had ever seen tliem, biilh in Hehring Sea and along the coast. Kichard 'riiompson : Seals were as plentiful last year as the year before. j\nilreu- Laing: \o decrease in seals last year. Captain W. Cox : Seals were ns plentiful last year as ever before. Captain C. Hackett : Found the seals as plentiful on the coast, last year as in former years. Seals were nunc numerous in IJehring Sea than 1 ever saw them before. Captain C. iMcDougal: l\)und the seals thicker in Hehring Sea than ever before. A. Douglas: Had sealed seven years. Noticed no decrease in number of seals last year. 'J'hought thoy appeared a little shyer. Saw more seals and larger bodies of seals in Ucliring Sea than ever bef re. L. L. McLean : Seals were more plentiful last year. Never .saw seals so plentiful in Behring Sea before (in seven years' experience). 1892 (January). .Fui)<re .1. CJ. Swan, in a letter, stales that Indians report seals unusually abundant off Ca[>e Flattery and about IJarclay Sound. (B.) — Food of the Fui-seal. 224. The bioad and general facts of the annual migration habits of the fur-sral do not appear to depend primarily upon the pursuit of food, but rather seem to be troverned by the instinctive resort to the breeding islands in the spring, followed by the ccjually instinctive departure for more scmtliern latitudes on the approach of the cold and snows of winter. The distribution anJ migrations of the animals upon which the seals depend for food doubtless have, however, u considerable influence on the movements of the seal in a subordinate de:;ree, and particularly njion its abundance or otherwise at various times in ditl'erent parts of its summer and winter lial»itat-i. S )me of the last (djservations (pioted have a direct bearing on this j)oint. 225. Mo>t of the information gained on this s-ubject is the result of special iii(|iiiriea made among the native hunters of different parts of (be coast, and of (inestiuns addie-sed to llie j)i lagic seaiiMs. The knowledge procured by these jii'ople is obtained in \ari()us Mays. Seals are often seen at sea actually piirsning (ish of dillerent kinds. ( r cumiiig to the surl":iCL' witii a fish held i'i tlie jaws. The stomachs of seals killi'd at sea are frecpiently well tilled with I'sh, and are. from motives of curiosity, sometime; examined. Il is alsD often noticed tlinl a >ea!. when taken into a canoe, vomits the entire contents of the stitmaeli. Another, and, thongli less direct, scarcely less triisiwortliy source of information, is the locally-oli>ei veil coincidence in abundance of seals >vitli tliat of certain kinds of fish. 22(1. Witiiout quoting at length the ninncrous statements obtained on this point, it may ho said (hat the jicneral tenour of flic evidence shows, that while the fur-seal has been known to eat aliiuot all kiiuls of tisb, including cod nnti even halibut, its favourite diet consists of small (i>li. of which the herring, probably from its size and from it*; gregarious habit, is altogether the most important. The ajipearance of seals toward sjiring in tlie inner waters along the coast of British Columbia, and the nuinlicrs seen tliere at any particular place or time, bear a very close relation to (he occurrence of shoals of herring, while some of (he most notable eases of the penetration of seals into the narrow channels about the estuary of the Nass, ■ keen'ij and Knight's Inlet have been ;j9 directly traccil to llicir pnr-uit of the ulaclian, or candle-fisli, then resorting to these phiccs to spawn. 2-7- Anotlior nniiiial, wliidi may lie classed as a special food of the fur-seal, is the scjuid or cuttle-tifsli. Evidence of this has been ohtaincJ at various points alonj? the Jiiitish Coliimbiiin coast and in the Commander Islands, and of the seal st(nTiachs opened hy us on the I'rihyloff Islands, besides a very f jw fisli-boiu-s the beaks cf in\\\u\ were about tlie oidy traces of food fouml. It is perhaps further worth noting in this connection, that Captain Mori ell many ycais ago stated, with special reference to the fur-seal of the Falkland Islamls, that they are siiid to live on the squid.* •JJ8. it is particularly along tlie British Columbian coast, within the winter habitat of the fur-seal, that the connection of its movements wit); those of the herring has been traced. Unfortuni\tely, little is accurately known about the migratory habits of the herring in any part of the world, and the information respecting the migrations of this fish on the West Coast is exceedingly imjierfect. It is jirobablo that here, as elsewhere, the mi::ralions of tl;e herring are somewhat capricinus, antl that this fish regularly approaches the shores !n large schools only about the spawning season, while its move- ments at other times are largely governed by the relative abundance on different parts of tliC surface of the ocean of the minute crustaceans and other pelagic organisms upon which it lives. This, again, de])eiids on the winds and lurrents and temperature, and to the interaction of tliese several factors, the sudden appearance or disappearance of bodies of fur-seals, in various parts of their winter habitat particularly, may tlonbtless be traced. 2:29. In the summer habitat within Behring Sea, it has been noted by some of the more intelligent pelagic sealers that lur-seals arc found to ho numerous where " whale- food " abounds. The " wliale-fo'.d " met \\\[]\ in these seas consists of similar minute organisms (o thoso ('dmixisin^ '• herring-food," and the seals are dimbtless in search of the smaller lishes which ni;iy be living upon this food. A further circumstance having the same general li^'arii g ii the fiecpiently-ohservcd association of seals at soa, particularly in Jkduing V>v», with abundance of single fronds or tangled nnisses of drift kelp. This no doubt depends partly on the fact that the kelp affords shelter and a measure of i)rotection not only to the minute pelagic organisms, hut also to the various small fishes which prey upon these. It is, however, to bo explained for the most part hy the circumstance, that the drift kelp accunudates in areas of eddy or slack-water between the various marine currents, into which these minute organisn.s with surface- fishes and the fur-swils themselves naturally drift. 230. 'J'he most iniportant point to be gathered from these ob.servations is, that the fur-seal is not usually a bottom feeder, and that it is not necessary that its fishing- grounds should be found upon submarine hanks situated at such moderate dejjths as those to wliich the seal may attain by diving or "sounding," a hypothesis often advanced by theorists, but which finds little basis in the known facts. 231. That the fur-seal is (ssoutially a pelagic surface feeder, is further shown hy the fact that it ii not known to resort habitually to the best fishing banks in Uehring Sea, such, for instance, as the liaird bunk, and that fisii, such as the cod and halil)ut, inhabiting water of some depth anil feeiling along the bottom, are often found in considerable numbers, not only near t!ie breeding islands of the seal, but even in the immediate vicinity of the breeding rookeries of these islands. Such fish are actually caught at various seasons by the natives of the i'ribylofi Islands within I or 2 miles of some of the laijiest ro<ikerits on the south side of St. i^iul Island, and not more than 2.\ or .'{ miles off tl.e rookeries on the north shore of St. (Jeorge Island. On »>ne occasion, while :it anchor for a short lime within less than half-a-mile from the largest rookery on Hehving Island, at Cape Yushin, over twenty cod, with some other fishes, werecnu^iht fronr our steamer with t.vo or three hand lines, in water not more than (J or 7 fathoms in depth. 2;'i2. Some particulars are given on a later ]'age respecting the abstention from food of (he fur-seals while remaining upon or about the breeding islands. It a|)])ears to lie certain that the mature male-; doing duty on tiie breeding rookeries do not feed at all during the breeiling season, an>l that for simie time, at kast several week-^. alter landing, the breeding females do not leave the rookery groimds in search of food. There is no apparent reason why the " bolluschickie," or young males, should not go to sea in (|uest of fish. Singularly enongli, hov.cver, though animals ol this class have been killed by hundreds of thousands upon the breeding islands under all eonceivaldo conditions of weather, and often within less than nn hour of their dcportntitm from their (• Lao5j • Dall, " AlosJui and ito Keiourcet," p. 493, w 40 hauHnff-groiinds, the almost universal testimony is to the effect that their stomachs are invariably found to he free from fnoil. 233. Witii a view to ohtiiiii such direct information on this subject as mi<?ht be passihh^, the slomaclis of se ils killed in our piose'ice were examined ; and though the results of these examinations, note. I hdow, di) rot entirely confirm the statement just referred to, they show a rcmarknide nhsencc of fiKxl. 'i'hc iiuml)er of seals which it was tiius po^sihlc ti) examiiii' was of courso small. On St. G('or<>e Islund, twenty seals wore killed on the 1st .Vu^just in our presence. These were selected from a drive nnide from the nearest part of the Great Northern Rookery, to the killini;; tyroniul ah lut liall-a-mile distant, and had been about three hours otf the rookery before they were killed. Of these twenty younc: niule-i, the stomachs gave the followinif results : - - Seventeen: no f lod whatever, in m(ist a little slimy matter, froth or bile, and often a few lively worms. One: n hainlful of small pebbles. One : a clot of brownish blood. One : an isojiod cnistacciin, alxtiil an inch in length, and a few frasments of fish hones. 2'!4. On St. Paul F'^Iand, the ;M-d .\iiuiist, tiic stomaclis of ninety-eight young males were examined. Tliese were selected from a drive made from Zolloi sands to the killing ground, a ilislanc" of ah tnt 'J.UQO feel, from which th 'y lind been driven Ciirly in tlie siune moiiiinu', possihly {wo or tio'ce lioms lu'fore being killed. The contents of thi'se stoniiiehs, in addition to a few worms present in many cases, were as foll()v\s: — Sixty-five, contained nothing, or, in some cases, a pinch of sind, or a small (juantiiy of slim}' or frothy matter. Seventeen, contained pelddes, sometimes several, in other cases but u single peblde. Six, slmwcd a rather notahh- quantity of bright yellow bile. Four, contained some blood, gi'nerally somewhat changed in colour by the action ol' the gastric juices, and in one or two ca*-es clotted. 'I'liree, contained the horny armatnres or beaks of squids only; one of these u single beak, another two beaks, and the third three beaks One, held some pebltlcs, tjio ear-hone of a fish (cod?), and a few jtieces of broken dead shell. One, held some pebbles and broken i)ieces of dead shell, with a single beak of s(|uid. One, showed a very small piece of kelp only. 23o. From the large Ncrih Kookery on Behring Island, 5th September, an adalt njale or " seacatch," two females, and an unweaned pup, were driven directly from the rookery ground, about 2oO yards' distant, and killed, by permission of the authorities, for presentation by us as >pecimens to the Hritish Museum. The stomachs of all four were completely empty, with the exception of a few worms in tliose of the three adults. Sdt only tin; pup, but the females, and even the old nnile, were fat and in good condition. 2-M). l{es])ecting the iiehhlcs i'requently found in the stonnichs of the fur-seal, it has been suggested by .\lr. KUiolt (hat these may he swallowed for the purpose of destroying the worms often oh-^ervcd. it has lurther been snugested that such sltmes have incidentally found their way i ilo the seals' stomachs attached to sea-weeds, or zoophytes oaten by the seals ; hut little can hi' said in favour (>f this theory. 'i"he habit is one, however, not peculiar to the fur-seal, hnt common to most pinnipctls.* The largest of tlntsc jjehhles actually collected from the stcnnachs of the seals aliovc noted as iiaving been killed on St. Paul on tl:i' -hd .August, is a flat stone, Ij inch in length and 1 inch in breadth, hut much larg.'r ones have often been found. It is probable tiuit individual stones do not as a rule remain vi ry long in the stonuuh ; for al)out one-half of those collected on this oecasi.in were rough scornicenus fragments, showing little or no sign of attri'ion. The other mo'ety was more or h'-s jjcrfectly rounded, and a certain nu!nl)er showed a peculiar line polish, prohaldy to he uttrihiited to wear in the slonnich of the uniinal. About (me-scventh of tlie eiitiri' ninnoer represi iil rocks not found on the Prihylolf Islands, or, il oiviuring at all, only very exceptionally as err.U'cs carried there attached to the roots of dritt trees or kelp, or brought upon lloating ice. These have, in all probability, been liorne by thi' seals themselvt's from some distant localities. The renntining ami much the larger part of the etdlection consists of ordinary volcanic pebbles, such as might be picked up anywhere on the beaches ot the Pribylofl' or the Aleutian Islands. * " Monograph of Nurti. Amcrictu I'innipeds," p. 334* 5 41 liavo, Tlie 2;i7. The Aleut foreman in chnrge of tlie VDokcries on Relirinn; Island stated that the voiiiin; seals bof^an to swallow pebbles when about four moiiths old, after wliich they become thin. If correct, tliis slahniont would ajjpciir to inciiii (hut i( is about tin; time at which the jouna; are weaned tlnit this habil is (irsi develi-ped. He also said that, when seals »)f nuilure age were observi-d to swallow stones they wt-rc (or becanic) thin, and tills may possibly be rej^arded rather as tlie etfecf of ilie j^astric worms thun of the pebbles. The same man added, and entirely as an idea ori;;inal with himself, that when the seals first arrived at the Ciunmaader fslaiuls each year, I hey contained stones unlike those to be found upon the islands, and winch he con.jecitured had been picked up upon the Kamtschatka coast. In the stonuich of tin,' seal pup cxfimined lor us by I)r. Giinther at the lirilish Museum, it will bo noted tli ;t a stone was louiui, although the pup was supposed to be about seventeen days old only. (Appendix D.) 23R. On several of the rookery- and haulinii-^rounds of I he I'ribyloir Islands there is to be seen a notable abiiudunce of small rounded pelibles. just such as those found in the stomachs of the seals. .As these lie upon the surface, often far above any po.ssible action of the sea, aiul as there is no evidence of beaches of such rolled stones due to former periods of uie'ilcr submergence upon the PribylolV islands, the conjecture appears to be legitimate that these have, in the course of years, been brought iiiid accumulated hv the seals themselves. Whether voided or disgorged iVom time to time upun the ii,...;cry gvomids, or whether accumulated by a slower process consc(|uent on the occasional death of ^eal- uim.m il;ese grounds, cnniiot be decided. The suggestion here made, it shouM be staled, is due to .Mr. .). Staidey-lirown. ii3l). The blood no'.iceil in some of the stomachs may probably be attributed to the laceration of the (ongue by th.e teeth, or to congestion and extravasation of the nasal menibranes brought about by the severe ordeal of drivini;-. Its presence in (he alimentary tract is at least scarcely explicalde as the result of internal lesiidis. 2 to. In the middle of September, when paying a last visit to the I'ribylolf Isl inds, several of the young .seals of the same year, then well grown, were observed upon water- washed rocks, eitlier playing «ith or eating fronils of kelp. Mr. .1. V. Kedpath stated that he believed the seals actually ate the kelp as a part of tlnir food, but from personal observation no statement could be nui.'.e to this effect, and it is considered very doubtful. 241. Colonel J. Murray informed us that, in 1S!4(>, the young seals or pu[»s killed as food for natives on the I'ribyloff Islands about the tlh and Stli Xovember, had not even at th;it date been weaned, but were found 'nil of milli. Me further stated, tbat such pups had been driven in the very early morning lo the killing grounils, and sDUielimes iv)t killed till late in the evening-, thus insuring a piiiod ul' at least fifteen hours from the time ut which tliey had had any possible connection with their niuthers. Otln v>, again, had not been killed till the ftdlowing morning, enlar::ing tlie necessary time of abstinence from suckling to twenty-four horns from tin- time ot lat sucKiini;'. Tlicse observations appear to show that the younn' seals are capable of layin:i' in a very coMsiiK ralilo reserve in the way of mothers milk, and have important bearings du the general ([uestion of the time during «hich the mothers may absent themselves Iidiu (he breeiiing rookeries at earlier dates in the histnry of the young. 24'_'. Perhaps the must notiible featme in regard to this f( od (|iie;.tion, and one directly consequeiU on the prolongeii a'otiiience (d (he seals from lodd while ou and about the islamls, is the entire absence of all excrement on the r^iokeries and hauling grounds. Captain lh\an( appiars, 1. wever, lo be iht.' only antliur who h;is specially mentioned tl.is jiaiticiilar ami s(rikinti' fact, lie writes: — " 'i he fact (if their reniaiuing without food seems su condary (o nature, that it seiins to me prt per to state suine of the evidences of it. Having been assured by the natives that such was the fact. 1 deemed it of siiflicieut imixulance to test it by all the means availalde. Aecoruingly, I took spec.al pains to examine daily a laige extent of the rookeiy, ami ii()(e eMivfully (he results of my observations. The rocks on the rookery are worn Mnoodi and washed clean iiy the springtides, and any discharge of excrement could in^t fail to he detected. I found, in a fe.\ instances where newly- arrived seals had niaile a s'uule ilischarge of red-coloured excrement, but nothing was seen afterwards to show -.hat such disehaiges were cnntinnel, or any evideuct' that the animals hati imrtal.eu ef food. 'I'liey m ver left the rocks excejif wlieu compelleil by the heat of (he sun to seek the water to cool themselves. They are then absent Ironi the land for but a short time. I also examineil the .stomachs ot several hundred young ones, killed by the natives for eating, and always without finding any trace of f>.od in them. The sanu' was true of the few nur.sing fenniles killed for disseclitm. On their arrival in (he spring they are very tat and unwieldy, hut when thoy leave, after their four months' faat, they are very thin, being reduced to one-half their former weight." [305] (! 2 i ! •: ; ! ; ! M 'm 42 In a note appended to tlie above l)y Professor Allen, that f;entlomaii writes : " Steller states tliat in tlic numerous specimens lie dissected he alwavs t'ojind t'le stoiMaclis empty, and remarks that they taiie no food diirinir the several weeks tliey remain on 1 iml ; Mr. J)all confirms ihe same statement in respect to the present species, and Captains Cook, Weddel, and others, who have had <)])portunities of ohservin^' ihe diHerent southern species, atfirm the same fact in respect to the latter. Lord Sliuldham lonj^ since stated that the walrus had the same habit, though its actual fast seems somewhat shorter than tiiose of the eared seals Tliis singular phenomenon of a protracted annual fast during the period of parturition and the nursing of the young — the season wlien most mammals require the most ample sustenance — seems not wholly confined to the walruses and eared seals. So far as known, however, it is limited to the pinnipedes; and, excepting in the case of a single member, the sea-elephant, to the two above-named families. By some of the old writers the sea-elephant was said to feed sparingly, at this time, on tlie grasses and sea-weeds that grow in the vicinity of its breeding places, but the weight of the evidence in respect to this point seems to indicate that this species fasts sinnlarly to the eared seals and walru.ses during the period it resorts to the land to bring forth its young."* 243. The fur-seals on Juan Fernandez are likewise reported, and without ([uali- fication as to sex, to abstain from nourishment during the breeding season : " 'i'oward the end of the month of June tlie-^e animals come on shore to bring forth their young, and remain to the end of September witiiout stirring from the spot, and without taking any kind of nourishment."t Though not at the time aware of Bryant's statement, above (pioted, the absence of cx- crementitious matter was one of the first points noted and remarked on by ns after landing upon the Pribylotf rookeries, and it is to the absence of such matter alone that the con- tinuous herding together on one spot lor several months of so many thousand animals is on sanitary groiintis rendered jmssible. ft became obvious that so soon as the seals commence again to feed, it must be absolutely necessary for them to abandon their crowded (juarters (ni sliore. The evidence thus att'orded, that tl e females do not ['rvd to any notable extent until the young are practically vveaned,or, at ail events, until very late in the suckling season, is perhaps more definite tlian that given in any other way. (0.) — I'hysiial Character istic.1 of the Ptlhylnfi' and Cominandcr Islands, and Xnttirc of Ilia Brcedinij (Ironnds. 244. The jirincipal breeding places of the fur-seal ol the North Pacific at the present time, are the I'ribyloll'and Commander Islands, and. omitting certiiin exceptional i)eriods dependent chiefly on the inferruption of natural conditions hrouglit alxnit by the slaughter of seals, it appears that the I'ribyloff IsliMuls have, witiiin Idstoric times, Iteen fie(|uented by larger nuin'jers ol seals than the Com luinder Islands. Uecent changes, depending chiefly on the circumstances which have o('CMrro<l in the lirst-iiamed islands, have, how- ever, at the present time, produced a near r approach to i'i|n!'.lity in numbers as between the two groups (d' islands than has been iioinial. Of other breeding placijs in tiie N(utli Pacific still known to be lre(iuented by smaller numbers of seals, Itobbi'ii Island is the most important, but of tiiese some notes are given later. 2!.'i. While it has not been disprovil that the fur-seal may bring forth its young U])on detached floating masses of the great kelp of the Pacific, particularly in cases mIkmc the gravid fenuile haii been prevented from reaching the breeding places on shore in due time, such instances, if ibey occur, must be quite cxeeptmnal. As to the alleged birth of \ouug at sea, the result of careful inquiries ol' Viirions kinds shows that if this should occur without the presence of any resting place, liie young prol)ably perish, for, thougli undoubtedly cajjable at birth, and »nen if cut from tiie uiother before birth, of swimming for a shorter or longer finx', the young is not suited at once for a [lelagic existence, and authentic instances in wiiich temaies with recent ly-i)oin young have been seen a* sea are very rare. It may be mentioned here, howiver, that some of the Indians ol the northern part ol the coast of Pritish Columbia aver that they have seen the female fur-seal swimming witli its young on it> back in the nninner said to be practised by the sea-otter, and actually observed in tlu; cise of the hair->eal, Init liiis statement has not been fully authenticated. 24(j. The nornuil habits of the fur-seal arc such as to require a safe terrestrial * On the Kai'txl Seals, " Dull. Mns. Coitip Zool,," vol li, No. t, |>|i. 101, lUJ, ijtu alio SviiUe, Kt, ])ac. Na. S'i, 4I«t Coiigreiis, 2i)il Scuiun, p. 5. \ Quoted in Unitad States' Ceasui Ueport, p. Hi. 43 liow- Ul'L'll Norlh is tlie (tun;:; cases slmre c^etl this . for, li, of lagic I)ccn ulians eiiuilu >y the IS not rotront at tlic scftson durincf wliicli the young- is born, whore the yonn<? may remain nn- (listniht'd for a period of three or possibly four ironths, or till siicli time ms they may lie able to assume the pelagic habits of the adiUt. It i8 therefore iirimarily fur the purpose of ,icivin;>' birtli to their yoijng and sueklinjr them that the female fur seals seek tiie breeding- islands. At other sensniis they do not require to land ai.y^here, and, as a matter of fact, they very ^el.lom do so. It has frequently been stated that (he matinjjjof the male and feniide must be aoeomplished on shore, but there is ample proof that this is not true, and that the male and female come toujether with equal facility in the water. It is tluis evident that the ruling- motive for the landing and sojourn ashore of the seals, is the birth of the young, and that the habit of the males in fretpienting the breeiling rookeries and seeking the females tlieie after the young have been born has grown u]) from tlii« or in connection with it. Witiimany animals the male hasafuncticm to fnllil on the breeding places in jnoteeMiig ilie yoiin;;, but in this instance the nviles are neither called nixm, nor do they sliow any natural liisposition, to exert themselves in this particular direetiim. 247. The C<miman(ler and Pribyloff Islands, \\hen originally discovered in 1741 and 17SG respectively, were entirely uninhabited by man; nor has any evidence been found since on either group to show that man bad ever previou.sly visited them. With the exception of St. ^Matthew Island, which, by reason of the late date to which the ice often lingers about its .shores, is not suited to become a habitual breeding report of the fur-seal, these (wo groups of islands are thr- only ones in I>ehring Sea, or, for that matter, in the whole northern part of the North I'luific, wl.icb were not either pe >pled by n.itives or regularly visited by them on their hunting and tisldng ex|)editions. 'J'o this cause rather than (o any other is (o be attributed the fact that these islands becauje the ))erinauent breeding resorts of the fur-.seal. The cool and humid summer climate ma} doulaless in itself have been congenial to the seal, but in this respect, and also in the temperature of the sea surrounding them, well-ma'-keddifferenees occur as between the two group.s, while jibno.st any of the very numerous islands of tlie Aleutian chain afford surroundinus s«) similar in the matter of climate that they would undoubtedly have afforded suitable breeding places if .similarly uninhabited. The islands of this chain were, however, then thickly inhabited by the Aleuts, and as the fur-seal, when resorting to and remaining upon the shores during the breeding season, is practically defenceless ami incapable alike of resistance or effective flight, while its flesh and fat are highly prized by all native tril)es as food, it is probable that no breeding stations could long be maintained there or on any other lanus similarly peojded. Captain Scammcm nevertheless .states that fur-seals fornieily occupied, in addition to the I'ribylotf and Commander Islands, "several of the more is(»lated jmints in the Aleutian chain.''* lie does not, however, jtarticularize further, or siy «hetln r he speaks from personal observation, or from what source his infornnition was obtained. lMS. The fact that fur-seals of the same species I'ornierly had breeding-idaces on such islands as the Karallones of the Californian coast, under climatic conditions perhaps ns difterent as it is easy to imagine, is alone sullicient to show that climate was not the ruling factor in the clioici< of the Pribylolf ami Commander Islands i)y the fur-seals ol the North Pacitic. If fmtiier evidence be required it is furnished by the facts relating to the specie^ of tur-seal inhabiting the southern hemisphere, which, though didering from that of the North I'acitic in structmal points, is so similar in hai)it as to furnish a case in point. Here also il is found that all tlie notable breeding places or rookeries were discovered u|ion insular lunds {u which man had never come, and ou which, during this critical period of the ainiual cycle of its life, the fur-soal was also exempt from the attacks of oilier terrestrial aniiinds to which it would have been an ea»y prey. This being granted, it is, perhaps, a legitinuite subject of .specidation what the conditions in the North Pai-ilic were before the ])resent races peopled its sln)rcs and nearer islands, and m(U"e particularly before the islands of the Aleutian chain were peopled. Dall has shown it to be prob:il)le tint even these islands were iidiabited from a very remote period, that the jtopidation was throughout of an lunuit type, and that the occupation of (he islands i)rocecded frtnn east to west.f It can scarcely be doubted that in still earlier times the fur-seals resorted to many or to all of these ishmds at the breeding season, but that as the islinds became occui>ied successively by the predeces.sors of the modern Aleuts, this animal, from the nature of its habits, was the ('••.st to find thorn no longer safe or congenial. When discovered by the Uus'^ians it was estimated that the population of the chain amounted to ijO,0()i>, ami in this fact alone a sutlicient rcusou for the absence of brcediuj;; rookeries of the fur-seal is found. * '■ .Marine Muiii.nalia," p. I55. " Contributiodi to North American Kthnology," vol. i. 44 240. The PribylofF Islands are almost entirolv. and the Commander Islands are rhiolly, ooinimsed of rocks of volcaiiii; ori<j;iii, but i i Iiiis respect thu.v arc hy no means siiiijnlnr, and no phvsiciil characteristics dopemliMit on this circumstanco are riiliiifj ones ill rospoct to tlicir fitness a-> i)reedini!: places. L'oO. The l'ril»yh)tl' siroii]) consists of t«ii nitiier hiifje i^hinds, St. Pan) and Ht. Oeorjre, separated l)y a distance of abont ;5S) miles, witii tut> small islets, Walrus Island and Otter Island adjacent to St. PanI Of these, Otter Island is about a mile in leimlh, wliile Walrus l.*laiid is t\ mere flat roeU ahonl a (puirter of a mile in len^tli. Tlie seal rookeries are all situated either on St. I'aul or St (Jeorue, aiul tlio-e on Si. I'jud are considerably the more important. St. i'aul Island i> about l-> milis in lingtb bv (1 ill breadth, wliile Si. lieor^fe Island is about 14 miles in lenj>tli, by '> miles iii <jrea(est breadth, with a somewhat inferior area. '_V>I. .\s already stated, both are comi.O'C.l of volrauic rocks, probal)ly referable to till' latest stages of the 'IViliary period, and cunsistini; Inrirely of basalts t»r basalt-l;ke rocks in the form ot nearly horivontal iicds, ofien distinctly columuar where broken otT in clitls. There are, iioweser, certain beds ot scoriaeeous material which are inehuled belc.een those representinji' originally molten niitti r. These island* appear, in fad, to be the result of old submarine volcanic erupli nis. s;iri'adin<»' t'leir materiil in pretty reaidar la\eis on the sea-bed, and eventually risiii!i alMi\e the surface of the shallow (aslcrn ji'atcau of Hchrinu' Sea. either liecanse of the nn re accuniulatinn of material, or perhaps more jirtdiabiy with the aiil (fa heal e'evatiiry movement of somewhat later dale. Since ihe orifjinal time of their aipvurauce alM)ve the sea, their nnui;ins have been worn into sea-clifls, or beaten back to form stretches of sandy beach, by the action of the \ »ves; but in con-etpience of the ab-i-ncc of (dder rocks, most of the nniterial fur these beu hes, as well as that of the sand dunes which characterize parts of the coast (particularly on St. Paul Islan l> is nut siliceous, but is compcsed of the comminuted material of the local volcanic locks. 'Jii'J. The Kurface of St. Paul may be (lescribed as consistinn of rounded hills, of which the highest altaJrs an elevation cf about (iOO feet, eonneetid by Hat land, much of which is but little elevated libovc tiie sea. Its shores are not often bold thou<^h forminii- elill's of moderatr height in some places, particidarly about its western end. St. lieoriie is, on tlie whole, considerably hi;>lier, and contains very little low or tiat land. Its surface consists of hiils and upland iiMors, and its hi^-hest paits exceed ilOO feet. Tiu' shell's I r St. (icoiyc are yeneiaily sttcp an I bold, and much of its border is formetl by ciitl'> of eonsi' eralile liciylit, wliicli coii-.(il;;tc the brcediim' pl.iccs uf iimmnerable birds. 'Jn'-^. No tree or shrub oci;uis oit eitln-r i land, ol which the >urface is covered, when not too rocky to support any jii-owlli. v\ith :^ia» and herbaceous ve;j;etatio'i, min^'Ied with moss and lichen on the hiiilier parts. Neither island alfords any hariiour, and it is tiecessary to anchor uinler a ueather slioie ami to ellVet a laudiuj;' either with an ott-siiore wind or in ealni weather. The situation id the villaj^e on St. Paul is, however, such that a landiiif; can jtenerally be dfected there either on one side or other of the Uniir south-we><teriy-e.\ieiriin'i- peninsula terminatin;;- in Keef Point. :.'o4. The breedinn' rookeiies ami hauliiiii-jir. iiiids tor tiacl> .vliicli tlie hachelors and other seals not acluall , eii;;aj;ed in breediny Iri ijuent i are, ol' coiii.-.e, couiiued to the innneiliate vicinity (»f lae coast-line on both i-lainls. The seals scltlom land and never remain on Walrus Islan I, and thoti^ii in forisicr years many are said to have hauled out on Oitir Island, and som> still do '^o. tliis is not kiioun to have been occupied as a breedinj!: station. :,'io. -Ml the existin ; breedinjjf rooker'e- on St. Pair and .*^t. (tcoi-j^e Islamls were vi.sitcd and esamineii by is during' our first visit to the islands: ai^out the end of .luly, ami somo ot them were sub^eijueiitly re-c.xamiiied ow our second and lliird visits in the months of .\uj;iisl and September n-spiMiively. foi the luiriiose of notiiiy- the cliaiii>es in the (listrihntioii and habits of tin- seal.-^ at various seasons. So much has, however, already been rtiittin in i!e.-. ription of the topoijinphy of the various lookeiy ;;n)UiuU, particidarly hy .Mr. li. W . Mllioit. iliat it is not here necessary to enter into any minute (le cription il tli 'in It will >L'rve ail practical purposes and will tend to leave tiie maiu <liiestion involvi d miobscined. if llu^ several rookeries are merely characterized in a very nencral way, and if their dilferetiees and common character^ are subseijueiitly trcateil ot toj^ether. ■JM. Tiicie are on St. Paul Island nt the present time seven recogni/ed breeding rookeries, of which the names and neneral characters are as follows: — (i.) ZuiiiKliiic linolsvnj. — This consists of two parts, whicii may he called West and Eabt Zajiadnie respectively, separated by a small bay vitli sandy beach, upon which the 4-5 Is wore ly, and ill thu ii«Ls ill >w»(ver, omul', iiiimilu main ill a [uenll.y |ccdiiig rsl and ^h thu seals do not remain. The rookery fjround of liotli pnrls faoos to tlio south-east, and consists of rather regular slopes risinur 'Vom tlic c'd.'ro of the sea, an! more or Ic^s thickly strewn with angiilnr or suh-anyular hasallic hliicks (W.) Tolstoi Uookfr;/. — This rookery ficc-; to (lie norlh-wcsr. on tlio other side of English Hay. The prouiid oc(U|)io(l hy tlio hiiMling srals is, fur tlie most jrirt. a sti-e;) and nigged slope, strewn «itli angiil.nr hli'cks, and hrokr-n hy jutting masse-i of s) id rock. At its north-enst end llic slopes hecmne iiglilcr. and it 'i tincs inio lli(> open and smooth slopes of Middle Hill, wiiich constitute an imjiortaiit liaiiiin;;-ground fre((uentod hy baclieloi' seals or holinschickie. (iii.) I.tigoon lioukenj. — Facing to the south-wosf. and open to the fid! sweep of tin' sea only in hearings I)L't"eeii south-west and west. In consi'(|uence of the protection afforded hy the long Reef Point, this rookery ground is the most sheltered of any on either of the islands. The ground actually uccuitied hy the hivetling seals is a narrow and low reef ot well rounded houlders, which s(')t;iiates the sea from a shallow lagoon. (iv.) Ih-pf Ihinhvrics. -Occujiying hoth sides ot the outer pnrt of the long pro- montory Known as Reel' Point, and facing to the north west and south-east. The liortli- westcrn slope, often called CJarholeh. is rather steep, and a part of the rookery-groiind occui)ied on this side consists of a narrow fiinge of rocky shore overlooked hy low I i.-allie cliffs. A narrow ridge, which is wcjrn haie and occupied ns a hauling ground hy h(illuschiel<ie in the early jKirt of the sea-on. ;ind is frcrpiented hy all classes of seals at a later period, separates the nnthwc stern iimn the south-eastern siije of Reef Point. On the south-c.'ist side there is a uide imriier of l!at land hut little elevated iihove the fii'e, upi II whi<d\ tlie v''';'ler pari of the seals o)" the reef rookeries is found. Almost the whole of the rookery ground of the reef is pi; ntifully strewn with angular masses of rock, though occasional smooth spaces al-o ociir. The higher jiarts (f the IJeef Point consist very largely of a hod of volcai icr scoria-, iying compact and much in its original i.fale, and forn-ing a fine hard surfaee con.-iderahly different from that found on most of the rookeries. (v.) Liilnniiion and Ki'tavir lindkirUs form practically one rookery; they slope generally eastward, and in parts are much hroken hy tlie irregular jutting out ot the solid rock and the many angular masses wiiich have detached themselves from it. (vi.) Pdlaviuii R'.dknij - This faces to the soutli-castwaid and stretch' s irregularly along the shore for nearly 1 }, miles. The roeky shore is here hounded on the landward side hy a range of low irregular clill's, perhaps averaging 40 feet in height, and the breeding seals for llie most part occupy the upper part of the heaeh along the hase of the elift's, together with such breaks and hollows as e.\ist in the dill's and a wide rocky reef near the sea level at the southern end of the rookery ground. A certain proportion «d" the breeding seals, however, take up stations upon the upper edge of the clills, and later in the season they move irregularly back upon tiic low jdatenu composed of bare v(dcai;ic tufa which rises verv irraduallv toward the flistant hase of Polavina Hill. (vii.) yuilh'Eiisf Pii'uit linnkcrii. — This is the most importaut hrcediuL' idace upon either of the islands, and might perhaps he more corrt-etly desciihed as a series of rookeries than as a single one. N'orth-h'ast Point is ;i low peninsula ot' cpiadrangular form, connected at one of its aisles by a narrow neeK. >'ousisting of suidy Hats and high dunes, «itli the main island, ilntelnusou Mill, prohahly about l"''t i'eef in height and near the northern side of peninsula, is its higiiesi point. The rookery grounil runs along the eastern, northern, iind north-wistern sImmc-' almost continuously, tlioui;h in sour- places— and particularly in the immediate \ieinity ot liutciiiuson Hill -it is mui-li wider than in others. Nearly all this length of shore is strewn thickly with rocky fragments, which as far as the highe>t tides reach are usually well roun led, but farther back are still angular or suh-angnlar, Helween Huteliinson Hill and the sea, there is a con- siderable width of rock strewn llat land resembling that ol the south-east side of Heef Point, and coineidi g with the most important portion of tlie rookery. 'J"»7. On St.deorge's Island there are now live Teeognized rookery grounds, four on the northern eoasi and one in /ipadnio May on the .■•ouihern cast : — (i.) ZiijiiKhiir liookriji. -'\'lus hreeiMng iirmind is more or less perfectly divided into two parts, tuie lot of seal- (H'cn|(ving a iou',',h Itnuldei llat iiinnediately back ni' tin' beach, anotlier the slojie of a hill a little furiher lo llie sonili. (ii.) ,^liii I ;! .lil'-i'l liook'i I!. The ground here o,'eupied hy the hreeding seals is a particularly steep slope, which laces to the eastvanl and is broken olf at one side, to the north, by the shore clitf, which prevents the seals when they lanti from reaching the breetling j;rounds directly. (iii.) North Rookeri/. — This is the most important breeding ground on St. George 'i p f w i-. •' 4^ Tslund, and iircgularh occupies nearly a mile of tlic shore. It is supposed to contain about half the entire numl)er nf seals resorting to this island. The shore is here characterized by low irregular olirt's, with ooonsional breaks which afford nccess to the low plateau above. Most of the breeding seals are, h»>\Ncver, strung along not far from the sea, and gather into larger groups wlicrever the width of the lower rocliy shore is greatest. (iv.) Little Eastern Ranker]! is comparatively small, and occupies a piece of .shore not unlike that of many parts of North llookery. (v.) Grent F4(ist<'r» Rookrrii. — This rookery sj)roads at its western end part-way up the slopes of a steep and somewhat rocky hill, while its eastern end runs along the base of the rather high cliff's, on a very rough and rocky beach forming tliere a narrow strip just above tlie wash of the sea. 258. An examination of the various rookeries on the I'ribylod' Islands alone, is sufficient to show that tiie seals are by no means exacting in regard to the jjreciso character of the ground occupied. They do not require a southern or a northern aspect, and the statement that tliey land naturally upon the first part of the coast reached on their course from south to north is contradicted by the position of most of the rookeries of St. George Island. Nor do they appear (o seek specially either sheltered or exposed situations, though most of the rookery sites are of the latter character. Their breeding ground may be nearly Hat, or very steeply inclined, and on it they may bo exposeil to the driving spray from the waves or removed to some distance irom the sea and at some height above it. The feature most peculiar to the rookery grounds, and common to most of them, is the profusion of detached anijular masses of rock, which depe»uls upon the case with which the basaltic rocks of the I'ribyloU" Islands break up into such blocks under the local climatic influences. But this cannot be assumed to be an essential requirement of the seals, for Ihey arc found to be e(iually at home on beds of well wnter- woin boulders and on flats and slojjes locally free from stones or rocky jjrojections. i?;V.). Most of the rookeries on the I'ribylotf Islands are characterized by extensive ol'i-lyiug beds of kelp, which indicates a gradually hlielving rocky bottom, and implies that any very heavy sea will be broken and reduced in force before it actually falls upon tlic land. This may be a desideratum, but is not a necessity, as some examples show, and tlie kelp-beds are by no means confined to those parts of the shores adjacent to the rookeries. L'GO. It appears possible to mention only two conditions which have been avoided by the seals in the choice of their rookery grounds : these are mud and loose sand. On muddy ground the fur is doubtless apt to become uncomfortably clotted, and the sand if driven by the wind or splashed aliout by rain is probably also irritating to them. Shirting s;indy ground besides renders the always clumsy locomotion of the seal when upcm tiie land additionally difiicidt ; but it may be noted that sandy beaches appear to be well liktd by the seals when the^ iiaul out temporarily, and are not actually estaldishcd for bicedii g purposes. On most of the rookeiy grounds, away froui the actual beach, the character of the soil is such that it becomes l)caten down between the projecting rocks into a bard and nearly smooth floor, a circumstance which depends in i)art on the incorporation with it from year to year of the felted hair hIucIi is shed by the seals themselves during the stagey season. 2(51. IJehring and Copper Islands, forming the Commander group, iliffer very considerably in pliysical aspect from the Pribyloff Islands, though like them they arc entirely destitute of either arboreal or shrubby growth, and are largely covered by grasses. These two islands form parallel elevations running in north-west Ity south-east hearings, and separated by a least distance of lMI miles. Copper Island, which is furthest t«) the eastward, is separated by lUO miles of ocean from Attu Island, the westernmost of the Aleutian chain, lieiiring Island is again removed by a distance of 9.J miles from the nearest part of Kamtschatka, and though the high volcanic mountains of the peninsula may in clear weather be seen from the island, the latter is probably never under any circumstances visible from the mainland. It is, nevertheless, rather remarkable that the islands of this grouj) had never been inhabited by man until their disc( very and occupation by the liussians in fTll, as tiie distance from the mainland is not so consiileralile as in itsidf to afford a com|ileteIy satislactory explanation. 2ttL'. liehring Island is about 50 miles in extreme length, with n width of nearly 20 miles at its northern and widest end. From this it lapers gnidnally but irregularly to Cape Manili, its south-eastern extremity. The northern half of the island is low, with a rolling or nearly flat surface, much of which is described as consisting of " tundra" land. It includes one large lake, which discharges on the northern shore. Tiie southern half is higher, aud appears, as seen from the sea, to consist of a mass of rounded hills of 47 !ctin{r very icy arc •a by i-cast )i<;h is , the nice of intnins bttbly rather 1 their and i3 nearly ally to with a ' land, rn halt' liils of heights vnryinpf from several hundred to pcrhapH 1,000 feet. 'I'he uhores of the higher part of the island are very generally hcrdered hy el ill's or strop searped rocks, with narrow V-shaped valleys breaking through thcin to the sea. The greater jwirt of the island is t'omposed, so far as examined, and also on the authority of M. Grebnitsky, of well Btratifled Tertiary rocks, generally shales and sandstones, hut basalts and volcanic hreeciag appear upon sonic iiarts of the coast, and generally from the projecting reefs and rocks. Thcj are no harbours, but a fair anchorage with oll-sliore winds may ho found at Nikolski, the only permanent settlement, situated on the west coast of the island^ aitout 10 miles from its north end. 209. f'opjicr or Mediii Island is about 30 miles in length, with a greatest width of about Ti miles to the south of tlie middle of the island. It is a partially submerged mountainous ridge, much higher and holder than Behring Island, and apparently almost wholly composed of volcanic rocks, which are not, however, modern, like those of many jiarts of the Aleutian Islands, but probably of Tertiary age. Its surface is exceed, ingly irregular and comprises very little Hat land of any kiiwl, while the shore is often bordered by bold and rugged sea cliffs, particularly along the south-eastern side. The sliore-line of this side is sinuous, but that of the north-east side is broken, and comprises Kcveral considerable bays, but no good harbours for large vessels. Tlu-re are three small settlements on the coast : (Jlinka, Karcbelny, and Preobajenski, the last-named being the most northern, and the only one continuously occupied at other seasons than the time of sealing. The highest parts of Copper Island probably attain an elevation of »,000 feet. 201. Along the shores of both of these islands there are extensive fields of kelp, hut these are not more notable than those to be found in similar situations in tiio Aleutian, Pribyloiti and other islands of the southern part of Ueliring Sea or along the Alaskan and Ibitish Columbian coasts, — a fact which is perhaps worthy of note in connection with Matements which have been made as to the pcndiar suitability of these islands to the graminivorous and now extinct llhytina, as well as from its possil)K' bearings on the habitats of tiie fiir-scal. 20O. Upon Ikdiiing Island the fur-seals are killed in the immediate vicinity of the two rookeries, where salt-houses are established. On Copper Island, the rookeries, situated on the south-west coast, are classitied under two groups, from one of which the seals are driven across to Karebelny and from the other to (llinka for slaughter, this being supposed to be necessary owing to the rough character of the coast where they are actually situated. 20(5. Further evidence of the adai)tability of the seals to circumstances is found in comparing the ])hysical character of the rookeries on the Commander Islands with those of the I'ribyloff Islands. On Beliring Island, the North Rookery, situated at Vusliin Point, towards the western part of (he north coast of the island, is the largest. It occupies a flat stretch of rocky reef, which runs seawanl in a triangular form, with its wide base against the land and a length if ab(mt a quarter of a mile. The surface of the reef is irregular, and mucli of it stands above high-water mark, though in heavy gales few parts of it can escape the more or less direct wash of the surf. To the west of the reef projier, and connected with it, is a wide dry beach or bar of sand, which is also occupied I)y s, als, but chieHy by holluschickie or bachelors. On tli3 landward side, the reef is overlooked by low rocky banks overgrown by rank grasses and weeds, and between these and the reef proper are some small irregular grassy Hats and pools of salt water. Here the seals never go, thotigh there is no apparent reason why this upper l)!ateau might not he used as a iianl.ng-gromid or " jiarade," which would ivseiiiljlo several of those adjacent to rookeries on the Pribyloff Islands. 267. The South Rookery ou neliriug Island, situated at Pohidenni Point, on the south-west side of the island and about midway in its length, was not visited by us. It is, however, much suuiller than the last, and is described as presenting very similar diaiacters. In both cases there is ample room for expansion of the rookery ground without breaking its continuity. 208. On Copper Island, the ciicumstances are again quite different. The rookeries and hauling-grounds are here scaitered ahuig abcmt lo miles of the south-east coast, extending from about the middle of the islau.l to its southern end. All the rookeries are small; and though distingui'^hed by various local names they are not well defined, but are connicted by irregular scattereil i^tlonies of breeding seals strung aliuig the narrower and less favourable parts of the shore. The whole shore is bordered by high irregular cliffs, here and there broken by ravines, or by more moderate though always steep and rough rocky and grassy slopes. Plat rocky reef's run out irregularly from the shore below, with abundance of rocks awash and large fields of kelp. Opposite the breaks iu ' ' m ■18 tlic c'litt's are liouMor^' or ftinvcll}' bays, ami liotli lliosi! mul tliu larp;er arottH of reef arc iireniilnrlv oiriipied l).v iUv hcals. At I'alata Point, near the soiitlieni oxtreiiiity of tlio islaial, tlu' hoals oi'cupy a >tii'|) slope of earthy appciiraiiee, whicli they iiavo compK'tely bari'il of vouelaiion to a tlistanco estimate*! at \M to 200 yards back from the sliore, and a lieiglil of, 8iiy, -00 feit. This rookery in its general charaeter more ehmcly resembles Starry Arlei I than any other of the Pribyloff Islands. It is distinctively ii hroo<ling rookery, as no liolliiseliickie, it is said, ever liaul out near it. 2U!t. On Copper Island, however, as on |iehrin<>' Island, M. Tillman, the Superin- tendent in ehiir^e for tlie K'nssian CJovernment, utales that even when the seals were nime abundant than in 1H{;1, there has never been am liiek of room for expansion of the rookeries and haulin;^' gronnils, and that there are nniny other localities in all respcets e(pially -.veil suited ftn" ocenpation by the seaU, thou<>'h the-o usually oeenpy the same or nearly the same slutions year alter year. U is tluis evident »m the Commander as on the I'ribylolf Islands, that no very special or peculiar physical features are required to render certain spots suitable as the breedinj;' resorts of tin? fur-seal. It is necessnry to emphasis'e this |)oint, as the (|ueslion has been obscured l)y a tendency to surround it willi a certain mystery, and to afliinj tinit certain spots, and those alone, are available as rookery grounds. 270. The fact remains to be explained, however, that the breedinf>; seals actually do resort with }i;reat persistency to the varinus recofjnized rookeries, cnngrej^atin;; in these spots and leavinj,' other noi<«libonrinjj; parts of the shores of the biectlin<>- islands un- tenanted. '! lu re is indeed some evidence to show that the s.Mn;- old bulls or " beaeh- niaslers " IVoni year to year occupy the same places, and it is (|inle probable that the instinct which induces many animals to return to the same |)lace in sueceedinj;' seasons, may iiilluence the fur-seal. There is, however, another and very obvious practical cause for the rcoecnpatioii of old r.iokery }>ri.nnds. As a rule, these extend some distance beyond tiie reach of the sea, and are there by the <di!tiiinous presence arid movement of the seals not only bared of vc'^etation, but beaten down into smooth and hard Hats and slopes, and thererore constitute as lonj,' as they are occujjied each year, and from this very cans-e, the places most c(ni;;enial to tlie seals. The fact that the first of the seals to arrive in the sprin<>, coast alon/i' the shores and land lor a time in a timid and tentative way only, shows that they are in search either of their old breediufj stations or of suitable new ones, and there can be; no doubt that they are larf;ely jiuided in their choice by the very manifest traces of former occupation by their species whicli the rookery sites ])rcsenf. 271. Not tlie least evident of these sijjns is the peculiar and very distinct otiour of the rookviy grounds. It is certain that the sense of smell is nioie trusted in by the fur-seal as an indication of (lan<{er than either that of si^ht or hearinu (the eye and I'.ossibly the ear also beinir iirobably adapted rather to n^e in the water than in the air) and it is muri' than likely employed in reli)catiii<^ the (dd iireediiia- ••roiiiids in each succeedinjif year. This is the opinion of the natives, wlio have liad ll;e Iie>t o|)p()rtunities for observation, and is borne out by many other i'acts, some ot wiiich arc elsewhere alliuled to Ml tliis report. 27-. The rensunalih; connideiali-n of this subject las been smncwliat (d)>trucled by the assum|itii n of an entirely nnwarianted lisity in the p i^ition and area of the unround occupied taeli year by tl:o Ineedinir and non-breeilin<^ seals of each rookery site. For the very reason, aiii)arently. tiiat such lixity is ml found in n iliue, it appeals to the im.'i<iination ot writers of a certain class. While it may tlicreiore be admitted tiiMt the several rookeries have on the wlnde a n(>tal.!e de;;ree of permanency, this undoubtedly aiises from their cinitiriiied ocenpation each year, rather than from any pecidiar physical conditions in the places chosen ; and while the animals are cKarly aver-e to sudden change, the boundaries oi individual rookeriis wlicii not natnrally limited, evidently from year to year increase in one direction and diminish in anotiier, in conse(inence of eircnmslaiices which may at tirst be accidental; hut which arc ac(|uiesced in Ity the seals and reptlered i( i a tinu; peiiiiairi.l 'i'iii- i> pai licnla.'ly the case with (he hanling- groiiiids or resorts o\' the holliischickie. whicli hani;' jibout the Imrdeis ol' the hreedinj; rookerii-s jiroper. an I thus in the conr.se of years, a ver\ con-iderahle area of ground in any particular lucality may come to I'car tr.-ue^ in j-uhslieii mck surfaces and otherwise, of the presence id" seals, in ciinsL',[neiice of llie natural ox-illations of the whole body ot animals wi.icli have occuireii in ti.e course of many i;eneialions of seal .il'e. 27?). It is nni'ortunate that no such precise ov consecutive oh.servation8 have been made, with the aid of plans, measurements, and lived marks, as to enable the changes in rookery- and hauling-gromuls to be followed out from year to year, either on the J'ribylotror L'oinnmnder Islands. It will be snilieient, however, to refer to a few knotvi) fiicts wliich nre in(ici)t>mlvnl of very cIomu ohscrvalion, Uiit buaron thu pnint in diM-iissioii One of (lieHe in the rcuiarkalilc ditiercnccs notcil in varionn years l>et\vcon tin* rclativu proportion of Hcnl»4 visitinu: tiic two iHliinds, St. I'luil unil St. (leorfje. Tlicso iirc ri-'fLTioil to in connc'clirm witit tlio liistorical notes on tiiose iHlands. Ot' the sanu> purpart is the fact tliat two rookeriei) existed within liisloric;il times at a place culled Maroonileli, on the north coast of St. Puul, which even niainttiiiied their position in a reduced form in tiie HCiiHon of preat scarcity of seals in I8;)lj, hut which have since ahsolutely disappeiuvd, thoiin'ii there is no reason to siippo:ie that they w«'ie at any time heavily drawn npon. if at all distuihed by nnm. Klliott status that in IH7J 7-t, when at the promptiii<; of the niitivcs he examined this shore, he wns still ahle lo trace the old limits of these rookv'ries tiderahly well hy the polished edfjes of the roci-;s.'' Another, though never larj^e, rookery, named Nah-speel, situated near the villaj;e on SI, I'aul Island, has ht-eome exlinet more recently; while as a fact, in the opposite dire'lion, the formation of tlie l.n;;oon Hookery within the memory of iiali\es still livinj;' may he eiled.f 271. St. (Jeoige If^lam' a;>'ain, the natives assert, wiis in early Russian liini;s, entirely peopled '>y sea-liouN. and the fur-seal hef^an to ficcpient it oidy in later years. Thouj;h more douhtful than the other cited instance-, there appears to he some reason to helievc that there is a hasis of fact in this statement i.'so.J 2 r». An exaii'inalioii of the shores of the Prihylolf I dands, .shows that >latem nts which have oirasitinally been nu»de, to the effect that all jriound available for the purpocs of seal life has been fully occupied within historic 'ini , are incorrect, and that the most extended limits of even temporary occupation indicated by any marks still rcmaininu, do not prove that the area available and suitatde for breodini; rookeries and hauliiij; uronnds has ever been occupied up to its full capacity. From this it follows, tliat even if restricted for breedinn purposes lo these particular inlands, the fur-seal has never rciielied it.s natural liinil in nnnd)ers in consecinetice of a want of space for breedinj; i>romid but only as the result of oilier eauses. 27''>. As a fnrlher result of the examii.ation of the physical gharacteristics of the rctokery j-iounds. it may lie staleil lliat tlu; necessary conditions, and even the niost favourable condili«)!is, are by no means condneil (o the l*rii)vloli' and Commander Ir-lands, wide rru'ky beaeiies overlooked by sea-elills, and with ail tiie cliaracteristics of those of t'opper Island, aie found on many of the islands of the Aleutian ch;iin. and tiiouijii low plateaux borcleriij"' the shores, or gentle slopes rising fronj the beat-hes are not so common, there are jdenty of them to be found in ditferent parts of this great series of i-lands. somi! of wiiich, as for instance the Semitchi I -lands, almost precisely resemble St. I'aul in physical characters. Again, on St. Matmew and Hall Islands, localities well suited ior breeding places of the fur-seal occur, but as already indicated, the inhabited character of the Aleuiian chain, and the long oiitinuance of ice al)out the St. Matthew Islands probaldy explain the «l)sence of rookeries in these places. [D.) - All II mi I l'ro(jiin.s uf Kveiits in Sent Life on the lireedina Isltinfls. 277. In order to follow oui the various (piestion-s connected with the life history of the fur-seal, it is necessary to bear in mind the main points involved in that important part of eacl» year il tiring which it resorts to the breeding is' puis. A sunuuary of the facts in this connection will be given here. So far as regards tli • Pribylolf Islands, the fidlesl ib'lails under this head nniy l)e found in tiie works of several writers, particularly in tho--.' of liryant, lOlliott, antl .Maynard. There is very little room for dillerenoe of opinion as to the main ficts, and most of the points in winch divergence is tound may be explained by the tendency to "ive too rigid dales and too precise an aspect to the various events and changes ; or to the circumstance that with the growing depletion of nuiles upon the islands and its attendaV results, the dates and habits formerly observed i)y the seals have also, to some extent, (changed from year to ^ear. It will be sutfieieiit to give a general and very brief resume of the principal events of the breeding season based chielly on the conii)ined (dihcrvations of the writers above cited, aiid alterwards to refer in Noinewliat greater detail to a few important points connected with these and with the general organization of seal life on the islands. 278. The first seals to arrive at the islands in spring are the full-grown males or ♦ I'liiiod Sl;it' -' Ci'MsiiM Ri'|Mirl, |i|i. 49, .V).' f Iliii , p ,S.>. J: Uiiitdl ;-tutrs' ('('II6I1S Iti'jiort. |i. bH. U'la'ii l,.ulku visiteil !iii< iaIaiiiU in 1827, ubiiiit I.OUU itcu-lioiis wure kiiiutt t'iicli year i)ii St. George, and HH) »r 400 uii Si. I'uiii ; iiiil tui-M.il» were uUo aiiiiiKlitot ua biitli. '• Vojayr Auioiii ilu "'loiiJe, ' loiiie i, p. U6.i. [}m] H 2 vn if''' I . . ■" ,1; "bulls "of aliout Mix vonrH oI»1 nni\ npwnnlH. A fVw Hlrnp;p;lcrH sometimes reach tlio i>liimlK iiH carl> lis tlic middlu of April, itiid from about tlic iHt May to the 10th or loib .Time they oonliiuie lo arrive, but in much Inr^cr nnmbors townnlH tbo latter part of this period. On arrivnl, these I'nll-prown males, jjoiiernlly Iviiown as " heachmasters," or " heccatohie," talic up stations on the oM rookery jjroimds to awail tlie coming of tlic females. With the main body of full-grown bulisi a large proportion of the "bachelors," or younger males, also appear. irTIX The time of arrival and landing of th ' giiivid females appears to depend directly on the approaching close of their period of gO'tnfion. A few usually land as early ns the Ist .lune, but it is, under normal ciicuinst;\iices, between the middle of dune and the middle of .July tlat the great body of leiiKiles ('(iim' iisbcire, and at or about the hame lime most of the yearlings of both sexes, or sueh of thcin as it sort to the islamls, also generally arrive, though it appears that in some yea n, al least, the main body of »<eals of this class lands somewhat later. On landing, the f"inales, or "cows," are taken possession of by tbo old bulls, and very soon after landing the young are born. Within a few days the females are again in heat and under normal eircnmstanees, with an adequate supply of virile males, the female is at once served. The landing of gravid females dues not usually cease till about the tdOth or 25tli .July, and in certain years has been continued much later by females which have evidently been served unusually late in the previous season. 280. All this time the bulls jealously keep the females they have .-.(.cured within the boundaries of their particular liarems, but about the end of July, or early in August, the breeding rookeries begin to lose their compact oharnctcr. The beach-masters, or many of them, return to the sea, or haul out here or there on the beaches, while younger males crowd upon the rookeries, :iii<l tin- IVniales continue going and coming between the sea and their young .on shore. I'et'r.- the middle of August a large proportion of the females arc at all times to bo found swimming and disporting themselves in the water close to the rookery ground, and the young collect in niasse:^ along the edges of the shore and rocks, from which they n)ake sliort (>M'ur»ions into the sea. 281. About the middle of Augn-(. most of the seals found upon the Pribyloff Islands become what is known as "stagey," in consequence of the shedding of the hair and under-fur. This condition appears to continue, n;oro or less definitely, for about si.\ weeks. The fact, elsewhere mentioned, that practicnlly no "stagey" skins are ever taken at sea, appears not only to show that the change in pelngo is rendered definite and well marked by prolonged resort to the land, but also that diu'ing this period the seals frequenting the islands do not go to any great di>tance from their shores. 282. In October the seals begin generally to leave the islamls, the cddest and strongest being the first to go. Nearly all tlie bacheli)rs, or holluschickie, have left before the 10th November, and before the end of tliat month all the pups of the year, which have now changed the first black coat for a grey one, also go. A very few seals, however, generally linger on into December, and in excei»lional years have been known to stay on into .lanuaiy and even into February. 283. The seals resorting to the Commander Islands, which belong, at le.ist in the main, to a different migration-area, and rench the islands from the south-westward, are thought by those acquainted v.itli both tluse and the Pribyloff Islands to be somewhat later in the date of their arrival than those of the latter islnndn. It is stated that here as on the Pribyloff I.«lands the seals have been hvvv than usual in coming in recent years. In 1891, we found the "stagey" season w.is jn^t beginning on the Commander Islands (m the 1st September. The first killing of seals took i)!ace on Copper Island in the same year on the 22nd June. Oenerally speaking, some seals can le found to kill on this island (in which the dates are slightly in advance «>f those in Uel-ring Lsland) as carlv as the 1st June. t. I* (R.)—/tges (it vhich Males reach Virility, and the Fi'mules /irodticc Youiif/. 284. The ages at which the male and female seals respectively reach maturity and become able to take part in the procreation of their species, as well as the number of years during which tlie male remains virile and the female fertile, are questions of very practical importance from two points of view. In the first place, they enable us to mice out the effect of the killing of seals of special ages or .se.ves at certain times, and, in the second, to estimate the time necessary for any improvement in numbers to follow from the sparing of the younger seals on the rookeries. 61 2^ff. Voninminov nrrivod nt tlic eoncliision <liftt tho femnh' gives hirtli lo its first )(iiiii;( ill ilH fii'tli yvar, niid Imses n Honu'wliat intiicntc nnd ingcniniiH sericH of rnlculations I'lirtl^v on tliJH Hii|)|i<iNitini),* luil (iiv)c is iitiw n verv ^•^enornl coiiscnsiiH of o|>iiiioii nmonf; llioM- «lio liiivo ^iiiilic'il lliin (|iU's(ioii on (lie I'lilMfofl' iNlniuU to tLccfloi'ttliat tlie fomnloH nil' c'oviMTil at t)r vliorlly iif'tci tlio expiiy of tlie socomi yeiir from the tiiiie of thoir hirth, and bear >oiin;;; in lli<> third ynxr from lliat lime or early in tlie fourth year of their age. Tho Knme opinion wax found to lie hold upon the Comnmnder Ishinds, nnd there is every rcation to lieliovc tliat it is csMriitially corrrct. 1.'80. Dotli nuiK H and fi'inalcs have tho iHlaii(l>t nl the close of the season in which (liiy arc lioin us " ^roy pups," tho soxos lieing nndiHtinviiishnhlo to nil outward appiaiaiifo. In tlio follow in<j HOiiMon tlioy aro classed as yoailin;;s, nnd ii is prolmbio that a lar^'o proportion of these cither do not land upon tiie islands nt all or stay only for a shoit tinio on slioro. Snoli of tho yonrlinys as are found upon the islnnds, however, both males and fonialos, consort with the liolhiscliickio or hncholors. 'JHT. I( appears, fiirlhci-. to lio eoitain that the males arrive at virility in their fourth \oiir, and liotweon this tinio and tl at in vNhieli they attain their full strength nnd sixo and are able to niainlaiii ilioir placos on the breeding rookery, when six or seven years old, they aro i ften spoken of as '■ half-bulls" or " reserves." They nctunlly serve in the latter capacity, nnd cover many of the females whioh escape the attentions of the older miles niion the rookery «jronnds, at'd in such cnscs the act of coition is usually aecomplislu'd at sea. :.'8?'. While the ))o;nts just referred to may be supposed to have been nscertnincd with inodeiate certainty, nolbinji is cert.iiiily known ns to the maximum ages attained by seals of tho two sexes respectively, and very little as to the total nundier of young which a female niiiy hour dnrint; the continuance of her fertility, or the number of years during which the male retains his virility. Kd'ott eoiijectuies that the females may live to an ape of 18 or L'O years. Bryniit gives his reasons for supposing that 12 years is about the nverajic attained by the males.t Veniaininov thought that tho females in their j.rimo bring forth every year, and ns they grow older, every second year. He states that, uceording to persons faniili.ir with them, each fomale may produce in the couiso of her life ten or lifteeii young or ( ven niore.| lie admits, however, tln.t this is very uncertain, and tho whole sulijoet is, in Itut, bosot with almost insuperable dillioullios. All that is certain is that both males aud tonales continue to perform their functions ns hreetlors lor a '•onsideiabic number of years. I'l?'.!. I'Voni "lint Ins boon said as to tho iiunibtr of years recpiircd by the respective sexes to reneb matniily, il follows that any great loss of young in the year of their birth mil oiily heiiin to lu.dvo itself apitaivnt on the rookeries, in the case of females, after the iap-o (if thue years, and in the ease of males after five or six years. Thus in the event of the killing of all or nearly all the ycnng males of a certain age, in any one year or series of years, a void ot smaller or larger dimensions is created in the supply of full- nro»n innlis for the mokery {.rounds, wbieli can only i)e ]iariially bridged by the ennlinuance oi, the rnokcrios of llicoldorand eiifeeldcd males, which have passed thoir lattiral leriii (f retiren out. If sneli killing is mainiained trom year to year, the ditiriiiiali(tn in the supply of \iiilo males for the re(|uiroiiient«i of the females, though slow and spread (-vor sivoial or many years, must bo continnons. Moreover, the loweiing (if (lie staiidard wciglit of skins which has actually occurred in late yoins on the I'ribylolf Islands, because of the scarcity oi' males of !l or 4 years of age and which peiinils the killing to eml»race those of ii years old and !.von yoarlings, "s the most eti'eetual inetliid jatssiiilo cd' cutting oil' the supply ot virile nudes at the founiain head, and of enlarging the void in male seal liic to alarming proportions. I'yo. Details id" this kind, with their observed etfects on seal life, are cited in abstract in the historical notes elsewhere given (vj >-10 rt se</.), but it is impos.sible lo a(le(piately represent in Mimmarized form the whole of the facts bearing on this point, (.'aptain lirynnt's observations, as quoted by Allen, should be referred to.§ 2!)1. The diininiition which has culminated in late years on the I'ribylott Islands recalls tho criticism made by Lutke, when ho visited these islands in 1827. Lutke writes : — " La prijcaution de suparer les gros niAles tl'avec ecux qui doivent elre tuc's, est m'ce-saire pour entritonir la multiplication; niais ccttc precaution cst-clle sutlisante pour cela r 8i tons ks jeunes sont exlermines, d'ou sortiront a la tin le.s gros niAles? • <iiH)k<i liy Ivliidtl in I'liitid .Si itri' ('cii^iis llf|iort, Ji HI el teg. t " .Muiiu^rapli cil Noitli Aiiicriiftii l'iiir.i|iuJ8," |>> Wl. X Uiinti'd liy Klilolt ill United Sliito' (.'insus Re|)ort, p. 141. I " .Mon(>grupli of Xortli American l'iiini|i«d»," p. <i98 «(««/. t liOs cljasseiirs cxiit'riiiioiitO.s out oIksitvc ([Hu los ours mariiis viveiit «le (|iiinze a viiijul ans ; il on rt'sultc (jii'iivcc cctle uit'tlxxle dtiiis viiigt aiis il m- duii plus rcstcr iin hcul."» (F.) — liv)m'h>ilp inoporlions of Hcxi's. 202. Tliough cacli I'ull-growii male or •' soacatpli " lioldiiifj liis \)\m'o on the rookery j>roun(l endeavours to olitaiu and keep almut him as many females ns possiide, there is a limit to the number whieh may he adviinlayeously iuld l»y a sinulo male, and when adult nudes are found in ahundiinee, it is not easy to pass this normal limit ; hut, on the other haiid, when, in eonsecpienee «if a piaoily of adult males in proportion to I'emnlos, the harems become too lariie, the fi males are irreuularly served, servctl too late in the .season, or, in .some e:i>es. may allo^^ellier escape ellicient sirviee, uilh resulliiiy; irre.'jularities in times of hirth of youn<^ in the next year, or an addition to the iiumher of Imrrcn fenirdes. '2U:\. The proper proportion of adidi males (o feninles eannot bj asecrtained by inspection of the Piibylnll' rookeries as t!iiy are at present, i)eeause of the obvious and ;;eneraliy aeknowledj;ed deticieney of virile male-; ; hut in the earlier years of the coiitr<d of these isluids by the Tuited Slates, Uryant estimated the existing: proportion an about one male to fifteen fenis'vs, or, as iiulieated by other stiitemenls by llie same writer, ns one to nine or twelve f IClliott. a few years laler. and sul!se(pient to the date of certain ebanffcs in or;>ani/.ati()n <d' the seals deseribeil by Brya.it, writes: -'• I found it an exccedinj>;ly ditticidt mutter to satisfy myself as to a fair f;ener;d averaj>e number of cows to oaeb bull on tic rookery ; l»ut, after protracted study, I think it will be nearly correct when 1 assign to eaeii male ii j^eneral ratio of from fifteen to twenty feuiides at the stations nearest the water, and I'loni there hack in order from that line to the rear from five to twelve." j M. (Jrebnitsky, Superintendent (d" the Oonnnander Islands, as the result of his |ir(doi;ii;od experience, states that the proportion of one adult male to ten i'eu'.ales should not, as a rule, be overpassed, and that one to twenty may be con->idered as a miximmn linnt Captain lilair, lon^- familiar with the fur-seals <'f the Asiatic coa.>-l. inlor.Med us, in speakinj;' of Ifubb'.'n fslaml, that the nuiid»er of males nmv exi>tini'; there, vi/. , one iuln't nude to twenty-live females, was far too small. liiciitenaut .MaynarJ, ai^ain, sa\s : '•The ledls jui' jiolyi;an,oiis, havim;- from five to twenty cows each ; m) t!:at the nnnd)er of them npo.i (he rookeries is not more than on-'-tenth of that o! the eows.^ J!)}, It may thus lie very saiely assumed that the ratio of virile males of full a;;e. cannot be allowed to exceed llic proportion of one to twenty, without serious danyer ot baim to the breediui;' rookeries, and the certainty of j^rave irregularities (Ui liiem; and it is neee.s>ary to hear this fact in mind in endeavouiinn' to api)reciate the meaning' cd' llie present condition of the rookeries of the I'ribylolf Islands, where, as elsewhere pointed out, these conditions have, for a nuudier of years, not been realized. {(i.)—Voillo,i. 20'>. An erroneous statement concern iny,' the manner (d" life (d" the fur-scal, which lis important bearin;;s in v.iri'ais «ays. but winch has naturally arisen and lias been as n,.turally maintained in consiipie.ice of the too exclu-ive atlcniion paid bv nio-l wiilers on this subject to the bivedinj;' islauils, is that the fecundation of the female is. and ca'i only he, accomplislied on shore. Bryant has, however, di-liiictly staleil tli.it e >pul.iliou very often occurs in the uater, and in the d seription of sea! life prepaml by jdin for I'rofessor Allen, he adds: '• Wlu-n there \\,is a full apply of hreedini; nwi'es copidation occurred nniiuly on the breedinj; /irounds, the half-bulls (or reserves) parlicipatin.',' to only a lindted extent, and was raiely ^-een to occur in the water, Since \'*'!i, owin:,^ to the <lecrease in tlie nund)er of breedmi;- mah s. a much haruer |iropor(icin of the f-males receive the males in the water, si Muit «-n any still day alter the I'oth didv, bv takin.: a canoe nml ;;oin'i a little oil shore, consideiahlc nnniber-^ n>ay be seen pairing' a.tl I'adilv approached so near as to be l\\\U ob-erved. In iinotlier p'ace In.' same ^entlennin is • I.Miki' " Viiy,i5(> imto'ir ilii MiiipIi'," iiimc i, ji. '.'(il. •f " .\li)iic>niM|ili of N-.iili .ViiU'ii 111 l'iiiiii|i(Ml!<." |>j), 'M.'i, ;p!»0, * I'liilrcl Jsiiili's' (N'liiim !ti'|iorl. p. .'Mi. ^ Miiyiianl's ll('|,cirl, \'.x. Die. No. 1 1, ■tUii ('oiiiir(«M, l>i ^^l'»sil)ll, p, ;i, 'I'lu'' |>ii>«.i,'',i« i« incdrivi'ili ciiiniiii by Llliott ill lii« ^lMlsll^ Iti'ii-jrl, wl.i'ic .NlnMiiirJ is maiti' to >Uili' lliai llio mhU Imvc (Mfli I'imhi IwomIv t> litty ciw^ II SpiiiiIc, I'.x. Due. No. a-J, 41(1 Coiigrc!*, 2n.l Session, p. 3, " Monograph o! NiTili Aiiii'rii'an I'iiiiiii.i'd-,' l.p. U8i, 405. 53 even more picc'i>-o, \Milin;{' : " Owini; (o tlie ])osHi()n of tlic goiiitnl ;»rgnn.s, however, coilinn on Iniul feenii-^iioi to lie tlic nnturnl nu'tlioti, iiiul only rarcl.v — |»crlinp-. in tliree cases out ot ten— is liie a(ti'n>|it to »'()i)ulat(' inidi r sucli tircumstances eUejtuai.*' Mr W. il. Dall, ;ii>j\in, in a nijuiiiscript mitc snpiilicd to Professor Allen, sav ■ : " 'riiey [the t'enialesl ^leij) in tlie \\aler, lyin^' on the i sicks, with the two (iippers [of the npper -iile] ont of the water, and n ceive the niiiie in the same position."* :.'1(!. Spteial in(|uiiiis made hy ns on this parlieular snl)ject have fully oonlirn\ed lh\>ant'> erijiiniil statements, the evidence ohtained ineludin;; that of fonr or fiv licnllemeii who have had lonj;' expeiience with the I'riljylotl'nnd Commander Islands, ar.u >e\eial inlelliui : I a'ld ul servant hunters who have heen enft \ged in sealing at sea. 2!t7. Tlie particidnr importance attnchin<<: to this snltjvct depends on the circum- stance that the possihility of connection heinjj; accomplished at sea, and the greater rie(|tiency of tliis hahit caused hy the dearth of ndjilt males on the rookeries, cnahles ns lo e^pliiia in yivat nu a>ure the irri'<<uliirity, which has in late years much increased, of llic date of hirlh of tl:e y.mn^-. It shows, in I'jict, that the time of impregnation of the tenia le is not necissarily comprised witiiin the period during, which she seeks the shore for tiie purpose of gi\iiig hiilh to the young. ii (H.) — .ti/r III wlildi llir Yoiinij Sirliii. — Xtimhrr of Young ill a IVnth, L'DS. it has aht'ad_\ heen noted, tiiat evideh-' ■ such as to show that the young can s\' ini tor a time at or iinniediiit'ly after hirlh, Jia ; heen ohtained from a nuinher ot souices, thougli it is. at the same lime, imiirohalde that under any circumstances tiie \(iiing is at !ii>l tilted to mainta'n its i-xist' nco for any length of tinu' in the ojien sra. This i», hi'uevtr, not a matter of any gnat iuiportam-e. for it is evidently the normal inctiioii I'M' the young to renuiin for some weeks ashore hefore venturing even to enter tiie sea. L'iMl. It, nevertheless, appears to lie quite possihle that, under exceptional cireum- st)in'''s, the female miglit succeed in i earing her young while only occasionally resorting to the land and while moving from jdace to phice. There is no rea.son to helieve that the fin-seal is h ss adaptahle in thi^ respect than the hair seals, and of one of the latter (I'liiiii illiiliiiii) I'rol'e.-sor Allen (|Uotes Mr. .hdin t'ardeauxto the following efleel -. " The liiiiale has one youny; in the year; ami, as these hanks [upon which they hreedj are ctivered at flood, the cult, when horn, must make an early acijuaintance with the water. "f One of the antlnrs of this Ue|t()rt has, nnireover, seen the same species (ITtli.iune, 187S) in ihe stiuti crn part of the (Jueen ( luulotte islands, hreetling upon tidal rocks, from wliich, wlun iihiinutl, the mothers took to the sea, each carrying her young upon her hack, tlie heaiis ot the mother and young seal coining to the surface simidtamoiisly at cai'ii rise. Upon Imliiiu iiiuhority, tiie siune liahil l:as heen. as elsewhere noted, ohserved in the cast' of the fui-eal. .•'i()i\ 'Ihe dale at "iiich iIk' young ncn-mally hegin to ^wiin has, liowcver, like many otlieis. heen given an ail"- lliir iindiie fi\ily and precision. Tliiis Mlliott states that hy llie Sth or U>lh AiigU: i ll.e , 'i]i' lioin nearol lo the ualer liist hegin to learn to swim;;' and Ihyant gives tiie J'lHi \ugu>t as ihc date at whicli lliey llist take to tlie water ;>; while as (arlv as tl le :' );.;i !i duly, in |S*tl. gieal numlur-. of pups were actually ohserved hy us to he swinnning along lie edges of the rnokery giuMnd^ and climhing in and out over the rocks, and tiiis in sjiite of the fact that it is ai'knouleducd that the seaK now anive at liie islands at dates late;' than they did in former years. On the i 1th Septemher two pups were (ven seen swimming and alone at distances ol !0 an*l 70 miles respectively to the we>t\\aril of the I'riliylofl 1-lands. .".(II. .\s a rule, hut a single pup is produced al a hirth, and, though this rule is nut without exce|itions, it may he used in any estimates <»f the natural rate of increase of tlit; seals. Maynard aiimils that occasional cases of twins have heen recognized on the i'lihyh'lf IslamU. noiwiihslanding the diflicidly of arriving at certainty as to such a matter under the cireumsijimcs whicli there (dtlain. The llaidis and the T>liiin->iins state tliat tliey have lre(pienlly foiiml tv\o imlxnn pups in a female seal when killed, though a '^ingle pup i< much more common. Chief iCden-aw, many yt-ars ai^o, >aw n leiiialc in the act of giving hirlli on l{ se Spit. (^)iie"n Cliarlolle Ulaiids ; one piip had heen horn, and when In- killed the iiiothei he fotmd another still unhurn. ;ni.'. It is perliaps further worth iiotiiiii, in this comieetion, that those most jamiliii • '• Kill!. Mil-. ('..iii|. /...(.I , ■ V >l i. I'arl I. p. iOO. I ■■ .MiMiduniih (il Vii; ill Aiiiiiuaii l'iiini|ifiU," ii .'i i|. J I'lilc! s; ,1, ,' r.ll-iw i;r|>M- , |i,. 10,4.' fj ■• .\|i>iiii)>i';i|ili of Noiili Auii'iiiHii l'i.iiii|M'(l«," \'' y87. ii I t TT- 64 with tlio closolv allied fiir-sonl of tho Soutli AtVii'iin Coivsl stutc tlmt, as a v\\U\ (wo pups are protliicetl at a liirlli ; while ou the AiisliivUiin coawl it is said that the female ^I'licp'Iiy briuf^s forth a .siii>;le pup, sometimes two.* (I.) — ])i.sttiii€t'f^ fj iiliiv'i .^w/a' (/o 7>om III/' IhcdIiiKj Islidids l,i snnili of I'm d, iiiiil Times of Ferdiiiij. t^Ot^. The feediiij"- hahit.; of the seals, and (he di^laIl(•l•^ to which s aU ennaued in hreedini;' on t!ie islands may !)e supposed ((» yo for food, as well as lie periml of (he hreedinji' season at whieh excursions in M-acli ot' food hc^in (o lu' u adc, ari' importanl hei-aiisc of (heir direct I'eaiinu' on (lie liinils ..f protcrtioii wlucli niii;- I approprialclv in- accorded aliont the islands al (lie hreedim;' sca^oa •"•04. Tlie fidi-nroun liulN. or lH'al•iMna■^(ers. holdini;- si. lions on llic rooKcry- ^•rounds, nndoultlcdly. in llic niajorily ol" c ises if mo| ii larialily remain on duly (hroM^liont the hrccdin^' sc:i-on and lo llie close of ilic r ill'u^' period \\iliioul '-cclvinL;- I'ooil. The ymmn a-ain. Ihuii in any | arli'Mil.ir season, are not \\eancd. or nol I'ullv wi'ani'd. in)r do (hey. under normal circnmslnnce-i. lea\e tie innnediale viciidly of liie slioi'e-^ lilt (lie (ime of their linal deparlnre. .'*> .■>. Il is thus only (lie ciiisses of liaclielor and female seals tli.it can. nndei any ciicnm-'t \nces, he found lea\ini; llu' i-lamU in search of food duriiin' the hreediny si'm>oii. Of (he females, (he yearlinus associate "ilii the haclielors Sonw <d" liie tuo-\ear-olds may seek the vicinity of tlu' rookery-grounds for tlie purpose ot' meetinn' (he males, hut jindiahly they do not lonu remain llieie. uhile il is helieved thai mo-1 of ihcm are eo\ered at sea. liarren females, a^ain. whether without ytini; iVmii a;;e. fiom an insuf- iiciem-y of males, or ineliicieiit service, are not in any way pernunu-ndy attached (o the islands at (his tinu-. <'<l'>, 'I'lie ri'inainini; — and. .-it the time in (|ne>tioii. idonI im{iortaiil ilass is limt of (he hreedinji' females. Tlie-e. some (ime alter the iiirlh "l' the \nmm- ami the sulise(pienl copidation «ith (he male. Iieiiin to le.ivc the rookery-niomid and -eek (he water. This ilu'y are alile to do hecaiise of the lesseneil inlercst of tlie heaclimaslius in them, iind more parlicul.-irly after many of the heachmasters liiem^ehes lienin lo leave their stands. Thus. Iiy ahoul theniitldle of .Vii^usl. prohidily cidy om-half o' the lemale-. or even less, are (o he seen a( any mie lime on the rookeries. Snt'yilolf. the native fon-mr.:: ii; chaise of (he rookeries on I'.ehrini;- Island, expressed the opinion tluil llie i'emales lir>t leave their youn;;' and lie;;in to fn-i, iieiil the w.iler alMUit a nnmtli aft .r the liirth of (he yoniiii'. Hryan( says ahoul six weeks, |- Ollu-r authotides are le-. ilelinite on (his point, hut, acciudinu (o ol)>ei valioii> made hy oiirxdNes. the nn)lliers ;ind yoiiu',; Were prcM-nl (Ui the l'ril)\ loll' roidxciie-^ in approximately eipial numliei- in (he last iltw-. of .luly. while, on (lie same rookeiie-. in the third week of Auiiiist. the ynunu' lar;;i!y oulnumhercd the inotln-rs pieseiit at any (Uie lime, and, in so far as could he ascertained hy obscrvalion, the female-, were di^porliim lliein-elves in the se.i olf the fronts of |i|e rookiM'ies. .'Jfty. it is \ cry lici. Tally a->umed thai the female, on thus heninnin^ to le ive the rookery-fii'ound. al once roumes her liaMl of en;;.iuin^ in the .iciive ipie^t for food, and (hoimh this would appear to Ik- oidy natural, parilciilarly in \\v^\ of t!e extra diMin produced hy the demaiiils of the yomit;. it miisl In' leineialiered lliat. \\illi scarcely an\ e.X'c'plifin. (he s(omacli> of c\eii tin- hachclor seal- killcil upon (he ishmds are found void of food, and thai all .•rn\- rc>ortinn (o (lie i>land> -ccm. in a nieil decree, to sjuiie in a eommon ali^tineiice, Wliiie. tlieret'or«'. it may he cim^idereil certain that al'ier a certain ])erio»l, the l\'inalcs liei;in lo si-ek such food as can he ohlained, the ah-eiice of t'xcrc inenlili(uis mailer on llie rookery uroumU, ( Isewheie rcf r.ed lo, >hows thai (his cannot «»ceur (ill towanls the close of the hreetlinn' season, it may, furl her, he staled, lluil there is a very ^ciu-ral hclief ainonn the natives, lioth on (he I'riliyloll iiiid Commander i^lamU. to (he ellecl (hat the fennilcs do nol have the land to feed while eniiaucd in suckliiii: their yonn<;', and ihal neither of (he two female^ killed in our jire^ence for natural hixlory purposes on He'iriii^ l-land. on the .'•tli Sepli ndier. had any trace of food in the stomach. lhou;:li killed witliin a fe^v \ard> (>\ the lookers from which they had ji^t lii'cn driven. Also liear'n!.!:on the >n\\u point is the sialeinent made in a memcMandum n('ei\cd from llci' Majesl\ s Mini-ler al 'I'nkio. 'lascd on infoni.alion ohlaiurd friun a i;enlli man fully conwrsanl with the liahits .iml haunt- o|' t||.' rur-seal of the wi-stern -ide of th North I'acillc, as follows : "It is 'onntimes slated that the hicediiii; cows ere in the • " Proilrulhll* ol ill.' /..»;li>jiv 111 \hI(h;,i ■' l.v Sir !', \|, (',.>. l' It S , I). ui.W. VIII. |i. ;t. t Si imti', l'I«. due. No. ■■J, Itsi Cu.i.;irv«, 'iiiit .^it'tmijii. |i, i. mmm 65 habit of leavinp; tlio rookcM'ioH to fish for tho support of their younp;, but the experienced authority on »hoKc rcnmrks tlicse notes are foun<lcd is not of this opinion, tic hns never found food inside the feJiialo fur-sen) tnkon on tlic breeding grounds." (See further under Food parngruph 224, el seij.) 308. It Appears to us to be quite probable, bowover, tlmt townrd the close of tho season of suckling, the fenmlc seals may actually begin to spend a considerable portion of their time at sea in search «>f food. It is unlikely that this occurs to any notable extent till after the middle of September, before wliich the season of pelagic sealing in lU'hring Sea jjracticully doses. It is not as if the mere presence of seals in any parti- cular part of IJeiiring Se:i during the period in question could be taken as representing that of females from the breeding rookeries, for, as already stated, other classes of seals remain thus at large during the greater jjart. or even the whole, of the breeding season, and it is generally very ditheult even for the most experienced eye under favourable circumstances to distinguish at sea between such unattached seals ai\d breeding females. Several of the statements as to the feeding resorts of breeding females from tho isiands have undoubtedly been founded <m the mere presence of seals of some kind at •-cii. In f<i«-t, most cf the previoui^ly published statements on this point have been based cither exclusively on information gained on the breeding islanils, and, therefore, not to the point, or (ui such inf( rmation, loosely combined with notes (m the position of seals cnsunily (il>serveil at sea. It is unfortunate that the prohibitiim of pelagic sealing in Heliring Hea in 18l>l rendered it impossible in this particular year to gather much actual experience in this matter, such as might have been obtained by examining tho conditio!- and sex of seals killed at various known distances from the islands. The statementscolle«'ted from other sources are often singularly divergent; but, notwith- standing the evident lack of information on this particular point, a remarkable agreement is found among those interestcu in decrying pelagic seali.ig, to tlie effect that the pelagic sealers do, and must, kill a large number of female breeding seals. In order, however, to nIiow the present state of this question, and the actual basis of many and serious complaints against sea si'iiling, a few (|Uotati(nis from various authorities on seal life may first be given, and after tliiit some notes on the further evidence obtained by ourselves. .')(M», Hryant, after de>criljing the relaxation in watchfulness of the nude after iiiipregnatiim has been accomplished, says of tiie female: "From tliat time she lies ■.'itiier sleeping near her young, or spends her time either Jloatituj or pluyimj in the irutri near the shore, returning occasionally to suckle her pup."* Elliott writes in a similar strain of the same period. The fenuiles, he says, "lie idly oiil ill the rollrrs, ever and anon turning over and over, scratching their backs and sides with their hind flippers."t Elsewhere he states that the mother, lie thinks, nurses her pup every two or three days, but adds, •• In this 1 am very likely mistaken."! Again, 'le spt-aks of a mother coining up from tin- sea, " where she has been to wash aiul perhaps III Ircd tor the last day or two."§ In another reference, he says: " S»)on after the birth ((t tiieir young they leave it on the gnuind ami go to the sea for food, returning perhaps to-morrow, perhaps later, even not lor several days in fact, to again suckle and nourish il, having in the nieuntinie speil far off' io distant feeding banks," &»'.|| ,U0. In the lit i)ort on the Fur-si-al Fisheries of Alaska (lHd!)).«l Mr. W. H. Taylor slates that the cows go out every day lor food to a distance of |() or 15 miles, or even tint her. Mr. T. K. Myan states that the "main feeding grounds of the seal during the summer str.y n|Miii the island.'^, and to which the cows are continimlly going and coming, are to be found W to 70 miles south of St. George Ishiiui." Mr. (I. U. Tingle, in the same Report, says that the seals probably go 'M miles out ill some eases in search of tood. 311. Such are the more dehnite references of a published kind which we have been able to find on this important point in seal life, and they are sutiicient to show that very little has heretofore been known «m the subject, though much has been taken for granted. .'UVf. The following is a summary of the evidence personally obtained in 189! from those supposed to be most capable of giving an opinion on the subject : — Mr. li. I{. Tingle slated that he believed seals from St. George went to feed, for the most part, about iU) to 41) miles to the southward or south-eastward of that island. From St. Paul he was not aware that they went in any paiticular direction. i V -M ■ !> * " MoiioKrn^li of Nurlli Auierictn l'iiiiii|H>(lii," \t. 3S6. t (Jnilvd Stale*' (Vmuik Itriinrt, |i. 30. § Ibiil., |>. 39. % lIoiiM' oC ItcprrK'iitBtivei, Ilc|iort No. 3H83, SOtli Congroii, Uml Svniion. immiiiKM are our own. f It)l(l., p. 3CI. 11 lliid.. )>. 3S 'I'lio itntici ill tlip al>ovo-cito<l I M Mr. .). 0. Roclpath did not know of any spoclal plai'o or places to which th« w»al8 go to food, but hi'liovt'd tliat the fcniaU's jjo from 10 to 15 miles from the islands for that purpose. Mr. D. Webster t!iini<s tiiat seals jjo from St. George Island, when feeding in the autumn, about (50 miles southward : lie believes that there \* a favourite feeding ground In this vicinity, because he has seen numerous seiiN there when on his way from the islands to Ounalaska. Mr. Fowler statetl that he believed tiiere was a favourite feeding ground of the seals about 30 miles off north-eiist point of St. Paul Island. This was not from personal knowledge, but depended on stiiteuients that seals had been seen in abundance there. Natives of St. Paul informed us that the females from the rookeries went only 8 or 4 miles to sea to feed, always returning to their young (m shore the same day. When questi<»ned as to the classes of seals seen further out, as, for instance, midway between St. Paul and St. Oeorge Islamls, they stated that all kinds of seals might be found there, but added again that the females usually do not go far from the rookeries. Mr. N. Greljnitsky. Superintendent of the C«»mmander Islands, stated, as the result of his own personal obsi'.vation and long experience, that the females went out to sea wl)ile suckling tlie young, hul not furtiier than lialf-a-mile or a mile frimi the shore. Most of the natives, he added, thought that the females did not feed during this period, but In this he believed then» to be mistaken. M. Tillman, the Agent of the Russian Qovernment. in charge of Copper Island, where he has been for two _>ears. thinks that the females go an much as 2 to 4 njiles «»tl shore to feed, but return to the rookeries every nigl\t. M. Kluge. who has l^een for twenty-one ye,\rs in the service of the Alaska Oommercial Company on several ditferent islands agreed in this point with M. Tillman, and added (!iat he knows from «-lose personal observation, which he was able to make on Kobben Island, that the females return every night, an staled, Snegiloif. the native foreman on Hehring Island, thinks, on the ctmtrary, that the females may leave their young ftir several days, and may go I's far as 10 miles from land to feed. 313. So fiir as the facts actually observed in 18J(1 go. it is ap|)arent that there is always a consider.ible number of seals swiuuning, playing. <ir sleeping at sea opposite each of the rookt-ry grounds, and that these in August consist largely of females, while in Septendier great numbers of pups are to be found in addition. When extensive kelp beds exist off the rookeries, the main body of seals is generally seen inside the kelp, and at a distance of balf-a-mile or so from shore comparatively few .seals are seen ; while at two or three miles seaward from the rookery tliere is no notiible abundance of seals, and if sailing round the breeding Islands in a fog. at a distance <»f four miles fnmi the fihore, it wt)uld be diliicult for the closest observer (apart from oilier indicatitms) to decide when he had passetl abreast of a roo!»>'ry. 314. It is, however, certain, from statements obtained, that females with milk are occasionally killed at sea by the pelagic sealers, and though it is jxmsible that these are mothers which have deserted (he islands in consequence of having been driven up to the killing grounds with the liodust-bickic. or Itecause of some other cause of disturbanee, Huch as the death of their young, it in liiiibly proimlili- that in the later summer and autumn the tlistancc to wbitli the t'ciiialt's yn fiom thi' breeding places becomes gradually increased. It is, ncveithelcs, Marccly credible that, umler any circumstances, the females engaged in feeding their young cm navigate to great distan<'cs fr<Hn the islands on erratic courses, and subse(nipntly ictiirn punctually ami without f.iil to their rookeries; and any assmnption made on this basis must be regarded as re(|uiring proof of a character very dillerent l<> that i-o far advanced by those holding such a belief. 3ir>. It may be added here, as the result of personal observatiotci as well as of those already puidisbed. that the seals lend to leave the rookeries and hauling grounds for the sea in large numbers wlien incommoded on shore liy loo gront heat or ity heavy rain, and, further, that after stormy wcathei. cliaracteii/ed by heavy wind uud surf, there is geiH'rally an increased ami marked exodus from the shore. 3U». Singidaily eiKmj'li. tlic yicatest diversity of o|)inioii was found to prevail, even among those who ought to he best informed on this subject, as to whether the seals leave tlu' land for feeding or other piirpoM-s most connnoidy by day or by night. 'Ibis dilleremeof ojiinioii obtained not o,dy among the Wliitcv, but also among the natives, and it is found both in the Prii>yloll' and ('omniandcr lslaii<ls. Some maintain lluit the t'emale .seal K'turns to sbor<- every night. hIIuts thai most of tbeni leave the shore at this tinu>, and, taking all opinions into roie-ideiation, the oidy conclusion that can In- arrived at is that the seals go and come at all times. (ATtainly, there is no particidar period of rest upon (he rookeries themselvvs during the breeding Heason, for they are a.s noisy during the night as by day. Judging from obHervr. .).,i8 nuide wliilo at anchor near tlie lookery grounds of 8t. Paul and iSt. (jeorge, it would appear thnt tlie seals are ni«>re abundant in the water during the night, wlien they often surrounded (he vessel in great number.^. On these occasions they seldom seemed t«> i)e travelling in any particular direction, bui played about, coming up first on one side of the vessel ami then on the 4>ther, and appeared to be more wary and easily frightened than during (he day. (if.) — Hiihllx when tfucklintj. iH I 3 17. When (he female .seals begin (o Hhsen( themselves at frequeii( in(ervals from the rookery grounds and from (heir ycunig, as already tiescrihed. (lie young begin to travel about in all directions from the actual spot of their !)irth. Most of them collect in large groups, or " pod-<." sometimes near the edge of (he »ea and stmiedmes at u distance from it. while soli(ary pup> are u> lie found roving or slet pin;' everywhere I( Ims been s(ate>l, and the sta(emen( has been received \vi(ho;i( question, (hat tbroughou( (he en(ire season, and even under (he circHms(ances above descrilied. the female is invariably al)le to .single out. and will suckle oidy. herown y<»ung. Analogy wi(hmos( other animals appears (o favour this \ie\v. and probably accounts for the fact, (hat it has been accepted without proof, which, indeed, as neitlier the individual mothers jior the individual young can be continuously recognized on the rookeries, would be very hard to obtain. "18. The analogy just referred to may or may not ludd in the case of the fur-seal, which is in many res| ects very peculiar in its habits. The youn-; of most other animals, if left at any time by the dam, remains where left, and it is very seldom neces- sary for the nmther tt» select her own progeny from a vast crowd of others. Again, even assuming (ha( she be capable of (bus singling ou( her own voting one, if. as is commonly supposed, she remains for (he grea(er par( of (be day. or. according (o some audiorities, for several days, in the sea. she must very often wholly fail to find her young, which may have in the meantime wandered ofl" to an entirely (lillerent i)art of the lookery. Under these circumstances, the female wtudd ctmtinue to ite nn(|iiiet till she got rid of her tnilk, and must indeed be possessed of great fortitude if .slu' refuses to part with it to any of the thousands of other young seals about her. The dilliculty of finding the yotmg must, of course, be vastly increased in cas»'s in which the motlu-r has given birth to two pups, one of which may have wandered in one direction, aiiidher elsewhere. .•^l".). The idea that the fennde will suckle tlu" pup -^hc has hrKUgbt forth only, appears to have been started by the natives, hut, so Car as can be ast'erlamed. is lirsl ailvanced by Ihyant, who writes : "On landing. tlu> nmllu'r calls out l<i lier vining with a plaintive hleat like that of u sheep calling to her lamh. As she approaches the ina-s (of young) several of the young ones answer and start to meet her, responding to her c-all as a young lamb answers its parent. As she meets thtin she looks at them and passes hurriedly on till she meets her own. which >he at once rccngni/.es."* 3i'0. Elliott has adopted this theory, ami am|dilies it. writing : - "Tlu' mother, without tirst entering into the «Mowd of tboiisand-.. rcconnizi's the voice of her oir>priiig. and then advances, striking out right and left, toward the position froni wliich it reidit-s." KIse. where in this comiection he -pe iksof the moilier 1 1.^ iiig out for its young ami reconnizing the imlividual ri-ply. " thniigh liii thousand around, all together, siiould hlaat [sir] at uiice." On a later page, he again says : "I have witnessed so many examples of the temales turning pup> away to Micklc only some particular other one. that I feel sure I am entirely right in saving that tin- seal-mother^ know their own young, and that lliey will not permit any others to nurse save their own. I believe that this recognition of them is due chiefly to the niotliiM-'s M-ent A\n\ hearing."t '.i2\. It is not iiuenih (I to crilit-izc these hlatemcnts, which, in so liir as (bey relate to observed fuets, can bo ce (ilied to; but it is necessary to iioiiit out that Iliey constitute the entire body of proof in the matter in (|uesti(m, and that the inllueii> ' drawn from them must be characterizeii as •• not proven.' The young themselves certainly do ind know their own iiiotliers, and tlu' statement that thi' mothei' knows her imlividual young seems to be placed in doubt, and is certainly not to l)e assumed merely from analogy with other animals which show a dcgn^e of alleiiiou for their young, because of the observa- tion whicli may be made any day on the ro«»kcries, that the feitnile fur-seal is entirely careless resjiectiug her oUspring. * At qiiolfil by Alli-n, " MonogiT.jili of North AniiTk-Aii l'intii|M-<{>, p. 9tf}. t I'niletl 8(»titii' Ct'iiiiiiii Itoporl, |>ji. an ami WJ [.tofi] I a f' 68 332. As Mr. Blliolt ia chiefly rcspoiiHible for the theory here specially referred to, it is only fair, however, that he should ho heard also on the lasLmentioucI point. On this he 8nyt« : " The apathy with which the yonn^ arc treated by the old upon the hrocdin*{ grounds, es|)ecially by the mothers, was very atranj^e to nic, and 1 was constantly surprised at it. I have never seen a seal-mother caress or fondle her offspring ; and bhould it stray to a short distance from the harem I «rould step to and pick it up, and even kill it before the mother's eye, without causiiifr her the Hli<i;htCHt concern, so far as all outward signs and manifestations would indicate."* 323. The whole theory in fact, when eMnmined, rests on the circumstance that when a female seal is seen to come ashore, she will not tnke the first young one she meets, but perhaps by sound, perhaps by scent, selects one which she allows to feed. It appears, therefore, to be ut least auite possible, that in thus making her selection she may merely seek n jouiig one which docs not carry the smell of fresh milk about it. The gregarious habits of the fur-seal, with the difficulties inherent in the matter of <he reunion of mother and young under the peculiar circumstances obtaining on the rookeries, appear to show that it would be advantageous to seal life as a whole if any mother would suckle any hungry pup. .'^24. It may be added, that in a report received from Mr. C. H. Jackson, Government Agent in charge of the Seal and (Suano Islands of Cape Colony, he states, respecting the fur-seals inhabiting these islands (after speaking of the killing of females), that " but for a happy provision of nature, wherebv a female seal will sni;kl« any young one, the destruction of the new-born seals would be complete;" ami, again, says: "The cow will suckle any of the young seals, whether her own or not, and this period of nursing continues more or less for about six months." The same statement is made with respect to the fur-seal of the Australian coast. f 325. The analogy of other animals has so Irocjuontly been cited in this connection that it may be in point to quote from >!n interesting memorandum furnished by Sir Samuel Wilson, \l,P., the eminent Australian hiiec|)-brceder. He states that it is comnum and eiisy to make ewes suckle other ewes' lambs, either by putting the skin of tlu* dead lamb over the new lamb, or by folding together, in hurdles, the strange lamb and the ewe. When the herd is valuable, all ewes arc mothered to lambs which have none of their own, and the same is done in the case of twins. Ewes recognize their own Innilts by smell. Sometimes a lamb, not her own, may come up on the other side while she is siiekling her own lanjl), and may. unnoticed by her, suck licr for a time. There are, moreover, lambs which go al)out in this way, and muna^jc tu Ii»c l»y what they can steal. This Australian experience is fully borne out by general cx|)erienco. (K.) — Natural CitwM of Dpslruclioii. 320. In connoction with tlio general nsperts of seal life, and iho cfTei-ts upon it of commercial killing, it is necessary to remembi-r that it is largely ruled i)y certain natinal events, or plienumena. and that, as in the case of nearly all animals in a slate of nature, l)Ul a limited proportion of the whole number of younn produced ever attain either to a •• killabii-" uge. or to one of maturity. Thus, in killin;> a large number of seals annually, a draft iM nuule upon a mar^jin of seal life wiiicli ban »'scape<l all the other necessarily i-nvironiiig diingers, and which very' often must he regarded as a natural reserve in process of being slowly built up in the intervals between irregular and exceptional inroads whieb may at any time occur, and over which man cNcrciscs no possible control. 327. Thus, on the Priliylolf IslaiuU. one )iarticular instaiwe has been recorded, when, in consetjueiice of the loiiy persistence of lielil-icc about llie inlands, the seals were very greatly di'pleted. This occurred in I s:U}. when, according to native count, the nnnilier of iidult seals on St. I'aul Island was rcdiic»'il to about 1.000. and the greater part of the huihII number of seals killed in tlial year consisted of pups. Other, lliou;;li less disas. trous instances, of the same kind iia\c occurred since, and a study of available inforuui- tion respecting the amount and position of the ice in Hebring Sea u\ various years shows that such adverse conditions may recur in any year, though probably seldom with the winie intensity as in IH.'Ui. 32H. A^jain, large numbers of pups are often killed before leavii\;; the islands by heavy storms occurring before tbey are aide to swim strongly, and in ctmse(|uence of which they are dashed against the rocks or ii|i(Mi the beacli. I'nfortunately, nothing like a com- plete record has been k«-pt of such occurrence.s. but HryanI, Maynard. and Klliott.in their published Keporls, all refer, at greater or less length, to them. One notable case of this • tliiitdd Siotf"' OoiiiD Ki'port, ". !)s. t oProdrMBU* ul ih« ^.oology of Victorw," bjr bir 1'. MeCo;, F.ll.S., 1>»C4J* VllI, p. 10. 60 particular kind occurred in Octohcr 1976,* and Mr. D. Webster informed u^ that oneo "in the seventie*," as early as July, he had seen the Loaches at Xort'i-Kist Point " strunf; with dead pups," after a heavy storm. More or fe-'er pups are, in fact, apparently kil'ed in this way every year. 320. On Rohtum Island, very considerable numbers of young pups arc killed by burgomaster gulU {Larus tjlaucus), which pick out their eyes. This is so well known that a reward of 5 copecks (\\d.) is given for c*ach of these gulls killed. This gull is rather scarce on the Commander Islands, but the ktatives there have noticed cases of pups being killed in the same way. They are common abont the Pribyloff Islands, and are frequently seen on the rookeries, but no one there appears to have observed them attacking young seals. 330. The most generally recognized dunger Id the pups, of a constant kind, while they are still upon the islands, is that resulting from the adult bulls or seacatchie on the rookeries. These, when fighting, or otherwise excited or disturbed, pay not the slightest attention to the young in their vicinit}*, and overrun them without compunction in such a manner as frequently to cause their death. Elliott doubts whether more than 1 per cent, of the whole number of young in each year is destroyed in this way, but everyone who has paid the slightest attention to the economy of the rookeries is familiar with the frequent occurrence of such deaths. 331. In his Report upon the condition of atidirs in Alaska (187i>), the same writer speaks of the presence on the rookeries of " decaying carcasses of old seals and the many pups which have been killed accidentally hy the old bulls while fighting with and charging back and forth against one another."! In the Census Report substantially the same passage is, however, paraphrased by the writer, with the substitution of " few pups" for " many pups." } Professor Allan n^ay also be cited in this connection, though he specially refers to alarms of a Lind which can scarcely be strictly (biassed under natural causes of destruction. He writes : "Constant care is also necessary lest thoughtless |>erson8 incautiously approach the breeding grounds, as the stampede of the seals which would result therefrom always destroys many of the young." § 332. When a sudden alarm causes a panic among tlic seals on a rookery, and they make in consequence a rush in closely-huddled masses for the water, very con- siderable numbers of pups nniy nt any time be killed. It is very easy in this way to " stampede " even the breeding seals, and the necessity of preventing such stampedes is one of the main reasons for preserving the vicinity «>f the rookeries from all intrusion and disturbance. As already noted, the seals are alarmed particularly by smell, and during the sunnner of 1801 a panic was caused on the Reef Rookery of St. Paul Island by the drifting over it of tlie smoke from a Klennier wliicli was entering the anchorage there. 333. Nordenskiijld refers particularly to this matter in his account of the fur-seals of Rehring Island, writing : — '• The young ones are often smothered by the old when the latter, frightened in some way, rush out into the sea. After buch an alarm hundreds of dead pups are found on the shore." II -VH, Killer whales {Orcn rectipinna) are among the more active enemies of the fur- senl. Mr. I). Webster, who, because of his long experience on the Pribvloif Islands, has alreati} been frequently (juoted, states that these whales usually come to the islands from the north early in Septt-inber, and stay about tluMii as long as the seals do.^j They kill many seals, particularly pup><, antl wantonly kill, tipparcntly in sport, many more than thi-y actually devour. Captain [javender, in his Report ibr 1800, mentions the occurrence of large schools of killer whales in pursuit ol ,voung s(>als about the islands on the 80th October in that year,** and Lieutenant Mavnunl mentions a case in which a single killer whale was found to have fourteen voung seals in its sloinach.tt The Aleuts at Ounu- Inska further stated that they have often seen killer >\haU's pursuing and catching fur- seals, not alone the young, but also the adults. 33*>. In the vicinity of the Connnander Islands Killer whales also occur, but they do not appear to be so ntmicrous as about the PriliylolT Islands, and their ravageii have not been complained of in the same way. ■^ :.' • " Monngrnpli nf North .. 'ncrionn Piiini|)OiU," p. 397. t l'iiK« Hi). Sri- also " Monrginpli o: Ni)rlli AmiTifaii I'imiipi'tls," p. .370. t Unilml St,iU'i>' i'viimiii Uvpori, p. 4i. <j Kiill. M>i». (/'miip. /oo!.," vol. ii„ I'art I, p. 97. y '* VoyiKv ul' tliR ' Vogn,'" liniial: >n tiy l.t-tlio, vol. ii, p. '.2U0, ^1 Si'u altu Dryiiiit in " MonoKrapli of Nnrili .Aiiiorxnn l'Miiiip«>(l«," p. 407. •• S«n«to, ICi. Doc. No. 49, Tilut ('<in|{ri'ii-<, 'Jml Heitiiioii, |> It HouM of H«pMMiiUtive«, V^t, Doc. No. 49, 44tli Cuiigrrti, lit Seiiioii, p. C. f 60 880, Ah the killer wlmlo frequents not onl,v the Hununer haunts 4»f the fur-Heal, hut itH whole migration-rani^e and winter habitat, it is practieally eertain that the sealH are expoNed to their attacks at all times, exceiit when actuHll,v ashore on the breeding islands. It is, iiioivover, supposed, and doubt'ess correetly so. thot the larger sharks to he found in (be same waters prey upon the young seals to a eonsiderable extent. •').'}7. In consetjuenee of these and (lerbaps other enemies, an«l of various aeeidents, and irrespeetive of possible epidemic disease, the number of the young seals bom is greatly reduced before they return as yearlings in the tVdlowing year; and it is atill further continuously reduced, though in a diminishing proportion, in subsequent ycare. On this suliject Bryant writes as follo^vH ; — " ])iiring the time the young seals are absent from (be islands, fully )>(> per cent, ot* their numiicr are destroyed by their enemies before they arrive at the age «»f one year, and during the second year about lH per cent, moic nie Itist. Ijater they appi'ar to l)o belter able to protect themselves, but before (bey arrive at miiturity. at least 10 per cent, more are destroyed. t*o that if lef( entirely to (bemselves, only 10 or \f* percent, of the annual product would mature or reach (he age of seven years."* (hi the .same subject Klliott writes, s|>eaking parti«-ularly <»f the males :- " By these agencies, during (heir absence from (be islands until their reappearance in (be following year and in July, (bey are Ho|ercfp(ibly diminished in number, that I do not think, fairly considered, more (ban one-half of (be legi«)n which left the ground of (heir birdi las( October came up (be next July to these favourite landing-places; that is, only 250,000 of them return ou( of (he Soo.mio born last year. 'J'be same statement, in every respect, applies to the going ami coming of (be uOd.OOO female pups, Hhich are identical in siice, shape, and behaviour." f 3.^8. Neither of these statements t-laim any great precision, and it would be imprac- ticable to make them precise. Bryant s niay be taken, however, as showing a more careful consideration of the facts, and according to bis estimates, in the case of 100,000 pups, but -10.000 would return in the second year and ;34.000 in (be tbiid year, while about 30,000 would reach maturity. 330. It can scarcely be doubted th<i( (be fur-seal of (he ^orth Pacific is also subject to diseases of various kinds, (be prevalence or otherwise of which have their efiects on the numliers at «'acb particular period. in(|niries made on the subject have, however, not brought to light any notable mortality which lias been a((ributed (o disease, nor do previously published repor(s include any men(ion of such mortality. It may thus at least be inferred. (iia( no nolably fatal disease lia'< a((acked tbe^e iiiiiimalH while np«m their breeding islands within historic times, but it is not safe (o attirm that disimse has been wanting, or tba( e|)idemic diseases may no(. at any given (inn*, appear, and require (o be allowed for in any reguladons nuide respec(ing (be killing of seals. 840. In the Report of Mr. ('. H. Jackson on (lie fur-!>eal islands of Cape Colony, already referred to. be writes : " Upon several islands, especially in the Ishaluir group, are to be found the remains of \as( numbers of • seal.' probably the efleets of an epidemic disease at some dis(ant period." .'HI. On the same subject and referring to (lie same region. Mr. 11 A. Clark writes as follows, quoting "Moreil's Voyages"; " In IS2H ('a|itain >forell. in (he schooner 'An(arc(ic.' viHi(ed (be wes( coast of .Africa on a fur-seal voyage. .\t Possession Island, in latitude 'M° 61' south, he found eviilence of a pestilence unnmg (he fur-seals. The whole island, which is about 3 miles long, be states, was covered with the carcasses of fur-seals. wi(li their skins still nu them. 'I'liey appeared t(» have been dead about five years, and it was evident (ha( they had all met their fate abou( the same period. 1 slnmid judge, from (be immense multitude of bones . ml carci'.sses. (bat no( less than half-a-million bad ])erisbed here at once, and tba( t'.iey bad fallen victims to some mysterious disease or plague." About 17 miles nor(b of Possession Island are two small islands no( over a mile in length, where Cap(ain Morell found still further evidence of a plague annaig (be fur-seals. •• These (wo islands," be says, " liavi' «mce bci'U the resort of immense numbers of fur-seals, which were doubtless destroyed by the same plague which made such a di'vastation among them on Possession Island, as their remains exhibited the same appearance in both cases."J 342. Elliott, after stating (bat be has observed no disease among (be seals of (he Pribylotr Islands. (iuo(e,i a recorded in.stance of a plague uHecting the hair seals of the nortii of Scotland. Orkney and Shetland Islands, and adds; "It is not reasonable to * "Monugraph of Nortli Aint^ricuu I'inniueda," p, 407 ; leo al fi tiouw of Iteprpucntativo, Et. Uoc. No 80, 44tli Congrrew, lit Swsion, p. 65. t Unilud Statn' Census Keport, p. 6ti. i " Fishery Induitrie* of the United Stalea," vol. ii,*p. 4li>. 61 nippoBC that the PrihylnfT rnokerios liavo never Nuft'ored irom (liHteii))H<rH in the past, or are not to in the future, simply hefausc no oocnHion Heema to hare nrison durnim the comparatively brief period of their human domination. "*' 348. The fur-HcalH upon the Prihvioff Islands are, lioweviT, aftiictcd by at leniit (mo known trouble, that of intestinal worms, nnd in the stonuicliH of nearly every Heal killed a certain number, and often a very cimHiderable ntiniber, of sueb worms are found. TbiH cannot of courHe lie connidered as couMtitutin); in ilscif a very serious ntfeclion. but if under any |>articul.ir train of cir<-umsttinces it should be considerably increaHed. it alone niighi become a dangtr to the continued well-bein^^ of the Healn. the the to 89. (L.) — Mortalifi/ of ifouiuj Seols In 1801. 844. [n the Heason of IHU], considerable numbers of dead pups were iound in certain places upon the rookery grounds or in (heir vicinity, and various hypotheses were advanced to account for this nnusuiil mortality. As some of these have special bt.>arin)i(s on the ^;eneral questitm of seal preservation, it may bu well to devote a few words to this particular subject. iHo. In ordor to exhibit the circumstances Kiirroiuulin;; Ibis fact nnd to arrive at a probable explanation of its true nieaniii<;, it will bo necessary in the tir instant on the ^ro to und ^ive in summari/.t>d form the observations and notei bearing upon it made by ourselves. :Un. When visitiuja: Tolstoi Rookery. Si. Pnul Island. <m the 20tb .Inly, we observed and callml attention to scvenil biindrel dead |)ii|)-i which lay scattered alnnit in a limite<l area, on a smooth slope near the noitbern or inland end of the rookery irronnd, and at some little distance from the shore. The iioilios were partly tlecoinposetl, and np|icar(Ml to have bin where found for a week or more, ubicb would place the actual dat > of the death of the pups. say. between the l.'ith and 20tb July. Neither the (Jovernnient A^ent who was with us. nor the natives forming' our boat's crew at the time, would at first believe that the (»b,jects seen on tiie rookery were dead |>ups, atliriiiin^ thai they were stones; but when it became «-learly apparent that this was not the case, they could su^jfest as causes of death only over-rnnnin<>' by bulls or surf aloii^ the shore, neither «me of which appeared to us at the time to be satisfactory. Mr. D. Webster, interro^:nted on tlic subject some days later on St. George Island, otlercd merely the same sujii;Kestions. but a few days still later, iiotb Whites and natives on the islands were found to have developed (piite other opinions, and id be ready to attribute the deaths to the operations of pelagic sealers kiliin;; mothers while otf at sea. and leadin;>- to the death oi' pups from starvation conseipient on such killing. i'M7. Helievin^ the nnitterto be one of considerable importance, however it mi^bt be explained, particular attention was paiti tt) it on subsetpient visits to rookeries. On the aist July and the 1st Auynst the rookeries of St. ( leorj^e were inspected, but no similar appearances were found, uw was anytbinj; of the same kind a^ain seen till the lib .\n<j>'ust. on I'olavina rookery, St. Paul Ulaml. where, near the .sontberii extri'inity of the rookery, several hundred dead pups were ayain found by us. here also coverint; an area of limited sixe. which we were able lo examine carefully without disturbinu the breedinjx seals. It was estimated that the pups lierc foimd bad died lietweeu ten tlays anti two weeks before, which would place the actual date of death at alxmt the sanu' time with that of those first referred to. ;i4J*. (hi the followinj;' day the e.vtensive rookeries of Nortb-ICast Point were vi>iled ami examined, Init very few dead pups w»'re anywhere seen. Mr, Kowler. in charfi;e of these rookeries for the (^m)pany. was specially (|uestioned on this point, and fully ctmfirmed the nejfative observations maile by ourselves at the time. It may here be mentioned that the vicinity of North-Kast Point bad been the principal and only notable locality from which, up to this date, sealin;;: vessels bad been sighted in the otlin^'. or had been reported as shootin<r seals within bearing of the shore, ;14U. On the llMh .