APPENDIX TO COUNTER-CASE OF GREAT BRITAIN. 493 



the change in the formation of the rookeries, and the number of seals upon them, 

 and in recording all f:ict8 of importance relating to seal life tliat came under my 

 notice. Mr. Maynard during this time was employed in taking a last series of photo- 

 graphs, for the purpose of showing the increased area occujiied by seals as the season 

 advanced. 



H. M. .S. " l)a]thne" then conveyed Mr. Maynard and myself to Unalaska, where I 

 rejoined the "Melpomene," while Mr. Maynard returned to Victoria. 



Bad weather kept the " Melpouieue" in Unalaska over tlie 2(Jth August, but on the 

 morning of the 27th we started on a cruize to the westward. No seals were seen 

 after passing the 172nd meridian, but this was not to )je wondered at, as we encoun- 

 tered a succession of gales which caused such a heavy sea that it was almost impos- 

 sible to stand upon the deck of the ship; and though we cruized t7wo days not far 

 to the soutliward of the Commander Islands, and a whole <lay between Copper and 

 Behring Islands, not a seal was even there seen in the water by any one. 



A landing was effected on the 3rd September at Nikolski viliagc, Hehring Island. 

 No Representative of the Russian Government was then on that island, but I had a 

 long interview with the agent of the Fur Company. He told me that about the 

 usual number of skins had been taken, 32,000, 16,000 on each island, and that he 

 believed there was no decrease in the number of seals on Behring Island, though 

 M. Grebnitsky (the Govennnent Superintendent of the islands, then absent) had 

 told him that on Copper Island a decrease had been noted. 



The first sealing schooners had been seen about the islands almost as soon as the 



seals had appeared, and had continued taking seals the whole summer. I was 



138 informed by the agent that much better skins were taken on Behring Island 



than on Copper Island, those from the latter island averaging from 6 to 8 lbs. 



only in weight. 



Other facts learned at this place will be referred to under their proper headings. 



P^om Beliring Island we went to Karaginski Island, in latitude 59", longitude 

 164° 30' east. Great numbers of hair-seals and young sea-lions were seen iu the 

 vicinity of this island, but no fur-seals. We were uual)le, however, on account of 

 continued stormy weather, to go within .5 miles of the island. On the return trip to 

 St. Paul Island we again encountered such bad weather that no look- oat could be 

 kept for seals. Wiiile the ship was lai<l to, between noon and 5 p. i\i., on the 9th 

 September, many fur-seals were, however, seen swimming about in all directions. 

 The shii)'s position at noon that day was latitude 58"-' 58', longitude 177'-' 8' west, 

 about 240 miles from St. Paul Island. 



St. Paul Island was reached at daylight the 11th September, and on that day a 

 last visit was ])aid to all the rookeries on that island with the exception of those" at 

 North-east Point, and any changes in them were noted. The next day wo ]o.t't the 

 island, and .■liter a three days' delay at Unalaska, for the ])iirpose of taking in coal, 

 and another delay of two days at the Shumagin Islands while the ship's boilers were 

 being overhauled, we reached Victoria on the 25th September. 



The following general results of the observations made are grouped under headings 

 corresponding as nearly as possible with those followed in the Report of the British 

 Commissioners for 1891 : 



Fish near the Breeding Islands. 



When I landed at the village on St. Paul Island on the 30th .Jnne, cod and halibut 

 were hanging before many of the natives' honses. In answer to my inquiry as to 

 where they had been caught, I was told that they h.ad been taken less than 3 miles 

 from St. Paul Island, and between it and Otter Island. 



Up to the 12th Septcmher, the date of my tinal departure from the Pribyloii" Islands, 

 natives went out tishing every fine Sunday, and, iu fact, every day they were not 

 engaged (m Avork for either the Government or the Company, and good' catches of 

 tish were invariably made. 



When on St. George Island the 17th July a great many cod were seen hung up to 

 dry, and at dinner thatday I asked the United States Treasnry Agents and the oflicers 

 of the C'oni])any why they had not fresh tish on the table. I was told that they could 

 be had iu almudance whenever wanted, but that they were all tired of tish. 



H. M. S. " Dai)hne,'' while I was on board of her, was anchored during the lore- 

 noon of the 21st .Inly in 18 fathoms of water, <me-third mile off Dalnoi Point, St. 

 George Island, and cod, small halibut, and sculpin were caught in great numbers at 

 this time. 



A holiday was given the natives on St. Paul Island on Saturday, the 13tli August, 

 and many of them spent the day tishing. Their boats were in sight .'ill day between 

 and 3 miles off' Lukannon rookery. They returned late in tlie afternoon with their 

 boats half fall of tish; there were many more cod than halibut, though the latter 

 were much the larger tish. I askiid the natives how lar they went out for tish later 

 in the season ; they replied that they never had to go more than 5 miles from land to 

 get all the hsh they wanted, and that it was only iu September that they went that 



