Treasury Department in 1874, and since intimately connected with the Smithsonian Institution, which account has been made a part of Tenth Census report, that it would be intrusive here to attempt to supplement aught, and therefore only gener alizations based on said report and such statements of life and procedure on the islands to-day are presented as may be pertinent in this connection. In an article on fur-seals, which appeared in Land and Water, July 14, 1877, Mr. Henry Lee (Englishman), F. L. S., says: It has been stated that during a period of fifty years not less than 20,000 tons of sea-elephant's oil, worth more than £1,000,000, was annually obtained from New Georgia, besides an incalculable number of fur-seal skins, of which we have no statistics. Some idea may be had of their numbers in former years when we learn that on the island of Mas-á-Fuera, on the coast of Chili (an island not 25 miles in circumference), Captain Fanning, of the American ship Betsy, obtained in 1798 a full crop of choice skins and estimated that there were left on the island at least 500,000 seals. Subsequently there were taken from this island little short of a million skins. The seal catching was extensively prosecuted there for many years, the sealing fleet on the coast of Chili alone then numbering thirty vessels. From Desolation Island, also discovered by Cook, and the South Shetlands, discovered by Weddell, the number of skins taken was at least as great; from the latter alone 320,000 were shipped during the two years 1821 and 1822. China was the great market to which they were sent, and there the price for each skin was from $4 to $6. As several thousand tons of shipping, chiefly English and American, were at that time employed in fur-seal catching, the profits of the early traders were enormous. Does the reader ask what has become of this extensive and highly remunerative southern fur trade? It has been all but annihilated by man's grasping greed, reckless improvidence, and wanton cruelty. The "woeful want" has come that "woeful waste" has made. Without thought of the future the misguided hunters persistently killed every seal that came within their reach. Old and young, male and female, were indiscriminately slaughtered, in season and out of season, and thousands of little pups not thought worth the trouble of knocking them on the head were left to die of hunger alongside the flayed and gory carcasses of their mothers. Every coast and island known to be the haunt of the seals was visited by ship after ship, and the massacre left unfinished by one gang was continued by the next comers and completed by others until, in consequence of none of the animals being left to breed, their number gradually diminished, so that they were almost exterminated, only a few stragglers remaining where millions were once found. In some places where formerly they gathered together in such densely packed crowds upon the shore that a boat's crew could not find room to land till they had dispersed them for a space with oars and boat-hooks, not one fur-seal was to be found even so long ago as 1835. Dr. H. H. McIntyre, superintendent of the seal fisheries of Alaska for the lessees, testified before the Congressional committee as follows: Q. What proportion of the seals shot in the water are recovered and the skins taken to market?-A. I think not more than one-fifth of those shot are recovered. Many are badly wounded and escape. We find every year embedded in blubber of animals killed upon the islands large quantities of bullets, shot, and buckshot. Last year my men brought to me as much as a double handful of lead found by them embedded in this way. * * Q. I want to ask you whether or not the three-year-old seals, or many of them, which should have returned this year did not return because they had been killed?A. That seems to be the case. The marauding was extensively carried on in 1885 and 1886, and in previous years, and of course the pups that would have been born from cows that were killed in 1885, or that perished through the loss of their mothers during that year, would have come upon the islands in 1888, and we should have had that additional number from which to make our selection this year. The deficiency this year is attributed to that cause-to the fact that the cows were killed. And I would say further that if cows are killed late in the season, say in August, after the pups are born, the latter are left upon the island deprived of the mother's care, and of course perish. The effect is the same whether the cows are killed before or after the pups are dropped. The young perish in either case. Q, It being conceded that the islands are their home, and no one being interested other than the American and Russian Governments, there would be no special reason why other nations would object?