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Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproductions / Institut Canadian de m^croreproductions historiques Technical and Bibliographic Notes/Notes techniques et bibliographiques The Institute has attempted to obtain the best original copy available for filming, reatures of this copy which may be bibliographically unique, which may alter any of the images in the reproduction, or which may significantly change the usual method of filming, are checked below. 0' Coloured covers/ Couverture de couleur I I Covers damaged/ Couverture endommag6e □ Covers restored and/or laminated/ Couverture restaurie et/ou pellicul^e □ Cover title missing/ Le titre de couverture manque □ Coloured maps/ Cartes gdographiques en couleur □ Coloured ink (i.e. other than blue or black)/ Encre de couleur (i.e. autre que bleue ou noire) n n D Coloured plates and/or illustrations/ Planches et/ou illusiations en couleur Bound with other material/ Reli6 avec d'autres documents Tight binding may cause shadows or distortion along interior margin/ La reliure serrde peut causer de I'ombre ou de la distortion le long de la marge intdrieure Blank leaves added during restoration may appear within the text. Whenever possible, these have been omitted from filming/ II se peut que certaines pages blanches ajout^es lors d'une restauration apparaissent dans le texte, mais, lorsque cela 6tait possible, ces pages n'ont pas 6t6 filmdes. L'Institut a microfilm6 le meilleur i»l Skin Company Ueclamtioiis of I'flajjic Sealers ExtmclH from tlie Privati' Loj-s of I'eliujic SoaliTs showing the dateuand posi. tiourt at aea wlien and where fiir-Ni'ttls wlure taken in 1S93 List of ai-alingiichoonorB entered at Hakodate duriii)? the season of IS03 Report of the British Columbia Sealing Fleet of 1KU3 Summary of the aealing catch for the season of 1893 Pi , 71-77 77-94 96-108 in!> 110 111 RETORT OF THE BRITISH AGliXT TO THE RUSSIAN SEAL ISLANDS UNDER THE PROVISIONAL AGREE- MENT, ENTERED INTO BETWEEN HER MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT AND THAT OF RUSSIA FOR THE PROTECTION OF THE SEAL FISHERIES DURING 1893. Ottawa, 31nt December, 1893. Mv LoKi), — I huvi! tlie honour to wiibmit the report olmy visit to the Russian Seal Islands, as British Agent, under the Prcvisionul Agreement entered into l)etweeu Her Majesty's Government and thut of Russia, for the protection of the deal Fisheries during 1893. RF.PORT. PROVISIONAL AGREEMENT. St. Petershuroh, May 10 (22), 1893. M. lo Charge d'AfHiins, In reply to your eoinmnnieatiou of the JJOth April (12th May), I have the honour to inform you that the Imperial (rovernment, while accepting the draft arraugiMnent annexed to that communicsition, prefer to give it the character of an exchange of notes, for the following reasons : — Because the too concise wording of the above-mentioned draft would leave room for i'ertain misuuderstaudings, and perhaps even for oomplications, which it would be desirable to avoid ; Because the Imperial Government could not agree to the draft in question without some reservations designed to safeguard their freedom of judgment in the future. It is understood that the agreement to be arrived at between our two Govern- ments will leave intact all the rights of Russia in her territorial waters. As to our reservations, they refer to the points mentioned below : 1. In consenting to iuind over to the British authorities the English ships engaged in sealing williin the prohibited zones, we do not wish to prejudice, gene- rally, the question of the rights of a riverain Power to extend her territorial juris- diction in certain special cases beyond waters properly called territorial. 2. The Imperial Government desire to preserve complete liberty of action as to choosing in the future between the two systems of protecting seals, either by the method of a prohibited zone, or by the method of entirely prohibiting pelagic sealing, or regulating it in the open sea. 3. The present arrangement cannot in any manner be considered as a precedent, and will be looked xipon by us as of an essentially proA'isional nature, intended to meet present circumstances. With these reservations, we accept the British proposal in the following terms : — 1. During the year ending the 31st December, 1893, the English Government will prohibit their subjects from hunting seals within a zone of 10 marine miles on all the Russian coasts of Behring Sea and the North Pacific Ocean ; as well as within a zone of 80 miles round the Komandorsky Islands and Tulenew (Robben Island). 2. Englitth vt'tisnlN uiigagcd in hiiiitiiig ncalH within the ul'nrt'said ^ouch bi'yond RutiHian torritoritil \vut(>r8 miiy bn Ni'i/oU by UuNHiiin cruiBcrB, to bu hnnd«>d over to Enj?li«h cruiHtTN or to the nfiircst Hritinh aiithdritifH. In caHO of im|><>dinitMit or diflicnity, the Connnandi-r ol'tht* UuHNJiiri miiNcr inay coniino hiiiiMflf to Mcizing the papcra of the ut'on'Mnfiitiuued veNMclN, in urdttr to deliver them to a iSritixh cruiNer, or to tranNmit them to the iieareHt Knulixh authoritiei^, on the lirHt opportunity. 8. II«r majesty'M Government engage lo bring to trial before tiie ordinary Tribunals, ottering all neceNMary guarantien, the Englihli veHHeiw whieh may besi-ized aH having been engaged in Healing within the prohibited /.oiieH beyond UuHtiiau terri- torial watt>rs. 4. The Imperial Government will limit to 30,000 (ho number of nvaU whieh may be killed during the year 1H!)3 on the eoattts of tiiu l8landNCi' Komaudorsky and Tnlenew (Rf>bben Island). 5. An agent of the liritish Government may vinit the afore-montioned islandB (Komandorsky and Tulenew) in order to obtain Irom the lociil authorities all neces- sary inl'ormatio)'. n tht working and results of the agreement arrived at, but eare should be taken to give previous information to these authorities of the place and time of his visit, which should not l»e jirolonged beyond a few weeks. t). The present arrangement has no retroactive force as regards the Hritish vessels captuinl previously by the iruisers of the Imi)erial Marine. These terms being based upon the notes previously exchanged between o'T" two Governments, as well as upon the text of the latest English proposals, we hope, M. le Charge d'Affaires, that Her Britannic Majesty's Government will consider the understanding between us to be entirely established from this time forward as regards the regxilation of seal fisheries during the present year. Accept, &c., (Signed) CHICHKINE. The Earl of Rosebery to Mr. Howard. (Telegraphic.) FoiiEKJN OFKinE, May 29, 1893. I have received your despatch of the 23rd instant, inclosing a note from M. Chichkine, defining the terms of the arrangement for the protection of the Russian seal fisheries during the present year, to which the Russian Gov^ernment are prepared to agree. I have to instruct you to address a note to the Russian Government in reply, stating that this arrangement is accepted by Her Majesty's Government as a tempo- rary agreement for the current year, aud that they will take immediate steps to procure the legislation necessary for carrying it into execution. With regard to the reservations made in M. Chichkine's note, you will state that Her Majesty's Government have iaken note of them, but do not at present propose to disciiss them ; that, on the other hand, they must adhere to the reservation previously made by them, and contained in your note of the 12th of this month, and that it is understood that the rights aud position of either Power are in no way affected by the conclusion of this provisional arrangement. Tou should inform the Russian Government, at the same time, that we propose to lay the correspondence at once before Parliament. Sir H. Morier to the Karl of liotfben/.— {Received May 80, 9 4/'> P M.) (Ti'K'griiphic.) St. PETKiwiiun' -i, May 30, 1»»8, 612 P.M. In ]>urHUiinfe of your LonUhip'H iiiNtructiuuH, as conveyed in your ti>U*((rain of ycHtcnlay, I have this Uuy addruHHml a uote to the KuHNiun Oo7i>rtimt>ut in the following ternjN : — "Your ICxreili-ncy's nott* of the lOth (22nd) iustiint, on thi" suhjc t of tin- Ncal fifihericH in (he North riuilii, was forvvnnlnl without di'lay to Ht-r Mnji'wty's I'rin.ipal Scirotary of Statu, and I am now inwtrm ted by Ilff MaJfNty'w Qovrnmcnt to stiite that tht>y iirct'pt, us a proviHionul ti)j:r<'t>ui<-nt appiyinif to the prt-Hcnt yt'ur only, the arrangi-nicnt for thf protfction of thf UuxNian hfuiinjf inti-reNtw un di-lincd in that uote. They will forthwith invite I'arliument to «'na and jjosition of neither Power are in any way prejudiced by this provisionul arrangement. " INSTRUCTIONS. FoREloN Ofkk'E, 10th .Tnly, 1893. Sir, — I have to iuforni you that you have been selected by Her Majesty's Government to visit, during the present sealing season the Komaudorsky Islands and the Island of Tulenow (Hohben Island) 'n order to obtain from the local uuthoritieB information on the practical methods of affording protection to the Seal Fisheries, and particularly on the working and results of a provisional Agreement entered into between Her Majesty's Government and that of Kussia for that purpose during the present year. I transmit for your guidance a memorandum of instructions as to the points to which your enquiries should be specially directed. Copies of the correspondence on the subject which has taken place with the Rassian Government and which has been laid before Parliament, arc inclosed here- with for your information, together with the report and supplementary report of the Behring Sea Commissioners and the report of Mr. J. M. Macoun, on his investigations in 1892. Her Majesty's Chorge d'Affaires at St. Petersburg has been instructed to apply to the Russian Government for the necessary facilities to enable you to carry out the object of your mission. You will receive from the Governor General of Canada instructions as to yonr movements, the payment of your expenses while employed on this duty, and the transmission of your reports to him. Arrangements will be made for your conveyance to the islands on board one of Her Majesty's ships, but on this point you will receive the necessary directions from the Governor General. I am Sir, Your most obedient humble servant, Robert Norris Yenmnq, Esq. (Sd.) ROSEBERY. CANADA. CiTADKL, Quebec, 14th July, 1898. Sib, — I have the honour to inform you that you have been appointed as British Agent to visit the Komandorsky and Tulenew Islands for the purpose of investigat- ing certain questions connected with seal life. Your instructions will be handed to you by Major St. Aubyn, Governor General's Secretary, Ottawa. I have the honour to be, Sir, Your obedient servant, (Sd.) DERBY, Governor General. To RoiiKirr Norris Vennino, Esq. Ottawa. Memorandum of Instructions Jor the Agent of the British Government appointed to visit the Komatiilor$ky and Tulenew Islands. Under the temporary agreement entered into between Great Britain and Russia for the protection of the seal fisheries during the present year, claiise T) states that : " An as^'eiit of the British Government may visit the aforementioned islands (Koman- dorsky and Tulenew), in ordei" to obtain from the local authorities all necessary information on the working and results of the agreement arrived at, but care should be taken to give previous information to those authorities of the place and time of this visit, which should not be prolonged beyond a few weeks." The headquarters of the Russian Administration of the Komandorsky Islands is at Nikolski, Behriug Island, which piiue should be first visited. Conferences with the gi'ntlemen in control there for the Russian Government, and with those in charge for the company holding the lease under the Government, will enable you to ascer- tain their views and experience. If convenient, one or both of the rookeries of Behring Island might be visited, for the purpose of obtaining facts remarked by the local observers of these rookeries. Arrangements might then be made to consult with the authorities in charge of Cop- per Island, and one or more of the rookeries on that island might also be visited if found pl■actical)ll^ It is not suggested that all the rookeries and hauling grounds of the islands should be inspected. This would consume much time, and you would not be in a position to compare their appearance this year with that of former years. It will be necessary to trust for such information to those re.'iiding on the islands, but you will be careful to secure, as far as possible, separate information from the several gentle- men, and, where opinions are advan<;ed, to obtain or ask for the evidence or observa- tions in detail upon whicli they may bo based. Tulenew Island, or Robben Reef, in Okhotsk Sea, it will probably be inconvenient to visit, but such information as possible concerning it may be gathered from the officials on the Komandorsky Islands, or elsewhere. A careful examination of the report and supplementary report of the British Behring Sea Commissioners, and of the report of Mr. J. M. Macoun respecting his investigations in 1892, will enable you to ascertain what is already known respectiiig the main problems of seal life, and concerning which of these the facts are still in donbt. rm "While you will not neglect the opportunity of obtaining trustworthy inl'orma- tion on any subject, the most important points upon which additional facts are at present desirable, are those hearing on thi, efliciency, or otherwise, of the protective zone about the islands, provided for by the current agreement, and a comparison of the circumstances existing under it, with those obtaining in 1891 and 1892. It has. for instance, been stated that the female seals, while suckling, regularly go to great distances from the breeding islands, are those killed at sea by pelagic sealers, and that their young on the islands perish in consequence. ^Ir. Macoun vas informed on the Komandorsky Islands, in 1892, that no exces- sive mortality of " pups " was observed there in that year, though pelagic sealing was mor(^ actively carried on in the vi(dnity than m'er before. Contrary statements have been made from other .sources, and the facts in this respect for 1892 should be investigated and compared with those in 1893. Evidence relating to the hmgth of time during which the pup is necessarily suckled by the mother before weaning, the earliest date at which the female may resort to the sea aftt^ giving birth, whether she then seeks the sea for tht> purpose of feeding, and, if so, to what distance from the shores she usually goes, will be particularly important in this connection. Conjectures of those permanently residing upon the islands, as to the date of beginning and length of feeding excursions of feeding cows, can possess but little value, unless supported by other evidence or observations at sea. It will, therefore, be well to obtain the experience of as many pelagic seahirs as possible on thi.s point, with facts as to th(< number ol' cows in milk, if any, obtained by them at diiferent distances and in various bearings I'rom the islands. In collecting this evidence, care should be taken to distinguish between exceptional and normal instances, and between milking cows regularly engaged in suckling and with ii lull supply of inilk, and those in which the milk is proved to be " drying up " alter the weaning of the young. In the enclosure of His Exc(^llen"y M. Chichkine to Sir R. Morier, dated the 12th (24th) February 1893, it is stated :— "With regard to the thirty-mile zone around the islands, this measure is taken with a view to protect the banks, known by the sealers as " sealing grounds " which extend round the islands, and are not shown with sufficient acciiracy on maps. The banks are frequented during certain seasons by the female seals, the killing of whii'h is i)articularly destrui-tivc to the seal species at the time of year when the females are su(;kling their young, or go to seek food on the banks known as sealing grounds. "^^ Any evidence as to the existence or otherwise or such feeding banks, and as to their position, will be of value. Some evidence already obtained tends to show that females occasionally drop their young at sea, or lose them on the islands and are thereafter found still in milk at very great distances from the breeding islands. Careful attention should be given to any such instances, and you should endeavour to ascertain by ob8er"ation and inquiry, whether females who have los+ their young in such circumstances remain on the islands. Much yet remains to be ascertained respecting actual migration routes of the fur-seals of the Asiatic side of the Pacific in going to and returning from the Komandorsky Islands, with their winter habitat in the vicinity of the Japanese Coasts. Britinh Print Russia No. 1 (1893) p- 1. ■ 12. it Facts obsen'ed by the Britiish and Russian cniisors engaged on dnty in those waters will doubtless Hssist in determining these routes, and inlormation should also, whsn possible, bo obtained from the pelagir sealers. The actual logs oC these vessels, with notes as to the .dates, places, and condition of seals captured, will possess special value. Transcripts of the sealing logs of as many vessels as possible should be obtained after your return to Victoria. The most important facts under this head are those showing where and at what times any great killing of females, heavy with young' or of females in milk engaged in suckling their young, occurs, in order that any regulations hereafter framed may be such as to safeguard the animals in this condition from slaughter. Tti > average dates of landing and departure from the islands of seals of difterent sexes and ages, parti( nlarly if those can be obtained for a series of years, will be of value. It has been maintained that female seals do not land on the islands from the time they leave them as pups until they return to give birth to their first puf), and any facts confirming this statement, or otherwise, should be carefully noted. Inquiries should also be made as to the state of the Koraandorsky Islands in years of scarcity or of abundance of seals on the PribyloH' Islands, for the purpose of ascertaining whether these two groups of islands are similarly aifected in the same years, or otherwise, and generally upon any effects upon the Komandorsky Islands believed to be due to practices upon the Pribyloff Islands or Robben Reef. Any available information also as to the :i umber ol years during which a female seal continues to bear young should be collected ; and similarly, any information as to the number of years a male seal renders efficient service on the rookeries ; and in this connection any facts as to the existence and habits of barren females and effete males should be noted. NARRATIVE. In obedience to the directions contained in the telegraphic despatch of the Mar- quis of Ripou to the Earl of Derby, dated 11th, communicated to me on the ISth July, I proceeded on the 15th to San Frnncisco. 2. From that port I sailed for Yokohama on the 22ud July, on board the Pacific mail steamship " Peru," arriving there at 4.30 p.m., on the 8th August. 3 On the arrival of the steamer, the British Consul communicated to me a letter from H.M. Charge d'Affaires at Tokio, announcing that he had been instructed to notify me that the Russian authorities would afi'ord me all necessary facilities on the Seal Islands. 4. Commander Rogers of H. M.S. "Archer" met me on board the "Peru" and immediately transferred me to his ship 5. That tu'ening at the Consulate, I had the benefit of a conversation with Con- sul Troup on the subject of sealing generally. (j. Prior to sailing, the following morning, 9th August, Commander Rogers and myself called upon Captain Fawkes of H.M.S. " Mercury," who had just returned from the Okhotsk Sea, and consulted him as to the condition of things at Robben Island regarding the sealing agreement. 7. Returning on board the "Archer" we sailed at 9.80 a.m., for the Komandorsky Islands. 8. We reached the port of Hakodate on the evening of the 1 1th, where we coaled ship. 9. I called upon the British Consul, Mr. Hall, who informed me the Cana- dian and United States pelagic sealers that had called at that port had been unusually successful. He procured lor me a list of thr-^^o vesseU, giving their catches and dates of entry. This will be found among the appendices, numbered 86. 10. Having completed coaling, we left Hakodate on the afternoon of the 12th August. 11. On the 18th day of August we reached the town of Pctropaulovski, after having experienct'd constant fogs and disagreeable weather. The Russian man-of- war " Yakout" and the Eussian Soal-skin Company's schooner " Ijeon," were then in the harbour. The latter vesst^l recently arrived from Robben Island, carrying for shipment to San Francisco, the quota of seiil wkiiis taken from that island. 12. The ' Yakout " was coaling, preparatory to relieving the " Zabiaka," which vessel was then cruising around Komandorsky Islands. 13. I availed myself of tho presence of the master of the company's schooner "Leon," and consulted him touching the condition of Robben Isl'.ad, and the agree- ment for a protective zone of 30 miles. I procured from hij i a statement, which will be found among the appendices, numbered 5. 14. We left Pelropaulovski at 7.^0 a.m. ou the following morning (l!)th). The weather continued foggy and disagreeable. 15. That evening, just before dark, wo met H. M.S. "Porpoise" on her way down. I had a conference with commander Burr, who came on board the " Archer." IG. Parting company with the " Porpoise," we p .-oceeded on our way, and reached Nikolski, Behring Island, on the evening of Sunday the 20th August. The Russian cruiser " Zabiaka " and the Russian Seal-skin Company's steamer " Kotik,' were anchored in the bay. 17. With captain Rogers I visitisd the " Zitbia,ka," had a short conversation v. ith captain Domojirotf, and then visited the shore 18. I was met by Mr. Grebnitzky, the Governor of the island, Mr. Pafsky, a Russian official, who was to act for Mr. Grebnitzky who was about leavi?ig the islands on a lengthy leave >? absence; Mr. Grunvi'aldt, of the Russian Seal-skin Company, Mr. John Malowansky, the company's a}.yent on board the " Kotik" and Mr. Waldimar Paetz, the compimy's local agent at Nikolski. 19. I was informed by Mr. Grebnitzky that I had been expected for some time and that all facilities would be atlnrded me. The season he said was over, and they intended starting the next morning for a final lour of the rockeries and a settling up of the season's business. Accommodation on board the " Kotik ' was otfered me, to show me all that was to be seen in that connection. Next morning I transferred from " Archer " to the " Kotik.'^ Captain Rogers had arranged with ine that he would call at Nikolski one week from the day I transferred to the " Kotik," the intention being to go to Copper Island. 20. The " Kotik " reached North Rookery, Behring Island, that afternoon. I visited the salt-house and rookery. 21. The following morning 22ud, while the work of the officials proceeded, I visited the three points of North Rookery with the Chief of the natives. 22. That afterncm we left for Copper Island, anchoring off Preobajenski at day- light on Wednesday the 28rd. Supplies were landed, when we sailed for Korabeluy and dropped anchor off that village at 10.16 a.m. 28. We left Korabelny, arriving at Glinkaat 8.40 p.m. Here I procured a guide and crossed the island to the rookeries, which on this island are distributed along the shore for some distance. 8 24. Lenviug Glinka we returned to I'reobajenski on the 24th. I conferred with Mr. fimile Kluge, the company's local agont there. 25. TVo li'ft Preobajeuski on the 25th, for Nikolski, reaching that place on the morning of the 26th August. The " Archer" had called and left the night before. 26. The steamer " Kotik " with Mr. Grebnitzky, Mr. Grunwaldt and Mr. Malowansky, sailed on the evening of the 2Gth for Petropaulovski en route to San Francisco. 27. I went ashore to the Company's house which is in charge of Mr. Waldomar Paetz. Dv. Nicolas Sluuin, surgeon of the " Yakout " and of the Acad''niy of Sciences at St. Petersburg, was on the island. He was making some natiiriii history enquiries in connection with seal life, for the Russian Government, having also been similarly engaged there last fall. 28. The following day, 27th August, in company with I)v. Shinin, I secured a dog train and started for Noi th Rookery, having previous to the departure of Mr. Grebnitzky, got permission to go upon th'* rookeries where proper observations could be made. 29. En route we remained over night at a village, called Sarannoie, where large numbers of salmon were taken by the natives, Detailed observations made here will be found under another heading. 30. We reached North Rookery at 10 a.m. on the following morning (28th Aug.), where I had an opportunity of making a close inspection of the different sections of the rooki' , . 31. In the afternoon I made another visit to the rookery. This was the day on which according to arrangement I should have met the "Archer" at Nikolski, and I had expected to return that night, ))ut as it was Dr. Slnnin's intention to kill some female seals for scientific researches, I regarded the opportunity as the only one which could possibly present itself and conseqixently remained. 32. Jiarly in the morning of the 29th a small " drive " was made from which five females were selected for killing. These females were killed and dissected in my presence. Tiie details of observations will be found under another heading. 33. I arrived at Nikolski in the afternoon shortly after the " Archer" had sailed, she having called the day before as agreed. 34. Captain Rogers left a letter for me stating that he would return to Nikolski on the 5th September, weather permitting, en route to Petropaulovski to coal. 35. On the 3fst August the "Yakout" I'allcd at Nikolski for provisions ivnd to take Dr. Slunin on board. I had a long conference with Captain Chmeilevsky. 36. During my stay on the islands, in conversation and otherwise, I collected considerable information from the natives. 37. Early in the morning of the 4th September, the " Archer " steamed into Nikolski 13ay, although I had not expected her until the (ith. The weather was very fine and had been for the past few days. It was arranged that I should board the " Archer" the following morning and go to Copper Island. 38. During the night, however, the wind sprung up and the sea ran so high that the " Archer " had to put to sea for safety. During the 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th the storm raged rendering it impossible either to land on the island or to leave it. Between the night of the 8th and morning of the 0th the gale moderated and towards the afternoon both the " Zabiaka " and the "Archer" steamed into the bay. The sea was still running very high bat a lauding yvas effected about a mile and a half from the village. - - a I 9 89. At 4.60 p.m., I rejoined the ship, whi<;h had not came to anchor. We proceeded to Petropaulovski for coal, arriving there at 6.80 on the morning of the 12th September. The " Yakout " was then in port, but sailed at 5.25 p.m. for Komandorsky Islands. 40. At 2.2u p.m., Friday 15th, the " Zabiaka " arrived from the Komandorsky Islands. 41. On Sunday I7th, at 2.45 a.m., the steam sealing schooner " Warlock " Captain Adolph Riddcrbjiklt!, of Victoria, B.C., uirivod at I'ctropaulovski. The captain said he had cleared from Victoria on the 10th June on a seal hunting voyage to the North Pacific Ocean; that his vessel was a poor sailer; that her engines were constantly getting out of order ; thai he had encountered very bad weather, and at Sand Point had taken out a new clearance lor Petropaulovski. He had taken no weals. 42. On the 18th September, we started lor Komandorsky Islands reaching Nikolski at 7.45 a.m. on the 2l8t. Here Captain Rogers got the papers of (he seized Conadiau sealing schooner "Maud S. " vvhii li had been left there for him. 43. It had been intended to make another visit to Copper Island and thence to Hakodate en route to Yokohama It was however getting late in the season, the bad quality of the coal procured at Petropaulovski combined with adverse winds and weather induced Captain Rogers to abandon the trip to Copj)er Island and sail direct for Hakodate. Therefore, our course was thus shaped at uoon 21st September. 44. On the way down we encountered continuous head winds and heavy seas, reducing speed to a minimum. This, added to the rate of consumption of coal, decided the captain, when within about 70 miles of Petropaulovski to run into that port for more coal to enable us to increase speed to Hakodate. We consequently reached Petropaulovski at 8 o'clock a.m., Sunday, 24th September, and coaled that day. 45 The sealer "Warlock" was still in port. The master d immediately with iny inquiry in the line of my i)iBtructions. 55. The nature of the information I was seekinir rendered my progress com- paratively slow. On the 10th November, linding that which I had collected was quite representativt^ of the fleet which operated in Japanese and Russian waters this year, and any which followed must of necessity be very similar, I decided to return to Ottawa as soon as possible. 56. Reaching Vancouver on the 11th, I remained over one day consulting several gentlemen interested in the sealing business, and getting positions of the Vancouver schooner " Beatrice," which vessel had been on the Japan coast and in waters around Komandorsky Islands this year. 57. I left Vancouver at 2 p.m., Sunday 12th, arriving in Ottawa ou the 18th Noveml)er. OBSERVATIONS ON THE ISLANDS. 58. The operations of the company, under their franchise from the Russian Gov- ernment, had ceased on the 13th and 14th of August, on Behriug and Copper Islands, respectively, prior to my arrival. 59. The positions of the seal rookeries on Komandorsky Islands are as follows . — North Rookery, Behring Island. 1. Na Rifoo. '.. Moroscechnik. 3. Tejiakovo. Lies 11 miles west \ north from Capo Vaksel aud 10 miles north-east J east from deep water olf North-west Cape (magnetic.) South Rookeri/, Behring Island. — Lies 8 miles north-westward off Cape Peres- chicka aud three-quarters of a mile south-east of T'olojorno (Midday) Cape (mag.uetic). Slolkovoi Kamen, opposite Korabelny, Copper Island. Lat 54° 43' N. Long. 167° 50' E. Biibi Padiom, Copper Island.— About Lat. 54° 34' N. I^ug. 167° 57' E. From this place the seals extend at intervals north-westward. Seals are also to be found from South East Cape towards Babi Padiom. 60. I reached North Rookery on the 2l8t August, and look a cp*ual preliminary observation of the main portion of the rookery and its surroundings. The young seals were playing around the boat ou its passage to the shore, and close to the vessel as she lay at anchor ; the water being literally alive with them. In the immediate Ticinity of the rookery and beaches, almost as far as the eye could reach, countleis numbers of seals were s^'imming in the water. Straggling ones could also bo seen at varying distan .om the shore, never apparently exceeding two to three miles- 11 The majority were pupu, which could be observed from their size. The officials stated that the larger ones were females. 61. The rookerii's appeiired to be well filled, yet there were thousands of seals playing about in the water on the edges thereof. They kept up a continuous and pecu- liar noise which can only be likened to the bleating of a gigantic herd of lambs. 62. Next morning, 22nd August, in company with Mr. Pafsky and the Chief of the Aleuts, I visited the different points of this rookery. Although there were more seals on the laud and fewer in the water than the day previous, yet there were count- less numbers along the water fringes. 63. Whil(! skirting the beach between the first and second points of the rookery I found l.'t dead pups at the water line, washed ashore. It was said by thi- olfb ials that this could be accounted for in various ways : They may have bi^enboru .sickly, have been crushed by the bulls, killed by the surf, or have wandered from their mothers. 64. On the 2.3rd August, when at Grlinka, Copper Island, I crossed the island by climbing the hills in company with Mr. Pafsky and a native guide to view the rookeries. Apparently the conditions were much the same here as at North Rookery, although I could not get as close as I could have wished and I had no previous knowledge to enable me to draw comparisons. As compared with North Rookery, however, there were more seals on the land than in the water. 65. From Glinka the " Kotik " went to Preobajenski, where on the 24th August, I had a consultation with Mr. Emile Kluge, the company's local agent. 66. While on the north side; of the island, where no rookeries exist, a pup was seen 20 or 25 miles by water I'rom the nearest rookery. This pup may have been brought across in one of the; " drives." 