ALASKA INDUSTRIES. 107 



at 20,000 at St. George anc. 80,000 at St. Paul, providing, in his judgment, such change 

 of<iuota may be found proper and desirable and the other circumstances connected 

 with the killing of seals shall fully justify it. 



Referring- to tlie above telegram in my letter to the Department dated 

 May 15, I used tlie following words: 



As to the small increase authorizeil in the quota of St. George, I may state that 

 this is fully justified by the improved condition of the rookeries and hauling grounds 

 on that island last season. 



I beg to say that this statement, which was based upon the report 

 of Assistant Treasury Agent Moultou, although believed by me to cor- 

 rectly represent the conditions at St. George, yet, upon reconsidering 

 the subject and after further consultation with Mr. Moultou, I thought, 

 as a matter of prudence, it would not be best to take more than 18,000 

 seals on that island the present year; and as I felt assured, from close 

 personal observations at St. Paul last season, that the balance of the 

 full quota could be safely taken at that place, I thought it proper to 

 change the quota for St. George to 18,000, and that for St. Paul to 82,000, 

 believing from the tenor of your instructions that I would be authorized 

 to take such action in the premises as would seem, in my judgment, 

 best calculated to guard the interests of the Government and natives 

 of the islands. 



When the sealing commenced at St. Paul, June 8, there were then in 

 the salt houses of the company on that island 3,430 skins taken from 

 seals killed for food under my direction last fall and during the month 

 of JNIay of the present year. These were accepted by the company as 

 a part of this year's quota, and the balance of the quota was really 

 taken by the 18th of July. 



At St. George the season's work did not progress so rapidly, owing to 

 the fact that the killable seals did not appear in large numbers during 

 the month of June. The last seals were driven there by the company 

 July 21. 



I may state that on both islands the business has been somewhat 

 delayed by unusually warm weather, which is unfavorable to the rapid 

 driving and killing of seals. This especially interfered at St. George, 

 where there are fewer natural bodies of water into which the seals may 

 be driven and cooled while being conducted to the killing grounds. 



The general condition of the seal life at the islands the present year 

 presents no material change from that of the season of 1877. From 

 careful observations of the breeding rookeries at St. Paul during the 

 summer, I may report that the same excellent and healthy condition 

 is maintained which characterized them last year. 



The stock of young seals born during the season was apparently full 

 and in every way satisfactory, while the display of young males or kill- 

 able animals was to all appearances somewhat l3etter than last year. 



The report of Treasury Agent Moulton, herewith inclosed, gives a very 

 favorable account of the seal life at St. George. Mr. Moulton's obser- 

 vations extend over two seasons, and I may remark that his statements 

 are fully confirmed by the natives of the island with whom I conversed 

 upon a late visit I made there August 9. The facts which I gathered 

 from all sources at St. George concerning the present condition of the 

 seals there warrant the statement that 20,000 skins nviy be safely taken 

 there in the year 1879, 



I would therefore respectfully suggest that the quota for the islands 

 next year remain as fixed in your telegram to the collector of customs 

 at San Francisco, dated April 21, 1878, viz, 20,000 at St. George, and 

 80,000 at St. Paul. 



