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Maps, plates, charts, etc., may be filmed at different reduction ratios. Those too large to be entirely included in one exposure are filmed beginning in the upper left hand corner, left to right and top to bottom, as many frames as required The following diagrams illustrate the method: Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent etre film^s d des taux de reduction diff^rents. Lorsque le document est trop grand pour etre reproduit en un seul cliche, il est filmd d partir de Tangle sup^rieur gauche, de gauche d droite, et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre d'images ndcessaire. Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la mdthode. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 * 00 B »* J^ JtA^f^L^^ Printed for the lue of the Foreign Office, June 1802, ^m CONFIDENTIAL. REPORT ■■«■ OF TSB ■■^iS .' BEHRING SEA COMMISSION. 1 ••• • • • f* 1892, ) h r TABLE OF CONTENTS. Paragraph' I- 1-26 26-34 35-59 60-70 71-84 8S-100 ,r.. 101 102-114 115-144 145 146 147-15a I5i-rj4 185--.61 lf2 va I'M 165 166-168 169-170 171-196 Ul7 908 209-223 224-243 244-27B 277-283 284-291 292-294 295-297 298-302 303-316 317-325 326-343 344-356 357-376 .'177-395 CommisBion and Letter of Instructioos REPORT. Introductory PART I.— SUMMARY OF FACTS AND CONCLUSIONS. I. — The Formsr, Present, and Prospective Cokdition op the Fur-Seal Fishery in the North Pacific Oceak. (A.) Oencral Conditions of Senl Life . . . . . . • • (B.) Killing on the Breeding Inlands, , .. .. .. .. (C.) Sealing nt Sea .. •• •• .• •• (D.) Additional points connected with Sealing at Sen or on Sho; j. . (E.) Former and present condition of the Industry II. — Considerations relating to tiik Basis upon wmcn Preoadtions MAY be devised for THE PREStRVATION OF HIE FdB-SEAI, (A.) Interests involved .. .. .. •• •• •• (B.) I'rini'iplcs involved ,. .. .. ,. .. (C.) Summary of general cuiiditiona bearing upon Regulations . . . < III. — Measures fob the Protection and Presebtatiuk ur the Fub-Seai, of the North Pacific. (A.) General nature of Measures required .. .. ., ., (i.) Improvements in the Methods of taking Seals (ii.) Restriction in the Number of Seals taken .. .. ,, (B.) Specific scheme of Regulations recommended ., .. ., (C.) Methods of giving c Sect to Regulations .. .. ., ., (D.) Alteniative Methods of Regulation .. .. .. ., (i.) Entire Prohibition of Killing on one of the Breeding Islanda, with suitable concurrent Rcgvlations at Sea .. ., (ii.) Recurrent periods of Rest ,. ,. ,, ., (iii.) Total Prohibition of Killing on the Breeding Islands, with con- current strict Regulation of Pelagic Scaling ., . (E.) International action ,, ,, .. .. .. part ii.— detailen ol)serva|tvtsns-"on-'t«e facts and condition9_.()k;seal life. I. — Natural Histokv and KsvUdHmeVt •i>F:io.'E:FJjSi-|SEAL of the NoitTH'PAciprc; ■ .^ '.: '..' : Pago (A.) (B.) (C.) (D) (E.) (F) (G.) (II.) (JO (K.) (L.) (M.) (N.) Migrations and Range of the Fur-Seal of the North Pacific— (i.) Eastern side of the North Pacific ., .. (ii ) Wejitein side of the North Pacific .. ., (ui.) Uistriouuon at Sea . . . . . . . . . , Food of the Fur- Seal ., .. .. ., Physical characteristios of the Pribyloff and fJommander Islands, and nature of the Breeding Grounds , . , . . , . , Annual progress of events in Seal Life on the Breeding Islands . , Ages at which Males reach Virility and the Females produce Young .. Requisite proportions of Sexes . . , . . . . , , , Coition .. Age nt which the young Swim. — Number of young nt a Birth ., Distances to which Seals go from the Breeding Islands in search of Food, and times of Feeding . . . . , . Habits when Suckling. , ., .. ,, .. ,, Natural causes of Destruction . . . . , , . , , , Mortality of Young Seals ill 1891 ., .. ., ,, Methods of eniiineiating Seals on th? Pribyloff Islands and estimates of Xunibc rs . . . . . . . . , , , , Various nalur.il iiulioations of fuinier extent uf ground occupied by Seals on the Pribyloff Islands . . ,. ,, ., ,, [222] 1,2 9-S fi. 7 7-11 11-12 12-14 14-16 17 17-19 19-23 23 23 24 24 25 26 26 26 26, 27 27 27,28 29- 32 ;)2- 34 34- -38 38- -42 42- .jr 49, 50 50- -52 52 62, 53 .53, 54 54. -57 57, 68 38 -61 (!1 -64 (54 -67 07 -71 t A i TABLE OP CONTZMTS. m Paragraph. Pago 396-44H (O.) Clinngcs in Habits of the Fur.Scal in recent years . . . . 71-73 447-4S0 (P.) Fur-ScaU Breeding on the Southern putt of the North American eoost 7f» 4fil-467 (Q.) Connection or interchange of Seals between the I'ribylotf and Com- mander Inlands . . . . . . . . . . 79-81 468-478 (II.) Conditions nffeeting the Seii.tJtter and Sca-Cow contrnsted with those affecting the Kur-Seal . . . . . . . . , , 81-83 474-825 (S.) Bretding Places nnd Kesorta of the l-'ur-Seal on the Western Side of the North Pacific . . . , , . . . , . . . 84-91 426-570 II. — Natives or the Coasts ok Bnmsn Columbia amii Alaska DlnECTl.T IntEHESTEH IK IxUEPENDEKT SfcALISO. MeTIIOPS OP IIUNTINO, ANT) Ni;.MDEIl TAKEN ., .. 91-97 III.— Pelagic Skalino. 671-600 (A.) Origin and Development ., .. .. 97-102 601-612 (B.) Methods 102-104 613-632 (C.) Proportion of Seals lost 104-109 633-663 (D.) Composition of Cutch , . . . . , . , . . H/9-U3 654-658 (E.) Future of the Industry ., .. .. .. ., IV. — Control anp Methods or Sealing on the PnirTioFr Islands, THEin Nature anh Heshlts. 11.), HI 059-673 (A.) Methods employed .. ., ,. .. ., ,, 114-116 674-693 (B.) Decrease in Number of Seals, its Origin and Progress ,. 116-119 694-703 (C.) .Standard Weights of Skins taken 110-121 704-721 (D.) Driving of Seals .. ,. .. .. ., 121-123 722 (K.) Protection of Uookcries from Disturbance . . . . . , 124 723-726 (P'.) Native Inlercsis on the Islands .. 121,125 727-770 (G.) Raids 12.5-1, 11 771-781 V. — Nl-mbeb of Fdb-Seals Killed upon the Pbibvloi r Islands .. 131-134 782-833 VI.— IIisToKicAL Notes on the Condition op the Fi'ii-Seal Kook- EltlES of the PrIBTLOFP ISLANDS IN TABIOOS YeaBS ,, 131-140 834-901 VII. — The Fvb-Seal Fishery in the Southeiin IIfmispbeke 140-119 002-903 Vril. — Marketino the Seal-Skins ., ,, PAKT III. 149 904-908 CoNCLiiDiNa Remarks 150 I -n APPENDICES. cmlix (A) It (B) *i (C) (1 (D) (E) (F) (0) (H) List of Persons nnd Authorities supplying evidence • ■ . . . Circular to and replies from Colonial and Foreign Govcrnmenta . . . Various letters and commuoicatioiis relating to the I'ur-Seals of the British Columbian and neighbouring coasts . . . . . . Miscellaneous corrcspoudcnco and Memoranda,, ,, ,, ., Seal Preser\'ation Kegulations and Ordinances . . «■ .. ., Particulars of Pelagic Catch of British and United States' S.-aling-vcssels, 1871— .11 «• «, •• •• fl« «• a. Miscellaneous Tables .. .. .. i, .. .. Affidavits relating to Pelagic Scaliii},',, .. .. ., ,, Page 151 -1.'3 154 -1(9 170 -178 179- -186 187- -197 198- 206 207- 212 213- a;- 5 i 152930 MAPS AND DIAGRAMS. H 1 Track Chart of Routes followed by tho Rritinh Behring Sea Oommi«»ioner», IStb July to 8th October, 1891. IL Sketch Map, illustrating KesorU and Migration Uoutoe of Kur-Seals in tlic North Pacific. III. Sketch Map, showing approximately the A.-»a frequented by Fur-Soals in the period extending from 15th July to ICth August, 1891. rV. SkettU Map, showing approximately the Area frequented by Fur-Seals in the period extending from 15th July to 16th August, 1891. V. Diagrams illustrating Number of Fur-Scala Killed. f Printed for the use of the.Foreiyn Office. June 1892. CONFIDENTIAL Rp|)ort of the IJehring Sea Commission. COMMISSION. t'omtnission passed unil'jr the Rojal Sijjii Miiiuial and Signet, appoiiitinfj Sir George Smyth Uiiden-rowell, K.C.M.G., M.l'., and George Mereer Dawson, LL.D.. F.R.8., to undertake an inquiry into the Conditions of Seal Lite and the ])recautions necessary lor preventing the extermination of the Fur-seal Species in Behring Sea and other parts of the North Pacific Ocean. Victoria R.l. VICTORIA, by the Grace of God, of tlie United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, Queen, Defender of tiic F^aith, ICmpross of India, &c., to all and s-ingular to ■whom these presents shall come, greeting I AVhtreas, we have deemed it expedient that Commissioners should be appointed for the purpose of in(iuiry into tlic conditions of seal life and the precautions necessary for preventing tlic extermination of the fur-seal species in Behring Sea and other parts of the North Pacific Ocean: Now, knO'V ye, that we, reposing especial trust and confidence in the diligence, skill, and integrity of our trusty and we'l-bL'hived Sir George Smyth Baden-Powell, Knight Commander of Our Most I)isti.i^i:ishe. We then crossed to the Commander Uhinds, and there received from the Russian autbdrities every faeilitv and courtesy in our task of learning; all we could cmicerning seal life on those islaiuls. Thence we i)roceeded down the coast of Kamscbatka to Petropaulouski, wbere ai;aiu tbt Russian authorities jjave us every information. On this crui/.e Her Majesty's ship " I'orpoise/' sailinj? in company, proved of the greatest os«istance. l(i. Leaving Petropaulouski on the lOtli September our course was shaped forili- Pril ylotr Islands, so a'! to strike tl cm IVom a westerly direction, and conliuue across that Jioition of Hehring Sea our observations of seals seen at sea. A third nnd tinal exaini- nntiiin of the Pribyloff rookeries was then made after a further interial of twenty-six days, and Unalaska was again n^acbed on the 17lh September. 17. Leaving Bciiring Sen on the i'Oth Sejitemhcr, we visited Kndiak Island, Silka, anil Sbakaii, making in(|iiiiies of both llie native and White residents as to the fur-seal fishery in thi.> distant te.'ritor, of the I'nited States. Continuing our cruize of investi- gation, we called at the l(dl(iwing places on the coast of British Columbia, viz, Port Simpson. Metla-kalln, Port I']sMni;ton, .Massei ((^)ueen Charlotte [slanils), H(dla-Hella, JJawitti, Clayoipiot Sound, and Harelny Sound, where, by jKTsonal in(|uiries, we were enabled to aniplifv lh(! writtt'U statements wbieh, in con)]ilian(;e with our i)revi()us recjuest, had been fornanbHl to us i)y the Indian agents f British Columbia. Those following the second route breed, in the main, on the Commander Islands, and winter off the coasts of Japan. The comparative proximity of the breeding islands frequented by the s^r's pertaining to those two migration-tracts (lining the summer insures a certain interrelation and interchange of <st sight of. Among these are, inclement seasons in which the brecdinjr islands, or some of them, remained so long ice-bound that the females were unable to land in time to give birth to their young; autumn storms, fatal to young seals, and also the recurrent inroads of murrains or diseases of various kinds. Of the t-AO first of these last-mentioned causes, instances which have resulted in great damage to seal life have been recorded on the Priliyloff Islands. In regard to the third, thouijh elsewhere observed, there is a remarkable absence of notice in the records of these islands. ;i3. The separate or concurrent effects of such causes, even before the era of the seal- hunter, must have produced great fluctuations in the total volume of seal life in certain years or terms of years. There are of course no data available in actual proof of this, but that such must have occurred is suiliciently obviipus from analogy with the known facts relating to other animals, and jinrticularly those of a siuiilar gregarious habit. •'54. In all parts of the world the discovery of the breeding islands of the fur-seal has usually been followed by unrestricted slaughter upon these breeding places, and this has invariably resulted in general depletion, often ajiproaciiing extermination, but in no known case within historical times, has it actually resulted in complete extirpation. Original condition! on breeding iilandt. Natural flnctuntioKv in nuntbei-t Inlcrfcrenco with n.-itniiil conditions. or (B.) — Killing on the Breeding Hands. 35. The discovery of the breeding islands in the North Pacific, and the slaughter Effects of of seals upon them by man, introduced a more important factor in regard to their seal kiiliug. life, the general effect of which, under what regulations soever, tended inevitably towards a reduction in the aggreirate ntmiber of seals frecjuenting the islands. In other words, the initiation of commercial killing on the breeding islands interfered with the previously established balance of nature. Jt formed a heavy new draft npon seal life, while no compensatin;; relief was afforded a<:ainst the active depredations of other enemies or against other natural occurrences which had heretofore set limits to the increase of the seals. Their lormcr places of secure retreat were invaded by man. w hile, during the greater pari of each year, they remained exposed on the open ocean as before to innumerable accidents, and entirely beyond the control or possible protection of those in charge of the breeding islands. The inroads of the ni..\l 'kWiays on the islands might be modified in kind or in degree, but their general tcjuf^'ucy .could i;ot ho'.v'vgrsed. ^G. The Pribyloff and Conititander Ifjl.inds of the North Pacific have, however, continued to be the resorts of large niimlicrs of fur-soals for more than 100 years subsequent to their diseovei.y und.-«(ccuj)ation liv the i{ns«:anS. Almost from the first, regulations restricting the slaugiiter of seals oti land were instituted and carried out by tne Hussian authorities, and similar measures have been continued in the case of th'' PrihylolF Islands by the Government of the United States. Though continuous, or noarlj so, in their general operation, such regulations have varied much in their nature, and even nu)re with regard to the degree of efficiency with which they have been enforced, and in the latter respects they have at no time been entirely satisfactory for the purposes intended. H7. During the enr'y years of the Hussian control, the conditions of seal life were very improvr- imperfectly understood, and but little regard was paid to the subject. A rapid diminution ment* in in the number of seals frequeiitina; the islands, however, eventually claimed attention, and r'gul»tion». improvements of various kinds folloued. Among the first of the more stringent measures adopted was the restriction of killing to males, which followed from the discovery that a much largei number of males were born than were actually required for service on the Re^ulalioni on breeding iftlandi. 8 Numben killed on the Hribyloff IslaudB. Depletion threatened in KuBsian tiioea. Iiicreaie tn later years of Kussian ic'^ime. I'liiled States' control. I"frecli> of excessive blaugbtcr. brecdiniL? " rookeries." The killing of females was practically forbidtlcn on the Prihvloll Islands about 1847, and on the Commander Islands probably about the same date. 38. The obvious fact was also recognized that the killing for food alone of large numbers of young seals or " ])ups," wlientbeir skins came to posse-ss nocomniereial value, was a useless waste of seal life. On the Connnander Islands this ])ractice ceased after the year 187i. It was slronj;ly iirotcstcd against as early as 1875 on the Pribyloff Islands, but was not actually forl)iJdt;n there until the year 181)1. S'J. The number of seals annually killed on the Pribyloff Islands during the earlier years of the Russian regime is not accurately known, though fairly exact statistics are extant from the year 1817. Sudicient is known, however, to show that the number killed in various years before this date dilTcred widely, and was in some years excessive. The whole number of seals killed in certain terms of years lias been recorded witli approximate accuracy. A study of tlie figures thus available indicates that the average annual killing during the twenty-one years, 1787 to 1806, both inclusive, was about 60,0(iO; during the nine years, from 1807 to ISLi, it was approximately, 47,500 ; and during the years from 1817 to 1866 was 25,000. Combining the whole period covered by the figures above quoted, and adding the year in which the islands were discovered, we find that the killing on the Pribylolf Islands averaged for this term of eighty-one years about Sl'.OOO annually. The exact figures, in so far as these can be obtained, are given in a tabular form (§771). 40. The excessive killing of seals in certain years of the Russian period of control, together with the nearly promiscuous slaughter (for the first part of this jieriod) of seals of both sexes and all ages, doubtless had much to do with the alarming decrease in seal life which occurred more than once during this period. It is to be noted, however, in this connection, that as both males and females continue to be productive as breeders for a number of years, the effect of excessive killing of any particular class of seals, .such as young males or young females, for two or three consecutive years, could only produce its full etfect on the breeding " rookeries " after the lapse of four or live years. It is thus instructive to observe that even to maintain the comparatively low average number killed during the Russian period, it was found absolutely nece.ssary on several occasions to institute periods of rest or "zapooska," in which all killing of seals was prohibited for some years. 41. It is iilso noteworthy, that for many years previous to the close of the Russian control (probably from about 1842) under a more enlightened system of management than that of the earlier years, the number of seals resorting to the islands was slowly increasing, and that the average number taken annually was gradually raised during these years from a very low figure to about 30,000, without apparently reversing this steady improvement in the numbers resorting to the islands. 42. In 1867, the last year of the Russian tenure, a sudden and great increase in the take of seal-skins was allowed to occur, and the number rose abruptly in this year to about 75,000. 4:5. In the next year, being the first in which the PribylofT Islands passed into the control of the United States, an almost promiscuous slaughter occurred, in which it is estimated that over 242,000 seals were killed. In 1809 about 87,000 seals in all were killed, tnaking an average nutnl>cf-, for '^ach of the three years, 1867 to 1869, of over 130,000, and including large numbers of femfUes. 44. The effect of the irregular and ci:cessivc killing on the breeding islands in these three years (long before pelagic sealing- had grown to be of any importance) became apparent in two principal •way's: (Ij the number of- seals diminished on the breeding islands to an extent much greater than could be accounted for by the actual number slaughtered, and at about the same date the seals were seen in unprecedented abundance off the British Columbian coast to the southward (facta clearly shown in the diagrams and by the figures elsewhere given for the catch) ; (2j (he number of young produced in the three following years was much less than before, and this, in conjunction with the extraordinarily high fiinit of 100,000 allowed by law to be taken each year, com-, mencing in 1871, speedily brought about a very marked decrease in males of killable age. Thus, in 1875, notwithstanding the generally optimistic tone maintained in official reports, we find a first significant note of wp.rning, and economy of seal life is inculcated. In the same year the number of skins obtained was considerably reduced in face of a steady market, and before the decline in prices of the two succeeding years, which decline, no doubt, accounts in part for the still smaller number of skins taken in these two years. 45. It is particularly important to note the effects of the excessive killing of the ytors 1867-68-69, which, combined with those ensuing from the slaughter of male seals of par- ticular ages in various years to 1876, can be closely followed, chiefly by means of Captain Bryant's intelligent notes on this period, which are elsewhere summarized (§ 810 el nen.^. 40. It is clearly apparent, and is borne out by the experience of later years, that any severe disturbance of the natural conditions on the breeding islands is at once reflected in changes of habits of the seals and in the irregularities and overlapping of dates in the annual cycle of seal life. Such changes are not prevented by the restriction of killing to males, for an excess in number of males is a part of the natural conditions ; and any change in the proportion of males, even if not pushed so far as to become in itself a cause of decrease in numbers born, constitutes a true cause of change in habits, and has a very si)ecial effect on the time and place of landinfj of tiie females (§ iOli et xdj.). An excess in number of males, witii the consctjucnt coinpctiiidn for females, must, in all probability, further be regarded as a provision fi)r maintaining tlic strength of the race as a wjiole by means of natural selection, and in the case of tlie fur-seal it is not possible to substitute for such provision the artificial selection of breeding males, as is done with animals under the control of man. 47. In 1870 the Pribylofi' Islands were leased by the United States to the Alaska Commercial Company, and the number of seals to be killed for skins was fixed empincally at 100,000 annually. This number was admitted at the time by the best authorities to be experimental (§§ 810, 81j5), and it was provided by Conyrress that the Secretary of the Treasury might reduce the number allowed for killing if found necessary, for the sake of preserving the seals and with pmpoitionate reduction of rent. Practically, however, and on grounds not publicly explained, it remained unaltered, and became a fixed limit. 48. As early as 1875 and 187G the number thus established was officially reported as being too great, but it was not reduced or changed duritg the entire twenty years' term of the lease, except by an alteration made in the relative proportions to be killed on St. Paul and St. George Islands in 1874, when also the time during which the killing for skins might progress was extended. 49. The limit thus fixed did not include seals killed for food at seasons or of ages at which the skins were not merchantable : and, as a result, the total recorded take of seals on the islands in each full year of the lease but three, actually exceeded 100,000. Of these three exceptional years, one falls below 100,000 by a very small amount only, while two are considerably below it. Thus, excluding the first year, the number known to have been killed in each of the nineteen succeeding vears of the lease averages 103,147. The official figures for tfie entire twenty years of the lease furtiier show that, during this term, 129,530 seals, including about 0;5,0 Changri produced hj diaturbance. Killing 6xed at 100,000. Itcported ton Ingh. Acluai kill.np exceeded lUO.OOO. Report! nfford iiii-ulist'iic- 'orj ilala. io E*id«nr* of other kindf. Proportion! of mtlM to fODMlOf. Further •ourcea of information. Iniixate crun tinned decrease. Number filed tor killing too high Not adaptable. and again as a supervising officer of the Government. There are also, unfortunately, certain groups of years during which no serious attempt appears to have been made to record the true condition of the breeding islands. This 'a particularly the case in years between 1880 and 1869. £3. The kiUing on the islands was, bowcTer, by law confined to male seals, and it is, rather from the collateral evidence afforded by allusions to the proportion of virile males to females, together with other incidental references, the meaning of which becomes clear when coupled with local knowledge, than from many of the direct statements published, that a true idea of the actual condition of seal life on the islands during these years can be formed. 64. The proper proportion in number of virile males to adult females is a matter of importance, and in estimates, made while the rookeries of the Pribyloff Islands were still in excellent condition, there is a satisfactory measure of agreement on this point. Bryant placed this proportion at one male to nine to twelve females, while Elliott states the mean number of females in a harem in 1872-74 at from five to twenty (" Monograph of North American Pinnepeds," p. 390; United States' Census Report, p. 26). M. Grelinitzky, Superintendent of the Commander Islands, and a naturalist of pre-eminent experience in the facts of seal life, informed us that when the proportion of females e.tceeded ten to each mature male, he considered that too many males were being killed, and that each harem should in no case contain more than twenty females. When, therefore, we find the harems in the Pribyloff Islands growing yearly larger, till at the present time they surpass the proportions above mentioned from four to eight times, it is reasonable to conclude that in this change the effect of an exce.ssive slaughter of young males is rendered apparent. 65. Our own and all other local observations on the rookeries during the last few years prove that it is no uncommon event to find a single male seal with a harem numbeiing from forty to fifty, and even as many as sixty to eighty, females. 6G. Fii iier evidence with the same meaning is afforded by the increasin;j number of barren feaiales ; by the disturbance and change in the habits of the seals ; by the actual dearth of " killablc " seals in the vicinity of the nearer rookeries, and the extension of driving (as early as 1879 or 1880) to places which had previously been held in reserve and which had seldom or never been drawn upon in earlier years ; by the ''iving of " killables " from the very margins of the breeding rookeries, which should hr- • remained undisturbed; by the longer time during which the killing required to .. 'ontinued in later years in order to enable the full quota to be obtained, and by the lar, ■ number of undersized and otherwise ineligible animals, including females, ruthlessly driven up in recent years and turned away from the killing grounds in an exhausted and bewildered if not actually injured state. The proportion thus turned away, according to the report of the Special Treasury Agent in 1890, actually rose to 90 per cent, of the whole number driven. 67. A critical investigation of the published matter, together with the evidence personally obtained from many sources and an examination of the local details of the rookeries and hauling grounds on the Pribyloff Islands, leads us to believe that there has been a nearly continuous deterioration in the condition of the rookeries and decrease in the number of seals frequenting the islands from the time at which these passed undc **^ -- control of the United States, and that although this decrease may possibly have l,et.i i iterruptcd, or even reversed, in some specially favourable years, it was nevertheless real, and in the main persistent. 68. There can be no doubt that the number fixed by law and maintained for commercial killing on tlic breeding islands has been much too great, and that the resulting slaughter of more than 103,000 male seals in each year has been mere than the total volume of seal life could fairly stand. The sparing of females in a degree prevented, for the time being, the actual depletion of seals on the islands, and this, with the fact that the killing of immature males does not immediately produce its effect on the " rookeries," caused the apparent decrease to be at first gradual. As, however, tiiis effect was of a cumulative character, it could not very long escape observation, and it was observed by the natives, as we personally ascertained from them, to be distinct and serious at least as early as 1882 or 1883, while t'olonel Murray, the Government Agent, and Mr. Llliott, the (special Treasury Agent, in their several reports to the Treasury, trace the beginning of the notable diminution back as far as 1879 or 1880. Other evidence of a circumstantial rather than a direct character, elsewhere detailed, enables t!.c earlier etl'ects of the gm. rul decrease to be followed .still furtiier back ^§ i)74 et sey.). W. It is particularly necessary to note thai the adoption of a high fixed number to be killed each year, practically prevented such a system of adaptable control, based on the 11 observed foots of each year, as would hare enabled the best results to have been obtained and due provision to have been made in time to counteract the effects of unfavourable seasons or of other extraneous conditions affecting seal life. The system adopted was in fact purely artificial, and one not suited to the natural requirements of the case. (C.) — Sealing at Sea. 60. From the circumstances above noted, the maintenance of seal life in the North Pacific was threatened and reduced to a critical state in consequence of the methods adopted on the breeding islands, where the seals were drawn upon annually to, and even beyond, the utmost limits possible apart from depletion, and where, in consequence of the enlarged season of commercial killing and the allowance of "food Itilling" during the entire time in which any seals resorted to the islands, these animals had {)ractically no undisturbed season of respite. At this time a new factor also tending towards decrease appeared in the form of " pelagic sealing," a phrase applied specially to the hunting of the fur-seals on the open sea, schooners or other small vessels being employed as a base of operations. 61. This particular method of sealing originated as a natural outgrowth from that practised from time immemorial by the natives of the coast of British Columbia, and parts of South-eastern Alaska and (he State of Washington. In this industry these natives have from the first been largely interested, though it has been taken up, fostered, and directed by the Whites. It was thus in its mode of origin a perfectly natural and legitimate development of the native modes of hunting (§ 571 et .sw/ ). 62. Pelagic sealing, as thus by degrees expanded into an important industry, was an essentially novel method of taking the fur-seal consequent on the peculiar habits and maritime genius of the native peoples of the west coast of North America, and particularly of those in British Columbia, and the vicinity of Cape Flattery in the adjacent State of Washington. It was from the first, and still is, an important source of revenue to a native population, numbering many thousands, as well as a help to their advancement in civilization. 63. Under the circumstances above described as prevailing on the breeding islands, the growth of this new industry, lio«ever, meant a further acceleration of the rate of diminution of the fur-seal of the North Pacific as a whole. 64. The hunting of the fur-seal by the native peoples in their own canoes, and using the shore as a base of operations, had been practised from times which are prehistoric for the West Coast ; but the total number of seals thus taken (save in certain exceptional years) was always small, and it was not till about the year 1869 that the first practical essays were made in taking the seals at sea with the assistance of schooners provided with Indian hunting crews and canoes. This method of hunting was initiated almost simultaneously, about the time mentioned, in British Columbia and in the adjacent State of Washington. 05. It may here be particularly noted that the industry thus developed in conscciucnce of peculiar local conditions, had never elsewhere appeared as a factor of commercial importance, and that in so far as we have been able to discover by inquiries specially directed to this point, no vessels carrying hunters for the purpose of taking seals at large on the sca-surikoe had ever before frequented any seas anywhere. The vessels sailing from New England and from some liiitisli ports, which formerly, in considerable numbers, made scaling voyages to the Southern Hemisphere (§ S:)* et spq ), slaughtered the seals there only on shore and at the breeding places, and this without any respect for the rights of territorial dominion or property over the islands they frequented. Tb :• "scaling fleet" employed in the Southern Hemisphere has, therefore, at no time been of the same character with that engaged in pelagic sealing in the North Pacific. 06. For several ."ars subsequent to its inception, pelagic sealing remained in the hands of a few persons, and was to so great an extent a trade secret that little information can now be obtained respecting it. This is particularly the case in regard to the scaling-vcs'els sailing from United States' ports, some of which, although interested in pelagic scaling proper, are kno»n to have obtained many skins by illegal raiding on the breeding islands from the earliest years of the control of these islands by the United States. 67. From four schooners in 1878 and 1879 (about which time the new development of scaling first began to attract some attention), the sealing fleet owned in British Columbia gradually increased, tiU in 1889 twenty>thrce, in 1890 twenty-uine, and in •eating t furthar and on iral life. lu origin tnd de>«lop- menu Independent native liunting. Peculiar clia meter of pelagic sealing. Its growtli. t2 First pelngic Healing in Behriny'i Sea. 1891 fifty vessels were employed in it. So far as known, the first of these vessels to enter Behring Sea for purposes of sealing was the " Mary Ellen," in 1884. In 1885 two of the British Columbian vessels continued their voyage into Behring Sea, and in the following year the entire fleet, then numbering eighteen vessels (excepting two which were wrecked), did so. The fifty vessels employed in 1891 were provided with 370 boats and canoes, and were manned by 1,083 Whites and Indians. 68. The number of skins tluis obtained grew in proportions corresponding to the growth of the fleet from a"i,3I0 in 1889 to 43,315 in 1890, and to 49,616 in 1891. Only a portion of these catches were, however, miule within Behring Sea, and of this portion an increasing percentage was obtained in the western region of that sea. 69. At least one vessel registered in the United States is known to have entered Behring Sea for legitimate pelagic sealing as early as 1881, and, in this particular extension of the industry, the British Columbian sealers cannot therefore claim to be the pioneers. 70. The United Slates have for many years past strenuously endeavoured to build up native maritime industry. In this pelagic sealing they undoubtedly have on the Pacific coast a useful nursery for seamen. The industry of wlialing has shown a serious falling-off in recent years, but that of sealing has exhibited a marked and steady increase. In 1885 there were not ten vessels so employed. In 1891 the sealing fleet owned in the United States numbered more than forty vessels, and the value of the catch is reported to have exceeded 30,000/. Pribylotr liland V, I •; '. (D.) — Additional points connected with Sealing at Sea or on Shore. Decrene 71. The decrease in tlic number of seals re.sorting to the Pribyloff Islands is observed on reported to have been more rapid since 188C or 1887, and thi.s Ims been pttributed to the growth of pelagic sealing. At the same time, the chief complaint has been that a great proportion of the seals taken at sea are females, whereas the most noticeable decrease observed on the i.slnnds is in males. Wb.ile, therefore, it may be admitted that pelagic sealing must bo held accountnUlc for its share in the total effect, the above-mentioned incompatible complaints cannot be received without question. When a decrease became apparent on the islands, jirudcnce should have dictated some curtailment of the annual slaughter there in correspondence with the efl'ect of the new factor tending towards diminution. Measures 72. No Ruch curtailment, however, occurred. The Company holding the lease of practisiii to thcsc islands on fixed terms were not interfered with, but continued to take their full legal obtain qnota. q^yJ^ ^^ gj.i„g without regard to the ri.sk to senl lite as a whole. Not only so, but instead of reducing the catch, the standard of weight of skins taken on the islands was steadily lowered so as to include a younger class i.f seals under the designation of " killablcB." Instead of skins weighing 7 or 8 lbs., those of 6 lbs. and (as we have ascertained on excellent authority) even of 4 lbs. and of 3^ lbs. have been taken and were accepted by the Company as early as 1 889. This is in marked contrast with the conduct of aff'wrs on the Commander Islands, where no seals yielding skins below 7 lbs. in weight have been allowed to be killed for some years, and where in 1891, in order to afford a factor of safety, the limiting weight of skins was raised to 8 lbs. 73 The Company holding the lease of the Pribyloff Islands had, of course, its own interests in view, and the period of its lease was drawing to a close; but it must be added that no explanation has been otfered by the Government Agents in charge of the islands of the principles rmder which they were guided to allow this lowering of .standards, with the concomitant encroachment on the limits of breeding rookeries, and the extension of the area of driving to ])laces hitherto held in reserve. 74. Summarizing the causes of wnste of .seal life involved in the methods actuiilly practised in killing seals on the Pribylofl' Islands (§ (i.")9 ft .spr/ ), we find the following to be the mos*^ serious : — (i.) The killing of unweaned "pups" and of "stagey" seals for "food," which together reached an average amount equalling 7 per cent of the total animal catch. The skins of such seals ai-e umnerchaiitable, and their sluuphtcr is now admitted to be unneccs.sary, but it has been allowed to continue till tiie year 1891. (ii.) Accidental killing of seals, due to over-driving, and other violence inseparable from the mode of " driving " and clubbing the seals. These evils had been fully dealt with by the United States' Special Agent in his report for 1890. W'aEii' of seal life. IB (iii.) " Stampedes " upon the breeding rookeries, caused by efforts to secure " drives " too close to their borders, or to carelessness of various kinds. These are especially destructive to "pups," which are trampled to death by the older seals. (iv.) Effects of disturbaiica on tho breeding rookeries, and of distress and fright resulting from " driving," which, it is believed, causes many motliers with young, as well as other classes of seals, to leave the breeding islands prematurely. (v.) Surreptitious killing of seals by unauthoriy.ed persons on the islands. This may not have reached great dimensions, but is known to have occurred, and no statistics can be obtained respecting it. (vi.) Raids upon the rookeries, rendered possible by the laxity of control and super- vision, which prove most destructive to all classes of seals engaged in breeding, nud especially to nursing mothers and " pups." 7r>. The ofTicial statistics show, besides the seals killed of whicli the skins were accepted for shipment, only those killed for "food," and of wiiich the skins were rejected. AH the incidental causes of loss above noted are unaccounted for, and the acLual percentage of wastage in securing tlie annuiil quota of skins since tlie Alaska purchase thus remains indeterminate, but must have been great. It is believed to have exceeded 10 per cent., and may well have readied 20 per cent, on the whole number of skins accepted. 70. It is thus clear that the slaughter of seals upon the breeding islands is in itself an essentially critical and dangerous method of killing, which, although established by long custom, can scarcely be otherwise justified. No regulations which have heretofore been devised liave even tlieorcticiiliy removed such dangers. Till quite veccntly, altogether insufficient care has been exercised in carrying out existing regulations ; and the facts above referred to show clearly in what way, notwithstanding stated rules, and, in the absence of ihorougldy inde|)endent and trained supervision, such rules may be so interpreted or strained as to permit tl.e most serinus dan age to seal life as a wlnde. 77. Against the methods of pelagic sealing two principal lines of criticism and of attack have been developed, and botli have been so persistently urged in various ways, that they appear to have achieved a degree of recognition by the uninformed altogether unwarranted by the facts, in so far as we have been able to ascertain them, though in both there is an underlying measure of truth. It is stated (1) that almost the entire pelagic catch consists of females ; (2) that a very large proportion of the seals actually killed at sea are lost. 78. It is undoubtedly true that a considerable proportion of the seals taken at sea are females, as all seals of suitable size are killi^d without discrimination of sex. Tliis is, in part, however, a direct corollary of the extent and methods of killing upon the breedmg islands, where, practically, in late years, all males reaching the shore have been legally killable, and wliere, as a matter of fact, nearly all the young males which land have been persistently killed for some years, with the necessary result of leaving fewer killable males in proportion to females to be taken at sea. 7t). The precise bearings on the industry as a wlu)lc of the character and composi- tion of the pelagi-; catch made along various parts of the coast and in Behring Sea are distussed at greater length elsewhere (§ (jM el ncij.), but it may be here noted that the great surplus of females, resulting from the practice just alluded to, has certainly rendered the killing of coui-ulerable numbers ot these at sea less harmful in its effect than it might otherwise have beeu. bO. To assume that the killing of animals of the female sex is in itself repreUensible or inhuman, is to make an assumption affecting all cases whore animals are preserved or domesticated by man. Most civilized nations, in accordance with the dictates of humanity as well as those of sell-interest, make legislative provision for the protection of wild animals during the necessary periods of bringing forth and of rearing their young; but the killing of females is universally recognized as permissible if only to preserve the normal jiroportion of tlie sexes. This is the case in all instances of game preservation and stock raising, and in the particular example of the fur-seal, it is numerically demon- strable that, in maintaining a constant total of seals, a certain proportion of females should be annually available for killing. The killing of gravid females must, however, be •deprecated as specifically injurious, and in any measures proposed for the regulation of seal hunting should receive special attention. 81. Respecting the number of seals lost after being killed at sea, a large mass of evidence lias been accumulated, not alone directly from the pelagic sealers proper, but also from independent native hunters, both Indiui and Aleut, and from other sources of* disinterested character. The result of this goes to show that the asserted wastefulness of the methods employed is gravely exaggerated by common report, and that there has ^li22 1 1-: riffiru'ty nl rcLMilatinj: ihort kil'iii);. AllcL'alinni ajfainftt Killinit of remalet. Pcreenta^e loit ol (dii killel. I 14 Mottolily of youDg leali. Effect of high pricei. been marked improvement in this respect due to the increasing experience of the hunters {^ GIS et seq.), 82. Against this expert testimony we find scarcely more than supposititious state- ments quoted and requoted, wliich, when traced back to their sources, are discovered to rest either on very limited experience or on very doubtful authority; in some of which the number of eeak, fired at is hopelessly confused with the number killed, while in others it is even assumed that the number of rounds of ammunition disposed of represents the number of seals killed. We have thought it well to follow up all the statements upon which these allegations and hypothetical calculations are based, and practically all of these are summarised elsewhere {§ 614), and call for no further comment here. It is certain that inexperienced hunters miss many seals, and lose a considerable proportion of those hit, but such purely negative results cannot rightly be assumed to have any bearing on the number lost by skilled hunters, such as constitute the crews of the successful scalers. 83. More recently a further accusation 1ms been made against the practice of pelagic sealing, to the effect that large numbers of females, with young upon the breeding islands, are killed at sea, and that in consequence many of the young die. The consideration of this point involves so many facts of seal life that it cannot be treated at length here ; but it may be mentioned that, when upon the PribylolF Islands in 1891, we ourselves were the first to note and to draw attention to the occurrence of a considerable number of dead "pups" in certain parts of the rookery grounds. Various explana- tions of this fact were offered by the residents of the islands, both Whites and Aleuts, but in no instance was the killing of the mothers at sea at first voluntarily advanced by them as a principal cause. The actual circumstances, closely investigated by us, were, indeed, such as to call for some other explanation, as elsewhere detailed (§ ^44 et aeq.). It is, nevertheless, certain that mothers are sometimes killed at sea, especially in proximity to the shore fronts, and it is chicHy upon this ground a radius of protection about the breeding islands, extending beyond the ordinary limit of territorial jurisdiction, is advocated as a measure of material benefit. 84. In addition to the circumstances obtaining on the breeding islands, and the inception and growth of pelagic scaling, the high prices ruling for skins during the past few years have to a considerable extent stimulated the hunting of seals by natives all along the coast. They have also tended to ineite, on the part of the more lawless .sealers, raids upon the shores of the breeding islands themselves, many of which have proved successful in consequence of the wholly inadc(|uate protection which hos heretofore been accorded to these shores ; but, so far as we have been able to ascertain, no schooners sailing from British Colu.nbia under the British flag have even been detected as participants in such raids on the Pribyloff Islands. Seals becoming; morepeUgit. More tliao ever fouod at Ilea. (E.) -Former and present Condition of the Industry. 85. Perhaps the most notable result of the above-mentioned co-operating causes, embracing the disturbance of conditions on the breeding islands consequent on close and persistent driving and great paucity of males, on raids made upon the shores of the islands, and on hunting at sea during the northward migration of the seals, has been to render that animal even more than before strictly pelagic in habit. 80. Seals not actually engaged in breeding, including young seals of both sexes and barren or unimprcgiiated, though mature females, Iwive either not landed upon the islands, or have remained there for but a short time ; and thus the aggregate number to be seen on shore at any one time has of late years become notably reduced. 87. At the same time, the general consensus of the statements obtained from persons occupied in pelagic scaling goes to show that there has been no similar decrease in the number of seals found at sea, but rather a possible increase during the corre- isponding years. The evidence of a general kind to this effect does not stand alone, but is fully confirmed by an analysis of the annual catch of the British Columbian sealing fleet for the past few years, as exhibited in the subjoined table, in which the average number of skins obtained to each canoe or boat, and to each man employed in tlic pelagic sealing industry is given ; — 16 Y«u. Number of Scala per Canoe or Boat. Number of Seals per Man. 1887 .. .. .. 1888 .. 1389 .. 1890 .. 1891 .. 164 H3 156 160 {34 56 55 58 59 46 Weather and other obvious circumstances, including those connected with the uncertain status of the sealers in respect to seizure, have of course affected the figures for the various years to a considerable extent ; but speaking generally, the results show a remarkable uniformity, and taking into consideration the measures adopted in 1891 under the modus vivendi, the results of pelagic sealing in this year are particularly noteworthy and to the point, seeing that of the fifty schooners employed, nc -ly all were turned back before the expiry of the usual hunting season. 88. At sea, however, it is generally acknowledged that the seals are becoming from year to year more and more dillicult of approach and capture, facts specially noted by the native independent hunters, because specially affecting their catch by reason of the greater distance from shore to which it is now necessary to go in search of seals. 89. While, therefore, it is certain tliat, in recent years, the number of seals to be found upon the PribylofT Islands has very considerably decreased, it is uncertain to what extent this particular decrease has been compensated for, or is counterbalanced by the greater dispersion of seals at sea. Under all the circumstances, it must be considered as a remarkable evidence of the resistance of seal life to unfavourable treatment, that the apparent decrease upon the islands has not been even greater. 90. Respecting the actual amount of this decrease upon the PribylofT Islands, it is difficult to arrive at anything like precise conclusions, in consequence of the lack of trustworthy evidence of a comparable nature for the various years. A study of the available published data, made in connection with a personal examination of the various breeding grounds themselves, has convinced us, however, that some, if not all, the esti- mates of the total number of seals made in the earlier years of the term of the Alaska Commercial Company have been greatly exaggerated, while reports made in 1890, however accurate in themselves, have, because compared with these overdrawn estimates, exaggerated the amount of the decrease. 91. The alarming forecasts as to the condition of the breeding islands based upon reports made in 1890, have, fortunately, not been verified by tVi facts in 1891, as per- Bonnlly observed by us. If, indeed, the correctness of some ot these reports for 1890 be admitted, the rookeries must have materially improved in condition in 1891, while all the evidence collected indicates that they were, in 1891, in at least as good condition as tliey were in the preceding year. 92. On the Commander Islands, where the breeding rookeries have undoubtedly been more carefully and systematically supervised, the number of seals seen has gradually increased for many years, and has in late years apparently held its own up to the present year, in « hich a decrease has been noted. There is reason to believe, however, that the increase censed in 188!) or 1890, and was replaced by a deficit in 1891 in consequence of the number of skins taken in the two foregoing years, which greatly exceeded the average, presumably because these years were the last of the Alaska Commercial Company's lease of these islands. Reasonable proof is tlius again aflorded that the sum total ot seal life on ihe breeding inlands is afTected most directly by excessive killing on shore. 93. In nearly all that has heretofore been written on the fur-seal of the North Pacific, attention has been too narrowly confined to such observations as could be made upon the breeding islands, and the fact that the greater part of the life of the seals is spent, not ujjon these islands, but at large on the ocean, has been to a great extent lost sight of. This naturally happened from the circumstance that those in any way interested in the seals, till the beginning ot pelagic sealing, remained upon the breeding islands, and knew merely what could be ascertained there. The data now obtained at sea, for the first time enables the migration routes and the winter as well as the summer habitat of the fur-seal to be clearly understood, and it becomes evident that, in considering the condition of seal life as a whole, we must include, not only the observations made on the islands, but also the complementary, and, in part, counter- vailing, facts noted at sea. More wary than for- merly. Diuinution on Pribyloff Islanda. Diminution on Comman- der lilandi. Factt at lea and ashore comple- mentary. 16 coiicluilon*. Poiaible remit. lodiirtrial con>i tiun^. KejriiUtinui desirablv. 04. A review in detail of all the available facts, most of which have been alluded to or outlined in the foregoing part of this summary, leads us to believe that there has been, in the main, a gradual reduction in the total volume of seal life in the North Pacific, dating back to a period approximately coincident witii the excessive and irregular killing on the Pribyloff Islands in 1807 to 1801), but that this reduction in total volume has not in late years been nearly so rapid as the observed decrease in numbers upon the Pribylotf breeding islands in the corresponding years. Such a review suggests that if suitable and moderate regulations be now adojjtcd and carried out, the decrease may be arrested, and no danger of the proximutc depletion of the fur-seal or destruction of the fur-seal lishory need be anticipated. 05. If, however, the inflexible and heavy draft on seal life in the past should be maintained on the breeding islands, while pelagic scaling also continues to increase at the present ratio, it is practically certain that the whole number of seals must, in the course of a few years, become further reduced to such a degree as to cause the industries based upon their capture to lose all importance from a commercial point of view. The continued undue disturbance of the seals must likewise tend to cause them to abandon their present haunts. 06. Apart, therefore, from such merely ethical considerations as have from time to time been advanced in favour of the preservation of the fur-seal, but which appear to have no STiecial bearing upon this more than on any other animal in a state ot nature, the intrii sic value of the fur of the seals together with the material interests involved in the taking and the dressing of the skins, seem to call for such regulations as may result in the maintenance of the fishery. 97. A point, however, of grave but unrecognized importance, is the direct influence on the sealing industry of the market for sial-skiiis. It is necess;iry to remember that the requirements of this market may from time to time altogetlier alter the reguliitions necessary. In the Atlantic hair-seal fishery, for instance, the intcrnationnl regulations became subject to the new requirements of a process by which the liair of newly-born seals became commercially valuable. Again, the actual price of the skins at any particular period depends largely upon the uncertain requirements of fashion ; and it is known that the Alaska Commercial Company, recognizing this fact when lessees of the Pribyloff Islands, by various more or less direct methods, did much to popularize and increase the market value of the sealskins, of which in the earlier years of their lease they held a practical monopoly. 98. To render this point perfectly clear, it. is only necessary to quote the following expressions from the report of the Congressional Committee of 1870 on the Alaska Commercial Company : — "Every art and apidiance and much money have been expended in the cultivation of ft taste for seal-skin furs, which the Alaska Commercial Company had almost the exclusive control over By placing on sale a larger number of skins than was required the prices obtained would be lessoned, and tlij popular estimate of this luxury depreciated, so that its present value would be endangered and a change of fashion probably effected, diverting it to some other fur, which might ruin the trade altogether." f)9. The high price obtainable for the skins in recent years has, however, been in itself a principal cause of the increased activity in killing and bunting which now appears to threaten the industry. If, for any reason, the price of seal-skins should fall below, or even nearly to, the amount of the Government tax (10 dol. 25 c.) payable on skins under the new lease of the Pribyloff Islands, then, on the one hand, the lessees would no longer find it remunerative to contirme taking seals on shore, and, on the other, the profits of sealing at sea would become so much reduced as to discourage further enterprise in this direction. 100. It would thus appear that, as matters stand, a most influential factor in respect to the fate of the fur-seal fishery is one altogetlier removed from natural facts of seal life, and that either the demand for seal-skins as a «liole, or the special size or kind of skins called for by the market, may at any time he changed in such a manner as to introduce new determining factors in the industry. It is therefore evide:it that, in a matter of such considerable importance, some additional and possibly counteracting system of regulation of an intelligent kind is desirable ; chat this should include a con- sideration of the industrial features of the case as well as of those relating to the fur-seal as an animal, and should be susceptible of constant adaptation to the changing require- ments of the problem. u II.— Considerations eelatino to the Basis upon which Precautions may be DEVISED FOtt TEE PRESERVATION OF THE FUE-SEAL. 101. The case to be met in the North Pacific is outlined in the foregoing paragraphs, The c«m to and is treated in greater detail in Part II of this Report. Broadly stated, it is that too be met. many seals are or may be killed, that there are too few males on the breeding islands ; and that the seals, being so continually harassed and disturbed, may take to other breeding and feeding jjlaces, or largely diminish in numbers, and in either case endanger and damage the existing sealing industries. (A.) — Interetts involved, 102. In regard to interests, the sealing industry is naturally divided into what may, for the sake ot brevity, he termed the shore and ocean interests respectively. The rights in cither case are indisputable, and the possessors of one class of these rights will not willingly allow them to be curtailed or done away with for the mere purpose of enhancing the value of the rights of their commercial rivals. Thus the only basis of settlement which is likely to be satisfactory and permanent is that of mutual concession, by means of reciprocal and equivalent curtailments of right, in so far as may be necessary for the preservation of the fur-seal. lOa. It may bo added, that the line of division between the shore and ocean interests is not an international one, and that the question of compromise as between the two industries cannot, in consequence, be regarded strictly from an international point of yiew. If we may judge from the respective number of vessels employed, the interest of .citizens of the IJnited States in pelagic sealing is at the present time approaching to an equality with that of Canada ; while Germany and Japan have been or are represented in sealing at sea, and other flags may at any time appear. The shore rights, again, are at present chieOy divided between the Uiiitcd States and Russia, although Japan owns some smaller resorts of the fur-seal. 104. Confining ourselves more strictly to the eastern part of the North Pacific, to which the present discussion directly relates, a comparison maybe instituted between the amount of capital employed in the prosecution of sealing on shore and at sea, and of the other interests involved, lOii. At the present time the actual value of the buildings, plant, and equipment of the North American Commercial Company, on the Islands of St. Paul and St. George, is estimated not to exceed 130,000 dollars (2G,000/.). Adding to this a further sum to cover other items of capit^il less directly connected with the islands themselves, the entire invested capital would probably be over-stated at 200,000 dollars (40,000/.) ; and it is not to be forgotten that the Companies leasing he seal islands habitually do a profitable retail trade in supplies, &c., with the natives and others in addition to acquiring the senl-skins. lOG. The estimated aggrc;;atj value of the British Columbian vessels employed in sealing, v "th their equipment, as they sailed in 1891, was 359,000 dollars (72,000/.). It has been • crtcd that only a portion of this total, corresponding with the length of the period in tach year in which those vessels are actually engaged in sealing, should be taken ns the capital invested. This statement is, however, as a matter of fact, incorrect. The sealing-vessels arc seldom used in or fitted for other employment, and nearly all of them remain laid up in harbour between the dates of the closing and opening of the sealing season — that is, between October and January, or February. 107. Adding to the above amount an estimate of the value of the United States' sealing fleet in the same year, which, it has been ascertained, exceeds 250,000 dollars (60,00 I/.), and may probatily amount to 300,000, dollars (00,000/.), an aggregate amount of capital of about 650.000 dollars (130,000/.) is represented by the combined fleets. In the foregoing estimates, no mention is made of the revenue accruing to tha Government of the United States from the lease of the Pribyloff Islands to the sealing Company. 108. It is diflTicult to present a numerically accurate statement showing the magnitude of the several interests as represented by the number of skins taken on the PribylolF i^lands and at sea respectively. During the past few years, the statistics of the Canadian pelagic catch have been fully and carefully recorded ; but of the catches made by the numerous vessels sailing from ports in the United States, no trustworthy or complete official or trade statistics appear to exist. Certain approximate figures for the total pelagic catch have, however, been obtained, the difference between which and those [222] F Intereiti tt sea and ashore. CapiUl employed. On the Pribyloff Iilandi. In the Canadian vesaela. ToiaL Co-n para tiro number at ikiiii taken. Ill NumbiT of men em- ployed. Natire ii.teresis. Natire inde pendent cealing. representing the Canadinn pclat^ic catch, compared witii other incomplete statistics, may be rou};hly assumed as showing the catcli by United States' vessels. These totafg include, however, in some cases, skins taken o;i seizure from iioth Canndiiin and United Slates' vcbscIh. 'I he Htatomcnt thus presented may be con.sidered as at least sulliciontly accurate to indicate tiie relative importance and growth of the shore and sea industries respectively. The catches made by United States' vessels are comparatively small in proportion to the number of vessels employed, chielly because of the lack of skdled hunters. 109. These statistics may be tabulated as follows: — Apiiroximntc tutaljt Skiiia Inkcn Skiiia Inken at lea of Skim takfti iit wii Year. on the by (rcconlpi of cilili hv Ronmrki. Pribyloff Wniidn. CuimdJan Vi'isel*. Unilcd Statin' t sails betiig fni^nK'iitarv'y. 1886 85,466 24,344 36,000 I'irsi seliiurcs by UiiiKmI Stuirh' Oo- viTiiiiicnt. Tliri'p Ciihjidian and one t'liiu-d SintUK* tc^wel si-ixod. 1887 90,770 20,'.'cr) 37,500 Six CaunHiaii nnci ten Unilad Stales' vussels scizril. 1888 86,995 24,329 (?) No reirMTtt niuile. 1889 78,023 27,868 42,870 Four Cnnsdinn mid two United Stiit such i)lea been made, the interests of the pelagic sealers would, in the natural course of events, have led them to press for a better protection of the breeding places uf the seajs ashore, in the interests ot their own branch of the industry. ProtrcUon both on •liora >nd •t lea. Gaiier on iliorr. Oreater (tli'tion on •bar*. L«tt (]an(;«r at ML Proteutiou at cea alone n lite in- adequate. 20 Suggested prohibition 00 •bore. Newmethoda of coDtrol npoessary. V.iriotn rights involved. Prohibition on Priby- loffi. l\ i^n Needs no international regulatioDi, The ruling principle of jirotection. R ghia at sea end on I rcei in : i^lani a loinpared 121. It has been pointed out, and we Relieve it to be probable, that if all killing of seals were prohibited on the br«eding islands, and these were strictly protected and safe- guarded against encroachment of any kind, sealing at sea might be indefinitely co- ■ tinned without any notable diminution, in consequence of ihe self-regulative tendency y.^ this industry. 1 22. The natural development of pelagic methods of sealing has rendered it now no longer possible to preserve the seals merely by restricting the catch on the breeding islands, and the old methods of utilizing the seals on these islands, and of affording them a measure of protection there during the season at which they come to land for breeding purposes, have become in their nature inelfective and inappropriate, especially in view of the sea sealing, which, at the time these methods were adopted, was practically unknown. The added knowledge of the fur-se.al now gained renders it further necessary to recognize it as an essentially pelagic animal, which, at a certain season of each year, resorts to the land. Thus, the older and cruder methods of regulation have become unsound and in large measure useless, and the new conditions which have arisen require to be faced, if it is desired to obviate all danger of commercial extermination. 125. Besides the general right of all to hunt and take the fur-seal on the high seas, there are, however, some special interests ^a such hunting, of a prescriptive kind, arising from use and immemorial custom, such as those of the " natives " of the Pribylotf Islands, and of the inhabitants of the Aleutian Islands, of South-eastern Alaska, of the coast of British Columbia, and of the State of Washington. There are also rights dependent on local position, such ns those of the Governments possessing the breeding islands and those controlling the territorial waters in or adjacent to which the seals spend the winter half of the year. Such rights do not, however, depend on position only, but also on the fact that the seals necessarily derive their sustenance from the fish which frequent these wateis, which, if not thus consumed by the seals, would be available for capture by the people of the adjacent coasts. The rights of this kind which flow from the possession of the breeding islands are well known and generally acknowledged, but those of a similar nature resulting from the situation of the winter home of the seal along the coast of British Columbia liavc not till lately been fully appreciated. ] 2 f. Referring more particularly to the Pribj-lolf Islands, it must perhaps be a.ssumed that no arrangement would be entertained which would throw the cost of the setting apart of these islands as breeding grounds on the United States' Government, togetlier with that of the support of some 300 natives. It may be noted, however, that some such arrangement would offer perhaps the best and simplest solution of the present conflict of interests, for the citizens of the United States would still possess equal rights with all others to take seals at sea, and in consequence of the proximity of their territory to the sealing grounds, they would probably become the principal beneficiaries. 125. Any such disinterested protection of breeding islands either by Russia or the United States would possess the extreme simplicity of being entirely under tlie control of a single Government, whereas in every other project it becomes necessary to face the far more difficult problem of international agreement to some code of regulations involving an accompanying curtailment of rights. In other words, any such arrangement must be viewed either as a concession of certfiin rights on the high se.is, or a concession of peculiar rights devolving from territorial possession of the breeding islands of the seal, made in each case for the purpose of inducing equivalent concessions on the otLor side in the common interest. 12G. For practical purposes, the main consideration is that any scheme of measures of protection shall absolutely control, so far as may be necessary, any and every method of taking seals; and from industrial considerations, and in order properly to determine on reciprocal concessions, it is necessary to assume some ruling principle in accordance with which these shall he governed, and such may be found, in a rough way, in postulating a parity of interests as between pelagic sealing and sealing on the breeding islands. This would involve the idea that any regulation of the fishery, as a whole, sliould be so framed as to aflbrd as nearly as possible an equal share in benefit or proceeds to these two interests. 127. Inasmuch as the Ur.ited States and Ucssia, with in a minor degree Japan, alone have direct interests in the breeding islands, while all other nations share with them the undoubted right of sealing on the high seas, it may at first sight appear inetiuitable that hny basis of arrangement giving so large a share to the possessors of tlie breeding islands and involving so general a curtailment of common rights should be contemplated. 128. The exceptionally favourable position which the United States and Russia would hold under such a basis of arrangement is, however, to some extent justified by the fact, that upon these Governments would devolve the expense and responsibility of efficiently controlling and guarding the breeding islands of the seals. It may be noted that the nresent time is one specially favourable to some such arrangement, bec}iuse Great Britain and the United States alone possess considerable sealing Ueets, and it is probable that any regulations agreed upon by these two Governments (especially if also approved by Russia) would meet with the ready concurrence of other Powers at present but slightly interested, or with merely a potential concern in the matter. 129. In dealing nitli specific measures of preservation, it may be well to bear in mind that more or less cflective steps linve already been taken for this purpose in other partfi of the world besides the Prihyloif and Commander Islands. It is wliolly in accordance '.vitli long experience in game protection in the United Kingdom that the tendency has arisen in various parts of the British Empire to protect the fur-seal. In Australasia, in South Africa, and in the Falkland Island'^, regulations have been adopted from time to time with this object. Further precedents of a specially appropriate character are found in the regulations of tlio Newfoundland Government for the control of the great hair-seal fishery, and in the .lan-Mayen International Agreement, whereby a certain area of the North Atlantic, defincil by lines of latitude and longitude, has been subjected to specific rules as to sealing since 1&75, these rules affecting the control of vessels, their captains, and creivs. 130. 'J'lic principal modes of protection of a practical character which have been suggested for the North I'acili'; by various authorities may be classed under the following heads : — (a.) Time. Limit in pericl ot sealing. (b.) Number. Jjimit in number of seals taken. (c.) Area. Limit in regions over which sealing may be carried on. (d.) Methods. Improve.iient in methods of conducting sealing. 131. Limitations of time have been placed most prominently in the list of remedies ; and, indeed, " close seasons " have been popularly regarded as the main if not the only remedy of a general kind It is clear, however, in the light of facts, that, for the purpose of limiting the total numbers taken, a time limit is specially applicable only to the pelagic industry, in which the number of seals taken bears a direct ratio, other things being ecjual, to the length of the season of hunting, and where the only way in which a reduced catch would not result from a shortened season would be by an increased number of vessels employed, which would soon reach unremunerative limits. On the breeding islands, on the contrary, limiting the time of killing does not necessarily limit the numbers taken, and the only elfective limit is one of number. This has been fully acknowledged in the measures adopted throughout with regard to the regulation of ihe catch on both the Pribylotf and Commander Islands, where it is obvious that if but one ijr two summer months in all were allowed for killing and no other restricticms were applied, the number of seals ivillrd -.Kiiild heconie merely a cjuesticm of the number of men employed, and need oidy be limited hy tie exhaustion of animals to kill. 13L'. Willi further reference to the ellect of proposed time limits or close seasons on the sJiore- and sea-sealing resjieclively. and in order to prove that such an apparently simplt method of regulation is not e(|ually applicable to both industries, it may be show?! ,'.hiU generally this effect would be not only inequital>'e, but often diametrically opposite ill the two cases. In pelagic scaling, the weather is usually such as to induce a few vessels to go out iu January, but the catches made in this month are as a rule small. In February, March, and April t!ie conditions are usually belter, and larger catches are made. In May and June the se;ds are found further to the north, and these are good scaling monihs ; while in July, August, and pari of Septemher sealing is conducted in Behring Sea, and good catches are often made till such time as the weather hcctniics so uncertain and rough as \o jiraelicallv close the season. l;l;3. Upon the rriliyloir Islands, though it has been the custom to kill a certain number of seals for food at all times during the period of five or five and a-half months in which any seals arc found on shore, (he young males or "bachelors" (which, f.o;!,ether with virgin females, are ])ractieally the only class which can be taken ashore in large numbers without actually hreakin;; ii|) and destroying the breeding rookeries) do not arriie in iiotahle proporlions till June, and, in common with other seals upon the islands, hecome "staitcy," and incai)ahle of yielding good skins about the middle of Aumisl. The ]irolilable killing on the I'rihyloU Ishvihls is thus natmally limited, as a ma.'vimiim, to a period of about two months, and as a rule and under normal circum- stances, the annml quota lias been completed witiiin thirty to fifty working days, during [222] G ^- Measiiies •Tilojited • sfwhtro. I'riocipat modes of protrclion •uggcited. Time limita : Close seasoni. Efficts ililfcr af sra .lud on shore. At sea. ()j the l'ril)ylofT Island*. 22 Close ■easoiis thus not equiillv a[)plicable. OinCT inp«ns of regiiiation. CoTn\)ined limitation of time and number. Time liiniti at sea. Limits ot area ou shure. Eip'TKi' o' (uiifn.l ni •ea. which the slaughter \e carried on at a numerical ratio man)- times greater than that attainable during any period of the pelagic killing 134. With seals killed at sea, the skins are never found to be in a "stagej" condition, as has been ascertained by inquiries specially made on tliis pnint, and there is, there- fore, no naturally definite close to the time of profitable killing, such as occurs on the islands. The markedly " stagey " character of the skins at a particular season appears to be confined to those seals which have remained for a considerable time on the land. 135. Witl'out, therefore, entering at length into a comparison of the resi)ective effects of close seasons at sea or on shore, it may be stated that, with the exception of the months of July and August, any close time whalevcr would have practically no effect on the killing on the islands, while several of the months which niiglit be chosen would seriously affect sealing at sea. If, again, Jime or July should he chosen as a close month, it would shorten the time of killing up >n the islands, but without necessarily reducing the number killed; while an endeavour to insert such a month of inaction, in the middle of the season of pelagic sealing, would not only be very difiiicult in proper enforcement, but, if enforced, would practically break up the sealing voyages, as the vessels engaged are then far from their home ports. 13G. Limitations of number of other kinds have, however, been proposed as applicable to the regulation of pelagic sealing. Thus, it has been suggested that the number of seals to be taken by each vessel should be limited according to tonnage ; that the whole number of vessels employed should be limited ; that those engaged in sealing be required to obtain a licence ; and that a limited number of personal licences should be supplied to individual hunters. Some such provisions might be found to possess a piirtial applicability, but while they might be useful ])orti()ns of a greater whole, they could not by themselves become efficient systems of control. 137. An equitable basis of protection is therefore not to be found in the adoption of any simple and corresponding close season, including a part of each year applicable to both shore and sea alike ; but as pelagic sealing migiit easily be regulated by the adoption of a close season, while shore scaling might with equal facility be governed by a limit of number, it seems probable that some compromise of interest may be arrived at by a contbination of these methods. 138 If certain months should be discussed as a close time for sealing at sea, it becomes important to inquire! which part of the season is most injurious to seal life in proportion to the number of skins secured, and to this inquiry there can be but the one reply, that the most destructive pnrt of the [lelagic catch is that of the spring, during which time it includes a considerable proportion of gravid females, then com- mencing to travel on their way north to bring forth their young. It is on similar grounds and at corresponding seasons that protection is usually accorded to animals of any kind, and, apart from the fact that these seals are killed upon the high seas, the same arguments apply to this as to other cases. l.''.!). This portion of the pelagic sealing is wholly carried on in that part of the North Pacific which lies to the south of the Abnitian Islands, and here also, as has already been pointed out, a certain iiumber of seals are killed at the same season by the independent sealing of natives resident along the coast of British Columbia and Stmth-eastern Alaska. The aggregate number of seals killed in this ])articular way is, however, relatively so small tliat it may be practically ignored in any general proposals looking to protection. It is scarcely possible, under present circumstances, to interfere with the independent native scaling, even if it should be considered just to attempt to do so. This species of hunting is decreasing rather than increasing in amount as other industries grow up, and it may be further indirectly discouraired without great difficulty. 140. It may be remembered that, to a great degree, any restrictions of time applied to sealing at sea are also restrictions of area, for at dififerent sea.sons the sealing is necessarily carried on in different parts of the ocean. 14 1. Respecting protection by means of limiting the area of sealing operations, it may be pointed out that the circumstances are such as to enable this to be done upon the breeding islands without difficulty, for, both in the ca.se of the United States and Russia, two separate islands are resorted to by the fur-seals, and one or other of these islands in each ca.sc might be strictly set apart and maintained as a reserve of seal life. Or, again, certain portions of the several islands might without ditticulty be permanentl/ exempted from driving or disl .rbance by the scalers. 142. Limitations atfccting sealing operations on the high seas, by international assent, might ecjually be established and maintained with the aid of a sufficient patrol of ci'uizers, though such police regulations would be attended with considerable expense. Ti' filrf pili/t rl(HI . l-r,',. Mdl: Api-i/ Man i ■ h/fic ■ luh; V^ _y' A 1 1 If. / Srrl. V Ovk Nov. Dec. /'r//rf///' Si'ri/ff///. liillitKj on FiihilolT Ills. DIAGRAM SHOWINO THE SEVERAL MONTHS IN WHICH SEALS ARE KILLED AT SEA AND ON THE PRIBYLOFF ISLANDS, WITH THE RELATIVE IMPORTANCE OF THE CATCH AT DIFFERENT SEASONS TO ILLUSTRATE THE EFFECT OF CLOSE SEASONS ON THE RESPECTIVE INDUSTRIES. NOTE. THE AREA OF EACH DIAGHAM. BETWEEN ADJACENT LINES. APPROXIMATELY HEPBESENT4 THE NUMBER OF SEAt s KILLED DURING THE MONTH THE DIAGRAMS ARE NOT BASED OS T.-iE EXACT FIGURES OF ANY SINGLE YEAR, BUT REPRESENT THE NORMAL CONDITIONS ,11 «,."» M»7;|.l-a I Some expenditure is, however, involved under any system of control of scaling at sea, whether defined by area or by time limits. ) 43. In any case, great good would be done by extending around the breeding inlands, Prot('( ted to a distance to be agreed upon in conformity with the circumstances, a zone of protected ^onf" round waters. Such an area of protection, if only of moderate width, would not alone prevent ""* " the disturbance or slauf,hter of practically all seals at the time actually resorting to the breeding rookeries, but would possess the great additional advantage of rendering it possible to put down the very destructive raids upon the rookeries, which have, almost from the time of the Alaska purchase, been practised with comparative impunity by certain unscrupulous scalers (§ 727 et set/.). It has always been easy, under cover of darkness or fog, to slip in under the land across an imaginary line drawn at only three miles from the shore ; but by extending such a li'iiit to ten or twenty miles, it can be made an effective safeguard, so long a" any cruizer is retained about the islands on police duty. The advantages of such a widened zone of protection will be quite obvious to any sailor, and its practical effect would be to keep the scalers, from ordinary prudential motives, very far from the shores of the breeding islands, A GO-mile zone was reported by Mr. Blaine (in December 1890) to be, in the opinion of the President, an "effective mode of preserving the seal fisheries for the use of the civilized world." 144. To render such reserved area an efficient protection, however, it would be necessary to provide that between certain dates no vessels, whether under pretext of whaling or fishing of any kind, should enter the protected area except in making a jiassage, and that any vessel lowering boats, or hovering within this area, would be subject to penalties. It is already known that vessels ostensibly engaged in whaling and other pursuits in liehring Sea, have really occupied themselves or aided in sealing or raiding, and any less strict measures of preservation could only result in increasing this evil. f ^ (C.) — Summary of General Conditions bearing upon Regulation. CtfV^iA* 'J^wt...»-**-^ 145. From the foregoing review of the various facts and circumstances of seal life l*^^"" K"**' in the North Pacific, the following may be stated to be the governing conditions of proper protection and preservation : — (fl.) The facts show that some such protection is eminently desirable, especially in view of further expansions of the sealing industry. (6.) The domestic protection heretofore given to the fur-seal on the breeding ^^<-t<-^. islands has at no time been wholly sati.sfactory, either m conception or in execution, and ''"*" — «"!--. many of its methods have now become obsolete. (c.) Measures of protection to be effective must include both the summer and winter ^d^c^^ Utx. homes, and the whole migration-ranges of the fur-seal, and control every place and all i'-^-^i^ » '^^•^^ methods where ur by which seals are taken or destroyed. (d.) Although primarily devised for the protection and perpetuation of the fur-seal ''k,^ k. u* uJZ,.- itsclf and of the scaling industry as a whole, any measures must be such as to interfere Ufxi^M w»a. U.JU^~ as little as possible with established industries, and such as can be instituted under ikJl., . existing circumstances. (f.) Equitable consideration must therefore be given to the several industries y based upon the taking of seals, and especially to the number of persons dependent on these for a livelihood and to the amount of capital invested, so that the measures adopted may be such ns to reconiinend themselves on the ground of common interest. (/.) The controlling Uegulations shoidd be so framed as to admit of varying degrees IU^-m^a C«w. of stringency in accordance w ith the changing exigencies of the ease. U v:^,:,J>-^ X^^. ^^^- On the Breeding Islands. — The " drives " sliould be mude as short as possihle, say, not to exceed lialf-a-mile as a maximum. They should he carried out witli due doliheration, avoidinj; e.vccssive hurry, and under the personal supervi-sion of a respon- wiblo oHiccr, and all seals not intended to be killed should, as far as possible, be " cut out " at an early stance in each "drive." The actual clubbing of the seals should be performed with greater care, avoiding injury or death to seals not inteniled to be taken. 148. Care should be exercised to avoid disturbing the actual breedin,''^ rookeries in any way, and no seals not capable of yielding merchantable skins should over be killed. The breeding i.'ilands should be fully secured against " raids," a competent guard, with authority to repel any attempts at landing, being provided ; while some armed vessel should remain about the islands during the whole of each sealing season, say, from the 1st June to ;50tl) November. 149. At Sen. — Here most cf the improvements in methods which may be suggested, necessarily partake of the character of restrictions which may tend directly to r^iduce the number of seals taken. Such improvements therefore require to be considered in their connection with the general regulations proposed for the restriction in number of seals killed. l.'iO. The most important improvements or restrictions which may be treated from the side of " methods " are as follows : — Prohibition of the use of rifles in shooting seals at sea, and of the employment of nets as a means of capture. The adoption of a system of personal licences for White hunters, such licences to be renewable annually, and revokable for proved breach of any of the regulations provided. 5C^~-^~£i .'-^f^ Vessels propelled by machinery to pay an increased licence fee, or to be wholly ^ ' excluueu from sealing. (ii.) — Restriction in the Number of Seals taken. 151. We are of o|)inion that to be effective and suited to the exi.sting conditions and to the interests at present involved, any sy.stem of measures for regulating the number and kind of seals taken .should include provisions of the following kinds : — («.) The strict limitation of the number of seals killed on the breeding islands to a safe maximum, the nuMibtT and kind of seals to be adjusted within the liniit of this maximum, from year to year if found necessary, in accordance with the actually observed state of the breeding rookeries in each year. (b.) The institution of a zone of protected waters surrounding the breeding islands. (f.) The establishment of a close time, such as to limit the period of hunting at sea, and so devised as in particular to safeguard the seals during that portion of the spring 'covering the earlier part of the sealing voyages as now made) iu which a certain proportion of gravid females is taken. 1 5-. One or other of these provisions for the limitation of sea sealing should be subject to modification in area or time respectively, in such manner as to check any tendency to excessive killing at sea, to allow for exceptionally unfavourable breeding seasons, and. in general, to correspond with any marked increase or decrease found to occur in the number of seals. 1:>V It is suggested that such compensatory changes in the degree of stringency of regulative measures shall be made to depend upon the number fi.ved for killing on the breediiii,' islands in each year, so that if it be found necessary or advisable to change this ruling number at any time, the degree of stringency of the regulations applied at sea may be proportionately increased or diminished. Lo_jUu,kUX k-^^iftt- '^'*- ^ compensatory jirinciple of this kind should absolutely remedy (if not in each \^^^^mUlJ/S,^u^ , itidividuiil year, at least in the average of years) any possible want of efficiency in ^''^'*"^ l;ie general scheme of measures, removing any doubt which may be supposed to attach to the proper control of sealing at sea, which it is not possible to rcguhite on an exact numerical ba^is. tulUi. ^ 95 £^ U^;jUj. (B.) — Specific Scheme of Regulations recommended. 165. In view of the actual condition of seal life as it presents itself to us at the present time, we believe that the requisite degree of protection would be afforded by the application of the following specific limitations at shore and at sea : — (a.) The maximum number of seals to be taken on the Pribyloir Islands to be fixed,''^|^~"- — '^^-^ at 50,000. _ 7R;V^)..UXo,^ (b.) A zone of protected waters to be established, extending to a distance of 20 yv^,to»~u.. nautical miles from the islands. (e.) A close season to be provided, extending from the 15th Septenilier to the ^-Cit iu..»~, '^«^ 1st Mny in each year, during which all killing of seals shall be prohibited, with the"^' '•^'7 additional provision that no sealinff-vessel shall enter Behring Sea before the Ist July ^ ***tTf in each year. .... ^" 160. Respecting the compensatory feature of such specific regulations, it is believed that a just scale of equivalency as between shore and sea sealing would be found, and a complete check established against any undue diminution of seals, by adopting the following as a unit of compensatory regulation : — For each decrease of 10,000 in the number fixed for killing on the islands, an increase of 10 nautical miles to be given to the width of protected waters about the islands. The minimum number to be fixed for killing on the islands to ,bc 10,000, corresponding to a maximum width of protected waters of GO nautical miles. 157. The above regulations reprosent measures at sea und ashore sufficiently equivalent for all practical purposes, and probably embody or provide for regulations as applied to sealing on the high seas as stringent as would be admitted by any Maritime Power, whether directly or only potentially interested. ■■in. 158. As an alternative mithod of effecting a compensatory adjustment of the^frj"^ r~*. stringency of measures of protection, it is possible that some advantages might be found =t-i-^«»*^ Ctr^ in the adoption of a sliding scale of length for the season of sealing at sea, with a fixed ^^ ' width of zone of protection about the islands. In this case it is believed that, in correspondence with a decrease of 10,000 seals killed upon the breeding i>lands, tbe k-ngth of the sealing season at sea might be curtailed by seven days, such curtailment to be applied either to the opening or closing time of the sealing season. 150. It may be objected to the principle involved in any correlative regulation of ICu«.U-t.w t. ^ '^^*«i| shore and sea sealing, that it would be impossible in any particular year to make known >^-"'^|f-'^ ''"'^ the number fixed for killing on the islands in time to secure a corresponding regulation f''"'^-''^-*^ of pelagic sealing. As a matter of fact, however, if the condition of the breeding rookeries called for any change, it should be possible to fix this number with sutHcient precision a year in advance ; while, on the other hand, the general effect would be almost equally advantageous it the number killed on the islands in any one year were employed as the factor of regulation for pelagic sealing in the following year. ICO. AVhile a zone of protection has been spoken of as the best method of safe- C-owiM^GU* J« guarding the vicinity of the breeding islands, it is to be borne in mind that such an area might be defined for practical purposes as a rectangular area bounded by certain lines of latitude and longitude. Even iu dense fog, and, therefore, comparatively calm weather, an arrested vessel could be anchored with a kedge and warp until the weather cleared, according to frequent custom. The special advantages of a concentric zone a])pear to be that it is more directly in conformity with the object in view, and that in fine weather the visibility or otherwise of the islands themselves might serve as a rough guide to sealers. 1(51. The restriction of the number of seals killed on the breeding islands, appro- priate safeguards being provided, admits of very considerable precision, and requires no special explanation. That the restriction of the number taken at sea may be accom- plished practically and with all necessary certainty, and that the means of control available in the case of this branch of the sealing industry are sufficient, is clearly shown t^uCt^lfU^ , by the successful application of measures such as these here ])ropoBed, to the Jan-Mayen j;^k,„.^j Itfl, and Newfoundland hair-seal fisheries, as well as of those based on like principles which f..a^1X,v_J? are generally employed in protecting fish and game. [222] 152930 2» l( (C.) — Methods of giving effect to Regulations. jLLdLUx, 162. The means suited to secure the practicnl efficiency af regulations at sea are gencrnlly indicated by those adopted in the instances just cited. It is unnecessary to formulate these here in full detail, but the following suggestions are ofTered as pointing out those metliods likely to prove moat useful in the particular case under con- sideration : — SUjCJ^ [■m^><^^. (i) Statutory provisions should be made, declaring it unlawful to hunt or take fur- ' seal (luring the close season by subjects or vessels of the respf^ctive Powers. (ii.) The time of commencement of the sealing season should be further regulated ' by the date of issuance of special Customs clearances and of licences for sealing, and 'preferably by the issuance of such clearances or licences from certain specified ports only. X)» to the eastern part of that ocean, including more particularly the a'-'i comprised in tlie ^^' range of those fur-seals of which the summer haunts and breeding places are about or on the Pribyloff Islands, and of which the winter home is found especially off the coast of British Columbia. It is evident, however, tliat the same remarks and recommendations apply equally to those fur-seals which in summer centre about the Commander Islands, and in winter frequent the seas off the coast of Japan. ' 170. It may be stated, further, that no system of control can be considered as absolutely complete and effective which does not include under common regulations all/^»^v<...tjw, i.