36 ALASKA INDUSTRIES. 



This would be too late to take the requsite number within the time 

 prescribed by law, so that in order to secure them they had to be taken 

 in this stagey condition and were not of prime value. In my opinion 

 there exists no necessity for the restriction of the taking of skins after 

 October or during the period they remain on the islands before leaving 

 for the winter. 



The seals appear to be governed by the weather somewhat in the time 

 of their arrival in the spring. They were first reported May 5 of the 

 present season, but light snows being frequent kept the breeding 

 grounds covered, so that they landed very slowly. The first drive for 

 food was made May 15, obtaining 200 animals, but they were not present 

 in sufficient numbers to furnish continuous occupation in taking them 

 for their skins until June 10. In view of their depreciation in value by 

 shedding late in the season, it was desirable to take as many as possi- 

 ble during the months of June and July, therefore all available native 

 labor was devoted to this object, and the result was that on St. Paul 

 Island there were taken up to July 27, 70,000 skins, the remaining 

 5,000 being left for the skins of animals killed by the natives for food 

 in the months of October and November; at the same time there were 

 taken, as per report of Assistant Agent Samuel Falconer, in charge St. 

 George Island, 25,000 skins, thus making a total of 95,000 on both 

 islands up to the end of July, 1872. The present season the beach mas- 

 ters or breeding bulls have landed in excellent health and condition and 

 in greater numbers, occupying much larger grounds than ever before. 

 The females also come in sufficiently increased numbers to occupy all 

 the ground thus mapped out, and the number of young seals produced 

 greatly exceeds any former year. The weather, although excessively 

 foggy and disagreeable to the residents of the island, has been especially 

 favorable to the young seals. It is also observable that a larger num- 

 ber of yearlings or last year's pups than usual have returned to the 

 island the present season. There is now only a deficiency of one class, 

 that of the 4 and 5 year old seals. This is clearly traceable to the fol- 

 lowing causes; During the season of 1868 there were killed on both 

 islands 220,000 animals for their skins, and in the season of 1869 

 85,000. At that time the relative value of the sizes or ages of the skins 

 was not understood, and all the skins being paid for at the same price, 

 the natives, who were quick to perceive the difference between taking 

 a small skin and a large one and carrying it to the salt houses, killed 

 all the yearlings they could. These were the products of 1867 and 1868. 

 These were sent forward in 1870 to market and overstocked it with 

 small skins. This created a demand for larger skins, and the Alaska 

 Commercial Company instructed their agents to take all the large skins 

 possible in 1871. This was done, and as many 4 and 5 year-old seals as 

 could be were taken. This again fell on the already diminished product 

 of 1867 and 1868. When these were sent to market they were found too 

 old, and now, the proper medium being ascertained, the seals will be 

 selected accordingly. 



It will be seen by reference to my report of November 30, 1869, con- 

 taining a detailed description of the habits of these animals, that this 

 class of 4 and 5 year old seals perform an important service along the 

 shores during the season of incubation, but as there was already exist- 

 ing an excess of old bulls from former years, the detriment to the rook- 

 eries from the absence of this class, growing out of the excessive killing 

 of 1868, can work no serious injury to the rookeries for these two years, 

 and at that time they will be supplied from the growing seals. Under 

 the present system the rookeries show a steady increase, that warrants 



