244 



ALASKA. 



50,000, less tbau 30,000 were killed and taken, and then, too, 

 the numbers of seals were known to diminish, and in the same 

 way, only greater, on the other island. For instance, in the first 

 years, on the island of Saint George, the seals were only five or 

 six times less than on Saint Paul, but in 1817 they were only 

 less than one-fourth ; but in 1S2G they were almost one-sixth 

 again. 



"The diminution of seals there (Saint Paul's) and on the 

 other island, from 1817 to 1835, was very gradual and visible 

 every year, but not always equal. 



" The killing of seals in 1S34, instead of being 80,000 or 

 GO.OOO, was only 15,751 from both islands, (Saint Paul, 12,700; 

 Saint George's, 3,051)." 



In the first thirty years, accordingtoVeniaminov's best under- 

 standing, there were taken 'hnorethan tico and a half millions of 

 sealsliins ;^^ then, in the next twenty-one years, up to 1838, they 

 took 578,924. During this last taking, from 1817 to 1838, the 

 skins were worth on an average " no more than 30 rubles each," 

 ($0 apiece.) 



"A great many sea-otters {Eiihydra marina) were found oa 

 Saint Paul's Island at first, and as many as 50,000 were taken 

 from the island, but years have passed since one has been seen 

 in the vicinity, even, of the islands." 



TuhJe I, Part II, Bishop Veniaminor^s ZapicsM, c^-c, sliowin/] llie seal-catch dur- 

 ing the period of gradual diminution of life on the islands from 1S17 down to 

 1836, the year of scarcity, and from wliich date Ihei/ have as gradually increased 

 np to the present number, their maximum limit in a state of nature, at which the 

 seal-life has stood during the past twenty years ; the killing has also been grad- 

 nally increased up to the present figure, 100,000 annually. « 



* Left to breed. 



Grand total for S:iiiit Paul's Island 



Grand total for Saint George's Island 



464, 2.59 

 114, 065 



Total catcli during nineteen years of diminution 578, 924 