-A. Only the Governments of the United States and England are interested in the Alaskan seal fisheries to any great extent. The United States is interested in it as a producer of raw material, and England as a manufact urer of furs. If these two nations were agreed that seal life should be protected, I think there would be no trouble in fully protecting it. It is a question of quite as much interest to England as to the United States, for she has a large number of skilled workmen and a large amount of capital engaged in this industry. Professor Elliott, of the Smithsonian Institution, who has spent some time in scientifically examining the seal islands and the habits of the seal, thus describes the killing power of the seal hunter at sea: His power to destroy them is also augmented by the fact that those seals which are most liable to meet his eye and aim are the female fur-seals, which, heavy with young, are here slowly nearing the land, soundly sleeping at sea by intervals, and reluctant to haul out from the cool embrace of the water upon their breeding grounds until that day, and hour even, arrives which limits the period of their gestation. The pelagic sealer employs three agencies with which to secure his quarry, viz: He sends out Indians with canoes from his vessel, armed with spears; he uses shotguns and buckshot, rifles and balls, and last, but most deadly and destructive of all, he can spread the "gill-net" in favorable weather. With gill-nets "underrun" by a fleet of sealers in Behring Sea, across these converging paths of the fur-seal, anywhere from 10 to 100 miles southerly from the Pribylov group, I am moderate in saying that such a fleet could utterly ruin and destroy those fur-seal rookeries now present upon the seal islands in less time than three or four short years. Every foot of that watery roadway of fur-seal travel above indicated, if these men were not checked, could and would be traversed by those deadly nets; and a seal coming from or going to the islands would have, under the water and above it, scarcely one chance in ten of safely passing such a cordon. Open those waters of Behring Sea to unchecked pelagic sealing, then a fleet of hundreds of vessels, steamers, ships, schooners, and what not, would immediately venture into them, bent upon the most vigorous and indiscriminate slaughter of these fur-seals; a few seasons of greediest rapine, then nothing would be left of those wonderful and valuable interests of our Government which are now so handsomely embodied on the seal islands; but which, if guarded and conserved as they are to-day, will last for an indefinite time to come as objects of the highest commercial good and value to the world, and as subjects for the most fascinating biological study. Shooting fur-seals in the open waters of the sea or ocean with the peculiar shot and bullet cartridges used involves an immense waste of seal life. Every seal that is merely wounded, and even if mortally wounded at the moment of shooting, dives and swims away instantly, to perish at some point far distant and to be never again seen by its human enemies; it is ultimately destroyed, but it is lost, in so far as the hunters are concerned. If the seal is shot dead instantly, killed instantly, then it can be picked up in most every case; but not one seal in ten fired at by the most skillful marine hunters is so shot, and nearly every seal in this ten will have been wounded, many of them fatally. The irregular tumbling of the water around the seal and the irregular heaving of the hunter's boat, both acting at the same moment entirely independent of each other, making the difficulty of taking accurate aim exceedingly great and the result of clean killing very slender. Mr. George R. Tingle, United States Treasury agent in charge of the fur-seal islands from April, 1885, until August, 1886, testified as follows: Q. It is Mr. McIntyre's opinion that they have not only not increased, but have decreased?-A. There has been a slight diminution of seals, probably. Q. To what do you attribute that?-A. I think there have been more seals killed in the sea than ever before by marauders. I estimated that they secured 30,000 skins in 1887, and in order to secure that number of skins they would have had to kill half a million seals, while this company in taking 100,000 on shore destroyed only 31 seals. Those were killed by accident. Some times a young seal, or one not intended to be killed, pops up his head and gets a blow unintentionally. Q. The waste of seal life was only 53 in 1887 ?-A. Yes, sir; in securing 100,000 skins, while these marauders did not kill last year less than 500,000. The logs of marauding schooners have fallen into my hands, and they have convinced me that they do not secure more than one seal out of every ten that they mortally wound and kill, for the reason that the seals sink very quickly in the water. Allowing one out of ten, there would be 300,000 that they would kill in getting 30,000 skins. Two hundred thousand of those killed would be females having 200,000 pups on shore. Those pups would die by reason of the death of their mothers, which added to the 300,000, makes half a million destroyed. I am inclined to think, because the seals show they are not increasing, or rather that they are at a stand-still, that more than 300,000 are killed by marauders. Q. You are of the opinion, then, that the marauders are killing more seals than the Alaska Commercial Company?-A. At least five or six times as many as the Alaska Commercial Company are killing. Q. What will be the effect if more stringent measures are not taken to protect the seals by the Government?