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F l' tlKp i P!^^^i^'^l ' '-l'."^ ryg?'5^^^'^^'^*y^'''?^ TABLE OF CONTENTS. & I No. Name. Date. SunjccT. Pago 1 To Sir J. Pauncefolc. . Telegraphic Apr. 17, 1891 Mr. Blaine's suggestion for stopping seal- fishing by land and sea pending award of arbitration seems worthy of consideration. Would he prefer that proposal should come from Her .Majesty's Oovernment ? 1 2 Sir J. Paunccfote .. Telegraphic 22, Mr. Blaine absent. On his return, will press him to give answer with as little delay as possible .. .. .. .. 1 3 »i >i • • Telegraphic 23, Mr. Blaine prefers that proposal should come from Her Majesty's Oovernment. He wishes to consult I'vesident . . . . . . 1 4 'I >t •• Telegraphic 27, President sugeests reservation in prrposed n'odus Vivendi, allowing Americit Company to kill enough seals to support nativea. Mr. Blaine will not agree to arr.- igenicnt being put in force till terms of arbitration are settled .. .. 2 5 » » • • Telegraphic May 5, Is sending by mail note from Mr. Blaine justifying reservation made by President, and submitting detailed proposal for modus vhendi. Gives lattc. ,. 2 >i » . . Apr. 27, Hcports communieatijns with .Mr. Blaine on proposal for modus vivcndi and President's reservation . . 2 7 » >i • • Telegraphic May 10, Is sending by mail text of Professor Elliott's I("pcrt on seal-lifo in Dehring's Sea, In which stress is laid on necessity for ccss.ition " of seal-killing. Importance of early reply to Mr. Blaine's proposal .. 4 S »i i» • • Telegraphic 10, Gives .Memorandum received from trustworthy source on President's ruservatiou in pro- posed modus Vivendi 4 9 fi »> • • . • 4, Detailed account of communications with Mr, Blaine with regard to proposed modus Vivendi . . . . 4 10 >• » • • . ■ 5, Copy of note from Mr. Blaine containing detailed proposals for modus vivendi, and defending President's rcservotion . 11 ff *i .. , , 6. Copy of reply to .Mr. Blaine's above note H 12 To Sir J. Puuncefote, . Telegraphic 1(J, Will reply to his telegram as soon as Canadian Government have answered further commu- nication addressed to them 10 13 Sir J. Paunccfote Telegraphic 20, President anxioua for reply to Mr. Blaine's proposal of 4lh May, When may decision of I ler Majesty's Government be expected ? 10 14 To Sir J, Paunccfote. , Telegraphic 21, No definitive reply yet received from Canada with regard to proposed modus vlveiidi 10 15 Sir J. Pnuncefote ,, Telegraphic 22, Mr, Blaine's projiosal involves some loss of revenue to the United States' ('--rn men t, as well as nonsiderable loss lo ^ nierican Company .< 10 IG 11 II • • Telegraphic 2.5, • President much concerned at not having received reply from Her Majesty' Govern- ment. United States' (Jovernuieut cannot detain cruizers or Company's vessels any longer . . . . ■ . . . 10 17 »i 11 •. I'elegraphif; ':7, Note received from Acting Secretary of Slate to the same elTect as communication reported in .'ibnve. Revenue steamer " Uush " has started for seal islands. " Corwen " will very shortly start, but she could slill take orders if agreement ia arrived at before her departure ,, 11 18 To Sir J. Paunccfote.. Telegraphic 28. Bill to be introduced in Parliament, giving Iler Majesty's Government powers for prohibiting seal-fishing in Behring's Sea. Her Majesty's ' Government can do nothing till Bill is passed u APPENDIX. 1 Sir J, Paunccfote ,. • * Feb. 20, 1891 Reports of United States' Treasury Agents on affairs in seal islands, and fur-seal fisheries ■' ' ■ in 1890 12 2 »> H • • «• May it, Introduction to Professor Elliott's Ileport on condition of seal-life at the Pribylolf Islands in summer of 1890 52 b'lf Further Correspondence rcs})ecting the Behring Sea Seal • ' Fisheries. No. 1. . The Marquis of Sultubvry to Sir J. Puuncefoie. (Tclci-raijliin.) Furehjn Office, April 11 , ISm . IJEllJMNG'S SEA. Mr. Blaine's sug-g-ostion, wliich you mention in your private lottor ol" tiio 7tli April, thai, jjondiuj; tlio award oi' the Arbitration on tho Bohriniy's Sea (|Ucstion, all seal iishory should be stopped, both by sea and land, sceins worthy ol" consideration. If wc approve of it, Avoukl Mr. Blaine; prefer that the proposal should come from US? No. 2. air J, Pauncpfote to the Marquis of Salisbitrij. — {Received April 22.) (Telegraphic.) Washington, April 22, 1891. I HAVE the honour to inform your Lordship that Mr. Blaine left this city for the sea-side on the 15th. As the date of his return Avas uncertain, I addressed a letter to him on the 20th in the sense of your Lordship's telegram of tho 17tli, making the inquiry v, liich I Avas therein instructed to make. I am uoav informed that his return is expected in a few days. I am informed that it is in the poAVcr of the United States' Government to cancel the lease of the islands at any time. I Avill lose no time in pressing Mr. Blaiuc to send me an ansAver Avith as little delay as possible. No. 3. Sir J. Pauncefote to the Marquis of Salisburi/, — {Received April 23.) (Telegraphic.) Washington, April 2S, 1891. I HAVE the honour to report that the Secretary of State returned to Washington to-day, and invited mc to call on bim. Ho expressed himself as gratified at the favourable consideration given by Her Majesty's Govennnent to his alternative suggestion, and in ansAver to your Lordship's inciuiry he said he would prefer that the proposal, which seemed to him very fair, should come from Her Majesty's Government. He added that he wished, however, before going any further, to communicate the proposal by telegraph to-day to the President, Avho is absent from Washington. [205] B 2 t^fnwT" ---ffiW^l"" V^!^JP^^^^ ifK No. 4. Sir J. Pauncefote to the Mar quit of Salialmry. — {Received April 27.) (Telegraphic.) Washington, April 27, 1891. MR. BLAINE informed me to-day that tho President had suggested u small reservation in the proposed modus vivendi to the effect that permission should he given to the Company to kill a small number of seals sufficient to compensate them for the support of the natives in their employ during the modus vivendi, but ho did not appear to msist strongly on it. As, however, he will not agree to put the arrangement in force until the terms of the arbitration are settled, I fear it may only be applied when it is too late to be of any service. A full report of the inter^'iew above mentioned will be found in my despatch of this Jay's date, whicn I am sending by mail to-morrow. rk g».. M No. 6. Sir J. Pauncefote to the Marquis of Salisbury. — {Received May 5.) (Telegraphic.) Washington, May B, 1891. BEHRING'S SEA, With reference to my telegram of the 27th ultimo, I have vhe honour to inform your Lordship that I forward by messenger to-day copy of a note from Mr. Blaine which I received Inst night, containing a lengthy justification the reservation of made by the President, and submitting for communication to your Lordship the following detailed proposal for a modus vivendi for the season of 1891 : — 1. The United Slates* authorities to issue orders limiting the number of seals to be killed on the islands to 7y800, solely in order to provide for the support of the resident natives, who number .300 souls. Pending the result of the arbitration, all seal-killing for commercial purposes to be prohibited. 2. The United States' Government to guarantee to Oreat Britain that no seals shall be killed in any part of the open waters of Behring's Sea by any person on board of any vessel flying the United States' flag, or by any United States' citizen on board of any vessel flying any other flag. 3. Mutatis mutandis, a similar guarantee to ha given by Her Majesty's Government as regards British subjects and vessels. 4. The above prohibitions to continue in force up to the Ist May, 1892, before which date the Arbitrators are to render to both Governments their final awrrd. i No. 6. Sir J. Pauncefote to the Marquis of Salisbury, ^-{Received May 8.) My Lord, Washington, April 27, 1891. WITH reference to my telegram of the 22nd instant, I have the honour to inclose a copy of the note which I addressed to Mr. Blaine, as reported in my above- mentioned telegram, informing him that your Lordship was disposed favourably to entertain his alternative suggestion for a modus vivendi pending the result of the Behring's Sea arbitration, namely, to stop all scaling, both at sea and on land, and inquiring whether, in case the proposal be finally accepted, he would prefer that it should be made by Her Majesty s Govemmejit. In my telegram of the 23rd instant I had the honour to report to your Lord- ship the verbal reply which I had received from Mr. Blaine to that communica- tion. It was to the effect that he would prefer that the proposal should come from Her Mi^esty's Govenmient, but that before taking any further step he desired to communicate by telegraph with the President, who was absent from Washington. I called to-day on Mr. Blaine to inquire whether he was now prepared to proceed with the proposal. He informed me that tho President felt some difficulty arismg from the fact that the lessees of the fribyloflP Islands are under contract to maintain a large number of natives (Aleuts) engaged in their sealing operations, and these they womd .>y4y/^SAf7iiMftii^-'^----- 4^!^ ^?!-l "P^'^IPI fwp. iywi!) *i>v!' vimmmmmm'iiitmmiilllSWm 9 have to support at a heavy loss during the whole period of the modus vivendi. This loss would ultimately fall on the United States' Government, and ho had, therefore, suggested wlicther it might not he stipulatrd that a moderate number of seals might be killed on the islands, suflluient to cover the loss in question. I replied that I did not think such a suggestion would commend itself to your Lordship. The proposal that sealing should he stopped, hoth at sna and on land, Avas based on the recommenda- tion of the United States' Government Agents, whoso Reports had been laid before Congress, and copies of which I transmitted to your Lordship in my despatch No. 4il of the 20th February last. In acceding to the proposal, Ilcr ^Majesty's Government would give a stnkin)? proof of their solicitude for the preservation of the seal speciei, and of the spirit oi conciliation with which they were animated. There was to bo an equal sacrifice on both sides, and it would be unreasonable tliat tlie proposed modus vivendi should be saddled with any special reservation for the benefit of either party. I further observed that, in view of the fact that the opening of the fishery season is already at hand, no time should be lost in putting it into force, if it is to be of any value this season. I suggested that it might be agreed to put it in force for this season, irrespectively of the arbitration, and that in such case it would be a convenient time to send a Joint Commission of Experts to the islands to collect evidence for the purposes of arbitra- tion. I failed to perceive how any Arbitrators Avould undertake to pronounce an award on the question of a close time without proper materials on which to found their judgment, and these materials could alone be supplied by a Joint Commission. I added that I had no authority from your Loi'dship to make such a suggestion, but that I ventured to throw it out for consideration. Mr. Blaine replied that, as regards the reservation of the right to kill a limited number of seals on the islands to cover the loss which would result to the Company for the support of the Aleuts in their employ, that was a condition which might perhaps not be insisted on; but he was absolutely opposed to the suggestion of sending a Joint Commission of Experts to Behring's Sea, or to putting in force the modus vivendi until the terms of the arbitration had been definitely agreed to. I pointed out that if this Avore to bo a condition of the arrangement, it would probably be too late to put it in force this scasor,, in view of the time which might elapse before the preliminaries of the arbitration had been settled, and I reminded him that his proposal was simply that it should take effect " pending the result of the arbitration." He rejilied that his proposal, as understood by the President as well as himself, was subject to that condition, and he seemed to attach importance to it as being calculated to accelerate your Lordship's acceptance of tlic terms of arbitration proposed by his Government. I therefore explained to him that all your Lordship knew at present respecting the proposal was that it had been made by the United States' Government, obviously in their o\\n interest, and that Her Majesty's Government had certainly nothing to gain by acceding to it. I. begged him to disabuse the mind of the President of the idea that your Lordship, in giving the proposal a favourable consideration, had been actuated by any other sentiment than that of friendliness to the United States* Government. I added that if owing to delay in the settlement of the terms of arbitration, the proposed modus vivendi should not be put in force this season, and the predictions of the United States' Government Agents as to the consequences which must ensue from the non-cessation of sealing shovild be verified, the blame would certainly not attach to Her Majesty's Government. I have, &c. (Signed) JULIAN PAUNCEFOTE. Inclosurc in No. 6, Sir J. Pauncefote to Mr. tilaine. Bear Mr. Blaine, IVashington, April 20, 1891. I INFORMED Lord Salisbury in a private letter of your alternative suggestioil for a modus vivendi, pending the result of the Behring's Sea arbitration, namely, to stop all sealing both at sea and on land. liord Salisbury seems to approve of that alternative, and he asks whether, in case "> ^mv^i^fmmi ■"" Her Majesty's QoTommont should accept It, you uould prefer that tho proposal should come from them. I thought you would like to know Lord Salisbury's view of your proposal as soon as possible, and tlmt must be my excuse for troubling you with this letter during your repose at Virginia Beach. May I ask you to be so good as to lot me know, as soon as you conveniently can do so, what answer you would wish me to return to Lord Salisbury's inquiry. Ilopiug that you have already benoiUcd by the change of aii, I remain, &c. (Signed) JULLiN TAUNCEFOTE. No. 7. fe'iV J. Pauncefotc to the Manjitis of Salisbunj. — (Received May 10.) (Telegraphic.) IVanhington, May 10, 1891. A NEWSPAri-ni lias just publislicd the text of I'rofcssor Elliott's introduction to his Rt])ort on thci condition of seal life on tlic United States' seal islands in Beliring's Son, wliicli ho addressed in November last to tlie Secretary of tbo Treasury. I will transmit u copy to yonr Lordsbip by tbo mail of tho 12tli instant. In this Ifeport I'rofessor Elliott insists stTonj,-ly on tlio necessity of the cessation of .seal killing, Ixitb on land and at sea, and on tlw; appointincnt of a Joint Couiniission of American, Uritisb, and llussian exports to proeetul to tlio rookeries this summer to verify the precise condition of alfairs. The usual date for tho rovonnc-cruizcrs and the Conipaiiy's steamer to sail is the 15th instant, and it is very important that I should, as early as practicable, be in a position to rejjly to Mr. Blaine's proposal. No. 8. Sir J. Pauncefole to the Murquin of Salisbury. — {Received May 10.) (Telegraphic.) Washimjlon, May 10, 1891. I HAVE just received, from a trustworthy authority, the following Memorandum on the subject of the reservation in tho proposed modus vivcndi desired by the President, which throws a new light on tho provision in question. It is as folhnvs : — " Food Skins. — The slaughter for food of 5,000 small seals annually on St. Paul Island, and 2,000 on St. George Island, will bo amply sulhciont to keep tho natives of the seal islands in good condition physically. Tho protit to the United St:itos' Government from the sale of those food skins would bt; not less than 70,000 dollars a-yoar, which is 20,000 dollars more than it would cost to provide them Avith fuel, clothing, and other necessaries. "To kill more than thoso 7,000 young male seals would bo simply a wanton and uncalled-for destruction of life, and would imperil tlie restoration of the rookeries to their former eonditicm." The Memorandum (quoted above sliows that it is uccessary for tho health of tho natives to supply them Avith seals for food. No. 9. Sir J, Pauncefole to the Marquis of Salisbury, — [Received May 14.) My Lord, Was-hitirjton, May 4, 1891. OWING to the communications which have passed between Mr. Blaine and the North American Commercial Company (the present lessees of the seal islands in Behring's Sea) respecting the proposed cessation of the killing of seals both at sea and on land during the approaching fishery season, the rumour has found its way in the press that such a proposal has either been made by Her Majesty's Government, or that they are willing to assent to it, and that Mr. Blaine is prevented from carrying it out by the vehement opposition of the Company. IPIilPiiPipiVilippiinpUii II u iy|L||ppiiipRpipnM«9M^«m<-^mH^iP< "*i"w^"www^w" Tt may 1)C convenient tlmt I should place on record what took place between Mr. Blaine and myself on the subject of his second or alternative proposal for a modus Vivendi, which I communicated to your Lordship privately on the 7th April last. Mr. Blaine made his first proposal on the 10th March. He then stated that, as there now seemed to be a prospect of agreeing to the terms of an arbitration, it was desirable to arrange for a ntodus livtndi pending its result, and ho threw out a suggestion of a radius of 25 miles within whicli sealing-vessels should be prohibited IVom approaching the seal islands. 1 acquainted your Loraship with that proposal in vn v telegram of the 16th March. About a fortnight afterwards, at an interview which Mr. Blninc was good enough to give me at his house when he was confined by indisposition, he reverted to the subject of the modus vivcndi, and he asked me to ascertain whether your Lordship would prefer as an alternative proposal that the killing of seals should bo stopped both at sen and on land pending the result of the arbitration. I should here observe tliat for some time past I had been pressing Mr. Blaino most urgently, but in vain, for a reply to your Lordship's despatch of the 2l8t February, iu which certain modifications were proposed in the questions which he had formulated in his note of the 17th December, 1800, for the purposes of the arbitration. The delay in returning, a reply to your Lordship's despatch appeared to me disquieting, and he spoke somewhat despondingly in the presence of Sir Charles Tupper of the prospect of an adjustment of the questions for arbitration. I therefore informed Mr. Blaine that I hcsilatcd to transmit to your Lordship any further proposals respecting a modus vivendi until there was reason to believe that the arbitration proposals contained in your Lordsliip's despatch above referred to would be accepted ; and I suggested that the most satisfactory course would be for him to make his proposals for a modus vivendi concurrently with his reply to that despatch. Mr. 