-^^ parts of the North Pacific, and that the facility of execution of measures and their*^^'^ '"• "<-' j ^ ■ eflBciency would, under any system of regulations, be much increased by the concurrent 1^" "^ ' . (>xf ». Xm^.i...... li i. * 98 .ct-^, ^ action of Great Britain, the United States, Russia, and Japan, as indicated in the Message of the President of the United States in 1889. Apart from the fact that vessels prevented from scaling at given dates in certain areas might at these times frei|uent otlior waters in increased numbers, the circumstance that there is a certain, though not fully known, interrelation and interchange of seals between the eastern and western breeding islaiuls of Behring Sea, points very dearly to the advijability of such co-operation in protection. ' •' , i. .f/AS T) 29 Pakt II. DETAIL i;D OBSlillVATIONH ON 'IFII'; FACTS AND CONDITIONS OF SEAL LIFE. I. — Natural Histort akd TlNvntoNMENJ of the Fur-seal oj thb North Pacific. (A.) — Migrations and Range of the Fur-seal of the North Pacific. (i.) — Eastern Side of the North Pacific. 171. Ilospcctiiiff the migrations anil r.Tiiirf of ilic fur'-scal in the North PneiCic, while y^^y*^:^*^' ^ iiuincroiis sc;ittori'(l rcri'ivnccs are to lie t'oiiiul. ilieso are for (lie most jiart fragmentary ^"^ •^"'■ and vague, and no connei'ted aeeount oi'the migrations or migration routes, l)ased ii])(iii faets, iiave lieretot'ore lieen given. The a('tlitional information gained in llie eourse of .special inquiries on lliis suhjeet now, however, not only enahles the migrations of the fur-seal to he clearly followed, hut appears definitively to set at rest the »■ .<-. .«... iCl K^ii^ >-.K L.^.. «' 175. From October to December, but chiefly in November, the seals are seen in cw<.-/^. varying abundance by the Aleuts of the eastern part of the Aleutian Islands, and are ' "'^'' hnutcd hy these people. The openings in the Aleutian chain, through which most of the seals go southward, 'If-.t-- are those known as the Unalga, Akutan, rnimak, and Issanakh I'asses. The seals killed here are chielly grey pups, whicii, jjarticularly when the wind blows strongly from '^'^ '• ' '"''T) northerly directions, seem to miss the actual passes, and to become embayed for a time "^/ rr' ' in the harbours and inlets on the northern side of the islands. When strong easterly winds prevail at tliis season, grey pups, which have evidently made their dejiarture from the Pribylolf !>lanl, hut none are ever seen at Attn Island. 170. On getting clear of the Aleutian Islands, the seals continue their migration in -^"-^ y a southerly or south-easterly direction, and do not follow the coast in its north-easterly ^i' .^ t^ .„.. ('Tc\/.«. every winier toward the end of January and in February. Tliese are chielly grey ' .^.'' f<..<' ■- pups or yearlings, liiough a few full-grown males and seals of otlier ages are seen as '*^-- well. Hunting is not carried on at this season, but considerable numbers of such seals [222] I 80 have Hometiinca been taken close to the shore. Hotwceii the liittcr part of February CLu-J(.ii, >,it and tlie third week in April, it is stated that no seals are seen here. V<(a .^^ ^*V-*^v*I '■:f U W;,....,....-f- T.., J.J i.- f, Abreast of, or somewhat further north than, the Queen Charlotte Islanils, a con- siderable body of Sl'al^^ is often met »ith at sea by the pelagic sealers in May or .lune, These seals arc tlien moving northward. In the northern part of Hecate Strait and its .adjacent waters a few i;'rey pup-i iire said to be often found in November and December, hut person-* giviiiff informiilion on this point mention the I'nd of December as the (ime of arrival. Seals ari' iiiori' plentiful in .lanuary, February, and .March, but particularly in IV'bruary. The I'litrauL-e to Wark Inlet is specially noted as a locality at whicli i^ri'y iiujjs are oi'd ii ohtainrd at this season. A few adult seals arc sometimes taken in winter oil' lianks Island, Imt no regular hunting is attempted tliere before the 1st .March, when Honilla Island is occupied for this puipose by Kil-katla Indians, and the 1st April, at which time Tsliinisians resort to Zayas Island tor the same purpose. The hunting, as at jircsent practisrd. extends over April and the j;reater part of May; off Boiiilla I>lnnd it is continued tliroui;li (he greater part of .lune, but this dill'ercncc is due rather to the option of the hulians t'uin to any diversity in dates in the arrival and departure of the seals in the two places. Seals of both se.xes and all ages are killed during tlie hunting season, and a tew fuli-giown hulls arc seen, but are seldom taken. There is, in this rcgi )n, no interval between the arrival of seals from the north in the early winter and their deparli're for the north, which occurs in tlic main aljout the end of -May. |i/l ('„^,>,.JI.iL...'! Mf. R. Cunningham slates, that about twenty-three years ago, lie was persoiuilly Ai..A«7-' i-^-C.^ cognizant of the fict that for several successive years a sniiiU colony of adult xeul-i $r.,,..'vvitu Vf-i. stayed all the winter about Somcrville Island, in the entrance of Observatory Inli;t. These seals appeared to be following and feeiling upon the ulachan or caiulle-fisli. UitL^ L ^'ii^^J^ ^~^- *^^'i ''ntt part of the coast about Milbank and Filzhugli Sounds, still further ' r_ iL T^Houth, but unlike the last rcinon in being fully open to the Pacilic, a few seals are seen about Christina.s, or not long thereafter. Tliey arc generally first obsevvt'd outside (.'ape Calvert. Seals are nio.-.t abunilant in -March, but a few remain till the lattcu- [larl cif June, 'i'he seals coming first are chielly females, but alter abi)ut the 1st .lune they are n^'arly all young males. Fully matured large males are found in small nunibiu-s; •jrr<'y pups or yearlings venture further into the inner channels, ami come nearer to the shores. 179. About the north end of Vancouver's IslamI and the entrance to Queen Charlotte Sound the seals are first seen early in December, but not in any abundance until about Chri.stmiis, from which time, for a month or six weeks, they are very numerous in all this vicinity; though the stormy character of the weather prevents the Indian hunters from going far to sea in |)ur3uit of them. They are slated to ilis.i|ipe,ir aliout April. The females ore the finst to arrive in the winter, but are followed hy the urev pups or yearlings a liiik, 'ater, and in most of the time iluring which the seals remain, both sexes and nil .igc:-: .■ e represented, though the grey pups come nearest to the shore, i)artieularly wlieii ll^e weather is roiigli. In the winter of I'^OO-',)!, a inimher of seals were killed 1>;- .'. •■ Indians as far in as the entrance of KnighCs Inlet, ami on one occasion (accordin.; ii> Av. lluson, about 1870, in .March) a great nmni.'er of grey pup:? ascended Knight's and Kingcombe inlets to their heads, following the ulachan, which seek these places to spawn at this season. 180 At Nootka, on the west coa.^t of Vancouver Island, it is stated that no seals arc seen before Christmas, but in the fiist or second week after that dale, according to the weather, hunting begins, and is continued for lline months. Occasional large old bulls are also rarely seen here. 181. At Clayocjuot Sound, the seals arrive about Christmas, or between that time and the end of IV'cember, and hunting liegins eaiiy in .lanuary. The Indians report that some schooners hunt off that coast for about a month from this date before going north. Seals of both sexes appear here and remain together, but no large bulls have ever been seen. In 1885 seals were unusually abundant off Clayoquot as early as the 10th or ir)th December, but were mostly grey pups " snudls," or 2 and ;} year-olds. 182. About i'.arclay Sound the seals are first reported in December, and are often very abundant during January and February. The greater number leave before the entl of April, when they bejiin to travel north, but a few arc killed, further out at sea, sometimes as late as the 15tli June. Most of the skins brought in by Indians arc grey pups or " smalls," but in 1891 there was an unusual number of adult skins. 183. With further reference to the occurrence of fur-seals on the coast of British V'*.,..t»M,K'> .^vJ . ^C,<.U [fi,U.,U,Lj i .Us ro Ciiliiiuliin generally, the I'ollowiiig note hy Mr. I, bi'i'ii cDiiversant witli tliiH const, ina.v be fiiioleJ. " Tliose auitnalii weie driven to the ureaii iVoui tlr: in liutiting. During llie spring, nninbers of tlie v \\ . .Mackiy, \v!io htxA lor nnuy ye;irfi fi <;. "" In reply to in(|iiiries made, he writes : > iv^. . M,u^ narrow \vati'r>< hy 'he nso of lire-arms J[ 'iiiu; animals lish in tlie broken water:* ! inside the half-tide rocks and reefs which fringi' tlio western shores of Vancouver Kbind l^«-- ..■«- *^ and of the nlher inlands which lie west of tlie rnaiidand IVum (^iiecn t-'liariotle Sonnd io X.. et^u^-. J-» ' Dixon ICntrance. The older animals remain further a' ~ea, bid numbers of thi'm take ■*'< -~. "^ r,....^. refuge in the larger sounds during stormy weather; I have seen them olf Metld-katlii in . ('^//..fc*//* the ninntli of January." \^l. Captain John Devcreux, who has been for twciity-soven years on the coast of S f-*" •■•■»■■' •^'y British ('olund)ia, and has had ex(!elli'iit op|iortuuiti<'s for observation, in comiruinJ,.^*^''"'"'*' 7"^' of the Canadian Oovcrtiment steamer "l)onglns," informs us, in rcjdy to questions ' "^'1 "'*■ addressed to him, that from the latter part of Xovrcy pups are the first to ^i„ ^.U ,K.»,.r^- apiieiir, but in Fcbnuiry all sorts of seals are found, except mature males. Xo full- ^'"^• grown bulls have ever been seen in tlii.s vicinity. No f(!males with pup are foimd after the 5tli or fjth July, and it is pndiable that only a few stragglers of any kind remain, , ^ though, according to Judge Swiiii, occ.isional seals are to be found here at all seasons, "^'"'j'' ^'"^ '" Till' last seals seen in sutunicr are as a ruli; males or barren females. In exceptional instances a few .seals, probably grey pups or yearlings, have been noted in recent years ^,.c,v^-«. ^.^if^C as far up the Straits of Kuca as Vi(doria and Port Townsend. Mr. .!. W. ^Mackay, i-.-r,^...^.'.^^. already ijuoled, states that the older hunters of the So!i'^is. Sookc, and Tlalum tribcs,J''''-**~*^^ living on or near the southern end of Vancouver Island, told him that in former years _^ ^ K^tc fur-seals were in the habit of lauding iu large nuud)ers at IJaee I'oi'ks, within 11 miles oi ii^Z^'v^'-^ Victoria. l'"nr-:u'als also many yi'iirs ago fro(|uented the (Julf of (ieorgia, andY"*^-'^- Mr. .Mackay has liimsidf bought skins from the Scsbal Indians, of Jarvis Inlet, which lf"f'( }"^*^ they had taken at Siiugsler Island, mar Texada Island. J^^^^^fta, >>0. IHO. From th'.' fori-going notes, embodying ihe result of careful in(|iiiries persoiuiliy made at the localities referral to along a stretch of •_',0(tit miles of the west coast of the (,'ontineut, it is evident that in that jjiirl of the ocean adjacent to the entire length of tlie coast of British Cohnnbia, as w,ll as within the main oiieuings and inlets nff,^.i^(^ W- that coast, the fur-seal is a permanent winter resident, arriving soon alter it is known to''"^"^"-''^*'^"'^'- ' have passed southward through the -\leutian chain, and remaining tillageneral movement f\' » ■ '^•^'"f ".C ■ to the north begins in the early .spring, and, though the movement last nd'erred to acquires "'^^ ' greater force and regularity towiirds it- close, no time oecu.'s between the arrival of the seals from the north and the return migration, at which they are not found oil" this coast. _ _ ■ u i \^1. To llij north of the t,)ueen Charlotte Isliiiids, however, the case is diirerenf, for ^'(% ■>-^i^M''*^' here, as already stated, the seals do not follou Ihe coast in the autumn migrali'm,'-'""i.«'*^ !^>"-^' whereas they move in rather th June, in 1891, the '^" " '^' by the se'aling-schooners on the Portlock ha'iks, to the east of KatUak ]>' .nd K. Vbout Kadiak they are generally found from llio iliJth !May to tho end of .Itine, '.it*., > '(..-Ji ' \ being most ai)uudant in the average of years about the lUth ,Juni'. They are seldom seen in July, and very rarely even stragglers are noticed after the middle of that mor.tb. 1 In the latter part of June, or about the 1st .Inly, (he I'emale seals iu pup, which 7,.,.i^ t,TUj/ i have entered Behring Sea, are found only making their way raiudly and directly t > ; he '**'-*"- f*i* *'~^ breeding islands, while the gre;it boily of non-breeding seals either travel in a u\t)Yii^^'^^-'~f •'**' leisurely way and with freiiuent intervals of rest, in the same direction, ot disperse thcni- sclves in search of food over various parts of the sea. Yfc-.AX.-w J 80ft fU X 'c^"M^'.~< ■^^■''' •'^ccordins' to Elliott, Bryant, and Maynard, the greater number of the adult ^v:^,/^'?l(>N '-'/i'l' breeding males (known as " beaclimasters " or " seacatcbie ") arrive at the Pribyloff v2t. IsliUKis and take up positions there, from the 1st to about the middle of June. The >«_uA.j, females al)out to give birth to their pups follow, at first in small and then in large numbers, their lime of arrival ending about the ]Oth to 25th July. Yearlings (the grey pujfs of the previous season) come to the islands in great numbers in the latter part of July. 1 89. Comparatively little attention has been givcu to the movements of the full-grown males by the pelagic sealers, because of the small value of their skins, but it has been ■U^^^t'.c I s-j X.^lnoticed tlmt even as early as Jlay the i'emalcs at sea are travelling more persistently ,j^^ f ^(^"'^'^ IliiUi the other seals to the north, while after the 1st June they are said to " bunch up" and (o travel so fast towards the passes in the Aleutian Islands, that it is impossible to kill many of them. 1 '.)(!. ]iOspccting the extreme southern limit of the range of the fur-seal of the Xorth Pacilic on the Amciican coast, little can be added to what has already been published. The earliest departures of vessels for pelagic scaling from Victoria usually occur not long ai'ter tlie l.st Janumy ; these vessels then generally cruize southwards, ^^■^"'■^'^1 S'"Y so;ne!iiiies nearly to tlie latitude of San Francisco, in pursuit of seals; but it would appear •^^™^^ ^V-l, that no large "catclies'' have been recorded to tlic south of the Columbia River, and CUw/tU. i>-U^ ' freciuently much of what has been classed in the Returns as "south-coast catch" has i)een oijtained oil' the entrance of the Strait of Fuca. It seems certain that in recent years, at least, no considerable number of seals is found further south than about •MS" north latitude, though stragglers may find their way much further south. Captain Scanunon, in his work on marine niamnuilia, states that fur-seals were formerly abundant: on the Californian coast. They have been nuti'd, in small nuaibers, ns lately as 1878 on the coast of Southern ralif'ornia,* while I'roj'essor .lordan informs us that they were still taken in considerable numbers on the Guadalouj)e Islands there in 187tl.t A\ e have also been informed by an oNperienced scaler that in former years, he C.//,/ Z^.*^ Jy/r.had seen fur-seals as i'ar south as the Gull' of Tebuaidaiiec. Pw>. -kit/tcv. '"'l' On this subject Frofessor Allen writes : been formerly abundant on the western coast of Xortli America, as far soutli as California, but the exact southern limit of this range I liave been unable to determine." He then (juotes Scannnon as to the occurrence of these animals on the San IJenito IslaTids, the coast of Lower California, Guadaloupe Island, said Cedros Island, in latitude 28'". He adds, writing in 1S80: ".Mthough at one time al)Undant on the ■v.*/i)Calil'ortiia coast, they aie by no means Jiuinerous thor "'" exterminated by unrestricted slaughter liy the .sealers.''^ -^X \\\;\y incidentally be taken as a furtlier evidence of the local character of the seal heids i.j «j»*>. " afjdve referred to, a i)oint of sonie importance, which is subseci'iently discussed. If <_^^,..^...^(V.r K.I- included in the annual migration-cycle of the Pribylolf Island seals, the Califoridan ''*^'"''"^' coast should not at this dUe have shown any notable sign of diminution in numh.'r of seals. It is, however, extremely improbable that these seals were concerned in the annual migration to Bohring Sea, and doubtful whether they wore regularly migratory at all in the proper sense of the terra. Like most of the fur-seals ^,2 the southern hemisphere, they may merely have resorted to the neighbouring land at tiic breeding season. i?^FarallollC Islands, ^ "The fur-seal is well known to havi ^itCo^U- t. now, ii..'iuL'' been nea ly riiis local depletion of seals (!»fcX^ /r /... ci.f iUl^. ,c .L... t. ,t k,ru- . (fii body of seals, whi,li may be assumed to have lieen of the same .species with tho.se of the North Paci''c, and doubtless occupied these islands a'' ^ .'cding p!aee.". The Russians established a station there, and, " from 1812 tc 1818, about S.-'K^O i'ur-scal skiu.f were obtained there, and it is stated that before their occupation by the Russi.ina as many as 10,000 were taken on these islands in a single autumn."§ The season at whieli this killing took place, if correctly given, is alone .sudicient to show that the seals fouiul here were iu)t migrants from the far north. 1!)2. Disregarding e.xceptional cases of snuill importance, with the occurrence of "Y stragglers preceding or lagging behind the main body of si'als, and inchuling botii se.xes ^ and all ages of seals without refereiu;e to the ditlereut dates at which these are known to reach various points, it would thus ajipcar that the seals whicli resort to the eastern part <(f Behring Sea, with the Prihyloll' Islands as a centre, in the main frequent that sea • KlliotI, Census Ucport, p CC. '' t " Fishery Industries of the l.'uitrd Sl:itef ." vol. li, p. 398. J " Monusrraph of North Americ.in I'innipeda, ' p. 3j2. ^ Uiiucrofl's Work , vol. xxxiii, p. 487. di 1^ i^rU-^Es. >; ir^- from the early part of June till about the middle of November, a period of about five ijv . » "*„ T'T*- months aiid a-half. Behring Sea may, 'n fact, be named their .summer habitat. ' '\ During a period of four and a-half i,. five months, extending in the main from about the 1st January to the middle or end of May, they frequent the sea lying off that part of / j-^^- '^ •^'-^'^ the West Coast included between the Cflth and 4()th parallels of n rth latitude,— these i<-^ ^^ ^'jU° limits including the whole length of the British Columbian coast, and extending beyond it slightly at boi'n extremes. This is the winter habitat of the fur-seal of the eastern side of the North Pacific. During a great part of the time, in which the seals are off this coast, the weather is so tempestuous as to prevent successful pelagic hunting, whether from schooners, or directly by canoes using ihe shore as a base of operations. The actual numbers oF seals seen close in shore depend larg ''y upon the weather in each locality, and varies much from year to year; and with a picvalence of strong westerly winds, the grey ])ui);i or yearlings arc driven into tiie immediate vicinity of the coast and into its bays and channels, first and in the largest numbers. 'J'lie neighbourhood of Dixon Entrance, the northern end of Vancouver Island, the entrance to Queen Charlotte Sound, ^^^i and the entrance to the Straits of Fuea, are localities specially notable for the abundance M ^-'^' of seals during the winter and spring. ' '^" ' ' The actual resorts of the seals are not alone influenced by tb.e weather, biit also greatly by the supply of suitable food, as more fully explained elsewhere ; and it is probably in great measure because of the abundance of tood fishes near the larger openings in the land above mentioned, that those places are special resorts. 1,(3. It is a noteworthy and interesting fact, ascertained in the course of the present'ru...<..~<,/<.,ii inquiry, that the full-grcwn males, known as " beach m.nsters " or ".seacatchie," have s^M ■{ S9_° seldom or never been reported to the i:oulh of the .501 h paiallcl, while all other cla.sses of seals are found in considerable numbers much furiher south. This statement, of course, applies to the seals frequenting as their winter habitat that part of the ocean lying otf the coasts of liritish Columbia and the State of Washington. 194. Touching the distance to which the seals extend off the c ist dunng the winter months, the generally stormy weiitlier at this season, with the '!■ ndent absence ^^V^ of pelagic sealers, have nrevented accurate information from being obtained. Captain Devereux, already cited, has, however, possessed special opportunities for obtaining '.-uvtti %t^ ro-ril K-*^f-*-^ information on this subject. He writes: "The distance from the shore where they ^/^n^^o. ^ (fur-seiils) are to be found most plentiful, say, otf Cape Beale (where the bank extends yj^ ^^„^u<^, »jLc. furthest from the land), is from 30 to 150 miles; but these figures must not be taken ' ^ by any means as a fixed limit." Judge Swan has recorded the fact that, in 1880, large ) numbers of fur-senls were seen at fiom 100 to 300 Uiiles off shore by vessels bound into - ^' 'kltr^At-L^ tV It '♦'• ■ S^SS the Straits of luu-a from China and the Sandwich Islands, but the exact time of year is not given.* While the seals are moving northward ir, the spring, it can only be slated thai, whe'i the vcather becomes such as to enable pelagic hunting to be carried on, the main body of seals is i'ound to extend for a width of oO or Go miles off the coast of Van'- «;iver Island, and for aSout 80 miles off the Queen Charlotte Islands. \'io. Iktwcen (he winter and summer resorts of the fur-seals lies a miuimuni distance of about 1,200 miles, a':r9ss which they pass only during their migration. As already stated, in their spring migration they appear to follow parallel to the general (rend of the coast on th.'ir way northward and westward, keeping in touch with Ihe sliore, or at least with the soiiiuiings or subnntrine edge of the continental plateau. JOG. In their southern or soutii-enstern migration the seals do not follow the W^^*^'- coast, but after passing through the Aleutian Islands, it is possible that they may at first scatter rallier wi(ioly nnd at random over the ocean, it is certain, at least, that they do not pursue a direct course to the northern jjortion of their winter l»a" Itat, and thence travel rogulnrly southward along the coast. The comparatively small dillerenecs and occasional irregularities in thi'ir dates of arrival in the dillerent parts of their winter resorts, with oilier circumstances, seem lo indicate that they come in-shore -froin the (..'.^ westward with an extended front. This, it would api)ear, results naturally from the set of the currents in this part of tl;e occifi front west to east nnd directly toward the coast, t.igether with th-,' iirevalent westerlv winds of No''«;mber, December, and January. The « / r [atter an! well shown in detail oii Maps :.'7, 47, and 4!) in the "Challenger" Keports, '^^■J^J^"^ H'-- {Vin currents and direclions of drill in the Pacifii'. ^* •G" <'v»— ^ Physics and Chemistry, vol Ocean, see especi.illy Peterinarn's " Mitteilungen, .-,<(■ 1890.) ^(i^ •Ituc- While, iherefore, the cinir.se nnd n'anner of lids soutliern and eastern migration tW.-v-jc— ' (embracing scarcely two months of tiie entire jean must at iiresent remain to some l.-'22] * Fiiibi'r| lailuatrin if tba Uaiti'il Siaii>>,' toI ii, p. .1 4, K 32 extent liynothetical, the wliole romainin;^ migratory route of the fiir-scnl is now accurately known, nncl the circumstanci's are such as to leave little doubt that this part is correctly explained as above. It may be supposed, that to the winds and currents chiefly is attributable the concentration of the fur-seals in the vicinity of the coast preparatory to tlie inception of the spontaneous northward movement early in the spring. Ut, ft i:>i«il ,^4t f^^iiUi'Mi([l^')ej.]Ai\in!i the fact that it has not yet been found to be a profitable eriterpnst o c if;»"i- . in relagic scaling in this portion of the Pacific. It must further, however, be nion\)i '• .1 Iviv^v ^^^-rf here, tliat no definite information lias been obtained as to the northern limi* ff tl.o '• 'l UM^^.Tv-.f. »«— which may be described as the winter habitat of the fur-seal on the ••-...•itern .oide of 11, » North Pacific. It may therefore possibly include some portion of thi waters adjacent to the Kurile Islands. wWiwii ; NUi.iU,,,. 200. .According to information contamed in a Memcu'anduin supplied by your a/-'/„K,. Majesty's Minister at Tokio (.Appendix Pi, the seals tire first seen off tlie coast of Yizo /y early in November, while from other s lurees it has been ascertained, tliat in former iCoV "'^^ years, when the Aln-^-ka Commercial Company', vessel followed the southern roi'.te in her spring voyage from San Francisco to Petro|iaulouski, fur-seals were often seen at sea in the month of May in about the sanic latitude. 201. When the seals first come south in the autumn, the ^' "y pi. , ore often abundant not far from the shores of Yezo and about iNambu,* and -i 2 "<\j-> h> 3.00O arc aimually taken there by the inhabitants, in bouts. In th .icmoin^ ■: r. just referred to, it is stated that, " Large numbers of seiils from f!ie itiissian njeker'.eh iXtd scattered every winter over the ocean lying off the east civast of ,Ia|)an, bu- they are unmolested by foreign or native sealing-vesscls, and onlv tiie fringe ot them is touched by native fishermen in their ojx'n boats alon," the Nu; jii ind Yezo coast." 202. When these seals move to ti.e n(. ''n 'I'd. ir- tne spring or early summer, they doubtless follow a route parallel to the ! no of tlij ■ • ile !slandn, though there is ^tv ILi. A-^..v i(r»ii \ wapnrt or thf eml co.nt of Nipoo, near lailtudi' 4(J'. 88 f^tt' nothing known to show whether tliey pass near to these islands, or at son^e considerable distance to the eastward of them. Accordinfj to Mr. Grebnitsky, SuperintciiiU^nt of ibe ^^ '■ Conimnnder Islands, the seals travel with tlie northward brancii of the Japan current, and are first seen on the south-western shore of Copper Island, where some of them land, while others continue their journey to the north-westward, between Copper and Behring Islands ; and those whicii land on the northern rookery of Behring Island come to it eventually from a north-eastern direction. The same gentleman further states, as the result of his ol)scrvations, that these naturally pelagic animals land thusX^ ,»~f:.\..X^ on the Commander Islands only because it is necessary lor the females to do so in order i"'-'^ -' to give birth to their young ; while he believes the main reason of the landing:, at later , dates, of the seals not actually engaged in breeding, is that dm-ing the "sliedding" or .j^^*^^^ -l^'l L^^^^ A.^U<\ ^Jr 4 fc .1 ,(^ v-e-^A k ''7'- Wt Wf^u/ " .stagey " season, their ])elage becomes too thin to afford a suitable protection from the water. The date of arrival of the seals on the C'oinmatuler Islands is somewhat later than on the Pribyloff Islands, and the dates of leaving appear to be also later and rather more irregular in correspondence with the longer summer season and less precisely marked beginning of cold weather. In fun-boat " -Meut." who lias had l■f^*•''.' long experience of these waters, the fur-seals frequenting Kobbcn Island, on the ,,"^^_ i,j east coast of Saglialien in Okotsk Sea, pass through the Ivurile Archipelago into ,<_.,■, j.j the Pacific in autumn and do not go directly south into tlie Japan Sea ; though he has seen a few fur-seals at sea not far to the north of Vladivostok. 204. It will be observed that the migration-range of the fur-seals frequenting tlie y, Cc:;;:iinnder Islands is somewhat less extended than that of tlio.-iO resorting to the Pribylofr 'sliind«. its entire len|j;th being little mori than 1,000 niiles. 20i>. It is of i;Herest here to refer to the account of the migrations of the fur-seal or "sea-cat," drawn up by the Russian Kraschenimikoff, which is sujiposed to be ba.sed partly on l:i;' own observations and largely on tho^e of his fellow-traveller Steller, both •^lOi members of Behring E.xpediticn.* He writes: "The sea cats arc caught in the "i- ■•>v.».| *-/./<<'<^^ spring and in the month of September, about the River Sheepanova ; at wlii.'h time flt^M» iCu^lau, they go fVom the Kurilskoy (Kurile) Islands to the American coast (read Commander i/ /■ Islands); but the most are catclied about the Cape of Kronitzkoy, as between this and • iTiiCy^M^'^' the Cape Sliupinskoy (both on the east coast of Kanitschatka) ; the sea is generally " 'v-*/^^'.. (./-,. calm, and affords them proper places to retire to. Almost all the females that are caught in the ,s])ring are pregnant ; and such as are near their time of bringing forth their young '" ^'^^Ui 'c^.^ are immediately opened, and the young taken out and skinned. Mone of them are to be ^h>---f -" /••u{.-»»^ seen from the beginning of June to the end of August, when they return from the south (sic, read east) with their young." 200. The remarks on the same subject made by Pleurieu in Marchand's voyage are '^^'•'';^*---^''"}'j^ probably in the main al-o based on th; se of Steller. He writes, referring to tlie last decade of the eighteenth century: — " Ces aniniai'x quittent an mois de Juin les cotes de la presqn'ile de Kamtseliatka, fr,.^.^ tr^ | et y revicnnent, commc il a ete dit, a la tin d'Aout ou an commencenient de Septembre, ('".^-^^^v. /^iJi^ ] ji'iur y passer I'automne et I'hiver. Dans le temjis du deiiart, les feiiielles sont |/ietes a ''-'■ .■^''■.. f-f'^-.f^* : inettre has, et il paruit que I'objet du voyage de ces ainphibies e-t de s'e'loi!;ner le plus *1,_,,^^{;, ->.t.-<*. L^.„ f> qu'ils pcuv.r* de toute tcrre Iiabitt'e, pour faire tranquillement leur petits sur dcs bords solitaires, jt s'y livrer ensuite sans trouble aux plaisirs de I'amour ; car c'est un mois aprds qu'-'lles out mis has (|uc les feinelles entrent en clialeur. Tons revicnnent fort maigres i\ la fin d'AoAt; et il estapresumer que, pendant leur absence, ils ne mangent que peu ou point du tout."t 20?. The iiaiticular interest attaching to these quotations is, that they appear to show- that at the early dates to wliieh they refer, the fur-seal was much better known and more often seen by the natives of the coa.st of Kiinit.scliatka than it is at the present day, from which it is reasonable to conclude that on the Asiatic coast as well as on that of Norlli America the fur seal has considerably changed its habits, as the result of persistent l^^^■\^ /i<<«JtA'^ hunting, and has become more pelagic tlian it originally was. 1^..^ ,vji..!tU/( Particulars of the same kind referring to the ^Jorth American coast are elsewhere ' / referred to in detail (§ 390 et .sci/.). 208. The mode of origination of the regular migratory habit, wliicii has become ^''A-*^A" /,. liereditary and instinctive in the case at least of by far the largest number of tlie Ht..\.ft,t.w.i.,, ^ fur-seals of the North Pacific, is an interesting (juestion of a general kind. It is evident * Qiioti'il !>}' J. ,\. Alli'n in " .Moiiogra|))i iif Norili AmiTicaii ['.iiiiieJn," p. 341; fn ii.;li«h ititu'alinii, 176*. t '- Voy«t;e Au uur du Moiidi', l790-5i'," lunie V, p. fij. U\ H that tlio habit has grown up as a necessary result of resorting to far northern breeding grounds, wliile at the same time it is not essentially a part of the lite history of the animal, as the breeding stations ormerly occupied on the Califomian coast show. It is further instructive to mention, that as the result of inquiries made on this point from those most familiar with the subject in New Zealand, the Falkland Islands, and Cape Colony, it is found that the closely related fur-seal of the Southern Hemisphere does not regularly migrate over great tracts of the ocean, but, when occupying stations where the con- ditions are favourable for its existence througliout the year, it merely approaches the shores and lands upon them at the breeding season. The continued presence of fur-seals about the Commander Islands in mild winters, likewise shows that even in the case of the fur-seal of the ^Jorth Pacific, it requires the prompting afforded by decided changes in the seasons to kei'p up the regularity jf its migratory habits. It has indeed been suggested, and with some probability, that the seasonal changes in the temnerature of the sea itself may have much to do with impressing regularity on the annual movement of migration, or, ill other words, that when this temperature falls below or rises above certain limits, the ;• " 1 1^ gin to move southward or northward in search of less frigid or less heated waters. ^ \ at hand are, however, insufficient for a detaile 1 study of this point. "7^ 1 / * (iii.) — Distribution at Sea, 200. The distribution and mode of occurrence of the fur-seals at sea when con- gregated in their winter habitats on the two sides of the North Pacific, and while migrating, have already been noticed. While the information on these points is not as complete as could be wished, it is sufficient to show in a general way how the fur-seal is affected in its movements by currents, drift, and winds. In speaking of its food and feeding habits on a .'ub.sequent page, It fiivthcr becomes apparent in what manner the sea's congregate and travel in l.iUcving ceifain food fishes. It appears to be rather in consequence of such circum.»itances, operating conjointly upon these pelagic animaN, than to any ruling gregarious tendencies while at sea that they become collo'-toJ into "schools" or groups of greater or loss dimensions. This at least is the result ot the examinations made during the summer of 1S91 in Behring Sea, where, though two or three seals were often seen actually in company, and occasionally as many as si.x or eight, the general rule seemed to be that each senl was pursuing its own course, travelling, slee])ing, feeding, or sporting in the water, without reference to others in the vicinity. This is clearly shown by the observation that even when passing through an area at sea in which the seals would be noted as abundant, they are as a matter of fact usually separated by distances much too great to enable any single animal, or any group of two or three individuals, to be in any way cognizant of the presence of the next adjacent individual or similar group. Apart from seals met with near the shores of the breeding islands, the densest "school" found by us was on one occasion about five miles to the westward of the land of St. i'aul Island, where about forty seals were counted in a distance run of two miles. In all other eases, it was exceptional to meet with seals to the number of four to a mile run, while two to a mile run was much above the average even when passing through areas of abundance. It is thus evident that the seals had been brought logethir ii, such areas of abundance by reason of common conditions rather than by their own volition. 210. In order to arrive at as complete a knowledge as possible of the actual distribution of the fur-seal in Behring Sea, a circular was prepared, in which it was requested that regular seal logs should be kept on the British ciuizors, and, through the kindness of the Commander-in-chief on the Pacific Station, communicated to their Commanders. The work was taken up with enthusiasm by the various officers, and maintained throughout the season. Careful observations of the same kind were also made on our own steamer, the " Panube," and subsequently, tlirough the courtesy of the United States' Commissioners, copies of the track-charts, and observations made of seals l)y the various United States' cruizers, were supplied, knrormation on the san)e ."subject was also sought in various other v\a\s, such as by incpiiry from the captains and hands of sealing-vessels met in Victoija and Vancouver, and from the inhabitants of various places touched at during the summer. 211. i.iittle or nothing has previously been put on record witli regard to the distri- iiution of the fur-seal in IJehriiig Sea during the months of their stay there, for thoiijih the pelngic sealers had formed their own opinion as to the best regions for rnrrying on their avocation, they natiually did not make these public, and it is believed tluu, in .some cases at least, they were rather inclined to keep such knowledge as they 85 had gained by experience entirely private. What has been actually published on this subject depends principally upor. meagre observations or ill-founded conjectures such as the resident agents on the breeding islands have been able to make with their limited opportunities. The circumstances in J 891 were, however, exceptionally favourable for acquiring information of a comparable kind on the question of distribution. 212. The observations at command for 1891 practically cover pretty thoroughly the period of about two months during which seals are ordinarily taken by pelagic hunters in Hehring Sea, extending from the middle of July to the middle of September, and they are much more complete for the eastern than for the western part of the Behriug Sea. 213. On consideration of the material to be dealt with, it was decided that it might be most advantageously divided into two periods of about a month each, the first including all dates from the 15lh July to the 15th August, and the second those between the loth August and the loth September. All the lines cruized over in the first of these periods were plotted on one set of maps, and those in the second period pu another. The parts of these tracks run over during the night, and in which seals therefore could not well be observed, were indicated on the maps in a different manner from the day tracks, as far as possible ; and with the assistance of the logs, the numbers of seals seen in certain intervals were then entered along the various routes in a graphic manner. The places in which pelagic scalers had reported seals to be abundant or otherwise, as well as those in which sealing-vessels were found at work by the cruizers, and other facts obtained from various sources, were also indicated on the maps. 214. Without attempting to enter into further details here as to the methods employed, the general results arrived at may now be bricHy described: — It is evident, in the first place, that the seals are most abundant in the water in the immediate vicinity of the shores of the breeding islands, this abimdauce of seals extending often not more than half-a-mile from the fronts of the breeding grounds, and seldom for 3 or 4 miles in such a way as to be at all notable. In the case of the Pribyloff Islands, it is ,Uso observed that seals were numerous in both the monthly periods in the tract included in a general way between St. Paul and St. George Islands, though they differed much in this respect even at nearly approximate dates. It is further clearly shown tliiit the Pribylotf and Co.-nmarder groups form the main centres of abundance of seals in Boliriiig Sea during the summer ; but that while this is undoubtedly the case, the souls are not found to decrease in numbers with any approximation to regularity in zones concentric with the islani's,— always excluding the seals in tlie immediate neighbourhood of the shores. 215. It is therefore not possible to outline a series of zones in which the number of seals present will bear an inverse nitio to the distance from the islands. It is, however, possii)lc lo draw an approximate- limit for a region about the Pribyloff group, which will roughly define the area of abundant seals at sea during each of the two monthly periods chosen. In the case of the ngion about the Commander Islands, data, though almost wanting for tlie first monthly period, and but scanty for the second, are sufficient to indicate a general mode of distribution similar to that demonstrable in the firit case. Within the areas of abundant seals, these animals are, however, by no means regularly distriliu'.ed, even at any particular fixed date, but are scattered in irregular patches in the difhise character already described, and are very often thickest locally towards the outer limits of the area. 210. Bevond these areas, seals are found more or less sparsely scattered over a great ])art of Belning Sea, which in the first period extends, in the longitude of the I'ribyloiT Islands, from tlie Aleutian chain northward to about the 50lh degree of latitude, includes the whole vicinity of the western Aleutian Islands, and spreads again Co a greater width with the Commander Islands as a centre. 217. In li^!)l the area of abundant seals about the Pribyloff Islands appeared to be not only changed in form, but considerably reduced in size in the second monthly period ; while that of scattered sc-ms was not only changed in form, but niiich enlarged in area. It ajipears, that in most years, in the later summer this area of scattered seals extends to the north-east of the Commander Islands, quite to, or even beyond, the 00th parallel of noith latitude. This particular extension is probably to be explained by the drift of that branch of the Japan current which fiows through the western part of Behring Sea, assisted by the prevailing southerly winds in the same part of the sea in June and July;* while the comparatively restricted spread in a northward direction in the eastern part of the sea may be similarly connected with the general movement of the water from north to south in that region ... hs. u^ . )lla7--» . K. /(O -V1..U . /Iwlfc ^^•*- 218. The northern outline of this wider region of scattered seals in the second monthly period, may be practically assumed as that of the normal range of the fur-seal to the north, anc' is adopted as such on one of the accompanying maps. On other maps the outlines of the areas of abundant and scattered seals in each monthly period are shown. The extreme northern range of the fur-seal, however, extends far beyond the line just referred to, for Captain Henley and Lieutenant Jarvis, of the United States' Revenue Cruizer " Bear," state that fur-seals are occasionally seen by whalers as far as St. Lawrence Island, and even on tlic northern shores of that island. They also found in 1891, at (.'ape Tchaplin or Indian Point on the Siberian coast, the natives in possession of a few skins of old bull seals, which they stated had been taken near St. Lawrence Island. Our own inquiries on tliat island and at Plover Bay on the Siberian coast were purely negative as regards fur-seals, though hair .seals, including the rare banded or ribbon seal {Histtiopltoca fasciata), were being taken by the Tuskis in nets. It was, however, further ascertained that one or two instances had occurred of old male seajs bping taken near St. Mich^iel, not far from the Yukon mouth, and it is therefore probable that a line drawn from Cape Tchaplin to this place may be considered as defining the e.\treme maximum northern range of the fur-seul of the North Pacific. This limit, however, appears to be hut rarely attained, and then only by mature and old males, which have probably become useless on the breeding rookeries, and have been driven or have wandered away alone far from their kind. 219. AVith the idea that the general distribution of the fur-seals in Behring Sea, from the breeding islands as centres, might show some direct relation to the prevailing winds, meteorological observations made during the summer by ourselves and on several of the cruizers were sent to the Meteorological Department of Canada, and were there, under tlie direction of Mr. Carpmael, analyzed by Mr. Stupart, who prepared wind-roses for each of the monthly periods for the vicinity of the PribylofF Islands. The observa- tions taken near the Commander Islands were, however, insufficient lor such treatment. The wind-roses thus obtained tor the vicinity of the Pribyloff Islands were then com- pared, both in a direct iind in an inverse sense, with tlie outlines of the area of abundant seals, but without bringing to light any manifest connection of the kind eonjo'^tured, though there appeared to he a slight balance of evidence in favour of the belief that the seals tended rather to travel against the wind than with it. So far, therefore, as this evidti.ce goes, it seems to sliow that the senls found at sea, even in the regions in which they are not very far from the breeding islands, are not animals which have only temporarily left the islands, for in this case their movements would almost certainly show- some obvious relation to the prevailing wind and weather. The fact that they do not do so, in itself suggests that the seals met with at sea really form practically independent pelagic schools of a difluse kind. 220. An examination of the area surrounding the Pribyloff Islands in which seals were abundant in 1891, together with such other facts bearing on former years as could be obtained from pelagic sealers, indicates that the maximum limit to which this orea may rcich from the islands in the summer months in any direction is not more than about )80 miles, and it is probable that similar conditions obtain with regard to the Commander Islands. 2l'1. Respecting the number of fur-seals to be found at sea within the areas if abundance above referred to, and exclusive of those frequenting the islands and their immediate shores, it is difficult to attain to anything like certain results. The endeavour has been made, however, in a tentative way to reach some rouglily approximate estimates, by finding the number of seals actually setn in measured lengths of runs in or across such areas, cliosen as typical, and made at different times in both monthly periods. The results obtained varied somewhat widely, as might be expected, not alone in conse- quence of the actual difl'erenee in density of the seals, but also from circumstances connected with the weather and the state of the sea surface. The observations made were, however, combined in a general average, which, when thus treated, showed jibout one seal noted to each mile run. On the assumption (which cannot be very far from the fact) that on the average a width of half-a-mile was efficiently scanned from the deck, this would give a mean number jf two fur-seals to each square mile of sea surface within the area referred to. 2'.'2. As to the much larger area of scattered seals, it is still more difficult in this .«ase to arrive at any even approximately accurate results, for (hough long runs were often :f)iftdc without meeting any seals, limited patches of relatively abundant seals were some- times met with, and these seemed to be quite irregularly distributed. It appears proliablo, however, that the density of seals within these areas does not exceed, but may reach, about one to five square miles. a7 iijiX^ J.c,.^ 'SlVli-^-W '-VA-drt. ■K., . .T. , fcw-v 323. No connected body of observations is in existence as to the actual abundance of seals at sea and their distribution in various parts of their range in different '}\ t^ j years, but more attention has naturally been paid to this since the development of pelagic l^uiM ^^^^ sealing. The following references on this subject have been found in documents already K/t^^^iMtM/ < ^^ published, or obtained in evidence. They are together suflicient at least to show thatC^^'\'<^'^»> ^ the distribution of the seals at sea, particularly as between different parts of their winter '"^ ut-iv . habitat, is subject to considerable variation. 1860. Judge J. Cr. Swan says, that between ]857 and 18G(j fur-bc-als were very scarce about Csfpe Flattery, and that it is only since the last-mentioned year that they have begun to resort to the vicinity of Fuca Strait in such great numbers. • [Tliis statement is probably based on the number of skins actually taken by the Indians, and may in part, at least, be explained by the fact that for a number of years the Indians scarcely hunted the fur-seal (§ oG2).] 1868. 5,000 fur-seals arc said to have been killed about the Strait of Fuca in this year.t iSgSl. Bryant spealcs of the abundance of fur-seals off the coasts of Ore;;; ■'. (^V^•. -C 1872. Captain Lewis, then connected with the Hudson's Bay Compan' ';ed that C^/^^. /fi-w-w in 1872 "immense numbers of fur-seal pups and yearlings'' wore observet: ... tiie ocean (^ off Vancouver Island and the entrance to Fuca Straits. That he had never during thirty years of previous service on the north-west coast seen or heard of such an'H>' abundance of fur-seals. He thought that "8,000 or 9,000 skins, chiefly pups and yearlings," were taken. § 1873. Captain Lewis, previously cited, stifed that in this year verj few fur-seals were seen off the British Columbian coast. His figures showed only " tiOO or 700 skins ; these were all older ones." II 18C6 to 1880. Writing in 1880, Judge J. G. Swan says: "This unprecedented /.^.Wh number of seals which made their appearance, a number which seems to have increased every season since 1866, will give employment to a larger fleet of vessels another year."«!r 1^80. Fur-seals were reported in great abundance 100 to 300 miles off-shore, by /^ vessels making for the Strait af Fuca. "''"' According to Judge J. G. Swan,** the canoe catch of Neah Bay (Makah) Indians in l^AuJii^ this year was 1,558. ' 1881. Mr. Marsilliot, second engineer of United States' Revenue Cutter " Wolcott," WvU;<:„-<'(^) states that in this year fur-seals were very abundant in Piiget Sound, and were taken as "*■ '"""^' *" -i^..... Seals are )y^, H. i^ t U^..j:,^ California A-r^tfJ^ far in as Hoods Canal.+t 1888 . Judge J. G. Swan, in a letter to Senator Dolph, says : reported as being unusually numerous this season, and are in myriads steamers report running through one i."rd which extended 100 miles, and the seals appeared to be as thick as they could swim."t{ 1889 . Captain J. D. Warren, who has been actively engaged in sealing for ^Y„^.^^ >i'/.'.ut-i twenty years, states that during that time he has noticed no diminution in the number of seals al sea, but, if any change at all, an increase.§§ ^ , 1889 . Captain W. O'Leary, with four years' experience, says: "I do not think C"./*^ >■'. C ^> ^ there is any decrease in the number of seals entering Behring Sea. I never saw iig(.^ 4^^ so many seals along the coast as there were this year, and in Behring Sea they were '^ more numerous than I ever saw before." |||| 181)0 . Mr. A. R. Milne, Collector of Customs at Victoria, summarizing the in- il\-n/\' ay, ■,^ {-W/wCc rCv !!tr.v^.'. 'lu i>.s. haulini;' grounds, the almost universal testimony is to tlic effect tliat their stomachs are invnriahly found to be free from food. 2.'13. With a view to obtain Hucli direct information on this subject as might be possible, the stomachs of seals killed in our presence were examined j and though the results of these examinations, noted below, do not entirely confirm the statement just referred to, they show a remarkable absence of food. The number of seals which it was thus possible to examine was of course small. On St. George Islanil, twenty seals were killed on the Ist August in our presence. These were selected from a drive made from the nearest part of the Great Northern Rookery, to the killing ground about half-a-niilc distant, and had been about three hours oil the rookery before they were killed. Of these twenty young males, the stomachs gave the following results : — !Se*cntccn : no fr od whatever, in most a little slimy matter, froth or bile, and often a few lively worms. One: a handful of small pebbles. ' .. ' , One : a ci«l of brownish blood. One : an isopod crustacean, about an inch in length, and a few fragments of fish bones. 234. On St. Paul Island, the 3rd August, the stomachs of ninety-eight young males were examined. These were selected from a drive made from Zoltoi sands to the killing ground, a distance of about 2,000 feet, from which they had been driven early in the same morning, possibly two or three hours before being killed. The co.itcnts of these stomachs, in addition to a few worms present in many cases, were as follows : — Sixty-five, contained nothing, or, in some cases, a pinch of sand, or a small quantity of slimy or frothy matter. Seventeen, contained pebbles, sometimes several, in other cases but a single pebble. Six, showed a rather notable quantity of bright yellow bile. Four, contained some blood, generally somewhat changed in colour by the action of the gastric juices, and in one or two cases clotted. Three, contained the horny armatures or beaks of squids only ; one of these a single beak, another two beaks, and the third three beaks. One, held some pebbles, the ear-bone of a fish (cod ?), and a few pieces of broken dead shell. One, held some pebbles and broken pieces of dead shell, with a single beak of squid. One, showed a very small piece of kelp only. 235. From the large North Rookery on Bcbiing Island, 6fch September, an adult male or " seacatch," two females, and an unwcaned pup, were driven directly from the rookery ground, about 200 yards' distant, and killed, by permission of the authorities, for presentation by us as specimens to the British Museum. The stomachs of all four were completely empty, with the exception of a few worms in those of the three adults. Not only the pup, but the females, and even the old male, were fat and in good condition. 230. Respecting the pebbles frequently found in the stomachs of the fur-seal, it has been suggested by Mr. Elliott that these may be swallowed for the purpose of destroying the worms often observed. It has further been suggested that such stones have incidentally found their way into the seals' stomachs attached to sea-weeds, or zoophytes eaten by the seals ; but little can be said in favour of this theory. The habit is one, however, not peculiar to the fur-seal, but common to most pinnipeds.* The largest of those pebbles actually collected from the stomachs of the seals above noted as having been killed on St. Paul on the 3rd August, is a flat stone, 1^ inch in length and 1 inch in breadth, but much larger ones have often been found. It is probable that individual stones do not as a rule remain very long in the stomach ; for about one-half of those collected on this occasion were rough scoriaceous fragments, showing little or no sign of attrition. The other moiety was more or less perfectly rounded, and a certain number showed a peculiar fine polish, probably to be attributed to wear in the stomach of the animal. About one-seventh of the entire number represent rocks not found on the Pribyloff Islands, or, if occurring at all, only very exceptionally as erratics carried there attached to the roots of drift trees or kelp, or brought upon floating ice. These have, in all probability, been borne by the seals themselves from some distant localities. The remaining and much the larger part of the collection consists of ordinary volcanic pebbles, such as might be picked up anywhere on the beaches of the Pribyloff or the Aleutian Islands. • " Monogroph of Nurth American Piouipeds," p. 354. 41 237. The Aleut foreman in charge of tlic rookeries on Rehring Island stated that the young seals began to swallow pebbles when about four months old, after which they become tliin. If correct, this slateraent would appear to mean that it is about the time at which the young arc weaned that this habit is first devclopod. He also said that, when seols of mature age were observed to swallow stones, they were (or became) thin, and this may possibly be regarded rntlier as tlic effect of the gastric worms than of the pebbles. The same man added, and entirely as nn idea original with liimsclf, that when the seals first arrived at the Commander Islands each year, lliey contained stones unlike those to be found upon the islands, and which he con.jp(!tuied had been picked ui) upon the Kamtsehatka coast. In the stomach of the seal pup examined for us by Dr. Glinther at the British Museum, it will be noted that a stone was found, although the pup was supposed to be about seventeen days old only. (Appendix D.) 238. On several of the rookery- and hauling-grounds of the PribylolT Islands there is to be seen a notable abundance of small roumled pebbles, just such as those found in the stomachs of the seals. As tliese lie upon the surface, often far above any possible action of the sea, and as there is no evidence of beaches of such rolled stones due to former periods of greater submergence upon the Pribylott' Islands, the conjecture appears to be legitimate that these have, in the course of years, been brought and accumulated by the seals themselves. Wliether voided or disgorged from time to time upon the rookery grounds, or whether accumulated by a slower process consequent on the occasional death of seals upo above I>y Professor AlKn, that gentleman writes : " Slellcr states tliat in Ihc numerouH specimens he dissected he always found the stomachn empty, and rcmnriis tliut tlicy taiie no food durinj; the several weeks they remain on land ; Mr. Dail confirms the same stntoment in respect to the present species, and Captains Cooit, Wcddel, and others, who iiave had (i))portunitics of ohservinjj llic ditferont southern species, affirm tiie snnie fact in respect to tlie latter. Lord Sliuldham long since Htate '"''J *'"^ Slime habit, though its actual fast seems somewhat shorter than those of the eared seals "Tliis HJngular ji'ienomenon of a protra'-ted annual fast during the period of parturition and the nursing of the young — the season when most mammals require the most ample sustenance — seems not wholly conlined to the walruses and eared seals. So far as known, liowever, it is limited to the piiinipedes; and, excepting ia the case of a single member, the aca-elcphant, to the two above-named families. Hy some of the cid writers the sea-elephant was said to feed sparingly, at this time, on the grasses and sea-weeds that grew in the vicinity of its breeding places, but the weight of the evidence in respect to this point seems to indicate that this species fasts simihirly to the eared seals and walruses during the period it resorts to the land to bring forth its young."» 243. The fur-seals on .Tuan Fernandez are likewise reported, and without quali- fication as to sex, to abstain from nourishment during the breeding season : " Toward j 2(.i.C!*vt,-..n, 7 i'tU- r^- -W-, y. 244. The principal breeding places of the fur-seal of the North Pacific at the present time, arc the Pribyloff and Commander Islands, and, omitting certain exceptional periods dependent chiefly on the interruption of natural condition'- brought about by the slaughter of seals, it ajipears that the Pribyl f Islands have, withi.i historic times, been frequented by larger numbers of seals than the Comm -nder Islai ds. Recent changes, depending chiefly on the circumstances which have occurred in tht first-named islands, have, how- ever, at the present time, produced a nearer approach to etjuality in numbers as between the two groups of islands than has been normal. Of ot'ier breeding places in the North Pacific still known to be frequented by smaller numbers of seals, Uobben Island is the most important, but of these some notes arc given later. 2i5. While it has not been disproved that the fur .seal may bring forth its young upon detached floating masses of the great kelp of tbi Pacific, particularly in cases where the gravid female has beon prevented from reachiiig tlie breeding places on shore in due time, such instances, if they occur, must be quite exceptional. As to the alleged birth of joung at sea, the result of careful inquiries o*^ various kinds shows that if this t should occur without the presence of any resting place the young probably perish, for, thougli undoubtedly capable at, birth, and even if cut I'roui ihe mother before birth, of swimming for a shorter or longer time, the yonng is not suited at once for a pelagic existence, and authentic instan'jcs in which females with recently-born young have been seen at sea arc very rare. It may be mentioned here, however, that some of the Indians |i-iof the northern part of the coast of British Columbia aver that they have seen the female fur-seal swimming with its young on its back in the manner said to be practised by the sea-otter, and actually observed in the case of the hair-seal, but this statement has not been fully authenticated. 24t). The normal habits of the fur-seal are such as to require a safe terrestrial • On llie F.areil Seals. " null. Mils. Coni|. Zool.," vol ii, No. 1, pp. 101, 102. See also Senate, Ex Doc. No. .13, 4 1 at Con^rre-s, 'ii d Sestion, p. ."i. -j Quoted in UnileJ Statea' Ceaaiia Iteport, p 13i. 43 retreat at the scaBon during which the young is born, where the young may remain un- (liHturbcd for a period of tlirce or posHihly four ii'onths, or till Huch time nt tliey may be able to assume the pelagic habits of the adult. It is therefore primarily for the purpose of giving birttt to their young and suckling tlieiii that the female fur seals seek the breeiling islands. At other seasons tliey do not rccpiiro to hind anywhere, and, as a matter of foct, they very seldom do so. It has fre(|ucntly been stated that the mating of the male and female must be accomplished on shore, but tliere is ample proof that this is not true, and that the male and female come toicethcr witii e(|uai facility in the water. It is thus evident that the ruling motive for the landing and sojourn ashore of the seals, ic the birth of the young, and that the habit of the males in frequenting the breeding rookeries and seeking the females theie after the young nave been born has grown up from this or in connection with it. With inony animals the male Imsafimction to fulfd on the breeding places in protecting the young, but in this instance the males are neither called upon, nor do they show any natural (iisposition, to exert themselves in this particular direction. 247. The Commander and PribylofT Islands, when originally discovered in 1711 and 178G respectively, were entirely uninbabiled by man; nor has any evidence been found since on either group to show that man had ever previously visited them. With the exception of St. Matthew Island, v. ,ich, by reason of the late date to which the ice often lingers about its shores, is not suited to becnme a habitual breeding resort of the fur-seal, these two groups of islands are the only ones in liehring Sea, or, for lliat matter, in the whole northern part of the North Poeific, which were not either peo|)letedly have ad'orded suitable breeding places if similarly uniniiabiled. 'I'he islands of tliis chain were, however, then thickly inhabited by the Aleuts, and as the fur-seal, when resorting to and remaining upon the shores during the breeding seascm, is pra.lici^(tH, S^U. L222J • ** Marine Mam itulia," jj. 153. t " CoDtributions to NurtW American Etlniuiogy. ' vul. K 'u'vtjt.i •J-^ itv.,6 (7^ 44 249. The Pribyloff Islands are nHost entirely, and the Commander Islands are chiefly, composed of rocks of volcanic origin, but in this respect they are by no means singular, and no physical characteristic; 'ependent on this circumstance are ruling ones in respect to thcii ritness as breeding places. 250. The Pribyloff group consists of two rather large islands, St. Paul and St. George, separated by a distance of about 39 miles, with two small islets, Walrus , Island and Otter Island adjacent to St. Paul. Of these, Otter Island is about a mile in length, while Walrus island is a mere flat rock about a quarter of a mile in length. The seal rookeries are all situated either on St. Paul or St. George, and those on St. Paul are considerably the more important. St. Paul Island is about 13 miles in length by 6 in breadth, v.hile St. George Island is about 14 miles in length, by 5 miles in greatest breadth, with o somewhat inferior area. 251. As already stated, both are composed of volcanic rocks, probably referable to the latest stages of the Tertiary period, and consisting largely of basalts or basalt-like rocks in the form ot !' early horizontal beds, often distinctly columnar where broken off in cliffs. There are, however, certain beds of scoriaceous material which are included between those representing originally molten matter. 'I'hese islands appear, in fact, to be the result of old sul)marine volcanic eruptions, spreading their material in pretty regular layers on the sea-bed, and eventually rising above the surface of the shallow eastern plateau of Behring Sea, citliex because of the mere accumulation of material, or peruaps more probably with the aid of a local elevatory movement of somewhat later date. Since the original time of tlieir appearance above the sea, their margins have been worn into sea-cliffs, or beaten back to form stretches of sandy beach, by the action of the waves ; but in consequence of the absence of older rocks, most of the material for these heaclies, as well as that of the sand dunes which characterize parts of the coast (particularly on St. Paul Island) is not siliceous, but is composed of the comminuted material of the local volcanic rocks. 252. The surface of St. Paul may be described as consisting of rounded hills, of which the highest attains an elevation of about GOO feet, connected by flat land, much of which is but little elevated above the sea. Its .shores are not often bold 'hough forming cliffs of moderate height in some places, particularly about its western end. St. George is, on the whole, considerably higher, and contains very little low or flat land. Its surface consists of hills and upland moors, and its highest parts exceed (100 feet. The shores of St. George are generally steep and bold, and much of its border is formed by clifl's of considerable hcig.'it, which constitute the breeding places of innumerable birds. V5V>. No tree or shrub occurs on either island, of which the surface is covered, when ' not too rocky to support any growth, with srass and herbaceous vegetation, mingled with moss and lichen on the higher parts. Neither island affords any harbour, and it is necessary to anclior under a weatlier shore and to effect a landing either with an ofl''-shore wind or in calm weather. The situation of the village on St. Paul is, ho«ever, such that a landing can generally he effected there cither on one side or other of the long south-westerly-exteu'.ling penin^ula terminating in Reef Poin',. 264. The breeding ro /keiies and hauling-grounds (or tracts which the bachelors and other seals not actually engaged in breeding frc(|uent) are, of course, confined to the immediate vicinity of tlie coast -line on both islands. The seals seldom land and never ^remain on Walrus Island, and though in former years many art said to have hauled out on Otter I.sland, and some still do so, this is not knoivn to have been occupied as a breeding station. 1:55. All the existing breeding rookeries on St. Paul a.id St. George Islands were visited and examined by us during our first visit to the islands about the end of .Irly, and some of them were subse(|Uei:tly re-examined on our second and tliird visits in the months of Angust and September respectively, for the purpose of noting the changes in the distrihutiiin and habits of the seals at various seasons. So much has, however, already boon written in desi'riptioii of the topography of the various rookery grounds, particularly by Mr. 11. \V. Hlliott, that it is not here necessary to enter into any minute description of them. It will serve all practical purposes and will tend to leave the main question involved unobscured, if the several rookeries are merely characterized in a very general way, and if their diflerences and common characters are subsequently treated of together. -6G. There are on St. Paul Island at the present time seven recognized breeding rookeries, of which the names and general characters are us follows : — (i.) Zapadnie Rookery. — 'i'hi., consists ot two parts, wliicli may be called West and East Zapadnie respectively, separated by a small hay with sandy beach, upon which the 45 seals do not remain. 'Tie rookery ground of both parts fiices to the sontTt-east, and consists of rather regular slopes rising from the edge of the sea, and more or less thickly strewn with angular or sub-angular basaltic blocks. (ii.) Tolstoi Jiookery. — This rookery faces to the north-west, f«a the other side of English Bay. The ground occupied by the breeding seals is, for the most part, a steep and rugged sloj.,, strewn with angular blocks, and broken by jutting Tnntwes of solid rock. At its north-cast end the slopes become lighter, and it merges into thf open and smooth slopes of Aliddle Hill, which constitute an important hauling-grnund frequented by baclielor seals or hoUuschickie. (iii.) Lanoon lioolceiy. — Facing to the south-west, and open to tlie full sweep of the sea only in Ii'earlngs between south-west and west. In con.sequence of the protection afforded by the long Kecf Point, this rookery ground is the most sheltered of any on either of the islands. The ground actually occupied by the breeding seals is a narrow and low reef of well I'ounded boulders, which separates the sea from a shallow lagoon. (jv.) Reef Rookeries-. — Occupying bo'h sides ot the outer part of the long pro- montory known as Reef Point, and facing to the north west and south-east. The north- western slope, often called Garbotch, is rather steep, and a part of the rookery-ground occupied on this side consists of a narrow fiinge of rocky shore overlooked by low basaltic cliffs. A narrow ridge, which is worn bare and occujiied as a hauling- ground by hoUuschickie in the early pari of the season, and is frequented by all classes of seals at a later period, separates *he norlii-wcttern from the south-eastern side of Reef Point. On the south-east side there is a wide border of flat land init little elevated above the tide, upon which tho greater part of the seals o*' the reef rookeries is found. Almost the whole of the rooii'jry ground of the reef is plentifully strewn with angular masses of rock, thougli occasional smooth spaces also occur. The higher parts of the Reef Point consist very largely of a bjd oi volcanic scoria;, lying compact and much in its original state, and forming a fine hard surface considerably different from that found on most of the rookeries. (v.) Lukannon and Ketavie Rookeries form practically one rookery ; they slope generally eastward, and in parts are much broken by the irregular jutting out of the solid rock and the many anguhir masses which have detached themselves from it. (vi.) Polavinn Ro okenj- — This faces to the soutii-castward and stretchis irregularly along the shore for nearly l;j miles. The rocky shore is here bounded on the landward side by a ra.nge of low irregular cliffs, perhaps averaging 40 feet in height, and the breeding seals for the most part occupy the upper part of (he beach along the i)ase of (he cliffs, together with such breaks and hollows as exist in the cliffs and a wide rocky reef near the sea level at tiie southern end of the rookery ground. A certain proportion of the breeding seals, however, take up stations upon the upper edge of the cliris, and later in the season they move irregularly back upon the low plateau composed of bare volcanic tufa which rises very gradually toward the distant base of Polavina Hill. (vii.) North- East Point Ronkery. — This is the most important breeding place upon either of the islands, and might perhajis be more correctly described as a series of rookeries than as a single one. Norlh-East Point is a low peninsula of quadrangular form, connected at one of its ar':'"s by a narrow neck, consisting of sandy flats and higli dunes, wiiii the nia n island, Hutchinson Hill, jirobably about 150 feet in height and near the northern siJe of p' 'insula, is its highest point. The rookery ground runs plong the eastern, northern, nnu orth-westem shores almost continuously, though in some places — and particularly in the immediate vicinity of Hutchinson Hill— it is much wider than in others. Nearly all this length of shore is strewn thickly with rocky fragments, which as far as the highest tides reacli are usually well rounded, but farther back are still angular or sub-angular. lU-tween Hutchinson Hill and the sea, there is a con- siderable width of rock-strewn ilat land reseinblirg that of the south-east side of Reef Point, and coinciding with the most important portion of the rookery. 21)7. On St. (ieorge's Island there are no-v five recognized rookery grounds, four on the northern coast and one in Zaimdnie Ba_v on the southern coast: — (i.) Zjtjuidnie Rookery. — This breeding ?,round is more or less perfectly divided into two parts, one lot of seals occupying a r(/Ugli boulder.v Hat immediately back of the beach, another the slope of a hill a little fur. her to the south. (ii.) Starry Arteel Rookery. — The ground here occupied by the breeding seals is a particularly steep slope, which faces to the eastward and is broken off at one side, to the north, by the shore cliff, which prevents the seals when they land from reaching the breeding grounds directly. (iii.) Nurlh Rookery. — This is the mout important breeding ground on St. George . : 'y*H^ rf 46 /.ft. K, i-- .../^■V itc^.A-^ .'(' Island, And irregularlj occupies nearly a mil^ ot' the shore. It is supposed to contain about h.lf the entire number of seals resorting to this island. The shore is here c! r.acteri.'ied by low i!rc<.st northern, and the only one continuously occupied at other seasons than the time of sealing. The highest parts of Copper island probably attain an elevation of 3,000 feet. 261. Along the shores of both of the.sc islands there are extensive fields of kelp, but these are not more notable than those to be found in similar situations in the Aleutian, Pribyloff, and other islands of the southern part of Behring Sea or along the Alaskan and British Columbian coasts, — a fact which is perhaps worthy of note in connection with statements which have been mjide as to the peeuliar suitability of these islands to the graminivorous and now e.\tinct Hhytina, as well as from its possible bearings on the habitats of the fur-seal. 265. L|)on Behring Island the fur-seals are killed in the immediate vicinity of tlie two rookeries, where salt-houses are established. On Copper Island, the rookeries, situated on the south-west coast, are tlassitiod under two grou|)s, from one of which tbt scttls are driven across to KarpKolny and from the other to Glinka for slaughter, this being supposed to be necessar ing to the rough ciiaracter of the coast where they are actually situated. 2G(5. Further evidence of tin ^idai.'.ibilifv of the seals to circumsfAucis is found in comparing the physical character of the . '^ s on the Commander Islands with those of the Pribyloff Islands. On Behring IsLi , ihe North Rookery, situated at Yushin Point, towards the western part of the north coast of the island, is the largest. It occupies a flat stretch of rocky reef, which runs seaward in a I'-iangular form, with its wide base against the land and a length I'f about i. quarter of a nnlc. Tiie surface of the reef is irregular, and much of it stands above higli-water niurk, thou i in heavy gales few parts of it can escape the more or less di'"!ct wash of ;' • surf. To tlie west of the reef proper, and connected with if, is a w^ide dry beach n- bar of sand, which is also occupied by seals,* but chiefly by holluschickie or bacln ^rs. Oa the landward side, the reef is overlooked by low rocky banks overgrown by rank grasses and weeds, and between these and the reef proper are some small irregular gra'^sy flats and pools of salt water. Here the seals never go, though there is no apparcii^ ason why this upper plateau might not be used as a haulmg-ground or "parad. iiich would resemble several of those adjacent to rookeries on tlic Pribyloff Islanti 267. The South Rookery on Behring Island, situated .,i Poludenni Point, on the south-west side of the island and about midway in its length, was not visited by us. It is, however, much smaller than the last, and is described as presenting very similar characters. In both cases there is ample room for expansion of the rookery ground without breaking its continuity. 268. On Copper Island, the circumstances ore again quite different. The rookeries and hnuling-grouiids are here scattered along about 15 miles of the south-east coast, extending from about the middle of the islanl to its southern end. All the ronkeries are small ; and though distinguished by various local names they are not well defined, but are connected by irregidar scattered colonics of breeding seals strung along the narrower and less favourable parts of the shore. The whole shore is bordered by high irregular cliffs, here and there broken by ravines, or by more moilerate though always steep and rough rocky and grassy slopes. Flat rocky reel's run out irregidarly from the shofi below, with abundance of rocks awash and large fields of kelp. Opposite the breaks iu 1^ J frcefi. iji ^.|.. ^' ^ Ml 48. /iw* r* ft^fc- V^ttJU. the clifTs are bouldory or gravelly bays, and both these and the larger areas of reef are irregularly occupied by the seals. At Palala Point, near the southern extremity of the island, the seals occupy a steep slope of earthy appearance, which they have completely bared of vegclaiion to a distance estimated at 150 to 200 yards back from the shore, and a height of, say, '200 feet. This rookery in its general character more closely resembles Starry Arttcl than any other of the Pribyloff Islands. It is distinctively a breeding rookery, as no holluschickio, it is said, ever haul out near it. 20!(. On Copper Island, however, as on Behring Island, M. Tillman, the Superin- tendent in charge for the Russian Govcrnm'iot, states that even when the seals were more abundant than in 18G1, there has never been any lack of room for expansion of the rookeries and hauling grounds, and that there are many other localities in all respects equally well suited for occupation by the seals, though these usually occupy the same or nearly the same stations year after year. It is thus evident on the Commander as on the Pribyloir Islands, that no very special or peculiar physical features are required to render certain spots suitable as the breeding resorts of tlie fur-seal. It is necessary to em])hasi!'^- ihis point, as the question has been obscured by a tendency to surround it with a certain mvstcry, and to affirm that certain spots, and those alone, are available as rookery grounds. 270. The fact remains to be explained, however, that the hreeding seals actually do resort with great i)ersistency to the variims recognized rookeries, congregating in these spfits and leaving other neighbouring parts of the shores of the breeding islands un- tenanted, 'i luru is indeed some evidence to show that the same old bulls or "beach- masters " from year to year occupy the same i)laces, and it is quite probable that the instinct which induces many animals to return to the same place in succeeding seasons, may inliucnce the fur-seal. There is, however, another and very obvious practical cause for the reoccupation of old rookery grounds. As a rule, these extend some distance beyond the reach of the sea, and arc there by the continuous presence and movement of the seals not only bared of vegetation, but beaten down into smooth and hard ilats and slopes, and therelore constitute as long as they are occupied each year, and from this very cause, the places most congenial to the seals. The fact that the first of the seals to arrive in the spring, coast along the shores and land for a time in a timid and tentative nay only, shows that they arc in search cither of their old breeding stati. It is tnifortumite that no such precise or consecutive observations have been made, with the aid of plans, measurements, and fixed marks, as to enable the changes in rookery- and hauling-grounds to be followed out from year to year, either on the l'rib,)lotf or Commander Lslands. It will be sulRcient, however, to refer to a few known UUHi 49 facts which are independent of very close observation, but bear on the point in discussion ^t^, One ^'^ these is the remarkable dilf'erences noted in various years between the relative j^.,/''/ h-^-- proportioa of seals visiting the two islands, St. Paul and St, George. These are referred to in connection with tlie historical notes on tliose islands. Of the same purport is the i"^l^ fact that two rookeries existed within historical times at a place called Maroonitch, on .w.v^c, the north coast of St. Paul, which even maintained their position in a reduced form in c *'?■■• the season of ^reat scarcity of seals in 1 830, but which have since absolutely disappeared, ■"v-v-"^ though there is no reason to sujjpose that tliey were at any time heavily drawn upon, if at all disturbed by man. Elliott states that in 1872-74, when at the prompting of the natives he examined this shore, he was still able to trace the old limits of *hese rookeries tolerably well by the polished edges of the rocks.* Another, though never large, rookery, \a^^ i(viU i^— -«>. 27'1. St. George Island again, the natives assert, was in early Russian times, , ^r entirely peopled by sea-lions, and the fur-seal began to frequent it only in later years. "^^ r~.w, ^ jj'^ Though more doubtful than the other cited instances, there appears to be some reason ^"^"V^ to believe that there is a basis of fact in this statement nlso.J 2^5. An examination of the shores of the Pribyloff Islands, shows that statements (^ .,^,.MM^ which have occasionally been made, to the efiect that all ground available for the 1/'*' * purposes of seal life has been fully occupied within historic times, are incorrect, and that '^^''' the most extended limits of even temporary occupation indicated by any marks still remaining, do not prove that the area available and suitable for breeding rookeries and hauling grounds has ever been occupied up to its full capacity. From this it follows, that even if restricted for breeding ])uii)oses to these particular islands, the fur-seal has never reached its natural limit in numbers in consequence of a want of space for breeding ground but only as the result of other causes. 270. As a further result of the examination of the physical characterbtics of the '*^«'' r TiLAt Ax^.-t^* ^i -v^l^x^^/L (X:«** - A_it-^ rookery grounds, it may be staled that the necessary conditions, and even the most '^^'J^^^" ' "^"^ favourable conditions, are liy no means confined to the Pribyloft" and Commander . Islands, wide rocky beaches overlooked by sea-cliff's, and with all the characteristics of those of CoiJjier Island, are found on many of the islands of the Aleutian chain, and though low i)lateaux bordering the shores, or gentle slopes rising from the beaches are not so common, there are jdenty of them to he found in difrerent parts of this great series of islands, some of which, as for instance the Semitchi Islands, almost i)recisely resemble St. Paul in physical characters. Again, on St. Matthew and .iall Islands, localities well suited for breeding ])laces of the fur-seal occur, but as already indicated, the iidiabited character of tlie Aleutian chain, and the long continuance of ice about the St. Matthew Islands probably explain the absence of rookeries in these places. ^. (D.) — Annual Progress of Events in Seal Life on the Breeding Islands. 277. In order to follow out the various questions connected with the life liistory of it ...u . J,he fur-seal, it is necessary to bear in mind tlie main points involved in that important ' '^"^ part of each year during which it resorts to the breeding islands. A summary of the i'acts in this connection will lie given here. So far as regards the Pribyloll Islands, the fidlest details under this bend may be f-^^^l hj^l found in the works of several writers, particularly in those, of Bryant, Elliott, and l\^i>.^J. '^^^ ■^ Maynard. There is very little room for difference of opinion as to the main facts, and most of the pnints in whicli divergence is found may 'k- exi)lained by the tendency to give too rigid dates and too precise an aspect to tlie v.irious events and changes ; or to the circumstance that with the growing depiction of males upon the islands and its aifendant results, the dates and habits formerly observed by the seals have also, to some extent, changed from year to 3 ear. It will be sufficient to give a general and very hrief n'sume of ilie principal events of the breeding season based chiefly on the combined observi.tions of ii\e writers above cited, and afterwards to refer in somewhat greater d«(ai! to a few important points connected with these and with the general organization iixv^t^o^iX . of s"al life on tlie islands. 27». The first scalb to arrive at the is'ands in spring are the full-grown males or tX\ .^t p^ * lliiircil Slnip«' Cfiisus Ri'port. pp. 49, .i!). f Ibid , p 5 \ I Unitiil Males' ronfiis llcporl, p. .'.». Wiien Liiike vinltpit ilie islands In 1827, aliou't 1,000 «pa lions were U 1«uCtfV : y^' V t'li^-"-* ^ Jl^ f.^^j iva 'Y ikl^.^i'-^^ "bulls "of about six years old and upwards. A fev/ stragglers sometimes reach the islands as early as the middle of April, and from about the 1st May to the 10th or 16th June they continue to arrive, but in much larger numbers towards the latter part of this period. On arrival, these full-grown males, generally known as " beacbmasters," or " seecatchie," take up stations on the old rookery grounds to await the coming of the females. With the main body of full-grown bulls a large proportion of the "bachelors," or younger males, also appear. 279. Tlie time of arrival and landing of the gravid females appears to depend directly on the approaching close of tiieir period of j^estation. A few usually land as early as the 1st June, but it is, under normal circumstaiitns, between the middle of June and the middle of July that the great body of females tome ashore, and at or about the same time most of the yearlings of both sexes, or such of thorn as resort to the islands, also generally arrive, though it appears that in some years, at least, the main body of seals of this class lands somewhat later. On landing, the females, or " cows," are taken possession of by the old bulls, and very soon after landing the young are born. Within a few days the females are again in heat and under normal circumstances, with an adequate supply of virile males, the female is at once served. The landing of gravid females does not usually cease till about the '^Oth or 25th July, and in certain years has been continued much later by females which have evidently been served unusually late in the previous season. 280. All this time the bulls jealously keep the females they have secured within the boundaries of their particular harems, but about the end of July, or early in August, the breeding rookeries begin to lose their compact character. The beach-masters, dr many of them, return to the sea, or haul out here or there on the beaches, while younger males crowd upon the rookeries, and the females continue going and coming between the sea and their young on shore. Before the middle of August a large jjrojwrtion of the females are at all times to be found swimming and disporting themselves in the water close to the rookery ground, and the young collect in masses along the edges of the shore and rocks, from wliich they make short excursions into the sea. 281. About the middle of August, most of the seals found upon the Pribyloff Islands become what is known as "stagey," in consequence of the shedding of the hair and under-fur. This condition appears to continue, more or less definitely, for about six weeks. The fact, elsewhere mentioned, that practically no "stagey" skins arc ever taken at sea, appears not only to show that the change in pelage is rendered definite and well marked by prolonged resort to the land, but also that during this period the seald frequenting the islands do not go to any great distance from their shores. 282. In October the seals begin generally to leave the islands, the oldest and strongest being the first to go. Searly all the bachelors, or lioUuschickie, have left before the 10th November, and before the end of tliat month all the pups of the year, which have now changed the first black coat for a grey one, also go. A very few seals, however, generally linger ou into December, and in exceptional years have been known to stay on into January and even into February. 283. The seals resorting to the Commander Islands, which belong, at least in the main, to a different migration-area, and reach the islands from the south-westward, are thought by those acquainted with both thtse and the Pribylotf Islands to be somewhat later in the date of their arrival than tl^-^se of the latter islands. It is stated that here as on the Pribyloff Islands the seals have been later than usual in coming in recent years. In 1891, we found the "stagey " season was just beginning on the Commander Islands on the 1st September. The first killing of seals took place on Copper Islnnd in the same year on the 2-'nd June. Generally speaking, some seals can be found to kill on this island (in which the dates are sliglitly in advance of those in ^ ring Island) as early as the 1st June. (E.) — Ages at which Males reach Virility, and the Females produce Young. 284. The ages at which the male and female seals respectively reach maturity and become able to take part in the procreation of their species, as well as the number of years during which the male remains virile and the female fertile, are questions of very practical importance from two points of view. In the first place, they enable us to trace out the effect of the killing of seals of special ages or sexes at certain times, and, in the second, to estimate the time necessary for any improvement in numbers to follow from the sparing of the younger seals on the rookeries. or 61 Vc'^U^ s 28C. Vcniaminov arrived at the conclusion tliat the female gives birth to its first v-\i^aCc^^'- young in its fifth }'ear, and bases a somewhat intricate and ingenious series of calculations (yT, . ,. ; ., ,. ) partly on this RHp])osition,* but there is now a very general consensus of opinion among j those who have studied this question on the I'libyloff Islands to the eft'ect that the females ...^Ui ..t are covered at or sliortly after the expiry of the sec(md year from the time of their Inrtli, h^^^i^Ce ^ i/^}. and bear young in the third year from that time or early in the fourth year of their age. ) The same opinion was found to be held upon the Commander Islands, and there is every reason to believe that it is essentially correct. 28(5. Hoth males and females leave the islands at the close of the season in which ■A''.»-L^^.,Jx year, and between this lime and tliat in which they attain their lull strength ami size ■^^*f-z"' and are able to maintairi tiieir places on the breeding rookery, when si.\ or seven year.-. ^^«*»«..,, can only begin to make itself apparent on the rookeries, in the case of females, after the |«-— '<^<~ ?7^' lapse of three years, and in the case of males after live or six years Thus in the event ''~^"' "^ ^'^' of the killing of all or nearly all the young males of a certain age, in any one year or series of years, a void of smaller or larger dimensions is created in the supply of full- grown males ''or the rookery grounds, which can only be partially bridged by the continuance on the rookeries of the older and enfeebled males, which have passed their natural term of retirement. If sucb killing i.-; nountained from year to year, the deterioration in the supply of viiile miles.^'oa; the. J^coiuirenvents of the females, though ,. , ^ , • Uc/i slow and spread over several or many yi'ar.-, nw.^i be continuous. Moreover, the hnveriug \Ci..., \'.^Ti '.< •' L't'nsiis l.ij.ort, p HI et teq. f " .Monograph of North Araericnn Pinr.ipcl-:." p. •107. X Qui. It'll liy Eliioli iii L'uiUil iJL.if*' Census lii'porl, p. 141. J " Monogiiipli of North Amtrirnii I'iiinipeds," p. SOS .?.'»<•■•. n ^• £:« (U^-^ . • ■^'^■'' cliiisscurs cxpt'riincntes ont observe que lc3 ours marins vivent de qiiinzc a vingt aiis ; il eii resulte qu'avuc cette nicthodc dans viugt ans il no doit plus roster un seul."* (F.) — Requisite proporlionii of Sexes, 292. Though each full-grown male or "seacatch" holding his place on flic rookery ground endeavours to obtain and keep about liini as many females as possihlo, '^.'T^'i/'^ . J ther(! is a limit to the number which may be advantageously held by a single male, and ^/'o Qg al)(Hit one male to fifteen females, or, as indicated by other statements by the same ,TV /(.!•! fR-^j..^) writer, as one to nine or twelVc.f Elliott, a few years later, and subsequent to the date of certain changes in organization of the seals described by Bryant, writes : — " I found it an exceedingly difTicidt matter to satisfy myself as to a fair general average number of cows to each bull on the rookery ; but, after protracted study, I think it will be nearly correct when I assign to each male a general ratio of from fifteen to twenty females at the stations nearest the water, and from there back in order from that line to the rear from five to twelve." X M. Grebnitsky, Superintendent of the Commander Islands, as the result of his prolonged experience, states that the proportion , of one adult male to ten females should not, as a rule, be overpassed, and that one to C^***^'*^*^ ') twenty may lo considered as a maximum limit. Captain Blair, long familiar with the fur-seals of the Asiatic coast, informed us, in speaking of Robbcn Island, that the numl.)er of males now existing there, viz., one adult male to twenty-live females, was far too small. Lieutenant Maynard, again, says : " The bulls are polygamous, having from five to twenty cows each ; so that the number of them upon the rookeries is not more than one-tenth of that of the cows.§ 94. It may thus be very safely assumed that the ratio of virile males of full ajj A. It. 10 ri-vo its XD K.^ ■^•' on land .seom.s not to !)e the natural method, and ^•\\y rarely — |)erhai)s in three cases out' ■'-■* i'«f '"'^"*->'^ ol' ten — is the attempt to copulate under such circumstances effectual." ^Fr. W. 1 1. Dall, *''" again, in a manuscript note supi)lied to Professor Allen, sivys ; " They [the females] c,.s|...<-'.^- -'^ sleep in the water, lying on their sides, with the two dippers [of the upper side] out of '^•" tt^itf a^^/O the water, and receive the male in the same position."* 200. S])ecial in(|irnies made liy us on this particular sidijeet have fully confirmed j/,,,;< ,.., ^„^». .*..;,..:., ft! ,.i^*, 4m *i..^ ,...;,l,^,....-. ..i.4..;.,.^.i ;....i...i;.... *-i,n* ..*■ r. ^- /:..« ' /. / IJrynnt's original statements, the evidence ohtaiiied including that of four or five gentlemen who have had long experience with the I'ribvlolfand Commander Islands, and several intelligent and observant hunters who have hecn engaged in sealing at sea. 207. The particular iMi])ortance attaching to this subject depcnd.s on the circum- stance that (he possibility of conneelion being accompiislicd at sea, and the greater fre(|uency of this habit caused by the dearth of adult males on the rookeries, enables us to explain in great measure the irregularity, which has in late years much increased, of the date of birth of the j'ouiig. It '^hows, in fact, that (he time of impregnation of the female is not necessarily comprised within the j)eriod during which she seeks liie shore for the purpose of giving birth to the young. fc=- (II.) — Age at which the Voiinij Swim. — S'unihcr of Young at a Birth. 