\u<i'ust. after a cruize to the uoitbward of about a fortnight's duration, we returned to 8t. Paul, and on the .saute tlay revisited Tolstoi liookery. On this occasion the dead pups previously noted were still to be seen, but the bodies were Hattened out and umre or less cov(>red with sand, by the coiitiniutMs movement of the liviuju,' seals. There were, however, on and near the same place, and parti<-ularly near the anjrie between Tolstoi liookery ami the sands of Knylisb Hay, nutiiy more dead jaips. larK;er in siite than thohc tirst noted, ami scarcely distinguishable in this respect from the * United Sliilai' Cciiiuh Iti'iiort, \>. 6J. '■■ I: 02 living pupn whirh were Uien "podded nut" in f^roAt numlicrH in the immediate noighhoiirnond. Messrs. Fowler and Murray, who accomimnied us on tliis occasion, admitted tlic mortality to he local, and the tlrst-namod gentleman stated that in his long experience he had never seen anything of the kind hefore. and suggested that the mothers from thin siiccial locality might have gone to some iiarticulnr " feeding linnk," and have there hoen killed together hy sea sealers. On the same day we visited the Reef Rookery again, and a search was made there for dead pups, which resulted in the discovery of some of approximately the same sixe with those last mentioned, hut pntbahly not more than an eighth, and certainly not more than one-fourth, in numher as comiMired with the inner end of the Tolstoi Rookery ground, and proportionately in hoth cnses to the numher of living pups. 300. While making a third inspecticm of the St. Paul rookeries in Scptemher, on the 15tli of that month, the Reef and North-East Point rookeries were ogain specially examined. The rookery ground of the s«>uth-oastern side of the l{eef Point was carefully insiiected area hy area, with field-glasses, from the various rocky iM>int8 which overlook it, and from which the whole Held is vinihlo in detail save certain narrow stony s1o{h>h close to the sea-edge, where dead pups might have heen hidden from view among the houlders. Buhscquently, the north-eastern sloping ground, named Gorhoch on the plans, heing at that date merely occupied hy scattered groups of seaU, was walked over. 'I he result of the inspection was to show that there were on the south-eist side a few dozen dead pups at the most in sight, while on the opposite side perhaps a hundred in nil were found in the area gone over, heing, prohahly, tlie same with those seen here the previ«>u8 month, and in numher or contiguity not in any way comparahle with those seen nt the inner end of Tolstoi. Sol. On the same day a flnal visit wns made to the North-ESast Point rookeries, then in charge of throe natives only. Two of these men went over the ground with us, and were questioned cm various subjects, including that of dead pups, through our Aleut interpreter. They would not admit that they liad seen any great number of dead pups on the North.Eost Part this season, and did not seem to be in any way impressed with the idea that there had bei'n any unusual mortality there. The ground to the north of Hutchinson Hill was, however, carefully «>xamiued by us from the slopes of the hill, and a tew lead 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 holluschicUie generally haul out, a slow advance was made among a large herd of females and pu])s, tluiugh \)avt of these were necessarily driven off the ground in so doing. An occupied area ot rookery was thus walked over, and the dead pups which appeared at this spot to be unusuallj abundant were counted with approximate accuracy. A very few were f(>und scattered over the general surface, but on approaching the shore edge, an area rf about 20,000 square feet was noted, in which about 100 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 several 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 cither on the North-East or Reef rooki>ries, but in number in no respect comparable to that previously noted at Tolstoi, or even to that on the south |>art of Polavina. 352. AVe were informed on this our last visit to the Pribylotf Islands, that subsequent to our discovery of and comments upon the dead pups at tlic two last-mentioned placeir, 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' Qovcrnment) 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 liad just been installed as Medical Otiiccr on St. Paul, also told us that he had, within a few days, examined the bodies of six of the dead pups from Tolstoi, and that though rather too much decomposed for correct autopsy, he had been unable to find any sirrns of disease, but that all those examined were very thin and without food in the stomachs. 35:t. It may be noted here that the carcasses thus examined must have been those of pups wiiich had died in the month of September, or when no scaling schooners remained in Behring Sea. 3<>4. The body of a pup found hy us on the North-East Rookery on the 5th August, which was still undecompoHod, was preserv >d in alcohol, and has since been submitted to Dr. A. Gilnthcr, F.R.S., of the British M iseum, who kindly ottered to make an exami- nation of it. This is quoted at length ii. Appendix (D). The stomach was found to contain no food. The body was well nourished, with a fair amornt of fat in the subcu- taneous tissue, but no fat about the abdouiinal organs. The Icn^s and windpipe were 6a U8t, id to ami* d to bcu- wero found ill an inflammatory condition. Hcspectinff the actual cause of death. Dr. (iUntlivr Hayo: " Roth tliu alwcnce of food as well at tho condition of the rcHpiratory organH are Nufflcient to account for the deatii of the animal ^ hut wliieh of the two wan the primary cause, preceding the other, it iH impomilde to rtay." 955. It would lie inappropriate here to enter into any lengthened diHCUH*ion of tho licaringt of the above facts on the metliodx of ncaling at sea ; hut hh, ntltcr the tentative adoption of variou<« hypotheseH. the mortality of the young HeaU wns with a renmrl<ahle unanimity attrihuted t«> peliiKit* Healing l»y the gentlemen in any way connected ^itli tho breeding islandH, and an it liaH since been widely and cfmsistently advertised in the preiiH as a further and striking proof of the destructiveneHH of pelagic sealing, it may bo ]ierniis8ible to allude to a few cogent reasons, because of which the subject seems at least to require consideration of a much more lareful and scaiching kind: — (I.) The death «»f so miiiiy yoimg seals on the islands in 18IM was wholly exceptional and unprecedented, and it occurred in the very Hea>«ui during which, in accordance with the modus rirrndi. cvi>ry eH'ort was being made to drive all pelagic sealers fnmi Behring Hea. Those familiar with the islands were evidently puzzled and surprised when their attention was first drawn to it, and were for fiome time in doubt as to what cause it might be attributed. (2.) The explanation at length very unanimou»'ly concurred in by them. vi% , that the young had died because their mothers had been killed at sea, rests wludly upon the assumption that each female will suckle only its onii young one, an assumption which appears to be at least very doubtfuK and which has already been discussed, (3.) The mortality was at fii>t entirely local, and though later a certain number of dead pu|)s were found on various rookeries examiiH'd, nothing of a character comparable with that on Tolstoi rookery was discctvered. (4.) The mortality tiist observed on Tolstoi and Polnviiia was at t«)t> early a date to enable it to be reasonably explained by the killing «>f mttthers at sea, It occurred, as already explained, about the ITith or 'iOth 'iuly. at a time at which, according to the generally accepted dates, as well as our own observations in ISOl. the females hud not begun to leave the rookeries in large numbers, or, when leaving them, to do no more than swim or play about ch»se to the shore. It has already been statt'd that Hryant gives the' ti'tth July as the opening of the period in which the females begin to leave the nH»keries. 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 tlie end of July and the 6th and 8th August. It is, moreover, acknowledged by the be>t authorities, that the dotes 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 i>f August, it might be an admissible hypothesis that the mothers had been killed at sea, and tltat subse(|uently 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 begnn long before that date, and it seems pr«d)able 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. .'156. The causes to which the mortality noted nniy he attributed with greatest probability are the t'olhJM ing. but the evidence at present at disposal scarcely admits of a final attribution to one or other of them. If, however, the examinatum made by Dr. Acland of several of the carcasses be considered as indicative of the state of the whole, one of the t«o first is likely to afford the correct explanation : — (a.) It is well known that in conse(|uence ttf 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 rookerie:4, and that it has thus been impossible to avoid the collection and driving to the killing gioimds with the "killables" of all sorts of Kcals not re(|uired. including seai*atchie and females. It is also known that the driving and killing in the early part (»f the season of 1801 was pushed with unwonted energy, taking into consideration the reduced number of seals, and it appears to be (piite possible tliat (he 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 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 Polavina were just those from the immediate vicinity of which drives were most fre<|ucntly made. (/>.) The appearances, indicating a local beginning and greatest intensity of mortality, with its subsequent extension to greati>r areas, might reasonably be explained hy the origination and transmission of some disease of an epidemic character. [:»05] K tt; i IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) /> I 1.0 I.I »5i|21 IIIM iiiin o MO 12.0 1.8 1.25 1.4 1.6 ^ 6" — ► 7a <?>>/ A .-^ <$>. V /A Photographic Sciences Corporation S: « ^^ V ^> :\ V \ ^<b .V « %"■ 6^ 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (71fc; '72-4503 d I .<" Cx ^■.■*» ^ ^-yW!5Wf™'?^5^'''S?--' pi;.. S ■!(•;. 'if'.'i . I + 64 (c.) Tho circumstances where the mortality was observed to be greatest appeared to he such as to be explicable by a panic and stampede with consequent over-running 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 ma> have landed on at least Tolstoi and Polaviua rookeries without any one upon the islands becoming cognisant 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 sea-side, and the killing upon the rookery ground would also unavoidably have resulted in " stampeding " large numbers of seals of all classes. (M.) — Methods of enumerating Seals on the Pribyloff Islands and Estimates of Numbers. 3d7. The number of seals frequenting the Pribyloff Islands at different dates is of course a fact of fundamental importance, and every attention has thus been given to the methods employed in making estimates of number and to the results arrived at. Unfortunately for purposes of comparison, these have been made for the past twenty years at irregular intervals, on entirely different methods, and by quite different persons, excepting in the one case of Mr. Elliott, who made elabomte observations on the spot both in 18*72-74, and in 1890, the latter being of special value for purposes of comparison with the conditions in 1891. 368. The first actual estimate of the total numbers of seals resorting to the Pribyloff Islands appears t'> have been that made by Bryant in 18^19. Bryant states that he discovered that there were no open places on the rookeries, that they began to fill at the water-line, and extended no further back than the breeding seals could occupy in a compact body. He then estimated the number to a square rod, and, presumably, by finding the number of square rods contained in the rookery grounds, found the total number of breeding seals to be 1,130,000. He next proceeded to estimate the non- breeding seals and young of the year, and states his belief that there were on the island [nc] not loss than 3,230,000.* If intended for both islands, as by the context it appears to be. this estimate is probably a reasonably fair one, made at least to tlie best of the writer's ability, though, as he does not state the number assumed to the square rod, we are without any exact means of checking it. 359. In his report, based on observations in 1872-74, Mr. Elliott claims the credit f jr the " discovery " that the seals collected on the rookeries in a uniform number to the square rod, and, with even greater candour than the last writer, puts us in possession of his unit of computation. This is very simple, for he merely allows two square feet to each breeding seal on the rookery ground, divides the whole number of square feet considered as rookery ground by two, and calls this the number of breeding seals. His discussion of the subject is somewhat lengthy, but he sums up his conclusions as follows : " Taking all these points into consideration, .... I quite safely calculate upon an average of two square feet to every animal, big and little, on the breeding grounds, as the initial point upon which to base an intelligent computation of the entire number of seals before U8."f Working upon this basis, he makes the number of breeding seals on the islands, in 1872-74, 9,193,420, and, adding an estimate for the non-breeding seals, raises the grand total to 4,700,000.$ 360. Lieutenant Maynard, in his Report written in 1874, states that the seals frequenting the Pribyloff Islands " have been variously estimated at from 1,000,000 to 15,000,000." He thinks Mr. Elliott's method of estimation to bo the most accurate, but, by adding a larger number of non-breeding seals, raises the grand total, m relating to the year 1872, to about 6,000,000.§ 361. Fourteen years after Mr. Elliott's estimate, Mr. G. R. Tingle, in 1887, expresses the belief that the area of rookery grounds had increased, and, employing Elliott's method of computation, arrived at tho figures 6,357,750 for ihe total number of seals. He explains, however, that the space given to each seal by this hypothesis was too small, and, consequently, reduces his estimate by one.-fourth, making it 4,768, '^00. || 362. It will be observed that EUliott's mode of computing the space occupied by the breeding seals has been made the basis for subsequent calculations, though both * "'Monofrrnph of Norlli Aineriron I'mnipedn," |>. »HiK t United SUIM* Centui Hepoii, p. AU. { Ibid., pp. 61 and Hi. § Houte of Rcpi(iienUtit««, E«. Uoc, No. tJ, HOi CungieaR, lui Hvaiion, p. 9. II IIou«e of Bopreientaliveii, Ueport No. 3883, 3(.'lii Coiignti, 2nd ScMioii, pp. 163 and 177. 65 Maynard and Tingle took the liberty of essentially changing the results as they would have appeared if this method had been strictly followed. ]s either wholly believed in it, but neither saw his way to substituting a more accurate basis, and both, therefore, merely modified its results by guessing at additions or subtractions. 363. Elliott's basis of computation must, however, be taken subject to his owi\ measurements of an adult female, which are as follows : Length, 50 inches ; girth, .?6 or 37 inches. Such an animal, in a recumbent position, would be contained in a rectnngic of as nearly as possible 4, instead of 2, square feet, and as it is not the normal habit of seals to lie overlapped one upon another, or to stand upright on their hind flippers, it is surely clear that his unit of measurement is an erroneous one. This appears to have occurred to the author himself, for, in stating tlie totals of various rookery areas, he writes, cautiously, '' making ground for " so many seals, and it is not till he proceeds to make up his grand totals that this statement is suddenly exchanged (though in the same tables) for one representing actual number of seals. 364. This fact of measurement is not, however, the most palpable source of error in these calculations, for the nature of the ground occupied by the breeding seals in itself renders them wholly inapplicable. A first in.spection of the territory covered by any one of the PribylofF rookeries is sufficient to show this, and the fact becomes more and more o'lvious as they are examined in detail. The notes already given (§ 250 et seq.) on the character of the rookery grounds may indicate the reason of this criticism, but it would be difficult to convey an adequate idea of the rocky and broken character of some of them by any description. Photographs may serve to exhibit better their general nature, and it appears to be reasonably within limits of error to conjecture that, in the aggregate of the Pribyloff Kookery g-ounds, not more than one-half the whole space included by their outer limits can, under any circumstances, be assumed to be a surface so level as to be "ground for the resting-place of seals." * 366. It has been considered necessary to deal with this subject because of its direct bearing upon the question of the fluctuation and general diminution of the seals upon the rookeries, and the evidence that it affords of the now scarcely-questioned fact, that the estimates made in the earlier ";ars of the control of the islands by the United States were absurdly high. It may be added that no single individual of the many questioned by us who had been familiar with the Pribyloff or Commander Islands, or both, for longer or shorter periods, was found to be ready to maintain even the approxi- mate accuracy of the statements of number of seals according to the above- discussed method of enumeration. 36'.}. By way of further substantiating the conclusions arrived at, however, it may be well to quote a few published opinions bearing on it, which occur in the Congressional Inquiry into the Fur-seal Fisheries of Alaska, made in 1888 : — • Mr. 8. M. Biiynitzky, Government Agent on the islands during parts of the years 1870-71-72, says: "I saw an approximate estimate made by Mr. lillliott .... I do not think any estimate would be within a million or two. I think he puts them at five millions, but it may be three or seven millions, as they are countless." Mr. G. Wardman, Government Agent on St. George Island from 1881 to 1885, asked as to the total number of seals on the islands, says : " I never could mak ; it so much as Professor Elliott has done. I made many estimntes. I have been to all the rookeries on the islands many times, and compared them with the space occupied by the carcasses on the killing grounds, and I feel pretty confident that the whole number has been over-estimated." He then proceeds to justify his opinion by special references to rookeries on St. George and to measurements. Mr. T. F. Morgan, who was on the Pribyloff Islands in 1868-69, and again during every killing season from 1874 to 1888, as an employ^ of the Alaska Commercial Company, says, respecting the number of seals: "I think that Professor Elliott has over-estimated it . . . : he laid down the carcasses of seals and measured around them, and then measured the rookeries. . . . But they do not lie all over the territory which he marked out. . . . The seals did not cover the whole area as thoroughly as he measured it." Dr. H. H. Mclntyre, Superintendent for the Alaska Commercial Company, and on the islands every year, except three, from 1870 to 1888, says: " I think the number has been very largely over-estimated in the reports of naturalists who have observed the habits of the animals on the seal islands. They have made their mistake in supposing that all the ground which shows signs of having been occupied by seals is covered by them simultaneously, when the fact is, that the bachelor seals may be found to-day upon [806] * lloute of RcprtwnUtiret, Rtport No. 3883, SOlh Congreu, 9nd Seitldii. K 2 i •*'■ \::X'. 66 a certain rookery, and another time upon another place. The result is, the Hamc animals in many instances have been counted two or three times. [ think the estimates arc fully one-third, or perhaps one-half, too high." 367. No further estimate of the total number of seals upoji the Pribyloif Islands appears to have been made until that of Mr. Elliott in 1890, in which the grand total arrived at is 959,393 breeding seals, including only 350,0;il) breeding females, besides a large number of barren females, while the number of male seals over one year old did not exceed 100,000. 368. The citations abovo given are sufficient to show the character of the estimates of numbers made, and to indicate why it is impossible to follow the changes and fluctua- tions in numbers of seals resorting to the Pribyloff Islands directly and by these means alone. -In his original report of 1874, Lieutenant Maynard very sensibly remarks that the most trustworthy index of the condition of the rookeries is to be found in the aggregate area occupied by tliem at particular dates in each season, rather than in actual numbers of seals, which can never be anything but mere approximations. His suggestion, that plans should be made and marked with the rookery limits in each year, was unfortunately not carried out, and we are thus thrown hack upon indirect methods of instituting comparisons between the ))ast and present condition of seal life upon the islands. We can only hope that for the future steps will be taken accurately to peg out or mark the limits of the existing rookeries as a criterion of changes certain to occur from year to year. 369. The auxiliary methods which were adopted in making comparisons of the past and present condition of the rookeries, included careful personal observation at three different periods in the season of 1891, made in the light of evidence previously published, and with tlic aid of formal and informal (juestioning and conversation with all those aCTually engaged in the work on the itdandH, as well as with many who had previously worked on the islands, but were at the time in other independent employments. 370. The differing ages at which the males and females respectively reach maturity and enter into the breeding class, together with the varying times at which the sexes are supposed to continue in this class, with other circumstances already detailed as to the habits of the fur-seals, together afford the data for very elaborate calculations as to tlie rate of increase or decrease of numbers of seals under various conditions, and subject to the killing of certain numbers of seals of specified sexes and ages. Such calcula- tions, from a practical point of view, are, however, more curious than useful: first, because ot the uncertainty of many of the data, due to a want of necessarily precise information ; ant^ second, from the impossibility of including the consideration of the varying natural causes of loss, which in some years may be so serious as to entirely vitiate any arithmetical result which may be arrived at by such a calculation. An attempt of a very general character has, nevertheless, been made to illustrate the normal increase and possible killing of seals, which may be presented for the purpose of putting the matter in point. In this calculation roughly approximate data only are employed, because it is believed that such data are, under the circumstances, likely to yield results as tnistworthy as any assumptions of a refined and definite character. 37 1. The state ot the breeding rookeries of the fnr-seal, under normal circum- stances, and while the surplus of males is being annually killed off, may, it is believed, be fairly represented by a unit value consisting of — breeding males 10,000, breeding females 100,000. Bryant's estimate (which appears to be the best) of young surviving to reach maturity, under normal circumstances, is 30 per cent, of the entire number born ; or with an annual birthrrate corresponding to the above " unit " of 100,000, 30,000 would reach " maturity " each year.* It may further be assumed that the average age of " maturity " in the two sexes is 4 years, and that the whole number of seals upon the rookeries during four preceding years has remained constant. vt72. Under these assumptions, 30,000 4-year-old seals would be added each year ; and it may be postulated, though it has not been actually ascertained, that of these 15,000 arc males and 15.000 females. Of these it may be supposed that 10 per cent, is required in each case to replace natural losses by death annually of the breeding classes, or, sny, 10,000 females and 1,000 males. 373. Under these assumptions, it is evident that a surplus of the yearly increment, cdhsisting of 14,000 males and 5,000 females, may be killed each year without damage to the existing state of the rookeries, which should thus remain at a fixed number. * BrjBUt estin:alrt that during the first year CO per cent, of the young are lost, during the lecoud year li per cent., but bpfore tliey arrive at maturity at leatl 10 per cent, more are destroyed. " Monograph of North American Pinnipeds," p. 407. 1 ••' ■i ., 1 . 67 The dcatli-ralc allowed is probably sufficient to cover nil but very exceptional natural causes of loss. If, however, under these circumstances, no females be killed, an addition of 5,000, or 5 per cent., on the whole number of females, will accrue to the rookeries yearly; and such increase, to maintain the requisite proportion of the sexes, will call for a similar increase of 5 per cent, in males, or riOO males ; thus reducing the number of males which m&y be killed, if killing is restricted to this sex, to 13,a00 annually. With such an«annual increase of 5 per cent, to the entire herd, this should double in number in about every fourteen years. Thus, about 770,000 breeding seals should produce annually 100,000 killable males of an average a,!>:e of 4 years, and still allow for a 5 per cent, annual increase of the breeding seals. 374. Adding to the assumed unit of 110,000 breeding seals, male and female, the number of non-breeding seals required by Bryant's percentage estimates of loss by death of young, the following figures would represent the whole number of such seals at any one time : — Piip8, just burn .. .. .- YenrJings 2-jcor-olils . . . . , , 3-ye;u'-olds , . . . . , I'lffetc seals of both sexes, say Total of noii-breeding s^als 100,000 40,000 35,000 3^000 50,000 258,000 375. Adding to these the breeding seals, the whole number of seals present, when S0,000 may be killed annually without decreasing the aggregate number, would be 368,000, and proportionately, in order to produce an increase of 100,000 annually, a tolal number of 2,576,000. 376. As a matter of opinion, based on such information as we have been able to obtain, and notwithstanding the much larger number given to the islands by several of the estimates previously quoted, we are inclined to doubt whether the whole number of seals frequenting the Pribyloff Islands has ever, since the exceptional slaughter of 1868, actually exceeded 2,000,000, There can be no possible question that the actual number has been very greatly exaggerated in most of tlie computations made. If this opinion be approximately correct, it is evident that an annual slaughter of 100,000 males might lead to just such a continuous and cumulative decrease in total numbers as is elsewhere shown to have occurred before pelagic sealing had entered into the question. tcoiid year of Norib (N.) — Various Natitrnl Indications of Jormer Extent of Ground occupied hy Seals on the Pribyloff Islands. 377. It will be understood, that on the Pribylotf Islands all parts of the surface above the reach of the waves, and,not too rocky or too entirely composed of loose sand, is, in consequence of the humidity of the climate, naturally covered with grass, but that on the areas running back from the shore with a greater or less width, which are occupied as rookeries or hauling-grounds by the seals, the constant movement and passage of these animals entirely prevents any vegetable growth. Thus, these resorts^of seals, when seen even from a considerable distance, are quite distinctly marked as bare, earthy slopes. When more closely examined, it is further found that the rocky projections and scattered angular rosks, which are common to a greater or less extent to nearly all the rookery grounds, have had the angles more or less polished and worn by the constant movement of the seals over them. The rocks being generally basaltic contain no very hard minerals, and there being a certain proportion of silicious matter in the sand, this supplies a very etHcient polishing material, which is applied by the flippers and bodies of the seals. The polish thus imparted to portions oi the rocks is different from that produced by wind-drifted sand in beipg chiefly confined to points and angles, and is thus easily distinguished from it. 378. It is found that such partly polished rocks are characteristic particularly of the seaward side of the several rookery grounds, and that further inland, and at greater distances from the central parts of the several rookeries, the appearance becomes less and less well marked, till it at length ceases to be observable. 379. It is evident that the polishing and wearing down of rocky angles in the manner above described can have occurred only during long series of years ; but it is also evident that the occupation of the same spot by large numbers of seals, say once in ri w 68 •i t every third or even everv fifth or tenth vear, woald he sufficient to render the polinhing procesB practically continuous. That, in fac'., any particular rocky spot, if not occupied for intervals of several or many years, wruld not in such intervals lose the traces impressed upon it by former occupation, an> that, if reoccupicd from time to time, these traces would become cumulative. Experience gained in connection with the examination of polishing due to the glacial period in other regions, impressed on just such roclcs as those of the Pribyloff Islands, shows that such polisliing is exceedingly enduring, and that the mere action of the weather upon polished rock angles; like those found upon some of the breeding grounds, cannot have perceptibly operated in the direction of their obliteration since the earliest human knowledge of the Pribyloff Islands. Other- wise stated, it may be safely asserted, that while affording no valid evidence of recent occupation, such traces give invaluable evidence as to the whole area at any time long occupied by large numbers of seals during the past few hundred years. S80. In consequence of the want of actual information as to the extent of jieal* occupied ground about the various breeding places on the Pribyloff Islands in various years, a very general tendency is apparent, even among those who have been familiar with the islands for several years, to magnify the conditions of the past at the expense of the present, and free scope is often given to the imagination in describing the former extent of various rookeries and hauling grounds. An excellent corrective to generaliza- tions of this ' kind was found, however, in noting the bare or lichen>covered surfaces of the scattered rocks. I'he climate, as well as the rock surfaces of the Pribyloff Islands, are well adapted to the growth of lichens, but where seals have been in any considerable numbers, no lichens are found on any surface over which they can climb, or which has been within the reach of their flippers. A knowledge of the very slow growth of lichens was sufficient to indicate that where such accessible rocks were well lichen-covered, seal life must have been but scantily, if at all, represented for a long term of years. 381. An observation of fhis particular fact, continued from rookery to rookery over both islands, showed that the lichened rocks often extended quite to the limits of the ground still annually kept bare of grass by the seals. By this statement, it is not meant to affirm that the lichened rocks and stones were always and everywhere conterminous with the limit of the bared ground, but that in many cases easily accessible points of ground touched these limits, both on tit. Paul and St. George, and thus proved that the seal-frequented area had not contimiously overpassed the actual limits for a considerable number of years, and that vague statements to a contrary effect were necessarily erroneous. This was particularly noted on West Zapadnie Rookery, on certain parts of the Reef rookeries, and those of North-East Point on St. Paul, and on the Little Eastern Bookery on St. George ; but as a criterion, it was in a lesser degree distinctly observed on nearly all of the breeding grounds. 382. To render the meaning of this fact clear to those who have not particularly {>aid attention to this subject, the following quotation may be given from the article on ichens in the "Encyclopaedia Britannica" : — r* "In this fitful and abnormal life of lichens, we have the explanation in a great measure of their almost indefinite duration of existence. Ic is well known that they are perennial plants in the widest sense of this term ; and that, though in the earlier stages of their existence, their growth is comparatively rapid, yet this becomes extremely slow when they arrive at a certain age. The time required for the development of even the most rapidly growing species may be calculated by the appearances of such of these as arc met with on gravestones, mortar of houses, stone walls, wooden palings, and such like, the date of whose erection is known. Amongst other instances that have come under the present writer's own observation may be adduced the case of Physcia parietina [the common grey lichen of the Pribyloff Islands is a Physcia], growing in fair quantity on the stones of a granite wall, built in 18-36, in a maritime district where the plant is extremely abundant, and where the atmospherical and other conditions are well suited for its growth. In a recent visit to the spot, it was found that although the thallus is now well developed, no fructification whatever is visible, though traces of spermogones are beginning to appear, so that, in a space of foi-ty-five years, this plant has not yet attained full maturity." 383. Still another characteristic of the rookery grounds is, that their surfaces are generally composed, especially in hollows subjected to little wear, of a felted coat of mud and hair. In the damp climate of the Pribyloff Islands this characteristic does not endure very long, and when any particular area is abandoned for a few years by the seals, it .•■con becomes again covered with grass. ' i ■*- * Ninth edition, voU ily, p, 55l< ..:.' • 'R' 69 are It of not eals, 984. This last circumstance leads to the consideration of a fact, upon which much stress has lately been laid, in connection with the estimation of the present and former areas of the rookeries and hauling grounds. It is quite noticeable that when an area doubtless originally covered with rough, tussocky grass of long growth, and of the character normal to the islands (and generally or always confined to the single species, Elymua mollis), has been occupied by seals for such a time as to eradicate this grass and smooth down the lumpy surface upon which it grew, the temporary or permanent abandonment of the area is followed by the appearance on it of grasses of a shorter and closer growth, and which in the later summer and autumn sooner assume yellowish colours, in consequence of which the outlines of the previously occupied area become clearly defined. It is quite natural, that in the unfortunate absence of any consecutive record of the extent of the rookery grounds, or of correct or comparable estimates of the number of seals upon them or upon the islands as a whole, these "' grass limits," as they may be called for brevity, have been seized upon as something tan^-ible. 38ff. The '' grass limits " are often quite readily observable, particularly from a little distance, and some special attention was given to them in order to ascertain, as far as possible, to what extent they might be employed as a criterion of change, and particu- larly of diminution in the areas frequented by seals, or in the aggregate number of seals resorting to the islands. 380. It may be mentioned, in the first place, that the grasses to be found in these particular areas are not in themselves peculiar, but it is merely the predominance of certain forms and their mode of growth which seems to outline such areas, the most abundant grass being apparently Descha'npsia (Aira) coeapitosa, with which the little cruciferous plant Cochlearia officinalis is often mingled. Farther, that a very similar growth and colouration is found in other parts of the islands, which have never been known to be, and which in all probability never have been, frequented by fur-seals ; as, for instance, on the easterly slopes of the low hill upon which the flagstaff stands at St. Paul village. Making due allowance, however, for these and other accidental circiiinstances, the fact remains that, surrounding all, or nearly all, the present rookery grounds, there is a margin of varying width, and not always concentric with the still bare area, pretty clearly marked out by such difference of sod. 387. Respecting the time which it might take for any portion of seal-worn ground to revert to its oriin;inal tussocky condition if undisturbed, little can be said with certainty, further than that it must be many years. The tussocky character of the general surface upon the islands has arisen in the course of time and by the persistence of grass-clumps, about which sand and soil carried by the wind have collected, and vegetable matter produced by continued growth has accumulated. Experience on the western plains of North America, where a buffalo-path or cart-trail is sometimes found to have retained its identity, with little apparent change for thirty or more years, would indicate that the time of reversion here to the original state of the surface .<annot be placed at less than perhaps fifty years, while a century would, in all probability, more nearly represent it. 388. Without, however, attaching any importance to particular limits of time, it is peifectly clear that both in the extent of the seal-polished rocks and in that of the distinctive vegetation, we see marked the greatest expansion which the areas so charac- terized have at any time attained during the last 100 years or so, and that these traces thus carry us back so far as to render them of little value in the elucidation of the changes of late years. Still further, it is obvious that such limits need not, and probably do not, quantitatively represent the actual expansion of the seal herd centering about any given rookery ground, but, on the contrary, indicate an outer boundary, within the limits of which the seals have oscillated during a long terra of years. The extraordinary fixity which has been attributed to the rookery areas and hauling grounds, arising naturally from a popular exaggeration of their sub-permanent character, has alone rendered it mentally possible to advance to the further stage of belief, which has induced some writers to assume that the whole of the areas showing traces of seal occupation have been at some definite time simultaneously and closely occupied. There is no basis for any such belief in nature, or in the observed habits of the seals, and any reference to it with this meaning involved, merely tends to cloud the consideration of the true facts of the case. 389. Dr. Mclntyre, in a passage already quoted, refers clearly to this point, and the facts previously given in connection with changes in the rookeries further illustrate it, though ii is not at once grasped in an inspection of the seal islauds for the first time, or in one coiiliued to a single period of the year. It is, moreover, very easily understood that any one with but a general remembrance of the former greater abundance of seals on the islands, if asked to indicate the limits occupied by them and groping for some ;l ■••i 1 ! m f ,«.■■ . 70 tangible means of doing so, should seize upon the " grass limit " as affording this means, anamaintain that that limit h co-extensive with the spread of the seals in the " sixties" or in the " seventies," as the case may be. 800. The best locality actually found for observing the circumstances connected with old seal-frequented areas was that of the important rookeries of North-East Point. The " grass limit " was there particularly well marked, especially in the month of September, and it was noted thf t (he rocks with polished edges scarcely, and then only in a very aligbtly marked forn:, extended as far as the " grass limit," giving reason to believe that the ground had been at no time thickly or very continuouBly frequcVited by seals to this limit. The nearly straight shore- line running eastward from Hutchinson Hill is almost, ov practically quite, continuously occupied by breeding- sonls, though these occupy a much greater width in some places than in others. As early as the 5th August, 1891, it was observable from Hutchinson Hill, in connection with the general change in the rookeries at about this date, thai considerable bodies of iieals liad worked buck in three places J|uitc to the margin of the " grass limit," and in a fourth had almost reached this limit, n thus working inland, the respectivi-* bodies of seals had formed fout " bays," gradually narrowing toward the inner ends, where the greater number of seals were at the time gathered, but of which the limits were quite distinctly marked by the flattening down and partial disappearance of the short gri^ss, and the fact that mud and sand had been drawn over it by the restless movement of the seals. This observation alono was sufficient to indicate that even the present number of seals might naturally, in the course of a few J rears, work over every part of the territory on the soaword side of the general "gross imit," and that this limit might thus be ])erennially maintained. 391. When the same part of the !North-EastBookery was re>examined4n the middle of September, though there were still some large " pods " of seals scattered out as far as the "grass limit," the arrangement above described had partly broken up, and the "bays" were not so distinctly outlined, as recent rains had washed and jmrtly revived the seal-trodden grass by which they had previously been marked out. The seals occupying the "hay" nearest to tlie base of the hill had, however^ moved still further back, and were actually in occupation to tKe nnmber of 2,000, or thereabouts, of nn area of the longer and tussocky grass to the rear of the general " grass limit." At the same date, near the western base cf the long slope of Hutchinson Hill, n conHiderable area of the Ljorter turf on the seaward tide of the " grass limit " was found to show obvious traces of having been occupied by a large number of seals for some days at least, though they had subsequently abandoned it for some other locality. Here, again, one corner of the area thus marked out by recent occupation overpassed the " grass limit," and covered a snperficies estimated at about .50,000 square feet of the long tussocky grass, which showed no sign of previous occupation by seols. The shorter grass had naturally suffered more than the longer, being flattened down, partially worn off, and pressed into the mud The longer grass in the course of a year will probably show no trace of its occupation. 392. Passing now to several changes of the same general character noted on the Beef Rookery : — As early as the 18th August, not only was a larger number of seals than before observed (mostly holluschickic) seen 'hauled out on the outer part of Z ,!tni sands, nt the inner end of Reef Point, but they were also scattered in considerable numiiers far back on the hill. There were in all probably about 3,000 seals here at this time, a.id one-half of them were estimated to bo "killablc" seals. On the loth September largs droves of seals were resting or ravelling about all ports of the bare "parade ground'" between the Reof and Gorbotch rookeries, which had on previous visits, six weeks and nine weeks before respectively, been but scantily occupied, and which, if noted only in the earlier part of the season, »ould have been characterized as an area practically abandoned by seals. The only notable exception to this occupation was the grassy flat to the south- west of "Fox Hill," which for some reason was not frequented, and shows little sign of having been much occupied either in. this or former years. While, therefore, it might easily have been assumed at earlier dotes in the season that the hare slopes of the " parade " indicated the former existence of great masses of seals unlike any now to be found, the reason of the absence of grass upon them, even under the present circum> stances, became -perfectly obvious on a later inspection. 393. Before leaving this particular subject, it may be well further to mention that there is on the North-East Point a considerable area of what may be called " spurious grass limit," to the west of the slopes of Hutchinson Hill, and extending nearly to Gross Hill. Here there is a flat, spreading back from the beach and bounded on the inland aide by a low rise or step, which might easily be mistaken for a very wide expansion of a former rookery ground, but which is in reality not due to any such cause, but is physically different. The higher flat, running inland from the step or low bank just 71 referred to, is chiefly composed of loose, porous sand, a few feet only in thickness at the edge, but extending in greater or less thickness over a considerable portion of the interior of the whole iJorth-East Point peninsula. This is overgrown by rough, tussocky grass. Between the edge of the step and the sea the superficial sandy covering has been removed, probably by the action of the wind and sea in exceptional storms, and has exposed n stony and bouldcry lower surface, on which volcanic soil rather than sand is packed between the rocky fragments. All that part of the lower area which is grassed, is covered with n shorter and yellower Kind of grass. No distinct " grass limit " can, therefore, be traced across it, and it is impossible in this place to outline the maximum limit of seal occu])ation at any period except by the polished character of the rocks, a feature which ceases to be observable long before the edge of the upper flat is reached. 304. The general features here described arc well shoNvn in the sketch forming Plate IX in Mr. Elliott's Census Report, though in this sketch, for artistic efloct, the horizontal distances arc considerably reduced in proportion to tlie vertical dimensions. The Hinuous line of the edge of the higher flat may be clearly traced by the longer grass, and it is obvious that the seals did not approach this line even at the time this sketch was made, or in 1872-74. A photograph taken from the same ])ointof view in 181)1 indicates the structural peculiarities of this stretch of ground still more conclusively. ?95. It may therefore be stated, in concluding the consideration of this subjcut, that neither the extent cf the seal-polished rocks nor that of the " grass limits " in the vicinity of the breeding grounds, can be trusted to for the purpose of giving information as to clianges in area or position of ground occupied by seals in recent years, as contrasted with that at present occupied. Far less can it be taken to indicate in any reliable manner the numerical decrease in the seals in these years, or be accepted in place of the annual details on this subject which an intelligent supervision of the rookeries would have exacted as a matter of prime importance, but which arc unfortunately wanting, and can only be in part supplied by incidental allusions or collaterfll observations which have been preserved. Whether considered from a general point of view, or in the light of the sj)ecial inquiries made in 1891, such indications as those above referred to must be admitted to mark out only the maximum average limit of oscillation and range of seal occupation during a very long period of years. While, therefore, exact recent surveys of the areas marked out by such "grass limits" or otherwise, in tlic vicinity of rookeries, may possess a certain limited intrinsic interest, they can have a' solutely no fixed value in connection with the practical matters under discussion. It is, in fact, largely to ideas loosely based on the observable extent of ground which has at one time or another, but never simultaneously, been occupied by seals, that many of the exaggerated estimates of the amount of the present reduction in number of seals in the islands may be directly traced. I oers jn of light the that rious y to just (O.) — Chanyes in Hnbits of the Fur'Scal in recent Ycam. 390. The systematic and persistent hunting and slaughter of the fur-seal of the North Pacific, both on shore and at sea, has naturally and inevitably given rise to certain changes in the habits and mode of life of that animal, wliich are of importance not only in themselves, but as indicating the effects of such pursuit, and in showing in what particular this is injurious to seal life as a whole. Such changes doubtless began more than a century ago, and some of them may be traced in the liistoiical precis, else- where given (§ 78-' et seq.). It is unfortunately true, however, that the disturbance to the normal course of seal life has become even more serious in recent years, and that there is, therefore, no lack of material from Avhich to study its charactci' and effect even at the present time. 397. The changes in 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 circumstances 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. Changes of the second class embrace those which have resulted from a disproportion of the sexes, produced by the continuous and excessive killing of males of certain ages, and from new and more destructive methods adopted on the breeding islands because of dinnnished numbers and other such circumstances. The increasing irregularity and overlapping in the dates in the events of seal life may be included in this latter class. [305J L ir' if T ■PTT55r- m !§] . ! ! ■ i 1 1 \4 'i 72 " ■ .' 308. Chnnj^cs of the flrst clasH haTc now apiuirently bceomp, in n measure, hereditary, While those of the second depend almost from year to ^veiir up«m the treatment at the time nt'forded to the seals, and might, in the course of a few years at most, with cnrc, bo oansed to revert to their former normal condition. 890. Pelagic sealers of experience are almost unanimous in stating that tlie fur-seal is eaeh year becoming more ulert and difficult of approach mid captLre, uhilo the independent native hunters add their testimony to the same effect, and there can lie no question as to the general fact. Snch changes are more notable at sea th:in on the breeding islands, for when at sea the seal is in its natural clement, and free to exercise its instincts of self-preservation ; when on shore at the bree<ling season it is, on the contrary, practically defenceless, and, beyond the insiiiict to attempt to escape from immediate death about to be inflicted by the club or otherwise, it is incapable of seeking safety, and is at the mercy of the scaUkiller. Its wily refuge, under these circumstances, is to seek, if such may be found, some new breeding-place unknown or inaccessible to man. Captain Scammcn, many years ago, adverted to this fact in the following terms : " We may add, likewise, from our own observation, and as the expressed opinion of several experienced sealing-masters, that their natural migritions extend over u great expanse of ocean ; and if they are unduly disturbed in their favourite haunts for several successive years, they are quite sure to seek some distant and unknown place, where they can congregate unmolested by man."* 40(». It is doubtless in consequence of this fact, as already pointed out, that the Pribyloff and Commander Islands had long ago become the special resorts of the fur- seal of the North Pacific, and to the same cause must be attributed the abandonment of other breeding grounds formerly frequented by this animal, as well as the attempts to take tip new rookeries which have been mentioned when describing the facts of seal life along the western shores of the North Pacific. 401. As above stated, nearly all the pelagic scalers concur in the opinion that the fur-seal is annually becoming' more shy and wary at sea. They add that this is most apparent in that part of the east side of the North Pacific to the south of the Aleutian Islands, but that it is becomiug equally marked in the eastern part of Rehring Sea ;• while in the western part of the sea, where pelagic sealing has as yet been scarcely practised, the seals do not show the same fear of boats, and are more easily approached. It is thus evident that greater skill and caution is annually required on the. part of the pelagic hunters, and on' 'the assumption that the number of seals met vithat sea has remained the same in proportion to ares of surface, the statistics quoted OQ PA later page respecting the catch made in relation- to each boat employed, would appeat to show that the dexterity of the hunters has increased, pari passu, with the. wariness of the seals. 402. The facts observed by the pelagic sealers in regard to the abundance or otherwise of f-eals at sea have important bearings on the general question of the v'hole number of seals.now or in recent years inhabiting the North Pacific, and also wbcn^ taken in.conjunction- with the tedtiction in numbers on the, breeding islands, in evidencing tile- changes in habits hcrei specially referred Ut. The general ,tenor of the whole of. the evidence to be obtained on this particular subject, whetlier directly by oarselves or.from' other sources, shews>:that though changes in position are noticed from year ta ^oar, no decrease in numbers, has occurred at sea, Jivhile an actual increase is in many cases repotted. This circumstance- of the oontinued abundance of seals at sea in the whole tract of ocean frequented by the pelagic sealera is so notable, aiid at the same ^ime so entirely opposed .to some, loose general statcmenis as to diminution, which have found currency, that some evidence relating to it mdy properly be adduced.' ,. , .403- In 1889, Captain J. O. .Warren, whose experience is entirely pelagic, aaOie has ner^r been within. hight. of the Pribyloff IsUihIs, says : "I bare noticed no diminution in tire number of seals during th& t^wenty years I have- been in the business^, but -if any ciiaiige, at all an inorease."t Captain W. O'Leary gays, in the same' year: " I-dop not tfaptk Ihere is any decrease in the.niHnber ofi seals entering Behring" Hea, 1 ncvei* , saw BO isaoy seal along- the coast as 'there were this year, and in, Cehring Sea; they were mote numerous tluia L ever saw them before.^'}.: In< the following' year ^r. A- 1^- Milne, .Gdl^or.of Customs at Yictpria, after, detailing his inquiries made from pelagic sealers, says-: "I can now safely repeat wbiat l.have already said and written, that owners and masters do noJt entertain the slightest idea that the soals are at all scarce.".§ : . ^ , . i ^ • . ' '< '),..i. ...i • '.' Marine Mammalin," p. !62. t Parliamentary I'aper [C. 61313, 1>- 336. London, 1890. § Parliamentary I*apcr fC. 6353]. Londop, 1690. X Ibid., p. 357. i ■'9 73 401. Messi'H. Cnrne and Munsic, in a letter, dHted the 3l8t October, 1890, addrcHsed to Mr. Milne, uttite timt while tlic Menls Imd in that ycnr, both in Uchring Soa and along; the const, to some extent changed their grounds, they did not appear to be any !>carcer (lian when they first engaged in the scaling I)llsinc^ .s in 1884. In 1890, they found the senis most plentiful to the north and eastward of the Islandn of St. I'aul and St. George, and distant from the;-> from 35 to GO miles, while in former years they were most al>iindant to tlie wc.-iinard of tlie'<e islands. All their cnpfains reported tlint the seals were as plentiful as ever in JJchring Sea, and attributed the comparatively sniall catches made to the rough and foggy weather that prevailed during the season. Captain J. S. Cox, in a letter bearing the snmo divto as that from which tiic ai)()vo statements are taken, and addressed to the same gentleman, says that the ninslcrs of his schooners report tliat thu seals are not getting any scarcer. The liniitcMl catch made wns, in tlieir opinion, due entirely to the bad weather which prevailed in Hebring Sea during the scaling season. They found the seals most [lientiful to the east of St. Paul and St. George Islands. Messrs. Hall, Goepel, i>nd Vo., in a letter, dated the Ist November, 1800, and also addressed to Mr. Milne, slate that the captains of their schooners found tlie seals to be as plentiful as in any previous year, but that, owing to the foggy and boisterous weather encountered in I'obring .Sea, very large catches were not made. 105. During the month of .lanuary 1892, several captains of sealing-vesscls, and hunters on sucii vessels, were examined under oath by Mr. Milne at Victoria, and from tiu'ir evidence the following statements us to the relative abundance of seals in 1891, as compared with former years, are taken : — Mr. C. J. Kelly found the seals as abundant as formerly along the coast to the Shuniagin Islands. Captain Wm. Petit followed the seals north from Cape Flattery, and sajs: — " I found then\ more plentiful last year than I have any year since 1880; that is, from Cape Flattery north In Behring Sea as plentiful as in former years We saw more last year than for several years previously." Captahi W. E. Baker reported the seals to be as plentiful along the coast to He savs ; No .Shuniagi'.i Ts'ands as in former years, " in some jdaccs more plentiful." material dilference in my average catch for last four years." Captain A. liisset followed the seals north from Cape Flattery, and found them as abundant as ever before. Captain T . M. Magnesea says : — " I think they " (the seals) " were more plentiful last season than T ever saw tlicm liefove .... Tiie biggest catch I have ever made was last year, on the coast as well as in Behring Sea." Henry Crocker thinks, from what he saw of the seals, that " they were Just as many as before.'' Uiehard Thompson believed the seals were as plentiful as in the previous year. Andrew Laing had observed no decrease in the number of seals ; ''if anything, they wore a liitle more numerous than in 1890." Captain W. Cox took 1,000 seals in four days, 100 miles to the westward of the I'ribyloll Islands. He found the seals much more plentiful in Behring Sea than he had ever seen them before. 400. Similar evidence of a general character, and confirmatory of the statistics just quoted, was obtainetl by us in the autunmof 1891 from a numlier of sealing captains and iiunters, to the effect that the general experience was that seals were equally or more iibuiulant at .sea this year than they had been in former years. 407. 'i he actual success of individual sealing-vessels of course depends so largely upon tlie good fortune or good judgment which may enable them to fall in with and follow considerable bodies of seals, as well as on the weather experienced, that the figures representing the catch, compared to the boats or whole number of men employed, con.sti- tute a more trustworthy criterion than any such general statements. ^ [805J L 2 ■74 Compahisox between Uie number of Reals and Men cmployoil in the Fur-scal KUIury and the number of Seals taken. (Only Vessels sailin^i^ fro n Victoria are iuclude;!.* Your. Xumttcr of Xunil)or of Avoriiao Niiinlx r of .•\virin,' !•''■ KciiU. • Men. ]K<r Man. lio;it.4. IJoa'. 1887 .. 20,2f.n 361 56 123 Kit 1888 .. 21.320 442 53 170 11.1 1880 .. 27.8G8 481 58 170 I5t) 1890 .. 30.547 (505 69 24(1 160 1891 .. 49,615 981 46 353 134* * In 1891, nearly nil the schoonrrs wire watnid out of Behring Sen gome weeks before the expiry of tlie ordinnry liunting aeason. 408. In consiilerin{>; the general benrings of the above -itatenients oMaini'd from pelagic sealers, and of the numerical facts derived from an analysis of their catch, it must he remembered that the vessels engaged in sealing are able to curry on their work wherever (he seals may be found, and that the tendency of the seal to keep further fron the shores does not materially alfect their snccess. It is otherwise witii tlie independent native hunter,*, who employ the shore as their base of operations, and it is therefore chiefly from tlie observations made by these men that an idea can be formed of the recent chonges in habits of the seals. It must be noted here, however, before qnoting •his particular evidence, that circumstances of wind and weather, as well as the abundance or olhcrwiso of suitable food for tlie seal^^, Imve a great etfect locally on tiio numbers of seals of which the natives are cognizant, and that it is, therefore, rather on the general tenor of their observations than on any isolated notes that broad conclusions may be safely based. 409. In the Aleutian I.>-land,s, the natives questioned at Ounalaska began by stating that the rumbcr varied much from year to year, but the oldest among the hunters said that it had been aI)out the same for the past five or six years. 410. Ki Kadink Island, Mr. Washburn, the local agent of the Alaska Commercial Company, expressed the opinion tiiat seals wore four times more numerous in the vicinity of the shores of that island five years ago than at present, and that the number seen there lad decreased notably within the last two years. The seals did not now come into the shores as before, and did not enter Prince AVilliam Sound in large numbers as they had previously done, but remained at sea in thr neighbourhood of the Portlock and other banks. 411. The same gentleman informed us of the interesting fact, related I)y the natives of Kadiak, that one season, now many years ago, several hundred fur-seals h:ul formed a breeding rookery on one of the islands in Shelikoff Strait, but that this attempt had not been contiiuied. In June or July 1891, one recently born seal pup had been seen with its mother near the shore, about 20 miles to the west of St. Paul on Kadiak Island. 'J'his, however, v.as the only instance of the kind he could vouch for. 412. At Sitka, both Whites and Indians, familiar with the sealing business, stated that the hunters complained that the seals were now wild and difficult to approach, and united in attributing the comparatively small native catch of 1891 to this cause. 'Ilicy think that the number of schooners engaged in the fishery is the reason of this increased wariness. Captain Morrisay stated that he did not think the seals were less nunierons at sea this year than before, but tliat, on the contrary, all accounts show that they were more abundant than usual, and that a good catch would have been obtained had they not been so much disturbed by vessels. The Indians aver that long ago tlic seals were very numerous about Sitka, and it is a tradition or legend, that in early times they frequently landed on the islands in that vicinity. Within the memory of the living hunters, single seals had been seen ashore in various places on the islands off Sitka and near Cape Edgecombe. Two years ago, a female had been seen on the beach on the outer side of Cape Ommeny. 413. Am(mg the Indians from Klawok, an old man explained that in the time of his great-grandfather there were vast nnmbcrs both of seals and sea-otters in that vicinity, and that the old people said that in these times the seal gave birth to its young tliere. Ho had never heard, however, that there were any special places to which the seals Ves(rted for that purpose. 414. In the northern part of Queen Charlotte Islands, the Indians state that the feals have now become so timid, that in a hunting season of two months thej sometimes ;r 75 kill )\l)oiit th'niy Kcnls only to a cnnoe, wlicrcas they tbrmorly wore often able to get the MiTt number in one ilay. AVIicn they first bcgnn to hunt seals lystemntically, they ;;incrally f^ot titcni u or niilos from the Hhore, wherouH at the present time they had to ;;o ir* or 20 null's. Thc.v iittrihnto this change to (ho schooners which Ihey see engaged ill liunting ott* tlieir coast. Kdensaw, the old Chief, said tiiat many years ago the seals wore (iftt'ii found lying together on the water almost touching each other, and 30 or 50 ill a hunch, but that now they are more widely scattered. He further slated, that in former years he had sometimes seen full-grown bulls coming ashore in various places on the west coast of the islands in spring. Not many years ago, lie had seen a female •.villi a recently born pup on the shore near Cape Kaigani ; and once, long afo, ho had found a female seal in the act of giving birth to two pups on Hose Spit. These facts are of ])nrticular interest, from their bearing upon the statements quoted by Professor .1. A. vMloii, on the authority of Captain Bryant, now more than ten years ago, for while they do not directly confirm tliis statement, they tend to support it. Referring to Captain Hiynnt, Professor Allen writes : " In bis MS. Keport just received, he states that a half-hrccd hunter told him that he foimd in summer, on Queen Charlotte's Island, ;j;roui s of these nnimals, consisting of two or more beach-masters, with a do/en or more females and jiups, but no balf.grown males."* 415. Speaking of the same vicinity, and as the result of long experience, Mr. Alexander Mackenzie said that, judging from the number of skins taken, seals were loss abundant than formerly in Dixon Entrance, but that the fact must also be taken into consideration, that there were not now so many good hunters as before among the Indians. In 1881-82 and 1882-83 many skins were got, nut in the years since 1885 the number of skins had been smaller than before. 410. The Indian hunters of the Tshimsian tribes sa_) that before the seals were so nnich hunted, fome of them used to give birth to tl ir young on wWy islets in Hecate Strait. Living hunters had seen this. 417. Ai Bella-Bella, the Indian hunters staled that as long as they themselves could rememLiii, ,enls were very abundant in that vicinity. Thov had gradually decreased in nimiber till about four years ago, since which they had lieen moderately abundant for liiree years, and in 1891 had shown a marked increase in number. They sometimes, but rarely, saw seals, both male and female, coming out on the rocks. Two or three had at various times been killed on shore. 418. The Indians of iNawitti, who hunt about the north end of Vancouver Island, had no complaint to make of scarcity of seals. They said, on the contrary, that the hunting further at sea by schooners had, they thought, driven the seals into the entrance of Queen Chnrlotte Sound in greater numbers than before. They had occasionally seen seals of dilferent ages sleeping on the rocks. 419. At Clavoqnot Sound, on the west coast of Vancouver Island, .seals were said to have been very numerous long ago, but to have been seen in smaller numbers for some ten or fifteen years past. At Ahouset, also in Clayoquot Sound, the Indians said they bad never seen or heard of seals coming ashore to breed, or for any other purpose. 420. At Neah Bay, near Cape Flattery, the Indians stated that the seals seen by them, in that vicinity, are now fewer and more wary than before, and more difficult to kill. They have never seen even a single seal on the rocks, but always at sea. 42j. Keferring to the same place. Judge J. G. Swan writes, in 1880, that between IB.**? and 18GG seals were very few, but that since thai liu.e they had appeared in much larger numbers. t 422. Mr. K. Finlayson and Mr. T. Moffat, both long identified with the Hudson's Bay Company on the West Coast, believe that the fur-seals became notably more numerous in the waters adjacent to the coast of British Columbia about the time the Alaska Commercial Company obtained possession of the Pribyloff Islands. This they attribute to some difference in the mode of capture practised on these islands, in conse- quence of which the seals changed Uulv former habits. Captain Bryant has also t^articidarly referred to the abundance of fur-seals along the coasts of Oregon, Wash- ington, and British Columbia in 1869. { 423. Some years in which exceptionally large numbers of seals have been noted along various parts of the coast of British Columbia are referred to in other parts of thi» report. (See particularly § 223.) 424. On another page, and in connection with the subject of the migrations and • " Monograph of North American Pinnipeds," p. 333. t " Fishery Industries of the United btates," vol. ii, p. 394. \ " Mcnograph of North American I'mnipeds," p. 33'.!. 70 ".^i linbitnt of the fur-seal, Mr. J. \V. Mackay has been cited with reference to the former abunilancc of seals upon the southern part of Vancouver Island. His informants on tin's point were old Indian hunters of tlie Songis, Sooke, and Tlalum tril)es, inhabitin;"' tiic adjacent coasts. The following- additional statements by the same gentleman, IVi)m their bcarinji; on chnngos in habits of the seal, may appropriately be included here : " 'I'he Indiins above quoted stated that the fur-seal bred on the Race Rocks, on Smith's Island (Washington), and on several islands of the Gull" of (Jeorgia. They used to liavo their young to within a recent jjcriod <'n liie Haystack Islands, off Cape Scott, N'ai.couver Islaml. It is probable that a few Individuals still brei'd there, these islands beiiii!,' very inaccessible to small ciaft on account of the strong tides and cross currents which prevail in their neighbourhood." Mr. Mackay'a authority i'or the first ])art of the above statement are the Indians ])reviously referred to, and tlio nuitter must even, at the early date at which Mr. JMackay first knew them, have become traditional. 42.">. Under the heading of Migrations and Range (§ 171 cl sc(j.), sufficient allusicm lo the former abundance of fur-.seals on the Californian coast, and to their breeding places there, now appMrently abandoned, has been made. Further particular-. may he fmnid in Scammon's work and elsewhere. 420. From the foregoing notes, it may be gathered that the increasing timidity of the fur-seal has caused it almost comidetely to abantlon its original habit of ()oca>io!ially landing elsewhere than on the nniin breeding islands, and has led, besides, to the pr()b;il)]y comjdete abandonuient of certain local breeding places where small niunbers of seals resorted in former years. Not only so, but the seals now shun more thin over the entire vicinity of the coast, and are found at sea in undiminished quan!ity only by the pelagic scalers, whose operations do not depend on proximity to the land. The same instinct lias its effect also on the breeding islands, to the continuous harassing of the seals upon which its growth is doubtless in large part duo. On the islamls, it ^Isows itself i)articularly in the late arrival, short stay upon, or continued avoidancj of, the shores by those seals not actually engaged in breeding ; as well as in erratic variations in proporticmal numbers of seals of different classes at various reasons. These ch:\ngeH cannot be wholly attributed to t'.ie operations of the soa-sealcrs, for Ihoiigli not so striking on the Connnandor Islands as upon the Pribyhiff Islands, they arc still ohservablc there, though the contingent of seals visiting thf^so is'ands hiloiig as a whole to a different migration-tract, which has scarcely as yet been touched by pelagic sealers. 4U7. 'J"he fact that the breeding islands are now iidiabitod by man, is in itself an anoiiiah, and particularly so when the protection of the seals on these islands is combined vnth the requirements of a largo annual slaughter. Sueh circunistances need to be hedged about with most rigorous precautions, in order that tl'.ey may remain com- patible w ith the continuous prosperity of seal life. More care is taken in this respect on the Commander than on the Pribyloff Ishmds, but even there improvement seems pos.silde. On the Commander Islands, great precautions are observed to prevent the smell of smoke reaching the rookery grcnuids, particularly early in the season, when the seals first land. Coal-oil is used for cooking in the houses near the rookeries at this season, ami all (ires are quenched when the snioke blows in the direction of the rookeries. Smokin;; is not ])ormitted near the rookery grounds, and no one is allowed in their vicinity (unless for purposes of collecting a drive) but the superintendent of the island or the foreman in charge of ihe rookeries. 42S. There are, however, in addition to aelual fear and the instinct of self- preservation, other causes which now render the breeding islands, and particularly the Pribyloil islands, less continuously the resort of seals than formerly. Chief ann)ng these is the paucity of virile males, which makes the islands less nttractivo to the females, and, besides, has resulted in the existence of a large and increasing elass of barren females, which do not find themselves inuler tiie necessity of .«-eoking the shoie. 4'J{). On this point, speaking of an early date in the history of the islands, Veniaminor writes: "This opinion is founded on the fact that never /except in one year. 18)2) have an excessive number of females been seen without young; that cows not pregnant scarcely ever come to the Pribyloff Islands ; that such females cannot be scon every year."* 450. To this may he added the probable circumstance, that the constantly liaia.ssed and now much reduced number of young but already virile males, meet the fenniles niore couimonly than before at sea. Qiiutrd ill Uiiitod Sinlcs' Census Ilcpoit, p. 141, 77 431. Tlie occurrence of increased numbers of barren females hat* been more precisely noted on tbe Commander Islands than upon the Piibjloff Islands, probably because, as the result of a better system of protection there, thesei animals still come to the rookery grounds instead of staying al sea. In 1891, a large number of females were observed to be without young both on Behring and Copper Islands. 4''>2. fn the eastern part or the North Pacific, the increased number of barren I'ciiiales has principally been observed by ])elagic sealers. Theii' statements on this sulije t, whether those already published or those obtained by ourselves in conversation, cvo of course of a general kind, but they show tlmt while barren fcmnles are more (umiiron tlian before to the south of Behring Sea, nearly all the adult females got in Behring Sea itself are of this class. The Indian hunters of the Queen Charlotte's Islands, moreover, informed us, without being specially questioned on the subject, that venrs airo the females killed by them were always with young, but that this was now no longer llio case. Mr. A. Mackenzie, of the same place, stated that about two-thirds only of tlie fotnalcs killed were witii young. 40:3. Upon the I'ribyloff IsLnuIs in 1891, we did n.it ourselves note any great iil)iuul:inee of barren females, but the facts in this matter would be scarcely apparent to those not intimately ccmnected with the rookeries for more than u single year. In his otiieial report on the condition of the islands in 1890, Mr. Elliott states that there were llien 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.* 434. One direct result of a paucity of virile males, is to bring about an irregularity and change of dates in the events of seal life, which is especially notable upon the breeding islands in an unwonted absence of the usual precision and simultaneousness in tlioiso events. Instances of this are found in the recorded iustory of the Pril)yloft' Islands, elsewhere cited, and facts of tlie same kind are again markedly apparent at the present time. Such irregularities follow- from the circumstance that the period of gestation of the female is nearly twelve months in length; and that therefore any want of piompti- tiule in reimprognalion carries the time of birth on to 11 date later than usual in the following year. It is easy to see that such delay having once occurred, the female, under the most favourable circumstances, can only revert gradually and after several years to her original time; and that by a recurrence of delays in impregnation the change of time will not oidy be carried on from year to year, but must gradually depart more and more from the normal date. One impottant effect of the restilting late birth of tlic yoiirtg is to render these mnch more than otherwise open to danger of various kiiuls, net only to that resultitig from inclement 'and stormy autumn weather occurring while they are yet too young to withstand it, btit also from the circumstance that they must delay longer upon the breeding islands, and must pcrhapsin the eiwl leave these islands bcf(»ro their strength is sufficient for the long southern journey. 435. The best account of the nature of such changes in earlier years is that given by Ihyant, which is elsewhere quoted in abstract. The changes now apparent on tbi? rookery groim'ds of the Mbylotf Islands, a$ compared with the previ^msly described state of these i;rounds, and as pointed out by those familiar with thcn'i, are chiefly of the following kinds : — ■tW. A genferal detU'ease in the number of seals, whieh is ntost marked. in the disprojiortiorially small number of hoUuschickie or males of an age of less than about (i yfars. Allusion has already been' made to this in connection with the marked increase in fti/.c of the "harems" or cows held by a single adult bull, in late years. It is als(» strikingly apparent when the present conditions are contrasted with the descriptions of forfner years, in which the haltVigi-oWn but already Virile bidls are represented as haunting tlic vicinity <if the brec '.ing Vookerios in great numbers, and constantly struggling, to meet vhcifemaks upo* thenv,-tu" in the iiiargiti of the adjacent siea* It is further indii'at(*d; and Vefy detinitcly, by the practical inijxwsibility of procuring more than i'1,000 male skins in ISOO, thongh ovorve.xcrt'ion -was made to do so, and the standards ill 'weight of skins were gj'dfttly lowered, in-order t^i ttllow the inclusion of very young males. This effort was continued til! it? became patent- to tl»e Government officers- in eliarj^e tiiat it was useless' and rruol to allow it to g(» lurthor, because of the very large and Wnstttiitly increasing nnmbers of non-killable seals « hich "were driven and redrivcn to the killing grounds, in order to obtain a few passable skins. On this subject it may be well, ho\v ever,' n allow these dlRcers who witnessed and superintended those killings to speak for themscdves. 437. Mr. C. J. Goff says : " Heretofore, it was seldom that more than 15 per cent, o * Parliumentary Paper [C. 6368], p. 61. h: M ft 76 all the seals driven the latter part of June and the first few days in July wero too small to be killed ; but this season the case was reversed [notvvithstanding the lowcrinj^ of standards], and in many instances 80 to 85 per cent, were turned away . . . The season closed on the 20th July, and the drives in July show a decided increase in the percentages of small seals turned away, and a decrease in the killables over the drives in June, demonstrating conclusively that there were but few killable seals arriving, and that the larger part of these returning were the pups of last year," * 438. Colonel J. Murray gives an account of a meeting of the natives held for discunion in the same year and long continued, after which — " They unanimously declared that it was their firm belief and honest opinion that the seals have diminished, and would continue to diminish from year to year, because all the male seals hud been slaughtered without allowing any to come to maturity for use upon the breeding grounds ; " he adds : " I am now fully convinced by personal observation that it is only too true, and that the natives were correct in every p!iiticular."t 450. Captain A. W. Lavender says: ''The writer was surprised when ho first visited the rookeries to find no young bull seals upon them ; this looked strange to him, iind he began to look up the cause, and it occurred to him that the constant driving of young male seals, and the killing of all the 2- 3- 4- and £-year olds, that there were no young bulls left to go on to the rookeries, and without young blood the fur-seal industry will be somethmg of the past in a very few years." { 'J40. Mr. H. \V. Elliott, in his official report for 1890, remarks to the same eflTcct on the exhaustion of the supply of young male seals, and their reduction to a ' scant tenth of their number in 1872-74."§ 441. It is further noticed on the islands that the rookeries are more scaticrod and less definite in outline than in former years, and that the remaining holkischickie tend to lie close to the rookery edges for protection, a circumstance which materially adds to the diflficulty of collecting drives without unduly disturbing the breeding seals. 442. It is also generally admitted that the dates of arrival of the seals at the islands, and especially that of the arrival of the. females, is becoming on the average later each year. It is difficult to arrive at a precise statement on this subject, for obvious reasons, but some authorities place the average delay in arrival of females as compared with earlier years at as much as, or more than, two weeks. 443. On the Commander Islands, where the officers in charge were found ready to afford all information on such points with the utmost frankness, it has likewise been noted that the seals now arrive somewhat later than formerly. In 1S91, seals capable of yielding 10 and 12 pound skins were about a week later than usual in reaching Behring Island, and the killing, which on Copper Island generally bigins auout the 1st June, did not begin in 189 1 till the 22nd June. 444. A^'arious other irregularities have also been noticed in late jears in or about the Commander Islands. Thus, in 1890, there were rather few holluschickie, and females appeared in smallar numbers. Again, it was remarked ])articularly on Copper Island, that though there had been a large number of young born in 1890, yearlings came ashore in markedly small numbers in 1891. The natives professed themselves unable to account for this, but it is almost certain that the yearlings, in consequence of the unusually severe onslaught made on the seals in 1890, had simply remained at sea. This explanation is supported by the observation, that an unusually huge number of scattered seals were reported at sea between Behring Island and the coasts of Kamschatka and Siberia, in 1891, by the vessels belonging to the Russian Government and Company. In 1890, again, according to Mr. Tillman, an unusual event occurred in the arrival of a number of holluschickie and mature bulls quite fat, at Copper Island, in August. His conjecture was that these might have come from the Pribyloff Islands, but it is possible that these f.eals had merely remained fishing at sea until this exceptionally late date. 445. The general effect of these changes in habits of the seals is to minimize thi number to be seen at any one time on the breedi'ig islands, while the average number to be found at sea is at least propoitionately, though, perhaps, in face of a general decrease in total number of seals, not absolutely increased. The regularity of the routes of migration has no doubt been also to some extent interfered with, and it seems probable that the seals may now be more widely scattered at sea both in their winter and summer habitats than formerly. 44G. As to the eventual results of such changes in habits, if perpetuated and increased by the continued and further effect of the causes referred to, it is evident • Senate, Ex. Doc. No. 49, 51st Congress, 2nd b'ession, p. 4. t Ibid., p. 8. j; Ibid., p. 9. § Parliamentary I'npcr [0. 636t?], pp. 15, 16, 19, 21, 56, and 57. ^4 Slimmer ntcd and cviilent ., p. 9. 79 that they must tiltimntcly be injurious to all industries based on the capture of the fur- seal. It is probable that tlie seals might aKogethcr cease io frequent their present breeding grounds in mass, and instead, as hns been recorded in the Falkland and other islands in the fHouthern Hemisphere, scatter out to foim small irregular Colonies beneath cliffs or rocks which are practically inaccessible to man. They would thus doubtless manage to perpetuate <heir species, but the numbers might be very much reduced, so that the skins would cease to be a factor of commercial importance. Tlie continued prosperity of seal life requires, from its peculiar features, above all things, complete regularity and protection on the breeding places, and, deprived of these advantages, it lies open to many accidents and failures, which must affect it more prejudicially than can be determined i'rom the actual numerical amount of the slaughter for skins. The extract from Scammon's work, quoted in paragraph 399, is to the point in this connection. (P.)- -Fur'Seals Breeding on the Southern Part of the North American Coast. 447- It is evident that many years ago a considerable number of fur>!;eals bred in various places along the western coast of North America, and pro])ab1e that the seals so breeding did not take any part in the migration of the larger body to Behring Sea. Statements previously quoted respecting the fur-seals of the Califomian coast show this, and the traditions cf the Indians of the coast of British Columbia, particularly those relating to Race Kocks and Smith's Island, appear to have the same meaning. Judge J. Gr. Swan has also collected much evidence to the same effect, with particular reference to the vicinity of Cape Flattery, which may be found detailed in the " Fishery Industries of the United States" (vol. ii, p. 393), and in the "Bulletin of the United Stales' Fish Commission " (vol. iii, p. 201). Some of his observations we have been unable to confirm, but the statements since obtained from Mr. J. W. Mackay go far to prove that, in still earlier years than those referred to by Judge Swau, a certain number of seals regularly occupied certain breeding places in the vicinity of the Straits of Fuca. 448. Once established, whether on the Califomian or British Columbian coasts, such a race of southern-breeding seals must have become sub-permanent ; and, following the analogy of other rookery grounds, it is probable that the same animals tended each year to reoccupy the same, or nearly the same, breeding stations. It is probable that these southern-breeding families may have been directly connected with the larger northern- breeding race, and it is at least easy to see how they may have originated and been recruited from it. Females delayed from any cause, and giving birth to their young along the coast to the southward, must often be served by young males, and irregular and too early service may also occur in many instances in the case of young females, or of those barren since the previous year. In all such cases of too early service, it would be impossible for the female to reach the Pribyloff Islands in time for the birth of the young, owing to climatic causes. She would, no doubt, remain with the other seals till impelled by nature to seek the shore, and if in any particular year a considerable number of females collected together for breeding purposes, the males would doubtless soon find and follow them, and, if undisturbed, the family thus established might probably return to the same place again in the nest ensuing year. 449. This reasonable explanation, at all events, accords with the facts ascertained, and, moreover, in itself appears to have so much force, that even apart from these facts, it would be admissible to predicate the occasional birth of young along the whole extent of coast frequented by the fur-seal. It is further borne out by the actual existence of breeding rookeries situated ai'^ng or near to the migration route of the fur-seal on the western side of the Pacific, on the Kurile Islands and on Robben Island. These occupy the same position relatively to the principal breeding places on the Commander Islands, which the former similar colonies on the Nortli American coast must liave held re- latively to the Pribyloff Islands, and the survival of the southern colonics on the Asiatic side is directly due to the less persistent and less efficient hunting by the natives there. 460. This subject is in its nature closely related to the foregoing remarks on observed changes in habits. It also, however, connects itself with the general question of the origin of the regularly migratory habits osL.imcd by the larger number of the fur-seals of the North Pacific, a question referred to under the head of migrations. (Q.) — Connection or Interchange of Seals between the Pribyloff" and Commander Islands. 461. It is frequently assumed that the fur-seals inhabiting the whole North Pacific may, from year to year, resort almost indifferently to the Pribyloff or Commander Islands \m] M 1 1 I, .# I ■ - .' ' ''■ m I 80 at the breeding season. Statements to this effect have been made by v/irious authorities,* and, as already noted, <lie arrival,, in 1800, of a number of fat liolluschickie and adult males on Copper Island was accounted for by the Superintendent there on the hypothesis that they had migrated thither imm the Pril)ylotf Islands, though in reality his knowledge merely wniranted the statement tliat lie did not know whence they came. It has often been claimed by persons interested in justifying the methods practised on. the Pribyloff Islands, that the continued Jibundnnce of seals on tlio Commnnder Mands is not due to greater care there exercised, hut that they have been reinforced by accessions from the Pribyloff Islands, induced by the operations of pelagic sealers. One writer, indeed, took occasiyi, as early as 1887, to forestall any adverse criticism which might be directed against the methods and results on tie Pribyloff Islands and based on the diminution of seals tiiere, by stating, in nnticipation. that such decrease would have no meaning unless discussed in connection with an unknown but possible increase on the Commander Islands.f 452. When it is considered that for twenty years both groups of islands have been controlled by a single Company, whose employes were often transferred from island to island, it is remarkable that so little has been placed on record in regard to this particular question, especially in view of the importance evidently attached to it by the gentle- men connected with the Company whose statementa have just been referred to. Thougli unable to speak from personal observations on this point, it is clear that the result of .Mr. Elliott's investigation of the Pribyloff Islands led him to believe that an interrelation existed between the seals frequenting these islands and the Commander Islands, and that a familiarity with one group of the breeding iidands was insufficient to enable a complete view of tlie problem to be arrived at.{ 4o3. The inquiries and observations now madi\ however, enable it to be shown that the fur-seals of the two sides of tlie North Pacific belong in the main to practically distinct migration-tract-, both of which aro elsewhere traced out and described, and it is believed that while to a certain extent transfers of individual seals or of small groups occur, probably every year, betv.een the Pribyloff and Commander tribes, that tliis is exceptional rather than normal. It is not believed that any voluntary or systematic movement of fur-seals takes place from one group ot breeding islands to the other, but it is probable that a continued harassing of the seals upon one group might result in a course of years in a corresponding gradual accession to the other group. 454. There is no evidence whatever to show that any considerable branch of the seal tribe which has its winter home off the coast of British Columbia resorts in summer to the Commander Islands, whether voluntarily or led thither in pursuit of food-fishes, and inquiries along the Aleutian chain show that no regular migration route follows its direction, whether to the north or south of the islands. It is certain that the young seals in going southward from the Pribyloff Islands only rarely get drifted as far to the westward as the 172nd meridian of west longitude, while Attu Island, on the 173rd meridian east, is never visited by young seals, and therefore lies between- the regular autumn migration-routes of the seals going from the Pribyloff and Commander Islands respectively. 4;j5. The price obtained for skins from the Commander Islands has generally been somewhat lower than that for the Pribyloff skins, but this is beHeved to result rather from the less careful handling and preparation of the Commander Island skins than from any inherent inferiority. Under this belief, the Alaska Commercial Company at one time, in 187(», sent Mr. D. Webster, their most experienced foreman, to the Com- mander Islands, to introduce better modes of treating the skins there. M. Grebnitsky, however, states that there is some actual general difference in the skins, such as to enable them to be distinguished by an expert, and that he is informed that the Commander Island skins are more difficult to " unhair " in dressing. Snegiloff, the Aleut foreman in charge of the Behring Island rookeries, who had also been on the Pribyloff Islands for some years, stated that he had observed that in both sexes the seals on the Pribyloff Islands were somewhat shorler and stouttr than on the Commander Islands, and that the Pribyloff seals have thicker fur and shorter hair on the belly. This he attributed to the circum- * See EllioU, "Condition of Affairs in Alaska" (1875), \t. 26G ; Miller, House of Representatives, Report No. «i23, 44tli Consress, 1st Session, p. 4.t ; Buynitsky, House of Representatives, Report No. 388?, flOth Congress, 2nd Session, p. IC; Williams, ibid., I)p.'77 and 78; Elliott, United Stiitea' Census Report, pp. 69 and 157. t "Kishery Industries of the United Statei," vol. ii, p. 361. ^ See especially United States' Census Report, p. 69. 81 ^ stance that the seals stay longer ashore on the Pribyloff Islands. He said further, that on the Commander Islands the females are larger, and the mature males, or " seacatohie," often become nearly white about the manes with age. He added that on Uobben Tslund, in Okotsk Sea, the seals have still longer and thicker hair than on the Commander Islands. 456. As* there is a considerable range of individual diversity, particularly in colouration, among the seals of any single locality, it vould require much longer and more detailed examination than we ourselves were able to make, to verity these state- ments; but it appears to be probable that there is actually a flight general varietal difference as between the tribes frequenting the two princiiml groups of breeding islands, whether this is due to causes such as those above rcfenod to or other circumstances. The amount of interconnection between the two groups is doubtless, however, sutRcient to prevent any very striking or permanent peculiarities even of a varietal rank to grow up. 467. Home evidence not without importance in this connection is afforded by a comparison of the diagrams olpewhere given and representing the number of seals killed each year on the two groups of islands. Though affected by other causes as well, this number may be taken in a very general way as a record of the state of the rookeries as a whole, and the correspondence of the lines in the two diagrams is thus significant of connection or of co-operating causes. (B.) — Conditions afecting the •Scd'Otler and Sea-cow, contrasted with those affecting the Fur-seal, 458. It has often, but incorrectly, been stated that the fur-seal of the J^orth Pacific is in danger of " extermination " if measures be not taken to preserve it. The question is, however, not one of extermination, if by that term the extinction of the species is meant. The breeding Colonies of the analogous species in the Southern Hemisphere, once exploited and harried in every conceivable way, and without law or hin(Jrnncc of any kind for over fifty years, chieHy by New England vessels, have, in no known instance, been absolutely destroyed. Long before the poiiit of extermination is reached the killing of the seals, by whatever method practised, ceases to pay. Extermination is financially impossible, and therefore need not be feared. This is well enough understood by those best informed on the subject, and it is no sentimental dread of the exlinction of a species which appeals to the imagination of tlio persons immediately interested in the breeding islands, but rather the practical destruction of tiieir profitable monopoly of the sealing business of the North Pacific. Depletion, or great reduction in numbers, together with changes in habits of life, such as have been aheady indicated, are sure to be the result of continuous indiscriminate and unrestricted slaughter and hunting of the fur-seal, but not extermin.ition. To precisely what point the diminution in numbers of the fur-seal might go before the increased average price of the skins ceased to com- pensate for the reduced aggregate number taken, it is impossible to say, but that such a point would eventually be reached is proved by all experience. This experiment, how- ever, it is hoped, is one which need not he tried, for, as already made apparent, the fur- seal, by the nature of its life and habits, oilers [ eculiar facilities for the exercise of a rational protection under which it may remain a source of profit to the hunter, while at the same time affording a contir.uons yield of skins intrinsically valuable. 46 "rom this point of view, the sea-otter [Enhydra inariua) is an interesting case in point, 'i'his animal has played a prominent part in the discovery and history of the ^S'orth Pacific. Its skin was higlily valued long before that of the fur-seal was considered of any worth, and owing to its intrinsic value as an article of dress, its cost has continued to increase in a greater or less degree with its increasing scarcity, so that at the present time skins of the first quality are worth in London 700 to 1,000 dollars each. Surely, if it were possible to cxierminate a fur-bearing animal of this kind, the sea-otter should long ago have met with i hat fate, yet it has been hunted for more than a hundred years, and is still a chief object of pursuit of many hundreds of natives. 460. Originally, this animal frequented a large part of the west coast of North America, togetiier with the east coast of Asia, and all parts of the Aleutian, Pribyloff, Commander, and other islands. Its limits have now been much reduced, so that it is rarely found on the coast of British Colnmlna or anywhere to the south of Sitka, and has altogether disappeared from the Pribyloff Islands, while on the Asiatic coast it has similarly ceased to be a matter of commercial interest in the Kurile Inland chain. Although in tlie early part of the present century it was taken by thousands in certain localities, a few hundreds arc now considered an excellent catch for a considerabld [306] M 2 I If '«, m" ',1'.^ 82 district. It is to be remembered that the diminution of the sea-otter has been the result solely of operations conducted from the shore. In the old days the otter was clubbed, speared, or shot on the beaches, and afterwards from stages or from canoes close along the rocks and beaches. 461. The sea-otter possesses, however, one important advantage over the fur-seal in ' the nature of its procreation. The young are born at all seasons of the year and not simultaneously, and it is not necessary for this animal to resort in large numbers to particular breeding places, or to remain on or about such places for any considerable time. Its disadvantages as compared with the fur-seal are that it is not properly a pelagic animal feeding upon migratory fishes, but, on the contrary, subsists chiefly upon sea- urchins, molluscs, and other such creatures, which are only to be obtained in the immediate vicinity of the shores and their adjoining rocky patches and kelp beds. 462. As a result of its diminishing numbers, and the greater activity of the hunters, it has within historic times not only greatly increased in wariness, but has also very markedly changed its habits in dirccti(ms similar to those in which a change has already become observable in the case of the fur-seal. In earlier years, it frequented the rocky shores, and was frequently found on the land, forming in some instances veritable colonies or " rookeries," comparable in some respects with those of the fur-seal. The young in those days were probably always born on shore, and it seems further probable, though not proven, that many of the so-called " kitchen middens " of the Aleutian Islands, composed almost entirely of the shells of echinus, and attributed by Dall to the pre-historic Aleuts, really owe their origin to such pre-historic sea-otter colonies. At the present time, it has become an event ,of extreme rarity to see a sea-otter anywhere on those shores, and, so far as the natives who spend their lives in hunting the animal can ascertain, the young are now almost always brought forth on floating masses of kelp. 463. The sea-otter, in fact, appears, as the result of persistent hunting and of the efforts and instinct to elude pursuit, to have reached a practically irreducible minimum, at which it is likely to remain unchanged unless new factors enter into the problem. 464. The non-pelagic character of the sea-otter, however, renders its protection a matter of comparative facility as contrasted with the fur-seal. A strict preservation, for instance, on the Sannakh Islands, which still constitute one of its remaining favourite haunts, would, without doubt, result within a few years in this group being restocked with an abundance of sea-otters. 465. Probably, the only remaining notable colony (or rookery, as it is called from analogy with the breeding places of the fur-seal) is that which is now strictly preserved by the Russian Government on the north-west point of Copper Island, of the Commander group. The sea-otters are reported by the Superintendent of Copper Island as increasing here from year to year, though a limited n^imber is allowed to be taken by the natives each year, and though the natives are permitted to shoot, during the winter and in the absence of the fur-seals, any sea-otters found to the south of Matveya Point on the east coast, and a designated point somewhat further to the southward on the west coast. To the northward of the line thus defined, no shooting is at any time allowed for any purpose whatever. This reserved area thus comprises about five miles of the northern end of Copper Island, with Sulkovsky Point and the Bobroti rocks and reefs lying off this point. Here the sea-otters are taken at designated times and under Government supervision in twine nets, except in certain years in which the natives get a permit to make a drive of otters upon the rocks, and kill them there with clubs like the fur-seals. This was allowed in 1890, and twenty sea-otters were got in the drive, though more might have been secured but for some mistakes which occurred during the operation. One hundred and eighty sea- otter skins in all were obtained from Copper Island during the year 1890. , 466. Vigilance is required in gua'-ding this sea-otter colony from raids, and it is said that in 1887 or 1888 Captain Snow, in the schooner " Nemo," from Yokohama, and flying the British flag, attempted to raid the place, but was tired at and driven off. Snow was reported wounded, and two Japanese sailors killed. Since this time no raids have been attempted here. 467. Near Cape Lopatka, the southern extreme of Kamschatka, a sea-otter colony or rookery existed till recent years, but it wa^- mided and destroyed by vessels from San Francisco between 1880 and 1882. There is also stated to have been a similar colony at Pirat, or Yellow Cape, not far from the last. An effort was made to protect this by stationing a number of Aleuts at the place to guard it, but many of these people died, and the remainder were withdrawn at their owu request, after which the sea'otter colony was raidod and destroyed 8d 468. Some attempt has also boon made by the United States' Government to protect the sea-otter. Section lOoG of the Berised Statutes of the United States provides that no person shall, without the consent of the Secretary of the Treasury, kill any otter, mink, marten, sable, or fur-seal, or other fur-bearing animal, within the limits of Alaska territory, or in the waters thereof. This is further explained by a Treasury Department Notice, dated LMst April, 1879, which reads as follows: — "No fur-bearinj; animals will, therefore, be allowed to be killed by person? other than the natives, within the limits of Alaska territory, or in the ivaters thereof, except fur- seals taken by the Alaska Commercial Company in pursuance of their lease. The use of fire-arms by the natives in killing other than during the months of May, June, July, August, and September, is hereby prohibited. No vessel will be allowed to anchor in the well-known otter-killing grounds except those which may carry parties of natives to and from such killing gromids ; and it will be the duty of the officers of the United States who may be in that locality to take all proper measures to enforce all the pains and penalties of the law against persons found guilty of a violation thereof. White men lawfully married to natives, and residing within the territory, are considered natives within the meaning of this Order." 469. Inquiries at Ounalaska, however, show that no attempt bad been made to enforce the law against the killing of fur-seals by the Aleuts in that vicinity till 1890, when instructions were received that it must be enforced, although no means were provided for its enforcement. The l.iw .ngainst the killing of sea-otter and the ruling as to the months in which fire-arms shall be prohibited in hunting this animal is also, ns a matter of fact, inoperative. The prohibited months include all those in which it is ])ractically possible to hunt the sea-otter, and it is well understood that if the Aleuts of the Aleutian Islands were interfered with in this, their only means of obtaining a living, they must either suffer great hardships, or their support must be undertaken by the Government. 470. The sole instance of the actual extermination of an animal of the North Pacific within historic times, and one of the very short list of such cases of extermination the world over, is that of the Khytina or Steller's sea-cow (Rhytina Stelleri). It is instructive to allude to this instance, because it becomes obvious that it was entirely owing to the great differences in habits and the very restricted range of the animal, as compared with the fur-seal, that its extermination became possible. 471. This sea-cow or manatee was found in great numbers on Bebring Island, and to some extent also on Copper Island, at the time of the discovery of these islands iu 1741, but scarcely, if at all, elsewhere; though Nordenskiold conjectures that it may within historic times have also occasionally visited the Kamschatkan coast. 472. It was a large, slow, cluuisy, and incautious animal, which fed chiefly along the shores upon marine algaj; and being found easy of capture and good for food was per- sistently attacked by the early Russian navigators, who often visited Behring Island for the sole purpose of laying in a stock of its flesh. From the accounts of these voyages, it seems first to have disappeared from Copper Island, and subsequently, about 1768, less than thirty years after the discovery of the islands, it became extinct, also on Behring Island.* 473. It is stated that Brandt expresses the belief that the Bhytina formerly, and in prc-historic times, not only frequents d the coast of Kamschatka, but extended also as far as the coasts of China and the northern islands of the Japanese group, and to the western islands of the Aleutian chain. It thus appears to have already been naturally verging towards extinction before it was at all pursued by man. In a paper read before the Russian Impeiial Geographical Society in March 1884, Dr. Dibofsky expresses a similar opinion. Mr. F. VV". True writes as follows respecting the causes of its extinction : " The most generally accepted notion is that the rate of capture much exceeded that of the increase of the animal, and that extinction followed as a matter of course. Nordens- kiold, however, and in a certain way Brandt, also avows his belief that the sea-cow bad gotten out of harmony with its environment many years before the Russians discovered it, and that its extermination would have occurred within a comparatively short time without the intervention of nmn. The fact that in Steller's time the range of the animal was much circumscribed seems to give weight to the latter view."t * Daron Nordtnskii))'' round some reason to believe tlial a single individual of the sea-cow was seen aa late 19 llie yeui- 1834, but Ur. L. fitvjneger, first In the" I'rocceding'i of the United States' National M.iseam," vol. vit, 1884, p. 181, and at later dates in the " American Naturalist," vol. xxi, p. 1047, and "American Qeogrnphical Society Bulletin," No 4, U86, has advanced strong reasons to shoW that the animal actuallv became extinct in 1768. t "Fishery Industrie! of the United States," vol. i, p. 135 See also Nordenskittld's "Voyage of tha Vega," vol. ii. ■,1 " (S.) — Breeding Placen and Resorts of the Fur •seat on the Western Side of the North Pacific. 474. The pursuit of the fur-seal on the western or Asiatic portion of the North Pacific, affords much evidence very directly affecting- the conditions and prospectH of the seal fishery in the eastein waters of that ocean, nltogcthcr apart from the question as to how far tiie territorial PowcrM of these Asiatic water-t, viz., Russia, Japan, and China, may desire to participate in any general regulations tending to the preservation of so old-estahlished, important, and useful an industry. M5. Vfti have been careful to collect and collate all the information possible on the growth of the industry on the Asiatic coasts of the Pacific, because it has for the most part been left untouched by those who have written on the subject. Clark* simply dismisses the subject with the brief remark : "The seals taken by the Japanese are those migrating from the Commander jjroup, the number taken averaging 4,000 annually, though some years as many as 11, €00 are taken." Messrs. Lainps(mt merely report : •' The supply from this source (Japan) has varied very much of late years, amounting sometimes to 15,000 skins a-ycar, nt others only 5,000. Last year (1887) stringent prohibitory laws were passed by tiie Japanese Government, and very few skins have come forward." Very little else lias been published on the subject by any one of authority. But in addition to the results of much corresptmdence, official and private, and gathering together of scattered references, « c have liad the advantage of making the acquaintance of men experienced in seal-hunting and in seal localities in this portion of the Pacific, and have thus been enabled to put together a sufficient body of information to convey sufficient accounts of the rise and progress of the sealing industry in these waters. 476. Among the points of special interest to our present purpose are : — the growth of the industry; the similarity of conditions prevailing on this side of the Pacific; the dissimilar circumstance of the absence of pelagic sealing ; the very destructive effect of raids upon breeding rookeries ; and the attempts at regulation and control by both the Japanese and Russian Governments. 477. After the middle of the eighteenth century, British vessels, especially under the auspices of the East India Company, extended tlieir voyages from Bombay and Calcutta or Macao to the coast of Kamschatka, and along the Aleutian Islands into Behring Sea. and as !ar as the nortli-wost coast of America, in seardi of furs. Such voyages were made in 1780 antl in 1780-S7. i'iio^o Enolisli traders nl once encountered the claims of the Russians and the Spaniards to tiie sole rigiit to navigate and trade in those seas, a claim then successfully contested and tacitly or explicitly ignored about 100 years before the officials of a territory belonging to tlie United States seized British vessels for engaging in similar enterprises in those waters. 478. The furs thus obtained by the British were taken to the Chinese market. The Russians were quick to notice this, and in due course obtained from the Chinese autho- rities an interdict against the landing in China of any furs from the islands and shores of the Eastern Pacific. In the event this proved l)ut a partial restrictioM so far as the English were concerned, for they commenced at once to turn their attention to bringing 10 the Canton market the fur-seal of the southern seas, and this highly profitable trade . thus started flourished from about the year 179-3 until 1835. 479. Meanwhile, however, in the Northern Pacific the Russians were active. In 1799 a charter was granted by the Czar to the Russian-American Company, giving them control over all the coasts of America on the Pacific nortli of latitude blf north, and this Company, extending its operations under Baranoff and other leaders, acquired a wide dominion. In the course of a few years, E)nglish and American vessels established almost a monopoly in the supply of goods of all sorts to the Russ-ians and their natives, the return trade being mostly in furs for the Canton market. In 1811 the firm of Astor, of New York, made a special contract to supply the Russian Company with provisions, payment being taken in furs to be s^old in Canton. This enterprise took the name of the Pacific Fur Company, and "t lie two Companies undertook, besides this mutual trade, to prevent the natives obtaining any liquor, to assist each other against all interlopers and smugglers, and to respect each other's hunting areas. In the following year these rights and undertakings were bought up by the North- West Fur Company, of wliich the head-quarters were in Montreal. 480. Thus, the English were in the North Pacific taking seal-skins from the south seas to Canton, and also trading generally in furs, right away to that portion of the * Parliamentary Paper [C. 6131], p. 178, I House of Representatives, aOtli Coiigrese, 2nd Session, Iteport No. 3883, p. 114. ! 'iv 80 North Pacific which subsequently became known ns Bohrinn; Sea, on a wcll-OHtabliNhcd bflHiH, by the beginninji^ of the present century. 481. In connection with this part of the Nortii Pacific, it miiy also be horno in iiiinil that about tl;e year 1840 whalinj>; bc^nn to )»e extensively practised. Fn 1840 to 1812 the wlialinjf fleet frequcntetl the KHtliak sroiuul, wluro many ri^ht whales were taken. In 1840, the Japan Sea was found to be a good whalinf-' f>i()und, from wliicli that part of the Pacific near KaniHchatka was next reached, and soon after Okotsk Sea. in lHt8, tlie first whaler entered the Arctic Ocean, and tliereat'ter not only Jiehring Sea, but also tliis further ocean, has been regularly frequented by whalers, the bow-bead whale chiefly being taken in the extreme north. The industry lias gradually declined, in con ,j- quence of the lessened number of wliales ; but between 181'.) and 18(50, there were about 300 vessels under the United States' Hag, besides British, French, Oldenburg, Danish, and other vessels. Many of the British vessels came fiom Fobart Town and other places in Australasia. 4b2. But the fur-seal of the North Pacific remained in great measure a monopoly ot the Russians until towards the middle of the nineteenth century, and then, by reason of its becoming a well-ascertained fact that the supply of seal-skins Trom the Southern Ocean had practically ceased, English and oilier nations also ttn-ned their attention to the supply of seal-skins fiom the North Pacific. 483. It is necessary to bear in mind that the commercial importance of the skins of the fur-seal of the North Pacific is thus of recent origin. In the well-known " Penny Cyclopa;dia," published so lately as 1842, the seal is described as follows:, and it is stated that no market value is attached to the skins of the adult: — " Arctocpi)li(ilus urslmis. — Islands on the north-west point of America, Kamscbatka, and tlie Knrile Islands. This is the Olarln ursinti of Dezmacst; Plwcn iirsina of Linnteus, &c. When these migratory seals a;)pear ofi' Kamscbatka and the Kiniles early in the spring they are in high condition, and the females are pregnant. They remain on or about the shore for two months, diu-ing which the females bring forth. They are polygamous, and live in families, every male being surrounded by a crowd of females (from fifty to eighty), whom he guards with the greatest jeolousy. Tliese families each, including the young, amounting to 100 to 120, live separ^e, though they crowd the shore, and that to such an extent on the islands off the north-west point of America, that it is said they oblige the traveller to quit it, and scale the neighbouring rocks. Both male and female are very affectionate to their young, and fierce in their defence; but the males are often tyrannically cruel to the females, which are very submissive. . . . The skin, which is verj thick, is covered with hair There is a very soft, brownish- red wool ch)se to the skins The skins of the young are liighly prized for clothing." 484. Upon the Commander Islands, until the year 18ti8, nothing was thought worthy of capture except the grey-pup seals, while on the Pribyloff Islands and along the coasts of A'orth-West America the skins of the fur-seal were considered as hardly worth the taking. For instance, in 1825 skins ivcre bartered by the Eussian Government in the Sandwich Islands at an average rate of 1 dol. 75 c. (7.v.) ; in China, at Kiatcha, at from 1 dollar (4s.) to 1 dol. 40 c. (0*.) ; while t!ie prices given by the Hudson's Bay Company at Port Simpson were, so lately as 1850, only 1 dol. 50 c. (Os.) per skin. 485. A few years later, however, more attention was given to the northern fur-seal, and we find vessels from all quarters, including Honolulu, cruizing round the North Pacific, endeavouring to trade for, or take, seal-skins. Seal-hunters followed in their track, bringing with them the traditions and experiences of the south seas summed up in the idea of taking the fur-seal as and when it came ashore. Writing in 1870, Professor Dall describes the Harbour of Chiehagoff, in Attn, as a notorious smuggling centre for furs. Such was the general aspect of affairs by the middle of the present century in the North Pacific. 48(}. In the more westerly portion of that ocean, from a variety of sources, and especially from the .'special report supplied to us by Mr. do Bunsen from the British Legation at T6ki6, and a memorandum obtained from his Ciovernment by Viscount Kawaze, Japanese Minister in London, we have a tolera])ly complete account of the fur-seal fishery on the coasts of Japan and the Kurilo Islands. 4•^7. The seal fishery is an old-established industry in Japan, and particulars are on record dating back to the middle of the last century. The skins were obtained about 1750 and 1760 from Horomoshir, Makaruru, Shimsir, and Urup by the natives of Itrup and Ra^hua, using arrows, harpoons, and nets. In 1800, we read of a regular sealing establisbraent being set up in Itrup, and carried on for years with success. .' i i fl ' II: i»i't 86 Tlio sonl-skins were usually bartered at Nagasaki to the Chineao. The Govemmoni m these jears purchased the skinH from the natives, at the fixed rates of 90 and 45 sen for the best and medium quality skins respectively. During the succeeding years, Russian subjects gradually pushed southward down the Kurilc group, and much competition and even cunflict resulted in rival endeavours to secure seaUskins. At this period, the Russians began to send furs to the Oliina market direct to Peking thrcugh the great mart established at Kiatch, in Eastern Siberia. 488. About the year 1805, the Japanese Government found itself forced to deal with the increasing numbers of foreign vessels— chiefly Russian, British, American, and Dutch — which began to visit their coasts, and frequent the bays and harbours in quest of marine products. 489. As early as 1809, the Japanese Colonial Department set up a branch establish' ment in the Island of Itrup, with the special object of carrying out tlie measures established to protect the Japanese const tishing against foreigners. The old seal-skin '/•'-Sfulations were revived iind the Government price trebled. In 1873, Commissions were set up specially to prevent seal poaching and sale of seal-skins by foreigners. Much trouble was occasioned by the foreign vessels, which usually claimed the right to remain in the bays and harbours, on the plea of stress of weather or need for wood and water. This necessitated a man-of-war being sent up, and, ultimately, a special cruizer was detailed to the Kurilc Islands for the sealing season, viz., May to Octobc. 490. In May 1874, the Government issued regulations to control the fishery around the Hokkaido (Yezo) Islands, claiming jurisdiction within a limit of two and a-lmlf miles from the shore, and stating " if any foreigners be found fishing within the above-mentioned limits, they shall be arrested in as peacejful a manner as possible and sent to Hakodate, accompanied by guards, and delivered to the Consul of the country of their nationality." During these years, foreign vessels were frequently encountered engaged in sealing. Besides many vessels from the United States, a Danish vessel, the " Mattee," and others, nrc mentioned. In 1875, on Itrup, the Russians actually commenced putting up liuts^ as did the Americans at a place called Man»ko, for the purpose of killing seals. They were, how- ever, arrested and sent to Hakodate. 