232 SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 



but increased from year to year to an alarming extent, until in 1889, in 

 order to secure the full quota and at the same time turn back to the 

 rookeries such breeding bulls as they seemed to absolutely need, we 

 were forced to take fully 50 per cent of animals under size, which ought 

 to have been allowed one or two years more growth. Concerning this 

 matter I reported to the Alaska Commercial Company, under date of 

 July 10, 1889, as follows: "The contrast between the present condition 

 of seal life and that of the first decade of the lease is so marked that 

 the most inexpert can not fail to notice it. Just when the change com- 

 menced I am unable from personal observation to say, for as you will 

 remember I was in ill health and unable to visit the islands in 1883, 

 1884, and 1885. I left the rookeries in 1882 in their fullest and best 

 condition and found them in 1880 already shoeing slight falling oft', and 

 experienced that year for the first time some difficulty in securing just 

 the class of animals in every case that we desired. We, however, 

 obtained the full catch in that and the two following years, finishing 

 the work from the 24th to the 27th of July, but were obliged, particu- 

 larly in 1888, to content ourselves with smaller skins than we had hereto- 

 fore taken. This was in part due to the necessity of turning back to the 

 rookeries many half grown bulls, owing to the notable scarcity of breed- 

 ing males. I should have been glad to have ordered them killed instead, 

 but under your instructions to see that the best interests were con- 

 served, thought best to reject them. The result of killing from year to 

 year a large and increasing number of small animals is very apparent. 

 We are simply drawing in advance upon the stock that should be kept 

 over for another year's growth." (H. H. Mclntyre.) 



Q. How does the number of seals on the rookeries this year compare 

 with the number five years ago! A. The number now is about one- 

 fourth of what they were then. (Noen Mandregin.) 



In 18S7 I began to notice a diminution in the number of seals arriv- 

 ing at the islands, which was due to the indiscriminate killing by sealing 

 vessels in the open sea, some 50 or GO miles distant. While we still 

 obtain about the usual number of skins, many more are taken from the 

 younger animals than formerly, and are somewhat inferior in quality. 

 (John Malowausky.) 



From 1885, which was about the time the sealers appeared in the 

 waters, the decrease in seal life was rapid, and the natives commenced 

 saying "no females," "no females," until now we are confronted with 

 depleted rookeries and probable extermination. (John Malowansky.) 



Q. Have you noticed any perceptible difference in the number of 

 seals on rookeries from one year to another! A. Yes. 



Q. About how much less is the number of seals during the past year 

 than they were six yeas ago? A. The number of seals this year is 

 about one fourth of what they were six years ago, and about one half 

 of what they were last year. 



Q. In what way do you form your above opinion as to the relative 

 number of seals on the rookeries'? A. By the fact that many spaces on 

 the rookeries which were formerly crowded are now not occupied at all. 

 (Anton Melovedoft'.) 



About 1886 I noticed that the lines of former years were not lilled 

 with cows, and every succeeding year since then has shown a more 

 marked decrease. In 1889 the bachelors were so few on the hauling 

 grounds that the standard weight of skins was lowered to 5 pounds, 



