FUR-SEAL FISHERIES OF ALASKA. 217 



lows ; a portiou of it goes to give a report of the seal interest aud their 

 authority : 



Treasury Department, 

 St. George Island, July 'M, 1H86. 



Dear Sir: luclosed you will find statement of season's quota of 15,000 seals taken 

 from this island, and also showing the losses from perishing, stagy, and uuder-size, 

 in all 118, 29 of which number perished by falling into a pit near the village last 

 August; '29 stagy were taken by watchmen during watching season on the other side 

 of the island ; aud 13 nnder-size, taken by the natives in a killing for food, contrary to 

 orders, were charged up to them as a small lesson in discipliue. 



The rejection of skins weighing from 4 A to 6 pounds, in my opinion, should not be 

 allowed. Where the company get so many thousands weighing from 12 to 20 pounds, 

 it seems but reasonable that they should be required to accept the very lew small 

 ones that are unavoidably killed in driving to the killing grounds. 



If the Government ever expects to increase its revenue from seal islands by an in- 

 crease in the number to be taken in each year, would advise the taking (under the 

 next lease) of skins weighing 5 pounds and upwards and at so much per ])ound. 



One of the reasons, I think, why attimes seals of an acceptable size are scarce, is that 

 the demand for larger skins has beeu gradually on the increase. For instance, seven 

 or eight years ago, as I understand it, G aud 7 pound skins were taken freely, as now they 

 are avoided. The more of this size that are taken by the Government or the lessees, 

 the less number of that size will be left to be taken by tbe prosvlers of the sea. 



From close observation, and some measurements of rookeries, with estimates made 

 in various ways, I am satisfied that the estimates made heretofore of the number of 

 seals haulingup on this island have been overestimated. Mr, Elliot's estimate of 

 160,000 cows, bulls, and pups, I think the nearest, and he is certainly over the mark, 

 at even this date, when the rookeries are larger than when he measured them. I 

 think this island but a resting spotfor many thousands of seal born ou St. Paul. 



The set of rules sent yon in my last report (without calling any attention to them) 

 were inclosed i^erely as a memorandum that you might see that your assistant was, 

 at least, making an eft'ort to create a little system in this office, and on this island, 

 which was very much needed. My report did not say that there was a law, that we 

 could enforce, requiring the Alaska Commercial Company to transact their business 

 with the natives in the English language. I merely stated what seemed to me to be 

 the fact, that I could not conii)liment the people on their advancement (after fifteen 

 years of school) in speaking our language ; that they were hearing too much of their 

 own jargon from the employes of the company to retain very long what they learned 

 at school, and have lately requested the agent of the Alaska Commercial Company, 

 in writing, to please instruct their English-speaking help to avoid conversing wilh 

 the natives in the Aleut only when absolutely necessary, which request was most 

 cheerfully complied with. 



Orders No. 9, 10, 11, and 12, which you say "there is no authority of law for," were 

 issued in the interest of decency, and to bring about, if possible, a better state of mor- 

 als among the women of this island, and to impress all classes that the Government 

 would not tolerate with impunity wholesale prostitution and bastardy on Govern- 

 ment property. I can easily find ample authority for such rules, especially when they 

 are very acceptable to all the male portiou of the native population, from the priest 

 down. We would not disagree on this point, or the rules referred to, I think, if you 

 had asked me for the cause for such rules when on a visit to you in June. 



With the exception of a few women, the conduct of the natives is and has beau 

 both obedient and respectful. 



Seals of good size were plentiful for the first fifteen days of sealing, but from then 

 on till the close it was something of a strain to find them of sufficient size to fill the 

 season's quota of 15,000. 



As the report will show, we killed but few bulls, though the company was author- 

 ized to knock down all old troublesome fellows coming in their way to the number of 

 thirty, the skins of which the natives wanted for door mats. The surplus of old bulls 

 expected to be found did not make their appearance in the drives or on the rooker- 

 ies this season ; and, I think now, nor last season either. One has to be very careful 

 in the first season here to keep from seeing too little or too much. 



The Alaska Commercial Company have complied with all the requirements of their 

 lease up to date. 



The company made their last drive of tbe season yesterday, and, from appearance, 

 suppose a few more thousand could be taken between now aud August 1st, if wanted. 

 I inclose you a small order for furniture, which the Government house here is very 

 much in need of. 



With kind regards, I am, very respectfully, T. F. Ryan, 



Treasury Agent. 



Mr. G. R. Tingle, 



Treasury Agent, Seal Islands. 



