REPORT OF BRITISH COMMISSIONERS. 



281 



Tlie following skins were taken to ports in Alaska, and arrived at San Francisco 

 in coastinsc-vessels: 



Name of Vessel. 



Date. 



Cargo. 



SS. Bertha. 

 Undaiiiitecl 

 N. Tliaver . 

 Blakeley... 

 SS. Jeniiie . 

 Arago 



July 

 A ujiust 



October 

 November 



31,] 



4, 

 14, 

 27, 



8, 



9, 



17 cases of skins. 



16 barrels. 



150 i)a<'kages. 



46 sacks and 12 bundles. 



21 skins. 



42 bundles and 1 box. 



207 



Summary Staiement of the Approximate Number of Fur-Seal Skins taken hxj Pelagic 

 Sealers from 1871 to 1891. 



Since 1885 correct data of the British Columbian sealiug-vessels have been pre- 

 served; previous to tliat year the figures given are approximate. 



All figures given for the United States sealing-fleet are approximate, no reliable 

 records having been kept. 



The catch of the German vessel ("AdMe") are correct, she having lauded her cargo 

 at Victoria. 



Annual Reports of Number and Catch of British Columbian Sealing Fleet from 1871 



to 1800. 



SEALING REPORT FROM YEARS 1871 TO 1878. 



The above vessels at this time were not regularly engaged in seal-hunting, but 

 ■were visiting the trading stiitions of their owners, where many of the skins were 

 obtained by barter from the Indians along the west coast of Vancouver Island, 

 Queen Charlotte Islands, Bella Bella, Bella Coula, and other points on the British 

 Columbian coast. 



The owners being very reticent, no reliable information could be obtained; con- 

 sequently, the number of skins and the extent of the industry were not known at 

 that time. 



The probable catch of the Indians and above vessels would be about from 3,000 

 to 5,000 skins yearly, and the price at this time was low, about from 3 to 4 dollars 

 per skin. 



