INCREASE OF SEALING FLEET. 329 



Up to 1883 and 1884 it was only an occasional venturesome vessel that 

 came around and secured a few hundred skins 

 and thought itself lucky and cleared out, but since w. S. Hereford, p. 36. 

 that time not even the smallest craft is satisfied 

 unless it secures its thousands of pelts regardless of sex. 



While in Bering Sea during the summer of 1869, I never saw a ves- 

 sel sealing about the islands or anywhere in the 

 sea, nor did I hear any report of the presence of j. j, Henriques, p. 31. 

 such sealing vessels in those waters. 



I do not know of any sealing schooner that went to the Bering Sea 

 until Capt. McLean went there about nine years 

 ago in the Favorite. Wm ' Farker - *■ 344 - 



Q. What effect, in your opinion, does the increase in the number of 

 poaching vessels in Bering Sea have upon seal 

 life*? — A. Since the number of sealing vessels has j. c. Bedpath, p. 141. 

 increased, the number of seals coming to the is- 

 lands has correspondingly decreased. * * * 



In 1884 the sealing schooners became numerous. I believe there were 

 about thirty in the sea that year, and they have increased very rapidly 

 every year since, until now they are said to be about one hundred and 

 twenty. 



I first went out in 1885 in the schooner City of San Diego, chartered 

 by myself and others, and my catch for that year 

 was between 2,300 and 2,400 seals. Ofthatnuin- Michael White, p. 489, 

 ber about 1,900 were caught in the Bering Sea. 

 There were but very few vessels sealing at that time. 



