196 REPORT OF BRITISH COMMISSIONERS. 



each year came from tlie Commander Islands. Dedncting these and 

 also the skins accounted for by Veniaminov for 1817 to 1821 (both inclu- 

 sive), the average annual i^roduct in skins from the Pribyloff Islands is 

 found to be 44,408. The period thus accounted for includes only nine 

 years antecedent to the period beginning with 1807, which it is wished 

 to bridge. It is probably nearer the fact for these years than the fore- 

 going estimate, with which it, however, agrees fairly well. It also tallies 

 well with the earlier years of Veniaminov's table. Techminoflfs figures 

 do not include seals killed for food or otherwise of which the skins were 

 not kept, but it is scarcely probable, even including these, that the aver- 

 age annual killing on the Pribyloff Islands for the years in question 

 reached 50,000, It may reasonably be assumed to have been between 

 45,000 and 50,000, or, say, 47,500. As in the years before 1807, the 

 number killed from year to year is, however, known to have been 

 irregular. 



775. 1817 to 1837. The figures for these years are Veniaminov's, as 

 ascertained by Mr. Elliott from an inspection of Shisenekoff's journal, 

 and includes pups in the numbers given for 1835-36. It may, therefore, 

 X^robably be assumed that pups are included throughout. 



7 70. 1838 to 1800. The figures for these years are taken from the 

 Correspondence relating to Fur-seal Fisheries, jDrinted in Washington 

 in 1890. 



777. 1861. Bancroft's total for years 1842-61 (both inclusive) is 338,600. 

 Tlie total for years 1842-60 (both inclusive) is 308,901. This being 

 deducted from total for 1842-61 gives the number of seals taken in 1861. 



778. 1862. Elliott (p. 165) gives the total catch for 1842-62 (both inclu- 

 sive) as 372,894. Bancroft's total for 1842-61, 338,600, being deducted 

 from this sum gives the number of seals taken in 1862. 



779. 1862 to 1867. Both inclusive, being years of interregnum be- 

 tween last term of Russian American Company and United States 

 control of Pribyloff Islands, have been filled hypothetically by Elliott, 

 who explains that, guided by information obtained from the natives, he 

 has proportioned tlie number of skins in the salt-houses on the islands 

 ill 1867 (40,000 to 48,000) back to the latest figures given by Techmiuoff 

 (1861). The figures for these years are therefore far from satisfactory. 

 A more complete examination of the subject has enabled moderately 

 exact figures to be obtained from 1861 and 1862, as explained above, 

 while Bryant gives the number for 1807 as 75,000 (Allen, "Monograph 

 of North America Pinnepedia," p. 389) ; but for the years 1863 to 1866 



Elliott's approximate estimates must still be taken. It is to be 

 134 presumed that these figures represent only marketable skins, not 



including pup skins and other rejected skins. As confirmatory 

 of the approximate correctness of these estimates, Dall may be quoted. 

 Writing in 1808 (Alaska and its Resources, p. 496), he says that of late 

 years the Russians had not been allowed to take more than 50,000 

 annually. Bryant, quoted by Allen, referring to this same period, says 

 that for many previous years the Russians took but few seals, but the 

 number has increased, so that in one year 40,000 were taken. (Mono- 

 graph of North America Pinnepedia, p. 389.) 



780. 1868 and 1869. The figures for these years are those given in 

 Elliott's Census Report, p. 70, and are doubtless the most trustworthy 

 that can be procured. 



781. 1870. The figure for this year includes pups, 4,000, and a large 

 number of rejected skins. (Ex. Doc. No. 83, 44th Congress, 1st Session, 

 p. 63.) 



