320 ALASKA INDUSTRIES. 



It is evident, therefore, that the only just estimate of the increase or 

 diminution of the seals at sea is the average number of seals taken per 

 small boat during the same period and in the same localities. Taking 

 these conditions as applied to the Canadian sealing fleet, a comparison 

 of their catch per boat in 1891 with that of 1892 will show that there was 

 no increase in the catch per boat, but, on the contrary, a trifling falling 

 off. That it is not greater still is due to the fact that daring the past 

 two years there has been practically no killing upon the islands. This 

 makes good the loss at sea, temporarily diminishes the rate of decrease, 

 and apparently proves to the satisfaction of the Canadian sealers the 

 correctness of the position taken by them that we should abandon all 

 killing of seals upon our own possessions and leave the Pribilof Islands 

 as great seal preserves for their benefit. Despite the pretense of the 

 sealers that there are more seals than ever in the water, despite the 

 self-delusion in which they are now indulging, if indiscriminate slaugh- 

 ter continues and not a seal were killed on land the rookeries of the 

 Pribilof Islands are doomed. 



SEAL, QUOTA AND COMPENSATION OF NATIVES FOK TAKING SEALS. 



Seal quota. — In accordance with my iDstructions, based upon the terms 

 of the modus vivendi, the seal quota was limited to 7,500 and the killing 

 done under the direction of the Government officers. 



As the killing of seals was permitted solely for the care and mainte- 

 nance of the natives, and as the proportion of inhabitants on St. Paul 

 to those of St. George is as 2 to 1, an allotment of 5,000 seals was made 

 to the former and 2,500 to the latter island. ISTo pups were permitted 

 to be killed. 



SJcins shipped. — An examination of Exhibit B will show that from the 

 island of St. Paul were shipped on September 7 4,996 skins, which 

 included those killed during the previous fall under the terms of the 

 modus of 1891, and that a balance of 791 seals was left to be killed for 

 food during the present fall. 



An inspection of Exhibit C will show that there were shipped on 

 September 10, from the island of St. George, 2,553 skins, including those 

 killed during the previous fall under the terms of the modus of 1891, 

 and that there remain to be killed for the food of the natives during 

 the present fall 349 seals. 



These exhibits contain also the detailed information called for in the 

 letter of instructions. 



Compensation of natives. — The compensation to be paid the natives by 

 the North American Commercial Company for driving, kilbug, salting, 

 and curing the seal skins and loading them on board the company's 

 steamer was fixed, as per instructions, at 50 cents per skin, and Exhibits 

 I> and E are statements of the amount accruing therefrom and of its 

 distribution to the natives on each island. 



Stdf/ei/ and rejected sMns. — In this connection it is my duty to ask the 

 attention of the Department to the question of stagey and rejected 

 skins. The former are skins of seals killed for food at a time when 

 the hair of the seal after shedding has not grown out sufficiently to 

 render its extraction easy by the furrier, and tends to a greater or less 

 extent to produce an inferior garment. Naturally the company are 

 disinclined to receive such skins at their full value, urging that they 

 can not ])ay the bonus and sell them at a profit. They farther urge 

 that to place such i)elts among their prime skins would tend to debase 

 the high character which the Pribilof Islands skins have always uuiin- 

 tained in the market. The instructions are not to kill seals during the 



