52 TESTIMONY 



or 1S83 were, I believe, constantly increasing in area and popnlation, 

 and my observations in this direction are in accordance with those 

 of Mr. Morgan, Mr. Webster, and others who have been with me for 

 many years in yonr service, and of Special Treasury Agent J. M. Mor- 

 ton, who was on the islands ii-om 1870 to 1880. Even as -late as 1885 

 Special Treasury Agent Tingle reported a furtlier increase of breeding 

 seals; but his estimates were made in comparison with those of Prof, 

 H. W. Elliott of 187-J and 1873, and he was probably not fully aware of 

 the fact that the increase had occurred prior to 1883, and that in 1885 

 there was akeady perhaps a slight diminution of breeders." 

 A very noticeable decrease iu the herd commenced, as I have already 

 I)ointed out, in 1880, and was coincident in time and 

 and*iMreMe*'ofVeia^ proportionate in extent witli the number of seals de- 

 gicseaiiu'g. stroyed in the water. The business of pelagic sealing 



in Bering Sea first assumed considerable i)roi)ortions 

 in 1884, and in that year dead pup seals first became numerous enough 

 upon the rookeries to excite remark upon the islands. As the sealing 

 fleet increased, the starved animals became more numerous. In 1887 

 fourteen vessels were seized for illegal sealing, and the effect was seen 

 in the following year when a much less number engaged in the business 

 and the Bering Sea catch amounted, as I am informed, to about 34,000 

 skins, against about 19,000 or 20,000 in 1888. The failure of the United 

 States Government to vigorously pursue in 3888 and the following 

 years the repressive policy so auspiciously begun in 1887, led to a large 

 increase of the sealing fleet and corresponding destructioii of the herd, 

 but the prohibition of pelagic sealing nevertheless continued, and the 

 usual proclamation was published by the Government warning all 

 parties not to kill seals in Bering Sea or waters adjacent to the Alaskan 

 coast. 

 The policy of the Alaska Commercial Company, during the whole 

 Polio of the Alas P^^^^d of its Icasc, was, as might be naturally expected, 

 ka Commercial Com- to obtain the bcst i^ossiblc skiiis for market, and at 

 P'^^y- the same time preserve the rookeries against injury, 



for it was not only in their interests to be able to secure every year, 

 until the expiration of the lease, the full quota allowed by law, but 

 they confidently expected, by reason of their good management of the 

 business, and faithful fulfilimeut of every obligation to the Govern- 

 ment, to obtain the franchise for a second term. I was, therefore, 

 always alert to see that the due proportion of breeding males of serv- 

 iceable age was allowed to return to the rookeries. This was a com- 

 paratively easy task prior to 1882. but became from year to year more 

 difticult as the seals decreased. No very exi)licit orders were given to 

 the "bosses" upon this point until 1888, because the bulls seemed to 

 be plentiful enough, and because it was easier to kill and skin a small 

 seal than a large one, and the natives were inclined for this reason to 

 Scarcit of breed- ^^^^w the large oucs to escape; but in 1888 and 1889 

 ing males mi888 and there was such a marked scarcity of breeding males 

 ^^^^- upon the rookeries that I gave strict orders to si)are 



all five-year-old bulls and confine the killing to smaller animals. 

 Through all this slaughter, involving the driving and redriving, year 

 after vear, of the same seals, they did not become more 

 ^^Tameness of the timid wlicu ou land; but on the contrary, those resort- 

 ing to the grounds most frequently disturbed were 

 more tractable and easier driven and killed tlian the ones from remote 

 points, as at Polavina or West Point, on St. Paul, or Zapadnie at St. 

 George. The "killing gang " frequently spoken of, and I myself, ob- 



