SEAL LIFK ON THK 1'KIBILOF ISLANDS. 



handled them in every ropeet us I would have done if tliey had been 

 my <>\vii personal properly and as 1 would do it' they were, now to come 

 into my hands. 11' they erred in any par! ieular in their management, it 

 was in their futile attempt in 1SSS and IS.St) to stop the waste of the 

 seal life at the island spigot while it was running out at the btftlghole 

 ol' pelagic sealing. The record shows that we did not finish tbe catch 

 as early in issr> as had been done in former years, i do not think this 

 was from any lack of seals, but was caused by greater care in making 

 our selection of animals to be killed. (Leon Sloss.) 



1 again visited St. Paul Island and remained there several days in 

 the summer of ISSf), but saw no evidence then or when formerly on the 

 island to lead me to think that the lessees were damaging the rookeries 

 or doing anything different from what a judicious regard for the future 

 of the industry would dictate. In giving this evidence 1 am as free 

 from prejudice as is possible when entertaining, as I do, a feeling that 

 the late lessees treated me in some measure unjustly, nor have I any 

 interest whatever in the seals or the products of the sealeries. (George 

 H. Temple.) 



Raids on rookeries not the cause. 



It may be worth while to add that the suggestion has been made that 

 the decrease on the number of seals is due to piratical raids upon the 

 islands themselves during the breeding season. While it is unques- 

 tionably true that such raids have occasionally occurred during the past, 

 and that some skins have been obtained in that way, the number of these 

 is so trifling in comparison with the annual pelagic catch as not to affect 

 in any way the question under consideration. It is also difficult for one 

 familiar with the rookeries and habits of the seal to conceive of a raid 

 being made without its becoming known to the officers in charge of the 

 operations upon the islands. The " raid theory," therefore, maybe dis- 

 missed as unworthy, in our judgment, of serious consideration. (Eeport 

 of American Commissioners.) 



The statistics which I have examined, as well as all the inquiries 

 made, show that in the raids upon the rookeries themselves by maraud- 

 ers the loss of seal life has been too unimportant to play any part in the 

 destruction of the breeding grounds. The inhospitable shores, the 

 exposure of the islands to surf, the unfavorable climatic conditions, as 

 well as the presence of the natives and white men, will always prevent 

 raids upon the islands from ever being frequent or effective. (J. Stanley- 

 Brown.) 



During my stay upon St. George Island several attempts were made 

 by poachers to get on shore and steal the seal, but they succeeded, as 

 far as 1 am aware, only on three occasions, and in all those three I do 

 not think they killed more than 1,200 or 1,500 seals, including pups. If 

 any others had effected a landing we should have known it, for the rook- 

 eries are constantly watched, and the natives are very keen in this 

 matter. (Harry X. Clark.) 



We tried to make a raid on St. George, but the Corwin was after us 

 and we kept out of its way. (Peter Duffy.) 



During the time I was on St. George Island there never was a raid on 

 the rookeries to my knowledge, and I never heard of any such raid ever 

 having taken place. (Samuel Falconer.) 



