ALASKA INDUSTRIES. 35 



the baliiuce, 16,123, liaviug beeu shipped by the comi)aiiy's vessels to 

 Unalaska a few days ago. 



Samuel Falconer, 



Assistant Treasury Agent. 



1872. 



Special Agent Bryant : Annual Report for 1872, 



Treasury Agent's Office, 

 St. Paul Island, September 5, 1872. 



Sir : I have the honor to submit the following report on the affairs 

 of the seal islands since my last, dated May 7, 1872 : 



July 12, the Alaska Commercial Company's steam schooner H, M. 

 Eutchinson arrived at this island, having on board Father Nickoli, a 

 priest of the Kusso-Greek Church, who administered to the spiritual 

 wants of the people and married four couples. The schooner sailed 

 again on the 29th for St. George with Father Nickoli on board. 



August 15, the Alaska Commercial Company's steamer Alexander 

 arrived, laden with supplies for this island, liaving previously touched 

 at St. George on her way hither and landed supplies, together with the 

 frame a.nd material for the house to be erected for the nse of the Govern- 

 ment officers on that island. The Alexander brought, as employees 

 of the company to reside permanently on the island, William Kapres, 

 esq., as general agent of the company in place of Dr. H. H. Mclntyre, 

 who retnrns to San Francisco, and E. C. Church as a school-teacher. 

 The steamer also brought to reside on the island Mr. C. P. Fish, esq., 

 of the United States Signal Corps, for the purpose of establishing a 

 signal station on this island. 



There being more than a full load of skins for the steamer ready for 

 shipment, after discharging her cargo the steamer took on board from 

 this (St. Paul) island 21,000 and from St. George Island 16,123 fur-seal 

 skins and sailed on the 20th for Unalaska, to store them for transship- 

 ment from there on some other of the company's vessels to San Francisco. 



August 25, the Alaska Commercial Company's bark Gyane arrived 

 here from San Francisco, laden with salt, coal, and merchandise for the 

 island, having on board as freight the frame and material for the house 

 to be erected on this island for the use of the Government officers. 



August 29, the steamer Alexander returned from Unalaska, laden with 

 salt and coal. 



September 2, the bark Cyane, having landed her supplies for this 

 island, sailed for St. George, taking on board as passengers to Unalaska 

 two native families, who wished to reside there; also, two other natives, 

 who go to San Francisco to remain during the winter and return in 

 spring. 



In my last report, of May 7, 1872, I stated some new facts in regard 

 to the relative difference of value between seal skins taken in June 

 and July and those taken in September and October, owing to their 

 shedding their overhair in the later season. There were taken during 

 the month of June and July, 1871, on St. Paul Island 15,000 and on 

 St. George Island 19,000 fur-seal skins; the remaining portion of the 

 100,000 to be taken that year were left for the months of September and 

 October. It was found that about the middle of August the seals began 

 to shed their overhair; the new covering appearing as short, black 

 bristles in the fur injures the skin for manufacturing. In this condition 

 they are called stagey. This condition continues until late in October. 