'Maine assented to my suggestion, and said that he would " proceed in that order." But neither in his reply to your Lordsliip's despatch, which was delivered on the Idth April, nor in the substituted. note delivered the 27th April, is there anything to be found in relation to a modus vivendi. In the meanwhile, 1 had informed your Lordship privately, by the mail of the 7th April, of Mr. Blaine's alternative proposal for the cessation of seal-killing both at sea and on land, and on receipt of your Lordship's telegram of the 17th April, I addressed a note to liim, of which I had the honour to inclose a copy in my despatch of the 27th April. In that despatch I reported the difficulties which were afterwards raised by the President and by Mr. Blaine, and which appeared to mo to render hopeless the timely application of the proposed modus vivendi. Since then, as before stated, the subject has been discussed in the public press. The opposition journals criticize severely the non-publication of Professor Elliott's Report on the condition of the seal islands during the season of 1890, and also the dismissal of Mr. Goff, the Treasury Agent in charge of the islands, who had last summer exercised his official authority to stop the killing of seals by the Company, owing to the indiscriminate slaughter practised there, and to the alarming diminution of seal life. Mr. Blaine is violently attacked by those journals for hesitating to put in force at once the proposed modus vivendi in the face of the Reports of the United States' Govern- ment Agents, and in view of the readiness of Ilcr Majesty's Government to accept the proposal. I have &c. (Signed) ' JULIAN PAUNCEFOTE. No. ]0. Sir J. Pnuncefote to the Marquis of Salisbury. — {Received May 14.) My Lord, Washington, May 6, 1^Q\. [ HAVE the honour to inclose a copy of a note which I received last night from Mr. Blaine containing detailed proposals for a modus vivendi during the approaching fishery season in Behriug's Sea, based on the principle of a cessation of seal killing both at sea and on land. The note contains a lengthy defence of the reservation desired by the President of the right to kill 7,500 seals for the support of the native residents of ft the Pribyloff Islands, a reservation which seems to me seiiously to detract from the equality and simplicity of the original proposal. As regards Mr. Blaine's narrative of what passed between us in relation to tho proposed modua vivendi, your Lordship will perceive from my despatch of yesterday's date that he appears to have forgotten that the reason why I did not telegraph to your Lordship his alternative proposal for a modua vivendi was that it had been arranged between us, at my suggestion, that ho should make tho proposal concurrently with his reply to your Lordship's despatch of tho 2l8t February, for which I had so urgently pressed him. I cannot call to my mind that the President's name was ever mentioned in the course of our two interviews, which Mr. Blaine correctly describes as " a conversational exchange of views." If the President was so anxious that the alternative proposal should bo telegraphed at once to your Lordship, it is to be regretted that Mr. Blaine did not apprize me of the President's wishes, as I should have certainly complied with them. Mr. Blaine's replv to your Lordship's despatch of the 21st February was not delivered until the 14th April, and then it was not accompanied by the proposal for a modtis vivendi. But fortunately I had informed your Lordship of the proposal by letter a few days after it was made, and I received a prompt reply by telegram which I com. municatcd to Mr. Blaine on the 20th A^ril. Mr. Blaine, therefore, cannot justly complain of any delay on my part, or on the part of Her Majesty's Government, in relation to this matter. I have, &c. (Signed) JULIAN PAUNOEFOTE. " Inclosure in No. 10. Mr. Blaine to Sir J. Pauncefote. Sir, WaaMngton, May 4, 1891. DURING the month of March last, a few days after the adjournment of Congress, acting under the instructions of the President, I proposed to you that a modua vivendi be agreed upon touching the seal fisheries pending the result of arbitration of the questiop at issue between the two Governments. The President's first proposal which I submitted to you was that no Canadian scaler should be allowed to come within a certain number of miles of the Pribyloff Islands. It was, however, the conclusion of the President, after reading Lord Salisbury's despatch of the 2l8t February, tliat this modus vivendi might possibly provoke conflict in the Behring's Sea, and to avoid that result, he instructed me to propose that sealing, both on land and sea, should be suspended by both nations during the progiv ss of arbi- tration, or during the season of 1891. On both occasions it was a conversational exchange of views, the first at my office at the State Department, the second at my residence. The President was so desirous of a prompt response from Lord Salisbury to his second proposition, that I ventured to suggest that you request an answer by cable if practicable. Especially was tho President anxious to receive an answer, which he trusted would be favourable, before he should set out on his tour to the Pacific States. He left Washington on the night of the 13th April without having heard a word from your Government. It was then a full month after he had instructed me to open negotiations on the question, and the only probable inference was that Lord Salisbury would not agree *o his proposal. The silence of Lord Salisbury implied, as seemed not improbable, that he would not restrain the Canadian sealers from entering Behring's Sea, and as all intelligence from British Columbia showed that the sealers were getting ready to sail in large numbers, the President found that he could not with justice prevent the lessees from taking seals on the Pribylofi" Islands. The President therefore instructed the Secretary of the Treasury, who has official charge of the subject, to issue to the lessees the privilege of killing on the Pribyloflf Islands the coming season the maximum number of 60,000 seals, subject, however, to the absolute discretion and power of an agent appointed by the Secretary of the Treasury to limit the killing to as small a number as the condition of the herd might, in his opinion, demand, ..--.>•. ^ ■, ""^--^T^-'^l ' ?>74S'^.'-'**'?iii liilipiplippipliiipiilpiii^p''^^ On tlic 22n(l April, eight ilnys ntlcr tlie Prcsitlcnt Imd left Wnsliinglon, you notified me wlicn I wns nbscnt from the cin)iliil thftt Lord Siilishtir)' was rcndy to agree tliat all Bcaling should he suspended peudinfj; the result of arbitration. On the 23rd April I telegrai)hed Lord Salisbury's proposition to the President. lie replied on the 25tli April, expressing groat satisfaction at Lord Salisbury's message, but instructing nic to inform you that "some seals must bo killed by tho natives for food ;" that " the lessees are bound under their lease from tlio Government to feed nnd care for the natives, making it necessary to send a sliip to tho Pribylof! Islands at their expense ;" and that for this service— a very expensive one — tho " lessees should find their compensation in taking a moderate number of seals under tho lease." The President expressed his belief that this allowance would be readily agreed to by Lord Salisbury, because the necessity is absolute. You will remember that when I communicated this proposition from the President to you on the evening of Monday, the 27th April, you did not agree to tho President's suggestion. On the contrary, you expressed yourself as confident that Lord Salisbury would not accept it; that, in your judgment, the killing of seals must bo cut off absolutely on the land and in the water ; and that it could not be stopped on cither unless stopped on both. The narrative of facts which I have now given, absolutely necessary for clearly understtiiiM V'X the position of this (Jovernmcnt, brings me to a further statement which I am direc ti by the President to submit. The President refuses to believe that Lord Salisbury could possibly maintain the ])osition you have taken when his Lordship is placofi hi full possession of the facts, which I shall now submit to you somewhat in detf' When (he privilege of killing seals on the Islands of St. George and St. Paul in Bchring's Si t was leased to tho North American Company for a certain sum per skin to bo paid '^ tin; Go\crnment, other duties of an onerous, costly, and responsible character were imj)(>sed upon the Company. Under tboir lensc, the Company is obliged " to furnish to the inhab'tants of the Islands of St. George and St. Paul annually such quantity or number of dried snlmon, and such quantity of salt nnd such number of salt barrels for preseiving their necessary supply of meat, as the Secretary of the Treasury shall from time to time determine." The Company is further obliged to " furnish to the inhabitants of these islands 80 tons of coal annually, and a sufficient number of comfortable dwellings in whicli said natives may reside, imd shall keep such dwellings in proper repair." The Company is further obliged " to provide and keep in repair such suitable scliool houses as may be necessary, and shall establish and maintain during eight months of each ycor proper schools for the education of the children on said islands, the same to be taught by competent teachers, who shall be paid by the Company a fair compensation, all to tlie satisfaction of the Secretary of the Treasury." The Company is further obliged to "maintain a suitable house for religious worship, and will also provide a competent physician, or physicians, and necessary and proper medicines and medical su])plies." The Company is still further obliged " to provide the necessaries of life for tho widows and orphans, aged and infirm inhabitants of said islands, who are unable lo provide for themselves." And it is finally provided that "all the foregoing agreements shall be done and performed by the Company free of all costs and charges to the said native inhabitants of said islands, or to the United States." And it is made still further the duty of the Company "to employ the native inhabi- tants of said islands to perform such labour upon the islands as they arc fitted to perform, and to pay therefor a fair and just compensation, such as may be fixed by the Secretary of the Treasury." And also the Company "agrees to contribute as far as in its power all reasonable efforts to secure the comfort, health, education, and promote the morals and civilization of said native inhabitants." In short, then, the means of living, the facilities for education, the care of health, the religious teaching, the training of tho young, and the comfort of the old, in a community of over 300 persons, are all imposed upon the Company as its solemn duty by specific Articles of the lease. I inclose you a copy of Census of 1890, giving every name of the 303 persons, old and young, male and female, who constitute the whole community of the Pribyloff Islands.* * For Inclosuro, see Incloturc in Sir J. Pnunccfote's dcspalcli, dated Fcbniary 20, l88l : Apprudit, No. 1, [295] C gss'^^s;?^^?^^^ Miii •h'M. iwinmm^mffm^mm^'iifiifiiiii PP^|ll|W,U'l!#''.i!»fl!:i^|!P>!9iiflW ■ ■ The duties thus imposed upon the Conipauy nuwt bo discharged annually with punctuality and exactness. The comfort, possihly the safety, of all these huninn beinfjs, peculiarly helpless when left to themselves, is ucpcndent upin the Company under the lease> and tlie lessees arc paid therefor by the CJovcrnment in the seal-skins whicli the : "Cpnipnny receive for the service. If the Company shall, as you say Lord Salisbury > requests, be deprived of all privilege of taking seals, thoy certainly could not ))o compelled to minister to the wants of these 300 inhabitants for an entire year. If these islanders are to be left to charity, the !North American C'om|)any is under no greater obligation to extend it to them than are other citizens of the United States. It ■ pvidently requires a considerable sum of money to furnish all the supplies named in the ■ leofie— supplies which must be carried 4,000 miles on a specially cliariered steamer. If the lessees are not to bo allowed i)ayment in any form for the amount necessary to support these SOU people on the islands, they will naturally decline to expend it. No appropriation of money has been made by Congress for the purpose, and tiio • President cnr,not leave these worthy and innocent people to the hazard of starvation pven to secure any form of Agreement with Lord Salisbury toncliing seal life. Seal life may bo valuable, but the first duty of the Government of the United States in this matter is to protect human life. • " Jn this exigency, the President instructs me to propose to Lord Salisbury that iie couccde to the North American Company the right to take a sudicienl number of seals, and no more than sufficient, to recomiiense them for their outlay in taking' care of the natives, and that, in the jjhrase of the President, all " commercial killing of seals be prohibited pending the result of arbitration." The Secretary of the Treasury has a right to fix the nundj(!r necessary to the end desired. After full consideration, he has limited the number to 7, COO to be killed l)y the Company to repay them for the outlay demanded for the support of the 300 people on the PribylofT Islands. He further directs that no females be killed, and that thus the productive capacity of the herd shall not in the slightest degree be impaired. This point being fixed and agreed to, the proposed Arrangement between the two countries would be as follows : — The Government of the United States limits the nunibcr of seals to be killed on the islands for purposes just described to 7,600. The Government of the United States guarantees that no seals shall be killed in the open waters of Behring's Sea by any person on any vessel sailing under the American (lag, or by any American citizen sailing under any oilier (la^. The Government of Great Britain guarantees that no seals sliall be killed in the open waters of Behring's Sou by any person on any vessel sailing under the IJritish Hag, and that no British subject siiall engage in killing seals for the time agreed upon on any vessel sailing under any other flag. These prohibitions shall continue until the 1st day of May, 1892, within which time the Arbitrators shall render linal award or awards to hoth Govevnnients. These several propositions arc submiltcd i'or the con.sidoration of Lord Salisbury. The President believes that they are calculated to produce a result at once fair and lionourable to both Governments, and thus lead to the p'.'r.nanent adjustment of ii controversy which has already been left too long at issue. I have, &c. (Sii>ne(!) J. G. liLAIXE. No. 11. Sir J. Pinincefote !o ihe Marquis of Salisburi/,— {Received May 1-1.) My Lord, _ WuKhimjlon, Mai/ 5, 1891. AVrril reference to my immediately preceding dc'iiatch, I have the honour to inclose herewith copy of a note which I have this day n';",> ■'■••No; I9i ^^-^'--^ii -'^£G ifi ;j-s a; v5/iev -j-I/^i;:; .' 'TOG '(r '.'!j nitiismmov .; '• s, r^' No. 18. '.i;;» .[fi^trioi! -suoi 'il The Marquis of Salisbury to Sir J. Pauncefote, (Telegraphic.) ^'.^.-mu!.^ Foreign Office, May 2S, 1B91. 1 HAVii to inform you that to-night notice will be given of a Bill giving power to Her Majesty to prohibit for a limited time the hunting of seals in Behring's Sea. It is hoped that the House of Commons will sanction this Bill within a few days, but until this has been done it is impossible for Her Majesty's Government to agree formally with that of the United States as to a modus vivendi, or to send cruizers with instructions to prevent the sealiug-vessels from entering Behring's Sea. dv iihiiimO (.U.H. d ,1*5 VwlA i)4y5'9M!ri)'~.\^MO«( (•'81 ,£S iffiM. ,Kol\vnii\ft»'TI ■Hi ..; Bsvlovni Ifieoqoiq R'.ojrimli. /ttd ■^satt a'd^Uio ■jUiw^- jIU ,ii:,i£j.\ '■jfiiDUl .-tlf. o,i xlq-n op iudi frioonoy qoofj ■fiid'sM ■/•.f'iF> K'vfih tl'jit'^ 7?[ .tiCHnmsvoO «''<,*-"[" M 'if"" oh-)itY!ii!ni aiU i,] ■ojn-iiO -aJiiOiaini '«»|i;ra LoJhv.: . ■ )JiiiU 9il;t ,>f'ji(>l« bun iiugijj;! sliiif kibivoKfinj jjaiytf ■ „(t •!,, .|.,w. w .„n .;,, ... „;.,.., ,,:,,:, „i,.^y^ ^ ^^^^1 ^^ .1 .■^fi iiw «r! .IjiBOtio-Ki ^'-MihML .lU. \o ni'.ol orf* iM .,,,.,--.. ^nmo« ,.n.,)(ijyillil, onn- oi nmn-m^ bml ,obam ^vUf rimf^- -') ovioooi .),) ov/i '(o x«h JJ xi.i Loqoif I huU miif Moi ' r.' ■ uy{ 0) ii()ij;;yii(jfnmKvj W/l lo oownigdjj:. oflj ffq-;;o :,;>,": ', mM.'^^-^^' ^ 'mw>mm^mmm ( 12 ) Appendix. No.l. Sir J. Pauncefote to the Marquis of Salisbury. — (Received March 2.) My Lord, yVashington, February 20, 1891. ■ I HAVE the honour to inclose copies of Reports of Special Treasury j\geiit 0. J. GofF, and Assistant Treasury Agents A. W. Lavender, S. ]{. Nettlcton, and J. Murray, with accompanying documents, concerning the condition of aifairs in the Seal Islands of Alaska and the fur-seal fisheries for 1890. These Eeports have heen transmitted to the Senate by the Treasury Department in response to a Resolution of that body, but your Lordship will perceive that they do not include the Report of Professor Elliott, to which reference has frequently been made, and which, up to the present time, has been withheld from publication. ] am, &c. (Signed) JULIAN PAUNCEFOTE. Inclosurc in Xo. 1 . 5\st Congress, 2nd Session. — Ex. Doc. No, 49. Senate, Letter from the Acting Secretary of the Treasury, transmitt' ij, in response to a ^Resolution of the Senate, Reports concerning the Condition of t... >«/ Islands of Alaska. February 10, 1891.- -Ecferred to the Committee on Commerce and ordered to he printed. Treasury Department, Office of the Secretary, Sir, Washington, D.C., February 9, 1891. IN pursuance of the Resolutions of the Senate of the United States dated the 10th and 12th ultimo respectively, I have the honour to tranwmit herewith copies of the following Reports of Special Treasury Agent Charles J. GofF, and Assistant Treasury Agents A. W. Lavender, S. R. Nettleton, and Joseph Murray, wi . heir accompanying documents, concerning the condition of affairs in the Seal Islands of Alaska, and relating to the fur-seal fisheries for the year 1890, &c., viz. :— 1. Letter of Charles .7. GofT, dated July 31, 1890, submitting Annual Report, with the following inclosures : — (A.) Annual Report, 1890, dated July 31. 1890. (B.) Report of Joseph Murray, dated July 31, 1890. (C.) Report of A. W. Lavender, Assistant Treasury Agent, dated July 20, 1890. (D.) Statement of seals killed for year ended July 20, 1890, on St, Paul Island. (E.) Statement of seals killed for year ended July 20, 1890, on St. George Island. (F.) Statement of seals killed for food on St. Paul Island during the year ended May 21, 1890. (G.) Statement of seals killed in 1889 on St. Paul Island^ by the Alaska Commercial Company, and by the North American Commercial Company in 1890 ; also daily Weather Report. (H.) Statement of skins accepted on Seal Islands from 1870 to 1890. (I.) Statement of liabilities of North American Commercial Company to natives of St. Paul Island to August 1, 1890. iilLipipffI lliiPiii ..111 lyipn^piPiip 13 (J.) Account current of North American Commercial Company with United States on Island of St. Paul, 1890. ' , . (K.) Account current of North American Commercial Company with United States on Island of St. George, 1890. (L.) Census of St. Paul Island, Alaska, July 31, 1890. (M.) Census of St. George Island, July 31, 1890. ■ (N.) Statement of accounts transferred to the North American Commercia Company by the Alaska Commercial Company for natives of St.- George, May 34, 1890 List of accounts due natives of St, George Idand by North American Commercial Company. (0.) Receipts of Agents Lavender and Murray, August 9 and 11, 1890, for seals shipped from islands. (P.) Protest of George R. Tingle, Superintendent of North American Commercial Company, against closing season, July 20, 1890, and reply of Charles J. Gott', Treasury Agent. . (Q.) Statement of skins taken on St. Paul Island from 1870 to 1890 by Alaska Commercial Company ; also seals killed for food for natives, &c. 2. Report of S. R. Nettleton, Assistant Treasury Agent, July 31, 1890, of affairs on St. Paul Island, 1890. 3. Report of A. W. Lavender, Assistant Treasury Agent, of August 25, 1890, of affairs on St. George Island, 1890. 4. Report of A. W. Lavender, Assistant Treasury Agent, October 24, 1890, 5. Report of A. W. Lavender, Assistant Treasury Agent, October 30, 1890. 6. Report of A. W. Lavender, Assistant Treasury Agent, March 19, 1890, as to schooners seized by the Government from 1886 to 1889, their condition, &c. Respectfully yours, (Signed) A. B. NETTLETON, Acting Secretary. The President of the Senate, Washington, D.C. 1. Letter of Charles J. Gof, submitting Annual Report. Sir, _ St. Paul Island, Alaska, July 31, 1890. I herewith respectfully submit my Annual Report of the condition of the seal fisheries tor the year 1890. Also such tabulated statements and communications as should be in the hands of the Department, as follows : — (A.) My annual written Report. (D.) ]\Ir. Joseph Murray, First Assistant Treasury Agent's Report, St. George Island. (C.) Mr. A. W. Lavender, Assistant Treasury Agent's Report, St. George Island. (D.) Statement of St. Paul Island daily killing. ^E.) Statement of St. George Island daily killing. (F.) Statement of fur-seals killed for food upon St. Paul and St. George Islands, and disposition of the skins. (G.) Table comparing daily killing of 1889 with that of 1890, also giving daily Weather Report for each year. (H.) Table showing the beginning of each sealing season on the islands from 1870 to 1890 inclusive, and number of fur-seals accepted by the lessees up to July 20 of each year. (I.) Showing the distribution of natives' earnings for season of 1889 and 1890; also amount transferred by the Alaska Commercial Company to the North American Commercial Company, and the amount to the credit of the natives in the hands of the North American Commercial Company, August 1, 1890, and my instructions to the representatives of the Alaska and North American Commercial Company. (J.) Account current St. Paul Island. (K.) Account current St. George Island. (L.) Census St. Paul Island. (M.) Census St. George Island. (N.^ Distribution of natives' earnings St. George Island. (O.; Steamer " Arago," Captain H. C. Thomas, receipts seals, 1890. ipts for season's catch of fur- (P.) Mr. George R. Tingle's communication protesting against the order stopping the killing of seals, July 20, and my reply. pp^^jpwppr "' ' !-"' i'"j!iipipwi|g..- II j|jpiiip«!iiipi u (Q.) Table showing the number of seals killed by the Alaska Commercial Company yearly, tor the twenty years of their lease. The distribution of the natives* earnings for same period, &c., for the Islands of St. Paul and St. George. Respectfully yours, (Signed) CHARLES J. GOFF, Treasury Agent in charge of the Seal Fiaheries. Hon. William Windom, Secretary of the Treasury, Washington, D.O. {A.)