264 THE FUR SEALS OF THE PRIBILOF ISLATfDS. 



transshipped at Yokohama and Hakodate between 17,000 and 18,000 skins. This is farther confirmed by the report of the 

 Cajiadian department of marine and fisheries for 1893, page clxviii, which gives the catch of American vessels landed at 

 Hakodate as 18,587. 



'2 The figures for the catches of Canadian vessels are taken from the report of the Canadian department of marine 

 and fisheries for 1893, page olxvii. 



^The London trade sales for 1893 account for the disposition of 109,669 pelagic skins. 



*• Compiled from the reports of collectors at ports of entry on the Pacific coast. These reports are on file in the 

 Treasury Department. 



^ The figure 23,710 is obtained by taking the 6,836 skins noted under the caption, " Locality undetermined " in the 

 letter of the Secretary of the Treasury to Congress, dated January 21, 1895 (Fifty-third Congress, third session, Ex. Doc. 

 243), and dividing them between the Asiatic and American herds in similar proportions as the other skins landed at 

 United States ports in United States sealing vessels during 1894. The result would be: American herd, 6,152; Asiatic, 684. 

 Adding 6,152 to the catch on the northwest coast (12,398) already given and the Bering Sea catch' (5,160) already given, we 

 have the total 23,710. 



^Made up of skins as per records of collectors of customs on the Pacific coast, which credit 1,500 to Asiatic waters ; 

 684 skins, previously referred to in note 25, and the 20,000 skins which it is estimated were transshipped in ilapan (Ex. Doc. 

 243, Fifty-third Congress, third session, "Notes concerning catch for 1894," p. 4). 



^ Taken from report of Canadian department of marine and fisheries for 1894, page 9. 



The figures 26,425 include one American veeeel, whose catch was 84 skins. 



The figures 49,843 contain the catches of three American vessels, which aggregated 490 skins. 



The facts in the two foregoing paragraphs are given in a report of Fisheries Commissioner Costigo to the Governor- 

 General of Canada, under date of January 9, 1895, page 9. 



2* Heports of collectors of customs at American ports of entry on the Pacific coast. 



^ Oificial statement sent by United States Consul Roberts at Victoria, under date of November, 1895, and on file in the. 

 Treasury Department. 



^° Dead pupt.—'Zh.e grand totals for 1894 and 1895 do not include dead pups. In 1894, by oarel'ul estimate based upon 

 partial count, 20,000 pups perished, and in 1895, by actual count, 28,000. This would swell the known deaths, exclnsive of 

 the land catch in 1894 to 161,143 and in 1895 to 121,326. See note 37 for dead pups for 1896. 



The pelagic catch for 1896 is further increased by a catch of about 10,000 skins taken by vessels clearing from 

 Japanese ports. 



" From returns of United States inspectors who examined skins landed in United States ports. 



^' From ofiicial returns of collector of customs, Victoria, British Columbia. Skins not inspected. 



[Notes 33 and 34 omitted.] 



Explanatory notes relating to catch for 1896. 



"^lu averages per vessel relating to northwest coast catch the canoe catches are not included; British Columbia 

 canoe catch, 2,353, included in Canadian northwest coast total. 



^ Total catch of American and Canadian vessels for 1896 further increased by a catch of 3,392 skins taken by vessels 

 clearing from Japanese ports, aqd of 1,497 skins taken by natives in the passes of the Aleutian Islands. 



s' The grand total for 1896 does not include the loss of pups on the Pribilof Islands, amounting to 21,228 dead and to 

 1,646 dying at time of count. 



3» All log entries relating to American pelagic catch sworn to by masters of vessels, but most of them changed as to 

 proportion of females upon examination of catches by inspectors of seal skins. 



^ Proportion of females in all Canadian returns taken from statements by masters of vessels. Catches not oifioially 

 inspected as to sex. 



* Data concerning catches of American vessels in all waters for 1896 are based on reports from United States custom- 

 houses, supplemented by information collected by Mr. C. H. Townsend ; data concerning catches of British Columbia ves- 

 sels furnished by the Canadian collector of customs at Victoria; catches in 1895 of vessels belonging to Japanese ports 

 furnished by United States consular oflcers in Japan. Catchfes of similar vessels in 1896 are from unofScial sources, are 

 incomplete, and less than number actually taken. 



Explanatory notes relating to catch for 1897. 



" In averages per vessel relating to the northwest-coast catch, the British Columbian-canoe catch, amounting to 1,018, 

 are not included. 



« The total catch of the British Columbian and American fleets for 1897 is increased further by the catch of the Japa- 

 nese sealing fleet during the year — 16 vessels, 6,838 skins. 



«The data from which were compiled the statistics relating to the American catch for 1897 were obtained from the 

 ofiicial reports from V. S. custom-houses ; the statistics of the British Columbian catch for the same period were obtained 

 by the consul at Victoria, B. C, from custom-house records at that port ; the figures showing the catch of the Japanese fleet 

 were furnished by Dr. Leonhard Ste,jneger. 



« The grand total of seals taken by United States vessels include 764 skins taken south of the award area by the 

 schooners J. Eppimger and Louisa D, but undoubtedly from the herd frequenting the Pribilof Islands, and 224 skins which 

 were taken off the Galapagos Islands by the schooner Prosper, of a species (Arctocephalus phillipi) distinct from that of the 

 seals on the Pribilof Islands. 



" Statements by masters of American vessels as to the sex of seals taken, verified in every instance by examination 

 by inspectors at ports of entry. Pi:oportion of females in Canadian catches taken Siom flgnres submitted by United States 

 consul (see note 43) ; catches not officially inspected. 