208. Ft has already I)cen noted, that evidence sucli as to show that the jouiig can s«im for a time at or immediately after birth, ha.; been obtained from a number of sources, though it is, at the same time, improbable that under any circumstances the young is at first fitted to maintain its existence for any length of time in the o;)en sea. This is, however, not a matter of any groat importance, for it is evidently the normal method for (he young to remain for son;e weeks ashore before venturing even to enter the sea. 299. ll, nevertheless, appears to be quite possible that, imder except ional circum- stances, the female might succeed in rearing her young while only occasionally resorting to the land and while moving from ])lace to |)lacc. 'fliere is no reason to believe that the fur-seal is h ^s adaptable in this respect than the hair seals, and of one of the latter {I'ldcit riiiitiiw) Professor Allen quotes Mr. .lohn f'ardeauxto the following elfect : "The fenmle has one yi>ung in (he year; and, as these banks [iqion which they breed] arc covered at flood, the cub, when born, must make an early acquaintance with the water. "f One of the authors of this Report has, moreover, seen the same s|)ceies (17th June, 187S) in the southern part of the <}ueen Charlotte Islands, breeding upon tidal rocks, from which, when alarmeil, the mothers took to the sea, each carrying her young ui)on her back, the heads of the mother and young seal coming to the surface simuUaiu'ously at each rise. Upon Indian authority, the same habit has been, as elsewhere noted, observed in the case of (he fur-seal. !50''. The da(e at which the young normally begin to swim has, liowevcr, like many others, been given an altogether undue fixity and preei>ion. Thus Klliott states (hat by the 8th or 10th August the pups born nearest to the water first begin to learn to swim iX and liryant gives the 20th August as the date at wliich they first take to the water ;§ while as early as the 2t*th July, in 1891, great numbers of pups were actually observed by us to be swimming along the edges of the rookery groimds and climbing in and out over the rocks, and this in spite of the fact that it is acknowledged that the seals now arrive ot the islands at dates later than they did iu former years. On the i tth Septend)er two ]iup.s were even seen swinnniiig and alone at distances of 10 and 70 miles respectively to the westward of the I'ribylotl Islands. :J01. -As a rule, but a single pu[) is produced at a liirfh, and, tli lugh this rule is not withou( exceptions, i( may be used in any estinuites of the natural rale of increase of the seals. Maynard admits that oi'casional cases of twins have been recognized on t!ie Pribyloif l:-lands, notwilhslanding the diliieulty of arriving at certainty as to such a matter under the circumstances which there obtain. The llaidas and the Tshimsims state that they have lre(iuently found two unborn pups, in a female seal when killed, though a single prp is much more common. Chief Edensaw, numy years ago, saw a female in the act of giving birth on Ftose Spit, Queen Charlotte Islands; one pup had been born, and when he killed the mother he found another still unborn. 'M2. It is perhaps further worth noting, in this connection, that those most famili:vc • " liuir. .Mus. Comp. Zool,," vol. i, I'atl 1, p. 100, I " Mo!iogr«pli of Nortli American Pinnipeds," p. ,'591. X t'nitiil t'taiis' t'cuaus l!e| ort, pp. 40, 4'i. § " Monograph of Noril] American Piuuipeds," p. 387. Ccn-rl I'o-v^v'^^ h-f- I' A'\J\y ' (t /Li i„-~. — /. 54 i^.(Li\i.c^~ ^-'^ witli tlic closely allied fiir-scnl of the South African Coast state that, as a rule, two pups are proilnccd nt a liiith ; while on the Australian coast it is said that the female generally liriii:;'s forth a >inj>lo pup, sometimes two.* 1 Hl^di.y i^i >rA**cc I (I.)— Distance* to which Seals go from the Breed! ny Islands in search of Food, and Times of Feeding. 3')3, The fcediun; liahits of the seals, and the distanros to which seals encns'ed in l)roe(!inix "i; the isliuuls nia)' he supjiosed to p;<> for food, as well as tiie period of the hreL'diii^' season at which ovcursions in search of food hen'iti to he made, are iiiiporlant l)!jCiUi-e of ihcir dirocl liearinii; on the limits of protection uhich min'lit appropriately ho accorded ;;!:.ti'i"'l'"'y l)urposes on Hcliring Island, on the ;>th ^^epteml)er. had an;, trace of food in the itV-MiX. .stomach, though killed «ithin a feu yards of the rookery frum wlii.-li they had just been driven. Also hearing on the same ])oiiit is the statement made in n memoiaii(liiin received /HU.l<<.-..<'^^''«froin Her .Majesty's Mini-ter al Tokio. based on inforiiiatiou obliiin-'d from a goiilleman fully conversant with the haljits and haunts of the fur-seal jf the western side of the ^orth Pacific, as follow s : "It is sometimes stated that the breeding cows ere in the • " rrnilromus of ilic /nnlosry of Victori.i," hy Sir F. Mcf'oy. F.Il.S., Dcraiie VUI, p, {). t Si'ii.ile> Kx. IJoc. No. .'!2, 41st Congrc^a, I'lid Si'sxiun. p. ,'). xsmmm 66 (rxmi-*- f . either slee[)ing near her young, or spends her time either ^oati«y or playing in the '•-■'•••«"*••"•■-»' water near the shore, returning occasionally to suckle her pup."* Elliott writes in a similar strain of the same period. The females, he .says, " lie idly ™'-<<'* out in the roller;), ever and an<>n turning over and over, scratching their backs and sides with their hind llippers."t KIs nvliere he states that the mother, he thinks, nurses her pup every two or three days, but a Ids, " In this I am very likely mistaken." J Again, he speaks of a mother coming uj) from the sea, " whore she has been to wash and perhaps to feed for the last day or two."§ In another reference, he says: "Soon after the birth of their young they leave it on the ground and go to the sea for food, returning perhaps to-morrow, iicrhaps later, even not for several days in fact, to again suckle and nourish it, having in the meantime sped far o/f to distant feeding banks," &c.|| ■ 3i0. In the Report on the Fur-Seal Fisheries of Alaska (1839),«1[ Mr. W. B. Taylor (""..-4/.v> states that the cows go out every day for food to a distance of 10 or 15 miles, or even \'^-^,y /'■'' ^'— v further. lA'^r'/c^J ■**'*^ Mr. T. F. Ryan states that the "main feeding grounds of the seal during the -^r ft...v„ summer stay upon the islands, and to which the cows are < mitinually going and coming, ■^■- ■'-7" — ■'' ■ are to l)e found 10 to 70 miles south of St. Geoige Island." "f. K-T^.^, Mr. G. It. Tingle, in the .same Report, says that the seals probably go 20 miles out in some cases in .;earch of food. 31 J. Such are the more definite references of a published- kind which wo have been l.ov-, liMt. ^'. able to find on this important point in seal life, and they are suflicient to show that very little has heretofore been known on the subject, though much has been taken for granted. S\:'. The following is a summary of the evidence personally obtained in 18'J1 from those supposed to be most capable of giving an opinion on the subject : — Mr. G. R. Tingle stated that he iielicvod seals from St. George went to feed, for the 7tj_^ most part, about 30 to 40 miles to the southward or south-eastward of that island. Fiom ' y'T... &»<",,. l:. ^?- "1 ou.^ ^««/' already published, that the seals tend to leave tlie rookeries and hauling grounds for the , «.*^«^.sea in large numbers when incommoded on shore by too great heat or by heavy rain, and, further, that after stormy weather, characterized by heavy wind and surf, there is generally an increased and marked e.xodus from the shore. 310. Singularly enough, the greatest diversity of opinion was found to prevail, even among thos< who ought to be best informed on this subject, as to whether the seals leave the land for feeding or other purposes most commonly by day or by night. This dilf'ercnce of opinion obtained not only among the Whites, but also among the natives, and it is found both in the Pribyloff and Commander Islands. Some maintain that the female seal returns to shore every night, others that most of them leave the shore at this time, and, tiiking all opinions into consideration, the only conclusion that can be arrived at is that the seals go and come at all times. Certainly, there is no particular period of rest upon 87 the rookeries thcmpcb cs during the hreciiing scaHon, for they are ns noisy during the night as l)y day. Judging from observations iiinde while at anchor near the rooitery grounds of St. Piiul and St. (iuorgc, it would appear that tlie seals arc more abundant in the water during tlic niglit, when they ol'ten surrounded the vessel in great numbers. On these occasions 1 boy seldom ■'ccnied to t)e travelling in any particular direction, but played about, coming up first on ('lu side of the vessel and tbeii on Ibe other, and appeared to be more wary and easily frightened than during the day. U.l. - •■yv<- (J.) — Habits when Suckling. 3i7. When the female seals begin to absent themselves at frequent intervals from the rookery grounds and from their young, as already described, the young begin to travel about in all directions from the actual spot of their l-'rth. Most of them collect in large groups, or " pods," sometimes near the edge of the sea and sometimes at a distance from it, while solitary pups are to he found roving or sleeping everywhere. It has been Btated, and the statement has been received without (juestion, that throughout the entire Bca.son, and even under the circumstances above described, tlie female is invariably able to single out, and will suckle only, her own young. Analogy wjthmost other animals appears to favour this view, and proliably accounts for the fact, tliat it bos been accepted without proof, which, indeed, as neither the individual motliers nor tlie individual young can be continuously recognized on the rookeries, would be very bard to ol)tain. ;il8. The analogy just referr';d to nuiy or may not hold in the case of the fur-Bcal, which is in many reH| ects very pctuliar in its habits. The youn^' of most other aninials, if left at any time by the dam, remains where left, and it is very seldom neces- sary for the mother to .select her own |iro;;euy from a vast crowd of others. Again, even assuining that she be capable of thus singling out her own young one, if, as is commonly supposed, she remains for the greater part of the day, or, according to some authorities, for several days, in the .' theory in fac*^, when examined, rests on the circumstance that when a female K<>al is seen to come ashore, she will not take the first young one she meets, but pehaps by sound, pornaps by .^jcnt, selects one whicli she allows to feed, it appears, '!^ tliceforc, to be at least cpiite rossible, that in thus making her selection she may inerely seek a j "^nng one whicli does not carry the .smell of frosh milk about it. Tlie gregarious habits of the fv.senl with the difficulties inherent in the matter of the reunion of mother and young under the peculiar circumstances obtaining on the rookeries, appear to show that it would be advantageous to seal life as a whole if any mother would suckle any hungry pup. 324. It may be added, that in a report received from Mr. C. H. Jackson, Government _ V Agent in charge of the Seal and Guano Islands of Cape Colony, he states, respecting the ' ' fur-seals inhaiiiting these islands (after speaking of the killing of females), that " but for 4 "u— a^bC^ . Cs-w-r»v^a.f.i.'-pa happy provision of nature, whereby a temale seal will suckle any young one, the ^i-^ — ^lAlri <» /PjegtructJon of the new-boni seals would be complete; " and, agahi, says: "The cow will suckle any of the young seals, whether her own or not, and this period of nursing continues more or less for about six months." The same statement is made with respect to the fur-seal of the Australian coast. t 325. The analogy of other animals has so freiniently been cited in this connection that it may be in point to (jnote from an interesting memorandum furnished by S;r Samuel Wilson, M.P., the eminent Australian sheep-bn'eder. He states that it is common and easy to make ewes suckle other ewes' lambs, either by putting Itie skin of tli(> dead lamb over the new lamb, oi- by folding together, m l)i;rdles, ihe strange lamb and the ewe. When the herd is valimble, all ewes are mothered to lambs whicii have none of tlieir own, and the same is done in the case of twins. Ewes recognize tiieir own lambs by smell. Sometimes a lamb, not her own, may come up on the other side while she is suckling her own lanii), and may. unnoticed by her, suck her foi a time. There are, moreover, lambs which go about in this way, and manage to live by what they can steal. This Australian experience is lully borne out by general experience. tUi4 iLci^.J /- (K.) — Natural Caitses of Dastruction. ,326. In connection with the general aspects of seal life, and the effects upon it ot commercial killing, ii - necessary to remember that it is largely ruled by certain natural events, or phononienii. and tiiat, as in the case of nearly all animals in a state of nature, but a limited proportion of uie wnole number of young produced ever attain either to a " killable " age, or to one of maturity. Thus, in killing a large number of seals annually, a draft is made upon a margin of saul life which has escaped all the other necessarily environing dangers, iind wnich y\vj often must be legarded as a natural reserve in process of being slowly built up in th" intervals between irregular and exceptional inroads which may at any time occur, and over which man exercises no possible control. 327. 'Iluis, on the PribUolf Islands, one particular instance has been recorded, when, in consequence of the lonir persistence of held-lce tbout the islands, the seals wef very greatly depleted. This occurred in 1S30. when, according to native count, the number of adult seals on St. Paul l.sland was reduced to about 4,000, and the greater part of the small iinmbcr of seals killed in that year consisted of pups. Other, though less disas- irous instances, of the same kind have occurred since, and a stuily of available informa- tion rospectuig the amount and position of the ice in Behring Sea in various years siiows that sucli adverse conditions may recur in any year, though probably seldom with the same intensity as in I.S30. 328. .■\gain, larirc numbers of pups are often killed before leaving the islands by heavy si onus oceurriiin before they are abh' to swim strongly, and in consequence of whicli jthey are dashed against the rocks or upon the beach. Unfortunately, nothing like a com- plete record has been kept of such occurrences, but Bryant, Maynard, and Elliott, in their jjublished Ueports, all refer, at greater or less length, to them. One notable case of this • UuiteJ Hnitt"' Cen»"« Ri-pon, p. 38. -f Prndr niiit .>f tfai Zoolojj of Viamriu," by Hir 1 . McCoy. F.R.S., Datade Vtit, p 10, Ehh 69 particulir kind occurred in Otto?jer ISTC,* niul Mr. D. Webster informed us that once "in the seventies," ns early as July, ho had seen the beaches at Norlh-East P'^in* ^^ r^;,^;^.,. " stnirn- wifh dead pui'S," after a heavy storm. More or fewer pups are, in fact, ' youny jnips are killed by t'Ml^k'v,, -ihftl . £^lJJt. apparently kilk'd in this \-,ay every year. '•V2d. On Jiobbeii Island, very consideraljle numbers br.rgomastcr gulls {Lams y/r;i(fi(*'), which pick out their eyes. This is no well known that Ej^LlUi^ ^ AAj^,^t/. attention to the young in their vicinity, and overrun them without conipunctiou in such a manner as frequently to cause tlieir death. I'lliott doubts whether more ihan 1 per cent, of the whole number of young in each year is destroyed in this way, but everyone who has paid the slightest attention to the economy of tlie rookeries is familiar with the frequent occurrence of such deaths. ."■•'51. In his ]teport upon the condition of ailairs in Alaska (IST'J), the same writer fkoy^ h~'f/^' speaks of the presence on the rookeries of "decaying carcasses of (dd seals and the KU(ty(r^ li-^lCo , many pups which have been killed accidentally iiy the old hulls while fighling with and charging back and forth against one another." f In the Census Re[iort substantially the same passage \<, however, paraphrased by the writer, with tlie substitution of '•' few pups" for " many iiups.".}: Professor Allan may also be cited in this connection, though he specially '^-^•^^ re^'ers to alarms of a kind which can scarcely be strictly classed under natmal causes of destruction. He; writes; "Constant care is also necessary lest thoughtless [lersons f-^.^j i (cautiously approach the breeding grounds, as the stampede of the seals which would 6h -rTTv^^y^-e/*^ . result therefrom always destroys many of the young. "§ .'532. AVhen a sudden alarm causes a jianic among the seals on a rookery, and S^ x^/ i^ they make in conse(iiuMRe a rush in closely-huddled masses for the water, very con- c^„_^^^ (K. siderable numbers of p\ips may at any time be killed. It is very easy in this way to .^^^Uj>cLn,( " stani|)ede "' even the breeding seals, and the necessity of preventing such stampedes is •><3~^i i>Jji . one of the main reasons for [ireserving the vicinity of the rookeries from all intrusion and disturbance. As already noted, the seals are alarmed particularly by smell, and during the summer of 1801 a panic was caused on the Heef liookery of St. i'aul Island by the drifting over it of the smoke from a steamer which was entering the anchorage there. 33?5. J^ordenskiiild refers particularlj' to this matter in his account of the fur-seals of i\.- '''^9' f^ some way, rush out in!o the eca. Alter huch nu ,;hirm hundreds of dead pups arc found (-1*^1 ^^^^<-i ^ on the .shore." li -ti....f.lx. ' 3.'54. Killer whales (Orr« rcci'ipinnn) are among the more active cn(>',nios of the fur- ^j^^^ i.,tL^ti.^ seal. Mr. D. Webster, who, because ot his long experience on the Pribylolf fslands, has^^^ /*-P^'^ >^ alreaiiy been frequently (|Uote. 4'i ii '■ liiill. Miis, C'omp. /ool," vol. ii„ Pa;t !, j, jl ** \''tv(»'rp ci' till' * Wl'.i,*" tr«iiis|iitioi) iiv T-rslio, vol. li, p. 'JIiD. ^ Sep ;iiHi) Divain in " Monograph of N.irlli .Viiicricin I'lmilpeds," p. 407. ** .Si.nnii., i;x. Doc. -^o. J'j, .'■Ihi Cuiipresf, 'Jnd SesiioD, p. . tt Haute of ilt>pres«DtatiTe>, Ux. Doc. No. l;!, 44tb Cuiigrotii, lit Saisioo, p. 6. [a^2] It ■•■■■Mil 60^ CCUJT \(J^{ twrinro 60 ^Cu/ii\. l/lLtilc 33(5. As (lie killer wliale frequents not only the summer haunts ot" the fur-seal, hut /^^flivrrwv^lA^its whole niif;ration-rnnj;'e and winter hahitat, it is praetically certain that the seals are ' exposed to their attacks at all times, except when actually ashore on the hrecding islainls. p/^^ It is, moreover, supposed, and douhtless correctly so, that the larf^er sharks to he found in the same waters prey upon the young seals to a considerahle extent. f/'j 'Hi (uut '^'^^' I" <-''^'i^'-'fli"-'"i''^ *'f lli'^sc and i)erhaps other enemies, and of various accidents, CfvU^<^^^ and irrespective of possihle epidemic disease, the nuniher of the young seals liorn is greatly reduced hefore they return as yearlings in the following year ; and it is still further continuously reduced, though in a diminishing proportion, in suhsequent years. t(\.yuhject I'iliiott writes, s]ieakiiig particularly of the malli^Ml^ A W*j-Ct*,^^> • " Moiiiigra)ih of North Anicricttn finnipods," p. 407 ; ncp also Houicuf Iliproseninlivcs, Ei. Doc. No. 83, 44lli Cungress, lit besaion, p. C5. t Uniled Stalei' CoDSUB Urport, p 63. I " Fiibery InJuiitrics of the United Stnlis," vol. i, u -lUi. ■ ■ m ^ ' ■ suppose that tlic Pribyloff rookeries have never HulTereil from -.listonipers in the past, or arc not to in tlie I'uturo, siintily hci'au.so no ocH'asion seems to have arisen during' tlie conipnrativcly hrief jierio;! of their hnnum domination."* .'34!5. The fur-seals upon the Prihvh»i!' islands are, liov.-ever, attliried hy at least one known trouble, that of intestinal worms, and in the stomachs of nearly every seal killed a certain number, and often a very ecmsidcrable number, of such worms are found, 'f his cannot of course he considered as constitutinij; in itself a very serious alfection, but if under any particular train of circumstances it should l)e considerably increased, it alone mlKht become a danger to the continued well-bcini; of tlie seals. cAvCC4^vi ,( UrirVM. (L.) — Mortality of young Seals in 1891. 344. In the season of 1891, considerable numbers of dead pups were found in certain places upon the rookery tb aiid L'Otli .luly. Neither the Government Agent who was with us, nor the natives forming our boat's crew at the time, would at: lirst believe that the objects seen on the rookery were dead pups, affirming that they were stones; ])ut when it became clearly apparent that this was not the case, they could suggest as causes of death (mly over-ruiHiing by bulls or surf along the shore, neither one of whi(di appeared to us at the time to Ije satisfactory. i\Ir. D. Webster, interrogated on tlie subject some days later on St. George Island, oll'ored merelv the same suggestions, but a i\-w days still later, l)oth Whites and natives on the islands were found to have developed quite (jther oj)inions, and to be ready to attribute the deaths to the operations of pelagic sealers killing mothers while off at sea, and leading to the death of pups from starvation consequent on such killing. •T)?. Pelieving the matter to bo one of considerable importance, however it might be exjilaincd, particular attention was paid to it on subsequent visits to rookeries. On the 31st .Iidy and the 1st August the rookeries of St. (Jeorge were inspected, but no similar ap]iearaiices were found, nor was anything of the same kind again seen till the 4th August, on I'olavina rookery, St. I'aul Island, where, near the southern extremity of the rookery, several hinidred dead pups were again found hy us, here also covering an area of limited size, which we were able to examine carefully without disturbing the breeding seals. It was estiuiatod that the pups here found had died het»*een ten days and tw(» weeks before, which wouhl place the actual dale of death at about the same time with that of those fir>l referred to. ■ 518. On the fidlowing d.iy the extensive rookeries of North-East Point were \ isited and examined, but very few dead pups were anywhere seen. Mr. Fowler, in charge of these rookeries tor the Company, was si)ecialiy (piestioned on this point, and fully confirmed the negative observations made by ourselves at the time. It may here be mentioned that the vicinity of North-East Point bad been the principal and only notable locality from which, up to this date, sealing vessels had I*een sighted in the oiling, or had beeti reported as shooting seals within hearing of the slun'e. 3t',». On the lOlb Augusi, ifler a cruize to the noithward of about a fortnight's duration, we n'turned to Si, I'aul, and on the same day revisited Tolstoi Kookery. On J-o/<-/ I. 4f />'<•,- /IC ,^' rV,n/)U\./ ■U.J doubt, e\entually lie rendered available. Dr. Acland, who had ju--t been instalUsl as .Medical Ollicer on St. I'uul, also told us that he had, within a few ilays, cxa:'iinc(i the bodies of six of the dead pups from Tolstoi, and that though rather too much deeoniposed for correct autopsy, he had liecn imnhic to find any signs of disease, but that all those examined were very thin ami without f lod in the stomaclus. (ilrv^ U~{^'^^ 3o;5. ii may be noted here that the carcasses thus examineu must have heen tlioso vjij^ vv. li«''f« of pups wliich had died in the mo'ith of September, or when no sealing schooners /ro ds' J (iC KUtl H„^.,.v.^ vt^ t remained in Behring Sen. 3&4. 'i'be body of a pii]) found by us on the North-KasI Pnokery on the .''•tli .August, which was still undecomposed, was preserved in alcohol, and has since been submitted to Dr. .A. Oiiuthe;, hM'.S., of the i'rili h .Museum, ubo luiully offered to U'ake an eNami- iiation of it. This is (pioted at length in A]i])endiN (D). Tlu- stomach was found to contain n i I'ood. The body was well nourished, with a fair amount of fat in the siibcu- lancous tissue, hut no liit about the nblo'i inal orgiins. The lungs and windpipe Mere 63 found in fin infliininmtory condition. RcHpccting tiie iictunl cause of dealii. Dr. Giinthcr Rays: '' Both the alisenee of food an «ell as tlio condition of tlic lesijiratoiy organs are sufficient to account for liie dcatli of tiie animal; i)ut wiiich of tlie two was tlie primary cause, preceding tiie other, it is impossil>le to say." .').').". It would he inappropriate here to enter into any lengthened discussion of the bearings of tlie ahove facts on the methods of scaling at sea ; hut as, after the tentative adoption of various hypotheses, the mortality of the young seals was with a remarkahle unanimity altrihiited to pelagic scaling hy the gentlemen in any way connected with the breeding islands, and as it has since been wid^dy and consistently advertised in the press as a further and stiiking jiroof of the dcstriictiveness of pelagic sealing, it may he pen ■issilile to alliule to a few cogent reasons. Iiecause of which Ihe subject .seems at least to re(|uire consideration n Tolstoi and Polavina was at too early a date to enable it to be reas(mably explained by the killing of mothers at sea. It occurred, as already explained, about the 15tli or 20tli .July, at a time at wbieli, according to the generally accepted dales, as well as our own ohservations in 1891. the females l.ad not begun to leave the rookeries in large numbers, or, when leaving them, to do no more than swim or play about close to Ihe shore. I( has ab'eady been stated that Bryant gives the 2.'''tli July as the opening of the jieriod in which the females begin to leave the lookeries. Waynnrd slates that the hulls, cows, and pups remain within Ihe rookery limits to tiio same dale, while Elliott places this change in tlie rookeries liehveeii the end of July and the ith and 8tb Augn;,t. it is, moreover, acknowledged l>y the iiest auMiorilies, that the dales in seal life upon the islands liave become later rather than earlier in reccnl years, as compared with those in which the dates above cited were ascertained. In the ease of the death of pujis after the middle of August, it might I)e an admissible hypothesis that the mothers had heeii killed at sea, and tliat subse([uenlly to such killing the young had liad time to starve to ileath, but not at dales earlier than Ibis. In the present case, ihe mortal'ty began long before thai dale, and it seems probable that Ihe di'a'.'is wliicli o<'curred later must he explained by the same cause, wlialever it may have been, extcndinu' from the (U'iginal localities and hecoming more genera'.. ;'i.5IJ. The causes to which the niortalii^ noted may be altribuled v,i(h greaUst prohahilily are Ihe following, but the evidence at present at disposal scarcely admits of c final allrihulion to one or other of them. If, however, the examination made hy Dr. Acland of several of the carcasses be considered as indicative of the slate of Ihe whole, one of Ihe two Ibsl is likely to afford the correct explanation : — {(I.) It is well known that in conseipieitce of the decrenicd numher of "killahles" found on the Iniiding-grounds in late years, it has been found necessary to collect these close to and t veil on the edges of ihe breeding rookeries, and that it has thus lieen im[iossil)ie to avoid the collection and driving to the killing gioutids with Ihe " k'llables" of all sorts of seals nol required, including seacatchie and lemales. It is also known tlial the driving and killing in the early pari of the season of 1 ^'.11 was jnished with unwonted energy, taking <^,\£iiiX. Ar^J. int( deration the reduced ?r of seals, and it a])pears lo he (|uite possilde tiiat the females ll.u.s driven iVoin their votiiii;-, IlKUiyb afterwards turned away from the killing! '■rounds in an exhausted and th their way hack to their original brec phu' ly terrified slate, never afterwards found lint either went off to sea or landed elsewhere. The ]ilaces where the greatest number of dead pups were first seen on 'l\)lsloi and I'oiavinii were just those from the immediate vicinity of which drives wine AlvV most ficipienlly made (/'•) 'I'l le apjieani indicating a local heginning and greatest intensity of mortality, with its siihse(pieiit extension lo grenter areas, inigh! reasonably he explained hy llie origination and transmission (d' some disease of an epidemic character. tf^tCt,^^, 64 « • L vc li /^ (c.) The circunistaiK'Cs \vlici'C the nioitnlity was ohscrvcd to be greatest appeiircil to be sueh as to be expliealile by n panic and staniiiude with conseijuenl over-riiniiiii;,^ of the _yoitn<;\ l)iit, it' so, such ^laiiipcdes must have occurred iiu)re than once. They niij;lit not iniprolnibly liavc resulted I'roni attempts to collect " (h'ives " too near the breeding rookeries. (d.) [t is entirely within the bounds of prol)ability that raiders way have landed on at Icc.H^ Tolstoi and Polavina rookeries without any one upon the islands lK,'C()niini>- cognisant of the fact. Females would in such a case be killed in greatest numbers, fo. these occupy the stations most easily got at from the sea-side, and the killing upon the rookery ground would also mavoidably have resulted in ••stampeding" large numbers of Beals of all classes. •J 1 1 o mr-o £jiLi,tt y^ ^rl) (M.) — Methods of vnumcratinrj Seals on the Pribijloff Islands and Estimates of Numher-i. S57. The number of seals frecpienting the Prihylotr Islands at dilFerent dates is of course a fact of fmulamealal importance, and every attention has thus been given to the methods employed in making estimates of lunnber and to the results arrived at. Unfortunately for puvi)0ses of comparison, these have been made for the ))ast twenty years at irregular intervals, on entirely diflerent methods, and by (piite differeni jjcrsons, excepting in the one ease of Mr. lilliott, who made elaborate observations on the spot both in 1872-71, and in 1890, the latter being of special value for purposes of comparison with the conditions in 181)1. •"558. The lirst actual estimate of the total numbers of seals resorting to the Prihyluff Islands ::ppears to have been that made by ]5ryant in iSi!). Bryant slates that he diseovertd that there were no o])en places on the rookeries, that they began to fill at the water-line, and extended no furtiier back tlian the breeding seals could occupy in a compact body. Mc then estimated the number to a s{jnare rod, and, i)resuniably, by finding the number of square rods contained in the rookery grounds, lbu!ul tlic total nnmbir of breeding seals to he 1,1^50,000. He next i)roceeded to Chtimale the non- breeding seal.^ and young of the year, and .states his belief that there were on the island [s/r] not less than 3,2-!50,000 * If intended for both islands, as by the ci.ntext it appears to be, this estimate is probably a reasonably fair one, made at least to t!ie best of the writer's ability, though, as he does not state I lie number assmned to the square rod, we are without any exact means of cheeking it. 35'J. In his report, baseil on observations in 1872-71', Mr. I'dliolt claims the credit for the "discovery" that the seals collected on the rookeries in a uniform number Icj the s(|uare rod. and, with even greater candour than Ihc j.ast writer, puts u-; in po-session of his unit of computation. This is very simple, for he merely allows two square feet to each breeding ^eal on the rookery grounil, divides the whole number of sqmire feet consideted as rookery ground by two, and calls this the number of breeding .seals. His discussion of the subject is somewhat lengthy, but he sums up his conclusions as follow.s : " Taking all these points into consideration, .... I quite safely calculate upon an average of two square feet to every ariimal, big and little, on the breeding grounds, as the initial point upon which to base an intelligent computation of the entire number of seals before us."f Working upon this basis, he nuikes the number of breeding seals on the islands, in 187'.--74, i5,i'.l'!'>,!;'0, and, adtling an eslimate for the non-breeding seals, raises the grand lotal to 4,700,000. i I'tJO. Lieutenant ]\Iaynard, in liis Report written in 1871', states that the seals frequenting the I'riltyloH' Islands "have been variously estimated at from l,000,(Ji!(i to lo,()00,0ll0." He think , Mr. Elliott's method of e.stinnition to be the most accurate, but, by adding a larger number of non-breeding seals, raises the grand total, as relating to the year 1872, to about G,t}00,0()().§ yijl. Fourteen year.s after AJr. Elliott's estimate, Mr. 0. H. Tingle, in ]^i87, expresses the belief that the area of rookery grounds bad increased, and, employing Elliott's method of computation, arrived at the figures (),;i57,7r)0 for the total number of seals. He explains, iiowever, that the .space given to each seal by this hyjiothesis was too small, and, consecpiently, reduces bis estimate by mie-fourth, making it 4,7iiN,:^()(>.|| ;502. It will be (jbserved that jillliott's mouting the space occupied by the breedina' seals has been made the basis for suhseciuent caleidalions, Ihouiih both * " MDniijirapli nf North Aii.rriraii 1 inni|inl>," p. ;1SJ. t Uiiilid Btati's' Ccn»u9 Koport, p. ."iU. % l')id., p)i. Gl nwA r,i. § House of Ki'pte»i;iUiUivtR, Ex. Doc. No. 43, ■1-Uli Ci.:ign-:^s, I't Session, p. 5. Kouse of Ropiesri'laiin--, liopnrt No, :}893, "iCtli C- ngitsf, 2nil Si?Bioii, pp. IG3 and 177. 65 jraynniil and Tingle took tlio liberty of cssentiiilly changing tho results aa they would have npi)earcd it' tliis method had been strictly followed. iSeitiier wlioUy believed in i:, but neither saw bis way to substituting a more accurate basis, and Ixilli, theref(n< , merely modified its results by guessing at additions or subtractions. 30:i. Elliott's basis of computation must, however, be taken subject to his owr. measurements of an adult female, which are as follows : Length, oO inches ; girlh, 3(5 or 37 inches. Such an animal, in u recuiubent position, would be contained in a rectnngle ol'iis nearly as possible t, instead of 2, squnre feet, and as i( is not the normal liabil of seals to lie overlap])cd one upon another, or (o stand u|)riglit on their liiTid llippers. .t is surely ck-ar tliiit his unit of measurement is an erroneous one. 'i'his ajjpears to have occurred to the author iiiniself. for. in staling the totals of various rookery areas, he writes, cautiously, ■• making ground for" so many seals, and it is not till he proceeds to make up his grand totids that this statement is suddenly exchanged (though in the same tables) for one representing actual number of seals. 304. This fact of measurement is not, however, the most pnl])ablc source of error in these calculations, for the nature of the grounii occupied by the brc'ding seals in itself renders them wlnlly iMap))lical)lc. A first inspection of the territory covered by any one of the PribylolT rookeries is suMicient to show this, ami the fa<'t becomes more and more obvious as they are examined in detail. 'I'Ih' notes already given (§ 2.50 cl seq.) on the character of the rookery grounds may indicat; the reason of this ('riticism, but it would be diiiicult to I'onvey an adcfiuate i(lea of the rocky and broken chanict.r of some of them by any description. J'hotograi)hs may servo to exhibit better their general nature, and it appears to be reasonably within limits of error to conjecture that, in the aggregale of tlic I'ribylotr Jtookery grounds, not more than one-half the whole s))ace included by their outer limits can, imder any circumstances, be a-^sumed to be a surface so level as to be "ground for the resting-place of seals." a().5. It has been considered necessary to deal with this subject because of its direct hearing ujjon the (|uesliou of the Hiu'tuation ami general diminution of the seals upon the rookeries, and the evidence that it allords of the now scarcely-questioned fait, that the estimates made in the earlier years of the control of the islands by the United States were absm'dly hi^h. It may he added that no single individual of the many questioned by ns who had been landliar with the Pribylolf or Connnander Islands. i)r both, for longer or shorter jieriods, was found to be ready to maintain even the approxi- mate accuracy of the statements of nunihsT of seals acctu'ding to the above-discussed method of enumeraticn. oCy'i. By way of further .substantiating the conclusions arrived at, however, it may be well to quote e few published opinions bearing on i(, which occur in the Congressional Inquiry into the Fur-seal Fisheries of ,Maska, niade in 1S88: — * Mr. a. M. Biivnitzky, G»)vernn\ 'nl Agent on the islands during parts of tliu years 1.S7l)-71-7-', says: ■• I saw an aiipro.xinnite estimate made by Mr. I'.lliott . . . . I do not think any estimate would be within a million or two. 1 think he puts Iheni at live millions, but it maybe three or seven millions, as they are ciuntless." Mr. (Jr. Wardman, (Jovevnment Agent on St. Oeorge Island from 188! to I'-iSi), asked as to the total nmnbor of seals on the islands, says : •• I never could make it s'o much as Professor I'jlliott has done. I made many estimates. I liave been to all the rookeries on the islands many times, ami compared them wdh the 'jpace occupied by the carcas'jcs on the killing gronuds, and 1 fee! pretty eoniident that the whole nmnber lias been over-estimated." He then proceeds to justify his opinion by special references to rookeries on St. George and to measurenieiits. Mr. T. F. Morgan, who was on the Prihylofl' Islands in 18r(>*-()',). and again during every killing season fnmi 187 1 to 18SS. as an employe of the Alaslca Conmiercial Company, says. res|)ecting the number oi' seals; "I think that Professor Elliott bis over-estimated it ... : he laid down the carcasses of seals and measured around them, and then measiu'ed ihe rookeries. . . . Uul (hey do not lie all over the territory which lie marked mil. . . . The seals did not cover ilie whole area ns thoroughly as lie measured it." Dr. H. II. Mclutyre, Superinfendent for the .Maska Commercial Company, and on the islands every year, except three, from US70 to 1888, says: '• I think the number lias been very largely over-estimated in the re])orts of naturidisls who hwo obsei veil the habits of (he animals on Ihe seal islands. They have made (heir mistake in suppos'iij^ thai all the ground which shows signs of having been occiqiied by seals is covered liv them simultaneously, when (he fact is, thai Ihe bacludor seals may b.' found to-day upon. (iaAC^Cj r) 'A*^ 'HwvtA'i— Ilnii'v of lii'prescnialivcs, Iteport No. 3883, SOtli CoDgrcii, Snd ScsiioD. 66 miHMM t-^/C^'V^^A^J n cc'ilnin voolioiy, ami nnollRT time iipcni aiiotlier place. Tlie result is, tlie snnie nnimnl^ in many iiistiinccs iiavc been counted two or tluec! times. f think tlic cstimntes lire fully one-tliii'il, or peiiiaps one-lialt'. too liinli." , -'lOT. No iiirtlier estimate of tlio total numlier of seals u[)on the Prihyloll Islanils /'/ "' a])])cars to have been nade until that of ]\Ir. l']iHott in 1S<)0. in uliicli the ,i;ranil total l^h^f^ arrived at is 050, •'50.' Ijrceding seals, including only ;5,')0,0l)() hrccding females, liosides :n|Tnr» (' •■-<^' a large luunher of barren females, wliile the number of male seals over one year old did /"..-<^=. not exceed 100,000. I \ / (fit r ''''^^' '""^ citations above given are sufllcient to sliow tlie cbnracter of tlie estimates i^^Zn'•1^■■<^>^/'|jf<^ alone. In his original rejioit of 18"1, Lieuteniint Maynard very sensibly rennirks tliat the most trustwortiiy index of the condition of the lookcries is to he found in the (Z/fVfa-ff AAi-A ,"S',i;''''.nii'e aiea occupied by tliem af jiarlicular dates in each season, ratlicr than in >i ' aclunl numheis of seals, wliich can never be anything hut mere approximations. His .suggestion, that plans sliOuUl he made and marked with the rookery limits in each year, was unfortunately not carried out, and we are thus thrown back njion indirect metliods of instituting comparisons lietween the ))ast and present condition of seal life njion tl;e islands. We can only hope that for the future ste])S will lie taken accurately to peg out or mark the limits of the existing rookeries as a criterion of changes certain to occur from year to year. C/lmJ/JL Atv^r^t.^ oGO. The auxiliary method-; whicli were adopted in making comparisons of the })ast and present cnmlition of the rookeries, included carcl'ul personal ohservation at three diil'erent periods in flie season of ISO], made in the light oi' evidence previmisly puhli.-lied, and with the aid of formal and inr(n'ma! (|ueslioning and conversation with all those actually engaged in the work on the i.slands, as well as with many who had previously worked on the i.'^liinds, but were at the lime in other independent employments. jv,i^^*» i^ A«e«^trf .".70, The differing ages at which the males and females respectively reacli m.uturity -- (.'a/^*^^^*^ • ""'1 enter into th.e hreeding class, together with the varying times at which the sexes are suj)i;osed to (Mnlinue in this class, with other circumstances already delailcd as to the habits of the fur-seals, together uiford the data I'or very elaborate calculations as to the rate of increase or decrease of mnnoers (if seals mider various conditions, and suliject to the killing of certain numbers of seals of specified sexes and ages. Such calcula- ii lr,:Jt:A(LCi. ^'""*^' f'C" 'i practical point of view, are, however, more curious than useful : first, ''^*'^^'*^i because of the uncertainly of many of the data, due to a want of necessarily precise inforir.alion ; and second, from the im]iossihilify of including the consideration of the varying natural causes of lohs, which in some years may be so serious as to entirely vitiate any arithmetical result which, may he arrived at by such a calculation. An attempt of a very general character has, nevertheless, been nnvde to illustrate the normal increase and possible killing of seals, whicli may he ))rcseiited for the puriiose of putting ^Uffjnrjrr-tti. i-tTt^ the matter in jjoiiit. In this calculation roughly approximate data (mly are emiiloycd, because t is believed that such data are, under the circumstances, likely to yield results IS trustwc'rihy as any assumjitioTTs of a relined and definite character. ■"iTl. 'I'he state of the brcedin-'; rookeries of the fur-seal, under normal circum- stances, and wliil(> til" suiphis of males is being annually killed off, may, it is believed, be fairly I epresented by a unK value consisting of — breeding males 10,000, breeding females 10'>,(i0(). Jii'yant'.s es.imate (which ajipears to be the best) of young surviving to reach maturity, under normal circumstances, is 30 per cent, of the entire number born ; tytU^ iM^M /CTO, ln^o ' ^*-*/*j /(» , //, is reiiuircd in each case to reiilace natnra '"■ ' , _i.>, „» <■.,.. mono ('„.„., In,. .I.,,! 1 0011 ..,., /a, inn >~ ' vJUUi ^U.. l""^ —'} ^•^ ses by death annually of the breeding classes, or, say, 10,000 females and 1 ,000 males. 373. Under these assumptions, ii is evident that a suri)lus of the yearly increment, '•^ consisting of 14,000 males and 5,000 females, may be killed each year without damage I0 llic existing stale of the rookeries, which should thus remain at a fixed number. • lirviuit cstitti.Ttcs tliiit (luring the first y:Mi' GO per cent, df the voiaiL' lire Inst, 13 per cent., l)"t liilorc tliry ariivc at maturity at li««t 10 per cent, more are deBlroyeil. American I'inuiiiids," p. 407. (luring the second ye.ir " Alomigiapli of North BC; di^ les 97 The doatli-rntc allowed is probably sufficient to cover all but very exceptional natural cauHes of loss. If, however, under these circumstances, no females be killed, an addition of 5,000, or o per cent., on the whole number of females, will accrue to the rookeries yearly; and sueh ^^ i-- LJi/i I increase, to maintain the refjuisile proportion of the sexes, will call for a similar increase of 5 per cent, in males, or fiOO males ; thus rcducinj; the number of males which may be killed, il' killing is restricted to this sex, to i;3,")00 annually. "With such an annual increase of 5 per cent, to the entire herd, this should double in number in about every fourteen years. Thus, about TTO.OOO breeding? seals should produce annually 100,000 killable males of an averajie a^e of i years, and still allow I'or a .") per cent, annual increase of the breeding seals. :'i74. .Adding to the assumed unit of 110,000 breeding seals, male and female, the number of non-breeding seals required by Bryant's percentage e-tiinates of loss by death of young, the following ilgures wo ild represent the whole number of such seals at any one time : — Pups, just l)i'rn . . Yc.irliii^s 2-ycai'-olil« ."i-ycar-olds KfiV'c sc.ilc of both sexes, sav Totnl of iion-lirpcdii)" seals 100,000 10,000 ;i."),ooo ,1.3,000 .00,000 2J8,000 375. Adding to these the breeding seals, the whole number of seals present, when 30,000 may be killed annually wiihoul decreasing the aggregate number, would be 308,000, and proportionately, in order to produce an increase of 100,000 annually, a total '^ f-^^'^^^/'^'"-' number of 2,570,000. 370. As a matter of opinion, based on such informati in order to ascertain, a.^ far as possible, to what extent they nright be employed a . a criteritm of change, and particu- larly of diminution in the areas fre(juen(ed by seals, or in the aggregate nnndjor of .'eals resorting to the i^laiuls. 380. It may be nu'otioned, in the tirsl place, that the grasses to be found in tbesa particular areas are not in themselves peculiar, but it is merely the predominance of certain forms and their mode of growth which seems lo outline ,>uch areas, the nn)st abundant grass being a]iparently JJcacliitmps'ui (Aim) cwspitoxii, with which the little crucifercnis jJanl (.'ccliiciriit oJfidnaUs is often mingled, farther, that a very similar growth and colouration is found in other (larls of the inlands, which have never been known to be, and whicli in all probability never have been, frecpiented by far-seals; as, for instance, on the eastei ly slopes of the low hill upon which the Hagstaif stands at ^?t. Paul village. Making due allowarico. however, for i.nse and other accidental circumstances, f\^M(>u\^t i the fact remains that, surrounding all, or nearly all, (be present rookery grounds, there ''^^'"*'"'^''* ] is a margin of varying width, and not always concentric with the still bare area, pretty '"j^r""'^ '•'^• clearly nnirked out by such dillerence of sod. ;?S7. Respecting the time \\hich it might take for any portion of seal-worn ground ^^.^f- w,a^ to revert to its original tussocky condition if unditnrbed, little can be said with certainly, y'^"'"-^''" ^ -^^ fm'tber than that it mii I be nniny years. 'I he tiissocky character of the general surface upon ^'',*^'7rt ,/0t«.. the islands lias arisen in the ctnn'se of time and by the persistence oi' grass-clumps, about J;t: ou . wliich sand and soil carried by the wind have collected, and vegetable matter produced by continued giowtli has aeeunmlatod. Experience on the western plains of North . //^ '.^a America, where a buHalo-path or cart-trail is sometimes found to have retained its,,^ |^x«u f«^. identity, with little apparent change for thirty or more years, would indicate that the ^^ time of reversion here to the origiiuil state of the surface cannot be placed at less than " ' perhaps fifty years, while a century would, in all probability, more nearly represent it. 38S. Without, however, attaching any im))ortance to partiialar limits of time, it is perfectly clear that both in the extent of the seal-polished rocks and in that of the ^^ — /^ v. distinctive vegetation, we see marked the greatest expansion which the areas so charac- ,i,.,fa<^.. .r«-<( terized have at any time atta'ned during the last 100 years or so, and that those traces thus carry us back so far a- to render them of little \alue in the elucidation of the changes of late years. Still ihithcr, it is obvious that such limits neci~^ ^\ ^.. .< . M m (J:.L. 71 referred to, i.s chiefly coniposctl of loose, poroun sand, Ji few feet only in thickness at tho edge, l)ut extendiiif^ in ^renter or lesn thickness over a considc'ruhle portion of the interior of the whok; North-Hiist Point peninsula. This Ih overgrown hy roiigli, tussocky gr*"'.*. Between tlieedge of the step and tiie sea the Biipcrficial sandy covering has heen reni' ed, proijahiy i)y the action of (he v. inicribe(l are well shown in the sketch forming (('.„t^i (».,,,. Plate IX in Mr. Elliott's Census K'eport, though in this sketch, for artistic effect, tho K/ ' C. horizontal distances arc considerably reduced in proportion to the vertical dimensions. The sinuous line of the edge of the higher Hat may be clearly traced by the longer grass, and it is obvious that the seals did not apjiroach this line even at the time this sketch wa» made, or in 1872-74. A photogriiph taken from the same point of view in 1891 indicates the structural peculiarities of this sln.'tch of ground still more conclusively. 395. it may therefore be stated, in concluding the consideration of this subject, that ''^ |t->;u«w..i neither the extent of the "^oal-polishcd rocks nor that of the "grass limits " in the vicinity''^ ^, \t- of the breeding grounds, can be trusted tn for the j)urpose of giving information as to Z^UJi^ changes in area or position of ground occupied by seals in recent years, as contrasted with that at present occupied. Far less can it he taken to indicate in any reliable manner the numerical decrease in the seals in these years, or he accepted in place of the annual details on this subject which an intelligent supervision of the rookeries would Lave exacted as a matter of prime importance, but which are unfortunately wanting, and can only be in part supplied by incidental allusions or collateral observations which have been preserved. Whether considered from a general point of view, or in the liglit of the special incpiiries made in 1891, such indications as those above referred to must he admitted to mark out only the maximum average limit of oscillation and range of seal occupation during a very long period of years. While, therefore, exact recent .surveys of the areas marked out by such "grass limits" or otherwise, in the vicinity of rookeries, may possess a certain limited intrinsic interest, they can have absolutely no fixed valuj in connection with the practical nuitters under discussion. It is, in fact, largely to ideas loosely based on the observable extent of ground which has at one time or another, but never simultaneously, been occunied by .seals, that many of the exaggerated estimates of the amount of the present redui lion in number of seals in the islands may be directly traced. (0.) — ChatKjes in Habits of the Fui-sc(tl in recent Years. 300. The .systematic and pcr.sistent hunting and slaughter of thi' fur-.seal of the North Pacific, both on shore and at sea, has naturally and inevitably given rise to certain changes in the habits and mode of life of that animal, which are of importcanco not oidy in themselves, ])ut as indicating the effects of such pursuit, ami in showing in what particular this is injurious to seal life as a whole. Such changes doubtless began more than a century ago, and some of them may be traced in the historical pre'cis, else- where given (§ 782 et seij.). It is unfortunately true, however, thatthc disturbance to the normal course of seal life has become even more serious in recent years, and that there is, therefore, no lack of material from which to study its character and effect even at the present time. 397. The changes in habits and mode of life of the seals naturally divide them- selves into two classes, which may be considered separately. The first and most direct and palpable of these is that shown in the increased shyness and wariness of the animal, which, though always pelagic in its nature, has been forced by circumstances to shun the land more than before, so that, but for the necessity imposed upon it of seeking the shore at the season of birth of the young, it might probably ere this have become entirely pelagic. Changes of the second class embrace those which have resulted from a disproportion of the sexes, produced by the contiimous and excessive killing of males of certain ages, and from new and more destructive methods adopted on the breeding islands because of diminished numbers and other such circumstances. The increasing irregularity and overlapping in the dates in the events of seal life may be included in this latter class. [222J U La (v'f/ »< >< U^il^H. Ki/U.^i/W^ abundant as ever b^iore. .Jj»Xr ..J^.-^f ■ ( aptain T. M. Magne.sen .says:— r 1 T'ikaiVwija " I think they " (tiie seals) " were morr plentiful last season than I eviT saw them J^ 'yJjuJjj^ tefore .... The biggest catch I have ever made was last year, on the coast as well as '^ in Behring Sea." 1 /* ^ Henry Crocker thinks, from what he saw of the seals, that " they were just as many ^ '<-v<>-gKM ^. as before." ' A >tiZj Richard Thompson believed the .seals were as plentifu' ns in the previous year. l^""^^^*^^^ , Andrew Laing had ob.served no decrease in the number of seals ; " if anything, they^'^ ^\ ^ were a little more numerous than in 1890." ^ ax^,.j; ^ Captain \V. Cox took 1,000 seals in four days, 100 miles to flic westward of theO//<^<« Pribyloff Lslands. He found tlii' seals much more plentiful in Bchring Sea than he had ^■'-' over seen them before . 400. Similar evidence of a g'jnoral character, and confiruiatory of the statistics just ivy4-c^.^cj^ 'tf' (juoted, was obtained jr. us in the autumn of 1891 from a number of sealing captains and i^^^^Lt^^ . hunters, to the effect that th(> general (Experience was that seals were equally or more abundant at sea this year than Ihey had been in former years. 407. The actual success of individual sealing-vcssels of course depends so largely (^i^/, cv^ki^) upon the good fortune or good judgment which may enable them to fall in with and ^f ,' (f-JLt,, follow considerable bodies of seals, as well as on the weather experienced, that the tiguros ' __' representing the catch, compared to the boats or whole number of men employed, consti- tute a more trustworthy criterion than any such geueral statements. f4 Comparison between the number of Boats and Men employed in the Fur-seal Fishery and the number of Seals taken. (Only Vessels sailing- from Victoria are included.) Yeur. Number of Number of Average Number of AvcrnKf I>t'r Seals. Men. per -Man. Hoats. lioiii. 1887 .. 20,2GC, 3fil 56 123 Ifi'. 1888 .. 24,329 44? 55 170 143 1889 .. 2T,8fi8 -iSl 58 179 isr. 1890 .. 39,5.17 0C5 59 24G 160 1891 ,. ■!'.l,61.-. 981 40 ?.M 134* * lu 1891, nearly all the Bchoouers were warned out of Bchriiig Sea Bome weeks before the e.xpiry of the ordinar- bunting eciisou. ■HIHIIHWWMUUI 1 j^^vC^ • ' ' 1^ .'"'■• 40?. In considering the general bearings of the above statements obtained from ), ..^. ^ A» ••'•'-pelagic sealer.s, and of the numerical facts derived from ar. analysis of their catch, it must be remembered that the vessels engaged in scaling are able to carry on their xirk wherever the .seals may be found, and that the tendency of the seal to keep further from the shores docs not materially affect their success. It is otherwise with the independent native hunters, who employ the shore as their base of operations, and it is therefore chiefly from the observations made i)y tiiesc men that an idea can be formed of the recent changes i;i liabits of the seals. It must be noted here, however, ber^^r^ quoting this particular evidence, that circumstances of wind and weather, as well ast):r. abitndanco or otherwise of suitable food for the seals, have a great effect locally on J^ho j; sr; jers of seals of which the natives are cognizant, and that it is, therefore, rather on the general tenor of their observations than en any isolated notes that broad conclusions may be safely based. ((o G. 409, In tiie Aleutian Islands, the natives (juostioned at Ounulaska began by statiii"; that the number varied much from year to year, but the oldest among the hunters said that it had been about (he same for the past five or si.x years. ,v.^/iK*./.-4i.iv. Company^ expressed the opinion that seals were four times more numerous in the vicinity of the shores o!' that island live y^ars ago than at present, and that the number seen there had decreased notably v, ithin the last two years. The seals did not now come in to the shores as before, and did not enter Prince AVilliam Sound in large numbers as they had previously done, liut remained at .sea in the neighbourhood of the Portlock «iud other banks. f^ i(l^\u V 411. The same ^'entleman informed us of the interesting fact, related by the natives It,. t ' \fcthore, alioul I'O miles to the »\cst of St. I'aul on Kadiak Island. This, however, was tlir only instance of the kind he could vouch for. , 412. At Sitka, Loth Whites and Indian;;, familiar witli the sealing business, stated .M., i^'^'-'-that the hunter-- complained that the souls were now wild and lifficult to approach, ^^^,j^,^iv<-'>^and united in attributing llie comparatively snjall native catch of 1891 to tlis eause. '*' ^ «A"''A- They tiiink that the iuunl)er of schci'Miers engaged in the lishery is tlie reason of this increased wariness. (!uptain Morrisii) stated that he did not think the seals were less numerous at sea (his vear than before, but that, on the contrary, all accounts show that they were more abundant than usual, and that a good catch wonhl have been, obtained had they not been .so nmch di.sUnbed by vessels. Tlie Indians aver that long ago the , ^ iCct* Bcals were very immerous about Sitka, and it is a tradition or legend, tliat in early times tliey frcfjuently landed on the i-slands in that vicinity. Within the memory of the living Ixunter.-^, .single sea)-, liad been .seen ashore in various places on tiie islands off Sitka and near Cape KdpTeinobe. Two years ago, a female had been scon on the beach on the outer side of Cape Ommeiiy. 413. Among the Indians from Klawok. an old man explained that in the time of his great-grandfather there were vast numbers both (d' seals and sea-otters in that vidnity, and that the ohl jieople said that in these times the seal gavi' birth to its young there. He had never heard, however, that there were any special places to which the seals resorted for that purposr. ,<„tt« ],*: 414. In the northern part of Queen Charlotte I.sland.i, the Indians state that the Beak liave now become so timid, that in a hunting season of two month flicy sometimes L L. 75 kill about thiily seuLs orily to a canoe, wlicroas they rornierly wore often able to fjet the ^t.^u-r^ same number in one day. Winn they iirnt began to Inint r als systernatically, thiij ^'■^-"\^^'^ V^''^- generally f;(»t them 5 or miles from the shoiv, \vlierea> at the |iiesent lime they had to f ^ " *< »- >-f wert! ot'ten found lying togetlier on the w.iler almost toucliing eacli other, ai'd 30 or .")0 g, f^^ SciuCi. in a buneli, Init that now they a.ro more widely scattered, lie further stated, that ' in former years ho had sometimes seen full-grown bulls coming ashoic in various ))lace.s on the west coast of the islands in spring. Xot many years ago, he h.id seen a female » / /' ■ wi'.h a rcceutly horn pup (m the shore near Cajje Kaigani ; and once, long ago, he had „'' ,„^fr iijund a I'e.nale seal in the act of giving birth to two pups on Tiose Spit. These facts are of pnrtieular intciot, from their benring npcn tlie statement-, quoted by Professor J. A. Alli';i, on the authority of (' i.ptaiu Bryant, now more than ten years ago, for while B i/ci/tc they do not directly coulirm tlii-^ statement, they tend to support it. lietVrring to ^i- Cajitaln ihyant, ProfVss(u- Allen write-; : " In his AIS. r>ci)ort just received, lie states that a half-breed hunter told him that lu: found in sununer, on Queen Charlotte's Island, grouj's of these animals, consisting ol' two ( v more beacli-masters, with a dozen or more fenniles and pups, but no half-grown males."* •ll.'>. '-ijeaking of the same vicirdty, and -is the result of long e.\jericnte, )/,_j .,Ka,/{vx<-.a<^c Mr. Alexander .Macken;;ic said that, judging from the number of skins taken, seals were . ^ less abundant than formerly in .Dixon Entrance, hut that the fact must also be taken into'^-'" "^ — ^' consideration, that there were not now so many good hunters as before among (he Indians. In 1^HI-.S2 and 1882-S," many skins were got, but in the years since 188,5 tlie number of skins had been smaller than b'fore. ^ , , i. S.^^ w ..t-ii. 410. The Indian hunters of the Tsliinisian tribes say tljal liefore the '-eal.-i were so much hunted, some of (heui used lo give biith to their ,>oung on roeuy islets in Hecate Strait. Li' ing hunt jrs had .seen this. 417. At Helli'-l'ella, the Indian hunters staled that as long as they themselves eimklE«.Ui -««£<.* . remember, seals v ere very abundant in that vicinity. They had gradually decreased in number till about four years ago, since which they had been moderately almndant for three years, and in 18'JI liad shown a marked increase in number. They sometimes, but rarely, saw seals, both male and female, coming out on the rocks. Two or three had at various times been killed on shore. 418. The Indians of Nawitti, who hunt aljout the north end of A'ancouNer Island,' had no complaint to make of scarcity of seals, 'fhey said, on the conlrnry, (Iiat the hunting further at sea f-y schooners hud, they thought, driven the ^eals into tlie entrance of Queen Chnrlotte Sound in greater numl)ers than before. They had occasionally seen seals of dili'erent aj,es sleeping on the rocks. 419. At ClayiKiuol Sound, on the west ( oast of Vancouver Island, seals were said to have been very numerous long ago, but to have been seen in snniller iiuml^rs for sonic ten or fifteen years past, .At Ahouset, also in Clayoquot Sound, the Indians '^«> ^-k^ said they hail never seen or heard of seals comiiig ashore to breed, (u- for any other purpose. 420. \t Ncnh Buy. ..v-ar Cape Flattery, the Indians slated that the seals .seen by ihem/'^^^^Ac,/^^ in that vicinity, are now fewer and more wary Ihini before, and nmre dilPicult to kill. They have never seen even a single seal on the roclt numerous in the waters adjacent to the coast of Ijritish Columbia a1)out the lime {\\iili (I Norlh Aimricin I'inni| ,il<," p. 333. t '■ I-'ikliri_v Imluslrics of thv I iiiinl b'iiUa. ' vol. ii. p. 39-t. \ ■' .^S. iiu;;ra|;li ot Norili AmcricJU riuui|ieil»," p. .■;3'J, r,< '9s:'w:{\Jf^- ■■■•«■■ .:ia..■=■^;■■;^,;,(),V;• ;)|-;; ^- .r-^riy,. 7G Jk-.ll*.>^*<, liabitnt of the fiir-.seal, Mr. J. W. Mnckay has been cited witli ivfevciieo to the t'onner lAi .- '.C- j.»,.^ al"""lance of seals upon the soiUlieni ])art of Vancouver Ihlaiul. His inforniniits on ji,.(\ l/"...4^.v.-VJ.this point were old Indian hunters of the Sons'is, Sooke, and Tlahini tribes, iul)al)iting the adjiicenl coasts. 'I'lie foHowint;' additional statements by the siinie ^ciillenian, from their beariiin' on ehanj'es in habits of Ihe seal, may approjjriately be iholuded here : "Tlio ,\,ai* .>!•«, . . Indiiins above (juoted stated that tlie fur-seal bred on the J'aee Rocks, on Smith's Island >.>>'- J- (^'''"'^'(Wasliinglon'l, and on several islands of the Gulf of Georgia. 'I'bey used to have their •'*»V«»* J^'*'' i» y*'""" '" \vithin a recent period on the Haystack Islands, oil Cape Scott, Vancouver C^"—""'"" Island. It is probaltle that a few individuals still breed there, these islands beiiii;- very inaccessible to small craft oii account of the strong' tides and cross currents \^hicll prevail in their nei^fhbourliood." Mr. Mackay's iiuthority for the first ])art of the above slatenient arc the Indians previously referred to, and the matter must even, at the early date at which Mr. Mackay A. first knew them, have become traditional. ^ -12.i). Under the heading; of .Mii^rations and Range (§ 171 f' seq.), suflicient allusion to the former abundance ol' fur-seals on the Californian coa>t, and to their breedin"' places there, m)w aiiparently abandoned, has been made. Further pari iculars may oe found in Scannnon's work and elsewhere. I2fj. I'rom the i'oregoing- notes, it may be gathered that the increasing' tiniiilily of the fur-seal has caused it almost eomjdetely lo abandon its original luiliil of occasionally landing elsewhere than on the main breeding islands, and lias led, besides, to the pr(d)ably complete abandonment of certain local breeding places where small numbers of scabs resorted in former years. Not only so, but the eals now shun more than ever the entire vicinity of the coast, and are found at sea in undiminished (puiiilily only by the pelagic sealers, whose operations do not depend on proximity to the land. The same instinct has its effect also on the breeding islands, to the continuous hara.ssing of the seals upon which its growth is doubtless in large part due. On the islands, it shows itself particularly in the laic arrival, short stay upon, or continued avoidance of, the .shores by those seals not actually engaged in breeding ; as well as in erratic variations in proportional nundjers of seals of different chi.sscs at various seasons. These changc^ cannot be wholly attributed to the operations of the sea-sealer.s, for though not so striking 4)n the Commander Islands as upon the Pribylolf Islaiuls, they are still ohservablc there, though the contingent of seals visiting these islands belong as a whole to a different migration-tract, which has scarcely as yet been touched by pelagic sealers, 427. The fact that the breeding i.slands are now iidiabited by man, is in itself an J, „^al^.',_ anomaly, and particularly so when the protection of the .seals on these islands is ( combined with the reiiuirements of a large anmuil slaughter. .Such circumstances need ).^vs.s for purposes of collecting a drive) but the ,^uperintendent of the i^lalld or the fori > m ' charge of ihe rookeries. i'2S. There arc, however, in addition lo actual fear and the instinct of ..elf- preservation, other causes which now render (he breeding iNl?«iiiiv and particularly the Pribyloff Islands, less coidinuously the resort of seals (liiin formerly. Chief among these is the iiaucity of virile males, which makes the i.-hinds L-^s attructiv*^ to tlie ...Ut^^i-' so'h. fenuilcs, and, besides, has resulted in the existence of a large and increasing ela.ns •/ VlVlXt ^t<^ barien females, which do not finci themselves under the necessity of seeking the (*|juM-t?. 429. On this point, speaking of an early date in the history of tW wlundnv VcniamiiioV writes: "This opinion is fouiulcd on the fact that never (except in one year, 1832) have an excessive niunbcr of females been seen without young ; that eovvs ii>ot pregnant scarcely ever come to the Pribylolf Islands ; lliat such females cannot be -»;'*n every year."* 430. To this may be addeii the (irobablc circumstance, that the eouKtantly li c and now nuieli reduced number of yoinig but ah'eady virile males, meet tiie fi'UUiK - comnionly than before at sea. Quoted in United States' Census Koporl, p. 141. 77 431. The oceurrent'c oF increased iiunibcr.s of bnrien f'emiilos lias been mma li^^^fMi^ <^^ •^^ prcci-iely noled on the Cominandcr Islands than upon t!ie Piil)}-lolf' fsliinds, proliiihly C«-i« >»*> hc'caiise, as Iho rcsidl of a !)elU'r systc.ii of pfoioction thiTO, '. lu,'S(.' animals ^lill I'onio io the lookery i;rounds in--toad of slaying at •:oa. In 1891, a large nunihor of females were (.^^^.^ij CfH' %h observed to be without .yoinig both on Bf:hring and Copper Islands. 4^2. In the eastern part of the North I'aeifie, the inereased number of barren females has prineipallj' been observed by pelagie SrCalers. 'i'heir statements on this Vw^^-U^Xt^ subjeit, whether those already published or those obtained by ourselves in eo'.iicrsation, are of ecnrse of a general kind, but they show that while barren fern I'es are more uiiti^.)).' common than before to the sontb of I'chring Sea, nearly all (he ndult females g:)t in Behring Sea itself a.e of this class. The Indian hunters of the Queen Charlotte's Island-!, moreo' T, informed n<, 'vitbout being specially fjuestioned en (he siibjeet, that i-^v,'-^- ■'-'~^^«-> years ago the females killed by them were always witli young, but dial this was now no longer the case. Mr. A. .Mackenzie, of the same place, stated that about two-thirds only of the females killed were with young. 483. Upon the Pribyloff (-.lands in lSt)l, we did not ourselves note any great abundance of barren females, but the facts in this matter would l)e scarcely apparent to /rr-j-ft those not intimately connected with Uie rookeries for niore than a single year. In his olTicinl re])ort on the condition of the islands in 18(K>. ^Ir. Elliott states that there were then 25(1,0(10 females "iioi bearing, or not served last year and th;;." but he does not explain in what way this nmnevical estimate was ar'ived at.* 434. One direct result of a p.'incity of virile mah's, is to bring about nti irregularity and change of dates in the events oi' seal life, which is especially notable up(m the breeding islands in an luiwonted aiiscnce of the usual ])reoision and simultaneousness in these events. Instances of this are found in the r»-/-«)rde'il history if the Pribylotf Islands, elsewhere cited, and fads of the same kind are again markedly apparent at the present time. Such irregularities follow from the i-'ireunistance ihat the period of gestation of the female is nearly twelve nnintlis in length; and tlmt therefore any want of prompti- tude in reimpregnation carries the time of birth on to a date later than usual in the following year. It is ea.sy to see that suc'i delay Iiannsig once occurred, the female, under the mo.st favoural)le circumstances, can only revert gradually and after .several years to her original time; and that by a recurrence of debivs in impregnation the change of time wi'l not only be carried on from year to year, but must gradually depart more and inorefrom the norinal date, thie impoitaiit effect of tlie re-nlting late birth of the young is to render these much moi<' than otherwise open to danger of various kinds, n<'t only to that resulting Ironi inclement and ~toruiy autumn weather occurrin;;' while they are yet too yoiuig to wiibstand il, but also from Iho circumstance tluit tb y must delay huige/ upon the breeding inlands, and must perhaps in the < el.sewhere quoted in abstract. The changes now apparent on the rookery grounds of the I'ribylotf Islands, as eomiiared with the previously described state of these groundH, and as ))oiiitrd out h>% fhnse familiar with them, "U'c chiefly of the following kinds : — C4^~a, i'^/fiA-- \'W. A general deiM'ease in (ln' nundier of seals, whicli i- tnost marked in i\^iij^..^ffl il,',. disproportionally small innnbor of hollusehiekie or males of an .:u.' d' less than '''bout('f;^£^^ J^J^^ _ C year^^. Allusion has alreatly been made to this in connection with l! ■ maiked inercso^ in si/,e of the " hai'ems " («• co*-s liold by a single adult bttll, in late ,oars. It is aIsok-.<-i.«^-^ vH-»-.*vi. strikingly apparent uiien the pfsrreetling rnokcr'cs in great numbers, and I'-m-tantly strugirling to meet lb'' females irptw them, or in tin? margin of tiie adjacen'. -o;». It is further uidic.i.t<'d, and lery 'irtnuuiely, Iiy the prai-tical inipossihilitv •<{' proi-nring more than 21,(HM' 'Male skin.s in T*^!^. tliong'h every exertion wa.s made t»> do so, ami the standards in weigiit of .skins w.'t:e gr»n)rly lowered, in order '.o allow the inclusion of very younjr luuifs. This eil'ort was continued till it becaini" patent to the Covernnient officers in charge that il was ttseless and cruel to allow it tI). Captain A. W. Jjavender says: --'rhe writer was snrprised when he first \isilcd the ro(>]ierie> lo find no young hull seals upon them ; this looked strange to liiin, and lie began to Kh ?v up the cause, and il occurred In him that the constant driving of yomiir male sea]^^>l Hie killing of ail the 2-3-1- and .'j-year olds, that there were no young hulls left : ^o on {•: the rookeries, .'Uid without young hlood the (ur-scal iudnstry will be something, i^l the | asl in a. very few years.".'!; {4f). Mr. 11, \\ . I'llliolt, in his (■fiicial report for l^OO, remarks to the same eli'ect on ^ seals, and th.ir reduction to a '• scant tinth the exli .,;stio:i 'i' the siii>]ily of of tlieir numl.'cr ill 1872-74.'"§ K-;^.j„^^.^ L ^'^^' It '^ 'h'll'^'i' "0''<'''d on the islands that tlic rooki.'rics are more scattered and 6Wiw/»«->^ rtYles,-~ dcliniie in outline than in former yoar.s, and tliat the remaining hollnsihickic tend to rf '^yt'ar. It i^ ciiliicult to arrive at a )jrecise st.ttement on this subject, for obvious reasons, but SO!., aulhoriti.s place ih' average delay in arrival of females as compared with earlier /t^ars at a.- mueli as. m- more than, two weeks. 44-;. On the Commander Islands, wiiere the oflicers in c'large were found ready to afl'ord all information on such points wilii the ntmo.-,l fravkuess, it has likewise been noted that the seals now arrive somewhat later than formerly. In IS'.)], seals cajtablc of yield, ng 10 and !2 pound skins «ere about a week later than usual in reaching Hehriug l.slaiid, and IJio killing, which on Co] per Island geinrally b.'gins auout 'lie Ist .hww, (iid not begiti in 18!)I till the 22nd June, isAM itifuMj-i ■^•' ■• ^ '"'""^ other irregularities have also been noticed in late years in oraliout the " /T 1 .7/ Commander Islands. Thu.s, in IS'.lO, there were rather few hollu.>ehickie, and females ' ' ■ appeared in smaHar numbers. Again, it was lemarked ]iaiticnlarly on Copper Island, that tlioiigli liiere Lad been a large niiinber of y(auig born in 18110, yearlings came ashore i;i markedly snndl numbers in 1891. The natives professed themselves unable (o :iccoiint for this, but it is almost certain that the yearlings, in consequence of the unusually severe onslaught made (.ii the scji's in ]S',)0, had simplj- remained at sea. This exphinaliim is supported by the observation, that an miusually large number of scattered seals were reported at sea bettteen ISehring Island and the coasts of Kamschatka and Sibciia. in Ib'JI 'ly the vessels belonging to the llussian (iovcrinnenl and Com[i:, ny. ;(l,^^. J,, isoo^ again, accoriling to ?,lr. 'I'illman. an nnustuil event occurred in the arrival of a ^5^^^-^-^ "1^1 '' c number of holluschickie and mature bulls ((uile fat, at (,'opper Island, in August, ilis •^ CX-^.(Cirft.M ) cdHJcctiii^. was that these might have come from the Pribylolf IslamLs, hut it is po-sible that these Kcals bad merely remained fishing at sea until this exceptionally late dale. 4-l.j. The general effect of these changes in habits of the seals is to miiiimizi' the number to be seen at any one time on the breeding islands, while the average niiinljer to be found at sea is at least proportionately, though, pevlia])s, in face cf a general decrease in total number of seals, not alisolntely increased. 'I'lie regularity of the unites of migration has no doubt licen also to seme extent interfered with, and it seenir, prohaljle that the seals may now be more widely scattered at sea both in their winter and summer habitats than formerly. 440. As to the eventual results of piich changes in habits, if iierpotuatcd and increased by the continued and further effect of the causes referred to, it is evidi-nt tx. Doc. No. 4;», olst Congress, 'Jiid i-'casioii, p. 4. t ll>' "i !'• 1^ 1 Ibi'l., p. 'J. ^ I'diTnii.enliiry In per [C. (iaCKj, pp. 15, IC, ly, 21, .'>G, and .57. 79 Ihat they imist iiUiiiuitt'ly lio iiijuriiiiis to nil industries based on tlio capluio of tlio fur-T^r ^lyl^^x seal. It is probable tbat tlie seals iiiij,'lit nUo;fellier cease to i're(|iieiit iiioir yrcacntf^^^^J vJ^^^tu^liJ brceiiiiiff ^^rounds in mass, and instead, as lias been recorded in the l<'alivlan(i iii.d other .'■jur<.-'-^^ . islands in llie Soutlieru lleniispliere, scatter out to form small irregular Colonies beneath ^ cliffs cr rocks which ar<' imictieally inaeeessibie to man. TlK^y would tliti > doubtless uianaj;'!,' to ^jerpetiuite their siieeies, but the numbers ininht be very mneli rccluecd, so thai the skins would cease to be a factor of eouimercini importance. The continued prosperity of seal life requires, from its iieeuliur feadnes, above all thin.^.s, coniplele rcftularily and protection on (he breeding- placi's, and, diprived of these advanla<;es, it lies open to man}' accidents and failures, wliicli must alfeel il more pri'iudieiall> than can be determined from the aeduil numerical amount of the slauffhlei- for skins. The extract -> from Scammon's work, quoted in parai.;Taph liHi), is to the point in ihis connection. ^f_ (1'.!- Fiir-sfialfi Breedimj on Ihv SoiUliern Part of Ihn Xoiili Amcrktin Cnnst . 447- It is evident thai nuniy years a<^o a considerable number of fur--eals bied in 'WWw f^" m-j various places along' the wertcrn coast of North America, and probal)le that the seals so i-^l'X'^. «>^»vr. breeding- did not take any part in the migration of the larger body (o Behring' Sea. StalcniL'uts previously quoted respecting the fur-seal . of the C'alifornian coast show this, -^^-^t^^.~»7ijx^ / year to reocctipy the same, or nearly tlij -ame, breeding stations. It improbable that these ^ (4-/ southern-breeding families may have been directly ci'unected with the larger norlli'^TU , breeding race, and it is at lea.-.t easy to see how they may have originated and been recruited from it. FenuiU s delriyed from any cause, and giving- birth to tin. lar-er norlli',_'rn c^^,^(- . /w-^ '\"'' '"^^en A._^. leir young- I/ along the coast to the southward, nnist often be ^ervell by young males, and irregular and too early service may also occur in many instances in the case of young fenuiles, or of those barren since the previous year. In all such eases of too early service, it would be impossible for the female to reach the Pribylolf Islands in time for the birth of the young, owing to climatic causes. She would, no doubt, remain with the other seals till * impelled by nature to seek the shore, and if in any particular year a considerable number of females collected together .'or breeding j tu'poses, the males would do\d>lless soon find and fcdlow them, and, if utulisturbed, the family thus established might probably return to the .same place again in the next ensuing year. 440. This reasonable explanation, at all events, accords with the facts ascertained, and, moreover, in itself appears lo have so nuicli force, that even apart from these facts, it would be admissible to predicate the occasional birth of young- along the wlnde extent of coast frequented by the fur-seal. It is further borne out by the actual existence of IWeXt-v^ i-— breeding rookeries situated almig- or near to the migration route of the fur-seal on the fwuXi. - * western side of the Pacific, on the ICurile Islands and on l{(d)ben Isl.'ind. These occupy |\h in reality his knowledge merely warranted the statement llial lie did not know whence they came. It has often been (daimed by persons interested in justifyini;- the methods ])ractised on the I'ribylolF Islands, that the continued ;ibtindanee of seals on the Commniiilcr Islands is not due to greater care (beie exereis'd, hut that they have been reinforeed by accessions from the I'rihyloff Islands, induced l)y the o])erations of ])ela;fic sealers. ()ne writer, indeed, l^oi- took occasion, as early as 1?87. to forestall any adverse criticism which might be directed „^ against the methods and results on tlie I'rihyloff Islamls and based on the diminution of seals there, by stating-, in antici|)alion. that such decrease would have no meanini? mdess discussed in conncefi(m with an unknown but possihlt; increase on the Commander Islands. t ■152. When it is con-idered that for twenty years both groups (if islands have been contr(dIed by a single Com])any. whose em;'!oyi's were often transferred from island to island, it is remarkable that :(> little has been placed on record in regard to this particidar question, especially in view of the imiiortance evidently attached to it by the gentle- men connected with the Company whose statements! have .just been referred to. Though unable to speak from personal observation.s on this point, it is dear that the result of .Mr. Elliott's investigation of the Pribyloff Islands led him to believe that an interrelation e.xisted between the seals frequenting these islands and tlie Comninnder Islands, and that a familiarity with one grouii of the breeding islands wa.s insullicient to enable a complete view of the problem t) be arrived at.j 1,^- |.->,T. 'file iiupiiries and observations now made, however, enable it to he shown that the fur-seals of the two sides of the Norfli Pricific bcdong in the main to practically distinct migralion-lrart-. both of which arc els'v^'«scals in going southward from the Pribyloff Islands only rarely get drifted as far to the westward as the 17'2nd meridian of wef.t longitude, wiiile .\ttu Island, on the 173rd meridian east, is never visited by young seals, and therefore lies between lli regular autumn migration-routes of the seals going from the Pribyloff and Commander Islands respectively. fwj /[ Co^.il<^~^ 455. The price obtained for skins from the Commander Islands has generally been . Webster, their most experienced forem.'in, to the Com- mander Islands, to iniroduce better modes of treating the skins there. AI Grebiiilsky, however, states that there is some actual general difference in the skins, such as to enable . tlieni to be distinguished by an expert, and that he is informed that the Commander ^-vX/^r- W^' Island .skins are more dillieult to " unhair " in dressing. Snegilof!, the Aleut foreman in k^4AU4L charge of the Behring Island rookeries, who had also been on the Pribylofl' I^,lands for . w , sonic years, stated that he bad observed that in both sexes the seals on the Pribylolf Islamls *^^{r^'^- were sornewba* shorter and stouter than on the Comiiiaiider Islands, and that the PribylolT fCX* U^. ^^^^^ seals have thicker fur and shorter hair on the belly. This be attributed to the circum- nnMn LaSjx /i.e. U. k/r • See Ullintt, " Coi ililioii of Affairs in .'\la8l. 2GG ; Mill^X**" A*«'v»«-»''' t'\r#A,A^v*je^* "^ui^.. !i (fOU^^ ' ti*.^^*^'^*'''^'" ^^ '^ *" '"^ rciiicnil)cioil (lint (ho diiniiuition of the sea-otter ha.i boon tlio . *jr~r^ — result solely of opinnficiiH condii'toil froni (lio iiiioro. In (ho olil (lay-< (ho ot tor was r'^^" cliiblicd, Hporvrod, or shot on the IkmcIio-i, and aftfvw.irdH from f-tiii^c.s or iVom oannca cloyo alonj;' the rocks and Iicaidios. •Kil. Tlio Hoa-ottcr ])osscssos, however, one important advantage over tlic fiir-scnl ia tlio nivluro of ils i)rocroalion. Tlie young aro horn at all seasons of tho year and not siniidlanoously, and it is not necessary for (his animal (o rosort in largo numliors to parlicidiir brooding jdaoes, or to remain on or about siu'h placos for any con-idcrablo timo. Its disadvantagos as compared with the fur-soal aro that it is not properly a pelagic animal fo :diiig upou migratory fislu's, hut, on (ho contrary, subsists chiclly upon soa- urchins, riiolluscs, and dIIkt such croaturos, \vhi(di aro only to bo obtained in the immediate vicinity of (he ^lioro-; and tlioii' adjoinitig ro'ky piitidios aud kelp buds. 'l!'2. As a result of its dimiaishing numbers, and tho greater activi(y of the himtors, it lins v.ithiu historic (imos not onlv greatly increased in wariness, but has also very nrukcdly clmngcd its habits in direcliims similar to those in whicli .i change has already become ohscrvahlo in the case of tlio fur-soal. In earlier years, it fre([uonted (he rocky shores, and w.,s frequetitly found on Iol' lanil, forming in some instanc(S veritable colonies or '■nxdieries," comparable in some respects with those of tho fur-seal. 'I'he yoimg in (hue days were prob'ibly always bom on shore, and it seems further probable, though not proven, (hat many of tliL' so-called ''kitchen middens" of the Aleutian I.slaud.s, comiioseJ almost entirely of the shells of nrlimim, and attriluited by Dall to tho pre historic Aleuts, really o.ve their origin to such pre- historic sea-otter colonies. At the pri; unt time, it has become an event of exlrome rarity to see a .soa-otter auywhero on those shores, and, so far as the natives who spoiul (heir lives in hnndng llio animal can ascor(ain, the youn;,' are now alino.-t always brought forth on floating masses of kelp. ■Iij:>. Tlic sea-otter, in fact, appears, as (he result of persistent bunting and of tho ed'orts and instinct to chide iiiirsuit. to have reached a practically irri'ducible ininimuni, uf which it is likely to remain uiudiangod unless new factors enter into the problem. li)4. The non-pelar;ic character of tho sea-otter, however, renders its protection a Q Otov, .wff. ■ matter of comparative I'iicilily as (•oiitra--ted uith the fur-seal. A strict preservation, for , ^, J., instance, on the Sumakh Islands, which still ccmstituto one of its remaining favourite H«^ -C -'"^"*'^^'*],(iunls, would, witliout doubt, result within a i'eu- years in tins group being restocked J*ic^\. iuwa;,;f,vith an abundance of sea-otters. ^Ai-^N^wCi k.-^%v-.V' 4(i-3. Probably, the only remaining notable colony (or rookery, as it is calleil from analogy with tho breeding places of tho fur-seal) is that nliich is now strictly ])reserved by the Russian Government on the north-west point of Copper f.sland, of tho Commander group. 'i'he sea-otters arc reported by the Superintendent of Cojipor Island as iiicrea.--iiig hero from year to year, though a limited number is allowed to be takt'ii by the natives each year, and (hough the natives aro permitted to shoot, during the winter aud in tho absence of the liir-seals, any sea-otters found to the south of Alatveya Point tm 111 ea4 coast, and a designated point somewhat further to the southward on (ho west coast. To the noi thv.iird of (ho line thus delined, no shooting is at any time allowed lor any purpose wha(ever. This reserved area thus comprises about five miles of the northern end of Copper Island, with Sulkovsky Point and tho Bobroti rocks and reefs lying olT this point. Here tlio sea-oltors iiro taken at designated times and under Government suporviiuon in twine nets, except in certain years in which the natives get a permit to make a drive of otters ui)on the rocks, and kill them there with clubs like the fur-seals. 'I'liis Mas allowed in ISOl', and tuenty sea-otters were got in the drive, (hough more ]niL,ht have been secured but for some mistakes which occurri'd during (he operation. One huiuhed and eighty soa-otter skins in all were obtained from Copper Island during the yenr IS'lO. 4f>i;. Vigilance is required in guardingthis sea-otter colony from raids, and it is said that in 1887 or 1888 Captain Snow, in tho schooner " Nemo," from Yokohama, and ■^)v\\.ti<^-.v.i.^(<-o Hying tho liritish flag, attempted to raid the place, but was tired at and driven olf. Snow was reported wounded, and two Japanese sailors killed. Since this timo no raids v« aisv/. ' have been attempted heie. *'^'^ 4UT. Near Capo Lopatka, the southern extreme of Kamschatka, a sea-otter colony -,,, 1 • or rookery existed till recent years, but it was raided and ilostroyed by vessels IVom San ^ ^ " ^ 1 Francisco between 188(1 and 18>S2. 'i'bere is also stated to have been a similar colony at Vv.-eiU|U vKAl-n.A Pivat, or Yellow Cape, not far from the last. An effort was made to protect this by CU->i-i.^,< U{v-.L.v stationing a number ol' Aleuts at the ))lacc to guard it, but many of these people died, ISV~ » " ?v , 4ind til- iciiiainder weri- withdravn at their own request, alter which the sea-otter colony vas raided and destroyed. j«« C*ttf. U''iv|u.-. '^'^• (? is|a-.,-.-viv^ v\» ■b■vv^^J ISO >.a' Seix."\w ■■•M II tllO T waa anocs ■III ia il not .•rs to iiablo sea. Ihc ler.s, very rv:idy ■ky IilIjIc The il.le, lit inn I llic I. At nliero iiiiiiial iia.s.sca V /IC(»3^4-W >v»iic« ■> 1 tv^U M-]^ 5- t' wL CvV>\ 3 ^^•-•VmO h U^, -Rtf Xcl.'..-4^ r. c^-\iisr\ •vUv*"a< ..M'.' 83 408. Sdiiir iiKcinpt lias also liucii made hy the Cnilcd States' Oovcrmncnt to l^S .j itikvl/; lirolcet the Hoii-otler. Siction tll.'ifj ol' the Uevisotl Statutes of llio United Stftt>!H j^tti.>n'vttrt \^ piiiviile., tliftt no pciHoii shall, ivithnut the consent of the Seerctary of the 'i'reasiiry, kill Uj^^.*-,, ;. vrti- j any otter, mink, marten, sable, or fur-seal, or other fiir-heariii;^' aniniiil, within llie limits of Al.isk.i lenitory, or in the waters thereof, 'I'his is furihur explained hy a Tieasury Department Xotico, dated :]lst April, 18"!t, which reads as follows: - •' No I'lii-Iioariiii; animals will, therefore, he allowed to he killed hy [lersons other than the natives, within the limits of Alaska territory, or in the waters thereof, except fur- Hoals taken hy the Al:iika Coinniereial f,'iim|'au;. in pursuance of llivir lea-f. The use of (ire-aniis l)y the natives in killin;; other than durin;i; the months of May, June, July, Annnst, and Septemhe'r, is hereby iirohibited. No vessel will he allowed to anehoi in the well-known ollerkillin;; j;'roimds except thosi; which may carry parties of natives to and from such killin;:; jj;rounds ; and it will he the duty ol the olPieers ~< eiifcrce the law afjfainst the killiiij; of fur-seals hy the Aleuts in that vicinity till 18!)0, -^^j, ^ JXLk^'" when instructions were received that it must be enforced, although no mem-: were JJ^,,.,^^,J^ ,^..i8«^o provided lor its enforcement. The law ii^aiiist the killiny: 'if sea-olter and the rnlina; as , l* to tin; inonlhs in which lire-anns hliall be prohibilcd in hunting this animal is also, as a *,'**^ K'"'^**'"'', - '-*^ mailer of fact, inoperative. The proliibit(Ml months include all tlmse in which it jj, -"•'V'^'-^ practically possible to hunt the seaotter, and it is well niiderslood that if the Aleuts ofi^i ,,^r t^Vv^W-.^ the Aleutian Islands were interfered with in this, their only inean.s ri!' obtaininjj; a living, vfrv.".A. fUr:<-.< >iv they must either stifler j^reat hardships, or their support mu.^t be undertaken by the Government. '170. The sole instance of the actual cxtennination of an animal oC tin Kortli Pacific within historic times, and one of the very short li-.t of such cases of extermination the world over, is that of the IthUina or Stelhr's sea-cow- (Rhifilna Slcll'Ti). It is in-lructive to nllude to tliis inslance, becrub.e it becomes obvious that il was entirely s'^(^^^r7,.jlj>,. owing- to the ;;real differences in habits and the very restricted ranjjtc of the animal, as compared witli the fur-seal, that its exterminati(m became possible. " „ . ^ 471. This sea-cow or manatee was f<;uiul in great nundjcrs on Bchrini; Island, and ';•■ Y'^-- •'• T-**- to some extent also mi Copper I.sland, at the lime of the discovery of these islands in '^'f ^.^ '*!'''""' 1711, but scarcely, if at all, elsewhere ; thouj;li Nordenskiiihl conjectures that il may ^^' .^li^."^-^, _ within historic times have also occasionally visitcJ tiic Kamsjhalkan coast. '' '" 17-. It was a lar;:;e, slow-, clumsy, and incautious animal, which fed cbielly rdi.ii:.; the shores upon inarlne al;;ie; and bein;^ found easy of capture and ;;ood for food was per- sisiently attacked ity tlu- early Russian navigators, who ofiei. \ i'-ited JJeliring Island for the sole purpose of laying in a stock of its flesh. I'rom the aceouiits of lbe>e voyages, it ^ i, \ Hccnis first to have disajiiieared from Chopper I>Iand, and subsequently, about !7- ^ than thirty years after the discovery of the islands, i( became extinct, also on Beliring (£s.>'.iU^. -\ .■ir'.«.f''iA Island.* 470. It is stated that Brandt expresses the belief that the niiytina formerly, and in .'x '[va- L3+-UT,tc pie-historic times, not only freipiented the coast of luimschatka, hut extendeil also as t;>-j^ ku^.v/I k, far as the coasis of China and the northern islands of tiio Japanese group, and to the ^"i*-- 4 "'v«»« ••"-■- western islands of the Aleutian chain. It thus appears to have already been naturally <=''>'*--ii-__- ■""•'•■*^' verging fouards extinction before it was at all pursued b^- man. In a pnjier read heltirethe \'(v(v« t,.*,-,- iv- b'ussian Iinpeiial Geographical Society in iMarcli 18Sj, l)r. Dibofsky ex|n-esses a similar *^^v.r^' (uJ-^ ^^^-.yiy); opinion. Mr. F. W. True writes as follo-.-.s respecting the causes of its extinction: l-v 7n%o.» ' "The most generally accepted notion is that the rate of capture much exceeded that of , ^ the incrca-e of the animal, and that extinction followed as a matter of course. Xordcns- J '•''■■-■•"' "^'^ ■ kirdu, however, and in a certain way Hraiult, also avows his belief that tlie sea-cow had "'". gotten out of harmony with its environincnt many years before the Ifussians discovered it, and that its extermination would have oeciirrod within a comparatively short time without- the intervention of man. 'I'he fact that in Steller's time the range of the animal i\;„^n; Cvv.„v>j'v',^.*^ was much circumscribed seems to give weight to the latter view."t • liaioii Ni>;ilni.-kii)iil iouiiil suip.i' ri'-son to liolitvi' L.r.l a jIiirIc iiiilivklual of tliii se:i-eim w.ii sivii as lato in ilio year 18 >1, hut Dr. 1,. SiejiK gi'r, first w tlio" I'roci' diiifrj of iliu I'liiti'il Stales' Nniional Miisi'iim," vol. vii, '.;>-:4. |). ISl, niKJ at later dates in ilu' •' A. -rriiu.. Na.iir.-\ii-.i," vol. xsi, p. lU-17, .ind ' Anii-ricaii (ico.:'.;|)liic;\l Suriilv IJulli liii," No 4, IfSC, has a:lvoiice(l Uroiig rcajcns to slii.w tliat tlie animal ac'.na'ly ti"ianic extinct in KO'S. t '' rist.ery Induitii'S uf the IJnilc.l Stales," vo!. i, \i. 133. t>'oc aUo NorJensliioUl's " Viiy '. re of thu V*';;u," vol. ji. M V] <^/ A /a e: O / >^ IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 t^ « 15 22 I.I 2.0 1^ i^ 1.8 1-25 i 1.4 III 1.6 Photographic Sciences Corporation 4 A '-'.'■ ^ ///,. ^^ :/. ^ f/^ ^ ^V"" 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, NY, 14580 (716) 872-4503 ^ A t^ W 84 P ■, i '.-viU »vc: f^. Cmv.i (ari.,vt<..i;>i.\. rt. 114. 88 !^^1<'li/l tv«((vv^ m ficiiv— S"t.\ »«: ^ Nortli Pacific whidi siihscqiicntlj bocaino known qh Rohiing Sea, on a woll-csliihlislK'il /:^,„,/,^ ■ inu-^v basis, by the bef;iniiing of the present century. -^ •IHl. In connection witli tliis j)art of (he North Pacific, it niny also bo liornc in mind jf^J„j (w,,,, likif that alumt the year 18-10 wliahii;^ b' f^an to be extensively iirueliseil. In IHIO to 1S12 '- ' tlio wlialiiifi' licet frequented tiic Ka(liak ;;round, whfro many rl;^bt whales were takei' (tIo.-.j J, V)',a-,', In IHl'J, tlic Japan Sea was found to be a ;;ood wbalinj^- j;i(iUMd, from wli'di tiiat I'aii. of ii» \i^\g llic Pncille near Kanischalka was next readied, and soon at'ler Okotsk ^ea. In 18f8, tlie _ jn,„ ijir*- first whaler entered the Arctic Ocean, and thereaftei net only Jiehviiifj; ! en, but also ,„, iiu.,^ i*^ this I'urthcr ocean, has been regularly IVei|U( iited by whalers, the bow-head uhale chiefly being taken in the exlrenie north. The iiiduitry has gr.ulually declined, in con.