278 ALASKA INDUSTRIES. 



rejected skins is almost infinitesimal compared with the huge aggre- 

 gate accepted; and, were it not for the wasted pup skins, this presen- 

 tation of the field labor on the seal islands for 1881 would be a very 

 clean and economic synopsis.^ 



The thought also occurred to me, when regarding this special point 

 of the relative improvement in the method of killing and handling 

 seals and pelts, that a very simple yet trustworthy notice as to the 

 increase or diminution of the seal life would be served annually in 

 the following manner: In 187li 1 observed that the natives never had 

 any difficulty in getting their full quota of '"holluschickie" daily dur- 

 ing the prime season of taking skins; again, in 1873, I saw that, if 

 anything, the number of "holluschickie" required was easier to obtain 

 than in 1872, prior; still again, throughout the killing season of 1874, 

 the constant remark of all concerned at St. Paul was that the prime 

 seals were never so abundant before; and, finally, in 1876, I heard, 

 from these same parties interested, that it had been the most auspi- 

 cious season throughout ever known to St. Paul Island. 



Thus, it may naturally be inferred that this steady and rather 

 increased supply of "holluschickie" from year to year means nothing 

 unless it points to a relative annual augmentation ot the seal life on 

 the Pribilof Islands; and it really acts in this wise as a life barometer, 

 that is sensibly affected by the heavier or lighter pressure of the rook- 

 eries operating upon it. 



Hence the foregoing table, brought down as it is to date, shows that 

 the chosen seals are in abundant supply; that the work was remarka- 

 bly expeditious; that the natives scarcely wasted a skin by cutting on 

 the killing grounds; and, all in all, it represents a highly creditable 

 state of affairs, suggestive of the steady condition of prosperity and 

 security which I unhesitatingly prophesied in 1873, after giving the 

 matter much study and reflection, 



A PRESENTATION OF THE REVENUE DERIVED FROM THE PrIBI- 



LOF Islands. — The following transcript from the books of the Treas- 

 ury Department shows the exact receipts which the public coffers have 

 derived as revenues from the seal industry on the Pribilof Islands 

 between the date of the act leasing them, July 1, 1870, up to August 

 20, 1881. I may say, without the least exaggeration, that these inter- 

 ests never yielded a tithe of this substantial aid and support to the 

 Government of Eussia, and they would not have returned a single cent, 

 net, to the Treasury of the United States had they not been so wisely 

 and promptly protected by the good sense of our Congress in 1870. 

 They would have passed in a few short seasons beyond all knowledge 

 of men, as far as their appearance on the great breeding rookeries of 

 St. Paul and. St. George was concerned. 



'The report of Colonel Otis, special agent Treasury Department, in charge of the 

 seal islands, for 1880, contains an interesting table, which covers a period of eleven 

 years, viz, 1869-1880, inclusive ; and it shows, first, the number of seal skins taken 

 in. each sealing season proper on St. Paul Island; second, the number of days 

 expended in the work per annum; third, the number of sealers engaged; fourth, the 

 average number of skins taken per day; and fifth, the average daily credit of skins 

 taken for each man. The deduction which that gentleman makes from this suggest- 

 ive and instructive codilication is that the seals seem to sensibly increase from year 

 to year, rather than to diminish in numbers. 