491. The head-quarters of the Protection Estiiblishment originally set up on Itrup Island were afterwards transferred to Nemuro, with branches on Oonebetsu, Nanneho, and Toshimori. In 1876, in consequence of the agreements come to with Russia in 1874 concerning the Kurile Islands, new regulations were issued, prohibiting fishing for seals by foreign vessels within gunshot of the Hokkaido shores; new branch offices esta- blished on Shikotan and elsewhere, and measures were taken by proclamation and other- wise to notify foreign vessels that sealing was prohibited. Endeavours were also mtfdc to improve the native methods of preparing the senl-skins. In addition to this, special rejiulations as to the methods of slaughter were issued, deprecating the use of fii-e-arms and the killing of " pups," limiting the number of seals to be taken along the coast, and establishing a close season between the months of May and November in the territorial waters. Special inquiries were also tu be Instituted into the facts of seal life. 40i. The Japanese were thus inclined to adopt wise Regulations, but foreigners, and especially Americans, were far more reckless, and continued to maraud along the shores and to use fire-arms, eagerly seeking the profits of to-day, but ighoring all risks of depletion on the morrow. In 1877, 1878, and 1879, the Japanese nmde esta- blishments successively in Kunashir, Iriribush, and others of the less inhabited islands, to secure for themselves the fur-seal industry. But foreigners followed them closely, and by the year 1880 or 1881 serious apprehensions existed that the seals were hopelessly diminished in numbers. The Japanese Report states : " The foreigners do not in the least care about the decrease of breeding or the extermination of the species ; they freely use their guns in hunting, and, as the result, they killed the greatest number. Thus, we are obliged to throw aside the old instruments, such as clubs, bows and arrows, and gafis, and to adopt the gun, as it would be most foolish to keep to the old system, which left others to make the greatest gain. Thus, the use of guns is the main cause of the present decrease." 493. Over all these years, and up to the present, seals were known to breed in numbers on at least three points on the Kurile Islands, viz., the Srednoi Rocks, off the Island of Ushishir, on Raikoko Island, and on the Mushia Rocks. Indeed, in 1881, quite an impetus was given to scaling by the unexpected discovery of a small rookery on the Srednoi Hocks, holding 20,000 to 25,000 seals. 5,000 skins were taken there in that one year. ;, •?. 87 )reed in off the 1, quite kery on : in tbdt 494. SeaU) wero known to frequent tho adjoining ocean in large numbers from November to May, especially off the coast of Japan between Inabosaki and the east part of Yezo, and it .vas reported that during the remainder of the year the iteals traTelled away northwards into tlie Okotsk and Bchring Seas to breed on Robbcn Island and the Commander Islands. They were never molested out at sea. i05. The native fishermen, in open boats, along the Nambu and Yezo coasts north of Inabosaki, habitually take the senls by spearing, by shooting them with barbed arrows, and in nets. In some places, a fur covering for tho head and neck enabled the hunters to approach close to tho seals. The annual catch of from 2,000 to 3,000 skins is disposed of to Chinese buyers in Hakodate. In the autumn, they sometimes take 2,000 to 2,500 ^rey pups in nets. But it has always been customary, whenever a rookery was discovered, especially along the Kurile Islands, for larger vessels to proceed thither and take all seals that could be killed on shore by clubbing. 490. The Japanese Agricultural Department states that the fur-seal appears to be reared on the rocky coasts, and caught at a distance of not more than one nautical mile from the shore, but that they are generally found on the beaches and clubbed there. 407. In recent vears good records have been kept, especially of vessels under foreign flags engaged in sealing from Japan, but it is not so certain that all Japanese vessels so employed are always registered. 498. The following are tho figures, about one-half of the total being under the British flag : — Number of Number of Yenr. Foreign Veneli Yeor. Foreign VeRfleU engaged in Sealing. engaged in Sealing. 1880 8 1888 .. 7 1881 9 1887 .. 6 1882 18 1888 .. « 1883 18 1889 .. 6 1884 14 1890 .. 4 1886 11 1891 .. 3 499. The rapid increase in numbers of vessels employed from 1880 up to 1884 was due to the discovery of the rookeries on the Kurile Islands. But these were speedily exhausted by indiscriminate slaughter, and these sealing-vessels almost confined their operations to raids in and around Robben Island and the Commander Islands, especially during the temporary absence of the guard-ships. Several schooners came from America every autumn for sealing purposes, but not one of these vessels was ever employed in " pelagic " sealing. 500. It is certain that these schooners could not have been worked at a profit unless they had taken ten times as many skins as are reported to have been landed at Hakodate and Yokohama. But it is almost impossible to form a correct estimate of the total catch, because the vessels sometimes bring to Japanese ports skins of seals raided from the Russian shores, and sometimes ship seal-skins thus obtained to Europe or China without bringing them into a Japanese port, even if only for transhipment. 501. Of the extensive and wasteful slaughter on the breeding places included in the territorial jurisdiction of Japan, many interesting though incomplete records were obtained. Captain Miner, of Seattle, a particularly well-informed sealer, had frequently been to these rookeries. The Alaska Commercial Company, he stated, had obtained seals from Ushishir and Srednoi in 1882-83. In 1884, he heard from the natives of a rookery at Kikaka, a small island near Mattoo. There he secured 4,500 skins, but news of this having become public there were next year six schooners at work there, and the few seals left were killed off by the Japanese Marine Products Coro'^apy which now leases the island. 602. Captain Snow, the well-known sealer of Yokohama, took in one year (1881) 7,000 seals from Srednoi Rock alone. Next year ho found none there. The natives of Urup Island always had seal-skins to sell, and this led to the Alaska Commercial Com- pany and the schooners searching the neighbourhood, but the island being low and behind others was very difHcult to find. In the following year (1887), he secured 2,000 seals on Ushishir Island. Such are some of the examples of the wholesale slaughter of seal on these smaller, but prolific, rookeries. [305J If ^ii 1 I ; ! \f\-A M 609. Tho JapancHo Govoniinont was not slow to appreciate the gravity of the case, and tho Agricultural Department waM prompt to report that the promising annual catch had Huddoiily docrcaHuit becauHO of thiH indiHcriminato Hiaiightcr on Hhore. 504. An Jmpoiial Decroo was iHHUcd on the 23rd May, 1884, forbidding the hunting of the fur>8eal in Japanctie tvatcrH except by uornonH with a npccial permit. Thia wan Hupplemented on the 16th December, 1880, by Regulations issued by the Imperial authorities U'lder the immediate Hupervision of the Oovernor«General of Hakodate. 606. These Regulation!*, in brief, enacted: — (i.) No fur-seal may bo taken except between tlie Iflth April and the 31 st October. Hi.) No fur-seal may be taken outside a defined area. (iii.) This area is divided into three portions, in only one of which is seal-hunting permitted in any given year, the other two divisions benetiling by two years of rest. (iv.) All veMBcIs engaged must be specially licensed, and conform to special regula- tions, and fly a special flag. (v.) All skins brought to market must be stamped at certain ports. There is no specified limit to the numbers of licences, but the issuing authorities would exercise discretion in the matter. 600. The Nipon Marine Products Company, of Hakodate, with a capital of 126,000/., was formed to cnrrv on whaling and the capture of sea-otter and fur-seals. The Company purchased three schooners of about 70 tons each, manned by crews of twenty-five men, for the purpose of killing seals on these hauling.grounds, these being the only vessels which have as yet taken out the necessary licences. These three vessels were reported to have taken sixty seals between them in 1891. 507. Last year three "foreign " vessels fitted out in Yokohama, but their destination was to the north of the Japanese waters; and two, the "Arctic" and tho "Mystery," were captured in the late autumn by the Russian gun-boat " Aleut ' raiding Robben Island, having killed 1,500 seals. 608. It would appear that tho somewhat elaborate Regulations set Japanese Government in 1880 have been as yet practically inoperative. It that the Government vessel, the •• Kaimonkan," detailed to enforce these in 1891, as a matter of fncl never left her station at Nemuro. It sec however, that, with the exception of the local shore fishermen, no one ei inclined to seek for seals among these Japanese islands since the rookeries were depleted in 1881-82. 609. Apart from the Commander Islands, the most importont breeding place of the fur-seal in the Western Pacific at the present time is undoubtedly Robben Reef or Island, named Tucelen or Seal Island on Russian charts, lying oft' Cape Patience, oa the east coast of Saghalien Island, in Okotsk Sea. This is a low, flat, rocky islet, destitute of haven or convenient anchorage for vessels, about 1,800 feet only in length and not more than 60 feet in greatest height, surrounded by shingly and rocky beaches. What little is known of its history is perhaps particularly interesting, in showing how persistently the fur-seal may continue to resort to its favourite haunts in the face of slaughter and disturbance provided these are not actually continuous. When first discovered, it is reported that the f-eals frequented all parts of the periphery of the little island, but especially the east an' north-east sides ; at present, in reduced numbers, they congregate chiefly on the south-easterly beach. 610. According to Mr. I). Webster, now em^jloycd on the Pribyloff' Islands by the North American Conimerci I Company, Robben Island was cleared of fur-seals by raiding vessels in 1851 -63, a d was thereafter not again visited by sealers till he himself lughter here referred to is no doubt the same with that by Soammon, who says, however, that it occurred in the " (probably, therefore, in 1854 or 1855), and was carried e by " an enterprising firm in New London, Connecticut." ulars of this raid upon Russian territory, and adds that a obtained, which brought an unusually high price in the European market because tlie regular Russian supply was cut off by the war.* Webster thinks that after the above date the seals gradually increased again in number, but nothing is known of the conditions till he himself visited Robben Island in 1870. Webster did not name the vessel in which he visited the reef, but it was probably either the "Mauna Loa" or ''John Bright," as these two vessels, nominally engaged in whaling, are known, from information afterwards obtained from M. Kluge on Copper Island, to have raided Robben Island in that year. Webster, at this time, according to up by the is reported cgulatlons l)robable, has been went there in 1870. The mentioned in greater deta. " midst of the Crimean W» out by a clipper bark sent tl He gives some further part valuable cargo of skins wa' ** ^fariqe Mamtnalia," pp. 149 to IT)), wm^ ipHBi ■mi^Vi 80 by the sals by IhiinseVi Ith t),at in the I carried cticut." that a in the min in land in t-obably jed ling to hii own account, aBsisted in taking 15,000 Hkins, tliougit Kiuge'H eKtimatu of the number taken was 10,000. Webster further informed us that he had hoisted the United Staten' flag on the island, and thoush warned that it was Russian territory by a vessel of that nationality, he paid no hood. A little later, however, a Russian Qovetnment vessel appeared, and the officer in command ordered him to leave within twenty days, tie had already sent most of the skins to Ban Francisco, probably on one of the vessels above mentioned, but continued killing until he had taken about 2,000 more skins, />il. In 1871, this island, with the Commander Islands, was leased to Messrs. Hutchinson, Kohl, Phillipeus, and Co., who transferred their rights to the Alaska Commercial Company. Mr. Kluge went there in the same year in the interests of the lessees, and found that, in consequence of the raid in 1870, there were not over 2,000 seals to be found on the entire island. The island was watched 'n that year, but no seals were killed. A fevr may have been killed in 1872, though, if oo, the number is no^ known ; but from 1873 to 1878 rather more than 2,000 skins were on the average taken annually by the Comimny from this one small reef. 512. About the year 1870, schooners sailing from Japan began to frequcvit the*" inland, and were in the habit of raiding ik in the autumn, after the guardians had been withdrawn. In 1881, the Oomiuiny's agent remained on the island as late as the 5th November, at which date five or six Japanese schooners were still hovering about, looking for a chance to land. The Dutch sealer "Otsego "was warned oif by the Company's trading steamer "Alexander." In consequence of such raids, the number of seals dcclitied from year to year. 513. Probably discouraged by the cost and difficulty of protecting the island, and in order to prevent competition in the sale of skins, the Company in 1 88."J made a barbarous attempt to extirpate the seals on it. A full account of this attemptjis given in the depoisition of C. A. Lundberg,* who arrived at Hobben Island in the schooner "North Star" from Yokohama, and found Mic mate of the sclioon(;r "Leon," a vessel in the employ of the Alaska, Commercial Company, living on the island with about fifteen Aleuts. Lundberg found a great mass of dead and decaying .seals upon the shore, which iiad been killed b}' 'liese men, as they snid, in order to " keep any of those Yokohama t'cllowa from getting anything this year." Tlic crews of tlie " North Star " and another schooner, the " Helene," then set to woik to remove the carcasses, which included those of many females and y.'ung, and proved to number between 9,000 and 10,000. In the process, they managed to pick out some 300 skins in good condition. "There were tiiousii ads of seals in the water, but they would not pull out on the beach on account of the stencil and filth. We washefl the beach as clean as we could, and turned the gravel over as far as we were able. Shortly a heavy gale came on, which washed the beach quite clean igain. and the seals then began to pull out." 514. We were also informed that Captain Hansen, afterwards master of the German schooner " Adele," was present on this occasion. Captain Miner, an experienced scaling- master of Seattle, also visited the island in the same year, and described to us the great heap of carcasses which he found on the island, and the manner in which the skins had been slashed in order to render them useless. 615. In 1884. according to Mr. Kluge. the Russian Government stationed a steam launch at the island for its protection, and in the same year four schooners, inclnding the German schooner "Helene," were captured there by the Russian man-of-war " Rasbonik." 516. In 188 r», the launch was replaced by a force of twenty Cossacks, but these were withdrawn in September, after which raiding schooners again appeared. In tiiat year, there were not more than 7,000 or 8,000 seals in all upon the island. From 1885 to 1800, no skins were taken by the Company from the island, but in the last-mentioned year 1,452 skins were tiiken. The guard was, however, removed from tlie island between the 12th and the 15th October, and after that date the island was raided by schooners, one of these, reported as hailing from Japan, and said 'o fly the United States' flag, being the chief offender. These schooners must have obtained at kast 4,700 skins, for when the island was revisited early in 1891, that number of carcasses was found upon it, and these were buried in order to avoid the effect which their presence migiit have in preventing seals from again landing. 617. In consequence of this heavy slaughter, but 520 skins were obtained by the Company from the island in 1891, ar.d Captain Brandt, of the Russian gun-boat "Aleut," estimates the whole number of seals present on the island at thi? date at about 16,000. In October 1891, Captain Brandt returned to the island in the " Aleut " when not expected ■ ■. » i i ^ f: ^ [306} Parliamentary Paper [C— 6131], p. 3«3. N 2 Mx-' 90 there, and captured two raiding vessels from Yokohama, sailing under the British flag, and at the time in possession of 1,500 fur-seal skins. Captain Blair, of the Company's schooner '' Leon," further informed us that there were at present ahout twenty-five females to each adult male on the islands, a proportion of males which he, from long experience of the sealing industry, considers to be far too small. One of the difficulties found in guarding this island is duo to its small size, in con- sequence of which the mere presence of guardians on shore tends continually to disturb the seals. 018. Passing to the coast of Kamschatka, from vaiious good authorities on the Com- mander Islands and at Petropaulovski, it was learnt that there is some reason to believe that n new breeding place of the fur-seal has been established near Cape Stolboi or Cape Kamschatka. Females with young pups have been seen off this part of the coast, and an attempt was made in 1890 to examine it in boats, but was frustrated by stormy weather. 519. At Cape Tshipunski, also on the Kamschatka coast, M. Grebnitsky, the Superintendent of the Commander Islands, stated that he saw breeding fur-seals in 1879 or 1880, though it had been ascertained in 1877 that there were no seals there. Subsequent to the time of M. Grebnitsky's visit, the incipient rookery was destroyed by hunters or by raiding schooners. 620. From the vicinity of Cape Kamschatka north-eastward to Baroness Korf Gulf, a stretch of coast exists which has been entirely uninhabited for many years, and about which very little is known. The former inhabitants were killed off by small-pox, according to information received in 1786.* Karaginski Island lies off th' pnrt of (he coast, and here it is reported that numbers of seals were seen in former years. 521. It seen\s certain that the killing and harassing of the seals which has been so actively carried on for the past ten years or more from the Japanese coast, along the Kurile Islands, has had the effect of causing these animals to wander further afield than before, and more or less instinctively to seek for new and secluded breeding places. C23. Thus, the Lieutenant-Governor of Petropaulovski, who is well acquainted with the northern coasts of the Okotsk Sc-j, informed us that up In the north, off the Ola River and in Tausk Bay, the natives have noticed the fur-seal since 18SG, though not before, and that fishing-vessels in these waters occasionally secure one or two. It is also known that fur-seal occasionally haul out at various points, although at none are they known to breed. Captain Brandt, of the Russian gun* boat '' Aleut,'' again has himself recorded as a new feature seeing several fur-seals off Point Povorotny, near Vladivostock, and states that seals are sometimes seen at Cape Seritoko. 528. The facts relating to the Asiatic coast of the North Pacific, outlined above, showing as they do that several outlying rocks and islands in various latitudes, and affected by somewhat diverse climatic conditions, have been or arc resorted to by the fur- seal as breeding places, and that new places of resort may be chosen by that animal, go far to prove that it is to the continuously inhabited character of the Aleutian Islands, and other islands along the American coast, that the absence of such breeding places there at the present day must be generally attributed. This is fully borne out by the notes already given with respect'*to former breeding places on the Californian and British Columbian and Alaskan coasts, and may be adduced in favour of a belief that with proper protection new rookeries might not improbably be established in suitable places, provided there be no disturbance or slaughter by man. 524. This is particularly worthy of consideration in the case of the Aleutian Islands, where, in consequence of the now very small and still decreasing number of natives, it would not be difficult to set apart resen'es for this purpose, as well as for the propagation of the sea-otter. The greatest difRcully in the case of the fur-seal would doubtless be foiind in the matter of inducing the first colonization of such new rookery grounds, but as it has been shown that the sit. all of the formerly occupied rookeries is one of the chief — if not the chiefs — attraction to the first-arriving seals, and as this smell is inherent chiefly in the soil of these rookeries, it is perhaps not unworthy of conside- ration whether the transfer of portions of this seal-impregnated soil, and its scattering over suitable places — particularly such as lie near the migration-route of the seal — might not lead to their occupation. In any case, such reservations would soon be colonized by the more widely wandering sea-lions and hair-seals, and the security and increase of these would probably after a time have tlie effect of producing a sense of safety which might * BMenft, bowtvw, gWti tbU yaar ai 1768, "UUtory," vol. suiii, p. 164. ilpppp^ ^mm 01 induce the fnr-seal lo take up its abode there at the breeding season. The princii;al objection to experiments of this kind would be the cost of affording the necessary protection, but if such islands were also stocked witb and preserved fur the blue-fox, the snle of the skins of this animal might alone, in the course of a few years, be sufficient to cover a large part of this cost. 525. Sirr.ilar measures would, of course, be also woii-thy of consideration in the case of various places on the shores of British Columbia, or on the Asiatic coasts of the Pacific. I ^ii |t>y Aleutian mber of for the al would rookery keries is lis smell Iconside- pattering I — might lized by lot' these (h might II. — Natives op the Coasts of British Colvmbia and Alaska dirhctly INTEBES'iED IN INDEPENDENT SbALING. METHODS OV HUMTIHO, AND NDHBEB TAKEN. 52Q. The native peoples of the west coast of America directly interested in the capture of the fur-seal are the following : — 1. Aleut. 2. Eskimo, or Innuit, including Kaniagmut, of Kadiak Islan'l. and vicinity, and Chaga-Chigmut, of Prince William Sound, with probably some other tribes of lesser importance. 3. The Tlinkit, or Koloslian tribes of South-eastern Alaska. 4. The Haida, of the Queen Charlotte Islands; with the Kaigani, of the.soathem extremity of the Alaskan coast-strip. 5. The Tshimsian, of the inner coast of Hecate Strait. 6. The Hailtzuk tribes, to the south of the last. 7. Tlie Kwakiool tribes of the northern part of Vancouver Island. 8. The Aht, or Nootkan tribes, of the west coast of the same island, and including tiie linguistically-identical Makah, of Neah Bay and Cape Flattery. 527. All these people have known and hunted the fur-seal from time immemorial, and in all cases either within the limits of what has been referred to as the winter habitat of the seal, or along the course of its northward migration-route. So long as the breeding islands remained uninhabited by man, the seal was practically exempt from his attacks in its summer habitat. 628. The amount of the interest of these nativ« peoples in this pursuit has naturally varied in accordance with chat.ging circumstances, and has, in most cases, been notubljf stimulated by tho higher prices which have ruled for skins within the Inst twenty years. Their aboriginal modes of hunting the fur-senl are somewhat varied, including the spear, bow and arrow, net, .^nd club ; but in most cases the gun is now the weapon employed. 529. Aleuts. — The luinting of fur-seals by the Aleuts inhabiting the eastern part of tiio Aleutian cnain has already been referred to in connection with the migrations of the seal. The Aleuts of Iliuhiik Settlement at Unalaska, stated that they generally got twenty or thirty seals in the early part of the summer and when on their way north. They are engaged in hiiniing tiie soa-otter at this season, and take a stray seal if they tind it. Such seals are gcnoraliy got along the southern side of the islands, but the seal- hunting season proper is in tlic autumn. In hunting seals, these natives employ the same methods as in sea-otter hunting. They us c a " bidaika," or light skin-boat, in which tliey sometimes go as far as 25 or .30 miles from land. The spear, launched by means of a throwing-stick, was foimcrly most employed, but is now being superseded by the gun loaded with buck-shot. Tliey generally shoot from a distance of 40 or 50 yards, and have plenty of time to ijaddle np in the bidarkn and got the seal before it sinks. The dead seal is taker either with the hand or by means of a gaflP carried for the purpose. Grey pups always tloat when killed, being very fat. An old male, or a female over two years of age, generally sinks when shot, particularly in the autumn, when seals of these kinds are thin. A female with young may sink, but more slowly. These natives, how- ever, affirm that they never lose a seal if killed. Mr. Dirks, now agent for the Alaska Commercial Company at Atka Island, states that when previously stationed at Sannakh Islands, he has seen the Aleuts there pursue and overtake fur-seals in their light bidarkas, a feat which would be impossible with any boat, 630. Nets were formerly employed by the Aleuts of Unalaska and neighbouring islands for the capture of sea-otter, fur-seal, and hair-seal. These are described as having been from 20 to 30 fathoms in length. Such nets were set about the rocks, generally a mile or so from shore. They are still used on the Sannakh Islands, but have elsewhere been practically abandoned in consequence of the increasing wariness of the sea-otter. 531. The fur-seals killed by the Aleuts afford practically the only flesh meat which I 4* I : I i ' 1 ! ; W ■;!' \ 02 they are, undor ordinary circumstancofl, able to obtain, and, as food, are highly prized by them. In 1890, for the first time, the United States' Qovcrnment prohibited the killing of fur-seals by the Aleuts of the Aleutian Inlands, but this. rule ha« so far been practi- cally inoperative, in consequence of the want of means for its enforcement. r>-yj. The Aleutian Islands were originally thickly inhabited, and settlements existed on nearly all those of considerable size. Soon after the Rus:*ian discovery, measures were taken to concentrate the Aleuts in a few islands, where they might be more easily controlled. The decrease in number of inhabitants has since then been con- tinuous, and the number of inhabited villages is now small. In the eastern part of the chain the fidlowing ))laces are still inhabited, and to all of them the remarks above made, with special reference to Unalaska, are equally applicable. On Unalaska Island, Iliuluik, Makushin, Kashega, Tshernnfsky: on Spiskin Island, Burka; on .Akiitan Island^ Akutan ; on Akun Island, Akun ; and on Umnak Island, Nikolsky. 633. The most westerly of these villages is that on Umnak Island. The next permanently inhabited place is Nazan Bay, Atka Island, 210 miles further west, and beyond this there now exists but one permanent settlement, tliat on ChichagofT Harbour, Attn Island, at a further distance of no less than 480 miles. The .Aleuts resident at these places, Jiowever, during the summer months, hunt from island to island along almost the entire chain, with all parts of which they are consequently more or less familiar. r»34. At Atka Island, fur-seals are occasionally seen, In former years, they'^some- times were observed to pass on their way north between Atka and Amlia Islands, but never of late. Grey pups are not infrequently taken about Atka in N'ovember. The Aleuts here do not make a business of hunting the fur-seal at any time, but when seen kill them with sea-otter spears. The flesh is prized for food. At Attn grey pups are never seen, but larger seals are occasionally got. They are generally speared, as at Atka Island. The spear employed in both cases has a small detachable ivory or copper head, and is impelled by means of a throwing-stick. The bidarka is used in hunting by these as by the other Aleut tribes. I 5'65. Innuit. — The Kaniagmut Innuit people, inhabiting Kadiak Island, kill a few fur-seals in the earlier part of tlie summer, when they are engaged in hunting the sea-otter. They employ the skin bidarka or kayak, and use an ivory-tipped arrow with detachable head, shot from a bow. The same stylo of weapon is used along the Aliaska peninsula, and is probably co-extensive with the limits of the Innuit peoples of this region. In Prince William Sound, the Chaga-Chigraut tribe formerly made a special business of the pursuit of the fur-seal, often getting, within recent years, as many as 200 skins in a season. In 1891, the number obtained was about fifty only. 636. Tlinkit. — To the eastward and southward of the Aleut and Innuit peoples, the skin boat is replaced by the wooden dug out canoe, which, though comparatively rude, as made among the Tlinkit peoples, is nevertheless a serviceable craft, and with the Ilaida and other northern tribes of the coast of British Columbia, becomes perfected in construction, and assumes lines of almost ideal form. 637. In the neighbourhood of Sitka, the Indians systematically hunt the fur-seal in the spring and early summer. They form camps at suitable spots on the outer coast for this purpose, the favourite places being between Cross and Salisbury Sounds, particularly about Cape Edwards. In some years as many as 700 skins are got, but in 1891 about 300 only were obtained. Three or four Indians man a canoe, and when the weather is favourable start about two o'clock in the morning for the hunt. jThey continue paddling or sailing imtil near noon, and believe that they often get thus as far as sixty miles from the shore. They then hunt for six or seven hi>'irs before setting out on their return, and reach the land early the following morning. Such a trip is made about once a-week when the weather is fine, and the hunters consider themselves fortunate if they can make ten trips in all during the season. 5d8. The Indians here first saw schooners hunting oft' the coast about ten years ago, but heard of them before this. Some of these people are employed in sealing- schooners sailing from Sitka. 539. The seals were formerly killed with spears; rifles were aftenvards employed to some extent, but in late years the gun, with buck-shot, has been adopted by almost ali. The Indians state that the seals sometimes sink when shot, the proportion thus lost being sometimes one, sometimes two, out of ten. One man informed us tliat he had in 1891 got nineteen skins and had lost four in addition, all of which he felt sure he killed. 540. The Tlinkit (Hanega tribe) of Klawak on Bucarelli Sound, Prince of Wales Island, are now mingled with some Indians of Kaigani (Haida) extraction. They have not in recent years hunted the fur-seal in spring or summer, being more remuneratively and less arduously employed at that season in salmon canneries, or at other work. 98 years .'d to st ali. being 1891 (Vales have tively work. During the winter, however, most of the men hunt the fur-seal to a greater or less extent; a single hunter sometimes getting as many as twenty skins in a season. Here, five men often go together in a canoe, tiie canoes used being larger than those at Sitka. In the spring and early summer the seals arc far off shore, but in the winter months they come close in, particularly the grey pups and yearlings. About two years ago, seals appeared in great numbers. In a good season, 200 or 300 skins are secured at Ktawak, for which 2 dollars to 9 dollars is paid by the traders on the spot. The flesh is some- times eaten, but not now so much as formerly, though the fat is still prized as food. 541. Hnlda. — In the northern part of the Queen Charlotte Islands (lying off the northern extreme of the coast-Iinc of British Columbia), Masset is now the principal Indian Settlement. Here the Haida people who formerly inhabited permanent villages at Virago Sound, North Island, and elsewhere, now centre, though still resorting for purposes of hunting and fishing to their old homes. Inquiries made at Masset among the Indians (including Chief Edensaw, an old bat very intelligent man), with other infor- mation obtained, enable the following statements to be made respecting fur-seal hunting by the Haida people. 542. About the beginning of the present century the sea-otter was very abundant, and was systematically hunted. Fur-seals were often seen, and, when required for food, wore shot with arrows tipped with the bone of the whale, or speared, though the skins at that time were of little value. About the year 1 846 (the year in which Fort Victoria was established), the Haida first began to make a business of hunting the fur-seal for skins. Guns were employed from the first in this hunting, loaded either with buck- shot or with •' trade bullets," three to a charge. At first comparatively few skins were got, but for the past fifteen years a considerable number has been obtained — in two of these years 1,000 skins or more. In 1873, a post of the Hudson's Bay Company was established at Masset, chiefly for the purpose of buying fur-seal skins from the Indians, and the increased activity of the local hunters coincides with this date. The Indians first saw schooners engaged in hunting off this part of the coast about thirteen years ago. 543. The hunting season is the spring and early summer, and most of the hunting is done in Dixon Entrance, where the hunters have a good chance of making the land safely, either to the south or north, if bad weather comes on. They know that seals arc often abundant in the open ocean to the westward, but seldom go far out ii^ that direction because of the danger of being blown off and lost. North Island is a favourite starting-point for the hunters. 544. In hunting there are usually four paddlers in a canoe, and one man to shoot. When shot through the head, and at once killed, the seals frequently sink, and long ago hunters often lust seals in this way ; now they spear the seals as soon as they are shot, and seldom lose any. The males are the most apt to sink, while females with young always float. Mr. R. H. Hall, formerly in charge of the northern coast posts of the Hudson's Bay Company, who has himself been at sea with the Haida when hunting, as the result of his own experience, states that if a seal is lightly wounded with shot it generally escapes, as it is then impossible to overtake it with a single canoe. If severely wounded ov killed outright, the seal is seldom lost. After a short time the body generally begins to sii:k ; but '"an Indian killing or badly wounding a seal is pretty safe to get it." He has seen three seals shot, and two of them left floating till the third one fired at was picked up. 545. The Indians spoken to were unable to give a percentage ratio of seals lost when shot, but in order to reach some conclusion on this point, with regard to these particular Indian hunters, thsse who had lately killed considerable numbers of seals were specifically questioned with the following result : — Hunter No. 1. — In the hunting season of 1891 got 21 seals ; lost none. Hunter NoTl. — In the season of 1890 got 88 seals ; lost il in addition. Hunter No. 2.— In the season of 1890 got 37 seals ; lost none. Hunter No. 3. — In 1889 got 126 seals ; lost none. Hunter No. 4. — In 1889 got 90 seals; lost 3 in addition. The Haida seldom ship as hunters in sealing schooners, but the two last- mentioned catches were made in connection with a schooner on which these hunters wcie engaged, and most of the seals got were taken in Behring Sea, ** too far from shore to see the land." They are noted here as indicating the skill of the Haida hunters. 546. Chief Edensaw explained that long ago, when ships first began to come to buy sea-otter skins (in the latter years of the last century and earlier years of the jjroscnt century), his people were well off, getting plenty of good clothes, &c., in exchange for these skins, When the sea-otter became very scarce the trading vessels ceased to come, J, 'i i* ^yiV MaMmrr. 94 I ■. .1 i 1 >;<>■ !!;>; !*); and for many years the Haida were very poor, and had to return to the use of skin clothing. Their condition has, however, improved again in later years, partly because of the money they are able to obtain for the fnr-seal skins, partly on account of tKe growth of other industries alongv the coast in which they can engage. The Haida generally, complain that the continued hunting of the fur-seal has caused it to keep far off shore, and has rendered it so shy, that it is now b'>;coming ditticiilt to earn money near their homes by hunting the seal as before. They are, in consequence, obliged to leave their homes in search of other work. 547. The above notes refer particularly to the northern part of the Quecri Charlotte Islands. Special inquiries were not made among the southern Haida tribes). Many years ago there were numerous village communities scattered along the outer vest coast of the islands, but these have gradually abandoned this coast, and coalesced with the large communities of the eastern coast. It is, therefore, now difficult to obtain facts respecting the outer coast, wiiere, however, in connection with the sea-otter hunting, many fur-seals were doubtless formerly killed. The Haida eat the flesh of the fur-seal, 'and esteem it highly. 548. Tshimsian. — The principal fur-soal hunting station of the Tshimsian tribes proper is upon Zayas Island. They hunt in the spring, from this place as a centre, in the eastern part of Dixon Entrance and northern part of Hecate Strait. Till about thirty years ago these people never systematically engaged in hunting the fur-seol, though they knew that their neighbours, the Haida, long before this took fur-seals. Each hunting canoe is here usually manned by four persons, and guns appear to have been employed from the beginning of the systematic hunting by the Tshimsians. Buck-shot, or trade bullets of twenty-eight to the pound, three to six in a charge, are used. Three canoes hunting from Zayas Island in 1890 obtained catches of seventy, fifty, and twenty- eight skins, respectively, during the season. The trade prices paid for these skins on the spot in 1891 ranged from 3 dollars to 3 dol. 50 c. for "grey pups " to 17 dollars for best skins. The number of skins got in various years depends of course on the abundance of seals and the character of the weather ; but there is also a great difference from year to year in the number of hunters, governed by the prices of skins, and the wages offered for other work. Probably, about 300 skins are taken each year at present by these Indians, but as these are bought by various traders, it is difficult to get exact figures. 549. A spear or hook about twenty feet in length is often used to recover the seal when shot, and the Indian hunters questioned stated that they had never lost a seal when killed. 550. The Kitkatla tribe of the Tshimsians, whose permanent village is situated on Goschen Island, are noted as fur-seal huuters, though, because of the facility in obtaining employment with regular wages, in late years they have not paid so much attention to this hunting as before. They resort to Bonilla Island in the seal-hunting season, and in 1 891 there were there seventy hunters with their families. The number of skins obtained this year was, however, small, as most of the hunters suffered from the influenza epidemic. Generally speaking, about 300 skins are taken in spring and early summer. 651. These people hunt in Hecate Strait, and their mode of hunting is the same as that practised by the Tshimsians proper. A few of the Kitkatlas have been employed on sealing-schooners for the past four or five years, but no large numbers from any of the Tshimsian group of tribes engage in this species of hunting. Mr. R. Cunningham, who has been for twenty-five years familiar with the Inilians of this tribe, states that the seals do not usually sink at once unless the breath escapes from the body. 552. Hailzuk. — The Hailzuk tribes, of the vicinity of Milbank Spund, resort chiefly to the outlying group, named the Goose Islands, at the seal-hunting season in spring. A number of these Indians, including several well-known seal-hunters, were interviewed at Bella-Bella. They stated that in ancient times the fur-seal was killed by their fore- fathers only for food. Sea-otters were abundant, and the skin of the seal was not of much value. When a fur-seal was killed, it was kept only if fat. The flesh is sometimes eaten still, but not so much as formerly, thousrh the fat is always kept for food. The best part of the seal for food is the flipper. Before guns were in common use, the spear was employed exclusively in the pursuit of the sea-otter and fur- seal, but now one hunter only still continues to use the spear. They began hunting fur-seals as a business about twenty years ago — not so long ago as twenty- five years, which they remembered because of the small-pox. Guns are no«r employed, loaded with buck-shot, or with three trade bullets. They hunt only in their own canoes, with two to four men in each canoe ; and in these they sometimes go so far from land that only the mountains about Cape Calvert remain in sight. Occasionally they spend a night at sea. 552*. The seal is sometimes shot from a distance of not more than 20 feet, when 08 ployed any of nghani, at the chiefly j spring, rviewcd Mr forc- not of letimes The le spear 1 hunter about )ecause trade le ; and ICalrert It, when sleeping, but often at mnch greater distances. It is taken into the canoe with the hand, or, if beginning to sink, a spear or gaff is used. Males sink more frequently than females. 553. These people were unable to state any definite proportion as between the seals recovered and those lost by them, but they are not accounted very skilful hunters. The largest number taken by a single canoe in one daj' in 1891 was eight, and in this case two that were killed were lost in addition. About 300 fur-seal skins in all were obtained by the Bella-Bella people alone in 1891, which was a good year ; and nearly all these were brought in by their own co-operative store, and sold afterwards in Victoria. The highest price they got at Victoria was 10 dollars. The Indians here voluntarily expressed their willingness to conform lo any laws made as to the killing of fur-seals, but requested that they might be informed in time. 554. Kwakiool. — Nawitti, on Hope Island, at the northern end of Vancouver Island, is the place most noted as a centre of fur-seal hunting among the Kwakiool tribes. The people here hunt principally in the winter, and do not resort to special hunting stations. They start on hunting trips very often from Nawitti village itself, and bring large quantities of seal meat, which they relish as food, back to this place. They hunt in their own canoes, and few of them have ever been employed on schooners. Nearly all the men engage more or less in hunting at the proper season. Spears were formerly used in hunting, but guns are now always employed, though the spear is still made use of to recover the seal after it has been shot. Tne seals shot sometimes sink before they can pick them up, but this happens chiefly when they are shot in the head and killed at once. Mr. A. W. Huson, who is familiar with this part of the coast, states that in some years he has himself obtained in trade as many as ICO skins from the Indians of the Nawitti village alone. 555. Fur-seals are also hunted by the Quatsino, Klnskaino, and other tribes of the Kwakiool family, but the numbers obtained by them are not known to be considerable, and time did not admit of special visits to their villages. 556. Aht. — The Aht or Nootkan tribes, inhabiting the whole of that part of the west coast of Vancouver Island to the south of Capo Cook, are the most noted of the British Columbian Indians as expert fur-seal hunters. The Makah, of Cape Flattery, in the State of Washington, are a detached tribe of the same stock. These Aht people furnish by far the larger part of the Indian hunters employed on sealing schooners, and have to a great extent abandoned their original method of sealing in canoes from the shore in consequence. The number of skins &till obtained by them as independent hunters is, however, not inconsiderable. 557. They are chosen as hunters for the sealing schooners in preference to the Indians of the northern part of the coast, partly because of their experience and dexterity in the use of the spear, but also because they are accustomed to hunt in comparatively small canoes, requiring fewer men, and taking up less room on the schooner's deck. The northern Indians require larger canoes, and usually no greater number of skins is taken by a large canoe than by a small one. It is true that the spear has, even among these people, now been largely replaced by the gun, but, meanwhile, they have become familiar with the method of hunting from schooners. Still another cause is found in the fact, that the Ahts are by no means so favourably disposed as other coast tribes toward devoting themselves to regular occupation, such as cannery work or loggmg. 558. The Ahts are divided into a large number of tribes and village communities, from many of which details as to seal-hunting have not been obtained, but the following notes on some of them may be taken as examples of the whole : — Hunting in canoes from the shore is still practised at Nootka Sound, where the hunting season embraces about three months of the later winter and early spring. The hunter.q go out a long way from shore, and, when the weather is fine, sometimes stay two days at sea. The skins obtained are disposed of to various traders, but, in all probability, about 200 are got at this place annually. One of the hunters said that, about twenty years ago he had himself secured 260 seals, but as the prices were then very low, he obtained just 1 dollar each for the skins. 559. At Clayoquot Sound, the Indians staled that in the times of the grand-parents of the present generation, fur-seals were valued and hunted only for food. Thoy were then always killed with spears. Independent hunting with canoes from the shore has fallen into disuse for the last seven or ten years at Ahouset village and Clayoquot proper, respectively. The Indians from this vicinity now hunt only from schooners, and many are so employed every summer. Long ago many of them were drowned when hunting independently, and this mode of hunting has come to be considered very dangerous. [306] ■V^ ;i .,: ■ ■ ■ ^ i^' -.., 96 At the present time, both the gun and spear arc employed in taking seals, according to circumstances or Ihe habits of the individual hunter. 560, At Barclay Sound, the Indians of several villages still engage to a considerable extent in hunting in tlieir own canoes from the shore, but they are also in many cases employed on seating-schoonL'rH. The number of seals tiiken by them in independent hunting varies between wide limits from year to ycnr. In the spring of 1891, about 1,800 skins at least were taken to Victoria from Ibis vi(;inity, all obtained in this way. The spear is usually employed still in preference to the gnn by these hunter,"). 5Q\ . The Makah Indians of the neigiibourhood of Capo Flattery arc great seal-hunters. They themselves now own three small Hcliooners, which are registered at Port Townsend. Some of them go every year in schooners ownec' by Whites, but the old method of independent hunting from ti;e shore h also still practised. Two or three men generally go ill each canoe, and occasionnlly stiiy out a night at sea, where they are frequently as far as thirty miles from laud. Tiicy usually still spear the seals, whether hunting inde- pendently or from schooners, though the shot-gun is employed by some of the hunters. The older men think that shooting is bad, but the younger men have taken to it. The spear used has two prongs, witli i!etnchnl>lc barbed heads. It is about Kfteen feet long, and ia thrown from the hand, without a thi'owing-stick, the butt end being flat and widened, with <>ro'!vcs cut in it for llie fingerfti. This Hrtme type of spear is employed by all the Aiit people. 602. The old men say that before tliey wore born (say, about sixty years ago), the fur-seal was hunted for food and clothing, and was abundant ; but on several occasions a number of Indians lost their lives at sea while huntinif. and. consequently, for about twenty years Iho iiuntinjy was practically given up. j\bout the liuie the small-pox came among them (probably in 18-52. as ascertained from <;t!ior sjiirccF) hunting began again, and lias been continued ever since. 'J'hey tliiiik (hat it was about twenty-five years ago (§ 586) when they first knew of NVliitcs going to sea to hunt the fur-seal. Nearly 1,000 fur-seal skins arc annually got by the Makah Indians, but a considerable proportion of the whole number is obtained by them in their schooners along the coast to the northward or in Behring Sea, so that the precise number taken in tiie vicinity of their own territory is difficult to ascertain. Nearly the whole of the skins taken by these India;is are ^old in Victoria. 663. "W hen the seals are speaied, practically none are lost, but when shot some are lost by sinking, though a spear is employed to gaff them. These Indians stated that in taking fifty seals, sometimes one, sometimes two, might be lost, but occasionally none would be lost. 664. Further particulars of interest respecting the Indian fur-seal hunters of Cape Flattery ipay be found in Judge J. G. Swan's report on that subject contained in the " Report of the Fisheries and Fishery Industries of the United .jtates," vol. ii, p. 398. Also in the " Bulletin of the United States' Fish Commission," vol. iii, p. 201. From the first of these publications, it appears that the independent catch of the Cape Flattery Indians amounted to 1,568 skins in 1860, with an average value of 9 dollars per skin at that time. In a letter of recent date, the same gentleman states that no official record of the number of skins taken by these Indians has since been kept. 566. While it ia to be regretted that it is impo8««ible to give an accurate statistical record of the number of fur-seal skins taken by the natives of the coasts of Alaska, British Columbia, and Washington, by their independent hunting in their own canoes from the shores, the results of inquiries made at a number of detached places along the coasts, and given in abstract above, are at least sufficient to show that important vested interests are there involved. 506. It is undeniable that all the natives represented along this great line of coast have been accustomed from the earliest tinies to hunt the fur-seal. So long as the sea-otter was abundant, little use was made of the inferior skin of the fur-seal, and that animal was prized chiefly as an article of food. At a later dale, when the hunting of the sea-otter had become scarcely remunerative because of its increasing scarcity on tins part of the coast, the price offered for the skins of the fur-seal was still insufficient to tempt the natives to engage systematically in the somewhat hazardous business of its capture; but as the skins became higher in price, and notably within the last twenty years, the hunting of the fur-seal has possessed a greater importance for the natives, Withm quite recent years, however, the independent hunting of natives has somewhat decreased from two principal causes— the employment of large numbers of the more expert natives on sealing vessels, and the growth of various other industries capable of affording remunerative employment. 567. The low prices given in former years to the Indians of the British Columbian ogam. i^Hipts^nM 97 coast for their skins were in part due to the fact that, in accordance with native custom, the sicins were slretclied and dried, and were thus not so suitable for the trade as salted skins; but of late years the Lidians have become nccusloincd to salt nearly all the skins they take. 068. Respecting the dates between which the Indians of various tribes engage in seal-hunting, and in connection particularly with the notes elsewhere given on the migration of the fur-seal, it must be observed that these dates do not necessarily coincide wilh those defining t)ie occurrence ol fur-seals along the coast. The actual time of beginning the hunt depends chiefly upon the date at which such tine weather aa is described as " scaling weather " sets in. The close of sealing is, on the other hand, largely governed by the arrival of the particular season al which immemorial custom requires that fishing of some other kind — generally halibut fishing — shall begin. 569. The best estimates obtained of the number of skins taken annually by the IndiAns of the British Cohmibia coast alone, for the last four or five years, show that about 1/jOO in all are taken to the north of the northern end of Vancouver Island, and at least a similar number to the south of that point, or, say, at least 3,000 skins each year for the entire eoa-t. Estimating these at 10 dollars a skin (an average price sutliciently low to cover the relatively small value of the skins of grey pups or yearlings which sometimes form a considerable portion of the catch), the gross value of the catch amounts to 30,0U0 dollars anniuilly. This amount constitutes a very important part of the whole revenue of ihesc natives, with whom also the fur-seal forms a staple article of food at certain seasons. 570. The less direct, but financially more important, interest of the same native peoples in the pelagic sealing proper, in which they are now largely engaged, is of course not included in the above estimate. III. — Pelagic Sealing. of Cape in the p. 898. From Flattery skin at 1 record of coast as the ind that g of the his part mpt the apture ; vears, Withm icreased natives ffording lumbiaii (A.) — Origin and Development. 571. The interest of the natives of the west coast of America in the capture of the fur-seal is an immemorial one, but in the earlier years of trade upon the coast the skin of the fur-seal occupied a subordinate position to that of the sea-otter, and in still eurlier and pre-bistoric times the fur-seal seems scarcely to have been pursued except for food. The sea-otter yielded an ample supply of superior skins for clothing, while sea-lions, hair-seals, and other animals afforded skins better suited to the manufacture of skin boats by the northern tribes, and for the southern, that of other articles requiring strength of hide rather than thickness of fiu*. 572. The principal areas in which the fur-seal was more or less hunted in such early times, were doubtless those extending on the west coast from the vicinity of Cape Flattery to about the latitude of Sitka. To the south of Cape Flattery tiie natives were not seafaring in their habits, and the same may be said of most of the native peoples of the Asiatic coast, along the Kurilc Islands to Kamtschutka. 678. So long as the skins of the sea-otter could be obtained in abundance for Chinese markets (where at the time they were most valued), the White traders then beginning to frequent the coast made little inquiry for the comparatively inferior skin of the fur-seal, but these, with other skins of minor value, were purchased from time to time by the traders, and have occasionally been thought worthy of mention in the na:rativ'?8 of their voyages. The observations on this particular subject which it is now possible to glean from these narratives arc naturally rather meagre, but even an imperfect examination of some of them, is sufficient to show that from the first the skins of the fur-seal were counted among articles of trade v\itli the natives along various parts of the coast to which these animals did not habitually resort for the purpose of breeding, and where, consequently, they must have been taken by the natives at sea. 574. It was primarily the S3arch for, and trade in, the skins of the sea-otter which, in the last century, impelled the Russian adventurers to extend their operations from the coasts of Asia along the Aleutian Islands and to the American coast. Wlien the Commander and Pribyloff Islands were successively discovered, the skins of the fur-seal began to be added in large numbers to the lists of articles of commerce, but even from the first, and before these principal breeding places had been found, fur-seal skins also were procured from the Aleut natives. From incidental references mrde in the summaries [305] 2 RjSKyeiJiHnQ^pn ^' if ft!?!: III I . ; I- ) ■ 08 of early Russian voyages, such as those given in Bancroft's History of Alaska, enough facts to show this may be {^atherv^'d, though a complete examination of the original works might doubtless afford additional fuels of the same kind. .075. Thus, in 1766, the " Vladimir " included in her return oargo 9,000 fur-seal skins which are said to have been brought from the Near Islands of the Aleutian chain. The number here given is, however, so considerable, that it may be regarded as not improbably showing that at this early date some place resorted to by the fur-seal for breeding, still existed on Agatu, Attn, or other neighbouring islands of the group ; in which case ali of these skins may not have been taken at sea. The " Arkangel Sv. Mikhail," returning from a voyage which had extended from 1772 to 1777, during which Kadiak was reached, but in which no mention is made of any call at the Commander Islands (the Pribyloff Islands had not then been discovered), brought back 143 fur-seal skins. In \7iiO, again, Sauer, of the Russian Scientific Expedition, under Billings, is recorded to have been told at Shelikoffs establishment at Kadiak, that 600 double bidarkas had been sent out to hunt sea-otters, fur-seals, and sea-lions. In 1812, in Chugatach Bay, Prince William Sound, where seals had formerly been plentiful, the yield is stated to have fallen off to fifty skins.* 576. Similar incidental allusions may be found us well in the records of other voyages. Thus, among the skins sold in China by Portlock and Dixon, in 1788, were 110 fur-^eal (■kins, though these navigators did not approach the known breeding islands in any part of their route.t In 1791, again, Captain Marchand obtained thirty-seven seal-skins from the natives of Norfolk Hound, these skins forming a considerable proportion of the whole amount of furs got there.j: 577. There is often some difficulty in identifying the particular kind of skins which were obtained by such traders along the coast, becaMse of the indefinite and varied terms made use of by them, but it seems piobable that much of that classed as " beaver" was in reality fur-seal. § This must certainly have been the case in the Queen Charlotte Islands, for though Portlock and Dixon state that considerable numbers of " beaver skins " were purchased there, the beaver is not, and never has been, a native of these islands. || 578. The opinion just referred to is that of Mr. Alexander Mackenzie, who has long been familiar with the Queen Charlotte Islands in particular, and who bases his statements upon the direct testimony of the natives themselves, to the effect that they frequently in former times traded fur-seal skins to the vessels then frequenting the islands in search of sea-otter skins. 579. Such facts, taken in conjunction with those already given as the result of our own inquiries on the West Coast, are, at least, sufficient to show that the natives were, from the earliest recorded dates, accustomed to hunt the fur-&ea1, as well as the more valuable sea otter, at sea. So long as the skin of the fur-seal possessed but an insignificant com- mercial value, little attention was paid by traders and others upon the coast to the hunting of this animal by the Indians. The skins scarcely appeared in the lists of furs procured, and very little has been placed on record on the subject. A few skins were purchased by the Hudson's Bay Company from time to time, chiefly those oflered by the Cape Flattery Indians. The first really commercial appearance of fur-seal skins at Victoria, according to Mr. R. Finlayson, was in or about 1846, between which date and 1856 considerable numbers of skins from the Pribyloff or Commander islands, collected at Sitka by the Russian Fur Company, were forwaided from Victoria to London by the Hudson's Bay Company. Tiiese were shipped in casks, and were presumably salted skins, doubtless all taUen on the breeding inlands. In part overlapping the period just mentioned is the record of purchase of fur-seal skins by the same Company from Indian hunters, which runs from 1852 to the present year. (See Appendix G.) 580. When, however, better prices began to be paid for these skins, those persons interested in Indian trade along the coast became familiar with the native mode of hunting, and recognized the difficulty and danger to which the native hunters were often exposed in consequence of the distances to which they were obliged to venture from the shore in pursuit of the seal. The endeavour was then made to encourage the Indians in sealing, because of the profitR obtained from the sale of the skins, and it naturally occurred both to the Indians and the traders (some of whom employed small vessels for the purposes of traffic), ti;»t a combination might be formed which would be advantageous to both partiesi . * Bancroft's Hittory, vol. xxxiii, pp. 153, 17t, 386, and 538. t "Voyage to the Noith-weit Coast of America," p. 300. X " Voyage Autour du Monde," tome ii, p. 11. § The term "Sea-b«aTer" was also, however, sometimes applied to the sea>otter. Ii <* Voyage to the North-west Cout of Amarica," pp. 169, 901, and SCO. I f^ 99 It became evident that the danger and hardship inherent in the independent native mode of hunting might be much reduced by employing small vessels to carry the Indians and their canoes to sea in search of seah, thus to serve as a base of operations from which they mi^ht more successfully practise this industry. fiSl. At this time, the Indians of the coasts of South-eastern Alaska and British Columbia knew nothing whutever about the summer resorts of the fur-seal in Behring Seu, and very little was known by any one as to the extent or course of their migrations. 1'hus, Dall, in his elaborate work on Alaska, published in 1870, though conversant with all facts then available, is able merely to make the following statement on this subject : "The Alaskan fur-seal formerly extended from the ice-line of Behring Sea to the coast of Lower California. At present, a few 8trn|?glcrs reach the Strait of Fuca . . . , but the great majority are confined to the PribyloiT Islands .... They leave on the approach of winter — usually about the end of Ortobpr. They are supposed to spend the winter in the open sea south of the Aleutian Islands."* Even so late as 1880, Professor Allen, afler a very careful investigation of the whole subject, was able to write in the following very general way only with regard to the migra- tions of the fur-seal : — " Except during the season of reproduction, these animals appear to lead a wandering life, but the extent and direction of their migrations are not yet well known. Steller spoke of their migrations being as regular as those of the various kinds of sea-fowl, and they are recorded as arriving with great regularity at the Pribyloff Islands, but where they pass the season of winter id still a matter of conjecture."! 582. It was the habit of the Indians, when sealing in their own canoes, to bring back the entire carcasses of the seals killed, and to utilize the flesh and fat as food. When schooners were first employed as an auxiliary, the same practice was very ofVen followed. The carcasses belonged to the individuals killing the seals, and were prized by them, und whenever possible carried back to the villages to which the sealing Indians belonged. The vessels were seldom very long away from port. The sealing voyages thus at first made were restricted in their scope, and it was only by degrees that it came to be discovered that the seals might be profitably followed in their general northward move- ment along the coast, after the cessation of the rough wintry weather. It was also found that some seals might be obtained in the winter and early spring as far south as the coast of California, and before " sealing weather " set in on the coast of British Columbia ; and as no other profitable employment oflered for the sealing schooners, it became customary for them to make a cruize to the southward before engaging in the fishe'' ' to the north of the Strait of Fuca. At a later date still, the pelagic hunters ascertaried, as the result of their own experience, that the fur-seals might be fallowed with advantage through the eastern passes of the Aleutian chain, and taken during the months of July and August, and occasionally during the early part of September, or till such time as stormy weather rendered further hunting impossible. 583. Thus, beginning as a purely local industry, in which the Indians of the west coast of Vancouver Island, with those of the vicinity of Cape Flattery in the State of Washington, were chiefly interested, the sea-sealing naturally developed and extended with the increasing knowledge gained of the habits and haunts of the fur-seal, till its operations covered almost the entire migration-range of the animal, and the number of skins obtained became so considerable, that the sealing interests of the Alaska Commercial Company (at that time the lessees of the Pribyloff and Commander Islands), and their heretofore profitable monopoly of the fur-seal of the Korth Pacific, was notably affected. Not until this occurred was any serious protest, or, in fact, any complaint whatever raised against the practice and methods of pelagic sealing. On the contrary, in so far as it became a matter of public knowledge, pelagic sealing was spoken of as a commendable new industry, developing maritime enterprise, in which both citizens of the United States and of Canada were engaged, and which afforded remunerative employment to them, as well as to a large number of the Indian population of both countries. From the commercial point of view, which is necessarily that of the lessees of the islands, it is not only and perhaps not so much the fact that at sea a considerable number of seals are killed, but the circumstance that this industry interferes with their monopoly or practical monopoly of the market, which has frequently been admitted to be the most valuable part of their franchise, and in the endeavour to maintain which they have even purchased the greater part of the catch made at sea, particularly in the year 1890. 584. With the altered conditions and extended range aasumed by pelagic hunting • "A]uk*uidltiRetourcef,"p.493. f " Monogrif h of North Amerieaa Pinnipedt," p. 335. 4 t 'omm I ^WllJIjy • 100 ill Ihe course of the few following years, certain chati^tt. ulso occurred in the inuuner in which it was conducted. The Indian hunters becatiip ; c-custonied to ^o far from their native villages, and to cngaf>;e tor the hunting of an riit'i\' -eaHon. The spear employed tVom prc-historic times by the people of the Aht Stock wii^ ut first the only weapon used in pelacic hunting. Tho captains of schooner's engagiiii; in the business discouraged the employment of (ire-arms, under '.he belief that the result of their u>c would be to alarm the sealh und reduce the chances of a good catch. This belief was doubtleij.-) in some measure justified, but as White hunters also began to engage in the business, it became impossible to prevent the use of such weapons ; the rifle was introduced, though soon superseded by the shot-gun, which has now become the usual hunting weapon. Most o( the Indians readily adopted this new and more effective mode oi' hunting, and each year the number of these people employed, to!j;ether with that of the vessels engaged in the industry, incrcasc'l. The number of Whites employed n» hunters varied, but, as a rule, competent Indian lumtera have always been preferred when they could be obtained. 585. The Indians themselves benefited lar^roly t'loin a pecuniary point of view, ani, in ropse(|uence of the encoura'zemcnt offered by the pur-suit of the fur- seal, began them- selves to own and navigate sealing-sehooners. IV- rliai)' i 1 0!) (,tli:;r wav is the influenc;; of the sealing industry toward the civilization ol the Indians rt.'ndered more apparent than by the facts, that three fccaling-schooners .ire now actually o'.vned by tlie MaUah Indians of Cape Flattery, while five are similarly owned by Indians of the cosist of Vancouver Island, while in addition it is estimated that tlie payment to the Indians employed in the British Columbian sealing fleet in 1890, calculated on the number of skins obtained, was probably between 35,000 dollars and .'iO.OUO dollars. 586. Reverting to the question of the date of the first known practical attempts at what is now classed as pelagic sealing proper, it appears, from information kindly supplied by Mr. J. W. iVluckay, that this method of sealing was first attempted by Captain Hugh Mackay, of the sloop " Ino," in the spring of 186G. Captain Mackay, however, soon found that this sloop was too small to conveniently carry two or three Indian canoes, and he accordingly built, for the purpose of sealing, the schooner " Favourite," 75 tons, which was registered in Victoria on the 18th June, 1868. Little is known as to these first sealing voyages, but, doubtless, as a consequence of their success or good promise, other vessels were fitted out. 'I'hns, Judge J. G. Swan, of Port Townsend, in a letter on this subject, quotes Captain McAhnond, of New Dungeiiess, Washington, as follows on the matter: " The first schooner to take Indipiis tlint I know of was tlie ' Lottie,* in 1869, from Neah Bay, believing that we were the pioneers. I afterwards understood that A vessel from Victoria was also taking an Indian crew," The vessel from Victoria here mentioned was evidently the " Surprise," of which Mr. Charles Spring writes : " The first attempt at sealing, in a practical way, with schooners and Indian hunters, was made in or about 1869 by Jas. Christienson in the schoomr ' Surprise,' cwned by the late Captain William Spring, of V^ictoria, British Columbia." From other sources it was ascertained that the Indian hunters employed on this and other pioneer sealing • schooners were obtained at Pachena, on the south-west coast of Vancouver Island, near the entrance to the Strait of Fuca. 587. The history of the progress and continued expansion oi the pelagic sealing industry may be here briefly set out. In regard to that carried on from the British Columbian coast, it has been particularly inquired into and recorded by Mr. A. R. Milne, Collector of Customs at Victoria, upon whose investigations, checked and amplilied in so far as has been possible, the subjoined summary is based.''' It has already been stated, however, in another part of this report, that, for the earlier yeais of the development of the business of sealing at sea, the data are very incomplete, as in these years it had scarcely begun to receive any particular attention, and records were not systetnatically kept of it by the Customs authorities, as has been required of them in later years. 588. From 1871 to 1878, it is known that three schooners were engaged more or less continuously in the sealing business on the west coast of Vancouver Island, where, however, they were also employed as traders. In 1879 to 18 ?1 four or live schooners were employed in sealing along the same coast. In 1882, auxiliary steam-power was added to two of the schooners, and eight vessels in all were employed in the industry. In 1883 nine, and in 1884 eleven, scliooners were employed, and all are said to have been fairly successful. One of these vessels, the " Mary lillen,'' belonging to Victoria, outfitted at San Francisco, and eventually continued her voyage into Behring Sea, which she ejitered about the 15th June, and left about the end of August. This, so far as ascertained, * Pariiafn«aUry Pa|)er [0.-6368], August 1891. 101 was the first of the British Columhian scliooiiers to extend senliiic; operations to the waters of Uehring Sea. It has not, however, been (lofiniloly ascertained tliat the " Mary Ellen " WU9 ti\e only vessel to enler nelninu; Hea in this year. 589. The result of the venture of the " Mary Kilen " liaving been satisfactory, she, and at least one other vessel, entered Behiin^ Sea in JHK.'i. Thirteen Hriti«h Columbian schooners in all are known to have heen engaged in sealing in this year. 690. In lH8fi, eif^hteen schooners ensj^agcd in tiie scalinu; industry. 0:io of these had heen brought round the Morn from the eastern coast of ( nnadn for tlie purpose. Two were wrecked, but the remaining sixteen vessels entered IJehring Sea ; and in this year, for the first time, exception was taken to sealini; in this part of tho ocean by the (iovern- ment of the United States, and three of tho soalcrs, tiie "Carolena," " Onward," and " Thornton," were seized. 501. In 1887, seventeen British Columbian schooners were engnj^ed in sealin;? ; fifteen of these are believed to have continued their operations into Uehrin;^ Sea, six being seized there by the United States' cutters " llush ' and " Hear." i>92. Fn 1888, twenty-one vessels from Hritish Columbia composed the staling fleet, and though the fishery was carried on in Bohring Bea in tho latter part of the season, n(» seizures were nuulo by the I nited States. One schooner, however, the " Araunab," was this year seized and confiscated by ihu Uussian (Government, having been detected in scaling within the territorial waters of Copper Island,'* 503. In 1889, the sealing fleet consisted of twenty-two vessels, all of which are believed to have entered Behring Sea. In this year lour of these vessels were seized, and one was ordered out of th^' sea. .'')94. In 180O, twcnly-nine Mrilish Columbian vessels were engaged in scaling, twenty- three of which entered IJchring Scii. 595. In 1891, the sealing fket of Britisii Colu;iibia had increased to fifty vessels, and most, if not all, of these cleared with tlic intention of entcriii { Hehring Sea. The adoption of the vwdus vivoncli between Uvcat liritain and the United States, however, had the ettect of turning back many of these vessels, while the patrolling of the sea and warning of others, with other circumstances connected with the operations in this year, need not he repeated here. .590. As already noted, the first extension of the cruizes of the sealing-sehooners of British Colundna was that along the eoast to the southward, and this began to be practised as early as 1878 or lS79. Sealing operations were first extended into Behring Sea by sealers from British Columbia in 1884, though one or more United States' schooners had already at that date been for several years accustomed to frequent Behring Sea for this purpose, and cargoes obtained by them were sold in Victoria in 1881 and 1883. The practice grew up of making in the winter and early spiing a voyage from Victoria to the southward, after which the vessels returned to Victoria and outfitted there for the northern voyage. This was found, however, to be inconvenient, from the loss of time involved, as well as froni the fact that crews often had to be re-engaged for the second trip. There, fore, in 189 ', arrangements were made by the se;ders to rendezvous with a steamer at some northern point in .June, to tranship their skins for conveyance to Victoria, completing their outfit for hunting in Behring Sea at the same time. In 1890, Sand Point, in the Shumigin Islands, was the place selected for the purpose, and in 1891 Alitak Bay, Kadiak Island, was chosen. 507. The foregoing details respecting the growth of the pelagic sealing industry of British Oolunibia have been obtained by special research and inquiry, but it has been found to be practically impossible to procure, whether officially or otherwise, comparable particulars of the pelagic sealing business conducted by United States' vessels. It is known that vessels sailing from the New England States have been engaged in the capture of the fur-seal since the latter jvirt of the last century, their operations being carried on principally in the southern hemispher , .md the mode of killing the seals being that of a promiscuous slaughter whenever these animals could be found on shore, carried out by means of clubs or otherwise. This method of killing seals has, however, no analogy with that of pelagic sealing as now understood. It is further known, that in more recent years, and after the Governments of Russia, .Japan, and the United States had provided regulations for the protection of the respective breeding islands under their jurisdiction, vessels were dispatched by unscrupulous persons for the purpose of raiding the rookeries upon these islands. The records preserved of the raids themselves, which are treated in detail elsewhere, show that such illegal sealing has been carried on, but, naturally enough, it is difiicult to obtain full particulars of its character A I ! I • Parlianienlury Paper [C— 60411, 1890. . •. I ' 13; ;t ■ ir. Hi ■^M 109 or magnitude. This again, however, is quite distinct from the question of pelagic Healing proper, the origin of wliich little if at all antedates tiie year 1860. Moreover, white this raiding of the Vctrious breeding istunds appears to have been pinclised from year to year in the case of United States' vessels, it has latterly been more and more replaced iiy the legitimate pursuit of the fur-seal at sen. There was tlius almost an organic connection between the two methods of sealing in the caso of vessels sailing from the United States, that did not exist in the case of the sealing industry of UritiHh Columbia, which grew up directly from the independent Indian sea-sealing, and hud not previously existed in any other form. 608. A certain number of vessels have for many years taken clearances from the Pacific ports of the United States for " hunting and fishing voyages ;" but while most of those wnich have been engaged in any form of sealing have doubtless been included under this general designation, it comprises as Mell vessels which may have been cngoged in various forms of tisliing proper, and in the hunting of the sea-otter. Even in the last census of the United States (1800) the vessels engaged in sealing arc not specially indicated, but are included under the general designation of the " fur-seal and sea-otter fleet.*'* If siii;h clearances were confined to a single port, local inquiries might w;lhout great difficulty result, in the case at least of the later years, in eliminating vessels which were not engaged in pelagic sealing, and in affording a reasonably exact statement of tlio operations of those of the latter class, but the number of ports of clearance has unfortunately baffled inquiries made in this direction. 500. It is certain, however, that the pelagic sealing industry has continued to grow in the United States in a ratio corresponding to that of the same industry in Hriiish Columbia. In 1889, the best estimate which Mr. Milne could quote of the number of vessels engaged in it placed this at thirly-two.f The United States' Census Bulletin relating to the same year gives tiie fur-sealing and sea-otter hunting vessels at twenty. It is probable that though two or three of these vessels were chiefly engaged in sea-otter hunting, even these occupied part of their time in sealing, while it is known that most of the fleet wasi primorily engaged in sealing. In 1890, more than fourteen vessels sailed from United States' ports for sealing, but the exact number has not yet been ascertained. In 1891, the number had increased to about forty-two. 600. The estimated value of the British Columbian sealing fleet with its equipment, as it loft port in 1801, was 373,000 dollars. That of the United States' fleet in the same year exceeded 250,000 dollars. According to the United States' Census Bulletin already cited, the value of the vessels engaged in the fur-seal and sea-otter industry in 1889 was 152,757 dollars. Dividing this amount by the tonnage, an average tonnage value for this fleet is obtained of 160 dol. 54 c, while a similar calculation based on the figures for the British Columbian fleet of 1891 gives a corresponding tonnage value of about 1 14 dollars. "!.hj! I'fi' {K)— Methods. 601 . In what has already been given, the methods of pelagic or sea-scaling have been indicated in a general way. These methods are essentially of a very simple character, but the actual procedure followed in killing the seals may now be briefly alluded to. The vessels employed range in size from 180 to 40 tons. Taking the sealing fleet of British Columbia in 1891, the average number of Ciuoes or boats carried on each of the small vessels (which are all or nearly all 8choone)--rigged) is about seven. The average size of the vessels in 1891 was sixty-five to»&, rnd the average number of men (White and Indians) employed on each was in the same year about twenty-two. 602. The effective hunting strength of each vessel depends on the number of canoes or boats carried, for no advantage is gained by carrying large boats, a single hunter being sufficient for each. Various plans are therefore adopted, to enable as large a number of canoes or boats as possible to be stowed on the deck of the schooner. 603. It is necessary for success, not only that a sufficient number of seals should be fallen in with, or, in other words, that an area of sea-surface rather plentifully sprinkled with seals should be found, but also that the weather should be favourable. In stormy or thick weather sealing is impossible, and the most the sealing master can attempt to do is to stay with the seals. The circumstances being favourable, the boats or canoes are launched and manned, and set out in different directions from the schooner in such a way as to cover as great an area as possible. The schooner has only to keep to leeward of the boats, so that these may the more easily rejoin her at the close of the day. * 8m United Sutot' Cenini Bulletin, No. 123. \ Parliamentary Paper ||0.— 68691. London, August |890, p. 862, ^^tm rm my or do is es are 3uch a jeward G04. Seals thus met with upon the eca-Burfacn nro roughly clasted by the hunters as "sleepers" and " trnvcllers," ami the former are of course the most easily approached. Whether in ciinocs or bouts, paddles are employed in preference to oars, as they enable a more nuiiicleBS approuch to the seals. When a seal is seen, the boat or canoe is quietly but swiftly impelled toward it, till the hunter believes that he has arrived within sure range, nhen he firis. If killed, as happens in the majority of cases, especially now that the shot-gun has superseded the rifle, the seal may either remain floating upon the surface or begin to sink slowly. In either case, the boat ur canoe is at once urged forward., "sd if the carcass, which does iKtt differ much in specific {gravity from the water, is already puUly submerged, it is at once secured with n 15.foot gaff, and hauled on board. If the seal shoulu l)"|-i>en to be merely badly wounded, it cither struggles upon the surface until gaffed, or, if retaining strcngtii to do so, dives. If quite lightly wounded, as of course happens in some cases, it may eventually escape; but if severely wounded, it is probably killed at the ne.\t rise alter n short submersion. fiO.O. We are infornied that it has been learned by experient'; that seals may easily bo 1g t if shot in the neck, as in this case the muscular contraction jf the body often forces most of the air from the lungs, and the carcass then may sink much more rapidly than usual. 60U. This brief description refers to the killing of seals by shooting, which is now the method most commonly practised. (iUr. The spear is still often em|)loyed by the Indians, and when used it involves a closer approach to the seal, before it can effectively be thrown. If cither of the two detachable barbes enters the body the seal is never lost, and if neither strikes it, it escapes unhurt ; in short, if the seal is speared, it is fcccured. 608. The dead seals arc draw n into the boat or canoe, and brought back at the close of the hunt to the schooner, on hoard of which they are subsequently skinned, and the skins laid down in dry salt for curing. It is said that in recent years considerable improvement has been made in, and extra care given to, the preserving of the skins on the schooners. This will no doubt have a favourable influence on the prices obtained for the " pelagic skins." 609. The prosecution of this industry at sea requires all tiie courage and skill which can be brought to bear on it. The canoes often find themselves far from the supporting schooner, and should bad weather or one of the fiequent fogs of the northern part of the west const set in, it may be difficult or impossible for them to regain her with case. Several instances are known where Indian hunters out ofl' the west coast of Vancouver Island have entirely lost the supjjorting schooner in fog-, and have only regained the distant sliore after suffering great hardships. 610. The accusation of butchery hiid against those who take the seals on shore cannot 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 us a lair sporting chance for its life. The little vessels employed in such work must be staunch and well found, for they have not only to make long voyages, but nmst he able to keep the sea in any weather, and it often ba|)i)ens that tliey have to lie-to lor days together in storms, with all hands crowded in by no means comfortable or conunodious qunrters below. 611. Thus, whatever argiiiuents may be advanced against some of the methods and consequences of pelagic sealing, it is not possible to speak of these in terms such as those employed by Liitkc, who visited the Pribyloff Islands as long ago as 1827, and who records his impressions as follows : — " II y a queiqiic chose dc revoltant dans cc carnage dc sang-froid de quelque millicrs d'animaux sans defense. Les chasseurs, tout endureis qu'ils sont a ce i;vnrc de meurtres, avouent que souvent leur main a peine a sc lever pour Irappcr uui creature innocento qui, les pattes en Tair ct poussant des cris plaintifs, quelqueiois tout a fait semblables a ceux d'uu enfant qui pleure, sembic implorer misciicordc."* Gl'i. Free use has been made of the appellation "poachers" as applied to pelagic scalers in general, and to the Canadian sealers in particular, in the course of discussions arising in the Behring Sea controversy, with t!ie obvious purpose of prejudicing public opinion. The use of this term may be justified in the case of raiders iq)on the brooding islands, hut in such cases only, and, as has already been stated, no instance is actually known in which Canadian sealing-vessels have been found raiding the I'ribyloff Islands. It more nearly describes, however, the operations of the sealing fleet in the southern hemisphere, which for many years has consisted almost solely of vessels sailing from the [3()5J • " Voyage autoui- da .MouJc,'' Tome i, p. 2G1. 1 if 1 ■ I' 1: 11, •I ■M ■ ■ { ■ ■■$ •.^f m ;ir 104 United States, and which as lately as 1880 numbered ten vessels, aggregating 1,277 tons, and manned by 272 men.* The decreased importance of this fleet in still later years has resulted only from the reduction in" number of seals brought about by its operations. Sealing by these adventurers has been conducted entirely on land, on islands or coasts either nominally or actually in the possession of various Powers, but in no instance controlled by the United States, and in some cases in direct infraction of all local laws. The killing of the seals has always and everywhere been carried out in the indiscriminate, ruthless, and wasteful manner described in detail in several oi clie works elsewhere cited in this Report, and in most cases a greater part of the catch has consisted of females.! (0.) — Proportion of Seals lost. 613. As to the proportion by number of seals which are lost after being killed or mortally wounded, to those actually taken, a great variety of very wild statements have been made, and it must be admitted that in so far as concerns mere assertion and reiteration of such assertion by means of the press and in every other conceivable manner, the critics of pelagic sealing have established an unchallenged supremacy over its defenders. If popular opinion could be educated into the belief that the operations of the pelagic sealer are wholly barbarous and scandalously destructive, by the means of unsupported assertion, this s!-.ould have been fully itccomplished by this time. It is necessary, however, in order to arrive at ns nearly as possible a true result, to weigh and criticize the evidence offered, and to take into account the sources from which it comes. It is. further most important ^to remark that actual numerical statements are far more trustworthy and more susceptible of critical analysis than general assertions, which, however, have heretofore been thoso most commonly employed as the basis of argument in this question. 614. Disregarding mere rhetorical statements made by irresponsible individuals, or given forth without signature in the press, the following citations may be made as representing the ]Hiblished evidence adduced in official reports in regard to the loss of seals by the sea-sealers. It is wholly \ipon the evidence here cited or referred to that all the statements as to great losses of seals in pelagic sealing have, up to this time, been founded. Captain C. A. Abbey, from June 1886 to tlie latter part of August in the same year in command of the United States' Revenue Cutter " Richard Rush," in Behring Sea, says of the pelagic sealers : " I should judge that they killed about three for every one they got." J Captain Shephard, in command of the same vessel in 1887 and 1888, says, on the same subject: " I have no very accurate information on which to base an opinion, but I should judge that they lost from 40 to 60 per cent, of them. 1 saw a good many shot from the boats as I was approaching, and I think they lost two or three out of five or six that I saw them shoot at."§ Mr. W. B. Taylor, Agent of the United States Treasury Department on the PribylofF Islands in 1881, says, in answer to a question as to the proportion of seals recovered by pelagic sealers, " that he does not believe that more than one-fourth of the seals shot at are got, the rest 8inking."|| This was before the year 1881, when but few vessels had as yet engaged in the industry, and one only is actually known to have been in Behring Sea in thin year. Dr. H. 11. Mclntyre, Superintendent of the Pribyloff Islands for the lessees for a number ot seasons, says : " I think not more than one-fifth of those shot are recovered. Many ai-e badly wounded, and escape."^ Mr. G. R. Tingle, at the time Government Agent in charge of the PribylofF Islands, gave the following testimony : " The logs of marauding schooners have fallen into my hands, and they bave convinced me that they do not secure niorc than one seal out of every ten that they mortally wound and kill." He then | "oceeds to make some calculations on the basis of this statement. At a later stage, and when more closely pressed for details, he explained the allusion above made more clearly as follows: '* I remember reading the log-book of the ' Angel Dolly,' which I captured. There was an entry in that log-book which read as follows: 'Issued to-day to my boats 300 * " Fishery Industriei of the United Siatea," vol. ii, p. 419. + Ibid., p. 431. I " Fur-acal Fisheries of Alaskn," House of Itc^jriBentotivri', fiOth Congies', ?nj Seu'ion, Ueport No. 3883, p 946. § Ibid., p. 230. II Ibid., p. Its. <|| Ibid., pp. 164 and 170. 105 rounds of ammunition, all expended, and one seaKskin;' .... another entry: 'Seven seals shot from the deck, but only secured one.' "* Mr. Tingle gives some further citations of a similar kind from the same log, which may, however, be found at length in the "Fur-seal Fisheries of Alaska." In it the captain refers to the character and want of skill of his crew in language rather too forcible for citation in this report.f Mr. C. A. Williams, a member of the Alaska Commercial Company, in another part the report of the investigation on the Fur-seal Fisheries, from which the above quotations are made, refers again to the same log-book as the " best testimony we have " on the subject of the proportion of seals lost by hunters at sea, and adds that the captain, in the log, estimates that he got but one seal in seven shot at.$ Mr. H. D. Wolfe, who described himself as "in the newspaper business," and stated he had some familiarity with certain parts of Alaska, though claiming no experience in sealing, gives testimony to the following effect : " I think the hunting of seals in the open water is very injudicious, because the hunters will shoot, and out of every 100 seals they shoot you will not get more than thirty If you don't hit a fur-seal or a hair-seal right in the head, you arc not going to catch him ; he will sink.§ 615. Nothing more precise than the statements just quoted, every one of tliem made by those presumably interested in, or engaged in, protecting the breeding islands, but without personal experience in this matter, has been found as authority for tiic theory which has been so diligently propagated, that excessive waste of seal life results from the practice of pelagic sealing. 616. The following statements, called fortli by the publicity given to the above-men- tioned theory, though for the most part made by persons directly interested in pelagic sealing, are given over their signatures, and us the result of experience, extending in some cases over many years, must be censidered as of a much higher order of accuracy than those above cited : — Captain J. D. Warren, one of the pioneers of pelagic sealing, and for over twenty years personally engaged in the business, says : " Indians rarely lose a seal they btrike, and if one escapes, it is always but slightly wounded My experience with White hunters is not so extensive as with Indians, but from what I have seen while engaged in sealing, I can say that not over 6 in 100 seals killed by White hunters are lost or escape. .... Experienced hunters seldon lose a seal." II 617. Mr. W. Fewings, with three years' experience of seal-hunting on the Pacific coast and Behring Sea, says : "The average number lost does not exceed 6 in 100, and by Indians not 6 in 1,000."|| 618. Captain H, F. Sieward, who has been two years master of a sealer, employing in one year Indian huntei-s and in another White hunters, says : " The Indians Iusq very few seals, for if the spear strikes the seal is got, and if the spear misses, the seal of course escapes unhurt The seals lost by White hunters, after hcini» shot or wounded, do not, on the lower coast, exceed 6 in 100, and on the Alaskan coast and in Behring Sea, not over 4 in 100. On sailing I generally take 10 per cent, additiunul nnimunilion for waste shot — that is, if calculating on a catch of 3,000 seals, I would take ammunition for 3,300 shots. That was double the excels tiic hunters would consider necessary, arid I never knew the percentage of wast'} shot to be used."^[ 619. Captain William O'Lcary. with four years' experience of sei'-linT;, ii: which he sealed into Behring'sSea oni year with an Indian crew, and three with White crews, says: " My experience with Indian hunters is that they lose none — at n^.ost, a few — of the seals they spear The number :»i" seals lost by White hunters does not exceed 6 in lOU, and many hunters lose much les?, than that number."** Mr."/. Munsie, an owner ofscaling-schooners, in 18S6, and therefore long before the question of losses by pelagic sealers had achieved the notoriety which it subsecjucntly has, writes thus to the Ilonouiable G. E. Foster, Minister of Marine and Fisheries : " Allow me to '■ , radict a statement made by Special Ajjent Tingle, of the United Slates' Treasury Depau....:nt, in which he says that three-fourths of the seals shot in the water sink and arc lost. From the experience of our old hunters, I maintain but a small peroeni ago is lost in • "Fiir-senl Fisheries of Alafko,"' House of Rcprcsentativfa, 5Clh Congress, 2ml Session, Report No. 3883, pp. 104 and 170. t See " Further Correspondence relating lo Fur-seal Fisheries in Iteliring's Sea," Washington, 18C0, pp. 37, 38, and 332. X " Fur-seal Fisheries of Alakha," pp. 108 and 103. § " Report of United SUtes' Senate Committee c- Kelntions with Canada, 1890," p. HO. II Parlionientary Paper LC— 61?'], London, Aujjust 1890, p 355. ^ Ibid., p. 330. •• Ibid..p. 3C7! f305] ' r 2 i: • 1^ .::t; I 106 this way, probably not over 1 ia 5Q.. [ doubt if the loss is as great as that caused by the rejection of skins after being clubbed by the Alaska Commercial Conripany on the islands, to which reference is made in the tables of Elliott's Report."* 620. Mr. A. R. Milne, Collector of Customs at Victoria, who has had occasion to make, for official purposes, a special study of the pelagic sealing industry, and to take much sworn evidence from hunters and others engaged in sealing, in summing up his conclusions on the point here in question, writes : " Many erroneous opinions have been given in the American press, and by the paid officials of the Alaska Fur Company, as to the loss of seals by wanton slaughter (as they term it) by our sealers. I have made due and diligent inquiry as to the percentage of seals liable to be lost after being shot, and from what I have gathered it amounts, at most, to only 6 per cent."t 621. Further evidence on this subject, derived from sworn statements obtained by Mr. Milne, with special reference to the last two or three years, is printed in Appendix (H). The following is an abstract of the general statements made : — C. J. Kelly, with two years* experience of scaling, stated his belief that the average number lost is less than 3 per cent. Captain W. Petit, says that Whites do not lose more than 5 per cent., Indians 1 per cent. Captain W. E. Baker, states that the proportion of seals lost was not more than 3 per cent. C. N. Cox, states that the Indians lose 1 per cent., the White hunters 4 or .'» per cent. Captain T. M. Magnesen believes 3^ per cent, would be a fair average figure for seals lost. H. Crocker states the loss at 3 to 4 per cent. George Roberts, with four years' experience, gives 3 to 5 per cent, as representing the proportion lost. R. Thompson, with two years' experience, also places the loss at 3 to 5 per cent. A. Laing, with ten years' experience with Indian hunters, slates that they do not lose more than 1 in 10. Captain W. Cox, with four years' experience with Indian crews, states that there is no loss of seals when Indians employ the spear. 622. From information obtained, by ourselves on the West Coast, the following brief notes may be given : — Martin Lundberg, with three other practical sealers, possessing no vested interest iii sealing, and at the time employed as seamen, and no longer connected with the sealing business, concurred in stating, as to the proportion of seals lost, that if a man should lose two out of thirty killed he would be considered a poor hunter. 623. .Judge J. G. Swan, of Port Townsend, Washington, whose familiarity with the sealing industry of the West Coast and particularly with the Indian interest in sealing, is well known, went so far as to characterize many of the statements made as to great numbers of seals being lost as " scandalous falsehoods." The same gentleman, in a communication subsequently received on thi> point, wiites as follows: — ■ " 1 have seen several Makah Indians who have been here, and they tell me that Indians lose very few seals, whether they spear or shoot them, as they are always so near the seal at such limes that they can recover them before they sink. Captain Lavender, formerly of the schooner " Oscar and Hattie," who is a very fine shot, told me that he secured ninely-five seals out of every hundred that he shot. He said that poor hunters, of which he had several on his vessel, would fire away a deal of ammunition and not hit anything, but would be sure to report on their return to the vessel that they had killed a seal eacli time they fired, but that all thd seals sank except the few they brought on board. Captain Lavender was of opinion that not over 7 per cent, of seals killed were lost." 024. On a consultation with the members of the Sealers' Association of Victoria, comprising owners of sealing- vessels and sealing captains, they called special attention and invited inquiry into the matter of the number lost. They explained that when the seals sink after being killed, as they often do, they sink slowly " on a slant," so that it is usually quite easy to gaff" them. They further aflirmed that the result of the sealing in 1801 was, like that in former years, to show that the loss from this cause averaged below (3 per cent. 625. The captain of the "Eliza Edwards," interviewed at Vancouver, stated, as the result of his experience, that sealing must be loarnt like any other business. That "green hands" might lose as much as 25 per cent, of the seals shot, br ihat with experienced hunters the loss is very small. It might possibly amount to 5 pe. cvat. Farliamentary Pnper [C. — 6131], London, August 1890, p. 36. f Ibid, .360. I 107 626. The information on tliis point, gathered from native (sources, has already been referred to in connection with the description of the native modes of hunting, but may here be recapitulated. Aleut hunters, questioned nt UnalasUn, say tliat they never lose a seal if killed, whether shot or speared. Indians of Sitka, when hunting fur- seals, state that they lose sometimes one, sometimes two, out of ten sliot. Haida Indians, of Queen Charlotte Islands, state that they very seldom lose seals sliot a(. Mr. A. iVIackenzie, long fainilim- with the Haida Indians, says that a very small proportion of the seals fired at by them are lost — " very seldom," " very few indeed." " Some canoes do not lose a single seal tiic whole season." Mr. R. H. Hall, of the Hudson's Hay Company, and e(iually familiar with the Haida and other Indians of the coast, said that "an Indian kilHng or severely woundinj; a seal is pretty safe to get it." Mr. R. Cunningham, of Port Essington, believes that the Tshimsians may lose as many as one in five seals shot, The Makah Indians, of Cape Flattery, informed us that when they speared the seals they practically lost none, but that when shot, a few were lost. In taking fifty seals they might lose one or two, but sometimes would lose none. 627. The statements given above are of course all of a general character, and open to the objections which may be niged against such statements. Those referring to the native loss in hunting, whether derived from the natives themselves or quoted from Messrs. Mackenzie, Hall, and Cunningham, are entirely removed from any suspicion of self- interest. It has been endeavoured, however, still further to elucidate the question here considered by tabulating all the well-authenticated statements referring to the actual numbers of fur-seals shot, and the proportion lost. These, it will be observed, record the actual numerical loss of seals shot and not secured, by over twenty different hunters in various years, the whole number of seals thns accounted for numbering nsarly 10,000. Some of these statements have already been published, while others are those obtained in the course of our own inquiries. The tables given below show the results of this method of treatment, and arc believed to afford evidence of a very high class, directly referring to the question under discussion : — White Hunters. Name. Ve«»el. Skirs obtained. Seals Lost. 1 Loss j Per cent. Year. Remarki. I. J. Wilson "Triumph" 23 I 4-3 1889 First year of hunting. 2. "Hunter" »t I* fover) 60 (about) 400 1 16 1S89 3. W. Fewing "Favouriti" 25 6-2 1887 Some only "shot at." Fint year of hunting. 4. »* •» "Viva" .. (over) 500 (about) 30 6-0 1888 5. „ .. " Triumph ■' 140 1 0-7 1889 6. Oacur Srarr "Viva" .. (over) 600 (about) 20 3-5 1888 7. welter House ,. " Waltor L. Rich " .. 185 5 2-8 1889 First year of hunting; othar hunters on schooners !o(t about same proportion. 8. W. <> >^Ri-«? ,. "Pathfinder" 44 1 2-3 1889 9. Pt,.i.Oilh«it ,, . . 518 14 2-7 1887 First year of bunting. 10. , J. 244 5 2-0 1883 n. ., >. 454 16 3 5 1889 12. ieo.,', Uv*- "Theresa" 159 (about) 7 4-4 1886 Ditto. 13. „ „ "Pathfinder" 442 (about) 20 4-5 1886 M. „ " Penelope " , , 618 31 5-0 1-87 Ij. Viva" .. 734 37 50 1889 16. Thomn hoitj ,. "Theresa" ami "Path- finder " 397 (about) 20 5-4 1886 17. ,1 ,, .. "Penelope" 510 (abont) 30 e-0 1887 18 "LilyL." ,. 316 12 3-7 1888 19. .. „ .. "Viva" .. 587 27 4 4 1889 20. Albert Bertram , . ".\nnleC. Moc.e ' .. 320 21 6-8 1889 Ditto. 21. UpUin Jacohy .. I* 117 2 1-7 1888 22. "Allie Alger" 613 21 3-4 1883 23. Martin Lu II Jberg.. " 33 1 3-0 188 Quoted as an example of a good day'a work. 24. Captain Spring ., " Favourite " (about) 180 1 0-5 1888 2: :4ptain McLean.. » .. 90 (about) 5 5-5 1888 ;% . '. KpHpv ,, 79 2 1-6 1891 pti-:n W. Baker. ,, 55 1 1-8 1891 ij. '.Uitcr" •• 498 17 3-4 1891 Alu'i 1' : \nt . . "VayB-lle" 216 .. .. ., Toliil.. 205 7 3*- 4 1891 9,337 381 4-0 m- Nos. 1 to 20, from signed sUlrments given in Parliamontary Paper [C. 6131], 1890. Nos. 21 and 22, from " Relations vrith Canada," United Statei,' Senate, 51st Congress, 1st Session, Report 1530. Nos. 23 to 25 " Nob. 20 to 28 from sworn statements nhtatned in 1892, from evidence personally obtained. la '? ■ 'i4 .It 108 Indian HrNTEBS. Nativo Hunters, Tribe or Place. Skina Obtained. Seals Lost. Loss Per cent. Year. Remarks. No. 1 Sitka 19 4 20 .. 2 Ilaida 21 ,, I's'oo „ 2 »» • • • • 39 3 8-0 1891 ., 3 37 .. 1890 „ 4 „ (on Adelc) . . 126 ,. isno „ 5 90 3 3-3 1939 „ 6 Hailtulc .. 8 2 25-0 1891 ., 7 Makab 50 1 , 2, or none •• •• Koi, 1 to 7> ull from evidence personally obtained. G28. A certain proportion of the seals shot of course escape, and in killing on the islands each year, some are found with encysted shot in the skin or blubber. A few ounces of shot thus obtained was shown to us on the Pribyloff Islands as that collected from seals killed in 18'JO. This aggregated much less than ^ lb., but placing the amount at 8 ozs., this would give, at 150 pellets to the lb., seventy-five shot gathered from 21,000 seals killed, or at the rate of one pellet to 280 seals. As in most cases several pellets might be found in a single seal, while in other cases shot might be present but not found in skinning, and cutting up the seal, the proportion thus stated probably more than represents the ratio of seals so slightly wour'^c^ as to reach and live on the islands in apparent health. 629. It appears to- have been \ nerally taken for granted, on a priori grounds, by most of the apologists for the methv . of land killing, that the fur-seal does and must sink immediately when shot at sea. Actual experience contradicts this assumption in the manner and to the degree explained above, and it is, therefore, useless to enter at length into the questiorj of the analogy of the fur-seal with other animals in this respect, which has been advanced to show that the fur-seal should not float. Arguments of this kind have been derived particularly from the circumstance that the various species of hair-seal often sink when shot before they can be recovered. It must not be forgotten, however, that the hair-seal belongs to an entirely different group of the Pinnipedia, and is characterized not only by a much heavier osseous framework, but also by a smaller lung capacity in proportion to its weight, "let even the hair-seal is often shot and secured at sea, where its pursuit is made an industry, and it is only when exceptionally lean that it sinks rapidly. (330. The following notes bearing on this particular subject may be quoted from Mr. J. A. Allen's "Monograph of North American Pinnipeds," which has already been frequently referred to : — " • Like other species of the seal family, the harbour seal is very tenacious of life, and must be struck in a vital part by either ball or heavy shot, in order to kill it on the spot.' Says Mr. Reeks : ' I have been often amused at published accounts of seals shot in the Thames or elsewhere, but which • sank immediately.' What seal or other amphibious animal would not do so if * tickled * with the greater part of, perhaps, an ounce of No. 5 shot? He adds that it is only in the spring of the year that this seal will 'float' when killed in the water, but says that he has never .seen a seal 'so poor, which, iCk'Meddead on the spot, would not have floated from five to ten seconds,' or long enough to give * ample time for towing alongside,' supposing the animal to have been killed by shot, and the boat to contain 'two hands.'" Again, referring to the bearded seal, Mr. Allen quotes Kuinlien, as follows : — "In July, during the moulting time, their stomachs contained nothing but stones, some of them neaily of a quarter-pound weight. They seem to eat nothing during the entire time of shedding — probably six weeks. Certain it is they lose all their blubber, and by the middle of July have nothing but • whitc-hoise'— a tough, white, somewhat cartilaginous substance, in place of blubber. At this season they sink when shot." 631. No loss occurs at sea from the taking of seals with "stagey" or unmerchantable skins. All those familiar with pelagic sealing who were questioned upon this point agreed as to the fact that " stagey " skins are practically never got at sea, not even in Behring Sea at the season at which the seals upon the inlands are distinctly " stagey." The skins taken in the earliest part of the sealing season, in December and January, are sometimes rather inferioi*, but they do not fall into the general category of " stagey " skins. 632. It WQuld thus appear that the distinctly "stagey" or "shedding" condition of the fur-seal supervenes after a sojonro nf some length on shore, and tbat8\ich sojourn results ■■■i 109 in a general change of pelage which does not occur in the same marked way when the animals remain at sea. The same circumstance has further some bearing on the question of the possible excursions of the seals from tbe breeding islands, and on the inter* changeability of the seals remaining on or about the islands with those of the general sea- surface, which thus seems to be exceptional, during at least the later summer and early autumn, which is the " stagey " season ashore. (D.) — Composition of Catch. 633. By the pelagic sealers and by the Indian hunters along the coast, fur-seals of both sexes are 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 dis- criminate betweei. the sexes of the fish he may hook. Even upon the breeding islands, it is difficult for the most experienced natives to distinguish virgin females from young males of correspondinjf size in the driven,* and in the autumn of 1891, we are informed by an eye- witness, that in endeavouring to secure a female yearling seal alive for the zoological collection at San Francisco, no less than seven male seals were successively captured by the natives, who, judging from the general appearance of the animals, believed them to be females, before one of the requisite sex was obtained 1 At sea, save in exceptional cases, females can only be certainly detected by an examination of the body when it is brought on board. The fur of the female is equally good with that of the male, and under the conditions under which the hunting is carried on, there is room for no sentimental con- siderations in favour of either sex. But it is unfortunately the case, that at certain seasons considerable numbers of gravid females are thus killed, and this killing ia depre- cated by the better classes of the pelagic sealers themselves, not alone on grounds of humanity, but because they see clearly that it is unduly destructive to the industry in which their fortunes are embarked. From communications held with pelagic sealers, there can be no doubt that any equitable arrangement having for its object the minimizing of this particular cause of loss would be favourably received by them. With the natives along the coast it is somewhat different ; their traditional code of ethics admits of no period of immunity for any wild animal, and the contingency of future decrease appears to them to be too remote to be taken into their consideration. They are constitutionally observant, and in no degree reticent about the killing of females with young, and the statements on this subject obtained from them may be implicitly trusted. 634. On the question of the general composition of the pelagic catch in respect to sex and age of seals killed, and the special abundance of various kinds of seals in certain parts of the hunting area or at particular dates, evidence varying much as to numerical proportion and often diametrically opposite in bearing may easily be obtained. It is only natural, and is entirely in accord with what might be expected, that the proportions of seals by sexes and ages should be found to differ very considerably in different instances, even in a single year, in conformity with the dates or places in which the greater proportion of any particular catch was secured, and the kind of seals in each case fallen in with. Some landsmen arc found to be emphatically certain that nearly the whole of the pelagic catch consists of females, but this does not accord with the testimony of those who are or have been actually enf,';aged in sea-sealing ; and while it is not maintained that the evidence of such practical sealers is entirely unlinctured by motives of personal interest, it must be evident that these men know more on the subject than any others. Subjoined are quotations or abstracts relating to the composition of the pelagic catch, obtained from what are believed to be trustworthy sources, and in a number of cases derived from statemeHts made over the signatures ot the individuals as taken under oath. The very fact that theae statements, though taken at diflferent times, and while varying considerably from the point of view of numerical proportions, tally very well in the main, one with another, is an inherent proof of their credibility. 635. It must not be forgotten, however, in examining these statements, that the comple- mentary information derived from the breeding islands shows that the persistent kilHng of young males has led of late years to the existence of a very large surplus of females, and that, therefore, the proportion of females to the whole numbers of seals, whether at sea or ashore, is, at the present time, according to the information obtained by us, quite abnormal. The term " coast catch," often used in the following statements, must be understood to mean the seals taken to the south of the Aleutian Islands, and, as a rule, to those taken south of any part of the coast of Alaska. " ?ec " Bull. Mug. Cump. Zool," vol. ii, Part J, p. 103. -V t : I '■ P. * 'i ■HHHHWR 110 The evidence first quoted below h that obtained froni Indian hunters. The Indians of Neah Bay, accustomed to hunt about Cape Flattery, in the Stale of Washington, informed us that in the early part of the summer they olten found living young in females killed, of which at that season there was a considerable proportion ; but later in the summer no gravid females are found, most of the catch consisting of young males or young females. Of the total catch, tl:ey thought that about one-twentieth consisted of grey pups. In 1890 seals of this class were abundant, hut in 1891 very few. 636. At Nawitti, near the north end of Vancouver Island, the Indians find young in the females killed in the early sunmier. These are quite strong, and if thrown into the water swim well. One man kept such a young genl alive for six days. 637. At Bella-Bella, the Indians think that the larger proportion of the seals they kill in the early part of the season are ienudes, and these aic often with young. Young taken from females often live for three weeks or a n\onth. They diink water, but will not eat, and so probably die of starvation. Some time in May tiie females disappear, and the greater part of the catch then consists of young males, by which they mean males some- what smaller than the full-grown female. 638. About the Queen Charlotte Islands, many of the eeals killed are females, and a large proportion of these, iri the latter part of April and early part of May, are with young. The Indians state that the young taken from the mother might live a couple of hours, but they are invariably killed, as it is believed that if allowed to live the hunters will be unlucky. A White hunter, who had been with the Indians here, stated that he had tried to keep such young, which coidd, in some cases!, swim quite strongly, but that the Indians had begged of him to kill them. Mr. A. Mackenzie, when bu\ing skins for the Hudson's Day Company at Masset, refused to purchase the skins of unborn pups on any terms; but after a fime the Indians found they could sell them to the Chinese, working at salmon cainieries on the Skeena River. 639. About Bonilla Island, in the northern part of Hecate Strait, the seals obtained in spring arc chiefly females, but after the 1st June these leave, and the catch is then composed of non-breeding seals, supposed to be about three years old. The young are often fully matured in the female, and Indians say that they will swim it' thrown into the water. The people here have not the same superstition as those on the Queen Charlotte Islands, and have sometimes kei)t the young seals alive for three weeks or a month. Mr. Lockerby. connected with the Hudson's Bay Company at Port Simpson, stutes that the skins purchased there are classed by size, not according to sex, but. so tar as he can judge, a large part consists of young males, with a considerable proportion of grey jnips. 640. Indians hunting from Sitka, in South-eastern Alaska, often find living young in females killed. These are skinned, and the skins possess some little value. 641. In the eastern part of the Aleutian Islands, so inconsiderable a number of seals are killed in spring or summer, that v«..y few gra.id females can be included. 642. The following evidence on this ])articular subject is that contained in wiitten statements as to the various places of sealing, made by some of the most experienced and intelligent pelagic sealers : - 643. William Fewings says : " It is very seldom a female is killed in Behring Sea, carrying her young with her, and out of 1,000 kMlcd on the coast earlier in the season, less than one-third are females their voiinij. carrymg 644. Cajtlain J. D. Warren says : " Of the seals taken along the coast, about oae-half are females, and (.f the females, not more than one-half arc with young. In Behring Sea, not more than 1 in 100 of these taken by the hunters are females with young, because as soon as the females carrying their voting get into the sea they go to the breeding islands or rookeries, and in a few days^heir young are born. The cows remain with their young till they arc quite able to take care of titcmsclvcs. I do not think that of the seals taken by Indian and White luinters more ti)an 30 per ccnv. arc females actually breeding-, or capable oi' breeding. 'Old bulls,' ' bachelor? ' 'two-year-old pups, and ' barren cows ' make up {he great majority. Cows actually breeding are very watchful, and while on their voyage northward are ever on the alert, so they arc difficult to take. On the other band, the other classes above named nuike up the great class of 'sleepers,' from which fuhy 90 per cent, of the whole catch of hunters is derived. 1 never saw or heard of a ' cow ' having her young beside hcf in the water, either on the coatt or in Behring Sea." 645. Captain William O'Leary says: " About half the seals taken along the coast are cows, and jierhaps two-thirds oi the cows are with young. Putting a vessel's catch at 400, from 150 to 175 might be cows with young. In Behring Sea t lie average of cows with young killed will not average 1 in 100, lor the reason that as soon as the cows reach the sea they go to the breeding islands, where their young arc. born." mmm ■!M^ but iie-half khi'iiig roung, to tlie etiiain that lemales )U1)S, very itiicult luss of ■'cd. I on the ast are atch at f cows c cows 111 George Howe sayt : " About one'third of the senls tftken on the coast are cows with pup, or capable of being with pup. In Bebriog Sea I got four cows with pups Ini them." (This was in a season's catch.) Albert J. Bertram says : " 1 got during the season 320 seals On the coast I got about twenty-five to thirty females with young in them, and in Behring Sea I got six or seven. I neyer saw a cow with her pup alongside of her in the water." 