REPORT OF BRITISH COMMISSIONERS. 203 



818. 1877. Bryant states that this year there was an evident increase 

 in the number of breedinj;^ males. He estimates that there were about 

 1,80(),()()() breeding seals ou the islands, as against 1,130,000 in 1809. 

 (Monograph of North American Pinnipeds, p. 410.) 



819. 1878. [Mr. D. Webster informed us that he did not observe 

 much decrease in the number of seals till this year.] 



820. 1879. [From evidence obtained by us, it appears that in this 

 year it became necessary to extend the area of driving for the first 

 time, so as to include Polovina and Tolstoi rookeries, and that the salt- 

 house near Polovina was built at or about this time.] 



821. 3S8D. The number of seals on the Pribyloff Islands is said to 

 have been greater than ever before, the increase being particularly 

 observable in young seals. (Cruise of the "Corwin'Mn 1880, p. 55.) 

 Colonel J. Murray dates the beginning of a steady decrease of seals 

 from this year. (Senate, Ex. Doc. No. 49, 51st Congress, 2nd Session.) 



822. 1881. Elliott, in his report printed in this year, strongly pro- 

 tests against the unnecessary slaughter of pups for food purposes. 

 He states in the same report that the breeding rookeries have been 

 gradually increasing since 1857. (Census Eeport, pj). 119, 170.) 



W. B. Taylor, Assistant Agent of Treasury Department on St. Paul 

 in 1881, says that according to information received from those who 

 had been a number of years on the Island of St. George, there were as 

 many seals there as ever. (Ex. Doc. No. 3883; 50th Congress, 2nd 

 Session, Fur-seal Fisheries of Alaska, p. 44.) 



823. 1882. Dr. H. U. Mclntyre, after June 1870 Superintendent of 

 the Seal Fisheries of Alaska for the lessees, states that since 1870 the 

 number of seals on the Pribyloff Islands has increased every year. 

 (Fur-seal Fisheries of Alaska, p. 110.) Speaking in 1888 (see under, 

 1888). he, however, places the beginning of decrease in this year. The 

 same gentleman reports that at this time the desired number of large 

 vSkins could no longer be obtained. (Fur-seal Fisheries of Alaska, p. 

 118.) 



Mr. G. Wardman's statement, however, respecting the number 

 139 of '' killables" ou St. George Island indicates a decrease in the 

 number of this class as between 1881 and 1882. (Fur-seal Fish- 

 eries of Alaska, p. 39.) 



[Natives on St. Paul Island informed us that they noticed seals to be 

 markedly reduced in number in tliis year.] 



824. 1883. Jacob H. Moulton, Special Agent of the Treasury Depart- 

 Tnent on the Pribyloff Islands from 1877 to 1885, says that between 

 1877 and this year there was, he thinks, an increase in the number of 

 seals on the Pribyloff Islands. (Fur-seal Fisheries of Alaska, p. 255.) 



825. 1884. [Mr. T. F. Morgan informed us that from 1874 to 1884 he 

 thought the seals increased. He noticed a decrease in 1884, accompa- 

 nied with an irregularity in habits.] 



820. 1885. Jacob H. Moulton states that between 1883 and this year 

 there was no increase of seals on the islands. (Fur-seal Fisheries of 

 Alaska, p. 255.) 



H. A. Gliddon, Agent of the Treasury Department on the Pribyloff 

 Islands from 1882 to 1885, says that from 1882 to 1885 no change in the 

 number of seals on St. Paul was noticed, but they vary in different 

 years, especially on St. George. (Fur-seal Fisheries of Alaska, p. 27.) 



827. 1886. George R. Tingle, Treasury A gent on the Pribyloff Islands, 

 states that a frequent inspection of the rookeries on the islands showed 

 a decided increase in the numberof cows, with an ample supi)ly of bulls. 

 (" Fur-seal Fisheries of Alaska," p. 174.) 