^e- :>*.iJU.: i'xt"j.«;U quenee nf the le-scned number of whales ; but between 18 ID and 18(10, there were ai)imt ^^^ v^^ yi^^-^U SIX) vessels under (he United States' ila;;, be.-iiles liritisli, I'^rendi, Oldenhiiig, Danish, i,„.i.r, >?6a and other vessels, ftlany of the HritisJi vessels came from Ilobart Town and other plaeea ' - in Australasia. ■1^:.'. P»ut the fur-rieal of the North Pacific remiiiiied in great measure a inono])oly of the Russians until towards the middle oi tlie nineteenth century, and then, by reason of its becoming a well-ascertained liict that the supply of seal-skins IriJin the Southern Ocean had practically ceased, Kiigiisli and other nations also turned their attention to the Hupply ^ of scal-skiiis from the Kortli Pacific. 48f5. ft is necessary to hear in mind that the commercial importance of the skins of the fur-seal of the North Pacific is Ihus of recent origin. In the well-known " Penny Ci,.„.. t',^ j^a^ ,. Cycl'ipavlia," puhlished so lately as ISIl', ihe seal is descrihed as follow^, and if is ^vvit-j w.i'.j. staled that no market value is attached (o (he skins of the adult: — " Airlnrcjilinlii.i idsiinis. — Islands on the north-west point of America, Kamschatka, and the Kurile Islands. This is the Olmid iirsliui of Dezniaest ; Pliom ursimi of rjiiiiueus, &c. When these inigrafoiy seals appear off Kamschatka and the Kuriles early in (he spring they are in liigii condilioii, and (he females are pregnant. They remain on or ahout the shore for two months, during which the females bring forth. They are polygamous, and live in families, every male being surrounded by a crowd of females (from fifty to eighty), whom he guards \\itli the greatest jeolousy. These families each, including the young, auionntiiig to 100 to iL'tj, live separate, though (hey crowd (he shore, and (hat to such an extent on (he islands off (he iior(li-\vest point of .\nierica, that it is said they oblige the (laveller (o quit it, and scale the neighhouriiig rocks. _ Poth male and female are very allectionato to (heir young, and fierce in their defein'e ; ^ a-A m .At,U«4(, hut the males are often tyranniinlly cruel lo (he females, wiiidi are \ery submissive. . . . The skill, wlii»; worthy of caj)ture excejit the grey-pup .••eals, while on the Prihyloff Islands and along a ~.^ , the coasts of Xorth-West America (he skins of the fur-seal were considered as hardly ""^V' ;•' ■*-';' worth the taking. For instance, in lS'2'i skins were bart<'rcd by the Pussian Government ^'•'•V''^'" '^''^ in (he Sandwich Islands at .iii average rate of 1 dol. T-j c. (Ts.) ; in China, a( Kiaidia, at from I dollar (l.-'.) to I dol. 40 c. (0.>.); while the prices niven by tiie lltulson's Hay Jc, Comjiany at Port Simpson were, so lately as 1850, only I dol. OO c. (O.s.) jier skin. 485. A few years later, hoaever, more attention was given (o the nordiern ■ ^^■ fur-seal, and we find vessels from all (piarters, inchiding llonohiiu, cruizing round (lie '^" ■<• *,ttrtWx j cen(re for furs. ^'■'^'^ • Such was die general aspect of affairs hy the middle of (he pre>eu( century in the * North Pacific. ■|8ii. (n the more westerly portion of that ocean, from a variety of sources, and K\...ut\ivj; •w. es[)ccially from ilie special re|)')rt supplied (o us by Mr. de nnnsen friim (he Hritish Legation at Tukio, and a memorandiiui obtained from his (ioveniment hy Viscount Kawaze, Japanese .Minister in liondon, we have a lolerahly complete account of (he fur-seal lishery on the coasts olMajiau and (he Kurile Islands. 1:?7. The seal fishery is an ohl-es(ahlished industry in Japan, and particulars are on record dating back to (he miildle of the last century. The skins were obtained abou( 17."iO and 1700 from lloroinoshir, .Makaruru. Sliimsir, and Unip by the. natives of ^ .^i Itnip and llashiia, using arrows, liar|iooiis, and nets. In 180(», wo read of a regular sealing establishment being sot up in Itrup, and carried on for years witli .success. ■ uJ, \.* iii:\kiiLn IH.V ..'•!». I.' )»vjU-.-»-'i( * u,.-. 1 >t*Vi ^l,'m>;i;(..'/i. 1 86 The .scftl-skins were usually Ijurtcrcd iit Nagasaki to the Cliinosc. The Govcniment in (lii'so year-; purchascil t!iu ; kins from the natives, at the fixed rates o( 00 anil 45 sen for llie best aiul medium (juality skins respcelively. During the succeeding- yenis, Russian sulijcots gradually pushed southward down (he Kiirilo i;.o!ip, nu'I inueh conipetition and even eondiel resulted in rival endeavours tj secure seal-skins. At thi-; ])eriod, liio Ruvsiaiii began to send I'urs to the China market alrcet to Peking thrr.ugh the great uiarL cstaLlisheil at Kiateli, ia Ivistcrn Siberia. ■188. About the year 1 tOj, the Japanese Governineiit found itself forced to deal wiHi the increasing numbers of foreign vessels — chielly Russian, lirifisli, American, and Puleli— which b-'gaii to vi.sil their coasts, and frequent the hays and harbours in quest of marine produijfs. •!>0. As early as ISO!), the Japanese Colonial Hepartment set up a. branch establish- ment in the Island of Itrup, with the sijecial object of carrying out tiie measures e.stablislied to protect the Japanese cua.il fishing against for ■iguers. The old seal-skin rcguhuious were revived and llio Govi.'rnm'nt price trebled. In 187-1, Coniniis^ions were set nj) specially to prevent, seal poaching and sale of seal-skins by foreigners. Much ircrubi ■ was oeca'-ionod by the foreign vessels, which n-ually claimed the right to remain in (he bays a^)d harounrs, on the i)lea of stress of weall'.er or need for wood and wale;'. This necessitated a nian-oi'-war being sent up, and, ultimately, a special cruiiser was detailed t^^ the Kurilc Islands for tlie scaling season, viz., iNlay to October. 4S)0. In ?.I:iy l.-'Tl, the (iovernmont issued regulations to c(uitrol the fishery around the llokhuido (Yezo) Islands, elaiming jurisdiction within a limit of two and a-half miles from the s!iorc, a'.id stati g •• ii' any foreigners be found fishing within the above-mentioned limits, they .sliall be arrested in m peace''id a manner as possible and sent to Hakodate, aei'onii).niie.l by guards, and deliveied to the f'onsul td' the eonntry of their nationality." During these years, foreign vessels were frequently encountered engaged in sealing. BesidLS many ve-sels from (he I'lnted Stales, a Danish vessel, the " Mattee," and others, are lueiitioncd. In 1S75, on Itrup, the Russians actually comniencid putting up he.i.s, as did the Aincric:.i.s at a place called Maroko, lor the purpose ol killing seals. They were, how- ivcr, arrested and sent to Hakodate, 491. The hcad-fiuarters of the Prolci'lion I'.siahlishnient originally set up on Itrup Island were afterwards transferred loXenuiro. uilh brandies on Oonebetsu, Nanneho, and Tosbiiuori. Ill !87t), in conse;l' Japane-e were thus inclined lo adopt wise I'egnhUious, but foreigners, and especially ,\nierieans, were far more reckless, and continued lo maraud along the shores and to use tire-arms, eagerly seeking the prodls of to-day, but ignoring all risks of de[ilction on the UKJirow. In 1877, 1S78, and 1870, the .lapanese made estu blishmeiils successively in Ivunashir, Iriribush, and others of the less inliabiled islands, to .secure for themselves the fur-seal industry. l!ut foreigners followed them closely, ar.d by the year 1880 or 1881 serious apprehensions existed that tlie seals were hopeles-ly dimiiiished in numbirs. The Japanese Report states : " The foreigners do not in the least care about the decrease of breeding or the extermiualion of llie species ; they freely u.se tlieir guns in luinting, and, as Ihe result, they killeil the greatest nuniber. Thus, we are (d)liged to throw aside the (dd inslruDients, such as clubs, hows and arrows, and gaffs, and to adoiit the gnu, as it would be most foolish to kee[) to the old system, which left others to make the greatest gain. Thus, the use of guns is the main cause of the present decrease." 493. Over all these years, and np lo the jircsent, seals were known to breed in numbers on at least three jioints on the Kurilc Islands, vi/,., the Srednoi Hocks, off Ijic Island (d' Ushisliir, on iiaikolio Island, and on the Alusbia Jtocks. Indeed, in 1881, (juitc an impetus was given to sealing by the unexpected discovery of a small rookery on the Srednoi Uocks, holding 20,000 to 25,000 seals. 5,000 skins were taken there ia that; one year. 87 404. Seals were known to frequent the ndj'oininf;- ocenn in lnrj;e iiumliors from November to May, especially off the const of Jaiian between Inuljosaki and the east jjart of Yczo, and it was reported that during the remainder of the year tiie seals tiavelied away nnrtliMards into the Okotsk and IJilirini;- Seas to breed on Uobben Island and the Conuiiander Islands. They were never molested out at sea. 'i 405. The native fishermen, in oi)en boats, along the Nambu and Yezo coasts north of Inabosaki, liabitually take the seals by spearing, by shooting tiiem with barbed arrows, and in nets. In sonic places, a fur covering for tlio head and neck enabled the luinicrs to ai)i)roach close to the seals. 'Iliejinnual catcii of from 2,000 to 'A.OW) skins is disposed of to Chini'sc buyers in llakodati'. In the autumn, tlicy sometimes take 2,000 to 2,500 grey pujjs in nets. i?nl i( bus always been customary, whenever a rookery was discovered, especially along the iuirile Islands, for larger vessels to proceed thither and take all seals that could be killed on shore by clubl)ing. 190. The .Tapauese Agricultural Department states that the fur-seal ap|)ears to be reared on the rock)' coasts, and caught at, a distance of not move than one nautical mile from the shore, but that they are generally found on the beaches and clubbed tlier(\ 1'j7. In recent years good records have been kept, especially of vessels under foreign flags engageil in sealing from .Iap;',n, but it is not so certain that all ,Jap:ines(; vessels so employed are always registered. 408. Tile folliiwing are the figures, about one-half of the total being under the British flag : — inU ( lLv^*4-iU' > I XuiiiIkt of Number tif Y (■ar. ; Foreign Wssils fiijinpcil in .Srnlinu'. I'e.ir. F Cloaked in Sfalitij;. 1880 1 ..1 I88C. ,. 1 1881 it 1H87 .. lb82 ..; 18 1888 & 1883 ir, 1 SS'.I , . 5 1884 ..j 11 isyo ., 4 188.") ..! 1891 .. a 499. The rapid increase in numbers of vessels emnloyed from ]880 up to 1884 was due to the discovery of the rookeries on the Kurilc islands. Hut these were speedily exhausted by indiscriininale slaughter, and these sealiug-vesseis almost conlined their operations to raids in and around Uohben Island and the Commander Islands, especially during the temporary ahseiiie of the guard-ship,. Several schooners came from .America every autumn for sealing purposes, hut not one of these vessels was ever employed in " pelagic " sealing. oOO. It is certain that these schooners could not have been worked at a profit unless they had taken ten times as many skins as are reported to have been landed at Hakodate nnd Yokohama. Ihit it is almost impossible to form a correct estimate of the total catch, because the vessels sometimes bring to .lapanesc jjorts skins of seals raided from the JJu'-siun shores, and sometimes ship seal-skins thus obtained to J']urope or China without bringing them into a ■laiianese port, even if only for transhipment. 501. Of the extensive and wasfel'ul slaughter on the breeding i)laces included in the territorial jurisdiction of Japan, many interesting though incomplete records were obtained. Captain Aliner, of Seattle, a p.irticulnrly well-informed sealer, had frc(piently been to these rookeries. The Alaska Ccuuinercial Company, he slated, had obtained seals from Ushi.shir ami Srednoi in 1882-S.'). In 1884, he heard from the natives of a rookery at Kikaka. a small island near Mattoo. There he secured 4,500 skins, but news of "this having become public there were next year six schooners at work there, and the few seals left were killed oil' by the Japanese Alarine Products Company which now leases the island. 602. Captain Snow, the well-known sealer of Yokohama, took in one year (1881) 7,000 seals from Srednoi Ivock alone. Next yerr he found none there. Tlie natives of TJrnp Island always had seal-skins to sell, and this led to the Alaska Commercial Com- pany and the seliooneis seaichiiij'; the iieiglib(Uirhooil, but the island being low and behind others was very dillicult to find. In the Ibllouing year (1887), he secured 2,000 seals on L'shishir Island. !-ucl> are some of the o.-'amples of the whole^iale slaughter of seal on these smaller, but proliik", rookeries. ■.•^•2 ' 2 A '^*i*^v.r,iuu,.,i„>('.J. vft'lk.iiu.v;;.' UStt 88 |V ^«..' .iKoi. • L "f^r-ii to Vf-.^^ L» IS-: I t V . . ' ■ i)03. The Japanese (Joverr.mcnt was not slow to apprcciiite tlie gravity of tl>c ea-.c, and tlie Agriciiltiirnl Department was prompt to report tlial the promising annual eateh had Huddeidy decreased becauso of this indi.scriminatc slaughter on shore. 504. An Impuriiil Deeree was issued on the :?3rd May, 1884, forbidding the hunting of the fur-seal in .lapanesc waters except by persons with a Hpecial permit. 'I'lii^ was supplemented <>n the Ifilh December, 188(), by IJegidations Lssucd by the linpeiial authorities u'lder tlic immediate supervision of the Govcnior-General of Hakodate. ■'lOo. The.se l!egnlation>, in brief, enacted: — (i.) Ko fur-seal may be taken e.xcept between tfie hltli April and the 31st October. (ii.) No fur-seal niay be taken outside a defined area. (iii.) This area is divided into three portions, in only one Pi' whicli is scal-lumting permitted in any j^iven year, the other two divisions benefiting by two years of rest. (iv.) All vessels enj^aged must oe specially licensed, and conform to special regtda- tions, and ily a special flag. (v.) All skins brought to market must be stamped at certain ports. 'i'liere is no specified limit to the numbers of licences, but the issuing authorities would exercise discretion in the matter, 500. The iSlipon Marine Products Company, of Hakodate, with acapital of 12."),()00/., was formed (o carry on whahiig and tiie capture of sea -otter and fur-seals. The Company purchased three schocmers of about 70 tons each, manned by crew.j of twenty-five men, for the purpose of killing seals on these hauling-grounds, these being the only vessels which have as yet taken out the necL's.sary licences. These three vessels were rcp' rteJ to have taken sixty seals between them in 18!)1. 507. Last year three " foreign " vessels (itted out in Yokohama, but their destination was to the north of the .lapanesc waters; and two, the " Arctic " and the " ]\Iystery," were cai)tured in t'.e late anlunm by the Russian grni-boat " Aleut " raiding Uobben Island, having killed i,500 seals. 508. It would appear that the somewhat elaborate Regulations set up by the Japanese Government in 18S() have been as yet practically inoperative. It is reported that tlie Government vessel, the •' Kaimoukan," detailed to enforce these Kegulations in 1891, as a matter of fact, never left her station at Xeinuro. ft seems probable, however, that, with the excotion of the local shore fishermen, no one else has been inclined to seek for seals among these Japanese islands sinc(^ the rookeries were depleted in 1881-82. 509. Apart from the Commander Islands, the most importint breeding phce of the fur-seal in the Western Pacific at the present time is undoubtedly Robhen Reef or Island, named Tncelcn or Seal Island on Russian (diarts, lying oil' Cape Patience, o'l the east coast of Saghalieii Island, in Okotsk Sea. This is a low, flat, rocky islet, destitute of haven or convenient anchorage for vessels, about 1,800 feet only in length and not more than 50 feet in greatest height, surrounded by shingly and rocky beaches. What little is known of its history is perlmps particularly interesting, in showing how persistently the fur-seal may continue to res>irt to its favourite haunts in t'le face of slaughter and disturbance provided these arc not actually continuous. When first discovered, it is reported that the seals frequented all parts of the periphery of the little island, but especially the east and north-east sides; at present, in reduced rmnibers, they congregate cbielly on liie sontb-easteny beach. 510. According to .Mr. D. Webster, now employed on the Pribylolf Islands by the North Ameiican Commercial Company, Robhen I'-land was cleared of fur-seals by raiding vessels in 1851-53, and was thereafter not again visited by sealers till he himself went there in 1870. The slaughter here referred to is no doid)l the same with that mentioned in greater detail by Scanimon, who says, however, that it occurred in the "midst of the Crimean War" (probably, therefore, in 1854 or 1855), and was carried out by a clipper hark sent there by " an enterprising firm in New London, Connecticut." He gives some further particulars of this raid upon Russian territory, and adds that a valuable cargo of skins was obtained, which brought an unusually high price in the European market because the regular Unssian supply was cut oil' by the war.* Webster thinks that after the above dale the seals gradually increased again in number, but nothing is known of the conditions till he himself visited Robhen Island in 1870. Webster did not naiue the vessel in which he visited the reef, but it was probably cither the "Mauini Loa" or '•John Bright," as these two vessels, nominally engaged in whaling, are known, from information afterwards obtained from itl. Kluge on Copper Island, to have raided Robhen Island in that year. Webster, at this time, according to ^ " Mutiue Mammalia," pji. I4U to ir>l. I ill 'V^!^ 1^' w»»*^ .q^ hin own account, assisteil in tnkins 15,000 skiim, tlioui'.li Kluftc's t'slinuitc of tlic nu:nl or IN'^'-';''' ^^'■''' taken was 10,000. Webster I'lirtlicr i.unrnie I ii-^ thai lie hud licdacd the United States' I'l! H«-^ '^}- fla*; on tlie inland, and though warned tiiat it was Russinn tcnitor)' by a vcsslI of tliat /^.yVm « -^ nationality, he paid n') heed. A little later, liowevcr, a I'uh.sian (Jovernnient ve.s.-A.-! aiipenrtd, and the ollicer in coniniand ordered liiiii to leave within twenty days. He hiul already sent nio.nt of the skins to San l''raiiei^e.>, probably on one of the \essels abuve uicntioiicd, but contniiitd killing initil Im had taken about 'J, 000 more skins. •"ill. In 1H71, this island, with the Connnander Islands, was leased to Messrs. Hute''ins(yn, Kohl, Phillipeiis, and Co., who traii'-ferred their ri;;hls to tlie Alaska Coniiuorcial Company. Mr. Kliiyo went there in the same year in the interests of the lessees, and found that, in consequence of the raid in 1870, there were not over t.',000 seals to be I'ound on the entire island. The island was wntclied in that year, but no seals were killed. A few may have been killed in 1S72, tlinu.i^h, il so, the number is not known ; but from 1873 to 187^ rather more than 2,000 skins wore on the average taken annually by the Company from this one small reef. 512. About the year 1S70, sehooncrs sailinij from .lapan be^an to fre(iuint the island, and were in the habit of raidinjj it in the autumn, after (he guardians luul been withdrawn. In 1881, the Company's agent remained on the islaiul as late as the 5th November, at which date live or six Japanese schooners were still hovering about, looking- for a chance to land. The Diilch sealer "Otsego" was! warned of! l.'y the Company".s trading steamer "'Alexander." In eonsequenc<> of such raids, the number of :cals declined from year to year. 51:^. Probably discouraged by the cost and ditficulty of protecting the island, and in order to prevent cumpetition in the sale of skins, the Company in 18s;i made a barbarous attemiit to extirpate the seals on it. A lull account of this attempt is given in the deposition of C. A. Lundberg,* who arrived at Robbcn Inland in the schooner " North Star" from Yokohama, and found 'he mate of the i-chooner "Leon," a vessel in the employ of the Alaska Comniereial Cumiiany, living on the island >vilh about fiiteen Aleuts. Ijiindhcrg found a great mass of dead and decaying seals upon the slmre, which had been killed by these men, as they .'^aid, in order to "keep any of those Yokohama fellows from getting anything this year." The trews of the " North Star " and anther schooner, the " Helei.e," then set to woik to remove the earea-ses, wliich included tin ^c of many females and yoinig, and proved to number between 9,000 and 10,000. In the proce.s.-:, they nirtnaged to pick out some 300 skins in good condition. "'I'here were thousands of seal- in llu,' water, but tliey would not pull mit on the bLaeh on account of the stencil anil filth. ^Vo washed the beach as clean as we eouhl, ami turned Iho gravel over as far as we were able. Shortly a heavy gah: came on, which washed the beach quite clean again, and the seals then began to pull oat.' 5!4. We were also inlornicil that Captain IJan-en, afterwards master of the Cermau schooner " Adele," was present on tliis occasion. Captain ]\liner, an e.\])erienced se ding- master of Seattle, also visited the island in the same year, and ileserihed to us the great hcai, ' " carcasses which he found on the island, and the manner in which the skins had been siashed in order io render them useless. 515. In 1884, according to Jlr. Kluge, the Russian Oovernmeut stationed a steam launch at the island for its protection, and in the .same year lour schooners, including the (Jerman schooner "Ilelene," were captured there by the llussiau man-of-war " Uasbonik." 5i(). In 1885. the launch was replaced liy a t'orce of twenty Cossacks, but these were withdrawn in September, after whieh raiding sehoouers again appeared. In that year, there were not more than 7.000 or 8,00U .seals in all upon the islaml. Vmm 1885 to 18';lU, no skins »verc taken by the Company from the island, but in the last-mentioned year 1,152 skins were taken. Tiie guard was, however, removed from the i.-hind between tlic r.'th and the 16th October, ami after that date the island was raided by schooners, one of tliese, reported as hailing fronj Japan, and said to ily the United States' tlag, being the chief oU'ender. These schooners nuist have obtained at least 1,700 skins, for when the ksland was revisited early in 18;!|, that numiicr of carcasses was found upon it, ana these were buried in order to avoid the ullect which their presence might have in preventing seals from again landing. 517. In consequence of this heavy slaughter, but o'20 skins were obtained by the Company from the island in 1801. ad Captain Brandt, of the Russian gun-boat ".Vleut," estimates the whole number of seals present on the island ai- thi-t date at about 10,000. In October 1891, Captain Uramlt returned to the island in the "Aleut" when not expected ''i'i«.)',r. >iU>ut "..«y f; x'rn*- .T.l yf ■ /l'.f»."iV^ ii r .1 Uv^ 00 tlioro, niul nptiireil two raiding vessels from YolseS''ioii of 1,500 fiir-scnl skins. Cai)tuin iUniv, of tlio Company's scliooner " Loon," further infornietl us tliat (here were at present about twcnty-llve females to each adult male on th'; islands, a proportion of males which lie, from lonj; experience of the sealing industry, considers to he far too small. One of the dilliciiUies found in guarding this island is due to its small si/.e, in con- sequence (A' which the mere i-reseiice ol nuardians on shore. tends continually to disturb the seals. "lis. Passing to the const of Knnivcliatl;a, from various good authorities on the Com- n.au'h'r Islands and at Pclroiaulovsl;!, it w;)s learnt (hat there is .'■ouie reason to believe 'lilt a new lireeding place of the tur-.-eal has been established ne;ir Cipc Stolhoi or f'apc Kamschatka. l'\'n)ales ^vith young pups have been seen olf (his part, of the coast, and an attempt was made in 1800 to examine it in bouts, but was frustrated by stormy weather. ."ilO. At f'a])!' Tshipunski, also on the Kamschatka coast, M. Grebnitsky, the Supeviiitenilenl of the Ooiiimander Ishmds, statel that he saw breeding fur-seals in ISJO or If^ST. tli'Migh it had been ascrlained in 1^77 that there were no .seal< there. Sabse(iii 'nl to the lime of .M, Circbnilsky's visit, the incipient rookery was destroyed by hunters or by raiiling schooners. •'i.'O. From tlie vicinity of Cape Kanischi-.tka noith-ea'stnard to Haroness Korf (iulf, a stretch of co.ist exists which bus beevi entirely uninhabited lor many years, and about which very little is kiio\. native peoples of the west coast of America directly interested in the capture of the fur-scal are the following : — 1. Aleut. 2. Eskimo, or Innuit, including Kaniagmut, of Kadiak Island and vicinity, and Chaga-Cliigmut, of Prince William Sound, wilh probably some other tribes of lesser importance. 3. The Tlinkit, or Koloshan tribes of South-eastern Alaska. 4. The llnula, of llie Queen Charlotte Islands; with tiie Kaigani, of the southern extremity of the Alaskan coast-strip. 5. The Tshimsian, of the inner coast of Ilecatc Strait. 6. Tlie llailt/.uk tribes, to the south of the last. 7. 'I'lie Kwakiool tribes of (he northern part of Vancouver Island. 8. The Aht, ov Nootkan tribes, of the west coast of the same island, and including the linguistically-identical Makah, of Neah Bay and Cape Flattery. 527. All these people have known and hunted the fui-scal from time immemorial, and in all cases either within the limits of what has been referred to as the winter habitat of the seal, or along the course of its northward migration-route. So long as the breeding islands remained uninhabited by man, the seal was practically exempt from his attacks in its summer habitat. 628. The amount ot tlie interest of these native peoples in this pursuit has naturally varied in accordance with changing circumstances, and has, in most cases, been notably stimulati'il by the higher prices which have ruled for skins within the last twenty years. Their aboriginal modes of bunting the fur-seal are somewhat varied, including the spear, bow and arrow, net, and club ; but in most cases the gun is now the weapon employed. 520. Alcul.s. — The lumling of fur-seals by the Aleuts iidiabiting the eastern part of the Aleutian chain has already been referred to in connection with the migrations of the seal. The Aleuts of Iliuluik Settlement at Unalaska, stated that they generally got twenty or thirty seals in the early part of the sunnner and when on their way north. They are engaged in hunting the sea-otter ai this season, and take a stray seal if they find it. Such seals are generally got along the southern side of the islands, but the seal- hunting season proper is in the autumn. In hunting seals, these natives employ the same methods as in sea-otter huating. They U!C a " bidarka," or light skin-boat, in which they sometimes go as <'ar as 25 or .'10 miles from land. The spear, launched by mems of a throw ing-stick, was formerly most employed, but is now being supensedcd by the ^"a loaded with buck-shot. Tiiey generally shoot from a distance of 40 or 50 yards, and have plenty of time to paddle up in tlie bidarka and get the seal before it sinks. The dead seal is taken either with tlie hand or by means of a gaiT carried for the purpose. Grey pups always float when killed, being very fat. An old male, or a female over two years of age, generally sinks when shot, particularly in the autumn, when seals of these kinds are thin. A female with young may sink, but more slowly. 'J'liese natives, how- ever, aflirm that they never lose a seal if killed. Mr. Dirks, now agent for the Alaska Commercial Company at Atka Island, states that when previously stationed at Sannakh Islands, he has seen the Aleuts there |nirsue and overtake fur-seals in their light bidarkas, a feat which would be im|iossible with any boat. 5.'50. Nets were for.nerly employed by the Aleuts of Unalaska and neighbouring islands for tBe capture of sea-otter, fur-seal, and hair-seal. These are described as having been from 20 to 30 fathoms in length. Such nets were set about the rocks, generally a mile or so from shore. They are still used on the Sannakh Island.s, but have elsewliere been practically abandoned in consequence of the increasing wariness of the sea-otter. 5^31. The fur-seals killei^ by the Aleuts afford practically the only flesh meat which [222] 2 B L i I fVnvv J iln>\\' Vj.u..i.';;,„.r>-v. ^\t^ )"*■■' IHWi Jft.vt) jrrVi.UU', •-A they arc, under ordinary circumsUnccs, able to obtain, and, as food, arc highly prized by them. In 1890, for the first lime, the United States' Government prohibited tlie iviliing of fur-seals by tlie Aleuts of the Alentian Islands, l)ut tliis rule has so far been practi- eally inoperative, in eonsequenco of the want of means for its enforeenient. 532. The Aleutian Islands were originally thickly inhabited, and settlements existed on nearly ail those of considerable size. Soon after the Kus.siun discovery, measures were taken to concentrate the Aleuts in a few islands, where they mi^'ht be more easily controlled. The decrease in luimber of inhabitants has since then been con- tinn.ous, and the number of inhabited villages is now small. In the eastern part of the chain the following places are still inhabited, and to all of them the remarks above made, with special reference to TInalaskn, are equally applicable. On Unalaska Island, Iliuluik, Makushin, Kashega, Tshirnol'sky ; on Sjiiskin Island, Burka; on Akutan Island, Akutaii ; on Akun Island, Akun ; and on Umnak Island, Nikolsky. 633. 'I'hc most westerly of these villages is that on Unmak Island. The next permanently inhabited place is Nazan Bay, Atka Island, 210 miles further west, and beyond this there now exists but one permanent settlement, that on Chichagolf Harbour, Attn Island, at a further distance of no less than 18U miles. The Aleuts resident at these ])laccs, however, during llic summer months, hunt from island to island along almost the entire chain, with all parts «( wiiich they are consciiuently more or less familiar. o34. At Atka Island, fur-seals are occasionally seen. In former years, they some- times were observed to pass on their way north between Atka and Ainlia Islands, but never laced by the wooden dugout canoe, which, tlionnh <'oinparatively rude, as made among the 'i'iinkit peoples, is nevertheless a serviceable craft, and with the llaiila and other northern lril)es of the coast of British Columbia, becomes perfected in construction, and assumes lines of almost ideal form. 537, In the neighbourhood of Sitka, the Indians systematically hunt the fiuxseal in the spring and early sunnner. They form camps at suitable spots on the outer coast for this purpose, the favourite places being between Cross and Salisbury Sounds, particularly about Cape Edwards. In some years as many as 700 skins are got, but in ]8'.)1 about ;}00 only were obtained. Three or four Indians man a canoe, and wlien the weather is favourable start about two o'clock in the morning for the hunt. .They continue pads made at .Masset among the rndians (including Cliief I'Ideiisaw, an old Init very infelligcnt man), ivitli other infor- mation ohtained, enahle the following ^lafenicnts to he made respecting fur-seal luinting by the Haida people. ;"i42. Ahout the heginning of the present century the sea-otter was very ahundant, and was systematically hunted. Fur-scats were often seen, and, when rccpiired for food, Were sliot with arrows tipped witli the hone o! the whale, or speared, though the skins at that time were of little value. Ahout the year 184(1 (tiie year in which Fort Victoria was established), the Ilaida first began to make a business of bunting the fur-seal for skins. Duns were cmiiloyed from the first in this hunting, loaded cither with buck- Bhot or with '■ trade bullets." three to a charge. At first coinparatively few skins were got, but for the ])ast fifteen years a considerable number I -s been obtained — in two of these years 1,000 skins or more. In 187.'f, a ])ost of the Hudson's Bay Company was established at Masset, cliielly for the purpose of buying fur-seal skins from the Indians, and the increased activity of the local liuiiters coincides with this date. The Indians first saw schooners engaged in hunting' oil' this part of the coast about thirteen years 543. The hunting season is the spring and early summer, and most of the hunting is done in Dixon Entrance, where the hunters have a good chance of making the land safely, either to the south or mirfh, if bad weather comes on. They know that st;als are often abundant in the open ocean to the westward, but seldom go far out in that direction because of the danger of being blown olf and lost. North Island is a favourite starting-point for the hunters. .')44. in luinting there are usually four jiaddlers in a canoe, and one man to shoot. AVheii .shot through the head, and at once killed, the seals fre(piontly sink, and long ago hunters often lost seals in this way ; now they spear the seals as soon as they are shot, and seldom lose any. The males are the most apt to sink, while females with young always float. Mr. 1!. II. Hall, formerly in charge of the northern coast posts of the Hudson's Hay Company, who has himself been at sea with the Ilaida when hunting, as the result of his own experience, states that if a seal is lightly wounded wit!i shot. it generally escapes, as it is then impossible to overtake it with a single canoe. If severely wounded or killed outright, the seal is seldom lost, \ftor a short time the body generally begins to sink ; but '-an tiulian killing or badly wounding a seal is pretty safe to get it." He has seen three seals shot, and two of them left floating till the third one fired at was picked up. .">45. The Indians snoken to were unable to give a percentage ratio of seals Inst when shot, but in order to reach some conclusion on this point, with regard to these particular Indian hunters, thuse who had lately killed considerable numbers of seals were specifically questioned with the following result : — Hunter No. 1. — In the hunting season of 1891 got 21 seals ; lost none. Himter No. 1. — In the season of 1890 got .")S seals; lost ;$ in addition. Hunter No. 2. — In the season of 1890 got ?>7 seals; lost none. Hunter No. 3.— In 188!) got 120 seals ; lost none. Hunter No. 4.— In IS8i) got 90 sea's; lost ?> in addition. The Haida seldom ship as hunters in sealing scboonTs, but the tivo last- mentioned catches were made in connection with a schooner on wliicli these hunters were engaged, and most of the seals got were taken in Rehring Sea, "too far from shore to see the land." Tliey are noted here as indicating the skill of the Haida hunters. r>40. Cliief ICdensaw explained that long ago, when ships first began to come (o buy sea-otter skins (in the latter years of the last century and earlier years of the jiresent century), his people were well off, getting ]iK iity of good clothes, &c., in exchange for these skins. When the sea-otter became very scarce the trading vessels ceased to come. I k*vvtf^ J ijWU>-w i+.i.''.*'-|. ttfa y (tuitviMX 04 k.| JtiU (.....4,'..^ W f(ii>> (^k.., Lt- gradually almndoned this 1 oa^t, and coalesced with the lara;e communities of the eastern coast. It is, therefore, now ditlicnlt to ohtain facts respecting the outer coast, wiicrc, however, in counccticni with the sea-otter hunting, many fur-seals were douhtle-.s lornierly killed. The llaida cat the llesh of the fur-seal, and esteem it highly. 548. Tsliimxiiiii. — The ])rincipal fur-seal hunting sliuion of the Tsliiinsian (rilies proper is upon Zayas Island. They hunt in the spring, from this jilaee as a centre, in the eastern pari of Dixon I'intrance and northern part of Hecate Strait. Till ahout thirty years ago these people never systematically engaged in iiunting the fur-seal, though they knew that their nriglihour-, the ilaida, long hefore this took fur-seals. Mach hunting canoe is here usually nnmn.'d hy four per..on8, and guns ni)])ear to have heen employed from the beginning of th.o .systennitic hurting by the Tshiinsians. llnck-shot, or trade bullets of twenty-eight lO the jiound, three to six in a charge, are used. Tlirce canoes hmiting from Zaya.s Island in 18!I0 obtained ciitches of seventy, fifty, and twenty- eight skins. re.speeti\ L'ly, during the season. The trade prices paid for these skins on the spot in IS',11 ranged from 3 dollars to 3 dol. HO c. for "grey pups "' to 17 dcdlars for best skins, The number of skin.s got in various years di:pen(]s of cour.se on the abundance of seals and the character of the weather; hut there is also a great differeiice from year to year in tiie number of hunters, governed by the prices of skins, and the wages od'ered for other work. I'robably, about 200 skins are taken each year at present by these Indians, but as these are bought by various traders, it is difhcult to get exact figures. 549. A spear or hook about twenty feet in length is often used to recover the seal when shot, and the Indian hunters (iue.-,tioned stated that they liad never lost a seal when killed. /ioO. The Kitkalla tribe of the Tshimsians, whose permanent village is situated on Goschen Island, are :,oted as fur-seal hunters, though, l)ccause of the facility in obtaining employment with regular wages, in late years they have not paid so much attention to this hunting as before. They resort to IJonilla Island in the seal-hunting season, and in 1891 there were there seventy hunters witii their families. The number of skins obtained this year was, however, snuiil, as most of the hunters sull'ered from the influenza cpidennc. (Jcnerally speaking, about .'iOO skins are taken in spring and early summer. 501. These pcoi)le hunt in Hecate Strait, and their mode of hunting is the same as that practised by tiie Tshimsians proper. A few of the Kitkatlas have been cni])Ioyed on seuling-schooner.s for the pn^t four or five years, but no large nun\bers from any of the Tshimsian group of tribes engage in this species of bunting. Mr. 11. Cunningham, who lias been for twenty-five years familiar with the Inilians of this tribe, statcH that the seals do not usually sink at once unless the breath escapes iVoni the body. 552, JIailzulc. — The Ilailzuk tribes, of the vicinity of .Milbank Sound, resort chiefly to the outlying group, named the Goose Islands, at the seal-lnmting season in .spring. A number of these Indians, including several well-known seal-hunters, were interviewed at Bella-lJella. They stated that in ancient times the fur-seal was killed by their fore- fathers only for food. Sea-otters were abundant, and the skin of the seal was not of much value. "When a fur-seal was killed, it was ke))i only if fat. The flesh is sometimes eaten still, but not so much as formerly, thoni>h the fat is always kept for fooil. The hest part of the seal for food is the flipper. JJeforc guns were in common use, the spear was employed exclusively in the pursuit of the sea-otter and fur-seal, bat now one hunter only stiil continues to use the spear. They began hunting fur-seals as a business about twenty years ago — not so hmg ago as twenty-five years, which they remembered because of the small-i)0.\. Guns are now employed, loaded with buck-shot, or with three trade bullets. They hunt only in their own canoes, with two to four men in each canoe ; and in these they .sonn times g j so far from land that only the mountains about Cape Calvert remain in sight. Occasionally they .spend a night at sea. 652*. The seal is sometimes shot from a distance of not more than 20 feet, when 08 Blccpli);;, but often nt mucli jj^rcntor distances. It is tniic-n into the canoe with tlic liand, or, it" i)cjfiiinin;; to sink, n, H|icar or gall' is used. Males sin!\ more )'rc([iiently tliari foniiili's. 6o.'}. Tiioso people wore iiniilile to slate any deliiiite jiroportion as l)etweeii the seals recovered and those lost by them, hut tiiey ar<' not accounted very sioul 3110 fur-seal skins in all were obtained by the Hella-IJellii people alone in |S!)I, which was a good year; ami nearly all these were brought in hy tln-ir own co-operative store, and sold afterwards in Victoria. The highest price tliey got nt Victoria v.as 10 dollars. The Indians here voluntarily expressed their willingness to confonn to any laws made as to the killing of fur-seals, but recpieutcd that they might be informed in time. .051. /vH'fi/f/oo/. -Nawitti, on Hope Island, at the northern end of Vancouver Island, is the place most noted as a centre of fur-seal himliiig amcuig tlu; Kwakiool tribes. The people here hunt principally in the winter, and do not resort to special hunting stations. They start on hunting trips very ot'ten from Nawilti villiigc itself, and bring largo qinintities of seal meat, which they relish as fooiiy back to : dace. They hunt in their own canoes, and tew of them have ever been employed on (. oners. Nearly all tlio men engage more or less in hiniting at the proper season. Spears were formerly used in hunting, but gims are now always ciiiployed, though the pear is still made use of to recover the seal after it has been shot. Tiie seals sho. -ome( Ink's sink bel'eie they can nick them up, but this happens chiefly when they are in the head and killed at once. Mr. A. ''" Iluson, who is familiar with this part of the coast, (atcs tnat in some years he ua . ii.nself obt.-ined in trade as many as lOtJ skins from tl ■• Indians of the Nawitti village alone. 505. Fur-seals are also hunted by the (Juatsino, IClaskaino, and other tribes of the Kwakio(d family, but the nuud)ers obtained by them arc not known to be; considcr-'.-'e, and time did not admit of special visits to their villages. 550. Alit. — Th(! Aht or Xootknn tribes, inhabiting the whole of that p.art of the west coast of Vancouver Island to the south of Cajio Cook, are the most noted ..f llie British ( 'olumbian Indians as expert fur-seal hunters. The Makah, of Cape Flattery, in the State of Washington, are a detached tribe of the same stock. These Aht people furnish by far the larger part of the Indian hunters employed on sealing schooners, and have to a great extent abamloned their original method of sealing in canoes from the shore in consequeni'o. The nundicr of skins still obtained by them as independent hunters is, however, not inconsiderable. 557. They are chosen as hunters for the sealing schooners in preference to the Indians of the northern part of the coast, partly because of their ex])erience and dexterity in the use of the spear, but also because they are accustomed to hunt in compi;-atively small canoes, requiring fewer men, and taking up less room on tlic Bchooj.cr's deck. The northern Indians require larger canoes, and usually no greater number of skins is taken by a large canoe than by a small one. It is true that the spear has, even among these people, now been largely replaced by ♦begun, but, meanwhile, they have become familiar with the method of bunting from schooners. Still another cause is found in the fact, that the Ahts arc by no means so favourably disposed as other coost tribes toward devoting themselves to regular occupation, such as cannery work or logging. 558. The Ahts are divided into a large number of tribes and village communities, from numy of which details as to seal-hunting have not been obtained, but the following notes on some of them nuiy be taken as examples of the whole : — Hunting in canoes from the shore is still practised at Nootka Sound, where the hunting season embraces about three months of the later winter and early spring. The hunters go out a long way from shore, and, when the weather is fine, sometimes stay two days at sea. The skins obtained arc disp : ed of to various traders, but, in all probability, about 200 are got at this place annually. One of the hunters said that about twenty years ago he had himself secured 200 seals, iiut as tiie prices were then very low, he obtained just 1 dollar each for the skins. 559. At Clayo(iuot Sound, the Indians stated that in the times of the grand-parents of the present generation, fur-seals were valued and hunted only for food. They were then always killed with spears. Independent hunting with canoes from the shore has fallen into disuse for the last seven or ten years at Ahouset village and Clayoquot proper, respectively. The Indians from this vicinity now hunt only from schooners, and many are so employed every summer. Long ago many of them were drowned when hunting independently, and this mode of hunting has come to be considered very dangerous. [222] 2 C ^i fi-lr ,Uirr»ut><>w' •-"»•'» {,{ . li' . M^\^-i>. 'm-..Uii iM 96 lU^d^H ^^ At the present time, l)ot1i the gun and spear arc employed in taking seals, according to circumstances or the haltits of the individual hunter. oGO. At Barclay Sound, the Indians of several villages still engage to a considerahle extent in hunting in tlieir own canoes from the shore, hut they arc also in many cases employed on sualing-schooners. The niunhcr of seals taken hy them in independent hunting varies hctween wide limits from year to year. In the spring of 1801, about 1,300 skins at least were t^kcn to A'ietoria from tliis vicinity, all obtained in this way. The spear is usually employed still in preference to the gun iiy these hunters. 5(il. The Makah Indians of the neighbourliood of Cape Flattery are great seal-hunters. 3 n-i^.-s .*^JThey themselves now own tluee small schooners, which are registered at Port Townsend. Some of tiiorn go every year in schooners owned hy Whites, but the old nietiiod of independent hunting from the shore is also still practised. Two or three men generally go in each canoe, and occasionally stay out a night al sea, where they are frccpicntly as ;Jo>. (*• /"^i far as thirty miles from land. They usually still sjiear the seals, whether hunting indc- Sfjtf.'^,* ''-»'f'»,,_pendently or from siluK.neis, though the .shot-gun is employed hy some of the hunters. ' The older men tliiiiL that shooting is bad, but the younger men have taken to it. The spear used has two prongs, with detachable barbed heads. It is about lifteen feet long, and is thrown from the hand, without a tlirowing-stick, the butt end l)eing flat and widened, with grooves cut in it for the fingers. This same type of spear is employed by all the Alit jieople. 51)2. The eld men say that before they were born (say, about sixty years ago), the /l!Ia^ «t-*^ "• i-t^^r< Asiatic coast, along the Ivurile Islands to Kamtselmtka. "^ ^^-^^Uy. 573. So long as the skins of the sea-otter could be obtained in abundance for Chinese ^^ i,^f ^U^ markets (where at the tine they were most valued), the White traders then beginning to ,".^vw«-'-»- • Comuiander and I'ribyloff l>lands were sucee>sively discovered, the skins of the fur-seal began to lu' added in large numbers to the lists of articles of commerce, but even from the i r ,.L ' first, and before these jirincipal breeding places had been found, fur-seal skins also "^^t^^J wCo-h.^ were procured from the Aleut natives. From incidental references made in the summariea ['^^(^^^ 88 of early Russian voyages, such as those given in Bancroft's History of Alaska, enough facts to show this may he ^fathered, tliougli a complete examination of the original works might doubtless afford additional facts of the same kind, 1 *'^ Ofo »>. Iwsp^- w. Norfolk Sound, these skins forming a considerable proportion of the whole amount of furs got there.! 577. There i.s often some difficulty in identifying the particular kind of skins which were obtained by such traders alo.ig the coast, because of the indefinite and varied terms fi«A^t>JL(i!vvi^«r'X^'»<-'^"^''^"^' '^''"^' ''"''' ''^'''i'*' commercial appearance of fur-seal skins at Victoria, according to ' ^t^vT/^^.^ Mr. R. Finlayson, was in or about ISlO. between which date and 1850 considerable /"WA ^jJItZ^^M^ I numbers of skins from the Pribyloif or Commander Islands, collected at Sitka by the i ., . /^ ^i I^ussian Fur Company, were forwaided from Victoria to London by the Hudson's Bay •^"■^''^ 'Company. These were shipped in casks, and were presumably salted skins, doubtless all ^ taken on the breeding-islands. In part overlapping tlie [icriod just mentioned is the record /f,r-7 f^.M^'-'j- of purchase of fur-seal skins by the same Company from Indian hunters, which runs from ^'^ '*^- *1^- ^^^2 to the present year. (See Appendix G.) 'i.^^J-^-^'''^ 580. When, however, better prices began to be paid for these skins, those persons interested in Indian trade along the coast became familiar with the native mode of hunting, Jl /- ^ .4^.,,.. • and recognized the difficulty and danger to which the native hunters were often exjiosed , ^ t; J<^. i'l consequence of the distances to which tiiey were obliged to venture from tiie shore in ^»^ pursuit of the seal. The endeavour was then made to encourage the Indians in sealing, because of the profits obtained from the sale of the skins, and it naturally occurred both to the Indians and the traders (some of whom employed small vessels for the purposes ot traffic), that a combination might be formed which would be advantageous to both parties. • Baiicrofi'i History, vol. xixiii, \i\. 15."), 171, 2S6, and 528. t " Voy.ipo to till! Noilli-wi'st Coast of America," p. 300. X " Voy»(5o Aiitour Jii Monde," tome ii, p. 11. J The term " Uca-beaver " was also, liowevtr, lomi'tiines applied to the sea>ottcr. II " Voyage to the North-wc3t Cuast of America," pp. 169, 801, and 300. ■am Ua ,6; lUUzi 99 It became evident that the clanger and hardship inherent in the independent native mode .**;*''f-*^ ''^. of hunting might be much reduced by employing small vessels to carry the Indians and ■"^^^ their canoes to sea in search of seals, thus to serve as a base of operations from which they might more successfully practise this industry. 681. At this time, the Indians of the coasts of South-eastern Alaska and Rritishj^^^* '^'^'f^!// Columbia knew nothing whatever about the summer resorts of the fur-seal in Behring'^*^'''"^^ Z"^^**- Sea, and very little was known by any one as to the extent or course of their migrations. A^iM -. Thus, Dall, in his elaborate work on Alaska, published in 1870, though conversant with /t>o. all facts then available, is able merely to maku the following statement on this subject : " The Alaskan fur-seal formerly extended from the ice-line of Beliring Sea to the coast of Lower California. At present, a few stragglers reach the Strait of Fuca . . • , but the great majority are confined to the Pribyloff Islands .... They leave on the approach of winter — usually about the end of October. They are supposed to spend the winter in the open sea south o( the Aleutian Islands."* . Even so late as 1880, Professor Allen, after a very careful investigation of the whole U- ^ itU ii^ . subject, was able to write in the following very general way only with regard to the migra- /'^if-6 tions of the fur-seal : — " Except during the season of reproduction, these animals appear to lead a wandering life, but the extent and direction of their migrations arc not yet well known. Steller i^U^ . spoke of their migrations being as regular as those of the various kinds of sea-fowl, and they are recorded as arriving with great regularity at the Pribyloff Islands, but where they pass the season of winter is still a matter of conjecture. "t ^ 682. It was the hiibit of the Indians, when sealing in their own canoes, to bring (^^^ ^_^ i,^**? back the entire carcasses of the seals killed, and to utilize the flesh and fat as food. ^^^ t^rv^ When schooners were first employed as an auxiliary, the same practice was very often ''^ followed. The carcasses belonged to the individuals killing the seals, and were prized by them, and whenever possible carried back to the villages to which the sealing Indians belonged. Tiie vessels were seldom very long away from port. The sealing voyages thus Ct^— * ment along the coast, after the cessation of the rough wintry weather. It was also found that some seals might be obtained in the winter and early spring as far south as the coast^ -, of California, and before "sealing weather" set in on the coast of British Columbia ; ''*-^'^ and as no other profitable employment offered for the sealing schooners, it became customary for them to make a cruize to the southward before engaging in the fishery to the north of the Strait of Fuca. At a later date still, the pelagic hunters ascertained, as the result of their own experience, that the fur-sr..l3 might bo followed with advantage through the eastern passes of the Aleutian chain, and taken during the months of July and August, and occasionally during the early part of September, or till such time as stormy weather rendered further hunting impossible. ^ ^ 583. Tiius, beginning as a purely local industry, in which the Indians of the west «<'a^ >• i*'-^^ coast of Vancouver Island, with those of the vicinity of Cape Flattery in the Btale/Uvt^lisC^- of Washington, were chiefly interested, the sea-sealing naturally developed and extended with the increasing knowledge gained of the habits and haunts of the fur-seal, till its operations covered almost the entire migration-range of the animal, and the number of skins obtained became so considerable, that the sealing interests of the Alaska Commercial. / / ,/• f f Company (at that time the lessees of the Pribyloff and Commander Islands), and their ""^ "T*^ f ^ ' ''" heretofore profitable monopoly of the fur-seal of the North Pacific, was notably afliected. *-l^* '"* • Not until this occurred was any serious protest, or, in fact, any complaint whatever raised against the practice and methods of pelagic sealing. On the contrary, in so far as it Pt/. ^ -L. li i-^ for the first time, exception was taken to sealing in this part of the ocean by the Govern- yc^,^ ment of the United States, and three of the sealers, the "Carolena," " On.vard," and Xeiw^.^'^'-o ^ "Thornton," were seized. ^^ 591. In lb87, seventeen British Columbian schooners were encaged in sealing ; fifteen//^- /> U^t..-^ of these are bilieved to have continued their operations into Behring Sea, six being Or^ ^7^ seized there by the United States' cutters " Rush " and " Bear." & -t^-i-^ji . 692. In 188S, twenty-one vessels from Briti!>h Columbia composed the scaling fleet,////.., ^^y and though the fishery was carried on in Behring Sea in the latter part of the season, no ^ seizures were made by the United States. One schooner, however, the " Araunah," was Qj\.»,.^^,^JL this year seized and confiscated by the Russian Government, having been detected in tc-'^ . sealing within the territorial waters of Copper Island.* 593. In 1889, the sealing fleet consisted of twenty-two vessels, all of which are /j^^ ■ ^ ^ ,_,^^^^ believed to have entered Behring Sea. In this year four of these vessels were seized, and ^ vi^i-€^ one was ordered out of the sea. *-i^--*3 594. In 1890, twenty-nine British Columbian vessels were engaged in scaling, twenty- {£^<'/.z« >y three of which entered Jkhring Sea. t i >- 59". In 1891, the sealing fleet of British Columbia had increased to fifty vessels, and/^JL'- most, if not all, of these cleared with the intention of entering Behring Sea. The JTJ><«-et-i adoption uf the %nodus vivcndi between Great Britain and the United States, however, badj(^.^.^^^^|/^,,,,,4^-, the eflTent of turning back many of these vessels, while the patrolling of the sea and warning -^^ of others, with other circumstances connected with the operations in this year, need not be repeated here. 590. As already noted, tlie first extension of the cruizes of the sealing-schooncrs oi t,.ZlZ^,^J,^^ ti M British Columbia was that along the coast to the southward, and this began to beS'.J^ ^K^^'f- t| practised as early as 1878 or l.s79. Scaling operations were first extended into Behring ^^.^ ^• Sea hy sealers from British Columbia in 1884, though one or more United States' « x^,^ /Tt^.. schooners had already at that date been for several years accustomed to frequent Behring Sea for this purpose, and cargoes obtained hythem were sold in Victoria in 1881 and 1883. The pr:ictice grew uj) of making in the winter and early sprinir a voyage from Victoria to the southward, after which the vessels returned to Victoria and outfitted there for the northern voyage. Tiiis was found, however, to he inconvenient, from the loss of time involved, as well as from the fact that crews often had to he re-engaged for the second trip. There- fore, in 189 1, arrangements were made hy the sealers to rendezvous with a steamer at '«*»^^tv^"'^ some northern point in .June, to tranship their skins for conveyance to Victoria, completing 1^9: Ia,,0 frij-, their outfit for hunti' -^ in Behring Sea at the same time. In 1890, Sand I'oint, in the /tfi- fc,A*ii jU Shumigin Islands, wi.., the place selected for the purpose, and in 1891 Alituk Bay, Kadiak Islarnl, was chosen. td.. 597. 'llie foregoing details respecting the growth of the prlagie sealing industry of '^ ^ British Columbia have been obtained by special research and niquiry, but it has been ""^"^^ - ** founu to he prnetically impossible to procure, whether ofliciully or otherwise, comparable \-*^—-~~^---^'> particulars ol the pelagic sealing business conducted by United States' vessels. It is known that vessels sailing from the New Englaiul States have been engaged in the capture M.S u^^ of the fur-seal since the hitter part of the last century, their operations being carried on ''^fc ■^ •R>. principally in the southern hetnisphere, and the mode of killing the seals being that of a ^"^ -y^-^-j^ promiscuous sluughter whenever these animals could be lound on shore, canied out j^-_^y^^^^^j_^a hy means of clubs or otherwise. This method of killing seals has, however, no fC^^Jjiitc, ^ analogy with that of pelagic sea.ing as now understood. It is further l^nown,,;^ |^^^_^^ / that ill more recent years, and after the Governments of Russia, .Japan, and the "r^T;^;;;^^ ' United States had pruvided regulations for the protection of the resiiective breeding T'-t'^^, ' islands under their jurisdiction, vessels were dispatched hy unscrupulous persons for n . ; the |)urpose of raiding the rookeries upon these islands, 'fhe records preserved of the '*^*-*^ . raids themselves, which are treated in detail elsewhere, show that such illegal sealing has beei; carried on, but, naturally enough, it is difficult to obtain full i)articulars of its c'laracter • I'arlMiueatar; Paper [C— 604 il, 1890. m or magnitude. This again, however, is quite distinct from the question of pelagic Healing proper, the origin of which little if at all antedates the year 1869. Moreover, while this raiding of the various breeding islands appears to have been practised from year to year in the case of United States' vessels, it has latterly been more and more replaced by the legitinmte pursuit of the fur-seal at sea. There was thus almost an organic connection between the two methods of sealmg in the case of vessels sailing from the United States, that did not exist in the case of the sealing industry of British Columbia, which grew up directly from the independent Indian sea-sealing, and had not previously existed in any other form. 598. A certain number of vessels have for many years taken cleaninccs from the Pacific ports of tlie United States for " hunting and tishing voyages ;" but while most of those which have been engaged in any form of sealing have doubtless been included under this general designation, it comprises as well vessels which may have been engoged in various forms of fishing proper, and in the hunting of the sea-otter. Even in the last census of the United States (1800) the vessels engaged in sealing arc not specially indicated, but are included under the general designation of the " fur-seal and sea-otter fleet.''* If such clearances w'ere confined to a single port, local inquiries might without great difficulty result, in the case at least of the later years, in eliminating vessels which were not engaged in pelagic sealing, and in affording a reasonably exact statement of the operations of those of the hitter class, but the number of ports of clearance has unfortunately bafUed inquiries made in this direction. 599. It is certain, however, that the pelagic sealing iudustry has continued to grow in the United States in a ratio corresponding to that of the same industry in British Columbia. In 1889, the best estimate which Mr. Milne could quote of the number of vessels engaged in it placed this at thirty-two. + The United States' Census Bulletin relating to the same year gives the fur-sealing and sea-otter hunting vessels at twenty. It is probable that though two or three of these vessels were chiefly engaged in sea-otter hunting, even these occupied part of their time in sealing, while it is known that most of the fleet was primarily engaged in sealing. In 1(390, more than fourteen vessels sailed from United States' ports for sealing, but the exact number has not yet been ascertained. In 1891, the number had increased to about forty-two. 600. The estimated value of the British Columbian sealing fleet with its equipment, as it left port in 1891, was 373,000 dollars. That of the United States' fleet in tiie same year exceeded 250,000 dollars. According to the United States' Census Bulletin already cited, the value of the vessels engaged in the fur-seal and sea-otter industry in 1889 was 152,757 dollars. Dividing this amount by the tonnage, an average tonnage value for this fleet is obtained of \C^f^ dol. 54 c, while a similar calculation based on the figures for '.he British Columbian flcci of 1S91 gives a corresponding tonnage value of about i 14 dollars. ILAitZ,-^: (B.)— Methods. GOI. In what has already been given, the methods of pelagic or sea-sealing have been indicated in a general way. These methods are essentially of a very simple character, ULrvtA^:, , ^^^but the actual procedure followed in killing the seals may now be briefly alluded iio c* to. The vessels employed range in size from 130 to 40 tons. Taking the sealing fleet of o e described as aiiz.t^t^yUi^ h^"^ fair sporting cliunce for its hfe. The little vessels em|)loyed in such work must be staunch and ^d^^yUt . . well found, for they have not oidy to make long voyages, but must be able to keep the sea in any weather, and it often hap|)eiis that tliey have to lie-to for days together in storuis, with all hands crowded in by no means comfortable or commodious quarters below. 6il. Thus, whatever arguments may be advanced against some of the methods and consequences of pelagic sealing, it is not nn»icil>io ♦« -^--i- -• •' • ■ ,|, ^3 {dose »•"'•' ' ' ' • and v;\\o £utkx //2>_ le milliers .. nieurtres,'^*-***'**^ ^ cente qui, J»*-^ • es ^ ceux pelagic icussions public f»-*~-<^t'sJL>\^^ , )reeding "'i', , hemisphere, which for many years has consisted almost solely of vessels sailing from the i«ia3l ' Voyag* Aatour du Monde," Toms i, p. 261. 2 E 108 or magnitude. This again, however, is quite distinct from the question of pelagic Healing proper, the origin of which little if at all antedates tiio year 1869. Moreover, while this raiding of the various breeding islands appears to have been practised from year to year in the case of United States* vessels, it has latterly been more and more replaced by the legitimate pursuit of the fur-seal at sea. There was thus almost an organic connection between the two methods of sealing in the case of vessels sailing from the United States, that did not exist in the case of the sealing industry of British Gulumbia, which grew up directly from the independent Indian sea-sealing, and had not previously existed in any other form. 598. A certain number of vessels have for many years taken clearances from the Pacific ports of the United States for " hunting and fishing voyages ;" but while most of those which have been engaged in any form of s'.aling have doubtless been included under this general designation, it comprises as well vessels which may have been engaged in various forms of fishing proper, and in the hunting of the sea-otter. Even in the last census of the United States (1890) the vessels engaged in scaling are not specially indicated, but are included under the general designation of the " fur-seal and sea-otter fleet.''* If such clearances were contiried to a single port, local incjuiries might without great difficulty result, in the case at least of the later years, in eliminating vessels which were not engaged in pelagic sealing, and in alfording a reasonably exact statement of the operations of those of the latter class, but the number of ports of clearance has unfortunately baiiled inquiries made in this direction. 599. It is certain, however, that the pelagic sealing industry has continued to grow in the United States in a ratio corresponding to that of the same industry in British Columbia. In 1889, the best estimate which Mr. Milne could quote of the number of vessels engaged in it placed this at thirty-two. t The United States' Census Bulletin relating to the same year gives the fur-sealing and sea-otter hunting vessels at twenty. It is probable that though two or three of these vessels were chiefly engaged wi sea-otter hunting, even these occupied part of their time in sealing, while it is known that most of the fleet was primarily engaged in sealing. In 1890, more than fourteen vessels sailed from United States' ports for sealing, but the exact number has not yet been ascertained. In 1891, the number had increased to about forty-two. 600. The estimated value of the British Columbian scaling fleet with its equipment, as it left port in 1891, was 373,000 dollars. That of the United States' fleet in the same year exceeded 250,000 dollars. According to the United Stales' Census Bulletin already cited, the value of the vessels engaged in the fur-seal and sea-otter industry in 1889 was 152,737 dollars. Dividing this amount by the tonnage, an average tonnage value for this fleet is obtained of 160 dol, 54 c, while a similar calculation based on the figures for the British Columbian fleet of 1891 gives a corresponding tonnage value of about 114 dollars. hUstz.^'. (B.)— Methods. 1 K^ *^«-w,^^ 601. In what has already been given, the methods of pelagic or sea-sealing have been indicated in a general way. These methods are essentially of a very simple character, ULtxX-j;, '^j- but the actual procedure followed in killing the seals may now be briefly alluded lio i* to. The vessels employed range in size from 130 to 40 tons. Taking the scaling fleet of «7 £*/wir<-> ft- «^^ British ^"'" irJ '>"/''' '""' *^^'' nveraire number of canoes or boats carried on each of the ... , — ^ -r^ u-..i, „„,,„„ I (,p averace ■ > l'^ J J^ • '. « V c , launched and manned, and set out in aiiieicuv «-..y way as to cover as great an area as possible. The schooner has only to keep to leeward of the boats, so that these may the more easily rejoin her at the close of the day. • See United States' Censui Bulletin, No. 123. t Parliauentarj Paper [C— 636B1. London, Auguit 1890, p. 362. small v< size of J^ and Ind^^ 60 or boat! sufficie of cane ^ 7^ ^ with ? ICu-'tA vi<*ff^. thick to stay n -»T) ■LiU) 108 604. Seals thus met with upon the gea-surface are roughly clashed by the hunters as ^vti^^^ <^ "sleepers" and "travellers," and the former are of couise the most easily approached.' 'K»-i^*t^»vi , Whether in canoes or boats, paddles are employed in preference to oars, as they enable a WyjXti^ et^ more noiseless approach to the seals. When a seal is sien, the boat or canoe is quietly u-n^ I but swiftly impelled toward it, till the hunter believes that he has arrived within sure "^^J* range, when he fires. If killed, as happens in the mnjority of eases, especially now that the shot-gun has superseded the rifle, the seal may cither remain floating upon the surface or begin to sink slowly. la either case, the boat or canoe is at once urged forward, and if the carcass, which does not differ much in specific gravity from the water, is already partly submerged, it is at once secured with a IS-foot gaff, and hauled on board. If the seal should happen to be merely badly wounded, it cither struggles upon the surface until gaffed, or, if retaining strength to do so, dives. If quite lightly wounded, as of course happens in some cases, it may eventually escape ; but if severely wounded, it is probably killed at the next rise after a short submersion. fiO.'i, We are informed that it has been learned by experience that seals may easily be lost if shot in the neck, as in this case the muscular contraction of the body often forces most of the air from the lungs, and the carcass then may sink much more rapidly than 606. This brief description refers to the killing of seals by shooting, which is now *^-wU^ VtuJu^i , the method most commonly practised. fiO". The spear is still often employed by the Indians, and when used it involves a closer J^^Lt_«,vv^. approach to the seal, before it can effectively be thrown. If either of the two detachable barbes enters the body the seal is never lost, and if neither strikes it, it escapes unhurt ; in short, if the seal is speared, it is secured. . ^ (j08. The dead seals are drawn into the boat or canoe, and brought back at the close tcU^ yfc.^,.-.-~n' of the hunt to the schooner, on board of which they are subsequently skinned, and the iA^ t-<-«-j-'-*^ skins laid down in dry salt for curing. It is said that in recent years considerable improvement has been made in, and extra care given to, the preserving of the skins on ^ the schooners. This will no doubt have a favourable influence on the prices obtained ioi t^lt^c t(f.^~~\ the " pelagic skins." 009. The prosecution of this industry at sea requires all the courage and skill which fUcj^ i^JU^ can be brought to bear on it. The canoes often find themselves far from the supporting vvJ.^- (U-^y^^vi^w, schooner, and should bad weather or one of the fiequent fogs of the northern part of the west coast set in. it may bo difficult or impossible for them to regain her with ease. Several instances are known where Indian hunters out off the west coast of Vancouver Island have entirely lost the supporting schooner in fogs, and have only regained the distant shore after suffering great hardships. . filO. The accusation of butchery hiid against those who take the seals on shore «/• ^^«v>^<^w ^^ cannot be brought against this pelagic method of killing the seal, which is really hunting (y.^~^^^ «,, Al,- as distinguished from slaughter, and in which the animal has what may be desci.bed as a.itz.y..:^^c^ f^<^ fair sporting chance tor its life. I'hc little vessels employed in such work must be staunch and ft*«^^> records his impressions as follows : — ^w(- i)i^^ I " II y a quelque chose dc rd'voltant dans ce carnage de sang-froid dc quelque milliers mi , ^ ' d'animaux sans ddfense. Les chasseurs, tout eudurcis qu'ils sont ^ ce genre de meurtres,'**^***'***^ •'^^ Bvouent que souveiit leur main a peine A se lever jiour frapper une crdature innoccnte qui, lv*<3 . les j)attes en I'air et poussant des cris plaintifs, quelquet'ois tout \ fait semblables h. ceux d'un enfant qui pleure, semble implorer mis^ricorde."* „ (il2. Free use has been made of the appellation "poachers" as applied to pelagic ?«-»^i^ij^. sealers in general, and to the Canadian sealers in particular, in the course of discussions arising in the Bchring Sea controversy, with the obvious purpose of prejudicing public , ^ . opinion. The use of this term may be justified in the cas'i of ravlers upon the breeding '"Vo-hUa^^ . islands, but in such cases only, and, as has already been stated, no instance is actually i^ /> / known in which Canadian seaiing-vessels have been found raiding the Pribylofl' '^'''"''^•/%<^, .^^luo ^vX4 It more nearly describes, however, tlie operations of the sealing fleet in the southern j^, >,, hemisphere, which for many years has consisted almost solely of vessels sailing from the loaa"] ' Voyage Aatour du Monde," Tome i, p. 291. 2 E 104 1 " I i !»>■ r„XxX^::r;f United Stall's, and which as hUely ns 1880 numhered ten vessels, aggregating 1,277 tons, . and manned by 2Ti men.* The decreased importance of tills fleet in still later years has icsulted only from the reduction in number of seals broujjlit about by its operations. Sealing by these adventurers has been conducted entirely on land, on islands or coasts either nominally or actually in the possession of various Powers, but in no instance controlled by the United States, and in aotne cases in direct infraction of all local laws. [ JLi«.i.;^-~^ ; tthe report of the investigation on the Fur-seal Fisheries, from which the above (luotations J^/ ''oUyXt>*U< PkVO mnflp- rpfpra nrrnin In thn QMrnc Inrr.hnrilf n« tKn *' liPQt tpvfiltirinu u-l» linvo *' nn tlio s^iliippf. / £--/ ^^' •>■ are made, refers again to the same log-houk as the " best testimony we have " on the subject of the proportion of seals lost by hunters at sea, and adds that the captain, in the log, estimates that he got but one seal in seven shot at. J Mr. H. D. Wolfe, who described himself as " in the newspaper business," and stated 'Myi. 'A^ he had some familiarity with certain parts of Alaska, though claiming no experience in , sealing, gives testimony to the following efFect : " I t'.ink the hunting of seals in the open yc/v rd-yT" water is very injudicious, because the hunters will shoot, and out of every 100 seals they shoot you will not get more than thirty If you don't hit a fur-seal or a hair-seal right in the head, you are not going to catch him ; he will 8ink.§' Oi .5. Nothing more precise than the statements just quoted, every one of tbem made M-Aj^.vLjCt^JtJ-f: by those presumably interested in, or engaged in, protecting the breeding islands, but . ■ ijx*^ tZTjJCi/zi.^^ without personal experience in this mutter, has been found as authority for the theory .^f^,,^ i<»^ ii,-*<-^ . sealing, I can say that not over 6 in 100 seals killed by White hunters are lost or escape. 6^^ LnA' .... Experienced hunters seldon lose a seal."|| 617. Mr. W. Fewings, with three years' experience of seal-hunting on the PacificW^2<;vv-^v^ .• coast and Bchring Sea, says : " Tlie average number lost does not exceed 6 in 100, and ~ 6% J^/fi^ UrLUi^ by Indians not 6 in ! ,000." || ^ £x /m 4 5U^ G18. Captain H. F. Sieward, who has been two years master of a sealer, employing >np ' r. ' one year Indian hunters and in another White hunters, says : "The Indians lose very ►*_-~I^r*^ ■' few seals, for if the spear strikes the seal is got, and if the spear misses, the seal of course k^iLi^ i^^j, u..rfii escapes unhurt The seals lost by White hunters, after being shot or wounded, do ^ not, on the lower coast, exceed 6 in lOi', and on the Alaskan coast and in Behring Sea, c t^. not over 4 in 100. On sailing I generally take 10 per cent, additional ammunition for YO' waste shot — that is, if calculating on a catch of 3,000 seals, I would take ammunition for /o K u^ii/i;.^^ M,300 shots. That was ('ouble the excess tliC hunters would consider necessary, and I ,i^„.,^^J,jt^cjiu- ncver knew the percenta^ of waste shot to he used."^ ^ l. > 619. Captain Williaii. J'Leary, with four years' experience of sealing, in which he^-«^- *^^t~f^: sealed into Behring's Sea one year with an Indian crew, and three with White crews, says : . " My experience with Indian hunters is that they lose none — at most, a few — of the seals ,i_^*^ . un^ u^u they spear The number of seals lost by White hunters does not exceed 6 in lOO, UfLuz, i '"/, and many hunters lose much less than that number."** ' *■ Mr. W. Munsie, an owner of sealing-schooners, in 18S6, and therefore long before the f r. ? H>»v^vU •. question of losses by pelagic sealers had achieved the notoriety which it subsequently has, writes thus to the Honourable G. E. Foster, Minister of Marine and Fisheries: "Allow me to contradict a statement made by Special Agent Tingle, of the United Slates' Treasury '5^^^* Department, in which he says that three-fourths of the seals shot in the water sink and are ' ' lost. From the experience of our old hunters, I maintain but a small percentage is lost in * * Fur-ieal FisherleB of Alaska," Houae of Representatives, ijOth Congress, Snd Session, Report No. 3883, pp. 164 anil 170. t Bee " Further Correspondence relating lo Fur-seal Fisheries id Uehring's Sea," Washington, 18S0, pp. 37, 38, and J32. X " Fur-seal Firherirs of Alaalca," pp. 108 and 109. § •■ Report of United States' Senate Committee on delations with Canada, 1890," p. NO. II Parliamentary Paper LC— 6131], London, August 1890, p. 35i. S Ibid., p. 3&6. •• Ibid., p. 887. Irri-. if. ^^ 106 this wny, probably not over 1 in 50. I doubt if the loss is as great as that caused by the rejection of 8l(-^ t«.JIfru r [C. — 613l],XondoD, August 1890, p. 36. t lbid,p see. H 107 J^»*^— ^l*v« cf X~^' G26. The information on tliis point, gatlirred from native taurccH, has clrcady been rcferrid to in comiLction witli the description of the native modes of hunling, but may licre bu recapitulated. Aleut iiuntcrs, 'piciitioncd nt Unalaslta, .say that they never lose a seal if l .. 244 5 20 1888 11 „ ,. 454 10 3-5 1889 12. George Howe "Theresa" 15',l (about) 7 4-4 1880 Ditto. 13. , "Pathlindor" 442 (about) 20 4-5 1886 14. „ ' Fen<;lope " ., 618 31 5-0 1S87 15 "Viva" .. ,. 734 37 5 1889 10. Thomas Howe .. "Tiiercsa" and "Pith- tinder " 397 (about) 20 b'\ 1886 17. "Penelope" 510 (about) 30 O'O 1887 18. „ ., .. "Lily L." .. 316 12 :i-7 1888 19. „ ., .. "Viva" .. 5S7 27 4-4 1889 20. Albert Ucrtrani .. " Annie C. Moore" .. 320 21 6-8 1889 Ditto. 21. Captain Jacoby .. „ 117 2 17 1888 22. " AUio Alger " C13 21 3-4 1883 23. Martin Lundberg. . " 33 1 3 183 Quoted aaan euopl* of * good day's work. 24. Captain Spring .. "Favourite" (about) ISO 1 0'5 1888 2h. Captain McLean.. ». .. 90 (about) 5 5-5 1888 26. C.J. Kelley ,, 79 2 1'6 1891 27. Captuin W. Baker. , , 55 1 1-8 1891 28. "Hunter" •• 4SS 17 3-4 1891 Abel Douglas .. "May Belle" 216 .. , , »f »» •• Total.. 205 7 3-4 189 1 9,337 381 4'0 Nos. 1 to 20, from signed stat^mentu giv.-ii in Parliamentary Paper [C 0131], 1890. N >3. 21 and 22, from " Relations with Canada," United States' Senate, 51st Congress, 1st Session, Report 15i)0. NoB. 23 to 25 from eridenco personally obtained. Nob. 26 to 28 from sworn ststeBieats obtiiued in 1892, [922] 2 F 108 Indian Huntehs. Niicivo Hunters. Tribe or Place. Skins Olitnined. Seals Lost. Loss Per cent. Year. Remarks. No. 1 Sitka 19 4 20-0 ,. 2 Hnids 21 1890 ,. 2 ,, .. 38 3 8-0 1891 „ J *< 37 1890 1) "k •• *. ,, (on Adele) 120 , , 1889 „ 5 90 3 3 3 1839 „ 6 Hniltzak .. 8 2 25-0 1891 ., 7 Makah 50 1, 2, or none •• Nob. 1 to 7. all from cTidencu personally obtained. G2S. A certain proportion of the seals shot of course escape, and in killing on the islands each year, some are found with encysted shot In the skin or hlubher. A few rip JL,,.^^^ ounces of sliot thus obtained was shown to us on the PribylofF Islands as that collected it.tJ^cj^Zj^ '^ from seals killed in 1890. This ap;grcgated much less than 1 lb., b it placing the amount Vy>> ^^Y at 8 o/.s., this would give, at 150 pellets to the lb., seventy-five shot gathered from 21,000 /luHiit CiT-to ^^^^^ killed, or at the rate of one pellet to 280 seals. As in most cases several pellets might be ■^ ie*.^».' found in a single seal, while in other cases shot might be present but not found in skinning and cutting up the seal, the proportion thus stated probably more than represents the ratio of seals so siightly wounded as to reach and live on the islands in apparent health. fL„X^ fvtw^ ^ ^'^^' '*' ^PPS'irs to have been very generally taken for granted, on a priori grounds, by ,j^^.j^^^^.J./i^inust of the apologists for the methods of land killing, that the fur-seal docs and must ^^l^. 'sink immediately when shot at sea. Actual experience contrr..licts this assumption in the manner axid to the degree explained above, and it is, therefore, useless to enter at length into the ijuestlon of the analogy of the fur-seal with other animals in this respect, which V'Os been advanced to siiow that the fur-seal sliould not float. Arguments of this kind have been derived particularly from the circumstance that the various species of iiair-scal often sink when shot before they can be recovered. It must not be forgotten, however, that the hair-seal belongs to an entirely different group of the Pinnipedia, and is characterized not only by a much heavier osseous framework, but also by a smaller lung capacity in proportion to its weight. Yet even the liair-seal is often shot and secured at sea, where its pursuit is made an industry, and it is only when exceptionally lean that it sinks rapidly. ()30. The following notes bearing on this particular subject may be quoted from Mr. J. A. Allen's "Monograph of North American Pinnipeds," which has already been \^,,^^^^,JulL frequentlv referred to :— — *' " ' Like other species of the seal family, the harbour seal is very tenacious of life, and must be struck in a vital part by either ball or heavy shot, in order to kill it on the spot.' Says Mr. Reeks : ' I have been often amused at imblished accounts of seals shot in the Thames or el.--ewliere, but which ' sank immediately.' What seal or other aiii|)hibious animal would not do so if ' tickled ' with the greater part of, perhaps, an ounce of No. 5 shot V lie adds that it is only in the spring of the year that this seal will ' float '' when killed in the water, but says that he has never seen a seal ' so poor, which, if killed dead on tlif Kj.iil, would not have floated f.'om five to ten seconds,' or long enougii to give ' am|)le time for towing alongside,' supposin" the animal to have been killed by shot, and the boat to contain 'two hands.'" Again, referring to the bearded seal, Mr. Allen (luotrs Kumlicii, as follows : — " In .July, during the moulting time, their stomachs contained nothing hut stones, some of them nc.'.rly of a tpiarter-pound weight. They seem to eat nothing during the .entire time of slicdding — probably six weeks. Certain it is they lose all their blubber, and jy the middle of .luly have nothing but 'white-horse' — a tough, white, somewhat ^cartilaginous siit-.stanee, in place of blubber. .\t this season they sink when shot." tt'-il. No los.s occurs at .sea from tiie takinsj; of seals with "stagey" or unmerebantable skins. All tho.H' familiar with pelagic senliii;; who were (luestioned upon this pomt agreed . as to '.he fact that "stagey" ;,i;ins are praetieallv never 1,'ot at sea, not even in Behring Sea at the season at wliich the ssiils upon the i^lniuls are disti.ictly "stagey." The skins taken in the earliest jiart of the sealing ssaaon, in December and .January, arc sometimes rnthtr inferi,)r, but they do not fall into the general category of "stagey " skins. G;i2. It would thus appear that the distinctly ''stagey" or "shedding" condition of the fur-seal supervenes after a sojourn of some length on shore, and that such sojourn results JJM^^ V- Rttka. (to ^/Tlft^ 109 :n a gennral change of pelnge which docs not occur in the same marked way when the animals remain at sea. The same circumstance has further some bearing on the question of the possible excursions of the seals from the breeding islands, and on the inter- ny an examination of the bo. Zoal,,' vol. i , Part I, p. 105. yL-*-irt^ MJU^ULXj/t . ,, I, j i i h Tv^ttrl/' 110 %*AArvUX ituu.(ltsu The evidence first quoted below, is that obtained from Indian hunters. 'J'he Indians of Neah Bay, accustomed to hunt about Cape Flattery, in tlie State of Washington, inl'ormed us that in the early ])art of tlic summer they often found living young in females killed, of which at that season there was a considerable pro])ortion ; hut later in the summer no gravid females are found, most of the catch consisting of young males or young females. Of the total catch, they thought that about one-twentieth consisted of grey jiups. In 1S90 seals of this class were abundant, but in 1891 very few. C.5G. At Nawitti, near the north end of Vancouver Island, the Indians find young in the females killed in the early summer. These are quite strong, and if thrown into the water swim well. One man keiit such a young seal alive for six days. 637. At Bella-!?ella, the Indians tiiink that the larger i)roportion of the seals they kill in the early ])art of the season are females, and these are often with young. Young taken from females often live for three weeks or a month. They drink water, but will not cat, and so probably die of starvation. Some time in May the females disappear, and the greater part of the catch then consists of young males, by which they mean males some- what smaller than the full-grown female. CL^jJJ^ ^ ^'^^^ About the Queen Charlotte Islands, many of the seals killed are females, and a large proportion of these, in the latter part of Ajiril and early ])art of May, are with young. The Indians state that the young taken from the mother might live a couple of I ^ hours, but they are invariably killed, as it is believed that if allowed to live the hunters will be unlucky. A While liuiitei', wiio had been with the Indians here, stated that he had tried to keep such young, which could, in some cases, swim quite strongly, but that the Indians had begged of him to hill them. ilr. A. Mackenzie, when buying skins for the Hudson's Bay Tjuipany at Massct, refused to ])urclia6e the skins of unborn pujjs on any terms ; but after a (ime the Indians found they could sell them to the Chinese, working at salmon canneries on the Skcena River. 639. About Bonilla Island, in the northern part of Hecate Strait, the seals obtained in spring arc chiefly females, but after the 1st June these leave, and the catch is then composed of non-breeding seals, sujiposed to be about three years old. The young are oftea fully matured in the female, and Indians say that they will swim if thrown into the water, ' The people here have not the same superstition as those on the Queen Cliarlottc Islands, and have sometimes kept the young seals alive tor three weeks or a month. Mr. Lockerby. /f^ Co; ^!jt/J^../-Ki, connected with the Hudson's liuy Company at Port Simpson, states that the skins ' purchased there are classed by size, not according to sex, but, so far as he can judge, a large part consists of young males, with a considerable proportion of grey pups. ^^■'^r*<^ (iJU-v^'^ ^'^^" l""'<"is hunting from Sitka, in South-eastern Alaska, oi'ten find living young in females killed, 'J'hese are skinned, and the skins possess some little value. G41. In the eastern part of the Aleutian Islands, so inconsiderable a number of seals are killed in spring or summer, that veiy few gravid females can be included. 64'2. 'ine following evidence on this particular subject is that contained in written statements as to the various places of sealing, made by some of the most experienced and intelligent pelagic sealers : — fi43. \\'illiani I'ewings says : '• It is very seldom a femali' is killed in Behring Sea, carrying l.er young with her, and out of 1,00U k'llcd on tin coast earlier in the season, less than onothird are females carrying their young." 644. Captain J. D. Warren says : " Qf the seals taken along the coast, about one-half arc females, and of the females, not more than one-half arc with young. In Behring // ,te^ vUl l^-"^^*^"' "o*- i"ore than 1 in 100 of these taken by the hunters are females with young, ^ I „^ (s<>^ because as soon as the females carrying their young get into the sea they go to the 2^ ' . » . breeding islands or rookeries, and in a lew days their young are born. The cows remain fc*. C^^^-(rC- r^' with their young till they are (juite able to take care of themselves. I do not think that of the seals taken by Indian and White hunters more than 30 per cent, are females actually breeding, or eajjable of breeding. 'Old bulls,' ' bachelors,' ' two-year-old ])ups,' and ' barren cows ' make up the great majority. Cows actually breeding are very watchful, and while on their voyage northward are ever on the alert, so they arc difficult to take. On the other hand, the other classes above named make up the great class of ' sleepers,' frou) which fully 90 per cent, of the whole catch of hunters is derived. I never saw or heard of a ' cow ' having her young beside her in the water, either on the coast or in liehring Sea." G45. Captain William O'Lcary says : " About half the seals taken along the coast are c>. ., and perhaps two-thirds of the cows are with young. Putting a vessel's catch at 400, from 150 to l7o might be cows with young. In Behring Sea the average of cows with young killed will not average 1 in 100, for the reason that as soon as the cows xeuch the sea they go to the breeding islands, where Uieir young are born." ■MyyiMM Ill Lli- (M/vA^ . a Wi-i^ \-iS\^f^ George Howe says : " About opc-third of the seals tal;en on the coast are cows with pup, or capable of being wilii pup. In Beliring Sea I got four cows witii pups in them." (This was in a season's catch.) Albert J. Bertram says : " I got during the season 320 seals On the coast CL J ft<,,\/C«.*- I got about twenty-five to thirty females with young in them, and in Bchring Sea I got six or seven. I never saw a cow with her pup alongside of her in the water." 040. In the sworn statements obtained by Mr. Milne, and already referred to, frequent 1u*/-^ reference is made to the composition of the catch, both along the coast and in Behring ^ Sea. From these statements the following abstracts have been made : — •j ^^^Ux^.-u.^^u ^ C. J. Kelly, two years' experience in sealing, found the percentage of females to be c \W.uJ, always less than that of males. '^ ' Captain W. Petit, who seems to have paid particular attention to this matter, says that in 1891 of 705 seals killed, 18 were females carrying young — not quite 2^ per cent. " About 10 per cent, every season are barren cows, and 12i per cent, grey pups (always males). My catch was more than 75 per cent, males; more males were taken in Behring Sea than in any former year." He further states that in 188G he look off ff^^. Barclay Sound, in one day, 104 seals, of which 3 only were females. InlSS7, on Portloek Bank, 29 seals were taken in one day ; of these 2 were females. " More barren cows are killed than those bearing young." ^ Captain W. E. Baker's proportion last year was 3 males to 1 female. The per- (-A^tyr. i't-.-./tct^ centage of barren females was considerable. Captain C. N. Cox states that females are more abundant in February, March, and d/L/t—Cj-^^c April than at any other time. Very few females with pup are taken in May. Bearing cows are not got in Bchring Sea after their young liave been born. Of 848 seals taken along the coast by h'ni in 1^91,75 per cent, were males, lo per cent, were breeding females, and 10 per cent, barren females. In 1889, 90 per cent, of his catch consisted of males. ^ / // • Captain A. Bissit believes that more males than females are killed, and that moxc LetA' lA-t^n^ females in ]iroportion are taken in March and April than in other months. His catch in 1891 showed 75 to 80 i)er cent, of males. „ . Captain T. M. Magnesen states that females are most plentiful in February, March, CaA ■ IAjiMu*<^ and April ; they about ctjual the males then. Near Behring Sea the proportion is about ' 80 males to 1 female. About hah Ms catch last year was females, 12 or 14 per cent, bearing females, the others barren. , H. Crocker, four years' experience, thinks females are most plentiful from February to vhC\^v-A^»A^ Behring Sea, so that in favourable sealing weather (or, in other words, calms and light -//"/^ / ■ ^ winds) the sciiooners cannot keep up with them. After this time, tlie catch consists 'ts,.^ tA^M' chiefly of young males or of barren females. f)49. Behring Sea is now usually entered by the pelagic sealers between the SeU(Ai*.^X^li^ 20th .June and the 1st July, and in Behring Sea the same conditions hold. The i^y^-i^. gravid females are well ahead of the scalers, who have been working up the West Coast, 1u^ (aJ, -u^ and go straight to the breeding islands. By the time the sealers reach the sea, it is ■h^U4^t. Lr^^.^i^A practically only the young males and barren, or young and non-breeding, females which ''^ijl^u^ ^-''^emain dispersed over the sea to be taken. At a later date in the summer, a few females in milk, and, therefore, presumably from thr ;:.-oeding places on the islands, are occasionally killed, but no large number. This last fact is the only one which has a direct bearing, or establishes a direct connection, between the economy of the breeding rookeries and th. , ^ hunting of legitimate pelagic sealers, as distinguished from raiders on the islands, in U^ Fr^l' Behring Sea. The killing of unweaned pups upon the islands, together with other J matters bearing on the possible excursions of breeding females to sea, are fully noticed in f^c'^'^'i'jM-Z' another part of' this report, which should be referred to in this connection. (yj*^ "^ 650. Statements of tlie most contradictory kind can be quoted on the subject of the /|^j^_^^^j^>iC- composition of the catch made by the pelagic sealers. Doubtless, this varies very much v,j^jt, A* fJuy-i in different cases and in different seasons, but a number of the statements met with are so e~C-<. . extreme from one point of view or the other, that they must be supposed to have been largely coloured by interest. The single fact, already referred to, tiiat a certain number of the young males killed upon the islands are Ibund to contain pellets of shot, is sufficient to ijUtAi (tJ^ Vi*^ show that the catch of the pelagic sealers and Indians is not practically altogether composed e~ouX tv~j-s ■ of females, as some persons would have us believe. The foregoing paragrajjhs give a general statement of the ease, without taking such extreme views on either side into account. It may be added, however, that the excessive killing of young males on the breeding islands may probably, by changing the proportion normally existing belwecii the sexes, have had the result of directly increasing the number of females found and killed at sea in late years. This point is elsewhere treated at greater length. r, f f^j^iXirtt' ^^^' I ''c S'^neral conclusion to be derived from an examination of the statements above y^ T" 'i^rj noted is, that in proportion to the number of skins obtained, that part of the pelagic catch '^^J'^'f^ made in the early part of the season, and to the south of the Aleutian Islands, is the most ^t* ■ damaging to seal" life as a whole, while the skins taken after this date, whether without or within Behring Sea, arc obtained at nmch less proportionate cost to seal life. 052. With reference to the composition of the catch of the pelagic sealers, a note may be added resjjecting the relative amounts of those portions of the catch made to the south and to the north of the Aleutian cliain, known as the " coast catch " and "Behring Sea catch" respectively. Tiiese may be represented in tabular form as follows: — i.V»-»< I Ycnr. 1885 1886 1887 1888 1889 1890 1891 Coast Catch. 20,389 ll,9i!l 8,002 7,G7U 12,;!71 21,a'J0 20,727 Behring St'a Catch (Hiustcrn and Wt'St(M'n). 