646. In the sworn statements obtainea by Mr. Milne, and already refened to, frequent reference is made to the composition of the catch, both along the coast and in Behring Sea. From these statements the following abstracts have been made : — C. J. Kelly, two years' experience in sealing, found the percentage of females to be always less than that of males. Captain W. Petit, who seems to have paid particular attention to this matter, says that in 1891 of 765 seals killed, 18 were females carrying young— not quite 2^ per cent. " About 10 per cent, every season are barren cows, and 12) per cent, grey pups (always males). My catch was more than 75 per cent, males; more males were taken in Behring Sea than in any former year." He further states that in 1886 he took off Barclay Sound, in one day, 104 seals, of which 3 only were females. In 1887, on Portlock Bank, 29 seals were taken in one day ; of these 2 were females. " More barren cows are killed than those bearing young." Captain W. £. Baker's proportion last year was 9 males to 1 female. The iier- centage of barren females was considerable. Captain C. N. Cox states that females are more abundant in Februaiy, March, and .April than at any other time. Very few females with pup are taken in May. Bearing cows are not got in Behring Sea after their young have been born. Of 848 seals taken along the coast by him in 1891, 76 per cent, were males, 15 per cent, were breeding females, and 10 per cent, barren females. In 1889, 90 per cent, of his catch consisted of males. Captain A. Rissit believes that more males than females are killed, and that more females in proportion are taken in March and April than in other months. His catch in 1891 showed 76 to 80 per cent, of males. Captain T. M. Magnesen states that females are most plentiful in February, March, and April ; they about equal the males then. Near Behring Sea the proportion is about 80 males to 1 female. About half his catch last year was females, 12 or 14 per cent, bearing females, the others barren. U. Crocker, four years' experience, thinks females are most plentiful from February to May ; 80 per cent, of the seals killed are males. R. Thompson, two years' experience, says that 70 to 80 per cent, of the seals taken are males. Andrew Laing, ten years' experience, found in his coast catch that 3 in every 5 seals were males ; in Behring Sea 4 in every 5 were males. The females include barren cows. Captain W. Cox, four years' experience, states that females are most abundant in February, March, and April ; in February and March there are as many females with young as males. About 65 or 70 per cent, of the seals taken are males, 15 per cent, are barren females, and about 1 5 per cent, bearing females. Of 2,434 seals taken by him in Behring Sea, about 6 per cent, were females in milk. Captain Charles Hackett, five years' experience, has observed no difference in the proportion of females in different months. In 1890 about one-quarter of his catxsh consisted of females ; in 1891, about one-half. In a catch of 1,555 seals in Behring Sea, lie took only ten females with pup between the 15th July and the last of that month. Qot quite a number of barren cows. Captain C. McDougall, three years' experience, took 1,100 seals in Behring Sea, of which 800 were males. The proportion of barren cows is about one to ten bearing cows in Behring Sea. Captain A. Douglas, seven years' experience, has not obtained more seals in one month than in another. One or two females in pup are taken during the season in Behring Sea. Captain 8. S. McLean, seven years' experience, got more males than females along the coast ; about half and half in Behring Sea. About 5 per cent, of the females taken in Behring Sea are barren. My catch last year (1891) was made up of two parts males and one females. 647. In conferences held with sealers, some additional particulars as to the proportion of females taken were obtained, as follows :— Captain Dod stated that he had taken over 600 seals in Behring Sea, of which less than twenty carried young, and that the schooner "Viva" in 1890 took 2,000 seals in [a06l Q , t i ii , "^ ^ .^ . LV 'l*^iZ^ ■ J '^JJ; 'tt^.T^'v K^:*-: ■ . . ,,, , ^Jq«is W? *f wiiqjl m^ iup«t, fibai}fjf(^t, fi9Ps|l^P« fli WW^i. Mi.HP^ and arow TulUgrown animals. ,, y ,. .,; , , j ;.. 0*9. 4 consultation ))e)c( vyjtjf i^ fiu|»^f qf r^B>^>f "^Mv« P^lMpf. M«ii> 91^ '*>>" jj^tjculfir plMfltfliciM ?hp fqlioving g?nei»| stateflnpn*. vWcl^.it i^ Mieiwd« iy in ^atira aeeordance witj) ^^e fffoti m fo faf i^ ^fise )ire |cpqw^ (^om pi;4«tici|l fxperieo.ce, «» no ^(;ee pf ff)t|(;^pe waa ahpntn jn f>n|wem}g djrcict ciujefiiiopfj qn fiJH pwte ini^l^ S'- lh"gfnW"y admitted toi^t a cppai(^pra|>)e pwpoition ef grfiyid ffffnfUesaH^Ioqnd Htfippg ^ho seals taken in the «i|»]c|y p^4 of caph«r<aU^g sef^qi^. S^eO ani(na}8 i^peg^i^rally fallen in with i?^ raqpo or lef^ ^Wum grpups, poe ^^a pf se<f-^uirC<tpe heiiig chaipact^ri^pd hy them, another by young males or by yearhngs, a circumstance which may expiaiff t^p r^tper varied prppqrtions by se:^ ^nd age pf seala comprise(V |n ih^ patph^i* pf different yes^ls. After a|^pt ijxe 3(Hh May, or> at latest, the li^f jfune, veiy, (m fj^m^les ^ith young are ev|!r^aiteji. * Tl^e prpgpant feroaleij ^hpn begin tq ffaHpcbup, «fnd tp trov^l fapt tqvard i|^pt il^e 3(^h May* or* at latest, the By|!r faftep/ tl^e prpgpant feroaleij^hen , ,, , . , Behrmg Sea, fto ^hat m fi^vour^l^lp seating weather (or, in qt|]f r wprqa, cfiiips and hpttt Windsj ^he sphponep capnot: keep up fvit|i. thetn. A^^vijpiijtmp, the catch f;qP(»i8t» chj^y pf vpuiij^piaies or pf barrpp fpmales. -,.. , , niQ. Behnng Sea is nqiif usua ty eptpred by the pe|agi« pealefs between the 20th June and the Ist July, and in Behring Sea the sf^poe copditiops hold. The gravid females are well ahea^ of the sealers, yrbo have been wording up the West Coast, and' go straight to the breeding islands. By the tjpie the sealers ^ch the sea, it is pr^ctical|y only the young ptales and barren, or youpg ^nd ppp-bfe^ipg, fenii^les which repiain disperaed ov^r tjie sea to be t^keq. \^t & later ^te ip the summer, a few females iii mil^if, apd, therefore, presumably from the breeding places on the islands, are ppcasionally kiiied, hut np large number, "this last fact is the only ope whicth has a direct beanng, or e8t|ib|i8bes a (lii^ct coiineptipn, between the jBconqmy pf the ^reeding rookeries and the hunting of legitimate pelagic sealers, as distinguished from raiders on the islan4s, in Behring Sea. The killing of pnweaued pups upon the islands, together with other ipatter? bearing on th^ possible excursions pf breeding feinales to sea, are fuUy noticed in anotner part of this report, which should be referreii tp in this connection. 650. Statjpipents of the most contradictory kjpf| can be quoted on the subject of the Composition oi the catch made by the pelagic sealers, poubtiess, this varies very much in different cases and in different seasons, but a numbev of the statements met with are so extreme from one point of view or the other, that they must bo supposed to have been largely coloured by interest. The single fact, already referred to, that a certain number of ihe young males killed upon the islands are found to contain pellets of shot, is sufficient to show that the catch of the pelagic sealers and Indians is not practically altogether composed of females, as some persons would have us believe. The foregoing paragraphs give a general statement of the case, without taking such extreme views on either side into account. It may be added, however, that the excessive killing of young males on the breeding islands may probably, by changing the prpportic^n normally existinu; between the sexes, have had tlieresqH of directly increasing t|)p nunil)pr of females found and killed at sea in jate years. This point is elsewhere treated al greater length. 651. The get^eral copclus|qn to he derived from an examination of the statements above noted is, that iii proportion to the number of skins obtained, that part of the pelagic catch niade in the early part of the Reason, and to the south of the Aleutian Islands, is the most damaging to seat life as a whp|e, while; th|^ skins ^aken aflte^ this date, whether without or ^yit|)ip Behripg ^ea, are pbtaiQed up niiich less proportionate cost to seal li/e. 6oi\ With reference tp the' cq^p'ositiop of the catch of the pelagic sealers, a note may be added respecting the relative amounts of those portions of the catch made to the south and to the north ^^ ^be Alejatipn chain, kppwn as the "coast catch " and "Behring Sea catch'' rjeispectlyely. Iliese ^iay be represented in tabular form as follows: — ycnr. 18$6 Mi 1888 m 1891 Dtfliring ^ Catch (Eottera and Western). 800 12,423 11,764 16,653 1M»7 18,105 28,888 I (I I . | .".i'; l '■ wsm i^smmm, mmmm. m ..') m 088; KfMimclk'llifai ta |i4« iivirtiM|i'i« «0 tte <«M|Mktttoli bf ih^oittiBea^'«hoi« and at «ea;>b«iBd U|N« tbeMjMHs of >«kfti» ii» soyt«^ ft«tttriM In lioiWt)rivl)»iWthb skids «i« pr^jpiim} Air the'iasrkttt. It ^li^even to b«>littrii«>fn ilU^/tfiat^^ arrive utth^raotoritetflaMMil tta^ wwi f(^%l(^. and Ihieltifrte'iiMd'ab'nbt iWii«iN^HIV implit tile aettial n>u)fe0 6f origin, but ratlMir thh kind «nd ^Uatity df lhe> Hrlbi < < 't"^ It hi htfmverj aMdttJMl by tli« expeMii ttiat the diflbiMni lotialities j^tadi jft^ difibrent skina^ VvbicA >i» MttbaMd. Thtn it is baid tbatif bfle^We UkfM imoWtt iii <* Akiki" (aesamed to eottie frdWilie PHbylbif tidand^^ ^<i**'t:tiippelt*^ (H^nmed tb icobie f^ tb^ Cdmtnander Istands) ttrb diftiinguithtkbl^^ in tbdt lih^ fbHni^r bate is i rttVe a long^ iSd finer Air, that yet the'^iAs fi-om thfe two »burces aire ^tyftemirii^ idieb^l iii cidalti^. Indeed, it wbbM appear tbit in many ontes iikins are dasiiM as <^Altoka ", beetlnse tbi^ have longer ana flner'fbri and hot because oJF any knbwiv plab^ ofoir^n; Ah arale, tbe " Alaska " skins have cbme for fifteen years past In mbbh better braer thih any otAerr. They have been originally better skinned and Wter tared Ibr all through. It appears that at the factory, as a matter of fkct> i;Wey bdh bhlbfljr t^) i^idi i,Vi " north-west catch" skins by the obvious inirks of ahot or spiear; which bftten' redbbie the market value of a skin by 26 br 80 per cenf. But there is nothing to ^floW thkt'iiw^ skins wti« not taken close to or even upon iiie Pribylbff Islands. It is also «asy, especially after the skinil are i^dy prepared, to recoj^nize the fbUr teats of the female. But, more especially in the smaller skins, the niairks of Stsi ^^ exir^Wiefly diffibult to trace. For instauco, in one par^el-eiicaniiiied' iti Londbbji W^ldh #lfi4 marked "faulty," all the skius, with the exception of th^eb; wefe ftmale, inld rribUt bV t))ein° badly shot-marked. But the grbat majority were .yOiing feUlaks, givinj^ out little or no evidence of having suckled any young. There was no Evidence to ^hbw Whether th'eie seals were obtained at sea or on the rookeries by raids. Tiie female skins were also to be distinguished by the superior fineness of the fur, and by its being thinner on the " flanks" or under part than on the back. (E,)—Fu(ure of the Industry. 654. As to the prol)abie future of pelagic sealing, which as at present practised has not been in existence for much more than twenty years; — like any other industry depending on the continued existence in suitable numbers of the animal upon which it is based, this may easily be overdone. The regulations under which the slaughter of fur-seals on the Pri'byloff Islands has been carried on for the past twenty years or more have on the average been such as to require killing there to be pushed to and beyopd the ma?(inium figure whidl the seal life frqquentiug these islands could afford, without ^bowing evidences of. rapid decrease. The arrangements have been, in fapt^ so framed as to make the lessees of the rribyloif Islands as far as possible the sole beneficiaries of the entire eastern side of the North Pacific, under the belief, that by the possession of the breeding islands it was possible to monopolize the industry. The methods upon the islands had themselves resulted in decrease when tbe growth of the independent industry of pelagic sealing began still farther to affect seal life, and, as elsewhere shown, co-operated in prod tcing a decrease at a more rapid rate in late years. 655. The hypothetical question may here be put : If all killing should be stopped upon the breeding islands, and the pelagic industry be left uutiammelied by regulations on the high seas, what would be the ultimate effect on seal life ? Experience directly ootftined with reference to tlie fur-seal is here entirely wanting. The history of all the depleted breeding places of other parts of the world clearly points to a single cause of d^image, viz., unrestricted and barbarous killing on shore upon the breeding grounds. Analogy with the history of other maritime industries, such as those conducted for ordinary food fishes, becomes, how- ever, in the case supposed, directly apposite. Employing such analogies, it may be a^rmed that so long as the industry continues to be profitably, a grieatei- number of vesi^s will each year be employed in it; but that before loog a point will be reached at which, iu conse- quence of the greater competition, the ever-increasing;, wariness of the seal, and a reduction in total numbers, — the profits will diminish, un remunerative voyages will frcque^itly be niade> und a reaction will occur such as to allow a renewed increase of the animal, Such an automatic principle of regulation appeal's to be necessarily inherent in the seal fishery as in other fisheries, but just what the average annual ctttch might number when this particular fishery reached its level of stability, it is of course impossible to say. It is not Uke'^y, however, that it would show a continued decline so serious as ths^ wh^h has affec^ tlia whale fishery, for this is due to special causes which are welt known ; and, uuder the conditions which have been assumed for tl^o fur-Sfeal fishery, tbe br^ing places of tbe animd would be contmuously exempted from attaek. [805] Q3 i mm % B In '''•'fl^H ^ V 1 -x 666» QiM) of th<> mofi obvMHw anfl generallv iq)|dic9bie RMtbod* of oontrolling pelasie |M<iUng WQttld be the gemimi adoption of rujiei Ngninst tbe en^lo^rmeot of speciiiHy dilHrticliTt meUnoda, tnd eooh rules migbt be .•rran^ffd by iptentatioMl ooDMni^M iqp|rfio«b¥ to certaio de6ned tnqti of tbe bigh neet, m. tbe manner which baa been idvocated in connection with tbe sulaect of tbe " purae ",Mine in the mackerel fiabery of the AUantic «x>att* Thus, tbe use of vessels with stenm power might be prevented, as well as that of riflea, in shooting the aeals. Nets have scarcely been wted along the eutem part of the North Pacific in tbe fiir-seal fishery, and it is improbable that they can be advan- tf^eously employed anywhere beyond tbe three-mile limits The dnly known case in which nels have actually as yet been employed occurred in 1888, when \%Jiton record that the Abaka Ccmmercial Company fitted out two schooners, prirnlely ownfd, to net seals in the passes leading from Bebring Sea through the Aleutian islfliids. O9C off these schooners is stated to have obtained 700 grey pups which were sold to Aie Company at the rate of 2 dol. 30 c. per skin.f Netting, however, forms no part of legitimate pelagic sealing, and might well be altogether probimted. 657. The use of tbe shot*gun for the purpose of killing seals at sea has now become so nearly universal, that it is doubtful whether it can be changed without an undue inter- ference with the now established industry. Tbe loss of seals thus shot is, as already shown, small, and there is therefore no cogent reason why this practice should be discontinued. All the evidence shows that the loss when seals are speared by the Indian hunters is practically nil, but to restrict killing to spearing would necessarily be to preclude all but akilled Indians from engaging in it. 658. Any such regulations applied to the use of specially destructive engines, would have the efiiBCt, under the assumed conditions, of inci easing the aggregate number of seals which would exist when what has been referred to the level of stability is reached. IV.'-COMTKOL AKD MeTUODB Of SbALINO ON THE PftlBTLOFr ISLANDS, TUDIE NaIURK AMD KkSULTS. (A.) — Methods employed. 6&9. The system adopted for the regulation and working of the PribylofT Islands by the United States' Government, when its control had Iccn established, and after the irregular and excessive killing which at first followed on the withdrawal of the HuBsian authorities, was substantially that which had gradually been introduced by the Russians, as the result of their prolonged experience, but with one very important exception. This exception related to the number of seals allowed to be killed annually. The number was at this time suddenly and very largely increased, being in fact more than doubled, as is elsewhere pointed out in detail ; and while the experience of many former years showed that the Russian system, with a limited annual killing, might be maintained with a reasonable certainty of the continued well-being of tbe breeding grounds, it had in fact, according to the best available informa^ tion, resulted in a gradual and nearly steady increase in number of seals. The much larger number permitted to be killed under the new regulations at once removed the new control into the re^on of experiment. 660. Theoretically, and apart from this question of number and other matters incidental to the actual working of tbe methods empicyed, these were exceedingly proper and well conceived to insure a large continual annual output of tkins from the breeding islands, always under the supposition that the lessees of these islands could huve no competitors in the North Pacific. It was assumed that equal or proximately equal numbers of males and females were born, that tbefe were subject to equal losses by death or accident, and that, In consequence of tbe polygamous habits of the fur-seals, a large number of males of any given merchantable age might be slaughtered each year without seriously, or at all, interfering with the advantageous proportion of males remaining for breeding purposes. 661. The existence of the breeding rookeries as distinct from the hauling-grounds of tbe young males, or hoUuschickie, was supposed to admit, and did in former yeais to a great extent admit, of these young males being killed without disturbing the breeding animals. Tbe young seals thus "hauling" apart from the actual breeding grounds were ■unonnded by natives and driven off to some convenient place, where males of suitable * 8te ** Rqwrt of D^partnmt of RthariM," Canada, 1890, p. 70, and Appwidis IX, o. 14. t FlifUaalmtMf Faper [0.->«1811, Laadw, AogMt ISfO, f. 8M. i n HA sice were olabbad to demh, ted ftom wbloh the rajeoted Miinab «ei« aUowad to returi^ to the Ma. TbemroMMS were skinoed on the kiiKng groundrthe ikins nited, and at a later date bundled in paita and ihlpped, with tuoh duplication or ebeckiag of count at might be soppoaed td afTord goarantkea id the agents of the Government and to the leiaeea that the intereat» of both were fairly treated. 669. There can be no doubt that if the number peinUtted to be killed had been fixed at an amount no low as to allow for exceptional and unavoidable natural cauaea of interference with seal life, i..id if it had been rearranged each year in conformity with the aacertained conditions, killing might have been continued without general damagis to the seal life of the PribyloiF Islands, and very probably even with a continued gradual increase in numbers of seala resorting to the islands up to aome unknown maximum point. Such reaalts might have followed, notwithstanding the praetioal imperfection which clearly attached in execOtion to these theoretically appropriate methods, and in spite of the important chancre from natural conditions which any diaturbance in ))roportion of sexes involved, if the demands made in the matter of annual take had been moderate ; but wiien the number fixed for killing resulted, as has been shown, in an average slaughter of over 103,000 seals, it bore eo large a proportion to the entire number of animals resorting to the islands as to lead neceasarily in the long run to serious diminution. This decrease continued, on the whole, in an increasing ratio, being doe not only to the actual nuniber of seals slaughtered, but also to the numbers lost in varioua ways incidental to the methods of control and modus operandi on the islands, which loss, though formerly a matter of minor importance (because counted againata large annual surplus), in the face of the greatly decreased numbers, became a very serious aadition to the total of diminution. In short, from a transcendental point of view, the methods pro- posed were appropriate and even perfect, but in practical execution, and as judged by the results of a series of years, they proved to be faulty and injurious. 663. Summing up the records as to the number of seals killed on the Pribyloflf Islanda, Professor J. A. Allen writes as follows : — ** In this year (1822), it was ordered that young seals should be spared each year for the purpose of keeping up the stock. This order was so honestly enforced, that in four years the number of seals on St. Paul's Island increased tenfold. The number annually taken these years was only 8,000 or 10,000. instead of 40,000 to 50,000, the number formerly killed yearly. Subsequently, the killing was allowed to greatly I crease, which prevented any augmentation in the number of seals. In 1834, the number allowed to be killed on St. Paul's Island was reduced from 12,000 to 6,000. After this date the conditions of increase were more carefully studied and more carefully regarded, so that there was a gradual numerical increase from 183u to 1S57, when the rookeries are said to linve become very nearly as large as now, the natives believing, however, that there has been since the last-mentioned date a very gradual but steady increase."* 664. From ihe experiences thus recorded, it appears to be very clearly shown that in the average of years the killing of 40,000 to d0,00u seals on St. Paul was more than this, the principal seal-bearing island, could stand, while that practised during the later years of the Russian control scarcely fall short of the figure at which all continued increase in number of seals would cease. Since the operations of the Alaska Commercial Company began, the number fixed tor killing on St. Paul Island has been very much higher than any of the foregoing figures, it was originally fixed at 15,000 for St. Paul and 25,000 for St. Geoi-ge Island, but the law was changed in 1874, so that even a larger proportion of the whole number might be taken on St. Paul's. C65. Captain Bryant elsewhere writes : — "During the administration of this able Governor (Shise:iok :,".), these nurseries of the seals had been developed from almost nothing to the condition in which they were at the transfer of the islands to the United States. For many years they were able to kill only a small number, but the seaU gradually increased, so that they killed as many aa 40,000 in one year."t f)66. When, therefore, following the extraordinary slaughter of 1868, it became lawful to kill 100,000 seals each year, changes of a very marked kind might have been expected, and, as elsewhere detailed, they soon began to be observed. 667. The incidental waste entailed in taking the annual quota of skins on the Pribyloff Islands for the twenty years of the Alaska Commercial Company's lease is acknowledged by the oihcial figures to have been slightly greater thau 7 per cent, of the whole number of skins secured. This includes skins cut in skinning, ** stagey " skins of seaU killed for food when not merchantable, and a number of young unweaned pups ! t ■ 1. i .;• •• m << MonogrAph of North Americaa Pinnipeds," p. 379. t Ibid., p. 389. 116 llUM (tt f| voMtdmHtoi HMMowMnrily) for iiative food. BmMm t\mt ittai aottoontad ibk, bewi<«n lH«i« k MMninio MbVa UiM a iatgt proportk)!! of the imW #hioh imd bMn Mil^ttd to ^ Kciissr Mvaw nrdfal of driving licfwr ttfttrwards reeoverod.* Again, the dlitorfMHUia iMnabesd by varioitA taiuet incidentai to ttie habitation of the islands, (ogHher with that, never whuMy obviated, whioli arose directly from the process of driving IVoin tba vbiiiity df the breediili> groundii; led to vAriow obanges inintioal to the favourable •f>BliatM|ti«a of aeal lift. 8d8. Buch caused begha to operate With mncli increased force when the general ivdnetion boaiinic so ieoDiideraUle, tbifit hQ ever-growi^ ditHculty arose in collecting lb* ftxed aniiual quota of ikins. Id addition', the ineflMient guarding oi the breeding ialandi ftoMi raids made vt>6a their shores by marauders, due to tne absence of methods oi pnilactipn And laxity ef tontrol of the natives, became terious evils. 669>. Sontb of tbo hiore. notable ill-eifeota which followed from the practical warliing of the aystem of administhUioo tadopted, have already been referred to nt sufficient lengtlt, {NirtiaiUirly in the paragraphs (f 308 et ae^.) treating of changes in habits of the fur-seal, and those outUnidg the general decrease in numbers resorting to the Pribyloif Islands. A fbw words thay liow be added, in greater detail, in relation to the evidence showing the date of the conimcncement olf the decrease and its progress, and then on the defective methods, viawtd aa aodhi which have been largely responsible for this result. 670. Statemedts have been made to the effect that during the lease of tlie Alaska Coihittcrcial Com|iany, frauds were perpetrated in regard to the number of skins taken on the islatjds and counted for taxation. No direct evidence of this seems to have been produced, but at the official cbunting of the skins both on the islands and in San FrandsoQ was done in bundles, each of which was supposed to consist of two skins, it k obVtoUs that but fur ottserved diflTerenoe of size or weight, three or even four skins might have been bundled and . corded together «nd counted as two. Spealdng of the mode of •nuntei'ating the skin% WM\i saya : " The list of the Treasury Agent on tlie islands, when the skins are first shipped [the shipment being made, as elsewhere stated, in biindles], is the official indorsement of the Company's catch for the year ; but wlien the ahip reacdies San Fiancisoo, these skins are all counted over anew [but again in bundles] by another stisff of Gbverhment Agents."t 671. Betbning to the \vefgbt of the skins and bundles, he elsewhere writes : 'The Average weight of a ^wo-year-old skin is &^ lbs. ; of a thi-ee-year-old skin, 7 lbs. ■ cf a foU'.vyeartbld skin, 12 lbs.; so tliat as the major portion of the catch is two- o year'Olds, these bundles of two skins each have au average weight of from 12 to lu lbs. In this shape ^hey go into the hold of the Company's steamer at St. Paul, and are counted out from it at San Francisco." t 672. An independent observer, Lieutenant Maynard, in his report written about the same, time, says : " Finally, they are prepared for shipment by rolling them into compact bundks, two skins each, which are secured with stout lashings. The largest of these bundle I weigh 64 lbs., but the average weight is but 22 lbs. The smallest skins, those taken irom seals two years old, weigh about 7 ibs. eacii, and the largest, from seals six years old, about 30 lbs."§ 673. The weights given by Lieutenant Maynard for the skins of seals of various ages are in erioor, but it would appear that in thus writing, tiiese weights had been deduced from that of the bundles which he had seen, the weiglit of which certainly appears to require some explanation. (h.)— Decrease in NunAer of Seals, itn Origin and Progress. 674. With regard to the first of these ({uestions, that relating to the decrease of seal ttfe on the Pribyloft Islands, what has nlicady been stated respecting the available estimates of number of seals nt different dates will have shown that it is hopeless to 'obtain any satisfactory and connected idea of the state of the breeding islands from these Alone. It is, in.fifict, laigely from collateral evidence, from facta incidentally placed on record, of which the meaning now becon\es plain, from statements obtained by ourselves in response to personal inquiry and other such sources, that a general history of the condition ojf tne Pribyloff islands may be built up. 675. A gentleman long associated with the Company whose lease of the Pribyloff Islands bits lately terminated, explained the matter to us in brief terms, by saying that * See especially in Ihii connection Elliott'* Official Report for 1890. t United States' Geniut Report, p. 169. t ^^^^-i P- '7' S Uotite of Repretentatives, 44th Congme, lit Senioo, Ex. Doc. No, 4:), p. 9. ■WT" require m tbi» Company— ^f Hi^d a goot) ^hiqg " irf tho leaie s V Tbey gxA t]ie bi^sinfss,, nnq jcept the (lecrfiiie dark." Without |n My ^'irlqflqiiiji nttributing any auch settled pbltcv to the Cumpapy, ^ it {jfufajn t^aif ., (lid not by any mean* convey a lull and correct •tatemeni of iiic ^i^t progress of events on the |)reedlng islands. tbnt tlie island* had never since been so well sipcHeq ^\\h %^\f' ||n%^ int^ ^<||tfi}L they explained thai the >tb|-th-ea(it Point waf then complexly p^u'm^ iMf s^i Votii to the nortli and soutli of Hutchinson Hill. Tolstoi wa§ \ti |ike ^ai^Mr^intlf^y OpY^ljl^, uhilc the Ueef Pempsuhi was wholly occupied by cows Md •qaettraie ^ f bcve^lM rookery, and th« kiliable seals tbiind foom to haul out bnjy ^ itf UIQer eo^, on ipi snnds. At this lime, 3,000 to 4,000 hplluschickie plight ei^i(y oe c<;f|ie<|i)M| If) i tipglp (Irivo from M|^r}|^ ^il|» tSfoutb-west Bay, or the h^uliog groancls M|fr|ift tp'|b|? ^^ I'oint. 67 7< Mr. Daniel Webster, who has been almost cqptiouousiy po tba ^ri|)y)plf Islau^* since 1808, most of the time upon St. Paul Island, apd plicae statefjieDia bpre eyj^c^ of (<ntire honesty, gave evidence fully corroborative of'that abpyf^ quoieq. He expfi^sea iiimself as confident that th^ seals were in greater itbup^aQM in ^po^ i^iaa thiBy |)au ever been since. In that year of unrestricted slaughter, some T^tPpCI yp^ug Q|f>les were ki||c;q on NoHli-east Point; by the single Company with whjch h(| wm coppeq|^, an^ f M)ipP^ exhausting the supply. In 1874 and 1878, from 35,000 to |36|(p^ pKIRS W(;re i^^^p each year from the same rookery without undue difficulty. Accbr^tpg to Mr. fbw|ef, yhe has been famillnr with St. Paul Island since 1870, from 20,000 to 1^,000 skins !W<?re tftkejf IVom North-cast Point in that and some subsequent years. By tp^ official ^gami, i) is shown that 15,070 ski us were obtained here in 1869, and {^tOfj' |n )890.* fff. Fowler expressed the belief that in 1891, if killing had not oeeb restricted* at leafit (Rouble tb^t number might have been secured at North-east Point. 678. Returning, however, to the earlier ye;i' s of the Alaska pomniercid ppropdny's lease, it is found that in 1874 Lieutenant Moynard, as the result pf bif ipqp|nes in tpat year, expressed the belief, though not without reservation* that ^pe niitnoer p^seafa resofiing to the islands had not decreased between 1872 and that time.* Captain Bryi^be notes p slight improvement in this year as contrasted with the uafayourable cOnqitipns observed |n I873.f It was not till 1875, however, that the annual slaughter required fo pcp^upe 100,000 marketable skins was first ofHcially reported as being top gfeai ifor ine well-being of seal life. In this year Captiiin Bryant, as the result of seven years* exp^neppe of tlfQ islands, wrote on this matter in some detail ; but, without q^otipg b|8 obseirvp^ipns at length, it may be sulfieienb to cite the following, which expresses h|s pffpu oof^plusippa;— " When the lease was put in practical operation in Is'Tl, there w^s a yery farge e^c^ss of breeding males on hand ; since then this surplus has been diminished bv the dyipg out of old seals faster than there has bten younger seals allowed to escape and grow up Jq J^U their places, until the present stock is insutficient to meet the necessities of the iucreasipg number of breeding females."* 679. Of the following year, Bryant says that " the decrease in number of breeding males may be considered to' have reached its minimum [»/c1 in 1876. In 1877, '" '' season I spent on the islands, there was an evident increase in the numbers of this class. , In the same year, before a Committee ol Congress on the Alaska Commercial Company, iiu repeats his statement as to the too heavy rate of killing, saying: "t thfnk that th<? number of 100,000 was a little more than ought to have been bqjun w|tb> fJhlM if ^'^ had begun it t)5,00p, there would have been no necessity &r 4|ji^|hii|)li)Ji. Pfi ihi^ qjthej: hand, 1 think thtit within two years frotn now it might beippr^MHsil, P 680. I A 1876, a leligthened Inquiry was made by a CominUite? of Co^gri^f i|; pegaf() to the opeMtiPnS bf, and certain charges made against, the AlasKa Ooipmei'^tu Cojjipffnf. This Committee does hot seem to bavb had clearly before it th^ fact, thip W '' number of seals killed under the lease considerably exceedbd Ipp,^^, P|^t |ne v^ew e l^t This Committee does hot seem to bavb had clearly before it th^ fact, thlip^h'o j^c^ual number of seals killed under the lease considerably exceedbd |Pp>9^» P}^^ fN ^P^ arrived at as to the killing of 100,000 seals annually, included in the onicial report ot ^|ie * House of Kepreseiilatives, Ex. Doc. No. 43, 44111 Congresji, Ist Seiiion. t "Monograph of Nortli AmeHcanllnnipedi." i " Fur-«ea) Msheriek tit Alatka," House of Itepresentatlvei, Ex. Doo. Ifo. 83, 44th Congress 2nd Session, pp. 176 and 177. § Quoted by Allen, " Monograph of North American Pinnipeds," p. 399. II House of Representatives, 44th Congress, Ist Session, Report N6. Q^B, p $9. , t , i, , JJg invfstigation is plainly expressed as follows: "It is certain that to jrill more than this number (100,000) would tend to a rapid decrease of the annjal supply, and end in the extinction of the animals on these islands long before the expiration of the twenty years that the lease had to run."* 681. From 1877 to 1887, such allusions as can be found to the general condition of the seals upon t!ie Prlbyloff Islands in contemporary reports are almost uniformly of an optimistic character ; and a perusal of these reports might well lead to the belief that a continued and satisfactory increase in number was in progress, which, it truly representing the facts, should have brought the rookerit s in this period of eleven years into a state of unexampled prosperity, though the facts were in reality far different. 682. The only reference to any decline met with in these Reports — and that is an incidental one-is due to Assistant Treasury Agent Wardman, who shows that there was a decrease in the number of " kiHable" seals on St. George Island in 1882, as compared with 1881. His statement serves to prove, at least, that the practical limit of killables on St. George had been reached in 1882, at a number of 21,000 or 22,000, and that the balance of a quota of 25,000 accorded to that island had to be made up on St. Paul.f 683. Though not to be found in the contemporary Reports, the true history of these years can now be very clearly understood, in a general way, as the i-esult of more recent investigations and of our own inquiries. 6S4. Mr. Elliott's "Monograph" of the Pribyloff Islands is based on examinations carried out in 1872-74, and his statements of fact clearly show that nearly half the breeding rookeries and hauling grounds were at this period, and had been for at least ten years previously, entirely exempt from " driving," and therefore constituted reserves of seal life, and especially of young male seals. He writes :— " As matters stand to-day, 100,000 seals alone on St. Paul can be taken and skinned in less than forty working days, within a radius of 1^ miles from the village, and from the salt-house on North'Cast Point ;$ hence tbe driving, with the exception of two experimental drives which I witnessed in 1872, has never been made from longer distances than Tolstoi to the eastward [westward], Lukannon to the northward, and Zoltoi to the southward of the killing grounds at St. Paul village."^ Whatever may have been the detailed history of the seal interests on St. Paul in the intervening years, the fact that in 1879 it became necessary for the first time to extend the area of driving so as to include Zapadnie and Polavina rookeries, or the hauling grounds adjacent to them, shows conclusively that a great change for the worse had already occurred at that date. This cannot be explained by any theory of the mere reduction in number of redundant young males, for even if it be admitted that seals of this clasis were to be found in excessive numbers after the slaughter of 1868 (which is not probable), the normal ratio of such males resulting; from any logically permissible killing should have been reached long before this time. 685. Many years ago, under the Russian regime, a small native settlement was situated near the rookery ground of Polavina, and seals were regularly killed there. Traces of this old settlement may still be seen, but it has probably been abandoned since the time of the " Zapooska," or intermission of killing which took efiect in 1835, at which time most of the " natives " were removed from the Pribyloff Islands. From information gained on the islands, it appears that in or about the year 1879 the salt- house now employed at Polavina was first built, and that driving has been annually practised both from Polavina and Zapadnie ever since, but with much increasing persistency in later years. 686. The time at which the decrease in killuble seals began to make itself actually apparent in the acknowledged difficulty in obtuining (he annual quota of skins is thus pretty definitely fixed by circumstances, but other corroborative information with a similar meaning is now not wanting. Colonel J. Murray, Assistant Treasury Agent, in his Report for 1890, writes: "The whole truth must, nevertheless, tie told, and that is, that the seals have been steadily decreasing since 18S0."|| The cider and more experienced natives, converged with on St. Paul Island, after describing the great abundance of seals at the time the United States first took possession of the islands, stated that the decrease became very marked in 1882 or 1883; arriving at these dales by counting back from the actual year. p. S9. * HouM of ReprewnUtivei, 44th Congreu, lit Seiaion, Report No. 683, p. 11. t '* Fnr-iml Fisherivi of Alaska," Houie of IteprMenUtive*, 60th Congrtit, 99 99Dd S«iiioD, Ikport No. 3883 t The Ualiet are not ennDSored in Iko original. I Unitrd Stalei' Ceniut Report, p. 7>. U Sennle, Ex. Doe. No. 49, Slit Congrfia, 2nd Senlon, p. 8. 119 fVv ;i - 687. One accessory cause of the decrease so plainly shown at this particular time, is perhaps to be traced in the great mortality of youn<;, due to unfavourable weather in 1876, which would naturally be making itself apparent on the hauling grounds in 1879 or 1880. (§817.) 688. It is thus' made evident that the decrease of young wiles, constituting the killable class, had reached such proportions as to hamper the lessees in taking their permitted number of skins, and to disquiet the natives, before the pelagic sealing industry had attained any considerable development, and sanri? years belore it could, under any valid hypothesis, be supposed to be accountable for any such result. Although three or four schooners were tentatively engaged in ])elagic- sealing off the coast of British Columbia in the years 1879-83, till the year I8b3 the 'ilect did not include nine schooners in all, and the first of these schooners did not enter Behring Sea until 1884. 689. The United States' sealing fleet, in the corresponding years, was of similar small dimensions, and, though one vessel is known to itave sealed in Behring Sea as early as 1881, the aggregate pelagic catch was, coraparativel/ speaking, so small in these years, that it may safely be left out of consideration. 690. Of these persons questioned by us, almost all who possessed a familiarity with the PribyloiF Islands, including several who hod prbviously been connected with the Alaska Commercial Company, were, in 1891, found ready to admit that in 1885 and 1886 the decrease in the number of seals to be found on the islands, and particularly that of killable seals, had become very striking. It was not, however, till 18S8, that the existing state of affairs found some recognition in the official reports, when Dr. H. H. Mclntyre, then agent for the lessees on the islands, admitted to the Congressiooiil Committee on the Fur-seal Fisheries of Alaska that the seals had decreased since 1882, and that it had become difficult to obtain the full quota of marketable skins, adding : " There are at present, in my opinion, too few bull seals to keep the rookeries up to their best con- dition."* 691. In the years 18S6, 1887, and 1888, the annual pelagic catch in Behring Sea probably did not exceed 17,000, being thus less' than one-fifth of the slaughter upon tlie islands ; and even if it be admitted, for the sake of argument, that the killing of this nun\ber at sea was more injurious than that of a like number on shore, such alleged injurious ert'tct could scarcely have br^un to make itself apparent on ttie rookeries (or three or four years aAer it took place. 6j2. The conditions obtaining oc the Pribyl(<ff Islands in the last three years huve been so fully referred to in the present report, and in various reports made by the officers in charge, that they scarcely require detailed recapitulation in this particular connection. In 1889, Mr. C. J. Goft' reported an alarming shrinkage in ihc rookeries and hauling grounds; and though the full <|uota was obtained, this was only done by lengthening the killing season to the end of July, and greatly lowering the standard size of seals killed. In 1890, being the first year of the North American Conunercial Company's lease of the islands, the number to be killed, in view doubtless of Mr. Goti's previous report, which has not been published, was reduced to 60,000. But killing was stopped by Mr. Goff, in charge of the islands, at the usual date of the 20th July, at a time when, in consequence of the scarcity of killable seals, only about one-third of that number had been secured. In the same year Mr. Elliott re-examined the islands, and though his report has like- wise remained unpiiblisheJ, a summary of his conclusions has appeared, from which citations have alreitciy been made. He states clearly that the injury to the rookeries, he now believes, " set in from the beginning, twenty years ago, an k'v the present system. "f 693. In 1891, the result of our own examinations, as x.^U ns the evidence collected by us from all available sources, lead us to believe thai ni\e at least of the breeding rookeries are in a better rondition than in the previous year, while in none of them is any further deterioration noticeable — a circumstance whidi fully justifies the action taken in restricting the catch in 1890, and clearly indicates that tlie rookeries, however reduced in numbers, possess an abundance of recuperative energy. '■ i. [i , \ - ! ;•■ I-.' 3883 (C.) — Standard Weiyhls of Skins taken, 694. Clo&cly connected with the foregoing notes, and of interest in showing that the required number of young male seals has not been killed of late years upon these islands ^Nithout great detrin^ent to their ^eal life, is the fact that the standard of weight of skins * lloiuo orR<|>r«s«ntativ«>r. SOlli CoiicreM, 2ii(1 Scekion, iltport No. 3883, pp. IIG to 119. t I'arliiiir.cntaiy I'.iner PC— 61(8], t.oivloii, 1S91, p. 67. [306] ) 1 - J g 120 i 1 i; ^ has been from time to time lowered so as to enable younger animals to be taken, and that even many yearlings were included in 1889. 695. In 1890, the Government tax was suddenly raised from 2 dol. 25 c. to 10 dol. 25 c. the skin under a new lease, and it became at once no longer proKtabic to take very small skins. It was in part in consequence of this, and in |virt as a direct result of the complete sweep of the killable seals ntade in 1889, the last year of the expired lease, that the e.\tremely unfavourable showing in 1800 was due. Continuous killing had left very few young seals to come , forward to properly killable ages in 1800; and thus Mr. Goff notes that, of the seals returning to tiie islands in that year (besides those actually on the breeding rookeries), nearly all were the young of the preceding year. 696. This lowering of the standard weight of skins appears to have commenced as early as 18S3; for, in 1888, Dr. H. H. Mclntyre says: "In 1883 the sizes decreased, and have constantly decreased ever since. Last year they sent an urgent appeal to take larger skins, as the sizes were running down ; but we were unable to respond, and during the present year the catch averages still smaller in size." * 097. From information obtained from trustworthy sources on the PribylofF Islands, it appears that the reduction in the standard weight of accepted skins was well known and recognixed there in 1880 and 1887; and that from 1888, inclusive, many .').lb. skins were taken, and all 2-, 3-, 4-, and 5-year old seals were accounted marketable; whiie in 1889 about 40,000 very small skins were taken to complete the quota, averaging probably about 4 lbs., and in somo cases running down even to 3^ lbs. 6?)8. Thus, ari'v-ng at this conclusion from the known weight of skins of seals of various ages, it appears that, in 1889, even yearling seals were killed in large numbers. One noteworthy esult of such killing re(|uires special mention, i.e , that in consequence of the recognized great difficulty (amounting in most cases to absolute impossibility) of distinguishing virgin females fiom young males of corresponding size, it is quite certain that large numbei-s of females as well as males must have fallen under the club in these years of reduced standards, and that the protection supposed to be aftbrded to females by the methods employed on the islands was, in consequence, necessarily rendered largely fictitious. 699. Referring specially to the catch of 1890, Mr Goff writes: " riiere have been no 2-year.olds of an average size turned away this season; they were all immediately clubbed to swell the season's catch. "t 700. Thus, even excluding the extreme case aft'oidsd by the year 1889, it is apparent that all male seals except yearlings and full-grown seacatchie, together with many virgin females, have, on the breeding islands, been considered fair game by the sealers for several years past, and, with this circumstance in mind, the cause of the dearth of males upon the rookeries is not far to seek. Not contcn*. with taking the young males at the year, or within the period of two year? in wliich the skins are most valuable, the killing was carried back into the more nuuierous ranks of the very young animals upon which the su|)ply of suitable skins or future yea's depended, while, at the same time, other nmles, which had escaped previous shiufjhter, and become too old to afford first- class skins, were not allowed to take their phces upon the breeding grounds, but were also killed to increase the catch. 701. The facts above cited afford a connected train of evi'lence, showing the gradual reduction and deterioration in condition of seal-life upon the Pribylott' Islands, altogether apart from the estimates of the total number of seals made at various times, and as we believe of a more trustworthy character than these. 702. As to the comparative conditions in tiic years 1890 or 1801 with that of the early years of the United States' control of the islands, no accurate information can be given. The result of our investigations and study of" the subject in all its bearings leads tis, however, to believe that the aggregate numbers given for these earlier years have been greatly in excess of the facts, and that while the latest estimates published may not ho too small, the total amount of shrinkage has been very greatly exaggerated by means of comparisons instituted between these and the excessive estimates of earlier times. Because of this wiint of trustworthiness in the first estimates, therefore, any present estimates of a general character, however Crtrefully made, and though interesting in themselves, cannot be accepted as criteria of value in relati(m to the question of the actual amount of decrease, 703. The ease with which fictitious reports may be built u|) on imperfect or ill-con- sidered ex parte evidence is illustrated by a remark made by Elliott, who writes : " I noticed in this connection a very queer similarity between the sealers on St. Paul and our farmers • '• I'iir-»Ml Fislierifg oC Alnska," Home of Reincscntativc!!, 50lli ("oiigiesK, 2(id 8.»sii"«, l(('|Ki't No. £8S1, )•. UN t S''iiHte, I-jX. Duo, No. 40, /ilit Congregs, 'im\ Hestioii, |). .'i. 121 at home ; they, just as the season opeiivS, invariably prophesy a bad year for seals and a scant supply ; then, when the season closes, they will gravely tell you that there nover were so many seals on the island b .rorc. I was greeted in this manner by the agents of the Company and the Government in 1872, .igain in 1873, and a^ain in 1874. I did not get up to the grounds in ]87<3 soon enough to hear the usual s|H-ing crooking of disaster; hut arrived, however, in time to hear the regular cry of, ' Never was so many seals here before!'"* u ; {D.]— Driving of Seals. 704. One of the most important points connected with the method of taking fur-seaU on the Pribyloff Islands, is that of the driving from the various hauling ground?) to the killing grounds. However safeguarded or regulated, the method of driving fur-seals overland for considerable distances must be both a cruel and destructive one. Active and graceful as a tish in the water, the fur-seal is at best clumsy and awkward in its movements on land, and though it is surprising to note at how good a pace it can, when forced to do so, travel among the rocks or over the sand, it is also quite evident that this is done at the expense only of great efli'ort and much vital activity, as well as at serious risk of physical injury. A short shutHing run is succeeded by a period of rest, and when undisturbed, all movements on shore are carried out with the utmost deliberation and frequent stoppages. Hut when a herd of seals, half crazed with fright, is driven for a distance of a mile or more from the hauling ground to some killing place, already pestdential with the deeaying carcasses of seals ])reviously killed, it unavoidably, and however frequently the animals may be allowed to rest, entails much suffering. When the weather is at all warm, or when the seals are pressed in driving, individuals frequently drop out and die of exhaustion, others again are smothered by the crowding together of the frightened herd, and it is not infrequent to find some severely wounded by bites ruthlessly inflicted by their companions when in a high state of nervous tension. It appears also, from information obtained on this subject, that in warm weather seals, during a drive, occasionally pass into a state of violent spasmodic activity, which is aimU isly maintained till death ensue ;. Under such circumstances, drives have not infrequently had to be abandoned. «05. On St. Paul Island, the longest drives now practised are those from Polavina to the vicinity of the salt-house near Rocky Point, and fron) Tols'.oi to the village killing grounds. These are about equal in length, and each not much less than two miles. On St. George, the longest diives are from the Great Eastern Rooktry and from Starry Arteel Rookery to the village killing grounds, each being n' )Ut three miles in length, the time occupied in driving being from four to six hours, . urding to the wcatlier. Under the Russian regime much longer drives were n)ade, and in tlie cmlailnuiit of these a very considerable improvement has been efi'ected, but the essentially injurious features of the drive remain* the same. 706. Oji Behring Island, of the Conmiander group, the drives are sliort, the longest being about one and a-half miles, from the Soutli Rookery. On Copper Island, on the contrary, the drives generally extend across the island, and are from three to four miles long, very rough, and crossing one or more intervening steep rid§es. These drives must be much more trying to tiic seals than any now made upon the Pribylofl' Islands, and are, in fact, only rendered possible by extreme ciuition on the part of the drivers, and by the expenditure of much time. 707. If it were possible to drive only those seals which it is intended to kill, little exception could be taken to the method of driving in the absence of any better method, but the mingling of seals of varied ages ui)on the hauUng grounds Iroin which the drivis ire taken, even under the original and more favourable conditions of former years, renders it necessary to drive to the killing place many seals either too young or too old to be killed. It is sometimes possible to "cut out" from the diives many of these unnecessary individuals en route, and great care is exercised in this respect on the Commander Islands, though little appears to have been practised on the Prihyloll' Islands. 708. It admits of no dispute tlint a very considerable inijiairinent of the vital energy of seals thus driven, and eventually turned away from tiie killing grounds, occurs, alto^a-thcr apart from the certainty that a proportion of such seals receive actual physical injuries of one kind or another, but this appeareil to lu;vc been recognized on the Pribyloff Islands only within the past two or three years. The circumstance which has called particular attent.on to this source of injury to seal life is the greatly increased proportion of ineligible ' : [''H)5] United Stales' Ceniut Ke|ioi't, p. 169. K 2 jj v.iiiu 1^ :lj<;c 122 ■! which have now to be driven up in company with the diminishing quota of " killables." It is unnecessary to quote authorities at length on this subject, but n single citation from Mr. Goff's Report of 1890 will be sufficient to show its general character. Mr. Goff writes : — "We opened the season by a drive from Reef rookery, and turned away over 83^ per cent, when we should have turned away about 1.5 per cent, of the seals driven, and we closed the season by turning away 86 per cent., a fact which proves to every impartial mind that we were redriving the yearlings, and considering the number of skins obtained, that it was impossible to secure the number allowed by the lease, that we were merely torturing the young seals, injuring the future life and vitality of the breeding rookeries, to the detriment of the lessees, natives, and Government."* 709. In other words, many of the seals turned from the killing ground on one occasion, return eventually to the liauling-grounds, and may thus be driven and redriven throughout the entire killing season, if they do not meanwhile succumb under the strain. 710. Owing to the restriction imposed on the killing of seals in 1891, we were ourselves able to witness the effect of two small drives only, one on St. George, the other on St. Paul. Both these drives were made from the grounds nearest to the village killing places, and were therefore short. Theweather was favourably cool, and the actual driving from the rookeries to the vicinity of the killing ground was accomplished with all requisite care and deliberation. Notwithstanding this, the seals were in both cases evidently very much exhausled and completely witless from fear. The animals let go from the killing grounds at St. George set out, when released, in small groups towards the shore, not far off, but from weakness were unable to go more than u few yards at a time ; while some of them, notwithstanding their terror, were unable to keep up with the rest, and simply lay helpless upon the ground. On drawing the attention of one of the gentlemen superintending the killing to this, he remarked that it was nothing unusual, that, in fact, they not infrequently remained thus in the immediate vicinity of the killing ground for several days before recovering. 711. Much the same observations were made in the case of a drive on St. Paul Island, but it was noticed here that 100 or 200 of those set free, after slowly making their way for 500 or 600 feet, remained in an exhausted condition upon the grassy bank over- looking the northern end of Zoltoi sands, and, on the evening of the following day, many of them were still lying together at the same place without having made any effort to reach the sea, which was not over 200 feet distant. 71V. Incidental proof of the disastrous effects of driving may be seen along any of the routes ordinarily taken in the significant frequency of skeletons and bones around each rough and rocky place that has to be passed over in the course of the drive. It is of course difficult, if not impossible, to say with certainty in individual cases, to what extent this ordeal of driving may prove permanently detrimental to the animals driven. It may, how- ever, be worth noting that Veninminov, as long ago as 1 842, quoted the natives as authority for the statement that the seals thus spared "are truly of little use for breeding, lying about as if outcasts or disfranchised."t 713. Elliott, in his published summary of his investigation on the islands in 1890, gives various reasons for arriving at a similar belief, and sums these up as follows: — " Therefore, it now appears plain to me that those young fur-seals which may happen to survive this terrible strain of seven years of driving overland are rendered by this act of driving wholly worthless for breeding purposes ; tliey never go to the breeding grounds :\nd take up stations there, being wholly demoralized in spirit and in body. With this knowledge, then, the full effect of the driving becomes apparent, and that result of slowly but surely robbing the rookeries of a full and sustained supply of fresh young male blood demanded by nature imperatively for their support up to the standard of full expansion. "^I Captain lavender. Assistant Treasury Agent, in his Report for the same year, and speaking particularly of St. George Island, adopts a similar view on the matter, saying : — " All the male seals driven should he killed, as it is my opinion that not over one-half ever go back upon the rookeries again."§ 714. Mr. Elliott, in the publication which has just been quoted, further summarizes his ideas as to the causes of the present reduced condition of Pribyloft' Island rookeries in the two following paragraphs : — " 1 . From over-driving without heeding its warning first begun in 1 879, dropped then until 18S2, then suddenly renewed again with increased energy from year to year, until the end is abruptly reached this season of 1890. * Senate, Ex. Doc. No, 49, il'l Coiigreir, 'h\d SeBsiun, p. 4. t Trankhitioii l)V liliiolt in Unitet! Stitek' Crn^us Iteport, p. HI. I Pb'lianiriitary Fappr [C— 6368 J, .lime I8UI, p. 57. H Ibi<l , p. 21. rl then til tlie 123 " 2. From the shooting of fur-seals (chiefly females) in the open waters of the North Pacific Ocean and Behring Sea begun as a business in 1886, and continued to date>^^. 715. It will be observed, however, that, even according to this statement, the over- driving began, in consequence of marked diminution, some seven years before it is alleged that pelagic sealing " began as a business." 716. As already indicated, all the evils incident to 'driving' in any form became greatly intensified when, with a diminished number of killable seals, the attempt is still continued to obtain a large yearly number of skins. This occurs not only l)ecause of the driving and redriving above referred to, but also in consequence of the fact, that under sucli circumstances the remaining killables lie very close to the breeding rookeries, so that it is no longer possible to make drives without disturbing the rookeries themselves. Thus, it has occurred that, in late years, considerable and increasing numbers of breeding females have been driven to the killing grounds with the killables, though when recognized there in the process of selecting for killing, they have been released. The probable special effect of such treatment of females, as well as the fact that in the disturbances caused upon the breeding rookeries, a certain number of the young are almost certain to be killed, have been already noted. 717. Speaking of the years 1872-74, and in connection with the driving of seals, even at that time, Klliott makes the following remarks : " It is quite impossible, however, to get them all of one age without an extraordinary amount of stir and bustle, which the Aleuts do not like to precipitate ; hence the drive will be found to consist usually of a bare majority of three- and four-year-olds, the rest beins two-year-olds principally, and a very few, at wide intervals, five-year-olds, the yearling seldom ever getting mixed up."t 718. Referring particularly to his experience in 18'J9, Captain Hryaiit writes: " At the close of this period the great body of yearling s.>al8 arrive. These, mixing with the younger class of males, spread over the uplands and greatly increase the proportion of prime skins, but also greatly increase the difficulty of killing properly. Up to this time, there having been no females with the seals driven up for killing, it was only necessary to distinguish ages ; this the difl'erence in size enables them to do very easily. Now, however, nearly one-half arc females, and the slight difference between these and the younger males renders it necessary for the head man to see every seal killed, and only a stron? interest in the preservation of the stock can insure the proper care." + 719. The meaning of these remarks and their bearing on the possibility of restricting the killing on the islands to males, becomes clear when it is remembered that the external genital organs of the male do not become distinctly obvious till about the third year of its age,§ and particularly so when it is remembered that even as long ago as 1872-74 the " major portion of the catch " consisted of two- and three-year-old seals, || while at other times even yearlings have been killed. 720. In addition to the injury caused by the physical strain of driving, its probable effect on the mental organization of a naturally timid and somewhat intelligent animal like the fur-seal must be great. The killing grounds themselves are always strewn with the carcasses of former victims in various stages of decomposition, and even in the small drive witnessed by us on St. George Island, the various " pods " of seals, including both those turned away and those killed, were actually driven over and among numbers of putrid bodies, by which the whole atmosphere in the vicinity was inl'cctcd. It is believed, in fact, that this special feature of the driving is responsible to a large extent for the increasing disinclination of the seals to remain upon the breeding islands, a new but not unnatural tendency specially noticed and reported on in regard to the Commander Islands, and evidently still further operative on the Pribylott" Islands. 721. Ueviewing, then, the subject of driving as a whole, and without laying stress on the more extreme statements which have been made as to its deleterious ett'ects, it is quite evident that even if a small measure of the injury referred to this cause actually happens, the proportion of loss of seals to the whole number of skins obtained on the Pribylotf Islands, due to this one cause, must very considerably add to the waste of abotit 7 per cent,, which is admitted by the official figures. Ttie aggregate loss incurred is thus the result of various causes, which together involve the killing of many seals which ought not to be killed, and it is evident that the methods of driving and killing on the Pribyloff' Islands, as now practised, are susceptible of very threat improve- ment. • I'arliainciitiiiy I'lipcr [C— CJtd], Jmiu ISOI, \>. jO. f I'nilefl Sink's' CVn-iis l(('|i()rt, p. 7i. I " Bull, Mils. Conip. /ool,," vol ii. Part 1, p. lU.'i. S " Fishery Industriei o' tin- Uuileil Stalcj," vol. i, p. IW. U I'liitcd Sialrs' CViisih llijiort, p. 7". r^' ■ tc' i ■ 124 (E.) — Protection of Rookeries from Dhturbance. 722. Revei-ting to the general question of the uiana^t^ement of the seal industry of the Pribyloff Islands, it is conceded by every one that the most important single mutter is the safeguarding of the breeding rookeries from disturbance of nil kinds. Generally speaking, the system adopted on the islands has this end in view, but in 'addition to the specific disturbance caused in the ways already mentioned, other and uncalled for effects of the sanrie kind have been and are produced in consequence of a certain want of discipline and vigilance. Chief among these is the raiding upon the shores of the islands, which might and should be stopped by efficient protection. This is referred to at greater length below. Some of the means adopted in the government and preservation of the Com- mander Islands have already been alluded to, and nothing is more obvious to any one comparing the conditions on the Pribyloff and Conmiander Islands than the greater efficiency of the general control of the latter. This is particularly notable in the superior discipline maintained among the natives, who, as a direct corollary of their favoured position as participants in the proceeds of the islands, are understood to be entirely at the service and under the orders of the Superintendent on the islands. The appearance of vessels in the otting is reported to hcud-quarters with the utmost promptitude, as noted in the case of our own arrival both on Copper and Behring Islands. The seals are more carefully assorted before being driven to the killing grounds than on the Pribyloff Islands, and the killing of young seals for native food has been prohibited now for seventeen years. A tine of !00 roubles is exacted in the case of each female accidentally killed, with other such similar precautions. The methods taken to prevent the disturbance of seals upon the rookeries by sn»oke have already been alluded to. (F.) — Native Interests on the Islands. 728. The condition (»f the Aleuts of the Pribyloff Islands has undoubtedly been much improved by their connection with the sealing industry, but it is difficult to see on what grounds the special advantages of a material kind afforded to these particular people as distinguished from others of the same race, and partly at the expense of interference with the rights of hunting of those inhabiting the Aleutian Islands, can be advanced as a valid argument in favour of the perpetuation of a commercial monopoly of fur-sealing. The Aleuts on the Pribyloff Islands are not natives of these island? in any true sense, but were bivught thither by the Russians for their own convenience, and to afford the labour necessary for sealing. The actual circumstances of their existence on the islands ai-e unfavourable to their vitality, as evidenced by the fact that the death rate is higher than the birth rate, so that if additions had not been made from time to time from the Aleutian Islands, in conformity with the requirements of the lessees, the number now remaining would be insignificiint. These people are, moreover, now in the majority of cases half-breeds, with often a notable preponderance of "white blood." As it is, the entire population of the Pribyloff Islands, according to the Census of 1890, aniounts to but 303 persons, and therefore the question of their disposition and maintenance cannot be regarded as a very embarrassing one, or one which should be allowed to enter seriously into discussions as to the means appropriate for the pi'eservation of the fur-seal, or into the important questions connected therewith. 724. It is also clear that the so-called natives of the islands, though under ordinary circumstances provided for in certain respects by the lessees according to legai arrange- ment, have in past times not always been among the first objects of their sohcitude. Many allegations as to the ill-treatment of tlie natives are to be found in the Congressional Reports on the Alaska Commercial Company and on the Fur-seal Fisheries of Alaska, while a general indictment of the treatment of the natives by the Company by A. P. Swineford, Governor of Alaska, is made so lately as in his Report for the year 1887.* 726, A single instance, to which it happened that our attention was drawn, may be cited for the pumosc of showing that the natives, even in recent years, received no more than strictly commercial" treatment. This refers to the allowance of coal made to them. The fuel to be obtained on the islands is confined to small quantities of drift- wood, supplemented by seal blubber, or oil from seals or sea-lions, and naturally proves insufficient for the requirements of a long and inclement winter. It was therefore stipulated in the original lease that sixty cords of fire-wood should be furnished annually for the natives on the two islands. For this, 60 tons of coal was afterwards substituted, and the annual allowance for St. Paul Island was fixed at 40 tons. The supply thus * Page 31, etteq. '^jwjwwjiePBjBaB! furnished, bcin]^ at the rate of about 1 ton per family each year, was naturally, and even with such small local additions as could be made, insufficient, and when exhausted the jjcople often found it necessary to purchase more coal from the Company, of which the price was fixed at 30 dollars (6/.) per tun ! 720. This particular abuse has fortunately been remedied under the present lease for in 1890 the amount of coal for St. Paul was increased to 50 tons, aad in 1891 the Government stipuhited that 100 tons should be provided for the same island, where there are now only thirty-ei^jht fainiiieii. The more liberal provision thus made, however, tends to show very clearly hovr- insufficient that previously accorded arstually was. •V (G.)— K«jV/». 727. In forming an adequate estimate of the number of seals killed from time to time in the North Pacific Ocean, and especially on the Pribylotf Islands, it is necessary to take into consideration the numbers taken by "raids," an absolutely illegal form of seal killing, which has for years past been in active operation. 728. This form of sealing has distinct historical connection with the original seal hunting of the South i^eas in the latter years of the last and the earlier yia.s of the present centuries. There seal hunting is and was conducted entirely by the crews of vessels liinded on various islands or reefs where seals were to be found, the seals being shot or clubbed on shore, and the skins shipped away in the vessels. 75i9, Such a form of sealing was-obviously the most destructive that could be devised. The seals are easily berded together on shore by very iew men, and can be driven slowly inland, and there guarded until, if need be, every single one of those thus herded is killed. But in the process of herding them together on the beaches thousands upon thousands of seals around are and must be stampeded, and in their wild rush to the sea not only do they do themselves much physical injury, but they overrun the smaller seals, and especially (ho pups, that chance to lie in tiieir patli. We have our.selves sclmi the evil after* effects of such rushes in the corpsis of pups lying thick along such tracks. Moreover, ill ihi? form of Killing it is usually tiie plan to pay no regard whatever to sex, age, or condition, and certainly females arc not spared. /•^(\ Id addition to tl:is, the raiding schooners make an abundant catch along the rookery fronts, wlieie thousands of seals, and especially ot tiemales in inilk, iiabilually disport themselves, and even j)lay Jiround any passing boat. The consequent shooting by ti:e raiders greatly disturbs, scares, and scatters the fumales and males on the breeding luokerics close by. There thus seems to be no limit to the nu;nbers of females and other seals that may be easily taken or destroyed by schooners cruizing close in shore. 731. Raiding is a purely piratical and illegal form of sealing when carried on along chores over which Governments have extended their sovereignty, and particularly where regulations have been established for the preservation of the fur-seal. 732. At the present tinie, this illegal and destructive practice is carried on in various parts of the South Seas — for instance, in a paper by Mr. T. R. Chapman on "The Outlying Islands south of New Zealand," contained in the transactions of the New Zealand Institute for 1890, though it is stated that the fur-seal is now very scarce on these islands ; the operations of seal poachers are leferred to in connection with the Auckland Islands, Campbell Lsland, Antipodes Island, and the Hounty Islands. Tlie naiie "ixjacher" is here applied to sealers killing on the islands, in contravention of tlic laws of New Zealand. Some of the men thus referred to come from New Zealand itself, but the only vessel specifically alkuicd to in IHSJ) is the "Sarah A. Hunt,'' a seal-poacher from America (p. 512). 733. Again, in the Straits of Magellan, the British Vice-Consul at Sandy Point reports in April lb89, that the United States' schooners pay no attention to tlie inter- diction on sealing enacted by the Chilean Government. Indeed, the frequent presence ol sealing-vessels, most of them hailing from ports in the New England States of North America, is a matter of much concern to the different Governments now endeavouring to preserve the seals in these waters. 7M4. There has been wholesale and most destructivs raiding on Robben Island, atid other islands in the Ukotsk and Japanese Seas; and there have been persistent and more or less successful raids made on the rookeries both of the Commander and Pribylotf groups. 735. In recent times, in the North Pacific Ocean, the greatest instance of tlie revival of this form of seal hunting occurred during the inteival of the transference of the PribylofT Islands fron) Russian to American control.^ Soine vessels equipped for the { ' II 126 purpose at once visited these celebrated . islands and landed sealing parties. Various Companies of United States' sealers occupied the islands in 1868, chief among them bands of Connecticut sealers, all of whom entered into armed combination to drive olf the sealers under Pfliigel, who had come up from the Sandwich Islands to raid. I'he general result was that at least 75,000 skins were secured in 1867, 242,000 in. 18C8, and 87,000 ia 1869, or a total of move than 400,000 skins in these three years. 786. It is necessary for our present purpose to review the details only of raids made or attempted on the Prihyloff Islands since the United States' Government leased these islands to the Alaska Commercial Company, and this Company took formal possession under established Reji;ulaliuns ia 1870. 737. The cxistine; records are irregular, often insufficient, and frequently consist of mere allusions or indirect testimony. It is, therefore, probable that but a small proportion of the whole number of raids have actually been recorded, but the notices, such as they are, amply indicate what has been doing. In September 1870, the Secretary of the Treasury "gave written authority to the Company to use fire-arms in protecting the rookeries against marauders. 738. Between 1871 and 1880 several actual raids were reported, one of the earliest being one by the " Cygnet," of San Francisco, caught on the 80tli August, 1874, shooting seals close to Otter Island, and which raided the rookeries at Zapadnie, St. George Island, on the 1st September, 1874, and again in 187.'>. In July 1 875, the " San Diego " was seized oft' St. Paul Island witli 1,660 skms taken on Otter Island. On the 21st June, 1876, the "Cygnet" and the "Ocean Spray" raided the same rookery. 739. In 1877, the " Industry" was reported as"hovering around St. Paul Island, and a raid was made on Otter Island. 739.* In the same year, the revenue-cruizer "Corwin" was instructed specially to look after the seol fisheries. In the Report of her Captain for 1879 occur the following remarks : — "In 1877, our first year in these waters, there was a vessel (the schooner 'Industry') about the islands late in Septeniber, which, without doubt, intended to take seals. She touched at St. Gtorge under the plea that she was short of water, but hearing that the 'Rush' was still about the islands, left very abruptly without waiting to water ship. I would respectfully state that, in my opinion, it is only necessary that a revenue-vessel should be known to be in these waters during the season for the protection of the islands, that it is not necessary to locate an officer and men from the vessel on Otter Island, and that now — there being two special agents during the season on each island — an occasional visit by them in their boat from St. Paul to Otter Island would be sufficient." 740. In 1879, the revemie-cruizer "Rush" received her orders "to cruize in the waters of Alaska and among the islands of the Aleutian Archipelago . . . , with a view to protecting the seal-fisheries and sea-otter hunting grounds." The Captain reported "that in ,)unc 1879 he landed 3 tons of coal on Otter Island, and left Lieutenant Wyckoff and two men on St. Paul with instructions to proceed to Otter Island as soon as the Company could furnish him with two men and a whale-boat, this same arrangement having been made every year." He added that in the end of September (1879), "Lieutenant Wyckoff Kports that (|uite a number of seal would haul ashore at Otter Island during the summer. They were not inclined to stop there, but probably would if there was no one living on the island. He had seen four or five pups which were born there, but later in the season quite a number of young cows came there with the male seals." 74!l. In 1880, the Captain of the revenue-cruizer "Corwin" reports that he visited St. Paul on the 1 8th September : — "Special Aijcnt II. G. Otis informed me that he had visited Otter Island several times during the summer, and that no vessels nor unauthorized parties had been seen anywhere in the vicinity of the seal islands." 742. In 1880, Mr. Webster, according to his own statement to us, found clubs, hauliiig- hooks, and dead seals on the Great Eastern Rookery, St. George Island, all left there by raiders. 743. In 1880, the Captain of the revenue-cruizer "Corwin " reported to the Secretary of the Treasury his seizure of the schooner "Leo" in the Arctic for whiskey selling to the Eskimo, adding, "There were also found on board the 'Leo' several persons . . . : five were natives of Kodiak, employed, probably, for the purpose of taking seals aro'ind the seal islands in the fall." 744. In 1881, the Captain of the revenue-cruizer "Corwin " reported that on the 23rd May, at St. Paul Island, " Colonel H. G. Otis, the Special Treasury Agent in chai^, came on board, and, after a consultation with him, it was decided unnecessary to detail an irP^i^^^W^^^^^;'.*^-; •> '■'■' '< m. in the with a clubs, all left oil the chai^, etail an 197 officer for duity on Otter Uknd, b% it was believed that tin )ice un St. Patil hland would be ample to protect both islands." • 745. In the same report the Captain states that, on the 19th June, 1881, he over- hauled the schooner " Flying Mist " at St. Michael's, and found 25 gallons of whiskey on board, " also complete outfit for taking seals, seal clubs for killing them, and salt fur preserving their skins, and was apparently on a predatory cruize arouud the seal islands later in the season." 746. The Captain of the "Corwin" also reports that the Special Treasury Agent oa St. Paul wrote to him that, "on the night of the 8th June (1881) a schooner, supposed from her suspicious movements to be on a predutory mission in these waters, was sighted off the east side of the island bearing in a northerly direction, and next morning at 2 o'clock she was discovered by the look-out at East Point standing close in shore. Later in the morning, after the men on shore conmienced moving about, she stood out to sea." On this the Captain remarks: "As parties on board the 'Flying Mist' acknow* ledged to ha;iring been in the vicinity of the seal islands, she was undoubtedly the vessel referred to by Colonel Otis, and our suspicions as to her intentions were confirmed. She had probably been frightened off by seeing men on shore, and would return later in the season when the nights were longer, and endeavour to take seals during the night, and stand off shore before daylieht." Mr. Wardman reports that he noted raids on St George Island in 1881, the nrst being on the 2nd September: "A gap was created in the rookeiy which was not filled that year." Mr. C. A. Williams reported that vessels hunted often around Otter Island, where, in 1881, sixty carcasses were found at one time. 747. Special Agent D. B, Taylor slates that vessels have been poaching around the islands for years, landing under cover of fog, and that no protection is afforded against their poaching right on the rookeries. He adds that, in 1881, the Company was power- less to protect the seals against marauders ; but that, if a harbour were built and a steam- launch stationed at each island, the protection would be ample. He states that vessels visit the islands, and kill in all 10,000 to 15,000 seals each year.* Treasury Agent Gliddon, there from 1882.^85, reports that the trouble consists in the marauding which takes place every moonlight night. 748. In 1834, the "Alexander" was captured by the Treasury Agent George Wardman off Starry Arteel rookery, St. George Island, but he reported " he had to release her because he could not hold her, being unable to navigate, and there being no harbour at St. George, permitted of no other course under the circumstances." In the same year the " Adele " was captured and sent to San Francisco. 749. The Captain of the "Corwin" sending in, for 1885, his "general report of operations of vessel for the protection of the seal fisheries and sea-olter grounds," states: — " Mr. Tingle, the Government Special Agent, with a representative of the Alaska Commercial Company, came on board (11th September, 1885), and both stated that, during the absence of the " Corwin " in the Arctic, vessels hod been cruizing in sight of the islands for the purpose of killing seals ; but anticipating the " Corwin's" return and the heavy weather incident to the lateness of the season, none hr.d been seen within three weeks of that time. These gentlemen estimated that about 16,000 seals bad been killed by the marauding vessels." ' 750. The Captain proceeds : " In previous Reports I have called the attention of the Department to the importance of greater protection to seal life in Alaskan waters, and especially in the vicinity of the Pribyloff Islands. Last year (1884) the schooner ' Adelo' was seized by an officer connected with this vessel for unlawfully killing seals, and delivered by him to the United States' authorities at San Francisco. Instead of being prosecuted, as provided by section 1066 of the Revised Statutes, she was subsequv^ntly released on technical informalities. " The same vessel has pursued her illegal occupation during the past summer, and her release from justice has very generally led to the belief that the seizure of the ' Adele' was an act unwarranted by law. " Other vessels had previously been seized tor i!>e same offence, but in no instance has punishment been Inflicted. The Department can readily see what the result will be if this state of affairs bi- allowed to continue. " During the year, quite a number of vessels have raided Alaskan waters for seal and other fur-bearing animals. • • f • f • 1,3051 * Houie of Iteprcsenlalive* Report, No. 3888, SOlh C6ag>-CH, 3nd Seirion, p. 58. S *# I ■■ . :.:^:'' ! H 'J ' ; 128 ' i; v<< Rumours are current here that the Aitierioan ComuI nt Viotoria bds ioforiti^ people that they are not prohibited by law fram sealing in Alaska or other waters, provided they kebp more than thrfee lieagues Arotu the shore . '. . . ; all in direct violation Of the Rogvlationa," &c. , ' ; ' - The Report for 1886 concludes with the urgent recomiucndntion ','that a reyenuer cutter be sent to cruize in the vicinity pf the Pribyloff Islands and Aleutian group during the sealing season. One vcfisel cannot protect the islands and visit the Arctic Ooeeo i>esides . . ^ . While the cutter is absent in the Arctic, much damage can be done by marauding vessels to the seal islands." 751. In 1860, Mr. Webster, the Company's agent, with the aid of Lieutenant Lutze and his two men left as guard on Otter Island,' captured three schooners, one the " Adelc." ■In the same year, -Mr. Webster found that the schooners left boats ashore, and the men actually camped in Pirate's Cove, St. George Island, for the purpose of taking seals along tlie shore. Many vessels were seen frequently hovering around the islands. 752. In 1886, Starry Arteel rookery was raided, and many hundred seals taken. Mr. Moi^an found the carcasses of 800 female seals on the shore, oi well as the cargtt<- hooks used for hnuling them. The raiders actually camped on the beach and werq seen -there by the natives, but it was not discoverad to what vessel they belonged. Mr. Tingle,. before tlie House of Representatives' Committee, stated that the '.'San Diego " captured by the "Corwin " in 18S(i had on board 17.5 skins of seals that bad been •clubbed, and some ^kins of pups, showing that d raid had been nuide on St. .GleOrge Island. We also. have sWorn testimony that in 1866 and. 1887 the " Lookout ". raided on thb islands. The "C. S. Fowler" is also mentioned as a known raider. . • . i . 753. In 1887, Mr. W^ebster saw as many as from four .to eight schooners in sight, and ^hovering around from 3 to 6 miles off. " Many a night has he walked round with his riQe, and seen their boats out shooting seal. One night in 1887, in a thick fog, boats were shooting away so close to shore as to scare all the seals on the beach." , , ,:,{ At St. Paul Ishihd op the 18th, 31st, and 25th July, a schooner was seen shooting seals close along the shore off the North-east rookery. . On the 28th July a. schooner Appeared close to Otter Ishind, the crew ashore killing seals. She proved to be the " Angel Dolly," afterwards captured, because her Captain und one of the citw wejre Bcuidentally wounded. On the 4th August a steam schooner was reported off. North-east Point, and was fired at by the watchmen. She was captured by the .revenu9<<;utter " Rush," and proved to be the " Kate Anna." In August the Starry Arteel rookery was raided, but nothing was .known of .th0 occurrence until some time afterwards. Mr. Webster found all the unmistakable signs of what had been dpne, either at night or in a fog, but unknown to the authorities. . Mr. 'Jingle, Treasury Agent on St. Paul Island in 1887, reported a schooner lying off the Reef Rookery killing seals, and she was represented' to have taken altogether 4,800 seals. In his report for 1887, ho strOngly urged that a 20-ton steam-yacht, armed with one gun, should be provided to chase and board the schooners sealing along the islands. . He writes : " Wiiile the ' Rush ' was busy taking care of marauders round St. George, those schooners were killing seals near $t. Paul," being frequently in sight, but beyond the reach of the Treasury Agent. 754. In 1888, many vessels were seen hovering around the islands. One schooner anchored in broad daylight in S.W. Bay, St. Paul Island, and boldly sent several boatp ashorie. 755. In 1889 there are several records, especially around St. George Island, of schooners coming along shore, and of strange men being seen on the beachds in September and October. On the 21st November^ a schooner, supposed to be the " Angel Dolly," anchored half-a-mile from the aliore, and sent four men ashore who killed sieals. On the .22nd November at Zapadnie, St. George, the authorities discovered that threp separate landings had been made, and found two clubs, seven dead female seals and, one bull wounded, with buckshot. In the autumn the " Allie Algar" raided on St. George, and procured more than 800 skins. A report in tlie "New York Herald " states that certain members of a schooner's crew boasted that in this year fifteen men, had in five hours of ope night killed . 1,000 seals on St. George. Practical sealers, giving evidence under oath, testified that to their.certain. knowledge in the year 1889 and 1890 raids were made; on the islands by the "George R. White," the " Daniel Webster," the "Mollie Adams," ond tl^e ;».'.Adel€.'V, . . .. .,., .. ' ,. - 756. In 1890, off t* e North-east rookery, St. Paul Island, oh the I.f)th ftnd Iftth June, there were two schooners hovering,- with boats it>ut. From the 1st to the 4th July the whaling barque "Lydia" was cruizing along close in shore. Mr. Tingle, the Cotnpany's agent, saw a Mat in 9 fog sealing wi^iii 900 yards of the beach ; he fired at 120 It with bis Hile ; an iiuseen vessel ut once began to blow her fof(-|iorn, the understood signal of recall to all boats out. ' On the 28th August a schooner anchored dose to North-east Point, fftist, day the revenue*cruizer " Rush " boarded her. She proved to be the " Kate Anna," but hiid no skins on board. For the next eight days a soitooner was reported off the same rookery, anchoring close in, lowering her boats, und continually shooting seaU within balf-a- utile of the shore. Nothing appears to have been done to stop her, although Colonel Murray afterwards reported that there were any numbrr of dead pups found nt n later date along the beach. In August the schooner " Adele" was boarded and captured, all her crew being ashore raiding. She was brought into the bay. The schooner " 0. D. Rand " was taken by the crnizer *' Rush," in North-east Bay. Her Scotch captain, declaring himself to be a member of the Salvation Aniiy, protested he was not and could not be sealing, because it was Sunday. The only evidence given by tb9 watchmen on shore was that they "had seen a boat." The schooner was released. .j In September 1890 a large while schooner sailed into North-east rookery to land a party. The Aleut watchmen fired four shots from Martini-Henry's across her bow. She retuined about 100 shots and sailed away. 757. In the same year, on St. George Island, numerous raids or attempts 'vere re* ported. Four distinct attempts were made at Zapadnie rookery. The *■* Helen Blum " and " Unga " failed to secure any seals. The " Flying Dutchman " [" Adele "] secured many skins, and it is actually refiorted that she would have made a great haul but that her crew at the critical moment obtoined access to liquor. One schooner was surprised in the act, and departed leaving 100 females killed on the beach, the skins of which were taken and salted by Mr. Webster, on behalf of the Company, as we were informed by Captain Lavender. On the 17th September no less than three schooners were in the oiling, and one attempted a landing, but retired when fired at by the watchmen. In the same year, it was also reported that one cf the district salt-houses had been broken open by the crew of a vessel, and all the salted skins carried off. 758. Colonel Murray, the cautious Treasury Agent on St. George, informed us that he had examined the traces remaining of many raids that had taken place, unknown to the authoiities. On one'occasicm he had seen the fresh blood-stained tracks down which the carcasses had been hauled to the boats ; on another, he and his companion, on a fairly dark night, had como across thirteen dead seals, clubbed the night before. They had fired twenty-five shots to warn ofP the raiders, and had noticed, incidentally, that these shots did not in the least disturb the seals around. 769. In 1891, we found all the resident officials and natives persistent ip their complaints of raids, and their reports of schooners hovering around the shores with intent to raid, and of that being reported especially on foggy days. When we first arrived at St. Paul Island, on the morning of Monday, the 27tb July, the Treasury Agent, Colonel Murray, came off at once in a boat, and besought us to proceed without delay to the North- east rookery, as shots had been heard there repeatedly on the previous day, and at night close along the shore. Major Williams, the Chief Treasury Agent, and Mr. Redpatb, the manager for the Company, had driven over 12 miles to North-east rookery to see what could be done. When we went to the Company's house, Mr. Tingle, the general superin- tendent of the Company, was perpetually working the telephone to North-east rookery and reporting that schooners were there. The vivid impression produced on us at the time was that whatever the actual amount of raiding in progress, both Government and Company were absolutely without proper means to stop it. On the 29th July we saw a brigantine sail boldly right past the settlement, but there were no means at hand either to detain or even to identify her. In the late autumn the revenue-cruizer " Bear " remained near the islands for thirty- six days, and then proceeded td coal at Ounalaska ; the day after she left the islands a steam sloop raided the Great Eastern rookery on St. George Island. 760. Corroborative evidence has been afforded in 1891 by the newspaper corre- spondents who visited Behring Sea. According to their accounts, Captain Alexander Carlson, of San Francisco, had been a persistent raider since 1884. Captain Hansen, in the" Flying Dutchman " [" Adele,"] perpetrated many raids, until his vessel was wrecked last year. In 1891 he wished to obtain a coasting clearance for the *' Borealis," but his dpenly-avowed intention to raid led the Collector of Customs at Victoria to refuse him a clearance to Behring Sea, and he went off to Okotsk Soa. Captain Downs, of the *' Hattie Gage," made a sworn affidavit that his mate Adams, who superseded him when he Was forcibly put ashore^ on the Shumagin Islands, was proceeding:to make raids dn the Pribyloff Islands, and that in 1800 the Captain of the " Hattie Gage" had been [306] B 2 -.^A^fui^q^i^pij ■fviP^i"' VjTi 130 relieved of the coniniond because ho refused to make raids ashore. Captain Reilly, of the " Otto," said that if he liad liis owner's permissiun he would willingly make raids. 761. It will thus be seen that raiding on the Pribyloff Islands has been carried on persistently at least since 18G8, and that from that date the authorities have knowta of the raids, and from the earliest time urgently demanded precautions in prevention. i 762. The evils of raiding are very great. It is bv fur the most destructive form of sealinff, combining nil the disadvantages and none of the advantages of the other forms. The killmg is chiefly of breeding fcniiiles, as the raiders cannot penetrate far enough inland to obtain tlie young bachelors or immature female seals. Thus, the skins they obtain arc those of females which are either still with pup or are suckling tlieir young. Moreover, the process implies disturbance of the breeding rookeries ; the scaring of the seals during their breeding time, male, female, and young ; and the stampeding of whoI< rookeries, whereby, without doubt, there ensues that great killing of helpless pups which we have already reported we observed in certain rookeries. 763. We ourselves noticed the great ease with which, under present arrangements, raids might be successfully carried out, and nothing whatever be known to the residents at the moment, while aflrr diflcovery depended merely on accident. Even on the rookeries immediately under the settlements no look-out is kept. For instance, we steamed into the anchorage of the settlement at St. Paul, close past the Zapadnie and Tolstoi rookeries, one bright moonlight night (14th September), and moved early the next morning by daylight round the Oorbotch and Reef rookeries to the other landing, without our presence. becoming known in any way at the settlement. On the outlying rookeries no watch whatever is present, except at North-east Point on St. Paul Island and Zapadnie on St. George Island. All the other rookeries on both islands are, as a rule, absolutely without any watch or guard. On North-cast and Zapadnie rookeries the guard consists of two or three native Aleuts who have rifles, but are instructed not to fire at men. Moreover, we are by no means assured that bribery by money or drink has not been actually practised over some of these distant guards. Evidence was afforded of numerous instances of the signs of recent raids being dis- covered, although as to the actual occurrence nothing whatever was known to those iii authority at the time, and we are not at all surprised to see that in recent years the reports that schooners are hovering off the island, anchoring close in, and sending boats ashore, are rapidly growing in frequency. As the prospects of a heavy catch ashore or along the rookery fronts are great, so is the temptation great, especially as chances of detection are few and innocuous, and chances of capture most remote under the present system. In short, under present regulations and arrangements, there is no difficulty or danger whatever to vessels raiding along shore any night, cr in any of the frequent fogs at several of the best rookeries, except when a revenue-cruizer chances to be close by, an occasional occurrence well known to every marauding schooner. Moreover, the United States' crui^rs never interfere with "whalers," some of which undoubtedly, at all events, report the movements of the cruizers, forming as it were both watch-houses and store* houses for the raiders, even when they do not themselves engage in actual raiding. 7(i4. It is, perhaps, needless to reassert that this form of taking seals is entirely illegitimate, and although it is a very severe and disastrous drain en setil life, it is, never* theless, uite for which the national government and the administration are entirely and solely responsible. Tlius, tiie British men-of-war which in 1891 entered Behring Sea for the purpose of assisting in stopping sealing at sea were expressly and properly precluded from taking any step within the ordinary jurisdictional limits around coasts and islands. 76.5. It may be pointed out that in no case yet has it been shown .. proved that any British vessel ever engaged in raiding on the Pribyloff Islands. 766. There is no valid reason whatever why the local authorities should not be provided with ample means fur stopping raids. It should be remembered also that the San Francisco sealers have asserted that the possibility of raiding, a most profitable operation, encourages sealers of a certain class to tit out sealing-schooners and enter Behring Sea, and it the local authorities made raiding the great risk that it should be, they would take one practical t'xp towards reducing the number of vessels whioli engage in tiiis illegitimate and most destructive methods of sealing. 767. WSiile we were visiting the Commander Islands in 1891, we paid special attention to the nieans adopted for preventing raids. The Russian authorities acknow- ledged that the danger was great. At one time, sixteen Cossack soldiers were stationed on each island authorized to fire on all raiders, and at the present time this force consists of thirty-six armed native watchmen under four Cossacks. The Company's trading steftmer "flpp wrfw m/m^f' 'W 181 waa Hpeoially autliori/.ed to sci/e sclioouorii wiien hIic hud the proper Government officials oil boHfd, and now n gun-boat is dctuiled to crui/.c round the iilanda during the sealing seaaon. We found the systctn of watching and reporting by the Alcuta tn bo in admirable order. When we Hrst arrived, wo found even the maatheads of the "Pornoiae" and the " Danube " had been reported as having been seen above the fog on the otner aide of the island, and on Copper Island our presence in n bay r(t one end of the island had Iteen at once reported by apecial meKsengcr to the settlement seventeen milea diatant. 76S. Among measures to this end most frequently advocated ia (hat of having a revcnue-cruizer permanently stationed at the PribylofT Islanda throughout the months of June, July, August, and September. But we found, in 1801, that the revenue>cruizers were ofteo far distant from the seal islands, perhaps in Iliuliuk Harbour, waiting for mails or coals, or awuy cruizing arouiu! Nunivak or St. Matthew Island, or on duty as St. Michael's or other distant points. We also noticed that, in the frequent fogs and the dark loom of the land, schooners can very easily elude even the sharpest look-out from seaward. In our opinion, the most effectual, as well as the most economical, method of guarding against raids would be to hnve an armed police force with details permanently on guard near each rookery, and with specific orders to fire on oil persona landing or taking seals. The rookeries are limited in number, and moderately well defined in area, and could easily be thus defended with effect. « 769. Wo would also point out that, in so fur as disturbance of seals is concerned, it would be well if greater restriction was placed on the number of persons allowed to visit the rookeries and the outlying islands. We found that Walrus Island waa regarded practically as a shooting resort for all Government officials and all officers of Government ships. Again, when on the 4th August wo went in a 8team*launeh from St. Paul anchorage quietly to note whether there were any seals on Otter Island a revenue-cruizer happened to come in, and while we were proceeding dead-slow along the shore carefully looking for seals she landed a boat's crew, and the officers at once began with shot-guns and revolvers shooting at the foxes and sea-fowl on shore. 'J'his appears to be a common practice in nil years, and is quite sutHcient of itself to scare all seals from these particular islands. We might here also mention that the day before we paid oikr first visit to the North-east Rookery (on the 5th August), American officers had been driving up and shooting sea-lions there for scientific purposes. 770. In regard to the practical effect of these raids on the total catch of seals, it would appear that, from the r.nnual recorded totals of the American catch landed from schooners, very material deductions must be made and transferred to the annual total catch on the Pribyloff Islands as being the result of operations on and around the rookeries on the 'Pribyloff Islanda, and forming, therefore, properly speaking, no part of the pelagic catch, it is not possible, owing to the scantiness of records kept on the islands, to Estimate precisely the total numbers of seals thus killed. It is certain, however, that raids constitute a very material drain on the seal life of the Pribyloff Islands, probably amounting in some years to many thousand seals ; that the practice involves the barbarous slaughter of very large numbers of females and pups of immature growth ; and that it is an evil for which the remedy is extremely simple and easy of application, consisting merely of the most rudimentary police arrangements for insuring the execution of the local laws. K- ! ■ V. — Number of Fur-Sbals Killed tfon tbb Pkibtlopf Islands. 771. While the foregoing account of the methods of Control and the manner in which seal killing has been and is conducted on the Pribyloff Islands shows that the official returns cannot absolutely represent the whole annual slaughter, these returns are of great interest for the purpose of instituting general comparisons as between the amount of the killing in various years, and particularly in their bearing on the fact of the unpre- cedented character of the draft which has been continuously made on the seal life nf the islands since they passed under the control of the United States, which has already been referred to at length. Much cart has Seen given to the compilation of the subjoined table, which, it will be remarked, does not represent either the number of accepted skins actually got in each year or the shipments of such skins actually made, but is intended to show, as far as the returns admit, the whole number of seals killed according to the official count. The unrecorded causes of loss and waste would, of course, add considerably to the figures actually given : — ,, 132 Table showing the Number of Fur-seals killed on the Pribyloff Islands in each year, from 1817 to 1891. Number of Number r.f Number of Number of Ycnr. Stnls Pup« Ye»r. Senh Pups killed. killed. killed. killed. 1817 60,188 1856 8.585 1818 69,856 1866 23,560 1819 62,225 1857 21,082 ir,20 50,220 1858 31,810 1821 44,095 1959 32,000 1822 36,469 1860 21,590 1823 29,878 1861 29,699 1824 25,400 1862 34,294 1825 30,100 1863 25,000! 1826 23.250 Includes 1864 26,000 ? 1827. 19,700 1865 40,000 ? 1828 23,228 pupR. 1866 42,000? 1829 20,811 1867 75,000 1830 18,034 1868 242,000* 1831 16',034 1869 87,000 1833 16,44'? 1870 23,773 1833 IC,412 1871 97,002 ^ 1834 16,751 1872 101,698 1835 6,580 1873 101,555 1836 6,590 1874 107,932 1837 6,802 1876 101,249 1838 6,000 1876 89,478 1839 6.000 1877 77.95(1 Average annual killing of about * 4,600 pups 1840 1841 8,000 8,000 1878 1879 101,394 106,908 1842 1843 10,370 11.240 1880 1881 100,634 101,734 1844 11,924 1882 101,736 not included. 1845 13,637 1883 77,063 1846 15,070 1884 101,013 1847 17.703 1886 101,509 1848 14,650 1886 100,772 1849 21,450 1887 100,795 1860 6,770 1888 100,450 1851 6,564 1889 100,135 1852 6,726 1890 20,995 Not including 1853 18,035 i pups 1854 20.146 ! 1891 12,071 • • Approximate, probably 270,000 if St. George Island be included. Total Shipments of Sl<ins (by periods) made by (he Russian American Company and the succeeding Alaska Commercial Company. Includrs »ome (kins iVom the Commander Islands and elsewhci e— Skiiis. ]tu»sion>Americon Com))anv (and Antecedent United American Company), 1799 to 1821 (both inclusive), 23 yenrs.. .. .. .. 1,232,374 (Elliott, Census Report, p. 70.) Itussian-Amerioau Company (second period), 1882 to 1841 (boUi inclusive), aOyenis .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 458,602 (Bancroft, p. 563, from Techminoff; Elliott, Census Kcport, p. 70.) ■ Russian-American Company (third period), 1842 to 1861 (both inclusive), 20years .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 338,600 (Bancroft, p. 582, from Techminoff.) Pribyloff Iilands alone— Interregniun (1862 to 1867), being yean between last term of Russian* American Company and period of United States' control (about) . . 242,204 (See Table of annuo! killing.) * In 1868 there were taken about .. ,. ,, ,. .. 340,000 (Elliott, Census Report, p. 70.) In 1869 there were taken about .. .. ,, ,. .. 87,0C0 (Elliott, Census Report, p. 70.) Alaska Commercial Compaiiy, 1870 to 1880 (both ineluiive), 20 yrars . . 1,840,364 (I'orlianiciitorv rnpcr 'V, 6868], p. 45.) 'Total, 'V90 to 1889 (91 yean) .. .. .. 4,439,184 Average annual shipment of skins . . .. ., ,. ,, 48,783 'iW*!i"J«5i.'M-'s.W4MS W^ MMPM 189 Sources of Information Utilized in the above Ta'-les. 773. 1786. Shelikoff (quoted by Baacroft, vol. xxxiii, p T92) states tliat 40,000 skins were secured ia the first year of hunting. 773. 1787 to 1806. Taking Resanoff's estimate of total killing of seals on Pribyloff Islands to 1806 at 1,000,000, the annual killing durins; this period seems to have averaged about 50,000, though known to have been irregular from year to year. 774. 1807 to 1816. In 1817 Veniaminov's account of number of seals killed on Pribyloff Islands begins. No exact data have been found for the years between 1806 and that date, but from the fi<;ures qnoted in Bancroft's History (vol. xxxiii, p. 418) from Materialui Istor Russ, a rough approximation may b3 arrived at of annual kilhngs in Behring Sea from 1 745 to 1822, a period extending from the beginning of sealing for seventy-six years. The total number of skins obtained in this period was, according' to tiie above figures, 2,324,36 4. Deducting from this Veniaminov's figures for seals killed on the Pribyloff Islands from 1817 to 18'/2 (both inclusive), the number remaining for the years 1746 to 1816 (both inclusive) is 2,056,880, or an average of 28,970 per annum. This of course includes skins taker on the Commander Islands, with some obtained from natives in trade elsewhere. It also includes the years 1745 to 1785 antecedent to the discovery of the Pribyloff Islands, during wiiich it is known that more than 1^3,000 fur-seal skins were obtained, chieHy from the Commander Islands (Bancroft, pp. 111-191). It, however, does not include seals killed for food on the Pribyloff Islands, and of which the skins were not kept. It thus appears probable that, allowing the differences in opposite senses to off°set each other, the total average annual killing oo the Pribyloft' Islands from 1807 to 1816 (both inclusive) was not far from 30,000. Another approximate value for the killings in the«e years may be obtained from Techminoff 's figures, which are official, and are quoted by Elliott. Techminoft' gives the total shipments for the years 1708 to 1821 (both inclusive) as I, '232,374,* Elliott states that about 5,000 of this amount each year came from the Commander Islands. Deducting these and also the skins accounted for by Veniaminov for 1817 to 1821 (both inclusive), the ave>'nge annual product in skins from the Pribyloff Islands is found to be 44,40S. The period thus accounted for includes only nine years antecedent to the pferiod beginning with 1807, which it is wished to bridge. It is probably nearer the fact for these year-> than the foregoing estimate, with which it, however, agi-ees fairly well. It also tallic:: well with the earlier years of Veniaminov's table. TechminofTs figures do not include seals killed for food ur otherwise of which the skins were not kept, but it is scarcely probable, even including these, that the average annual killing on the Pribyloff Islands for the yer^rs in question reached 50,000. It may reasonably be assumed to have been between 45,000 and 50,000, or, say, 47,500. As in the years before 1807, the number killed from year to year is, however, known to have been irregular. 775. 1817 to 1837. The figures for these years are Veniaminov's, as ascertained by Mr. Elliott from an inspection of Shisenckoff's journal, and includes pups in the numbers given for 1835-36. It may, therefore, probably be assumed that pups are included throughout. 776. 1838 to 1860. The figures for these years are taken from the Correspondence relating to Fur-seal Fisheries, printed in Washington in 1890. 777. 1861. Bancroft's total for years 1842-61 (both inclusive) is 338,600. The total for years 1842-00 (both inclusive) is .'108,901. This being deducted from total for 1842-61 gives the number of seals taken in IStil. 778. 1862. Elliott (p. 165) gives the total catch for 184>J-62 (both inclusive) as 372,804. Bancroft's total for 1842-61, 335,600, being deducted from this sum gives the number of seals taken in 1862. 779. 1862 to 1867. Both inclusive, being years of interregnum between last term of Russian American Company and United States' control of Pribyloff Islands, have been filled hypothet'cally by blliott, who explains that, guided by inform:>tion obtained from the natives, he has proportioned the number of skins in tho salt-iiouses on the islands in 1867 (40,000 to 48,000) back to the latest figures given by Techminoff (1861). Tho figures for these years are therefore far from satisfactory. A more complete examination of the subject has enabled moderately exact figures to be obtained for 1861 and 1862, as explained above, while Bryant gives the num')erfor 1867 as 75,000 (Alhn, " Monograph of North America Pinnepcdia," p. .180) ; hut for tho years l«r>3 to 1S6'5 Klliott's approximate estimates nnist still be taken. It is to be presumed that these figures represent only . ■■i 1 * l).-iiicrori, however, givPK th'> figures tor 1799 to I8'il (both ineluiivc) a« 1,767,340 (p. 4IS). ftnd no ex|ilaniMion \\m Iwrii found of litis diiorepnncy. Kf?^:»»Trr-fi*-^.'jf-.-;fTrr:E»iP7*?f': >•"■ ■'^^ v.* tu n II arketable 8kin«, not iDcIuding pup skins and other rejected skins. As confirmatory of the approximate correctness of these estimates, Dall may be quoted. Writing in 1668 (Alaska and its Resources, p. 496), he says that of late years the Russians had not been allowed to take more than 60,000 annually. Bryant, quoted by Allen, referring to this Same period, says that for many previous years the Russians took but lew seals, but the number has increased, so that in one year 40,000 were taken. (Monograph of North America Pinnepedia, p. 389.) 780. 1868 and 1869. The tiguies for these years are those given in Elliott's Census Report, p. 70, and are doubtless the most trustworthy that can be procured. 781. 1870. The fi^rurc for this year includes pups, 4,000, and a large number of rejected skins. (Ex. Doc. No. 83, 44th Congress, 1st Session, p. 63.) ^871 to 1889. The figures for these years were taken from Correspondence relating to Behring's &ea.seal Fisheries, Parliamentary Papej [C. 6368], pp. 44-47, and include all seals, other than pups, killed for any purpose. From 1870 to 1889 (both inclusive), 92,864 pups were killed for food, an' average annual killing of 4,643. yi. — ulstobicaii notks on the condition of tub rcu-seaii bookekies of tue Pribyloff Islands in Various Years.* Pribylotf discovered the islands now known b 31,100 fur-seal J his name in June of skins. It is elsewhere 782. 1786. this year. He returned to the Asiatic coast with recoraed that about 40,000 furscal skins in all were taken on the islands in this year. (Bancroft's works, vol. xxxiii, pp. 18.5, 102, 193.) In the first years (nfter the discovery of the islands), the seals in St. George Island were only five or six times less than those on St. Paul, i.e., equal to one-sixth or one-seventh of those on St. Paul. (Veniaminov, quoted by Elliott in Census Report, p. 147.) From 1786 to 1797 or 1799, several Companies were engaged in taking seals, without count or list. Veniaminov estimates that 50,000 to 60,000 skins were obtained annually on St. Paul and 40,(XX) to 50,000 on St. George. He characterizes this as " horrible killing." (Quoted by Elliott. Census Report, pp. 70, 140, and 147.) 783. 1799. The islands canic under the control of tlie United American Company, which was organized at Irkutsk in August 1798. 784. 1800. First year of control oi Russian American Company, an out-growth of the last, organized in 1799. 785. 1603. Uaranoff ordered Banner to go to the Pribyloff Islands, which " had not been visited for many years" (by traders), and where a vast number of skins must have been accumulated by the natives. (Bancroft, p. 417.) 786. 1804. Between lEOl and 180-1, the Russian Anieiican Conipiuiy are said to have accumulated about 800,000 ekins, many of which rotted for want of care. (Bancroft, p. 477.) 787. 1805. Veniaminov states that no core as to tlic preservation of seal life on (he islands was exercised till this year. (Census Report, p. 141.) 1806. Resanoff visited St. Paul Island in July. He found that a very wasteful killing of seals had been in progress, that 80,000 had been killed for their flesh alone, while over 1,000,000 in all had been killed up to date. He was informed that the seals had decreased 90 per cent, in number since (he earlier years, and concluded that if the slaughter was not reduced a few years would witness exlirpation. He ordered the killing to be stopped ; but from the season of his visit it is cer(ain that some seals had been killed in 1806 before his arrival. (Bancroft, pp. 445, 446.) 788. 1806-1807. Following Resanofl's order, no seals were killed on the Pribyloff Islands during these years (with the nrobubic exception above noted), llearly all the natives were removed to Unalaska. (Census Report, p. 140.) 789. 1808. Killing was recommended on St. George and in 1810 also on St. Paul, but not till 1812 did it amount to half (he number killed in former years. Females as well as males were taken. Killing without proper supervision continued from this time till 1822. (Veniaminov, quoted by Elliott. Census Report, p. 140.) 790. 1817. The fu^seals on St. George were estimated to amount to a quarter of those on St. Paul; seals on the latter island having decreased more in proportion. (Veniaminov, quoted by Elliott. Census Report, p. 147.) * Notti given below wliicii have not Lveii ileri«<-(l from publitlied rp|iortt and do«uin«nU, but have t>««n obtained ■* a renult of our own inquiriM , are incloied in braeiieti, thus [ ]. e on the 'ribyloff all the hMd b«n 185 791. 1817 to 1837. A gradual diminution of seal life on the islands stated to have been in progress iu these years, visible in each year, but not always equal, according to Veniamiuov. This is also indicated by Veniaminov's quoted figures of annual catch. (Census Report, pp. 143, 147.) 792. 1820. Veniaminov characterizes the annual killing of £0,000 seals, which occuired at about this date, as excessive and leading to dimunition. (Census Report, p. 147.) 793. 1822. First year of second term of Russian American Company. MoordyveflT ordered the killing to be limited, so that instead of 40,0(X) or .*)0,000 not more than 8,000 or 10,000 were taken. (This appears to refer to St. Paul Island only.) (Census Report, p. 140.) 794. 1822 to 1S24. Period of rest or restricted killing on St. Paul. (Veniaminov, quoted by Elliott. Census Report, p. 142.) 79d. 1824. Stated that between 1822>1824 the seals on the islands were estimated to have doubled in number. (Keport upon the Condition of AfiFairs in Alaska, p. 107.) 796. 1826-1827. Both years inclusive. Period of rest or restricted killing on St. George Island. (Veniaminov, quoted by Elliott. Census Report, p. HI.) 797. 1826. Veniaminov states that the seals on St. George equalled about one-sixth those o'l c't. Paul.thoseonSt. George having increased more in proportion since 1817. Also, that ChestyokhofT, estimating that the seals had doubled in number as a result of restrictive measures, ordered 40,000 to be killed annually. But with all possible effort this number could not be obtained. Greater caution in killing females, Sic, was ordered, but the number of seals on the islands nevertheless remained stationary, or continued to decrease. (Veniaminov, quoted by Elliott. Census Report, pp. 140, 147.) 798. 1832. Veniaminov incidentally states that in this year an excessive number of females were observed on the islands without young. (Quoted by Elliott. Census Report, p. 141.) 799. 1834. The number of seals to be taken at St. Paul was largely reduced, the killing beiug limited to about 4,000 instead of about 12,000. (Veniaminov, quoted by Elliott. Census Report, p. 142.) From Veniaminov's table the reduction ordered in 1834 took effect only in lS3fi. Thit rest or "zapooska" continued on St. Paul Island during 1835, 1836, and 1837. 800. 1835. [R. Astouionoff, a native on St. Paul Island, informed us that he remembered being at North-east Point in this year, when the Russians allowed only seven seals a-day to be killed there for food.] 1836. Elliott, from information received from natives on the Pribylotf Islands, states that the winter of 1835-30 was exceedingly severe. Great quantities of ice surrounded the islands, and remained heaped on the shores till August 1836. A great mortality of seals resulted, so that, according to native count, only 4,100 seals of all classes, exclusive of pups, remained on the rookeries of St. Paul. (Census Report, p. 49.) Mr. Elliott has informed us that, according to a journal by the Rev. K. Shisenekoftj only 100 holluschickii- were obtained in 1830, the remainder of the catch for this year being pups, llryant, also nccoiding to native evidence, gives t'le date of tiiis destruction of seals as 1842, (Allen, Monograph of North Amerioim Pinnipeds, p. 388.) 801. 184i?. First year of third term of Russian American Company. Bancroft states that a system of "altcrnatioii " in iuititing grounds was adopted, which, in the ease of the Pribylott' Islands, led to great increase of numbers of seals. (IJancrolt's Works, vol. xxxiii, p. .')82.) 80:?. 1842 to I8GI (ineluhiveV The Russian American Company's shipments showed a heavy decrease in fur-seal (and other) skins, as compared with the preceding period of twenty years. This is mainly attributed to the encroaehment ol" (oreij'n traders — particularly American whalers. (Hancroft's Works, vol. xxxiii, p. .OSi.) 803. 1845. The great importance of never disturbing the breeding seals was first recognized iu this year. (Census Report, p. 1 13.) 804. 1847. Up to this date males and (eiiiales had been killed indiserimina'.ely fur >ikins; thereafter only males were killed. (Census Report, p. W.) 80.'). 1862 to 1867 (both inelusive). Interreunum on Pribyloff Islunds lollowing tiic eloBc of the Russian American Company's third term. 806. 1862. Teehmainoff says, referring to this year: "In earlier times more (seal- skins) were taken than in the later ; at present there are taken from the Island of St. Paul 1 0,000 annually, without diminishing the number fur future killing ; onSt. Gearge, (i.OOO." (Quoted by Elliott. Census Report, p. 163.) 807. 1867. Bryant apeaks of the judicious administration and gradual increase 1305J T 11' V 186 of seal life on the islands under the Russian rule for many years previous io this date. In the spring of 1867, however, the Russians, knowing that the islands were about to be surrendered to the United States, took a much increased number of seals, amounting to TijjOOO. (Monograph of North American Pinnipeds, p. 389.) 808. 1868. Following the cession of Alaska to the United States in 1867 a period of lawlessness ensued on the Pribyloff Islands, and in 1868 s fery great number of seals was killed. The number su killed in this year is estimated at 242,000 by Elliott ; at 250,000 by Bryant. Rival Companies were at work, and the killing appenrs to have gone on without count, list, or supervision. In the autumn of this year, however. Congress passed a special Resolution, prohibiting the killing of seals until further action of Congress. (Census Report, p. 25.) Bryant states that, previous to 1868, the selection of seals killed had, under the Russian regime, been \e(t to the natives, and that most of those killed were under 3 years of age, including many yearlings. The killing being from this more numerous class plenty of males were left to reach maturity, and the rookeries were well supplied with active males. The males of ullages not engaged in actual breeding were about equal in number to the combined totals of beachmasters and females so engaged. Of these excluded males about 30 per cent, were virile, and there was thus one efficient male to every three or four females, or about three times as many as actually required. As a consequence, all females were served before the 10th August. (Monograph of North American Pinnipeds, pp. 390, 398, &c.) [Messrs. D. Webster and T. F. Morgan were on the island in this year. They informed us that the seals were clubbed then as now, fire-arms being used only in self- defence among the rival sealers. The killing was directed to young males, but about 40,000 females were killed inadvertently. The limit to the number killed was reached only when salt was exhausted. Seals were more abundant at this time than ever since. It also appears that the numbers above quoted as representing seals killed in this year do not include St. George Island, where some 30,000 skins are supposed to have been taken.] ^!00. 