FISHERIES IN ALASKA. 9 



I therefore respectfully suggest to the Department of the Interior that these 

 lands be surveyed and brought into market at as early a period as possible. 

 Verv respectfully, your obedient servant, 



H. W. HALLECK, 

 Major General United States Army, 

 Commanding Military Division of the Pacific. 



Adjutant General of the Army, 



Washington, D. C. 



Official : 



R. WILLIAMS, 

 Assistant Adjutant General. 



No. 11. 



Mr. Wicker to Mr. Seward. 



Lockport, N. Y., January 10, 1S6S. 

 Dear Sir : I have the honor to submit herewith an article on " St. Paul's 

 island," territory of Alaska, and would most respectfully invite your attention 

 to the same. 



The facts therein contained were gathered while visiting the island in Novem- 

 ber, 1S66. Hoping they may be of service to the government and received in 

 the spirit which actuates me forwarding the same, 



I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, 



FRANK N. WICKER, 

 Late Chief of Land Her rice Russia® American Telegraph Expedition. 



Hon. William H. Seward, 



Secretary of State, Washington, D. C. 



ST. PAUL'S ISLAND. 



The above-named island is situated in Behring sea, north of and about three days' sail 

 from Ounimok Pass, in the Aleutian or Fox islands. It is between fifty and sixty miles in 

 length, with a breadth of from one to five miles, and is without doubt the most valuable 

 point in the recent acquisition. 



The Eussian American Fur Company have maintained a post and settlement there for 

 years, employing the native Aleutian islanders in killing the fur seal and curing the skins. 

 These animals literally cover the island. The surface of island in the vicinity of the settle- 

 ment is dish-shaped in appearance, and the outer rim from the summit to the water's edge is 

 go completely covered with the fur seal, that when landing one naturally stops and surveys 

 with wonder and amazement this numberless congregation of living animals ; as you move 

 forward they open right and left, reminding one very much of a large flock of sheep in a 

 very small field. They vary in size from small pups of fifty pounds to old sea lions of two 

 tons. Those weighing about two hundred pounds are.selected for their fur. The Eussian 

 Company have realized over and above expenses $100,000 annually for years, for the skins 

 alone, and although each seal will yield from one to three gallons of oil, it has been allowed 

 to go to waste on account of their failing to furnish fry works of sufficient capacity. 



The method of killing the seal is quite novel. Fifteen or twenty natives, armed with 

 '■lubs or bats from six to eight feet in length, will surround a drove of several thousand, 

 drive them inland to a convenient point, when the work of destruction begins. A light 

 blow on the tip of the nose is sufficient, and as the animals huddle together as if for mutual 

 protection, those of the desired shade and color are easily selected and despatched. 



The ground being covered with dead seal, the balance are driven further on, when opera- 

 tions commence as before, care being taken to kill the males only, as it has been recently 

 ascertained that by so doing the animals would remain constantly on the island, and their 

 number rapidly increase. 



i \.<- company have furnished 75,000 skins annually, in accordance with a standing con- 

 Ex. Doc. 50 2 



