ALASKA INDUSTRIES. Ill 



Reef, July 10, 1S74. 

 A slight contraction on the south sea margin of this ground ; compensated for 

 by fresh expansion under the bluffs on the northwest side; not noteworthy in 

 either instance. Condition excellent. 



Nah Speel, July 20, 1874. 

 A diminution of one-half at least. Very few here this year. It is no place for 

 a rookery: not a pistol shot from the natives' houses, and all the natives" children 

 fooling over the bluffs. 



Lagoon, July 20, 1874. 

 No noteworthy change; if any, a trifling increase. Condition good. Animals 

 clean and lively. 



Tolstoi, July 31, 1874. 

 No perceptible change in this rookery from its good shape of 1873. The condi- 

 tion excellent. 



Zapadnie, July 22, 1874. 

 A remarkable extension or increase I note here, of 2,000 feet of shore line, with 

 an average depth of 50 feet of breeding ground, which has been built on to Upper 

 Zapadnie, stretching out toward Tolstoi ; the upper rookery proper has not altered 

 its bearings or proportions; the sand beach belt between it and Lower Zapadnie 

 is not occupied by breeding seals; and a fair track for the "hoUuschickie,"' 500 

 feet wide, left clear, over which they have traveled quite extensively this season, 

 some 20.000 to 25.000 of them, at least, lying out around the old salt hoiise to-day. 

 Lower Zapadnie has lost in a noteworthy degree about an average of 20 feet of its 

 general depth, which, however, is more than compensated for by the swarming 

 on the upper rookery. A small beginning had been made for a rookery on the 

 shore just southwest from Zapadnie Lake, in 1872, but this year it has been sub- 

 stantially abandoned. 



Contrast on St. George between 1873 and 1874. — An epitome 

 of mj^ notes for St. George gives, as to this season of 1874, the follow- 

 ing data for comparison with that of 1873: 



Zapadnie, July 8, 1874. 

 This rookery shows a slight increase upon the figures of last year, about 5,000. 

 Fine condition. 



Starry Ateel, July 6, 1874. 

 No noteworthy change from last year. 



North Rookery, July 6, 1874. 

 No essential change from last year. Condition very good. 



Little Eastern, July 6\ 1874. 

 A slight diminution of some 2,000 or so. Condition excellent. 



Eastern Rookery, July 7, 1874. 



A small increase over last year of about 3,000, only trifling, however; the aggre- 

 gate seal life here similar to that of tast season, with the certainty of at least a 

 small increase. The unusually early season this year brought the rookery ' • see- 

 catchie" on the ground very much in advance of the general time: they landed as 

 early as the 10th of April, while the arrival of the cows was as late as usual, cor- 

 responding to my observations during the past seasons. 



The general condition of the animals of all classes on St. George is most excel- 

 lent—they are sleek, fat, and free from any disease. 



In this way it is plain that practically the exact condition of these 

 animals can be noted every season; and should a diminution be 

 observed, due to any cause, known or unknown, the killing can be 

 promptly regulated or stopped to any required quota. 



Ten years have passed with the end of last season in which nearly 

 100,000 young males have been annually taken on St. Paul and St. 

 George — 75,000 from the former and 25,000 from the latter, as a rule — 

 and we now have the experience with which to enlighten our under- 



