FUR SEALS AND OTHER LIFE, PRIBILOF ISLANDS, I914. 21 



years. One cow observed in 191 4 bore a large T brand consisting of a transverse bar 

 across the shoulder and a longitudinal mark leading from it down the back. This brand 

 is believed to have been made in 1899, and if this be true the cow still bearing it must 

 have been 15 years old in 191 4. She was in good condition and bore a healthy pup. 

 The age attained by the bulls is attested by scattered records of animals which have 

 been recognized from year to year by various peculiarities or special marks. It is also 

 evidenced by the disappearance within a limited time of the large surplus of bulls pro- 

 duced by the lack of regular killing during the modus vivendi. 



SEALING HISTORY IN BRIEF. 



RUSSIAN MANAGEMENT. 



When the Pribilof Islands were discovered by the Russians, in 1786, they were 

 uninhabited, but a number of small colonies of natives from the Aleutians were at once 

 established. In 1799 the islands passed into the control of the Russian- American Co., 

 which remained in charge until the purchase of Alaska by the United States in 1867. 

 The records of their early operations are imperfect, but so far as available they indicate 

 that some 1,821,639 seals were taken between 1786 and 1834. The catch consisted 

 largely of young ones of the year, and both males and females were taken, and by 1835 

 the herd had become so reduced that restrictive measures were recognized as necessary. 

 From 1835 to 1867, when the killing was more restricted and females were spared, the 

 herd gradually increased. During this period at least 608,000 seals were taken. At 

 the time of the purchase of Alaska in 1867, the herd contained, according to various 

 estimates, from two to five million animals. ' 



AMERICAN OCCUPATION AND THE LEASING SYSTEM. 



In 1868 and 1869 about 242,000 and 87,000 seals, respectively, were taken on the 

 Pribilof Islands by various independent parties. On July i, 1870, a law was enacted 

 providing for the leasing of the seahng privilege for a term of 20 years, at an annual 

 rental of not less than $50,000 and a tax of $2 on each skin taken. Under the terms of 

 this act, a lease was entered into with the Alaska Commercial Co., a corporation including 

 some of the American sealers who had operated on the islands in 1868 and 1869. This 

 company agreed to pay an annual rental of $55,000 and a tax of $2. 62 3^ on each skin 

 taken. Certain concessions were made to the natives and the right to make further 

 rules and regulations governing the industry was vested in the Secretary of the Treasury. 

 Under the lease the company took a quota of about 100,000 seals annually until 1889. 

 The total number of skins taken on the islands during the 20- year period was i ,977,377 

 and the revenue to the Government was $6,020,152. Upon the expiration of the first 

 lease the Secretary of the Treasury advertised for bids for the lease of the sealing 

 privilege for a further period of 20 years. Although the Alaska Commercial Co. made 

 an effort to secure a renewal of the lease, a more favorable bid was received from another 

 corporation, the North American Commercial Co., to whom the contract was awarded 

 on March 12, 1890. The new lease provided for a rental of $60,000 per annum, and a 

 tax of $9.62 K on each skin taken. More liberal provisions were made for the care of the 

 natives, and the number of seals to be killed agnually was placed at the discretion of the 

 Secretary of the Treasury. For the first year the number was 60,000. During the 