67. On the morning of the 28th August, I visited the North Rookery with Dr. Slunin. Having previously got permission to go upon the rookeries, I had an opportunity for closer examination. As I approached the seals, they receded nearer to, and in some cases into the water. I therefore got on to the places which they had just occupied. In this way I covered about one-third of the lower section of the rookery, locally known as No. Eifoo. I could not have carefully examined the complete rookery, without driving the herd into the water, there being no other place for them to go. I made a thorough examination, however, of about a third of this section of the rookery, beyond this using field glasses for observations. 68. I counted 285 dead pups, 150 of which had certainly died this year. The re- mainder presented the; appearance of having been dead for a l^ng time, and I should judge that their deaths had occurred prior to the present year, in some instances nothing being left but the hardened skin, with even the hair and fur partially worn off. On the other hand, those which had unqxu^stionably died this year, although in a few cases being in an advanced state of decomposition, were in a comparatively good state of preservation. From the appearance of some six or eight of these pups, it is very questionable whether they had ever lived. It was also noticeable that although the majority of the dead '/ere undoubtedly young suckling piaps, yet the death rate was not necessarily confined to that class, as I ol)served several larger pups which classed in appearance with those which v ere pointed out to me as this year's, and which were then quite large and taking care of themselves. I may add, how- ever, that this latter class was found further from the rookery. 69. The majorit]- of the dead pups were principally on the fringe of the rookeries, quite a number being found also on the sand spit or hauling ground. 70. In addition to occupying ground which had just been vacated by seals, I suc- ceeded in getting in among the seals, and although I made a careful examination 12 both at closo quartfrs, amoui? and behind tho rocks, and with the aid of clasHes, yet I found fewer dead pups among the seals, than on the fringes of tho rookeries. tt. On my previous viNitH, when I eould not approach sufficiently (lose to make other than a casual observation, the presence of large numbers ol croWN and gulls mixing with the seals aroused my curiosity and led me to more closely examine deeper into the centres of the rookery when the opportunity was allorded. As a result, I may say that while there were, so far as I could see, fewer dead pups in the thicker parts of the rookery, those to be seen there were in a better state of preserva- tion. My attention was attracted by two crows, one picking at the head of a pup and the other at its hind ilippers. The pup would snap at them, but although within two or three feet of adult seals, probably the mother and others, they paid no attention whatever to the operations of the crows. 72. Mr. R. Karlson, a carpenter, who had been all year at North Rookery, told mo that the crows picked the eyes out of the pups and that they then became an easy i>rey. He seemed to be alone in this opinion, and as there ai*' enough dead carcases to afford any food they may be seeking, I would not be inclined to give much weight to this theory. 73. On this visit there were fewer seals in the water than on any previous one, yet there were enormous numbiMs disporting in the immediate vicinity of the rocks. 74. I observed one pup about 300 ynrds shovcwards from the body of the seals. This pup was quite young, as could be seen by the rough, dark hair, and its size and appearance. It was quite emaciated and having evidently wandered away from the rookeries, and did not appear to be able to make its way back. 75 I found anot her pup about 100 yards from the niain body of the seals, but more in their track than was the previous one ; this pup was asleep; it was also older than the previous one. I touched it twice with a stick, but only awakened it with a sharp slap of the hand. It appeared very frightened, bleating like a lamb. For some moments it showed its teeth and appeared to be in readiness to defend itself, but seeing that it was not further molested, it qui<'kly made its way towards the main body of the seals. 71). The sleepiiiij: seals sh'pt so heavily that I could approach them witKoiit any care whatever, and touch them before they would notice my presence. 77. On the afternoon of the 28th August I visited the other sections of the rookery, going on the places vacated by the seals, as I had done on the iirs' section. 78. At Moroscer.hnik I counted 205 dead pups. About one-third of this number might correctly be stat'-d as being of this year's mortality, the remaining two-thirrls exhibited the same conditions as previousl}^ explained. I could not form any reason- able opinion as to the length of time they had been dead. 79. As before, and although I had better opportunities of observing the thickly occupied portion of the rookeries, the general conformation being more favorable, comparatively few dead pups were to be noticed thereon, the majority being found on the outer edges of the rookery. 80. During each of my visits I made a most thorough search for anything which h.ad the appearance of excrejnent, and each time failed to discover the slightest trace of such. This fact appeared to me the more remarkable from the further fact that I passed over, and minutely examined, ground which a few moments previouslj' had been occupied by thousands of seals, and which did not present any difficulties in the way of observing any ejected matter. There is a peculiar odour attaching to the rookeries which probably arises from the' bodies of such a mass of animal life. 18 81. On the morning of the 29th August, acting under authority, Dr. Slunin, had officials make a drive of about 50 or 60 aeala When about half the distance to the salt-house had been covered, one seal refused to be driven any further, taking a stand and fighting the drivers. For some time, they endeavonrt-d to force this animal into obedience but without success. It received several prods and blows from their clubs, but stubbornly refused to move and at the same time keeping the men at u safe distance. By this time the other seals were slightly .scattering, and this one was left to make its way back to the rookeries, which it did. I observed, however, that it went by a dilferent route from that which it had been driven and was lost to sight on a remote part of the rookery, nearer the sea front. The seals were eventually driven close to the salt-house. 82. In this small " drive," when females ulouo were wanted, there was one pup and two hoUuschickie. While they were being viewed by the party preparatory to tht! selection of a few for killing, some of them charged the drivers quite ferociously, the latter nimbly avoiding their teeth and poking them with their clubs. So persistent was one, that a native struck it a sharp * low on the nose. It rolled over apparently dead. This was the only one clubbed, the other four being rendered inanimate by strangulation, by means of a slip knot dexterously placed around their necks as they raised their h'ads when a dnb was pointed at them. They were then seized by the front flipper and a knife driven into their hearts. 83. As each of these seals was despatched. Dr. Slunin made a minute examination by dissection, in my presence, with the following results : — 1. Stomach entirely empty, with the exception of a few parasitic worm-s. Intestines containing n deep yellow liquire were very many seals in the water. Tlie second time the sun was hot, with like results. The third and fourth times were on a pleasant day, with the sun overcast, and comparatively few seals were in the water, the rookeries and hauling grounds being well filled up. This accords with the statement of the natives and others, while it shows that the seals will leave the rookeries for other purposes than to obtain food. 88. It was also noticeable that the seals on the rookeries remained in touch with the dead ones, without r.pparently paying any attention whatever to them. 89. The condition of the rookeries and surroundings, bore unraistakeuble proof of the fact that the oiRciais do not regard it of importance to clean them of the dead and rotting canasscs, in the fall after the seals have left. 90. Whatever may be said for or against terrestrial or pelasric sealing, as at present conducted, or the relative destruetiveness of these methods to seal life, there can be no question that the possibilities of the one far outweigh those of the other. Standing in the vicinity of a seal rookery, and viewing the animals thereon, it can- not but be strikingly appan^nt that they are, while on land, wholly at the mercy of man. Only the most favourable circumstances and conditions could enable them to escape an attempt at extermination. If attacked from the sea, it would be but a ques- tion of the number of men to do the work. If attacked from the shore, many could escape into the sea. 91 In the water, however, the conditions are reversed, and the animals are com- paratively safe. That their natural instinct leads them to an appreciation of this fact is shown by the rapidity with which they will seek the water, in panic, at the approach of threatened danger. Once having gained the element in which they can bring into full play their powers of locomotion, their safety is almost assured, and they will surround a boat or vessel at quite close quarters, raising their heads out of water in the moist inquisitive manner. 92. No concerted action on the part of pelagic sealers, no matter how persistent, could, it is submitted, compass the extermination of the seals. " Travelling " seals are seldom followed by the sealers, and when they are, with very little or no success. Besides, at no time could the main body of the sfc.ilsl)e found at any particular part of the ocean ; the herds of the two groups of Seal Islands, going to and coming from those islands, being distributed from shore to shore of the North Pac ific Ocean, in many cases following the sinuosities of the coast, a distance of mauy thousand miles. While during certain periods, the majority of the seals — and according to the United States and Russian authorities the whole of them — are to be found congregated on very circumstjribed rocks and beaches, at the small islands of St. Paul, St. George, Behring, Copper, and Robben. !'3. That the operators on the islands can select for slaughter, certain classes of seals not immediately required for rookery service, is not necessarily a complete vindi- cation of the method. It has been stated, that on the American islands, the annual draught upon this class impoverished the rookeries ; so much so that a total cessation of killing for a term of years was recommended. This class is as necessary from which to draw breeding seals, as are the females themselves, and its undue dimu- nition must necessarily have the same effect upon seal life as would that of the females. Besides, it is not shown that these so-called " bachelors " are not useful as breeders, although they may not go on the rookeries occupied by the "bulls." OPERATIONH ON THE ISLANDS. 94. Th<' RuHsitm Si-ui-Mkin Corapuny's agent explained the follow ingsyuopsis of regulatiouB of the llnssiau Oovorument, which hart- to be complied with by the company's officials, in the exeroiso of their franohisc on the iNlandM. A report of each " drive," on forms provided, is necessary. This report to show : The number of hoUusehiekie killed at each " drive." If any females, " bulls " or pups are killed. If any damaged skins are taken. The number of men employed in the killing gang. Absentees must be reported and the reasons for their absence given. The men are held responsible for the quality of the skins delivered If the flayer injures the skin, his name must bo reported. A fine is imposed for spoiling skins ; for killing females, or for taking bud skins. The "drives" to the killina; grounds should begin at (5 o'clock in the morning and continue until 10 o'clock. Killing to begin at noon and end at 7 o'clock, p.m., whenever possible. The clerk gives a receipt for the number of skins delivered at the salt-houses. 96 "Drives" on Koraandorsky Islands by the Russian Seal-skin Company, during the year 1898, supplied by Mr. Grebnitzky, Governor of the Islands. NORTH KOOKBRY, UEHRINO ISLAND. I'-l'Kli^li Skins ""<««• taken. May 28 (for food) 3 June 24 82rt July 2 668 " 13 472 " 18 1,370 " 23 1,670 " 27 1,516 " 31 1,159 Aug. 5 1,392 " 7 852 " 10 400 " 18 1,932 12,160 In all 14 females killed. South Rookery, Behriug Island (no details) 827 Total, Behring Island 12,487 GLINKA, COPPER ISLAND. May 22 68 June 6 100 " 21 , 714 " 26 250 " 26 570 July 1 782 4 1,216 9 524 14 300 " 14 624 17... 890 " 17 242 " 22 537 " 24 54 " 26 876 " 28 420 Aug. 8 194 4 278 v 16 ■lull*. laki'ii. Aug. 8 213 11 6«« " 12 804 18.. 452 " 14 74-.' lO.itOO KoRAHEiiNY, Copper Ifli.ANn. June 11 628 " 15 872 " 20 3i»8 July 2 778 7 2«5 " 10 777 18 1,0:>4 26 146 " 27 lit) " 27 no 31 236 5,345 Added 26 5,371 Total Copper Island 16,271 Total Komandorsky iHlaiids 28,758 Add skins taken IVoni Hobbcn Island 1,582 Total Russian Soal Islands 1898 30,290 NoTK. - III tlic siiiiiinjiry i»f tlie sfuliiii^ cftU'li, I'liinpiliHl l>y the Cnlli-ctni- of ('ustoiiirt at Vift«»riji, a|tiM'n'lix No. M7, tlif mimtHT of rtkiiiH IiuhIciI »t Sim Kruiu'luco oy tin* coiiiiiiiiiy'n Htfiiiiit-r *' Kotik," fnmi ri'tnthiinlovKki, m (Ovhii ut 83,Ilf3. I am iinulilo t^i nay from wlint Monri'f tltM 'J,tH>^( HkiiiH. in cxcVNr* of tliti lUitiiU.r kiUiil on tlin iHlaiids, wi-rt* drawn. .^6. Drives on Russian Seal Islands for 1892 and 1891, from information supplied by Mr. Pafsky, acting during absence of Mr. Qrebuitzky. 1892, UEHRINO ISIiANI). No dates shown on books. Si.al». 1 drive 1,330 6 drives 4,192 8 " 7,564 1 " 988 1 " 510 2 " 1,482 17 " 499 36 drives 16,665 COPPER ISLAND. SeaU. 7 drives 2,151 6 " 3,735 3 " 1,165 2 " 728 1 " 514 2 " 1,851 6 " 2,379 9 " 2,501 36 drives 16,024 Total 31,689 Bobben Island (None) IT 1801. BKHRiNii Island, 8 driros 8 " 10 " 1 " 8 " IT " 87 10 driv 10 " 6 " 2 " 1 '• 8 " »{ " 12 " 49 " COl'PER ISLAND. PS. 1.94tJ 1,784 A.««4 774 4.741 «70 S.-UN. 8,402 ■'),llttt l,!t02 1,017 988 2,(i22 1,17« 16,569 ROBDRX ISLAND. Number oi' skins takfu. 16,894 640 ", til.' 1*3. I lied Total 1891 88,003 97. Details of the drives at North Kookcry, Behring Island, duriup 1892 and 1891 taken from a memorandum by Alexander Sclivanoff. Houth Rookery drives not given. * 1892. July 2 June 1. " 22. 27. 2.. 6.' 14 18. 22. 24. 29., Aug. » 766 568 318 296 903 1,325 911 1,072 1,543 5 1,288 7 1,127 n 1,487 12 846 16 980 20 1,182 Total North Rookery 1892 14,566 * 1891. May 29. June 9. " 19. " 27. July 9.. " 15. " 23. " 2L .Si'aU. 51 300 606 445 456 774 1,233 796 • The number of " drives " cannot agree with the figures given above, because tlicwe figurcn give the attua! number of " drives," from different points of the rookery un the same date, thus making the number larger. ft Angr. 2 " 8. " 25. " 20. " 31. Sept. 1. " 4. 18 .SvaIh. 678 1,642 19 1,842 1,060 1,560 1,218 46d 82 Total North Rookery 1891 18,152 Recapitulation. 1898 30,290 skius, includiiig 1632 from Eobbeu Island. 1892 31,589 " none taken from Robbeii Island. 1891 38,003 " including .540 from Robben Island. 98. The above figures represent the take of the present lessees of the Russian Seal Islands, and show an average killing of 31,627 seals per annum. 99. During the previous ten years, covering the last half of the term those Islands were leased to the Alaska Commercial Company, 458,701 seals were taken therefrom by that company, averaging annually 45,870 ; and during the three years immediately preceding the operations of the present company, 150,220 seals were taken, an average of 52,073 per annum. 100. Air. Grebuitzky, the Russian Administrator on the Islands, states that the " drives " finished earlier in 1893, because of the agreement between Great Britain and Russia limiting the number to be killed, as well as from the fact that the seals were not so shy as they formerly were, by reason of the absence of pelagic sealers close in shore. 101. Mr. Julius Lindguist, at present resident at Petropaulovski, was on Behring Island during 1890, and up to Aiigust, 1891, in the emplov of the Alaska Commer- cial Company. He lived at North Rookery as overseer of the operations there, 102. He stated that on occasions, the authorities allowed bulls to be slaughtered, for the purpose of making skin boats, &c. For this purpose, during 1891, twenty bulls were killed. It was his opinion that this practice was injurious, because there were not too many of this cIush of seals, and he thought that the bulls had too many females to S(!rve. What he terms " half bulls " have, he says, sometimes been killed lor making boats, &c. He deprecates this practice, because they are then nearly ready for rookery service. 103. Mr. John Malowansky, agent for the Russian Seal-skin Company, advanced the theory, that during the "drives," by thecor.pany's employees, thousands of seals are disturbed and forced to great distances over a rough and tortuous route, under most distressing conditions. A large percentage of these animals are not killed at the time, for various reasons ; some escaping, some being turned back, others, not coming up to the standard after reaching the killing grounds. Nevertheless, the seals which have thas survived the ' drives," have undergone all the harassing conditions thereof. This goes on day after day, the same seals in many in^ftances being subjected to the ordeal time and again. 104. The reason he gives for forming this opinion is, that the pelagic sealers off Pribylov Islands have often told him that the seals would appear on certain days, and then as suddenly disappear. 105. It would not be surprising, 'f following a natural instinct of preservation, these seals, both male and female, int cead of immediately returning to the rookeries , 19 and hauling grounds respectively, should be frightened out to sea, until the imme- diate dread had suflSciently worn off to induce them to return to land. 100. In the light of all the circumstances connected with the sealing industry, and in view of the diversity of opinion, as to the feeding excursions of the seals from the islands, this theory may not be without force, and would seem to supply a better reason for migration than the theory of search of food or exercise, either of which can be had in any suflu ient degree in the immediate vicinity of the islands. 107. Another reason is thus afforded for the presence of seals at sea, and one immediately due to the methods of killing practised by the lessees of thi islands. T' the seals cannot be proven either to go, or to be compelled to go, from the islands for food ; then some other cause must be looked for, and if they leave the islands, once having cstablished^themselVes there, some valid reason must be found. 108. If in the interust of the protection of seals, the dates of the " drives " on the respective islands vrere procured, on the one hand, and the dates of the killing by the pelagic sealers, in the vicinity of the islands fixed on the other, it might be estab- lished, that the catches of the pelagic sealers had some bearing upon the " drives " on the islands. 10!'. It was noticeable that in Japan, there was quite a deep-rooted prejudice against pelagic sealing, because the difference between the legitimate operations of the Canadian fleet, and the vicious habits of the poacher or raider, forming the only kinds of seal hunting hitherto understood there, could not be appreciated. Hence they were all classed together. 110. The presence, however, of a number of the Canadian sealers at Hakodate this year, brought them in contact with the officials there, and their methods have become better understood. II.B.M. Consul Hall, spoke quite highly of the Canadian sealers as a class. EVIDENCE. 111. Briefly, the points for enquiry, embraced in my instructions may be put as follows : — 1. A careful examination of the sup- plementary Re])ort of the British Behring Sea Commissioners, and of the report of Mr. Macoun's investigations of 1892 as indicating the particular facts concerning seal life which remained still in doubt. 112. I. Owing to my necessarily hurri- ed departure from Ottawa, and the fact that neither of these documents had, up to that time, been communicated to the Caniidian Government, it is a matter of regret thct I was unable to avail myself of the assistance these papers would have rendered me, in my researches on the islands. Only on my return to Hakodate en route to Yokohama, did they, together with my formal appointment from the Right Honourable the Earl of Rosebery, reach me. 113. 2. An examination of the facts bearing on the efficiency, or otherwise, of the protective zone around the islands, pro- vided by the agreement ; and a comparison of the circumstances existing under it, with those obtaining in 1891 and 1892. (a.) (See also c). Whether females, whilst suckling regularly go to great dib- tances ttom the breeding isfands, And ate killed by pelagic sealers ; their yoUng on the islandb perishing in consequence. 20 M. Grebnitzky, Goveruor Komand- OTsky iBlands. Alexander Selirauoff, liussiau official at North Rookery, during killing 8ea'-'>u. .'•ppendix No. 8. 114 (a.) To the question: — "Do female seals whilst suckling their young, regular- ly go to great distances from the breeding islands; " this official replied, that he did not think they went to great distances in July (the suckling month), as they then suckled three or four times jx'r day. Later on, however, they suckled only once a day. He stated that young were found with milk in their stomachs, as late as Novem- ber, and he added he could not account for this because he did not know how long the seals suckled their young. 116. Again, in answer to a question as to the earliest c'ate at which females resort to sea after giving birth to their young ; this official stated that he knew the females did go to soa to feed, but only xoithin sif^ht of the rookeries, while they were nursing their young. 116. And still further when asked if they then sought the sea for the purpose of feeding, ho answered " yes ; but not out of sight of the rookericK." 117. Asked as to his opportunities for observation, he replied : he had seen females go out for feeding, and he had seen in the stomachs of seals examined, food which could not be obtained in the im- mediate vicinity of the islands. 118. During the time the female seals are suckling their young, they do not go to great distances to feed, but if the weather is line and no storms are prevailing, they will go 8 or 9 miles from shore, but no further, while nursing. When the weather is stormy, and the sea is running high, the nursing females will go only a verj' short distance from the rookeries. This official states that he has seen a female seal nurse her pup early in the morning, leave the rookery for a few hours, re( urn and again nurse the pup During the month of June, when the pups are young, the mothers do not l?ave them foi a longer time than about four hours. But later on, in July, when the puns are older, they will remain away for nine or ten hours at a time. 119. He states that he judges the dis- tances from personal observations, with field glasses. It was his duty to supply the othcials with all the information he could gather, during his daily observations of the rookeries and seals, and he watched the animiils leave and return. He would not mistake females. Aloxey Badaeffi iug Island. Appendix No. 4. Seal "driver" Behr- 120. The statement of this native is, that while the females are suckling their young, they do not wander far from the rookeries ; in his opinion not further than five miles. They go this distance for food, of which they can find sufficient there. In warm weather, the females will also go into the water, though not in search of food, and at such times will remain quite close to the shore. 31 "Waldemar Paetn, Ageut Euasiau Seal- skin Company, Bohriug Island. Appendix So. 2. Emile Kluge, agent Russian Seal skin Company, Copper Island. Mr. Julius Liiidguist, iipeared to remain off the islands. Melville Cutler, master of the seal- ing schooner "Agnes Macdonald." Appendix No. 0. AV. H. Whitely, master of the sealing schooner " Mermaid." Appendix No. 10. John B. Brown, master of the sealing schooner " Walter P. Hall." Appendix No 11. 130. Says that of the seals taken on the Russian side, two-thirds were females hav- ing some show of milk, but in no instance did he observe a full ilow ; all having the appearance of various stages of drying u]i; while those last killed had a very slight show of milk. 131. The declarant states that he paid partitrular attention to tlu.s, as he remained in the vicinity ior live days before getting any seals, and when they began to arrive, he mentioned to some of his men that they had prospects of a good catch, as the females wor" drying up, indicating that the pups must have been weaned, and that the seals might be expected to come offthe islands. 132. Says that on the whole, his catch off the Komandorsky Islands, comi)rised a small percentage more of females than males. The females taken in July were in fuller milk than at any other time. Those taken during the first part of August, were beginning to dry up, while towards the end of August, they showed clearly that they were drying, or had dried up. 133. States that his catch around the Komandorsky Islands was about half male and half female. He could not say as to the stages of the milk, but he did not notice any particularly free flow. William Cox, master of the sealing schooner " Sapphire." Appendix No. 12. George Heater, master of the scaling schooner " Ainoko." Appendix No. 13. Alfred Bissett, master of the schooner " Annie t). Paint." Appt'udix No. 14. >aling 134. Says he took some females in milk off Coppy caught the seals there. 168. Asked if he had any knowledge of " feeding banks," in the vicinity of the Russian Seal Islands, answered that he had no personal knowledge of the exis- tence of such banks, but he had heard that they did exist to the south-west of Behring Island, about 80 or 85 miles oflF, and to the south of Copper Island, but he had not heard how far off the latter island. 169. Knows of no " banks " to the southward of Komandorsky Islands, but there are plenty of surface lish, as far out as 200 miles— squid and small lish of diiferent kinds. 170. Sounded around Copper Island withSOO fathoms of line, but was unable to get any soundings. He never heard of any- one who had succeeded, and he knows of no " banks " there. He has noticed a good many squid around the island about 30 miles off, cut to pieces, probably by feeding seals. He has seen seals eating squid. In Behring Sea he has seen them eating cod. 171. Does not know of any "banks" around Komandorsky Islands, where soundings can be obtained. He has tried for soundings three seasons, but has never been able to get any, although he has used 120 and 200 fathoms of line. In certain places, a discolouration of the water occurs which has the appearance of soundings, but none can be obtained. In his opinion this probably accounts for the reported "banks." 28 Otto Biirholis, master of thti nealiug Bt'lioouer " Ciisco." Appundix No. 20. Melville Cutler, master of the seal- ing srhooiRT " Agues Maodouald." Appendix No. 9. W. H. White!)', master of the seal- ing schooner "Mermaid." Appendix No. 10. John B. Brown, master of the seal- ing schooner " Walter P. Hall." Appendix No. 11. William Cox, master of the schooner " Sapphire." Appendix No. 12. i^aling George Heater, master of the seal- ing schooner " Ainoko." Appendix No. 13. Alfred Bissett, master of the sealing schooner " Annie E. Paint." Appendix No. 14. 172. lliM no knowledge of any "banks" to the southward of Komandorsky Islands Lust year, when there was no protected area, he was aw dose as 15, and as far oH'as 100 miles. This year, he kei)t olf an ave- rage distance of -I-') miles, and never found any " hanks," although he tried for bottom fish, but could never get soundings with 120 fathoms of line. All the sealers he has spoken to on the sul)ject, have had the same experience. On so long u voyage, fresh lish is a luxury and they all try for them. The above, he says, applies also to the Japan coast, where tlie seals are taken entirely out of soundiiius. 173. Knows of no " banks " to the southward of Komandorsky Islands, where soundings can be got ; but then- are plenty of surface lish to be found. 50 or tiO miles to the southward. He has seen (juantitiesof dead squid, which had been mutilated by seals, and he also observed many salmon jumping out of (he water, during his stay in the vicinity of the Ku.ssiau Islands, between 2i')th .tuly and .5th Sep- tember. In fai'.t ho was among lish all the time. 174. Does not know of any " banks " to the southward of Komandorsky Islands. Last year he tried for bottom fish, about 30 miles olf with 100 fathoms of line. He has never heard of anyone else finding sound- ings. 175. Tliere is a small "bank" in Lat. 53° N. Long. 170° K., 7.5 miles south west of Attou Island. It is a very small " bank" ; the shoalcst part is 70 fathoms deep, but it is so small it is almost impossible to keep on it. Tliis is off the most I'asterly Ameri- can Island. 17(>. There are large quantities of squid around Komandorsky Islands, every- where, as far off as 100 miles 177. Is not aware of any " banks " around Komandorsky Islands, neither does he know of any sealers who havi^ ever got soundings there. There is an abundance of squid and salmon, as far oft' as 150 miles. 178. There are no " banks" to the south- ward of Copper Island, where sealers have ever been able to get soundings, though some sealers have reported a small " bank " S. W. of Attou Island, 75 miles olf, but he thinks they have never found bottom, judging only from the colour of the water. 179. Does not know of any "bank" around Copper Island. The most of the seals he got there were taken about 50 miles offshore. 180. Has seen discoloured water, whi(!h certainly had the appearance of soundings, but he has never heard of any having been got, although he has tried with 150 fathoms of line. 29 Wm. O'Liiiiry, master ol' tho snaling schooiii^r " Qoui'va." Appendix No. l'>. 18). Squid, snlmon and other fish, in quiintitieH, can he found from 60 to 120 miles oil'. 182. Know8 of no "biinkw" around Copper Island. He has never been able to get any soundings, nor has he heard that anyone (^Ise has ever ."tuccceded. He has seen salmon and squid from 50 to 00 miles olf shore. Thomas U. Brown, seal hunter board srhoomr " Aijues Maedouald." Appendix No. 16. R.N. Crovvell, master of the sealing schooner '• llrenda," in 1892. Appendix No. 17. \Vm. D. Byers, master of the sealing si'hooner "Carlotta Q. (Jox." Appendix No. 18. on 183. Has never known of any "banks" around the Komaudorsky Islands. Hunters do not know much about the position of the ship, but he has seen salmon jumping around the boat, outside the iJO-mile limit, and there were plenty of squid in the same locality. 184. Says that during the year 1892, he went on a seal liunting voyage around the Komandorsky Islands, as master of the schooner " I'renda." The only bank he knows of in the vicinity is north of Behr- ing Island, olf Cape Olgontorsky. The centre of this " bank" is about in latitude 58° N., longitude 170" E. Soundings can be hod from 40 i'athoms up. 185. Knows of no "banks" to the southward of Copper Island. He has sounded with IdO fathoms of line, looking for lish about 50 miles oH", but could get no soundings. 186. Squid, salmon and other fish are plentiful 100 miles olf. Abel Douglas, master of the sealing schooner " Arietas." Appendix No. 19. 187. Has tried for iish to the southward of Komaudorsky islands, but could get uo soundings. There are no " banks" there. In some places, the water has the appear- ance in colour as though soundings existed, and this doubtless accounts for reported " banks." Plenty of squid and salmon off the Island in July and August. 188. (e.) "Whether, in the event of females occiisioiuilly dropping their young at sea, or losing them ou the islands, and being thereafter found still in milk, at great distances from the rookeries, they would resort to and remain on the islands. Mr. Grrebnitzky, Governor of Kom- andorskv Islands. 189. On this point, expresses the opinion that the females, under su(!h cir- cumstances, would remain on shore, but that they would not copulate. In his report to the Russian Government, a synopsis of which is appended hereto (Appendix No. 1) he says : " Some females, " which are disturbed in their migrations " to the breeding rookeries, lose their pups " in the water. They are then liable to " illness, and some die, before reaching the " rookeries. Those of them which succeed " in reaching the shore, lose the instinct " which calls for service of the bulls." 10 AU'xandi'rSt'liviinoff. HuKHiuu offi0. Again he sayH : " If a female Iohos " her pup in the water, she can be readily "distinguished by the condition of the fur, " which is rough and thin under such cir- " cumstances." 