278 EVIDENCE OF DECREASE 



Q. How does the number of seals on the rookeries this year compare 

 with the number four or hve years ago? — A. The 

 Noen Mandregin et al., number now is about one-fourth of what they were 

 P- uo - then. 



In 1887 I began to notice a diminution in the number of seals arriv- 

 ing at the islands, which was due to the indiscrim- 

 Jno. Mahivausky p.191 i na te killing by sealing vessels in the open sea, 

 (Commander Islands). &Qm& 5Q ^ ,. () milM d ^ Mit 



While we still obtain about the usual number of skins, many are 

 taken from the younger animals than formerly, and are somewhat in- 

 ferior in quality. 



But from 1885, which was about the time the scalers appeared in the 

 waters, the decrease in seal life was rapid and 



j>«>. Maioicausiy p. 199 t ] ie na ti V es commenced saying "no females," "no 

 (Commander Islands). femaleSj » until now we are confronted with de- 

 pleted rookeries and probable extermination. 



Anton Mdovedoff,?. 139. Q. Have you noticed any perceptible difference 

 in the number of seals on rookeries from one year 

 to another? — A. Yes. 



Q. What changes have you noticed? — A. They have been getting less 

 every year for about the last six years. 



Q. About how much less is the number of seals during the past year 

 than they were six years ago? — A. The number of seals this year are about 

 one-fourth of what they were six years ago, and about one-half of what 

 they were last year. 



Q. In what way do you form your above opinion as to the relative 

 number of seals on the rookeries? — A. By the fact that many spaces 

 on the rookeries which were formerly crowded are now not occupied at 

 all. 



About 1886 I noticed that the lines of former years were not filled 



with cows, and every succeeding year since then 



A. Melovedof,p.U3. has shown a more marked decrease. In 1889 the 



bachelors were so few on the hauling grounds that 



the standard weight of skins was lowered to 5 pounds, and hundreds 



were taken at only 4 pounds in order to fill the quota of 100,000. 



Until the schooners came into Bering Sea the rookeries were always 

 well filled, and many of them had grown steadily 



Simeon Melovidov, p. f or years, until it was no uncommon thing for the 

 146- lessees to take the quota of 85,000 seals on St. 



Paul Island between June 1 and July 20 of each year. After 1884, 

 when the original two or three sealing vessels had grown to be a well 

 organized fleet, we found a steady decrease of seals on all the rookeries 

 and we found it difficult to secure the quota of skins, and in 1889 the 

 lessees had to lower the standard of weight lower than ever before in 

 the history of the island. 



From the year 1874 till 1885 we were able to get from St. George and 

 St. Paul islands 100,000 male seals within the 



T. F. Morgan, p. 63. period known as the sealing season of six weeks, 



from the 10th of June to the 1st of August, and 



still leave a large percentage of marketable seals. In 1885, and in 



