APPENDIX TO CASE OF GREAT BRITAIN. 317 
benefit therefrom, which is not a badone. Some would say the Government could not 
do this. It seems plainandeasy. Let the Government take charge of this Reserva- 
tion. ‘The articles necessary to conduct the business could be bought the same as it 
now is, with ordinary supplies, by bids. A competent foreman can be obtained 
among its officers to superintend the killing and curing of the seal, as it requires no 
great skill to do this. 
The Government steamer ‘‘ Bear” could be used to transport supplies on its trip to 
the Arctic in the spring and bring back to San Francisco the seal-skins on their 
return trip in the fall, thereby causing but little expense, as on both trips to and 
from the Arctic they pass within 50 miles of these islands. The skins could be packed 
and shipped under the provision of the Government officials to C. M. Lampson and 
Co. for sale, and returns made direct to the Treasurer of the United States. This 
seems to be the best and most practical way to dispose of this franchise, thereby 
deriving all the benefits there may be in it to the Government. The privilege of 
couducting a general store on the islands could be sold the same as with other 
Reservations, as 113 families would undoubtedly support one good general merchan- 
dize store. 
Another way, which we think would be much better for the best interest of the 
people of the Pacific coast, would be as follows. 
Let the Government take charge of this Reservation, and, instead of killing 
100,000, take 50,000 seals; and in doing this, let the selection be more thorough, 
286 so thet the 50,000 skins shall be strictly choice skins, that would average the 
highest possible price. ‘Then abandon the present policy of claiming the Beh- 
ring’s Sea as an inland sea, which cannot be made to stand in the end. Restrict the 
killing of seal within the 3-mile or 6-mile limit, whatever is decided to be the limit 
of what a nation can hold authority over the high seas, and in this way it would 
promote the industry of private sealing to a much larger extent than it now is. 
A person not knowing the value of this industry would ask wherein it would be 
to the interest of the Pacific coast to promote the sealing industry by private indi- 
viduals. The answer is, three-fourths of the money derived from the catch of the 
private sealer is put right into circulation in this manner; in fact, quite a large per- 
centage is put into circulation before the vessel leaves port. In order to make this 
more plain, we will give the detail of the private-sealer business. In the first place, 
a vessel has to be secured, either by chartering or purchasing. The vessels employed 
in this business are mostly small schooners ranging from 40 to 110 tons burden, 70 
tons being a fair average for size. We will say an order is given to our ship-yards 
for a vessel for sealing: 
For a new vessel of this description of 70 tons a fair price in San Fran- 
RASC ORS eee oe she at 4 ae Spas ot ol Sie Nene rs a ee Ano Aide, Meee oe Setas ams $7, 000. 00 
This is designed to carry six otter- or sealing-boats, and a crew of twenty- 
one men. As soon as the vessel is received from the ship-yard, she has 
to be furnished with her anchors, chains, spare ropes, an extra suit of 
sails, dishes, cooking utensils, and other articles too numerous to mention, 
MEENA ae a ott s Cie Sead op Sire Minin “safer ey ofeisia MS Cinmiciaisis ae(sBramec ae eed aes 2, 500. 00 
is a low estimate. 
The next item is the six hunting-boats, with anaverage of 100 dollars 
oN a Lara yee eget ete eiclaee a mee Sate inlets GEL Sia a puare geo Het thee 600. 00 
A complete new outfit of guns, rifles, and ammunition, ranging from 600 to 
900 dollars, according to the ideas of the master or owner, which we will 
Call Reese te eens cine. BAe Sem Nn He nisin asl S caine Se ye emndrele cine cele Laleeewc 750. 00 
Se Ore nme CGS KM Sie aise t= ais = > a ce cect ain Sel od clawwigln Saier ais es. ao. 100. 00 
Then comes the item of provisions, coal, &c., for a cruize of eight months 
LOTIOWeNEYy- ONE MeN; WOOLG ANVCTACO® Jc is 22225525 sees eee eh oe ceo - = cso - 900. 00 
The slop-chest, which consists of clothing, blankets, boots and shoes, 
tobacco and medicines suitable for a cruize, which the law forces all mas- 
LETS aL OgbAIKCe pI STGS DIMM al te Cane rene ns ay cts te See Wahi dah (Soros a ee S oS 450. 00 
The vessel is now ready for sea except the crew. These as a rule go on 
a lay, but all being poor men, they generally have an advance paid to 
them, ranging from 20 to 100 dollars, and with a crew of twenty-one 
men a master may be considered lucky if he gets off with less than.....-. 1, 200. 00 
advance money for his crew. 
Total expense to start with........ Ra ie dew eeitnnieemcesa sacs conte 13, 500. 00 
This is as low an estimate as a vessel carrying six boats can be built and furnished 
for her first trip, with a reasonably fair outfit suitable to make a success of the busi- 
ness. This is near the actual expense which any one would be at to engage in this 
business. Of course this amount would immediately go into circulation. At the 
present time there are about fifteen American vessels on the Pacific coast engaged in 
this business. Now could this business be brought up to 115 vessels, it would require 