191. Expresses the opinion that if a female lost her pup iit s(!ii, she would come to the rookeries ; becaust^ h(> has seen barren lenuiles on the rookeries, having no pup to look after. If she lost her pup on the rookery, s)ie would remain there for service by the bull 19i'. Cannot say what a female would do in case of losing her young, either at sea or on the rookery. 198. Kxim'ssed the oinnion that if female seals should droj) their young at sea, or lose them on the islands, they would remain on th(> islands, just the same as the other breeding females, lis to givt^ birth to their yotmg is not the only reason for their migrati(»ns to the islands. Their natural instinct also brings them there to receive servi<'e of the bulls. He considers this proven by thi^ fact that there are some barren females, which remain on the islands although having no young. 194. Says he believes that if females lost their pups at sea they would go to the islands; if they lost them on the islands, they would remain thert> for servii'e accord- ing to natural instinct, but this, like other matters, he says is dillicult to state. 195. "Was not in a position to express an opinion as to what I'emales woidd do in the event of losing their pups, either at sea or on land. 196. Expressed the opinion that there maybe premature births, with seals as with other animals, and that if a female lost her pup at sea, he thinks she would resort to the islands, and if she lost her pup on the islands, he believes her natural instinct would keep her there. W. ¥ sealing sd Api John 1 schooner " Apr Wm. schooner ' App Qeorgi' schooner " . App Alfred echoouer App R. N.( schooner App( Charles Leblaiic, master of scaling schooner " Sadie Turpel." Appendix No. 6. the Wm. Sheilds, master and hunter of the sealing schooner " Vera." Appendix No. 7. 198. Says : During the latter part of .Tune between Yesso and Sikotan Islands, on the Japan coast, he got between 20 and 30 females in milk from 30 to 40 miles off shore. Note. — It is quite evident that these seals had either pupped on the Japan Is- lands or lost their pups at sea. 199. Says that during the last week in June, and the first 12 days in July, off Staten Island, one of the Kuriles, he took a few cows in full milk, although very few. 207. (J migration i Asiatic sid and return Islands, wi the vicinitj Capt. : cruiser " Za 81 W. H. Whit.'ly, maNtiT BcaliuK' st'hooiii'r " Mi'rmiiid." Appt'inlix No 10. )r th. John IS. Urowii, muster oi'thi' Healing Kchooiier •' Walter 1'. Hall." Appendix No. 11. Wm. Cox, ma8t(>r of the sealing: schooner "Sapphire." Appendix No 12. George Heater, master ol" the sealing schooner " Aiuoko." Appendix No. 13. Alfred Bissett, master of the sealing schooner " Aunie 15. Paint." Appendix No. 14. R. N. Crowel), master of the sealing schooner " Brenda" in ls92. Appendix No. 17. 207. (/.) Respecting the actual migration routes of the fur seals, of the Asiatii! side of the Pacific, in going to and returning from the Komandorsky Islands, with their winter habitat, in the vicinity of the Japanese Coast. Capt. Domojiroff, of the Russian cruiser " Zabiaka." 200. OIF the .Iai)an eoant, on the lUth day of June, ifot two or three femalt h in full milk. As the day wan foggy he lould not get exact poNitions, but ho was al»oiit M) miles otf He remarks that these seals must have come from some rookery, or have ilropped tiieir pups in Ihe sea. On the same day he also got his !asl seals in pup. 201. About the end of June on the ■Fapan coast, olf Yesso, lie iu Island — off Sand Point— on the LSth day of June. AVhen she was opened, the milk (lowed freely over the deck. He states that this seal must have dropped her pup at sea, or pupped on Shumagin Island. 205. Says: On the way to Copper Island about 100 miles S. J K. (true) off Amchitka Island, he took eight seals while crossing the 180 meridian on the 4th day of July. Four of these eight seals were females heavy with pup. He does not know whether they were going to the Russian or American side ; but he is certain that they could not have reached either of the known seal rookeries in time, as they were too far advanced. 206. Expresses the opinion, that some- where ou the North American coast, be- tween Queen Charlotte Islands and Unimak Pass, there must be a seal rookery. lie bases this opinion on the fact that female seals are takeu there, so heavy with pup that it would be impossible for them to reach any of the known rookeries, before dropping their young on th way. 208. Had not been sufficiently long in the vicinity to observe very closely the migration routes of the seals, but he 32 gathered that they worked along the Japan coast in the spring, and returned iu very much the same direction, iu the fall. He was unaware of their winter habitat. Capt. Chmeilevsy, of the Russian cruiser, " Yakout." Commander Burr, of H.M. cruiser " Porpoist' " Mr. G-rebnitzky, G-overnor of Komaudorisky Islands. Alexander Selivauoff. Russian offi- cial at North Rookery during killi)ig season. Appendix No. H. Capt. D. A. Qrunberg, of the Rus- sian Seal-skin Company's schooner " Leon." Appendix No. 5. 209. Touching the qxn'stion of migra- tions, considered it a very ditficult subject upon which to express any decided opinion. The master of the seized schooner " Moud S." informed him, that in April and the beginning of May, in passage from Yoko- hama to Hakodate, he caught about 400 seals on the eastern side of Nipon Island. This and similar evidence, was all he had to depend upon lor his opinion of their migrations to the islands. He had no personal knowledge, and it was difficult to tell, the seals coming in all directions. He has been gen(!rally informed, that the seals go to the S. E. in the winttsr, but of their winter habitat he knows nothing. 210. Had not observed much with regard to the migration routes of the seals, and was unable to give any positive information on this branch of the subject. 211. Preferred not to make any state- ment on this point, as it v>'as his intention shortly to publish a work on the subject. In his r. port to the Russian Grovernment, a synopsis of which is appended, he states that the seals migrate from the Komau- dorsky Islands about the middle of November, moving south to the .Tapan sea Herein he also states, that the Robbeii Island herd move down thi; .Fapanese coast in the same direction, and seals are found landed on islands inside thi>Kuriles. Some instead of goijifr to llobben Island, distri- bute themselves on other islands in the Okhotsk Sea. 212. Could not say much about the migration routes of the seals, or of their winter habitat, bvit they come from S. E. and return iu the same direction Mr. John Malowausky, agent of the Russian Seal-skin Company, on board the Company's steamer " Kotik." 213. States that in going to the islands, every thing indicates that the seals approach from the southward and sotxthwestvvard. In going from the islands, he cannot say as to what route they may take. His reason for stating that they come from the south and south-west is, that they first land n. the south-west part of Copper Island, following along that island, landing as they go, on the several rookeries. Thence keeping the same direction, alongshore, to Behring Island, landing on the rookeries there. As to their winter habitat he knows nothing. 214. Gave me an extract from a letter from Mr. John G. Welsh, of the firm of Welsh, Hall Company, of Yokohama. This letter was dated 17th April, 1898, and as it touches the question of migrations the extract may be given as follows : ■: uii-'myn^m t 83 Charles Lebiauc, master of the soal- hig Kchooucr " Sadie Turpol." Appendix No. 6. Wm. Shei'ds, master and huuter of the sealiuij siihooner " Vera." Appendix No. 7. " It may iiitcn ^t you and your friends " of the Seal Company, to know that the " Sv'hoonevs which lately left here (about " 20 to iif) in all, with If) or 20 more going " direct from your side), are reporttid to be " having good success. One of them re- " turned hen- yesterday for repairs, and " brought 'i,')0 sealskins, which were taken " in two days. Some arc said to havMs taken " 1,000 skins, also in a very short time. " The Captain of the returned schooner, the " 'Arietas,' told me that all the seals are "captured in the sea about 150 miles east " and 250 miles north of this harbour." This letter was addressed to Mr. Malo- wansky, at San Francisco. 215. So far as the migration route of the seals to the I'dands is concerned, he can only say he met theni on the .Icipan coast on the 10th dav oi April in latitude 39" 22' N., longitudii 143° 12' E , and fol- lowed them along the coast until the 4th of .July in latitude 44 ' .^S' N., longitude 149° 25' E-, his average distance from shore being about 30 miles. lie lost the herd about 50 miles east of Sikotan, at the beginning of the Kuriles. 216. Says that he met the seals on the 29th day of March, olf the .Tupau 9^ and 41** north latitude and 144'' and H6'^ east longitude. Otto Bucholz, uiast'T of the sealinij schooner " Casco." Appendix No. 20. Melville Cutler, master of the seal- ing schooner " Agnes Macdonald." Appendix No. 9. 218. Gives as his experience as to the migration routes of seals to the; ICom.an- dorsky Islands, that he lirst encountered them olf the Island of Nipon, in April and May, at a distance ol between 20 and 70 miles from shore ; his first position being latitude 40° .31' north, longitude 143° 42' east. He followed them along the (;oast to latitude 43° 25' north, longitude 146° 28' east. The herd disappeared in the latter end of .Tune, off Sikotan Island. 219. First saw the seals this year about 200 miles north of Yokohama, from 180 to 200 miles oil" shore, during the first week in April. He found them all along the coast of Nipon. and some along the co.ast of Yesso. Olf the northern part of Y(>sso, he lost the herd, and did not see them again until oifKoniandorsky Islands, (hi the Japan coast he bi gan sealing the 2nd day of April and contiv.aod until 23rd June, his positions rangirg between lati- tude 88° and 43° north, longitude 142° and 147° east. 84 W, 'I. Whitely, master of the sealing schooner " Mermaid." Appendix No. 10. John B. Brown, master of the deal- ing schooner "Walter P. Hall," Appendix No. 11. George Heater, master of the sealing schooner "Ainoko." Appendix No. 13. Wm. O'Leary, master of the sealing schooner " Geneva." Appendix No. 15. Abel Douglas, master of the sealing schooner " Arietas." Appendix No. 19. August G. Bjene, master of the seal- ing schooner " Beatrice." Abel Douglas, master of the Bealing Bchooner " Arietas." Appendix No. 19. 220. With respect to the migration routes of seals to Komaudorsky Islands, this year he met them on the 2.'>th day of March, in latitude 3C° 10' north, longitude 145° east, 200 miles off Cape Inaboye, about 60 miles north of Yokohama. He followed them up the coast to Hikotan Island. There he lost them about the latter end of .Tune and met them again oil' Komaudorsky Islands. 221. First met the seals 7th April in latitiide 86° 38' north, longitude 144° 07' east, off the .Japan coast, and followed them up until thi! 29th day of .Tune, in latitude 42° 53' north, longitude 145° 18' east. Off Akishi, the seals began to travel north, and from that out all he took on the Japan coast were travellers. 222. N.'vc- having sealed on the Japan coast, cannot fXi)ve. s r.ny jji-rsonal opinion as to the misjT'^iou i" ■ oj' seals to the Russian IslnnO>, -i', s"(ilers tell him they work up i! '• . ■ ■ oast at various distan<'es along INipon Island. 223. Says he cannot .jay where the seals strike the coast of Jiipau, bv.t they were there wIk'U he Hrst lox-ercd his boats for them otf Nipon Island, on the Ist dav of April, latitude 38° 15' N., longitude 143° 12' M. He followed them up to the 7th of July, in latitude 43° N., longitude 155° 58' E., along the Islands of Nipon and Yesso, and found them all the way from CO to 300 miles oil' shore. Between 1st April and 7th .July, during his stay on the Japan coast, his positions ranged between north latitude 38° 15' and 43°, and east longitude 142° and 155° 58'. He cannot s:/ us to the movements of the seals .tit- ■ ii>iving the islands in the fall, but he h ..i, \\s they are to be found all winter \x\. >i •■ 'Vuud them in the spring, and um Uh v ;•• > i .ick to the breeding islands. '4. Shows that he took his Jirs; «■■ .? on the .lapan coast, on the 7th uay of April, in latitud(! 37° 35' N., longitude 144° 33' E., and the last on the 24th day of June in latitude 44° 7' N., longitude 147" 30' E. Between these dates, and along that roast, his positions ranged from 37° 28' to 44° 7' N. latitude, and from 143° to 147° 30' east longitude. 225. iiicf ^sitionsgiv. i, ' ythissealing captain show : That he !' - ir>H the seals on the Japan coast, 21st M...'; 'n 'ati'ude 37° 11' N., longitude 142"^ ; 1.. He fol- lowed tiiem until the 21st June, in latitude 41° 4TN., longitude 142° 18' E. The riMige of hi iviriition on the .Japan coast, was irom 'ii'^ ii' to 43' 9' north latitude, and 142" t.' i "• east longitude. 226. Took his first seals on the Japan coaet on the 7th day of April, in latitude 37^ 35' N., longitude 144° 38' E., and the 35 Wm. Bvers, master of the sealing schooner " Carlotte G. Cox." Appendix No. 18. (All Bnssian dates.) last seals there on the 24th June in latitude 44° r north, longitude 147° 30' .ast, his positions between these dates 8iOng that coast, ranging as above. 227. Met the seals on the Japan coast on the 28th March, in latitude S9° 22' north, longitude 145° E. He sealed along the coast until the 30th June, on which day he took the last seals on the Japan roast. During this period his positions ranged from 3!)° to 48° of north latitude and 142° to 140° of east longitude. From Yokohama up, he says the route of the seals lies parallel with the coast of Japan, and the Kurile Islands, at distances ranging from 20 to 200 miles off. He believes they win- ter between latitude 38° and 41° north, as from 28th March to 30th May, he took them between these positions continu- ously. 228. («-.) The average dates of land- ing and departure from the islands, of sea's of different sexes and ages, par- ticularly if those can be obtained for a series of years. 220. Whether females land on the islands, from the time they leave them as pups until they return to give birth to first pup. Mr. Pafski, administrator Koman- dorsky Islands. 230. On leaving Nikolski .Jr. Greb- nitzky referred me to Mr. Pafski (who was to replace him during his absence) for in- formation on this point. An examination of the records by Mr. Pafski, however, re- AH^aled the fact that no positive dates could be given from year to year, 'of the arrival and departure of the different classes of seals. For instance, in 1893, on North Rookery, the first bull arrived on the 4th May ; on the tJth 2 more arrived ; on the 9th 4 arrived ; on the 10th 5 bulls and 1 holluschickie. On theeveningof the 10th, (i bulls. On the 12th, 23 bulls, 2 females and 1 holluschickie. In the water close to the rookery, this day, there were 12 seals. On the 14th, 28 bulls arrived, 9 holluschickie and 3 females; on the 18th May, 40 bulls, and close to the rookery 5 females. In the evening of that day 1 bull. On the 20th, 12 bulls; 24th May. 90 bulls and 50 holluschickie; on 3 lot May, 100 bulls and 70 holluschickie, also, 80 females, and another herd of 25 females. On the 1st June, 130 holluschickie, 28 females and 28 bulls ; on 2nd June, 100 females and IbO holluschickie. On the 3rd June, the bulls chose their females, and the hol- luschickie took other places No furth<; i- information is given, except that the buns started to leave about the middle of August, but the other seals were still (4th Sept.) on the rookeries. 231. This accounts for very few seals on the rookeries, and it is quite evident that any attempt to establish their arrival in this way must necessarily prove imprac- ticp.ble. 36 Alexander Selivauoif, Russian ollicial at North Rookery during killing season. Appendix No. 3. (Russian dates.) Alexey BadaelF, Behring Island. Appendix No. 4. Seal " driver 232. It was gathered, however, from the officials on the island, that generally speaking the seals commence to arrive in May and remain until the middle of Nov- ember. They arrive in about the following order : First bulls, then females ; then females and holluschickio mixed, princi- pally holluschickie. The bulls begin to leave about August, and th(^ females and Lolluschickie leave in October and Novem- ber. When they begin to come in large numbers, in the latter part of June and July, it is dillicult to distinguish them. It is also most difficult to keep track of the number of bulls arriving from day to day. They haA'e no reliable records. 233. To the query as to whether females land from the time they leave as pups, until they return to give birth to their first pup — Mr. Pafski replied that a large number of young females were on the islands this year : females that were not breeding. 234. In 1892, the .seals arrived on the island as follows : — First, the Hulls, the first arriving on the first day of May, and from that forward coming gradually until 1st July ; this is the reason that a few bulls will be found later in the fall on the rookeries. Second, Females. The first females arrived on the 20th May, and from that forward they kept arriving until the 15th July, by which time all the females were on the rookeries. Third, the holluschickie arrived about the riame time as the females, but continued arrivinu: the whole time, until about the 15th .\ugust. 235. They departed as follows, in 1 802 : The bulls first, he cannot say the actual time of leaving. As the seals come they leave — gradually ; they began to leave about the Ist October, and had all left the islands by the 12th November. The bulls had nearly all gone, by the time the others started to leave. 23G. This official left the rookery in 1893, and did not observe the landing and departure of the seals. The Prst bull arrived on the 28th April, alone. 237. He has seen young females, (year- lings) evci'v year on the rookeries. Last year, he made a " drive," thinking to take about 2,600 skine, but he discovered there were over 1,000 young females, mixed with the holluschickie. 238. (lenerally speaking, from year to year according to the weather, the seals arrive at the rookeries as follows : — ^The bulls come first, arriving about the 20th April ; nextthe females, during the first part of May. The holluschickie come about the same time as the females. The bulls begin to leav" the rookeries first. The bulk of the seals leave the islands, between the Ist October and 20th November ; none 87 being on tlit; rooki-rics after the latter date. He judgeH that young non-breeding fe- inah'H land on the islands, from the fact that he has seen young I'emales mixed in a drivo of bachelors. Waldemar Taetz, agent for the 289. Says there is no doubt female seals Kussiau feeal-skin Company at Behring land on the islands, before they visit the Island. rookeries to give birth to their lirst pup ; Appendix No. 2. because young females are often observed mixed with the holluschiokie and other- wise, Emile Klui;:e, agent for the Russian Seal-skin Company at Copper Island. Russian dates. Mr. Julius Lindguist. agent Messrs. Welsh, Hall & Company Petropaulovski. Russian dates. for at Captain D. ^.. riviinbGrg, of the Company's schooner " Leon." Appendix No. 5. 244. (A.) The State of Komaudorsky Islands, in years of scarcity or of abun- dance of seals on the Pribylov Islands. As to whether these two groups of islands are similarly affected, in the same years, and generally, any effect upon the Komaudorsky Islands, believed to be due to practices upon Pribylov Islands or Robben Reef. Mr. Grebnitzky, Governor of Ko- maudorsky Islands. 240. Stials lirst arrive every year about the end of April. The bulls reach the islands at that time. In tho. latter part of May, a few holluschictkie arrive. The breed- ing females arrive about tht; beginning of June. They pup almost immediately, Holluschickie arrive gradually, from their first coming until the middle of July, The yearlings aiTiv(! about the commence- ment of August. T e big bulls do not leave the rook(M'ies until the latter part of July, at which time they are very thin and go to the feeding grounds. 241. The large bulls arrive on the islands during the latter part of May. They are followed by a few of the larger " bache- lors," or " half bulls," and some females aJ)out the 1st June. The females arrive slowly and the bachelors arrive with them. By the first part of July, all the females an; on the rookeries. The bulk of the " killables " arrive after 1st July, the largest run being during the end of July and 1st August. By the middle of August, all the seals are on the rookeries. 242. Young females do resort to the rookeries before they return to give birth to their first pups, because they are found there, mixed with the bachelors. 243. Female seals do land on Ihe i.slands before! th(|y return i.. give birth to their first pups. The r<;ason ho is positive of this is, that young immature i'emales are often found mixed up iu a " drive," to 245. States that the seal herds of the Komaudorsky and Pribylov Islands, are absolutely distinct, consequently no opera- tions on either could affect the other. The seals which summer on Robben Island, do not visit Komaudorsky Islands. Seals also haul out o,, the Japan Islands, and they all winter in the same place as those which visit Komandorsky Islands. 88 Alcxaudur Sflivauoff, Russiau ofli- cial at North Kookery during killing season. Api)endix No. 8. 240. Could give no opinion on thin subjtut ; but he noticiHl on the North Kookery, last year, three builn whi(^h were very dillerent in api)earance I'rom the bulls resortinj^' to Komandorsky Islands. They had long manes on the baek of their necks. These bulls caused considerable discussion among the natives. One man who had come from St. Paul, J'ribylov Islands, named Efim Snergiroif, stated that they had the seals come from precisely the same direction ; but he cannot think, that operations on the Pribylov Islands could at all affect the Russian Islands, and vice rersa, b(M;ause, he believes the seals to be of entirely distinct herds; those on the Asiatic side coming from the .Tapan <'oast, and those on tht! American side following along the North American coast. Captain D. A. Grunberg, of the Russian Seal-skin Company's schooner " Leon." Appendix No. 5. ■24!i. Was unable to express any opinion, as to whether the two groups were similarly affected in seasons ot scar- city or otherwise ; but he believed that if any effect could be produced upon Koman- dorsky Islands, if would be from practices on Robben Island Those on Pribylov could not affect the Komandorsky couplet. Alfred Bissett, master of the sealing Bchooner " Annie E. Paint." Appendix No. 14. 250. States that there is no difference in the herds of seals which frequent the two groups of islands. The majority taken oif Copper Island are darker in colour than those on the American side, but there are very many which show no difference what- ever in appearance. The stomachs contain about the same kind of food, principally squid. 88 251. (i.) The numbor of years during which a female seal tontimies to bear youug, and thi'. Expresses the opinion that female seals will average 10 births, thus bearing young for 10 years. He cannot say how many years a male seal will render eflioient service. From his observations on the islands, he thinks they begin at five years of age, and continue about 15 years He, however, could give no particular reason for this opinion. Alexandc r Selivanoff, Russian offi- 253. Cannot say how long a female cer at North Rookery. will bear, or a male render rookery service. Appendix No. 3. AlexeyBadaeff, seal "driver," Behr- :i54. Could not answer either ques iug Island. tion, but he has seen a very old bull serving Appendix No. 4 a female. "Waldemar Paetz, agent for the Rus- 255. Could not answer either ques- sian Seal-skin Company at Behring tion. Island. Appendix No, 2. Emile Klnge agent for th(^ Seal-skin Company at Copper Island. Mr. Julius Messrs. Welsh, Petropaulovski. Lindguist, agent for Hall & Company, at 256. Expresses the opinion thatafemn'e seal will bear young in the third year of her age, but he can form no idea of how long she may continue to bear, nor how long a bull may sarve on the rookery. In fact, he says, he does not see how any one can tell this. 257. Judging from size and appear- ance, is of opinion a female will pup at three years of age. The natives told him that good sized skins are taken from seals six or seven years old, and as these aie not large enough for rookery service, he judges they do not breed until at least eight years old. He is of opinion that, so long as the bulls are on the rookeries, they are of service to the females, and he has seen some old ones, probably fifteen or twenty years old. Capt. Grunberg, of the Russian Seal-bkin Company's schooner " Leon." tion 259. (j.) The existence and habits of barren females and effete males : — 258. Could not answer either ques- Mr. Grebnitzky, Komandorsky Islands. Governor of 260. States that in 1892, he noticed more barren cows on Copper Island than during the present year. He noticed no barren cows on either island this year. 261. In his report to the Russian Gov- ernment, Mr. Grebnitzky says : — Generally speaking, there is a considerable number of barren females (old) which do not go on the rookeries for service by the bulls, but lay outside near the holluschickie. These barren females are easily frightened. 262. Mr. Grebnitzky further stated that this year between 200 and 300 old bulls came to the islands with the females, and then left without serving them. 40 AU'Xiinder SeliviiiiofT, Uussiou offi- cial at North Kookory. Appoudix No. 3. Alexey Badaoft", sealer " driver," Behring Island. Appendix No. 4, 26.1. States that he has never noticed any adult ieuiales which wore barren, nor any old bulls, which were not able for rookery service. 264. Does not know of the existenee of barren females on the rookeries. There may or may not bo. There are no bulls on the rookeries which do not serve the fe- males. "Waldomar Paetz, agent for the Rus- 265. Knows that every year there are sian Seal-skin Company at Behring upon the rookeries a few old bulls, which Island. are no longer able for roukery service. The Appendix No. 2. number of this class is small, but they do occur each year. Mr. Julius Lindguist, agent for Messrs. Welsh, Hall & Co., at Petro- paulovski. Chas. Leblanc, master of the sealing schooner " Sadie Turpel." Appendix No. ti. Captain \Vm. Sheilds, master and hunter of the sealing schooner " Vera." Appendix No. 7. Wentwortli E. Baker, master of the sealing schooner " Oscar & Hattie." Appendix No. 8. Otto Bu year 1898, compared with previous years : — Mr. Grebnitzky, Q-overnor of Ko- maudorsky Islands 27'J. Says that there is a decrease of three-tenths compared with last year, and three-fifths compared with the year before. Ho arrives at those figures from records kept at the rookeries, and from his own observa- tions, when he visits the rookeries. This year there were more pups and more fe- males on Behring Island than last year. 280. There were more bulls on Copper Island than last year, but fewer on Behring Island. He states that on the lattt r island, only four yearlings were observed, but on Copper Island, there was an increased num- ber of yearlings. In 1892, he noticed more barren cows on Copper Island than this year. None on either island this year. 281. In his report to the Russian Gov- ernment, this functionary says,that pelagic sealing caused a decrease of seals on the breeding rookeries, especially of females, only about one-half of the females being noticed on the rookeries since 1888, as compared with the number for some years prior to that date. And in his telegrn.ir^ to the Minister of Domains, he states that there are plenty of seals in the sea and on the coast of Kamtschatka, but fewer seals this year on the rookeries. He reports a slight decrease of females on Copper Island this year, but there are plenty of bulls, and he adds, the skins taken are large. Comn;ander Burr, of H.M.S. poise." For- 282. Expressed the opinion that there were fewer seals on the rookeries than there were two years ago, and that they were smaller, both male and female. Alexander Selivauoft', Russian official at North Kookery. Appendix No. 3. 283. C'ays from personal experience there is an increase compared with last year. This increase was noticeable in all classes of seals, but particularly in the number of females and pups ; while there was also an increased number of bulls. There were over 1,000 bulls on the rookery this year. 284. During the year 1892, the rooker. ies were in better condition than in 1891, there being more seals generally, though he could not say of what particular class. On the whole, he believes, the rookeries to be in a bettor condition, than for the past three years. Alexey Badaeff, seal " driver," Behr- ing Island. Appendix No. 4. 11 285. There were more seals on North Rookery this year than last. The increase is general, including all classes of seals. In 1891 there were not so many seals as in 1892, and this year, 1893, there were more seals thau in 1892. 42 Waldcmar I'at'iz, agent of the RusHiau Soal-skin Company, at Behring Island. Appendix No. ::. Mr. Eniile Khige, agont of the Russian fc'eal-skin Company at Copper Island. Captain T>. A. Grunberg, of the Russian Seal-skin Company's sehooner " Leon." Appendix No. 6. *The figures were 540. Mr. Julius Lindguist, agent, Messrs. "Welsh, Hall & Co., at Petiopaulovski. 291. (/.) The presence of Fish in the vicinity of the Russian Seal Islands. Captain Fawkes, R.N. Commander 13urr, R.N. Aleiey Badaeff. Appendix No. 4. Waldemar Paetz. Appendix No. 2. Capt. Grunberg. Appendix No. 5. 2Hti. States that there were last year, and this year more seals on North Rookery than there were durin'; 18f>l,the lirsl year he spent on the island. 287. There is a considerahle increase in the uumlier of Icmale seals, and also in the number of pups this year. The first year he was on thi' island, there were very few bulls on the rookeries ; but last year the number of bulls increased, and this year it increased again over the iium])er of last year. There was very little difference between the number of bachelors this year and last, but there was a considerable increase in the number of females. lie considers the rookery to be in better con- dition this year, as regards numbers of seals, than during 1^91 and 1892. 288. Believi's that there are f(>wer female seals on the rookeries of Copper Island than last year, but he could not say to what extent they had decreased. He also considered that, on the whole, there were fewer seals on thi> rookeries than during 1891 and 18!t2. 289. Considers there is an appreciable decrease in the number of seals on Robben Island, as compared with 1886 and 1886. There were no skins taken on th(! island last year by the company, l)ecause 't was not considered i)rolitable to send sealers there. This year, however, they took 1,.;32 skins. In 1891 the take was less, hut he could not say the exact number.* 290. Thinks there M'ere more seals on the island in 1890 than in 1891 ; but he heard from the employees of the Russian Seal-skin Company, that there were more seals on tht^ islands this year than last. 292. Capt. Fawkes, of H.M.S. " Mer- cury, " says, of the vicinity of Robben Island, that while he caught very few fish on the cruising grounds, they were plen- tiful within a few miles of the shore. 293. Commander Burr, of H.M.S. " Porpoise," testified to the grijat numbers of lish to be caught close to the shore. 294 Alexey Badaeft", a native of Behr- ing Island, testifies that the seals can find all the food they want within five miles from the islands. 295. Waldemar I'aetz, Company's agent at Nikolski, says : The seals can get food near the islands. 29G. Capt. D. A. Grunberg of the Russian Seal-skin Company's schooner, " Leon " believes the seals can get food without going far from shore, as while nursing they do not go beyond one or two miles oiT. 48 Capt. Chmeili'vsky, Imperial Rus- sian Navy. 297. ('apt. Chiniilevsky roportsplfuty of cod near all ihi- villagos. I'l'rsonal obscrvnlious of R. N. Vou- ning. Mr. Grebnitzky, Governor of Ko- mandorsky Islands. Appendiz No. 1. 298. My own experience on board the " Kotik" was, that wherever we anchored off Copper Island, never further than a))out a mile from shore, the (luanlity of cod to be taken was only limited by the time devoted to it. I caught these fish, mt'asur- m en times when they went up the rivers lor them, Mr. Lindguist, mate of the Com- pany's steamer " Kotik." 302. Mr. Lindguist, mate of steamer " Kotik," described the arrival of the sal- mon as follows : — 1. The King salmon (a very large fish), the end of May and beginning of June, running about four weeks. 