324 ALASKA INDUSTRIES. 



/Summary of pelagic seal catches for 1893 and 1894, based on the official returns from ports 



of entry. 



* Notes concerning catch for 1893, The United States consul at Victoria states (Consular Reports 

 No. 161, p. 279) that American schooners in 1893 transshipped, at Yokohama and Hakodadi, between 

 17,000 and 18,000 skins. These skins, added to those which in all probability were transshipped by 

 British Columbia vessels on the Asiatic Coast, and including the estimated number retained in America 

 for treatment, would swell the total catch to about 109,000. The accuracy of these figures is corrob- 

 orated by the fact that the trade sales of London (all seal skins are sold there) account for the dispo- 

 sition of 109,669 skins in 1893. 



t Notes concerning catch for 1894. The catch of 6,836 noted in the column headed " Locality undeter- 

 mined " were skins, 76 of which were landed at Astoria without statement as to place of capture; 641 

 were transshipped at Unalaska, and the remaining 6, 119 were transshipped from Yokohama. All were 

 entered and recorded in American ports of entry and they are' quite certainly a mixture of Northwest 

 Coast and Japan skins. It has been ascertained from the sales of seal skjus in London that about 

 125,000 skins were actually sold, and about 14,000 withheld for future sale in 1894. In addition thereto 

 it is estimated that about 3,000 skins were retained in this country and elsewhere for treatment. It 

 thus appears that about 142,000 is a figure much more closely representing the number of skins taken 

 in 1894 than the official returns of 121,143. The balance, about 20,000 skins, was probably shipped to 

 London, via Suez Canal, from the Asiatic Coast. 



Number of schooners reported as having taken sMns. 



* Indian canoe catch counted as one (1) vessel. In destructive effects the canoe catch is about equal 

 to three average schooner catches. 



Number of schooners reported as having made catches in JB&ring Sea. 



TREASURY DEPARTMENT, 



Washington, I). C., May 15, 1895. 



SIR : I beg to return herewith the letter of the British ambassador, 

 dated the llth instant, 1 handed me by you, transmitting the declina- 

 tion of his Government to agree upon concurrent regulations for carry- 

 ing out the provisions of the Paris award during the present season. 

 The reason given for such declination is that the provisions of the 

 award relating to the special license and distinguishing flag are already 

 provided for in the British order in council of February 2, 1895; that 

 concurrent regulations similar to those agreed upon for last season by 

 the representative Governments as to sealing up the outfit and arms 

 of sealing vessels are not considered necessary for the present season, 

 inasmuch as the possession by vessels within the award area and dur- 

 ing the closed season of said outfit and arms is nowhere forbidden by 



1 Not furnished. 



