ALASKA INDUSTRIES. 207 



Island, liad the natives salt in the company's salt house a large portion 

 of the meat, which gave them a better supply than they have had for 

 several years in the winter when the islands are depopulated of seal. 



Statement B shows the killing on St. Paul and St. George consoli- 

 dated each month. The extremely small number of seals rejected this 

 year, viz, 273, attests the care which is exercised in killing the quota of 

 100,000. This insignificant loss is the more remarkable when it is con- 

 sidered that in the drives many large bulls and yearling seals are 

 driven up to the killing grounds, which have to be sei)arated in the 

 pods when clubbing. The presence of these seals among the killables 

 is very embarrassing to the clubbers, as they can not be turned out to 

 return to the sea until nearly or quite all the acceptable seals are 

 kno(;ked down, when they are driven off to the water unharmed. 



The sealing throughout the season progressed without any serious 

 interruptions, and was concluded in a most satisfactory manner by the 

 lessees on both islands. 



There has been general good behavior among the natives on both 

 islands during the i^ast year, owing to the strict discipline and careful 

 watchfulness of the Government officers in charge. The natives have 

 performed their work during this sealing season with alacrity, each one 

 manifesting a disposition to do his whole duty. 



The breeding rookeries were later filling this year than for several 

 years past. I may say that fully three-fourths of the cows and bulls 

 were ten days later hauling out than usual, which at the time gave the 

 impression there would be a shortage this season of killable seals as 

 well as breeders. I am happy to be able to report that, although late 

 landing, the breeding rookeries are filled out to the lines of measurement 

 heretofore made, and some of them much beyond those lines, showing 

 conclusively that seal life is not being depleted, but is fully up to the 

 estimates given in my report of 1887. 



The nmrauders which infest the sea, shooting and harassing the seals 

 on their way to the islands, I am sure is the main cause of their late 

 landing this year; and if this unlawful slaughtering of the fur seal in 

 Bering Sea is not in some way eflectually stopped, they will adopt some 

 other route and make a home on some other land, most likely on the 

 Eussian side. The number hauling out on our islands will each year 

 grow rapidly less, when it would be impossible for any lessee to secure 

 the quota they may by contract be allowed to take, and your world- 

 wide famous seal islands would be in a short time reduced to the home 

 of a few straggling seals, and as a source of revenue be entirely 

 destroyed. Although this question of unlawful killing of seals by 

 schooners fitted out in British Columbia ports, as well as American, 

 has been referred to at length in previous reports, I again beg to call 

 the Department's attention to it. In view of the termination of the 

 present lessees' contract on the 1st day of May, 1890, which gives them 

 but one more season's killing, it is of the highest importance some defi- 

 nite and i)romj)t action should be taken looking to the preservation of 

 seal life, or the valuable seal property, which could be made to yield a 

 larger revenue to the Government than it does now, will soon be of no 

 value. With absolute protection the seals will increase so that a 

 greater number could each year be taken, to keep pace with the increased 

 demand, and the price cheapened to the people of the world, and par- 

 ticularly to those of moderate means in our own country, who would 

 be glad to enjoy the comforts of the beautiful seal garment. On April 

 4 the steam whaler Orca^ Captain Baldray, touched at this island on 

 her way to the Arctic Ocean. The captain very kindly sent on shore a 

 file of San Francisco papers up to the 5th of March, together with a 