^ Annual Report, 1800. Sir, St. Paul Island, Alaska, July 31, 1800. Pursuant to instructions, I sailed from San Francisco on the 6th May on the North American Commercial Company's steamer "Arngo," accompanied by Mr, A. W. Lavender, Assistant Treasury Agent, who, after his arrival, was stationed upon St. George Island to assist Mr. Joseph Murray in the discharge of his duties during the killing season, and who will have charge of the island during the coming winter. We arrived at Ounalaska on the 18th May, and on the 20th Mr. George R. Tingle, Mr. Rudolph Newman, and myself sailed on the Alaska Commercial Company's steamer "Dora" for the Seal Islands, to take an inventory of the property on St. George and St. Paul, belonging to the Alaska Commercial Company, according to an Agreement signed by and between the Alaska Commercial Company and the North American Commercial Company on the 12th March, 1800. The Alaska Commercial Company was represented by Mr. Newman, and the North American Commercial Company by Mr. Tingle, and I acted as Umpire, as per your instructions, bearing date the 16th April, 1890. We arrived at St. Paul Island on the 21st May, and immediately commenced to take stock. After several days' labour the business was well in hand, and we proceeded to St. George Island per steamer " Dora," and made a complete inspection and inventory of all the property there belonging to the Alaska Commercial Company. After our return to St. Paul there was one difference referred to me, and satisfactorily adjusted, then the entire business was settled by the representatives of their respective Companies. The following property was transferred to the North American Commercial Company : sixty-three native houses on St. Paul and nineteen upon St. George, and upon both islands all buildings and other property belonging to the Alaska Commercial Company. Upon St. Paul Island the sum of 9,213 dol. 68 c. belonging to the natives and deposited with the Alaska Commercial Company was passed to the ITorth American Commercial Company with the consent of the natives, and credited to their " pass book " accounts. Also several special individual deposits amounting to 12,117 dol. 2 c, drawing interest at 4 per cent, per annum, leaving in the hands of the Alaska Commercial Company 8,404 dol. 99 c. to the credit of Mrs. Alexander Milevedoff, who did not wish to make a change. On St. George 6,391 dol. 17 c. was transferred to the North American Commercial Company, but from this amoupt the sum of 1,700 dollars, belonging to the priest, must be deducted, leaving a balance of 3,691 dol. 87 c. to the credit of the natives. The transfer was made and dated the 24th May, 1890. The past winter was unusually mild, the sanitary condition of the village was good, the people were blessed with good health, and they passed the time pleasantly. They were under the combined charge of Mr. S. R. Nettleton, Assistant Treasury Agent ; Dr. C. A. Lutz, resident physician, and Mr. J. C. Redpath, resident agent for the Alaska Commercial Company. With the spring came that dreaded disease to tliis people, pneumonia, which caused the dea*.h of three sealers ; other ailments prevalent among them carried off seven others, women and children, making a total of ten deaths since the 1st January, 1890, the date of the census, leaving at present a total population of 208. The population of St. Paul island in 1872, as far back as the official records go, was 218. Arrivals sinoe then, seventy-six. Had it not been for this influx of immigration the native population would have been about extinct. The established rule of thoroughly cleaning the village in the spring and fall presents a marked contrast to the condition of the place a few years ago. All mong the green sward, in front of the dwellings, which was then a depository for filth and offal, the children romp and play. Gradually, too, the people are becoming more reconciled to cleaner methods in their dwellings, and many of them take great pride in their ]}ersonal appearance and cleanliness. The school on this island was 15 I ago. for ling Icreat was taught by. Simeon Milevedpff, a native, who was educated in San Francisco. It waa openpd oi» the 1st September, l^Sp^jan4closc^l,.lst.May, 18^0— total number of sAool days, 172 -'number taught, li.Ow' V" », ., 'lot"^;/ ^"^ . . , V Mr. Milevedoff was energtstic. arid untiring "in his efforts to advance the pupils, but there is very little interest taken by them in. English-speaking schools, so that there was but little progress made, ;, ^ ,.,'.' The North American Conimcrcial Coiiipaily have commenced repairing the native dwelling-houses, and so far have complied with all the requirements of their leaoe. The United Stales' cutter the " Bear," Captain M. A. Hcaley, anchored off this island on the 20th June and left on the same day. Captain Healey reported '* No pirates in Behring's Sea." The "Bear " delivered to this island the boat and fixtures complete asked for by me from the Department. The Rev. Sheldon Jackson wa« passenger on board the " Bear," and came ashore and inspected the village and school-house ; he received a copy of the School Report, and was well pleased with the condition in which lie found things. On the 31st July, in company with Mr. Tingle and Professor Elliott, I visited Otter Island, and found, to my surprise, that there were no seals hauled out, as was usual in the past. The United States' cutter " Richard Rush," Captain W. 0. Coulson, arrived here on the 17th July, and reported " no pirates in Behring's Sea." Professor H. W. Elliott, your recent appointee as Treasury Agent, has spent the season here, dividing his time between the two islands, and giving his entire attention to the state of the rookeries and the methods used at present in driving and killing the seals, and his Report will, no doubt, be of the utmost importance, and of great value to the Department. Mr. William Palmer, a representative of the Smithsonian Institution, has, by your permission, spent the season on St. Paul collecting specimens of various birds and animals, »nd his incessant labours have been abundantly rewarded. The merchantable seal-skins in tliL' salt houses on St. Paul and St. George Islands, taken from the seals killed for food for the natives during the winter of 1889-90, will be shipped as per instructions bearing date the 5th May, per United States' cutter " Richard Rush," Captain W. C. Coulson commanding, which will leave here early in September, consigned to the Collector of Customs at San Francisco. The matter will be reported directly to you by Mr. Joseph Murray, who has charge of St. Paul Island for the coming winter. The accompanying communications from the representatives of the Alaska Commercial Company and the North American Commercial Company will fully explain my actions in the matter. The total number of fur-seals lolled and accepted upon this island by the lessees was 10,830, and the total amount earned by the natives and distributed to them was 6,783 dol. 30 c. Your instructions to me upon the subject of dividing the earnings of the natives, and looking a.'ter their welfare financially, I endeavoured to follow, but was prevented from doing so by Mr. George R. Tingle, general for the lessees. His reasons for so doing are inclosed. I regret that I am compelled to report that the seals are rapidly diminishing in numbers, and to such an alarming extent that to check the decrease will require, in my opinion, the most careful consideration of the Department. To have a correct understanding of how the annual catch is taken, it will be necessary to bear in mind the following facts : (1) By the Acts "f Congress governing the seal fisheries the season opens on the Ist June and closes on the dxst July, unless otherwise restricted by the Secretary of the Treasury. (2) The bull seals arrive at the island between the 1st May and the 10th June, and the cows between the 10th June and the 10th July. (3) The large young seals, whose skins are merchantable, commence coming about the middle of May, gradually increasing in numbers as the cows appear, and with the large young seals come a small portion of the pups born the summer before ; but the greatest majority of the yearlings put in their appearance in the month of July. Now, in opening the season it is customary to secure all the two-year-olds and upwards possible before the yearlings begin to fill up the hauling-grounds and mix with the killable seals. By so doing it is much easier to do the work, and the yearlings are not tortured by being driven and redriven to the killing-grounds. Heretofore it was seldom that more than 15 per cent, of all the seals driven the latter part of June and the first few days in July were too small to be killed, but this season the case was reversed, and in many instances 80 to 85 per cent, were turned away. The accompanying percentage examples will show the disposition of this year's drive. The first lulling of fur-seals by the lessees was on the 6th June, and the scarcity of killable seals was apparent to all. The season closed on the 20th July, and the drives in July show a decided increase in [293] 7) ^W: m mmnmm 16 the percentages of small seals turned away, and a decrease in the killables over the drives of June, demonstrating conclusively that there were but few killable seals arriving', and that the larger part of those returning to the Islands were the pups of last year. The average daily killing for the season was 400, or a daily average of 522 including only the days worked. In 1869 the average daily killing from the 1st June to the 20th July inclusive was 1,51G, or a daily average of 1,974 including only the days worked. With this undeniable decrease in merchantable seals, and knowing the impoverished condition of the rookeries and hauling-grounds, and believing it to be inimical to the best interests of the Government to extend the time for killing beyond the 20th July, T adhered to the letter and spirit of your instructions to me, and closed the killing season on the 20th July, against the bitter protestations of Mr. George R. Tingle, General Manager for the lessees ; his communication to me upon the subject and my reply are inclosed. Had there been a reasonable probability of the lessees securing their quota of 60,000 seals, 1 should have deemed it my duty to extend the time for killing to the 81st July. The killing of the 6th June, the first of the season, was from the Reef Rookery, with drive of about 700 seals : the total killed, 116, 83^ per cent, being turned away as too small. On the 11th June, the drive was from the Reef Rookery, about 1,000: total killed, 674, ,42A per cent, turned away. On the 24th June the drive was from the Reef Rookery and Zoltoi hauling-grounds combined, and about 1,417 were driven : total killed, 206i 8d^ per cent, turned away. This exhausted Zoltoi hauling-grounds for a period of twenty-one days, and it was not available until the 19th July, when again, in connection with the Reef Rookery, the last drive was made, nnd about 3,956 seals were driven, 666 were killed, and 86 per cent, turned away. The seals turned away from the several drives invariably returned to the hauling-grounds and rookery from which they were driven only to be redriven to the killing-field and culled of the few killables that chanced to join them upon their return to the sca from each drive. By referring to the Tabic marked (D), showing the daUy killing for this year, and also comparing the same with that of last year, you will see that from all of the drives the same percentages were turned away as from those I have cited. j We opened the season by a drive from the Reef Rookery, and turned away 83^ per cent., when we should have turned away about 16 ppr cent, of the seals driven, and we closed the season by turning away 8G per cent., a fact which proves to every impartial nind 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 the Government. On Sunday, 20th July, all the rookeries presenting any male seals were driven from English Bay, Middle Hill, Tolstoi, Lukaunon, Keetavia, and Rocky Point, and about 4,020 seals were brought to the killing field j 780 were killed, and 83 per cent, were turned away. On the same day at North-east Point they killed 466, which, added to those taken at the other rookeries, makes a grand total of 1,246. This, and the killing on the 19th July, are the only instances recorded during the season when the daily killing reached 1,000. Comparing the killings with those of the same dates last year, we find that on the 19th July, 1889, from South-west Bay hauHng-grounds alone, 1,987 were killed, and on the 20th July, 1889, from the Reef Rookery and Zoltoi hauling-grounds 1,913 wei;e killed, and never were there such percentages turned away during the entire season nor in any previous season, to my knowledge, as in that of 1890. It is true, ^owever, that the Alaska Commercial Company could and did take smaller seals last season thnn the present lessees can take, because of the dittcrences in the tax paid by them, yet there have been no two-year-olds of an average size turned away this season, they were all immediately clubbed to swell the season's catch, which is far below the number allowed for this year, a condition of afliiirs that will convey to the Department in language far more convincing than mine the fact that the seals are not here. The North American Commercial Company's agent, Mr. George R. Tingle, used every effort to have the drives made so as to have no unnecessary loss of seal life, and he would have made the season a most successful one for the Company if the seals had returned to the rookeries as in the past. It is evident that the many preying evils upon seal life — the killing of the seals in the Pacific Ocean along the Aleutian Islands, and as they come through the passes to the Behring's Sea, by the pirates in these waters, and the indiscriminate slaughter upon the islands, regardless of the future life of the Ipreeding rookeries, have at last with their combined destructive power reduced these rookeries to their present impoverished I Jl II iJlWiHUMM 17 the hose it Bay Rcof such )n, to lercinl take, ds oi: the aR'airs fact used md he seals ;als in passes ighter it with rished condition, and to such an unccjual diHtribution of ages and sexes, that i^ is but a question of a few years, unless immediately attended to, before tiie seal family of the Pribylov group of islaads will be a thing of the past. Notwitiistanding the fact that the seals were looked upon as inexhaustible, and were officially reported to be increasing as late as 18S8, the time has suddenly come when experiment and imagination must cease, and the truth be told. Absolute protection is^ the only safeguard for the rookeries, and the only step to be taken with safety. The seal meat necessary for the natives' food is all that should be killed under existing circumstances. Much can be written on this subject, many theories may be advanced, all of which we have had for the past twenty years, to the evident loss of seal life ; but the facts presented in the accompanying Tables demonstrate with mathematical certainty the fearful decrease of the seals ; and here I will say I heartily concur with my worthy predecessor, Mr. George R. Tingle, who, in his official Beport of 1887, used the following language : — "The Department cannot place too high an estimate on the Value of this seal property, and the Government, I am sure, will not yield to any demands which would make it possible to accomplish the destruction of her seal rookerios arid seal life, which under judicious management and protection by law may be peq)etuate(^ indefinitely." There is but one authority upon seal life, especially the seals of the Pribylov Islands, and this is the work of Professor Henry W. Elliott, who surveyed these rookeries in 1872 and ]874j and his work was verified by Lieutenant Maynard, and I am satisfied was as near correct when made as was possible for man to chron'cle, but to-day there is a marked contrast in the condition of now and then. On p. 54 of the Professor's monograph you will find he places the number of seals upon North-east Point Rookery at 1,200,000. Standing on a prominent elevation known as " Hutchinson's Hill," in the month of July, and facing the north, I had before me a sea margin of over 2 miles ; turning and facing the south I had a sea margin of over 1 mile. I could view entire this once famous rookery, and it was simply impossible to realize there was ever such a moving mass of living animals as Professor Elliott describes ; his estimate seems incredible. Yet his writings have never been refuted. To-day there is not to be seen over 250,000 seals of all ages and sexes. To the extreme south-west of the island is the Reef Rookery, reported to have (by Professor Elliott) 301,000 seals in 1871. It has not over 100,000 seals to-day. " Garbotch," tbe adjoining rookery, where the Professor says he stood on Old John Rock and saw " 10,000 fighting bulls, 1 can stand and count every bull in sight. This rookery with the reef is an extending point running out into the sev sloping east and west with a large surface of tableland in the centre. This was once a parading or playing ground where the seals met as they came from the cast and west sides ; it was the resort of over 200,000 seals, now the resting-place for a few cows and pups and now and then a worn- out sleeping bull. The number now visiting these rookeries (the Reef and Garbotch) find ample room on the two slopes, without pushing back on the plateau above. Zoltoi Sands, once a favourite bauling-ground for the bachelor seals, from where thousands have been driven and killed for their skins, is entirely deserted, only, however, a short time in advance of all the Iiauling-grounds and rookeries, if immediate steps are not taken by the Department to nurse and protect these rookeries. Tukannan, a rookery on the east side of the island, between the Reef and Polavania, the most picturesque seal grounds of them all, where the seals were wont to haul upon the cliffs and in the interstices between the rugged rocks for over half-a-mile on the sea frontage, a most inviting home for this mysterious pelagic family, where, in connection with Keetavia Rookery, with the same sea range, there were 335,000 of these animals, presents at present to the most careful estimate not over 75,000 seals. Polavania Rookery, with 4,000 feet of sea margin, with a seal life of 300,000 in 1874 ; Tolstoi Rookery, with 3,000 feet cf sea margin, with 226,000 seals in 1874 ; and Zapodine, with 5,880 feet of sea margin, with 441,000 seals in 1874, all present a most deplorable condition, and do not show over one-eighth of the seals as reported by Professor Elliott. With these facts in view, I am convinced there will be a greater decrease in seal life next year than this, for it will not be in the power of human ingenuity to check the rapid advance towards extermination now going on in that length of time. In conclusion, I respectfully suggest that there be no killing of fur-seals for their skins on these islands, nor ii. (he waters of Bohring's Sea, for an indefinite number of years, to be named by the Secretary of the Treasiuy, and let Nature take her course in replenishing tbe rookeries, and that tbe Department take tlic entire matter of protectina; these rookerioij under its immediate supo Ision, [295] any D 2 syster T7»nsr*l mmmmmmm 18 of protection dangerous to tho fuLiiru of nil iutorcstod. The limitcil number of acalsi killed this season by the lessees \\\\\, undoubtedly, Icnvo the majority of the natives in absolute want, nnd their condition will appeal to the Department for aid. The amount distributed to tho natives upon the Islands ol St. Paul and St. George was G,783 dol. 30 c. and 1,644 dol. 80 c. respectively. This will not be sulficient to provide them with tho necessaries of life until the steamers return in the spriui^, especially so with the natives of the St. George Island. With this fact in view, I made Ihc following ariangemonts with the North American Commercial Company, through tht-ir manager, Mr. George R. Tingle. The North American Commercial Company's resident agent, together with the Treiisury Agent in charge, arc to adjudge what supplies are posilively needed for the support and maintenance of the natives; the Company receiving from the 'J'reasury Agent a certificate that such supplies have been furnished, but said certificate merely to be accepted as a voucher of correctness. The matter to be adjusted in the future with the Department by the North American Commercial Company. The Department will have to make some provision for the support and maintenance of these people, an their mode of making a living l:a.s been destroyed for the present, and their future is only what the charity of the Government will make it. There is utterly nothing here upon which they can depend for a livelihood, until the much-wished- for return of seals takes place, an event too far in the future to give even a promise of better times to these unfortunate people. fiespectfully yours, (Signed) CHAllLES J. GOFF, Treasury Agent in charge of the Seal Islands. Hon. William Windom, Secretary of the Treasury, Washington, D C. Qi,^ — Ecport of Joseph Murray. Ojjice of Special Agent, Treasury Department, Sir, St. George Maud, Alaska, July 3\,18Q0. T have the honour to report that the health of the natives here has been unusually good during the past year, and is at present fjtr belter than any other time in many years. There is not a case of sickness on the island, excepting those of long standing, due to scrofula and other chronic diseases. With one single exception all the workmen are well and hearty. We had a full term of school from September until May, and under the care of the teacher. Dr. L. A. Noyes, it was as well conducted as any public school of its size in the country; but, after all, I find the children made next to no progress in acquiring the simplest rudiments of our language. It seems incrtdiblc, but it is true, that young men and women who have been to school here for seven years do not know hew to speak or read a sentence of the English langnnge. Lookinj;- over their sh(mlders as they write in their copy-books, and observing the ease with which tlicy follow the heau-lines. one woidd think they were making rapid prog^ress, but ask any one of them to read what he or she has been writing, and they cannot do it. It was long suspected that the older people secretly influenced the children against American schools, and encouraged them to learn the Russian language in preference to any other ; but I find that they are just as ignorant of Kussian as they are of English, and as backward in learning it. There has been one day of each week devoted to I be Russian school* which, in my opinion, has a bad efloct upon the children in their attempt to mn.fter the English tongue, and I therefore respectfully snggcst that tl e practice of teaching Rusbian to the school children be abolished. After a year's resilience here, I am able to say that the people as a whole have conducted tliemsclves vciy well indeed; not a loud, vulgor, or angry word has been spoken in my hearing or to my knowledge by a native man or woman on the island of St. George. Not one case of drvmkenness or drinking, nor anything approaching to it, has come to my knowledge. A case of wrong-doing by two white men, employes of the Alaska Commercial Company, compelled me and my assistant, Mr. A. P. Lonu, to complain to Mr. Sloss, the resident of the Company, who imme- diately removed and discharged the offenders. 