370 ALASKA INDUSTRIES. 



May 14, 1896. 



Sm : Acknowledging the receipt of your letter of the 9th instant, 

 wherein you request to be advised whether, under the act of March 3, 

 1893, this Department desires an investigation and report to be made 

 by the Fish Commission as to the condition of seal life on the rookeries 

 of the Pribilof Islands during the coming summer, I have the honor 

 to inform you that the Department considers such investigation and 

 report most desirable, particularly in view of information received from 

 the honorable the Secretary of State, that an English and a Canadian 

 naturalist will be permitted to reside on the islands during the coming 

 summer. I feel, therefore, that the assistance desired can be ren- 

 dered by our Commission in examining into the condition of the rook- 

 eries, taking a careful census of the seals, examining the bodies of the 

 dead pups to ascertain the cause of death and making other similar 

 investigations. 



I would thank you to inform me of the earliest date on which the 

 Albatross will be ready to sail, so that I may have a personal interview 

 with you before that date. 



Eespectfully, yours, C. «. Hamlin, 



Acting Secretary. 



The Commissioner of Fish and Fisheries, 



Washington, D. G, 



May 14, 1896. 



Sir: The report of the minister of marine and fisheries, sent by the 

 British Government, inclosing a copy of the log-book entries of British 

 vessels for the season of 1895, as required by article 5 of the regulations 

 of the Paris tribunal, contains copies of such entries only as relate to 

 the catch of the British vessels in Bering Sea, and omits all entries 

 showing the killing of the 9,853 seals taken by the British vessels on 

 the Northwest Coast. 



I have the honor to request, therefore, that you ask the British Gov- 

 ernment to furnish the log-book entries containing the record of the 

 Northwest Coast catch. 



Respectfully, yours, C. S. Hamlin, 



Acting Secretary. 



The Secretary of State. 



May 26, 1896. 



Sir : The Department has been informed by the honorable the Secre- 

 tary of State that two English naturalists will shortly go to the Pribilof 

 Islands as representatives of the British Government to enter upon an 

 investigation of the present condition of the fur-seal herd. 



In my judgment it would be necessary to send some eminent zoologist 

 to accompany these British representatives to make an independent 

 investigation in behalf of the United States Government. 



It will also probably be expedient to detail one or more officers or 

 employees of the United States to take part in said investigation. 



