76 ALASKA INDUSTRIES. 



Special A(/ent Bryant; transmitting report 0/ Assistant Agent McTnti/re, 

 on raid of rooleries hy schooner " Cygnet.'' 



Treasury -Agent's Oia-icE, 



St. Pan! Island, 2Iay :2(i, 1875. 



Sir : I herewith trausmit to the ])e])artment a letter with aeeompauy- 

 iug aftidavit received from Assistant Treasury Agent William J. Mclu- 

 tyre, concerning the killing of fur seals unlawfully by the officers or 

 crew of schooner Cygnet near the island of St. George during the month 

 of September of the year 1874. Tlie letter will explain the whole pro- 

 ceeding, and the promptness and energy with which said assistant 

 agent, William J. Mclutyre, acted was very commendable. This is the 

 same vessel mentioned in my report of May 12, ultimo, and I have since 

 learned said vessel has since been to the port of Victoria, British Co- 

 lumbia, and sold her furs, and refitted for another cruise in these waters 

 this coming season. Every precaution will be taken to prevent any 

 killing of seals by the officers or crew of said vessel, or to seize her, if 

 possible, in the act. 



I have the honor to remain, with respect, 



Charles Bryatn^t, 

 Treasury Agent, in Charge of Seal Islands. 

 Hon. B. H. Bristow, 



Secretary of the Treasury. 



Itieloaure u-Uh Speeial Af/nit BryanVs letter of May 26, 1S75 ; invasion of roolceries hy 



crew of schooner " Cyf/nef." 



Island of St. George, Bering Sea, March 15, 1875. 



Sir: Ou the 1st of September last the natives reported that the 

 crew of the otter-hunting schooner Cygnet were shooting seals from 

 the deck of the vessel as she lay at anchor in Zapadnie Bay, 5 miles 

 from the village. When a seal was killed they would lower a boat, take 

 it on board, and after skinning it would throw the carcass overboard. 

 I immediately sent a party of natives to watch the Cygnet and ascer- 

 tain if possible how many seals were killed, and also sent a letter to the 

 captain of the vessel informing him that his actions were illegal, and 

 that he must leave these shores at once. As there were no boats on the 

 south side of the island, signals were made for a boat from the Cygnet 

 to come ashore. 



The next day the natives informed me that the signals were unan- 

 swered, and that no comuiunication was had with the vessel; that the 

 crew had lowered two boats and were killing seals in the water under 

 the cliff near the rookery, and that the seals were evidently very much 

 alarmed, as they were leaving the breeding and hauling grounds and 

 were takijig to the water in great numbers. A heavy sea was running 

 on the north side of the island, and the breakers rendered it extremely 

 hazardous to launch the whale boat and sail around the island to South- 

 west Bay, and as the natives are poor sailors I did not deem it prudent 

 to make the attempt. Still, I wished to give the captain of the vessel 

 timely warning before proceeding to any harsh measures. I had armed 

 the natives with the intention of repelling by force any attempts to kill 

 seal on the rookeries or within rifle-shot of the shore if the crew still 

 ])ersisted in doing so after the receipt of my letter by the cjiptain. I 