2. The Hooked-mouth fish, the middle of June. 3. The Humpbacked salmon, begin- ning Ist July. 4 The Red salmon, come gradually and run until 1st August. ■5. The Silver salmon, last of July and 1st August. They all go up the rivers, with the exception of the King salmon. 44 Gavril l^oclprujrin, Rusaiau man, near rt'troi)a»ilovski. isht' Chief native at Saiauuoie. Personal oliservsitiousol'R. N. Venuiu!?, Silver Haltnon < an he Ibnn'l in nioHt iTeekH on the KiuntHehulku cnaNt up to December, and he has heard of stragiflers until Fei)rui»ry. 808. The King- Hiihnnn appear about the iNt June. Some of them will reach 40 IbN. weight. 804. The Necond run In composed of red, hiimphacked and hook-noMcd Niilmon. The red come sliufhtly earlier, but ufene- rally they arc mixed. Thene appeiir about the 12th June. 805. The Silver ualmon ari'the lust to urrivi', (ominir nbout th(> 12th July, hut ure then ncarce. Uy the l')th September they are more plentiful, and in best condi- tion. 306. All classes of salmon are taken until about thi^ 15th t)ctober, and llien tin- stormy weather prevents lishinu:. On the large lvamt.schatkan rivers, salmon are caught until Christmas. •307. The opinion expressed by Mr. Podprugin was that the lish died, and never went to sea again after spawning. 808. He says : The King salmon spawn in July, the ''id salmon about the first week in Se- her, and the Silver salmon nbout 1st abev. 309. The Chief of the native fishing village of Sarannoie. Uehring Island, which village is composed of a tew huts situated at the mouth of a stream of that name, flowing from a lake of considerable size, said: The hook-mouth and red salmon, arrive in the month of May, and leave the lake in January. The silver salmon arrive in July and leave in November. 810. With Dr. Slunin, I visited their fishery, which consisted of two rudely con- structed diims entirely across the stream, one about .')0 or tlO feet above the other, within a short distance of the mouth of the stream. These dams were loosely built, by driving largt* stakes slanting down stream, and barking them up with large and small boulders. Although not sulfi- cient to dam the How of the water, they seemof' to be quite effective in impound- ing the fish, and immense quantities of red, hump-bucked and silver salmon, were con- gregated below the first dam, and between the two. The mode of capture theu adopted, was a gaff and dip net, with the iormer of which the natives dexterously secured some specimens of each kind. The red salmon varied in colour ex- ternally from a deep red to a dull slaty colour with a reddish tingt! ; the highly coloured ones predominating. The hump- backed salmon, were of a dull slaty colour, with whitish bellies and a small golden eyes. 311. The silver salmon, were beauti- fully formed fish, of a bright silvery colour, and represent a particularly symmetrical 48 12 s|>i'( iiiifii ot th« Atluiitic Milinoii. tlioiii^)i tlicy iirtMi thii'ki'i- liNh (or tlicir Ifiiirlh, iind iiMnh l)riu;lit('r in loloiir thiui thi' ordimiry Atluiitic Hiilinon ol'lVom 8 to 1'2 \h». wt'itjht. •'il'i. The rt'd luiilo Haliiioii, haditbiior- niiiliy hooked iioncs, in fhiH rcMpeet sur- IxiHHiiit; th(! hutiip-hiirked Naiinou, in whii'li tliis periiliiirity wus aluo purticiiliirly marked. Tliu silver salmon, aJMO showed a sliglit teiideuey that way, but not nearly no marked us in the other speeinieu.s. iil.'l. Dr. tSlunin, in my j>reNenee, ex- amined the stomachs ot six of these salmon : three J'emahw, — oue red, one hiimp- backt'fl and one silver salmon, t hree males ; one of I'uch kind. All of these lish ( oii- tained ova and milt, in a well developed and advanced sta>?e. Thi.s was on the morninp; of the 2Mth Auiriist. With the exi'cptiou of one male, the stomaclis of these fish contained no trace whatever ot food, but all contained a few iiarusite.s. In the stoumcti of this one male, was found u small lish, about threi' inches in length. ■>\i. Up to that dale, there had been taken at this village 22,0(^0 salmon. The choice portions were selected for food and huuj? uj) to dry, but the bulk of these fish are dried ami usi-d during the winter as food lor dogs. iil'). When returning from North Rookery to Nikolski, I passed a small shallow pool, not greater in extent thuu ;{(> X 15 feet, apparently the termination of a snuill blind creek, in this pool were hundreds of salmon, principally red, some were dead, the others in a dying condition. 316 Evidently these iish could get no further, and their instini.'t to asc'id, pre- venting them from returniu',, they cied in shallow water, which in same places wa8 scarcely sulficieut to cover them. 317. While at Petropaulovski, during the month of September, I observed some local lishermen ccichiutt' salmon. Directly from the shore of the inner harbour, into wbii'h no river or i'resh water of any kind flowed, with nets of but a few fathoms in length, they made good catches of the " silver " salmon, takiug as many as 12 and 15 at a haul averaging probably 12 or 16 pounds in weight. Their method was to set the not — (jertainly not mor; than 30 to 50 feet long -then standing on high ground, depend upon the clearness of the water, to see the lish coming within the scope of the net. They would then haul it quietly and carefully on the beach, similar to a seine, with the above results. 318. The (Tew of the " Archer," on several occasions, seined for fish in the har- bour of Petropaulovski, taking large quan- tities at each haul. The fish thus tak(>n were principally small pollack, or a small lish of that family, very much resembling young pollack ; a large number of very large smelt, some small herring, and a few very handsome trout, the spots being of a silvery hue on a slightly darker ground. Tostiinoiiy of Pelagic sealers. See Appendices. 46 319. There were also large nixmbers of a small lish of the sciilpin kind, which they called toadfish. ;i20. Gavril Podprugin, the fisherman previously quoted in (connection with the salmon, told me that the spring h'-rring strike in about the 12th May, spawn and leave in about a month. The fall run is (composed of a smaller run of fish. They arrive about the 1st September, and stay until the ice makes, in November. 321. When leaving Petrcpaulovski, on the 25tb September, on our return to Yoko- hama, in Avatcha Bay, the "Archer" passed close alongside of .Tiyriads of gulls and immenst! niimbers ol' hair-seals, evi- dently moving along with a school offish. The pelagic sealers : — 322. Capt. Charles l.eblanc, of the schooner " Sadie Turpel " ; Caj)!. "Wm. Shields, of th(c " Vera " ; Cipt Melville Cutler, of the "Agnes Macdoiiald" ; Capt. "VV. H. Whitcly, of the "Mermaid'' ; Capt. .T. B. ]?rown, of the " Walti r P. Hall " ; Capt. Alfred jjissett, of thu "Annie E. Paint'; Capt. VVm. O'Leury, of the "Geneva"; Capt. Abel Douglas, of the " Arietds " ; Capt. Wm. Byers, of the " Car- lotta E. Cox"; and Thomas H. Brown, a hunter on the " Agnes Macdonald," all testify to the abundance of surface fish — squid, salmon and other fish — around the islands, the distances f;,'iven varying from 30 to 2 )0 miles off shore. 323. (m.) The efficiency or otherwise of the protective zones provided for by the agreement between Great Britain and Russia for the year 1893. Captain DomqjiroH", Imperial Rus- sian cruiser " Zabiaka." Captain Ohmeilevsky, Imperial Rus- sian cruiser " Yakout." 324. Could not say wh -her or not the arrangement had afforded p tection to the seals. There were very fe-,y vlsfcIc; ^vithin the limit this year. Seals wtre taken far out 1)eyoud the protective zone, and, of course, the larger the zone the better. Cap- tain Dom(jjirolf, saw very few seals from 20 to 30 miles from shorrf, but as he ap- proached the shore the number of seals greatly increased. 325. Stated that very few schooners were seen within the protectiA'e zone this year. Last year, when no limit had been agreed to, the number was very large Dur- ing .Tune, and in the beginning of July, he saw plenty seals about the 80-mile limit, but since that date very few were seen, perhaps only 5 or 6 each day, 30 miles from shore. The nearev the shore he approached, the more S(!al8 were to be found. He be- lieves the 30 and 10-mile zones around the islands and coasts, respectively, to be a good arrangement. It protects the seals after they have reached the rookeries. He would prefer a larger limit, which would previa ihe interception ol the seals, on their migra- tions to the islands, but at the same ti.-ne 41 Sub Lieutenant Michailow Raelow- ler. Imperial Russian cruiser " Yakout." Lieuteuaut Girther, Imperial Rus- sian cruiser " Yakout." Captain "Wilmot H. Fawkes, of H.MS. " Mercury." Commander Biirr, of H.M.S. " Por- poise. Mr. Grrebnitzky, Governor of Ko- mandorsky Islands. Appendix No. 1. Alexander Selivanoff, Russian Offi- cial at North Rookery. Appendix No. 8. the 30-mile limit was ^ood, for the breed- h.g seals. He also said that the larger the limit was, the greater would be the diffi- culty besetting its proper patrol, involving the presence of many vessels and great expense. In his ojjinion, it would be ))etter for the seals if iielific sealing were entirely prohibited, bat on the whole, the agree- ment was good, !is it had had the effect of very much reduoiugthe number of schoon- ers in the vii-iuity of the Islands. 32G. Expressed the opinion that the 30 mile zone around the Island Wiis not large enough ; l)ecaus(' the schooners took sciils outside of thai limit. He could not siiy that these seals were females ; :ind he does not think that all the seals at ^ca are females, He sees most of the sealers thev sjieak, because he is more i-ouA'crsaut with the English language than the other offi- cers, and liis opinions of pelagic sealing are all based upon what he sees and hears on board the schooners. 327. If the Russian Government had the same authority within the 30 mile zone, that they have in their territorial limit then, he is of opinion, the 30 mile zone would prove ample protection to the seals, and the effect would he perfect, for the schooners then would never dare to ven- tiire within the zone, if the weather was <'lear. 328. Considered that if the Russian Government were vested with territorial jurisdiction within the S<> mile limit, a solution ol'the diifictilty would result. 329. Had been cruising around Rob- ben Island. Okhotsk Sea, in connection with the agreement with the Russian Govern- ment. 330. Captain Fawkes had seen very few seals in the vicinity of that Island. Those he did see were well within the 30 mile radius, being within a few miles of the shore. He states that during his stay in thr vicinity of Robben Island, he had seen neither sealing vessels, nor Russian gun- boats. 331. Saw very few seals while cruising around the Komandorsky Islands, near the protective limit, but tiie nearer shore he approached the greater number of seals were to be observed. 332. Did not consider the 30 mile limit largeeuoii li, because, as he reports to the Minister ot Domains, the sealing schooners keep in the track of the seals from 40 to 90 miles oiF the south end of Copper Island, and prevent them from going further out or coming in. 833. States that the 30 mile zone around the Islands is a sufficient protection to the breeding seals, after they have got to the rookeries, but early in the year, during lU 48 Aloxey BadactF, Seal "drivcv,' ring Island. Appendix No. 4. Bt'h- "Waldcmav Pactz, Aueut for Ru.ssi'.ui Seal-skin Company, Buhring- Island. Appendix No. 2. Emile Klui^e, Ag-ent for Rus.sian Seal-skiu Conipai'y, Copper Island. Cajit. D. A. UruubersT, of IJussian Seal-skill Company's schooner " Leon." Appendix No. 5. their migration to the islands, the presence of the sealing schooners interferes with their passage thereto. 334. Is of opinion that the limit is not sudicieut, because the holluschickie go more than 30 miles from land, though not necessarily lor food, as they could get that inside. 33j. Is of opinion that the agreement providing a 30-mile zone around the Islands, has allbrded ample protection to th(> breeding females especially, which do not go far from shore, while nursing their young. He al;o expresses the opinion that none of the si'uh go beyond tiie 30-mile zone, if indeed that far. 336. Is of opinion that the protective zou(^ has had but little effeit. Ho bases this opinion entirely upon observation made when sealers are served, and the fact that they catch seals 6o miles from laud. 337. Believes thatthearraiigement hiis atfbrded a moral protection to the seals. He neither heard of, nor saw, any pelagic sealers in the vicinity of Rol)beii Island, within the prohibitive area, while he w.as there ; but they generally get there about the latter part of August and during the mouth of September. POINTS INCIDENTALLY OF INTEREST IN CONNECTION WITH THE SEALING INDUSTRY. 338. As my instructions directinl that I should iK^K'lect no opportunity of obtnin- ing trustworthy information on any subject, I have under this heading collated some observations, touching the sealing industry generally. These matters have more or less Ix'ariiiu' 11)1011 the subject, althouuh not immediately speciiii'd. They arc : 1. Distribiilioii of seals at sea. 2. Numbers, conditions and kinds of seals on the Ameri>;aii coast. 3. Contents of the stomachs of seals. 4. Seals that have ( ome from the rookeries can be determined. 5. I'ups will swim by instinct. 0. Sexes can bi' distinguished at sea. 7. Copulaiioii ill tlic water. .I.'iil. To a certain extent the subdivisions " distribution of seals at sea," and " numb(.'r, conditions and kinds of seals on the American <'Oiist," (^an scarcely be dissociated. 310. It is a remarkable tiict, that at times when the s( als should, according to their known habits, be congregated upon either or both of th(( brei^ding grounds, on the Aineriian and Asiatic sides of the North Pacific Ocean, they are found in largo numbers, at such irreat distances therefrom, and distributi'd over such vast areas. And this, accordinsr to the testimony, at th(> time the authorities have stated is the shed- ding period, during which they remain upon the islands instead of migrating to sea, 341. To the evidence collected on this point I must add my own expt'rience, durinii' my passage from San Francisco to Yokoi.ama. On the afternoon of the 28th .1 uly, the ship's position at noon being latitude 47° 5ti' N. longitude 158° 07' W., I saw one seal within 200 or 300 yards of the ship. The third officer of the steamer informed me that during the morning watch, on the 29th, 30th, and 3l8t July and 2nd August (between which latter dates we crossed the 180" meridian), he had seen large bodies of fur seals ahead of the ship. The vessel's positions at noon on these dates respectively were : Latitude 48° 06' N.; longitude 165° 21' W. ; latitude 48° 06' 49 N., longitude 172° 00' W.; laitude 47° 49' N. ; lon/00 lu'lcs from the .Tapui. ■ . -tand l,200miles south of the KomHii.lor>ky Islands. The second mate of ihe steamer "City of Pekin" told liim that on the winter route . that vessel, ii the vicinity of the above position, they encountered large numbers of seals 34>< < hi the 20lh September, in lati- tude ra '0' N., longitude 17.5° ,5i'E., due south ol Attou Island 100 miles, took one female seal. 349. Capt. r,irrabee, of a sailing ship (cannot riM'iill n ..le), told him that on a voyage iVmi^ lakodate to New York, on 14th Sepi' ,.KT, 1892, in latitude 43° 30' N., longitude 102° 30' E., he passed a large number of seals 720 miles off shore. The year before, 1891, about 70 or 80 miles northward of the above positions, between the 12th and 15th August, he sailed through large bodies of seals. 360. Annually, for the last four years, vessels have reported that during July and August, large bodies of seals have been seen COO miles south of Copper Island. Capt. Townsend, of the barque " Greorge," and Capt. Fullmore, of the sailing ship "Fiugal," as well as Capt. Howard Mo- Kenzie, of the " Ernscliffo," reported this. 60 the former four years ago. and the latter two a year ago. This year he heard simi- lar reports. 3.51. Capt. Turner, of the " Albau .is," who had previously been captain of a mail steamer, told him h2. On the 21lth Auyiist, in latitude schooner " Carlotta G. Cox." 50° ;!1' N., lonuitude 177'=' 35' E., got one Appendix No. 48. mule seal about 160 miles south of Am- I'hitka Island, Aleutian Chain. He believes that y(mrling males remain in the on-an, and do not visit thi! islands, beeausc they are found south ol' the Aleutian and Komandorsky islands. NuMBEi!,<, Condition anp Kinds of Seai-s on A.mkuioan Coast. Wentvvorth E. Baker master of the sealing schooner "' Oscar & Hattie." Appendix No. 8. 30!i. Went to Komandorsky Islands aid the Americi:n coast. Between Cape Flaltey and Kodiak took 1,102 seals, from 20 to 100 miles offshore, between 12th March and 5th June. The latch was almost entirtdy eomiiosed of males. He does not believe he got 300 female seals. He missed the herd of I'emales. Of the females taken, very few were in i)up, the rest being virgin cows, mixed witli males. He also got a few barren cows, ott' Kairweather groxmds. "W. H. "Whitely master of the sealing Hiti. Saw plenty of seals o(f Capo schooner " Mermaid." Flattery on the 2!»tli January- Appendix No. 10. Wm. Cox master of the sealing schoo- ner " Sapphire." Appendix No. 12. 3Go. Believes that the cessation of the killing operations by tht> lessees on tht^ Pribylov Islands, under the modus invendi has greatly increased the number ol' bach- elors, and that these bachelors haA'e, by worrying the I'emales with jmp, driven them to some oll'-shore route. In no other way can he account for the absence of females on the coast this year, !*0 per cent of his catch there being males, and the percentage of males has been getting large since IKOl. 3()6. Captain Tanner also exi)ressed this opinion to him. 807. During tliping further off shore. 873. f.iast yenr (1892) he al.so noticed more males than usual on the American side of the line of demarcation. Alfred Bissett raaistcr schooner " Annie E. Paint. Appendix No. 14. of the sealing 374. Oli' Cape Foulweather, bearing ' east about 25 miles, took about 100 seals during February. Arrived od" Sitka 4th April; took about 30 or 40 seals on the waj' up. Durintf April and May, sealed oil" Cross Sound and Mount St. Elia", taking about 000 seals Arrived at Sand Point 16th .Tune, wh(^re he relitted and sailed for the Russian side. His whole cat<'h of 740 seals along the coast was almost entirely of males, iiicludiim- 32. Has once in a while noticed by the worn flippers, that certain seals had been on land, but he would not consider this a certain proof that they had or had not been on the rookeries. 393. Can easily tell whether seals have come from the breeding or hauling grounds. The long hair on the bellies is worn and discoloured, and the flippers are worn and ragged. 394. H' seals have b< eu on the hauling grounds or rookeries, their bellies are dis- coloured and their flippers worn. 39.5. Can tell from the appearance of a seal whether it has come from the rookeries or hauling grounds. The bellies are dis- coloured. PUPS WILL SWIM BY INSTINCT. Wi Cox, master of the sealing schooner " Sapphire." Appendix No. 12. Greorge Heater, master of the seal- ing schooner " Ainoko." Appendix No. 13. 39G. Has seen pups cut from the mothers, swim long distances when put in the water, and they can be kept alive on the schooner for weeks. 397. Has seen pups cut from the mothers follow the schooner for an hour. John McLeod, master of the sealing 398. An unborn pup taken from the schooner " Pioneer." mother will live. Appendix No. 21. SEXKS CAN BE DISTINGUISHED AT SEA. Charles Leblanc, master of the seal- ing schooner " Sadie Turpel." Appendix No. 6. Otto Bucholz, master of the sealing schooner " Casco." Appendix No. 20. George Heater, master of the ing schooner " Ainoko." Appendix No. 13. 399. Says he can tell a female from a male seal in the water, they being finer in the head and neck. 400. The sexes can be distinguished in the water. The head of a female is iiner, the throat lighter in colour, and the neck and throat more delicate and graceful. A hun- ter meeting a male and female together, will kill the female first, as the male is more apt to remain with it. 401. Says he can distinguish a cow from a male in the water quite readily ; the head is finer and the neck is more graceful. 65 Wm. D. BytTs, in aster of tho soal- ing schooner " Carlotta G. Cox." Appendix No. 18. 402. Can distinguish cows I'rom mules in the water. They are not so heavy in the head, and their throats are thinner and lighter in colour. They are also more alert and more difUeult of apjjroach, even if asleep. COPOLATION IN TUB WATER. Wm. Cox, master of the sealing 40!J. States that he has seen several in- schooner " Sapphire." stances of copulation at sea, and that there Appendix No. 12. can be no doubt that it occurs. Geo. Heater, master of the sealing 404. lias never seen fur seals copulate schooner '• Ainoko." " in the water, but he has observed hair seals Appendix No. 13. do so. Wm. O'Leary, master of the sealing schooner " Geneva." Appendix No. 15. 40.'). Has seen seals mating in the water in Behring Sea. John McLeod, master of the sealing 406. Says his attention was called this schooner " Pioneer." season to seals copulating at sea. He has Appendix No. 21. no doubt as to the fact. Commander R. W. Scott Rogers, of H.M.S. "Archer." 407. Informed me that while cruising iu the vicinity of Komaudorsky Islands he saw on two occasions, 28th August and 1st September, seals evidently in the act of copulation. He carefully observed them, and could account for their actions in no other manner FISHING HANKS. R. N. Crowell, master of the sealing schooner " Brenda," 1892. Appendix No. 17. 408. Reports that on tho 18th day of September, 1><92, when on his way to Vic- toria from the Russian side, his position at noon being 49'^ 45' north latitude and 144° 30' west longitude, he got on a bank at 5 o'clock in the morning. He ran off it be- tween 7 and 8 o'clock in the evening. His position at noon, brought him about in the middle of tho bank, east and west. His vessel was making 10 miles per hour, and he is of opinion that, running oast and west, this bank must be quite as large as the grand bank of Newfoundland. It was getting late in the season, and he was on a good course, therefore, ho did not stop to try the bank When his observation was taken at noon, Middleton Island bore N.J E. triie, distant 600 miles. REVIEW OF EVIDENCE AND CONCLUSIONS. 409. Under heading 2, sections (a) and (i:) naturally come together for consi- deration. The points involved are : 1. Whether female seals go far from the islands when suckling their young. 2. How long pups are necessarily suckled before weaning. 3. The earliest date at which mothers may resort to sea after giving birth to their young. 4. Whether they go for food or for what purpose. 5. Whether they are killed by the pelagic sealers. 66 4l0. I. Xolwithsliiudinjf the I'mt that Mr. Grchiiitzky. in his report to thcRuHsiau GoVfriimcnt, stuti's that uiigrntious of 200 or 300 miles lor purposes ol' exeveise or seeking I'ood, are mere i)ronienii(li's for seals of all kinds exeej)t " Hulls," liis answers to all my (juestions tending to this |)oint, were iincMjuivocally that at that particulor period, I'emali" .seals do not go far from the breeding islands. 411 With tho exception of Mr. Emile Klugo, the Company's agent at Copper Island, all witnesses agreed, that the nursing females do not go to any eonsiderable distance to sea. Some stating that they suckled their young three or four times a day, during the early sliigi-s, and that they would have to return to them every few hours. 412. Mr. Klugo expressed the opinion that they u'o .'lO <>r t!0 miles oil' shore, and he thinks the " l)a<:hclors " probably go as far to sea as the females, but he nunarked " who can answer" ? His statement, whi<;h cannot be supported by any observation of his own at sea. must, therefore, bo regarded as i)urely conjectural. 4 1 ;i. It would not, however, appear that any question existed on I his point, at least in the minds of the llussian authorilit's, for in their n^port on (he seizures of 1892, the Russian Commission. * stated it to be a fact that " during the period of suckling in " July and Au<4'ust, the females cannot go to any distance from the shore;" and Mv. Chichkine, in his letter to Her Majesty's Ambassador 2Hth May (10th .Fune) 18!i:i, stated that the skins taken by the seized vessels were those of females, " who " must theri'fore have been killed close to the shore ; " also that the skins on board the schooner '■ Ariel " had probably been taktai from nursini;' females, " aiul bi'louged " to seals cauffht in llussian Territorial waters." (Correspondi'ucc, Russia. No. 3 1808, paue 5)." 414. 'flic conclusion that female seals do not go far from the islands whilst suckling their young, is therefore the only one justiliable. 415. 2. On this point the statemtMits an- othi^r points upon wliiih ready mswers were given. 417. 4. The conclusions to be drawn from the evidence upon this point are ; that the seals while nursing, leave the rookeries for food, to avoid the h(>at when the sun is strong, and to avoid thi; rain during wet weath(;r. In none of these cases however, do they wander far from thi> rookeries. In the two latter instances, their objei't is attained immediately they enter the water, and in the former instance, they can obtain abundaii'e of food in tht> immi'diate vicinity of the islands. Hence, the seals are not compelled to make long excursions for food, at times when their presence at the islands is lU'cessary. 418. •'>. The only evidence that the nursing females are killed by pelagic sealers, is that advani'cd by the Russian authorities, and the conje<-tural statements of some of the otRcials on tln' island, who are ui>t in a position to know, and who base their opinions ujiou an examination presence of skins taken from suckling females proved their proximity, because! they could not have been taken except close in shore. This is, therefore, an admission that the 30-mile zone is an effective protection to the breeding females, the only class of si>als the killing of which could be objected to, when the sealers are off Komaudorsky Islands. 411'. On the other hand, the testimony of the pelagic sealers, which forms appen- dices to this report, reveals that the percentage of females takoi-. in that locality, was not nearly so lar^e as was represented, being little over half of the catch, and that with few exceptions, the females taken were drying up, thus showing that their pups had been weaned and able to provide for themselves. It is also interesting to note here, * Corresp iiicti ri 1 , Riw.siu N'o. .'i (189S) jwgc 12. 57 the Htati'iiit'iit ol'Ciipt. (Iruiiborg, of tht? Compaiiys m lioouor " Leon, " whosiiid that the fomaloH killed at sea were not females wuekliiitj; their youiiff. This might oiT-ur he said within a milt^ortwo from the shore, while in that coudition, because at that time the mothers never go any further to sea. 1'20. In the liijht of ihe eviden(!e obtainud, it cauuot be said that suckling fe- males are to any extent killed by the pelagic sealers. Remarks. 421 In connection with the foregoing conclusions, the following remarks may not be out of place. 422. It is variously stated that females arrive at the Komandorsky Islands accordini? to Eni^lish dales as follows : — Latter part of May. May, .Tune and July. 1st June, l.')th June, bulls <'hoose females. Middle of June. Middle of JiUv (all females on rookeries). 27th July (all females on rookeries). 423. The month of May is the llrst date given, and the middli- and 27th July, the last, at which latter dates, it is stated, all the females are on the rookeries, allowing for the late strairulint^- arrivals. l""roin this evidence, it may fairly be said that the majority of the breeding females are on the rookeries by the loth June. It is generally admitted that they pup almost immediately on arrival. 424. The evidence as to the jieriod during which they suckle is — Mr. G-rcb'iitzky, IJ to 2 months, say 8 weeks. Mr. Selivauoli', ',) or 4 weeks. Mr. I'aetz, .'! or 4 weeks. Mr. Lindi^uist, lA month, say ii weeks. Mr. Badaeil, all the time they are on the rookeries. 42."), I'uttin!}' aside for the moment the latter statement, that they suckle from .lunc! to November, the weiijht of the evidence is in favour of from 3 to (J weeks, and might fairly be aci'epled ; but takinuf Mr. (Irebnitzky's outside limit eiirht weeks, it would estnl)iish that on the 10th Au;^ust, the main l)ody of the breeding females would have weaned I heir pups, while many of them must have done so lony; ])efore that date. If, however, as is justilied by thi' evidence, the outside limit of the average [leriod a'iven — si.K weeks — l)e takiMi, then it is submitted, that by the 27th July, the vast majority of tlii> females have ceased suckling their young, and this entirely irrespective of the large number which must have pupped prior to the loth June. 426. Add to this the fact, that the appended .statements by the pelagic sealers, show that while one of the ve.sscls reached the vicinity of the Komandorsky Islands on the 3rd, the majority took their lirst seals there between the 2 1st and 2.Jth July, and it certainly would not a])pear that the damage done to seal life, through the killing at sea of nursing mothers, can be as great as has been represented, even if it could be shown that these females did go such distances from the shore, whilst suckling their young. 427. Reverting to the statement of Alexey Badaeff, that the seals suckle their young from the time they arrive until they leave the islands, it may be said that he was misled by tht\ presence of some t'emales in milk, or suckling females, late in the fall. Although Mr. G-rebuitzky told me that mothers would nurse their young from I J to 2 months, in another connection he stated, that young seals were found with milk in their stomachs as late as November. He said he could not account for this because he did not know how long the seals suckled their young. 428. On the 29th August, five females were killed and examined in my presence, i^'our of these showed sigjis of milk, although drying up. Dr. Sluniu stated he had observed that, in 18'.i2, as late as the 14th October, similar conditions as to milk existed in females he had examined. 15 58 429. It would thus appciirthiit i'i>malt>H arc fo\iiul showing triirt-sot' milk.ulnioitt \ip to tht! time of thi'irdt'pivrlnrt' from the isliin hi'tween these dates, hnt there are some whieh pup larlier, and niidouhlediy some wiiiih pup at tiiis late dali'. AsHuniintr the period orsuekling is six wei'ks, and taking the date given as the last arrival ofhreedinir leinales — 27lh July — nursiim- mothers can he aeeoiiuted for up to the 7th September, alter whieh dale tiaees of milk must still he observable, during the process of dryinu' up. 482, llovv loni;' alter a female has weaned In r |in|> she will show traces of milk, is an interesting (|uestion which might he eiujuircil into in the future. 4:').'!. During my stay on ihe islands, in the latter part of August, it v m very appa- rent and required no technical knowledge to observe, that while the nuiss of thi- pups were tjuite laru'e and taking care of themselves, there were a number of yoimu' ones, of dillerent sizes and ages, which still required the fosterinu' cure ot the mothi'rs, which must necessurily tx' in milk. 434. These instances, however, are exceptional, and apparently ultotrether abnor- mal, so I'ar as the general habits of the animals are concernei'. 43.'). In view of tlie otherwise well regulated natural coiulitions of seal life, it app<'ars sina'ular that these exceptions should obtain, and it would be interesting to discover how far they are dxtc to the possible mating of the hollusehicki with the females, either in the water or on the land. 48ti. Another point which suggests itself here is that these admittedly late arrivals, both of females and holluschickie, are not unlikely to be seals erroneously said to be returning to the islands, after excursions therefrom for fond or lor other puri)oscs. (/'.) TU1-: .MOliTAUTV OK I'UPS ON TIIK ISLANDS. 437. The evidence as to the extent of mortality among pups, cannot be regarded as at all conclusive, nor in fact can any reliance be placed upon it. The lack of knowledge displayed by tliose permanently residinn' upon the islands, on this point, is rcnuirkable, because of all the questions allecting seal lil'e, this is jjcrhaps the easiest to solve, involving as it does the mere counting of carc^asses. 43H. It is simply established that there ari' some dead pups on the islands, and some of those consulted, expressed the opinion that there were a greater number in 18!)2 than in 1^1)1 and 1893. These statenuMits, however, are so evidently conjectural, that no weight could attach thereto. 4S9. ^[r. (rrebnitzky, the Kussian Administrator, acknowledffed that little could be said about the relative number of dead j)ups on the rookeries, because the oiiic ials do not go there. He had not noticed many dead pups during the past two years, and he attempted no comparison between 1892 aiul 1803. H(> also stated that no record of dead i)ups was kept. The same reason renders the statements of the other oflicials valueless. 