186 ALASKA INDUSTRIES. 



Special Agent Tingle; supplementary report for 1885. 



St. Paul Island, Alaska, September 25, 1885. 



Sir : Since my last report nothing of unusual interest lias transpired 

 on the Seal Islands. One marauding schooner only put in an appear- 

 ance off the rookeries at Northeast Point since the steamer left. I was 

 promptly on hand, prepared to resist her landing. Seeing she was dis- 

 covered, they put to sea and have not yet returned. The revenue cutter 

 Corwin arrived here on the 11th instant from the Arctic, and has been 

 cruising around the islands, making a trip as far as Unalaska, returning 

 to this island at 1 p. m., 23d instant. Captain Healy reported to me, 

 "No marauders in sight." 



I have visited all the rookeries on the island this month, in company 

 with the Alaska Commercial Company's agent, and find them in good 

 condition. It is the opinion of the agent of the company and natives 

 that there was never as many seals on the island any former year as 

 this. I should say 3,000,000 pups would be a low estimate this year, 

 based on the Elliott plan of computation. 



I inclose Mr. Chas. H. Townsend's receipt in duplicate for far-seal 

 specimens for the Smithsonian Institution, as per your letter May 1, 

 1885. 



I am, very respectfully, 



Geo. E. Tingle, 



Treasury Agent. 



Personal— I think it best I should see you in person next fall or 

 winter and place you in possession of all the points experience has dis- 

 closed to me, before the time for making a new contract arrives, with a 

 view of securing to the Government the full benefit of this valuable 

 reservation, without leaving a chance for wastage. 



Eespectfolly, ^ ^ ^ 



Geo. R. Tingle. 



Hon. C. S. Fairchild, 



Assistant Secretary of the Treasury. 



1886. 



Special Agent Tingle; annual report for 1886. 



Office of Special Agent Treasury Department, 



St. Paul Island, AlasTca, July 31, 1886. 



Sir: I herewith transmit my report of the operations of the Seal 

 Islands for the past year, and up to the close of this sealing season. I 

 also inclose statement of daily killing of fur seals marked "A," and 

 consolidated statement marked "B," also steamer St. PauVs receipt 

 for 99,980 seal skins shipped marked "C," a duplicate of which receipt 

 is on file in this office, one sent to the collector of customs, San i ran- 

 cisco, and one left with the captain of the steamer St. Paul. 



The work of sealing was satisfactorily performed by the natives; in 

 fact a decided improvement has been made in their killing and skinning 

 over former years. A comparison of the daily statements tor past 

 years will show a large saving of " rejected " (small, cut, and stagey) skins. 

 The saving made in slaughtering seals last fall during the stagey season, 



