280 EVIDENCE OF DECREASE 



the gradual decrease of areas occupied during the last six to eight years. 

 My examination of the rookeries on St. Paul and St. George during 

 the years 1890-'91 and 1892 enabled me to trace the yearly decreasing 

 area occupied by the fur-seals <>n these islands. Aside from the evi- 

 dences of deserted rookeries and hauling grounds shown by the grounds 

 themselves, I was shown by native inhabitants of each island the grounds 

 occupied in former years now deserted and grass-grown. The silent wit- 

 ness of the deserted rookeries bears out tie testimony of the resident 

 agents of the lessees of the islands, and of the native inhabitants of the 

 islands, that the number of seals on the islands began to decrease with 

 the advent of pelagic sealing, and that the yearly decrease has been in 

 proportion with the yearly increase in the number of vessels engaged in 

 that enterprise. 



The decrease in the number of seals coming to the islands in last three 



or four years became so manifest to everyone ac- 



L. A. Noyes, p. 83. quainted with the rookeries in earlier days that 



various theories have been advanced in an attempt 



to account for the cause of this sudden change, and the following are 



some of them: 1st, "A dearth of bulls upon the breeding rookeries;" 



2d, "Impoteney of bulls, caused by overdriving while they were young 



bachelors;" and 3d, "An epidemic among the seals." 



Q. Have you noted any perceptible difference in the number of seals 



on the rookeries from one year to another? If so, 



J. C.Re djmthfp. 140. what changes have you observed? — A. Within 



the last four five years 1 have observed a decided 



decrease in the number of seals on the rookeries. 



Q. In what proportion have the seals decreased within the time men- 

 tioned? — A. As far as my judgment goes, I should say at least one- 

 half. 



As the schooners increased the seals decreased, and the lines of con- 

 traction on the rookeries were noticed to draw 

 J. c. Redpath,p. 151. nearer and nearer to the beaeh, and the killable 

 seals became fewer in numbers, and harder to find. 

 In 1886 the decrease was so plain that the natives and all the agents 

 on the islands saw it and were startled; and theories of all sorts were 

 advanced in an attempt to account for a cause. 



I had no difficulty in getting the size and weight of skins as ordered, 

 nor had my predecessors iu the office, up to and 



Leon Sloss, p. 91. including 1884. The casks in which we packed 



them for shipment were made by the same man 

 for many years, and were always of uniform size. In 1885 these casks 

 averaged about 47A skins each, and in 1886 they averaged about 50 f 

 skins each, as shown by the records in our office. After this date t lie 

 number increased, and in 1888 they averaged about 55f skins per cask, 

 and in 1889 averaged about 60 skins per cask. These latter were not 

 such skins as we wanted, but the superintendent on the islands re- 

 ported that they were the best he could get. 



The number of seals on the Pribilof Islands is 

 Z. L. Tanner, p. 375. decreasing. I saw positive proof of this on St. 

 Paul Island last season. 