440. Mr. Kluge, the Company's agent on Copper Island, ventured the statement that th(>re were fewer dead pups this year than last, because there were fewer pups born. He is singiilarin this statement, however, as the preponderance of the evidence is in favour of an increased ntimber of pups. 441. Without exception, the death of pups was attributed to what may be termed natural causes ; they are : — Born sickly, still-born, crushed by the bulls, smothered by the breeding animals, killed by the surf during storms, drowned while learning to swim, wan- dered from mothers. No epidemic was known ; no natural enemies were blamed. imed 5fl 142. It in worthy of notice, luul lauy Im' luirpfid un very wigiiiti. um, tlmt in uo one inNtiuu'o wus the >nortality nttriVjiilcd, cithiT dirci tly or indir»'otly, to pelaf^ic NtMlltTN. 44:'.. Ill lliJN connci'tin I, iitlcntion i.s diri'i'tcd lo a Ntntt'incnt hy TlionniH H. lirown '^1 • iippciidix No. Itl), it sciil hunter, lo the cH'i'it tlmi in 1>liore and pierced ))y si'Vcral bulleth. IF >uld express no opinion whatever a.s t > die cuune of the death ol'thcM- pup."*. That year, hi' say>, there were not more than two or three veNseln .sealini,' in the vicinity oflhe iHlanils, 444. Apart I'lilireiy j'roni any destructive afreiicies which mii,dit lie particularized, there niUHt, wln'rc no many thousands (d' animals arc; horn, he a larj^e iiiiinher of (h'uths lor whicli no explannlion need he Noujiht, as \\'ould he the t;ase where any hirtfe hotly of mammals coiit^rejj;ate to rej>iodnce iheir species. 44.'). My own oh.servalions in this refrard, dcHcrihcd in detail elscwhore, lead me to thecomdusion that tin' |)ercenlaire oTch-ad pujfN upon the rookeries, is much larirer than those residini!; upon the islands seem to have any appreciation ol'. They admit that no measures have heeii taken to establish the Tacts of the case, either duriiiu' the time the seals are on the islands, or alter they have left. 44(1. In view (dall the facts, I must record my opinion that not only would it be possihle, 1)Ut comparatively easy, after the herd had iniii^rated from the islands, for those in cliarn'c oitlie rookeries to muke a most thorousjli examination of every inch of the ■iioimd which had been covered by the seals. This would enable them to count each dead pup, and state the number with absolute <(irrectnesH. During this ]»roces« the carcasses could be ri>inoved, and the followinir years, by a rei)etilion of the work, the numbtM- of seals which had udually died eucli and every year, could he established with the utmost exactness. ((/.) AS TO Till-; KXI.< AKOUiNM) THK ISr..\.M)fl. 447. With re localities, where fish food of did'ereut kinds can be Ibuud, it does not apj)ear that the reference is any more to the point. If the presence of fish, 30 miles from shore, is alone sufficient reason for the prohibition of ptdagic seal- ing within that zone, it would apjjear difficult to decide how far beyond that dis- tance, their proven presence as far as 150 miles and 200 miles off, would justify an extension of the zone, especially when seals are taken at greater distances from the shore. Indeed, it may bo said, that between fiO and 80 miles off, fish are quite as abundant as at 30 miles, as also are they from that point shorewards. Admitting the principle as sound, the zone could just as consistently be fixed at 200 as at 30 miles. 451. It may also he noted that this jone was asked primarily for the protection of the suckling females, as against the pelagic sealers killing them at the time they are performing those functions. Apart entirely from the fact that the preponderance I 60 of tno ovideiKc colk'ctL'd, liMids to sliovv tliat. the great body of suck'liujr fomales do not wander far from tho rookeries, at the time their preseneo is absolutely necessary for the nourishment ol' tlie pups, it is a most interesting fuet, that the majoriy of the sealers took their first seals in that vicinity, between the :21st and 2.Jtli.Tuly, and they all bear witness that the females thev tix-k wi're drying up, as res^'ards milk. (e.) WHKTIIEII, IK FEMALliS llUOl'I'ED TUEill YOUXii AT SEA t))i l.O.ST TIIKM ON THE laiiANDS, THEY Woni/l) resort to THE ISLANDS. 4;V2. The views (»xpressed on the subject under this heading, must of necessity possess but little value, as no one could bi- in a position to give conclusive answers. 4iJ3. The opinion of 5Ir. Grebnitzky, that wliile remaining fin shor<', under either of these oiiditions, th- f( nuiles would not copulate, and his statement to the llussiaii Government, that they would be liable to illness and some would die, before reaching the rookeries, do hot appear (o be based upon any actual observations, which could lead to : ii;'h concluyio!!.':, :;ny more than docy hiy atatcMcjit that s;;ch {'niial.s .ould readily Oe distimi'uished by the roughness of tjieir fur. 4")4. The general opinion is that they would resort to the. rookeries under tiiese • irciunstances, and the reasons given are as follows. Cows have bct-n ween there which had no pups to look alter; Their natural uistinct would lead them lo seek service of the bulls ; PremiiUire births miiy oceu: as with other aninuils, but they still have other functions to perform. 4').'). Pelagic sealers state tluit they took seals in milk which must have jjuppi^d elsewli. re (ban oii tin known rookeries, or lost their pups at sea. (/;) Tin-: .MKiltATION ROrTPS OV SEALS I^ ASIATIC WATERS. AW. The detailed evidence shows ihat the commiuuling ollicers of both Her Majesty's sliip^, and those of the llussiiin Navy, cruising in the vicinity of th<'Foman- dorsky [sliuids, could cx])ress no opinion I'rom jx'rsonitl observations, on the subject of the migvalion routes of the seals 'flie Ku.ssiau Coiniianders dejiendcd for their views, entirely upon what they had observed from the logs of the seized sealing Vessels, and con vcr.^iit ions had with the n>asters thereof Nor were other parties, consulted on the islands and in the vicinity thereof, any i)etter informed on this pnrticuliir phase of the quiKtion, ajiari from dcduclious drawn from v.'h;it they had heard. 457. Tli(> trend of oi)iuioi'. was thut the seals come and go, foUowinu- ;dong the Kurilc Islands, and the Fsiiinds of Yesso:ind Nijioii, but of tlieir winter habitat they i-ouM fo-m no opinion. 458. On the oth"r hand. tli. letter of Mr. AV Isl, to Mr. Malowansky, written last April, stated thiit larye catches of seals liiel been, and were bein;; made by p.'layii' senlers. abo>it l.')i» mile.- east and i.V) mih'- north of the harbour of Yokohama. Till' prepondernuii' of the evidence ob'aineil from the pelagic sealers was to tht> elfect tlii't \ihile lliey followed till' s.^idr up the .lupan coast, aloni;' the Island., of Nipon and Yesso, they lost the herd olF .he island ofSikolan, ai the southernmost |)oint ol' flic Kiivile Islands. Some vvere taken however olf ytaten Island, still iiirther lo the no: li ward. 4r)it. \V. 11 Whitely. master of the schooner "Mermiiid" noticed (about iSth June) hundreds of seals ei'.tering the first jiass into Okhotsk Sea. The schooners "Heatrice" of Vancouver and "Rattier" ofSau li'rancisco, followed the seals into the sea without results. 4(!0. Capt;iin O'Leary of the si.hoouer "(ieneva" and Ciipdiin IJyers of the schooner "Carlotla (j. Cox " were of the oi)iniou that the seals winteri>d when, the/ were first im-t by the sealers, i t the months of March and April. 4')1. An examination of i h • i by tlie other vt'ssel> on this const were us follows ; — "Mermaid " March 25 "Cas.o " " 27 "CarloUaG. Cox" " 28 " Vera " " 29 "Geneva" April I " Agnes Macdonald" " 2 "Arietas" " 7 "W. P. Hall" " 7 " Sadie Turpel " " 19 463. The ffreatest area covered by the vessels, in their lirst catch, was between latitude 33" 15' N., longitude 140° 3' E., and latitude 39° 'I'l' N., longitude 14:)° E. Approximately this embraces a water iirea extending from 100 miles to the south- ward of Yokohama Harbour, to within 100 miles ol" the northern point of IN-poii Island. The dates upon which the last seals wen- taken on the Japan coast were : "Mermaid" June 19 "Casco" " 21 "Agues Macdonald" " 23 " Aiietas " " 24 " W. P. Hall '• " 29 "Carlotta G. Cox" " 30 " iSadie Turpel" July 4 "Geneva" " 7 "Vera" " 14 " Beatrice " " 18 4ti4. Tliest^ vessels covered an area comprised between latitude 43° 59' N., and longitude 148° 14' E , and latitude 44° 58' N. and longitude 15.')° 58' E., extending from Tsugar Strait, to about 300 miles of the east point of Staten Island, one of the southernmost of the Kuriles. 465. It is therefore established, that by this portion of the pelagic sealing lleet, the seals were met u!>(>iit 7') niile.s olf the .Tapau coast as early as thi^ month of March, and were followed along tlie I.-ibuids of Nipoii and Yesso continuously, until between the 19th June and middle of July. This accounts for their movements for the space of nearly live months, and as they do not leave the islands until November, a furth'-r period of lour months may be added. 4i!f>. Therefore, there renuiins only three months of the year during which their location and moveiiients are in doubt. 4ti7. As some portion of this time must necessarily be taken up in migrations from the islands, it is fair to assume that these migrations do not dill'er materially from those to th« islands, and if but half the time taken to perform the spring jour- ney, is ex]iended lor the fall one. th,iv can be no alternative but to conclude that the winter habitat of the Komaii'lorsky Island herd of seals, is along the Japan coast, wliere thi'y wer.' met by the scalers this s])rii\g, or very re over 1,000 young females mixed with the bachelors.* (/(.) Et'FKCT UPON ASIATIC AND A.MERICAN ISLANDS OF OPERATIONS ON EITHKU, ANIJ THEIR KKLATIVE CONDITIONS. 4T-). The eviden<'e touching the effect upon the Komandorskv and I^ribylov Islands, of practices upon either, or upon Kobben Reef, and their rehitive condition in ytiars ol's.'arcity or abundaiu'.e of seals, may be summarized as follows: — 474. Th(f (.pinions of the i)arties consulted were unanimous that no operations on either group, coild in the slight(>st degree have any bearing upon the other. 47i>. If any effect were possible it could only be from practices on Kobben Reef, a^ although the seals freciuenting the Okhotsk Sea do not go as far north as Kom- andorsky Islands, yet they are practically of the same herd. 470. They were also quite pronounced in the view that the herds of seals resort- ing to the -American and Kussian Islands, are sei)arate and distinct, and th(^y go so far as to say that they hav(^ observed a difference in the appearance of the skins, when thi'y haA'e had the opportunity of examining the catch of seized pelagic sealers. 477. Attention is directed to the statement of Alexander Selivanoff that in 1802, at North liookery, he noticed three bulls so dill'erent in appearaniM- Irom those usually resorting thereto, as to cause discussion among t lie natives ; one of whom, who had formerly been at tSt. I'aul Island (I'ribylov), stated them to be the same as he had seen there. That year he also observed two holluschiekie, quite different in appearance fiorn the KomandorsivV Island herd. (/.) LENGTH OF TIME A FEMALE SEAL WILL BEAR YOUNG AND A MALE RENDER HOOKERY SERVICE. 478. No evidence of value was obtainable regarding the length of time during whiries. 47!'. Few people would venture to express an opinion on tlie sulyecl, and those who did, did so on mere assumption. 480. Mr. Grrebnitzky thought females would average 10 births, and " Imlls " would serve the females IT) years. 481. Dr. Slunin, after examining the reproductive organs of five female seals, which operations are described in this report, stated thai the appearame of white spots on the uterus of two of 1 hem, led him to suppose that they had i)robably given birth to live and ten pups respe<'tively, these iigures representing the number of spots observable. 482. If this theory be correct, there is easy and simple means provided for the establishment of the number of pups to whi(^h a female will give birth, and conse- quently the. number of years she will reproduce her species. {J.) THE EXISTENCE AND HABITS OF liARREN FEMALES AND EFFETE MALES. 483. Reii'arding the existence and habits of barren females and effete males, it may be said that while the evidence is somewhat contradictory it points to the existence of both. 484. Mr. (Irebnitzky says the barren females are old seals which do not go on the rookeries for service by the bulls but lay outside near th(? bachelors. 48"). Attention is also called to his statement that 200 or 300 old bulls this year arrived at the islands, with tln^ females, and then left without serving them. 480. Mr. I'aetz stated that every year a few old bulls, no longer able for rookery service, are to be se(>n. 487. The evidence of the pelagic sealers establishes that a considerable number of barren f -males were taken along the Japan coast, mixed with the male seals. Also that this class of seals was taken off the Komandorsky Islands. 488. The logical conclusion is, that no reasonable doubt can exist as to barren femaleii forming a very appreciable feature in the seal herd. The killing of this class of seals is much less destructive to seal life than is the killing of young males. * .AplM'tuIix N't. H. lies, the go 68 (k.) CONDITION OF ROOKKKIKrt (lOMPAUEI) WITH PREVIOUS YEARS. 489. Rt'spectiug the .ondition of the rookeries as to immbers, compared with previous yi'tirs, I mny way that so far as my own persoiml observations were concerned, 1 had no method of comparison, never having seen the rookeries before. My first impression, however, was that adding the seals which were disporting in the water to those which wer(! on the land, it would be diflicult to provide room for many more without an expansion of the rookeries shorewards. Each time I saw them they appeared to me to be so densely occupii'd that it looked as if there would scarcely be room for the enormous numbers playing along the water fringes. 400. Mr. Grebnitzky, (.'ommandcr Ikirr and Mr. Kluge, arc the only ones who said that there wer<' fewer seals on the rookeries than in previous years. 4!tl. Commander Burr expressed the opinion that there were fewer seals on the rookeries this year than there were two years ago, and that the seals were smaller. Mr. Grebnit/iky, however, rejiorts to the Russian Government that the skins taken were large, and Mr. Malowansk\ , of the company's vessel " Kotik," assured me that the skius were line large ones, those on Coj)per Island averaging larger than those on Behring Island, 4iJ2. Mr. Kluge could not say to what extent they had decreased, but he believed there were fewer seals on th(! rookeries than in 1892. 493. Mr. Grobnitzky stated that there was a decrease of three-tenths as<'omi)ared with last year, and (hree-lifths i ompared with the year before. He then proceeded to state that there were more pups and more females on Behring Island than last year, and ther(> were more bulls on Copper Island than last year, and that on that island there was an increase in the niunber of yearlings, though a decrease in the number of that class on Behrina- Island w,\s noticeable. It is not clear how Mr. Grebnitzky reaches his conclusion as to the decreases of three-tenths and three- lifths. Besides, according to his own showing, if theit was any decrease it occurred in the class of holluschi<'kic, wiiereasall Russian ai'ihorities appear to agree in the statement that 90 per cent of the catch ol' the pelagic sealers is of females. 494. The beginning of the alleged decrease in the number of the seals is fixed as following the year 1888, and is associated with pelagic sealing. 49.5. This was the third yt^ar from the time of the expiry of the lease of the Alaska Commercial Company, and the lessees took 45,000 skins. In 1890 thcv took 55,727. In 1889 "do 5.'.,41i3 In 1888 do 45,000 496. Although said to bi; failing sinci" 1888, it will be observed that during 1889 and 1890 the lessees of the islands killed, each year, a number of seals largely in excess of that taken on any year during their twenty years' fraui'hise. The three years prior to this the catches v^'ere : — 1885 41,737 1880 44,500 1887 4(3,754 497. The figures an^ suggestive that towards the end of their lease, the Company taxed the rookeries to their utmost extent, and no other resiilt than a failing supply could be looked for, entirely irrespective of the operations of the pelagic sealers, who, until (jiiite recently, did not resort to those waters in any numbers. 498. Passing to the evidence on the oth(n' hand, it will be observed Alexander Selivanotf, .Vlexey P.idaeHandMr. Paetz, the resident agent at Behring Island, all of whom are svidl acc^uainted with the rookerii!s, testify to an iucreased number of si'als upon the rookeri'-s. It is stated most positively that there were more seals on the rookeries in 1892 than in 1891, and more in 1893 than in 1892. The increase is said to bi> g(>neral, embracing all classes of seals, and their testimony is unanimous, that the rookeries are in better condition than for the past three years. I may add, that ■when standing overlooking the rookeries with Dr. Sluuiu, who had also been there last year, I asked him how they compared in point of numbers of seals. He unhepi- tatingly answered that the numbers had ijicreasi'd. 499. In the light of all the evidence, I feel justified in concluding that, generally speaking, there is nothing to show a deer' nse in the number of seals on the Kom- andorsky Islands, in 1893, as compared with previous years. On the contrary, the testimony favours the statement that there has been an appreciable increase in the 64 uumber during the past two years. This is reasonable to expect, iu view of the fact that during the past three years the average take of the lessees has been about 30,000, as agaiust an average of over 50,000 taken by the ibrmer lessees in the previous three years. 600, A redui tion of 20,000 in the number annually killed, affords at least a par- tial rest to the rookeries. IT it be h<^ld that the take was limited only because of the absence of holluscshickie. then any al)normal diminution in this class must be accounted for otherwise than by pelagic sealing. 501. The evidence regarding Robben Island is very meagre, and is lo the effect that there has b(>en a decrease in the nunibiM- of seals there lor some years past. As to its condition this year, however, the fact remains that the Company took there- from IJiS'l sealskins, whereas, in 18'.i2, it was not considered sulliciently profitable to kill any there. In 1891, .'i40 only were taken, and in 1890 the outgoing Company took 1,453, probably a maximum number. 502. Thus the present year's take was larger than that of 1800, although no seals had been taken there by ibe Company between 1885 and that year.* (»l.) THE KKFICJENCY OR INKFFICIKNCY OK THK I'ROTKCTIVE ZONE. 503. With regard to the elficieney or iueflicieucy of the protective zone around the islands, it may be said that tlm information obtained, laru'cly points to its effectiveness in affording a general prot<>ction to the breeding seals, after they have reached the islands. 504. It is fair to assume from the detailed evidence set out, under the different headings that, during the period a female is net^essarily suckling her young, that is to say before she hasbeffun to wcjin her pup, she does not go to any great distances from the shore, or remain away for any length of time, l.atfr on it appears they do oo, and this is iu ;c'C()rd with ihe statements of the pelagic scalers, that the large majority of the seals showing milk wi're drying up. Some seals with a free How of milk wi'rc taken, but the number is stated to he snuill and some of them were taken along the.Taiiau coast and elsewhere, under ciicumstnnccs whii-h point to the conclusion that they had dropped their pups at sea, or on the shores where no n>gular rookeries exist. According lo the slatements of the sealers, this cla.ss did not form any considerable portion of their catch. Such seals were exceptional, and taken <'omparatively early. 505. One fact which I observed, and which is universally admitted by ihose consulted, who had the ojiportunity of observing the seals at sea, was that the nearer the shore was apjiroached the more seals were to be seen. In the cruising tracks of the vessels on the :?0-niii(,' bell, very few seals were to be seen at all; whilt> on approaching the shore, the numl)ers increased with the diminishing distance there- from. While tliis ajipearsto be iiu indisputable fact, there is the further fact to be considered, that to distances as far out as (JO, SO, and 100 miles, tliey arc taken by the scalers jirincipally in August and September, althoiigh aci'ordiiiijf to Mr. Grebnitsky, late in August and during September, the seals nuide no migration to sea, that being the shediling period. 506. It does not -icem that the fact that seals are intercepted, in their migrations to ihe islands, is a suliicient ground upon whii'h to base a claim to a protective zone. If it were the lixiny of su<'h zone must be pirrely arbitrary, as siudi interception may lie said to begiu on the .Japan coast. 507. It will be noticed, that some of the Russian officers expressed the opinion that if the Russian Crovernment had the same atithority within the bO-mile zone, as thoy had within their territorial limit, such a zone would afford ample protection. 508. It would certainly seem that the arrangement between Her Majesty's Government and that of Russia, providing a 30-niile protective zone around the Russian Seal Islands dnriim- the year 1893, has been successful in protecting the breeding animals, particularly at the time they necessarily nurse their young. TABUI<.\TED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS AND POSITIONS Ol." PELACUC SEALERS. 509. For convenience of ready reference, I have prepared the following tabulation of the operations of such of the pelagi<' sealers from whom I procured data. The further positions from day to day, where seals were taken on the Japan coast, and in the vicinity of Komandorskv Islands, will be found in the appendices numbered 22 to 34, inclusive. • Rciit 15. S. f'l.miiiiwiiin. |>. 214. ■f. ,2 I ^ Si' f i gl ■5 3 'iiS i I 3 J - ^ -^ CO 00 m o to Ph O a 2 C9 o .^1 S5 u » Id H o n o Eh *i ^ 5 ? i 3 I? a '5 h 1 3 3 3 2 !£ - y. -,-5 3., b "i..!! 5f « o 2 ?i -< S a « y .Z ^1 §1 o g 4 c^ \1 66 tc Ph O g o J5 U M H < H X! G n -^ » "2 s c .2 S a: 3 S a « 56 2 2 S f I- "^ ^ ■/ k ii I - ^ = - ;i Jd S V d tf o i- " S ^■4 5 = •i « ra J:? y^^ 9 e ■5 3 '! i V i* c = X ■^3 .1 ;^ _ In i i ,r^ - 11 c. § f^ 4j i;5 ;-4 IS 5 r2 r: WW ^ ■= K s ? « :; :? a S fS 3 3 s r-l •?< ^ 'IS -(1 rH 1^ f-« -^ •»< s s s 3 .>: f2 ?! u a— . s >_-: '-'- j/J£ I- = ,T S *i 5 Is ^ 5c 5^ ?i 3 -J j3 O 5 S '^? 3 3 is c .5 « f? x, :? 4J '■5 ■ij ^ --« ■T S 3 u -T 2 ■ hi) r. ■ -r to = 7. '^ y, -:4 J '^ 5" o a 2^ 3* s s !^l 3 X ;^ Ji I I 2 ?. ^ 2S g fe S !*:«" =■£■= ^''- ti? =- I ■5 o o 5) -1! I ^ 1- 1 . M < «'. P V3 s. w s s hi : I c : o • ,_ g^ If if 3 a 2 O •S ^ a I S3 5 e o rt N M in ? i-i.''2 1-3 s s s ■c ■§ s s to I- .-. 2 s 1;! % 2 ?5 §5 S5 I £ ?l '^ 1) i> ' t 5) d a O 6 6 : g S : : Jb " S5-C >3 o s «s ;? ^ ^ H ^ « I ^ I 1-1 M « -f iH iJ i-l pJ No. Kindt (if S.als takoii im til" •hipuii ('iiuHt. Coii'liti. nf Hllrl, „ Kiiiili of SpnU tiikt'ri arininil Kimjuui (lorBky Uliiiidrt, f'ollililic of Hillllf MJKrutioii routi'M. I -As to fecdiiitf I liiiiik». Kirnt fi'w ('Hti'liis lliimtly all yntniK iniilcM, Uftfl' ilutt prt'lty wi'll niixnl. On till' U'holo half mull iinil hiilf fi'rii;tli'. (iot iL'oi- ]:,\n,- rrii rinvH. liiiili of«il.'lifull-.izril BWllri ; Vt'.ry feu Kri'y |iU|iK.' Il^nv,,.,!. in imp T«M-il,i,,l«l,.nwil,.»V.-,yf,.wl„„|..fnll Shown l,y f.„■,v„.:Knuw^ nf no hmik. I , "V",,'" "", ' '""■'' """' "' '"'1!<- inir position-. On! MMillnviinlof Ko. • Inn.'. I,;ilti.i- liulf of .hin.' !>• iMi'c II \'|.»«M :in'l Sikolan Niunil>> k'ot lii-tw,.,,! L'll Mid .'lllt'i'niuli's in milk. :!i) I,, III niilfnotr. J'.toni- idllH of ^t'nii iin ■liipa list con tuini'il H<|uiil iiiiil small fish. .\fti'iNtli .\ii|^n«t aicli .AiiKUst ran' w(.nl iiiirlh of in iisfaiiiM rTiiinili's lands. H',.|„al,.s N..\,K. „f IM,-' takiii tliiTc «iri. liiiK Nl.inil. Saw' dryiii),' iiip. 'Co i|nitiannniiiiTofj wardscndoi An | Im«uow<. (iot«i\,l k'list had foiii stomachs t-iiii-. lilili'ly drii'd n|,. lainod fish food Stoniarlis f o n ■ and s(|iiid. taiiicd »'oiisidcra ' It If s(|iiul and . small lish. I mandoiNky I ' lands; hut ph-nty snrfaci'tiMli as fur I'lit as 2IKI mill's. Onriinf Man|,andTli,.f,.mali.si„|„i|,. .\[i\,.,| ,;,al,., and .\l.oiii h.df of thc'Shnwiihyfoiv.-. April ii,i\.sl, Dniiim' .M;,y. a liMlK-li all inah-s and tlnnaliiiMC'li h11 f.-mal.'s Homi- Iiarifii cows. I.,'niti' a ninnliiT fcnialo, |s iliap.- of hancii i-ows.i nioir ft-niili llfa\ ii-..^t in pup' rhan male... first week in .Iniic. 11, It took a f"\v 111 pnji npj to end of .liinc.i .Majoiity taki'ii dillln;.' Ila- last wiskin.lnn.'.and lirst IL* itji>- ill .Illly.Hilc yolim; mails w itli s.ini.' ('arn-n row-.. A if\^ coHs in fiill milk. Stoniarhs of .ally catch com pa ratlM'ly '■nipiy : later on Collt:lillcdioli>ld- cl'alilc lish f I. i females I, .id pretty fie.. tl,,H of milk. 'I' li,. iioi-tlieiii part of otliiT half in (lif I Station fslaiid. f.-rent staiji's of i dryini; up. 'I'li.. stoniadis of the I s.'als contain. -d 1 ver\' little sllou of food. , I inn Knows of no hanks I ...1. p. '111^ IH.-itions. |,.i,it nor of aiivone 111.- h.'ld ..If the who does. Il.-id tried 3K) fatli- olllH of lilt.' llllt pit nosoiindiiit.'s. J'!ellt\' of s.piid »i mill's off. cut llpappaiTiitly liy seals. South of islan.l-. .S..1III, of fhe i,. . nn.st ly small laiiilv the f.'W seaU. covv> taken had a Seals taken to north considoral.le of llieisluiidswere show of milk. mix.'il males and This was early in fcmal.'s, ahoiit .Inly. one tliiiil mail's. North of t.ielsla. 1.1 j the f.-miil.'s w.-r.. j .liyiii|.'ii|i. Lat.-r .111 ill .\ 'I },M1 s t i there was scarc.'-l I ly any ^inii ofi milk. One .lay, w.iit lliiiiiil.'s to the li.irth. Here, females showed' least sii^liof milk, an. I ap|i.'are.l toi l.est.iyinjroff the, ' islands. I Know.sof no liHiikn where sonndiii^H can he ol.t.'iined. : Tried for s.nind- Intfs three vears, with L'lHi and lU'll I fathom... .Ilscol oiiri'd water ac- ' cunts for r..port- i e.l I'aiiks. .North I ol iIm' iOaiL.lsthe water., wer.. alive with salmon. 4 Mnjiiriiy males I never s a w mi j 111 all y males. I Females ill piip ' w ere t a k en all nloni.. b Voiiii^ male seals iMws ill pii[. and a few liarrcn ; cows. l''eiiialeM i II p II p l''iiil>' lleax iest t.A' :ir.l> in. lie the end of .1 .in.'. Off ^'.'.-so Islan.l s.'V.'ral liarreii femal.s. , ilfl'.Hir and starved. .M.'t .seals in -Vpril Know.Mif no liaiikH condition. Diilj and May off asfaras lililniileiii notoliservetllose-; Nipon. Iii-tw.-eli floiii islands, ly as to statfcs of' 21) and 7n inil.'s alihoufrh had milk. I off. l,ost theherdi soiiiiiImI hir iMit- I in .lone off ,siliiii I 'oiiHi. (Vimliiinii S«*nU tiikt'ii unMiiul Ki>iiiiiii(liirokv I Muti'N. Mi^nUinii, Am t.i 6 K ' lii'twi't'ii LTir h Mitrcli jiinl llfili A pri 1 iniiHM jially yiMiiiK IIIUICH with •4lttll>- V u w ■« ill [I II \t. Itiitfinii ill May A ^oinI IIIUIIV c' N''» iMwitimi. I >n tht>! HiiiMf .lay p.t the; ln!»t -i-al- 111 |iii|.. ! Hmiif ilii>» ^V||Ullt'^ III fulli-r tUK, nthiT iiiilkilui'inL''liity. I't^fiiiiiiii/ ti. (ir\ ii|i in Hi>t |iai1 of AiiKM-'. ripwanl'- Miii mI Aii^ru«i had drii-il uti. I Mix<-« all niah-n Oil tin- vvhi'It' (I >inall |MTffntat,'t lilt rr iif ti'iiialcN. 1. Two thinN Wfi-i-Off cows. TowarrU end of Mi-asnii ^'nt i larj,"' niinilwr <>i r-iuali iiialf Hi'als I nii\)'d ill with [ laiv*' iiialf> and C'lWH. Vt'>Mi, i-iid I if About half iiiuh* (' .IiiiH- a fi-w ft-i and liulf fi'iimlr. tiialf-' in full Hnw! | >-i luilk. I,a.t ! rnwsin inijitakfu: i alN>ul -Mill ■lutii', i I Si'.tl.-' on .hi|iiin' <*oa>t wen- rath'Ti j limk, thi- .stom- achs H li o w i n^i I \rvv sliy-ht trao-f' i nf f.H.d. ; I yiar w lim no *-\ t la limit around Komanil- '•i-'ky JslandH u-nt aUxit ItMrinali'^. •j:niul.-...tl .hoi- on Mil- <.iih >ia> of .Inly, iii-aily all of u It i r h had iiU|>r< ill 'ticiri. I>ur i III.' .1 u 1 y ;int\, allhouuli Hi|niij an- iniidaiil all I'oUluI. () t 111' T" art' fjit ami full off.KKl { Mild not Hny Hi* to >raK<'of milk, lint 'IkI not niiticc any very f rfc flow, Wry few wi'iM fut. most ItfiiiK |MNir and thin. Kn>t ni'-t M-ali* 'Mi KiioUMof no tiunkii iiiilf'* off <'it|M- to till- Houtliward liijilHiyt' tH' milt'N of ( 'uiiniiaiidt'r north'of \oko. Islands. 'I'ricd liaina and hi- for tir.|i Mn|i Kohiiiiidor..kv In- iiisidf. I.atifiid,. lamJNfXi-ivwfifrr ;r. ^M^'lon^'it.'d.■; a> far i.tf' uh |(Kt 170 0(1 K :\tHH\ niilivfroiii .la|uiii roast and l.LlHi niil«'> S. of r..|,. [HT Island. H»' ton d m ai '■ of stfam. T ■'City of I't'kin " ii'i'ortitl lln \ riit-ountiri d laii:.- nuiiilit-rs ..f si'als in this |hisi (ion d II r i iiK^ winter nnitf of X.ssfl. null' Knnwi nor any t Vh.T dam- and otr i tof no)>aiikf>; !o 1 know (if otlf U ho llH'* soundin^'H. is an ahini- of Halinon st|iiid as fitr s l.'Hi inilt-H. *r!tO |,Hr Cfiit of th.* catrh th.' Aim w-Vf luah-^. DhI ir<.t ot.-ri-M- ff malo closflv ' ■ In'. The si-als U-tfaii lotnnti northof)", Akishi. .\ft.-r: that tli»-v w.-rcall tia\.-lhT-. ('a|.. tain Larridtcf of. a -aihiiM^ s|ii|. i,.-| I'oi'tcd thai oij llrh Sf-pt.inl.rr.| iHilU. in VA »»' iilL' :to' K.. hi'l |»jif-rd a l;irm'I nii!hli"r of sful>| 7'Jtl milcrt otfi "hort. .Villi the vi-arU'ion-aU.ut 70oi Siti<-> of si-aU. \ ( arly for the past Kiuiwm of no liaiikn fouryfai-s.x.'^sfls r«-iMirt that ilnr- itm .lul> and An- KM.st lai'vt' hodifs of -lal- aif IslamlH, where HoimdinK« can lie had. Smult bank reported 7.''' miles soiithwfsl of Attou fHlaiid. lean side tin Htoinaclis w e re <*nipt\ evcepi a few pebbles ind in one a M-aliiiK lilint. Oiinimak I and from that t HO miles MtUth of .\i;attu. and be- t ween Apattu am! Kat Island, MO nnh- iH-ean- wards the seal** were just as plen- tiful as hi' evei- saw theinin Heh- niitfSea. One day at this place ^ut two with unlKirn and with milk. Mingi 69 No. Ht*i\U takf'ii nil Hu- ll ii|>uii (*(4irtt. 12 C'lTuUtloll lU Mi\i-(l iimlf'H ;iiii| f.iiial.'K. Mm 7tli .Inly. :«Ki III. off \ Kiiiilf IsIiiihN' i UK>k IUhi-uIh air ;i year old, iiiaU- iiii'i ft- III ;i 1 »■ s ; iiiostly III a I CH. Notliiiijt to ititli- catf tliry Iiim) l)t-fn nil laud. Kirst patclii-H 10 I vtiun^r mult*!*. 1) II r i 11 \: May. iifai'ly all \oiuif; iiialfM. Kinds (if St',d> (ihki'ri ariiiind K"iiiaiid'K-l in Iidl milk MiK^nitinii, Ah to I'*i'('dln>( l>uiiks Out . f Hi m.'uIh Th- fniir ffiiial.'- taki-n Imti, tniii Imd a nIiuw of; Wfn- fi'umlcH, milk, l*iu wi-n'j diviiin up, tlit'i , milk U iii^ i'lott-l I t'l and in ^uialt, (|iiiintiry, 'I liiMj nilK (>rnii |'_»tli til Hid, July. In-lidv [iiiiriiiaUv In Aiiv;ii>i ,iUnii Known oF n o ' " liankf* " around Kuiiian d o i'» k V MandN. ■ pial iiuiiili<-r of iiiiiti X and ft- mail's, 'riic row-' had viTy Mliudif' H how of milk, which har< ht-av V u ith pup. Tln-y i-m.ld not rfa< h t-ithfr kiKmn riNiki'iy lit tiini' to pup. ^•rti di^Tol- I wat^r, hut iii\tr not vi.iind tiiK'H uith ITiO fathoms of liiH'. Sipiid, H a 1 III o n and 'ithcr ti'-h in oiit ,')() si^aU noiiH in milk takfii on tIm-- taken on Japan cuast. lOllhf. iHt .S|.i-il, all tlic uav from (Hi to :tlM»iiiilcs off Nip- on ; tin y umk uiiiii^" ^'l■H•»o. I l«'lif\f they art' to he found all u inter where 1 hi-Kt met them. .Shown Ity iMi»iti(ni« pit-vinUMly givfn. Ulands iK'i do 1 know of aii> iMH* U'lio lia^. S.ilmoii and --(piid tinia Mt to \»t rriih-H off hhorc t.i thn Mouth" ard. 13 Mixed cow-i and MoNt of the cow« Tlie majority fema-'Not out had a full inalcN, h'li more «ei( with pup,' tes ; u^m'ii' cowr^than nialcf*. Imt there wa-. itiud inidt-s (pilte a mnnher] of harreii cowh.| (Jut sealrt i pupi I up to th(- 'J3vup. <.} u i t e a numlMT of bar- ren ftiUialeM in June, off YesHo iBlantl.alHonon' breeding males and ffunaleH. d-^TIiis lij^M Iwen ri I\\ (t i n ilk t If n ilk m\ iiri-ttv \\ 11 lri< .1 u I'- 1 iwai cl- .'IhI .f M» ■JIKI n ...Iv a sliuhl Ir «re if milk h'ft. !* i'\\>. rn'iic*' f •r Knows of no liunkH Imt theif artt lileiity of Mpiid and salmon out- side the ;tO-mile limit. Mixed iiiales and. None showed a full females durinjTj Htiw of milk, he- 1 th'.' month t"fj in^ in different A'lj^ust. and up} -taj,'es of drying' ti 7th Sept. j up. Feutr females in ':hi> m'ijrhlK'ur- litMid than ever Ik foiv, A liou t half inalcH and' half females. i I I'l. tn *Jnth .Inly, most f f in ale-* were in full milk. After that it wa> (| u i t e apparent that the milk was tlryiii^ up, and iiitenuixiu^' with the fat. four years in tlienf waters. Off .\Kat.tu Island, l><'|\M>fn i:itli:>iidl •Mi duly, 7") miles .*^.