THE RUSSIAN FUR-SEAL ISLANDS. 
129 
Schooner Ida Etta. 
Date. 
Location. 
Seals. 
mi. 
Aug. 20 
Cape NagikinsKi) SW. 30 miles 
37 
21 
Cape Nagildnski, SW. 20 miles 
35 
24 
Cape Ntigikinski, SW. 20 miles 
28 
26 
C.ape Nagikiuski, SW. 20 niile.s 
28 
27 
Cape Nagikiiiski, W. 30 miles 
( ’ape Nagikiiiski, W. 30 miles 
10 
31 
3 
Sept. 1 
Cayie Xiigikinski, AVSAV. 25 miles 
25 
2 
(iape Nagikinski, SW. 20 miles 
6 
3 
Cape Nagikinski, SW. 30 miles 
4 
4 
Cape Nagikiuski, SW. 25 miles 
4 
Total 
180 
I am also iudebted to Mr. Townsend for figures relating to the catch of 1894, and 
for the information that the total Japan coast catch for 1895 amounted to 31,048 skins, 
and total catch of the pelagic sealers in Eussian waters 7,684 skins; together, 38,732 
skins. The Commander Islands herd, therefore, lost in 1895 no less than 35,000 seals, 
the majority females, besides the unknown numl)er killed without being captured.’ 
During the five years 1891 to 1895, inclusive, the ‘‘Asiatic catch” by pelagic 
sealers may be summed up as follows : 
Year. 
Nationality of vessels. 
Japan 
catch. 
Russian 
catcli. 
Tot.als. 
Grand 
totals. 
1891 
*5, 847 
( 126, 752 
( 63,082 
1892.. 
(?) 
(?) 
29, 270 
17, 222 
1, 224 
12,013 
1893 . . 
41, 283 
21, 799 
1894.. 
49, 483 
31, 376 
18, 086 
12, 362 
7, 437 
1,771 
6, 605 
1, 079 
56i 920 
33, 147 
1 90,067 
1895.. 
25, 291 
13,441 
1 ' 38, 732 
* From the report of Hon. Charles S. Hamlin, Assistant Secretary, U. S. Treasury (Doc. 1'57, Senate, Fifty-fourtli 
Cong., 1st sess., pt. 1, ji. 6). During that year 18,000 skins are recorded from “undetermined localities,” some of which are 
probably “Asiatic ” in their origin. 
t This total is derived from Mr. Hamlin’s report {1. c.). The “Japan catch ” of 1892 was therefore over 8,300. 
It will be seen that the known pelagic “ Asiatic catch ” from 1892-95 was over 
218.000 skins. Allowing the 8,000 skins for the Kurils and Tiuleni, the known loss in 
that period to the Commander Islands herd was about 210,000 seals, apart from the 
loss of wounded ones, etc. The number of seals killed on the islands in the same 
period Avas 105,230. The pelagic catch Avas therefore tAvice as large as that on the 
islands, Avhile the loss to the herd from that cause was much greater. It is certainly 
no exaggeration to say that flte actual loss to the herd in those four years has averaged, 
100.000 a year, one-half of udtich were probably fonales, while even in the palmiest days of 
exclusive land sealing the loss only averaged, 50,000 seals a, year, all males. 
To illustrate and complete this cha])ter on pelagic sealing I have hatl plotted on 
map 1 the position of 11 schooners off the Commander Islands during the sealing season. 
The positions for each noon are connected by straight lines and the figures represent the 
number of seals taken during the lAreceding 24 hoAirs. Extracts from the log books are 
appended herewith. The logs are given in extenso in the Fur Seal Arbitration case, 
except that of the Henry Dennis, for Avhich I am indebted to Mr. Townsend. 
Air. Townsend has since informed me that the loss to the Commander Island herd is to he 
increased hy at least 10,000 seals, as shown hy reports from consuls, etc., recently received. 
F. C. B. 1896—9 
