220 MOSTLY MAMMALS 



embraced Kamtchatka and the Komandorksi and Kurile 

 Islands. 



Numerous accounts of the habits and capture of this 

 valuable animal have been published as the results of the 

 observations of naturalists and hunters on both sides of its 

 habitat, many of these relating to times when it was still 

 more or less abundant, and its pelts consequently did not 

 realise the extravagant prices now current. The attention 

 recently directed to the fur-seals of Bering Sea has resulted 

 in equally important observations with regard to the sea- 

 otters of the same region, and the results of some of these 

 are recorded in a pamphlet issued by the Treasury Depart- 

 ment of the Washington Government, drawn up by the 

 Commandant of the Bering Sea Patrol Fleet, Captain 

 C. L. Hooper. As in the case of the fur-seals, the same 

 sad story of ruthless destruction and relentless persecution 

 is unfolded ; and while the animal has already been com- 

 pletely swept away from several of its original haunts, 

 there is great danger of its complete extermination from 

 this side of the Pacific unless adequate means for its pro- 

 tection are promptly devised and effectually carried into 

 execution. 



From the same report it appears that when the Russians 

 first visited Alaska its shores literally abounded with sea- 

 otters, which were relentlessly hunted and slain, affording 

 a rich harvest to their captors. In consequence of this, 

 after a period of about fifty years — that is to say, towards 

 the close of the eighteenth century — a notable decrease 

 in numbers was observable ; and by the same date the 

 otters, which were said to have swarmed on the Pribiloffs 

 at the time of their discovery in 1786, had almost com- 

 pletely disappeared from these islands. From the close of 

 he eighteenth century till the taking over of the country 