\V. Suu seals. IHDl? Saw lots ofl'liconly Itank lie seal> in northern knows of there Ir nan of (Julf of north of HeliriuK' Kamtschutkrt, iii-| Island. Thereii- cludin^'' slcepinbri tre heiu^' in lari- cow.s, on AuL'iisti tilde jV"N.,lon(_d- L'Hth. ' tude \i'-' Iv Shiiwii liy positions No Itaiiks to the pn\ ioufilv ^iven.' south wa r d of Copper Island. I Soundedwith Hhi I fathoms r.f lint* I I(H)kiiig foi tish M miles off. ort " Yakout," on Ih.' I7lli July, in lati- tudt! i)4' 21' if; loni^ituiU' HH" ;H K,, -Jl inil«'s south-i'ast of Cc.|.p>M' iHlan.l. SchnoiKT '• Ainnko," of Vicloriii, !?.(' : Sci/c(l l)y thf Itussiivii Iriiii^pori ■ Yiil-oiit," on tin- 'JSnd Jnly, 1H93, in liiiitiidi' iVr 'j.f ft" N., lonfititiidi- lii«- :)'S Iv, \'> inil-n Noulh-Mst ol' Copp.T iNltixd. Sohooni-r " Maud S " of Victoria, \iX\ : Scizod by tlu' Kiis! ould hv IcHrued, was in the case ol' the sti-ani schooner ' Warlock," of A'ictoria, 1>.C , whicli vesisel i)ut into the port of I'ctropiiulovski. on liic Kaiiiis. hatka coast, for fncl and water, after a rouiih vovau'e alonn' the Aleutian Inlands, durinu: which no seal skins had been i)ro- cured Her papers and scalinu' c(|iiipMient were reinnved from her by the Uussian cruiser ■• Zaijiaka" and she was uivcii ])apers to Yoknhania. where her captain wa.^ inl'oriiied he wmild receive his ori;.''inul iKipci> and ei|uipnienl, hu application to II. M.i'.insul. This vessel was not sei/ed. the actn)n ol' the Kii>si,iu authorities beinjj explained as a safetfuard against a possible breach of thi' ai^reemenl ; tlio uuister of the " Warlo 'k " havinii' evin 1 the desire of reiichiiur Yok()h;nna as soon as possibhi. CONCLUSION. 518. In ccncludin'j' my report, I desire lo acknowledt'e niy ind for courtesii's, while on board the " Kotik" and on the l,>laiiil. 510. To Admiral the lion. Sir l'Mmnn- mamler.s of U. M. ships "Mercury'" and "I'orpoise" and most especially to the Commandpr, olficers and men of 11. M.S. " Archer " for tuiiform courtesy and attention shown and ready assistance rendert'd. 517. To H. 15. M. < hari;6 d'AH'aires at Tokio. 51H. To II. H. .VI. Consids at Y'okohama and Hakodate .•■>19. To Mr. A. R. Milne, Collector of Customs at Victoria, British Columbia. I hiV(> the honour to be. My Lord. Your Lordship's most obedient htimble servant, ROBERT N. VENNING. The Right Honourable The Eai;:, di' Kosehkrv, K.G-., iVc., &<'., &c. 71 APPIilIS'JJiC Ills. SlatcnicntN l.v Russian OH'uials and I anplovi'cs of the Russian skin { (inipanv nn tlir Russian Sial Islands. Scal- lllSli tcr III y, Ml Ins I'orcign APPENDIX No. ]. SyiiopHihof til.' Il.'port lor IH'X], of Mr. CrvUmi/My. UiiHsiiui AdiiiiniHtrator, at KiiiuiiiKlor.sky I>lnii,ls. IIS Iriiiishitrd by Mi's.srs. (Inuiwiililt mid Miilow ' ' '' l)iv«riiiv. from 111,. Driilt l,y Mr. ( Jrcluiitzkv. to tin- Uiissiuii Miuisf A lliii !•.•<; — MiiiTiitioriN lioiii III,. ,s!iori. ol Iroiii L'Oo to liOO miles, lor lli, piirposi' of" .■x.'n'isi' or st'okiiiif I'ood. aro iri,.r(. i.rom,iiad,'s lor s,.aln ol' all kinds, ..xci.pt " Lulls." I'lips com., into 111,, world \v,'iik, and r,(|iiiri' iniisidcrald," iiourislimi'iit Iroiii their inotlii-rs. Th,' Ifinali's pup i,rin,ipallv in M:iy and .liuus and hinkli' their youu'.r for on,' and n halfinonth.s or two inoiitfi.s. The follovviLj' y<'ar, L n montlm ,)l.l pups eom.' to th,' i.slaiids in .■,)nipi\ny with th,' niolh,.rs, wh'ile in thi' s,..oiid year th,.yarrivt' nei)arat..ly, liiti.rtlian 111,. iiioth,.r... S,)ni,' lemal. .>^ wliirh m,' distiirhed in tlii'ir inii,'ration.s to tl»,' hreedin^ rookeries lo.s,' th,'ir pu|..s ill the \v:il,.r. Th,.y are th, n liable to illn,.,^s, .ind .some (lie before reaihinef tli,' rook,'rie,s. Tlio.se ofihi'in \vlii,h siui'eed in reaihiii;.' the shore lo.sethe instinct vvhi,h calls lor si'rvi^eof the • bulU." U' the mothers dii- in Julv or Auirust, th,' pups iiiiist ne,<',ss.irily jM'rish for want ,>! nourishment, hut in the event of thti mother dyinir in Octob,'r or November, the pups ar,' quite , apable of lakinur ,are of thems,.lves if they , an lind viaiiiL;- sciuid and small lish near stiore ; but hucli pups are .ilways slow in tirowth ;ind yiel,l jioor skins. II a leiiiale los,s her |)up in ih,' wiiler, she i;iii bi' readily distiiii^niished by tlu' condition of the I'ur, which is roiie-h un,! thin uiuh.r siuh cir,'umsiani'es. in .Aueu,~l. and d iriim' the month (>\' S,'p- to per- 'bulls." thev be During' tin- sh,'d,liMij' piTiod, lal,' ti'iiiher, th,' si'mIs remain ,lose on slwire. iiinkiiiij; no mijrratioiis to sea. 'rii,. ■• bulls " and lirc'dintr feinale.s, must ncessariiy come on stior,' form tlu'ir pro, reativ,- l'uii,tion>, ilu- females to puj) and b,' served by the ' The Ibrnier cannot pup in the w:iler. as the pup.s would drown ; neith,'rcaii served in the water. Mr. (irebiiilzky ih,'ii express,. s his opini,)n ,if ijclagi,; .sealing as Ibllows : — Causinj;' a i;'en,.ial di.ivt.ase of .>eals ,iu the bre, 'dine' rookeries, ,'sj)e,ially of fi'inah's, only nboul oiie-hiiH' th,. leinales beinif noti,'ed on the rookeries siiici' ISSS, as lomparcd w ith the numbi'r for some y,'ar.s prior to that dnte. Considerable increase ill the numbi'r ,d' dead pu|)S siiuc 18!<8. Generally speakiMtf, then' is a cousiderable nunilxT of barren females (old) whiih do not iri> on th,' rook,.ries for s,'rvi,',' by the " bulls," but lay outsidi' near the hollus, lii,.kie. Th,'se bnrri'ii females an* easily frisi'hteiied. II,' thinks thai th,^ si'als iniirratc furtli,'r Irom the Komaiidorsky Islands than from tli(> I'riliylovs for Icediiiir puipox's, as there are a number of shall, )W banks which allbrd i'ood. Tlie.'ie banks, he s;i,ys, are situat,.d lo the southward of Copper Island, and to the northwanl from H-'hrinu Island about 150 miles.* The report j)roceeds : Th,' Siiluinu arrive in the vicinity of Behriiig Island in the end of .Tiiiie, and are observed arriviuir till the end of August, and the seals go out sixty miles to inei't them. II,' states the seals are fond of salmon, and tliere have been tinii's when they went up the rivers for them. It is a very simiile matter lo I, '11 ihi' skin of a female seal from that of a male even if it has b,.eii salt,'d ; and if it had not been very long salted hi' lOixld tell whether or not the mother had been suckling the young. The Komiuidorsky and I'ribylov Island herds are separate and distinct, those of the Komaiidorsky Islands aie distinguishable by their being greyer in colour, while the h":"' of thi^ animal is iiarrowr and liner. The seals migrate from he Komaudorsky Islands about the middle of Novemlx'r, movina- south to the .J'lpan Sea. The Robbeii Island hcni move down the Japanese Coast in same direction, and seals are found landed on islands inside the Kuriles. Some, instead of going to Robben Island, distribute themselves on other islands in the Okhoteh Sea. * This (ipiiiloTi li,. l):is(.H ii)Miii tlic chiirts nf cx)nti«ait,.il Hclioiin,!r.<, fnnn wliich lii. lins iilisi'i'vi'd tliiit seuls are capt\ired lij' tliPiii from 100 to l.">0 mill's from slion'. 72 Sviiopsis of a 'rk'irrnm pn-p.mHl hv Mr. Grfbiiit/y, to !).■ s.'ut to th«> Miinstn- of Domains, at St. r"i.'i3l.aiu-. iillociiim- ih>' opnatioiis of lJ-;"3, on Koinandorsky I«lani : — , i ^ i Niti. '-tenths of tlic sealins;' sihooiifrs Wfiv on llio Japan ( oast al.out iH.nuary, bf.ausf th.n did not liiid .■noiisi-h .seals on tli.- Aiiu'vii-au toast. All sealm-i' s.hoon.'rs ki'i'j) in tlic'traric of the s<'als fiom forty to ninety miles olf I he somh end of Copi)er Island, and prevent Ihem from soiuix furiher out and comine- in. I'lenty of seals iiri' in Ihe sea, and on tht oast of Kami.s.halka. FewiT seals this year on rookeries. Slislil deerease of females ot\ Copper Island this year. I'lenty i)ull.s. Th.' skins taken were lartre. Internationa' ..lion alone ean ellieiently protect sealint;- industry. i.:'PENDIXNo. 2. talioii with the natives. If '■■:i!.iles while .saeklmu- their younu' do i;i> olf the rook.'ries for food, they do not go i.iiv distan.'e IV.im th.' slior.'. They w.)uld go .'arly in th.' morning and soon Te'iirn to the rookeri.'s. I have not ob-^erved or h. anl of any more d.'ad puj s on.' yi'a.r than anoth.T, durinsr my slav h.'r.>. What f.'W d.'a.l pups ihcr. are, from y.'ar t.) y»'ar, ar.' m.istly killi'd by th«' surf .liirJUL!' storm--. From my own otiservatiou and what I ha\.' bi'eii abl.' to gatlier Jroni 'he natives. I jwdi.'V.' I .an saf.'ly say thai a young lui]) will bi' sii.kled by its motl'.r for about three or four weeks b.'lbr.' being w.'ane.l. 1 do 'i'<^ i^e'i'-M' tliat a leinale seal will g.) any .'onsidcrabl'' dislan.-.' to s.'a Jbr fi.iod ■.;iitil the lirtit w.'ek in S.'pt.'inl).'!-, if sh.' is a lir''.'ilin'.i- Icinal.' — that is il sh.' has pup[)ed. Th.';- .an g.'t food n.'arer the islands. If feini.l.'s -hould "lr.>p ih.ir young at sea or los.' ih.'Ui on the islands, th.'y would ri'niain on the islands, just th.- sani.,' as th.' .ither br.'.'ding females; as giviiiLC birth lo tb.'ir young is not the only r.ason lor their migrations to the islands. Tli.'ir nM*".r;d instill.'! a!:.o brings Ihem ther.'to r.'.'.'ive si>rvi.'e from th.' bulls. This L .'oii- >ider is prov.'U by th.' fact that ther.' ar.' som.' barr.ii f.iii.''.'S whb h r.iuaiii on the i.dainls, altli.iugh havinu' no yoiinir. A\'ith ri".;ard l.i th.' <|U.'sti.in as to wh.'lli.'r f.'mal.' s.'als .'v.'r land .m the islamls IViim ill"' time they I.'mm' (hem as pups, until th. y return t.» Ih.' rook.'ri.'s t.i giv.' l)irtli to their lirsl pup, I .nay slat.' I'lat (here is iiod.iubt that tlu'vdo, as young females ar.' olt.'ii .observed uii.\ed with th.' Imlliis.hi.'ki.'. and othiTwise on the island. r am d.'.'id.'dly of .)pinion that the seal herd which fr.'nu.'ntf the Pribyloll' Islands is si distin.'t on.' from (liat which visits the K.)mandorsky Islands, and ther.'- Ibre any operations on thos.' islamls .'ould in no way all'.' -I th.' K.)mandorsky Islands and vire rt-rsii. Lant y.'nr I hai.db'd th.' skins taken fr.im th.' s.'iz.d schooner " Kosit> Olseii," ani'.iiL'' which u< r.' some tiik.'ii on th.- Anieri.un sid.', an.l I observed such a mark.il dill' rcii.'c in llie ap|).'aranc.' .if Ih.'se skins as .'.jnioared with llinsi- ta!;. n ou th.' Jiussiaii siib'.lhat it loiiviiici'd in.' of ih.' di.~tineiin'ss of ilu' jierds. Als.), I b.'li.'vo that ill.' seals whiih visit Kobb.'ii Island n.'V.r 'jr{. this far. ami although of the same h.'rd pra.li.ally, any o|>.'ralions iheic would iioi all'e.'t thi' Komaudorsky Islands in any d.'gtee. 1 eannot say as to how long a lemalc will .'ontinu.' to bear young, nor how long a inal.' seal will render cfli.'ienl s.'r'.iceon th.' rook.'ri.'s; 1ml I know that every year there are upon tlu' rook.'ri.'s, a lew
' rt'iison that I have ;!bovc cxpliiini'd thiit thry do not iiO that far out to sea durinu' thf tiiiif they arc nursintr their youiiii'. (tcn.'n'lly -^j>caking-, from what I have ohsrrvcd, and Irom what I liavf >z-iithiTcd iii ■onvi'i-sation with ih.- natives here, I do not believe that any of the seals ro ai'V groat distances from the rookeries, from the time the\ laud iu the spring until they leave in the fall. 1 do not believe they go at any tiiiie during their stay here, to a greater dislaiire than the protective zone, if indeed that far. I cannot see any reaHOU for thcjr doing so, as they can get all the lood they require close inshore. 1 do not know anything aliout the Copper Island rookerie.'.'. On South liook'Ty. ISehring Island, which is a small rookery, there ;ire also nrore seals (his yeai' than last year. In 18M, there were very lew seals on this rookery, more in is'.ti!, and still more this year. I was uoi on the rookery this year myself, but I was inlorincd by the natives tliat the seals were more numerous there. tSo far as liehring i bind is concerned, I consider the rookeiie>c in much belter condition this yea; 'uan last, in jioinl nfiiumbers of seals. The bulls begin to leave the lookeiies I'arly in Augu>i, liut the females !ind kiUables remain until the latter part of O.tober, and during the early part ol' Novem- ber there are Viry few to be seen on ihe rookeries, some I'emaK's, some pu)is and some killaliles. WALriK:\I \R I'AETZ. APPENDIX No. 3. Statk-mest j9>i~'\;.z.v Niiiii; Sei.ivanofi', at Nikolski. '2;iBi.i auuust (4tii Septembkr), 1893. 1 have resided on Ivnnandorsky Island.- for twelve years, si. x years on Copper Isbind and six vears on Hchring. I came here from Petropaulovski, a.s a Russian oihcial nmler the Administration, and I have had good oi>porl unities of obsei viug the condition of tlu' rookevii s, as durint;- the whole of tht^ killiim- sea.'i the rook- eries, but did not observe of what i)articuhir class During the time (he female sei;' ire suckling their Nounu' (hey do not go to gr<'a( distances from th' shore le '.'d, but if the weather is line and no stor, -s arc prevailiuii-, they will iin pight cr i.i r- miles from shore, Imt no furtlu'r, whii- they are nnisine-. When the sea is high, and the weatlier stormy, the nursing teniales will only a~> a very bhort distance iVom the rookerjes. With regard to (h.> (luc-tion as to whellier a female seal feeds while Ruckling, i have seen a female nurse her pup early ui the morniiiu-. have the rookfry for a few hours and return and auain nurse tiie "pup This is from personal oli.^cr' atioi'. 1 luring the month of June, when the pups are vouiiu-, the females do not leave tiiem for a longer time than about four hours, l>i\i later on, in July, when the pups nre older, (hey will stay .iway for nine or ten hours. . [ judge the distance the females go trom their looken. s while nursing, by per- sonal 'observations made by me wat.hinu them, with .. pair of Held glasses, every day during my slay at thi> rookeries. It was my duty to give \o the ollicials all the informalion f could ealher iu connecdon with the rookeries and (he seals, and it was durinu- my (biily observations that I watched the seals leave the rookeries and return. Tii. -re was no danger of my mistaking females. Durine' the year IS!l:i, I think, there were more dead pups than in 18!tl or !81t;{ I dicfnot e.mut (he .lead pups, but there ai neared to lu' more. I attribute the death of tiies.'p>ii>«<"s'"'"'^^"*i '*'^^'''' ""'^ '""'"y "'' *'"''" ^^'''■'' '■'■"'' yi I'y 7^ bulls, Iu the autumn, ditring stormy weather, many ol the pups are killed by tho WRVes. From till' observations I have madi', my opinion is thai a f.-malc seal \yill suckle hov young thr.".' or lour wocks bclwv weaning. I <'annot say how soon after the birth ol' her pup ii I'euiale will resort to the water for food, and would not like to give ;in oitiuion on this point lu the event of a female losing her pu]) at sea, she would come to the rookery, because 1 hav • seen biirren females on the rookery which had not pups to look al'ter. If she lost her pup on the lookcry. she would feni;iiii there for service by the bull. " , , r , At all limes, during their stay upon tiie rookeries, lemajes can be tound with a show of milk, I iiave seen femnles killed in October, lor siientilic purposes, and there has been in them a decided show of nulk. 1 cannot say much about the migration routes of the .seals or their winter habitat, iiut tiiey come from the .south-east and ri'turn in that dire. tion. The seals a'rive at the islands in the following order : - *]u IS'.eJ. — first. The bulls, the livst airiviu!:' on the 1st May, and from that forward eominir u'radiially unlil 1st .luly. and that is the reason tiiat a f 'W bulls will l)e found later in the fall on the rookeries. do Second. The lirst I'emales arrived on the'JOIh May. and from tluit I'orward they kept coming until Iftlh .luly, by which time all the leuuiles were on the rookeries, do Third. The hoUuschickie arrived about the same time as the femalc-s, 1)U1 continued cominsj; the whole- time until aboui l,")tli of AuLTUst. Departure. 18li2.— The l)iills left lirsi, bui cannot say .actual lime of IcMving. As the seals come, they leave ; gradually. Except tile bulls, which had nearly all gone l)y that tim<\ they beccan to leave alout 1st t)ctol)c>r, and had all left the islands on the liith November. As 1.1 ih.' c|ueslion whetlu'r female seals evcir land on the islands f'c^ He time they leave them as ))ups. unlil they return to the rookeries co irive birth toineir first l>up, I have seen yuum' jeundes (yearlings) iivery year '>n the rookerien. Last year, 18i':i, 1 made a "drive," thiiikine- to takc^ :il)oiii I'.tiOo skins, but I disecn-ered there wcM'c over 1,1)00 young females mixed wiili the liollusc hickie Jjast year, IS'.fJ, I observed three bulls on \orth liookery which were very dill'crent in appearance from the bulls usually resorting to tlu'se islands. They had lonir nuiues on the back of their necks, which do not occur on the bulls of Komandorsky Islands. These bulls caused considerable discussion amoU'^' the natives, one of whom had eoiiii' to the Komandorsky Islands from St. I'aul, I'ribylov : his name was Wim NnegirolL He informed the- natives that these bulls were iVom St. I'aul Island, ts tliev wei'c the same as be had seen there". Last year I noticed two holluscliicki" whieii were Very ditl'erent from th • ones here, the hair bc'inu- quite black. 1 1 annol say how many years a female will contintie to bear younu'. nor hc)w loncj a male will render ellieicnl servic'e on the rookeries i have never noticed any adult females which were barren, nor any cild bulls which were not able for rook.>ry servic e In IS'.fl I found in a drive a seal which was a hernuiphrodite On the whole, I belieNc ihe rookeries to be in a better condition than for the last three ye.'irs. The airreeinent bc'twec^n the Russian and Uritish (rovernments providinir a 8(i-mile zone is a sutlicient protection to the breedinu' se;il .. after they have u:ot to the rookeries, but early in the spring, duriiur the migration ol' the seals to the islands, the jjresenee of the sealing schooners interleies with their [jas-.a^'e to the islands. I have not been on Copper Island since 1888, and c.mnot give any iuforma- lioii as to that island, ALKXANKHU SELIVANOKK APPENDIX No. 4. .St.\ti:.\ii:nt of Alexf.i Hadakkk, Sbai- ''DiiiVEn," Behuino Tbland. T was born cm Hehring Island, and am now 4■^ years of aj^e and am engaged in " ason. There are more se:ds on North Rookery this year than last, Thc^ increase is noticeable generally speaking, iucliiding all classes of seals. In 181)1, there we're not so many sceals as in 18!»2, and in 1893 (this year) there are more seals than in 1H92 75 At the tiini' they aiv HUi'klinir tlu'ir 3-()\mjf, tlu' rcinali' seiils do not go i'ar from the rookcrii's, not I'mthcr thnn livi' iniK's IVoni shore. Thi>y go tliis dlslaiicf to leod. Tlicy can fmd lood enonoh ihal distan' e IVoni nhorc There were more (h>ad pups on the rookery in l.^l'i.' than this year nr tlian in isiH. I slionld say that i<. J2 there were ahoul ."loii di'ad pups; tiii.s year not so many. In iS',t2 ihe pups, in my oi)inion, were killed l.y the liulis crusliing tliem, and Ijy the suri', during storms. I know ol' no other cause nl'denth, exeejjt liiat a lew may he born dead. From jier- sonal observation I have seen pui)s siukling the whole lime tliat the seal.sare on tlio rookeries, and I l>elieve that the lemales nurse tlu'ir young four months I havoso(!U females nursing their pups in the water. 1 have never .seen a bull (serve a female in thi> water. I cannol say how soon after giving birth to her ))up a feiiuile will go into the water. The females do feed while nursina', but if the weather is warm, they will go into the water without feeding, but renuiin s. I have seen on the rookeries in Is'.'l and ISDl' a considerable number of M..ils which had shot wounds, liul this year there .are very few as compared with IS'.iI ;ind lHlf2. t hiive never noticed then. ■.'■(Uiiided in any othi'r way except those whiih had bitten each other. With reuard to the agreement bei ween K'ussia and (treat Britain this year, I am of oitinion that the limit is not sulHcieut, as the holluschickie go more than 30 mil. s from land. They take these excursions not iiecessarily for food as they could e-,t this wilhin ^I'l n'liles from land, but for exercise or for i change. ALliXEY UADAEFF. APPENDIX No. 5. Statement by C.mt. H. A. (tiui\r.i;n(i. or the Russian Seal-skin Coju'ANv's schooner " Licos,'' AT I'lMKoi'Ai'i.ov.'^Ki. I8111 Afor.sT, ] 8!>3. I) How many years have von been engauvd in scaling ?— Since 1S77, m the emplov of Hutchinson, Kohl, rhilii>peiis \- Comimny, from 1877 up 1o lermmaliou of lease in ISU ; simv thai dale 1 Inive been employed by the ihi.ssiaii 8eal-skm Company, conlinuously. , . , , i i, () Under the Alaska ("ommcicial ConiiMiiv, at wna; islands w.'iv you employed? — At Koinandordvv Islands and Robb re Ishiiul, under both companies. q. How wcP 'you employed '-In c;uryiuu' siipidies to th. islands and sealers, and colleetina skins lakeu. ^^ , . . , , (l Have yon alwavs l.eeu on th.' ■ Lecni ' .'—No. this is only my second yeariu thai ves.-icl, pr'.viimslv 1 was in ■ haig" of the steamer " Alexander." (I Hovv is the ■■Alexander" now eiorae.'d .'—«lu> IS, 1 umierstand, iu,w lyiu^- oil (■he lelt fean Franci.sco under the Havvi'.ii.n lia'j', (J When did von lea w iJobben Island^— GihAuaiust. (J Had the opeialionsof the l.c-see, . eaK.-d when you lelt ^— \cs; the kilhng ' - ^. . -. 1 *• i . _ -„ * 1. ...... .1..,-.. .■..^.. 11. X 1.1... ill 111 i^tul'lllIT opera< ions ccasi Ony longer. ■d th 'i-e on lif 2nd «f XutiaM. bcciuse there was no prolil in staying Q. ir 20 ow man y skins were lak(«n there ihix year ?— 1 •">n2. 70 Q. Tlow (Iocs this oompaiv witli tli.' cat.li ol' last y.-ar ?— There wore 110110 taken last your bocausi' it was coiisideroil uupiolitahh' to scud sealers there. Q. How was lhi,> jiul-i-ed :'— By the eateh ol' the year beloro (ISHl). Q. What was the >iii) and iHsO. Q. Previous to those year.s what was the average take V -About 4,0(10 skins. (l In your opinion w'hat has been the cU'ect of the imitoctive area established this year between Russia and Great Britain, on ihc' rookeries there? — I bellevo it has alt'orded a n\oral protection to the sciils. 1 ueitlier heard of nor saw any pelagic sealers in the vi< inily of the island, within the proliihiied area, while I was there, but my exi)erien e hiis b.'en tiiai this class of sealer.-^ generally reai attribute this iiKU'tality :' — Some are drowned in the surf ■while yet vounu' ami Iciiriiinu' to swim, a small [lorlion are smothered by the breed- inu' animai'N others ar.' c / — The tenialcs tio to lireater distananod. I havi> also noticed seals generally, irrespective of sex, further oil' shore during the month of .\uirust than during the two months previous. I know that some ol thene must b" I'emali s because the breedinu' i>laces are thinned oil'. Q. Can the females sjet food, while nursine', without uding far from shore? — I believe they can, for they do not go beyond one or two miles from the islands at that time. (J. Docs this answer ajiply equally to the Koinandorsky Tslauds ? — Yes. Q. How long are the pu[)s noci'ssarily suckled by the mother bci-ore weaning? — I cannot answer that. Q. What is the earliest date at which the female may resort to sea after giviug birth ? — I eannot say, and would not care to irive an opinion. Q. Have you any kiiowledue of the existeni'e of " feeding banks " in the vicinity of the Komandorsky Islands and liobben Island' — I have no personal knowledge of any such bank>, but ' hav heard that such exist to the S. W. of Behriiig Island, abour SO or ^.'i mile ,,|f, mid to the south of Copper Island, but T have not heard how far olf that island. Q. Do the seals visit these Imiiks r,,r food f — After the l,")th August I have noticed seals souih-west of Ilehrine' Island, as far iis 80 mil-s oil the iiiland, 1 presume look- ing kir ici.d 1 could not say whether thoy were males or females; but if fi'inales, at this I irnu' the younu' would have been weaned, and able to take care of thi>ni- selves. Q. Have you I'Ver known of females losinir their younu' at sea or on the islands, and hmnd in milk at great distances from the bn edinu- islands ? — Mislaud would she reniiiin there ! — Her natural iuslilict WiMds are often mixed up in a diiv.' of killablo males. Q. In yciirs of SI arrily or uIjuikIiukh^ oI' si-mIs on Hk! Pi'ihylod' il).'l.''' APPENDIX No. 6. DeCL.\1(ATI0N of Oil 'U,I« LkbI-ANT., MASTKll OF Tllli SEALIXO SCllOONEU " SaUIE TcUPEI,," IH'J'ii. Port of Victoria. | British I'ohindda. ) I, Charles Lehho.e, of the City of Vidoria. in the Province of Ihitisli Columbia and l)ominion of Cauiula, do scdeninly deidare that : — I have been live years in the seaiinu' l)usiness, durint;- which time 1 have sealed alonu' the coast, in lii'hrinu' Sea, when it was open, and around Koniandorsky Islands. Tiielirst, year I went as a'l)oat steerer; afterthat upto )«'.':.', I was mate andhiniter; this year, 1893, I went lo th.' Japan coast and around Koniandovsky Islands as masti^r of thi' schoomu' " Sadie Turpel." I sailed from Victoria on the i:.5lh day of .lanuary, and went direct I:) Yoko- hama, arrivint;- there on the 14th day of Aitril, and left tln're on the ir)th foi the sealintr lirounds. . a i i • The llrst, .seals I took on the .Tnpan coast, I u'ot on the lOlli day ol Ai)nl, in lati- tude I!!)*' ±1' N., lontiiiude l-t;'." 1-2' E., and the last .seal on thai coast, on the 4th day of .Tuly, in latitude 44" ;'.8 N.. lonuitude 140" ti;".' K., and my positions duriui!- this time ra'nu-ed b.'tvveen :!9° and ■i'>'^ north latUude and lit ' and Mlf^ east lonyitude. Thelirst few catches were mostly all compo.vd of sounu- males, but after that they were pretty well nuxei' Taken on the wlnde, my ealch on the .Tr.pan coast was about half male and half fennile seals. About the lirsl we. k in .June the feuniles were the hea\ test i.i piip. I uol on that coa.st twelve or lilteen barren cows. These cows weiv old eiioiiL'h to bear young, but ih ihoso, we always rc.tjard it as an indication that plenty of s.als av in lilt' vicinity. . ,. ,■ 1 left on the second dav of September for Victoiia, and arrived in this port on the 21th day of that month.' On my way over. 1 -ot two male seals about two hun- dred miles south of tlie Aleutian Islands ^ , , ,, 1 , , M 1 know of no "banlky Islands; l)ut there are plenty of surface lish all the ^vay as far out as I wo hundred miles : squid and small iish of ditl'ereiii kiiiil.- , , • . • i 8o far as the uii'naiion loule of the seal- to the islands is concerned, 1 can only Bav that I lirsl met them on the Jai)aii coast the I9lh of April, in latitude ;39° '2-2 N., lou'vilmb' 14:V' 1-2' M, and 1 lolloWi'd lii.>m alonu' ihe coast until 4lh July, in latitude 44-^7)S' N., lono'itiide 149^ -J.V E., my averaire distance from shore beiiif,' al)out (HO) thirty miles. I lost the herd alnnit'liftv miles east of Sikotan. i can tell a female from a male seal in the water. The females; are limr m the head and ue.k. ..,,,■• u * i And 1 make this solemn declaration conscientiously l)elu'Viiig the same to be true, and by virtue of the Act respecting extra-judicial oaths. Declared before me. at Victoiia. in thej rrovince of Uritish Columbia, thisl Master of schooner " Sadie Tiirpel." ninth day of November, 1893. i' A. K. MiiAK. I CHAS. LEBI.ANO, [Seal. Collt! lor of Customs. APPENDIX No. 7. Declaration of "VViwjam Siieilh^'. ma.stku of tiik seai.ixo soiiooxer " Veka " 1803. Port of Victoria, ) llritish Columbia. \ I, 'William Sheilds, of the City of Victoria, in the I'ldvinee of British Columbia, Dominion oi Canada, do solemnly declare, ijiat : I have been eitrht years in the sealing l)u.sine:-s, seven years a seal hunter, and this vear as master of the schooner " Ver.a." I also act.'d as a hunler liiis year, kill- iim' four hundred and seventy seals, all of wliiidi I skinned myself, and, therefore, had ort on the 19th day f>f March I Lit Yokohama on the 27th day of March, and lirsl took seals on the 2";iih of that month, in latilud" .'il° 40' N., lonifitude 140'^ 3' E. The last seals I took on the Japan Coa.st wi're u:ot on the 14th day of July, twejity miles otf Staien Island. B.-»ween these dates, my positions raiured from 34'^ 4ti' north latitude to 44° 53' north bititude. and from HH"^ to 14s' is' east lonu'iiude, Som.' davs the fo;^- was so thick that I I'ould '.ret no obsi rvations. The seals taken aloii'i- the Japan Coast, in March .iiul .\pril, w».re of all classes, mixed. DuriuL'- May, I would lind a bin..h all mal.'.s. '..iid a little fiinher uu a bunch all females. The te"iales were in ]iiip. Alon;| the coast, mix.d up amonii: the male seals. I took- (|uite a number of haiTcn cows. I'arren >ows and jountr males i^ein'r- ally go touether, and when you gi't into a bun. h of thi'se, ;U1 the females taken are bancn, Th.y are adult females, but without pup or any show of milk whati>ver. There is mi particular time of the yrar thai this class of seal is takui in greatest numbers. Forlvoor three days duriim- the lirsl week in .iiuu', I iioii.ed a lot of eowa travellinsf .I'ong the e,o.is"t 10 the norlhwar.l This was between 3',)' and 41" north latitude, and 144° and 1 |tj° east lon■>•itud..^ They wore hard to get, as they did not stop for anyihiiiii, but kept right on their course. 79 Till' l)nlk of till' t'Hiii,ilc> hciivy wiili pup were liik^'ii duriim- flu' lirst wiM>k in Juii'', l)ut. 1 look a I'rw li'iiiiili's ill pup up to ilic I'lul of .Iuii>'. 'I'lic UKijnrity ol' iho •"iilN liikcii (huiim- th.' liisl wnk in June and the lirst Iwlvi' days in July, were younn' mail's with soinr Icini'ii cows, and a lew <'ows in lull milk, bui vi'iy I'i'W of til.' hitter. This was oil' Stiilm island — one of the Ivurilcs. 01' tho early eateh alonu' the Japmi Coast, liolji iii;iles and reninles, the stouiachs were eoniparatively empty, })ut later on they routnined ((Hisiderahle lish food. On the 1 llh diiy of July. 1 sailed direet lor the wiiterH around ("oppt^r Island, arrivinji' (here on the 21st. I saw several seals on the w:iy up. 'i'he first seals takeu in this vicinity were secured on the •J.'ird d;iy ol' July, in latilude .'>ii° 37' N'., lony'i- tude 1(!7" 2(t' east, and (he hist senl.s i»ol there on the 5th d:iy of Auy-ust in latitude r)U° ,')7' N., lonii'iiude liis'ii' 1",.^ these i)o>itions heinu' nhout my rane-e oil' Copper Lsland. The seals tukeii oil' Copper Ishnid wi're mixed, mule iiiid I'enuile, ])erhai)s nu)ra females than males. Ahoul hull' the females had ;i prt'tty frei; How of milk. The oilier liiilf appeared to lie in dilfereiit stau'es of dryinif u)). 1 noticed that (he slomnchs of the seiils taken in this vicinity cont:iim;d very little show of food At noon (ui the liflh d;iy of Aiiunsl, 1 sailed for Viclorin, arrivinir at this port on llu^ '_'4th of the snme iiioiilh Lust year. I sounded ;iioiiiid Copjier Island \vi(h two hundred fathoms of line, })ut was unahle to !r,,| soiiiidinLis. I have nevi'i' heard of anyone who has succeeded, and I know of uo lianks there. I noticed a s>-ood mniiy squid jiround (hc^ island, about thirty miles oil', cut iqi probably by feedine- seals. I have sd'U seals eating squid ; and in the liehriiu;- Se:i, I have seen them eatinu' cod. All 1 can say iibiuit the mie-rution routes of si'als to the Komandorsky Islands is, that I met them Dn the liHtli Miircli. olf the coast northward of Yokohama in latitude 34'^ 4ii' N., londtude MO' ;',' K. mid I found them all alnuff the coast to ^tateii Island,_ one of the Kuriles. raiiiiini^, say, between (3.')) thirty-live and (4i) forty-Uve miles off shore. I lost the herd olfihe noriherii part of ,' ■izc' on ih" shore by the Governor of the Islands. That morning we lelt the s. houi' m .u -| a.m , to hunt seals. There was a thick fou prevail- ing. I stood in towiivd- tw. iii'.ction of the island until lo o'clock, a.m., shooting seals on the way. iSoais, \' h' i :d hunliiif, U'o about three and a half miles an hour. I had twelve skins and ..le- seal in tho boat, and was standing up shooting at a *" bull" when I sighted two bo.tls, one on each bow. They proved to be from Copper Island in charge of the Covernor. At this time I had" no idea that I \vas anywhere near shore, as the fog was thick, and I did not know the position of the Bhi"p when I left her, beine-oiily a hunter. Whdi I asked thetiovernor if 1 was uear to the island he informed me that it wis right theie. I never went on the shore until taken there by the capturing boats, and all the skins I had were taken from seals shot in the water, when I had no idea thai, I was within the limit. The club in the boat was only such as is carried by all scaline; boats, no matter how iar from shore, to despatch wounded .■■•als which may come to, and often take charge of the boat. It w.'is not intended for use on the laud, nor had it been used there. All seals that are shot and not instaiilly killed, are clubbed in the boat to ensure the safely of the crew. This accounts for the heads of (he seals liearinix marks, which marks are no indication whatever of the seals h.iving beeu clubbed on hind. And I make this silciun de.l.aration, conscientiously l)elieving the same (o be true, and by virlue of the Ad rcspectinu' extra-judicial oaths. Declared before mi', al Vicloii.i, in thei W. SlIEILDt?. Province of Ibilish Columbia, this tenth diiv of November, LSit8. ) [Seal A. 11. MlI.NE. Ciilkcliir III' Ciisldms. • He iiu'iiii- u ihiilc -oil, iiel iiKi-'iinij- II liiii"liri!