1 xecpling one instance, there has not been one word of complaint from any quarter. The men who wintered in the service of the Alaska Commercial Company are all good and worthy, especially the agent, Mr. Daniel Webster, and the physician. Dr. A. L. mi^^m&!f''fi'V'^9^mmm^mm^mmmmm 10 Noyos, I (akc pleasure in tlius testifying to their north, for I have found tlicni to be upright nnd honourable nt nil timcn, in nil their trnnpnctions with the natives, ni(h whom they nre deservedly very popular. I have endeavoured to promote a more perfect sanitary system in the village, and I find it is not so hard, as wns expected, to prevail on the people to adopt better methods, if one will be patient and treat tbcm kindly. It will be nn impossibility, however, to do much toward establishing a sanitary system of value until wo have better water n^J a more abundant supply than is possible under existing conditions. The present supply of water for domestic purposes is obtained fror.i a well into which the drainnge of hnlf the village finds its way, and the wonder to me is that the people arc not constantly sick while they have to use such drinking water. There is a nice fresh-water lake within 2,000 feet of the village, and fully 60 feet higher, from which n constant and never-failing supply of good water can bo taken if you can havo 2,000 feet of 2-incli pipe and the necessary hydrant and fixings sent here. A drain is llic next ci^sential to success, and one of 700 feet in length can be dug easily, and will suffice to carry all the dirt and ofFal of the village into the sea. It will bo necessary to have 700 feet of 12-inch drain-pipe. The total absence of water-closets on this island is a disgrace, and is beyond all question the cause of more immorality, disease, and death than all other things com- bined. That such a state of things has been allowed to exist for twenty years is a disgrace to our civilization, and I do hope you will insist on the present lessees or on the Depaitmcnt to have it altered at once. The subject is so abominable I dare not write it in a public Report. It is absolutely necessary, too, that at least six of the dwelling-houses be enlarged, as the families now occupying them have not room to live as human brings should. It may be true, as many assort, that under Russian rule the natives were not housed one- half so well as they arc now ; but such arguments are of no avail in a country like ours. When a family of seven persons, of all ages and sexes, are packed in a sleeping apartment measuring 10 by 10 feet they are not treated right, nor does our Government intend to have such things existing where it has jurisdiction. The dwelling-houses are badly in need of repairs, and the attention of the local agent, Mr. "Webster, has been called to their condition ; but as he is to leave the island this year, it may be necessary for you to mention it to the General Manager of the North American Commercial Company. Mr. A. VV. Lavender arrived on the 26th, and immediately entered upon his duties. On the 12th July the watchman reported a schooner in sight off Zapodine, and I armed the men and sent a squad to exposed rookeries, Mr. Lavender going to Zapcdine with four men, the second chief and four men to East Rookery, nnd I went with four men to Starri-Arteel. We all watched until next morning without seeing an enemy. To facilitate the guarding of tlic rookeries it is necessary to have some sort of shelter for the watch- men ; a small hut on each of the three rookeries would be sufficient, and they need not cost over 60 dollars each. On Sunday, 11th May, the schooner "Alton" (Captain AVorth), of S«n Francisco, touched at the island, and the captain came ashore and informed us of the new lease and new Company. On learning of the change the natives held several meetings, and after- wards came to the Government House to have my advice as to how they should act in case any material changes were made in their mode of working, government, or the amount of their pay. The meeting was adjourned from time to time until they had thoroughly discussed the most important questions raised, and at the last meeting, held 23rd May, they unanimously declared that it was their firm belief and honest opinion that the seals had diminished and would continue to diminish from year to year, because all the male seals had been plauchtercd without allowing any to grow to maturity for use on the breeding, ground. I made a note of the suggestion on the journal that day, and I am now fully con- vinced by personal observation that it is only too true, and that the natives were correct in every particular. In 1889 the full quota of 16,000 skins was obtained here, but I know now (what I did not understand then) that in order to fill the quota they lowered the standard towards the close of the season and killed hundreds of yearling seals, and took a greater number of small skins than ever before. The first seals of this season appeared upon the hauling-ground on the 2Cth April, pv |^||i|liP|PPUl|lllliJIIPipi%i-IL, llli HWiivmiPipn 90 and the first killing for food was on the 13th May. The killing season for skius opened on the 2nd June, and they killed scvcnty-onc. I inclose a full statement of all the killings of the season, from the 2nd June to the 20th Julyj inclusive, and you will observe that the greatest number killed at one killing — excepting those of the 19th and 20th July — was only 394, although the driving and killing were under the imnacdiate supervision of Mr. Webster, who is admitted to bo the most experienced and most careful sealer on the islands. Until the 19th July, an attempt was made to keep to a standard of not less than 7-lb. skins, but when it was apparent beyond question that there were no large young seals on the hauling-grouna, the standard was lowered and skins of 0-lbs. wore taken wherever found. It was thus the last two killings were swelled to their present proportions. For the whole season we obtained a total of 4,112 skins, against a total of 10,138 on the same date last year. That the seals should have disappeared so rapidly since the Report of your prede- cessor In 1888 is so astounding that those who cannot see the rookeries and hauling- grounds for themselves may well be pardoned for doubting what is, I am sorry to say, pnlv painful though it be to oil who are interested, the whole truth must nevertheless be told, and that is that the seals have been steadily decreasing since 1880, and the days are jmssed and gone when they could be counted on the rookeries by the million. I have carefullv examined the rookeries and hauling-grounds at Starri-Artccl north and east, and I find somewhat less than half the ground covered when compared with former years. I accompanied the natives when they went to make a drive from East Rookery, and we walked along the beach from Little East to East Rookery without finding one seal till we came to the breeding-grounds proper. Either Mr. Lavender or I was present at every killing made ; we saw the numbers that we turned away, and we counted the skins of all that were killed, and we ti' 1 that what is true of one rookery is true of them nil — the seals are not on them. Now that the seals have disappi d the natives are very much alarmed, and they anxiously inquire what will the Goveimnent do for them in their destitution. They have earned during the present season 1,644 dol. 90c., which, I need scarcely m ' ',, will be entirely inadequate to supply food and elothin;; for a year for a population of ninety people. I never knew a people so attached to a church as these poor creatures, and now they are in great tribulation because they have no means to contribute to its support, nor to the support of the priest and his family. At one of their many meetings they requested me to write for them to the Russian-Greek Church Consistoij uc Ban Francisco, and appeal for aid for their priest and church until su( li times as the seal fisheries should recover and make them self-supporting. In justice to the priest, I may tell you that he was the first to say he should not have any chare of the earnings of this season, and that he would not take any money from the people until times mended, and that he could afiord to pay ; otherwise he should apply to the Consistory for a position in another locality. I have endeavoured to impress upon them the fact that they are not to be aban- doned to their fate; that the Government will not allow them to starve or suffer, but will take care of the people and of the rookeries until the rookeries are built up and fully replenished, when prosperity and happiness will return to the island once more. All of which is most respectfully submitted. (Signed) JOSEPH MURRAY, First Assistant Agent, St. George Island, Hon. Charles J. Goff, Agent in charge of Seal Island, Alaska. (C.) — Report of A. W. Lavender, Assistant Treasury Agent. Office of Special Agent, Treasury Department, Sir, St. George Island, Behring's Sen, July 2(5, 1890. I have the honour to make you the following Report of this season's sealing by the Ko/th j^merican Commercial Company, and to offer such recommendations as in my judgment should be enforced by the Government for the protection of these rookeries during the next six or seven years ; also to rcpct to you the condilion of Iho natives and their houses, and to ask that such repairs to their houses as arc absolutely required he mm ^mf^mmmmmm' 21 furnished as soon as possible ; also to request of you in your Ueport to the •:scrciiary of the Treasury to ask for 800 dollars for repairs to the Qovcrnment House, ttud such other articles as I shall mention in this Report. In accordance with your letter of the 20th iustant, asking mo to ship the 030 food skins in the United States' Revenue Marine cutter "Rush," I will state that I have complied with the same, and inclose you a receipt signed by the Captain, a duplicate of the same T have in this otticc on file. I will also state there arc twenty road skins hero in the salt-house. The killing of seals on this island was stopped on the 20th ; a list of each number killed out of each drive I inclose also to you, and you will see that the last drive from North and Starri-Artccl Rookeries and also from Zapodine that there was a larger number of seals killed than from any other drive ; this I will assure you was not owing to the greater number of large seals being driven at this time, but the standard weight of skins being reduced on that day from 7 to <5 lbs., and even less. The writer was surprised when he nrst visited the rookeries to find no young bull seals upon them ; this looked strange to him, and he began to look up the cauje, and it occurred to him that the constant driving of young male seals and the killing of all the 2-, 3-, 4-, and 5-year-olds, that there were no young bulls left to go on the rookeries, and without young blood the fur-seal industry will be something of the past in a very few years. The Government should take absolute control of these islands and permit no seal to be killed more than are needed by the natives for food for the next six or seven years, and then all the male seals driven should be killed, as it is my opinion that not over one-half ever go back upon the rookeries again. In this way there would be killed upon this island about 2,500 each year. These skins sold in the market would pay all the expenses of the island and fumi.sh such supplies to the natives to keep them from want, and they would he as well satisfied as they are now under the management of the North American Commercial Company. Without something of this kind being done, the natives wil! soon have to move from these islands, for there will be nothing to keep them here. The North American Commercial Company has landed and turned over to this officer 30 gross tons of coal for the use of the natives and ten barrels of salt salmon, and also state that there are 10 tons of coal in the coal-shed for the Government house. Most all of the native houses need repairing ; some need a new floor, others a new roof, and 1 would recommend that at least four of these houses be made larger by the addition of one more room. The Government or Company, whichever has charge of this island, the next season should send at least 10,000 feet of siding and 10,000 feet of flooring on the first steamer that comes up in the spring ; also 35,000 shingles, and nails enough to do the work. The natives arc in better health than they have been for the past year. I am not aware of there being a sick person on the island. Their sanitary condition is bad, and to each house there should be a small outbuilding, which they could use for a closet. Such a thing seems to be unknown here. The repairs required by the Government House are as follows : The front platform needs rebuilding, and part of the roof needs shingling, and the whole roof to be painted; also the house needs painting and papering on the inside, and the fence repainting. The articles required for the use of this Office are an follows i — One letter-press and book. One carpet for Government House. One hill file. One platform scales. One letter file. One spring balance. Paper and pens. Respectfully yours, (Signed) ALBERT W. LAVENDER, Assistant Treasury Agent. Charles J. Goff, Esq., Treasury Agent in charge of Seal Islands. •;^^! *\ "'■«'■ 'W ?B<«feK5rS3!affiS: '^wsiH^piSpippwySP 32 North American Commercial. Company, St. Paul Islana, Sir, Jtlanha, July I, 1890. Aa per request of I. Liebcs, Esq., President North American Commercial Company, contaiQed in his letter to me dated at San Francisco, 9th June, 1890, I hereby ask permission to kill and take for the use of said Company, for exhibition only, to be stuffed and set up, five specimen seal", of different ages, including one cow : i I one young black pup. I am, &c. (Signed) GEO. R. TINGLE, Sup,^rintendt-nl, North Ameiican Commercial Company. Charles J. Goff, Esq., Treasury Agent in charge. (Note in red ink.) — Consent orally given, and this letter copied in journal, p. 236, 8th July, 1890. ^fi ■*!' ifiiiiJHWMWWWIipiPPP.^ 23 (D.)— Annual Statement of Fur-Seals killed on St. Paul Island, Alaska, during the year ending July 20, 1890. Number of Seals killsd Number of Seals killed by Atr Rookery, for Natives' Food. Lessees for Skins. 1 ;2 ^ Skins rejected. Accepted. Rejeiiteil * •8 S u -a i 'E M 1 c 3 3 E •c a. 1 :3 CO V) 3 1890. May 28 Soiitli-west Uiiy 119 115 3 1 115 , , ,, 1 5 115 4 119 Juno C Koff , , , , lis . , ,, 1 1 115 1 116 >* 11 13 Tulsto! •• " f>39 181 1 35 35 539 182 35 574 182 16 Ri'of ,, ., 315 1 i 2 315 2 317 »» 17 17 Norlh-cnst I'diiit . . . . j Hnll-wiiy Point '• •• 16 107 •• •• •• •• 16 167 •• 16 167 18 Tolstoi .mil Miilcllu Hill .. .. 270 .. ,, 4 4 270 4 274 ' t» 18 20 20 North-™st I'liint Upet'iind Lukiiiinon .. .. Nortli-ciist Point .. .. • • •• 78 339 438 •• . . •• •• 78 339 438 ■ • 78 339 438 21 South-west Uiiy .. .. ,. .. 290 .. .. 2 2 290 2 292 21 North-ensk Point . . . * , , ,, 9« ,, , , ,, ,, 96 ,, 96 ^^ 23 English Bny mill Lukannon , , , , ., 513 3 .. 3 3 518 3 521 ^, 23 Nortli-eiist Point , . . . , , ., 176 2 1 , , 1 178 1 179 ^ 24 Reefs and Zoltoi . , . . , . , , 414 , . 10 2 12 414 12 426 ,^ 24 North-east Point . . . . .. , , 202 3 ,, ,, ,, 205 , , 205 25 Half.wny Point , , , , 203 , , 3 , , 3 203 3 2G6 25 North.oust Point .. 164 2 .. ,, ., 166 ,. 166 26 Routh-wist Ciiy , , , , 114 2 , . 1 1 116 1 117 27 English Bay anil MiiUllc Hill ., , , 374 1 2 19 1 20 376 20 396 27 North-east Point . . ,, ,, 2-.'5 5 , , , , ,, 230 , , 230 -, 28 Reef , . , , 20.') 1 ■ • , , ,, 206 ,, 206 28 North-oast Point . . , , 79 ,, , , , , , , 79 , , 79 If 30 Tolstoi, Knglish Bay, MidiUe Hill, and Keitaviu •• •• 200 1 2 •• 2 207 2 209 30 North-ca^t Point , . . . , , , , 37 1 ,, , , ,, 98 ,, 98 July 1 Retf ,, ,, 246 , , ,, ,, ,, 246 ,. 246 1 North-cast Point ,. , , 130 1 ,« ,, ,, 131 131 2 Half-way Point , , ,, 240 , , , , 2 240 2 242 2 North-cast Point .. .. ,, ,, 90 , , , , , , ,, 96 ,, 96 3 South-west Bav , , , , 181 , , 2 , , 2 181 2 183 3 North-east Point , , 180 , , , , ,, 180 , , 180 « 4 Tolstoi, English Bav, and Middle Hill •• ■• 472 •• 19 3 22 472 22 494 4 North-oast Point . , . . , , , . ,, 318 3 ,, , , • • 321 • • 321 3 Reef ,, ,, 524 1 , , 1 1 525 1 526 5 North-east Point , . , , . ■ 74 , , ^ , ^ , , 74 , , 74 ff 7 English Bay, Middle Hill, Tol- stoi, Lukannon, and Kctavic •• •• 400 •• 11 " 11 400 11 411 7 11 It *t , , ,, 400 ,, 11 , , a 400 11 411 7 North-east Point .. .. , , ,, 336 , , J , , , • • 336 , , 336 8 Half-way Point . . . . ,, .. 257 • • 3 1 4 257 4 261 8 North-east Point ,, ,, 378 1 , , , , ,, 379 • • 379 9 .South-west l!ay , « ,. lliO 2 1 , , 1 162 1 163 9 North.east Point .. .. , , , , 271 ., ,, , , ,, 271 ,, 271 10 Reef ,, 373 1 2 2 4 3:4 4 378 10 North-cast Point .. , , 112 , , , , ,, ,, 112 ,, 112 12 English Bay, Middle Hill, Tol- , , 624 i 5 1 , , 4 629 4 633 ttoi, Lukannon, and Kitaviu 13 Half-way Point .. 211 , , , , , , ,, 211 , , 211 13 North-east Point ,. .. ,. , . 641 , , , , 17 17 641 17 658 14 Reef ,, ., 104 , , ,, , , ,, 104 ,, 104 ti 15 English Bay, Middle Hill, Tol- stoi, Lukannon, and Ketavie •• •• 315 ,, •• •• ■• 315 •■ 315 15 North-east Point .. .. ,, ,, 245 ,, ,, . , • • 245 ,, 245 16 ., 311 ,, 1 ,, 1 311 I 312 M 17 Polavnia, Lukannon, and Ke- tavie •• 369 3 •• •• • • 372 •• 372 1) 17 18 18 North-east Point .. .. Zapodinc .. .. " 485 405 80 •• 156 485 405 80 156 485 405 236 19 Reef and Zoltoi ,, , , 547 2 3 4 7 549 7 556 19 North-east Point .. 446 , , , , , , 446 ,, 446 »» 20 English Bay, Middle Hill, Tol- stoi, Lukannon, Ketavie, and Point Rocky •' 752 1 '' 4 • • 758 22 780 f» 20 North-east I'oint .. .. Total •• •• ■• •• 507 2 1 *' •• •• 509 47 550 ll'J 1 IIT) ,1 1 16,783 50 ! 185 60 314 16,833 391 17,721 Ri'jectcd for other reasons, 156. [2%] a i^PSP'lWfiWW^ 24 ^Table showing disposition of the rejected Skins of 1890, which I refuse to destroy. Total number of skins rejected . . ■ ■ • . • • • • • ■ . • July 10, accepted by lessees at North-enot Point.. .. .. .. .. 22 „ 20, „ „ „ .. •• •• •• •• •• 43 „ 20, accepted by lessees at village . . .. .. •• .. .. 34 Now \n salt at Nortli-east Point .. .. •• •• •• •• 47 Now in salt at village .. .■ •■ •■ •• •• •• 2 Received by North American Commerciol Company to make suits for three employes who are to winter on St. JIatthew's Islands establishing a trading station for said Company . . . . • • • • ■ • • • ■ • • • 41 Professor William Palmer, of the Smithsonian Institution . . . . . . . . 4 Spoiled on the field .. .■ •• •• •• •• •• ^S6 Given to the natives .. .. •• •• •• •■ •• 42 3'Jl 391 The North American Commercial Company asks for five specimens for cxhilntion as per accompanying letter, and reported killing one cow, one pnp, one bull, large, three inalcs of different ages; total, six. (E.) — AnnxJAL Statement of Pur-Seals killed on St. George Island, Alaska, during the year ending July 20, 1890, Kookcry, Number of Seals killed by Lessees for Skins. Aggregate. Dote. Accepted. Reject u'J for other Skins accepted. Skins rejected. Total Seals killed. „ . Secrond reasniiH. Died on Totiil. r-'-.v.-.- Prime. Class. tlie roud. 1890 June 2 North 71 ,, 71 71 71 ., 10 East . • , . . . 214 1 , , 218 218 218 18 North 113 4 , , 113 117 118 „ 19 Bast and Little East !79 2 181 181 181 ., 20 Zapodine ,. 3D4 ,, 394 394 394 23 Starri-Arteel and North 162 2 , , 104 l(i4 1G4 25 East and Little East. . 182 2 ,, 184 184 184 28 Starri-Arteel and North 188 1 , , 139 IH'J 189 30 Zapodinc .. 189 , , , . 189 1M9 189 July I East and Little East. . 14!> . , 4 1(9 145 149 3 Starri-Arteel and North 234 . . 4 238 2;i4 238 ■') East and Little East,. aii 1 ,, 57 57 57 7 2apodine .. ,. 57 .. 1 58 55 58 9 Bast and Little East.. 23 , , 1 24 23 24 9 Starri-Arteel and North 183 3 7 193 180 193 ., 11 East 59 , , 1 (ill 59 CO 12 Starri-Arteel and North 102 , , 1 103 102 103 „ H Zapodine .. 53 1 53 53 53 „ 15 East 131 1 13:i 131 132 „ Ifi litarri-Arteel and North 119 ; , , 111) 119 119 18 East 71 : .. , , 71 71 71 20 .Starri-Arteel and North 031 i 7 , , 041 C41 041 ., 20 Zapodinc .. .. Total 5:!7 •• 527 527 527 4,080 ! 21 4,133 4,112 21 4,133 NOTK.