84 ALASKA INDUSTRIES. 



to do this season wliat he has never done as yet on the seal islands — to 

 make a careful and thorough survey of the area and position of the 

 breeding rookeries under his charge, so that these records may be com- 

 pared with work done by myself in 1872 and repeated by Lieutenant 

 Maynard in 1874, and reported upon at length and in detail by both of 

 us. This work will show at a glance whether the seals have increased 

 or diminished, and be far above the level of mere guesswork. 



There is one plain inference which can not fail to arrest the attention 

 of the inquirer, and which Captain Bryant's reports confirm nuichmore 

 strongly than do my own, and that is the fact that if the females are 

 "increasing" at the rate of "6 per cent" every year it is proof conclu- 

 sive that there must be males enough for the purpose of breeding or 

 these rookeries could not expand. 



In view of this conflicting testimony of Mr. Bryant, I trust that you 

 will give the matter your careful consideration before signing any war- 

 rant for reduction, based upon such evidence, when it is fully as 

 probable that the six reports of Captain Bryant prior to the one for 

 1875 are more correct than is the latter, though all of them are based 

 upon conjecture and assumption, not founded upon actual investiga- 

 tion ; and, furthermore, it would give me satisfaction to meet Captain 

 Bryant in your presence and there discuss this matter in full. It is in 

 no sense a i^ersonal matter with me; it is one in which I feel naturally 

 a deep interest, that will arise in anyone's mind after long and atten- 

 tive study of the subject. I should have come forward to oppose any 

 increase in the killing just as promjitly as I do this proposition for 

 diminution, unless such a proposition were based upon tenable ground. 

 Yery respectfully, your friend and servant, 



Henry W. Elliott. 



Hon. B. H. Bristow, 



Secretary of the Treasury. 



p. s. — To more fully illustrate the nature of my objection to Mr. 

 Bryant's testimony, I inclose a compilation from the several reports of 

 that officer made to the Secretary of the Treasury during 1869-1875 

 inclusive. 



H. W. E. 



luclosure tvUh Special Agent Elliott'n report of March 6, 1S76. 



[Report dated November 30, 1869.] 



It will also be seen that the great iuiportauce of the seal hahery is uot to be calcu- 

 lated from the basis of its present yield, as with proper care the number can be 

 increased until both islands are fully occupied by these valuable animals. 



[Report dated Xovember 10, 1871.] 



The breeding males and females occupy the same ground from year to year, with- 

 out leaving their places until the end of July, and no other classes mix with them. 

 These have clearly-defined boundaries, entirely separate from the grounds oeeujjied 

 by the classes driven for killing, and are never disturbed by it. 



As these are the sources that produce the supply, and the age at which most of them 

 are killed is 3 years, their condition will furnish a standard by which to estimate 

 the product three years in advance. A careful comparison of their condition the 

 present year (1871) with those of 1869 and 1870, shows a decrease in the number of 

 females the present year e(|ual to 10 per cent of the two former years, wliich showed 

 a gradual increase. This might indicate a necessity (or restricting the number to be 

 t^cen were it not for tlie excess of 1870, which will compensate the deficiency for 



