374 ALASKA INDUSTRIES. 



sealing season warned out, and had to leave Bering Sea, the larger number being 

 compelled to relinquish their sealing operations in July, for had the vessels remained 

 until August, with the good weather such as prevailed, the catch of 1891 would have 

 been much larger. 



The number of British vessels engaged in sealing within the area of the Paris 

 award in the year 1891 was 50. The number of vessels engaged in sealing within 

 the area of the Paris award in 1894 was 59. 



The following statement shows the number of American vessels which cleared from 

 American ports on sealing voyages (vide p. 206, United States No. 2, 1893, Report of 

 the Bering Sea Commission, 21st June, 1892: San Francisco, 23 ' j Port Townsend, 9; 

 Astoria, 2; San Diego, 2; other ports, 5. 



Therefore, taking the American statement as taken from their custom-house books, 

 exhibits the fact that 41 American vessels were engaged in sealing in the year 1891, 

 and this number, added to 50 British vessels similarly employed (see returns, 1891), 

 plainly shows that the entire fleet, British and American, consisted of 91 vessels in 

 the year 1891, and it is incomprehensible how the United States authorities place the 

 number at 115 for 1891. 



The sealing returns from this port, which I think are beyond question, show that 

 in the year 1894 there were engaged in sealing 59 British vessels, sailing from British 

 Columbia ports (see sealing returns, 1894), and according to the American statement 

 the entire sealing fleet, British and American, numbered 95 vessels for 1894 ; deducting 

 therefrom the 59 British vessels would leave 36 United States vessels so employed. 



You will find on examination of the sealing returns for the year 1894 that the crews 

 and equipment of the vessels were considerably increased in comparison with the 

 same in 18 t 91, and you will likewise observe that in 1894 the greater number of seals 

 were taken on the Japan coast. 



It was estimated, with uncertainty, that the American catch in 1891 approximated 

 10,000, and this added to our British catch, 49,615, would make 67,615, or, in round 

 numbers, 68,000 skins. 



The returns for the year 1894 exhibit the fact that the following-mentioned number 

 of skins were taken by British vessels on the Asiatic side (outside award area), viz : 



Japan coast 48, 993 



Copper Island 7, 437 



Total, 1894 (Asiatic) 56, 430 



Within Paris award area, 1894 38,044 



Total, 1894 94,474 



In following the argument advanced by the United States, on page 3 in the extract 

 you send me, it is apparently admitted that our figures of the catch in 1894, within 

 the Paris award area, is correct. 



But it appears by United States Treasury Department tables, the details of which 

 were mentioned in Mr. Gresham's note of 23d January, that there were taken 6,836 

 skins by American vessels, the locality of catch being undetermined. 



I can not understand why it should be assumed by the United States Government 

 that 6,152 skins, taken from those whose location of catch was undetermined, and 

 added to those taken within the award area, when it is well known that the greater 

 number of United States vessels went to Japan waters to engage in sealing in 1894. 



It appears to be well known that there were few American vessels sealing in the 

 North Pacific within the award area in 1894, as stated, the greater number having 

 gone to Japan waters, for in the past a number of these usually visited this port for 

 supplies, and to dispose of their skins, and I became aware of their movements; 

 therefore it appears to me unjustifiable to assign 90 per cent of the undetermined 

 catch in 1894 to the award area. 



In regard to the statement made relative to the evidence taken before the Tribunal 

 at Paris that the number of seals killed but not recovered was from two to five times 

 as many as those secured. This is to me an extraordinary statement to introduce into 

 the matter under consideration, and one which I can not concede in any way, for I 

 am assured that as the seasons go by the seal hunter improves in skill and dexterity 

 in pursuing the seal, and owners and masters are now so careful in selecting those 

 competent to hunt that they will employ only those skillful as seamen and hunters. 



There is no doubt that the lack of success of many American vessels is a good deal 

 due to obtaining unskilled hunters and seamen, principally in San Francisco, while 

 our sealers are very intelligent and competent men, mostly domiciled here, and to tell 

 them that they lose from two to five times as many seals as they secure would amuse 

 them. 



Regretting that this has been so long delayed, I have, etc. 



A. R. MILNE, Collector. 



1 The steamer Thistle, being a British vessel, not included in above. 



