A.-THE RUSSIAN FUR-SEAL ISLANDS, 1741-1897. 



I.-INTRODUCTION. 



The following treatise is based upon observations gathered during four different 

 visits to the Commander Islands, off the coast of Kamchatka, the first undertaken in 

 1882-83, during the palmiest days of the fur-seal industry, the second during 1895, 

 as a special attach^ of the United States Fish Commission, to study the recent decline 

 and to compare the conditions as I knew them thirteen years ago with those of the 

 present day. My third trip took place in 1896, by direction of the President, pursuant 

 to the joint resolution of Congress approved June 8, 1896, and the fourth one in 1897 

 under the same auspices. 



In the introduction to my report of the expedition in 1895 I made the following 

 statement : 



I undertook the trip with a full understanding of the difBlculties awaiting me, both 

 in the studies in the field and in the working up of the report. I was fully aware 

 that, alone in an almost untrodden field, my work would of necessity be fragmentary, 

 and for that reason unsatisfactory. Nevertheless, I felt that I ought to do it for 

 several reasons. In the first place, I was in possession of a great amount of interesting 

 information about the Eussian seal islands never published, or else very inaccessible 

 to those concerned in the fate of the fur seal, which it might be useful to bring 

 together. In the second place, I felt convinced that but few men were in the same 

 fortunate position as myself of having had the opportunity to study the Eussian 

 fiir-seal industry at close quarters while it was still flourishing, and that consequently 

 I was in an exceptionally good position for instituting the desired comparison. 



Finally, I reflected, having kept aloof from all the strife and controversy of 

 recent years concerning seal matters, because I had no pet theories of my own to 

 ventilate nor any personal interest of myself or friends to advance, I would be less 

 liable to suspicion of being prejudiced or biased by any outside motive. I have 

 earnestly endeavored to preserve this independence, personal and scientific^ in the 

 investigations which I have undertaken, and I claim that the conclusions I have 

 reached are based upon the facts as I have been able to discern them. It is my hope 

 that the logic of my deductions will not be found lacking. 



The third visit was necessarily a very brief one, chiefly in order to supplement the 

 information gathered previously. During this trip, however, Eobben Island was also 

 visited. The fourth journey was more protracted. Its chief object was to determine 

 the extreme ratio between the sexes, and its results are conclusive. 



SCOPE OP THE WORK. 



It has been considered advisable to combine the reports for 1896 and 1897 with 

 the general account of "The Eussian Fur-Seal Islands," which was published by the 

 United States Fish Commission, so as to bring the whole subject up to date. 



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