720 INVESTIGATION OF THE FUR-SEAL INDUSTRY OF ALASKA. 



I find in. most of them a very appreciable expansion, and in none any noteworthy 

 contraction, * * * that a very material increase in all classes of seals has taken 

 place. 



1879. In 1879 Chief Special Agent Harrison G. Otis reports under 

 date of September 25 (p. 117, Salmon and Seal Fisheries, etc.) : 



The numbers of seals of all kinds — bulls, cows, bachelors, and pups — were, it is be- 

 lieved, fully up to the best standard of preceding years; but no correct estimate of the 

 aggregate can safely be given. It amounts to millions. 



1880. In 1880 Chief Special Agent Otis, under date of St. Paul 

 Island, July 30, 1880, in his annual report to Secretary of Treasury 

 John Sherman has this to say of the " countless numbers'"' of yearlings 

 that have hauled out, etc. (p. 132, Seal and Salmon Fisheries, etc.) : 



I am glad to be able to report the seal life of these islands as still abundant and in 

 satisfactory and promising condition. Seals of all classes and ages and of both sexes 

 have appeared upon the hauling grounds and the breeding rookeries during the present 

 season in countless numbers. 



The Chairman. What was the date of that ? 



The Elliott. 1880. 



The Chairman. What month, I mean? 



Mr. Elliott. July 30 is the date of his report, and he is reporting 

 on the season beginning June 1 . These reports cover the season right 

 up to July 30; they are all dated July 30, as that is the end of the 

 season. These reports go back over the work of the season and the 

 condition of the rookeries at the height of the season, between the 

 4th and 20th of July, and then on the hauling grounds where these 

 yearlings are. 



1881. In 1881 Chief Special Agent Otis makes the same report 

 in re seals, dated July 30 (p. 141, et seq., Seal and Salmon Fisheries) . 



1882. In 1882 Chief Special Agent Otis makes the same report in 

 re seals of "all classes," etc. (p. 152, Seal and Salmon Fisheries). 



1884. In 1884 Chief Special Agent Glidden makes same report 

 in re " seals of all classes," dated St. Paul Island, July 31, 1884. (See 

 p. 167, Seal and Salmon Fisheries.) 



1887. In 1887 Chief Special Agent George R. Tingle reports, under 

 date of July 31, St. Paul Island (p. 202, Seal and Salmon Fish- 

 eries, etc.) : 



Fully one-half of the pups which go to sea in the fall return as yearlings in the follow- 

 ing spring. 



In 1888 Chief Special Agent Tingle, under date of St. Paul Island, 

 July 31, reports (p. 207, Seal and Salmon Fisheries) 



The Chairman. Is that the Tingle who afterwards acted as attor- 

 ney? 



Mr. Elliott. Yes. He has been the attorney of the lessees for 

 years. 



Statement B shows the killing on St. George and St. Paul, consolidated each month. 

 The extremely small number of skins rejected, viz, 273, attests the care which is 

 exercised in killing the quota of 100,000. This insignificant loss is the more remarkable 

 when it is considered that in the drives many large bulls and yearling seals are driven 

 up to the killing grounds which have to be separated in the pods when clubbing. 



That killing usually began in my time about the 16th or 17th of 

 July. 



Mr. Stephens. Whose statment is that '. 



Air. Elliott. Chief Special Agent Tingle. I will give you my 

 statement very soon and answer the question very fully. I am not 



