96 ALASKA INDUSTRIES. 



1877. 



Assistant A(/ent MouJton; report as aijent in charge, during illness of 



Special Agent Morton. 



Treasury Agent's Office, 

 St. Paul Island, August 4, 1877. 



Sir: I have the houor to report that Mr. Mortou is too ill to make 

 his report iii time for this steamer. A full report will be forwarded at 

 a later date. I cau say for Mr. Morton that the condition of the island 

 is most satisfactory. 



Inclosed please find my report of the condition of St. George Island, 

 also copies of the certificates of shipment of fur-seal skins from both 

 islands. After I had counted the skins on board at St. George (15,000) 

 I took passage on board the steamer St. Paul for this island to relieve 

 Mr. Morton, who was to go to the States. He is too ill to leave by this 

 steamer, but will leave at a later date. 



I have counted, on board the steamer St. Paul, 60,526 fur-seal skins 

 taken from this island, making a total for the two islands of 75,526. 



I have forwarded to the collector of customs in San Francisco copies 

 of the inclosed certificates. 



^'ery respectfully, your obedient servant, 



J. H. MOULTON, 

 Treasury Agent of Seal Fisheries. 

 Hon. John Sherman, 



Sevrefary of the Treasury, Washington, D. C. 



Inclosure ivith Asstatant A(jeni Moulton's letter of August 4, 1877 ; report of affairn on 



St. George for 1877. 



Treasury Agent's Office, 

 St. George Island, AlasM, July ;28, 1877. 



Sir : I have the honor to report that the sealing season of 1877 com- 

 menced June 1, ended July 10. The total number of seals taken during 

 the season was 15,000. During the month of June there were taken 

 9,987. This is the highest number ever taken in the mouth of June. 



The following statement will show from where the seals were taken : 



Starry Ateel aud North Rookeries 7, 010 



East Rookery 6, 601 



Zapadnie Rookery 1, 389 



It will be seen from the above statement that there were taken from 

 Zapadnie but 1,389. The reason so few were taken from that place was 

 owing to the season being very unfavorable for driving seals so far, the 

 distance being 5 miles from the village. I think it will be advisable to 

 take at least 5,000 from there the next season, and they should be 

 salted on that side of the island. To attempt to drive that many seals 

 to the village would result in great loss to the Government. 



The total loss to the Government the past year is 2,042. Below is a 

 statement of the loss during the past year : 



Pups killed for native food in November, 1876 1, 500 



Pups killed by boys through mischief, September, 1876 55 



Seals died from heat aud exhaustion 125 



Seals killed for native food in October, 1876 187 



Skins cut aud veje(;ted by the Alaska Comniercinl Company, season of 1877. .- 175 



