178 REPORT. 



from fifteen to twenty-five millions of dollars, and no one lower 

 than ten millions. These animals have only, as yet, been found 

 in certain latitudes, from 44 to 60 north; and between east 

 longitude from London, 136 to 150; inhabiting in great abun- 

 dance, Beering's islands, Kamtschatka, the Aleuthian and Fox 

 islands ; they land also on the Kurile islands. 



Now, naturalists can find no reason why they should not exist 

 on lands that may yet be found in the Southern hemisphere. 

 This is a subject to be settled, and that nation which may have 

 the honour of the discovery, will undoubtedly have, as they well 

 deserve, the profits. 



The sandal-wood trade is not so difficult, perhaps, to estimate : 

 for there has not been quite so much secrecy about it. For many 

 years, this wood had been found in the islands of those seas ; 

 but it was not known to have been a growth of the Sandwich 

 islands, until it was discovered by Captains Davis and Winship, 

 of Boston, about twenty-four years since. The quantity cut on 

 this group of islands, is about three hundred thousand dollars 

 worth a year ; and what is found and cut on other islands, will 

 make the trade in this article, at this time, amount to near half a 

 million a year. If this wood should become scarce, it will be 

 necessary to find new groves of it on other islands, or we must 

 teach the natives how to grow it ; and it is the opinion of many 

 judicious navigators, that this may as well be effected, as to 

 cultivate the oak or ash, or any other tree of our own forests.* 



The fur-seal-skin trade has been very extensive and profitable 

 in the Pacific. It is the general opinion of those conversant with 

 the trade, that more than seven millions of fur-seal-skins have 

 been taken by our enterprising seamen, since we commenced 

 business in the Pacific. These skins have generally been sold in 

 Canton for from two to three dollars, and sometimes more, on an 



* Query, Could not this wood be grown in some parts of Florida, and on the 

 coast of Liberia! 



