ALASKA INDUSTRIES. 39 



islanrle, the evil would not be cured, although its effects might he less noticeable, 

 for the killing of females, many of them heavy with young, would necessarily con- 

 tinue, since all experience shows that female animals always codistitute the chief 

 catch of the open-sea sealer. 



Nicholas A. Grebnitzki, 

 District Chief of the Commander Islands, District St. Petersburg. 

 (Counter case, United States, p. 362.) 



Here we have the testimony of one who is at once a scientist and one 

 of the most practical of men; a man who has been ofiQcially interested 

 in the fur-seal industry for many years, and who has devoted a great 

 part of his life to the scientific and practical study of the species. 



Every word he utters shows his intimate knowledge of the subject 

 treated, and his practical common sense and scientific acumen, coupled 

 with a breadth of view all his own, gives an extraordinary value to 

 everything he says on the subject of fur seals. 



True, he is interested in the fur-seal industry on the Commander 

 Islands, belonging to Russia, and for that reason he may fall under the 

 ban of the hypercritical who seem to suspect the honesty and the 

 motives of all who have, or ever did have, any connection with the fur- 

 seal islands on either side of Bering Sea. 



That the class of critics alluded to may be silenced on this point I 

 will introduce the testimony of leading naturalists, which is in full 

 accord with all that I have already quoted. It will be seen that Dr. 

 Merriam briefly stated the question at issue to the naturalists of Europe 

 and asked for their views, which were freely given and which I take the 

 pleasure of quoting in full. 



CIRCULAR LETTER OF DR. C. HART MERRIAM. 



Dr. C. Hart Merriam, one of the American Bering Sea commission- 

 ers, addressed the following circular letter to various leading naturalists 

 in different parts of the world, for the purpose of obtaining their views 

 as to the best method of preserving the fur seals of Alaska : 



Washington, D. C, April 2, 1892. 



Dear Sir: The Government of the United States having selected roe as a natu- 

 ralist to investigate and report upon the condition of the fur-seal rookeries on the 

 Pribilof Islands, in Bering Sea, with sjiecial reference 1o the causes of decrease and 

 the measures necessary for the restoration and pernianeut preservation of the seal 

 herd, I visited the Pribilof Islands and made an extended investigation of the sub- 

 ject, the results of which are here briefly outlined. 



FACTS IN THE LIFE HISTORY OP THE NORTHERN FUR SEAL (CALLORHINUS URSINUS). 



(1) The fur seal is an inhabitant of Bering Sea and the Sea of Okhotsk, where it 

 breeds on rocky islands. But four breeding colonies are known, namely, (1) the 

 Pribilof Islands, belonging to the United States ; (2) the Commander Islands, belong- 

 ing to Russia; (3) Robben Reef, belonging to Russia; and (4) the Kurile Islands, 

 belonging to Japan. The Pribilof and Commander islands are in Bering Sea; 

 Robben Reef in the Sea of Okhotsk, near the island of Saghalien, and the Kurile 

 Islands between Yezo and Kamtchatka. The species is not known to breed in any 

 other part of the world. 



(2) In winter the fur seal migrates into the Nortb Pacific Ocean. The herds from 

 the Commander Islands, Robben Reef, and the Kurile Islands move south along the 

 Japan Coast. The Pribilof Islands herd move south through the passes in the Aleu- 

 tian chain. The old breeding males are not known to range much south of these 

 islands. The females and young reach the American Coast as far south as California. 



(3) Returning, the herds of females move northward along the coast of California, 

 Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia in Jauuary, February, and March, occur- 

 ring at varying distances from shore Following the Alaska coast northward and 

 westward they leave the North Pacific Ocean in June, traversing the passes in the 

 Aleutian chain, and proceed at once to the Pribilof Islands. 



(4) The old (breeding) males reach tlie islands much earlier, the first coming the 

 first week in April or early in May. They at once land and take stands on the rook- 

 eries, where they await the arrival of the females. Each male (called a bull) selects 