1869. Practically indiscriminate killing appears to have continued in this year, though it is stated that seals were taken only for the subsistence of the natives, and under direction of the Treasury Department. (Census Report, p. 25.) The gentlemen in charge do not seem to have known the number of seals actually killed. Agent Wicker stated that 150,000 skins had been taken on the two islands. Bryant states that this was impossible, as when he left the islands in August only 10,000 skins had been obtained. Mclntyre says that, under the orders given by him, 42,317 seals were to be killed for food on the two islands. Major-General Tliornns afterwards ordered that as many ?eals as should be required for native food be killed. (United States' Senate, F.x. Doc. No. 32, Jilst Congress, 2nd Session, pp. 24, 37.) In consequence of this slaughter in 18G8-69, seals arc reported to have " disappeared rapidly from the Pribyloff Islands, but two or three years later began to return in vast numbers " (Bancroft's works, vol. xxxiii, p. 038). Coincidently with this, Bryant states that fur-seals were very abundant along the coasts of Oregon, Washington Territory, and British Columbia as compared with former years (Monograph of North American Pinnipeds, p. 332). Bryant estimated the total numi)er of seals on the islands at this date at 3,230,000. (Monograph of North A'nerican Pinnipeds, pp. 390, 392.) Mclntyre, Government Agent, after stating that for some years succeeding the discovery of the Pribyloff Islands 100,000 skins were annually taken by the Russians. adds, " But this it seems was too large a number, for the decrease in the yearly return was constant until 1812, when they had become nearly extinct. In 1858, 31,800 were taken, which was tBe largest catch in any one year until 1807, when, as I am informed, 80,000 or 100,000 were secured. From the most careful computation 1 have bei-n able to make, I am of the opinion that no more than 100,000 can be taken annually without incurring the risk of ogain diminishing the yearly production." (United States' Senate, Ex. Doc. No. 32, 4 1st Congress, 2nd Session.) The Alaska Commercial Company was incorporated in this year. 810. 1870. The general conditions of seal life on the islands remained as described above (under 1868), according to Bryant. An Act was passed by Congress providing that seals should be killed on the Pribyloff Islunds only during the months of June, July, September, and October, that killing should be confined to males, and th»t the number killed for skins in each year should not exceed 75,000 on St. Paul and 25,000 on St. George. Respecting the number thus fixed, Dall says : " It is probable that 100,000 might be safely killed," but suggests that the number should be increased or diminished as experience proved to l)e necessary. (Alaska and its Resources, pp. 496, 497.) 187 lescribed Tins was the Alaska Commercial Company's first year of lease of the islands, but no full control was achieved till 1871. Bryant states that in this year the natives, to purchase supplies and for their own food, killed 85,000, mostly !• and 2-year-old seals. (Monograph of North American Pinnipeds, p. 398.) The killing as per official Return made up in 1871, however, shows a total of 23,773, from which 9,088 skins in all were saved, the remainder being pups and other seals killed for food. ([Jouse of Representatives, Ex. Doc. No. 83, 44tb Congress, 1st Session.) 811. 1 87 1. It was discovered that the skins of 3-, 4-, and .^-year-old seals were most in demand, and the killing was changed to suit this demand ; but no material change was ubsei'ved in the habits of the seals. (Monograph of North American Pinnipeds, p. 302.) Bryant elsewhere says that a careful comparison of this year with 18G0 and 1870 shows a decrease of 10 per cent, in females. (Ex. Doc. No. 83, 44th Congress, 1st Session, p. 65.) 812. 1872. The killing was directed as far as possible to seals from 4 to 6 years old, and some of 7 years old were killed. This, taken in conjunction with the killing of 1871, diminished the number of "reserves" or virile males not actually on the breeding grounds, but doing duty along the shores. The number of females was increasing 5 per cent, annually. (Bryant in Monograph of North American Pinnipeds.) Lieutenant Maynard, accepting the method of estimatins; the seals advocated by Elliott, makes the whole number in this year nearly 6,000,000. (House of Represen- tatives, E^. Doc. No. 43, 44th Congress, Ist Session, p. 5.) Elliott estimated that the seals on St. George Island were only one-eighteenth of the whole number, or, as compared with those on St. Paul, as 1 to 17. (Census Report, p. 157.) [Mr. Dirks stated to us that in this year it seemed as if the killing of 100,000 seals annually could not injuriously affect the rookeries.] In this year. Captain Lewis, of the Hudson's Bay Company, reported very great and entirely unprecedented number of seals off Vancouver Island and the entrance to Fuca Strait, chiefly grey pups and yearlings. (Elliott. Census Report, p. 166.) This appears to have been in connection with the change in habits observed on the rookeries in the following summer. 813. 1873. It was now found that the 3-year-old seals afforded the best marketable skins, and the killing was directed to those. The " reserves " became reduced to half their former number, and each beachmaster had on the average fifteen females. When the rookeries broke up at the close of the breeding season, the females lingered instead of leaving them as before, in September and October a few young were born, showing that some females had not been served at the proper time in 1872. The females were still increasing 5 per cent, annually in number. (Bryant in Monograph of North American Pinnipeds.) 814. 1S74. The condition of seal life remained about the same as in 1873. The "reserves" were in about the same numbers, but contained more young as compared with fully mature males. The females appeared in similar number, and, un the whole, there was an evident improvement in the condition of the rookeries. (Bryant in Monograph of North American Pinnipeds.) An Act of Congress, approved March 1874, authorised the Secretary of tiie Treasury to rearrange the proportion ol catch to be taken from St. Paul and St. George re>ipectively, and to designate the months of killing. Under this provision, the time of killing was extended to include the first half of the month of August. (Hnncroft's Works, vol. xxxiii, p. 638.) 815. In 1874, Lieutenant W. Moynard, U.S.N. , investigated the conditions of seal life un the Pribyloff Islands as Special Government Agent. He recommended that enlarged copies of maps of the breeding grounds should be furnished to the agents in charge of the islands, who should be required to compare these each year with the respective breeding rookeries. "This, if carefully done, will nfibrd data, af\er a time, by which the fisheries can be regulated with comparative certainty." Hcspecting the number of seals killed, he says: "Since 1870 there have been killed un both islands, in round numbers, 112,000 young male seals each year. Whether this slaughter has prevented the seals from increasing in number or not, and, if so, to what extent, can only be deduced from their past history, which, unfortunately, is imperfectly known." He is inclined to think that no decrease had occurred between 1872 and 1874, but r^ites that the period was too short to decide whether the killing was excessive. He adds : " The number now killed annually is entirely experimental, and wc have nothing to start from as a basis." Maynard further states that the nuuiuer of bulla in this year was not more than one-tenth that of the females. (House of Representatives, En. Doc. No. 43, 44th Congress, Ist Session, pp. 5, 6.) [805J T 2 ^- i,V ■ .J^,^-.J...J: 188 [Mr. D. Webster states that the skins taken in 1874 and 1875 ranged in weight from 6 lbs. to 11 lbs.] Elliott believes that the number of seals did not matcrinlly alter in the twelve or fifteen years previous to 1874. He estinmted the number of breeding seals on the islands at 3,193,4*J0, the whole number of seals on the islands at 4,700,000. (Census Report, pp. 57-67.) 816. 1875. The killing was this year confined to seals less than 5 years old, and more 2-ycar-olds were taken than in any year since 1870. This left a large number of males to mature. Many young were, however, born as late as August. (Bryant in Monograph of North American Pinnipeds.) In his official Report for this year, Bryant protests against the killing of pups for food, characterizing it as "a great waste," and adding, " I can find no precedent for this previous to the transfer of the island to the United States, only that the former Russian Fur Company Allowed, as an extr;i indulgence to the natives, after the close of the season's sealing, to take .'500 of these young seals for feasting." (House of Representatives, Ex. Doc. No. 83, 44th Congress, 2nd Session, p. 174.) Bryant also states in the same Report (p. 17.5) that a residence of seven snccessi\'e seasons on the islands had convinced him that the killing of 100,000 annually did not leave a sufficient number of males to mature for the wants of the increase in the number of females. He explains his reasons for this in some detail. 817. 1876. No marked change in the conditions this year, but many females landed to bring forth their young after the 20th July. A heavy gale with snow occurred on the 30th October, driving seals into the water, fron which only a small number returned, many f 'ps being lost. Bryant anticipates that the result of this loss will appear in 1880, when th> pups should reach maturity. The decrease ia breeding males, consequent on excessive slaughter of 1S68 and 1869, was in this year greatest. (Bryant in Monograph of North American Pinnipeds, p. 399.) Bryant again states that he believes the number 100,000 fixed for killing to have been too high, and that in his report he had recommended that it be reduced by 15,000. (House of Representatives, Ex. Doc. No. 023, 44th Congress, Ist Session, Report on Alaska Commercial Company, p. 90.) John F. Miller, President of Board of Directors of Alaska Commercial Company, says : " Our agents report a very considerable increase in the number of females since 1871. We cannot tell that there is much increase in the number of males." (Report on the Alaska Commercial Company, p. 41.) 818. 1877. Bryant states that this year there was an evident increase in the number of breeding males. He estimates that there were about 1,800,000 breeding seals on the islands, as against 1,130,000 in 1869. (.VIonograph of North American Pinnipeds, p. 410.) 819. 1878. [Mr. D. Webster informed us that he did not observe much decrease in the number of seals till this year.] 820. 1879. [From evidence obtained by us, it appears that in this year it became necessary to extend the area of driving for the first time, so as to include Polovinci and Tolstoi rookeries, and that the salt-house near Polovina was built at or about thii> time.] 821. 1880. The tumber of seals on the PribylofT Islands is said to have been greater than ever be Tore, the increase being particularly observable in young seals. (Cruise of the "Corvvn" in 1880, p. 5.').) Colonel J. Murray dates the beginning of a steady decrease of sea's from this year. (Senate, Ex. Doc. No. 49, 5l8t Congress, 2nd Session.) 822. 1881. Elliott, in his report printed in this year, strongly protests against the unnecessary slaughter o pups for food purposes. He states in the same report that the breeding rookeries havt been gradually increasing since 1857. (Census Report, pp. 119, 170.) W. B. Taylor, Assistant Agent of Treasury Department on St. Paul in 1881, says that according to information received from those wlio had been a number of years on the Island of St. George, there were as many seals there us ever. (Ex. Doc. No. 3883; .^Oih Congress, 2nd Session, Fur-seal Fisheries of Alaska, p. 44.) 823. 1882. Dr. II. H. Mclntyre, after June 1870 Superintendent of the Seal Fisheries of Alaska ibr the lessees, states that since 1S70 the number of seals on the Pribyloft' Islands had increased every year. (Fur-seal Fisheries of Alaska, p. 116.) Speaking in 138S (see under, 1888), he, however, places the beginning of decrease in this year. The saire gentleman reports that at this time the desired number of large skins could no longer be obtained. (Fur-seal Fisheries of Alaska, p. 118.) Mr. G. Wardman's statement, however, respecting the number of •' killables " on 139 St George Island indicates a decrease in the number of this class as between 1881 and 1882. (JFur-seal Fisheries of Alaska, p. 39.) [Natives on St. Paul Island informed us that they noticed seals to be markedly reduced in number in this yoar.] 824. 1883. Jacob H. Mouilon, Special Agent of the Treasury Department on the Pribyloff Islands from 1877 to 1S86, says that between 1877 and this year there was, he thinks, an increase in the number of seals on the Pribyloff Islands. (Kur«^eal Fisheries of Alaska, p. 255.) 825. 1884. [Mr. T. F. Morgan informed us that from 1874 to 1884 he thought the seals increased. He noticed u decrease in 1884, accompanied with an irregularity in habits.] 826. 1885. Jacob H. Moulton states that between 1883 and this year there was ne increase of seals on the islands. (Fur-seal Fisheries cf Alaska, p. 255.) II. A. Gliddon, Agent of the Treasury Department on the Pribyloff Islands from 1882 to 1885, says that from 1882 to 1885 no change in the number of seals on St. Paul was noticed, but they vary in different yeare, especially on St. George. (Fur-seal Fisheries of Alaska, p. 27.) 827. ]886. George R. Tingle, Treasury Agent on the Pribyloff Islands, states that a frequent inspection of the rookeries on the islands showed a decided increase in the number of cows, with an ample supply of bulls. (" Fur-seal Fisheries of Alaska," p. 174.) 828. 1886-87. George K. Tingle, using Elliott's method of estimating the seals, makes the number en the Pribyloff' Islands 6,357,750. He states, however, that he considers this result too great by about one-fourth, which reduces his estimate to about 4,768,300. (Fur-seal Fisheries of Alaska, p. 177.) [From information obtained on the islands, it appears that the reduction in average weight of skins taken was well recognized in these two years.] 829. 1887. [Mr. T. F. Morgan told us that he noticed a marked decrease in this year. In this or the preceding year, according to Mr. J.C. Redpatb.the standard weight of skins was lowered to enable the Company to complete its quota.] 830. 1888. Dr. H. H. Mclntyre, Superintendent for Alaska Commercial Company at the time on the islands, states that the number of seals has decreased since 1882; that the rookeries do not produce enough to bear the killing of " 100,000 by marauders in addition to the I00,0li0 killed lawfully." He recommends that the permission accorded to natives of killing seal pups for food should be rescinded, and, speaking particularly of 1888, says: "There are at present, in my opinion, too few bull seals to keep the rookeries up to their best condition." He adds, further, that the size of skins ruled still smaller than in 1883. (Fur-seal Fisheries of Alaska, pp. il6, 117, 127, 132.) In the srme year T. F. Morgan, in the employment of the Alaska Commercial Com* pany, says that there had been a large increase in the number of seals on the islands since 1868, and also since 1874. The breeding rookeries occupied more territory. S. M. Biiynitsky, Special Treasury Agent on Pribyloff Islands in 1870, states that there may be 3,000,000 or 7,000,000 seals on the islands ; no estimate can be made within 1,000,000 or so of the actual number. George Wardman, Treasury Agent on Pribyloff Islands from 1881 to 1885, estimates that the seals on St. George numbered 166,000 at mosr. He thinks that the number of seals has been over-estimated. (Fur-seal Fisheries of Alaska, pp. 12, 39, 69.) [In this year, according to Mr. D. Webster, the standard weight of skins was lowered from 6 lbs. to 5 lbs. and to 4^ lbs., because of scarcity of 6-lb. skins. Thus, all males from 2 to 5 years old became, and thereafter continued to be, accounted killable.] 831. 1889. Last year of lease of Alaska Commercial Company. [To complete the catch in this year, we ascertained that some 40,000 very small skins were taken, including even yearlings.] 632. 1890. First year of control of North American Commercial Company, under new lease. Colonel J. Murray, First Assistant Giovernment Agent, reports that the seals on the Pribyloff Islands have been stcedily decreasing since 1880, and attributes this to the excessive slaughter of males 2 to 5 years old. Mr. Gott' states that no 2-year-old seals brought to the killing grounds were turned away in this year. (Senate, Ex. Doc. No. 49, 51st Congress, 2nd Session.) Elliott estimates the number of seals on the islands in this year at 959,393. He attributes the decrease in number of seals to : — 1. Over-driving on the islands, begun in 1879| dropped tilt 1882, and then suddenly renewed and continued to date. '■ :! > ■■> '- , ^ 140 2. To pelagic sealing, which, according to him, was begun as a business in 1836, and carried on to date. (Parliamentary Paper London, Juno 1891, p. 53.) The bearing females on the rookeries are estimated at 350,000, but it is stated that there are also 250,000 not bearing, and not served in 1869 or 1890, owing to dearth of virile males. He states that the condition of seal life on the islands is like that which occurred in 1834 under the Russian regime. George R. Tingle, now in charge of the islands for the North American Commercial Company, states that late in this season there wus a marked increase in the arrival of seals on the islands. (Ex. Doc. No. 49, fiist Congress, 3nd Session, Exhibit P.) A. W. Lavender, Assistant Treasury Agent, notes that large bchools of killer whales were about the islands in October, destroying great numbers of pups. (Ex. Due. No. 49, 5 1 St Congress, 2nd Session.) 833. 1891. [The result of our investigations and evidence obtained elsewhere detailed shows that the rookeries were this season in better condition than in 1890.] J.VI YII. — TuK Fur-seal Fishery ix the Southern Hemisphere. ' ■; •-834. In dealing with -the question of the preservation of the 'valuable fur-seal in- the J^wth Pacific Ocean, it in dwirable to utilize all the experience that may be obtained in regard to the treatment of thi fur-seal in other parts of the world, -and the records of these seal fisheries are peculiar »y abundant. 835. There are several varietiesof seal which have been taken- in large nntabers south W ibe Eqvator which yield that parlieular «loBeifuv so valued in commeroo; The three >ohief varietkw laM-Bettpeotively known asithe Otona> :i4H«h-a2t» (3sO<arta'F«/A/anrft«c, Arctocephalus Augtralis, Arctocephaliu' FaHdandiott8)i of the South' American coasts-; •the Oiaria PwiUa {ssAretocephalua Antarcticua) of the South African coasts; and the AQtaria Fostm>(:ssAr€toc^^lug-eiHereuat Euotaria einerea) of the ' Australasian coasts. •-Butirthere isimuob variety lin nomenclature, ever since tJie'fur-seal on Amsterdatn Island were described as the Phoca Urtinu» in 1770> Professor Flower, the Director of the 'Natural History Department of the British Musenm, has kindly sent us a Memorandum . (Appendix D), descriptive of those differentiations. The southern fur-seals differ specifically, and according to some naturalists generically, from those in the Northern Hemisphere. The fur-seal north of the Equator differs in structural character, and especially in the form of the fore part of the skull, from all seals found south of the •Equator. 836. But their habits and manner of lifo are practically identical, and there arc certain conditions common to the presence of all these varieties. For breeding purposes they need rocks in close proximity to the sea, where fogs are frequent. For feeding purposes they require a wide range of ocean, yielding small fish, and squid. For temperature, they prefer tempcrntc and even sub-tropical latituiles, and rarely- if ever approach the zone of ice. Ever since the first navigators from Europe entered those seas the fur-seal was found all over the great Southern Ocean in very great abundance from the Galapagos Islands, under the Equator, in the Pacific, the lidands of St. Paul and Amsterdam in the Indian Ocean, and along the shores of Africa and .-America to the southward of the parallel oi 20^ south latitude in the Atlantic away south to the groups of islands in 00° and 63° south latitude. But their continued existence in such habitats depends on their not being destroyed or disturbed by man, murrains, or predacious animals. 837. In the North Atlantic at the present day there exists no known species of the iiiv>seal, although fossil remains indicate their existence in the tertiary period. 838. Extensive scaling operations were conducted in the South Seas aiiout the dose of the last century and the first part of the present century. For all this period there are extant many of the actual logs and journals of those engaged in the pursuit. These " scalers " of the South Seas boiled for the most part from British ports or ifi'om' those on the east coast of NortU> America, and very considerable jirofits accrued, although the ifi:ork was of a particularly arduous and venturesome character. V SS9. It is noteworthy, however, that South Sea sealing, as a great industry, undoubtedly had its origin in the closing of the fur trade of Uie North Pacific to Dnglisb- traidcra and. sealers when the Russians iMrcvailed on China, at that time the one chief market for such furs, to close her ports absolutely against all furs brought across J:A'-h 141 man, ustry, ific to the Pacific from tlio islands and coasts of North America, the monopoly of the whole trade hoing accorded to the Russians at their great mart « i Kiatcha, on the Amoor. Englishmen had become convinced of the great value of (he China fur trade, and this policy of restriction en the part of the Russians at onec turned maritime enterprise to the South Seas for the neccsMary supply of furs, and in a very few years made secure the footing of the English and Americans in the China and other markets. 840. At A very early period, the English were already endeavouring to collect fur-seal skins for the China market in tlie seas known to their regular East India traders. Thus, in February 1773, when the vessels conveying Lord Macartney to China called at the Islands of Amsterdam and St. Paul, in the Southern Indian Ocean, in latitude 39" south, they found a scaling party there engaged in carrying out a contract to supply 26,000 skins of the Phoca Ursina for the Canton market. The description sent hoaie was an follows : — " The seals are found hero in greater numbers in the summer than in the winter .... In the summer months they come ashore, sometimes in droves of 800 to 4,000 at a time, uut of which about 100 are destroyed, that number being about as many as five men can peg down to dry in the course of the day In general they are not shy Most of those that come ashore are females, in the proportion of thirty to one male. Whether in these animals nature has fixed on such apparent disproportion between the sexes, or whether, while the females have occasion to seek the shore, the males continue in the deep, has not hitherto been observed by observations here."* In 1789 the Island of Amsterdam was visited by Captain Cox, of the "Mercury," who reported as follows : " On our first landing we found the shore covered with such a multitude of seals that we were obliged to disperse them before we could get out of the boat We procured here 1,000 skins of very superior quality."! 841 . The seal-skin for long found its chief market in China and Russia, where it became n coveted and fashionable fur, but its gradual introduction into Europe and America dates from the time when South Sea sealing was first taken in hand as a regular industry. It has been calculated that from first to last not less than 17,000,000 skins were thus placed in the market, and without doubt it was the threatened failure of this enormous supply from the south which about the year 1840 led the Russians, British, and Americans to pay .special attention to the supply of fur-seals known to exist in the North Pacific Ocean. 842. The conditions in the South Seas differed categorically from those now prevailing in the North Pacific. The various islands resorted to as breeding places by the fur-seal were not only absolutely uninhabited by man, but were also at the time in the political category of "no-man's-land." As a consequence there was no possibility of instituting any regulation of methods of slaughter, restrictions of numbers or kinds taken, or any limitation of place or season. 843. There were practically no natives (as on the west coast of North America) to lead the way in pelagic sealing. The method of slaughter universally adopted was precisely that of the White raiders of the North Pacific. No labour or efl'ort was wasted in any endeavours to capture or kill the seal at sea. The simple method was invariably adopted of establishing parties of men on all likely beaclics.camped in wooden huts or under canvas, and engaged in slaughtering and skinning all the seals that landed, without distinction of age, size, or sex. Captain Wedclel pithily writes of the killing in the South Shetlands in 1821-2-': "Whenever a seal reaches the beach, of whatever denomination, he was immediately killed and his skin taken ; and by this means, at the end of the second year, the animals became nearly extinct. A vessel of from 200 to 400 tons brought out from the home port the men and camping equipment. She would land parties on various beaches, and then would be herself safely moored in some handy harbour. Boats, and even It nders of 30 and 40 tons, would travel between this vessel and the various islands until the season's fishery was over. Occasionally the work of destruction was more expeditiously performed when the barge or brig carrying such landing parties came upon a large rookery already w<.'ll filled out with seals, for then the whole work of the cruize would be accomplished in a few days." Such sealing parties were found at work by several exploring expeditions, as, for instance, by Her Majesty's ships " Erebus" and " Terror." 844. The more detailed records of these South Sea adventurers yield many points of interest, and it may he well to quote from the earlier descriptions of the fur-seal as indicating how rapidly so valuable a fur secured the notice of the early adventurers, and how speedily their successors brought about the commercial extermination of the seal. * G. W. Clark on Eared Seali — " Proceedingi of th« ZoolopiMl Society of London, 18' 5," p. 662. t Ibid., f. 661. 142 845. In the sixteenth century, Sir Frances Drake, the first Englishman who penetrated to the South Seas, frequently reports the presence and comments on the peculiarities of seals. These formed indeed a chief source for the supply of fresh meat. On his great voyage of circumnavigation in 1577-78, seals were taken in the Hio de la Plata, and again in latitude 47° 30', at an anchorage eventually named Seal Bay ; about the middle of the month of May seals were founl so plentiful that 200 were Hlaun;htercd in one hour.* In the same neighbourhood some years later, in December If'^CS, Cavendish reports in detail on the seals found in a bay he named Port Desire.f 840. In the observations of Sir Richard Hawkins on his " Voyage into the South Sea " in 1503, we read, in his notes made in the Straits of Magellan : " Of Seals or Sen-Wolves — One day, having ended our lumtinp: of penguins, one of our mariners, walking about the island, discovered a great company of scales or sea-wolves (so called for that they are in the sea as the nolvcs on the land), advising us that he left them sleeping with their bellies tostiiig against the sunne. Wee provided ourselves with staves and other weapons and sought to steal upon them at unawares to sui prise some of them, and coming down the side of a hill we were not discovered till we were close upon them ; notwithstanding their sentincll, before we could approach, with a great howle waked them, wee got between the sea and some of them, but they shunned us not, for they came directly upon us, and though we dealt here and there a blow, yet not a man that withstood them escaped the overthrow. They reckon not of a musket shot, a sword pierceth not their skinne, and to give a blow with a staifc is as to smite upon a stone ; only in giving a blow upon his snow t presently he falleth down dead. "After they had recovered the water they did as it were scorne us, defie us, and danced before us untill we had shot some musket shott through them, and so they appeared no more. " This fish is like unto a calfe, with four legs, but not above a spannc long ; his skinne is heyre like a calfe, but these were diff\:rent to all that I have ever scene, yet I have scene of them in many parts, for these were greater and in their former parts like unto lyons, with shaggy heyre and mostaehes. " They live in the sea, and come to sleepe on the land, and they ever have one that watcheth, who adviseth them of any accident. "They are beneficiall to man in their skinncs for many purposes ; in their mostachcs for pick-tooths, and in their fatl to make traine-oyle. This may suffice for the scale, for that he is well known." 847. In the seventeenth century these notices still continue frequent. Thus Henry Brewer landing at Valentine Bay on the 0th March, 164:.>, writes : "Saw among the rocks several sea lions and sea dogs, about the bigness of a good European calf ; some of a greyish, some of a brownish colour, making a noise ;iot unlike our sheep." 848. Dampier, in 1()83, gives the following very full general description of seals : — J . "The seals are sort of creatures pretty well known, yet it may not be amiss to describe them. They are as big as calves ; the head of thcin like a dog, therefore called by the Dutch, the 'sea hounds." Under each shoulder grows a long thick fin; these serve them to swim nith when in the sea, and are instead of legs to them when on the land, for raising their bodies up on end by the help of their iins or slumps, and so having their tail parts drawn close under them, they rebound as it were, and throw their bodies forward, drawing their hinder parts after them, and then again rising np and springing forward with their fore parts alternately, they lie tumbling thus up and down all the while they are moving on land. From tlieir shoulders to their tails thty grow tapering like fish, and have two small fins on each side the rump, which is commonly covered with their fins. These fins serve instead of a tail in the sea, and on land they sit on them when they give suck to their young. Their hair is of divers colours, as black, grey, dun, spotted, looking very sleek and pleasant when they come first out of the sea. For these at John Fernando have fine short fur, the like I have not taken notice of anywhere but in these seas. Here are always thousands, 1 might say possibly millions, of them, cither sitting on the bays, or going and coming in the sea round the island, which is coveroH with them (as they lie at the top of the water playing and sunning themselves) for a mile or two from the shore. When they come out of the sea they bleat like sheep for their young, and though they pass through hundreds of other's young ones before they come to their own, yet they will not sufi'er any of them to suck. The young ones are like puppies, and lie much ashore, but when beaten by any of us, they, as well as the old • " Hakluyt," vol. iii, p. V38. i " Dampier'* Voyages," vol. i. p. 89. t Ibid., p 804-6. Ii3 oncn, will nmku townnl tlic sea, nml swim very swift uud iiimliie, thou;;li on Bliorc Ihcjr lie vorv Hlii;ryishl3', iitul will not ^o out of our ways unlcsis wo beat them, hut 8na|> at us. A blow on tlio nose snon kills tlieni. I^ar^o ships ini<j;ht here lo.ul themselves with HcaU skins and traiie oylc, for they are extraordinarily fat. Seals arc found as well in co!d as in hot elini.\(fs." 84!). In llie Uritish Museum are kept the admirably written M8S. of certain other voya^jcrs, and in that relating? the experiences of Captain Strong in the " Welfare," in KIS!), the writer, named Sinison, states that (m the l'_'th September, at the [sland of Juan I'Vniandez, ♦• We went on shore, but could hardly sett a foot down, the seids lay so thick on the pliH'o. Hesid'.'n wo saw a j^roat number of sea-lyons, not unlike other lyons in countenance, colour, and fiercenes-i. They had no (feet but llins. "As for (lie seals they wi-re of a dark cidour and grissled, but under the long pile there was couched a fur of an incoinparaide fineness, that if it could be felt it would niiswcr all yc ends of beiivcr furr, wherefore a great many of their skins were brought to Kngland." This is probably one of the carli«?st accounts of the commcrcinl value of tlic fur- seal skins. b.'}(K Tn the eighteenth century navigators continue to report the abmulancc of seals. Thus Captain Wood Hogors, taking Alexander Selkirk off the Islandof Juan Fernandez in 1701), records a lengthy descrijjtion ot the fur-seal seen tlici, nt that date* 85 i. The amount of information at this period e\iant on the fur-seal is well emphasized by Chaplain Itichard Walter, of Lord Anson's Hag-ship which refitted nt •Fuan Kcrnanilez from June to September 1740. This chaplain gives a very full anil elaborate account of nil the nalual features of the islands and of their Fauna and Flora, but he dismisses seals in the single sentence : " The seal, numbers of which haunt this islan 1, hath been so often mentioned by former writers that it is unnecessary to say anything particular about them in this ])lacc." 85'J. Captain Carteret, writing of Masafucra in 1707, says: "The seals were so numerous that I verily think if many thousands were killed in a night they would not be missed in the morning; wc were obliged to kill a noted number of them as, when wo walked the shore they were continually running against us, making at the same time a most terrible noise. These animals yield excellent train oil, and their hearts and plucks were very good eating, being in taste something like those of a hog, and the'r skins were covered with the lincst fnr I ever saw of the kind." 853. Captain Cook, in his oilicial IJeport of the voyage of the " llcsolution " in 1771, calling attention to the great number of fur-seal on New (Jeorgia, is generally credited with being first to direct the attention of the English adventurers to the commercial advantages of South Sen sealing. But before this period, and probably following on tl;e suggestions nuide as early as 16J)0, Englishmen were already nt work on this new harvest of tlic sea. Thus, when liucarcli, the Spanish fiovernor at Huenos Ayrcs, sought to recover the Falkland Islands for Spain in 1770, his (irst task was to forcibly eject from their established port and station the "English sealers" at port Egmont, an act for which Spain afterwards made full restitution. 851. Before the end of the eighteenth centnry scaling in the South Seas had assumed very extensive diincnsions. N<»t only were the furs regarded as of great value, but the oil, technically known at the time as "train-oil," assumed an impoitant commercial position. Attention seems to have been lir.st directed to the islands and co;\sts of South •Vmerica. Wo hear of no loss a number than i, 000.000 .skins being taken to Canton, from the neiglibourhooil of Masafueia in one year, in 1708, while before tiio seals were oxterminated on that one island in 18;)7, no less than 3,500,001) skins had been taken. Soo. A 11 along the coast of Chile and Peru, even as far north as the Islands of St. Felix and on the Oalapagos group, seals were hunted. By the end of the century there were not less than thirty New England vessels so employed on that coast. Meanwliile, in 1 783, Dame Haley, of Boston, had .sent a 1,000 tons ship, the " States," down to the Falklaiul Islands, where she procured a cargo of 13,000 skins, of fur-seal which were sold in Boston at 50 cents a-piece, shipped to Calcutta, where under the name of "soa- otter" they were sold for 2 dollars, and eventually reaching Canton, where thoy fetcrliec! 5 dollars per skin. 850. The methods of slaughtev involved rapid cxtirpatiim in any given breeding place, and sealers came to be perpetually discovering and exhausting in succession evcrj place to which seal resorted. The islands around South America, Tristan d'Acunlia, the [305J • Kirr'u " Voyage?," vol. xi. u lU '■■■ ,1 (•■ Soiitli Orknovs, Soulh Ooor>fin, niul Sandwieli liiuul, fleie all in turn iliscovtit'il, nn hiUHlrods of tlioiisiiiKls of Hkins taken fV(»n« oacli lor a Ion;; Horics of yeam. Thirty vcsH( N -ri;,'litfon being nniicr tlio Ainorican, Ion tiiidiT tin* Knyflinli, and two niidiT tlio Russian llafr, in tlic thico years I81U-22, took nioic tliaii (t(M»,(Mi(t hvhIh from tlic Sontli Shetland group, completely cxiianisting the seal race tluiv tor tlie time. f*.">7. Sealing-vcsseNliadaHoarly as l79<ieroHsod the Allanlic and worked np the coast of AVestcrn Africa iis far as 'JO" north latitude, (ddaining many seaN. Others worked steadily along the open si-n to the south, sucivs^ively landing npon the various groups of islands — Houvet ami Lindsay, Marian, and Prince Kdward, the Crozets, Kergnelen, and Mncf)iina]d. Yet furllur to the eastward, seals were (d)taiued on the following islands: Royal Company, ICmcrahl, Antipodes, Campbell, Maccpiarie, Aucklan«i, and llonnty, while one vessel reported in Sydney a oateh of ^o,(Hi(» from the Fiji islands, probably a locality named to slirond the real killing place. H.")S. Ai (his ])eriod, and especially \n>\n 181(».*iM, there sprung np n very large Irnnshipmciit trade in fur-seal skins in the now port of Sydney, reaching hnmlredH of thousands in five years. Mnterpiising men chiefly on llio Hcports of Vancouver and Cook hnd already found tbeir way to ibe coa.sts of '* New Holland," and away round the islamls of jS'ew Zealand. Ihx'-H had reported the reefs off (.'ape l^arren Tslantl, ctf the north coast of Tasmania, "covcrcl witli fur-seal «)f great beauty." Cook had found seals in great numbers on the rocks in Dusky Ibiy in New Zealaiul in 177!^ S.'jM. Hill the severe ])rocess universally adopted speedily exhausted the different rookeries, and by the year ISW we meet with strenuous complaints that all the known killing grounds were depleted, and that now grounds must be discovered. Fanning and others jiointed out, however, the signidcant fact that vast numbers of seals were still to be Keen cruizing about at sea; a remark of special and new significance to the owners of the North Pacific rookeries in 189-. 800. It is a matter of some difTiculty to estimate the total number of seals taken in the South Seas during tlie period of the excessive energy of the great senling induNtry. Hut tliere are actual records wliich, added together, bring the acknowledged total to more tlian 10,000,000. These seals were taken from about thirty different island groups or coast districts on the mainland, and they were all taken by the one method of indiserin\inate slaughter on shore. It is probable that this wholesale slaughter did not extend over more than seventy years, hut it is certain that at the end of the period the fur-seals wore so terribly reduced in numbers that even the sixty years of subsequent rest and total cessation of killing have not Kutiiced to bring about any effectual restoration of the numbers of years gone by. F(il iMjually valuable to the treatment of the seals in the North Pacific is the more recent lii-.t(iiy of sealing in the South Seas. Tiie ex<.'essive slaughter of seiils by man on the breeding i-lands alone had brought about the commercial extermination of the once abundant fur-seal before the year \H30. Prom that jjcriod for thirty or forty yeais sealing was carried on but fitfully and seldom, Sir .John Poss, writing of Kergiielen Land in iSjO, says: " Of marine animals the seaelepbaut and sever-jl species <>t' seals wore formerly in great abimdanee, and annually drew :i number of ve>^sels to the«^e shores in jjursuit of them. They have now, after so many years of persecution, (juile deserted tlio place or have been completely anniliibited." All otlier writers and travellers give similar descriptions of the methods a'.ul results of this (txcessivo slaughter. Toe officeri of Her Majesty's ship "Peagle," surveying the intricate passages of Magellan's Straits and Tierradel Fuego in 1 SW, speak in similar strain, and it is noticeable that Charles IJarwin, when visiting these old-time resorts of tiie fur-seal in 1832-;J4, and contributing so much of permanent value to natural history, does not make even a single allusion to the fur-seal. 8i;2. It is instructivo to notice, however, that in later years, as civilized nations began to assert sovereignty over these wild shores, so did they claim the right to the seals and to control the breeding places. Augustus Earle, who has published an interesting account of Tristan d'Acunha in the year 1n:j4, thus recounts the experience of one of the islanders named Uichard : " By one of those sudden acts of treachery and cruelty which have been so common on the coast of South America the vessel to which he belonged while (juiotly engaged in picking up seal on the shore was seized by an armed Republican cruizer on pretence of her occupation being unlawful, and her crew (for whom Richard had the honour of cooking) were lodged in durance vile, and the only 113 clmncc thiv I. ml of e.scni>"m2[ f'lom porpctiml iiiiprisotiinciit was \>y entering tlie RepuWioftn urmv." SO.'l. All iiccoutilH sp.nk of clmiiyc in thu habits of tlio fiir-neal. It» '^li^tall (I'Acunlia tlioy u:c ilescribod an liavin;; di'serteil tlic open hoai-liss and taken to liaiinting cavt'H and lodj;(vt inacco-'hiWe to man. On the Auckland group tlioy n»>w lesorl to the beaches ar.d U'dges below i!io atoep cliUs on the western sdiores, where the perpetual lieavy surf renders it inipraetieahle for man to land. But on some islands, as on .\dnm's Island, the s'alers have made roadways for themselves over the rocks and ice of the interior down i n to tliese heaclies. This is, iiowever, not, always practicable, and it h said that nnder the ]iroteolion of intractable precipices the I'ur-seal arc unmolested and very plentilul on MaiDonald's Island, one of the Kergueh'n yroup. 8tJI. A traveller, .Mr. C'hnpnian, visiting Adam's Island in IHSi), writes: "We landed at the euve where the seal huts are. . . . These sealers make an easy road across the island, and when they arrive at the clitl"'! at the other side, lower some of their numlier to the ledges and caves where ;hcy slaughter seals. The slayers and the skins are then drawn up. It is wholly illegal, but it goes on, so that the lur-seal are nearly e.Nterminated." ?(m. The naturalists on the "Charenger " frequei.t'y observed fur-seal in 1^73-74. (}{ Nightingale Island it is reported: " 'I'he caves, with the sloping ledges leading up to them, are frecpiented by fur-sea's, Foiu' years Itefort; the visit of the expedition !,4U() seals hal been killed on the island by one ships crew. .Seals were very much scarcer in 187M, Itut the island was visited regularly once a-year by the Tristan people. The Germans killed oidy seven se;ds at Inaccessible Islaiul dining their stiy, but the Tristan people killed f«»rty in iJecember 187-'.'"* 8(11). (If the Cro/.et Island the report was: " The islands are freipiented by elephant- and fur-seals, altliougli they are not so plentiful as formerly The tiesh of the seals and birds, the eg^s of the latter, together with the Kerguelen cablmge, form a nourishing diet o;i which the sealers residing at times on one or otiur of the islands have usually lived." 807. Of Kerguelen Island it is said: "Two of the whaling scl.oon.'rs killed over seventy fur-se.ils on one day, and upwards »>f twenty on another It is a pity that some discretion is not used in killing the animals." 808. Another entry tells us of the .Messier Chaimel : " The steain-pimiaee left Gray Harbour at 4 a.m. with several naturalists and oHiceis, and joined the ship in the evening at Port Grappler" (in January 187<')' *' ^» the way landing was etl'ected at several spots, and a nund)er of birds were procured ; a very large nuud)er of fur-seals {Arvtocvpliiiltis) were seen, anil six were shot, the .skins and skeletons of which were preserved." 8Gl>. In regard to Australia, Sir V. McCoy, kindly supplying lis with information from the National Museum, Melbourne, states of the Kuotaria linereu : "The decline or destru.'ticm of the fishery is certainly attributable to the indiscrimiiuxte slaughter ot the seals oi' the few islands olF the south coast, especially in Western Port, where the old males and gra\id females resorted in the summer to bring forth and tend the young The fur-seal fishery was conducted simply by manning a boat suitable for landing on the islands, the landing usually taking place at night, and then the seals were killed indiscriminately by clubbing them on the nose with large sticks The Australian fur-seals were never fished for in the open ocean." fs70. Thus, over uU these forty years, vessels, most of them utuler the United States' flag, have continued to haunt the breeding places of the fur-seal in the South Seas for the purpose of killing all that could be killed, regardless of sex or condition. The records show that the nund)er of vessels fitting out in New England ports for this lisherv averaged since 1840 from six to ten or twelve each year. 871. At the time of the revival of sealing in the North Pacific in 1807 and following years, several more vessels were dispatched to the South Seas and very considerable catches were made, although not in numbers at all comparable to those of the old days. Nevertheless, vessels retiu'ned with cargoes of ],UOU, 1,000, and even i.',700 choice skins. S7-. A summary and authoritative account of what occurred was given in 18S9 by the Honourable C. A. Wilhams, «)f Connecticut, before the House of Representatives : " People who had been previously engaged in the sealing business revisited the^ southern localities after a lapse of nearly fifty years, and no seals were found on the Island of l)es(dation The Island of South Slietland, ami the Isliud of South Georgia, and the Island of Sandwich Land, and the Diegos off Cape Horn, and one or two * " Ciialii'iigor Kxpcd litn ficpoi'l," vol. i, p. •.'('4 el jm/. I r ' Hi^ ii J- ■I r- 140 minor poiiily, wore found to jielil more or Iohh seal. Tu this jioriod of fil'ty vcnrs in llicse localities seal lil'o liad n'ouporatod to siicli an oxtcMit tiiat lliore «as tai<cii t"n» n tiam in tlic s'x rears IVoi'i ISJO to 1S77 ])orliai)s -lO.OOO skins 'i'o-day tliev are aijaiii cxliausted I do not tliinii tiiat 10(» seals could he jn'Oi^'incd from all llie K>e:ilitics mentioned hy a cluse ri search." S7."». AceordiiiLr to authentic records, tlie scalers I'roni Xcn Loiid.m oliiaiucd from the South Slietlanils a: d the neiyhhourhood of Cape Horn and Tierni del Tiie^o it_',7.">(i fin- Boal skins hctwcen the years 1S70 and ISSO, hut scalers are still at work, hv their wasteful and indificriiuinato slaughter, preventing;' the fur-seal of the South Soas from rccuperaiiui;' and heiujj restored in numbers. 874. Thus, the actual experiences of Soutli Sea sealing unmistakahly citipliasizo the seriou?; dai;i;er.->()f iiidiscriniinatcand wholesale slaughter on shore, and prove conclusively that, in the iiiliro absence of pelngii! sealing, it is perfectly possible practically to exterminate the seal race. S7o. This serious result, actually achieved, is brought into still greater prominence when we bear in mind the measures adopted by several (iovernments of territories in the Southern Hemisphere, by special rej^ulations or otherwise, to restore and preserve the fur- seal rookeries. The (iovernments which have set uj) such regulations are those of the Uruguay, Argentine, and Chilean Republics, and of t!:c Brit'sh Colonies of the Falkland Islands, the Cape of Good Hope, Victoria, New Zealand, and Tasmania. &70. In the I'niguay liepublic, for many years the Government have jiroteeted the seals resorting for breeding purposes to the Lobos, the Espinillo, and the Coronilhi Islands. According to a special report, furnished to us by Your Majesty's ^linister, Mr. Satow, these fisheries have been very carefully looked after. They are now leased to a private company for a term of years, but without limitation (»f the numbers to be taken. 'J'lie company have the sole right of taking seals, and there is no Government tax levied on the fkins. The killing of seals is only permitted between tlie 1st .hine and the J 5th October in each year. All the seals are killed on shore, ciiiefiy by means of clubs, and there is no pelagic fishing. It is the general opinion that no diminution is observable in the nund)er of seals fro(|uenting the rookeries. Mr. Lal'one, M.l'., has kindly supjjlied us with much very valuable information. The chief rookeries have been, to his knowledge, in good condition for more than forty years past. In Appendix (G) we give the (igures of the number.^ actually taken in recent years, from which it will be seen tliat the average annual take, with no apparent injury to the nundiers ot sciils frecpienting the rookeries, is nearly ir»,0()(( seals; but that of these more than one-third are "small pups." In 1S8S strong representations were made against killing ]»ui,s. It may be added, that in the medium sizes many females are included without injuriously atfecting the total number of the seals. s77. In 1 8^9 the Goverunienl of the Argentine Republic absolutely forbad the taking of seals aliiig its coasts, and also commenceil negotiations with Chile lor co-operation in the i-anie direction, especially with the view to slopjjing United states' vessels which hfthitnallv poached on the rookeries, nofablv the "Sarah W.Hunt" and the '• Martha Gale." 87'*. The Chilean Government has I'rom time to time cor.sidered the question of pri lectin;; the fnr-soals. In 188U they abstained from enforcing regulations. Up to 18S!i tlij .'^eal (islicry was free to any Cliilean subject or foreigner residing iu the country, but y.i'i » pen to vessels and their crews coming from foreign countries. It has, however, been I'dund hitherto impracticable to guard the fishing districts during the breeding season, and the Ihili^h ViceCousul at I'nnta Arenas, in the {straits of Magellan, reports in 188!) that the American scho(/ners take I'.o notice of the interdiction, although only one of thini, lie "Sarah W. Hunt," has as yet been .specifically ]>rohibiied from such il!cgiliii!a!c siiiling. He also reports that the Chilean Government are contemplating nioie .^Irin^ient nuasures of protection fur the few remaining seals. 8711. Tl;e Chilean (lovernment has always recognized the value of the stal (ishery, allhciifih Ml ce the eailicr years of the century it has boon felt that the seals were nearly ( \lirpa!ed. AVe have frecjuenl allusions to (Jovcrnmenl control, 'i'hus, in 18(i('», Her Mjijcstv';. ship "Toia/.e," visiting the Island of Juan Fernandez, reports ten inliabi- tanfs ei i;iige(! ill seal.ng undir licence fiom the Chilean (iovernment. In 1875 Her Miijesly's slip "( hiilleiiger " reports finding a Chilean leasing the right from this (tdvcii.ni nt ibr i.'(t(i/. a-ytar, and em})loyiiig fifty cr sixty men or duaii Fernandez and Miis-i.-Fi.eia for the purpose of cidlccting scal-sKins. 8^0. In a'l these places, n:id especially in the districts around the Horn, the cnforcc- li uit oi biriet regulations, especially instituted fer avoiding the taking of gravid females 147 and disturbance of males, fomali-s, and ^oung diirinn; tlie early portion of the period they spend ashore, is certain to ])erniit of a <;roat increase in tlie supply of fur-seal, 881. In some of the severnl British Colonies where the fur-sc.il is found, specific regulations have been in force for some time past. 882. In the Falkland Islands llicre is leiiislntive provision embodied in the Ordinance No, 4 of 1S81 for the protection of the fur-.'^cal, which is already having an excellent cfTect, so far as it can bo enforced. Its main jjiovisions (see Appendix H) are a dose time from the Ist October to the 1st April, and penalties iind forfeiture against individual owners of vc.s.sels and others killing or permitting to be killed any fur-seals during those months. 8S3. TJeccnt inquiries made of (hose experienced in sealing in those i>lands elicited the invariable opinion that the main causes of the jjresent depletion has bien the reckless ami indiscriminate slaughter of the seals whenever they land, and especially during the breeding season. In some cases the stocking of farms and peojde taking up their abode in the neighbourhood of the seal rookeries has corlaiidy driven the seals to other resorts. -But the killing of seals ha« never been attempted at soa, and is entirely confined to parties of sealers landed from boats an 1 schooners, who club, shoot, ami spear the seals on .shore. The most serious comi)laints are tiuit foreign schooners crui/.o along the coast and land senling parties regardless of the statutory close season. 884. Kxperienee<l men in the Falkland Islands assert that the fur-seal are known not infrequently to desert favourite landing places whjn they find they ari> molested for otbers where they rest and breed in peace. 885. The Government of the Colony of the Capo of Good Hope has for very many years paid attention to the fur-seals frequenting the coasts and islands umler its authority. Thus, on the 12th April, 1844, a Proclamation was issued : — " His Kxcellency the Governor, having been pleased to decide that the Seal Island in Mossel liay shall not be granted on lease for the present, hereby prohibits all persons from disturbing the seals on the said island, and warns them from trespassing there after this not'''e on pain of prosecution." 880. A special Report from Mr. C. IT. Jackson, the Government Agent in charge ot the Seal and Guano Islands (Ap})endix li), speaks of indiscriminate slaughter on shore as the chief cause of the present depletion ; and points out that, for lack of a close time during the breeding season between November and January, a great number of females have been destroyed "either about to give birth or suckling their young." Pelagic scaling is unknown, the system of killing adopted being that of landing men in boats, armed with clubs. He speaks specially of the ease with which seals arc scared fron; their resorts by steamers anil otlier ves>x>ls coming close in. He also mentions that " by a happy provision of nature a female seal will suckle any young one, whether her own or not." 887. There are no special protective laws, but the islands arc Governnient property and are leased upon short leases, so that the Government has power, if it will, to control this profitable fishery. tr88. In the Austral'au ivittcrs fur-seals were found on the coasts and islands of Victoria, Tasmania, and Ne.v Zealand in very great abundance, and they arc still seen and obtained. 889. In regard to Victuria, Sir F. McCoy reports as follows : — "(I.) The seal fishery of Australia was never so extensive as that of the North Pacific, and for more tli'^.n thirty years the traile in Australian fur-seal skins has entirely ceased, although of some extent in Sydney a little before that time. " (2.) In Victoria, the only fur-seal is the eared seal (hhiotarin cinerPd), the size, shape, and habits of which very nearly recall those of the .Vorth Pacific. 'I he decline or destruction of the fishery is certainly attributible to the indiscriminate slaughter of the seals on the few islands ofl" the south const, especially in Western Port, where the (dd males and gravid females resorted in the siminier to bring forth and tend the young. At present a few islands only are freiiuented by those seals, now in the breeding season, and the number of individuals is too small to furnish any trade, " (3,) The fur-seal fishery was comlucted simply by manning a boat suitable for landing on the islands, the landing usually taking place at night, and then the seals were killed indiscriminately by clubbing tliem on the nose with large slicks. The skins were chiefly exported from Sydney. " (4.) No measures elfective for the jirotection of the fur-.seal fi.slieries have been undertuken on any large scale by any of the Australian Colonies, but some years ago I recommended the Victorian GovcrniiKnt to prohibit the killing of seals on the small 148 f :. islands which they frequent near Phillip Island, and althuu»h the number has soIuet^hat increased in conse(iuencc, it is far too smull to furnish a trade. " (5.) The Australian fur-seals were never fished for in the open oeean. "(G.) Generally the life history of the Victorian fur-seal exactly resenthli", that of the North Pacilic, f(dlo\ving shonls of fish in llie open ocean, hut coniiny on (uc islands to breed in the latter part of the summer." 8iKi. Sealing; was a Icadin;^ industry in New South Wales, especially ' i the years 1810-20. Several firms fitted out lar^c schooners, and urcnt numliors o skins were secured, cspocially from places like .Mac<|.iariR and the Antipodi s Islaiid-; Some years ago the (tovernnient issued an order prohiliitiiii;' liu> Killing; of sciii-t on llu niainland and islands of the Colony, and they are reported as increasing in numbers, as, for ii)s(aiicc, around Port Stephens. , 891. From Tasnuuiia scaling has been conducted on many r- ighiiouriiig i^Iand.s, ihc^scols all luiiig shot or clubbed on the shoii'. No miasur< , oi pii'MTMiliuii have been taken nnlil l8'Jl. when a tJ«)Vcrnment Proclamation w.s issued: "The taking of seals, known by the name of seals or any (<tiier local n: nie, iu Ta^nnuiia and its dependencies, is hereby prohibited for a period of three years irom the J(ith duly, IWU." The chief diliicnlty fouml is with scliooncis iVom other parts inaraiuling on the rookeries. 81)-. In New Zealaml at the beginning of lids century seals were numerous in several places along the coast around Port tMuilmers, along the west coa^t, near We.slitort, round Stewart's Island, ami in other jdaccs. All the neighbouring islands, >ucli as the Chatham, iMac(|uarie, Bounty, Can)pbcll,and Anlii>odes groups, wire well-known haunts. Mr. Yate, a missionary, wiiting in 18.'h'), tells of several establishments for tlic seal fisliery on the coast of New Zealand. lint lifteen or twenty years of pcrfi»tent ami indiscrindnate slaughter on shore hid practically exterminated the seal in ISItt. 893. As to the cau.ses of the depletion, Mr. F. Chapman, writing from Dmicdin, >-ays: " As to the cause of this there is but one answer: n-cklos killing and disturbance in the rookeries. !Mr. Dawstni need not trouble him.self about pelagic scaling; there is not and never was such a thing in these waters," 894. In the early yeais of this century the port of Sydney did a large trade in Ncal- skins, and it is undoubted tinit with rise in market prices of more than ten-t'uld over that period, the industry nmy well be revived by judicious (Jovcrnment regulations duly enforced. The main dilficidty in the.se seas, as elsewhere, is the raiding ashore, especially in the breeding season, by unauthorized per.sons. It is io be hoped that the mitcome of the Behring Sea negotiations may be international agreement as t«) the illegality ol all (•uch proceedings, and thus all territorial Powers will bo empoacred to execute regula- tions against all coiners, so necessary to the preservation of so important an industry as that of sealing. H9r». It will bo well if the Governments of New Zealand, Tasmania, Victoria, tlie Cape of Good Hope, and the Kalkand l.^land, as well as those of the rriiguayan l!epu1)lic ami Chile, take stejis to secure for Ihemsehcs any internal imutl advantages lor tlie proper |)roteclion tif the ftir-.seal in the South Seas which may be determineil to be applicable under internatiunal saiu-titm in the Nortii Pacilic. As a commencement, each of the.ie (loveritnieiits should furlhvvith nniUe slalntory jjrovision for vloso seuxtns, re.-^triction of nundiers taken, and otiier nuilters ailecting seal life within their territorial dominions and iiie waters thereof. 8!)ii. A further point in comu-ction with lioutli Sea sealing lemains to be dealt with. Some of tlie oliler .sealers who gave ns evidence nicnlidiied tlicir opinion that the I'lir-seal of tiie Pribylol! Islands were the overllow of the fur-seal ol" the Suiiili S.a when disturbed and liaias>cd by the iiKii-criminale siaugliler aixtve detailed. W e observe also that the I'liited States' aulliority, Mr. I'.lliotI, in bi-^ '• .Mon()grapli oil tlie Knr-seal " (p. tlj, wiites : " It appeals as if the fiir-«-eals bad originally passed to I'eliiiiig Siii irom tbi' jiarent slock of the Patagoiiiaii region, up aloi:;- the ci a-t of South .\iiieriea, a lew tarruiig at the dry and heated (lalapagos I- lands, the ii...st speeding on to the northward, disturbed by the clea:' sUes and sandy beaches ot the .\lexican cuast, on and up to the great llsh-s|iawiii!ig shiwes of the Aleiillaii Inlands and Ik'hriiig Sea. '1 he j on the Prihyhil! group and the Idiilly I'onini i.ah i- Islands lliey lound that union of coid water, well-adapted landing, and moist foggy cir wliieh they had mised since llicy leli tho slonn-beateii coasts iar lieh.w.'' M>7. We have, however, reeiivid from lie Director cf the .Vatnial liislorv Deparl- nient ol tlie ririti>h .Mnseiini a very \alnalil .MeinoiMinliiin (^Appunlix |)j, pointing out tlie structural and other dill'crences uhi'.'b distingiii^li llie vaiions species ol' I'ur-Mal, and 149 "^; rapli ■--t • 1 to ii ■t of ii' list (.1 til.' ■ U aiul u lllfV 1. tllf.V h inu-l- 111:; out III . in. 1 wliicli clonrly indic.ito that tlic seals frequenting tlio North Pacific do not migrate south of the K(i'iator. Nor nm \\c hold out any hope timt, as was expressed hy a Now Zealand autlioritv, the pers'ciition of the liir-soal in the North Pacific may drive them south to ri']»!eiiisli New Zealand rookorief. SOS. Tlic relative impiirtance of the South Sea fishery is insignificant at the present day in comparison with thil of the North Pacific. In the latter tlie last full years gave a total catch of nhout Utonoo, whereas the total catch south of the E«|iiati)r only roaches 2o,000. Ihit the Sontli Seas, during the first seventy years of the lisheries, produced at least l(i,O(»i>,(M»0 seals wliereas from the Nortli I'acific it seems prohahio that not more than 5,0(M»,(»i)(» liave heen, in all, secured in lli) years. To reinstate in some degree the South Sea fisheries would thus he to revive, if only partially, a great and most prolitahle industry. •*\y.K At tiie same lime, in the inmiediate matter of tlie preservation <-f the fur-seal in the Northern Pacific, it is well to hear in mind that actual c.vperiencc in the South Seas proves inconte>taMy the following among other facts :- (i.) Kxcessive slaughter on sliore, in the entire ahsence of any pelagic .sealing, results in coinmercial exterii:ination. (ii.) IvNccssive slatighfcr nnd distuihance causes ttl)solute depletion and dcsortion in given hrcetlinii places, leading the surviving seals to seek other resorts. (iii.) As Kaniiiiig has rec^irded, while old rookeries are being depleted and new ones heing taken up, more sials are seen at sea than ever. Iti'O. 'I'h's is a timely «tliject lesson for the North Pacific, where from two known l)ree<liiig resorts, for the past twenty-live yejxrs, so great a number of skins have been taken (§ 4." el si-ij.) hy excessive slaughter on shore, and complaints are now made otiieialiy that unless .strong ineasi.ios of rest and recuperation are promptly adopted llu' seals tVe<iuenling these resorts will disappear. Undoubtedly, they will seek other breeding places. 901. Mr. Hhiinc has done good service in drawing attention, in his despatch of the 17th December, IBHO, to the disastrous results in the South Seas following on iudi.s- criminate and unrestricted slaughter of tl e fur-seal. There has never been recorded any mr^''(« self-evident and striking example of the consetpienccs of excessive slaughter by niiui. It is therefore useful to bear in mind the precise character and circumstunces of ihc seal fishery of the Southern liemisphere. VIII. — .MVUKKTIVO TIIK SkAL-SKINS. 9()'2. The process of preparing the seal-skins for the market, costing, mi (lie whole, ISv. to L'O.s per skin, is the work of a prosperous industry in fiondon. Till- skills arc laii'Kd in the Jocks, ami sorted fiir s-ize, quaiily, and kiiii. ready fi>r tli(> sale-room, l-'veiifnaliy llicv lurivi-, tlnis giailccl, at (he fai'torv, and an- ih'alt with in l.ali'lies. The process c 'iniiicnees wilii the removal of the i':it anl llesh let'l on th- skins by cureless skinning; the next step is lh(>roii.;lily to chanse the skin by iiot-waler washing and >trelchi;ig. alter uliicli (lie skins are delily shaved down to t!ie iei|iiisite lliinness. 'I'liey are liien treaicd in a hot cliaml er, and the outer hair taken off. The '•oinpletin'.;' i.tages are timsc ol tlyi'in;- tn a imil'inn colour, and finally shaving the skin • loMii fit llic iieees,inv iliiiine-s. At ivery stage much tci'lmical skill a'.il judgment are rc(piired. :i".l. ii i-^ a n 'teworiliy fact, that nearly all fur-seal skins ar,- taken to London to be dressed and -nM. The fur sell ii:dii-tiy thus gives emiiloyment to much sliippinu' on the I'acilic, lo raib\a\s across t'le .\nieriean continent, and lo s!:ippiim <in tlie Alkiiilic; while in t!ic liu>iiu>s of in^niaiice, and in the sab.' of tlie raw anl 'i H'lied skins, both wholesale aid rttaii, as well as in the prticesses a' <»ve descriiicd. *ci\\ coii«id' rabl- protiis are realizeil. IdO Paut III. CONCLUDING llEMAKKS. 004. In commencing; our Report, wc cx])lainc(l the steps taken to carry ont the duties assigned to us. In Part I we have given the conclusions to which our investi- gations have led us in regard to the facts and conditions of seal life in the North Pacific Ocean, and to tlic measures necessary for the proi)cr protection and preservation of tlie fur-seal. In Part II and in the Appendices there arc ])rescntcd, in fuller detail, the results of our investigations, together nith such collateral information or evidence as appears to he necessary to enahle just conclusions to be arrived at. D05. In conclusion, we would wish to record our high appreciation of the ready response afforded to our inquiries by the numerous persons to whom wc addressed them, whether in correspondence or by word of mouth. 900. To the officials of the United States' Government, to the Commanding OfHcers of the men-of-war and revenue-cruizcrs, ns well as to the representatives of the Ahiska Commercial and North American Commercial Companies, we are greatly indebted for tlic hospitality and courtesy they uniformly extended to us, as well as for the zealous and ready assistance they rendered us in our endeavours to obtain the information of which we were in search. 907. From the Admiral in command of the Pacific Station and the Commanders, officers, and men of Her Majesty's ships "Nymphe," "Porpoise," and "Pheasant," we received every assistance and aid, and they secured for us much valuable information. 908. Wc would venture specially to commend the industry, zeal, and ability witii which, throughout our investigations and negotiations, Mr. Ashley Froude 1ms conducted the arduous duties of Secretary to the Commission and Joint Secretary to the Joint Commission. "We would also beg that the Government of Canada may be informed of the painstaking, capable, and thorough manner in which we have been assisted throughout by Mr. James Macoun. All of \vhich wc humbly submit, for the gracious consideration of your Majesty. (Signed) (JKORGR B.ADEN-POWELL. GEORGE M. DAWSON. (Signed) .fui<c2\, 1892. Ashley Froude, Secretary. AimsXy lU) 5lo face p I5(i IMISSIONERS, 15 JULY 8 OCTOBER, 1891 J}' <x \ . 1 r ■; fiooo s/ts ii»-t ) re ji' No. 1. TRACK CHART OF ROUTES FOLLOWED BY THE BRITISH BEHRI •^u« 1/1110 .'.'C Maes Xy 1 to 5 to ii\:e p t5(/ BRITISH BEHRING SEA COMMISSIONERS. 15 JU:Y8 OCTOBER, 1891. "Its Ljuo V.'C. faOOO.S/tS M9Tj fO 30: II l\ • SEALS IN THE NORTH PACIFIC. F SEALS IN THE VICINI TV OF ROBBEN IbLAND AN'J THt KURlLE ISLANDS EY CANNOT BE UEMNEO.i fsuofl ^/H^ ii?*?) f ti 1(16, /-.// SAOHALIEN I. <^^ .y ////// / ^v / / / / / f*0 teo' .- 1 — No. 2. SKETCH MAP ILLUSTRATING RESORTS AND MIGRATION R( SUMMER HABIIATS WINTER HABITATS. NORTHERLY MIGRATION ROUTES IN EARLY SUMMER SOUTHERLY MIGRATION ROUTES IN AUTUMN. -INOTE AR II. MIGRATION ROUTES OF FUR SEALS IN THE NORTH PACIFIC. 'NOTE.-THE SUMMER HABITATS OF SEALS IN THE VICINITY OF ROBBEN ISLAND ANO THE KURlLE ISLANDS ARE MERELY INDICATED AS THEY CANNOT BE OEFINED.i faOOO 3/93.1137.) ro.lOi. IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 I.I m 111^ 11^ " IM III 22 .u m '""^ 2.0 m 1.8 1.25 1.4 1.6 ^ 6" — ► Vi <? /2 ^W / '/ /A Photographic Sciences Corporation ^ iP ,\ «^ ;\ \ ^N^ k% ' #A^- O^ 12 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14S80 (71*) 87V-4503 <^ 4 4 Ill R SEALS IN THE PERIOD SEALS IN THE VICINITY OF THE COMMANDER ISLANDS, IN THIS PERIOD, SILABLE INFORMATION RESPECTING IT IS INSUFFICIENT. SMALLER AREAS VICIHITY OF ROBBEN ISLAND AND SOME OF THE KURILE ISLANDS ARE (2000. 3/SS.II97.} FO. SOS, %\ >' •J' -.4 p ■^ .k ■f • 1 1 1' ^k ,'■■' ■ -L- ^ ■] ■ f ■ No. 3. SKETCH MAP SHOWING APPROXIMATELY THE AREA FI EXTENDING FROM JULY 15th TO Ai AREA CHARACTERIZED BY ABUNDANT SEALS. PWWi[ AREA CHARACTERIZED BY SCATTERED SEALS. Hamoon v/kmu Li'b S' Unnm Ljv.cV.'C tfi Ill ,Y THE AREA FREQUENTED BY FUR SEALS IN THE PERIOD ULY 15th to august IBth, 1891. (NOTE.-THE AREA OF ABUNDANT SEALS IN THE VICINITY OF THE COMMANDER ISLANDS, IN THIS PERIOD. IS NOT INDICATED, AS THE AVAILABLE INFORMATION RESPECTING IT IS INSUFFICIENT. SMALLER AREAS OF SEAL OCCURRENCE IN THE VICINITY OF ROBBEN ISLAND AND SOME OF THE KURILE ISLANDS ARE NOT SHOWN FOR THE SAME HEAbON./ son V ('niUJ Li'k S' MarnuB L.^iieV.'C . (2000. 3/95.1197.) F.0. SOS, r U:. IV. FUR SEALS IN THE PERIOD 1891. NDANT SEALS IN THE VICINITY Or THE COMMANDER ISLANDS, IN THIS PERIOD. LIMITED NUMBER OF OBSERVATIONS. SMALLER AREAS OF SEAL OCCURRENCE 10BBEN ISLAND AND SOME OF THE KURILE ISLANDS ARE NOT SHOWN AS NO iBLE RESPECTING THEM.) O'i .p..^i I; fI000.3/93.t\97.) F.O. 305. '■ tj IW 160' 180 1<H) 160 180 No. 4. SKETCH MAP SHOWING APPROXIMATELY THE AREA FR EXTENDING FROM AUGUST 16th TO SEl AREA CHARACTERIZED BY ABUNDANT SEALS AREA CHARACTERIZED BY SCATTERED SEALS. Harrison V ooii,-! li'h.G'. Itsvni.s I;iTie'A"C ifii IV. ( THE AREA FREQUENTED BY FUR SEALS IN THE PERIOD ST 16th TO SEPTEMBER 15th, 1891. (NOTE -THE AREA OF ABUNDANT SEALS IN THE VICINITY OF THE COMMANDER ISLANDS, IN THIS PERIOD. DEPENDS UPON A VERY LIMITED NUMBER OF OBSERVATIONS. SMALLER AREAS OF SEAL OCCURRENCE IN THE VICINITY OF ROBBEN ISLAND AND SOME OF THE KURILE ISLANDS ARE NOT SHOWN AS MO INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE RESPECTING THEM.) li'h.S llnnur, laneXC fZOOO. 5/93. l}97.} F.O. 305. I 14 1 t ^H ' i h'^U • i ■ ^^B <j|s |iH [ l»20 JO I88«) IH(»U \: 100, Don I- 1 • 1820 ;aM) 1HH> mno 1000 DIAGRAM REPRESENTINQ THE NUMBER OF FUR SEALS KILLED ANNUALLY ON THE PRIBYLOFF ISLANDS, FROM 1817 TO II DIAGRAM REPRESENTINQ THE NUMBER OF FUR SEALS KILLED ANNUALLY ON THE COMMANDER ISLANDS, FROM 1862 TO Xumher kilh'^i on Conmumi le-f h^iun d ^ i/i f ar-U er i/ears, ivul a.scAfloinfu i . DIAGRAM REPRESENTING THE NUMBER OF FUR SEAL SKINS PURCHASED BY THE HUDSON'S BAY COMP.MNY AT POSTS Of BEING A PORTION OF THE INDEPENDENT INDIAN COAST CATCH FOR THESE YEARS. No rec^nd of Tndum Coa.s-f CalcA in fat-Urr- J/ears . DIAGRAM REPRESENTINQ THE NUMBER OF FUR SEAL SKINS OBTAINED ANNUALLY BY CANADIAN SEALING VESSELS, FR (THE NUMBER OF SKINS TAKEN BY UNITED STATES SEALING VESSELS IS NOT INCLUDED, THERE BEING NO TRUSTWORTHY STATIS' DIAGRAM SHOWING THE AVERAGE AUCTION PRICES OF FUR SEAL SKINS IN LONDON, FROM 1871 TO 1891. 1820 (looo.s/as.uai) f.o.sos. 183( 1840 1850 1861 Harrison & Sous. Li'h.S'. MsrKus LaiieV'-C ^ItaMBMHi V. lUOO 1870 IS80 mao wo, OHO V COMPAi'lY AT POSTS ON THE COAST, FROM 1852 TO 1891. ATCH FOR THESE YEARS. 40,000 20,000 IIAN SEALING VESSELS. FROM 1871 TO 1891 INQ NO TRUSTWORTHY STATISTICS FOR IT.) 1860 1870 1880 rison & Sous. Li'h.a MsrKns LaiieV.'.C. IHnl * ^ 161 ) Appendices. APPENDIX (A). List of Pkrsons and AuTnonrriES sui'i'iiViNii Evidenck. List of those who gave Personal Evidence and Information to the Behviuf' Sea Commission. No. 1 2 i) 4 r. 7 8 <» 10 11 la lii II 15 Ifi 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 :34 'J.6 2() 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 3G 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 SO S( 53 63 54 Name. Dr. Acliind , . Mr. Alexander Mr. Ayde Mr. Audieuki) Mr. G. A. linldwiii Colonel Barnes Mr. lieiitzoii . . C'iipt;iiii Blair C'aptniii Hrnndt .Mr. Hi)seowit/. Mr. Stanley Brown Mr. .1. Hiniis. . Captain iJaker Mr. Cliflbnl ., Captain Coulson Captain Cox . . Captain W. Cox Mr. 11. C'niinin^luiHi Mr. O. Ciinniiigiiam Mr. Camjibell Mr. V. Cope . . Captain Dodds Mr. Dirks . . Mr. .1. Kaile, M.l'. Captain Mdnards Mr. iMnmons . . Lieutenant Ennnons Edensaw Mr. K. Finlayson Mr, Fowler . , Mr. Eraser . . Mr. Foster , , Mr. Fergussoii Mr. Flunimerfelt M. I'lrelmitzky Ml . Orev Ml, U. H. Hall Mr. 11. Hall . . Mr. 1'. B. Hall Mr. J. Henderson Crt|>tain Healey Uev. — Hopkins Mr. Hanimerslcy A. uohnsoi; . . "Captain" Jack Lieutenant o'lirvis Uev. — Jenniug* Jesuit Missionaries Mr. Jones M. Kainyakoff Governor Knapp M. Kluge Captain Lavender Mr. J. Linguiet I'liiee and Profe.'sion. [806J Medical Officer, St. Riid Island 'I'radrr, Masset, Queen Charlotte Islands. Signal Officer, Neah Bay. A.D.C. to Commandant, Petropaulonski. Boolvkeepei-, St. I'nul Lsiaiid Assi.-tant 'J'reijsury Agent, St. Paul Islaixl. Fornnrly cinployr, lliid>on Bay Company, Port Simpson. Schooner '■ l.eon,'' l'etropanlou>ki. Russian gnn-boat " Aleut."' Vietoiiii, British Columbia. Spcciiil Agent of United States' Government, Pribylotf Tshnids. Iluntrr, St. Matthew Island. Sealing-.scliooner "Viva,'' Victoria, British Coluinbi:!. Manager, Hudson Bay Compiiny, Port Simpson. Uniteii States' revonuc-crulzer " Rush.'' Aftcnt for E. B. Marvin and Co , Victoria, Britifh Columbia. Sealinir-scUooiK r " Supphire," Victoria, Briti.<ih Columbia. Fui-tra<l( r and owni'r of Cnnncries, Port Fssingloti, British Columbia. Ditto. Vancouver, Briti-h Colmnbia. Ditto. Sealing-selooner " Maggie Mac," Victoria, British Columbia. Agent of Ali.sl;a Commercial Company, Atka Island. Victoria, British Columbia. Vancouver, British Columbia. Collector of Customs, Umdiiska. United Stales' ship " Pintii," Sitk;i. Heida Chief, Masset. Victoria, British Columbia, formerly employe of Hudson Bay Company. Agent of North American Commercial Company, St. Paul Island. Vancouver, British Columbia. Ditto. Ditto. Victoria, British Columbiii. Administrntor of Commander Islands. Alaska Commercial Company, Unalaska. Victoria, British Columbia. President of Board of Trade, Victoria, British Columbia. Secretary of ditto. Vancouver, British Columbia. United States' rcvenue-cruizer " Bear." Bella Bella. Vancouver, British Columbia, Indian hunter, Shakaan. Native, St. Laurence island. United Stitfs' levinue-ciniiicr '• !5ear." .Missionary, Port Kssington. Hnzen BaV, Cape Vancouver. Victoria, britisli Columhia. Commandant, Peiropaulouski. Silk). Agent of Russian Seal-skin Company, Copper Island. Ireasury .Agent, St. George Island. Agent, for Hutchinson, Kohl, and Co., Petropaulonski. i H- m i mm 152 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 6G 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 83 00 91 92 93 Mr. Locknrby A. Losh Captain Lniiiof Martin Lunbcr^ Mr. Milno ,. Captain Miner Captain Meyer (Jolonel Murray Mr. Morgan . , Mr. Malaiiwanski Mr. McManiis Captain Mayiiaril Mr. McKcnxic Captain MoKenxio Mr. Macgownn Dr. Macaipin Mr. MuiiNJc , . Captain L. >[aclL>aii Mr. E. «. Marvin Mr. K. Neumann Mr. Newman . . Mr. J. C. Nixon Mr. Oppenlieinier Mr. Redpatli . . Captain Iteiter Mr. Uousefell Mr. R. Koherison Mr. Justice Swan Captain Spring llev. — Stevens Mr. E. It. Sniitli Mr. Stevenson Mr. O. It. Tingle M. Tilliniiini Mr. Totlow .. Captain Warren Mr. WaMi .. Mr. Wasiil)iirn Mr. D. Webster 94 Major Williams About 100 natives, Aleuts Hudson Hay Company, Port Simpson. Kitkatla Indian, Port Kssington. Victoria. British Columbia. Quartermnstei', stcant-.^liip "Danube.' Collector of Customs, Victoria, British Colu'nbia. Sealing-schooner " Henry Dennis," Seattle. Steam-ship " Danul)e." Assistant Treasury Assent, St. Paul Island. Agent of Rusi-ian Seal-skin Company, Behring Island. Late Agent, Alasi»a I'uinmercial Company, Beliring Island. Newspaper reportc/,, sialing-sclioonor " Otto.' United States' ship " Piiitn." Fur-trader, Miisset, '^ucen Cliarlolte Islands. Scaling-stcamcr " l-lliza Edwards.' Vancouver, Hiitisb Columbia. Ditto. Owi\er of staliiig-seiioouirs, ^'ietona. British Columbia. Seoling-schooncr " Vavoiitc," Victoria, British Columbia. Owner of sealing-sehconcr, Victoria, British Columbia. Agent of Alaska Commercial rompany, Unalnska. Fur-trader, Aleutiiiu Islands. Owner of scaling-sehooncrs, Seattle. Mayor of Vancouver, British Columliia. Manager of North American Commcroiul Cum])any, St. Poul Island. United States' i-liip '-Thetis." Vancotiver, British Colnmbiu. Ditto. Port Townsenil. Ditto. Port Essington. Ship-owner, Yokohama. Vancouver, Hriti>li Columbia. Sii])erintendcnt, North American Cunnnercial Company, Pri- liylotf Islands. Russian Oovernnu nt Agent on Coppor Island. Vancouver, British Columbia. Victoria, British Columbia. Navigator of sealing-sclioonor " Wanderer." Agent of Alaska Commercial Co;i pany, Kodiak Island. Resident Agent of North Aincriean Commercial Comp^my, St. George Island. United Stat(.s' I'reasury .Vgtiit, St. Paul hland. and Indians, as follows : — Aleut natives Village, St. Paul Wand. 1» »» »» North-east Point, St. Paul Island. Unalavka. »» •» Atka Island. Attn Island. 1 '. •1 »« Copper Island. Village, Bebring iNlav.d. .North Uookerv. Beliring Hand. Iiidi.-ins (Tlinkit) Sitka. )» (Klaviok) Sbakaan (Hancga tribe, I'roin lvl.iw<ik;. »» ( Isliimsian) Poit Sim )Son. ! ** (Hailtznk) (Abt) Bill'.- Bel a. Clavoijiiot .'"ouiid. »» (Haiila) .Massei, Queen t'hailoltc Isl.iiuls. •» (Kwakiool) Nawitii, Hope l>liirl. (Abt) 1» Neali Bay (.Makali tribe). Indian Ollice, \'iet(Jiia, Hriti-li Columliia (.arion^, tribes/ ^{i m>i 163 request The followiii},' are the sources from wliicli written iul'oruiatiuii Ims been obtained by, or at the ;st of, the ]'iehriiii» Sea Cominissioii : — \. Colonial Oovemments, (Jajie of Good Hopo. Falkland Islands. Newfoundland. N(>w South AVnlcs. New Zealand. Tasmania. Victoria. 2. Fori 1(111 (lorn'iiviiiita. ArgentiiU! J.'('|>u1ilic. Brazil. Chile. •Tajian. Monte Video. Hussia. Uru"uav. ;.'. Hi)' Miiji'sti/'ii Coiisulu nhviwil. Canton. Honolulu. San Franci.sco. Shan"hae. I 4. Offti'ti-ii of He I- Miij<'f.ty\ S/iips HHil Conndinn Govcrnmi'nt 0[liriiilK. Admiral Hotham, C.B., Senior Naval Otlieer, Esquimalt. (Jonmumder Turner, 1!.X., Her Majesty's ship " Nymphe." Commander Burr, ]!.X., Her Majesty's ship " Porpoise." Lieutenant-Counuander Hadley.'ji.N., Her Majesty's ship " Pheasant." Mr. A. If. :\rilne, Collector of Customs, Victoria, British Colundiia. Indian Aucr.ts on roast of T.rjtish Cohnnbia, through Mr. A. W. A'owell. ."). j^fi'^'il/oneoiix, Mr. de Btni.sen, British Legation, Tokio. Earl ]>rownlow. Captain Devereux, Craving Dock, Escpnmalt. I'rofessor Flower, C.l!., Natural History IMuseuni, London. Captain David Cray. ])r. Giinther, Natural History .Museum, London, Hudson Bay Comjianv. Air. A. W. iluson. Sir (ieorge Curtis Lanipsoii, I'arl. Mr. A. Lafone, ALP. Mr. J. A\'. Aladv-ay. Professor Sir ]''. AIcCov, iMelbourne. Sir B. Aforier, (i.C.M. ' Mr. Murray, " Challenger " OfHce, Edini)iirgh. Haron Nordenskiold. Mr. Sclater, Zoological Society, London. Mr. Jiistice Swan. Mr. E. Alannde-Thonipson, J5iitish Muscnni. Mr. W. C. \'an Horne. [305] X idi ( 151 ) API'KXDIX (B). Cll!rL'I.\U IM, ASH UkI'I.IKS I'ltoM, CllLONIAI, AND FollKKiN GoVKKNMKNTS. THK foUowiiif,' Cireuliir of lii<iuiry was pit pared liy the Beliriii.Lj Sea Coiiiiiiis?)ionei-s, niiJ f'(ir\vu:(lt;il at thfir reqUL'st to tlie Ooveninifiits of — The Cnpe of (Jood Hoi>p. The Falkland Islands. New Soutli WnU's. Victoria. Tasmania. New Zealand. Chile. Av,i;entine ]ie|iuMic. Iha/.il. rrnjinay. .Ia])an. .Suuli rejilies as liave hoeii received are f,'iveii l)elow. Ill addition to tin'.s Circular, direct correspondence was entered into witli the nutlioiities on tiie same sulijects. L'iiriiJiiv of Liquiry. The Department of Fisheries of the iJominiou of Canada, in connection with questions relating to the fur-.seal fisheries of the Xortli Pacific, is desirous of obtaining all possible infonnaliou relating to the fur-seal fisiieries of tiie Southeiu Heniis])heie. Tiie southern fur-seal, or " sea-bear" (of tlie family of eared seals, or Ofariilfr), is known to have formed the object of an ini])ortant industry in the early part of the present century, but the islands on wliic.h it once aliounded are now reported, and believed to be, almost entirely depleted of s.'als. As the habits and life-history of tlie fur-seal of the North Pacific appear to be closely similar to those of the allied seals of the Southern Hemisphere, it is tliougiit probable that tlie historj' of the decline of the southern fisheries may afl'ord some facts having a direct bearing on the fur-sea fisheries of the North Pacific, and may serve to indicate a proper mode of protection to be accorded to these fisheries, if such siiould be found necessary. In tills connection, it would be of particular interest to know for each of tiie seal islands or sealing-grounds of the Southern Hemisphere: - 1. Whether the decline or destruction of the fishery is attributable to the slaughter of the seals while on shore at their breeding-places, or to their pursuit at large on the circumji'.cent ocean. 2. In what manner the fur-seul fishery has been or is conducted in eiicli jiarticular locality. 3. Wliether any, and, if any, what measures have been taken by various Governments towards the protection of the fur-seal fisheries in their territories or in places within their jurisdiction ; and, further, it any such measures are known to have proved successful in preserving or reliabilitating the fisheries. 4. (ienerally, any parlicuLirs as to the life-history of tlie animal, its migration, season of bringing forth its young, aiul the habits of the seals while engaged in suckling and rearing the young. It is also particularly requested that copies of any printed documents or lieports referring to the fur-seal fisheries, or embodying IJeyulations provided for these fisheries, may be furnished. Rejili/ (o Circular rccciroJ from the Goccrmiiciit of thf Uapf of Guwl Ifo/ir. Minute. In acknowledging the receipt of his Flxcellency tlie (JiFvertu)r's Minute of the 25th August last, inclosing a despatch from the Ifiglit Honourable the Secretaiy of State for the Colonies, requesting to be supplied with certain particulars respecting the fur-seal lishery of this (.'oloiiy for the information of the Canadian (lovernment, Ministers have the honour to -submit herewith a liejioit which has been received from tiu; (Sovernnieiil Agi.'iit in charge of the seal and guano islands, ailbrding the desired particulars. (Signed) J. W. SAUKI!. Cajx.' T<uni, OcUcr :.!(', 1891. j Ikpnrl upon the pnsch/ Condition, of the St«l Fishcrii on the. Cousti of i/ic Ciqic of Good Htqir, The decline of the seal fishery iu these watejs is attributed by practical experts entirely to the destruclion of the females in the breeding season, niid but for the fact that there are many jilaees almost inuecessible, and others where landing is dillieult, the .seal in these waters wouhl probably have been exterminateil, as no protection or legislation of any kind has ever been considered necessary. 15i) if 111.' vi'iir, tl 11^ Sl'MlS Ml'l' Duriii;,' tlic "bpi'iiiy.'^," as they iiru luflinioiilly ciiUcil, at (ritiiiii s«is( liustroyeil with cliilis Ijy iiiuu liiiidin,!,' iipuu liiu islands I'lmu boats. The winter or shciMiui,' weasoii coimnuuuos in .Imiu ami eiuls in August, (hiving,' whi'li (iLTiod nuinbui's of male seals are killed, hut very lew female-, wlio do nut appear to coiue out of tin; water nt this season of the year. The .summer or hreedin^ season, wliieli e.\tends from Xovemhev to .lanuary, is, however, hy far the most important as rej^ards tlie number of seals destroyed, and of tliese the lari,'er porliiai i.re females, either alxiut to ^ive birth or suekling their youiii,'. 0|' eoiirse, in the former case, all these seals aro Iiisl ; in the latter, tlie gre.iter inimber ]i(Mish : and nul for a liap]iy i)rovision of nature, whereliy a female seal will suckle, any young one, th(! destruetion of the new-born .seal woidd be complete. As the (y'ohinial Government up to the jiresent have always contented Ihemselves with letting out ihu i.slands uiwn short leases, with no restriction upon the lessee^ as Id the killing of seal, &e., no oliieinl information or statistics of any kind can be furnished. The life of a seal in the soutiierii waters, if uunioleslt'd, is supposed to exlend over n considerable period, and it arrives at maturity in about three year.^. 'i'he old male seids, called " bulls " or " whigs," attain an enorniuus ,size, and ligiit desperately among ihemselves The females generally produce two pups at a birth, and immediately afterwards take tlu! male. The " cow" will suckle any of the young seals, whether her own or not, and this perind of luirsing continues move or less for about si.\ months. As regards their migrations, it is dillicult to give nn opinion, as seals arc always to be found in the.so waters, althongh they do aot take up upon the islands in any nundiers except at the .sea.sons I have mentioned ; but 1 think it may bo naturally assumed that their migrations, whatever they may be, are regulated solely b\' the food sui)ply. Unfortunately, as I have state<l before, there are no printed documents or Jiejiorts of any kind referring to tlii5 subject, but 1 have availed myself of information kindly furnished by the best practical experts in the Colony, with whom I have lieen n.ssociated, who aie unaniniou.s in their opinion — lirst, that the seals are decreasing in the.se waters ; and, secondly, that the .sole cau.se of this decrease nt tlie iirc^ent time is to bo found in the destruction of the females during the liveeding sea.son. We have practically no pursuit of the animals in the water on these coasts. At one period, most of the islanils were inhabited by seals, Imt there are comparatively few at the present time upon those islands in the immediate vicinity of ('ajie Town, and this may lie accounted for by many reasons, besides the most important which 1 have already mentioned. Seals are very timid, and tlie noise of a steamer will scare them away; in faci, pa.ssing to windward in a sailing vessel, within H or :> miles of an island which they frequent, will generally (listurb them. It requires considerable experience to approach them, and old sealers never attempt to do so on these coasts when an easteily wind is blowing. Upon several islands, especially in the Ichaboe group, are to be found the remains of vast number.s of ".seal," probably the eHects of an epidemic disease at some distant period. In nianv ])laees, the hair, which is practically indestructible, has been found mixed with earlli to tlie dejitli of several feet, and this when sifted gives a fair percentage of ammonia and phosphate, jirobably the residue of tlie bodies and bones of the dead animals. The average value of .seal-skins in the rough state in the Loudon market, taken in these latitiules, is about 2'ia., but many fetch a much higher price. Xo attempt has been made in the Colony to dress the skins, and there has been no sale for them locally except for export. The .system of killing the seals is the .same throughout all the colonial islands, namely, with " clubs," by men landing in boats. The skins are salted upon the spot, folded up, tied, and sent to (.'ape Town by coasting craft, from whence thev are .shipped to Europe. (Signed) C. H. JACKSON, Government Aijcnt in charr/c of the Sad and Gtmiw hluiuls. fJapc Tovn, Ovfohrr '.». 1S!H. 1 1. Iti'iiJii In < irciilur rar.itrd from t/ic Goccnimcid if l/n: FoUdnnd JJ'iiiih, Giii-iriinr iSir It. (/iililtucor/lu/ to J.aril Kiml-ifnrd. My Loril, Guirniincitl JIouhc, tstuiilnj, Oduhr 20, l.SDl. I liavi' the hoiiuiir, in reply to your despatch of the ;>Ist .Inly, inclosing a despatch from the (i(ivernor-(ieiieral of Canada asking lor information regarding llie seal lislieries in these sea.«, to forward a invcis of the replies to the ([uestions asked, which I have been able to obtain here. 1 regret that the information is not as full as might be desired, imt, untortunalely, Ciqitaiu Hansen, an old and experienced sealer, from whom 1 had Imped to obtain full particulars, was accidentally didwneil before my letter, renuesting his views on a matter on which he was lonked upon as an autho- rity, reiiched him, 1 have been given t" uiider-itaiid liy those ccniversant w illi ihc-e nialtevs — indeed, it is referred to in the accompanying piecis — that foreign ves;sels destroy the seals in the clnsi' seasmi, which t'sists here fruiii the 1st Oetdlier to the Isl April. The f ireigii ves-rc's alluded to are American s.'alers, and lornied the subject i.f correspondence 150 betwucn fiovcniov Kerr (iiid Ciijitain MusL;viivc, Sisnior Niivnl (HlK'i'r mi llu' Suiitli-East American Station. I slinll ])rolmlily, wiien liett'.'r iiilornieil on tlio wliole (|Ue.HMon, lie alile to submit my views on tlie subject. At present I retrain from <liiiti<,' so. I liMve, iVe. (Signed) HOGKlt TUOKKD. GOLDSWlHU'HY. /'/vV/.s flf JiCf/iin t(i ('iirii/iir iif /iiijiiii)/ iiiioiiiiliii;i froiii thf Jhpin/iiiiii/ of' I'is/nrif.t of tliv JJnmiinou uj (^iiifiihi rildliitii lo Ihi- Fiii-Siol Vi"!!!)'!! iif till' t^itnlhiiti /fcniis/tjinr irjn'iji hrirr h'ni ivivlml from Jti'xidiiif^ In l]ii' FiilUtiml Ixliinil-i, (ihie.Htiun I. Wlieliici' Ihc ilecliiic or (lestrmtioii nl' tlie lislmry is iillvibutable to llie fliiuglitcr of tbc seals wliile on sliore a( tbi'ir liriMTliiij.' jilaccs, or to tlieir pursiiil at Imye on (be cironn.jncent ocean. Ifotwiiynhic J, ,/. Fi/lmi. — Tbc iiiiiiii cause is (hie lo the reei<le.sH anil indiscriminate slanf,'blor of the seals during tlieir breeding,' season ; tlio death of the mothers, leaving the youns,' to perish, and the nundiur.s who are driven from their resorts brinp; forth their younj; in I ho -water, which naturally jierish. It has not been lh(.' practice to shoot the seals in the water. If so shot, they sink. J. ./. riniiillidil sends cnttiui,' from the " FieM," whioli he thinks fully answers the first three questions. E. JVilssoii. — The deeliue is to be attributed to the stockint,' of (he land and people taking up their abode in the neighbonrhood of the rookeries. //. //. Wnldroii. — Tiie decline in the Southern Hemisphere, including the Falklands, is to be attributed to tiie indiscriminatoslaughter of the females during the breeding season, whereby the young perish. I'ursuit in tlw; high sens is iirit carried on to any extent. Question '1. In wliat manner llie fin-.scal lisheiy has been, or is, ennducted in eiidi jiarticnlnr locality. J. J. Ftiliid. — Kormei'ly, by means nl' wiiale-lioats ; later on, by cutters and sch<ioners. They would be fitted out for llic " pupjiiug " and tlie " shedding " seasons ; as many men woiilii b(i taken as liossible, arnuMl with clulis, s]iears, and guns, and, landing at the breeding places, they would line tlu^ beach and endeavour to turn the seals from taking to the water. If successful in this, the seals fell an easy jirey. Has repeatedly heard it said that .so many were killed that numbers had liecome u.seless before they could be skinned. Now that the seals have taken to outlying rocks and clifls, the work is less profitable ami more dangerous. J. J. Goodhcirl. — See answei to Question 1. E. XihsoH. — They have been usually captured by shooting or clubbing. llnirii IViddiini. — r>y men landed from schooners, who remain on the rookeries until calm weather permits them to lie taken off. Question o. Whether any, and, if any, what measures have been taken by varicms (lovernments towards the ]irotec(ion of the fur-seal fislu^ries in their territories, or in ]>laccs within their jurisdiction ; and, further, if any such measures are known lo have iimved siu'cessful in preserving or rehabilitating the fisheries. J. J, FiUtiii. — In the Falkland.s, since tlie close season was enacted, there has been an increase of seals; but foreign .schooners occasionally break the law. J. J. (ioodlidvf. — ^See answer to (,>uestion J. F, .A'fVs'S'i/i. -~ Hoes not see any improvenu/iit simc the Law enacting a close sea.son was l)a,ssed. ff. Wulilron. To the same cDccI us .1. .?, l'"cltoii. if: <l. -5'., (.L>uestiiin -f. (lenerall}-, any particulars as lo the life-history of the animal, its migration, season of bringing (orth its yoiing, inid habits of the seals vliili! engaged in suckling and rearing the yotmg. J, J. Fchon. — Does not think the .seal migratory. The breeding season is about midsunuiier, when both nude and female make for a suitable place. The " .shedding " season is in the fall of the year, when they iVeipieni rocks, and the young, which before were valueless, become nuirketable. •T. J. Goodhxr/. — Has not studied the subject sufliciently to be able to uive particulars. A'. Xilxxiiii. — The seal generally is u timid animal, and recedes from advancing civilization, and migrates to any phu'c where it can remain imdisiurbe<l. //. Widilvtiii. — Owing to keen ]iursuil. the seals jiicfer caves ami ledges of rocks under high dills to form breeiliiig lonkerie.-i. The fui-seal hauls mi to laced in .lanuary, the young leaviny in .May for other rookeries with liotli "whius" iiml " clapmatcnes,'* There is no regular migration, but it is probable that, when hard )ire,ssed, they leave the .Snulh Shellamls and mainland for the Falklands. "They are peculiar in liking some ]ilaces for .several years, and then at once .uoing away and not hauling up there again, apparently without cause, in some instances where but few were killed and in others quite unmolested." * N'l/p.— " \VhiK3," nmlc peals ; " ClapmnHiei," fcniRle seals, 157 Wlien sealow leuvo carcases on tlio locks, seals desert the place. Seals will not increase in the Southern Hemisphere vnitil tlie (.'hilean and Arj^eiitine Governuients liave a close time and see it enforced. (Initalled) V. .S. S. OdvberiS, 181)1. Jt'cpli/ (o CirunUtr icairn/ from the (/timniiiviif of jVcn' Untl/i IFef/cs. fi(ir<;i'ii(ir Lm'i/ Jfvsfji In Luitl hiiii/s/hri/. My Lord, Goveniiiuint Jloitsc, Si/duci/, iJdohif 30, 1891. I liave tlie lionour, in reply to your ilespaLeli of the .'lOtli July last, to .state that I can ol)tain no iul'ornuttion conrerniny tiie i'ur-seal lisliery, as the l'ur-se,d is not found on the coast of New Soutii \''.des. 1 liave, \e. (t>ij,'ued) .IKltSKY. Jii'lill/ III Vifv.liliii' iVnifcil f'lViil thf lliifi lUliuiul /;/' riilariii li'iii'cniiji' Ltiiil Ifii/)iliiini III Liiiil Kiinlsi'iiiil. My r<ortl, Gd'hrinia'al //nunc, .Ui/fiiinrin, Itrlnlur 27, 181)1. I have the honour to iicknowled.ite tlio receijil of youi' l.ordsl>ip"s despatcli of tiie oflth July ultimo, re((uestinji- infonuation on certain points conncciiMl with tlic fiu'-scal tishery in this Colony, and 10 transmit a copy of a letter, dated the L'dth iiisijint, frdin Sii' {'"redei'lik McCoy, l)ireetor of tho Xational Muieuni, which cinhriiccs all the available inl'oniialinii mi the sulijiii. I have, \c. (Sj.^nod^ IIOI'CTOUN. /S'/V /•'. A/rl.'iii/ III j}/r. i\/iiiirii. Sir, iVidiinial J/iisi nm, }/illiviin\i , Orlohrr I'll, l.S'.ll. In rejily to your letter of tiiis date, I have the hoiidur to ic|)orl as follows: — 1. The seal tisliery of Australia was never so extensive as that of the Xorlh raeitie, and for more than thirty years the trade in Australian fur-.seal skins lias entirely ocasi'd, ahlioni,'h of some extent in Sydney a little Ijcl'ore that time. 2. In Victoria the only fur-seal is the eari'd seal (/JiKiiniin rim mi), the .si/e, shape, and hal)its of which very nearly recall those of the North I'ai'ilie. The decline nr desliiicliou ol' the tishery is certainly attriliutahle to the indiscriiiiinale slanj,'hlei' of the seals iii the few jsJaiMis olf the south coast, especially in Weslein I'ort, wlierc tlie old males and ^lavid females resdited in tlie summer to lirin^ forth and tend the ymiiiu. At present a few islands <inly aiv frcipieiiteil hy thest' seals, now in the hreeding season, and the num'oer of individuals is too small to furnish any trade. o. The fur-seal fishery was ci nductiid simply hy manning a hoat suitalile for landinj;- on the islamls, the li'iiding usually taking ]»laee at ni.uht, and tlieii tiie seals were killed indiscriminately hy clubbing them on the nose with large .sticks. The skins were chieily exported from Sydney. 4. Xo measures effective for the ]noleetion of the fur-seal fisheries have been undertaken on any large scale by any of tlie Australian Colonies, but soiiu! yeais ago I recommended the Victorian (iovi'rnment to proiiibit the killing of seals on the small islaiuls which they fre.|uenf near I'hillip Island, and although the number has somewhat incri>ased in I'oiiseiiueiice, it is far too small to furnish a trade. o. Tlu' Australian fur-seals were never lished for in the o|ieii ocean. (!. (ienerally, the life-histiay of the Victorian fur-seal exactly rcsemlilcs that of tiie Nuilli Pacific, foUowing .shoals of lisli in the open ocean, but coming mi the islands to breeil in the latter part of the snmnu'i. I have, i*s;c. (Sinui.t) l-Tn-:i)KIM(JK MutJOV, /)lii'ii(ir II f }/iixcm,i. 168 Jieply to Ciriii/ar reveired jrmii the Governwent of Tasmunin. Mr. Seat to the Chief Secretary, Hohait. .Sir, Hobart, November 30, 1891. T liiwo tlic lioiupiir til reipoit, for the iiiloiiiiatioii of the Ciinadiim Government, the following, in reply to the ((Ueries liiid down in their (Jircnlnv letter of the JUh .Inly, 1801 : — Query 1, Senlin;j; in Tasniiiniii and her de])endencie8 (almost solely confined to the islands in Bass Straits and the Jlaetiuarie Islands, sitnated to the sonfh of New Zealand) has heen earned on by the seals hwiny killed on shore at their hreediiij;' ji^aces, and nol liy " imrsnit at laryo on the eircuin- jaeent ocean." Query 2. Tiie scmI li.sheiy liiis lieen euiidueted liv means of lioats of 4 or o tons re^^ister htted up (imon;;st the islands in Itass .^traits, the crew lieinu e(ini])])ed with clul s and rilles, the seals beinj^ .shot upon the rocks when ])ru ticalile, or followed ii])on the shore and clidihed. Occasionally, larj^e vi!S.sels (ome to i'.ass Straits licmi other (.'olonies, Imt the same mode of killing' is adopted. Tn the ^Incijiinrii' Islands the same ])iinciiiles ure adopted with larjjer vessels. Query '.'>. No measures were taken by the Tasnianian Government towards tlie inotection of the seal fisheries in their territories until the early part of the present year, when, at the requesti of the New Zealand (lovernment, seal iishini,' was prohibited on the Macquarie Islands, and in October of the present year thi' Commissioners of Fisheries, fearing the total extinction of the .seals in Tasmania, conseciuent iijioii their unrestricted slanuliter, submitted a licgnlntion (co]iy attached, marked .V) totally prohibitinci the tnkini^ of seals in Tasmania and its dependencies for a period of three years. '//"'■,'/ 4. ] inclose a newspnjier copy (marked ]>} of a ]iai)er jtrepared and read by Mr. Alexander ^Morton, l'".!,.S., one of the Tasiuanian Commissioners of Fislieries, at a late mcotinj,' of the (,'omnnssion, which will, 1 think, fully answer the (piery, as well as ;,'iv<' interesting ]iarticulars of the histoiy of the seal fisheries, and habiis of the .seals, as lar as Tasmania is concerned. 1 have, i*tc. (Signed) MATT1IK^^' SKAL. (JJdilniiini (if the Ciriiiiiiisni'tiiieri iif Fisheries. ddimniiiiit Kn/iir, (A.) The fiovernoi' in Ciaineil has leen jileased, in accordance with the ]irovisions of section 12 of "The Fisheries Act, iSSO" (o.'S Viet., No. 11), to amend and apjirove fif tlie ffillowing Itegnlation, the same having been made by the Commissioneis of l-'islieries, and ]iublishcd in accordance Mith section i:-i of the said Act. r>y his Kxeellency's command, (For Chief Secretarv. absent"), (Signed) ALFL'FI* T. I'lLLlNGFJf. Chief ^.rrrliiryx Ot/ire, (hfohrr 20, IH'.tl. /I'li/ii/tifitiii. 1. The taking of mmIs, wln'ilicr known by the nana' of fcals or any other local name, in Tasmania and its du[icu(leiicirs, is liereby iHuliibited for a period of three years fi'oiu the L'dth dav <if .luly, ISDl : iiin] iiny i^ei'son committing any breach of tliis J'cuulation shall be liaiile to a pi'iialty not e.xceeib'ni;' "i/. A< iisjiiijii r /•'.■/ri'rl, (I'..) Air. .Morton then said that Air. A. AV. Scott, AI.A., of New South AVales, was fc r many years jirior to his deiilli a tiustcc of the Australian Afnseiim, and, acting under instinctions from tla! New South AVidcs (ioxcninu nt, judilished a naisl ((lujiicliensive work on the classification and habits of the seals found frequenting the Austialasiiin shons, including the Alacqnarie Island. Three .<]iecies of seals arc found in these wateis : the grey Austialian fur-.seal (Jre/wejiha/v/! eiverevf,), the sea-Iecjiard (^/(iiorrhi/- nihi't: /i/i/ovi/.i}. ai.d the sea lOephant (Murinnjo e/i/ihantiiia). The latter is only fonnd on AIncquarie Isliind, although it is sup] osed at one time to have been met Mith in the islands in ]!a>s Straits Air. Sioit, in his wink, divides the genus A i r/vcej'ha/im inio two main divisiou.« — the noithern ftir-scal ot commerce, and the sontliem fur-senl of commerce — (Arrtoeephnhis wsimin and Antviephnlns Fcdk- hinthevA. If, as has lieen stated by Air. Scott, that the fur-seal fonnd on onr coaht i.s similar, if net identical, with the fur-seal of Alaska, the projiosed Regulations rpeommendcd by this fioard aie , abi^olutely necessary for their preservation. 160 At tlie Fioheiies Exliibition, liclfl nt I.oiulon in tlic year 1883, oonsiiliTiiliIc intorest wns taken in till) collection of scnls wnt by tlit' tiustws of tlio Austrsilinn Museum Tlie skull of one of the seals scut to London was conipiuecl with the one nt the I'uris Museum, iinil found to he identical. It was the first time that the southern fur seal (Arclocephalidi cinereii-i) had heen seen in Kn^land. Ifepre- Mcnlntions were made to the New South Wales (iovernment some few years hack that this seal was iiijiidly lieeominj; extinct. The (iovernment issued nn order protecting,' them on tlie islands and the mainland of New South Wales, the result being that they are now on the increase, and a numher may lie seen iuhahitiu},' the Seal JJocks a little to the north of Port Sti-iihens. In New Soutii Wales the sealing trade was in full swing from 1810 to 1S20, the tirms engaged licing Sydney firms, viz., Messrs. Cable, Lord, Underwood; Ii'iley, Jones, and liirnie; Hook ami <'ampbell. These firms had crafts manned by crews of from twenty to twenty-ciglit men tc eacli vessel, and were usually fitted out for a twelve months' crui/e. Owing to the want of jiroper r(*strieti(ms,the indiscriminate slaughter was terrible. It is recorded liiiit in the years 1814-ir>, 4(M(,00() skins from fine i.sland, the Antipndes Island, or, a- it is sometimes I'idled, I'ennalipoil, were taken. These skins being obtained in such a hasty manner were iail imperfectly cured, and a writer states that the ship " I'egasus " took hniiu' l(i(i,(i(i(i of these in liulk. '.ind on her arrival in London the skins, having heated during the voyage, had tu be dug oui of the hold. iiud were sold for manure. Aseaily as 1801-2 I'eron says he found lirilish .seamen in I'liss Straits killing all that cami^ in llii^ir way. In the yeais 18o;> and 1804 upwards of ;>(),000 skins were scut fmm the islands in JJass Straits, the slaughter being mad(^ without regard to sex. At the present time in Mac((uarie Island are oidy to be found the sea-elc)ihant {MnniivjH rhplntii- tiiiu). yet when Mac(iuarie Island was discovered by a sealer in 1811, the scaling master who discovered ii ]irocured a cargo of 80,000 skins, and another sealing party 100,000 skins, in one year. With such a reckless killing, it is no wonder that tlic seals have beconu' scarci^ nanid our shores, :ind unless steps are immediately taken, it will oidy be a (luestion of time when their eNterminalion will be com]iletel. Along the shores of New Zealand, as well as the southern shores of .Vustralia, large innnbers of scids were found. In New Zealand a vessel from I'ostou, called the " (leneral (iatcs," landeil a ]iarty nf si.x men near the south-west ca]ie of the Middle Island on the lOlb AuuusI, ISl'l. In six weeks the piiiiy got lij.'JCS skins. For about twenty years enormous ntnubers were caiilmed wilhciut any icsjicct 1(1 ,i;,'e or .sex, and in the year 18:i!» only a straggling s"al was occasiunally seen along the slwres of New /eidand. T"he American fur-sisd had a narrow escape of sharing the fate of its southern kindrecl, I n a paper iji'aling with this subject, a writer gives the following account : — " I'larly in this century the .seals were almo.-.t exterminated in many nf the islands in the North racifie, and were there as ruthlessly .slaughtered as they were in the ISass Straits mid the New Zealand c(iast. The exlermination was, as it were, commenced, had not Ihissju livst and tiie I'liilcd Stales after- wards leased the exclusive right of killing seals on the I'ribyloll' Islaiuls — a lamoii-i sealing plact' — to '.i single Company, by which means the seals weie saved, as tlie Conijiany hud an intiaest in l>eepiiig up the sujiply of furs." This single ex]ieriiiient, the writer states, has ]iroveil coni'lusively thai liu- .se ils can lie I'armed as v\\>\\\ as sheep, and tliiil sealing should iU)t be thrown o]ien without restrietioiH. Seals are a property the Stale should jealously guard. On the two rribylotf Islaials it is ccmipiited that .jOO.OdO seals resort annually. 'I'hcse islands, fr.ini the value of the fur-seal, W(>re discoxeri'd in the year 178(i, when the slinightcr coninienei'd, and was pro.secuted without [ '. ] until tla' year 1S:!0, when tlie nuiulier hid lieeii so reduced that tlu' business threatened to be .'Utirely destroyed within a f.w years. The dest ruction was then stojiped until 18-1."), when it was griub'ally resumed, though, instead <ii' the imli'^criiuiuate slaughter which had before been ])ermittcd, only the young males iL' years old) were allnwed to be killed. The rookeries continued to increase in size until 18.J7. I'lie (,'om])any who lea.sed the right of sealing in these islands weie rcslrietcil .ibout the yeav IStiO Id ."lO.OOO se.al-skins annually. FronilS:il to is.'i'.l, 708,502 fiir-.seals v.eiv kilh.'d. and ;'.7-',S'.)4 from 184."' to I8t)2. Kriiin another authority, !Mr. llittell, I tiiid that when the rnited Slates' Covtannient Idok jiossession of the islands in 1807 several American lirnis took po-^session, an I the wholeside slaughter of seals began afresh. In 18t)8 not less than 200,001) seals were killed, and for ISCi'.l it is said the number was not far below oOO.OOO. The United States' (iovernment, i'eariug their total extinction, leased the sole right of seal-fishing on these islands to ime firm, restricting the allowed number to 100,000. From what he bad been able to lay before the Fisheries lioard, no time sliiadd be iiisl in at once taking stejis to protect the seal fisheries in IJass Straits. Wherever proper restriction has been iulroduoed a most valuable industry has been .started in conneetiiai with the seal industry, and, instead of the three years, as has been pro[iosed by this Hoard, he stnaigly recoinmeiulcd five ycais for the close season, and if at that time the seals have increased the (Joverniuent might be rocominended to lerse the islands, allowing only a certain number to be taken anunaliy, and on no account In allow the fem.ales to be killed. In New Zealand, from the yenr IS.'u'i, the statistics of the export of .seal-skins show : — 111 185"), from Wtdlington, 580 skins were exiiorted ; in 1857, •'70. From then until I80.S iheie is no record. Then, in 1808,075; 1800,14; 1870, 201»; 1871,755; 1,872,2,012; 187;!, I,0ii2 ; 1874. 1,1101; 1875,2,707; 1870, .".,417; 1877, l,5o;J ; 1878,820; 1870, 2.484; 1880. 2,0b-<: 1881. 1,2,50: 1882,353; 1883, ««7; 18.84,374. I'rofessor J. II. Middleton .stales that the annual value of the fur-seal fisheries of the uoiM i.s about 185,000/. The male seal does not attain his full size till he is aboiiL (i years old, and the female when .she is about 4. There is, says Mr. J. Clarke, in a ]>aper printed in tiie " Ccntemporary Hiiview," w. iiMiiarkable disparity of size and build between them. In a .species where the nude would be 7 feet or 8 feet in length , and weigh 500 lbs. or 700 lbs., the female wouM not lie more than 4 feet long, and [30oJ ^ Y h I •I' ■ 16^) Wuinh from 80 11«. to 10(» llts. Tlui iinilet, wlion nnod, um wliifisli ^Mvy, luid betwooii 7 fuel to 8 fuut in Iciiglli; wlicM iulult, browii-f^ivv to Miick-^jri-v, iiinl iiltout tVet in l(Mi>,'tli : yount;, jjrcy, upp-.T poitions soon iissiunc iinik(!r colours ; inipM, Mnnk. Tliu I'lMuiilt's wIkmi iidult uro iisli-j»ri\y to silvur-Hiey, at tiinos ^oklun-lniir, froi|ui!ntly .spottuii : from ;i ft. Oin. to 4 ft. in. in Icnfilli.cvt'n niort; wIimii iii^ed ; pu|>.«i, lilack. Tiic undt-T-fur of hotii scxca i.-t ricii roddisli, diversitiiMl liy dci-por or li|.;liter almilu.s, und viiriahlo in lcn|;;t]i and abundnnci!, tlio wliolc litany intlncniod by IkmiUIlscx, and condition. lie thonglit tliu Onvt'rinncnt Hliould stt'p in now, as tiic scaling industry nii},'lit provo a valualjle sourc'J of rev«nui! to tlui Colony in th« future. Vinconiit h'lifiiii! tn lh> MorijiiiH n/ Stilishiirif. ■ [li'iirirnl iJin'i.iher 1.').) M. Ic Miinini.^, Lii/n/imi o/./u/iiiii, Linihin, /Mrmhui' 14, ISOl. I have the liononr to inform your K.\wlloncy tliat, at tlio roiiue.st of Sir (Jeorge IJadL'u-l'owoll, one of Her Majesty's ('ommissioner.■^ on tlio seal fisheries, I obtained from my Oovernment a rapidly jirepared Mtiniorandnm as to such lislieries in .lapan. 1 have tlie jdeasure to hand your E.\celleney herewith a translation of this Memorandum, which may l)e of interest to the above-nnnied Com- missioner. I may possibly receive a further more detailed Itejiort on the same subject, in which case I will forward a translation of it to yotn' Kxcc'llifiiey. I have, &c. (Si^rned) KAWASf: .)fiiiioiviiiliini I'll the Siiil Fis/iirifx in Ji'iMtii. (Transhition.; [N.n. — In llii'i Alcmoriuiliiin "«i'»l" iloeii noi bIw.v.1 mean " smIb proper," liiil iiiclnUci loinctlnict all klnil.i of ara aniioa'i. Word "rounty ' U not >'waY<i applied to suliiIiviMOn of I'rcrcL-tiiro ("ken''), Imt aoniot mea it U meant fur tho dirisioii (" kuni ") of tli« old hjitcm.] Seals are considered amonir the most important products of Hokkaido. They are found in tivery i)art of tiie Kuiile uronp, from Shimsliu in the north to Shikotan and Knnashir in the .south ; Uru)) aiul Itrup beins their favourite haunts. A)thou{,'h the histoiy of tho orij,'in of seal-hunting cannot be accurately traced, it appears tliat about 170 years ago a few natives of Akishi, in Kushiro, emigrated to Siiibetoro, in Itrup, un<i occupied themselves in Ininting seals, eagles, bears, kv., which they brought back to Akisiii every year when the sea was free from ice (after Ajiril and Afay), in oider to barter them for rice and other uecessariei of life ; while the natives of Akisjii visited this new Colony for the exchange of these eominedities. In the course of time the tunigrants increaseil l)y degrees, settling down in such places as Toshiruri, Rianshi, in tiiat island, and liecame hunter?; of seals und <(ther .sea animals in tlie nei"hl)our- hood. In 17fi5 (about 120 years ,igo) seal fishery liecame very prosperous, and the natives of Ksishua, as well as the old islanders of Itrup, carried on their hunting business in the Isles of Horoniosiiii', Makarnru, Shimsir, I'rup, k{\ In the same year the IJussiaiis tirst niadc! their a])pearance in the Islands of IJashna and Musir. In the following year tiiey came lo Iirui>, and having obtained information about the localities from the natives, they went to the I.sland of I'rup, where they stayed for three years. During their sojouin there they treated the natives in a very cruel mannei', and jn-ovoked their great anger, lint the natives l)eing powerless to resist their oppressors, their Chief at last lied from the island. In the siniimer of 177(*, wiiile tlie natives of Itrup, with their Chief, were hunting in the Lslan.l of IJrup, tho Russians eame there and ordeted them to ship all their catch to Ru.ssia, and, on their refusal, their two Chiefs wine killed by the Russians. In the same year, while tln^ Chief of Rnshua, together w ith a host of natives, were huntin" in Urnp, the Russians again mach' tlieir appearance, and seized all their catch at the point of their guns. At last llie anger of tlie natives was amused ti> such a pitch by the Russian outrages that they resolved to avenge themselves, and in 1771 they gathered in great numbers, each carrying some weapon, and attacked the Russians in I'rup, killing eight of them ; and tiience from the western coast thev passed over the mountaias to Wauiiio, where they attacked .some Russians who were living in caves. Onlv seven of the Russians escaped slaughter. I'roui that place the natives sailed to JIakanisi, where they also sliiughter(;d se^■enteen Russians. At that time the chief instruments used hy the natives fur killing S3als were tbit bow suiJ Inrpoou while tho Russians used guns. After this defeat the Russians did not wt\m\ for a long time. During the yertr,s of the Anyei period (177U-SO; the natives of Urup were constantly cruizing and liunting round Urnp and its neighbouring i.slands, and this jmivented the Russians from catching .seals .so freely, although now and then they made their ajipearance. Rut towards the end of tlie Anyei period they came in a great ui'nil>er, and nunle a good (;atch. In the years of Tcnn:ei (1781-88), as the natives ceasttd to hunt for seal,s, all the islands of the Kuriles except Itrup were monopolized by the Russians. 161 111 ITrt.i (tovfrmiiciit cuMMcil some lliiitv iih-ii ami Wdinon to oini^jintu to Itiiip, nnil tlitTo wcro j,'iHj(l cutclics niiiilc. N^nts wvn: tlicii first iisfd. Ill 1800 'J'likutiiva Kiilii', II iiiitivf of Awuji, fini><rntwl U> hni\t, ami llific fiiiiiloyiii;,' tlio nativi'S ftiiitcd (I si'ttli'iiifiit for scal-linnliiij,' and oIIkt tislu'iics. Ill tliu y(!iiis of Kiown (180|-;i),Su\viiia Kovfinon itml Dati' Wiiiycinoii.of Kiikiiyniim, MatsimiayJ liaxiiif; taki'ii owr tlio iisliiiii; I'staMislmicnt ami iilaiits IVoiii Takutaya Kala', ami laiililiiiy now fisliiii,i,' (ic'Iiots ill several jiImci's, carrieil oii the lisliiiii; of si.|i aiiiiimls. At lliat liinu tiii' seal-skins weic Imrtrreil witli tlie natives us I'oljipws, viz. : — Till! liest - -■ 20 saeks of rice (ea li sack eoiittiinin^' H sjio*) jier skin ; the iiiiildlin;,' ulioiit 1(1 sacks, and tlic coinnion skim were severally valued aecoidinj; to llieir (|iiidities; and tlie natives Were paid aeeordin;,' to tlie skins tliey prodin'ed at the time of coiintinj,' their catch, 'i'lii' skins thus linii;:;ht Were called " ka-iiiiomi," and \vere iinniially sent to the I'riiicn of Matsiiniayi', whose (ioveni- iiieiit paiil for llieiii at the lixed rate of OoCt se>t for I slio of rice, which was the standard oC liarter ; and there were strict jieiial re^'iilations a;,'aiiist sniiijiu'lerH. In the years of Keio (|S()."i-(i7) the Itiissian (lovcriiinent sent Alaskan natives to I'll. |i, and the liiis»iaii lishiii^' settlement Ipccanie more and more ]iros|)erons. Seal-skins were ii special jirodiicl of Japan, and from olden times they were IraiisiMirted to N'agasaki, where they were sold to tlii' (.'hiiiese. In modern times seals and other sea animals, once lamoiis jirodiicts of Japan, heiiij,' mostly c;nij,dit liy the Kiissian hands, are now looked on ns Itii.^sian products, and are iin|Mirted into Pekinj,' direct from liu.Si'ia. Ill ISlV.t, at the time when " Ivaitaku.slii" ((,'oloniziition Department) was newly estniilished, its Ijraiich ollice wa.!) set up in the Island of Itrup, and some oHicials were sent in order t(t check l'oroij,'n po.icheis, and .snperinler.d the tishiii;,' industry. As to the mode of buying skins, the old rej,'ulat ions were a(lo|ited, hut on ai.'coiint of the old rato of exchanjje at I sho of rice at 0'i"(> sen heiiij; out of date, thii fisheries incurred much loss. In .\]iril ISTI! the oUicial rate was rai.sed to l-liS .sen i)ur I sho. In June of the same year for the first time a s|iecial ollice was estahlished in Itriip, whose duty it was to suppress seal-poachinj.', and (."oinmissioiiers were .sent there. In Aiij,'ust instructions were 1,'ivuii to these ( 'oiiniiissioners to kee]> strict vigilance as to jwiching-vessels of foreign countries and tlio unlawful sale of seals in the vicinity of the island. As seals mostly coii,!»rej,'uted in the seas iieij^hboiirin^ to Itrup, the iiij^ress of foreij,'n vessels to those waters, not only Ifnssian, Imt alsj I'ritisli, American, Dutch, and other countries, imri'ased year after year, and oftentimes these vessels ilsciI to anclior in the noi<;lihoiirinj,' harlioiirs. In such cases the Commissioners infornied them of the national i)rohiliitioii, and rei|!iested them to leave, hut under siicli jirete.vts as ship's rejiairs, or want of water ami fuel, they did not it]n;y the remonstiMnees, and when there was a .shipwreck, which occurred v(oy often, it j;av(i a <ii'eat deal of tronhle and annoyance to the (,'oiiiniissioiiers, who had to look after the wrecked crews, and to have them escorted to the jiort of Hakodate. For instance, when the ■' Isalie' [!\, an A.nierieaii vessel, stranded on a reef near Itriii>, the natives rendered as much assistance as they jiossihly could to the iiiifortniiate vessel, hut all elloits having; proved fruitless, tl. vessel wa.s wrecked at last, and damajfes were elaimcil on the j,'roiind that it was lost oil account f)f siilUcient assistance not haviiit; been vendereil. .Such unlawful and tiiiroasonalile action on the jtart of foreign ves.sids was of fre([uent occurrence. All these lorei;,'ii i»oacliinj,'-vessels heiiij of a much more improved type than the ordinary Jajiaiie.se tisliiiij,'-lioats, it wa.s very ditlicnlt to watch their movements in the hi;,'li seas, and, as aliont .seveii- tenths of the island was iininhahited, fishiiii,' establishments in the whole island iieinj,' very few, it was no wonder that watch could r.ot be I'llcctively kejit by n few (^'omniissioners with only t wo or three fishiiiji-boats to cruize with. Under these ciicumstaiices, in coiisultation with the Xavy Peiiartiueiit, two shijps of war were commissioned, and one of these two was stationed at the port of Xemuro, one replacin;; the other in alternate years, and they were ordered to crtii/c round the Kiirile yioup in order to watch the poacliei'S. Uesidcs, the " Kioriomarii," of Kailakushi, was sent to Itriij) every year from May to October (sea.soii for .seal-hunt in;;) to cruize and watch in the vicinity of the island. In March 1874 Mr. .\loott Brookes, His Imperial Majesty's ('oii.sul in .^aii Fraiicisivi, reported ti- the Voreiyn Oflice that six boats were beiiij; jirepared in Canada to start for s.-al-huiitiii;,' in tiie islands of Hokkaido, and soon afterwards he also rejported that some sealini;-vessels hail left the port of San Francisco. Ill May of the same year, upon consultation with the Foreign Ollice, {{ejinlations, consislini,' of three clauses, coiitrolliiif; the lisheries in the waters near the .'.?lands of Hokkaido, were issued, viz. :— " I. Along the coast-lines the limit of the territorial right of Jajiaii is li.xed at ;! li (I ri = 2'lKi.'« miles) from the .shore: in case of b;iys, tin- line of limit shall be measured frmn a straight lint; drawn between the two capcy at the extreme ends of the bay ; but this ajiplies only to cases where thi^ sjiace between the capes (hies not t'xceed 3 ri. " If any foreigners he found fiwliing within the aliove-mcntioneil limit t' ; .shall be iim^sted in as ixjaecful a manner as possible, and sent to Hakodate, accompanied by guu.ls, and delivered to the Consul of the country of their nationality to be dealt with in a proper inanrier. " 2. If foreigners ilo not submit theiiiselves to the authorities, or any violent n'sistance be otfered by tlieiii at the time of such arrest, necessary force may be employed to carry out the foregoing I'egii- iations. " it. InasmHcli n.s there may be some foreign vessels arriving in liarlioiir in consefpicnco of stress of I |. L3i5] 1 Bh:> is Cfiail to 0-1985 peck. Y 2 10 j wi'iillii'i' iir Willi; of wall')' III riii'1, II I'lii'i't'iil sirrutiny si'iill Ic iiimli' hn tu (lie liiu' ('ii'-iiiiiNliiiiici. iiinl- ii|Niii iisi't'i'l.iiiiiii){ tlii'ii' ;;iMiil I'liitli, ihi'y slmll Ik- In-uti'il in iicciiitliiiin! uitli tlic ' lir^'iiltitiitiiM lur Assj.s- tiiiitt' to Fiirti;;ii N'csxcls in liistri'ss,' And if Ili.i iiii|>('riitl .MuJi'mIv's sulijccts lie rouiKl iinuclijnj,', llicii' tiHiiiii;; iipiiiii'iitiiM mill niti'lics kIiuII |i(> ('(inliHciitcil acriiiiliiii^' to tlit' existing' ltr<^'ii!iitioiis, iiiiil ilii>y nIiiiII lie ilclivi'i'i'il to till! Iiriiiich ollicc at Nt'iiiiiro, tluTi' to lie iii(i|«'i!y ilcall with," iVc. Till! " Kiorii'iiiani " mitl " ticiilaiinaiu," lii'loii;;ii' , '■> KaitakiiMlii, liaviii}; on luiuiil iiitiTpivti-is iiii<| Sfiil KiHliciy Sii|ii'iiiili'niliii|,' ( ■(iiiiiiiissioiiris, wt'ii' oiiIi'umI to i.'rui/.o in iliu virinily of llni|i to watili any loii'l^^ii |poiic|iiiiy-vi's.si'Is. Jn l!u' .same nionili tlicii' wns a jioinjniilir Aitli M. iWiiliii [I'J, niatitrr ol' a |)aiiisli jmai iiiii;;-V('-si'i till' "Milt. ('(.