518 ALASKA INDUSTRIES. 



June 30, 1882. — The prevailing character of the June weather this year was light 

 and dry. There was more or less fog on 27 days, but generally it was very light, 

 and frequently modified by sunshine. — G. H. Wardman (p. 291). 



June 30,1883. — * * * Themonthof June has been very unfavorable for sealing 

 this year, only 2,674 skins having been taken in that time. This number might have 

 been increased at Zapadnie by killing the seals there, numbering some 2,000 or more, 

 which were held as a reserve to draw upon in case the quota, 15,000, should not be 

 available on the north side of the island. The number might also have been enlarged 

 this month had the Alaska Commercial Company not determined to take larger skins 

 in the aggregate than heretofore of late years. An effort is now made not to kill 

 seals the skins of which will not weigh 8 pounds at least. — G. H. Wardman (p. 327). 



June 23, 1883. — On East rookery and Starry Arteel the gradual increase in the num- 

 ber of females and pups is easily seen day by day, but the accessions to the hollus- 

 chak party are not so apparent. — G. H. Wardman (p. 326). 



July 19, 1882.— The year's quota of 20,000 was filled to-day.— G. H. Wardman 

 (p. 293). 



THE FIRST NOTE OF WARNING FROM ST. GEORGE. 

 [Treasury agent's journal (p. 331).] 



Standard, nothing less than an 8-pound skin. 



Jtdxj 27, 1883. — * * * Skins from Starry Arteel, North, and East rookeries, 606, 

 out of a drove of about 6,000 seals. 



Having those 6,000 seals on hand at the village from the drive yesterday afternoon, 

 the writer of this set out at 7 o'clock this morning to view the hauling grounds from 

 East to Little East rookeries. There were then in sight about 1,500 holluschek (sic) 

 which had hauled out yesterday afternoon and last night. Allowing as many holus- 

 chek (sic) to be in the water along the beach as were hauled out, and supposing as 

 many along Starry Arteel and North as East, we should have 12,000 on the north side 

 of the island. Judging from the killing at Zapadnie this year, there should be at 

 least 6,000 over there. Call it 8,000, and we have all we can claim — 20,000 holuschek 

 (sic) about the island, of which at least one-half are yearlings, which, if all return, will 

 be too small for market next year. If all of the holuschek (sic) which we believe 

 to be about the island return, we may be able to fill a quota next year of 10,000. It 

 now appears that more than 10,000 could not safely be demanded of St. George for 1884,^ — 

 G. H. Wardman. 



SECOND NOTE OF WARNING FROM ST. GEORGE. 



[Treasury agent's journal (p. 338).] 



September 7, 1883. — At East rookery, while there are seals scattered all along from 

 Little East to the main East rookery, it does not seem that there are so many as in 1881. 

 But there may be more in the water, as the long-continued southerly wind makes 

 small surf. 



September 14, 1883. — Heavy surf on north shore, sending nearly every seal to land. 

 From a careful examination of Little East to-day, am satisfied that there are not so 

 many seals there as two years ago; would not estimate present number at above 

 8,000 of all kinds, including jiups. Assistant Agent Mclntyre estimates 12,356 there 

 in 1874. Elliott's estimate was 13,000 in 1873.— G. H. Wardman. 



September 16, 1883. — * * * Most of seals being ashore in consequence of heavy 

 surf, a careful view of North and Near rookeries was made to-day. In 1874 Assistant 

 Agent ]\lclntyre estimated the number of seals there at 86,562. The writer would 

 consider that an extreme outside figure for the seals there now. 



September 25, 1SS3. — * * * At East rookery, seems not so many seals there now 

 as a month later in 1881. * * * — G. H. Wardman. 



September 5, 1884. — Walked along the clift's and beaches to Little East and East 

 rookeries. After careful examination, estimate number of seals of all kinds at Little 

 East 12,000, and East 23,000. Scattered along the beach between rookeries, 100; 

 under the cliffs beyond East, 500. At East rookery there were about 800 sea lions. 

 On account of the surf, most every seal was on shore. — G. H. Wardman (p. 374). 



September 8, 1SS4. — * * * At North and Starry Arteel rookeries : After careful 

 examination, estimate number of seals of all kinds at North 75,000, and at Starry 

 Arteel 40,000; under the cliffs beyond North about 500. The heavy surf of the past 

 week has driven and kept ashore almost every seal. Many of them were hauled 

 way back on the grass. — G. H. Wardman (p. 375). 



September' 2, 1885. — Walked to North rookery to-day. Was surprised at not finding 

 the great numbers of seals on the rookery that has been recorded as seen by other 



1 On July 30 the quota of 15,000 big skins was all taken, save 473 skins still to be 

 taken . — Wardman. 



