INCREASE. 261 



rotation, we commenced in 1879 or 1880 to " drive " with greater fre- 

 quency from the more distant and less accessible grounds. These dis- 

 tant animals were not, however, driven to the village killing grounds, 

 as has been represented, but were slaughtered as near the rookeries as 

 seemed prudent with regard to the welfare of the breeding seals, and 

 the skins were transported in wagons or boats to the salt houses. 

 With this exception, there was no change in the manner of conducting 

 the business from 1870 to 1889. 



From 18G9 to 1882 the seal rookeries largely increased. I know this 

 from accurate personal observation, and reported 

 relative to it to the Alaska Commercial Com- h. H. Mrfntyre, p. 51. 

 pany July 16, 1889, as follows: "The breeding 

 rookeries from the beginning of the lease until 1882 or 1883 were, I be- 

 lieve, constantly increasing in area and population, and my observations 

 in this direction are in accordance with those of Mr. Morgan, Mr. Web- 

 ster, and others who have been with me for many years in your service, 

 and of Special Treasury Agent J. M. Morton, who was on the islands 

 from 1870 to 1880. Even as late as 1885 Special Treasury Agent Tingle 

 reported a further increase of breeding seals; but his estimates were 

 made in comparison with those of Prof. H. W. Elliott of 1872 and 1873, 

 and he was probably not fully aware of the fact that the increase had 

 occurred prior to 1883, and that in 1885 there was already perhaps a 

 slight diminution of breeders." 



Under personal instructions from the late Senator John F. Miller, 

 then president of the Alaska Commercial Com- 

 pany, I commenced shortly after my arrival upon h. W. Molntyre, p. 134. 

 the island a series of observations in order to 

 determine as nearly as practicable the area of ground occupied by the 

 seals, and incidentally their number, approximately, during the season of 

 1871 for the purpose of noting the changes which might occur from year 

 to year. To this end, in the year 1871, 1 carefully noted the position of 

 the seals on breeding rookeries and upon the several hauling grounds 

 where old, young, and and middle-aged seals were congregated, and by 

 definitely marking the points reached was enabled, after the animals 

 had migrated in the autumn, to carry forward a survey of the island as 

 a whole, and on the plat or map resulting from said survey was desig- 

 nated accurately the ground occupied by the seals. 



The work of survey was carried on as rapidly as possible, and I was 

 enabled from the observations so made to make a chart or map having 

 upon it bearings and distances, the whole of which were verified by 

 Lieut. Washburn Maynard, of the U. S. Navy, slight differences in our 

 measurements and observations only being noted. 



Owing to the fact that President Miller took occasion to impress upon 

 me the necessity of exercising the greatest care in complying strictly 

 with all the requirements of the lease, and that careful attention to the 

 preservation of the seal life should under all circumstances be regarded 

 as of first importance, and to this end the most careful study of the 

 habits of the animals should be made at the outset, and continued from 

 year to year in order to determine what effect the killing of a definite 

 number might have upon the seals as to increase or diminution, I took 

 more than ordinary care in noting the area of ground occupied each 

 year by the different classes of seals, and it was evident that during 

 the years 1871 to 1881 inclusive there was a steady increase in seals of 

 all kinds. 