■" (:'|. In >liiiit>, wlicn llic " Kioi'ioniaiu" was iiiii/in^ Imck, hIu; uivt with six Anii'iican vihsi'Is.ihuI tin it woi'i! vaiioiis int)-i'\i('ws ivs|i(>i'tin^' llii'iii. In ■Inly Ilis lni|i('iial .Maji'sly'.s Hliips " lIo.>liio" anil "((suKu' wcri' si'iit ovrr, r\nil llic " Kiorin. iniiru " ii;,'aiii sailnl to tlic islamic. In Aii;{iist an Aniciiian Hliip " Snowtlio])" was round ill Tiiiikiiiu lliiv.niid 8oiii« invci^tifjiition wm niiidc. I'ivi! l'oi<'i>,'ii vi's.si'ls at Oinirlu'tsii liay wi'iv also suliji'dod to invcMti^atioii. ISul tlicsi! niv only a few vi'ssi'ls out of many wliicli wcii) Mot lii'onj,'lit undiT notict!. To illiistiatf till' cuniiiii^'of l'oi('i;.'ii iioaclicrs, tlu-y, nil of tlicni, would i-iiti'V and uiudior in liail'i'm-. |ii'('ti'iidiii^' that tlii^y liad conic uiiilci' stress of wnitlicr or lor want of water or fuel, piin;; out of one port in tlie niorniii;,' and enteriiii; another in the evenin;{, their iiioveuieiitx lioiii^ so alert that it was a in.'itter of no wonder that a siii;.'le wateli.,slii|> was uiiidile to keep tlieiii under ohservation. ISut.oii the whole, the Island of Itriip was found iiufavourahle lor tliu purpose of ]ironiotiii}{ our tishevies ami of watehiuf,' for foreij,'n jioaehi'is. The climate is very inclement ; iluriu;: snininer months tlieii. is dense fo};, and when tin; autumn appromhes the fo^' lit^^^iiis to lift, hut only to he sneceedcd hy ii violent north- westerly },'iile, rausiiij; a heavy sea. And tliero is no ^jood Imrhour. Thus the iiavitjation in tliei>e waleis is very diilieiilt. Conseipietitly, in the same month, liie statiouin<r of the " Kiorioiiiarn " at that island was diseoii- (inued, and she was ordered to cruize hetween Nemuro and liakodati' twice every mouth ; the >ieal- hnntiii},' iiHairs Were left to the control of the hrauch oilice at Nemuro; and three hranchcs of the snperiulendiii;; oilice weri! estahlished in the islands at Duuelietsu, Xannelio, Toshinutri, wiiere < 'om- missioncrs were sent respeetively with three boats, four lioatmcn for each lioat. As to the mode of liuntin<;, the natives used to shoot seals with hows and arrows while resting upon reefs or rocks. In winti-r, when the sea is Iro/.cn over, they simjily idia.sed them over the ice and killed them with cluhs, or they used to jjo in a hoat made of the skins of .sea-horse and whale-hones, wearing; a kind of waterjiroof made of the hiadders of sea elephants or .seii-horsc ind with ii liead- coveriiif^ made of fox or wolf-skins, thus deceiviiii,' .seals when approachiiifi tic In this clever manner they used to eateh a f^reat many. The hoat itself was very sim motion that its pro>,Mess was very fast, even in a heavy sea-way, and it wa capsizinj;. The Weapons which the natives had in the.se hoats were a loiii,' harpoon, a cliili, ami a <;aiT. 'When they apiiroached a victim they threw the liar|ioon, and having made a good hit, the fop, or hiirhed end. which is titMl to a long string, separated itself from the pole and icmained in the llcsh ; tiiiis, even ii' tlic animal was not killed at one rmi/), its wliereahouts could always lie known, as the ]iolc to which the other end of thi! string is ticil acted us a Hoat, and the .seal was dragged out and cluhlied to death, ainl then gaffed into the hoat. This mode was considered to he the licst way of catching .seals, lait in modern times it is sujici- seded hy the u.se of ginrs. Jiut seals are very averse lo the sound of tiring, and the use of the gun is sure to drive them iiway from the vicinitv to some far distant jihiccs, and tlii! Hocks are tiiiuned year hy year. The natives, knowing this hy long expeiience, alistaincd from using guns, hut at the present lime, ns all foreigners |ioach with guns, our mode of hunting was also ohliged to be .similarly changed. In April IST'i, at I'erctarulietsu, near Shihetoro, Itrup, a Itu.ssiau hoat was found anchored, and its master, with three Itussians and three Japanese, were seen cotitrHctiiig a hut on the coa.st. They wcic consenucii'.ly warned <ill" hy the ("oiiimissioners. Again, an information was given to the ( 'ommi.ssiouors that at ^loroco, in the same county, the Americans Hamion .lean [f] nd three others built houses, and were carrying on poaching business since i)ctober of the jireceding ye! . They were conseiiuently arrested am! sent to Hakodate, and deli verei I to the hands of the I'niteil ' utes' (Jonsul. ear His Imperial llajesty's ship " Asama " entered into the ) (irt of ruized about the Kurile group .ind along the coast of Kitami. la ■' returned, and the " Kiorionuiru " and "(ienb\iniaru " .set out for a hut so easy of iiuilu safe from built at JIurornn for seal-hunting, was comjiloted and sent to the port <if named the " Chishimnmaru." In June of the sani' Xemuro as a guard-shiii, an In Sejitendier the "As, cniize round Itrup. In December a .scliooni Xemuro. This seluuner wa The Regulations for cc rolling seal ILslicries which were is-sued .some year.s ago, after consultation with the Foreign (Jthce, had to be amended, owing to the territorial Iwuudaries being definitely marked out, coiisequent upon the e.\change of the Kuriles (with liussia) having been effected in .September, 1 874. Conseiiuently, in April 1 870, new IJeguIations for controlling the. fisheries in Hokkaido, consisting «)f three clauses, were is.sued. The first clause jivohihited any foreign ves.sels from fishing with any lino, net, guns, &c.,any fish or sea animal within tlus range of a gun-.shot from the coast of Hokkaido or of other islands belonging to the Empire of Japan. The secoiul clause decreed that the officials appointed under the llegulations for controllijig fisheries in the territorial waters of Japan shall order to clear out of the boundary any foreign vessel lOJ Nvliiili i-i viis)ir( It'll iif iiifriii;:!!!;,' M|niii till' jiiiiliiliitidii iticiit.'diii'il in llio liint iliiiisc. nr iT .tiifli vchhi'I i'' tliniiM)it In liivc iiliiiiily iiilriiiiinl llio |>i'ii|iiliitiiiii, that tlicy nIiiiII iHitinl tiii' vr^^srl iiikI inN]ii'('t Iut IIIIVO. Til' tliinl I'iiii'M' iliri'i'cil lliiit wlii'M llici-t' JH liny fnrri^'n vcssitl wiiii-li Imx itt'tiiiilly iiilViiiu<Hl tlix I'l'oliiliiiiiMi in ilic tii'Ni <-litn>*t>, or ii'I'mmci! tn cli-ai' out of tlir lioiniiliiiy or to siil>niil to the inHpcction nf I'liivo iiii'iiiioiii' I in tlh' *i'('i>nil clinist', the olliciuls iiinli'i- tlii' lir^iiliitii ns lor con t roll iii<,' tiMlu'iien in the li'cnio i,il wiiti'is oT .lii|).ni slmll luki' sikIi vcsxi-l to tin; ni'iii'csl o|i('n port, sliull ili'livcr it to tliii Consul III tlii^ riunlry to wliii'li ii ln'loii;.rs, iukI ujion its ln-iu;,' lit'iirly inovcd to lie yuilty of the ulli'iico after ijiii' iii<|iiiiii'^, r<lia!l ili'iii.iii I I'roMi till' ( ''iii-iul till' intliction o|' iliic |iuni.slinii'nt. In till' laiiii' iiiMiitli, in tin- Itav ol'l'siinit'in, in tin' Islaml of Sliikotan, in tin! coiiuty of HiiniLsaki, Ml otli'i' liiiililiii,' anil a sion'-lioiisi' wi'i'n laiilt. Til" UIiiii'l o| Sliikotan is IS ri in ('i'vn'nii'ri'nrc, ami lias a <,'ooil natural liarlioiir. In olil tiniuH iiiiiiiN iiiiiIm's ii-o'iI Io iiiiniii;ruti', anil tlir |ii'o|ilt' of tlni niainlitinl also used to ronie for ti.sliiii'^' |iur|io.seH ; lull, o\Nin^ Io till' iliDli'iilly of roniiuuniriiiion, iilinost all of la-ni rrnsscil over to tin' luti^'liliourlioiMl of Ni'iiiiii'o', ami at llic incsi'iit tiiiic it is raiv to liml any inlinliitants in tin' islaml. Thus llm i,sliuiil I aiiir a ,u I shi'lti'i for foi'ci^'ii |ioarln'rs, ami inaiiy \csscls niailc the liailionr ti.'ir rt'stin}!-]ilii('C wlii'iii'i' III sail, ami wlii'ii till' tinir ami wind were favoiirulile for their unlawful acts. Aci'ordini^ly, viiiiii' Sii|ii'iiii!cniliiiy ('oiiunissioiicrs were sent ovei' ti j,'inn'd the nei'.,'hliourlnioil. Ill .luni' an ollicc-liousi' ami a stoie-house were laiill in tlitt Kay of Tankaiiiu, in the county of ■''iiriilietsu. Ilriip. In .luly His Imperial Maji'siy's ship ",Mo»liun" ciuized uIhuiI tlio Islaml o'' Itrup in search of pililrliers. In .\ii,L!Mst. ill roiisiilenitioii of ihe ilili^rencc ami liardNhips of the superintending; olliciuls of Itiiip ii ilis -liaiL;'' "f llii'ir duly, day and ni^jlit throiijih all sea.soii,'?, a Huli-iv'^ulatioii wis miule rewarding; ilii'iii liy special i;ri Ills nf nioney, classilied according' to the merit of each individual. In May 1S7S, in coiiseiiuence of niiich inconvenience hiivin<; lioeii exiierienced hy the otllcials in dischar;,'!' of their duly on account of the ilill'erences of lan;iua;,'e on such occasions as when inter- \ icwiii!,' foreiu'ii vessels or niakiiif,' impiiry as to foreij,'n poachers, the following' instructions were fjiveii In the siipi'iiiilcmliii'j ollii'ials in Shikolan, and were posted in conspicuous places, written in foreign liiijiua^'t's, \ i/. : • I, This islaml is ihc Isliml of Sliikotan, county of llannsaki, Nennim, Hokkaido, belonf,'in^ to I he Knipire of .Japan. '• L'. You ar.' ri'ipii'sled In it'j.ort in detail, in wri'iii;;, the uatioiiality of ve.ssel, its naine and that of ilie ca]ilaiii, l''c nuinlier of crew, and the reason of coniini». If for temporary .•,nclioriii,'e, in want of «nlcr or iiicl, . in consi'i|ueiice of wind or tide, you are reipiested to leave as soon as your wants uio salisHed or the we.ithcr liecmm's favourahle. •• lluntin.i^ of :'fn animals is prohiliited in the nei.nhhourinj,' seas." The skins of ilie si^ils ]irepaied accordini,' to the mode of the lo.-ality were very thin, aiitl the Vio, CSS of tannin;,' was inrpi'ifect. In dune of the same yisir a skilled tanner of Tokio was consulted, .Old it was ad\i-'t'd lliat the skins shall lie left as thick as jiossihle, ami to jirevent the chani,'e of fur- I'iiliiiir, that lliey sli'iiild III' ]iaiiiti'd with coal-water in siutli a manner as to allow the colour of the Iralher to lie seen, and when dry to lie ]iainted a;,'ain twice in the sanii^ way. In siiinmer, there heini» fear if miitli, iliey were III lie )iiiinleil with camphor-water after liein^' painted with coal-wali'r. ilerctofoie, as tliere was no restriction as to till! n:od(! of .seal-huntinj;, and fear.s were entertained of the cxterminaliiiii of the species liy wanton huntiii<;, lluntin;; lie;.»ulations were issued in Octohei' uillia view III iao;;iiiti' the increase of seals, as well as to check iioachinj,' ; and four superintending otllcials ami tliirlv-six hunters were luhled. The lic!,'ulalions lun as follows: — '• .Article 1. In view of ]irotcctin,t,' seal-hunt inu; and checking foreign jioaidiers, a vessel <if foreign ivpe shall he ciiiiiinissioni'd to cruize in the neighlioiirhood of Jtrup. ' (Jhishiinamaru ' shall he coni- iiiissioiied for this ]iurpo.se for the time heing. •' All. L'. The mode of killing; shall mainly ho liy clubhing, and the use of guns sliall he avoided a.'< much as possililc " Art. ."i. Voiiiig seals shall he spared as much as i>ossilile. " .Art. 4. The numher of Heals to lie caught within 1 ri of cnast-line shall not exceed forty-five per annum. '• Art. .". I'.i'iwei'n Iho months of ilay nnd Xoveniher the killing of seals within 1 ri of coast-line is prohiliited. " Art. Ii. Any person who catches wounded or crippled seals wa.shed ashore, even within the proliiliition limit, shidl he paid in money or in kind according to the quality of the skin. " Alt. 7. To ]irevent Ihe decrease of seals 'ly careless chasing and wanton killing, .special care .shall always he taken, and the preventive method sli.dl he cstahlished. •' .\rt. S. The numher of seals taken will be inspected, and their skins shall fi.v the proof of their ages. " Alt. ;•. The covering and breeding seasons, &c., shall be carefully a.sccrtaine(l by practical obser- vations. "Art. 10. I'ractiial observations and investigations .shall be made as to the truth of the seals lo.sing or changing the c dour of their fur according to diiFerent seasons. " ,\rt. 11. An actual investigation shall be made as to how many seals can be caught annually if the use of guns be discontinued, and clubs and bows and arrows be adopted in.stead. " Art. 12. While out hunting, if anything occurs likely to form an object for future investigation, n minute record sliall be kept. "Art. i:i. AVhilc the present Regulations shall be strictly obeyed by all those wiio arc responsibl 1(U I'oi' s>iil-liuiitin<;, tlwy can iiililrt'ss lln'iiinflvt's to tlii' iiullioritiL's to clUrt iviiuiicil iinieiiiliiicnls in ijisf jivactifiil inconvenioncus sliull linvc bci'ii i'xiM'iii'n(.v(l." Yi'iir liy year the use ii| ynus I'nv killini,' seals liavin),' ,i,'railtially ini'ivascil, tlic I'liylilfncil s'.sil> oscaiM'il into distant |ilai'('s, ami lii'j,'an to tlurk alxail tin- cuast-lini's ami near seas ot' tlio Islaml nl' Kiniasliir, wlioie human lii'inj;s were nmst sclilmn lnund. ('(ins('i|iiontly, liunlin.; iiiiailcr.s wciv ('staMislicil in the islaml, Inintin;,' a]i]iaiatns('s newly siiii]plie,l, sii]nM'intemliiii,' (itlieeis weic sent ami liiniters eiiiiau'ed, and llie Iniiilinu Imsiness was stalled afresh. I'liil heic, ajiaiii, ]ieii]il(' eanie and li.\ed their huutinu; ([iiaiters. and the aiiival and deiiai'ture ul' hoais liecanie iVeiineiil. Tlie de-iease (,!' s(;il^ nalMially t'ldluwed, and i'oreii,'n ]Miacheis alsn disa]i|ieaii'd. In .Inne ISTil a hniitiiiL; de)u"it was huilt at liirilaish, in the cniMity oT l''i:riilii't.Mi. Iini|p. In May 1S8() His liii]ierial Majesty's Consul at San Fraiieiseo re|)oitiil thai a sihoonn- had le:l that pint for the i>iir|)ose ol' sral-huntiiiij; in the iieiLjhhourini,' seas i,]' liru]i. On ohsei'viiii,' the ueiieial as]ieet at this time, and eoiiiiiaiiiii,' it with i'oinier years, the imiiihei i.i seals cauudit was I'lamd to he on the deeiease, ami il is evident as a nialter ol'ecaiise thai the nioie tla'V are killed tlu! fewer will lie hred : while, yi'ar alter year, increased iidliix of l'oreiL;ii ]ioaehi'r-i eoni|ieteil in the tishiiiLt, there heiiiL,' no means (jf eheekiuu' them outside ihe line of territorial liiiiil lived li\ inlei- lialinnal law, llesides, as the forei;;iiers did not in the least eare ahoiil the deeiease of hreedin^ or the exierminatioii of the sjieeies, they freely used their j,'nn.s in liuntinj;. ami. as the le-ult. ihey killeil the ;^realest iiuniher. Thus we wi-ie also olilii,'ed to throw aside the old instruiueiits. siivh as elul's, how.s ami arrows, and tialfs. and to ado]it the ^_'uii, as it would he most foolish to keep to ihe old system whiiii letting others make the i^'icalest L;ain, Thus tlu' use of jjuns is the iiiaiu eause of ihe |preseiii decrease. In Fehrnaiy ISSl', after Kaitakushi was aholished, seal lishery alfairs weie trans.erred to li.e Ajiricultural and Coininercial I >e]iarliueiit. toj^ether with the suiierinteiidiiiu- ollieers. lisjilng iiniile- ineiits, and everything eoiiiu'cted with the lisheries. Kroin this time the tishinu was eariicd oii liy the ;iulhoiity of thn aliove-iuentioiied !)e|iartiiient until 1SS7. And, iu IXS'.i. the " I •aiiiiiitioii Suisan Kaisha " (the Marine J'roduce Coinipany of the Knipire i>f daiian' was u'lseii the exclusive ]ierniissii.M 111' lunitiiii^ seals and sea-otlers: ami the s'.'veral neynlations in force at the piesenl lime are i.~ follows: — ■ //rr'C i\«. 111. - Mil;/ I'll. 17'/' .'/f'"' I'f Miiji (I SSI.. " !u future, the hnntinv; ami catehint,' of .souls and sea-otlers in Hokkaido is ]iidhil«iled ; iIm' I'lU'iKlers will he ]iiiiiislied hy ;>7-'rd clause of the I'enal Code, and their catches will he eonti.sealed : hut those who are in |iossession of ihe special pennissioii of Ihe Minister of A;.;ricullui'e ami Coinnicrcc shall he exempted. '■ ■ Jiii/ii'fi'i/ /hiirr Ac. SU. " JlarniUr Itl, IV/A '/.wr ,//M/, /// ( I SSli). '■ ItiiJIiliifil'll^ i(,il'ii'l/llii/ //ir lllillliiKJ, l/il- I l,li:(li-lllt!<iil. Il.llll lllf Si'll <ij' Sin/s ililil SiK-iilli ,-:i Hull Ijii'n- llliif IlitU". " Article J. Any person who is in possession of the special jtennission of Ihe Minislei of .\;;ricul- tiire and Commerce, jinrsuant to the l»ecree No. Hi of the 17th year of Meiji (lSSt\ shall he allowcil to hunt and catch seals and sea-ottei< within such aiea and season as may he lixed hx Hokkaido ('ho. provided that the person .shall always carry the special iiermil when he. is eM;iajied in huuliiii;. and that wherever he may he, on laml or on water, he shall at owv produce and slu-w the s.inie ie the superiii- teiidinu oHieials or ]ioliee ollieers when they ask him to do so. "Art. ■_'. When any person en^'aifed in .seal and sea-otter hunting; arrives in Hokkaido, he sludl lepoii the name of his hoal, its tonna.uv, and the names of crew, to tlu^ hraiich otlice named hy the Hokkaido Cho, and shall always keep lixed to the mast, or other conspiciions part of the l.oal. a ci'itaiii si,L:n specially provided for such liuntiiij,' lioats. "Art. .">. Any per.son wishing to sell raw hides of seals m sea-otters shall tiist preseni and have them stamped (hramliiij: stamps can he used) hy the jiroper ollieers at the hianch ottiee mciitioued in Artii'le '1. No hides without this otlicial stamp sliall he allcweil to he sold. " Art. 4. If any peison who has im]H)rted into any port of the I'.mpire. or anehorcil in any | ml having on hoard raw hides of si'als or sea-otlers, or had sold or is goin;; to sell these hides in a market, lie found out, the Customs alithorities or the police ollieers shall sei/,e the aiticles. ami shall at once (irosecute the oHeiider : ]irovided that the raw hides of seals or .sea-otters caught within the teriitories of llnssia or the United States of America, with due jieniiission of the respective Cioverniiient.s. can Ic imported into the Kirpire upon the owner or th' captain of the ship producing the certilicale given iheiii hv the proper autliority of their tlovernnient or the giiaraaleoiiig icrtiticate of the IJiissian or ll.i' I'nited States' Con.=uls residing in the Kiuiiire." 165 ■ A'.//.-,,/ .,',ja,;li„.j Ih,: /.WisI,,,, uj ll„ iHoih rf I'm,:,/,,,; /„ Ciirn/ ,m( tl„' /{.yii/otions ,',>uh;,lli„g the Sail tiiiil Siui-vthr /fiii{/iii</. Tn Ms KNccIlfiii'v Kiiii'iiotti) TuKciiki, Minister 111' Agriculture iiml Coiinucive, X-c. • Sir. " //ii/diiii/i) r/io. .Iiilif Id, L'ls/ iffiir of Miiji (ISSK). !i:ive the liiiiniiii' to iiilonn your Kxeclleiicv iliMt tli,! il.jliiils of ].iceeiliire to eaViv out the I'.ilh o. .Aleiji (l.SHi.j have liee;: ivvise.l, iw shown in the inelcse.l copy of Cjiorci No. :;:. .iiite.l Httli Miiv cil'ihe iiiiieiit vciir. ■• I have, \-e. (Sif^'iie.l) "XAflAVAMA TAKKSHIHO, " /h'rccfor of Hokkuido I'lw.' " luclnsiile. •• Ihtnlis ,./ I'ron.lri: lo ,:,rr,j v.'l llir l;<i,,il„lio,i^ n„il,:,llu„j Ihr Snil „„,/ Sc,i-(ifta- IliniluUl. ••Article I. The ojien seii.-ion lor seal and sea-otter hnnlint; slmil he from the l.'ith Ai.ril to the ..I si (Jclolier ni (aili year. . " -^"- -■ ''■''"■ •"•'.'•i "•■ linntin- shall he all the islan.ls situated eastward ol llrui), and soulliward of Miin.shu, ol the Kunles. and it will he divide.l into three sections, and evervvear only one af these veil, )ns shall lie opened for hunting;. " " • The lirst. se.tiou includes seven iy.lands, ,>., jtrup, Chirihoi, l?utettc.lu>lhoa VX Hixui'lilou. K.iikoke, .Musjur. and Clnrinkolan. 'TIk! sec.nd section indmlcs six islands. />., Shiinshir, Shiritoi, Cshisliir, Sletonmi I a Kash-ia :iiid Matsua. ' ' ' -The third scMtiou includes twelve islands, /.,■., Shannekotan, Vekkenna \'.V KarreukotaM. Ouuekolan, Anos, Makarushi, Shurenwa [.'], I'ara.nnshir. Holt, L'ouk.scar, Ai-aito, an.l Shin.shu. '■•^'■••-- "Ih'I' i' I'oat is t;on.j; out for hunting', her name, tonnage, and the names of the .ivw AvM he reported lor ,nsp,,.t,on to the hrancli oflke of seal and sea-ott..r huntin- superintending ^nithoritics, euher at Nenniro. ni the county of Xemuro, or at Shikotan, in tiie couiitv of (liishiina. ■■.\rt J. Wiu'n the h;;nich (.tlice of seal and sea-otler hunting' supcrintcudint; authorities lin.l i report mentioned ir. Arlicle :; in due :orm on inspection, it will j^ive to (he hoal a fla-' hereiiialler ■ Art [. \\\ ll.u shown ■• Art. :.. Ai ," ■)}}:,''■ -^"Z •"'':"" ^'■''" "''^'"^^■'' •^" ^''^l'"!'' '"'•' ■•*''ll tl"' 'ii^*- l'i"l''« of his catch .shall i)roduiV ihcm to llieNi.kotan Lranch ol the seal and .sea-otter liuntiufr .snpeiintendin.' authorities, and shall liasc Ml 111 stamped. TliK V\.\r.. i: i; 100 Ni;mi!Ki: of Si-als aiul Son-ctti'i'? cnii"lit. f Yi'ar. NuniliiT of Sea-otttTs. Nuiiilt r cif ScuN. 1873 187< 187.'i 187C 1877 1878 1879 1880 1881 1882 18HS 1884 188.-. 188(1 1887 I88l> 1S8!) I8fll) W.'l 288 78 250 28.-I :!43 270 211 137 it 82 r>3 31 9'J ' f;! 33 47 SSI Mi'llluVUHihihl I'l^plitilliJ ,1(1 Jill iir^i' Slid Flxlii 1. — ll'/ii/lnr till- fkiliiu- (/;• Dixlrmtion t\f //u Vishi'iij is iilliiliiiluhU to lln- S/i'iii/lilo- uf llir >\iili n-i'iiir i.n i-'/iiof fit llie'w Jliriiliiii/-j)li(rii, or In lliiir I'lnxiilt at lun/r on the ciiYi'iiJnn nl Ciriii. 1. Tlio only Isiiowii rookeries or liiiiilinj.' puimils of ilie rm-se.il Ailliiii .Iii|iiiin>-e doiiiiiii'iiis r.r.t llie Ibllowiiif;: — Sreiliioi lio<'k.s (iifr I'sliisliiii). Jtitikoki' Isliiiiil. Jfusliiii IJoeks. The lir.sl of tliese Imiiliiij; grounds, nil nf wliicli are siiiuiteil in llu; Kiirile.--, is ordy snnie llM» yanls loiij4 liy (11) yards wide, and (lie otlu'rs are nut niueli lari^er ; Imt at the lime of their diseovery in ISSI they must liave haihoured annually some 20,000 nr I'.'i.OOO fur-seals; ."..Dim weic aelually taken therr by one vessel in the year mentioned. Siner llien they havi' gradually declined in iirdihirlixeuess, in;d it may he said tliat at the jir.'sent time they xiidd catrhes ol' unly a few si(ire> in tiie ]ilar ■ i,[' thousands. There can he no ihadil that this result is exeliisi\tOy due Id ilie iuiliseriimnali' .-hiuul.trr of il:e seals at their hreeding ]ihu-e. No "rookery ' vould withstand for niau\ years su'li uhnlesal.' destruction as these were exposed to in eonseiineme of the sueet's.^ful venlnri' nl' I.->>!1. .\or i- tliri' any other way of aecountin;,' fnr their deiiletinu, for it is known that the Isvo nv ijirei' fnicign se ders wliieh now tind it wurth their while to e(^ui]i at Yukcihania di> nn! ( n^iii^i' in iiejagic sealiuL.', hut iiroceed to the more extensive haunts of iheir (|uariy heyond . Japanese waters, siiel. as liobhen. liehring, and ('o]>]ier Islands, where tla'y liope in elude the \ i;jilaui'e of tli!' Ii'iissiau guani ves-scls. Large uniuhers of seal from the liussian ' incikei ;e,-; " ali' scallered e\(iy wiuUa' n\irlhe ni'eaii lying olf the north-east coast o'^ >laiian. Init they ari' iinmnlested liy foreign or n.ilix.' >ealing-\essels, and oidy tlu' fringe of them is touched hy native tishermen in their open Imals ;\\,<u<^ ihe Xanilm and Vezii coast, when' some 1' 000 or .".,000 ai'o lak<'n annually. 1:!, — //( ii'Jitll Mini III r t/ir Fur-Siiil lUluiui Ims imii nr /< rniiiiinlnl in incli iHiiUniinr l.if<.i\il ij. '1. The coast fishery hy the .Fajiane.se in tlu' immediate neigldiourlmoil of ^■|■zn and olf lin! mainhind uoith of Inahosaki has just heen alluded to. It is carried on in native open hoats hy means of s]ieariiig or nets. 'I'Ik; catch (!',("'•• or l'..oiiO skins a-year) is dispused of In ( hincse merchants at Hakodate. Other [lelagie sealing there is none in the ocean lying olf Japan. The few scattered seals still to lie found ahoul the exhausted bleeding grounds <,f ihe Kiirihs are occasionally taken hy the sclioouers oi' the .lapancsc "Marine I'roducis Company." hut oidy two lilted out tliis year, ami their catch was sixty seals lietween them. <Jf IJritish and other foreign sealers only three were eipiipjicd al Yokohama liiis yeai: hut thi' splicre of iheir o]ieiatioiis lies to ihe northward heyond .Japanese jurisdiclion. According In lignres fnrnislied hy the Ihilish ('(JiisiihUe al Yokohama, hetweeii eleven and eighteen of these vessels left Yokohnma anniuilly for the seal lisheries in the years following the iliseovery of the Knrile hreeding grounds, iiainely, between ]882 aid l.SS.l inclusive. .After IHHo their ir.imbeis gr.aiually dwindled, owing to the depletion of the .laji; ii se lishciy and the greater rl.sk and uncertainly attending a crui/e to more nortlierly waters. 167 It is stated by the Japanese Agricultural Department that " the fur-seal appears to be reared on the rocky coasts, and, in consequence, they are generally caught while swimming at a distance not more than 1 nautical mile from the coast." It may be that a few are so taken about the Kuriles, but the fishery — now almost extinct— of those islands was carried on, in the yeara of its prosperity, entirely by clubbing the animals on the beach. 3. — JFhether any, ajid, if any, wlvat Measures have been taken Uncards the Protection of the Fur-Seal Fisheries, and, further, if any such Measures are known to have jn-oved successful in preserving or rehaUlitatinff the Fislieries. 3. The measures tardily taken by the Japanese Government in 1884 to protect the Kurile rookeries have remained entirely inoperative. Elaborate Kegulations were framed in tliat year and in 1886, establishing a close season between the 1st November and the 15th April, and dividing the Kuriles into three groups, in only one of which was fishing to be allowed in any one year, and then only on the issue of a licence by the authority constituted for the purpose. There is no means of enforcing these Regulations, which, indeed, were not devised until after the ruin of the hauling grounds liad been effected. A Japanese guard-ship was told off this year to watch over their observance, but she never left her station at Nemuro, and, except the Japanese " Marine Products Company," now rapidly approaching bankruptcy, no one dreams of applying for the regulation licence, or of limiting his operations to the group in which the fishery is legally permissible. But, as stated above, the Kuriles no longer attract tlie seal fishermen to any extent worth mentioning. The Japanese ILegulations in question have no bearing on pelagic sealing, which, as already stated, is not engaged in by Japanese or foreign sealing-vessels. V •*■■ , 4. — GenernUy, any PaHiculars an to the JAfe-hislory of tlm AniiiMl, its Mi/p'ation, Season of bringing forth its Young, and Habits of the Seals while engaged in suckling and rcaHng the Yoking. 4. The vast bulk of the seals now found in Japanese watera, and more especially in that portion of the ocean extending eastwards from the coast between Inabosaki and the eastern point of Yezo are from tlie Russian breeding gi-ounds in the Behring Sea and in the Sea of Okhotsk. They follow the fish southwai-ds about the beginning of November, and remain scattered over a large expanse of ocean, where they are quite unmolested, throughout the winter and spring months. It is a matter of some surprise that no attempt is made to take them in tlie ojien sea, as is done on such a large scale in the case of the seals resorting to the breeding grounds of the eastern portion of Behring Sea. Possibly they scatter more in the Western Pacific, and are less easy to find. After tiieir sojourn in tlie south, the first to repair to the northern rookeries are the old bulls, arriving about the middle of June. They await tha cows, whicli follow tliem towards the end of the same month. Yearlings and other non-breeding seals arrive at any time later. The young are brought fortli in the beginning of July. It is sometimes stated that the females are in the liabit of leaving tlie rookeries to catch fish witliin 10 or 20 miles of tlie shore for the support of their young, but the exjierienced authority on whose remarks these notes are founded is not of this opinion. He has never found food inside the female fur-seal taken on the hauling grounds. (Signed) M. I)E BUNSEN, Her Majesty's Sccrctani of Legation, TCkid, November 19. 1891. m. Mr. Wytudham to the Mairjuis of Saliiibury. — {Jieceived November 21.) (No. 107. Commercial.) My Lord, lUo de Janeiro, October 27, 1891. Witli reference to your liOi-dsliip's Circular ilespatch No. 30 of the 10th August last, and to my despatch No. 114 of the 25111 Seittember, on the subject of the fur-seal fisheries of the Southern Hemisphere, I have (he honour to transmit herewith to your Lonlship copy of a despatch which I have received from Her Majesty's CJonsul at Rio Grande do Sul, in which he states tliat, having made inquiries in both States of his Consular district, he finds that no expe<litions an; sent tlience to the fisheries, and that nothing is known about the conditions under wiiich tlie fisheries are carried out, or the habits of the seal itself. I have. Sic. (Signed) HUGH WYNDHAM. Consul Hearne to Mr. Wyndham. Sir, Rio Orande do Sul, October 14, 1891. With reference to your despatch of the 9th September last respecting certain information with regard to the fur-seal fisheries of the Southern Hemisphere, I have the honour to inform you that I [805J Z r 168 have made inquiries in both States in tliis Consular district, and Hud that no expeditions are sent hence to the fisheries, nor is anything known about the conditions under which fisheries are carried out, or the habits of the seal itself. I have, &c. (Signed) W. 11. HEARNE. Mr. Wyndham to the Afarqim of Salishiiri/. — (Received October 22.) Sro. 114.) y Lord, Hio de Jatmro, September 25, 1891. With reference to your Lordship's despatch No. 30 of the 10th ultimo, desirii g certain informa- tion respecting fur-seal life in tlie Soutliern Hemisphere, for the use of the Govc.nment of Canadii, and to my despatch No. 109 of the 9th in.stant on the same subject, 1 have the liouour to i-eport to your Lordship tliat 1 have i-eceived a note from the Minister of Foreign Att'airs, in reply to my request for the information desired, in which he states, on the autliority of tlie ^linister of Marine, that p.oal- tishing is unknown in Brazilian territorial waters, that no laws re3[iecting the same exi.st in Bra^d, and that iiitherto no .ossel engaged in this trade lins tojiched at any Brnzilian port. 1 have, &c. (Signed) HUGH WYNDHAM. Mr. Pakenham to the Marquis of Salisbury. — {Received January 18, 1892.) (No. 51.) My Lord, Buenos Ayres, December 22, 1891. With reference t« your Jx)ruship's desi)atch No. 24 of the 10th August on the subject of seals and oeal fishery on the Argentine coast, I now iiave tlie honour to inclose translation of the reply of the Minister for Foreign Affairs to my inquiry on the subject, whereof copy is likewise inclosed. Apparently the taking of seals is at present prohibited by law, as also the working for profit of any natural product of the south coasts, tliough it is implied that before very long certain fishery privileges may be conferred in various quarters not as yet named. I believe there is an extensive industry in the seal fishery olf Maldonudo, near Monte Video, and, in fact, I well remember, twenty-five years or so ago, that those concerned in the fishery gravely petitioned the Government that the lighthouse at Maldonudo sliould be closed, as the light appeared tu iilarm the seals, i liavis &c. (Signed) r. I'AKENHAM. Mr. PakenlMin to Sehor Coda. M. le Ministre, Buenos Ayres, Scptemlcr 12, 1891. I have the lionour to place in your Excellency's hands a copy of a Circular issued by the Depart- ment of Fisheries of the Dominion of Canada, and wltich lAivil Salisbury has directed me to lay before the Argentine Government, with thct request tiiat, if it is possible, they will kindly furnish the information therein asked, which is to the effect that fears being now seriously entertained as to the total destructif)n of the fur-seal, or sea-licar, a series of qtieries lias been issued on this interesting subject with a view to their protection. I have therefore the honour to request, that your Excellency will khidly cause steps to Ije trtken to obtain the desired information as t^) the pursuit, capture, or preservation of these valuable animals in Argentine waters for transmission to the (Jovernor-fieneral of the Dominion. . 1 avail, &c. (Signed) F. I'AKENHAM. Seflor Zehallos to Mr. BakenhuM. (Translation.) Seiior Ministro, Bueiuu Ayres, December 14, 1891. In reply to your note addressed to my distinguished predecessor on the 12th September last, 1 have the honour to inform your Excellency that the taking of seals, as also the working for profit (" exploilacion ") of any natural product of the south coasts, is prohibited liy law, and for a long time this has been the case with this branch cf national industry. Further, from what I can judge of the case, I am able to tell your Excellency that the Executi\n Power has asked Congress for authority to concede some fishing concessions to certain persons, wiio will be obliged to supply the necessary information for the publication of the projects presented to tiie legislative Boily. I avail, &c. (Signed) ESTANISJ^VO ZEHALLOS, 169 MemoraHdvvh uu l/ir Stat FUhin/ in rrnyiinif, hi/ Mr. Erntd Satoic. Tlie seal fishery in the Republic oi Uruguny is ctiriietl on at three points on the Athuitio coast, uiiniely, Lobos Island, at the entrance to the IMo dc la Plata, at the (Jastillos Islands further uortb, and at Coronilla Kio^ip' "C"'" t''^* Brazilian frontier. Two kinds of seals are known there, namely, tlie fur-f-eal, and the couiinon siugle-hair seal. The male of the latter species is large, and of a dark brown colour, while the female is much smaller, and of a yellow colour. At Loboa Island there is an establishment for steaming down the oil and salting the skins, besides huts for the accommodation of the sealers who live there during the killing season. At the highest point of the island is a large " corral," or inclosure, capable of holding severol thousand seals. When not engaged in killing, the sealers remain in the vicinity of their huts, Ijut when the superintendent sees a favourable opportunity, which happens usually during cold winds from the south- east, in consequence of the seals coming high up out of the water, he sends the men down to intercept them, and by making loud noises to drive them into the corral. Then, as coriveuience suits, a certain number of seijls are let out by a door on the opposite side to that by which they entered, and driven to the killing giound, where they ai-e (piiokly dispatched by a blow with a cluli. The establishment for the Castillos Islands is at Polonia, on tlio mainland, whence the sealers proceed in Iwats when they judge that then! is a favouralde opjMirtunity. The general opinion seems to be that there lias lieen no diminution in the number of tiie seals, at any rate of recent yeai-s. In 18''6 a Decree was i.ssued establishing a close season fi-om the 16th October to the 31st May, and this J-aw is strictly enforced. A copy in translation is annexed. As has been seen above, there is no pelagic seal-fishing off the coast of Uruguay. The figures of the export of seal-skins and nutria skins (the latter is a large fresh-water rat, Myopotamvs Cm/pus, inhabiting the rivers) for the last six years preceding 1891 are as follows : — 1885 1880 1887 1888 1889 1890 2S,88S 24,191 42.318 22,542 30.211 38,462 ■ Although there is thus considerable variation in the yield of the fisheries, there does not appear to be any ground for supposing a constant diminution. The female fur-seal pro<Uices one at a birth, tlie male pups being the more numerous. The puppii.g season begins in November. The niotliera are very careful of their young. When the latter are about a fortnight old the mothers take them down to the water and teach them to swim They suckle their young for nearly a year. The seals never entirely abandon the islands, but go to and fro their fishing Imnks, which are not far off. The mating season is in December and January. During this time the males often fight savagely for possession of the females, and luimliers may be seen lying on the islands or shore of the mainland helpless from their wounds. The fisheries in Uruguay are leased to a private Company, oi which Don Guillermo I.afone is Managing Director. : ■•( Decree establiihing a Close Season. (I'ranslation.) The Government being unable to remain indifi'erent to the denunciations of the periodical press with reference to the abuses committed in " exploiting " the amphibious animals that populate the Islands of Ijiboa, Espinillo, and Polonia, aud the regulation of this industry, implying not only an advantage for the Company which pursues it, as well as a duty appertaining to the public Administration charged with the preservutioii and development of those factors of the national wealth, the Provisional Governor in Council decrees : — Article 1. The slaughter of .seals on the aliove-mentioned islands shall commence on the 1st day of .lune, and termiiiate on the loth day of October in eucli year. Art. 2. The Civil Administititor of the Department of Maldoiiado is ehaiged with the execution of the present Decree, and he will take the necessary measures for its due execution. Art. I?. Let this be communicatefl, published, and deposited in the public archives. (Signed) IJITORRE. (Countersigned) Jt'AN A. Vasqum. Monte Viiho, May Vi, 1874. [306] / 2 ( 170 ) APPENDIX (C). Various Letters and Communications relating to the Fdr-Sealh of the Britith Columbian AND Neighbouring Coasts. Questions addressed to District Indian Agents on tfie Const of British Columbia. [These questions, prepared by Dr. Dawson, were kindly forwarded by Mr. A. W. Vowell, Superinten- dent of Indian Affairs in British Columbia, to the t'.reo Coast Agencies, in the summer of 1891.] 1. Are fur-seals found or hunted by Indians in any part of your district ? If so, at what seasons are they found in greatest nural)ei-s, and about what dates are they iirst and lost seen each year ? 2. Are fur-seals known to give birth to their young on or about any part of tlie (joast in your district, and, if so, at what places and in what seasons ? If young pups are observed, please state whether the Indians know their mode of birth, i.e., whether bom on shore or at sea. 3. Do any of the Indians in your district know of breeding places formerly resorted to by the fur-seal, or do they remember to have lictird that such breeding places formerly existed ? 4. Have the fur-seals been more or less abundant on the coast within the past few years ? f=i ,.i 1^^ Information received in reply to the foregoing Questions. Sir, Wed Coast Indian Agency, Nannimo, JvXy 30, 1891. In answer to Circular of the 20th July, received from India Office, 1 have the honour to state that fur-seals are hunted by the Indians on the west coast, and are found in great numbers in February. Are first seen in December and last in April — that is close in shore. After that they begin to travel along the coast of Vancouver Island and Queen Charlotte Islands towards Behring Sea. Fur-seals are not known to give birth to their young on any part of i.i„ coast in my Agency. All Indian sealers inform me that seals are born on shore (from their experience in Behring Sea, where many fe>nales are killedj, and that the mothers leave the young on shore in daytime, going some miles cut to sea in search of food, returning at night. Indians in my district do not know of any breeding places formerly resorted to by the fur-seal, nor do they remember to have heard of such places. With regard to the last query, I should say that the fur-seal have been less abundant on the coast the last few yeara, as the schooner coast catch has been less than formerly. From the Barclay Sound Indians report the seals have been unusually abundant this and last season, but were scarce for three seasons before. The reason given to me by one of the beat Indian sealers in Barclay Sound for the number of seals in the mouth of the Sound this year was that the hi'nters on the schooners who seal farther from shore than the Indians shoot at the seals so much that it frightcu.s them in shore, of which tlic Indians, who use only spears, take advantage, and get the skins they want without frightening tliem away ; also the seals follow the herrings for food. Sonic 1,300 skins were taken to Victoria tliis spring at one time speared by Indians in or near the mouth of Barclay Sound. I liave, &c. (Signed^ HARRY OUILLOD, Agmt. Dr. Dawson, Care of C. Todd, Esq., Metlakahtla. Sir, KvMvi Kewlth Indian Agency, Alert Hay, August 13, 1891. 1 have the honour to forward, as requested, the i.iformatiou which I have obtained from the Indians at the north end of Vancouver's Island, viz., the Nuwitti Indians on the east, and the Kwatseno Indians on tiic west side, as these are the ciily two tribes in my Agency who hunt the fur-.seal. The fur-seal is found in greatest luimbers about tin; last week in December, and continue to Ije seen for about a month or six weeks, when they decrease in numbers, and are only occasionally seen after that time. The Indians have never known them to have young during the time they are in the neighbour- hood, and none have Imeii killed younger tiian about six months old. They have never heard of any breeding grounds in thi; vicinity. They say that during the last two years the fur-seals have not been nearly so plentiful as in former years, and this year few have gone out to hunt them on that account. The Indian name here for the fur-seal is " ka-wha." I have, &c. (Signed) R. H. PIDCOCK. Indian Agent Dr. Dawson, Metlakatbla. 171 1. «''-■■ Sir, Nortli-v'est Coast Agency, Mdlakahtla, B.C., September 4, 1891. In reply to a Circular letter from the Su[ierintcii(lent of IikUhii Affairs at Victoria, dated the 20th July, 1891, requestinj; my answers to coitain ((uestions concerning tiie habits and iiaunts of the fur-seal in British Coliimbin waters, after full and Dxiiaustivc inquiries, I have the honour to subjoin the following : — 1. Yes ; they are inmted and killed by Indians all along the north-west coast and Quceu Charlotte's Islands, their route wiiilst travelling south being near tiie coast-line east of Queen Charlotte's Islands, and returning to tlie northward mostly on tlie west side of said islands. They lii-st appear going south al)out the niiddli! of Dcceiidjer, and disappear going north about the end of May in each year. The fur-seals are most numerous during the months of January, February, ami March. 2. No ; occasionally a last year's pHj) is found, and during April and May many female seals have been killed with young so near birth tliat tliey have been taken from tlie old seals and have lived, can swim about, and have been raised by Indians. The Indians all state that the mother seals go far north to give birth to llieir young ; that seals are born on shore far away. ;}. No such places known to the Indians of this district. 4. Indian tradition makes fur-seal very numerous long ago, but the preseiit generation of Indian hunters think that they have teen the same as now for at least twenty years. During last spring (the Indians think) tiie seals werj as numerous as ever, but few were caught owing to continued rough water. 1 inclose a letter from West Huson, Esq., a man well acquainted with the Bella Bella Indians and their hunting work, which disproves the statements originating at Bella Bella that the fur-seal bring forth their young amongst the kelp beds in Queen Charlotte's Sound. I have, &c. (.Signed) C. TODD, Indian Agent, Ninth-vxst C'ond Ageiwf, Dr. Dawson. Letter from Mr. A. W. Hvson. indowil hi/ 3fr. C. Todd. Dear Sir, Bdla Bella, B.C., Aiigxist 17, 1891. As per request I have made several inquiries at China Hat ami at this place regarding breeding places of the fur-seal, but find that none of the natives know of any breeding rookeries of the fur-seal in this part of British Columbia. Some say the seals have their young off shore in kelp patches, tlien others say they bring forth their pups on the outlying rocks along these shores, but none of the natives ever saw their pupping places ; most of them say the mothei' seal goes a long away off to pup. Mr. Clayton says he is positive that the fur-seal do not bring forth their jnips on this part of the coast Respectfully yours, (Signed) A. W HUSON J. Todd, Esq. * EMrndfrom Ldler from Mr, A. W. Hvson,, dated. Victoria, B.C., Odohcr 1(>, ISO], and addressed- to Dr. G. M. Dawnon. The fur-seal come into Queen Charlotte Sound early in ] )ecei)ibei', and \\\v. mostly all females in pup. A little later on the grey pups make their ap])earaiice close in shore if the weatlier is bad, so that the natives kill many of them in sight of their villages, and on one occasion, some twenty years ago, a great swiarm of grey pups a.scended to the very head of Knight's Inlet so thick that 1 knew of one native killing sixty in one day. However, this was an cxcei)tioii, it was in the month of March, and the young seal seemed to be falling in and icoding on the nlachun tliat always ivscend Knight's and Kingcorae Inlets. Nearly every winter fur-seals, both old and young, are t<j be seen in about the waters of Queen Charlotte Sound, coming in in December and leaving again about April. The number usually killed by the natives depends on the weather. I have traded in as high as 600 skins from the natives at Nawitti in one year. There are no rookeries about the north end of Vancouver Island that I know of. The natives say the females go off into the kelp patches to liring fortli their young. ; .^4^.. Extradft from Letters to Dr. G. M. Dawson from Mr. J. I»'. Madcay. Under date of the l;'>th November, 1891, Mr. Mackay writes as follows: — " Tlie old Indian hunters of the Songees, Sookt^ and CLdan banils often informed me that in their younger days fur-seals and sea-otter were in the Iribit of landing in groat numbers at the Race Rocks, 11 miles from Victoria ; they also fre([iiente(l the < Jiilf of Georgia. I have bought fur-seal skins from the Seshahls who inhabit the Jarvis Inlet, taken from animals killeil at Sangster's Island, near To.xada. These animals were driven to the ocean from the narrow waters by being hunted with the use of tire-arms ; during the spring numbers of the young animals tisii in the broken waters inside of the outlying half-tidj locks and reefs wliich fringe the western shores of Vancouver Island and of the other islands whicli lie west of the mainland from Queen Charlotte Sound to Dixon's Entrance. The older animals ! 172 remain fiutlitir iit sea, 1ml nuinbei's of tliciit ttikf Hliulter in the liii'<„'(;i' ^>uunds (hiring ^turmy weather. I have seen them utt' Metlakahthi in tlie muntli of •Titnuary. They wuru tirst Hystemntically hunted by tko Whifefl aXnnit ISoU. The Indians took tu huntinjj; tliem uume two or tliree years hiter ; Ixtfore that period they merely killed them wJien tlioy hapiiened incidentally to come in tlieir way, as they did with most other wild animals; up to that jieriod the heaver, marten, mink, hind-otter, and sea-otter were the only animals which the Indians systematically hnutod tor tiieir skins. " Tiie Indians above quoted stated tliat the fur-seal bi-ed on the Jlace IJocks, on Smith's Island (Wash.), and on several islands in the Oult of (Jeoi'giB. They used to Jiave their young to within a recent period on the Haystack Island, off Caiie Soott, Vancoiiver Island. It is probable that a few individuals still breed there, these islands being very inaccessible to small craft on account of the stiTOig tides and cross currents which prevail in that neighlwiirhood." A further inquiry addressed to Mr. J. \V. Mackay on the subject of the fonner breeding of fur- seals on Haystack Island elicted (under date the 7th January, 18lt2) the subjoined additional ])nrticulars on this and other points previously referred to. " licspecting your query of the 1st iu.staut, I got my information from the late Captain Hugh Mackay, of the schooner ' Favomite." ilackay was the first ])crson to jiractisc the taking of tlie fur-seal in the open ocean, and using a seawortliy vessel as tlie starling point and for shelter. The idea was suggested to him by the Indian huntei-s, who represented lo him the dilticulties and dangers of following the seals far from land in open canoes, and n.sked him to take them out in his schooner. He acceded to their demands, and success followed llie opemtioji. Mackay dieil about twelve years ago. He was an intelligent Scotchman from Sutherlaudshire, a coojjer by trade ; he collected much trustworthy information dvning tlie twenty years in which he was occupied trading on the west coast of Vancouver Island. 1 Ijelieve his statement respecting the fur-seal on Haystack Island, as it agrees with the accounts which I got in early days respecting individual fur-seals having their young in the unfre(iuented parts of the coasts of A'ancouver Island. Mr. Huson is probably correct as regards the landing of sea-lions on the Scott Islands. Informer times these animals extended their peregrina- tions all round Vancouver Island. I was one night kept awake for hours by the i-oaring of the male animals on Smith Island, off the south entrance to liosario Strait. The sea-lions would not interfere with the movements of the fur-seals, and both varieties might herd togetht/." From a further correspondence lespecting the date at ^hich Captain Hugli Mackay firat attempted sealing at sea the following are extracts : — Jannavji 20, 1892. — "The date of Hugh Mack;iy's lieginning to take tlie fur-seal at sea may lie arrived at ai>i»roximately by an examination of the Customs Kecords at the port of Victoria, British Columbia. Mackay owned the sloop ' Ino;' with her he tradetl oil and furs from the Indians of the west coast of Vancouver Island. He luade his first experiment on the fur-seal at sea with the ' Ino ;' finding this vessel too small to carry two or three canoes on deck, he built the schooner 'Favourite,' of 75 tons burthen. The ' Favourite ' was registered at the port of Victoria. Tlie date of her register will be about eighteen months subsequent to the ' Ino's ' first fur-sealing cruize. I shall write to Mr. Milne, tlie Customs Collectta' at tiie port of Victoria, to give me the date of the 'Favourite's' first register, and shall comnmnicat« results to you." Jamtary 31, 1892. — " I am informed that the schooner ' Favourite ' was launched at Sooke, British Columbia, on the 28th April, 1868. She was registered in A'^ictoria on the 18tli June, 18G8. Hugh Mackay was registered owner and nauster ; on this data we may conclude that the iii-st attempt at taking the fur-seal at sea was made by Hugh jNIackay in the spring of 1866, say, February 1866. The above information is from the Collector of Customs at the port of Victoria, British Columbia." Extracts from Letters from Jmhje James (f. Stcan, if Port I'ov.'itsend, State of Washington , addressed to Dr. a. M. Dawson. Under date of the 4th Novendjer, 1891, Judge Swan writes: — " Your letter of the 28th October was received tliis morning. I promised you, when we met in Victoria, to send you certain information relative to the boal catch at Cape Flattery, and particularly regarding the date when schooners first took out Indians with their canoes on the sealing grounds. But there has been no official record, and I have had to rely ujMm the recollection of individuals, which has proved veiy unsatisfactory. To-day 1 received a note from Captain E. H. Mc Almond, of New Dungeness, Washington, in reply to a letter frem me. Captain McAlmond writes, 1st November, 1891 : ' Tlie first schooner to take Indians that I know of was the schooner ' Lottie ' in 1869 from Neah Bay ; Ijelieving that we were the pioneers, T afterwards understood that a vessel from Victoria was also taking an Indian crew.' " On tlie 28th October last 1 received from Mr. Charles Spring, of Victoria, a letter, dated the 27th, in which he writes : ' The first attempt at sealing, in a practical way, with schooners and Indian hunters Was made in or about 1869 by James Christienson in the schooner "Surprise," owned by the late Captain William Spring, of Victoria, British Columbia.' This is evidently the vessel refeiTcd to by Captain McAlmond. No recoiti of catch has been kept by any one that I have ascertained, and the rt:;ollection of individuals is very uncertain. For instance. Captain .lames Dalgardno, for many years a Puget Sound pilot stationed at Neah Bay, was (piite certain that schooner ' J'otter,' of Tort Townsend, took Indians with canoes to the sealing greunds in 1861. But Captain McAlmond, who was at Neah Bay the same time, writes in the letter received from him to-day : ' Captain Norwood, in the " Potter," took Indians to pilot him to the halibut bank.' 173 ' " The only ofticial account of the seal catch at Oaiie Flattery tliat lia^ ever been kept is the one I had charge of for the tentli census of the United States under instructions from Professor Spencer F. BainV to make a full Keport on tlio fisheries of Cape Flattery, including fur-seals. This Iteport, in lull, may lie found in ' The Fisheries and Fishing Industries of the United States,' section 5, vol. iL Tliis is the most complete and reliable Ileix)rt ever published of the Neah Bay fisheries, and was compiled by me during the entii-e year of 1880 while I wiis in the official capacity of Insiiector of United States' Customs, stationed at Neah iiay. Since that time no account has been kept of an otticial nature, and any attempt to make up a statement would be mere guesswork, and utterly unreliable. I think Captain (Jharles Sjuiiig, who was witli us during our interview in Victoria, is a thoroughly reliable man, and his statement of seal statistics the most correct that I have known. I have endeavoured t.i obtain statistics from parties at Neali Hay, but without wuccess. " Tlie whole of tlie seol catch by the Indians of (.'ape Klottery has been sold in Victoria, and I tliink, clossed with other skins ])rocured fi-om the west coast Indian.". I would have supposed that the Indian Department at Wa.sliington, ever mindful of the good effect on inend)ers of Congress it is to make a good sliowing of Indian industries, would have instructed the Indian Agents to have kept a record similar to mine, so thai tiiey ooidd show to ( 'ongre.ss that tlie Makah Indians of Cajte Flattery are a self-supporting jwople. Hatl sucli a record Ixien kept, it.s value at this time woidd have been appreciated, but it seems to have lieen the policy of tlie authorities ot Washington to ignore all know- ledge of seal industries except those of the Pribylotf Islands ; hence the impossibility at the present time of reaching anv reliable results." ; Under date of the 10th January, 1892, Judge Swan write.s : — " Your kind letter of the 22nd December was received on the 31st. Since then 1 have been endeavouring to obtain past statistics of the .seal business at Cape Flattery, but without success. I have, however, arranged with an intelligent half-breed Makah Indian, who has tiie agency store and trading post at Neah Bay, to keep an accurate account of the catch during the present season. " Yesterday a number of Makah Indians came to my office, and I had a long interview with them They told me that they had come to fit out their schooners ' Lottie ' and ' .lames G. Swan ' for sealing. Tliese schooners are in winter (piarters in Scow Bay, opposite the city. Those Indians say that .seals are unusually plentiful at Cape Flatteiy and Barclay Sound, and if the weotlier is good they hope to make a large catcli." Under date of the 6th February, 18!)2, Judge Swan writes : — " 1 have seen several Makah Indians who have been here, and tiny tell mu that Indians lo.se very few seals, whetiier they s]tear or shoot them, as tJiey are always .so neai- the seal at such times that they can recover them before they sink. " Captain Lavender, formerly of schooner ' Oscar and Hattie,' who is a tine shot, told me that he .secured ninety-five seals out of every hundred that lie shot, lie .said that poor buuter.s, of wliich he had several on his vessel, would fire away a deal of ammunition and not hit anything, bnt would be sure to report on their return to the vessel that they killed a seid each time they fiied, but that all the seals sank except the few which tiiey brought on board. Cajitain Lavender was of op'' ion that not over 7 per cent, of seals killed were lost." Jmhje Siatii to Dr. (»', M. Dmrsnn. Dear Sir, State uf Wtishiiif/tun, December 13, 1891. I have just received from Neah Bay the following names of vessels engaged in sealing from Neah Bay in 1890 and 1891, witli tlie number of seal-skins taken liy each vessel. I8U0. Si'liiiaiier— Swan ,, Lottie . . Teaser. . C. C. Perkiim 8waii ,. Lottie , . C C, Perkins Teaser.. 1S91. .Skill!!. ViO 120 250 30 53C 100 480 lt)0 195 I,02& : The schooner "Teaser" is owned in Seattle, the " Swan," " iMtie," and "C. C. Perkihs " are owned by Indians at Neah Bay. Yours truly, (Signetl) JAMES (i. SWAN. I 1^ I i! 174 Under date of the 28tli November, 1891, Judge .Swnu writes:— " The same letter inforiim me that schooner ' Lottie,' Captain Peter Tlionipson, was the first vessel which took Indians and canoes from Neah Ituy to Intnt seals. This was in 1869: the 'Lottie' was a Silot-l)oat lit timt time. She i.s now owned hy l'ui)tuin Jumes Claplanlioo, n full-blood Makah Indian, and [eat! Cliief of the trilie. J-n«t spring tlie ' iMtie' went to Behrin^; Sea and did very well. Captoin Claplanhdo, after paying idl ((-st.s of the voyage, liad 7,000 or 8,0((0 dollars left. Ho deposited 5,000 dollars gold in the Merchant J tank in this city. He will buy another schooner and try his luck again next season. " I am anuised witii reading tiiu remarks of correspondents of the ett.stern press about seals. They only know what tiiey liave seen and been told on the rookeries, but of the migratory habits of seals they know nothing and cure less. I have always contended, and still holil my opinion, that the seals are not in one great band, but in countless herds, like flocks (fwild geese or the bands of buffalo. Geese do not all fly to the Arctic, as was once s'.ipposed, nor did the buH'alo of Texas go north to the Saskatchewan in the summer, or the herds of Winnipeg visit Texas in tlie winter. " All the bands of fur-senls in tlie North I'ncitic do not go to the I'riliyloff Islands, and there are thousands which do not visit Ik'bring Sea at all. Hut tbcso writers, who assume to know all the facts, never discuss tiiis question, Wliere do the seals go wlien tliey leave Behring Sea? "If the killing of fur-seals is proliibited on the, rrih/loff Idandn during the breeding season there will be no fear of extermination. That l)ulchery is driving off the .seals more than the so-called poaching. "I inclose an article from the ' Seattle Tost Intelligencer' of the 5th on fur-seals, written by myself. U was puljlishod in tlie Sunday i.ssue, liut tlie demanil wa.s so great that every copy was sold, and another edition published in tlieir weekly the following Thursday. 'I'he editor told nw tliat it has been extensively copicul in the leading journals of tlie cast." Exlrad J'lvm the "Seattle Pud lutelliyeiicer" of November 5, 1891. (Special (Jorrespondence.) Pvrt 'Jou-nscmJ, October 31, 1801. The investigations of tiie United States' and Briti.sh Commissions in Behring Sea during the present season of 18!)1 have been the most thoroughly scientific ever made by either Govenunent. Hitherto all the special ngeiits sent by llie United States' (iovernment from Washington City have confined their investigations and reports to tlie seals of the Tribylofflslands, derived partly by their own obH.ervations, but mo.stly from the interested statements of persons residing at the rookeries on tho.se islands, the officers and employes of llie Alaska Commercial Company, and tiie present lessees of these islands. Tbe.sy reports <ire the only ones that liave olifained credit in Washington City. All adverse repoi-ts of sealers or parties engaged in the fur trade outside of tlie powerful monopolies have been cither ignf>red or .set aside witli contempt. Tlie controversy so far has l)een l)etween organized capital seeking fo secure a iiioiiopoly and jnivate traders and fishermen, most of whom are men of small meaiLS seeking by tlieir own exertions to secure a profit. These latter have never combined or formed associations for tlu'ir own iirotoctioii, so as to have their side of the (|uestion fairly considered and discussed in Washington City. Botli parties have been stimulated by greed, and not by a de.sire for scientific investigation. When tiie Beports of the United States' and Itoyal Commissioners are published enough new fiwts will be produced to make a material difference between what has been dogmati3ally and persistently asserted by interested writers in the employ of the Alaska Connuercial Company, and the real state of the case, enough to call for a modification of tlie jire.sent stringent Sealing Iaw.s. It is ]iersistenfly asseited by (lie lessees of tlie Pribyloff Islands that the seals are disappearing, and that they are biaiig ext(n-miiiatt'd by the .'■ealing schooners, whom careless writers term poachers. Poaching cannot lie done where there is no jireserve, and the only ]n'eserve is on tho.se islands leased by the United States' Government to the Sealing Companies. The open sea is not, and cannot be, in any se;.se a preser\e. Hence to call sealing-schooners poachers is nn evident eri'or which should be corrected. These vessels are not poachers on the Pacific Ocean any more than they were poachera on the Atlantic Ocean before they came around Cape Horn. The full sealing fleet list to the 2t)tli June, 1891, amounted to 79 vessels, 47 of which are under the British Hag ; 80 are under the United States' flag. All are of North American build. The British vessels mostly came from Nova Scotia ; a few were Ijuilt in British Columbia, and the rest were purchased from citizens of the United States. The American vessels were mostly from Massachusetts, some from San l<'rancisco, anil a few were built on Puget Sound. Other vessels have been added to the Heet, but their names and tonnage I have not been able to ascertain. It is charged by the lessees of the i.slands that these 79 vessels have destroyed so many seals, and have driven so many off the islands, that-they are in danger of being exterminated, and the wailing of these unfortunate capitalists has induced the Governments of the Unitetl States and Great Britain to send their armed cruizers to Behring Sea to put a stop to the killing of seals by private enterprise, so that the lessees of the islands may be protected and the poor seals kept from being utterly exterminated. These specious assertions, urged with eloquent sophistrj', have deluded eastern people, and especially those at Washington City, into a belief that our liard-working fishermen and hunters upon the high seas are working a great wrong to the monopolists and the nation at large, and must be suppressed by force. Now let us see who is really working an injury to the monopolizing capitalists, and the real couses why the intelligent fur-seal is leaving the leased rookeries on the Pribyloff Islands. A writer iu tibe Loudon " Weekly Times," of the 12th September, 1891, who was in Behring Sea msm 175 nh i. lepiji'tur on tlie stoiiiiu'i' "Diiiuilic" (lining tlie past Htiiiiiucl', Htys oi tliu tluci-uitsu of the Muils vii t lio Triliyloff j|r«uj> : — " Tlie causu oftliis is, im iluiilit, t\n' imliHCiiiuinatc slaii^^litei' of thuso nnimnU on the isliiiulH ly tlie Alaska Comint'iriai Coinpuiiy niul tlic jtieseiit Comjjniiy'N servniits, wiiicli has driven the seals to oilier parts of the sea for lireetling, iinil already, the present season, considerable numbers have nmde their appearance on St. Matthew's Island, where formerly they did not resort, the two islands St. Paul and St. (ieor;»e beinj^ the }{reat rookerie.s.'' The seals begin to make their ap|iearance in the region alMiut Cape Flattery in the latter part of December or the iirst of January, varyin',' with ditferent seasons. When easterly winds prevail with much snow they kee|> well oil' ^horc, and do not make their a]>pearan('e in great numljers before the middle of February or the tir«t of March. Last winter was very mild, with but little snow, but the prevailing winds, which were south and south-west, were exceedingly violent, preventing sealing- schooners from doing nnuh liunting. The mildness of teni])emtiu'e, however, with the direction of the prevailing winds, drove the seals toward the coast in incredible numbers. They gradually work up the coast toward Queen Charlotte Island, when the larger jiortion of the herds move along the Alaskan coast toward Uniniak I'ass and other western openings into Behring Sea. A jiortion of these seals, however, pass into Dixon's Kntmnce, north of Queen C'harhttte Island, and into Cro,.s Sound and Cook's Inlet, and do not go to ISehring Sea, but have their young on the innumerable islands, fiords, and bays in Southern Alaska and Hriti.sh Cohnnbiii. These seals are seen in the.sc waters all summer, at the same time of the breeding on the rookeries of the Pribylofl" Islands, and are killed Ity Indians and the skins sold to dealers. The great Ijody of the seals, however, do enter Uehring Sea, where they are followed by the sealing- vessels. Tiiey usually take to the islands alK)Ut the tirst of June, the breeding cows ond bulls being earlier than liie rest of the henl. The breeding goes on about four months. The writtir in the I.,(mdon " Times " before alluded to says of the method adoi)ted on the islands for taking the seals, that : — " It is cruel and unsportsmanlike. The animals have no chance for their lives, but are slaughtered like sheep in the shambles. A jKjrtion of the herd is separated from the main Imdy by a party of men armed with clubs. These men — they can hardly l)e called himters — by shouts and blows drive the part of the herd they have surrounded away into the interior of the islands, a mile or so from the beach. Here, on a clear space, the unfortunate seals are at once clubbed to death and skinned, the carcases being left as they lie. These slaughters are carried on until the number of skins reijuired are secured. Latterly the seals seem to have an instinct that there is something wrong, as the squads driven into the sand-hills never return, only the stench from the slaughter coming down to the beach when the land breeze l)low8. In consequence of this the rookeries have been less frequented than in former yean. This has given rise to the assertion of the monopolizing Company that the taking of seal by the private vessels is causing a depletion of the seals on the breeding islands. " When the methods adopted by the hunters of the sealing-vessels are compared with those of the licensed killei-s, those barbarous butchers, it does not require much consideration to give an intelligent judgment in the ca.se, and determine which method is the most humane and which method is the real cause of the seals leaving the rookeries. " When the sealing-schooner is at sea she has a number of small boats of a canoe form, built expressly for sealing. When a seal is sighted a boat is launched overlx)ard, a hunter, with one or two men to pull the Iwat, quietly take their places. The hunter is armed with shot-guns and rifle. The boat is pulled quietly towanl the seal. In nine cases out of ten the animal takes alarm and dives out of sight l)efore the boat is near enough for ihe hunter to shoot, and in no case does a hunter shoot until he is near enough to he certain of the game. As soon os a seal is shot it begins to sink slowly, and the l)oat is pulled rapidly up to it, the carcase is gaffed ahd hauled aboard. This is repeated as long as a seal can be seen. In many instam.'es only one or two will lie killed during a whole day's hunting, but at other times as many as twenty or thirty will be taken. After a day's hunt the boats return to the schooner, the seals are skinned, and the ])elts laid in salt in the hold. This goes on from day to day during the season. A small boat is not a very safe craft in the boisterous water of the Northern Ocean, and the thick logs often spring up and hide the schooners from the hunters' sight, when days may elapse Ixjfore the boats are picked uj), and sometimes they are never found. Thus these hardy sealers pursue the objects of their chase in the ojten sea The seal has a chance of escaping, and the percentage killed is very small. AVlien it is considered that an extent of ocean of nearly 12,000 sijuare miles is hunted over, the chance is slight of the seals being exterminated by the fleet of sixty or .seventy vessels engaged in the seal-hunting business. " It has been asserted that only a few seals out of every hundred shot are captuied by the hunters, and the balance sink or escape wounded to die later on. Thia is not so. The ample evidence collected by the Commissioners this season proves that a seal hardly ever escapes when shot. Of course, a few do, but not over live or six out of the hundred. "The sealing monopolists of t'_ .uokeries have had reports made by so-called ' experts ' on the condition of the sealing business and on the probable effect on seal life if the present rate of killing is to be kept up. All, or nearly oil, of these ' experts ' have reported that but few seal are left : that the piratical poaching schooners had killed them off, and yet the whole of the persons interviewed by the (Jommissioners, masters of sealing-schooners, Indians along the coast, and traders admitted that the seals are in no ways diminishing in nundiers, but that the present season of 1891 the fur-seals in the North Pacific have been more numerous than for the past twenty years. There is, however, nmch greater ditficulty exfjerienced in capturing them. The wary animals have learned what a sealing-boat is, and at the sound of a gun the animal is on its guard, and it is harder for the hunter to get in range of his quarry. The Indians kill the seal by paddling the canoe silently close to the sleeping animal, and then with unerring aim hurling a barbed spear with a line attached, with which the seal is hauled in and taken aboard the canoe. Seldom or never does a seal escape. 'The white hunters use the gun as described." [306] 2 A 176 lil "ll Aliluiiigli Moali Imvi^ iippenred in inurodible nuinlxMH tliia itrcMciit aonHoii of 1H!)I, yd tlin Wfuilior ull tliruiiuli tli(> Hiiriii^ and otirly Hunnnur niontliM wnH uniiHunlly boisti^iouH, and dayn itnd uvcn wi><)kH ()lit])scd din-in^' wliicli time it wns ini|ioHHil)l(! to lanncli a ni^alin^-lKmt m- an Indian canou, consequently the cati'li lias not boon an laine ns was ^jenemlly cxiiected, and leeent accounts from I-ondon sliow tliat the prices broiijjlit for fur-seal skins at tiie j^roat trade Hnhs did not averiij^e over l:i dollars. As |iri(!OH from 17 to 22 dollars were paid in Victoria for these skins, soniebndy has been a f,'reat loser, and the prospect now is that fewer vessels will engaj^e in the business next season, and tha^ prices will rule still lower. Of the nii;,'rntory habits of fur-seals but little has hitherto been made known, for those who have had the informiUion to ^jivc have had an interest directly ojtposed to ini|)tirtiny the truth. Hence the fallacious assertion has been made and stoutly niuintainc<l iiy the monopolists and tlu^ir luendaciou.s liirelin;,'s that all the fur-seals of the Noitli Pacific Ocean c(m<,'ref,'nted on the rookeries of the islands of the I'ribyloff >,'roup, and if lliey are allowed to Imj killed by the jxinchers and pirates, whom the ;,'euei'al l)ublic know as honc^st, indu^trious, enerf,'etic tishermen and hunters — the fur-seal will become extinct, and Miss Klora McFlimsey will have nothinj^ to wear, poor ^'irl I Hut the scientific investi;,'ations of tlie United States' and l{oyal Commissions, and i)articularly the latter, who have inailo the migrations of the seals a special study, will show that the habits of all mi<,'ratory animals, liotU liir.ls and beasts, are j,'ovcrned by natural laws. The seals, like the j^reat lu'nls of bullalo, formerly so abundant, an<l thcs myriails of wild fowl from the north, are not (each kind) one single j^reat body. The batt'alo were found in },'reat droves from Tevas to the Assiniboinc and the l!c(l Itiver of the north, but they were not all in one band. The herds from Lower Te.xas never went north to the upper limits, nor did the herds of the extreme north ever seek their feediu|j; j^round in Southern Texas. Kvery band had its own ran};e. So of the Canada j;ee,se and other wild fowl, which were popularly declared to visit the regions of the N'orth I'ole (!very sprinr; to propagate their young. No one thought or dared to assert to the contraiy, but when (Jolonel (Joss, the colelirated ornithologist, f'ounil tlu' nests and eggs and young of the ( anada goose in Kansas, and other observers have discovered these .so-called Arctic breeders rearing their young at the head-waters of the Missouri and Mississij)pi, it was found that popular belief regarding natural histiay is not always scientific fact, and so as to the habits of the fur-seal. They d(> not move in one innnense herd to l>(;hring Sea, but in droves and l)ands or sciuuds like fish, all over • tlie great expnnsi; of the North Pacific Ocean. Dr. l>awson,of the lioyal Conuuission, said, ns reported in the Victnriii " Coloni.st " of the l:!th October; — "Very little lins been publishc.l about the migrations of the seals on the North I'acilic coast before they enter the llehring .Sen. and this point is one from which \\c got a lot of interesting matter. We have taken a good deal of evidence about the presence of .seals at Ca[ie Mattery, and have been told that they were more mnnerous last spring tiam they have ever been befiu'e I find a peculiar idea existing among those who claim to be authorities in regard to seals found in the waters of South America, especially about Tierra del Fuego and the Striuls of jragellim. The notion that they are the same species of f^cal as tliose found in liehring Sea and the N'uth Pacific ij quite erroneous. They are of a different genus altogether." So also will tlu!Su scientific investigations show that a portion of the .so-called California .seal, which comes north every .season, does not enter J'ehring Sea at all, and that its habits in many respects diller essentially from those which visit the rookeries nu the Pribyhdf Islaiuh. The.se California seals do have pups somewhere on the coast, either at tlu! Farallones or fiu'ther south, or on the great kelp jtatehes, as is clearly shown by the young pups which annually make their a]>pearniiCe with the herd, and ore takciu and brought into Neali Bay by tiie Indians every .sea.son, and it is further proved that these; pups will swim at birth, and even when taken from their mother before birth, thu.s showing a difl'crenee of habits between the Pribyloff Islands ."^eal and iho.'.e taken at Cape Flattely. These facts alxut the habits of the fin-seals of Cajie Flattery, which I have known for more than thirty years, have this year been jmived to be correct by the lioyal scientists, and will seem to show there are always two sides to every question. While I join with all the scalers with whom I have cohver.sed that there should be a clo.sc sea.son on the rribylofV l.shmds, when no seals should be killed on lho.se islands or in I'.ehring Sea, I equally join with «ome of the more intelligent and ob.serving of these sealers that the hunting of seals along the coast of "Wa.shington, JJritish (Columbia, and South-eastern Alaska does not in any way affect the seal cat •)> ou the Pribyloff Islands, as there is every reason to assume that these coa.st seals never enter Ik'iiring .Scii. When we consider how the development o ' Mj fisheries of the North Pacific have been paralyzed by this seal controversy, and our fi.shermen Lave been driven by the mistaken polie-.y of our Govern- ment to seek pre)teetion under the British flag, we may well exclaim, " This is a sorry sight." The fishermen of (ilo\icester and other eastern ports, who were protci.'ted by our Ge)Vernment in their fisheries on the; Atlantic, almost to the verge of hostilities with Great Jhitain, find that when they come around Capo Iforn to engage in the .same peaceful and honourable vocation in the North Pacific, Behring Sen, and the Arctic Ocean, they are elenounced by the same dovernraent as poachers and pirates. They take nothing but the products of the ocean. They rob no man. Yet because a powerful Syndicate of cajiitalists demanels the right to monopedize the taking of seals to furnish articles of luxury for the rich, mw fishermen and hunters are harried and worried by revenue-cutteis and other armeel ves.sels, not for the piiblic good, not for the benefit of the poor, but simply to gratify the avarice of the wealthy few who have secured from our Government a monopoly of seal-catching on Pribyloff Islands, which they arrogantly assume gives them the monopoly of the whole ocean, as well as Alaska. When the Hudson Bay Company, which for more than 100 years had lorded it with despotic sway across the whole continent, from the Atlantic to the Pacific, sought to renew its Charter, those far-seeing statesmen, Gladstone, Labouchere, Lord Bury, and others opposed granting a renewal, and Parliament refused. The course of those wise statesmen against that gigantic monopoly opened to the Dominiou of Canada all that great region which had been represented by the Company as a land of Si; w rr 177 iuG niiJ Hiiow, of To^g and cold, (it oidy nA an abudu for wild Wtwtn aud thu HtiU wildvr Indimi. liut it liiM liueii found lui aKiiuiiltmid i-u)^'ioii of iinnitinHe valiio, wliich ims bouii o|>ened and dtMnoiislrutud by tlic ('niiiidiiwi I'liriHo Itiiilroiid to lio u fit nhodu for thousnndH of indiistiioiiH whitu itinsonN, wlio luivo found williiu ils honUu's lia)>|>y homes, iiml liave tiniH iiddcd to llu- \v(;alt)i of tlii! Doniiuion. 8(», too, whon wo (^iin Imvo Htatonnien in CongrcHH wlm can rise aliovi' the sonlid inotives of fiitliy iuL-ri>, and htok into this seal i(u<fHlion and tlu) devidopinent of Alanlia, and of our ^Tciit, tiMiu-ries, tiiey will see tliat tlio sum paid by tin* Company for the lease of the I'rilivlolf Islands is not u i'ciithcr'A wi'ij;ht in the scales of juslice, when we compare this amount, gn at as it is, with the vastly greater iiniount of f;ood tlio nation will derive by K'^'"K every encourajjenient to our fisliermcii to lirin^ in the riuh jinxhiets of the oeean, the whales, tlie seals, the fish, and to o\ir niinei's and otlieis open up and dt^veloji tlie rich treiisiires of Alaska. All this development is itjtarded and paraly/.et' ,, t lie action of the mono|Hilixin>; Companies, just us the Hudson May Company retarded the development of British <'filundiin and all that ^reat rej^ion, clear through to Hudson's Hay aiul the Atlantic. Insteail of emulating the (^\ample of the llrifish Parliament and abrogatijig a |)owerful monojioly, we .>.eem lu iiavc gone back to feudal times and granted rights and privileges to the moneyed Karons which are denied to the peojile. Better that every fur-seal be externnnated than the United States should enter into this unholy alliance with a monoiwly to paralyze our industries anil rob t\v people of their inheritance. On the North Atlantic Ocean the hair-seals have been hunted for more thar. two centuries, and «'Very year nuire vessels and larger ones are engaged in this busine:i« \et the hair-seal is luit exter- minated. The habits of t)ie fur-seal and hair-seal are analogous — ^lM>th live ou fish, both an; amphibious; but the commercial value of tho fur-seal is the greatest, and while our lishcrmun can kill nil the hair-seals they wish, the fur seal nnist be reserved for those who have liuigcr puiscs and can « ajole Congress by their sophistries. The fur-seals never Mill be extermiiuded. They may and have been driven f'inm their rookeries, but they have found others, ond if they are being driven from the rribylofV Islands, as is asserted, 1 predict that when the wholesale butcheries are stojjped and the stench of the rotting carcasses no longer iiollutes the atmosphere of St. Paul's ami St. (ieorge's rookeries, the seals will return to their (dd haunts, as they are now returning to their former rookeries at Cape Horn ami other places in the South Pacific. In all the preceding yeora of the history of the sealing on the Pribyloff Islands, the Captains of the revenue-cutters have not been required to make specific Beiiorls on their observatimis of tur- »ieals off the rookeries, and any voluntary statements they may have made were either pigeon-holed or not considered good form, hence we have no knowledge of any such IJeports. This seas.iii, however, the Captain.*, cave been leijuired to make Kejiorts on their observations of fur-seals and their haliits off of the rookeries, and their testimony, added to the IJeports of the Commissioners, will furnish much interesting information which has hitherto been suppressed. Tf the Government will prohibit the killing of fur-seals on the Pribylofl' Islands and in llehring Sea during the breeding season, and will encourage our fisluirmen as they are encouraged ou the Atlantic, the seals will not be driven oft' nor the market overstocked, and, better than all, encourage- ment will be given to the development of our fisheries by furnishing a motive for a fi.shing lleet to congregate on Puget Sound, and by the products of their laliours to enrich our State. If such a course is pursued one will hear no more of American ves.sels being driven under the British Hag for jnotection from the United States' (Joverninent, which should protect them. Our Oovernment is very jealous of injuries and insults put upon our citizens by foreign nations, but not a word is said of the injuries and losses our citizens have iiicui red by our Government in sustaining and jiiotccting a monopoly ou the seal islands. It is a di.sgarceful partnership between the United States and these monoprdists, which should be di.<isolved. It is an old adage that " when thieves fall out hone.st men get Iheiv iliics," and I hope that the pre.sent feud between the two rival Companies may bring Congress to a clear under- st^mding of this matter, and our fLsliermeu allowed the .same privileges and enoourogeineut that they have in the North Atlantic. (Signed) dA^lKS G. .SWAN. Letter from C'apluiii John Jkrcrrn.r, addreastd to Ashkij Froi'dr, J'Jk'j., Secretari/, Ikhrintf Sett CommmioH. Sir, Gmvinij Dock; J'Jsi/uiuKill, Mn'emlier 10, 131)1. In reply to your letter of the 28th ultimo, respecting the habits of the fur-seal along the coasts of British Columbia and ALiska, I beg to report as follows: — 1. From the early part of iJecember to the beginning of dun^! they are found near the edgi; of the bank of scandings along the coast from south of the Strait of De Fuca to Cape Scott islands ou the west coast of Vancouver Island, and that about the middle of June they disajipear altogether, aud are seldom seen again until late in November or early part of December, when tiie weather is then loo rough for all practical purposes to catch them. 2. The distance from the shore where they are to be found most plentiful— .s,iy oil' Cipe i'.eale, where the bank extends furthest from the land — is from oO to 100 miles, and in sonn' cases to 150 miles ; but these figures must not be taken by any means as a fixed limit, b:i ,usc tlicy are frequently found inshore and up the sounds some 8 or 10 miles inside the headlands, and, in fact, I have seen them in the Strait of Fuca, and on rare occasions in the Gulf of Georgia even. 3. When they are found along the bank on the west coast of Vancouver Island they are feeding on their natural feeding grounds, where they feed upon all kinds of fish in season — of which wc have a variety on this coast of some thirty odd species — however, the herring is their principal fooil, and then comes the salmon and other varieties, and so long as the fish are plentiful the seal never leaves thu [305] 3 A 2 '1 178 feeilin<5 ground, but when the herring, salmon, smelts, and others proceed northward and into the inlets, hnrbours, rivers, Ac, to spawn, flie seals follow them, but so soon as they find shoal water they go to sea again. Now some of our inlets on the west coast are from 50 to 100 fathoms deep; and the seal is quite at home in them. 4. As tar ns my observations have extended reganling the increase or decrease in their numbers, and I have Ixeu on this coast twenty-seven years, all I can say on the subject is tiiat when they return to tiieir feeding grounds after their periotlio migrations they appear to l>e in numbers very similar to the salmon, herring, smelt, oolachan, &c. Some years they are foun ' h. inexhaustible num1)ers, then for a year or two they will be scarcer, only to return in the following year in as great abundance as ever, and it is my fiiTa belief that if the fish never left the banks fringing the west coast of British Cobniibia and Soutliein Alaska the seals would never leave their feeding grounds, for the oidy food the} MIX get in Behriug Sea is codfish, which is l)y no means so plentiful as the herring, smelt, anil oolftchans further south. As to the distance they preserve fi-om the shore-line, I do not believe there is any difference, for instance, in the months of November, December, and January the salmon and herrings, &c., are far ofif shore, and as spring advances they approach the laud in shoals and the seals follow them. The herrings come in first, the salmon follows, and feeds upon them, and the seal feeds upon all, although the herring is its favourite food. Any other information as to the history of seal-fishing in this province, &c., I can supply if necessary. I am, &c. (Signed) JOHN DEVEREUX, Dock-master. ^^^mm^mmmi Wr ( 170 ) APPENDIX (D). MlSCKUANKOUS Cduhkspondexce axd Memoraxoa. 1. Bebring Sea Commissioners to \'.cr Britniinic Mijcsty's Consul'S-Gencral nt Simiigh.'ie, Canton, nnd Honolulu. 2. Her Britannic Majesty'n (Jonsiil iit Snn Friiiicisco to Belirin^ Se;> Commissioners. 3. Her Kritnnnic Majesty's Consnl-Qf nonil nt Siii«i}{liae tr> Behrinj; Scji Co:iimis«ioneri. 4. Ht-r Britannic Majesty's Consiil-Gi.Micrn\ nt Ciininn to Bdirinp Sea Commi^8■one^s. 5. Behring Sea CommipsionTS to Scn'or Naval Offirer, Ksquim.ilt. 6. Extracts from "Challenger" Iiepoit<. 7. I^etter fram Mr. F. Chupmnn. 8. Extract of letter from Baron No!ilcnski<il(l. 9. Letter from Mr. John Mnrrny. 10. Report of examination of dead S nl I'm by Dr. Glliitlier. 11. Memorandum by Sir Snmuci Wilso i. M.l'. (Slieep-bri-eding). 12. Memorandum by Earl Brownlow ( Deer-brccding). 13. Memorandum by Professor Flower. CM. 14. Letter irom Captain Duvid Gray, Peteihcnd. 1.5. Mr. W. Palmer, on the Killin<; of Seal* upo » the PribyloflT Island^. 16. Extract from the Melbourne " Aruus," Decemlier 17, 1887 (referred t) by Mr. Cliapmnn). 17. Extracts from Pamphlet by Mr. A. W. Scott on the Fur-^cals of the Southern Hemisphere, 1873. 1. — Letter from the Behring Sea Committiona's to Her Dritannic Majesty's Consul-Oemral at Shanghaa.'* Sir, Government House, Ottmca, November IG, 1891. Having been appointed British Coinmiiisioners to investigate the facts and conditions of fur-seal life and the sealing industry in the Nortli Pacific Ocean, we find that our inquiry would be much assisted if you could furnish us with information on the following points : — 1. As to the names and number of vessels sailing from Chinese ports in any given years, which have taken fur-seal at sea or on the rookeries, together with the number of skins taken and other particulars, such as the nationality of the vessels, and the numbers of their crews. 2. Any information as to the number of fur-seal skins landed at Shanghae, antl the market prices of the same in any given years. [t 3. Any information on, or names of authorities for, the very considerable trade in fur-seal skins, both from the North I'acific and the South Seas, which appears to have been carried on at Canton during the earlier years of the present century.] We should be much obliged if the above information could be forwarded to us as soon as possible^ addressed to the Behring Sea Commission, care of his Excellency the Governor-General, Ottawa Canada. • We have, &o. (Signed) GEORGE BADEN-POWELL GEORGE M. DAWSON. 2.— Letter from, Her Britannic Majesty' f. Consul at San Francisco to the Behring Sea Cornmitsioners. Sir, San Frawiseo, Jamuxry 5, 1892. I am in receipt of your desptitcb, dated Foreign Office, the 10th I'.Itimo, wishing me to obtain for the Behring Sea Comiijissioners the forms of clearance issued at the Custom-house at San Francisco for vessels proceeding on whaling, fishing, and sealing voyages to the North Pacific, including Behring Sea. The preci^ ^- pi r:;iK>s usel in clearing vessels at this port upon the.se voyages is shown on the ii"ilosed forms of cleai:<rico obtained from the Custom-house. Those that go hunting and fishins procure a clearance, which states that tliey are " l>ound' for hunting and fishing voyage, having on board stores," and those that go whaling are cleared " for whaling voyage, having on board stores." I am informed by the Deputy Collector of Customs, who clears all vessels here, that these are the only two ' ms of clearance given, and that no sealing or trading clause is inserted in such forms. He says no .essels are cleared for Behring Sea. The steamers of the Alaska Connnercial Company clear for Uualaska, and receive permissicn from the Collector of Customs there to proceed to the Islands of St Oeorge and St. Paul. As regards a statement of the number of v ssels clearing from this port for fishing and hunting, I inclose a Memorandum which I have procured fv om the Custom-house at this port. I am, &c. (Signed) DENIS DONOHOE. Sent aho (o Uer Un'osly'i) ConsuUGcnenil at Honolulu and Canton, t To Canton only. I. 180 3. — Letter from Her Britannic Majesty's Consul-Oenercl, Shanghae, to thf Behring Sea Cmnmisaionern Gentlemen, Shanghae, January 8, 1892. In reply to your letter of the 16tli November last, just receivetl, asking for certiiin information with regard to vessels clearing from Chinese ports wliich have taken fur-seal, 1 have the honour to inform you that, as far as I can learn, no vessels liave cleared for that purpose from this country, tliough vessels registered here may possibly have left for Yokohama with the ultimate intention of engaging in the seal fishery. Most, if not all, of the vessels engaged in tlie seal fisheries registered here are built and fitted out in Yokohama, and are only registered in Shangliae because it is the nearest port where English registry can be obtained. The Imperial Maritime Customs have kindly furnif?hed nic with the following figures showing the import of .seal-skins : — Year. 1887 1888 1889 1890 1891 Pieces. Value. 1 llnikwan taels. 973 ! 1.941 2,381 1 5,097 3,450 1 8,1U 502 1 1.012 SCO ' 1,775 The Haikwan tael is, roughly speaking, equivalent to Cf. These skins have all been imiwrted from Japan, and I am unable to say whether they had tlieir origin in that country, or had been previously imported to it. I am sending copy of your despatch to Her Britannic Majesty's Consul at Yokohama, wlio will doubtless furnish you with nil the information obtainable. I iiavc, «S:c. (Signed) NICHOLAS J. HANNEN. 4. — Letter from Her Britannic Majesty's Consul-General, Canton, to the Behrimi Sea Commissioner r Gentlemen, Canton, BeceniLer 28, 1891. I have the honour to acknowledge tlie receipt of your letter of the Kith ultimo, in wliich you ask for information about tlie fur-seal trade of this port In reply to your first query, I have to state tlat, so far as can be ascertained, no vessel sailing from a Chinese port has ever gone on sealing expeditions. As to the second point on w-bich you ask for information, I cannot trace any record of fur-seal fikins having ever been landed at this port. On the thir.l point also 1 have been unable to obtain any information. None of the recoitls accessible here have even a nieutiou of a " very considerable trade in fur-seal skins, both from the North Pacific and the South Seas." In a Consular Iteport on the trade of this port in 184.'}, Mr. Thoni writes: "Twenty veal's ago the fur trade" (whicli was almost entirely in the hands of the Americans) carried on with China amounted to upwards of 1,000,000 dollars annually. L>ut, owing to the indi.scriminate .slaughter of tiie animals of tlie chase, it has dwindled away so much as to be no longer woith pursuing, and, indeed, during tliese last two or three vears no skins or fiU's whatever liave been imported into China." Mr. Thoni gives the names of the fni's imported into China, and fur-seals is not among tliem. Further, in a llelurn of I'nited States' imports into (,!anton in 1840, other furs are enumerated, b\it not fur-seals. In a previous lieturn (1831) of the United States' trade in furs, 1 find in like manner the names of the i'urs exported to China, and fur-seals is not among these. Ihit in another accHuint I find it stated that the furs usually imported into China by United Stateo' traders in tlie early part of this century were rabljit, seal, sea-otter, land-otter, beaver, and fox. The archives of this Consulate-General do not go back to the lu'riod at which the I'nited States' trade in furs with China fiourished. Consetpiently, tliere are no archives to shed light on the subject. The books which 1 have referred to also fail to give ])recise infornuition, and it is doubtful whether anything certain and definite about it can be learned here. I have, &c. (Signed) T. WATTEIiS. 5. — Behriag )S<« Comm issioncrs to Senior Sural Oj/iccr, I'^tjuuiuiil. Sir, Ottav'.', July S, 1891. As Her Majesty's Connnissioners ap]ioint,ed to invt'stigate tlie coiidilioiis of seal life in Itehring Sea, it appears to us that information on the following points wouUl be of great value to the Cmnniis- sion if gathered by any of Her Majesty's ships visiting liehring Sea in 1S91. We therefore venture to ujjpend, for your consideration, heads of information r,u matters whicli wo have to investigate. We Imi'o, &v. (Signed) GEOIMJE l.;.!*l';N-PO>V!-!,L GEOIJGE Ai. l)AW?t.A. 181 Records oj Obseriations oh Fur-Seal Life in the North Pacific Ocean, for the Behring Sea Commission. to he entered in a Separate Seal Log. 1. riaco of each recoi'ded observation (iK)ssibly, marked off on separate chart by reference numbers). 2. Points to be noted in regard to seals : — (i.) Wliether playing, resting, or travelling (if travelling : (a) direction, (/9) pace, (7) whetlier single or in schools). (ii.) (a) Sex, age, and size ; (0) whether accompanied by pnps or not. , (iii.) State of weather and sea at times of observation. 3. Obtain corresponding information from any sealing-schooners visited for any immediately pre- ceding dates, and generally record any information applying to seal life. This Meniorandnm was communicated to the commanding officers of Her Majesty's ships "Nymphe," "I'orpoise" and " riiea.sant," who kindly caused accurate observations to be made on the points indicated. The results of tiiese observations are, so far as were considered essential, embodied in our Report. fi. — RHrartsfrom llfjwrt of the Snicnllfic Mv.suUs of the Explorhg Voyage of Her Maje-ifg's SJiip " Challenger;' 1873-7f'. • " Tlie caves (on Xightingide Ishiiid), with the .slo])ing ledges leading up to them, arc frequented, as was said, by fur-seals. Four years before the visit of tiie expedition, 1,400 seals had been killed on the island by cue ship's crew. Seals were very much scarcer in 1873, but the island was visited regularly once a-year by the Tristan people, as was also Inaccessible Island. The Germans killed only seven seals at Inaccessible Lsland during their stay, but the Tristan people killed forty there in December 1872." (Narrative, vol. i, part i, p. 2G4.) " From all sides of the precipitous black cliffs cataracts fall over into the sea, and water is found in numerous ponds all over tlu; group. The islands* are frequented by elephant- and fur-seals, although these are not so plentiful as formerly, and as there i.s no lack of water, there is no danger of ship- wrecked mariners dying of starvation. Tiio blubber of the elephant-seal and tlie skins of penguins, with the adherent fat, furnish the material for tire, and tlie flesh of the .seals and birds, the eggs of the latter, together with tlie Kergueleu ealibage, form a nourishing diet, on wiiich the sealers residing at times on one or other of the islands have usually lived, and with which they appear to have lieen con- tented." (Narrative, vol. i, ])art i, p. 321.) " Two of the whaling-schooticrs met with at the islandf killed over .seventy fur-seals on one day, and upward.s of twenty on another, at some small islands off Howe Island to the noith. It is a pity that some discretion is not exercised in killing the animals, as is done in St. Paul Island in 13ehring Sea in the case of the northern fur-seal. J5y killing the y(mng males, and selecting certain animals only for killing, the number of ijcals may e\en lie increased ;J tlie sealers in Kerguelen Island kill all they can find." (Narrative, vol. i, part i, ]>. 355.) " In 1800, when Her Majesty's ship ' Tojiaze ' called at the islaud,§ there were only ten inhabi- tants, and the ' Challenger 'i| found forty or Kfty under the control of a Chilean, who paid 200/. a-year rent to the Chilean Government, and who had a few men also at Mas-a-Fuera island ; he was engaged principally with the hunting of the fur-seals." (Narrative, vol. i, part ii, p. 827.) "The steam-pinnace left Gray HarbourlTat 4 a.m. with .several naturalists and ofticere, and joined ;i'e ship in tlie evening at Port (irappler. On the way, landing was effected at several spots, and a ;iUnil)er of birds were |)rocured ; a very large number of fur-seals (-IrtVorc^/cf/^-s) wei-e seen, and six v-Te shot, tlic .skins au(l skeletons of which were preserved." (Narrative, vol. i, ])art ii, p. 805.) % « " In the narrative of the voyage it is stated that fur-seals fretpiented Nightingale Island, one of the Tristan da Cunha group; the Crozet Islands, Kerguelen Lsland, Juan Fernandez, the Messier (Channel, and Elizalx''' Island, in the Strait of Magellan. Specimens of cared seals, which did not possess the elongated (concave )>alate so characteristic of the genus Otaria in the sense defined on i». 2'J, were procui'ed from the Kerguelen group of islands, in the Messier Channel on tlie west coast of South America, and from Jimn Fernandez. They consisted of the following .specimens from Kerguelen : two carcases of yoiuig fur-seals witliout the skin, [)rocurod from the ' Emma Jane ' at Fuller's Harbour, January 1874 ; two skeletons of fur-seals, also at Fuller's Harbour, which were distinguished from each other as >;o. I anil No. 2 (No. 2 having been killed on Swaine Island). From the Messier Channel were obtained the skin and skeleton of a male and the skin and skeleton of a female ; also two skeletons of males shot on rwks in Jamiary 1876. The specimen from Juan Fenumdez was a skin containing the skeleton of a very young animal." (Zoology, vol. xxvi, part fxvii, ]i. 37.) * Crozet lalands, Penguin or IniceeiBibIs Itland, viiited 1878-74. f Kerguelen IiUnd. X i. A. Allen— The cired Mwla. Bull. Mub. Comp. Zool,, Tol. it, pp. 1-88, 187071. Juon KernandM. |J Vi»ltod by " Ch»llenger," 1875. 1 VWUd by '• OlHilI«DK«r," Juwry 1876. 182 7. — Seals and Seuling in Ncn- Zmluml. Through the kindness of Professor T. J. Parker, F.R.S., of the I'uiversity rf Otayo, iJunediii, New Zealand, tlie subjoined interesting account of the seal fisheiy in New Zealand, written at his reiiuest, hos been furnished by Mr. Frederick CImpnian. The communication is in the form of a letter addressed to Professor Parker, and is dated from Dunedin, 24th September, 1891 : — " I have endeavoured to get some definite information and original opinions to enable you to answer Mr. G. Dawson's letter of the 23rd June, with reference to the extirpation of our seals, b»it the only person I could think of os old enough to give me first-hand information, yet not too old, has not yet answered my letter. I tliink, liowever, that from a general knowledge of the traditions and litera- ture of old New Zealand, and from books at n»y command, I can give you sometliing to begin with, and I will try and obtain more. " Doubtless Mr. Dawson has access to a paper on the fur-seal of New Zealand, by J. W. Clarke, in the Proceedings of the Zoological Society for 1875 (p. OoO), which is in your Museum library. This paper gives some interesting facts, tlie verification of wliich I had previously sought f<ir years. As I know nothing of the seals in Australian waters beyond the fact tlmt tliey were once numerous in the islands of Bass Strait, 1 will come to New Zealand. Seals were formerly numerous on our mainland To get at the numbers taken liere early in the century, one would have to make inquiries of old mercan- tile houses in Sydney, London, and America — the (Jampliells, Enderbys, &c., if any of them exist The old Maori traditions constantly refer to .seals, wliicli were very numerous in the neighbourhood of this port two centuries ago, and may have been plentiful when the century began. Tlie rocky west coast of this island was, h'»wever, the home of numerous seals, and a few are still killed there in quiet places. There was a lieautiful colony at the Steeples, close to tlie Westport lighthouse, but when the Government opened a season for sealing, a few months since, a party went out in a boat from Westport and butchered them. That was already regai-ded as a past place for .sealing when Brunner explored that coast by land in 1846, though Brunner saw a few seals there. It had evidently revived in our tim". The coasts of Foveaux Strait and the we.st coast swarmed with sealers early in this centui yv\ there were some on the west coast about Dusky Sound even earlier. They were shore ^;i ho bagged the seals in great numbers. Dr. Shortlond, who visited Mr. Jones' whaling station .i konarti, 20 miles from here, in 1842, frequently refers to the sealing, but rather as a past matter. < :r whales were pretty well exterminated by 1850, and had even then long been scarce, and a writer ten years before that repeats the protests of the French whaleia, who were numerous here, against the disastrous j>ractice of the Sydney people, who maintained shore stations, and so utterly destroyed the whales. It is difficult to realize tliat in 1843 there were fourteen whale-ships lying in tliis port, witli all their Ijoats out daily, and four shore stations in active opera- tion, in face of the fact that during the nineteen years I have lived here only one whale has been killed. I have digressed from the seals, but the fact of the whale ex[>laiiis, and more, than explains, that of the seal. " Cajrtain Tinnbull, whose book I have never ,seeu, wiites in 1810 of 40,000 seals taken at the Fiji Islands. We don't hear of seals there now. It is quite possible that that locality was mentioned to lead others off the scent. At Macquar:. Island the discoverers killed in one season 80,000 fur-seala ! Our friend Professor Scott visited it ten years ago, and was told the fur-seal never came there. Ever since then it has l>een occupied by sea-elephant hunters, but no fur-seal ever visits them. Tliis suggests that the fur-seals do not come up from the Antarctic ice, as the sea-elephant do. Campbell Island was repeatedly occupied by sealing parties, some of whose gi-aves are seen there. Antipodes Island was occupied in 1824, and I do not know how much earlier or later. Captain Fairchild, of the New Zealand Government steamer, in four or five visits lias never seen a seal there. The Auckland Islands, the largest group, have been visited repeatedly during the last eighty years, and numerous shore parties have lived tiiere. On the Snares, sealers' huts still stand. The coasts of Stewart's Island have yielded large numbers of seals. " The Ifev. Wni. Yato, a missionary, in 1828-35, after describing the enormous numljer of whales destroyed (black or inshore whales) writes: 'Tliere are also several establishments for the seal fishery on the coast of New Zealand or on the small islands in the vicinity of the coa.st. A nuniljer of sailors are landed and left to kill and skin the seals, many thousands of which are destroyed in the course of a few montlis.' Earlier than this, in 1815, the llev. S. Marsden, tlie first niissionory in New Zealand, writes narrating the adventures of the Maoii Chief Dimterra and ten Tahitians and ten Europeans who were placed as a sealing i>arty on the Bounty Islands. They suffered great privations, but in a few months, on sixteen rocks witli a total area of about 100 acres without vegetation or water, killed and skinned 8,000 seals. This is enough to show you that once these places were densely peopled with seals. The Chatham Islands were anotlier sealing ground, but of tliem I know very little. All this relates to matters which hai)pened so long ago that sealers are a ilcad race, while, as you know, whalers who came later or lasted longer arc only represented by a very few old men. As for mi'Idle-aged natives like myself, we heard in our youtli of whales, but not of seals. " Sealing has Ijeen closed for a good many years, before which the Maoris of Riverton used to visit the west coast and get a few, and tliough poaching never wholly stopped, it did not pay very well. This year a sapient Government has opened a season, and two vessels have been sent to the islands. One reports getting 150 from the Chathams and Bountys, and the other 450 from the Auck- land, but there is some underhand work over it, and more may have lieen got, as the crow are accused of stealing 300 skins. This is by far the largest take for many years, and has, I think, about finished the fur-seal in New Zealand waters. " I visited five groups of islands last year in the summer, and saw one fur-seal, and from this and other facts concluded that they were very scarce now. " Now, as to the cause of this, there is but one answer. Recklem killing and disturbanco in the rookeries. Mr. Dawson need not trouble himself about pelagic sealing. There is not and never was fiuch a thing in these waters. You could not have it in our wide and aogrjr sea. Calm days are almost ^""»"PWW"¥"^«I»<P» m 183 unknown where yon get south of New Zealand, and I never heard of seals being seen in the open ocean. Certain it is that ocean sealing is and always has been an unknown thing here. " In December 1887 some very interesting articles appeared in the 'Melbourne Atgus' on 'The Sealers at Work/ by a man who was shipwrecked in the ' Deny Castle' at the Auckland Islands, and rescued by seal poachers. I have tried to get these papers, but they are out of print. He describes the modus operandi. They carry a long rope and lower one of the party over the cliffs hundreds of feet high. He gets off at the mouth of the cave where the seals lie, and cuts off their retreat. He then proceeds to club them, and send up their skins by the rope. This ia done because it is so dangerous to put in a boat on the open coast with a fearful sea running. The whales, so enormously plentiful prior to 1840, are, as I have said, almost extinct. This is due to slaughtering them in the breeding bays, and to the occupation of these bays as shipping ports. The off-shore whale (sperm whale) is still lively, though greatly reduced in numbers. Disturbance, as you know, is as great a destroyer as actual killing. I believe it will pay our Government some day to restore the seal fisheries. It would be interesting to experiment with northern seals, as they might migrate, and so people the islands and <3oa8t8, while the facts I have mentioned, and the direct testimony of Captain Fairchild, who assures mo that this is the case, seem to show that ours keep very much to the native spot. If I can see Captain lairehild I will get some further facts from him. I think Filhol could give Mr. Dawson some information, as he told me a great deal about seals wlien he was here, which I have forgotten. " This is about all I can tell you at present. Of this I am certain, that unless the American seal fisheries are subjected to some kind of management, they will follow the fate of ours, though it will take longer to effect it in their case." 8. — Extract from Letter from Baron Nordenskiold to Dr. Dawsmi, dated Stockhobn, S^teniher 2, 1891. My personal experience about the higher animal life in the Behring Sea Ja very limited, and all the information I could collect you will find in Cliaptei's XIV and XV of the second volume of the " Vega Voyage," which work, perliaps, can be useful to you by my references to the older literature, to which I had a fuller access than any of the previous authors on the subject. The collections of invertebrates brought from the Behring Sea and the adjacent part of the Polar Sea by the scientific staff of the " Vega " were verv large. i! 9, — Observations on Sealing in the Southern Hemisphere in tlie years 1873-76. In addition to the notes contained in the published volumes relating to the "Challenger" expedition, Mr. John Murray has been so kind as to furnish the following information : — " Challenger " Expedition Office, 45, Fredenck Street, Edinburgh, 'Dear Sir, September 2, 1891. " I have been from home for some time, otherwise your letter of the 2nd July would have been answered long before this. " I fear I have very little information to convey with reference to the seal fisheries of the south. All the fur-seals that we procured were killed on land, and it was the habit of the seal-fishers we met thus to capture all their animals. We saw very few senls far from their breeding places. We saw only three or four on the southern ice. All the seal-fishers we encountered in the south were from New London, U.S.A. In our time there were no Australians engaged in the trade. There were immense numbers of sea-elephants killed every year on Long Beach at Herd Island. Men wintered there for the purpose of killing them when they came on shore in the early spring. We saw the sealers kill twenty-four fur-seals one day by landing on Swain's Islands where they were breeding. " We. found that some fur-sealing was done at the Falkland Islands. Yo\i could get information as to the present state of the trade by addressing a letter to Mr. Deans, StanUsy Harbour, Falklands, or you miglit address a letter direct to the Governor of the islands. " Trusting that you will have had a pleasant trip to the west, yours, &c. (Signed) JOHN MUllRAY. 10. — Report of Examination of Seal Pap, hy Dr. G anther, F.^\S., Eritinh Museum. The pup fur-seal submitted to my examination was labelled " Found dead on north-east rookery, St. Paul's Island, 5th August, 1891." 1. Its length from end of nose to root of tail 23 inches : umbilical cord closed at its distal end ; milk-dentition jwrfectly grown. Apparent age of animal about 17 days. 2. Fur in perfect order ; no signs of external or internal mechanical injury. Body well nourished, with a fair amount of fat in the subcutaneous tissue ; no fat about the abdominal oigans. 3. Organs of digestion and other abdominal organs healthy. Stomach entirely empty, with the exception of a smooth black pyramidal pebble, size of a small Ijean, and of two or three very small corroded pebbles ; iutestiup empty, with some slight accumulations of mucus in various parts. The animal could not have taken any sustenance for at least two or three days before its death. 4. The chest had not been opened, consequently paitial decomposition had set in before the [305] 2 iJ :ti IWNerrcitive fluid codld a'l): upon' the orgnna It U'theVo(i>r') difiicult to distiiignnh iietween patho- logical signs and post-nioBtem appef/ances. But so much is certain, that the hmgs were in an inflam- matory condition, especially at the base of the right lung. The inHmnmation extended also some way up the wind-pipe, the mucous membrane of which was covered witii a granular deposit in tho portion Affected. 6. Both the absence of food as well as tho condition of tiie respiratory organs are sufficient to account for the death of the animal ; but which of the two was tlw primary cause preceding the other is impossible to say. 6. A small and thin nematoid worm, from 1 to 1| inches long, was found in considerable numbers in the lower halt of the smaller intestines ; one specimen to, perhaps, every 2 inches of intastihe. They could not liave caused any inconvenience to tlie animal, and, in fact, there was not the slightest sign of irritation in tho mucous membrane. (Signed) A. (itfNTHKU, 3f.7). Britwh Miismm, January 20, 1892. 11, — Questions in reyanl lo iHieq) in tlie Breeding Season, Idmlly nmwered by Sir Smnuel inison, M.P. 1. Is it common and easy to make ewes suckle other ewes' lambs ? — Yes. It can be effected by putting the skin of the ewe's dead lamb on the lamb she is desired to adopt, or by liolding lier and getting the lamb to suck her for a few days, when she will take to it as if her own progeny. 2. Is it absolutely certain that lambs always know their own mothers, and never get milk from any other mother unless forced to do so by man ? — Ewes always know their own laml)3 by smelling them. A ewe will not allow a strange land) to suck her if slie notices it, but sometimes a lamb not her own may come up on the other side while she is suckling her own lamb, and may unnoticed by her suck her for a time. There are motherless lambs which go about in this way, and manage to live by what tliey can steal, and the green grass, which they can soon digest, even when a few days old. Lambs at a very early age do not, I think, know their own mothers, but will run up to any ewe bleating for the lamb, and try to suck her, wlien the ewe at once knows if it bo iier own lamb, and if not drives it away. Older lambs know their dams by the voice. 3. Is it usual to lead ewes accidentally depi'ived of lambs to suckle other lambs, whether one or twins, or liaving lost their mothers ? — Where tlie breed is valuable, all lamlw are "mothered " j ewes that have lost tlieir own, and sometimes one of twins is put to a ewe that has lost her lamb. Ewes lambing at large in paddocks, however, are left to do as instinct directs, and fewer lambs in proportion are reared than when well cared for. 4. If so, what are the measures adopted ? — Putting motherless lambs or one of twins to a ewe which has lost he.- lamb. 5. How many ewes will one ram serve effectively in the season, and how long does the season la.st ? — Ordinarily one ram is put to fifty ewes running at large in paddocks, but a ram tliat is well fed, and only allowed to serve a ewe once, may get 200 lambs in a season. Kams are usually kept with the ewes six or seven weeks. 6. Do the rams eat as much, and the usual food, during the rutting season ? — The rams eat as usual when serving the ewes, but fdll oft' in condition owing to running about after tlie ewes. If fed artificially besides the natural pasture they would, I think, consume more food while serving the ewes than at other times, but this I have not tested. 7. What is the proportion of male to female landjs liorn ? — The pi-oportions are about C(iual as a rule. In some cases there is a very considerable difference, the causes being imperfectly understood. 01(1 rams put to young ewes are saiil to ja-oJuce a much larger proportion of ewe lambs, but I have not endeavoured to alter tlie proportions of the sexes of the progeny, and cannot speak from experience in this matter. (Signeil) SAMUEL WILSON. P.8. — 80 jier cent, is eousidered a good average increase in merino ewes. A Hock of ewes with careful management may double tlieir munbers every two and a-lialf years for a considerable time under favourable conditions. S. AV. 12. — Letter from Earl Brovmlow on the subject of Deer in the Brccdinfi Seamii. Dear Sir George, 8, Carlton House Terrace, London, May 8, 1892. I am -very glad to give you any information in my power about the habits of deer in the British Isles both in a wild and tame state. This information I have gained in a great degree fix>m pei-sonal observation, but tlie details of management of tame deer in a park I have partly obtained from my park-keeper, who is a man of very great e.vperience, and has a tiiorough knowledge of the subject. The habits of deer differ very little in a tame or wild state. A stag is in his prime at altout 12 years old, and a bind at about '.• yems old. Supix)sing that tho stock in a park consi,sts of 100 deer. There should lie forty stags to sixty hinds. Tlnc" stags should be killed each yeai' at 12 years old, leaving a mai-gin of four for loss and accident, and six hinds at 9 years old, leaving a margin of six for loss or accident. From wixty hinds you would prol)ably get from twenty-five to thirty calves pacli your. ■■■I I8d Tlie iirecdiii)? seanoii boi»iiis about tliu 2(lth Sept^mlwr, (iiid lasts till late in October. During this time the stags eat veij little. Tii a wild state they begin to eiit white liolieu off the,; rocks early in October. If you kill a staj,' then you will lind the gtuss in his stomach mixed ytith lichen, and later there will be no grass, ami only a handful of lichen. In a park where tliey caunot get lichen they will nisli into the water, and suck the green vegetation from the surface. They Jloon get thin and poor, and when the skin is removed the flesh is rec , without fat, with an oft'ensive smell. They are then quite luifit for food. They take no rest, and spend all tlieir time in hunting and keeping together their hinds. A stag will have with him any number of hinds from two or three to thirty. At other times of the year the stags and hinds keep separate in small herds, the very yourig>8tag8 keeping with the hinds. A hind has one calf as a rule, which is botn about May, The stags cast they horns every year, and will eat the old horns if they can get them to supply, lime for the growth of the new horn. Although a great deal might be written on this subject, no other information strikes me which would l>e likely to l>e of any assistance to you in your inquiry. I remain, &c. (Signed) BKOWNLOW 13. — Mcmwandiim on Ihc Place of the Fiir-Seal in the Clamjimtion of Mammalia, hy Profeaimr Flonrr, V.B., F.R.S., Director of thr NutHrnl HvUori/ Dqmrtments, lirUAnh Museitnu All tlie animals commonly spoken of as seals are divided into two very distinct gi-oups :— ^ {a.) The true seals {Phocidcc), distinguished mainly by having no e::tenml eare, and by not using tlieir hind limbs when walking on land. (ft.) The eared seals (Otariidm), often called sea-lions or sea-beat's, which have siviall external eare, and which, when on land, support themselves and walk on the soles of their hind as well as their fore limbs. None of the first-named group have the fine under-fur which makes the skin of 8on\e of the species of the second group such a valuable article of commerce ; it is therefore not necessarj- to speak further of them in the present lleport. Up to the year 1816 both groups of seals were included under the generic name of PhMa (Linmeus), l)ut in that year tlie eared seals were separated by Peron* from the others, under the name of Otaria, a name which zoologists, whose tendencies in questions of nomenclature are conservative, still retain for the whole group-f Others have divided it up into nearly as many genera as there are species, founded on trifling modifications of the teeth and skull and the length of the ears, and thus such names as ArctocephaUtu, Callorhinvs, Eiwta.ria, Z(doj)hns, Eumctopiac, Pliocarrton, Halarctttt, Keoplwca, Ardophoca, and Gypsophoca occur as generic appellations of various memliers of the family in zoological treatises on the subject. As the various authors who have made a special study of this group of animals do not agree as to the relative importance of the characters upon which these distinctions are founded, there is much difl'erence of opinion as to tiie extent and limits of these so-called generic divisions, and consequently as to the name to be applied to many of the species, hence the confusion of nomenclature which is obvious to any one who compares the different monographs and treatises on the natural history of the seals. Besides the difficulties as to the most appropriate names, there aie others which arise from our ignorance of tlie animals themselves, especially the distinctive characters and geographical distribiition of the various species. The number of species is not even accurately determined, as variations due to se.x, age, ot season have often been mistaken for those due to specific distinctions. Indeed, until more complete materials are collected in our museums, including skins, skeletons, and skulls of animals of both sexes and various ages, and from different and well-recorded localities, a complete zoological monograph of the family will l)e impossible. The common practical distinction between "hair-seals" and "fur-seals," or those which, in addition to the stiff, close, hairy covering common to all the group, possess an exceedingly fine dense woolly under-fur, does not coincide with divisions based on other and more important structui-al characters. Though all true seals (Phocida') are "hair-seals," some of the Otariidai are "hair-seals," and others " fur-seals." It is the skins of the latter, when dressed and deprived of the longer, harsh, outer hairs, which constitute the "seal-skins" of commeice so much valued for wearing apparel. In habits all the Otanida; whether hair-seals or fur-seals, appear to be much alike. As might bo inferred from their power of walking on all fours, they are better capable of locomotion on shore, and range inland to greater distances than the true seals at the breeding season, though even then they are always obliged to return to the water to seek their food, and tlio rest of the year is mainly spent in the open sea far away from laud. They are gregarious and polygamous, and the adult males are usually much larger tluin the females. They are widely distributeil, especially in the temperate regions of both hemisphenis, though their entire absence from the \orth Atlantic is a noteworthy fact. No Otaria has over been found either on the Euiopear., African, or American shores of that ocean north of the Equator. . So far as is yet known, each species has a definite and limited area of geographical distribution lieyond which it never wanders. In this respect they follow an ahnost universal law of Nature, applicable to both animals and plants, although the causes of this limitation are, in most cases extremely obscure. * " Voyage aux Tenes Auitralci," vol. 11, p. 87. t Flower and I^dakker: " Introductton to tli« Hittoiy of MuniiMb, Living and Extinct, 1891," p. 608. [305] 2 B 2 \) 186 The chances of accurate observations upon the movements of marine animals are so small that wo are stiU and probably shall long remain in considerable ignorance as to the exact pelagic range of many of the species, but as they always spend some months on shore every year during the breeiiing season, and as the number of localities suitable for this purpose is limited, the coast range of each species should be ascertained with a tolerable amount of precision when a sufficient number of reliable data are obtainable. This cannot be said to be the case at present, owing to the difficulty of discriminating the species from the casual extenial observations of uninstructed seamen upon whose information we have mainly to rely. These remarks apply chiefly to the species inhabiting the Southern Hemisphere. With regard to those of the North Pacific, our knowledgo is in a more satisfactory state. Tt is now ascertained with tolerable certainty that there are in this region three, and only three, very distinct species, and there is no evidence that either of these species is, or has ever been, found elsewhere. These are — 1. Stelleb's S£A-Liok (piaria stelleri a Eumetopiaa stdkri of some authors), the lai]gest of the whole group ; found on the Pacific coast of North America from California to Alaska ; Pacific coast of Asia from Japan northwards into the Behring Sea. 2. The Californian Sea-Lion (Otaria californiana = Zdophus califomiana = Otaria gUlenpii), inhabiting the coasts of California and Japan, but not entering the Behring Sea. These two are hair-seals ; the next is a fur-seal. 3. The Northern Fur-Seal or Sea-Bear (Oiaria ursina — Callorhimis urdnua) inhabits the North Pacific from California and Japan northwards into the Behring Sen. The main character by which this animal is distinguished from all other Otariidm, and which has been considered by Gray and most later writers to entitle it to generic distinction, is the form of the fore part of the skull, which is short, broad, and high, being as it were truncated in front, instep of low and narrow as in all other species. By this general aspect the skull can be distinguished at once from that of any other. The molar teeth are six above and five below on each side. In the two other North Pacific species they are five above and five below. The external characters need not be entered into here, as they have been abundantly and minutely described elsewhere.