-A. If more stringent measures are not taken, it is only a question of time when these seals will be driven ultimately to seek some other home where they will not be molested. They will not continue to be harassed; and, if this marauding is continued, they will, in my opinion, either be gradually exterminated or will leave the islands permanently and land at some other place. They may go on the Russian side. Q. Will marauding increase if the Government does not take steps to prevent it ?— A. I think so. Q. Is it practicable to prevent it?-A. Yes, sir. If we did not allow these cheeky, persistent, insolent, British Columbia seamen to go there and defy the United States and its authorities, it would very soon be stopped. When our revenue cutters seize the British schooners, the captains are very insolent and defiant, and claim that they have a strong government at their backs. I am now referring particularly to Captain Warner, of the Dolphin. He said in 1887, when captured, "We have got a strong government at our backs, and we will fight you on this question." "Very well," says Captain Shepherd, "I have got a strong government at my back, and I am going to do my duty. My government sends me to protect these seal rookeries. I am charged by this administration to enforce the law, and I will seize all marauders." * * # * * Q. You were speaking a while ago in regard to the amount of seal life destroyed by marauders, and that a captain had given the number of seals destroyed. Have you seen any of the log books of those vessels ?-A. Yes, sir. Q. Will you state what you remember with regard to the number of seals lost or captured by those vessels?-A. I remember reading the log-book of the Angel Dolly, which I captured. There was an entry in that log-book that read as follows: "Issued to-day to my boats, three hundred rounds of ammunition. At night they came in with the ammunition all expended, and one seal-skin." Q. They had shot three hundred rounds of ammunition?-A. Yes, sir. Another entry I saw was: "Seven seals shot from the deck, but only secured one." All lost but one. Another entry: "It is very discouraging to issue a large quantity of ammunition to your boats, and have so few seals returned." An entry was made in another place, where he gave it as his opinion that he did not secure one seal-skin out of every fifty seals wounded and killed. Q. Have you seen seal-skins upon the island that had been shot?-A. Very often. We gather handfuls of shot every season. Q. Does that injure the market value of the skins?—A. Undoubtedly. Any hole is an injury to the skin. Extract from Mr. Tingle's report to the Treasury Department. I am now convinced from what I gather, in questioning the men belonging to captured schooners and from reading the logs of the vessels, that not more than one seal in ten killed and mortally wounded is landed on the boats and skinned; thus you will see the wanton destruction of seal life without any benefit whatever. I think 30,000 skins taken this year by the marauders is a low estimate on this basis; 300,000 fur-seals were killed to secure that number, or three times as many as the Alaska Commercial Company are allowed by law to kill. You can readily see that this great slaughter of seals will, in a few years, make it impossible for 100,000 skins to be taken on the islands by the lessees. I earnestly hope more vigorous measures will be adopted by the Government in dealing with these destructive law-breakers. William Gavitt, an agent of the United States Treasury, gave this testimony. Q. I understand you to say-for instance, taking 1887 or 1888-that the 100,000 seals taken upon the islands, and the 40,000 taken and killed in the water, if no greater amount was taken, that there would be no perceptible diminution in the number of seal; that by the natural increase the company might take 40,000 more than now, if it were not for the depredations?-A. I had in mind an average between 25,000 killed in 1888 and about 40,000 in 1887. Q. What I want to know is this: Is it your opinion that the number taken in the sea, when they are on the way from the islands to the feeding grounds, have a tendency to demoralize the seal and to break up their habits, their confidence, etc.?-A. It would be likely to do it. They are very easily frightened, and the discharge of fire-arms has a tendency to frighten them away. By Mr. MACDONALD: Q. No seals are killed by the company in this way?-A. No, sir; they are all killed on the islands with clubs. Jacob H. Moulton, an agent of the Government, testified: Q. Do you think it essential to the preservation of seal life to protect the seal in the waters of Alaska and the Pacific?-A. There is no doubt about it. Q. The herd could be exterminated without taking them upon the islands?—A. They could be exterminated by a system of marauding in the Behring Sea, but I think the number killed along the British Columbia coast did not affect the number we were killing on the islands at that time, because there was apparently an increase during these years. There had been for five or six years up to that time. Since that time in Behring Sea the seal have been gradually decreasing. Q. You think their decrease is attributable to unlawful hunting in Behring Sea?A. There is no doubt of that. Q. As a result of your observation there, could you suggest any better method of preserving seal life in Behring Sea than that now adopted?-A. Not unless they furnished more revenue vessels and men-of-war. Q. So as to patrol the sea closely?