— ne rejected skill was given to the t ;iiief, and tli ' ruiuuiniiig wcnty were salttd down in (he salt-li nuse till furt ler orders. (Signed) J OSEPH MUIMIAT, rirst Ansitifanf Agent, U'adhujlon, D.C., Ma;/ 5, ]SW. Should any douht arise conccriniig pups' skins, claimed by Alaska Conuncrcinl Company, under instructions to Agent Is'cttloton of the 11th March last, you uill cause all such skins, together witii the merchantable skins si)ccificd in your iiuslructious of the 26th March last, to he shipped to Colk'ctor at San I'lancisco, and thereupon report facts to Department for determination. (Signed) GEO. C. TKillENOJ.', Cliarles J. Goif, AtmintuiU ISvcrt'tury. Treasury Agent, Seal Islands, (Care Collector of Customs, San Francisco, California). PMHin WPW 'Wtm lipipppp ipi 25 Alaska Commercial Compamj of San Francisc6, Sir, St. George Island, Alaska, May 20, 1 890. Herewith I would aslc permission to sliip, per steamer "Dora," 482 fur-seals, at present stored at our villa2,c sa.It-house, and 10!) at our salt-house at Zapadine. Tiiese 591 fur-seals were killed hv the natives for food during' the winter 1889 to 1890, and have ])cen salted and cared for by the Alaska Commercial Company before the transfer of its property to the Nort!i American Commercial Company, the present holders of the lease for the Seal Islands. I have, &c. ; (Signed) EUDOLPH KEUMAJ^N, General Agent, Alaska Commercial Company. Hon. Charles J. Goff, United States' Treasury Agent in charge of the Seal Islands St. Paul and St. G-eorg-e. Alaska Commercial Company o/ San Francisco, Sir, St. Paul Island, Alaska, Mat/ 31, 1890. ; Herewith I would ask periiiission to ship, per steamer " Dora," 3,190 fur-seals, T94 stagy skins being included in this number, and stored at present at our village salt-house, and 298 at our salt-house at North-east Point. These 3,494 fur-skins were killed by the natives for food during the winter of 1889 to 1890, and have been salted and cared for by the Alaska Commercial Company beforp the transfer of its property to tlie North American Commercial Company, tlic present holders of the lease for the Seal Islands. I have, &c. (Signed) RUDOJ.PH NEUMANIS, General Agent, Alaska Commercial Company, Hon. Charles J. Goff, United States' Treasury Agent in charge of the ^ Seal Islands St. Paul and St. George. Sir, In rei)ly to your communications bearhig date the 2Gth and 31st May, respectively, asking ]icrmission to remove tiie fnr-scal skii.s now in the salt-houses on St. Paul and St. George Islands, 1 will say, in pursuance to instructions received by me from the Secretary of the Treasury, I will have to respectfully decline to allow you to remove the skiu'i in question, and herewitii inlbrni you that all of tlie said skins will be shipped per United States' cutter, care Collector ol' Cii-;tonis, San Francisco, California, to be disposed of l)y the Department as the Secretary- may deem advisable. (Si-ne'd) CHARLES J. GOFF, Treasury Agent. Hon. Ixudolph Neumann, General Agent, Alaska Commercial Company. North American Commercial Compani/, St. Paul Island, Dear Sir, _ July 8. 1890. Tlie Nordi American Commercial Company will accept as part of their quota of 00,000 seal-skins for 1890 such of the food skins of 18S9as they may find on examination to be merchantable and acceptable to them. Tlic skins being now stored in our warehouses on this and St. George Island, we hereby claim the privilege of availing ourselves of the offer made us i)y the Honourable Secretary of the Treasury at Wasliington, as contained in ami being a part of his instructions to you dated the 2C>lh March, IS'.JO, a co])y of which by his request you were kind enoiigh to furnish tiie Company, wliicii instructions in our opinion were not changed by any sul)sequent order made by the Honourable Secretary, .so far as our right to accept fooil skins is concerned. If the food skins claimed by us should not ho delivered to us licre so as to enable us to f.iiip them with the Company's skins taken under their lease this season, we c(ndd not get them in London in time for our fall sale, were they tendered L295] E 3 2e the Company at San Francisco after the cutter's arrival from Alaska in the fall. Being thus deprived of the skins, a heavy loss to the Company in prospective profits would result, which loss we would feel should be made good to us by the Government of the United States. I respectfully request you to communicate to me in writing the result of your con- clusions in the matter. I am, &c. (Signed) GEORGE E. 'Ji:fs^GLE, Superintendent, JNorth American Commercial Company. Charles J. Goff, Treasury Agent in charge of Seal Fisheries, St. Paul Island, Alaska. Office of Special Agent, Treasury Department, Dear Sir, St. Paul Island, July 8, 1890. Your communication of later date, in which you ask permission to assort and examine the skins of the seals killed for food during the winter of 1889 and 1890, and to take such as you may adjudge acceptable to your Company as part of your season's catch for this year, has been carefully considered and your request respectfully declined, as I have no option in the matter other than to strictly obey the orders of the Secretary of the Treasury. I avail myself of this opportunity to notify you that on and after the 20th July I shall require you to conform to that clause in my instructions which prevents killing of fur-seals hv their skins after that date. Kespectfully yovs, (Signed) CH^ELES J. GOFF, Ti-easitry Agent. George R. Tingle, Esq., General Manager, North American Commercial Company. .•?»iw?P»T»^'k.?**f?)tr!TT?^. liilpiiiiii^^ ^ 27 (F.) — Annual Statement of Fur-Seals killed for Food on St, Paul Island, Alaska, during the year ending May 21, 1890. Kookery, Seals killed for Native Pood. Datp. Ijirge Young Seals. Skim Skins rejected Pupa. Total. accepted by Lessees. Under Size. stagy. Cut. 1889 July 31 Zoltni ,, 160 160 ISC ,, • • 4 Aug. 6 Liikannon .. ., ,. • a 163 103 103 ,, • • ., .. 11 Balance over ahlpment in salt- house •• 58 58 58 •• • • • • » u Zoltoi 131 131 123 3 ,, ft » 22 ,, ,, ,, ,. ■ • 141 141 139 ., • • 2 „ 31 Tolstoi 179 179 87 1 91 Sept. 9 Zoltoi 141 141 1 t 141 „ 18 ,, ,, ,, ,, , , 110 no , , , , 110 „ 2D .* •• .• . . ^ , 107 107 I lOG Oct. 5 11 .. .. .. 120 120 1 119 „ 15 ). . . « a • . 103 103 , , 4 99 ., 26 Tiukunnon .. •• ,. ,, 132 132 44 2 86 Not. 4 Zultoi \Mi 125 125 HO 3 42 „ 19 Tolstoi 1,230 224 224 223 1 a. „ 21 Rocf ,, 347 347 317 , , ,, „ 27 1. . . •• .. , , 192 192 189 3 , , ,. 27 Ziiiiodine .. .• .. , , 10 10 10 ,, • • „ 30 U«'f , , 240 240 2'MJ 4 ,, Dec. 1 1 Zapodino .. .. ., , , 243 243 240 3 ., 1890 Xin. 27 Sun Lion Rock ,, 175 I/.-. 170 5 May 21 •• 131 131 131 •• ■• 2,280 3,232 3,232 2,396 31 794 U Skins at Norlh-enst Point, killeJ for wutclinien Grand total of food ikini , . aa 301 •• •• •• •• •• • 3,533* •• .. a. 1889 Aug. 10 North .. .. ., 55 .. ( , • • • • „ 19 „ .. •. .. 56 ,, , , , , ,, „ 30 ,, .. •• ■• 48 ,, , , 48 ,, Sept. 7 East aa 04 , , ,, 64 ,, „ 21 ft • • • • •» •• 50 , , ,, 50 ,, „ 30 North .. ,, ., 3S ,, , , 33 ,, Oct. 11 ,, •■ •# .. • • 37 • • ,, 37 , , „ 21 Starri-Artccl *• 32 , , • • , , ., 31 North • • 4 ,, ,, ,, Not. C .* ,, .a ,, GOO 6 ,, ,, ,, ,. 12 471 C ,, ,, , , „ 25 Starri-Artccl , . a. Ul , , , , ,, May 18 North 32 ,, ,, • • .. 31 >t • • a • . . For the watotimcn at Zapodine for the whole season , . Total • " 37 109 " ,, :: * ' ■ * 1,071 030+ •• •• 232 •• * These skins will bo sliippcU on board United States' cutti-r " Kicluird Rush." niid con!>itrncd to Collector of Customs, San Franciaeo, as per your intttructions bearing dutu May &. 1H90, The steamer will leave the Seal Itihinds euily in September. t These skins (03O) will he shipped on board United States' cutter " Kiclmid Rush," and roniiiKned to Colleetor ot Customs, yranclseo, us per your instructions benring date May 5, 1890. Tli" steamer will leave tlic Seal Uiunds early in September, iipipiiiliiipppipl^^ 28 (G.)— ^ABLK showing tlic killing of Fur-Seals on St, Paul Island up to July 20, 1 88D, by the Alaska Coinmcrcial Company, and up to July 20, 1890, by the North American Commercial Company; also Daily Weather Report from June 1 to July 31 of each Year. Village. Dnto. Number , killed. Dnte. Niiiiilior killed. 1889— i 1890 — Jimo 5 • • • • , , 201 Jui 10 • « ■ • • • 110 ,. 10 ■ • • * • , , 120 , 11 , , ^ , 874 ,. 12 • • ^ , • • 947 . 13 • ■ • • ■ • 182 „ 14 • • • • • * 762 , 10 • • • • > < 317 „ 15 • • • • , , 340 , 17 • • • • • • 167 ,. n • t • • , , 895 , 18 • • • • • • 274 „ 18 • • , , • • , 20 • • • • • • 330 „ 19 , , • ■ V * 1,561 1 , 21 ■ • • • • • 292 „ 20 a • , , • • 253 , 23 • • • • • ■ 521 22 , , • • , , i,353 . 24 • • • • • • 426 ", 24 • • • • • • 2,578 , 25 • • • • • ■ 20(j „ 25 • • , , • « 979 , 26 • • • • It 117 „ 211 • • , , , , 1,314 , 27 • • ■ • • * 39(} ,. 27 « • , , , , 311 , 28 • « • • • • 206 „ 28 • • • • • • 1,349 , 30 • • • • • • 209 „. 29 • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 1,038 Total July 1 Total 15,iti2 4,402 July 1 1,023 246 .. 2 • • • • • • 834 ,. 2 • • • • • • 242 .. 3 • • • • • f 1,841 „ 3 • • * • • ■ 183 4 • • • • • • 1,716 4 • • • • ■ t 434 5 , , • • • • 1,255 ,. 5 • • • • • 526 ,. 6 • • • • 1,3(12 ,, 7 • • • • • • 411 « • • « • • • 814 „ s . • • • • * 261 9 • • • • • • 1,314 9 • • • • • • 1C3 „ 10 • • , ^ • • 654 „ 10 • • . . • . 378 » 12 • • • • • • 2,004 „ 1^ • • • • • GSij „ 13 ■ • • • , , 1,006 „ 13 • • • • • f 211 „ 15 • • • • , . ."..065 ., 14 • • • • • . 104 „ 16 , , • • , .•,'Jll „ 15 « • • • • > 315 „ 17 • • • • , . ,031 .. 17 • • . • • . 372 „ 18 • • • • , , 2,046 „ 18 • • f ( • . 236 •v 19 • • • • • » 2,017 „ 19 • • • ■ ■ , 55 ■ 6,111 20 Nortii-East Point. Da!c Xiiml)c'r lulled. D«te. plumber killed. I8S!)— 1890— June 17 • • * • • • 1 ,051 June 17 ,. .. 10 .. IH 1,270 „ 18 78 „ I'J 491 ,, 20 438 ., 21 1,205 „ 21 96 ,. 21 754 „ 23 179 ,. 25 1,407 „ 21 205 „ 20 441 „ 25 166 ,. 27 844 „ 27 230 ., 28 479 .,28 79 .. 29 • . 335 „ 30 July 1 98 .Tulv 1 1,200 131 ■ > 9G8 2 96 1 1,559 3 180 r> 1,521 „ 1 321 c> 37G 5 74 « 914 „ ' . . . . . . 336 9 611 „ 8 379 ., 10 800 9 371 „ 13 793 „• 10 112 „ 15 1,838 „ 13 658 ., Ifi 1,150 „ 15 215 „ IV 948 „ 10 312 ,. IH .. 1.282 „ 17 485 .. in 831 „ 18 405 „ "20 213 „ 19 440 ■ • • ■ « • „ 20 Total . . . . , . 556 totnl 15,070 5,007 213 this liny to make the f^ll quoto of 100,000. ReCAI'ITULATIOK. Total ii\imlici of fi;r-seals kilkd bv Icsscea on St. Paul Isliind from 1st June to 20tli Julv— 1 «•,.'() 05,187 17,105 Jimu 1889. July 1889. Jani.' 1890. July 1890. D.iv of Monlli. Max. .Viin. Wi'atluT. Mii.\. Mill. Woatlior. Max. Mill. M'oalhcr. Max. Min. Weather. i 1 43 33 FOKUV 45 40 rioar 37 33 Snow 40 40 Fog. 2 in 35 Climily 48 40 Hazy 34 32 lluzv .* 48 40 3 11 3S ,, . . 48 42 ,, , , 41 33 Clear .. 46 40 Clear. 4 IS 4) ,. . . 43 41 Cli^ar 42 31 Fiiu' .. 47 39 6 17 3:t 49 40 llazv 42 32 Cli'Hr 50 10 ^, C 50 34 ., . i 42 40 <» . . 43 31 l'"S 51 40 7 41 43 ». . . 49 42 Thick fog .. 44 33 Hazy 51 41 8 47 3I> i» . • ,50 10 lUui 18 39 Rain 44 40 !l No rei';)ri! 45 42 Hn^y 43 39 Thick fog .. 40 41 Ha/.y. 10 41 3H Ruiit .. 49 42 Thick foj! .. 44 31 It 47 42 J, 11 13 41) ,. 51 41 Poi; 43 37 II 48 43 Fug. 12 43 38 It .. 5) 42 CK'ar 42 37 I'og 51 41 J, 13 38 37 ,, . • 50 40 ,, .. 43 37 1* • • 48 43 ^, 11 43 37 ,1 .. 49 40 „ 43 33 .• • • 41 4,'J Riiin. 15 42 37 Thick foR . . 52 43 48 39 Kmri 45 43 I»ng. ]ij 43 37 ILiiii 50 42 43 3C Fog 44 41 17 40 33 ('louiiv 47 43 Hazy 45 37 U.iiii 47 42 13 49 38 Ktiin , , 48 12 It . . 44 37 Clear 47 42 19 4!) 3(i Clear 52 4Z Vo^ 40 37 K.)g 50 4t) ,, 50 45 37 Cloudy , . 49 41 Clf.ir 43 39 Kill.! 49 ■iO 21 4C 33 ,» . . 49 43 Tliick {>i . . 45 40 Ilaiii ,, 54 44 22 45 33 ,. 50 41 llalll 49 40 Cl-ar 50 43 23 41) 38 Ilaia . . 4H 42 Hazy 49 39 llary 53 45 ,, 21 42 3'J Tliic'k fog . . 40 42 I'OK 42 33 Kog 52 40 ,, 25 4li 40 ,. . . 50 42 Hazv 45 40 52 45 J, 211 4 a 40 Cloiiily 41 41 Thifk 1.1.^' . . 42 38 It .. 53 43 ,, 27 51 41 Clrar 49 43 Hazy 4t 39 53 4fi ., 28 50 41 ,, , , 48 43 liHin 44 38 Hazy 49 45 ,, 2!) 50 40 Clotuly .. 48 42 PofC 43 40 II *. 48 44 ,, 30 50 40 ,. .. 50 43 Hazy 42 39 11 48 40 31 •• " •• 40 42 I'og •• • • ' ' 51 4b It «» '''mmmmmmimmKilmml^ wW so (H.) — Tablb showing the beginning of each Sealing Season on the Islands of St, Paul and St. George, from 1870 to 1890 inclusive, and the number of Fur-Seals accepted by the lessees up to July 20 of each year. (Taken by Alaska Commercial Company.) St. Paul. St. George. Total Skins accepted. Yew. Season began— Skins accepted. Season began — Skins occepted. 1870* .. 1871 1872 .. 1873 1874 .. 1876 .. 1876 .. 1877 .. 1878 .. 1879 .. 1880 .. 1881 .. 1882 .. 1883 ,. 1884 1885 .. 1886 .. 1887 .. 1888 .. 1889 .. 1890 .. Juno 1 ., 1 ,. 3 „ 3 ,, 1 .. 3 „ J ,. 8 „ 2 » 1 ,. 6 ::5 ,. 3 ., 3 ,, 4 ., 1 „ 2 „ 1 ,, G 29",788 65,499 68,035 88,058 83,890 69,367 58,732 78,570 80,572 80,000 80,000 80,000 60,101 83,092 70,451 72,120 77,389 73,808 68,485 16,833t June 4 ,. 3 ., 4 ,. 1 >, 1 ,. 1 » 1 „ 10 n 3 .. 3 » 9 •. 6 ,. ■i „ 4 .. 1 .. 8 „ 9 .. 6 ,. 4 1. 2 12',604 21,563 17,302 8,554 10,000 10,000 15,000 16,709 20,569 20,000 20,C00 20,000 11,123 11,152 15,000 13,335 13,381 13,187 10,138 4,112t 42,392 87,062 85,397 96,612 93,890 79,367 73,732 95,279 101,14lt 103,000 100,000 100,000 71,224 94,244 85,451 85,455 90,770 86,995 78,623 20,945 1 No record. f Accepted but not shipped in one year; balance carried over, j: Taken by North American Commercial Company, (1.) — Statement of Liabilities of the North American Commercial Company to tho Natives of St. Paul Island, after the division and distribution of 1890, showing the Amount due to each individual on tho 1st August. Name. Artomonoff, Kerrick AshshofT', Arseny . . Kiirdukofsky, Apollon Butrin, Kerrirk . . liogndanoif, Nicoli .. Butriii, Korp .. Bellnglazoff, Ellen .. Kmnnoff, George . . Fratis, John . . Gromoff. Nicoli . . Glotor, John . . Galuktanoff, Alex . . Haberoif', Paul . . Hajwff, John, estate of Housen, Alex . . Koierof, Stcpan .. Kushin, Aggie Kootchuteii, Jacob . . Krukcff, Nicoli . . Krukoff, Maxim Krukoff, Peter Kuzintzoff, John . . Kusheorsshoff, Euphemo Kootchutcn, George Kootehutcn, John . . Kootchutcn, Emphcine Kozcroft", Paul, estate of Kuznttzoff, Pemin, estate Krukof, Natalia . . Kozclotf, Parascovia Murculiffi Ales . . of Amount. Dol. c. 182 37 163 85 196 04 207 42 155 22 228 19 65 00 220 42 172 37 229 04 158 85 163 92 145 78 67 06 218 97 186 C4 175 24 182 04 188 79 166 65 259 04 81 27 193 19 217 04 148 22 lfl5 42 302 85 735 30 37 00 ( 60 79 10 Amount. Dol. c. Mclovidoff, Antone • • 415 69 Melovidoff, Simeon •• 714 74 Melovidoff, Mrs. A. • • 203 86 Mercnliff, Dornfay 103 00 Mandregan, Ustenia 60 00 Mcrculiif, Auxinsa • • 27 74 Nederazoff, Stepau 188 19 Ncderazoff, Martin , . 175 01 Oustigoff, Peter . . , , 193 24 Pushinkoff, Peter, estate of.. , , 68 05 Prokopuf, Vladimer , , 331 25 Parnushin, Daniel.. , , 186 04 Pankoff, Parfiri . . • • 185 04 Popoff, Afunasia . . 66 00 Mandiigan, Neva . . • • 178 49 Melovidoff, Alex ,, , , 271 40 Popoff, Nodotia . . , , 28 74 Uookarisluiakoff, Zachar • • 189 04 Uczanzoff, Anua . < • • 122 00 Stepetcni, Teirenti, estate of , , 257 85 Stepetcni, Dorafny , , 437 22 Sidiek, 'I'ncodore . , • • 196 04 Sedule, Vnsila ,, 190 42 Shabolin, Nccon . . , , 146 85 Stepctini, Elarey . . 274 04 Shutyiigan, Metzoftiu a , 155 85 Shaishinkotf, Rev. Paul . , 158 19 Saroken, John , , 20 74 Shapashinkoff, Agal'ay , . 64 70 Shubolia, Ceuscr, estate uf • • 116 13 Shaishinkoff, Valerian • • 1C5 09 wmmmim. 81 Names. Amount. Names. Amount. Dol. c. Dol. 0. ShaiabinkofT, Matrona 160 10 Shaishinkoif, George . , . . Shane, Catherine' . . . . , . 167 09 17 68 Sank Account drawing 4 per cent. Tarrakanoff, Kcrrick 179 04 John Fratis . . . . , , 1,438 3» Tetof, Peter 192 04 Rev. Paul Shaishinkoff 3,341 74 Tetof, Nevu 132 85 Catherine Shutyagara 224 75 Tetof, Fedosin 64 68 Markel Volkoff .. 983 68 Temistaro, Anna . . , . . . 145 00 Ellen Volkoff 200 00 Volkoff, Markel 142 37 Ardotia Sediek 104 17 Volkoff, Ellen 158 08 Elizabeth Sediek . . 93 61 Yetzamauff, John, estate of . . 236 23 Zashar Sediek 104 18 Zaharaoff, Kereaka 66 00 Nedesda ShaishinkoiT 166 09 Widows' fund . . . . 179 00 Kerrick Arlamanoif .. ,, 2,281 09 2,948 33 13,378 90 -• 11,884 94 NoU. — From the North American Commercial Company ten widows re- ceive weekly rntionn, and others will have to be adilcd soon. Total . • . . . , 25,263 84 List of Accounts transferred to the North American Commercial Company by the Alaska Commercial Company for Natives of St. Paul Island, May 24, 1890. Name. Occupation or Condition. Amount. Dol. c. • Peter Krukoff .. • • • • • • Sealer 192 85 Nicoli Krukoff . . , , • • . ■ „ • • • 80 60 Maxim Krukoff . . • • 1, • • • HI 73 Estate of Femin Koznelzoff (for minor heirs) . . 735 30 Aggie Kushin • • • « Scaler 67 05 John Koznelzoff . . • ■ • • 14 ■ • • 32 17 Natalia. Krukoff .. • • • • Widow . . 57 00 ' Parascovia Kozeroff • • ■ • ,, ■ • • 43 60 Neon Mandregan . . • • • • Sealer 90 30 Vasili Sedulu • • • • 1. 98 05 Testeuria Mandregan • • • • Widow . . 81 90 Antone Melevidoff • • > • Sealer 17-2 85 Simeon Melevidoff • ■ • • 11 ■ • • 601 92 Alex Melevidoff . . • • ■ a 223 73 Anexenia Merculiff • • • t Widow !! 103 00 Alexander Merculiff • • ■ • Sealer 20 17 Akoolena Nedarazoff • • • • Widow . . 23 24 Marlin Xi'dcrazoff > • Seoler 6G 85 Daniel Parauchin . . .• 1* * • • 77 85 Barbora Pohomoff. . .. Widow , . 8 75 „, Parfaria Paukoff . . .. Seoler 76 85 Vassilisia Pceshinkoff • • Widow .. 78 05 ' Afanosia Popoff . , • • ■ • 1) • • • 76 00 ' - • Ardotia Popofl . . ■ • • • If ■ • • 58 74 Zachar Rookoorshinkoff • • • • Sealer 80 85 Anna Re zauzoff , . Widow . . 122 00 Agafy Shaposhinkoff • • • • Minor 79 70 ». Theodore Sedisk . . • • • • Seiiler . , 87 8o Metrofan Shutvngin • • • • ,t ■ • • 69 29 Rev. Paul Shaishinkoff • • • • Priest 128 40 Agrafiim Shabolin. , * , , Widow . . 140 13 Neon Shabolin . . • • • • Sealer 69 29 Elnrey Stepetin . . • * • • ,1 • • • « 165 85 Marina Stepetin . . • • • • Widow . . 262 85 1 Dorafay Stepetin . . • • • • Sealer 376 49 Valioiaii Sliaiahinkoff ■ • • • Minor 165 09 . . Matrona Shaishinkoff • • • • (I • • * • 165 10 George Shaishinkoff • • • • „ • • • 167 09 Catherine Shone . • • • • Widow . . 47 68 Kcrrick Tarrakanoff • • Sealer . , 70 85 Fedosia Tetoff ■ ■ ■ • Widow 110 68 Peter Tetoff Sealer 83 85 Neon Tetoff .. )t • • • • 76 29 Anna Yarantnva . . • . • • Widow . . 160 00 Mnrkel Volkoff .. • • • • Sealer , , , 60 06 [2.5] wm>m^,\iMnmw^m!'m%i>'m)^' 92 Name. Occupation or Condition. Amount. Uol. c. Estate of John Yatioamauff, held for minor heir ■ • • 276 23 Martha Saroken . . . . Widow • • • t 20 74 Mn. Alex. MelcTidoff * II • • • • 223 66 Ellen Volkoff • Unmarried, • 26 00 Alex. Merculiff . . . Sealer • • • • 46 74 Fcdosia Koahromikoff . • • 10 62 Kerrick Artomanoff . • Sealer 77 79 Areeney Arkashoff • II 68 29 Peter OuategofF . . . • II 66 06 Kerrick Butesin . . • II 121 06 ApoUon Bourdeakofgky Nicoli Bogodaniff . , . t It • ti 81 86 89 49 Ellen Belnglazoff . . . Widow 85 00 Oeorgc EmanoflT . , . . Sealer 128 06 John Fratis . , . • II 135 55 Nicoli Oromoff . . . • II 135 85 Vladiraar Prokopuff . • II 302 52 John Olotoff * >• 82 29 Paul Haberoff . . • 11 76 06 Amissia HopofF . . . . Widow 76 05 Alex. Hansen , . . . Sealer 114 40 John Katcliooten . . > 91 87 49 Jacob Katchooten.. . * VI 73 85 Eupheme Knfphoolen • • $f 73 05 George Katchooten . • 11 113 86 Stepnn Kozeroff . , . • II 77 85 Kewekia Zacharoff . . Widow 93 00 Karp Butesin . . . . Sealer 113 85 Stepan Nedarazoff, . . • It 83 85 Eupheme KoshroeDkoff . r cent, per annum. • II 86 85 8,870 73 On Special Deposit at ipe Kerrick Artamanoff . . Sealer 2,281 09 Kerrick Butesin . • • II 2,948 33 John Fratia . . . • tt 1,525 00 Rev. Paul Shaishinkoff . Priest 3,341 74 Catherine Shutyagin . . Widow 227 06 Markel Volko£f .. , Sealer !! !! 985 68 Ellen Volkoff . Unmarried , , 343 08 Ardotia Sedick . . . , Minor • • • • 104 17 Elizabeth Sedick . . • II • • • • 93 61 Zachar Sedick . . . II • « • • 104 18 Nedesda Shaishinkoff • «• • • « • ■ • • 165 09 12,117 02 Total 20,987 75 Distribution of Proceeds from Fur-Seals taken on St. Paul Island, 1890. W ^ August 1, 1890— 16,777 scal-sking, at 40 cents . . S3 seal-skins, cut, at 2U cents , . 1 56 seal-skins, rejected .. 40 sea-lion skins, at I dollar . . Less provisions at N. £. Point Total.. 1. Rev. Paul Shaishmkoff, priest 2. Antono Melevidoff, first chief 3. Karp Butei in, second chief . . 4. Jacob Kooehutcn ,, .. 5. George Kooehuten, . 6. Theo. Sedick 7. Apgie Cushing , . . , , 8. Martin Nedarnzoff., ,. 9. Stepan Kozeroff . , First Class. Dols. 0. 6,710 80 10 60 62 40 40 00 40 50 6,783 30 158 19 158 19 158 19 158 19 168 19 158 19 158 19 158 19 158 19 wmm vm^ii>'*^9fmK\m'fiiimi!ifigl^fsm^^ M 10. Neon Mnndregnn . . 11. Peter Krukoff 12. NicoUKnikoff .. 13. Kerrick Tarrakanoff 14. Duuiel ParaDohin .. 15. ApoUon Burdukoffaky 16. Zachnr Uoi>karishmkn£f 17. Euphcme Kiuhirmkoff 18. Stepnn Nudarnzoff. , 19. Purfiri Ponkoff .. 20. Ninoli OrotnoS 21. Elarcy Stcpetein .. 22. Peter Tetoff 23. Peter Onstigoff . . Total . . 1. Simeon Mclevidoff 2. Geoi(!;e Eraenoff . , 3. MarkelVolkoff .. 4. Kervick Arloinonoff 5. Kerrick liutcrin , > 6. Vnsili Scdule 7. Euphemo Kooehuten 8. John Fratis . . Total 1. Metrofiin Shntyopaa 2. Arscney Arkosboff 3. John Olotoff 4. Necon Shobolin .. 5. Alex. Hanson . . 6. Neon Tetof Total .. 1 . Darofay Stepetein . , 2. John Koolchutin .. 3. Nicoli Bogodanoff,. 4. Vladimer Prokopeiff 5. Paul Haberoff . . Total 1. Maxim Krukoff , 2. Alex. Golaktonoff 3. Alex. Melevidoff Total . 1. Alex. Merculiff 2. John Kuznitzoff Second Clatt. Third Clait. Fourth Class. Total Antone Melovidoff, first chief Karp Buterin, Eecond chief Mrs. Terrinti Stepetein Mrs. Peter Peeshenkofi Mrs. John Hopoff . . Total .. • • t • Fifth Class. • • • • • • • • • • at • • • • Sixth Class. • • • • • • • • Special Ciats. • • • • ff f •• Dols. f. • • 158 19 , , 158 10 • • 158 19 , , 158 19 , , 158 1» , , 158 19 , , 158 19 • • 158 19 , , 158 19 • • 15S 19 • » 158 1» • « 158 19 • w 148 19 • • 158 19 • • 3,638 37 • • 142 37 , ^ 142 37 • • 142 37 • • 142 37 • • 142 37 , , 142 37 • • 142 37 • • 142 37 • • 1,138 96 • • 126 56 • • 126 56 • • 126 56 • • 126 56 • • 126 56 • • 126 56 • • 759 36 • • 110 73 • • 110 73 ■ • 110 73 • • 110 73 • • 110 73 • • 553 65 • • 94 92 • • 94 92 • • 94 92 • • 284 76 • • 79 10 • • 79 10 • • 158 20 • • 50 00 • • 50 00 ■ • 50 00 • • 50 00 • • 50 00 260 00 [2951 P 2 ■m •■wtrr^^^'f iliWiiWPi!iilPiiWWP!lF 34 Table showing Distribution of Earnings on St. Paul Island for taking Fur-Seals in 1889. No. Amount. FirtC Clait. Dots. c. 1 1 . Kuteriii, Karp, second chief • • • • • • 637 85 2 2. Knieliooten, Jacob . . 