* The distinctive characters and geographical distribution of the species of Otaria inhabiting the seas and coasts south of the Equator, and met with either now or foimerly in all suitable localities round the whole circumfei-ence of the globe, are, as stated above, less accurately determined, nor is this the place to attempt to unravel this purely zoological problem, but the following may be mentioned as best established. 4. The Southern Sea-Lion {Oiaria jubata), formerly abundant on the Falkland Islands and the coasts of Patagonia and Chile, extending as far north as the Galapagos Islands ; an animal nearly as large as the Northern or Steller's Sea-lion, but easily distinguished from it by the form of the skull, especially of the bones of the palate. This is not a fur-seal. 5. The South American Fur-Seal {Otaria australia = Otaria falklandica = Ardocephalua australis and falklandicus). South American coasts, from Lobos Islands near the mouth of the Bio de la Plata on the east, to the Galapagos on the west. 6. The South African Fur-Seal {Otaria pusilla ss Ardocephalus antardicus), from the Cape of Good Hope. 7. The Australian Fub-Seal {Otaria forsteri a Ardocephalus cinerevs) of Australia, New Zealand, Auckland Islands, &c. 8. The Australian Sea-Beau {Otaria lobata ss Zalophus lohatui). A hair-seal from the Australian coasts. 9. HooKEU'a Sea-Liom {Otaria hookeri = ArctoeepJuilm hookeri). Auckland Islands. Also a hair-seal. W. H. F. May 1892. 14. — Letter from Captain David Gray, Peterhead. Sir, Peterhead, June 3, 1892. I had the honour yesterday to receive your communication, asking for information regarding the hair-seal fishing in the North Atlantic. The Jan-Mayen Convention provides that no seals aru to be killed within the limits detailed in the Act, namely, from latitude 68 N. to latitude 75 N.,and trom the meridian of Greenwich west to the Greenland shore. The penalty for killing a seal beforo the 3rd April is 500^., payable to the informant. There are no police required to enforce the close time ; each ship's crew looks after their neigh- bours, so that the close time in the Greenland seas has been very strictly kept. The effect of the close time on the seals is to protect them during tlie time they are bringing forth their young, and gives them a few days' quietness to nurse them, and is beneficial in so far that it prevents the old seals being killed before the young are born, and also allows a proportion of mother seals to escape to continue the species ; beyond this the close time does not go. The young broods were very often clean swept up, so that not one escaped. The Newfoundland seal fishery is conducted in a different way ; the St. John's people, having the control of the fishing themselves, do not allow the ships to leave before a date. This year the 15th March was the day fixed for the steamers leaving. Sailing-ships are allov/ed to sail eight days sooner. * 8eo cif ecialljr the ezocllent " Monogrt) h cu Noitb Anwrleu Pinniiwda," b; J. X. Allen, WMhlaglon, Ueo. Tho Newfoundlanders are becoming more striot every year ; the sailing day was five days' later this season tlion last, and they have to stop fishing on tlio 'JOth April. To sum up, the position is this : at Greenland the close time will prevent the seals bein}» extermi- nated, but it will not allow them to inci'ease. At Newfoundland their present mode of tisliing means, in a few years, exteniiination. I have, t&c. (Signed) DAVID GRAY. Sir George Baden- Powell, M.P., Foreign Office, I<ondon, S.W. 15. — Mr. W. Palmer on the killiiiff of Seals upon (he Prilyloff Itlanda. « The following are extracts from a paper read by Mr. William Palmer, Taxidermist to the Smith- sonian Institution, before the Biological Society of Washington, in October 1891. Mr. Palmer visited the Pribyloff Islands in an official capacity in 1890. The first part of the paper from which these extracts are made gives some general account of tiie habits of the seal, together with remarks on pelagic settling, with which subject, however, Mr. Palmer was not personally familie.r. The portion of the paper (jHoted below is that giving the result of Mr. Palmer's own observations made on the breeding islands, and is, therefore, of value as a record of the conclusions thus arrived at by him : — I w Natuhai, Histouy. Fate of the Fur-seal in America. (Read before the Biological Society of Washington, District of Columbia, October 1 7, ami illustrated by Lantern Slides.) The present condition of the Alaskan fur-seal islands is but another illustration of the fact that the ignorance, avarice, and stupidity of man have succeeded in reducing an overwhelming abundance of animal life, that by careful and considerate treatment would for ever liave Insen a source of immense wealth, to such a condition tliat it becomes a question of great moment to devise me?ns to prevent its extermination, and adopt measures to restore its former abundance. But pelagic seal fishing is not the only cause of the decretuse of seal life on the Pribyloflfs. Probably, an ecjual cause is tlie unnatural method of driving seals that has been followed on the islands since the first seal was captured. The mere killing of seals as conducted on the islands is as near perfection as it is possible to get it. They are quickly dispatched, and without pain. One soon recognizes, as in the killing of sheep, that in the quickntss and neatness of the method lies its success, all things considered. But the driving is a totally different matter. I doubt if any one can look upon the painful exer- tions of this dense crowding mass, and not think that somewhere and somehow tliere is great room for improvement. It is conducted now as it always has been : no thought or attention is given to it, and, with but one exception, no other method has been suggested, or even thought necessary. Each day during the season, which lasts from the 20th June to the 1st August, there are three killings : one on St. tJeorge, one at the village of St. Paul, and another at North-east Point, St. Paul. I have marked on outline Maps of the islands the extent of some of hese drives, which are as follows : — Monday, from the Reef ; Tuesday, from Lukannon ; Wednesday, 'I'olstoi ; Thursday, at Half-way Point (the drive being brought from Polavina) ; Friday, ut Zapadnie (when the water is smooth the killers go by Iwat to Zapadnie, but in rough weather the seals are driven to the vil'age) ; Saturday and Sunday drives are made up from some of the places driven from earlier in the week, or a number of small drives from several places are united. At North-east Point drives are made, commencing at one end on Monday and continuing round wherever enough seals ;;an be found. On St. George drives are made from each rookery in succession, the killing ground beii;^ just below the viUnge. Some of these driving trails are from a quarter to a mile long, but the longest, from Zapadnie, is o miles. The fur-seal is utterly unfitted by nature for ui extended and rapid safe journey on land. It will progress rapidly for a short distance, but soon stops from sheer exhaustion. Its llippers are used as feet, tiie belly is raised clear of the ground, and the motion is a jerky but comparatively rapid lope. When exhausted, tho animal Hops over on its .side us soon as it stops moving, being unable to stand up. Tlie drives are conducted in this manner: as soon as it is light, whicii is between 1 and 2 in the morning, several natives make their way between the seals hauled out near a rookery and tho water, atul cut out as large a drive as possible. As it is the iiabit of the seals wlien alaruied to get as far as possible from any strange object, it follows ihat tiiey are easily drivi.'u in any direction by simply walking bciiind tiiem waving tiio aiuis and making a noise. Tho character of the ground over wliich the seals are driven is in many places utterly unfit lor the purpose : up and down the steep slopes of sand dunes, over cinder hills stud(led witii sliari> rocks, some iilacus being so bad that they arc avoided by the people themselves ; but tiie seals have been driven over the same giound for many years, and on some of the hills deep paths have been worn by tlie passing of tens of thousands of seals. No .^i l;l 168 attempU have been iinirlu to remove tho rockM or to lessen tlie ditficuUius of the pn^Hagc, nnit the seals ara still driven pell-mell over hu^e rouks mid down steep inclincH, where many are crushed and injured by the hunying mass of thoHc behind. When the drive reaches the killing gronnd it is ronnded up and left in charge of a man or boy to await the kilting, which begins at 7 A.M. A pod of perhaps sixty seals are then cut out of the drive and driven to the killers, who with long wooden cbibs stun those seals that are of proper size and condition by a blow or two on top of the liea<l. The .seals that are not killed are then driven away by tin pans and a great noise, and while in an excited and over-heated condition rush, as fust as it is possible for i> seal to go, into the icy-cold waters of Behring Sea. It will thus be seen that these seals are subjected on an average from 2 o'clock in the morning until 1 to a long drive over very rough ground, then to a dense herding, where they are continually in motion and crowding each other, thence to an intense excitement on the killing ground, and finally in a condition, little better thon madness ru,shing into icy cold water. Uncivilized and partly civi:ized man has no pity for dumb brutes, and as the.se drives nre conducted entirely by the natives, who prefer indolence in the village to the discomforts of a drive in the fog and rain, it follows that the seala arc often driven much faster than they should lie, and absolutely without thought or caie. But this ia not all. Tho seals that are spared scion haul out again near a rookery, and perhai^s the very next day are obliged to repeat the process, and again and again throughout the season, unless in the meantime they have crawled out on a bench to die, or have sunk exhaasted to the bottom. The deaths of these seals are directly caused ns I shall explain, ond, as far as I am aware, it is mentioned now for tho first time. A seal body may be said to consist of thi-ee parts, an inner, which is the Hesh, bones, &c., a ring of fat surrounding this of from 1 to 4 or 5 inches thick, and then the skin which curries the fur. I think it will be readily seen that a forced drive for a long distance over rough ground, up and down hills, and over and among huge boulders and fine sand, with a subsequent herding, and then after u most violent exercise a sudden bath in icy cold water, must of necessity disturb that eciuilibiium of vital forces which is essential to the good health of any animal. It is known that the stomachs of the fur-seals on the islands contain no food, and tliat in all probability many of them have fasted for .several weeks. AVhen driven into the water the seals are weak from two causes, the drive and lack of food ; before they can secure food they must rest, and rest is only obtainable at the expense of that most vital necessity of these animals, their fat. I remember looking with great curiosity for tlie cause of death of the firet dead seal that I found stranded on the beach. Externally there was nothing to indicate it, but the first stroke of the knife revealed instantly what I am confident has been the cause of death of countless thousands of fur-seals. It had been chilled to death ; not a trace remained of the fat that had once clothed it.s body and protected the vital organs within. Since the day that it had escaped from the drive, it had consumed all its I'at in the efl'ort to keep warm, and notliing remained but to lie down and die. I opened many after this, and always discovered the same, but sometimes an additional cause, a fractureil skull perhaps. I have even noted those lelt behind in a drive, and watched them daily, with the same result in many cases. At first they would revel in the ponds or wander among the sand dunes, but iu a few days their motions became distinctly slower, the curvature of the spine became lessened ; eventually the poor brutes would drag their hind flipjiers as they moved, and in a few days more become food for the foxes. In every case the fat had disappeared. It will be seen also that by this driving process the 2- or 3-year-olds, wliich are the only ones killed for tlieir skins, are culled out almost completely from the seals which visit these islands, and therefore that very few male seals ever reach a greater age ; consequently, there are not enough young bulls growing up to supply even the yearly loss on the rookeries, much less to provide for any increase. It should also be tlioroughly understood that until a cow seal is 3 years old she is but a cypher so far as a natural increase of the rookeries is concerned, and that a male seal must be at least 7 or 8 years old before he can possibly secure a footing on the rookeries. During these 3 and 8 years they have to run the gauntlet of the poachei-s. If they escape the driving — and this seems impossible — they have their natural enemies to encounter, sharks and killer whales, so that taken altogether, nearly every- thing is ugainst this increase. During the eight years' iiiinority of the few male seals that iiave escaped their enemies it is safe, I think, to as.suine tliat at least four summers were spent in getting an experience of the drives. Does any one think that lliey were then capable of filling their projier functions on the rookeries ? But some one is not sntisfieil with the accidental landing of the seals on the beaches, from whence they can be easily driven. Along the sea edge of the rookeries ar;! many small outlying rocks, on which the young male seals congregate in large numbers and survey the rookeries from which they are di.sbarred by their inferior size and strength. An old bull seal will suffer himself to be slaughtered rather than yield an inch of his cho.sen location. The cows are so timid that only the greatest exertions of the bulls prevents their being stampeded, while as to the " holluschickie " the sight, even the scent, of a man or strange object will drive them pell-mell instantly into the water. The natives have been provided with whistles, and when a boat finds itself nenr a rookery (and a pretence for its presence is easily found) good use is made of them with a consequent confusion among the seals, and a probable increase in the next morning's drive. And yet a stranger on the islands is bamboozled with the information that his presence a few yards from the village is fraught with great danger to the Company's interests. The breeding seals on the rookeries represent the principal of the sealing industry, while the quota of 100,000 skins token annually for the jiast twenty yeors is the interest on the principal. Owing to poaching and the cflects of driving and culling the principal has become seriously impaired, so that it is no longer possible to pay this large rate of interest. The work on the islands has been directed entirely to collecting this interest at any cost. The principal was left to take care of itself The decrease in seal life began about ten years ago ; before then it was an easy matter to secure 100,000 skins n-year from St. George's Island, the rookeries near the village of St. Paul, and at North- ■ TTT*"^. T""" ".-T7, — V - <«i ■!?T1^ 1«9 :h they east Puint. Tlio rookeries at I'ulavina and Zapadnie were theu never driven fruin. But tea years ago it became absolutely necessary, in urdor to secure the full quota of skins, to make drives f^om these places, and the custom has been continued since, to the great injury of the seal business. But these drives from Polaviiia and Zapadnie, and the decrease in SL'al life, seem to liavo been carefully concealed from the Governmgnt and others interested in the welfare of the seals ; in fact, it has been strongly put forth in the Keports of the Treasury Agents in charge nnd elsewhere tliat tlie seals have actually greatly increased in numbers ; but a comparison of the sketches alone in Iklr. Elliott's "Monograph of the Seal Islands," made in 1873-74 and 187G, with the actual condition of affairs at present on the islands, will convince any one that the opinions and Repiuts of political appointees are almost worthless wiien de»' .ig with the fate of the fur-senl. How I'DU it bo otherwise < Their tenure of office exists only witii tliut of the Secretary of the Treasury ; with every change of that oflice new men who know nothing of seals are sent up, and these men are entirely dependent on the seal Company oven for their passage and board while there. All visitors to the islands are regarded as interlopers and meddlers. It niny be interesting for a moment to compare the management of the Russian side of Itehring Sea with our own. I Jr. Stejneger, of the National Museum, who has si)ent several seasons on the Connnander Islands, assures me that, instead of decreasing, the fur-seals there aw actiudly increasing in numbers. A comparison of the Kussiau ideas of sen! management with our own will readily show the reason. Tlie necessity for great care in the driving and management of the drive seems to be a fixed fact in the minds of the Russian otticials and natives of the Connnander Islands, while on the I'ribylofr Islands not the slightest interest is taken in the matter. On the Russian side the imtives are firm in the belief that their interests lie in the proper care of tlie .seals ; consequently, when a drive is made, it is composed of many small drives carefully selected and slowly driven, so that the large and small seals laifit for killing are gradually weeded out, ami when the drive reaches the killing grounds it is composed almost entirely of killablo seals. On the American side, on the contrary, the .seals are driven as fust as possible, the only ones weeded out lieing those too weak to go further, while of those nnindcd up on the killing ground by far the greater munber arc allowed to escape. Out of a drive of 1,103 counted by me only 120 were killed; the rest Mere released. On tlie Russian side, it is a settled fact that the islands and seals belong to the Itussian Government, and that the Company taking the .skins has only certain restricted rights for that purpose ; but on the American side it seems to be a settled fact, at least in the minds of the Company's ]ieople, that they own the seals and tlie islands, while the duty of the (iovernment is to collect the tax and apjwint Agents to subserve the interests of the Company only. The natives are utterly dependent on the seal (,'omjiany for their sui)])ort, and while having a very vague idea that somehow the Government is a big thing, they naturally look to the Company for everything affecting their interests. Sealers have no doubt about the fate that woidd be their lot if eauglil [loaehing on the (.'omniander Islands, or within 3 miles of their shores, and accordingly have given tiiem a wide berth ; but they have heretofore done as they pleased about the I'ribylofl' Islands, a'nl even on the rookeries. In the absence of the revenue-cutters the islands are utterly defenceless, ann liable at any time tc be raided. I have only touciied lightly upon scvend questions of the .sealing indu.stry, and have by no means exhausted the subject; but enough has been .said, I think, to show that if an industry which eifjliteen months ago was expected to pay the Government a net profit of over 2,000 per cent., and is, besides, a great natural exhibit, the only one of the kind America can produce, is to be saved, reform is necessary. For twenty years the fur-seal has been the spoil of politics and the victim of the poacher. In- experience on the one liand, and avarice on the other, have well nigh ruin^id the industry in American waters. There are then two chief caase.s of the decrease of seal life on the I'ribyloU' fslanils — poaching in Behring Sea, and the driving and culling of the seals on the islands. The lemedy is simple: — 1. No seals .should be killed by any one at any time in the waters of Behring Sea. 2. All seals driven on the islands sliould be killed ; none should be driven and again allowed to enter the sea. These remedies are no' new. Nearly twenty years ago Captain Daniel AN'elwter, whose knowledge and experience of sealing are second to none, said, |>ointing to the drive, " Kvery (»ne of them should be killed, none should l)e allowed to return to the water," and gave reasons which, while unsupported by evidence then, and which, in view of the immense abundance of seal life, seemed absurd at the time, are now begiiming to be accepted as true. There should also be a close time for at least five years to aLo \ ' -.e rookeries to be replenished, and then by careful nuinagement by a bureau and employt's of the (.iovernment, trained in the know- ledge and care of animal life, a rich and profitable industry will be saved. (Signed) WILLIAM I'ALMKK. United States' National Museum, ]rashinytan, D.V. , 390 ]6.—h'xtr>irt Jrum Ihn MtlUnn-nc " Anjwi" Dereiiib<r 17, 1887, referred to tnj Mr. F. Chapman, Skai.kks at Wohk. (I'y .rimit's MTihii', Burvivor from tliu wrunk of tlio " Derry C.wtlc") Wlien I wioto Uw iiii'oiint of " Life on tliu Aiickliuul IhIiiikIh," wliii'h Iin8 jiwt a|i|K>iire(l in "This ArRus," I puiposeiy enid nothing ii'Mtiit tliu Awnrim iiniichiii>{ si-nln wimii h\w visited I'ort Hoss, and picked us up wliiii* we \U'ie I'DHt iiway there. It did not lieconie inc to tell tales n>{ainflt my benefactor, but inasmuch m the captnin's admission of the poaching' has been jiublislied in all tlie newspapers, I mny as well describe how seal hunting if* done. The work is the most dauHeiflUs and arduous that men can do. It is besides so ill paid, thai, few but Maoris will undergo the risk and tlic Imnlship on' the terms which custom has assigneil to the enterprise. The owner of the soalinjj-vessel yot« nearly nil the l)cne(it if many seals are taken, and if the trip is untfuceessful — which is very seldom the case, owin^ to the surprisinj,' boldness and »'nduranco of the Maoris — he loses comparatively little. The Maoris ogreo to raticm themselves, to work the vessel, and to catch the seals at so nnich iior skin, less the cost of the provisions put on boaul the vessel upon tlie requisition of the crew at the time of commencing the cruize. If only enough .^kins are secured to pay for the stores the Maoris got nothing for their work, while tlie owner has the proKt of the .skins at the price they are worth in the London market to recoup him for the use of the vessel and for paying the captain's wages. The rule, I believe, is that the sealers have far worse than a sailor's life at less than a sailor's pay, but year after year crews are found ready to engage in the chase. The men are engaged by a Headman, to whom alone they are subject, and who directs the sealing operations. The ciew (through their Chief) dotorinino what places shall be visited, and when they shall return home. The captain has simply to navigate the vessel fron> one haunt of the seals — called a " rookery " — to another, in order that the men who are on shares may have the l)est opportunity of doing well a.s far ns they are inclined out of the trip. • ••••»• We agieeii to go with the sealers, and forthwith all hands set about preparing for the expedition, repairing the whale-bont, cutting .foal-clubj, making bullets, and packing up. Then a start was made for a " whig rookery " at Knderby Island. A " rookery " is a liotne of seals in the interstices of rocks near the water's edge. Wlmt sealers know as a " whig rookery " is one which is only occasionally the haunt of adult .seals, and is not a breeding jdace. The " take " de[iends upon whether the seals happen to be " at home " or not. Thev were not " at home " on this occasion. The next "rookery" chosen for a visit was at North-west Cape, 7 miles from Pc "^ IJoss, and across mountains over 1,000 feet high. We found the track blocked up with snow, so " we were waiting for the snow to melt on the hills hunting excursions were made, and three • 'f;s were killed. The sealer is armed with a club, whicli is u stick with a hook at one end. The club is used to stun the seals liy striking them on the nose at close iiuarters, an<l the hook serves to bring to a halt seals which are esca])iiig from their boles, or rookeries, into the sea when they are attacked by the hunters. To reach the rookcriijs, which nre on the face of steep cliffs, invariably on the weather side of the islands, the seahn's lia\e to travel o\er the mountains from the sheltered side, where their vessel lies at >inchor. The.se journeys, which are made in winter while the snow is falling heavily, and over almost inpossable country, are toilsome and exhau.sting in the extreme. The men can carry little food or bluiikets in addition to the ecjuipment for circumventing the seals, and half starved, and without any sin Iter beyond what the rocks n fiord, thej' for several days ptnsue the seals until all the prey is either killed or driven away. Hut it is in descending the cliffs to reach the rookeries that the most dangei-ous part of the work is done. Sometimes there is a sheer descent of 1,000 feet to the sea, on the edge of which tlu! seals make their home. The men are let down one after another by tlieir companions, some of whom remain above to haul up their comrades and the skins when the hunt is over. When the scene of action is reached the boots nre replaced with a soit of plaited slipper, made by the JIaoris, and which gives a better foothold on the slippery rocks when leaping about after the escaping seals. The rookeries nre formed by ma.sse3 of rock falling from the cliffs. In time they get covered over with efuth, so as to form a sort of roof. It is only in these places that the fur-seal, which is the valuable article of connnerce, is found. The hair-seal is of no value, as the hide is too oily to tan into ordinary leather. The seals go into the rookeries to breed and to sleep after a spell at sea, and the hunters have to creep into the holes and crevices between the rocks to get them. Tlie seal Will fight hard when put to it. The old seols are mostly spared, as their fur is often torn from fighting, or worn off by rubbin'T against the rocks, and they are left to multiply the species. When an old seal is met with the hunter lies perfectly flat, and allows the animal to creep over him. Sometimes the seals get so far back in the rocks that a man cannot follow them, in which case they are pulled out to a more open space by menus of the hook and clubbed. While the hunters are raiding the interior of the rookeries, some of the party stay outside to intercept any that may try to escape, like fox terriers watching the holes of a warren till the rabbits bolt. After knocking all the seals on the nose and sticking them in the first onslaught, the hunters proceed to skin the animals. The carcasses are thrown into the water. If they were left on the rocks the seals would avoid the place for a considerable time. The North-west Hookery, which, as I have said, was one of the first visited by the party, can only be reached by crossing a " razor-back," or conical-shaped causeway, which comes to a sharp point with the sea, 700 feet below, on both sides. Some of the man walked it, but others of less iron nerve tan. JHHi 101 i.ii)88eil (uttriuldle. Tliu ilun)j;or is increased owing to the friable natun^ o( tiio soil, wliich idipa from iiiiiloi' tliu I'lii-t. Tlio 7 iiiik'it walk tu the ruokirv and Itack to Port Hosh jh ouo o( Dw most suvoro on tlio isliinil A fo^' uaniu on, mid the party lost tliuir way niuong tlio liills. Thoy divided into pairs, and some did not uet buck for liours after tlio others, • " • • • • • A roiij^h trip was niiido in tlio whale-boat to the Oovernmeiit deix*)t at ('aruley Harljour, in the li(ipi> llmt s6ino l»ooti< would be obtained for our party, who much needed them, but there wore no liootH tiieiv ; but wu not soiiu! cidllies. A Htiirt was made ai loss the island next niorniiifj to the Ked Rock Tiookery on the western side. Our loiijjest rope (],()()t) feet) iciiuiied thii.'« nun to carry it, each havinj? a coil on his siioulders, with a slack piece between the beun^is. The total descent to the rookery was 800 feet, and it was undertaken in two loii^tli!), tile first landin}{-)daoo Using at a drop of about 500 feet. The liist man who (tied by the waist) is let down runs }{ivat risk from dislod(;ing loose stones, which may fall upon bis head. As ho giws down, a look-out man, oil a projectiiij,' point, gives the signal to "stop" or to "lower away" from time to time. When live men got on to the fiist ledge, they helped each other lo get to the bottom, while comiiiuiiicatioii was maintained with those overhead by means of notes stuck in a strand of tiie rope, which was hauled up on a signal being given. If firewood is lo 1m> got it is thrown down on to the rocks, but at the rookery I am siieaking of the shore was lined with plenty of fuel from the wreck of tiie " Deny Castle." After the sealing party had descended, their comrodes made another trip back to the boat for more recpiisites for camping as comfortably as possible, as this place is the head-<iuarters for attacking all the rookerit's in the b)cality, all of wliich ai-e within a radius of 15 miles. On the fourth doy the hunters reappeared, and signified to those who had kept a constant watch on their movements to see if they wanted anything sent down, that the hunting was over. Ihey sent up forty-two .skins, whicli was more than they expected, and when the whole of the party mustered again on the top of the mountain, they were in very good spirits accordingly. The next rookery chosen for a raid was called " The I'oiiit," because the lowering is down from the end of <\ promontory. The landing-place is a narrow piece of sward sloping towards the sea, which is about 100 yards lower down. The " Cave " Kookory, so designated because the seals are found in a natural cave, and the Nineteen Itookery, whose title indicates the number of skins taken when it was first visited. These were assailed in turn, and while waiting for snow, which put a stop to further active o|jeratipns, to melt, the skins were tluly salted and rolled up in the peculiar manner which prevents the inside of the pelt touching and injuring the fur. The next and last rookery visited was of a diffuient nature to all the others. It is " The iSwinger," because the sealers liuve to swing 80 yards acrn a chasm, threugh which the sea surges with great fury, to gel to where the seals are. The cliff is i:lo30 on 1,000 feet high, and overhang.s the sea. The art of getting safely across the chasm is to place the loop for the foothold in the rope at exactly the proper length for the leap, so that you will strike the landing-place, instead of being dashed by the momeiituiii of tlie swing against ihe rocks if the loop is too long, or swing fruitlessly back if it is too .short. Only a few skins were got, and the pnrty were greatly disappointed after all their risk and labour. Tlie total take of .skins was 178. A start was made to return to the vessel. Again heavy snow fell, and it was not possible to leave Nornuin Inlet for two days, but finally the schooner was reached. 1 can only int with on nerve On arriving at the boat from Norman Inlet the question was debated whether we should proceed tj the Cam])iJell Islands and pmlong the trip at least two months, or close it at once and get back iunne. Captain Drew was in favour of coming away, chiefly becau.se the young seal-skins, which were tiie greati.-r portion of the take, were not properly "primed " by age and salt water to be of the full value. 17. — Extradu fivm I'lim/ih/d /<// Jfr. A. J/'. Scott on (he Fur-seals of the Southern Ifniiis^ihcrc, 1873. lu " Jlamiualia, J>eceiil and Extinct," publislied in Sydney by the Government of New South Wales, Mr. A \V. ScoU writes as follows ; — "I hiive endeavoured . . . , by devoling as inucli space as my limils would permit, to tiie consideration of the nnimals wliose product.s are of .such commercial value to man, and wjiose extinction W(ai!d so seriously affect his interests, to point out the pressing necessity that exists for devising the ineaiis of jirotectioii for the fur-seals and the sjierm and right wliales of tlie Soutliern Ocean. '•'Tlie islands of the Southern Seas, now lying barren and waste, are not only iiunierous, luit admirably suited fur the production ' and manaaement of tliese valuable animaL^j, and iiei'd only the (simple liegnlalionseiiforced by the American Legislature to resuscitate the jiicseiit state of decay of a once remunerative trade, and to liring into fidl vigour another important export to the many wo already possess. "A detailed account of the iiabita of the fur-seal of the Auckland Islands lia;i leceiilly been given liy Mr. Mu.sgrave" (narrative of the wreck of the " Grafton," Melliourne, 1805) "which he actiuiifd during a compulsory residence in their midst of nearly twenty months. Of the females, lie relates tha ' their nose resembles that of a dog, but is somewhat broader ; their scent appears to be very acute. Tiie eyes are large, of a green colour, watery, and lustreless. When on shore thoy appear lo be constantly weeping. '• ' III the latter part of December, and during the whole of January, they are on shore a great [305] 2 C ! I ' I - -I 'Ik !fi"1 •'■.»L \f ?\i;:»-.r ;■ "' ■■• • ■ . ! r ■■■■■'>.■; ■■-•.-■"^■•■■•v- >,!■■' ' - •-•"■t» '-■•»-' -■-'-;'■ , ' ■ ■ ■ ' ' ' ■ t ■ • - :7f»V'i>"?< ■-v'S^Ti/.^wjT^A''^ 102 (leal, and go wandering separately through the bush, and into the long rrass on the sides of the moun- tains above the bush, constantly bellowing out in the most dismal manner. They are undoubtedly looking out for a place suitable for calving in. I have known them go to a distance of more than a mile from the water for this purpose. . " ' Females begin to breed when 2 years old, and caiTy their calves eleven mouths, and suckle them for about three months. " ' Before they have their calves the cows lie sometimes in small mobs (from twelve to twenty), as well as while giving suck, and there arc generally one or two bulls in each mob. The cows ara evidently by far the most numerous.' " Of the habits of the very young, h"? says : — " ' It might be supposed tluit these unimals, even when young, would readily go into the water — that being one of their naturtd instincts — but, strange to say, such is not tlie case ; it is only with the greatest difficulty, and a wonderful display of patience, tliat the mother succeeds in getting her young iu for the first time. I liave known a cow to be tlneo days getting her calf down hHlf-a-mile, and into the water ; and, what is most surprising of all, it cannot swim when it is in the water. This is a most amusing fact. Tlio mother gets it on her back, and swims along very gently on the top of the water, but the poor little thing is bleating all the while, and continually fulling from its slippery position, when it will splutter aboiit in the water precisely like a little boy who gets beyond his depth and cannot swim. Then the motlier gets beneath it, and it again gets on her back. Thus they go on, the mother frequently giving an angry bellow, the young one constantly bleating and crying, frequently falling off, spluttering and getting on again, very often getting a slap from tlie flipper of tiie mother, and sometimes .she gives it a very cruel bite. The poor little animals are very often seen with theii skins pierced and lacerated in the most frightful manner. In this manner they go on until they hfive made their passage to whatever place she wishes to take her young one to.' " The males are ilescribed thus : — '• • One of a medium size will measure about 6 feet from nose to tail, and about C or 7 feet in circumference, and weigh about 5 cwt. They by far exceed these dimensions. The fur and skin are superior to those of the female, being much thicker. On the neck and shoulders he has a thicker, longer, and umch coarser coat of fur, which may be tdniost termed bristles ; it is from 3 to 4 inches long, and can be loittled up and made to stand ei-ect at will, which is always done when they attack each other on shore or are surprised, sitting as a dog would do, Avith their heail erect, and looking towards the object of their surprise, and in this attitude they have all the appearance of a lion. They begin to come into the bays in the month of October and remain until the latter end of Februaiy, each one selecting tind taking up his own particular beat in a great measure ; but sometimes there are several about the same place, in which case they fight most furiously, never coming in contact with each other (either in or out of the vvater) without engaging in the most desperate combat, tearing laige pieces of skin and flesh from each other; their skiiis are always full of wounds and scars, which, however, apiJear to heal very quickly. " ' At this place wc saw hundreds of seals ; both the aliores and the water were literally swarming with them, both the tiger and black .seal, but in general the tiger seals keep one side of the harbour, and the black seals, which are much ihe largest, the other side, but in one instance wo saw a black and a tiger seal fighting." " Mr. Morris, of Sydney, for many years a sealer by profession, iu addition to the infonnation already quoted iu p. 15, has kindly furnished me with the following interesting particulars of the history of the southern fur-seal fishery and the habits f the animal, which have the advantage of being derived from his own [wrsonal experience. " From liim I learned the following parliculai-s : — " ' The females iu September come on shore to pup, and remain until about Marcli The pups are bom black, but soon cJiange to grey or silvery grey. The herd tlien go to sea for the remaining portion of the year, returning again in September with regularity. "' During this absence in the sea the male pups have changed fi-oni the grey to alight brown colour, wiiile the females remain unaltered. "'In New South Wales the sealing trade was at its height from 1810 to 1820, the first systematic promoter's of which were the Sydney firms of (.!able, Lord, and Underwood ; Rilie and Jones ; Biniie ; and Hook and Campbell. The vessels employed by tliem were manned by crews of from twenty-five to twenty-eight men each, and were fitted out for a cruize of twelve months. " ' The mode of capture adopted was : The men selected for the shore party would njimber from si.\ to eighteen, this being regulated by the more or less numerous gathering of .seals seen in the rookery. These men always land well to leewaixl, as the scent of the animal is very keen, and cautiously keep along the edge of the water in order to cut off the jrossibility of retreat ; then when abreast of the mob they ajjproach the seals und driv ) tliem up the beach to some convenient siwt, as a small nook or naturally formed indosui-e ; tliis accompiished, one or two men go in to the attack, while the others remain engaged in preventing outbreaks. As soon as a sufficient number have Iteen slain to erect a wall of the dead, then all hands rush in to the general massacre.' " ppippipinpfniipipppp"^^ ( 193 ) mm, WliiP APPENDIX (E). Seal Peeserv ATION EeGDLATIOKS AND OkI)IN\XCES. Falklnnd IslnntU. Ciipe of Good Hope. Orcenlnnd 3ca». Jnpan. Nowfonndlnnd Falkland Islands. By his Excellency Thomas Kerr, Governor. No. 4. 1881. - ■J ;'.!i ■1 ; ■ 'l 1 i I An Ordinance to proviiU for the cstabHshment of a Close Time in the Seal Fishery of the lulklixwl Islands and their Dependeneies and the Seas adjaeent thereto. Whereas the seal hiihery of these islands, which was at one time h soui-ce of profit und advantage to the colonists, has been exhausted by indiscriminate and wasteful fishing, and it is desirable to revive and protect this iadustiy by the establishment oi a close time during which it shall be unlawful to kill or capture seals within the limits of this Colony and its dependencies. Be it therefore enacted by the Governor of the Falkland Islands and their dependencies, witli the advice and consent of the Legislative Council thereof, as follows : — 1. No person shall kill or capture, or attempt to kill or capture, any seal within the limits of this Colony and its dependencies, lietween the days hereinafter mentioned (which interval is liercinafter "•efened to as the close season), tliat is to say, between the 1st day of October and the 1st day of April following, both inclusive, and any peraon acting in contmventiou of this section shall forfeit any seals killed or captured by him, and shall, in addition thereto, incur a penalty not exceeding 100/., and a further penalty of 5/. in respect of every seal so killed or captured. 2. Any owner or master, or other person in chai-ge of any ship or vessel, who shall i)crmit such .ship or vessel to be employed in killing or capturing seals, or who shall permit any jici-sou l)elonging to such ship or vessel to be employeii in killing or capturing as aforesaid during tiie close season, shall forfeit any seals so killed or captured, and, in addition thereto, shall he lialde to a penalty not exceeding 300/. for each offence. 3. Every offence under this Ordinauc? may be prosecuted, and every itenalty under this Oi-dinance may be recovered, before the Police Magistrate or any two Justices of tlie Peace in a .summary manner, or by action in the Supreme Court of this Colony, together witli full co.sts of suit : Provided that the penalty im^wsed by the Police Magistrate or two Justices sluill not exceed 100/., exclusive of costs. One-half of every penalty recovered under this Ordinance shall be paid to tlie i)erson who prosecuted the offence or sued for such penalty. All fines, forfeitures, and penalties recovered under tliis Ordinance, where not r)therwi»e herein- before provideil, shall be to Her Majesty, lier heire and successors, und shall be paid to tlie Treasurer for the use of the Government of this Colony. For all purposes of and incidental to the triid and |)unishment of any per.son accused of any offence under this Ordinance, and the proceedings and matters preliminary ami incidental to and consequential on ids trial and punishment, and for all purposes of and incidental to the jurisdiction of any Court, or of any constable or officer with reference to such offence, the offence shall bo deemed to have been cOiiiinitted either in the place in which it was actu iMy committed, or in any place in whi';h tlie offender may for the time being be found. 4. Where the owner or muster of a ship or ves3el i^ ;'ljadged to pay a penalty for an offence under this Ordinance, tlie Court iiiay, in addition to any oHi.-i ^Kjwer they may have for the luirpose of (iompelling payment of such penalty, direct the same to be i-joed by distress or arrestment, and sile of the said ship or vessel and her tackle. 5. In this Ordinance the expression " seal " means the " fur-seal," the " sea-otter," the " hair-se il," the " sea-elephant," the •' sea-leopanl," and the " sea-dog," and includes any animal of the seal kind which may be found within the limits of this Colony and its dependencies. C. This Ordiuunce may be cited as "The Seal Fishery Oixlinaiice, 18KI." (Seal) (Signed) T. KV.UU, Governor Passed the Legislative Council this 27th day of December, 1881. (Signed) JouN Wkiqht Collins. Clerk to the Council, CICM time for letl 6i!hMy, and peiultlea (or bmeh. Liability of owner aad mualer of abip. Prwcculioo <■( oRencet. Liability ot sliip tu fcnalty. UiAiiitiou or -Hal." m ort title. [306] 2 2 iJ.u, '. 'u.-iUilMIVp :.^-' -^p<-;.,, j™j^.^(-. »:"?^jr— i^i 104 C'Ai'K OF Good Hopk. Cape Oovernmenl Notice. Seal IslaivL His Excellency the Governor, having heen pleased to decide that the seal island in Mosscl 13ny shall not be granted on lease for the prese^nt, hereby proliil)its all persons from distnrbing the seals on the said island, and warns them from tresjjassing there after this notice on ])ain of prosecution. By Comman<.i of his Excellency the (Jovernor, ■ - (Signed) JOHN MONTAGUE, Secretary to Goternment. Colonial Office, Cape of (load Hope, Avril 12, 1844. [Tasmania. See p. 158.] Jai'an. Regulations for i/u Protection of the Fur-Sml Fishei-y issued hj tlie Japanese Government in Octolm- 187s. Article 1. In view of protectuig seal-hunting and checking foieigu poacher.^, n vessel of foreign type shall be commissioned to cruize iu the neighbourhood of Itrup. " Chishimamaru " shall be com- missioned for this purpose for the time being. Art. 2. The mode of killing shall mainly be by clubbuig, and the u.se of gims shall be avoided us mnch 'ts possible. Art 3. Young .seals shall be spared as much as possible Art. 4. The number of seals to be caught within 1 ri of coast-line shall not exceed forty-hve per annum. Art. 5. Between the months of May and November the killing of seals within 1 ri of coast'lints is prohibited. Art 6. Any person who catches m ounded o: crippled seals washed ashore, even within the prohibition limit, shall be paid in money or in kind according to the quality of the skin. Art 7. To prevent the decrease of seals Ly careless chasing and wanton killing, special care shall always be taken, and the preventive method shall L? established. Art 8. The number of seals taken will be inspected, and their skins shall fix the proof of their ages. Art. 9. The covering and breeding seasons, &c, shall be carefully oscertained by practical observations. Art. lU. Practical observations and investigation;; shall be made as to the truth of the seals losing or changing the colour of their fur according to c'iHerent seasons. Art. 11. An actual investigation shall be muile as to how many seals can be caught annually if tho use of guns be discontinued, and clubs aud Itows and arrows l)e adopted instead. Art 12. While out hunting, if anything occurs likely to form an object for future investigation, a minute reconi shall be kept Art 13. While the present Reguiatioi.s shall be strictly obeyed by all those wiio ai-e responsibU- for seal-hunting, they can address themselvts to tlie autliorities to effect recpiired ameudments in r.isi' practical inconveniences shall have been exporienced. Seal and Otter Catchimj. Wo hereby give our sanction to the Ifegnlations for catching seals and sea-otters, and fur the sab; mid inipmtatinn of their raw skiiirs, and order the same to be promulgated. [His Imperial Majesty's Sign-Manual.] [I'rivy Seal.] The l-jtli day of the 12th month, l(»th yeor of Meiji (1880). Countersigned by Count Ito Hirobi'mi, Minister Presid. I of the Cahinet, Ctiunt Yamaciata Ari jmo, Minister of State for Home Affairs. Count Matsukata Masavosiii, Minister of State fw Finance. Count YAMAtlATA AniTOMo, Minister of State for Atpnculture and Commerce. iss^ssss^^ssssssBm^Msmsx- m¥wifii!im!imf>^^ ion Jinperml Ordna^ice A'o. 80. Regulaliom for Catdiiiig SeaU an I Sea- (titers, ami for the Side and Imp<yrtatioH of their Raw Skins. Article 1. I'eraons who liave obtiiine'.l the special periiiission of the Jlinister of State for Agi'icul- ture and Commerce, in ncconlance with (In? seeonil paragraph of Decree No. 16 of the 17th year of Meiji, may eiijjage in catching seals and seal-Qtters . during the term, and within the limits of tlie places, specified for the pui-pose by the Hokkaido Loral (jlovernment. Every iieraon catching seals and sea-otters sliall at all times carry a certificate of sucli permission, and whenever, wliether at sea or on shore, any ollicer supervising seal and seal-otter catching, or any police ofticcr, demands to inspect tiie certificate, tlie same shall be immediately produced. Art. 2. Any person engaging in catching seals and sea-otters shall, on arrival in Hokkaido, report tlie name and tonnage of tlie vessel and the names of her crew to an officer designated by tlie Hokkaido Local Government Office for that purpose, and shall at all times exhibit, on the mast or in some other conspicuous position in the vessel, a signal specially adopted by the Hokkaido Local Government Office for vessels engaged in catching seals and sea-ottere. Art. 3. Any person desiring to sell the raw skins of seals and sea-otters shall produce the same to the officer mentioned in Article 2 hereof, and shall have the seal (n brand may lx> used instead of a seal) of the said officei stampetl thereon. No person shall be permitted to sell skins not bearing such stamp. Art. 4. Whenever it is found tliat any person is importing the skins of seals and sea-otters not stamped by the officer, as provided in the preceding Article, into any port of the Empire, or is staying in any port of the Empire with such skins laden on boanl a vessel, or is selling, or attempting to sell, such skins in the market, the Customs or police officers shall seize the same, and shall immediAtcly make complaint to the competent authorities. But the raw skins of seals and sea-otters caught within the territory of Kussia or of the United States of America, with the permission of the Governments of those countries respectively, may be imported into the Empire, provided the owner or master of the vessel first produces a certificate issued by a competent authority of Itussia or the Unite<l States, or by a Bussian or United States' Consul residing in Japan. a Details of Procedure to carry out the Jiegulations contrdling tlic Seal and Sea-Otter ffuntinff, May 10, 1888. Article 1. The open season for seal and sea-otter hunting shall be from the 15th April to the 3l8t October in each year. Art 2. The area of hunting shall be all the islands situated eastward of Itrup, and southward of Shimshu, of the Kuriles, and it will be divided into thive sections, and every year only one of these seetions shall be opened for hunting. The first section includes .seven islands, i.e., Itrup, Chirihoi, Buteltchelboa [?], Broughtou, Baikok($, Mushir, and Chirinkotan. The second section includes six islands, i.e., Shimsh' ^hiritoi, Ushishir, Sletonepa [?], Bashua, and Matsua. The third section includes twelve islands, i.e., Shaniiekotan, Vekkcinia [?], Karreukotan, <lune- kotan, Anos, Makanislii, Shurenwa [?], Pa^uiushir, Holt, Cockscar, Annii, and .Shimshu. Art. 3. When o boat is going out for hunting, her name, tonnage, uid the i ames of tlu' crew shall lie reported for inspection to the branch office of seal and sea-otter hunting supurintendiii', authorities, either at Nemuro, in the county of Neinuro, or at Shikotan, in the county of Chishima. Art. 4. When the branch office of seal and sea-otter hunting superintending authorities find the report mentioned in Article 3 in due form on inspection, it will give to the boat a flag hereinafter shown. Art. 5. Any person who wishes to export and sell the raw hiiles of his catch shull produce them to the Shikotan branch of the seal and nea-otter hunting superintending authorities, and *)hall have them stamiied. 3 I ■1 : Newfoundland. In reply to an inquiry as to the Regulations for the protection of the hair-.seal fishery in New- foundland, information to the following effect was kindly furnished liy Sir Terence (J'lJrien, K.C.M.G., the Governor of that Colony. The accompanying Acts will furnish the whole legislation on the matter. The Uegulations extend to all vessels imder the British flag, there being no foreign vessels engaged in the fishery. The Uegulations are acknowledged to be effectual, and were much needed for the preservation of the seals. The means taken to enforce the liegnlations will bo found in the Acts above mentioned, which, it may be added, have no force in extra-territoriol waters as such. i psr-w^ -._*!« ■t";''4;";-:,-;''.w»i'-.f^;j'xj;'., i>*;'v-*'-'(fr.. ',. t." lOtt Newfoundland. Acts respecting the Prosecution of the Seal Fishery. Asm QDADBAQESIMO SkCUNDO YiCTORLB liEOINAi. Cap. I. — An Act respecting the Prosecution of the Seal FisJiery. [Passed Fclmmry 22, 1879.J Section. 1. 36 Viot., cap. 9, rapnled. 2. Stnmers not to tail before 10th March ; Penally. 3. Sailing-vessels not to sail before 1st March ; Penalty, 4. Seals not to be killed before 12th March; Penalty; Proviso; Kotice. 5. Cats not to be killed ; Penalty ; DeAnition ; Proviso. 6. Limitation. 7. Times of Clearance ; Proviso ; Sundays. 8. Recovery of Penalties ; Appropriation. 9. Appeal; Proviso; Reoogniiaooe. Enictin; 3S Vict., etp. 9, repealed. Steamers not 'to sail before loth Match; Penalty. Bailing-veiKlB not to uU bafera lit March ; Penalty. Saala not to be killed before 12th March ; Penalty; Provito; JTotice. Cata not to be killed ; Penalty; ilefinilion; Proviso. Limitation. Timeii of nle.nranco ; Proviso i Sundays. Beeovery of penalties ; Appropria- tion; Appeal ; Proviso ; R<!eo3ni7«Qcj, Be it enacted by the Qovernor, Legislative Council, and Assembly, in legislative Session convened, as follows : — I. The Act passed in the thirty-sixth year of the reign of Her present Majesty, entitled " An Act to regulate the IVt^ecution of the Seal Fishery," is hereby repealed. II. No steamer shall leave port for the seal fishery before the lOtli day of March in any year, under the penalty of 2,000 dollars, to be recovered from the owner or other person on whose account the steamer shall have been sent to the seal fisheiy. III. No sailing-vessel shall leave port for the seal fishery before the 1st day of March in any year under the penalty of 400 dollars, to be recovered from the owner or other person on whose account such vessel shall have been sent to such fishery. IV. No seals shall be killed by the crew of any steamer or sailing-vessel before the T2th day of March in any year, under a penalty of 4 dollars for every seal so killed, to be recovered from the owner or other person as aforesaid, or from the master or crew of the said vessel, or from the parties receiving the same, respectively : Provided, that in case of the owner or other person as aforesaid, that such owner or other person received such seals with notice or knowledge that the same had been killed before the 12th day of March in any year. V. No inunature seals, known as cats, shall be killed by the crew of any steamer or sailing-vessel at any time, under a penalty of 4 dollars for every such seal so killed, to be recovered from the receiver of such seals, or from the master or crew of any such steamer or vessel. And it is hereby declared, a young seal pelt of less weight than 28 lbs. shall be considered an immature, or cat seal : Provided, thut no party or parties rafen'ed to in this section shall bo liable t^tlie penalties or fines herein stated, unless it be proven that over 5 per cent, in number of seals taken on board or landed from such vessel are of less weight, each, than 28 lbs. aforesaid. The fines and penalties mentioned in this section to rpply to the excess over such 5 per cent. VI. No action shall Ixj brought by any person to recover any penalty provided by this Act after twelve months from the time such penalty shall have been incurred. VII. No officer of Her Majesty's Customs in tliis Colony shall clear any steamer for a sealing voyage before the 9th day of Mureh, or any fmiling-vesscl for a seaiiug voyage before tlie last day of February; Provided, that in the event of eitlier of these days falling on Sunday, such vessels may )>e cleared on the preceding Saturday. VIII. AD penalties inemred under the provisions of this Act shall be sued for and recovered in u summary manner l)efore a Stipendiary Magistrate, by any jKirson who may sue for the same ; one-half of such |M)nalty shall go to the party who shall sue for and prosec\ile tiie same, and the reir.ainder to the Receiver-General for the use of public hospitals. IX. If any person shall feel himself aggrieved by any Judgment of a Stipendiary Magistrate, under this Act, he shall have liberty to appeal therefrom to the then next sitting of Her Majesty's Supreme Co\irt at St. John's : Provided, that notice of tiio same be given to tlie Miigistrate within twenty-four hours after such Judgment shall have Ijeen delivered, and within five days thereafter recognizances, or otlier security, with or without sureties, at the option of such Magistrate, shall be entered into to prosecuto the aame without delay, and pay such amount as may be awarded, AVith i osts. ^ ^Pip^'WI^PffPlif'!^^ 197 Anno Quadbagesimo Sexto VicTORiiB Begins. IS . > 'A Cap. I. — An Act to amend an Act passed in the 42n<l year of the Reign of Her present Majesty, entitled " An Aet respecting the Prosecution of the Seal Fmery." [Passed March 'i, 1883.] S»;tioii. 1. 42 Viet, cap. 1, icctioM 2 ind 3> repealed. 2. Steamers not to mil before 6 a.m.. lUth Haroh; Penalty; ProTiao. 3. Sailing.veaseli not to nil before 6 a.m., Ut March ; Penaltjr ; Provtio. Be it enacted by the Ailiniiiistrator to the Government, Legislative Council, and Assembly, in TiCgisIative Session convened, as follows : — I. The second and third sections of the Act passed in the forty-second year of the reign of Her |iresent Majesty, entitled " An Act respecting the I'rosecntion of the Seal Fishery," are hereby repealed. II. No steamer shall leave port for the seal fishery before the hour of 6 o'clock in the forenoon on the 10th day of March in any year, under the penalty of 2,000 dollars, to be recovered from the owner or other person on whose account such steamer shall have been sent to such fishery. Provided that, in the event of the said 10th day of March falling on Suuday, any steamer may leave port for sucli fishery at any time after C o'clock in the forenoon of the previous day. III. No sailing-vessel shall leave port for the seal fisheiy before the hour of 6 o'clock in the fore- noon on the Ist day of March in any year, under the penalty of 400 dollars, to be recovered from the owner or other person on whose account such vessel shall have been sent to such fishery. Provided that, in the event of the said 1 st day of March falling on Sunday, any sailing-vessel may leave port for such fishery at any time after 6 o'clock in the forenoon of the previous day. SntetlDf cImh. 4Siid Vict., cap. I, Mct. 2 and S, repealed. Steamen not to nil before S A.II., lOtb March ; Penalty ; ProTiio. Sailing-TetMla- not to tail before 6 aji., 1st March ; Ponalty ; Proviso. 1 Anno Quinquagesimo VicToHi.t: Kegin.-k. Cap. XXIII. — An Act to regulate the tdking of, and Ric/ht of Pmperty in, Seals. Section. 1 . Right of property in seals. 2. When seals not to be killed ; Penalty. 3. Second trip of steamers ; Proviso. 4. Penalty; ProTiso. 5. Masters' penalty, 6. Term " seconil trip." 7. Complaints must be made within three months. [Passed May 18, 1887.] 'I ■■* Be it enacted by the Administrator of tiie Government, the legislative Council, and House of Assembly, in I^^gislative Session convened, as follows : — I. In any action or proceeding for the recovery of, or in relation to, the property in seals, or seal- lielts, killed by pereous engaged in or prosecuting the seal fishery in steam-vessels going from, or coming to, the ports of this (Jolony, it shall bo held that no property, or right of property, shall have accrued except in seals killed, sculped, panned, or bulked by and in the actual and personal ciiarge of the claimants, or some i>erson or persons for thoin watcliing or engaged in carrying away such seals or seal-pelts. II. No seals shall bo killed by any crew of any steamer, or by any member thereof, before the 12th day of Mnrch, or after the 20th day of April, nor shidl seals, so killed, be brought into any port in this Colony or its dejxjndencies as aforesaid, in any year, under a penalty of 4 dollai-s for every seal so killed, to I)o recovered from the master and crew by, and paid to, any informer who shad sue for the same, in a sunmiary manner, before a Stipendiary Magistrate. III. No steamer shall be x>ennitted to go uimu a second or subsequent trip to the seal fishery after the 1st day of April in any year : Provided that, if it be shown to the' satisfaction of the Collector, Sub-Collector, or other Customs oflicer of the jiort from which the said eteamer sails, that a steamer has been forced, by any accident, to return to port during the first trip, she shall not lie deemed to have gone upon a second trip if she again leaves port before the 10th day of April. IV. The master, owner, and crew of any steamer, which shall go on a second or subsetpienl trip contrary to the tiiirtl section of this Act, slwU be liable t<i forfeit double the value of their respective interests in the seals which shall bo brought in on such second or subsequent triim, to be recovered and paid to any informer who shall sue for the same, in a summary way, before a Stipendiary Magis- trate : Provided that, in case the owner or purchaser of such seals, having had notice that such seals were killed on such second or subsetpient tnp, shall be liable and responsible for tlie payment of such penalty, to the extent of the interest of the owner, master, and crew of such steamer : Provided tliat, in cases in which a larger sum than 100 dollars shidl be a^judgeil, against any defendant, he may appeal Enacting clause. Bight of property fa seals. When iCftU nut (0 be killed; Penalty. Scuond trip of steamen ; Proviso. Peniltyj FroWto. it Va«t«n' pcnaltjr. Term "noond trip." OompIainU matt be made within three moodi*. 198 to the Supremo Court, upon (if required) giving gootl and autficicnt security within ten days after con- viction, to prosecute tlte appeal and abide final Judgments. y. ::>ealing-niaster8 violating the third section of this Act shall l)e incompetent, for two years after conviction for any offence thereunder, to be employed to command vessels of the seal fishery, or to be cleared at the custom-house, as masters of sach vessels. VI. For the puiposes of this Act, vessels shall be deemed to be oji a second or subsequent trip if they shall engajje in killing seals on the coast of this island and its dependencies, after clearing and sailing for Davis Straits or Greenland fisher)-, and the ma.ster and owners shall be liable to the same penalties as provided in fourth and fifth sections of this Act. Any complaints, on information under this section, may be made within three months next after the return of the said vessel to a port of this island. yil. Any complaint or infonnation, under the foregoing provisions of this Act, must be made within threi) mouths of the time of the alleged breach thereof. Enactiag cUntt, BepeaUng elaoM. AXSO QUINQUAGESIMO SeCUNDO VlCTOULB liEGINiG. Cap. I. — An Act to amend the Law relating to the taking of SeiJs and Right of Pnrperty therein. [Passed March 7, 1889.] Be it enacted by the Governor, Legislative Council, and Assembly, in Legislative Session convened as follows: — I. Tlie first section of the Act passed in the fiftieth year of the reign of Her present Majesty, cap. 23, entitled " An Act to regulate the taking and right of property in Seals," is hereby repealed. Memorandum respecting the Seal Fidiery of the Greenland Sea, jjrcjvtred at the Board of Trade at the request ofttie Behring's Sea Commissioners. Roughly speaking, this so-called fishery used to be carried on between Spitzbergen and Iceland, its chief centre being the neighbourhood of the Island of Jan Mayeu. As early as the month of February 1873 the late Mr. Frank Buckland, by a letter to the " Times," entitled " A I'lea for the Seals," and otherwise, called public attention to the abuses connected with the pursuit of this fishery. The circumstances would appear to have been as follows : — About the time of the Spring Equinox, the seals congregate in iumiense numbers, and the females give birth to their young upon the ice. The young at birth are very helpless, and weigh about 4 llw., but they grow with astonishing rapidity, and it is said that in about a fortnight the weight of each young sefrl is some 70 lbs. Owing to competition in the fishery, it had liecome the practice to take {i.e., kill) seals immediately upon tiie birth of the young. In tliis way the mothers were slain or often scared away from the young before the latter were of age to take care of themselves. The young were of small value for commercial purposes at this stage of their existence, and tlio\igh some of tlienx were killed and shipped, enormous numbers were left to die of starvation. Conducted in this manner the fishery was a scene of revolting cruelty, the cries of the thousands of yointg dying seals Iniing said to resemble the crits of hundreds of thousands of human infants, and the destruction of tlte fishery by the scattering or extermination of the seals seemed not far distant. The seals in question are not those from which the fashionable fur is obtained, but their skin is mucli used for making boots, es])ecially patent leather boots, and the oil obtained from them is a])plied to various purposes. As regaixls the United Kingdom, the fishery was prosecuted from (lie ports of Dundee and Peter- head. Norway was tlio foreign countiy mostly interested. In 1874 the Sweilish Oovernmont suggested to our Foreign (Jtlicc that some international annngement might prit]ierly ))e attempted with a view of imposing restrictive Kegulations to remedy the evils above refened to. Tilt) earlier action of the Board of Trade upon this proposal is sot forth in ^ i rliumentary Pajwr No. 7tJ of 1875 (copy herewitli). The result so far was to obtain concurrence on the ])art of th.jse inte- restcil, botli in Great Britain and in Norway, as to the necessity for a close season abjut tiie time of tlie birth of tiie young souls. But there was consiilerable diveigonce of opinion Ixith as to the date for ending and tlie duration of such clo£e season. Subsequently, the Boanl of Trade, in considtation with the Foreign Office, framed a Bill, which they introduceil into Parliament, and which became law as "The Seal Fi.shery Act, 1875" (.38 Vict, caji. 18). Tills Act emiiowered Her Majesty, by Order in Council, to fix a <lay before which it would be illegal 1 Ihitish siibjecta in any year to kill or capture, or attempt to kill or capture, seals within an area siitcifiud in tiie Schedule to the Act, and the Act provided heavy penalties for those contra vening its provisions. The area in question \w% that included between 67° and 75° north latitude, and i)° cast and 17" west of Greenwich, in adopting which the Board of TraJe were cliietly guded by Captain David Gray, of Peterhead, one of the most experiencetl of the siiip-mnsteis engaged in the fishery, and by whose graphic representations Mr. Buckland had been put in motion. In the meanwhile, the Foreign Office were making representations to other countriea.who might be interested in the matter, with n view of insuring recipitxsal legi> laliou on their part As khvady india ;f 199 cated, the fishery was chiefly conducted by subjects of Great Britain or Norwny, but Ctermaiiy, Holland and Sweden were also, though to only a small extent, concerned. In the course of the year 1875 all the Governments of these foreign countries expressed a willing- ness to initiate legislation of the character desired. It was also thought well to provide for the contin- gency of the subjects of Russia, France, Denmark, or tlie United States joining in the tishery. The Governments of these Intter countries were accordingly informed of what was being done, and a liope was expressed that, in the event fif their respective subjects coming, as they might any day do, to fisli within the area in question, similur legislction would be adopted by the Governments, and that, in the meantime, they would not allow their flags to l)e carried by the subjects of countries which had legis- lated in the matter for tht; pui-pose of evading such legislation. liie replies of tlie first three of these Goverinnents were generally favourable, but tiiat of tho United States was indefinite. Xcither French noi' Danisli subjects wi-ro, however, engaged in the fishery. By the commencement uf the year 1870 the steps towards legislation in Norway and Sweden were represented as apjiroaching completion, and satisfactory assurances as regards legislation in Germany and Holland had been received. An Order in Council was thereupon obtained in this country which brought the Seal Fishery Act into operation, and fixed the 3rd April in every year as the day before which Briti.sh subjects should not commence the taking of seals within any part of the area defined in the Scliedule to tlie Act. 'J'his date was named as a compromise between the views of British and Norwegian subjects. The foiiner wisheil for a rather later, tind the hitter for a rather earlier, date. This Onler bad hardly been jd-onudgated when a telegraphic intimation was received from Her Majesty's Minister at Stockholm to tiie effect that the Norwegian fJovernment would be unable to obtain legislative authority for fixing a close season as regarded the fishery of the current year. In consequence of this, the British Order in Cotmeil liad to be nsvoked. In the course of tlie same year the nece.'?snry legislation was obtiuned us regards Norway. There had, however, licen in tlint country a reaction of opinion as to the need of a close .sea.wn. This was probably due to a considevation of whiiMi the I'mard of Trade were later on made aware by Captain Gray, i.i-., tliat the now-lmrn seals, wbicli had formerly liecn of little conunercial value, had now become far more valuable owing to n jirooe'is invented for utilizing tlicir Imir in the manufacture of sham seal-skin. Tlu'V would, in cousiMiucncc, li(> takt'n in as large nunilieis as jins-siiile, instead of lieing left to die of starvation after tlie shiiighter of tlie niotiieis. This, it' a luet, would make it jierliaps unnecessary to interl'eve with the conduct of the lisliury on tlut ground oT preventing oiiielty, Iml would make a close season more needful as regaiils pivventing tlie externiinatioii ol the seals. The Norwegian Government, however, tliought tliem.selves bound in liononr to proceed witii the measure. Strangely enough, during the yirogress of the Bill, there was some idea of making it apjily to a larger area than that contemplated by the English Act, it being lield in Norway that sm h an area wos an unduly restricted mie, and the Bill was pas.sed on the understanding tliat a moditi atioii on this point .should hereafter be made, if necessary. In November 187<i a ft-esli Order in Council was obtained in England again fixing the 3rd April as the day for opening the fishery, and .steps were taken for circulating co))ies of it and of the Act amongst those concerned in tlio United Kingdom, and for informing the foreign Governments interested. By about the end of March 1877 the Goverinnents of Norway, Sweden, Germany, and Holland had all taken legislative .steps similar to tiiose atlopted in Great Britain, and the close season until the 3rd April thus established has Ikh-ii duly oliserved by jKirties of tlie.so nationalities and by British subjects, who were all tliat were engaged in the fi.shery, except possibly .some Itussiiins. It lias not licen necessary to organize any iioliee for the enforcement of the Act. No date was lixed for the commencement of the dose season, though (lermany raised the iioiiit, tlie advisableness of fixing u date for that purpo.se being then doulited by If t? Board of Trad". In 1871' I'ussia intimated that she nad iiiqiosed similar restrictions on her own sulijects. In 1885 Captain (iray and otiiers (,f the I'etorlieud interest represented that tlie dose season which had been imposed had hail most beneficial results, Imc that further restrictions were to be desired. They intimated that a new branch of the fishery, i.e., that for "hooded .seals," had been created between Iceland and Greenland, extending as far south as the latitude of Cape Farewell ; and that, with a view to more eflectually protect the breeding seals and the immature young, the close season should be extended. They accordingly proposed that the area for restrictions should in future be that comprise! I between CO* and 76" north latitude, excluding Icehmd and its territorial waters, and between the Greenland coast on the west and the ice margin on the east, that the close time should end on the 10th April, and that a definite date (10th July) should be fixed for commencement of the close sea.son. They addeil that there was rea.son to believe tlmt the Norwegians, as the only foreigners then engaged in the fishery, would be ready to concur. These proposals were supjiortod by the Fi.shery Board for Scotland, the only part of the United Kingdom from which ships were known to proceed to the fishery. At the instance of the Board < t Trade the proposals were submitted by the Foreign Office to the Governments of the five foreir,n countries who participated in the existing restrictions. By November 1886 replies were received from all those countries, with the exception of Bussia. These replies were to the following effect : — Gtrmany and Holland. The Governments expressed themselves as disposed to favourably regard the Scottish proposals but as awaiting infomiatiou oa to the course contemplated by other Powers. [305] 2 1) 200 Smileti. Those interested :eceived tlie Scottish pioijomils mtlier i'avoiivably, but wished, in consideration of young seals moulting in April, that opening of fishery shouhl bo not later than the 7th of that mouth, and, further, that closing day should be the 7th July. Norway. Those interested thought the lUtli April and 10th July inadmissible as dates for opening and closing, and did ntit wish Iceland and its watei-s cxcludcil from the protected area. They also had projwsals of their own widely divergent from those of tscotland. These were : — («.) That to prevent destruction of females, it sliould lie forbidden to kill old seals before the loth April (G A.M.) at the places where the young are taken. (/'.) Tiiat in consideration of hooded seals having no young to need protection towards end of close season, the fisiiery for these seals between Cape ravewell and .Spitzbergen shouKl be I'reo until the 15th Jidy (0 I'.M.), after which date it was, according to them, itursued only by one or two ships under conditions ruinous to the fishery, as the seals liaving by tliat date become very wild, immense nund>er3 were then destroyed by .shooting at long range without many being actually taken. (c.) Tiait to obviate dangers incident to opening the H.shery innnediately after midnight, the opening should be at G A.M. on tlie 3rd April, or, if that day is a Sunday, at G a.m. on the 4th. ((/.) That the limits of jirotected area should be GU° and 78° north latitude, the east coast of CJreenlantl, and 10° east longitude (Greenwich). These views were conveyed to the Scottish Ollite by the 15oard of Trade, with an intimation that they were unable to .see tluit future steps towards establislnuent of new restrictions could be taken unless some course coidd bo suggestetl for reconciling the respective views of the Scottish, Xorwegian, and Swedish interests. Early in 1887 the reply of the Scottisli interests was received. They thought the point raised by Sweden in connection with young seals moidtiug not material, as the sliort hair skins had now become more valuable than tlie fur-skins. They were willing to accept the area as defined by Norway, and that, on the day of opening, the fishery .should conunence at G a.m. They agn;ed as to need for protecting female seals, but thought opening on the 10th April wouhl insure this, as later the females would get too wild to allow of their being shot, and they agreed as to need for protecting hooded seals late in the season. They were, however, firm as to the need fm- making the opening and closing dates for the li.shery as near the loth April and 10th July as possible, and did not .see how hooded .seal fishery could be made free during general close time without endangering the observance of close time i'or other kinds of seals. These views were eonnmniicated to the Fuieigu Ottice by the IJoard of Trade in the hope of an understanding being arrived at between Norway and Scotland, so as to form a basis for negtitiation Willi tlio other Towers. At the same time, it was jminted out that the including of Iceland and its waters in the protected area wouhl involve inviting Denmark to join in the arrangement.s. ' In March 1888 a further connnunication was received from Norway. It now appeared that, owing to a change observed in the last two or three years in the condition of the ice off Greenland, the Norwegian interests no longer wished the hooded se(d fisheries to close on the loth July. They declined to make any concession as regards the day for opening the seal fishery generally, and it was doubtful whether they would adojit any date for closing. (.)n other jioints they now acquiesced with Scotland, to which country these views were conveyed. Later in the year Russia intimated that she concurred with Norway on all points. Subsequent correspondence affonled no prospect of reconciling the divergent views of Scotland and Niirway, whilst Denmark took excepti(jn to the territorial waters of either Iceland or CJreenlnnd being included in the area of j)rotectiou. In these circumstances, the negotiations came to a standstill, and the arrangements made in l87o-70 have been maintained. ("i>]>y of the English Act, with the Order in Council, in handbill form, as circulated in the past among.st those interested and now in force, is annexed. (Initiidled) J. M N. Fehniiini 11, 1802. SKAL FLSIIEUV (GUKKNLANDj.— .'JS ViCT., CaI'. t« Oi\(tr ill Vvuncit iiHuk the 2Stk dai/ of Noccinhci; 1S7G, for i'i>2>li/iii;l " Tlu .SVc/ Fislurij Aii, l87o." At two Court at Windsor, the 28th day of November, 1876. Present : The Queen's Most Excellent Majesty in Council. Whereas by "The Seal Fisherj- Act, 1875," it is cnacteil tluit when it ajipears to Her Majesty in Council that the foreign States whose ships or subjects arc engaged iu the seal fishery in the area nujutioned in the Schedule to that Act, or any part (jf such area, have made f)r v ill make, w'tli respect 201 ciiiiliiiiu!(l ill lliiil Act, il sliall l>i: luuTiil Act sliall, afU-r tlio (tiiti> nuMitiniK-iI in sui'li |iiirt tlnu'coj' ns iimy lii' sjiccilicil in to lliuii' own Hlii|).s and siilijccts, tliu liku |ii'iivisiiiiiti to tl for Hit Aliijesty, liy Order in Council, to direct that the Ortier, aj^dy to tlio si-nl fishery within llio said area, the Order : AiuJ whereas il has hcun made to appear to Hitr Majesty in Council that the foreij^n States whose ships or subjects ure at ]>resent eiiga;;e<l in the seal lishery in the area mentioned in the Schedule to the said recited Act hnve made or will make, with respect to their own ships and subjects, the like provisions to those contained in the said recited Act : Now, therefore, Jlcr Majesty, in exercise of the power vested in her l>y the saiil recited Act, by and with the advice of her I'rivy Council, is jdeased to direct that "The Seal Fishery Act, 1875," shall, after the date of this present Order, apply to the seal fishery within the urea mentioned in the Schedule to the said Act. And Her Majesty, in exercise of the same power, by and with the like advice, is further pleased to fix the 3rd day of April in every year as the day liefore which the master and i)ers(Ui in charjic of, and every jierson belon},'inf^ to, any Ibitish ship, and every British subject, shall not kill or capture, or atteini)t to kill or capture, any seal within t!ie area mentioned in the Sche Jnle to the said Act. " The Seal Fishery Act, 1875," is as follows : — 3S YlC'i'., Cat. IS. — Jn AH to juvrii/f ftn- tin- iduhlialimrnl iif (( ('lull' Tiiiii- in Ihf !<iiil Fiaheri) in the Srii.i (tiljiii'iiif It) till- /'Jas/irii Putisfx of (lirinliiiiil. [J, me U, 187"..] 15e it enacted by the Qu'-en's Most Kxcellcnt Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Siiiritual and Temjioral, and Commons, in this present I'Miliamenl asstMiibled, ami by the authority of the same, as follows :■•- 1. When it apjiears to Her Majesty in (,'ouncil liiat tiie fo:ei}in States whose ships or subjects are en<;a^ed in the .seal tislievy in the area mentioned in the Sehcdule to this Act, or any jiavt of such area, have made or will make, with iesi)ecl to their own .shijis and sulijeots, the like provisions to those contained in this Act, it sliall be lawful for Her JIajesty, by Order in Council, to direct that this Act shall, after the date mentioned in the Order, apply to the seal fishery within the said area, or such part thereof as may be specified in the Order. Her Majesty may, by the same or any snb.se(|uent Order, limit th(! operation of the Order, and render the operation thereof .subject to such conditions, exceptions, and qualifications as may lie deemed expedient. So loni; as an Order under this section remains in force this Act shall, subject to any such limita- tion, condition, exemption, or (jualification as aforesaid, a|>ply to the seal fishery within the saiil area, or such part as may be specified in the Order. Her Majesty may from time to time, by Order in-Council, rescind, alter, or add to any Order made in pursuance of this section, and make a new Onler in lieu thereof. pAcry Order in Council made in pursuance of this .section shall be laid before both Houses of Parliament within six weeks after it is made, or if Parliament be not then sittinj;, within six weeks after the then next meetinf; of rarliament, and shall also be luiblished in the " London C.azette." 2. When an Order in Council has been made for applying this Act, then, so lon^ as such Order remains in force, the master or pcrs(ai in charge of or any per.Hon belonginj{ to any British ship, or any Hritish .subject, shall not kill or capture, or attempt to kill or capture, any seal within the area mentioned in the Schedule to this Act, or the part of the area specified in the Order, before such day in any year as may be fi.xed by the Order, and the master or jierson in charge of n British slii]i shall not permit such ship to be employed in such killing or capturing, or jKiniit any person belonging to such ship to act in breach of this section. Any person who is guilty of any breach (by any act er default) of this section shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding 500/. fV>r each offence. 3. Kvery offence under this Act may be prosecuted, ami every i>enalty under this Act may be recovered — (1.) In England, before two Justices of the Peace in a summary manner, or by action in any of Her Majesty's Superior Courts at Westminster, together with full costs of suit ; and (2.) In Scotland, by action as for a debt in the ordinary Sheriff Court or in the Court of Session ; and (3.) In Ireland, before two Justices of the Peace in a summary nmnHer, or by jM-rsonal action in any of Her Majesty's Supeiior Courts at Dublin. Provided that the penalty ini'iosed in a summary manner by two Justices shall not exceed 100/., exclusive of costs. One-half of every penalty recovered under thi.? Act shall be jiaid to tlie person who prosecutc<l the offence or sued for such penalty. For all purposes of and incidental to the tria' nnd punishment of any person accused of an offence under this Act, ai d the proceedings and matters prelinMuary and incidental to and conseipicntial on his trial and piiui; hment, and for all purposes of and incidental to the jurisdiction of any Court or of any constable or officer with reference to such offence, the offence shall be deemeil to have been committed either in the place in which it was actually committed or in any place in which the offender may for the time Wing be found. 4. Where an offence under this Act is committed, then — (o.) If the same is connnitted by the fault or with the connivance of the master of any ship, that master, and — [805) 2 D 2 Ap|>1iciilioi of All Ipy Oilier ill Council iu conjiii.c'l.inii witli fon ign Stiller Cioie liinc Tor Hoal lielier; Froaeeutioo of oircncca. Liabllitjr or owner wil rouUr if (hip in Mi(»ia OMM. *iOi LUbilitr of tbip lo penaltjr. Deflnidon of " leal." Short title. (i.) If (lie saiiii! is coimiiittcil l>y lliu luiilt oi-'\vitli tin- coimivimce of tlic ownei- of any nIiIii, that nwiiur — sliuU be liaMo to tlic like i>uimlty tu M'liic-li tlio pursuii uoiiiiiiittiii;; mieli on'once in liable under this Act. !). Wiiere the owner or master of ii ship is iidjiuiged lo juiy u iicnalty for an ofleiiee under this Act, the Court may, in addition to any other power tht;, amy liave for the purpose of cuiupelling payment of sucli penalty, direct the saiue to ha levied by distress or arrestineut and sale of tiio said sliip ond her tuckle. G. fu t his Act the expression " seal " means the harp or saddleback seal, the bladdernosed or hooded seal, the ground or bearded seal, and the Hoe seal or Hoc rat, and includes any animal of the seal kind which may be sitccified in that lichalf by an Onler in ("ouncil under this Act. 7. Tliis Act may bo cited as "The Seal Fishery Act, 187.'»." SCIIEKUI.K. Area tu n'/iivh Act (ipplits. Tlie area included iHjtween the porallels of G7° and 7r>° of north latitude, and l)etween the meridians of r>° east and 17° west loufjitudo, reckoned from the meridian of Oreeiiwich. Norweyian Lair for the isldhlishiiicnt of a Close Time fur Sml Fishiii/ in the Arctic Seas.—Stovkholin, Ma It 18, 187(!. (Translation.) We, Oscar, I)y tiie f^raic of (Jod Kin^' of Norway and Sweden, the Wends and Uoths, hereby notify that a I'esolution passed by tiio Ordinary Storthing now in session, on the 25th April of this year, of the following tenour, has Inicn submitted to us : — 1. AVHien it shall appear that the foreij^u States whose ships or subjects are engaged in the seal tishery in the area included between the paiallels of C7° and 73^ of north latitude, and between the meridians of '>° east and. 17" west longitude, reckoned from the meridian of Greenwich, have made or may hereaftiir make the like provision, it shall be lawful for the King to fi.x a time of year during which it is forbidden either for tlic crew f)f a Norwegian vessel or for a Norwegian subject within the area aforesaid to kill or capture seals, including Cyslophora cristata. 2. Any one guilty of a breach of the prohibition enacted by section 1, or who shall in any way aid or abet such breach, shall be liable to a line of from 200 to 10,000 kronor. But none of the crew shall be held liable except the master in case the said bi'each took place either by his order or with his knowledge, and without his having done everything in his power to prevent the same. The provision in the Criminal Law of the 3h1 .Tune, 1874, 2nd cliapter, section 40, lost sentence, is not applicable. 3. In the event of u breach of tlie present Law taking jdace, it will be dealt with by the Police Court. The vessel will Ije liable for any fine that may be incurred by either the master or owner. One-half of the fines shall go to the informer. We have, therefore, accepted and sanctioned, as we hereby accept and siuiction, this Besolution as law. (tiven at our Palace at Stockiiohu, tlie IBlh Mav, 187(>, under our haiul and seal of the realm. (Signed) (LS.) OSCAR. Onliruincc of the Kiinj of ^tcedea ami Norway lo establish a Close Time fur the i^ical Fishery by Swaliah Vfiseh in the Arctic Seas. — Stoclholin, Xovember 30, 1876. (Tiiinslation ) We, Oscai', by tlie grace of God King of Sweden and Nonvay, of the Ciotlis and the Wends, make known that, considering that the seal tislieries in the Arctic Seas, especially in the neighbourhood of .Ian Mayen's Island, are conducted in such a numner as to threaten the extermination of the seal in those waters, and the total destruction of the fisherien, negotiations have been initiated by our Kingdom of Norway with the Governments of tliose foreign countries whose inhabitants take part in the said fisheries, and those (.iovernnicnts having now promulgated, or declared their willingness to promulgate, suitable Ordinances to the above effect, and seeing that a certaUi small number of Sv.'cdisli ships also take part in the fisheries, and that, in so far as these Ordinances are calculated to work the desired effect, it is essential that, as has already been ordained elsewhere, the liability for their violation should be of such a character as to outweigh the benefit to be derived from a breach of tlio law, we have now thought it right, in so far as Sweden is concerned, to participate in the said Agreement, and wr have therefore graciously ordained as follows : — § 1. In the Arctic Seas, between 67° and 75° north latitude aiul 5° east and 17° west longitude from Greenwich, all Swedish ships and all Swedish subjects are forbidden until further notice to kill or catch seal (including the Fhoca cristata) earlier in the year than the 3rd April. 203 § 2. All persons infriiiKiug the IJeyiilatious ooatoiiieil in tlio foiegoiiifl parauraiih cr heina in anv luanuer part.ea to such inf. UKon.ont. will bo liublo f, a lino of front 200 to ?0 off kriiSrS captain of he ship or w.th ..a knowledge, or without his having done evcrythina in h " i.«wi.!?c cuaSi against ,t. he alono oi all the crew «lmU be liable to the ponafty incurred^ Of tl^f nes" iil,!^^^^ Sl^llTKn^l''"" '" ^"" ^■"-"- *''"""« •-- - -^ ^'^ «-. the-etrs^'iEg'lijii t'ourto.^' '" *'"'"'' °^ '''°'"^'"" ""^ "'** P''^'"^"P"«n« «^ t'»« OnliHunce, jurisdiction lies with the ordinary hereu^t!.a£e5ro:ratdter*' '' "" "'"'" '' '""^ •='""^^""- ^"' '"'*'- -'^''•"^^ ^ »'-' Stockholm Palace, Novemher 30, 1870. (Signeil) (r*S.) OSUAK. ■t ■': H*. i^ L. -f4^ 'fi ( 204 ) AIM'KNDIX (F) pAUTKM'r.AltH OK I'Et.AHin CATril OH ItniTISH AtiU UnITKD ST^TKS' SKAMNn-VKi^HKLS, 1871-01, Memnraniliitn m the Numhrr oj' Fiir-Stal Shim tnken nt Sen in 18!»1, l-'ioin till! IJetunis (Tiil)h' A) cfunitili'd liy Mr. Milne, tlio CoUwIor of Cimtoins at Vitttoriti, Britisli Colunibiii, and fnuii iiifornialion I'liinislu'd liy Mr. 1). Oppeiilu-iiiKfr, tlio Mayor of Vancouver, it appears that the number of l!ritir<li vessels engnjjed in sealin<,' in 1891 was fifty, and that their total catch for the year was 4'J,r)ir). These liVturns have been cdnipiled with the gieatest care. With regard to the catch of the United States' senling-vessels for the same year, there is much diflieulty in arriving at an estimate of tlie number of skins taken, owing to the fact that pmcticnlly no records were kept by the United States' Customs authorities of the nunibttr of skins landed. The only official Iteturiis supplied to us are those derived from a telegram from the Custom-liousc at Saii Francisco to the Treasury Department at Washington (Table li), which gives certain particular as t" tlie catch of sixteen vessels, and statements from the Collectors of Customs at San Francisco, I'ort Townsend, Astoria, and San Diego, giving the number of sealing-vt-ssels that cleared from those jiorts in 1891 (Table C). From the latter Table it ap)iears that the nundier of United States' vesselti engaged in scaling in 1891 was forty-two, but no details as to their catch ore given. It has been ascertained tiiat 02,500 seal-skins were sold in London in 18t'l, under the clossifl .i- tion of "North-West," this being the termed used for skins supposed to be taken at sen. If we assume that these represent tlie whole pelagic catch for the season of 1891 in all parts of the North racifie Ocean, and deduct firm this nund)er those known to have been taken by British vessels, i.e., 49,(iir), tliere remains a bidance of 12,88d skins to l)e accounted for. A certain number of these may have been taken by the Indians in canoes on the coasts of Washington, British Columbia, and South-East Alaska, but their ninnber would probably not amount to more than 3,000. This would leave about l(t,Ott() as tlie eateh of the United States' sealing-vessels. It must, however, be borne in mind that the above figure of G2,r>U0 does not represent the total number of skins taken, as a poition of those sent to London are re-exported after having been dressed, and thus would not ajipenr in the sales list, and that, besides, many skins are not sent to London at all to be dressed, l>ut aie prepared i»i America. It appears, therefore, that in the alisence of sutlicicnt ollicial records it is impossible to firm anything more than a very a]ii)roximatc I'stimate of the number of seal-skins taken by the lTiiiii<i States' sealing-vessels. Taking the average catch of the British Columbian vessels as 1,000, and allowing a similar catch to the United States' vessels, their total catch would amount to about 40,000, but from information derived from unofHcial .srmrces this estimate ajijiears to be too gieat, and after careful considemtion it may be estimated that the catch of thi; forty-two United States' vessels engaged in sealing in 1891 was Ijetween 16,000 and 20,000. 900 TnMe (A). Hritisii Coluinbinn Sealing; Fleet, 1891. t Totul crew. * I. ^ Iniide Behring Si'a. O. = Uutsidc liehring iwa. ; 399 caught off Kurilo Ishnds. % (^y. Uuats apart rrom canuvi. 1 Craw. Catch. 9 Daffl or Name nf VpimI. 1 1 Dull Warn of Ing. Return ti> llrllish When warned.* 1 1 j_ J 1 li i Columbia. Aiiiiif ('. Moure ., IIS 7 23 46 442 1,5S8 2,076 Aug 6 Aug. 30 I. Aiiroru .. ,, 42 11 5 "l5 53 340 47 440 .luly 7 ,, 11 I. Aiiioku ,. ,. ;& 12 5 23 406 ., 406 June 30 July 27 0. XiM 91 10 7 16 • • 1,082 1,082 Aug. If. He|il, 7 1. Aniiki K. Paint , . H'i C 21 ,, .. 151 154 June 29 July 2S 0. Healrici' 66 12 ,'i 22 "59 i;i6 876 1,071 July 23 Sept. 27 1. Ikalrico (VancouTcr) , . V) ,, lit ,. 136 20d SI2 II 8 Aug. 29 I. llnnaliK 37 13 6 25 473 l,547t 2,419 II 31 ('. D. RHiid (Vaiicounr).. 19 ,, 4 ,, • • , , July' 12 I. CarlottaO. fojc 78 G 20 ,, 517 l'.5l9 2,03(i Aug. 10 Aug. 30 I. Carmi'litu «• .. 99 7 23 ^ , 751 1.639 2.390 ,. H St>|>t. 2 I. ('. 11. Tuppt'r .. 09 7 24 , , 235 374 609 July 1 ,, 0. Eliza Kdwardt, iteam-ahlp 37 • • 15 ,, I 49 50 „ 7 ,, I. (Vancourer) ■<:. B. Man in .. 117 7 23 ., 276 462 .. 738 ,, I July 27 I. (Seized July 6) Aug. 12 Kaviiiiritc . . 80 12 20 35 337 2.381 2,753 Sept. 18 I. Ueiicva . . 92 6 23 3 224 207 494 July 16 Aug. 30 I. Kntlieriiiv . , . , 81 9 5 "lO ., 191 1,224 1.415 If 18 Sept. 24 I. Katu .. 511 9 5 20 32 « , 1.100 1,132 fl 28 Lptitia .. ,. 28 6 ,, 12 4 , , .. 4 , , LubrndDr ., 24 5 11 , , ., 371 216 590 July 18 Aug.' 28 I. Laura., .. 19 6 14 ,, ,. 61 61 tt 17 ff 24 I. Minnie .. ., 4 a 12 ?U 308 373 22 703 fl 15 II 3 I. Maggie Mai- .. 71 7 24 • • 137 548 3 688 H 1 July 14 0. Mary Tiijilur .. .. 13 5 18 51 415 261 ;g.» Aug. 29 Mascottc .. .. ■«0 2 5 , , 7 ,, 79 86 , , Not. 16 Mountain Cliiff. . 23 6 ., 12 21 .. ,. 21 , , Au,'. 29 Mary Ellun .. C9 16 12 21 21 609 05 695 July 2 July 29 0. .Mand!4. 97 7 24 , , • « 394 1,030 1,421 tt 21 •Si pt. 26 I. May Bollc 58 5 19 , , ,, 701 211 942 22 Aug. 21 I. Ottu .. 8.) 5 7 G , , . , 48 48 Seinril .Sept. 27 I. Ocean Belli' . . 83 7 23 t • 170 568 1,170 1,008 June 30 II 23 0. Oscar and llallii' .. 81 5 29 54 4n9 1,062 1,525 ,, 22 Penelope . . . . 70 7 20 , , 229 410 691 1,330 July 7 Oct. 3 I. Pioneer 66 6 21 ,, 162 713 1,484 2,358 ,, Sept. 17 Itosie Olaen . . . . 38 9 3 IC 40 176 52 268 July 24 Aug. 29 I. Sit-rra. . . . . . 35 6 ,. 12 886 .. .. 886 , . Sappliir.i . . . . 124 8§ 20 ?13 30 974 2.435 3,439 Aug. 9 Sept." 2 I. Sea Lion •■iO 6 19 , , 354 5H4 82 1,020 July 11 Aug. 1 I. Teresa 63 7 23 , , . , Mn 985 1,292 »» 17 Sept. 27 1. Ttiunipli 98 7 23 , , I7ti 666 171 1,013 II 17 Aug. 5 I. Thixtle, steam -ship 147 7 26 , , 9 291 82 395 12 If 1 I. Uinbrina .. .. 98 7 23 , , ,, 405 504 909 II 23 Sept. 9 I. Vonluru ,. ., 48 15 4 20 , , . , 659 059 f f 17 Vancouver Bvlle (Van- 73 .. 27 ,, ,, ., 28 28 July' 5 I. couver) Vita 92 6 23 ,, , , 1,261 731 1,992 June 30 Sept. 17 0. W. P. Sayward.. 59 13 6 25 187 734 801 1,722 , , Aug. 22 Winnifrcd . . . . 13 2 2 8 / , , 98 105 July 15 11 11 I. Waller A. Earlo 68 a 20 , , 19!) 848 1. 021 2,067 Aug. 12 Sept. 2 1. Wanilercr . . 2.') 6 4 12 7 200 330 .')37 15 ^j 17 I. Walter L. Rich.. 79 7 22 •• ,. 519 21 510 June 29 July 27 0. Fifty veiiils. 3,401 369 715 368 .3,565 17,162 28,888 49,615 Skins purchased from in* •• *• • • 1,"53 diuns at Victoria in 189 1 " I i V 'I H' f -. !■'■ " 1.1 m ■, Hi 206 Table (B). I'AliTicuLAliS of United States' Sealinj,' Fleet, 1891. N.B. — Them pirticulan nre dorived from inrormation given to the llchring Sea Ccimmistionon by Mr. J. Stanley- B.-owii «t Washington in March 1892, and which he stated «a> all that he wai able to rollrrt from official iourc?i. 24 lealing-TnMls cleared from San Francisco in 1891, as per telegrams from Collector K. B. Jerome, Fchmary 25 and 26, 1892 : - Albert Walker. llattis Gage. Helen Blum. Lily L. C. G. White. Hermann. La Nimfa. liouis Olsen (s.s.). Mattie T. Dvor. C. H. White. City of San Dirgn, J. H. Lewis. E. E. Webster. Liiiie Derby. John Hancock. Mary Gilbert. Si>|)hic Muthrrland. 8nn DieRO. Annie llarley. Kmma and l/mise. Kosie S>parks. Peatl. Alexander. Thistle (s.s.). 9 sealing-vesseli cleared from Port Toniitrnd, as piT telegrams from Collector A. Wasion, February 2) and 20, 1892:— Allie Alger. Emmet Felii. Challenge. George R. White. Mist. >I»Ttlower. He'iTy Dennis. J. G. Swan (N'eah B> Lottie (Neah Bay). 2 sealing.TesseU cleared from Astoria, ns per telegrams from Collector E. A. Taylor, February 25 and 2C, 1892:— Bessie Rutter. Kate and Ann (Yakina Bay). 3 sealing-Teisel cleared from Han Diego, ns per telegram from Collector John R. Berry, February 20, 1892 :— Laiirn. Ethel. 5 sealing-vesst'ls cleared from miserllaiieoui United Stales' pDiH : — Silla {■>). Kailiiik bland (.1). l.eii. Nellie Martin. i<ilka. Undaunted, i', F. Fconey. 42 total number uf ve.'sel?. 'J'aMe (C). Information talmlnteil from Tek'giain.s fiom the Ciistoiii-lirnise at Siiii Francisco to the Treasury Dejmrtnirnt, Wii.shinf;t(in, diitctl IVlnunry lt>, 1892. (Taken from Manifests ; and Mr. Staidcy-lirown states is all that the Custoui-huiise is able to furnish.) Name of Vessel. J. H. I.enis Roeie Sparks Sophie Sutherland , San Diego C. H. White C. G. Wiliton Mattie Dyer C. G. White Alexander Ditto Lily L. . . Hermann , , Helen Blum E. B. Webster Pearl .. Emma and Louise La Nimfa Date of Arririil. Skins reported. March 7 . I AuguKt I, I " \l I ., ai. I .. 21, flepteniber I, I .. H, I December 28, ' Septi'mber 10, 23, 21, October 3, H, 9, Noremlier 9, 18U1 7 U» 17 4C.% 438 23 Ij 1,080 9 lU 01 31 3 2 894 9 The followin),' skins weri; taki'ii In |hii1.s in Ahiskii, mid iiriivcd at Sail l'"nmci.sco in coasting- vessels : — Name of Vessel. Date. Cargo. 88. Bertha Undaunted N.Thayer Blakeley SB. Jennie Arago .. July 31, 1891 August 4, „ 14. „ 27. „ October 8, „ •"iTemhor 9, ,. 17 cam of skint. 16 bamlt. 150 package*. 21 skins. 42 bundlei and 1 box. 207 V'S ScMMAKY Statement of the Approximatp Number of Fur-Senl Skins taken by Pelagic Sealers from 1871 to IS'Jl. Number of AppFoximite Year. British Cnlumbiau Vetul*. Calcli. Number of United SutM' Veuels. Approximate Catch. Catch of Foreign VesKlfl. ApproziD!\t« 18711 to ' About 3 ? k.OOO 1 • • • • 2,000 1878 1879 4 ? 4,800 . » . , • • 4,800 18»n 4 ? 4,800 ., ,. • • 4,800 1881 5 ? G,000 ,, • • 6,000 1882 8 ? 12.000 , , • • 12,000 1883 9 i 13,500 1 2,*S00 (in Uekring 8ea) 1 German (catch unknown) 16.000 1884 II ? K>,300 3 . . ■t •• i» 16,500 1885 13 ■>I,I89 .. , , 1.756 25,935 1886 IG 21,344 in ll.niiu 605 36.000 1887 17 20,2fiC 32 16,UU0 1,350 37,500 1888 21 24.329 8 Unknuwn 1,214 25,000 1889 22 27,8«H 33 13,300 1.701 42,870 1890 29 39..'i47 12 11,000 1,031 51,560 1891 SO 49,615 42 18,000 •• 68,000 l. Since 1885 correct tluta of the British Colmnl>iiin sealing- ves.sels have been preaerved ; previous to that year the figures given ai-e api)roxin!ate. All figures given for the United States' sealing-fleet are upproximate, no reliable records having been kept. The catch f)t' the German vessel (" Adi^le ") mv correct, she having landed her cargo at Victoria. i' Aiiiuml Ji'ipuifii <•/ Xiiiitlur loid Cafcli nf JJfi(in/i fnliiuiliiiiii itfn/intj FlevI front ISTl (<> liS"J(l. Si;\i.i.Nti liciKiil fniiu yt'iirh I.STI tn ISTS. \'UM«I«. I'HVdiirite Thoniton .\niia lltrrk Tons. Crow. 80 29 .t-j 14 H The iitiovi' vesst'ls at this time wvw not regularly engaged in scid-huntiMg, but were visiting the trading .^itatiiius of their owners, when' many of the skins weif oUtaincil by b;irter from the Indians along the west iM>:i-t of Viinconver Island, tihieen ('harhitte Islands, ItelLi Hella, iJella Coula, and other |ioinls on tlie lii'itisli i'oiiimbian coast. The owners being >iiy reticent, no reliable information could be obtained; euiisei|uently, the nundier of skins and the extent of the industry were not known at that time. The probable cati'h of tlie Indians and abovt^ vessels wotdd be aliout from i>,('^0 to 5,000 .skins yearly, and the price at this lime was low, aliont from ."! to 4 dollars )ier skin. It was repotted in tlu' years 1874 and l.S7."> that the Anu'rican schooner "Cygnet," ('a])tain Kindierly. went to lii'liring Sea and olilained go(jd catches This is probably incorrect, as the chief object of hei' voyage was sea-otter bunting, she once bringing ihem to A'ictoria. .SiAi.iMi l!ep(al for years jSys to 1S80. Kavourite Ttiornton Anna Back Onward VuKieU. Tom. Crew. 80 14 29 8 .16 » 35 9 These vessels were enaged in the coast sealing only, with an average catch each of about 1,2C0 ; price of ukins then in Victoria from 4 to 6 dollars each, the Indian catch being akait 2,000 to 2,500 skins yearly. [306] E 208 Seauno Erport, 1881. FaTonrite Thornton Anna Beck Onward Mary Ellen Vt>aiela. Tonii. 80 29 36 SA 63 Crew. U 8 !l 9 12 These vessels were only eiifjaged in sealinj,' ou the west const of Vancouver islnnil, about l,2Uil skins being the uverage catch. Value at \'ictoria about '> doilavs jter skin. No oflicial IJeport made liy above vessels, and no memoranda at Custom-house. About this time the Indians would kill and brinp; to Victoria for sale about 2,i'5O0 .skins yearly. Se.\lix(1 Hepokt, 188: Vi-jsels. Tona. F«Touriti> . . Thornton , , Anna Beck Onwnril Grace , . Alfred Adams ,. \V. P. Hayword Mary Ellen ,. Crew. su 14 29 » 36 9 3.-1 77 12 69 14 59 12 63 12 Tlie.se vessels welt' only i'n!j;iij,'ed in ."feiilinji on the west coast of Vancduver l.slaiid, and did not go to nehriiig Sea. The avcrune catcli would Ijc about 1,500 skins for each vessel, and the ]iiices low. about froiii ."• ilollars to 5 dol. 50 c. per skin. Vessels at this time considered in tlie coiisting ti'iidc, and no otliciid iJciiort kept. Skai.ixc liEi'oitr, 188.",. Vessels. Tons OfW. Mary Kllen -1 63 12 (jraco .. 77 U W. P. .?avwat.l .'•9 12 Anna Heck • *• 1 at) 10 Thornton .. ..1 28 9 Dolphin • •• 1 60 12 Kate.. • •• i 58 12 Alfred Adunn ,. ..1 69 U Favourite •• ..| 80 16 None of tbe.se vessels clt'ared for or entered I'chring .S'li. liul contined their operations to hunting ou the west coast of Vancouver Island. Xuiiilier of seals taken liy eaeh schooner not recorded. The average ciitch for each vessel would be aliotit 1,500 nkins ; vidiu' at N'ictoria about (1 dnlhirs eiich. in this year tlu^ American schooner " (.'ily of .'^mi Diego,'' llaniel McLean, muster, and his lirother Alexander, mate, and a crew of tlnrteen men, entered Hehring Sea to hunt .seal.f, iind had a successful catch of li,5U0 skin.s. This ves.sel titled out in Sim l-'runeiseo and. proceeded ilirect to Itehriiig .Smi. In this year the (iernnin schooner " Adele," which came from .lapaii, was caught trespa.ssjng near seal islands in Mehring Sea, and was seized, but was afterwards relea.-^ed. TIk' seizing vessel confis- cating the skin.s, ivported the skins take'i at about :«00. 209 SKALIXG IfKI'ORT, 1884. Vejai'ls. Tons. Cnw. 1 Thornton ., ,, ,, 29 U Dolphin 60 10 Onwaril 35 9 Kate. . 58 12 Anns Beck . . 36 9 Grace 77 18 W. P. SaywanI 59 12 Alfred Adamfi . . 6» 16 Black Diamond 81 19 Mary Ellen . . 63 17 Favourite , . 80 19 All the (ibove reported as iiaviny entered Beliriiig Seu, but no returns reijorted. Aveiaf,'e in 1884 about l.nOO skins per vessel. Havo earefully examined the records, and can find no particulars of catch. « The foUowiiij; I'oreij'n vos.sels also cleared from Victoria, British (,'olumbia, but did not retinn : — , M\ I ' Veaaels. Tons. Crew. City of San 1 )iego Aleiander ., .. .. Ott.T AdcM. 40 1 45 38 J 50 .. I American. 10 1 German. p ('ATcii of !Wtisli Columbian Sealing-vessels, lS8i5. .Men, Catch. Vowls. Tons. Coast. Brliring Sea. Total. RuiUer .. 2S 5 1,450 1,450 Kate 58 i 14 1,675 l,67.'i Favourite. . 80 18 1,720 , , 1,726 Onward . . . . . . 35 9 1,094 , , 1,694 Dolphin . . 01) 15 1,833 , J 1,833 Black Diamond .. 81 15 1,426 ,, 1,426 Alfred Adams , . . . , , 69 18 1,512 3U0 1,813 Grace .77 16 1,8011 1,80U Thornton.. ■J9 9 1,425 , , 1,425 W. P. Say ward 59 16 1,900 , , 1,900 Mountain Chief . . 26 l,2J5 1,225 Anna Beck 1 36 ! 7 1,234 1,234 MaryElU'n 03 1 18 1,489 500 1,989 (Tliirlmi vessels.) 701 j 166 20,389 800 21,189 Olher SJHhi lauded al V 'icteria, 15 Adi-lu (German) . . , . . . , , . . I 50 1,350 400 1,750 [aotf] 2 E 2 210 Catch of l^rifisli (.'olmiiliian SeHliiif^-vessels, I.SSf'i. Hnata uiid Ciinaes. Cat.h. Vfiwif. 1 Tons. 1 Cifw. Coast. Behring 8ea. Total. Marf Ellen 1 63 6 24 1,200 2,353 3,5.'i3 Pathfinder .. 66 6 22 750 950 1,700 Dolpliin 60 5 18 1,040 960 2,000 Penelapo .; 70 6 20 600 650 1,250 Orao' • 1 77 6 21 600 1.100 1,700 Anna Beck . . .{ .36 9 18 541 601 1,142 W. I. Sayward 59 ., 21 750 850 1,600 AlfrcJ Adama 69 10 22 650 750 1,400 FaTOtirite 80 12 28 650 2.231 2,8HI Black Diamond 81 12 24 350 378 ■28 Tere»> 63 .*» 18 800 1,400 2,200 Arctica 42 4 16 1,.300 ,, 1,300 Kate 58 4 15 1,000 , . 1,090 Thornton* . , 29 3 14 500 ,, 500 Onward* . . . ' Xi 4 15 400 • • 400 Carolina*, .. 32 4 15 700 7(0 (Siiteen veasela.) 92(» 101 314 11,921 12,423 24.344 Adele (German) • •• • 50 4 16 433 132 605 * Thete Teswit were leited and ronfitcated Ht the United Statei' Government. Catch of llritish Columliian Sealiii},'-vesself<, 1887. 1 Crew. Catch. Venels. Tunt. i Boat!. Coaat. Behring Sea. Total. W. P. Say ward* Anna Beck* .. Grace* Dolphin* Alfred Adams* Ada* Lottie Fairfield MarjTaylor.. Pathfinder .. Penelope .. ,, ,. ., Triumph Favourite Blaek Diamond Mountain Chief Tereia .. ,. ., Kate Mary Ellen 59 36 77 60 69 64 125 43 66 09 98 80 81 26 63 58 69 12 4 6 5 IS I 5 6 6 6 14 5 7 7 8 8 24 12 18 18 r> 24 24 18 21 23 24 28 21 15 23 20 2« 477 210 410 330 525 512 400 450 1,000 800 630 250 700 S.-iO 743 515 "l26 359 288 854 1,364 »,600 550 1,300 700 480 1,257 245 696 'ins 477 336 769 618 1,379 1,876 3.000 1,000 2,300 1.500 480 1,887 495 700 1,246 743 1,460 (Seventeen ve»wl«.) 1,143 ' 123 361 8,502 ii,;ui 20.266 Adele (German) 50 ;> 20 720 6:io 1,350 • .Seiied by United States' Governmi-nt in llrhrinif Sen. 211 m Catch of British Ciiluiiibiati Sfiiliii},'-vessels, 1888. Tons. Boats. Crew. Citdi. Vessels. Coast. Bi'hring Sea* Totsl. Mary Kllen . . . . . , 69 12 30 805 910 1,715 Fcnelopo ,. .. ., ,. 69 5 20 1,410 1,937 3,347 Juanila ,, ., ,, ,, 40 13 28 177 1.017 1.194 Mountain C'liipf ., .. ,. 26 6 10 400 825 1.225 San Jnsu . . . . , , . . 52 4 16 107 .. 107 Sapphire 124 9 22 1,200 1,200 Viva 92 (i 21 806 2.069 2,876 Black Diamond 81 !» 20 231 863 1,094 Mary Taylor,. 43 9 24 392 , , 392 Triumph 98 12 29 ,, 2,470 2,470 Annie C. Moore . . , . . , IIS ti 23 ,, 715 715 MaegieMae 71 5 20 125 1,299 1,424 FBTOUritC! .. 70 13 30 300 1,834 »,134 Annio ,. ., ,, ,, 25 5 11 156 1,039 1,195 RosieOlsen.. 39 4 13 100 500 600 Pathfinder ., 66 9 22 600 650 1,250 U\J 68 12 22 93 ,, 93 O. 8. Fowler.. 34 3 12 230 ,, 230 Minnie .. .. ,. 46 12 26 209 525 734 Aurora 41 11 23 335 • • 335 Araunaht 71 6 20 •• •• •• (Twenty-one vessels.^ 1,347 170 442 7,676 16,653 24,329 Adele (German) .. ,, ,, 50 8 20 392 822 1,214 * The Behring Sea natch for this and previona yeara includes a certain number of skins taken on the coast of British Columbia to the north of Vancouver Island, the schooners having no opportunity of landing the skins before entering Behring Sea. f " Areunah " seiied by Russians near Copper Island (Parliamentary Paper C. fi253, p. 80). i; Catch of British Columbian Sealing-vessela, 1889. Tons. Boats. Crow. Catch. Vessels. Spring. Coast. Behring Sea. Total. Pathfinder .. Teresa Annie C. Moore . . . . Viva Penelope Sapphire .. .. Auroiu ,. ,, ., Juanita ., .. Mary Taylor.. Minnie Wanderer Ariel Lily Black Diamond Kate .. Favourite .. .. .. Mountain Chief Sierra W. P. Say ward Winnifred ,. ,. ,. Heatrico Maggie Mac 66 63 113 92 70 183 41 40 42 46 15 90 68 81 58 79 20 10 59 10 67 70 6 7 7 6 6 18 11 13 6 10 6 6 II 12 10 10 5 2 12 2 7 6 24 23 23 22 21 39 22 29 18 21 15 22 25 29 24 25 13 5 1 22 25 384 284 313 589 384 754 330 103 383 2U0 178 2*80 .147 U24 2*10 80 • • 22 500 164 558 198 489 H72 610 486 32 364 841 2*82 340 557 613 48 828 1,318 2.182 1,796 1,626 *29 500 "g44 74 55 800 1,764 • • M43 '700 1,290 990 1,310 2,130 3,643 2,180 2,990 816 164 747 700 178 1,685 354 684 1,424 2,104 210 80 2,200 22 1,200 2,067 (Twenty-twc vessels.) Adi'le (Grrniun) ., .. I.3i9 179 481 6.129 6,242 15,497 27,868 •• •• 240 ! 1,461 1 •• 1,701 212 Catch of British Colum1)inii Sailing-vessels, 1890. Tona. Boats. Crew. Catib. Vmwola. White. Indian. Spring. Coatt. Behring Sea. Total. Mwjr Taylor 43 ,, G 18 ' 104 302 592 998 Pioneer till 5 . 20 ,. 23!k 716 984 1.935 Vl»« n fi 23 ., 262 436 2.015 2,713 Iriunph • • • • ■ > E. aMarriii 98 7 23 • • 1 182 1,018 473 1.67S 117 7 20 ,, 3<8 878 918 2,164 Sapphire .. 124 19 6 36 119 1,378 745 3.242 C.H. Topper 9!i 7 23 ., 1 1 •• 571 796 1.367 Kate 58 10 5 22 I 156 5!1 1'30 897 Favourite .. 80 13 6 26 856 981 1,116 2,453 42 11 5 19 165 797 ,, 962 Beatriet 6r. 12 4 25 220 710 854 1,784 Katberjnc .. HI 11 5 18 380 345 945 1,670 Lily fin 9 5 20 122 5flO 622 Penelope .. ,, ., 70 ."» •J2 , , 148 578 . 445 1,171 W. P. Sayward 59 1.) C 16 154 339 459 952 Maggio Mac 71 C 20 ,, .. 1,200 752 1.952 Juaiiitn ., 40 10 6 16 07 311 770 1,178 Annie C. Moore ., ., 113 7 20 , , 90 703 ! 630 1,423 Teresa C3 7 23 ,, 175 569 450 1.194 Ariel 91 12 4 34 220 349 : 1.137 1,706 Minnie 46 9 5 16 300 764 1 1.467 2,531 .-Va Lion ,• „ ,. 50 5 18 ,. 254 817 ! 774 1,845 MtcrL. Rieb 79 C 20 ,, 122 562 1 633 1,317 Oc an Belle.. .. 83 7 23 ,. ,, 94rr ' 480 1,426 Wanderer .. 25 9 4 15 82 82 Tcnturc .. .. 48 4 15 • • 94 , , ,, 94 Mary Ellen.. 70 1 23 • • 115 951 .. 1,066 Mountain Chief 23 4 • • 10 60 60 LeUtia 28 5 •• 12 70 •• •• 70 (Thirty TCiscla.) 1,994 246 372 293 4,658 16,7.'52 18.165 39,547 Adele (German) - 7 220 811 1,031 Approximate Number nnd Catch of United States' Senliii" Fleet, 1886-91. 1886— City or San Diego . . , . I SyKia Handy , , ,, y Lande<l at Victoria Vandtrbilt ,. .. ..J About ten others, with total catrh <if, lay , . , , Total for 1886 (tbirtren vessel) 18b7— Cily of San Diego .. .. "1 , .,.„.. Vanderbilt .. .. _, | Landed at V. dona About thirty others, with tolri ratrh of, say ,. Total for 1887 (thirty-two vestela) .. 188( — A')out eight veitels, catch nnknown. 1889' «• WilterL. Rich .. .,> i'an Diego ., ,, j Veituru .. ., ..I Alii I Alger.. .. .. I lie' ry Dennis . , Lo'iic ,. ,, Mjlly Adams .. Bessie Ratter .. J.H.Lewis About twesity.four other veeseli.with total catch of, say Total for 1889 (thirty-three veisels) .. ItM— Mattie Dyer San Diego . . Oeo.A.WbiU Henry Dennis Venture ,. About seren nthi-rs, «itb total catrli of, sny i. r Landed at Victoria • Landed at Victoria 16,000 5,741 .1,116 Total for 1890 (twelve Teasels) ( 218 ) ?■<:■': » APPENDIX (ii). I ;> 'V MiSOELLANKOUa TABtKS. 1. Arerago I'rioot realized Tor Alaska Salted Fur-Seal Skins at Public Auction in London. 2. Statement of Fur-Seal Skins obtained in trade from Indians by the Hudson Bay Com- pany oi the coost of Uritish Columbi:i l)etwcen I'ort Simpson and tlie nortlipm end of Vancouver Island, 1R52 to 1890. 3. Skins taken fur Shipment from CoMtmnndcr Islands, 1802 to IS'JI. 4. Shipment of Fur-Seal Skins from T^bos Islands, ••oniinunieatcd by Mr. Alfred Lafoiic. M.P. ^ 5. Particulars of Fur-Seal Skins in London Market, from Mc>8rs. C. M. I^tnipso i and Co. I. — AVERAOR Prices roalizod for Alaska Salted Fm-Seal Skins at Puljlie Auction in London, rnriiished hy the Hiidson Hay Company. YesT. 1871 1872 1873 1874 1875 1876 1877 1878 1879 I8<l() 1881 Sklna. 104.H99 96,28.1 103,721 99,150 99.634 90,276 75,410 99,911 100,036 100,101 9'J,92l Priis Yc»r. 1. ll. : 42 2 1882 . 44 10 1883 . 52 1884 . 52 (! 1R85 . SO 9 1 188(i . :ii 4 , 1887 . 39 11 1888 . 69 2 1889 . 81 1 1H90 . 91 5 ' 1H91 . 79 9 SMna. Prire. ». d. 100,100 53 7 75,914 82 9 99,994 51 9 99,874 57 7 99,947 69 S 99,949 56 100.037 77 11 100,031 66 11 20,994 146 S 13,494 125 4 ATo/f.— Pretidus tci 1.J71 fur-fcal skinn Wfri' inM iirivatcly, and it it inipoasiblp to olitnin enrrprt nvcrajr prices. :J. — Statkmknt of Fiir-Sual Skins ohlaiutMl in Tiiulc Irmii Iiuliaus i.y the iliulsoii li.iy L'DUiiiany on tlu! Coast of Ikitish Colniiiliin lietwoen Port Sinijwitn autl tiic Novtiieni End of Vancouver Island, 185LMU». 1i»5Sr liWfl" IBH V ai4 3. — Skinfi taken for Shipment froui Conininnder Island!*, 1862-91. Notot. ^^1 t^J pop* killed Alaika Commerei*! Compiiny'g firtt term began ' llliolt nakei nteb 3,6U, but tbii doubtleu ■ miiUke, Stopped killing jiupi (or fuoU Approiimate eitiamU) •• .. Approiimate estimato , , . . End of Alaika CuniuicrcinI Coniiany'ii leate I87& 1876 1877 1878 187» 1880 I8HI 1882 1R83 I88t 1885 1886 1887 1888 1889 IBUU Number. Notei. 4,000 4,S00 S,00l) 4.000 4.000 4,000 12,000 31,000 27,500 3,413 29.318 30,396 31,272 36,274 26,960 21,5.12 31.340 42,752 48.604 43,522 44,620 28.696 52.652 41,737 44,500 46.754 45,000 55,4»:l 55.727 8r2.40St ' liicluUini IlubbeD Island. Without Kiibben lilanil, from which no skins wiTC taken. Including 1.453 taken on Robbun Isliud, Including 50U taken on Hoblien Island. * 1865 to 1891 from official figurca obtuinnl by u:. un Coniiuuiider UIiiikU. f Tlip skins nlittiini'd by rnidiT" ii|ioii Rdlibrn Ulaiiii iiiui oil the C'ummander IiluuJs arc nut iiuluilcJ in the figurui above given, *hieh merely reprewnt tliu annual catch iis ulticiully rt-coriicd. Autea (jii the Ki/litii/ v/ J''iir-i)ttils vn Ihc Vuiaiiuimlcf Jultiiiiln. The fiifU aviiilalili' for llie I'liiiier vi'iirs afti-r the liiscoveiy of tliesc islands arc very iucouiiilelt', but the following; notes may he citi'il: — In 17r>l-j.'l, .luiiot, anion,' kins liroiijihl Inmi lichiin;; J.-ilund, hml L'.lM:.' I'lir-.sfiil skin.-!, and in 1762 and ll'to lliu crew of ti vessel lieloiiLiin).' to 'J'laiie/.nikoll', an Irkutsk meich.int, took 'J.'ii'i) fiir-seid skins on liie same islaml. \" Xcue Nachrichteii vun ilcnen Xeiieiildecken JiLsuln," ijnoted liy Nordeii- skiijld, in " Voyiii,'e of the \Vj,'a,"vol. ii, ji. 2Tti.) lielurns of cavj^oes of skins IVoni the CJoiumamlri Islands, (|Uoled hy ISaniioft ( J'laneroft's AVorks, vid. xxxiii, jiji. 1 1 1-IUI ), show that hel ween I 7"2 and ITfiti (the la.st year not ineliitleil) at least H.'i.TOS skins were shi]i]ied. .Most of these Were o))taii»d Iroiii the (."oMiiaaiider J.slaiiiis, njjon which alone tlui iietnal killing; ilnnliiless eNreedcd this liiiiiri'. piohaMy Very eonsideiahly. It was not till 18Stj tlmt the lirst .skins weir taken on the I'rihylolf Islands. Klli(jlt .-.late.^ that he lielieves thi'ie vas an interie;,'miiii I'clv.ien ITliil and 1 7><t), <liiriii>; wliieh the fur-seals weie driven Iroin the Coniniander Islands, and no skins were taken (Census Jfejioit, |i. 10!)). This is, however, inaiiifestly an ern r, in view of the statements of individual cargoes ujion wiiieh the above total nmoiini is haseii, and from whieli it. would apjiear that the Commander Islantis never een.sed to produce a cerlaiii numher of skins. Kllioit I'nrthcr states that he (h)es not know when the seals returned, but is " inclined to believe " thai they did not reajivear in any coiisidernble number till 1837 or 1838. Ill 1>SG7 the liiissians did not think that more than 20.0tiil skins eould be secured on the Couiuiuuder Islands annually. Since 1SC7 (to 1880) the cajmcity of the (Vniniander Islands <,'raduiilly increased from about 1. '1,000 to 50,000 skins \h.'v annum, doubtless because ol' the careful nianagcnicnt of tho industry ou these islands. (C'eubus liu^iort, p. lUi).) ^T'^'^l^Hir'^^^! ?^!^v^^^^^B T • '^n S10 4.— Shipment of Fur-Seal Skins ttom Lobos Islandal ooirmnnio«ted by Mr. iifred Lnfone, M.P. Ymt. 1 i i i 1 i 1 li t TMd. i 1 i 1 I li J] 1 11 IM7 .. »M Its 1S4 ssa l.IOS 8,660 6,488 • • 344 21 14.849 1*88 .. SOI 25S 6S4 1.480 1,660 7.088 6.915 • • 333 23 17,711 UN .. lU 134 266 741 1,851 S.9SS 3.618 93 488 106 IS.20S 1890 17S 17S 403 988 1,084 S,901 4.898 • • 502 9S 14.144 1891 224 IIS 867 C94 1.093 6,333 3.(00 • • 10 40 12,776 ToUli l.IOl 842 2.314 4,4S0 6,683 30,937 24.319 93 1,677 28) 72,739 'Total Catch of Salted Lobos Island Seal Skins, 1870-91, communicated by Mr. Alfred Lafone, M.P. Yw. Skiu. Year. SkiM. IR.*6 11.353 1884 14.580 1877 13,066 UM 10,862 1878 12,301 1886 14,980 1879 12.295 1887 14,849 IRhO 14.865 I88S I7,7IH 1H81 13,596 1889 13,205 IS((2 13.200 1890 14,211 1881 12,422 1891 12.776 5, — Partiailan of Fur-Seal Skins in London Murket.from Messrs. C. if. Lampson and Co. Dear Sir, G4. Qtietn Street, Loiulon, Man 23, 1892. We have tlic pleasure to inclose herewith particulars of fur-seal skins sold in liondon, for which you asked us when wo had the jtleasure of seoin^' you here. We ore, &c. (Signed) C. M. LAMPSOX and Co. Sir fleorge Baden-PowoU. K.C.M.O., M.P., &c., 8, St. Ueoige's Place. (A.) — Salted Lobos Island Fui'-Senl Skins sold in London. Y«r. 8kina. Year. Skim. 1873 6.956 1884 16.258 1874 8,509 1885 10,953 1875 8,179 1886 13,667 1876 11,353 1887 11,068 1877 13,066 1888 20,747 1878 12.301 1889 8,755 1879 12,295 1890 18.541 1880 14,865 1891 15,834 1881 13.569 1892(toiUte) 4,800 1882 1883 13,200 12,861 TdUI .. .. 247,777 [£oel aF :-sa ■,' 1 916 ^B.)— Salib of Cape Horn Baited FuivSeal Skitu. Ymt. Bkiai. YMr. Bkini. 1870 «• •• •• 6,306 18S6 .. ,. 909 1877 7.631 1887 2,762 1878 8.287 1888 4,401 1979 12.180 1889 .. 3,021 1890 17.562 1890 2,450 1881 13.164 1991 3.114 1892 11.711 1992 (to data) 3,966 IMS 4,651 6,743 1884 Total 112,209 1885 3,404 (C 1.) — SAtTiD North-west Coast Fur-Seal Skins sold in London prior to Pela({ic Sealing in Lehring Sea. Year. 8kia«. Year. BkiM. 1872 1873 1874 1875 1876 1877 1878 1879 1,029 4,949 1,646 1,042 • • 964 12,212 1880 1881 1888 1883 1884 Total 8,939 9.997 11,797 2,319 9,242 64,366 (C 2.) --Salted North-west Coast Fur-Seal Skins dressed and dyed in London (but not sold there) taken prior to Pelagic Sealing in Behring Sea. Year. •Uat. Year. Skint. 1872 , 1873 1874 1875 ., 1876 1877 1878 .. ■ .. .. .. 1879 699 40 122 . 578 1,062 772 2,434 2,397 ID80 1881 1883 .. .» .. .. 1883 1884 Total •• •• .. 4,562 5,890 11,159 6,385 10,115 46,215 (C 3.) — Dry North-west Const Fur-Seal Skins sold in London prior to Pelagic Sealing in Beliring Sea. Year. Skim. Year. Skint. 1868 2,141 1878 • 912 1869 1,671 1879 • 918 1870 684 1880 »• • • 1871 12,495 1881 • 686 1872 14,594 1888 • 321 1873 891 1883 • 390 1874 2,772 .. 1884 • 785 1875 I,S&1 1816 993 1 rotal , 42,767 1877 1,173 ...-flClUiklnitnM !■ 1371 and 1872.*! by them after the pnrdiaic of Alaika bjr the United Statot'. loCtha-l Recapitulation. Salted to-Mal ikina told in London, 1872-84 ,. draaMdanddyadiaLoiidaa, 187S-84 Dry fcr>Mal akint aold in Loadon, 1868-84 . . . . OnMdIotad ••' 64,366 46,915 42.767 163,348 IPPPF'^^WP^^J^^^IN^'w^ppil'fpf^^ tn ^0 40— Dbt Nortli-WMt CoMt Fur-Seal Skins mid in London after commencement of Pelagic Sealing in Behring Sen. ■^ ■■;? T«w. BkiM. Y«r. ■klM. Uf5 1816 1H7 ISM 1819 1,530 979 3,84S 1,252 228 1190 1891 • • •• • • at Total • • • * • • • • •99 i.eis 8.604 ■i^a Baltkd North-west Coast Fur-Seal Skins dressed and dyed in I<ondon (but not sold tliere) taken after commencenieiit of I'elagic S^Iin^; in Beliriiig Sea. Yen. Skim. Ymt. Bkini. k%ob •• »• •« •• 188C 1887 16,167 15,087 3,589 1888 •• «• •• •• 1889 ToUl 1,930 2,017 39,290 In Hlditioii to tbo above it ii etlimiled that from 15,000 to 30,000 ikini biTo been dmicd ■iid dyed in tbe United Slam. (C 5.) — Salted North-west Coast Fur-Seal Skins sold in London after commeuceiucnt of Pelagic Sealing in Beliring Sea. Yew. Skina. Year. Kkini. 