198 REPORT OF BRITISH COMMISSIONERS. 



789. 180S. Killing was recoinmeiKled on St. George and in 1810 also 

 on St. Paul, but not till 1812 did it amount to Lalf tbe number killed in 

 former years. Females as well as males were taken. Killing witliout 

 proper supervision continued from this time till 1822. (Veniaminov, 

 quoted by Elliott. Census Eeport, p. 140.) 



790. 1817. Tbe fur-seals on St. George were estimated to amount to a 

 quarter of tbose on St. Paul; seals on tlie latter island having decreased 

 more in proportion. (Veniaminov, quoted by Elliott. Census Eeport, 



p. 147.) 

 135 791. 1817 to 1837. A gradual diminution of seal life on the 



islands stated to have been in progress in these years, visible in 

 each year, but not always equal, according to Veniaminov. This is also 

 indicated by Veniamiuov's quoted figures of annual catch. (Census 

 Eeport, pp. 143, 147.) 



792. 1820. Veniaminov characterizes the annual killing of 50,000 

 seals, which occurred at about this date, as excessive and leading to 

 dimunition. (Census Eeport, j). 147.) 



793. 1822. First year of second term of Eussian American Company. 

 Moorayveft ordered the killing to be limited, so that instead of 40,000 

 or 50,000 not more than 8,000 or 10,000 were taken. (This ax:>pears to 

 refer to St. Paul Island only.) (Census Eeport, p. 140.) 



794. 1822 to 1824. Period of rest or restricted killing on St. Paul. 

 (Veniaminov, quoted by Elliott. Census Eeport, p. 142.) 



795. 1824. Stated that between 1822-1824 the seals on the islands 

 were estimated to have doubled in number. (Eeport upon the Condi- 

 tion of Affairs in Alaska, p. 107.) 



790. 1820-1827. Both years inclusive. Period of rest or restricted 

 killing on St. George Island. (Veniaminov, quoted by Elliott. Census 

 Eeport, p. 141.) 



797. 1826. Veniaminov states that the seals on St. George equalled 

 about one sixth those on St. Paul, those on St. George having increased 

 more in proportion since 1817. Also, that Chestyokhoff", estimating 

 that the seals had doubled in number as a result of restrictive meas- 

 ures, ordered 40,000 to be killed annually. But with all possible effort 

 this number could not be obtained. Greater caution in killing females, 

 &c., was ordered, but the number of seals on the islands nevertheless 

 remained stationary, or continued to decrease. (Veniaminov, quoted 

 by Elliott. Census Eeport, pp. 140, 147.) 



798. 1832. Veniaminov incidentally states that in this year an exces- 

 sive number of females were observed on the islands without young. 

 (Quoted by Elliott. Census Eeport, p. 141.) 



799. 1834. The number of seals to be taken at St. Paul was largely 

 reduced, the killing being limited to about 4,000 instead of about 12,000. 

 (Veniaminov, quoted by Elliott. Census Eeport, p. 142.) From Venia- 

 minov's table the reduction ordered in 1834 took effect only in 1835. 

 This rest or '^zapooska" continued on St. Paul Island during 1835, 183G, 

 and 1837. 



800. 1835. [E, Astomonoft", a native on St. Paul Island, informed us 

 that he remembered being at North-east Point in this year, when the 

 Eussians allowed only seven seals a-day to be killed there for food.] 



1836, Elliott, from information received from natives on the Pribyloff 

 Islands, states that the winter of 1835-36 was exceedingly severe. 

 Great quantities of ice surrounded the islands, and remained heaped 

 pn the shores till August 1836. A great mortality of seals resulted, so 

 that, according to native count, only 4,100 seals of all classes, exclusive 

 of pups, remained on the rookeries of St. Paul. (Census Eeport, p. 49.) 