800 12,123 11,704 1(1,()53 l.''',497 1H,165 28,888 wiliir lis G63. Evidence has been put forward as to the composition of the catches on shore and at sea, based upon the reports of skins as sorted in tiie factories in London where the skins are prepared for tiic market. It is, however, to be borne in mind, that the skins arrive at these factories chissed as they were for sale, and the titles used do not necessarily imply the actual source of origin, but rather the kind and qjality of the skin. Jt is, however, asserted by the experts, that the difibrcnt localities produce somcwnat different skins, which is probable. Thus it is said that while the skins known as " Alaska" (assumed to come from the Pribyloff Islands) and " Copper" (assumed to come from the Commander Island.s) arc distinguishable, in that the former have as a rule a longer and ' finer fur, that yet the skins from the two sources are oftentimes identical in quality. Indeed, it would appear that in many cases skins are classed as "Alaska " because they have longer and finer fur, and not because of any known place of origin. As a rule, the " Alaska ■' skins have come for fifteen years past in much Ijctter order than any others. They have been originally better skinned and better cared lor all through. It ap])ears that at the factory, as a matter of fact, they can chiefly tell which are " north-west catch " skins by the obvious marks of shot or spear, which often reduce the niaikct value of a skin by 25 or 30 per cent. But there is nothing to show that such skins were not taken close to or even upon the Pribyloff" Islands. It is also easy, esijecially after the skins are ready prepared, to recognize the four teats of the female. But, more especially in the smaller skins, the marks of sex are extremely difficult to trace. For instance, in one parcel examined in London, which was marked " faulty," all the skins, with the exception of three, were female, and most of them badly shot-marked. But the great ninjority were young females, giving but little or no evidence of having suckled any young;. 'J'here was no evidence to show whether these seals were obtained at sea or on the rookeries by raids. The female skins were also to be distinguished by the superior fineness of the fur, and by its being thinner on the " flanks " or under part than on the back. 'K^ir.CjOu^C \ (E.) — Future of the Industn/ . G54. As to the probable future of pelagic scaling, which as at present practised has ^'Wl' ^'■^-^^ not been in existence for much more than twenty years; — like any other industry depending .^'■^^•«-« Oo^. on the continued existence in suitable numbers of the animal upon which it is based, this may easily be overdone. The regulations under which the slaughter of fur-seals on the /W>^^«,fcu^^, o<- Pribyloff Islands has been carried on for the past twenty years or more have rt^^^L^ _ the Pribyloff Islands as far as possible the sole beneficiaries of the entire ei\stern side of the ( North Pacific, under the belief, that by tiic possession of the breeding islands it was |)ossiblc to monopolize the industry. The methods ujion the islands bad themselves Hu-d^rVo o^^ resulted in decrease when the growth of the independent industry of pelagic sealing began c.^^^a lOLtjuLA.^, still farther to affect seal life, and, as elsewiicro shown, co-operated in producing a decrease at a more rapid rate in late years. 655. The hypothetical (piestion may here be put : If all killing should be stopped upon WMrCCcc/M) the breeding islands, and the ]K'lagic industry be left untrammelled by regulations on {\w. 1/^^^^ ^^^Atxtu high seas, what would be the ultimate efl^ect on seal life ? Lxpericnee directly obtained with '^'2i!X{i^^^^ ' reference to the fur-seal i^ here eutirely wanting. The history of all the depleted breeding places of other parts of the world clearly points to a single cause ol damage, viz., unrestricted hfiLc^^x*vi ■■ iU and barbarous killing on shore upon ihe breeding grounds. Analofiy with the history of idutl.,, £>>>;. L, other maritime industries, such as those conducted for ordinary food fishes, becomes, how- UJUC) ^ Ctf.kJi. ever, in the case supposed, directly a]»posite. Em|)loying such analogies, it may be affirmed .* (w^-i - \i*.^ ? that so long as the industry continues to he profitable, a greater number of vessels will each year be employed in it ; but that before long a jioint will he reached at wliiuh, in eunse- quenee of the greater competition, the ever-increasing wariness of the seal, and a reduction in total numbers, — the profits will diminish, unremuncrativc voyages will frcqui'ntly be made, and a reaction will occur such as to allow a renewed increase of the animal. Such an / / ^ y automatic principle of regulation ai)|)cars to he necessarily inherent in the seal fishery as in ZT//''^ Kn^ujy^ other fisheries, but just what the average annual catch might mnnber when this particular '■"-y^*'^^--^^ ■ fishery reached its level of stability, it is of course impossible to say. It is not likely, however, that it would show a continued decline so serious as that which has aft'ected the whale fishery, loi- this is due to special causes which are well known ; and, umLr the conditions which have been assumed for the fiu--.seal fishery, the breeding places of the animal would be continuously exempted from attack. lU 656. One of the most obvious and gcnr ally ap[)licablc mctliods of controlling pelagic sealing would he thu general adoption c rules agninst the cnii)loyment of specially destructive methods, and such rules miglit he arranged hy international consent as appheablc to certain defined tracts of the high seas, m the manner which has bcca advocated in connection with the subject of the '• purse " seine in the mackerel fishery of the Atlantic coast.* Thus, the use of vessels with steam power might be prevented, as well as that of ritles in shooting the seals. Nets have scarcely been used along tlie eastern part of the North Pacific in the fur-seal fishery, and it is improbable that tliey can be advan- tageously employed anywlicre beyond the three-mile limit. The only known casein which nets have actually as yet been employed occurred in 188S, when it is on record that the Alaska Commercial Com])any fitted out two schooners, privately owned, to net seals in the passes leading from Behring Sea through the Aleutian Islands. One of these schooners is stated to have obtained TOO grey pups which were sold to tlie Company at the rate of 2 dol. 50 c. per skin.f Nelting, however, forms no part of legitimate pelagic sealing, and might well be altogether prohibited. 6.">7. The use of the shot-gun for the purpose of killing seals at sea has now become so nearly universal, tliat it is doubtful whetiier it can be changed without an undue inter- ference with the now established industry. The loss of seals thus shot is, as already shown, small, and there is therefore no cogent reason why this practice should be discontinued. All the evidence shows that tlie loss when seals are speared by the Indian hunters is practically nil, but to restrict killing to spearing would necessarily be to preclude all but skilled Indians from engaging in it. 658. Any such regulations applied to the use of specially destructive engines, would have the effect, under the assumed conditions, of increasing the aggregate number of seals whi(h would exist when what has been referred to the level of stability is reached, IV.— CONTROL AND METnODS OF SEALING ON THE PEIBTLOFE ISLANDS, THEIB NaTCEE and RE8ULT8. {A,)— Methods employed. 'Hu/SM-w—^ 659. The system adopted for the regulation and working of the Pribyloff Islands by ^^t^^^^T^'^ ^^ the United States' Government, when its control had been established, and alter (he irregular ^'^^^" and excessive killing which at first followed on the withdrawal of the Kussian authorities, was substantially that which had gradually been intniduced by the Russians, as ll;e result .* of their prolonged experience, but with one very important exception. This exception related to the number of seals allowed to be killed annually. The number was at this time suddenly and very largely increased, being in fact more than doubled, as is elsewhere pointed out in detail ; and while the experience of many former years showed that the Russian system, with a limited annual killing, might be maintained with a reasonable certainty of the continued well-being of the breeding grounds, it had in fact, according to the best available informa- tion, resulted in a gradual and nearly steady increase in number of seals. The much larger number permitted to be killed under the new regulations at once removed the new control ^ into the rej^ion of expeiiment. ^24.y,,j_Xt^ Ju^ 6G0. Theoretically, and ajiart lr(im this question of number and other matters ***5 *'^~iiJ ji^ incidental to the actual working of the methods employed, these were exceedingly proper and IcMU, well conceived to insure a large continual annual output of skins from the breeding islands, always under the supposition that the IcRsees of these islands could have no competitors in the North Pacific. It was assumed that e(]ual or proximately equal numbers of males and females were born, that these were subject to ecpial losses by death or accident, and that, in consequence of the jiolygamous habits ol tie fur-seals, a large number of males of any given merchantable ago might be siaughtcrpd each year without seriously, or at all, .interfering with the advantageous proportion of males leinaining for breeding purposes. X^iJUA>*l the young males, or holluschickie, was su|)posi(l to admit, and did in former years to a t,!,^!^'^ — great extent admit, of these young males being killed without disturbing the breeding K^'/^t/^^. animals. The young seals thus " hauling" apart from the actual breeding grounds were Aurrounded by natives and driven off to some convenient place, where mules of suitable • See " Report of Department of risliericf," Canndo, 1890, p. 70, and .Appendix IX, p. 14. t rarliamcntary Paper [C— 61311, London, August 1S90, p. 356. lis size were clubbed to death, and from wliich the rejected animals were allowed to rotiirn 'jf^^yf'^ Y~ to the sea. The carcasses were skinned on tiie killing fjroimd, the skins salted, and at a "-<^"^ ■ later date bundled in pairs and shipped, vvilli such dui)lication or checking of count as might be supposed to .ifford guarantees to the agents of liie Government and to the lessees that the interests of both were fairly treated. 662. There can be no doubt thiit if the number permitted to be killed had been Kiluuv Cc^^^XJtZn^ fixed at an amount so low as to allow lor exceptional and unavoidable natural causes »i ({\/^^^'^~XtAM ^-r^ interference with seal life, and if it had been rearranged each year in conlorniity t^*-^ i^^-w */{»«- with the ascerlained conditions, killing might have been continued without general ^*-^ ■ damage to the seal life of the Pribyloff islands, and very probably even with a continued gradual increase in numbers of si'ais resorting to the islands up to some unknown maximum point. Such results might have followed, notwithstanding the practical imperfecticn which clearly attached in execution to these thforoticaily appropriate methods, and in spite of the important chanp'e from natural conditions which any disturbance in proportion of sexes involved, if tlie demands made in the matter of annual take had been moderate; but when the number fixed for killing resulted, as h.is been shown, in an average slaughter of over 103,000 seals, it bore so large a i)roportion to the entire number of animals resorting to the islands as to lead necessarily in tiie long run to seriou.s diminution. This decrease continued, on the whole, in an increasing ratio, being due not only to the actual number of seals slaughtered, but also to the numbers lost in various ways incidental to the methods of control and modus operandi on the islands, which loss, though formerly a matter of minor importance (because counttd against a large annual surplus), in the face ol the grer.tly decreased numbers, became a very serious addition to the total of diminution. In short, from a transcendental point of view, the methods pro- posed were appropriate and even perlect, but in jijactical execution, and as judged by the results of a series of years, they proved to be faulty and injurious. 663. Summing up the records as to the number of seals killed on the Pribyioff Islands, .^ - n j>» Professor J. A. Allen writes as fbllows :— t^^,iUXM^\ " In this year (182i), it was ordered that young seals should be spared each year for 'tvw ^i^ia*) /i^^.'y years the number of seals on St. Paul's Island increased tenfold. Tlie number annually 1. 4 ^^. Si^uU taken these years was only 8,000 or lO.OliO. instead of 40,001) to 50,000, the number -->— ^ f"-^- formerly killed yearly. Subsequently, the killing was allowed to greatly increase, which prevented any augmentation in the number of seals. In 1834, the number allowed to be / [_[4 ■• U^.-mX.,^ killed on St. Paul's Island was reduced from 12,000 to G,00 '. AJtcr this date theA^u,,^' '^ iin-o conditions of increase were more earelully studied and more carefully regarded, so that there was a gradual numerical increase from 1835 to l?.';7, when the rookeries are said to have become very nearly as large as now, the natives believing, however, that tiiere has been since the last-mentioned date a very gradual but steady increase."* 664. From the experiences thus recorded, it appears to be very clearly shown that in r»t the administration of this able Governor (Shisenekotf), these nurseries'^ r/ . ljj\ of the seals had been V^* [222] .Monograph of North American Pinnipeds," p. 379. Ibid., p. 389. 8 H 116 r , . • killed (it is now admitted unnecessarily) for native food. Besides these thus accounted ViaKS-^ Aut/pC- /Q^iSH>ui ^°^< ''owever, tiicrc is reason to believe timt a large proportion of the seals which had been ' subji'cled to the very severe ordeal of driving never afterwards recovered.* Again, the disturbance produced by various causes incidental to the habitation of the islands, together with that, never wholly obviated, which arose directly from the process of driving from the vicinity of the breeding grounds, led to various changes inimical to the favourable eontiiuiation of seal life. NCAkJ-M.-**-9i~/ fi68. Such causes be5;an to operate with much increased force when the general <(. VUb U.ft*^, ''eduction became so considerable, that nn ever-growing dirticulty arose in collecting ' the fi-xed animal quota of skins. In addition, the inefficient guarding of the ureeding islands from raids nuide upon their shores by marauders, due to the absence of methods of / protection and laxity of control nf the natives, became serious evils. (•S^JCec 'iflio^-'*i\ *'''^* S°"'^ of^ '•'"^ more notable ill-efTccts which followed from the [iractical working V — -J -*M the system of administration adopted, have already b,en referred to at sulficienl lengtii, particularly in the paragraphs (^ 396 et seij.) treating of changes in habits of the fur-seal, and those outlining the general decrease in numbers resorting to the Pribylotf Islands. A few words may now be added, in greater detail, in relation to the evidence showing the date of the commencement of the decrease and its progress, and then on the defe-jtive methods, /i .u^.tt^^.^tJl!' ^'^"'^'J "s such, which have been largely responsible for this result. A A^^AA*'*^ '^^ ^'"^' ^t'^tcments have been made to the efi'ect that during the lease of the Alaska 'g* x.* • . Commercial Company, frauds were piTpctrated in regard to the number of skins taken on the islands and counted for taxation. No direct evidence of this seems to have been ^HtvLv-a tvwJCH produced, but us the official counting of the skins both on the islands and in San Francisco was done in bundles, each of which was supposed to consist of two skins, it is obvious that but for observed difference of size or weight, three or even four skins might have been bundled and corded together and counted as two. Speaking of the mode of enumerating the skins, Elliott says: ''The list of the Treasury Agent on the islands, when the skins are first shipped [the shijjment being made, as elsiwhere stated, in bundles], is the official indorsement of the Company's catch for the year; but when the ship reaches San Francisco, these skins are all counted over anew [but again in bundles] by another staff of Government Agents. "+ C71. Referring to the weight of the skins and bundles, he elsewhere writes: "The average weight of a two-year-old skin is ^\ lbs. ; of a three-year-old skin, Y lbs. ; and of a four-year-old skin, 12 lbs.; so that as tiie major portion of the catch is two- or three- year-olds, these bundles of two skins each have an average weight of from 1^ to 15 lbs. In this sba[)e they go into the hold of the Company's steamer at St, Paul, and are counted out from it at San Francisco." t 672. An independent observer, Lieutenant Maynard, in his report written about the same time, says : " Finally, they are prejiared for shipment by roiling tbetn into compact bundles, two skins each, which are secured with stout lashings. The largest of these , there would have been no necessity for diminishing. On the other hand, 1 think tbat within two years from now it miglit be increascd."|| ()80. In 1876, a lengthened incjuiry was made by a Committee of Congress in legard to the operations of, and certain charges made against, the Alaska Commercial Company, Tin's Committee does not seem to have had clearly before it the fact, that the actual number of seals killed under the lease considerably exceeded 100,000, but the view arrived at as to the killing of lOil.OOO seals annually, includeJ in the official report of the • Itnufe of RcpreseiHatives, Ex. Doc. No. 43, ■t4Ui Congress, I>t Sefsion. t **Moitograph of Nortli Aiiiericaii l*inni()cd».'* J " I'lir-fal lislurie« of Alnsks," House o; Uepresenlatlves, Ex. Doc. Xo. 83, MOn Congress, 2nd Session, pp. :76 and 177. ^ Qiiui»l liy Alli'n, " M'jnograph of North American Piniii|)ecls,'' p. 399. II House of UeprescDtativM, 44th Congress, lat Session, lleport No, C23, p 99, \ /lib : u.4f,.Afy^\/>- 118 )u,,vi fljL_/01)W) investigation is plainly expressed ns follows: "It is certain thnt to kill more than this ^a>>-.•^^Z^*«*i^ number (100,000) would tend to a rapid decrease of the annual su|)ply, and end in the ^ ^ " " extinction of the aniin.-ds on these islands long before the expiration of the twenty yean that the lease had to run.''* 681. From 1877 to 1887, such allusions as can be found to the general condition of the seals upon the Pribyloff Islands in conteni|)orary reports are almost uniformly of an optimistic character; and a perusal of those reports rnii^ht well lead to the b"liel that a continued and satisfactory increase in number was in progress, which, it truly re )r 'seating the facts, should have brought the rookeries in this period of eleven years into a state of unexampled prosjierity, tliouf^h the facts were in reality far diH'erent. G82. The only reference to any decline met with in these Reports — and that is an incidental one — is due to Assistant Treasury A.^cnt Wardman, who shows that there was a decrease in the number of "killablc" seals on St. George Island in 1882, asconiparcd with 1881. His statement serves to prove, at least, that the practical limit of killablcs on St. George had been reached in 1882, at a number of 21,000 or 22,000, and tiiat the balance of a quota of 2.'), 000 accorded to that island had to be made up on St. K-iul.+ i/twtSvc A ^«\*>^i^. G83. Though not to be found in the contemporary Reports, the true history of these "Tf-MsAt^ v-tuated near tlic rookery ground of Polavina, and seals were regularly killed there. Traces of this old settlement may still be seen, but it has probably been abandoned since ''r^AX-«-irr^ '-* the time of the " Zapooska," or intermission of killing which took effect in 181^5, at /^^r~ which time most of the "natives" were removed from the Pribyloff Islands. From A^'y^l^j. ,4~Ue*- information gai.ied on the islands, it appears that in or about the year 1879 the salt-house / fj^Z '2»^^'-~-*^ now employed at Polavina was first built, and that driving has been annually practised 4 ^^-.L^L<-/X-~i-«- both from Polavina and Zapadnie ever since, but with much increasing persistency in later years. J 686. The time at which the decrease in killable seals began to make itself actually T^apparent in the acknowledged difficulty in obtaining the annual quota of skins is thus pretty definitely fixed by cii'cumslances, but other corroborative information with a similar meaning is now not wanting. Colonel J. Murray, Assistant Treasury Agent, in his Report for 1890, writes: "The whole truth must, nevertheless, be told, and that is, that the seals have been steadily decreasing since 1830."il The older and more experienced natives, conversed with on St. Paul island, after describing the great abundance of seals at the time the United States first took possession of the islands, stated that the decrease became very marked in 1882 or 1883; arriving at these dates by counting back from the actual year. 5-»-^-*,,ir^ '^ House of Ri'praaentaiive«. 44th Congress, Ist Session, Report No. 623, p. 11. t " Fur-seal Fisherits of Alnak.i," House of Kcpresentative?, 60lb Congress, 22Dd Session, Report No. 3S83, 39. J The italics are not employed in the original. ^ IJniled Stalen' Census Ri-port, p 71. II 3enite, Ex. Doc. No. 49, 51st Congresi, 2nd Session, p. 8, 119 x's 111 liiKiiij; iiiL'ir •>-«'■».<«<: 1 ^'^fr'" igic scaling industry &^*m. W^-C^ t could, under any if^ f-a-v». hou"li three or four /i § {, i ■ ■•i 687. One accessory cause of the decrease so plainly shown at this particular time, is perhaps to he tracud in the great mortality of youn;;, due to unfavourahle wcatlier in' ^_- ^j, 1870, whicii would naturally he making itself apparent on the hauling grounds in 1879 or ''^^ ^ 1880. (§817.) 088. It is thus made evident that the decrease of young mnles, constituting the ^ ■.**-»- 'L killahle class, had reached such proportions as to hamper the lessees in taking theirK^-t*Wc , (ufif^ permitted numher of skins and to disquiet the natives, hefore the pelag' '"■ - —-'--'•— " ' • ' had attained any considerahle development, and some years heforo it valid hypothesis, be supposed to be accountable for any such result. Althou schooners were tentatively engaged in j)elagic sealing olF the coast of British Columbia in the years 1879-83, till the year 1883 the fleet did not include nine schooners in all, and the tirst of these schooners did not enter Behring Sea until 188'ii. G89. The United States' scaling fleet, in the corresponding years, was of similar small dimensions, and, though one vessel is known to have sealed in Behring Sea as early as 1881, the aggregate pelagic catch was, comparatively speaking, so small in these years, that it may safely be left out of consideration. 690. Of these persons (|uestioned by us, almost all who |)ossessed a familiarity with A^«>-*-» ' the Pribyloff Islands, including several who had jireviously been connected with the '^•^'•^'-^ Alaska Commercial Company, were, in 1891, found ready to admit that in 1885 and 1886 the ^ • decrease in the number of seals to be found on the islands, and j)artieularly that of killablo . seals, had become very striking. It was not, however, till 1888, that the existing state of ^^H WXjt^i affairs found some recognition in the official reports, when Dr. H. H. Melntyre, then r /^ j agent for the lessees on the islands, admitted to the Congressional Committee on the Fur-seal Fisheries of Alaska that the seals had decreased since 1882, and that it had become difficult to obtain the full quota of marketable skins, adding : " There are at present, in my opinion, too few bull seals to keep the rookeries up to tiieir best con- 691. In the years 1886, 1887, and 1888, the annual pelagic catch in Behring Sea 'y^'J'l ^ probably did not exceed 17,000, being thus less than one-fifth of the slaughter upon the islands ; and even if it be admitted, for the sake of argument, that the killing of this number at sea was more injurious than that of a like number on shore, such alleged injurious effect could scarcely have begun to make itself apparent on the rookeries for three or four years after it took place. 692. The conditions obtaining on the Pribyloff Islands in the last three yeai's have been so fully referred to in the present report, and in various reports made by the officers in charge, tliat they scarcely require detailed recapitulation in this particular connection In 1889, Mr. C. J. Golf reported an alarming shrinkage in the rookeries and hauling ^ grounds; and though the full quota was obtained, this was only done by lengthening the JLu' killing .sciison to the end of July, and greatly lowering the standard size of seals killed In 1890, being the first year of the North American Commercial Company's lease of the /— <■•«-• islands, the number to be killed, in view doubtless of Mr. Golf's previous report, which has '''~*-^ Co^cTrx,. not been published, was reduced to 60,000. But killing was stopped by Mr. Goff, in i-i^ hafJ: urT charge of the islands, at the usual date of the 20th July, at a time when, in consequence ^^~aLm^, of the scarcity of killahle seals, only about one-third of that number had been secured. In the same year Mr. Elliott re-examined the islands, and though his report has like- wise remained unpublished, a summary of his conclusions has appeared, from which citations have already been made. He states clearly tliat the injury to the rookeries, he Jk^., /; ft«/iut. now believes, " set in from the beginning, twenty years ago, under the present system."! uI<^^Zoy^ .aie. 693. In 1891, the result of our own examinations, as well as the evidence collected by us from all available sources, lead us to believe that some at least of the breeding /ltrcA^-,u« '■-€>" >> rookeries are in a better condition than in the previous year, while in none of them is any fu»../*i.jjc ^ further deterioration noticeable — a circumstance ■which fully justifies the action taken in ^^•~(^'^«-<^eiii^ restricting the catch in 1890, and clearly indicates that the rookeries, however reduced ia numbers, possess an abundance of recuperative energy. Z'^/Uf. fi (C.) — ^ iandari Weights of Skins taken . I 694. Closely connected with the foregoing notes, and of interest in showing that the 'wi^ '\j^^^ I required number of young male seals has not been killed of late years upon these islands 'v*^«^' iiMjv>^uJU._ without great detriment to their seal life, is tli fact that the standard of weight of skins [222] • Home of lUpresentalivci, oOlh Conjircss, 2nd Session, Report No. 3883, pp. 116 to 119. t rarliamentary Paper [C,—6S68], Lonaon, 1891, p. 57. 2 I 120 aiii\ ih lins been from time to time lowered so ds to enable younger animals to be taken, and that even many yearlings were included in 1880. /?:^Zi^n.jkl~. 695. In 1800, tiie Government tax was suddenly -aiscd from 2 dol. 25 c. to ri in which the skins are niost valuable, the killing was carried back into the more num',,fou^< ranks of the very young animals upon which the supply of suitable skins fcr iiiturv \';ars depended, while, .it the same time, other males, which had escaped previous sUiu'^iiter, and become too old to afford first- class skins, were not allowed to take Uv-n ^ilaces upon the breeding grounds, but were also killed to increase the catch. 701. The facts above cited afford a connected train of evidence, showing the gradual I. .1 . /^^^ (^^J reduction and deterioration in condition of seal-life upon the Pribylofflslands, altogether 'V / ' apart from the estimates of the total number of seals made at various times, and as we 'hzu:,,^^^. '1 . believe of a more trustworthy character than these. 702. As to the comparative conditions in the years 1890 or 1891 with that of the early years of the United States' control of the islands, no accurate information can be given. The result of our investigations and study of tl:e subject in all its bearings leads us, however, to believe that the aggregate numbers given for these earlier years have been greatly in excess of the facts, and that while the latest estimates published may not be too small, the total amount of shrinkage has l)een very greatly exaggerated by means of comparisons instituted between these and the excessive estimates of earlier times. Because of this want of trustworthiness in the first estimates, therefore, any present estimates of a general character, however carefully made, and though interesting in themselves, cannot be accepted as criteria of value in relation to the question of the actual amount of decrease. 703. The case witli which fictitious reports may be built up on imperfect or ill-con- sidered cr parte evidence is illustrated by a remark made by Elliott, who writes: " I noticed in this connection a very (juecr siinilaiiiy between the sealers on St. Paul and our farmers • "Fur-«eal Fisheries of Alaska,' House of RepTesentatires, 50th Congress, 2iid Session, Report No. 3883, p. 118. t Senate, Ex. Doc. No. 49, 51st Congress, 2n(l Session, p. 5. HAu| 121 WO^: to to at lionic ; tlicy, just os llic season opcti-,. iiivaiiably prophesy a bad year for seals and a Xl/. ...cu ...v.v, ..v.-. „^_^\ Lil were so many seals on the island before. I was greeted in this manner hy the agents of '••^j j''*'**^ 'r^ the Company and the Government in 1872, again in 1873, and again in IH74. I di^^ A impartial mii:d that we were redriving the yearlings, and considering the number of skins I ttA^vv-Lv, 709. In other words, many of the seals turned from tiie killing ground on one 4.^.,v,vj y**.-^*^". occasion, return eventually to the liauling-grounds, and may thus be driven and redriven throughout the entire killing season, if they do not meanwhile succumb under the strain. />^wA\.w 710. Owing to the restriction imposed on the killing of seals in 1891, wt were /^; Trf^'l^- '' ourselves able to witness the effect of two small drives only, one on St. George, the other on St. Paul. Both these drives were made from the grounds nearest to tiie village killing places, and were therefore short. The weather was favourably cool, and the actual driving from the rookeries to the vicinity of the killing ground was accomplished with all requisite care and deliberation. Notwithstanding this, the seals were in both cases evidently very much i/J fV,j exhausted and completely witless from fear. The animals let go from the killing grounds 0^ at St. George set out, when released, in small groups towards the shore, not far off, but from weakness were unable to go more than a few yards at a time ; while some of them, notwithstanding the.r terror, were unable to keep up with the rest, and simply Jay helpless upon the ground. On drawing the attention of one of the gentlemen superintending the killing to this, he remarked that it was nothing unusual, that, in fact, they not infrequently remained thus in the immediate vicinity of the killing ground for several days before recovering. 711. Much the same observations were made in the case of a drive on St. Paul Island, but it was noticed here that 100 or 200 of tliose set free, after slowly making their way for 500 or 600 feet, remained in an exhausted condition upon the grassy bank over- • looking the northern end of Zoltoi sands, and, on tlie evening of the following day, many of them were still lying together at the same place without having made any effort to roach the sea, which was not over 200 feet distant. 712. Incidental proof of the disastrous effects of driving may be seen along any of the • lutes ordinarily taken in the significant fic(iuency of skeletons and bones around tz"\i rjugh and rocky place that has to he passed over in the course of the drive. It is of course difficult, if not impossible, to say with certainty in individual eases, to what extent this ordeal of driving may prove permanently detrimental to the animals driven. It may, how- ever, be worth noting that Veniaminov, as long ago as 1 842, quoted the natives as authority for the statenient that the seals thus spared " are truly of little use for breeding, lying about an if outcasts or disfranehised."t 713. Elliott, in his published summary of his investigation on the islands in 180O, gives various reasons for arriving at a similar belief, and s-ums these up as follows: — '•Therefore, i'c now appears plain to me that these young fur-seals which mi" happen to survive this terrible strain of se>'cri years of driving overland iire rendered by '.'-is act of driving wholly worthless for breeding purposes ; they never go to the breeding grounds and ^ake up stations there, being wholly demoralized in spirit and in body. With this knowledge, then, the full effect of the driving becomes apparent, and that result of slowly but surely robbing the rookeries of a full and sustained supply of fresh young maio ! '• )d demanded by nature imperatively foi their support up to the standard of full exp^iiision. '{ (^ l,/LuT*^..J\r, : Captain Lavender, Assistant Treasury Agent, in his Report for the same year, and r~7Tfo ) speaking particularly of St. George Island, ado])ts a similar view on the matter, saying: — Cm i*v*A li^i' " ^^^ *'"^ ""'''' ^^°'^^ driven should be killed, as it is my opinion that not over one-half jyT^ vj[^ ever go back upon the rookeries again. "§ i(ri/\ ' 714. Mr. Elliott, in the publication which has just been quoted, further summarizes his ideas as to the causes of the prestnt reduced condition of Pribyloff Island rookeries in ^^■^-y^Kl-' the two following paragraphs : — l\U^^i t«^, ^I'HirW, • Senatr, Ex. Doc. No. 49, 5!st Congress 2nd Session, p. 4. / t Ti'unslatioii by Klliutt in L'niteil .Slatea' Cenius Iti!|Jori, p. 1-11. X Parliamontary P»i)er [C— C3l)8j, June isai, p. 67. 5 IbiJ , p. ai. 1^ //Vi null " 2. Prom the shooting of fur-seals (chiefly females) in the open waters of the North Pacific Ocean and Behring Sea begun as a business in 18''6, and continued to date."* 715. It will be observed, however, that, even according to this statement, the over- driving began, in consequence of marked diminution, some seven years before it is alleged that pelagic scaling " began as a business." 716. As already indicated, all the evils incident to 'driving' in any form became greatly intensified when, with ;.i amiinished number of killable seals, the attempt is still continued to obtain a large j-carly number of skins. This occurs not only because of the driving and redriving above referred to, but also in consequence of the fact, thr.t under such circumstances the rem&iuing killables lie very close to the breeding rookeries, so that it is no longer possible to make drives without disturbing the rookeries themselves. Tims, it has occurred that, in late years, considerable au.l increasing numbers of breeding females have been driven to the killing grotmds with the killables, though when recognized there in the process of selecting for killing, they have been released. The probable special effect of such treatment of females is well as the fact that in the disturbances caused u|)on the breeding rookeries, a certain number of the young are almost certain to be killed, have been already noted. 717. Speaking of (he years 1872-74, and in connection with the driving of seals, even at that time, Elliott makes the following ri'marks : " It is (piite impossible, however, to get them all of one age without an extraordinary amount of stir and bustle, which the Aleuts do not like to preci))i;ate ; hence the drive will be found to consist usually of a bare majority o( three- and four-year-olds, the lest being two-year-olds principally, and a very few, at wide intervals, five-year-olds, the yearling seldom ever getting mixed up."t 718. Refe, ring particularly to his experience in 1860, Captain ikyant writes : " At the close of this period the great body of yearling s.-als arrive. Those, mixing with the younger class of males, spread over the uplands and greatly incrc.ise the proportion of prime skins, but also greatly increase the difficulty of killing properly. Up to this time, there having been no females with the seals driven up for killing, it was only necessary to distinguish agCo ; this the difi'cronce in size enables them to do very easily. Now. however, nearly ont-lialf are females, and the slight difference between these and tii^ younger males renders it necessary for the brad man to sec every seal killed, and only a stronu; interest in the ])reservation of the stock can insure ihe proper carc.''| 719. The mcanini,' of these remarks and their bearing on tiie |)ossibility of restricting the killing on the islands to males, becomes clear when it is remembered that the external genital organs of the male do not become distinctly obvious till about the third year of its age,§ and particularly so when it is remembered that even as long ago as 1S72-74 the " major portion of tiie catch " '.onsisted of two- and three-} cur-old seals, || while at other times even yearlings have been killed. 720. In addition to the injury caused by the physical strain of driv'np;, its probable effect op the mental organization of a naturally timid and somewhat intelligent animal like tiio lu'-scul must be great. The killing grounds themselves are always strewn with the care; sscs of former victims in var'^us stages of deeomitosition, and even in the small drive witnessed by us on St. (Jeorge Island, the various " pods " of seals, including both those turned away and those killed, were actually driven over and among numbers of putrid bodies, by which the who''- atmos|)here in the vicinity was int'ccted. It is believed, in laci, hat this speeini feature of the driving is responsible to a large extent for the incrc;ising disinclination of tiic seals to remain upoi; the breeding islands, a new but not unnatural tendency specially noticed and reported on in regard to the Commander Islands, and evidently still furtiier operative on the I'rihylolf Nlands. 721. Ueviewing, then, the subject, of driving as a whole, and witiiotit laying stress on the more extreme statements which have been made as to its deKtcfjois effects, it is quite evident that even if a small measure of the n)jury referred to tliis cause actually happens, the proportion of loss of seals to the whole number of skins obtained oi, the PribyloiT Islands, due to this otie cause, must very corisiden'bly add to the waste of about 7 per cent,, which is admitted by the official figures. The aggregate loss incurred is thus the result of various causes, which toi;ether involve the killing of many seals which ought not to be kdled, aivl it is evident that the methods of (Iriviin,' and killing on the I'ribylotf islands, as now practised, are susceptible of very great improve- tnent. /if6f 3^. (XCi. • Pnrlinraentary Pnprr [C. — 6itiH], June ''JI, (i. 56. t I'niteii Statt't Oiimis Ut)iiirt, p. 71. I " Hull. Mill). Coiiip. Ziioi.," vol 11, • Fislitiry Inilu8lni'« of the Uuiled Sialcs," vol. i, i: US. •art 1,11. 105. y IJuitcil Suics' CViiiiis ittfport p. 2 K n. 124 4 (E.) — Prolection of Rookeries from Disturbance. 722. Reverting to the general question of the nianaf^ement of the seal industry of the Pribyloff Islands, it is conceded by every one that the most important single matter is the safeguarding of the breeding rookeries from disturbance of all kinds. Generally speaking, the system adopted on the islands has this end in view, but in addition to the specific (/£ /-J ilvK^- ^disturbance caused in the ways already mentioned, other and uncalled for effects of the , , T i^'. J: uame kind have been and are produced in consequence of a certain want of discipline and r*^ y**^ vigilance. Chief among these is the raiding upon the shores of the islands, which might '^ and should be stopped by efficient protection. This is referred to at greater length below. Some of the means adopted in the government and preservation of the Com- mander Islands have already been alluded to, and nothing is more obvious to any one (JuCifw.?>^. comparing the conditions on the Pribyloff and Commander Islands than the greater Vvw^j. ■»^^>*'^~f. efficiency of the general control of the latter. This is particularly notable in the superior discipline maintained among the natives, who, as a direct corollary of their favourer position OS participants in the proceeds of the islands, are understood to be entirely at the service and under the orders of the Superintendent on the islands. The appearance of Wtg ttJ'ju^fM vessels in the offing is reported to head-quarters with the utmost promptitude, as note i 4^^^ (m^/ix' in the case of our own arrival both on Copper and Behring Islands. The seals arfi ' >r.-t A/wC'j. carefully assorted before being driven to the killing grounds than on the Pr •'•■"'" Jt/« 4**^j Islands, and the killing of young seals for native food has been prohibited now for seviiu i KiKi^ ^ jprvi- years. A fine of 100 roubles is exacted in the case of each female accidentally killed, with >^ ^ f^*"*^ other such similar precautions. The methods taken to prevent the disturbance of seals i upon the rookeries by smoke have already been alluded to. (F.) — Native Int erests on the Is lands. (!^-.JJZa^ T>-i-t* '^**«j. for 1890, though it is stated that the fur-seal is now very scarce on these islands; the ^^ > f- J operations of seal poacher- are referrcd to in connection with the Auckland Islands, «*^ . ^ 4. Campbell Island, Antipodi . Island, and the Bouiity Islands, The name "poacher" is^^^A^j.^ ^ here applied to sealers killing on the islands, in contravention of the laws of New Zealand. a3^I+<-. Some of the men thus referred to come from " " specifically alluded to in 1889 is the "Sarah (p. 512). 733. Again, in the Straits of Magellan, the British Vice-Consul at Sandy Point reports in April lb89, that the United States' schooners pay no attention to the inter- diction on sealing enacted by the Chilean Government. Indeed, the frequent presence of scaling-vcssels, most of them hailing from ports in the New England States of North America, is a matter of nmch concern to the different Governments now endeavouring to preserve the seals in these waters. 734. There has been wholesale and most destructive raiding on Robben Island, and other islands in the Okotsk and Japanese Seas ; and there have been persistent and OiCfCy^ m L/»w more or less successful raids made on the rookeries both of the Commander and Pribylott" l.,_„^^ (r^ groups. 735. In recent times, in the North Pacific Ocean, the greatest instance of the revival of this form of seal hunting occurred during the interval of the transference of the It Prihyloft Islands from Rufsian to American cciHrol. Some vessels equipped for the loniravcnimn 01 ine laws 01 rnew ^eaiana. u~j^x^^ry<^ ^ New Zealand itself, but the only vessel '^-y^ _ "jvj) A. Hunt," a seal-poacher from America (k*-^ ^•'*^*~V CLM A-A-*^^ %^^r '- purpose at once visited these celebrated islands an'i landed scaling parties. Various ^^^^^^^u«^ Companies of United States' sealers occupied the islands ip 1868, chief among them bands of ^-^^T^'^^A^^- Connecticut sealers, all of whom entered into armer combination to drive off the sealers "-^■JA^' ' under Plliigel, who had come up from the Sandwich Islands to raid. The general result was that at least 75,000 skins were secured in 1867, 242,000 in 1868, and 87,000 in 1869, or a total of move than 400,000 skins in these three years. 736. It is necessary for our present purpose to review the details only of raids made fi»^'^ P^J^r attempted on tiie Prilivloff Islands since the United States' Government leased these ^»^_,^ /X^^ ^ islands to the Alaska Commercial Company, and this Company took formal possession ' V ° ■ under establisiied Regulations in 1B"0. _^ . • 737. The existinu: records arc irregular, often insufficient, and frequently consist of i^LkX n-A-Uh) niere allusions or indirect testimony. It is, therefore, probable that but a small proportion i-rff Ax<,<>v/«^ . of the whole nmnber of raids have actually been recorded, but the notices, such a*- they , are, amply indiertc what has been doing. In September 1870, the Secretary of the '^•^'^-i*^<^ j^ Treasury gave ' ■ 'i. 'p authority to the Company to use fire-arms in protecting the l*«-<'^^*^~^ °i- rookeries a;;ainst i i '0. 738. iJetween 1 1880 several actual raids were reported, one of the earliest being one by the " Cyj,' ' of San Francisco, caught on the 30th August, 1874, shooting seals close to Otter Island, and which raided the rookeries at Zapadnie, St. George Island, on the 1st September, 1874, and again in 187.*). In July 1875, the " San Diego " was seized off St. I'aul Island with 1,600 skins taken on Otter Island. On the 2lst June, 1870, the "Cygnet" and the "Ocean Spray" raided the same rookery. 739, In 1877, the " Industry" was reported as hovering around St. Paul Island, and a raid was made on Otter Island. I, J 7)3.* In the same year, the revenue-cruizer "Corwin" was instructed specially to C«vi''i.? < \ hauling-hooks, and dead seals on the (Jredt Eastern Rookery, St. George Island, all left ^*-**/^'r^ there by raiders. 743. In 1880, the Captain of tlic revenue-cruizer " Corwin " reported to the Secretary of the Treasury his seizure of tlie schooner " Lro " in the Arctic for whiskey selling to the Eskimo, adding, "There were also found on board the 'Leo' several persons . . . : five were natives of K(uiiak, employed, probably, for the purpose of taking seals around the seal islands in the fall." 74-1. In 1881, the Captain of the revenue-cruizer " Corwin " reported that on the 2!5r(l May, at St. Paul Island, " ('ulonel II. G. Otis, the Special Treasury Agent in charge, came on iinard, and, after a consultation with him, it was decided unnecessary to detail an itA^jlAjJ "L U.GL 127 Fvfl^*^ ' ^ officer for duty on Otter Island, as it was believed that the force on St. Paul Island would V^^'^^J\ > be anij)le to protect both islands." UlX>^ ,^>-J. 745. In the same report Uie Captain states that, on the 19th .June, 1881, he over* ',,, . i.. ■ / '• hauled tlie schooner "Flying Mist" at St. Michael's, and found 2:i gallons of whiskey on '^T^ Wt-iVr board, " also complete outfit for taking seals, seal clubs for killing them, and salt e^,<.jJt/j^ Lx. for preserving theii' skins, and was apparently on a predatory cruize around the seal islands ^ f^^Ji,^ , later in the season." 740. The Captain of the "Corwin" also re|)orts that tiie Special Treasury Agent on . . St. Paul wrote to iiim that, "on the night of the 8th June (1881) a schooner, supposed vX-^^ t\fr froni her suspicious movements to be on a predatory mission in these waters, was sighted ^ fa,^ ^Si) off the east side of the island bearing in a northerly direction, and ne,vt morning at 2 o'clock she was discovered by the look-out at East Point standing close in shore. Later in the niornir.g, after the men on sliore commenced moving nliout, she stood out to sea." On this the Captain remarks: "As parties on board the ' Flying Mist' acknow- ledged to having been in the vicinity of t!ie seal islands, she was undoubtedly the vessel referred to by Colonel Otis, and our suspicions as to her intentions were confirmed. She had |)robably been frightened off by seeing men on shore, and would return later in the season when the nights were longer, and endeavour to take seals during the night, and stand off shore before daylight." Mr. Wardman reports that he noted raids on St. George Island in 1881, the first being on the 2nd September: "A gap was created in the v?- \ o^ rookery which was not filled that year." Mr. C. A. Williams reported that vessels \,j^Jr^\y hunted often around Otter Island, where, in 1881, sixty carcasses were found at one time. , , 747. Special Agent D. B. Taylor states that vessels have been poaching around the ^" ^<^i^/wv . islands for years, landing under cover of fog, and that no protection is afforded against their poaching right on the rookeries. lie adds that, in 1881, the Company was power- less to protect the seals against marauders ; but that, if a harbour were built and a steam* /o on ^T/j'UTft) launch stationed at each island, the protection would be ample. He states that vessels ki^O A'uuid-j. visit the islands, and kill in all 10,000 to 15,000 seals each year.* Treasury Agent r^,;,ji/w» Gliddon, there from 1882-85, reports that the trouble consists in the marauding which ' ij^^^jt-,/..^* takes place every moonlight night. "^^^^V 748. In 1884, the "Alexander" was captured by the Treasury Agent George ^tl^- Wardman off Starry Artjel rookery, St. George Island, but he reported " he had to (/f^A^^-i-iAjiA— release her because he could not hold her, being uiuible to navigate, and there being no ^'"^V*^-^ '^■^ harbour ai. I't. George, p(!rinitted of no other course under the circumstances." „ lUi^ ^—i^ In the saii.c year the " Adele " was captured and sent to San Francisco. OL/JM 741). The Captain of the "Corwin" sending in, for 1885, his "general report of oper'tions of vessel for the protection of the seal fisheries and sea-otter grounds," states : — " Mr. Tingle, the Government Special Agent, with a rci)resentative of the Alaska Commercial Company, came on board (11th Se])tember, 1885), and both stated that, during the absence of the " Corwin " in the Arctic, vessels had been cruizing in sight of the islands for the purjiose of killing seals; but anticipating the " Corwiu's" return and the heavy weather incident to the lateness of the season, none had been seen within three weeks of that time. These gentlemen estimated that about 15,000 seals had been killed by the marauding vessels." 750. The Captain proceeds : " In previous Reports I have called the attention of ^ the Department to tiie importance of greater protection to seal life in Alaskan waters, and yu^fi^ \f->^^ - especially in the vicinity of the Pribyloff Islands. Last year (1884) the schooner 'Adele' (ju-JX.^ \-jju/u* was seized by an officer connected with this vessel for unlawfully killing seals, and delivered'; -j j i '< by him to the United States' authorities at San Francisco. Instead of being prosecuted, as provided by section 1950 of the Revised Statutes, she was subseciucntly released on technical informalities. " The same vessel has pursued her i'll"jal occupation during the past suma. •, and her release from justice has very generally led to the belief that the seizure of the ' Adele' ^ • was an act unwarranted by law. " Other vessels had previously been seized for the same offence, but in no instance has punishment been inflicted. The Department caa readily see what the result will be if this state of affairs be allowed to continue. " During the year, quite a number of vessels have raided Alaskan waters for seal and other fur-bearing animals. • ••••• cj^ /S^OTTO «■«'<« / A-A-Dj m/u 'K, [2221 * HouM of BepreaenUUTei Kef ort| No. 3883) 50tli Coogreit, 2ad Seitioo, p. 58. 2 L /ttr , , u 188 3 uCi/t^uU.^ " Rumours are current here that the American Consul at Victoria has informed ■ people that they are not prohibited by law from sealing in Alaska or other waters, provided they keep more than three leagues from the shore . . . . ; all in direct violation of the Regulations," &tc. The Report for 1885 concludes with the urgent recommendation "that a revenue- cutter be sent to cruize in the vicinity of the PribylofF Islands and Aleutian group during the sealing season. One vessel cannot protect the islands and visit the Arctic Ocean besides .... While the cutter is absent in the Arctic, much damage can be done by marauding vessels to the seal islands." 751. In 1885, Mr. Webster, tlie Company's agent, with the aid of Lieutenant Lutze 3£XiflO|^/*>^ and his two men left as guard on Otter Island, captured three schooners, one the " Adele." In the same year, Mr. Webster found that the schooners left boats ashore, and the men actually camped in Pirate's Cove, St. George Island, for the purpose of taking seals along the .shore. Many vessels were seen frequently hovering around the islands. /tj?> '^O^fj^M};^}! "^-- ^" 1886, Starry Arteel rookery was raided, and many hundred seals taken. '^^^iMr. Morgan found the carcasses of 800 female seals on the shore, as well as the cargo- £^J^^;^^]^'*;^j;J^^Jiooks used for hauling them. The raiders actually camped on the beach and were seen "^there by the natives, but it was not discovered to what vessel they belonged. ^^*^ "i^ l^Cjufy," Atr. Tingle, before the House of Representatives' Committee, stated that the "San ^^Cr^,^^ Diego" captured by the "Corwin" in 188Ghad on board 17.'5 skins of seals that had been clubbed, and some skins of pups, showing that a raid liad been made on St. George Island. We also ha\.^ sworn testimony that in 1886 and 1887 the "Lookout" raided on the islands. The ' C. S. Fowler " is also mentioned as a known raider. 733. In 1887, Mr. Webster saw as many as from four to eight schooners in sight, and hovering around from 3 to 6 miles off. "Many a night has he walked round with his riHe, and seen their heats out shooting seal. One night in 1887, in a thick fog, boats were shooting away so close to shore as to scare all the seals on the beach." At St. Paul Island on the 18th, 21st, and 2.5th July, a schooner was seen shooting seals close along the shore off the North-east rookery. On the 28th July a schooner appeared close to Otter Island, the crew ashore killing seals. She proved to be the " Angel Dolly," afterwards captured, because her Captain and one of tlie crew were accidentally wounded. On the Ith August a steam schooner was reported off North.-east Point, and was fired at by the watchmen. She was captured by the revenue-cutter " Rush," and proved to be tlic " Kate Anna." In August the Starry Arteel rookery was raided, but nothing was known of the occurrence until some time afterwards. Mr. W^ebster found all the unmistakable signs of what had been done, either at night or in a fog, but unknown to the authorities. Mr. Tingle, Treasury Agent on St. Paul Island in 1887, reported a schooner lying off the Reef Rookery killing seals, and she was represented to have taken altogether 4,300 seals. In his report for 1887, he stronj?ly urged that a 20-ton steam-yacht, armed with one gun, sliould be provided to chase and board the schooners sealing along the islands. He writes: "While the 'Rush' was busy taking care of marauders round St. George, those schooners v.ere killing seals near St. Paul," being frc(iucntly in sight, but beyond the reach of the Treasury Agent. 754. In 1888, many ves.sels were seen hovering around the islands. One schooner It in S.W. Bay, St. Paul Island, and boldly sent several boats ^cy^h^Oj^^ ^Gj^'- daylig '~~irfu^ V» anchored in broad ashore. 755. In 1889 there schooners coming along Sc[)tember and October, arc several records, especially around St. George Island, of shore, and of strange n)en being seen on the beaches io On the 21st November, a schooner, supposed to be the " Angel Dolly," anchored half-a-mile from the shore, and sent four men asliore who killed seals. On the 22nd November at Zajjadnie, St. George, the authorities discovered that three separate landings had been made, and found two clubs, seven dead female seals and one bull wounded with buckshot. In the autumn tiie " Allic Algar" raided on St. George, and procured more than 800 skins. A report in the "New York Herald " states that certain members of a schooner's crew boasted tliat in this yrar fifteen men bad in five hours of one night killed 1,000 seals on St. George. Practical scalers, giving evidence under oath, testified that to their certain knowledge in the year 188!) and 1800 raids were made on the islands by the "George 11. White," the " Daniel Webster," tlie "Mollie Adams," and the '" Adele." , 75fi. In 1890, off the North-east rookery, SL Paul Island, on the 15th and 10th June, ^^0' .'Y there were two schooners hovering, with boats out. From the 1st to the 4th July ^K^xJJ^^ tlie whaling barque " Lydia " was cruizing along close in shore. Mr. 'I'ngle, the "/LJLic." Company's agent, saw a boat in a fog sealing within 200 yards of the beach; ho fired at 129 ICjJj ct^ 'aidt C^irl\.4i^-^ She 'oo 'ii~^ pui. /fc 6^ s**-^'"' it with his rifle ; an unseen vessel at once began to blow her fog-horn, the understood" signal of recall to all boats out. On the 28th August a schooner anchored close to North-cast Point. Next day the revcnue-cruizer " Rush " boarded her. She proved to be the " Kate Anna," but had no skins on board. For tlie next eight days a schooner was reported off the same rookery, anchoring close in, lowering her boats, and continually shooting seals within half-a- mile of the shore. Nothing appears to have been done to stop her, although Colonel Murray afterwards reijorted that there were any number of dead pups found at a later date along the beach. In August the schooner " Adcje" was boarded and captured, all her crew hcing ashore raiding. She was brouglit into the bay. The schooner "C. D. Rand" was taken by the cruizcr " Rush," in North-east Bay. Her Scotch captain, declaring himself to be a member of the Salvation Army, protested he was not and could not bo scaling, because it was Sunday. The only evidence given by the watchmen on shore was that they "had seen a boat." The schooner was released. In September 1890 a large white schooner sailed into North-east rookery to land a party. The Aleut watchmen fired four shots from Martini-Henry's across her bow returned about 100 shots and sailed away. 7.^j7. In the same year, on St. George Island, numerous raids or attempts were re- ported. Four distinct attempts were made at Zapadnie rookery. The "Helen Blum " and " Unga" failed to secure any seals. The " Flying Dutchman" [" Adele "] secured many skins, and it is actually reported that she would have made a great haul hut that her crew at the critical moment obtained access to licjuor. One schooner was surprised in the act, and departed leaving 100 females killed on the beach, the skins of which were taken and . ^ salted by Mr. Webster, on behalf of the Company, as we were informed by Captain^<-/J/'^ Lavender. On the 17th September no loss than three schooners were in the offing, and one attempted a landing, but retired when fired at by the watchmen. In the same year, it ^ was also reported that one of the district salt-houses had been broken open by the crew of -^"-^ a vessel, and all the salted skins carried off. tC^-^*^ . 758. Colonel Murray, tho cautious Treasury Agent on St. George, informed us that Cv (. \h .^>M\^ be had examined the traces remaining of many raids that had taken place, unknown to the %^^,,u^ Ittu'Jh) authorities. On one occasion he had seen the fresh- blood-stained tracks down which the ^^/ carcasses had been hauled to the boats ; on another, he and his companion, on a fairly dark night, had come across tliirteen dead seals, clubbed the night hclbre. They bad fired twenty-live shots to warn off the raiders, and had noticed, incidentally, that these shots did not in tho least disturb the seals around. 759. In 1891, we found all the resident officials and natives persistent in their complaints of raids, and their reports of schooners hovering around the shores with intent to raid, and of that being reported especially on foggy days. When we first arrived at St. Paul Island, on the morning of Monday, the 27th July, the Treasury Agent, Colonel . . Murray, came off at once in a boat, and besought us to proceed without delay to the North- »^ 'V^'C/V east rookery, as shots had been beard there repeatedly on tiio previous day, and at night '^'^'T^ . ''r^ close along the shore. Major Williams, the Chief Treasury Agent, and Mr. Redpath, 'l^^^^'*^^- the manager for the Company, had driven over 12 miles to .\ortb-east rookery to see what could be done. When we went to the Com])any's house, Mr. Tingle, the general superin- tendent of the Company, was jicrpetualiy working the telephone to North-east rookery and reporting that schooners were there. The vivid impression jiroduccd on us at the time was that whatever tlie actual amount of raiding in progress, both Government and Com[)any were absolutely without proper means to stop it. On the '_'9th July we saw a brigantine sail boldly right past the settlement, but there were no means at hand either to detain or even to identify her. In the late autumn the revcnue-cruizer "Bear " remained near the islands for thirty- , six days, and then proceeded to coal at Oimalaska ; the day after she left the islands a ^' ^- '■Li>-d«-tA< steam sloop raided the Great Eastern rookery on St. George Island. ' --v.j 7*)0. Corroborative evidence has been attbrded in 1891 by the newspaper corre spondents who visited Behring Sea. _ . . - ' " ^ . , , , .^ //?^. lloi According to their accounts, Captain Alexander '^'^'''^ • Carlson, of San Francisco, bad been a persistent raider since 1884. Captain Hansen, ia'^^-~y^2r^ the " Flying Dutchman " [" Adele,"] |)erpetrated many raids, until hi^ vessel was wrecked (^"^V^ li-r^^-^a^^ last year. In 1891 ho wished to obtain ii coasting clearance for the '' Borcalis," but bis VJ-> provided with ample means for sto[)ping raids. It should be remembered also that the ' San Francisco scalers have asserted that the possibility of raiding, a most profitable IL^D^i^ L-di/t. operation, encourages scalers of a certain class to fit out sealiug-schooners and enter fjj^} Behring Sea, and it the local authorities made raiding the great risk that it should be, they would take one practical step towards reducing the number of vessels which engage in this illegitimate and most destructive methods of sealing. {m-w^^<^.yc^-U>^ ) ledged that the danger was great. At one time, sixteen Cossack soldiers were stationed on ' ''Wilfctw, each island authorized to fire on all raiders, and at the present time this foree consists of thirty-six armed native watchmc. under four Cossacks. The Company's trading steamer cUj^^-^m 4^ fL,M,/w ^^"^' theless, one for which the national solely responsii)le. Thus, the BritisI; any ' 19.700 1865 40.000 ? ItiZH 23,228 pups. 1866 12,000 ? 1829 20,811 1867 75,000 I8:i0 18,034 1868 242,000* , ik;u 16,034 1869 87,000 1832 16,446 1870 23,773 1833 10,412 1871 97,002 1834 15.751 1872 101.698 183.') 6,580 1873 101,555 1836 6,590 1874 107,932 1837 6,802 1875 101,249 1838 0,(1110* 1876 89,478 1839 6,000» 1877 77,956 Average nunual killing of about * 4,600 p\ips 1810 1841 8,000» 8,000* 1878 1879 101,394 106.908 1812 1843 10,370 11,240 1880 1881 100,631 101,734 1844 1 1 ,924 1832 101,736 not included. 1845 13,637 1883 77,063 1846 15.070 1884 101,013 1847 17.703 1885 101,509 1848 14,650 1886 100,772 1849 21,150 1887 100,795 1850 6,770 1888 100,450 1851 6,564 1889 100.135 1852 6,725 1890 20,995 Not ' 'cludinK 185o 18,035 pups 1854 26,146 1891 12,071 Approximntc, probably 270,000 if St. Oeorge Island be ineluded. f^'uM.X-ih-. Total Shipments of Skins (by periods) made by the Russian American Company and the succeeding Alaska Commercial Company. Includes some skins from the Commander Islands and cl.sewhere— Skins. Russian-American Company (and Antecedent United An.erican Company), 1799 to 1821 (both inclusive). 23 years. , .. .. '.. 1,232,374 (Elliott, Ccn>ua Report, p. 70.) Russian-American Com])any (second period), 1822 to 1841 (both inclusiTe), 20 years .. ..' .. .. .. .. .. 458,502 (Bancroft. ]). 563, from Techmiiiolf: Klliott, Census Report, p. 70.) Russian-American Company (third period), 1842 to 1861 (both inclusive), 20 years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 338,600 (Uancroft, p. 582, from Techmiiioff.) Pribyloff Islands alone — Interregnum (1862 tii 1867), being years between last term of Rustian- Amcriean Company and period of United States' control (about) . . 242,294 (See Table of annual killing.) In 1 868 there were taken about .. .. .. .. .. 240,000 (Klliott, Census Report, p. 70.) In 1869 there were taken about .. .. .. ., ., 87,OCO (Kliintt, Census Report, p. 70.) Alaska Commercial Company, 1870 to 1889 (both inclusive), 20 years . , 1.840,364 (Parliamentary I'lijier [V, 6368], p. 45.) Totiil, 1799 to 1889 (91 yean) .. .. .. 4,439,134 ; ■ Average annual shipment of ekins . . . . . . . . , . 48,782 HIHWI 188 Sources of Information Utilized in the above Tables, the h.^(^ai 772. 1780. Shclikoff ((luotcd by Bancroft, vol. xxxiii, p. 192) states that 40,000 skins were secured in the first year of Iiiinting, 77.'5. 1787 to 180G. Taking Rusanott' s estimate of total killing of seals on Pribyloff f^^x^c^^^^t ids to 1800 at 1,000,000, the annual killini; during this period seems to have averaged li-a-^-^x^^^jlr Islands about .GOiOOO, though known to have been irregular from year to year. 774. 1807 to 181(), In 1817 Veniaiiiinov 's account of number of seals killed on Pribvlotf Islands begins. No exact data liiive been found for the years between 180(i and that date, but from the figures ([noted in Bancroft 's History (vol. xxxiii, p. 418) troni Matcrialui Istor Russ, a rough approximation may bo arrived at of annual killings in Behring Sea from I74.'> to 1822, a period exiending from tiie beginning of sealing for seventy-six years. The total number of skins ol)tained in tliis period was, according to the above figures, 2,324, 3G4. Deducting from this Veniaminov's figures for seals killed on the Pribyloff Islands from 1817 to 1822 (both inclusive), the number remaining for the years 1745 to 1810 (both inclusive) is 2,05(),8S0, or an average of 28,970 |)er annum. This of course includes skins taken on the fJommander Islands, with some obtained from natives in trade elsewhere. It also includes the years IH^) to 178.'j antecedent to the discovery of the Pribyloff Islands, during which it is known that mon; than 93,000 fur-seal skins were obtained, chiefly from the C^ommander Islands (Bancroft, pp. 111-191). It, l)Owe.-"r, does not include seals killed lor food on the Pribyloff Islands, and of whicJ! the sl.ins were not kept. It thus appears probable that, allowing the tiian the foregoing estimate, with which it, however, agrees fairly well. It also tallies well with the earlier years of Veniaminov's tabic. Tecbminoirs figures do not include seals killed Cor food or otherwise of which the skins were not ke|)t, but it if scarcely probable, i-ven including these, that the average annual killing on the PriijylofT Islands for the years in (juestion reached .jO,000. It may reasonably be assumed to have been between 45,000 and ")0,000, or, s ly, 47,500. As in the years helorc 1S07, the number killed from year to year is, however, known to have been irregular. 775. 1817 to J837 . The figures for these years are Veniaminov's, as ascertained by ^. . . Mr. Elliott from aii inspection of Shisenckoff's journal, and includes pups in the n umbers '^«>»**=yf r* ^■^-^^^j] It may, theriil'ore, probably be assumed that imps are included r^ v«A-v»>..i/^ given for 183.")-3fi throughout 776. 1838 to _ I8GQ. The figures for these years are taken from the Correspondence relating to Kur-seal Fisheries, printed in Washington in 1890. 777. 1801. Bancroft's total for years 1842-Gl (both inclusive) '', ::'<8,600. The total for years 1842-GO (both inclusive) is 308,901. This being dcdu(-,j.i from total for 1842-Gl gives the number of seals takeu in 18G1. , ' 778. 1802 . Elliott (p. 165) gives the total catch for I842-G2 (both inclusive) as "t^C^W 372,894. TTaiTcroft's total for 1842-Gl, 335,600, being deducted from this sum gives the number of seals taken in 18G2. ; 779. 18H 2 to 1S6 X. Both inclusive, being years of interregnum between last term of Russian American Coinjiany and United States' control of Pribyloff Islands, have been filled hyi)othct'cally by Klliott, who explains that, guided by inlormation obtained from the ?£Ct^f^ natives, he has proportioned the number ol' skins in the salt-houses on the islands in lS(i7 (40,000 to 48,(100) back to the latest figures given by Tcchminoff (1861). The figures %<.l.^:, for these years arc therefore far from satisfactory. A more complete examination of the subject has enabled moderately exact figures to be obtained for 1861 and 1862, as , explained above, while Bryant gives the number for 1867 as 75,000 (Allen, " Monograph of OtUix. North America Pinnepedia," p. 389) ; hut for the years 1863 to 1866 Elliott's approximate \/i ^^ estimates must still be taken. It is to be presumed that these figures represent only • Bancroft, howeTer, gives thn iigurcs for 1799 to 1821 (both inclmWe) aa 1,767,340 (p. 418), and no etplanatiou has been found of tfiis discrepanej. ;• 134 •marketable skins, not, inchuling pup skins and other rejected skins. As confirmatory of the api.roxiniate correctness of tiiese estimates, Dall may bo (|uotcd. Writinj? in 1868 (Alaska and its llesourees, p. 4!U)), lie says that of late years the Russians had not been Ma2^*^»^ allowed to take more than C(),{i()0 annually. TJryant, quoted by Allen, referring to this same period, says that for many previous years the Russians took but (ew seals, but the number has increased, so that in one year tO,f)0(i were taken. (Monograph of North America Pinnepedia, p. 380.) IMifHC 780. 1 8tJ8 and 1800. The tij,'ures for these yours are those given in Elliott's Census Report, p. 70, and are doubtless the most trustworthy that can be procured. ("lUr Atr« ^i) 781. 187(1. The (ifjure for this year includes pujjs, 4,000, and a large number of rejected skins. (Kx. Doe. No. 8ri, 44th Congress, 1st Session, p. f).3.) 1871 to ISSU. The figures for these years were taken from Correspondence relating to Behring s 8ea-scal risheiics. Parliamentary Paper [C. (i.'lGS], pp. 44-47, and include al! seals, other than pups, killed for any purpose. Prom 1870 to 188!) (both inclusive), J)2,8(3J! pups were killed for food, an average annual killing of 4,043. Off /tSo \\- VI. — nisTOUicAL Notes on the Condition of tiie Fuk-seal Kookebies of the Pribvloff Islands in Vaiuous Years.* 782. 17SC. Pribvloff discovered the islands now known ')y his name in June of this year, lie returned to the Asiatic coast with 31,100 fur-seal skins. It is elsewhere recorded that about 40,000 fur-seal skins in ail were taken on the islands in this year. (Bancroft's works, vol. xxxiii, pp. 18'), l'J2, 103.) In the first years (after the discovery of tlie islands), the seals in St. Gc Island were only five or si.\ tii.ies less than those on St. Paul, i.e., equal to one-sixt one-seventh of tliose on St. Paul. (Ven-aminov, quoted by Elliott in Census Re^ p. 147.) From 1786 to 1707 or 17'.)0. several Comi)anies were engaged in taking seals, without count or list. Veniaminov estimates ti.at .OO.OOO to 60,000 skins were obtained annually on St. Paul and 40,000 to 50,000 on St. George. He characterizes this as "horrible killing." (Quoted by l-'Jliott. Census Rei)ort, pp. 70, 140, and 147.) — Ct. 783. 1 700 . Tlie islands came under the control of the United American Company, which was organized at Irkutsk in August 1708. 784. 1800 . First year of control of Russian American Company, an out-growth of the last, organized in 1700. // Qlk- fdi ^^■'" l^2ii» Baranoff ordered Banner to go to the Pribyloff Islands, which "had not y^n t/Mj^' ^ — "been visited for many years" (by tiaders), and where a vast number of skins must have been accuniuhitcd by the natives. (Bancroft, p. 417.) /f~6<^ 786. 1804 . Between IhOl and 1804, the Russian American Company are said to have ^ ^ accumulated aoout 800,000 skins, nianv of which rotted for want of caie. (lianeroft, p. 477.) Vu-w'« -tr^ 787. 1805. Vemaminov states that no care as to the preservation of leal life on the islands wt.s exercised till this year. ( Census Repo rt, p. 141.) 1806. Resanofl' visited St. Paul Island in July. He found that a very vasteful killing of seals had been in progress, that 30,000 had been killed lor their flesh alune, while over 1,000,000 in all had been killed up to date. He was informed that the seals had decreased 90 per cent, in number since the earlier years, and concluded that if the siau'Jiter was not reduced a few years would witness extirpation. He ordered the killing t i be stopped ; but from the season of his visit it is certain that some seals had been killed -a 1806 before his arrival. (Bancroft, p|). 44.% 44G.) 788. 180G-1807 . Following Resanoff's order, no seals were killed on the Pribyloff Islands during these years (with the probable exception above noted). Nearly all the natives were removed to Unalaska. ( Census ReiK i yt, p- 1 I0-) ' ^o'y 780. "IJ^OH. Killing was recommended on St. George, and in 1810 also on St. Paul, but not till 1812 did it amount to half the number killed in former years. Females as ■well as males were taken. Killing without proper supervision continued from this time till 1822. (V 'eniaminoy . quoted by Elliott. Cen sus Report, p. liO.. ! ''/"/O 790. 181 Z. The fur-seals on St. George were estiinated to amount to a quarter of those on St. Paul ; seals on the latter island having decreased more in proportion. (Veniaminov, quoted by Elliott. Census Report, p. 147.) /fOi'? * Notes given below which In a result of our own iuquia ;9, ir* incloied in brackets, thus [ ]. . , ^, . .^ li yg, 136 791. 10 17 to 1837 . A grndti. 1 diminution of seal life on the islands stntcd to have / i'/P'/rV;} been in progress in liicsc years, visible in each year, but not always equal, according to Vcniaminov. This is also indicated by Veniaminoy's quoted figures of annual catch. (Census Report, pp. 143, H7.) 792. 1820. Vcniiiiiiin nv characterizes thf; annual killing of 50,000 seals, which ^S'T-'C) occurred at about this date, as excessive and leading to dimunition. (Census Report, p. 147.) 793. 1822 . First year of second term of Russian American Company. Moorayvefl ^ ■ (ionary, or continued to decrease. (V enianiinov. ((uotcd by Klliott. Census Report, pp. . 10, 147.) 798. I8'J2. Venianiinov incidentally states that In this year an excessive number of females were observed on the islands without young. (Quoted by Elliott. Census Report, p. 141.) 799. 1834 . The number of seals to be taken at St. Paul was largely reduced, tlie killing being limited to about 4,000 instead of about 12,000. (Venia niino v, quoted, by Elliott. Census Report, j). 142.) From Veniaminov's table the rc3uction ordered in 1834 took effect onlv in 1835. This rest or ^'^Mpobska " continued on St. Paul ' Island during 1835, 183C, and 1837. 800. 1835 . r ii. Aslonionotf. a native on St. Paul Island, informed us that ho remembered being at North-east Point in this year, when the Russians allowed only seven seals a-day to be kill(?d there for food.] 1830. J^Uiot t, from information received from natives on the Pribyloff Islands, states that the winter of 1835-3G was exceedingly severe. Great quantities of ice surrounded the islands, and remained heaped on the shores till August 183G. A great mortality of seals resulted, so that, according to native count, only 4,100 seals of all classes, exclusive of pups, remained on the rookeries of St. Paul. (Cens us Repor t, p. 49.) Mr. Elliott has informed us that, according to a journal by the Rev. K. Shiscnekoff, only 100 hoUuschickic were obtained in 1830, the remainder of the catch for this year being pups. Bryant, also according to native evidence, gives the date of this destruction of seals as 1842. ( Allen , Monograph of North American Pinnipeds, p. 388.) 801. 1842. First year of third term of Russian American Company. Bancroft states that a system of " alternation " in hunting grounds was adopted, which, in the case of the Pribyloff Islands, led to great increase of numbers of seals. (Bancroft's Works, vol. xxxiii, p. 582.) ' 802. 1 842 to 18(il (iiielusive). The Russian American Company's shipments showed a heavy decrease ii; fur-seal (and other) skins, as compared with the preceding period of twenty years. This is mainly attributed to the cricroachment of foreign traders — particularly American whalers. (Bancroft's Works, vol. xxxiii, p. 582.) 803. 1845 . The great importance of never disturbing the breeding seals was first recognized in this year. (Censu s Repor t, p. 143.) 804. 1 847. U[) to this""(Iale males and females had been killed indiscriminately for skins ; thereafter only males were killed. (Cen sus Rep ort, p. 49.) 805. I 8C2 to 18 iiL(both inclusive). Interregnum on Pribyloff Islands following the close of the Russian American Company's third term. 80G. 1862^ Techmainciil says, referring to this year: "In earlier times more (seal- skins) were taken than in the later ; at present there arc taken from the Island of St. Paul 1 0,000 annually, without diminishing the number for future killing ; on St. George, 6,000." (Quoted by Elliott . Census Report, p. 103.) 807. 18G7. Bryan t speaks of the judicious administration and gradaal increase [222p — 2 N // 12. .■(R->- 'J2j 5^*^ iif of eeal life on the islands under the Russian rule for many years previous to this date. In the spring of 1867, however, the Russians, knowing that the islands were about to be surrendered to the United States, took a much increased nntnber of seals, amounting to 75,000. (M oiiograph of North AniCiican Pinnipeds, p. 3bi*.) 808. 15^8. Followin)^ the cession of Alaska to tlio United states in 1867 a period of lawlessness ensued on the Pribylotf Islands, and in 1868 a very great number of seals was killed. The number so killed in this year is estimated at 242,000 by Elliott ; at 250,000 by Bryant. Riva) Companies were at work, and the killing appears to have gone on without count, list, or supervision. In the autumn of this year, however, Congress passed a special Resohition, prohibiting the killing of seiils until further action ;)f Congress. (C ensu s Report, p. 25.) Hryan t states that, previous to 18G8, the selection of seals killed had, under the Russian regime, been left to tli ■ natives, and that moirt of those killed were under •'! years of age, including many yearlings. The killing being from this more numerous class plenty of males were left to reach maturity, and the rookeries were well supplied with active males. The males of all ages not engaged in actual breeding were about equal in number to the combined totals of beachmasters and females so engaged. Of these excluded males about 30 per cent, were virile, and there was thrs one efficient male to every three or four females, or about three times as many as actually retjuiied. As a consequence, all females were served before the 10th August. (i Monogran h ol North American Pinnipeds, pp. 390, 398, &c.) [Messrs. D . tVebste r and T. F. Morgan were on the island in this year. They informed us that the seals were clubbed then as now, lire-arms being used only in self- defence among the rival sealers. The killing was directed to yoiing males, but about 40,000 females were killed inadvertently. The limit to the number killed was reached only when salt was exhausted. Seals were more abiiiulant at this time than ever since. It also appears that the numbers above quoted as representing seals killed in this year do not include St. George Island, where some 30,000 skins are supposed to have beea taken.] 809. 1869. Practically indiscriminate killing appears to have continued in this year, though it is stated that seals were taken only for the subsistence of the natives, and under direction of the Treasury Department. (Census Report, p. 25.) The gentlemen in charge do not seem to have known the number of seals actually killed. Agent Wicker stated that l.'iO.OOO skins liad been taken on the two islands. Bryant states that this was iinijossible, as when he left the islands in August only 10,000 skins had been obtained. Mclntyre says that, under the orders given by him, 42,317 seals were to be killed for food on the two islands. Major-General Thoma s afterwards ordered that as many seals as should be required for native food be killed. (United States' Senate, Ex. Doc. No. 32, list Congress, 2nd Session, pp. 24, 37.) In consequence of this slaugliter in 1 868-69 , seals are reported to have " disappeared rapidly from the Pribylotl' Islands, but two or three years later began to return in vast numbers" (Bancroft's works, vol. x.vxiii, p. 038). Coincidently vitli this, Bryant states that fur-seals were very abundant along the coasts of Oregon, Washington Territory, and British Columbia as compared with former years (Monograph of North American Pinnipeds, p. 1332). Bryant estimated the otal number of seals on the isUinds ;.t this date at 3,230,000. (Mo nograp h of North Ainerican Pinnii)eds, pp. 390, 392.) Vfej utyre, Government Agent, after stating that for some years succeed ng the discovery of the Pribyloff Islands 100,000 skins were annually taken by the K .ssians, adds, "But this it seems was too large n number, for the decrease in the yearly retu-n was constant until 1812, when they had become nearly extinct. In 1858, 31,800 were taken, which was the largest catch in any one yea'- until 1S07, when, as 1 am inforni'jd, 80,000 or 100,000 were secured. From the most careful computation I have been able to make, I am ol the opinion that no more than 100,000 can be taken annually without incurring the risk of again diminishing the yearly production." (United States' Senate, Ex. Doc. No. 32, 41sl Congress, 2nd Session.) ' The Alaska Commercial Company was incorporated in this year. 810. 1870. The general conditions of seal life on the islands remained as described above (under 1868), according to Bryant. An Act was passed by Congress providing that seals should be killed on the PribylofF Islands only during thi' months of June, July. September, and October, tiiat killing should be confined to males, and that the number killed for skins in each year should not exceed 7;),000 on St. Paul and 25,000 on St. (Jeoi-ge. Respceting the number thus hxed. Dull says : " It is probable that 100,000 might 1-r safely killed," but suggests that the number should be increased fir diminished as experienre proved to be i;eecssary. (.Xiasku and its Resources, pp. 496, 497.) MHiiiiyu 137 / ^ 7 i- /73, It was now found that the S-ycar-old seals afforded the Iicst marketable skins, and the killing was directed to those. The " reserves " became reduced to half thoir former numoer, and each beachniaster had on the average fifteen females. When the rookeries hioke up at tbe cloHe of the breeding season, the females lingered instead of leaving them as before. In September and October a few young were born, showing that some females had not been se/ved at the proper time in 1872. The females were still increasins 'i per cent, annually in number. ( Bryant in Monograph of North American Pinnipeds. S\-i. 1871. The condition of seal life remained about the same as in 1873. The "reserves were in about the same numbers, hut contained more young as compared with fully mature males. The females appeared in similar number, and, on the whok', there was an evident improvement in the condition of the rookeries. (Bryant in Monograph of North American Pinnipeds.) An Act of Congress, approved March 1874, authorized the i^ecretary of the Treasury to rearrange the proportion of catch to be taken from St. Paul and St. ticorge respectively, and tv) designate the months of killing. Under this provision, the time of killing was e.\tended to include the first half «' the moiMi of August. ( Bancroft 's Works, vol. xxyiii, p. 638.) 815. In 1874, Li eutenant W. M qx'ianl. V i.S., investigated the conditions of seal life on the I^)yloff Islands as Special Uovernment Agent, lie recommended that enlarged copies of maps of the breedinc; grounds should he furnished to the agents in charge of the islands, who should be required to compare these eacli year with the respective breeding rookeries. "This, if carefully done, will afford data, after a time, by which the hsheries can be regulated with comparative certainty." Respicting the number of seals killed, he says: "Since 1S70 thc'-e have been killed on both islands, in round numbers, 112,000 young male seals each year. Wh-jther this slaughter has prevented the seals from increasing in number or not, and, if so, to what e.\tent, can only be deduced from their past history, which, unfortunately, is imperfectly known." Me is inclined to think that no decrease had occurred between 1872 .uid 1871, but slates thatthe period was too short to decide whether the killing was excessi' e. lie adds : "The number n')w killed animally is entirely experimental, and we lui^'e nothing to start frow: as a basis.'' Maynard further states that the nunihcr of bidls in this year was not more than one-tenth that of the females. (Mouse of Rc|)resenlatives, Ex . Doc. No. 43 , 44tli. Congress, Ist Session, pp. 5, 6.) ~~~ //9«i '^' ncmBn 189 [Mr. D. Webster^states that the skins taken in 1874 and 1875 ranged in weight from 6 lbs. to 11 lbs.] Elliott believes +''at the number of seals did not materially alter in the twelve or fifteen years previou to 1874. He estimated the nun.bcr of breeding seals on the islands at 3,193,420, the v hole number of seals on the islands at 4,700,000. (Census Report, pp. 57-G7.) /i'pf 816. 1875. The killing was this year confined to seals less than .'< years old, and more 2-ycar-bIds were taken than in any year since 1870. This left a large number of males to mature. Many young were, however, born as late as August. (Bryant in Monograph of North American Pinnipeds.) In liis oliicial Report for this year, Bryant protests against the killing of pups tor food, characterizing it as "a great waste," and addintc, " I can find no precedent for this previous to the transfer of the island to the United States, only that the former Russian Fur Company allowed, as an extra indulgence to the natives, after the ch^.c of tlie season's sealmg, to take .'iOO of these young seals for feasting." (House of Representatives, Ex. Doc. No. S3, 44th Congress, 2nd Session, p. IH.) Bryant also states in the same Report (p. 175) that a residence of seven successive seasons on the islands iiad convinced him that the killing cf 100,000 annually did not leave a sufficient number of males to mature for the wants of the increase in the number of females. He explains his reasons for this in some detail. /^?(,, 817. 1376. No marivcd change in the conditions this year, but many females landed to bring forth their young after tlie 2()th .July. A heavy gale with snow occurred on the 30th October, driving seals into the water, from which only a small number returned, many pups being lost. Bryant anticipates that the result of this loss will appear in 1880, •when the pups should reach maturity. The decrease in breeding males, consequent on excessive slaughter of 1S68 and 1801), was in this year greatest. (Brvant in Monograph of North American Pinnipeds, p. 399.) "" Brj'ant again states tliat he believes the number 100,000 fixed for killing to have been too~TiTgl>, and that in f.is report he had recommended that it be reduced by 15,000. (House of Representatives, Ex. Doc. No. 023, 44th Congre.ss, 1st Session, Report on Alaska Commercial Company, p. 99.) John F. Millei, President of J'oard of Directors of Alaska Commercial Company, says : " Our agents report a very considerable increase in the number of females since 1S71. We cannot tell that there is much increase in the number of males." (Report on the Alaska Commercial Comjjany, p. 41.) 818. 18/li JSrvimt states that this year there was an evident increase in the number of breeding males. Ho eslimatcs that there were about 1,800,000 breeding stMs on the islands, as against 1,130,000 in 18G9. (Monograph of North American Pinnipeds, p. 410.) 819. 1S2_8. r^lr. D. Webste r informed us that he did not ohs( rve much decrease in the number of seals till this year.] 820. 1879,, [From evidence obtained by us, it appears that in this year it became necessary to extend the area of driving for the fust time, so as to include Polovina and Tolstoi rookeries, and that the salt-house near Polovina was built at or about this time.] 821. 18^0. The number of seals on the Prihyloif Islands is said to have been greater than ever before, the increase 'cing particularly observable in young seals. (Cruise of the " Corwin"' in 1880, p. 53.) Coloiic KJ. Mur ray dales the beginning of a steady decrease of seals from this year. (Senate, TJx. Doc, No. 19, 51st Congress, 2nd Session.) 822. 1881. Ellio tt, in his re|)ort printed in this year, strongly protests against the unnecessary slaughter of pups for food purposes. He states in the same report that the breeding rookeries have heen gradually increasing since 1857. (Census Report, pp. 119, 170.) "Vy, \\. Tnylnrj Assistant Agent of Treasury Department on St. Paul in 1881, s.iys that according to information received from those wiio had been a number of ycar.s "ii the Island of St. George, there were as many seals there as ever. (Ex. Doc. No. 3883 ; 50th Congress, 2nd Session, Fur-seal Fisheries of Alaska, p. 44.) ^fj, 2. ^23. 1882. Dr . 11. H. Melntvre . after .June 1870 Superintendent of the Seal Fisheries of Alaska for tlie lessees, states that since 1S70 the numhci' of seals on the Pribyloll" Islands had increased every year. (Fur-s'-al Fisheries ol Alaska, ji. 110.) Sjjcaking in 1888 (see under, 1888), he, however, places the i>cginning of decrease in this year. Tbt same gentleman reports that at this time the j convinced of tlic great value of the China fur trade, and this policy of restriction on tlic part of the Russians at once turned maritime entor])risc to the Soutli Seas for the necessary supjily of furs, and in a very few years made secure the footing of the English and Americans in the Cliina and other markets. 840. At a very early period, the English were already endeavouring to collect fur-seal skins for the China market in the seas known to their regular East [ndia traders. Thus, in February 177'^, when the vessels conveying Lord ]\Iacartney to China called at the ^P? -^ Islands of Auioterdam and 8t. Paul, in the Southern Indian Ocean, in latitude 39° south, ^i^i^ii— »5u^ they found a sealing party there engaged in carrying out a contract to supply 25,000 J^, . X^y/,-^^ ()rt^ skins of the Phocii Urslnu for the Canton market. 'I'he descriiition sent home was as xo , . lollows : — ) "The seals are found b.erc in greater nmnbers in the summer than in the winter .... In the summer months they come ashore, sometimes in droves of SOO to t,000 at a time, out of which about 100 are destroyed, that numbei: being about as many as five men can peg down to dry mi the course of the day In general they are not shy JMost of those that come ashore are females, in the proportion of thirty to one male. AVhether in these animals nature has fi.xed on such apparent disproportion between the sexes, or whether, while the females have occasion to seek the shore, the males continue in the deep, has not hitherto been observed by observations here."* In 1789 the Island of Amsterdam was visited by Captaiii Cox, of the ''.Mercury, who reported as follows: "On oui tirsl landing we found the shore covered with such a multitude of seals that wc were obliged to disperse them before we could get out of the boat We i)rocured here 1,000 skins of very superior cpiality."t e 841. The seal-skin for long found its chief nuirkct in China and Russia, where it became ^\^i a coveted and fashionable fur, bu* its gradual introduction into I'nrope and America dates Jv,^ from the time when South Sea sealing wns first taken in band as a regular industry. It », /- / ■ r^ has been calculated that from first to last not less than ]7,*'00,000 skins were thus jilaced ^iSldzJ d-Ux- in the market, and without (loui)t it was the threatened failure of this enormous supply <;^_w) o from the south which about the year 1S40 led the Russians, Hritisb, and Americans to '^ pay special attention to the supply of fur-seals known to exist in the North Pacific Ocean. 842. The conditions in the South Seas difl'ereil catcgoric.'illy from (hose now prevailing 'Menii^.u nA.ci,-^/"^ the way in pelagic sealing. The method of slaughter nniversally adopted was precisely ''"^'^^---, / K f^-O. that oi' the While raiders of the North Pacific. No labour or ert'ort w:is wasted iii any' endeavours to eajiture (U- kill the seal at sea. Tlu' simple method was invariably adopted of establishing parties of men on all likely beaches, camped in wooden huts nr under canvas, and engaged in slaughtering antl skinning all the seals that landed, without distinction of age, size, or sex. Captain W'eddel pithily writi^s of the killing in the South Shetlands in ISi'l-'J:" : '•Whenever a seal reaches the bench, of whatever denomination, be was iniinediatcly kilU'd and his skin taken; and by this means, at the end of the second year, the animals became nearly extinct. A vessel of from 200 to 400 tons broug' t out from the home port the men and camping equipt>\ nt. She would land pa.'ties o'l various hea(dies, and then would he herself safely moo ed in some handy harbour, Poi ts, and even tenders of :10 and 40 tons, would travel between this vessel and the various islands until the season's fishery was over. Occasionally the work of destrrction was more exijcditiously performed when the barge or brig carrying such landing larties came upon a lar,;e rookery alrcjidy well filleil out with seals, tor tlien the whole work of the en i/.e wouM i)e accomplished in a lew days." Such senling partic.i were found at work by several coloring expeditious, as, for iusf.nuce, by Her .Miijesty's ships " Erebu,' " = -ul ""Terror." S44. The more detailed records of these South Sea adventurers yield many ]ioiids of V^'.<,\% ^ iW^ interest, and it may be well to (jnote from the earlier descrijitions of the fur-seal as indicating how rapidly so valuable a fur secured the notice of the early ndventurer.s, and bow speedily their succvssors brought abonf the commercial cxtermiuatimi of the seal. <•*> •■ '-"Xvw/Oiy.i • G. \V. Cfark on EareJ Poals.- -" I'roceodindi of thu iCoological Society of Lomluo, I ST,')," (i. 652. t IbiJ., p. G51. 142 AVI (LJC^'. 845. In the sixteenth century, Sir Frances Drnke, tlie first Eii;?lislnniin wlio penetrated Cj. '^ As ,.i^. to the South Seas, fre(iuently reports tlie presence and comments on tiie j ecuharities of seals. These formed .indeed, a chief source for the supply of I'resli meat. On his great voyage of circumnavigation in 1577-7*^, seals were taken in the JJio de la Plata, and again '£■};>. a --ti tD- "- ' -n — ■• ■ ?• — -•- —„..,. , ,- ^ I . In the observations of Sir IJichard Ihiwkins on bis " Voyage into the South Sea" in ISO'S, we read, in his notes made in (he Straits of ^Magellan : "Of Seals or Sea-AVolves — One day, having ended our hunting of peugi rns, one of our mariners, walking about the island, discovered a great company of hioales or aea-w(dves (so called for that they are in the sea as the wolves on the land), alvising us that he left them sleeping with their bellies tostiiig against the sunne. AVee provided ourselves wi(h staves and other weapons and sought to steal upon them at unawares to surprise some of tbcni, aiul coming down the side of a hill we were not discovered till we were close upon them; notwithstanding their sentiiiell, before we could approach, with a great howle waked them, wee got between the sea and some of them, but they shunned us not, for they came directly upon us, and though we dealt here and there a blow, yet not a man that withstood them escaped the overthrow. They reckon not of a musket shot, a sword pierceth not their skiime, and to give a blow with a static is as to smite upon a stone; only in giving a blow upon his snowt presently he fallctlj down dead. "After they had recovered the water they did as it were scorne us, defie us, and danced before us untill we had shot some musket shott through (hem, ami so they appeared no more. "This fish is like unto a calfe, with four legs, but not above a spainie long; his skiane is heyrc like a calfe, but these vrere ditlerent to all that [ have ever scene, yet I have scene of them in many parts, for these were greater and in their former parts like unto l^'ons, with shaggy heyre and mostaches. " They live in the sea, and come to slcepe on the land, and they ever have one that watclieth, who adviseth them of any accident. '•They are beneficial I tn man in their skinnes for many purposes ; in their mostaches for pick-tooths, and in their fatt (o make traine-oyle. 