RELATING TO FUR-SEALS AND SEALSKIN INDUSTRY. 379 



seasons' residence on the islands that the number of dead pups was not 

 greater than could be accounted for by natural causes. 



It is my opinion that the breeding grounds were worse off in 1892 

 than in 1891 as regards the number of females found 

 on them. This opinion is based on my observations Relative condition 



-,.,, ■*-.,. , ■ j -. . o» rookeries. 



made at the same periods in each year prior to disor- 

 ganization. The breeding grounds are now in worse condition numer- 

 ically than at any time during my acquaintance with them, and this too 

 in the face of the small killings of males upon the islands during 1890 

 and 1891. 



In 1891 and 1892 I saw a number of harems with 40 or 50 females; 

 on the other hand I saw a still greater number with 

 from one to six. If it were possible to ascertain the Harems - 

 average number of females to a bull it would be found to be very low, 

 especially if all the idle bulls were taken into account. In 1891 I visited 

 ever rookery on the island of St. Paul between the 7th and 22d of July, 

 and I counted 1,250 idle bulls. 



I deny that the statement attributed to me in Sec. 758 of the Brit- 

 ish Commissioners' Report was ever made by me: 

 ''Colonel Murray, the cautious Treasury agent on St. Raids ' 

 George, informed us that he had examined the traces remaining of 

 many raids that had taken place unknown to the authorities." Further- 

 more the two occasions referred to in this section relate to one and 

 the same raid which is on record in the Treasury Department. 



I have read over section 759. I did go to the steamer of British 

 Bering Sea Commissioners, not only as a matter of 

 courtesy, but because we have orders to board all ves- of S Britfsu 75 Com d m?s 9 

 sels anchoring at the islands. I then suggested that signers' Keport ex- 

 the British vessel sail around St. Paul Island to see if p ame 

 any schooners were off Northeast Point. The impression conveyed is 

 that raids were continually imminent and of frequent occurrence, and 

 that there were no means at hand to Tire vent them if they did occur. Only 

 two raids were made in 1891. The first occurred on St. George Island, 

 November 17th, by the Challenge, the other, November 27th, on St. Paul 

 Island, by the Borealis. In the first case the officer and crew were ar- 

 rested and sent to Sitka, convicted and sent to jail, and the vessel 

 confiscated. In the second case the vessel succeeded in making her 

 escape, but the captain was afterwards arrested and is now awaiting 

 trial in Sitka jail. 



One of the secretaries of the British Bering Sea Commissioners had 

 access to and closely examined in 1891 while on St. 

 Paul Island the records in which every seal which ki n^ ord of 8eala 

 died on that island either directly or indirectly by the 

 hand of man is recorded. The Commissioners were at liberty to ex- 

 amine the same records on St. George. I do not know whether they 

 did so or not. 



Joseph Murray. 



Subscribed and sworn to before me this 20th day of December, 1892. 



[SEAL.] SEVELLON A. BROWN, 



Notary Fublic. 



