324 



ALASKA INDUSTRIES. 



Sununary ofjjelagic seal catches for 1893 and 1S94, based on the official returns from ports 



of entry. 



* Notes concerning catch for iS93.— The United States consul at Victoria states (Consular Reports 

 No. 161, p. 279) that American schooners in 1893 trans-shipped, at Yokohama and Ilakodadi, between 

 17,000 and 18,00(1 skins. Tliese skins, added to those whicli in all probability were transshipped by 

 British Columbia vessels on the Asiatic Coast, aud including the estimated number retained in America 

 for treatment, would swell the total catch to about 109,000. The accuracy of these tiguros is corrob- 

 orated by the fact that the trade sales of London (all seal skins are sold there) account for the dispo- 

 sition of 109,669 skins in 1893. 



^ Notes concerning catch for lS9i. — The catch of 6,836 noted in the column headed " Locality undeter- 

 mined " were skins, 76 of which were landed at Astoria without statement as to place of cajpture; 641 

 were transshipped at Unalaska, and the remaining 6, 1 19 were transshipped from Yokoham.q. All were 

 entered aud recorded in American ports of entry and tiiey are quite certainly a mixture of Northwest 

 Coast and Japan skins. It has been ascertained from the sales of seal skins in London that about 

 125,000 skins were actually sold, and about 14,000 withheld for future sale in 1894. In addition thereto 

 it is estimated that about 3,000 skins were retained in this country and elsewhere for treatment. It 

 thus appears that about 142,000 is a figure much more closelj' representing the number of skins taken 

 in 18M than the official returns of 121,143. The balance, about 20,000 skina, was probably shipped to 

 London, via Suez Canal, from the Asiatic Coast. 



Number of schooners reported as having taken skins. 



* Indian canoe catch counted as one (1) vessel. In destructive effects the canoe catch is about equal 

 to three average schooner catches. 



Number of schooners rej)07'ted as having made catches in Bering Sea. 



Tear. 



1893 

 1894 



American. Canadian 



Total 



Modus Vivendi in operation. 



10 ] 27 I 



37 



Treasury Department, 



Washington, 1). C, May 15, 1895. 

 Sir: I beg to return herewith the letter of the British ambassador, 

 dated the 11th instant,^ handed me by you, transmitting the declina- 

 tion of his Government to agree upon concurrent regulations for carry- 

 ing out the provisions of the Paris award during the present season. 

 The reason given for such declination is that the provisions of the 

 award relating to the special license aud distinguishing flag are already 

 l)rovided for in the British order in council of February 2, 1895 ; that 

 concurrent regulations similar to those agreed u^jou for last season by 

 the representative Governments as to sealing up the outfit and arms 

 of sealing vessels are not considered necessary for the present season, 

 inasmuch as the possession by vessels within the award area and dur- 

 ing the closed season of said outfit and arms is nowhere forbidden by 



' Not furnished. 