'i'his may suffice for the scale, for that he is well kiiortu." S47. In the se\enleent!i century ihese notices still continue frequent. Thus Henry Brewer landing at Valentine I'ay on the tith March, 1G42, writes : " Saw among the rocks several sea lions and sea dogs, about the bigness of a good J'^uronean call'; some of a greyish, some of a brownish colour, making a noise not unlike our sbecii." 848. Dampier, in 1(JH;5, gives tlie following very full general description of seals : — { '•The seals arc sort of creatures pretty well known, yet it may not be amiss to describe them. They are as big as calves ; the head of them like a dog, therefore called by the Dutch, the 'sea hounds.' L'nder each shoulder grows a long thick fin; these serve them to swim with when in the sea, and are instead of legs to them when on the land, for raising their bodies up on end by the hel[i of their lins or stumps, and so having their tail parts drawn close under them, they rebound as it were, unci throw their bodies forward, drawing their hinder parts after them, and (ben "gaiu rising up ;uid springing forward with their l'(ne parts altern.-ilely, tliey lie tumbling thus n|) and down all the wliile they are moving on land. From their shoulders to their tails they grow tapering like fish, and have two snnill (ins on each side (he rump, which is connnonly covered with tlieir fins. These Ihis servo instead of a tail in the sea, and on la id they sit on them when they give suck to their young. Their hair is of divers colours, us lihick, grey, dun spotted, looking very sleek and pleasant when (h(>y come first out of the sea. For those at John Fernando have fine short fur, the like I have not taken notice of anywhere but in these seas. Here arc always thousands, I might say possildy millions, of them, either sitting on the bays, or going and ccnniiig in tlie sea round the island, which is covered {fc*X with them (as they lie at the top of the water [ilayingand sunning themselves) for a mile or two from the shore. When they cmne out of (he sea they bleat like sheep for their young, and though (bey jiass through hundreds of other's young ones before they come to their own, yet they will not sutler any of them to suck. The young ones are like puppies, and lie much ashore, hut when heatcu by any of us, they, as well as the old • "Hakluyt," vol. iii, p. 733. t Il''J-. P' S04-5. i '■ i).iiiii)iLr'8 Vojagcs," vol. i. j). 89. ^t^-^- \i\^)- 143 "^^. L-^A^*'*-- U~l -vl^ ones, will make toward the sea, and swim very swift and niml)lo, though on shore they lie very shiggishly, and will not go out of our ways unless we heat them, hut snap at us. A hlow on the nose bOon kills them. Large ships might here load themselves with seal- skins and tranu oyle, for they are extraordinarily fat. Seals are found as well in cold as in hot climates." 849. In the British Museum are kept the admirably written 5ISS. of certain other voyagers, and in that relating the experiences of Captain Strong in the " AVelfare," in 1689, the writer, named Simson, states that on the 12th September, r,* the Island of Juan Fernandez, " We went on shore, but could hardly sett a foot down, the seals lay so thick on the place. Besides we saw a great number of sea-lyons, not unlike other lyons in countenance, colour, and fierceness. They had no fTcct but ffins. " As for the seals they were of a dark colour and grissled, but under the long pile there was couched a fur of an incomparable fineness, that if it could be felt it would ansner all ye ends of beaver furr, wherefore a great many of their skins were brought to England." This is probably one of the earliest accounts of the commercial value of the fur-seal skins. 850. In the eighteenth century navigators continue to report the abundance of seals. Xvhi_C^^^u~^_ Thus Captain Wood Rogers, taking Alexander Selkirk oft' the Island of Juan Fernandez in ^^^ a i^ l^^ 1709, records a lengthy description of the fur-seal seen there at that date.* ' 851. The amount of information at this period extant on the fur-seal is well emphasized by Chaplain Richard Walter, of Lord Anson's flag-ship which refitted at Juan Fernandez from June to September 1740. This chaplain gives a very full and elaborate account of all the natual features of the islands and of their Fauna and Flora, but he dismisses seals in tiie single sentence : " The scnl, numbers of v.hich haunt this island, hath been so often mentioned by former writers that it is unnecessary to say anything particular about them in this place." 852. Captain Carteret, writing of Masafuera in 1707, says : " The seals were so numerous that I verily think if many thousands were killed in a night they would not be missed in the morning ; we were obliged to kill a noted number of them as, when we walked the shore they were continually running against us, making at the same time a most terrible noise. These animals yield excellent train oil, and tloir hearts and plucks were very good r iling, being in taste something like those of a hog, and their skins were covered with the finest fur I ever saw of the kind." 853. Ciiptain Cook, in his ofiicial Report of Ihevoyage of the "Resolution " in 1771, ^^ ^w(t •■i'.. Ljt-x^Xi\^ calling attention to the great number of fur-seal on New Georgia, is generally credited with being first to direct the attention of the English adventurers to the commercial advantages of South Sea sealing. But before this period, and probably following on the suggestions made as early as 1690, Englishmen were already at work on this new han'est of the sea. Thus, when Bucrrcli, the Spanish Governor at Buenos Ayres, sought to recover the Falkland Llands for Spain in 1770, his first task was to forcibly eject from their established port and station the "English sealers" at port Egmont, an act for which Spain afterwards made full restitution. 854. Before the end oi the eighteenth century scaling in the South Seas had assumed ve-y extensive dimensions. Not only Avere the furs regarded as of great value, but the oil, techi 'cally known at the time as "train-oil," assumed an important commercial positici. Attention seems to have been first directed to the island-i and coasts of South ^ America. AVe hear of no less a number than 1,000,01)0 skins being taken to Canton, from the neighbourhood of Masafuera in one year, in 1798, while before the seals were r^.. i^f.^^-' exterminated on that one island in 1807, no less than 3,500,000 sk'ns had been ''9t. taken. 855. All along the coast of Chile and Peru, even as far north as the Islands of St. Felix tX^ #-jS>vi.^ and on the Galapagos group, seals were hunted. By the end of the century there were not less than thirty New E' gland vessels so employed on that coast. Meanwhile, in 1783, Dame Haley, of Boston, had sent a 1,000 tons ship, the " States," down to the Falkland" Islands, where she procured a cargo of 13,<100 skins of fur-seal which were sold in Boston at 50 cents a-piece, shipped to Calcutta, where under the name of " sea- otter " they were sold for 2 dollars, and eventually reaching Canton, where they fetched 5 dollars per skin. 85(1. The methods of .slaughter involved rapid extirpa' ion in any given breeding "^^-^^-^f-^^ "' place, and sealers came to be perpetually discovering and exhausting in succession every ' "'-^'>-*.— *v*fc<-*v place to which seal resorted, The islands around South America, Tristan dAcunha, the , *it,U — 3o H^njU 'J, I'm ., )j 861. Equally valuable to the treatment of the seals in the North Pacific is the more recent history of sealing in the South Seas. The excessive slaughter of seals by man on the l)roeding islands alone had brought about the commercial extermination of the once abundant fur-seal iieforc; the year 1830. From that period for thirty or forty years sealing was carried on but fitfully and St. *>-v— ^A^^ 60 VMIA/*"***- /^3o.• '<«>^vat*- -~— i seldom. Sir .lohn Ross, writing of Kerguelen Land in 1840, .says: " Of marine animals ^1 fii^o the sea-elephant and several species of seals were formerly in great abundance, and CrvJ^iJi), *»«-<-o nourisliing diet on which the sealers residing at times on one or other of the islands have*^ +t- «-<-,, usually lived." 8G7. Of Kcrguelen Island it is said: "Two of the whaling schooners killed over (^tA,uA^ ^tm), .seventy fur-seals on one day, and upwards of twenty on another It is a pity that i^ii^tttiwy^^^d some discretion is not u.sed in kUling the animals." . 868. Another entry tells us of tlie Messier Channel : "The steam-pinnace '.eft GrayIi<-2.*T-l«A.^'M-r?5:<^« from the National Museum, Melbourne, states of the Euoturia cinerca : "The decline or SJ^ "^M^'Cn, ' destruction of the fishery is certainly .attributable to the indiscriminate slaughter of the §,,,,,/,:.,,£x-.iti> • 871. At the time of the revival of sealing in the North Pacific in 1SG7 and following //?;> years, several more vessels were dispatched to the South Seas and very consideraUlo o e catches were made, although not in numbers at all comparable to those of the old — da^s. Nevertheless, vessels returned with cargoes of 1,000, 1,G00, and even 2,700 choice skins. ^ 872. A summary and autliorif.ative account of what occurred was given in 1880 by viiKv,C'A,W<^d.4v» the Honourable C. A. Williams, of Connecticut, lief • " Challenger Expedition lleporl," vol. i, p. 264 et seq. large sticks The Au.stralian ^« ^- *«*^ ' iStitX -Widl Ajt^-t' Lui,,Xii' (^ii-»t'^^^°^ points, were louna to yield n ttn^M it2lJi~j. localities seal life had lecupciutcJ -J- — — ^- ^^^ ^.^ ^^^,^ ^^^^^ ^g.Q ^^ jg^^ 14,6 ,. -minor points, were found to yield more or less seal. In this period of fifty years in these 'd to such an extent that there was taken from them in years Irom iS7U to 1877 perhaps 40,000 skins To-day tht-y are again exhausted I do not tliink that 100 seals could he procured from all the localities mentioned hy a close research." 873. According to authentic records, the sealers from New London ol)taiiied from the South Shctlaiids and the nci;j;hl)(iurhood of Cape Horn and Ticrra del Fuego [)2,Tii(> fur- seal skins between the years 1 S70 and 1880, hut sealers arc still at work, hy tlicir wasteful and indiscriminato slaughter, preventing the fur-seal of the South Seas from recuperating and being restored in numbers. 874. Thus, the actual experiences of South Sea sealing unmistakably emphasize the "serious dangers of indiscriuiinatc and wholesale slaughter on shore, and prove conclusively that, in the entire absence of pelagic scaling, it is perfectly possible practically to exterminate the seal race. 876. This serious result, actually achieved, is brought into still greater prominence when we bear in mind the measures adopted by several Governments of territories in the Southern Hemisphere, by special regulations or otherwise, to restore and preserve the fur- seal rookeries. The Governments which have set up such rcgubitinns are those of the Uruguay , Amentine , and Chileaii T^cpublics. and of the Brit'sh Colonics of the Falkland islands . Die C'ai)o"of Good Hop e, v ictoria . New Zealan d, and Tasmania. ' I S70. In the Uruguay llepublic, for many years the Government have protected the KA/ t*-f^v— ^ , seals resorting for breeding puqwses to the Lobos, the Espinillo, and the Coronilla ■"T"" ' Islands. According to a special report, furnished to us by Your Majesty's Minister, Mr. Satow, these iisheries have b;;en very carefully looked after. They arc now leased to a private company for a term of years, but without limitation of the numbers to be taken. The /». r company have the sole right of taking seals, and there is no Government tax levied on wf^J^^^^^ the skins. The killing of seals is only permitted between the 1st .Tune and the OxA. C\ y*-*^ . 15th October in each year. All the seals are killed on shore, chiefly by means of clubs, and there is no pelagic fishing. It is the general opinion that no diminution is observable in the number of seals frequenting the rookeries. Mr. Lafone, M.P., has kindly supplied us with much very valuable information. Tlic chief rookeries have been, to his knowledge, in good condition for more than forty years past. In Appendix (Q^ we give the figures of the numbers actually taken in recent years, from which it will be seen that the average annual take, with no apparent injury to the numbers of seals frequenting I i) (l. ^'"^ rookeries, is nearly 15,000 seals; but that of these more than one-third are "small iy,,_^^ habitually poached on the rookeries, notably the " Sarah W. Hunt " and the "Martha Gale." CLjU -VvdU- 878. The Chilean Government has from time to time cor.sidered the question of protecting the fur-seals. In 1883 they abstained from enforcing regulations. Up to 1889 the seal fishery was free to any Chilean subject or foreigner residing in the country, but not open to vessels and their crews coming from foreign countries. It has, however, been found hitherto impracticable to guard the fi.shing districts during the breeding season, and the British Vice-Consul at Punta Arenas, in the SIraits of Magellan, reports in 1889 that the American schooners take no notice of the interdiction, although only one of them, the " Sarah W. Hunt," has as yet been specifically prohibited from such illegitimate sealing. He also reports that the Chilean Govermnent are contemplating more stringent measures of protection for the few remaining seals. 879. The Chilean Government has always recognized the value of the seal fishery, although since the earlier years of the century it has been felt that the seals were nearly extirpated. We have frequent allusions to Government control. Thus, in 18G6, Her Majesty's ship •'Topaze," visiting the Island of ,Tuan Fernandez, reports ten 'nhahi- tants engaged in sealing under licence from the Chilean Government, i.. 1075 Her "T 1 . as the chief cause of the present depletion ; and points out that, for lack of a close time ^ ""a/E. »-''^*^ during the breeding season between November and .January, a great number of females '^"*^^ have been de>troyed " either about to give birth or .suckling their young." Pelagic sealing is unknown, the system of killing adopleil being that of landing men in boats, armed with cl'ibs. He speaks Ki)ecially of tie ease "ith which seals are scared fnmi 7e*^«-»>^ '**~''^^ their resorts by steamers and other vessels cemiug chise in. He also mentions that e^^j V/'***/' " by a happy provision of nature a female seal will suckle any young one, whether her own or not." 887. '/'here are no special protective laws, but the islands are Government property ^^v^ t«vv^'t« and are leased upon short leases, so that the Government has power, if it will, to control this profitable fishery. b88. In the Australian waters fur-seals were found on the coasts and islands ot ClL.,^,J!!Z»>M^ Victoria, Tasmania, and New Zeahiud in very great abundance, anJ they are still seen ____ and obtained. ^ 88'J. In regard to Victoria, Sir F. ^IcCoy reports as follows: — i*^"^^'^^ 'JC'*-^ (1.) The seal fishery of Australia was never so extensive as that of the North V£^B'-^ar\A'*~*^^^ It been taken until isdl, when a Government Proclamation was issued: "Tlie taking J -T^ ■ of seals, known by the name of seals or any other local name, in Tasmania and its ' dcpeiulencie-i, is hereby prohibited for a ]>eriod of three years from the 20th July, 1891." . / The chief dilliculty founu is with schooners from other parts marauding on the (A-^^ ' rookeries. . ^/Vaa^***^ ^•^'-- I" ^cw Zealand at the beginning of this century seals were numerous in y^ i^C^ several places along the coast around Port Chalmers, along the west coast, near Westport, ^j round Stewart's Island, and in other places, All the neighbouring islands, such as the f<^^'~^\^'^^j^'i^'^\'^'<^^'^'^ < Maccjuarie, Bounty, Campbell, and Antipodes groups, were well-known haunts. 7/^' 4„ L^i Mr. Yate, a missionary, writing in 1S3,"), tells of several establishments for the seal fishery on the coast of New Zealand. But fifteen or twenty years of persistent and indiscriminate slaughter on shore had ])ractically exterminated the seal in 1840. -w^f^,^^ 803. As to the causes of the depletion, Mr. F. Chapman, writing from Dunedin, says : '^^^'^'T^ " As to the cause of this there is but one answer: reckless killing and disturbance in the rookeries. iMr. Dawson need not trouble himself about pelagic sealing; there is not and never was such a thing in these waters." 894. In the early years of this century the port of Sydney did a large trade in seal- skins, and it is unddul.-ted that with rise in market prices of more than ten-f ild over that period, the industry may well be revived by Judicious Government re^^ulations duly enforced. The main diffieully in these seas, as elsewhere, is the raiding ashore, especially in the breeding season, by unauthorized persons. It is to be hoped that t'le outcome of the Behring Sea negotiations may be international agreement as to the illegality of all such proceedings, and thus all territorial Powers will be empowered to execute regula- tions against all comers, so necessary to the preservation of so important an industry as that of sealing. r ^^_„^ 895. It will be welHf the Governments of New Zealand, Tasmania, Victoria, the Cape ^*'*'^^ of Good Hope, and the Faiknnd Island, as well as those of the Uruguayan Republic and ■«- Chile, take steps to secure for them.selvcs any international advantages for the proper protection of the fur-seal in the South Seas which may be determined to be applicable under international sanction in the North Pacific. As a commencement, each of these Governments should forthwith make statutory provision for close seasons, restriction of numbers taken, and other matters affecting seal life within their territorial dominions and the waters thereof. 890. A further point in connection with South Sea sealing remains to he dealt with. Some of the older sealers who gave us evidence mentioned their opinion that the fur-seal of the Pribyloff Islands were the overflow of the fur-seal of the South Sea when disturbed and harassed by the indiscriminate slaughter above detailed. We observe also that the United States' authority, Mr. Elliott, in his "Monograph on the Fur-seal " (p. 0), writes : " It appears as if the fur-seals had originally passed to Behring Sea from the parent stock of the Patagonian region, up along the coast of f^GlidiA*** vW*^ South America, a few tarrying at the dry and heated Galapagos Islands, the rest ' speeding on to the northward, disturbed by tiie clear skies and sandy beaches of the Mexican coast, on and up to tin- great fish-spawning shores of tlie Aleutian Islands and BcJiring Sea. 'I here on the Pribyloff group and the blufly Commander Islands they found thar union of cool water, « ell-adapted landing, and L.oist foggy air which they had missed since they left the storm-beaten coasts far below." f-97. We have, however, received from the Director of the Natural History Depart- ment of the British Museum a very valuable Memorandum (Appendix D), pointing out the st'uctural and other diti'erences which distinguish the various species of fur-seal, and ii f ■III UQ ilmt CUiX. which clearly ijulicate that the sealH frequenting the North Pacific do not migrate south of the Kquator. Nor can wo hold ou' my hone that, as was expressed hy a New Zealand authority, the persecution of the fur-seal in the North Pacific may drive them south to replenish New Zealand rookeries. 898. The relative importance of the South Sea fishery is insignificant at the present day in comparison with that of the North Pnc' i. In the latter tlu- last full years gave ^-^ a total catch of about 100,000, whereas the total catch south of the E<|iiator only 'H-'v^^ '«»-*^^^ *■ I reaches 2/),000. Hut the South Seas, during the first seventy years of the fisheries, S^f*^ '" produced at least HJ.OOO.OOO seals, wherens f'oin the North Pacific it seems probable that not more than 5,000,000 have been, in all, secured in 110 years. 'I'o reinstate in some degree the South Sea fisheries would thus be- to revive, if only partially, a great and most profitable industry. 899. At the same time, in the immediate matter of the preservation of the fur-seal in the Northern Pacific, it is well to bear in nimd that actual experience in the South Seas proves incontestably the following among other facts : — . (i.) Ijxcessive slaughter on shore, in the entire absence of any pelagic sealing, "^"rr^^n^rxS^/J results in commercial extermination. '^' /] (ii.) Kxcessive slaughter and disturbance causes absolute depletion and desertion in £_grr.. --^ •^t^. given breeding places, leading the surviving seals to seek other resorts. (iii.) As Fanning has recorded, wliile old rookeries are being depleted and new ones ^-«VA!:^»xrf ' being taken up, more seals ore seen at sea than ever. Vtv«v« u-jLJi^i-t^ 900. This is a timely object lesson for the North Pacific, where from two known '^''^"^ n-v'^ breeding resorts, for the past twenty-five years, so great a number of skins have been r>— .^^ taken (§ 43 c' xeq.) by excessive slaughter on sliore, and complaints are now made ^^]|'^^|^);^^_^^^_,,^ ofiicially that unless strong measures of rest and recuperation are promptly adopted ^^^'^ the seals frequenting these resorts will disappear. Undoubtedly, they will seek otlier breeding places. 001. Mr. Blaine has done good service in drawing attention, in his despatch of the 17th December, 1800, to the disastrous results in the South Seus following on indis- criminate and unrestricted slaughter of the fur-seal. There has never been recorded any y'^T' \«^„ more self-evident and useful example of the consequences of excessive slaughter by man. ^^^^^Z^jl~ti~ It is therefore useful to bear in mind the precise character and circumstances of the seal * ^^ ^ fishery of the Southern Hemisphere. Vv^A.-^'VWVC.^ n ..*M. hj^-^-^^' VIII. — Makketinq tue Seal-skins. 902. The process of preparing the seal-skins for the market, costing, on the whole, ife«.< ni*A/KtA: 18». to 20s. per skin, is the work of a ]H'osperous industry in London. ~~ — The skins are landed in the docks, and sorted for size, quality, and kind, ready for p the sale-room. Eventually they arrive, thus graded, at the factory, and are dealt with in f^-^>-«*-^' . batches. The process conimonces with the removal of the fat and fiesh left on the skins by careless skinning ; the next step is thoroughly to cleanse the skin by hot-water washing 11 nd stretching, after which the skins arc defily shaved down to the requisite thinness. They are then treated in a hot chamber, and the outer hair taken off. The completing stages are those of dyeing to a uniform colour, and finally shaving the skin down to the necessary thinness. At every stage much technical skill and judgment are required. . 903. It is a noteworthy fact, that nearly all fur-seal skins are taken to London to be ^L-Vm-.^h a>^* dressed and sold. The fur-seal industry thus gives employment to much shi|)ping on the "w**"-*^ e ^■^' Pacific, to railways across the American continent, and to shipping on the Atlantic; >~^-^- while in the business of insurance, and in the sale of *hc raw and finished skins, both wholesale and retail, as well as in the provinces a')ovc aescribed, very considerable profits are realized. /^- IHHW^JI 150 Paiet III. CGNOLTJDING REMARKa. t,.\ JU-^ ' f04. In commei.?injf our Report, we exp'aincd the stops taken to carry out the duties assigned to us. In Part I ne have given the concUisions to which our investi- gations have led us in regard to tiic iavln a,iid conditions of Heal life in Ihe North Pacific Ocean, and to the measures necessary for tiie proper protection and preservation of the fur-sea). In Part II and in the Appendices there are presented, in fuller detail, the results of our investigations, together with such collateral information or evidence as appecrs to he necessary to enable just conclusions to be arrived at. 905. In conclusion, we would wish to record our high appreciation df the readv response afforded to our inquiries by the numerous persons tu whom we addressed them, whether in correspondenco or by word of mouth. OOG. To the officials of the United States' Government, to the CommandinL: Officers of the men-of-war and revenue-cruizers, as well as to the representatives of tlie Alaska Commercial and North American Commercial Companies, we are greatly indebted for the hospitality and courtesy they uniformly extended to us, as well as for the zealous and ready assistance they rendered us in our endeavours to obtain the iutormation of which we were in search. 907. From the Admiral in command of the Pacific Station and the Commanders, officers, and men of Her Majesty's ships "Nymphe," "Porpoise," an'l " Plieasant," we received every assistance and aid, and they secured for ns mucli vahmole information. 908. We would venture specially to commend the industry, zeal, and al)iiity with which, throughout our investigations and nesfotiations, Mr. Ashley Froude has conducted the arduous duties of Secretary to the Commission and .loint Secretary to the Joint Commission. "We would also beg that the Government of Canada may bo int'oraied of the painstaking, capable, and thorough manner in which we have been assisted througliout by Mr. James Macoun. All of which we humbly submit, for the gracious consideration of your JNIajesty. . ( 161 ) Appendices. Al'l'ENDIX (A). the esti- icific the the ! as IJST of PEDSOXS AXIi AnxllORITIE.- rfUPrLYKJO EVIDEXCE. List nl' llco.sc wlio gavf Persdual Evidenco am! rnfurmaunn to the liehi-int; Swx (.ouiiiiissum. Nnmc. 1 Dr. Ac-lii„(l .. 2 Mr. Alrxiiiidcr 3 Mr. Ayiic . . 4 Mr. Auilioulio 5 Mr. G. A. li.jldwin .. 6 Colonel Bill IK'S 7 Mr. lioiitzon . . 8 f 'iiptiiin I!!;iir 9 Ciiptniii liriimlt 10 Mr. Hoscowit,! U Mr. .Staiilo . Brown 12 Mr. J. llirns. . 13 Captain linker U Mr. Clifi mi .. 15 Captavi Ciiul.son in '-'iipt:ii 1 < 'o.\ . . 17 f'liptain W. ('i)x 18 Mr. U. Cunningham , . 19 Mr. f.. C'iuiniiighr.m . . 20 Mr. Campbell 21 Mr. F. Cope.. 22 Captain Ootldfi 23 Mr. Dirks . . 24 Mr. J. Ka.le. .M.l'. .. 25 Captain Kdwanis 21) Mr. I'jiunions . . , , 27 Liontciinnt Emmons • • 28 Kdensrtw 29 .Mr. li. I'inlajson .iO Mr. Fowler . . 31 Mr. Frascr . . . . 33 Mr. Fo-tcr , . 33 Mr. FerifUfwon 34 Mr. Fluninierfolt .. 35 M. Grebuilzky 36 Mr. Qrev .. 37 Mr. I!, il. ira'l 38 Mr. It. Hall .. 39 Mr. T. li. Hall 40 Mr. J. Henderson 41 C.ptaiu lltaloy 42 iU'V. — IlojjUins . , 43 Mr. ll.inmuTisley 44 A. Jcdinsun ., 45 "Captain " .lack 40 LiciUenaiil .Iiirvis ., 47 Uev. — .1* nitini^ . , 4H Ji'Nuit MiKiiioMarios .. 49 Mr. .lones . , , 50 M. Knmyako i 51 Guvi rnor Kl app 52 M. MiiHi 63 Captain 1... I'ondor 54 Mr. ^. LiuituUt [2 2-2\ Place and Profes^i . Medieal Ulliecr, Hi. Paul Island. Trader, .Mii-^set, Cliieen Cliarlolte Islands. f'itiiiul Ulliecr, Neali Hay. ,\.n.C. lo I "oi^miandant, i't'iropaiiloii.^ki. UiioUkeeper, >t. Panl Island. .\ssi^tal,t Tre::,sury Aj^ent. Si. Paul Island. Fornurly employe, Hudson Hny Company, Port Sinipsoii. Schooner " I.cnn,'" Petropaulouski, Iltu-si.'in i;un-boat ** Aleut." Vietoiiii, Brili.sli Columbia. Special A^-i lit of United States' Government, Prihyloff Islands. Ilnntir, Si. .Matthew Island. .Sealinu-.-e!iooncr " Viva," \"icToria, British (>oliimbia. Manaj^i r, Hudson Bay Company, Port Simpson. United Slates' revenue-cruizer " Iliish.'' A;;eiil lur K. B. Marvin and Co., Viet.ria, British Coliimbiu. Soalins-schooner " Sa|)pliirr." Victoria, ISritish Columbia, Fur-trader and owner nf Canneries, Port ICssinglon. British Columbia. Ditto. A'ancouver, British Columbia. Ditto. Sealing-scliooner "Maggie Mae," Victoria, British Columbia. A^eiit of Aliiska Comnioreial Company, Aika Island. Victoi ia, British Columbia. Vancouver, British Columbia. Collector of (.'u.stoms. Unalaslia. United Stales' i-hip " Pinta," Sitka. Ileida Chief, Alasset. Victoria, lliiti.sh Columbia, formerly employe of Hudson Bay Company. A|»cut of North American Commercial Company, St, Paul Island. \ancouvcr, British Columbia. Ditlo. Ditto. Victoria, British Columbia. .\dmini«trator of Commimder NInnds. .\lasl.a Coinmerciiil Coin]iany, (,'nalaska. \'ietori V Brilirh Columbia. Pre^i:!eMt of IS.ard of Trade, Victoria, British Columbia. Seen tary of ditto. X'ancouvvr, British Columbia. United States' revenue-cruizer " Beor." IJolla Bella. \'aiicou\er, Britisii Columbio. Indian hunter, Sliak.'ian. Nativi'. St. I.awrenee Island. United iStitcs reveuuc-ernizer " Bear." .Mis>i!in,iiy. Port Kssington. Hazea liav, C.ipe Viineoiiver. Viclniiu, Itritisli Columtiia. t 'ommandimt. Pelropaul'.iuski, Sitka, A^ent ol Hussiaii Seal. skin Coin|)any, Copper Island, rreasury .Anent, Si, George Island. Agent Icr Hutchinson, KoM, and Co., Petropaulouski. :• il 162 No. Nnmi'. riace nnd I'rofcssion. 55 56 57 68 59 60 61 62 63 64 6;-, 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 81) 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 Mr. LockiU'hy A. Losh Captain L:iin£» Mnrtin Luuberg Mr. Miltio .. Oiptiiin .Miner Captain .Meyer ColoiU'l Murray Mr. ^lorpan , . Mr. Malanwanski Mr. XIcManua Captain Maynard Mr. McKt-nzit; Captain McKenzie Mr. MacRowan Dr. Maealpin Mr. Mim.«ie . . Captain L. Maclean Mr. K. li. Marvin Mr. R. Ncniraani. Mr. Newman , . Mr. J. ('. Nixon Mr. Oppenlicinicr Mr. Redpatli . . Captain Ifcltcr Mr. Hhburn Mr. D. Webster 94 Major Williams Hudson r>ay C()ni])any, Port Simpson, Kitkatla Indian, I'ort Easington. Victoria, British Columbia. QuarterniastiT, slcani-.-lotl' Islands. Russian Governmcut Agent on Copper Island. Vancouve-. liritish Columbia. Victoria, British Colinnbia. Navigator of senling-sehooner " Wundcrcr." Agent of Alarka Commercial Comp.any, Kodiak Island, lie.-ident Agent of North American Commercial Company, St. (Jeorgo Island. United States' Treasury Agv.nt, St, Paul Island. Abou t 100 natives, Aleuts and Indi.aus, as follows : — Aleut natives Village, St. Paul Islimd. North-east Point, St. P.aul Isltind. Unalaska. Atka Island. Attn Island. Copper Island. A'iiliige, Bi'hring Island. iNortli Rookery, liebring Island. Indians (Tlinkit) Sitka. ,, (Klawok) Shr'kaan (llanega tribe, from Klawok). ,* (Tshirasian) Port Simjison. ,, (Hailtzuk) Bella-Bella. ,, (Aht) Clayoquot Sound. II (Ilaida) (Kwakiooi; (Aht) Massei, (Juien Charlotte Lslands. Nawitti, Hope Island. Neah Bav (Makah tribe). 1 •' India OlHce, Victoria, British CelumL' (various tribes). mi 163 Tiih: fdllowiiig lire the smircos from wliicli written iiilbruuitioii has been obtained by, or at tlio reiiuast of, the lieliriug Sea Coniiiiisfiiou : — ( 1, Colonial Governmetits. Cnpe of Good Hope. Falkland Islands. Newfoundland. • New South Wales. New Zealand. Tasmania. Victoria. Paul 2. Foreirjn (Jovernmeutn. Arjjentine Republic. Brazil. Chile. Japan. Canton. Honolulu. Monte Video. Eussia. Uruguay, 3. Her Majesty's Consuls ainvad. .'*;ui Francisco. Shini'diiie. Pri- 4. Officers of Ha- Majesty's Ships and Canadian Government Ofidals. Adniir;il Uotham, C.B., Senior Naval Oilieer, Esiiuimalt. Conimanihr Turner, K.X., Her Majesty's ship " Nymphe." Connnander liurr, L'.N'., Her IMajesty's ship " I'orpoise." Li(!utouant-(,'oinniiinder Hadley, ]{.N., Her Majesty's .ship ' Mr. A. j;. Milne, Collector of Cu.stoms, Vieliiria, British Columhia. Indian Agents on coast of Briti.sh Columbia, throu,!4h Mr. A. W. Vowell. Pheasant" lany. 5. Miscellaruo^is. Mr. de Tiunacn, British Legation, TokiS. Ivirl Brownlow. (1,'aptain Deverenx. (iravini; Jiock, Esipiimalt. Profe.ssor Flower, C.B.. Xiilural History ^Museum, London. Dr. (Jiinther, Natural HisUiry ilnseuni, London. Hudson Bav Conijianv. Mr. A. W. ilurion. Sir George Curtis Linijison, Bart. Mr. A. Lafone, M.l'. Mr. .T. W. Maekay. Professor Sir F. S'leCoy, Melliourne. Sir 1!. Morier, G.C.B. Mr. .Murray, ' (.'halk'nger " Oliice. Fdinburgli. Baron XordenskioKI. Mr. .Selatei', Zoological Society, London. Mr. .lustiec Swan. IMr. 1'.. Mamide-Thonipson, British Museum. Mr. W. C. Van Home. ( 154. ) APPENDIX (B). Cii:(ri,.\E TO, Asn Eehjes feoti, Colomai. and Fohkiox Governments. Sea Couimissioners, and THE fallowing Circular of liuiuiry was prepared by the Behriiv forwarded at llieir ve(i lest tu the Governments of — Chile. Argentine Kcpublic. lirazil. The Cope of Good Hope. The l''all;lanil l.-.lands. New Soiitli Walis. Victoria. Tasmania. New Zealand. Uriij^uay. Japan. Such replies as have been received are ^iven bel"".v. in addition to lliis Circular, direct correspondence was entered into wiili the authorities on same piibjects. Circulnr nf Iiiqnir'j. The J^eparlinent of Fisheries of the ])omud."i of Ciuv.da, in connection with (jiiestion.s relating to the fur-seal lislieiies of the North Pacific, is desirous (jf obtainin.t; all jjossible inlormation relalinj; to the fur-seal lisherie.s of the Southern Heuusphcre. The southern fur-seal, or " .sea-bcar " (of the family of eared .seals, or Olariihi), is known to have formed the object of an iiujiortaiit industry in the i^arly part of the present century 'ait the islaiuls on which it once aboimdcd arc now reported, and belies ..-d to be, almost entinly depieted ot s-.'als. As the habits and life-history of the fni-se.nl of the North Piieilic apjiear to be closely similar to thoso.of the allied .seals of the .Southern Uenusphere, it is thought probable that the history of the dcclim- of tlie .southern fisheries may aflbrd some facts having a direct bearin;j on the fur-seal fisheries o'.' the North racilic, and may si rve to indicate a proper mode of ■|a-otoction to be accorded to those fisheries, if .such sliould be found neces.sary. In this coniavtion, it woidd bo of jjarticular interest to know for each of the .seal islands or .sealing-grounds of the iMiutheni Ifetnisjihere ;— 1. Whether the decline or ileslruction of the lishery is .ittributable to the slnugliter of the seals while on shore at their brucding-plaees, or to their pursuit at large on the eircnmjaeent ocean. 2. In what manner the fur-seal lisheiy h,is Ijeeii or is conducted in each ]iarticular locality. 3. Whether any, and, if any, what mea.surcs have been taken by various CKjvernments towards the protection of the fur-jcal fisheries in their territories or in iilaccs within their juris'iiction ; and, further, if any .such measures are known to have proved aucces.^ful in preserving or rehabilitating the fisheries. 4. Generally, any ]iartioulars as to ihe life-his'ory of the animal, its migration, season of bringing forth its young, and tlie habits of the seals while engaged in suckling and roaring the young. It vs al.^o particidarly reipiestcd that copies of any printed documents or Jieports referring to the fur-seal fisheries, or endiodyiiig liegiilalions provided for these li.shories, may be furnished. Itcphi io Circular rccci rid frohi the Govrrnmcnl of the Capt. of Good Hope. MimtU. In acknowledging the receipt of his Kxcellency the Governor's Minute of the liolh August last inclosing a despatch from the Pight lIonouiMble the Secrel.iiy (jf Stale for the Colonies, reon short leases, willi no lostriction upon the les.sees as to the killing of seal, &c., no olhcial information or statistics of any kind cai; be furnislicd. The life of a .^eal in the .so\ilhern waters, it unmolested, is .supposed tj extend over a considerable pcri(jil, and it arrives at maturity in about three years. The old male seals, called " bu.ls " or '' whigs," attain an enormous size, and light desperately tanong tliemselves, The femah'S generally produce two pups at a birth, and innnedialely afterwards take thv male. The " cow" will suckle any of llie young seals, whether her own or nol, and tlii.s perioil of inir.sing I'ontinues more (jr less for aliont six month.o. As regards their niigiulions, it is dillicnll to give an opinion, as .seals are always to be found in these waters, although they (hi not take uji upon the island.^ in a]iy immbers i.-xcejit at the sea.sons I have mentioned ; bat ] think it nuiy bc^ naturally a.S3umed that their migrations, whatever they may be, are regidated solely by the food supply. rnforlunately, as 1 have stated before, there are no print(;d docimicnis or lleporls of any kind referring to the suliject, but I have availed my.self of .uloruiation kindly furnished by the best practical experts in the t'oloiiy, with whom I have been !u?scciated, who are unanimous in their opinion — first, that the .seals are decreasing in these waters ; and, secondly, that tlic sole cause of this decrease at the pi-e.sent lime is to be found in the destruction of the feni.des during the breeding 8ea.son. We have practically no jair-'^uit s., but numy fetch a mucli higher laice. X J " Clapmotdioe," fcm&l« «e»l«, 167 VVlicn stiiiliirs luavu ciiiciises on tlio rocks, seals desert llin placo. Souls will not increase in the Soutliern Ifomisplieie utilil tliu Chilean and Argentine Govornnieut^i have a dose time and see it cnfoiced. (Initalled) V. S. S. October 28, 1«91. Reply to Circular reccival from the Government uf Nao South iVatcs. Governor Lord Jersey to lord Knutsford. My Lord, Gore.Tix.mcnt House, Si/dnei/, Oetdbcr 30, 1891. I have the honour, in reply to your despatch of the liOlli .Tuly last, lo .^tate that I can obtain no inl'iirniation concernint; the fur-seal fishery, as the I'ur-seal is mil found on the coast of Xew .South Wales. I have, &c. (Signed) .TERSRY. Reply to Circular rcceiccd. from the Government of Victoria. Governor Lord JJopctonn to Lord Knutsford. My Lord, Ooi-rmmcnt //»w.sf. Melhinmic, October 27, 189L T have the honour (o acknowlcdj;!' the receipt of your Lordshiii's despatch of the 30th .July ultimo, requestinj; information on certain points connected with tlie fur-ge:d fnhery in this Colony, and to transmit a copy of a letter, dated the 2iHh instant, from Sir Kredcrick ^fcCoy, Director of the National Museum, which endiraccs all the availalile inlbrmation on the .suhjcct. I have, &c. (Signed) UOPEK^UN. Sir /'. McCoy to Mr. Munro. Sir. National Museuiii, Mellumrne, Oetohcr L'O, 189L In reply to your letter of this date, I have the honour lo icjjort as follows: — 1. The .seal fishery of Australia was never so exlensivi' i that of the North Pacific, and for more than thirty years the traile in Australian fur-seal skins ha^ ccLirely cea.?ed, although of somu extent in .Sydney a little before that time. 2. In Victoria the only fur-.seal is ibe cared .-^eal (luiottiria ciaeren), the size, shape, and habits of which very nearly recall tho.se of the Xortli Pacific. The decline or destruction of the fishery Ls certainly attributable to the indiscriminate slaughter of the seals on the tew islands off ihe siaith coast, especially in Western Port, where the old nudes and j;ravid females resorted in the summer to brins forth and tend the youn.:,'. At present a few islai!ds oidy are freipiented by those .seals, now in the lireedinf; .season, and the numlier of individuals is too small to furnish any trade. 'i. The fur-.seal lishcrv was coiuluclod simply by mannin'^ a Imat suitable for lamling on I lie islands, the laudin,i,' usually takiiii,' place at ni:4ht, and tin ii the .-^eals were killed indiscriminately by clubbing them on the nose with large sliik.s. 'J'lie skins were chiefiy exported from .Sydney. 4. No nuuisures elfeetive for the protection of the fur-seal fisheries have been undertaken on any large scale by any of the Australian Colonies, but some years ago I recommended the X'ictnrian Goverunient to piohiliit the killing of seals on the small islands which they freiiuent iii'ar Phillip Island, anil although the number has .somewhat increased in i.'unsei[uence, it is far loo small to furniali a trade. 5. The .\usti\ilian fur-seals were never fished for in tlie open ocean. 0. (Jenorally, the life-history of tlio Victorian fur-seal exacily resembles that of the North Pacilio, following shoals of fish in the iipeii ocean, but coming on the islands to breed in the latter part of the summci. I have &c. (Signed) FliKiJEHlCK McCOY, Director of Mweum. ins Itcjilif lo Cirnilar rcce.ivcd Jroiii the Gorernivent of Tunmania. Mr. Seal to the Chief Secretary, Ilobarl. Sir, Uohart, Nm-emher .'id, 1891. 1 liavu till' liiinour tu rcpuit, for tlio iiiruiiiiatiou nf llic C'lxiir.cliau Govormucnt, the lollinviMf;, in reply to till' qiu'iies laiil ildwii in tliuir C'iniilar lottcr oi tlio !Hli .Inly, 1801 : — Quri-ji 1. Soa'.in;,' in Tiismaniii MwX licr elepenJuncif.s (iihiKisl soluly ijonlinL'd to tlio islrimls in I'mss Straits ami thr Mac^nariu Islands. Hituatcd to tlK> south n!' New Z(!ulanil) ha.s been carried ou l)y the seals being killeil on sliore at tlieir breedinL; plaecs and not by " pursuit al lari,'e on the eireuni- .jaoent ocean." Qitnii 2. The seal tishcry has been eonducled \iy moan.s ol' boats of \ or 5 tons ref;ister fitted up amonirU the islands in Bass Straits, the erew liein;_; equipped \vi(h eluls and lilies, the .seals being .shot upon the rock, when practicable, or Ibllowed upon the sliore and elubbcd. Oecasionally, inr^e vessels come lo lias.s Straits IVoui k- lundicim). If, as has been .stated by Mr. Scott, that the fur-sca! found on our coast ia similar, if not identical, with the fur-seal of Alaska, the proposed Kegulations recoiiiniended by this Board are absolutely necessary for their preservation. 169 At the FisliGvic!) Exhibition, held at London in th(; year 1883, considoraldo intornsl was taken in the collection of seals .sent by the Inistees of the Anstraliau Mnseuni. The f-kull of one of tlic seals sent to London wa.s compared wilii the one at the Paris Museum, and found to lie identical. It was the lirst time that the soutliern fur-seal {Ardncqilinln.^ diwri'iis) had been seen in Kngland. I!eiire- seiitations were made to the Xew .South Wales Government some few years liack that this seal was rnjiidly becoming' extinct. The (loverinuent issued an order protectitig thi'iu on tlie islands and the mainland of New Scjutli Wales, tlie residt bein;,' tliat tliey are now on the increase!, anil a number may be .seen inhabiting; the Seal Kocks a litlh: to the north of I'ort Stephens. In Xew .Soutli Wales the si.'alini; trade was in i'ull swin;^ from 1810 to 1820, the lirms enj,'aged beiuK .Sydney lirnis, viz., MeMr.s. C'ul)le, Dml, Underwood; Itiley, Jones, and liirnie; Hook and Campbell. Tlicse hrms bad crafts nianni^d by crcw.s of from twenty to twonty-ei^^lit men to earh vessel, and were usually litted out for a twelve months' cruize. Owiuf; to the want of proper vestrici ions, the indiscriminate slan;,'hter was terrible. It is recorded that in the years lyll -l."i, 100,0011 .skins from mw. islaml, the Antipodes Island, or, as it i.s sometimes called, I'ennatipod, were taken. Thesis .skins bein;; olitained in such a hasty manner were but iiniierlectly cnreil, and a writer states that the ship " Pe^'asus " took home 100,000 of the.se in bnlk, and on her arrival in London the .skins, having' licMited durint; the voyage, had to be d\ig out of the hold, and were sold for manure. A.s early as 1801-L' Peron say.s he found Tiriti.^h .seamen in Bass Straits killing all that came in their way. In the years IHOI! and ISO-I upwards of ."0,000 skins were .sent froni the islands in Ba.ss Strait.s. tlie .slau,i;hter bein;.^ made without re,i,'ard to se.v. At the pre lent limi' in Maci[\iarie Island are only to be found tlie .sea-elepliant (^funinfja chphnn- Una), yet when JIae(|uarie Island was discovered by a sealer in 1H11, the sealing' master who discovered it proi'i-.red a cargo of 80,000 skins, and another sealing party 100,000 skins, in one year. With .sucii a reckless killing, it is no wonder (hat llie seals have become scarce rounil our .shores, and unles.s ste|is are innucdialely taken, it will oidy be a question of time when their e.xterminatiou will be comjileted. Along the .shores of Xew Zealand, as well as the southern shore ■ of Australia, large number.s of seals were found. In New Zealand a ves.sel from lloston, called the " (leneral dates," buiiled a party of si.K men iic.ir IIk^ .S(jutb-we.>t caju! of the Jliddle Islanil on the 10th AugusI, lML'1. In si.x weeks the party got ">J>i}'.i skins. For about twenty years enormous number.s were captured without any respect to age or sex, and in the year 1830 only a .straggling seal wa.s occasionally si'cn along the shores of Xew Zealand. The Anu'riean fur-seal had a narrow escape of sharing the fate of its southern kindred. In a paper deaUng with this subjiMtt. a writer gives the ibllowing account ; — " Karly in this ciiUtury the seals were almost exterminated in many of the islamls in the North Pacific, and were there a.s ruthle.s.sly .slaughtered a.s they were in the I'.ass .straits and the New Zealand coast. The extermination was, as it were, commenced, liad not Kussia hrst and the United States after- wards housed the exclusivi! right of killing seals on the Piibylotf Islands — a famous .sealing place — to a single Company, by which means the seals were saved, as the (,'onipany had an interest in keeping up the supply of funs." This .single I'xperimont, the writer states, lia.s proved conclusively that fur-seals can be farmed as easily as .slice]], and that seiding should not be thmwn o|,en without restrictions. Seals are a (iroperty the State should jealously guard. On the two I'rilivlnlf Islands it is computed that oOO.OOO seals resort annually. These islands, from tla^ value of the fur-seal, were discovered in the year 1780, when the slaughter ccnnmenced, ami was i/rcjsecuted without [ ; ] until the year LSoO. wIhmi the nundier had been so^rcduced that tht! business thrcalened to be entirely destroyed within u few years. The destruction was then stopped until 1S4.';, when it was gtadiudly resumed, though, instead of the indiscriminate slaughter whicli had before been ]iermitted. only the young males (li years old) were allowed to be killed. The rookeries continued to increase in size until 1857. The ('omjiany who leu.sed the right of sealing in these islands were restricted about the year 1800 to 50,000 .seal-skins annually. From 1S21 to 1830, 758,502 fur-.seals weiv killml, and ;!72,8'.i4 from 1845 to 1802. Friun another authorily, Jlr. Ilittell, 1 lind that when the rniled .Slates' (joverniucnt took i)osse.ssion of the islands in 1807 .several American firms took ))ossession, anil the wholesale slaughter of .seals began afresh. In 1808 not less than 200,000 .seals were killed, and for 1 811'.) it is said the nundjcr was not far below 300,000. The I'niled .Slates' Clovernment, fearing tlu'ir total extinction, lea.scd the sole right of .seal-lishing on these islands to one firm, restricting the allowed mnubcr to 100,0(10. From what he had been able to lay liefore the Fisheries Boanl. no time should be lost in at once taking steps to |irolect the seal fisheries in Bass Straits. Wherever jirojier restriction has lieen introdueed a nrost valuable industry has been started in connection with the .seal industry, and, instead of the three years, a.s has been ]a'opo.sed by this Board, he strongly reconnnended five years for the idose season, and if at that time the seals have incre!i.seil the Government might be recommended to lease the islands, allowing only a certain number to be taken ainiually, and on no account to allow the feniab's to be killed. In New Zealand, from the year 1855, the statistics of the export of seal-skins .show : — In 1855, from Wellington, 580 skins were exported ; in 1857, 370. I'rom then until 18l,)8 there is no record. Then, in 1808,075; 1800,14; 1870. 20!); 1.S71. 755 ; 1872.2,012; 1.^73,1,002; 1874, 1,001; 1875,2,707; 1870, 3,417; 1877, 1,503; 1878. 820; 1870, 2,4.S4 ; 1880,2,048; l.-^Sl. 1,250; 1882,353; 1883, )a7; 1884,374. Professor .1. II. Miildleton .states that the ammal value of the fur-seal fisheries of ihe world is about 185,000/. The male seal does not attain his lull size till he is about li years oM, and tin' female when she is about 4. There is, says Mr. .1. Clarke, in a paper |irinted in the " ( 'ontem])orary Ueview," a remavkable disparity of size and build lietween them. In a, species where the male would he 7 feet or 8 feet in length , and weigh 500 lbs. or 700 lbs., the female would not be more than 4 feet long, and [222] 2 T I 160 weigh from 80 lbs. to 100 lbs. The malo3, wlicn ugeil, aru whitish j^rcy, anJ botwccn 7 feet to 8 feat in knyth; wlion adult, biown-grcy to black-grey, ami about feet in length: young, grey, upper poitions soou a.ssunie darker colours ; pujjs, black. The females when adult ure asli-grey to silver-grey, at timea golden-liutV, frequently spotted : from ',\ ft. Oin. to I fl. (i in. in length, even more when aged; pups, black. The uuder-fur of imth scixea i.s rich leddi.sh, diver.siliid by deeper or lighter shades, and variable in length and ainindanee, Ijic wholo being inllncncod by health, su.x, and condition. He thonghl the (Jovernment ahouM .step in now, a.s the sealing industry might prove a valuable source of revenue to the Colony in the future. Viscount Kawasi to the Marquis of Salisbury. — {Received December 15.) M. le Afarquis, Leyation of Ja^nn, iorulon, December 14, 1891. 1 have tliu honour to inform your Excellency that, at tlu; recpiesl. of Sir George liadon-PoweU, one of Her Majesty's Conuiiiive a further more detailed lieport on the .same subject, in which case I will forward a translation of it to your Excellency. I have, &c, (Signed) KAWASfi. \f .Vcmomndiiiii on the Seal Fisheries in Japan. (Translation.; [N.B. -'In this Memorandum "seal " does not alvayti moan " neaU proper," but inclndcH sometimes all kindM of aea animall. Word "county"* is not always applied to ifubiUvision of I'rcfcctnro ("ken"), l»ut somotimea it i". meant fur the diriaioa (" kuni ") of the old tvitem.] Seals are considered among the mo.sl important products of Hokkaido. Tliey are found in every part of t!ie Kuiile .group, from .Shinishu in the north to Shikotan and Kunasliir in the wjutli ; Uruji and Itrup being their favourite haunts. Allhougli the history of the cirigin of seal-hunting eaunot be accurately traced, it appears that about 170 years ago a few natives of Aki.shi, in Kii.shiro, emigrated to Sliilieloro, in Itniji, and occupied them.selves in hunting .seals, eagles, bears, &c., which they brought liack to Aki.slii every year when the sea was free from ice (after April and May), in order to liarter them for rice and other neces.saries of life ; while the natives of Akislii visiteil this new Ojloiiy for the exchange of these commo(hties. In the course of time the I'.migrants increased by degrees, sellliug down in such places as To.shiruri, Rianshi, in that ishtml, and biicame hunters of seals ami oilier sea animals in the neighbour- hood. In ITO.'i (about lliO years ago) seal lishery became very prosjiorous, and the natives of Ka.shua, as well as the old i.slanders of Itrup, carried on their hunting business in Ihe Isles of H(jromosliir, Makaruru, Shimsir, I'rup, Ac. In the same year tlie Uussiuii.s lirst nuide their ap|)earance in the Islands of Kashua .uid Musir. In the iollowing year they came lo Ilriip, -ukI having obtiiined information about the localities from the natives, tliey went to the Ishmd of Urup, where (hey slaved for three years. During their .^^ojourn there they tre.ited the natives in a very cruel manner, ami ]niivoked their great angei. Ihit the natives being powerless to ri'sist their oppressors, their Chief at last fled from the island. In the summer of 1770, whih^ the natives of Itrup, with their Chief, were hunting in the Island of Urup, the Ji\issians came there, and ordered them to sliip all their catch to Ilu.s.sia, and, on their refusal, their two Chiefs were killed by the liussians. In the same year, while the (Jhief of liashua, together with a host of natives, were hunting in Urup, the Russians again mad(^ their appiuirauee, and seized all their catch at the point of their gun.s. At last the anger of the natives was arouscil to such a ]iitcli by the IJu.s.sian outrages that they resolved to avenge themselves, and in 1771 they gathered in great numbers, each carrying some weapon, and attacked the Russians in Urup, killing eight of l.hem ; and thence from the western coast they pas,«ed over tlie mouulaius to Wauino, wliere they attacked sona; lius.sians who were living in laves. Only seven of llie lla.ssiaus escajied slaughter. From llial place tlie natives sailed to Makarusi, wIku'c tliey also slaughtered scveuleen Russians. At that time the chief instruments used by llie natives for killing seals were the bow and harpoon, while the Russians used guns. After this defeat llie llussiaiis did not come lor a long time. During tht^ years of tlii> Anyei period ('1772-811) tlie> nativtis of Urup were constantly cruizing and iiunting round Urup and its iieigblicaning islamls, and this ]iievented the Russians from catching seals so freely, although now and then llii.'y mai'.e their apjiearance. But towards the end of the Anyei period they came in a great neniber, and made a good eateli. In the years of Tenniei (17S1-S8), as the natives ceased to hunt for seals, all the islands of the Kuriles except Itrup were monopolized by the Russians. 101 In 179,') Oovcmmcnt cihisihI aomo thirty iikmi aini women to emigrato to Itrup, and there woro gooil calciiU'S iiimlit. Nuts wii then lirst used. lu 1800 T katayii Kahi' ■ native of Awiyi, (;niij,'iatoil to llnifi, and thoro irrniloyin;; the natives stiirtt'd a Sdltl ut fur si;al-liiiiitin^! and dllii-r lishcrics. Ill tlio ycai i of Kiowa (1 HOI-;)), Siiwaia Kiiycimiii uiiil Dati' Itinyi'iiioii.of Fiil;nyama, Matsnmayi havini; taken over tiii! lisiiinj; rataljishiiii'iit and plants fmin Talvutaya Kahi', and Ijuiidin^' n ' litliinq dcjiuts in Hovoral places, tarried on thii fisiliin;,' of se.i aiiinial.s. At tliat time tlio seal-.skins wei-e hnrterpil with tlic natives ns followji, viz. : — Tho best — 20 sack.s of rice (oacli yai^k containing' H sho*) per skin; thL' niiddlinf; =- about 10 Hacks, and tlie conimou skin: wmt si verally valued ai'cordin;; to their 'pialitics ; and the nativorf weri! paid aeeonlin;,' tn tins skins Uivv pinduced at tlii' time of conntin"^!! iv (.'alch. Tlic! skins l.hns liouj^ht wca'o called " karirnono," and wen? annually sent tn the I'rinco lA' Mutsutnaye, whnse Odveni- ment paiil for them at the fixed rate of ."(i pen fm- 1 blio of rice, which was the standard of baiter ; and there wore striil penal resnlalinns a'^aiust Minijiylers. In the years of Kciu (l.SOo-liTj the liiissian Uovurnnient sent Alaskan natives to Uruji, and the li'.issiaii lishing settlement bocnnic more and more prosperous. Seal-skins were a special jirnihict of Japan, and from olden limes they were transported to Naijasaki, where I hoy were .sold to tiie (Jhincse. Ill modern tinu^^ seals and other .sim animals, once faniuiis products of .Tapaii, being mostly caught by the liussi.iii hands, are now looked un as llussian pn.ilucts, and are iniporteil into Peking direct from Hussia. Ill ISIO'.t, ;H the time when "Kailakushi" (\ 'olouizalion I)e[iartmeiit) was newly established, its branch olHce was sot uji in the Island uf Ilniii, and some ollicials were sent in order to check foreign poachers, and superintend the fLshiuL' industry. As to llie mode of buying skins, the 'dd rcgulal ions were adojited, but on accini". uf the uM rate of exchange at 1 shn of rice at O'oti m^ii being nut of date, the li.shi>ries iucurnd lauiOi Inss. In i\pril lH7.'i the olticial rale was raised to l-GS uiii per 1 shn. In Juno of the same year for tla^ lirst thue a special otlico was e^uJili.shed in Itrup, wlio.'ic iluty it was to suppress scal-poachiiiL;, ami (,'ianmissioiirrs were sent there. In August instructions wero given to these (Jomn)i.ssioiicr3 tu keep strid vi;,'ilance its to poaching-vcssula of foreign countries and tho unlawful sale of seals in the vicinity nf the island. As .-ii^als nio.^lly congregated ie the seas uei^hbouring to Itrup, the ir ■■• of foreign vessels to those waters, not only Uu.^sian, bul. also liriti.sh, American, Diilcb, and other • Miintri' s, iMcriM=ed year after year, and ofiontimes these ves.sels used to anchor in the nei.nlibniuiie^ harbours. In such ca.ses the Commi.'fsiiineis informed them of iho national prohibition, and rci|ue3ted them to leave, but under such ]U'citexls as .-hip's repairs, or want of water and find, they did not o' v the remon.strani'cs, and when there was a shipwreck, which nccurred very often, it ga\o a gveal .i.al of trouble and aniiovance to the ('ommissioners, who had te look after the wri'cked crews, and to liavo them escorted to tlie port of Hakodate. I'or instance, wdien the " I.salie" [f], an .Ainiaicin ve.s.sel. stranded on a reef near Itrnp. the natives rendered as much assistance as they po-sibly naihl lo the unfortiin lie vessel, but all etlorts having proved friiitU";s, this vessel was wrecked at lasl, ami damagea were ( laimed on the grouml that it was lost cm account of sulliciciit a.ssl.stanci' not having been rendered. Such unlawful and iinrca.sonahlo action nil the part nf foreij^n vcs.mds was of I'renuenl. occurrence. All Ihe.sc foreign |ioaeliing-vessels heingnf a niiicli more improved type than the onliiiary .lapane.so fishing-boats, it was very dillicull to watch tin n nioveiiieiits in the high seas, .ind, as about seveu- tenths of the island was uninhabited, fishing establi.shmeiits in the whole island beinu very few, it wa.s no wiaider that watch could not be ell'eetively kept by a few Cominissiouers witli only two or Ihreo fisliin;;-lioat3 to cruize with. Under these ciicunistancrM, in ciiisiillatiiui with, the Navy Pepartnic'iit, twn ships nf war were eoinmissinned, and one nf llu'se two was statiniied at tliu port nf Nenniro, one replacing the other in alternali^ years, and thej- were ordered to crni/i- round the Kurili^ uroup jii order to w.ilch thii poachers. liesides, the •' Kinriniiiaru, ' ni ICajtakushi. was .•cnl to Itrnp every year from 5Iay In Octolier (season for seal-huntingj In cruize and watch in Ihe vieinily of the island. In March 1871 Mr. Alcni' Urooke^-', His Imperial Majesty's Consul in San FrancLsco, reported to the Foreign Ollice that six boats wia-p being prejiared in Canada to start for s^^aldmnting in the i.sland.s of Hokkaido, and sonn afterwards he also reported that some sealing-vo.ssels had left the port nf San Fnincisco. In May of the same year, upon consultation with the lAu'cign Ofliee, ]!i".;ulatioiis, consisting of three clauses, controlling the ii^heries in the waters near the islands of Hokkaido, were i.ssned, viz. : — " 1. Along the coa.st-lines llie limit of the territorial right of .Japan is h.xed at M ri (1 ri = "_''440.> miles) from the shore ; in ease of bays, the. line of limit shall lie measured from a straight line draw'n between the two capes at the extreme ends of the bay ; hut tliis applies only to ca.ses where the space between the capes docs not exceed 3 ri. " If any foreigners be found lishing within the above-mentioned limit th' y shall ho arrested in a.s peaceful a manner as possible, mid sent lo Hakodate, accompanied by guards, and delivered to the Consul 'i( the country nf their natiniialitv to lie dc dt with in a proper manner. "2. If fnreigners dn lint submit ihemsi'lvcs tn the authorities, nr any violent resistance he olfered by them at tlie time of such .arrest, necessary for?:e may be employed to cany out the foregoing I'egu- talions. " 13. Inasmuch as there may be some foreign vessels arriving in harbour in consequence of stress o£ 1 ah ' iaoqoal lo 01986 peck. 102 "Mreftthor or want of water nr fnol, a rarcful arnitiny sliall hn mado as to llip tnic circiimfltanrns'anil upon asi't'i'tniiiiiiy tlii'ii- jjnoil I'.iilli, they siliall bi' tri'iitiMl in accdrilaiici! with lliii ' l£c (^illations for As^in- tanci' to Korci^^n Vpsaels in Disticsa.' Anil if IFis Iiiijiciial Majesty's snlijiirts lio fonml [kiih liing, their fishinj,' a|ipiualiis ami catcheM aliall hi; riaitlscatid acoiinliii;^ to tl»' oxislin;^ Ife^ulationi, and tlicy sliall bo delivtirt'd to tlio hr.mch ciHicc at Xonmro, thcTc to lie properly dialt with," lic. The " KiorioMiaru " and " (ionbuniani," holon;;iiij,' lo Kailakushi, having! on hoard interpreters and Seal Kisheiy Sniierintondini,' C'uinuiissioncrs, were orderud to eruizo in tlio vicinity of Itrnp to watcli ftuy foreij,'n luKichin^'-vossela. In thc> same month thoru was a jmitrj)arler with JI. Henlin [f], ninHter of n Tlanish pouching-vessol the "Mattee" [']. In Jnne, when tlie " Kiorioinam" was cruizing hack, sho met with six American vessels, and there were various intiTview.s ivspeeting thetn. In July His Iniiierial Ahijesly's .ships "Ifosliio" and "Osaka" were sent over, and tliu " Kiorio- maru" again sailed to the islands. In August an American ship 'Snowdrop" was fonnd al Tankani I'ay, and somo investigation was made. Five foreign vessels al Onnehetsu l?iiy were also snhjectcil to investigation, liut these are only a few vessels out of many whieli were not laonght under noti.'e. To illustrate tin' cunning of foreign poachers, they, all of theiu, would enter and anchor in harhours, protending that they had come under stress of weather or for want of water or fuel, goiu;; out of ono port in till' morning and enteiiug another in the evening, their movements being so alert that it was a matter of no wonder that a single wateh-ship was unable to keep them under oh.servation. Itut.on tho whole, the Island of Itrup was found unfavourable for the purji^se of promoting oni tisheries and of watching for foreign poachers. The climate is very inclement ; during summer mo.ithii there is densu fog, and 'vhen the aulunm a]iproaehes the fog begins lo lift, but oidy to be succeeded by a v-'ilenl north- westerly gide, causing a heavy sea. And theio is no good harbour. Thus the navigation iu .1. jse waters is very dillieult. Conseiiuently, in the same month, the .stationing of the " Kiorioniaru " at that island was discon- tinued, and she was ordered to cruizi' between Nemuro and Hakodate twice every month ; the seal - hunting .lifairs were left to the control of the branch oflici; at Nemuro ; and threi' blanches of the superintending olliee were establi.shcil in the islands at Ounebetsu, Xanneho, Toshimori, whore Com- missioners were sent respectively with tliree boats, four boatmen for each boat. As to the mode of hunting, the nativc.s used to shoot seals with bows and arrows while resting upon reefs or rocks. In winter, when the sea is frozen over, they simply chased them over the ice and killed them with clubs, or they u.sod to go in a boat made of the skins of sea-horse and whalo-bomy, wearing a kind of waterproof made of the bladders of sea-elephants or sea-horse, and with a head- covering made of fox or wolf-skins, thus deceiving seals wheiL approaching them. In lis clever manner they used to catch a great many. Th? boat itself wa,' very simple, but so easy of motion that its jirogress \sas very fast, even in a heavy sea-way, and it was quite safe from capsizing. The weapon ■ which the natives Ii.ad in these boats were a long harpoon, a club, and a gaff. When they apiirnached a victim they threw the haiiioon, and having made a good hit, the top, or barbed end, which is tied to a loni; string, se[}arated itself from the pole and remainiMl in the llesh ; thus, even it the animal w:\s not killed al one nniji. its whereab(aits c'ould always be known, as the \m\v. to which the other ei'cl of the string is tied acted as a lloal, and the seal was dragged out and clubbed to death, and then gaffed into the lioat. This mode' was considered to bo the host way (pf catching seals, but in modern times it is super- seded by the use of guns. But seals are very averse to the sound of firing, and tho use of the gun is sure to drive them away from the vicinity to somo far distant jilaces, and the Hocks are thinned year by year. The natives, knowing this by Irmg experience. aKstained from using guns, but at the present time, as all foreigners poach with guns, our mode of hunting wa.-s also obliged to be similarly changed. In A]n'il 1H7.">. at Ilerelarubetsu, near .Shibctoro, Itrup. a Ilussian boat was found anchored, and its master, wilii three IJu.ssiaiis and three .Iapane.se. were seen constructing a hut on the coa.st. They were consefiucntly warned oil' by the Commissioners. Again, an information was given to the Coimuissioi'ers that at Moroco. in the same county, the Americans liamion .lean ['] ;ind three others bnilt housi'S.and were carrying on jioaching business since October of the pirecediii'; }ear. They were consequently arrested am! scuit to Hakodate, and delivered to the hands of the United States' Consul. In .liine of the .same year His Imperial Majesty's ship " Asania ' entered into the port of Nemnro as a guard-ship, and crni/.ed about the Kurile gronji and along Uie coast of Kilanii. In September tlie "Asama" returned, and tlie "Kiorioniaru" and '■ Genbuniaru " .set out for a cruize round Itrup. In December a schooner, built at Muioran for .seal-hunting, was completed and sent to the port of Nemnro. This schooner was named the " Chishimauiaru." The liegulations for eonlroUing seal tisheries which wen; issued some years ago, after consultation with the Foreign Olliee. had to be amended, owing to the territorial houndarie-? being definitely marked out, consequent upon tho exchange of the Kuriles ^vitll Ivussia) having been ellected in September, 1874. Consequently, in April 1876, new liegulations for controlling the tisheries in Hokkaido, consisting of three clauses, weie issued. The first clause prohibited any foreign vessels from fishing with any line, net, guns, &c.,any fish or sea animal within the range of a gun-',tiot from the coast of llokkaido or of other islands belonging to the Empire of .Japan. The second clause decreed lliat the olficials appointed under the liegulations toi controlling fisheries iu the territorial waters ol Japan shall order to clear out of the houudaiy any foreign vessel 103 ■wliicli ia 'BiiRpc''l(Ml (if iiifriiiniii',' iifion till' proliiliiliim ijiRiitioiu'd iii tlm first (Iniiso, or if such vessel is tliuu^lit to liiivf ulrKiuly iiifriugeil tlje luoliiljitioii, llmt tlmy sljall lioanl llio vesstil nnd inspect licr cargo. Tho lliinl I liiu»(^ decreed that wlicn llieru in nuy foreign vessel wliicli lias actually infringed the prohiliitidii ill tlic lirsl clause, or refiisi'd to cleiir out, ^if llir boundary or to sulimit to the inspection of car^o nicnlioned in tlm second iliiuse, llii' ollicials under lh>' l.'i':,'uliilioiis lor controlling llsheries in tho terriloiiid wiitcun of .lupan shall take such vessel to the nearest opiwi port, shall deliver it to llie Consul of tlie coiiiitry to wliiili il hdoiigs, and upon its heing clearly proved to hu guilty of the oll'ence after due ini|uiries, shall di^inaiid from tho Consul the inflict ion of due pimiHhnicnt. Ill the same nioiitii, in tlat Hay of Tsunitan, in lie' Island of Shikotan, in the county of Ilaiiasaki, an ollice hiilldiiig and a store-house were huilt. The Isluiid of .Shikolan is 18 ri in cinuinference, and has tt good natural liarhoiir. In old times many natives useil to inunigiale, and the people of the mainland also used to come for lishing purposes ; but, owing to the dillicwlty of coinnmnicalion, almost all of them crossed over to the neiglihourhouj of Nemiiro; and at thir present lime, it is rare- to tind any iiihahitanis in the island. Thus tin; island became a g 10th of Meiji (l.HHii) havi> been revised, as shown in ilie inclosed copy of Chorui No. 3", dated 10th May of the current year. " I have, &c. ■ r.': -nod) 'NAGAYAMA TAKKSlflliO, " I}i,TcciOT of Huktaido Cho'' <>>• " Inclosure. "Details i]f Procedure to camj out the Perjulations controlling the Seal and Sm-oltcr riunlinij. "Article 1. The open season for seal and sca-ottcr hunting .shall hi' from the 1.0th A[>ril to the* 31st October in each year. " Art. 2. The area of hunting .shall lie all (he island.-; .situated eastward of Jtrup, and southward of Shinishu, of tlu! Kurilis, .ind it will be divi, and tlic utli'jr.:- arc nut nunh largrr; hvU at thu liino of Ihoir discovery in 1H81 they innr.t ii.ivc harlKunvd ann\ially sowe :i(l,(IUO or 2."),00() iur-scals ; ,'i,00(l were aitually lakun tlu'ro by line vcssul in the year nientioncl. Siiici; then they have gradually declined in iiroiiuetivenuss, and It may Ix said that al '.ho jiresent time lliey yield eatehes of only a few scores in tlu^ ]ilaee of ttuusands. Thori^ can In- iio doubt that this result is exclusively due to the indiseviniiniite alnujihter of tiie seals nt their lireeding jilace. No " roi.kery " could withstand for many yeans surh wholesale «iestruction as those wero exixised to in eons-'fjuencc of the suieissful venture of 18.S1. Xor is there any other way of acpoiuitini,' for their depletion, fur it is known that the tv.o or tliree foreif»n sealers which now hnd ii. \orth tli'^ir while to ei^ni]! nt Yokohama do not eugacie in jiekjiie sealing, but jiroceed to the more extensive haunts of their ijuarry beyond .laiianesc waters, suc.li as Eobben, I'ehrini;. and Copper Islands where they hop.' to elmle the vigilance of the Itu.ssian f^nnrd vesseLi. Liir;;e niimbers of s.al from the lluftsian "rookeries" are scattered every winter over the iK'enu lying off t,li(! ny native lishermen in their open boats nlonj; Urn Nambu and Yezo cjast, whore some li.UOO or :i,000 itr<' taken annually. 2. — In irk»' Manner the Fiir-SmI Fishery hus been or is coiuhuteil in ench particuhir Local itij, 2. The eoast lishery by the .Tapane.ue in the imtnediatc ni i;.'bhHnrhood of Vezo and otf the inainhind north ot hmbosaki has just ln^en alluded to. It is cairied on in native ojieii boats by means of sjiearin;.' or nets, 'i'liu eatib (L'.Kdo or Ij.UUti skhis ii-year) is dispo.sed of to (.'liinese iiiereliants at Hakodiiti'. Other jiolaoic .sealin;- there is none in ihe oeeau lyin;^ oft Jiipnn. The few sealtered .si;als still to ho fiaind about the ixliKusted breeding t;rounds of the Kuriles are occasionally taken by the .schooners of ilie .lapajierf.' 'Marine I'roiluots Company," but only twi litletl out th'S year, and thi'ir catch was sixty .seals U-tween them. Of JJritish am! other foreign sealers onlv thw-e were ecjuipped at Yokohama this year, hut the splien- of their operations Ilea If the northward beyond Ja;ianese jurisdiction. Accorilint' to lijj;ures furnished by the lUilish f ousiilas..- nt YoUohamn, lietweeli eh'ven and eighteen of these v(:s,sel.« left yokohania annually fa' the seal fmheries in ll» yean* foUowiui; the di.seovery of the Kurile breeding j^rounds, namely, between ]88:i and \H>\', inehisive. Aller l.S.'^.'i their tiumhers tjruduiiUy dwindhid, owllin ^" ''"' di'iilelioii of the >'upauoac Irshory and Uw ^renter risk and uucerliunty attondiuy a cruize io moru northerl/ wateru. 187 /• It ia stated by the Japanese A<^ricuTtumI Department that " tlie fur-seal appears to lie reared on tlie roclty coasts, and, in consciiuence, thoy arc geuerally caught while awiuimiiig at a distance nut more thun 1 iiaiitical mile from tlie coiist." It may be that a few are ao taken about the Kuiilea, but the fishery — now almost extinct — of those islands \ias carried on, iii the years of its prosperity, entirely by clubbing the animals ou the beach. 3. — WhcOiCT any, and, if ,jiii, what Mcamms lunv Icen taken, towards tlie Proteciion of the Fitr-Seal Finhcricit, iind, /iirt'.er, if any sucli Measures are known to have proved meccss/ul in preserving vr rehabilitating the Fisheries. 3. The measures tardily tal:en by the Japanese Government in 1884 to protect the Kurile rookeries have remained entirely incperativo. Elaborate iJegulatiims were framed in that year am! in 188G, est'-.blishing a close season between the 1st Nuvembcr and the 15th April, and dividing the Kurilcs into llir>o groups, in only one of wliich was lisliinj, to be allowed in any one year, and then only ovi the issiie t f a licence by the autliority constituted for the purpose. There i;, no means of enforcing these Regulations, wliich, indeed, were not devised until jifter the ruin of tlie hauling grounds had been effected. A .lapancse guard-ship w.i.s told off this year to watch over their observance, but she never left her sUition at Nenmro, and except the' dapancse " Marine Products Company," now rajiidly approaching bankru]it<-y,no ox\e dreams of ajipiying fur the regulation licence, or of Hmiting his opciations to the group in which the fishery is It gaily permissible. But. as staled above, t!ie Kurilea no longer attract the seal fishermen to any extent worth mentioning. The Japanese IJegulalions m nuestion have no bearing on pelagic sealing, which, as already stated, is not euRaged in by .Japanese or foreign se.aling-vossels. 4. — Geiutr dly, any Particulars as to the Life-hiMory of tlic Animal, iti: Migration, Season of Iringiny jorth its Young, and Habits of the Seals while engayed in suckling arul rearing tht Young. 4. The vnst bulk of the seals now found in Japanese waters, and more especially in that portiiu of the ocean extending eastwards imm the coast between Inabosaki and the eastern point of Yezo are from the l!u.ssian breeding grounds in the Behring Sen and in the Sea of Okhotsk. They follow the (ish southwards ab'mi the Ijeginning of November, and remain scattered over a large expanse of ocean, where they are quite unmolested, throughout the winter and spring monLhs. It is a matter of some surprise that no attempt is made to take them in the open sea, as is done on such a large scale in the case of the scab resorting to the breeding grounds of the easlen.' portion of Behring Si-a. I'ossibly they scatter more in the Western Pacilic, and are less easy to find. After their sojourn in the south, the tir.it to repair to the northern roolieri(^< are tlic old bidls. arriving about the middle of .fune. They await the cows, which follow them towaid.s the end of the same month Yearlings and other non-breeding seals arrive at any time later. The young are brought forth ill the iKgiiining of .July. It is .sometimes stated that the females are in the habit of leaving the rookeries U> catch fish within 10 or 2(1 miles of liie shore for ti.e support of their young, but the e.viierienced autht'^ity on wdiose remarks these notes are founded is not of this opinion. He has never found loohibite lay befure the Argentine Government, with tlie re(iuest that, if it is possible, they Mil! kindly furnish the information therein iusked, which is to the effect that fears being now seriously entertained its to the total destruction nf the fur-seal, or sea-bear, a series of qiieries has been issued on this interesting subject with a view to llieir protection. I have tlierofore the honour to request tliat your Excellency will kindly cause steps tnrlunity, which happens usually during cold winds from the so:ith- east, in consequenue of the seals coming high ;ip out of the water, lie sends the men dcwu to intercept them, and by makiu" loud noises to drive them into the corral. Then, as convenience suits, a certain number of se.iLs are let out by a door on the opposite side tf) that 1 y which they entered, and driven to the killing ground, where they are quickly dispatched iiy a blow with a club. The establishment for the Cfistillos IsLiuds is at I'oloniu, on the mainland, whence the sealers proceed in boats when they ji dge ihat there is a favourable opportunity. The general opinion seems to bo that there has been no diminution i-i the number of the seals, at any rate of recent years. In 1876 a Decree was i.ssued establishing a c!o.se season from the Ibth October to the 3l8t May, and this Lav/ is strictly enforced. A copy in tmnslation is anne.xed. As has been .seen alxive, there is no p(dagic scal-fishiiig oil' the coast of Uruguay. The figures of the export of seal-skins and nutri'i skins (the latter is a large fresh-water rat, Mijoputamus Cui/jmn, inhabiting the rivers) for the last si.x years preceding 1891 are as follows : — IK85 isxs 1887 1888 18»9 ID'JO ii,S8& &4.1Q1 «C,348 22,M2 36,211 3(,462 Although there is thus consideralile variiui'in in the yield of the fisheries, tkeie does not apfMr to be any ground for supposing a constant diminution. The female fur-seal proihiccji one at a liirlli, tlie male pups .. in^' the more numerous. The puppitg season liegins in November. The mothers an^ very carehil ot their young. When the ialter are about a fortniglit old the mothers take them down to the water and teach them to swim They suckle their young for nearly a year. The seals never entirely abandon the islands, but go to and fro their fishing banks, w hich are not iar o.l'. Th(! mating season is in Decemler and Januiurj'. During this time the males often fight savagely for posscssiiiii of the females, and numbers may be seen lying on tHe islands or shore of the mainland helpless from their wounds. The ti.slieries in Uruguay are leased to a private Company, of which Don Guillermo Lafoue is Managing Director. Deer''! eitMithing a Close Season. (Translation.) The Gijvemmcnt being unable to remain indift'erent to the dinnioiations of the jieriodical pre.*.", with reference ti tnt national wealth, the Trovisioiial Govi.riior in Council decrees : — Articli^ I. The slaughter of seals on the alwvo-mentioned islands shall commence on the 1st diy of June, and tevminatasl of British. Columbia. [Tliese qupstions, proparcd by Dr. Dawson, were kindly forwarded by Mr. A. W. Vowell, Superinten- dent of Indian AtToirs in British Cohimbia, to tho three f 'oust Agencies, in the summer of 1891.] 1. Are fur-seals found or hunted by Indians in nny part of your distri( t ? If so, at what seaaons are they found in greatest nunil'ers, and aliout wlint dates are they Hrst and last seen each year ? 2. Are fur-seals known to give birth to llieir young ou or about any part of the coast in your district, ami, if so, nt what places uad in what seasons ? If young ]iu])s are observoi, jvlease stale whether the Indians know their mode of birth, i.e., whether lioru on shore or at sea. 3. Do any of the Indians t your district know of breeding phioes formerly rosoHed to by the fur-seal, or do they remombei t liave heai'-l that such lireeding places formerly existed ? 4. Have tho fur-seals beet more or less abundant on the coast within the past few yeara ' Information received in reply to the /irrrgoing Questions. Sir, West Coast Indian Agency, Nanaimo, July 30, 1891. In answer to Cirmlar of tlie 20th Tuly received from India Othce, I have the honour to state that fur-seals are hunted by the Indians in the west coast, and are found in great numbers in F-bmary. Are first seen in December and last in April — that is close in shore. After that they begin to travel iilang tho C(i.ast of Vancouver Island and Queen ('liarlotte Islands towards Behring Sea. Fnr-soal.s are not kncvr to give liirtli to tiieir young on any jiart of the coa.st in my Agency. All Indian sealers inform m<- tliat seals are born on shore (from their e.\i>erienc>' in Hebring Sea, where many females are kille i and that the mothers leave the young on shore in daytime, going some miles out to sea in search ol food, returning at night. Indians in my district ily want without frightering them away ; also the seals follow tho herrings for food. Some 1,30(1 skins were taken to Victoria this spring at one time speared by Indians in or near the mouth of Barclay Sound. I have, &c. (Signed) HAItRY GUILLOD, Agmt. Dr. Dawson, Care of C. Todd, Esq., Metlakahtla. Sir, Ku'aw Kewlth Indian Agency, Alert Hay, Aug^ist 13, 1891. 1 have the honour to forward, as requested, the inforination which I have obtained from the Indians at the north end of Vancouver's Island, viz., the Nuwitti Indians on the east, and the Kwatseno Indians on the west side, as the.se ore the only two tribes in my Agency who hunt the fur-Hoal. The fur-.soal is found in greatest numlx'rs about the last week in December, and continue to be seen for about a month or si.x weeks.vvhen they docnfase in numbers, and are only occasioually seen after that time. The Indians have never known them to have young during the time they are in tho neighbour- hood, and none have been killed younger than about six months ohl. Tlicy have never heard of any hreeding grminds in the vicinity. They say that during the last two years the fur-seals have not been nearly so plentiful aa in former years, and this yi'ai few have gone out to hunt them on that uceouut. Tho Indian name here for the fnr-se.il is '• ka-wha." I have, (fee. (Signed) H. II riDC'OCK. Indian Agent Dr. Dawson, Metlaknthla. IKH 171 Bit, Korth-u-cil Const Atjr/ncij, Mttlahihtia, BO., September 4, 1801. Ill rejily to ii Circular letUsr from tlio .SiipuiiiiU'iicl(;nt of liidiiiii AITiiirs at Vicloriii, ilated the 20th July, 1801, roqueatini,' my answers to cortuiii qiiustious cfincCTtiiiig tlie haliits aiul liiuiiits of the fur-stal iu Urilisli Coluuibia waters, after full and uxhaustivo iiiquirius, I liave the honour to subjoin the foUowiny : — 1 . Yes ; they are hunted and killed by Indians all along the north-west coast and Qiicon Charlotte's Islands, llieir route whilst travelHnf» south being near the coast-line cast of Queen Charlotte's Islands, and rcturniiij,' to the northward mostly on the west side of said islands. Tliey Ih'st aiijieai- goiug south about the middle of December, and disappear going iiortli about the end of May in oath year. Tlie fur-seals are most numerous during the months of .lanuary, Februr.ry, and Marcli. '1. No; occasionally a last year's pup is found, and during Ai)ril and May many female seals have been killed with young so near liirtli that they have been taken from the old seals and liave lived, can swim about, and have been raised liy Indians. The Indians all state that tlie mutlier seals go far north to give birth to their young ; that seals are born on shore far away. .3. No such plac(;s known to the Indians of this district. 4. Indian tradition makes fur-seal very numerous long ago, but the present generation of Indian hunters think that they have teen the same as now for at least twenty years. During hist spring (the Indians tliiuk) the seals wera as numerous as ever, but few were caught owing to oontimu'il lougli water, 1 inclose a letter from West Husoii, Esq., a man well acquainted with the Bella Bella Indians and their hunting work, which disprovi^s the statements originating at Bella Bella that tlie fur-seal bring forth their young amongst the kelp Ijeds in Queen Charlotte's Sound. I have, &c. (Signed) C. TODD, Indian Agail, "^ North-west Coast Agency. Dr. Dawson. Litter from Mr. A. fV. Husnn. inclosed by ^fr. C. Todd. Dear Sir, Mki Bella, B.C., August 17, 1801. As per request I liave made several inquiries at China Hat and at this place regarding breeding places of tlie fur-.seal, but find that none of the natives know of any lireeding rookeries of the fur-seal in lliis part of British Columbia. Some say the seals liave their young oif shore in kelp patches, then others say they bring forth their pups on the outlying rocks along tliese shores, but none of the natives ever saw their pujjping places; most of them say the mother seal goes a long away off to pup. Mr. C'.ayton says he is positive that tlie fur-seal do not bring forth their pupa on tiiis part of the cout. J. Todd, Esq. Respectfully yours, (Signed) A. W HUSON. Extract from Lttterfrom Mr. A. W. ITuson, dated Victoria, B.C., October 16, 1801, and addressid to Dr. a. M. Dawson. The fur-.seal come into Queen Cliarlotte Sound eai.y in December, and are mostly all females in pup. A little later on tlie grey pups make tlieir appearance close in sliore if the weather is bad, so that the natives kill many of them in sight of their villages, and on one occasion, some twenty years ago. a great swarm of grey pups ascended to tlie very Iicad of Knight's Inhit so tliick that 1 knew of one native killing sixty in one day. However, this w.as an excejition, it was in the month of March, and the young seal seemed to bo falling in and feeding on the ulachan that always ascend Knight's and Kingcome Inlets. Nearly every winter fur-seals, both old and young, are to be seen in about the waters of Queen Charl )tte Sound, coming in in December and leaving again about April. The number usually killed by the natives depends on the weather. I have traded in as higli as (iOI) skins from the natives at Nawitti in one year. Theiv are no rookeries about the north end of Vancouver Island that I know of. The native 1 say the females go olf into the kelp [latches to bring lorth their young. Extracts from Letters to Dr. 0. M. Dawson from Mr. ./, W. Mackay. Under date of the l:!th November, 1891, Mr. Mackay writes as follows: — " The old Indian hunters of the Songees. Soi.kc, and Clahiii bands often informed me that 'n their younger days fur-seals and .sea-otter were in the habit of landing in great numbers at the Koce Rocks, 11 miles from Victoria; they also frec|iiented the (Jiilf of (ieorgia, I have Inuight fur-seal skins from the .'^eshahls who inhaliit the .larvis Inlet, udvcn lioiu auiinals killed at Sangsler's Island, ncjir Texada These animals were driven to the ocean from the narrow waters by being hinted with the ii.«e of tire-arms ; during the spring nuiiitersof the young animals lisli in the bioken waters inside erf the outhing half-tide rocks and reels '.Uiich tmige the we.xtern shores of Vancouver Island and <•(' the oilier islaiuls which lie west of the mainland from Queen Chailotto Sound to Dixon's Entrance. The older ariimala 1.22:.'] mi 172 remain further at ae% but numbers of them take shelter in the larger sounds during stormy weather. I have seen them off Metlaksilitla in tlie month of .Tanuary. Thoy were first systematically hunted by the Wliites about 1850, The Indians took to iiunting tlieni some two or tlireo years later; before tliat period thoy merely killed tliem when they happened incidentally to come in their way, as tliey did with most other wild animals ; n\t to tliat period the beaver, marten, mink, land-otter, and sea-utter were the only animals which tlie Indians systematically hunted for their skins. "The Indians above quoted .stated that the fur-seal bred on the Eace Ilocks, on Smith's Island (Wash.), and on several islands in the Gulf of Oeor^'ia. They used to have tiieir younf; to within a recent jieriod on the Haystack I.sland, off Ca])e Scott, Vancouver Island. It is probable that a few individuals still breed there, these islands bein;; very inacccssil)le to small craft on account of the strong tides and cross currents which prevail in that neighbourhood." A further inquiry addressed to Mr. d. W. Mackay on the subject of the former breeding of fur- seals on Haystack Island elictcd (under date the 7th January, 1892) the subjoined additional particulars on this and other ])oint3 previously referred to, " Respecting your query of the 1st instant, I got my information from the late Captain Hugli Mackay, of the schooner ' Favourite.' Mackay was the first jicrson to practise the taking of the fur-seal in the open ocean, and using a seaworthy vessel as the starling point and for shelter. The idea was suggested to iiim by the Indian hunters, who represented lo him the dilliculties and dangers of following the seals far from land in open canoes, and asked him to take them out in his schooner. He acceded to their demands, and success followed the operation. Mackay died about twelve years ago. He wius an intelligent Scotchman from Sutherlandshiro, a cooper by trade ; he collected much trustworthy information during the twenty years in which he was occupied trading on the west coast of Vancouver Island. I believe his statement respecting tlie fur-seal on Haystack Island, as it agrees with the accounts which I got in early days respecting indiviiUial fur-seals having their young in the unfroquenied parts of the coasts of Vancouver Island. Mr. lluson is probably correct as regards the landing of sea-lions on the Scott Islands. In former times these animals extended their peregrina- tions all round Vancnuver Island. I was one night kept awake for hours by the roaring of the male animals on Smitli Island, o(T the south entrance to Kosario Strait. The sca-lii,u3 would not interfere with the movements of the fur-seals, and both varieties might herd together." From a further correspondence respecting the date at which Captain Hugh Mackay first attempted sealing at sea the following are extracts : — JuiuKir)/ 20, 1892. — "The date of Hugh Mack.iy's beginning to take the fur-seal at sea may be arrived at appr' ■ 'iiately by an examinaliim of the ty'ustoms Itecnrds at the ))ort of Victoria, l!riti.sh Columbia. Mac ■ owned the sloop ' Ino ;' with her he traded oil and furs iVoiu the Indians of the west coast of V.i uver Island, lie made his first exjieriment on the fur-seid at sea with the ' Ino ;' finding this vcwei too small to carry two or thioo canoes on ileck, he built the schooner ' l-'avoiirito," of 75 tons burthen. The ' Favourite ' was registered at the port of Victoria. The date of her register will be about eighteen months sub.sequeut to the 'Ino's' first fur-sealing cruize. I shall write to Mr. Milne, the t'ii.«toms Collector at the port of Victoria, to give me the date of the 'Favourite's' first register, and shall i.-onnnunicate results to you." Januari/ 'M, 1892.-—" I am infornjcd that the schooner ' Favourite ' was launched at Sooke, British Columbia, on the 28tli A]jril, 1808. Slie was registered in Victoria on the 18th June, 1808. Hugh Mackay was registered owof.r aiul master ; on tliis data we may ('onclude that the first altenqit at taking the fur-seal at ,sea was made by Hugh Muckay in the spring of 1800, say, February 1800. The above information is from the Collector of Customs at the port of Victoria, British Columhia." Extracts from Letters from Judge James 0. Swan, of Port Townsend, State of Washington, addressed to Dr. G. M. Dawson. Under date of the 4th Novendier, 1891, Judge Swan writes: — "Yuur letter of the 28tli October was received this murning. I promised you, when we met in Victoria, to send you certain information relative to the seal catcli at tjape Flattery, and ])articularly regarding the date when .schooners first took out Indians with their canoes on the sealing grounds. But there has licen no oflicial record, and I have had to rely u]]on tlie recollection of individirilB, which lias iiroved very unsatisfactory. To-day 1 received a note from Captain E. H. McAlmond, of Xew Dungeness, "W'lishington, in reply to a letter from me. Cajitain McAlmond writes, 1st November, 1891 : 'The first .schooner to take Indians that I know of was the schooner ' Lottie' in 1809 fiom Neah Bay ; believing that we were the pioneers, I afterwards understood that a vessel from Victoria was also taking an Indian crew.' "On the iiStli October last I received from Mr Charles Spring, of Victoria, a letter, dated the 27tli, i > which he writes: 'The first attempt at .sealing, in a practical way, with schooners and Indian hunters was made in or about 1809 by James (Jhristiensou in the schooner "Surprise," ow'ned liy the late Captain William Spring, of Victoria, IJritisli Cobnuhia.' This is evidently the vessel referred to by Captain McAlmond. No record of catch has U'cn kept by any one tnat I have ascertained, and the reiolleition of individuals is very iinciMtain. For instance, Ca])tain James Dalgardno, for many years a Paget Sound iiilot stationed at Neah Hay, was (piite certain that schooner ' I'otter,' of Port Townsend, look Indians with canoes to tlri sealing grounds in 1801. But Captain McAlmond, who was at Neah Bay the same time, writes in the letter received from him to-day: 'Captain Norwood, in the " Poller," took Indians to pilot him ',.j the halibut liank.' 173 " TliD only official account of tlic seal cntcli at C'ii]>e Flnttory timt has over lieon kept is the one 1 Imd clinrf;e of for the tcntli census of the United States uniler instnictions from Professor Spencer F. liaird, to iniike a full licpurt on the lislieries of Cape Flattery, including fur-seals. This lieport, in full, mil/ Ije found in ' The Fisheries and Fisliinj,' Industries of the United States,' section 5, vol. ii This ii the most comiilete and reliable Jteport ever published of the Neah I'ay fisheries, anil was compiled hy mo during the entire year of 1880 while I was in the ollicial caijacity of Inspector of United States' Customs, stationed at Neah Bay. Since that time no account has been kept of an official nature, and any attempt to make up a statement would be mere guesswork, and utterly unreliable. I think Ca]itain Charles Spring, who was with us during our interview in Victoria, is a thoroughly reliable man, and his statement of seal statistics the most correct that I have known. I have endeavoured to obtain statistics from jiarties at Nenli Bay, but without success. "The whole of tlie seal catch by the Indians of Ope Flattery has been sold in Victoria, and I think, classed with other skinj jirocurcd from the west coast Indians. I would have supposed that the Indian Department at Washington, ever mindful of the good effect on members of Congress it is to make a good showing of Indian industries, would have instructed the Indian Agents to have kept o record similar to mine, so that tliey could show to (Congress that the Makah Indians of Cape Flattery aro a aelf-supiiorling people. Had such a record Ix^en kej)t, its value at this time would have been appreciated, but it .seems to have been the policy of the authorities at Washington to ignore all know- ledge of seal industries exccjit those of the I'ribyloff Islands ; heuco the impossibility at the present time of reaching any reliable results." Under date of the 10th January, 1S02, Judge Swan writes: — " Your kind letter of the 22nd Decendjer was received on the 31st. Since then I have been endeavouring to obtain pa-st stati.stics of the seal liusine.ss at Capo Flattery, but without success. I have, however, arranged with ati intelligent half-breed Makah Indian, who has the agency store and trading post at Neah Bay, to kceji an accunite account of the catch during the present .season. " Yesterday a number of ilakah Indians came to my olhce, and I bad a long interview with them They lohl me lliat they had conic to fit out their schooners ' Lottie ' and ' James O. Swan ' for sealing. These schooners are in winter ([uartors in Scow Bay, opposite the city. TIkjsc Indians say that seals are unusually plentiful at Cape Flattery and Barclay Sound, and if the weather is good they hope to make a large catch." Under date of the 6th February, 1892, Judge Swan writes : — " I have seen seveml Makah Indians who have been here, and they tell mo that Indians lose very few seals, whether they sjiear or shout them, as they aro alwayo so near the seal at such times that they can recover thcnn before they sink. " (Captain Lavtaider, formerly of schooner ' Oscar and Hattie,' who is a fine shot, told me that he secured ninety-iive seals out of every hundred that he shot. He said that poor hunters, of which he haii several on his vessel, would Hre away a deal of ammunition and not hit anything, but would be sure to report on their return to the vessel that they killed a seal eacii time they tired, but that all the seals sank except the few which they brought on board. Captain Lavender was of opinion that not over 7 per cent, of seals killed were lost." Judge Sivan to Dr. G. M. Dawson. Dear Sir, Stale of Washington, December 13, 1891. I have just received from Neah Bay the following names of ves-iels engaged in sealing from Neah Bay in 1890 and 1801, with the number of seal-skins taken by each vessel. Srhonnor — S».n .. Lottie . , Traler. . C. C. Pirkini Swan , , I.ottiu.. C. C. PerkiM Teuer.. 