4 • • • • • 627 85 a 3, Koleliooten, Oeorge . • • • • «• 627 85 4 4. Lcdick, Theodore .. • • • « , J 627 85 5 6. Sleptiiie, Tcrrentis . . • • • • • • 627 85 6 6. Viatpin, Tfilampy , . • • • • • • 627 85 7 7. Kiisbiii, Antfie , , • • • t 627 85 8 8 Nedcrazofl'. \fartini . . • • • • 627 85 9 9. Mcloviiloff, Antone, first oliief , , •• 627 85 10 10. Kczfiroff, Paul • • • • • ■ 627 85 n 11. Ki'zeroff. Slepnn • • • • • » 627 85 12 12. MiindriKin, Neon . . • • ^ , • • 627 85 13 13. Krukcff. I'.tcr ■ • • • , , 627 85 14 14. Krukcff, Nicoli , , , , • • 627 86 15 15. Torakanoff, Kcrrick. . • • • • • • 627 85 16 16. Poraiicliin, Daniel ., • • ^ ^ • ■ 627 85 17 17. Bourderkol'sky, Apollou 18. BookareBhinkoF, Zacbor • • • • • • 627 85 18 • ■ • • • • 627 85 19 19. KoBliiiiki ff. Eupheiue • • • • • • 627 85 20 20. Nedornxoff, .Slepan . . • • , , • • 627 85 21 21. Fratis, John , , ^ , ^ ^ 627 85 22 22. Pankcff, Porfiri • • • ■ • r 627 85 S3 23. Stepetin, Klnry 24. Me orsddff, Simeon . . , , , , , , 627 85 24 t • • ■ • • 627 85 25 25, Tttoff, Peter • • • • , , 627 85 26 26. Qromoff, Nicoli .. • • • • •• 627 85 Second Clat*. 27 1. Volkoff, Markel .. • • • • • • 565 05 28 2. Artomunoff, Kiriek.. • • • • • • 565 05 29 3. Buterin, Kerrick • • « • • • 565 OS 30 4. Pecshinkcff, Peter .. • • • • • • 565 05 31 6. Hokcnff, Paul , , • • • » 565 06 32 6. Ledule, Vassiley • • • • ■ ■ 565 05 33 7. Kolehnotcn, Kupbeme • • • • • • 565 05 ^4 8. Hapuff, John , , 4* • • 565 05 35 9. Emaiioff, George , , * • • • 565 05 36 10. Ou6tig( ff, Peter •• 9 • • • 565 05 Third Clait. 37 1. Thutyagin, Metrofan • • • • • • 502 29 38 2. Arkashuff, Arscny , . • • • • • • 502 29 39 3. Glotoff, John • • • • • • 502 29 40 4. Sbubulin, Necon • • • • • • 502 29 4\ 5. Uanssen, Alexander ^ , • • • • 502 29 4'}. 6. Tetoff, Neon « • • • •• S02 29 Fourth Clan. 3 1. Stepetin, Darofny ,. , , • • • • ■ • 439 49 44 2. Kotchooten, John . . • • ■ • , , • • 439 49 45 3. Bogdanoff, Nicoli . . • • • • • • • • 439 49 46 4. Prokopieff, Vladimer •• • • • • •■ 439 49 ir Fifth Chat. 47 1. Krukoff, Mnxi .9 . Bonrdukopsky, Onleta, daughter .. .. • • 7 t> n . ■ 1 odoaltuakofF, Evdokio, adopted .. ... ft ■ 15 Oonalaska . . Bittavin, Karp . . . . . . . . 38 • • St. Paulleland Sealer. ButKvin. Paraacovia, wife .. .. . . 36 Oonalaska . . . , ^||!|ip!iPI|!ffPit!i"^W,(lttfWpw,«!8Ji»^ 36 Names. Age. Males. Females. Place of Birth. Ocoupation. Butavin, Constantine, son . . Butaviu, Ivan, son . . Mezukin, Mary, adopted . . Butarin, Kenich . , Butarin, Catherine, daughter Emanoff, George. . , , Emanoff, Anna, mother . . Koznelzoff, John, nephew . . Koznetzuff, Agafia, niece . . Fratis, John . , . . Fralis, Akoolena, wife Fratia, Susanna, daughter ,. . Fratis, John, son. . Olotoff, John . . , . Glotoff, IMary, mother .. Giomoff, Nicoli . . GremofF, Ouleannn, wife . . Ledisk, Elizabeth, adopted. . Haberoff, Paul . . Kotehootin, Enphemia . . Kotehootin, Pelogia, wife . . Bogdanoff, Marj, adopted . , Kotehootin, George Koteliootin, Maria, wife . . Kotehootin, Peter, son Kotehootin, Trepon, son . . Kotehootin, Matrona, daughter Kotehootin, , daughter, infant Kotehootin, Jacob . . Kotehootin, Fevroma, wife Koteliootin, Onleta, daughter Kotehootin, Ellen, daughter Kotehootin, Theodora, Eoii. . Kotehootin, , son, infant Sodoshmkoff, Natalia, adopted KoohwinUoff, Enphcm . . KoohwiukofF, Ardolia. wife Koohwinkotf, Paul, son Kezeroff, Stepan Kezeroff, Anastasia, wife . . KezcrofF, Trepan, son Kczeroll, Tconnby, daughter Nozckott', Scraion, stepson . . KrukotF, Sukeria, adopted . . Krukofl', Peter . . . . KrukcfT, Anna, wife , . KruUolf, Meoli . . Krukoff. CiUheriuc, wife . , KnikolF, Metrofaii, sou KrukofF, Onstcana, daughter Krukofl, Muxi 111 ,. .. Krukoff, I'Voetesta, wife . . Krukofl', John, son Krukoff, - — , son, infant . . Kus'.iin, Ag;;ie . . . , Kushiu, M'.rr, wife Kusliin, Sukeria, dau-jhter. . Kushin, Lilohael, son . . Shoposhnikoff, Yatiana, adopted Mandreau, Aeon . . .. Mandrcau, Maria, wife Mffr.dreau, Miiry, daughter Mandreau, Zova, daughter. . Scdich, Ardolia, niece . . Sedieh, Zachar, nephew . . Mclvudoff, Antonc . . Mclvudoff. Agrafena, wife . . MelvudufF, Alexandria, daughter Melvudoff, Olcga, daughter Mclvudoff, Mary, daughter Melvudoff, Alexandra, mother Mclvudoff, Alexander, brother SbarohinkntF, Matrona, adopted 'ledeiozoif, Martin .. iVedcrowff, Stepan , . 61 24 i*6 • • 46 S 24 • • 24 4 J 48 43 • • 12 6 40 37 • • 8 39 '7 i*5 39 4*1 8 35 ii 37 '7 "34 6 36 17 37 34 18 18 60 • • 13 • • 20 13 *63 • • 23 • • 4*1 17 2*9 • • 4 37 17 7 11 i\ 4*0 "3 • • 16 • • 35 • • 31 26 r.t) .4 17 2*8 7 5 10 34 10 6 4 56 St. Paul Island Oonalaska , , St. Paul Island Sadrone Islands Oonalaska . . St. Paul Island Oonalaska . . Alton . . St. Paul Islend Kodiak . . St. Paul Island Oonalaska . . St. George Island St. Paul Island Oonalaska . . St. Paul island Unga St. Paul Island Unga St. George Isbnd St. Paul Islanc >* If Oonalaska , . ,» • . St. Paul IslaLu )» »» Oonalaska . . I, • • Sitka St. Paul Island At sea near Sitka Sitka St. Paul Island If }> Sitka St. Paul Island Kroosle Island St. George Island St. Paul . . St. George Island Oonalaska . . St George Ishnd Alton Sf. Paul Island Kodiak Atka St. Paul Island California .. St. Paul Island Scaler. Sealer. Scaler. Sealer, Sealer. Sealer. Sealer. Sealer Sealer Sealer. Sealer. Sealer. Sealer. Sealer. Sealer. Sealer. Sealer. Sealer. Sealer. .Illllil4.ipiiplp%, 87 Names. Age. Males. Females. Place of Birth. Occupation. Nedcrozoff, Alexandra, wife . . NederozofiT, Mary, niece . . . . Nederozoff, I ikopy, nephew Nedcrozoff, Dormeaont, nephew Pankoff, Pofuria . . . . . . PankoiT, Olga, wife , . . . PatikoiF, Vuisie, son . . , . Kezanzufl, Nutalia, mother-in-law . . Paranchin, Daniel . . . . Paranchin, Alexandra, wife . . Prok ^preoff, Flademar . . . , KookoorshmkofT, Jachar . . . . RookoorshmkoiT, Anissia, wife . . Rookoorshmkoff, Stcpan, s't\ . , RookoorshmkoiF, Paroscoyin, daughter Sedich, Theodore , . . . Sedich, Martha, wife , , . . Sedich, Anna, daughter . . , . Sedich, Anastasin, daughter . . Sedich, Mary, daughter , . . . Sedich, Innokeutu, son . , . , Sedich, Yustinia, daughter, . . . Sedich, Phillip, nephew . . , . Shaeshmkoff, Rov. Paul , , . . ShacshmkofT, Nndesda, niece ShacehnikofI, Valeriau, nephew .. Shabolin, Trecon. . ., ., Shabolin, Ontila, wife . . . . Shabolin, Agrefena, daughter . . Shabolin, Agrefena, mother Shutyagin, Catlieriue . . . . Shutyagin, Metrofan . , . . Shutyagin, Onlita, wife . . . , Shutyagi I, Paroscovio, sister .. Sedulo, Vnsely . . . , . . Sedule, Elizabeth, wife .. ., Sedule, Vera, daughter . , . . Stepetino, Elaiy . . , , , , Stepetinc, Anno, wife . . , . Stepetinc, Ontonna, daughter Frotis, Ellen, niece ,. Stepctine, Forofay , . , . Stepetinc, Ardotia, mother . . Tnrakanoff, Kcrrich . . . , Tarakanoff, Anna, wife . . . . Tetoff, Jonas . . . . . , Tetoff, Peter Ti'tofF, Marv, wife .. .. Tetoff, Zaohiir, brother . . , . Tetoff, Alexandra, sister ., .. O'-buff, Chroiiia, mother-in-law Glcboff, Tissa, sister-in-law . , Volkoff, Mi.rkel . . Voll(off, Alcxandro, wife . . , . VolkofJ, infant, boy . . , , IVidowi. Arkashoff. Martha . . . , ZiitKmenoff /Vnxcraia, niece ., /atzmonoff, Tassia, sister-iu-Iaw . . Halaksliin, Matmna .. .. Dalaksliin, Aciipi:!, niece .. ., Shopoohinkoil", Piirnsconn, adopted . , Belglazoff, Klleu.. ., ,, 'ruinkanoff, Miiry, adopted KniUoiT, Natalia.. ,. Krukoff, Jolni, son «. . , Ilopoff, Anissia . . ,, .. Hop'iff, Nckita. son Kozoiolf, Aoiloiia .. ,, Kezloil, Piirascoi'ia .. ,, Kc^ldff, Tcodoiia, daughter Keslol'f, Michael, sou 6 4 29 • • 3 33 • • 20 38 10 4*4 13 56 12 25 49 28 • • 21 38 22 27 1*2 • • 47 Infant 11 *3 29 10 29 • • 67 • « 30 26 37 21 17 5 14 22 3 50 24 61 11 21 3 7 56 • • 34 31 14 61 18 • t 38 31 14 25 42 13 25 56 16 39 • • 24 30 33 ^3 Alton . . St. Paul Island St. George St. Paul Island St. George St. Paul Island Oonolaska , . Alton St. Paul Island Oonalaska . . St. Paul Island Oonalaska . . St. Paul Island Oonalaska . . St. Paul Island Oonalaska .. St. Paul Island St. George St. P.iul Island Kodiak Oonalaska . . St. Paul Island Oonalaska . . St Paul Island Sitka St. Paul Island », »» St. George Wand St. Paul Island 1. .» St. George Island It »» Atka . . Oonalaska . . St. Paul Island Oonalaska . . St. Paul Island St. Paul Island St. Paul Isiund Oonalaska . . St. Paul Island St. George Island Oonalaska ,. St. Paul Island Sealer. Sealer. Scaler. Scaler. Sealer. Sealer. Priest, Greek Church. Sealer. Sealer. Sealer Sealer. Sealer. ' Sealer. Scaler. Scaler. Scaler. WWiiH wm^ wm^.. mm 98 Names. Keiloff, Nicoli, sou Seiebremkoff, Olga, sister . . Mandregin, Yestenia . . . , Rookoorskuskoff, Anna, adopted MurcnhofT, Anxemia . . Murenhoff, Alexander, son MurenhofT, Martin, son Murenboft, Ellen, daughter . . Murenhoff, Tutoff, daughter Murenhoff, infant, son , . . . Arderazoff, Akoopena . . Arderazoff, Agrofena , . . , Arderazoff (infant son of Agrofena) . . Pomohoff, Biirbra Fomohoff', Salome . , Merculuff, John, adopted . . . . Pushrukoff, Vasselesia . . . . Popoff, Ardotea . . .. ., Popoff, Evrosenia, daughter Bakksiun, Ajina, daughter Popoff, Arauasea. . . . . . Shityagin, Dana, adopted . . Rezenza, Anna . . . . Galakleonofl, Claudia Ledicb, Dana . . . . . . Katehootin, John, son Katebootin, Zenoria, daughter . . Katehootin, Ellen, daughter Loroken, Marth . . . . . . Shane, Catherine. . . . . . Shane, Mary, daughter Shane, Freokla, stepdaughter Shane, Parascoria Yuoklad, daughter Shane, Elevery Yuokkd, son , . Tetoff, Foducia . . Tetoff, Irene, daughter Tetoff, Sofa, daughter Tetoff, Anxemia, daughter (dead) . . Kotehergi.'i, Ardotea, daughter . . Torentora, Anna Torcntora, Anna, daughter Volkoff, Ellen ., Krobin, Meria, niece . . . . iSnchnroff, Kiracha . . /ncharoff, Emanuel, son , . . . Zacharoff, Feodosia, daughter . . Age. Males. Females. 16 10 Infant 21 It 27 29 6 35 12 14 45 2a 41 16 32 32 1 8 1 1 4t» 23 17 21 3J 12 22 4 '3*4 7 K tr 2 17 72 39 36 11 45 1*5 Place of Birth. St. Paul Island Occupation. Sealer. Alton St. Paul Island Koskogrume Oonalaska . . St Paul Isiand Oonalaska . . Sitka St. George Island St. Paul Island Kiverle Island St. Paul Island Oont.i.t-'". ,1, Pt, ?ai(l McT\i P^aler. I Reoapitulatio^t. Total population, July 31, 1890 Males — Adults . . 5 to 1 7 years Under 5 years , . Females — Ad'iiis . . , . 5 to 17 years Under 6 years . . ai3 42 23 12 73 41 22 S18 'mm mmmmmmmmmmmi as CM.)— Cf>sus St. George Island, Alaska, July 31, 1891. Age. NnmcH. Males. Females. LestcnkofF, Rev. Inokenty . . . , . , 59 • • Lestenkoff, Elsavtn, wife . . . . . . , , , , 66 Le'jtenkoff, Michael, son . . . . . . , . 17 ■ • LestcnkofF, Helena, daughter ., .. • • 24 Lestenkoff, Mnry, daughter • • 20 Lestenkoff, Snrftli, dnughte- . . ^ . • • 13 Shnnkingkoff, Julia, grand-daughter ,, 13 Lestenkoff, Demetri, widower 26 • • Lestenkoff, Anna, daughter , , • • 2 Murenlieff, Mark, adopted, . , . 4 • • Philamonoff, Andronic . . . . , . . , 23 • • Philamonoff, Zenvoia, wife . , . . , , • • 25 '. Philamonoff, infant . . , , • • Gala'' !o, Oeliua, widow ,. • • 27 •. Galanin, Evr.;;, son . . . . . . , . 8 • • Prokopicf, Peter, . 25 • * Prokopief, Fedosin, wife , . , . . , , , • • 19 Prokopicf, Apannsia, brother 12 • . Kezanzaff, Fedosia, widow , . . , . , , , 46 Kezanzaff, Inokenty, son . . 12 • • Kezanzaff, Tcrafniia, grand-daughter , , • • Onstegoff, Alexa, widower . . , . , . 40 • • Oalaktianotf, Alexander , . . , . . . . 39 • • Golaktianoff, Oxenia, wife.. ., ,, ., • • 18 Smetzoff, Eustin , . . . , . . . , , 39 • • Smetzoff, Krcstina, wife . , • • 33 Smetzoff, Gregorie, son . . , . . , , . 4 • • Philamonoff, Foff, widower . , , , 45 • • 1 ■ Philamonoff, Gregorie, son . . , , . . 17 t • ... Philamonoff, Demetria, son .. ., ,, 3 • • Philamonoff, I'"ogirac, daughter , . , . . . • • 16 Gorokoff, Corinal , . 34 • • Gorokoff, Katerina, wife . , . . , . , , t • 35 Gorokoff, Anna, daughter , . . , , , , . • • 10 Galaimc, Perfor, brother-in-law . . . . , . 16 • • - . Oalttimo, Alexander, adopted . . . . . , 4 , , Kidiknlicff, Evan . , 44 • • ^ ' ' , Kuliknlieil, Vnrvnra, wife . . . . , , ^ ^ 45 Arkoloff, Erdokia, adopted . . . , • d 4 ... ^ Shane, Raislm, widow . . . . . , . , • • 38 .. Shane, Ouletta, daughter . , . . . , . , • • 21 ,— ,._ Shane, Michael, son .. 2 • ■ Morcnlieff, Natalia, sister , . . . , . • • 29 •• Morenlieff, Ncdcsda, adopted , , 10 ", Oustegoff, Ollctn, widow , , . , , . , • • 28 , Oustegoff, Simeon, step-son . . . . . 26 a a Oustegoff, Agrafcna, daughter .. ,, ,. • • 16 Oustegoff, Eproxia, daughter . , , , , , , , 10 Oustegoff, Michael, son .. .. .. ,, 5 ■ • Oustegoff, Sosania, daughter • • 3 Oustegoff, Pcligia, daughter . . , . , , 1 Uoganzoff, Peter . . . . 44 • • Ueganzoff, Matrona, wife . . . . . . , . , , 48 ■ Rcgunzoff, Fatiana, daughter . . , , • > 6 Philan\onoff, Simeon . . . . . . , . 40 , , Philamonoff, Eodokia, wife . , , , , , • • 17 Philamonoff, Efriani, son ,, .. .. ., 19 • • - Philamonoff, Imokcnty, son ,. ,. ,. 15 • < Philamonoff, Fedosia, daughter ., .. ., • • 8 . PhilanioiHiff, Audrian . . , , . , , , 23 . . Philamcmoff, Parascovia, wife . . , . . , • ■ 26 Philamonoff, Pcligia . . , . , . , . , ^ 2 Malavansky, Afary, widow . . , . . , ■ • 64 \ ' Mahivansky, Meole, son . . , , 25 • • Malavansky, Wasso, daughter « • 15 ...■,.,,,- - Malavansky, Repaeima, daughter . . , . . , 30 Mnlavonsky, Stepineda, grand-daughter . . . . • t 10 Malavansky, Kleopatra, grand-daugher • • 7 Malavansky, I'eter, son , , . , . . , , Nederazotf, Arkenty . . , , , , , . I • • 38 ■ • Nedorazoff, Kogenin, wife . . .. ,, ,. Ncderazoff, Maliraa, daughter . . . . . . « • 36 • • \6 [296J a '^^«^?W»«^?!''!BiiP!P mm 40 Names. Age. M^les. Females. NedenuEoff, Meoli, son . . Muenlieff, Frevonia, widow Muenlieff, Joseph, son • , . , . . Muenliefi', George, son , , , . . . , MuenKef, Stepenida, daughter .. .. .. Muenlkff, John, son (influit) . . . . Muenlieff, Helena, daughter . . . . Smetzoff, Poloxenia, sister . , . . . . Smetzoff, Frevonia, daughter Seeanoff, Stepan.. .. .. .. Seeonoff, Pehsia. wife Seeonoff, son ^infant) . . . . MereoliofF, Waselesia, widow . . . . . . Merenlioff, Evan, son Merenlioff, Alexandra, daughter . , . . Merenlioff, Eodokia, daughter . . . . . • Merenlioff, Helena, daughter . . . . Merenlioff, Anna (infant) . . . • .1 > . 12 • • 18 16 i*3 • • 36 • • • • 13 "5 30 12 21 38 • • 11 6 3 Recapitulation. Total population . . Mules — Adults . . 5 to 17 years Under 5 yoais Females — AduU» .. 6 to 17 y uro Undei o years 90 19 10 8 24 19 10 (N.) — List of Accounts transferred to the North American Commercial Company by the Alaska Commercial Company for the Natives of St. George, May 24, 1890. Names. Amount. Names. Amount. Dol. c. Dol. c. IvanKulikuliff 58 71 Meoli Maluoanoky 187 00 Joseph Merenliff . , 70 00 Demetti Tesfrukoff 265 69 Peter Prokopeef . . 20 61 Grogorie Philamanoff . , 7 26 Okelena Galamu, widow . . . . 40 00 George Merenliff . . 10 25 Stepan Tekanoli . . , . . . 125 00 Andronie Philamanoff . . 123 50 Russa Shaen, widow . . , . 01 50 Scrafinea Rrzanzoff, orphan . , . , 61 20 Andrean Philamnnoff . . . . 125 00 Nedcsda Muenliff, orphan . . 201 49 Eoff Philamanoff .. 149 65 Ardokia Kikoliff, orphan . , Mark Merenliff, orp lan . . 232 69 Mrs. Sebastin Merenliff 146 00 211 39 Peter Rezaozoff . . . . . . 81 00 Ardokia Popoff . . 74 46 Arkenty Nedararoff .. .. 164 00 Ogefinia Onstigoff, orphan . . 18 05 Alex. Galaktonoff . . 128 63 Fedoria Rezauzoff, widow . . 50 00 166 00 Eustia Swetszoff . . 164 00 3,691 87 IMikn TpfttinWnflT 10 60 Natalie Merenliff . . . . . . 60 00 Rev. Irmokenty Testinkoff, priest 1,700 00 Irrookenty Itezanzoff . , . , 95 50 St. George Church 1,394 55 Mrs. Zachor Onstigoff, widow Connil GoroUoff . . 127 60 167 00 3,094 55 Alexia Onstigoff . . Simeon Onstigoff . . 163 60 125 00 Total 6,786 42 rii JaSk j^**"- ■■^■t-'^ '-^■' ■ ■» ^.ii -lii^'i&iJiii^ .uiLui. ^^ !!gsfP|Spppi|SPifif?t .. .> Fur-ieal ikina shipped by the Alaika Conunerclal Company from 8t. George Island from 1870 to 1889 .. Fur-seal skins rejected and stagjr . . . , . . > . . . > . Ueatraction to seal life in securiogcatcli on 3t. George from 1870 to 18B9 .. ,t Earnings received by natives for labour on'— St. George Island from 1870 to 1889 St. Paullaland „ „ Donations .. •• .• •. .. .. •• .. •■ Unaccounted for .. ■• •• .. •• •. .. ■• Expended by natives from 1870 to 1889 .. .. .. .. .. ., Balance to natives' account on May 24, 1890, and turned over by Alaska Commercial Com> pany to North American Commercial Company , . . ■ . , , . 319,9U 817,077 3,269 568 319,914 DoL c. 126,830 80 2i,780 40 li3,6n 20 11,732 SO 19 35 134,073 03 6,786 42 152,611 20 Ifote.—TotsU number of fur-seal pups killed for natives' food on St. George Island from 1870 to 1889, indusive, 29,060, CoNSOLiuATKD Report showing the Total Number of Fur-Seals killed for skins on the Islands of St. Paul and St. George by the Alaska Commercial Company from 1870 to 1889, inclusive; also the Number of largo young Seals and Pups killed for natives' food on the Islands of St. Paul and St. George from 1870 to 1889, inclusive ; the Total Number of Fur-Seal Skins shipped from St. Paul and St. George Islands by the Alaska Commercial Company from 1870 to 1889, inclusive ; the Amount of Earnings received by the natives of St. Paul and St. George for taking and curing skins, and the distribution of said earnings. Fur-seals killed for skins on the Islands of St. Paul and St. George by the Alaska C'om- mercial Company, and also for natives' food, from 1870 to 1889, inclusive .. .. Fur-seal skins shipped from St. Paul an i St. George by the Alaska Commercial Company from 1870 to 1889, inclusive .. .. ,. .. .. ,. Fur-seal skins rejected as stagy at St. P.iul and St. George from 1870 to 1889 inclusive .. Fur-seals destroyed on St. Paul and St. George in securing the catch from 1870 to 1889, inclusive .. .. .. .. .. •• .. .. 1,877,030 1,840,364 20,393 16,373 1,877,030 Earnings received by natives of St, Paul and St. George from 1870 to 1889, inclusive .. Donations by natives of St. Paul and St. George from 1870 to 1 839, inclusive . . . . Paid to Chiefs on St. Paul Island (St. George's is included in donations) .. Fold to St. George men for work done on St. Paul Island , , . . . . . . Paid to Kodaik men for work done on St. Paul Island . . , , . . Unaooounted for .. .. •. .. .. .. •• •• Paid to school teacher . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Expended by the natives of St. Paul and St. George from 1870 to 1889, inclusive Balance due to natives May 24, 1890, now held by the North American Commercial Com- pany .. .. .. «■ ■• •* •• .• *. Balance held by Alaska Commercial Company for Mrs. Melevidoff . . . . . . Fur-seal pupa (five months old) killed for natives' food on— St. Paul and St. George Islands from 1870 to 1889, Inclusive St. Paul Island from 1870 to 1889, inclusive . . St. George Island from 1870 to 1889, inclusive Dol. e. 755,672 87 50,608 II 3,050 00 25,780 40 680 00 19 25 SO 00 643,963 10 28.117 03 3,404 99 755,672 87 92,864 63.804 29,060 93,864 ^^^^^^^'^^^^^^^""-^ ipii m 46 Table showing the Number of Fur-Scals killed for skins on the Island of St. Paul by the Alaska Commercial Company, and also for natives' food, from 1870 to 1889, inclusive ; tlie Amount of Earnings received by the natives of this Island for taking and curing these skins, and the distribution of said earnings ; the Total Number of Fur-Seal Skins shipped from St. Paul Island by the Alaska Commercial Company from 1870 to IbSy, inclusive. m f % Total Paid to Natives Paid to Natives Total Rejected stagy Skins. Yean. Fur-seal Skins for taking and for Fur-seals ship|>cd. curing Skins. general Labour. killed, Dol. c. Dol. c. 1870 .. , , 6,017 2,406 80 ., 6,017 • • 1871 .. ,, 70,134 30,853 CO 580 40 77,925 431 1872 .. ,, 71,911 30,416 00 221 97 70,698 1,536 1873 .. , , 71,485 29,697 80 76 SO 76,488 7J6 1874 .. , , 89,924 29,849 60 217 53 97,932 596 1875 .. , , 89,087 30,098 00 276 03 91,215 451 1876 .. ,, 80,000 31,848 20 113 40 79.199 1,979 1877 .. ,, 60,199 23,981 60 146 40 62,813 1,088 1878 .. , , 82,000 32,654 00 2,218 38» 83,034 981 1879 .. , , 80,000 31,908 60 1,910 86t 86,592 1,977 1880 .. ,, 90,000 31,889 00 215 40 80,276 275 1881t .. • • 79,905 31,825 60 54 00 81,501 1,341 kS«2 . . ,, 80,000 31,750 80 250 50 81,420 1,414 1883 .. ,, 60,000 23,896 80 97 00 61,987 1,775 1884 .. J, 85,000 33,785 00 240 00 86,013 941 1885 .. ,, 84,995 33,933 00 12 00 80,364 1,182 1886 .. , , 85,000 33,941 80 134 00 85,6H9 635 1887 .. • • 85,000 33,839 80 203 40 85,629 590 1888 .. • • 85,000 33,834 GO 15 60 85,271 196 1889 .. Cotal .. «• •• •• 85,000 33,744 80 15 00 86,053 •• 1 1,523,287 590,056 00 7,005 07 1,557,116 18,124 Distribution of Natives' Earnings for taking and curing Fur-seal Skins. Received by St. Paul Aged and Sick. Received Received by Yean. Received Received Received by St. Paul Received Received Received St. George by by by Church for by by by Men for St. Paul St. Paul St. Paul translation Chiefs Oonalaskn Oonalaska Work done Church. Priest. Widows. of Church as Salary. Church. I'riest. on Service. St. Paul. Del. c. Dol. c. Dol. c. Dol. c. Dol, e. Dol. c. Dol. c. Dol. c. Dol. c. 1870 150 00 • • 77 20 ,, 109 30 , , 1871 910 16 ., 614 82 • • • • 455 08§ • • 1872 902 45 451 22 ,, ,, ,. • • 1873 870 62 435 11 ., .. • • • • 1874 859 06 429 53 ,, .. ,. 0,000 00|| 1875 432 07 432 07 .. ,, 432 07 .. 5,000 00^ 1876 757 12 ■ ,, ,. ,, 378 40 766 80 , , 1877 621 50 621 48 ., ,, 310 74 ., , , 1878 855 78 855 78 500 00 , , 300 00 , , 855 78 , , 1879 822 24 821 50 200 00 . , 450 00 450 00 , , , , 1880 813 10 813 10 150 05 200 00 1,219 65 450 no 1 . , , 188i: 857 66 857 06 ,. ., 428 83 225 00 ,, , , 1882 ■ • 1,000 00 2,650 00 , . ,, ,, ,, 1883 ,, 750 00 50 00 , , 225 00 ,, , , 1884 , , 1,000 00 300 00 ,. 300 00 ,, 2,844 35 1885 ,, 1,000 00 .. 1,000 00 300 00 3,036 05 1886 ,, 1,000 00 200 00 600 00 .• ■ 200 00 ,* 3,000 00 1887 ,, 1,000 00 1,500 00 ., 200 00 ,, 2,500 00 1888 ,, 1,000 00 150 00 , , 200 00 , . 1,500 no 1889 •• 1,000 00 2,500 00 •• 200 00 •• 1,300 00 Total 8,851 7C§ 13,167 45§ 8,892 07§ 1,800 00§ 1,648 48§ 3,050 00 1,571 21§ 2,170 U6§ 25,780 40 • 1,022 dol 92 C-. received by natives for making oil, under head of general labour. t 1,666 dol. 06 0. „ „ „ „ • ■■''■' t 50 dollars received by school teacher. § 455 dol. 08 c. received by Dr. Kramer : first-class sbare. II 15,000 skins credited to St. George men for labour; C80 dollars received by men from Kodiak for labour. % li.OOO skins credited to St. George men for labour ; 12 dol. 60 c. donated to Antone Melevidoff. 