MANAGETVEENT OF ROOKERIES — DECREASE OF SEALS. 



Seal Islands, Alaska, July 16, 1889. 



Gentlemen : I regret to report that the season's seal catch is pro- 

 gressing very unfavorably, and that the condition of the breeding rook- 

 eries, already past the date of fullest occupation for the year, indicates 

 a large falling off in productiveness — much greater, in fact, than I have 

 heretofore reported. 



During the period from 1873 to 1883, as my reports from year to year 

 will sho^v, we experienced no difficulty in obtaining the full catch of 

 seals early in the season, and the skins were all of the best marketable 

 size and quality, for we had at that time a large surplus of killable 

 animals from which to make our selection. It was customary during 

 that period to secure in the month of June nearly one-half of our 

 catch, all of the primest and best, and at the same time turn back to 

 the rookeries for breeding animals, or as being undesirable for market, 

 a very large percentage, averaging for the ten years in question per- 

 haps 30 per cent of the whole number driven. In July in each of those 

 years the percentage of rejected animals was still larger, amounting 

 h om 50 to 80 per cent of the number driven ; but of those a large major- 