1885 18dC 1887 1888 I8S9 2.078 17.909 36.907 36,818 39,563 1890 1891 1892 (to date) of catch or 1891 ToUl 38,315 54,180 28,298 254,068 • Recamtulatiox. Drjr (kini told in London, 1885-91 Salted ikini dretwd and djred in London, bat not loM there, 1885-89 . . „ „ Unitrd Sutea. eitimatcil, 1885 -89 Salted ikina loM in London, 1835-92 8.604 39,290 30,000 254,068 Grand total 331,962 (D ) — Sales of Alaska Salted Fur-Seal Skins. Year. Skina. Year. Hkint. IH7I 104,899 1883 75.1*11 1872 90,283 1884 99.994 1873 103,724 1!>85 99,871 1874 09,150 1886 99,947 1875 99,«S4 1887 99,919 187C 98,270 1888 100,037 If;? 75,410 1889 100,031 1878 99,911 1890 20,994 1870 100,036 1891 17,052 1880 100,161 1881 .. .. 99,921 100. lOO 1882 T uUl 1,893,897 [305] 2 F 2 ™^^^ 'WP'.WWM<(l|,i|^IWJS.(.i .WPIiPyjPI i ;! 218 (E.}— Salm of Co|ipe> Islud Salted Fuf-SmI Skinn V«r. •klM. T«r. Mat. itn M.1M IM4 M,«ll 1174 »M* INS II.Mf Itn u,m IIM 4I.7M in* SS,1H 1M7 M.M4 int t>,MO KM 4«.m im U.«M IMS 47.411 im M,ai5 INO M.7M IN* M,MO ini M.7t4 INl 45.109 im M.<M IMt IMS SMll S6,4N TbUI (• • •• 7l].tl9 mmmmKmimmm ( «i» ) Ari>KM)lX (H). ArnuAvrra rkutino to I'elaoic Sbauno. Mr. itiliu to Afr. Tapper. Sir, Cuitomt, Canatfa, Victorvt, R.C., January 22, 1892. I linvu tlie lionnur to ntkiinwledm the receipt of your coniiniinicntioii of tlio 7tli iiiatant relative to a joint letter frutii 8ir George Batlen-t'owell niul IJr. Ooori^ M. Dnwsoii, Deliriiig Sea CominiBaioners. 1 lieg to Htnto tlint I Imve emlenvotired to supply the iiifomintioii, and herewith transmit the first ot of alH<lavit8 of some of the most reltuble of our Henlin]; men, and I am contiuning to take all I can obtain, which will bo forwarded from day to tlay. I trust the information is what is wanteti, a« I have en«Ieavoured to frame the questions so that the answers would siiow reasons for their intelligent auiwers on the three questions : — 1. The proimrtion of seals lost as comparoti with hit. 2. The proportion of females to males killed in the diftercnt months. 3. The alwtention of ('anadians from all raiding, Ac. I have, &c. (Signed) A. R MILNE. ColMor. Dqwsitions uden before A. R MUnt, CvUtctor of Customs, Port of Victoria, B.C. Ccreno Jones Kelley, master of the Ganadiali schooner " C. H. Tupper," of Shelboume, Nova Scotia, having been duly sworn — 1. Jfr. Milne How many years have you been engaged in sealing, Captain Kelley ^—A. I have been sealing for two years us master of the " C. H. Tupper." 2. Q. Have your voyages been reasonably fortunate, in comparison with those of other vessels 7 — A. About an average. 3. Q. Have you gone south of Cape Flattery iu hunt for seals ? — A. Yes, Sir ; and have followed the seals all along the coasts of British Columbia to Behring Sea. 4. Q. During last year, to your observation, were the s«Us as plentiful from the coast to Shumagio Islands ns they were tliu previous year ? — A. I think there was no material difference. 5. Q. Did the seals lost year appear to be frightened or more timorous timn in previous years on account of the nunilwr of vessels ? — A. I observe<l no material difference. C. Q. In shooting seals, what is your experience ? — A. My experience is that unless a seal is mortally wounded — hit in a vital spot — it is practically uninjured, and appetirs to be as full of vitality OS befora it was shot. The shot-wounds will rapidly close up if not made in a vital part, and the seal will swim away as tiioiigh nothing had happeneil. The flow of blood stops very quickly, and the seal moves off at a very rapid rate. I picked shot from the bodies of seals, previously wounded in other than a vital part, antl the animal in every other way apt)eared to be in a licalthy comlition. 7. Q. So you lieliove that a seal when shot, if not mortally wounded, does not sink or seek a place —a ixwkery, or some place to die ? — A. A wounded sea! 'A'ill not alter its course in the slightest. It will go ulong the same as before, its wound healing rapidly, very rapidly, too. It is astonishing how quickly such wounds will heal. I once shot a senl which had been speared by Indians, and the spear had made an apparently moital wound. There was a cut aliout 2^ by 3 inches a little above the side behind the Hipper. This wound appeared to have been made about three days previously, and in that time it had healed hulf-an-incli all round. 8. Q. Are thee more seals shot sleeping than iu motion ? — A. I should say that the laigor proportion of seals are shot whilst sleeping, that is, us far as my own experience goes. 9. Q. What do you consider the vittd part of a seal 1 Where do the hunters aim for generally — the head or the heiit ? — A. It depends lai^ely upon the position of the seal The vital parts are in the head, in the vicinity of the heart, and, if a seal is shot so as to bleed internally, the hunters are sure of securing it. The head is the usual mark. 10. Q. What is usually a safe shooting distance 1—A. It depends largely upon the circumstances of the case. Somewhere between 10 and 30 yards would be about the distance. I should say that it is the aver<ige with sleeping or travelling seals. The sleeping seal is often approached to within even less titan 10 yards, but the average is from 10 to 20 yards for sleeping seal, and from 10 to 30 yards for travellers. 11. Q. The seal is very sensitive, is it not ? — A. Yes ; we have to approach them from the leeward always. Their sense of smell is very acute. 12. Q. Do the seals generally travel far when wounded ? — A. That will depend upon where it is wounded. If it is vitally wounded in the head, it will hardly move from its position, for it is likely to die right there, but it will not sink. This is from my own observation. There is only one way that a seal will sink after being shot, that is, when it is shot in such a manner as to be thrown tmckwaids, sinking tail first, thus allowing the air to escape out of its mouth. I might say, further, at I have never seen a seal sink which was shot while sleeping. 13. Q. Will you state the proportion of seals lost as compared with those hit in sealing ? — A. My own personal experience during the past two yean is that my loss by seals sinking would not average I' 220 |- i I 8 per cent. During the lost yenr (1801) I uutiially lost ouly two seals out of aoventy-seven — that i), I shot seventy-nine, and securefl seventy-seven. 14. Q. In hunting seals, what is the dircitiun in wliieh they usually travel ? — A. In the spring months they arc leisurely tiavellin<; towarils the north, who^i they change their po.aition. 15. Q. In hunting seals, have you ever met with i>ups in the water ? — A. Not gonerally ; h'.it (luring the season of IS'.Ml, while off Middleton Isliiud, the hunters reported seieing two seal pups, probably n week old, but they apj)eared to be only just bom. 16. Q. What is your opinion of the pro]K>rtion nf males to females killed darinu the hunting season ? Ai-e there any months in the year when there are mom females than males liilled ? — A. It depends upon circumst^inces. My e.xjMjrienco is that groups of bachelor luill:i will travel together, auvl sometimes groups of females, including Imrren cow.s, will tnivel together, and ag.iin gi-o'.ijis of yeurliug pups ap;iarently travel together. That in my exjierience, and tlie exjHuieiiue of a nunilier of others. The catch of any schooner coming into contoct witli groups of bnllH, or of females, would be no criterion of the catch of other scliooners as regaitls the numl)er of females. In the year 18i)0, while in Ilohring Sea, one day we took seveutj five .seals, and the next day we took eighty, and in the whole of that number 1 observed only one female, and the huiitera particularly infornie<l me that they did not see any female seals at all ; that they were all vigorous young bulls. 17. Q. Wouhl anything lead you to think, Captain Kellcy, that tliere is a likelihood of more females than males Insing kilitul between hero and .Shumagin Islands ? That is, from January to June >—A. I can safely say that my |)ersonal experience has been on the side of the males, largely- both on the coast and in the Itehring Sea the numl)crof seals caught is made up largely of males. 18. (,'. Are tliei-o any nmnths of the year liiirvig which there are more fonudes ciught than males ? — A. I should say tiat, as tar as my own observation has gone, there is no difference ; but in every month, during my voyages, I have had more males than females. 10. Q. l>o yon know of any (,'anadian vessels who have raitled the seal islands during any year in which you have been engaged in the .sealing imiu.stry >. — -•(. I have every reason to lielieve that none of the C'jinadian fleet have ever mided, or attenipteil to raid, or made any ))reparations to raid, any seal islands in the Itehring Sea. If any such a thing Itad happened, I should most certainly have heard of it, and I lielieve it to lie true that the AmcriciUi schooners '* (Jeoi'ge I*. White " and " Daniel Webster " did laid these islands, as also the " MoUie Adams." That they did mid tht; .seal islands is a fat^^t well known to all Canadian sealers. I also hoard that the CSerman schooner " AdMe " raided the I'rihylolf Islands, which action met with the strong disapprobation of every Canadian sealer. (Signe:!) C. J. KKf.LKY. Sworn to at Victoria, llritisl. Columbia, this 22nd ilay uf Januaiy, 1892. (Signed) A. IJ. Un.SK, C'ollidvr <i/ Ciigtoinii. Jie/ore A. It, Milne, Vullidor of Custuiim, Vieloria, li.C, JKiiimri/ 2:5, I8'.)2. Captain William I'etit, present ma.ster and part owner of the steamer " Mischief," having l)een sworn : — 1. (J. {Mr. Mihu\) — Ca)>tain I'etit, how many years have you lieen engaged in .sealing? — A. Six years, Sir. 2. Q (Jontiunously. — A. Yes, Sir. 3. V. What vessels did y(ai connnand ? — A. In 1880 I commanded the " W. 1'. .Siyward," in 1887 the steamer "Grace," in 1888 the schooner " Sain.hire," and in 1880, 1800, and 1801 the " Mary Taylor." I. Q. Have your catches during these six years liccn reasomihly successful in comparison witii other vessels t — A. Alnint an average. .'>. Q. Yirti have sealed south of CajK! I'lattery, have you not, and followeil the seals'Tidong the coast of nrilish ('olund>iaand into llehring Sea '.—A. Yes. ."»*. Q. During last year, to your ohservatiim, were the seals npiiarently as plentif\il from the coast to Shumagiii Islands as they wen? in previous years >. — .1. I found tlieni more plentiful jast year than I have any year since 1S>^(>, that is. Cape Flattery north. (i. Q. How did you tind them in lUthring Sua ? — A. I fo'ind tln'in there in Divining Sea as plentiful as in former years. 7. Q. .\ie tiie seals now more fiighteiuid or nioii! timorous tliau tliey have lieen on aiMiount of more ves.sels, or from any other cause >. — .(. I have seen no material ditfcrcnce. 8. Q. In shooting seals, what is your experience '.—A. My experience is th;il nnless a seal is mortallv wounded — hit in the head or in the n^gion of the heart — the shot does not a|ipear to injure if. 0. V- Do yon believe that a seal, when siiot, and not mortally wounded, <!>>es not siid;, or .seeks some place to die — a rookery, or .some snch place? — A. .No, Sir; a woumled scid will not alter its co'irsi! in tiie sliglu'st. It will move along as hefore, its wound healing rapidly. lit. y. What do yon consider the vital jiail of a seal >. Where do the hunters generally aim for ? — A. For the bead or the heart ; it depends npon llie |)ositioM of the seal, lint usually the head. II. if. What is the distance at whi('h yon siioot .scids ' — A. It depends upon circniustaines. 12. V. .Are more seals shot wiiile sleeping than in nioljoii '. — A. Tlu're aiv more shot shutping, Sir. it is my opinion that the larger proportion of seals are shot while slei-ping. The seals taken liy the Indi.ins are nearly all killed whih; sleeping. l.'i. Q. What is the shouting distance? — A. It depends upon circumstances; 10 to 20 yards fur sleepers, and u little :• jre, 10 to ;t0 yards, for travellers. 1' PW III 221 14. Q. You have seen the hunters and Indians approach even nearer thnu 10 yanls, have you ?— A. Yes, I have seen tlieni approacli to within less than 10 feet. If. Q. Wiien si'nls arc vitally wounded, say in the head, will Uicy move far from the position in wliicli they are shot ? — A, No, Sir. 10. Q, They aiv likely to die "ight there, are they ? — A. Yes, Sir. 17. Q, Ami they will not sink ? — A. With few exceptions, such as when a seal is shot and thi-own biickwaiils, thus nllowin<; the air to escape out of its mouth. 15. Q. Will you state your opinion, Captain Petit, of the proportion of seal lost by sinking after Iwiinj; shot ? — A. Aly |iersonnl experience during lost season with white hunters would not exceed ') pur cunt., and with Indians in (ornier years I douht if it amounts to even 1 per cent. The raason of tliis jieroentage in favour of Indians is because they were ca*.>f.'ht with u sjieur, and consequently could not get awny. 10. Q. Have you ever seen a senl shot while sleeping sink ? — A. I have never knovvn ono to sink. 20. ^. Then you itre clearly of the o])inion that seals will not sink for some time unless thrown baekwanls >. — A. I am. When they do sink, even to 10 or lo feet, they can be reached with the gair. 21. Q. Wliiii the hunters i-eturn to the ve.sael nt iiifiht, do they usually discuss tlicir day's prweetlings, mid jwirticularly mention the lo.ss of seals, when sucli loss oihmms ? — A. Yes. 1:1.'. (J. Then, (.'nptain I'etit, J ou conscientiously adiiere to the .statement that the loss by sinking of st'ols hit will not exceed 5 ymv cent. ? — A. I certainly do; but there are seals hit and not mortidly woundetl, and these escajK', but they aie not "Wt," as they are quite as vigorous as luifore, liecanse tlieir wounds heal very ra])idly. I have often foinul siiot in the skin. 2:5. Q. What is your opinion of the proportion of females to males kille<l during the last hunting seasiMi?— /f. List year, out of my catch of 7 >". I had only 18 females carrying young — not quite 2J per cent. Of course, oa in other seasons' cliches, we had a mniiber of barren cows — about the usual run, 10 ]ier cent... and 12^ per cent, of grey pups. These grey pups are always bulls, and one year old. 24. <j. Yiiur catch, then, would lie aliout 75 per cent, of nudes last season^ — A. Yes, Sir; including the yearlings it was more than 75 jier cent. 1'."). Q. You say grey pu[»s an^ always nudes ; will you explain this >. — A. The Indians called my attention to this fact years ago, but the reason is not quite known, still it is a fact. 1 have obsi>rved very cliwely, anil have never yet .seen a female grey pup one year old. I try to accomit for this by the su|)|M)sitioii that the yearling grey male pups ait; driven early out i>f Itehring Seu by the old bulls. 20. ^>. Ijist year, did you hear any remarks alnnit Mie nuniliev or jtroporiion of the juales to females caught from any one or any source ( — A. Yes, Sir; I heunl that a nmch larger percentage of nudes were caught last year than in any former year. 27. Q. I would ask you, Captain I'etit, if in any former years there was a simitar prcfionderanco of moles — do you remember of any such fact ? — A. Yes, I do. In 1880, when off Barclay Sound, in one day we bad ttiken 104 seals, of which 3 only were females. In the following year, 1887, when off Tortlock linnk, we took 79 in one day, and only 2 females were found in that numlier. 28. Q. How do seal cows travel '. Singly or in pairs '. — A. They tmvel singly or in jmirs. 29. Q. How do bulls travel ? — A. They travel in bands, as do also the bull ]iupa. They travel singly too. 30. Q. Are female seals carrying young very timid ? — A. Yes, Sir ; they are. They sink their liotlies so that nothing but their noses and eyes are out of water, and are therefore snndler nutrks for the hunters. 31. ii. Barren cows travel with bulls, do they? — A. Yes, Sir; banvn cows usually trovel with the bulls. '.V2. Q. Are then! n :y months in the year during which tliciti are more females than males killed ? Any imiticuiar time that you have observed ? — A. No, Sir. lilt. Q. '-: it your candid opinion that there are more iNUTen cows killed than seal-liearing cows ? — A. Yes, Sir: I tbin'K theiv are more. 34. <J. l>o those barren cows, from the knowleilge you have of seals— tlo you think that they ever liecome U'lrinjr ? — A. 1 think they do. 35. V. That they will have jieriods of bearing ' — A. I don't think that a seal will licar before she is 4 years old. 30. Q. How hmg does a seal carry her young t — A. It is understiMMl Ui lie eleven months. AT. Q. Were there any circumstances <K'curred to you ujion your last voyage which wnuKl indicate a marked decrease in the nundwr of .seols t — A, None whatever. Sir. (In the contrary, I should say there wert» mon-. There seemed to be nuire last year, at least we saw more that year than for seveiid years previously. 38. V- I" y^w observation as to the habits of the seals, they appear t.i be like the sidmon — that they return fn»m no known cause in larger numbei's f — .1. W<'11, I ilon't know, Sir ; I think that they have their annual migrations ; but thent is <|ue8tiiui whether tln^y follow tlii^ same track eve- v year. Ycm will tind them on some gnnnuls one year, and in other years on other giuunds. 39. V- I'oyou think that the number of fenude seals killed in the hunt is materially injuring the n'priMluction of seals ? — A. No, Sir. 40. y. Can you give a reason for that ? — A. From the small {lercontoge of females kill* 1, I don't think it would injure -reproduclion in ony way. 41. V- Were you in lichring Sea lust year, and wej« you onlered out I— A. And was ordcrad jut by the I'niteil States' ship "Corwin.' 222 42. Q. Before being onleretl out, wliot waa your usual fishing distance from land ' -A. CO to 100 miles. 43. Q. You found seals nil along that distance from land ? — A. Yes, in large n'Kilwra. 44. Q. You had the prospect of a fair catch ? — A. Yen, Sir ; I had the jtr .tpects of a very fair catch up to the time I was warned. 45. Q. Yuu consider it a very material loss, being warneil at the time out of IWhring Sea?- A. I do, Sir ; I consider it a very heavy loss. 40. Q. You still adhere to the statement that (he seals between GO nnil 100 miles from land were as plentiful as in any previous years in your exiHirience ? — A Ah pleutifu' iis they were in any year since 1886. 47. Q. Did you obse; .'e in your catch in Behrinp Sea any preponi'jmnce of fi-mnk's over males, or vice verad f — A. Yes, Sir; the males were in excess. 48. Q. Can you state fiDm recollection an average day's hunt in llehring Sen ? — A. Forty-eight was about tiic largest I made while in Hehring Sen. 49. Q. Do you remember hearing nny of tlie hunters speak .if Icsing niiy seals by sinking ? — A. No, Sir; I don't renienilier nny instnnces of such loss. 50. Q. Did you cross fi-om the American side of the Bel'.ing Sen into tlie liussian side ?---•(. No, I didn't; I came straight home to Victoria tiirougb Oiinima). rnss. 51. Q. During the year, did you lienr from any source lint any rnmulian vi's.seis liud rnidt <\ tiuf seal islands or any of them ? — A. No, Sir; I never beartl nf any llritisb nr ('iinMiiian vcss.-l.s, not during the past year, or anj' year I have lieen engaged in sealing. 52. Q. (.'a])tnin I'etil, do you believe nny of the stories tliut iire tnhl abnut llic '"(li-o. I!. \Vbit'','' the " Daniel Wel).ster," and tiie •'Mollie .\ilanis" raiding these ishnuls .' — ./. Yi's, Sir; I lielicvc llioso rejwrts. 53. Q. These were nil American vessels, wore tliey not ? — ./. Yes, Sir. 54. Q. During tlie last two years, it is reported tbnt tlie American seiiooners '-.I. Ilniiiilto'.i Lewis," formerly tile llritisii sclmoiier "Aida," and the " Cilv of .^iin Diego," luided (he t'o|']ii'r I liiiids ? — A. Yes, Sir. 55. Q. Do yon iK'lieve tluit is true? — A. I do, ,Sir: and also in lS.»(f or IS.S7, llie .Viiieiieaa schooner " i.ook-oal " raidetl tiie I'riliylolV Islands, so tliut the history of rniiliiig the sjs.l islniul.s is peculiarly .American, and solely by American schooners. 5(>. Q. Was not the llritiMli schooner "Aula" .sei/.ed by the Americnn < lovirimi 'iit an.l soil ?— A. Ye.s, Sir. In 1887, and renamed the ".I. llamilton b-wis." 57. Q. Is not this .same vessel, the 'J. llamilton I^'wis," tlie same vessel as w.is seized liy the Itussians this year, in the vicinity of Copper Island '. — A. Yes, ,Sip , uiid .seivctl liei li^^lii too. 58. y. If any of the Canadian vessels had raided either the .Aiiierii'aii uv ItiiMsjan .sen! i.slaiid.^, your long ex|)erieiice ill the sealing fleet here would liavi' insured vour beini' a« are of it ?--,(. Yes, Sir; I should certainly have heard of it- learned it from hunters, masters, or seamen. It would have been sure to have leaked out. 59. Q. Is it your o])iiiioii that .ship-masters («• ship-owners have been nio-i! careful in iiistriKtiiii; their ma-stem or captains to avoiil any interlerenee whatever with the seal islamls '.--A. I have ser\ 'd with ditferent owners, and 1 have been in.structcd to caiefully avoid a))proaehinL,' tin' islands within the international limit. In fact, all the sealing I have conducted has been done ontsiiie at least ol tin' 20 miles from land. Mi: il/i7;u'.— That will do, Caiitain IVtit. Thaiilc you verv much. (Signed) WIl.UAM I KTir, .l/.'.v/,r. Sworn to before me, at Victoria, British Columbia, this 2.'bd day of tlanuary, IS',t2. (Signed) A. 1{. 'Shx.^V., CidUrtor oj' L'ndomx. lifforr A. I!. .UHiii', CnUertor o/ dixhmi.'i, Viilm-iii, ll.C , Jiniin'ri/ 22, lS'.i2. Captain Weiitworth Kvelyn Maker, present master of the Canadian lichooner "C. II. Tiipper," and formerly master ot ilio schooner " N'iva," of X'ictorin, being dulv sworn : — 1. Afr. Miliii'.^Wuw many years have you been eiigageil in sealing, Captain Maker? — A. I'our years. 2. Q. What r'anadiiiu sehooners have vou connnan led during those four years ? — A. The seho.jner " Viva." 3. Q. During the four years have you been mon; than rca.sonably sneccssl'id as a seal-hunter / — A. Y'es, Sir. 4. y. How many white men wiadd your vessel usually cjiny ?— .(. Twi'iily-three, all told. 5. Q. Y'ou have hunted nil along the coast, and also every year in lieliring Sea f — A. Kvcrv year excejit 1891. During last year I was always mitside of tlu! line of demarcation between liu.ssiaiiand American waters. 0. (J. During last year, to your olwervatiiai, were seals as plentiful along the coiwls to Shuniagin Islands (M they were the year before? — J. In some places 1 tbniid them as plentiful; in others I found ibeiii r..iin' |>leiitiful. In some places where I never f.aiud any before I I'onnd .hem last vear, anil 1 found none where I iiad previously found some. 7. Q. Then, Captain Maker, you think there is no material dilfcrence, on tiic average, during the four years ? That is to your observation ' — .f. I should say, to my observation, there wan no material diflerenco. ^■Pl" 223 8. Q. Your coast catch last year was equal to tliat of former years, was it ? — A, It was equal to tlie first two years, ami better than the tliird year by almost as iiiony more skiuH, Imvinf; 6!)8 skins in 1890, and in 1891 I liad 1,2G0 skins. 9. Q. Owing to the number of vessels, do the seals appear to Imj more timomns ? — A. Well, I did uot find them so, except in Mome plac^cs. It is a <jrreat deal o^ving to the position in which you find them. I found tliat the nearer the coiut the wilder they arc, and the further at sea you go they don't aeem to lie any wilder than previously. I think tliat what makes them wilder alon^ the coast is the increase of traftic, steamers and so on being very numerous. 10. Q. It is said that seal travel in groups of females and groups of l)aeheh>r bulls and young bulls — not mixed. Is that so i — A. I have always found it so. 11. Q. Ho you think that the number of male or female seals caught would ilei)end entirely upon the schooner falling in with group of males or females ! — A. Entirely. 12. Q, How is that ! — A. It is much harder to keep>lhe •lun of females than of the males or barren nows. Females with young appear to be much mora timid, and when you get among them and commence shooting, they disapfiear very quickly, and show only the nose and ey(>s alxive water when travelling, and do not exi>08e their ImkUi^s as nuiuh above the water (id the bulls and liarren cows do, as if the maternal instinct to preserve their young was appan>nt. Th/s fact is well known to all seal- hunters. I have often lieen in a group of cows with pui>8 during the afternoon, and at night they would all disap]iear, and, apparently from maternal im^tinct, they will travel away as quickly as {mssible. 13. Q. Do yr I consider it moit! difKcult t4i slumt females, so little ex{Mised as tlit'y are, than males ? — A. It is decidedly mori! difficult, particidarly on the coast. 14. (J. You have olwerveil a numlter of liairen females f — A. Ytis ; quitt- a [ ^ ]. 1'». V How do they travel? — A. Usually by themselves, or mixed with bulls; I have never found a cow with pups among the bulls. IG. Q. Have yon any idea what the )iercent4ige would be of the nnmlier of barren cows to the number of .seals caught ? — A. I cotdd uot say exactly, but the percentage is coiiHiderable. 17. V- What is the iiccepted theory amimg the sealera as to thu barrenness of cows f — A, I don't know as I have heard ot iiny theory — unless they are like other aniiimls. 18. V' VVbeii you speak of Imiitcii cows, you mean those who have U'en liiore tlinn niio season barren f — -(. Ves , Imhuus*! Iielin'e thai ihey are cAlled \m\>if. The lianen cows are those who are old enough (o have ]>ups, but didn't. l!l. V- ^'"" 'ii^ quite of a clear opinion, then, Cajitaiii Kiikev, that there is a cmisidemblo ]H!rcentago of barren cows ? — A. Yes, Sir. 2U. V- '<^i'e tlicie iiiott^ suiils shot, whilst slee|iiiig tiiaii in nintioii > — A. Yes, Sir; my experience has been that there are more hciiIs shot whilst slet^ping, and iliat is the experience of most of my hunters, by their report. 2i. ^i*. What do ymi consider the vital part of a seal >. — A. The lieiid or liie liciirt, or in the neck. '2'2. ij. l)o your biintcrs prefer to shoot the .seal in tlie bend '.—A. Yes, .Sir ; on account of pre.ser'^ing tlie skin, and also thai, tlie moment the seal is shot in the bead, the bead sinks and the wind (*aiiiiot escape. 'J'liun, if tlie seal is not killed, the shot will stun it, and its liead will drop below water, .so that it cannot sink. ■_'5). y. \Vliat is usually a .•^al'e sliiHiling di.stance '.-A. For sleejiinj.! .seals the distatice would lie aliont III yards, and for travelliii'^ seals the ilistance would lie about ID to .'!ll yards. 24. (J. Considering that the seals ai-e shot in the bead, and the nivnter portion whilst sleeping, will you state the proportion of seals lost, iis compared with those hit, in sealiiii.' '—A. 'I'lie propia'tion is Very small, Ikmiiiisc, as the iisiml liistniire for shooting is alioiil Id ynrls lor a sleeiiing seal, we most always kill tlieiii instantly, and licing so noiir the seal- even if tlu'v iire iiidiiu'd to sink — they are galled liefo'c llicy hiivi^ time to sink. It'tliey ewn ilid sink l."> feet, suy, we coidd catcli them, us when sinking Ihvy ^o xeiy slowly. The only lime 1 kno« of when .i senl is likdv in sink is niter it has In^eii chased aroniid in the boats iind winded, then sli"! again, -><> as to lie ilirown l.ickwards, allowing the wind to escape I'mni its mouth, when it sinks tail first. F.very lioat is siippl'isl wilh a long pole, alHiitt 1') feel, and a spear and gall' on the I'lul, so that we can reach ihat distiince. It is very seldom thiti a seal will get away, I would .say, therefore, from pei-sonal experience, that the jK'rcenliinc of loss, as coni|iared with those hit in .sealing, would not exceed ."> per cent. List year I killotl. mysell', on the I'liast, fifty -live seals, and out of that number I lost only one \>\ sinking. iTi. \j. As a geiieiid thing, is the |K'rceiitage of loss more now than it was four years ago, or ia it smaller '. — A. From personal ex|ierieni'e, I think a'nout the snnie. and from lh<' lepmis of the hunters I should ,iiidge it was the sanie, as tliev all re|Miil lliiir experiences on their reluili to the vessel each night, ami when 'i seal is lost it is always s]Hiken ;ii"iiit. From a recoid kepi by hunters during two voyages the aggregate loss Ky eacii hunter is sIiosmi, and the jx-iieiitai^'c is not !,'i'eatei', on an average, than .') jMir cent. , 2t). Q. Mow many hunters do you iiKiiully carry '— A. S'.x ; and I liiintetl myself. The ship's comiMiny consists of twenty-three persons. 27. ','• What size shot do yon ii»e in slnK>»iiig -eal ' -.1. No. 2 Imck-shoi, nr "S" Canadian shot; and the gims are of the very U-st material iii.ii very expensive, I'osliii',' from ~\) to |(ii> dollars. 28. (,>, What do you 'hink is the ]iro|Ha'liiin of females to mules in lli<' niiniin'r killed in ihu diflerent montliiii of the llshing .season ' - A 1 don't know, I ant .mi'.c. Il di piuds upon < iiruiiistaniri.'s. My experience last year was very laiycly on the bull sidi> on the co»~t ; tii;it is, the piii|iortiou taken were largely male seals. I can i >iii.scienlionsly say tliat il must have lieeii thive bulls to one female, and I had a larger niiinber of «eals than any other vessel on the spring catcli 29. Q. In the llehring Sea, to yoiir obscrviilKai, were the males or females in the preponderance ? — A. My experieni'.i- is that they are very much as they are on the coast. Sometimes I would meet vith groups of all bulls, and again with gitnips of all cows [Sfir.] '2 V, I ^srssrri JTrsETTTrrc" ".tiiiii:^--*ni\ 224 30. Q. While in Behriii^ Soa last ytiar, what would lie your usual sealing' distaiico iW>in the land ? — A. I was not in Belinng Scu last yuur, Imt in pi-ovious yetuv it would bu from about 30 to 90 miles from land. The usual distance is about (iO miles. Sometimes wo arc inside of that, sometimes outside of it. 31. Q. ' liOst year, I understand you to say, CapUiin linker, you weiv not in the Ituhring Sea cu tlte American side ? — A. No. 32. Q. Do I imderstiind you to say tliat on the Ilussinn side the same ubservations will apply to the habits imd shooting of seal na on the cojist ? — A. Precisely the same as to their grouping and habits. ;{3. Q. During the four years tliut you have been sealing, C'ajitain liaker, I would like you to state cxplicith' if you saw or heard of any Canadian vessels iiiiduig the American seal islands ? — A. No, Sir. To my knowledge I linvu never heard of any, and I have every reason to believe that there has never l)een any (.'anadiun suluioner raiding any of them. 34. Q. If anything like this luul lutp|)ened, you would have heanl of it ? — A. Most certainly I would have. lio. Q. You liave never licard iiny information of any of our setdei's conniving to mid the seal islands ? — A. I never ilid. 'M. (J. Two years ago it was ri.>[)orted that some American scliooiiers hud rallied seal iHhinds. Did you hear such a report ? — A. Yes, Sir ; 1 heard a rcjiorl thiit certain American schoonei-s had mided these islands. The "(Jeo. 1{. W'iiite," "Daniel Webster," "Mollio Aiioms," and for two years the " J. Ffamilton l^wis," have Ih^cii milling the Copper Islands on the Kussian side, and it is re|)orled that the American .schooner "City of San Diego" also raided the Copper Islands last year. 37. V- You have heard of the German schooner "Adele" raitling these islands/ — A. Yes; in IHSy, with jtoor success. These illegal acts meet with the strong disiippitjlialion of every Canadian staler. 38. Q. And if Canadian sealers had done acts of that kind, you think it would most certainly have leaked out ? — A. It most cert^iinly would have. 30. (J. You are quite S4itist)ed, then, that not a single Canadian schooner at any time has raided the .seal i.slanils >, — A. Not to my knowledge. I don't know of one single case. 4(1. V- What WAS your entii-e catch last season '. A. l,W)l for tlie whole .season. 41. V (^living your opinion in contidcncc, what is ycnir opinion of the seals on the const and in liehring Sen > Arc they decreasing or incitiasiuj; ? — A. Fiiun my exiierience, I have not seen any lU'crca.sf, but 1 have noticed also that they change their grounds fitun time to tisiie, and where you tind them tills year you may not Hnd them tiie next. Tills was very rcmarkalile during thejear 1890, for the seals wiMe nil found to the eastward of rrlliyloU' Islands, while in former yeai-s they were found to the westward. 42. (/ \\\n'H did you find them to the eastwani of St. Taul's Island ? I un<lerstand you to say that you I'oimd them very numerous ? — A. More no than I ever did Isffoit'. 43. V- Hnvt^ you any opinion to oH'er as to the return of the seals to the coast hist year? — A. I havM no (liiect opinion, but certainly the seals were more plentiful on the northern coast last year than the previous venr.s. (Signed) W. K IIAKEH, AfusUr. Sworn to U-fore me, ai \ ieUtrin, Ihitlsh Cobnnbia, this 22ml day of January, 181*2. (Signeil) A. li. M\l.VK, ColltTtoriif CiitUiiiiin. Juniuiij/ ID, lSlt2. Clarence Nelson (ox, master of ilie schooner " K. IV Marvin," of Victoria, examined by Collector Milne : — 1. V- What vessels have you commanilcd mi this coast and in neluinj,' Sen, Captnln ('ox ? — A, 1 have lu'cn two years ninsler of the "Triumph," nnd one year mate of the "Supiihlre" with my brother. 2. (^. This nmkes your liftli oi sixth yenr ' -./. This mak.'.s my fourth yeni. I wns in Uehring Sea so Inle Inst year; that is ])rolinlily why it iiiny seem I linvc lieeii out oftener lluci others. ;t. (,). The inipilry, Cnptnin Cox, is to eliiii, lirst, the number of senls lost by being hit. It is alleged tlint you losi^ n lnrt;e proportion of tlmse liiat me shut, .iini we wi»li to gel nt the InctH. Also to establish the inniiiier of I'emales cnuijjit ibiriiiji the last ami ]iii'vioiis y.-;iis, nini niso to investigate if there were any Cannilinii senleis milling the seal isliunls. In the s|nin,i.' of the year, wleii ymi leave port, you go down to nn-el the senls nlmig the roasj t--A. Yes. 4. V. I have been itiven to niuKrstnnil that the .seals trnvel in liaiiils ' -.(. Yes; all the I'ows together, nnd nil the bulls together, nnd (he ;;rey pups together. ft. (,'. I suppose they are (jllitr slisl iiietly separnteil ' . (. N'e'^ , We ;r,.| the grey pll]is closer to shme, ahvn\s inside ol tie lalge senls, ti. (,'. .\s ii untttei of liirt, yon (|u not ijoil many I'einalc senl> l»iilMi^; \iaini; linvellin^; with the bull senls '. .1. 1 Ih.M- ne\ei seen llnui in < onipany togethei. 1 ha\e tinnnl the iMireii lows and bulls in com]Niiiy. 7. (,'. This sepnnitiini is from natural seleetiini, or instiin't ^ -.'. ^■es ; while eiirryiug their youii',' they n!e never loiiinl with the Inills. The barren cows ocensioiially do trnvel with the bulls. rt. (J. ll'irmg what nnniibs have yon I'onml more fenndes cnrrying young ns comiNiivd with other mouth* of the Mailing sesson ? — J. in the wiiili'i, when we llrst go out — Kebrunry, Riaivli. nnd April. 226 I'liriii^ tln'ir Is. I Willi li, itnit 9. Q. Tliut iH, I)Ot]i beAi'ing cdwh uiid linrrvn cows, ton? — A. No; Ijeariiig cows. There are also grey pups about at that time. 10. Q. What do jnu mean by " , ','_, pups " ? — A. The yearling seal. Alter that it is called a " brown pup," then a " two-year- old." 11. Q. Along the coast, from the time you strike them in the spring, do you shoot tho larger pro|»ortion of the swils sleepiu},', <ir are then! mon- shot while tnivelling? — A, Yi's; the larger poiiinn of the seals killed during thit sea.son iiru shot while sli'euinj{. 12. Q, You SUV you find the Iniuring cows tmvciling continually 7 —^1. If the weather is rough, they are travelling, hut if fine, they nre usually .seun sleeping m- resting. 13. Q. Is it a fact that the females with young swim low <lown in the water {—A. Yes; tho bulls and IwiTen cows keep tlicii' heads wi-U up, looking around. 14. Q. When you come upon a group of seals, your catch, then, wiU dci>end upon whether tho group is com])oscd of males or females ? — A. Yes ; very nmcli. 15. Q. As a matter of experience, (.'iintain Cox, have you come u])oii more groups of males than of females during the last year, say ? — A. 1 have caught nu)re bulls tlu; last season — a great deal more. I had 848 seals coming u]) the const before entering liehring Sea, and of these about 70 per cent, would be nmles. 16. y. IIuvo you any private opinion as to the rcasor of (his preponderance of tho males last year as compoi-ed with previous yeai's ' — A. I cannot account ff>r it. In fact, I coidd hart'.Iy advance any idea of the causi*. 1 get the most rif them from Queen Ciarlotte Island coast northwaids. 17. y. You think, though, with s<ime of the other seiilurs, that at about May the cows are well in advance, going to liehring Sea, to tho breeding grounds, consetpiently the males woultl be left licbind ! — A. That is the oidy reason I can see for it, because wo get very few fomides " with pup " in May. 18. Q. What do you consider a sufficient shooting distance, that is, suflicieiitly close range for sleeping seals (—A. A gj-eat many are shot inside of 15 yai-d.-f. 1 think aliout 15 yni-ds. 11). Q. As a professional sealer, what is your honest and candid o|iinion aiioiit Ibe percentage of seals lost, that is, the nunilHr hist after lieing hit — those that sink t — A. With the Indian liiinters it would not amount to one in a bundixid. They kill with the spent, and 1 know it would not amount to 1 (ler cent. I wii.s only one season with Indian hunters. Ltst year 1 had Wiiites. I do not think the loss would lie more than 4 or 5 per cent, with shmiting by the white hunters. 2(1. Q. The spear of the Indian .<^ealer is Imrlted, is it not, and fastens in the niiimal ? — A. Yes, it has two barbs and a line attached, so that tliey are sure of their seal unless their line breaks, or tiie spbur is not stuck in far enough to hold, neither of which hapfieuF often, 21. Q. You can <|uite confidently state that the lo.ss of seals killed by while hunters would not exceed 4 or 5 per cent. ! — A. I can. 22. Q. This you liase upon your own jiersonal knowledge ? — A. Yes. 2'^. Q. How many of a crew do you cany on your vessel ? — A. Six lioals, that is, six hniding lioats and n stern lioat ; seven in all. 24. Q. Your ship's comjiiiny would Is! how many f — A. Twenty-three men. 25. V- And the n\nnlKtr of hunters? — A. Six hunters, or, counting the stern boat, seven hunters. 20, V. Your ctitch liwt year was how many skins i — A. On tho coast 848 skins. 27. Q. Of tbnt number how many would be breeding seal ? — A. I do not think there would be more than 10 per cent. — alN)ut 12*3 female skins. 28. Q. Wliat percentage of them would lie barren female skins > — .f. AlMiut 10 per cent. 29. Q. Is the iMucentage of bearing cows grmiter than that of barren cows ( — A. Yes ; every year in my experience there have la-en more liearing cows than barren. 30. Q. AIkiuI 15 per iriit., then, would be lieariii^' cows, and 10 ))er cent, barren ones ? — A. Yes. 31. Q. You .stated that it wii\ild entirely depend upon flie giniips you struck along tiie coast whether you got males or females '. — .,/. Yes. 32. Q. Anil you ba.sc your ligiii-es uihiu fmir years' experience ? — A. Yes. 33. (^. Ther. you know the ]iereeiita<;e of lieariiig cows would be 15 jier cent., and the barren cows 10 per cent. ? — A. Yes. The first year 1 was with inv brother I believe we had not more llian 10 per cent of cow seals; one of our .sensoiis we lind at iea>t 'M) )H'r cent, bulls. 34. Q. That statcnieiil apidies lu I'lelnini,' Sea'— .(. Ves. 35. Q. Wiiat year wiis tlial ^ — A. IH.S'.t, when I wivs with my brollier as mat.! of the " Saiipliii*." The catch on the amni up to Ik'lirini,' Sea was almiit '.HI |>or cent, bulls. 30, Q. In tile Hehring Sea, what iierieiitiige of fenuiles liad \ou, as compared willi males — 1 am l<dd there are less bulls ^—vl. 1 think the percentage of liulls in Heliring Sea is less tliaii on the coast. 37. Q. llaehelor liulls f — A. Yes. The greater jierceiitage wotdil be cows — bearing cows ; after they have drojiiH'd their young we don't get tiieiii in ISeJiring Sea. .">;-!. (/ Do you not tind a bit of Imchelor liiills hovering about the outskirt - of the nioups of seals f — A. Yes, we get .some, but tlu re are more foniales in Iteliriiiii .Sea, ;i'.i. (,'. Kid you tind it so last year ( — .1. Of i;oiir.',e, I was not in Itebring Sua long cuoukIi to know. 40. 41. A. Yes ; 42. Q. Yonr remarks, then, would not apply to last .season f—A. No. (,/. Voii think tliere would be alHiut an ccjiial iiuniber of cows and bulls in liehring Sen '— I think that the liidls and cows are about c(jually divided. Q. It is well known among sealers liiat the old bulls keep their bonis, and drive tin.' ' Imchelor " bulls off ?—^. Yes. [306] i (< I M 99e i ■ 43. Q. Do you tinil many groupfi of liauhelor ImlU in Tkliring Soa? — /f. Wo do not find tliem so much in ((roups as on the coast. 44. Q. Taking your wiiole catch fur the ]iUHt your, skin for skin, wlmt percontAL'o of funiHles had you ? — A. We had not uioro than 25 per cent, barren and hearing cows. That would leave us altout 75 per rent, bulls. 4"i. <J. '2') p'U" cent. feiuiUes, includinK barren cows t — A. Yon. 46. Q. In the yonis lioforti last would that jHjrcentago hold goo«l < — A. I think t\u'. previous years would not difl\'r very much. 47. <t>. In the months of February, March, and April, you think that thf ft>nm1es killed are inoiv numerous than in IJehrinn Sea '! — A. I think so. We jj*''' =* fftenl many more jovy pup^ in the winter. 48. Q. Among ail tlie huntei-s it is pretty well known that the average of loss by l>eing hit would not exceed ."> to o jtcr cent. > — A. Yes ; that is well known. 49. Q. Wounding a seal so that it escapes, yo\i don't consider that losl ? — A. No ; they carry a lot of shot, and the hunters don't Just shoot at it and leave it if it does not die on the spot, Imt give chase, and if wounded badly it has not nmch uhunce of getting away. fiO. Q. Considering tlie hiuardous occupation of sealing, the men get very expert in it ? — Yes ; I have a man alioaixl who does not hme live seals during the whole season. 51. Q. Is it your opinion that the female seals with young ani suincwluit timid, and more on the alert than the old bulls i—A. Yes ; they arc. 52. ^>. That is one reason why the [)ercentage of females is so small, I sup)HMe f — A. Yes. 53. (^. In llehring Sea you say the percentage of loss would Ik- more than on the const ? — A. I think the percentage of loss in I^ehring Sea is less than on the coast, becau.se the sealers get more seals asleep in the sea. They seem to 1h> right at liomo there, and not travelling idmut so much. 54. Q. Have you at nuy time known any of our vessels (that is, Canttdiaii vessels), registere<l Canadian vestels, landing on the seal islands ('<ir the purpowf of raiding and killing seals f — A. I i-an conscientiously say that I have never known of any of our vessels landing there. 55. (J. And have never heard our mastei-s or sailoi-s encourage that sort of practice f — A. No. 50. (^>. Have vou lieanl of anv ve.s.sel having done so < — A. Yes; I have. 57. Q. What Vessels (—A. The " Mollie Adams," " tloorge }{. White," and the " O. S. Fowler," of San Francisco, I heard, raided tht I'ribyloff Islands. 58. Q. That fact is well known to the whole fleet ;■ — A. Yes, Sir. . 5it. Q. You were not in Hehring Sea last .season? — A. I was in, but didn't stay long; I was ordered out of it. titl. y. You left as soon as onleiwl lo leave; f — A. 1 did; came direct home. Q. Who warned you ( — A. The Uritish sleanu'r "I'lieasant." (Jl. You didn't try to seal after that .'~J. No. y. Or lowered your Iniats ? — .1. 1 didn't lower any lioats after receiving the onler. Q. You have heanl of some American schooners raiding Copper Island f — A. I have. Q. Do you know the .Mel.ean brothers? — A. Yes; and the "City of San Diego" here, and the "Webster" and 'J. Hamilton Lewis," three American vessels who ndded Copper Island. Gt). (J. You have no idea of why the seids wei^e more plentiful along the coast last year than other seasons ? — A. I have no iilea. t<7. y. There ha.s been no practical tl»eory advanced as to why last year tlic seals were more plentiful close in shore than in other years ! — A. 1 have none, excei)t that it is on account •)f their food fish. The seal follows the fooii. The earlier those tish strike along the coa.st, and the closer in shore, the earlier and closer to the coast we get the seals. (Signcil) C. N. COX. Sworn before me, this 18th day ul .lanuary, a.d. 18'.»2. (Signed) \. \{, "SUi.sy., ''ollnhir of Ciixlomx. 61. G2. 63. C4. 65. Captain Alfn-d Hissett, master i>\ the Canadian schooner " .\nnie K. I'aint," «( Victoria, llrilish Colundiia, being ilidy sworn, says: — '2U. .1//'. Milnt. — How many years have you lieon engaged in sealing ? — -•/. Two years; this is my third year — have lH;en tna.ster, mate, and hunter. 'Jl. Q, You have had aliout average luck '. — A, Yes; about the aveiiige. 22. y. You have follnwed the seals fhim south of Cape Flattery north, haven't you ?— A. Yes, Sir. 23. y. During the last year, to your observation, wen* the seals iyp plentiful along he coasts as they were the previous years ' — .(. They were. 24. y. Did the seal.s apjiear more frightened than usual:' — /f. I think not; I noticed no difference. 25. y. Did you notice Inst year, or any yoar, in hunting seals, that the cows truvcl together by themselves, and tlie Imlls liy tlu-ni.'ielves, in Ileitis ? — A. I did notice that the bulls, in a general way, travel togetiiei, and tlas cows together, and small seals — as a lule, pups -travel together. 2<1. (J. When hunting, of cour.se. if you struck a band of bulls the catch that day wuuM 1h* principally ladls i—A. Yes ; principally ImiIIs. 27. Q. Do y(Mi think mort> seals are shot while sleeping than when in motion ' — A. Oh, yes; fuf more; alxnit 80 jier cent., 1 think. 28. Q. What do you consider a safe shooting distance for a sloping seal I—A. For u sleeping seal about 20 to 30 leet is u sure distance. 227 29. Q, And when they uru on the move, what in the distance ? — A. Well, from 25 to 30 nidi. 30. Q. What is your ofiinion of l\w proportion of M>nl8 th.it ure lost after being hit t — A, I think boat 3 to 5 per cent would cover every; hiu);. 31. Q, ^¥heTe do you aim for in slaootinR a seal ? — A. I aim for tho hrod. 32. Q. So when a seal drops his head down, the air is 8top{M)d from escaping? — A. Yes; that if the reason we shoot in the head. 33. (J. During lost year did you uoticc the proportion of females to males killed ? — A. From counting the skins, and noticing the seaii^ coming on board the ship, I should form 75 to 80 per cent, were bulls, and the remaiudcr females. «34. Q. Do you know the reauon of that ? — A, I don't know, unless the cows travel a little faater than the bulla, who follow the const. I have always noticed that there are more bnU/i killed on die coaat than there are femides. 35. Q, Iliive you over noticed when the number of females prcdomiante ? — A. I hardly know, bat I have noticed that during the months of March and April that tliere were more cows than males than in the months of May, June, and July. 36. Q. Can you form any idea, from what you have licnrd, whulher there aiQ more females killed than males f — A. 1 sliould .say tliat there are decidcilly more malos. Tlmt is from what I have heard and seen myself. There is uo doubt that the low price obtained in London this year is due to the large number of small buU skins tnkcu, the skins of ilie females l)eing larger and better. 38. Q. During the two ycurs that you have been engaged in sealing have you ever known any Canadian vesHol to raid any of tlio seal islands 7 — A. No, Sir. 3!). (Jj. If there had tjecn any sucii thing going on, it would have leaked out ? — A, It wonld certainly have leaked out, and 1 would have heard uf it. It is almost impossible to keep it quiet. (The above having been carefully n-ad over to Captain Rissctt, he corroborates and substantiatea the same.) (Sigueii) ALFRED BISSETT. Sworn i)eforc me at Victoria, ISritish Columbia, this 18th day of November [sic], 1892. (Signed) A. K. MlLNR, Collector of Cmtomn. January 19, 1892. Captain Thciodore l\. Mognesen, in command of the nchooner "Walter A. Earle," of Victoria, examined by Collector Milne : — 1. Q. How many years have you been sealing in Hebring Sea,'' Captain 'Magnesen ? — A. Three years ; this will lie my fourth. 2. Q. You have had very goml success Ia.st year i — A, Yes; very fair success. 3. Q. Did you notice last year any iK-rce|)tiMe decrease in the number of seals compared with previous years ? — A, 1 think they were inoiv plentiful last season than I ever saw tliem before. 4. Q, Do you mean in Behring Sea ? — A. Ych ; both along the coa-st and ui the Sea. The biggest catch I ever made wqh Inat year, on the const as well as in the ISeliring Sea. 5. Q. You have noticed the habits of the seals — how they travel { — A. Tliey travel in batches, the bull seals by themselves, and the cow seals by themselves, and the yearling pups by themselves. 0. Q. As a matter of fact, are there morn seals shot while sleeping than while they are travel- ling ? — A. That is hard to say ; but I think tlioro arc just as many shot while moving as there are sleeping seals. 7. y. Wiion you shoot HeaU by sleeping', wiiat is the safe shooting distance? — A. About 25 yards. 8. Q. And when travelling y — A. About 45 to 50 yards. 9. Q. The usual miuk you shoot at is the head of the seal ? — A. Yes. 10. Q. When hit in tlie bead, the huuI dues not Niiik '. — A. No ; sometimes ho does, though, if he is shot when short of wind at the uiuuicut, and he will sink if you an- too fur away to pull it out. 11. V- Y«u have noticed them sinking ?--j4. Vt^s ; tbt'v generally sink toil first. 12. ii. If the .seal i.s shot in the head, he drop.s his iiead, and that contines the breast, and it floats ? — A. Yes ; that is tiie way I have accounted for them lloatiug. 13. Q. How many setds, in your experience, do you think a liunter loses out of say, 100 shot at ? — A. I know mv head hunter killed 498 seals last year, and 17 of them sunk. 14. if. That would be ultout .">J pir cent. ? — A, Yes, 15. V- i'n you consider that a fair average on the nuuibrr of Heals lost ( — A. As an experienced hunter, I think it is a fair uvemgo 16. ^/. Would you .say that a man who Iosph, say, 5 jut cent, of the seal he shfwts would not h* an experienced himter >. — A. He eoibl not lose more than that. 17. Q. Will that percentage ok loss apply to the travelling seals as wiill us to the sleeping aeals ^~ A. Ves, the most of the seiUs i st are th ' ones slint by the ones moving or travelling. If. Q. Your boats carry itole, si>eai, md galf ? — A. Yes ; and if the seal sinks down JO or 15 feet iiey a\t) easily reuovertnl. 13. ^, If you were on your oath, now, Mid luiard any i.ne say that for every seal that was killed male or female, out; was lost, you would say was a i<iisstatenH>nt ' — A. Yes; that is not so. ^.0. V- If ttny ""e came here and said iti..t, for every seal you hit you killed another seal— —7 — A That is nonsense. 21. V- ^'I'c highest pen.'ontagu of loss, you say, would be 5 per cent, for sinking seala ? — A Ye*; 228 and I may Aty that I have taken seals with shot in them, dropped out.when skinning, and they Momed as strong and healthy as ever. 22. Q. That is to say, that uidess you shiiot a seal in a vital imrt, the wound heals quickly ?— A, Tes ; anil unless you hit it hnnl the seal gets away. 23. Q. You have seen females with young "i^A, No ; I never saw thom carrying their youn^ in the water. 24. Q. Down the coast the seals are pretty woU dividetl, are they not ? — A. Yes. 26. Q. The cows travel by themselves, an<l the bulls by themselves ? — A. Yea. 26. Q. Di'i you say that you have caught more bull seals than cnw seals during the season ? — A. Yes, along I'ho const ; but when I got up and up I got more bulls than cows. 27. Q. What months liave you seen more cows in proportion than other mouths 7 — A. In February, March, and April. 28. Q. Tint even when you see more cows the average of the seals kille<l is in favour of the bulla, is it not ? — A, No ; it is about equal. 29. Q. You say the cows travel qtiicker towards the Robring Sea ? — A. Yes ; when wo get further up the cow seals seem to biave the bulls behind. 30. Q. Has it always b<>en so?— ^. Yes ; I have got 181 seals in a day, and not a cow amongst th«>m, but yru sometimes get one. I think the average is about 1 in 90. 31. Q. You always get more bulls than cows ? — A. Yes, up there. 32. fj. How many out of every hundrc<l seals you had on board your vessel last year would be females 'i—A. I think fully n half of them would bo cows. 33. Q. How many of tltoiii would )to bearing cows, and how many of them would be barren oows "{--A. Of bearing cows, I think n))out 18 or 20 per cent, would Im bearing cows. I do not think there would be so many as that. I had 2,000, and I think there would lie only about 12 or 14 per cent, with pups ; the others would bo what are cnlle({ Imrren cows, and a lot of them would be dry cows. 34. Q. With the barren cows and the ones iMmriiig young you say would make up about half your catch ? — A. Yes ; about half and half. 35. Q. The proportion of males and fen)alcs, thuugli, depends upon the crowds or groups you get into ? — A. Yi'.s ; it (lopends upon the band you strike. 36. Q. You never, at any tinu', liiul more females than nudes in any of yotjr catches ? — A. No, Dover. 87. Q. Wltilo in Hehriug Sea duTiii<; the lost four years had you ever heanl of any Canadian schooners " raiding " the rribyloff Islands >. — A. No. I never heaiil of any of my crew being engaged in such. SeviTul of my ei-ews told uus of the American sealew raiding them, but I never heard of a Canadian wmA doing so. 38. Q. If you wen; bound to make a statement on your oath, you would say you believed no Canadian vessels evitr raided the Pribyloff Islands for seals ? — A. Not as far as I know. 39. Q. You 1)cliovc, ns a matter of fact, that the owners of Canadian sealers and their masters have never countenance<l UiIh raiding ^ — A. I believe that is the fueling that prevails among them all. 40. Q, You have hoard mentioned tlie names of the Amcrirnn vessels that raided those islands ? — A. Yes ; I heard of the " ^follic Adanix " and " George R. White," but not ony others. 41. Q. You have not heard of any others ? — A. No ; I have not heard of any others. 42. Q. You have heard of vessels raiding the Copper Islands? — A. Yes; I Iiave heard of tho "Hamilton I^ewis " and " Webster " raiding Copper Island. 43. Q. Tliose vessels you name arc all American vessels ? — A. Yes. Q. Maimed by American crews ? — A, Yes. Q, Have you any recollection of seeing any of those vessels in this (Victoria) Harltour ? — 44. 45. No. (Signed) THEO. M. MAQNESEN. Sworn before me, this 23nl day of ,Ianuary, A.D. 1892. (Signed) A. K. Milnk, Collector of Cttstotns. Henry Crocker, hunter on Iwanl the schofmer " Aimie E. Paint," having Injen swoni :— 65. Q. How long have you been engaged in sealing ? — A, I have been htuiting now fof three years ; this is my fourth. 66. Q. I'Vorn your obsorvution, do you think that the seals were as |)lentiful last year as they were during the pnwious seasons ? — A, Yes ; from what I saw of them I am suru they were just as many as before. 67. Q- In what months do the female seals seem to lie tho most plentiful in tho sealing grounds ? — A. I believe that from February to May the females Noom to predominate in numbers ; that is, when tho cows are getting heavier with young, thev make for the islands sooner than the bulls. 68. Q. Is it more difficult to siioot a female seal than it is n buUf — A, The males are more easily killed than the fonialcs, owing to the inquisitivencss of the mal s, and the females being more shy, and ako as they move along tliu water with only their nose visible. 69. Q, As an experienced hunter, wlmt iiercontr.go of los,«i have yon had by seals sinking ? A. It is very rarely that a seal will sink. I have liei-n fi whole season and have not had more than half a dozen sink (luring the whole season. 70. Q. Can you form any ostim-ite of what } our loss has boon i-^A. I would lay not mora tlwii 3 or 4 per cent 229 71. Q. Won tho loss last yonr nioro tliaii in previous yoars f—A. I could boo no difleronoe. 72. Q. As a reason for the small peiceutago of loss, you sot very uoar the souls before shooting ?-> A. Yes, Sir ; tho usual dintanco is within alxnit 20 fuut to a slooping sonl. 73. Q. If n uiun has a higher |)ercenta(re of Iuhs tlian that, ho must bo careless, you think ?— A. Yes, I hIioiiM sny so, and not u (irst-cIasH hunter, for there is no ncccsaity for losing a seal. 74. (j. Does your i>crcentage of loss o^'ree with other hunters with whom you have conversed ?— A. Yes. 75. (J. Ho that on tho coast and in Huhrin^; Sea the munu percentage would apply ? — A. Well, on tho coast one does not very often sink a seal ; but in Bchrin^t Sua, if a cow, having deliveroil her pups, 8 shot, she will Iw more apt to sink, as tho blubber in very much tliinnor. Dut, on the wliole, I think the i)erceiit4i}{e will not be more than 3 or 4 ymr cent, of loss. 76. Q. Have you taken notice in hunting whether there are more fenuilcs than males, or tho reverse, taken ? — A, There is fully 80 per cent, uf bull seals killed otf tliu roust, us well as in Uehrinu Sea. I think the ruiison for this is that the younger bullu are driven olf by the older ones, who gnaru their particular herds. 77. Q. In the three years you have lieun in Behriiig Sea has it alway.i been your experience that there were more malus caught than females i And in what proportion i — A. I say about tho same as this year ; I don't see any tlitfereuue. 78. Q. Does your ])ercentiige of females taken agree with that of otlier hunters with whon> you have conversed f — A, Yes. 79. Q. As an cxiHtricnced hunter, then, you adhere to the stjitcment that for the whole Hcuson's catches for the years you have Ixien hunting, that tho percentage of seals caught will lie aljout threo males to one female ? — A. Ya ; about that 80. Q. Do you include in that statement barren cows ? — A. Yes. 81. Q. Have you any idea or reason of your own why the malen come to preduniiuuto so much ? — A, I think it is because the females make for tho islnntls earlier than the young bulls and barren cows. 82. Q. Have you ever heard of any Canadian vessels raiding the Heal island-s ? — A. No, Sir. 83. (J, You have never heard of any Canadian nm.ster or owner olfering any inducement to hunters to mid the islands ? — A, No, Sir. 84. Q, Tliei-e hiw never Iteen any lionus olTeifd you to raid the iHlunds '. — A. No, Sir ; while in Behring Sua wo are always too anxious to get away fi-om the iHlauds. 85. <^. If any Canadian vessels had mideil the islands you wouKl have likely heard of it ? — A. Yes. I tlii>ik it is im|iossiblu to kee]i it as quiet as that. 8C. ^. You have heanl r)f American vessels raiding the Coj^per and Pribyloff Islands ? — A, I have heard it. I have known oi the American vessels going into Sniid Point Just after they hud raided the islands, and I was in Sand I'oint when one vessfl was fitted out for the purpose of making a mid. 87. Q. The masters with whom you have scaled ull seem to have avoided the islands ? — A. Oh, yes ; tliey keep away from the islands between 50 and 100 miles. (The foivgoing liavin^' been read over to the said Henrj' Crocker, he corrobomtes and substantiates tho whole of the said statements.) (Signed) HENUY CllOCKEK, nunter. Sworn to before me, at Victoria, Itritish Columliia, this 18th day of .Tanuary, 1802. (Signed) A. 1!. Miiv«, Collector of Citstvmn. George itoberts, hunter ou boani the .schoomtr " Ainiie K. I'aint," being duly sworn, says: — 55. Q. How long have you been engaged a.i n scaler ' — A. 1 have been at seal-hunting for three yeare, one season as a hunter. 5C. Q. Were the seals more plentiful lit.it year than in jn-ovious yeei-s < — A. They were just about the same as regards number. 57. Q. How do the seas generally irnve — in nii\t'(l ninnbcrs, males and females together? — A. The seals tmvul in bands of bulls am bands of cows, liolh l>y themselves. ^^S. Q, What is tlie piiiprntion of s tals lost by sinking after being shot ? — A. Well, I should say that .^ Ut !t per eenl. would cover the wh de loss. It is not more. 59. Q. What is tlie distmicit you are olf a seal when you sliool, gonoiully ? — A. Well, from 20 to 30 feet for a sleeper, ami for a traveller fioni L'.'i to M feet. CO. Q, What ]iart of the seal <lo yon aim at f — .1. I aim al the heiul, as Ihu best place, U'ing the surest. 61. ^>. Do yon think there were anymore female stials shot than males last year# — A. No; I think thero wore more males shot ; in fad, 1 think that since 1 have iHten engaged in Hut business thei-e have laien m•u'(^ males kiUtid than females. 62. Q, What months have yoa nolicttd more females than males <—yl. In the ntnnlhs of March and April theit^ are nuae females than al any other lime. There are more fenutles killed during those montlc^ than Ibeie aiv any other time. 6:). Q. Have you ever heard of any of the Canadian vessels poaching mi the seal islands? — A. I never did ; I would have hi.-ard of it if there had been any. 1 have heard of the American raiders ; but I do not know of a single Canailian vessel miding a seal niokery. 980 64. Q. If a seal is sinking, does it ro quickly or slowly 1—J, If it is not too far away it can always be secured, as it does not go too quickly to get it. (The above having been read to the said George Rolwrts, he corrobomtei nnd substantiates all of tba foregoing statements.) (Signed) GROROE ROBKRTS, Hunter. Sworn to before nic at Victoria, British Columbia, this 18tli day of January, 1892. (Signed) A. R. MnNE, Colltdor of CmUorns. Richard Thomson, hunter on iKNird thu schoonvr " Aiuiic E. I'aintiT," licing duly Hworii, gays;— 40. Q. How long have you licen engaged in sealing' ?— A. I have Iwen engaged m a hunter for two years. 41. Q. Were the seals ns plentiful last year ax they were tiie |iroviouN year, to your observation ?— A. Yes ; I believe they were. 42. Q. Were the sealH apparently harder to upi)roach than they were in previous years? — A. No; I can't say that I saw any diifun^nce. 43. Q. How do the seals generally travel '( — A. Ah n rule tiie bullx travel soparotely, and quite a distance apart generally. 44. Q. What is your experience in hunting as to the numlwr of souls lost after being hit ^—A. I should think from :{ to 6 per cent wotdd cover all. 45. Q. What is the usual manner in which .<<eal8 arc last ? — A. Well, if thu seal 'in in u certain position and shot so as to allow the air to escape, the xeal will \m hut As long aM the head sinks below the water first, the seal will not sink. They very rarely .<<iuk iu any coHe. 46. Q. You carrj- u Hpeor on a gaff, don't you ? — A. Yes ; it is carried to spear the seals when they are going down. 47. Q. ^m your experience in Healing, you consider that from <t to 5 }K!r cent, would cover the total loss of seab, after being shot, through sinking < — A. Yes. 48. Q. When you shoot a seal at a distaiue, and do not sliorit tlieiu in a vital part, they make off, iothey^—A. Yes. 49. Q. You don't cousiilur that loHt, tliun ? — A, No; we don't consider the seal lost unless it sinks. 50. Q. Have you handled more males than females during the imst two years ? — A, I should say more males. 51. Q. Have you any idea of the proportion of males — would thei'e be two males to one female ?— A. I should say from 70 to 80 per cent., or about tliree males to one female. 62. Q. In what months do you consider that there are most females killed ? — A. During the months of April and May. There are apparently more females, but not as many an males. 53. Q, You have never known of any Canadian schooners raiding the seal islands, have you ?— A. I have never heard of a Canadian, but I have of the American. 54. Q. During the time that you have been to liehring Sea, you would have heard of it l—A. I would certainly have heard of it 55. Q. You have always sailed out of this port '< — A, Yes, Sir. (The above having been read over to Richard Thomson, he corroborates and substantiates the aanie.) (Signed) R. THOMSON. Hunttr Sworn to at Victoria, British CoIuml)iu, Imforc me, this IStli day of January, 1892. (Signed) A. R. Milne, Collector of Customs. Vktoria, B.C., January 22, 1892. Andrew I.aing, called and examined by (^Hector A. R. Milne -.— 1. Q. You are one of the oldest seal-hunters in the province, Mr. l.aing '. — A. I have been ten years at it 2. Q. Your knowledge of sealing really goes licyond the present knowledge of the average sealer ? —A. I have had as much experience as any of them. I tiiink 1 know as much as any of them. 3. Q. Your observations oi cae west coast extend beyond the advent of the sealing business in Behring Sea ? — A, Yes. I went on the coast in 1871, and have been sealing with natives for the last twentpr-one yean. 4. Q. Yon had ample opportunity of observing the life and habits of the seals ? — A. Yes. 6. Q. From those observations lost year did you notice any perceptible or material decrease in the nnmber of seals? — A. None whatever. 6. Q. It wac generally reported lost year they were more numerous than the year before ?— A. Yes. I think, if anything, hey were a little mure numerous than 1890. 7. Q. Does that remark ap jly to full-grown <—A. To full-grown and mid-sized. 8. Q. What direction do tb < seals on the coast usually come from ? — A. They come from the south, following the herring, which sftunu on the west coast and dilferent places, and the seal follow thoee 6ah into the shore or far out as the case may be. The natives get a great number of these seals among a nliool of beiTin|(. 9. Q. What IS the usual distance which the natives hunt away from shore I—A, In the sprioc 231 »ln'V will limit U» nr^l.'i niilcs'oll', Inli r in tlic sciison L'O ur 2.') iiiilfs. I Imve wrii tlifiii 40 iiiiloM fron: tln' limil. 111. (,>. lliiw Imiy: iliii'M llic Imiitiii),' of tlin wnl nii tin- \v(*t (iiii»t uhiihIIv lust '—-1. ('tuiiiniiicfs in Fflinimy, nr liiKfi iii.I nl' .InmmiT, um! Instx till the l«l .liiiii', wlii'ii von xct iiuni' ur Ifss xcals ; yoii i'HIi ;ift II I'i'W strii'.';.'!cis in >liily. 1 I. i,l. And till' Irlldi'llcy lit' till' siiiIh i:- I'liiin tlic siKltll I — .1. Vex, fiijliiwill'^' llifir fnml llsli. 1'-'. (,>. \u\\ Imve licfii ijiisvii till' <iiiiHt III wliiii' Villi iiu'i't till' sfiils in tlieir iiii;;riuiiiii '. — A. I lm\o ^,'0110 (liiwniiM far is Slinnl Wiitci- I'liy, I'olniiiiiiii iliviT. l.'l. </ Iliiw ijii Villi iiu'ft till' nculs — in liiijii' biimls or liiitclu'ii ? — A. Yos, in icliimls, frnm twn to twenty in ii hiIumiI. II. i,>. I 111 llii'v MM'iii to liiivcl in piiirs .' — ./. No. Sir. l."i. ij. Iiiivoii liiiij ill ilii'M' .srluMiJM. or liiinrliis, ilii-y ai'uiill iimlus or ffiimU-M ? — A. Tlu'y art'ini.xcd. I ronicnilicr nn iiisiniiic — I tlijnk in ISHtl — wlion \vc yut. on ilic coast o(V ('a|)r Flattery eitlii'r lot or \W. am linl |io-iliM', iiiiil onl of I hat llieie vere over I'K) liiill seals, and the ne.\l day v.e odt aiioiit S(l, and out ol'that ininilier over To were luills, 'Ilia* wa« in the year IHSd. ICi. '/ Would your ohseivalion lead yoii to sii|i|iose that your eateli would d('|N'nd eiitiruly ii|hiu the ;,'roii|i of IiiiHh or leniales as to whieli yoiireatch would bu iniiiiKwed of |iriiieiftiilly '. — A. Ah wo get aiiioiiosl thrill ; yrs. 17. V- I'"' takiii;.'one year nitli aiiotla r — IVoni ISStitothe jircseiit time — have you .seen any nioro females killed thnii oi' luills t — A. Xo, Sir. I think we have ;,'ot nliont three males in five, and when we p'l ii|i alioiit the liank, ahoiit Middletoii iHliind, I think they will avera^'e mnn; uiale.s than females. 18. (/ AVheii yoii strike the Heals on the etiii.st nlKmt A(^ or TiO iiiileH from Hhoie.do you tind a larRO ]iro)iortioii of them sleejiin^' '. — A. They are generally sleejiiu);. The Indiai>ii p-t none Imt sleejiiinj seals. I liavi' never heeii working,' with Whites. III. IJ. The natives a|i|>ri>a('h the seals very elose >. — A. Yes ; and he eoines to the leeward of them, nnd if there i-i any sni on they i,'et into the tr(iuj,di of the sea and make no noise. If he went to wind- ward the seal would scent him, and •H'X away. 1.MI. (,>. When lie ^ets close enoii^;h he throws his .siuMir, and .seldom misses? — „•(. Ye.s ; he don't miss one in ten. L'l. ','■ And when once his spiar is t'listeiied, the seal n< ver yds away :' — A. No. '-1. (,). If an Indian loses more than what yoii say, he would not lie a ;.'ood hunter ! — A. No good III all, It Would no) ]iay to " \wk " him. \1',\. t,l. i >o the lllilialis e\(r >lioci| ' — A. Sonietimis. They never shout if the seal is sU'epilit,'. ;.'4. <,'• 1 *'"'>* tliiil lierceiita;.;!' of loss a|i(ily lo the slee|iin;,' seals only '. — A. Ves. 2"'. V- Noll mean liy " loss " — what ^ — A. J?y sinking. liti. ^^>. If the Heal is Wounded so it j,'ets away, you don't eoiisiiler it lost ' — .1. \o. liT. V- '' J^l'i'med and wounded, and scurried oil', yoii don't consider it lost ' - -/. Oh, no; not 10.11. 2A. 1,1. The Indian hunter is very do.se to the (luarry, and rarely niis.ses his aim f — A. Well, liu will oet within '17) or lilt yards of it, L".>. V' lliive yoii noticed any marked diderenee in the manner in which the I'tMiiales earryiii>» young travel as com|iare(l with the males ' — A. The only dilfereiice I could see is that they will travel very fast for a little distance, and then turn up and rest. :'.ii. (,'. I mean, do they sink thiiir liodies more f — A. No; tiiey do not. ."il. V- I'" ^"" think that the female is more shy than the male, that i.s, those "with yonng"!' — A. No; I think they are not any iiioie shy. The feinaie is always inclined to lie slecpv. The male is always on the watch, and will rise till lii^ head and shoiiMeis are out of the water. ;>■_'. (,>. (hie hunter has said that the female lies dee|i in the water, e\|iiisiiig only a |iortion of her head >. — A. 1 have never noticed tint. M'heii lying asli'e|i mie-li'df of the head is under water. U."'. ','• Then you will say llial the jiercciitage of loss of tht; Indian hunters is not more than how many in the hiiinlied 'A. Not more than one in ten; not more than 1(» |ier cent. ;!4. (,'• Vol! say you never hunted with white men until this year '. — .4. No. li.'i. (J. If any ]ierson made a statenieiil tiiat there is a yivater amoiiiil of hiss than what you say, you would not leeard it as correct '- .(. 1 would say il was not correct, with Indian hiiiileis. 3(1. (,'. N'oiir slaleiiieiil is liased iiiKin actual cvperienee :■ .4. Ves. ;}?. li- In eoingdown the coast in the sjiring, in Fehriiary, March, and Ajnil, have you noticed that feuiales ale more |>leiilil'ul than in the following months '. — A. I do not think they are. ;{S. (,'. Iiiit as they conic fioin the .south, you think they are not ' — A. lielween .lanuary and '111110, nnd lietween the south and the Shiimagin Islands, have you noticed any time or |ilace where there were any more females killed than others? — .1, I think in .May, I have noticed one thing: you will not find, take one in ninety, you will never tind a feiiiale | up. Wlien^ the feimile young go to is .some- thing that the ( 'oiiiiiiissioneis laiulit to have found out liei'o;n they eanie down from the sea. :'i'.i. (,'. It has lieeii stated that the Indians say theie is no .such thing as a female yrey pup > — A. 1 have luver seen one yet, and cannot account for il, unless the females go one way and the males unotlier. 4n. (,>. Among all yearling; grey ]iups, there has never lieeii any one known to have found a female '— ./. Ves, it is a lad. 1 have heard a ;Mcat dial ot talk of females liavini,' Vouiij,' on llie kelp, too, liiii I ilnn't lliiiik tlial is so. Some hiinteis report of seeing pups olf .Middldon's Island, luil 1 think tlial is inipiis.'*ilile 41. V- lli've you ever seen them cut a ])Up out of the femali^ seal I — A. Ves ; and I have .seen the pup 8(1 cut out walk or nuive alioiit the deck of the vessel, and I have triel to rai.se it. I have als j tlirtnvu it into the water, and have seen il swim alKiiit like u yi.ung dog ; I Jiuvo Houn it kei.'p atloat for lii'ttieu luiuuies, us luiiK its Ihu ve»iifl wu.'i witiiiii liiglit. Uii iUu iulauda, tliv inotUer seal will take lliij IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 I.I 1.25 ,'45 50 IIIM IIIIIH IIIIIM |||m 2.0 1.4 1.8 1.6 ^. % <?^ 7 ^ w ^ w/ s% '/ ///, Photographic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAN STREET VV£BSiF3,N.y. 14580 (716) 872-4503 ^. I/. 4> young and force tlieni into the water to tench tliem to swim. Tliey will never take the water freely themselves for from six weeks to two months. 42. Q. Yon tliink they will swim 50 yards proliahly, or 100 yards ? — A. Yes ; but don't tliink they could live contiimidly in the wiitcr if they wore horn in it. 4'i Q. Wiien you .'itriio' the seids on tlie west eniist, wlial '.nudd you .say was the usual distance per day that the seals travel >. — .1. Tliat is imiiossihle to .say ; it (h»pends upon their food. 44. Q. That is, they lin<;er longerover j^'ond Idod than o'.lierwise ? — A. Yes; I rememhcrin, I think, 1888, wliere an Indian tlircw hin spear at a st'aj.and liis line hvnkc ; it- was near the Siuimagin Islund.s, and he took tiio saUKi seal the next day — -we lay-to all nijilit — ;ind lie riHuivered his own iron spear- head. That miy;ht .show tiie di.staneo they move in, .say, a night, heeause it did not travel far. 45. Q. When you lower your hoats two Indians go to a canoe ? — A. Yes, and lioth paddle. 4G. Q. Tiie Indian in the how keeps his spear right hefore ? — A. Ye.s. 47. Q. And he throws it at tlu' animal, and strikes it where ? — A. It makes no difference where they are hit. They try when .shooting to hit in the head. 48. Q. When a seal Ls struck, or wounded, what time does it require to heal ? — A. It heals very rapidly. 40. Q. What time does it rcfpiire to get the seal aboard after it is speared ? — A. Not more than two minutes when they spear, and not as long as that when they shoot it. 50. Q. What is the u.sual length of the sealing-hoat ? — A, About 20 feet. 51. Q. And the canoe ?— .1 About 22 feet. 52. Q. Is it not a fact that .sealing in these small boats in the stormy spring months is a very hazardous undertaking? — .(. Yes. 5.S. Q. It is connnonly reported that our seal-huniers, both Whites and Indians, are more expert than any others on the coast ? — ./. That is so. 'i'liey are the most expert. 54. Q. It is said also that tndess the weather is very tcmiH'stuou.s nothing will retard them ? — A. Yes ; they gci out every chance they can get. 55. C/ The loss of a fidl-sized skin meant llie last two years how much to the hunter? — A. About 3 dollars jier skin. 50. Q. What is the largest nund)er which you ever saw an Indian canoe bring alioard in one day ? — A. Forty-eight in one canoe, in Ijehring Sea. 57. Q. On the coa.st, how many '. — A. Thirty-four; that is over the average. 58. Q. In leaving the .schooner, how far do the hunters, both Indians and Whites, go ? — A. They go as far as 10 or 12 niile.s, sometimes 15 miles, from the vessel, till they can ju.st see the tops of her sail. 59. Q. And this in pretty rough weather? — A. Yes; prjtty rough. It might be smooth when they go out, but it often comes on rough before they can get liack. GO. Q. In following the seals nji the coast in February, March, and April, and Jlay and June, where do you begin to get them in larger nuiubers I — A. OH' Queen Charlotte Islands. 01. Q. At this time, are the females in advance of the males, seemingly hnsteniug to the sea ? — A. They get through as .soon as they can, the males in advance of the fenuiles — they haul out first. 02. Q. Some sc .'crs think the cows g(j aheail ? — A. The males haul out, and each one gets his batch of I'emales, and as the cows come in they make up their herd of females. C^. Q. Have you ever, when with .sealers, Iieard the percentage of loss talked of ? — A. No ; I have never heard it mentioiu'd with sealer.s. 04. Q. \iM speak from your experience with Indians ? Your i)ercentage of loss of 1 in 10 woultt be based on actual experience with Indian hunters ? — A. Yes ; 1 in 10. 05. V- ^ou have stated that in the month of May you think there would be more females than in the other months of the season ? At that lime what ])art of tlu^ ocean would you be? — A. Up off Queen Chailotte Island. (iO. (,'. You have al.«o stated that the more plentiful the food, the slower the seals travel ? — A. Yes ; they stay longer where the food is. 07. Q. At the end of any of your seasons, have you actually counted the number of females you had in your cargo ? — A. I have never done so. 68. Q. Have you any idea of your last ye.ir's catch, what proportion of females you had in the coast catcii ? — A. I think there would lie about li males in 5 — o males to 2 females. Oft. Q. That applies to the coast catch only ? — A. Yes ; \ip to Kodiak. 70. Q. In tlie l?ebring Sea, what jiroport ion would it bear? — A. I think about 4 males in 5 — 4 nudes to I female. 71. Q. Were you in Ikihring Sea last year? — A. Thcs ve.s.sel was. The way I account forgetting so many males was, during the begiiniing of July and August, when the females would be ashore nursing their young the greater ]iart of the time. 72. Q. At any time in Hehring Sea, what has lieen your nearest point of hunting to the seal islands ? — A. I have never been closer in Imnting than ;iO luiles — usually .30 to 90 miles off. We got blown in there once, the mily time I saw tlie island ; AVe were within 10 miles of them then. 73. Q. Yon never saw or lieard of any schooners, or sjioke any schooner who made a boast of raiding the islands? — A. Noee belonging to us. I iieard of the "Webster," " Mollie Adams," the " Hamilton Lewis," and the Oeiiuan schooner " Adele" raiding tlie islands. 74. Q. All these were American .schooners ? — A. Ves: except the " Adele." 75. Q. There is no doubt, then, among sealers, that these vessels did actually raid the islands ? — A. It has been commonly reported, and I have no reason to disbeli^.e it. 76. <;>. Did any of those vessels at that time iieUing to Victoria '. — A. No; they did not. 77. V. Can you advance any idea as to when the seals leave Mehring Sea > — A. To the best of uiy )(nowledgc, about the middle of October. 233 78. Q. Is it the accepted idea that those seals which leave Behviiig Sea in the fall are the samd that return in the spring ! — A. That is my o])inion. 79. Q- You have never heard at any lime any inducement over ollorod hy a captain or sailor from Victoria to ship men or to perform any work with tlie intention of raiding these islands? — A. Not from a Canadian vessel. 80. Q. It is a fact tliat every siiip-owner anil master of Canadian vessels has deprecated the raiding of the islands, tliat is, have never agreed with it '. — ./. They do not agree witii it at all. Every one I have si)(il<en to are very well satisfied to go into the sea and get their catcli legitimately. 81. Q. You think there is ample field for hunting seals without raiiling the islands ? — A. Yes, I do. 82. Q. Is it your opinion, Captain T.iting, that, with the increased nundjcr of schooners here and in San Francisco, tliere will he any material injury to the sealing industry i — A. I do not think so. 83. (J. From observations made last year, you are (piite of the o])inion that the seals were more plentiful than you had ever seen tiicm before ! — A. Tiiev were more identiful last year, 1891, than the year before, 1890. 84. (i'. Is there any way you can account for that? — A. Xone whatever, unless it is the same as witli any sjiecies of fish ; some years you get more tiian others. Tliere is no accounting for it. 85. Q. lieferring to tlie number of females caught in the spring, there are ([uite a number of tlie female seals barren, or have never borne young? You have noticed it ? — A. Yes; .some are barren that have had young, and otiiers that have not borne. 86. Q. AVhen yoyi speak of the i>r()portion of females killed, you mean the barren cows as well as those that are bearing young ? — A. Yes. 87. Q. Have you formed any idea of tlie general average or percentage of females carrying young killed in April and May '. — .1. 1 could not form any idea. 88. Q. Nor of barren cows ? — A. No. Sir. 89. (J. AVould you hazard a statement that all the females, both bearing and baiTen cows, were certainly less than the male seals taken ? — A. Yes; certainly Ics-^ in nundicr. 90. Q. If any one were to make the bold statement that for ever}' male seal killed there is a female killed, would it lie correct ! — A. That would not he correct. 91. Q. You have not heard any estimate of the jiorcentnge of barren females as compared with the bearing cows killed ? — A. There are less of the barren cows killed in the spring than tliere are in the fall. I don't think that tiic ,'o as far soutii iis the cnws tliat bear young. 92. Q. You say tliat in Beluing Sea the males prepondcrale ? — •(. Yes. 9."!. (J. You cannot account for this, you say, i!xcept it be that the feuialcn "I'c all ashore bearing young ? — A. The males we get in the sea are all 3- or 4-year-olds, which th>- oid wigs would not let ashore at all. 94. (,l. Are tliere any "rookeries" along the ooast of any e.xtent ?— .(. I have never heard of one this siile of the Shumagin Islands. 9.J. Q. Year after year, hunting, then, do you liiid tlieni travelling along the same course? — A. Yes, where their food is, from IT) ti> o.l miles out. 90. Q. Your opinion is that the percentage of loss as compared with tlm^^e hit would not exceed 10 per cent, with Indian hunters ? — A. How do yuii mean lost ? 97. Q. You say a seal hit and not killed is not lost if it escapes ? — ^1. Ves. 98. Q. Then the proportion of loss in ])roportion to thosi' killed is about how iiiUch — 10 per cent. ? — A. It does not exceed that. 99. Q. In the number killed during the (lin'crciit niontlis of the sijason, what is the iirojiortion of uuiles to females ? — ,(. Three males to two feiiiides. 100. Q. As to the abstention of Canadian sealers frjiii raiding tlie seal islands you are ipiite positive that from your kiunvledge of sealiiig-vcsscl owiu is and niaslcis, you give it us your direct opini<in that no Canadian scalers ever raided lliose islands. You would say so upon oatli in Court '. — A. Tliey never did to my knowledge. 101. Q. If Mich a tiling had been attemiilcd, it would, as a matter of fact, have leaked out ? — .ii. Ves; it stands to reason tlie news would have been uiuible to keep it to ihciiiselves. 102. Q. They v.oiild tell it either to their assnci,i!i>s on board or after getting ashore '. — A. They could not ke(?p it l():i. Q. After the hiiiilcrs git aboard at night, tlii'V usually recount whether they lost any seals, ami in speaking of ibeir loss it would iiieiin those seals that would sink, not those that escujie '. — A. If they lost any, they wcaild iiol tell it at all, but if they sunk any, they v.oiild speak of it. lt)4. (,'. You are at pi'es( iii a ship-owner, Captain haing '. — A. ^'es. 10.". V- V(ai have had giiiil o]i|iortunilies of healing from all sourci fishing ? — A. Ves. KIC). V- "lis it been iioliccil ijial the skins taken last year in usniil? — A, AliiMit the same general size. 107. (^. Is it geiK^rnlly Known tiiat tln' srals ciiiiglit on the Copper average ( — A. I have never sicii (liciu, but it is rcpoiied they aii' I'etl- r, 108. (,i. It is rejiorted also that sciils iii!i'..;hl in .hinuaiy, ]\Iarch, ai'ii in ISehring Sea; they say the I'lir is liciter '.-- ./. 'ilicv siy so, iuil 1 don't I din'erence. 109. V- It li"« heeii said that tiie i'lir of tlie light ? The fur of all animals in cold climates matter relative to the seal the i'.chiing Sea were smaller than Islmid are better than the April are belter than any ;iiip\v that you can see an/ Mdls caught during tiie winter and spring ir .nths is is thicker in winter ? — A. 1 have never noticed that with seals. [306J 2 II 2 234 110. Q. A few years ago it was said that the Hehriiig Sea skins were the best ? — A. It has been 60 reported, Ijut I don't think there is any difference. 111. Q. The "grey pup" of tliis year will be a " brown pup " next year? — A. Yes; a " 2- year- old " or " brown pup." 112. Q. Do the hunters usually follow the grey pups with the same zeal as they do tlie other seals ? — A. They can't tell the difference till they are actually " on top of them." 113. Q. And they are apt to shoot little as well as big? — A. Yes; everything they come across. 114. Q. Were the Indian hunters more successful last year than Whites? — .1. No, they were :;ot. It was a "stand off" l)etweeu them. The only difference is that the Whites will risk more than the Indians. 115. Q. The expensive wages, cost of outfitting schooners, considered, don't you think that 4 dollars per skin a high figure for hunters ? — A. It is. 116. Q. How many boats does the average schooner carry ? — A. About six and the stern boat. 117. Q. And each Imat takes three white men? — A. Yes, a hunter, a boat-puller, and a bout- steerer. 118. Q. The ship furnishes the boat, guns, and outfit?— ..4. Yes, the whole outfit of guns, annnunition, provisions, wages for the two men, and pays the hunter so much per skin. 119. Q. At the present time, how much per skin ? — A. 3 to 4 dollars. 120. Q. AVith Indian crews? — A. Tbey furnish their own canoe, spoars, and outfit; one Indian steers ; but the vessel finds them in provisions only. The last two or three seasons some vessels have supplied guns and ammunition. 121. Q. Does the Indian get 4 dollars per skin ; does he out of that pay his own lioat-helper ? — A. Yes, he pays out of his rate per skin. The ship pays the steerer nothing. 122. Q. Therefore, if the Indian crews were as profitable, they are the chonpesl ; if they get as many skins ? — A. Yea, if you can get them. 123. Q, Is the Indian a good hunter, i.i your experience ? — A. Yes, Sir. 124. Q. Bold and intrepid ? — A. Yes, wlien he is in his canoe nothing will scare bini. I liavc seen an old bull seal capsize a canoe, and the Indians would get into it again, bail the water out, and go on htmting as though nothing had happened. 125. Q. Is the Indian lazy, or does he seem anxious to proceed in the hunt from day to day ? — A. In fine weather, yes, but when the sea is "choppy" he would usually ratiier stay aboard. 120. Q. His canoe is not quite so strong as the sealing-boat ? — A. No, not quite. 127. Q. Have there been many accidents among the Indians — lo.ss of life ?— yl. Not since, I tiiink, 1887, when a schooner fonndered with all aboard. 128. Q, Do you think that as the years pass along the Indians, as well as the Whites, gut more expert in seal-hunting ? — A. Yes, they do. 129. Q. Notwithstanding iiU tiie .ships in the lleet on the ocean, you would adiiere to your statement that you don't think there is any noticeable tlecrease in the number of steals ? — A. Yes ; I do not think so. If the vessels had been let alone in liehring .Sea last year, we would have had a bigger catch than any previous year. 130. Q. Do you think. Captain Laing, if they would cease killing seals on the I'ribyloff Islands it wouhl increase the number of seals on the coast ? — A. 1 think it would. 131. Q. If the rookeries were undisturbed by anything, you think tlie seals would be more plentiful ? — A. I do. 132. Q. Have you any opinion to offer as to killing seals on the islands doing more harm than anything else ? — A. I think the American people are d(jing more harm by killing .seals and interfering with them on their rookeries or seal i.slauds tliau we hunters do on the coast. 133. Q. You have never heard of any rookery along the coa.st ? — A. I never heard of one. There is a rookerv of .sea-lion off Queen Charlotte Island, but I never beard of anv of .seals. (Signed) A. D. LAlNtl. Sworn before me, this 2oth day of January. ,v.u. 1892. (Signed) A. It. Milne, Collector of Ctistmns. January 25, 1892. William Cox, present master of the .schooner "Sapphire," of Viitoria, called und examined by Collector Milne : — 1. Q. You are engaged in the sealing business, Cajjtain Cox '.—A. Yes, I have lieen master of the eealing'schooner " Sapphire " for the last four years. 2. Q. How many boats do you carry in yoiir outfit ? — A. I earry canoes ami an Indian crew. 3. Q. With the exception of how many white men to navigate ? — A. Seven white people I carry for navigating the vessel. 4. Q. The number of Indians? — A. The last two year.i I have had twenty-eight north to Behring Sea. 5. Q. And how many canoes ^.—A. Fourteen canoes. 6. Q. Had you more canoes on the coast ? — A. Yes, I have had twenty-four canoes while on the coast. 7. Q. Wiieu you finally leave fol* Behring Sea, you drop a number of the Indians, and only take about fourteen canoes with you ? — A. Yes. 8. Q. Do you prefer Indian crews to white men ? — A. Yes, I do 235 IP 0. Q. What are your reasons for the pi'cfereiice ? — A. AVell, I f,'et alonj; hotter with tlieiii for one thinj,' ; tliere is more honour iininnjj them than iimonf{ the avera<;e white crew in this husine.ss. They don't make an nyreement to-ihiy, and lireak it to-morrow if tiiey see a cliance to make a little more. 10. Q. And they don't nuarrel aiuimi; themselves !'—yl. No; and you can fjenerally trust tiiem more. 11. Q. They are more profitable, tuo, are they not '. — A. Yes, a little more. 12. Q. They lurnish their own csnioes ;' — A. Vcs, and s])ears and boatmen ; and it is not such a heavy outtit, but tiieir canoes are li^^lu and easily broken by the heavy seas. 13. Q. They are better than aboard a laii,'e \essel i — A. Yes, but you have to be very careful — the canoes are " duij-outs " and easily siialtered. It. Q. Apart from fjettinj,' alonj; easier with the Indians, the exjieriencc is just about the same as with a white crew '. — A. Yes, the .skins cost about the same in the end. 15. Q. Do the Indian crews venture nut durin;,' the sttirmy weather as much as the white men < — A. Yes, almost as freely. I have had the siinie ciew so lonji now that they will do anything I wish them to do. IC. Q. Do you take them down the coast ! — .(. Yes, lud up the coast and on into Behring Sea. 17. V- They spear all tlieir ."eals ! — A. 'J'lie ;_'reater number of them, ye.s, but sometimes ;hoot ; they .spear all the " sleepers." 18. (>. What propiatidu do you think (hey slmot ?—.'<. They sJioot probably twenty out of the hundred; but I think now liie fleet is gettinjj; so lar<:;e tiiere are more wake seals, that conse(iuentiy they did more si'ootinn with me last year tlmu ever before. They never shoot a sleejiinj; seal. ID. Q. Do you tliink the seals are la'ttint; more .shy on aceiamt of the larj,'er Heet of ve.-<sels ? — A. Yes, they are mucii more .shy. 20. Q. Do the Indians a]>proach thecals t'lom leeward ^ — A. No; the Indian always j^oes "aci'is.« on the wind ;" he pulls up almost in ranj^e of it, and goes aero.ss the wind. They have a sort of idea that the .seal sleeps with one eye open, lienco the way they a])proacii. 21. Q. When they heave the spear, the barb holds fast ' — A. Yes; if they strike the seal at all, they cannot lose it. 22. (J. Therefore the jjorcentage of seals killed by Indians and lost would be very small ? — A. I would really count it nothing. If they did lose one by the spear pulling out of the blubber it would not kill the seal, as it heals .so quickly again. 23. Q. The barb holds them, and they have no chance to sink ! — A. Ye.s. 24. Q. Therefore the percentage of loss is nothing ? — A. I would not reckon it anything. 25. Q. The h)9s they make is only when firing at a travelling seal ;' — A. Yes. 26. (J. And that loss wiadd bo by the animal esca])i!ig >. — A. Yes. 27. Q. You would not consider it lost, then ; — A. Xo ; If not hit in a vital part it is not hist, for the Indian tires at a close range, and there are two in a boat, and almost sure of it before the shot is fired, because they can't sink far before they are right on to it. 28. Q. So the percentage of the .seals lost by Indian hunters, "sleeping" and not "travelling," would be how much < — ,/. With .sleeping seals ihere is no h),s.s. In travelling .seals there are none lost, only in escaping. Last year 1 saw a great numlier of seals brought in that had been shot before. 29. Q. From personal knowledge and ob.servatiou, you are .satisfied that a fle.sh-wotmd made in the seal would heal rapidly and not injure the seal i- — A Yes; the siiot seems to strike in the fatty jiarts or blubber, and does not seem to hurt the animal, as it closes over and soon heals. 30. Q. In the months of February, JIareh, and April, have you seen a marked nundier of female seals bearing young killed f — A. Yes ; in winter tliere are a nundier. 31. Q. Does tiiat mean "barren" cows? — A. No; on the coast we get them " with young." I have not seen many "barren cows" out here in winter. 32. Q. During the months of FiOiruary, Alarch, and April, what would j'ou say was the proportion of males to females t — A. I have only done one winter's sealing, and that winter they would Ije fully one-half females during February and March. 33. Q. That is, there woidd be as many females as bulls anil grey pups i — A. Yes ; I have never seen a female grey pup on the coast. That is a yearling grey female seal ; that is corroborated by the Indian.s. All the yearlings seen by me have been males. 34. Q. That is well known, you say, by the Indians ! — A. Oh, yes. They remark this. ♦ * 38. (J. But there is a larger nundier « » « « of males killed than females in April, May, and .lune ? — A. Yes ; in those three months we get a larger nundjer of males ; bulls from 3 to 4 years old ; all about the .same size. 39. Q. Your opini(ui is that the females, after the month of Mav, hasten on to the ISehring Sea ? — A. Yes. 40. Q. Now, from the lieginuing of the sealing .season, when you start out this time of year (.lanuary), till the time you enter lieining Sea, wliat is your opinion as to the percentage of female seals, including both bearing and barren cows, killed t What wotdd be the proportion of female seals, inehiding botli bearing and barren cows, Killed f What would be the projKirtion of females as compared with the bulls ^ — A, IJight up to tba Simmagin Islands ( 41. Q. Yes. W^ould it be 00 per cent.,(ir 70 ]icr cent., or what '. — A. Yes, I think it would be about C5 or 70 jier cent, of males, and the remainder mi.xed cows — bearing and barren cows. 42. Q. About what percentage of barren cows? — A. I think about equally divided: about 15 jier cent, of barren and 15 jier cent, of bearing cows, and 70 per cent, of bulls, would pretty near represent the catch on the tipiier and lower coast. 43. Q. There is an opinion expressed that a weal pup will not swim ; some people say so '(—-A. I bave seeu three with their dams in the water ou the Alaskau coast. 236 44. Q. How far from shore ? — A. 40 Oi- Tifl mih's from sliorc, in the month of .Tmie. 4"). Q. Is it your opinion that they world lie born in (Ik; wiitcr '. — A. Yes, or on the kelp. Seals miiti' in tlie water, sleep in the wnter. and I have seen pups tiikcn from the dead mother on the vessel, and thrown overhuard aiul swim aluait aw'iile in tiu- water. I iiave watehed such pups swim about for lialf-an-hf)ur or more. They seemed ti have \\i dillieully in swimmin;,'. 4t). Q. You have never seen or heard of a L'aiuidian si'aling-sehoomir attempting to raid the I'ribylolV Islands >. — A. \ have w.wv lii'ard of one. 47. Q. If such a thing had been done or attempted it wouhl lie sure t-i be known among sealers :' — A. Yes; it wiadd be imiiossible to keep it a secret. 48. Q. Is it your ojiinion that our Hi»i])-owner.s and masters have done everytliing they could possibly do to discourag(( anytiiing of that kind '. — A. ^'es ; everything. 4'.t. Q. What has been the general dislanee yini have sealed — the distance from the seal islantls '. — A. From 1(10 to 140 miles. 1 was within Sd miles (if them last year; that was the nearest I was to them. "id. Q. Of course Vdur nu'U on iioard would, if they hail ever been engaged in such raiding of the islands, certaiidy liavc^ told their fellows i — A. \'es, it would soon have becfime known. 51. Q. It is well known to all sealers that certain sehooner-i have raided those islands ? — A. Yes, during 1889 and 1890. "il*. Q. Do you reniendier wlial their names are ?— vl. Yes; the American schooner " MoUie Adams," "(ieorge It. White," and others. 5L'. Q. l>o you remember anv other f..cho(iner raiding the islands ;" — ,/. Yes; the German schooner " AdMe." n;!. Q. It was well kuiiwn that it was a (ieinian ves-iid '.—A. Oh, yes. •'i4. Q. Tluise Anieiican vessels that laidi'd tlie I'liliyluli' islands recruited their crews — where ? — A. I think tlaj ". Alollie Adams" recruited her crew at (Uoticester. "i"!. Q. In the Ihiited Slates i — A. Yes : she fitted up in I'ort Townsend, \Yasliington. 50. Q. Did you ever hear of any .\meriean vessels titling out at S.ind Point to raid the islands '■ — A. I do not remember it. 57. Q. "Wert! you ordered out of I'eliring Sea last year '. — A. Yes. 58. Q. 15y whom :' — A. 'J'he Ihitisli steamer " I'fn'jioise." 59. Q. On being ordered out of the Sea, you innuediately complied '. — A. Yes ; I came right away. 60. Q. Did you lower your boats afterwards .' — ./. I did not. 1 came right luit of the Sea. CI. Q. What mouth was that '.—A. 9th August. 02. Q. Had you not been ordered out, were you in good hunting ground :" — A. Oh, yes. 0.'!. Q. Were the seals iilentiful at the time you were warned ; that is, as plentiful as you had j)reviously .seen them :" — A. Yes ; Just as thick as ever. t)4. Q, What was yoni catch up to the time you were warneil out '. — A. l',4;>4 in Beliring Sea. 05. Q. What was jour coast catch '.—A. 1,0118 on the coast, and l!,484 in the Sea. OG. Q. Had you been unni<ilesteil for anntlier lliirly days your chances were good for a large catch '. — A, Yes; our chances were good for ([uite doubling our catch. 07. V- ^'our princi]ial ground for sealing you found — where '. — A. About 100 miles wes' ward of the Islands of St. George au(l St. I'aul. T took 1,000 in four days there. 08. Q. During that time, when you were getting seals so (juiekly, was your percentage of loss greater there tlmn on the coa.st ? — A. No : they were very ipu'et. 09. Q. V'ou have stated that, from your jiersonal obseivation, you think the seals wero as plentiful last year as you have ever seen them in Hehring Sea ; — A. Yes; nmch more so than I ever saw them before. 70. Q. 'Mow. .so at a distance of lOO to 130 miles from the nearest seal island '.—A. Yes. 71. Q. AVhat course would tluit lie from the I'ribylofl' Islands '. — .(. About west. 72. if,. At the time you were sealing there were there any other (,'anadiau schooners in your company? — A. Yes; the "Annie (.'. Moore," the " t'aiinelite, ' and the "Ariel." They had all an average catch. To. (,>. Have you ever heard of the McLeans raiding ('opj)er Islands i — A. Yes. 74. V' I'o you believe they did actually raid them '. — .'f. Yes. 75. (,>, Did you hear the story of ilieir going, with three boats of the " Wi bster" and " City of San Diego " in a crowd, landing at a passage between the rocks and the mainland of the islaiul, and standing there, where the water was swift, and shooting the seals as they passed tiirough i — A. Yes ; but they lost a great many. The captain of the " San Diego "said that they didn't get one-tenth of what they shot. 70. V- It is the ju'evailing opinion among the sealers that the " .J. ilanulton Lewis" was seized for landing on the islands ! — ^1. Yes ; the linssians had been watching her. She was seized for actually raiding the islands. 77. V- You <lidn'( go to tlie Coppei- Island side at all f—A. 1 did not. 78. (f. In leaving Mehring- Sea, where did you come out through '. — A. Through the Four Mountain Pass. 79. (/ After \ou had been warned out, diil you speak any other cutter '. — A. I did not. 80. Q. Did yon see any seals fmiii the time you were warned out till the time you came through the ]iass ( — A. They were jitst as thick as ever within 40 miles of the Four Mountain Pass. We were two days sailing through chem. It grieved us very much, 1 can tell you, to .sail through .seals and couldn't touch them. 81. Q. The Four Mountain I'ass is alioul what longitude .' — A. " 172 Pass" we call it. 82. Q. But you say there wero jilenty of seals from the time you vere warned up to within. 40 miles of this pass ? — A. Yes ; just as thick as where we liad left. 237 83. Q. Will you state in tlirect evidenco, as tliou,u;li in Court, that, ns far as your knn\vlfi(lf,'e goes no Canadian sealer, directly or indirectly, ever raided or attemiited to raid the seal islands f — A. I have had ample opportunity of learnini; if such liad !ioon tin- case, and I know of none. (Captain (Va-, continuin.o;, .said ; I didn't take one " hearinr; " female seal last season in lieliriu^; Sea. I have taken a few which were eviih>ntly " with milk." 84. Q. \\i[hi\t ])ercentagi> do you .say i — A. Tlicrc luiijlit he it per cent, of wliat 1 took wIim-Ii had had yoiinf,' ; tli(tre was evidence of having had yo\ni,!; ; whether they had last year or not I do not know. (Si-ned; WILLIAM COX, Sworn hefore me this 25th day of .Tanuary, 1802. (Signed; A. It. Mu.Ni:, f'ltVnlor of CuRtimK, Virtoria, B.C., Fchrifm\i/ IH, 1892. i-)Cal-Jiini/iii(/ in North Vmific Orrmi <in(l Bchrinfi Sea. Ca|itain Ciiarles llackett, master and maiiagiiii;- (jwuer of the schooner "Annie C. IMoore," of St. .lohn"s. New Urunswick, l)eing duly sworn ; — Q. How many years liave you hecu sealing '. — A. 'J'liis is my fifth year. Q. You liave had leasonahle success in seal-hunting '.—A. Ve.s. Q. You have followed scidiug from Snu l'"rancisco to llehringSea? — A. T have. Q. What has heeu the numlier of your crews .' — A. 'i'weiity-three men all toM. Q. The nuu'.her of boats your vessel carried '. — ./. Seven altogether. Q. You have had every opportunity of seeing seal life i — A. I have. Q. On the coa.st did the seals appear to he as]>lentiful last year as former ycstrs ? — A. 1 have found them so. Q. IMease state how the .seals travel '. — A. .\s a rule we find the bearing females by them.selve.s. Q. Did the seals appear more timorous last year than former years ? — A. I don't think so. Q. Are there more seals shot whilst sleeping than travelling i — A. As far as my experience has been that about seven-eighths, that is seven are shot while sleeping to one travelling. (f. Please state aliout the average distanci' that seals are .shot while sleeping '. — A. From 10 to If) yards. Q. What do you consider the proportion of seals lost as compared to the whole that are hit in pelagic sealing ! — A. One of my hunters, named I'olger, killed over 400 .seals during the .season, and only lost five .seals ; the I'xact number is hard for a master to .say, but I believe that 5 ])er cent, would be the outside. Q. Captain llackett, wouhl you consi<ler that a hunter that lost more than five in the hundred would not lie a gond liunter ? — A. 1 certainly do. Q. Do you mean by being lost, that is by sinking f — A. "When I say lost I mean by sinking. Q. AVhen a seal is shot in the head you generally get him, and mostly all the seal are shot in the head i — A. They are; and when we shoot them from the deck of the schoonei', to lower the boat and bring the ve.ssel to generally is from ten to fifteen minutes ; but we always get the seal floating. Q. From actual observation, then, you would say that the actual loss dining the seasons you have been .sealing will not exceed ])er cent. '. — A. 1 certaiidy .s.iy so. Q. Are there more lost lai the coast than in Mehring Sea '. — A. In the liehring Sea the percentage of lo.S9 would not be o ])er (.'ent. Q. Have you observed in any month a gi eater number of females than in other months: that is, on the coast have you oUserved a greater number of females taken during the months of April and May ? — -A. I have not observed iniy difference. Q. What iuo])i)rtion of females were in your catch last year (1800), and also in 1891? — A. In 1890 about one-quiM'ter were females, and in 1891 alwut half aiul half Q. AVonld this percentage ajiply to ymir catch in I'ehring Sea as well as on the coa.st ? — A. Yes; the percentage of females in 189(1 would be about one-cpiarter, and in 1891 aliout half and half Q. M'hat was your catch in 1890 i—A. About 1,500. Q. What was your catch in 1891 f—A. 2,070 seals. Q. What ju'oportion of females with ]t\\{) did you observe taken on the coast during the pa.st two years ?— yL About lialf and half. (,>. Wliat pro]iortion of females with ])up did you ob.serve in Ijchring Sea '. — A. In a catch of l.o.'S seals in I'ehring Sea last year I had only ten females with pu]i ; those with pup weie taken between the 1.5th and last of July, and that those I'emali^s killed with pui) ajipi'ared to conu' from the westward and got mixed with groujjs of other female seals which had their young and were entirely diied uji. Q, Do you find many yearling ]iu|is in Uehring Sea i — A. No; 1 havi! found no yearling pups in llehriug Sea ; we get what we call the white-belly pups ; they are from two- to three-year-old pups, and we got quite a number of barren cows. Q. What do you mean regarding b.irren cows ? — A. I mean those who have not borne young during that year. Q. Did you notice if the seals were smaller in size last year ? — A. I did not ; they were as large fts any year, 28S Q, Whilst ill lleliving Sen Inut ycnv weio tlui hciiIh ns iiuiaeiotisi ns >'•" ''"vo seen tlinni before ? — yl. They were more inuiierons tlmii I Imve ever seen tliein liel'orc. Q. Whut 11^0 is a seiil-skin at its bent ? — A. 1 coiiaider at .'i years old. Q. What has been the distwnce from the I'ribyloff Inlands tiiat you were while senlinj,' any yenr in Behriiig Sea ? — A. From 50 to 100 miles, and was iievv;V nearer than 50 miles. Q. You were warned out of the Sea last year I — A. I was. Q. Were the seals plentiful at the time ? — A. They were quite numerous. Q. How far were you from land when woriied ? — A. About 100 miles to tiie we.stwanl of Pribyljff Islands. Q. Had y 'U not been ordered out of the Sea your catch would have lieen yood? — A. My catch woidd have bei n at least ;{,0OO seals. Q. Have you ever heard of any Canadian ves.sels durinji tlui ycai.s that you have beei emjdoyed in the sealing; industry raidiu"; tiie I'ribylolf seal islands in lielninj; Sea ? — A. I have not. Q. You would have certainly lieard of it had it occurred ? — A. Had tiint lieen done, I would have heard it ; I am acquainted with all tlie )Hincipal sealini; men. (Signed) CHAS. HA(!KKTT. Sworn before me this loth day of February, 1H'.»2. (Signed) A. If. UiiUF., Coltntw of Ctistotm. Vktoriii, li.V., Fthruanj 8, 1802. Caleb McDougall, master of the schooner " Pioneer," of Victoria, Rriti.sh Columbia, personally appeared, and being duly sworn, doth depose and say : — Tliat this is the third year that he has been engaged in hunting seals in the Noiihern Pacific Ocean and Behring Sea. That lie has liad every opportunity of watching every jieculiarity of seal-hunting. That it is his opinion, from actual observation, that the number of seals lost, as compared with tho.se hit in pelagic sealing, is about one in fifty, that is, one seal is lost to lii'ty caught. That the loss of seals is by sinking. That t!ie greater number of seals are killed while sleeping. That seals travel in groups, that is, groups of males and groups of females, also of grey or yearling pups. That in liehrlng Sea during the year 1890 in one place the hunters would Ining 110, and 120, and 130 each day, all males and no females, that is, in that one place, and the greater number of his catch (1890) were male seals, that is, his vessel had 1,100 in Behring Sea, of whicii 800 were males and the rest females. That there is no doubt but that the old bull seals drive the younger males away from the islands, and that is the reason wliy he considers that more males are caught than females in Beh'ing Sea. That the proportion of barren cows is about one in ten to the liearing cows, that is, tliere is one barren and ten bearing in Behring Sea. That since he has been engaged in sealing he thinks tlio seals are increasing, and that ho found liie seals in Itehring Sea thicker last year than he ever found them. Tiiat it depends entirely upon what portion of tlie Sea that the vessel is in and striking a band of mail's or females, Init with all vessels in Behring Sea the catcli is always more males than females. Tliat he does not know of any single instance of a British sealing-vessei raiding tiie seal i.slands in Behring Sea, and he is (juite sure that nii British vessel in any case attenijited to raid the .seal Islands. If thev iiad, he would have heard of it. (Signed) C. McU^-^UGALL. Sworn before me, this 8th day of February, 1892. (Signed) A. K. MiLNE, Coliectar of Customs. Victoria, B.C., Fel/nmry 1, 1892 I. Q. Captain William O'Leary, how many years have you been sealing ? — A. This is my sixth Q. You have been generally successful ? — A. Yes. Q. You have had all opportunities of watching every peculiarity of seal-hunting ? — A. Yes. Q. What is your opinion of the proportion of seals lost iis compared with tlujse hit in pelagic year. 2. 3. 4. y. \Vliat IS your opii sealing >. — A. My opinion is that only 3 to 5 per cent, are lost. 5. Q. Do you mean those who are lost by sinking ? — A. Yes. G. Q. Arc there any lost in any other way ? — A. Yes ; by escaping. 7. Q. What is your opinion of the proportion of females to males taken during the season on the coast ? — A. My experience on the coast has l)een that tiie females and males are about equal, aijd oj" tjie t'eiiiales \\\m, are (in ectual inimber of banen cows and heaving cows, V W '1 before ?— ny year in ifPrihybfr My catch eini)lf>yetl iVnuUl liavo (!KKTT. IKM'soiially lein Pacific ipavc il with or yearling lid 120, and )f his ciitcli lies and the tiie islands, Sea. lu'.re is one ^t he found a band of males. Il islands in leal Islands. JGALL. Is niv sixth Yes. in pelagic Ison on the liiul, and '4 289 H. Q. What is your opinion alxiut the proportion of liearing cows ? — A. About half and half, that is, half barren and half bearing cows. 9. Q. In Ik'hring Sea is your catch eliiefly male seals i" — .4. Yes; alwut three to one; tliat is, titrec males to one female. 1(1. Q. (!«ptain O'Leary, what is your opinion abcuU tlu- increase or decrease of seals ( — A. I think the seals were as plentiful last .season as I have ever seen them. 11. Q. Captain O'Leary, being one of the oldest s>^(aling eajjtains, ilo yo\i know of ony single instance of a Itritish sealing- vessel nuding the seal islands ? — A. I have never heard of one, nor do I believe that any nHtisb vessel raided or attempted to raid the seal islands; T would have heard it if such had been attempted. (Signed) WILLIAM ClLEAKY. Sworn liefore me, this 1st February, 1892. (Signed) A. K. MiLNK, Colhrtor of Cn^hm^. Victoria, B.C., Fehrunry 16, 1892, lie Sealing in Pacific Ocean ami Behriny Si-n. Abel i><iugliis, |iii'sent master and managing owner of Canadian .schooner " .May Uelle," of Victoria, Ib'itisli Columbia, being duly sworn, in answer to the following questions, says: — Q. How many years have you been sealing ? — A. I have lieeu seven years. Q. Vou have been reasonably sueccssfid in the sealing industry ? — A. Yes, I have. Q. You have followed the seals along the west coast and in Beln'ing Se;i ? — A. Yes, Sir; I have. Q. How niiniy men compo.sed your crew last year '. — A. 'rwentv-oiie men, all told. Q. The number of your boats carried '. — .-/. Six boat.s. Q. Y<iu iiiiv(! had every opjiortunity of being ac((uainted with the habits and life of the seals ? — A. 1 have. Q. On the coM.st, did the .seals a]i])ear as plentiful la.st year as former years '. — A. I have seen no decre.ise ; in tact, I saw more seals last year, but they a|)peared a little shyer. Q. In Rtihring Sea, did the seals appear as |>leutifid la.st year as formerly '. — A. 1 saw more seals and larger boilies <pf seals in Behring Sea last year than in any year before. Q. Did the seals ai)pear more timorous in llehring Sea than fi)rmerly '.'—A. No, they did not, but seemed (piite ((uiet, and not frightened. Q. On the coast do tlie females travel by tjicmselves > — A. The females generally travel by them- think the males don't travel .so far .south. We find the males a])pear more plentiful towards selve Alaska. Q. Q Are there mi.re seal:, shot sleeping than travelling : — A. Ves, Sir. Wlait is the usual distiince tliat .seals are shot while sleeping i — A. About 4l) to 4.") feet. Q. AVliat would be the distiince shooting at a travelling seal ! — A. About ,")0 to 4(1 yards. Q. W'herc are the seals usually struck when shot ( — A. In the head and neck. Q. From your long experience, what do you consider the ])roportion of seals lost as compared to the whole that are hit in i»ohm:ic sealing ? — A. I am cpiite siu'e that not more than from three to five in the hundred, in one year in liehring Sea ; out of I'lG seals taken by myself, 1 nevei' lost a single one ; and last year 1 lost seven out of 205 killed by myself; the loss was by sinking. Q. Having jiersonal experience hunting every year, ]u)w quickly do you reach the animal shot alee])ing ? — A. Abiait five to ten minutes if the seal has been .shot s!eo))ing. Q. Sleeping seals don't sink (piickly, do they '. — ,/. Sleeping seals very .seldom sink. The loss by sinking is altogether the travelling .seals. Q. Then you would .say that the ])(!rcentage of loss, tliat is, three to live in the huiuhed, has been your ex])erience lor .several years '. — A. Yes ; it has been about the same. Q. Is the loss greater on the coast than in IJcliring Sea ' — A. N'o, Sir; very few are lost on the coast. Q. On the coast, have y(ai taken a greater nundier of female^ in .some months than in other montlis ; .say, have you observed a greater number of females taken in April and May ! — A. No, Sir. Q. Where do you find the yearling grey pu]is ? — A. Always on the coast. Q. Do you find many pups in IJehring Sea ^ — A. No; 1 have only found two grey pups in Behring Sea. Q, Do you fin<l any brown pups, about 2 years old, in Behring Sea '. — A. Very few. Q. Have you observed in Behring Sea that the females have delivered their young ? — ■ A. Yes, Sir. Q. Do you lake any lemales with ]>up in Behring Sea ? — A. A'ery few ; say one or two in the season. They have all delivered their young before the vessels enter Behring Sea. Q. Did you observe any difference in the size of the seal-skins last year ( — A. None ; they are the same as former years. Q. What has been the distiince from the seal islands that you usually hunted in Behring Sea in the past vears ? — A. From 60 to 100 miles generalh- to the westward. [305] ^ ' 2 1 240 <^. You were wnmed out Inst year, iiiiil liy whom >—A. Ves, Sir; niul by the Uniteil Slates' shin " .Mohicnii. Q. At tl'.e time you were warned, whiit distance were vou from the seal islnnds f—A. At the time I was warned I was 115 miles to the north-west of tiio stuxl islands. Q. At the time you Mere warned weie the seals iilentiful !—^l. 1 have never seen the seals so plenlifid in Hehring Sea. Q. iJo you say that hud you not ))cen forced out of IJehringSea that you would have had an excel- lent eatch ? — A. I certainly would have had a ;,'ood (.'ulch. Q. Then you consider that haviiif; heen ordered out of llehring's Sea last year tlint it has liuen it serious financial loss to you t — A. It has Imen a great loss to ine and a very great liardsidi). Q. ilave you ever heard of a JJritisii vessel, during the years tiiat you have heen lingagcMJ in the sealing industry, raiding, or atteinjiting to raid or talie seals in ai"iy way on the I'riliyloH'or seal islamls In Hehring Sea f — A. I have not at any time heard of any British vessel taking any seals from the ^vul islands. Q. If any vessel had attemj^ed to do so you wouhl have eert.iinly iieard of it ^ — A. 1 certainly would; for I am acquainted with all tiie principal .sealing men sailing from this jiort. (Signed) A15KL It( tUdl.AS. Sworn before me, this ICth day of Fel)ruarj-, 1892. (Signed) A. K. JIii,NE, Collector of Guntoms. VkloriH, B.C., Fi'hrxan/ L'(l, ISUI'. Ii'e liiidiiiii ill Pidijif Oniin mui Bilirinij Srn. Lnugldin L. McLean, present ma.ster of the Canadian schooner " Favourite," of Victoria, British Columliia, and master of the same vessel for tlie past seven yt^irs, j)er.sonally appeared, and being ihily sworn, in reply to tli(( following questions dotli depose and say : — Q. Car»tain M('l.«an, you have iioen muster of th(! "Favourite,'" during tiie past seven years ?— A. Yes; for seven years. Q. Y'ou have heen reasonably suecessl'id in the scaling industry f — A. Yes: 1 liave, Q. Yo\i have had every opportunity of observing tJic seals and seal life < — A. I jiave liad every opportunity. Q. What nunilier of 'men cijnqpose vour crew iisuailv :" — A. From thir'-v to tliirty-two men, all toUl. Q. JIow nuiny AVhites and liow many Indians '. — A. Seven Whites and about twenty-five Indians com])oso my erew. Q. Have had Indian hunters every year ( — A. Kvery year but one, tliat was ISST. Q. Do you preler Indians to Whites for hunters ;' —yl. 1 do. Q. Were the seals to your ob.servation as plentiful last year as former years / — A. They were more plentiful. Q. Were they as plentiful on coast '. — A. Yes. Q. Were the seals as plentiful in Behring Sea as in former years '. — .1. In my experience I have never seen the seals as plentiful i.i Behring Sea. Q. Did the seals in Behring Sea appear to be more timorous i — A. No ; liiey did not ; but apjjeared quite tame. Q. From your long experience, what do you consider the proportion of seals lost as compared to the whuiC number tliat are hit in pelagic sealing f —A. I would say with Indians about one in ten, and with good white hunters about 5 \wr cent. Q. Have you olwerved in any months more females than males '. — A. Xo ; Imt I think there are nioi'e males in the month of April on the coast. Q. Did you have more males than females in the coast catch ? — A. Yes ; I had more males than females on the coast. Q. What percentage of niah^s to females did you have in Behring Sea last year and any year ? — A. About half and half, and every year about the same. Q. Did you notice that the females taken in Behring Sea had delivered their young ? — A. Yes ; they had all their young some time before that. They give up their young about the end of July. We never get them with pup after July. Q. What proportion of females taken in Behring Sea are barren ? — A. About 5 per cent. Q. Do you ever find yearling or grey pups in Behring Sea ? — A. No; we never find them. Q. Do you find brown pups (2 or 3 years old) in Behring Sea ? — A. We find a few ; not many ; occasionally one or two. Q. From your long observation, do you think that the females taken in Behring Seu have remained long enough with their pups so that they care for themselves on the land ? — A. Y'^es, I do. Q. You mean by barren cows those that have not borne that year ? — A. Yes, I do. Q. In Behring Sea do they all travel together, that is, males and females ? — A. They are pretty well mixed up. 241 Q. I'lu'ii ymi say tliiii, iiK'lmlinj^ lani'ii cnws, liiiii i\u- |)t!r('eiiiiij;u ol mII ffiiiiilfs hikcii iii llcliriii;,' Sen is about (iinml to the males ? — A. About timt, and no uioro. Q. I>o I undtTstaiKl vou I'Icmly to SUV tliut llic I'litcli "ii llu! coast was iiiustly uuilcs ^ .1. Yen, J. do. Q. (.'a))taiii McTxmiu, would yiai jiltiasu say in what luoiiorliou the uiales Wfuo to tlic IVimdcs iu youv catc'Ii on tlii! coast ! — A. About two-thirds males, tliat is, two males to oiu! feuiale. Q. Did yo\i ol).serve anyehanj,'!^ in the hal)its oi' the seals Inst year from I'ormcr years i'-.l. On ilio coast I do not oliservc^ any diH'erenee, liut in liehriiij,' Sea I find the seals I'urtlK.T I'roni land ; a tew \fars iifft I f(»ind them 2,> or iUi miles from land, that was our favourite lisiiinj^ f,'roiind ; lait llui last two or three years my iiest catches iiave been Irom 14tl to l.'i) ndles from land. Q. Have you ever known ar heard of any llritisii vesstd enj^aitcd in the sealiny; industry raiding' or ivttemptinj,' to laid or lo take seals in any way from tie- I'riliylolf or seal islands in liehrin^' Sea ^ - A. I have not heard that any Ibitisli vessel in any year attemjited any such ihinj,', as 1 know all the principal men eii),'aj,'(!(l in seidinj,', and I would certainly have heard it it such hiul occurred. Q. You have heard of some American vessel raidiuii,' the seal islands '. — •,(. ^'es, two years a;;'o. Q. Vou were ordered out of Hehrinj; Sea last year > — A. Yes, by Her Majesty's ship " I'orjioisc." Q. Were you in ^(ooil huntin;^ urotiud when warned ( — A, Yes, the seals were vi'ry thick. Q. Hud you been let abaie your catch would have lu'en very good ! — .,(. Yes, my catch would have been an extraordinary j,'ood one, for 1 had 2,lH'^ wiieii ordered out, tiiid I had n full month to j{0, and ray catch if let alone would have been at least ;<,500 seals. Q. On your way out did you obst^rve that the seal wer*! plentiful in Behrinj,' Sen ! — A. They were thick all the way out to the jtass comini; out of the sea, and it wn.s very annoyinj; to see so numy and not be able to touch them. Q. Where did Her Majesty's ship " Porpoise " speak you cud order you out? — J. In l7o° west longitude, ahout 135 miles from nearest land. Q. Tluui you consider that beinj; ordered out last year has been great linauciid loss ami hardship to you ? — A. 1 do, most certaiiilv ; mv vessel was eipiipped for a voyage two months longer. (Signed) LAUGHLlM L McLKAX,'i»/</.s/f,', iSchouiicr " FtirouriU." Sworn before me this 2(tlli day of February, 1892. (Signed) A. Iv. Mn.NE. CoUiHor 'if Customs.