ALASKA INDUSTRIES. 333 



similar result (23,041) was reached by deducting from the catch stated 

 in Consul Myers's report, 28,605 (United States counter case), the 

 number of 5,847, estimated to have been killed off the Eussiau Coast. 

 This estimate was reached after a careful examination by an expert of 

 all the catches of 1891 and by affidavits scattered through the case 

 and counter case of the United States and Great Britain.) 



The number of seals stated by this Government to have been killed 

 in Bering Sea during 1891 (23,041) does not include any caught by 

 American vessels during that season, for the reason that the expert 

 who prepared the figures could not obtain exact information on this 

 question. Other statistics now in the possession of the Department 

 indicated that 6,736 seals were killed in Bering Sea, from the Asiatic 

 to the American shores, by American vessels in 1891 ; subtracting from 

 this total 1,816 seals supposed to have been killed in Eussian waters 

 and we have as a result 4,920; adding this to 23,041, the total number 

 of seals killed within the American area in Bering Sea for the season 

 of 1891 falls below 28,000. 



The communication of the Foreign Office states the total catch of 

 American and British vessels within the award area in 1891 as 68,000. 

 This Department is in the possession of a careful computation, prepared 

 by an expert of the catch for 1891, based on a careful study of all the 

 evidence as disclosed in the case and counter case of both Govern- 

 ments. This estimate places the number of seals known to have been 

 killed within the award area at 45,000, leaving about 16,000 undeter- 

 mined. Taking, however, the figures as given by the Foreign Office, 

 68,000, and subtracting the number supposed to have been killed in 

 Eussian waters, 8,432, we have left 59,568 as the maximum catch within 

 the award area for that season. 



The official statement of the catch for 1892, contained in the report 

 of the Canadian department of marine and fisheries, credits 14,805 out 

 of a total of 53,912 to the Asiatic shores ; the report for 1891 gives only 

 the total of 52,995, crediting none to Eussian waters; nor does the 

 report of the British commissioners of the catch of 1891 give any num- 

 ber as killed in said waters. It is respectfully suggested that to this 

 extent these reports are in error. 



In computing the catch of 1894 the Foreign Office states that 55,602 

 seals were killed within the award area, including 17,558 as the catch 

 of American vessels. It should be remembered, however, that in my 

 communication to Congress, from which the totals contained in the let- 

 ter of January 23 to the British ambassador were taken, 6,836 skins 

 taken by American vessels were stated as undetermined as to location. 

 Assuming that they were divided as between the American and Asiatic 

 herds in the same proportion as the other skins landed during the 

 season of 1894 at American ports by United States vessels, we should 

 have the total catch of American vessels within the award area 55,686+ 

 6,152, making a total of 61,838. This total justifies my repeating the 

 statement contained in previous letters to you that the pelagic catch 

 within the award area last season was the largest in the history of 

 pelagic sealing, the nearest approximation being the season of 1891, in 

 which, even on the theory of the British figures, not exceeding 59,568 

 seals were taken. The significance of this catch of 1894 will be better 

 appreciated when it is understood that only 95 vessels were employed, 

 as against 115 in 1891. 



It is further contended in said communication that the increased 

 catch, with proportionately fewer vessels, indicates, an increased num- 

 ber of seals in 1894 as compared with 1891, and consequently a better 



