FUR-SEAL FISHERIES OF ALASKA. 209 



agents in other years. So far, from observations made, I think someone has greatly 

 overestimated the number of seals on the rookeries at any time. 



Elliott, 1 think, comes nearer the number than any of his successors. — T. F. Ryan 

 (p. 427). 



July 26, ISSG. — With all due respect for the work, measurements, and conclusions 

 of Messrs. Elliott and Mclutyre, I am forced, from close observation and tests made 

 on the work of both, to the following conclusions: 



First. That Mr^EUiott's measurements are much nearer the mark than Mr. Mcln- 

 tyre's, and he (sic) is at least 1,000 feet of shore-line rookery by 50 feet in width too 

 much. 



Second. That Mr. Elliott's opinion that 2 feet square of ground for each seal or 4 

 feet square for cow and pup, even taking into consideration the topography of the 

 ground, is none too liberal. The lay of cows and pups at birth are very close. — 

 T. F. Ryan. 



June 21, 1S86. — * * * -^j^j^g rookeries iipon this island are looking finely and 

 are showing many bulls, cows, and pups. The seals are coming unexceptionably 

 fine and jdenty for killing. The Alaska (Jommercial Company have already taken 

 1,000 more than they took one year ago this time, being about 5,000 to date. — J. P. 

 Manchester (p. 470). 



June 26, 1886. — * * * The seals for the past week have been coming in very 

 slow ; expect them to do better soon. — J. P. Manchester (p. 472). 



July 6, 1886 {Monday). — * * * We are now 23 skins behind last season. The 

 seals are coming a little slow. — J. P. Manchester (p. 475). 



July 7, 1886. — * # * fhe seals come very slow ; hope they will do bettor soon. — 

 J. P. Manchester (p. 477). 



July 15, 1886.— * * * Mr. Ryan measured Little East rookery, in company 

 with the chief, and called it 350 by 40 feet, well covered with cows and pups, and 

 ap2>eared quiet and hapj)y, with big showing of pups. He estimates 7,000 cows and 

 pups. — J. P. Manchester. 



July 22, 1886. — Counted in 527 skins killed yesterday. The company wants 294 

 more to fill their quota of 15,000. - * - — j. p. Manchester. 



July 23, 1886. — To-day the Alaska Commercial Company took 294 seals. * * * — 

 J. P. Manchester. 



July 1, 1887. — * * * Counted into salt house 100 skins, result of yesterday's 

 drive from Starry Arteel and North rookeries. This, 1 suppose, is the smallest drive 

 ever made upon these islands, and is discouraging. The seals are late, and the con- 

 stant driving of them, which stirs up the rookeries, does them no good. * *^^ * — 

 WiLiJAM Garitt (p. 18). 



Tiiesdnii, June 22, 1888. — * * * We think from the outlook under the next lease 

 the Government will get a revenue of not less than $500,000 a year from the seal off 

 St. Paul and St. George islands. We think 150,000 can betaken each year instead of 

 100,000, especially if the Government will commence at once and give them good pro- 

 tection. The crop of seal are (sic) big upon these islands, "the largest and best in 

 the world."— .T. P. Manchester (p. 471).' * 



St. George, Septemher 25, 1888. — « # * Made an examination of all the rook- 

 eries on the north side. Estimate about 2,000 killable seals. — A. P. Loud (p. 187). 



St. George, July 10, 1889.— * * * It is feared by Mr. Clark, of the Alaska Com- 

 mercial Company, that we can not get our quota of skins this year. The seals are 

 coming in very slowly. — Joseph Murray. 



With that entry of Colonel Murray of the 10th of July, 1889, 1 close 

 the St. George official extracts : and, turning to the official entries on the 



' This exhibition of total misunderstanding of the real and threatening condition 

 of the fur-seal herd, deliberately placed at this hour in tlie official journal, was 

 undoubtedh^ the honest belief of Mr. Manchester at the day he made the entry 

 quoted. This particular officer was a gentleman in every sense of the word. He 

 was never engaged or concerned in petty, bitter personalities while upon these islands : 

 but, he was a very large, fleshy man, and not able to walk on tours of rookery and 

 hauling-ground inspection, and was thus obliged more or less to form his idea 

 of what the real condition of the hauling grounds and rookeries was from the state- 

 ments of others in whom he trusted. He undoubtedly gained his opinion from the 

 official reports of his superior officer, Chief Special Agent George R. Tingle. The 

 Treasury agents on the seal islands should not only be mentally fitted for the dis- 

 charge of their duties, but they should also possess an athletic jihysique, with capacity 

 and disposition for untiring pedestrianism over rough, wet ground. Unless they are 

 so endowed, they can not properly view and truthfully record the condition of the 

 hauling and breeding fur seals from week to week during the season. Unless they 

 can do, and do do this work, they are of no good service or value; their appointment 

 la an imposition on the Government, in so far as the seal islands are concerned. 



H. Doc. 175 14 



