THE RUSSIAN FUR-SEAL ISLANDS. 

 Schooner Ida EUa. 



129 



I am also iudebted to Mr. Towasend for figures relating to the catch of 1894, and 

 for the information that the total Japan coast catch for 1895 amounted to 31,048 skins, 

 and total catch of the pelagic sealers in Russian waters 7,684 skins; together, 38,732 

 skins. The Commander Islands herd, therefore, lost in 1895 no less than 35,000 seals, 

 the majority females, besides the unknown number killed without being captured.' 



During the five years 1891 to 1895, inclusive, the "Asiatic catch" by pelagic 

 sealers may be summed up as follows: 



* From the report of Hon. Charles S. Hamlin, Assistant Secretary, TJ. S. Treasury (Doc. 137, Senate, Piftv-fourth 

 Cong., lal aess., pt. 1, p. 6). During that year 18,000 skins are recorded from "undetermined localities," some of which are 

 probably "Asiatic " in their origin. 



1 This total is derived from Mr. Hamlin's report (I. c). The "Japan catch " of 1892 was therefore over 8,300. 



, it will be seen that the known pelagic "Asiatic catch" from 1892-95 was over 

 218,000 skins. Allowing the 8,000 skins for the Kurils and Tiuleni, the known loss in 

 that period to the Commander Islands herd was about 210,000 seals, apart from the 

 loss of wounded ones, etc. The number of seals killed on the islands in the same 

 period was 105,230. The pelagic catch was therefore twi(!e as large as that on the 

 i.slands, while the loss to the herd from that cause was much greater. It is certainly 

 no exaggeration to say that the actual loss to the herd in those four years has averaged 

 10(),00()'a year, one-half of which tcere proliably females, while even in the palmiest days of 

 exelusire land sealing the loss only arerayed 50,000 seals « year, all males. 



To illustrate and complete this chajiter on pelagic sealing I have had plotted on 

 maj) 1 the position of 11 schooners off the Commander Islands during the sealing season. 

 The positions for each noon are connected by straight lines and the figures represent the 

 number of seals taken during the preceding 24 hours. Extracts from the log books are 

 appended herewith. The logs are given in extenso in the Fur Seal Arbitration case, 

 except that of the Henry Dennis, for which I am indebted to Mr. Townsend. 



' Mr. Townsend has since informed me that the loss to the Commander Island herd is to be 

 increased hy at least 10,000 seals, as shown by reports from consuls, etc., recently received. 



F. C. B. 1896—9 