47 HtCAPlTDtATIOH, Fur-wula killrd for iikini on the Iiland of St. Paul by the Aliitki Commiirciiil Compuif, anil >lio for natircii' food, from 1870 to 1889, inciuiiru,, ,, ., .. Pur-uuli killed for tkina >hi|i|ied from St. Paul bjr the AUika Commercial Companjr from 1870tol889 .. .. .. .. .. ,, Fnr-wal (kins from St. Paul rrjected, atsgy .. ., ., .. .• Uuatruciion to a«al lifo on St. Poul Island in ai'curing catrh from 1870 lo 1889, incluiWe. , Fur-aeala, of all claaica, killed for nitivtw' food on St. Paul lali incluiive .. .. ■. .• •• from 1870 to 1889, Fur-ic'uls (large young aeala) killed for natitea' food, of whid) the Alaika Commercial Company accepted and ahipprd 62,873 akina .. ,, .. .. •• Pur-aeal pupa (Hve montha old) killed for nalifea' food froa 1870 tn 1869 •• i« l,ft57,116 1,523,287 18,124 15.705 1,557,116 U4,801 8u,9ar C3,80i U4,8U1 Earninga received by nativca of St. Paul laland flom 1870 to 1889, incluaive .. Donations received by natives of St. Paul laland .. .. •• Paid tn Chiefs Paid to St. George mt'n for labour on St, Paul Paid to Kodiak men . . , . , . , . . . • • • • Paid to school teacher , . . . . . . . • • • • With Alaska Commercial Company for Mra. Molcvidoff . , , . . . Expended by natives from 1870 to 1889.. Ilalance due to nutivea May 24, 1890. with North American Commercial Company Total Dol. c. 603,001 67 38,875 61 8,050 00 25,780 40 680 00 50 00 3,404 98 509,890 07 21,330 60 603,061 6r 2. Report of S. R. Nfttleton. Dear Sir, 3t. Paul Island, Alaska, July 81, 18&0. I have the honour heiewitli to suhmit my annual Report of the condition of affairs on this island during the time in which I had charge, to wit, from the 23rd September, 1889, the date of your departure, until June of this year, and also to comment briefly upon the condition of the seal rookeries and bauling-grounds of this island during the season which closed on the 20th instant. I have found the natives of this island an exceedingly easy people to govern and control. The Government Agent in charge, being the sole representative and executive of the law, is, as you are aware, necessarily brought into very close and intimate lelationn with these people, having to do with the minutest details of their everyday life. My comparatively brief experience in governing them convinces me that a policy of kindness with firmness, and an appeal to their manhood and womanhood, hold the best promise of good results, having in view their happiness and their advancement to a higher and a better civilization. I believe that it would be difficult to find anywhere within the jurisdiction of our Government any people so easy to control, considering that they are kept in enforced- idleness ten months of ea''h year. I regard their rea '; 'C < to comply with any and all Rules and Regulations of this Office for their governu., i.^ as testifying to their manhood and good citizenship. In this connection, it affords me great pleasure to report that during the time that I have had immediate charge there have been but three instances of violation of any Rule or Regulation. These were mild cases of partial intoxication during their holiday festivities. There has been no drunkenness or brawling in the village streets or in the homes of the people, not a single breach of the peace. It is a source of gratification to be able to state that the journals of this Office show Ihat in this regard the winter just closed presents an exception to those of any of the preceding twenty years. The fact is patent that but little advancement has been made by the natives of this island towards an intelligent American citizenship during the twenty years that they liave been nominally citizens of the Republic ; that not to exceed 10 per cent, of them, who during the time mentioned, have attended English schools, speak the English language. This may be explained by the well-known objection of the parents to their children learning to speak English, and to the further fact that the services of their Church, the Greek Catholic, are conducted wliollv in the Russian and Aleutian language. [295] ' H ^mmmmm^^^ WICT!WfBfWp!^ij^ 48 The small advancement made by the pupl'is in the schools is attributable also in large measure to the fact, that the schools have been conducted by persons not trained to the profession of teaching. It is, in my opinion, to be regretted that the Department, in granting the new lease of the Seal Islands, did not reserve to itself the employment of tiio school teaciiers, who should hold certificates showing their qualification to teach, at least, the primary branches in our common schools. In relation to the condition of the seal rookerien and hauling-grounds of this island, I do not feel called upon to go into details in view of the lull and exhaustive manner in which the subject is treated in your Report of this year, and also in view of the forthcoming Keport of Professor H. W. Elliott, who was sent by the Department especially to examine and report upon the condition of seal life on this and the Island of St. George. But I desire to add my testimony to that of my associate as to the deplorable condi- tion of the seal grounds upon this island. The large grass-grown areas of these grounds, until a comparatively recent period occupied en masse by seals, to be numbered by the millions, and now wholly deserted, the driving and redriving from all of the hauling- grounds on this island by the lessees during the present season in their efforts to obtain their quotu, and the meagre results attained, tell, in stronger language than I can command, the sad story of the very near approach to Ihc entire destruction of seal life upon this island. It is hardly worth while for me to attempt to theorize as to the probable cause of the condition of affairs. I deem it sufficient for me, at this time, to corroborate and, if possible, to emphasize what you say in your own Report, as to the past, present, and the threatened future condition of seal life upon these islands. The present depleted condition cif the seal rookeries on this island urgently calls for prompt action by the Government to save this important industry from immediate and complete destruction. I heartily concur with your views expresf i your Annual Report of 1889 in regard to the killing of pup seals for natives' food. kins of these pup seals belong to the natives, to be disposed of by them as they .. _c, the only restriction imposed being that they shall not be exchanged for contraband goods. I desire, through you, to call the attention of the Department to the fact that these pup sealskins, being largely held by the natives for the purpose of barter for spirituous liquors with the seamen of any craft that may anchor in these waters, are a source of evil, and only evil, to the natives. In view of this fact, and also in view of the further fact that the seal life on this island is rapidly approaching extinction, I respectfully suggest that the best, interests of the natives and the best interests of the Government will be the most effectually served by prohibiting the killing in the future of any pup seals for native food. Sonic more economical substitute can, in my judgment, be readily supplied. j I am, &c. (Signed) S. R. NETTLETON, Charles J. Goff, Esq., Assistant Treasury Agent, United States' Treasury Agent in charge of Seal Island. 3. Repo t of A. W. Lavender. Office of Special Agent, Treasury Department, Sir, St. George Island, August 2.5, 1890. 1 have the honour to report to you that on the Hth August, and while the United States' revenue-steamer " Rush " was lying at anchor off our village, a schooner came in sight close in to the east end of the island. This was at 530 p.m. The " Rush " at once got under way and steamed towards him, and followed him in to the anchorage in front of the village, where she lay all night between the cutter and the shore. She proved to be the American schooner " Nettie Martin," Captain Ohlniitz, belonging to Kodiak. She is about 16 tons measurement, and has a crew of four white men and four Kodiak natives. She had on board ten sacks of salt and four shot-guns, also two sea-otter boats. The cai)taiu said that he was from Kusoquim, bound to Oonalaska. His papers show that he had cleared from Kodiak on the 20th June, bound on a trading and coasting voyage along tho coast of Alaska, and for a further excuse he said that he was short mmmmm lliliPIWlPffPPin (hat time I have established a watch-house at Garden Cove, and keep two men there all tlie time. No vessels can come near the island on either side without being seen. There never was a watchman at Garden Cove before. The seal arc very scarce on this island, and in order to get enough for food for the natives I am obliged to kill seal whose skins will not weigh over 4^ to 5^ lbs., and these tho Company will not accept, and I am salting them for Government account, and shall probably have some 600 or 700. They are all good skins. Please obtain an order from the Secretary to ship them on one of the first Government vessels going to San Francisco the next season. I also request that you obtain permission to purchase a now carpet for the Government House on this island, as the carpet we now have on the floor is nearly worn out. Also please obtain from the Dcpaitment for this island the following seeds : 4 lbs. good turnip seed, 4 lbs. good lettuce seed, and 4 lbs. good radish seed. I have never seen vegetables grow better in my life than they do here, and it would surprise you to see now what a fine bed of lettuce and radishes we have here now. In obtaining tho seed, please get seed that has boon grown as far north as possible. The natives of the island are a much superior race of people to what I expected to find, and I do not anticipate any trouble here this winter. I am, &c. • . i: (Signed) A. W. LAVENDER, Charles J. Goff, Esq., Assistant Treasury Agent. Treasury Agent, Clarksburgh, Wasliington, Virginia. jI. . t lUa il- >;i-. iii.'...i, .' 4, Report of A. W. LuKendev. Office of Special Agent, Treasury Department, Sir, St. George Island, October 24, 1890. I have the honour to report to you that United States' revenue-steamer " Bear " returned to this island on the 2'2nd instant from Oonalaska unexpected to us here. Captain Healy told me that orders had been sent from the Department to watch the rookeii?s very close, as there had been two schooners cleared from Victoria for Behring's Sea, pr.d that they were y;oing to raid these islands. I have not seen a schooner around liere since I last wrote you, nor do I tliink that there is a single schooner taking seals in Boliring's Sea at this writing, and unless they come within the next two weeks there will not be any seal upon the roctkerles for them to kill. I have again to request you to do your best to obtain arniS and ammunition for these islands, and hope that you will be able to secure them, for without them the rookeries cannot be protected in a proper manner. The old rifles that answered for the protection of the rookeries belong to the native-;, and are of but little use. In addition to the five rifles owned by the natives, the Company has found small Celt's rifles and one large Sharp's, with very little ammunition for any of them. We have had three deaths here this last week, all three females. At this writing «very adult native on this island is either sick in bed or convalescent. Both church and school have been closed for the last two weeks, and I have been obliged to have boys only on guard at the rookeries. I think that the worst is now over, and do not apprehend that we shall have more deaths. There has not been any sickness among the white men up to this date, and everything upon the island is going along smoothly. On account of so much sickness, 1 have been obliged to issue coal to the natives sooner than I should have done under more favourable conditions, for these people must be provided with more fuel now that the catch of seal is so small they cannot secure near blubber enough, with what little drift wood they can collect, to last them through the winter, and to purchase coal from the Company at 30 dollars per ton of 2,000 lbs. is more than they can stand out of their earnings for killing seal. Their houses are small, with only two rooms each, and with a large family to be all sick at one time is almost certain death with nothing more to keep them warm than tlie few pounds of coal furnished them by Govern- ment, and the little water-soaked drift wood that they have been able to pick up around the island and bring home on their backs, for they have no other means of transportation ; the fact is that the only places tlmt drift wood can land upon this island is at the breeding rookeries, where they are not allowed to go during the season when the seals are tiiere, and it is my opinion that these islands will soon be depopulated unless the Government comes to their rescue, for the few seal they will be able '.o kill here the next few veara will not keep them from suffering. Of Captain Healy, of the " Bear,'' and Captain Calson, of the " Rush," I can'iot *pcak but in the highest terms. The"; gentlemen have been very courteous and obliging to the Government officers in cuarge of these islands, and have also extended all possible favours to the Company agents when it was not interfering with their instructions. Tiie we« Jier here the past month has been very bad, and we have had three very heavy gales of wind, so that I cannot think it possible that a schooner should stop in Behring's Sea at this season of the year. But I do think that they will follow the seal into this sea very cnrly in the spring. As the seal begins to come upon the rookerie.i the last of April, I think the schooner will follow them very close. I would suggest that you place this letter before the Secretary, iis well as mj letters to you under the following dates, 14th August, 10th September, and lot October, that he may know the true state of affairs upon this island. Very respectfully, &c. (Sijned) ALBERT W. LAVENDER, Charles J. Ooif, Assistant Treasury Agent. 'J'reasury Agsnt, Clarksburgh, Washington, Virginia. ^4 I'pifip 5. Report 6f A. W. Lavender. Office of Special Agent, Treasury Department, Sir. " St. George Island, October 30, 1890. i have the honour tio report to you that the United States' revenue -cutter " Be?. The only enemy the seal and seal-pups have around these islands now is the kitten nimies, wliich arc in large schools destroying pups in large numbers. We have had very severe weather lien; most all the year, and I cannot think it pos>ible that there is a scaling-schooner on IJehring's Sea at this time. The natives arc most all on the improve, and we have only had one death since I last wrote you, and that was a young girl of 11 years old, and she died with scrofula and general debility. The natives on these islands must have more furs, or they will suiter next season much more than they will this, as most of them have a little money to purchase wood, three sticks for GO cents. They should have at least 70 tons of coal for this island alone ; drift wood is very scarce, and they have no blubber this season. The Secretary, in his instructions, should say how many rations ai'e to be furnished to the widows and orphans on this island for every week in the year, and this also should be left in the hands of the officers in charge. The seal are nearly all gone from the rookeries now, and it is almost impossible to get enough for native food. I shall have about 600 rejected skins here in the spring, for which please get orders to ship on one of the first ships that goes down. The Company will not take skins less than 6,^ lbs., which is the cause of my having so many rejected. In order to get enough for food, I have been obliged to kill small seal. I hopo that you will he able to secure arms and ammunition for these islands, as they are needed here very badly, I will assure you. If it is possible to change the school system here, it should be done, as the schools here now are only a farce, and I think if they were put under the charge of the Rev. Sheldon Jackson that it would he a big improvement : in fact, there could be no change that would not be for the better. It looks strange to me that after twenty years' teach ng that there is not a single one of the scholars on this island that can speak ICnglish, and most of tiiem have no knowledge of the world outside of these islands. Hoping to see you up here early the coming season. (Signed) ALBERT W. LAVENDER, Charles J. Goff, Esq., Assistant Treasury Agent. Treasury Agent, Clarksburgh, Washington. .1*> 6. Report of A, W. Lavender. My de jr Sir, Oonalaska, March 19, 1890 . I am in receipt of yours of this date, asking me to visit the condemned schoon*^'" now lying near the head of thi^ harbour, and to vnake you a Report as to the valuatio" of each one when new, also the present condition and valuation of each one as they now remain ; and, in reply to same, I will say that upon receipt of yours of even date I went at once on board the steam-schooner " Thornton," of Victoria, TJritish Columbia, and found her to be a small steam-schooner of about 45 tons measurement, built of soft wood, mostly Oregon pine, her engines about eight-horse power, her bottom yellow metalled ; all her running gear was down in her hold among iron rust and dirty water, and of no value whatever, 1 did not find any sails on board, her anchors and chains are both attached to her. hut are very light and rusty, most of her small spars are gone. I should think, when new, that 7,000 dollars would be a fair price for her, including her engines and all other accoutrements, ready for sea. Her present value is nothing more than her old rigging and metal would sell for, less freight and cxpcuBes, and 200 dollars would be a good price for her. From the "Thornton " I went on board the schooner "Carolina," of Victoria, British iii mM Rw^Sw^fflj iliPf'^iiRfii ^l^!'WI!W> 52 Columbia, and found her to be a small keel vessel of about 35 Ions. The rmming gjar was all down in the hold among iron rust and sea water, and is of no earthly use ; her main boom and gaff and bouni to the jib were all the small spars I could find belonging to her, only one small anchor and chain was on board, which is covered wit)» rust, and is very smaU and of little value; her standing rigging is of wire, and, I should say, that when new and ready for sea tiiat her cost would not exceed 2,500 dollars at the outside. I did not see any of her sails on board. The present valuation is nothing more than she would sell foi as firewood, and 25 dollars is more than [ would be willing (o pay, and more, in my opinion, than the Grovernment will ever receive for her. She is built of soft wood, mostly Oregon pine. J'rom the " Carolina " I went on board the " Angel Dolly," of San Francisco, and found her to be a small ccntre-boavd scliooner of about 40 tons measurement. The main masthead was broken off', the standing rigging is of wire. The running gear was down in the hold, and in the same condition as that on the." Carolina '' and " Thornton ; " all her small spars are on board, both anchors and chains are attached. There were none of her sails on board. She jirobably cost when new 3,000 dollars all ready for sea ; her present value is vf*ry little, and 100 dollars would be a good price for her as she now lies. She is also built of soft wood. The water rises and falls in lier and in all the others as the tide ebbs and Hows. I understand that her sails arc in the Government warehouse here, also three of her boats. From the "Angel Dolly'' I visited the schooner " Onward," of Victoria, British Columbia, and found her to be a small two-masted schooner of about So tons, with hemp rope standing rigging ; her small spars are on board, both ancl.ors attached and in fair condition ; her running gear was down in the hold, and tvorthless as tiie rigging of the other three schooners ; there were none of her sails to be found on board. 1 should say that this schooner was built in Nova Sootia; she is made mostly of soft wood, principally pine, and when new was a fine little vessel, and probably cost ready for sea about 4,500 to 5,000 dollars. At the present time she is almost worthless, and I do not think that she would sell for more than 200 dollars, aU])ough s1:l. could be made, with about 1,000 dollars paid out in repairs, a vessel tiiat would sell for about 2,.'j(l0 dollars, provided her sails are in good condition. 1 also found nine canoes on the shoni near the schooner which beloiigs to some of thorn, but, like the vessels, have gone to ruin Ihrough want of care. Should you require a more detailed Report thim this please let me know, and on my return to Oonalaska I will be pleased to make it for you; and in the meantime 1 remain, &c. (Signedj ALBERT W. LAVENDER, Cliailes J. Ooft', Esq., Asmtanl Treasury Agent. Chief Treasury Agent, Seal Islands. No. 2. Sir J. Pauncefote to the Marquis of Salishiiri/. — [Received May 21.) My Lord, Washington, May 11, 1891. WITH reference to my telegram of yesterday, 1 have the honour to inclose an extract from :ie Cleveland " News and Herald" of the 4th instant, purporting to give the full te.