1890. 1801. Skin. 136 120 250 30 &36 1«0 480 190 19S 1,02S The schooner " Teaser " is owned in Seattle, the " Swan," " Lottie," and " C. C. Perkins " are owned by Indians at Neah Bay. Yours truly, (Signed) JAMES G. SWAN. m Under ilnto of tlio 28th Novonihcr, 1891, .Tudgn Swdii writes: — " The srtine letter iiitorniM mo thiit scliomior ' Lottie,' Cnptaiii Peter Thompann, was the first vessel wliioh took Iiulinns and ciiiicios from Neali I'.ay to hunt neiils. Tlii.s wum in IMIl'.l: tlie ' Lottie' was ii pilot-hofttnt that time. Slie is now owned hy Captain James Cjaplaidioo, a full-hlood Makuli Indian, and Head Chief of the trilio. Last sprint; the ' Lottie ' vv-ent to lielirin^; Sea and ilid vi^y well. Captain CInplanhoo, after payin;,' all eosts of the voyage, had 7,000 or H,OI)l) dollars left. He deposited 5,000 dollars gold in the Merchant Rank in this city. lie will buy another schooner and try his luck again next season. " I am ninu.sod with reading the reniaiks of correspondents of the eastern i)rc.s.i aliont seals. Tliey only know what they have seen ami lieen told on th(t rookeries, hat of tlie migratory hahits of seals they know nothing anil care less. I have always ivintonded, and still hold my opiiyon, tliat tlio seals are not in one groat hand, hiit in eountle.ss henls, like lloeks f.f wild geese or the liainls of bud'alo. Gcoso do not nil (Iv to the Arctic, us was once s\ippo.sed, nor did the liullalo of 'I'uxun go north to the Saskatchewan in the snnnner, or tlie henls of Winnipeg visit Tc^xas in the winter. " All the hands of fur-seals in the North I'acilic do not go to the IVihylolf Islands, and there are thousands which do not visit lleliring Sea at all. I'.ut these writers, who assume to know all the facts, never discuss this iiue.stion. Where do the .seals go whim they leave liehring Sea ? "If the killing of fur-seals is piohihitcd (m tin- I'rihiilujf Inlan-h during the brooding sea.son there will ho no fear of e.xtorinination. That butchery is driving of! tho seals more than the so-called poaching. "I inclose an article from the ' Seattle Post Intelligencor' of the .5th on fur-seals, written by myself. It was publisheil in the Sunday i.ssiie, but the demand was so great that every copy was .sold, and another edition publisheil in their weekly the following Thursday. Tho editor told me that it has been extensively copied in tho loading journals of the east." Extract from thf "Seattle Post Intellii/encer" of November 5, 1891. (Special Correspondence.) Port Towmmd, Ortnhcr 31, 1S9I. The investigations of tho Unito 'slnncls by the Ahiskii Coniiiieiciiil tVimiiaiiy ftiicl Uie present Ci)niiimiy'H servants, which luif driven tlir simiIh to otlier jiarlB of tlie Hca fui hreidiiix, ami aheuily, the ]iiesent aeasun, eniisidcralile nmiihers huvi- iimilu tlieir ;ip))earancc on .St. Matthew's Island, where fnniieily they ilid nut resort, the two ialanls St. I'liul and St. (leorj,'e hoiiif,' the yrcat rookeries." The seals lieyin lo make their appearance in the rejjion ahout (,'ape Flattery in tho latter part of Deceiiihor or the lirsi (jf January, varyinj,' with dill'erenl seasons. AVIicn ea.sterly winds prevail with iniieii SHOW tlicy keeji well nil' slaire, and do not make their apiiearance in f;roiit numbers hetore the micUUe of l'(-bruary or the first, of March. lAst winter was very mild, with hut little snow, hut the provnilin^' winds, which wire south iind soutli-wc-ft, were e.xo.'edin^ly viulent, ('revenlin;,' .sealinH- schooiiers from d(jin'4 mueh hunting. Tho mildnes.') of tenijierature, howeviT, with the direction of the pnfvailiu'.; winds, druvi^ tin seals tnward the luast in incrediMo numher.<. They ^.T.idually Wi,'rk up tho co.i.sl t.iwaril IJueen Charlotte Islanil, when the lurj^er portiun of the herds ni'ive alon.i,' the Alaskan coast Inward I'ninriik I'ass and other western openings into I'l hriu'^' Sea. A jiortinn of llase .seals, however, pass into lli.vnn's I'.nlr.uice, mirth of (Jueeii Cjiarlntii.. Island, and into Cro.sS Sound and Cook's Inlet, ami do nut '^'< i'< llehrini^' Sea, hut have their younf; on the innunienilile islands, tinnls, and hiys in Southern Ala.ska .uid lliili.di (Jolundiia. These seals lo'e seen in the.se waters all summer, at the same time of the hreedin;; on ihi' mokeries of the I'ryl.iloff Islands, and are killed by Indians and the skins sold t'l dealers, 'I'he ^'real hudy nf the seals, however, do enter I'lehrini,' Se.i, wlii;re they are followed by the sealin^,'-ve8.sels. They usually lake tn the i.slaiids about tho lirst, of .luiie. the breeding cows and bulls bein;4 earlier than the rest of the herd. The breedin;,' „'oes nn about four mimths. The writer in the Londnii "Times" before alluded to says of the method adopted on the islands for takiuf,' the .seals, that: — " It is enul and uiiH]iurtsmaulike. Tho animals have no ehanre for their lives, but are slnujjhlei-ed like sIhh'I) in the shamldt s. A ]«irlinn nf the herd i.s separated froin tin' main bmly by a party of nun armed with clubs. The.^e men — ihey can hardly be called hunters — by shouts and blows drive the part of the herd they have surroundrd away into the interior of the islands, a mile or .so from the l>each. Here, on a clear .^pace, the inifortunate .seals are at oiiee clubbed to death and skinned, the earcase.s bein;,' left as they lie. These shm^^Iitera are cairied on until the number of skins required are .secured. Latterly the .seal.s seem to liav(^ an instinct that there is somethinij wronu, as tin' .sipiails driven into the sand-hills never return, only the stench from th<' slaughter conung down to the beach when the land breeze blows. In conscipience of this the rookeries have been le.s.s frei[Ucnted than in former years. This has given rise to tht^ as.sertion of the monopolizing Company that the taking of ..eal by the private vessels is causing a depletion of the seals on the breeding islands. "Wlii'n the metbiiils adopted by the hunters of the .sealing-ve.ssels are compared with tlxise of the liccnse /*^o \ %^ 176 Altliough seals linvp npppdrcrt in incrodiMi: iminticrs thi"! pmscnt scnson of 1891, yot tlio wcathor all through tin; ajiiiiif; and early suimiicr iiioiitlis was umisually boisterous, ami days and even weeks elapsed during which time it was impossilile to launch a sealing-boat (jr an Indian canOe, oonseiiucntly the cateli has not boon as largo as was generally expected, and recent accounts IVoni London show that the prices brou,i,'ht for fur-seal skins at tlie great trade sales did not average over l;t I'uillars. As prices from 17 to 22 dollars were paid in Victoria for these skins, somebody has been a great hiser, and tlie prospect now is that fewer vessels will engage in the basiness next season, and that prices will rule still lower. Of the migratory habits of fur-seals but little has Intherto been inade known, for thosi; wlio have had llie information to give liave had an interest direclly opposed to impartiiig Uie truth. Hence the fallacious assertion has been made and stoutly inaintained by the niono]ioli.st.s and their niendai'ious hirelings tliat all the fur-seals of the Noith I'acilic Ocean congregated on the rookerit.s i>f the islands of tlie I'ribylof! group, and if they are allowed to lie killed by the poachers and pirates, whom the geueml public know as honest, industriou.'i, energetic fishermen and hunters — the fur-sefd will l)eeomo extinct, and Miss Flora MeFlimscy will have nothing to wear, peor girl I Hut the scientific investigations of the United States' and Uoyal Commissions, and particularly the latter, wlio liave made the migrations of the seals a special study, will show that the habits of all migratory animals, both birds and beasts, are governed by natural laws. The seiJs, like the great herds of bulValo, formerly so ubundunt, and the myriads of wild fowl from the north, are not (eaeli kind) ow. single great body. The bufl'alo were found in groat droves from Texas to the A.ssiniboine and t!ie lied liiver of the norlli, but they were not all in one band. Tlie lierds from Lower Texas never went north to the upper limits, nor did the lierds of the extreme north ever seek their feeding ground in Routliern Texas. Every band had it-i uwn range. So of tlie Canada geese and other wild fowl, wliieh were i)opiilarly di;elar.'d to visit the regions of the Nortli I'ole every siting to propagate their young. Xo one thought or dared to assert to the contrary, but wlieii Colonel (ioss, the celebrated oruithologi.-Jt, found the nests and eggs and young of the Canada goose in Kansas, and other observers have di.scovercd those so-called Arctic breeders rearing their young at the liead-waters eeember, and January the .salmon and herrings, \-c., are far off Bhore, and as spring advances lliey ai>iiroach the land in shoals and [the seals fidlow them. The herrings come in first, the salmon follows, and feed~ upon them, and the seal feeds upon all. although the herring is its favourite food. Any other information as to the history of seal-fishing in this ja'ovinee, &c., I can supply if necessary. I am, &c. (Signed) JOHN DEVEREUX, Doch^.nasUi: 1 Si hi as hi d at C ■mi ( 179 ) APPENDIX (D). MiscmxANEons Courespondence and Memokanda. 1. Hchrinjj Sea Commissioners to Her Brit^nlli(^ >[ajcst)'s Consula-Gcnernl nt Slmiigliac, C'lintoii, !\ii(l IlonoluUi. 2. Ilor Hritiiiii ic Majt-tv's Coii'iul nt Siin I'Vuiioisco to IMiri sc; Se;i Comail'-siimers, 3. llor Uritannic Mnjesty's Ctmsiil-Otnernl nt ShaiiKline tn Ruhrin'j; Sen C'oaiiiiisHioncrs. 4. Hit Uritannic Maji.-ty's Consul. GiMicrnl nt Canton to BehiMin Sea Conuni^aiontr!'. 5. Ikhrin^ Kia ( jimnii: sioni rs to Senior Nnval Ollicer, Esquimalt. G. Kxtriict^ from •'('linllciip;cr" Uepoit'^. 7. Letter I'r >ia Mr. I". Chaiimnn. C. Ivxiraet (if letter IVoui llaron Nordenskiolil. it. I."tter iVini Mr. Jolin Munay. 10. U'-port (if exauiiniti iii of ilc.ul R,al Pup l)y Dr. OUntlier. 11. Menioraiiduiu by Sir Saii.uel WilsO'i. M.l'. (Slieeii-lincdiag). 12. Miniorai'rliiai liy V,:r\ lirownlow (iH'er-lprecdioL')- 13. MimoruiiUum bv Prole-Lur I'l.iwer, CH. 1. — Letter from the Bchring Sea Commutitmtrx to Ihr L'ritniinic Majesty's C'vnsul-Geiural al Hhaiighue* Sir, OoternmetU House, Ottawa, Norembtr 16, 1891. Iliiviiif; liceii appfiiiitol I'riti.sli Coinmi.ssioners to iiivtstii^'.-ite t!i(j facts ami oonditions of fur-seal life ami tlic sciiiliii^' iiidchtry in tiio Xnrtli PacHio (Xeaii, we liiul that our inquiry wouM be much assi.sted if y(ju could furnish u.s with inrdrmatiiin on tlie folli'V.-in.; [loints: — 1. A.s to tile names and number of vessels .saili'v I'uni (.'liinese ports in any given years, which have taken fur-seal at sea or on (he rookeries, to,t!ellier with tlio number of skins taken and other parti(uUavs, .such as the nationality of llie V(?sse]s, and tlie mmibers of their irews. 2. Any infoiniation as to the number of fur-seal skins laiuled at Shau^jhae, aiul tlie market jjriee.s of the same in any given years. [t 3. Any iuformatimi on, or n, 'ues of authorities for, the very considerable trade in fur-feal skins, both from the North Pacific and the Sonth Sea.s, which appears to have been carried on ai (.'anion duriiifi the earlier years of thi; present century.] We should be much obliged if the aliove information couhl bo forwank'd to us as soon as possilile, addressed to the Ilehring Sea Commissiuu, care of his Excellency the (jo\ernor-(ieneral, Ottawa, Canada. We have, i&c. (Signed) (".I-.OKGi; I'.ADKN-POWKl.L. (JKOIJGI': M. DAWSON 2. — Letter from Her Britannic Majcati/'s Consul at Sail Francisco to the Bchring Sea Commissioners. Sir, San Fronciscn Januari/ 5, 1802. I am in rocei]it of your despatch, dated Foreign Oltice, the 10th tdtimo, wishing me to obtain for the Behring Sea Commissioners thi^ forms of clearance i.^stu'il at the Custom-house at San Francisco lor ves-sels proceeding on whaling, lishing, and sealing vovag(!s to tin; North Pacific, including Behring Sea. The precise phrases used in clearing vessels at this ]iort upon these voyages is shown on tlia inclosed forms of eleamnce obtained from the Cu.slom-lmuse. Those that go hunting and fishing procure a clearance, which states that they are " bound lor huuling and fishing voyage, having on board stores," and those that go whaling are eli'ared " for whaling voyage, having on board stjre.'<." 1 am informed by tla; Dei)Uly Collector of Customs, who clears all vessels here, that ihesc are the oidy twc forms of (dearance given, and that no .sealing or trading clause •■ in.sertcd in such forms. He says n: ve.s.sels arc cleared for Pichring- Sea. Tin; steinuer.s of the - .ska Connuercial Company clear fej Unalaska, and receive permis.sion from the Collector of Customs tliere to jiroceed to the Islands (, St. George and St. Paul. As regards a statement of the number of vessels clearing from this jxirt for fishing and hunting incloac a Memorandum which I have procured from the Custom-house at this port. I am, &c. (Signed) DENIS DONOHOE [-221 * Sunt ilao to Her Uajeity'd Consula<(i6ucrdl nt Honolulu and Canton, t To Canton only. 3 A ISO 3. — Letter from ITer Britannia Majesty's Connd-Oeneral, Shanghac, to the Behring Sea Commissioners. Gentlemen, Shtd'jhic, Janiiari/ 8, ]89'J. In ri^jily to your letter of the IGth November lust, just received, nskiiig for certain infon!ia(ioii witli rt'Ltaril to vessels clearinf; from Cliine.se ports wliieli have taken fnr-seal, 1 have the l.oiicmr to inform you that, as far as I can learn, no vessels have ch^ireil for that purpose from this country, thou^'h vessels rcfjistered hero may jiosi-ibly have left for Yokoliunia with tlu' uUiniate intention of ougayint,' in llie seal lishery. Most, if not all, of the vessels enfin^'ed in tlie seal fislu:ries rei.'istered here are built ami titled out in Yokoliania, and are only registered in Shangline because it is the nearest port whert' English registry can )« olitaineil. The Imperial Maritime Customs have kindly furnished me with the foUowi" fiijures showing tlie import of seal-skins : — Y.'ir. l*ic«L'«. Vnluc. II likwati Uels. IHH7 9-:t 1,911 l-^tlS -MiSl 5.097 I8S9 3.4JU 8,114 1H9() 5U2 1.012 1S9I SCO 1,775 The llaikwan tael is, rougldy speaking, equivalent to 5.9. Tliese skins liave all been iinporteil from .lapan, and I am unable to .say wliulher they had their origin in that tountiy, (rr liad liei:n previoi;,.!) iniportritaiinic Majesty's ( 'oudul at Yokohama, wlm will doubtless furuisli you witli all tlie iuformalion obluii;iil)le. I hnvc, &c. (Signed) NICHOLAS J. HANNEN. 4. — Letter from Her Urilannic Majestifn Conml-General, Canton, to thr fiehrin;/ Sea Commi'tsioners. Gentlemen, Canton, Lcceinhtr 28, 1891. I liave llie lu)nour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the lOlh \dlimo, in whii'h you aak for information alrout llie fur-.se,'d trade of this ])ort. In reply In your lirst ([Uery, 1 have to state tliat, .so far as can be ascertained, no veasol .sfiiling from a Chinese port lias i^ver gone on sealing expeditions. As to the seeoiid point im wliidi you iwk for information, I cannot trace any record (jf fur-seal skins h iving over lieeii l.imled iit this port. On the tliird point abso 1 liave been unable to obtain any information. None of tlie records accessible heie have even a mention of a " very considerable trade in fur-seal skins, both I'rom tlio Nortli I'aeilie and llie .South Seas.' In a Consular Kejiort on tlie trade of tliis port in 1843, Mr. Thoni writes: "Twenty years ago the fur trade (which was almost entirely in tlie hands of the .Vmericans) carried on with (,'liina amounted to upwards of ],(J(lO,OOil dollars annually. Dut, owing to llie imliscriniinate slaughter of the aiiinials of the eliase, it has ilwindled away .so much as lo be no longer worth pursuing, and, indeed, during these last two or tliree years no skins or furs whatever have lieen iniporled ii ' . "liina." Mr. Tlujm gives the names of the furs iniporled into China, and I'lir-.seals is nol among t'.eni. F\irUier. in a Return of United .^tales' inipoits into (.'anion iu 18 10, other furs are enumerated, but nol fur-seals. In a previous lieturn (is;!l) of the I'nited Slates' trade in furs, 1 liiid in like inanner the names of the furs exported to China, and fur-seals is not among tlie.'-e. Hut in aiiollier necounl 1 find it stnted ihat the furs usually iniiiorled into China by Cniti'd Stales' Imders in tlii^ early part of this century were rabbit, .seal, sea-oiler, land-otter, lieaver. and I'ox. The ardiives of ibis Ccuisulate-Generul (hi not go back to the jieriod at which the I'nited States' trade in furs with China nourished. (Jonsec|uently, then' are no archives to .shed light on the subject. Tlie books which I have referred lo also fail to gi\e precise information, and it is doubtful whether anything certain and definite about it can be learned here. I have, &c. (Signed^ T. -WATTEKS. 5. — Behring Sea Commissioners to Senior Naval OJfiecr, EsquimaU. Sir, Ottaioa, Jultj 8, 1891. As Her Majesty's Commissioners itppointed to investigate the conditions of seal life in Ileliring Sea, it a])pears to us that infornuition on the following points would be of great value to the ('ommis- sion if gathered by any of Her Majesty's ships visiting .' '■.ing Sea in 1801. We therefore veulure to append, for your cousideratici, lieads of inlbrmation on matters which wa have to investigate. We have, &c. (Signed) GICOUCE liADEN-POWELL. GEOKGE M. DAWSON. 181 Records of Obnerritiona on Fur-Sml Life in luf Aorlh I'ltafu; Oecmi, fur tb lichriii;j Sm Commission : to he cnturril in y Jlr. I'leileiiek Cliapniaii. 'I'lio conimnnieation is in the form of a letter mlilressed to Professor rarUer, iinil is dateil from Uunudin. J4tli Seiiti>nd)er, IS'.tl : — " I have endeavoured to get ^ouw. detinile information and ori;j;inal opinions to enalihi you to answer Mr. (!, Dawson's letter of the i;."ril June, with referemc to the iNtirjiation of our seals, hut the only person 1 cnidd think of as old en(iu;.;h U^ (4ivu me lirst-liauil iiiforniation. yet not too old, has not yet answered my letter. I think, however, that from a "ener.d knowledj,'e of the traditions and litcni- tnre of old Xev.- Zealand, and lioni hooks at my eommand, I ean yive you something to bcgia with, and 1 will try and ohtain more " Doubtless J.Ir. D.iw.son has acce.ss to a paper on the fur-seal of Xew Zealand, by J. W. Clarke, in the Procecdiiigi of the Zoological Society for ISTo (ii. tiod), whieh i.. in your Museum library. This paper give.A some interesting facts, the verilii:ation of which I had )ireviously sought, for ye "s. .\s I know nothing of the sells in Au.Htralian water;! bi'Vond the fact that they were once numero.s in the ialaml.s of llass ."-'triiit, I will eonic to Xew Zeahin.l. Seals were formerly numerous on our mainland. To get nt the numbers taken here early in the eentury,(Uie would have to make innuiriesof ohl mercan- tile hou.ies in Sydney, London, ilIiiI America — the (';inipbells, Knderhys, &e., if any of them e.\i.st. The old Maori traditions constantly refer to seals, which were very ninncrous in tl»' ncighljour'iood of this port two cent aries ago, and may have been j^'entiful when tlii^ erntury began. The rocky west coast of this island was, h iwover, the home of immerous seals, and a few are still killed there in arlies, wlio bagged the seals in great nunibers. Dr. Sliorthoul, who visited Mv. Jonc.9' whaling station at Waikonarti, 20 miles from here, in IS-ll!, i'reipicntly refers to the scaling, hnt rather as a pa.st matter. (Jur whale.s were pretty well exterminated by 1S."0, and had even then long been scarce.aod a writer ten years before that repeats the iirote.slsof the I'rcncli whahri.who were numerous hero, again.st the disastrous jiractice of the Sydney jicople, who maintained shore "tation^, and so utterly destroyed the wliah,-s. It is dillieult to realize that in 184:! there wen' fourteen wlinle-ships lying in this jiort, with all their boats out daily, and four sIkmc stations in active opera- tion, in lacj of the iiet that duiing the nineteen years I have lived here only one whale ha.s been killed. I have digressed from the seals, but the fact of the whale e.xiilnins, and wore than explains, that of the seal. " Captain Turnbull, wluwe book 1 have never seen, writes in 1810 of -10,000 seals taken at the J^iji Islands, ^^■e ihui't hear of seals there now. It is ipiito possible that that hicality was mentioned tc lead others oil' the scent. At Mac(piarie Island the discoverers killed in one teason 80,000 fur-seals ! Our frieiul Trofcssor Scott visiti'd it ten years ago, and was told the fur-seal never came there. Ever funee then it has been occupied by siM-elephant hunters, but no fnr-.seal evervisit-s them. This suggests that the fur-seals do not c(uue up frmn the Antarctic ice, as the sea-elephant do. Campbell Island was repeatedly occujiied by sealing jiarties, some of whe.se graves arc seen there. .\nti)iodes Island was occupied in 1824, and I do not know how much earlier or later. Captain Kairchild, of the New Zealand Government steamer, in four or live visits has never seen a seal there. The Auckland Islands, t!.e largest group, have been visited rejieatedly during the la.st eighty years, and numerous shore parties have lived there On the Snares, sealers' huts still stand. The coasts of Stewart's Islaiul have yielded large numbers of .seals. " The lier. Wm. XnU;, a missio.iary, in 1828-35, after descril)ing the enormous number of whales destroyed (black or in.-hore whales) writes: 'There an^ also several establishmc'Uts fiu' the seal li.shery on the coast of New Zealand or on the suudl islands in the vicinity of the coast. A number of saiiuns arc landed and left to kill and skin the seals, nuuiy lliousands of which are destroyed in the course of a few nuinths.' Karlier than this, in 181.5, the l!ev. S. Martden, the lirst missionary in New Zealand, writes narrating the i;ened sc lung ago that sealers are a dead race, while, as ycai know, whalers who came later or lasted longer arc oi;ly represented liy a very few idersonal experience about the higher animal life in the liehiing Sea is very limited, and all the information I could collect you will (ind in Chapters XIV and XV of the second volume of the " Vega Voy.ige," which work, perhaps, can be useful to you by my references to the older literature, to wliicli I liu tbe Uiitot; of Muomali, Liriac and Extinct, 1891," p. t9S. ■■■H 186 The chances of nccurnto observations upon the tiKivmnniits of marine animals are so small that we arc) Htill and probnlily sjiall long remain in conaiilerablu igiioninca ai to tlin oxitrt iNila(;ic rntifju of nmpy of the Hpecics, but as they ulwiiya HiM'nose is limited, the coast rangu nf each species shoidd l)0 aHcertiiinod with a tolerable amount of precision when a snflicient number of ruliabhi diilii are olitainablo. This cannot bo said to be the cose at present, owin^; to the dilllculty of discriniiniitin^ the sjiecies fnim the casual external observations of uninstruuted seamen upon whose iuftirniation we have mainly to rely. These remarks njiply chiefly to the species inhabiting the Southern Hemisphere. With regard to those of the North I'acitic, our knowled;^o is in a more satisfactory state. It is now ascertained with tolerable certainty that there are in this region three, and only three, very distinct sjieciea, and there is no evidence that either of these species is, or haa ever been, found elsewhere. These are — 1. Stellkii'b Ska-Lion (Otaria stelleri a Eumetopiai ttdlcri of some authors), the largest of the whole group ; fuutid on the I'ncilie coast of North America from California to Alaska; Pacific coast of Asia from Japan nurthwnrds into the Ilchring Sea. 2. The Camfhiinian Ska-Lion (Olaria califnrmana = Zalophun valifomiana sx Otaria ijilltupii), ialiabiting t)m . uasts nf California and Ja]>aii, but not entering the LSehring Sei. These two are hiiii-aeals ; the next is a fur-seal. 3. TllR NoinilKliN FuR-SKiVl, on Sra-Bkau (Otaria uraina = Callorhinus urtinut) inhabits the North I'acific from California and Japan northwanls inte entered into here, as they liavo been abundantly and minntely deacrilwd else e.* The distinctive characters and geogmphical distribution of the species of Otaria inhabiting the seas and :oasts south of the B/iuator, and met with either now or formerly in all suitable localities round '.ho whole circumference of the globe, arc, as stated a1>ove, less accurately determined, nor is this the ])lace to attempt to unravel this purely zoological problem, but the following may bo mentioned as best establislied. 4. The Soutiiekh Ska-Lion (Otaria jiihata), formerly abundant on the Falkland Island.i and the coasts of Patagonia and Chile, extending as fur north as the CiiUapagos Islands ; an animal nearly as large as the Northern or Stelioi's Sea-lion, hut easily distinguished from it by the form of the skull, especially of the bones of the palate. This is not a fur-seal. 5. The South American Fub-Seal (Otaria uustralis = Otaria falklandica = Areiocephalut australU and falklaiulicua). South Americim coasts, from Lobos Islands near the mouth of the Pio de la Plata on the east, to the Galapagos on the west. 0. The South Akkican Fu' -Seal (Otaria piisUla at Arctocephalus antarctitus), from the Capo of Good Hope. 7. The Australian Fur-Seal (Otaria forateri » Arctoeephalv* cinereus) of Australia, New Zealand, Auckland Islands, &c. 8. Tub Australian Sea-Bear (Otaria Idbala = Zalophus lobalus). A i air-sool from the Australian coasts. 9. Hookeu'h Sea-Lion (Otaria hooktri = Arelocephalui hookeri). Auckland Islands. Also a hair-seal. W. tt F. Hay 1892. th(^ • Sea mpwUlljr tha •zetUenl " HoDognpb on North Anuriotn Finolpedi," bjr J. A. Alien, Wuhicgton, 1)80. ( 187 ) Al'I'ENDIX (E). Seal I'bebertation Uegulationb and Ordinancis. Falklnnd Ulanili. Cap« of Uuod Hope. Qrocnland Scot. Jnpan. Newfoundland. Falkland Iblandb. By hU Excellency Thoinaa Kerr, Governor. No. 4. 1881. An Ordinarue to pi yvulf/nr the fstabtishmeiit of a Close Time in the Stal Fishery o/ the Falkland JdamU and their Dependencies and tlie Sens adjacent thereto. Whc.rei ■ i.u seal flishery of these islands, which was ut one time u sourr of profit and advantage to the (I'lonisw, lias I' m c.^lnmstcil by iiulisicriniinate and wasteful fi.sliinjj, and it is desirable to revive and protect tbi) industry by the establishment of a close time diiriiif,' which it shall be unlawful to kill or eixpture ■ lU .vil'iin 'he liniit.'i of tlii.s Colony and its (ie|i(!Mdencie8. Ho it thereluru enacted by the Ciovernor of the Falkland Islunds and their dependencies, with the advice and consent "f the U^gislativo Council thereof, as follows : — 1. No person shall kill or capture, or ftlti'ni,.i to kill or capture, any seal within the limits of this Colony and its dependcnties, Ixjtween the days hereinafter nientioned (wliich interval is hereinafter referred to as the closi^ season), that i . 't say, between the Ist day of Octolier and the 1st ddy of April followiiifj, biilli iuclu.sive, and any person ml' i. cfintravention of this section shiill lorfeit any seals killed or ciiptured liy him, and slmll, in additiim thereto, incur a penalty not exceeding 100/., and a further penally of 5/. in respect of every seal so killed or captured. 2. Any owiutr or nnistcr, or otlier [leisoii in charge of any ship or vessel, who shall permit such ship or vessel to bo employed in killing or eapturiii;,' seals, or who shall iiermit any jierson Ixilonf^ing to Bueh ship or vessel to be employed in killiiif,' or capturing as .ilbresaid during the close season, shill forfeit any .seals so kilh'd oi captured, and, in addition thereto, sliall lie liable to a penalty not exceeding 3U0/. for each ofl'ence. .'5. Kvery oll'ence under this Ordinanrj may bo prosecuted, and every penalty under this Ordinance may bo recovered, bi'foio the I'ulice Magistrate or any two Justices of the Peace in a Bummary manner, or by aetioii in the Supreme Court of this Colony, together with full costs of smt: I'rtvided tliat the penalty imposed by the Police Magistrate or two .Justices shall not exceed 100/., exclusive of costs. One-half of every jienally recovered und(;r this Ordinance shall be paid to the person who prosecuted the olVeiiie or sued for such jiennlty. Ail fines, forfeitures, ami penalties ivcovereil under this Ordinance, where not otherwise herein- Ixsfore provided, shall be to Her Mnjesty, lier heirs and successors, and shall be paid to the Trea.surer for the use of the Government of this Colony. For all purposes of and incidental to the trial and pnniflimcnt of any person accused of any offence under this Ordinance, and the proceedings and matters preliminary and incidental to and consequential on his trial and piinislinient, and for all purposes of and incidental to the jurisdiction of any Court, or of any constable or otheer with reference to such offence, the oll'ence shall lie deemed to have been committed either in the place in which it was actually committed, or in any place in which the otVender may for the time being be found. 4. Where the owner or master of a ship or vos.3cl is adjudged to pay a penalty for an offence under this Ordinance, the Court may, in addition to any other power tln'y may have for the jiurjiose of compelling payment of such penalty, direct the same to be levied by distress or arrestiuent, and sale of the said sliip or ve.s.sel and her tackle. 5. In this Ordinance the expression " seal " means the " fur-seal," the " sea-otter," the " hair-seal," the " sevelepbanl," the " sea-leoparil," and the " sea-dog," and includes any animid of llie seal kind which mav l« found witliin the limits of this Colony and its dependencies. 6. Tiiis .>dinance may be cited as "The t>eal Fishery Ordinance, 18H1." (Seal) (Signed) T. KERK, Governor. Passed the legislative Council this 27lh day of December, 1881. (Signed) JouN Wbigut Collins. Clerk to the Council. CloM lima for ■ 'lil fitbtry, •nd peailtiea for br«acli. Liability of ownar and maalar o( ablp. PraaceulioQ or offoDce^. Liability ot ship to penalty. Definition of *■ seal " Short titla. [222J ao ise Cape of Goon Hope. CajfK Oovernment Notice. Seal Island. His Excellency the Governor, having been plensed to decide that the seal island in Mossel Bay shn'l not be granted on lease for the present, hereby prohibits all persons from disturbing the seals on the said i Jand, and warns them from trespassing there after this notice on pain of prosecution. By Command of liis Excellency the {Jovernor, (Signed) JOHN MONTAGUE. Secretary to Oovernment. Colonial Office, Cape of Good Hope, April 12, 1844. [Tasmania. See p. 158.] Japan. Regulationa for the Protection of the Fur-Seal Fishery issued by the Japanese Government in October 1878. Article 1. In view of protecting .seal-hunting and checking foreign poachers, a ves.:el of foreign type shall be commissioned to cruize in the neighbourhood of Itrup. " Chishimamaru " shall be com- missioned for tliis purpose for the time being. Art. 2. The mode of killing shall maiidy be by clubbing, and the use of guns shall be avoided as much as possible. Art 3. Young seals shall bo spared as much as possibla Art. 4. The number of seals to be caught within 1 ri of coast-line shall not exceed forty-five per annum. Art. 5. Between the months of May and November the killing of serJs wit! in 1 ri of coas^.-line is prohibited. Art. 6. Any person who catches wounded or crippled seals washed ashore, oven within the prohibition limit, shall be paid in money or in kind according to the quality of the skin. Art. 7. To prevent the decrease of seals by careless chasing and wanton killing, special care shall always be taken, and the preventive method shall bo established. Art. 8. The number of seals taken will be inspected, avl their skins shall fix the proof of their ages. Art. 9. The covering and breeding seasons, &c., shall be carefully ascertained by practical observations. Art. 10. Practical observations and investigations shall be made as to the truth of the seals losing or changing the colour of their fur according to diflorcnt seasons. Art. 11. An actual investigation shall bo made as to how many seals can be caught annually if the use of guns be discontinued, and clubs and bows and arrows be adopted instead. Art. 12. WhUe out hunting, if anything occurs likely to form an object for future investigation, a minute record shall be kept Art 13. Wliile the present Regulations sliall be strictly obeyed by all those who are responsible for seal-hunting, they can address themselves to the authorities to effect required amendments in case practical inconveniences shall have been experienced. ' SecU and Otter Catching. 'We hereby give our sanction to the Itegnlations for catching seals and sea-<>tlten, and for the sale and importation of their raw skins, and order the same to be promulgated. [His Imperial Majesty's Sign-Manual.] , [Privy Seal] The 16th day of the 12th month, 19th year of Meiji (1886). Countersigned by Count Ito Hirodumi, Miniilcr President of the Cabinet, I Count Yamaoata Awtomo, f ■ .. Minialcr of State for Home Affairs. Count Matejk,iTA Masaygsiii, *..'"*' ilinister of State for Finance. ' Count Yama.'::.-"a Akitomo, ^' y Minister of State for Agriculture and Commerce. j 189 Imperial Ordnance A'o. 80. Regulatwna for Catching Seals and Sea-Otters, and/cr the Sale and Importation of llitir Raw Sicint. Article 1. rersons who have obtained tlic special permission of the Minister of State for Agricul- ture and Commerce, in nccordanco with the second paragraph of Decree No. 16 of the 17tli year of Meiji, may engage in catcliing seals and .seal-otters during tlu term, and within the limits of the places, specified for the purpose by the Hokkaido Lrjcal Governmoni Every person catching seals and sea-otters shall at all times carry a certificate of such permission, and whenever, whether at sea or on shore, any oiHcer supervising seal and seal-otter cutcliing, or any police oBicer, demands to inspect the certificate, the same sliall be immediately produced. Art. 2. Any person engaging in catching .seals and sea-otters shall, on arrival in Hokkaido, report the name and tonnage of tlio vessel and the names of her crew to an officer desigi.ated by the Hokkaido Local Government Office for that purjwse, and sliall at all times exhibit, on the mast or in some other conspicuous position in the vessel, a signal specially adopted by the Hokkaido Local Government Office for vessels engaged in catching seak and sea-otters. Art. 3. Any person desiring to sell the raw skins of seals and sea-otters shall produce the same to the officer mentioned in Article 2 hereof, and shall have the seal (a brand may be used instead of a seal) of the said officer stamped thereon. No person shall be permitted to sell skins not bearing such stamp. Art. 4. Whenever it is found that any person is importing the skins of seals and sea-otters not stamped by the officer, as provided in the jireciiding Article, into any port of the Empire, or is staying in any port of tlie Empire with sucli skins laden on board a vi'ssel, or is selling, or attemjjting to sell, such skins in the market, the Customs or police officers shall seize the same, and shall immediately make complaint to the comjietent authorities. But the raw skins ot seals and sea-otters caught witliin the territory of Russia or of the United States of America, witli the permission of the (iovornments of tiiose countries respectively, may be imported into the Emjure, provideil tlie owner or master of tiie vessel first produces a certificate iissued by a competent autliority of Russia or the United States, or by a Russian or United States' Consul residing in Japan. Details of Procedure to carry out the Hef/idntions controlling the Seal and Sea-Otter Hunting, May 10, 1888. Article 1. The open season for seal and sea-otter hunting shall bo from the 15th April to the 31st October in each year. Art 2. The area of hunting shall bo all the islands situated eastward of Itrup, and southward of Shimsliu, of the Kuriles, and it will bo divided into throe sections, and every year only one of these sections shall be opened for hunting. The first section includes seven islands, i.e., Itrup, Chirihoi, Butettchelboa [?], Tiroughton, Raikoke, Mushir, and Chirinkotan. The second section includes si.x islands, i.e., Shimshir, Shiritoi, Ujhisiiir, Sletonepa [?], Rashua, and Matsua. The third section includes twelve islands, i.e., Shannckotan, Yckkerma [?], Karreukotan, Oune- kotan, Alios, Makaru.slii, Shurenwa [?], rariimushir. Holt, Cockscar, Araito, and Shimsliu. Art. 3. When a boat is going out for liunting, her name, tonnage, and the names of the crew shall be reported for inspection to the branch office of seal and .sea-otter liunting superintending authorities, either at Neniuro, in the county of Nemurn, or at Shikotan, in the county of Chishima. Art. 4. When tlie branch oflice of seal and sea-otter liunting superintending authorities find the report mentioned in Article 3 in duo form on inspection, it will give to the boat a flag hereinafter shown. Art. 5. Any person who wishes to export and sell the "aw liides of his catch shall produce them to the Shikotan brunch of the seal and sea-otter hunting superintending authorities, and shall have them stamped. NEWFOtJNDLAND. In reply to an inquiry as to the Regulations for tho proocotion of the hair-seal fishery in New- foundland, information to tlic following effect was kindly furnished by Sir Terence O'Brien, K.C.M.tJ., the Governor of tliat Colony. The accompanying Acts will furnish the whole legislation on the matter. The Regulations extend to all vessels under the British flag, there being no foreign vessels engaged in the fishery. The Regulations are acknowledged to be effectual, and were much needed for the preservation of the seals. Tlie means taken to enforce the Regulations will be found in the Acts above mentione>l, which, it may bt; added, have no force in extra-territorial waters as sucli. I i9o; Newfoundland. Acti respecting the Prosecution of the Sea}. Fishery. Anno Qoadhagesimo Skcundo Victorijb Rsoina. Cap. I. — An Act respecting the Prosecution of the Seal Fishery. ' ' ■ [Passed February 22, li79.\ Section. 1. .3fi Vict., r«p. 9, repealed. 2. Steamers not to leil before 10th March ; Penalty. 3. iSailing-vesself not to suil before 1st March ; Penalty. i. Seals not to be killed before 12lh March ; Penalty; Proviso; Notice. 6. Cats not to be killed ; Penalty; Definition; PrOTlso. 6. Limitation. 7. I'imea of Clearance ; Proviso; Snndaya. 8. Recovery of Penalties ; Appropriation. 9. Appeal; Proviso; Recognisance. Enacting cUuBO. 36 Viet., rap. 9, repelled. Steamera not to Bail before lOtU Match; Penalty. Sailing-vessels not to sail before lat March ; Penally. Seals not to be killed before Uth March: Penalty ; Proviso; Notice. Tale not ti bo killed ; Penalty ; DofinitioD ; Proviio. Limitation. Times of clearance ; Provmo ; Bundaja. Hacovery of penalties ; Appropria* tiuD ; Appeal ; Proviso ; UecogDixance. Be it enacted by the Governor, Legislative Council, and Assembly, in Legislative Session convened, as follows : — L The Act i)a.ssi;d in the thirty-sixth year of the reign of Her present Majesty, entitled " An Act to regulate tlio Trosiecution of tlie Seal Fishery," is hereby repealed. IL No steamer shall leave port for the seal fishery Iteforo the 10th day of March in any year, under the penalty of 2,000 dollars, to be recovered from tiie owner cfr othOr person on whose account the steamer shall liavo been sent to the seal fishery. in. No Siviling-vessiil shall leave port for the sejil fishery before the Ist day of March in any year under the penalty of 400 dollars, to be recovered from the ownec or other person on whose account sucli vessel shall have been sent to such fisliery. IV. No seals shall be killed by the crew of any steamer or sailing-vessel before the 12th day of Marcli in any year, unailing-ve8sela not to nail before 6 A.H.. Isl March ; Penalty ; Proviio. Anno QomguAOEsiMo VicToni.,E Eegina Cap. XXIII. — An Act to regulate the taking of, and Right of Property in, Seals. [Passed May 18, 1887.] Section. 1. Rifiht of property in seals. 2. When seals nut to be kilted ; Penalty. . 3. Second trip of steamers ; Proviso. 4. Penalty; Proviso. 5. MsstiTs' penalty. 6. Term "second trip." 7. Complaints must be made within three months. Be it enacted by the Administrator of the Government, the Legislative Council, and House of Assembly, in legislative Session oonveneil, as follows : — I. Ill any action or proceeding for the recovery of, or in relation to, the property in seals, or seal- pelts, killed by persons engaged in or prosecuting tlio seal fishery in steain-vi'.ssels going from, or coming to, the porta of this Colony, it sh:ill be held that no jirope.rty, or right of propertv, shall liave accrued except in seals killed, sculped, jitinned. or bulked by iindjin the actual iiiul personal charge of the clitimants, or some person or persons for them watching or engaged in carrying away such seals or 8eal-i>elts. II. No seals shall he killed by any crew ot any steaiier, or by any member thereof, before the 12th day of Marcli, or after the 20th day of April, nor sliiill .seals, so killed, be Ijniuglit into any pnit in this (Jolotiy or its dependencies as aforesaid, in any year, under a penalty of 1 di)llars for every seal 80 killed, to bo recovered from the master and crew Ijy, and paid to, any informer who shall sue for the same, in a sunimiiry manner, before a Stipendiary Magistrate. III. No steamer shall be perinitti^d to go upon a second or subsequent trip to the seal fishery after the 1st day of April in any ytuir : Piovideit that, if it he shown to the .stitisfaction of the Collector, Sub-Collector, or otiier Cusloma ofliciirof tlie jiort from which the said steamer sails, that a steamer has been forced, by any aeeiilent, to return to port during the first trip, she .sliall not he deemeil to have gone upon a second trip if .she again leaves port before the UHh day of April. IV. The ma-ster, owner, anil crew of any steamer, which sliall go on a second or sulHcquent trip contrary to thi> third section of this .Vet, sliall be liable to forfeit double the valiie of their respi^ctive interests in the seals which shall be brought in on siicli sei^ond or subse([uent trips, to be recovered and paid to any informer who shidl sue fur the same, in a suniiiiary way, lii'fcne a Stipendiaiy Magis- trate : Proviiled that, in case tht! owner or purcha.ser of such seals, having had notice that .sucli seals were killed on such secoml or subsei|uent trip, shall be liiilile ami ifsponsilile fur the payiiieiit uf such penalty, to tite extent of tlie interest of the owner, master, and crew of sucli steamer : I'ruviiled that, in oases in which a largiu- sum than 100 dollars shall he adjuilgcd, against auv delendaiit, he may appeal [2 '2] ■ a D" Gnactiog clause. Right of pro^ert/ in seals. Wlien seali nut to be killed; Peaaltj. Second tri[t Htenuien ; ProviHu. Pen%Uyt Proviao. Muten' p«iullr. Twm ' trip." 'CMond ComplainU miut be mtde within thrm moDtlit. 192 ta the Supreme Court, upon (if required) giving good and sufficient security within ten days after con- viction, to prosecute the appeal and abide tinal Judgments. y. .•Seuliug-umstt'rs violating the tliird section of this Act shall be incompetent, for two years after conviction for any otreuce thereunder, to bo employed to command vessels of the seal fishery, or to be cleared at the custom-house, as masters of such vessels. VI. For tlio puriioses of this Act, vessels shall be deemed to be on a second or subsequent trip if they slmll engage in killing seals on the coast of this island and its dependencies, after clearing and sailing for Davis Straits or Greenland fishery, and the master and owners shall bo liable to the same penalties as provided in fourth and fifth sections of this Act. Any complaints, on information under this section, may be made within three montlis ne.xt after the return of the said vessel to a port of this island. VII. Any complaint or information, under the foregoing provisions of this Act, must be made within three mouths of the time of the alleged breach thereof. eltau. Bep«*ling clauM. Anno Quinquaqesimo Secundo Victoblk Regina Cap. I. — An Act to amend the Law relating to the taking 0/ Seals and Right of Property therein. [Passed March 7, 1889.] Be it enacted by the Governor, Legislative Council, and Assembly, in Legislative Session convened, as follows : — L The first section of the Act passed in the fiftieth year of the reign of Her present Majesty, cap. 23, entitled " An Act to regulate the taking and right of property in Seals," is hereby repealed. Memorandum respecting the Seal Fishery of the Greenland Sea, jrrepared at the Board of Trade at the request of the Bchring's Sea Co-mmissioners. Roughly speaking, this so-called fishery used to be carried on between Spitzbergen and Iceland, its chief centre being the neighbourhcjod of the Island of Jan Mayen. As early as the month of February 1873 the late Mi "rank liuckland, by a letter to the " Times," entitled " A I'lea for the Seals," and otherwise, called ilio attention to the abuses connected with the pursuit of this fishery. The cireumstanees would app .. "> have been as follows : — About tlie time of the S]iring Ecjuino.x, the seals co egate in immense numbers, and the females give birth to their young upon the ice. The young at i rth arc very helpless, and weigh about 4 lbs., but they grow with astonisliing rapidity, and it is said that in about a fortnight the weight of each young seal is some 70 lbs. Owing to competition in the fishery, it had become the practice to take [i.e., kill) seals immediately upon the birth of the young. In this way the mothers were slain or often scared away from the young before the latter were of age to take care of themselves. The young were of small value for commercial purjKi.ses at this stage of tlieir existence, and though some of them were killed and shipped, enormous numbers were left to die of starvation. Conducted in this niiinner the fishery was a cceno of revolting cnielty, the cries of the tliousands of young dying seals being .«ai(l to resemble the erics of hundreds of thousands of human infants, and the deHtru-liiiM of the fishery by the scattering or e.xtermination of the .seals seemed not far distant. The feiils in ([Ue.stion are not those from which the fashionable 'i obtained, but their skin is much used for making boots, especially patent leather boots, and the ou obtained from them is applied to various jiuvpcses. As regards the United Kingdom, the fi.shery was prosecuted from the ports of Dundee and Peter- head. NciVway was the foreign country mo.stly interested. In 1874 tlie .Swei'ish Government suggested to our Foreign Oltlce that smiie international arrangement might ]iroperly be attempted with a view of impo.sing restrictive liegulutions to remedy the evils aliove referred to. The earlier action of the lioanl of Trade upon this proposal is set forth in I'arlinmentary Paper No. 73 of 1X7.") (copy herewith). Tin; result so far was to obtain concMirrence on the jmrt of th.jse inte- rested, botli in (ireat I'rilaiM and in Norway, as to the neees.sity for a clo.se season about the time of the birth (if the young seals. l',nt tliere was consiiterable divergence of opinion both as to tlie date for ending imd the iliiration of such eloe sea.son. Snlisei|iieiitly, the I'oard of Trade, in consnltution with the Foreign Office, framed a liill, which they introduced into I'uiliament, and wliiib liecnme law lus " The Seal Fi.sliery Act, 1870 " (H8 Vict., cap. IM). Tliis .Act empoMered Her Majesty, by Order in Couneil, to fix a day before wliicli it would be illegal for liiitish suljiM'ts in any year to kill or eapture, or attempt to ki'l or eiipture, seals within an aica sjieiitied in llie Stiiedule to the Act, and the .Act jirovidcd heavy ])cnaltie9 for those contra- vening its jirovisions. The area in question was that included Itetween Iw' and 7.")'' north latituile, and 5° east and 17' west of (ireenwieh, in adopting wliieli the lioanl of TraJe were chiefly guided by Captain David Gray, of Peterhead, one of the naist e.\]ierieneed of the ship-masters engaged in the fishery, and by whohc grapliic rciire.sentations Mr I^nckland had been put in motion. In lie meanwhile, tlie Foreign Office were making representntions to other countries who might be interested in the matter, with a view of ins\iring reciprocal legislation on their part. As already indi- matMUt^mm^m^ 103 ter con- nrs after or to be it trip if ring and )ie same )ii under 't of this oated, the fishery was chiefly conducted by subjects of Great Britain or Norway, but Germany, Holland, and Sweden were also, though to only a small extent, concerned. In the course of the year 1875 all the Governments of tliose foreif^n countries expressed a willing- ness to initiate legislation of the character desired. It was also thought well to provide for the contin- gency of the subjects of Russia, Friince, Denmark, or the United States joining in the fishery. Tlie Governmcuta of these latter countries were accordingly informed of what was l)eing done, and a hope was expressed tliat, in the event of their respective subjects coming, as they miglit any day do, to fish within the area in question, similar legislation would be adopted by the Governments, and that, in tlie meantime, tliey would not allow their Hags to he carried by the subjects of countries which had legis- lated in the matter for the purpose of evading such legislation. The replies of the first three of these Governments were generally favourable, but tiiat of the United States was indefinite. Neither French nor Dauisli subjects were, however, engaged in the fisiieiy. By thu commencement of the year 1876 tlie steps towards legislation in Norway and Sweden were represented as opproaching completion, and satisfactory assurances as regards legislation in Germany and Holland iiad been received. An Order in Council was tliereupon obtained in this country wliicli Ijrought tlie Seal Fishery Act into operation, and fixed the 3rd April in every year aa the day before wliicli Britich subjects should not commence the taking of seals within any part of the area defined in the Schedule to the Act. This date was named as a compromise between the views of British and Norv/egian subjects. , . • The former wished for a rather later, and the latter for a rather earlier, date. This Order had hardly Ixien promulgated when a telegraphic intimation was ."eoeived from Her Majesty's Minister at Stockholm to the elfect that the Norwegian Government would be unable to obtain legislative authority for fixing a close season as regarded the fishery of the current year. In consequence of this, the British Order in Council had to be revoked. In the course of the same year the necessary legislation was obtained as regards Norway. There had, however, liecn in that country a reaction of opinion as to the need of a close season. This was probably due to a consideration of which the Board of Trade were later on made aware by Captain Gray, i.e., that the new-born seiUs, which had formerly been of little comniereial value, had now become far more valuable owing to a process invented for utilizing their hair in the manufacture of sham seal-skin. They would, in coasenuence, be taken in as large numbers as possible, instead of being letl to die of starvation after the slaughter of the mothers. This, if a fact, would make it perhaps unnecessary to interfere with the conduct of the lisliery on the ground of preventing cruelty, but would make a close season more needful as regards preventing the extermination of the seals. The Norwegian Government, however, tlionglit themselves bound in honour to proceed with the measure. Strangely enough, during llie progress of the Bill, there was some idea of making it apply to a larger area than that conttiiiiplated by the English Act, it being held in Norway that such an area was an unduly rastricted one, and the Bill was passed on the understanding that a modificati.ui on this point, should hereafter be niaae, if necessary. In November 1870 a fresh Onler in Council was obtained in England again fixing the 3rd April as the day for opening the fishery, and steps were taken for circulating copies of it and of the Act amongst those concerned in the United Kingdom, and for informing the foreign Governments interested. By about the end of March 1877 the Governments of Norway, Sweden, Germany, and Holland had all taken Icgi.shitivo steps similar to those adopted in Great Britain, and the close season until the 3rd April tlms established liai been duly ob.served by parties of these nationalities and by British subjects, wild were all that were engaged in the fislierv, except jiossilily some Itussians. It has not lieen necessary to organize nny police for the enforcement of tlie Act No date was fixed for the commencement of the close season, tliough (icrmany raised the point, the advisablouess of fixiug a date for that purpose being then doubted by the Hoard of Trade. In liS7'J liussia intimated tliat she had imjiosed similar restrictions on her own subjects. In \SH'> Cajitain Gray and otliers of the reterhoad interest represented tliat the close season which had been imposed had had most benefi(!ial n^snlts, but tliat further restrictions were to bo desired. Tliey iiitimaicd tliat a new branch of the fishery, i.e., that for "hooded seals," had been created between Iieland and Greenland, extendin,' as far south as the latitude of ('ajie Farewell ; and that, with a view to more elleotually protect the breeding seals and the immature young, the close season should be extended. They accordingly proposed that the area for restrictions should in future be that comprised between CO* and 76° north latitude, excluding Iceland and its territorial waters, and lietwecn the Greenland coast on the west and the ice margin on the east, that the close -time sliould end on the lllth April, and that a deliuile date (10th Jnly) should lie fixed for commencement of the close season. They addi'd that there wits reason to believe that the Norwegians, os the only foreigners then engaged in the fisliery, would be ready to concur. Tbiise propusals were jiqiported by the Fishery Board for Scotland, the only part of the United Kingdom from whicli ships were known to proceed to the fishery. At tlie instance of the Hoard of Trade the proposals were submittccl by the Foreign Olfice to the Governments of the five foreign countries who particiiiatod in the existing restrictions. l!y N'ovember 1886 replies were received I'rom all those countries, with the exception of liussia. These reitlies were to the following eUcct : — Germany ami llniland. The Ciovcriiments expressed thcmsrlve,s as disposed to favonmbly regard the Scottish proposals bat a.s awaiting inforiuaiion as to the course contemplated by other Bowers. 104 Sweden; Those interested received the Scottisli proposals ratlier favourably, but wished, in consideration of young seals moulting in April, that opening of fishery should bo not later than the 7tb of that month, and, further, that closing day should be the 7th July. Norway. j. . . Those interested thought the 10th April and 10th July inadmissibl-' ns dates for opening and closing, anil did not wisli loeliiiid and its watera excluded from tlie protected area. Tlicy also had proposals of tlieir own widely divergent from tliose of Scotland. Tlicsc! were : — (o.) That to prevent destruction of females, it sliould be foriiidden to kill old seals before the 15th April (ti a.m.) at tlie places whore tlie youiig are taken. (4.) That in consideration of hooded seals having no young to need protection towards end of close season, tlio fishery for these seals between Cape Farewell and Spitzbergon should be free until the 10th July (6 P.M.), after which date it was, according to tliem, pursued only by one or two ships under conditions rniiious to tlie fisliory, as the seals having by that date become very wild, immense numbers were then destroyed by shooting at long range without many being actually taken. (<:.) That to obviate dangers incident to opening the fishery immediately after midnight, the opening sliunld be at 6 A.M. on the 3rd April, or, it tliat day is a Sunday, at A.M. on tlie 4th. (tl.) That the limits of protected area should be (30° and 78° north latitude, tho east coast of Greenland, and 10° east longitude (Ureenwich). These viexts wee conveyed to the Scottisli Office by tho Board of Trade, with an intimation that they were unable to sec that future steps towards establishment of new restrictimis could bo taken unless some course could bo suggested lor reconciling the respective views of the Scottish, Norwegian, and Swcdisli interests. Early in 1887 the reply of tho Scottish interests was received. They thought the point raised by Sweden in connection with young seals moulting not material, as the short hair skins had now become more valuable than the fur-skins. They were willing to accept the area a.s defined by Norway, and that, on the day of opening, tlio fishery should coimnencu at 6 a.m. They agreed as to need for protecting female seals, but thought o|ieiiing on the 10th April would insure this, as later the females would get too wild to allow of tlioir being shot, and they agreed as to need for piotecting hooded seals late in the sea.son. They were, however, firm as to the need for making tho opening and closing dates for the fishery as near the lOtli April and 10th July as possible, and did not see how hooded seal fishery could be made free during genei'al close time without endangering the observance of close time for other kinds of seals. These views were communicated to the Foreign Ofhce by the Board of Trade in the hope of an understanding being arrived at between Norway and Scotland, so as to form a basis for negotiation with the other Powers. At the same time, it was pointed out that the including of Iceland and its waters in the protected area would involve inviting Denmark to join in the arrangements. In March 1888 a further communication was received from Norway. It now appeared that, owing to a change observed in the last two or three years in tho condition of the ice ofl' Greenland, the Norwegian interests no longer wished tlie liooded seal fisheriijs to close on the l,")th July. They declined to make 'iny concession as regards the day for opening the seal fishery generally, and it was doubtful ' hetiier they would adopt any date for closing. On other points they now acquiesced with Scotland, to which country these views were conveyed. I.»iter in tho year Russia intimated that she concurred with Norway on all points. Suljseijuent correspondence oHbi-ded no prospect of reconciling the divergent views of Scotland and Norway, whilst Denmark took exception to the territorial waters of either Iceland or Greenland being included in the area of protection. In these circumstances, the negotiations came to a standstill, and the arrangomciits made in 1875-79 have been maintained. Copy of the English Act, with the Order in Council, in handbUl form, as circulated in the past amongst those interested and now in force, is annexed. (Initialled) J. M. N. Febi-mry \1,18'J2. Seal Fishery (Greenland).— 38 Vict.. Cap. 18. Order in Council made the 28th day of November, 1876, for applying " The Seal Finlury Act, 1875." At the Court at Windsor, the 28th day of November, I87C. ■ Present; The Queen's Mos" Excellknt Ma.iesty in Council. Whereas by "The Sea] Fishery Act, 1875," it is enacted that when it appears to Her Majesty in ( iiuncil that the foreign States whose ships or subjects are engaged in the seal fishery in the area meutioned in the Schedule to that Act, or any part of such area, have made or will make, with respect ■Nm H 195 to their own ships and subjects, the like provisions to those contained in that Act, it shall he lawful for Her Majesty, by Order in Council, to direct that tliat Act shall, after the date raeulioned in the Order, apply to the seal fisherj- within the said area, or such part thereof as may be specified in the Order: And whereas it has been made to appear to Her Majesty in Council that the foreign States whose ships or subjects are at present engaged in the seal fishery in the area mentioned in the .Schedule to the said recited Act have made or will make, with respect to their own ships and subjects, tho like provisions to those contained in tlie said recited Act : Now, therefore, Her Majesty, in exercise of tlio power vested in her by tlio said recited Act, by dnd with the advice of her Privy Council, is pleased to direct that "The Seal Fixliery Act, 1875," shall, after the date of this present Order, apply to tho seal fishery within the area mentioned in the Schedide to tho said Act. And Her Majesty, in exercise of tho same power, by and with the like advice, is further pleased to fix the 3rd day of April in every year as the day before wliich the uiiusler and person in charge of, and every person belonging to, any Hritiali sliipi and every liritish suliject, shall not kill or capture, or attempt to kill or capture, any seal within the area mentioned in tlie Schedule to tho said Act "The Seal Fishery Act, 1875," is as follows: — 38 YlCT., Cap. 18. — An Ad to prninth for the. ratahliihmint of a Clone Time in lite Seal Fishery in the Seas adjacent to the £asiern Coasts of GrceiUaiid. [June 14, 1875.] Be it enacted by tho Queen's Most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of tho Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present rmliament as.icmbled, and by the authority of the same, as follows: — 1. When it appears to llcr Majesty in Council that the foreign .States whose ships or subjects are engaged in the seal fishery in tlie area mentioned in the Schedule to this Act, or any part of such area, have nuule or will make, with respect to tlieir own .sliij.s and .sulijeots, the like provisions to those contained in this Act, it shall be lawful for Her Majesty, by Order in Co\incil, to direct that this Act shall, after' » he date mentioned in the Order, apply to the seal fishery within the said area, or such part thereof as may bo specified in the Order. Her Majesty may, liy the same or any subsequent Order, limit the operation of the Order, and render the operation thereof subject to such conditions, exceptions, and qualifications as may be deemed expedient So long OS an Order under this section remains in force this Act shall, subject to any such limita- tion, condition, exemption, or (jualitication as aforesaid, apply to the seal fishery within the said area, or such part as may be specifieil in the Order. Her Majesty may from time to time, by Order in Council, rescind, alter, or add to any Order made in pursuance of this section, and make a new Older in lieu tl.oieuf Eveiv Order in Council made in ])ursuance of this section shall be laid beforo both Houses of Parliament within six weeks after it is made, or if Parliament be not then sitting, within six weeks after the then next meeting of Parliament, and shall also be published in the " London Gazette." 2. When an Order in Council has been made for applying this Act, then, so long as such Order remains in force, the master or person in charge of or any person belonging to any British ship, or any British subject, shall not kill or capture, or attemj't to kill or capture, any seal within tlio area mentioned in the Schedule to this Act, or the part of the area specified in the Order, before such day in any year as may be fixed by tlie Order, and the master or jkusou in charge of a British ship .'•hall not pe.mit such ship to be employed in such killing or capturiug, or permit ony person belonging to such ship to act in breach of this section. Any person who is guilty of any breach (by any act or default) of this section shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding 500^. for each olfcnce. 3. Every ofTenco under this Act may be prosecuted, and every penalty imder this Act may be recovered — (1.) In England, before two Justices of the Peace in a summary manner, or i._, action in any of • Majesty's .Superior Courts at Westminster, together with full costs of suit ; and ApplicttloQ r Act by Order ia CooDcit iD cODjunctioQ with foreign Statea. CloH lime for seal flBhery. ProaecoUoD of otlencei. Her: and (2.) In Scotland, by action as for a debt in the ordinary Sheriff Court or in the Court of Session ; (3.) In Ireland, before two Justices of tho Peace in a summary manirer, or by personal action in any of Her Majesty's Superior Courts at Dublin. Provided that the penalty imposed in a summary manner by two Justices shall not exceed lOOl., exclusive of costs. One-half of every penalty recovered under tliis Act shall be paid to the person who prosecuted tho offence or sued for such penalty. For all purposes of and incidental to tho trial and punishment of any person accused of an offence under this Act, and tho proceedings and matters preliminary and incidental to and consequential on his trial and punishment, and for all purposes of and incidental to the jurisdiction of any Court or of any constable or officer with reference to such offence, the ofTence shall be deemed to have been committed either in the place in which it was actually committed or in any place in which the offender may for the time being lie found. 4. Where an offence under this Act is committed, then — (a.) If the same is committ«d by the fault or with the connivance of the master of any ship, that master, and- [222] 3 E Liabllilr of owner and master of ihip In certain caacB. ^96 Uabilitj or >hip to IMUltj. DtBnition of Short title. (b.) I( the same is committed by the fault or with the connivance of the owner of any ship, that owner — shall be liable to the like penalty to which the person committing such oflence ie liable under this Act. 5. Whore the owner or maator of a ship is adjudged to pay a penalty for an offonoo under this Act, the Court may, in addition to any other power tliey may hiivo for the purpose of compelling payment of such peuolty, direct the same to be levied by distress or arrestment and sale of the said ship and her tackle. U. In this Act the expression "seal" means the harp or saddleback seal, the bladdernosed or hooded seal, the ground or bearded seal, and the lloe seal or lloe rot, and includes any animal of the seal kind which may be specified in that tichalf by an Order in Council under this Act. 7. This Act may be cited as "The Seal Fishery Act, 1875." mi pr ca 'IK go pc Ct he SCIIEDCLE. Area to which Act applies. The area included between the parallels of 67° and 75° of north latitude, and between the meridians of 5° east and 17° west longitude, reckoned from the meiidian of Greenwich. Norwegian Law for the estabiUhmcnt of a Close Time for Seal Fishery in the Arctic i>t^u. — Stockholm, May 18, 1870. (Translation.) We, Oscar, by the grace of God King of Norway and Sweden, the Wends and Goths, hereby notify that a Resolution passed by the Ordinary Stortliing now in session, on the 25th April ot Uuo year, of the following tenour, has been submitted to us : — 1. When it shall appear that the foreign States whose ships or subjects are engaged in the seal fishery in the area included between the poridlels of G7° and 75" of north latitude, and between the meridians ot 5° east and 17° west longitude, reckoned from the meridian of Greenwich, have made or may hereafter make the like provision, it shall be lawful for the King to fix a time of year during which it is forbidden either for the crew of a Norwegian vessel or for a Norwcgion subject within the area aforesaid to kill or capture seals, including Ci/stophora cristata. 2. Any one guilty of a breach of the prohibition enacted by section 1, or who shall in any way aid or abet such breach, shall bo liable to a fine of from 200 to 10,000 kroner. But none of the crew shall be held liable except the master in case the said breach took place either by his order or with his knowledge, and without his having dene everything in his power to prevent the same. The provision in the Criminal Law of the 3rd June, 1874, 2nd chapter, section 40, last sentence, is not applicable. 3. In the event of a breach of tho present Law taking place, it wi^l bo dealt with by the Police Court. The vessel will be liable for any fine that may bo incurred by either tho master or owner. Oue-half of the fines shall go to the informer. We have, therefore, accepted and sanctioned, as we hereby accept and sanction, this Itesolution as law. Given at our Palace at Stockholm, the 18th May, 1876, under our hand and seal of the realm. (Signed) (LS.) OSUAE. Ordiwinee of the King of Sweden and Xonvai/ to estdblifh a Close Time far the Seal Fishery by Suvdiah Vessels in the Arctic Sens. — Stockholm, November 30, 1876. (Translation ) We, Oscar, by the grace of God King of Sweden and Norway, of the Goths and tho Wends, make known that, considering that the seal fislicries in tlie Arctic Soiia, es])Ooially in the neighbourhood of Jan Mayen's Island, are conducted in such a manner as to threaten the externiinntion of the seal in those waters, and the total destruction of the fishoics, nogotiutions have boon initiated by our Kingdom of Norway with tlie Governments of those foreign counirios w'loso inlmbit^ints take part in tlie said fisheries, and those Governments having now promulgated, or declared their willingness to promulgate, suitable Ordinances to tlie above efi'ect, and seeing that a certain small number of Swedish ships also take part in the fisheries, and that, in so far as these Ordinances are calculated to work the desired effect, it is essential that, as has already been ordained elsewhere, the liability for their violation should be of such a ehamcter as to outweigh the benefit to be derived from a breach of the law, we have now thouglit it right, in so far as Sweden is concerned, to participate in the said Agreement, and we have therefore graciously ordained as follows: — ij 1. In the Arctic Seas, between ()7° and 75° north latitude and 5° east and 17° v.'cst longitude from Greenwich, all Swedish shi])s and all Swedish subjects are forbidden until further notice to kill or catch seal (including the Phoca cristatu) earlier in the year than the 3rd April. 197 § 2. All persons infringing the Regulations contained in the foregoing paragraph, or Ixjing in any manner parties to sucii infringement, will bo liable t<) o fine of from 200 to 10,000 kronor, with the proviso that, should the said infringement have taken place eitlicr in obedience to the onleit of tlic captain of the ship or with his knowledge, or witliout his having done everything iu his power to gimrd ugiiinst it, he alone of all the crew shall be liable to the penalty iucurriid. Of tlio lines imposed, liulf goes to the informer and half to the Crown. Failing means to meet the fine, the corresponding legal |X!nalty shall Ijo enforced. § 3. In cases of violation of the proscriptions of this Ordinance, jurisdiction lies with the ordinary Courts. Lot this be obediently observed by all whom it may concern. For further certainty we have hereunto aflixcd our hand and seal. (Signed) (LS.) OSCAIt. Stockholm Paiaet, Novtmbtr 30, 1876. ( i9d ) APPENDIX (F). Particulars of PKLAaic Catch op British and United Status' Sealino-vbssbls, 1871-91. Memorandum on the Nwnber of Fur-Seal Skim taken at Sea in 1891. From the Retuma (Tnlilo A) compiled liy Mr. Milne, the Collector of Customs at Victoria, British Columbia, urnl from iiil'ormation furnishcid hy Mr. D. Oppenheimer, the Mayor of Vancouver, it appears that the number of British vessels engaged in scaling in 1H91 was Dfty, and that their total catch for the year was 49,015. Those Ueturns have been compiled with the greatest care. With regard to the catch of the United States' scaling-vcssels for the sumo year, there ia much difficulty in arriving at an estimate of the number of skins taken, owing to the fact that practicoJly no records were kept by the United States' Customs authorities of the number of skins landed. The only official Iteturns supplied to us are those dt.ived from a telegram from the Custom-liouso at San Francisco to the Treasury Departmeut at Washington (Table B), which gives certain particiilars as to tlie catijh of sixteen vessels, and statements from the Collectors of Customs at San Francisco, Port Townsend, Astoria, and San Diego, giving the number of sealing-vessels that cleared from those ports in 1891 (Table C). From the latter Table it appears that the number of United States' vessels engaged in sealing in 1891 W.1S forty-two, but no details as to their colcli are given. It lins been a-scertained tliat 02,500 seal-skins were sold in London in 1891, under the classifica- tion of " Nortli-West," tliis being the termed used for skins supposed to be taken at sea. If we assume that these represent the whole pelagic catch for the season of 1891 in all parts of the North Pacific Ocean, and deduct from this number those known to liave been taken by British vessels, i.e., 49,015, there remains a balance of 12,885 skins to be accounted for. A certain nunilicr of these may have been taken by the Indians in canoes on the coasts of Wasliington, British Columbia, and South-Eiust Alaska, but their number would probably not aiuount to more tlian 3,000. This would leave about 10,000 as the catch of the United States' sealing-vessels. It must, however, bo borne in mind tliat the above figure of 02,500 does not repi-escnt the total number of skins taken, as a jiortion of those sent to London are re-exported after having been dressed, and thus would not appear in tlie sales list, and that, besides, many skins ore not sent to London at all to bo dressed, but are prepared in America. It appeal's, therefore, tliat in the absence of siilliciont official records it is impossible to form anything more than a very approximate estimate of the number of seal-skias taken by the United States' sealing-vessels. Taking the average catch of the British Columbian vessels aa 1,000, and allowing a similar catch to the United States' vessels, their total catch would amount to about 40,000, but from information derived from unofficial sources this estimate appears to be too great, and after careful consideration it may bo estimated that the catch of the forty-two United States' vessels engaged in sealing in 1891 was between 10,000 and 20,000. IM Toble (A). British Columbinn Sciiling Fleet, 1891. -91. British uvcr, it uir total s much coJly no 'ho only at Sun t'3 as to CO, I'ort se fwrts iling in assifiua- pnrta of British inbcr of jlumbia, ). ThU be total ig been scut to to form United ar catch rmation ration it 891 was 1 Crew. Catch. Data of Return to . J •1 Date of When. Hum of Vnnl. it Warninn. British warned.* (2 i i 3 1 h 1 Culuiu bia. Anniu C. Moore ns 7 23 46 442 1,588 ■i,O70 Aui;. 6 Aug. 30 I. Aurora . . • . 42 11 !t "is 53 310 47 440 July 7 ,, II 1. Aniokt 73 12 ft 23 ,, 400 ,, 400 June 30 July 27 0. Ariol.. >1 10 7 16 ,, ,. 1,082 1,082 Auk. 16 .Sept. 7 I. Annio E. Paint . . H2 6 21 ,, ,, 154 154 June 29 July 2^ 0. Beatrice 06 12 5 21 59 'l36 870 1,071 July 23 Sept. 27 I. Beatrice (Vancouver) 41) , , Iflt , , ,, 136 206 342 8 Aug. 29 I. Borealis 3: 13 5 25 ., 473 l,647t 2,119 .. „ 31 C. D. Rami (VancoUTor) .. ig . , 4 ,, .. .. .(uly 12 • • I. Carlotta G. Cox 78 6 20 , , ,, 517 1,519 2.0311 AuR. 10 Aug. 30 I. Carmt'litti 99 7 23 ,, , , 751 1,639 2,390 8 Sept. 2 I. C. H. Tuppor .. 99 7 21 ,, 235 374 609 July 1 .• 0, Bliia Edwarila, ateam-slrp ;i7 .. 15 .. 1 49 60 7 • • 1. (Vanomver) E. B. Marvin .. 117 7 23 " 276 402 ' • 738 1 (Seized July 0) July 27 I. Favourite • • . • 80 12 6 20 35 337 2,881 2,753 Aug. 12 Sept. 18 1. Geneva 9J 6 23 3 224 207 494 July 16 Aug. 30 1. Katberine 81 9 b "lO ,. 191 1,224 1,415 18 Sept. 24 I. Kate .. S8 9 i 20 32 ., 1,100 1,132 .. „ 28 Letitiit 28 6 12 4 .. 4 .. .. Labrador %b 5 "ll , , 371 216 590 July 18 Aug. 28 I. Laara . • 19 6 "m , , ,. 61 61 17 „ 24 I. Minnie 48 12 6 20 308 373 22 703 15 ,, 3 I. Maggia Mac . . 71 7 24 , , 137 548 3 088 >, 1 July 14 0. Mary Taylor , . 43 5 18 51 445 204 763 .. Aug. 29 Masootto 4n 2 i 7 79 86 ., Nov. 10 Mountiin Ciiief. . 23 6 "l2 21 ., ,, 21 ,. Aug. 29 UaryElltn .. G9 16 "l2 2t 21 009 65 695 July 2 July 29 0. Maud S. 97 7 24 ^^ ,, 394 1,030 1,421 23 Sept. 26 1. May Bi^llc 58 5 19 , , 701 241 942 22 Aug. 21 1. Otto . . 8.% 5 7 "c 48 48 Seised Sept. 27 1. Ocean Bi'lle 83 7 23 "170 "5C8 1,170 1,908 June 50 ,, 23 0. Oacar and llattie 81 « 29 ,, 54 4119 1,002 1,625 .. ,, 22 Penelope . . 70 7 20 229 410 691 1,330 July 7 Oct. 3 I. Pioneer 66 6 21 162 712 1,484 2,3.'-)8 .. Si'pt. 17 Rosie OUen 38 9 3 "l6 40 170 52 208 July 24 Aug. 29 I. Sierra.. 35 6 12 886 .. ,. 880 , , Sapphire Sea Linn 121 85 "20 > 13 30 974 2,435 3,439 Aug. 9 Sept.' 2 I. .'lO 6 19 ^^ 354 584 82 1,020 July 14 Aug. 1 I. Teresa C3 7 23 307 985 1,292 17 Sept. 27 1. Triunipli 98 7 23 , , "l7fi 660 171 1,013 17 Aug. 6 I. Thistle, steam-ship 147 7 20 ,^ 9- 294 82 385 13 „ 1 I. Umbrina 98 7 23 ,, 4115 504 909 23 Sept. 9 1. Venture 48 15 4 '20 ,, 659 059 „ 17 - Vancouver Belle (Van- 73 .. 27 .. .. 28 28 July' 5 1. couver) Viva .. 92 6 23 ,, , , 1,2c 1 731 1,992 Juno 30 Sept. 17 0. W. P. Soy ward,. 59 13 6 26 187 734 801 1,722 .. Aug. 22 Winnifrcd . . * . 13 2 2 8 7 ,. 98 105 July 15 11 1. Walter A. Earlu 08 6 20 , , 198 848 1,021 2,007 Aug. 12 Sept. 2 I. Wanderer 2.') 6 4 12 7 200 330 537 15 ,, 17 I. Walter L. Rich. . 79 7 22 •• •• 5111 21 540 June 29 July 27 0. Fifty vessels. 3,401 309 715 308 3,505 17,102 28,888 49.015 Skins purrhnsed from In. ,, , , ,, 1,963 dians »t Victoria in 1891 • I. = Iiisie e llehr ng Si-a. 0. = Out tide Uthri ng S™. t Total crc". t 399 ca igiit olF Kurilf la unda. 1 Qy . Boats npar t from canoe s. [222J 3 F 200 Table (B). Particulars nf United StatoH' .Scaling Fleet, 1801. N.B.— Thou pirtlcuUn tra dtrivml fruin inrormation |lven to tha Rehrinf Sea CommlMioiuiri by Mr. J. Stanltjr-Diwn r% Watliliigtun ill March 1892, aod which hi tUlad «aa all thai ha waa abia lo collaot frum offlcial aourtaa. 24 waling'Tnuli ilrarid fnim Sm Frinciico in 1891, as ixr tck'Hrama rrnm L'olktctor K. D. .laroma, Pabraar]r 26 and 2A, IH92 : Alhtrl Walker. lUtiic (Jagi). Hilton Blum. Mir L. ('. 0. While. Ilrrinniin, I.A Nliiifa. liiiuii Olscn (i.ff.). MatliaT. Dyer. C. H. White. City of San Diego. J. II. I...WI1. E. E. W'.'liih'r. I.iiiiK Dirby. Jiilin llanrock. Mary Gilbert. Pujihin Motherland. 8an Dir^o. Aniili' liarloy. Ktnnia and lA)uiM. Mj>tie Sparka. IVaff). Aleiaiider. Thiitlo (■•.). 9 Maling-veiieli ilcanid rrom Port TownKnd, aa nor teli>tranu from Collector A. Waiaon, Fubniarr 2S and 26, 1892^ — Allii- Algor. Oaar|« R, Whit*. Henry Donnii. Emmi't Pelii. Mlal. J. 'I. Swim (Noah D v). Chtllengii. Mayflower. Ixitlie (Nrah Bay). 2 Haling-Tesieli olearoJ frum Aitoria, ai pur telrtntmi tnm Collector E. A. Taylor, Fubniary 2& aod 26, 1892 :- llviiiio Ruttrr. Kate and Ann (Yakina Bay). 2 Maling-TDiKla cloarod from 8n go, aa por tulogram from Collector John R. Berry, Pobruary 20, 1892 :-.- Laura. Ethel. i sealiag>TeBicli doared from mi!>t'.IUnooui Unitoil Statea' porta : — Silta (2). Kadiak bland (3). Loo. Nrllie Martin. Sitka. Unilauntcd. P. P. Peincy. 42 total number of versels. Talilo (C). Information tabulated from Telc<,Tani» fr> a the Ciistom-hoii.'io at San Francisco to the Treasury Department, Washington, dated February 10, 1892. (Taken from Mnnifcsla ; and Mr. Stanley-Brown states is all that the Custom-bouse is able to furnish.) Name of Vesnel. Date of Arrl»al. Skins reported. J. H. Uwi March 7, 1891 7 Roaio Hparkn .. ., .. .. ,, August 1, „ 148 Sophie Suthorland .. ., ,. ,, ,, 5. „ 17 San DicRo 17, „ 46.^ C. 11. White 17, „ 438 C.G.Wilson 21, „ 23 Mattie Ujcr 21, „ 15 C. G. Whito Scptombor 1, ,, 1,686 Aloxandor .. ,, ., .. ,. f, „ 9 Ditto Docolnber 28, „ 10 LilyL. .. Soptcmbor 16, „ 81 Hermann, , ., ,, 23, „ 31 Helen Ilium ,. ., ,. ,, 24, „ 3 E. E. Wobiter Octobur 3, „ , , Pearl H. „ 2 l^mma and Louise . , 9, „ 894 La Nimfa Norember 9, ,, 9 The following skins were taken to ports in Alaska, and arrived at San Francisco in coasting vessels : — Name of Vessel. Date. Cargo. 83. Bertha Undaunted N. Thayer Blakeley SS. Jeunio . , . . . . , . Arago .. July 31, 1891 August 4, ,, 14, „ 27, „ October 8, „ Noyombcr 9, „ 1 7 rases of skins. IG barrels. 150 parkagcs. 4G sacks and 12 bundles. 21 skins. 42 bundles and 1 box. sol Summary Statement of the Approxiiimt*' Niimlxirof Fur-Scal Skins tnkon by Pulogic Hoalcrs from 1H71 t.) IH'Jl. Numbi't of A|i[iriMiniiita Y.W. Britlth ColuiuhUn VmwU. Ctlch. Niiniticr uf IJiiilnl 8l«lr»' VoiM'li. Approiimatti CoUb, Catch of Fonifin VtxuU. Appritlifimtr Toul. 18711 to > About! > 2,000 I 2,000 . U7a inro i > 4,800 , , , , 4,800 1 880 4 1 4,B0() ,, ,, ,, 4,800 1881 i } 6,000 , , ,, fl,OllO 1182 8 > 12,000 ,, 12,00,1 1883 9 t 13,900 I 2,500 (in Bchriiii Hvi) 1 Oirnun (ntch onknown) ITi.O 1884 II > ICSOO s , , 1«„100 I88S n lil.lB9 ., 1,7»6 2i,93.'> 1886 16 21,344 13 11.000 60J 35,000 1887 17 20,21)6 82 iri,i'iiu I,3i0 37, .100 1888 31 21,329 8 Uliktiown 1,214 2Ii,IIO0 1889 M 27,868 33 13,3(10 1.701 42,h:o 1890 39 39,A47 12 11,000 1,031 41 ,,160 1891 BO ■9,014 42 18,0110 riH.OOO Sincu 1885 correct iliita of tl»' liriti.sh Columbiim aoaling-vcssels have been preserved ; previous to that yi;ar the (iRiire.s giM^ii are iipproxiiimto. All figures given for tlio United Stntes' sealiug-lleot nro approximate, no reliable records having been kept. The catch tf the German vessel (" Adile ") are correct, she having landed her cargo at Victoria. Annual Reports of Number and Catch of BritiJi Columbian Sealing Fleet from 1871 to 1890. Sealing Report from yours 1871 to 1878. •eaaury to VfSBfli. Toiii. Crow. » PnTourit« .. .. Thornton Anna Heck 80 29 14 8 9 The above vessels at this time were not regularly cuf^aged in seal-hunting, but were visiting tlie trading stations of their owners, where many of tlie skins wore obtained by barter from the Indians along tlic west coast of Vancouver Island, Queen Charlotte Islands, Bella Bella, Bella Coulu, and other points on the BiHish Colunibinii coast. The owners being very reticent, no reliable information could be obtained ; consequently, the number of .skins and tlio extent of the industry were not known at that time. The probable catch of tlie Indians and above vessds would bo about from 3,000 to 5,000 skins yearly, and the jirico at this time was low, aliout from H to 4 dollars per skin. It was reported in tlie yjnrs 1874 and 187;') that the American schooner "Cygnet," Captain Kimberly, went to Belli iiig Sea and obtained good catches. This is probably incorrect, as the chief object of lioi voyage was sea-otter hunting, she once bringing tliom to Victoria. Sealing Report for years 1878 to 1880. asting- VosteU. Tom. Crew. Favourite Thornton Anns Beck .. OnwAfd . . . . , . . . 80 29 36 35 14 8 9 9 Tbcso vessels werr onaged in the price of skins then in Victoria from skins yearly. le const sealing only, with an average catch each of about 1,200 ; 4 to dollars each, llie Indian catch being about 2,000 to 2,5(10 202 Skalino Report, 1881. V..!Sels. Tons. Crew. Favourite Thornton Anim Deck Onward ,, lliiry Ellen . . eo 29 3C 35 63 14 8 9 9 12 These vessels weio only engn^'i'd in soaliiij; on the west coaat of Vancouver Island, about 1 ,2U0 skins being the nvem.i,'e catch. \'ahio at Victoria alicit 5 dollars per skin. No oHicial l!i>])ort made liy above vessels, and no memoranda at Cii.stom-houso. About this time tlie Indians would kill and bring to Victoria for .sale about 2,500 skins yearly. Sealino Report, 1882. Vessels. Tons. Crew. Favourite 80 14 'J hornton .. .. .. «, 29 9 Annn Beck .. .. .. 36 9 Oiiwurd ., .. .. .. 35 9 Giiiio 77 12 Alfred Adams .. 69 14 W. P. Hay ward 59 12 M 29 , J 2,470 2,470 Annie C. Moore lis G 23 715 715 Maggie Muc . . 71 5 20 125 1,299 1,424 Favourite 79 13 30 300 1,834 2,134 AdoIo 25 5 11 156 1,039 1,195 Rosie Olsen . . 39 4 13 100 500 600 Pathfiniier .. 66 9 22 600 050 1,250 Lily 68 12 22 93 , , 93 O. S. Fouler. . 34 3 12 2.10 230 Minnie ., .. ,. 46 12 20 209 525 734 Auroni 41 11 23 335 335 Araunolit 71 5 20 ■• (Twcnty.one vessels.^ 1,347 170 442 7,670 16,053 24,329 Allele (German) 50 8 20 392 822 1,214 • Thit Rihring Sea catch for this and previous yt-ars includi'3 « cortain number of skin" (akon on the coast of Britieh Columbia to the north of Vnncouvor lelnnd, th. d. 1871 104,899 42 2 1882 . 100,100 53 7 1872 96,283 44 10 1883 . 75,914 82 9 1873 103,724 52 1884 , 99,994 51 9 1674 99,150 42 6 18f5 . 99,874 57 7 l87S 99,634 50 9 1886 , 99,947 09 3 1876 90,276 34 4 1887 . 99,949 56 1877 75,410 J9 11 1888 . 100.037 77 11 1878 99,911 69 2 1889 . 1011,(131 66 U 1879 100,036 84 9 1890 . 20,994 146 6 1860 100,161 91 5 1891 . 13,194 125 4 1881 99,921 79 9 Note. — Previous to 1871 fur-seal skins were sold privately, and it is impossible to obtain correct average prices. 2. — Statement of Fur-Seal Skina obtained iu Trade from Indians by the Hudson B.ay Company on the Coast of British Columbia between Port Simpson and the Northern End of Vancouver Island, 1852-90. Yew. Number of Skins obtained. Year. Number of Skins obtained. 1852 5 1874 1,873 1853 U 1875 1,033 1854 9 1876 1,515 1855 32 1877 1,210 1856 65 1878 1,544 1857 28 1879 1,257 1858 99 1880 1,418 1859 187 1881 1,882 1860 62 1882 3,551 1861 71 1883 557 1868 .. 398 1884 471 1863 569 1885 95 1864 521 1886 1,545 1865 243 1887 102 1866 381 1888 646 1867 768 18H9 289 1868 367 1890 228 1169 ., 4:10 18/0 1871 4,686 8,911 Total Dumber obtained in 89 jrears . . 39,024 1872 .. 1873 1,336 1,229 Average number obtained each year,. 1,117 [222] 3 II 208 3. — Skins taken for Shipment from Commander Islands, 1862-91. NotM. Year. Number. Notes. r 1862 .. 4,000 1863 .. 4,500 OdIjt grej pnpi killed 1864 .. 1HC5» .. 5,000 4,000 186« .. 4,000 ^ 1867 .. 4,000 1868 .. 12,000 1869 .. 21,000 Alukft Commercial Company's first term began 1870 .. 27,5ro Elliott makes catch 3,C14, but this doubtlou a 18/1 .. 3,412 mistake. 1872 .. 29,318 I87J .. 30,396 ' Including Robben Itlasd. 1874 .. 31,272 Stopped killing pups for food 1875 ,. 36,274 1876 .. 26,960 1877 .. 21,532 , 1878 .. 31,340 1879 .. 42,752 1880 ,. 48.604 1881 .. 43,522 1882 .. 44,620 1883 .. 28,696 1884 .. 52,052 1885 .. 41,737 Approximate estimate .. 1886 .. 44 .500 1887 .. 40,751 Without Kobben Island, from Trhlch no Approximate estimate .. *. ,. 1888 .. 45,000 skins were taken. 1889 .. 55,4!)3 18U0 ,. 65,727 Including 1,453 taken on Robben Island. Enil uf Alaska Commercial Coirpany's lease . . 1891 .. Total 27,467 Including 500 taken on Robben Island. 872,408t * 1865 to 1891 from officiil figures obtained by us on Commander Islands. t The skins obt.iincd by raidcTs upon Rnbben Island and on ttie Comnuinder Islands are not included in the figures aboTe given, vhicli merely represent tiie annual catch as otficially recorilcd. Notes on the Killing of Fur-Seah on the Commander Idandt. The facts available for the earlier years after the discovery of these islands are very incomplete, but the following notes may be cited : — In 1751-53, .Jiigot, among skins brought from Behring Island, had 2,212 fur-seal skins, and in 1752 and 1753 the crew of a vessel belonging to TrapeznikolV, an Irkutsk merchant, tooi: 2,500 fur-seal skins on the same island. (" Neue Nachrichten von dcnen Nouentdecken Insuln," ouoti^d by Noixlen- skiold, in " Voyage of the Vega," vol. ii, p. 270.) Keturns of cargoes of skins fiom the Commander Islands, quoted by Bancroft (Bancroft's Works, vol. xxxiii, pp. 111-101), show that between 1752 and 1780 (the last year not included) at least 03,708 skins were shipped. Most of these were obtained from the (Joniniander Islands, upon which alone the actual killing doubtless exceeded this figure, probably very considerably. It was not till 1886 that the first skins were taken on the I'ribylofl' Islands. Elliott states that he believes lliere wa,s an interregnum between 1760 and 1786, during which the fur-seals were driven from the Commander Islands, and no skins were Uikcn (Census Kcport, p. 109). This is, however, manifestly an error, in view of the statements of individual cargoes upon which the above total amoimt is based, and from which it wo\ild appear that the Commander Islands never ceased to produce a certain number of skins. Elliott furtlier states that he does not know when the seals returned, but is " inclined to believe " that they did not reai)pear in any considerable number till 1837 or 1838. In 1867 the liussians did not think that more than 20,000 skins could be secun^d on the Commandei Islands annually. Since 1867 (to 1880) the capacity of the Commander Islands graduaUy increased from about 15,001) to 50,000 skins jier annum, doubtless because of the careful management of the industry on these islands. (Census Keport, p. 100.) 8(f9 4. — Shipment of Fur-Seal Skins from Lobos Islands, communicated by Mr. Alfred Lafone, M.P. Year. ^ 1 1 w 1 1 i a. s a« a Si II 11 1 1 S li ■§1 ToUl. 1887 256 163 154 558 1,195 5,660 6,488 344 21 14,849 1888 301 255 CS4 1,489 1,600 7,088 B.915 .. 333 23 17,718 1889 155 i:u 2GC 741 1,611 5,955 3,018 93 488 106 13,205 1890 175 175 403 968 1,0H4 5,901 4,898 •• 502 95 14,244 1891 224 115 867 694 1,093 6,333 3,400 •• 10 40 12,776 Totaii 1,101 842 2,344 4,450 6,G83 30,937 24.319 93 1,677 285 72,789 Total Catch of Salted Lobos Island Seal Skins, 187C-91, communicated liy Mr. Alfred Lafone, MP. Year. Skins Yew. SUm. 1876 1877 1878 1879 1880 1881 1882 1883 '. 11.353 13,066 12,301 12,295 14,8i:5 13,596 13,200 12,422 1884 I8.«5 1886 1887 1888 1889 1890 1891 14,580 10,862 14,986 14,849 17,718 13,205 14,241 12,776 5. — Partiadars uf far-Seal Skins in Loiulon Market, from Messrs. C. M. Lampson and Co. Dear Sir, 64, Queen Street, London, May 23, 1892. We have the pleaauro to inclose herewitli paiticuhirs of fur-seal skius sold in London, for which you asked us when we had the pleasure of seeing you here. We are, &c. (Signed) C. M LAMPSON and Co. Sir George Baden-PowoU, K.C.M.O., M.P., &c., 8, St. Georije's I'kce. (A.)— Salted Lobos Island Fur-Seal Skins sold in London. Year. Skins. Year. Skins. 1873 .... 6,956 1884 16,258 1874 8,509 1885 10,953 1875 8,i;9 1886 13,667 1876 11,353 1887 11,068 1877 13,006 1888 20,747 1878 12.3U1 1889 8,765 1879 12,295 1890 18,541 1880 14.865 1891 15,834 1881 13,569 1892 (to date) 4,800 1882 1B8J 1.3,200 12,801 '_ Total 247,777 210 (B.)— Sales of Capo Horn Salted Fur-Scal Skins. Ycr. Hkinl. Year. Skim. ins wt ItN un IS! t8S4^ • • c.sno 7,031 8.227 12.180 1 7M>2 ..).lt'<4 11.711 4.655 C,743 3,404 1886 11<87 l'<88 1HH9 1890 1891 1892 (todlU') 909 2.762 4.403 3,021 2,450 3,114 3,966 Total • 112,208 (C IHI 18; 18 18 18! (C 1.) — Salted North-west Coast Fur-Senl Skins sold in London prior to Pelagic Sealing in Behriiig Scii. Ymt. Skim. Year. Skins. 1872 1873 1874 1«» me 1877 IS78 1879 1,029 4,949 1,646 2,042 V64 12,212 1880 1881 1882 1883 1884 Total 8,939 9,997 11,727 2,319 9,242 64,366 18 18 18 (C 2.) --Salted North-west Coa.st Fnr-Seal Skins (lres.sed and dyed in London (but not sold there) taken prior to Pelagic Sealing in Beliring Sea. Year. Skins. Year. Skins. 1872 UTS tm 1875 1878 1877 1878 1878 • 699 40 122 578 1,062 772 2,434 2,397 1880 1881 1882 .. 1883 .. 1884 .. Total 4.562 5.890 11,159 6,385 10,115 46,215 (C 3.) — Dry North-west Coast Fur-Seal Skins sold in London prior to Pelagic Sealing in Behring Sea. Year. Skins. Year. Skins. 1868 2,141 1878 912 18«» 1,671 1879 918 1870 684 1880 , , 1871 12,495 1881 686 ~87» 14,684 1882 321 891 1883 390 1874 2,772 1884 785 1875 1,.151 1818 993 Total 42,767 1877 1,173 Of the pkins soM in 1871 and 1872, a very large proportion were the accumulation of the Russian-American Company, and sold by them after the purchase of Alaska by thu United States. Recapitulation. Salted far-K>a] akini sold in London, 1872-84 , . , „ „ dressed and dyed in London, 1872-84 Dry fnr-ieal skins sold in London, 1668-64 . , , . Qrud total . . . , 64,366 46,215 42,767 153,318 9U (C 4.) — Dry Noith-west Coast Fur-Seal Skins Bold in London after commencement of Pelagic Scaling in Bebring Sea. Yo.r. Skint. Ymp. Skinl. 1889 1886 1887 1888 1889 1,920 979 2,843 1,292 228 1890 1891 Total 699 1,083 8,604 Salted North-west Coast Fur-Seal Skins dressed and dyed in Ixmdon (but not sold tliere) taken after commencement of I'dnyio Sealing in Bohring Sea. Year. 8kin8. Year. Skioa. 1889 1886 .. 1887 16,667 16,087 3,.'iB9 1888 1889 Total .. 1,930 2,017 39,290 la iddition to tbo aboTc it ii utimated that from 39,000 to 30,000 ikioi hairo been dreiMil and dyed in the United States. (C 5.) — Salted North-west Coast Fur-Seal Skins sold in London after commencement of Pelagic Sealing in liehring Sea. ere) is Sea. Year. Skint. Yrar. Skint. 1885 1886 1887 1888 .. 1889 2,078 17,909 30,907 36,818 39,963 1890 1891 1892 (to date) of catch or 1891 Total 3ft,319 94,180 28,298 254,068 Recapitulation. Dry ttkins sold in London, 1885-91 .. .. .. Saltvd akiiia dreued and djred in London, hut ant sold thore, 1885-89 United Sut4?9. ustimattMl, 1865-89 Salted skiua sold in London, 1885-92 Grand total . . .. .. (D )— Sales of Alaska Salted Fur-Seal Skins. 8,604 39,290 30,000 254,068 331,962 and told Year. Skint. Year. Skint. 1871 104,899 1883 79,914 1872 96,283 1884 99.994 1873 103,724 l.«85 99,874 1874 99.150 1880 99,947 1875 99.634 1887 99,949 1876 "• ,^/6 1P88 100,037 1877 75,410 1889 100,031 1878 99,911 1890 20,994 1879 100,036 1891 17,652 1880 100,161 1881 99,921 100,101) 1882 Total 1,833,897 [222] S I 212 (E.) — Sales of Copper Island Saltoil Fur-Scnl Skinn. Yiar. Skina. Ytu. Skiiu. 187S 1874 1876 1876 1877 1878 1879 1880 1881 22,<98 30,349 34,479 33,198 tr>,380 IR.CBO 28,215 38,900 45,209 39,311 3G,480 1884 '.885 1886 1887 1868 1882 1890 1891 1892 2li,675 48,929 41,750 54,384 46,296 47,411 52,765 59,724 30,680 1882 1883 Tot»l • ■ 761,219 ■■llli ( 213 ) APPENDIX (H). AmDAvrrs relatino to Pkuoig Seaunu. Mr. Milne to Mr. Tvpper. Sir, Custtmi.i, Canada, Victoria, P.O., Jamuiry 22, 1892. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your conimiinication of the 7th instant relntivo to a joint letter from Sir George Biulen-l'owell iind Dr. (icdr^'e M. DawHon, liehriiig Sea Coinmi.ssioners. 