188 ALASKA INDUSTKIES. 



boats this year, and there being no authority of law for killing the sur- 

 plus old bulls spoken of in my report of last year, none were killed, 

 and with an additional year's experience I would not now recommend 

 their being killed, as by proper care they are handled in the drives 

 without detriment to the younger seals and in the water may be some 

 protection to the young seals against their natural enemies. 



THE BREEDING ROOKERIES. 



Mr. Elliott embraced in his report of 1874 a measurement by him of 

 the breeding rookeries on this island, made July 10 to 18, 1872, since 

 which time no measurement has been made so far as the records of this 

 office show. Deeming it of great importance that the Department 

 should be in possession of the best information as to the i)resent con- 

 dition of the rookeries, I made a thorough measurement of all on this 

 island, commencing on May 3, before the bulls hauled up on the land, 

 when an absolutely correct measurement could be made. 



In making my measurements I was assisted by Dr. L. A. Noyes (Cap- 

 tain Loud, assistant Treasury agent, not having returned to the island) 

 and four of the best informed natives as to the boundaries of the breed- 

 ing rookeries. In July, when the rookeries were fullest, we verified 

 our work by observations and found the ground included within our 

 lines fully covered. Some of the rookeries, viz, Northeast Point, Tol- 

 stoi, (xorbotch, and Polavina, were densely packed, covering more area 

 than my statement shows, while others were not so closely packed. I 

 do not agree with Mr. Elliott in his assignment of 2 feet square to each 

 seal; at this date it is not enough. I inclose my statement, marked E, 

 as compared with Mr. Elliott's, which on his basis gives vis now on the 

 breeding rookeries 5,148,500 seals, an increase since 1872 of 2,137,550. 

 I think the calculation of 1872, as well as that of 1886, would stand a 

 reduction of one-fourtli in aggregate number of seals and be nearer 

 the true rmmber than our figures show. Statements at best are merely 

 approximate estimates, but in the absence of any absolutely correct 

 method of arriving at the count they serve as a guide. Frequent 

 inspection of the rookeries during last season and this shows a decided 

 increase of cows, with an ample supply of bulls. The same report is 

 also made by the assistant Treasury agent in charge of St. George, on 

 which island I was not able to obtain measurements of the rookeries 

 this spring, but will do so next and forward the result with my next 

 report. 



So far this season we have sighted but one schooner off this island 

 supposed to be sealing. She did not, however, come in close enough 

 to disclose her real character. 



At St. George an attempt was made by marauders to land for the 

 purpose of killing seals on a rookery, but were driven off by shots fired 

 at them by order of the officer in charge, as directed by me. 



At 1.30 p. m., June 29, the revenue cutter Corivin landed here. 

 Captain Abbey reported having boarded the schooners Vanderhilt, 

 Captain Myers ; iSierra, Captain Lee, and City of San Diego, the first two 

 about 20 miles from Unalaska and the last 40 miles from St. George 

 Island. He took from the Sierra 4 rifles and 1,110 rounds of fixed 

 ammunition, and from the City of San Diego 6 rifles and 500 rounds of 

 ammunition. The last-named vessels had seal skins aboard (salted) and 

 plenty of salt and seal clubs, showing clearly they intended, if oppor- 

 tunity offered, to land on the rookeries. Captain Abbey notified the 

 captains of the trading schooners that if again caught in the waters 