■ ; so that ho might be able to d>'moastrate the falsity, or gn - inaccuracy, of Mr. .'ingle's testimony, wliich could not he refuted in any other way. Followini; i- 'rofessor Elliott's Report, submitted to the late Secretary Windom, in November last, ..nd whicli is now made pulilic: — Hon. William Windom, Secretary of the Treasury. Sir, Cleveland, Ohio, November 17, 1890. On the 7th April last I -ceived from your iiands my appointment as the Special Agent created in Act of C gress, approved the 5th April, 1890 : this Act orders and provides for a thorough exanunation into the present status of the fur-seal industry of • our Government as embodied on the seal islands of Alaska, so as to make known itfl relative condition now as compai- ' ith its prior form and well-being in 1872, and for other kindred lines of inquiry. I may as well frankly con .it the outset that 1 was wholly unaware of the extra- ordinary state of affairs which suired me in the face at the moment of my first landing, last May, on the seal islands of Alaska. I embarked upon this mission \uth only a faint apprehension of viewing anything more than a decided diminution of the Pribyloff rookeries, caused by pelagic scaling during the last five or six years. But from the moment of my landing at St. I'aul's Island on the 21st May .ast until the close of the breeding season those famous " rookeries " and " hauling grounds " of the fur-seal tliereon, and of St. George's Island, too, began to declare and have declared to my astonished senses the fact, that their utter ruin and extermination is only a question of a few short years from date unless prompt and thorough measures of relief and protection are at once ordered on sea and on land by the Treasury Department, and enforced by it. Quickly realizing, after my arrival upon these island.s, that a remarkable change for the worse had taken place since my finished work of 1874 was given to the i)ul)lic in that same year and the jear also of my last survey of these rookeries, I took the field at m UilHiiiiiiiiiiiMyiiiHMMii ■■■■ lplpilJ.wlilpllli^^ 34 ^nce, carrjing hourly and daily with me a series of note hooks opened under following heads : — 1. The " rookeriesi," their area, position, and condition, in 1872, 1874-90. 2. The "hauling grounds," their appearance in 1872, 1874-00. 3. The method of " driving" and taking far-seals in 1872, 1874-00. 4. The selection of skins, grade, and supply, in 1872, 1874-00. 6. Character, condition, and number of natives in 1872, 1874-90. 6. Conduct of native labour and pay in 1872, 1874-90. To these heads I add the following sections in their order as mentioned, thus eonstitiiting the full body of my Report, which is preceded by this letter of trans- missal : — 7. The protection and preservation of these fui-bearing interests of our Government on the Pribyloff Islands, the immediate action necessary, viewed in the full light of existing danger. 8. Appendix, in which the author's daily field notes appear, verhatim et literatim, in order of day and date. 9. Revised general Maps of St. Paul and St. George, showing the area and position of the hauling grounds of the fur-seal thereon in 1872-74, and again in 1890. 10. A series of special Maps showing the exact topography, area, and position of the breeding rookeries of St. Paul and St. George Islands in 1872-74, and again in 1890, together with an illustration of each rookery drawn from life by the author. Although I was unable to detect any sign of existing danger or injury to these interests of our Government on these Islands of Pribyloff in 1872-74, yet the need of caution on the part of the Agents of the Government and their close annual scrutiny was pointed out and urged in my published work of 1874* in the fijllowing language (pp. 76-77):- " Until my arrival on the seal islands, April 1872, no steps had heen taken towards ascertaining the extent or the importance of these interests of the Government by either the Treasury Agent in charge or the agent of the Company leasing the islands. This was a matter of no especial concern to the latter, but was of the first importance to the Govornment. It had, however, failed to obtain definite knowledge upon the subject on account of the inaccurate mode ot ascertaining the number of seals which had been adopted by its agent, who relied upon an assumption of the area of the breeding ' rookeries,' but who never took the trouble to ascertain the area and position of these great seal grounds intrusted to his care. " After a careful study of the subject during t' "o whole seasons, and a thorough review of it during this season of 1874, in company with my associate. Lieutenant Maynard, I propose to show plainly and in sequence the steps which have led me to a solution of the question as to the number of fur-seals on the Pribyloff Islands, together with the determination of means by which the Agent of the Government will be able to correctly report upon the condition of the seal-life from year to year. " At the close of my investigation for the season of 1872, the fact became evident that the breeding seals obeyed implicitly a tine instinctive law of distribution, so that the breedin!? ground occupied by them «as always covcied by seals in an exact ratio, greater or less to the area to be held ; that they always covered the ground evenly, never crowding in at one place nnd scattering out at another; that the seals lay just as thickly together where the rookery was a small one of only a few thousand as at ' Nah Speel,' near the village, as they did where a million of tiiem came together, as at North- east Point. " This fact being determined, it is at OTice plain that, just as the breeding grounds of the fur-seal on these islands expand or contract in area from their present dimensions, so the seals will have increased or diminished. " Impressed, therefore, with tlie necessity and the importance of obtaining the exoct area and position of these breeding grounds, I surveyed them in 1872-73 for that purpose, and resurveyed them this season of 1874. The result has been carefully drawn and plotted out, as presented in the accompanying Maps. "'J'he time lor taking these boundaries of the rookeries is during the week of their greatest expansion, or when they are as full as they are to be for the season, and beuMV the regular system ol compact even organization breaks up, the seals then scattering out in pods or clusters, straying far back, the same number covering then twice as much ground in places as they did before, when marshalled on the rookery ground proper ; the breeding seals remain on the rookery perfectly quiet, and en masse, for a week or ten • A Report upon llie Condition of Affairs in the Territorv of AUsita, by Henry W. Elliott, Special Agent, Treasury Department. Government I'rinting Office, 1875. (Pp 277-80') M:0ii i-'i",.;'^,W^ ' ■.\1fnfifjjijmsK'', 'f^Lw.Vfl 56 to of so out luch the tea days during the period of greatest expansion, which is between the 10th and 20th July, giving ample time for the agent to correctly note the exact boundaries of the area covered by them. This step on the part of the Government officer puts him in possession every year of exact data upon which to base a Report as to the condition of the seal-life as compared with the year or years previous. In this way my record of the precise area and position of the fur-seal breeding grounds on St. Paul's Island in the season of 1872, and that of St. George in the season of 1873, correctly serves as a definite basis for all time to come upon which to found authoritative Reports from year to year as to any change, increase, or diminution of the seal life. It is, therefore, very important that the Government should have an Agent in charge of these novel and valuable interests, who is capable, by virtue of education and energy, to correctly observe and report the area and position of the rookeries year by year." Therefore, in the light of the foregoing you will observe that, although I was unable to detect myself any danger to or diminution of the seal life on the Pribyloff Islands after three seasons of close study in the field, ending with the season of 1874, yet I was deeply impressed with the need of an intelligent careful search every year for the sijfns of or real existence of such danger, that I urged the Department to select men who were fit to make such a search, and who could be trusted to do it honestly and thoroughly. I made this request on the 16th November, 1874, as I gave in my detailed Report above cited to the Secretary of the Treasury, who ordered it to be published at once, and caused it to be widely circulated by the Department. In 1872-74, 1 observed that all the young male seals needed for the annual quota of 75,000, or 90,000 as it was ordered in the latter year, were easily obtained every season, between the 1st June and the 20th July following, from the "hauling grounds" of Tolstoi, Sukannon, and Zoltoi Sands, from these hauling grounds adjacent to the rookeries or breeding grounds of Tolstoi, Sukannon, Reef, and Garbotch, all of these points to supply being not more than IJ miles distant from the St. Paul village killing grounds, the Zoltoi drive being less than 600 feet away. At North-east Point on this island Webster got all the seals desired towards filling the above-cited quota of 90,000 from that sand-reach between the foot of Cross Hill and the Big Lake sand drives on the north-shore beach. Then, that immense spread of hauling grounds covered by swarms of young male seals, at Zapodnie, at South-west Point, at English Bay beyond Middle Hill west, at Polavina, and over all that 8 long miles of beach and upland hauling [grounds between Sukannon Bay and Webster's House at Novostoshnoh — all of this extensive sealing area was not visited by sealing gangs, or spoken of by them as necessary to be driven from. Therefore, when attentively studying in 1872-74 the subject of what was the effect of killing annually 100,000 young male seals on these islands (90,000 on St. Paul and 10,000 on St. George), in view of the foregoing statement of fact, I was unable to see how any harm was being done to the regular supply of fresh blood for the breeding rookeries, since those large reservoirs of surplus male life, above named, held at least just half of the young male seal-life then belonging to the islands: these large sources of supply were never driven from — never even visited by the sealers, and out of their overwhelming abundance, I thought that surely enough fresh male seal-life did annually mature for service on tlie breeding rookeries. Therefore, when summing up in my published work of 1872-74, I was positive in declaring that although I was firmly convinced that no increase to the then existing number of seals on these islands would follow any effort that we might make (giving my reasons in detail for so bel'oving), yet I Avas as firmly satisfied that as matters were then conducted, nothing was being done which would injure the regular annual supply of male life necessary for the full demand of the rookeries. I then declared " that provided matters are conducted on the seal island in the future as they are to-day, 100,000 male seals under the age of 5 years and over 1 may be safely taken every year from the Pribyloff Islands without the slightest injury to the regular birth rates, or natural increase thereon, provided also that the fur-seals are not visited by any plague, or pests, or any abnormal cause for their destruction, which might be beyond the control of men," (" Monograph of the Seal Islands of Alaska," p. 62.) I repeatedly called attention to this fact in my published Report, that all of the killable seals required were easily taken in thirty working days, between the 14tli June and the 20th July in every year, from those points above specified, and that those reservoirs of surplus male life at South-west Point, Zapodnie, English Bay, Polavina, Tonkie Meea, &c., were full and overflowmg, that more than enough was untouched which sufficed to meet the demands of nature on the breeding grounds. But to make certain [296] I ^I^HgUl #1 0ir I. if rri>»!?'?i;^i'«^ai^P|ipWin||ii|^.iPfl«u;if >) -J!>l^>!|ipiPWWIiVI\IIXIW«P / 59 cut or throw into the sea 700,000 pelts " during that year. Naturally this loss of labour, time, and money cooled the ardour of the sealing gangs which were working the Pribyloff Islands — they worked slower when they did work, and most likely never worked at all in wet weather ; obliged to bow to the caprices of the climate or lose their labour, they »vere thus oWiged to spare the seals, and this enforced delay in 1788-1806 has saved the PribyloflF rookeries from that swift destruction which the keen, quick-witted American and English sealers visited in 1800-20 upon the great breeding grounds of the fur-seal in the Antarctic ; they, our countrymen, then used the kench and salt ; they never were bothered with the question of how to dispose of their skins after killing and skinning so us to save them, and they brought their methods of 1806-26 — the same metliods of to-day — up to these seal islands of Alaska for the first time in 1868.* No one can state, with more than mere estimation on his part, tlie full number of fur-seals slaughtered by the Russians on the Pribyloff Islands from 1780 to 1817; no lists, no checks whatever on it appear to have been made, and the record certainly never was made, since Bishop Veniaminov, who, from 1825 up to 1838 was at the head of all matters connected with the Church in this Oonalashka district, where the seal islands belonged, and who had the respect and confidence of the old Russian- American Company, made a zealoue fiearch for such a record in 1834-36 among the archives of the Company at Sitka, where tie had full access ; but the result of his painstaking search he sums up in the following terse statement : " Of the number of skins taken up to 1817 I have no knowledge to rely upon ; but from that time up to the present writing I have true and reliable accounts," which he puts into the Apppendix of his pubhshed work.f The Bishop (who is the only Russian who has given us the faintest idea of how matters were conducted in his time upon these islands) seems to have witnessed them in a steady condition of decline as to yield, for in the time of his writing and up to its closing in 1837 the record was one of steady diminution until 1834; the killing seems to have been permitted with all sorts of half measures since 1817, adopted one after the other, to no good result whatever ; finally, however, the supply abruptly fell from an expected 20,000 to 12,000 only from both islands in 1834— "all that could be got with all possible exertion." Then the Russians awoke to the fact that if they wished to preserve these fur- bearing interests of the Pribyloff Islands from ruin, that they must stop killing, wholly stop for a number of years — stop until the renewal of the exhausted rookeries was manifest, and easily recognized ; this Zapooska of 1836, which they then ordered, is the date of the renewed lease of life which these rookeries took, and which by 1867 had restored them to the splendid condition in which they were when they passed into the hands of the United States ; and which now, after twenty-two years of killing since 1868 and under the recent Regulations of 1870, together with the pelagic sealing since 1886, we find again threatened with speedy extinction unless full measures are at once adopted for their preservation and restoration on land, and in the sea — half measures will not do — they failed in the Russian period signally, and they will as signally fail with us if we yield in the slightest degree to any argument for their adoption. It is interesting, therefore, to study the figures which Veniaminov gives us of the yield from these islands during that period extending down from 1817 to 1837 — study it in connection with his statement of what those attempts were, and which were being made, futile efforts by the old Company to build up the business, and yet continue sealing; until, finally, after seventeen years of continual diminution and repeated introduction of half-way methods of restoration, the end came abruptly, and what ought to have been done at first was finally f'orced in 1834 —the absolute rest of the rookeries in 1835 came, and practically continued until 184.6-50 ; then a gradual rise above 10,000 " hoUuschickie " or young male fur-seals per annum began to be safely taken ; and, by 1854, the exhausted and nearly ruined rookeries of St. Paul and St. George were able to yield 35,000 prime fur-seal pelts without the slightest injury to them, and by 1867-60 they were so numerous that the Russians ceased to regard them as objects of care, and thereafter governed their annual catch by the demand outside alone — taking as the market called for them anywhere from 40,000 to 80,000 annually. As matters stand to-day on the seal islands the situation is very much the same as it was in 183d.. Then it was expected that 20,000 seals would be taken, but only 12,000 were secured " with .all possible exertion." This year it was expected that 60,000 fine • They began at once tint system of diseiplineil cxhauslivo slaughter which has proved lo eflective in their hands throughout the Antarctic — took nearly 300,000 seal-skins on these islands in the short space of four months, ceased then only for want ot salt; but, happily, the Government interreued before they could resume their work of swift destruction. >f \ " Zapieskie ob Oonalashkenskaho Otdayla :" St. Tetersburgh, 1842 ; '2 vols, 80. A full traUklation of that chapter which treats of thi» qusstion ifill toUov^ this introduction. .JjMt^lfi^Li.. -■,.....,■ ...r ..■.:^^A ■■MilMMirillHIMlMBMIMIIIi fAIIVtiUPIIIil^UP.JUPIfljIWIi-J pp wftff ''{ivjpevmmmil 60 skins would be taken, but only 21,000 have been secured with all possible exertion, nearly half of this catch being small, or S^-O.J lb. skins — raking and scraping the rookery margins without a day's intermission from the oponing to tlie closing of the season; of this work of 1890 T ;^ive you in tliis Eeport the fullest detail of its progression, day to day, the merciful eniing of it, ordered so happily by you. It will be promptly observed from a study of this record of the Russians which has been so plainly and so honestly given to us by Veniaminov and Shaiesnickov, that the Russians, during their control, were faced at two periods with the prospect of a speedy extermination of these fur-seal rookeries of Alaska ; in 180G and in 1807 they stopped all killing on these Islands of St. Paul and St. George, but began to kill again in 1810 — • too soon. Veniaminoy's record and account shows that from 1817, in spite of every- thing that they could do, save stopping short of all killing, "only made matters worse." Finally, in 1834, with the second and positive threat of swift extermination again facing them, the Russians reluctantly surrendered, and ordered a rest which lasted seven years, ere any beginning was fairly made to kill more than a few tliousand young male seals annually. In the first year only 100 of such animals were taken, the number being very slowly raised year after year until 1847-50. A careful review of my investigation, therefore, warrants me in respectfully urging— 1. That no driving and killing of fur-seals for tax and shipment on the seal islands of Alaska be permiticn by the Government for a period of at least seven years from date ; and 2. That the co-operation of Great Britain and Russia be secured in perfecting our international close time, by which all killing of fur-seals in the open waters of Behring's Sea will be prohibited during the breeding season of these animals, and in order that the Representatives of Great Britain and Russia may see tlic truth of my statement as to what threatens to exterminate these animals if pelagic sealing as well as terrestrial sealing is not at once stopped ; that a Commission of British, llussiau, and American experts be invited to visit the seal islands next summer and report fairly upon the subject. In concluding this introduction to my work of the past season, and its result, I desire to say that I have been exceedingly careful in gathering my data upon which I base all statement of fact and opinion, and to secure these data I have literally lived out upon the field itself, where those facts alone can be gathered honestly, or else they had better not be gathered at all. I now submit, most respectfully, my detailed Report covering the above-mentioned heads, together with those field-sketches and maps which I deem necessary to give a more distinct, clear, and full idea of my meaning and understanding of the subjects treated. . , . Trusting that it will meet with your approval, I am., &c. ' IIeniiy W. Elliott. To the above may be added, furnished by Professor Elliott, the following Table showing numbers of fur-seals on the breeding grounds of the Pribylotf Islands, Alaska, during 1872-74, and again in 1890 : — Island Rookeries. Seals, Male, Female, and Young, 1872-74. Seals, Male, l'"eniale, ,. and Young, ' . 1890. St. Poul „ •• •. n • • • • n •• 1> • • 9> * * • • ft •• j« • • • • f» •• •• t* •• St. George „ •• •• >i • • I, • • • • ;,) • • • • Hcef .. Garbotch Laf;oon Tolstoi , . . . . . Zapadnie Ketavie Luknnnon . . . . Polavina . . . . North-East Point Nahspeel , . . , Zapadnie . . . , Starry Artcel , , North .. Little Eastern . . . . Great Eastern .. .. Grand total ,. 301,000 183,000 37,000 225,000 441,000 les.ooo 170,000 300,000 1,200,000 8,000 18,000 30,420 77,000 13,000 25,000 140,500 .i ' ■ : 84,000 9,000 62,400 ' 121,205 28,000 72,500 142,000 217,875 Disai)pcared 12,500 16,000 38,500 4,800 9,000 8,193,420 969,893 _^^^ mM mum 61 The grand total of 3,103,420 breeding seals and their young for 1872-74 represents a division of its sexes and ages of about 1,000,000 breeding fciin.les or "cows," 1,460,000 newly.born seals or " jnips," and some 145,000 to l 2. r •9 O 1 S CO ^ s i pa • '-J W Ml K ' S^ O M ♦?! sr s. s p P H to /^N /-N 5° M 1-^ n 00 00 CO '.'»'« ^■ imiMiiiiH ^ iiitelHii^iUittiiiiiiii mmmmmmmmmm^ iJii I iuiiji|||ippn«ippp iiteWiiiiifii&iiA^diiiM ■iiiUiiiiiii liiliii^Mik^iiitfiliiMttMl^ /