1 heg to Btiite that I have enileovonred to supply the iiiforinatinn, nnd herewith transmit the first lot of afiiilavits of some of tlio nio.st rolialile of our scaling men, and I am continuing to take all I can obtain, which will be forwarded from day to day. I trust the information is what is wanted, as I have endeavo\"' ; to frame the questions so that the an8W((rs would show ren-son.T for their intelligent answers on ti.. three questions; — 1. The proportion of .seals lost as compared with hit. 2. Tlie proportion of females to males killed in the different months. 3. The abstention of Canadians from oil raiding, &c. I have, &c. (Signed) A. R MILNE, Collector. Depogitions taken hefore A. R. Milne, Collector of Customs, Port of Victoria, B.C. Cereno Jones Kelley, master of the Canadian schooner " C. H. Tupper," of Shelbournc, Nova Scotia, having been duly sworn — 1. Mr. Milne. How many years have you been engaged in sealing, Captain Kelley ? — A. I have been sealing for two years as master of the " C. II. Tupper." 2. Q. Have your voyages been reasonably fortunate, in comparison with those of other vessels ? — A. About an average. 3. Q. Have you gone south of Cape Flattery in hunt for seals? — J. Yes, Sir; and have followed the seals all along the coasts of Ihitish f^dunibia to liuhriug Sea. 4. Q. During last year, to your observation, were the seals as plentiful from the coast to Shumogin Islands as they were the previous year >. — A. I think there was no material difference. 5. Q. Did tlie seals last year appear to lie frightened or more timorous than in previous years on account of the number of vessels ? — A. T oliserved no material difference. C. Q. In shooting seals, what is your experience ? — A. My exixirience is that unless a seol is mortally wounded — hit in a vital 3])ot — it is jmictically uninjured, and appears to be as full of vitality as before it was shot. The shfit-wounda will rapidly close up, if not made in a vital part, and the seal will swim away as though nothing had happened. The flow of blood stops very quickly, and the seal moves off at a very rapid rate. I picked shot from the bodies of seals, ])reviously wounded in other than a vital part, and the animal in every other way appeared to be in a healthy condition. 7. Q. So you believe that a seal when shot, if not movtally wounded, does not sink or seek a place —a rookery, or some place to die?^yf. A wounded seal will not alter its course in the slightest. It will go along the same as before, its wound healing rapidly, very rapidly, too. It is astonishing how quickly such wounds will heal. I once sliot a seal which had been .sjuMired by Indians, and the spear hod made an opiiarently mortal wound. There was a cut about 2J by 3 inches a little above the side behind tbi^ fli|ipi'r. This wound ajipeared to have been made about three days previously, and in that time it had healed half-an-inch all round. 8. i^. Are there more seals shot sleeping than in motion ? — A. I should say that the larger proportion of ,=eals are shot whilst sleeping, that is, as far as my own experience goes. 9. (,l What do you consider the vital part of a seal ? Where do the hunters aim for generally — the head or the heart? — A. It depends largely upon the position of the seal. The vital parts are in the bead, in the vicinity of the heart, and, if a seal is shot so as to bleed internally, the hunters are sure of securing it. The head is the usual mark. 10. Q. 'What is usually a safe shooting distance ? — A. It depends largely upon the circumstances of the case. Somewhere between 10 and 30 yards would be about the distance. I should say that it is the average with sleeping or travelling seals. The sleeping seal is often approached to within even less than 10 yards, but the average is from 10 to 20 yards for sleeping seal, and from 10 to 30 yards for travellers. 11. Q. The seal is very sensitive, is it not ? — A. Yes ; we have to approach them from the leeward always. Their sense of smell is very acute. 12. Q. Do the seals generally travel far when wounded ? — A. That will depend up^^n where it is wounded. If it is vitally wounded in the head, it will hardly move from its position, for it is likely to die right there, but it will not sink. This is from my own observation. There is only one way that a aeal w'ill sink after being shot, that is, when it is shot in such a manner as to be thrown backwards, "Sinking tail first, thus allowing the air to escape out of its mouth. I might say, further, that I have never seen a seal sink w hich was shot while sleeping. 13. Q. Will you state the proportion of seals lost as compared with those hit in sealing ? — A. My own personal experience during the past two years is that my loss by seals sinking would not average 214 3 per cent. During tlio loat year (1801) I actually lost only two seals out of seventy-seven — that is, 1 shot sovonty-tiini!, and secured Buvcnty-suven. 14. Q. In limiting Roaln, what is the direction in which they usually travel ? — A. In the spring months lliuy nro leisurely travelling towards llio nnrtli, wliun they change their position. 15. Q. Ill liimling seuls, liavo you ever met witli imps in the water ? — A. Not generolly ; but durin)^' tlie season of IsiK), while oil' Middleton Island, tlio hunters reported seeing two seal pups, probalily o wei^k old, but they appeared to be only just liorii. 10. Q. What is your opinion of the proportion of males to females killed during the hunting season ? Are there any months in the year when there are more females than males killed ? — A. It depends upon oircunisluucos. My experience is that (groups of bachelor bulls will travel together, and sometimes groups of females, including; barren cows, will travel together, and again groups of yearling pups a|)parenlly travel together That in my e.\|)erienie, and the e.x|M.Tience of a iiumlior of others. Tho catch of any schooner coming into contact with groups of bulls, or of females, would bo no criterion of the catch of other acliooners as regards the number of females. In the year IS'.K), while in Behring Sea, one day wo took seventy-live seals, and the next day we took eighty, and in the whole of that number I observed oidy one female, and the hunters particularly informed mo that they did not see any female seals at uU ; that they were all vigorous young bulls. 17. Q. Would anything lead you to think. Captain Kelley, that there is a likelihood of more females than males being killed between here and Slmmagin Islands ! That is, from January t,'ht thcK, arn tliny f — A. Yoa, Sir. 17. (J. And tliiy will not sink I — A. Willi fow (ixccptiona.such aawhvn a goal is siiotand tiirown backwurilH, thus aUowin^; the air to cHcnpt oiil of its inouth. 18. Q. Will you Htiito your opioidii, Ciiptiiin IV.'tit, ol' tho priiiiorti(in of sml lost liy Hinking after l)t'ini{ shot? — A. Illy [wrsonal oxporiencu during lust .si-nson with white liunters would not e.xceed fi per cent., and with Indians in fornu^r ycar.s I douljt if it anmunts to even 1 per cent. The reason of Das percentage in favour of Indians is heeause tlu'y were caught with a spear, and eonsei|Uently could not get away. 19. Q. Have you ever seen a seal shot while sleeping sink i — A. I have never known one to sink. 20. Q. Then you are clearly of the opinion that seals will ntjt sink for some time unlcas thrown Imckwards I — A. I am. When they do sink, even to 10 or 15 feet, they can lie readied with thu gafi; 21. Q. When the hunters return to the vessel at night, do they usually discuss their day's proceedings, and particularly mention the loss of seals, when siicli loss occurs ! — A. Yes. 22. (J. Then, Cajitain I'etit, you conscientiously adhere to the stateniiuit that the loss by sinking' of seals hit will not exceed 5 jwr cent. ? — A. I certainly do; hut there are seals hit and not inoitiiUy wounded, and these escape, lait they are not " lost," as they are (juite us vigorous as before, because their wounds heal very rapidly. I have often found shot in the skin. 23. y. What is your opinion of the proportion of females to males killed during the last hunting seanonl—A. Last year, out of my catch of 705, 1 had only 18 females carrying young — not quite 2J per cent. Of course, as in other seasons' catches, we hail a number of barren cows — about the usual run, 10 per cent., and 12J per cent, of grey pups. These grey pups are always bulls, and one year (dd. 24. (J. Your catch, then, would be about 75 per cent, of males last season > — A. Yes, Sir ; including the yearlings it was more than 75 per cent. 25. Q. You say grey pups are always moles; will you explain this ?^v/. The Indians called my attention to this fact years ago, but the reason is not quite known, .still it i.s a fact. 1 have observed very clo.sely, and have never yet .seen a female grey pup one year old. 1 try to iiccount for this by the supposition that the yearling grey male pups are driven early out of liehring Sea by the old bulls. 20. Q. I.4ist year, did you hear any retuarks about the number or proportion of the male.f to females caught from any one or any source ? — A. Y'es, Sir ; I heard that a much larger percentage of males were caught last year than in any former year. 27. Q. I would ask you. Captain I'etit, if in any former years tliere was a similar lu'eponderance of males — do you remember of any such fact ? — A. Yes, I do. In IKHO, when off !• irclay .Sound, in one day we had taken 104 .seals, of which 3 only were fi'iiiales. In the following year, 1887, when off I'ortlock Bank, we took 79 in one day, and only 2 females were fnund in that number. 28. Q. How do seal cows travel ? Singly or in pairs ? — A. They travel singly or in pairs. 29. Q. How do bulls travel ? — A. They travel in bands, as do also the bull pups. They travel singly too. 30. Q. Are female seals carrying young very timid ?--.^. Y'es, Sir; they are. They sink their bodies so that nothing but their noses and eyes are out of water, and are therefore smaller marks for the hunters. 31. Q. Barren cows travel with bulls, do tliey ? — A. Yes, Sir; baiTen cows usually travel with the bulls. ;)2. Q. Are there any monthir in the year during which there are more females than males killed ? Any particular time that you have observeil i — A. Xo, Sir. 33. Q. Is it your candid opininn that there are iiiin-e barren cows killed than seal-bearing cows ? — A. Yes, Sir; I think there are more. 34. Q. Do these bar'n (^ows, from the knowledge you have of seals — do you think that they ever become bearing ? — A. I think they do. 35. Q. That they will have periods of bearing ? — A. I don't think that a seal will bear before she is 4 years old. 30. Q. How long does a seal carry her young ? — A. It is understood to bo eleven months. 37. Q. Were there any circumstances occurred to you upon your last voyage which would indicate a marked dcorea.se in the number of seals ? — A. Xone whatever, Sir. On the cuutrary, I slmuUl say there were more. There si^emed to be more last year, at least we saw moie that year than for several years previcnisly. 38. Q. In your observation as to the habits n!' the seals, they appear to be like the salmon — that they return from no known cause in larger numbers ? — .1. Well, I don't know, Sir ; I think that they have their annual migrations ; but there is question whether they follow the same track every year. You will find them on some giounds one year, and in other years on other grounds. 39. Q. Do you think that the number of female seals killed in the hunt is materially injuring the reproduction of seals? — A. No, Sir. 40. (J. Can you give a reason for that ? — A. From the small percentage of females killed, I don't think it would injure reproduction in any way. 41. Q. Were you in Behring Sea last year, and were you ordered out ? — A. And was ordered out by the United States' ship " Corwin." [222] SK " 216 42. Q. Before being ordered out, what was your usual fishing distance from land ? — A. 60 to 100 miles. 43. Q, You found seals all along that distance from land ? — A. Yes, in large numbers. 44. Q. You had the prospect of a fair catch ? — A, Yes, Sir j I had the prospects of a very fair catch up to the time I was warned. 4,'). Q. You consider it a very material loss, being warned at the time out of Bohring Sea ? — A. I do, Sir ; I consider it a very heavy loss. 40. Q. You still adhere to the statement that the seals between CO nnd 100 miles from land were as plentiful as in any previous years in vour experience ? — A. As plentiful as they were in any year since 188G. 47. Q, Did you observe in your catch in Behring Sea any preponderance of females over males, or vice vcr.id ? — A. Yes, Sir ; the males wore in excess. 48. Q. Can you state from recuUection an average day's hunt in Behring Sea ? — A. Forty-eight was about the largest I made wliile in Beliring Sea. 49. Q. Do you rem mber hearing any of the hu!iters speak of losing any seals by sinking ?— A. No, Sir ; I don't remember any instances of such loss. 50. Q. Did yo\i cross from the American side of the Behring Sea into the Russian side ? — A. No, I didn't ; I came straight home to Victoria through Ounimak Pass. 51. Q. During the year, did you hear from any source that ,iny Canadian vessels had raided the seal islands or any of them ? — A. No, 8ir ; I never heard of any British or Canadian vessels, not during the past year, or any year I have been engaged in sealing. 52. Q. Ctt])tain Petit, do you believe any of the stories that are told about the " Geo. IJ. Wliite," the " Daniel Webster," and the "' MoUie Adams " raiding these islands ? — A. Yes, Sir ; I believe those reports. 53. Q. Those were all American vessels, were they not ? — A. Yes, Sir. 54. Q. During the last two years, it is reported tlmt the American schooners " J. Hamilton Lewis," formerly the Bvitish schooner "Aida," and the " City of San Dicg/," raided the Copper 'elands? — A. Yp.s, Sir. 55. Do you believe that is true? — A. I do, Sir; and also in 188G or 1887, the American schooner " Look-out " raided the Pribyloff Islands, .so that the history of raiding the seal islands is peculiarly American, and solely by American schooners. 50, Q. Was not the British schooner "Aida" seized by the American Government and sold ? — A. Yes, Sir. In 1887, and renamed the "J. Hamilton Levvi.s." 57. Q. Is not this same vessel, the " J. Hamilton Lewis," the same vessel as was seized by the Russians this year, in the vicinity of Copper Island ? — A. Yes, Sir : and served her riglit too. 58. Q. If any of the C'anailian vessel," had raided sitlier the / nierican or Russian seal islands, your long experience in the sealing fleet iicre would have insured 'our being .aware of it? — A. Yes, Sir ; I sliould certainly have heard of it — leiirned it from hunters, masters, or seamen. It woidd have been sure to have leaked out. 50. Q. Is it your oi.iiiion that ship-ma3i,''rs or shipowuere ha 'e been most careful in instructing their masters or cajjlains to avoid any interferonct •••'u.tever with tie seal i.slands ? — A. I have served with different owners, and I have been instructed to carefully avoid approaching the islands within the international limit. In fact, all the sealing I have conducted has been done outside at least of the 20 miles from land. Mr. Milne.— 'i\\ai will do, Captain Petit Thank you very much. (Signed) WILLIAM PETIT, MmUt. ' Sworn to before me, at Victoria, British Columbia, this 23rd day of January, 1892, (Signed) A. It. Milnh, Colkdvr of Customs. Sefurc A. R. Mil-M, Collector of Cmtomn, Victoria, B.C., January 22, 1892. Captain Wciitworth Evelyn Baker, present master (.'f the Canadian oehooner "C, H. Tuppei," and formerly master of the schooner " Viva," • f '•'iotori;', beitig duly sworn : — 1. Mr. Mihu. — How many ycijrs I'lv/e jou been ei.g'gi-.d in sealing, Captain Baker? — A. Four 2, Q. Wliaf Canadian schooners liave you commanded during fhoae four years ? — A. The schooner years, 2 ■• Viva 3. Q. During the four years liave you been more than reasonably successful as a seal-hunter ? — A. Yes, Sir. 4. y. How many white men would your vessel usually carry? — A. Twenty-three, all tuld. 5. (' You have huiitt'd all alon.; the coast, and also every year in Beliring Sea? — A. Every year excejit 1891. During last year 1 wils always outside of the lino of demaication between Russian and Au\erican wiiters. 0. Q. During hi.sl year, to your oiiservation, were .seals as plentiful along the coasts tf) .Shumagin I.slands as they wero the ye.nr before? — .4. In some places I found them as plentiful; in others I found ilii'ni more plcr.tiful. In some placets wliere I never found any before I found tliem last year, and 1 IcMOii nom: where I hud proviously found some. 7. Q. Then, Caiitam Baker, you think there is no material difference, on the average, during the four years? That is to your observation ? — A. I should Sfiy, to my observation, there wius no laat'^rial difference. Illl iir 8. Q. Your coast catch last year was equal to that of former years, was it ? — A. It was equal to the first tw years, and better than the third year by almost as many more skins, having 098 skins in 1890, and in 1891 I had 1,260 skins. 9. Q. Owing to the number of vessels, do the seals appear to be more timorous ? — A. Well, I did not find thcia so, except in some places. It is a trreat deal owing to the position in which you find them. I found that ilie nearer the coast the wilder tliey are, and th(! further at sea you go they don't seem to be any wilder than previously. I think that what makes them wilder along the coast is the increase of traflic, steamers and so on being very numerous. 10. Q. It is said that seal travel in groups of females and groups of bachelor bulls and young bulls — not mixed. Is that so ? — A. I huve always found it so. 11. Q. So you think that the number of male or female seals cai ght would depend entirely upon the schooner falling in with groups of males or females ? — A. Entirel) 12. Q. How is that' — A. It is much harder to kceii the run ■ ■ females than of tlic males or barren oow.s. females .. itli young appear to be much iiioitj timid, ar. when you get among them iind commei ce shooting, they disappear very quickly, and .show only tlie '.se and eyes aliovc water when travelling, and do not expose their bodies as much above the water as i le bulls and liarren cows d — A. Krom personal <'x|K'rienoe, 1 think aliont th same, and from the reports of the hunters I ahould jiidi;e it was the same, as tlu^y all ie|)ort tUi^r expeiiences on their return to the vessel each night, and when a seal is lost it is n'ways sjioken about. From a record kept by hunters during two vojagi^s the aggivgiile loss by each hunter is shown, and the percentage is not greater, on an average, than 3 per cent. 2ti. y Mow many huntei's do you usually curry ? — A. Sijt; and I hunted myself The ship's company consists of twenty-three persons. 27. IJ. What size shot do you use in shooting seal ? — .^1. No. 2 buck-sliot, or "S" Canadian flhot; and the guns are of the very liest raateri.al and very expensive, costing from "0 to 100 dollars. 28. I,>. Wliat do you think is the in'0|iortion of females to n;ales in the nundxa' killed in the diffen'nt months of the HshiiiL' season ? — A. I don't know, I am mnc. It dej ends u\)on ciiciimstancos. My ( xpenenee la.s' }car was very laiml}- o:; th. onll side on the coast; that is, tlie proportion taken were hugely Male seals. I can eoiiscientiously siiy that it must have been three balls to one female, and I had a larger number oi seals than any other ve.s.scd on the spring catch. 20. C'. In the llehring Sea, to your oliservatioii, were the mules or females in the preponderance ? — A. My eX|iorieiice is that thi^y are very much as they are on the coast. Sometime.. I would meet with groups of all bulls, .mil again with gnnips of all cows. 21S 30. Q. While in Behring Sea last yenr, wlmt would be your usual sealing distance from the land ? — A. I was nut in Buhring Sea last year, but in previous yeara it would be I'rora about 30 to 90 miles from land. The usual distance is about 60 miles. Sometimes we are inside of that, sometimes outside of it. 31. Q. Last year, I understand you to say, Captain Baker, you were not in the Rehring Sea en the American side ? — A. No. 32. Q. Do I understand you to say that on tlie Russian side the same observations will apply to the liabits and shooting of seal as on the coast ? — A. Precisely the same as to their grouping and habits. ',iS. Q. During the four years that you liav; been scaling. Captain Baker, I would like you to stftte explicitly if you saw or heard of any Canadian vessels raiding tiio Air.erican seal islands ? — A. No, Sir. To my knowledge 1 have never hoard of >.' y, and I have every reason to believe that there luia never been any Canadian schooner raiding any of them. 34. Q. If anytliing like this had happened, you would have heard of it ? — A. Most certainly I would liavc. 3o. Q. You have never heard any information of any of our sealers conniving to raid th» seal i.slauds ? — A, I never did. 30. Q. Two years ago it was reported that some American schooners had raided seal islands. Did you hear such a report 1—A. Yes, Sir ; I heard a report that certain Anu>rican schooners had raided these islands. The " Geo. 11. White," " Diini 1 Webster," " Mollie Adams," and for two years the "J. Hamilton Lewis," have beiiu raidini? th:' ■ i>in, r Islands on the liu.ssian side, and it is rejwrted that the American .schooner " City of 1?;\!; '■' -/o' 37. Q. You have heard of the Grr.i'.' '. 1889, with poor success. These illegal a' nxwc sealer. 38. (). And if Canadian sealers had done acts of tliat kind, you think it wc .ild most certainly have leaked out ? — A. It most certainly would have. 39. Q. You are quite satisfied, the;), that not a single Canadian schooner at any time has raided the seal islands ? — A. Not to my knowledge. 1 don't know of one single case. 40. Q. What was your entire catcli l.xst sea'un ? — A. 1,991 for the whole seiuson. 41. Q. Giving your opinion in conlidence, what is your o])inion of the seals on the coast and in Behring Sea ? Are tliey decrca-sing or increasing > — A. From my experience, I have not seen any decrease, but I have noticed also that they change tiieir grounds from time to time, and wliere you lind them this year you may not find them the next. This was very remarkable during the year 1890, for the seals were idl found to the eaiitward of I'ribyloil' Islands, while in former years they were found to the westward. 42. (J. Wlien ditl you lind them to the eastward of St. Paul's Island ? I understand you to say that you found them very numerous > — A. More so than I ever did before. 43. Q. Have you any ojjinion to oU'er as to tiie return of the seals to the coast last year ? — A. I have no direct oj)inion, but certainly the seals were more plentiful on the northern coast last year than the previous years. (Sig.od) W. E. BAKER, jWiMtcr, ■aided the Copper Islands last year. Adele " raiding these ijslands ? — A. Yes ; in itn the strong disapprobation of every Canadian Sworn to before i.ie, at Victoria, British Columbia, this (Signed) A. R. Milne, Collector of Cuitmii' av ',i January, 1892. January 19, 1892. Clarence Nelson Cox, master of the sch,„iuer " E. B. Marvin," oi •■ ictoria, exaiiiincd by Collector Milne : — 1. Q. What vessels have you commanded on this coa.st and in Behring ot,., C.ptain Cox ? — A. I have been two years master of the " Triumph," and one vcar mate of the ".S, phire " with my brotlier. 2. Q. This makes your fifth or sixth year? — A. This mai.LS my fourth year. I wa.s in Behring Sea sn late last year ; that is probably why it may seem 1 liave been out oftener tlian others. 3. Q. The inquiry, Captain Cox, is to elicit, first, the number of seals lo.st by being hit. It is allegi'd tb"t you lose a large piopcn'tion of tliose that lire shot, and we wisli to get at tlie facts. Also ,st aud ])revious years, and also to investigate . )u the spring of the year, when you leave ■ tavel in bands? — A. Yes ; all the cows I. Ye.-'; we get the groy pups closer to to establish llie numlier of fi-uialea caught during;.' if there v.cre any Caniidiaii scalers raiding lli ■ "ul i»). port, yon go down to meet tlie seal? along tl" ';» > 4. Q. I biivc been given to under.stui at l-e together, aud all the bulls together, and t'.a ,i y pups , 5. Q. I supjiose they an' quite ('istinctly sepamted .siiore, always insiilc of the large se^'j. 6. Q. As u matter of fact. ;\ju do not find many female seals licaring young travelling with tlie hull seiils' — A. I hiive nnvj. »',!>tj them in company together. I have found the barren cows and bulls in company. 7. Q. This ^.epaiation i; ■ natural pclection, or instinct?—.'!. Yos; while carrying their yimng they are .iCver foui.d v. .th tliO bulls. The barren cows occasionally do travel with tlie bulls. 8. Q. Duri.ig wliat in inths have you found more female.s carrying young as compared with niher months of the sealing season ( — A. In the winter, when we lirs'. go out — February, March, and A[iril. ■ .119 9. Q. That is, both bearing cows and barren co:>'8, too ? -J. No ; bearii^.g cows. There are also grey pups about at tliat time. 10. Q. What do you mean by " grey pups " ? — A. The yearling seal. After tliat it is called a " brown pup," then a " two-year-old." 11. Q. Along the coast, from the time you strike them in the spring, do you shoot the larger proportion of tlx. seals sleeping, or are there more shot while travelling ? — A. Yes ; the larger portion of the seals killed during the season are sb'it wliile sleeping. 12. Q. You say you find the bearing cows travelling continually ? — A. If the weather is rough, they are travelling, but if fine, tliey are usually seen sleeping or resting. 13. Q. la it a fact that the females with young swim low down in the water ? — A. Yes ; the bulls and barren cows keep their heads well up, looking around. 1-1. Q. When you come upon a group of .seals, your catch, then, will depend upon whether the group is composed of males or females ? — ^1. Yes ; very much. 15. Q. As a matter of experience. Captain Cox, have you come upon more groups of males than of females during the last year, say ? — A. I have caught more bulls the last season — a tjreat deal more. I had 8-18 seals coming up the coast before entering lieliring Sea, and of these about 75 per cent, would bo males. 10. Q. Have yon any private opinion a? to the reason of this preponderance of tlie males last year as compared witli previous years ' — A. I cannot account for it. In fact, I could hardly advance any idea uf the cause. I get the most of them from Queen Charlotte Island coast northwards. 17. Q. You think, tliougli, with some of the other sealers, that at about May the cows are well in advance, going to Behring Sea, to the breeding grounds, consequently the males would be left behind? — A. That is the only reason I can see for it, because we get very few females "with pup" in May. 18. Q. Wliat do you consider a sufficient shooting distance, that is, sufficiently close range for sleeping seals ?— yl. A great many are shot inside of 15 yards. I think about 15 yards. I'J. Q. As a professional sealer, what is your honest and candid opinion about the percentage of seals lost, that is, the number lost after being hit — those tliat sink ? — A. With the Indian hunters it would not amount to one in a liundred. They kill with the spear, and 1 know it would not amount to 1 per cent I was only one season with Indian hunters. Last year 1 had Whites. 1 do not think the loss would be more than 4 or 5 per cent, with shooting by the white hunters. 20. Q. The spear of the Indian sealer is barbed, is it not, and fastens in the animal ? — A. Yes, it has ;wo barbs and a line attaclied, so that they are sure of their seal unless their line breaks, or the epear is not stuck in far enough to hold, neither of which happens often. 21. Q. You can quite confidently state that the loss of seals killed by white hunters would not exceed 4 or 5 per cent. ? — A. I can. 22. Q. This you base upon your own personal knowledge ? — A. Yes. 23. Q. How many of a crew do you carry on your vessel ? — A. Six boats, that is, six hunting boats and a stern bout ; seven in .ill. 24. Q. Yonr sliip's company would be how many ? — A. Twenty-three men. 25. (j. And the number of hunters ? — A. Six hunters, or, counting tlie stern boat, seven hunters. 2fi. Q. Your catch last year was how many skins ? — A. On the coast 848 skins. 27. Q. Of that number liow many would bo breeding seals ? — A. I do not think there would be more than 15 per cent — about 120 female skins. 28. Q. What percentage of them would l)e barren female skins ! — A. About 10 per cent. 29. Q. Is the percentage of bearing cow.s greater than that of barren cows ? — A. Yes ; every year in my experience there have been more bearing cows tlian barren. 30. Q. About 15 per cent, then, would be bearing cows, and 10 per cent, barren ones? — A. Yes. 31. Q. You stftted that it would entirely depend upon the groups you struck along the coast whether you }j;ot mules or females ? — A. Yes. 32. Q. And you base your figures upon four years' experience ? — A. Yes. 33. Q. Then you know the percentage of bearing cows would be 15 ])er cent., and the barren cows 10 per cent. ? — A. Yes. The first year 1 was witli my brother I lielieve we had not more than 10 per cent of fow seals ; one of our seasons we had at lea.st 90 per cent, bulls. 34. Q. That statement ap|)lies to Behring Sea ?—A. Yea. 35. V. What year was that ? — A. 1889, when 1 was with my brother as mate of the " Sapphire." The catch on the coast up to lieliriiig Sea was about 90 per cent, bulls. 30. y. In the liehring Sea, what percentage of females had you, as compared with moles — I am told there arc less bulls i — A. I think the jiercentage of bulls in Beliring Sea is less than on the coast. 37. Q. liaclu'lor bulls ? — .-I. Yes. The greater percentage would be cows — beaiing cows : after tliey have dro])ped their young we don't get them in HehrinK Sea. 38. Q. Do you not find a lot of bachelor b\ills iiovcriiig iibuut the outskirts of the groups of seals ? — A. Yes, we get some, but tlu"^ are more fjmales in liehring Sea. 39. Q. Did you find it so last year? — A. Of cou..ie, 1 wiis not in Behring Sea long enough to knuw. 40. 41. A. Yes Q. Your remarks, tlion, would not apply to lust seH.> in, but didn't stay long ; I was ordered out of it. 60. Q. You left as soon aa ordered to leave ? — A. I did ; i^me direct home. 61. Q. Who warned you ? — A. The British steamer "Pheasant." 62. Q. Y'ou didn't try to seal after that ?—A. No. ' 63. Q. Or lowered your boats ? — A. I didn't lower any boats after receiving the order. 64. Q. You have heard of some American schooners raiding Copper Island ? — A. I have. 05. Q. Bo you know the JIcLean brothers ? — A. Yes ; and the " City of San Diego " here, and the " Webster " and " J. Hamilton Lewis," three American vessels who raided Copper Island. 66. Q. You have no idea of why the seals were more plentiful along the coast last year than other seasons ? — A. I have no idea. 07. Q. There has been no proetical theory advanced as to why last year the seals were more plentiful close in shore than in other years ? — A. I have none, except that it is on account of their food fish. The seal follows the food. The earlier those fish strike along the coast, and the closer in shore, the earlier and closer to the coast we get the seals. (Signed) C. N. COX. Sworn before me, this 18th day of Jan\iary, A.D. 1892. (Signed) A. li. Milne, Collector of Ciistoms. Captain Alfred Bissctt, master of the Canadian schooner " Annie E. Paint," of Victoria, British Columliia, being duly sworn, says: — 20. Mr. Milne— \\o\/ many years have you been engaged in sealing? — A. Two years; tliis is my third year — have been master, mate, and hunter. 21. Q. You have had about average luck ? — A. Yes ; about the average. 22. Q. You have followed the seals from south of Capo Flattery north, haven't you ? — A. Yes, Sir. 23. Q. During the lost year, to your observation, were tho seals as plentiful along the coasts as they were! the previous years ? — A. They were. 24. Q. Did the seals ai)pear more frightened tlian usual? — A. I tliink not; I noticed no diflereuce. 25. Q. Did you notice last year, or any year, in hunting seals, that the cows travel together by themselvi'S, and tlic bulls by tbemsolves, in herds ? — A. I did notice that the bulls, in a general way, travel tojii'tlier, and tlm cows together, and small .seals — as a rule, pups — travel together. 26. Q. When hunting, of course, if| you struck a band of bulls the catch that day would be principally bulls ^—A. Yes ; principally bulls. 27. V Do yovi think mmn seals am sliot while sleeping than when in motion ? — A. Oh, yes ; far more ; about SO per cnnt., I think. 28. y. What do you consider a safe shooting distance for a sleeping seal ? — A. For a sleeping seal about 20 to 30 feet is a sure distance, inil them so females had vu us about evious years killed are pups ill the ig hit would ly carry a lot t give chase, It ?— Yes ; I more on the Yes. oast ? — A. I ers get more much. i), registered ? — A. I can -A. No. S. Fowler," long ; I was r. lave. o " here, and land. iar than other la were more t of their food loser in shore, !. N. COX.' :toria, British ■3 ; this is my ven't you ? — ; the coasts as I noticed no 1 together by i general way, lay would be Oh, yes ; far . sleeping seal 29. Q AiiJ .Then they arc on the move, what is the distance ? — A. Well, from 2.5 to 30 yards. 30. <^. Wliat is your opinion of the proportion of seals that are lost after being hit ? — A. I think from 3 to 5 per cent, would cover everything. 31. Q. Where do you aim for in shooting a seal ? — A. I aim for the head. 32. Q. So when a seal drops his head down, the air is stopped from escaping ? — A. Yos ; that is the reason we shoot in the hoatl. 33. Q. During last year did you notice the proportion of females to males killed ? — A. From counting the skins, and noticing the seals coming on board the ship, I should form 75 to 80 per cent, were bulls, and the remainder females. 34. Q. Do you know the reason of that? — A. I don't know, unless the cows travel a little faster than the bulls, who follow the coast. I have always noticed that there ari more bulls killed on the coast tlian there are females. 35. Q. Have you ever noticed when the number of females predominate ? — A. I hardly know, but I have noticed that during the mouths of March and April that there were more cows than males than in the months of May, Juue, and July. 36. Q. Can you form any idea, from what you have heard, whether there are more females killed than males ? — A. I should say that there are decidedly more males. That is from what I have heard and seen myself. There is no doubt that the low price obtained in London this year is due to the large number of small bull skins taken, the skins of the females being larger and better. 38. Q. During the two years that you liave been engaged in sealing have you over known any Canadian vessel to raid any of the seal islands ? — A. No, Sir. 39. Q. If there had been any such tiling going on, it would have leaked out ? — A. It would certainly have leaked out, and I would have heard of it. It is almost impos.sible to keep it quiet. (The above having been carefully read over to Captain Bissett, he corroborates and substantiates the same.) (Signed) ALFKED BISSETT. Sworn before me at Victoria, British Columbia, this 18th day of November [sic], 1892. (Signed) A. K. Milne, Collector of Customs. January 19, 1892. Captain Theodore M. Magnesen, in command of the schooner " Walter A. Earie," of Victoria, examined by Collector Milne :— 1. Q. llow many years liave you been sealing in Behring Seaj'^Captain Maguesen ? — A. Three years ; this will be my fourth. 2. Q. Y'ou have had very good success last year ? — A. Yea ; very fair success. 3. Q. Did you notice last year any perceptible decrease in the number of seals compared with previous years ? — A. I think they were more plentiful lust season than I ever saw them before. 4. Q. Do you mean in Behring Sea ? — A. Yes ; both along the eoa t and in the Sea. The biggest catch I ever made was last year, on the coast as well as in the lichring .Sea. 5. Q. You have noticed the habits of the seals — how they travel ? — A. Tliey travel in batches, the bull seals by themselves, and the cow seals by themselves, and the yearling pups by themselves. G. Q. As a matter of fact, are there more seals shot while sleeping than while they are travel- ling ? — A. That is hard to say ; but I think there are just as many shot while moving as there are Bleeping seals. 7. (^. AVhen you shoot seals by sleeping, what is the safe shootii'g distance? — A. About 25 yards. 8. Q. And when travelling ? — A. About 45 to 50 yards. 9. Q. The usual mark you shoot at is the head of the senl ? — A. Y'es. 10. Q. When hit in the head, the seal does not suik ? — A. No ; sometimes he does, though, if he ia shot when short of wind at the moment, and he will sink if you are too far away to pull it out. 11. Q. You have noticed them sinking? — A. Yes ; they generally sink tail first. 12. Q,. If the seal is shot in the bead, he drojis his head, and that confines the breast, and it floata ? — A. Yes ; that is the way I have accounted for them floating. 13. Q. How many seals, in your experience, do you think a hunter loses out of, say, 100 shot at ? — A. 1 know my heail hunter killed 498 seals last year, and 17 of them sunk. 14. Q. That would be about 3| per cent. ? — A. Yes. 15. Q. Do you consider that u fair u«erago on the number of seals lost ? — A. Aa an experienced hunter, I think it is a fair average. 10. Q. Would you say that a man who loses, say, 5 per cent, of the seal ho shoots would not be an exjierieuei'd hunter ? — A. He eould not lose morii than that. 17. Q. Will that percentage of loss apjily to the travelling seals as well as to the sleeping seals? — A. Yes, the most of the seuLs lost are the ones shot by the ones moving or tnivelling. 18. Q. Your iKjats carry pole, spear, and gaff ? — A. Yes ; aud if the seal sinks down 10 or 15 feet they are eius ly recovered. 19. Q. If you were on your oath, now, and heard any one say tliat for every seal that was killed, male or femiJe, one was lost, you would say it was a mis.statement ? — A. Yes ; that is not so. 20. Q. If any one came here and said .1 * for every seal you hit you kiUed another seal ? — A. That ia non.sen.w. 21. Q. The highest percentage of loss, you aay, would be 6 per cent, for sinking seals ? — A. Yea ; 222 and I may say that I have taken seals with shot in them, dropped out when skinning, and they seemed as strong and healthy as ever. 22. Q. That is to say, that unless you shoot a seal in a vital part, the wound heals quickly ? — A. Yes ; and unless you hit it hard the seal gets away. 23. Q. You have seen females with young ? — A. No ; I never saw them carrying their young in the water. 24. Q. Down the coast the seals are pretty well divided, are they not ? — A. Yes. 25. Q. The cows travel by themselves, and the bulls by themselves ? — A. Yes. 26. Q. Did you say that you have caught more bull seals than cow seals during the season ? — A. Yes, along the coast ; but when I got up and \i\> I got more bulls than cows. 27. Q. What months have you seen more cows in pi-oportion than other months ? — A. In February, March, and April. 28. Q. But even when you see more cows the average of the seals killed is in favour of the bulls, is it not ? — A. No ; it is about equal. 20. Q. You say the cows travel quicker towards the Beliring Sea ? — A. Yes ; when we get further up the cow seals seem to leave the bulls behind. 30. Q. Has it always been so ? — A. Yes ; I have got 181 seals in a day, and not a cow amongst them, but you sometimes get one. I think tlie average is about 1 in 90. 31. Q. You always get more bulls than cows ? — A. Yes, up tliere. 32. Q. How many out of every hundred seals you liad on board your vessel last year would be females ? — A. I think fully a lialf of them would be cows. 33. Q. IIow many of them would be bearing cows, and how many of tliem would be barren cows ? — A. Of bearing cows, I think about 18 or 20 per cent, would lie bearing cows. I do not think there would be so many as that. I had 2,000, and I think there would be only about 12 or 14 per cent, with pups ; the others would be what are called barren cows, and a lot of them would be dry cows. 34. Q. With the barren cows and the ones bearing young you say would make up about half your catch ? — A. Yes ; about lialf and half. 35. Q. The proportion of nialas and females, though, depends upon the crowds or groups you get into ? — A. Yes ; it depends upon the band you strike. 30. Q. You never, at ony time, had more females than males in any of your catches ? — A. No, never. 37. Q. While in Behring Sea during the last four years had you ever heard of any Canadian schooners " raiding " the Pribyloff Islands ? — A. No. I never heard of any of my crew being engaged in sucli. Seveial of my crews told ine of tlie American sealers raiding them, but I never lieard of a Canadian vessel doing so, 38. (?. If you were bound to make a statement on your oath, you would say you believed no Canadian vessels ever raided the Pribyloff Islands for seals ? — A. Not as far as I know. 39. Q. You believe, as a matter of fact, tliat the owners of (Canadian sealers and tlicir masters have never countenanced this raiding ? — A. I believe tliat is the feeling tliat prevails among them nU. 40. Q. You have heard mentioned the names of the American vessels ttiat raided those islands ? — A. Yes ; I heard of the " Mollio Adams " and " George II. White," but not any otliers. 11. Q. You have not heard of any others ? — A. No ; I have not heard of any others. 42. Q. You have heard of vessels raiding the Copper Islands ? — A. Yes ; I have heard of the " Hamilton Lewis " and " Webster " raiding Copper Island. 43. Q. Those vessels you name are all American vessels ? — A. Yes. 44. Q. Manned by American crews ? — A. Yes. 45. Q. Have you any recollection of seeing any of those vessels in this (Victoria) Harbour ? — A. No. (Signed) THEO. M. MAGNESEN. Sworn before me, this 23rd day of January, a.d. 1892. (Signed) A. K. Milne, Collector of Customs. Henry Crocker, hunter on boaTd the schooner " Annie E. Paint," having been swoni : — 65. Q. How long have you been engaged in sealing ? — A. I have been hunting now for three years ; this is my fourth. CO. Q. From your observation, do you think that the seals were aa plentiful last year as they were during the previous seasons ? — A. Yes ; from what I saw of tliem I am sure they were just as many as before. 67. Q. In what montlis do the female seals seem to be the most plentiful in the sealing grounds? — A. I believe that from February to May the females seem to predominate in numbers; that is, when the cows are getting lieavier with young, they make for the islands sooner than the bulls. 68. Q. Is it more difficult to shoot a female seal than it is a bull 1 — A. The males are more easily killed than the females, owing to the inquisitiveness of the males, and the females being more shy, and also as they move along the water with only their nose visible. 09. Q. As an expericnceil Imiiter, what percentage of loss have you had by seals siuking ? — A. It is very rarely that a seal will sink. I liave been a whole season and have not had more than half a dozen sink during the whole season. 70. Q. Can you furm any estim.^te of what your loss has been ? — A. I would say not more than 3 or 4 per cent. • m 71. Q. Was the loss last year more than in previous years ? — A. I could see no difference. 72. Q. As u reason for the small jjercentage of loss, you fjet veiy near the seals before sliooting ? — A. Yes, Sir ; the usual distance is witliin alwut 20 feet to a slce]jin<; seal. 73. (J. If a man has a higher percentage of loss than that, lie must bo careless, you think ? — A, Yes, 1 should say so, and not a first-class hunter, for there is no necessity for losing a seal. 74. Q. Does your percentage of loss agree with other hunters with whom you have conversed ? — A. Yes. 75. Q. So that on the coast and in Behring Sea the same percentage would apply ? — A. Well, on the coast one does not very often sink a seal ; but in Beliring Sea, if a cow, having delivered her pups, is shot, she wiU he more apt to sink, as the blubber is very nmeii tliinner. But, on the whole, I tliink the percentaj/e will not be more than 3 or 4 per cent, of loss. 70. Q. Have you taken notice in hunting whether there are more females than males, or the reverse, taken ? — A. There is fully 80 per cent, of bull seals killed off the coa^t p.s well as in Behring Sea. I thijik the reason for this is that the younger bulls are driven off by the oider ones, who guard their particidar herds. 77. Q. In the three years you have been in Behr-ng Sea has it always been your experience that there were more males caught than females ? And in what projio tion ? — A. I say about the same as this year ; I don't see any difference. 78. Q. Does your percentage of females taken with that of other hunters with whom you have conversed ? — A. Yes. 79. Q. As an experienced hunter, then, you adhere to the statement that for the whole season's catches for the years you have lx;cn hunting, that the percentage of seals caught will be about three males to one female ? — A. Yes ; about that. 80. Q. Do you include in that statement barren cows ? — A. Yes. 81. Q. Have you any idea or reason of your own why the males come to predominate so much ? — A. I thiidi it is because the females make for the islands carHer than the young bulls and barren cows. 82. Q. Have you ever heard of any Canadian vessels raiding the seal islanu 83. Q, You have never heard of any Canadian master or owner offerii hunters to raid the islands ? — A. No, Sir. 84. Q. There has never been any tonus offered you to raid the islands ?- Behring Sea we are always too anxious to get away from the islands. 85. Q. If any Canadian vessels had raided the islands you would have likely heard of it ? — A. Yes. I lliink it is impossible to keep it as quiet as that, 86. Q. You liave hoard r)f American vessels raiding the Cojiper and Pribyloff Islands ? — A. I have heard it. I have known of the American vessels going into Sand Point just after tliey bad raided tlie islands, and I was in Sand Point when one vessel was fitted out for the purpose of making a raid. 87. Q. The masters with whom you have sealed all seem to have avoided the islands ? — A. Oh, yes ; they keep away from the islands between 5U and 101) miles. (The foregoing liaving been read over to the said Henry Crocker, he corroboratea and substantiates the whole of the said statements.) (Signed) HENRY CROCKErs Hunter. '—A. No, Sir. 1^ any inducement to -A. No, Sir ; while in Sworn to before me, at Victoria, Britisli Columbia, this 18th day of January, 1892. (Signed) A. R. MiLNE, f:oUector of Customs. George Roberts, hunter on board the schooner " Annie E. Paint," being duly sworn, says : — 55. Q. How long have you been engaged as a scaler ? — A. I have been at seal-hunting for three years, one season as a hunter. 56. Q, Were tlie seals more plentiful lost year than in previous years ? — A. They were just about the same as ngards number. 57. Q. How do the seals generally travel— in mixed numbers, males and females together? — A. The .seal." travel in hands of bulls and bands of cow.^, liotli by themselves. 58. Q. Vi\mi is the proportion of seals lost by sinking after being shot ? — A. Well, I should say that 3 to 5 per cent, would cover tlie whole loss. It is not more. 59. Q. What is the distance you are off a seal when you shoot, generally ? — A. Well, from 20 to 30 feet for a sleeper, and for a traveller from 25 to 30 ;'vet. 60. Q. What part of the seal do you aim at ? — A. 1 aim at the head, as the best place, being the surest. 61. Q. Do you think there were any more female .seals shot than males last' year? — A. No; I think there wore more males shot ; in fact, I think that since I have been engaged in the business there have been more males killed tlian females. 62. (>. What months have you noticed more females than males ? — A. In the months of March and A|iiil there are more females than at any oilier lime. There are more females killed during those montlis than there are any other time. 6:i. (,). Have you ever heard of any of the Caniulian vessels poaching on the seal islands? — A. I never did ; I would have heanl of it if tliei-o had been any. I have heard of the American raiders ; but I do not know of a single Canadian vessel raiding a seal rookery. ("222 J 3 M 224 64. Q. If a seal is sinking, does it pn quickly or slowly ? — A. If it is not too far oway it can always bo suoureJ, as it docs not fjii too quickly to get it. (The above having l)een read to the said Qeoi-go Kobetta, ho corrobomtes and substantiates all of the foregoing statemeuta.) (Signed) OEOKGE UOBEUTS, Hunter. Sworn to l)efore me at Victoria, British Columbia, this 18th day of January, 1892. (Signed) A. K. Milne, Collector of Customs. Richard Thomson, liunter on board the schooner " Annie E. Painter," being duly sworn, says : — 40. Q. IIow long have you been engaged in sealing? — A, I have been engaged as a hunter for two years. 41. Q. Wpre the seals as plentiful last year as tliey were the previous year, to your observation ? — A. Yes ; I believe they were. 42. Q. Were the seals apparently harder to approach than they wore in i)revious years ? — A. No ; 1 can't say that I saw any difference. 43. Q. How do tlie seals generally travel ? — A. As a rule the bulls travel separately, and quite a distance apart generally. 44. Q. Wliat is your experience in hunting as to the number of seals lost after being hit ? — A. I should think from 3 to 5 per cent, would cover all. 45. Q. What is the usual nminicr in which seals are lost? — A. Well, if the seal is in a certa'n position and shot so as to allow the air to esfnpe, the seal will be lost As long as the head sinks below the water first, the seal will not sink. They very rarely sink in any case. 46. Q. You carry a spear on a gafl, don't you ? — A. Yes ; it is carried to spear the seals when they are going down. 47. Q. From your experience in sealing, you consider that from 3 to 5 per cent, would cover the total loss of seals, after being shot, through sinking ? — A. Yes. 48. Q. Wlien you slioot a seal at a distance, and do not shoot them in a vital part, they make off, do they l—A. Yes. 49. Q. You don't consider that lost, then ? — A, No ; we don't consider the seal lost unless it sinks. 50. Q. Have you handled more males tlian femnles during the post two years ? — A. I should say more males. 51. Q. Have you any idea of the proportion of males — would there be two males to one female V — A. I should say from 70 to 80 per cent., or about three males to one female. 52. Q. In wlmt months .—A. They come from the south, following the herring, which spawn on the west coast and different places, and the seal follow those fish into tlie shore or far out, as the case may be. The natives get a great number of these seals among a school of herring. 9. Q. What is the u-i .! distance which the natives hunt away from shore I— A. In the spring 1 Sis they will hunt 10 or 15 miles off, later in tho season 20 or 25 miles. I have seen them 40 miles from the Innd. 10. Q. llow long does the huntins of the seal on tlio west coast usually last ? — A. Commences in February, or latter end of January, and lasts till the Ist June, when you got more or less seals ; you can get a few stragglers in July. 11. Q. And the tendency of tho seals is from tho south ? — A. Yes, following their food fish. 12. Q. You have Ijeen down tiie const to wliere you meet the seals in their migration ? — A. I have gone down as far as Shoal Water Hay, Columbiii If iver. 13. Q. How do you meet tlie seals — in large bands or batches ? — A. Yes, in schools, from two to twenty in a school. 14. Q. Do they seem to travel in pairs ? — A. No, Sir. 15. V. Do you find in these schools, or bunches, thoy are all males or females ? — A. They are mixed. I remember an instance — I think in 188G — when wo got on tlio coast off Cape Flattery either 104 or 109, am not positive, and out of that there were over 100 bull seals, and tho next day we got about 8fi, and out of that number over 70 were bulls. That was in the year 1880. IG. Q. Would your observation lead you to suppose that your catch would depend entirely upon the group of bulls or females as to which your catch would be composed of principally > — A. As wo get amongst tlicm ; yes. 17. Q- But taking one year with another — from IfiSGtothe present time — have you seen any more females killed than oi bulls ? — A. No, Sir. I think we liave got about three males in five, and whuu we get up about the Bank, about Middleton Island, I think they will average more males than females. 18. Q. When you strike the sen'' on the coast about 40 or 50 miles from sliore, do you find a large proportion of them sleeping ? — A. 'I'liey are generally sleeping. The Indians get none but sleeping seals. I have never been working with Whites. 19. Q. The natives approach the seals very close ? — A. Yes ; and he comes to the leeward of them, and if there is any sea on thuy got into the trough of the sea and make no noise. If he went to wind- ward the seal would scent him, and get away. 20.' Q. When he gets close enough he throws his spear, and seldom misses ? — A. Yes ; he don't miss one in ten. 21. Q. And when once his spear is fastened, the seal npver gets away ? — A. No. 22. Q. If an Indian loses more than what you say, he would not be a good hunter ? — A. No good at all. It would not pay to " pack " him. 23. Q. Do the Indians ever shoot ? — A. Sometimes. They never shoot if the seal is sleeping. 24. Q. Does that percentage of loss apply to the sleeping seals only ? — A. Yes. 25. Q. You mean by " loss " — what ? — A. By sinking. 26. Q. If the seal is wounded so it gets away, you don't consider it lost ? — A. No. 27. Q. If speared and wounded, and scurried off, you don't consider it lost? — A. Oh, no; not lost. 28. Q, The Indian hunter is very close to the quarry, and rarely misses his aim ? — A. Well, he will get within 25 or 30 yards of it. 29. Q. Have you noticed any marked difference in the manner in which the females carrying young travel as compared with the males ? — A. Tlie only difference I could see is that tliey will trave) very fast for a little distance, and then turn up and rest. 30. Q. I mean, do they sink their bodies more ? — A. No ; they do not 31. Q. Do you think that the female is more shy than the male, that is, those " with young " ? — .4. No ; I think tliey are not any more sliy. The female is always inclined to be sleepy. The male IB always on the watch, and will rise till his head and shoulders are out of the water. 32. Q. One hunter has said tliat the female lies deep in the water, exposing only a portion of her head ? — A. I liave never noticed that. When lying asleep one-half of the head is under water. 33. Q. Then you will say that the porcentage of loss of the Indian hunters is not more than how many in the hundred ? — A. Not more than one in ten ; not more than 10 per cent. 34. Q. You say you never hunted with wliite men until this year ? — A. No. 35. Q. If any person made a statement that there is a greater amount of loss than what you say, you would not regard it as correct ?— ^1. 1 would say it wa.^i not correct, with Indian hunters. 30, Q. Your statement is based upon actual experience ? — A. Yes. 37. Q. In going down the coast in the spring, in February, March, and April, have you noticed that females are more plentiful than in the following months >. — A. I do not tliink they are. 38. Q. But as they come from the south, you think they are not ? — A. Between January and June, and between the south and thu Shumagin Islands, have you noticed any time or place where there were any more females killed than othura ? — A. I think in May, I have noticed one thing: you will not find, take one in ninety, you will never find a female pup. Where the female young go to is some- thing that tho Connni8sioner.s ought to have found out betbre they came down from the sea. 39. Q. It has Ijeon stated that tlie Indians say there is no such thing as a female grey pup ? — A. 1 have never seen one yet, and cannot account for it, unless the females go one way and the males another. 40. Q. Among all yearling grey pups, there has never been any one known to have found a female ? — A. Yes, it is a fact. I have heard a great deal cf talk of females having young on the kelp, too, but I don't think that is so. Some hunters report of seeing pups oQ' Middleton's Island, but I think that is impossible. 41. Q. Have you ever seen them cut a pup out of tlie female seal ? — A. Yes ; and I have seen the pup so cut out walk or move about the deck of the ves.sel, and I have tried to raise it. I have also thrown it into the water, and liave seen it swim about like a young dog ; I have seen it keep afloat for fit'tsen minutes, as long as tho vessel was witliin sight. On the ishiuds, the motlier seal will take the 226 young nnd force tliem iqto the wnter to tcftch them to swim. Thoy will never toko the water freely themselves for from six weeks to two months. 42. Q. You think they will swim HO yards probably, or 100 yards ? — A. Yes ; but don't think they eould live continually in the water if they were born in it. 43. Q. When you strike the seals on the west const, what would you say was the usuol distftnco per day tliat the seals travid ? — A. That is impossible to say ; it depends upon their fooil. 44. Q. That is, they linger longer over good i'ood than otherwise ? — A. Yes; I remember in, I think, 18HH, wliero an Indian threw his spear at a seal, and liis lino broke ; it was near the Shumagin Islands, and he took the same seal the next day — wo lay-to all night — and he recovered his own iron spear- head. That miglit show the distance they move in, say, a night, because it did not travel far. 45. Q. When you lower your boats two Indiana go to a canoe ? — A. Yes, and both paddle. 40. Q. The Indian in tlie bow keeps his spear right before ? — A. Yes. 47. Q. And he tlirows it at the animal, and strikes it where ? — A. It makes no difference where they are hit. Tliey try wlien shooting to hit in tlie head. 48. Q. When a seal is struck, or wounded, what time does it require to lieal ? — A. It heals very rapidly. 49. Q. What time does it require to get the seal aboard after it is speared ? — A. Not more than two minutes when they spear, and not as long as that when they shoot it. 50. Q. Whr.t is the usual length of the sealing-boat ? — A. About 20 feet. 51. Q. Ami the canoe 1—A. About 22 feet. 52. Q. Is it not a fact that sealing in these small boats in the stormy spring months is a very hazardous undertaking? — A. Yes. 53. Q. It is conmionly reported that our seal-lun.^rs, both Whites and Indians, are more expert than any others on the toast ? — A. That is so. Tliey are tlie most expert. 54. Q. It is said also that iniless the weather is very tempestuous nothing will retard them ? — A. Yes ; they go out every chance they can get 55. Q. the loss of a fuU-sized skin meant the last two years how much to the hunter ' — A. About 3 dollars per skin. 56. Q. What is the largest imniber»which you ever saw an Indian canoe bring aboord in one day ? — A. Forty-eight in one canoe, in Behring Sea. 57. Q. On the coast, how many? — A. Thirty-four; that is over the average. 58. Q. In leaving the schooner, how far do the hunters, both Indians and Whites, go ? — A. Tliey go OS far as 10 or 12 miles, sometimes 15 miles, from the vessel, till they can just see the tops of her sail. 59. Q, And this in pretty rough weather? — A. Yes; pretty rough. It might be smooth when they go out, but it often comes on rough before thoy can get back. GO. Q. In following the seals up the coast in February, March, and April, and May and June, where do you begin to get them in larger numbers ? — A. Oil Queen Charlotte Islands. 61. Q. At this time, are the females in advance of the males, seemingly hastening to the sea ? — A. They get tlirough as soon as they can, the males in advance of the females — they haiJ out first. 62. Q. Some sealers think the cows go ahead ? — A. The males haul ou., and each one gets his batch of females, and as the cows come in thoy make up their herd of females. G.'3. Q. Il.ave you ever, when with sealers, heard the percentage of loss talked of ? — A. No ; I have never heard it mentioned with sealers. 64. Q. You speak from your experience with Indians ? Your percentage of loss of 1 in 10 would be based on actual exjierience with Indian hunters ? — A. Yes ; 1 in 10. 65. Q. You have stated that in tlie month of May you think there would bo more females than in tlie other months of the season ? At that time what part of the ocean would you be ? — A. Up off Queen Charlotte Island. 66. Q. You have also stated tliat the more plentiful the food, the slower the seals travel ? — A. Yes ; they stay longer where the food is. 67. Q. At the end of any of your seasons, have you actually counted the nnmber of females you had in your cargo ? — A. I have never done so. 68. Q. Have you any idea of your la.st yeir's catch, what proportion of females you had in the coast catcii ? — A. I tliink there would be about 3 males in 5 — 3 males to 2 females. 69. Q. That applies to the coiust catch only? — A. Yes; up to Kodiak. 70. Q. In the Behring Sea, what proportion would it bear ? — A. I think about 4 males in 5 — 4 males to 1 female. 71. Q. AVere you in Behring Seit last year? — A. The vessel was. The way I account for getting 80 many males was, during the beginning of July and August, when the females would be ashore nursing their young the greater part of the time. 72. Q. At any time in Behring Sua. what has been your ne.arest point of hunting to the seal islands ? — A. I have never been closer in hunling than 30 miles — usually 30 to 90 miles off. We got blown in there once, the only time I saw the island ; we were within 10 miles of them then. 73. Q. You never saw or heard of any schooners, or spoke any schooner, who made a boast of raiding the islands ^.^A. None belonging to us, I heard of the " Webster," " MoUie Adams," the " Hamilton Lewis," and the German schooner " AdMe " raiding tlie islands. 74. Q. All tliese wore American schooners? — A. Yes; except the "Adi'de." 75. Q. 'i"!iere is no douljt, then, among sealers, that tlie.se vnssels did actually raid the islands ? — A. It has been commonly reported, and 1 have no rca.son to dijV'l'eve it. 76. Q. Did any of those vessels at that time belong to Victoria ? — A. No ; thoy did not. 77. Q. Can you advance any idea as to when the seals leave Behring Sea? — A. To the best of my knowledge, aliout the middle of October. 227 TO. Q. Is it tlie acceptod idnn that those seals whicli leave Bohring Sea in the fkll are the same that return in the spring ? — A. TImt is my upiniou. 79. Q- You have never heard at any time any inducement ever ofri!rp two femides. 100. Q. As to the ab.9tentiou of Canadian sealers from raiding the seal islands, you are quite pfnitive that from your knowledge of s(>aling-vessel owners and ma.sters, you give it as your direct opinion that no Canadian ."' ' . ever raided those islands. You would say so upon oath in Court ? — A. They never did to my v. Jge. 101. Q. If such a thiii- iiad becm attempted, it would, as a matter of fact, have leaked out ? — A. Yes; it stands to reason the crews would have been unable to keep it to themselves. 102. Q. They would tell it either to tlieir associates on board or after getting ashore ? — A. They could not keep it. 103. Q. After Ihe hunters get aboard at night, they usually recount whether they lost any seals, and in speaking of their loss it would mean those seals that would sink, not those that escape ? — A. If they lost any, they would not tell it at all, but if they sunk any, they would speak of it. 104. Q. You are at present a ship-owner, Captuin Laing ? — A. Yes. 105. Q. Y'ou have had great opportunities of hearing from all sources matter relative to the seal fishing ? — A. Yes. 100. Q. Has it been noticed that the skins taken last year in the Behring Sea were smaller than usual I— A. About the same general size. 107. Q. Is it generally known that the seals caught on the Copper Island are better than the average > — A. I have never seen them, but it is reported they are better. 108. Q. It ia reported also tliat seals caught in January, March, anil April are better than any in Behring Sea; they say the fur is better ? — A. They say so, but I don't know that you can see any difl'erence. 109. Q. It has been said that the fur of the seals Ciiught during trie winter and spring monlli.'s is light ? The fur of all animals iu cold climates is thicker in winter ? — A. I have never noticed that ■with seals. [222J 3 X 228 110. Q. A few years n^'o it waa said that the lluhring Sea skins wore the best? — A. It hoA been 40 roport. The expensivG wngca, cost of outfitting schooners, considered, don't you think that 4 dollars per .skin a higli tifjurc for hunters > — A. It is. 110. Q. llow many boats docs the average schooner carry ? — A. About six and tho stern boat. Q". And each boat takes three white men? — A. Yes, a hunter, a boat-pullor, and a boat- 117 steerer. 118. Q: ammunitiiin, lis). (J. 120. Q. Tho ship furnislios tho boat, ipirnt, and outfit ? — A. Yes, tho whole outfit of guns, |iroviaion.s, wa^jes fur tlie two men, and pays the hunter so much per skin. At the present time, how mucli |ier skin ? — A. 3 to 4 dollars. With Indian crews ? — A. They fiirni.sh their own canoe, spears, and outfit ; one Indian steers ; but tlie vessel finds them in provisions only. The lost two or three seasons some vessels have supplied fjuus and anmiunition. 121. Q. Does tho Indian i,'ot 4 dollars per skin ; does he out of that pay his own boat-helper? — A. Yes, he ]>ays out of his rate per skin. Tlie ship jiays the steerer nothiii)}. 122 Q. Therefore, if tho Indian crews were as profitable, they are the chea|)ost ; if they get oa many .skins ! — A. Yes, if you can get them. xperienco ? — A. Yes, Sir. is in his canoe nothing will scare him. I have 3 would get into it again, bail the water out, and iinxious to proceed in the hunt from day to day ? — 123. Q. Is the Indian a good hunter, in yoi 124. Q. Hold and intrepid ?— yl. Yes, wh seen an old bull seal capsize a canoe, and thi go on hunting as though nothing had happen 125. Q. Is the Indian lazy, or does he seen. A. In fine weather, yes, but when the sea is " choppy" ho would usually nithor stay alioard. 12(>. Q. His canoe is not quite so strong as the sealing-boat ? — A. No, not quite. 127. Q. Have there been many accidents among tho Indians — loss of life ? — A. Not since, I think, 1887, when a scliooiier foundered with all alioard. 128. Q. Do you think that ns the years pass along the Indians, as well as the Whites, get more expert in seal-hunting ? — A. Yes, they do. , 129. Q. Notwithstanding all the ships in the fleet on the ocean, you would adhere to you» statement that you don't think there is any noticeable d(!creiuso in the number of seals 1—A. Yes ; I do not think so. If tho vessels had been let alone in Uehring Sea last year, we would have had a. bigger catch than any jirevious year. 13tJ. Q. Do you tliink, Cajitain Laing, if they would cease killing seals on the I'ribylofT Islands it would inereiuse the number of seals on the coast ? — A. I think it would. 131. Q. If the rookeries wciO undisturbed by anything, you think the seals would be mora plentiful f- — A. I do. 132. Q. Have you any opinim to offer as to killing seals on the islands doing more harm thon anything else ? — A. I think the i nn'rican people are doing more harm by killing seals and interfering' with them on their rookeries or se il islands than we hunters ilo on the coast. 133. Q. You have never lieaid of any rookery along the coast? — A. I never heard of one. There is a rookery of sea-lion off Queen Charlotte Island, but I never heard of any of seals. (Signed^ A. D. LAlifG. Sworn before me, this 25th cay of January, a.d. 1892. (Signed) A. II. MiiSE, Collector of Cualoms. January 25, 1892. William Cox, present mostv,- of the schooner " Sapphire," of Victoria, called and oxaminea by Collector Milne : — 1. Q. You are engaged in the scaling business, Captain Cox ? — A. Yes, I have been master of the sealing-seliooner " Sapjihire " for the last four yeara. 2. Q. How many boats do you carry in your outfit ? — A. I carry canoes and an Indian crew. 3. Q. Witli the exception of how many white men to navigate ? — A. Seven white people I carry for navigating the vessel. 4. Q. The number of Indions ? — A. The last two years I have had twenty-eight north to Behring Sea. 5. Q. And how many canoes ? — A. F'ourteen canoes. (■>. Q. Had you more canoes on the (»a»t ? — A. Yes, I have had twenty-four canoes while on the coast 7. Q. When you finally leave for Behring Sea, you drop. a number of the Indians, and only take aboyt fourteen canoes with you ? — A. Yes, .... 8. Q. Do you prefer Indian crews to white men ? — A. Yes, I do. Z2tf r- er lie ■re lan iive 9. Q. What are your reoAona for the prcfnronce ? — A. Well, 1 get along bettor with tliom for one thing ; there ia more honour uriiong tlioiii than iiniong the avcrngu white crew in this lniHineHs. They ilon't niakf un ogreenient to-duy, nncl breiilc it to-morrow if they see a chiuici! to innice ft littlo nioH!. 10. Q. Ami they don't quarrel among thomselvos ?— /I. No; and you can generally trust them more. ' 11. Q, They are more profitable, too, are they not? — A. Yen, a little more. 12. Q. Thoy furnish thnir own cnnocs ? — A. Ych, and HpoarH and boiitnien ; and it ia not such a heavy outtit, Imt tlieir cnnocfi ari! liyht imd easily broken liy the heavy sens. ! 3. Q. They are VuitUu- than aboard a liii},'e vukscI ( — A. Yea, but you have to bo very careful — the cauocH are "diiu-out^" and easily .shattdrod. It. Q. A]>iut from gt'Uiiif; along eunior wiiii the Indians, the experience is just about the same as witli a wliite crew > — A. Yes, tlic skins cost aliout the same in the end. ID. Q. ] — A. 1 have only done one winter's sealing, and that winter they would be fully one-li -if females during February and March. 33. (J. That is, there would be as many females as bulls and grey pups ? — A. Yes ; I have never seen a fi'inalc grey pup on the coast. That is a yearling gn^y female seal ; that is corroborated by the Indian.s. All the yearlings seen by me have lieen males. 34. Q. That is well known, you say, by the Indians > — A. Ob, yes. They remark this. • ••»•• 38. Q. But there is a larger number of males killed than females in April, May, and June?-- A. Yes ; in those three months we get a larger number of males ; bulls from 3 to 4 years old ; all about the same size. 39. Q. Your opinion is that the females, after the month of Mav, hasten on to the Behruig Sea ? — A. Yes. •to. Q. Now, from the beginning of the scaling season, when you start out this time of year (January), till the time you enter Heliring Sea, what is your opinion as to the jieicentage of female seals, including both bearing and barren eows, killed ? Wltit would be the proportion of female seals, including both bearing and baiTcn cows, killed ? AVhat would be the proportion of females as compared w ith the bulls ? — A. Kight up to the Sliumagiu Islands > 41. (J. Yes. Would it be OU per cent, or 70 per cent., or what > — A. Yes, I think it would lie about 6.'i or 70 per cent, of males, ami the remainder mixed cows — bearing and barren cows. 42 Q. About what percentage of barren cows ? — A. 1 think about eciually divided ; about 15 per cent, of barren and 15 per cent, of liearing cows, and 70 per cent, of bulli, would pretty near represent the catch on the upper and lower coast. 43. Q. There is an opinion expressed that a seal pup will not swim ; some people say so ? — A. I have seen three with their dams in the water on the Alaskan coast. \ ■nwiiiiii 230 44. Q. How far from shore ? — A. 40 or fiO miles from shore, in the month of June. 45. Q. Is it your opinion that tJiey would bo born in tho water ? — A. Yos, or on tin; kelp. Seal< mate in tlie water, sleep in :lio water, and I have seen pups taken irom the dead motlier on the vessel, and tli.jwn ■ .."board and swim alxmt awhile in the water. I liave watched such pujjs swim about for hali'-an-hour or m. re. They seemed to havu no difficulty in swimmiuj;. 46. Q. You have never seen or heard ot' a Canadian sealing-schooner attemptinf^ to raid the Pribyloff Islands ? — A. I have never heard of one. 47. Q. If such a thinj; had been done or attempted it would be sure to be known among sealers ? — A. Ye." ; it would be impossible to keep it a secret. 48. Q. Is it your opinion that our ship-owners and masters have done everything they could possibly do to discourage unything of that kind ? — A. Yes ; everylliing. 49. Q. What has been the geneml distance you have scaled — the distance from the seal islands > — A. From 100 to 140 miles. I was within 80 miles of them iaat year ; that was the nearest I was to them. 50. Q. Of coarse your men on board would, if they had ever been engaged in such raiding of the islands, certainly have to'd their fellows ? — A. Yes, it would soon have becomi^ known. 51. (J. It is well known to all sealers tn.at certain schooners have raided those islands ? — A. Yes, during 1889 and 1890. 51*. Q. Uo you remember what their names are ? — A. ifes ; tho American schooner " Mollie Adam.'"," " George K. White," and others. Q. Do you remember any other schooner raiding tho islands 1—A. Yes ; tho German schooner 52. " Ad(Me. 53. 54. A. Q. Tt was well known that it wa.s a German vessel ? — A. Oh, yes. Q. Tliose American vessels that raided the Priliylofl' Islands recruited their crews — where ? — I think tho " Mollie Adams " recruited lier crew at Gluuce.ster. 55. Q. In the United Slates ? — A. Yes : she fitted up in Port Townsend, Washington. 5C. Q. Did you evor liear of any American vessels fitting out at Sand Point to raid the islands ? — I do not remember it. 57. Q. Were you ordered out of Behring Sea last year ? — A. Yes. 58. Q. By whom i.—A. The British steamer " Poi-poise." 69. Q. On being ordered out of the Sea, you immediately complied ? — A. Yes ; I come right away. I came right out of the Sea. 60. Q. Did you lower your boats afterwards .' — A. I did not. CI. Q. "WTiat month was that?— .4. 'Jth August. 6'2. Q. Had you not been ordered out, were you in jjood hunting ground ? — A. Oh. yes. ' 63. Q. Were the seals jilentiful at tlie time you were warned ; that is, as plentiful as you had previously seen tliem >. — A. Yes ; just us thick as ever. 04. Q. What was your catch u]> to tlie time you were warned out ? — A. 2,434 in I^'hring Sea. 05. Q. What wa.s your coast catcli '. — A. 1,008 on the coast, and 2,434 in the .'^ea. 06. Q. Hfid you lieeii unmolested for another tliirty days your cliances were good for a large catch I. — A. Y'es ; our chances were good for quite doubliiii' our catch. 67. Q, Your principal ground for sealing you found — where ? — A. About 100 miks westward of the Islands ut St. George and St. Paul. I took 1,000 in liur days there. 68. Q. During that time, when y ,a were getting seals so quickly, was your percentage of loss greater lliere than on the coast ? — A. No ; tlioy were very quiet 69. y. Vou have stated that, from your personal observatiou, you think the seals wen; as plentiful last year as you have ever seen them in Behring Sea? — A. Yes; much more so than 1 ever saw them before. 70. Q. More so at. a distance of 100 to 130 miles from tho nearest seal island ? — .i. Yes. 71. (/'What course would that lie frcm tlie Pribyloff Islands? — A. About west^ 72. y. At the time you were aeali'ig there were there any other Canadian schooners in your company ? — A. Yes ; the " Annie C. Maore," the " Carmelite," and the " Ariel." They had all an average catch. 73. Q Have you ever heard of the ^'cLenns raiding Copper Islands ? — A. Yes. 74. (J. Do you believe they did acti/illy raid tliein > — A. Yes. 75. y. Did you bciir the story of I'leir going, with three boats of the "Webster" and "City of San Diego " iu a crowd, lauding at a passage between the rocks and the mainland of the island, and standing tliere, where tlie water wa."- swift, and shooting the seals as they passed through ? — A. Yes ; but they lost a great many. The captaii. of the " San Diego " said tliat they didn't get one-touth of what they shot. 70. y. It is the prevailing opinion among the sealers that the " J. Hamilton Lewis" was seized for landing on the islands ? — A. Yes ; the Itussians had been watching her. She was seized for actually raiding the island.s. 77. Q. You didn't go to the Cojiper Island side at all ^—A. 1 did not 78. Q. In leaving Behring Sea, where did you come out through ' — A. Through the Four Mountain Pass. 70. Q. After you had been warned out, did you speak any other cutter i.—A. I did not. 80. Q. I)id you see any seals from the time you were warned out till the tinu' you came through the pass ? — A. They were ju.st as thick as ever within 40 miles of the Four .Moniilain Pass. We were two days sailing through them. It grieved us very much, 1 cau tell you, to sail through seals and couldn't \ow\\ them. 81. (,). The Four Mountain Pass is about what longitude ' — A. " X" I Pass" wo call it V,2. y. But you say there were plenty of seals from the time ynu were warned U|i to witliin 40 miles ol this pass ? — A. Yes ; just as thick as where we had left. ac hi S( h> ki TBI 83. Q. Will you state m direct evidence, as though in Court, that, as far as your knowledge goee, no CanmUaii sealer, directly or indirectly, ever raided or attempted to raid the seal islands ? — A. I hp.ve had ample opportunity of learning if such had been the case, and I know of none. Captain Cox, continuing, said ; I didn't r,afco one " bearing " female seal last season in Behring Sea. I have taken a few which were evident-' " with milk." 84. V- What percentage do you sny ' — i. Chew might be 5 per cent, of what I took which had had ynung ; there was evidence of haviu;; luid young ; whether they had last year or not I do not know. (Signed) WILLIAM COX. Swoi before me this 25th day of Janimrv, 1892. oigned) A. It. Miln^, CoUeclor of Customs. Victoria, B.C., February 15, 1892. Seal-hunting in North Pacific Ocean and Behring Sea. < Captain' Charles Hackett, master and managing owner of the schooner "Annie C. Moore," of St. John's, New Brunswick, being duly sworn : — Q. How many years have you been sealing ? — A. This is my fifth year. Q. You have had reasnnalJe success in seal-hunting ? — A. Yes. Q. You have followed seabiig from San Francisco to Behring Sea? — A. I have. Q. What hiia been the number of your crews ? — A. Twenty-three men all lold. Q. The number of Ijoata your vessel carried ? — A. Seven altogether. Q. You have bad every opportunity of .seeing seal life ? — A. I have Q. On the coast did the seals apjKiar to be as plenlilul last year as former years ? — A. I have found them 80. Q. Please state how the seals travel ? — A. As a rule we find the bearing females by themselves. Q. Did the seals appear more timorous last year than former years ? — A. I don't think so. Q. Are there more .seals shot wliilst sleeping tlian travelling ? — A. As far as my e.xjjerience haa been that about sev'en-eigbtha, that i.s seven are .shot while sleeping to one travelling. Q. riease state about the average distance that seals are shot while sleepiug ? — A. From 10 to 16 yards. Q. What do you consider the proportion of seals lost as compar id to the whole that are hit in pelagic sealing ? — /I. C)ne of my hunters, named Folgcr, killed over -10 I seals during the season, and oidy lost five seals , the exact number is hard for a master to say, but 1 believe that 5 jxsr cent, would bo the outside. Q. Captain Hackett, would you consider that a hunter that lost more than five in the hundred would not be a good hunter > — A. I certainly do. Q. Do you mean liy being lost, that is by sinking? — A. Wlien I say lost I mean by sinking. Q. When a .seal i.s .shot in the head you generally get him, and mo.stly all the seal are shot in the head ? — A. They arc ; and when wo shoot them from the deck of tlie schooner, to lower the boat and bring the vessel to gcnevally is from ten t,o fifteen minutes ; but we alwuvs get the seal floating. Q. From acvual observaticju, then, you would say that the actual loss during the seasons you have been sealing will not exceed 5 per cent. >. — A. I certainly say so. Q Are there more lost on the coast than in Behring Sea ? — A. In the Behring Sea the percentage of lost Aould not be .') per conu 'v. Have you obaervci' in any month a grentcr number of females than in other months ; that is, on Mu '"OiLSt have you observed ii grculer number ol I'emHies luken during the months of April and May ?—.'(. I have not ob.erved any (litference. Q. What proportion of females were i-i your catch last year (1890), end also in 1891 ? — A. In 1890 about one-(|Uiirter were fcnmltis. und in l.S'.ll about half and half Q. Would this percentage iipiilv lo yiuir catch in lichiing Sea as well as on the coast ? — A. Yes; the penenlage of lemaKs iu l.SOl) would be about one-quarter, and in 1891 about half and half. Q "■ bat Wiis yonr catch in l^DO^— yl. About l.oUO. Q. Wliiit Wiis you ■ Caleb in 1891 >. — .(. 2,(i7U seals. Q. Wh;ii ]iii.poili m of females with pup did you observe taken on the coast during the past two years > ~A. .Alioul b.ilf and hall'. (J. Wlial propi/rtioii of females with pup did you observe in Behring Sea ? — A. In a catch of 1,555 seals in Behring !:^-a last yiiar 1 had only ton females with pu]i ; those witli pup were taken betweCQ the liith and last of July, and that those females killed with pup appeared to come from the westwanl and got mixed with groups of other female setds which had their young and were entirely dried up. Q. Do vo''. find many ycailing i)ups in Behring Sea '. — A. No; 1 have found no yearling pups in Behring Sea ; we ^'ot what wi^ call the while-belly pups ; they are from two- lo three-year-old pu])3, and we get quite a number of barren cows. y. What do you mean reganhng barren cows ' — A. 1 mean those wlio have not Ijorne young during that year. Q. D.d you notice if the seals were smaller iu size last year ? — A. I did not ; they were .is large as any year. r222J 3 u 238 Q. \'71iil8t in Behring Sea kst year were the Reals as numerous as you have seen them befoni ? — A. They were more numerous than I have ever seen them l)efore. Q. '\^'hat age is a seal-skin at its best ' — A. I consider at 3 years old. Q. ''.Vhat has been the distance from the Pribylofl' Islands that you were while sealing any year in Behring Sea ! — A. From 50 to 100 miles, and was never nearer than 50 miless. Q. You were warned out of tiic Sea last year? — A. I was. Q. Were the seals plentiful at the time? — A. They were quite numerous. Q. How far were you from land when warned ? — A. About 100 miles to the westward of PribylDff Islands. Q. Had you not been ordered out of the Sea your catch would have been goo . former years ? — A. I have seen no di.creasd ; in fact, I saw more seals last year, but they appeored a little shyer. Q. In Beliring Sea, did the seals appear as plentiful kst year as formerly ? — A. I saw more seals iMiil l.iiger hodios of seals in Behring Sea last year tnu.. ^" any year before. Q Did the seals iip[«!ir more timorous in Beluiug Sea tij..2 formerly ? — A. No, they lid not, but seemed n i qu' md nm t'rigbteneiL Q. On ii I do till! feniiilos travel by tliemselves? — A. The females generally travel by them- selves ; think Li.o nittles don't travel »i> far south. We find the males appear more plentiful towards Alaska. Q. Are there more senln shot sleeii\ng than travelling ? — A. Yes. .Sir. Q. What is the "anal distance thui 'seals are sliot while sleeping —.1. About40 to '45 feet. Q. Wliat wouH be the diptini" sli<)i>tint' t a travelling: seal? — A. About 30 to 40 yards. Q. Where are the seals us' struek wmii Oiot i — .( In the liead and neck. Q. From your long expen , what do you consider the proportion of seals lost as compared to the wliole that, are liit in pela.- -tealing ' — A. 1 am (luite sure that not more than from three to tive in the hundred, in one year in itohring Sea; out of 210 seals taken by myaelf, I never lost a single one ; and last year I lost seven out of L'O.'i killed by myself; the loss was hy .sinking. Q. Having personal experience liuiiiing every year, how quickly do you reach the animal shot r the seal has been sliot 8lee]iing. / , do they ? — A. Sleeping seals verj- seldom sink. The loss I'oiventage of loss, that is, three to five in the hundred, has been I. Yes ; it has been about the some. Q. la the loss greater on the coast than in Behring Sea ? — A. Ko, Sir ; very few are lost on the coast. Q. On the coast, have you taken a greater number of females in some months than in other months ; say, hnve you observed a greater number of females taken in April and May ? — A. ^* Sir. Q. Where do you find the yearling grey pupa ? — A. Always on the coast. Q. Do you find many pups in Behring Sea ? — A. No ; I hnve only found two grey , aps in Behring Sea Q. Do you find any brown pups, alwut 2 years old, in Behring Sea ? — A. Very few. Q. Have you observed in Behring Sea tliat the females have delivered their young ? — A. Yes, Sir. Q. Do you Uike any females with pup in Behring Sea ? — A. Very few ; say one or two in the season. They have all delivered their young before the vessels enter Behruig Sea. Q. Did you observe any difference in the size of the seal-skins last year ? — A. None ; they are the same as former years. Q. What has been the distance fnun the seal islands that you usually hunted in Behring Sea in the past years >. — A, From CO to 100 miles generally to the westward. [222] 3 P sleeping ? — A. About five to ten n Q. Sleeeinng seals don't nini by sinking is altogether the tra Q. Then you would .say th your experience for several year.-* --. 2&I Q. You were warned out last year, and by whom ? — A. Yes, Sir ; aid by the United States' snip " Mohican." Q. At ttie time you were warned, what distance were you from the wal islands ? — A. At the time I was warned I was 115 miles to the north-west of the seal islands. Q. At the time you were warned were the seals plentiful ? — A. I have never seen the seals so plentiful in Beliriiig Sea. Q. J'o you say tliat had you not been forced out of Behring Sea that you would have had an excel- lent catch ? — A. I certainly would have had a good catch. Q. Ihen you cor.sider that having been ordered out of Bcliring's Sea last year that it has 'jten a serious financial loss to you ? — A. It has been a great loss to me and a very great hardship. Q. Have you ever heard of a Britisli vessel, during the years that you have been engaged in the sealing industry, raiding, or attempting to raitl or lake seals in any way on the Pribyloff or seal islands in Behring Sea ? — A. I have not at any time lieard of any British vessel taking any seals from the seal islands. Q. If any vessel had attempted to do so you would have certainly heard of it ? — A. I certainly would ; for I am acquainted with all the principal sealing men sailing from this port. (Signed) ABEL LOUGLAS- Sworn before me, this 16tb day of February, 1892. (Signed) A. R. Milne, Collector of Cudoms. Victoria, B.C., Fchrvary 20, 1892. Re Scaling in Pacific Ocean and Behring Sea. Laughlin L. McLean, present master of the Canadian schooner " Favourite," of Victoria, British Columbia, and master of tlie same vessel for the past seven years, personally appeared, and being duly sworn, in reply to the following questions doth depose and say : — Q. Cai)tain McLean, you have been master of the "Favourite" during the past seven years? — A. Yes ; for seven years. Q. You have been reasonably successful in the waling industry ? — A. Yes ; I have, Q. You have had every opportunity of observing the seals and seal life ? — A. I have had every opportunity. Q. Wiiat number of men compose your crew usually ? — A. From thirty to thirty-two men, all told. Q. How many Wliites and how many Indians ? — A. Seven Whites and about twenty-five Indians compose my crtw. Q. Have liad Indian hunters every year ? — A. Every year but one, that was 1887. Q. Do you prefer Indians to Whites for hunters ? —A. 1 do. Q. Were the seals to your observation as plentiful last year as former years ? — A. They were more plentiful. Q. Were they as plentiful on coast ? — A. Yes. Q. Were the se ils as plentiful in Behring Sea as in former years ? — A, la my experience I have never seen the .seals as ii!"ntiful iu Behring Sea. Q. Did the seals in IJebring Sea appear to lie more timorous > — A. No ; they did not ; but appeared quite tame. Q. From your long experience, what do you consider the proportion of seals lost as compared to the whole number that are hit in pelagic sealing ? — A. I would say with Indians about one in ten, and with good white hunters about 5 per cent. Q. Hiivi; you obsirved in any months moiO females than males ? — A. No ; but I think .here are more mules iu the month of A])ril ou tlie coast. Q. Did yoi! have more males than females in the coast catoa ^—A. Yes ; I had more nales than females on tlio coast. Q. "iVliiii 1 iMceutage of males to (females did you liave in Behring Sea last year rnd any ypar ? — A. Abcil hi'll and lialf, and every year about the siiiiio. Q. Dill Mill notice tliat tlie females taken in Ik'lnliig Sea had delivered their J'nmg ? — A. Yen; Ibey liad all lii'-ir young .some time before that, ''"icy give up their young ahuut the ;iid of July. We never get thein with pup after July. Q. Wliat ijriiportioii of females taken in Behr'ug Sea are barren ? — A. About 5 per cent Q. Do you ev(T find yearling or grey pups in Beliring Sea ? — A. No; we never find them. Q. 1 )() you lind lirown pups (2 or 3 years old) in Behring Sea ? — A. We find a few ; not many ; occasionally oiii' or two. Q. From your long observiilion, do you tliink tliat the females taken in Behring Sea have rrini'iiiiMl lung enough with their jiups so thai tliey ei.re for themselves on tlio land ' — A. Yes, I do. Q \tm iiii'uii liy liarren cows tluise that have not borne that year? — A. \es, 1 do. Q. Ill r.eluiiig Sea do they ;ill travel together, that i.s, males and females i.—A. They are pretty well mixed ui). . ^ , ... \ wm MISSIONERS, 15 JULY 8 OCTOBER, 1891 (li 6/S2 IIS. ■ No. 1. TRACK CHART OF ROUTES FOLLOWED BY THE BRITISH BEHP //i 6/9Z II9tJ F 211 ■.I.J.. ■ I'.jiu \"- '■•:. THE BRITISH BEHRING SEA COMin'SSIONERS, 15 JULY-8 OCTOBER, 1891 '! lii.-'. ■ ^"ju-i -1*'' '*" V-;*'!;!; 1.^110 *'C \mf ■MM ^sj IN THE NORTH PACIFIC. L. r'": THE VICINITY Of ROBBEN ISLAND AND THE KURIUE ISLANDS BE DEflNED. II j U 61 32 !l'J^ I F li! wo mi I 6''.W«mVi« 60'\ q.CharUrtt,. S'^V WO' *W ; AND MIGRATION ROUTES OF FUR SEALS IN T^E NORTH PACIFIC. 'NOTE. -THE SUMMER HABITATS OF SEALS IN THE VICINITY Of ROBBEN ISLAND AND THE KURlLE ISLANDS ARE MERELY INDICATED AS THEY CANNOT BE DEFINED.i w kJ in o FUR SEALS IN THE PERIOD 1. iNT SEALS IN THE VICINITY OF THE COMMANDER ISLANDS IN THIS PLRIOD. t AVAILABLE INFORMATION RESPECTING IT IS INSUFFICIENT. SMALLER AREAS THE VICINITY OF ROBBEN ISLAND AND SOME OF THE KURILE ISLANDS ARE IE REASON.! //2 6/9i 1137 J F C- i> No, 3. SKETCH MAP SHOWING APPROXIMATELY THE AREA EXTENDING FROM JULY 15th TO AREA CHARACTERIZED HY ABUNDANT SE/ LS AREA CHARACTERIZED BV SCATTERED S .ALS. It e/3i 1137 )r a lii -vMt\'i^'i\ ^ ..tifi-: ;_••, T" I' i-i> : S' Mii/tJien'n^ S E A Pi.ifrnm shr.i'in>; rrlittire iiicmK'r <■/ nfu'iTH/ioui in -uhi.h In, viiiJ blci,' Jmin mirious liimliolu, tMli fb., nation inn^ iildual.,l liy ,'^ in,/i ' j A'i4tn//ft fl/t;iiifis in t.\^ u/-,-i:-ii/un: - 13. 'J'ie/i^Hie tn.lidll,-' ,ir \&s,^ -Juan (if FtUft'Sb^. 0''f'i-''aitt *■ A S^MaUhew\^ NomuvaJt OKMO TS K SEA V \Petfvpaviownk-t '*('! 1'H) AlluCi . 'PrUylofr/' Diai^'raitt shc;iM>t^ nluttv, \''ir'wus iiiiivfifliit, t-aih <:'>icyz'iUi Xumbir if cabin in gb ol's The figure iiuHoi/ct mrriii . Iks- i« la Slit 15 incluuri, O/jmrinUums mostly ' tail of i;o (C, and Ivtuven /■itraUn'i of 54' and 60'. Wn" No. 4. SKETCH MAP SHOWING APPROXIMATELY THE AREA FR EXTENDING FROM AUGUST 16TH TO SEP AREA CHARACTERIZED BY ABUNDANT SEALS AREA CHARACTERIZED BY SCATTERED SEALS. /'? 67*2 /. •> ■ i!..T. ': 1 ■;, . IV. TELY THE AREA FREQUENTED BY FUR SEALS IN THE PERIOD AUGUST 16th to SEPTEMBER 15th, 1891. NOTE. -THE AREA Ot ABUNDANT 5EALS IN THE VICINITY OF THE COMMANDETi ISLANDS IN THIS PERIOD DEPENDS UPON A VEHV LIMITEt NUMBEH Of OBSERVATIONS. SMALLER AREAS CF SEAL OCCURRENCE IN THE VICINITY OF HOBBEN ISLAND AND SCME OF THH KUl'U C ISLANDS ARE NOT iHOViN AS NO INFORMATION IS ..VAILABLt RESFECUNC, THEM Iti JO 1880 • HVi) lOU.UUO tx 4 ^ I:- r. 'v. " it " .'OCOOO D . — BC&Cti ^ — -. ...... J / 1 V \ Dl / -- — -^i T" — -^^- ■J' ■-■00. -t — 4L! nofj, ^0.000 6C.t)JU IHJO laMi IHK) IHf.O l/l DIAGRAM REPRESENTING THE NUMBER OF FUR SEALS KILLED ANNUALLY ON THE PRIBYLOFF ISLANDS, FROM 181? Tl DIAGRAM REPRESENTING THE NUMBER OF FUR SEALS KILLED ANNUALLY ON THE COMMANDER ISLANDS. FROM 1802 Xiiiiil'i-r hiUfil on (.'() 1/100 iH7n 1880 iH(M) joo,goo t- ^ « X •n. l\ 1 1 tie ■v. s |\ — .-. . . - .- ■* s — -4^ ^ _^^ ;oo,flOo n :? ■^ 5 '?>) >l IBYLOFF ISLANDS, FROM 18W TO 1091 M 1 __ 1 5 5 » II.! U'.V! \ / \ ,- y \| ^_^^ y r 1 \ ( Y / ^\y \ u'lti JMMANDER ISLANDS. FROM 18f)2 TO 1891. Ill ir.\i > t/iii/ii< / - K /' ( SONS BAY COMPANY AT POSTS ON THE COAST, FROM 1HD2 TO 1B1I COAST CATCH FOR THESE YEARS. -r- it;. 000 :1Y CANADIAN SEALtNQ VESSELS. FROM 1871 TO 1801 THERE nciNG NO TRUSTWORTHY STAriSTIC'=i VHU IT, ■r- LONDON, FROM UV/l TO 1881 1800 loro l\' 2r!B . Q. Then you wiy tl.at, including 'jarnin cowh, tliiit the percentage of nil (cmalea Uikon in I'.i hmig Sea is about equal to tlie males ? — ^1. Aliout thiil, luid no more. Q, Do I understand yo\» clearly to say that the catch on the coast was mostly mules ( — ji. Yes, I do. Q. Captain McLean, would you plea.io say m whiit propcjrti' n the males wore to the femiiles in your catch on the coast !--A. About two-thirds irjales, timl is, two male) to one female. Q. Did you observe anychunye in the hnbils of the siiils hwt year fioni foniier years > — A. On the coast I do not ob.serV(; any dillcrence, but in liehring Hea I find llie -leiils further from land ; a few years ago 1 found them 2,"> or MU mi' i from land, that was our favourilt tishing ground; but the last two or three years uiy best catelir ive been liom 140 to l.V) milen from land. Q. Have you over known or heard of any lirilinli vi^s.sel engaged in tlie sealing industry raiding or attempting to raid or to lake seals in any way from the I'ribylolf or .seal islands in Hebring Sea ? — A. 1 have not heard that any liriti.sh ve.s.sid in any y ir attempted any --ueli thing, as I know all the principal men engaged in ■ ;ding, and 1 would certaiuiv have heanl it if such bail oceurre