SAN LOUIS FUR SEAL. 175 



after, and the fishery seems to have since been left 

 undisturbed. 



" Sealing-schooners have visited Marion and Prince 

 Edward Islands from time to time from the Cape, but of 

 late without any success." — (" The Cruise of H.M.S. 

 Clialletu/er," page 122.) 



This Seal was very abundant at St. Paul's and 

 Amsterdam Islands some years ago, but it is now 

 practically extinct there. The glorious time of fishing 

 in the earlier part of this century has departed with the 

 injudicious and needless slaughter of the Seals. 



ALASKA FUE SEAL. 



CaUorhinus ursinus. 

 French : Loup marin d'Alaska. German : Seehund. 



The Alaska Fur Seal is the most numerous of all the 

 eared Seals now existing. According to Elliott, there 

 are about 4,500,000 annually visiting the Pribylov 

 Islands. Until last year about 100,000 were killed 

 annually, and were sold in London in October or 

 November. 



The old Eoyalty to the U.S. Government was two and 

 a quarter dollars per skin. 



The Alaska Commercial Company was bound by 

 contract not to take more than 75,000 on St. Paul's 

 Island, or more than 25,000 on St. George's ; but the 

 Secretary of the Treasury had power to alter the ratio. 

 No dogs or vessels other than those in the employ of 

 the Company were permitted to touch on those islands, 

 or land persons and merchandise, except in cases of 

 shipwreck or distress. In 1890 the catch of Seals was 