-A. I think so. I do not think the seals scatter much through any great distance during the summer season, although very late in the summer the smaller seals arrive. The females, after giving birth to their young, scatter out in Behring Sea for food. We know they leave the islands to go into the water, because they are coming and going. They suckle their young the same as most animals. Q. Lawless hunters kill everything they find, I believe, females or not?-A. Yes, sir. Q. When a female is nursing her young and goes out for food and is killed or wounded, that results also in the death of her young?-A. Yes, sir. As her young does not go into the water, it does not do anything for some time, and can not swim and has to be taught. Q. The seals are born upon those islands?-A. Yes, sir; they come there for that purpose. They come there expressly to breed, because if they dropped their young in the water the pup would drown. Q. Do you think the value of the seals justifies the policy that the Government pursues for their preservation and protection?-A. Yes, sir; I do. Q. And under a rigidly enforced system protecting seal life in the waters of these seas, do you think the herd could be materially increased?—A. I think it would. I think there is no doubt but what it would. Edward Shields, of Vancouver Island, a sailor on board the British schooner Caroline, engaged in seal hunting in Behring Sea in 1886, testified, after the vessel was seized, that the 686 seals taken during the whole time they were cruising in the open sea were chiefly females. Mr. H. A. Glidden, Treasury agent, recalled, testified as follows: Q. From the number of skins taken you estimated the number killed?-A. That season I know there were thirty-five vessels in the sea, and we captured fifteen vessels. The catches of the vessels were published in the papers when they arrived home and averaged from 1,000 to 2,500 skins each. Q. You estimate, then, that during the season 40,000 skins were taken? In killing them in the open sea they do not recover every seal they kill?-A. No, sir; I do not think they do. In fact, I know they do not, judging from the amount of shot and lead taken from the seals that are afterwards killed on St. Paul and St. George Islands. Q. So that the destruction of the seals in the open sea would be much in excess of the number taken, probably?-A. I have no very accurate information on which to base an opinion, but I should judge that they lost from 40 to 60 per cent. of them. I saw a good many shot from the boats as I was approaching, and think they lost two or three out of five or six that I saw them shoot at. Q. From your observations have you any recommendations or suggestions to offer, the adoption of which would lead to the better preservation of seal life in these waters than is now provided by law?-A. There is a difference of opinion as to the construction of the law. I firmly believe that the Government should either protect the islands and water in the eastern half of Behring Sea or throw up their interest there. If the Behring Sea is to be regarded as open for vessels to go in and capture seals in the water, they would be exterminated in a short time. No. 12. Sir Julian Pauncefote to Mr. Blaine. [Extract.] BRITISH LEGATION, Washington, D. C., March 9, 1890. DEAR MR. BLAINE: I have the pleasure to send you herewith the memorandum prepared by Mr. Tupper on the seal fishery question, to which he has appended a note by Mr. Dawson, an eminent Canadian official. Believe me, etc., [Inclosure 1.] JULIAN PAUNCEFOTE. Rookeries in South Pacific withheld extensive raids for years. SYNOPSIS OF REPLY TO MR. BLAINE'S LETTER TO SIR JULIAN FAUNCEFOTE, OF MARCH 1, 1890. Mr. Blaine's reference to indiscriminate slaughter-note in point Page. 29 29 29 29 Chapel of opinion that 100,000 a year could have been taken from the Shetlands under proper restrictions.. Pups in thousands found dead on beaches. Incorrect statement in report of the House of Representatives as to rookeries of the world Russian memorandum of July 25, 1888, enumerating rookeries 29 29 29 30 30 Destruction on these rookeries formerly-plague-revival of rookeries under regulations. Seals shot-statement that 1 only in 7 is shot-contradicted by Canadian hunt ers Mr. Elliott on unerring aim of Indian hunters Practice of hunters... Statement of facts prior to and at time lease of islands to Alaska Commercial Slaughter under Russian rule Table showing catch 1817-260.. Undiminished condition of islands, 1868, though 6,000,000 taken 1841-70. 50,000 seals killed on the island of St. George in 1868. 150,000 killed on the island of St. Paul during the same year. General onslaught-300,000 killed in 1869.. Notwithstanding the above destruction, 100,000 a year might, Mr. Boutwell stated, be killed with protection in and around the islands. Mr. Dall of same opinion in 1870 (100,000 a year may safely be killed). Tenure of lease allowed 100,000 a year-any male seal of one year or over-natives to kill pups for food.. Opinion of committee of House of Representatives that seals require protection Mr. Glidden's testimony-merely his opinions, not based on practical knowledge On islands in 1881-as to seals' intelligence and hours for feeding. Chief damage due to insufficient protection of islands.. No personal knowledge as to the seal-refers to want of protection on |