( " Imll.' 21 80 APPENDIX No 8. Deci-aration of Wkntwoutu E. 1?ai few femah's in i)up. but th.' i)Ui)s were not, sutlicienlly far advanced to have hair. Oil' Mount Fairweath.'r w.' u'oi a few old imll.-. Tl)i< '.v.is about the latter part of Ajiril. I left vicinity of Kodiak fsland on lie' l"lh .Tunc, for waters arouiul the Koiuandorsky Islands, reachiiii:' there 2sth .June. Copper Island bearing N. W. 6.5 miles dislant. I lirst lowered for seals ■2\id or :ird .luly, aiul u'ot a few skins, in about 5;i- N. latitude and It)'.'' Iv loiia'ilude. from iliis position, I sealed sometimes to the southward and working' w.'si until in loiidtude ICiU^ up to about the middle of July, takiim' about four lui'ulred seals Then I .sailed to the luirthward of I'eliring Island and sealed from sixty to (Ughiy miles olf the island. I remain, d th. lO until the 1st (hiv of 8epteml)er, and took north of the islands about six hundred seals. Thi' .seals taki'ti .south of the i.--i,inds w.'re mosily mal.' s.'als. I took here very few cows, btit those cows had a lonsid.Tabh' liow of milk. T'his was early in July. The sc.-ds tak.'U to iheno'.ih oi t!ie islands were mixed males and iemales, about a third males. The females in that vicinity were dryinu' np. the milk was rr.'ttiiin' hard and distributiii this solemn declaration ciMiscii.iitioURly lieli('viiitr Ihe same io be true, and by virtue of the Act respecting eslra-JiuUcial nilllis. Declared before im^ at the City of Victoria, ill the I'rovilice of ]]ritish l!oiuinbia, this ninth day of November, IS'JH. W. |il. llAKHH. [Seal. I A. U. Mii.NE, Collector of Customs. 81 APPENDIX No. 9. DliCI.AllATION Ol'' .\[i:iA'll,L|.: Cv.tLFM. MASTKIl nV TIIK SKAMVH SCIlnONKR " A(iNK> .\Iai;I)(inai,u," I8li;'.. Port dl' Virloriii, ( Hriti^li ('iiluiiil)iM. i 1, MrlMll,. t'lilln-, (,l th lii'r iiioniul '!'• <-'ily ol' Victoriii, in the I'rovin.r oT Uiiiisli ( '()l\iml>iii, Doiiuiuoii (.1 (. iiiiiulii, do soli'iuiily clrcliin' thiit : ■ - This is till' third sriison ihiit J huvclx'cn in ihc Kcjiliim- hii>iiie>s. The lirst year, isiil, I Sillied as master of the " C'armolite " to the North I'm ill, Ocean and Behnny Sea ; i)ut was warii.'d out of the hitler phice. 1 Liot i:,:;m) skins, in is;ii', I sailed as master of the " A-jnes Ma.doinild " hrinu-iii Cape Horn, That year I sealed alonu' the northwest eoasl, i Island, on the Russian siih'ol'the line. Durin-^- the present year I was niust<'r ol' the schooner •' Au'iii's Macdcjnald." I cleared from Victoria on the 'JJtli January, and sailed direct to Yokohama. I arrived m Y(dvoliama on the ISth Manh, and left that port on the i8lh March, seal- iiiiX north. I iirsi look seals on the liiid day of April oil Kinu'ansoii, Island of Nipoii. I sealed aloiitf the Japan coast from that date up to tlie ii:!rd June, when I took my last .'cal on that i oast. .Mv positions rnii-imr hetwecii latifnde J];" and -tiV' N. loii- gifu(h'; \i-r and in'' K. ' I reached Hakodate on the "JTlh June. I leli Hakodate' on the Sih July, and anchored a few davs oil' llie Heads. I arrived in the vicinity of Copper l.-i"and on tho -JOth July, and" took my lirst seal in thesi' waters on the li.Mh .luly and Ihe lasi on the oth Se|iteml)er,mv positions rauff- in-;- between .'j^^ and i't-i^ uorlli latilude and ItJO'' and 108° east lony'itude. My eatch aloim' the .Japan coast was made uj) of youuff male seals, cows iu pup. and a few hairen cows, and thi; majority of ilic seals I o-ot were taken at dis- tances raiie-ino- fniiii l-^o to e.vi miles oil' Xipon Island, I look T^ome olf Ye.s.so Island. I i>ersonally superintend the saltine- of the skins and the skiiininf>- of tluj seals lliat ar" l)roni;lil on hoard the vessi'l — somo are skinned in the hoats This year I observed two barren cows on the Japan coast : that is to say cows, thai had not bred, not beinii' in pup and havini;' no siii'ii wh iteverof milk. They wen- adults. Of the seals taken on ihe Kiissian side about lv\o-thirds were females, the remaimh'r bciiiu' yoiine' bulls. The females taken bcUveeii 2.')th .luly and ,')th September, had some show of milk, but in no inslam-e did 1 observi> a full How; all havins}' the appearauet; of various staire,s of dryin'4' up. Very littie sliow of milk in those hist killed. T p.iid l>articular attention to this, as we remainetl in thi' vicinity for five days before jvelliii^' any seals, and when tiiey heu-an to arrive, I mentioned to some of mv men that We had [irosi>ects of a jiood catch, as the females were dryiim- up, and that as theii' paps mu'-t have been weaiud, we might expect them to come olf the islands. J know of no "banks" ti; the southward of Komaudorskv Islands, where any soundings can be got, but then' are lots of surface iish to be found 50 or tld miles to the southward I have seen lois of dead scpud which had bei'u bitten and killed by seals. I also observed many salmon jumiiiim' out of the water,during my .stay in the Kussian A'icinity this year from ■_'.'ith July to ftth Septemb.'r. In fact I was amoiur hsh all the lime When I ill' Coiv])ei- Island this year I examined the stoinai'hs of scver:il seals, both male and female, to observe what they fed upon. I lound in the stomachs of both, the reiiKiiiis of sijuid and .'•■mall Iish, which I took to be smelt or eapelin. This was between ii.'ith July and ."itli September. In previous years, I have observed the same thiiiu' on the Anieri( an side. Reirardiiiii the miiiration route of the seals to the islands, the first I saw of them this year was aboul :iOn miles north of Yokohama from 180 to 200 miles oll'shoro. This was the Jirst week in April. I ^'ot thenr all along Ihu Nip;ni coast, and a few along the Yesso coast about, the same distance oil" Oflthe north part of Yesso I lost the .Japan herd, and did not au'aiii see seals until oifthe Komaudorsky Islands. lean tell if a seal has been on the rookeries or hauling grounds, as their flippers are worn and their bellies are discoloured. I got young males oil' Copper Isliind this year, which had no appearance of having been on the islands. And 1 t'liake this solemn (K'claration conscientiously believing tho same to be true, and liy virlne of the Aci respecting extra-judicial oaths. Deejiired before nu" at Victoria, in the i>roviiiee of British | M. F. CUTLER. Columbia, this ninth day of November, 18:t;>. ) (Seal.j A. R. MiLNE, Collector of Customs. APPENDIX No 10. Di;CI,AllATION OF \V H. WlllTi;i,Y, MASTIll! 01' TlIK SKAMNil SCIIo. iNKIl " .NfKUM.MU, " 1893. ]''or( "iT Vicioriii, | Mritisli Coliiiiilii;!. \ I, AV. 11. Whilfly. of the City ol' Viiiniia. in tlu' l''r()\ imi' dI" Iiiitish ("olumhia. Doi'iiiiiiin (iT ('Miiadii, do .suiiiniily dri larr llial : I liav liirii tiui'i' yi'uvs in tli'' lur seal l)ii>iiii'SN. in ISHI, a.s ma.sti'r of tiu' srlinoniT " iiaUi-ador." I s-alrd aion;j liic i(>ii>l and in litdirinLr S. a, hu) wa.s warnt'd out ot'llu' lall'T piaii'. In ISO-, I scalr*tanil oil' CoppiT Island, as niasti'V of the silidonir " Mciiuaid," and in l.'^'.'."i. a.s master (d' the sanir vi's.srl, I went to the .Ia))aii loasl and to the wati'V.s around Koniandorsky I.^lands. I(di';irrii IVuni tho i)ort of Virloria mi liu' -mIi .lannary. und sliapcd my course dir.rl for Yol;olninia. I saw plenty of seals oH'Cape Klallery on tlie UOtli .Taniiary, but the weather was very hea\y and I did no! lower my boats. On the liMh day (d' March, 1 arrived ,.\i' Voknjiama. latitude :!<)° 10' N., lonnilude l-l.")"^ 00' H. Saw llionsands of seals (:iM(i) two hundred miles oil' As ihe day wore on the wind modcrat.'d, and 1 lowerecl my boats tur sealing, lakini;' my lir.-t seals (.').')) in the above position. On ilie lirst day of April, I went in to Yokohama, and left there aLjain (Mi the oiii. 1 next lowi r^ d my boats for sealinu' on the tenth day of April, in latitude SS*^ N.. lonjiitude N;')*-' Iv On lii.' folldwinu' day the vessel ran into a whale, n ivinn' very si'Vi're d.imaue. and on the llith, the ivxt day, 1 went into Yokohama ['nv r jiairs. remaininu' there until the fourth day of May. 1 consider that 1 lost about one ilmusand seal-skins by this accident. Altir rei)airiiin' damages, i hTt Yok(diama on ih" llh day of May, and on the 8th an'ain lower.-cl my boats for seais. From this date up lo the l!Hh day of .Inne, I isealed aloinr the .Tapaii 1 oast, Nvith succc-^, between 38" and 42" north latitude, and It:'" and 1 Itl ' east lonu'itude. My lirst catches (belore 1 had to put in to Yokohama for repairs), between iloth March and liith April, were jiriii' ipally of yoniiLT males, with some cows in pnp. Later on in May. I uot a nood many ci>\\ s heavy in i>up; then in .Tune, hall'the cat<'h was of males. On this coast 1 noticed a hue'e uumbev nl bavreii cows, many more than on th" American coast. They w^ r ■ atlults wiili n^ithei- siniis o)' pups nor of milk ill any staj^-e whatever. 1 also !j-(pt two biu' blllis almul the rial (.f M.iy. The last day upon whieh I sealeil on 1 lie .Fapan coast was the ll^lh .luiic. The weather was ibiigy and I a-ot no posilions. but tliis was lielnre I reached Hakodate. On thi.-iday I uot two or three females in full milk, they must have lonie from some rookery, oi' dropped their pui)s in the s( a. AVe A\cre about .'lO miles oil' laud. These wi'i-e iillof this class, I obsi'ivcd on that coast. On this day, I also edt the last seals in pup. I arrived at Hakodate on the 2tith .Tune and left there din'ct for the vicinity of Komaiidorsky Islanrls mi the 4th day of .fiily. From latitude 4i"(" 111' N , loniritude ]r)2° K. and latitude 4'.»° H' N., loiiii-i'lnde 1.")^'" F., one hundred miles oil' the Kuriles, I saw .scattered seals. On the 2UI h .luly, I arrived in the vicinity of Uehriiii;- Island, (i)(i) sixty miles oil'. The lir.st seals I tc^ok in this vicinity were t;ol on the -I'^vd day idJuly, in lati- tude .");i^ oO' N., lon<>ilude W," E ; the last seal was taken on the Ith day oi'Se])tem- ber, in latinide .>)" iiG'X., longitude IC!)" 10' F. iietweeii these dates 'my latitude ransvd from (>■]" 00' to 54"^ 0:i' X.. and my loniritnde from Kit)-' 00' to ICflC F. The seals taken within thcM' brarin;'s ^^■.■r,. mixed. Some days my hunters would a-(^t all cows, and on oiliei' days all males (Jn tin' whole, a siiiall pcrcentaj^e more of females The f.'inaies t.ikiii in the month of .Inly were in fuller milk than at any oilier time. Those taken duriim- the lirst part (d' Au^'tist were beuiiinini;- to dry ni), while those taken towards the end of Aiinnsi, allhmioh showiiiii' they had been in milk, showed clearly that they were dryiiia- .n.d bad dried up. On the eth day of September, I started lor' Vii'ioria, arrivinu' heiv on the -Jlst day uf that month. This year, about the S.Sth .Tune, I noticed hundreds of .seals cnt.'riiiLr the lirst pass into Okhotsk Sea. The sidioi.iiers " ['..■atrice," of Vamouvcr, and the •'^Rattler," of San Francisco, went into that .sea. but ( ould not tiiid the seals. "With respeet to the mii;-ratioii routes to and from the Ivoinandorsky Islands, this year I met them on the Ll.'ith March, in latitude .'!(J>' In' N., lonii-itu.ie 14.->^ 0(V F., (200) two hundred miles oH'Capi' Imiboye, about f.O miles north of Yokohama, and followed them to Sikotan Island, one of the first of the Kuriles ; then' I lost them about the latter e!id of .Tuue and met them again olf Koniandorsky Islands. 8)3 This year, in i\\f u\uu ori'im, on tlir stii Miirch, I cauylit, ouf li'ninlc snti with n p\ii> \h-\i\r. My |Hi,sitioii WHS lilt itiidi' ;!;■)•' Om' N, lon'^il lulc IT'*-' (i(»' K , ahdu' H.OOO iiiiK'^ IVoni the .I;i|>iin kklsI, :inti I.L'oo miles ismith (il'tli.' Komiuidcisky I hinds 'I'lie N' nd niiili' ol'tlif " C'ily (it'l'riviu " luld nic that, on Ihi-ir winl<'r roud', in ihc virinity ol'llii' ahovo posilions, thry I'ncouiitcr liiii;'i' niinitnTN oi'm'al.s. i/ist yi'ur, wliiMi iliciT WHS no limit aioiind Copi'i-r Island, t)cyond the throL-milo liniil, 1 H'ot tw.'iilv I'lMiiidf M'!ds ahout Iwrntydiv July, nearly ull (if v\ hi. h li'id nups in ihoni. This year, Ciiptain i!;ikir, of the silioomT '((..'arand IFattii-,' is reported to have taken ahoiil oin' thousand si'als, one hundred niilrs norlhvast '>(' Koiuaudor.sky Islands, on the Vsialir sidr oi' Inlirin!;- Si'a. I think the Inrds whi'h visit the rriliyiov islands and the Kouiaudorsky Islands .ire dilli iciit, hut iVoiii thi' manner in wliieh they dislrihute ih.tnueiveH, it is iiiosi dilliiull to say vvluth'T tiny mix or not. I do not know oi'aiiy hanks to tlu! southward ol' Komaiwlorsky I.shuids. l^ast year 1 tried lor lish almut thirty (:i't) miles oil. hut could lind no bottom with oup hundred (100) lathoins of lin ■. I have ni'Vi- heanl of anyone else lindiu!^ uny boundins's There is a, small " hank " in lutilude .■1.",° N,, lonfritudr ITO'' E., seventy-'ivp (75) miles south-\vest of tlii' .Utou Island, It is a very hinall hank. On the : hoale.it part there is seventy (7u) fathoms id' water. I saw plenty of seals there lust year, l)Ut it is so saiiill it is most dilli -nit to keep on it. Thi re are red cod on this hank. There are lai'ijje (laantii i.^s of s(|nid around the Koinaiidovsky Islainls - everywhere — as far from fhore us U""; one hundred miles. I have olteu lound them torn to pieces by seals, and on openin<>- the seal.s both male and feuaale dunui;- .Inly and Auyirst, I ha\e tound the slomaehs (ontainiiie; sijuid. Off Komandersky Islands, male and female .seals are (o be met with, from the middle to the end ol Aie^ust, in very poor and leaueonditioii, havinij;' the appearance of beiiie sl.irved When opened, the stomachs are eiitifly emi)fy. althouu-h s(iuid and salmo'i are aliuudant in llie waters they were taken Irom. ( (thers are fat and full of food. In I Mf-', when twenty ir thirty miles otf shore. T observed herds of seals coming' from and e-oiiiii' to the islands, early in the 11101 '^ and late in the evening. On the other hand, I have seen them, both male an emale, sixty miles oil" at all hours of the day, and asleep in the early ;'.;■■■•!> T'h ..e seals did not come oil' in the morning- and '-eturn at niuht. I can distiiiu-iiish seals which have ihiuic I'ruiii the isl.ands or rookeries, by the llipjiers beiii!.'' worn And 1 make this soli'iun declaration, conscientiously believing the same to be true, and liy virtue of the .\ct respeding extra-judicial oaths. De(dared before mc. at Victoria, in the j W. 11. WHITELY, rrovince of liritish (Columbia, this ' Master of schooner ^' .Mermaid." sixth day of Novembei-. I.S',i:5. ) [Seal] A. R. Mii.Ni:. Collrrliir 0/ Ciisfi>ms<. APPENDIX No. 11. DeCL.UUIION .1. 15. lillOWX, MASTEH OF Tllli SE.ALINU SCHOONER ■' WaLTKK V. IIaLL," 1893- Pott oi Victoria, / British ('olumhia. ( I, .Tohn 15. Urowii, id' the city of Victoria, in the Province of British C dunibia and Dominion of ("aiiada, do solemnly declare that:— I have been sealiim- two seasons, 1892 and ^W^^. Both year,s I went to the IJiLSsiau side. Last year I went riu'ht up along the Aleutian Islands, and scaled both north and sou'li'of the Komandorsky Islands. ,. , , This year I sailed from Victoria on the 18th (hiyol .Tauuarv, direct to \okohama, arriving at that port on the •J5th ]March, and left there on the •'ith April for the sealing grounds. , , ., t i ■ i ii j On the 7th dav of April I hr.st took .seals on the .Tapan coast m latitude 36° TS'N lonoilude 144" 07' E., and the last .seal I took on that coast was got on the 2!Hh dav'of .lirne, in latitude 42'' 53'N., longitude 14.5° 18' E. Bet wo.mi these d^^^ my po.sitioiis ranged from 30° to 43" north latitude, and 144° 00' and 14i° 00 east longitude. i>0 ^, ^%^... IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 1.1 11.25 12.8 ■ 2.2 m m I 2.0 1.8 ^ IIIIM 7] o> '/ /^ Sciences CorporatiGn 23 WIST MAIN STRifT WiBSTIR,N.Y. MSSO (716)S72-4S03 ;^i<^ ^ ^ ' >: 84 Of the catch on the Japan coast tvo-thirds were cown, but I nii!)ht get a run of cows and some other schooner niiijh' tret a run of males, that is tlie way they generally go. Towards the end .)rfh(- seas.)ii, I liot on the .Ta[)an coast a large num- ber of small male seals, mixed iu with large males and cows. About the end of June I noticed a lew females in full ilow of milk. This was oH" Ye.sso, and these seals had either pupi)e>' and 53° 39' north latitude,"and KiT" 15' 170° 13' east longitude. Taken all through, the seals I got olF the Komandorsky Islands were about half male and half feniale. I could not say as to the stage of milk, but 1 did not notice any partiiularlv free Ilow of milk. Very few of the seals were fat, most of them being poor and thin On the 20th day of September, in latitude 51° 10' N., 175° 53' E., due south of Attou Island one hundred (100) mill's. I took one female seal. I am lujt awiiri' of any Ijanks nround the Komandorsky Islands, neither do I know of any sealers who have sounded tin-re and got liottom. There is an abund- ance of s(juid and salmon as I'ar olf as lot) miles. llegiudinir the migration routes of seals, I met them the lirst week in April in 8(i° ;i8' north latitud>-, 144° 07' oast lou'ritud', and followed them along th(^ Japan coast until the 2!Hh day of June, in 42° 53' i;orth lalilude, 1 1.5° IH' east longitude. Then I got oil' Akiski thi- seals began to travel north and from that dati! on the Japan coast all I took were " travellers." Captain Larrabee, of the sailing ship when sailinu' from Hakodate to New York latitude 43^ 30' N., lougiltub' H)2° 30' E., In hundred and twenty (720) miles oil' shore, and the year before, 181»1, about seventy (70) or eighty (SO) mill's nortlnvard of the above positions, between the 12th and i5th of August, he sailed through large bodies of seals. And T make this solemn declaration, conscientiously believing the same to be true, and by virtue of the Act respecting extra-judicial oaths. (could not recall r.ame), told me that on the 14th day of September, 1892, in l)assed a lartre number of seals, seven J. B. BROWN. Declared before me, at Victoria, in the Province of British Columbia, this [ eighth (' y of November, 18!)3. [Seal.] A. R. Mii.nk, Collerldr of Customs. * the Province of British Columbia, APPENDIX No. 12. Declauation ok Wn.i,iA.M Cox. master 01- THE ssALiNG scirooNER " Sapphire," 1898. Port of Vi.'toria. \ British Columbia. / 1, William Cox, of the City of Victoria, iu Dominion of Canada, do solemnly declare tli..i : I have been engaged in .valiiig since 1S8!», as master of the schooner " Sapphire," sailing from the Port of Victoria, liritish Columbia. This year (18!t3) I cleared from Victoria, on the 28th day of January, and I worked along the American coast pa-ssing around the Island ol Attou and sealed from 05 to 100 miles oil ."hore around Copper island to the south. The nearest I went to the island this year was 05 miles, and then only on two occasions, my usual position being from 80 miles to 100 miles from and. The greatest number of seals were taken about 80 miles south of the island. Never having sealed on the Japan coast, I cannot speak as to the migration routes of the seals to und from the islands, nor can I form any opinion as to their winter habitat. 85 1893. Kvcry year lov thi> iMst roiir vi'iirs vcssl-I^, luivc n'imilc-.l that (luriiijr Julv and AnffUKt larsi' l>ii<'.i"s of si'i.ls wfiv SITU tiiia mill's s seals, but the wind was high and the water rouErh, which jjrevented me from takintr advantage of their presem-e. I am of opinion that the cessation of llie killing oi)erationK l)y the lessees on the Pribvlov Islands, under the nmi/iis rirtndi, has greatly ini'reased the number of bachelors, and that tliese bachelors have, by worrying the fenmles with pup driven them (on the American side) to some oil-shore route. In no other way can 1 account for th0 per cent) of our catch being males, and the percentage of mah's on the coast, has been getting larger sinct^ 1S!I1, Cai)tain Tanin'r also expressed this o])iniou to me. During the month rd' nniy, this year, 1 saw, on the Fnirwealher Grounds — extendinu' from Cape l'"airweather to Miiidleton Island — about tiO miles off shore, three females with pups swimmine- alonu'side; the pups apparently being about 2 or 3 weeks old. These seals had nev<'r rea. hed the Pribylov Islands. In liidiring Sea, I have not lots of dry cows in July and Aiagust. These were barren cows. There are many seals which never iro on the breeding islands, because they can be seen olf the west end of Vancouver Islainl, all the yi-ar round. I got one seal about 4(»(» miles W.S.W. of Cape I'lattery in September, on my way home this year. I have seen pups taken from the mothers, swim long distances when put in the water, and they can be k< ])! alive on the schooinTs ibr we(dvs. I have once in a while noticed by the worn flippers, that certain seals had b(>en on the land, but I would not consid-r this a certain proof that they had or had not been on the rookeries. There are more seals on thi' coast than there were when I first began sealing, and they seem to hi' irettinur more plentiful each year. The last year I was in liehring Si-a (ISHl) the seids were more plentiful than I ever heard tell of them being. And I make this solemn dehirc," as boat sli'in-r. This was in ls;t(i. In 1891, I went as master of the " Ix'osj.. Olsen " ; in l^'.t'i a.s mast.-r of the s.-hooner "Ainoko": and tins vear (IS'.i;!) 1 al.-o sailod as master of the same vessel. This was my lirst vear on the Asiatie side, lliiherlo, I had eonllned my -.perations to the North Amerieaii side ol llehrinu' Sea, and to tlie north-west coast. This year I saw more seals than any year since 1 liegan .sealing on tliis continent, and if I had not gone to the vicinity of Coiiper Island, 1 believe 1 should have ^'ot a nmeh larger catch. I took about l,:!'.'o skins. Fully Iwo-lhirds ot my total .atcli this y.-ar wi-re males. Th." f.-inales appear to bo cliaimiitu' their roiitel keepine- tiuther olf shore. Because the first week in May olf Mid the Japan coast at various distances olf shore along Nipon Island. I can easily tell whether seals have come from the breedin>iis. 81 APPENDIX No. 14. Declaration of Alfret* Hissbtt, master i.f tub schooner " Annie E. T^iInt,'' Port of Victoriii, | British Columbia. ( 1893. ,, ?' A"''''',^^^"*'^';"' of tl^'' <^''ty "1' Vi.^toiia. ill the Province of British Columbia, Dotmiiion ol Caniubi, do solimiilv d'cbirc thiit :— 1 havi' been in tin- s.^ilin!.' bu.siu.'ss for thf past lour yoars. I first wont as hUMl.-r m Ih.- srhoon.T ".Mary Hllon." aloKjr th." ooast, in 1«8«>. That yar, I also H.'alcd on _th.' s,h(.on.T"T.T..sa.'as mate and hunter, alon? the coast and in the J{-hrint 2-') miles. About the l.st of March I came north, off Vancouver Island, but the weather was too bad for sealiu"-. On the 24th day of .March, I sailed northward, and^arrived off Sitka on the 4th of April. I took about :!0 or 4') seals on the wav M\y. During' April and May, I sealed olf Cross Simud and Mount St. Elias, takinff "about six hundred ((iOO) seals. I then sailed to Sand Point, arrivimr on the KJth of .lune, where I refitted and sailed for the vicinity of Copper Island on the 28th of .Tune. The ('atih I made off the Columbia was composed principally of males. That off Sitka was the .same In f ut my whole ,at. h of (740) si-ven hundred and forty skins, alouur the coast was almost entirely of male seals. Of these there were (30) thirty old bulls. There were hardly any females at all. Somehow or other this year we missed the female herd : they i^issed u.s on the outside. So far as I have heard, the other sealers have had the .same experience- in thisrespeit, alonir the coast this year. In order to show how f'-w females in pu]) we took. I may say that all my men were most an.\.ious to u'et the skins of unborn pups, and they only succeeded in securinij; about fifteen or tweiitv. t)n the way to Copper I^la-d. about one hundred miles S. ! E. (true) off Amchitka Island. I took eiosiiio i ranged betwi'cu ninety (JiO) and oiu^ hundred and tw^euty (120) miles olf shore, and tlie seals I took were principally 'rales. I noticed that the m-arer we approached the islands, the greater percentage o^. ' lales we took. With regard to "bank.s" around the Islands, I have seen disi-oloured water which certainly iiad the appearanc,- of soundings, but I have never heard of any soundings hav tig been got, though I have tried with one hundred aud fifty fathoms of line. Scpiid, salmon and other fish in quantities can be found any where from sixty (60) to one hundred and twenty (120) miles off. In my opinion there is no difference in the appearance of the Prit)ilov Island and Komandorsky Islands herds of seal. The majority taken off Copper Island are darker in colour than those on the American side, but there are very many that show no dilFerence whatever from the Pribylov seals eith(>r in colour, fur or shape. The stomachs contain about the same kind of food, principally squid. I was told by the mate of the " Annie E. Paint ' that there is an occasional south sea seal shot off Copper Island, the fur is better aud more golden in colour. 88 And I mako thi« solomn dednrntiou, coumitnitiously hclioviui? tho samo to be tnio ami l»y virtue olth.- A.t r.'^po.tiu!.' oxlri»-.jiuli.iiil oaths. Do'lnml Wior." in.-, at Vi( loria, 'ii th.' ^ ALIKE!) Blt^Sl'.TT. rrovim-tMif liritisli C'olumt>ia. llli^ . seventh day of Novcmlur, l8'.i;l. ) [Soal.l A. R. Mii,NK. Colleilor of Customs. APPENDIX No. 15. Dbclaration of William O'Learv, mastbr of the sbalsso bciioonbr "Qbnbva," 1898. Port of Victoria, ( British Columbia. | 1, "William OLcary. of the City of Victoria, Provinro of British Columbia, Dominion of Canada, do sol.'mnlv df.laif that :— ni.pi . u I lirMt boijan scaling in IHSG In that vcar I hrouirht the "Pathfinder, tho first vessel which left Halihix for sealing aroiiiid the Horn. Went into the Behrine Sea and Novlli Pacific t»(ean. In I8S7. I :i{rai» i"'>k '1^'' " Pathfinder" to the North Pacific Ocean and ISehviiiii- Sea. In ls^H, I took the •Teresa " alone: tho coast, but did not enter lieiuiiiir Sea. In ISHlt. 1 took the " I'athlinder " to the North Pacific Ocean and Behrina' Sea, but the vef^ncl was seized in the latter place by the United Stales authorities. In th.' fall of IS^'.'. I bronuht thi' "Ocean Belle" around the Horn, and in 18(^0, I took that vess. I ;ilonir the coast, sealintr until the last of June, ai which date, olf Shuinasrin Island^. I look i liarire of the "Walter L. Kich " and went into Behriiiir Sea. In l.S'.U. I took the'Oc.mi H.lle " to the North Pacific Ocean and in the vicinity of Copper Island. In lSlt;2. I took the "Geneva" to the sam- lo.alitie.s, and this year (1»'.'3), I took the 'G.'ncva ' to the Japan coast and oil' Copper Island. I cleari'd from Victoria on the Slst .lanuary, and sailed direct for the Japan coast, reachinu- I'onin Islands, off Japan, on ihe "."th day ol March. I left there on the 2'th March and lirsi lowered my l'o:its for seal huntinj,' on April 1st, in latitude 38M.')' N., lomritudc 1 1-)" 1'2 Iv I'roin that time until tlie 7th July, I lontinued sealiiisf alouij- \ii>on and Yesso Islaii(l>. my i)i)sitioiis varyinsj between north latitude 38" l.y. ciisl lom>;itude 14;!'^ V2' and north latitude 4:5". and cast loniritnde 1;).V' 6H', whii'h brouiih; tiie tip to the Till July, U|>on which date I toi k mv laat I'atch upon the Jai)an coast. The seals taken upon this coast were mixed males and f(>males. On the 7th July, in latitude 43- On' X., longitude l.Vi ' .iV E., I took 40 seals. Every one of these seals were youuir. about threi- years old — mixed male and female, but mostly males. This was 30ii miles oil' tif Kurile Islands, and there was nothinu: to indicate that these seals had be.-u on land. I am of oi)inion that there is :i hir-je Ix^dy of seal> which never g'o upon the rookeries. I bi'lieve they are < hielly youiiu- males whiih are uot allowed upon the rookeries by the bull.-^. with a sprinklinii' of youuir females that have not be^uu to breed. 1 reached the vi. inity of Coppe- l^laIld ou the JOth July, and on the 23rd, in latitude ,"):i^ 17' N., loniritnde I'm" '21' E, first lowered my boats there for sealing. I continued sealing' ihi-rc until ilie •J7th Ana:ust,bitween latitude i)L'" and 54^ north, loniritnde It'i.l" and lii7" <'ast. wli-ii 1 started direct for home. The seals takeu oil' Copper I^hmd were mixed males an(i mih's oil' shore, and shortly afterwards we would ;:et feuiahs, in whi' h it was quite apparent that the milk was dryinir up. From this I .jmlge that they do not suckle their youna' longer than from four to .six weeks. I am not aware of any " banks " around Copper Island, I have never been able to get soundings, nor have I heard that any has ever been got. I have seen salmon and sqniil from .50 to ',HI miles olf shore, to the southward of Copper Island. This being my first year on the Japan coast, 1 cannot say where the seals strike the coast of Japan, but they wer.' there when I reached the vicinity of Nipon Island this year on the 1st April, all the way fnmi (10 to 300 miles otl" shore, and they work about this distance from shore, alonir Nipon and Yesso. I cannot say aa to their movements after leaving the islands iti the fall, but I believe they are to be to be 89 found nil wiiiltT whor.' I f'oniul them this Hpriiiff, until thi'V j^o buck lo tlic breodinir IHiilllds. ■ " I liavi> Ni'i'U si'iiIh iiiatinir in tl»<' wutfr in llrliriiiir Sen. I run ii'll if sciils liiivi' l»ccn on the liuiilinu' irroundN or rooki'rieB ; (heir bt'llit'8 ar.' (lis. olourid and thfir lli|iiiciN iin- worn. And I niiik>- this sdjiinn dc. InriiiioM, ionscifntiouNly bidicviug the ssinti (o be trn.', nnd by virtu.- of the A.I rcsp.'. tin;^ exlrii-judi.iul oathM. Doclarod lulor.' ni. at Vi.toria, in tin-) W.M. O'LKAllY. Provinci- ol" Hritisli ('i)iiinibia, tiiix [ eighth day of Nov t'liibcr, IH'i;!. ) A. K Mii.xK, Collector oj Customs. APPENDIX No. 16. Declaration of Tuum.xs II. Hidwn, a iii'ntkr ov hovrd tub sealing schoonkr "AUNES MaCDOSAM),"' 18l)JJ. Port of Vi. toriii, ) British Columbia, j I, Thonnm II. Hrown, of the City of Vi.toria, in the Province of I!ritinh Columbia, Dominion of Canada, do .solfinnly d.'.jnn' tli.it ; — 'I'his year, lHli.5, 1 w.'iit on a s.-alinij voyatr.' on board the schooner " Agues Mae- donald," to the Japan .oa.si, and to tin- wat.-r.s around tin- Couiinandcr Islaiuls. My lirst cxpcrien.-.' in tin' .s.'aling hu.sin.'ss was in 18»8, when 1 went as a boat steerer on board ihc " MauL'i.' Mac," to ihe ..last, ami olf Coppci I.sland, and Irom Copper Island watcr.s int.> th.' M.'hriim- Sea From this out I hav.- acted as a hunter. In 188!l, along th.- coast an.l in Hehriuir Sen, d.i board the scliooncr " Mary Eil.-n " ; in 18H0, alone tin- .oast .md inl.i l!.'lniii'4' Sea, on board tlu' schooner "Mairgic Ma. ." In 18'.tl, along the c.tast and .ill' Cojipi^r bslan.! in th.- s.h.)oncr " Maud S," ; and in I81.t2. in the sani.' l.i.aliiii's, with ih.- same vessel. This year, a.- before stat.'d on the Japan .'oast and oil' K.mian.L.rsky Islands, in th.- si'hooner " Agnes M.l*onald," "We t lea red fr.dn Vi.toria on tli.' iltili .lanuarv, and sailed dir.'. t to Yokonania. I started seal hunting on the sei'.md day .if April, oil' the Island of Nii)on, and continued along the .oast \inlil the 'J.'irJ day ol' Jun.'. On that .■oast, 1 killed (3.14) three hundred an.l lifly-l'our seals Thcsi' s.als wer.' mixed— cows and males — but more cows than males, Most of the .ows were with pup. but there was .juit.* a numb.'V of barren .'ows. I .aiinol jusi r.'.'all the number, but I noticed several. They v.'.'re adult seals, with ii.i ])ups an.l no siirn of milk, Asa rule, 1 see every seal 1 kill skinned, and, tlierel.>r.', have a goo.l .ipportunity for oliservalion. The av.raLTe s.'ai on this ..last is laiiicr than mx the American .oas', 1 got seals in pup uj) to th.' last day I seal..! on the .raiian .oast, 2;!rd day ol June, "VVe w.iit into llalc.iilalc on th.' L*7th June, and l.'lt there on the Sth .Inly for the waters ar.)uiid Copp.'r Island. The lirst seals I killed in thi'.se latter wat.'rs, 1 look on the 'i.'ith day of July, and the last on lb.' oih day ol S, ptcmber. I killed in this vi.iuity seventy-six (Ti!) seals. The majority of th.'s.- seals were lenial. s, about one-third beinu' younir males. Not one of ih.'se females liad a lull How of milk, ))ut th.-y all 1 although it was pr.'tty w.'U dried up. Towards the .^nd .if the only a slight tra..' of the 'uilk leli, I have be. n four years scaline- in the waters (,{]' Cipjier island; one year as a boat stcerer and thr.'.> years as a hunter, and the abo\ e has ben about my experien.'e in that vicinity, except that th.' lirst y.'ar I was nearer land and saw some "bulls," but I never saw th.'ui any other y.'ar. I hunt with both shot i-iui and rille, but prin.ipally with a shot gun. If I get within range at whbh sl.'epiiig s'als ar.' usually shot, 1 .'an very easily tell a female from a nial.' s.'al in ih.' wat.'r. The male has bla.k whiskers, the females white, and the head and n.'.k of th.- leinal.' are lin.'r than those of the male. I have never known of any banks around th.