498 



The principal reason for the tluctuation m prices this year and m 

 other years was the disturbed condition of the London 



of^'Snin i?86*'°° market, caused by reports of Large collections, and so 

 greatly did the catch of 25,000 skins afl'ect the market 



that the skins sold for less in London than was paid for them in A'ictoria, 



British Columbia, entailiug loss on the purchasers. 



The seizures in the Bering Sea in 1880 stopped the American sealers 

 from fitting <mt in 1887, with the exception of two schooners commanded 

 by British Columbians, who decided to take the risk. It was openly 

 declared at Victoria that the United States Government would not go 

 farther than remonstrate. 



The American boats that entered the Bering Sea were the City of San 

 Diego, which made a catch of 1,187 seals, selling at $5.50, and the 

 Vanderbilt, 1,349 skins, at $5.50. 



The catch by British sealers was: 



British schooner Mary Taylor, 1,000 at $6.00 



" . " Penelope, 1,292 " 5.50 



" " Pathfinder, 2,377 <' 6.00 



" " Mary Ellen, 2,130 " 5.50 



" " BlacJc Diamond, 990 " 5.50 



" " ^fountain Chief, 624 " 5.50 



" " Favorite, 1,887 " 5.50 



" " Therese, 900 " 5.50 



" " Kate, 1,625 " 5.50 



" " Triumph, 500 " 5.50 



" " Lottie Fairfield, 2,507 " 5.50 



The A (if a, Anna Beelc, Dolphin, Grace, nnd W. P. Say ward were seized 

 by the United States Government. 



18S8. 



Bering Sea collections, sold in Victoria in 1888: 



British schooner Juamta, 

 " " Mary Fllcn, 



♦^ " Triumph, 



