88 ALASKA INDUSTRIES. 



again state that as the Alaska Commercial Company only sends a ves- 

 sel to these islands twice a year, the only direct way to forward mail 

 matter is to direct it to their care, 310 Sansome street, San Francisco, 

 Cal. This Company will send one more vessel to these islands, to leave 

 San Francisco the 1st of Augnst next, and it is the only opportunity to 

 communicate this year. 



Assistant Treasury Agent W. J. Mclntyre, who has during the past 

 winter resided on this island, is now assigned for duty on St. George 

 Island. 



Yours, respectfully, 



Charles Bryant, 

 Treasury Agent, in Charge of Fur Seal Islands. 



Hon. B. H. Bristow, 



Secretary of the Treasury. 



Assistant Agent Falconer'^s report of affairs on St. George. 



Assistant Treasury Agent's Office, 



St. George Island, September 29, 1876. 



Sir: From the most careful observations obtained of the breeding 

 rookeries this season, I find that they are somewhat fuller this year 

 than last. Although their positions change a little from year to year, 

 so that it is almost impossible to ascertain to a certainty, yet I am of 

 opinion they are steadily increasing. 



The old bulls, too, are quite numerous, much more so than they have 

 been for the past two or three years. There is not a sand spit or rest- 

 ing place around the island but on what they are to be seen. I noticed, 

 too, a large number of this class on the outskirts of the rookeries badly 

 used up owing to their continued warfare with each other, struggling 

 for positions in the harems. They were fearfully lacerated about the 

 neck and foretiippers ; many of them were minus an eye, and, in some 

 cases, both were out. 



The most perceptible difference this season has been with the young 

 ones, such as are driven for their skins. In places where 1,000 had been 

 obtained heretofore, double that number has been taken this year at a 

 single drive. If the 5,000 has not been added to this island by the 

 last session of Congress as we recommended last year, I M^ould most 

 earnestly request that it be done by the coming one, for the island can 

 well afford 15,000 annually. There are no parties better able to judge 

 and determine the proper ratio for each island than the resident agents, 

 who have had years of experience and have watched the rookeries 

 carefully. 



The company began driving seals on the 1st of June, and secured 

 their number (10,000) on the 7th of July — all of which were shipped 

 on board their steamship St. Paul on the 15tli of July last, as per cer- 

 tificate forwarded you at that time. 



On the 19th of June a small schooner appeared ofl' the west end of 

 the island, which subsequently proved to be the Cygnet, of Santa Bar- 

 bara, Cal., ami anchored opposite Zapadnie rookery, on the south side, 

 some little distance offshore. She did not appear to engage in shoot- 

 ing or spearing seals, nor did her crew attemjit to land, probably for 

 the reason that the rookeries were well guarded by natives, Avho re- 

 mained there day and night. 



