ALASKA INDUSTRIES. 

 Seal skina landed at Victoria from Bering Sea, etc. — Continued. 



161 



oActual number of skins seized. li,618 or 11,902. See page 337 United States counter case. — J. S. B. 



Note. — The interrogation point ( ?) following ligares in 1887 column indicates doubt as to the correct- 

 neBS of the report. 



Number of Victoria and Nortliiveat Coast fur- seal shins sent to market from 18S1 to 18S9, 



inclusive. 



Tear. 



1881 

 1882 

 1883 

 1884 

 1885 

 1886 

 1887 

 1888 

 1889 



Bering 



Sea 

 skins. 



193 



327 



908 



4,089 



9,181 



29, 240 



34, :!31 



15, 097 



25, 566 



North 

 Pacific 

 skins. 



16,380 



22, 880 



8,180 



16, 053 



11, 184 



4,735 



8,908 



24, 801 



20, 580 



Total. 



16, 573 



23, 207 

 9,094 

 20, 142 

 20, 365 

 33, 975 

 43, 239 

 39, 898 

 46,146 



The above totals are believed to be very nearly correct, having- been 

 compiled from the London catalogues of sales, but the numbers caught, 

 respectively, in Bering Sea and the ISTorth Pacific are not deflnitely 

 known. The catch of the North Pacific has been ascertained by deduct- 

 ing the number reported from the Victoria custom-house records as 

 having been taken in Bering Sea from the total number sold iu Loudon. 



It will be noticed that nearly in proportion as tlie Bering Sea catch 

 increased, that of the iS^orthern Pacific decreased; and, that while the 

 total catch of 1888, following the seizures and repression of 1887, was 

 not very materially less, the proportion taken from Bering Sea was mii«h 

 smaller than in the preceding and following year. 



The inference may be clearly drawn thnt to the extent to which illicit 

 sealing is suppressed in Bering Sea, it will be more active in the North 

 Pacific, and that the simple closure of the former body of water against 

 marauders will do little toward the eftective protection of seal life. 

 H. Doc. 9l>, pt. 2 11 