- Islands. Hunters never know much about the position of tlieship, but I have seen salmon Jumping around the boat outside the thirty-mile limit. There are plenty of squid in th." same locality. In the year 1888, when I went as boat steerer on board the " Maggie Mac," we got very near th.' islands and were shot at Irom the shore, a number of bullets frtereing our boat. I noti.ed about one hundred dead pups, floating in the water, rom a few hundred yards to half a mile oil' shore. That year I do not think there .1.1 sii' these pups, And I nuilv^' tliis solonin doi larntion, lonsciontiously l)oli.'ving tho same to be triv, and by virtue of tho Act respoctini^ extra-judicial oaths. Deehired b.-lore nie. at Victoria, in the-) THOMAS H. BROWN. Province ol' J'ritish ('oluinbiii, this ■iitrhth day ol November, 18li;i. [Seal] ' A. II. Mii.NK, Collector of Cintonm. APPENDIX No. 17. Declaration of R. N. Ckowell, mastku oi' the sealino schooner " Brenda," 1892* Port of Victoria, } British Columbia, i I, 11. N. Crowell, of the city of Victoria, in tho Province of British Columbia and Dominion of Canada, do solemnly declare that : — Duriuo: the year ]8lt2 I went on a seal hunting voyage, as master of tho schooner "Brenda," to the waters in the vicinity oi Komaudorsky Islands. I went into the northern part of the aulf of Kamtschatka for water, and while there I saw plenty of fur seals, including sleeping cows. This was during the mouth of August (28th). The residents there showed me a printed proclamation against tho hunting of seals in Russian Avaters, and of course, as I was within tho limit, I made no attempt to secure anv of these seals. The only " ])ank " I know of in the vicinity of Komandor.sky Islands is north of Bohrinii Island, olf Cape Olgontorsky, the centre of the "bank" being in about latitude ,")«^ N., longitude 170 E. Soundings can be had from forty fathoms up. Then' wore jdenty of seals around, but the weather was rough and 1 only took eight seals in three days. On the 18th day of September, 1802, when on my rofid home, my position at noon lieing 4i>^ 45' nortli latitude, and 144° ■]')' west longitude, I got on a " bank " at .") o'clock in the morning, and ran off it again between 7 and 8 o'clock in the evening, my position at noon bringing me in about the middle of the "bank," east and west. I was sailing at tho rate of ten miles an hour, and I should say that, running east and west, this " bank "' must be (juite hk large as tho Grand Bank off Newfoundland. As it was getting late in the season, and as I was making a good course. 1 did not stop to try the " bank." At noon, when my o})scrvations were taken, Middleton Island bore \. }i K.. true, distant fiOO miles. Olf Cape St. IClias, and betwi-en that Capo and Middloton Island, principally about 81) miles olf the shore, young cows and young male seals are found every year as late as the latter end of August. I am decidedly of the opinion that somewhere on the coast, between Queen Charlotte Island and Unimak Pass, there must be a seal " rookery," and I base this opinion on the fact that l'em:ilo seals in i)up are taken there so heavy with pup, that it would be simjily impossible for them to reach any of the known "rookeries " without droppiim- tlii'ii' pujis on the wav. On th<' 2i.'nd day of February, 18'.i2, in latitude 88° N., longitude 141° W., I passed tlirough a large body o!' seals olf tho southern California coast, about 050 miles olf hind. On this occasion I was not on a sealing voyage, being bound from North Syduey, C.B., to Victoria, British Columbia, on board tho schooner "Brenda." The seals I took last year around Copper and Behring Islands, daring the month of Auaust and up to the 7th day of September, were mixed males and females, tho females being in different stages oi' drying up. none showing a full flow of milk. This year I sealed only along the British Columbia and Alaskan coasts, as far up as Kodiak I>;!aiids, Got, all told, 241 seals. Of these there wore not over twelve females ill pup, the ri>.>l being young females and males. I also got one big breeding bull about olf Cape St. Elias, about sixty ((JO) miles ofT shore. And I make this solemn declaration, conscientiously believing the same to be true, and by virtue of an Act respecting extra-judicial oaths. Declared before mo, at the City of Victoria, and Province of British Columbia, this ] ninth day of November, 1803. [Seal.] A. R. Milne, Collector of Customs * American side 1803. ROBERT CROWELL. 91 APPENDIX No. 18. Declaration of William D. ]{vi:its, master uf the sealinu sciioonkr "Carlotta U. Ccx," 1893. Port of Victoriii, Briti.sh Coliunbia. I, W'illiiim 1). I'.y.Ts, of tho City of Victoria, Proviii.'.. of liiiti.sh Columhiu, Dominion ol Cauachi, do .solcnuily dtrlarc that : — I have hwii ti.'aiinir in tliU'civnt ■•apacitios for .'ijiht yoars. My lii>l .-xii-'iiiMiro was as a boat pull.T in th<> .s, lu.on^T ' ralhlind.T." in 18«o. W.- w.-nt alon-,' the norlli-wt^st roatit and into lii,' r..'hrin- barren cows, 1 may say that as the season tfets late the crew look for the puj).^ and cii'l the cows open to obtain them. In this way I noticed several barren i ows, but I ili July, during which time I did not lower my boat.s for seal buntinir. The lirst seal I got iii ihi.s viciuitv wa,s on the 15th July,'and my position was latitude .")?.° 4.'')' N.. longitude Itlii^ 43' E. The last .seal I took (here was on the 2(ith day of August, my position being .).3^ 17' X. latitude ItJS'^ :)~' E. lonu-itudo. During my stay in this vii inity. I hovered iietvveen .S3^ and ')i° north latitude and 158° and 1G9° east longitude. I took fewi'r I'emales in this neighbourhood than ever bi'fore; there was mori' of a mixtu.-e of males. I should say this year they were nearly half males. Up to the 20th .Tuly most of llie females taken were in full milk, but after that it was ijuiti' appar.'iit that the milk was drying up and inter- mixing with the fat. Trior to and including the 20th Jiilv, I took in these waters 29 seals all told. On my way home, on tho 29th Augtist, in latitude oO° 31' N. longitude 177° 35' E. I got one seal about 150 miles south of Amehitka Island. Aleutian Chain. It was a male seal. I have no knowli'dge of any " banks " to thi- southward of Copper Island. I have sounded with 100 fathoms of liiu-, looking for lish about (50) fifty miles oil', but could get no soundings. Surface fish are plentiful — squid, salmon and other lish — oue hundred miles olf. This was my lirst year on the Jajian coast, and I cannot say as to the migration route of seals from the breeding islands, but from Yokohama up, their route lies parallel with tho coast of Japan and the Kurih* Islands, at distances ranging from (20) twcntv to (200) two hundred miles oil". I beli sumi) to be line, and liv viiiii.' ol'tlif Aot ivspi-.iinf,' i-xtrn-jiulicial out lit.. WILLIAM I). KYKUS. Decliircil hi r<)r." inc iit Victorin. Uritisli j Coluuiltia. Iliis IHthdnyofNoveni- [ [Sfiil.] A 1{. Mii.NK, Collectur of Custom*. APPENDIX No. 19. DeCLAKATION of AllEI. DOUOLAS, M.\hTER OF TllK SEALING HCIIOONEB "AniETAS," 1893. I'orl ol' Vi. ttiriu, j Briti^)i Columbia. \ I. Ab.l Itimu'liis. *ini'Sh wa." as master of llie schooner " Triuiiipii :" in wlii.h vessel I \veii( seMliiii; aioim the r oasi in I8H1. 188:1 aniiary and sailed direct to the Japan coast, reachinir Yokohama on the Mih day of Manh. I left Yokohama on the 1st dav ol April, and took my lirst s.'uls o:: the .lnpaii coast on the 7th day of that month, in latitude ;'>7- «;V N., lonii-itude l-M"^ 88' K. The Ir.st seals I irot on that coast were taken on the •Jlthday ol .Iiine, in latitude 44 07' N., lonirilude 147" 80' K. Between tliesi' dates, aiid aloM"' that coast, my positions raiiL'ed from ;i7'^28'N., lati- tude to 44^ 0/ N., latitude mid from 14'i 00' to 147 30' east loniritude. The seals taken on the .I.apan coast were ijriiicipallv youiiir seals — about half male Mild half feinali — curly in the season. The I'emales were virifin seals which had not \et Krcd. This was in Ajiril. Later on I irot inori' females, a lartre immbor of them beiiiu in imp. There were also (luite a number of barren females, adults, havinir no younir or no show whatever of milk. This was in .Iniie otf Yes.so Island. I al.so o(it youiiL'' inale.s and females non-breeders in this vicinity There are moro of this latler class of seals taken nn the ,Ia]iaii coast than on the American side. 1 lefi Sikotan on the Jlth day ol .Iniie for the waters around Komandorsky Islands, arriviuu' olfCopper Island on the lOih .Iiilv The lirst seals I took in t his vicinity were irot on the l.'ith day of July, in latimde .■>;{ 20' N.. loni;itude li!8^ Iv The last seals taken in these wa'ters were got on the ,")tli day of September in latitude .")!' 41' N., longitude It'i!)" 20' I'j ; my posi- tions between these dates ranuinu- from latitude SA° to r>4'^ N., longitude lOG 51' to lti'J° 2ti' K. The seals socured around Cojiper Island were mixed cows and males. I cannot say what percentaire there was of females but there were a few more than males, and a lariie number of iion-brecilinu: seals — yountr males and females. I noticed particularly that of (he females taken. eomi)aratively few had a full flow of milk, these bi'iiie- the lirst cauurht Most of the females which had a show of milk were drying up. and I am (d'o])iiiion that their imjis must have been weaned. Towards the end of (he season the milk had almost entirely dried up, the slightest traces only beinir observable. I know- of no " banks " to the southward of Copper Island. I have tri.'d for fish but could get no soundings. In some places, (he wa(ersome(iinesha8 the appearance in colour as though soiindiniis existed, and this doubtless accounts for any reports as to " banks." There are i)lenty squid and salmon off the island in July and Auirust. Most of (he .seals are (aken from 4;') to tiO miles off. In the stomachs of both male and female seals, I have irequoutly found a variety of lish — squid, small lish similar to herring, and salmon. 08 Audi inakt' this Koli'iiin «!.•. lurutioii, coiim iiiiti(.ii-!iin.' to l).< tn\<\ ,111(1 l)y viilu- dl'ihi' Art r.'Ni»ntiiii' cxtni-jiKliciul oiiili,^. lt.«. liir.Ml lirtorr in., at VifloriM. in tli.'i AllKL DolMILASS. I'liiviiK .. (.f llriti»h ('oluiiil)ia, this .' It'.ili usiii..>> was in ib'.io nlonif Ihi' 1 Oils! and ii;!.. Ilhrin-.;- Sea, a^ In 1>".'(I, I Willi s.'aiinir ill ih.' s;nii.' l-iion " I WHS wavii.'il oiii I.I' li.'liriiiLr S.a. In iM'.i^, I wnii to saiiH- placrs in llr This y.ar, Isit:!. ii> masL-r of liic schooner " ('a-^io," 1 visited th the walerH nroiind Ivoiiiandoisky rsiunds on a seal liniilinj? voynLre I il.-areil rroiii Vi''iori:i of tb,. isi). .laiiuary, l"avin;;- Ihe viriniiy ol' Vancouver Island on th.. ;ird ol' l"i.|iriia;v. iiii.l shiiped iny ■ (Hiisi' direlii, Y"ssi) Isiand. ha\ iiii( pi.ked \ip a f.'W s.'ais ..n ilii roml. I l.fl Aki--liion the I'lst day ol ,\|>ril, and on the-Jlih I heeiiii sciilint;- in lalilu:!.' 4t niv lirst seals olf the K..muiidorsky Islands, my ))osiliou beiiii"- latitude .')."." ;il)' north, loimitud.' M7^ 01' easl. The last seal I took in this ni'iphbourhood was on the 21st day of .\uijust, in latitud.' f>-'<'^ .'>'.•' nortli, loim-itudo 1G8° 2S' east, and between th.'sc dates my positions varied from oo° lo 5;')" north latitude and l(i;i" to liUi'' east l.meidide. (.)f Ihe seals tak.-n olf th.' K'omaudorsky Islands, fully one half w.-re males and in a very poor and starv.'d condition. I i-annot say as to the dilhreiK stag.-s of condition of females in milk, as it never struck ine to ohsirve this at the time. I have no kiiowl<'dtr<' of any "banks' to th.' southward of the Komandorsky Isliiiids. Last year when iher.' was no limit around the islands. I was as close as fifteen miles, and as far as one huiidr.'d miles from the islands. This year I kept off an aviTiuie distan. <• of (4"i) forty-live miles, and I nevi-r found any banks; although I have sounded trying for bottom fish, I have ne\er been able to get s(Uin(Iiugs with 120 fathoms of line. All the sealers 1 have spoken to on the subject have had Ihe same experience. Fresh fish is a luxury on board a sealer on so long a voyag.-, and we all try for fish. This applies also to the Japan eoast, where the seals are taken entirely out of soundiiurs. My experience this year as to the migration route of the seals to the Komaudor8k7 Islands, is that Imettltem in April and .May, alouii' the coast oH'Nipon, at a distance of between (20) twenty and (70) seventy miles. I lost the herd in the latter end of June offSikotau, about (he beginning of the Kuriles. I can tell a seal that has come ott'the islands by the discoloration of the hair on the belly, and by the condition of the flippers. The flippers of a seal long at sea are N very Hoft and wilky, l>ut loiitmt with llio rorks und bi'achi'H, iniikcH llu'in rouurh iind Wi>rii , J I iiu distiiiixninh u lualf Ironi a IViiiiilc in t ho vvalfv l>y tin' hi'iid and throat. Till- hi'ad 1)1' ii I'l-niiilf is lintT and ihr tlir.mt liu'ht'T in colour ainl the m-ck and throat more di'liiiiti' and ifnin-tul. A huntiT niiM-tintr n nialo and IVniulc toircthor will kill tho I'l-niidi' lirsl. ns tiic uiaii' is nion' apt to stay l>y it. And I iiiakf this solemn di'iluiaiion, . onsriciitiously boliovinu; tho saint' to be tru.', and by virtue of the Ael ri'wpwtiiig nxtra-judirial oaths. OTTO BUCIIOLZ. Di'idartd iicion' nie, ai Victoria, in tli«'"| I'rovinic ol' lliitisli Columbia, this • tenth day oi' November, lSii:l. j [Seal.] A. 1{. Mll.NK. Collector .if Customs. APPENDIX No. 21. Dkcij of John McLkod, m.vsteu of tub sr.\lino sciiooskr " 1'ionkkr," 1898. Port of Vietoria. / llritish Columbia. ) I'rovince of British Colnmbiu, I have never been in Behring I. John ^^■Leo.1, of tho City of Victoria, in the ])ominion of ('ana(hi, do solemnly declare that : — 1 beifan .'icalinii' <>n tht^ coast in the year 1800. Sea. havini.' been excluded under the moiiim I'ircHi/i. During lS!t2, I wa« niasier of the schooner "Ariel," which was Heizod by the IJnssian uuihoritics olfCopiici' Islanj; hnUa between 1<> and so miles oil' the island, to the southward. I can posili\ely state tliat I was over seventy miles from land when thi'se bulls wore taken. This year ! went out as master of the " Pioneer " ; I did not go on the Russian siile, coniiiiintr myself lo the American coast I took in all 1,<>5it .skins, nearly all between (Jueen Charlotte Islands and t lie l-'airweaiher Grounds. I got as far as At!;attix Island, at tlie extreme end of ihe .'\jeutian chain. I did not seal there, but took skins fiom other scalers and returned home. Oil' A 'ja It u. between the IJtth ami 2!tth July, I saw seals "') miles south-west, but as the \vi ather was rouffh. I did not attempt to get any. Oil the Cape l''airweather, this year. I got ten or twelve very larire bulls, distant 1'2> it! G 7. 8. 9. 12. 13. 14. 17. 18. 10. 20. 23. 24. 2i5. 2)t. o S. 4. G. 7. !). 17. 18. 111. 22. 23. 27. 28. 29. 2. 4. 16. 21. 2r>. 27. '].>3 53 53 .•>;) Kf 5G Wi .W BG 5(i Wi 5() M 50 5G 55 54 53 53 53 53 53 5S 27 30 55 I 52 i 01 i 14 i U J 15 j 03 1 37 ' ;t5 ' 40 ,52 I .50 ' 40 23 .54 40 24 07 32 40 24 19 22 30 20 30 37 »>•) 30 20 05 35 .50 05 20 12 10 143 143 143 144 14t 144 142 112 142 142 142 142 142 142 143 143 143 12 44 49 12 07 10 40 ,50 33 :« .55 .58 45 51 00 15 IG 143 08 14.< 142 142 142 143 149 14G 145 145 142 142 141 142 143 144 145 148 148 119 149 149 1.5H II M> 107 1G7 1(!7 IGS 107 108 108 lliS 108 1G7 1G7 1G7 1G7 107 Iii7 107 1117 ii»; 194 1G4 1G4 1G5 107 IGH 108 19 :w 30 4G 2G IK) 05 44 U 35 3G 40 00 08 M 02 .30 ."lO 15 15 25 15 40 2il 40 .35 04 .5.5 30 15 20 30 12 10 3G 40 05 IMI 10 W) 20 10 20 40 30 31 19 24 18 80 12 11 47 5 7,5 M 3 41 3 18 G 3G 41 45 4G 60 "5 14 8 37 13 o G 25 84 9 15 10 23 22 24 12 54 3 1 1 1 11 4 5 23 9 3 49 21 13 44 7 19 17 31 ,57 :« 15 1 18 1 o G 9 22 3 iKiriit st'uld on tlic Jupnii coaot. Liiat aiialu taken on the Japan cooat. Kirst lowered lioats in waters aroinid Komandorsky Islands. Last seals taken in the vieinity of Komandorsky Inlands. Left 2nd , .September for home and (tot two se.als, males, about 2(H) miles south I of the Aleutians. Arrived Vietoria, 24th September, 1892. 97 Dnle. APPENDIX No. 23. Schooner " Vora," Willinm Shcilds, Master, ISt'S. Lat. N. Irtiiitr. |.:. Ngtf.V. . . \ 45 do n 38 04 142 ,'.2 i 10 do «. . . ! 38 X> 143 15 1 11 do i . . . . Kofttry ! x\ do 10... :w 18 il3 i3 iM do la... 41 1(1 i 113 23 O do 13. . 41 ») . 143 ,')4 !l do 18.... 1 41 0!) 1 144 22 ,'i0 do 20 . . 40 21 143 38 10 do OJ '■'owy 51) do •n .. 40 2it 143 :w 17 do 8( 101 do .!,>.:'::■ May 1.... 40 40 143 51» 11 do 2... 40 27 143 54 1!) do 3... 40 21 143 5!l 8 do 7.... 8.... F<»ff(rv 12 W 34 do ,To do 40 23 144 ,57 do It... 40 17 144 20 28 do 10... 15 47 do U... 41 (M i44 2^'By 20 do Hi. .. 17..., 18.... lU... do 51 48 22 (il »-• do 28.... 44 17 148 Oil 15 t 41 ••r 30 0.. 3!) 5,-. 3« r>o X) 17 30 Hi 30 13 30 31 , 3il 28 1 3!) 18 X> :if. 40 "•• ■ 30 54 ' 30 r.4 3il ,^4 .30 .54 30 54 40 25 40 53 40 55 40 40 41 20 40 02 40 07 40 08 40 08 40 ot; 40 14 40 35 40 41 40 13 40 13 40 52 40 52 41 20 42 12 42 22 41 21 41 30 41 13 41 00 40 45 40 02 41 28 43 08 43 16 43 20 43 24 43 21 43 14 43 04 43 (M .53 10 53 38 5;i 20 53 15 .5:1 10 ,52 ■10 53 22 53 23 Ki (H) Kl 17 53 02 .53 23 Kt 14 53 It 53 21 52 45 53 05 53 17 53 20 53 20 63 05 52 40 142 42 143 30 lia 23 143 40 143 2<> 143 20 143 30 143 37 113 .50 144 02 144 05 144 00 144 10 144 10 144 50 145 00 144 40 144 .50 144 00 144 IK) 143 23 144 »1 144 25 144 54 145 00 144 40 144 22 144 42 144 42 144 42 144 50 144 M 144 411 144 40 141 20 145 «) 145 (I! 145 25 145 45 lt(i 20 145 ;to 145 30 145 48 145 ;i8 144 40 144 IS 145 18 147 03 147 IH) 140 50 140 60 14« ,50 140 30 148 »l 140 :io 107 .54 107 05 107 107 im 28 107 ,30 100 45 107 42 108 00 107 45 107 10 100 ,30 liiO 25 1«« .55 lliO 27 107 40 107 24 107 00 100 45 107 13 160 20 168 00 41 71 28 103 30 27 ■:«) 18 144 57 29 81 12 30 104 60 4 6 13 4 2 27 14 10 7 93 8 44 102 lOti 35 70 89 30 28 12 11 7 41 m ,39 40 97 3 16 8 50 05 6 12 10 39 3.5 9 13 62 24 11 19 27 8 11 31 25 8 3 fi 3 24 4 ,38 10 20 6 lit'niarkH. rirst aeaU taken on •lapan cooat. Ltiflt Bealw taken on .Tapan oftHt. Lfft HaUndatp I anchored oil llf.vl ft-w day.s. ) Arrived off Coiiikt Inland. First suala taken in the vicinity of Komandorsky tBlandn. Last BeM ought on Ruwiian aide and taut tkken this seMon. 8th September, made Cape Flattery 27th September. Lett 99 APPENDIX No. 25. Schooner " Mermaid," W. H. Whitely, Master, 1893. Date. Mar. 25 Apr. 1 lio 5 do 10 do 11 do 12 May 8 do 10 do do 11. 12. do 13. do 14. do do do 17.. do 18.. do 20., do M.. do 23.. do 24 . do 25.. do 2fi . do 2!!.. June 2 . . do 3. 4.. 6.. 7.. 8.. 9.. 11. do do do do do do do 1,5. do Iti. do la.. do 26.. July 4.. do 20.. do 23. do 2.").. do 27.. Aiifir. 1 . . do 8.. do 10.. do 11 . . do 12.. do 14.. do 17.. do 10.. do 21 . do 22.. do 24.. do 26 . do 26.. do 28.. do 30.. Sept. 4.. do 6.. Lat. N. 36 10 38 00 36 40' 38 30 Foggy Ii'3ng. E. ur, 00 145 M) lis' 43 144 47 38 21 38 37 39 30 39 50 Thick fo(,'. . 40 10 146 no 145 00 144 10 144 00 I'oggy 39 57 40 08 40 40 40 30 41 00 41 11 40 45 40 26 40 22 41 50 Foggy 53 50 53 00 .53 00 ,53 10 53 20 Foggy 5:1 43 Fuggy . .. . 53 .SO 5;i 20 53 :w Foggy.. .. 54 o;t .53 30 53 38 53 30 53 36 53 15 63 06 145 06 144 16 144 20 144 (H) 143 00 143 27 143 ,50 143 49 143 49 144 IH) 143 20 166 00 167 00 168 00 169 (HI 167 00 167 30 iiti'oi)' 166 00 166 00 166 no 167 23 166 li,ainii. Kiui into ;i wIiuIp, vt'SHt.) receiving wovere (Ijinmge. jWtnt to Yiikuli:ini,i for repiiirs, and rmnaineil tliero till May 4. Lnxt <\ay of Hciling on .Tnpan Coast. ArriviHl at Ilnkmlate. Left Hukiidat 39 38 40 45 41 22 41 3u 42 23 43 05 42 30 42 25 42 33 42 30 42 24 144 07 143 34 143 01 145 38 IM> 17 147 03 145 ,53 145 39 14; 148 41 12 145 3(i 145 49 146 11 146 05 148 09 145 48 144 57 148 20 148 05 145 (Kl 145 27 144 m 148 3ti 148 40 146 57 148 52 148 33 I . 01 lli; 10 145 21 145 63 No. of Seals. Ht-uiarks. 147 14.1 145 148 05 145 or. 141 45 145 35 42 53 42 53 53 IB iJ3 53 .53 ,53 .52 .52 53 .53 .53 53 ,53 ,52 52 52 5;* 52 52 52 62 62 .53 51 2I> 18 21 01 67 ,53 32 31 39 03 UK 12 ,53 28 28 05 ,58 17 67 53 40 31 10 145 18 145 18 l(i8 41 188 19 169 44 170 13 lli9 02 189 22 189 53 167 44 1(W 27 188 00 187 51 188 00 187 167 167 187 187 187 168 02 170 03 189 31 170 U 169 ta 168 44 175 63 6 9 4 68 8 9 30 3 12 19 10 16 7 41 48 65 20 6 2!t 4 11 1 19 4 27 32 4 15 11 12 27 M 7 12 6 12 12 5 iKirst leaU taken on ,lBiian toiwt. 7 3 6 6 9 6 3 22 2 r, 29 6 15 20 6 5 6 5 10 Went into Akislii Buy for water. Left .Vkishi. T,a.4t seals taken r-n tfafian rcait. Sailed for water.'* anninil l oil 8 do U... U\ 33 l:i7 U5 36 do 12,... .W 10 1.17 32 3 do 13... 57 X> 137 .'f 11 do 17.... 58 13 U3 mi 8 do 18.... 58 1!) 143 07 24 do 20... 5!) 15 142 •■» 43 do 21 ... E! 10 142 12 16 do 22 ... 5!l 12 142 ;«i 28 do 2;j.... .5!) IKI 143 41 93 do 2(i.... 59 ;t) 113 39 24 do 27 ... .5» 22 143 115 .55 do 28.... ,V.I 13 143 It") 66 do 2«.... 59 27 14.1 Mi 11 do SO. . . . 59 111 143 54 36 May 1... 59 10 142 38 43 do 2... 69 17 142 28 68 do 3.... 59 0") 142 52 61 do 4.... 59 (Hi 142 :«i 82 do 6 . 59 00 142 31 31 do 7... 59 01 142 40 13 do 8.... 59 (H) 142 44 31 do 11... ,59 08 142 29 10 do 12.... 59 17 142 ;>» 23 do 13 ... 59 17 143 44 22 do 14... .^s » 144 ;n 6;t do 15... fiH 57 144 47 .53 do 18.... 58 33 14i; 23 56 do I'J.... .w 3;i Uii 23 82 do 20 . . 58 .'IS 146 18 21 June 58 34 147 01 20 do 7.... 6!t ()■) 14(1 03 1 Ij.'wt (if coartt catch. do 25.... 52 27 163 31 LonK. K. 178 38 7 Lfft :iwt.ri. 31 39 40 39 48 40 39 40 ;w 40 2") 40 42 I 41 111 I 41 .t7 41 .-,3 j 41 .S9 I 41 24 i 40 13 I 39 -ti 39 ;« ;t9 42 39 49 39 51 40 U7 41 43 41 3>! 41 17 41 27 41 19 41 24 41 .~>0 41 24 41 31 41 23 42 57 42 57 42 5.S 42 .50 43 12 43 19 42 r>4 42 30 42 2i5 113 12 143 32 143 .50 144 08 114 07 113 M 113 40 143 12 144 00 144 12 144 39 145 (Kl No. 0/ Skiim. Ktmiarks. 145 02 144 49 112 52 112 48 14H 02 112 50 142 27 43 19 43 21 43 11 42 13 43 UO 53 17 .53 30 53 IS 53 28 5;* 24 53 27 .53 31 ,53 25 53 29 53 50 53 ;i5 D3 .38 53 47 53 49 54 06 64 (18 53 38 53 29 143 11^ 11:; 141; 142 15 142 38 142 35 143 17 142 32 142 19 143 25 145 .50 115 43 140 10 144 37 145 .55 141; ,52 140 12 UO 01 115 49 140 01 140 47 U(i .53 l.W 31; 1,55 .58 107 27 100 21 "07 04 100 1U 107 12 100 03 105 ,'p,s li'w 47 105 SCt 105 :ut 100 ;m 106 41 105 01 1(k> 49 105 40 105 40 105 31 166 01 68 49 51 94 70 12 71 6 15 IB 16 16 37 91 09 25 57 42 10 10 14 02 49 20 6 Xi 19 40 32 47 42 58 50 35 37 9 23 I'int HvaU tak»ii on ,lu|>aii coont. 17 19 6 63 19 5 12 37 43 4 20 20 28 2 62 34 61 15 13 lliul wpathor, no ecjilinf?. \t Akittlii for water. r..iHt ciU'h on .T.ipan I'oa.'Jt. Stiirtt^i for ("opfwr l^^land ^(Hindrt ; wawonn or two nealeou the way up. Kfwhed (.-opjier Irilaiul trrtiundti. l-'ir.st Heals tukeu in vicinity of KomiindorHky. I^aRt Reals taken in vicinity of Koinandorsky I^landH. Started direct for home, arriving on the 13th Septenilier, 1898. m-^- i I)att>. Mar. 2H do 31 Apr. I do 2 dj dn do du do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do May do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do 'ji). do 23. do do do do 24. 29. 30. June 7 do H. do do do do do do do do do do a. 10. 11. 12. 14 l.'i. 18. 17. 18. lit. do 20. do 21 . do 22. do 23. do do do do July do do 17. do 20. do 2? do 2H. do 31 . Auk. 1 • do r. do 8. do 10. do do 11. 12 do 14 do do do do do do do 17 l'.». 21. 22. 24. 2.5. 26 104 APPENDIX No. 30. Schooner "Carlotta G-. Cox," William Byers, Master, 1893. Lat. N. ' T,..nK. Iv do 29. 30 2: 39 Oil I 39 17 39 20 40 11 40 2« 39 4ft .19 4ft X> ftO 40 03 40 13 40 10 4U 119 40 30 I .19 23 40 34 I 40 ,-.3 I 40 07 I ,19 ,V.I , .19 37 : 10 04 3!) 43 39 20 I 39 23 I 39 ST. i 39 H2 I 40 22 40 I ft ' 40 IS 40 3« 40 05 40 11 40 37 40 U 40 39 I 40 46 40 ftji 40 40 40 40 11 40 02 .19 44 40 22 41 46 41 no 42 sr, 43 1ft 43 22 42 m 43 10 Uft 00 144 40 144 46 14ft 19 145 OH 14.-I 2« 14ft 07 lift Oft 14ft 10 1 4ft 13 14ft 20 I4."i 0.ft 144 1ft 141 2;t 14ft 07 1 14 lis Uft 2« 14.'' rio lift 21 14ft (« 140 10 Uft 39 14fi 47 141) 2(1 Uft IHi Uft 32 Uft 32 146 10 Uft 38 Uft 12 Uft 10 Uft 13 Uft 20 Uft 32 Uft 27 14ft 21 146 (^ Uft 49 Uft ,ft9 Uft 46 144 B9 Uft 01 Uft 01 Uft 12 Xo. f.f SkiiiH. 74 4 37 Oft 64 9 168 111 13 1 43 104 .18 9 8 13 27 103 33 l.Vi 67 23 1ft l.'i 33 39 17 48 28 1 61 10 34 17 84 .13 39 38 82 54 13 11 142 21 43 30 43 01 43 46 43 4ft 42 .ftO 42 ftft 43 0!) 43 11 43 20 43 00 143 .ftift U4 4ft 146 (K» U6 37 Uli 28 146 30 146 20 .ft3 4ft ftl 411 54 2ft 5;) 4(1 53 17 5:i 09 .ft3 21 f>3 12 53 21 ftS 10 .52 .57 B3 24 fi3 26 ftjf 19 53 30 53 33 53 1ft 53 06 53 03 .53 17 50 31 145 42 145 4ft Uft .50 144 .W 144 fto 146 22 146 32 146 42 146 ;« 1 61; 43 166 1 1 169 .54 168 25 168 02 167 29 Ifts m 168 IMI 167 20 167 ftl KW 13 IIW (14 166 35 16(i .18 166 31 166 38 166 48 KiO 06 166 42 168 .17 177 35 23 107 28 17 28 14 6 36 .13 3 3 41 1 46 46 10 17 ,^1 6 9 10 17 o ii 19 1 49 10 19 18 2 .16 27 30 27 41 17 12 8 11 lii iiiarlCH. First tic.'tlrt taken mi .lai^an coatit. Bfttwoen thme dat»» went into KakiHlati' for wntpr. Lowcrffi for iu-aU alxinti 7ft nnli « utf Hakodate. At thin time .■it.rcaKt of Akialii Haw, Vowo Inland. l.ast scaN cHinjlit on .(apan ci '.u.t. * Sai'.id for M-at.iK ar.mnd Koniandorsky lakiids, neiKhed tlien lam -Inly : did not lower for scalinK. Kirst HcaU in vicinity of Koniandorwky tslandfi Last Beals on Asiatic sido. On the way home caught 1 seal alwat 160 Jfiland, Alfutian iKlands, a email bull. miles aouth of Anwhitln 105 APPENDIX No. 31. Schooner " Arictus," Abi'l Doufrlus, Maslor, 1898. Dkte. April 7 do !) do 10 do 12 May 2.5 Juno 2 do L»t. N. do do do do do do do n. do 15. do 16. do 19. do 2(> do 21. do 22. do 23. do 24 do 28. do 29. July 1. do 1» do 14. do 10. do do 17 IH. do 19. do 23. do 25. do 28. do 29. Aug. 1. do r> do 8 do 10. do 12. do 14 do 16 do 17. do 19. do 21. do 22. do 20. do 31 . Sept. 1. do 4. do 5. 37 :«> 37 :«) 41 41 41 41 41 42 42 ■;2 43 43 43 43 43 43 43 44 45 4ti 47 53 M rn 53 53 .53 r>3 53 .W 5:) 53 54 53 54 53 53 ,52 .53 .53 ,53 52 52 ^ I-ouL'. K. ^'".- "' Hkiim. 144 33 143 50 114 10 144 55 143 23 143 02 143 13 143 18 143 n« 144 04 144 08 144 119 144 27 14,5 147 147 147 147 147 147 IIU .59 147 30 1.51 00 1.52 20 1.53 05 ItW 00 1(W 55 108 20 197 25 107 40 187 23 167 09 1«7 04 1(>7 04 107 10 ll>7 46 1«« 51 109 10 IWi 30 lIMi 49 1(M> 18 1115 3ft l{i7 28 107 33 Hi" 55 1«7 46 11)8 40 1(17 00 1U7 ,52 168 ,56 169 2«> 26 175 3 149 76 92 'to 65 30 18 45 11 41 19 11 11 5 4 33 2 5 2 1 1 3 67 2 2 16 21 26 1 40 13 6 11 47 19 3 31 15 17 25 8 39 1 KptnnrlM. I''in*t iMtaU taknti on .Tu|iaii t-uiiHt. Lost 8oalR on JaRin coant. L»ft Kik'itan this day for waters ftround CoiijHT iBliind. On tile road to Cnpiior iHland. FivMt seals* taken in vicinitv of Koniandornkv IslandH. Last s«al. Arrivpd at Victoria 30lh Sejitenilier. 106 APPENDIX No. 32. Schoouer " Casco," Otto Bucholz, Miwtor, 1H93. |)at«. I,at. N. 1 l4.... 411 17 )42 :i» 1 37 .May 1... 40 02 142 42 j 70 dt> .J 40 02 142 34 38 do 3.'.'.'. 40 211 i 142 ;« 1 12 do fi.. . 40 27 142 .J8 1 8 do fl.... .(0 00 142 48 t!2 do 7.... 40 ml 112 13 U2 do 8.... 10 oil U2 42 34 do 9.... 40 44 143 01 46 , do 10 ... 40 47 , 112 "7 49 1 do 11.... 40 ;l.^ 112 39 5 do 12... .|0 28 M2 no 10 do 13.... ;ni fi'J 142 51 i 511 do 14 . ;«» 4.'> 14:1 03 44 do 15... :«i 60 143 IW 1 1ft do If.... 3'J 40 143 00 ' 60 do 17.... 3« ;tr. 143 .To 1 47 do 18... ;«» ,Mft 143 16 13 do 111.... , ;w .M 143 40 14 do 23... i 40 40 142 45 41 do 24... 40 M 142 47 142 do 25 ... 40 -18 142 ;« GI do 2li. . . . 41 21 142 40 25 do 2!t.... 41 2t> 142 52 18 do ;tl Went into Hakixlrttt*. June 2 Left Hiikoilnti.. dc; 'i . 41 :i3 ■ 142 39 58' ilu .'>... 41 r>2 142 39 4 do «.. . 41 30 142 ,")9 4 do 7... 41 iW 143 ;m .56 do s.. . 41 37 143 r)4 36 do SI... 41 31 143 .^M 20 do 11... 42 17 144 48 25 do 14... 43 (HI 14(1 M 3 do I,-.... ' 42 4!l 14(1 20 63 do 16... 42 48 H(i 10 29 do W.. . 43 2.^1 1 14(1 28 4 i do 21... 43 'Jo 14(1 28 20 htih*. .sf'.%l(i on .luitan roust. Sighted CupiH^r iHlaiid about 40 niiloM distant. First seals m vicinity of Koinandorsky Islandii. July 1».. ,^i3 4.8 1(17 3(1 do ■23... 53 31! 1 1(>7 01 15 ■ do 27 . .'•)3 ."lO 1(i7 17 12 j do 28... M .Ml i 1(17 2.5 6 ; Aug 1... r«> 2(! 108 15 8 ;North t»f islanils. do 11. . . r,5 2.-. ' U)3 .57 26 do 10... nf> 03 1(14 37 11 do 11... 54 I.T : 1(15 44 8 do 12... 5;( n;! ItKi 21 26 do 13... 53 40 im 42 6 do 14... i 53 42 lfi7 02 9 do 17... 63 6fi 169 02 8 do 19 .. 53 21 168 20 5 do 21... 1 53 59 168 28 19 La.it HeaLs in vicinity Komandorskv Islands. do 23 1 Loft for Victoria, arriving 13tli Seiiteinber, 1893. ' FfHTRira- 101 Mar. 21 do 22. do 2:t. du 2U du 3t . Ai)r. <1(! do do do do do 10, do 12. do 13. dn 14. do K). do 16. do 17. do 1«. du lit. do 21. do 24. do 2S. do 2!t. May 1 . do 2 do 3. do C. do 12 do 14. do 15. do II). do 17. do 18. do I'J. do 23. APPENDIX No. 33. Schooner "Beatrice," August G-. Bjerre, Master, l^US. 24. 25. 20, do 31) June 2. do do do do do 6 7. 8. 9 10, do 11. do 13. do 15. do Hi. do do 17. 18. do 21. July 11. do 18. do 22. do 23. do 24 do 25. do 27 do 28. Aug. 1 do 4. do 5. do 8 do 10. do 11. 37 11 37 37 :m 38 38 ;w 3!l 3!> 3!) 311 311 311 X) 311 40 40 40 40 40 40 41 40 311 311 31t 40 40 40 41 40 41 41 41 41 41 41 41 41 41 31 43 05 42 f>0 42 3!i 42 55 42 42 43 Olt 42 5;t 42 -2 42 32 42 3;) 42 i'2 41 41 41 27 43 Bll 53 30 .'.3 ;w i^ 31 53 40 53 42 27 ' it 18 M 44 43 18 18 07 40 43 45 31» 30 20 Hi Hi 37 40 54 42 03 37 48 41 28 28 27 Iti 50 25 24 32 40 34 30 40 ,'tO horiR K. No, of KciimrkH. \i'j 31 8 Sailrd frnui Vanc(m\fr. lltli .Tiilv, 1H03, dirtKt for Jjipiin t'oant, iirriv- ing otr NiiH>ii iKlniiil 21iit .\tareli. On tin- rund over, iiiau cooHt. Kii-it Ht-al in vicinity >>f Komandoruky lalauda. Ijeit for Vancouver this day, arriving on the 5th September. 28 108 APPENDIX No. 34. Schoouer " Piouocr," Johu MrLi'od, ManttT, 18(t8.* lllttr. Mw. ai. do ». 2i Apr. 12 ilu I!i. ilo 20 21 22 do dn (III 2:1 du 24 do 2n. do 26. do 27. do 28. do do do do do do do do do June do do do 2(1. do 23 do 25. do 20. do 27 I,8t. N. Ihii*. W. do •£>...! do 30 ... May 1.... do 2... do 3. . ilo 4 . do r> .. do «... do do H,... 11... ;«>. . . 2... n... i«. 47 iin 47 32 4M 40 M .W 57 X, 58 27 M W IKi M Id W 41 RH 8H M 15 68 11 58 57 M 47 W ;« w :t;i M 31 58 27 58 25 58 ;w 57 54 58 1(1 57 58 58 12 5U (« 5!) 13 54 m r>3 58 53 42 53 48 53 46 125 125 I2r> i:«i 1 36 137 138 138 13(1 1311 14() 10 13» 52 14(1 ra 142 11 14(1 36 ISlt 40 140 18 I4i> 24 140 20 1311 53 140 42 140 31 140 'M 1311 411 147 46 1411 11 167 44 161 26 162 00 162 34 162 30 of MkilM. 2U 4 3 4 46 15 Ml 56 41) 17 )» 24 I 73 5 2 11 66 26 r>3 15 10 24 44 1)1 73 Id iii^ukK 48 27 47 23 H 10 16 7 2 1 1 5 4 48 18 Cluarfcl fr Vict^rin, .liinimry. IHDS. Wnit iliiwii wiwt ooaat irf VmHiiiiviT iKlitiid fur ImliniiH, iu< fur un Kyiii|Uot. Kml dAy walod wiw 2Ut March. riiit'k fog. do Thick fog. do do do MoRt foniftlea taken, during th«*r dottn, when abreast of OmiiiMik Vm*. Did not go t^) Aniutic »i' III Kiitry. *' ('itv "f Han Diego" A^ril » Mhy 3 " 31 .( un« S •• « ! " 11 " IB " 10 *''lVri-itu" 15 7ft IK) Ul 41 111 («• 4M 7H 1117 im 118 vt«ii«b, " Carl) tttad. Cox " " Mftud H." " SwiiH Tnr|>* 2,22:1 1,02.'. ll.W ri7.'i !.2!M 1,1143 !,27!t 1,277 Kil i.ixia ,^82 745 711 74« U88 483 122 411 131 Mav 30 .liiii). 12 " Katl^T " " lit '**Allif .J. Algar " " 1» 30 "Ulv U" " 20 "H.'C. VValllHTK" " £muia niid Luuiau " '* Henimii '' " Matt If T. Dyer " " J. Kli|iiiiKiuiH OUen" "Alton" "Maaiiiit" "•Louixal)." " BuMrli.'ail " " 24 .. 24 " 34 " 84 " 18 " 38 " 80 " Hf tri'H'tT " JuIt 1 " I'liKfi " " 4 6 23 veaiwlii, Total 18,682 skink. III. — Otiikr Nationalities. Hawaiian ha. Total " Alexander ". . . 2fl4 tmw, 3,212 KkinB. 1 vtHKcl. 3.212 " Recapitulation. Dritish . . . . Aiufirican . Others .... Total. wels. Skina. IB 1.3,aB- 22 I8,ri82 1 .S,212 38 36,661 'Entered twice. no APPENDIX No. 36. Eeport of British Colnmbi.i S.-iilin^r Fl.M^t, Season 1^0;^ Vespels. "Triumiiii''^ '• Siippliirc " *' K. [\. Miirvin ". ... "Ma^rut ■ " I)nra Sit-w»'rlstMi " " Waniltrt'r" "Vi\a- "May l.!('ll«" " I'lnhriiia" '* IVnt'it'iH- " '. . . ** Vera'" " PtOlHHT " "Ottn" ... '* Mary Taylur ".. . . . . " Hn-nda "' , . . . '* Lit.l.ir" "City of Sun Diopo". "({fucva " "Caseo" "Oarhittu (i. Cox ". ., " Oscar anti Huttie "., *' Tert'ftu" " Su'lii- TuriHl ".. "MaudS" "M:.rv Kilt-n" "Walft-r U Hich '. " Anni*' ('. MtMUf ". .. "Waiter F.Hall." Indian catcti, canucn. , '1' Crews. r! i « *» 1 „ m ! 117 to 111 *jr> 4(i K2 45 M ■in •a m iw liO «.s 23 ,Sfi 13 M SO 37 7.'-. «4 sa 31 (1!) 107 113 3(1 ffi !)2 .W !» 70 (K) fii! 86 4'J 100 (13 4« il2 (is 7« «1 63 Of. !)7 63 70 113 !I8 Viniennvtr Vif^ffU. * f Jo.itric<' " 'CD. Iluiid" Ariirrifitn. ' Marv MrfjwM ' 'Suut'l. I lend" 23 fi 10 4 2:1 3 23 1 23 6 ' n : .'•' i t' 1 4 24 !. 2."> ;. li I '• i ■* i S) ! 24 '. 20 '. W i 6 S : IS I. 26 ! 23 . 14 I. 26 |, li) I. 24 ■. 24 ;, 20 I. 24 1. 24 23 . 24 . 20 !. 23 ;. 14 8 ,. «!■ H 1. MiiHtcrs. (;. N. Ciix Will. Cux .1. ; ti, 845 1,321 2,o;i5 1120 1.027 2,333 1,441 1,8.52 1.827 2,2!ll l,!tlO 1.242 042 1,612 1,473 2,3116 1.178 677 n'/7 W.I 1,573 822 "08 60 250 i 204 ' 26,603 1 265 1,863 128 1,:«4 S(> 'J»,S !l4!t 1,*I7 i,;«Mi MM! 715 212 !,»il 2,7