31 
Behring sea. Washington Irving has given this animal historic 
renown. He says: “The Beaver sailed from Astoria on the 
fourth of August, 1812, under the management of Mr. Hunt, 
the local agent of the fur company. He arrived at Sitka on the 
nineteenth of the same month. Count Baranoff, Governor of 
the Russian Fur Company, purchased the cargo, for which he 
gave Mr. Hunt an order for a cargo of fur seal-skins, to be ob¬ 
tained from the factors of the company on St. Paul’s island, in 
lat. 57 north, long. 170° west; this and the neighboring island 
of St. George are covered at certain seasons of the year with 
millions of seals ; the Russians kill the young from seven to ten 
months old, which they drive inland and slaughter as many as 
are required to meet the demand. Mr. Hunt appears to have 
been subjected to much delay by the governor, but finally arrived 
at the islands in November, obtained a full cargo and sailed on 
the twentieth of the same month.” 
This statement proves two important facts germain to our 
subject, first— the moderation of the climate on the parallel of 
57°, in the Behring sea, which enabled a large, square-rigged 
vessel to take a cargo of skins from an exposed island in the 
month of November; secondly— the abundance of seals in 
those rookeries sixty years ago. The Russian Company have 
tenderly nurtured the seals visiting those islands, and prevented 
the indiscriminate slaughter of those animals. It is to be hoped 
that a humane policy may now be followed by our government 
in dealing with fur-seals. 
In the autumn of 1869, Maj. Gen. Thomas, commanding the 
Pacific division of the army, made an official tour to Alaska; 
he visited the rookeries on St. Paul and St. George, and de¬ 
voted several days in observing the habits of those animals. 
In his report he gives a graphic account of the seals, their num¬ 
ber and economy ; he also suggests certain measures for the pro¬ 
tection and preservation of those creatures. He says: “ On 
St. Paul and St. George only are "the fur-bearing seals found 
and killed for their furs and oil. As described by the natives, 
the habits of those animals are very peculiar. About the last 
of April or the first of May, the old male seals arrive at the 
islands and go on shore at the places regularly frequented by 
them, called rookeries ; they make a thorough examination of 
the ground, which occupies some days; soon the great body 
begins to arrive, and in a short time all have come upon shore 
