FUR-SEAL FISHERIES OF ALASKA. 69 



speculate as to other causes, for the two cited above are full and ample 

 reasons for the existing" diminution. Were they not so patent, we might 

 speculate, as I did in 1872-1874, in the following tone : 



THOUGHTS UPON THE POSSIBLE MOVEMENTS OF THE FUR SEALS IN THE FUTURE. 



As these animals live and breed upon tlie Pribilov Islands, the foregoing studies of 

 their liabits declare certain natural conditions of lauding ground and climate to be 

 necessary for their existence and perpetuation. From my surveys made upon the 

 islands to the north — St. Matthew and St. Lawrence — together with the scientific 

 and corroborating testimony of those who have visited all of the mainland coast of 

 Alaska and the islands contiguous, including the peninsula and the great Aleutian 

 archipelago, I have no hesitation in stating that tlie fur seal can not breed, or rest 

 for that matter, on any other land than that now resorted to, which lies vrithin our 

 boundary lines; the natural obstacles are insuperable.' 



Therefore, so far as our possessions extend, we have in the Pribilov group the only 

 eligible land to which the fur seal can repair for breeding : and, on which at St. Paul 

 Island alone, there is still room enough of unoccupied rookery ground for the accom- 

 modation of twice as many seals as we find there to-day. But we must not forget a 

 very imiiortant prospect, for we know that to the westward only 700 miles, and 

 within the jurisdiction of Russia, are two other seal islands — one very large — on 

 which the fur seal regularly breeds also; and though from the meager testimony in 

 my possession, compared with St. Paul, the fur-seal life upon them is small, still, if 

 that land within the pale of the Czar's dominion be as suitable for the reception of 

 the rookeries as is that of St. Paul, then what guaranty have we that the seal life 

 on Copper and Bering islands at some future time may not be greatly augmented by 

 a corresponding diminution of onr own, withno otherthan natural causesoperatmg? 

 Certainly, if the gronnd on ^ther Bering or Copper Island, in the Commander group, 

 is as well suited for the wauts of the breeding fur seal as is that exliibited by the 

 Pribilof Islands, then I say confidently that we may at any time note a diminution 

 here and find a corresponding augmentation there, for I have clearly shown in my 

 chapter on the habits of these animals that they are not so particularly attached to 

 the respective places of their birth, but that they rather land with an instinctive 

 appreciation of the fitness of that ground as a whole. 



NEED OF MORE DEFINITE KNOWLEDGE CONCERNING THE RUSSIAN SEAL ISLANDS.' 



If we, however, possess all the best-suited ground, then we can count upon retain- 

 ing the seal life as we now have it by a vast majority ;and in no other way: for, it is 

 not unlikely that some season may occur when an immense number of the fur seals 

 which have lived during the last four or five years on the Pribilov Islands should be 

 deflected from their usual feeding range at sea by the shifting of schools of fish and 

 other abnormal causes, which would bring them around ((uite close to the Asiatic 

 seal grounds in the spring, and the scent from those rookeries would act as a power- 

 ful stimulant and attraction for them to land there, where the conditions for their 

 breeding may be just as favorable as they desire. Such being the case, this diminution , 

 therefore, which we would notice on the Pribilov group might be tlie great increase 

 observed at the Commander Islands, and not due to any mismanagement on the part 

 of the men in charge of these interests. Thus it appears to me necessary that definite 

 knowledge concerning the Commander Islands and the Kuriles should bo gathered. 



If we find, however, that the character of tliis Russian seal land is restricted to 

 narrow beach margins under bluft's, as at St. George, then Ave shall know that a great 

 body of seals will never attempt to land there a\ hen they could not do so without 

 suftering and in violation of their laws during the breeding season. Therefore, with 

 this correct understanding to start on, we can then feel alarmed with good reason 

 should we ever observe any diminution to a noteworthy degree on our seal islands of 

 Bering Sea. 



POSSIBLE DEFLECTION OF SEALS IN FEEDING. ' 



I do not call attention to this subject with the slightest idea in my mind, as I write, 

 of any such contingency arising even for an indefinite time to come; but still I am 

 sensible of the fact that it is possible for it to occur any season. But, the seals 

 undoubtedly feed on their pelagic fields in systematic routine of travel from the time 

 they leave the Pribilov Islands until that of their return; therefore, in all proba- 

 bility, unless the fish upon which they are nourished, suddenly become scarce in our 

 waters and soundings, our seals will not change their base as matters now progress; 

 yet, it is possible for the finny shoals and schools to be so defiected from their migra- 

 tion to and from their spawning beds as to carry this seal life with it, as I have hinted 



'In Section VIII of this report will be found the best arrangement of notes bearing 

 upon this subject which I liave been able to make. 



-Seep. 211, Appendix. 'Seep. 212, Appendix. 



