LEVI W. MYERS, U. R. CONSUL AT VICTORIA, B. C. 507 



The Iiuliaus do not like to resort to tlie gun unless absolutely neces- 

 sary, as tiring t'rigiitens other seal which may happen to be in the 

 vicinity. 



I inclose rough drawings showing canoe, with mast and sail. Twaddle, 

 thwarts, spear, and line. 

 Very respectfully, 



Johnstone H. Quinan, 

 Second Lieutenant.^ United IStates Revenue Marine. 



Subscribed aud sworn to on this oth day of May, 1892. 



A. W. Lavender, 

 United States Treasury Agent. 



REPORT OF LEVI W. MYERS, UNITED STATES CONSUL AT VIC- 

 TORIA, BRITISH COLUMBIA. 



CANADIAN PELAGIC SEALING INDUSTRY. 



Ko. 150.] Consulate of the United States, 



Victoria^ British Columbia^ April 29., 1892. 

 Hon. William F. Wharton, 



Assistant Secretary of State, Washington, D. C: 

 Sir: In obedience to your instruction No. ^1, I have prepared a re- 

 port showing the extent of the Canadian industry engaged in pelagic 

 sealing during the season of 1891. It includes the . 



,. ,^ ^ jT ■ , 1 ,. . Siiiuiiiary oi report. 



names or the vessels, tlieir tonnage, number ot men in 

 the crews, white and Indian, and the value of the vessels as nearly as 

 could be estimated by experts, two of whom certify to the fairness of the 

 estimates, aud whose certificates are attached and made a i^irt of the 

 report. These experts, I may say, are both past middle life and have 

 been actively engaged in vessel-building for more than a quarter of a 

 century. They are fair, impartial mechanics, who have no special in- 

 terest either in under or over- valuation, and I regard their judgment 

 as fair and reasonable. Mr. Stevens, especially, is often employed by 

 the Government in examining and reporting on vessels and is regarded 

 an authority. One expert consulted placed the value 

 of the tleet of 1891 at less than .$170,000, saying several s.iuiSeet^'"'''"^'"™ 

 of the vessels Avere so old that they were hardly worth 

 anything beyond what their tackle could be sold for, but I did not think 

 best to confuse the report with two valuations. 



In order to get the judgment of experts, I consulted Samuel Turpel, 

 the proprietor of Tnrpel's Ways, but he at once said he could not cer- 

 tify to any list of valuations, for the reason that he built and repaired 

 schooners, and that any valuation within reason, that could be made, 

 would be sure to give offense to some one, aud that he did not want to 

 do that. He hastily glanced over the list I showed him aud reported 

 to the sealers that I was placing prices too low, saying I had valued 

 the May Belle at $1,000, while the price I give in the report is $5,500. 

 No other of my estimates are known, nor is it known for what purpose 

 I sought values at all, yet I learn that to-day the sealers are getting 

 up a protest against my estimates, although they do not know what 

 they are, and that it is to be sent to Ottawa. 



When Turpel gave his statement to the press yesterday, two re])ort- 

 Ars came to my ohlce, and caricatured what was said in a short conver- 



