272 THE SEALSKIN INDUSTRY. 



Loss to Uuitcd.skin, aiicl on 100,000 skins the profits 'would be 



states. _ I 



$325,000. The natives who drive and kill the 

 seals on the Pribilof Islands also receive 40 cents 

 for each skin, or for 100,000 the sum of $40,000. 

 Therefore the destruction of the Alaska seal herd 

 would mean an annual loss to the Government 

 and people of the United States of $4,330,000. 

 Loss to Great The scalsMu industry in Great Britain, wliich, 



Britain. ^ ' ' 



as has been shown; is entirely dependent upon 

 the Alaska seal herd for its existence, has alone 

 in the city of London invested capital to the 

 amount of £1,000,000,^ and employs between 

 two^ and three thousand'^ persons, many of whom 

 are skilled workmen with families dependent on 

 them,^ who would be compelled to learn some 

 other trade in case the industry was destroyed. 

 The fur brokers in London up to 1889 received 

 6 per cent of the price for which they sold the 

 sealskins,^ which on 100,000 Alaska skins, at $16 

 per skin, would amount to $96,000. The next 

 expense put upon the skins is dressing and dye- 

 ing them, which is about I65. a skin,^ making in 



1 Emil Teichmann, Vol. II, p. 582; George C. Lampsou, Vol. II, 

 p. 565. 



^EmilTeichmann, Vol, II, p. 582; WalterE. Martin, Vol. II,p.568; 

 G. C. Lampson, Vol. II, p. 565 ; George Rice, Vol. II, p. 574; Artlinr 

 Ilirschel, Vol. II, p. 563. 



3 Henry Poland, Vol. II, p. 571; H. S. Beviugton, Vol. II, p. 552. 



* Henry Poland, Vol. II, p. 571; Walter E. Martin, Vol. II, p. 568; 

 Qt. C. Lampson, Vol. II, p. 565; George Rice, Vol. II, p. 573. 



p JJ, S. Beviugton, Vol. II, p. 553. 



