202 



FUR-SEAL FISHERIES OF ALASKA. 



station one boat aud crew on eacli island duriuf;; the ensuinji' year, witli orders to 

 patrol tlie islands, daily if possible, and destroy this whale whenever an opportunity 

 is aftorded. These boats should be in charge of experienced whalemen from some 

 part of the New England States, where this whale and other similar 8})ecie8 exist in 

 large numbers. There would be no trouble in obtaining men who are well versed 

 in this kind of whaling, aud it is my opinion at the end of the year it would be 

 found that killers were very scarce aud would not come near the shore, while their 

 appetite for seal and seal pups would be changed so much that codlish and other 

 similar varieties would be good enough for them. I shall endeavor to write more 

 fully on this subject in the near Inturo when I have had a little more experience on 

 the islands, as I consider it one of great importance. 



Truly, yours, A. W. Lavender. 



CERTAIN OFFICIAL SURVEYS OF THE SEAL ROOKERIES. 



Extracts from the journal of tlie office of the Treasury agent on St. 

 George Ishmd, in reference to the number of seals thereon, show that 

 several of the assistant agents over there have paid considerable atten- 

 tion to this important subject by making field observations in the 

 breeding seasons since my published work of 1874, The journal of the 

 St. Paul office does not give any similar evidence of attention until the season 

 of 1889, or until the notes of Mr. Charles J. Goflt" were entered last 

 year. All final surveys and poimlation notes of the breeding grounds 

 made before the seals arrive, and not when they are to be seen at the 

 right time for measurement of area and position, viz, July 10 to 20, 

 inclusive, are valueless. In 1 884 a distinct note of warning was sounded 

 from St. George by Assistant Agent Wardman; the St. Paul office, 

 however, gave it no attention. 



The first survey made after my work of 1873-74 was the following, 

 which seems to have been made in all sincerity; but the extraordinary 

 allotment of space which he gives to the seals, 2 feet in some places 

 aud 8 feet in others, is due to the fact that he must have struck those 

 particular 8, 4, and 5 feet areas when the pups were podding back and 

 the cows scattered with them. The work, however, bears evidence 

 of pains and sincerity and is entitled to respect. I made that season of 

 1874 a total of 162,40:2 ; he makes it 198,648 breeding seals and young. 

 His figures of sea margin and average depth show, when contrasted 

 with mine, that his tapeline, and the podding, which it is evident that he 

 encountered, were not safe factors for a close calculation. 



This calculation of William J. Mclntyre is copied from his autograph 

 entry in the journal of the Treasury agent, St. George Island. 



Taile showing the present condition of the breeding rookeries on St. George Island, from a 

 survey made by William J. Mclntyre. 



[The limits of expansion were defined in the middle of July, 1874, and measured iu April of the 



following year.] 



Rookeries. 



Length of 

 shore line. 



Average 

 breadth. 



Space 

 allowed for 

 each seal. 



Total bulls, 



cows, and 



pups. 



Zapadnie 



Starry Arteel . . 

 North : 



First part.. 



Second part 



Third part. 



Little East 



East: 



First part.. 



Second part 



Total-... 



a Average. 



875 

 650 



900 

 900 

 ,000 

 650 



260 

 ,240 



136 

 173 



41 



54J 



124 



72 



240 

 49 



Sq. feet. 



24, 600 

 34, 150 



18, 450 



6,112 



62,000 



12,356 



15, 600 

 25, 380 



6,475 



1114 



a 31 



198, 648 



