SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 225 



the natives which were, of course, a great many they never spoke of 

 the seals being on the decrease, as they certainly would have done if 

 such had been the case. (II. A. Glidden.) 



\Yhile on St. Paul I do not think the number of seals increased, and 

 in the last year (1884) I think there was a slight decrease. (J. H. 

 Moulton.) 



Upon the Commander Islands, as I have already said, the increase 

 in seal life was constant for many years, but in 1800 we noticed a 

 decided disturbance in the rookeries and a considerable decrease in 

 their population. This we subsequently attributed, when the facts 

 were ascertained, to pelagic sealing in the adjacent waters. (Gustave 

 Hiebaum.) 



I noticed during this period no perceptible increase in the breeding 

 rookeries on St. George. (B. F. Scribner, Treasury agent.) 



ON PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 



In 1882 there was no scarcity of ki liable seals. The men drove up as 

 many every day as they could handle, and those selected for killing 

 comprised only the choicest ones. (W. C. Allis.) 



There seemed to be also a large surplus of full-grown bulls for rook- 

 ery service, and enough escaped from the slaughter ground to keep the 

 number good as the old ones passed the age of usefulness. I do not 

 believe the condition of the rookeries nor the manner of driving and 

 killing the seals at this time could have been improved. It was perfect 

 in every respect, and. the lessees, employees, and natives, as well as the 

 seals, all appeared to be and were, I believe, contented and happy. In 

 1880 the conditions had somewhat changed. The natives complained 

 that big seals were growing scarcer; that there were many dead pups 

 on the rookeries, and the superintendent intimated to me that he did 

 not like the outlook as compared with a few years previous, and said 

 he thought either the number killed or the size of the animals taken 

 for their skins would have to be reduced of killable seals, and the 

 work went on as during my tirst year (1882) in the service. But the 

 trouble of which they complained grew more serious in the following 

 years, and I think it was in 1888 the superintendent told the bosses 

 they must kill less large seals and more "yellow bellies," or 2-year-olds. 

 In 1880 a very large proportion of the catch was made up of this class. 

 It was then perfectly apparent to everybody, myself included, that the 

 rookeries were "going to the bad" and that a smaller number must 

 inevitably be killed the following year. (W. C. Allis.) 



The aggregate size of the areas formerly occupied is at least four 

 times as great as that of the present rookeries. (Report of American 

 Bering Sea commissioners.) 



I have noticed a great decrease in the numbers of the fur seals since 

 1887, both on the rookeries of St. Paul Island, which are much shrunken 

 in the area covered by seals, and in the waters of the Pacific and Bering 

 Sea. On the rookeries, ground formerly hauled over by seals is now 

 grown up with a scattering of recent growth. (C. H. Anderson.) 



The skins taken prior to 1886 weighed from 6 to 10 pounds each, 

 averaging about 8 pounds per skin; but I understand from those who 

 remained there on duty that much smaller ones were Barter wards taken, 

 because the large seals had become scarce and were needed for rookery 

 service. (John Armstrong.) 

 S. Doc. 137, pt-. 1 15 



