244 



ALASKA. 



50,000. less tliau 30,000 were killed and taken, and then, too, 

 the numbers of seals were known to diniinisb, and in tlie same 

 way, only greater, on the other island. For instance, in the first 

 years, on the island of Saint George, the seals were only five or 

 six times less than on Saint Paul, but in 1817 they were only 

 less than one-fourth ; but in 182G they were almost one-sixth 

 again. 



"The diminution of seals there (Saint Paul's) and on the 

 other island, from 1817 to 1835, was very gradual and visible 

 every year, but not always equal. 



"The killing of seals in 1831, instead of being 80,000 or 

 GO.OOO, was only 15,751 from both islauds, (Saint Paul, 12,700; 

 Saint George's, 3,051)/' 



In the first thirty years, according to Veuiaminov's best under- 

 standing, there were taken 'hnorethan two and a half millions of 

 sealsldns;'^ then, in the next twenty-one years, uj) to 1838, they 

 took 578,024. During this last taking, from 1817 to 1838, the 

 skins were worth ou an average " no more than 30 rubles each," 

 (80 apiece.) 



"A great many sea-otters {Enhydra marina) were found on 

 Saint Paul's Island at first, and as many as 50,000 were taken 

 from the island, but years have passed since one has been seen 

 in the vicinity, even, of the islands.'^ 



Table I, Part II, Bishop Veniami)wr\s ZapiesTca, tj-c, showing the seal-catch dfn-- 

 ing the period of gradual diminution of life on ihe islands from 1817 down to 

 183G, ihe year of scarcity, and from wliich date they have as gradually increased 

 tip to the jiresent number, their maximum limit in a state of nature, at which ihe 

 seal-life has stood during ihe past twenty years ; ihe killing has also been grad- 

 ually increased up to the present figure, 100,000 annually. 



*Left to brood. 



Grand total for Saint Panl's Island 



Grand total for S;iint Georpe s Island 



404. 2.59 

 114,065 



Tot.il catch duriuj; nineteen years of diminution 



